the matter brake off you shall fauour me in that I haue a speciall desire to heare at the full you hauing so notablie entred into the declaration thereof You left at absolute vertues which are the gifts of nature and accompany Gentlemen from their birth Huddle Sithence by your desire I am put in minde of complete vertues which are said to be in Princely descents of bloud from the beginning and at their entrance into the world I am contented there to beginne againe All creatures in manner that beare life haue also at the first an inclination towards a very neare similitude of the nature from whence they came by which I prooue the perfections that are in parents descend wholy and without change steps or goings on in like manner and sort to their children as they were indued therewith themselues but if the parent want the perfection thereof himselfe his childe may attaine vnto it but not by natures benefit for that the foregoing one had not the entire possion thereof in the time of his life It is euident to euery vnderstanding that absolute vertues neither decrease nor increase for looke what is perfect in it owne fulnesse the same is able to enriche and fortifie what it affecteth and naturally inclineth it selfe wholy vnto it neuer decreasing as I said because of it perfection it can be no lesse in the succeeding childe then it was in the proceeding father so that the vertue most excellent in the one shall be the same without exceeding or diminishing in the other admitting no mediocritie reacheth at the first the vttermost point of the vertue which was of that integritie in the former Worthie That vertue which wanted perfection in the progenitour his ofspring may attaine vnto but it is not his proper and peculiar blessing as it should haue bene had it not wanted perfection in the other Because the one wanted the full and entire possession thereof he cannot deliuer it ouer by descent in bloud Dunsta Belike then if the worthie progenitour had attained to the tipe of all perfections his worthie of-spring had at the first immediately bene seasoned with that most precious liquor according to the influence into the former vessell Hud Yea vndoubtedly but the mysterie of the perfection celestiall which you rightly termed a most precious influence it is too deuine to dwell vpon earth or to be discust by mortall sence and vnderstanding but the next vnto that omnipotencie are Kings and Princes because they receiue theyr blessings from God directly without other benefit or additament whatsoeuer Dunst Then I pray you Sir how do diuerse without the benefit of this generous bloud attaine to such ripenesse as may make them worthie high place and dignitie in the word Huddle Through forward inclination and disposition taken with the loue and desire to immitate such seruiceable vertues as they haue seene approoued and rewarded in others whose more properly at the first they were and so vpon iust cause are both receiued and held worthie men In the first vertuous man I shewed you euen now after his good speed was seene and the way knowne how he did great things others were stirred vp to haue pleasure and delight in the like yet such also as were better endued and of a more ready motion then the rest For all could neither be incited by example nor forced by compulsion to needfull and concerning duties to the pleasuring of themselues Dunst By this reckening wisdome to forethinke is not the least helpe both to seeke and also to become great places attained vnto Hud All my speeches haue tended to that end and purpose Yet first I shewed you how bold courage did rouse and waken men from out the cradle of securitie before they were assisted by consultation euen then also had they failed of resolution to enterprise and breake through disficulties such also as perhaps were repugnant vnto reason and aboue that wit could perswade to be possible then all had fainted and nothing had bene atcheiued Now wit arte and counsell which you spake of right now might haue serued them to prolong their plenty and to haue held them still in ease to haue leslened and made away by deuise some of their superfluous and rising numbers but the strong vertue was first and it preuailed to best purposes and blessings Dunst Now sir I beseech you speake somewhat of the defects that were found in them that neuer came forward Hud I haue promised so to do You may imagine that while the sunne is oppressed and surcharged with cloudes her vertue of comforting is for the while hindered but when she hath out wrought them and broken thorough the black prison her light is then cleare and her operations effectuall Likewise whilest wantonnesse belly cheare and other entangling delights held men back from the vse and knowledge of themselues till I say the maisterfull spirit had by maine force spoiled and driuen away all impediments they could purchase no freedome nor rest contented vnlesse they were able also to make a through conquest of themselues then which there could not be a greater victorie Dunst A faire and a vertuous generation of worthy men fit to take example at Hud The princely worthy that had bene the cause of the beginning and discouerie of all these things through his search and aduenturous inquirie after I say he had laid these fast knowledges sufficient both for their owne foundation and also for continuing their succeeding posterities making alwaies the end of one discouerie the beginning of another and after himselfe for all these benefits had bene deseruedly crowned and holden in due honor and regard of the rest at once he amended all their estates bringing the number of such as were out of order into order by prouision as aforefaid of such necessaries acquired as nothing but the iustice and displeasure of almightie God could bereaue them Now to iumpe with your desire I will directly shew you who were the pecora campt to whome for their vnwillingnesse little or nothing was possible You must also remember how at the first I tolde you few by nature and their owne ready inclination were warlike yet by instruction and imitation shaking off and expulsing the first disease called slouth many were fashioned and instituted by the desire they had to folow the discipline of the first worthies Notwithstanding all this there remained a sculke of such as neither care nor castigation could amend or make able to entertaine other purpose or desire then at the first Besides to increase their number sort there were diuerse whose courages abated degenerating and declining by immoderate and intemperate contrarieties thorough which they corrupted and lost their first bloud and estimation differing in a manner altogether from the good resolutions to vertues which at the first either themselues or their auncestors had bene raised vnto who rather then faile by erudition and tradition for the honour of their owne first vertues were desirous to haue had
