Ortho-epia Gallica Eliots fruits for the French: enterlaced vvith a double nevv inuention, vvhich teacheth to speake truely, speedily and volubly the French-tongue. Pend for the practise, pleasure, and profit of all English gentlemen, who will endeuour by their owne paine, studie, and dilligence, to attaine the naturall accent, the true pronounciation, the swift and glib grace of this noble, famous, and courtly language.

Dialogue 3.

MAister Noe-Ionas & Ely, I am very glad to see you in good health!

I thanke you my good friend.

How do you?

Very well, at your commaund and seruice.

And I at yours truly.

How long is it since we vvere together at Paris?

Tis at the least seuen or eight yeares.

Tis not so much in my opinion.

I am deceaued els, for it vvas at the first vvhen the duke of Guise did leuie his armes for those of the League.

I vvoondered much of your departure vvhich vvas so sodaine from Paris.

What sayd they I pray you among my friends and acquaintance?

By my faith they sayd that you vvere become a moonke of the order of S. Benet.

O poore man, I vvas very sory for you.

True it is after the yeare of my probationship, I left my habit behind.

You haue not cast your frocke into the nettles?

In good faith no: I departed

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out of the abbie vvith licence, like an honest man.

You made the three vowes of chastitie, pouertie and obedience.

About some no:

I did not, I tell you, for I vvas receaued only but for a yoong Monke, or as you say in English, for a Nouice.

But I pray you vvhere haue you bene since that time?

All abroad, in Italie, in Fraunce, in Spaine.

Do you not mocke?

No truly, vvhy shoul•• I mocke.

From Paris vvhat vvay tooke you?

From Paris I vvent into Italie.

Haue you dwelt at Rome?

I made some abode there?

What newes vvill you tell me out of those quarters?

There are vvithin these 7. yeares last, foure or fiue popes dead.

Haue you neuer bene further then Rome?

Yes, as far as Naples.

How did you scape falling into the Inquisitors hands?

I attired my selfe like a Pilgrim.

O the fine pilgrim that here is!

How scaped you the inquisition? tell me I pray you.

There is no danger for one who is papall and of the number of Catholicks.

How shall he do then who is a Protestant to passe thorow Italie as farre as Rome.

He must dissemble.

I deme that, he need not.

What then?

He must only carrie a good face, for passe once Venice, the inquisition is there euery vvhere.

Haue you liued at Venice, Padua, Pauia, Milan, Mantua, Cremona, Pisa, Sienna, Vrbino?

No, I haue passed by them only.

Haue you seene Florence, Ferrara and Bolonia?

I haue seene and visited them.

Haue you past by Lyons?

Signor si, vpon the bridges and on the pauements.

Came you away by Orleans?

Yea, sir.

Haue you trafficked at Paris?

I, in eating and drinking.

Haue you not haunted at Roan?

I vvas neuer there.

Haue you soiourned at Amiens?

Some foure or fiue daies.

Seeing that you haue seene so many fine citties in these two countries;

tell vs also something of Spaine.

In Spaine the cheefe cities are Siuillia, the vvarehouse of the Indias, for the diuersitie of mer••handise that men bring thither.

There is beside Saragossa, Grenada, Valledolida, Medina del campo, Pampelona in Nauarre, and Lisbona in Portugal: vvhere is also Conymbria, a famous vniuersitie.

What other faire Cities are there in Spaine?

There are so many, that I cannot name them all.

How many Vniuersities haue they there?

There are many: I vvill name only Sala∣manca, an Vniuersitie vvhere they studie the Law, Phisick, and the seuen liberall Sciences.

Where keepes king Philip his court?

For the most part at Madril, or at the Esquireal, vvhere he hath built the most magnificent pallace of all Europe, being the dwelling house of the Catholike king, and tis the fairest building that I euer saw in my life.

In your mind then, it is the most goodly, stateliest and sumptuous building that a man can imagine.

Tis a pallace enriched with great gardens, closes, and orchards, and with the rarest fruits that a man can wish.

How is it situated?

Vpon a pleasant riuer.

Of vvhat forme is this building?

It is built six corner fashion: and the pillars stand diameter wise.

By your reckoning the Pallace of the Pope, of the Cardinall Medicis, and many other in Rome are nothing comparable to this.

