The signification of a publike weale, and why it is called in latin Respublica.

A Publike Weale is in sondry wyse defined by philosophers, but knowyng by experience, that the often repetition of any thing of graue or sad importance, wyll be tedious to the reders of this warke, who perchance for the more parte haue nat ben trayned in lerning contaynyng semblable matter: I haue compiled one definition out of many, in as compendious fourme, as my poure witte can deuise: trustyng that in those fewe wordes the trewe signification of a publike weale shall euidently appere, to them whom reason can satisfie.

A publike weale is a body lyuyng, compacte or made of sondry astates and degrees of men, whiche is disposed by the ordre of equite, and gouerned by the rule and moderation of reason. In the latin tonge hit is called Respublica, of the which the worde Res, hath diuers significations, & doth nat only betoken that, that is called a thynge, whiche is distincte from a persone, but also [A1v] signifieth astate, condition, substance, and profite. In our olde vulgare, profite is called weale: And it is called a welthy contraye, wherin is all thyng that is profitable: And he is a welthy man, that is riche in money and substance. Publike (as Varro saith) is diriuied of people: whiche in latin is called Populus. wherfore hit semeth that men haue ben longe abused in calling Rempublica a commune weale. And they which do suppose it so to be called for that, that euery thinge shulde be to all men in commune without discrepance of any astate or condition, be ther to moued more by sensualite, than by any good reason or inclination to humanite. And that shall sone appere vnto them that wyll be satisfied either with autorite, or with naturall ordre and example.

Fyrst the propre & trewe signification of the wordes publike & commune, whiche be borowed of the latin tonge for the insufficiencie of our owne langage, shal sufficiently declare the blyndenes of them, whiche haue hitherto holden and maynteyned the sayde opinions. As I haue sayde, publike toke his begynnyng of people: whiche in latin is Populus: in which worde is conteyned all the inhabitantes of a realme or citie, of what astate [A2r] or condition so euer they be.

Plebs in englisshe is called the communaltie, which signifieth only the multitude, wherin be contayned the base & vulgare inhabitantes, nat auanced to any honour or dignite: whiche is also vsed in our dayly communication, for in the citie of London & other cities, they that be none aldermen, or sheriffes, be called communers: And in the countrey at a cessions, or other assembly, if no gentylmen be there at the sayenge is, that there was none but the communalte: whiche proueth in myn oppinion that Plebs in latine is in englisshe communaltie: & Plebeii be communers. And consequently there may appere lyke deuersitie to be englisshe, betwene a publike weale & a commune weale, as shulde be in latin betwene Res publica and Res plebeia. And after that signification, if there shuld be a commune weale, either the communers only must be welthy, & the gentil & noble men nedy & miserable, or els excluding gentilite, al men must be of one degre & sort, & a new name prouided. For as moche as Plebs in latin & cominers in englisshe be wordes only made for the discrepance of degrees: wherof procedeth ordre: whiche in thinges as wel naturall as supernaturall hath euer had [A2v] suche a preeminence, that therby the incomprehensible maiestie of god as it were by a bright leme of a torche or candel, is declared to the blynde inhabitantes of this worlde. More ouer take away ordre from all thynges, what shulde than remayne? certes nothynge finally, except some man wolde imagine eftsones, Chaos: whiche of some is expounde a confuse mixture: Also where there is any lacke of ordre, nedes muste be perpetuall conflicte: And in thynges subiecte to Nature, nothynge of hymselfe onely may be norisshed: but whan he hath distroyed that, where with he do the participate, by the ordre of his creation, he hym selfe of necessite muste than perisshe, wherof ensuethe vniuersall dissolution.

But nowe to proue by example of those thynges that be within the compasse of mannes knowledge, of what estimation ordre is, nat onely amonge men, but also with god, all be it his wisedome, bounte, and magnificence, can be with no tonge or penne sufficiently expressed. Hath nat he set degrees and astates in all his glorious warkes?

Fyrst in his heuely ministres, whom, as the churche affirmeth, he hath constituted to be in diuers degrees, called hierarches. Also [A3r] christe saithe by his euangelist, that in the house of his father (which is god) be many mansions. But to treate of that, whiche by naturall vnderstandyng may be comprehended, Beholde the foure elementes: wherof the body of man is compacte, howe they be set in their places, called spheris, higher or lower, accordynge to the soueraintie of theyr natures: that is to saye, the fyer, is the most pure element, hauyng in it nothing that is corruptible, in his place is higheste and aboue other elementes: The ayer, whiche next to the fyre is most pure in substance, is in the seconde sphere or place: The water, whiche is some what consolidate and approcheth to corruption, is next vnto the erthe: The erthe whiche is of substance grosse and ponderous, is set of all elementes most lowest.

Beholde also the ordre that god hath put generally in al his creatures, begynnyng at the moste inferiour or base, and assendynge vpwarde: he made nat only herbes to garnishe the erthe, but also trees of a more eminent stature than herbes, and yet in the one and the other be degrees of qualitees, some pleasant to beholde, some delicate or good in taste, other holsome & medicinable, some commodious and necessary. Semblably in [A3v] byrdes, bestis, and fisshes, some be good for the sustinance of man: some beare thynges profitable to sondry vses: other be apte to occupation & labour: in diuerse is strength and fiersenes only: in many is both strength & commoditie: some other serue for pleasure: none of them hath all these qualities: fewe haue the more part or many, specially beautie, strength, & profite. But where any is founde that hath many of the said propreties, he is more set by than all the other, & by that estimation the ordre of his place & degree euidentlye apperethe: so that euery kynde of trees, herbes, birdes, beastis, and fisshes, besyde theyr diuersitie of fourmes, haue (as who sayth) a peculier disposition appropered vnto them by god theyr creatour: so that in euery thyng is ordre: and without ordre may be nothing stable or permanent: And it may nat be called ordre, excepte it do contayne in it degrees, high and base, accordynge to the merite or estimation of the thynge that is ordred.

Nowe to retourne to the astate of man kynde, for whose vse all the sayd creatures were ordayned of god, and also excelleth them all by prerogatife of knowledge & wise dome, hit semeth that in hym shulde be no [A4r] lasse prouidence of god declared, than in the inferiour creatures: but rather with a more perfecte ordre and dissposition. And therfore hit appereth that god gyueth nat to euery man like gyftes of grace, or of nature, but to some more, some less, as it liketh his diuine maiestie. Ne they be nat in commune (as fantasticall foles wolde haue all thyngs) nor one man hath nat al vertues, and good qualities. Nat withstandyng for as moche as vnderstandyng, is the most excellent gyfte that man can receiue in his creation: wherby he doth approche most nyghe vnto the similitute of god: whiche vnderstandynge is the principall parte of the soule: It is therfore congruent, and accordynge, that as one excelleth an other, in that influence, as therby beinge next to the similitude of his maker, so shulde the astate of his persone be auanced in degree, or place, where vnderstandynge may profite: whiche is also distributed in to sondry vses, faculties, and offices, necessary for the lyuyng and gouernance of mankynde. And like as the angels, which be most feruent in contemplation, be highest exalted in glorie (after the opinion of holy doctours) and also the fire, whiche is the most pure of elementes, and also doth [A4v] clarifie the other inferiour elementes: is deputed to the highest sphere or place: So in this worlde, they whiche excelle other in this influence of vnderstandynge, and do imploye it to the detaynyng of other with in the boundes of reason, and shewe them howe to prouyde for theyr necessarye lyuynge: such oughte to be set in a more highe place than the residue: where they may se, & also be sene, that by the beames of theyr excellent witte, shewed throughe the glasse of auctorite: other of inferiour vnderstandynge, may be directed to the way of vertue and commodious liuynge.

And vnto men of suche vertue by very equitie apptaineth honour, as theyr iuste rewarde & duetie: whiche by other mennes labours must also be mainteined, according to their merites. For as moche as the saide persones excelling in knowledge, wherby other be gouerned, be ministers for the only profite and commoditie of them, whiche haue nat equall vnderstandyng: where they whiche do exercise artificiall science, or corporall labour, do nat trauayle for theyr superiours onely, but also for theyr owne necessitie. So the husbande man fedethe hym selfe and the clothe maker: the clothe maker apparayleth [A5r] hym selfe & the husbande: they both socour other artificers: other artificers them: they and other artificers, them that be gouernours. But they that be gouernours (as I before sayde) nothinge do acquire by the sayde influence of knowledge, for theyr owne necessities, but do imploye all the powers of theyr wittes and theyr diligence, to the only preseruation of other theyr inferiours: Amonge whiche inferiours also behoueth to be a disposition and ordre accordynge to reason: that is to saye, that the slouthfull or idell persone, do nat participate with hym that is industrious, and taketh payne: wherby the frutes of his labours shulde be diminisshed, wherin shulde be none equalite, but therof shulde procede discourage, and finally disolution for lacke of prouision. Wherfore it can none other wyse stande with reason, but that the astate of the persone in preeminence of lyuynge, shulde be estemed with his vnderstandyng, labour, and policie: where vnto muste be added an augmentation of honour and substannce: whiche nat onely impressethe a reuerence wherof procedethe due obedience amonge subiectes: but also inflameth men naturally inclined to idelnes, or sensuall appetite, to [A5v] coueyte lyke fortune: and for that cause, to dispose them to studie or occupation.

Nowe to conclude my fyrst assertion or argument, where all thynge is commune, ther laketh ordre: and where ordre lackethe, there all thynge is odiouse, and vncomly. And that haue we in dayly experinece: for the pannes and pottes, garnissheth wel the ketchyn, and yet shulde they be to the chambre none ornament. Also the beddes, testars, & pillowes besemeth nat the halle, no more than the carpettes and kusshyns becometh the stable. Semblably the potter & tynker, only perfecte in theyr crafte, shall littel do in the ministration of iustice. A ploughman or carter, shall make but a feble answere to an ambassadour. Also a wayuer or fuller, shulde be an vnmete capitaine of an armie, or in any other office of a gouernour.

Wherfore to conclude it is onely a publik weale, where like as god hath disposed the saide influence of vnderstandyng, is also appoynted degrees and places accordynge to the excellencie therof, and therto also wold be substance conuenient, and necessarye for the ornament of the same: whiche also impresseth a reuerence and due obedience to the vulgare people or communaltie, and with [A6r] out that, it can be no more said, that there is a publike weale, than it may be affirmed that a house without his propre and necessarye ornamentes, is well & sufficiently furnisshed.

That one soueraigne gouernour ought to be in a publike weale. And what damage hath happened, where a multitude hath had equal authorite without any soueraygne.

Lyke as to a castell or fortresse suffisethe one owner or soueraygne, and where any mo be of like power and authoritie, seldome cometh the warke to perfection: or beinge all redy made, where the one diligently ouerseeth, and the other neglecteth, in that contention all is subuerted and commeth to ruyne: In semblable wyse doth a publike weale, that hath mo chiefe gouernours than one. Example we may take of the grekes, amonge whom in diuers cities, weare diuers fourmes of publyke weales, gouerned by multitudes: wherin one was most tollerable, where the gouernance and rule was alway permitted to them, whiche excelled in vertue, and was [A6v] in the greke tonge called Aristocratia, in Latin Optimosum Potentia, in englisshe the rule of men of beste disposition. Whiche the Thebanes of longe tyme obserued.

An other publique weale was amonge the Atheniensis, where equalitie was of astate amonge the people, and only by theyr holle consent theyr citie and dominions were gouerned: whiche moughte well be called a Monstre with many heedes: nor neuer it was certeyne nor stable: and often tymes they banyssed or slewe the beste citezins: whiche by their vertue and wisedome, had moste profited to the publike weale.

This maner of gouernaunce was called in greke Dimocratia, in latin Popularis potentia: in englisshe, the rule of the comminaltie. Of these two gouernances, none of them may be sufficient. For in the fyrste, whiche consisteth of good men, vertue is nat so constant in a multitude, but that some beinge ones in authoritie, be incensed with glorie: some with ambition: other with coueitise and desire of treasure or possessions: wherby they fall in to contention: and finallye where any achieueth the superioritie, the holle gouernance is reduced vnto a fewe in nombre, whiche fearinge the multitude & their [A7r] mutabilite, to the intent to kepe them in drede to rebelle, ruleth by terrour, and crueltie: thinking therby, to kepe them selfe in suertie: nat withstanding, rancour coarcted & longe detained in a narowe roume, at the last brasteth out with intollerable violence, & bryngeth al to confusion. For the power that is practised to the hurte of many, can nat continue. The populare astate, if it any thing do varie from equaltie of substance, or estimation: or that the multitude of people haue ouer moche liberte, of necessite one of these inconueniences muste happen: either tiranny, where he that is to moche in fauour wolde be eleuate, and suffre none equalite: or els in to the rage of a communaltie, whiche of all rules is moste to be feared. For lyke as the communes, if they fele some seueritie, they do humbly serue and obaye, so where they imbracinge a licence, refuse to be brydled, they flynge and plunge: and if they ones throwe downe theyr gouernour, they ordre euery thynge without iustice: only with vengeance and crueltie: and with encomparable difficultie, and vnneth by any wisedome, be pacified & brought agayne in to ordre : wherfore vndoubtedly, the best and most sure gouernance, is by one kynge or prince: whiche [A7v] ruleth onely for the weale of his people to hym subiecte: and that maner of gouernaunce is beste approued, and hath longest continued, and is moste auncient: For who can denie, but that all thynge in heuen and erthe is gouerned by one god, by one perpetuall ordre, by one prouidence? One Sonne ruleth ouer the day, and one Moone ouer the nyghte: and to descende downe to the erthe, in a litell beest, whiche of all other is moste to be maruayled at, I meane the Bee, is lefte to man by nature, as hit semeth, a perpetuall figure of a iuste gouernaunce or rule: who hath amonge them one principall Bee for theyr Gouernour, who excelleth all other in greatnes, yet hath he no pricke or stinge, but in hym is more knowlege than in the residue. For if the day folowyng, shall be fayre and drye, and that the bees may issue out of theyr stalles without peryll of rayne, or vehenement wynde, in the mornyng erely he calleth them, makyng a noyse as it were the sowne of a borne, or a trumpet & with that, all the residue prepare them to labour, & fleeth abrode, gatheryng nothing, but that shall be swete and profitable, all though they fitte often tymes on herbes, & other thinges that be venomous & stynkinge. [A8r] The capitayne hym selfe laboureth nat for his sustinance, but all the other for hym: he onely seeth, that if any drane or other vnprofitable bee, entreth in to the hyue, and consumethe the hony gathered by other, that he be immediately expelled from that company. And whan there is a nother nombre of bees encreased, they semblably haue also a capitayne, whche be nat suffered to continue with the other. Wherfore this newe company gathered in to a swarme, hauyng their capitayne amonge them: and enuironynge hym to preserue hym from harme, they issue forthe sekyng a newe habitation: whiche they fynde in some tree, except with some pleasant noyse they be alured and conuayed vnto an other hyue. I suppose who seriously beholdeth this example, and hath any commendable witte, shall therof gather moche matter to the fourmynge of a publike weale. But bicause I may nat be longe therin, considerynge my purpose, I wolde that if the reder herof be lerned, that he shulde repayre to the Georgikes of Virgile, or to Plini, or Collumella: where he shall fynde the example more ample and better declared. [A8v]

And if any desireth to haue the gouernance of one persone proued by histories, let hym fyrste resorte to the holy scripture: where he shall fynde that almyghty god commanded Moses only, to brynge his elected people out of captiuitie, gyuynge onely to hym that authorite, without appoyntynge to hym any other assistence of equall power or dignitie: excepte in the message to kynge Pharo, wherin Aaron rather as a ministre than a companyon, wente with Moses.

But onely Moses conducted the people through the redde see: he onely gouerned them fourtie yeres in deserte. And bicause Dathan and Abiron disdayned his rule, and coueyted to be equall with hym, the erthe opened, and fyre issued out, and swalowed them in, with all their holle familie, and confederates, to the nombre of 14700. And all thoughe Hietro, Moses father in lawe, counsailed hym to departe his importable labours in continual iugementes, vnto the wise men that were in his company: he nat withstandynge, styll retayned the soueraintie, by goddis commandement, vntyll a litle before he dyed, he resigned it to Josue, assigned by god to be ruler after hym. Semblably after the deth of Josue, by the space [B1r] of 246 yeres succeded from tyme to tyme, one ruler amonge the Jewes, whiche was chosen for his excellencie in vertue, & specially iustice. Wherfore he was called the iuge, vntill the Israelites desired of almightye god to let them haue a kynge, as other people had: who appointed to them Saul to be theyr kynge, who exceded all other in stature: And so successiuely one kynge gouerned all the people of Israell, vnto the tyme of Roboaz sonne of the noble kynge Salomon, who beinge vnlike to his father in wisedome, practised tyranny amonge his people, wherfore .ix. partes of them, which they called Tribus, forsoke hym, & elected Hieroboaz, late seruant to Salomon, to be theyr kynge, onely the .x. parte remaynynge with Roboaz. And so in that realme were continually two kynges, vntill the kynge of Mede had depopulate the countrey, and brought the people in captiuitie to the citie of Babylon: So that durynge the tyme that two kinges rayned ouer the iewes, was euer continuall bataile amonge them selfes: where if one kynge had alway rayned lyke to Dauid or Solomon, of lykelyhode the countrey shuld nat so sone haue ben brought in captiuite. Also in the tyme of the Machabeis, [B1v] as longe as they had but one busshop, whiche was their ruler, & was in the stede of a prince, at that dayes they valiantly resisted the gentils: & as well the Romanes, than great lordes of the worlde, as Persians, and diuers other realmes, desired to haue with them amitie and aliaunce: and all the inhabitantes of that countrey, liued in great weale and quietnes: But after that by symony and ambition, there happened to be two bisshops, whiche deuided their authorities, and also the Romanes had deuided the realme of Judea to foure princes, called tetrarchas, and also constituted a romane capitayne or president ouer them: amonge the heddes there neuer cessed to be sedition, and perpetuall discorde: wherby at the last the people was distroyed, and the contray brought to desolation & horrible barrennes. The Grekes, which were assembled to reuenge the reproche of Menelaus, that he toke of the Troians by the rauisshing of Helene his wyfe, dyd nat they by one assent electe Agamemnon to be their emperour or capitain: obeinge him as theyr soueraine, duryng the siege of Troy? al though that they had diuers excellent princes, nat onely equall to hym, but also excelling hym, as in prowes Achilles, [B2r] & Aiax Thelomonius: in wisedome Nestor, & Ulisses, & his owne brother, Menelaus: to whom they mought haue giuen equall authoritie with Agamemnon: but those wise princes considered that without a generall capitayne, so many persones as were there, of diuers realmes gathered to gither, shulde be by no meanes well gouerned: wherfore Homere calleth Agamemnon the shepherde of people: they rather were contented to be vnder one mannes obedience, than seuerally to vse theyr authorities, or to ioyne in one power & dignite, wherby at the last shuld haue fourded discretion amonge the people, the beinge seperately enclined towarde theyr naturall souerayne lorde, as it appered in the particuler contention that was betwene Achilles and Agamemnon for theyr concubines, where Achilles renouncynge the obedience that he with all other princes had before promised at the bataile fyrst enterprised agaynst the Troians. For at that tyme no litell murmur and sedition was meued in the hoste of the grekes, whiche nat withstandyng was wonderfully pacified: and the armie vnscatered, by the maiestie of Agamemnon, ioynynge to hym counsailours, Nestor and the witty Ulisses. [B2v] But to retourne agayne. Athenes & other cities of Grece, whan they had abandoned kynges: and concluded to olyue as it were in a communaltie, whiche abusifly they called equalitie: howe longe tyme dyd any of them continue in peace? yea what vacation had they from the warres? or what noble man had they, whiche auanced the honour and weale of theyr citie: whom they dyd nat banisshe or flee in prison? Surely it shall appiere to them, that wyll rede Plutarche or Emilius probus, in the lyues of Milciades, Limon, Themistocles, Aristides, and diuers other noble and valiant capitaynes: whiche is to longe here to reherce.

In lyke wyse the Romanes, durynge the tyme that they were vnder kynges, which was by the space of 144 yeres, were well gouerned, nor neuer was amonge them discorde or sedition: But after that by the persuation of Brutus & Lolatinus, whose wyfe (Lucretia) was rauysshed by Aruncius, sonne of Tarquine, kynge of Romanes, nat only the saide Tarquine and al his posterite, were exiled out of Rome for euer, but also it was finally determined amonge the people, that neuer aft they wolde haue a kinge reigne ouer them. Consequently the [B3r] communaltie more and more encroched a licence, and at the last compelled the Senate to suffre them to chose yerely amonge them gouernours of theyr owne astate and condition, whom they called Tribunes: vnder whom they resceyued suche audacitie and power, that they finally optained the higheste authoritie in the publike weale, in so moche that often tymes they dyd repele the actes of the Senate, and to those Tribunes mought a man appele from the Senate, or any other office or dignite. But what came therof in conclusion? Surely whan there was any difficulte warre immynent, than were they constrained to electe one soueraine and chiefe of all other, whom they named Dictator, as it were commander, from whom it was nat laufull for any man to appele. But bicause there appered to be in hym the pristinate authorite and maiestie of a kyng, they wolde no longer suffre hym to continue in that dignite, than by the space of vi. monethes, excepte he than resigned it, and by the consente of the people eftsones dyd resume it. Finally vntill Octauius Augustus had distroyed Anthony, and also Brutus: & finisshed all the Ciuile warres (that were so called by cause they were betwene the [B3v] same selfe Romane citezins) the cite of Rome was neuer longe quiete from factions or seditions amonge the people. And if the nobles of Rome had nat bene men of excellent lernynge, wisedome, and prowesse, and that the Senate, the moste noble counsaile in all the worlde, whiche was fyrste ordayned by Romulus, & encreased by Tullus hostilius, the thyrde kynge of Romanes, had nat continued, and with great difficultie retayned theyr authorite. I suppose verily, that the citie of Rome had ben vtterly desolate sone after the expellyng of Tarquine: And if it had bene eftsones renewed, it shulde haue bene twentye tymes distroyed, before the tyme that Augustus raigned: so moche discorde was euer in the citie, for lacke of one gouernour. But what nede we to serche so ferre from vs, sense we haue sufficient examples nere vnto vs? Beholde the astate of Florence and Gene, noble cities of Italy, what calamite haue they both sustained by their owne factions, for lacke of a continuall gouernour. Ferrare, and the moste excellent citie of Venise, the one hauyng a duke, the other an erle, seldome suffreth damage, excepte it happen by outwarde hostilitie.

We haue also an example domisticall: whiche [B4r] is moste necessary to be noted. After that the Saxons by treason had expelled out of Englande the Britons, whiche were the auncient inhabitantes: this realme was deuyded in to sondry regions, or kyngdomes. O what mysery was the people than in? O howe this most noble Isle of the worlde was decerpt and rent in pieces: the people pursued and hunted lyke wolfes, or other breastes sauage: none industrie auayled, no strength defended, no riches profited. Who wolde than haue desired to haue ben rather a man than a dogge, whan men either with sworde or with hungre perisshed, hauyinge no profite or sustinance of their owne corne or catell, whiche by mutuall warre was continually distroyed? yet the dogges, either takynge that that men coulde nat quietly come by, or fedynge on the deed bodies, whiche on euery parte laye scatered plenteously, dyd satisfie theyr hunger.

Where finde ye any good lawes, that at that tyme were made and vsed: or any commendable monument, of any science or crafte in this realme occupied: such iniquitie semeth to be than, that by the multitude of soueraigne gouernours, all thinges had ben brought to confusion, if the noble [B3v] kinge Edgar had nat reduced the monarch to his pristinate astate and figure: whiche broughte to passe, reason was reuiued, and people came to conformitie, and the realme began to take conforte, and to shewe some visage of a publike weale: and so (lauded be god) haue continued: but nat beinge alway in like astate or condition. All be it it is nat to be dispaired, but that the kynge our soueraigne lorde nowe reignynge, and this realme alway hauynge one prince, like vnto his highnes, equall to the auncient princis, in vertue and courage, it shall be reduced (god so disposynge) vnto a publike weale, excellynge all other in preeiminence of vertue, and abundance of thynges necessary.

But for as moche as I do wel perceiue, that to write of the office or duetie of a soueraigne gouernour or prince, farre excedeth the compasse of my lernyng, holy scripture affirmyng, that the hartes of princes be in goddes owne handes & disposition: I wyll therfore kepe my penne within the space that is discribed to me, by the thre noble maisters, reason, lernynge, and experience. And by theyr enseignement or teachyng, I wyll ordinately treate of the two partes of a publike weale; wherof the one shall be [B5r] named Due administration, the other Necessary Occupation, whiche shall be deuided in to two volumes. In the fyrste shall be comprehended the beste fourme of education or bringing vp of noble children, from their natiuitie: in suche maner as they may be founde worthy, and also able to be gouernours of a publike weale. The seconde volume, whiche god grantyng me quietnes and libertie of mynde, I wyll shortly after sende forthe, It shall conteine all the reminant, whiche I can either by lernyng or experience fynde apt to the perfection of a iuste publike weale: in the whiche, I shall so endeuour my selfe, that al men of what astate or condition so euer they be, shall finde ther in occasion to be alway vertously occupied: and nat without pleasure, if they be nat of the scholes of Aristippus, or Apicius: of whom the one supposed felicite to be onely in lechery, the other in delicate fedynge and glotony: From whose sharpe talones and cruell tethe, I beseche all gentill reders to defende these warkes, whiche for theyr commodite is onely compiled. [B5v]

That in a publike weale ought to be inferiour gouernours called Magistrates: whiche shall be appoynted or chosen by the soueraigne gouernour.

There be bothe reasones and examples vndoutedly infinite, wherby may be proued, that there can be no perfect publike weale, without one capital and soueraigne gouernour, whiche may longe endure or continue.

But sense one mortall man can nat haue knowledge of all thynges done in a realme or large dominion, and at one tyme discusse all controuersies, refourme all transgressions, and exploite al consultations, concluded as well for outwarde, as inwarde affaires: it is expedient and also nedefull, that vnder the capitall gouernour be sondry meane authorities, as it were aydyng hym in the distribution of iustice in sondry partes of a huge multitude: wherby his labours beinge leuigate and made more tollerable, he shall gouerne with the better aduise, and consequently with a more perfecte gouernance. And as Jesus Sirach sayth: The multitude [B6r] of wise men is the welth of the worlde.

They whiche haue such authorities to them committed, may be called inferiour gouernours, hauynge respecte to theyr office or duetie, wherin is also a representation of gouernance: All be it they be named in latine Magistratus. And herafter I intende to call them Magistratis, lackynge an other more conuenient worde in englisshe, but that will I do in the seconde parte of this warke, where I purpose to write of theyr sondry offices or effectes of theyr authoritie.

But for as moche as in this parte, I intende to write of theyr education & vertue in maners, whiche they haue in commune with princes, in as moche as therby they shall as well by example, as by authoritie ordre well them, whiche by theyr capitall gouernour, shall be to theyr rule committed, I may without anoyance of any man, name them gouernours at this tyme, apropriatynge to the souraignes names of kynges and princes, sens of a longe custome, these names in commune fourme of speakyng be in a higher preeiminence and estimation than ought to be a great nombre of suche maner of persons, it is partly proued in the chaptre [B6v] nexte before write, where I haue spoken on the commodite of ordre. Also reason and commune experience playnly declareth, that where the dominion is large & populouse, ther is hit conuenient, that a prince haue many inferiour gouernours: whiche be named of Aristotel his eien, eares, handes, and legges: whiche if they be of the beste sorte (as he further more saythe) it semeth impossible, a countrey nat to be well gouerned by good lawes. And excepte excellent vertue and lernynge do inhabile a man of the base astate of the communaltie, to be thought of all men worthy to be so moche auanced, els suche gouernours wolde be chosen out of that astate of men, whiche be called worhsipfull, if amonge them may be founden a sufficient nombre, ornate with vertue and wisedome, mete for suche purpose: and that for sondry causes.

Fyrste it is of good congruence, that they whiche be superiour in condition or hauiour, shulde haue also preminence in administration, if they be nat inferiour to other in vertue. Also they hauinge of their owne reuenues certeine, wherby they haue competent substance to lyue without takyng rewardes: it is lykely that they wyll nat [B7r] be so desirous of lucre (wherof may be engendred corruption) as they, whiche haue very litle or nothynge so certeyne.

More ouer where vertue is in a gentyll man, it is commenly mixte with more sufferance, more affabilitie, and myldenes, than for the more parte it is in a persone rural or of a very base linage, and whan it hapneth other wise, it is to be accompted lothesome and monstruous. Furthermore where the persone is worshypfull, his gouernaunce, though it be sharpe, is to the people more tollerable, & they therwith the lasse grutch or be dissobedient. Also suche men hauyng substance in goodes by certeyne and stable possessions, whiche they may aporcionate to their owne liuynge and bryngynge vp of theyr children in lernyng and vertues, may (if nature repugne nat) cause them to be so instructed and furnisshed towarde the administration of a publike weale, that a poure mannes sonne, onely by his naturall witte without other adminiculation or aide, neuer or seldome may atteyne to the semblable. Towarde the whice instruction, I haue with no litle study and labours prepared this warke, as almighty god be my iuge, without arrogance or any sparke of vayne [B7v] glorie: but only to declare the feruent zele that I haue to my conntrey, and that I desyre only to employ that poure lerning that I haue gotten, to the benefite therof, and to the recreation of all the reders, that be of any noble or gentill courage, gyuynge them occasion to eschewe idelnes, beynge occupied in redynge this warke, infarced throughly with such histories and sentence, wherby they shal take, they them selfes confessing no lytell commodite, if they will more than ones or twyse rede it. The first reding being to them newe, the seconde delicious, and euery tyme after more and more frutefull and excellent profitable.

The education or fourme of bringing vp of the childe of a gentilman, which is to haue authoritie in a publike weale.

For as moche as all noble authors do conclude, and also commune experience proueth, that where the gouernours of realmes and cities be founden adourned with vertues, & do employ theyr study and mynde to the publike weale, as well to the augmentation therof, as to the [B8r] establysshynge and longe continuaunce of the same; there a publike weale must nedes be both honorable and welthy. To the entent that I wyll declare howe suche personages may be prepared, I will vse the policie of a wyse and connynge gardener who purposynge to haue in his gardeine a fyne and preciouse herbe, that shulde be to hym and all other repairynge therto excellently comodiouse, or pleasant: he will first serche throughout his gardeyne, where he can finde the most melowe and fertile erth, and therin wil he put the sede of the herbe to growe, and be norisshed: and in most diligent wise attende, that no seede be suffred to growe or aproche nyghe vnto it: and to the entent it may thriue the faster, as soone as the fourme of an herbe one appereth, he will set a vessell of water by bit, in suche wyse, that it may continually distille on the rote swete droppes: and as it spryngeth in stalke, vnder sette it with some thyng, that it breake nat: and alway kepe it clene from weedes. Semblable ordre will I ensue, in the fourmynge the gentill wittes of noble mennes children, who from the wombes of their mother, shalbe made propise or apte to the gouernaunce of a publike weale. [B8v]

Fyrste they, vnto whom the bringing vp of suche children apperteineth, oughte againe the time that their mother shall be of them deliuered, to be sure of a nourise, whiche shulde be of no seruile condition, or vice notable. For as some auncient writers do suppose, often times the childe soukethe the vice of his nouryse, with the milke of her pappe. And also obserue, that she be of mature or ripe age, nat vnder xx. yeres or aboue xxx. her body also beinge clene from all sikenes, or deformite, and hauing her complection most of the right and pure sanguine. For as moche as the milke therof comminge excelleth al other, bothe in swetenes and substance. More ouer to the nourise shulde be appointed an other woman of approued vertue, discretion, and grauite, who shall nat suffre in the childes presence to be shewed any acte or tache dishonest, or any wanton or vnclene worde to be spoken: and for that cause al men, except phisitions only, shulde be excluded & kepte out of the norisery. Perchance some wyll scorne me, for that I am so serious, sainge that ther is no suche damage to be fered in an infant, who for tendernes of yeres hath nat the vnderstanding to decerne good from iuell. [C1r] And yet no man wyll denie, but in that innocency he wyll decerne milke from butter, and breadde from pappe, and er he can speake, he wyll with his hande or countenaunce signifie, whiche he desireth. And I verily do suppose, that in the braynes and hertes of children, whiche be membres spirituall, whiles they be tender, and the litle slippes of reaons begynne in them to burgine, ther may happe by iuel custome some pestiferous dewe of vice to perse the sayde membres and infecte and corrupt the softe and tender buddes, wherby the frute may growe wylde, and some tyme conteine in it feruent and mortal poyson, to the vtter destruction of a realme.

And we haue in daily experience, that litle infantes assayeth to folowe, nat onely the wordes, but also the faictes and gesture of them, that be prouecte in yeres. for we daylye here to our great heuines, children swere great othes, and speake lasciuious and vnclene wordes by the example of other, whom they hare, wherat the leude parentes do reioyce, sone after, or in this worlde, or else where to theyr great payne and tourment. Contrary wise we beholde some chyldren, knelynge in theyr game [C1v] before images, and holdyng vp their lyttel whyte handes, do moue theyr praty mouthes, as they were prayeng: other goynge and syngynge, as hit were in procession. Wherby they do expresse theyr disposition to the imitation of those thynges, be they good or iuell, whiche they vsually do se or here. Wherfore nat only princis, but also all other children, from their norises pappes, are to be kepte diligently from the herynge or seynge of any vice or euyl tache. And incontinent as sone as they can speake, it behoueth with most pleasaunt allurynges to instill in them swete maners and vertuouse custome. Also to prouide for them suche companions and playfelowes, whiche shal nat do in his presence any reprocheable acte, or speake any vncleane worde or other, ne to aduante hym with flatery, remembrynge his nobilitie, or any other like thyng, wherin he mought glory: onlas it be to persuade hym to vertue: or to withdrawe him from vice & in the remembryng to hym the daunger of his iuell example. For noble men more greuously offende by theyr example than by their dede. Yet often remembrance to them of their astate, may happen to radycate in theyr hartes intolelrable pride, [C2r] the moost daungerous poyson to noblenes. Wherfore there is required to be there in moche cautele and sobrenesse.

The ordre of lernynge that a noble man shulde be trayned in before he come to thaige of seuen yeres.

Some olde autours holde opinion, that before the age of seuen yeres, a chylde shulde nat be instructed in letters, but those writers were either grekes or latines: amonge whom all doctrine & sciences were in their maternall tonges, by reason wherof they saued all that longe tyme, whiche at this dayes is spente in vnderstandyng perfectly the greke or latyne. Wherfore it requireth nowe a longer tyme to the vnderstandynge of bothe. Therfore that infelicitie, of our tyme and countray compelleth vs to encroche some what vpon the yeres of children, and specially of noble men, that they may sooner attayne to wisedome and grauitie, than priuate persones: consideryng as I haue saide, their charge & example, whiche aboue all thynges is most to be estemed. Nat withstandyng I wolde [C2v] nat haue them inforced by violence to lerne, but accordynge to the counsaile of Quintilian, to be swetely allured therto, with praises and suche praty gyftes as children delite in. And their fyrst letters to be paynted or lymned in a pleasaunt maner: where in children of gentyl courage haue moche delectation. And also there is no better allectyue to noble wyttes, than to induce them in to a contention with their inferiour companions: they somtyme purposely suffring the more noble children to vainquysshe, and as it were gyung to them place and soueraintie, thouge in dede the inferiour chyldren haue more lernyng. But there can be nothyng more conuenient than by litel and litle to trayne and exercise them in spekyng of latyne: infourmyng them to knowe first the names in latine of all thynges that cometh in syghte, and to name all the partes of theyr bodies: and gyunge them some what that they couete or desyre in most gentyl maner to teache them to aske it agayne in latine: And if by this meanes they may be induced to vnderstande and speke latine: it shall afterwarde be lasse grefe to them in a maner, to lerne any thing, where they vnderstande the language, wherin it is writen. [C3r] And as touchynge grammere, there is at this day better introductions, and more facile, than euer before were made, concernyng as wel greke as latine, if they be wisely chosen. And hit shal be no reproche to a noble man, to instruct his owne children, or at the leest wayes to examine them by the way of daliaunce or solace, considerynge that the emperour Ocatuius Augustus, disdayned nat to rede the warkes of Cicero, and Virgile, to his children and neuewes. And why shulde nat noble men rather so do, than teache their children howe at dyse and cardes they may counnyngly lese & consume theyr owne treasure and substaunce? Moreouer teachynge representeth the auctoritie of a prince: wherfore Dionyse kynge of Cicile, whan he was for tyranny expelled by his people, he came in to Italy, and there, in a commune schole taught grammer, where with whan he was of his enemies embraided & called a schole maister, he answered them: that al though Sicilians had exiled hym, yet in despite of them all he reigned, notynge therby the authorite that he had ouer his scholers. Also whan hit was of hym demanded, what auailed hym Plato, or philosophy, wherin he had ben studious: [C3v] he aunswered, that they caused hym to sustayne aduersite paciently: and made his exile be to hym more facile & easy: whiche courage and wysedome consydered of his people, they eftsones restored him vndo his realme & astate roiall, where if he had procured agayne them hostilitie, or warres, or had returned in to Sicile with any violence, I suppose the people wolde haue alway resysted hym, and haue kepte hym in perpetuall exile: as the romaynes dyd the proude kynge Tarquine, whose sonne rauysshed Lucrece. But to retourne to my purpose: hit shall be expedient, that a noble mannes sonne in his infancie haue with hym continually, onely suche as may accustome hym by litle and litle to speake pure and elegant latin. Semblably the nourises & other women about hym, if it be possible to do the same: or at the leste way, that they speke none englisshe but that, whiche is cleane, polite, perfectly, and articulately pronounced, omittinge no lettre or sillable, as folisshe women often times do of a wantonnesse, wherby diuers noble men, and gentilmennes chyldren (as I do at this daye knowe) haue attained corrupte and foule pronuntiation. This industry vsed in fourminge [C4r] litel infantes, who shall dought, but that they (nat lackyng naturall witte) shall be apt to receyue lerninge, whan they come to mo yeres? And in this wise maye they be instructed without any violence or inforsinge: vsing the more parte of the time vntil they come to the age of vii. yeres, in suche disportis as do appertaine to children, wherin is no resemblance or similitude of vice.

At what age a tutour shulde be prouided and what shall appertaine to his office to do.

After that a childe is come to seuen yeres of age, I holde it expedient that he be taken from the company of women: sauynge that he may haue one yere or two at the most, an auncient and sad matrone attendynge on hym in his chambre, whiche shall not haue any yonge woman in her company: For though there be no perille of offence in that tender and innocent age, yet in some children nature is more prone to vice than to vertue, & in the tender wittes be sparkes of voluptuositie: whiche norished by any occasion or obiecte, encreace often [C4v] tymes in to so terrible a fire, that ther with all vertue and reason is consumed. Wherfore to eschewe that daunger, the most sure counsaile is, to withdrawe him from all company of women, and to assigne vnto hym a tutor, whiche shulde be an auncient & worshipfull man, in whom is aproued to be moche gentilnes, mixte with grauitie, and as nighe as can be suche one, as the childe by imitation folowynge, may growe to be excellent. And if he be also lerned, he is the more commendable. Peleus the father of Achilles committed the gouernaunce of his sonne to Phenix, whiche was a straunger borne: who as well in speakyng elegantly, as in doinge valiauntly was maister to Achilles (as Homere saith). Howe moche profited hit to kynge Philip, father to the great Alexander, that he was deliuered in hostage to the Thebanes? where he was kepte and brought vp vnder the gouernance of Epaminondas, a noble and valiant capitaine, of whom he receiued suche lernynge, as well in actes martiall, as in other liberal sciences, that he excelled all other kynges that were before his tyme in Grece: and finally as well by wisedome as prowes, subdued all that countray. [C5r]

Semblably he ordayned for his sonne Alexander a noble tutor, called Leonidas vnto whom for his wisedome, humanitie, and lernyng, he committed the rule and preeminence ouer all the maisters and seruantes of Alexander. In whom nat withstandyng was suche a familier vice, which Alexander apprehending in childhode coulde neuer abandon, some suppose it to be fury and hastines, other superfluous drinking of wyne, whiche of them it were, it is a good warnyng for gentilmen to be the more serious, in serching nat only for the vertues, but also for the vices of them, vnto whose tuition & gouernance they will committe their children.

The office of a tutor, is firste to knowe the nature of his pupil, that is to say, wher to be is mooste inclined or disposed, and in what thyng he setteth his most delectation or appetite. If he be of nature curtaise, piteouse, and of a free and liberall harte, it is a principall token of grace (as hit is by all scripture determined). Than shall a wyse tutor, purposely commende those vertues, extolling also his pupill, for hauyng of them: and there with he shall declare them to be of all men mooste fortunate, whiche shall happen to haue suche a maister. And more [C5v] ouer shall declare to hym, what honour, what loue, what commodite shall happen to him by these vertues. And if any haue ben of disposition contrary, than to expresse the enormities of theyr vice, with as moche detestation as may be. And if any daunger haue therby ensued, misfortune, or punisshement, to agreue it in suche wyse, with so vehement wordes, as the childe may abhore it, and feare the semblable aduenture.

In what wise musike may be to a noble man necessarie: and what modestie ought to be therin.

The discretion of a tutor, consisteth in temperance: that is to saye, that he suffre nat the childe to be fatigate with continuall studie or lernyng: wherwith the delicate and tender witte may be dulled or oppressed: but that there may be there with entrelased and mixte, some pleasaunt lernynge, and exercise, as playenge on instruments of musike, whiche moderately vsed, and without diminution of honour, that is to say, without wanton countenance and dissolute gesture, is nat to be contened. [C6r] For the noble kynge and prophete Dauid kyng of Israell (whom almighty god said that he had chosen as a man accordinge to his harte or desire) duringe his lyfe, delited in musike: And with the swete harmony that he made on his harpe, he constrayned the iuell spirite, that vexed kynge Saul, to forsake him, continuynge the tyme that he harped. The mooste noble and valiant princis of Grece often tymes, to recreate their spirites, and in augmenting their courage, enbraced instrumentes musicall.

So dyd the valiaunt Achilles (as Homere saith) who after the sharpe and vehement contention betwene him and Agamemnon, for the takyng away of his concubine: wherby he being set in a fury hadde slayne Agamemnon emperour of the grekes armye, had nat Pallas the goddesse withdrawen his hande: In whiche rage he all inflamed departed with his people to his owne shippes, that lay at rode, intendinge to haue retourned in to his countray, but after that he had taken to hym his harpe (whereon he had lerned to playe of Chiron the Centaure, whiche also had taught hym feates of armes, with phisicke and surgery). And playeng theron had songen the gestis and [C6v] actis martial of the auncient princis of Grece as Hercules, Perseus, Perithous, Theseus and his cosin Jason: and of diuers other of semblable value & prowesse: he was there with asswaged of his furie, and reduced in to his firste astate of reason: in suche wyse that in redoubyng his rage, and that there by shulde nat remayne to him any note of reproche, he retaynyng his fiers & stourdie countenance so tempered hym selfe, in the entertaynement and answerynge the messagers, that came to him from the residue of the Grekes, that they reputing all that his fiers demeanure to be (as it were) a diuine maiestie, neuer embrayded him with any inordinate wrathe or furie.

And therfore the great kynge Alexander, whan he had vanquisshed Ilion, where some tyme was set the moste noble citie of Troy, beinge demaunded of one, if he wold se the harpe of Paris Alexander, who rauisshed Helene, he therat gentilly smilyng, answered: that it was nat the thyng that he moche desired, but that he had rather se the harpe of Achilles, wherto he sange, nat the illecebrous dilectations of Venus, but the valiaunt actes and noble affaires of excellent princis. But in this commendation [C7r] of musike, I wold nat be thought to allure noble men to haue so moche delectation therin, that in playinge and singynge only, they shulde put their holle studie and felicitie: As dyd the emperour Nero, whiche all a longe somers day wolde sit in the Theatre, (an open place where all the people of Rome behelde solemne actis and playes) and in the presence of all the noble men and senatours, wolde playe on his harpe and synge without dessynge: And if any man hapned by longe fittynge to slepe, or by any other countenance to shewe him selfe to be weary he was sodaynly bobbed on the face by the seruantes of Nero, for that purpose attendyng: Or if any persone were perceiued to be absent, or were sene to laughe at the folye of the emprour, he was forthe with accused as it were of missprision. Wherby the emperour founde occasion to committe him to prison, or to put hym to tortures. O what misery was it to be subiecte to suche a minstrell, in whose musike was no melodye but anguisshe and dolour?

It were therfore better that no musike were taughte to a noble man, than by the exacte knowlege therof he shuld haue therin inordinate delite: & by that be illected to [C7v] wantonnesse, abandonyng grauitie and the necessary cure & office in the publike weale to him comitted. Kynge Philip, whan he harde that his sonne Alexander dyd singe swetely & properly, he rebuked him gentilly, saynge: But Alexander be ye nat ashamed, that ye can singe so well and connyngly? Wherby he mente that the open profession of that crafte was but of a base estimation. And that it suffised a noble man, hauynge therein knowledge, either to vse it secretely, for the refresshynge of his witte, whan he hath tyme of solace: or els only hearynge the contention of noble musiciens, to gyue iugement in the excellencie of their counynges. These be the causes, where vnto hauinge regarde, musike is nat onely tollerable, but also commendable. For as Aristotle saith: Musike in the olde time was nombred amonge sciences, for as moche as nature seketh nat onely howe to be in busines well occupied, but also howe in quietnes to be commendably disposed. And if the childe be of a perfecte inclination and towardnes to vertue, and very aptly disposed to this science, and ripely dothe vnderstande the reason and concordance of tunes, the tutors office shall be to persuade hym, to haue [C8r] principally in remembrance his astate, whiche maketh hym exempt from the libertie of vsinge this science in euery tyme and place: that is to say, that it onely serueth for recreation, after tedious or laborious affaires. And to shewe him that a gentilman plainge or singing in a commune audience, appaireth his estimation. The people forgettinge reuerence, whan they beholde him in the similitude of a common seruant or minstrell. Yet nat withstanding, he shall commende the perfecte vnderstandinge of musike, declaringe howe necessary it is for the better attaynynge the knowlege of a publike weale. Whiche as I before haue saide, is made of an ordre of astates and degrees & by reason therof conteineth in it a perfect harmony: whiche he shall afterwarde more perfectly vnderstande, whan he shall happen to rede the bokes of Plato & Aristotle of publike weales: wherin be written diuers examples of musike and geometrye. In this fourme may a wise and circumspecte tutor, adapte the pleasant science of musike to a necessary and laudable purpose.

That it is commendable in a gentilman to paint and kerue exactly, if nature therto doth induce hym.

If the childe be of nature inclined (as many haue ben) to paint with a penne, or to fourme images in stone or tree: he shulde nat be therfrom withdrawen, or nature be rebuked, which is to hym beniuolent: but puttyng one to hym, whiche is in that crafte, wherin he deliteth, moste excellent, in vacant tymes from other more serious lernynge, he shulde be in the moste pure wise enstructed in painting or keruinge.

And nowe perchance some enuious reder wyll hereof apprehende occasion to scorne me, sayenge, that I haue well hyed me, to make of a noble man a mason or peynter. And yet if either ambition or voluptuouse idelnes wolde haue suffered that reder to haue sene histories, he shuld haue founded excellent princis, as well in payntyng as in keruynge, equall to noble artificers: suche were Claudius Titus, the sonne of Vaspasian, Hadriane, both Antoines, and diuers other emperours and noble princes: whose warkes of longe tyme remayned in Rome and other cities, in such places, where all men mought beholde them: as monuments of their excellent wittes and vertuous occupation, in eschewynge of idelnes. [D1r]

And nat without a necessary cause, princis were in their childhode so instructed: for it serued them afterwarde for deuysynge of engynes for the warre: or for making them better that be all redy deuysed. For as Vitruuius (whiche writeth of buyldynge to the emperour Augustus) sayth: all turmentes of warre, whiche we cal ordinance, were first inuented by kinges or gouernours of hostes: or if they were deuised by other, they were by them made moche better.

Also by the feate of portraiture or payntyng, a capitaine may discriue the countray of his aduersary, wherby he shall eschue the daungerous passages with his hoste or nauie: also perceuye the placis of aduauntage, the forme of embataylynge of his enemies: the situation of his campe, for his mooste suertie, the strength or weakenes of the towne or fortresse, whiche he intendeth the assaulte. And that, whiche is moost specially to be considered, in visiting his owne dominions, he shal sette them out in figure in suche wise, that at his eie shal appere to hym, where he shall employ his study and treasure, as well for the faulsgarde of his countray, as for the commodite and honour therof, hauyng at all tymes in his fight the [D1v] suertie and feblenes, aduauncement & hyndrance of the same. And what pleasure and also vtilite is it to a man, whiche intendeth to edifie, hym selfe to expresse the figure of the warke that he purposeth, accordyng as he hath conceyued it in his owne fantasie: wherin by often amendyng and correctyng, he finally shall so perfecte the warke vnto his purpose, that there shall neither ensure any repentance, nor in the employment of his money he shall be by other disceiued.

More ouer the feate of portraiture shall be an allectiue to euery other studie or exercise. For the witte therto disposed, shall alway couaite congruent mater, wherin it may be occupied. And whan he happeneth to rede or here any fable or historie, forthwith he apprehendeth it more desirously, and retaineth it better than any other, that lacketh the sayd feate: by reason that he hath founde mater apte to hsi fantasie. Finally euery thinge that portraiture may comprehende will be tohim delectable to rede or here.

And where the liuely sprite, and that whiche is called the grace of the thyng, is perfectly expressed, that thinge more persuadeth and stereth the beholder, & soner instructeth hym, than the declaration in writynge or [D2r] speakynge doth the reder or hearer.

Experience we haue therof in lernynge of geometry, astronomie, & cosmogrophie, called in englisshe the discription of the world. In which studies I dare affirme, a man shal more profite in one wike by figures & chartis, well and perfectly made, than he shall by the only reding or heryng the rules of that science, by the space of halfe a yere at the lest. Wherfore the late writers deserue no small commendation, whiche added to the autors of those sciences apt and propre figures.

And he that is perfectly instructed in portrayture, and hapneth to rede any noble & excellent historie, wherby his courage is inflamed to the imitation of vertue, he forth with taketh his penne or pensill, and with a graue and substanciall studie, gatherynge to him all the partes of imagination, endeuoureth him selfe to expresse liuely, and (as I mought say) actually in portrayture, nat only the faict or affaire, but also the sondry affections of euery personage in the historie recited, whiche mought in any wise appiere or be perceiued in their visage, countenance, or gesture: with like diligence, as Lysippus, made in metall kynge Alexander, sightynge and struggling with a terrible lyon of incomparable [D2v] magnitude and fiersenesse; whom, after longe and difficulte bataile, with wonderfull strength and clene might, at the last he ouerthrewe and vainquisshed. Wherin he so expressed the similitude of Alexander and of his lordes standyng about him, that they all semed to lyue. Amonge whom the prowes of Alexander appiered excelling all other, the residue of his lordes after the value and estimation of their courage, euery man set out in suche forwardnes, as they than semed more prompt to the helpyng of their maister, that is to say, one lasse a ferde than an other. Phidias the Atheniense, whom all writers do commende, made of yuory the simulachre or image of Jupiter, honoured by the gentiles, on the high hille of Olympus: whiche was done so excellently, that Pandenus, a counnyng painter, therat admaruailinge, required the craftis man to shewe him where he had the example, or paterne of so noble a warke. Than Phidias answered, that he had taken it out of thre verses of Homere the poet: the sentence wherof ensueth as well as my poure witte can expresse it in englisshe.

where it is to be noted, that Homere immediatly before had rehersed the counsultation had amonge the goddis, for the appaising of the two noble princis, Achilles & Agamemnon.

Nowe (as I haue before sayde) I intende nat by these examples to make of a prince or noble mannes sonne a commune painter or keruer, whiche shall present him selfe openly, stained or embrued with sondry colours, or poudered with the duste of stones that he cutteth, or perfumed with tedious fauours of the metalles by him yoten.

But verily myne intent & meaninge is only, that a noble childe, by his owne naturall disposition, and nat by coertion, may be induced, to receiue perfect instruction in these sciences. But all though, for purposis before expressed, they shall be necessary: yet shall they nat be by him exercised, but as a secrete pastime, or recreation of the wittes late occupied in serious studies, like as dyd the noble princis before named. All though they ones beinge attayned be neuer moche exercised, after that the tyme cometh concerning businesse of greater importaunce: Ne the lesse the exquisite knowledge and vnderstanding [D3v] that he hath in those sciences, hath impressed in his eares and eies and exacte and perfecte iugement, as well in desernyng the excellencie of them, whiche either in musike, or in statuary, or paynters crafte, professeth any counnyng, as also adaptinge their saide knowledge to the adminiculation of other serious studies and businesse, as I haue before rehersed: whiche I doubt nat shall be well approued by them that either haue redde and vnderstande olde autors, or aduisedly wyll examine my considerations.

The swete writer Lactantius, saythe in his firste boke to the emperour Constantine agayne the gentiles: Of conninge commeth vertue, and of vertue perfect felicitie is onely ingendred. And for that cause the gentiles supposed those princis, whiche in vertue and honour surmounted other men, to be goddes. And the Romanes in lyke wyse dyd consecrate their emperours, whiche excelled in vertuous example, in preseruyng or augmentinge the publike weale, and ampliatinge of the empire, calling them Diui, whiche worde representeth a signification of diuinitie, they thinkynge that it was excedynge mannes nature, to be bothe in fortune and goodnes of suche perfection. [D4r] What the prose of any mater, may be taken with litle studie: And that lesson with moche & diligent lernyng, hauyng mixte therewith none other exercise, will in the space of halfe a yere be perfectly kanned.

Immediately after that, the arte of Rhetorike wolde be semblably taught, either in greke out of Hermogines, or of Quintilian in latine, begynnyng at the thirde boke, and instructyng diligently the childe in that yrte of rhetorike, principally whiche concerneth persuation: for as moche as it is most apte for consultations. There can be no shorter instruction of Rhetorike, than the treatise that Tulli wrate vnto his sone, whiche boke is named the partition of rhetorike.

And in good faythe to speake boldly that I thinke: for him that nedeth nat, or doth nat desire to be an exquisite oratour, the litle boke made by the famous Erasm' (whom all gentill wittis are bounden to thanke, and supporte) whiche he calleth Copiam verborum et Rerum, that is to say plentie of wordes and maters, shall be sufficient.

Isocrates concerning the lesson of oratours is euery where wonderfull profitable, hauynge almost as many wyse sentences as he hath wordes: and with that is so swete & [D4v] delectable to rede, that after him almost all other seme vnsauery and tedious: and in persuadynge, as well a prince as a priuate persone to vertue, in two very litle and compendious warkes, wherof he made the one to kynge Nicocles, the other to his frende Demonicus, wolde be perfectly kanned and had in continuall memorie.

Demosthenes and Tulli, by the consent of all lerned men, haue preeminence and soueraintie ouer all oratours: the one reignyng in wonderfull eloquence in the publike weale of the Romanes, who had the empire and dominion of all the worlde, the other of no lasse estimation in the citie of Athenes, whiche of longe tyme was accounted the mother of Sapience, and the palaice of musis and all liberall sciences. Of whiche two oratours may be attayned, nae onely eloquence excellent and perfecte, but also preceptes of wisedome and gentyll maners: with most commodious examples of all noble vertues and pollicie. Wherfore the maister in redynge them, muste well obserue and expresse the partis and colours of rhetorike in them contayned, accordynge to the preceptes of that arte before lerned.

The vtilitie that a noble man shall haue [D5r] by redyng these oratours is, that whan he shall happe to reason in counsaile, or shall speake in a great audience, or to strange ambassadours of great princes, he shall nat be constrayned to speake wordes sodayne, and disordred, but shal bestowe them aptly and in their places. Wherfore the most noble emperour Octauius is highly commended, for that he neuer spake in the Senate or to the people of Rome, but in an oration prepared and purposely made.

Also to prepare the childe to vnderstandynge of histories, whiche beinge replenished with the names of countrayes and townes vnknowen to the reder, do make the historie tedious, or els the lasse pleasant, so if they be in any wyse knowen, it encreaseth an inexplicable delectation. It shall be therfore and also for refreshing the witte, a conuenient lesson to beholde the olde tables of Ptholomee, where in all the worlde is paynted, hauynge first some introduction in to the sphere, wherof nowe of late be made very good treatises, and more playne and easie to lerne than was wonte to be.

All be it there is none so good lernynge, as the demonstration of cosmographie, by materiall fgures and instrumentes, hauynge [D5v] a good instructour. And surely this lesson is bothe pleasant and necessary. For what pleasure is it, in one houre to beholde those realmes, cities, sees, ryuers, and mountaynes, that vneth in an olde mannes life can nat be iournaide and pursued: what incredible delite is taken in beholding the diuersities of people, beastis, foules, fisshes, trees, frutes, and herbes: to knowe the sondry maners & conditions of people, and the varietie of their natures, and that in a warme studie or perler, without perill of the see, or daunger of longe and paynfull iournayes: I can nat tell, hat more pleasure shulde happen to a gentil witte, than to beholde in his owne house euery thynge that with in all the worlde is contained. The commoditie therof knewe the great kynge Allexander, as some writars do remembre. For he caused the countrayes whervnto he purposed any enterprise, diligently and counningly to be discribed and paynted, that beholdynge the picture, he mought perceyue whiche places were most daungerous: & where he & his host mought haue most easy & couenable passage. Semblably dyd the Romanes in the rebellion of France, and the insurrection of theyr confederates, settynge vp a [D6r] table openly, wherin Italy was painted, to the intent that the people lokyng in it, shuld reason & consulte in which places hit were best to resiste or inuade their ennemies.

I omitte for length of the matter, to write of Cirus the great kinge of Perse, Crassus the Romane, and dyuers other valiant and experte capitaines: whiche haue lost them selfes & all their army by ignorance of this doctryne. Wherfore it maye nat be of any wyse man demed, but that Cosmographie is to all noble men, nat only pleasant but profitable also, and wonderfull necessary.

In the parte of cosmographie, wherwith historie is mingled, Strabo reigneth: whiche toke his argument of the diuine poete Homere. Also Strabo hym selfe (as he saith) laboured a great part of Africa and Egypte, where vndoubtedly be many thinges to be maruailed at.

Solinus writeth almost in like forme and is more brefe, & hath moche more varietie of thinges & maters, and is therfore maruailous delectable: yet Mela is moche shorter, & his stile (by reason that it is of a more antiquitie) is also more clene & facile. Wherfore he or Dionisius, shall be sufficient.

Cosmographie beinge substancially perceiued [D6v] it is than tyme to induce a childe to the redinge of histories: but fyrst to set hym in a feruent courage, the mayster in the mooste pleasant and elegant wise expressinge what incomparable delectation, vtilitie, and commodite shal happen to emperours, kinges, princis, and all other gentil men, by reding of histories: Shewinge to hym: that Demetrius Phalareus, a man of excellent wisedome and lerninge, and whiche in Athenes had ben longen exercised in the publike weale, exhorted Ptholomee kyng of Egipt chiefly aboue all other studyes to haunte and embrace histories, & such other bokes, wherin were contayned preceptes made to kynges and princes: sayng that in them he shulde rede those thinges, whiche no man durst reporte vnto his persone. Also Cicero, father of the latin eloquence, calleth an historie the witnesse of tymes, maistres of life, the lyfe of remembrance, of trouthe the lyght, and messager of antiquite. Moreouer the swete Isocrates exhorteth the kynge Nicocles, whom he instructeth to leaue behynde him statues and images that shall represent rather the figure & similitude of his mynde, than the features of his body, signifienge therbye the remembraunce of his actes [D7r] writen in histories.

By semblable aduiertisementes shall a notable harte be trayned to delite in histories. And than accordynge to the counsayle of Quintilian, it is best that he begynne with Titus Liuius, nat onely for his elegancie of writinge, whiche floweth in him like a fountaine of swete milke: but also for as moche as by redynge that autor, he maye knowe howe the mooste noble citie of Rome of a small & poure begynnynge, by prowes and vertue, litell and litell came to empire and dominion of all the worlde.

Also in that citye he maye beholde the fourme of a publike weale: whiche if the insolencie and pryde of Tarquine had nat excluded kynges out of the citie, it had ben the most noble and perfect of all other.

Xenophon, beynge bothe a philosopher, and an excellent capitayne, so inuented and ordred his warke named Paedia Cyri: whiche may be interpreted the Childehode or discipline of Cyrus, that he leaueth to the reders therof an incomparable swetenes and example of lyuynge, specially for the conductynge and well ordring of hostes or armyes. And therfore the noble Scipio, who was called Affricanus, as [D7v] well in peace as in warre, was neuer seene without this boke of Xenophon.

With hym maye be ioyned Quintus Curtius, who writeth the life of kyng Alexander elegantly & swetely. In whom may be founded the figure of an excellent prince, as he that incomparably excelled al other kinges and emperours, in wysedome, hardynes, strength, policie, agilite, valiaunt courage, nobilitie, liberalitie, and curtaisie. Wherein he was a spectakle or marke for all princes to loke on Contrarye wise, whan he was ones vainquisshed with voluptie & pride, his tiranny and beastly crueltie abhorreth all reders. The comparison of the vertues of these two noble princes, equally described by two excellent writars, well expressed, shall prouoke a gentil courage to contende to folowe their vertues.

