Chapter V: Part 5

here at home, for like cause of excellent learning, great wisdome,
and gentle humanitie, which I haue seene in them, and felt at
their handes my selfe, where the matter of indifference is mere
conscience in a quiet minde inwardlie, and not contentious
malice with spitefull rayling openlie, I can be content to followe
this rewle, in misliking some one thing, not to hate for anie
thing els.
But as for all the bloodie beastes, as that fat Boore of the
_Psal._ 80. // wood: or those brauling Bulles of Basan: or any
lurking _Dormus_, blinde, not by nature, but by
malice, & as may be gathered of their owne testimonie, giuen
ouer to blindnes, for giuing ouer God & his word; or soch as
be so lustie runnegates, as first, runne from God & his trew
doctrine, than, from their Lordes, Masters, & all dewtie, next,
from them selues & out of their wittes, lastly from their Prince,
contrey, & all dew allegeance, whether they ought rather to be
pitied of good men, for their miserie, or contemned of wise
men, for their malicious folie, let good and wise men deter-
mine.
And to returne to _Epitome_ agayne, some will iudge moch
boldnes in me, thus to iudge of _Osorius_ style: but wise men do
know, that meane lookers on, may trewelie say, for a well made
Picture: This face had bene more cumlie, if that hie redde in
the cheeke, were somwhat more pure sanguin than it is: and
yet the stander by, can not amend it himselfe by any way.
And this is not written to the dispraise but to the great
commendation of _Osorius_, because _Tullie_ himselfe had the same
fulnes in him: and therefore went to _Rodes_ to cut it away: and
saith himselfe, _recepi me domum prope mutatus, nam quasi referuerat
iam oratio_. Which was brought to passe I beleue, not onelie by
the teaching of _Molo Appollonius_ but also by a good way of
_Epitome_, in binding him selfe to translate _meros Atticos Oratores_,
and so to bring his style, from all lowse grosnesse, to soch firme
fastnes in latin, as is in _Demosthenes_ in Greeke. And this to be
most trew, may easelie be gathered, not onelie of _L. Crassus_
talke in 1. _de Or._ but speciallie of _Ciceroes_ owne deede in
translating _Demosthenes_ and _æschines_ orations peri steph. to that
verie ende and purpose.
And although a man growndlie learned all readie, may take
moch proffet him selfe in vsing, by _Epitome_, to draw other mens

_the ready way to the Latin tong._ 263

workes for his owne memorie sake, into shorter rowme, as
_Conterus_ hath done verie well the whole _Metamorphosis_ of _Ouid_,
& _Dauid Cythræus_ a great deale better, the ix. Muses of _Hero-
dotus_, and _Melanchthon_ in myne opinion, far best of all, the whole
storie of Time, not onelie to his own vse, but to other mens
proffet and hys great prayse, yet, _Epitome_ is most necessarie of
all in a mans owne writing, as we learne of that noble Poet
_Virgill_, who, if _Donatus_ say trewe, in writing that perfite worke
of the _Georgickes_, vsed dailie, when he had written 40. or 50.
verses, not to cease cutting, paring, and pollishing of them, till
he had brought them to the nomber of x. or xij.
And this exercise, is not more nedefullie done in a great
worke, than wiselie done, in your common dailie writing, either
of letter, or other thing else, that is to say, to peruse diligentlie,
and see and spie wiselie, what is alwaies more than nedeth:
For, twenty to one, offend more, in writing to moch, than to
litle: euen as twentie to one, fall into sicknesse, rather by ouer
moch fulnes, than by anie lacke or emptinesse. And therefore
is he alwaies the best English Physition, that best can geue
a purgation, that is, by way of _Epitome_, to cut all ouer much
away. And surelie mens bodies, be not more full of ill humors,
than commonlie mens myndes (if they be yong, lustie, proude,
like and loue them selues well, as most men do) be full of fansies,
opinions, errors, and faultes, not onelie in inward inuention, but
also in all their vtterance, either by pen or taulke.
And of all other men, euen those that haue y^e inuentiuest
heades, for all purposes, and roundest tonges in all matters and
places (except they learne and vse this good lesson of _Epitome_)
commit commonlie greater faultes, than dull, staying silent men
do. For, quicke inuentors, and faire readie speakers, being
boldned with their present habilitie to say more, and perchance
better to, at the soden for that present, than any other can do,
vse lesse helpe of diligence and studie than they ought to do:
and so haue in them commonlie, lesse learning, and weaker
iudgement, for all deepe considerations, than some duller heades,
and slower tonges haue.
And therefore, readie speakers, generallie be not the best,
playnest, and wisest writers, nor yet the deepest iudgers in
weightie affaires, bicause they do not tarry to weye and iudge
all thinges, as they should: but hauing their heades ouer full of

264 _The second booke teachyng_

matter, be like pennes ouer full of incke, which will soner
blotte, than make any faire letter at all. Tyme was, whan
I had experience of two Ambassadors in one place, the one of
a hote head to inuent, and of a hastie hand to write, the other,
colde and stayd in both: but what difference of their doinges
was made by wise men, is not vnknowne to some persons. The
Bishop of Winchester _Steph_: _Gardiner_ had a quicke head, and
a readie tong, and yet was not the best writer in England.
_Cicero_ in _Brutus_ doth wiselie note the same in _Serg: Galbo_, and
_Q. Hortentius_, who were both, hote, lustie, and plaine speakers,
but colde, lowse, and rough writers: And _Tullie_ telleth the
cause why, saying, whan they spake, their tong was naturally
caried with full tyde & wynde of their witte: whan they wrote
their head was solitarie, dull, and caulme, and so their style was
blonte, and their writing colde: _Quod vitium_, sayth _Cicero_,
_peringeniosis hominibus neque satis doctis plerumque accidit_.
And therfore all quick inuentors, & readie faire speakers,
must be carefull, that, to their goodnes of nature, they adde
also in any wise, studie, labor, leasure, learning, and iudgement,
and than they shall in deede, passe all other, as I know some do,
in whome all those qualities are fullie planted, or else if they
giue ouer moch to their witte, and ouer litle to their labor and
learning, they will sonest ouer reach in taulke, and fardest cum
behinde in writing whatsoeuer they take in hand. The methode
of _Epitome_ is most necessarie for soch kinde of men. And thus
much concerning the vse or misuse of all kinde of _Epitomes_ in
matters of learning.

