Sauiour true And with his Angels hope in blisse to raigne This colour doth so bright in glory shine That mortall hearts by faith see things diuine 43 The second pure white silke doth signifie And vnto Temperance of right belongs It doth the soule both clense and purifie Diuinely freeing it from offering wrongs To worke to speake to thinke the heart it moues To all those things the highest God approues 44 The third is Purple of a ruddie show Which doth on noble Fortitude attend To venture life and bloud at eu'ry blow The spotlesse truth of Iesus to defend No dangerous aduenture labour toile In Gods iust cause can make her once recoile 45 The fourth is Crimsen of a fierie red Resembling iustice in her scarlet tires To censure humane causes as their head Whose burning zeale Christs glory still desires And as this colour lasteth without staine So shall the conscience cleere from touch remaine 46 These vertues natures liuely we may proue In spices foure from whence that vnction wrought T' anoint the place and Priests of highest Ioue And vessels all that to Gods house were brought Which stately Throne perfum'd with heauenly sweet Affoords these vertues place as roome most meet 47 First weeping Myrrhe which Temperance signifies With actions gouern'd in our time of youth This doth the wicked thoughts of men surprise From iudgements rash to see and know the trueth And makes vs in our courses oft incline From damned plots to muse on things diuine 48 The second is the sweetest Cynamon Whose colour is for darkish browne allow'd This being pounded sendeth foorth anon A pleasing breath that mounteth like a cloud Which doth present to vs Humilitie As well the booke of books can verifie 49 From whence all prayers do ascend and rise Of faithfull people like the morning dew As incense sweet whose smoke doth clense the skies Which in the euening like a mist doth shew As this spice broke doth make sweet smell ech where So humble prayers pierce our Sauiours eare 50 What spice so sweet as when this same is bruis'd What sacrifice so pleasing in Gods sight As prayers which in broken heart are vs'd Which flame and burne and shine like glittring light Which mildly draw the Maiestie diuine With humble humane creatures to combine 51 To whom shall I send downe my holy Spirit But vnto those that are of contrite hart Who shall my holy land of blisse inherit But those from whom true meeknesse doth not part Whose hearts do quake and tremble at my word Which wounds thē more than men or mortal sword 52 The third is Cassia which in waters growes Resembling Prudence and doth comfort take From purest streames where perfect doctrine flowes And of small Springs a Riuer great do make From will to wit our senses it increaseth And by experience perfect wisdome teacheth 53 The fourth is Calamus a fragrant Plant That beares the branches of true Fortitude Which in extreames no patience doth want This driues away contagious sent and rude The more these spices we do beat and bruise The sweeter smell and sauour still ensues 54 Ioine vnto these a godly feare and Loue And all the heauenly works of Charitie Which with the grace proceeding from aboue Doth make this ointment smell in puritie For better is a good and honest name Than any wealth or precious ointments fame 55 Fourthly these vertues are esteemed fit To the foure wheeles of that same firie coach Wherein Elias and Gods seruants sit Being lifted vp the heauens to approach Which firie Chariot to vs knowledge giues Of their true zeale that in our Sauiour liues 56 Fifthly the number of these vertues can Be well alluded to foure liuing creatures The Aegle Calfe a Lion and a Man Which do describe their perfect seuerall natures These foure do sundry kindes decide How these rare vertues do themselues diuide 57 The first doth vs a perfect figure giue Of Prudence in her secret propertie To watch obserue and note the age we liue And with quicke sight all diffrent things to see Whose prouident praescience doth preuent All future acts might come to ill euent 58 The second shewes true Temperance to appeare Which makes vs giue our bodies vnto God With true oblation to our Sauiour deare As sacrifice not fearing scourge of rod But still to hazzard liuing life and all For Gods true cause what euer should befall 59 The third of these doth Fortitude containe Which is the Lion of all beasts the king As he aboue them all doth rule and raigne So this rare vertue rules aboue each thing As th' one no man nor creature can dismay So th' other will from all the rest beare sway 60 Man being the fourth doth Iustice comprehend Which is the band of true societie This doth all right and causes iust defend In faith in truth and lawfull equitie And doth preferre with care the poore mans right Before rewards or greater men of might 61 Lastly to note the number still persists Of these chiefe vertues whereof we intreat How God appointed foure Euangelists As blessed