Julius Cesar and Salust for their compendious writynge, to the vnderstandynge wherof is required an exact & perfect iugement, and also for the exquisite ordre of bataile, and continuinge of the historie, without any varietie, wherby the payne of studie shulde be alleuiate: they two wolde be reserued, vntyll he that shall rede them, shall se some experience in semblable matters. [D8r] And than shal he finde in them suche pleasure & commodite, as therwith a noble & gentyl harte ought to be satisfied. For in them both it shall seme to a man that he is present & hereth the counsayles and exhortations of capitaines, whiche he called Conciones, and that he seeth the ordre of hostes, whan they be ambatayled: the fiers assaultes and encountringes of bothe armies: the furiouse rage of that monstre called warre. And he shall wene that he hereth the terrible dintes of sondry weapons, and ordinaunce of bataile: the conducte and policies of wise & expert capitaines, specially in the commentaries of Julius Cesar: whiche he made of his exploiture in Fraunce and Brytayne, and other countraies nowe rekned amonge the prouinces of Germany, whiche boke is studiously to be radde of the princes of this realme of Englande and their counsailours: considering that therof maye be taken necessary instructions concernynge the warres, agayne Irisshe men or Scottes: who be of the same rudenes and wilde disposition, that the Suises & Britons were in the time of Cesar. Semblable vtilitie shal be founden in the historie of Titus Liuius in his thirde Decades: where he writeth of [D8v] the batayles that the Romanes had with Annibal and the Charthaginensis.

Also there be dyuers orations, as well in all the bokes of the saide autors, as in the historie of Cornelius Tacitus: whiche be very delectable, and for counsayles very expedient to be had in memorie.

And in good saythe I haue often thought that the consultations & orations wryten by Tacitus do importe a maiestie with a compendious eloquence therin contained.

In the lerning of these autors, a yonge gentilman shal be taught to note & marke, nat only the ordre & elegancie in declaration of the historie: but also the occasion of the warres: the counsailes & preparations on either part: the estimation of the capitaines, the maner & fourme of theyr gouernance: the continuance of the bataile: the fortune & successe of the holle affaires. Semblably out of the warres in other dayly affaires, the astate of the publike weale: if hit be prosperous or in decaye. What is the very occasyon of the one or of the other: the forme and maner of the gouernance therof, the good and euyll qualities of them that be rulers: the commodites and good sequele of vertue: the discommodies and euyll [F1r] Note: error in page numbering conclusion of vicious license.

Surely if a noble man do thus seriously an diligently rede histories, I dare affirme ther is no studie or science for him of equal commodite and pleasure: hauynge regarde to euery tyme and age.

By the time that the childe do com to xvii. yeres of age, to the intent his courage be bridled with reason: hit were nedefull to rede vnto hym some warkes of philosphie: specially that parte that may enforme him vnto vertuous maners: whiche parte of philosphie is called morall. Wherfore there wolde be radde to hym for an introduction two the fyrste bokes of the warke of Aristotell, called Ethicae: wherin is contained the definitions and propre significations of euery vertue: and that to be lerned in greke: for the translations that we yet haue, be but a rude and grosse shadowe of the eloquence & wisedome of Aristotell. Forthe with wolde folowe the warke of Cicero called in latin De officia: whervnto yet is no propre englisshe worde to be gyuen: but to prouide for it some maner of exposition, it may be sayde in this fourme: Of the dueties and maners appertaynynge to men. But aboue all other, the warkes of [F1v] Plato wolde be most studiously radde, whan the iugement of a man is come to perfection, and by the other studies is instructed in the fourme of speakynge that philosphers vsed. Lorde god, what incomparable swetnesse of wordes and mater shall be finde in the saide warkes of Plato & Cicero: wherin is ioyned grauitie with dilectation: excellent wysedome with diuine eloquence: absolute vertue with pleasure incredible: & euery place is so infarced with profitable counsaile, ioyned with honestie: that those thre bokes be almost sufficient to make a perfecte and excellent gouernour.

The prouerbes of Salomon with the bokes of Ecclesiastes and Ecclesiasticus be very good lessons. All the historiall partes of the bible, be righte necessarye for to be radde of a noble man, after that he is mature in yeres. And the residue (with the newe testament) is to be reuerently touched, as a celestiall iewell or relike, hauynge the chiefe interpretour of those bokes trewe and constant faithe, and dredefully to sette handes theron, remembrynge that Oza for puttyng his hande to the holy shyrne, that was called Archa federis, whan it was broughte by kyng Dauid from the citie of Gaba, [F2r] though it were wauerynge and in daunger to fall, yet was he stryke of god, and fell deed immediately. It wolde nat be forgoten, that the lytell boke of the most excellent doctour Erasmus Roterodame (whiche he wrate to Charles, nowe beynge emperour, and than prince of Castile) whiche booke is intituled the Institution of a christen prince, wolde be as family are alwaye with gentilmen at all tymes and in euery age, as was Homere with the great king Alexander, or Xenophon with Scipio: for as all men may iuge, that haue radde that warke of Erasmus: that there was neuer boke written in latine, that in so lyte a portion, contayned of sentence, eloquence, and vertuous exhortation, a more compendious abundaunce. And here I make an ende of the lernynge and studie, wherby noble men may attayne to be worthy to haue autoritie in a publike weale. Alway I shall exhorte tutours and gouernours of noble chyldren, that they suffre them nat to vse ingourgitations of meate or drinke, ne to slepe moche, that is to saye, aboue viii. houres at the moste. For vndoubtedly bothe repletion and superfluous slepe, be capitall enemies to studie, as they be semblably to helth of body & soule. [F2v] Aulus Gellius sayth that children, if they vse of meate and slepe ouer moche, be made therwith dull to lerne: and we se that therof slownesse is taken, & the childrens personages do waxe vncomely, & lasse growe in stature. Galen wyll nat permitte that pure wyne without alay of water, shulde in any wyse be tyuen to children, for as moche as it humecteth the body or maketh it moyster & hotter than is conuenient: also it fylleth the heed with fume, in them specially whiche be lyke as children of hote & moiste temperature. These be well nighe the wordes of the noble Galen.

Why gentilmen in this present tyme be nat equall in doctryne to the auncient noble men.

Nowe wyll I somwhat declare of the chiefe causes, why in our tyme noble men be nat as excellent in lernyng, as they were in olde tyme amonge the Romanes and grekes. Surely as I haue diligently marked in dayly experience, the principall causes be these. The pride, auarice, and negligence [F3r] of parentes: and the lacke or fewenesse of suffycient maysters or teachers.

As I sayd, pride is the first cause of this inconuenience. For of those persons be some, which without shame dare affirme, that to a great gentilmen, it is a notable reproche to be well lerned, & to be called a great clerke: whiche name they accounte to be of so base estymation, that they neuer haue it in their mouthes, but whan they speke any thynge in derision: whiche perchaunce they wolde nat do if they had ones layser to rede our owne cronicle of Englande, where they shall fynde, that kynge Henry the first, sonne of willyam conquerour, and one of the moste noble princes that euer reigned in this realme, was openly called Henry beau clerke: whiche is in englisshe, fayre clerke, and is yet at this day so named. And wheder that name be to his honour or to his reproche, let them iuge that do rede & compare his lyfe with his two bretherne, william, called Rouse, and Robert le courtoise, they both nat hauyng semblable lernyng with the sayd Henry, the one for his dissolute lyuyng and tyranny, beynge bated of all his nobles & people, finally was sodaynely slayne by the shotte of an arowe, as he was huntynge in [F3v] a forest, whiche to make larger, and to gyue his deere more lybertie, he dyd cause the houses of lii. parisshes to be pulled downe, the people to be expelled, and all beyng desolate, to be tourned in to desert,and made onely pasture for beestes sauage. Whiche he wolde neuer haue done, if hehad as moche delyted in good lerning, as dyd his brother. The other brother Robert le Curtoise, beynd duke of Normandie, & the eldest sonne of wylliam Conquerour: al be it that he was a man of moche prowesse, and right expert in martial affayres: wherfore he was electe before Godfray of Boloigne to haue ben kyng of Hierusalem: yet nat withstandynge, whan he inuaded this realme with sondrie puissant armies, also dyuers noble men aydinge hym: yet his noble brother Henry beau clerke, more by wysdome than power, also by lernynge addyng polycie to vertue and courage, often tymes vaynquisshed hym, and dyd put him to flyght. And after sondry victories, finally toke him and kepte hym in prison: hauyng none other meanes to kepe his realme in tranquillitie.

It was for no rebuke, but for an excellent honour, that the emperour Antonine was surnamed philosopher, for by his most noble [F4r] example of lyuing & industrie incomparable, he during all the tyme of his reigne kept the publike weale of the Romanes in suche a perfecte astate, that by his actes be confirmed the sayeng of Plato: That blessed is that publike weale, wherin either philosophers do reigne: or els kinges be in philosophie studiouse. These persones that so moche contemne lernyng, that they wolde that gentilmens children shulde haue no parte or very litle therof: but rather shulde spende their youth alway (I saye not onely in huntynge and haukyng, whiche moderately vsed as solaces ought to be, I intende nat to disprayse) but in those ydle pastymes, whiche for the vice that is therin, the commaundement of the prince, and the vniuersall consent of the people expressed in statutes & lawes do prohibite, I meane playeng at dyce and other games named vnlefull. These persones I say, I wolde shulde remembre, or elles nowe lerne, if they neuer els herde it, that the noble Philip kyng of Macedonia, who subdued al Grece, aboue all the good fortunes that euer be hadde, most reioysed that his sonne Alexander was borne in the tyme that Aristotle the philospher flourisshed, by whose instruction be [F4v] mought attaine to most excellent lernynge. Also the same Alexander often tymes sayd that he was equally as moche bounden to Aristotle as to his father kyng Philip: for of his father he receyued lyfe: but of Aristotle he receyued the waye to lyue nobly. Who dispraysed Epaminondas, the mooste valiant capitayne of Thebanes, for that he was excellently lerned and a great philosopher? who euer discommended Julius Cesar, for that he was a noble oratour, & nexte to Tulli in the eloquence of the latin tonge excelled al other? who euer reproued the emperour Hadriane, for that he was so exquisitely lerned, nat onely in greke and latine, but also in all sciences liberall, that openly at Athenes in the vniuersall assembly of the greatteste clerkes of the worlde, be by a longe tyme disputed with philosophers and Rhetoriciens, whiche were estemed mooste excellent, & by the iugement of them that were present, had the palme or rewarde of victorie? And yet by the gouernance of that noble emperour, nat only the publik weale florisshed, but also diuers rebellions were suppressed, & the maiesty of the empire hugely increased. Was it any reproche to the noble Germanicus (who by the assignement of Augustus [F5r] shulde haue succeded Tiberius in the empire, if traitorous enuy had nat in his flourisshynge youth bireft hym his lyfe) that he was equall to the moost noble poetes of his time: and to the increase of his honour and moost worthy commendation, his image was set vp at Rome in the habite that poetes at those dayes vsed: Fynally howe moche excellent lernynge commendeth and nat dispraiseth nobilitie, it shal playnly appere vnto them that do rede the lyfes of Alexander, called Seuerus, Tacitus, Probus, Aurelius, Constantine, Theodosius, & Charles the gret, surnamed Charlemaine, all beinge emperours: and do compare them with other whiche lacked or had nat so moche of doctrine. Verily they be ferre from good raison in myne opinion, whiche couaite to haue their children goodly in stature, stronge deliuer, well singyng: wherin trees, beastes, fysshes, and byrdes, be nat only with them equall, but also ferre do excede them? and connynge, wherby onely man excelleth all other creatures in erthe, they reiecte and accounte vnworthy to be in their children. What vnkinde appetite were it to desyre to be father rather of a pece of flesshe, that can onely mene and feele, than [F5v] of a childe, that shulde haue the perfecte fourme of a man? What so perfectly expresseth a man as doctrine? Diogines the philospher seing one witout lernynge syt on a stone, sayde to them that were with him, beholde where one stone sytteth on an other whiche wordes well considered and tried, shall apere to contayne in it wonderfull matter, for the approbation of doctrine. Wherof a wyse man maye accumulate ineuitable argumentes: whiche I of necessite to auoide tediousnes, must nedes passe ouer at this tyme.

The seconde and thirde decay of lernyng amonge gentilmen.

The seconde occasion wherfore gentylmens children seldome haue sufficient lernynge, is auarice: For where theyr parentes wyll nat aduenture to sende them farre out of theyr propre countrayes, partely for feare of dethe, whiche perchance dare nat approche them at home with theyr father: partely for expence of money, whiche they suppose wolde be lasse in theyr owne houses, or in a village with [F6r] some of theyr tenantes or frendes: hauyng seldome any regarde to the teacher, whether he be well lerned or ignorant. For if they hiare a schole maister to teche in theyr houses, they chiefely enquire with howe small a salary he will be contented, & neuer do in serche howe moche good lernynge he hath, and howe amonge well lerned men he is therin estemed, vsinge therin lasse diligence than in takynge seruantes, whose seruice is of moche lasse importance, and to a good schole maister is nat in profite to be compared. A gentil man, er he take a cooke in to his seruice, he wyll firste diligently examine hym, howe many sortes of meates, potages, and sauces he can perfectly make, and howe well he can season them, that they may be bothe pleasant and nourishynge. Yea and if it be but a fauconer, he wyll scrupulously enquire, what skyll he hath in seedyng, called diete, and kepyng of his hauke from all sickenes: also how he can reclaime her & prepare her to flyght. And to suche a cooke or fauconer, whom he findeth expert, he spareth nat to gyue moche wages with other bounteous rewardes. But of a schole maister, to whom he will committe his childe to be fedde with lernynge, and instructed in [F6v] vertue, whose lyfe shall be the principall monument of his name and honour, he neuer maketh further enquirie, but where he may haue a schole maister: and with howe litle charge: & if one be perchance founded well lerned, but he will nat take paynes to teache without he may haue a great salary: he than speketh nothing more, or els saith: what shall so moche wages be gyuen to a schole maister, whiche wolde kepe me two seruauntes: to whom maye be saide these wordes, that by his sonne being wel lerned he shall receiue more commoditie and also worship, than by the seruice of a hundred cokes and fauconers.

The thirde cause of this hyndrance is negligence of parentes, whiche I do specially note in this poynt, there haue bene diuers as well gentill men as of the nobilitie, that deliting to haue their sonnes excellent in lernynge, haue prouided for them connynge maysters, who substancially haue taught them gramer, and very wel instructed them to speake latine elegantly: wherof the parentes haue taken moche delectation, but whan they haue had of grammer sufficient and be comen to the age of xiii. yeres, and do approche or drawe towarde the astate [F7r] of man: whiche age is called mature or ripe (wherin nat onely the saide lernyng continued by moche experience shal be perfectly digested & confirmed in perpetuall remembrance: but also more seriouse lernynge contayned in other lyberall sciences, and also philosophy wolde than be lerned) the parentes, that thinge nothinge regarding, but being suffised that their children can onely speke latine proprely: or make verses with out mater or sentence: they from thens forth do suffre them to liue in idelnes, or else putting them to seruice, do as it were banisshe them from all vertuous study, or excercise, of that whiche they before lerned: so that we may beholde diuers yonge gentill men, who in their infancie and childehode, were wondred at for their aptnes to lerning, and prompt speakinge of elegant latine, whiche nowe beinge men, nat onely haue forgotten their congruite (as is the commune worde) & vnneth can speake one hole sentence in true latine: but that wars is, hath all lernynge in derision: and in skorne therof wyll of wantonnesse speake the moste barberously that they can imagine.

Nowe some man wyll require men to shewe myne opinion, if it be necessary that gentilmen [F7v] shulde after the age of xiii. yeres continue in studie. And to be playne and trewe therin: I dare affirme, that if the elegant speking of latin be nat added to other doctrine, litle frute may come of the tonge, sense latine is but a naturall speche, and the frute of speche is wyse sentence, whiche is gathered and made of sondry lernynges.

And who that hath nothinge but langage only, may be no more praised than a popiniay, a pye or a stare, whan they speke featly. There be many nowe a dayes in famouse scholes & vniuersities, whiche be so moche gyuen to the studie of tonges onely, that whan they write epistles, they seme to the reder, that lyke to a trumpet they make a soune without any purpose: where vnto men do herken more for the noyse than for any delectation that therby is meued. Wherfore they be moche abused, that suppose eloquence to be only in wordes or coulours of Rhetorike, for as Tulli saith, what is so furiouse or mad a thinge, as a vaine soune of wordes of the best sort & most ornate, contayning neither connynge nor sentence: Vndoubtedly very eloquence is in euery tonge, where any mater or acte done or to be done is expressed in wordes clene, propise, ornate, [F8r] and comely: wherof sentences be so aptly compact, that they by a vertue inexplicable do drawe vnto them the mindes and consent of the herers, they beinge therwith either perswaded, meued, or to delectation induced. Also euery man is nat an oratour, that can write an epistle or a flatering oration in latin: where of the laste (as god helpe me) is to moche vsed. For a right oratour may nat be without a moche better furniture. Tulli saienge, that to him belongeth the explicating or vnfoldinge of sentence with a great estimation, in gyuing counsaile concerninge maters of great importaunce: also to him appertaineth the steringe and quickning of people languisshinge or dispeiringe, and to moderate them that be rasshe & vnbridled. Wherfore noble autours do affirme, that in the firste infancie of the worlde, men wandring like beastes in woddes and on mountaines, regardinge neither the religion due vnto god, nor the office pertaining vnto man ordred all thing by bodily strength: vntill Mercurius (as Plato supposeth) or some other man holpen by sapience & eloquence, by some apt or propre oration assembled them to geder, & perswaded to them, what commodite was in mutual conuersation & honest maners. [F8v] But yet Cornelius Tacitus describeth an oratour to be of more excellent qualities, saynge that an oratour is he, that can or may speke or raison in euery question sufficiently, elegantly: and to persuade proprely, accordyng to the dignitie of the thyng that is spoken of, the oportunitie of time, & pleasure of them that be herers. Tulli before him affirmed, that a man may nat be an oratour heaped with praise, but if he haue gotten the knowlege of all thynges, & artes of greatest importaunce. And howe shall an oratour speake of that thynge, that he hath nat lerned. And bicause there may be nothynge but it may hapen to come in praise or dispraise, in consultation or iugement, in accusation or defence: therfore an oratour by others instruction perfectly furnisshed, may in euery mater and lernynge, commende or dispraise: exhorte or dissuade: accuse or defende eloquently, as occasion hapneth. Wherfore in as moche as in an oratour is required to be a heape of all maner of lernyng: whiche of some is called the worlde of science: of other the circle of doctrine, whiche is in one worde of greeke Encyclopedia: therfore at this day, may be founden but a very few oratours. For they that come in [G1r] message from princes, be for honour named newe oratours, if they be in any degre of worshyp: onely poore men hauyng equall or more of lernyng, beyng called messagers. Also they whiche do onely teache rhetorike, whiche is the science wherby is taught an artifyciall fourme of spekyng: wherin is the power to persuade, moue, and delyte: or by that science onely do speke or write without any adminiculation of other sciences: ought to be named rhetoriciens, declamatours, artificiall spekers (named in Greeke Logodedasi) or any other name than oratours.

Semblably they that make verses, expressynge therby none other lernynge but the craft of versifyeng, be nat of auncient writers named poetes, but onely called versifyers. For the name of a poete, wherat nowe (specially in this realme) men haue suche indignation, that they vse onely poetes and poetry in the contempte of eloquence: was in auncient tyme in hygh estimation: in so moche that all wysdome was supposed to be therin included, and poetry was the first philosophy that euer was knowen: wherby men from their childhode were brought to the raison howe to lyue well, lernynge [G1v] therby nat onely maners and naturall affections, but also the wonderfull werkes of nature, mixting serious mater with thynges that were pleasaunt: as it shall be manifest to them that shall be so fortunate to rede the noble warkes of Plato and Aristotle: wherin he shall fynde the autoritie of poetes frequently alleged: ye and that more is: In poetes was supposed to be science misticall and inspired: and therfore in latine they were called Vates: which worde signifyeth as moche as prophetes. And therfore Tulli in his Tusculane questyons supposeth that a poete can nat abundantly expresse verses sufficient and complete, or that his eloquence may flowe without labour, wordes wel sounyng and plentuouse, without celestiall instinction. Whiche is also by Plato ratified. But sens we be nowe occpied in the defence of Poetes, it shall nat be incongruent to our mater to shewe what profite may be taken by the diligent reding of auncient poetes, contrary to the false opinion that nowe rayneth of them that suppose, that in the warkes of poetes is contayned nothynge but baudry (suche is their soule worde of reproche) and vnprofitable leasinges. But first I wyll interprete [G2r] some verses of Horace, wherin he expresseth the office of poetes: and after wyll I resorte to a more playne demonstration of some wisdomes and counsayles contayned in some verses of poetes. Horace in his seconde boke of epistles sayth in this wyse, or moche lyke.

But they whiche be ignoraunt in poetes, wyll perchaunce obiecte as is their maner, agayne these verses, sayeng that in Therence and other that were writers of comedies: also Ouide, Catullus, Martialis & all that route of laxciuious poetes that wrate epistles and ditties of loue, some called in latine Elegiae, & some Epigramata, is nothyng contayned but incitation to lecher. First comedies whiche they suppose to be a doctrinall of rybaudrie, they be vndoutedly [G2v] a picture or as it were a mirrour of mans life. Wherin iuell is nat taught but discouered, to the intent that men beholdynge the promptnes of youth vnto vice: the snares of harlotts & baudes laide for yonge myndes: the disceipte of seruantes: the chaunces of fortune contrary to mennes expectation: they beinge therof warned: may prepare them selfe to resist or preuente occasion. Semblably remembring the wisedomes: aduertisements: counsailes: dissuasion from vice & other profitable sentences: most eloquently & familiarely shewed in those comedies/ Undoubtedly there shall be no litel frute out of them gathered: And if the vices in them expressed shulde be cause that myndes of the reders shulde be corrupted: than by the same argumente nat onely entreludes in englisshe, but also sermones wherin some vice is declared, shulde be to the beholders and berers like occasion to encrease sinners. And that by comedies good counsaile is ministred: it appiereth by the sentence of Parmeno in the seconde comedie of Therence.

There be many mo words spoken whiche I purposely omitte to translate, nat withstandynge the substance of the hole sentence is herin comprised. But nowe to come to other poetes, what may be better saide than is written by Plautus in his firste comedie?

Also Ouidius, that semeth to be moste of all poetes lasciuious, in his mooste wanton bokes hath righte commendable and noble sentences: as for proufe therof I will recite some that I haue taken at aduenture.

[G3v]

Martialis whiche for his dissolute wrytynge, is mooste seldome radde of men of moche grauitie, hath nat withstandynge many commendable sentences and right wise counsailes, as amonge diuers I will reherce one, whiche is first come to my remembrance.

I coulde recite a great nombre of semblable good sentences out of these and other wanton poetes who in the latine do expresse them incomparably with more grace & delectation to the reder, than our englisshe tonge may yet comprehende. Wherfore sense good & wise mater may be picked out of these poetes, it were no reason for some lite mater that is in their verses, to abandone therfore al their warkes, no more than it were to forbeare or prohibite a man to come into a faire gardein, leste the redolent fauours of swete herbes and floures shall meue him to wanton courage, or leste in gadringe good and holsome herbes he may happen to be stunge with a nettile. No wyse man entreth in to a gardein but he sone espiethe good herbes from nettiles, and treadeth the nettiles vnder his [G4r] feete whiles he gadreth good herbes. Wherby he taketh no damage: or if he be stungen he maketh lite of it, & shortly forgetteth it. Semblablye if he do rede wanton mater mixte with wisedome, he putteth the warst vnder foote, & sorteth out the beste, or if his courage be stered or prouoked, he remembreth the litel pleasure & gret detriment that shulde ensue of it: and withdrawynge his minde to some other studie or exercise, shortly forgetteth it. And therfore amonge the iewes though it were prohibited to children, vntill they came to rype yeres to reade the bokes of Genesis, of the iuges, Cantica Canticorum, and some parte of the boke of Exechiel the prophete, For that in them was contayned some matter, whiche moughte happen to incense the yonge mynde, wherin were sparkes of carnall concupiscence, yet after certayne yeres of mennes ages, it was lefull for euery man to rede and diligently studie those warkes. So all thoughe I do nat approue the lesson of wanton poetes to be taughte vnto all children: yet thynke I conuenient and necessary, that whan the mynde is become constante, and courage is asswaged, or that children of their naturall disposition be shamfaste & continent, none [G4v] auncient poete wolde be excluded from the leesson of suche one as desireth to come to the perfection of wysedome. But in defendynge of oratours and poetes I had all moste forgoten where I was. Verily there may no man be an excellent poete nor oratour, vnlasse he haue parte of all other doctrine specially of noble philosophie. And to say the trouth, no man can apprehende the very delectation that is in the leesson of noble poetes, vnlasse he haue radde very moche, and in diuers autours of diuers lernynges. Wherfore as I late said to the augmentation of vnderstandyng called in latine Intellectus et mens, is required to be moche redyng and vigilaunt studie in euery science, specially of that parte of philosophie named morall: whiche instructeth men in vertue and politike gouernaunce. Also no noble autour specially of them that wrate in greke or latine before xii.L. yeres passed, is nat for any cause to be omitted. For therin I am of Quintilianes opinion, that there is fewe or none auncient warke, that yeldethe nat some frute or commodite to the diligent reders. And it is a very grosse or obstinate witte, that by readyng moche, is nat some what amended. Concernynge the election [G5r] of other autours, to be radde, I haue (as I truste) declared sufficiently my conceipt and opinion, in the first boke of this litle treatise. Finally like as a delicate tree, that cometh of a kernell, whiche as sone as it burgeneth out leues: if it be plucked vppe, or it be sufficiently rooted, and layde in a corner, it becometh drye or rotten, and no frute cometh of it: if it be remoued and sette in an other ayre or erthe, whiche is of contrary qualities where it was before, it either semblably diethe, or beareth no frute, or els the frute that cometh of it, leseth his verdure and taste, and finally his estimation.

So the pure and excellent lerning wherof I haue spoken, thoughe it be sowen in a childe neuer so tymely, and springeth and burgeneth neuer so pleasauntly, if byfore it take a depe rote in the mynde of the childe, it be layde a syde, either by to moche solace, or continuall attendaunce in seruice, or els is translated to an other studie, whiche is of a more grose or vnpleasaunt qualitie, before it be confirmed or stablisshed by often reding or diligent exercise, in conclusion it vanissheth and cometh to no thing. Wherfore lete men replie as they list, but in myne opinion, men be wonderfully disceyued nowe [G5v] a dayes (I dare nat saye with the persuasion of auarice) that do put their children at the age of xiiii. or xv. yeres to the studie of the lawes of the realme of Englande. I will shewe to them reasonable causes why, if they wyll paciently here me, infourmed partely by myne own experience.

Howe the studentes in the lawes of this realme, maye take excellent commoditie by the lessons of sondrie doctrines.

It may nat be denyed, but that al lawes be founded on the depest parte of raison, and as I suppose,no one lawe so moche as our owne: & the deper men do inuestigate raison, the more difficile or harde muste nedes be the studie: also that reuerende studie is inuolued in so barbarouse a langage, that it is nat onely voyde of all eloquence, but also beynge seperate from the exercise of our lawe onely, it serueth to no commodite or necessary purpose, no man vnderstandyng it but they whiche haue studyed the lawes. Than children at xiii. or xv. yeres olde, in whiche tyme springeth courage, set all in pleasure, and pleasure [G6r] is in nothyng that is nat facile or elegaunt, beyng brought to the moste difficulte and graue lernyng, whiche hath no thynge illecebrouse or delicate to tickyll their tender wyttes and alure them to studie, (onles it be lucre, whiche a gentyll witte lytle estemeth) the more parte vainquisshed with tediousenesse, either do abandone the lawes, and vnwares to their frendes, do gyue them to gamyng and other (as I moought saye) idle busynesse nowe called pastymes, or els if they be in any wyse therto constrayed, they apprehendyng a piece therof, as if they beyng longe in a derke dungeon onely dyd se by the light of a candell: Than if after xx. or xxx. yeres studie they happen to come amonge wyse men, hering maters commened of, concerning a publike weale, or outwarde affaires betwene princes, they no lasse be astonied, than of comyng out of a darke house at noone dayes, they were sondaynly striken in the eyen with a bright sonne beame. But I speke nat this in reproche of lawyers, for I knowe dyuers of them/ whiche in consultation wyll make a right vehement raison, and so do some other, whiche hath neither lawe nor other lernyng, yet the one and the other if they were fournisshed with excellent [G6v] doctrine, their raison shulde be the more substanciall and certayne. there be some also whiche by their frendes be coarted to aplye the studie of the lawe onely, and for lacke of plentuouse exhibition be let of ther lybertie, wherfore they can nat resorte vnto passetyme, these of all other b emoste caste awaye, for nature repugnyng they vnneth taste any thing that may be profytable, andalso their courage is so mortifyed (whiche yet by solace perchaunce mought be made quicke or apte to some other studie or laudable exercise) that they lyue euer after out of all estimation. Wherfore Tulli sayeth, we shulde so indeuour our selfes that we striue nat with the vniuersall nature of man, but that beynge conserued, lette vs folowe our owne propre natures, that thoughe there be studies more graue and of more importaunce, yet ought we to regarde the studies wherto we be by our owne nature inclined. And that this sentence is true, we haue dayly experience, in this realme specially. For how many men be there that hauyng their sonnes in childhode aptly disposed by nature to paynte, to kerue, or graue, to embrawder, or do other lyke thynges wherin is any arte commendable concernynge inuention, [G7r] but that as sone as they espie it, they be therwith displeased, and forthwith byndeth them apprentises to taylours, to wayuers, to towkers, and somtyme to coblers. Whiche haue ben the inestimable losse of many good wittes, & haue caused that in the said artes englisshmen be inferiors to all other people, and be constrayned, if we wyll haue any thinge well paynted, kerued, or embrawdred, to abandone our owne countraymen and resorte vnto straungers, but more of this shall I speke in the nexte volume. But to resorte vnto lawyers. I thinke verily if children were brought vppe as I haue written, and continually were retayned in the right studie of very philosophy/ vntyll they passed the age of xxi. yeres, and than set to the lawes of this realme (being ones brought to a more certayne and compendiouse studie, and either in englisshe, latine, or good french, written in a more clene and elegant stile) vndoughtedly they shuld become men of so excellent wisedome, that throughout all the worlde shulde be founden in no commune weale more noble counsaylours, our lawes nat onely comprehendyng most excellent raisons, but also beyng gadred and compacte (as I mought saye) [G7v] of the pure mele or floure syfted out of the best lawes of all other countrayes, as somwhat I do intende to proue euidently in the nexte volume, wherin I wyll rendre myne offyce or duetie, to that honorable studie, wherby my father was aduaunced to a iuge, and also I my selfe haue attayned no lytle commoditie.

I suppose dyuers men ther be that will say, that the swetnesse that is contayned in eloquence and the multitude of doctrines, shulde vtterly withdrawe the myndes of yonge men from the more necessary studie of the lawes of this realme: To them wyll I make a briefe answere, but true it shalbe and I trust sufficient to wise men. In the gret multitude of yonge men, whiche alway will repayre, and the lawe beinge ones brought in to a more certayne and perfect langage, will also increase in the reuerent studie of the lawe, vndoughtedly there shall neuer lacke but some by nature inclyned, dyuers by desyre of sondrie doctrines, many for hope of lucre or some other aduancement, will effectuelly studie the lawes, ne will be therfrom withdrawen by any other lesson whiche is more eloquent. Example we haue at this present tyme of diuers excellent [G8r] lerned men bothe in the lawes ciuile as also in phisike, whiche being exactly studyed in all partes of eloquence bothe in the Greeke tonge and latine, haue nat witstanding radde and perused the great fardelles and trusses of the most barbarouse autours stuffed with innumerable gloses: wherby the moste necessary doctrines of lawe and phisike be mynced in to fragmentes, and in al wise mens opinions, do perceyue no lasse in the said lernynges than they whiche neuer knewe eloquence, or neuer tasted other but the fecis or dragges of the sayd noble doctrines. And as for the multitude of sciences can nat indamage any student, but if he be meued to studie the lawe by any of the sayd motions by me before touched, he shal rather increase therin than be hyndred, and that shall apere manifestly to theym that either will gyue credence to my reporte, or els will rede the warkes that I wyll alledge: whiche if they vnderstande nat, to desyre some lerned man by interpretinge to cause them perceyue it. And first I wil begyn at oratours, who beare the principall tytle of eloquence.

It is to be remembred that in the lernyng of the lawes of this realme, there is at this [G8v] daye an exercise, wherin is a maner a shadowe or figure of the auncient rhetorike. I meane the pleadynge vsed in courte and Chauncery called motes. Where fyrst a case is appoynted to be moted by certayne yonge men contaynyng some doubtefull controuersie, whiche is in stede of the heed of a declamation called thema, the case beinge knowen, they whiche be appoynted to mote, do examine the case, & inuestigate what they therin can espie, whiche may make a contention, wherof may ryse a question to be argued, & that of Tulli is called constitutio, & of Quintilian staius causae. Also they consider what plees on euery parte ought to be made, and howe the case maye be reasoned. Whiche is the fyrste parte of Rhetorike named Inuention, than appoynte they howe many plees maye be made for euery parte, and in what formalitie they shulde be sette. Whiche is the second parte of Rhetorike called disposition. Wherin they do moche approche vnto Rhetorike, than gather they all in to perfecte remembrance, in suche ordre as it ought to be pleaded. Whiche is the parte of Rhetorike named memorie. But for as moche as the tonge wherin it is spoken, is barberouse, and the sterynge of affections of the mynde [H1r] in this realme was neuer vsed: therfore there lacketh Eloquution, and Pronunciation, two the principall partes of rhetorike. Nat withstanding some lawyars, if they be well retayned, wyll in a meane cause pronounce right vehemently. Moreouer there semeth to be in the sayd pledinges, certayne partes of an oration: that is to say, for Narrations, Partitions, Confirmations, and Confutations, named of some Reprehensions: They haue Declarations, Barres, Replications, and Reioyndres, onely they lacke pleasaunt fourme of begynnyng called in latine Exordium: nor it maketh therof no great mater: they that haue studied rhetorike, shal perceyue what I meane. Also in arguynge their cases, in myn opinion/ they very litle do lacke of the hole arte: for therin they do diligently obserue the rules of Confirmation and Confutation, wherin resteth proufe & disproufe: hauyng almoste all the places, wherof they shall fetche their raisons, called of Oratours loci communes: which I omitte to name, fearinge to be to longe in this mater. And verily I suppose, if ther mought ones happen some man, hauyng an excellent wytte, to be brought vp in suche fourme as I haue hytherto written, and maye also be exactly H1v or depely lerned in the arte of an Oratour, and also in the lawes of this realme,the prince so willyng and therto assistinge, vndoughtedly it shulde nat be impossible for hym to bring the pleadyng and reasonyng of the lawe, to the auncient fourme of noble oratours: and the lawes & exercise therof, beyng in pure latine or doulce frenche, fewe men in consultations shulde (in myne opinion) compare with our lawyars, by this meanes beinge brought to be perfect orators, as in whome shulde than be founden the sharpte wittes of logitians, the graue sentences of philosophers, the elegancie of poetes, the memorie of ciuilians, the voice and gesture of them that can pronounce comedies: whiche is all that Tulli in the person of the most eloquent man Marcus Antonius, coulde require to be in an oratour. But nowe to conclude myne assertion/ what let was eloquence to the studie of the lawe in Quintus Sceuola, whiche being an excellent autour in the lawes ciuile, was called of al lawiars moste eloquent: Or howe moche was eloquence minisshed by knowlege of the lawes in Crassus, whiche was called of all eloquent men the beste lawiar? also Seruus Sulpitius, in his tyme one of [H2r] the moste noble oratours next vnto Tulli, was nat so let by eloquence, but that on the ciuile lawes be made notable commentes, and many noble warkes, by all lawyars approued. Who redeth the text of Ciuile, called the Pandectes or Digestes, and hath any commendable iugement in the latine tonge, but he wyll affirme, that Ulpianus, Sceuola, Claudius, and all the other ther named,of whose sayenges all the saide textis be assembled, were nat only studious of eloquence, but also wonderfull exercised: for as moche as theyr stile dothe aproche nerer to the antique & pure eloquence, than any other kinde of writars that wrate aboute that tyme. Semblably Tulli, in whom it semeth that Eloquence hath sette her glorios Throne most richely & preciousely adourned for all men to wonder at, but no man to approche it, was nat let from beinge an incomparable oratour, ne was nat by the exacte knowlege of other sciences withdrawen from pleadyng infinite causes before the Senate and iuges: and they beinge of moste waightye importance: In so moche as Cornelius Tacitus, an excellent oratour, historien, & lawiar, saithe: Surely in the bokes of Tulli, men may deprehende,that in hym lacked nat [H2v] the knowlege of geometrye, ne musike, ne grammer, finally of no maner of art that was honest: he of logike perciued the subtiltie, of that parte that was morall all the commoditie, and of all thinges the chiefe motions and causis. And yet for all this abundance, and as it were a garnerde heaped with all maner sciences: there failed nat in him substanciall lernyng in the lawes Ciuile, as it may apiere as wel inthe bokes, whiche he him selfe made of lawes, as also, and most specially, in many of his most eloquent orations. Whiche if one well lerned in the lawes of this realme, dyd rede and wel vnderstande, he shulde finde, specially in his orations called Actiones agayne Verres, many places, where he shulde espie, by likelihode the fountaynes, from whense proceded diuers groundes of our commune lawes.

But I wyll nowe leue to speake any more therof at this tyme.

All that I haue writen well considered, it shal seme to wise men, that neither eloquence, nor knowlege of sondry doctrines, shall vtterly withdrawe all men from studie of the lawes: But all though many were allected vnto those doctrines by naturall disposition, yet the same nature, whiche wyll nat (as I [H3r] mought saye) be circumscribed within the boundes of a certayne of studies, may as well dispose some man, as well to desire the knowlege of the lawes of this realme, as she dyd incline the Romanes excellently lerned in all sciences, to apprehende the lawes ciuile, sens the lawes of this realme, beinge well gathered and brought in good latine, shal be worthy to haue like praise, as Tulli gaue to the lawes comprehended in the xii. tables: from whens all ciuile lawe flowed. Whiche praise was in this wise. All though men will abraide at it, I wyll say as I thinke: the one litel boke of the xii. tables, semeth to me to sormounte the libraries of all the philosophers in waighty autoritie & abundance of profite, beholde who so wyll the fountaines and heedes of the lawes.

More ouer, whan yonge men haue radde lawes, expouned in the orations of Tulli, and also in histories of the begynnynge of lawes, and in the warkes of Plato, Xenophon, and Aristotell of the diuersities of lawes and publike weales, if nature (as I late saide) will dispose them to that maner studie: they shall be therto the more incensed, and come vnto it the better prepared and furnisshed. And they whom nature [H3v] therto nothinge meueth, haue nat only saued all that time, which many now a dayes do consume in idlenesse: but also haue wonne suche a treasure, wherby they shall alway be able to serue honourably theyr prince, and the publike weale of theyr countray, principally if they conferre al their doctrines to the moste noble studie of morall philosophie, whiche teacheth both vertues maners, and ciuile policie. Wherby at the laste we shulde haue in this realme sufficiencie of worshypfull lawyars, and also a publike weale equiualent to the grekes or Romanes.

For what cause at this day there be in this realme fewe perfecte schole maisters.

Lorde god howe many good and clene wittes of children be nowe a dayes perisshed by ignorant schole maisters: Howe litle substancial doctrine is apprehended by the fewenesse of good grameriens? Not withstanding I knowe that there be some well lerned, whiche haue taught, & also do teache, but god knoweth a fewe, and they with small effecte, hauyng [H4r] therto no comforte, theyr aptist and moste propre scholers, after they be well instructed in speakyng latine, and vnderstanding some poetes, beinge taken from theyr schole by their parentes, and either be brought to the courte and made lakayes or pages: or els are bounden prentises: wherby the worshyp that the maister aboue any rewarde, couaiteth to haue by the praise of his scholer, is vtrly drowned. Wherof I haue herde schole maisters very well lerned, of good righte complayne. But yet (as I sayd) the fewenesse of good gramariens is a great impediment of doctrine (and here I wolde the reders shulde marke that I note to be fewe good gramariens and not none.) I call nat them gramariens, whiche onely can teache or make rules, wherby a childe shall onely lerne to speake congrue latine, or to make sixe veris standyng in one fote, wherin perchance shal be neither sentence nor eloquence. But I name hym a gramarien by the autoritie of Quintilian, that speakynge latine elegantly, can expounde good autours, expressynge the inuention and disposition of the mater, their stile or fourme of eloquence, explicatyng the figures, as well of sentences as wordes, leuyng nothyng, persone or place [H4v] named by the autour, vndeclared or hidde from his scholers. Wherfore Quintilian saith: it is nat inough for hym to haue rad poetes, but all kyndes of writyng must also be sought for: nat for the histories only, but also for the propretie of wordes whiche communely do receiue theyr autoritie of noble autours. More ouer without musike, gramer may nat be perfecte: for as moche as therin muste be spoken of metres and harmonies called rhythmi in greke. Neither if he haue nat the knowlege of sterres, he may vnderstande poetes, whiche in description of times (I omitte other things) they traicte of the risinge & goinge downe of planettes. Also he may nat be ignorant in philosophie: for many places that he almooste in euerye poete, fetched out of the most subtile parte of naturall questions. These be well nighe the wordes of Quintilian: Than beholde howe fewe gramariens, after this description, be in this realme.

Undoubtedly ther be in this realme many well lerned, whiche if the name of a schole maister were nat so moche had in contempte, and also if theyr labours with abundant salaries mought be requited, were righte sufficient and able to induce their herers to [H5r] excellent lernynge: so they be nat plucked away grene, and er they be in doctrine sufficiently rooted. But nowe a dayes, if to a bachelar or maister of arte, studie of philosophie waxeth tedious, if he haue a spone full of latine, he wyll shewe forth a hoggesheed without any lernyng, & offre to teache grammer and expoune noble writers: and to be in the roome of a maister: he wyll for a small salarie, sette a false colour of lernyng on propre wittes, whiche wyll be wasshed away with one shoure of raine. For if the children be absent from schole by the space of one moneth, the best lerned of them, will vneth tell wheder Fato, wherby Eneas was brought in to Itali, were other a man, a horse a shyppe, or a wylde goose: All thoughe their maister wyll perchaunce auante hym selfe to be a good philosopher. Some men pauenture do thinke, that at the begynning of lernynge, it forceth nat, all thoughe the maisters haue nat so exacte doctrine as I haue reherced, but let them take good hede, what Quintilian saith: that it is so moche the better to be instructed by them that are beste lerned: for as moche as it is difficultie to put out of the mynde, that whiche is ones settilled, the double bourden beinge painfull H5v to the maisters that shal succede: & verily moche more to vnteache than to teache.

Wherfore it is writen, that Timothe the noble musitian, demaunded alway a gretter rewarde of them, whom other had taught, than of them that neuer any thinge lerned. These be the wordes of Quintilian or like.

Also commune experience teacheth, that no man will put his sonne to a botcher to lerne, or he bynde hym prentise to a taylour: or if he wyll haue hym a connyng goldsmith, wyll bynde hym first prentise to a tynkar: in these thynges poure men be circumspect, and the nobles and gentilmen, who wolde haue their sonnes by excellent lerning come vnto honour, for sparynge of coste, or for lacke of diligent serche for a good schole maister, wilfully distroy their children, causinge them to be taught that lerninge, whiche wolde require sixe or seuen yeres to be forgoten: by whiche tyme the more parte of that age is spente, wherin is the chiefe sharpnesse of witte, called in latine acumen: and also than approcheth the stubborne age, where the childe broughte vp in pleasure, disdayneth correction.

Nowe haue I all declared (as I do suppose) the chiefe impechementes of excellent [H6r] lernynge: of the reformation I nede nat to speake, sens it is apparant, that by the contraries, men pursuinge it ernestly with discrete iugement, and liberalitie, it wolde sone be amended.

Of sondry fourmes of exercise necessary for euery gentilman.

All thoughe I haue hitherto aduaunced the commendation of lernyng, specially in gentil men, yet it is to be considered, that continuall studie without some maner of exercise, shortly exhausteth the spirites vitall, and hyndereth naturall decoction and digestion, wherby mannes body is the soner corrupted & brought in to diuers sickenessis, and finallye the life is therby made shorter. Where contrarye wise by exercise, whiche is a vehement motion (as Galene prince of phisitions defineth) the helthe of man is preserued, and his strength increased: for as moche as the membres by meuyng and mutuall touching, do waxe more harde, and naturall heate in all the body is therby augmented. More ouer it maketh the spirites of a man more [H6v] stronge & valiant: so that by the hardnesse of the membres, all labours be more tollerable: by naturall hete, the appetite to the more quicke: the chaunge of the substance receiued, is the more redy: the nourisshinge of all partes of the body, is the more sufficient and sure. By valiaunt motion of the spirites, all thinges superfluous be expelled: and the condutis of the body clensed. Wherfore this parte of phisike, is nat to be contemned or neglected in the education of children, & specially from the age of xiiii. yeres vpwarde, in whiche tyme strength with courage increaseth. More ouer there be diuers maners of exercises: wherof some, onely prepareth & helpeth digestion: some augmenteth also strength & hardnesse of body: other serueth for agilitie and nymblenesse: some for celeritie or spedinesse. There be also, whiche ought to be vsed for necessitie only. All these ought he that is a tutor to a noble man to haue in remembrance: And as oportunitie serueth, to put them in experience. And specially them/ whiche with helth do ioyne commoditie (& as I moughte say) necessitie: consideryng that be he neuer so noble or valiant, some tyme he is subiecte to perile, or (to speake it more pleasauntly) [H7r] seruant to fortune. Touching suche exercises, as many be vsed within the house, or in the shadowe, (as is the olde maner os speking) as deambulations: laborynge with poyses made of leadde or other metall, called in latine Alteres, Liftynge & throwyng the heuy stone or barre, playing at tenyse, and diuers semblable exercises, I will for this tyme passe ouer, exhortyng them, which do vnderstande latine, and do desire to knowe the commodities of sondrye exercises, to resorte to the boke of Galene, of the gouernance of helth, called in latine De sanitate tuenda: where they shal be in that mater abundantly satisfied, & finde in the readynge moche delectation: whiche boke is translated in to latine, wonderfull eloquently by doctor Linacre, late mooste worthy phisition, to our mooste noble soueraigne lorde kynge Henry the viii. And I wyll nowe only speake of those exercises, apt to the furniture of a gentilmannes personage: adapting his body to hardnesse, strength, and agilitie: and to helpe therwith hym selfe in perile, whiche may happen in warres or other necessitie.

Exercises, wherby shulde growe both recreation and profite.

Wrastlynge is a very good exercise in the begynnynge of youthe, so that it be with one that is equall in strengthe, or some what vnder, & that the place be softe, that in fallinge theyr bodies be nat brused.

There be diuers maners of wrastlinges, but the beste, as well for helthe of body, as for exercise of strengthe is: whan layeng mutually their handes one ouer a nothers necke, with the other hande they holde faste eche other by the arme, and claspyng theyr legges to gether, the inforce them selfes with strengthe & agilitie, to throwe downe eche other, whiche is also praysed by Galene. And vndoubtedly it shall be founde profitable in warres, in case that a capitayne shall be constrayned to cope with his aduersary hande to hande, hauyng his weapon broken or loste. Also it hath ben sene, that the waiker persone, by the sleight of wrastlyng, hath ouerthrowen the strenger, almost or he coulde fasten on the other any violent stroke. Also rennyng is bothe a good exercise and a laudable solace. It is written of Epaminondas the valiant capitayne of Thebanes, who as well in vertue and prowesse, [H8r] as in lerninge surmounted all noble men of his tyme: that daily be exercised him selfe in the mornyng with rennyng and leapyng: in the euening in wrastling: to the intent that likewise in armure he mought the more strongly, embracinge his aduersary, put hym in daunger. And also that in the chase rennyng & leaping, he mought either ouertake his enemye: or beyng pursued, if extreme nede required, escape him. Semblably before him dyd the worthy Achilles, for whiles his shippes laye at rode, he suffred nat his people to slomber in ydlenesse, but daily exercised them and him selfe in rennyng, wherin he was moste excellent and passed all other: and therfore Homere throughout all his warke, calleth hym swifte foote Achilles. The great Alexander beyng a childe, excelled all his companions in rennyng. Wherfore on a tyme, one demaunded of hym, if he wolde renne at the great game of Olympus: wherto out of all partes of Grece, came the most actife and valiant persons to assay maistries: whervnto Alexander answered in this fourme: I wold very gladly renne ther, if I were sure to renne with kinges: for if I shulde contende with a priuate person, hauing respect to our bothe [H8v] astates, our victories shulde nat be equall. Nedes muste rennynge be taken for a laudable exercise, sens one of the mooste noble capitaynes of all the Romanes, toke his name of rennyng, and was called Papirius Cursor: whiche is in englisshe, Papirius the Renner. And also the valiant Marius the Romane, whan he had bene seuen tymes Consul, and was of the age of foure score yeres, exercised him selfe dayly amonge the yonge men of Rome, in suche wyse, that there resorted people out of ferre partes, to beholde the strength & agilitie of that olde Consul, wherin he compared with the yonge and lusty soudiours.

There is an exercise, whiche is right profitable in extreme daunger of warres, but bycause there semeth to be some perile in the lernynge therof: And also it hath nat bene of longe tyme moche vsed, specially amonge noble men: perchange some reders wyll litle esteme it: I meane swymmynge. But nat withstandyng,if they reuolue the imbecilitie of our nature, the hasardes and daungers of batayle: withe the examples, whiche shall herafter be showed, they wyll (I doubt nat) thinke it as necessary to a capitayne or man of armes, as any that I haue yet rehersed. [I1r] The Romanes, who aboue all thinges, had moste in estimation martiall prowesse: they had a large and spaciouse felde without the citie of Rome, whiche was called Marces felde, in latine Campus martius. Wherin the youth of the citie was exercised: this felde adioyned to the ryuer of Tyber, to the intent that as well men as children shulde wasshe and refresshe them in the water after their labours, as also lerne to swymme: And nat men & children only but also the horses: that by suche vsaige they shulde more aptely and boldly passe ouer great riuers, and be more able to resist or cutte the waues, & not be aferde of pirries or great stormes. For it hath ben often tymes sene, that by the good swimminge of horses, many men haue ben saued, and contrary wise, by a timorouse royle, where the water hath vneth come to his bely, his legges hath foltred: wherby many a good and propre man hathe perisshed. What benefite receiued the hole citie of Rome, by the swymmynge of Oratius Cocles? whiche is a noble historie, and worthy to be remembred.

After the Romanes had expelled Tarquine their kynge, as I haue before remembred, [I1v] he desired ayde of Borsena, kynge of Thuscanes, a noble and valiant prince, to recouer eftsones his realme and dignitie: who with a great and puissant hoste, besieged the citie of Rome, and so sodaynely and sharpely assaulted it, that it lacked but litle, that he ne had entred in to the citie with his host, ouer the bridge called Sublicius: where encountred with hym this Oratius with a fewe Romanes: And whiles this noble capitayne beinge alone, with an incredible strengthe resisted all the hoste of Borcena, that were on the bridge, he commaunded the bridge to be broken behynde hym, where with all the Thuscanes theron standyng fell in to the great riuer of Tiber, but Oratius all armed lepte in to the water & swamme to his company, al be it that he was striken with many arowes & dartes, & also greuouslye wounded. Nat withstandynge by his noble courage and feate of swymmyng, he saued the citie of Rome from perpetuall seruitude, whiche was likely to haue ensued by the returne of the proude Tarquine. Howe moche profited the feate in swymmynge to the valiant Julius Cesar? who at the bataile of Alexandri, on a bridge beinge abandoned of his people for the multitude [I2r] of his enemyes, whiche oppressed them/ whan he moughte no lenger sustaine the shotte of dartes and arowes, he boldly lepte in to the see, and diuynge vnder the water, escaped the shotte, and swamme the space of LL. pasis to one of his shyppes, drawynge his cote armure with his teeth after hym, that his enemies shulde nat attayne it. And also that it moughte some what defende hym from theyr arowes: And that more maruaile was, holdynge in his hande aboue the water, certayne lettres, which a litle before he had receyued from the Senate.

Before hym Sertorius, who of the spanyardes was named the seconde Anniball for his prowesse, in the bataile that Scipio faughte agayne the Limbres, whiche inuaded Fraunce, Sertorius when by negligence of his people,his enemyes preuailed, and put his hoste to the warfe, he beinge sore wounded, and his horse beinge lost, armed as he was in a gefferon, holdyng in his bandes a tergate, and his sworde, he lepte in to the ryuer of Rone, whiche is wonderfull swyfte, and swymmyng agayne the streme, came to his company, nat without greatte wondryng of all his enemies, whiche stode [I2v] and behelde hym.

The great kynge Alexander lamented, that he had nat lerned to swimme: For in Inde whan he wente agayne the puissaunt kynge Borus, he was constrayned, in folowynge his enterprise, to conuay his hoste ouer a ryuer of wonderfull greatnesse: than caused he his horse men to gage the water, wherby he first perceiued, that it came to the brestis of the horsis, and in the myddle of the streme, the horsis wente in water to the necke: wherwith the fotemen beinge aferde, none of them durst auenture to passe ouer the ryuer: That perceiuynge Alexander, with a dolorouse maner in this wyse lamented: O howe moste vnhappy am I of all other, that haue nat or this tyme lerned to swymme? And therwith he pulled a tergate from one of his souldiours, and castynge it in to the water, standynge on it with his spere conuaied hym selfe with the streme, and gouernyng the tergate wysely, broughte hym selfe vnto the other side of the water: wherof his people beinge abasshed, some assayed to swymme, some holdyng faste by the horses, other by speares, and other lyke weapons, many vpon fardels & trusses, gate ouer the ryuer: in so moche [I3r] as nothinge was perisshed sauue a litle bagage, and of that no great quantitie lost.

What vtilitie was shewed to be in swymminge at the firste warres, whiche the Romanes had agayne the Carthaginensis? it happened a bataile to be on the see betwene them, where they of Carthage, beinge vainquisshed, wolde haue sette vp their sailes to haue fledde, but that perceiuynge diuers yonge Romanes, they threwe them selfes in to the see, & swymmynge vnto the shippes, they enforced theyr ennemies to stryke on lande, and ther assaulted them so asprely, that the capitaine of the Romanes, called Luctatius, mought easily take them.

Nowe beholde what excellent commoditie is in the feate of swymmyng, sens no kyng be he neuer so puissant or perfecte in the experience of warres, may assure hym selfe from the necessities, whiche fortuen sowethe amonge men that be mortall. And sens on the helth and faulse garde of a noble capitayne, often tymes dependeth the weale of a realme, nothing shulde be kepte from his knowlege, wherby his persone may be in euery ieoperdie preserued.

Amonge these exercises, it shall be conuenient to lerne to handle sondrye waipons, I3v specially the sworde and the batayle axe: whiche be for a noble man most conuenient.

But the moste honorable exercise in myne opinion, and that besemeth the astate of euery noble persone, is to ryde suerly & clene, on a great horse and a roughe, whiche vndoubtedly nat onely importeth a maiestie & drede to inferiour persones, beholding him aboue the common course of other men, dauntyng a fierce and cruell beaste, but also is no litle socour, as well in pursuete of enemies & confoundyng them, as in escapyng imminent daunger, whan wisedome therto exhorteth. Also a stronge and hardy horse do the some tyme more domage vnder his maister, than he with al his waipon: and also setteth forwarde the stroke, and causethe it to lighte with more violence.

Bucephal, the horse of great kynge Alexander, who suffred none on his backe faulse onely his maister, at the bataile of Thebes beinge sore wounded, wolde nat suffre the kinge to departe from hym to a nother horse, but persistyng in his furiouse courage, wonderfully continued out the bataile, with his fete & tethe betyng downe & destroyenge many enemies. And many semblable maruailes of his strength be shewed. Wherfore Alexander, [I4r] after the horse was slayne, made in remembrance of hym a citie in the countray of India, and called it Bucephal, in perpetual memorie of so worthy a horse: which is his lyfe had so well serued hym.

What wonderfull enterprises dyd Julius Cesar achieue by the helpe of his horse: whiche nat onely dyd excell all other horsis in fiercenesse and swyfte rennynge, but also was in some parte discrepant in figure from other horsis, hauing his sore hoeues like to the feete of a man. And in that figure Plinius writeth, that he sawe hym kerued before the temple of Venus. Other remembrance there is of diuers horsis, by whose monstruous power, men dyd exploite incredible affaires: but by cause the reporte of them contayneth thinges impossible, and is nat writen by any approued autour: I will nat in this place reherce them: sauyng that it is yet supposed, that the castell of Arundell in Suffex, was made by one Beauuize, erle of South hampton/ for a monument of his horse called Arundell: whiche in ferre countrayes had saued his maister from so many periles. Nowe considerynge the vtilitie in fydynge greatte horses, hit shall be necessary (as I haue sayd) that a gentilman [I4v] do lerne to ride a great horse whiles he is tender and the brawnes and sinewes of his thighes nat fully consolidate.

There is also a ryght good exercise, which is also expedient to lerne: whiche is named the vauntynge of a norse: that is to lepe on him at euery side without stiroppe or other helpe, specially whiles the horse is goynge. And beinge therin experte, than armed at all poyntes to assay the same, the commoditie wherof is to manifest, that I nede no further to declare it.

The auncient hyntyng of Greekes and Romanes.

But nowe wyll I procede to write of exercises, whiche be nat vtterly reproued of noble auctours, if they be vsed with oportunite and in measure, I meane hyntyng, hayking, and daunsyng. In hyntynge may be an imitacion of batayle, if it be suche as was vsed amonge them of Persia: wherof Xenophon, the noble and moste eloquent philosopher, maketh a dilectable mention, in his booke called the doctrine of Cirus: and also maketh [I5r] another speciall boke, contayning the hole discipline of the auncient hunytnge of the Grekes: and in that fourme beyng vsed, it is a laudable exercise: of the whiche I wyll nowe somwhat write.

Cirus and other auncient kynge of Persia (as Xenophon writeth) vsed this maner in all their huntyng. First where as it semeth, there was in the realme of Persia but one citie, whiche as I suppose was called Persepolis, there were the children of the Persians from their infancie vnto the age of seuentene yeres, brought vp in the lernyng of iustice and temperance, and also to obserue continence in meate and drinke: in so moche, that whyder so euer they went, they toke with them for their sustenaunce but onely breede and herbes, called Kersis, in latine Nasturtium: and for their drinke, a disshe to take water out of the ryuers as they passed. Also they lerned to shote and to caste the dart or iauelyn. Whan they came to the age of xvii. yeres, they were lodged in the palaises that were there ordayned for the kynge & his nobles, whiche was as well for the sauegarde of the citie, as for the example of temperance that they dayly had at their eyes gyuen to them by [I5v] the nobles: whiche also mought be called Peeres, by the signification of the greeke worde, wherin they were called Omotimi. More ouer they were accustomed to ryse alway in the first spring of the day, and paciently to sustayne alwaye bothe colde and heate: And the kyng dyd se them exercised in goynge and also in rennyng. And whan he intended in his owne persone to hunte, whiche he dyd comenly euery moneth, he toke with him the one halfe of the company of yonge men, that were in the palaises. Than toke euery man with him his bowe and quiuer with arowes, his sworde or hacke of steele, a lytell tergate, & two dartes. The bowe and arowes serued to pursue beestes that were swyfte: and the dartes to assayle them & all othere beestes. And whan their courage was chaufed, or that by fiersenesse of the beest they were in daunger, than force constrayned them to stryke with the sworde, or hache: and to haue good eye at the violent assaulte of the beest, and to defende them if nede were with their tergates, wherin they accounted to be the truest and moste certayne meditation of warres. And to this huntyng the kyng dyd conducte them: and he him selfe first hunted suche beestes [I6r] as he hapned to encounter. And whan he had taken his pleasure, he than with moste diligence dyd sette other forwarde, beholdynge who hunted valiauntly, and refourmynge them whom he sawe negligent or slouthfull. But er they went forthe to this hyntyng, they dyned competently: and duryng their hyntyng they dyned no more, for if any occasion they toke the sayd dyner for their souper, and the next daye, if they kylled no game, they hunted vntyll souper tyme, accountyng those two dayes but for one. And if they toke any thyng, they ete it at their souper with ioye and pleasure. If nothynge were kylled, they ete onely breed and Kersis, as I byfore rehersed, & dranke therto water. And if any man wil disprayse this diete, lette him thinke what pleasure there is in breed to him that is hungry: and what dilectation is in drinkynge water, to him that is thursty. Surely this maner of huntyng maye be called a necessary solace and pastyme, for therin is the very imitation of batayle, for nat onely it dothe shewe the courage & strength as well of the horse as of him that rydeth, trauersynge ouer mountaynes and valeys, encountringe and [I6v] ouerthrowyng great and mighty beestes: but also it increaseth in them bothe agilitie and quicknesse, also sleight and policie to fynde suche passages & straytes, where they may preuent or intrappe their enemies. Also by continuaunce therin, they shall easily sustayne trauaile in warres, hunger & thurst, colde and heate. Hytherto be the wordes of Xenophon, althoughe I haue nat set them in lyke order as he wrate them.

The chiefe hunting of the valiaunt Grekes was at the lyon, the lybarde, the tigre, the wilde swyne, and the beare, and somtyme the wolfe and the harte. Theseus, whiche was companyon to Hercules, attayned the greatest parte of his renome for fightynge with the great bore, whiche the Grekes called Phera, that wasted and consumed the fieldes of a great countray.

Meleager likewise for sleyng of the great bore in Calidonia, whiche in greatnesse and fiercenesse, exceded all other bores: and had slayne many noble and valiaunt persones.

