Philadelphus, or a defence of Brutes, and the Brutans history Written by R. H.

The third Suppose.

TWo noblemen that partly by nature, and part∣ly by art, could make their bodies indefatiga∣ble for euery attempt and exploit agreed be∣tweene themselues to try, whether books of historie, or deuises of their own would make the more braue man. He that followed books, desired onely to be like the best Worthies of other ages: he that relyed vpon his owne deuise was not content with the examples of bookes, but inuented the means to excel the best that euer was: the bookman putting his felicitie in imitation, came short of those patterns, and yet was glad whē he came neere them: the deuiser setting his mind on emulation, searched the causes of auncient excellencies, and by ad∣ding to the causes added to the effectes, and went be∣yond them all in what case he would. The bookman saith, giue me the life of Alexander, the life of Caesar, the life of Sanderbeg, and then thinketh he hath gotten the spoyles of the East and West, and all patterns of glory that may be gotten: the deuiser saith, let me see the cau∣ses that made those three men so eminent aboue other men: so I shall perceiue a defect of these causes in Hi∣storians: then I must supply them, and excell those

three in mine own person, or in ruling others: the most od and speciall acts that euer they did, may not onely be matched, saith he, but also ouermatched wel enough, I beleeue, and to be plaine, I see nothing euen in Vlis∣ses or Achilles, but it may be seen, I hope, in another, vn∣lesse these books will giue me leaue to trie, whether I may surmount their Nobilities, I will be so bold in reason as to say, that books were made to keep men vnder a certain height, and within a certain compasse, and to make men half the men that they might be, and as it were very woodcocks in comparison of that they should proue, by trying all and trusting none, but which they find certainly, and experimentally true. Thus the bookman is a gallant man with an eare mark and chains of bondage about his necke, but the deuiser him∣selfe is a soueraigne authour of manhood, hauing no cognisance of subiection about him besides the mortali∣tie of his flesh, which notwithstanding he maketh in some sort immortall, eyther in leauing the life therof in his succession, or in spending the might of it in contem∣platiue assaults and atchiuements: for study spendeth the outward man more then action. The Deuiser saith, that men of chiefest note haue euer been of his mind: they haue not beleeued that old bookish rule, Oporter discentem credere, for then they had neuer been better then other mens schollers, whereas by the meanes a∣foresaid they are become captaines in their kind: yet if they had neuer been borne I am sure, saith he, that I had been of this mind, Mundus est omnes libri, this rule is manly, Oporter discentem dubitare, vnlesse he will be deceiued, and runne on the head halfe his life time: in a word, it appeareth plainly, that many men which can∣not

read in bookes vse daily the same or better meanes to try out maysteries then the graundest bookmen: if my iudgement be an error, I would know, from what cause the first Doctors had their Artes before bookes were made: the sworde makes not the warrior: no help is equall with the principall: nature is mightier then Art: the actor more worthy man then his scribe.

Wherefore in respect of the premises, and such other considerations, I haue rather taken an Essay in our Brutan history, then made a Worke. If I be faultie in writing too much, I confesse I knowe no method of writing briefly: If I be blamed in writing too litle, I wil not deny, that the old Brutans deserue a large Chro∣nicle: if I haue kept in the midst of both, it agreeth most with my desire. But why should I doubt of this or that? of friend or foe? Let euery one speake and write freely, not licentiously, in honour of his owne Countrey, that is, not against his kindred and him∣selfe, which are partes thereof. It is a dangerous position to refuse the offspring of Brute, both in regard of all reuerend antiquities of historie, and in respect of our owne Countreimen and neighbours, to whome I wishe all concord and agreement among themselues and against their enemies for euer.

FINIS.