Tis a hundred times more mag∣nificent then those, or any other in Italy, name as many as you will.

Surely this pallace is a terrestriall paradice, such as promiseth Mahomet in his Alcoran to his Musselmans.

O my friend, the king of Spaine hath more then twentie ships vvhich come home euery yeare from the ysles of Perles, from Peru, from Mexico and the Canibals, laden with lingots of gold and siluer, pearles and stones, and raw silke in great quantitie.

I vvoonder vvhy he hath not then paued his pallace ten mile round vvith orient pearles, carbuncles,

rubies, diamonds, saphires, emeraudes, blew stones, gre∣nates, agathes, christall, perles, and other stones of excellencie.

He hath something els to do with them. I beleeue that you haue described a pallaice at your pleasure, and spoken by a figure. For you haue a priuilege you trauellers to speake at pleasure vvhen it seemes good vnto you.

I speake in good sooth.

If you speake in good sooth, I answer you, that her Maiestie of England hath as goodly pallaces, vvell founded, finely set out, as sumptuous, and no lesse magnificent then all those that you can name either in Spaine, or in Italie: and here are six that I will name: first the pallace royall of Greenwich; then her house called Saint Iames, then her mansion of Whitehall and of Richmond, the honour of Hampt••ncourt, her house called Nonesuch, and the castell of Windsor, all scituat within the compasse of fifteene leagues, on the sweet riuer of Thames, pallaces (or to speake more properly) Paradices of vvholesome aire,

pleasure, fine soyle, full of all a∣bundance, delights, & honest plea∣sures, fit for a Prince to haue, not lying in one onely word.

Before we go any further, tell me I pray you, what thinke you of this Citie of Lon∣don? Is it not faire and verie popu∣lous?

Tis faire indeed, and liketh me verie well. But I cannot tell what to say yet, for since foure daies, that I am here arriued, I haue not stird out of my chamber, being wearie and tyred with so sore trauelling and running the post.

You haue not bene then any fur∣ther in the country?

No, but if it please God this spring I will go see all the country, and the best Cities.

You shall see then a goodly soyle, verie frutefull, verie fertill, and of a verie temperate aire, abounding in victuals, full of faire women, verie curteous and beautifull, and an Iland enuironed with the sea.

Haue they no wine here, mee thinkes that they drinke water?

Not so sir, they drinke beere, which is a drinke made with barley

and vvater brewed together, being a drinke very wholesome, and agreeing with the nature of vs Englishmen.

Ye Frenchmen, ye drinke vvine, you shall find vvine here in great aboundance.

Whence commeth it?

There is that commeth from France, from Spaine, from Candie, and Rhenish vvine your belly full.

What sorts of vvine haue they?

They haue Claret, red, Sacke, Muscadine, and Malmesie.

Is it deare or good cheape?

The Claret, red and vvhite are sold for six pence a quart, Sacke for eight pence, Muscadine and Malmesie for ten.

It is not to deare.

No truly, it is reasonably sold, and for an indifferent price.

Truely it is dearer in many parts of France.

London, is it a Citie full of merchants?

Yea sir, very full.

What merchandise is there?

Of all sorts that a man can vvish.

The merchants, where do

they trafficke?

Throughout all the vvorld: In France, in Italie, in Spaine, in Bar∣barie, in Guynea, in Bresilia, in the East and West Indies, in the East countries:

• in Turkie, in Arabia,
• in Persia, in Tartarie,
• in Russia, in Poland,
• in Bohemia: in Hungary,
• in Germany, in Frizeland,
• in Flanders, in Denmarke,
• in Scotland,
• in Ireland, ouer all
• Asia, Europe, Affricke,
• and the new America.

With what marchandize do they trade?

The best Tynne in the vvorld is found in Eng∣land: the best wooll, the best cloathes and kersies; all kinde of mettals, as gold, siluer, lead, tinne, copper, yron, steele, brasse, the best saffron that is, great quantitie of hides, of graine, much vvood, and cattle, as horses, hacknies, ox∣en, kine, sheepe, mares.

There are verie few goates.

There are no vvolues, beares, lyons, nor serpents,

if they be not brought from other countries.

What pastimes vse they on holidaies?