Gospels to confirme their seat Which shewes that those who teach the truth indeed In these foure seu'rall vertues should exceed 62 What euer honest is doth come from them For they of honestie the fountaines beene And from graue Reason draw their sacred stem All vnto vertue bowing as their Queene These thus discoursed of in generall I haste to shew their powers seuerall 63 From Wisdome daughter of immortall loue And sacred Science of Diuiner things Belonging to the Deitie aboue The birth of well aduised Prudence springs This the first fountaine is that purely runnes From Reasons head whereas true vertue wonnes 64 No mortall man can perfect good attaine That wants this vertue in her heauenly kinde Nor can his life from actions vile refraine Nor yet controule the wicked thoughts of minde Of Prudence therefore this is vnderstood Men wanting her are not accounted good 65 She is the nurse of true and holy feare Both to loue God and to obey our King She is the Ancient doth the colours beare Into those fields where fairest blessings spring She makes vs know our selues and feare the Lord To loue the king and in one faith accord 66 A prudent King a firme assurance is Vnto his people ouer whom he raignes Vpholds the right and mends the faults amisse He roots out vice and vertue still maintaines Clap hands for ioy when such a King we crowne That raiseth good and pulles the wicked downe 67 This vertue sprung from wisdome most diuine With knowledge got and by Gods goodnesse had Doth rule mens actions and their hearts encline For to discerne and chuse the good from bad Whose office doth consist by skill to chuse What vertue bids and all the rest refuse 68 She
in taking part with none Yet made them chuse him Ruler all alone 94 Lycurgus worthy maker of sharpe lawes Who did reforme the Lacedemons state Fiue hundred yeeres of peace he was the cause And setled loue'mongst those that swel'd with hate So that they liu'd in gouernment and peace Vntill his lawes and ordinance did cease 95 Well may we note how Phocion spake his minde Against th' Athenians enterprise in warre And sith they tooke his counsell to vnkinde He spake aloud that men might heare him farre You force me do the things I ought not thinke Nay yet from speech nor counsell for to shrinke 96 Demosthenes a woman poore preseru'd Who had ingag'd herselfe vpon receit To them of whom from faith the one was sweru'd And got the money from her by deceit Her cause by prudence he did well defend And for the paiment made her foes attend 97 Here strike we saile and now the anker cast Of our bifronted Prudence in the bay Of sacred royaltie there remaining fast Till her faire sister Temp'rance bring we may O that she finde such quiet harbour there As may the date of datelesse time outweare 98 This Cardinall doth wicked wayes subdue Chacing bad motions which misleade the minde Preseruing man in meane and measure true Gods lawes to keepe which are to vs assign'de And to contend by all the meanes we can To beat downe sinne and raise the inward man 99 This Temp'rance is describ'd three parts to haue First Continence doth rightly challenge one The second office Clemencie doth craue And Modestie the third doth holde alone Ech one of these sits in his proper place To build Gods house and Sathans to deface 100 The first the minde and appetite doth leade With inclination to good works of light The other carnall motions downe doth treade And all externall euils pardon quite The third distinctly measur'd with suspence Doth iudge the cause and maner of offence 101 From Continence two other branches spring One drawes our hearts from pleasures to refraine And those corrupt desires of eu'ry thing That should procure our euerlasting paine The other works to bridle that desire of golde and wealth which sets the heart on fire 102 By Continence the appetite is taught And gouern'd by the square of graue aduise Vertue to loue and vices set at nought And for the best all courses to deuise Whereby is prou'd that vile intents contain'd Are chang'd to good and wicked acts refrain'd 103 Clemencie is a Temp'rance of the minde When iust Reuenge may take his time and power Or Lenitie in noble hearts most kinde Which might afflict inferiours euery hower And to impose vpon them punishment For all offences done with ill intent 104 Though this for all men be expedient Yet vnto Princes chiefly it belongs Whose care to punish faults conuenient Giues vs example to desist from wrongs Which is confirm'd and prou'd in ech respect When God made Moyses Iudge of his elect 105 Who was the meek'st and temperat'st Prince aliue That liu'd obedient in Gods feare and loue And would no man of his due right depriue Nor once his foot from that was trueth remoue Then England Ioy God hath a Moyses sent His right to keepe and all our harmes preuent 106 Well may we note in Isr'el many Kings That were most gentle in their toilsome raigne Which did in mercie censure