out thus vnder my nose and I to sweate and swinke to maintaine his lozelrie Huddle This you take in so ill part is not worth your lament nor complaint If you consider the olde bondage and vassalrie men of your condition were wont to bein you should finde that to bestow a sonne thus vpon a gentlemā to haue him brought vp were a pledge of your good will to the maister for the mā his good no such hainous matter as you make it neither is the place as you impute it the cause or occasion of your sonne his faults for there can no Gentleman be of other minde but that he had rather his man had many good qualities then one euill condition Your sonnes climbing follies to equall or rather exceed them he should not striue withall in costly apparrell and lauish expences is also blame-worthy in your selfe setting proud feathers higher in his toppe at the first then you are able to reach and pull downe againe when you would Had you said the taking of gifts and bribes to peruert and hinder the course of iustice had bene a matter of common sorrow and is wont to be withstood and helped by the presence and authoritie of the honorable their countries ancient benefactors next and immediatly vnder the Prince then had you bene of the minde I would haue you with me to be in by such reasons examples as I am ready to yeeld you Gifts are said to draw a curtaine betweene truth and the prudent light vnderstanding of the iust to make crooked the straight and plaine testimonies and sentences of the righteous If bribes haue truth once in chase light she not on a strong couert and sanctuarie such an one as is nobilitie to refuge the wronged it is oddes after many wrinches and pinches giuen her in the course she will also be gathered vp and spoiled by her fierce pursuing enemies which by craft and subtilty can both gaine cope and take the simple harmlesse wretch in their cruell gins and mercilesse snares Golden blocks throwne in the way of iustice her Chariot is in great danger of ouerturning They therefore that thinke to do iustice should not so much as looke vpon gifts which are said to put out the eye of equitie The sellers and buiers thereof are not worthy to be trusted in a commonwealth much lesse fit to hold place and dignitie in the same In Romes best flourishing daies first iustice was sold then Rome it selfe was offered to be sold Two vnsatiable buiers we are sure of that is to say craft and power Now from viperous matricide sellers good Lord deliuer vs. But I hope there are none who would be contēt to see the tender bowels of their naturall parents lie bleeding before them but rather trust to God that all our English nation in generall will imitate the fidelity of our Noblemen who I am perswaded are all of worthy Fabricius his minde He hauing a great masse of treasure sent him from king Pirrhus freely without any conditions to do good or hurt in the time of his want also refused the same vtterly setting more by his honourable freedom to be beholding to no state or Potentate but his own then he did of all the wealth of Egipt at which deniall or vertuous spectacle the king admiring cōcluded it to be as easie a matter to alter the sun from his course as to change Fabricius from the strict obseruance of honeslie Besides their strong resolutions that way I hope they be Argus eyed to behold from the Beacons watch towers of their wisdomes that no rage of rebels shall enter the realme at vnwares to endanger her throane that is the welfare of vs all through whom vnder God we are vpholden Further also I doubt not but if any such serpents come creeping in to disperse their venome and to infect this sweet soile which is full of God and her benefits they will be as wise as Dedalus was with laborinths to intricate and inclose them so sent from greater snakes then themselues to endanger our christian peace Lay they all on one heape or were they suted alike the way to beware them were more easie But some time they lie lurking in fine penny grasse where they are suteably clad to beguile for greene can hardly be descerned from greene Other-whiles they lie inclosed in caues and dens where they tarrie to mew their old skins which by running through brambles and briers they hauing once shed and put off then become they youthfull and frolick it abroad drawn forth by the comfort of the least breath of a warme winde or small sunne-shine When they haue thus dissolued the ycie limmes before congealed and benummed in their frozen dens then are they fit for the company of them who cannot liue vnlesse they be fed with poison There they play the serpents indeed creeping at the first into the hearts of such as vnder the colour of deuotion they can easily draw into abuse supplanting allegeance at the first dash When they haue abused such with the infection of conspiracie to them they draw forth their commission whereat there hangeth the autenticall seale of Rome The first words within the escript are murther and rebellion In the next clause is contained plenarie remission and forgiuenesse to any that can flesh themselues in the sacred bloud of her gratious Maiestie or any that be especially neare vnto her Within this same writ notwithstanding the vnsatiate legates are named Catholicks and pretensaries to reforme religion through crueltie to be exercised vpon the annointed of God In the next clause following there is a charge to binde by oath all to be ready at all points furnished to recouer into obedience such as are fallen away from the statutes and ordinances of the sea Apostolick After that goeth on the last point vnder whom they must serue that is to wit vnder the Archstanderd-bearer of Antechrist the king of Spaine and his deputies Dun. I trust the ioyfull crowne that God hath giuen her Maiestie through her true feare and loue of him shall continue her triumph in godly and plenteous peace to fill the whole land still with her benefits notwithstanding helles sting and its roarings against her Hud Yea God doubtlesse will euer let them want somwhat to disapoint their wicked rages which their commission cannot supply notwithstanding their parcialities and factions as appeared by the omnipotent hand of God from heauen ouerthrowing bringing to naught their Giant-like deuises through the strength and greatnesse whereof they threatned the firmament and thought to haue supplanted the very foundations and ground-workes of heauen Because you may remēber how God cōfounded the deuises of those that put their confidence and trust in thēselues and their owne right hands because I say you saw how they were scattered and dispersed into diuers nations flying before the face of the winds no man forcing them I will therfore forbeare to speake of the notablenesse therof