The great Alexander, in tymes vacaunt from bataile, delyted in that maner huntinge. On a tyme he faughte alone with a lyon wonderfull greatte and fierce, beinge present amonge other straungers, the ambassadour [I7r] of Lacedemonia: and after longe trauaile, with incredible might, he ouerthrewe the lyon, and slewe him: wherat the said ambassadour, wondring meruaylously sayde to the kinge: I wolde to god (noble prince) ye shulde fight with a lyon for some great empire. By whiche wordes it semed that he nothing approued the valiauntnesse of a prince by fighting with a wylde beest, wherin moche more was aduentures, than moughte be by the victorie goten.

All be it Pompei, Sertorius, & diuers other noble Romanes, whan they were in Numidia Libia, & suche other countrayes, which nowe be called Barbary & Morisco, in the vacation season from warres, they hunted lions, liberdes, & suche other bestis, fierce and sauage: to thentent therby to exercise them selfes & their souldiours. But all myghty god be thanked, in this realme be no suche cruel bestis to be pursued. Not withstandyng in the huntyng of redde dere and falowe, mought be a great parte of semblable exercise, vsed by noble men, specially in forestis, which be spaciouse: if they wold vse but a fewe nombre of houndes, onely to harborowe or rouse the game: and by their yornyng to gyue knowlege, whiche way it [I7v] fleeth: the remenant of the disporte to be in pursuyng with iauelyns and other waipons, in maner of warre. And to them, whiche in this hunting do shewe moste prowesse and actyuytie: a garlande or some other lyke token, to be gyuen in signe of victorie, and with a ioyfull maner to be broughte in the presence of him that is chiefe in the company: there to receiue condigne prayse for their good endeuour. I dispraise nat the huntynge of the foxe with rennynge houndes: but it is nat to be compared to the other hunting in commoditie of exercise. Therfore it wolde be vsed in the deepe wynter, whan the other game is vnseasonable.

Hyntyng of the hare with grehoundes, is a righte good solace for men that be studiouse: or them to whom nature hath nat gyuen personage or courage apte for the warres. And also for gentilwomen, whiche fere neither sonne nor wynde for appairing their beautie. And perauenture they shall be there at lasse idell, than they shulde be at home in their chambres.

Kylling of dere with bowes or grehundes, serueth well for the potte (as is the commune saynge) and therfore it muste of necessitie be some tyme vsed. But it contayneth therin [I8r] no commendable solace or exercise, in comparison to the other fourme of hunting, if it be diligently perceiued.

As for haykyng, I can finde no notable remembrance, that it was vsed of auncient tyme amonge noble princes. I call auncient tyme before a thousande yeres passed, sens whiche tyme vertue and noblenesse hath rather decayed than increased. Nor I coulde neuer knowe who founde firste that disporte.

Plinius makethe mention in his viii. boke of the historie of nature, that in the partes of grece, called Thracia, men and haukes, as it were by a confederacie, toke byrdes to gether in this wyse: The men spranke the birdes out of the busshes, and the haukes sorynge ouer them, bete them downe: so that the men mought easily take them. And than dyd the men departe equally the praye with the faukons: whiche beinge well serued, eft sones and of a custome repayred to suche places, where beinge a lofte, they perceyued men to that purpose assembled. By whiche rehersall of Plinius, we may coniecte, that from Thracia came this disporte of hauking. And I dout nat but many other, as wel as I haue sene a semblable experience of wilde [I8v] hobies, whiche in some countrayes that he champaine, wyll fore and lie a lofte, houerringe ouer larkes and quailes, & kepe them downe on the grounde, whiles they, whiche awayte on the praye do take them. But in what wise, or where so euer the beginninge of hauking was, suerly it is a right delectable solace, thoughe therof commeth nat so moche vtilitie (concerning exercise) as there dothe of huntinge. But I wolde our faukons mought be satisfied with the diuision of their pray, as the faukons of Tracia were, that they neded nat to deuour and consume the hennes of this realme, in suche nombre, that vnneth it be shortly considred, & that faukons be brought to a more homely diete, it is right likely that within a shorte space of yeres, our familiar pultrie shall be as scarce, as be nowe partriche and fesaunt. I speake nat this in dispraise of the faukons: but of them whiche kepeth them like coknayes. The meane gentilmen & honest housholders, whiche care for the gentill enertainement of their frendes, do finde in their disshe, that I saye trouthe, and noble men shall right shortly espie it, whan they come sodainly to their frendes house, vnpuruaied for lacke of longe warning. [K1r]

But nowe to retourne to my purpose: vndoubtedly haukyn measurably vsed and for a passetyme, guyeth to a man good appetite to his souper. And at the leest waye withdraweth hym from other daliance or disportis dishonest, and to body and soule perchance pernicious.

Nowe I purpose to declare somthyng concerning daunsing: wherin is merite of prayse & dispraise, as I shall expresse it in suche forme, as I trust the reder shal finde therin in a rare and singuler pleasure, with also good lerning in thinges nat yet communely knowen in our vulgare. Which if it be radde of hym that hath good opportunitie and quiete silence, I doubt nat, but he shall take therby suche commoditie, as he loked nat to haue foudnen in that exercise, whiche of the more parte of sadde men is so litle estemed.

That all daunsinge is nat to be reproued.

I am nat of that opinion, that all daunsinge generallye is repugnant vnto vertue: al though some persones excellently lerned, specially diuines, so do affirme [K1v] it: whiche alwaye haue in theyr mouthes (whan they come in to the pulpet) the sayeng of the noble doctor saincte Augustine: That better it were to delue or to go to plought on the sonday than to daunse: which moughte be spoken of that kynde of daunsinge, whiche was vsed in the tyme of saincte Augustine: whan euery thing with the empire of Rome declined from their perfection: and the olde maner of daunsinge was forgoten, and none remayned, but that whiche was lasciuiouse, and corrupted the myndes of them that daunsed, and prouoked sinne, as semblably some do at this day. Also at that tyme Idolatry was nat clerely extincte, but diuers fragmentes therof remained in euery region. And perchance solempne daunsis, whiche were celebrate vnto the paynyms false goddes, were yet continued: for as moche as the pure religion of Christe was nat in all places consolidate: and the pastors & curates dyd wynke at suche recreations, scaryng that if they shulde hastily haue remeued it, & induced sodaynely the seueritie of goddis lawes, they shulde stere the people therby to a generall sedition, to the imminent daunger and subuertion of Christis hole religion, late sowen amonge them, and [K2r] nat yet sufficiently rooted. But the wyse and discrete doctor saincte Augustine, vsinge the arte of an oratour, wherin he was right excellent, omitting all rigorous menace or terrour, dissuaded them by the moste easiste way, from that maner ceremony belonging to idolatrie: preferring before it bodily occupation, therby aggrauatyng the offence to god that was in that ceremonie: sens occpation, which is necessary for mannes sustinance, & in due tymes vertuous, is nat withstanding prohibited to be vsed on the sondayes. And yet in these wordes of this noble doctor, is nat so generall dispraise to all daunsinge as some men do suppose. And that for two causis. Firste in his comparison he preferreth nat before daunsing, or ioyneth therto any viciouse exercise, but annecteth it with tillynge and diggynge of the erthe, whiche he labours incident to mannes lyuynge, and in them is contained nothynge that is vicious. Wherfore the preeminence therof aboue daunsing, qualifieng the offence they beinge done out of due tyme, that is to say in an holy day, concludeth nat daunsinge to be at all tymes, and in euery maner vnlaufull or vicious: considerynge that in certayne casis of extreme necessitie, menne [K2v] mought bothe ploughe and delue without doinge to god any offence. Also it shall seme to them, that seriousely do examine the said wordes, that therin, saincte Augustine doth nat prohibite daunsinge so generally as it is taken: but onely suche daunsis, whiche (as I late saide) were superstitious, and contained in them a spice of idolatrie: or els dyd with vnclene motions or countinances irritate the myndes of the dauncers to venereall lustes. Wherby fornication & auoutrie were daily increased. Also in those daunces were enterlased dities of wanton loue or ribaudry, with frequent remembrance of the moste vile idolis, Venus and Bacchus, as it were that the daunce were to their honour & memorie, whiche most of all abhorred from Christes religion, sauerynge the auncient errour or paganysme.

I wolde to god those names were nat at this day vsed in balades and ditties, in thecourtes of princes and noble men: where many good wittes be corrupted with semblable fantasies, whiche in better wise employed, mought haue bene more necessarye to the publike weale, and their princes honour. But nowe wyll I leue this seriouse mater to diuines, to persuade or dissuade [K3r] herein accordinge to their offices. And sens in myn opinion saint Augustine, that blessed clerke, reproueth nat so generally all daunsinge, but that I may laufully reherce some kynde therof, whiche may be necessary, and also commendable, takyng it for an exercise: I shall nowe procede to speake of the firste begynnynge therof, & in howe great estimation it was had in diuers regions.

Of the firste begynnyng of daunsing and the olde estimation therof.

There be sondry opinions of the originall begynnyng of daunsing. The poetes do faine that whan Saturne, which deuoured diuers his children, and semblably wolde haue done with Jupiter, Rhea the mother of Jupiter deuised, that Curetes (whiche were men of armes in that countray) shuld daunse in armour, plainge with their swordes and sheldes, in suche fourme, as by that newe and pleasant deuise, they shulde assuage the melancoly of Saturne, and in the mean tyme, Jupiter was conuaied in to Phrygia, where Saturne also pursuing hym, Rhea semblably taught the [K3v] people there called Coribantes, to daunse in a nother fourme: wherwith Saturne was eftsones demulced and appaysed: whiche fable hath a resemblaunce to the historie of the bible, in the first boke of kyngs: where it is remembred, that Saule (whom god chase from a keper of asses, to be kynge of iewes, (who in stature excelled, and was aboue all other men by the heed) declining from the lawes and preceptes of god, was possessed of an iuell spirite, whiche often tymes turmented and vexed him: and other remedie founde he none, but that Dauid, whiche after hym was kynge, beinge at that tyme a proper childe, and playinge swetelye on a harpe, which his pleasant & perfect harmonie, reduced his minde in to his pristinate estate: and durynge the tyme that he played, the spirite cessed to vexe him: which I suppose hapned nat only of the efficacie of musike, (all be it therin is moche power, as well in repressing as exciting naturall affectes) but also of the vertue ingenerate in the childe Dauid, that played, whom god also had predestinate to be a great kyng, and a great prophete: and for the soueraigne gyftes of grace and of nature, that he was endowed with. All mightye god sayde of him, that [K4r] he had founde a man after his harte and pleasure. But nowe to retourne to speake or daunsinge.

Some interpretours of poetes do imagine, that Proteus, who is supposed to haue turned him selfe in to sondry figures, as some tyme to shewe him selfe like a serpent, some tyme like a lyon, other whiles like water, another time like the flame of fire: signifieth to be none other, but a deliuer & crafty daunser, which in his daunse coulde imagine the inflexions of the serpente, the softe and delectable flowynge of the water, the swiftnes and mounting of the fire, the fierce rage of the lyon, the violence & furie of the libarde. Which exposition is nat to be dispraised, sens it discordeth nat from reason. But one opinion there is, whiche I wyll reherce, more for the mery fantasie that therin is contained, than for any faithe or credite that is to be giuen therto.

Ouer Syracusis (a great and auncient citie in Sicile) there raigned a cruel tirant called Hiero: whiche by horrible tyrannies & oppressions, brought him selfe in to the indignation & hatered of all his people, whiche he perceiuing, lest by mutual communication they shulde conspire agayne hym any rebellion, [K4v] he prohibited all men vnder terrible menacis, that no man or woman shulde speke vnto a nother: but in stede of wordes, they shulde vse in their necessarye affaires, countenances, tokens, and mouinges, with their feete, handes, and eien, whiche for necessite firste vsed, at the laste grewe to a perfecte and delectable daunsinge. And Hiero, nat withstanding his folisshe curiositie, at the laste was slayne of his people moste miserably. But all though this historie were true: yet was nat daunsing at this time first begon, for Orpheus and Museus, the most auncient of poetes, & also Homere, whiche were longe afore Hiero, do make mention of daunsinge. And in Delus, whiche was the moste auncient temple of Apollo, no solemnitie was done without daunsinge.

Also in Inde, where the people honoureth the sonne, they assemble to gether and, whan the sonne first appereth, ioyned all in a daunse, they salute him, supposinge that for as moche as he moueth without sensible noyse, it pleseth him best to be like wise saluted, that is to say with a pleasant motion and silence. The interpretours of Plato do thinke that the wonderfull and incomprehensible ordre of the celestiall bodies, I mean sterres and [K5r] planettes, and their motions harmonicall, gaue to them, that intentifly, & by the deepe serche of raison beholde their coursis, in the sondrye diuersities of nombre and tyme, a fourme of imitation of a semblable motion: whiche they called daunsinge or salution. Wherfore the more nere they approched to that temperance, and subtile modulation, of the saide superiour bodies, the more perfecte and commendable is their daunsinge: whiche is moste like to the trouthe of any opinion that I haue hitherto founden.

Other fables there be, whiche I omitte for this present time: And nowe I will expresse in what estimation daunsing was had in the auncient time: And also sondry fourmes of daunsinge: nat all, but suche as had in them a semblance of vertue or kunnyng.

Whan the arke of god (wherin was put the tables of the commaundementes, the yerde, wherwith Moisis deuided the redde see, & dyd the miracles in the presence of Pharao, kynge of Egypte: also a parte of manna, herwith th children of Israel were fedde fourtie yeres in deserte) was recouered of the Philisties, and broughte vnto the citie of Gaba: the holy kynge Dauid, wearing on him a linen surplesse, daunsed before the [K5v] saide arke, folowing him a great nombre of instrumentes of musike: wherat his wyfe Micol, the daughter of kyng Saule, disdained and scorned him: wherwith (as holy scripture saith) all mighty god was moche displeased. And Dauid not cessinge daunsed ioyousely throughe the citie, in that maner honouringe that solemne feaste, whiche amonge the iewes was one of the chiefe and principall: wherwith god was more pleased, than withall the other obseruances that than were done vnto hym at that tyme.

I wyll nat trouble the reders with the innumerable ceremonies of the gentiles, whiche were comprehended in dausinges, sens they ought to be noumbred amonge superstitions: But I wyll declare, howe wise men and valiant capitaines imbraced daunsinge for a soueraigne and profitable exercise.

Licurgus, that gaue first lawes to the Lacedemones (a people in Grece) ordayned, that the children there shulde be taughte as diligently to daunse in armure, as to fight. And that in time of warres, they shulde meue them in bataile againe their enemies, in fourme and maner of daunsinge.

Semblably the olde inhabitantes of Ethiopia, at the ioyninge of their batailes, and [K6r] whan the trumpettes & other instrumentes soune, they daunse: and in stede of a quiuer, they haue their dartes set about their beddes, like to rayes or bemes of the sonne: wherwith they beleue that they put their enemies in feare. also it was nat lefull for any of them to cast any darte at his enemie but daunsing. And nat only this rude people estemed so moche daunsing: but also the moste noble of the grekes, whiche for their excellencie in prowesse and wisedome, were called halfe goddes, As Achilles, and his sonne Pirrhus, and diuers other. Wherfore god gyueth to man, he reciteth daunsinge. For he saithe in the first boke of Iliados:

Suppose ye, that the Romanes, whiche in grauitie of maners passed the Grekes, had nat great pleasure in daunsinge? Dyd nat Romulus, the firste kinge of Romanes, and builder of the citie of Rome, ordaine certaine prestes & ministers to the god Mars, (whome he aduaunted to be his father?) which prest, for as moche as certaine times they daunsed aboute the citie with tergates, that they imagined to falle from heuen, were [K6v] calle in latine Salij: which in to englisshe may be translated daunsers: who continued so longe time in reuerence amonge the Romanes, that vnto the tyme that they were christned, the noble men and princes children there, vsinge moche diligence and sute, couayted to be of the college of the saide daunsers.

More ouer the emperours that were moste noble, delited in daunsyng, receyuing ther in to be a perfecte measure, whiche maye be called modulation: wherin some daunsers of olde tyme so wonderfully excelled, that they wolde plainly expresse in daunsynge, without any wordes or dittie, histories with the hole circumstaunce of affaires, in them contayned: wherof I shall reherce two maruailouse experiences. At Rome in the tyme of Nero, there was a philosopher called Demetrius: whiche was of that secte, that for as moche as they abandoned all shamfastnes in their wordes & actes, they were called Cinici: in englisshe doggisshe: This Demetrius often reprouing daunsing, wolde saye, that there was nothing therin of any importaunce, and that it was none other but a counterfayting with the feete & handes, of the armonie that was shewed before [K7r] in the rebecke, shalme, or other instrument: and that the motions were but vaine and seperate from all vnderstanding, and of no purpose or efficacie. Wherof herynge a famouse daunser, and one as it semed, that was nat without good lernyng, and had in remembraunce many histories, he came to Demetrius & saide vnto him: Sire I humbly desire you refuse nat to dome that honestie with your presence, in beholding me daunce, whiche ye shall se me do without soune of any instrument. And than if it shall seme to you worthy dispraise, vtterly banisshe and confounde my science. Whervnto Demetrius graunted. The yonge man daunsed the aduoutry of Mars and Venus, and therin expressed howe Vulcane, husbonde to Venus, therof beynge aduertised by the sonne, layde snares for his wife and Mars: also howe they were wounden and tyed in Vulcanes nette: more ouer howe all the goddes came to the spectacle: finally howe Venus all ashamed and blusshing, ferefully desired her louer Mars to delyuer her from that perill, and the residue contayned in the fable: whiche he dyd with so subtile and crafty gesture, with suche perspicuitie and declaration of euery acte in the mater, [K7v] (whiche of all thing is moste difficile) with suche a grace and beautie, also with a witte so wonderfull and pleasaunt, that Demetrius, as it semed, therat reioysing & deliting, cried with a loude voice: O man, I do nat only se, but also here what thou doest: And it semeth also to me, that with thy bandes thou spekest. Whiche sayinge was confirmed by all them that were at that tyme present.

The same yonge man songe and daunsed on a tyme before the emperour Nero, whan there was also present a straunge kynge, whiche vnderstode none other langage but of his owne countray: yet nat withstanding the man daunsed so aptely and playnely, as his custome was, that the straunge kynge, all thoughe he perceiued nat what he said, yet he vnderstode euery dele of the mater. And whan he had taken his leue of the emperour to departe, the emperour offered to gyue to hym any thynge that he thoughte mought be to his commoditie. Ye may (sayd the kynge) bounteousely rewarde me, if ye lende me the yonge man that daunsed before your maiestie. Nero wondring and requiring of him, or what commodite the daunser mought be vnto him. Sir said the king, [K8r] I haue diuers confins & neighbours, that be of sondry languages and maners, wherfore I haue often tymes nede of many interpretours, wherfore if I had this man with me: and shulde haue any thing to do with my neighbours, he wolde so with his facion & gesture expresse euery thinge to me, & teche them to do the same, that from hensforth I shulde nat haue nede of any interpretour. Also the auncient philosophers commended daunsing: in so moche as Socrates, the wysest of all the grekes in his time, and from whom all the sectes of philosophers, as from a fountaine were deriuied, was nat ashamed to account daunsinge amonge the seriouse disciplines, for the commendable beautie, for the apte and proportionate meuinge, and for the craftie disposition and facionyng of the body. It is to be considered, that in the saide auncient tyme, there were diuers maners of daunsing, whiche varied in the names, lyke wyse as they dyd in tunes of the instrument, as semblably, we haue at this daye. But those names, some were generall, some were speciall: the generall names were gyuen of the vniuersall fourme of daunsinge, wherby was represented the qualities or conditions of sondry astates: [K8v] as the maiestie of princes was shewed in that daunse, whiche was named Eumelia, and belonged to tragedies: dissolute motions, and wanton countenaunces, in that whiche was called Cordax, and pertained to comedies: wherin men of base hauiour only daunsed. Also the fourme of bataile & fightyng in armure, was expressed in those daunsis, which were called Enopliae. also there was a kynde of daunsinge called Hormus, of all the other moste lyke to that, whiche is at this time vsed: wherin daunsed yonge men and maidens, the man expressinge in his motion and countenance, fortitude and magnanimitie, apt for the warres: the maiden moderation and shamefastnes, whiche represented a pleasant connexion of fortitude and temperance. In stede of these we haue nowe base daunsis, bargenettes, pauions, turgions and roundes. And as for the speciall names, they were taken as they be nowe, either of the names of the firste inuentors, or of the measure and nombre that they do containe: or of the firste wordes of the dittie, whiche the songe comprehendeth wherof the daunse was made. In euery of the said daunsis, there was a concinnitie of meuing the foote and body, expressing some [L1r] pleasaunt or profitable affectes or motions of the mynde.

Here a man may beholde, what artifice & crafte there was in auncient tyme in daunsinge: whiche at this day no man can imagine or coniecte. But if men wolde nowe applie the firste parte of their youthe, that is to say from seuen yeres to twentie, effectuelly in the sciences liberall, and knowledge of histories, they shulde reuiue the auncient fourme as well of daunsing, as of other exercises. Wherof they mought take nat only pleasure, but also pofite and commoditie.

Wherfore in the good ordre of daunsinge a man and a woman daunseth.

It is diligently to be noted that the associatinge of man & woman in daunsing, they both obseruinge one nombre and tyme in their meuynges, was nat begonne without a speciall consideration, as well for the necessarye coniunction of those two persones, as for the intimation of sondry vertues: whiche be by them represented.

And for as moche as by the association of [L1v] a man and a woman in daunsinge may be signified matrimonie, I coulde in declarynge the dignitie & commodite of that sacrament, make intiere volumes: if it were nat so communely knowen to all men, that almoste euery frere lymitour carieth it writen in his bosome. Wherfore lest in repetyng a thinge so frequent and commune, my boke shulde be as fastidious or fulsome to the reders, as suche marchaunt preachours be nowe to their custumers: I wyll reuerently take my leue of diuines. And for my parte I wyll endeuour my selfe to assemble out of the bokes of auncient poets, & philosophers, mater as well apte to my purpose, as also newe, or at the lest waies infrequent or seldome herde of them, that haue nat radde very many autours in greke and latine.

But nowe to my purpose. I euery daunse of a most auncient custome, there daunseth to gether a man and a woman, holding eche other by the hande or the arme: whiche betokeneth concorde. Nowe it behouethe the daunsers, & also the beholders of them, to knowe all qualities incident to a man, and also all qualities to a woman lyke wyse appertaynynge.

A man in his naturall perfection is fiers, [L2r] hardy, stronge in opinion, couaitous of glorie, desirous of knowlege, appetiting by generation to brynge forthe his semblable. The good nature of a woman is to be milde, timerouse, tractable, benigne, of sure remembrance, and shamfast, diuers other qualities of eche of them mought be founde out, but these be moste apparaunte, and for this time sufficient.

Wherfore whan we beholde a man and a woman daunsinge to gether, let vs suppose there to be concorde of all the saide qualities, beinge ioyned to gether, as I haue set them in ordre. And the meuing of the man wolde be more vehement, of the woman more delicate, and with lasse aduancing of the body, signifienge the courage & strenthe that oughte to be in a man, and the pleasant sobrenesse that shulde be in a woman. And in this wise fiersenesse, ioyned with mildnesse, maketh Seueritie: Audacitie with timerositie maketh Magnanimitie: wilfull opinion and Tractabilitie (which is to be shortly persuaded and meued) make the Constance a vertue: Couaitise of glorie adourned with benignitie, causeth honour: desire of knowlege, with sure remembrance, procureth Sapience; Shamfastnes ioyned to Appetite of generation maketh Continence: L2v whiche is a meane betwene Chastitie and inordinate luste. These qualities, in this wise beinge knitte together, and signified in the personages of man and woman daunsinge, do expresse or sette out the figure of very nobilitie: whiche in the higher astate it is contained,the more excellent is the vertue in estimation.

Howe daunsing may be an introduction vnto the first moral vertue called prudence.

As I haue all redye affirmed, the principall cause of this my litle enterprise is to declare an induction or meane, howe children of gentill nature or dispostion may be trayned in to the way of vertue with a pleasant facilitie. And for as moche as it is very expedient, that there be mixte with studie some honest & moderate disporte, or at the lest way recreation, to recomforte and quicken the vitall spirites, leste they longe trauilyng or beinge moche occupied in contemplation or remembrance of thinges graue and seriouse, moughte happen to be fatigate, or perchance oppressed. [L3r] And therfore Tulli, who vneth founde euer any tyme vacaunt from studie, permitteth in his firste boke of offices, that men maye vse play and disporte: yet nat slepe & other maner of quiete, whan they haue sufficiently disposed ernest maters and of waighty importaunce.

Nowe by cause there is no passe tyme to be compared to that, wherin may be founden both recreation and meditation of vertue: I haue amonge all honest passe times, wherin is exercise of the body, noted daunsinge to be of an excellent vtilitie, comprehendinge in it wonderfull figures, or as the grekes do calle them Ideae, of vertues and noble qualities: and specially of the commodiouse vertue called prudence, whom Tulli defineth to be the knowlege of thinges, whiche oughte to be desired & folowed: and also of them, whiche ought to be fledde from or exchewed. And it is named of Aristotel the mother of vertues: of other philosophers it is called the capitayne or maistres of vertues: of some the house wyfe, for as moche as by her diligence she doth inuestigate & prepare places apt and conuenient, where other vertues shall execute their powers or offices. [L3v] Wherfore as Salomon saithe, like as in water be shewed the visages of them that beholde it, so vnto men that be prudent, the secretes of mennes hartes be openly disouered. This vertue beinge so commodiouse to man, and as it were the porche of the noble palaice of mannes reason, wherby all other vertues shall entre, it semeth to me right expedient, that as sone as oportunitie may be founden, a childe or yonge man be therto induced. And by cause that the studie of vertue is tediouse for the more parte to them that do florisshe in yonge yeres: I haue deuised howe in the fourme of daunsinge nowe late vsed, in this realme amonge gentilmen, the hole description of this vertue prudence may be founden out and well perceyued, as well by the daunsers as by them whiche standinge by, wyll be diligent beholders and markers, hauyng first myne instruction serly grauen in the table of their remembrance. Wherfore all they that haue their courage stered towarde very honour or perfecte nobilitie: let them approche to this passe tyme, and either them selfes prepare them to dause, or els at the leste way beholde with watching eien, other that can daunse truely, kepynge iuste measure and [L4r] tyme. But to the vnderstanding of this instruction, they must marke well the sondry motions & measures, which in true fourme of daunsing is to be specially obserued.

The first meuyng in euery daunse is called honour, whiche is a reuerent inclination or curtaisie, with a longe deliberation or pause, and is but one motion comprehendinge the tyme of the thre other motions or settyng forth of the foote: by that may be signified, that at the begynning of all our actes, we shulde do due honour is compacte of these thre thinges, feare, loue, & reuerence. And that in the begynnynge of all thinges we shulde aduisedly, with some tracte of tyme, beholde and for se the successe of our entreprise.

By the seconde motion, whiche is two in nombre, may be signified celeritie and slownesse: whiche two, all be it they seme to discorde in their effectes and naturall propreties: And therfore they may be well resembled to the braule in daunsinge (for in our englisshe tonge we say men do braule, whan betwene them is altereation in wordes) yet of them two springeth an excellent vertue: where vnto we lacke a name in englisshe. [L4v] Wherfore I am constrained to vsurpe a latine worde callyng it Maturitie: whiche worde though it be strange and darke, yet by declaring the vertue in a fewe mo wordes, the name ones brought in custome, shall be as facile to vnderstande as other wordes late commen out of Italy and Fraunce, and made deinzins amonge vs.

Maturitie is a meane betwene two extremities, wherin nothing lacketh or excedeth: and is in suche astate, that it may neither encrease nor minisshe without losinge the denomination of Maturitie. The grekes in a prouerbe do expresse it proprely in two wordes, whiche I can none other wyse interprete in englisshe, but speede the slowly.

Also of this worde Maturitie, sprange a noble and preciouse sentence, recited by Salust in the bataile againe Cataline: whiche is in this maner or like. Consulte before thou enterprise any thing: & after thou hast taken counsaile, it is expedient to do it maturely. Maturum in latine maye be enterpreted ripe or redy: as frute, whan it is ripe, it is at the very poynte to be gathered and eaten: and euery other thinge, whan it is redy, it is at the instante after to be occupied. Therfore that worde maturitie, is translated [L5r] to the actis of man, that whan they be done with suche moderation, that nothing in the doinge may be sene superfluous or indigent, we may saye, that they be maturely done: reseruyng the wordes, ripe & redy, to frute and other thinges seperate from affaires, as we haue nowe in vsage. And this do I nowe remembre for the necessary augmentation of our langage.

In the excellent and most noble emperour Octauius Augustus, in whom reigned all nobilitie, nothinge is more commended, than that he had frequently in his mouthe this worde Matura, do maturely. As he shulde haue saide, do neither to moche ne to litle: to soone ne to late: to swiftly nor slowely: but in due tyme and measure.

Nowe I trust I haue sufficiently expounde the vertue called Maturitie, whiche to the meane or mediocritie betwene slouthe and celeritie, communely called spedinesse: and so haue I declared what vtilitie may be taken of a braule in daunsinge.

The thirde and fourthe braunches of prudence.

The thirde motion called singles, is of two vnities seperate in pasinge forwarde: by whom may be signified prouidence & industrie: whiche after euerye thinge maturely achieued, as is before writen, maketh the first pase forwarde in daunsinge. But it shall be expedient to expounde, what is the thing called Prouidence, for as moche as it is nat knowen to euery man.

Prouidence is, wherby a man nat only foreseeth commoditie and incommoditie, prosperitie and aduersitie, but also consulteth, & there with endeuoureth as well to repelle anoyaunce, as to attaine and gette profite and aduauntage. And the difference betwene it and consideration is, that consideration only consisteth in pondering and examining thinges conceiued in the mynde: Prouidence in helpinge them with counsaile and acte. Wherfore to consideration pertaineth excogitation and aduisement: to prouidence prouision & execution. For like as the good husbande whan he hath sowen his grounde, sette the vp cloughtes or thredes, whiche some call shailes, some blenchars, or other like showes, to feare away birdes, whiche he foreseeth redy to deuoure and hurte his corne. [L6r] Also perceiuinge the improfitable weedes apperynge, whiche wyll anoye his corne or herbes: forthe with he wedeth them clene out of his grounde, & wyll nat suffre them to growe or encrease. Semblably it is the parte of a wyse man to forsee and prouide, that either in suche thinges as he hath acquired by his studie or diligence, or in suche affaires as he hath in hande, he be nat indomaged or empeched by his aduersaries. In lyke maner a gouernour of a publike weale ought to prouide as well by menaces, as by sharpe and terrible punisshementes, that persones iuell and improfitable, do nat corrupte and deuoure his good subiectes. Finally there is in prouidence suche an admiration and maiestie that nat onely it is attributed to kinges and rulers, but also to god creatour of the worlde.

Industrie hath nat ben so longe tyme vsed in the englisshe tonge as Prouidence: wherfore it is the more straunge, and requireth the more plaine exposition. It is a qualitie procedyng of witte and experience, by the whiche a man perceyueth quickly, inuenteth fresshly, and counsayleth spedily: wherfore they that he called Industrious, do moste craftily and depely vnderstande in [L6v] all affaires what is expedient, and by what meanes & wayes they maye sonest exploite them. And those thinges, in whome other men trauayle, a person industrious lightly and with facilitie spedeth, & fyndeth newe wayes and meanes to bring to effecte that he desireth. Amonge diuers other remembred in histories, such one amonge the grekes was Alcibiades: who being in childehode most amiable of all other, & of moste subtile witte, was instructed by Socrates. The saide Alcibiades, by the sharpnesse of his witte, the doctrine of Socrates, and by his owne experience in sondrie affaires in the commune weale of the Athenienses, became so industrious, that were it good or iuell that he enterprised, no thinge almoste eskaped that he acheued nat, were the thing neuer so difficile (or as who saythe) impenitrable: and that many sondrie thinges as well for his countray, as also agayne it, after that he for his inordinate pride and lechery, was out of Athenes exiled.

Amonge the romanes, Caius Julius Cesar, whiche first toke vpon him the perpetuall rule and gouernaunce of the empire, is a noble example of industrie, for in his incomparable warres, and busynesse incredible [L7r] (if the autoritie and faithe of the writers were nat of longe tyme approued) he dyd nat onely excogitate moste excellent policies and deuises to vainquisshe or subdue his enemies, but also prosecuted them with suche celeritie and effecte, that diuers and many tymes he was in the campe of his enemies, or at the gates of their townes, or fortresses, whan they supposed that he and his hoste had ben two dayes iournay from thens, leauing to them no tyme or layser, to consulte or prepare agayne him sufficient resistence. And ouer that, this qualitie industrie so reigned in him, that he him selfe wolde ministre to his secretaries at one tyme and instante, the contentes of thre sondrie epistles or lettres. Also it is a thing wonderfull to remembre, that he beynge a prince of the moste auncient and noble house of the romanes: And from the tyme that he came to mans astate, almoste contynuelly in warres, also of glorie insatiable, of courage inuincible: coulde in affaires of suche importaunce and difficultie, or (whiche is moche more to be meruayled at nowe) wolde so exactly write the historie of his owne actes and iestes: that for the natiue & inimitable eloquence, in expressing the counsailels, deuises, [L7v] conuentions, progressions, enterprises, exploitures, fourmes, and facions of imbatailynge, he semeth to put all other writers of like mater to silence.

Here is the perfecte paterne of Industrie, whiche I trust shal suffice to make the propre signification therof to be vnderstande of the reders. And consequently to incende them to approche to the true practising therof.

So is the sengles declared in these two qualities Prouidence and Industrie: whiche seriousely noted and often remembred of the daunsers and beholders, shall acquire to them no litle frute and commoditie, if there be in their myndes any good and laudable mater for vertue to warke in.

Of the fifthe braunche called circumspection, shewed in reprinse.

Comunely nexte after sengles in daunsing is a reprinse, whiche is one mouing only, puttynge backe the ryght fote to his felowe: And that may be well called circumspection, whiche signifieth as moche, as beholdynge on euery parte, what is well and sufficient, what lackethe, [L8r] howe and from whens it may be prouided: also what hath caused profite or damage in the tyme passed: what is the astate of the tyme present: what aduauntage or perile may succede or is imminent. And by cause in it is contained a deliberation, in hauing regarde to that that foloweth, and is also of affinitie with prouidence and industrie: I make hym in the fourme of a retrete. In this motion a man may as it were on a mountaine or place of espial, beholde on euery syde farre of, measuring and estemyng euery thing: and eyther pursue it, if it be commendable, or abandone it or escheue it: it if be noyfull. This qualite (lyke as prouidence and industrie be) is a braunche of Prudence, whiche some call the princesse of vertues: & it is nat onely expedient, but also nedefull to euery astate and degree of men, that do contynue in the lyfe called actife. In the Iliados of Homere, the noble duke Nestor, a man of maruaylous eloquence and longe experience, as he that lyued thre mennes lyues, as he there auaunteth in the counsayle that he gaue to Agamemnon, to reconcile to him Achilles, the moste stronge of all the grekes, he persuadyd Agamemnon specially to be circumspect: declaringe [L8v] howe that the priuate contention betwene them, shulde replenisshe the hooste of the grekes with moche dolour: wherat kynge Priamus and his children shulde laughe, and the resydue of the Troyanes in their myndes shulde reioyce and take courage.

Amonge the Romanes Quintus Fabius for this qualitie is soueraignely extolled amonge historiens: and for that cause he is often tymes called of them Fabius cunctator, that is to saye the tariar or delayer, for in the warres bytwene the romanes and Anniball, he knowynge all costes of the countray, continuelly kept him and his hoste on mountaynes and high places, within a small distaunce of Hanniballes armie: so that neither he wolde abandon his enemies, nor yet ioyne with them batayle. By whiche wonderfull policie he caused Anniball so to trauayle, that some tyme for lacke of vitayle, and for werynesse, great multitudes of his hoste perisshed. Also he oftentymes awayted them in daungerous places, vnredy, and than he skirmisshed with them, as longe as he was sure to haue of them aduauntage: and after he repayred to the hyghe places adioyning, vsyng his accustomed maner to beholde the passage of Anniball. And by [M1r] this meanes, this moste circumspecte capitaine Fabius, wonderfully infeblyd the powar of the said Anniball: whiche is no lasse estemed in praise, than the subduing of Cartage by the valiaunt Scipio. For if Fabius had nat so fatigate Anniball and his hoste, he had shortly subuerted the cite of Rome, and than coulde nat Scipio haue ben able to attayne that entreprise.

What more clere mirrour or spectacle can we desire of circumspection, than kyng Henry the seuenth, of most noble memorie, father vnto our mooste dradde soueraigne lorde: whose worthy renome, like the sonne in the middes of his sphere, shyneth & euer shall shyne in mennes remembrance? What incomparable circumspection was in hym alway founden, that nat withstandynge his longe absence out of this realme, the disturbance of the same by sondrye seditions amonge the nobilitie, Ciuile warres and batayles, wherin infinite people were slayne, besyde skirmisshis and slaughters in the priuate contentions and factions of diuers gentilmen, the lawes layde in water (as in the prouerbe) affection & auarice subduinge iustice & equitie: yet by his moste excellent witte, he in fewe yeres, nat onely broughte this [M1v] realme in good ordre and vnder due obedience, reuiued the lawes, auaunced Justice, refurnisshed his dominions, and repayred his manours: but also with suche circumspection traited with other princes and realmes, of leages, of aliaunce, and amities, that duryng the more parte of his reigne, he was litle or nothyng inquieted with out warde hostilitie or martiall businesse. And yet all other princes either feared hym/ or had hhym in a fatherly reuerence. Whiche praise with the honour therevnto due, as inheritaunce discendeth by righte vnto his most noble sonne our moste dere soueraigne lorde that nowe presently raigneth. For as Tulli saithe: The best inheritance that the fathers leue to their children, excellynge all other patrimonie, is the glorie or praise of vertue and noble actis: and of suche faire inheritance his highnesse may compare with any prince that euer raigned: whiche he dayly augmenteth, adding therto other sondry vertues: whiche I forbeare nowe to rehere, to the intent I wyll exclude all suspition of flaterye, sens I my selfe in this warke do speciallye reproue it. But that whiche is presently knowen, and is in experience, nedeth no monument. And vnto so [M2r] excellent a prince, there shall nat lacke here after condigne writers to registre his actes, with mooste eloquent stile in perpetuall remembrance.

Of the sixte seuenth and eighte braunches of prudence.

A double in daunsinge is compacte of the nombre of thre, wherby may be noted these thre braunches of prudence, election, experience, and modestie: by them the saide vertue of prudence is made complete, and is in her perfection. Election is of an excellent powar & autoritie, and hath suche a maiestie, that she will nat be approched vnto of euery man. For some there be, to whom she denieth her presence, as children, naturall fooles, men beinge frantike, or subdued with affects, also they that be subiectes to flaterers and proude men. In these persones reason lacketh libertie: whiche shuld prepare their entrie vnto election. This Election, whiche is a parte, and as it were a membre of prudence, is best described by Oportunitie, whiche is the principall parte of counsaile, and is compacte of these [M2v] thinges folowynge.

The importaunce of the thinge consulted, The facultie and power of hym that consulteth, The tyme whan, The fourme howe, The substance wherwith to do it, The dispositions and vsages of the countrayes, For whom and agayne whom it oughte to be done. all these thinges prepensed and gathered to gether seriousely, and after a due examination euery of them iustely pondred in the balance of reason, Immediately cometh the autoritie of Election, who taketh on her to appoynt what is to be effectuelly folowed or pursued, reiectynge the residue. And than ought experience to be at hande, to whom is committed the actuall execution. For without her, Election is frustrate, and all inuention of man is but a fantasie. And therfore who aduisedly beholdeth the astate of mannes life, shall well perceiue that all that euer was spoken or writen, was to be by experience executed; and to that intent was speche specially gyuen to man, wherin he is moste discrepant from brute beastis, in declaring what is good, what viciouse, what is profitable, what improfitable by them whiche by clerenesse of witte do excele in knowlege, to these that be of a more inferior [M3r] capacitie. And what vtilitie shulde be acquired by suche declaration, if it shulde nat be experienced with diligence?

The philosopher Socrates had nat bene named of Appollo the wyseste man of all Gracia, if he had nat daylye practised the vertues, which he in his lessons commended.

Julius Caesar, the first emperour, all thoughe there were in hym moche hydde lernynge: In so moche as he first founde the ordre of our kalandre, with the Cikle and bisexte, called the lepe yere: yet is he nat so moche honoured for his lernynge as he is for his diligence, wherwith he exploited or brought to conclusions those counsailes, whiche as well by his excellent lerning and wisedome, as by the aduise of other experte counsailours were before traited: And (as I mought saye) ventilate.

Who wyll nat repute it a thinge vayne and scornefull, & more lyke to a may game, than a mater seriouse or commendable, to beholde a personage, whiche in speche or writyng expresseth nothing by vertuous maners, sage and discrete counsailes and holy aduertisementes: to be resolued in to all vices, folowyng in his actis no thinge that he hym self in his wordes approuethe and [M3v] teacheth to other?

Who shall any thynge esteme their wysedome, whiche with great studies finde out remedies & prouisions necessary for thinges disordred or abused, and where they them selfes may execute it, they leue it vntouched: wherby their deuises with the soune that pronounced them, be vanisshed and come to nothing? Semblably it is to be thought in all other doctrine. Wherfore as it semed, it was nat without consideration affirmed by Tulli, that the knowlege and contemplation of Natures operations, were lame and in a maner imperfecte, if there folowed none actuall experience. Of this shall be more spoken in the later ende of this warke.

Here with wolde be conioyned or rather mixte with it, the vertue called Modestie: whiche by Tulli is defined to be the knowlege of oportunitie of thinges to be done or spoken, in appoyntyng and settyng them in tyme or place to them conuenient & propre. Wherfore it semeth to be moche like to that whiche men communely call discretion. All be it discretio in latine signifieth Separation: wherin it is more like to Election: but as it is communely vsed, it is nat only like to Modestie, but it is the selfe Modestie. For he [M4r] that forbereth to speake, all though he can do it bothe wisely and eloquently, by cause neither in the time nor in the herers, he findethe oportunitie, so that no frute may succede of his speche, he therfore is vulgarely called a discrete persone. Semblably they name him discrete, that punissheth an offendour lasse than his merites do require, hauyng regarde to the waikenes of his persone, or to the aptnesse of his amendement. So do they in the vertue called Liberalitie, where in gyuynge, is had consideration as well of the condition and necessite of the persone that receiuethe, as of the benefite that comethe of the gyfte receyued. In euery of these thinges and their semblable, is Modestie: whiche worde nat beinge knowen in the englisshe tonge, ne of al them which vnderstode latin, except they had radde good autours, they improprely named this vertue discretion. And nowe some men do as moche abuse the worde modestie, as the other dyd discretion. For if a man haue a sadde countenance at al times, & yet not beinge meued with wrathe, but pacient, & of moche gentilnesse: they, whiche wold be sene to be lerned, wil say that the man is of a great modestie. Where they shulde rather saye, that [M4v] he were of a great mansuetude: whiche terme beinge semblably before this time vnknowen in our tonge, may be by the suffraunce of wise men nowe receiued by custome: wherby the terme shall be made familiare. That lyke as the Romanes translated the wisedome of Grecia in to their citie: we may, if we liste, bringe the lernynges and wisedomes of them both in to this realme of Englande, by the translation of their warkes: sens lyke entreprise hath ben taken by Frenche men, Italions, & Germanes, to our no litle reproche for our negligence & slouth.

And thus I conclude the last parte of daunsinge, whiche diligently beholden, shall appiere to be as well a necessary studie as a noble & vertuouse pastyme, vsed & continued in suche forme as I hiderto haue declared.

Of other exercises, whiche if they be moderately vsed, be to euery astate of man expedient.

I haue showed howe huntynge & daunsing may be in the nombre of commendable exercises, and passe tymes, nat repugnant to vertue. And vndoubted, it were [M5r] moche better to be occupied in honest recreation than to do nothynge. For it is saide of a noble autour: In doinge nothinge, men lerne to do iuel, & Ouidius the poete saith:

It is nat onely called idlenes, wherin the body or minde cesseth from labour, but specially idlenes is an omission of al honest exercise: the other may be better called a vacacion from seriouse businesse: whiche was some tyme embraced of wise men and vertuous. It is writen to the praise of Xerxes kynge of Persia, that in tyme vacaunt from the affaires of his realme, he with his owne handes hadde planted innumerable trees, whiche longe or he died brought fourth abundance of frute: and for the craftie and dilectable ordre in the settyng of them, it was to al men, beholdyng the princes industrie, exceding maruailous.

But who abhoreth nat the historie of Serdanapalus, kynge of the same realme? whiche hauynge in detestation all princely affaires, and leuynge all company of men, enclosed hym selfe in chambers with a great multitude of concubynes: And for that he wolde seme to be sometime occupied, or els [M5v] that wanton pleasures & quietnesse became to hym tediouse, he was founde by one of his lordes in a womans atyre spinnyng in a distafe amonge persones defamed: whiche knowen abrode, was to the people so odiouse, that finally by them he was burned, with all the place wherto he fledde for his refuge. And I suppose there is nat a more playne figure of idlenesse, than playinge at dise. For besides that, that therin is no maner of exercise of the body or mynde, they whiche do playe therat must seme to haue no portion of witte or kunnyng, if they will be called faire plaiars, or in some company auoide the stabbe of a dagger, if they be taken with any crafty conueiaunce. And by cause alwaye wisedome is therin suspected, there is seldome any playinge at dise, but therat is vehement chidyng and braulyng, horrible othes, cruell, and some tyme mortall menacis. I omitte strokes, whiche nowe and than do happen often tymes betwene bretherne and most dere frendes, if fortune brynge alwaye to one man iuell chaunces, whiche maketh the playe of the other suspected. O why shulde that be called a playe, whiche is compacte of malice & robrye.

Undoubtedly they that write of the firste [M6r] inuentions of thinges, haue good cause to suppose Lucifer prince of deuilles, to be the firste inuentour of dise playinge, & helle the place where it was founden, al though some do write that it was first inuented by Attalus. For what better allectiue could Lucifer deuise to allure or bringe men pleasauntly in to damnable seruitude than to purpose to them in fourme of a playe, his principall tresory: wherin the more parte of synne is contained, and all goodnesse and vertue confounded?

The firste occasion to playe, is tediousnes of vertuous ocupation: Immediately succedeth couaiting of an other mans goodes, whiche they call playinge: therto is annected auarice and straite kepynge, whiche they call wynnyng: sone after cometh sweryng in rentyng the membres of god, whiche they name noblenesse: (for they wyll say he that swereth depe, swereth like a lorde) than folowethe furye or rage, whiche they calle courage: amonge them cometh inordinate watche, whiche they name paynfulnesse: he bringethe in glotonie, and that is good felowshippe: and after cometh slepe superfluous, called amonge them naturall reste: & he some tyme bringeth in lechery: whiche [M6v] is nowe named daliance. The name of this Tresorie is verily idlenesse: the dore wherof is lefte wyde open to dise plaiers, but if they happe to bringe in their company, lerninge vertuouse busines, liberalitie, pacience, charitie, temperance, good diete, or shamefastnes: they muste leue them without the gates. For Euill custome, which is the porter, will nat suffre them to entre.

Alas what pitie is it, that any christen man shulde by wanton company be trayned, I will no more say in to this Treasorie, but in to this lothesome dungeon: where he shal lye ferored in giues of ignorance, and bonnden with the stronge chayne of obstinacie, harde to be losed but by grace?

The most noble emperour Octauius Augustus, who hath amonge writers in diuers of his actes an honorable remembraunce, only for playing at dise, & that but seldome, sustaineth in histories a note of reproche.

The lacedemones sent an ambassade to the citie of Corinthe, to haue with them aliaunce: but whan the ambassadours founde the princes & counsailours playeng at dyse, they departed without exploytinge their message, sayeng that they wolde nat maculate the honour of their people with suche [M7r] a reproche, to be sayde that they had made aliaunce with disars. Also to Dementrius, the kynge of Parthians sent golden dise, in the rebuke of his litenesse.

Euery thing is to be estemed after his value. But who hering a man, whom he knoweth nat, to be called a disar, anone supposeth him nat to be of light credence, dissolute, vayne, and remisse? Who almost trusteth his brother, whom he knoweth a dise player? Ye among them selfes they laugh, whan they perceyne or here any doctrine or vertuouse worde procede from any of their companyons, thynking that it becommeth nat his persone: moche more whan he dothe any thing with deuotion or wisedome. Howe many gentilmen, howe many marchauntes, haue in this damnable passe tyme consumed their substaunce, as well by their owne labours, as by their parentes, with great studie and painfull trauaile, in a longe tyme acquired, & tyme acquired, & fynisshed their lyfes in dette and penurie? Howe many goodly and bolde yemen hath it brought vnto thefte, wherby they haue preuented the course of nature, and dyed by the ordre of lawes miserably? These be the frutes and reuenues of that diuilysshe marchandise, [M7v] besyde the fynall rewarde, whiche is more terrible: the reporte wherof I leaue to diuines, suche as fere nat to showe their lerninges, or fille nat their mouthes so full with swete meates, or benefices, that their tonges be nat let to speake trouth: for that is their duetie & office, excepte I with many other be moche disceyued.

Playing at cardes & tables is some what more tollerable, only for as moche as ther in wytte is more vsed, and lasse truste is in fortune, all be hit therin is neither laudable study nor exercise. But yet men delitinge in vertue mought with cardes and tables deuyse games, where in moughte be moche solace and also study commodiouse: as deuising a bataile, or contention betwene vertue and vice, or other like pleasaunt and honest inuention.

The cheffe of all games, wherin is no bodily exercise is mooste to be commended: for therin is right subtile engine: wherby the wytte is made more sharpe, and remembrance quickened. And it is the more commendable and also commodious, if the players haue radde the moralization of the cheffe, and whan they playe do thinke vpon hit: whiche bokes be in englisshe. But they be [M8r] very scarse, by cayse fewe men do seeke in plaies for vertue ro wisedome.

That shotyng in a longe bowe is principall of all other exercises.

Tulli saithe in his first boke of Officis; we be nat to that intent brought vppe by Nature, that we shuld seme to be made to playe and disporte: but rather to grauitie & studies of more estimation. Wherfore it is write of Alexander, emperour of Rome, for his grauitie called Seuerus, that in his chyldehode, and before he was taught the letters of greke or latine, he neuer exercised any other play or game, but only one: where in was a similitude of iustice: and therfore it was called in latine Ad Judices, whiche is in englisshe to the iuges. But the forme therof is nat expresed by the sayde autor, nor none other that I haue yet radde. Wherfore I wyll repaire againe to the residue of honest exercise.

And for as moche as Galene in his seconde boke of the preseruation of helth, declareth to be in them these qualities or diuersities, that is to say, that some be done with extendinge [M8v] of myght, and as hit were violently, and that is called valiaunt exercise: Some with swyfte or hasty motion, other with strength & celerite, and that maye be called vehement: The particular kyndes of euery of them, he describethe, whiche were to longe here to be rehersed.

But in as moche as he also saithe, that he that is of good astate in his body, ought to knowe the power and effecte of euery exercise: but he nedethe nat to practise any other, but that whiche is moderate & meane betwene euery extremitie: I wil now brefely declare in what exercise nowe in custome amonge vs, maye be mooste founde of that mediocritie: and maye be augmented or mynysshed at the pleasure of hym that dothe exercise, without therby appairinge any part of dilectation or commodite therof. And in myn oppinion none may be compared with shootinge in the longe bowe, and that for sondry vtilities that come therof, wherin it incomparably excelleth all other exercise. For in drawyng of a bowe, easie & congruent to his strength, he that shoteth dothe moderately exercise his armes, and the ouer parte of his body: & if his bowe be bygger, he must adde to more strength: [N1r] wherin is no lasse valiaunt exercise than in any other werof Galene writeth.

In shootynge at buttes, or brode arowe markes, is a mediocritie of exercise of the lower partes of the body and legges, by goinge a litle distaunce a mesurable pase.

At rouers or prickes, it is at his pleasure that shoteth, howe faste or softely he listeth to go: and yet is the praise of the shooter neither more ne lasse, for as farre or nighe the marke is his arowe, whan he goethe softly, as whan he runneth.

Tenese, seldome vsed, and for a litle space, is a good exercise for yonge men, but it is more violent than shoting: by reason that two men do play. Wherfore neither of them is at his owne libertie to measure the exercise. For if the one stryke the balle harde, the other that intendeth to receyue him is than constrained to vse semblable violence, if he wyst retourne the balle from whens it came to him. If it trille fast on the grounde, & he entendeth to stoppe or if it rebounde a great distaunce from hym, and he wolde eftesones retourne it: he can nat than kepe any measure in swiftnesse of mocion.

Some men wolde say, that in mediocritie, whiche I haue so moche praised in shootynge: [N1v] why shulde nat boulynge claisshe, pynnes and kotyng: be as moche commended? Verily as for two the laste, be to be vtterly abiected of al noble men, in like wise foote balle, wherin is nothinge but beastly furie, and extreme violence: wherof procedeth hurte, and consequently rancour and malice do remaine with them that be wounded. Wherfore it is to be put in perpetuall silence.

In classhe is emploied to litle strength: in boulyng often times to moche. Wherby the sinewes be to moche strayned, & the vaines to moche chased. Wherof often tymes is sene to ensue ache, or the decreas of strength or agilitie in the armes. Wherein shotyng, if the shooter vse the strength of his howe within his owne tiller, he shal neuer be ther with grieued or made more feble.

Also in shootyng is a double vtilitie, wherin it excelleth all other exercises and games incomparably. The one is that it is, and alway hath ben, the moste excellent artillerie for warres: wherby this realme of Englande hath bene nat only best defended from outwarde hostilitie: but also in other regions a fewe englisshe archers haue ben seene to preuayle agayne people innumerable: [N2r] Also wonne impreignable cities and stronge holdes, and kepte them in themyddes of the strength of their enemies. This is the feate, wherby englisshe men haue ben most dradde & bad in estimation as alies. And the commoditie therof hath bene approued as ferre as Hierusalem: as it shall appiere in the liues of Richarde the firste, and Edwarde the firste, kynges of Englande: who made seuerall iournayes to recouer that holy citie of Hierusalem in to the possession of christen men: and achieued them honorablye: the rather by the powar of this feate of shootynge.

The premisses considered, O what cause of reproche shall the decaye of archers be to vs nowe liuyng? ye what irrecuperable damage either to vs or them, in whose time nede of semblable defence shall happen & whiche decaye, though we all redy perceiue, feare, & lament, and for the restauryng therof cesse nat to make ordinances, good lawes, and statutes: yet who effectuelly puttethe his hande to continual execution of the same lawes and prouisions or beholdyng them dayly broke wynketh at the offedours? o mercifull god, howe longe shall we be [N2v] mockers of our selfes? howe longe shall we skorne at our one calamitie? whiche bothe with the eien of our mynge, and also our bodily eien, we se dayly imminent, by neglectyng or publike weale, and contemnynge the due execution of lawes & ordinaunces: but I shall herof more speake in an other place: and retourne nowe to the seconde vtilitie founde in shotyng in the longe bowe. Whiche is killyng of deere, whilde foule, and other game: wherin is bothe profite and pleasure aboue any other artillery.

And verily I suppose, that before crossebowes and handgunnes were brought in to this realme, by the sleighte of our enemies, to thentent to destroye the noble defence of archery: Continuell vse of shotynge in the longe bowe made the feate so perfecte and exacte amonge englisshe men: that they than as surely & soone killed suche game, whiche they lifted to haue, as they now can do with the crossebowe or gunne: and more expeditely, and with lasse labour they dyd it. For beinge therin industrious, thy kylled their game further from them (if they shorte a great strength) than they can with a crossebowe, excepte it be of suche waighte, that the arme shall repente the bearyng therof [N3r] twentie yeres after.

More ouer in the longe bowe may be shotte mo arowes and in lasse time, ne by the breakynge therof ensueth so moche harme, as by breakynge of the crossebowe. Besides that all tymes in bendynge, the crossebowe is in perile of breakyng. But this suffiseth, for the declaration of shootyng: wherby it is sufficiently proued, that it incomparably excelleth all other exercise, passetyme, or solace. And herat I conclude to write of exercise, whiche apptaineth as well to princis & noble men, as to all other by their example: whiche determine to passe furth their liues in vertue & honestie. And here after, with the assistence of god, vnto whom I rendre this myn account (for the talent that I haue of hym receiued) I purpose to write of the principall and (as I mought say) the particuler studie and affaires of him, that by the prouidence of god, is called to the mooste difficulte cure of a publike weale.

What thynges he, that is elected or appointed to be a gouernour of a publike weale ought to premeditate.

In the boke precedinge I haue (as I truste) sufficiently declared as wel what is to be caled a very & righte publike weale, as also, that there shulde be therof one prince and soueraigne aboue all other gouernours. And I haue also expressed my conceipte and opinion touching nat only the studies, but also th exercises concernynge the necessary education of noble men and other, called to the gouernance of a publike weale, in suche fourme as by the noble example of their liues, and the frute therof coming, the publike weale that shal happen to be vnder their gouernance, shall nat faile to be accounted happy, and the autoritie on them to be emploied well & fortunately. Nowe will I traicte of the preparation of suche personages, whan they firste receyue any great dingitie, charge or gouernance of the weale publike. [N4r] Firste suche persones, beinge nowe adulte, that is to saye, passed theyr childehode as well in maners as in yeres, if for their vertues and lernynge, they happe to be called to receyue any dignitie: they shulde first amoue all company from them, And in a secrete oratorie or priuie chambre, by them selfe assemble all the powers of their wittes, to remembre these vii. articles, whiche I haue nat of myn owne heed deuised, but excerped or gathered as well out of holy scripture, as out of the warkes of other excellent writars of famouse memorie: as they shall sone perceiue, whiche haue radde and perused good autours in greke and latine.

First and aboue all thing let them consider, that from god only procedeth all honour, And that neither noble progenie, succession, nor election be of suche force, that by them any astate or dignitie maye be so stablisshed, that god beinge stered to vengeaunce, shall nat shortly resume it, and perchance translate it where it shall like hym. And for as moche as examples greatly do profite in the stede of experience, here shall it be necessarye to remembre the historie of Saule, whom god hym selfe elected to be the first kynge of Israhel: that where god [N4v] commaunded hym by the mouth of Samuel the prophet, that for as moche as the people called Amalech, had resisted the children of Israhel, whan they first departed from Egypt, he shuld therfore distroy all the countray, & fele men, women, & children, all beastis & catell, & that he shulde nothinge saue or kepe therof. But Saul aft that he had vainquisshed Amalech, & taken Agag kynge therof prisoner, he hauing on hym compassion, saued his life only. Also he preserued the best oxen, catel, & vestures, & all other thing that was fairest & of most estimation, & wolde nat consume it, accordyng as god had commaunded him, saying to Samuel, that the people kept it to the intent that they wolde make there with to all mightie god a solemne sacrifice. But Samuel reprouing him said: Better is obedience than sacrifice. With other wordes that do folowe in the historie. Finally for that offence onely, al mightie god abiected Saul, that he shulde no more reigne ouer Israhel: And caused Samuel furthe with to enoynte Dauid kynge, the yongest sonne of a poure man of Bethleem named Isai: whiche was kepyng his fathers shepe.

Sens for ones neglecting the commandement of god, & that neither natural pitie, nor the [N5r] intent to do sacrifice, with that whiche was saued, mought excuse the transgression of goddes commandement, nor mitigate his greuous displesure: Howe vigilant ought a christen man, beinge in autoritie, howe vigilant (I say) industrious & diligent ought he to be in the administration of a publike weale? Dreding alway the wordes that be spoken by eternall sapience to them that be gouernours of publik weales: All powar & vertue is gyuen of the lorde, that of al other is highest: who shal examine your dedes, & inserch your thoughtes: For whan ye were the ministres of his realme, ye iuged nat vprightly, ne obserued the lawe of iustice, nor ye walked nat according to his pleasure: he shall shortly & terribly appiere vnto you, For moste harde & greuous iugement shall be on them, that haue rule ouer other? To the poure man mercy is graunted: But the great men shall suffre great tourmentes. He that is lorde of all excepteth no persone: ne he shall feare the gretnes of any man, for he made as wel the great as the smal, & careth for euery of them equally. The stronger or of more mighte is the persone: the stronger payne is to hym imminent. Therfore to you gouernours be these my words, that ye may lerne wisedom & fal nat. [N5v] This notable sentence is nat only to be imprinted in the hartes of gouernours, but also to be often tymes reuolued and called to remembraunce.

They shall nat thynke howe moche honour they receiue, but how moche care and burdene. Ne they shall nat moche esteme their reuenues and treasure, considerynge that it is no buten or praie, but a laboriouse office and trauaile.

Let them thynke the greatter dominion they haue, that therby they sustayne the more care & studie. And that therfore they muste haue the lasse solace and passetyme, and to sensuall pleasures, lasse oportunitie.

Also whan they beholde their garmentes and other ornamentes, riche and preciouse: they shall thynke, what reproche were to them to surmounte in that, which be other mennes warkes and nat theirs, and to be vainquisshed of a poure subiecte in sondry vertues: wherof they them selfes be the artificers.

They that regarde them, of whom they haue gouernaunce, no more than shall apertaine to their owne priuate commodities, they no better esteme them than other men doth their horsis and mules, to whom they [N6r] empploye no lasse labour and diligence, not to the benefite of the sely bestis, but to their owne necessities and singuler aduantage.

The most sure fundation of noble renome, is a man to be of suche vertues & qualities, as he desireth to be openly publisshed. For it is a fainte praise that is goten with feare, or by flaterars gyuen, And the same is but sume, whiche is supported with silence prouoked by menacis.