[dingbat omitted] _Imitatio._

_Imitation_, is a facultie to expresse liuelie and perfitelie that
example: which ye go about to folow. And of it selfe, it is
large and wide: for all the workes of nature, in a maner be
examples for arte to folow.
But to our purpose, all languages, both learned and mother
tonges, be gotten, and gotten onelie by _Imitation_. For as ye
vse to heare, so ye learne to speake: if ye heare no other, ye
speake not your selfe: and whome ye onelie heare, of them ye
onelie learne.
And therefore, if ye would speake as the best and wisest do,

_the ready way to the Latin tong._ 265

ye must be conuersant, where the best and wisest are: but if
yow be borne or brought vp in a rude contrie, ye shall not chose
but speake rudelie: the rudest man of all knoweth this to be
trewe.
Yet neuerthelesse, the rudenes of common and mother
tonges, is no bar for wise speaking. For in the rudest contrie,
and most barbarous mother language, many be found can speake
verie wiselie: but in the Greeke and latin tong, the two onelie
learned tonges, which be kept, not in common taulke, but in
priuate bookes, we finde alwayes, wisdome and eloquence, good
matter and good vtterance, neuer or seldom a sonder. For all
soch Authors, as be fullest of good matter and right iudgement
in doctrine, be likewise alwayes, most proper in wordes, most
apte in sentence, most plaine and pure in vttering the same.
And contrariwise, in those two tonges, all writers, either in
Religion, or any sect of Philosophie, who so euer be founde
fonde in iudgement of matter, be commonlie found as rude in
vttering their mynde. For Stoickes, Anabaptistes, and Friers:
with Epicures, Libertines and Monkes, being most like in
learning and life, are no fonder and pernicious in their opinions,
than they be rude and barbarous in their writinges. They be
not wise, therefore that say, what care I for a mans wordes and
vtterance, if his matter and reasons be good. Soch men, say
so, not so moch of ignorance, as eyther of some singular pride
in themselues, or some speciall malice or other, or for some
priuate & perciall matter, either in Religion or other kinde of
learning. For good and choice meates, be no more requisite
for helthie bodies, than proper and apte wordes be for good
matters, and also plaine and sensible vtterance for the best and
depest reasons: in which two pointes standeth perfite eloquence,
one of the fairest and rarest giftes that God doth geue to man.
Ye know not, what hurt ye do to learning, that care not
for wordes, but for matter, and so make a deuorse betwixt the
tong and the hart. For marke all aiges: looke vpon the whole
course of both the Greeke and Latin tonge, and ye shall surelie
finde, that, whan apte and good wordes began to be neglected,
and properties of those two tonges to be confounded, than also
began, ill deedes to spring: strange maners to oppresse good
orders, newe and fond opinions to striue with olde and trewe
doctrine, first in Philosophie: and after in Religion: right

266 _The second booke teachyng_

iudgement of all thinges to be peruerted, and so vertue with
learning is contemned, and studie left of: of ill thoughtes
cummeth peruerse iudgement: of ill deedes springeth lewde
taulke. Which fower misorders, as they mar mans life, so
destroy they good learning withall.
But behold the goodnesse of Gods prouidence for learning:
all olde authors and sectes of Philosophy, which were fondest in
opinion, and rudest in vtterance, as Stoickes and Epicures, first
contemned of wise men, and after forgotten of all men, be so
consumed by tymes, as they be now, not onelie out of vse, but
also out of memorie of man: which thing, I surelie thinke,
will shortlie chance, to the whole doctrine and all the bookes of
phantasticall Anabaptistes and Friers, and of the beastlie
Libertines and Monkes.
Againe behold on the other side, how Gods wisdome hath
wrought, that of _Academici_ and _Peripatetici_, those that were
wisest in iudgement of matters, and purest in vttering their
myndes, the first and chiefest, that wrote most and best, in
either tong, as _Plato_ and _Aristotle_ in Greeke, _Tullie_ in Latin, be
so either wholie, or sufficiently left vnto vs, as I neuer knew
yet scholer, that gaue himselfe to like, and loue, and folow
chieflie those three Authors but he proued, both learned, wise,
and also an honest man, if he ioyned with all the trewe doctrine
of Gods holie Bible, without the which, the other three, be but
fine edge tooles in a fole or mad mans hand.
But to returne to _Imitation_ agayne: There be three kindes
of it in matters of learning.
The whole doctrine of Comedies and Tragedies, is a
perfite _imitation_, or faire liuelie painted picture of the life of
euerie degree of man. Of this _Imitation_ writeth _Plato_ at
large in 3. _de Rep._ but it doth not moch belong at this time to
our purpose.
The second kind of _Imitation_, is to folow for learning of
tonges and sciences, the best authors. Here riseth, emonges
proude and enuious wittes, a great controuersie, whether, one
or many are to be folowed: and if one, who is that one: _Seneca_,
or _Cicero_: _Salust_ or _Cæsar_, and so forth in Greeke and Latin.
The third kinde of _Imitation_, belongeth to the second: as
when you be determined, whether ye will folow one or mo, to
know perfitlie, and which way to folow that one: in what