and opinion or else spent their whole gettings vpon vnlawfull children Yet notwithstanding by your fauour you haue not attained vnto the full of my meaning and desire herein Hud I confesse I haue not for the fight of beefed beggers that thronged so thick in my way but now I haue got past them I will go neare to meet you on your owne bawlke Your desire is to haue houses kept to beare the Lord of misrule company at Christmas spending then vpon Hick and Stephan who haue no need of it what would maintaine a seemly family more then halfe a yeare Such may well be called the Lord of misrule his guests who besides excessiue ouer-eating drinking thēselues spoiling by misuse that they cannot deuour leaue behind them also such vnmannerly annoyances called beastialities that the Nobleman and Gentleman that hath thus crammed his quoistrels must of necessitie forsake their house and housekeeping till a good winde blow away the vnpleasant sauours their Christmasse Poulcats leaue behind them Thus besides excessiue cost and trouble by the fruits of this carelesse hospitalitie their houses are lest in worse case then common Innes or ostelries If it be a sheep-shearing feast maister Baily can entertaine you with his bill of reckonings to his Maister or three sheapheards wages spent on fresh cates besides spices and Saffron pottage So that the Nobleman Gentleman should haue nothing come in clearly to them at any season if your ancient patterns might be rightly obserued I know your meaning is not to haue the Hockedame waited on by them who for the most part let their lands to halfes or else conuert all into rent The entertainment one of them giues vnto another cannot be that you call so hotly vpon for those fashions you haue a homely terme I list not to remember you of Dun. The money your maistership hath spent in learning and trauell is euery penny better bestowed then other Now I plainly see let an ignorant man be neuer so wise or of neuer so great experience but if he meete with a man of gifts and bringing vp his presuming to know all things prooueth plaine ignorance and meere mistaking Once to day I tooke my selfe to know as many wayes to the Church as maister Vicar himselfe but now I see Plowmen are no preachers I haue a Sonne that hath cost me many a quarter of corne on whome for this dayes worke I will bestowe one Peck of pure graine which toucht no chaffe this many a day to buie him more learning and though I am not able to breed a Gentleman I may perhaps as well as some of my neighbors bring vp one Hud I meruaile how you stumble on the Church and the Minister this hote weather and our long talke should rather haue put you in minde of the Butler and the Butterie Besides I cannot bethinke me what vertue should be in your peck of pelfe especially to alter nature my selfe withall the proofe I could make could neuer finde the skill to cause a barking mongrell to become a true questing Spaniel To be plaine with you I neuer thinke an Ape more diformed then when he striueth by borrowed skill to put on that which nature cannot grace nay rather those things are most vgly which are forced and done in spight of nature Euery one to whome Mastership belongethis not a Gentleman what purchase soeuer his father maketh vnlesse he can procure bloud to alter kinde that you cannot giue your sonne because you haue not attained vnto it your selfe The notabilitie hereof proceeds from chiualrie and marshall prowesse where for princes right and common-weales saftie through worthy aduentures of bloud and life purchase is made at the dearest price and rate Therefore as there cannot be a greater cause amongst men then the Prince and commonwealths businesse nor a greater matter then bloud and life to be powred out and parted withall of necessitie the greatest and principallest respect and regard hath euer bene had therevnto Dunst By your fauour sir there are no such lawes yet made to prooue Souldiers Gentlemen or if there be it is left out of their stile in all that I can reade or vnderstand of their profession Hud If you speake ignorantly I am contented to helpe you ouer the stile you seeme not able to clime but if you play the Foxe with me grapes are no meate for you especially of my reaching vnto you Because I haue some doubt of your words and no cause to mistrust your selfe I will declare my minde herein more sully You know how all that are put to learning prooue not learned neither all degrees of learning of like estimation no more are any to be counted Gentlemen vnlesse they were so before their degrees taken in Artes. Likewise all that follow the warres proue not Souldiers nor all that proue Souldiers take not their degrees at armes neither those that take degrees all of one account or worth For as there are diuerse kinds of vertues to make vertuous so are there diuerse degrees of the vertuous according to the sorts of the vertues they haue attained The most rich and excellent vertues were principally acquired and gotten by princely deseruing men the renowne of whose glorious deeds hath rightly gotten vnto themselues iust preheminence to guide and go before the rest as hereafter I will plainly shew you In their power and Maiestie onely therefore it is to nobilitate commend vnto honor and to make Gentlemen and not in your peck of drossie ointment though made of the Quintessence of old Angels Gentlemen bred in the warres and those that come of them you see are not made for it is no proper speech to say that is made which is bred neither can art or reason helpe to make it good Dunst Without offending you with my rude answers let me aske you this mannerly question Do you meane those that are begotten and borne in a Campe to be onely Gentlemen of bloud or how otherwise I beseech you to shew me I haue heard this matter often debated but neuer fully agreed vpon Hud Because you haue alreadie heard it doubtfully handled and at no time discust it may in like sort become me to giue place to some doctor of the Ciuill law to whose profession it especially appertaineth to know the certaintie of all worthie antiquities Dun. It fits me not to importune you otherwise I should receiue a great good turne at your masterships hands thereby for my sonne takes great delight in petegrees of Gentlemen and hath some skill in quartering their coates God willing he shall one day waight vpon you to better his knowledges if it may please you to accept of his vnworthinesse Hud Bring him with you on Sonday next to dinner where you shall be sure of a Pigge for your sonne his welcome therein I meane to proue his skill how he can head and shoulder the same the iawes and eares he shall bestow vpon you after he hath quartered them The head so spoiled he
