Epistolæ Ho-elianæ familiar letters domestic and forren divided into sundry sections, partly historicall, politicall, philosophicall, vpon emergent occasions / by James Howell.

V. To G. G. Esq at Rome.

SIR,

I Have more thanks to give you then can be folded up in this narrow paper, though it were all writ in the closest kind of Stenography, for the rich and acurat account you please to give me of that renowned City wherin you now sojourn: I find you have most iudiciously pryed into all matters both civill and clericall, es∣pecially the latter, by observing the poverty and penances of the Fryer, the policy and power of the Iesuit, the pomp of the Prelat and Cardinall: Had it not bin for the two first, I beleeve the two last, and that See had bin at a low ebb by this time; for the lear∣ning, the prudentiall state, knowledge and austerity of the one, and the venerable opinion the peeple have of the abstenious and rigid condition of the other, specially of the Mendicants, seem to make som compensation for the lux and magnificence of the two last: Besides, they are more beholden to the Protestant then they are aware of, for unles he had rise up about the latter end of the last century of yeers, which made them more circumspect and wary of their waies, life, and actions, to what an intollera∣ble high exces that Court had com to by this time, you may easily conjecture. But out of my small reading I have observed that no age ever since Gregory the great hath passed, wherin som or other have not repind and murmurd at the pontificall pomp of that Court, yet for my part I have bin alwaies so charitable as to think that the Religion of Rome, and the Court of Rome were different things. The counterbuffe that happen'd 'twixt Leo the tenth, and Francis the first of France is very remarkeable, who being both met at Bolonia, the King seemd to give a light touch at the Popes pomp, saying, 'twas not used to be so in former time. It may be so, said Leo, but it was then when Kings kept sheep, (as we read in the old Testament.) no, the King replyed, I speak of times under the Gospel, then, rejoind the Pope, 'twas than when Kings did visit Hospitalls, hinting by those words at St. Lewis who used oft to do so. It is memorable what is recorded in the life of Robert Grosted Bishop of Lincoln who liv'd in the time of one of the Leo's, That he feard the same sia would overthrow L•…•…o, as overthrew Lucifer.

For newes hence, I know none of your friends but are at well as you left them, Hombres y Hembras: you are fresh and very frequent in their memory, and mentioned with a thousand good wishes and benedictions; Amongst others you have a larg room in the memory of my Lady Elizabeth Cary, and I do not think all Rome can afford you a fairer lodging. I pray be cauti∣ous of your carriage under that meridian, it is a searching (Inqui∣sitive) air, you have two eyes, and two eares, but one toung, you know my meaning; This last you must imprison (as nature hath already done with a double fence of teeth and lipps) or els she may imprison you, according to our Countryman Mr. Hoskins advice when he was in the Tower.

Vincula da linguae, vel tibi lingua dabit.

Have a care of your health, take heed of the seren's, of exces in fruit, and be sure to mingle your wine well with water: no more now, but that in the large catalog of frends you have left be∣hind here, ther's none who is more mindfull of you then

Your most affectionat and faithfull Servitor, J. H.