Prynce to be furnished with all suche knoweledge as shal be conuenient for the well ordering of his affaires as with prudence wisely to rule discretion orderly to coÌ„maund those things that are meete and conuenable for his honor and dignitie continual vigilance ouer his common welth tempred liberalitie differing from couetousnesse prodygalitie Noblenesse and maiestie in his dooings with equitie good aduisement and sober deliberation in al his enterprises and attempts as wel in peace as warre Salomon in his Prouerbs sayth that the obteinyng of wisedome is much better than any other profit or commoditie that a man may receyue bée it eyther in marchandise or in any other trade and the benefit that groweth therof is much more precyous than the pure gold and is of more greater pryce than any worldly goods or ryches and saith also ther is nothing in this world that a maÌ„ can wishe or desire which eyther may or ought to be compared to it For by this wisedome a man maye wyn to himselfe immortall renoume in repressing and beating downe and as it were bringing within certayne limittes the vnbridled and gréedy desire of insacyate couetousnesse wherwith not onely Prynces and great Monarches in the olde tyme were infected in coueting to enlarge their kingdomes and dominions but also al other men in their actes humain deuises inueÌ„tions al to make their names to be famous euerlasting the true and very meane to attayne thereunto is this wisedome which is most meetest to bée in a Prince for a Prince in a common welth representeth that which the eye dothe in the frame of mans bodye for the eye directeth and ruleth all the parts thereof and doth preserue the same that it shal bée wythout all daunger and peril and therefore if it chaunce the vertue thereof to bée debilitated that it can not doo his office and indeuor the rest of the body is lyke to peryshe and bée destroyed So maye we iustely speake of a Prince that is blynded wyth hys owne concupiscences and lustes for both hée hymselfe and those whome hée gouerneth shall bée in daunger of peryll and ruine Let vs note a little the counsell of this greate King Salomon one who dyd taste as well the pleasures as the thornes and troubles that doo alwayes accompany a crowne and royall Scepter when hée sayth Hearken yée Prynces of the people if yée doo delyghte in Kingdomes and Scepters embrace wisedome to the ende yée maye Raygne for euer Loue the lyght of wysedome you that bée rulers ouer the people the multitude of the wyse is the health and comforte of the Earth and a wise and sage King is the strength of the people and not contente to speake this once but hee rehearseth the same in his Ecclesiasticus saying the welfare of the people consisteth in the wisedome of the King as contrarie the ruine of them in hys follie After hée saythe cursed is that lande whereof the Prince is a chyld furthermore wisedome speaking herselfe cryeth out with a loude voyce and saythe by mée Kings do raygne and the Counsellers make iust lawes by mée Princes beare rule and gouernmente and all the Iudges iudge the earth And the Lorde amongst other things will that the King shall bee fortified and made strong with the doctrine in Deuteronomie where it is sayde when the King is set vpon the seate of his Kingdome he shall wryte himselfe out a copie of this Lawe in a booke before the Priestes and Leuites and he shall haue it with him and he shall reade therein all the dayes of his life that hée may learne to feare the Lorde his GOD and to kéepe all the wordes of that lawe and the ordinances therein so to do that his hart aryse not aboue his brethren and that hee turne not from the commaundementes neyther to the ryghte hande nor to the lefte hande but that hée may prolong his dayes in his Kingdome hée and hys chyldren in Israell Plato that deuine philosopher knowing verie well that no humaine gouernment coulde bée establshed without the vse and knowledge of sciences sayde Common wealthes shall be well and happily gouerned when they are gouerned by wyse and learned men or by those that shal employ their studies to wisedome And if ye wil wel consider the ordering of the auncient common welthes in the olde tyme ye shall finde that they haue bene in more happie estate when they were gouerned by the Philosophers themselues and did receiue their lawes ordinances than by any other meanes as the Mâ—telemans by Pitachus the Cretenians by Pithagoras the â—giptians by Mercurie or Olyris the Bractiens by Zoroastes the Persians by Oramasus the Carthagenis by Caremundus the Atheniens by Solon the Sitheans by Zamolxis the Cretensiens by Minos the Lacedemoniens by Lycurgus the Romans by Numia PoÌ„pilius the Greekes by Orpheus the Hebrues by Moyses Aron Among al other that floruishing coÌ„mon wealth of the Romaines hath euer been stored with many sage wise gouerners hath been ruled by diuers Princes exellently wel enriched beutified with al kind of learning knowledge vertue it is a meruellous thing to reade whiche séemeth in these our dayes rydiculous how that many Kings and Emperours in times past haue them selues ministred iustice to euery man did exercise the estate of Iudgement in their owne proper persons among which that noble Emperour Augustus Cesar Emperour of Rome is worthie perpetual memory for he was continually busied in héering the debates and controuersies of his subiectes and to do them righte and Iustice according to the equitie of the cause so as we reade in many historyes he continued ordinarily in that trauell all the day long vntill nyght and that with such zeale as that if he châ—uÌ„ced at any time to be diseased or sicke yet he would haue hys bed to bée set néere to the common place of Iustice or else in his owne house in suche a place that all men myght haue accesse vnto him as Suetonius the gret Gréeke author witnesseth in rehearsing his lyfe And when his déere fréendes dyd at any time reproue him for his great trauel he answered that an Emperour ought to die standing on foote with trauel and not in his bed at his ease Vespasianus also exercised himself in the like things whereunto he was so affectionated that he was not only contente to employ the same good wil and diligence to the Romains only but also dyd impart this his labor and industry to other prouinces his neighbors And as Philostrates wryteth in the lyfe of Apolonius Domitianus hys sonne was also paynefull and diligent in those matters for he imployed the better parte of his lyfe to heare and determine the controuersies betwéene party and party Aurelius Victor Emperoure was also a iuste Iudge and a vigelant Traianus one of the most vertuous emperors that euer hath bene tooke great pleasure in the lyke exercyse