They shal also consider, that by their preeminence, they sitte as it were on a piller on the toppe of a mountaine, where all the people do beholde them, nat only in their open affaires, but also in their secrete passetimes, priuie daliaunce, or other improfitable or wanton conditions: whiche soone be discouered by the conuersation of their most familiare seruauntes: whiche do alway imbrace that studie, wherin their maister delitethe: accordynge to the sayinge of Jesus Sirach: As the iuge of the people is, so be his ministers. And suche as be the gouernours of the citie, suche be the people. Whiche sentence is confirmed by sondry histories. For Nero, Caligula, Dominicane, Lucius Commodus, Varius Heliogabalus, monstruous emperours, norisshed about them, [N6v] ribauldes, & other voluptuouse artificers.

Maximianus, Dioclesian, Maxencius, & other persecutours of christen men, lacked nat inuentours of cruel and terrible tourmentes.

Cuntrary wise reigninge the noble Augustus, Nerus, Traiane, Hadriane, the two Antonines, and the wonderfull emperour Alexander, for his grauitie called Seuerus, the imperiall palaice, was alway replenisshed withe eloquent oratours, delectable poetes, wise philosophers, moste cunnynge and experte lawyars, prudent and valiaunt capitaines. Mo semblable examples shall hereof be founden, by them whiche purposely do rede histories: whom of all other I moste desire to be princes and gouernours.

These articles wel and substancially grauen in a noble mannes memorie, it shall also be necessary to cause them to be delectably writen & sette in a table within his bedde chamber, addyng to the versis of Claudiane the noble poet, whiche be wrate to Theodosius and Honorius emperours of Rome: The versis I haue translated out of latine in to englisshe, nat without great studie and difficultie: nat obseruynge the ordre as they stande: but the sentence belongynge to my purpose.

These versis of Claudiane, full of excellent wisedomes, as I haue saide wolde be in a table, in suche a place as a gouernour ones in a daye maye beholde them, specially as they be expressed in latine by the said poete vnto whose eloquence no translation in englisshe may be equiualent. But yet were it better to can them by harte, ye and if they were made in the fourme of a ditie to be songen to an instrument, O what a sweete songe wolde it be in the eres of wise men? For a meane musician mought therof make a righte pleasaunt harmonie, where almost euery note shulde expresse a counsayle vertuous or necessary.

Ye haue nowe harde what premeditations be expedient before that a man take on him the gouernaunce of a publike weale. These notable premeditations and remembrances shulde be in his mynde, whiche is in autoritie often tymes renewed. Than shall he procede further in furnisshyng his persone, with honourable maners and qualities; wherof very nobilitie is compacte: wherby [N8r] all other shall be induced to honour hym, loue hym, and feare hym, whiche thinges chiefely do cause perfecte obedience.

Now of these maners will I write in suche ordre, as in my conceipt they be (as it were) naturally disposed and sette in a noble man, and soonest in hym noted or espied.

The exposition of maiestie.

In a gouernour or man hauynge in the publyke weale some greatte authoritie, the fountaine of all excellent maners is Maiestie: whiche is the holle proporcion and figure of noble astate, and is proprelie a beautie or comelynesse in his countenance, langage, & gesture apt to his dignite, and accommodate to time, place, & company: whiche like as the sonne doth his beames, so doth it caste on the beholders and herers a pleasaunt & terrible reuerence. In so moche as the wordes or countenances of a noble man, shulde be in the stede of a firme and stale lawe to his inferiours. Yet is nat Maiestie alwaye in haulte or fierce countenaunce, nor in speche outragious or arrogant: but in honorable [N8v] and sobre demeanure/ deliberate and graue pronunciation, wordes clene and facile, voide of rudenesse & dishonestie: without vayne or inordinate ianglinge, with suche an excellent temperance, that he amonge an infinite nombre of other persones by his maiestie may be espied for a gouernour. Wherof we haue a noble example in Homere of Ulisses, that whan his shippe and men were perisshed in the see, and he vneth escaped, and was caste on lande vpon a coste, where the inhabitantes were called Pheacas: he beinge all naked, sauynge a mantell sente to hym by the kynges doughter, without other apparaile or seruant, represented suche a wonderfull maiestie in his countenance and speche, that the kynge of the countray named Alcinous, in that extreme calamitie, wisshed that Ulisses wold take his doughter Nausicaa, to wyfe, with a greatte parte of his treasure. And declaryng the honour that he bare towarde him he made for his sale diuers noble esbatementes and passetimes. The people also wondringe at his maiestie honoured hym with sondrye presentes. And at their propre charges and expenses conueied him in to his owne realme, of Ithaca in a shippe of wonderfull beautie, [O1r] well ordinanced and manned for his defence and saulfe conducte. The wordes of Alcinous, wherby he declareth the maiestie that he noted to be in Ulisses, I haue put in englisshe, nat so well as I founde them in greke, but as well as my witte & tonge can expresse it.

Alcinous to Ulisses.

The estimation of maiestie in countenaunce shall be declared by two examples nowe esuinge.

To Scipio, beinge in his manour place, caled Linterium, came diuers great theues and pirates, only to the intent to se his persone: of whose wonderfull prowesse and sondry victories they harde the renome.

But he nat knowynge, but that they had come to endomage hym, armed hym selfe and suche seruauntes as he than had with [O1v] hym, and disposed them aboute the imbatilmentes of his house to make defence: whiche the capitaynes of the theues perceiuyng, they despeched the multitude from them and lainge a parte their barneise & waipons, they called to Scipio with a loude voice, sainge, that they came nat as enemies, but wondringe at his vertue and prowesse, desired only to se hym: whiche if he vouched saufe, they wolde accounte for an heuenly benefite. That beinge showed to Scipio by his seruauntes, he caused the gates to be sette wyde open, and the theues to be suffered to entre: who kyssynge the gates and postes with moche reuerence, as they had bene of a temple or other place dedicate, they humbly approched to Scipio: who visaged them in suche fourme, that they as subdued with a reuerent drede, in beholding his maiestie, at the last ioyfully kyssyng his hande often tymes, whiche he benignely offered to them, made humble reuerence, and so departed, layinge in the porche semblable offrynges as they gaue to their goddes: And furthe with retourned to their owne habitations, reioysinge incredibly, that they had sene and touched a prince so noble and valiaunt. [O2r]

It is no litle thynge to meruaile at, the maiestie showed in extreme fortune and misery. The noble Romane Marius, whan he had bene vii. times consul, beinge vainquisshed by Scilla: after that he had longe hidde him selfe in marises & desarte places, he was finally constrayned by famine to repaire to a towne called Minturne, where he trusted to haue bene soucoured. But the inhabitantes dredyng the crueltie of Scilla, toke Marius and put him in to a dungeon, And After sente to flee hym, their commune hangeman: whiche was borne in Cimbria, a countray some time destroyed by Mariuss. The hangeman beholding the honourable porte and maiestie, that remayned in Marius, nat withstandynge that he was out of honorable apparaile, and was in garmentes torne and filthie, he thought that in his visage appiered the terrible bataile, wherin Marius vainquisshed his countray men: he therfore all tremblyng as constrayned by feare, dyd lette falle out of his hande the swerde, wherwith he shulde haue slayne Marius: & leuyng hym vntouched, fledde out of the place. The cause of his feare reported to the people, they meued with reuerence, afterwarde studied & deuised howe [O2v] they moughte delyuer Marius from the malice of Scilla.

In Augustus, emperour of Rome, was a natiue maiestie. For as Suetonius writeth, from his eien proceded rayes or beames, whiche perced the eien of the beholders. The same emperour spake seldome openly, but out of a comentarie, that is to say that he had before prouided and writen: to the intente that he wolde speke no more ne lasse than he had purposed.

More ouer towarde the acquiring of maiestie, thre thinges be required to be in the oration of a man hauyng autoritie: that it be compendious, sententious, & delectable: hauyng also respecte to the tyme whan, the place where, and the persones to whom it is spoken. For the wordes perchance apte for a bankette or tyme of solace, be nat commendable in tyme of consultation or seruice of god. That langage that in the chambre is tollerable, in place of iugement or great assembly is nothing commendable.

Of apparaile belongynge to a noble man beinge a gouernour or great counsailour.

Apparaile may be wel a parte of maiestie. For as ther hath bene euer a discrepance in vesture of youthe and age, men and women, and our lorde god ordayned the apparaile of preestis distincte from seculars, as it appiereth in holy scripture: also the gentiles had of auncient time sondry apparaile to sondry astates, as to the senate, & dignities called magistrates.

And what enormitie shulde it nowe be thought & a thinge to laughe at, to se a iuge or sergeant at the lawe in a shorte cote garded and pounced after the galyarde facion: or an apprentise of the lawe or pleder, come to the barre with a millaine bonet or frenche hatte on his heed, sette full of plumes poudred with spangles? So is there aparaile comely to euery astate and degree: & that whiche excedeth or lackethe, procureth reproche, in a noble man specially. For apparaile simple or scante reprouethe hym of auarice. If it be alway exceding precious and often tymes chaunged, as well in to charge as straunge and newe facions, it causeth him to be noted dissolute of maners.

The most noble emperours of Rome, Augustus, Traiane, Hadriane, Antonine, Seuerus, [O3v] and Alexander, whiche were of all other incomparable in honorable lyuynge, vsed a discrete moderation in their apparaile: all thoughe they were greatte emperours & gentiles. Howe moche more ought than christen man, whose denomination is founded on humilitie, and they that be nat of the astate of princes, to shewe a moderation & constance in vesture, that they diminisshe no parte of their maiestie, either with newe fanglenesse, or with ouer sumptuous expences: & yet may this last be suffred, wher ther is a great assembly of staungers: for than some tyme it is expedient, that a noble man, in his apparaile, do aduaunte hym selfe to be bothe riche and honourable. But in this as well as in other partes of maiestie, tyme is to be highly considered.

Semblable deckyne oughte to be in the house of a noble man or man of honour. I meane concernynge ornamentes of halle and chambres, in Arise, painted tables, and images, containyng histories: wherin is represented some monument of vertue, moste cunnyngly wroughte, with the circumstance of the mater briefely declared, wherby other men in beholdynge, may be instructed, or at the lest wayes to vertue persuaded. [O4r] In like wise his plate & vessaile wolde be ingraued with histories, fables, or quick and wise sentences, comprehending good doctrine or counsailes: wherby one of these commodities may happen, either that they whiche do eate or drinke, hauyng those wisedomes euer in sighte, shall happen with the meate to receiue some of them; or by purposinge them at the table, may sussitate some disputation or reasonynge: wherby some parte of tyme shall be saued, whiche els by superfluouse eatyng and drinkyng wolde be idely consumed.

What very nobilitie is, and wherof it toke firste that denomination.

Nowe it is to be feared, that where maiestie approcheth to excesse, & the mynde is obsesse with inordinate glorie, lest pride, of al vices most horrible, shulde sodainely entre and take prisoner the harte of a gentilman called to autoritie. Wherfore in as moche as that pestience corruptethe all sences, and makethe them incurable by any persuation or doctrine, therfore suche persones from their adolescencie (whiche is [O4v] the age nexte to the state of man) oughte to be persuaded and taughte the true knowlege of very nobilitie in fourme folowing or like.

Fyrst that in the begynnyng whan priuate possessions and dignitie were gyuen by the consent of the people: who than had all thinge in commune, and equalitie in degree & condition, Undoubtedly they gaue the one and the other to him, at whose vertue they meruailed, and by whose labour and industrie they receiued a commune benefite, as of a commune father that with equall affection loued them, And that promptitude or redinesse in employinge that benefite was than named in englisshe gentilnesse, as it was in latine benignitas: and in other tonges after a semblable signification: and the persones were called gentilmen more for the remembraunce of their vertue and benefite, than for discrepance of astates. Also it fortuned by the prouidence of god, that of those good men were ingendred good children, who beinge brought vp in vertue, and perceiuinge the cause of the aduauncement of their progenitours, endeuoured them selfes by imitation of vertue, to be equall to them in honour and autoritie: by good emulation they retained stille the fauour and reuerence of [O5r] people. And for the goodnese that proceded of suche generation, the state of them was called in greke eugenia: whiche signifiethe good kinde or lignage: but in a more briefe maner, it was after called nobilitie: and the persones noble, whiche signifieth excellent, and in the analogie or sinification it is more ample than gentill, for it containeth as well all that whiche is in gentilnesse, as also the honour or dignitie therfore receiued: whiche be so annexed the one to the other, that they can nat be seperate.

It wold be more ouer declared, that where vertue ioyned with great possessions or dignitie, hath longe continued in the bloode or house of a gentilman, as it were an inheritaunce, there nobilitie is mooste shewed, and these noble men be most to be honored: for as moche as continuaunce in all thinge that is good, hath euer preeminence in praise & comparison. But yet shall it be necessary to aduertise those persones, that do thinke that nobilitie may in no wyse be but onely where men can auaunte them of auncient lignage, an auncient robe, or great possessions, at this daye very noble men do suppose to be moche errour & folye. Wherof there is a familiare example, whiche we beare euer [O5v] with vs: for the bloode in our bodies beinge in youthe warme, pure, and lustie, it is the occasion of beautie, whiche is euery where commended and loued: but if in age it be putrified, it lefeth his praise. And the goutes, carbuncles, kankers, lepries, and other lyke sores and sickenesses, whiche do procede of bloode corrupted, be to all men detestable. And this persuasion to any gentilman, in whom is apte disposition to very nobilitie, wyll be suffcient to withdrawe hym from suche vice, wherby he maye empayre his owne estimation and the god renoume of his auncetours.

If he haue an auncient robe, lefte by his auncetour: Let him consider, that if the first owner were of more vertue than he is that succedeth, the rob beinge worne, it minissheth his praise, to them whiche knewe or haue herde of the vertue of him that firste owed it. If he that weareth it be visiouse, it more detecteth howe moche he is vnworthy to weare it, the remembraunce of his noble auncetour makynge men to abhorre the reproche gyuen by an iuell successour. If the firste owner were nat vertuouse, hit condemneth him that weareth it of moche folisshenesse, to glorie in a thinge of so base [O6r] estimation, whiche lacking beautie or glosse can be none ornament to hym that weareth it, nor honorable remembrance to hym that first owed it.

But nowe to confirme by true histories, that accordynge as I late affirmed, nobilitie is nat onely in dignitie, auncient lignage, nor great reuenues landes or possessions: Lete yonge gentilmen haue often times tolde to them and (as it is vulgarely spoken) layde in their lappes, howe Numa Pompilius as taken from husbandry, whiche he exercised, and was made kynge of Romanes by election of the people. What caused it suppose you, but his wisedome and vertue? whiche in hym was very nobilitie: & that nobilitie broughte hym to dignitie. And if that were nat nobilitie, the Romanes were meruailousely abused, that after the dethe of Romulus their kynge, they hauynge amonge them a hundred senatours, whom Romulus did sette in autoritie, and also the blode roiall and olde gentilmen of the Sabynes, who by the procurement of the wiues of the Romanes, beinge their doughters, inhabited the citie of Rome: they wolde nat of some of them electe a kynge, rather than aduaunce a ploughman and stranger [O6v] to that autortie.

Quintius, hauyng but xxx. acres of lande, and beinge ploughman therof, the Senate & people of Rome sent a messager to shewe him that they had chosen him to be dictator, whiche was at that time the highest dignitie amonge the Romanes, and for thre monethes had autoritie roiall. Quintius herynge the message, lette his ploughe stande, & wente in to the citie, & prepared his hoste againe the Samnites, & vainquisshed them valiauntly. And that done he surrendred his office, and beinge discharged of the dignitie, he repaired agayne to his ploughe, and applied it diligently.

I wolde demaudne nowe, if nobilitie were only in the dignitie, or in his prowesse, whiche he shewed agayne his enemies? If it were only in his dignitie, it therwith cessed, and he was (as I mought say) eftsones vnnoble: & than was his prowesse vnrewarded: whiche was the chiefe and originall cause of that dignitie: whiche were incongruent and without reason. If it were in his prowesse: prowesse consistynge of valiant courage & martiall policie, if they styll remaine in the persone, hemay neuer be with out nobilitie, whiche is the commendation, [O7r] and as it were the surname of vertue.

The two Romanes called bothe Decii, were of the base astate of the people, and nat of the great blode of the Romanes: yet for the preseruation of their countray, they auowed to die: as it were in a satisfaction for all their countray: And so with valiant hartes they perced the hoste of their enemies, and valiauntly fightynge, they died there honorably: & by their example gaue suche audacitie and courage to the residue of the Romanes, that they employed so their strengthe agayne their enemis, that with litle more losse, they optained victorie. Ought nat thse two Romanes, whiche by their deth gaue occasion of victorie, be called noble? I suppose no man that knoweth what reason is, will denie it.

More ouer we haue in this realme coynes, which he called nobles, as longe as they be seene to be golde, they be so called: But if they be counterfaicted and made in brasse, coper, or other vile metal, who for the print only calleth them nobles? wherby it appereth, that the estimation is in the metall, & nat in the printe or figure.

And in a horse or good grehounde we prayse that we se in them, and nat the beautie or [O7v] goodnesse of their progenie. Whiche proueth that in estemyng of money and catell, we be ladde by wysedome: and in approuynge of man, to whom beastis and money do serue, we be only induced by custome.

Thus I conclude, that nobilitie is nat after the vulgare opinion of men, but is only the prayse and surname of vertue. Whiche the lenger it continueth in a name or lignage, the more is nobilitie extolled and meruailed at.

Of affabilitie, and the vtilitie therof in euery astate.

To that whiche I before named gentilnesse, be incident thre speciall qualities. Affabilitie, placabilitie, & mercy, of whom I will nowe seperately declare the propre significations.

Affabilitie is of a wonderfull efficacie or power in procurynge loue. And it is in sondry wise: but moste proprely, where a man is facile or easie to be spoken vnto.

It is also where a man speakethe courtaisely, and with a swete speche or countenance: wherwith the herers (as it were with a delicate odour) be refresshed, and alured to [O8r] loue hym, in whom is this most delectable qualitie. As contrary wise: men vehemently hate them that haue a proude and haulte countenance, be they neuer so highe in astate or degree. Howe often haue I herde people say, whan men in great autoritie haue passed by, without makynge gentill countenance, to those whiche haue done to them reuerence, This man weneth with a loke to subdue all the worlde? Nay nay, mennes hartes be free and wyll loue whom they lyste. And therto all the other do consente in a murmure, as it were bees. Lorde god how they be sore blinded, which do wene that haulte countenance is a comelynesse of nobilitie: wher vndoubted, nothing is therto, a more greatter blemisshe: As they haue well proued, whiche by fortunes mutabilitie haue chaunged their astate, whan they perceiue that the remembrance of their pride, withdraweth all pitie: all men reioysing at the chaunge of their fortune.

Dionise the proude kynge of Sicile, after that for his intollerable pride, he was driuen by his people out of his realme, the remembrance of his haulte and stately countenance, was to al men so odiouse, that he coulde be in no countray well entertained. In so moche [O8v] as if he had nat be releued by lernyng, teachyng a gramer schole in Italy, he for lacke of frendes had bene constrayned to begge for his lyuynge.

Semblably Perses kyng of Macedonia, & one of the rychest kynges that euer was in Grece, For his execrable pride, was at the last abandoned of all his alies and confederates, by reason wherof, he was vainquysshed and taken prysoner by Paulus Emilius one of the counsules of Rome: & nat onely he hym selfe bounden, and ledde as a captife: in the triumphe of the sayde Paulus: but also the remembrance of his pride was so odiouse to people, that his owne sonne destitute of frendes, was by nede constrayned to worke in a smythes forge, nat fynding any man that of his harde fortune had any compassion.

The pride of Tarquine the last kyng of Romanes was more occasion of his exile, than the rauysshynge of Lucrecia, by his sonne Aruncius: for the malice that the people by his pride had longe gathered, finding valiaunt capitaynes, Brutus, Colatinus, Lucretius, and other nobles of the citie: at the last braste out: and takynge occasion of the rauisshement: all though the kynge [P1r] were therto nat partie: they vtterly expulsed hym for euer out of the citie. These be the frutes of pride, & that men do cal stately countenance.

Whan a noble man passeth by, shewing to men a gentil & familiare visage, it is a worlde to beholde howe people takethe comforte: howe the blode in their visage quickeneth: howe their flesshe stireth & harts lepeth for gladnesse? Than they all speke as it were in an harmonie, the one saithe, who beholding this mans moste gentill countenaunce, wyll nat with all his harte loue hym? Another saith, he is no man but an aungell, se howe he reioyseth all men that beholde him. Finallye all do graunt that he is worthye all honour that may be giuen or wisshed him.

But nowe to resorte to that, whiche moste proprely (as I haue said) is affabilitie, which is facile or easy to be spoken vnto.

Marcus Antoninus emperour of Rome (as Lampridius wryteth) enserched who were moost homely and playne men within the cite, and secretely sent for them in to his chaumbre, where he diligently enquered of them, what the people coniected of his lyuing: commaundyng them vpon payne of his hygh indignation, to tell hym trouth, [P1v] and hyde nothynge from hym. And vpon their reporte, if he herde any thing worthy neuer so litle dispreise, he furthwith amended hit. And also by suche meanes he corrected them that were about his persone, fyndyng them negligent, dissemblars, and flateras: The noble Traiane, whan his nobles and counsailours noted him to familiar and curtaise, and therfore dyd blame hym, He answered that he wolde be a like emperour to other men, as if he were a subiect he wolde wisshe to haue ouer hym selfe. O what domage haue ensued to princes & their realmes, where liberte of speche hath ben restrayned? What auayled fortune incomparable to the great kynge Alexander, his wonderfull puissance and hardynes, or his singuler doctrine in philosphy, taught hym by Aristotle, in deliuerynge hym from the deth in his yonge and flourisshing age? Where if he had retained the same affabilitie that was in hym in the begynnynge of his conquest, and had nat put to silence his counsailours, whiche before vsed to speake to hym frankely, he mought haue escaped all violent dethe: & by similitude haue enioyed the hole monarchie of al the worlde. For after that he waxed to be terrible in [P2r] maners, and prohibited his frendes and discrete seruantes to vse their accustomed libertie in speche, he felle in to a hatefull grudge amonge his owne people.

But I had almost forgoten, Julius Cesar, who beinge nat able to sustaine the burden of fortune, and enuienge his owne felicitie, abandoned his naturall disposition, & as it were beinge dronke with ouer moche welth, sought newe wayes howe to be aduaunced, aboue the astate of mortall princes: wherfore litle and litle he withdrewe from men his accustomed gentilnesse, becomyng more sturdy in langage, and straunge in countenance than euer before had ben his vsage. And to declare more plainely his entent, he made an edict or decre, that no man shulde prease to come to hym vncalled: and that they shuld haue good awaite, that they spake not in suche familiar facion to hym, as they before had ben accustomed: wherby he so dyd alienate from hym the hartis of his most wise and assured adherentis, that from that tyme forwarde, his life was to them tedious: and abhoring him as a monstre or commune enemie, they beinge knitte in a confederacy, slewe him sitting in the Senate: of whiche conspiraci was chiefe capitaine Marcus Brutus, [P2v] whome of all other he beste loued, for his great wisedome and prowesse. And it is of some writers suspected, that he was begoten of Cesar: for as moche as Cesar in his youth loued Seruilia, the mother of Brutus: and as men supposed, vsed her more familiarly than honestie required. Thus Cesar by omittinge his olde affabilitie, dyd incende his next frendes and companions to sle hym.

But nowe take hede what domage insued to hym by his deere, wherin he commanded, that no man shuld be so hardy to approche or speke to hym. One whiche knewe of the conspiracie agayne hym, & by al lykelyhode did participate therin, beinge meued either with loue or pitie, or other wise his conscience remording agayne the destruction of so noble a prince, consideringe that by Cesars decre he was prohibited to haue to hym any familiar accesse, so that he might nat plainly detect the conspiraci, he therto vehemently meued, wrate in a byll all the forme therof: with the meanes howe it myght be espied, and sens he mought fynde none other oportunitie, he delyuered the byll to Cesar the same day that his dethe was prepared, as he wente towarde the place, where the Senate was holden. But he beinge radicate in [P3r] pride, and neglecting to loke on that bil, not esteminge the persone that deliuered it, whiche perchance was but of a mean hauiour: continued his way to the Senate: where he incontinently was slaine by the said Brutus, and many mo of the Senate for that purpose appoynted.

Who beholdinge the cause of the dethe of this moste noble Cesar, vnto whom in eloquence, doctrine, martial prowesse, and gentilnesse, no prince may be comparid, and the acceleration or haste to his confusion causid by his owne edict or decre, will nat commende affabilitie, & extolle libertie of speche? Wherby onely loue is in the hartis of people perfectly kendled, all feare excluded, and consequently realmes, dominions, & all other autorities consolidate & perpetuelly stablisshed. The sufferaunce of noble men to be spoken vnto, is not onely to them an incomparable suretie, but also a confounder of repentance enemie to prudence, wherof is ingendred this worde had I wist, whiche hath ben euer of all wise men reproued.

On a tyme king Philip, fader to the great Alexander, sittinge in iugement, and hauing before him a matter agayne one of his souldiours, being ouercome with watche, fel on [P3v] a slombre: and sodaynly being awaked, immediatly wolde haue giuen a sentence agayne the poure souldiour: But he with a great voice & outcrie said: King Philip I appele. To whom wylt thou appele, said the kynge? To the (said the souldiour) whan thou arte throughly awaked. With whiche answere the kynge suspended his sentence: and more diligently examinyng the mater, founde the souldiour had wronge: whiche beinge sufficiently discussed, he gaue iugement for him, whom before he wolde haue condemned.

Semblably hapned by a poure woman, agayne whom the same kynge had gyuen iugement: but she as desperate, with a loude voice cried: I appele I appele. To whom appelist thou said the kyng? I appele, said she, from the, nowe beinge dronke, to kynge Philip the sobre. At which words though they were vndiscrete and foolisshe, yet he nat beinge moued to displesure, but gatherynge to hym his wittes, examyned the mater more seriously: wherby he findynge the poure woman to sustaine wronges, he reuersed his iugement, and accordynge to truthe and iustice, gaue to her that she demaunded. Wherin he is of noble autours commended, & put for an honorable example [P4r] of affabilitie.

The noble emperour Antonine, called the philosopher, was of suche affabilitie, as Herodiane writeth, that to euery man that came to him, he gentilly deliuered his hande. And wold nat permitte that his garde shuld prohibite any man to approche hym.

The excellent emperour Augustus on a time, in the presence of many men, plaied on cymbales, or a nother like instrument: A poure man standyng with other and beholdynge the emperour saide, with a loude voice to his felowe: Seest thou nat howe this voluptuouse lechour tempereth al the worlde with his finger? Whiche wordes the emperour so wisely noted, without wrathe or displeasure, that euer after, durynge his lyfe, he refrayned his handes from semblable lightnesse.

The good Antonine emperour of Rome, commyng to supper to a meane gentilman, behelde in the house certaine pillers of a delicate stone called porpheri, Asked of the good man, where he had boughte those pillers: who made to the emperour this answere: Sir whan ye come in to any other mannes house than your owne, euer be you bothe dome and defe, whiche liberall taunte that [P4v] moste gentill emperour toke in so good parte, that he often tymes reherced that sentence to other, for a wyse and discrete counsaile.

By these examples appereth nowe euidently, what good comethe of affabilitie or sufferaunce of speche, what mooste pernicious daunger alway ensueth to them, that either do refuse counsaile, or prohibite libertie of speche: sens that in libertie (as it hath bene proued) is moste perfecte suertie, according as it remembred by Plutarche of Theopompus kyng of Lacedemone: who beinge demaunded, howe a realme moughte be best and mooste surely kepte. If (saide he) the prince giue to his frendes libertie, to speake to hym thinges that be iuste: & neglecteth nat the wronges that his subiecte sustaineth.

Howe noble a vertue placabilitie is.

Placabilitie is no litel part of Benignitie, and it is proprely where a man is by any occasion meued to be angry, and nat withstandynge either by his owne reason ingenerate, or by counsaile persuaded, he omitteth to be reuenged: and [P5r] often times receiueth the transgressour ones reconsiled, in to more fauour: whiche vndoubtedly is a vertue wonderfull excellent: For as Tulli saithe: No thinge is more to be meruailed at, or that more becometh a man noble and honorable, than mercy and placabilitie. The value therof is beste knowen by the contrarye, whiche is ire called vulgarely wrathe: a vice moste vgly and ferrest from humanitie. For who beholdynge a man in estimation of nobilitie and wisedome, by furie chaunged in to an horrible figure, his face infarced with rancour, his mouthe foule & imbosed, his eien wyde starynge and sparklynge lyke fire, nat speakyng, but as a wylde bulle, roryng and brayienge out wordes despitefull and venomous, forgetynge his astate or condition, forgeting lernyng, ye forgetynge all reason, wyll nat haue suche a passion in extreme detestation? Shall he nat wisshe to be in suche a man placabilitie? Wherby only he shulde be eftsones restored to the fourme of a man, wherof he is by wrathe despoyled, as it is wonderfly well described by Ouide in his crafte of loue? [P5v]

This Gorgon that Ouide speaketh of, is supposed of poetes to be a fury or infernall monstre: whose heris were all in the figure of adders, signifieng the abundance of mischiefe that is contained in wrathe. Wherwith the great kynge Alexander beinge (as I mought say) obsesed, dyd put to vengeable deth his dere frende Clitus, his moste prudent counsailour Calisthenes, his moste valiant capitayne Philotas, with his father Parmenio, and diuers other. Wherof he so sore after repented, that oppresed with heuines, he had slayne hym selfe, had he nat bene lette by his seruauntes. Wherfore his furye and inordinate wrathe, is a foule and greuouse blemysshe to his glorie, whiche without that vice, had incomparably excelled all other princis.

Who abhoreth or hateth nat the violence or rage that was in Scilla & Marius? noble [P6r] Romanes, and in their tyme in highest authoritie within the citie, hauyng the gouernance of the more parte of the worlde. Scilla for the malignitie that he hadde towarde Marius, caused the heedes of a thousande and seuen hundred of the chiefe citezins of Rome to be striken of: and brought to him fresshe bledyng & quicke, and theron fedde his mooste cruel eien: whiche to eate his mouthe naturally abhorred. Marius with no lasse rancour inflamed, beside a terrible slaughter that he made of noble men, leanyng to Scilla, he also caused Caius Cesar (who had bene bothe Consul and Censor, two of the moste honorable dignities in the citie of Rome) to be violently drawen to the sepulture of one Varius, a simple and seditious persone: and there to be dishonestly slayne. With like beastial fury he caused the hed of Marcus Antonius, one of the moste eloquent oratours of all the Romanes, to be broughte vnto hym as he sate at dyner: and there toke the heed all blody betwene his handes, & with a malicious countenance reproched hym of his eloquence, wherwith he had nat only defended many an innocent, but also the hole publike weale had ben by his wyse consultations singulerly profited. [P7r] O what calamitie hapned to the mooste noble citie of Rome, by the implacabilitie or wrath insaciable, of these two capitaines, or (as I moughte rather saye) deuils? The nobles betwene them exhaust, the chiualry almost consumed, the lawes oppressed, and lacking but litel that the publike weale had nat bene extincte, & the citie vtterly desolate.

The vndiscrete hastinesse of the emperour Claudius, caused hym to be noted for foolisshe. For meued with wrathe, he caused diuers to be slayne, for whom after he demaunded, and wolde sende for to souper. Nat withstandyng that he was right well lerned, and in diuers great affaires apered to be wyse. This discommodities do happen by implacable wrathe: wherof there be examples innumerable.

Contrary wise, the valiant kynge Pirrhus, berynge that two men at a feste & in a great assembly and audience, had openly spoken wordes to his reproche: he meued with displeasure sente for the persones: and whan they were come, he demaunded where they spake of him any suche wordes? wher vnto one of them answered: If (saide he) the wyne had nat the sooner failed vs: all that which was tolde to your highnesse, in comparison [P8r] of that whiche shulde haue bene spoken, had ben but trifles. The wise prince with that playne confession was mitigate, and his wrathe conuerted to laughynge.

Julius Cesar, after his victorie agayne the great Pompei, who had maried his doughter, sittynge in open iugement, one Sergius Galba, one of the nobles of Rome, a frende vnto Pompei, saide vnto hym: I was bounden for thy sonne in lawe Pompei in a great some,whan he as consul the thirde time: wherfore I am nowe sued. What shall I do? shall I my selfe pay it? by which wordes he moughte seme to reproche Cesar of the sellyng of Pompeis goodes, in defraudynge his creditours. But Cesar than hauyng a gentill harte and pacient, was meued with no displeasure towarde Galba: but caused Pompeis detts to be discharged.

We lacke nat of this vertue domisticall examples, I meane of our owne kynges of Englande: but moste specially one, whiche in myne oppinion is to be compared with any that euer was writen of in any region or countray.

The moste renomed prince kynge Henry the firste, late kynge of Englande, durynge the life of his father was noted to be fierce [P8v] and of wanton courage: it hapned that one of her seruantes, whom he well fauored, for felony by hym committed, was arrayned at the kynges benche: wherof he being aduertised, and incensed by light persones aboute hym, in furious rage came hastily to the barre, where his seruaunt stode as a prisoner: and commaunded hym to be vngyued and sette at libertie: where at all men were abasshed, reserued the chiefe iustice, who humbly exhorted the prince to be contented, that his seruaunt mought be ordred accordyng to the auncient lawes of this realme: or if he wolde haue hym saued from the rigor of the lawes, thathe shuld optaine, if he moughte of the kynge his father his gracious pardone: wherby no lawe or iustice shulde be derogate. With whiche answere the prince nothynge appeased, but rather more inflamed, endeuored hym selfe to take away his seruaunt. The iuge consideringe the perilous example and inconuenience that moughte therby ensue: with a valiant spirite and courage, commaunded the prince vpon his alegeance, to leue the prisoner, and departe his way. With whiche commandment the prince being set all in a fury, all chafed & in a terrible maner, came vp to the place of [P9r] iugement, men thinkyng that he wolde haue slayne the iuge, or haue done to hym some damage: but the iuge sittyng styll without mouynge, declarynge the maiestie of the kynges place of iugement, And with an assured and bolde countenance, hadde to the prince these words folowyng. Sir remembre your selfe: I kepe here the place of the king your soueraigne lorde and father, to whom ye owe double obedience, wherfore eftsones in his name, I charge you desiste of your wilfulnes, and vnlaufull entreprise: & from hensforth gyue good example to those, whiche hereafter shall be your propre subiectes: And nowe for your contempt and disobedience, go you to the prisone of the kynges benche, where vnto I committe you: and remayne ye ther prisoner, vntill the pleasure of the kyng your father be further knowen. With whiche wordes beinge abasshed, and also wondrynge at the meruailous grauitie of that worshipful Iustice, the noble prince layinge his waipon aparte, doinge reuerence departed, and wente to the kynges benche, as he was commaunded. Wherat his seruants disdainyng, came and shewed to the kynge all the hole affaire. Wherat he a whiles studienge, after as a man all rauisshed with [P9v] gladnesse, holdyng his eien and handes vp towarde heuen, abrayded sayinge with a loude voice: O mercifull god, howe moche am I aboue all other men bounde to your infinite goodnes: specially for that ye haue gyuen me a iuge, who feareth nat to ministre iustice, And also a sonne who can suffre semblably and obey iustice?

Nowe here a man may beholde thre persones worthye excellent memorie: Firste a iuge, who beinge a subiecte, feared nat to execute iustice on the eldest sonne of his soueraigne lorde, and by the ordre of nature his successour. Also a prince and sonne and heire of the kynge, in the middes of his furye, more considered his iuell example, and the iuges constance in iustice, than his owne astate or wylfull appetite. Thirdly a noble kynge and wyse father, who contrary to the custome of parentes, reioyced to se his sonne, and the heire of his crowne, to be for his disobedience, by his subiecte corrected. Wherfore I conclude, that nothing is more honorable, or to be desired in a prince or noble man, than placabilitie. As contrary wyse, nothing is so detestable or to be feared in suche one, as wrathe & cruell malignitie. [Q1r]

That a gouernour ought to be mercifull and the diuersitie of mercye and vayne pitie.

Mercye is and hath ben euer of suche estimation with mankynde, that nat onely reason persuadeth, but also experience proueth, that in whome mercye lacketh and is nat founden, in hym all other vertues be drowned and lose their iuste commendation.

The vice called crueltie, whiche is contrary to mercye, is by good reason most odyous of all other vices, in as moche as lyke a poyson or continuall pestilence, it destroyeth the generation of man. Also the vertues beynge in a cruell persone be nat only obfuscate or hyd: But also lyke wyse as noryshhinge meates and drynkes in a sycke body, do lose their bountie and augmente the malady: semblably diuers vertues in a persone malicious do minystre occasion and assistence to crueltie.

But nowe to speke of the inestimable price and value of mercy. Let gouernours, whiche knowe that they haue resceyued theyr powar from aboue, reuolue in their myndes, [Q1v] in what peryll they them selfe bes in dayly, if in god were nat habundaunce of mercy: But that as sone as they offende him greuously, he shulde immediatly strike them with his moste terrible darte of vengeaunce. All be it vneth any houre passeth: that men deserue nat some punysshement.

The mooste noble emperours, whiche for their merites resceyued of the gentyles diuyne honours, vainquisshed the great hartes of their mortall enemyes, in shewynge mercy aboue mennes expectacion.

Julius Cesar, whiche in policie, eloquence, celeritie, and prowesse, excelled all other capitaynes, in mercye onely he surmounted hym selfe: that is to say, contrary to his owne affectes and determinate purposes, he nat onely spared, but also resceyued into tendre familyaritie his sworne enemyes. Wherfore if the disdayne of his owne blode and alyaunce had nat traytourously slayne him, he had raigned longe & prosperously.

But amonge many other examples of mercy, wherof the histories of Rome do abounde, there is one remembred by Seneca, whiche may be in the stede of a great nombre.

It was reported to the noble emperour [Q2r] Octauius Augustus, that Lucius Cinna, which was susters sonne to the great Pompei, had imagined his dethe: Also that Cinna was appointed to execute his feate, whyles the emperour was doinge his sacrifice.

This reporte was made by one of the conspiratours, & therwith diuers other thinges agreed: the old hostilite betwene the houses of Pompei and Cesar, the wilde & sedicious witte of Cinna, with the place and tyme, where and whan the emperour shulde be disfurnisshed of seruauntes. No wonder though the emperours mynde were inquiete, beinge in so perilous a conflicte, consideryng on the one parte, that if he shulde put to dethe Cinna, whiche came of one of the moste noble and auncient houses of Rome, he shulde euer lyue in daunger, onlas he shulde destroye all that noble familie, and cause the memorie of them to be vtterly exterminate: whiche mought nat be brought to passe, without effusion of the bloode of persones innumerable: and also perile of the subuercion of the empire, late pacified. On the other parte, he considered the imminent daunger that his persone was in, wherfore nature stered hym to prouide for his suertie: wherto he thought than to be [Q2v] none other remedy, but the deth of his aduersarie. To hym beinge thus perplexed, came his wife Liuia, the empresse, who said vnto him: Pleaseth it you sir to here a womans aduise. Do you as phisitians be wonte to do: where their accustumed remedies preue nat, they do assaye the contrarye. By seueritie ye haue hitherto nothing profited: proue therfore nowe what mercy may aduaile you: Forgiue Cinna: he is taken with the maynure, and may nat nowe indomage you, profite he may moche to the increase of your renome and perpetuell glorie. The emperour reioysed to hym selfe, that Cinna had founde suche an aduocatrice: And gyuynge her thankes, he caused his counsailours, whiche he had sente for, to be countermaunded the chambre to be auoyded, and an other chaire to be sette for Cinna: & that done, he saide in this maner to hym. I desire of the this one thynge, that whiles I speke, thou wylt nat let or disturbe me: or in the middes of my wordes make any exclamation. What tyme Cinna I founde the in the hoste of myne enemyes, all thoughe thou were nat by any occasion made myne enemie, but by succession from thine auncetours [Q3r] borne myne enemie: I nat only saued the, but also gaue vnto the all thyng inheritaunce: And at this day thou arte so prosperous and riche, that they, hiche had with me victorie, do enuie the that were vainquisshed. Thou askiddist of me a spirituall promocion, and furthwith I gaue it the bifore many other, whose parentes had serued me in warres. And for that I haue done so moche for the, thou nowe hast purposed to slee me. At that worde whan Cinna cryed out, sayenge that suche madnes was farre from his mynde: Cinna (said the emperour) thou kepist nat promise: it was couenaunted, that thou shuldest nat interrupt me. I saye thou preparest to kyll me. And therto the Emperour named his companions, the place, tyme, and ordre of all the conspiracie, & also to whom the sworde was committed. And whan he perceyued hym astonied, holdyng than his peace, nat for bycause that he so promised: but that his conscience him meued. For what intent dyddest thou thus? (said Augustus) bicause thou woldest be emperour? In good faithe the publike weale is in an euyll astate, if nothing letteth the to raygne, but I onely: thou canste nat maintayne or defende thine owne [Q3v] house: It is nat longe sence that thou in a priuate iugement were ouer commen of a poore man, but late infraunchised: therfore thou mayste nothinge do lightlyer than plede agayne the emperour. Say nowe, do I alone let the of thy purpose? Supposest thou that Paule, Fabius Maximus, the Coffes, and Seruiliis,auncient houses of Rome, and suche a sorte of noble men (nat they which haue vayne and glorious names, but suche as for their merites be adorned with their propre images) will suffre the? Finally said the emperour (after that he had talked with hym by the space of two houres) I gyue to the thy lyfe Cinna the seconde tyme: fyrst beinge myne enemie, nowe a traytour & murdrer of thy soueraygne lorde: whom thou oughtest to loue as thy father. Nowe from this day let amytie betwene vs two begynne: And let vs bothe contende, whether I with a better harte haue gyuen to the thy lyfe: or that thou canste more gentilly recompence my kyndnes.

Sone after Augustus gaue to Cinna the dignitie of Consull vndesired, blamyng him that he darste nat aske it: wherby he had him moste assured and loyall. And Cinna afterwarde dienge gaue to the emperour all [Q4r] his goodes & possessions. And neuer after was Augustus in daunger of any treason.

O what sufficient prayse may be gyuen to this moste noble and prudent emperour, that in a chambre alone, without men, ordenaunce, or waipon, and perchaunce without barnes, within the space of ii. houres, with wordes well couched, tempered with maiestie: nat onely vainquisshed and subdued one mortall enemie, whiche by a malignitie engendred of a domesticall hatred, had determined to flee him: but by the same seate excluded out of the hole citye of Rome all displeasure and rancour towarde hym: so that there was nat lefte any occasion, wherof mought procede any lyttel suspicion of treason: whiche other wyse coulde nat haue hapned without slaughter of people innumerable.

Also the empresse Liuia may nat of righte be forgoten, whiche ministred to her lorde that noble counsayle in suche a perplexitie: wherby he saued bothe him selfe and his people. Suppose ye that all the Senatours of Rome, & counsaylours of the emperour, which were lyttel fewer than a thousande, coulde haue better aduised hym? This historie therfore is no lasse to be remembred [Q4v] of women than of princes, takynge therby comforte to persuade swetely their husbandes to mercy and pacience: to whiche counsayle onely, they shulde be admitted & haue free libertie. But I shal forbere to speke more of Liuia nowe: for as moche as I purpose to make a boke onely for ladyes: where in her laude shall be more amplie expressed. But to resorte nowe to mercy.

Suerly nothinge more entierly and fastly ioyneth the hartes of subiectes to their prince or soueraygen, than mercy and gentilnes. For Seneca saith, a temperate drede represseth hygh and sturdy myndes: feare frequent and sharpe, set forth with extremitie, stereth men to presumption and hardines, and constrayneth them to experiment all thinges. He that hastily punissheth, ofte tymes sone repenteth. And who that ouer moche correcteth, obserueth none equitie. And if ye aske me what mercye is, it is a temperaunce of themynde of hym that hath powar to be auenged: and it is called in latine Elementia: and is alway ioyned with reason. For he that for euery litle occasion is meued with compasion, and beholdynge a man punisshed condignely for his offence lamenteth or wailethe: is called a [Q5r] sickenesse of the mynde, where with at this daye the more parte of men be disseased. And yet is the sikenesse moche wars by addyng to one worde, callyng it vaine pitie.

Some man perchaunce wyll demaunde of me, what is vaine pitie? To that I wyll answere in a description of dailye experience. Beholde what an infinite nombre of englisshe men and women at this present time, wander in all places throughout this realme, as bestis brute and sauage, abandonyng all occupation, seruice, and honestie: Howe many semely personagis, by outrage in riotte, gamynge, and excesse of apparaile, be induced to thefte and robry, and some tyme to murdre, to the inquietation of good men, and finally to their owne destruction?

Nowe consider semblably: what noble statutes, ordinances, and actis of counsaile, from time to time haue bene excogitate, and by graue studie and mature consultation, enacted and decreed: as wel for the due punisshement of the saide idle persones and vacabundes, as also for the suppression of vnlaufull games, and reducinge apparaile to conuenient moderation and temperance? Howe many proclamations therof haue ben diuulgate, and nat obayed? Howe many commissions [Q5v] directed, and nat executed? (marke well here, that dissobedient subiectes, and negligent gouernours, do frustrate good lawes) A man herynge that his neighbour is slayne or robbed, furthe with hateth the offendour, and abhorethe his enormitie, thinkynge hym worthy to be punisshed accordyng to the lawes: yet whan he beholdeth the transgressour, a semely personage, also to be his seruant, acquaintance, or a gentil man borne (I omitte nowe to speke of any other corruption) he furthe with chaungeth his opinion, and preferreth the offendours condition or personage, before the example of iustice: condempnyng a good & necessary lawe, for to excuse an offence pernicious and damnable, ye and this is nat only done by the vulgare or commune people, but moche rather by them, whiche haue autoritie to them committed concernyng the effectuell execution of lawes. They beholde at their eie the continuell encrease of vacabundes, in to infinite nombres, the obstinate resistence of them that dailye do transgresse the lawes made againe games and apparaile, whiche be the streight pathes to robry, & semblable mischiefe. Yet if any one commissioner, meued with zele to his countray, accordyng to his [Q6r] duetie do execute duely, and frequently the lawe of good ordinaunce, wherein is any sharpe punisshement, some of his companyons therat reddyleth, infamynge hym to be a man without charitie, callyng hym secretely a pike thanke, or ambicious of glorie: and by suche maner of obloquie, they seeke meanes to bringe hym in to the baterede of people. And this may well be called vayne pitie: wherin is contayned neither iustice nor yet commendable charitie: but rather therby ensueth negligence, contempte, dissobedience, and finally all mischiefe & incurable misery.

If this sicknesse had reigned amonge the old Romanes, suppose ye that the astate of their publike weale had sixe hundred yeres encreased, & two hundred yeres continued in one excellent astate and wonderfull maiestie? Or thinke ye that the same Romanes mought so haue ordred many great countrayes, with fewer ministers of iustice, than be nowe in one shire of Englande? But of that mater, and also of rigour and equalite of punisshement, I wyll traicte more amply in a place more propise for that purpose. And here I conclude to write any more at this tyme of mercy. [Q6v]

The Thre principall partes of humanitie.

The nature & condition of man, wherin he is lasse than god almightie, & excellinge nat withstanding all other creatures in erthe, is called humanitie: whiche is a generall name to those vertues, in whome semeth to be a mutuall concorde & loue, in the nature of man. And all thoughe there be many of the said vertues, yet be there thre principall: by whome humanitie is chiefly compact, beneuolence, beneficence, & liberalitie, which maketh vp the said principall vertue called benignitie or gentilnes.

Beneuolence, if it do extende to a hole contraye or citie, it is proprely called charitie, and some tyme zele: and if it concerne one persone, than is it called beneuolence. And if it be very seruent & to one singuler persone, than may it be named loue or amitie. Of that vertuous disposition procedeth an acte, wherby some thinge is employed, whiche is profitable & good to him that receyueth it. And that vertue, if it be in operation, or (as I mought saye) endeuour, it is called than beneficence, and the dede (vulgarly [Q7r] named a good tourne) may be called a benefite. If it be in money, or other thing that hath substaunce, it is than called liberalitie: whiche is nat alway a vertue as beneficence is: for in well doinge (whiche is the right interpretation of beneficence) can be no vice included. But liberalitie, thoughe it procede of a free and gentill harte, wyllinge to do some thinge thankefull: yet may it transgresse the bondes of vertue, eyther in excessiue rewardes, or expences: or els emploienge treasour, promotion, or other substaunce on persones vnworthy: or on thynges inconuenient, and of small importaunce. All be it some thinke suche maner of erogation nat to be worthy the name of liberalitie. For Arostotle defineth a liberal man to be he whiche doth erogate accordinge to the rate of his substance, & as oportunitie hapneth. He saieth also in the same place, that liberalitie is nat in the multitude or quantite of that whiche is gyuen, but in the habite or facion of the gyuer: for he gyueth accordinge to his habilitie. Neyther Tulli approueth it to be liberalitie, wherin is any mixture of auarice or rapyne: for it is nat properly liberalitie, to exacte iniustly, or by violence or craft to take goodes from particuler Q7v persones, and distribute them in a multitude: or to take from many iniustly, and enriche therwith one persone or fewe. For as the same autour saieth: the last precept concerning benefites or rewardes is, to take good hede that he contende nat agayne equitie, ne that he vpholde none iniurie.

Nowe will I procede seriously & in a due forme to speke more particulerly of these thre vertues. Nat withstandinge there is suche affinitie bitwene beneficence and liberalitie, beinge always a vertue, that they tende to one conclusion or purpose: that is to saye, with a free & glad wyll to gyue to another that thinge which he before lacked.

Of what excellence beneuolence is.

Whan I remembre what incomparable goodnes hath euer proceded of this vertue beneuolence, mercifull god what swete flauour fele I, persing my spirites, wherof bothe my soule and body to my thinkinge do conceyue such a recreacion, that it semeth me to be in a paradise, or other semblable place of incomparable delites & [Q8r] pleasures. Firste I beholde the dignitie of that vertue, consideringe that god is therby chiefly knowen and honoured, both of aungell and man. As contrarie wise, the deuill is hated and reproued bothe of god & man for his malice, whiche vice is contrarious & repugnant to beneuolence. Wherfore without beneuolence may be no god. For god is all goodnes, all charite, all loue, whiche holy be comprehended in the saide worde beneuolence.

Nowe let vs see, where any other vertue may be equall in dignitie with this vertue beneuolence: or if any vertue remayneth, where this is excluded, for what commeth of prudence, where lacketh beneuolence? but disceite, rauine, auarice, and tyranny. What of fortitude? but bestely crueltie, oppression, and effusion of bloode. What iustice may there be without beheuolence? Sens the first or chiefe porcion of iustice (as Tulli saieth) is to indomage no man, onelas thou be wrongfully vexed. And what is the cause hereof, but equall and entier loue: whiche beinge remoued or cessing: who endeuoreth nat him selfe to take from a nother al thyng that he coueteth: or for euery thinge that discontenteth him/ wolde nat forthwith be [Q8v] auenged: wherby he confoundeth the vertue called temperance, whiche is the moderatrice as well of all motions of the minde, called affectes, as of all actis procedyng of man. Here it sufficiently appereth (as I suppose) of what estimation beneuolence is. Nowe wyll I accordynge to myne accustomed maner, endeuore me to recreate the spirites of the diligent reder, with some delectable histories, wherin is any noble remembrance of this vertue beneuolence, that the worthinesse therof maye appiere in a more playne declaration: for in euery discipline, example is the beste instructour. But firste I will aduertise the reder, that I will nowe write of that beneuolence onely, whiche is moste vniuersall: wherin is equalitie without singuler affection or acceptaunce, of personagis. And here it is to be noted, that if a gouernour of a publike weale, iuge, or any other ministre of iustice, do gyue sentence agayne one that hath transgressed the lawes, or punissheth hym according to the qualitie of his trespas: Beneuolence therby is nat any thing perisshed: for the condemnation or punisshement, is either to reduce hym that erreth, in to the trayne of vertue, or to preserue a multitude from domage, by puttyng R1r men in feare, that be prone to offende dreding the sharpe correction, that they be holde a nother to suffre. And that maner of seueritie is touched by the prophet Dauid in the fourthe psalme, sayinge in this wise: Be you angry, and loke that you sinne nat. And Tulli saith in his first boke of Officis: It is to be wisshed, that they, whiche in the publike weale haue any autoritie, maye be like to the lawes, whiche in correctynge be ladde only by equitie, and nat by wrathe or displesure. And in that maner, whan Chore, Dathan, and Abiron, moued a sedition agayne Moyses, he praied god that the erth mought open and swalowe them: consideryng that the furye of the people moughte nat be by any other meanes asswaged, ne they kepte in due rule or obedience.

Helias the holy prophete of god, dyd his owne handes put to deth the prestes of the Idol Baal, yet cessed he nat with fastynge, praying, longe and tedious pilgrimages, to pacifie the displeasure that god toke againe the people of Israhel. But to retourne to beneuolence.

Moyses beinge highly entretayned with Pharao kynge of Aegipte, and so moche in his fauour, by the meanes of the kynges [R1v] suster, that (as Josephus saithe) he beinge made capitaine of a huge army, was sente by Pharao agayne the Ethiopians or Moores: where he made suche exploiture, that he nat only atchieued his entreprise, but also had giuen vnto him for his prowesse, the kyngs daughter of Ethiopia to be his wife, with great abundaunce of riches. And also for his endeuour, prowesse, and wisedome, was moche estemed by Pharao and the nobles of Egipte: so that he moughte haue liued there continually in moche honour & welth, if he wolde haue preferred his singuler aduaile before the vniuersall weale of his owne kynred or familie: But he inflamed with seruent beneuolence or zele towarde them, to redeme them out of their miserable bondage, chase rather to be in the daungerous indignation of Pharao: to committe his persone to the chaungeable myndes of a multitude, and they most vnstable: to passe great & longe iournaies throughe desertes, replenisshed with wylde beastis and venimous serpentes: to suffre extreme hunger and thirste, lackynge often tymes nat onely vitaile, but also fresshe water to drinke: than to be in the palice of Pharao, where he shulde haue bene satisfied with honour, [R2r] richesse, and ease, and all other thinges pleasaunt. Who that redeth the boke of Exodi, shall finde the charitie of this man wonderfull. For whan almightie god, being greuously meued with the children of Israhel, for their ingratitude: for as moche as they often tymes murmured agyane hym, and vneth moughte be kepte by Moyses from idolatrie: he said to Moyses, that he wold destroye them vtterly, and make hym ruler of a moche greatter and better people. But Moyses brenning in a meruailous charite, towards them, said vnto god: This people good lorde haue mooste greuouslye sinned: yet either forgyue them this trespas, or if ye do nat, strike me clene out of the booke that ye wrate. And diuers other tymes he importunately cried to god for the saulfe garde of them: nat withstanding that many tymes they concluded to haue slayne hym/ if he had nat ben by his wisedome, & specially by the powar of god, preserued.

But perauenture some, which seke for sterting holes to mainteine their vices, will obiecte, sayinge that Moyses was a holy prophete, and a persone electe by predestination to deliuer the children of Israhell out of captiuitie: which he coulde nat haue done, [R2v] if he had nat bene of suche pacience & charitie. Therfore let vs se what examples of semblable beneuolence we can finde amonge the gentiles, in whom was no vertue inspired: but that only which naturall reason induced.

Whan a furious & wylfull yonge man, in a sedicion had striken out one of the eies of kyng Licurgus: wherfore the people wolde haue slaine the transgressour: he wolde nat suffre them: but hauyng him home to his house, he by suche wise meanes corrected the yonge man/ that he at the laste broughte hym to good maners and wisedome. Also the same Licurge, to the entent that theffecte of his beneuolence, towarde the commune weale of his countray mought persist and continue: & that his excellent lawes beinge stablisshed, shulde neuer be alternate, he dyd let swere al his people, that they shulde chaunge no part of his vntill he were retourned, faynynge to them that he wolde go to Delphos, where Apollo was chiefly honoured, to consulte with that god, what semed to hym to be added to or minisshed of those lawes, whiche also be fayned to haue receiued of the said Apollo. But finally he went in to the Isle of Crete, where he continued and died, commaundyng at his deth, that his [R3r] bones shulde be cast in to the see, lest if they were brought to Lacedemonia his countray, the people shuld thinke them selfe of their other and promise discharged.

Semblable loue Lodrus, the last kynge of Athenes, had to his countray. For where the people called Dores (whom some thinke to be nowe Sicilians) wolde aduenge their olde grudges agayne the Atheniensis, they demaunded of some of their goddes, what successe shulde happen, if they made any warres. Vnto whom answere was made, that if they slewe nat the kynge of Atheniensis, they shulde than haue the victorie. Whan they came to the felde straite, commaundement was gyuen amonge them, that aboue all thinge, they shulde haue good awaite of the kinge of Athenes, whiche at that time was Codrus. But he before knowyng the answere made to the Dores, and what commandement was giuen to the army: dyd put of his princely habite or robes, and in apparaile all ragged and rent, carieng on his necke a bundell of twigges, entred in to the hoste of his enemies, and was slayne in the prese by a souldiour, whom he wounded with a booke purposely. But whan it was perceiued & knowen to be the corps of kyng [R3v] Codrus, the Dores all dismayed departed from the felde, without proferynge bataile. And in this wise the Atheniensis, by the vertue of their most beneuolent kynge, who for the saulfgarde of his countray willingly died, were clerely deliuered from bataile. O noble Lodrus, howe worthy had you ben (if god had bene pleased) to haue aboden the reparation of mankynde, that in the habite and religion of a christen prince, ye mought haue showed your wonderfull beneuolence and courage for the saulfegarde of christen men, and to the noble example of other princes?

Curtius, a noble knighte of the Romanes, had no lasse loue to his countray than Lodrus: For sone after the begynnyng of the citie, ther hapned to be a great erth quaue, & after there remayned a great dell or pitte without botome, whiche to beholde, was horrible & lothsome: and out of it proceded suche a dampe or ayre, that corrupted all the citie with pestilence. Wherfore whan they had counsailed with suche idols as they than worshipped, answere was made, that the erth shuld nat close, vntill there were throwen in to it the moste precious thinge in the ciite: whiche answere receiued, there was throwen in riche ieuels of golde & precious [R4r] stone: but all auailed nat. At the laste Curtius, beinge a yonge and goodly gentilman, consideryng that no riches throwen in, profited: he finallye coniected, that the life of man was aboue all thinges moste precious, to thentent the residue of the people mought be saued by his only dethe: he armed hym selfe at all pointes, and sittyng on a courser, with his swerde in his hande redy drawen, with a valiaunt and fierce courage enforsed his horse to lepe in to the dell or pitte, and furthwith it ioyned to gether and closed, leuynge onely a signe where the pitte was: which longe after was called Curtius lake.

I passe ouer the two Decius, Marcus Regulus, and many other princes & noble men, that for the weale of their countraye died willingly: And nowe wyll I speke of suche as in any other fourme haue declared their beneuolence.

Xenophon the disciple of Plato, wrate the life of Cyrus, kyng of Persia, most elegantly: wherin he expresseth the figure of an excellent gouernour or capitayne: he sheweth there that Craesus the riche king of Lidia, whom Cyrus had taken prisoner, subdued his countray, & possessed his treasure, saide on a tyme to Cyrus, whan he behelde his [R4v] liberalitie, that suche largenesse as he vsed shulde bringe hym in pouertie, where if he lysted, he mought accumulate vp treasure incomparable: Than Cyrus demaunded of Croesus, what treasure suppose ye shulde I nowe haue, if durynge the tyme of my raigne i wolde haue gadred & kept money as ye exhorte me to do? Than Cresus named a great some. Well said Cyrus, sende ye some man, whom ye best truste, with Histaspa, go about to my frendes, & shewe them, that I lacke golde towarde a certayne businesse, wherfore I wil they shal sende me as moche as they can: & that they put it in writinge: & sende it sealed by the seruant of Cresus. In the same wise Cirus wrate in a letter: & also that they shulde receiue Histaspa as his counsailour and frende, and sent it by hym. Histaspa, aft that he had done the message of Cyrus, and was retourned with the seruant of Cresus, who brought letters from Cyrus frendes: he saide to Cyrus: O sir, from hensforthe loke that ye take me for a man of great substaunce. For I am highly rewarded with many great gyftes for bringing your letters. Than Cyrus at the houre appointed, ladde with hym kynge Cresus [R5r] in to his campe, sayinge to hym/ now beholde here is our treasure: accounte if ye can, how moche money is redy for me, if I haue nede of any to occupy. Whan Cresus behelde, & rekened the innumerable treasure, whiche in sondry partes were laide aboute the pauilion of Cirus: he founde moche more than he said to Cirus, that he shuld haue in his tresure, if he him selfe had gadred and kept it. And whan all appiered sufficiently, Cirus than said, howe thinke you Cresus, haue I nat tresure? And ye counsailed me that I shulde gadre & kepe money: by occasion wherof I shuld be enuied & hated of my people, And more ouer put my trust to seruantes hyred to haue rule therof. But I do all other wise, for in making my frendes riche, I take them al for my tresure, & haue them more sure & trusty kepers, bothe of me & my substance, than I shuld do those, whom I must trust only for their wagis. Lorde god what a notable historie is this, and worthy to be grauen in tables of golde? considerynge the vertue and power of beneuolence therin expressed? For the beneuolente mynde of a gouernour, nat onely byndeth the hartes of the people vnto hym, with the chayne of loue more stronger than any materiall bondes: [R5v] but also gardeth more saulfely his persone, than any toure or garison. The eloquent Tulli saithe in his officis: A liberall harte is cause of beneuolence, al though perchance that powar some tyme lackethe. Contrary wise he saith: They that desire to be feared, nedes must they drede them, of whom they be feared. Also Plini the yonger saith: He that is nat enuironed with charite, in vaine is he garded with terrour, sens armure with armure is stered: whiche is ratified by the mooste graue philosopher Seneke in his boke of mercye, that he wrate to Nero, where he saith: He is moche deceiued, that thinketh a man to be suer, where nothynge from hym can be saulfe. For with mutuall assuraunce, suertie is optained.

