Reader, I hope, wyll judge indifferently of my Doings. Wherfore in my Tranflation I thought it requifit, yea, and also no less neceffarie) to leave the most parte of the Wordes of this Argument in their own Tongue, especiallye for that this Dif courfe of the Grammer Warre was made upon the Grammer of the Latine Tongue first, and not of the French. What will it then avayle (will fome faye) to have tranflated it into English? whereto in the first place it may thus be aunfwered, that for that it was the free good Wil of the Tranflator, that in bys Labour on this Bebalfe thought not to offend, neither to do wrong or difpleafure to any, but that through bys meane the fimple and unlearned Englifhe Readers, afwell as the learned Latinifts, might enjoy part of the Pleasure that is bad in the Lecture of this delectable Difcourfe of this figured Warre, and bloudlesse Battaile, without mortall Shot, fweate or Cannon Poulder. And furthermore that his Meaning was, for the Utilitie of our English Children beginning to ftudie the Latine Tongue who reading this pleafaunt fight in their owne Tong (as the French in theirs) might learne by Waye of Mirth and merrie Paftime, the principal Pointes of the Romayne Grammer: Finally the fame might ferve for an exempler, afwell biftoricall for the Inftruction and Guide of martiall Affaires, as morall, therin to confider the Harmes that ensue thorowe the Diffention of Princes and great Lords, Parents, Kinsmen or Neighbors, how the Communalties of Realmes and Cuntries can not eafelye profite in anye Wealth and Aboundance, without Trafike and quiet Paffages one to another, and howe Diffention procureth diverfe dangerous Dammages to them and theirs: Shewing alfo on the other fide the fingular Benefites that Peace procureth, what Commodities are enjoyed by the Uniformitie of Kings and Princes raigning in one Regiment or Country lovingly togither in one Faith, Lawe, and Tongue, friendly as one: Which Things, (as I fuppofe) are the principall Caufes whye this Booke was first compiled by mine Author, which by Chaunce happening into my Handes, and by me over redde, to my fingular Delight in both Tongues, determined with myselfe to participate parte of my Understanding to the Youth of my Nation, thorowe the Request of a Friende, who might have com maunded me. Wherefore if I efpie the friendlie Receipt hereof, in no leffe gratefull Parte, than it was friendly favoured of fome, I shall be the readier encouraged to bid thee bereafter to fome better Banquet. In the meane whyle let the courteous Reader ufe a friendly Gueftes Parte, not mislyking any thing that is fet freely before him. And albeit that this my Tranflation be not fo exquifitly englished on my Parte as many better learned can doe, yet in Confideration of my painefull good Will, I doubt not your friendly Receipt of the fame. And thoughe that the French Tongue (whereout I extracted this Worke) in Adages and breef Termes have an eafier Conclufion of Speach than our English Tongue, yet let the Reader be affured what foever Termes be altered (if any be) the Matter is perfite, pleafaunt and profitable to the Reader, and much Matter contayned in this fmall Booke, both of Delight and delicate Lyking, fuch as the gentle Reader maye gather great Fruite, Wijedome, and Wortbineffe by, if bee applie his Diligence thereunto. And for my Parte I bestowed my Labours in this Behalfe, not to winne Fame or Favour, but to beftowe my Leyfures well and to fruitful Exercife, to the Benefit of my Countreymen, and to encourage thofe that can doe better to the like Exercife. And if any unfit Wordes happen to be efpied of better and more

eloquent

eloquent Heades, yet I trust that fuch will not condemne a goode Worke for an ill Wrighter, neyther a good Worde for an ill Speaker. What or howe effectuall Matter is contayned in this Booke, in the Sequele is manifeft.

Farewell.

The Difcourfe of the GRAMMER WARRE: betweene two Kings, the NOUNE and the VERBE, contending for the chiefe Place in Oration, wherin thou fhalt fee the VERBE to prevayle.