doubt not but thou shalt finde matter in them that shal be to thy contentation comfort Farewell ¶ The Prologue PLutarch the renoumed Philosopher hath lefte vnto vs in writing that Demetrius Phalerius an excellent Orator and Philosopher vpō whome the Athenians as vpō a firm and strong piller reposed them for the gouernment of their Seigniories and Dominions did accustome amōgest his priuate exhortations to persuade Ptholome king of Aegipt to erect a Librarie to furnishe the same with all manner of Bookes and namely with such as did intreate of the Gouernment of Realmes and Kingdomes and withall did specially exhort him to employ certaine houres of the day in reading of them that hée mighte therby the better he instructed how to rule and gouerne such a puissant Realme as Aegipt was bicause Bookes do alwayes franckly with all libertie admonish vs of those things which our Friends commonly giuing place to time do suppresse and kéepe in silence And in Bookes also if wée wil diligently and with iudgement consider well such exhortations and councels as wée may reade in them wée shall finde much comforte and commoditie for Bookes are as Iudges without feare which neuer are ashamed to shewe the truth nor neuer stay themselues for the dyspleasure or indignation of any King Prince or Magistrate but folowing their frée nature and condition with sharp and nypping wordes do disclose mens corrupt manners rebuking them so sharply that there is no sworde more to bée feared than the Learned pen which toucheth euil and wicked men euen to the inwarde partes of the soule and neuer giueth any stroke but it pierceth to the ende and memorie of mannes life for if vpon purpose she wil describe the outrages and dysorders of any vicious Prince shée maketh his doings appeare so odious by hir eloquence that those that reade thesame shal bée in great dreade and feare to heare such things named and such as haue committed any crime shall bée greately ashamed that euer they did offende And againe if shée do employ hir force to commende their vertues and well doings shée wyll blaze and set them out so maruellously that such as shal reade it shall so honour and reuerence those whose Heroicall vertues they heare so exalted that euen as men rauished and moued with the fame and glorie therof will enforce themselues by al meanes possible to resemble their doings so liuely represented vnto them But contrarywise these flattering and mealy mouthed Friendes of the pleasaunt Court thinking to lose the praie that they séeke for or to runne into the dysgrace and dyspleasure of their Lordes and Maisters oftentymes do stoppe their eares become mute and dumbe and passe vnder consent the enormities and abuses they sée at the eie and touch euen as it were with their fingers notwithstāding they know and sée very well their Princes and Lordes want greatly admonition and councell There is yet an other kinde of vermine but muche woorsse and more contagious by a thousande parts than the others and be such as put the oyle to the match that be the trumpettes to prouoke and stirre them to wickednesse the torches that inflame them to vice and that with plesaunt commendations oyle and annoynt their heads vntil they bée growne fat with their owne filthynesse and these be they that the Prophet speaketh of that do putte the pillowes vnder their heads and the cushions vnder their elbowes and wyth pleasaunt and swéete flattering woordes bring them asléepe til they be drouned and buried in their owne abhominations And these kinde of monsters among men be of the nature of Caterpillers which neuer cleaue but vnto the good fruites or of the nature of Moatthes that always follow good clothes for yée shall neuer sée them at any poore mannes gate but as the shadowe followeth the bodie so shall you finde them in the Pallaces of Princes Kings and great Lords whose heartes they do so well know how to winne by a certaine swéet and harmonious maner of flattering and vaine cōmendations which they ring vnto their eares that in the ende they snare catch them by one meane or other The entrie of this kinde of people is very gentle they bée like vnto waxe they melte and transforme thēselues into al fashions but their end is woorsse than the byting of a Scorpion their words bée washed wyth swéetnesse and perfumed with pleasant smelles but in their hands they cary poison do ruinate al such as giue eare vnto them The dissimulation subtiltie of such persons did amaze and dyscomfort the Sicilians when the tyrannie of Dennis Phalaris was by these flatterers called punishment due iustice for their wickednesse such pestilent Vipers did infect defile Egipt when the effeminate doings of Ptholome with other his fonde and foolish vanities were called by them good deuotion and deuine seruice and such corruptiō deceyued also the Romaines when the deliciousnesse wantonnesse of Anthonie such flatterers made so smal accompt of that they called it humanitie and curtesie Of which pestilent Serpents and such like ought those that are Lords and possessioners of al to haue good regard vnto who want nothing but frank and discrete mouthes that should tel them the truth And therfore to auoide