Antoninus Pius emperour of Rome, so moche tendred the beneuolence of his people, that whan a greatte nombre had conspired treason againe him, the Senate being therwith geruousely meued, endeuoured them to punisshe the said conspiratours: but the emperour caused the examination to cesse, sayinge, that it shulde nat nede to seeke to busily for them that intended suche mischiefe: leste if they founde many, he shulde knowe that many him hated. Also whan the people [R6r] (for as moch as on a time they lacked corne in their graynardes, wolde haue slaine him with stones) rather than he wolde haue the sedicious persones to be punisshed: he in his owne persone declared to them the occasion of the scarsitie, wherwith they beinge pacified, euery man helde him contented.

I had almost forgoten a notable & worthy remembraunce of kynge Philip, father to great kynge Alexander. It was on a tyme to him reported, that one of his capitaines had menacing wordes towards him: wherby it semed he intended some domage towarde his persone. Wherfore his counsaile aduised hym, to haue good awayte of the saide capitaine, and that he were put vnder warde: to whom the kynge answered: If any parte of my body were sicke or els sore, whether shuld I therfore cutte it from the residue, and cast it from me, or els endeuour my selfe that it moughte be healed? And than he called for the saide capitaine, and so entretayned hym with familiaritie and bounteous rewardes, that euer after he had hym more assured and loyall, than euer he was.

Agesilaus kynge of Lacedemonia, to hym that demaunded howe a kyng mought most [R6v] surely gouerne his realme, without souldiours or a garde to his persone: answered: If he reigned ouer his people, as a father doth ouer his children. The citie of Athenes (from whens iussued al excellent doctrine & wisedom) during the time that it was governed by those persons, vnto whom the people mought haue a familiare accesse, & boldly expound their grefes & damags, prospered merualously, & during a longe season, raigned in honour & weale. Afterwarde the Lacedemons, by the mutabilitie of fortune, vanquisshed them in bataile, & committed the citie of Athnes to the kepyng of xxx. of their owne capitaines, which were for their pride & auarice called tyrantes. But nowe se how litel suerte is in great nombre or strength, wher lacketh beneuolence. These xxx. tyrantes were continuelly enuironed with sondry garisons of armed men, which was a terrible visage to people that before liued vnder the obedience of their lawes only. Finally the Atheniensis, by fere being put from their accustomed accesse to their gouernours to require iustice, & there with being fatigate as men oppressed with continual iurie, toke to them a desperate corage & in conclusion expelled out of the citie all the said tyrantes, & reduced it vnto his pristinate gouernance. What misery was in the life of [R7r] Dionyse the tyrant of Cicile? who knowing that his people desired his distruction, for his rauine & crueltie, wold nat be of any man shauen, but first caused his owne doughters to clippe his berde: And afterwarde he also mistrusted them, & than he him selfe with a brenning cole seared the heres of his herde: & yet finally was he destroyed. In like wretchednesse was one Alexander, prince of a citie called Pherea, for he hauing an excellent faire wyfe, nat only excluded all men from her company, but also as often as he wold lie with her, certaine persones shulde go before him with torchis, & he folowing with his swerde redy drawen, wodle therwith enserche the bedde, cofers, & all other paces of his chambre, leste any man shulde be there hidde, to thentent to sle him. And that nat withstanding by the procurement of his said wife (who at the last fatigate with his most folisshe ialousy, conuerted her loue in to haterede) he was slaine by his own subiects. Nowe dothe it appere, that this reuerende vetue beneuolence is of all men, most specially of gouernors & men of honour, incomparably before other to be embraced. Kyng Philip whan he herd that his sonne Alexander, vsed a meruailous liberalite amonge the people, he sent to him a lettre, wherin he [R7v] wrate in this wise: Alexander what peruerse opinion hath put the in suche hope, that thou thinkest to make them loyall vnto the, whom thou with money corruptest, consideryng that the receiuour therof is therby appaired, beinge trained by they prodigalitie to loke and gape alway for a semblable custome: And therfore the treasure of a gentle countenance, swete answeres, ayde in aduersitie, nat with money onely, but also with studie and diligent endeuour, can neuer be wasted: ne the loue of good people therby acquired, can be from their hartes in any wise seperate. And here I make an ende to speke any more at this tyme of beneuolence.

Of beneficence and liberalitie.

All thoughe philosophers in the description of vertues haue deuised to set them as it were in degrees, hauing respecte to the qualitie and condition of the persone, whiche is with them adourned: as applyinge Magnificence to the substaunce and astate of princes, and to priuate persones Beneficence and Liberalite: yet be nat those in any parte defalcate of their [R8r] condigne praises. For if vertue be an election annexed vnto our nature, and consisteth in a meane, which is determined by reason: and that meane is the verye myddes of two thynges viciouse, the one in surplusage, the other in lacke. Than nedes must beneficence and liberalitie be capitall vertues, and magnificence procedeth from them, approchinge to the extreme partes. And he is only liberall, whiche distributeth accordyng to his substance, and where it is expedient. Therfore he ought to consider to whom he shulde gyue, howe moche, and whan. For liberalitie takethe his name of the substance of the persone, from whom it procedeth: for it resteth nat in the quantite or qualitie of thinges that be gyuen: but in the naturall disposition of the gyuer.

The great Alexander on a tyme, after that he had vainquisshed Darius in bataile, one of his souldiours broughte vnto hym the hede of an enemie that he had slayne: whiche the kynge thankefully, and with sweete [R8v] countenance receiued: and takyng a cuppe of golde filled with good wine, saide vnto the souldiour: In olde tyme a cuppe of golde was the rewarde of suche vertue, as thou hast nowe shewed: whiche semblably thou shalte receiue. But whan the souldiour for shamefastnes refused the cup, Alexander added vnto it these wordes. The custome was to gyue the cuppe emptie: but Alexander giueth it to the full of wyne, with good handsell. Where with he expressed his liberall harte: & as moche consorted the souldiour, as if he had gyuen to hym a great citie.

More ouer he that is liberall, neglecteth nat his substance or goodes, ne gyueth it to all men: but vseth it so as he may continuelly helpe therwith other: & gyueth whan, and where, and on whom it ought to be employed. Therfore it maye be saide, that he vseth euery thynge best, that exerciseth the vertue, whiche is to the thinge most appropred: for riches is of the nombre of thinges that may be either good or iuell, whiche is in the arbitrement of the gyuer: And for that cause liberalitie and beneficence be of suche affinitie, that the one may neuer from the other be seperate: for the employment of money is nat liberalitie, if it be nat for a [S1r] goode ende or purpose.

The noble emperours Antonine & Alexander Seuerus, gaue of the reuenues of the empire innumerable substaunce, to the reedifieng of cities & commune houses decayed for age, or by erthe quaues subuerted: wherin they practised liberalitie & also beneficence. But Tiberius, Nero, Caligula, Heliogabalus, & other semblable monsters: whiche exhausted and consumed infinite treasures in bordell houses and places, where abominacions were vsed: also in enriching slaues, concubines, and baudes, were nat therfore named liberall: but suffreth therfore parpetuall reproche of writars, beinge called deuourers & wasters of treasure. Wherfore in as moche as liberalite holy resteth in the geuynge of money, it somtyme coloureth a vice: But beneficence is neuer taken but in the better parte: and (as Tulli saieth) is taken out of vertue, where liberalite commeth out of the cofer. Also where a man distributeth his substaunce to many parsones, the lasse liberalitie shall he vse to other: so with bounteousnes bountie is minisshed. Onely they that he called beneficiall, & do vse the vertue of beneficence, whiche consisteth in counsaylinge, and helpinge other with any [S1v] assistence in tyme of nede, shall alway fynde coadiutours & supportours of their gentyll courage. And doughtlas that maner of gentilnesse that consisteth in labour, studie, and diligence, is more commendable, & extendeth further, & also may more profite parsones than that whiche resteth in rewardes and expences. But to retourne to liberalitie.

What greater foly may be, than that thinge that a man most gladly dothe, to endeuour him with all studie, that it may no lenger be done? Wherfore Tulli calleth the prodigall, that in inordinate feastes and bankettes, vayne playes, and huntinges, do spende al their substaunce, & in those thinges, wherof they shall leaue but a shorte or no remembraunce. Wherfore to resorte to the counsaile of Aristotle before expressed: Nat withstandinge that liberalitie in a noble man specially, is commended, all though it somwhat do excede the termes of measure: yet if it be well and duely emploied, it acquireth parpetuall honour to the giuer, and moche frute and singuler commodite therby encreaseth. For where honeste and vertuous parsonages be aduaunced, and well rewarded, it sterith the courages of men, whiche haue any sparke of vertue, to encrease therein [S2r] with all their force and endeuour. Wherfore nexte to the helpinge and relieuinge of a communaltie, the great part of liberalitie is to be emploied on men of vertue & good qualities: wherin is required to be a good election & iugement, that for hope of rewarde or fauour vnder the cloke of vertue, be nat hidde the moste mortall poisone of flaterie.

The true discription of amitie or frendship.

I haue all redy treated of beneuolence and beneficence generally. But for als moche as frendship, called in latine Amicitia, comprehendeth bothe those vertues more specially, & in an higher degree, and is nowe so infrequent or straunge amonge mortall men, by the tyrannie of couetise & ambition, whiche haue longe reigned, and yet do, that amitie may nowe vnethe be knowen, or founden throughout the worlde by them that seeke for her as diligently, as a mayden wolde seeke for a small siluer pinne in a great chamber strawed with white russhes: I will therfore borowe so moche of the gentle redar, thoughe he [S2v] be nigh wery of this longe mater, barrayne of eloquence and pleasaunt sentence: & declare some what by the way of very & true frendship. Whiche perchaunce may be an allectife to good men to seeke for their semblable, on whom they may practise amitie. For as Tulli saieth: Nothinge is more to be loued, or to be ioyned to gether, than similitude of good maners or vertues: where in be the same or semblable studies, the same willes or desires: in them it hapneth, that one in an other as moche deliteth as in him selfe. But nowe let vs enserche what frendship or amitie is.

Aristotle saieth, that frendship is a vertue, or ioyneth with vertue, whiche is affirmed by Tulli, sayenge that frendship can nat be without vertue, ne but in good men onely. Who be good men, he after declareth to be those parsones, whiche so do beare them selfes, and in suche wyse do lyue, that their faithe, suertie/ equalitie, and liberalitie, be sufficiently proued. Ne that there is in them any couetise, wilfulnes, or foole hardinesse: and that in them is great stabilitie or constaunce: them suppose I (as they be taken) to be called good men, whiche do folowe (as moche as men may) nature, the chiefe [S3r] capitayne or guide of mannes lyfe. Moreouer the same Tulli defineth frendship in this maner, sayenge: That it is none other thinge, but a parfecte consent of all thinges appertayninge as well to god as to man, with beneuolence & charitie: And that he knoweth nothinge giuen of god (except sapience) to man more commodious. Which definition is excellent & very true. For in god, and all thinge that commeth of god, nothing is of more greatter estimation than loue, called in latine Amor, wherof Amicitia commeth, named in englisshe frendshippe or amitie: the whiche taken a way from the lyfe of man, no house shall abide standinge, no felde shall be in Culture: And that is lightly parceiued, if a man do remember what commeth of dissention and discorde, finally he semeth to take the sonne from the worlde, that taketh frendshippe from mannes life.

Sens frendshippe can nat be but in good men, ne may nat be without vertue: we may be assured, that therof none iuell may procede, or therwith any iuell thinge may participate. Wherfore in as moche as it may be but in a fewe parsones (good men being in a small nomber). And also it is rare and [S3v] seldome (as all vertues be communely) I will declare after the opinion of Philosophers, & partly by commune experience, who amonge good men be of nature moste apte to frendshippe.

Betwene all men that be good, can nat all way be amitie, but it also requireth that they be of semblable or moche like maners or studie, and specially of maners. For grauitie and affabilitie, be euery of them laudable qualities: So be seueritie and placabilitie: Also magnificence and liberalitie be noble vertues: And yet frugalitie, whiche is a sobrenesse or moderation in liuinge, is & that for good cause,of al wise men extolled. Yet where these vertues and qualities be seperately in sondry parsones assembled, may well be parfecte concorde: but frendshippe is there seldome or neuer: for that, whiche the one for a vertue embraceth, the other contemneth, or at the leste neglecteth. Wherfore it semeth, that wherein the one deliteth, it is to the other repugnaunt vnto his nature: And where is any repugnaunce, may be none amitie, sens frendshippe is an entier consent of willes and desires. Therfore it is seldome sene, that frendship is betwene these parsones, a man sturdie, of oppinion [S4r] inflexible, and of soure countenaunce and speche, with him that is tractable, and with reason persuaded, and of swete countenaunce and entretaynement. Also betwene him which is eleuate in autoritie, and a nother of a very base astate or degree: ye and if they be bothe in an equall dignitie, if they be desirous to klyme: As they do ascende, so frendship for the more parte decayeth. For as Tulli saieth, in his firste boke of offices: what thing so euer it be, in the whiche many can nat excell or haue therein superioritie: therein often tymes is suche a contencion, that it is a thinge of all other moste difficile to kepe amonge them good or vertuous company: that is as moche to say as to retayne amonge them frendship and amitie. And it is often tymes sene, that diuers, which before they came in autoritie, were of good & vertuous condicions, beinge in their prosperitie were vtterly chaunged: & dispisinge their olde frendes, set all their studie and pleasure on their newe acquaintaunce, wherein men shall parceiue to be a wonderfull blindnes, or (as I mought say) a madnesse: if they note diligently all that I shall here after write of frendshippe. But nowe to resorte to speke of them, in whom [S4v] frendship is most frequent, & they also therto be moste aptly disposed. Vndoughtedly it be specially they, whiche be wyse and of nature inclined to beneficence, liberalitie, and constance: for by wysedome is marked and substancially decerned the wordes, actes, & demeanure of all men, betwene whom hapneth to be any entrecourse or familiaritie: wherby is engendred a fauour or disposition of loue. Beneficence that is to say mutually puttinge to their studie and helpe in necessary affaires, induceth loue: They that be liberall do with holde or hyde nothinge from them whom they loue: wherby loue incraseth. And in them that be constante, is neuer mistrust or suspition: nor any surmise or iuell reporte can withdrawe them from their affection: And hereby frendship is made perpetuall and stable. But if similitude of studie or lerninge be ioyned vnto the said vertues, frendship moche rather hapneth: and the mutuall enteruewe & conuersation is moche more pleasaunt: specially if the studies haue in them any delectable affection or motion. For where they be to serious or full of contention: frendship is oftentimes assaulted, wherby it is often in parile. Where the studie is elegant, and the [S5r] mater illecebrous, that is to say swete to the redar, the course wherof is rather gentill persuasion and quicke reasoninges, than ouer subtill argumentes or litigious controuersies: there also it hapneth that the studentes do delite one in a nother, and be without enuie or malicious contention.

Nowe let vs trie out what is that frendshippe, that we suppose to be in good men: Verely it is a blessed and stable connexion of sondrie willes, makinge of two parsones one in hauinge and suffringe. And therfore a frende is proprely named of Philosophers the other I. For that in them is but one mynde and one possession: and that, which more is, a man more reioiseth at his frendes good fortune than at his owne.

Horestes and Pilades, beinge wonderfull like in all features, were taken to gider and presented vnto a tyrant, who deedly hated Horestes: but whan he behelde them bothe, and wolde haue slayne Horestes onely, he coulde nat decerne the one from the other: And also Pilades, to deliuer his frende, affirmed that he was Orestes: on the other parte Orestes, to saue Pilades, denied and said, that he was Orestes (as the trouthe was.) Thus a longe tyme they to gither contendinge [S5v] the one to die for the other, at the laste so relented the fierse & cruell harte of the tyrant: that wondringe at their meruailous frendship, he suffred them frely to departe, without doinge to them any damage. Pitheas and Damon, two Pythagoriens, that is to say studentes of Pythagoras lerninge, beinge ioyned to gither in a parfeite frendship: for that one of them was accused to haue conspired agayne, Dionyse king of Sicile, they were bothe taken, & brought to the kinge: who immediately gaue sentence, that he that was accused shulde be put to dethe: But he desired the kinge that er he died, he mought retourne home to set his house holde in ordre: and to distribute his goodes. Whereat the kinge laughinge, demaunded of him skornefully, what pledge he wolde leaue hym to come agayne. At the whiche wordes his companyon stepte furthe and saide, that he wolde remayne there as a pledge for his frende: that in case he came nat againe at the daye to hym appointed, that he wyllingly wolde lose his hede: whiche condicion the tyraunt receyued. The yonge man, that shuld haue died, was suffred to departe home to his house: where he set all thinge in ordre, & disposed [S6r] his goodes wisely: the day appointed for his retourne was commen, the tyme moche passed. Wherfore the kynge called for him that was pledge: who came furthe merely without semblaunte of drede, offringe to abide the sentence of the tyraunt, and without grudginge to die for the sauinge the life of his frende. But as the officer of iustyce had closed his eien with a kerchiefe, & had drawen his swerde to haue striken of his hedde: his felowe came runninge & cryenge, that the daye of his appointment was nat yet past. Wherfore he desired the minister of iustice to lose his felowe, & to prepare to do execution on hym, that had giuen the occasion: whereat the tyraunt being all abasshed: commaunded bothe to be brought in his presence: and whan he had ynough wondred at their noble hartes and their constance in very frendship, he offring to them great rewardes, desired them to receyue hym into their company: and so doinge them moche honour, dyd set them at liberte. Vndoughtedly that frendship which dothe depende either on profite or els in pleasure, if the habilitie of the parsone, whiche mought be profitable, do fayle or diminisshe, or the disposition of the parsone, whiche shulde be [S6v] pleasaunt do chaunge or appayre, the feruentnesse of loue cesseth: and than is there no frendship.

The wonderfull history of Titus & Gisippus, & wherby is fully declared the figure of perfet amitie.

But nowe in the middes of my labour, as it were to pause and take brethe, & also to recreate the reders, which fatigate with longe preceptes, desire varietie of mater, or some newe pleasaunt fable or historie. I will reherce a right goodly example of frendship. Whiche example studiousely radde, shall ministre to the redars singuler pleasure, and also incredible comforte to practise amitie.

There was in the citie of Rome a noble senatour named Fuluius, who sent his sone, called Titus, beinge a childe, to the citie of Athenes in Greece (whiche was the fountaine of al maner of doctrine) there to lerne good letters: and caused him to be hosted with a worshipfull man of that citie, called Chremes. This Chremes hapned to haue also a sone named Gisippus, who nat onely [S7r] was equall to the said yonge Titus in yeres, but also in stature, proporcion of body, fauour, and colour of visage, countenaunce & speche. The two children were so like, that without moche difficultie it coulde nat be discerned of their propre parentes, whiche was Titus from Gysippus, or Gysippus from Tutus. These two yonge gentilmen, as they semed to be one in fourme and personage, so shortely after acquaintaunce, the same nature wrought in their hartes suche a mutuall affection, that their willes and appetites daily more and more so confederated them selfes, that it semed none other, whan their names were declared, but that they hadde onely chaunged their places, issuinge (as I mought saye) out of the one body, and entringe in to the other. They to gether, and at one tyme went to their lerninge & studie, at one tyme to their meales & refection, they delited bothe in one doctrine, and profited equally therein: finally they to gether so increased in doctrine, that within a fewe yeres, fewe within Athenes mought be compared vnto them. At the laste died Chremes, whiche was nat only to his sone, but also to Titus cause of moche sorowe & heuinesse. Gysippus by the goodes of his [S7v] father was knowen to be a man of great substaunce: wherfore there were offred to hym great and riche mariages. And he than beinge of ripe yeres & of an habile & goodly parsonage. His frendes, kynne, and alies exhorted hym busely to take a wyfe, to the intent he mought increase his lygnage & progenie. But the yonge man hauinge his hart all redy wedded to his frende Titus, & his mynde fixed to the studie of Philosophie, fearinge that mariage shulde be the occasion to seuer hym bothe from thone and thother, refused of longe tyme to be parswaded: vntill at the last, partly by the importunate callynge on of his kynnesmen: partly by the consent and aduise of his dere frende Titus, therto by other desired,he assented to mary suche one as shulde lyke hym. What shall nede many wordes, his frendes founde a yonge gentilwoman, whiche in equalitie of yeres, vertuous condicions, nobilitie of blode, beautie and sufficient richesse, they thought was for suche a yonge man apte and conuenient. And whan they and her frendes vpon the couenauntes of mariage were throughly accorded, they counsailed. Gysippus to repayre vnto the mayden: and to beholde howe her parsone [S8r] contented hym: and he so doinge founde her in euery fourme and condicion accordinge to his expectation & appetite: wherat he moche reioysed, and became of her amorouse, in so moche as many & often tymes he leauinge Titus at his studie, secretely repayred vnto her. Nat withstandyng the feruent loue that he had to his frende Titus, at the last surmounted shamefastnes. Wherfore he disclosed to him his secrete iournayes: & what delectacion he toke in beholdinge the excellent beautie of her whom he purposed to mary: and howe with her good maners & swete entretaynement, she had constrained hym to be her louer. And on a tyme, he hauynge with hym his frende Titus, went to his lady, of whom he was resceyued moste ioyously. But Titus furthwith as he behelde so heuenly a personage, adourned with beautie inexplicable, in whose visage was moste amiable countenaunce, mixte with maydenly shamefastnesse, and the rare and sobre wordes, & well couched, whiche issued out of her pratie mouthe, Titus was therat abasshed, and had the harte through perced with the firy darte of blinde Cupide: often whiche wounde the anguisshe was so excedinge and vehement, that neither the study [S8v] of Philosphie, neyther the remembraunce of his dere frende Gysippus, who so moche loued and trusted hym, coulde any thinge withdrawe hym from that vnkynde appetite, but that of force he must loue inordinately that lady, whom his said frende had determined to mary. All be it with incredible paynes he kepte his thoughtes secrete, vntyll that he and Gysippus were retourned vnto their lodgynges. Than the miserable Titus withdrawynge hym as it were to his studie, all turmented and oppressed with loue, threwe hym selfe on a bedde, and there rebukyng his owne moste despitefull vnkyndnesse, whiche by the sodayne sight of a mayden, he had conspired agayne his moste dere frende Gysippus, agayne all humanitie and reason, he cursed his fate or constellation, and wisshed that he had neuer comen to Athenes. And there with he sent out from the botome of his harte depe & colde sighes, in suche plentie, that it lacked but litel that his harte ne was riuen in peces. In dolour & anguishse tossed he hym selfe by a certayne space: but to no man wolde he discouer it. But at the last the payne became so intollerable, that wolde he or no he was inforced to kepe his [T1r] bedde, beinge for lacke of slepe & other naturall sustenaunce: brought in suche feblenesse, that his legges mought nat sustayne his body. Gysippus missyng his dere frende Titus, was moche abasshed, & heringe that he laye sicke in his bedde had furthwith his harte perced with heuinesse, and with all spede came to hym where he laye. And beholding the rosiall colour, which was wont to be in his visage, tourned in to falowe, the residue pale, his ruddy lippes wanne, & his eyen ledy and holowe, Gysippus mought vneth kepe hym selfe from wepynge, but to thentent he wolde nat discomfort his frende Titus,he dissimuled his heuynesse, & with a comfortable countenaunce demaunded of Titus what was the cause of his disease, blamynge him of vnkyndenesse, that he so longe had sustayned it without geuing him knowlege, that he mought for him haue prouided some remedie, if any mought haue be goten, though it were with the dispendinge of all his substaunce: with whiche wordes the mortall sighes renewed in Titus, and the salte teares brast out of his eien in suche habundaunce, as it had ben a lande flode runnynge downe of a mountayne after a storme: that beholdinge Gysippus, and [T1v] beinge also resolued in to teares, moste hartely desired hym, and (as I mought saye) coniured him, that for the feruent and entier loue that had ben & yet was betwene them, he wolde no lenger hyde from him his griefe: and that there was nothing to him so dere or precious (all though it were his owne life) that mought restore Titus to helthe, but that he shulde gladly & without grutchinge employe it. With whiche wordes, obtestations, and teares of Gysippus, Titus constrayned, all blusshinge and ashamed, holdinge downe his hedde, brought furthe with great difficultie his wordes in this wyse. My dere and moste louyng frende, withdrawe your frendely offers, cease of your courtaisie, refrayne your teares & regrettinges, take rather your knyfe and flee me here where I lye, or otherwise take vengeaunce on me, moste miserable and false traytour vnto you, and of all other moste worthy to suffre moste shamefull dethe. For where as god of nature, lyke as he hath giuen to vs similitude in all the partes of our body, so had he conioyned our willes, studies & appetites to gether in one, so that betwene two men was neuer lyke concorde and loue, as I suppose: And nowe nat withstandinge, [T2r] onely with the loke of a woman, those bondes of loue be dissolued, reason oppresed frendshp is excluded, there auaileth no wisedome, no doctrine, no fidelitie or truste: ye your truste is the cause that I haue conspired agayne you this treason. Alas Gysippus what enuious spirite meued you to bringe me with you to her, whom ye haue chosen to be your wife, where I receyued this poison? I saye Gysippus, where was than your wisedom, that ye remembred nat the fragilitie of our commune nature? What neded you to calle me for a witnesse of your priuate delites? Why wolde ye haue me see that, whiche you youre selfe coulde nat beholde without rauisshinge of mynde and carnall appetite? Alas why forgate ye, that our myndes & appetites were euer one? & that also what so ye lyked was euer to me in lyke degree pleasaunt. What will ye more? Gysippus I saye, your trust is the cause that I am intrapped, the rayes or beames issuinge from the eyen of her, whome ye haue chosen, with the remembraunce of her incomparable vertues, hath thrilled throughout the middes of my hart, and in suche wise brenneth it, that aboue all thinges I desire to be out of this wretched [T2v] and moste vnkinde lyfe, whiche is nat worthy the company of so noble and louynge a frende as ye be. And therewith Titus concluded his confession with so profounde and bitter a sigh, receyued with teares, that it semed, that al his body shulde be dissolued and relented in to salt dropes.

But Gysippus as he were there with nothynge astonyed or discontented, with an assured countenaunce, and mery regarde, imbrasinge Titus, and kissynge him, answered in this wyse. Why Titus, is this youre onely sickenesse and griefe, that ye so vncurtesely haue so longe counceiled, and with moche more vnkyndnesse kept it from me, than ye haue conceyued it? I knowlege my foly, wherwith ye haue with good right imbrayded me, that in showing to you her, whom I loued, I remembred nat the commune astate of our nature, ne the agreablenesse, or (as I mought saye) the vnitie of our two appetites: suerly that defaulte can be by no reason excused. Wherfore it is onely I, that haue offended. For who may by right proue that ye haue trespased, that by the ineuitable stroke of Cupides darte are thus bitterly wounded? Thinke ye, me suche a fole or ignorant persone, that I knowe nat [T3r] the powar of Venus, where she listeth to shewe her importable violence? Haue nat ye well resisted agayne suche a goddesse, that for my sake ye haue striuen with her all moste to the dethe? What more loyaltie or trouthe can I require of you? Am I of that vertue, that I may resiste agayne celestiall influence preordinate by prouidence diuine? If I so thought, what were my wittes? Where were my studie so longe tyme spent in noble Philosophie? I confesse to you Titus, I loue that mayden as moche as any wise man mought possible: and toke in her companye more delite & pleasure than of all the treasure and landes that my father lefte to me, whihe ye knowe was right abundaunt. But nowe I perceyue, that the affection of loue towarde her surmounteth in you about measure, what shal I thinke it of a wanton lust, or sodayne appetite in you, whome I haue euer knowen of graue and sadde disposition, inclyned alway to honest doctrine, fleinge all vayne daliaunce & dishonest paste tyme? Shall I imagine to be in you any malice or fraude, sens from the tendre tyme of our childhode, I haue alway founden in you, my swete frende Titus, suche a conformitie with all my maners, appetites, & desires, [T3v] that neuer was sene betwene vs any maner of contention? Nay god forbede, that in the frendshippe of Gysippus and Titus shulde happen any suspition: or that any fantasie shulde perce my hedde, whereby that honorable loue betwene vs shulde be the mountenaunce of a cromme, perisshed. Nay nay Titus, it is (as I haue said) the onely prouidence of god: she was by hym from the beginnynge prepared to be your lady and wife. For suche feruent loue entreth nat in to the harte of a wise man & vertuous, but by a diuine disposition: whereat if I shulde be discontented or grudge, I shulde nat onely be iniuste to you, withholdinge that from you whiche is vndoughtedly youres: but also obstinate and repugnaunt agayne the determination of god, whiche shall neuer be founden in Gysippus. Therfore gentill frende Titus, dismay you nat at the chaunce of loue, but receyue it ioyously with me, that am with you nothinge discontented, but meruailous gladde, sens it is my happe to finde for you suche a lady,with whome ye shall lyue in felicitie, & receyue frute to the honour and comfort of all your linage: here I renounce to you clerely all my title and interest, that I nowe [T4r] haue or mought haue in that faire mayden. Call to you your pristinate courage, wasshe clene your visage and eyen thus biwept, and abandone all heuinesse: the day appointed for our mariage approcheth: let vs consult, howe without difficultie ye may holy attayne your desires. Take hede, this is myne aduise, ye knowe well, that we two be so like, that beinge a parte and in one apparayle, fewe men do knowe vs. Also ye do remembre, that the custome is, that natwithstandinge any ceremony done at the tyme of the spousayles, the mariage natwithstandinge is nat confirmed vntyll at night that the husbande putteth a rynge on the finger of his wyfe, & vnloseth her girdell. Therfore I my selfe will be present with my frendes, & perfourme all the partes of a bride. And ye shall abyde in a place secrete, where I shall appoint you, vntill it be nyght. And than shall ye quickely conuaye your selfe in to the maidens chambre: and for the similitude of our parsonages, & of our apparaile, ye shall nat be espied of the women, whiche haue with none of vs any acquaintaunce: and shortely gette you to bedde, and put your owne rynge on the maydens fynger, and vndo her gyrdell of T4v virginitie, and do all other thinge, that shall be to your pleasure. Be nowe of good chere Titus, and comfort your selfe with good refections and solace, that this wan and pale colour, and your chekes meigre and leane, be nat the cause of your discoueringe: I knowe well, that ye hauinge your purpose, I shall be in obloqui & derision of all men: and so hated of all my kynrede, that they shall seke occasion to expulse me out of this citie, thinkyng me to be a notable reproche to al my familie. But let god therin warke. I force nat what payne that I abyde, so that ye my frende Titus may be faulse, and pleasauntly enioy your desires, to the increasinge of your felicitie.

With these wordes Titus began to meue, as it were out of a dreme, and doughtinge whither he harde Gysippus speke, or els sawe but a vision, laye styll as a man abasshed. But whan he behelde the teares trickelinge downe by the face of Gysippus he than recomforted hym, and thankinge him for his incomparable kyndnesse, refused the benefite that he offred, sayenge that it were better that a hundred suche vnkynde wretches, as he was, shulde perisshe, than so noble a man as was Gysippus shulde [T5r] sustayne reproche or damage. But Gysippus eftsones comforted Titus, & therewith sware and protested, that with free & glad will he wolde that this thinge shulde be in fourme aforesaid accomplisshed, & therwith inbraced and swetely kyssed Titus. Who perceyuinge the mater suer and nat fayned, as a man nat sicke, but onely a waked out of his slepe, he set hym selfe vp in his bedde, the quicke bloode somwhat resorted vnto his visage, and after a litle god meates and drinkes taken, he was shortly and in a fewe daies restored in to his olde facion & figure. To make the tale shorte. The day of maryage was commen. Gysippus accompanied with his alyes & frendes, came to the house of the damosel where they were honorably and ioyously fested. And betwene him and the mayden was a swete entretaynement, which to beholde all that were present toke moche pleasure and comfort, praysinge the beautie, goodlynesse, vertue, and curtesie, whiche in those couples were excellent aboue all other that they hadde euer sene. What shall I saye more? the couenauntes were radde and sealed, the dowar appointed, & al other bargaynes concluded, & the frendes of either parte toke their leaue & departed: [T5v] the bride, with a fewe women (as was the custome) brought in to her chambre: than (as it was before agreed) Titus conueyed him selfe after Gysippus retourned to his house, or parchaunce to the chambre appoynted for Titus, nothynge sorowfull, all though that he hartely loued the mayden: but with a glad harte and countenaunce, that he had so recouered his frende from dethe, & so well brought hym to the effecte of his desire. Nowe is Titus in bedde with the mayden, nat knowen of her, nor of any other, but for Gysippus. And first he swetely demaunded her, if that she loued hym, and dayned to take hym for her husbande, forskaing all other, which she all blusshing with an eye halfe laughinge halfe mourninge (as in poynte to departe from her mayden hede, but supposinge it to be Gysippus that asked her) affirmed: & than he eftsones asketh her, if she in ratifienge that promise wolde receyue his rynge, whiche he hadde there all redy: wherto she contentynge, putteth the rynge on her fynger, & vnloseth her gyrdell: what thinge els he dyd, they two onely knewe it: of one thing I am suer, that night was to Titus more comfortable, than euer was the lengest daye of the yere, [T6r] ye and I suppose a hole yere of dayes. The morowe is comen. And Gysippus thinking it to be expedient, that the trouthe shulde be discouered, assembled all the nobilitie of the citie at this owne house: where also by appointment was Titus: who amonge them had these wordes that do folowe.

My frendes Atheniensis, there is at this tyme shewed amonge you an example all moste incredible of the diuine powar of honorable loue, to the perpetuall renoume & commendation of this noble citie of Athenes, wherof ye ought to take excellent comfort, & therfore gyue due thankes to god, if there remayne amonge you any token of the auncient wisedome of your moste noble progenitours. For what more prayse may be gyuen to people, than beneuolence, faithfulnesse, and constaunce? without whome all contrayes and cities be brought vnto desolation and ruyne, lyke as by them they become prosperous, & in moste hyghe felicitie. What shall I longe tary you in coniectynge myne intent & meaninge? Ye all knowe from whens I came vnto this citie, that of aduenture I founde in the house of Chremes his sone Gysippus, of myne owne age, and in euery thinge so lyke to me, that neyther [T6v] his father nor any other man coulde discerne of vs the one from the other, but by our owne insignement or showinge: in so moche as there were put about our neckes lacis of sondry colours to declare our personages. What mutuall agrement & loue haue ben alwaye betwene vs durynge the eight yeres that we haue ben to gether, ye all be witnesses, that haue ben beholders & wonderars of our moste swete conuersation and consent of appetites, wherein was neuer any discorde or variaunce. And as for my parte, after the decease of my father nat withstandinge that there was discended & hapned vnto me great possessions, fayre houses with abundaunce of riches. Also I beinge called home by the desirous & importunate letters of myne alyes & frendes, whyche be of themoste noble of all the senatours, offred the aduauncement to the highest dignities in the publike weale. I will nat remembre the lamentations of my moste naturall mother, expressed in her tender letters, all be sprent and blotted with abundaunce of teares, wherein she accuseth me of vnkyndenesse for my longe taryenge: and specially nowe in her mooste discomforte. But all this coulde nat remoue me the breade of my [T7r] nayle from my dere frende Gysippus. And but by force coulde nat I, nor yet may be drawen from his swete company: but if he therto will consent. I chosynge rather to lyue with hym as his companyon and felowe, ye and as his seruaunt, rather than to be Consull of Rome. Thus my kyndenesse hathe he well acquyted, or (as I mought saye) redoubled, deliuerynge me from the dethe, ye from the moste cruell and paynefull dethe of all other. I perceyue ye wonder here at noble Atheniensis, and no meruayle: for what persone shulde be so hardie to attempte any suche thynge agayne me, beinge a Romayne, and of the noble bloode of the Romanes? Or who shulde be thought so malicious, to slee me, who (as all ye be my Iuges) neuer trespased agayne any persone within this citie. Nay nay my frendes, I haue none of you all therein suspected. I perceyue ye desyre and harken to knowe what he was, that presumed to do so cruell & great an enterprise. It was loue, noble Atheniensis, the same loue whyche (as youre poetes do remembre) dydde wounde the more parte of all the goddes that ye do honoure, that constrayned Juppiter to [T7v] transfourme hym selfe in a swanne, a bulle, and diuers other lykenesses: the same loue that caused Hercules, the vainquissher and distroyer of Monstres and Geauntes, to spynne on a rocke, sittynge amonge maydens in a womans apparayle: the same loue that caused to assemble all the noble princes of Asia and Greece in the feldes of Troy: the same loue I saye, agayne whose assaultes may be founde no defence or resistence, hath sodainely and vnware striken me vnto the harte, with suche vehemence and myght, that I had in short space died with moste feruent tourmentes, hadde nat the incomparable frendship of Gysippus holpen me. I se you wolde fayne knowe who she is, that I loued: I will no lenger delaye you noble Atheniensis: It is Sophronia, the lady whom Gysippus had chosen to haue to his wife: and whome he moste intierly loued. But whan his moste gentill harte perceyued, that my loue was in a moche higher degree than his towarde that lady: and that it proceded neither of wantonesse, neither of longe conuersation, nor of any other corupte desire or fantasie, but in an instant, by one onely loke, and with suche feruence, that imediately I was so cruciate, [T8r] that I desired, & in all that I mought prouoked deth to take me, he by his wisedome soone perceyued (as I dought nat but that ye do) that it was the very prouision of god, that she shuld be my wife & nat his: wherto he geuynge place, and more estemynge true frendship, than the loue of a woman, whervnto he was induced by his frendes, & nat by violence of Cupide constrained as I am, hath willyngly graunted to me the interest that he had in the damosell: & it is I Titus, that haue verely wedded her: I haue put the rynge on her fynger: I haue vndone the girdell of shamefastnes: what will ye more: I haue lyen with her, and confirmed the matrimonye, and made her a wife. At these wordes all they that were present began to murmure, and to cast a disdaynous & greuous loke vpon Gysippus. Than spake agayne Titus. Leaue youre grudgynges & menasinge countenaunce towarde Gysippus, he hathe done to you all honour & no dede of reproche: I tell you he hathe accomplisshed all the partes of a frende, that loue whiche was moste certayne, that he continued, he knewe that he mought fynde in Grece a nother mayden as fayre and as ryche as this that he had chosen, and one [T8v] perchaunce that he mought loue better. But suche a frende as I was (hauynge respecte to our similitude, the longe approued concorde, also myne astate and condition) he was suer to fynde neuer none. Also the damosel suffreth no dispergement in her blode, or hynderaunce in her mariage: but is moche rather aduaunced (no dispreyse to my dere frende Gysippus). Also consider noble Atheniensis, that I toke her nat my father liuynge, whan ye mought haue suspected, that as well her ryches as her beautie, shulde haue thereto alloured me: but soone after my fathers decease, whanne I ferre exceded her in possessions & substaunce, whan the moste noble men of Rome and of Italy desired myne alyaunce. Ye haue therfore all cause to reioyse and thanke Gysippus, and nat to be angrye: & also to extolle his wonderfull kyndenesse towarde me, whereby he hathe wonne me and all my bloode, suche frendes to you and your citie, that ye may be assured to be by vs defenced agayne all the worlde: whiche beinge considered, Gysippus hathe well deserued a statue or ymage of golde to be set on a piller in the myddes of youre citie, for an honorable monument in the remembraunce of [V1r] our incomparable frendship: & of the good that thereby may come to your citie. But if this persuasion can nat satisfie you, but that ye wyll imagyne any thinge to the damage of my dere frende Gysippus after my departinge: I make myne auowe vnto god, creatoure of all thynge, that as I shall haue knowelege therof, I shall furthwith resort hither with the inuincible power of the Romanes, & reuenge hym in suche wise agayne his enemyes, that all Greece shall speke of it to their perpetuall dishonour, shame, and reproche. And therwith Titus and Gysippus rose: but the other for feare of Titus dissembled their malice, makynge semblaunt as they had ben with all thinge contented.

Soone after Titus, beinge sent for by the autorite of the senate and people of Rome, prepared to departe out of Athenes, And wolde fayne haue had Gysippus to haue gone with him, offringe to deuide with him all his substaunce and fortune. But Gysippus considerynge howe necessary his counsayle shulde be to the citie of Athenes, wolde nat departe out of his countraye, nat withstandinge that aboue all erthly thinges he moste desired the company of Titus: whiche abode also, for the sayd consideration, [V1v] Titus approued. Titus with his lady is departed towardes the citie of Rome. Where at their commynge they were of the mother of Titus, his kynsemen, and of all the senate & people ioyously receyued. And there lyued Titus with his lady in ioye inexplicable, and has by her many fayre children: and for his wisedome & lernynge was so highly estemed, that there was no dignitie or honorable office within the citie, that he had nat with moche fauour & praise achieued and occupied. But nowe let vs resorte to Gysippus, who immediately vpon the deptinge of Titus, was so maligned at, as well by his owne kynsemen as by the frendes of the lady, that he to their semyng shamefully abandoned, leuinge her to Titus, that they spared nat daily to vexe hym with all kindes of reproche that they coulde deuise or imagine: and firste they excluded him out of their counsayle, and prohibited from him all honest company. And yet nat beinge therwith satisfyed, finally they adiuged him vnworthy to enioye any possessions or goodes lefte to him by his parentes: whome he (as they supposed) by his vndiscrete frendship had so distayned. Wherfore they dispoyled hym of all thinges, and [V2r] almoste naked expelled him out of the citie. Thus is Gysippus late welthy, and one of the moste noble men of Athenes, for his kynde harte, banisshed his owne countraye for euer, and as a man dismayed wandringe hither and thither, fyndeth no man that wolde socour him. At the laste, remembring in what pleasure his frende Titus lyued with his lady, for whome he suffred these damages, concluded that he wolde go to Rome, and declare his infortune to his said frende Titus. What shall nede a longe tale? In conclusion with moche payne, colde, hunger, and thurste, he is commen to the citie of Rome, and diligently enquirynge for the house of Titus, at the laste he came to hit: but beholdinge it so beauteous, large, and princely, he was a shamed to approche nigh to it, beinge in so simple astate & vnkladde. But standeth by, that in case that Titus came forthe out of his house, he mought than present hym selfe to hym. He beinge in this thought, Titus holdynge his lady by the hande, issued out from his doore, and takynge their horses to solace them selfe, behelde Gysippus: but beholdyng his vile apparayle regarded hym nat, but passed furthe on their waye: wherwith Gysippus [V2v] was so wounded to the harte, thinkyng that Titus had contemned his fortune, that oppressed with mortall heuynes, he fell in a sowne, but beinge recouered by some that stode by, thinkyng him to be sicke, he furthwith departed: entendinge nat to abide any lenger, but as a wilde beste to wandre abrode in the worlde. But for werynesse he was constrayned to entre in to an olde berne, without the citie: where he castinge him selfe on the bare grounde, with wepinge and dolorous cryenge bewayled his fortune: But moste of all accusinge the ingratitude of Titus: for whome he suffred all that misery, the remembraunce wherof was so intolerable, that he determined no lenger to lyue in that anguisshe & dolour. And therwith drewe his knyfe, purposinge to haue slayne him selfe. But euer wisedome (whiche he by the studie of Philosophie had attained) withdrewe hym from that desperate acte. And in this contention betwene wisedome and wille, fatigate with longe iournayes & watche, or as god wolde haue it, he fell in to a deade sleepe. His knyfe (wherewith he wolde haue slayne hym selfe) fallynge downe by hym. In the meane tyme a commune and notable rufian or thefe, whiche [V3r] had robbed and slayne a man, was entred in to the barne where Gisippus laye, to the intent to soiourne there all that nyght. And seinge Gysippus bewept, and his visage replenisshed with sorowe, and also the naked knyfe by hym, perceyued well that he was a man desperate, and supprised with heuinesse of harte, was wery of his lyfe: whiche the said rufian takinge for a good occasion to escape, toke the knife of Gysippus, & puttinge it in the wounde of him that was slayne, put it all blody in the hande of Gysippus, beinge fast a slepe, & so departed. Sonne after the dedde man beinge founde, the offycers made diligent serche for the murderar: at the laste they entring in to the barne, and fynding Gysippus on slepe, with a blody knife in his hande, they awaked him, wherwith he entred agayne in to his olde sorowes, complayninge his euill fortune. But whan the officers layde vnto hym the dethe of the man, and the hauynge of the blody knife: he thereat reioysed, thankinge god that suche occasion was hapned, wherby he shulde suffre deth by the lawes, & escape the violence of his owne handes. Wherfore he denied nothing that was laide to his charge desiringe the officers to make haste that he [V3v] mought be shortly out of his lyfe. Whereat they meruayled. Anone reporte came to the senate, that a man was slayne, and that a straunger, and a Greeke borne, was founden in suche fourme, as is before mencioned. They furthwith commaunded hym to be brought vnto their presence, sittynge there at that tyme Titus, beinge than Consull or in other lyke dignitie. The miserable Gysippus was brought to the barre, with billes and staues lyke a felon, of whome it was demaunded, if he slewe the man that was founden dedde, he nothynge denyed, but in moste sorowful maner cursed his fortune, namynge him selfe of all other moste miserable. At the last one demaundynge him of what countray he was, he confessed to be an Atheniense: and therwith he cast his sorowfull eyen vpon Titus, with moche indignation, and braste out in to sighes and teares abundantly: that beholdynge Titus, & espienge by a litle signe in his visage, whiche he knewe that it was his dere frende Gysippus, and anone considerynge, that he was brought into dispayer by some misaduenture, he anone rose out of his place, where he sate and fallinge on his knees before the iuges, sayde that he had slayne the [V4r] man, for olde malice that he bare towarde him, and that Gysippus beinge a straunger was giltles, and that all men mought perceyue, that the other was a desperate person. Wherfore to abbreuiate his sorowes. He confessed the acte, whereof he was innocent, to the intent that he wolde finysshe his sorowes with dethe. Wherfore Titus desired the iuges to gyue sentence on hym, accordinge to his merites. But Gysippus perceyuinge his frende Titus (contrary to his expectation) to offre him selfe to the dethe, for his faulse garde, more importunately cried to the senate to procede in their iugement on him, that was the very offendar. Titus denyed it and affirmed with reasons and argumetnes, that he was the murderer, & nat Gysippas. Thus they of lone tyme, with abundaunce of teares contended, whiche of them shulde die for the other, wherat all the senate and people were wonderly abasshed, nat knowinge what it ment. There hapned to be in the prease at that tyme, he whiche in dede was the murdrer, who perceyuinge the meruaylous contention of these two persones, whiche were bothe innocent: and that it proceded of an incomaparable frendshippe, was vehemently prouoked to [V4v] discouer the mouthe. Wherfore he brake through the prease and comminge before the senate, he spake in this wyse. Noble fathers I am suche a persone, whom ye knowe haue ben a commune baratour and these by a lone space of yeres ye knowe also that Titus is of a noble blode, and is a proued to be alway a man of excellent vertue & wisedome, & neuer was malicious. This other straunger semeth to be a man full of simplicitie, and that more is, desperate for some greuous sorowe that he hathe taken, as it is to you euident. I say to you fathers they bothe be innocent: I am that persone that slewe hym that is founden dedde by the barne: and robbed him of his money: and whan I founde in the barne this straunger lyenge on slepe, hauinge by hym a naked knife: I the better to hyde myne offence, dyd put the knife in to the wounde of the dedde man, and so all blody laide it agayne by this straunger. This was my mischeuous deuise, to escape your iugement where vnto nowe I remitte me holy, rather than this noble man Titus, & this innocent straunger shulde vnworthely die. Here at all the Senate and people toke comfort and the noyse of reioysing hartes filled all the court. And [V5r] whan it was further examined, Gysippus was discouered: the frendship betwene him & Titus was through out the citie publisshed, extolled, & magnified. Wherfore the Senate consulted of this mater, & finally at the instaunce of Titus & the people, discharged the felon. Titus recognised his negligence in forgettinge Gysippus. And Titus beinge aduertised of the exile of Gysippus, & the dispitefull crueltie of his kynrede, he was therewith wonderfull wrathe: and hauinge Gysippus home to his house (where he was with incredible ioye receiued of the lady, whome sometyme he shulde haue wedded) he was honorably apparailed, & there Titus offred to hym to vse all his goodes & possessions at his owne pleasure & appetite. But Gysippus desirynge to be agayne in his propre countray, Titus by the consent of the Senate & people, assembled a great armye, & went with Gysippus vnto Athenes: where he hauinge deliuered to him all those, whiche were causers of banisshinge & dispoilinge of his frende Gysippus he dyd on them sharpe execution: and restorynge to Gysippus his landes and substaunce, stablysshed hym in perpetuall quietnes, and so retourned to Rome.

V5v This example in the affectes of frendshippe expresseth (if I be nat deceyued) the description of frendship engendred by the similitude of age and personage: augmented by the conformitie of maners and studies: and confirmed by the longe continuaunce of company. Seneca saieth that very frendeship is induced neither with hope ne with rewarde. But it is to be desired for the estimation of it selfe, which estimation is honestie, and what thinge is more honest than to be kynde, lyke as nothinge is so dishoneste as to be vnkynde. Perchaunce some wyll saye, that frendshyppe is nat knowen but by receyuinge of benefites. Here what Seneca sayeth. Loke as of all other vertues, semblably of frendship the estimation is referred to the mynde of a man. For if a frende persist in his office and duetie, what so euer lacketh in benefite, the blame is in fortune, like as a man may be a good synginge man, thoughe the noyse of the standers aboute letteth him to be harde: also he may be eloquent/ though he be let to speke: & a stronge man, though his handes be bounden: Also there may happen to fayle no parte of connynge, though there be a lette, so that it is nat expressed. So kyndenesse may be i wille [V6r] all though there lacketh powar to declare it. Perchaunce some will demaunde this question: if frendship may be in wille without exteriour signes, wherby shall it be perceyued or knowen: That I shall nowe declare. Howe do we knowe the vertues of Socrates, Plato, Tulli, Agesilaus, Titus, Traiaine, the two Antonines, and other like emperours, & noble capitaynes and counsaylours? But onely by the fame of their nobilitie: & for those vertues we loue them, all though they were straungers: ne we hope to receyue any benefite by them. Moche more, if we be naturally inclined to sauour one of our onwe contraye, of whome the assured fame is, and also we our selfe haue conuenient experience, that in him is suche vertue, wherin we delite: who also for some semblable oppinion, that he hathe in vs, vseth vs with some speciall familiaritie: on suche one shall we employe all maner of beneficence. It wolde be remembred that frendshippe is betwene good men onely, and is ingendred of an oppinion of vertue. Than may we reason in this fourme. A good man is so named, because that al that he willeth or dothe, is onely good: in good can be none euill, therfore no thynge that a good man [V6v] willeth or dothe can be euill. Lykewise vertue is the affection of a good man, whiche neither willeth nor dothe any thinge that is euill: And vice is contrary vnto vertue, for in the oppinion of vertue is neither euill nor vice. And very amitie is vertue. Wherfore nothinge euill or vicious may happen in frendship. Therfore in the first election of frendes, resteth all the importaunce, wherfore it wolde nat be without a longe deliberation and profe: and as Aristotle sayeth in as longe tyme as by them, bothe beinge to gether conuersaunt, a hole busshell of sale mought be eten. For often tymes with fortune (as I late sayd) is chaunged, or at the lest minisshed the feruentnesse of that affection: according as the swete Poete Ouide affirmeth sayenge in this sentence.

But if any hapneth in euery fortune to be [V7r] constant in frendship, he is to be made of aboue all thinges that may come vnto man and aboue any other that be of bloode or kynrede (as Tulli sayeth) for from kynrede may be taken beneuolence: from frendship it can neuer be seuered. Wherfore beneuolence taken from kynrede, yet the name of kinseman remayneth. Take it from frendship & the name of frendship is vtterly perisshed. But sens this liberte of speche is nowe vsurped by flaterars: where they perceyue that assentation & praises be abhorred: I am therfore nat well assured, howe nowe a dayes a man shal knowe or discerne suche admonicion from flatery, but by one only meanes: that is to say, to remembre that frendship may nat be but betwene good men. Than consider, if he that dothe admonisshe the, be hym selfe voluptuous, ambicious, couetous, arrogant, or dissolute, refuse nat his admonicion: but by the example of the emperour Antonine, thankefully take it: and amende suche default as thou perceyuest doth gyue occasion of obloqui in suche maner as the reporter also by thyne example may be corrected. But for that admonicion onely, accompt him nat immediatly, to be thy frende, vntill thou haue of hym a long and suer [V7v] experience, for vndoughtedly it is wonderfull difficile, to fynde a man very ambitious or coueytous, to be assured in frendship. For where fyndest thou hym (saieth Tulli) that will nat preferred honoures, great offices, rule, autorite, and richese before frendship? Therfore (sayeth he) it is very harde to fynde frendship in them, that be occupied in acquirynge honour, or about the affaires of the publike weale. Which sayenge is proued true by dayly experience. For disdayne and contempt be companions with ambition, lyke as enuye and haterede be also her folowers.

The diuision of Ingratitude, and the dispraise therof.

The moste damnable vice, and moste agayne iustice, in myne oppinion is ingratitude, commenly called vnkyndnesse. All be it, it is in diuers fourmes, and of sondry importaunce, as it is discribed by Seneca in this fourme. He is vnkynde, whiche denieth to haue receyued any benefite, that in dede he hathe receyued: He is vnkynde that dissimuleth: he is vnkynde [V8r] that recompenseth nat. But he is moste vnkynde, that forgeteth. For the other, if they rendre nat agayne kyndnesse, yet they owe it: and there remayneth some steppes or tokens of desertes inclosed in an euill conscience: & at the last by some occasion may happe to retourne to yelde agayne thankes: whan either shame therto prouoketh them, or sodayne desire of thinge, that is honest, which is wont to be for a tyme in stomakes, though they be corrupted, if a lyght occasion do moue them. But he that forgetteth kyndenesse, mey neuer be kinde; sens all the benefite is quite fallen from hym: And where lacketh remembraunce, there is no hope of any recompence. In this vice men be moche wars than beestes. For diuers of them will remembre a benefite longe after, that they haue receyued it. The courser, fierce & couragious, will gladly suffre his keper, that dresseth & fedeth him, to vaunt hym easely, and stereth nat, but whan he listeth to prouoke him: where if any other shulde ryde him, though he were a kinge, he will stere & longe and endeuour hym selfe to throwe hym. Suche kyndenesse haue ben founden in dogges, that they haue nat onely dyed in defendinge their maisters: But also some, [V8v] after that their maisters haue died, or ben slayne: haue abstayned from meate, and for famine haue died by their maisters.

Plini remembreth of a dogge, whiche in Epiro (a contray in Greece) so assaulted th murdrer of his maister in a great assembly of people, that with barkynge and bitynge hym, he compelled him at the laste to confesse his offence. The dogge also of one Iayson, his maister beinge slayne, wolde neuer eate meate, but died for hunger. Many semblable tokens of kindnesse Plini reherceth, but principally one of his owne tyme, worthie to be here remembred.

Whan execution shulde be done on one Titus Habinius & his seruauntes: one of them had a dogge, whiche mought neuer be driuen from the prison, nor neuer wolde departe from his maisters body: and whan it was taken from the place of execution, the dogge houled moste lamentably, beinge compased with a great membre of people: of whome whan one of them had caste meate to the dogge, he brought & laide it to the mouthe of his maister. And whan the corps was throwen in to the ryuer of Tiber, the dogge swamme after it, and as longe as he mought he inforced hym selfe to here & sustayne it, [X1r] the people scatering abrode to beholde the faithfulnesse of the beste.

Also the Lyon, which of all other bestis is accounted moste fierce and cruell, hath ben founden to haue in remembraunce benefite shewed vnto him. As Gellius remembreth out of the historie of Appion, howe a lyon, out of whose fote a yonge man had ones taken a stubbe, & clensed the wounde, wherby he waxed hole: after knewe the same man beinge cast to him to be deuoured: & wolde nat hurte him, but lickynge the legges and handes of the man, whiche laye dismayde lokynge for dethe, toke acquaintaunce of him, & euer after folowed him, beinge ladde in a small lyam: wherat wondred all they that behelde it. Whiche historie is wonderfull pleasaunt: but for the lengthe therof, I am constrayned nowe to abrege it.

Howe moche be they repugnaunt and (as I mought saye enemies) bothe to nature, & reason, that suche one, whome they haue longe knowen to be to them beneuolent, & ioyned to them in a syncere & assured frendship, approued by infallible tokens, ratified also with sondry kyndes of beneficence, they will contemne or neglecte, beinge aduaunced by any good fortune. I require nat suche excellent [X1v] frendship, as was betwene Pitheas and Damon: betwene Horestes & Pilades: or betwene Gysippus and Titus, of whome I haue before written (for I firmely beleue they shall neuer happen in payres or couples) nor I seke nat for suche as will alway preferre the honour or profite of their frende before their owne, ne (whiche is the leste parte of frendshippe) for suche one as desirously will participate with his frende all his good fortune or substaunce. But where at this day may be founden suche frendship betwene two, but that where fortune is more beneuolent to the one than to the other: the frendship waxeth tedious: & be that is aduaunced, desireth to be matched with onehauinge semblable fortune. And if any damage hapneth to his olde frende, he pitieth him, but he soroweth nat, & though he seme to be sorowfull, yet he helpeth nat: & though he wolde be sene to helpe him, yet trauaileth he nat: And though he wolde be sene to trauaile, yet he suffreth nat. For (let vs laye a parte assistence with money, whiche is a very small portion of frendshippe) who will so moche esteme frendship, that therfore wyll entre into the displeasure, nat of his prince, but of them, whome he [X2r] supposeth may minysshe his estimation towardes his prince: ye and that moche lasse is, will displease his newe acquaintaunce, equall with him in autorite or fortune: for the defence, helpe, or adauncement of his auncient and well approued frende. O the moste miserable astate at this present tyme of mankynde: that for the thinge, whiche is moste propre vnto them, the example therof muste be founden amonge the sauage and fierce bestes.

But alas suche peruerse constellation nowe reigneth ouer men, that where some be aptely and naturally disposed to amitie, and fyndeth one in similitude of studie & maners equall to his expectation, & therfore kendeleth a feruent loue towarde that persone, puttinge all his ioye and delite in the praise and auauncement of him that he loueth: it hepneth that he whiche is loued beinge promoted in honour, either of purpose neglecteth his frende, therby suppressynge liberite of speche or familiar resorte: or els esteming his mynde with his fortune onely & nat with the suertie of frendship: hideth from him the secretes of his harte, & either trusteth no man, or els him whome prosperous fortune hath late brought in acquaintaunce: [X2v] wherby do ensue two great inconueniences: one is, that he which so entierly loued, perceyuinge his loue to be vaynely employed, withdraweth by litle & litle the fire, whiche serueth to no vse: & so amitie, the greattest treasoure that may be, finally perissheth. The other inconuenience is, that he whiche neglecteth suche a frende, either consumeth him selfe with solicitude, if he be secrete: or in sondry affaires for lacke of counsayle, is after with repentaunce attached: or disclosinge his mynde to his newe acquaintaunce, is soner betrayed than well counsaled: wise men knowe this to be true: and yet will they vnethe be content to be thus warned.

The election of frendes, and the diuersitie of flaterers.

A noble man aboue al thinges aught to be very circumspecte in the election of suche men, as shulde continually attende vpon his persone, at tymes vacant from busye affayres, whome he may vse as his familiars, and saufely committe to them his secretes. For [X3r] as Plutarche saieth: what so euer he be, that loueth, he doteth, & is blynde in that thinge, whiche he dothe loue: except by lerninge he can accustome him selfe to ensue & sette more price by those thinges, that be honest and vertuous, than by them that he seeth in experience, and be familiarly vsed. And suerly as the wormes do brede moste gladly in softe wode and swete: so the moste gentill & noble wittes, inclined to honoure, replenisshed with moste honest & curtaise maners, do sonest admitte flaterars, and be by them abused: And it is no meruayle. For lyke as the wylde corne, beinge in shap and greatnesse lyke to the good, if they be mengled, with great difficultie will be tried out: But either in a narowe holed seeue they will stille abide with the good corne: or els, where the holes be large, they will issue out with the other: so flatery from frendship is hardely seuered: for as moche as in euery motion and affecte of the minde, they be mutually mengled to gether. Of this peruerse & cursed people be sondry kyndes: some whiche apparauntly do flatter, praysinge & extollinge euery thinge that is done by their superior: & berynge hym on hande that in hym it is of euery man commended, [X3v] whiche of trouthe is of all men abhorred & hated, to the affirmaunce therof they adde to othes, adiurations, & horrible curses, offringe them selfes to eternall paynes, except their reporte be true. And if they perceyue any parte of their tale mistrusted, than they sette furthe sodaynly an heuie and sorowfull countenaunce: as if they were abiecte and brought in to extreme desperation. Other there be, whiche in a more honest terme may be called Assentatours or folowers, whiche do awayte diligently, what is the fourme of the speche and gesture of their maister: and also other his maners & facion of garmentes: and to the imitation and resemblaunce therof they applie their studie: that for the similutude of maners they may the rather be accepted in to the more familiar acquaintaunce. Lyke to the seruauntes of Dionyse kynge of Sicile, whiche all though they were inclined to all vnhappynes and mischiefe, after the commynge of Plato, they perceyuinge that for his doctrine and wisedome the kynge had him in high estimation, they than counterfaited the countenaunce and habite of the Philosopher, thereby encreasinge the kynges fauour towardes them: who than was hooly [X4r] giuen to studie of Philosophie. But after that Dionyse by their incitation had expelled Plato out of Sicile, they abandoned their habite and seueritie, and eftsones retourned to their mischeuous and voluptuous liuynge.