not taking vpon me to be able or worthy to iudge wherein the secret determination of the Almighty alone preuailed But now to tel you what they want and seeke for chiefly amongst vs as also to what conclusions their drifts tend know you that they hunt the authority of great persons by them to bring in a rauening monster vpon vs to worke our cōfusion by a beast of confusion if there could any such be found that would vndertake to bring in hungrie rauenours to possesse with cruelty what they blessedly enioy By the iudgemēt of God hitherto we haue seen what their vnnaturalnesse hath wrought against others and what they haue catcht for thēselues Du Belecue me til now I had little thought their religion had tēded to murther rebelliō Hud As though the deuotion of Rome had at any time other patience then to ouerthrow by all tiranny and cruelty They hold no other coūsailes to amend any thing that is amisle in religion but presently poisoning or other degrees of confusion are either purposed or executed vpon them that stand against them How open a thing is it to euery vnderstanding to beleeue that they who go about or wish to change the Queenes most excellent Maiestie from the religion she hath alwaies preferred before the safety of her life that the same men haue not concluded and determined her death according to the endeuors and abilities they were of Now I hope you see by this commission how the fellow catholiks that were are become fellow souldiers from Iesuites traitors seedmen of sedition conspiracie Their harmles desire to instruct the ignorant to bring back againe those seduced stray sheepe that had wandered forth from the fold of Rome that is also laid a sleepe and changed I remember how they dallied out the matter like Chaucers Frier at the first vnder pretence of spiced holinesse Dun. I beseech you sir expresse your conceit of that Frier Hud This holy man came sick to a chappell of ease where one of his good dames dwelt who had wont to bestow the best roome and cherishing in her house on him Shee seeing this drooping pulier thus distrest pitty ranne soone into her gentle heart offering to him at the first the choise of such things as she had in a readinesse to eate Amongst the rest a Henne was named presently to be killed for him A Henne quoth the limmeter nay good dame God defend she should be done to death for so sinfull and wicked a wretch as I am the liuer of a Henne gentle dame will suffice me for alas I am a poore wretched vnderling and no prouinciall man neither warden of my company At the first these celestiall seeds-men meant no hurt to the Queenes most excellent Maiestie nor her realme but that which was more deare vnto her to holde as I said before then her life that they would seeke to pull from her without offence Dunstable Thanks be to God for her godly resolution Happy is that bird that hath her nest so shut vp and fenced in that no destroyers can enter to spoile her and her tender louing ones What considerations or hearts carry they that desire to subiect their Soueraigne to forraine Pottentates Or how should it come to passe that the bonds of breeding should bind lesse then the corrupt promises and rewards of other nations Woe worth such wicked proselites that haue made themselues strangers and aliens from their owne countries suffering themselues to be won to other religion and obedience then that which God and their Prince commandeth subiecting themselues to two tirants that go about to crush and grinde to powder all the nations of the Christian world thinking none meet to possesse them but their owne mercilesse selues What worse or more blusterous diuels can there be then such as forsake their religion with detestation for a deadly some of money Hud Haue you forgotten how Iudas Iscariot for the couetise of money of his owne accord betraid his maister Dunst No verily Hud Then thinke that men may be drawne by means where they want true breeding and right bringing vp especially when there is so busie a counsell held abroad about the matter in the diuelish conuocation house of Bishop Caiphas at Rome whither the Scribes and Pharisies swarme daily crying Let vs murther her she is not for our purpose Besides thither resort Pilate his seruants also who at any conditions are ready to be hired to lay violent hands on the Lords annointed marked for his principall members and defenders of his infallible trueth Nothing but murther will quench their insatiable thirst as appeared by the Iacobines most irreligious sacrificing of the Christian King Henry of Fraunce last deceased the day of which horrible deed doing is hallowed and called at Rome the day of the gladnesse of their hearts where they mingle and conferre diuelish counsels with our men whom they keepe there with itching hands and tickling fingers already stirred vp to attempt violence against her whom God of his goodnesse thus farre hath made inuincible against all terrors promising still to keepe his beloued safe from the danger of all practises and conspiracies whatsoeuer Dunsta I pray you sir recite your example of Iudas which I partly remember yet vnderstand not the matter so fully as I am perswaded you are able to teach it Hud Iudas you know in title and profession was a familiar houshold seruant with the Lord but in affection of heart as appeared a wild enemie He wanted no cherishing at his Maisters hand neither at any time receiued displeasure of the Lord whereby to conceiue ill opinion or to beare grudge malice or euill will towards him yet rauening couetousnesse so gripte him at the heart that he ranne headlong through couetousnesse into traitorisme These Romish Iewes so reioyce when they can meete with a tragicall Iudas that will venture to play a desperate part to put out both his owne eyes in hope to take away a little sight from another and that against Gods eternall determination Such is their malicious hatred against God and godlinesse that they are neuer without men especially chosen to betray vnto death the sacred person of her whom all ages and times shall repent the losse of whensoeuer God in his iustice shall visite our sinnes with that vniuersall scourge and infliction Dunst Me thinkes the thought hereof in their bitterest furies should renew loue and prick the consciences of them that go about any such attempts so as they should not be able to continue in their madnesse yea the whole frame and workmanship of nature should tremble at so horrible a deed of vnnaturall crueltie Hudd Had her most excellent Maiestie carried a meaning to haue entertained displeasures sought and brought home vnto her how might she haue dilated and enlarged her kingdomes in circuit vpon iust causes and worthy conceiuings But almighty God who delighteth not in shedding of Christian bloud hath exercised her heart in harmelesse thoughts