such domesticall enormities as wryteth Philostratus Titus the sonne of Vaspasianus in the beginning of hys Empire departing out of Iudea prayed Appolonius that excellent Philosopher that he woulde giue him some politique instructions for the better gouernment of his Empire and defence of his enimies To whome Appolonius answered that hée woulde giue him a scholler of his owne which should alwayes bée with him a liberal franke and iust man in all his woords who for the feare of any man would not forbeare to say the truth I wil sayd hée giue you at this your request a dog that shal bée capable of reason and shall bark agaynst all men yea euen against your owne selfe if ye shal do any thing woorthy reprehensiō and shal vse with al wisdom discretiō and haue regard to the time season when and how he ought to do his office I wil receiue him with a good heart sayd the Emperor not onely suffer him to bark but also to scratch bite if he sée me cōmit any iniustice or any other act vnséemly for the maiestie of mine estate empire And Alexander that gret Monarch did not disdaine the seuere answer of that miserable abiect man Diogenes but had him in so gret admiration that he cried out with loude voice saying that if he were not Alexander hée woulde not desire any other thing for his perfection but to be Diogenes Likewise Dennis although he was a tyran King of Sycilia by force could neuer bée persuaded by such flattering Courtiers to put frō him that great number of wise and learned men that he had about him who although he was a man himself clene gone
of al the Gréek Poets had liued in the time of Alexander I pray you in what honor and estimation had hee béen séeing he was so iealous of his Iliades that he made a Pillow thereof and did sléepe vpon it in the night when vpon a daye a certaine man brought vnto him for a present a Coffer wherein Darius dyd put his swéete and moste precious oyntmentes hauing receyued it he sayd this Coffer I will make the treasurer of a more excellent Treasure and presently he caused the same workes of Homere to be layde in it in the whiche hée tooke so greate pleasure that euen amongst hys weyghtie affaires he employed himselfe certaine houres in the day to reade the same and one time reading therein amongest other thinges the commendations and vertuous exploytes of Achilles he lamented his euil fortune that he had not bene borne in the time of Homere that he might haue had such a Trumpet to set forth his actes and commendations as he was Pompeius an excellent captain amonges the Romaines after the victory which he had against Methridates had neuer quietnesse in his minde tilhe had visited Possidonius the Philosopher in his sicknesse wherof he was aduertised and not contented onely to visit him in person but the more to honour him commaunded that the standerds and imperiall ensignes that he had should be brought thither with him because he thought that Kyngdomes and Empires ought to obey to Vertue and Knowledge Loe a marueilous deuotion that he had to learning for he neuer did vse the like order neither to King Captain or any other that he vsed to visit in such case We finde further that the auncient Princes haue not ben contented onely to honour them lyuing but also after their death For Ptholomeus king of Egipt builded a Church and a Piller in the honor of Homer as if it had bene to the Gods. And also we reade in the Greeke histories that .vij great Cities were of long time in controuersie who should haue hys bones This is a straunge thing and very true that alwaies the Tyrantes them selues enimies to all humanitie did giue honor to learning For Denys the Tyrant king of Cicylia by vsurpation did not spare by all the meanes and inuentions that he coulde vse to wyn that deuine Plato to come and visit him in Cicylia and being aduertised that he came he went to méete him himselfe and prepared his Chariot with .iiij. white horses wherein he receiued him with as great triumphe and solemnitie as he possible could for the great reputation and renoume that he had in that time amongest the wise and sage persons The Atheniens had Demostenes in such estimation that they made a great Piller to be erected for him vpon the which they caused to bée written in Greeke letters these wordes If his body had bene equall to his spirite and knowledge the kyng of the Macedonians had not bene victorious ouer the Greekes Iosephus also the Iew being of the number of the captaines of Ierusalem and lead prisoner to Rome yet bicause of the bookes which he had made of the antiquitye of the Jewes they did honor him wyth a piller which was set in the ranke amongest the others Plutarchus Aulus Gelius write that Alexander in his conquest in Asia being aduertised that Aristotle had published and put forth certaine bookes of Naturall Philosophy that he had learned vnder the sayd Aristotle wrote a letter vnto him full of checkes wherein he rebuked him and sayd he had done very euill so lightly to publish his bookes without aduertising him selfe thereof séeing he desired to excell al others in this Science which he had learned of hym but nowe beyng thus made familiar to all men by meanes of these his bookes being brought to light his hope was cut of for euer hereafter to attaine thereto for hée did as much desire to passe all others in learnyng and knowledge as he did to excell in all other thinges But Aristotle knowing that this disease procéeded but of noblenes and vertue he knewe verye well how to prepare a medicine for the same and sent him an aunswere that he would not leaue of neuertheles from proceeding in his former purpose and sayd that his bookes were obscure that there were very fewe or none that could vnderstande them if they had not his interpretation Diogenes Laertius writeth that Antigonus Kyng of Macedonia knowyng the commoditie of learnyng and how much it was requisit for the gouernment of a kingdome and knowing also Zeno to be of