The great Alexander bare his hedde some parte on the one side more than the other: whiche diuers of his seruauntes dyd counterfaite: semblably dyd the scholers of Plato, the moste noble Philosopher: whiche for as moche as their maister had a brode breste and high shulders, & for that cause was named Plato, whiche signifieth brode or large: they stuffed their garmentes, and made on their shulders great holsters, to seme to be of like fourme as he was. Wherby he shulde conceyue some fauour towardes them, for the demonstration of loue that they pretented in the ostentation of his persone. Whiche kynde of flaterye I suppose Plato coulde right well laughe at. But these maner of flateres may be well founde out and perceyued by a good witte: whiche somtyme by him selfe diligently considereth his owne qualities and naturall appetite. For the company or communication of a persone familiar, whiche is alway pleasaunt [X4v] and without sharpnes, inclinyng to inordinate fauour & affection, is alway to be suspected. Also there is in that frende small commoditie, whiche foloweth a man lyke his shadowe meuinge onely whan he meueth, and abidinge where he list to tary. These be the mortall enemyes of noble wittes, & specially in youthe, whan communely they be more inclined to glorie than grauitie. Wherfore that liberalitie, which is on suche flaterers imployed, is nat onely perisshed, but also spilled & deuoured. Wherfore in myne oppinion, it were a right necessarye lawe, that shulde be made to put suche persones openly to tortures, to the fearefull example of other: sens in all princes lawes (as Plutarche sayeth) nat onely he that hathe slayne the kynges son and heire but also he that counterfaiteth his seale, or adulterateth his coyne, with more base metall, shall be iuged to die as a traytour. In reason howe moche more payne (if there were any greatter payne than deth) were he worthy to suffre, that with false adulation dothe corrupt and adulter the gentill and vertuous nature of a noble man, whiche is nat onely his image, but the very man hym selfe. For without vertue man be but in the [X5r] numbre of bestis. And also by peruerse instruction and flatery, suche one sleeth bothe the soule and good renoume of his maister. By whose example & negligence perissheth also an infinite numbre of persones: whiche domage to a realme neither with treasure ne with powar can be redoubed.

But harde it is all way to exchewe these flaterers, whiche lyke to crowes, do pyke out mennes eyes or they be dedde. And it is to noble men moste difficile, whome all men couayte to please, and to displease them it is accounted no wysedome, perchaunce leste there shulde ensue thereby more parayle than profite. Also Carneades the Philosopher was wont to saye, that the sonnes of noble men lerned nothing well but onely to ryde. For whiles they lerned lettres, their maisters flatered them, praysinge euery worde that they spake. In wrastlynge their teachers & companions also flatered them, submittynge them selfes & fallinge downe to their fete. But the horse or courser, nat vnderstandynge who rydeth him, ne whether he be a gentyll man or woman, a ryche man or a poore, if he sitte nat suerly and can skill of ridynge the horse casteth him quickely. This is the sayenge of Carneades. [X5v] There be other of this sorte, whiche more couertly lay their snares to take the hartes of princes and noble men. And as he which entendeth to take the fierse & mighty lyon, pytcheth his haye or nette in the woode amonge great trees and thornes, where as is the moste haunte of the lyon, that beinge blynded with the thicknes of the couerte,or he be ware, he may sodainly tumble into the nette: where the hunter seelynge bothe his eyen, and bindynge his legges strongly to gether, finally daunteth his fiercenesse, & maketh him obedient to his ensignes and tokens. Semblably there be some, that by dissimulation can ostent or shewe a highe grauitie, mixte with a sturdy entretaynement and facion: exilinge them selfes from all pleasure and recreation: frowninge and grutchinge at euery thinge, wherin is any myrthe or solace, all though it be honeste: tauntinge & rebuking immoderately them, with whome they be nat contented: Naminge them selfes therfore playne men: all though they do the semblable, and often tymes wars in their owne houses. And by a simplicitie and rudenes of spekynge, with longe deliberation vsed in the same, they pretende the high knowlege of counsayle to [X6r] be in them onely: and in this wise pytchinge their nette of adulation, they intrappe the noble and vertuous harte, which onely beholdeth their fayned seueritie and coutnerfayte wisedome: and the rather by cause this maner of flatery is mooste vnlyke to that, whiche is communely vsed. Aristotell in his politykes exorteth gouernours to haue their frendes for a great number of eyen, earis, handes, and legges: considering that no one man may see or here all thinge that many men may see and here: ne can be in all places, or do as many thinges well, at one tyme, as many persones may do. And often tymes a beholder or loker on espieth a defaulte, that the doer forgetteth or skippeth ouer: whiche caused the emperour Antonine to enquire of many, what other men spake of him: correctinge thereby his defautes, whiche he perceyued to be iustly reproued. O what an incomparable wisedome was in this noble prince, that prouided suche punysshement, which was equal to the importaunce of the trespas: and terrible to all other semblably enclyned to flaterye & vayne promises. Where els he was to all men of good, and specially men of great lernynge excellent bounteous. [X6v]

This I truste shall suffyce for the expressinge of that incomparable treasure called amitie: in the declaration wherof I haue aboden the longer, to the intent to persuade the reders to enserche therfore vigilauntly, and beinge so happy to finde it, accordynge to the said description, to embrace and honour it, abhorynge aboue all thynges ingratitude, whiche pestylence hathe longe tyme raygned amonge vs, augmented by detraction, a corrupt and lothely sickensse, wherof I wyll trayte in the laste parte of this warke: that men of good nature espienge it nede nat (if they liste) be therwith deceyued.

Of the noble and moste excellent vertue named Iustyce.

The moste excellent & incomparable vertue called iustice, is so necessary and expedient for the gouernor of a publike weale, that without it none other vertue may be commendable: ne witte or any maner of doctrine profitable. Tulli saith, that at the beginninge, whan the multitude of people were oppressed by them that abounded in possessions and substaunce, they espienge some one, whiche excelled in vertue and strength, to hym they repayred: who ministringe equitie whan he had defended the poore men from iniurie, finally he retayned to gether and gouerned the greatter persones with the lasse, in an equall and indifferent ordre. Wherfore they called that man a king, whiche is as moche to say as a ruler. And as Aristotell sayeth, iustice is nat onely a portion or spice of vertue, but it is intierly the same vertue: And therof onely (sayeth Tulli) men be called good men: as who saieth that without iustyce all other qualities & vertues can nat make a man good. [X7v]

The auncient Ciuilians do saye, iustyce is a wille perpetuall and constaunt, whiche gyueth to euery man his right. In that it is named constaunt, it importeth fortitude: in discernynge what is ryght or wronge, prudence is required: And to proporcion the sentence or iugement, in an equalitie, it belongeth to temperaunce. All these to gether conglutinate and effectually executed maketh a perfecte definicion of iustyce.

Iustice all though it be but one entier vertue, yet is it described in two kyndes or spices: the one is named iustyce distributiue, which is in distribution of honour, money, benefite, or other thinge semblable: the other is called commutatiue or by exchaunge. And of Aristotell it is named in Greeke Diorthotice, whiche is in englysshe correctiue. And that parte of iustyce is contayned in intremedlynge, and somtyme is voluntary, somtyme involuntary intermedlynge. Voluntary is bienge and sellynge, loue, suertie, lettynge, and takynge: and all other thynge, wherin is mutuall consent at the beginnyng: and therfore is it called voluntary. Intermedlynge involuntary, somtyme is priuely done, as stelynge, auoutry, poisonyng, falsehede, disceyte, secrete murdre, false wytnes, [X8r] and periurye: Somtyme it is violent, as batry, open murdre, and manslaughter, robry, open reproche, & other lyke. Iustice distributiue hathe regarde to the persone: iustyce commutatiue hathe no regarde to the persone, but onely considerynge the inequalitie, wherby the one thynge excedeth the other, indeuoureth to brynge them bothe to an equalitie. Nowe wyll I retourne agayne to speke firste of Iustice distributiue, leauing Iustice commutatiue to an other volume. Whiche I purpose shall succede this warke, god giuynge me tyme and quietnes of mynde to perfourme it.

The firste parte of Iustyce distributiue.

It is nat to be doughted, but that the firste and princypall parte of Iustyce distributyue to, and euer was, to do to god that honour, whiche is due to his diuine maiestie. Whiche honour (as I before said in the firste boke, where I wrate of the motion called honour in daunsinge) consisteth in loue, feare, and reuerence. For sens all men graunte, that iustyce is to gyue [X7v] to euery manne his owne: moche more to rendre one good dede for another: mooste of all to loue god, of whome we haue all thinge, and without hym we were nothing, and beinge perysshed we were eftsones recouered. Howe ought we (to whome is gyuen the ery light of true fayth) to embrace this parte of iustynce more, or at the lest no lesse than the gentilles: whiche wandring in the darkenes of ignoraunce, knewe nat god as he is, but deuidynge his maiestie in to sondry portions imagined Idols of diuers fourmes and names, assigned to them particuler autorites, offices, and dignities. Nat withstandynge in the honourynge of those goddes, suche as they were, they supposed all way to be the chiefe parte of iustice.

Romulus (the firste kynge of Romanes) for his fortune and benefites, whiche he ascribed to his goddes, made to the honoure of them great and noble Temples, ordaynynge to them images, sacrifices, and other ceremonyes. And more ouer (whiche is moche to be meruayled at) he also prohited that any thing shulde be radde or spoken reprocheable or blasphemous to god. And therfore he excluded all fables made of the adoutryes and other enormityes, Y1r that the Greekes had fayned their goddes to haue commytted. Inducinge his people to speke, and also to coniecte nothinge of god, but onely that, whiche was in nature moste excellent, whiche after was also commaunded by Plato in the firste boke of his publike weale.

Numa Pompilius, whiche was the nexte kinge after Romulus, and therto electe by the Senate, all though he were a straunger borne & dwellynge with his father in a litle towne of the Sabynes, yet he considerynge from what astate he came to that dignitie, he beinge a man of excellent wisedome and lerning, thought that he had attayned the gouernaunce of so noble a people and citie. He therfore nat onely increased within the citie Temples, alters, ceremonyes, preestes, & sondry religions, But also with a wonderfull wisedome & policie (whiche is to longe to be nowe rehersed) he brought all the people of Rome to suche a deuocion, or (as I mought saye a supersticion) that where all way before duryng the tyme that Romulus reigned, whiche was xxxvii. yeres, they euer were continually occupied [Y1v] in warres & rauine, they by the space of xliii. yeres (so longe reigned Numa) gaue them selfe all, as it were to an obseruaunce of religyon, abandonynge warres, and applyenge in suche wise their studie to the honouring of their goddes, and increasinge their publike weale, that other people adioyninge, wondringe at them, & for their deuocion hauynge the citie in reuerence, as it were a palace of god, all that season neuer attempted any warres agayne them, or with any hostilitie inuaded their countray, many mo princes and noble men of the Romanes coulde I reherce, who for the victories had againe their enemyes, raysed Temples, and made solempne & sumptuouse playes in honour of their goddes, rendringe (as it were) vnto them their duetie, & all wayes accountynge it the firste parte of Iustyce: And this parte of iustyce towarde god in honouringe him with conuenient ceremonyes, is nat to be contemned: example we haue amonge vs that be mortall. For if a man beinge made riche, & aduaunced by his lorde or maister, will prouide to receyue him, a faire & pleasaunt lodginge, hanged with riche Aresse or tapestrie, and with goodly plate and other thinges necessary most fresshely adourned, [Y2r] but after that his maister is ones entred, he wyll neuer entertayne or contenaunce him but as a straunger, suppose ye that the beautie & garnisshinge of the house shall onely content him, but that he will thinke that his seruaunt brought hym thither onely for vayne glorie, and as a beholder & wonderer at the riches that he hym selfe gaue hym, whiche the other vnthankefully dothe attribute to his owne fortuen or policie. Moche rather is that seruaunt to be commended,whiche hauinge a litle rewarde of his maister, will in a small cotage make him hartie chere, with moche humble reuerence. Yet wolde I nat be noted, that I wolde seme so moche to extolle reuerence by it selfe, that churches and other ornamentes dedicate to god shulde be therfore contemned. For vndoughtedly suche thinges be nat onely commendable but also expedient for the augmentacion and continuinge of reuerence. For be it either after the opinion of Plato, that all this worlde is the temple of god, or that man is the same temple, these materiall churches, where vnto repaireth the congregation of christen people, the whiche is the corporall presence of the sonne of god & very god, aught to be lyke to the sayde temple, pure, [Y2v] clene, & well adourned, that is to saye, that as the heuyn visible is mooste pleasauntly garnisshed with planettes, and sterres, resplendisshinge in the moste pure firmament of asure colour: the erthe furnisshed with trees, herbes, & floures of diuers colours, facions and fauours: bestis, foules, & fisshes of sondry kyndes: Semblably the soule of man of his owne kinde beinge incorruptibill, nete, and clere, the fences and powars wonderfull and pleasaunt, the vertues in it contayned noble and riche, the fourme excellent and royall, as that, which was made to the similitude of god. Moreouer the body of man is of all other mortall creatures in proporcion and figure moste perfecte & elegant. What peruerse or frowarde opinion were it to thinke, that god still beinge the same god that he euer was, wolde haue his maiestie nowe contempned, or be in lasse estimation? But rather more honoured for the benefites of his glorious passion, whiche may be well perceyued, who so peruseth the holy historie of the Euangelistes, where he shall finde in ordre, that he desired clennesse & honour: Firste in preparation of his commynge, whiche was by the wasshinge and clensinge of the body of man by baptisme in water, the [Y3r] soule also made clene by penaunce, the election of the moste pure and clene virgine to be his mother, and she also of the lyne of princes moste noble and vertuous. It pleased him moche, that Mary humbly kneled at his fete and wasshed them with precious balme, and wyped them with her heare. In his glorious transfiguration his visage shone lyke the sonne, & his garmentes were wonderfull white, & more pure (as the Euangeliste saieth) than any warkeman coulde make them. Also at his commynge to Ierusalem towarde his passion, he wolde than be receyued with great routes of people, who layinge their garmentes on the way as he rode, other castynge bowes a brode, went before him in fourme of a triumphe. All this honour wolde he haue before his resurrection, whan he was in the fourme of humilitie. Than howe moche honour is due to him nowe, that all power is gyuen to hym, as well in heuin as in erthe: and beinge glorified of his father, sitteth on his right hande, iugynge all the worlde.

In redynge the bible men shall fynde that the infinite number of the sturdye harted Iues coulde neuer haue ben gouerned by any wisedome, if they had nat ben brideled [Y3v] with ceremonyes. The superstition of the gentilles, preserued often tymes as well the Greekes as the Romanes from finall distruction. But we wyll laye all those histories a parte, and come to our owne experience. For what purpose was it ordayned, that christen kynges (all though they by inheritaunce succeded their progenitours kynges) shulde in an open and stately place before all their subiectes receyue their crowne and other Regalities, but that by reason of the honorable circumstaunces than vsed, shulde be impressed in the hartes of the beholders perpetuall reuerence: whiche (as I before sayde) is fountayne of obedience, or els mought the kynges be enoynted & receyue their charge in a place secrete, with lasse payne to them, & also their ministers? Lette it be also considered, that we be men and nat aungels, wherfore we knowe nothinge but by outwarde significations. Honour, wherto reuerence pertayneth, is (as I haue said) the rewarde of vertue: whiche honour is but the estimation of people, which estiamtion is nat euery where perceyued, but by some exterior signe, and that is either by laudable reporte, or excellencie in vesture: or other thinge semblable: But reporte is nat [Y4r] so commune a token, as apparayle. For in olde tyme kynges ware crownes of golde, and knightes onely ware chaynes. Also the moste noble of the Romanes ware sondry garlandes, wherby was perceyued their merite. O creatures moste vnkynde, & barrayne of Iustyce, that will denie that thinge to their god and creatour, whiche of very duetie and right is gyuen to hym by good reason afore all princes, whiche in a degree incomparable be his subiectes and vassals? By whiche oppinion they seme to despoyle hym of reuerence, which shal cause all obedience to cease, wherof will ensue vtter confusion, if good christen princes meued with zeale do nat shortely prouide to extincte vtterly all suche opinions.

The thre noble counsayles of reason: societie & knowlege.

Merely the knowlege of Iustyce is nat so difficile or harde to be attayned vnto by man, as it is communely supposed, if he wolde nat willingly abandone the excellencie of his propre nature, and folisshely applicate him selfe to the nature of creatures [Y4v] vnreasonable, in the stede of reason embrasinge sensualitie, and for societie and beneuolence folowinge wifulnesse and malice, and for knowlege, blynde ignoraunce and forgetfulnesse. Vndoughtedly reason, societie called company, and knowlege remayninge, Iustice is at hande, and as she were called for ioyneth her selfe to that company: which by her felowhip is made inseperable: wherby hapneth (as I mought saye) a vertuous and moste blessed conspiracie. And in thre very shorte preceptes or aduertisementes man is persuaded to receyue & honoure iustyce. Reason bedynge him, do the same thinge to an other, that thou wolest haue done to the. Societie (without which mannes lyfe is vnpleasaunt and full of anguisshe) sayeth: Loue thou thy neighbour, as thou doest thy selfe. And that sentence or precept came from heuyn, whan societie was firste ordayned of god: and is of suche autoritie, that the onely sonne of god, beinge demaunded of a doctor of lawe, whiche is the great commaundement in the lawe of god, aunswered: Thou shalte loue the lorde god with all thy harte: and in all thy soule, and in all thy mynde: that is the firste and great commaundement. The seconde is lyke to the [Y5r] same: Thou shalte loue thy neyghbour as thy selfe. In these two commaundementes do depende all the lawe & prophetes. Beholde howe our sauiour Christ ioyneth beneuolence with the loue of god: & nat onely maketh it the seconde precept, but also resembleth it vnto the firste?

Knowlege also, as a perfeyte instructrice & mastresse, in a more briefe sentence than yet hathe ben spoken, declareth by what meane the sayd preceptes of reason & societie may be well vnderstande: & therby iustice finally executed. The wordes be these in latine, Nosce te ipsum. whiche is in englysshe, know thy selfe. This sentence is of olde writars supposed for to be firste spoken by Chilo or some other of the seuen auncient Greekes called in latine Sapientes,in englysshe sages or wisemen. Other do accommodate it to Apollo, whome the paynimes honoured for god of wisedome. But to saye the trouthe were it Apolo that spake it, or Chilo, or any other, suerly it proceded of god, as an excellent & wonderfull sentence. By this counsaile, man is induced to vnderstande the other two preceptes: & also wherby is accomplisshed nat onely the seconde parte, but also all the residue of Iustyce, whiche I before haue rehersed. [Y5v]

For a man knowinge him selfe shall knowe that which is his owne, & pertayneth to him selfe. But what is more his owne than his soule? Or what thynge more appertayneth to hym thanne his body? His soule is vndoughtedly and frely his owne. And none other persone may by any meane possede it or clayme it. His body so pertayneth vnto him, that none other without his consent, may vendicate therein any propretie. Of what valour or price his soule is, the similitude, where vnto it was made, the immoralitie, and lyfe euerlastynge, & the powars and qualities therof, abundauntely do declare. And of that same mater & substaunce that his soule is of, be all other soules, that nowe are, and haue ben, and euer shall be, without singularitie or preeminence of nature. In semblable astate is his body, and of no better claye (as I mought frenkely saye) is a gentilman made than a carter: & of libertie of wille, as moche is gyuen of god to the poore herdeman, as to the great and mighty emperour. Than in knowinge the condicion of his soule & body, he knoweth him selfe, and consequently in the same thinge he knoweth euery other man.

If thou be a gouernour, or haste ouer other [Y6r] soueraygntie, knowe thy selfe. That is to saye, knowe that thou arte verely a man compacte of soule and body, and in that all other men be equall vnto the. Also that euery man taketh with the, equall benefite of the spirite of life, nor thou haste any more of the dewe of heuyn, or the brightnes of the sonne, than any other persone. Thy dignitie or autorite, wherin thou onely differest from other, is (as it were) but a weighty or heuy cloke, fresshely gliteringe in the eyen of them that be poreblynde: where vnto the, it is paynefull, if thou weare hym in his right facion, and as it shal best become the: And from the it may be shortely taken of him that dyd put it on the, if thou vse it negligently: or that thou weare it nat commenly & as it appertaineth. Therfore whiles thou wearest it, knowe thy selfe, knowe that the name of a soueraigne or ruler without actuall gouernaunce is but a shadowe, that gouernaunce standeth nat by wordes onely, but principally by acte and example: that by example of gouernours men do rise or falle in vertue or vice. And as it is said of Aristotell, rulers more greuously do sinne by example than by their acte. And the more they haue vnder their gouernaunce,the [Y7v] greatter accounte haue they to rendre. That in their owne preceptes & ordenaunces thou be nat founde negligent: wherfore there is a noble aduertisement of the emperour Alexander, for his grauitie called Seuerus. On a tyme one of his noble men exhorted hym to do a thinge contrary to a lawe or edicte, whiche he hym selfe had inacted: But he firmely denyed it. The other still persistynge sayde, that the emperour was nat bounden to obserue his owne lawes. Where vnto the sayde emperour displeasauntly answering, said in this maner: God forbede, that euer I shulde deuise any lawes, wherby my people shulde be compelled to do any thynge, whiche I my selfe can nat tollerate. Wherfore ye that haue any gouernaunce, by this moste noble princis example knowe the boundes of your autorite, knowe also your office and duetie, beinge your selfes men mortall, amonge men, and instructours and leaders of men. And that as obedience is due vnto you/ so is your studie, your labour, your industrie with vertuous example due to them that be subiecte to your autoritie. Ye shall knowe all way your selfe, if for affection or motion ye do speke or do nothing vnworthy the immortalitie & moste precious nature of [Y8r] your soule: & remembringe that your body is subiecte to corruption, as all other be, & life tyme vncertayne. If ye forgette nat this commne astate, and do also remembre, that in nothinge but onely in vertue ye are better than an other inferior persone, accordynge to the sayeng of Agesilaus kyng of Lacedemones, who hering the great king of Persia praised, asked howe moche that great king was more than he in iustice. And Socrates beinge demaunded, if the kynge of Persia semed to him happy, I can nat tell (said he) of what estimation he is in vertue & lerning. Consider also, that auctorite beinge well & diligently vsed, is but a token of superioritie, but in very dede it is a burden and losse of libertie.

And what gouernour in this wise knoweth him selfe, he shall also by the same rule knowe all other men, and shall nedes loue them, for whome he taketh labours & forsaketh libertie.

In semblable maner the inferior persone or subiecte aught to consider, that all be it (as I haue spoken) he in the substaunce of soule and body be equall with his superior, yet for als moche as the powars and qualities of the soule and body, with the disposition [Y8v] of reason, be nat in euery man equall, therfore god ordayned a diuersitie to preeminence in degrees to be amonge men, for the necessary derection and preseruation of them in conformitie of lyuinge. Whereof nature ministreth to vs examples abundauntly: as in bees (wherof I haue before spoken in the firste boke) cranes, redde dere, wolfes, & diuers other soules & bestis, whiche herdeth or flocketh, (to longe here to be rehersed) amonge whome all the other haue a vigilant eye, awaytinge his signes or tokens, & according therto preparinge them selfe moste diligently. If we thinke that this naturall instinction of creatures vnreasonable is necessry & also commendable, howe farre out of reason shall we iudge them to be, that wolde exterminate all superioritie, extincte all gouernaunce and lawes, and vnder the coloure of holy scripture, whiche they do violently wraste to their purpose, do endeuour them selfes to bryng the life of man in to a confusion ineuitable, & to be in moche wars astate than the afore names beestes. Sens without gouernaunce and lawes the persones moste stronge in body, shulde by violence constraigne them that be of lasse [Y9r] strength and weaker, to labour as bondemen or slaues for their sustinaunce & other necessaries, the stronge men beinge without labour or care. Than were all our equalitie dasshed, & finally as bestes sauage the one shall desire to flee a nother. I omitte continuall manslaughters, rauisshementes, aduoutries, & enormities horrible to reherce: whiche (gouernaunce lackynge) muste nedes of necessitie ensue: except these euangelicall persones coulde persuade god or compelle him to chaunge men in to aungels, makinge them all of one disposition, and confirminge them all in one fourme of charitie. And as concerninge all men in a generaltie, this sentence, knowe thy selfe, whiche of all other is moste compendious, beinge made but of thre wordes, euery worde beinge but one sillable, induceth men sufficiently to the knowlege of iustyce.

Of fraude and disceyte, whiche be agayne Iustyce.

Tulli saieth, that the fundation of perpetuall praise & renoume is iustyce, without the whiche no thynge may be commendable. Which sentence is verified [Y9v] by experience. For be a man neuer so valiaunt, so wise, so liberall or plentuous, so familiare or curtaise: if he be sene to exercise in iustyce or wronge, it is often remembred: But the other vertues be seldome rekened, without an exception, whiche is in this maner. As in praysinge a manne for some good qualitie, where he lacketh iustyce, men will communely saye, he is an honorable man, a bounteous man, a wise man, a valiaunt man, sauynge that he is an oppressour, an extorcioner, or is deceytefull, or of his promyse vnsure. But if he be iuste with the other vertues, than is it sayde, he is good & worshipfull, or he is a good man and an honorable, good and gentill, or good and hardy: so that Iustyce onely, bereth the name of good, and lyke a capitayne or leader precedeth all vertues in euery commendation. But where as the said Tulli saieth, that iniurie, which is contrary to iustice, is done by two meanes, that is to say, either by violence or by fraude semeth to be proprely of the foxe, violence or force of the lyon, the one and the other be farre from the nature of man: but fraude is worthy moste to be hated. That maner of iniurie, whiche is done with fraude and disceyte, is at this present [Z1r] tyme so communely practised, that if it be but a litle, it is called policie, & if it be moche, & with a visage of grauitie, it is than named & accounted for wisedome. And of those wise men speketh Tulli, saieng of al iniustice none is more capitall than of those persones, that whan they disceyue a man moste, they do it as they wolde seme to be good men. And Plato sayeth, that it is extreme iustice, he to seme rightwise, which in dede is vniuste. Of those two maner of fraudes wil I seuerally speke: But firste will I declare the mooste mischiuous importaunce of this kynde of iniurie in a generalte. Like as the phisicions calle those diseases moste pilous, againe whome is founden no preseruatiue, & ones entred, be seldome or neuer recouered: Semblably those iniuries be moste to be feared, agayne the whiche can be made no resistence: and beinge taken, with great difficultie or neuer they can be redressed. Iniurie apparaunt and with powar inforced, eyther may be with lyke powar resisted, or with wisedome eschued, or with entreatie refrained. But where it is by craftie engynne imagined, subtilly prepared, couertly dissembled, & disceytefully practysed, suerly no man may by strength with stande it, or by wisedome eskape it, or by any [Z1v] other maner or meane resiste or a voyde it. Wherfore of all iniuries, that which is done by fraude is moste horrible and detestable, nat in the opinion of man onely, but also in the sight & iugement of god. For vnto hym nothing may be acceptable, wherin lacketh verite, called communely trouth, he him selfe being all verite: & all thinge contayninge vntruthe is to him contrarious & aduerse. And the deuill is called a lyer & the father of leasinges. Wherfore all thinge, which in visage or apparaunce pretendeth to be any other than verely it is, may be named a leasinge, the execution wherof is fraude: whiche is in effecte but vntrouthe, enemie to trouthe, & consequently enemye to god. For fraude is (as experience teacheth vs) an euill disceyte craftely imagined and deuised, whiche vnder a colour of trouthe & simplicitie, indomageth him that nothing mistrusteth. And because it is euill, it can by no meanes be lefull. Wherfore it is repugnaunt vnto iustice.

The Neapolitanes and Nolanes, people in italye) contended to gether for the limities and boundes of their landes and feldes, And for the discussinge of that controuersie, either of them sent their ambassadours to the senate and people of Rome (in whome [Z2r] at that tyme was thought to be the moste excellent knowlege & execution of iustice) desiringe of them an indifferent Arbitour, and suche as was substanciallye lerned in the lawes Ciuile, to determine the variaunce that was betwene the two cites: compromittinge them selfes in the name of all their contray, to abyde and perfourme all suche sentence and awarde as shulde be by hym giuen. The senate appointed for that purpose one named Quintus Fabius Labeo, whome they accounted to be a man of great wisedome and lerninge. Fabius after that he was come to the place, whiche was in controuersie, he separatinge the one people from the other, communed with them bothe a parte, exhortinge the one and the other that they wolde nat do or desire any thinge with a couetise mynde, but in tredinge out of their boundes, rather go shorte thereof than ouer. They doynge accordinge to his exhortacion there was lefte betwene bothe companyes a great quantitie of grounde, whiche at this day we called batable: that perceyuinge Fabius, he assigned to euery of them the boundes that they them selfes had appointed. And all that lande, whiche was lefte in the middes, he adiuged it to [Z2v] the senate & people of Rome. That maner of dealinge (saieth Tulli) is to disceiue, & nat to gyue iugement. And verely euery good man will thinke, that this lacke of iustice in Fabius, beinge a noble man, & well lerned, was a great reproche to his honour.

It was a notable rebuke vnto the Israhelites, that whan they besieged the Gabaonites (a people of Chanani) they in conclusion receyued them in to a perpetuall leage. But after that the Gabaonites had yelded them, the Iewes perceyuinge that they were restrayned by their othe to flee them or cruelly entreate them, they made of the Gabaonites, beinge their confederates their skullions & drudges, wherwith all mighty god was no thinge contented. For the leage or truce, wherein frendship & libertie was intended (whiche caused the Gabaonites to be yolden) was nat duely obserued, whiche was clerely agayne Iustice.

Trewely in euery couenaunt, bargayne, or promise aught to be a simplicitie, that is to saye one playne vnderstandinge or meaning betwene the parties: And that simplicitie is properly iustice. And where any man of a couaytous or malicious minde will digresse purposely from that simplicitie, takinge aduauntage [Z3r] of a sentence or worde, whiche mought be ambiguous or doubtefull, or in some thinge either superfluous or lackinge in the bargaine or promise: where he certainly knoweth the trouthe to be otherwise: this in myne opinion is damnable fraude, beinge as playne agayne Iustice as if it were dissimulation in the opinion of them whiche exactely honoure iustyce, is nerre to dispraise than commendation, all though that therof mought ensue some thinge that were good. For in vertue may be nothing sucate or counterfayte: But therein is onely the image of veritie called simplicitie. Wherfore Tulli beinge of the opinion of Antipater the Philosopher, saieth: To councell any thynge, whiche thou knowest to the intent that for thyne owne profite thou woldest, that a nother who shall take any damage or benefite therby, shulde nat knowe it: is nat the acte of a persone playne or simple, or of a man honest, iuste, or good: But rather of a persone crafty, vngentill, subtille,deceytefull, malicious, & wilie. And after he saieth: That reason requireth that nothing be done by treason, nothing by dissimulation, nothing by disceite. Which he excellently (as he dothe all thinge) Z3v afterwarde in a briefe conclusion proueth sayenge. Nature is the fountayne, wherof the lawe springeth: and it is accordinge to nature, no man to do that, wherby he shulde take (as it were) a praye of a nother mannes ignoraunce. Of this matter Tulli writeth many propre examples & quicke solutions. But nowe here I make an ende to wrytte any more at this tyme of fraude, whiche by no meanes may be ioyned to the vertue named iustyce.

That iustyce aught to be betwene enemyes.

Suche is the excellencie of this vertue iustice, that the practise therof hathe nat onely optayned digne commendation of such persones, as betwene whome hathe ben mortall hostilitie: But also it hath extincte often tymes the same hostilitie. And fierce hartes of mutuall enemyes hathe ben therby rather subdued than by armure or strength of people. As it shall appere by examples ensuynge.

Whan the valyaunt kynge Pyrrus warred moste asprely againe the Romanes, one Timochares, [Z4r] whose sonne was yoman for the mouthe with the kynge, promysed to Fabricius, thanne beinge consull, to sle kynge Pyrrus: whiche thinge beinge to the senate reported, they by their ambassade warned the kynge to be ware of suche maner of trayson, sayenge that the Romanes maintayned their warres with armes and nat with poyson. And yet nat withstandynge they discouered nat the name of Timochares: so that they embraced equitie as well in that that they slewe nat their enemye by treason: as also that they betraied nat him, which purposed them kyndnes. In somoche was iustice of olde tyme estemed, that without it none acte was alowed, were it neuer so noble or profitable.

What tyme that Xerxes, kynge of Persia, with his army was expulsed out of Greece: all the nauye of Lacedemonia laye at rode in an hauen called Gytheum, within the dominion of the Atheniensis. Themistocles, one of the princes of Athenes, a moche noble capitayne, said vnto the people: that he had aduised him selfe of an excellent counsayle: where vnto if fortune inclyned: nothinge mought more augment the powar of the Atheniensis. But that it aught nat to [Z4v] be diuulgate or publisshed: he therfore desired to haue one appointed vnto him, vnto whome he mought secretely discouer the enterprise. Wher vpon there was assigned vnto him one Aristides, who for his vertue was surnamed rightwise. Themistocles declared to him that his purpose was to put fire in the nauie of the Lacedemones, whiche laye at Gytheum, to the intent that it beinge brenned, the dominion & hole powar ouer the see shulde be onely in the Atheniensis. This deuise herde and perceyued Aristides commynge before the people sayde, that the counsayle of Tehmistocles was very profitable, but the enterprise was dishonest and agayne iustice. The people heringe that the acte was nat honest or iuste, all cryed with one voyce, nor yet expedient. And furthwith they commaunded Themistocles to cesse his enterprise. Wherby this noble people declared, that in euery acte, speciall regarde, and aboue all thinge consideration aught to be had of iustyce and honestie.

Of faythe or fidelitie, called in latyne Fides, whiche is the fundation of iustyce.

That whiche in latyne is called Fides, is a parte of iustice, and may diuersely be interpreted: and yet finally it tendeth to one purpose in effecte. Some tyme it may be called faythe: some tyme credence: other whyles truste. Also in a frenche terme it is named loyaltie. And to the imitation of latyne it is often called fidelitie. All whiche wordes if they be intierly, & (as I mought saye) exactely vnderstanden, shall appere to a studious reder to signifie one vertue or qualitie, all thoughe they seme to haue some diuersitie. As beleuynge the preceptes & promyse of god, it is called faythe. In contractes betwene man & man, it is communely called credence. Betwene persones of equall astate or condition it is named truste. Fro the subiecte or seruaunt to his souerayne or maister it is proprely named fidelitie, and in a frenche terme loyaltie.

Wherfore to hym that shall eyther speke or wryte, the place is diligently to be obserued, where the propre signification of the worde may be beste expressed. Consyderynge (as Plato sayethe) that the name of euery thynge is none other, [Z5v] but the vertue or effecte of the same thinge conceyued firste in the mynde, and than by the voyce expressed, and finally in letters signified.

But nowe to speke in what estimacion this vertue was of olde tyme amonge gentiles, whiche nowe (alas to the lamentable reproche and perpetuall infamie of this present tyme) is so neglected throughout christendome, that neither regarde of religion or honour, solemne othes or terrible cursis can cause hit to be obserued. And that I am moche a shamed to write, but that I muste nedes nowe remembre it: Neyther seales of armes, signe manuels, subscription, nor other specialties, ye vneth a multitude of wytnesses be nowe sufficient ot the obseruynge of promises. O what publike weale shulde we hope to haue there, where lacketh fidelitie? which as Tulli saieth is the fundation of iustyce. What meruayle is it, though there be in all places contention infinite, and that good lawes be tourned in to Sophemes & insolubles, sens euery where fidelitie is constrayned to come in triall and credence (as I mought saye) is becomen a vagabunde?

To Iosue, whiche succeded Moyses in the [Z6r] gouernaunce and leadinge of the Iewes, almighty god gaue in commaundement to sle as many as he shulde happen to take of the people called Cananees. There hapned to be nyghe to Ierusalem a contraye called Gabaon, & in dede the people therof were Cananees, who herynge of the precept gyuen to Iosue: as men (as it semed) of great wisedome, they sent an ambassade to Iosue, which approched their contray: sayenge that they were ferre distaunt from the Cananees, and desired to be in perpetuall leage with him and his people: and to dissemble the length of their iournay, as their contray had ben ferre thens, they had on them olde worne garmentes, and torne shone. Iosue supposinge all to be true that they spake, concluded peace with them, and confirmed the leage: And with a solemne othe ratified bothe the one and the other. Afterwarde it was discouered, that they were Cananees, whiche if Iosue had knowen before the leage made, he had nat spared any of them. But whan he reuolued in his mynde the solemne othe that he had made, and the honour, which consisted in his promyse: he presumed, that faythe beinge obserued vnperisshed, shulde please all mighty god [Z6v] aboue all thinges, which was than proued. For it appereth nat, that god euer dyd so moche as in any wise imbraied him for brekynge of his commaundement. By this example it appereth, in what estimation and reuerence, leages & trues made by princes aught to be had: to the breache whereof none excuse is sufficient. But lette vs leaue princes affayres to their counsailours. And I will nowe write of the partes of fidelitie, whiche be more frequent and accustomed to be spoken of. And first of loyaltie & trust, & laste of credence, whiche principally resteth in promise. In the moste renoumed warres betwene the Romaynes & Anniball (duke of Charthaginensis) a noble citie in spayne called Saguntum, whiche was in amitie & leage with the Romaynes, was by the said Anniball strongely besieged: in so moche as they were restrayned from vitayle and all other sustenaunce: Of the whiche necessitie, by their priuie messages they assertayned the Romanes: But they beinge busyed, about the preparations for the defence of Italye: and also of the citie agayne the intollerable powar of Anniball: hauinge also late two of their moste valiant capitaynes, Publius Scipio, and Lucius Scipio, [Z7r] with a great hooste of Romaynes, slayne by Anniball in Spayne, deferred to sende any spedy soccours to the Saguntynes. But nat withstandyng that Anniball desired to haue with them amitie, offringe them peace with their citie, and goodes at lybertie, consideringe that they were brought in to extreme necessitie, lackynge vitayle, and dispraysinge to haue socours from the Romaynes: All the inhabitauntes confortynge and exhortynge eche other to die, rather than to violate the leage and amitie that they of longe tyme had contynued with the Romaynes: by one hole assent, after that they hadde made sondry great pyles of wode and of other mater to brenne, they layde in it all their goodes and substaunce: And laste of all conuayenge them selfes in to the saide pyles or bonefires with their wyfes and children, sette all on fire, and there were brenned or Annyballe coulde entree the citie.

Semblable loyaltie was in the inhabitauntes of Petillia the same tyme: who beinge lyke wyse besieged by Anniball, sent for socoures to Rome: But for the great losse that a litle erste the Romaynes had sustayned at the batayle of Cannes, [Z7v] they coulde in no wise delyuer them. Wherfore they discharged them of their promise, and licensed them to do that thinge, which mought be moste for their saufegarde. By whiche answere they semed to be discharged, and lefully mought haue entred in to the fauour of Anniball: yet nat withstandynge this noble people preseruing loyalte before life, puttynge out of their citie their women, and all that were of yeres vnhabill for the warres, that they mought more frankely sustayne famyne, they obstinately defended their walles, that in the defence they all perysshed. So that whan Anniball was entred, he founde that he toke nat the citie, but rather the sepulchre of the loyall citie Petilia.

O noble fidelitie, whiche is so moche the more to be wondred at, that it was nat onely in one or a fewe persones, but in thousandes of men: and they nat beinge of the blode or aliaunce of the Romanes, but straungers, dwellynge in ferre contrayes from them, beinge onely of gentill nature and vertuous courage, inclined to loue honour: and to be constant in their assuraunce.

Nowe will I wryte from hensforthe of particuler persones, whiche haue showed examples [Z8r] of loyaltie: which I praye god may so cleue to the myndes of the reders, that they may be all way redy to put the semblable in experience.

Howe moche aught all they, in whome is any portion of gentill courage, endeuoure them selfes to be all wayes trustye and loyall to their souerayne, who putteth them in truste or hathe ben to them beneficiall, as well reason exhorteth as also sondrye examples of noble personages, whiche as compendiously as I can I will nowe bringe to the reders remembraunce.

What tyme that Saull for his greuous offences was abandoned of allmighty god, who of a very poore mannes sonne dyd auaunce him to the kyngedome of Israell: And that Dauid beinge his seruaunt and as poore a mannes son as he, was elected by god to reigne in Israell, and was enointed kynge by the prophet Samuell. Saulle beinge therfore in a rage, hauinge indignacion at Dauid, pursued hym with a great hooste to haue slayne hym: who (as longe as he mought) fledde and forbare Saule as his soueraygne lorde. On a tyme Dauid was so inclosed by the armie of Saule, that he mought by no wayes escape, but was [Z8v] fayne to hyde hym and his men, in a great caue, whiche was wyde & depe in the erthe, durynge the tyme that he was in the caue, Saull, nat knowinge therof, entred into the caue, to the intent to do his naturall easement: whiche the people of Dauid perceyuinge, exhorted him to sle Saulle: hauynge suche oportunitie: sayenge that god hadde brought his enemye in to his handes, and that Saull beinge slayne, the warre were al at an ende: Considerynge that the people loued better Dauid than Saulle. But Dauid refusinge their counsayle, saide that he wolde nat laye violent handes on his soueraygne lorde, beinge a kynge enoynted of god: but softely he approched to Saulle, & dyd cut of a peace of the nether parte of his mantell. And after that Saull was departed out of the caue towarde his campe, Dauid called after hym, sayenge: whome pursuest thou noble prince (with other wordes rehersed in the bible in the firste boke of kinges) and than shewed to hym the parte of his mantell. Wherat Saull beinge abasshed recognised his vnkyndnese, callyng Dauid his dere sonne and trusty frende: recommendynge to hym his children and progenie: sens by the wyll of god he was elected to [a1r] succede hym in the kyngdome of Israell. And so departed Saulle from Dauid. Yet nat withstandinge afterwarde he pursued hym in Gaddy. And in a night, whan Saull & his armye were at reste, and that Dauid by an espieall, knewe that they were all faste on slepe, he toke with him a certayne of the moste assured and valiaunt personages of his hoste, and in moste secrete wise came to the pauilion of king Saul, where he founde hym suerly slepynge, hauinge by him his speare & a cuppe with water. Wherfore one of the company of Dauid sayde, that he with the speare of Saulle wolde stryke hym through and slee hym. Nay sayd Dauid, our lorde forbede that I suffre my soueraigne lorde to be slayne. For he is enointed of god. And therwith he toke the speare with the cuppe of water, and whan he was a good distaunce from the hoste of Saulle, he cried with a loude voyce to Abuer which was than marshall of the armye of Saul. Who answered and sayde: what arte thou that thus diseasest the kyng, which is nowe at his reste? To whome Dauid said: Abuer, thou and thy company are worthy dethe, that haue so negligently watched youre prince. Where is his speare, and the cuppe of [a1v] water that stode at his beddes hede? Suerly ye be but dede men, whan he shall knowe it. And there with he shewed the speare and cuppe with water. Whiche Saulle perceyuinge, and hearynge the voyce of Dauid, cried nvto him saienge, is nat this the voice of my dere sonne Dauid? I vncurtaisely do pursue him: and he nat withstandinge doth to me good for euill. With other wordes, whiche to abbreuiate the mater I do passe ouer. This noble historie, & other semblable eyther wrought in Aresse, or connyngly painted, will moche better be seme the houses of noble men, than the Concubines & voluptuous pleasures of the same Dauid & Salamon his sonne, which be more frequently expressed in the hangynges of houses and counterpointes, than the vertue & holynesse of the one, or the wise experimentes of the other. But nowe will I passe ouer to histories, whiche be more straunge, and therfore I suppose more pleasaunt to the reder.

Xerxes beinge kynge of Persia the great citie of Babilon rebelled againe him: which was of suche strength, that the kynge was nat of powar to subdue it: that perceyuinge a gentilman, one of the counsayle of kynge Xerxes, named Zopirus, a man of notable [a2r] wisedome: vn wittynge to any persone, dyd cut of his owne eares and nose, and preuely departed towarde Babilon: And beynge knowen by them of the citie, was demaunded who hadde so disfygured hym. Vnto whome he answered with apparaunt tokens of heuinesse: that for as moche as he hadde giuen to Xerxes Counsayle and aduise to be reconsiled vnto their citie, he beinge meued with ire and displeasure towarde hym, in moste cruell wise, caused him to be so shamefully mutulate. Addynge there vnto reprochefull wordes agayne Xerxes. The Babilonians beholdynge his miserable astate, & the tokens whiche (as it semed to them) approued his wordes to be true, moche petied hym: And as well for the great wisedome that they knewe to be in hym, as for the occasion, whiche they supposed shulde incense hym to be shortely auenged: they made hym their chiefe capitayne, and committed hooly to hym the gouernaunce and defence of their citie: which hapned in euery thinge accordinge to his expectacion. Where vpon he shortely gaue notyce to the kynge of all his affaires & exploitures. And finally so endeuoured hym selfe by his wisedome, that he accorded the kynge and the citie, [a2v] without any losse or damage to eyther of them. Wherfore on a tyme the sayde kynge Xerxes cutting an odly great pomegranate, and beholdynge it faire and full of kernels, sayd in the presence of all his counsayle, that he had leuer haue suche one frende as Zopirus was, than as many Babilons as there were kernels in the pomegranate. And also that he rather wolde that Zopirus were restored agayne to his nose and his eares, than to haue a hundred suche cities as Bailon was , whiche by the reporte of writers was incomparably the grettest and fayrest citie of all the worlde.

The Parthiens in a ciuile discorde amonge them selfes, draue Arthabanus their kyng out of his realme, and elected amonge them one Cinnamus to be their kynge: Jazate king of Adiabenes, vnto whome Arthabanus was fledde, sent an ambassade vnto the Parthiens, exhortynge them to receyue agayne Arthabanus: but they made aunswere, that sens the departynge of Arthabanus, they had by a hoole assent chosen Cinnamus, vnto whome they hadde done their fealtie, and were sworne his subiectes, whiche othe they mought nat laufully breake. Thereof hearynge Cinnamus, who [a3r] at that tyme was king ouer them, he wrate vnto Arthaban & Jasate, that they shulde come, and that he wolde render the realme of Parthia vnto Arthabanus. And whan they were come, Cumainus mette with them adourned in the robes of a kynge: & as he approched Arthabanus, a lightinge downe of his horse, he sayde in this wyse. Sir whanne the people had expelled you out of your realme, and wolde haue translated it vnto a nother, at their instaunce and desyre I toke it. But whan I perceyued their rancour aswaged, & that with good wille they wolde haue you agayne, whiche are their naturall soueraigne lorde, & that nothynge letted, but onely that they wolde nothynge do contrary to my pleasure: with good wille and for no drede or other occasion as ye may perceyue do here rendre youre realme eftsones vnto you, and therewith takinge the diademe of from his owne hedde, dyd sette it immediately vpon the hedde of Arthabanus.

The fidelitie of Ferdinando (kyng of Aragone) is nat to be forgoten: whome his brother Henry, kyng of Castill, decessyng, made gouernour of his sone being an infant. This Fernando with suche iustice ruled & ordred [a3v] the realme, that in a parlement holden at Castille, it was trayted by the hole consent of the nobles and people, that the name or title of the kyngdome of Spayne shulde be giuen vnto him. Which honour he fayninge to receyue thankefully, dyd put vpon hym a large and wyde robe: wherin he secretely bare the yonge prince his neuewe: & so came in to the place, where for the sayde purpose the nobles and people were assembled: demaundynge of euery man his sentence. Who with one voyce gaue vnto hym the kyngdome of Spayne. With that he toke out of his robe the litel baby his neuewe, & setting him on his shulder sayde all a loude vnto them: Lo ye Castilians, beholde here is your kynge. And than he confirmyng the hartes of the people towarde his neuewe, finally delyuered to hym his realme in peace, & in all thinges abundaunt. This is the fidelite that apptayneth to a noble & gentill harte.

In what hatered and perpetuall reproche aught they to be, that corrupted with pestilenciall auarice or ambicion, betraieth their maisters, or any other that trusteth them? O what monstrus persones haue we radde and herde of. Whiche for the inordinate & deuelisshe appetite to raigne, haue mooste [a4r] tyrannously slayne the children, nat onely of their soueraigne lordes, but also of their owne naturall bretherne, committed vnto their gouernaunce? Of whome purposely I leaue at this tyme to write: to the intent that the moste cursed remembraunce of them shall nat consume the tyme that the well disposed reder mought occupie in examples of vertue.

This one thinge I wolde were remembred: that by the iuste prouidence of god, disloyalte or treason seldome escapeth great vengeaunce: All be it that it be pretended for a necessary purpose. Example we haue of Brutus and Cassius, two noble Romaynes: & men of excellent vertues. Whiche pretendinge an honorable zeale to the libertie and commune weale of their citie, slewe Julius Cesar (who trusted them moste of all other) for that he vsurped to haue the perpetuall dominion of the empire, supposinge thereby to haue brought the senate & people to their pristinate libertie. But it dyd nat so succede to their purpose. But by the dethe of so noble a prince hapned confusion & ciuile batayles: And bothe Brutus and Cassius after longe warres, vainquisshed by Octauian, neuewe and hiere vnto Cesar, at the last falling in to [a4v] extreme desperation, slewe them selfes. A worthy and conuenient vengeaunce for the murder of so noble and valyaunt a prince. Many other lyke examples do remayne as well in writynge as in late remembraunce. Which I passe ouer for this tyme.

Of promise and couenant.

Concernynge that parte of fidelitie, which concerneth the kepynge of promise or couenauntes, experience declareth howe litle it is nowe had in regarde, to the notable rebuke of all vs, whiche do professe Christes religion. Considerynge that the Tarkes & Sarazens haue vs therfore in contempt and derision: they hauinge fidelite of promise aboue all thinge in reuerence. In so moche as in their contractes they seldome vse any bonde or othe: But as I haue herde reported of men borne in those parties, the bargaynour, or he that dothe promise, toucheth the grounde with his hande, and after layeth it on his hedde: as it were, that he vouched all the worlde to bere wytnesse: But by this litle [a5r] ceremonye he is so bounden, that if he be founden to breke touche willyngly: he is without any redemption condempned vnto the pale, that is to haue a longe stake thrast in at the secrete partes of his body, whereon he shall abide dyenge by a longe space. For feare of the which moste terrible execution, seldome any man vnder the Turkes dominion breketh his promise. But what hope is there to haue fidelitie well kept amonge vs in promises and bargaynes, whan for the breache therof is prouided no punisshement, nor yet notorious rebuke: sauinge if it be tried by accion, suche praty damages as the iury shall assese, whiche perchaunce dayly practiseth semblable lightnes of purpose. I omitte to speke nowe of attaintes in the lawe reseruinge that mater to a place more conuenient. But no meruayle that a bare promise holdeth nat,where an other vpon the Euangelistes, solempnely and openly taken, is but litle estemed. Lorde god howe frequent & familiar a thinge with euery astate & degre throughout Christendome is this reuerent othe on the Gospelles of Christe? Howe it hathe ben hitherto kepte, it is so well knowen & had in dayly experience, that I shall nat nede to make of the neglectinge [a5v] therof any more declaration. Onely I will shewe howe the Gentiles lackynge true religion, had solempne othes in great honour, and howe terrible a thinge it was amonge them to breke their othes or a vowes. In so moche as they supposed that there was no powar, victorie, or profite, which mought be equall to the vertue of an othe.

Amonge the Egyptions they which were periured, had their heddes stryken of, as well for that they violated the honour due vnto god, as also that thereby faythe and truste amonge people mought be decayed. The Scithes sware onely by the chayre or throne of their kynge, whiche othe if they brake, they therfore suffred dethe.

The auncient Romaynes (as Tulli writeth) sware in this maner. He that shulde swere, helde in his hande a stone: and sayde in this wyse. The citie, with the goodes therof beinge faulse, so Iupiter cast me out of it, if I deceyue wittingly, as I caste from me this stone. And this othe was so straytely obserued, that it is nat remembred, that euer any man brake it.

Plutarche writeth: that the first Temple that Numa Pompilius, the seconde kynge of Romaynes made in the citie of Rome, [a6r] was the temple of faythe. And also he declared, that the greattest othe that mought be, was faythe: whiche nowe a dayes is vneth taken for any othe, but moste communely is vsed in mockage, or in suche thinges as men forse nat, though they be nat beleued. In dayly communication the mater fauoureth nat, except it be as it were seasoned with horrible othes. As by the holy blode of Christe: his woundes, whiche for our redemption be paynefully suffred: his glorious harte, as it were numbles chopped in peaces. Children (whiche abhorreth me to remembre) do playe with the armes and bones of Christe, as they were chery stones. The soule of god, whiche is incomprehensible: and nat to be named of any creature without a wonderfull reuerence and drede: is nat onely the othe of great gentilmen: but also so vndiscretey abused: that they make it (as I mought saye) their gonnes, wherwith they thunder out thretenynges and terrible menacis, han they be in their fury, though it be at the damnable playe of dyse. The masse, in whiche honorable ceremony is lefte vnto vs, the memoriall of Christes glorious passion, with his corporall presence in fourme of breade, the inuocation of the [a6v] thre diuine persones in one deitie, with all the hole company of blessed spirites & soules elect: is made by custome so simple an othe, that it is nowe all moste neglected & litle regarded of the nobilitie, & is onely vsed amonge husbande men & artificers: onelas some taylour or barbour, as well in his othes as in the excesse of his apparyle, will counterfaite & be lyke a gentilman. In iudiciall causes, be they of neuer so light importaunce, they that be no parties but straungers. I meane witnesses & iurates, which shall procede in the triall, do make no lasse othe, but openly do renounce the helpe of god & his sayntes, & the benefite of his passion, if they say nat true, as ferre furthe as they knowe. Howe euill that is obserued, where the one partie in degree ferre excedeth the othe, or where hope of rewarde or affection taketh place, no man is ignoraunt sens it is euery yere more commune than haruist. Alas what hope shall we haue of any publike weake, where such a pestilence reigneth? Dothe nat Salamon saye: A man moche sweringe shall be filled with iniquite, & the plage shall nat departe from his house? O mercifull god, howe many men be in this realme, which be horrible swerers, & commune iurates piured? Than howe moche iniquitie [a7r] is there: & howe many plages are to be feared, where as be so many houses of swerers. Suerly I am in more drede of the terrible vengeaunce of god, than in hope of amendement of the publike weale. And so in myne opinion aught al other to be, which beleue, that god knoweth all thynge that is done here in erth: & as he him selfe is all goodnes so loueth he al thinge that is good: which is vertue: & hateth the contrarie, which is vice. Also all thing that pleaseth him, he preserueth: & that thing that he hateth, he at the last destroieth: but what vertue may be with out verite, called trouthe, the declaration whereof is faithe or fidelitie. For as Tulli saieth: faith is a constaunce & trouth of things spoken or couenaunted. And in a nother place he saieth: nothing kepeth so to gether a publike weale as doth faith. Than foloweth it well, that without faith a publike weale may nat continue: & Aristotle saieth, that by the same craft or meanes that a publike weale is first constituted: by the same craft or meanes is it preserued. Than sens faithe is the fundation of Iustyce, whiche is the chiefe constitutour & maker of a publike weale: & by the afore mencioned autoritie, faithe is conseruatour of the same. I may therfore conclude, [a7v] that faithe is bothe the originall, and (as it were) principall constitutour and conseruatour of the publike weale.

Nowe lyke as it is more facile to repayre than to newe edifie: and also to amende, than to make all agayne: so more soner is a publike weale reformed, than of newe constitute, and by the same thynge that it is constitute and conserued, by the same thynge shall it be refourmed and preserued. Where I saye conserued, I meane kepte and mayntayned. Where I saye preserued: I intende corroborate & defended againe anoiaunces. The thinge that I spake of is faithe, which I by the autoritie of Tulli,do name the fundation of iustyce. For thereat nat onely dependeth all contractes, conuencions, commutations, entercoursis, mutuall intelligence, amitie, and beneuolence, whiche be contayned in the worde, whiche of Tulli is called the societie or felowship of mankinde: But also by due obseruinge of faithe, malefactours be espied, iniuries be tried out and discussed, the propretie of thinges is adiuged. Wherfore to a gouernour of a publike weale nothynge more appertayneth: than he hym selfe to haue faythe in reuerence, & mooste scrupulousely to obserue it. And [a8r] where he fyndeth it to be contemned or neglected, and specially with addynge to periurye, moste sharpely, ye moste rigorousely & aboue all other offences punisshe it without acceptaunce or fauour of any persone, remembringe this sentence: Of faythe commeth loyaltie: & where that lacketh, there is no suertie.

It is also no litel reproche vnto a man, whiche estemeth honestie, to be lyte in makynge promise: or whan he hath promised, to breke or neglecte it: wherfore no thynge aught to be promised, whiche shulde be in any wise contrary to Iustyce. On a tyme one remembred kyng Agesilaus of his promise. By god sayde he that is trouthe, if it stande with iustyce: if nat, I than spake, but I promised nat. But nowe at this present tyme we may make the exclamation, that Seneca dothe, sayenge: O the foule and dishonest confession of the fraude and mischiefe of mankynde nowe a dayes, seales be more set by than soules. Alas what reproches is it to christen men, and reioysinge to Turkes and Sarazens,that nothing is so exactely obserued amonge theim as faithe, consistynge in laufull promise and couenaunt: And amonge christen men it is so neglected: that hit is [a8v] more often tymes broken than kept. And nat onely sealynge (whiche Seneca disdayned, that it shulde be more sette by thanne soules) is vneth sufficient; but also it is nowe come into suche a generall contempt, that all the lerned men in the lawes of this realme, whiche be also men of great wisedome: can nat with all their study deuise so sufficient an instrument, to bynde a man to his promyse or couenaunt. But that there shall be some thinge therein espied, to brynge it in argument, if it be denyed. And in case that bothe the parties be equall in estimation or credence, or els he that denyeth superiour to the other, & no witnesses deposeth on knowlege of the thinge in demaunde: the promise or couenaunt is vtterly frustrate, which is one of the princypall decayes of the publike weale, as I shall trate therof more largely here after. And here at this tyme I leaue to speke any more of the partes of that moste royall and necessary vertue, called Iustyce.

Of the noble vertue fortitude, and of the two extreme vices, Audacitie, & Timerositie.

It is to be noted, that to hym that is a gouernoure of a publike weale, belongeth a double gouernaunce: that is to saye an interior or inwarde gouernaunce and an exterior or outwarde gouernaunce. The firste is of his affectes & passions, which do inhabite wthin his soule, & be subiectes to reason. The seconde is of his children, his seruauntes, and other subiectes to his autoritie: to the one and the other is required the vertue morall called fortitude. Whiche as moche as it is a vertue is a Mediocritie or meane betwene two extremities, the one in surplusage, the other in lacke. The surplusage is called Audacitie, the lacke Timorisitie or feare. I name that Audacitie, whiche is an excessife & inordinate truste to escape all daungers, and causeth a man to do suche actes, as are nat to be ieoparded. Timorisite is as well whan a man feareth suche thinges as be nat to be feared, as also whan he feareth thinges to be feared, more than nedeth. For some thynges there be, whiche be necessary and good to be feared, and nat to feare theim it is but rebuke. Infamie & reproche, be of all honest men to be dradde. And nat to feare thinges that be [b1v] terrible, agayne whiche no powar or witte of man can resiste, is folle hardynesse, and worthy no praise: as erthe quakes, rages of great and sodayne flodes, which do bere downe before them mountaynes and great townes. Also the horrible fury of sodayne fire deuourynge all thing that it apprehendeth. Yet a man that is valiaunt, called in latyne Fortis, shall nat in suche terrible aduentures be resolued into waylinges or desperation. But where force constrayneth him to abide, and neither powar or wisedome assayed, may suffice to escape, but will be or no he must nedes perysshe, there dothe he paciently sustayne dethe, whiche is the ende of all euilles. And lyke as an excellent Phisitioun cureth moste daungerous diseases and dedely woundes: so dothe a man that is valiaunt, auaunce him selfe as inuincible in thinges that do seme moster terrible: Nat vnaduisedly & as it were in a bestely rage: But of a gentill courage and with premeditation, either by victorie or by dethe wynnynge honour and perpetuall memory, the iuste rewarde of their vertue. Of this maner of valiaunce was Horatius Cocles, an auncient Romayne: of whose example I haue all redy written in the firste boke, [b2r] where I commended the feate of swymming.