defenceable delights and aiding powers graciouslie contented with honors and kingdoms deserued not at all disposed to any small things vsurped Thus you see whither the zeale of my heart hath carried me to matters of an other sort Had it not bene for marring my Lords sport and thereby to haue endangered your selfe a leasing long ere this you would haue hallowed me in from my counter-hunting Dunst Your words haue so drawne the consent of my heart vnto them that euen this busie haruest time I could be contented to lose a weekes worke and take it for the truest hunting I was at any grasse time in my life I thinke I shall neuer forget your Friar Ferret and his close hunting to the liuer at the first without ruffling a feather of his dames Chick Had I bin the good man I should haue coapt off the knaues priuie tithes for censuring my house with his relicks Huddle Had you the like care to your soule as she had you would beware to offend such holy men But you are one of those that had rather liue well I perceiue then to haue the Popes blessing Dunst Were I not cast into heauinesse with grieuing at my vngratious sonne I could match your old Friar with a new limmiter of later dayes but my minde is so carefully set vpon him and his vnreasonable mother together that vnlesse I be aided through your worships good counsell it will hasten my death but especially his mother her fond importunacie maketh me restlesse both night and day Hud If it be equinoctium with your wife now it will weare away as the nights and dayes grow longer or shorter But I thinke you meane the vertuous spirit within you which is said neuer to cease working in good mē Other rest it appeareth you want not for meat-health and sleepe-health you seeme to haue else could not your stomack distribute nourishmēt to such parts as shew to be fresh and well liking within you Dun. The hope of my restoring is vnder God in your worship Hud To aske me counsaile is to seeke helpe of a sick Phisition neuerthelesse such as it is it shal not be wanting to my good friend Me thought you were in minde to turne off your sonne Dun. Yea surely so I thinke it best stil Hu. Do you take it by casting him vp to all hazards by such masteries to calme his rough qualities or rather thereby shall you not raise a greater tempest of euils more like to ouerwhelme him making him thereby a cleane alien from vertue so of a prodigall child to become a gracelesse Caine Chirurgeons that meane well to their cures where the flesh is seuered by a greene wound or blow new giuen rather seeke to close vp that tenderly which is already torne thē cut the same out wider or longer to make the patient further off from help and restoring Tailors in like maner do not mend one paine by rending more but rather stitch vp that they found first broken Clouterly Tinkers onely marre where they should mend When fire is all out in your house to a little sparke you do not by and by stampe your foot or cast water vpon that which remaineth but rather seeke to repaire the same by adding such succours increasings as may renue that little There is also a certaine sparke or seed of vertue euer remaining in man in spight as they say of the deuill vnlesse reprobacie haue ouer-run all Seeke to find that in your sonne with good looking to and wise handling it may take deeper roote then at the first and so by the blessing of God bring forth both branches and fruits of vertue Dun. Your worships voutchsafing strong and friendly aides to my weake cogitations oppressed with wearisome doubts haue put me in more comfort then I feare me I shall finde cause to hope for in him Hud Let it not repent you to play the wise father gaining him by little and little your selfe If you had a hay barne or a mault-house crased or leaning too much to the one side you would not in a rage pull it downe and burne it but rather vnderprop it with studs and timber crouches till you were better able to build it vp againe Can you not with the same patience vse remedies and meanes to support your sonnes infirmities till you may frame them better to your mind Though you cannot at the first make him good do your best to abate his euils then seeke to prouide how they also may do the least hurt One while vse the authoritie of a Father another-while the commaund of a Maister at another time the loue of a friend Thus you shall haue cause to hope better of him by holding in his cheekes with the snaffle and raines in your owne hands then by sending him to seeke wilde aduentures with this short pasport Go be packing see thou hang thy self quickly Dun. Surely sir his owne conditions are like enough to be his warrant to Newgate and from thence without a pasport he shal be safe conducted to Tiburne by a sort of honest men who wil not stick to cut downe the hangman and him both for their coats For me to seeke vertues in vice his store-house it were foolish to beleeue and dangerous to follow He that hath catc◅t a libertie to liue at his owne lust little thinketh that the authoritie of a father belongeth to him By that he eateth drinketh and sleepeth at my cost so farre hereckoneth me to be his father but farther he neither esteemeth nor regardeth me Sithence his peeuish mother will not suffer my black Oxe to tread on his foote I will send him where he shall be glad to draw in the black Oxe his yoake I heare there is a presse forth for men to serue the Queene God willing I will make suite to our deputy Lieutenants that he may be one for it is the best free schoole I can finde to prompt wit into a braggard foole Hud Neighbour I am beholding vnto you for your ready speeches not borrowing you phrases abroad amongst flatterers you tell me it is foolish to beleeue and dangerous to follow my counsell it is maruell you lest out your prouerbe how euery man can rule a shrew saue he that hath her The difference betwixt you and me this while hath not held whether he were my sonne or yours nor and if I were in your case it must of necessitie follow I should be of your minde By the like mistaking you may nextly charge me to bolster out your sonne in his misdemeanours against you his Father Because we are in a Parke I will vse a hunting terme and so make away the game thus wherein your selfe shall still be iudge See therefore in few words what I go about which is to haue you consider whether it be better in time to foresee then after to sorrow without remedie My selfe am also a Father and know the effects of nature Therefore though the case be your owne see you prooue