great renowne amongst the Philosophers of the sect of the Stoikes being moued with hys sagenesse wisdome sent vnto him letters and expresse Embassadors whereof the content is thus wrytten in Diogenes Laertius Antigonus king to Zeno the Philosopher sendeth gréeting I know that I am more rich in worldly goodes geuen by Fortune than thou art yet alwaies thou doest excede me in other thinges in Sciences and learning in the which consisteth the true felicity of thys humaine life wherefore I do praye thée that thou wylt permit that I maye sée thy conuersation and enioy thy presence and if thou doest agrée thereunto thou shalt be assured that the goodnesse and learning that I shall receiue at thy handes shall not be for the profite and commoditie of one man onely but generally to all the Macedonians for that he which geueth instruction and learning to a King doth teach also al his Subiectes For alwayes as the Kyng is suche be his Vassalles and as the Captaine is such are his Soldiers This good old man assoone as he had read his letters for that he could not go to him him selfe for his great age sent him two of his Scollers well learned which did assist him and gaue him instructions for the space of fiue whole yeres to whom the Kyng dyd yeld him selfe so tractable and obedient that he dyed one of the most renoumed kinges vppon the earth And shall we passe vnder silence Iulius Cesar one of the most famous Captaines vpon the earth who had bookes as familiar with him as armour and would as sone giue him selfe to reade as to armes who alwayes assoone as he had satisfied hys actes in armes he woulde disarme him selfe and go talke with the Poetes and Philosophers and alwayes in hys iourneyes he eyther wryt or els dyd reade some booke The Historians write of him one noble thing worthy of perpetuall memory That beyng one day in Alexandria a Towne in Egypt flying the furye of hys enimyes that dyd pursue hym he dyd saue hym selfe with swymming and caryed in one of hys handes certain bookes which he had composed declaring that he had in as great estimation the monumentes of hys mynde as hys lyfe They which haue at anye tyme read hys Commentaries and considered the thinges therein contayned and specially the phrase of his Latin wordes they may easelye iudge hee was no lesse an
Sonnes doinges knowing that he which kept that place ought straightly to regarde the lawes and ceremonies obserued of olde custome to the Senate that incontinently after hée was out of that place with a ioyful countenance in the presence of the Senate went vnto him being as it were halfe deade and embraced hym in his armes saying vnto him My sonne I doe accept thée for my deare childe for I know and see thou art worthy to exercise the Consulship of Rome bicause thou hast so good knowledge to defende the maiestie of an Emperour which thou doest represent and also the auncient statutes of our predecessours which will that the Emperor himself shal obey the lawes made and ordained by his forefathers The memorie of Zeleucus King of the Locresians shal also be had in eternal memorie among al men who after he had made and instituted many good vertuous lawes for the gouernement of his common wealth among others he ordayned one that he who should bée bée taken in Aduoutrie shoulde lose both hys eyes His owne sonne by euill Fortune within certayne dayes after was taken offending in the same and being condemned for it according vnto the Lawe and ordinaunce made by his father was adiudged to lose both his eyes but the people hauing a regarde vnto the deserts of his good Father the King woulde haue dyspensed with the Sonne and made humble request vnto him that it would please him to remitte his offence This good olde man did all that he could by extremitie to resiste their request shewing them that according to his lawes he ought to haue both his eyes pulled out but in the ende being ouercome with the importunate desires of the people minding to satisfie them in some parte and yet to kepe his lawe inuiolate hée caused a Theatre to be erected in all their presence and him selfe and his sonne being mounted vpon it with an inuincible constancie firste pulled out one of his owne eyes and after incontinently pulled out one of his sonnes So in vsing this maruellous kind of equitie hée was mercifull to his sonne and very seuere to himselfe and all to the ende hée woulde giue a testimonie to those that should succéede him howe Princes ought firste to put to their owne hands to the worke and to obserue their lawes as thou mayst sée in these verses following Zeleucus gaue lawe to his Subiectes all That taken in aduoutrie who should be Should loose his eyes but loe such happe did fall The Kings owne sonne into that snare came he Zelencus bids that lawe be done straight way Without regarde The people pardon pray The King that woulde his lawe in force to ronne One eye from him another from his sonne He takes deseruing thus the rather Name of iust Iudge and pitifull Father And Licurgus the lawmaker to the Lacedemonians so much commended in the hystories neuer made any lawe wherevnto he did not first render himself obedient And Agesilaus king of the Lacedemonians likewise among his most coÌ„mendable Sentences was accustomed to say that he desired no other commoditie of his kingdome but wholly the aduauncement of his coÌ„mmon welth and that it séemed to his iudgement more profitable for the same to be ruled and gouerned by good and holesome lawes than by good Princes bycause Kings being ouercome by their affections may erre and goe astray as wel as others of whose doings the lawes wil take smal place And it is most certain as the deuine Plato saith that as the Prince is such is the people And also Ecclesiasticus sayth as the Iudge of the people is such are the Ministers And in the booke where Cicero doth interprets those Lawes which the .xij. tables doe containe there is one laws written that doth straightly