_the ready way to the Latin tong._ 267

place: by what meane and order: by what tooles and instru-
mentes ye shall do it, by what skill and iudgement, ye shall
trewelie discerne, whether ye folow rightlie or no.
This _Imitatio_, is _dissimilis materiei similis tractatio_: and also,
_similis materiei dissimilis tractatio_, as _Virgill_ folowed _Homer_: but
the Argument to the one was _Vlysses_, to the other _æneas_.
_Tullie_ persecuted _Antonie_ with the same wepons of eloquence,
that _Demosthenes_ vsed before against _Philippe_.
_Horace_ foloweth _Pindar_, but either of them his owne
Argument and Person: as the one, _Hiero_ king of _Sicilie_, the
other _Augustus_ the Emperor: and yet both for like respectes,
that is, for their coragious stoutnes in warre, and iust gouern-
ment in peace.
One of the best examples, for right _Imitation_ we lacke, and
that is _Menander_, whom our _Terence_, (as the matter required) in
like argument, in the same Persons, with equall eloquence, foote
by foote did folow.
Som peeces remaine, like broken Iewelles, whereby men
may rightlie esteme, and iustlie lament, the losse of the
whole.
_Erasmus_, the ornament of learning, in our tyme, doth wish
that som man of learning and diligence, would take the like
paines in _Demosthenes_ and _Tullie_, that _Macrobius_ hath done in
_Homer_ and _Virgill_, that is, to write out and ioyne together,
where the one doth imitate the other. _Erasmus_ wishe is good,
but surelie, it is not good enough: for _Macrobius_ gatherings for
the _æneidos_ out of _Homer_, and _Eobanus Hessus_ more diligent
gatherings for the _Bucolikes_ out of _Theocritus_, as they be not
fullie taken out of the whole heape, as they should be, but euen
as though they had not sought for them of purpose, but fownd
them scatered here and there by chance in their way, euen so,
onelie to point out, and nakedlie to ioyne togither their
sentences, with no farder declaring the maner and way, how
the one doth folow the other, were but a colde helpe, to the
encrease of learning.
But if a man would take this paine also, whan he hath layd
two places, of _Homer_ and _Virgill_, or of _Demosthenes_ and
_Tullie_
togither, to teach plainlie withall, after this sort.
1. _Tullie_ reteyneth thus moch of the matter, thies
sentences, thies wordes:

268 _The second booke teachyng_

2. This and that he leaueth out, which he doth wittelie to
this end and purpose.
3. This he addeth here.
4. This he diminisheth there.
5. This he ordereth thus, with placing that here, not
there.
6. This he altereth and changeth, either, in propertie of
wordes, in forme of sentence, in substance of the matter, or in
one, or other conuenient circumstance of the authors present
purpose. In thies fewe rude English wordes, are wrapt vp all
the necessarie tooles and instrumentes, wherewith trewe _Imita-
tion_ is rightlie wrought withall in any tonge. Which tooles,
I openlie confesse, be not of myne owne forging, but partlie left
vnto me by the cunningest Master, and one of the worthiest
Ientlemen that euer England bred, Syr _Iohn Cheke_: partelie
borowed by me out of the shoppe of the dearest frende I haue
out of England, _Io. St._ And therefore I am the bolder to
borow of him, and here to leaue them to other, and namelie to
my Children: which tooles, if it please God, that an other day,
they may be able to vse rightlie, as I do wish and daylie pray,
they may do, I shal be more glad, than if I were able to leaue
them a great quantitie of land.
This foresaide order and doctrine of _Imitation_, would bring
forth more learning, and breed vp trewer iudgement, than any
other exercise that can be vsed, but not for yong beginners,
bicause they shall not be able to consider dulie therof. And
trewelie, it may be a shame to good studentes who hauing so
faire examples to follow, as _Plato_ and _Tullie_, do not vse so wise
wayes in folowing them for the obteyning of wisdome and
learning, as rude ignorant Artificers do, for gayning a small
commoditie. For surelie the meanest painter vseth more witte,
better arte, greater diligence, in hys shoppe, in folowing the
Picture of any meane mans face, than commonlie the best
studentes do, euen in the vniuersitie, for the atteining of
learning it selfe.
Some ignorant, vnlearned, and idle student: or some busie
looker vpon this litle poore booke, that hath neither will to do
good him selfe, nor skill to iudge right of others, but can lustelie
contemne, by pride and ignorance, all painfull diligence and
right order in study, will perchance say, that I am to precise, to

_the ready way to the Latin tong._ 269

curious, in marking and piteling thus about the imitation of
others: and that the olde worthie Authors did neuer busie their
heades and wittes, in folowyng so preciselie, either the matter
what other men wrote, or els the maner how other men wrote.
They will say, it were a plaine slauerie, & inurie to, to shakkle
and tye a good witte, and hinder the course of a mans good
nature with such bondes of seruitude, in folowyng other.
Except soch men thinke them selues wiser then _Cicero_ for
teaching of eloquence, they must be content to turne a new
leafe.
The best booke that euer _Tullie_ wrote, by all mens iudge-
ment, and by his owne testimonie to, in writyng wherof, he
employed most care, studie, learnyng and iudgement, is his
book _de Orat. ad Q. F._ Now let vs see, what he did for the
matter, and also for the maner of writing therof. For the
whole booke consisteth in these two pointes onelie: In good
matter, and good handling of the matter. And first, for the
matter, it is whole _Aristotles_, what so euer _Antonie_ in the
second, and _Crassus_ in the third doth teach. Trust not me,
but beleue _Tullie_ him selfe, who writeth so, first, in that goodlie
long Epistle _ad P. Lentulum_, and after in diuerse places _ad
Atticum_. And in the verie booke it selfe, Tullie will not haue
it hidden, but both _Catulus_ and _Crassus_ do oft and pleasantly lay
that stelth to _Antonius_ charge. Now, for the handling of the
matter, was _Tullie_ so precise and curious rather to follow an
other mans Paterne, than to inuent some newe shape him selfe,
namelie in that booke, wherin he purposed, to leaue to
posteritie, the glorie of his witte? yea forsoth, that he did.
And this is not my gessing and gathering, nor onelie performed
by _Tullie_ in verie deed, but vttered also by _Tullie_ in plaine
wordes: to teach other men thereby, what they should do, in
taking like matter in hand.
And that which is specially to be marked, _Tullie_ doth vtter
plainlie his conceit and purpose therein, by the mouth of
the wisest man in all that companie: for sayth _Scæuola_ him
selfe, _Cur non imitamur, Crasse, Socratem illum, qui est in Phædro
Platonis &c._
And furder to vnderstand, that _Tullie_ did not _obiter_ and
bichance, but purposelie and mindfullie bend him selfe to
a precise and curious Imitation of _Plato_, concernyng the shape

