The 18th, which is his Laft in this Edition 1614. I find in him, which is in moft part of my Compatriots, too great an Admiration of their Country; on the Hiftory of which, whilft they mufe,as wondering,they forget fometimes to be good Poets. Silvefter's Tranflation of Judith, and the Battle of Tvory, are excellent. He is not happy in his Inventions,as may be feen in his Tabacco batter'd,and Epitaphes: Who likes to know whether he or Hudfon hath the Advantage of Judith, let them compare the Beginning of the 4th Book, O Silver brow'd Diana, &c. And the End of the 4th Book, Her waved Locks, &c. The midst of the 8th Book, In Ragau's ample Plain one Morning met, &c. The 6th Book, after the Beginning, Each being fet anon, fulfilled out, &c. And after, Judas, faid fbe, thy Jacob to deliver, now is the Time,&c. His Pains are much to be praised, and happy Tranflations, in fundry parts equalling the Original. 1 A fbort Difcourfe upon Imprefa's and Anagrams. MY LORD, M To the Right Honourable, The Earl of Perth. Y Cenfure of the Devife, which was fent to me by your Lordship,is that by way of Emblem it may ftand fufficient, but not by the Nature of an Imprefa. Though Emblems and Imprefa's fometimes feem like other, what is a Perfection in an Emblem, is a great Fault in an Imprefa: The Words of the Emblem are only placed to declare the Figures of the Emblem; whereas, in an Imprefa, the Figures exprefs and illuftrate the one part of the Author's Intention, and the Word the other. Emblems ferve for Demonftration of fome general Thing, and for a general Rule, and teaching Precept to every one, as well for the Author and Inventer, as for any other; which is a Fault in an Imprefa: For an Imprefa is a Demonftration and Manifeftation of fome notable and excellent Thought of him that conceived it, and useth it; and it belongs only to him, and is his properly, and fo properly, that the Succeffors may not ufe the Imprefa of their Predeceffor and Parents, as common to them, except the Imprefa's be incorporated into the Arms of their Houfe, of which they are defcended; or that they would fhew they have the felf fame Thought which they had, which went before them. It is quite contrary with the Emblem: Imprefa's of the Deceafed may be ufed by others. The Figures in the Emblems may be One, Two, or many; but in Imprefa's, if the effential Figures be more than Two, they lofe their Grace. But fince I have went thus far off, I will fet down to your Lordship, all that I could learn of the Imprefa. The Imprefa either hath a Word, or is without one, and thus were they of old, of two Sorts, the most ancient wanting Words. 1. But the right Imprefa is of Figures and Words joined, by which it hath the Excellency. 2. Two Things are most neceffary in an Imprefa, Clearness, Perfpicuity, Eafinefs and Brevity; then, that the fubftantial and chief Figures be no more than Two. And for the Word, that it be no longer than a Greek, Latine,or Vulgar Verfe. 3. The Two Figures are Two in genere or in fpecie, not in individuo, That is,the Cardinal of Medices hath a Comet, with a Number of other Stars about; though there be many Stars and one Comet, the Stars, being one in fpecie,make but one Figure; fo Two Swans and one Eagle, the two Swans make but one Figure, being of one fpecies, and the Eagle the other. Something elfe may be added for Ornament. 4. Of one only Figure, a fair Imprefa is made. 5. The Figures muft not be fo made,that of Neceffity they have need of Colours or Painting; or that without fuch Colours they cannot be understood. 6. In the Figures, (unless it be of fet Purpofe for the Nonce) we may not put in any Thing obfcured, and which cannot be underftood Things never feen in that Country, as ftrange Trees of India, and Beafts of Arabia: And of our own Country, Things which cannot be decerned from others; as Fowls like to others, or Herbs and Flowers, which refemble others. 7. Among all the Figures, thefe are the faireft, which arife out of the old Imprefa or Arms, Blazonry of the House and Family; transforming them, or adding to them as it pleafeth the Author. 8. In an Imprefa, it is not decent to fet Men or Women, as they are ufually apparelled; but that the humane Shapes which are fet down in an Imprefa, be differing from the ordinary Fashion of Apparel, and have fome ftrange Posture. 9. Per 9. Perfpicuity and Brevity are required in the Figure of the Imprefa; and in the Words of it either is an Imprefa to pais fuddenly, as in a Tilting it is ordinarly or to laft long, as in Imagery, Painting and Jewels, &c. If it be to laft, If it be to laft, Gravity and Majesty must be in it, and it must be somewhat retired from the Capacity of the Vulgar. An amorous Imprefa would be understood of all: The Words may be in any Language; the Amorous would especially be in Vulgar, for Ladies, who understand not the School Languages. 10. The beft Word is, when it is made like unto the Figure, and only of two Words, as gang warily; or it is good of one only, as Semper. The farther it is from Two, it is the more imperfect. 