commaunde all Magistrates to liue discretely without offence to the end they may be examples to guide and shewe the wayes to others where afterwardes he addeth to these woords Euen as sayth he by the viciousnesse and couetousnesse of Princes the city is infected so likewise by their continency it is reformed and amended after he concludeth If thou wouldest search sayeth hée the doing of the old world past thou shalt find that as the princes did always change their maners so did also the inhabitants of their prouinces Antigonus King of the Macedonians writing to Zeno as Laertius teacheth after many purposes alleged of doctrine and felicitie he brought in for his conclusion that like as the Pastor shal be brought vp and enriched with vertues euen so shall his flocke be And it is euen very so for Herodianus writeth that the citizens be but as the fignets of the Prince for they doe nothing but as they sée them do Agesilaus aforenamed the very mirrour and paterne of vertue although he was King of the Lacedemonians yet neuerthelesse he would be séen oftentimes in the mids of winter being olde and crooked go rounde about the towne without hauing any apparell vppon him and many one maruelling that he could endure it did demaund curteously of hym wherfore he did so to this ende sayd he that youth shoulde learne by mine example to harden themselues to labor and paciently abide all aduersities that shall happen vnto them We reade also in auncient histories that the same ambicious Monarch Alexander being in the farthest part of Afrike was constrayned to be thrée dayes togither himselfe and hys whole armie without anie thing to eate or drink afterward hauing gotten vittuailes he would sée that all his souldiours should first be satisfied before him self would once touch any meate His great frende Parmenio being astoonned at thys his great pacience in forbearing to eate demaunded of him the occasion why he did so to this end sayd he that my people seing a proufe of my pacience in so daungerous a place should bée sharpened hereafter the more pacientely to beare and endure the rigoures and extremities of the Warres But why doe we consume so muche time to rehearse the examples of the Ethnikes seing that Iesus Christ himselfe a witnesse irreproueable did first begin to put the ordinaunce of the lawe in exercise before he toke vpon him to teache others as he sayde he came not to breake the law but to fulfil it Hearken a litle to that which that zealous man of Iustice S. Paule hath written speaking to those that were the brekers of the lawes which they themselues had made and established thou sayth hée that teachest others doest not thou therin teach thy selfe and yet thou doest preache that a man shal not rob and thou thy self dost rob thou sayst that a man ought not to coÌ„mit adultry and thou thy self dost break wedlock thou hatest Idols and yet thou committest sacrelege and glorifying thy self in obseruing the law thou dost dishonour God in breking the same Aristotle maketh none other dâ—fference betwéen a King and a Tyrant but that a King obeyeth the lawes leadeth the course
that was prepared for thē in this miserable world We reade the like of the Indiens Cesiens Cautiens Gymnosophists Brokmans and Thracians who did praise that day of the death of those that haue liued vertuously and not the day of their natiuitie as the Greke Poet doth shewe vnto vs in his Boke of Epigrams as foloweth Aboue all lawes and orders of olde dayes Whereof the mynde to this day is not worne The Thracian worlde J most commende and prayse That bad men weepe when children there were borne As token true of woe in lyfe to come But on that childe whom once the graue had wonne They bad men ioy when suche a one was ded As witnesse iuste that all his wo was fled Plato the moste worthyest of all the Ethnike Philosophers vnderstanding the little affinitie that the body hathe with the soule doth call it the Sepulchre wherein the soule is buried and sayth that death is nothing else but the very porte of immortalitie who did so well dispute of the miseries of this transitorie life and of the felicities that are prepared for vs in the other that many reading his Bookes of the immortalitie of the soule did maruellous willingly séeke their owne destructions some casting them selues downe headlong from a highe rocke into the sea to the ende they might taste and enioy the celestiall riches which are promised for them in the seconde lyfe as it is confirmed by a Greeke Epigram of Cleombrotus Cleombrotus that from a highe Mountayne Threw him selfe downe to breake his necke thereby What was the cause but that he thought it playne Myserie to liue and happie life to dye Grounding him selfe on Platos minde and skill That sayes the soule abides immortall still Adding hereto that Socrates had taught How that this life is to be set at naught But these matters would not sée no vnto vs any thing straunge nor maruellous if wee would consider how that S. Paule béeing stirred vp with a Spirituall affection desired to bée dissolued from this terrestriall prison to triumph in heauen with Iesus Christe his Captayne and redeemer And that great prophet Ionas who prayed the Lord that he would separate his soule from the body bicause sayth he that death séemeth better to me than lyfe Marcus Aurelius Emperour of the Romanes no lesse to be accounted a Philosopher than he was a worthy Emperour hauing proued al the passions rigours and calamities wherevnto the whole life of man is subiect did confesse frankely of him selfe that in 50. yeres which he had liued he neuer found any thing in this world wherwith he was satisfied or cōtent saith thus I will confesse this one thing although it shal be some infamie vnto me but peraduenture hereafter profitable to some others that in 50. yeres of my life I haue tasted all the wickednesse and vice of this world to see if there had bene any thing that could satisfie the humane