vpon me to ride aloft betweene the authors meanings but altogether go about humbly to resound vnto the world the eccho which was beaten back vpon me from out the wood or Parke wherein these matters were talked of Againe though thorow the whole booke there are few words that go for nought yet dare I not venture to expound them accordingly as I might barely imagine them to be spoken least I should make my selfe thereby a coactor or gatherer vp of other mens meanings as if I were able to beat out the braines of their sufficiences whose experience and knowledge I must of necessitie giue place vnto That which I am able to performe I offer my selfe willingly vnto which is to lay open such doubts as may arise to such as are not readily disposed of themselues to labour or regard the true intent and meaning of the dialogers who in my conceit were altogether desirous to benefit if they could such Gentlemen as dayly seeke to murther themselues by all maner degrees of violent follies Vnlesse in time they better respect themselues neither this supplying plaister nor Maister Kellie his great Elixer will be able to restore or recouer them from out their daungerous consumptions who by disorderly gouernment make this incurable disease also hereditable to their children so that the soueraigne medicine it self can giue the no remedie vnlesse in time they slie the priuie snares which all sorts of enimies both sleeping and waking intend against them As the spider with poisoned twist vnseene beguileth the silly flies so with the deadly sting of these venimous deceiuers thorow too much outragious follie do Gentlemen fuffer their bloud and their childrens bloud to be sucked vp The first speaker within this dialogue is called an ancient retired Gentleman because of his lowlie and milde kinde of liuing not at all disposed to striue with the world in a proud busie restlesse sort the other is termed a midling or franckling The world acknowledgeth no such degree as they of that sort desire to be holden in which is to be accounted more then a yeoman and lesse then a Gentleman such ones are said to harrow hell to make their sonnes Gentlemen Wherevpon commeth this by-word Maister how call you him the sonne of goodman what shall I call him These kinde of men are instant wonderers at lewdriches which when the canckered and malicious minded wretches enioy in any plenty then straight they thinke the troth and grace of all things consists in themselues presuming that their children and themselues put on new natures by attiring them beyond their birth and degree This sort of men Palingenius tooke great displeasure at saying If riches and worldly drosse should make Gentlemen then the Butcher the franckling the Barbar the Fishmonger the Sheapheard the Tanner the Bawde the theefe the Vsurer and all of euery filthie sort whom the vnequall hand of Fortune hath exalted might cloute out their gentilitie But God and nature forbids such as proceed from those base conditions addicting their mindes wholy vnto that which can deserue no worthy laude nor praise to attaine the gift and force deuine of gentility which is onely atchieued thorough vertuousnesse Good enterprises and vertuous deeds commend vnto this degree and not the body set out with gorgeous shews so that the minde alone procureth gentilitie which is an ornament to none but to him that doth appropriate himselfe to vertue Many of meane degree haue bodies and outward shapes bred in them thorough the force of nature which for all that still retaine in minde a base conceit of vertues Neither God nor nature giues this value vnto all but deales onely bountifull herein with such as respectively incline themselues to better their conditions If gentilitie consisted in triumphing names and brags of riches what lack might not be then a Gentleman To she stouthfulnesse to haunt righteousnesse to releeue the distressed to prouide for the weake to defend the iniured by these meanes was gentilitie at the first attained All men liued in equalitie till vertue made the difference Then were not men admitted to principall and greatest offices that could gaine or oppresse most Then was not authoritie fenced in with wickednesse It must needs be a miserable common-wealth where the best officer shall become the worst author and maintainer of naughtinesse It is a wofull authoritie that defendeth wickednesse Offices were not ordained for such as could most politicklie enrich themselues but rather for those which were likeliest to performe vnto their Prince and common-wealth best seruices If nothing should be law but the decree and pleasure of them that sit in the commaunding place vvhat hope should any haue long to enioy it in that certaintie and orderly frame that gratious and wise Princes haue commaunded them Princes lawes therefore are not to be executed according to the pleasure and commaundement of their officers but rather according to the office and dutie in conscience and honesty from their prince they are charged by Gracious Princes thinke it not sufficient for themselues to be conuersant and exercised in vertues vnlesse also they hold their principall offices in the strict obseruation of their iust and expedient lawes If it be fit for the Prince himselfe to be dect with iudiciall effects outward pompe and ostentatious showes will not alone suffice to discharge inferiours duties in their offices Such as from an high place offend in their office no account or correction can be so straightly taken as the qualitie of their offence meriteth faulting against the taske imposed vpon them by their Prince for the whole common-wealths good Such in this discourse were by their principall leader or chiefe worthie clearlie disfranchised from the societie or conuersation of men The strict exercises of iustice in the magistracie caused the Romaine Empire so long and so not ably to flourish But when they fell at their owne lust to dispence with lawes shaking off moderation and abstinence then ceased their happinesse and after them followed a more vnthrifty seed which made an viter end of all prosperous yeares bidding vertue in the end vtterly adue making the noble birth of their auncestours through the staine of their villanies a reproach vnto them shaming them also to whome they should haue passed their bloud by testament of vertues As the body engendreth a body where nature is complete so doth the minde beget a perfect minde according to such perfections of vertues as were entire in the state of vertues in the antecedent noble worthy By ignorant times in this place is ment the sort state men liued in ere they were takē with the desire of knowledge before there was any search made into naturall causes and the generall vse of creatures Because there should no contention arise who that principall worthy was that mended thus the condition of men he nameth him not At no hand he will allow him that hath an eye to himselfe without respecting the good of others how riche or