270 _The second booke teachyng_

and forme of those bookes, marke I pray you, how curious
_Tullie_ is to vtter his purpose and doyng therein, writing thus to
_Atticus_.
_Quod in his Oratorijs libris, quos tantopere laudas, personam
desideras Scæuolæ, non eam temerè dimoui: Sed feci idem, quod in
politeia Deus ille noster Plato, cum in Piræeum Socrates venisset ad
Cephalum locupletem & festiuum Senem, quoad primus ille sermo
haberetur, adest in disputando senex: Deinde, cum ipse quoque
commodissimè locutus esset, ad rem diuinam dicit se velle discedere,
neque postea reuertitur. Credo Platonem vix putasse satis consonum
fore, si hominem id ætatis in tam longo sermone diutius retinuisset:
Multo ego satius hoc mihi cauendum putaui in Scæuola, qui & ætate
et valetudine erat ea qua meministi, & his honoribus, vt vix satis
decorum videretur eum plures dies esse in Crassi Tusculano. Et erat
primi libri sermo non alienus à Scæuolæ studijs: reliqui libri
technologian habent, vt scis. Huic ioculatoriæ disputationi senem
illum vt noras, interesse sanè nolui._
If _Cicero_ had not opened him selfe, and declared hys owne
thought and doynges herein, men that be idle, and ignorant, and
enuious of other mens diligence and well doinges, would haue
sworne that _Tullie_ had neuer mynded any soch thing, but that
of a precise curiositie, we fayne and forge and father soch
thinges of _Tullie_, as he neuer ment in deed. I write this, not
for nought: for I haue heard some both well learned, and
otherwayes verie wise, that by their lustie misliking of soch
diligence, haue drawen back the forwardnes of verie good wittes.
But euen as such men them selues, do sometymes stumble vpon
doyng well by chance and benefite of good witte, so would
I haue our scholer alwayes able to do well by order of learnyng
and right skill of iudgement.
Concernyng Imitation, many learned men haue written,
with moch diuersitie for the matter, and therfore with great
contrarietie and some stomacke amongest them selues. I
haue read as many as I could get diligentlie, and what I
thinke of euerie one of them, I will freelie say my mynde.
With which freedome I trust good men will beare, bicause
it shall tend to neither spitefull nor harmefull controuersie.
In _Tullie_, it is well touched, shortlie taught, not fullie
_Cicero._ // declared by _Ant. in_ 2. _de Orat_: and afterward
in _Orat. ad Brutum_, for the liking and misliking

_the ready way to the Latin tong._ 271

of _Isocrates_: and the contrarie iudgement of _Tullie_ against
_Caluus, Brutus_, and _Calidius, de genere dicendi Attico & Asiatico_.
_Dionis. Halic._ peri mimeseos. I feare is lost: which
Author, next _Aristotle, Plato_, and _Tullie_, of all // _Dio. Hali-_
other, that write of eloquence, by the iudgement // _car._
of them that be best learned, deserueth the next
prayse and place.
_Quintilian_ writeth of it, shortly and coldlie for the matter,
yet hotelie and spitefullie enough, agaynst the // _Quintil._
Imitation of _Tullie_.
_Erasmus_, beyng more occupied in spying other mens faultes,
than declaryng his own aduise, is mistaken of // _Erasmus._
many, to the great hurt of studie, for his authoritie
sake. For he writeth rightlie, rightlie vnderstanded: he and
_Longolius_ onelie differing in this, that the one seemeth to giue
ouermoch, the other ouer litle, to him, whom they both, best
loued, and chiefly allowed of all other.
_Budæus_ in his Commentaries roughlie and obscurelie,
after his kinde of writyng: and for the matter, // _Budæus._
caryed somwhat out of the way in ouermuch
misliking the Imitation of _Tullie_. // _Ph. Me-_
_Phil. Melancthon_, learnedlie and trewlie. // _lanch._
_Camerarius_ largely with a learned iudgement, // _Ioa. Cam-_
but somewhat confusedly, and with ouer rough // _mer._
a stile.
_Sambucus_, largely, with a right iudgement but somewhat
a crooked stile. // _Sambucus._
Other haue written also, as _Cortesius_ to // _Cortesius._
_Politian_, and that verie well: _Bembus ad Picum_ // _P. Bembus._
a great deale better, but _Ioan. Sturmius de_ // _Ioan. Stur-_
_Nobilitate literata, & de Amissa dicendi ratione_, // _mius._
farre best of all, in myne opinion, that euer tooke
this matter in hand. For all the rest, declare chiefly this point,
whether one, or many, or all, are to be followed: but _Sturmius_
onelie hath most learnedlie declared, who is to be followed, what
is to be followed, and the best point of all, by what way & order,
trew Imitation is rightlie to be exercised. And although _Sturmius_
herein doth farre passe all other, yet hath he not so fullie and
perfitelie done it, as I do wishe he had, and as I know he could.
For though he hath done it perfitelie for precept, yet hath he

272 _The second booke teachyng_

not done it perfitelie enough for example: which he did, neither
for lacke of skill, nor by negligence, but of purpose, contented
with one or two examples bicause he was mynded in those two
bookes, to write of it both shortlie, and also had to touch other
matters.
_Barthol. Riccius Ferrariensis_ also hath written learnedlie,
diligentlie and verie largelie of this matter euen as hee did before
verie well _de Apparatu linguæ Lat._ He writeth the better in
myne opinion, bicause his whole doctrine, iudgement, and
order, semeth to be borowed out of _Io. Stur._ bookes. He
addeth also examples, the best kinde of teaching: wherein he
doth well, but not well enough: in deede, he committeth no
faulte, but yet, deserueth small praise. He is content with the
meane, and followeth not the best: as a man, that would feede
vpon Acornes, whan he may eate, as good cheape, the finest
wheat bread. He teacheth for example, where and how, two
or three late _Italian_ Poetes do follow _Virgil_: and how _Virgil_
him selfe in the storie of _Dido_, doth wholie Imitate _Catullus_ in
the like matter of _Ariadna_: Wherein I like better his diligence
and order of teaching, than his iudgement in choice of examples
for _Imitation_. But, if he had done thus: if he had declared
where and how, how oft and how many wayes _Virgil_ doth folow
_Homer_, as for example the comming of _Vlysses_ to _Alcynous_ and
_Calypso_, with the comming of _æneas_ to _Cartage_ and
_Dido_: Like-
wise the games running, wrestling, and shoting, that _Achilles_
maketh in _Homer_, with the selfe same games, that _æneas_
maketh in _Virgil_: The harnesse of _Achilles_, with the harnesse
of _æneas_, and the maner of making of them both by _Vulcane_:
The notable combate betwixt _Achilles_ and _Hector_, with as
notable a combate betwixt _æneas_ and _Turnus_. The going
downe to hell of _Vlysses_ in _Homer_, with the going downe to hell
of _Æneas_ in _Virgil_: and other places infinite mo, as similitudes,
narrations, messages, discriptions of persones, places, battels,
tempestes, shipwrackes, and common places for diuerse purposes,
which be as precisely taken out of _Homer_, as euer did Painter in
London follow the picture of any faire personage. And when
thies places had bene gathered together by this way of diligence
than to haue conferred them together by this order of teaching
as, diligently to marke what is kept and vsed in either author,
in wordes, in sentences, in matter: what is added: what is left