malice affection And after that I had proued al I found that the more I did eate the more I did hunger the more I slept the more desirous I was to sleepe the more I drunke the thirstier I was the more I rested the more I brake the more I had the more I desired the more I searched the lesse I found and in conclusion I neuer desired any thing but hauing it once in my possession I found my selfe maruelously anoyed withal and incontinently wished some other thing so that this our lyfe séemed vnto me so piteous and miserable that as I thinke if any old man that doth leaue this transitore life wold make vnto vs a whole discourse and rehersal of his life past from the time that he passed out of his mothers wombe vntil the houre of his death and the body should recount all the sorowes that it hathe suffered and the soule discouer all the assaultes of fortune that it did abide bothe the Gods and men would maruell at the body that had endured so muche and at the harte that did dissemble the same This doctrine vpon the miserie of mans life thus alleaged by vs is not vnprofitable for it may serue as a myrrour or example to beate downe the hautinesse and high minde of Princes and great Lords when they feele them selues stirred or prouoked to vayne glory for if they would consider the common beginning of all the firste matter whereof we are made and how we bee all continued of lyke Elements bought all with one bloud hauing one common enimie I meane Sathan nourished and fed all with like Sacraments al incorporated in one Churche fighting all vnder one Captayne which is Iesus Chryst trusting in one onely rewarde all subiect to vices and passions and all indifferent to death they would then thinke there is no difference betweene the most vilest creatures of the earth and them selues but only in a litle dignitie caducall transitorie which shall vanish away as the smoke And let vs now mark how the prophet Ozeas doth condemne the insolencie and pride of them that do magnifie and exalte themselues of their mightinesse and great birth Their glory sayth he is all vppon their mothers womb of their conception and birth And the prophet Malachie sayth haue we not al one father are we not created of one Lord and God wherfore is it then that eche one contemneth his brother willing to let vs vnderstande by this their doctrine that this name of noblenesse is a vayne title giuen to men the desert wherof is of none account in the sight of god The wise man writeth in the booke of wisdome in this sort Beeing borne into this world sayth he I receiued the lyke ayre that other men did I was cast vpon the earth hauing the same voyce cry that others had and I was nourished and brought vp in the like paynes and sorowes and there was neuer king or prince vpon the earth that had euer any other beginning in his natiuitie we haue then one beginning one ende S. Iohn Chrysostome one of the most renoumed Doctors among the Grekes vpon thexplication of these words Our father which art in heauen trauelling to pull vp by the rootes these smal sparkes of glory which reigne amongs these great lords princes by means of the glory that they haue in their noblenesse and birthe exhorteth them in this maner Hearken sayth he you ambitious men how the Lord doth name him selfe our Father not father in particular of this man or that mā but willing to introduce one common charitie amongs all men and to conioyne vs all in a celestiall noblenesse had no regarde herein either to riche or poore master or seruant iudge or minister king or man at armes Philosopher or vnlearned wise man or foole but called him selfe father of vs all And S. Augustine vppon the Sermon made of the Mountayne confirming this authoritie sayth that we are admonished by this our cōmon prayer that beginneth
day against vs before God the iust iudge and searcher of all secretes FINIS ê™ Iames Chillester Bookes bee Iudges without feare or affection Fearefull friendes Those that doo flatter Princes and lead them to wickednesse Thâ— desâ—ription of the arte and industrie of the flatterers of the court Many common weales haue bene made ruinat by adultery Philosophers are rebukers of wickednes Alexander for hys perfection desireth to bee like Diogenes The tyrans themselues doe honour learning Nero a murtherer of hys dere frends The cruell death of Seneca Zopyrus a deare friend to Darius Philosophers gouerners of Princes Ieremie 1. Esaie 58. The trueth ought freely with al libertie to be pronounced openly Ezechiel A medicine for such as do offende and wil not be reprehended openly Tom. 6. Ho. 15 vpon .5 Luke A maruelous puissaunce of the remorse of conscience Deuterono 28. Wicked men be vexte and troubled as the waues of the Seas Nero Caligula tormeÌ„ted in the night wâ—th passions God causeth euen the very reprobate too taste of â—yâ— Iudgementes Iohn 3. The worm of the conscieÌ„ce of the wicked neuer ceaseth gnawing and byting Esay 66. Epicurus patriarch of the Athiests Epicurus coÌ„strayned too confesse the remorse of conscience The conclusion of the woorke The reuerence due too Superiours Leuit. 19. Ecclesiast 18. Exodus 22. 