TH

HERE is none fo fimple in Judgement, that doubteth the Soyle of the Grammer to be the faireft and happieft of all the renoumed Parts and Provinces of the World, afwell for the Pleafantneffe of the Place wherein it is fituate, being in good and holfefome Ayre, and aboundaunt in all Fruites and other good Things, without which this mortall Lyfe may not eafilye be paffed As alfo for that thee hathe alwayes and ever, beene the Nourfe and Bringer up of all People of Renoune. For even as in this Age, even so long Tyme heretofore, the Cuftome and Maner ever was in all Landes and Countries (except among the rude and barbarous Nacions where anye were efpied of prone and readie Nature, bent towarde forwarde Wit, they were fent thither to be taught and inftructed, and perfitly to learne the most holy and learned Sciences: For by this onely Way and Paffage is the Entrie and Acceffe to the highest Countries, and noble Houses, as Dialectice (that is Rethorike) Philofophie, that is learned Wisdome, and Theologie, that is the most high and excellent Knowledge in Divinitie. In fo much that unleffe they enter thorowe the Province of Grammer, no Soule were able to attaine to the worthy Secreats of the other Provinces. And albeit that the fame Regions abounde in all Pleasure, yet notwithstanding, it is fo environed about with high Mountaines, and fuch fharpe Rockes, right difficile and harde to be got up upon, that hardlye without a good Guide, any maye ever attaine to the plaine and pleasant Path of them. And therfore bicaufe Mankinde shoulde not be reftrayned from so neceffarie a Benefite, the good and laudable Custome ever was, and yet reafteth to the Kings of the faide Lande, to fende abrode through every part of the univerfall Worlde, fome of their expert Knights and worthy Capitaines of olde Handes, properly call'd Pedagoges and Schole Mafters, that they might ayde others, and furely conduct them of tender Age to the princelye Pallaces of the faide Kings, (as for the mightie, and fuche as nowe drawe towarde Age, hardely fuffer to bee taught of anye,) to the Ende that the Youth there being taught in the Sciences of the Greeke and Latine Minerve, might the eafier and more lightly afcende and go over the forefaide Countries. There have all learned Grekes and Latins made their apprentishode, who by their worthy Writings, or by the Actes of others, are immortalifed with renouned Fame. Being there thus well taught and learned, they have afterwarde fo florifhinglye lived through the high Praise of their illustrious and fplendant Actes, that they living, were unto all Men in their Time great Setters forth of vertuous Examples and after they were deade

(yet

(yet as alive) fhewed to those that survived them, as it were by poynting with their Finger, the right Path and readie Way to attayne honorable Life, and immortall Fame.

But although that this Lande of Grammer be none other but indevidate and withoute Partialitie, yet nevertheleffe there are two mightie Kings, that there raigne and governe, that is to weete, the Verbe and the Noune. The Verbe hath to Name Amo, and the Noune Poeta. Who a verye long Time raigned together in fuch Concord and Quietneffe, that to fourme Oration perfect, wherin the Beautie of them both (the highest Place of the one, and the chiefeft Seate of the other) dependeth no Diffention, Difpleasure or Contencion was ever hearde betweene them: For in all their Territorie there grew nothing more eftemed, more worthie, or more founde, than Oration, which being beautified with the moft Coulors of fundrye Flowers, and decked with the moft faire and fine Figures, and with the moft fweete and perfumed Buds of fet Rofes, was of fuch fingular Comlineffe and Authoritie, that she not onelye drewe unto her all Mankinde (when the fame is right and aptly applied) but may also withdrawe any of the Goddes which Waye fhe will winde them. By reafon whereof Euripides fayth, That which Force coulde not gayne, that faire Speache did foone attaine: Pirrbus also used fométime to faye, that Cyneas dyd winne more Townes with his Tongue and comelie Speache, than he with hys Warres. These two Kings then being in fuch Concorde, as all the Affaires of Grammer were in good Apparence and better Eftate, it happened that for a fmal thing Diffention fprang betweene them, whereby upon a verye fodaine, all was bewrapped in Uprore and martiall Dyspleasures: For what Harme is that that Wine and infaciate Eating caufe not? That and fo great Amitie and Union betweene these two Princes was fo overthrowne at one onely Banquet, wherin they were both droncken: and Ebrietie fet them in fo great Ennimities one against another, that eyther of them, pricked forwarde with ambitious Defire of Regiment (as wilde Buls ftong of gadde Flies) almoft utterly over turned their own Realmes, and the noble Empire of Grammer.

