of colours is probably in accordance with the doctrines of his age (however strange some of his conjectures are, or may appear to be, to the modern reader), as well as that his sentiments and opinions as a courtier (if a courtier can be said to have opinions) may be supposed to savour of those of his royal mistress and godmother; and must in this point be deemed interesting as well as curious.
“Concerning the historie of this booke, I have quoted some briefly by the side, and some is so plaine it expounds it selfe; onely I mean to ad a word or two what I have read, concerning that which is here delivered by mine author, about the assumption of St. John. First, how far the scripture toucheth the same in the gospell, everie one knoweth, and how upon the speech of our Saviour (if I will he tary till I come, what is that to thee) it was noised among the Disciples, that that Disciple should never see death. After this, as others of good credit have delivered, St. John lived till he was an hundred yeare old, and then made himselfe a tombe, and entered thereinto alive, in presence of many, and on the sodaine, a light shone all about the place, and tooke the tombe for the time quite from their sights; but the light being gone, the coffin was found empty, and the body of that saint was no more seene upon the earth; whereupon it was certainly thought that he was taken up into heaven or Paradise, as Enoch and Elias were. Though this of St. John be not recorded in the Scripture (nor no more is the assumption of the blessed Virgin), and consequently, no man is bound to believe it as an article of our creed: yet for mine owne opinion, I thinke it may be verie true; and I would in such cases beleeve a great deale more then I need, rather then any thing lesse then I ought; for the one (if it be a sinne) is surely pardonable, but the other doubtless is very damnable. But I will briefly note the allegoric that is meant hereby.
“First, whereas Astolfo washeth himself in a christall well of clear water before he can fly up to Paradise, it signifieth, that after a man shall, by remorse and devout consideration, weigh and behold the filthinesse of his sinne, he must then wash himselfe with the cleare spring water of prayer and repentance; and then, and not before, he may mount to Paradise; which may here be understood the comfortable peace of conscience, the only true Paradise of this world. And whereas Astolfo commeth to St. John (whose name signifieth grace) to receive, by his helpe, Orlando’s lost witts, for so it is set downe that that was the secret cause why he was guided thither, though unawares to himself: thereby it is to be understood, that no hope nor means is left for any