_the ready way to the Latin tong._ 273

out: what ordered otherwise, either _præponendo, interponendo_, or
_postponendo_: And what is altered for any respect, in word,
phrase, sentence, figure, reason, argument, or by any way of
circumstance: If _Riccius_ had done this, he had not onely bene
well liked, for his diligence in teaching, but also iustlie com-
mended for his right iudgement in right choice of examples for
the best _Imitation_.
_Riccius_ also for _Imitation_ of prose declareth where and how
_Longolius_ doth folow _Tullie_, but as for _Longolius_, I would not
haue him the patern of our _Imitation_. In deede: in _Longolius_
shoppe, be proper and faire shewing colers, but as for shape,
figure, and naturall cumlines, by the iudgement of best iudging
artificers, he is rather allowed as one to be borne withall, than
especially commended, as one chieflie to be folowed.
If _Riccius_ had taken for his examples, where _Tullie_ him selfe
foloweth either _Plato_ or _Demosthenes_, he had shot than at the
right marke. But to excuse _Riccius_, somwhat, though I can
not fullie defend him, it may be sayd, his purpose was, to teach
onelie the Latin tong, when thys way that I do wish, to ioyne
_Virgil_ with _Homer_, to read _Tullie_ with _Demosthenes_ and
_Plato_,
requireth a cunning and perfite Master in both the tonges. It
is my wish in deede, and that by good reason: For who so euer
will write well of any matter, must labor to expresse that, that
is perfite, and not to stay and content himselfe with the meane:
yea, I say farder, though it be not vnposible, yet it is verie rare,
and meruelous hard, to proue excellent in the Latin tong, for
him that is not also well seene in the Greeke tong. _Tullie_ him
selfe, most excellent of nature, most diligent in labor, brought
vp from his cradle, in that place, and in that tyme, where and
whan the Latin tong most florished naturallie in euery mans
mouth, yet was not his owne tong able it selfe to make him so
cunning in his owne tong, as he was in deede: but the
knowledge and _Imitation_ of the Greeke tong withall.
This he confesseth himselfe: this he vttereth in many places,
as those can tell best, that vse to read him most.
Therefore thou, that shotest at perfection in the Latin tong,
thinke not thy selfe wiser than _Tullie_ was, in choice of the way,
that leadeth rightlie to the same: thinke not thy witte better
than _Tullies_ was, as though that may serue thee that was not
sufficient for him. For euen as a hauke flieth not hie with one

274 _The second booke teachyng_

wing: euen so a man reacheth not to excellency with one
tong.
I haue bene a looker on in the Cokpit of learning thies
many yeares: And one Cock onelie haue I knowne, which
with one wing, euen at this day, doth passe all other, in myne
opinion, that euer I saw in any pitte in England, though they
had two winges. Yet neuerthelesse, to flie well with one
wing, to runne fast with one leg, be rather, rare Maistreis
moch to be merueled at, than sure examples safelie to be
folowed. A Bushop that now liueth, a good man, whose
iudgement in Religion I better like, than his opinion in per-
fitnes in other learning, said once vnto me: we haue no nede
now of the Greeke tong, when all thinges be translated into
Latin. But the good man vnderstood not, that euen the best
translation, is, for mere necessitie, but an euill imped wing to
flie withall, or a heuie stompe leg of wood to go withall: soch,
the hier they flie, the sooner they falter and faill: the faster
they runne, the ofter they stumble, and sorer they fall. Soch
as will nedes so flie, may flie at a Pye, and catch a Dawe: And
soch runners, as commonlie, they shoue and sholder to stand
formost, yet in the end they cum behind others & deserue
but the hopshakles, if the Masters of the game be right iudgers.
Therefore in perusing thus, so many diuerse bookes for
Optima // _Imitation_, it came into my head that a verie pro-
ratio Imi- // fitable booke might be made _de Imitatione_, after
tationis. // an other sort, than euer yet was attempted of that
matter, conteyning a certaine fewe fitte preceptes,
vnto the which should be gathered and applied plentie of
examples, out of the choisest authors of both the tonges.
This worke would stand, rather in good diligence, for the
gathering, and right iudgement for the apte applying of those
examples: than any great learning or vtterance at all.
The doing thereof, would be more pleasant, than painfull,
& would bring also moch proffet to all that should read it, and
great praise to him would take it in hand, with iust desert of
thankes.
_Erasmus_, giuyng him selfe to read ouer all Authors _Greke_
_Erasmus_ // and _Latin_, seemeth to haue prescribed to him
order in his // selfe this order of readyng: that is, to note out
studie. // by the way, three speciall pointes: All Adagies,