swarme of perfect ill conditions that you cannot discerne who is the worst The riotor or vnsatiat body here is called a Didopper because the kinde of this birde delights in many changes of puddles and vncleane vvaters The bitternesse of these dialoguers displeasures is especiallie extended against those that by excessiue riote and wantonnesse pull downe the renowne of their ancestours decaying thereby themselues and their children greatly shaming besides to see water-bearers and such as haue done most meane and despised seruices vnto them to become better worth and more able to liue then these vngratious kinde of consumers Eneas was not called a godly and an happy man because he carried away vvith him from the destruction of Troy sixteene dissents of Grandfathers that neuer foiled the reputations of their first ancestors but rather chieflie in that through his laborious and painfull vertues he was able to restore his decaied house to former happinesse being so blest of God that before he died he saw a large propagation of his owne progenie and naturall bloud to flourish againe by his industrious labours To the Gentlewomans comparison of breeding horses I haue thought good to adde Virgils words concerning the excelencie of their first nature A horse saith he from his first foaling that is duly bred lifteth vp himselfe with such steps gate and pace as willeuer after prooue proper vnto him And at the first he is of boldnesse to venture and to passe ouer hard and vnknowne things fierce then also to go against dangers as waters hedges ditches and such like Besides to be so instant and hoate in courage that he feares no sudden or tumultuous noise as armour shot or outcries of men Shewing further by his breath eares and other parts about him such animositie that somtime with his couragious high neighing he seemes to fill the places round about him and to deuide the aire neere vnto him Afterwards with such boldnesse you shall see him insult vpon an enemie in the field vnder his rider that you would imagine through the force of his generositie he had a desire to pull the Launce or Curtelax from out the enemies hand If there be such worthy things peculiar and proper to beasts in their first natures let no man doubt but there is a more deuine and effectuall force by the secret and misticall prouision of nature properly to discend from one worthy man to another Where he saith happie vvere the children of such destroying fathers if they might be borne againe I take it he meanes their happinesse which by new fathers may be adopted to make good their first birth-right whereof they were fraudulently deceiued By that he vvould have their fathers new christened againe it is not meant by vvater of a new fountaine but rather as I take it by the mercie of God to be redeemed from that curse vvhich some children are said to haue giuen them in their cradles Where he saith there wanted vnitie betweene their parents at their conception it is not meant that they were not gotten without concirtation or the lifting vp of both their consents but rather that they were begotten against the grace of God as those are that proceed from forced mariages where wanted agreement of hearts which is called a false and an vnchristian coniunction of bodies Where the father is said to carrie his sonnes cloak-bag is meant such a man as hauing gotten a reputation amongst his neighbours to be holden and reputed honest with the credit thereof is contented to colour and excuse to his power his sonnes lewdnesses It is good for the world in time to see to the fraudulent entents of such which carrie their sonnes cloake bagges and also warely to looke to such princocks as put their fathers in their pockets at their pleasures When such yong maisters begin to gentle it strifes discentions and lawe sutes are made rife and combersome in the world Then haue Gentlemen and the well disposed of all sorts great cause to looke to themselues and to hold these Boarepigs and Beare whelpes at the staues end who for all their slickt coates and smooth tongues vnderstand not what courteous behauiour and gentle deeds meane They that thinke to carrie candels before these young deuils are in great danger to be stifled with their stinking snuffes The moderate Gentlemen that haue to do with these hoydens shal be sure to reape in churlishnesse what they sowe in curtesie By the Panacea or suppling plaister in this place is meant forewarning rules for them who know not how to guide themselues and haue made themselues weake thorough babish pucillanimitie that they might yet with an after-wit strengthen themselues with that which remaines if they haue not already made a bloudy defect and slaughtered themselues with that weapon that was left them by their worthy auncestors to defend themselues To those that haue not set themselues besides the eushion let this teach them not to admit strange maisters and commers into their fathers houses and heritages and that because Kites can be no goodkeepers of Chickens Likewise for those that haue medled too farre already vnlesse there be but one way with them and that they be past remedie to be redeemed let I say this caueat perswade them that it is surer standing vpon flesh legges then vpon woodden stiltes and that it is surer holding with both the hands then with one Let them further beware that their liuings prouided by their friends prooue not Tantalus his orchards by which is signified that there are good things comming towards men if for want of grace they do not preuent it themselues The whole intent of these two carefull fathers speeches within this dialogue hath bene to teach all sorts of men especially Gentlemen to beware of selfe-vvill and selfe loue prescribing remedies withall how to keepe men from aspiring and coueting greater things then their likelyhoods can performe shewing also in especiall how inward vertues are the meanes to aduaunce and set men vp in approoued degrees of worthinesse and not base riches iestures apparell nor hypocriticall policie vvhich of all the rest staines them most vvho in place of iustice with greedinesse practise nothing else By loue-tales and other ordinarie matters within this booke is ment no more but this to shew into how manifold dangerous precipitations by playing rex with thēselues Gentlemen in this age are fallen into As by too gaudie and too gorgeous apparell then vvith voluptous and excesse diet then besides with too outragious and vvanton luxurie vvhereby they vnnaturally destroy first their bodies then vngratiouslie loose their soules and last of all mercileslie and too too vnkindly deface the name and fame of themselues their ancestors and whole posteritie Now to conclude I craue pardon at this time in that I haue not taken the paines to deuide or distribute into seuerall parts this diuerse discourse neither so much as vvith marginall notes lead the authors meaning in some words The principall cause vvhy I haue omitted so to do is because I had no purpose from the beginning to vvrong the speakers meanings Therefore looke vvhat errors I haue added of my selfe I haue thought good to let them take their owne places by themselues hoping such as come gentlie minded to the reading hereof vvill allow me some libertie and pardon for a vvhile till vvith better leisure I may be able more fitly to satisfie them FINIS Imprinted at London by Richard Field 1594.