But nowe let us fhewe howe their Debate happened, to the Ende that everye one may knowe, that there is no Bande or Knot of Amitie fo strong, that Defire of Superioritie may not breake. And therfore the olde Dennis ufed not caufeleffe to faye, that even he that hath the Lordfhippe in his Lap, hath Cause himselfe to feare, and to beware of Friendes: feing that it is certaine, that every Man loveth rather to be ferved, than to ferve other.

As these two Kinges on a Time were at a Banquet, in the middeft of the hoate Summer, neare to a pleafaunt and cleare Spring, having the Water Bancke on the one Side, and the other most pleasant and fingulerly shadowed with the Braunches of greene Willowes and high Plane Trees, after they had fufficiently banquetted, warmed with Wine, and lightned wyth Drincking, a Question arose betwene them, to weete, whether of them two were greatest in Authoritie, and of most Importance to performe Oration? Then the Verbe minding to holde the worthiest Place, was sharpelye with floode of the Noune, affirming, that without him, Oration and Speach might not be, and that VOL. I. through

C

through him altogither, the fame is understoode and of better Grace. And. what doft thou (faide he) without me in Oration? if I withholde me a Parte never fo litle, the Hearers understande thee no more than one that were dombe and spake not. Gather a while a fmall Part of Speach wythout me, and do that the Hearers may understande that which thou speakeft.

Doubtleffe if I be not there for an Interpreter, none maye fo much as geffe the leaft Thing of thy Meaning. Moreover thou fhouldest note, that in fo much as I am elder than thou, fo much more am I approoved worthieft. Who is he that knoweth not the Noune, before the Verbe: Or who is he that is ignoraunt, how the Beginning of the Noune is more auncient than the Verbe? It is infallible, that God made all Things, who if hee made all, made alfo the Verbe. Nowe God is a Noune and not a Verbe: wherfore now of Confequence, by the Noune were all Things made, yea, Oration itself was made of God, and fo the Noune. As for thee, O thou Verbe (that arte so proude) thou haft thy Calling of me: haft thou never red, that among the Sonnes of Women, is not a greater than John Baptift? this is God's Sentence, it is not lawfull to go against it. Wherefore if none be greater than John, for that it is writen that his Name is John, and agayn that his Name was John, it is apparaunt to be feene, that there is not, neyther may any thing else, be greater than the Noune. I coulde alleage to this Matter fixe hundredth Places, whereby it is prooved clearer than the Day, that as in Worthineffe and Antiquitie, even fo in Authoritie and chiefe Place the Noune is preferred before the Verbe. All which Things I fette and leave a part, to the Ende that Men thinke me not to precede the Verbe more thorow much Babling, than of just Caufe. O Poeta (aunfwered the Verbe) I marvayled before nowe, why that Divine Plato had expulfed thee out of hys common Weale: But nowe knowing how fhameleffe and light thou art, fo to intermixe the Holy Scripture among thy Follies: I know well that the learned and wife Plato judged rightlye of thee. For had not he exiled thee with manye other, forth of the Reipublike that he ordayned, thou haddeft by thy falfe Ceremonies, fearefull Goddes, and other Things, corrupted the civile Maners of his Citizens. For what pernicious Thing durft not thy great Pride and Arrogance, enterprise and attempt? Yea feing that by thy devifed Deceiptes, and false writhed Witneffes, thorowe Force writhed from Holy Scripture, thou laborest to cast me down from the Dignitie of the chiefeft Place, which I have long Time in this Lande poffeffed.