All maner of pas∣time, as to see Come∣dies, and Tragedies, to leape, to danse, fen∣cing, beare-bayting, shooting, running, shoo∣ting in the peece, walking abroad in the fieldes, rowing in boates on the water.

Is there any faire riuer at London?

One verie faire and great.

Doth it carrie great ves∣sels?

Tis verie nauigable, full of all kind of fish, finely garnished on the one and the other side with goodly buildings, faire Cities, villages and castles, and her Maiesties Court lieth almost alwaies about it.

How call you the Riuer?

Tis called the Thames.

Doth it fall into the Sea?

Yea, it is swallowed vp into the great Ocean.

Are victuals good cheape?

Sometimes they are deare inough: otherwhile verie cheape: for the Thames doth bring in a great part of com∣modities for mans life, in ships and vessels of burden.

There is alwaies great plentie of bread, of flesh, cheese, butter, salt fish, wilde fowle, &c.

How many Vniuersities are there here?

There are but two: that of Cambridge, and this of Oxford.

Is there any great number of Schollers?

Sufficient.

And of learned men?

There are, and some that haue great authoritie.

Haue they faire Colledges?

Verie faire and sump∣tuous, builded of free∣stone, and verie costly.

Are they of great antiquitie?

The histories do make mention of more then a thousand

eight hundred and three yeares.

Haue you seene the Colledges and Vniuersities beyond seas: are they faire?

I haue bene in many Vniuersities, the most famous of Europe, and first in those of Italie: as in Rome: in Pisa: in Bolonia: in Padua: in Turin: and then next in those of France: as in Paris, in Orleans, at Bourges, at Rhemes in Champaigne: at Mussi-pont: at Verdun: at Geneua, at Tournon: at Poictiers, at Angiers: at Tholouse: and at Mont-pelier: In Germany I haue seene none: verie few in Spaine: but in Rome there are but foure faire Colledges: that is to wit the Colledge of Rome, called the Seminary of Iesuists: that of Almans: the Colledge of Greekes: and the other called the hospitall, or Colledge of Englishmen hard by, which is called

otherwise, la casa Ingleze, standing in strada del popolo: neare the Iewes market place. In Parts you haue a faire Academie, where there are manie faire Colled∣ges: as the Colledges of the Sorbonists: of Nauarre: of Montagu: of Bour∣gondie: of Dam-uille: of Caluy: of Iustice: of Tours: of Beau-uais: of Presles: of Lysieus: of Rhemes: of Bon-court: of Lombards: of the Trea∣sorers: of Narbone: of Mercy: of the Ber∣nard-friers: of Cluny-friers: of white Monkes, of Cholets: of the Cardinall Monke: of Plessis: of Mar∣montyer: of Autun: of Fortet: of the Marche: of S. Barbara: of Mans: of Harcourt: of Laon: of good children: of Tournay: of Boisie: of Bayews, Coc-keret, Minnion, of S. Dennis: of maister Geruis: of S. Michael, of the three Bishops, or of Cambray, where are read the publicke Lectures by the Kings professors.

There are yet some

other, but I haue set downe onelie the principall, lea∣uing out the Abbies, and Monasteries.

Are these Colledges magnificent, finely built, set forth and trimmed? They are all Colledges: but not to compare with the Colledges of Oxon. with a Christs-Church a wonder of the world; nor to new Colledge: nor to a S. Iohns: or to an All-Soules: to the Colledges of Merton and Magdalens in Oxenford: which are of great antiquitie, verie well founded all, and seeme rather Palaces for Kings, then Schooles to teach the liberall Arts in, and to maintaine poore Schollers.

And he that would compare them to those of Cambridge, as to Trinitie Colledge, or to a Saint Iohns, or to Kings Colledge, Queenes Colledge, to Emmanuel and kayes Colledges, and to diuerse others where the pensioners haue their reuenues to maintaine them yearely,

I would say, that he should be some poore blinde buzzard, that vnderstands as litle as may be, and who should deserue to be cast into Cymmerian darkenesse with fetters on his heeles for his so grosse ignorance.

Now sir, who gouerneth in Lon∣don?

Tis my Lord Maior, who is her Maiesties Lief∣tenant, with his bre∣thren the Aldermen of the Citie.

What pollicie haue they?

Fine pollicie: the customes of the countrie beare the greatest sway.

