Go, tell, at London, thou didst meete with foure Times Anotomie. Containing the poore Man's plaint, Brittons trouble and her triumph, the Popes pride, Romes treasons and her destruction. Affirming, that Gog and Magog both shall perish, the Church of Christ shall flourish, Judeas race shall be restored, and the manner how this mightie worke shall be accomplished. Made by Robert Pricket, a Souldier; and dedicated to all the Lords of his Majesties most honourable privie councell. Multis pateo, non multis loquis. Imprinted at London by George Eld, and are to be sold by John Hodgets, 1606. 4to. pp. 64. THIS author (as one of the Harveys had done in Queen Elizabeth's time) seems to have given offence to the privy-counsellors of James, by his interposition about certain political events, which involved the statesmen of the day in some legal perplexity. Whether this got vent to the world in a piece called "The Souldier's wish," or in another, called "The Souldier's resolution," both published in 1603, I do not possess the means to ascertain; but I more than suspect it was conveyed in the latter. The following extract from a dedication to the present work sufficiently appears to record the circumstance of his interference with state concerns. It is addressed to the Lords of the Council. "The last untimely fruit which by a publicke print I rashly published, gave just occasion to procure your dislike; and my amisse* therein was greater than at first I could conceive; for it is an evill not to be borne with, when the greatest (much more, when so meane a subject as my self) shall dare to call in question things formerly determined by the justice of the law, judgment of the honoured peeres, and prudent wisedome of a kingdome's most honourable councellors: and too high doth their presumption climb (especially in a cause of so great consequence) whose words would seeme as if they did desire so to extenuate an offence, as that in respect of the offender, opinion should be taught eyther to taxe the lawe with crueltie, or the state with inhumanity. He therefore whose actions shall but beare a show, as if they were directed unto some such purpose, justly deserveth to be punished. And yet, may it please your Honours, I must needes confesse my punishment, was compounded of an absolute lenitie, without (in the least sort) being mixt with any appearance of severitie. And, as I am in this respect bound unto you all, my Lords; so principally my thanks must humbly runne, unto the right honorable the Earle of Salisbury, by whose love and bountie my cause was favorably censured, my liberty procured, and my wants relieved. Concerning the worthinesse of whose ever honourable disposition I would largely speake, but that I know true honoured vertue, whose ever constant wisdome and approved judgement laboureth to performe each vertuous and well commended office; so as it cannot, but by a certaine kinde of supreame excellence, Culpability, fault. Mr. Todd has introduced the word, as it is used in this place, for a noun-substantive, in his valuable edition of Dr. Johnson's Dictionary. worthily deserve world's praise, yet will it not indure to heare it selfe praised." The nobleman, here complimented, was secretary Cecil, created Viscount Cranbourne in 1604, and Earl of Salisbury in 1605. The author soon after passes on to notice the present production. "In this little worke, which I have called Times Anotomie, the first part wherof was finisht by me almost two years since, I doe with a religious anger chide the violent and presumptious rage of unrul'd abuses; because I greeve to see the grosse impieties which our time commits. Briefely, therefore, I have anotomis'd those evills which do afflict the world; and in the prosses* of my booke's discourse, my reprehensions may peradventure be accounted round and sharpe. But corsive useth not to be applied unto the flesh that is sound, and where it hath no power to touch, it procures no smart." Against the see of Rome, which is treated as Babylon, he levels the main artillery of his satiric powers, both in a prose epistle to the reader, and in the body of his poem. The introduction to the latter is not without merit, and contains an allusion to both his above-named productions, and to one (it would seem) which preceded those, in praise of Queen Elizabeth. Even in the time when joy and sorrow met, • Process. + For corrosive; or what we should now term caustic or escharotic. Then, in that strange, worst, best, and happiest time, He prais'd the vertues of a Maiden Queene ; Leaves glorie's fame on earth, to keepe her dwelling. I do confesse they most unworthy are: The praises of the world's admired King. A Souldier's Wish, I'm sure, wisht all things well j Yet he resolv'd:-a Resolution fram'd, For which 'gainst him God's foes have chiefly aim'd. Theological and secular concernments mingle in the mind of the author, with very sensible reflections upon both. All sorts can prate, and talke of things divine, Since when, that grace was to his seed denied. So in ourselves since every action staines, The following lines, which relate to himself and his profession, are interesting. The Souldier, which doth scorne the lye to take, A banke of earth a pillow for my head. My steps do make their sorrowes mournfull traces. VOL. III. |