XX
INTRODUCTION.
wolfe If you thinke, we iudge amiffe, and write to fore againfl you, heare what the Italian fayth of the Englifli Man, what the Sj?f mafler reporteth of the fcholer : who vttereth playnlie, what bro g ugh h tTp n in is taught by him, and what learned by you, faying Englefe Italie ' Italianato, e vn diabolo incarnate, that is to say, you re-
maine men in fhape and facion, but becum deuils in life and condition. This is not, the opinion of one, for fome priuate fpite, but the iudge- ment of all, in a common Prouerbe, which riseth, of that learnyng, and thofe maners, which you gather in Italie: a good Schole- houfe of wholefome dodrine, and worthy Mailers of com- mendable Scholers, where the Mafler had rather diffame hym felfe for hys teachyng, than not fhame his Scholer for his learnyng. A good nature of the maifler, and faire conditions of the fcholers. And now chofe you, you Italian Englifhe men, whether you will be angrie with vs, for calling you monfters, or with the Italianes, for callyng you deuils, or elfe with your owne felues, that take fo much paines, and go fo farre, to make your felues both. If fome yet do not well vnderfland, what is an Englifh man Italianated, I will AnEngiisb plainlie tell him> He? that by liuing> and traueling in Italic, itahanated. bringeth home into England out of Italie, the Religion, the
learning, the policie, the experience, the maners of Italie
Thefe be the inchantements of Circes, brought out of Italie, to marre
mens maners in England ; much, by example of ill life, but more by
preceptes of fonde bookes, of late tranflated out of Italian
Italian bokes _ , ,
translated into into Englim, fold in euery mop m London, commended by honefl titles the foner to corrupt honefl maners : dedi cated ouer boldlie to vertuous and honourable perfonages, the eafielier ._ to begile fimple and innocent wittes. It is pitie, that thofe, which haue authoritie and charge, to allow and diffalow bookes to be printed, be no more circumfpedl herein, than they are. Ten Ser mons at Paules Croffe do not fo moch good for mouyng men to trewe doctrine, as one of thofe bookes do harme, with inticing men to ill liuing. Yea, I fay farder, thofe bookes, tend not fo moch to corrupt honefl liuing, as they do, to fubuert trewe Religion. Mo Papifles be made, by your mery bookes of Italie, than by your earneft bookes of
Louain
Therfore, when the bufie and open Papifles abroad, could not, by
-rgj. their contentious bookes, turne men in England fafl enough,
from troth and right iudgement in doclrine, than the futle and
fecrete Papifles at home, procured bawdie bookes to be tranflated out
of the Italian tonge, whereby ouer many yong willes and wittes