_the ready way to the Latin tong._ 275

all similitudes, and all wittie sayinges of most notable person-
ages: And so, by one labour, he left to posteritie, three notable
bookes, & namelie two his _Chiliades, Apophthegmata_ and _Similia_.
Likewise, if a good student would bend him selfe to read
diligently ouer Tullie, and with him also at // {_Plato._
the same tyme, as diligently _Plato_, & _Xenophon_, // {_Xenophon._
with his bookes of Philosophie, _Isocrates_, & // Cicero. {_Isocrates._
_Demosthenes_ with his orations, & _Aristotle_ with // {_Demosth._
his Rhetorickes: which fiue of all other, be // {_Aristotles._
those, whom _Tullie_ best loued, & specially followed: & would
marke diligently in _Tullie_ where he doth _exprimere_ or _effingere_
(which be the verie propre wordes of Imitation) either, _Copiam
Platonis_ or _venustatem Xenophontis, suauitatem Isocratis_, or _vim
Demosthenis, propriam & puram subtilitatem Aristotelis_, and not
onelie write out the places diligentlie, and lay them together
orderlie, but also to conferre them with skilfull iudgement by
those few rules, which I haue expressed now twise before: if
that diligence were taken, if that order were vsed, what perfite
knowledge of both the tonges, what readie and pithie vtterance
in all matters, what right and deepe iudgement in all kinde of
learnyng would follow, is scarse credible to be beleued.
These bookes, be not many, nor long, nor rude in speach,
nor meane in matter, but next the Maiestie of Gods holie word,
most worthie for a man, the louer of learning and honestie, to
spend his life in. Yea, I haue heard worthie _M. Cheke_ many
tymes say: I would haue a good student passe and iorney
through all Authors both _Greke_ and _Latin_: but he that will
dwell in these few bookes onelie: first, in Gods holie Bible, and
than ioyne with it, _Tullie_ in _Latin, Plato, Aristotle: Xenophon:
Isocrates_: and _Demosthenes_ in _Greke_: must nedes proue an excel-
lent man.
Some men alreadie in our dayes, haue put to their helping
handes, to this worke of Imitation. As _Peri-_ // _Perionius._
_onius, Henr. Stephanus in dictionario Ciceroniano_, // _H. Steph._
and _P. Victorius_ most praiseworthelie of all, in // _P. Victor-_
that his learned worke conteyning xxv. bookes _de_ // _ius._
_varia lectione_: in which bookes be ioyned diligentlie together the
best Authors of both the tonges where one doth seeme to
imitate an other.
But all these, with _Macrobius, Hessus_, and other, be no

276 _The second booke teachyng_

more but common porters, caryers, and bringers of matter and
stuffe togither. They order nothing: They lay before you,
what is done: they do not teach you, how it is done: They
busie not them selues with forme of buildyng: They do not
declare, this stuffe is thus framed by _Demosthenes_, and thus and
thus by _Tullie_, and so likewise in _Xenophon, Plato_ and _Isocrates_
and _Aristotle_. For ioyning _Virgil_ with _Homer_ I haue suf-
ficientlie declared before.
The like diligence I would wish to be taken in _Pindar_ and
_Pindarus._ // _Horace_ an equall match for all respectes.
_Horatius._ // In Tragedies, (the goodliest Argument of all,
and for the vse, either of a learned preacher, or a
Ciuill Ientleman, more profitable than _Homer, Pindar, Virgill_,
and _Horace_: yea comparable in myne opinion, with the doctrine
_Sophocles._ // of _Aristotle, Plato_, and _Xenophon_,) the
_Grecians_,
_Euripides._ // _Sophocles_ and _Euripides_ far ouer match our
_Seneca_,
_Seneca._ // in _Latin_, namely in oikonomia _et Decoro_, although
_Senacaes_ elocution and verse be verie commendable for his tyme.
And for the matters of _Hercules, Thebes, Hippolytus_, and _Troie_,
his Imitation is to be gathered into the same booke, and to be
tryed by the same touchstone, as is spoken before.
In histories, and namelie in _Liuie_, the like diligence of
Imitation, could bring excellent learning, and breede stayde
iudgement, in taking any like matter in hand.
Onely _Liuie_ were a sufficient taske for one mans studie,
_Tit. Liuius._ // to compare him, first with his fellow for all re-
_Dion. Hali-_ // spectes, _Dion. Halicarnassæus_: who both, liued in
_carn._ // one tyme: tooke both one historie in hande to
write: deserued both like prayse of learnyng and eloquence.
_Polibius._ // Than with _Polybius_ that wise writer, whom _Liuie_
professeth to follow: & if he would denie it, yet
it is plaine, that the best part of the thyrd _Decade_ in _Liuie_, is in
_Thucidides._ // a maner translated out of the thyrd and rest of
_Polibius_: Lastlie with _Thucydides_, to whose Imita-
tion _Liuie_ is curiouslie bent, as may well appeare by that one
1 _Decad._ // Oration of those of _Campania_, asking aide of the
_Lib._ 7. // _Romanes_ agaynst the _Samnites_, which is wholie
taken, Sentence, Reason, Argument, and order,
_Thucid._ 1. // out of the Oration of _Corcyra_, asking like aide of
the _Athenienses_ against them of _Corinth_. If some

_the ready way to the Latin tong._ 277

diligent student would take paynes to compare them togither, he
should easelie perceiue, that I do say trew. A booke, thus
wholie filled with examples of Imitation, first out of _Tullie_,
compared with _Plato, Xenophon, Isocrates, Demosthenes_ and
_Aristotle_: than out of _Virgil_ and _Horace_, with _Homer_ and
_Pindar_: next out of _Seneca_ with _Sophocles_ and _Euripides_:
Lastlie
out of _Liuie_, with _Thucydides, Polibius_ and _Halicarnassæus_,
gathered with good diligence, and compared with right order,
as I haue expressed before, were an other maner of worke for
all kinde of learning, & namely for eloquence, than be those
cold gatheringes of _Macrobius, Hessus, Perionius, Stephanus_, and
_Victorius_, which may be vsed, as I sayd before, in this case, as
porters and caryers, deseruing like prayse, as soch men do
wages; but onely _Sturmius_ is he, out of whom, the trew suruey
and whole workemanship is speciallie to be learned.
I trust, this my writyng shall giue some good student
occasion, to take some peece in hand of this worke of Imitation.
And as I had rather haue any do it, than my // Opus de
selfe, yet surelie my selfe rather than none at all. // recta imi-
And by Gods grace, if God do lend me life, with // tandi ratione.
health, free laysure and libertie, with good likyng
and a merie heart, I will turne the best part of my studie and
tyme, to toyle in one or other peece of this worke of Imitation.
This diligence to gather examples, to giue light and vnder-
standyng to good preceptes, is no new inuention, but speciallie vsed
of the best Authors and oldest writers. For _Aristotle_ // _Aristoteles._
him selfe, (as _Diog. Laertius_ declareth) when he
had written that goodlie booke of the _Topickes_, did gather out
of stories and Orators, so many examples as filled xv. bookes,
onelie to expresse the rules of his _Topickes_. These were the
Commentaries, that _Aristotle_ thought fit for hys // Commen-
_Topickes_: And therfore to speake as I thinke, I // tarij Græ-
neuer saw yet any Commentarie vpon _Aristotles_ // ci et Lati-
Logicke, either in _Greke_ or _Latin_, that euer I // ni in Dia-
lyked, bicause they be rather spent in declaryng // lect. Ari-
scholepoynt rules, than in gathering fit examples // stotelis.
for vse and vtterance, either by pen or talke. For preceptes in
all Authors, and namelie in _Aristotle_, without applying vnto
them, the Imitation of examples, be hard, drie, and cold, and
therfore barrayn, vnfruitfull and vnpleasant. But _Aristotle_,