I haue heard say, that there is a great number of malefa∣ctors, as theeues, murtherers, rouers, and Pirates.

There are many: yet they hang them euerie day.

They do not hang all of this race?

Some of them escape al∣waies.

Haue they no other death for the male∣factors?

None: but for traytors who are drawne with foure horses to the place of execution, and quartered.

Tis a great thing that you say, are there so many traytors there?

Not so: for iustice doth cut them off so well that they dare not deuise or set a broach any treason.

God of his holie grace preserue Queene ELIZABETH, and grant her long life and prosperitie, frustrating all the practi∣ses of her enemies, and giue her happie suc∣cesse of all her holie desires.

The Queenes maiestie doth she come oft to the Citie? Verie seldome: but she keepeth with her Court alwaies verie neare.

All forraine Nations tru∣ly admire the great vertues and sagenesse of her maiestie.

To confesse the truth, there is no tongue able to set foorth her prai∣ses: for she

is in liberalitie, magnificence, clemencie, wisedome, mercie, beautie, nobilitie, knowledge, cour∣tesie and sagesse, the onely Phoe∣nix of the world; endued with all the most noble vertues, where∣with the fairest and most famous Queenes in all histories of Greeks and Latins haue bene adorned. She may rather be called an Angel of heauen, then an earthly creature.

Doth her Maiestie keepe a great Court?

Truly verie great and magni∣ficent.

Doth her maiestie loue strangers?

She loueth them verie well.

Doth her maiestie speake many languages?

She speaketh eight at the least: to wit: the Greeke tongue, the Latine, Italian, French, Spa∣nish, Scottish, Flemmish, and English: I cannot shew the other excellent vertues where∣with her maiestie in all per∣fection is adorned: and therefore I will produce that which the most excellent French Poet William Salustius Lord of Bartas, hath written in her praise.

These are his verses, as I haue translated them into Eng∣lish,

But what new beame of Phoebus bright, comes dazeling ore mine eies? How am I at this instant made a bourgis of the Skies? O sacred Port! what maiestie so royall do I vew? What twinckling eies like glistering starres, what face of Angels hew? Daughters of Ioue, say sisters nine, ye mistresses that taught her, Say, is not this Elizabeth the-Great, Mineruaes daughter? Who makes the Brittaine braue disdaine the male-kinde Monarchy? To craue for females Scepter, which she swaies in Britanny: When she is mou'd, her neighbours round do find a furie fell, Which seemes disquieted to bring both fire and sword from hell: Whose feare doth make them sore agast, & threats the Machine round, With thundring tempests, ratling stormes, and furious rage to drownd. In blessed peace she doth possesse her kingdome where the lawe Doth flourish with the faith of Christ, and hold her realme in awe. Who hath not of her mother tongue the onely fluent phraze: And yet there in her eloquence the learnedst doth amaze. But presently she can discourse in speeches eight or nine, In Latine, Greeke, French, Spanish, Dutch, Scottish, and Florentine. That for her birth, Imperiall Rome doth plead with Greece & France, And Rhene and Arnus with all three, make mickle variance. Bright Northren Pearle, daughter of Mars, or els well Mars his mai∣ster, The Muses and the liberall Arts, continue still to foster. And if my verses euer chance to flie ore Ocean Maine, Into the Ile where faire Eliza princely Nimphe doth raigne, And fortunate may be to fall into those milkewhite hands, Which sway the Scepters righteously, of many mightie lands. Behold them with a gratious looke: This fauour once I craue: Thinke: who your praise will penne aright, your eloquence must haue.

Truly this Bartasius was a man of a rare spirit.

True it is that this Princesse hath gouerned her Kingdome in great prosperitie for the space of thirtie foure yeares, during the troubles and ruines of other coun∣tries, hauing with her people bene preserued from infinit dangers: and hath the tongues mentioned by the Poet verie readie at command: and besides at this present day by a singular fauour of God, is knowne to be the Northerne Perle, recognished for a for∣tunate Princesse in battell; her victories and happie successe being most memorable and fresh, deserue to be registred in an whole historie that the posteritie shall haue in reuerence for euer.

God keepe her maiestie in his holie safegard, blesse her, and prosper her long time, accor∣ding to his good pleasure.

Sir it is time that I retire to my lodging.

I commend me vnto you then.

I kisse your hands, Adue.