doubtfull things And with attention heare the poore complaine And hauing heard the truth on both parts tri'de In temp'rate iudgement did the cause decide 107 I would in no wise wrong my Regall power Nor once abuse the greatnesse of my place But rule my subiects eu'ry day and hower With pitie mercie lenitie and grace This Esther writes renowmed Queene of fame That following Princes might obserue the same 108 Beholde the King doth come vnto the milde And with the gentle maketh his abode But from th' obdurate he will be exilde And shun the path where wicked people trode From Clemencie this knowledge still doth spring To know a Tyrant from a gracious King 109 A shamefast wise regard is Modestie Of honest things inhabiting the minde And the reward hath of authoritie The which doth pure and stable actions binde And teacheth vs in compasse how to liue Of precepts such as Temperance doth giue 110 This sheweth man himselfe how to behaue In laughter words and gesture decently In ord'ring well those parts which God vs gaue In comly habits of Ciuilitie All these Sobrietie doth still obserue And neuer from true modest actions swerue 101 Temperance doth guide the seasons of the yeare And their coniunctions firme and mutuall makes Of elements whose temp'rate times appeare In ord'ring things that Prudence vndertakes It is the compasse of the wide worlds frame And perfect ornament to decke the same 102 It is the ground-worke of mans happie life And preseruation of his inward soule It is the curbe and bridle of all strife Drawing the raines which choler do controule It doth containe the inward thoughts of minde By which all actions mod'rate passage finde 103 From Prudence rightfully she drawes her line Withouten which we cannot Temp'rance gaine Nor any can to Fortitude incline Vnlesse the mod'rate vertue he attaine For courage will be rash and heady still And wanting Temp'rance followes rages will 114 This vertue knit and ioyn'd with all the rest Doth worke perfection in their true effects Without the which no vertue is possest With that true good that Wisdome most respects In Noble mindes where temp'rate motions faile Presumptuous thoughts do euermore preuaile 115 The ornament that best beseemes all Kings Inuesture is with robes of Temperance That makes their fame so high to flie with wings And to the heauens their Scepters doth inhance In right and trueth a King we may him call That his desires and pleasures masters all 116 This vertue is the light that banisheth Obscuritie of passions round about A double vertuous qualitie she hath For she preseru's vs both within and out With priuate publike and humane respect Shee frees the soule which vice did so infect 117 She is a stedfast mod'rate rule of reason Ouer the passions of Concupiscence She keepes the motions of the minde in season And to the soule is still a sure defence Nothing so rare on earth can be espi'de As she which both the soule and minde doth guide 118 It joines and fastens bodie to the soule As firme and fast as surest driuen naile It roots out lust and doth bad facts controule And makes perfections in our minds preuaile That man who entertaines not such a guest True reason wants and liueth like a beast 119 It is the pillar of true Fortitude The helme and shield against luxuriousnesse It is the eye by which our works are view'd And draw'n and kept to lore of
fift doth holde a Reuerend respect And due regard of those that best deserue The last doth well the works of truth effect And from good lawes and praeceps neuer swarue But still maintaine what euer 's good and iust And not to vaine deceitfull toies to trust 171 Religion is the worship pure of God Obseruing of his iust and holy lawes To visit those that suffer scourge of rod And to relieue when want doth offer cause It keeps our minds vnstain'd and vndefilde From all infection of the world so vilde 172 But pietie is a bountifull regard Whose care respects aswell the bond of bloud As duties or priorities reward Or great obedience to the meane and good In all degrees it makes an equall show To yeeld true measure to the high and low 173 Fauour or grace a vertue we may call Wherein the true and perfect friendship shines With memorie of subiects duties all Whose bounds and limits grace to vs defines It doth containe will to remunerate The gifts and qualities of ech estate 174 Reuenge of things vniust a vertue is That doth subdue oppression force and wrong All obscure acts which leade men farre amisse She doth repell be neuer they so strong It doth defend the pure and innocent And chastice those that in transgression went 175 Much holinesse dread reuerence behights For iust obseruance of the merit due To those on whom all perfect honour lights Whose worth makes their deseruings good and true It giues renowme and honour in her kinde To men of note and of a Noble minde 176 Trueth is a practicke habit as I weene Or veritie which doth the minde possesse