Pirrhus, whome Anniball estemed to be the seconde of the moste valiaunt capitaines, assaulting a stronge fortresse in Sicile called Erice, he firste of all other scaled the walles, where he behaued him so valiauntly, that suche as resisted some he slewe, & other by his maiestie and fierce countenaunce he dyd put to discomforte: And finally before any of his armye, entred the walles, and there alone sustayned the hole bronte of his enemyes, vntill his people, whiche were without at the laste myssinge him, stered partely with shame, that they had so loste hym: partely with his couragious example, toke good harte & inforced them selfes in suche wise, that they clymed the walles, & came to the socour of Pirrhus, & by his prowesse so wanne the garyson. What valiaunt harte was in the romayne Mutius, Sceuola, that whan Porcena kynge of Erthruscanes had by great powar constrayned the romaynes to kepe them within their citie. Sceuola takinge on him the habite of a begger, with a sworde hydde preuely vnder his garment, went to the enemyes Lampe: where he beinge taken for a beggar, was nothinge mistrusted. And whan he had espied the kinges [b2v] pauillyon, he drewe hym thyther: where he founde dyuers noble men sittynge. But for as moche as he certaynly knewe nat whiche of them was the kynge, he at the laste perceyuinge one to be in more ryche apparayle thanne any of the other, and supposinge hym to be Porcena, he or any man espyed hym stepte to the sayde lorde, and with his sworde gaue hym suche a stroke, that he immediatly dyed. But Sceuola beynge taken, for as moche as he mought nat escape suche a multitude: he boldly confessed that his hande erred, and that his intent was to haue slayne kynge Porcena: wherewith the kynge (as reason was) all chaufed, commaunded a great fire furthwith to be made: wherein Sceuola shulde haue ben brenned: but he nothing abasshed said to the kynge. Thynke nat Porcena that by my dethe onely, thou maiste escape the handes of the Romaynes: for there be in the citie CCC. yonge men suche as I am, that be prepared to slee the by one meanes or other, and to thaccomplysshement therof, be also determined to suffre all tourmentes: wherof thou shalt haue of me an experience in thy syght. And incontinently he went to the fire, whiche was made for to brenne [b3r] him, & with a glad countenaunce dyd put his hande in to the flame, & there helde it of a longe tyme without chaungynge of any countenaunce, vntill his said hande was brenned vnto asshes: In lyke wise he wolde haue put his other hande in to the fire, if he had nat ben withdrawen by Porcena: who wondryng at the valiaunt courage of Sceuola, licenced hym to retourne vnto the citie. But whan he considered that by the wordes of Sceuola so great a nombre of yonge men of semblable prowesse were confederate to his distruction: so that or all they coulde be apprehended, his lyfe shulde be all waye in ieoperdye, he dispairynge of winnynge the citie of Rome, raised his siege & departed.

In what actes Fortitude is, & of the consyderations therto belongynge.

But all though I haue nowe rehersed sondry examples to the commendation of Fortitude, concernynge actes marciall. Yet by the waye I wolde haue it remembred, that the praise is proprely to be [b3v] referred vnto the vertue: that is to saye, to enterprise thynges dredefull, either for the publike weale, or for wynning of perpetuall honour, or els for exchuynge reproche or dishonoure. Where vnto he annexed these considerations, what importaunce the enterprise is, And wherfore it is done, with the tyme and oportunitie whan it aught to be done. For (as Tulli saieth) to entre in batayle and to fight vnaduisedly, it is a thing wylde & a maner of beestes: but thou shalt fight valiauntly whan tyme requireth, and also necessitie. And all way dethe is to be preferred before seruitude, or any dishonestie. And therfore the actes of Anniball agayne the Saguntynes, whiche neuer dyd hym displeasure, is nat accounted for any prowesse. Neyther Catalyne, which for his singuler commoditie, & a fewe other attempted detestable warres agayne his owne contraye, entendyng to haue brenned the noble citie of Rome, and to haue distroyed all the good men, is nat numbred amonge valyaunt men, all though he faught manly and with great courage, vntill he was slayne. What auayled the boldenesse of Varro and Flaminius noble capitaynes of Romaynes: whiche despisynge the prowesse and crafte [b4r] of Anniball, & contemnyng the sobre counsayle of Fabius, hauing onely truste in their owne hardinesse, loste two noble armyes, wherby the powar of the Romaynes was nighe vtterly perysshed. Wherfore eftsones I saye, that a valiaunt man is he that dothe tollerate or suffre that whiche is nedefull, and in suche wise as is nedefull, and for that whiche is nedefull, and also whan it is nedefull. And he that lacketh any of this, may be called hardy, but nat valiaunt. More ouer all thoughe they whiche be hardy, or persones desperate haue a similitude, and seme to be valiaunt, yet be they nat valiaunt, no more than kinges in may games and enterludes be kinges. For they that be hardy or they come to the perylle, they seme to be fierce and aigre, and in beginnynge their enterprise wonderfull hasty: But whan they feele the thing more harde & greuous than they estemed, their courage decayeth more and more, and as men abasshed and vnprepared, their hartes vtterly do fayle, and in conclusion they appere more faynte than they that be cowardes. Also in desperation can nat be fortitude: for that beinge a morall vertue is euer voluntary: Desperation is a thinge as it were constrayned, ne hathe [b4v] any maner of consideration, where fortitude expendeth euery thinge and acte diligently, & dothe also moderate it with reason. Here nowe appereth (as I suppose) that neyther they whiche employe their force without iuste cause or necessitie: Ne they whiche without forecaste, or (as I mought saye) circumspection, will take in hande an harde enterprise: Ne they whiche hedlonge will fall in to daungers, frome whens there is no hope to escape: nor yet men desperate, whido dye willingly without any motion of honour or zeale towarde the publike weale, be in the nombre of valyaunt persones. But of a refuse company, and rather to be rekned with bestes sauage, than amonge men whiche do participate with reason. For as Curtius sayeth, it appertayneth to men that be valyaunt, rather to despise dethe, thanne to hate lyfe. A man is called in latyne Vir, wherof sayeth Tulli vertue is named. And the moste propre vertue longynge to a man, is fortitude: whereof be two excellent propreties, that is to saye, the contempt of dethe & of griefe. But what very fortitude is, he more plainly doth declare afterwarde in a more larger circumscription sayenge. Thinges humane aught to be litle estemed, [b5r] dethe nat regarded, laboures and griefes to be thought tollerable. whan this is ratifyed by iugement and a constant oppinion, than that is a valiaunt and stable fortitude. But there vnto I wolde shulde be added, whiche oppinion and iugement procedeth of a reaon, and nat repugnaunt to Iustyce. And than it shal accorde with this sayenge of Aristotelle. A valiaunt man sustaineth, and dothe that, whiche belongeth to fortitude, for cause of honestie. And a litel before he saieth. A man that is valiaunt as well suffereth, as dothe that whiche agreeth with his worship, and as reason commaundeth. So no violence or sturdye mynde lackynge reason & honestie is any parte of fortitude. Vnto this noble vertue be attendaunt, or as it were continuall adherentes: dyuers vertues whiche do ensue and be of ryght great estimation.

Of paynefulnesse the firste companion of Fortitude.

In theim which be either gouernours or capitaynes, or in other offyce, where vnto appertaineth great cure or despechynge of sondry great affayres. Paynfulnesse, [b5v] named in latyne Tollerantia, is wonderfull commendable. For thereby thynges be in suche wise exployted, that vtilitie procedeth therof, and seldome repentaunce. For as moche as thereof commeth an excellent frute, called oportunitie: which is euer ripe and neuer in other astate. For lacke of this vertue, moche wisedome and many a valyaunt enterprise haue perysshed, & tourned to none effecte: for thynges sharpely inuented, prudently discussed, and valyauntly enterprised, if they be nat diligently folowed, and without cessynge applied and pursued, as it were in a moment all thinge is subuerted. And the paynes before taken, with the tyme therin spent, is vtterly frustrate. The paynefulnesse of Quintus Fabius, beinge dictator or principall capitayne of the Romaynes, in leadynge his armye by mountaynes and other herde passages so disapointed Anniball of the hope of victorye, wherin he so moche gloried, that at the last he trayned and drewe Anniball & his hoste in to a felde, inclosed about with mountaines and depe ryuers, where Fabius had so enuyroned him by the fortifyenge of two mountaynes with his peopl that they were in ieoperdye eyther to be famysshed (their [b6r] vitayle soone after faylinge theim) or els in fleinge, to be slayne by the Romaynes, had nat the craftye & polityke witte of Anniball delyuered them, whiche for the notable inuention, I wyll borowe so moche tyme of the reder, to renewe the remembraunce therof in our Englysshe tunge.

Anniball perceyuinge the daunger that he and his armye were in, he commaunded in the depe of the nyght, whan nothynge was sterynge, to be brought before him, about two thousande great oxen and bulles: whiche a litle before his men had taken in foraginge, and causinge fagottes made of drye styckes to be fastened vnto their hornes and set on fyre. The bestes troubled with the flame of fire, ranne as they were woode vp towarde the mountaynes, where as laye the hoste of the Romaynes. Anniball with his hoole armye folowynge in araye. The romaynes whiche kept the mountaynes beinge sore a ferde of this newe and terrible sight, forsoke their places. And Fabius dredynge the deceytefull witte of Anniball kept the armye within hsi trenche, and so Anniball with his hoste escaped without domage. But Fabius beinge painefull in pursuinge Anniball from place to place, a waytinge to haue [b6v] him at aduauntage, at the laste dyd so fatigate him & his hoste, that therby in conclusion his powar minisshed, & also the strength of the Carthaginensis, of whome he was general capitayne. In so moche as they were at the laste constrained to countermaunde him by sondrie messagers, willyng him to abandone the warres in Italye, & to retourne to the defence of his owne citie. Whiche by the opinion of moste excellent writars shulde neuer haue hapned, if Fabius wolde haue lefte any parte of his purpose, eyther for the tediousenesse of the payne & trauayle, or for the intollerable rebukes giuen vnto hym by Minutius, who imbrayded hym with cowardyse. Amonge the vertues whiche abounded in Iulius Cesar, none was accounted more excellent, than that in his counsayles, affaires, and exploytures: he omitted no tyme ne forsoke any payne. Wherfore moste sonest of any man, he achieued and brought to good passe, all thynge that be entreprised. Suppose ye that the same Annibal of whome we late spake, coulde haue wonne from the Romaynes all Spayne, and haue perced the mountaynes called Alpes, makynge a way for his armye, where before was neuer any maner [b7r] of passage, and also haue goten all Italye vnto Rome gates, if he had nat ben a man paynefull, and of labour incomparable. Iulius Cesar after that he had the intier gouernaunce and dominion of the empyre of Rome: he therfore neuer omitted labour and diligence, as well in commune caues as priuate, concernynge the defence & assistence of innocentes. Also he laborousely and studiousely discussed controuersies, whiche all most dayly, he herde in his owne persone.

Traiaine & bothe Antonines emperours of Rome, & for their vertue worthy to be emperours of all the worlde, as well in exterior affaires, as in the affaires of the citie, were euer so continually occupied, that vneth they founde any litle tyme to haue any recreation or solace.

Alexander also emperour for his incomparable grauitie, called Seuerus: beinge but of the age of xviii. yeres whan he firste was made emperour, was inclyned to so incredible labours, that where he founde the noble citie of Rome than mastresse of the worlde throughly corrupted with moste abhominable vices: by the moste shameful example & liuing of that detestable monstre Varius Heliogabal next emperour before him. [b7v] A great parte of the Senate and nobilitie beinge resolued in to semblable vices, the chiualrye dispersed, martiall prowesse abandoned, & well nyghe the maiestie emperiall dissolued and brought in contempt. This noble yonge prince Alexander, inflamed with the zeale of the pristinate honour of the Romaynes, layenge a parte vtterly all pleasures and quietnesse, holy gaue his witte and body to studye, and trauayles intollerable, and chesinge out of all partes of the worlde men of grettest wisedome and experience: Consultinge with theim, neuer ceased vntill he had reduced as well the Romaynes as all other citie sand prouinces vnto them subiecte, to their pristinate moderation and temperaunce. Many other examples coulde I reherce to the commendation of paynefulnesse. But these shall suffice at this present tyme, to proue that a gouernour must nedes be painefull in his owne persone, if he desire to haue those thinges prosper that be commytted to his gouernaunce.

Of the noble and fayre vertue named Pacience.

Pacience is a noble vertue appertayninge as well to inwarde gouernaunce, as to exterior gouernaunce. And is the vainquisshour of iniuries, the suer defence agayne all affectes and passions of the soule, retayninge all wayes glad semblaunt in aduersitie, and doloure. Sayne Ambrose saieth in his boke of offices. Better is he that contemneth iniurie, than he that soroweth: for he that contemneth it, as he nothynge felte, he passeth nat on it. But he that is sorowfull, he is therewith tourmented as though he felt it. Whiche was well proued by Zeno Eleates a noble Philosopher: who beinge a man of excellent wisedome & eloquence, came to a citie called Agrigentum, where raygned Palaris the mooste cruell Tyraunt of all the worlde: who kept & vsed his owne people in mooste miserable seruitude. Zeno firste thought by his wisedome and eloquence to haue so persuaded the Tyraunt to temperaunce, that he shulde haue abandoned his cruell & auaricious appetite. But custome of vice more preuayled in him than profitable counsayle: wherfore Zeno hauynge pitie at the wretched astate of the people: excited [b8v] diuers noble men to deliuer the citie of that seruile condition: this counsayle as nat so secretely gyuen, but that notice therof came to the Tyraunt, who causinge all the people to be assembled in the market place, caused Zeno there to be cruciate with sondrye turmentes, all wayes demaundynge of hym, who dyd participate with hym of his said counsayle: but for no paynes wolde he confesse any persone, but induced the Tyraunt to haue in mistrust his nexte frendes and familyar seruauntes: And reprouynge the people for thir cowardise an drede, he at the laste so inflamed them vnto libertie, that sodaynely with a great violence they fell on the Tyraunt, and pressed him with stones. The olde Zeno in all his exquisite tourmentes neuer made any lamentable crye, or desire to be relieued. But for this fourme of Pacience, this onely example suffise that this tyme, sens there be so frequent examples of martyrs: whiche for true religion sustayned pacyently, nat onely equall tourmentes with Zeno, but also ferre excedynge. But nowe wyll I wrytte of that Pacience, that pertaineth vnto interior gouernaunce, wherby the naturall passions of man be subdued, & the malyce of fortune sustayned: for they [c1r] whiche be in autoritie, & be occupied about great affaires, their lyues be nat onely replenisshed with labours and greuous displeasures, but also they be subiectes to sondrye chaunces.

The meane to optayne pacyence is by two thinges principally. A directe and vpryght consicence: And true and constant opinion in the estimation of goodnes: whiche seldome commeth onely of nature, excepte it be wonderfull excellent, but by the diligent studye of very philosphie (nat that whiche is sophisticate, and consisteth in sophismes) nature is therto prepared & holpen. This Opinion is of suche powar, that ones cleuynge faste to the mynde, it draweth a man as it were by violence to good or euill. Therfore Tulli saieth. Lyke as whan the bloode is corrupted, and eyther fleame or Colere, blacke or redde, is superabundaunt, than in the body be ingendred sores & diseases: so the vexation of euill opinions, and their repugnauncie, despoileth the mynde of all helthe, and troubleth it with griefes. Contrarye wyse afterwarde Tulli describeth good Opinion, and calleth it the beaultie of the soule, sayenge in this wyse. As of bodelye membres there is an apte figure, with [c1v] a maner pleasauntnese of colour, and that is called beaultie: So in the soul the equalitie and constaunce of opinions and iugementes ensuynge vertue, with a stable and stedfaste purpose, or contaynynge the selfe same effecte that is in vertue, is named beaultie. Whiche sentences depely inuestigate, and well perceyued by them that be about princes and gouernours, they may consider howe ware and circumspecte they aught to be in the indusinge them to opinions,whereof they be sufficiently admonisshed by the moste excellent diuine Erasmus Roterodamus, in his boke of the Institution of a Christen prince: whiche in myne opinion can nat be so moche praysed, as it is worthy. Therfore I will leaue nowe to write any more of Opinion, sauynge that I wolde, that it shulde be all waye remembred, that opinion in iuginge thinges as they verely be, armeth a man vnto pacience.

Of Pacience in sustayninge wronges and rebukes.

Unto hym that is valyaunt of courage, it is a great payne and dificultie to sustayne Iniurie, and nat to be furthwith reuenged: and yet often tymes [c2r] is accounted more valyauntnese in the sufferaunce than in hasty reuengynge: As it was in Antoninus the emperoure, called the philosopher: agayne whome rebelled one Cassius, and vsurped the emperiall maiestie in Syria & the Este partes. Yet at the laste beinge slaine by the capitaynes of Antonine next adioyninge, he therof vn wetynge, was therwith sore greued. And therfore takyng to hym the chyldren of Cassius, entreated them honorable, wherby he acquired euer after the incomparable and moste assured loue of his subiectes. As moche dishonour and hatered his sonne, Commodus wanne by his impacience, wherein he so exceded, that for as moche as he founde nat his bayne hette to his pleasure, he caused the keper therof to be throwen in to the hote brennynge furnaise. What thynge mought be more odible than that moste deuelysshe impacience. Iulius Cesar whan Catullus the Poete wrate agayne hym contumelyouse or reprocheable versis, he nat onely forgaue him, but to make hym his frende, cause hym often tymes to soupe with hym. The noble emperour Augustus whanne it was shewed hym, that many men in the citie had of hym vnfittinge wordes, he thought [c2v] it a sufficient answere, that in a free citie, men muste haue their tunges nedes at libertie. Nor neuer was with any persone that spake euill of hym, in worde or countenaunce warse discontented. Some men will nat praise this maner of Pacience, but account hit for folysshenes: but if they beholde on the other side, what incommoditie commeth of impacience, howe a man is therewith abstracte from reason, & tourned in to a monstruous figure, & do conferre all, that with the stable countenaunce and pleasaunt regarde of him that is pacient, and with the commoditie that dothe ensue thereof, they shall affirme that that simplicitie is an excellent wisedome. More ouer the best waye to be aduenged, is so to contemne Iniurie, & rebuke and lyue with suche honestie, that the doer shall at the leste be therof a shamed, or at the laste, lese the frute of his malyce, that is to say, shal nat reioyce & haue glorie of thy hyndraunce or domage.

Of Pacience deserued in repulse or hynderaunce of promocion.

To a man hauynge a gentyll courage, lyke wise as nothinge is so pleasaunt or equally reioyceth him, as rewarde or preferment sodaynely giuen or aboue his merite, so nothinge may be to him more displeasaunt or paynefull, than to be neglected in his payne takynge, and the rewarde and honour that the loketh to haue, and for his merites is worthy to haue, to be gyuen to one of lasse vertue, and perchaunce of no vertue or laudable qualitie. Plato in his Epistell to Dion kynge of Scicile. It is (sayeth he) good right, that they which be god men, and do the semblable, optayne honour, whiche they be worthy to haue.

Vndowghtedly in a prince or noble man, may be nothinge more excellent, ye nothing more necessarye, than to aduance men after the estimation of their goodnes, and that for two speciall commodities that do come thereof. Fyrste that therby they prouoke many men to apprehende vertue. Also to them, whiche be good & all redy aduaunced to gyue suche courage, that they endeuour them selfes with all their powar to encrease that opinion of goodnes, wherby they were brought to that aduauncement, [c3v] whiche nedes muste be to the honoure and benefite of those by whome they were so promoted. Contrary wise, where men from their infancie haue ensued vertue, worne the florisshynge tyme of youthe with paynefull studie, abandonynge all lustes and all other thinge, whiche in that tyme is pleasaunt, trustynge therby to profite their publike weale, and to optayne therby honour, whan either their vertue and trauayle is litle regarded: or the preferment whiche they loke for, is giuen to an other nat equall in merite, it nat onely perceth his harte with moche anguisshe, and oppresseth hym with discomfort, but also mortifieth the courages of many other, whiche be aptly disposed to studie and vertue, & hoped therby to haue the propre rewarde therof, whiche is commendation and honour, which beinge giuen to men lackyng vertue and wisedome, shall be occasion for them to do euill (as Democritus sayeth) for who doughteth, but that autoritie in a good man dothe publisshe his vertue, which before laye hydde. In an euill man it ministreth boldnesse and lycence to do euill, whiche by drede was before couered. Surely this Repulse or (as they vulgarly speke) puttynge backe from promotion, [c4r] is no litel payne or discomforte, but it may be withstande, or at the lest remedied with pacience, whiche may be in this wise induced.

Fyrste considerynge that the worlde was neuer so constant, that at all tymes before, good men were iustely rewarded, and none but they onely promoted. Cato called Uticensis, at whose wisedome all the worlde woundred. And whose grauitie, as well the Senate and people of Rome, as other kynges and princis reuerensed, lokynge to be one of the Consules, was openly reiecte. Wherwith his frendes and kynnesmen toke no litle discomfort. But Cato hym selfe so litle regarded that repulse, that where all wayes he went very homely, be the nexte day folowinge, decked and trymmed hym selfe more fresshely than he was wont: and whanne he had shewed hym selfe so to the people, at after none he walked with one of his frendes in the markette place, bare legged, and in sengle apparayle as he was accustomed.

Scipio called Nasica, who by the hole senate was iuged the best man in the citie, and of an auncyent house, was lyke wise putte backe, for beinge Consull. Lilius lyke wise, [c4v] whiche was openly called the wise man, was semblably refused. And diuers other of whome histories do make mencion were abiecte whan they had well deserued honours, and their inferiours in merites promoted. Also a manes conscience shall well comfort him, whan he hathe so lyued, that where he is knowen, men do iuge him worthye preferment. And than may he saye to them, whiche meruayle why he is nat aduaunced, as Cato sayde to a persone that tolde to hym that men wondred why amonge so many noble mennes images as were sette vp in the citie, Catos image was nat espied. By god sayde Cato, I had leuer that men wondred why I haue none image sette vp, than why men shulde set vp myne image. So if men meruayle why a man is nat aduaunced, knowinge hym a good than, thanne iuge they hym to be worthy promotion, whiche iugement procedeth of fauour: and than though he lacke promocion, yet hathe he perfecte glorie, whiche euery noble hart desireth.

For Tulli sayeth: The perfecte and moste principall glorie, consisteth in those thre thynges. If the multitude loue vs: if they putte confydence in vs: if also, as it were [c5r] meruaylinge at vs, they thinge vs worthy to haue honour gyuen vnto vs. With this glorie & clennesse of conscience, shall a wise man content hym and be induced to Pacience, and nat be greued with his fortune, but to folowe Democritus in lawghinge at the blinde iugementes of men in bestowinge promotions. I omitte at this tyme to write any more of this vertue Pacience, sens to the institution of a gouernour this semeth to be sufficient, to the residue he shall be better persuaded by the warkes of Plutarche, Seneca, and Pontane, where they write of Pacience, whiche warkes he may here after rede at his leasour.

Of Magnanimitie, which may be named valyaunt courage.

Magnanimitie is a vertue moche commendable, and also expedient to be in a gouernour, and is as I haue sayd, a companyon of fortitude: And may be in this wise defined, that it is an excellencie of mynde, concernynge thynges of greate importaunce or estimation, doynge all thynge that is vertuous for the achieuynge [c5v] of honour. But nowe I remembre me, this worde Magnanimitie, beinge yet straunge as late borowed out of the latyne, shall nat content all men, and specially them, whome nothing contenteth out of their accustomed Mumpsimus: I will aduenture to put for Magnanimitie, a worde more familiar, callynge it good courage, whiche hauynge respecte to the sayd definition, shall nat seme moche inconuenient. But nowe concernyng a more large description of the sayd vertue. Aristotle saieth: That man semeth to be of noble courage, that is worthy & also iugeth hym selfe worthy to haue thinges that be great. He saieth also afterwarde: noble courage is an ornament of vertues, for it maketh them the more ample, and without them she her selfe may nat be. But I will for a litle tyme leaue this noble Philosopher Aristotelle, and reuerently interprete a place in the offices of Tulli, where he moste eloquently and playnely setteth out this vertue, sayenge: All way a valiaunt and noble courage is discerned by two thinges specially, wherof one is in despisinge thynges outwarde. Whan a man is persuaded, neyther to meruayle at any thinge, neyther to wysshe or desire any thinge, but that which [c6r] is honest. More ouer that a man shulde nat bowe for any fortune or trouble of mynde. Another thinge is, that whan thou arte of that mynde or courage, as I before sayde, than that which be great, and moste profitable, but also them that be very difficile and full of labour and perylle, aswell concernynge mannes lyfe, as many other thynges therevnto pertaynynge. And afterwarde the same Tulli sayeth: To esteme litle those thinges, whiche vnto the more parte of men semeth excellent, and also with reason firme & stable to contemne them, it is signe of a noble and valyaunt courage. Also to tollerate those thinges whiche do seme bytter or greuous (wherof there be many in the lyfe of man and in fortune) in suche wise as thou departe nat from the astate of nature, neyther from the worship pertayninge vnto a wise man, betokeneth a good courage, and also moche constaunce. By this it semeth that Magnanimitie or good courage, is as it were the garment of Vertue: wherwith she is set out (as I mought saye) to the vttermoste. I meane nat that therby vertue is amended or made more beauteous, whiche of her selfe is perfecte. But lyke wise as a [c6v] lady of excellent beaultie, thoughe that she be all wayes fayre, yet a ryche and freshe garment declareth her astate, and causeth her themore to be loked on, and thereby her naturall beaultie to be the better perceyued. Semblably dothe Magnanimitie ioyned with any vertue, sette it wonderfully furthe to be beholden, and (as I mought saye) meruayled at, as it shall appere abundauntely in the examples ensuinge.

Note: typos in this paragraph preserved Agesilaus, king of Lacedemonia, in the begynninge of his youthe, perceyuinge that all Greece was in great feare, for the same that was sprad of the commynge of the Persians, sianes with an infinite armye: He with a noble courage profred nat onely to defende his owne contray, but also with a small hoste to passe the sees in to Asia, and frome thens either to brynge vicotrie of the Per or els a sure & honorable peace. With whose courage, the Lacedemones highly recomforted, delyuered vnto hym x. thousande souldiours: with the whiche hoste he went in to Asia, and there vainquisshed the Persianes, and retourned ioyfully in to his contray, with his people all faulse to his perpetuall renoume, and also to the honour and [c7r] suertie of all Greece.

Antigonus, kynge of Macedonia beinge on the see, one of his capitaines aduised him to departe, sayenge that the nauye of his enemye was moche gretter in numbre than his, where vnto with a noble courage he answered: And for howe many shippes accounte you oure persone, wherewith his people toke suche comforte that they boldelye dyd set furth, and vainquisshed their enemyes.

Suche noble courage was in great kynge Alexander, that in hys warres agayne Darius, he was sene of all hys people fightynge in the prease of his enemyes bare heded. I wyll nat be so vncurtaise to leaue vnremembred in this place the notable Magnanimitie of a kynge of Englande, whiche I hapned ot rede late in an olde cronycle.

Edgare, who in the tyme that the Saxons had this realme in subiection, hadde subdued all the other kynges Saxons, and made them his tributaries.

On a tyme he hadde theim all with hym at dyner, and after it was shewed hym that Rynande kynge of Scottes, hadde sayde, that he woundred howe it [c7v] shulde happen/ that he and other kynges that were tall and great personages, wolde suffre them selfes to be subdued by so litle a body as Edgare was. Edgare dissembled & answered nothinge, but faynynge to go on huntynge, he toke with him the Scottisshe kynge in his company, and purposely withdrewe hyym from them that were with hym: And causynge by a secrete seruaunt, two swerdes to be conuayed in to a place in the forest by hym appointed: as soone as he came thither he toke the one sworde and delyuered the other to Rinande, byddinge hym to proue his strength, and to assaye whither his dedes wolde ratifie his wordes: wherat the Scottisshe kynge beinge abasshed, beholdynge the noble courage of Edgare, with an horrible feare confessed his errour, desirynge pardon, whiche he with moste humble submission at the laste optayned. That noble kynge Edgare, declarynge by his Magnanimitie, that by his vertue, & nat by chaunce, he was elected to reigne ouer so noble a region.

Plato, for his diuine wisedome and eloquence, named the god of Philosophers, was sent for by Dionise kynge of Sicile, to the intent, as it semed, that he wolde be of [c8r] him instructed, concernynge the polityke gouernaunce of his realme: But whan he had ben with him a certaine space, & wolde nat flatter with the kinge, and vpholde his tyrannye, the kinge became wery of him, in so moche, that if it had nat ben at the requeste of Architas prince of Tarent, he wolde haue put hym to dethe. Wherfore partely at the desire of that prince, partely for feare of the Atheniensis, he licenced Plato to departe without damage: but at his departynge he sayde vnto him, as it were in despite: O howe euill wilt thou speke of me Plato, whan thou commest amonge thy companyons and scolers. Than Plato with a noble courage answered: God defende, there shulde be in my scole so moche vacaunt tyme from the studie of wisedome, that there mought be any place lefte, ones to remembre the. Nowe will I make an ende of their vertue, and procede further to write of some vices, whiche communely do folowe Magnanimitie, and with great difficulite may be exchued.

Of Obstinacie, a familiar vice, folowinge Magnanimitie.

The prince of Oratours, Marcus, Tuillius, in his firste boke of Offices, sayeth, that in height & greatnesse of courage, is moste soneste ingendred obstinacie, and inordinate desire of soueraignetie. Obstinacie, is an affection immoueable, fixed to wille, abandonynge reason, whiche is ingendred of Pryde, that is to saye, whan a man estemeth so moche hym selfe aboue any other, that he reputeth his owne witte onely, to be in perfection, and contemneth all other counsayle. Vndoughtedly this is an horrible & perylouse vice, & very familiare with them, whiche be of moste noble courages. By it many a valyaunt capitayne & noble prince, haue nat onely fallen them selfes, but also brought all their contrayes in daungeour, and often tymes, to subuercion and ruyne. The wise kinge Salomon sayeth: Amonge proude men, be all way contentions. And they that do all thinges with counsayle, be gouerned by wisedome. I nede nat to reherce examples out of olde writars, what damage haue ensued of obstinacie, consideryng that euery historye is full therof, & we styll haue it in dayly experience: But of one thinge am I suer, where obstinacie ruleth, and reason [d8r] lacketh place, there counsaile auayleth nat: And where counsayle hathe nat auctoritie and fraunches, there may no thinge be perfecte. Salomon sayenge, that where as be many counsayles, there is the people in suertie. Nowe will I declare the residue of Tullies sentence, concernynge inordinate desire of soueraignetie. Whiche is proprely called Ambition.

Of an other vice folowing Magnanimitie, called Ambition.

It was nat without a hygh and prudent consideration, that certayne lawes were made by the Romaynes, whiche were named the lawes of Ambition, wherby men were restrayned in the citie, to optayne offices and dignties in the publiek weale, either by gyuinge rewardes, or by other sinistre labour or meanes: And they which by that lawe were condemned, were put to dethe without any fauour. Verely it was a noble lawe, & for all places necessary, considerynge what inconuenience hapneth by this vayne and superfluous appetite: witnesses amonge the Romaynes, Sylla, [d1v] Marius, Carbo, Cinna, Pompei, & Cesar, by whose ambicion mo Romaynes were slayne, that in acquiringe the empyre of all the worlde: as it may appere by the onely ambicion of Sylla, who condemned and caused to be slayne foure score thousande Romaynes beside many mo that were slaine in the batayles, betwene him and the bothe Marius: Also Pompei, and Julius Cesar, the one suffrynge no peere, the other no superior, by their ambicion caused to be slaine betwene theim, people innumerable, & subuerted the best & moste noble publike weale of the worlde, & finally hauynge litle tyme of reioysinge their vnlefull desire: Pompei shamefully fleinge, had his hede striken of by the commaundement of Ptolomee, kynge of Egipt, vnto whome as vnto his frende, he fledde for socour. Cesar the vainquisshour was murdred in the Senate with daggers, by them, whome he moste specially fauoured. I coulde occupie a great volume with histories of them/ whiche couaytinge to mounte into excellent dignities, dyd therby brynge in to extreme perylles, bothe them selfes and their contrayes. For as Tacitus sayeth, wonderfull elegantly: with theim, whiche desire soueraignetie, there is no [d2r] meane place betwene the toppe, & the stepe downe. To the whiche wordes, Tulli agreinge sayeth, that hygh autorities, shulde nat moche be desired, or rather nat to be taken at some tyme: and often tymes to be left and forsaken. So dyd Sylla whome I late spake of. And Diocletian Emperour of Rome, who after that he had gouerned the empyre xxv. yeres honorable (if he had nat ben polluted with the bloode of innumerable Christen men) he willingly abandoned the crowne and dignitie emperiall, & lyued nyne yeres on his priuate possessions. And on a tyme he beinge desired of Herculius & Galerius, vnto whome he had resigned the empyre, to take eftsones on him the gouernaunce, abhorynge it as a pestilence, aunswered in this wise: I wolde ye dyd see the herbes that I haue with myne owne handes sowen & sette at Salona, suerly ye wolde nat than in this wise aduise me. Also Octaiuius Augustus whiche in felicitie passed all emperours: deuised often tymes with his frendes to haue resigned his autoritie. And if at that tyme the Senate had ben as well fournisshed with noble and wise personages, as it was before the Ciuile warres, betwene Cesar and Pompei. It is to be thought, [d2v] that he wolde suerly haue restored the publike weale to his pristinate glorie. But nowe let vs see, what is the cause why that Ambition is so pernicious to a publike weale. And in myne Oppinion it is for two causes principally. Fyrste for as moche as they whiche be of that courage & appetite, whan they be in autorie, they suppose all thynge to be lefull that lyketh them. And also by reason of their preeminence, they wolde so be seperate from other, that no man shulde countrolle them, or warne them of their enormyties: & finally they wolde do what they list without contradiction. Wherof do ensue diuers iniuries and subuertion of iustyce. And that this whiche I haue nowe sayd is true, Tulli affirmeth sayenge. Verely it is a great difficultie, where thou woldest be aboue all men to obserue equitie. Whiche is the thinge moste appropred to iustice, and shortely, after he sayeth. The more higher of courage that a man is & desirous of glorie, the soner is he meued to do thinges agayne ryght: seynge that it was so in the tyme of Tulli whan all moste euery man that was in auctoritie had excellent lernynge (the Romanes bringynge vp their children in study of morall philosophie) what shall we than [d3r] suppose in our tyme, whan fewe men in autorite do care for lernynge? Why shulde we thynke to be more iustice nowe vsed in autoritie, than was in the tyme of Tulli? Is there nat nowe priuate affection: particuler fauour, displeasure and haterede as was at that tyme? I wolde that the redars hereof be iuges examinynge these my wordes with dayly experience. The seconde cause that condemneth ambicion is couatyse of treasure, therwith to maintaine their ostentacion & vayne glorie, which ambicious persones do calle their honour, wherby they be procured to prouide for such substaunce, wherwith they may be nat onely satisfied (they beinge insaciable) but according to their owne appetite fully satisfied. Wherfore the Philosophers called Stoici, vsed this sentence. Great indigence or lacke cometh nat of pouertie, but of great plentie, for he that hathe moche shal nede moche. But certes suche persones Ambicious may well consider that the men magnificence & pompe, which they couaite, is nat so moche wondred at, as auarice & collection of money is vniuersally hated. Wherfore Darius king of Persia & father to Xerxes, whan he had commaunded a subsidie to be leuyed of [d3v] his subiectes, he demaunded the chiefe men of the contrayes. Whether they founde them selfe greued, they aunswerynge that they were in a merely good case, he commaunded the one halfe to be eftsones restored, lest he of any auarice shulde be suspected. By the which act he stablisshed his dignite & made it more perfecte. More ouer Tulli saieth: To take any thinge from an other man, & one man to encrease his commoditie with an other mannes detryment, is more repugnaunt to nature, than dethe, than pouertie, payne, or other thynge that mought happen either to the body or other goodes worldly. And this for nowe suffiseth to speke of ambition.

The true definicion of abstinence and Continence.

Abstinencie and continencie be also companions of fortitude, and be noble & excellent vertues, & I can nat tell whither there be any to be preferred before them, specially in men hauynge autoritie they beinge the brydles of two capital vices: that is to saye, Auarice and Lecherie. Whiche vices beinge refrayned by a [d4r] noble man that liueth at libertie & without controlement, procureth vnto hym, beside the fauour of god, immortall glorie. And that citie or realme wherof the gouernours with these vices be litle or nothynge acquainted, do abide longe in prosperitie. For as Valerius Maximus sayeth, where so euer this feruent pestylence of mankynde hath entry, Iniury reigneth, reproche or infamie is spradde and deuoureth the name of nobilitie. The propreties of these two vertues be in this maner. Abstinence is wherby a man refrayneth from any thinge, whiche he may lefully take, for a better purpose. Continence is a vertue whiche kepeth the pleasaunt appetite of man vnder the yoke of reason. Aristotelle in his Ethikes making them bothe but one, describeth them vnder the name of continence, sayenge, he that is continent, for as moche as he knoweth that couaitous desires be euill, he dothe abandone them, reason persuadynge hym. For this tyme I take abstinence for the wilfull abandoninge of money, possessions, of other thinge semblable. Continence, the onely forberynge the vnlefull company of women.

Martius Coreolanus, a noble yonge man, which lineally descended from Ancus somtyme [d4v] king of Romaynes, whan he had done many valiaunt actes & achieued sondry enterprises, he was according to his merites commended in the armye by Post humius than being consulle. And by their vniuersall assent he was rewarded with all suche honours, as than aptained to a good warriour. Also with one hundred acres of arable lande, the election of ten prisoners, ten horsis appailed for the warres, one hundred of Oxen, & as moche siluer as he mought beare. But of al this wolde he take no thing, but one onely prisoner, which was of his acquaintaunce, & one courser, whiche all wayes after he vsed in batayle. Marcus Curius, the very rule & paterne of Fortitude and moderate lyuing: whan the people called Samnites, whiche had warres with the Romanes, founde him sittynge in his house by the fire vpon a homely fourme, eatynge his meate in a disshe of tree? They brynginge to hym a great some of golde by the consent of the people, & wondryng at his pouertie, with courtaise langage, desyred him to take that they had brought him, he thereat smilinge said thus vnto them: ye ministers of a vaine & superfluous message, shewe you to the Samnites, that Curius had leuer haue dominion ouer them [d5r] that by riche, than he him selfe to haue richesse. And as for this golde, whiche ye accounte precious, take it agayne with you, & remembre that ye can neither vainquisshe me in bataile, nor corrupt me with money. Quint Tubero surnamed Catelius, what tyme he was consulle: the people in Greece called Aetoli sent to him by their ambassadours, a great quantitie of siluer, vessell curiousely wrought & grauen: But whan they came to him they founde on his table vessell onely of erthe. And whan he sawe them he exhorted them that they shulde nat suppose that his Continence, as if it were pouertie, shulde be with their presentes relieued. And with that sayenge, commaunded them to departe. To Epaminondas, the Thebane beinge in his tyme as well in vertue as prowesse the moste noble man of all Greece, Arthaxerses king of Persia to make him his frende, sent one of his seruauntes to Thebes, with a great quantitie of treasoure to gyue to Epaminondas: whiche seruaunt knowynge his maners darst nat offre it vnto him whan he came, but speking to a yonge man which was familiar with Epaminondas, gaue vnto him a great rewarde to meue Epaminondas to receiue the kings present. Who vneth hering the [d5v] first wordes of the yonge man, commaunded the kinges seruaunt to be brought vnto him, vnto whome he had these wordes. Frende shewe to the kynge that he nedeth nat to offre me money: for if he haue any thinge to do with the Thebanes for a good purpose, he may haue their assistence without any rewarde, if the purpose be nought, he can nat with all the treasoure of the worlde hope to optayne it. Whiche wordes were spoken with suche a grauitie that the sayd seruaunt beynge a ferde desired Epaminondas, that he mought be faulsly conuaied out of the citie: whiche he graunted with good will, lest if the money were taken a way, he mought of the receyuinge therof haue ben suspected. More ouer he caused the Thebane which was his frende & companion, to restore to the messager the money that he had receyued. Semblable Abstinence was there in Phocion a noble counsaylour of Athenes, vnto whome the ambassadours of the great kynge Alexander, brought from their maister a hundred Talentes of golde, whiche were of englysshe money xii. thousande pounde. But before that he herde them speke any thynge. He damaunded of them, why to him onely the [d6r] kynge sent so bounteous a rewarde. And they aunswered for as moche as king Alexander iuged him oney to be a good man & a iuste. Than suffre ye me sayd Phocion, to be & to seme the same man that your kynge do iuge men, and cary your golde agayne to him. The same Phocion the ambassadour of Antipater (who succeded the great king Alexander in Macedonia) offred to gyue a great some of money: whiche Phocion despisinge sayde in this wise. Sens Antipater is nat gretter than Alexander, nor his cause better, I do nothinge perceyue why I shulde take anythinge of him. And whan the Oratour wolde haue hadde Phocions sonne to haue taken the money: Phocion answered. If his sonne wolde be lyke vnto hym, he shulde haue no nede, neither of that money nor of none other. If he wolde be vnlike vnto him and of dissolute maners, neyther Antipaters giftes nor none others, were they neuer so great shulde be sufficient. By these examples it dothe appere howe good men dyd all way flee from rewardes, all though they mought haue ben lefully taken, which in them was neyther folisshenes nor yet rusticitie, but of a prudent consideracion. For as moche as bothe by wisedome [d6v] and experience they knewe, that he whiche taketh a rewarde before any thinge done, is no lenger at libertie, but of a free man is made bonde, in as moche as he hathe taken ernest for his true endeuour. Also by the takynge he is become an euill man though before he were good, for if he receyued it for an euill purpose, he is than a wretche and detestable. If the matter were good, than is he nat rightwise in sellynge a good dede. Whiche he aught to do thankefully and without rewarde. And I dought nat, who so euer is contented with his present astate, & supposeth felicitie to be in a meane, and all excesse to be perillous, will a lowe these sentences, and thinke them worthy to be had in remembraunce, specially of them that be gouernours. For that realme or citie where men in autoritie haue their bandes open for money, and their houses for presentes is euer in the waye to be subuerted. Wherfore Caius Pontius prince of Samnites was wont to saye, I wolde god (sayd he) that fortune had reserued me vnto the tyme, and that I had be than borne whan the Romaynes shulde begynne to take gyftes. I shulde than nat suffre them any lenger to rule. Paulus Emilius whanne [d7r] he hadde vainquisshed kynge Perses, and subdued all Macedonia, he brought into the commune treasory of Rome and infinite treasure, that the substaunce of that one prince discharged all the Romaynes to paye euer after any taxe of subsidie. And yet of all that goodes Emilius brought no thinge in to his owne house, but onely perpetuall renoume. Scipio whan he hadde goten & destroyed the great citie of Charthage, he was nat therfore the rycher one halfepeny. By this it appereth that honour resteth nat in richesse, all through some perchaunce wyll saye, that their reuenues be small, and that they muste take suche rewardes as be lefull, onely to maintayne their honour, but lette them take hede to the sayenge of Tulli. Nothynge is more to be abhorred, thanne auarice specially in princis and theim whiche do gouerne publike weales.

The examples of Continence gyuen by noble men.

Nowe we wyll I speke of Continence, whiche is specially in refrayninge or forbering the acte of carnall pleasure, where vnto a man is feruently meued, or is at libertie to haue it. Whiche vnoughtedly is a thinge nat onely difficile, but also wonderfull in a man noble or of great auctoritie, but in suche one as it hapneth to be, nedes muste be reputed moche vertue and wisedome, & to be supposed that his myndes is inuincible, considerynge that nothynge so sharpely assaileth a mannes mynde, as dothe carnall affection, called (by the folowars therof) loue: wherfore Plato sayeth that the soule of man whiche by loue is possessed, dieth in his owne body, and lyueth in an other.

The great kynge Alexander after his firste victorye agayne kynge Darius, hauinge all wayes in his hoste, the wife of the same Darius, whiche incomparably excelled all other wemen in beaultie. After that he had ones sene her, he neuer after wolde haue her come in his presence. All be it that he caused her astate still to be maintayned, and with as moche honour as euer it was, sayenge to them whiche wondrynge at the ladyes beautie, meruailed why Alexander dyd nat [d8r] desire to haue with her company, he answered, that it shulde be to hym a reproche, to be any wise subdued by the wife of him, whom he had vainquisshed. Antiochus the noble king of Asia, beinge in the citie of Ephesum, behelde a virgine beinge a Mynchen in the temple of Diana, to be of excellent beautie: where he perceiuing him selfe to be rauisshed in the loue of the mayden, he hastely & immediatly departed out of the citie, lest loue shulde constrayne him to violate a virgine: wisely considerynge that it was best to abstayne from doinge batayle with that enemye, whiche vnethe mought be vainquisshed, but with flight onely. The valyaunt Pompei, whanne he had vainquisshed the kynge Mithridates, and had taken diuers of his Concubines, which in beautie excelled, he wolde haue no carnall knowlege with any of them: but whan he knewe that they were of noble lignage, he sent them vndefiled to their parentes and kynnesfolke. Semblably dyd Scipio whan he wanne Carthage. For amonge diuers women whiche were there taken: one moste fairest of other, was brought vnto hym to do with her his pleasure. But after that she had discouered to him that she was affraunced [d8v] to a gentill man called Indibilis, he caused him to be sent for, and whan he behelde the lamentation & signes of loue betwene them, he nat onely delyuered her to Indibilis with her raunsome whiche her frendes hadde payde for her redemption: but also added therto an honorable porcion of his owne treasour, by the whiche Continence & liberalitie, he wanne the hertes of Indibilis & all his blode, wherby he the soner optained & wanne all the contraye. Of this vertue be examples innumerable, as well of gentiles as of christen men. But these for this tyme shall suffise: sauynge that for the straungernesse of it I will reherce a notable historie, whiche is remembred by the moste excellent doctour saynt Hierome. Valerian beinge emperour of Rome, and persecutynge the churche. In Egipt a christen man was presented vnto him, whome he beholdynge to be yonge and lusty: thinkyne therfore to remoue him from the faythe rather by veneriall motions, thanne by sharpenesse of tournementes, caused hym to be layde in a bedde within a fayre gardayne, hauynge about him all flowres of swete odour and moste delectable fauours & perfumes. And than caused a fayre tender yonge woman to [e1r] be layde by him all naked, who ceased nat swetely and louingly to embrace and kysse him, showinge to him all pleasaunt deuises, to the intent to prouoke him to do fornication. Ther lacked litle that the yonge man was nat vainquisshed, & that the flesshe yelded nat to the seruice of Venus, that perceyuinge the yonge man, whiche was armed with grace, and seinge none other refuge, he with his teethe dyd gnawe of his owne tunge, wherin he suffred suche incredible payne, that therwith the furious brennyng of voluptuous appetite was vtterly extinct. In this notable acte I wote nat which is to be moste commended, either his inuincible courage in resisting so moche agayne nature, or his wisedome in subduynge the lasse payne with the more: and bytinge of that, wherby he mought be constrayned to blaspheme god, or renounce his religion. Suer I am that he therfore receyued imortall lyfe & perpetuall glorie. And this I suppose suffiseth to persuade men of good nature to embrace Continence, I meane nat to lyue euer chaste: But to honour matrimony, and to haue good awayte, that they lette nat the sparkes of concupiscence growe in great flames, wherwith the wyttes shall be [e1v] dryed vp, and all noble vertues shall be deuoured.

Of Constance or Stabilitie.

In buyldinge of a fortresse, or other honorable mantion, it aught to be well considered that the cement, wherewith the stones be layde, be firme and well bindynge. For if it be brokle & will mouldre a way with euery showre of raine, the buyldynge may nat contynewe, but the stones beinge nat suerly couched & mortred falleth a way one after an other: & finally the hole house is defaced & falleth in ruyne. Semblably, that man which in childehode is brought vp in sondry vertues: if eyther by nature or els by custome, he be nat induced to be all way constant and stable, so that he meue nat for any affection griefe or displeasure, all his vertues will shortely decaye, and in the estimation of men be but as a shadowe, and be soone forgoten. Also if a paynter hadde wrought in a table some peace of portrayture wonderfull elegant & pleasaunt to beholde, as well for the good proportion & figure, as for the fresshe and [e2r] delectable colours: But for as moche as in temperynge his colours he lacked good size, wherwith they shulde haue be bounden & made to endure, after that the image hathe be a litel while pleasaunt to the beholders, the colours beynge nat suerly wrought either by moystnesse of wether relenteth or adeth, or by some stroke or falle scaleth of, or mouldreth a waye, by reason wherof the image is vtterly deformed, and the industrie of the warke man beinge neuer so excellent is perisshed, and accounted but for a vanitie. So he that hath all the giftes of nature & fortune, and also in his childehode is adourned with doctrine & vertue, whiche he hathe acquired with moche trauayle, watche, and studye,if he adde nat to constance, whan he cometh to the tyme of experience, whiche experience is as it were the warke of the craftes man: but meued with any priuate affection, or feare of aduersitie or exterior damage will omitte any parte of his lernynge or vertue: the estimation of his persone immediatly ceaseth amonge perfecte warkemen, that is to saye, wise men: and finally nothynge beinge in him certayne or stable, what thinge in hym may be comended? And in one thynge me [e2v] semeth that Constance hathe equall prayse with iustyce: That is to saye, that he that is him selfe iniuste, loueth that persone that dealeth iustely with him: and contrary wise hateth that persone, that dealeth iniustely, or dothe him wronge. In like wise he, whiche is inconstant, extolleth him, whome he fyndeth constant: and desireth to haue him his frende: on the other parte whome he proueth inconstant and wauerynge, he is angry with him, & accounteth him a beeste, and vnworthy the company of men: and awayteth diligently to trust hym with nothinge. We note in children inconstance, and likewise in women, the one for sklendernesse of witte, the other as a naturall sickenesse. Therfore men vse in rebukynge a man of inconstance, to calle hym a childisshe or womanly persone. All be it some women nowe a dayes be founden more constant than men, & specially in loue towarde their husbandes, or els mought there happen to be some wronge inheritours. Constance is as propre vnto a man as is reason: and is of suche estimation, that according as it was spoken of a wise man, it were better to haue a constant enemye, thanne an inconstant frende: wherof I my selfe haue had sufficient experience. [e3r] But nowe to declare some experience of constance, wherby the reders may be the more therto prouoked, I will reherce some examples therof out of olde histories, as I shall happen to remembre them. After that Sylla hadde vainquisshed Marius, and destroyed the parte of his aduersaries, he with a great number of persones all armed enuironed the senate, intendynge to compell them by violence to condemne Marius for a traytour: whiche request none darste agayne saye, Sceuola onely excepte, who beinge therof demaunded, wolde gyue no sentence. But whan Sylla dyd cast therfore on him a cruell countenaunce, he with a constant visage and noble courage said to him: Sylla all though thou facist and threttist me with thy multitude of Souldiours, with whome thou hast thus besieged this courtye and all though thou doest menace me with dethe neuer so moche, yet shalt thou neuer brynge it to passe, that for shedynge a litle olde blode I shall iuge Marius a traytour, by whome this citie, & all Italy haue ben preserued.

The constance that great kynge Alexander had in trustynge his frende agayne false reporte, saued his lyfe, whereof all men despaired, [e3v] for after that noble batayle, wherin he had vainquisshed Darius, and taken his treasure, as he passed through Cilicia, beynge sore chaufed with feruent heate, and the lengthe of his iournay, as he came by the ryuer called Lydnus, beholding it clere and pleasaunt, and thinkynge to a swage therin the heates that he suffred, he went there into naked, and dranke therof: But immediately by the excedinge colde, which was in that water, his sinewes shranke, and his iointes became vnweldy, and as they were dede, & all his hoste beinge discomforted, he was conuayed to a citie thereby called Tarsum. Where vpon the Phisicions assembled and deuisinge for the best remedy, they all were determined to gyue hym one medicine, and that it shulde be ministred by one Philippe, chiefe phisicion with Alexander. In the meane tyme Parmenio, one of the grettest capitaynes about Alexander, aduertised hym by his letters, that he shulde beware of the trayson of the sayde Philyppe, sayenge that he was corrupted with a great some of money by Darius: wherwith he beinge nothing esbaied, helde in his handes the letter, and receyuinge the medicyne that Philyppe gaue hym/ he at [e4r] one tyme deliuered the letter open to Philyppe, and dranke also the medicine: declaringe therby the constance that was in his frendship. Whiche truste, nat onely caused nature the better to warke with the medicine, but also bounde so the harte of the Phisicion towarde him, that he euer after studyed more diligently for the helpe and preseruation of the noble prince, that dyd so moche trust hym.

The Constance of Cato Vticensis was all waye immoueable, in so moche as at sondry tymes, whanne he in the Senate egrely defended the publike weale with vehement & longe orations, agayne the attemptates of ambicious persones: he was by them rebuked & committed to prisone: But he therfore nat cessynge, but goinge towarde prisone, detected to the people as he went, the vnlefull purposes and enterprises of them, by whome he was punisshed, with the pyle that was imminent to the publike weale: whiche he dyd with suche courage and eloquence that as well the Senate as the people drewe so about him, that his aduersaries were fayne for feare to discharge him.

Who can sufficiently commende this noble man Cato, whan he redeth in the warkes [e4v] of Plutarche of his excellent courage and vertue: howe moche worthyar had he bene to haue hadde Homere the trumpe of his same immortall, than Achilles? who for a lytle wenche contended with Agamemnon onely: where Cato for the conseruation of the weale publiek contended and also resisted agayne Iulius Ceasar and the greatte Pompey, and nat onely agayne theyr menaces, but also agayne theyr desyres, and offres of aliaunce. Where of I wolde gladly haue made a remembrance in this warke, if the volume there by shulde nat to moche haue increased and becomen vnhandsome.

Vndoughtedly constaunce is an honourable vertue, as inconstance is reprochefull and odious. Wherfore that man whiche is mutable for euerye occasyon, muste nedes often repente hym, and in moche repentance is nat only moche foly, but also great detriment: whiche euery wyse man wyll eschue if he can. Wherfore to gouernours no thing is more propre than to be in theyr lyuyng stable and constant.

The true signification of Temperaunce a morall vertue.

This blessed companye of vertues in this wyse assembled, foloweth Temperaunce, as a sad and discrete matrone and reuerent gouernesse, awaitinge diligently, that in any wyse voluptie or concupiscence haue no preeminence in the soule of man. Aristotle defineth this vertue to be a mediocrite in the pleasures of the body, specially in taste & touching: therfore he that is temperate fleeth pleasures voluptuous, & with the absence of them is nat discontented, and from the presence of them he wyllyngly abstayneth. But in myne oppinion Plotinus the wonderfull philosopher maketh an excellent definition of temperaunce, sayenge: that the propretie or office therof is to couaite nothynge whiche maye be repented, also nat to excede the boundes of medyocritye, and to kepe desyre vnder the yocke of reason. He that practiseth this vertue is called a temperate man: and he that doeth contrarye there to is named intemperate: betwene whome and a persone incontynent Aristotelle makethe this diuersytye: that he is intemperate whyche by his owne election is ladde, supposynge that the pleasure that is presente [e5v] or (as I mought saye) in vre shulde all waye be folowed. But the persone incontinent supposeth nat so, and yet he nat withstandinge dothe folowe it. The same autour also maketh a diuersitie betwene hym that is temperate, & him that is continent: sayeng that the continent man is suche one that no thinge will do for bodely pleasure, whiche shall stande agayne reason. The same is he which is temperate, sauynge that the other hathe corrupte desyres, whiche this man lacketh. Also the temperate man deliteth in nothynge contrarye to reason. But he that is continent deliteth: yet will he nat be ladde agayne reason. Finally to declare it in fewe wordes, we may well calle hym a Temperate man, that desireth the thynge whiche he aught to desire, and as he aught to desyre, and whanne he aught to desyre. Nat withstandynge there be diuers other vertues, whiche do seme to be as it were companyons with temperaunce. Of whome (for the exchuyng of tediousenes) I wyll speke nowe onely of two, moderation, and sobrenesse, whiche no man (I suppose) doughteth to be of suche efficacie, that with out them no man may attayne vnto wisedome: & by them wisedome is sonest espied. [e6r]

Of Moderation a spice of temperance.

Moderation is the limites and boundes which honestie hath appoynted in spekynge and doynge: lyke as in rennynge, passynge the gole, is accounted but rasshenesse, so rennynge halfe waye is reproued for slownesse. In like wise, wordes and actes be the paces, wherin the witte of man maketh his course, and moderation is in stede of the gole, whiche if he passe ouer he is noted either of presumption or of foole hardinesse, if he come short of the purpose, he is contemned as dulle & vnapte to affaires of great importaunce. This vertue shall best be perceiued by rehersinge of examples shewed by noble men: whiche is in effecte but dayly experience. Fabius Maximus beinge fyue tymes Consul, perceyuinge his father, his graundefather, and diuers other his auncetours to haue had often tymes that most honorable dignitie: whan his sonne by the vniuersall consent of the people shulde be also made consul, he ernestly intreated the people to spare his sonne, and to gyue to the house of [e6v] Fabius, as hit were a vacation tyme from that honoure, nat for that he hadde anye mystrust in his sonnes vertue and honesty: but that his moderation was suche that he wolde nat that excellent dignitie shulde alway continue in one familie. Scipio Affricanus the elder, whan the senate and people had purposed, that accordinge to his merites he shuld haue certaine statues or images set in al courtes and places of assembly. Also they wold haue set his image in triumphant aparaile within the capitole, & haue granted to him to haue ben consul & Dictator during his lyfe: he nat withstandyng wolde nat suffre that anye of them shulde be decreed either by the acte of the senate, or by the peoples suffrage. Where in he shewed hym selfe to be as valiant in refusing of honoures, as he was in the actes, where in he had them well deserued. There is also moderation in tolleration of fortune of euerye sorte: whiche of Tulli is called equabilite. Whiche is whan there semeth to be alwaye one visage and countenance, neuer changed nor for prosperitie nor for aduersite.

Metellus called Numidicus in a common sedicion beyng banisshed from Rome, & abyding in Asia, as he hapned to sit with noble [e7r] men of that countray, in beholding a great play, ther were letters deliuered him, wherby he was assertained, that by the hole consent of the senate & people his retourne into his countray was graunted. He (nat withstanding that he was of that tidinges exceding ioifull) remeued nat vntyll the playes were ended, nor any man sitting by hym mought perceiue in his countenance any token of gladnes. The great kynge Antiochus whiche longe tyme hadde in his dominion all Asia, whiche is accounted to be the thirde part of the worlde: whan at the laste beinge vainquisshed by Lucius Scipio he had lost the more parte of his empire, and was assigned but to a smal porcion, he vsed his fortune so moderately, that he gaue great thankes to the Romanes, that beinge delyuered of so greatte burdon and charge, he more easely mought gouerne a litel dominion. Alexander emperour of Rome, so in this vertue excelled, that beinge electe & made emperour at xvi. yeres of his age whan the senate & people for his vertue, wherin he passed al other wolde haue hym called the great Alexander & father of the countray, whiche of all names was hygheste: he with a wonderfull grauite refused it, sayeng, that it behoued [e7v] that those names were optayned by merites & ripenesse of yeres. The same prince also wolde nat suffre his empresse to vse in her apparayle any richer stones than other ladyes, and if any were gyuen her, he either caused them to be solde, or els gaue them vnto Temples, affirmyng that the example of pompe and inordinate expensis shulde nat procede of the Emperours wyfe. And whan for the honoure that he dyd to the Senate and lawes, his wife and his mother rebuked him, sayenge that he shulde bring the emperyall maiestie into to lowe an astate: he aunswered that it shulde be the surer & continue the longer. There is also a Moderation to be vsed agayne wrathe or appetite of vengeaunce. Hadriane the emperour, while he was but a priuate person, bare towarde a capitayne greuous displeasure, who afterwarde herynge that he was made emperour was in great feare lest Hadriane wolde be aduenged. But whan he came to themperours presence: he nothing dyd, or said to hym but only these wordes. Thou haste well escaped. By the whiche wordes he well declared his moderation, and also that who so euer puttethe on the habite of a common persone or gouernour, it [e8r] shal nat beseme him to reuenge priuate displesures. Architas whan he had bene a longe space out of his countrey, & at his retourne founde his possessions and goodes distroyed and wasted. He sayd to his baylife. I wold surely punisshe the if I shuld nat be angry. Moche lyke dyd Plato, for whan his seruaunt had offended hym greuously he desired Speusippus his frende to punisshe him, leeste (sayde he) if I beate hym, I shulde happe to be angry. Wherin Plato deserued more praise than Architas, in as moche as he obserued his pacience, and yet dyd nat suffre the offence of his seruaunt to be vnpunisshed. For most often tymes the omittynge of correction redoubleth a trespace. Semblable moderation & wisedome Aulus Gellius remembrethe to be in Plutarche the philosopher, whiche was mayster to Traiane the emperour.

It hapned that the bondeman of Plutarch had committed some greuous offence. Wherfore his mayster wylled, that he shulde be sharply punisshed: wherfore commaunding hym to be striped naked, caused an other of his seruauntes in his presence to beate hym. But the slaue who as it semed was lerned, while he was in beatynge cried out on Plutarche [e8v] and in maner of reproche sayd vnto hym, howe agreeth this with thy doctrine, that preachest so moche of pacience, and in all thy lessons reprouest wrathe: & nowe contrary to thyn owne teachyng thou arte all inflamed with wrathe, & clene from the pacience, which thou so moche praysest? Vnto whom Plutarche without any chaunge of countenaunce, aunswered in this fourme: Thou embraydest me causeles with wrath and impacience, but I praye the what perceyuest thou in me, that I am angry or out of pacience? I suppose (except I be moche deceiued) thou seest me nat stare with myn eyen, or my mouthe imbosed, or the colour of my face chaunged, or any other deformitie in my persone or gesture, or that my wordes be swyfte, or my voyce louder than modestie requyreth, or that I am vnstable in my gesture or motion, whiche be the sygnes and euident tokens of wrathe and impacience. Wherfore said he to the correctour, sens he can nat proue that I am yet angry: in the meane tyme whyle he and I do dispute of this matter, and vntyll he vtterly do cese of his presumption and obstinacie, loke that thou styl beate him. Verily in myn oppinion Plutarch herein declared [f1r] his excellent wysedome and grauitie: as well in his example of pacience, as also in subduynge the stubbourne courage of an obstinate seruaunt, whiche historie shall be expedient for gouernours to haue in remembrance: that whan according to the lawes, they do punysshe offendours, they them selfes be nat chaufed or meued with wrathe: But (as Tulli sayeth) be lyke to the lawes, whiche be prouokedde to punysshe nat by wrathe or displeasure, but onely by equitie. And immediately the same autour gyueth an other noble precept concerning moderation in punysshement: sayenge, that in correcting, wrathe is principally to be forboden, for he that punissheth whyle he is angry, shall neuer kepe that meane, whiche is betwene to moche and to lyttell.

Of sobrietie in diete.