11. The Words must not be to declare and exprefs the Figure, and that by themselves they cannot make a perfect Senfe, but that they be fuch, that taken out of that place, and from the Figures, they have no determinate Senfe. 12. The great Secret of the Word is, That in none of the Words there be a Word naming, or fignifying any of the Figures; That is, for Example, If there be the Figures of a Sea Waves; there be not in the Word, Unda, or Sea Wave. Thus hath your Lordship, the Laws of the Imprefa. 13. Concerning the making of them. The Imprefa is either made to represent themselves or fome other Perfon, as a Lady beloved of us, a Friend,a Prince: Such as are made to reprefent fome other, are feldom and rarely ufed: Thefe which are made to reprefent one's felf, the Author uferh to understand himself in the only Figures in the only Word, and fometirs without both Figure and Word; and out of the Imprefa altogether. In the only Figures he works, when he feigns that thefe Figures fpeak in his Perfon, and fay that which he would fay: And when thefe Figures are Two, the Author represents himself in them both, or in one of them; in both, it feldom hapneth. In the Word only the Author excellently, and with much Grace, ufeth to reprefent himself, when he turneth the Word not to fpeak to the Figures, but to himself or to the World. In others, the Author reprefents himself in the Word too, but he turns his Speech to the Figures of the fame Imprefa. Thofe, where the Author comprehends not himself in the Figures, nor yet in the Words, are, when the Author understanding himself without the Figures, feigneth that fome other fpeaketh to him, or gives him that Precept. In which, either the Author fpeaks to himself, or that he feigns fome other fpeaks to him: Making ever the Imprefa on fome particular Thought of our own, and not to use our felves immodeftly, or like a Philofopher, or Teacher of another. There is alfo an Imprefa, which fhews not clearly, if the Author reprefents himself, but the whole Imprefa Reafons; or to the World, or to the Author, or to his Lady, or to any Perfon beloved of the Author, which are full of Grace and Excellency. Thus far have the Wits of our Times fearched into the Nature of the Imprefa; and thus far hath your Lordship's Servant been bold to fatisfy your Lordship's Defire, A Character of a perfect Anagram. NAGRAMS áre Names turned, because they are Inverfions of Letters fo tranfpofed, that without any Adjunction, Repetition or Diminution of others than these which are in the Name and Sirname of a Perfon, there is a Devife or Period perfectly made up in Senfe, and the Orthography must be ftrictly obferved, if it be not for Excellency, that this Rule is difpenfed with. The oldest Example that we have,is in Lycophron, who, of the Name of Ptolemy King of Egypt, Froneuaï☺, makes Arò μexit; and of the Queen Arfinoe's Name Αρσινού, Ηρας τον. But as the Spirit of Man is more prone to Evil than Good, ordinarly Men use to make Anagrams rather on Vice than Virtue. The Beginning of Anagrams is very old: It is likely, they have their Original from the Hebrews, who not only had Names in great Veneration and Refpect, but the Letters of Names, and the Mysteries of the Cabalifts are vailed up in Letters, from whom the Grecians had them. Artemidorus maketh Mention of them, and Euftathius the Paraphraft of Homer, as AT ταλας, Mifer ; όχλΘ χόλα, &c. Sundry fince have effay'd them. 1. l au Anagram there mult not be fewer nor more nor other Letters, but the fame, and as many as in the Name. It is named alfo by the Grreks Avay paupation, which is the Tranfpofition of Letters. 2. Anagramma eft claufula que ex artificiofa literarum omnium, neque plurium alicujus nominis tranfpofitione componitur. Dicitur proprie claufula, id quod aliquid claudit. It is called a Sentence. Eft Anagrammatifmus particula orationis,& quatuor plus minus dictiones continet,cum tamen unam perfæpe contineat. This is the Law of an Anagram, That no Letter be added, nor any taken away. This admitteth fome Exceptions, which is,. That fome one or other Letter may be omitted; but with great Judgment, That that Letter be no eminent principal Letter of the Name, which is omitted: But fuch, without which the Name may confift. For when the fame Letters occur many times in the Name, then the Omiffion of one or more is pardonable; efpecially for fome excellent Senfe that agreeth to the Perfon, as in that of Auratus PIERRE DE RONSARD. ROSE DE PINDARE, of four R's, two are omitted. 3. A Letter may cafily be omited, without whofe Help, the Name by it self may ftand; as H, which placed behind, after Confonants, feemeth not much to alter the Power of the Name; which Letter fome of the Latins have abolished, thinking it rather an Afpiration than a Letter. 4. It was faid, that no Letter fhould be taken away; yet, if there be any great Reason, a Letter may be added as relligio,repperit; or rather a Letter may be doubled, as when two Letters occur in the Name, one may be abolished, fo one of Neceffity may be doubled. 