Naught Else Have They Profited
By Their Travell, Save Learnt To Distinguish Of The True Burdeaux Grape,
And Know A
Cup of neate Gascoygne wine from wine of Orleance; yea, and
peradventure this also, to esteeme of the poxe as
A pimple, to weare a
velvet patch on their face, and walke melancholy with their armes
folded."[103]
The Frenchified traveller came in for a good share of satire, but darker
things were said of the Italianate Englishman. He was an atheist - a
creature hitherto unknown in England - who boldly laughed to scorn both
Protestant and Papist. He mocked the Pope, railed on Luther, and liked
none, but only himself.[104] "I care not," he said, "what you talk to me
of God, so as I may have the prince and the laws of the realm on my
side."[105] In politics he allied himself with the Papists, they being
more of his way of living than the Puritans, but he was faithless to all
parties.[106] In private life he was vicious, and practised "such
villainy as is abominable to declare," for in Italy he had served
Circes, who turns men into beasts.[107] "But I am afraid," says Ascham,
"that over many of our travellers unto Italy do not eschew the way to
Circe's Court: but go and ryde and runne and flie thether, they make
great hast to cum to her; they make great sute to serve her: yea, I
could point out some with my finger that never had gone out of England,
but onlie to serve Circes in Italie.
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