Merely I nothyng doute, but that the more parte of the redars of this warke, wyll take in good parte al that is before written, consideringe the benefite & also the ornament that those vertues of whom I haue spoken, of good reason [f1v] and congruence must be to them, in whom they shall be planted and do contynue. But I knowe well that this chapitre whiche nowe ensueth: shall vneth be thankefully receyued of a fewe redars, ne shall be accounted worthy to be radde of any honourable person, considering that the matter therin contayned is so repugnaunt and aduerse to that perniciouse custome, wherin of longe tyme men hath estemed to be the more part of honour, in so moche as I very well knowe that some shall accounte great presumption in this myne attemptate, in writynge agayne that whiche haue bene so longe vsed. But for as moche as I haue taken vpon me to write of a publike weale, which taketh his begynnynge at the example of them that be gouernours. I wyll nat lette for the disprayse gyuen by them whiche be abused. But with all study and diligence, I wyl descriue the auncient temperaunce and moderation in diete called sobrietie: or in a more general terme frugalite: the acte wherof is at this day as infrequent or out of vse amonge all sortes of men, as the termes be straunge vnto them whiche haue nat bene well instructed in latin.

The noble emperour Augustus who in all [f2r] the residue of his lyfe was for his moderation and temperaunce excellently commended, suffred no litle reproche for as moche as he in a secrete souper or banket hauynge with hym sixe noble men his frendes, and sixe noble women, and naming hym selfe at that tyme Apollo, and the other men and women the names of other goddes & goddesses, fared sumptuousely and delicately, the citie of Rome at that tyme beinge vexed with skarcitie of grayne: he therfore was rente with curses and rebukes of the people: in so moche as he was openly called Apollo the turmentour, sayenge also that he with his goddes had deuoured their corne. With whiche libertie of speche beinge more persuaded than discontented, fro than forthe he vsed suche a frugalitie or moderation of diete, that he was contented to be serued at one meale with thre dysshes, or sixe at the mooste: whiche also were of a moderate price, and yet therin he vsed suche sobrenes that either he hym selfe wolde nat sitte vntyl they which dyned with him, had eaten a good space: or elles if he sate whan they dyd, he wolde aryse a great space or any of them had lefte eatynge. And for what purpose suppose ye dyd this emperour in this [f2v] wyse in whom was neuer spotte of auarice, of vyle courage. Certes for two causes: fyrst knowing the inconueniences that alway do happen by ingurgitations & excessife fedinges: Also that lyke as to hym was commytted the soueraigne gouernance of all the worlde, so wolde he be to all men the generall example of lyuinge. Nowe what damages do happen amonge menne by immoderate eatinge & drynkynge, we be euery day taught by experience: but to brynge them (as it were to mennes eyen) I wll set them out euidently.

Firste of sacietie or fulnesse be ingendred paynfull diseases & sickenesses, as squynces. Distillations, called rewmes or poses, hemorroydes, great bledynges, crampes, duskenesse of sight, the tisike, and the stiche: with many other that come nat nowe to my remembraunce. Of to moche drynkinge procedeth dropsies, wherwith the body, & often tymes the visage, is swollen and defaced: bestly fury, wherwith the myndes be perisshed, and of all other moste odious, swyne dronkynnesse, wherewith bothe the body & soule is deformed, and the figure of man is as it were by inch auntement transfourmed into an vgly and lothesome ymage. Wherfore the Lacedemones somtyme purposely, [f3r] caused their rustical seruauntes to be made very dronke, and so to be brought in at their commune dyners, to the intent that yonge men beholdynge the deformitie and hastye fury of them, that were dronkardes, shulde lyue the more sobrely, and shulde eschue dronkynnesse, as a thynge foule and abhominable.

Also Pittacus (one of the seuen sages of Greece) dyd constitute for a lawe, that they whiche beynge dronke dyd offende, shulde sustaine double punisshement: that men shuld the more dilygently forbere to be dronke.

It is right euident to euery wise man, who at any tyme hathe haunted affayres, whervnto was required contemplation or seriouse study, that to a man hauing due concoction and digestion as is expedient, shall in the mornynge fastynge, or with a litle refection, nat onely haue his inuencion quicker, his iugement perfecter, his tonge rediar, but also his reason fressher, his eare more attentife, his remembraunce more sure, and generally all his powars and wittes more effectuall, and in better astate, than after that he hath eaten abundantly, which I suppose is the cause why the auncient courtes of recorde in this realme haue euer benne vsed to be [f3v] kept onely before none. And surely the consideration is wonderfull excellent, and to be (as I mought saye) supersticiously obserued: the reaons why, be so apparaunt, that they nede nat here to be rehersed.

Pythagoras was neuer sene to eate any fysseh or flesshe, but onely herbes & frutes. Semblably dyd many other, who exactely folowed his doctrine. Wherfore it was supposed, that they the rather excelled all other in findynge out the secretes and hydde knowleges of nature, whiche to other were impenetrable.

Plato (or rather Socrates, Plato indictynge) in his seconde boke of the publyke weale, wylleth that the people of his citye, whiche he wolde constitute, shulde be norysshed with barly brede & cakes of whete, and that the residue of their diete shulde be salte, olyues, chese, and likes, and more ouer wortes that the feldes do brynge furthe, for their potage: but he addeth to as it were to make the dyner more delicate, figges, benes, myrtill beryes, and beeche mast, whiche they shulde roste on the coles, & drynke to it water moderately: so (sayeth he) the lyuinge restfully and in helthe vnto extreme age, shall leaue the same maner of lyuinge, [f4r] vnto their successours. I knowe well some redars, for this diete appointed by Socrates, will skorne him, accountynge hym for a foole, who nat onely by the answere of Apollo but also by the consent of all excellent writars, that folowed hym, and the vniuersall renoume of all people, was approued to be the wisest man of all Grecia. Certes I haue knowen men of worshippe in this realme, whiche durynge their yougth haue dronken for the more parte water: of whome some yet lyueth in great auctorytie, whose excellencie, as well in sharpnesse of wytte, as in exquisite lernynge, is all redy knowen throughe all Christendome.

But here men shall nat note me, that I wryte this, as who sayeth that noble men in this realme shulde lyue after Socrates diete, wherin hauinge respecte to this tyme and region, they mought perchaunce fynde occasion to reproue me: surely lyke as the excesse of fare is to be iustly reproued, so in a noble man moche pinchynge and nygard. Shyppe of meate and drinke is to be discommended.

I can nat commende Aelius Pertinax, who beinge emperour of Rome, wolde haue his gestes serues with a plante of lettuse deuyded [f4v] in two partes: and except some thynge were sent hym, he wolde appoynte nyne pounde weyght of flesshe vnto thre messes, and if any dysshe hapned to be brought to hym, he caused it to be sette vp vntyll the nexte daye.

I am a shamed to remembre, that he wolde sende to his frendes two morselles of meate, a pece of a podynge, or the carkaisse of a capon. This was but miserye and wretched nygardeshippe in a man of suche honour.

In lyke maner who will nat haue in extreme detestation the insatiable gloteny of Vitellius, Fabius Gurges, Apicius, and dyuers other: to whiche carmorantes, neither lande, water, ne ayre, mought be sufficient.

Neither the curiositie and wanton apetite of Heliogabalus emperour of Rome, is of any wise man alowed: who beinge at Rome, or ferre from the see, wolde eate onely see fysshe: And whan he soiourned nighe to the see, he wolde touche no fysshe but whiche was taken out of the ryuer of Tybre, or other places of equall or of more distaunce. Also he wolde haue disshes of meate made of Camelles heeles, the combes of cockes newly cutte, the tunges of pecockes & nyghtyngales, partriches egges, & other thinges [f5r] harde for to come by: wherto be no englysshe names founden (as I suppose) apte to the true signification.

More ouer all thoughe I dispraysed nygarshippe & vicious scarcitie in these nombre of disshes, whiche I haue commended, yet I desyre nat to haue therein meates for any occasion to moche sumptuous. For in one or two disshes may be employed as moche money as in twentie, perchaunce, as good or better in eatynge: wherof there remayneth a noble example of Cleopatra, doughter of Ptolomee late kinge of Egypt (whome Cesar in his lyfe helde for his Concubine) the same lady Antoni (with whome Octauiane deuided the empire) loued also peramours, abandonyne his wyfe, whiche was suster to Octauian. And the warres betwene him and Octauian ceasinge by a litle space, he (durynge that tyme) lyued in moste prodigall riotte, & thinkyng all thinge in the see, the lande, and the ayre to be made for satisfienge his gloteny, he deuoured all flesshes & fysshe that mought be any where founden: Cleopatra disdayninge to be vainquisshed in any excesse by a Romane, layde a wager with Antony, that she her selfe wolde receyue in to her body at one souper the value [f5v] of fyftie thousande poundes, whiche to Antony was thought in a maner to be impossible. The wager was put in to the handes of Numatius Plancus, a noble Romane. The next day Cleopatra prepared for Antony a ryght sumptuous souper: but wherat Antony nothing meruailed, knowinge the value therof by his accustomed fare, than the quene smylyng called for a goblet, wher into she dyd poure a quantitie of very tarte vinegre, and takynge a perle, whiche hynge at one of her eares, she quickely dyd let it fall in to the vinegre, wherein beynge shortely dissolued (as it is the nature of the perle) she immediately dranke it, and all thoughe she had vainquisshed Antony, accordynge to her wager, the perle without any dought beinge of the value of I.M.fi. yet hadde she lykewyse dronken an other perle of lyke value, whiche was hangynge at her other eare, had nat Numatius Plancus, as an indifferent iudge, furthewith gyuen iugement, that Antony was allredy vainquisshed.

I haue rehersed this historie, wrytten by Macrobius, & also Plini, to the intent that the vanitie in sumptuous festinge shulde be the better expressed. [f6r]

Androcides (a man of excellent wisedome) wrate vnto the great kynge Alexander an epistell, desyrynge hym to refrayne his intemperance, wherin he sayd: Noble prince whan thou wylte drynke wyne, remember thanne, that thou drynkest the bloode of the erthe: Sygnifyenge therby (as I suppose) the myght and powar of wyne, and also warnynge Alexander, of the thirste or appetyte of bloode, whyche wolde ensue by his intemperate drynkynge. For Plini (that writeth this historie) sayth immediately: that if Alexander hadde obeyed the preceptes of Androcides, he hadde neuer slayne his frendes in his dronkennes: for vndoughtedly it maye be sayde with good right, that there is nothing to the strength of mans body more profitable than wyne, ne to voluptuouse appetites more pernicious, if measure lacketh. Also it is very truely and properly written of Propertius the poete, in this sentence folowyng or like.

Moreouer Salomon in his boke named Ecclesiastes, calleth that countraye happy, whereof the gouernours do eate in theyr tyme. And what shall we suppose is there [f6v] tyme but onely that, which nature and the vniuersall consente of all people hathe ordayned? And of what space is that tyme? But only that which suffiseth to the abundaunt sustentation and nat oppression of nature, ne letteth any parte of their necessary affaires about the publike weale. This me semeth may be one exposition of Salomons sentence. And here will I nowe make an ende to wryte any more at this tyme of moderate diete, which I haue nat done of any presumption, but all onely to exhorte gentyll men to preserue & augment their wittes by this exhortation to temperaunce, or suche lyke by them selfes or some other better deuysed.

Of Sapience, and the definition therof.

All be it that some men, whiche haue hiderto radde this boke, will suppose that those vertues, whereof I haue treated, be sufficient to make a gouernour vertuous and excellent: Nethelas for as moche as the effecte of myne enterprise in this warke is, to expresse as farre furthe as god shall instructe my poore witte, what thinges do belonge to the makinge of a perfeyte publike weale: whiche well nigh may no more be without an excellent gouernour, [f7r] thanne the vniuersall course of nature may stande or be permanent without one chiefe disposer & meuer, which is ouer all supereminent in powar, vnderstanding, & goodnes. Wherfore because in gouernaunce be included disposition & ordre, whiche can nat be without soueraigne knowlege, procedynge of wisedome, in a more elegant worde called Saipence: Therfore I will nowe declare as moche as my litle witte doth comprehende of that parte of Sapience, that of necessitie must be in euery gouernour of a iuste or perfeyte publike weale. The noble philosopher and moste excellent oratour Tullius Cicero, in the iiii. boke of his Tusculane questions, saieth in this wise. Sapience is the science of things diuine & humaine: which considereth the cause of euery thing by reason wherof, that, which is diuine she foloweth, that whiche is humane, she estemith ferre vnder the goodnes of vertue. This definition agreeth wel with the gifte of sapience that god gaue to Salomon, king of Israell, who asked onely wisedome to gouerne therwith his realme. But god, which is the fountayne of sapience, graciously ponderinge the yonge princes petition, which proceded of an apt inclination to vertue with his owne moste bounteous liberalitie [f7v] whiche he purposed to employe on him for the entiere loue that he had to his father: he therfore infuded in him plentie of al wisedome and connynge, in thinges as well naturall as suernaturall: as it appereth by the warkes of the same kynge Salomon, wherin be well nyghe as many wysedomes as there be sentences. And in myne oppinion one thynge is specially to be noted. Kynge Dauid father to Salomon, was a man of a rare and meruaylous strength, in so moche as he hym selfe reporteth in the booke of kinges that he beinge a chylde and caryeng to his bretherne their dyner, where they kept their cattell, slewe first a great beare, & after a lyon, whiche fierce & hungrye assaulted him, all though he were vnarmed: and whether he had any weapon or no it is vncertaine sens he maketh therof no mencion. Also of what prowes he was in armes and howe valiaunt and good a capitayne in batayle: hit maye sufficiently appere to them that wyll rede his noble actes and achieuaunces in the bokes before remembred. Wherein no good catholyke man wyll any thynge doute though they be maruaylous. Yet nat withstandynge, all his strength and puyssaunce was nat of suche effecte, that in [f8r] the longe tyme of his raygne, whiche was by the space of xl. yeres he coulde haue any tyme vacant from warres. But alway had either continuall bataile with the Philisties, or els was molested with his owne children and suche as aught to haue ben his frendes. Contrary wise his son Salomon, of whome there is no notable mention made, that he shewed any commendable feate concerning martiall prowesse, sauynge the furniture of his garrysones with innumerable men of warre, horses & chariotes whiche proueth nat hym to be valiaunt and stronge, but onely prudent: he after a lyttell bikerynge with the Philisties in the begynnyng of his raygne afterwarde duryng the tyme that he raygned, contynued in peace without any notable bataile, or molestation of any persone: wherfore he is named in scripture, Rex pacificus, whiche is in englysshe the peasible kinge. And onely by sapience so gouerned his realme, that though it were but a lytle realme in quantite, it excelled incomparably all other in honour and ryches. In so moche as syluer was at that tyme in the citie of Hierusalem, as stones in the strete. Wherfore it is to be noted that sapyence in the gouernaunce of a publike weale, is of [f8v] more efficacie than strength and puissaunce. The auctoritie of sapience is well declared by Salomon in his prouerbes. By me (sayth sapience) kynges do raigne, and makers of lawes discerne thinges that be iuste. By me prynces do gouerne, and men hauynge powar and auctorytie do determyne Iustyce. I loue all them that loue me, and who that watcheth to haue me, shall fynde me. With me is bothe ryches and honour stately possessyons and Iustyce. Better is the frute that commeth of me, than golde and stones that be precyouse. The same kynge sayth in his boke, called Ecclesiastice: A kynge without sapyence shall lose his people, and cities shall be inhabited by the wytte of them that be prudent. Whiche sentence was verefied by the sonne and successour of the same kynge Salomon, called Roboaz: to whome the sayde boke was written. Who neglectinge the wise and vertuous doctrine of his father, contempned the sage counsayle of auncient men and imbraced the lyte persuasions of yonge men & flaterers, wherby he loste his honour and brought his realme in perpetuall deuision.

The empire of Rome (whose begynnyng, prosperitie, and desolation semeth to be a [g1r] mirrour and example to all other realmes and countreyes, declareth to them that exactely beholdeth it, of what force and value sapience is to be estemed, beynge begonne with shepeherdes, fleynge the wrathe and displeasure of their maysters.

Romulus duryng the tyme of his raygne, (whiche was xxxvii. yeres) he nothyng dyd enterprise without the authorytie & consent of the fathers. Whome he him selfe chase to be Senatours. And finally as longe as the senate contynued or increased in the citie of Rome, & retayned their auctoritie, whiche they receyued of Romulus, and was increased by Tullus Hostilius, the thyrde kyng, they wonderfully prospered, and also augmented theyr empyre ouer the more parte of the worlde. But soone after the emperour Constantine had abandoned the citie, and translated the Senate from thens to Constantinople, and that finally the name and auctoritie of the Senate was by litle & litle exhauste, by the negligence & foly of ignoraunt emperours: nat onely that moste noble citie, bedde & princesse of the worlde, & fountayne of all vertue and honour, felle in to moste lamentable ruyne, but also the maiestie of the empyre decayed vtterly, so that [g1v] vneth a litel shadowe therof nowe remayneth, whiche who so beholdeth and conferreth it with Rome, whan it flourisshed, accordinge as it is lefte in remembraunce by noble writars, he shall vneth kepe teares out of his eyen, beholdynge it nowe as a rotten shepecote in comparison of that citie noble and triumphant. O poure and miserable citie, what sondry tourmentes, excisions, subuertions, depopulations, & other euill aduentures hathe hapned vnto the, sens thou were birefte of that noble courte of Sapience? Whose autoritie if it had alwaye contynued, beynge also confirmed in the fayeth and true religion of Christe, god beynge with the pleased, thou couldest neuer haue bene thus desolate vnto the fynall consummation & ende of the worlde. Nowe haue I briefely and generally declared the vtilitie of Sapience, and the mischiefe that hapneth by the defaulte or lacke thereof. The particuler effectes we wyll declare hereafter more specially.

I dought nat but it is well knowen to euery Catholyke man, that hath the liberall vse of reason, that all maner of vnderstandyng and knowlege, whereof procedeth perfecte operation, do take their origynall of that [g2r] hyghe sapience, whiche is the operatrice of all thygnes. And therfore Salomon, or Philo, or who so made the boke called Sapientia, made his prayer to god in this wise. Gyue to me good lorde, sapience that sytteth by thy throne. And in the later ende of the prayer he sayeth. Sende her from the fete of thy holynesse, that she may be with me and labour with me, and that I may knowe, what may be accepted with the.

Orpheus (one of the eldeste poetes of Grece) affirmeth is his hymmes, that the Musis were goten betwene Iupiter and me morie. Whiche sayenge beinge well vnderstande and exactly tried, it shall appere manifestly with the sayenge of the wyse man, contayned in the sayd prayer late rehersed.

Eustathius (the expositour of Homere) sayeth: that Musa is the knowlege of the soule and is a thyng diuine as the soule is. But fynally as by olde autours a man may aggregate a definition: that whiche is called in greke and latyne Musa, is that parte of the soule that induceth and moueth a man to serche for knowlege, in the whiche motion is a secrete and inexplicable delectation. All be it bicause knowlege is in sondry wise distribute, & the nombre of nyne amonge [g2v] olde autours was alwaye rehersed, where they spake of a multitude, as it shall appere to them that rede Homere & Virgile: Therfore there were diuised to be nyne Muses, whiche also for the resemblaunce of their disposition were fayned by the poetes to be nyne virgines, that firste inuented all lyberall sciences: but the other oppinion approcheth more nere vnto the trouthe, and agreeth better vnto my purpose. More ouer Iupiter was alwaye taken of the poetes & Philosophers for the supreme god, whiche was the gyuer of lyfe and creatour of all thinges, as it appereth in all their warkes. Wherfore somtyme they calle him omnipotent, somtyme the father of goddes and of men: so that vnder that name they knowleged to be a very god, though they honored nat him as one only god, as they aught to haue done.

But nowe Orpheus sayenge that the Muses proceded of Iupiter and Memorie, may be in this wyse interpreted. That god almyghtie infuded Sapience into the Memorye of man (for to the acquirynge of science belongeth vnderstandynge and memorie) whiche as a Treasory hathe powar to retayne, and also to erogate and distribute, [g3r] whan oportunitie hapneth. And for the excellencie of this thynge: some noted to be in mannes soule a diuine substaunce. As Pythagoras or some of his scholers writynge his sentence, sayeth in this wyse spekynge to man.

whiche sentence of Pythagoras is nat reiecte eyther of Plato whyche approched nexte vnto the catholike writars, or of diuines whiche interprete holy scripture: takynge the soule so: the ymage and similytude of god.

More ouer Plato (in his boke called Timeus) affirmeth, that there is sette in the soule of man commyng into the worlde certayne spices, or as it were sedes of thynges and rules of Artes of sciences. Wherfore Socrates (in the boke of Science) resembleth hym selfe to a mydwyfe, sayenge that in teachinge yonge men he dyd put in to theim no science, but rather brought furthe that which all redy was in them, like as the mydwife brought nat in the childe, [g3v] but beinge conceyued dyd helpe to bringe it furthe. And like as in houndes is a powar or disposition to hunge, In horses and grehoundes an aptitude to renne swiftely, so in the soules of men is ingenerate a leme of science, whiche with the mixture of a terrestryall substaunce is obfscate or made darke. But where there is a perfeyte mayster prepared in tyme, than the brightnes of the science appereth polite and clere, like as the powar and aptitude of the bestes before rehersed appereth nat to the vttermoste, excepte it be by exercise prouoked, and that slouthe and dulnesse, beynge plucked from them by Industrie, they be induced vnto the continuall acte: whiche as Plato affirmeth is proued also in the mayster and the disciple. Semblably the foresayde Socrates in Platons boke of Sapience, sayeth to one The ages. Neuer man lerned of me any thinge, all though by my company he became the wiser. I onely exhortynge, and the good spirite inspirynge. Whiche wonderfull sentence as me semeth may well accorde with our catholyke sayeth, and be receyued in to the commentaries of the mooste perfecte diuines. For as well that sentence as all other before rehersed do comprobate [g4r] with holy scripture that god is the fountayne of Sapience, lyke as he is the soueraygne begynnynge of all generation.

Also it was wonderfully well expressed of whom Sapience was engendred by a poete named Affranius, whose verses were sette ouer the porche of the Temple, where the Senate of Rome mooste commonly assembled. Whiche verses were in this maner.

whiche in englysshe maye be in this wyse translated.

By vse or experience in these versis expressed, the poete intended as well thsoe actes whiche we our selfe dayly do practyse, as also them whiche beynge done by other in tyme passed, for the frute or vtilitie whiche therof succeded were alowed and also proued to be necessary. And the cause why that the poete conioyneth expericne & memorie to gether, as it were in a lefull matrimony, experience bigettynge: And memorye alwaye producynge that incomparable frute called Sapience, is for that memorie in her operation proprely succedeth experyence, [g4v] for that which is presently done we perceyue: that which is to come we coniecte or diuine: but that whiche is passed, onely we haue in our memorie. For as Aristotell declareth wonderfully in an example. In the principall sense of manne there is conceyued an ymage or figure of a thynge whiche by the same sense is perceyued, as longe as it is retayned intiere or hole, and (as I mought saye) consolidate: pure: manifeste or playne & without blemmisshe, in suche wise that in euery parte of it, the mynde is stered or occupyed, and by the same mynde, it may be throughly perceyued & knowen, nat as an ymage in it selfe, but as representynge another thinge. This is proprely memorie: but if the hole ymage or figure be nat retayned in the mynde, but parte therof onely remayneth, parte is put out eyther by the lengthe of tyme, or by some other mishappe or iniurie, so that it neither can bring the mynd: eftsones vnto it, nor it can be called agayne of the mynde. As often as by that portion whiche styll remayneth, and hathe aboden alwaye intiere and clene, the residue, that was therto knytte and adioyned, and late semed for the tyme ded or bireft from the mynde, is reuiued and (as it were) retourned [g5r] home agayne, it is than had for redemed or restored, and is proprely called rememraunce. This is the exposition of the noble Philosopher, whiche I haue writen, principally to thentent to ornate our langage with vsinge wordes in their propre signification. Wherof, what commoditie may ensue all wise men wyll I dought nat consider.

What is the true signification of vnderstandynge.

For as moche as in the begynnynge of the fyrste boke of this warke, I endeuoured my selfe to proue that by the ordre of mannes creation, preeminence in degree shulde be amonge men according as they do excell in the pure influence of vnderstandynge, whiche can nat be denyed to be the principall parte of the soule, some reder perchaunce meued with disdayne, will for that one assertion immediately reiecte this warke, saieng that I am of a corrupt or folisshe oppinion: supposing that I do intende by the said wordes, that no man shulde gouerne or be in authoritie, but onely he [g5v] whiche surmounteth all other in doctrine: whiche in his hasty malice he demeth, that I onely do meane where I speke of vnderstandynge.

I suppose all men do knowe, that man is made of body and soule, and that the soule in preeminence excelleth the body as moche as the maister or owner excelleth the house, or the artificer excelleth his instrumentes, or the king his subiectes. And therfore Saluste in the conspiracie of Cathaline sayeth. We vse specially the rule of the sule and seruice of the body: the one we participate with goddes, the other with bestes. And Tulli saieth in Tusculane questions. Mannes soule beinge decerpt or taken of the portion of diuinitie called Mens, may be compared with none other thinge (if a man mought lefully speke it) but with god hym selfe. Also the noble diuine Chrisostomus sayeth, that the body was made for the soule, and nat the soule for the body. Nowe it is to be further knowen that he soule is of thre partes: the one wherin is the powar or efficacie of growinge, which is also in herbes and trees as well as in man, and that parte is called vegetatife. An othe parte wherin man doth participate with all other thynges [g6r] lyuinge, whiche is called sensitife, by reason that therof the sensis do procede, whiche be distributed in to dyuers instrumentall partes of the body: as sight in to the eyen: berynge to the eares: smellyng to the nose: tastynge to the mouthe, felynge to euery parte of the body wherin is bloode, without the whiche vndoughtedly maye be no felynge. The thirde parte of the soule is named the parte intellectuall or of vnderstandynge, whiche is of all the other mooste noble, as whereby man is mooste lyke vnto god, and is preferred before all other creatures. For where other breastes by theyr senses do feele what thynge do profyte theim. And what dothe anoy them: only man vnderstandeth wherof the sayd contrary dispositions do commen, and by what meanes they do either helpe or anoye: also he perceyueth the caues of the same thynge, and knoweth howe to resyste, where and whan nede dothe requyre: and with reason and crafte howe to gyue remedy: and also with labour and industry, to prouyde that thing whiche is holsome or profitable, this moste pure parte of the soule and (as Aristotle sayeth) diuyne, impassible, and incorruptible: is named in latine Intellectus. Wherevnto [g6v] I can fynde no propre englysshe but vnderstandynge. For intelligence whiche commeth of Intelligentia is the perceyuyng of that whiche is fyrst conceyued by vnderstandyng called Intellectus. Also intelligence is nowe vsed for an elegant worde, where there is mutuall treaties or appoyntementes, eyther by letters or message specially concernynge warres, or like other great affaires betwene princes or noble men. Wherfore I wyll vse this worde vnderstandynge for Intellectus, vntyll some other more propre englysshe worde maye be founden and brought in custome. But to perceyue more playnly what thinge it is that I call vnderstandynge. It is the principall parte of the soule whiche is occupied about the begynnynge or originall causes of thynges that may falle in to mannes knowelge: & his office is, before that any thynge is attempted to thinke, consydre, and prepence & after often tossyng it vp & downe in the mynde, than to exercise that powar, the propretie wherof is to espie, seke for, enserche, & finde out: which vertue is referred to wit which is as it were the instrument of vnderstanding. More ouer after the thinges be inuented: coniected: perceyued: & by longe tyme & often considered, & [g7r] that the mynde disposeth her selfe to execution or actuall operation: than the vertue named prodence fyrst putteth her selfe forwardes, and than appereth her industrye and labour: for as moche as she teacheth: warneth, exhorteth, ordereth, & profiteth, like to a wise capitaine that setteth his hoste in araye. And therfore it is to be remembred that the office or duetie of vnderstandynge precedeth the interprise of actes: & is in the begynning of thinges. I call that begynning wherin before any mater taken in hande the mynde & thought is occupied, & that a man sercheth & doughteth, whether it be to be entreprised, and by what waye, and in what tyme it is to be executed. Who by this litle introduction knowynge what vnderstandynge do signifie, will nat suppose, that he which therin dothe excelle is nat with honour to be aduaunced? Than it foloweth nat by this argument that for as moche as he that excelleth other in vnderstanding shulde be preferred in honour: that therfore no man shulde be preferred to honoure, but onely they that excelle other in lerninge. No man hauinge naturall reason thoughe he neuer radde logyke, wyll iudge this to be a good argument, considering that vnderstandyng [g7v] called in latine Intellectus and Mens, is by it selfe sufficient and is nat of any necessite annexed to doctrine, but doctrine procedeth of vnderstandynge. But if doctrine be alwaye attendynge vpon vnderstandynge as the daughter vpon the mother vndoughtedly, than vnderstandynge must be the more perfecte and of a more efficacie beinge increased by the inuentions and experiences of many other declared by doctrine: no one manne without inspiration hauynge knowlege of all thynge. I calle doctrine discipline intellectife, or lerning whiche is either in writing or by reporte of thynges before knowen, whiche procedeth from one man to an other, that whiche I haue sayde is in this wyse confirmed by Salomon sayenge. A manne that is wise, by heryng shall become wiser. And he that hath vnderstandynge shall be a gouernoure. Seneca sayeth, we instructe our children in liberall sciences, nat bycause those sciences may gyue any vertue: but bicause they prepare the mynde and make it apte to receyue vertue. Which beinge considered, no man wyll denye but that they be necessary to euery man that coueteth very nobilite. Whiche as I haue often tymes said is in the hauynge and vse of vertue. And [g8r] verely in whome doctrine hath ben so founden ioyned with vertue: there vertue hath semed excellent, and as I mought saye triumphant.

Scipio commen of the moost noble house of the Romanes, in hygh lernynge and knowlege of the nature of thygnes wonderfull studious, hauynge alwaye with hym the mooste excellent philosopher and poetes that were in his tyme, was an example and mirrour of martiall prowesse: continence: deuotion: liberalitie: and of all other vertues. Cato called vticensis, named the chiefe pilar of the publike weale of the Romanes, was so moche inflamed in the desire of lernynge, that (as Suetonius writeth) he coulde nat tempre him selfe in redyng greke bokes whyles the Senate was sittynge. Howe moche it profited to the noble Augustus, that vntill the dethe of his vncle Iulius Cesar, he diligently applyed his study in Athenes: it well appered after that the Cuile warres were all finisshed. Whan he refourmynge the hole astate of the publike weale, stablisshed the Senate, and takynge vnto hym ten honorable personages dayly in his owne persone consulted with them of maters, to be reported twyse in a monethe [g8v] to the Senate in suche wyse aydynge and helpynge forthe that mooste noble courte with his incomparable study and diligence.

The emperour Titus sone of Vespasian for his lernynge and vertue was named the delicate of the worlde.

Marcus Antoninus the emperour was in euery kynde of lernynge so excellent, that he was therfore openly named the philosopher, nat in reproche (as men do nowe a dayes in despyte calle them philosophers and poetes, whom they perceyue studious in sondry good disciplines) but to the augmentation of his honour. For beyng of his owne nature aptly inclined to embrace vertue: he addyng to abundaunce of lernyng became therby a wonderfull and perfecte prince: beynge neyther by study withdrawen from affaires of the publike weale: nor by any busynes, vtterly pluckyd frome Philosophy, and other noble doctrynes, by the whiche mutuall coniunction and iust temperaunce of those two studyes, he attayned to suche a fourme in all his gouernaunce, that he was named and taken for father of the Senate: of the people: and vniuersally of all the hole empyre.

Moreouer his dedes and wordes were of [h1r] all men had in so hyghe estimation and reuerence, that bothe the Senate and people toke of him lawes & rules of their lyuynge. And in his gouernaunce and propre lyuing as well at home in his house, as in his ciuile busines, he was to him selfe the onely lawe and example. And as he was aboue other highest in autoritie, so by the vniuersall opinion of all men he was iuged to be of all other men than lyuinge the best and also the wysist.

Of Experience whiche haue preceded our tyme, with a defence of Histories.

Experience, whereof commeth wysedome, is in two maner of wise. The one is actes committed or done by other men, wherof profite or damage succedynge, we may (in knowynge or beholdinge it) be therby instructed to apprehende the thing, which to the publike weale, or to our owen persones, may be commodious: and to exchue that thing, which either in the begynnyng, or in the conclusion appereth noisome and vicious. The knowlege of this Experience [h1v] is called Example, and is expressed by historie, whiche of Tulli is called the life of memorie: And so it agreeth well with the versis of Affranius, by me late declared. And therfore to suche persones as do contemne auncient histories, reputing them amonge leasinges and fantises (these be their wordes of reproche) it may be sayd that in contemnynge histories, they frustrate Experience; whiche (as the sayd Tulli sayeth) is the light of vertue, whiche they wolde be sene so moche to fauour, all thoughe they do seldome embrace it. And that shal they perceue manifestly, if they will a litle while laye a parte their accustomed obstinacie, & suffre to be distilled in to their eares two or thre dropes of the sweete oyle of remembraunce. Lete them reuolue in their myndes generally, that there is no doctrine, be it eyther diuine or humaine, that is nat euther all expressed in historie, or at the leste mixte with historie. But to thentent that there shal be left none ignoraunce, wherby they mought be detayned in their errour, I will declare vnto theim what is that, that is called an historie, and what it comprehendeth. Firste it is to be noted, that it is a greke name, & commeth of a worde or verbe [b2r] in greke historeo, whiche dothe signifie to knowe, to se, to enserche, to enquire, to here, to lerne, to tell, or expounde vnto other. And than muste historie, whiche commeth therof, be wonderfull profitable, whiche leaueth nothinge hydde from mannes knowlege, that vnto hym may be eyther pleasaunt or necessarie. For it nat onely reporteth the gestes or actes of princes or Capitaynes: their counsayles and attemptates: entreprises, affaires, maners in lyuinge good and bad: descriptions of regionsand cities with their inhabitauntes. But also it bringeth to our knowlege, the fourmes of sondry publike weales, with their augmentations and decayes, and occasion therof. More ouer preceptes, exhortations, counsayles, & good persuasions comprehended in quicke sentences and eloquent orations. Finally so large is the compase of that whiche is named historie, that it comprehendeth all thynge that is necessary to be put in memorie. In so moche as Aristotell where he declareth the partes of mannes body with their description & offices: and also the sondry fourmes and dispositions of all bestes, foules, and fisshes, with their generation. He nameth his boke and historie. Semblably Theophrast [h2v] his scholer a noble philospher, descriuynge all herbes and trees, wherof he mought haue the true knowlege, intitleth his boke the historie of plantes. And finally Plini the elder, calleth his mooste excellent & wonderfull warke, the historie of nature: in the whiche boke he nothing omitteth, that in the bosome of Nature is contayned, and may be by mannes wite comprehended, and is worthy to be had in remembraunce. Whiche autorities of these thre noble & excellent lerned men: approueth the signification of Historie, to agree well with the exposition of the verbe historeo wherof it cometh.

Nowe let vs se what booke of holy scripture, I meane the olde testament and the newe, may be saide to haue no parte of historie. The fiue bokes of Moises, the boke of Iuges, the foure bokes of kynges, Iob, Hester, Iudithe, Ruth, Thobias, And also the historie of Machabees (whiche from the other is seperate) I suppose no man wil denie, but that they be all historicall: or (as I mought say) intier histories. Also Esdras Nemias, Ezechiel, and Daniel, all though they were prophetes: yet be their warkes compacte in fourme of narrations, whiche by oratours be called enunciatiue, and only [h3r] pertaineth to histories: wherin is expressed a thyng done, and persones named. All the other prophetes, thoughe they speake of the tyme future or to come, whiche is out of the description of an historie, yet eitherr in rebukinge the sinnes & enormities passed, or bewayling the destruction of their countray, or captiuitie of the people, they do recite some circumstaunce of a narration. But nowe be we commen to the newe testament, & principally the bokes of the Euangelistes, vulgarely called the gospelles, which be one contexte of an historie: do nat they contayne the temporall lyfe of our sauyour Christ, kinge of kinges, & lorde of the worlde, vntill his glorious assention? And what thinge lacketh therin, that doth pertayne to a perfecte historie? Ther lacketh nat in thinges ordre & disposition, in the context or narration, veritie, in the sentences grauitie, vtilitie in the counsailes, in the persuasions doctrine, in expositions or declarations facilitie. The bokes of actes of apostels, what thinge is it els but a playne historie? The epistles of saint Paule, saint Peter, saynt Iohnn, saynt Iames, and Iudas the apostles do contayne counsailes & [h3v] aduertisementes in the fourme of orations, resting diuers places as well out of the olde testament, as out of the gospelles, as it were an abbreuiate called the grekes & latines Epitoma. This is well knowen to be true, of them that haue hadde any leasure to rede holy scripture; who remembringe them selfes by this my litle induction wyll leaue to neglecte historie, or contemne it with so generall a disprayse as they haue bene accustomed? But yet some will impugne them with a more particuler obiection, sayenge that the histories of the Grekes and Romanes, be nothyng but lyes & faynynge of poetes: (some suche persones there be, betwene whome and good autours haue euer ben perpetuel hostilitie.) firste howe do they knowe, that al the histories of grekes & Romanes be leasyngs, sens they finde nat, that any scripture autentike, made about that tyme that those histories were writen, do reproue or condemne them? But the moste catholike & renoumed doctoures of Christes religion, in the corrobration of their argumentes and sentences, do alledge the same histories, and vouche (as I mought say) to their ayde the autoritie of the writars. And yet some of those Rabines (in goddes name) whiche in [h4r] comparison of the sayde noble doctours, be as who sayeth petites, & vnethe lettred: wyll presume with their owne selye wittes to disproue that, whiche both by auncientie of tyme, and consent of blessed & noble doctours is allowed, and by theyr warkes honoured. If they will coniecte histories to be lyes, bicause they somtyme make reporte of thynge sene, and actes done, whiche do seme to the reders incredible.

By that same raison may they nat only condemne all holy scripture, whiche contayneth thynges more wonderfull, than any historien writeth, but also exclude credulitie vtterly from the company of man. For howe many thinges be daily sene, whiche beinge reported vnto him that neuer sawe them, shulde seeme impossible? And if they wyll allege, that all thynge contayned in holy scripture is approbate by the hole consent of all the clergie of Christendome, at diuers generall counsailes assembled: Certes the same counsailes neuer disproued or reiected the histories of grekes or Romanes: but the moste catholike and excellent lerned men of those congregations embraced theyr examples, and sowyng them in their warkes, made of them to the churche of Christe, a necessarie [h4v] ornament. Admytte that some histories be interlaced with leasynges: why shulde we therfore neglecte them? sens, the affaires there reported, no thynge concerneth vs, we beynge therof no parteners, ne therby onely, may receyue any damage. But if by redynge the sage counsayle of Nestor, the subtile persuasions of Vlisses, the compendious grauitie of Menelaus, the imperiall maiestye of Agamemnon, the prowesse of Achilles, & valiaunt courage of Hector: we may apprehende any thinge wherby our wittes may be amended, & our personages be more apte to serue our publiek weale and our prince. What forceth it vs, though Homere write leasinges? I suppose no man thinketh, that Esope wrate gospelles: yet who doughteth, but that in his fables the foxe, the hare, and the wolfe, though they neuer spake, do teache many good wysedomes? whiche beinge well consydered, men (if they haue nat auowed to repugen agayne reason) shall confesse with Quintilian that fewe, and vnethe one may be founde of auncient writars, whiche shall nat bringe to the redars some thinge commodious: And specially they that do write maters historicall, the lesson wherof is as it were the mirrour [h5r] of mannes life, expressinge actually, and (as it were at the eye) the beaultie of vertue, & the deformitie and lothelynes of vice. Wherfore Lactantius sayeth: Thou muste nedes perysshe, if thou knowe nat what is to thy life profitable, that thou maiste seke for it: & what is daungerous, that thou mayste flee and exchue it. Whiche I dare affirme may come soonest to passe by redynge of histories, and retayninge them in continuall remembraunce.

The Experience or practise necessary in the persone of a gouernour of a publike weale.

The other experience whiche is in our propre persones, and is of some men called practise, of is no small moment or efficacie in the acquiringe of sapience, in so moche that it semeth that no operation or affaire may be perfecte, nor no science or arte may be complete, except experience be there vnto added, whereby knowlege is ratified, and (as I mought saye) consolidate. It is written that the great kynge Alexander on a tyme beinge (as it hapned) vn occupyed, [h5v] came to the shoppe of Apelles the excellent paynter: And standyng by hym whyles he paynted, the kynge raisoned with hym of lines, adumbrations, proportions, or other like things pertainyng to imagery, whiche the paynter a litle whyles sufferynge, at the last said to the kynge with the countenance all smylyng: Seest thou noble prince, howe the boye that gryndeth my colours dothe laughe the to scorne? Whiche wordes the kynge toke in good parre & helde hym therwith iustly corrected: considering by his owne office in martial affaires that he than had in hande, how great a portion of knowlege faileth, where lacketh experience. And therin gouernours shall nat disdayne to be resembled vnto phisitions, consideryng their offices in curyng and preseruyng be moste lyke of any other. That parte of phisike called rationall, wherby is declared the faculties or powers of the body, the causis, accidentes, and tokens of sikenessis, can nat alwayes be sure without some experience in the temperature or distemperature of the regions, in the disposition of the patient in diete, concoction, quietnesse, exercise & slepe. And Galene prince of phisitions exhorteth them to knowe exactly the accustomed diete [h6r] of their patientes, whiche can nat happen without moche resorte in to their companies: seriousely notyng their vsage in diete. Semblably the vniuersall state of a contray or citie may be well lykened to the body of man. Wherfore the gouernours in the stede of phisitions attending on their cure, ought to knowe the causes of the decaye of their publike weale whiche is the helthe of their countraye or cytie, and thanne with expedition to procede to the mooste spedy and sure remedy. But certes the very cause of decay: ne the true meane to cure it, may neuer be sufficiently knowen of gouernours, except they them selfes wyll personally resorte & peruse all partes of the countrayes vnder their gouernaunce, and in serche diligently as well what be the customes and maners of people good and badde, as also the commodities and discommodities. Howe the one may be preserued, the other suppressed, or at the leste wayes amended. Also amonge them that haue ministration or execution of iustice (whiche I may like vnto the membres) to taste and fele howe euery of them do practise their offices, that is to say, whether they do it febly or vnprofitably, and whether it happen by negligence, [h6v] discourage, corruption or affection. But nowe may the reder with good rason demaunde of me by what maner experience the govnours may come to the true knowlege herof. That shall I nowe declare. Fyrst the gouernours them selfes adourned with vertue, being in suche wise an example of liuing to their inferiors, & making the people iudges of them & their domesticall seruauntes & adherentes, shulde sondry tymes duringe their gouernaunce either purposely or by way of solace repaire in to diuers partes of their iurisdiction or prouince & making their abode, they shall partly them selfes attestifly here, what is commonly or priuatly spoken concerning the astate of the contray or persones, partely they shall cause their seruauntes or frendes of whose honestie & trouth they haue good assuraunce, to resorte in disporting them selfes in diuers townes & villages. And as they happen to be in company with the inhabitauntes, priuyly and with some maner of circumstaunce, enquire what men of hauour dwell nigh vnto them. What is the forme of their liuing, of what estimacion they be in iustice, liberalitie: diligence in executing the lawes, & other semblably vertues. Contrary wise whether they be oppressours, couetous men, maintenours of offendours, [h7r] remisse or negligent if they be officers. And what the examiners do here the greter nomber of people reporte: that they interly & truely denounce it to the sayde gouernour: by the which intimation & their owne prudent endeuour, they shall haue infallible knowlege who among the inhabitauntes be men towarde the publike weale best disposed. Then shall they calle for, & mooste courtaisely entretaine, and (as it were) louingly embrace, with thankes for their good will & endeuour towarde the publike weale: commending them openly for their vertue & diligence. Offring to them their assistence in their semblable doinges, & also their furtheraunce towarde the due recompence of their trauailes. On the contrary parte whan they see any of them, who amonge their inferiors, obserue nat iustice, & likewise officers whiche be remisse or fauourable to commune offendours & brekers of lawes, & negligent in the execution of their auctorities, to them shal they gyue condigne reprehentions manifestyng their defautes in omitting their dueties, & in giuing euil example to their companions: also boldnes to transgresse to contene the lawes, declaring also that the ministring such occasion deserue nat onely a sharp rebuke, but also right greuous punisshement. [h7v] And if he that thus admonesteth be a soueraigne gouernour or prince: if I saye, he shortely here vpon doth ratifie his wordes by expellyng some of them, whiche I nowe rehersed, from their offices, or other wyse sharpely correctynge them. And contrarye wise aduaunce higher some good man, and whom he hath proued to be diligent in the execution of iustice. Vndoubtedly he shall inflame the appetite and zele of good ministers, and also suscitate or raise the courage of all men inclined to vertue: so that there shal neuer lacke men apte and propise to be set in auctoritie: were the merites of men beinge hidde & vnknowen to the soueraigne gouernour, and the negligent ministers or inferior gouernours, hauing nat only equal thanke or rewarde, but perchaunce moche more than they which be diligent, or wolde be if they moughte haue assistence; there vndoutedly to grieuouse discourage, and perill of conscience: for as moche as they omitte often tyme their dueties an offices, reputyng it great foly & madnes to acquire by the executyng of iustice, nat only an opinion of tyrannye amonge the people, and consequently haterede: but also malignitie amonge his equalles and superiours with a [h8r] note of ambition. This resolued & considered by a circumspecte gouernour, lorde god howe shortly and with litle difficultie shall he dispose the publike weale that is greued to receyue medicine, wherby it shulde be soone healed and reduced to his perfection.

Of Detraction & the ymage therof made by the paynter Apelles.

There is moche conuersant amonge men in authoritie a vice very vgly and monstruouse, who vnder the pleasaunt habite of frendshippe and good counsaile with a breethe pestilenciall infecteth the wittes of them that nothinge mistrusteth: this monstre is called in englysshe Detraction, in latine Calumnia, whose propertie I will nowe declare. If a man beinge determined to equitie hauynge the eyen and eares of his mynde, set onely on the trouthe and the publike weale of his contray will haue no regarde to any requeste or desire, but procedeth directely in the adminystration of iustyce: than either he whiche by iustice is offended, or some his fautours, abettours, or adherentes if he him selfe or any of them [h8v] be in seruice or familiaritie with hym that is in auctoritie, as soone as by any occasion mention hapneth to be made of hym who hathe executed Iustyce exactely, furthewith they imagine some vice or defaute, be it neuer so litle, wherby they may minysshe his credence, and craftly omittyng to speke any thyng of his rygour in Iustyce, they wyll note and touche some thynge of his maners, wherein shall eyther seme to be lyghtnes or lacke of grauitie: or to moche sowernes or lacke of Ciuilitie: or that he is nat beneuolent to hym in auctorite, or that he is nat sufficient to receyue any dignitie, or to despeche matters of wyeghtye importaunce; or that he is superfluous in wordes: or elles to scarse. Also if he lyue temperately and deliteth moche in studye, they embrayde hym with nygardeshyp, or in derison do calle him a clerke or a poete vnmete for any other purpose, and this do they courtely and with a more grauitie than any other thyng that they enterprise. This euyl reporte is called detraction who was wonderfully well expressed in fygures, by the moost noble peynter apelles, after that he was discharged of the cryme whereof he was falsly accused to Ptholomee [i1r] kyng of Egipt hauyng for his amendes of the said kynge xii.M. poundes sterlynge, and his accuser to his bondman perpetuelly. The table wherin detraction was expressed, was paynted in this fourme. At the ryghte hande was made fittynge a man hauyng longe eares, puttynge fourthe his hande to detraction, who ferre of came towardes him: aboute this man stode two wemen, that is to say, Ignorance & suspicion. On the other side came Detraction, a woman aboue measure wel trimmed, all chaufed and angry, hauynge her aspecte or loke like to the fire in shewing a maner of rage or furye. In her lefte hande she helde a brenninge torche or bronde, and with her other hande she drewe by the heare of his hedde a yonge man who helde vp his handes towarde heuen, callinge god & the sayntes for witnesse: with her came a man pale & euill fauoured beholdinge the yonge man intentifly like vnto one that had ben with longe sicknes consumed, whom ye mought lightly coniecte to be enuie: Also there folowed two other women that trymmed & apparailed Detraction: the one was Treason, the other Fraude. After folowed a woman in a mourninge weede blacke & ragged, and she was [i1v] called Repentaunce, who turninge her backe wepynge & sore ashamed behelde veritie, who than approched. In this wise Apelles described detraction by whome he him selfe was in peryll: whiche in myn oppinion is a right necessary mater to be in tables or hangynges set in euery mans house that is in auctoritie: consideringe what damage & losse hath ensued & may hereafter ensue by this horrible pestilence false detraction, to the auoydinge wherof Luciane who writeth of this picture gyueth a notable counsayle sayenge, that a wise man whan he douteth of the honestie & vertue of the persone accused, he shulde kepe close his eares & nat open them hastely to them whiche be with this sycknes infected, & put reason for a diligent porter & watche, whiche ought to examine and lette in the reportes that be good, and exclude & prohibite them that be contrary: for it is a thinge to laughe at and very vnfittinge to ordeyne for thy house a keper or porter: & thine eares and mynde to leaue to all men wyde open. Wherfore whan any persone commeth to vs to tell vs any report or complaint: First it shall behoue vs throughly & euenly to considre the thyng: nat hauyng respecte to the eares of him that reporteth, or to his [i2r] fourme of lyuing or wisedome in speaking. For the more vehement the reporter is in persuading, so moche more diligent and exacte triall & examination aught to be vsed. Therefore truste is nat to be gyuen to an other mannes iudgement: moche lasse to the malice of an accuser. But euery man shall retayne to hym selfe the power to enserche out the trouthe, and leauynge the enuye or displeasure to the detractour, he shall ponder or way the mater indifferently: that euery thygne in suche wise beinge curiously inserched and proued he maye at his pleasure either loue or hate him, whom he hath so substancially tried. For in good fayth to gyue place to detraction at the begynnynge it is a thinge childisshe and base, and to be estemed amonge the moost great inconueniences & mischiefes. These be well nyghe the wordes of Luciane; whether the counsayle be good, I remitte it to the wise redars. Of one thing am I sure that by detraction as well many good wittes haue bene drowned: as also vertue and paynfull study haue vnrewarded, and many zelatours or fauourers of the publyke weale haue benne discouraged. [i2v]

Of Consultation an counsayle, and in what fourme they aught to be vsed in a publike weale.

The griefes or diseases whiche of Aristotell be called the decayes of the publike weale beinge inuestigate examined and tried by the experience before expressed, than commethe the tyme and oportunitie of consultacion: wherby as I sayd is prouided the remedies moste necessary for the healinge of the sayd grefes, or reparation of decayes. This thinge that is called Consultation is the generall denomination of the acte wherin men do deuise to gether & reason what is to be done. Counsayle is the sentence or aduise particulerly gyuen by euery man for that purpose assembled. Consultation hath respecte to the tyme future or to come: that is to saye, the ende or purpose thereof is adressed to some acte or affaire to be practised after the Consultation. And yet be nat all other tymes excluded: but fyrste the state of thinges present aught to be examined: the powar: assistence: and substaunce to be estemed: semblably thinges passed with [i3r] moche & longe deliberation to be reuolued & tossed in the minde, & to be conferred with them that be present, & beinge exactly wayed the one agayne the other, than to inuestigate or enquire exquisitely the fourme & reason of the affaire and in that studye to be holly resolued so effectually, that they whiche be counsailours may beare with them out of the counsayle house, as it were on their sholders, nat onely what is to be folowed and exployted: but also by what meanes or wayes hit shall be pursued, and howe the affaire may be honourable, also what is expedient, and of necessitie, & howe moche is nedeful, and what space and length of time, and finally howe the enterprise being achieued & brought to effect may be kept & retained: for often times after exploitures hapneth occasions, either by assaultes or other encombrances of ennemies: or of to moche trust in fortunes assuraunce, or by dissobedience or presumption of some persones whome the thinge toucheth, that this last parte of Consultation is omitted or more rather neglected: wher moche studie, trauaile, & cost haue vtterly perisshed, nat onely to the no litel detriment of infinite persones, but also to the subuertion of most noble publike weales. [i3v] More ouer it is to be diligently noted that euery counsayle is to be approued by thre thinges principally: that it be ryghtwyse: that it be good: & that it be with honestie. That whiche is rightwise is brought in by reason. For nothing is right that is nat ordred by raison. Goodnes cometh of vertu, of vertue and reason procedeth honestie, wherfore counsayle being compact of these thre, may be named a perfecte Capitayne: A trusty companyon: a playne & vnfayned frende. Therfore in the commendation therof Titus Liuius saith: many thynges be impeched by Nature whiche by counsayle be shortly achieued. And verily the powar of Counsaile is wonderfull, hauing auctoritie aswel ouer peace as martiall enterprise. And therfore with god reason Tulli affirmeth in his boke of offices. Armes without the doores be of litel importaunce, if counsaile be nat at home. And he sayth sone after. In thinges moste prosperous, the counsayle of frendes must be vsed, whiche is ratified by the auctour of the noble warke named Ecclesiasticus, sayeng. My sone without counsayle see thou do nothynge, and than after thy dede thou shalte neuer repente the. The same autor giueth thre noble precepts [i4r] concerning this matter, which of euery wise man aught to be had in continuell memorie.

Of foles take thou no cunsaile, for they can loue nothinge, but that pleaseth theim selfes. Discouer nat thy counsayle before a straunger: for thou knowest nat what therof may happen. Vnto euery man disclose nat thy harte, leest parauenture he wyl gyue to the a fayned thanke, & after reporte rebukefully of the. Fooles be as I suppose they whiche be more ladde with afection than reason. And whom he calleth straungers be those, of whose fidelitie and wisedome he is nat assured: & in the general name of euery man may be signified the lacke of election of counsailours: whiche wolde be with a vigilaunt serche and (as I mought saye) of all other mooste scrupulouse.

What in Consultation is to be chiefly considered.

The ende of al doctrine and studie is good counsayle: whervnto as vnto the principall poynt which Geometrycians do call the Centre, all doctrines (whiche by some autours be imagined in the fourme of a cerkle) do [i4v] sende their effectes like vnto equall lignes, as it shall apere to them that will rede the bokes of the noble Plato, where he shall fynde, that the wise Socrates in euery inuestigacion whiche is in fourme of a consultation, vseth his persuasions & demonstrations by the certayne rules & examples of sondry sciences, prouinge therby that the conclusion, and as (I mought say) the perfection of them is in god counsaile, wherin vertue may be founden, beynge (as it were) his propre mantion or palice, where her powar onely appereth concernynge gouernaunce, either of one persone only: & than it is called morall, or of a multitude which for a diuersitie may be called polityke: sens counsayle is of suche an efficacie and in thinges concernynge man hathe suche a preeminence, It is therfore expedient that consultation (wherin counsaile is expressed) be very seriouse, substanciall, & profitable. Which to bringe to effecte requireth two thyngs principally to be considered. First that in euery thinge concerning a publike weale, no good counsailour be ommitted our passed ouer but that his reason therin be hard to an ende (I call him a good counsailour whiche (as Cesar sayth) in the coniuration of Cataline) whiles he consulteth [i5r] in doubtefull matters, is voyde of all hate, frendship, displeasure, or pitie. Howe necessarye to a publike weale it shall be, to haue in any wise mens oppinions declared, it is manifest to them that do remembre, that in many heddes be diuers maners of wittis, some inclined to sharpenes & rigour, many to pitie & compassion: diuers to a temperaunce & meane betwene bothe extremities: some haue respecte to tranquillitie onely: other, more to welth & commoditie: diuers to moche renoume & estimation in honour: there be that wyll speke all theyr mynde sodaynly: and perchaunce right well. Diuers require to haue respect and studie, wherin is moche more suertie, many wyll speake warely for feare of displeasure: some more bolder in vertue wyll nat spare to shewe theyr myndes playnely: diuers will assent to that reasons, wherewith they suppose that he whiche is chiefe in authoritie wyll be beste pleased.

These vndoughtedly be the diuersityes of great numbre of counsaylours, they all beinge herde, nedes must the counsaile be the more perfecte: for somtyme perchaunce one of them whiche in doctrine, witte, or experience is in leste estimation, may happe to [i5v] expresse some sentence more auailable to the purpose wherin they consult, than any that before came to the others remembraunces: no one man being of suche perfection that he can haue in an instant remembraunce of all thing. Whiche I suppose was considered by Romulus the first king of Romaynes in the firste constitution of their publike weale, for hauinge of his owne people but thre thousande foote men, and thre hundrede horsemen he chase of the eldest & wisest of them all, one hundrede counsailours: but to the more assertion of diuers mennes sentences, I will declare a notable experience whiche I late hapned to rede.

Belinger Baldasine a man of great witte, singuler lernynge, and excellent wisedome. (who was one of the counsaylours to Ferdinando kyng of Arogon) whan any thing doubtfull, or weyghtie mater was consulted of, where he was present, afterwarde whan he had souped at home in his house, he wolde call before hym all his seruauntes: and merily purposing to them some fained question or fable: wherein was craftly hyd, the matter whiche remayned doubtefull, wolde merely demaunde of euery man his particuler oppinion, & gyuing good eare to [i6r] theyr iudgementes, he wolde conferre to gether euery mans sentence, and with good deliberation ponderynge their value, he at the last perceyued whiche was the truest & moste apte to his purpose: & beinge in this wyse fournysshed, translatynge iapes and thynges fayned to mater serious and true, he amonge the kynes counsailours in gyuynge good and substanciall aduise had alway preeminence. Howe moche commoditie than suppose ye mought be taken of the sentences of many wyse and experte counsaylours. And like as Calchas, as Homere writeth knewe by diuination thynges present: thinges to come: & them that were passed: so counsailours garnisshed with lernyng and also experience shall thereby considre the places: tymes: and personages: examining the state of the powar, assistence, and substance: also reuoluing longe & often tymes in their myndes, thinges that be passed & conferringe them to the matters that be than in experience, studiously do seeke out the reason and maner howe that whiche is by them approued may be brought to effecte. And suche mennes raisons wolde be throughly herde and at length, for the wiser that a man is, in [i6v] taryeng, his wysedome increaseth, his reason is more lyuelye, and quicke sentence aboundeth. And to the more parte of men whan they be chaufed in raisonynge, argumentes, solutions, examples, similitudes, and experimentes do resorte, & (as it were) flowe vnto their remembraunces.

The seconde consideration to be had in consultation.

The seconde consideration, is that the generall and vniuersall astate of the publike weale wolde be preferred in consultation before any particuler commoditie: & the profite or damage, whiche may happen within our owne countrayes, wolde be more considered, than that whiche may happen from other regions: which to beleue, commune raison and experience leadeth vs. For who commendeth those gardiners that wyll put all their diligence in trymmyng or kepynge delicately one knotte or bedde of herbes, suffryng al the remenaunt of their gardeyne to be subuerted with a great nombre of molles: and do attende at no tyme [i7r] for the takynge and destroyinge of them, vntill the herbis wherin they haue employed all their labours, be also tourned vppe and perisshed, and the molles increased in so infinite nombres, that no industry or labour may suffice to consume them. Wherby the labour is frustrate, and all the gardeine made vnprofitable and also vnpleasaunt. In this similitude to the gardeyne, may be resembled the publike weale: to the gardiners, the gouernours and counsailours: to the knottes or beddes, sondrye degrees of personages: to the molles, vices and sondry enormities. Wherfore the consultation is but of a small effecte, wherin the vniuersall astate of the publike weale do nat occupie the more parte of the tyme, and in that generaltie euery particuler astate be nat diligently ordered. For as Tulli sayeth, they that consulte for parte of the people and neglecte the residue, they brynge in to the citie or countraye a thynge mooste perniciouse, that is to say, sedition and discorde. Whereof it hapnethe that some wyll seeme to fauoure the multitude: other be inclined to leene to the beste sorte, fewe do studie for all vniuersallye. Whiche hath bene the cause that nat onely Athenes (whiche [i7v] Tulli dothe name) but also the citie and empyre of Rome with diuers other cities & realmes haue decayed & ben finally brought in extreme desolation.

Also Plato in his booke of fortytude, sayeth in the persone of Socrates. Whan so euer a man seketh a thinge for cause of an other thynge, the consultation aught to be alway of that thyng, for whose cause the other thing is sought for, & nat of that which is sought for because of the other thynge. And surely wise men do consider, that damage often tymes hapneth by abusinge the due fourme of consultation: men like euyll Phisitions sekynge for medicynes or they perfectly knowe the sicknesses. And as euyll marchauntes do vtter firste the wares and commodities of strangers whiles straungers be robbynge of their own cofers.

Therfore these thinges that I haue rehersed concernyng consultation ought to be of all men in authoritie substancially pondered, and moost vigilauntly obserued, if they intende to be to their publike weale profitable: for the whiche purpose onely, they be called to be gouernours. And this conclude I to write any more of consultation, whiche is the last part of morall Sapience and the [i8r] begynnyng of sapience politike. Nowe all ye reders that desire to haue your children to be gouernours or in any other authoritie in the publike weale of your countrey, if ye bringe them vp and instructe them in suche fourme as in this boke is declared, they shall than seme to all men worthye to be in authoritie, honour, and noblesse. And all that is vnder their gouernaunce shall prospere and come to perfection: and as a precious stone in a ryche ouche, they shall be beholden and wondred at: and after the dethe of their body, their soules for their endeuoure, shall be incomprehensible rewarded of the gyuer of wisedome to whome onely be gyuen eternall glorie. Amen.

teloj

Thomas Berthelet regius impressor excudebat. Cum priuilegio.