5. All Diphthongs may be feparated per Diarefin; and even fo,two Vowels per Synarefin, may be conjoin'd,which Auratus practifed in the Name of Jefus,IHZOTE Zr' H orΣ. 9. So fome think, the Diphthong being forgot,we may ufe and take only the laft and founding Letter: But, for the moft part, we must keep Orthography,as it is vulgarly and by approved Authors ufed; and if we adjoin a Letter, let us add one of these which make up the Name, that we feem not fo much to have adjoined one, as doubled it. So a Jefuit doubled the Letter S,in the Anagram of Ignatius de Loyola, O ignis a Deo illatus; and another turn'd it, Lita ei anguis doli. 7. If it be asked, Whether adjecting or omitting be more to be tolerated? Ianfwer, Adjecting; for fo by Nature we are prepared rather to take, than have any Lofs. 8. It is fometime lawful to change one Letter into another, That is, for one Letter to put another, which is the admitting of one, and omitting of another: Yet, I would think, thefe Letters must be fuch as may change into others, as D. into T. which the Spaniards ufe in the Latine Cado for Cato. 9. A double Letter, not unhappily,may be changed into a simple, as Z. into S. I would fay, divided as Z into S D. 10. But the Conclufion is, The Anagrammatifm is so much the more perfect,the farther it be from all Licence. II. The Definition fays, Alicujus nominis, which is to be understood of proper Names, yet not only in Perfons,but in Names of other Things,may an Anagrammatifm be made. By Name, here is to be understood generally the Sirname, Fore-name, affixed Name, as Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus,or the Name of any Dignity. 12. Ye may ufe one Name, as Valefius, Laus Fefu; for many Nations have but one Name, but oftner the Name and Sirname are turned. 13. It is to be obferved, That not only Names of Men, but the Names of any other Thing, as Trees, Floods, Towns, may be turned, as Roma, Mora, Cur Cur varios tamdiu remoratur Roma clientes, Forte quod inverfo nomine Roma Mora eft. 14. There is in the Definition, (Tranfpofition) because if any Senfe be in the Name of Letters not tranfpofed it is not fo much an Anagram as equivoque, as Anna Grame, Anagram. --- What needs an Anagrame, Since that her very Name is Anna Grame. But by Tranfpofition we understand Converfion, when the Letters of the Name are tranf pofed. Now for the Ufe of the Anagram, 1. We may use it as an Apophthegm, moftly if it contain any fharp Sentence. It may be the Title or Infcription of a Tomb, the Word of an Imprefa, the Chyme of Verfes, that efpecially which admitteth of Explication. An Anagram, which turneth in an Hemiftich or half Verfe, is most pleasant. However it be, in an Epigram or Sonnet it fitly cometh in mostly in the Conclufion, but fo that it appeareth not indented in, but of it felf naturally. 2. The Reason of Anagrams appeareth to be vain; for in a good Man's Name ye fhall find fome Evil, and in an evil Man's Good, according to the Searcher. 3. One will fay,it is a frivolous Art and difficult, upon which that of Martial is current. Turpe eft difficiles babere nugas Et ftultus labor eft ineptiarum. The Challenge of the Knights Errant. K R To the Right Honourable, the Earl of NOWING the Delight your Lordship was wont to take in the Sports of Court, whether as Beholder or Actor, 1 thought I fhould not importune your Honour in fending you the Challenge of the Errant Knights, proclaimed with Sound of Trumpet before the Palace-Gate of Greenwich. To all Honourable Men of Arms and Knights Adventurers of Heredi tary Note and Exemplary Nobleness, that for most maintainable Actions do weild their Swords or Launces in the Queft of Glory. IGHT Brave and Chevalrous, wherefoever through the World,we Four Knights Errant, denominated of the Fortunate Ifland, Servants of the Deftinies; Awaken your fleeping Courages with Mavortial Greetings. Know ye that our Sovereign Lady and Miftrifs, Mother of the Fates and Empress of high Achievements, revolving of late the Adamantine Leafs of her eternal Volumes; and finding in them that the Triumphal Times were now at hand, wherein the marvellous Adventures of the Lucent Pillar fhould be revealed to the Wonder of Times and Men, (as Merlin, Secretary to her moft inward Defigns, did long fince prophecy) hath therefore (moft deeply weighing with herself how neceffary it is that found Opinions fhould prepare the Way to fo unheard of a Marvel) been pleafed to command us her voluntary, but ever most humble Votaries, folemnly to publish and maintain by all the allowed Ways of Knightly Arguing thefe Four indifputable Propofitions following. 1. That in Service of Ladies no Knight bath free Will. 3. That no fair Lady was ever falfe. 4. That none can be perfectly wife but Lovers. Against which, or any of which, if any of you fhall dare to argue at Point of Launce and Sword in honourable Lifts, before rareft Beauty and beft Judgments: Then again know you, that we the faid Four Champions fhall, by the high Sufferance of Heaven, and Virtue of our Knightly Valour, be ready, at the Valley of Mirefleure, conftantly to answer and make perfect our impofed Undertakings, againft all fuch of you as fhall within Fourty Days after the Nnn 2 fitft |