Inspir'd into the soule of man not seene By God himselfe whose sp'rit brings happinesse This maketh difference twixt the good and euill To chuse her selfe and hate her foe the deuill 177 Iustice is term'd the simple poore mans treasure Lockt in the chest of soule and conscience It yeelds to them the trueth of great mens measure And keepes it swept from eating-moths offence All precious stones whose vertues breed no doubt It doth reserue and cast all other out 178 He is not iust that dreadeth death or paine Or feares exile or stings of pouertie No conscience cleere whose eyes do looke for gaine Or heart prefers the foes to equitie No man for good or honest we regard Whose minde doth measure iustice with reward 179 Iustice hath wrought to vs most happie things Iustice by right hath taught our land to know A royall lawfull true descent of Kings Whose vaines the bloud of Henrie seuenth show It brought him in he will not shut her out Let none for Iustice therefore feare or doubt 180 This Princely branch from that pure roote now springs Of Brute that mightie monarch of great fame Whose buddes the fruit of perfect Iustice brings And to his people auncient Britans name Which he adorns with vnitie and peace Throughout the world for euer to increase 181 We see the buds of that same stately tree Whose blossoms yeeld our hearts and eies delight We reape the fruit of Iustice equally As moats still subiect to the Sunne of light Iustice diuine chiefe vertue of renowne Commands with loue our sacred King to crowne 182 Prudence with Iustice did coniunction make Vniting so foure kingdomes into one Heau'ns in the change did all our troubles slake In giuing pow'r and right to Ieames alone He is the first that ouer all did raigne Or could with loue and peace the crowne obtaine 183 He with his Iustice doth all strife debate And makes vs loue one onely God and king He ioineth loue twixt those that iarr'd with hate And doth our hearts to true religion bring He makes vs liue in peace and vnitie With kingdoms great and haue our trafficke free 184 Blest be his name that made vs Iustice know By such a Prince whose heart intends no wrong Blest be his power that such a tree did show From that true stocke of Brutus graft so long Blessed be heau'n a Princely Britaine raignes And that so goodly plants of Brute remaines 185 Iustice brings peace and concord to our land And breeds not warres by off'ring others wrong It knits men fast like faggots in a band In faith and loue that to one state belong Religion loue and vnitie increase Vnder the King whose heart desireth peace 186 Iustice extreme is neuer to be vs'd With crueltie or rigorous intent It may with ouer-wresting be abus'd And turne to wrong the good which vertuement The summe of Iustice which is in rigor seene To iniurie is chang'd and alt'red cleene 187 True Iustice riches neuer can infect Nor gaine of kingdomes cut off course of right No priuate whisper shall the cause detect Till both be heard and trueth be brought to light Where Iustice flies with flatt'ring wings to th' eare The Kingâ—s abus'd and subiects buy it deare 188 Most pitifull that land and people's left Where perfect iustice is not vnderstood They are of all true happinesse bereft And sure to sinke let cause be ne'er so good But still to labour striue consume and spend All that they haue yet neuer make an end 189 What greater plague or viler punishment Than liue in hope of right from day to day What greater torment to a state is sent Than Iudges to sell Iustice with delay Who rule the cause with coine vnto their will And keepe true Iustice from the iudgement still 190 They that abuse this image pure of God And sell the trueth for pictures of a King Are made the meanes to vse the deuils rod And all good causes to confusion bring They neuer care how matters come about So that the purse the golde be powring out 191 Paulus the Pythagorian doth direct How all men should this gift diuine embrace As nurse and mother truely to effect The works of all the rest with heauenly grace Gods prouidence to Iustice is appli'de Which doth the world both gouerne rule and guide 192 In Townes and Cities it is rightly thought The perfect path to equitie and peace In priuate homes twixt man and wife is wrought True vnitie and concord to increase It makes men serue their masters with regard And masters kinde good seruants to reward 193 It is commanded by Gods holy spirit All Magistrates should Iustice dayly vse And that their hearts should iudgement pure inherit And not Gods holy lawes for to abuse For whoso doth infringe and breake the same Can not auoid the curse of endlesse shame 194 It doth to Iustice duely appertaine To entertaine the pure and innocent Them to protect till they be free againe So sent away full safe to their content Iudgement resists bold deeds of wickednesse And doth with punishment all faults redresse 195 By Solon this was truely taught as meane For great