Ye saye that poetry Maye nat flye so hye In theology, Nor analogy, Nor philology, 310 Nor philosophy, To answere or reply Agaynst suche heresy. Wherfore by and by Nowe consequently I call to this rekenyng [Sidenote: David rex et propheta per divum Hieronymum matriculatur in nobili catalogo poetarum lyricorum, ut patet infra, &c. hæc il.] Dauyd, that royall kyng, Whom Hieronymus, That doctour glorious, Dothe bothe write and call 320 Poete of poetes all, And prophete princypall. [Sidenote: Vos igitur omnes irrisores contemptoresque poetarum erubescite cum ignominiosa vercundia, exitiosaque confusio operiat facies vestras. hæc il.] This[775] may nat be remorded, For it is wele recorded In his pystell _ad Paulinum_, _Presbyterum divinum_, Where worde for worde ye may Rede what Jerome there dothe say. _David, inquit, Simonides[776] noster, Pindarus, et Alcæus, Flaccus quoque, Catullus, atque Serenus, Christum lyra personat, et in decachordo psalterio ab inferis excitat resurgentem. Hæc Hier._ _The Englysshe._ Kyng Dauid the prophete, of prophetes principall, Of poetes chefe poete, saint Jerome dothe wright, 330 Resembled to Symonides,[777] that poete lyricall Among the Grekes most relucent of lyght, In that faculte whiche shyned as Phebus bright; Lyke to Pyndarus in glorious poetry, Lyke vnto Alcheus, he dothe hym magnify. Flaccus nor Catullus with hym may nat compare, Nor solempne Serenus, for all his armony In metricall muses, his harpyng we may spare; For Dauid, our poete, harped so meloudiously Of our Sauyour Christ in his decacorde psautry, 340 That at his resurrection he harped out of hell Olde patriarkes and prophetes in heuen with him to dwell. Returne we to our former processe. Than, if this noble kyng Thus can harpe and syng With his harpe of prophecy And spyrituall poetry, As saynt Jerome saythe, To whom we must gyue faythe, Warblyng with his strynges Of suche theologicall thynges, 350 [Sidenote: Fama matriculata, i. scripta in quadam chartula immortalitatis et schedula gratiæ inmarcescibilis, &c. h. il.] Why haue ye than disdayne At poetes, and complayne Howe poetes do but fayne? Ye do moche great outrage, For to disparage And to discorage The fame matryculate Of poetes laureate. For if ye sadly loke, And wesely rede the Boke 360 Of Good Aduertysement, With me ye must consent And infallibly agre Of necessyte, Howe there is a spyrituall, And a mysteriall, And a mysticall [Sidenote: Energia Græce, Latine efficax operatio, internoque quodam spiritus impulsu inopinabiliter originata, &c.]