1. Pet. 2. Jn reading the actes of the wicked men are called from doing wickednesse Luke 10. The dâ—finitioÌ„ of a King. Kings and Princes are the â—â—nely Jmages of god Psalm 2. Kings and Princes are Gods Lieutenantes vpon the earth Similitudes of kingdomes and common wealthes appeare in al things The imperial Heauen is cheefe of all the others The Sun is the cheefest and Prince of al the lightes in heuen The Fire is more excellent than all the other Elementes although some be of contrarie opinion The East part is more noble than the others The temperat zone best Asia better and more noble thaÌ„ other parts of the earth Golde is the Prince of all mettals Bees haue their King. Plin. lib 11. The king of the Bees exceedeth the other in gretnesse and in beauty The king of the Bees hath a Sting not to hurte but for defence A maruellous obedieÌ„ce of Bees to their King. Funerals bee obserued amongs Bees Bees if they any way offend the king they kil them selues The PersiaÌ„s kil theÌ„selues after they haue offeÌ„ded A maruellous affectioÌ„ of beastes that they wil die for their Kings Mapheus Vegeus Men may receiue instructâ—â—â—â— of Beasâ—es Man more ingrate vnto his Ruler than brute beasts Cranes haue their captens and leaders Genesis 25. The watche of the Cranes The first murder committed in the worlde The first citie that was builded Genesis 1. The beginning of kingdomes Narration What time the fâ—â—ce of armour was first knowne Kings and Princeâ— wâ—re ordeined immediatly after the begiÌ„ning of the worlde The firste cause why Kings and Princes were chosen and instituted Kings and Princes tâ—kâ— not theâ—â— first beginning of gloriâ— and ambition as some iudge The second cause Scipio Afrianus Rome deliuered from â—he conspiracie of Cateline by Cicero Iohn 6. The third cause Nothing is auncienter than Sinne. Testimonie of Scripture for obedience of kings and Princes Haue a good regard to the meaning of Paule for he is very obscure in thâ—se wordes I haâ—e transâ—ated this â—câ—â—â—inâ— to the Gr ke word 1. Pet. ca. 8. Herodotus reprooued Reward promised giueÌ„ for vertue The fourth cause Iosua 13. Histories of the olde Testament 1. Reg. 17. 2. Reg. 5. God the first authour of Kings The Lorde himselfe dyd choose a king 1. Regum 9. Apoc. 19. Dani. 7. Math. 2. Christ payed toll Mat. 17. Mat. 22. Paule commaundeth to make prayer and supplications for kings and princes Baruch 1. Paule pleads his cause before Nero. The earthly kingdoms in many things doe accorde with the heauenly kingdome A notable question Monarchia is the gouernment executed by one DemocratiaÌ„ coÌ„monwelth AristocratiaÌ„ coÌ„monwelth The Aristocratian common wealth preferred by some opinioÌ„s Solon Licurgus Demostenes Cicero Many common wealthes haue bene ouerthrowne by the Aristocratian Gouernement The excellencie of the coÌ„monwealth of Venice 1200. yeares since the Venetians begaÌ„ their first gouernement The councell of Appolonius to Vespasianus The councell of the coÌ„mon people is like to a brushe that is vnbound and throwen abrode or to a Riuer that is runne out of the chanel Such as haue bene euill enintreated in their owne Countries Socrates Metellus Hanibal Camillus Licurgus Valerius Solon Monarchia preferred before any other common wealth Homere Aristotle All things ruled by one The Prynce is the soule of the Citie A testimony of Nature The scepter and crowne accompanied with many thornes A King is a lampe which shineth and giueth light vnto all the worlde Saule a good man in the beginning of his kingdom The raigne of Salomon Caligula Nero. Methridates Of .22 kinges of Iuda there were but six good The Kings of Israel wer wicked men Good Emperors of Rome The AssiriaÌ„s Persians Grekes Egiptians The entent of the auâ—or The doings of the publike members of the coÌ„mon wealth are more notable and perillous than of the coÌ„mon sorte Princes instituted chiefly for vertu 1. Kings 9. Plutarch in his Aposth The Gouerner ought alwayes to be better than his subiectes Kingdomes ought to be gotteÌ„ly wisâ—â—m and not by sauor and affeâ—tion Alexanders iudgement at his death Prouerb 26. Agesilaus king of the Lacedeâ—â— mans He that sinneth◠〈◊〉 aâ— bonâ—◠〈◊〉 Nero. Alexander a drunkarde Hercules ouercom with enuie and hâ—ordome Micheas 7. In his Economiques Our sinns be our châ—efe enimies Pet. cap. 2. Boetius Horace in his Odes Plutarch mayster to Traiane the Emperour Plutarchâ— epistle The Prince ought to obey the lawes Augustus Cesar an ernest obseruer of Lawâ— A iust cause of anger of in Cesar A great loue of the Father towardes the Sonne Zeleucus Valerius Maximus Such Prince suche Subiectâ—â— Antigonus writeth to Zeno. Herodianus A meruelous abstenence of Alexander Act. cap 1. Math. cap. â— Roma 2. Aristotle The Tyrant gouerneth none otherwayes but by his vnbrideled desire Aristotle in his politiques A vertuous aunswere of A exander in a Flatterer Sicknesse is the cause ofteÌ„ times that meÌ„ do knew theÌ„selues There is nothâ—ng that do the more stir and prouoke the common people to vertue thaÌ„ to sâ—e the Prince the first to put it in execution Eccle. â—0 1. Kings cap. 13. Euil wicked Princes haue alwayes ouerthrowne their people 4 Kings cap 25. VVised 6 Knoweledge requisite for Princes Salomon The Prince is the eye of the common wealth Salomon VVised 6. The staye of the common wealth doth consiste in the wisdome of the Prince Prouerb 8. Cursed bee that Realme whose prince is a Child Deutre 17. Plato The law-makers Augustus Emperour and Iudge Sueto ca. 33 The Emperour ought to die with trauell Philostraâ—es li. 7. Suetonuâ— vpon his life Dion Cassius Emperors Judges
Vaâ—pasâ—anus Domitianus Traianus Adrianus Aurelius Anthonius Maximius Commodus Pertinax Seuerus Saracula Iustinianus Fredericus Charles the gret haue al exerâ—â—sed the s ate of Judgement Machetas did apeale to the sentence â—f the Empeâ—or beâ—â—â—e hims lfe ReformatioÌ„ of Sentence Bâ—oke 17. of his Eneidos Plutarque vppon his life The Kings of the Persians did alwayes iudge the causes of the people ExcelleÌ„t meÌ„ The meane sâ—â—â—â— Men of a pâ—râ—â—rsâ— naâ—â—â—◠〈◊〉 Amarpelous liberalitie of an Emperor Jn what eâ—â—â—matâ—â—n lâ—â—rning was â—moâ—gst the auncients A maruelous liberalitie of a couetous man. 480. thousaÌ„d Crounes geuen for one booke Alexander mâ—de 〈◊〉 pillâ—we of the Jliad 〈◊〉 â—f Hoâ—eâ—e A singuler honour that Pompeius gaue to Possidonius Seuen Cities were in controuersie for the bones of Homer The verye Tirants did fauour learning Demostenes Josephus captiue Alexander not conteÌ„ted that Aristotle had published hys bookes Letters of king Antigonus to Zeno the Philosopher Julius Caesar passing ouer a certaine floud swymming held his workes in his haÌ„d that they shoulde not be lost