great so euer he be in the world to be a constant man firme in vertues but only a proud puffin of the world or a Pippin of S. Ioanes wood By hypocrites in this place are ment such as humble themselues beyond cause towards some on purpose to lift themselues vp beyond reason against other some Such are said to imitate the outward habite and shape of vertues but neuer to put on the inward abilitie of well doing Such hipocrites in their slattering promises resemble the deuil who offered our sauiour Christ all the kingdomes of the world to the intent to take from him if he would haue bene tempted by him the incomparable riches he was already possessed of The seditious Iesuites are here called poisoned Serpents and hooded Friars because they haue put on the hoods of Rome and Spaine which are murther and rebellion sent hither by the Pope and the King of Spaine who are called greater Serperts then themselues Friars haue alwaies bin cariers and recariers of the trash of Rome so as these lesuits are now By calling his dames house a chappell of ease is meant his sextrie or vestry wherin he was wont to bestow his holy relicks called by the frankling the Friars demisaries and by the Apothecaries Testiculum canis By fortunes wanton is meant such a one whose lust goeth ouer all things without being satisfied such a one as is euer sick of the surfet of plentie Fortitude is called a valiant vertue because the couragious hart thrusteth out the bloud from the shroud of the fearfull breast to succour and strengthen the vaines and outward parts of the body which are in a more readinesse to execute valorous things By the hockie dame is meant Vacana the goddesse of haruest to whom husbandmē giue thanks pray for rest and quietnesse after their great and sore labours Digestion is called a constant and a substantiall-humor medled in the body by opposite cōmixtions the better part wherof in the end by outward inward heat is aduanced to bloud in the body wherby life is fed and maintained Ingratitude especially towards parents the enemie to all graces Voluptuous pleasures gnaw in sunder the sinowes of Fortitude By the equinoxium is here ment a similitude betweene a restlesse woman and the Asse which is said in that season especially to bray twelue times in the day and twelue times in the night By the Phisition his foure times comming is meant thus much First he comes to heare his patients confession how he disordered himselfe at the diseases entrance whereby to finde the nature therof and state of the sick mans body the second time to minister Phisicke according to the diseased his griefe the third time to launch into his disease by austerenesse of phisick to open the windowes betweene life and death the fourth time if he chaunce to come it is to pronounce sentence of death By the diuers constructions of his disease amongst his men there is meant to be showed the properties of the ignorant for they euer take vpon them still diuerslie and for the most part euery one contrary to another in opinion Because he hated to do well he was therfore said to be in a frenzie and to refuse the light Drowsie and voluptuous persons are also said to be in a lethargie or deadly sicknesse and so to stand in need of the aire and the light thereof He was said to haue a deadpalsey all ouer his body because it is a disease of the sinewes weakning the strength and most effectuall parts of operation in a mans body wholy and at once surprising life and nature so that death cannot be resisted in such a one Caonia is a part of Epirus a region in Greece wherein is a wood called Dodoni haunted with a multitude of Stockdoues wherevpon this prouer became Caoniae columbae craftie Pigeons of Caonia because the yeare before the great preparation of ships which the Greekes made these birdes fore seeing the downfall of the wood fled into another country This craftie Franck ling likewise dwelling by a harmlesse Gentleman from whom without doing any desart he was sure to receiue benefit was content to giue him check mate But when one was comming to possesse the foresaid Gentlemans seate which was like more straightly to looke into this churle his vnworthinesse him he calleth a Hawke whose comming he may not abide to here tell off Of all birdes this Doue is said to be most priuie to the nature of a hawke and to liue in most contempt of hawkes Couetous men in this place are called the diuels Faulkners because it is the propertie of them when they are seazed of their pray and gotten into their tallents more then they can well gripe or need to gorge themselues vpon yet in that while if there come any other pray by which is like to be within their maisterie and command they force thēselues at that also which sheweth their cormorant desire to be snatching Besides from the height of their stand they are able to make many slights and such as by their swift and fast flying are neither seene nor heard till they be seized of that they pursue The Pheasant here his bloud is praised because it is medicinable and effectuall to many good purposes By the Stockdoues breasting to driue the Pheasant from her stand or pearke I take it is meant lack Straw Wat Tiler and the rest of his fellow rebels in Richard the seconds dayes who by their rustick and rude billing at the Pheasant would haue put back the best blouded birde within this wood from his high pearch had they not bene preuented by the vertuous endeuour of such an excellent worthy as for his vertuous act at that time shewed hath enriched many others since to a degree of worthinesse and that for his vertues sake Dione is the mother of Venus to whom chits and bawds are said to pray vnto to ripen their young plants and to make them slack pliant and ready for their haruest and that their young heiffors may grow to vse for the yoake and the paile sooner if it were possible then nature requireth The other starre here meant is called Luciferum Venus her owne starre to whom bawdes are wont to complaine when they were deceiued or robbed of any of their sequestred weanlings desiring by her light that they may be restored to the knowledge vvhere they are beseeching also hir aide to be reuenged of those wrongs in as much as she hath takē them into her protection to whom they are sworne by othe neuer to forsake that profession By an Eunuke here is meant an officer to keepe good rule in Gentlewomens chambers or else such a one altogether which the bawde hath in charge to keepe Cupids tender sacrifices inuiolated The Bawds house is called a Hiue in respect that as in a Hiue all Bees are so like one another that they cannot be discerned so within this hiue of good fellowship there is to be found such a