278 _The second booke teachyng_

namelie in his _Topicks_ and _Elenches_, should be, not onelie
fruitfull, but also pleasant to, if examples out of _Plato_, and
other good Authors, were diligentlie gathered, and aptlie
Precepta // applied vnto his most perfit preceptes there.
in Aristot. // And it is notable, that my frende _Sturmius_ writeth
Exempla // herein, that there is no precept in _Aristotles_
in _Platone._ // _Topickes_ wherof plentie of examples be not
manifest in _Platos_ workes. And I heare say, that an excellent
learned man, _Tomitanus_ in _Italie_, hath expressed euerie fallacion
in _Aristotle_, with diuerse examples out of _Plato_. Would to
God, I might once see, some worthie student of _Aristotle_ and
_Plato_ in Cambrige, that would ioyne in one booke the preceptes
of the one, with the examples of the other. For such a labor,
were one speciall peece of that worke of Imitation, which I do
wishe were gathered together in one Volume.
Cambrige, at my first comming thither, but not at my
going away, committed this fault in reading the preceptes of
_Aristotle_ without the examples of other Authors: But herein,
in my time thies men of worthie memorie, _M. Redman_,
_M. Cheke, M. Smith, M. Haddon, M. Watson_, put so to
their helping handes, as that vniuersitie, and all studentes there,
as long as learning shall last, shall be bounde vnto them, if that
trade in studie be trewlie folowed, which those men left behinde
them there.
By this small mention of Cambridge, I am caryed into three
imaginations: first, into a sweete remembrance of my tyme
spent there: than, into som carefull thoughts, for the greuous
alteration that folowed sone after: lastlie, into much ioy to
heare tell, of the good recouerie and earnest forwardnes in all
good learning there agayne.
To vtter theis my thoughts somwhat more largelie, were
somwhat beside my matter, yet not very farre out of the way,
bycause it shall wholy tend to the good encoragement and right
consideration of learning, which is my full purpose in writing
this litle booke: whereby also shall well appeare this sentence
to be most trewe, that onely good men, by their gouernment
& example, make happie times, in euery degree and state.
Doctor _Nico. Medcalfe_, that honorable father, was Master
_D. Nic._ // of _S. Iohnes_ Colledge, when I came thether: A
_Medcalf._ // man meanelie learned himselfe, but not meanely

_the ready way to the Latin tong._ 279

affectioned to set forward learning in others. He found
that Colledge spending scarse two hundred markes by yeare:
he left it spending a thousand markes and more. Which
he procured, not with his mony, but by his wisdome; not
chargeablie bought by him, but liberallie geuen by others by his
meane, for the zeale & honor they bare to learning. And that
which is worthy of memorie, all thies giuers were almost
Northenmen: who being liberallie rewarded in the seruice of
their Prince, bestowed it as liberallie for the good of their
Contrie. Som men thought therefore, that _D. Medcalfe_ was
parciall to Northrenmen, but sure I am of this, that North-
renmen were parciall, in doing more good, and geuing more
landes to y^e forderance of learning, than any other // The parci-
contrie men, in those dayes, did: which deede // alitie of
should haue bene, rather an example of goodnes, // Northren
for other to folowe, than matter of malice, for any // men in
to enuie, as some there were that did. Trewly, // _S. Iohnes_
_D. Medcalfe_ was parciall to none: but indifferent // College.
to all: a master for the whole, a father to euery one, in that
Colledge. There was none so poore, if he had, either wil to
goodnes, or wit to learning, that could lacke being there, or
should depart from thence for any need. I am witnes my selfe,
that mony many times was brought into yong mens studies by
strangers whom they knew not. In which doing, this worthy
_Nicolaus_ folowed the steppes of good olde _S. Nicolaus_, that
learned Bishop. He was a Papist in deede, but would to God,
amonges all vs Protestants I might once see but one, that would
winne like praise, in doing like good, for the aduauncement of
learning and vertue. And yet, though he were a Papist, if any
yong man, geuen to new learning (as they termed it) went
beyond his fellowes, in witte, labor, and towardnes, euen the
same, neyther lacked, open praise to encorage him, nor priuate
exhibition to mainteyne hym, as worthy Syr _I. Cheke_, if he
were aliue would beare good witnes and so can many mo.
I my selfe one of the meanest of a great number, in that
Colledge, because there appeared in me som small shew of
towardnes and diligence, lacked not his fauor to forder me in
learning.
And being a boy, new Bacheler of arte, I chanced amonges
my companions to speake against the Pope: which matter was

