The Arte of English Poesie | Page 7

by the French kinges, and
Geffrey Chaucer_ father of our English Poets by _Richard the second,
who as it was supposed gaue him the maner of new Holme in
Oxfordshire. And Gower_ to _Henry_ the fourth, and _Harding_ to
_Edward the fourth. Also how Frauncis_ the Frenche king made
_Sangelais, Salmonius, Macrinus, and Clement Marot of his priuy
Chamber for their excellent skill in vulgare and Latine Poesie. And
king Henry_ the 8. her _Maiesties father for a few Psalmes of Dauid
turned into English meetre by Sternhold, made him groome of his priuy
chamber, & gaue him many other good gifts. And one Gray_ what
good estimation did he grow vnto with the same king _Henry, &
afterward with the Duke of Sommerset Protectour, for making certaine
merry Ballades, whereof one chiefly was, _The hunte is vp, the hunte is
up_. And Queene Mary_ his daughter for one _Epithalamie or nuptiall
song made by Vargas_ a Spanish Poet at her mariage with king

_Phillip in Winchester gaue him during his life two hundred Crownes
pension: nor this reputation was giuen them in auncient times
altogether in respect that Poesie was a delicate arte, and the Poets them
selues cunning Princepleasers, but for that also they were thought for
their vniuersall knowledge to be very sufficient men for the greatest
charges in their common wealthes, were it for counsell or for conduct,
whereby no man neede to doubt but that both skilles may very well
concurre and be most excellent in one person. For we finde that _Iulius
Cæsar_ the first Emperour and a most noble Captaine, was not onely
the most eloquent Orator of his time, but also a very good Poet, though
none of his doings therein be now extant. And Quintus Catulus_ a good
Poet, and _Cornelius Gallus treasurer of Egipt, and Horace the most
delicate of all the Romain Lyrickes, was thought meete and by many
letters of great instance prouoked to be Secretarie of estate to Augustus
th'Emperour, which neuerthelesse he refused for his vnhealthfulnesse
sake, and being a quiet mynded man and nothing ambitious of glory:
_non voluit accedere ad Rempublicam_, as it is reported. And Ennius
the Latine Poet was not as some perchaunce thinke, onely fauored by
Scipio_ the _Africane for his good making of verses, but vsed as his
familiar and Counsellor in the warres for his great knowledge and
amiable conuersation. And long before that Antinienides_ and other
Greeke Poets, as _Aristotle reportes in his Politiques, had charge in the
warres. And Firteus the Poet being also a lame man & halting vpon one
legge, was chosen by the Oracle of the gods from the Athenians_ to be
generall of the _Lacedemonians armie, not for his Poetrie, but for his
wisedome and graue perswasions, and subtile Stratagemes whereby he
had the victory ouer his enemies. So as the Poets seemed to haue skill
not onely in the subtilties of their arte, but also to be meete for all
maner of functions ciuill and martiall, euen as they found fauour of the
times they liued in, insomuch as their credit and estimation generally
was not small. But in these dayes (although some learned Princes may
take delight in them) yet vniuersally it is not so. For as well Poets as
Poesie are despised, & the name become, of honorable infamous,
subiect to scorne and derision, and rather a reproch than a prayse to any
that vseth it: for commonly who so is studious in th'Arte or shewes
himselfe excellent in it, they call him in disdayne a phantasticall: and a
light headed or phantasticall man (by conuersion) they call a Poet. And

this proceedes through the barbarous ignoraunce of the time, and pride
of many Gentlemen, and others, whose grosse heads not being brought
vp or acquainted with any excellent Arte, nor able to contriue, or in
manner conceiue any matter of subtiltie in any businesse or science,
they doe deride and scorne it in all others as superfluous knowledges
and vayne sciences, and whatsoeuer deuise be of rare inuention they
terme it phantasticall, construing it to the worst side: and among men
such as be modest and graue, & of litle conuersation, nor delighted in
the busie life and vayne ridiculous actions of the popular, they call him
in scorne a Philosopher_, or _Poet, as much to say as a phantasticall
man, very iniuriously (God wot) and to the manifestation of their own
ignoraunce, not making difference betwixt termes. For as the cuill and
vicious disposition of the braine hinders the sounde iudgement and
discourse of man with busie & disordered phantasies, for which cause
the Greekes call him [Greek: phantasikos] so is that part being well
affected, not onely nothing disorderly or confused with any monstruous
imaginations or conceits, but very