Themistocles Methridates All the most famous captaines of Grece were louers of learning Paulus Emilius A great nuÌ„ber of Emperours that did compose bookes By knowledge learning men shal procure to them selues immortalitie 1 Kinges 3. SalomoÌ„ surpassed al men in wisedome The Quene of Saba Counsell of wise graue men is good for Princes Prouerb 3. Esay 5. Roma 22. Many kingdomes maintained in great honor by councel of the wise A marueylous affiance in a friend Antipater fri nde to king Philip. A greate affiance that Alexander had in Ephesteon Alexander bestowed vpoÌ„ the funerals of Ephestion his deare frend ten thousand talents of gold which is after the accoÌ„pt of Bude sixe millions of gold Plutarque Armanus Theodorus affirme the same The incredible amity of Zopirus to Darius his Master A subtile inuention to deceiue the enemy The like histories for the Romanes Sextus Tarquinius did beate himselfe with roddes to decâ—iue the Gabinets Light credence is noysome Alexander gelous of the glory of Achilles This whichâ— is here attributed to Alexander by others is referred to Augustus Caesar as Suetonus doth wytnes in the lyfe of 12. emperors Pliny and Horace The desire of AgamemnoÌ„ Homerus lib 2. An Epilogue of the thinges before sayd Testimonies of the holy and sacred scriptures Num. 11. Hester 1. Vertues of the said Alexander Prouer. 19. The councell of yonge men perillous to Princes Aristotle S. Ierome Plato in hys Sympose Wherefore old men be more feareful thaÌ„ yong men Plutarche Embassadors ought to be auncieÌ„t wise men Macha 5. Cap. 24. Nume 22. Denis Halicar Genesis 29 Solon The Romaines Atheniens Lacedemoniens Stobeus sermon 122. The prayse of aged and auncient meÌ„ Plinie lib. 8. cap. 5. Age honored among brute beastes Cap. 12. Kings 3. Iechonias Sedechias Kinges 12. Ieremy a yong man Daniell a yong man Ieremie 1. Daniel 3. Sc pio Affricanus a yong man. Yong menns preferred before old men Jphicrates being of the age of xxv yeares was chosen captaine of the Atheniens ageinst the Boetians Holynesse and pyetie towards god and religion is required of kings and Princes Josias one of the most worthy Princes that euer bare scepter Paralipo ca. â— Deuine instructions of Princeâ— Deuteron 2.7 solue ca. 1. Wisdom 7. The prosperitie of princes lyeth in the â—â—lfâ—â—ling the lawe Daniel ca. 2. A profitable exhortation of Daniell geue to princeâ— The threaâ—nings of Gâ—d to wicked Pâ—inâ—â—â— Wâ—s â—iaâ— 1. Kings 2. Kingdomes doo alwayes prosper when they are gouerned by good and vertuous princes 3 Kings 3. Idolatrous kings and contemners of religion Hospitalles oughte to bee had in remeÌ„braÌ„ce amoÌ„gst kings and princes 1. Macha 4. 1. Esdras 3. The churche shall sucke of the brests of princes Kings nurses of the church Esay 6. The christiaÌ„ churche is figured by Iâ—rusalem Iob. 14. The seconde thing required at christeÌ„ princes handes is to punish the blaâ—phemies and periuries amongs the people Blasphemers muste be stoned to death Daniel 3. Blasphemers by tâ—â— lawe of good king Loys was made thrusting throgh the tung 5. Ambro 54. Heresies must be punished by Princes The persecutioÌ„ ageinst the faithfull hath endured from the â—â—â—e that Jeâ—â—â— Christ ascended into Heauen vntill Conâ—â—â—â—tine the Emperour which is 300 yeares or there abouts Greate persecution of the Church Ydlenesse nurâ—e of all hereâ—ie The maiesty of God is dâ—praued in this Alâ—gâ—on Abdola and Imina the pareÌ„ts of Mahomet A naughty life argueth an obâ—â—â—â— race and family Imina the mother of Mahoâ—â—t dâ—scended of Jsmael sonne of Abraham Mahomet had coÌ„fereÌ„ce with wicked spirits A turkish dreame Mahomet saluted of stones beastes and trees Mahomets pardon Axa Mahomet his chief darling Mahomet his beast called Alborach The angell Gabriel foot man to Mahomet Adam Noe. Abraham Ioseph Moyses S John Baptist Iesâ—â— Christ Fiue prerogatiues giuen to Mahomet What trash Mahomet had gathered in his Alkaron The subtile policie of Mahomet A more true opinion of Mahomet than the first Mahomet sent in the vertue of the sworde The lawe of Mahomet mainteâ—â—â—d by the sword and bloud The greatest miracle that euer Mahomet did A policy to couer his lotâ—some infirmitie Mâ—que It is at this day an hâ—ynous offence to kill a pâ—geon Sergius an Apostata SuÌ„dry kinde of heresies of which Mahomet framed his Alkaron Alkaron a colâ—ectioÌ„ of chapters Am trueâ—â—â—e reuerence come to their Alkaron A fantasticall hell of Mahomet A ridiculous Paradise Of this matter rede the foure bookes of his Alkaron translated out of the Araby tong into the latine The aucthors that iâ— treate of this matter Platina P. Laetus Sabellicus P. Iouius Pope Pius Beâ—on P. Messia Arnoldus Romianus Crispus FloreÌ„tinus Franciscus Barnardus in his camologe of heretiks Mahomet died beiÌ„g 34 yeres of age The priest that was a traueller sheweth it in his geographie The good chastened for the euill Peter Messâ—e in his forest A meruellous perswasioÌ„ of a tiraÌ„t that he said he was sent of God vpon the earth to punish his people Mahomet the most greatest enemie of the church of God that euer was The church of God shall endure for euer Martyres for the word of God. Jesus Christs keper spouse and hed of this Church The infants of god be not orphaÌ„s Iesus Christ will assist them at all times Esay ca. 50. I say witnessed by J say An exhortatioÌ„ to princes gathered of the things before rehersed Psalme 138. Psalme 100. Ezechias a chief enimie to Jdolaters 4 Kings 8. Josias burnt the Idolles 4. Kings 23. Anger proceding of vertue Two murthers committed by Mathathias for Jdolatrie 2. Macha 3. The angells do chasteÌ„ Jdolatrie Pompeius was plaged for his offeÌ„ce Marcus Crassus Pharao Exod. ca. 14. Senacherib 4. Kings 16. The father killed by his owne childreÌ„ in the teÌ„ple Antiochus eaten with lâ—ce beeing aliue 2. Macha ca. 19. The death of Herod Act ca 12. CoÌ„stantine the yonger Cassiodore Olimpus