280 _The second booke teachyng_

than in euery mans mouth, bycause _D. Haines_ and _D. Skippe_
were cum from the Court, to debate the same matter, by
preaching and disputation in the vniuersitie. This hapned the
same tyme, when I stoode to be felow there: my taulke came
to _D. Medcalfes_ eare: I was called before him and the Seniores:
and after greuous rebuke, and some punishment, open warning
was geuen to all the felowes, none to be so hardie to geue me
his voice at that election. And yet for all those open threates,
the good father himselfe priuilie procured, that I should euen
than be chosen felow. But, the election being done, he made
countinance of great discontentation thereat. This good mans
goodnes, and fatherlie discretion, vsed towardes me that one
day, shall neuer out of my remembrance all the dayes of my
life. And for the same cause, haue I put it here, in this small
record of learning. For next Gods prouidence, surely that day,
was by that good fathers meanes, _Dies natalis_, to me, for the
whole foundation of the poore learning I haue, and of all the
furderance, that hetherto else where I haue obteyned.
This his goodnes stood not still in one or two, but flowed
aboundantlie ouer all that Colledge, and brake out also to
norishe good wittes in euery part of that vniuersitie: whereby,
at this departing thence, he left soch a companie of fellowes and
scholers in _S. Iohnes_ Colledge, as can scarse be found now in
some whole vniuersitie: which, either for diuinitie, on the one
side or other, or for Ciuill seruice to their Prince and contrie,
haue bene, and are yet to this day, notable ornaments to this
whole Realme: Yea _S. Iohnes_ did then so florish, as Trinitie
college, that Princely house now, at the first erection, was but
_Colonia deducta_ out of _S. Iohnes_, not onelie for their Master,
fellowes, and scholers, but also, which is more, for their whole,
both order of learning, and discipline of maners: & yet to this
day, it neuer tooke Master but such as was bred vp before in
_S. Iohnes_: doing the dewtie of a good _Colonia_ to her _Metropolis_,
as the auncient Cities in Greice and some yet in Italie, at this
day, are accustomed to do.
_S. Iohnes_ stoode in this state, vntill those heuie tymes, and
that greuous change that chanced. An. 1553. whan mo perfite
scholers were dispersed from thence in one moneth, than many
Psal. 80. // yeares can reare vp againe. For, whan _Aper de
Sylua_ had passed the seas, and fastned his foote

_the ready way to the Latin tong._ 281

againe in England, not onely the two faire groues of learning
in England were eyther cut vp, by the roote, or troden downe
to the ground and wholie went to wracke, but the yong spring
there, and euerie where else, was pitifullie nipt and ouertroden
by very beastes, and also the fairest standers of all, were rooted
vp, and cast into the fire, to the great weakning euen at this
day of Christes Chirch in England, both for Religion and
learning.
And what good could chance than to the vniuersities, whan
som of the greatest, though not of the wisest nor best learned,
nor best men neither of that side, did labor to perswade, that
ignorance was better than knowledge, which they ment, not for
the laitie onelie, but also for the greatest rable of their spiritu-
altie, what other pretense openlie so euer they made: and
therefore did som of them at Cambrige (whom I will not name
openlie,) cause hedge priestes fette oute of the contrie, to be
made fellowes in the vniuersitie: saying, in their talke priuilie,
and declaring by their deedes openlie, that he was, felow good
enough for their tyme, if he could were a gowne and a tipet
cumlie, and haue hys crowne shorne faire and roundlie, and
could turne his Portesse and pie readilie: whiche I speake not
to reproue any order either of apparell, or other dewtie, that
may be well and indifferentlie vsed, but to note the miserie of
that time, whan the benefites prouided for learning were so
fowlie misused. And what was the frute of this seade?
Verely, iudgement in doctrine was wholy altered: order in
discipline very sore changed: the loue of good learning, began
sodenly to wax cold: the knowledge of the tonges (in spite of
some that therein had florished) was manifestly contemned:
and so, y^e way of right studie purposely peruerted: the choice
of good authors of mallice confownded. Olde sophistrie (I say
not well) not olde, but that new rotten sophistrie began to
beard and sholder logicke in her owne tong: yea, I know, that
heades were cast together, and counsell deuised, that _Duns_, with
all the rable of barbarous questionistes, should haue dispossessed
of their place and rowmes, _Aristotle, Plato, Tullie_, // _Aristoteles._
and _Demosthenes_, when good _M. Redman_, and // _Plato._
those two worthy starres of that vniuersitie, // _Cicero._
_M. Cheke_, and _M. Smith_, with their scholers, had // _Demost._
brought to florishe as notable in Cambrige, as

282 _The second booke teachyng_

euer they did in Grece and in Italie: and for the doctrine of
those fowre, the fowre pillers of learning, Cambrige than geuing
place to no vniuersitie, neither in France, Spaine, Germanie,
nor Italie. Also in outward behauiour, than began simplicitie
in apparell, to be layd aside: Courtlie galantnes to be taken vp:
frugalitie in diet was priuately misliked: Towne going to good
Shoting. // cheare openly vsed: honest pastimes, ioyned with
labor, left of in the fieldes: vnthrifty and idle
games, haunted corners, and occupied the nightes: contention
in youth, no where for learning: factions in the elders euery
where for trifles. All which miseries at length, by Gods
prouidence, had their end 16. _Nouemb._ 1558. Since which
tyme, the yong spring hath shot vp so faire, as now there be in
Cambrige againe, many goodly plantes (as did well appeare at
the Queenes Maiesties late being there) which are like to grow
to mightie great timber, to the honor of learning, and great good
of their contrie, if they may stand their tyme, as the best
plantes there were wont to do: and if som old dotterell trees,
with standing ouer nie them, and dropping vpon them, do not
either hinder, or crooke their growing, wherein my feare is y^e
lesse, seing so worthie a Iustice of an Oyre hath the present
ouersight of that whole chace, who was himselfe somtym, in
the fairest spring that euer was there of learning, one of the
forwardest yong plantes, in all that worthy College of _S. Iohnes_:
who now by grace is growne to soch greatnesse, as, in the
temperate and quiet shade of his wisdome, next the prouidence
of God, and goodnes of one, in theis our daies, _Religio_ for
sinceritie, _literæ_ for order and aduauncement, _Respub._ for happie
and quiet gouernment, haue to great rejoysing of all good men,
speciallie reposed them selues.
Now to returne to that Question, whether one, a few, many
or all, are to be folowed, my aunswere shalbe short: All, for
him that is desirous to know all: yea, the worst of all, as
Questionistes, and all the barbarous nation of scholemen, helpe
for one or other consideration: But in euerie separate kinde of
learning and studie, by it selfe, ye must follow, choiselie a few,
and chieflie some one, and that namelie in our schole of
eloquence, either for penne or talke. And as in portraicture
and paintyng wise men chose not that workman, that can onelie
make a faire hand, or a well facioned legge but soch one, as can

_the ready way to the Latin tong._ 283