But certainly, for that it fhall not feeme to thee, that thou alone arte learned, I will eaflye alleage more manifeft and plaine Teftimonies of the fame Holye Scripture that maintaine mine Authoritie, I wil fet here formoft the very Beginning of that evangelicall Scripture, where it is thus faide, In the Beginning was the Worde, and the Worde was with GoD, and God was the Worde. Open thyne Eares nowe, wherefore hideft thou thy Face fo? God (faide he) was the Worde, and moreover, all Things are made by him: And withoute him nothing was made. It is not therfore the Noune then that made all Things, but the Verbe. Again, God was a Verbe and not a Noune. Moreover,

Moreover, by the Worde the Heavens were made firme and fure, and all their Powers.

What wilt thou now fay? There is no Meane to defend thee by holy Allegations, but thou maift perceive them to make for me, and not for thee. But let us bend to thofe Poyntes that aptlieft tende to our Cause: Tell me I praye thee, whence commeth to thee this Folly and Madneffe? And whence haft thou fo fodainly taken fuch Stomacke and Heart of Grace, that thou dareft ufurpe upon thee the worthiest Place in Oration? Knowest thou not that all Comelineffe, Beautie and Sweetneffe commeth of me alone? and that the Noune is alwayes ruled of the Verbe, and not that the Verbe is ruled of the Noune. The comelye Featneffe of the Verbe is that, that beautifieth and enricheth Oration; and if I governe thee not therein, thou fhalt be halfe handed and of no Force. Knoweft thou howe to make a Construction, wherin forthwith the chief Place is not given me? Beholde all Men knowe, that I onely that holde the Seigniorie over the Verbes, can without the Aide of any other make perfect Oration. Wherefore then fpeakeft thou fo impertinentlye? And (as Horace fayeth) why throwest thou fo thy proude and difdainfull fixe cornered Words? who art thou? what art thou? of what Force? or howe great? not of fuch Auctoritie as thou boastest of I am fure, that fo goest puffed and fwollen, that it is marvell thou burfteft not in the middeft. I am (thou wilt fay) the King of the Nounes. But what is thy Name? thou wilt aunfwere Poeta. And what is Poeta other then a Pratler, a Seller of Gaudes, a Deviser of Fables, a Maister of Mischiefe, a Brabler, a Lyer, a Dronckerd, and a foolish Dolt, that coloreth that which is Truth, and putteth forth Falfhoode, and such a one as by thy prattling, filleft and perturbeft all the Worlde.

Which alfo by thy Chat ufurpeft fo much Authoritie among the common and fimple Sort, that thou dareft ftrive for the Dignitie against the renoumed Stocke of the Verbes. Folifhly do thofe Fathers that give thee their Children to be taught of: for what is in thee whereby the Youth maye be encited to Grace and vertuous Encoragement, but the Stewes of the adulterous Jupiter, the Jelofie of Juno, and the Whoordom of Venus, and of the Ruffian Mars, and fuch goodlye Devifes imagined of thine owne Brayne, that having droncke a little more than well, thou, as filled with a devine Ghost, and overladen with wine, madlike or divelishly, darest mixe Heaven with Earth, and Earth with Heaven.

At thefe Wordes Poeta the King, all fiered in Ire, not able to suffer the Shame nor the Injurie that was fayde of hym, aunswered thus: O thou most moft mifchievous Heade of Man, dareft thou fpeake fo boldely fuch contentious Things of us? And therewithall caught a Cuppe in his Hande, which had violentlye hit hym on the Face, had not one of the Standers by, (holding him by the Arme) tourned the Stroke a part. It is not to be doubted now, that in the Rage wherein both Partes were then, but that Wordes were no Blowes but certaine of the elder Sorte and wifeft came upon the fame, and they bare away the fayde Kings all droncken into their Pallaces: and on the Morrow after the Friendes of the Parties were affembled, there was great Enquirie and Difputation of the Contention happened the Day before. Then