Selected quad for the lemma: cause_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
cause_n	bring_v	good_a	tree_n	1,517	5	8.6085	4	false

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A08566	The fiue bookes of the famous, learned, and eloquent man, Hieronimus Osorius, contayninge a discourse of ciuill, and Christian nobilitie A worke no lesse pleasaunt then profitable for all, but especiallye the noble gentlemen of England, to vievv their liues, their estates, and conditions in. Translated out of Latine into Englishe by VVilliam Blandie late of the Vniuersitie of Oxeford, and novv fellovv of the middle Temple in London.; De nobilitate civili et christiana. English	Osório, Jerónimo, 1506-1580.; Blandie, William.	1576 (1576)	STC 18886; ESTC S113632	145,792	234

cracke their credite more and more and being throwen headlonge downe at length are extinguished vtterly which Glaucus by the mouth of Homer noteth vnto vs in this maner O stoutest of the Grecian campe why searchest our degree Since that ech mortal race most like is to the leaues in spring Some smallest breath blast of wīds thē skattreth frō the tree Some eke amid the groues do grow when trees their branches bring So chaunce doth nowe mens state aduaunce nowe downe doth headlong fling I pray you doth there at this present appeare in any place any small token of the progeny of olde and auncient families all those which haue descended from Fabius Iulius Paulus Metellus Scipio are together with the glorye and pompe of the Romaines so vanished and as it were buried in the pit of obliuion that if any man which now liueth will affirme himselfe to be of their race or ioyned to them in birthe and consanguinitie is a like skoffed at as if he did defend the dreame and peuishe phantasie of Pythagoras After those noble and worthy wightes whom I haue already spoken of were extinguished succeded many other of like fame and estimation who also through trace of time continuance of many yeres were vtterly forgotten againe other after their time were aduaunced to honour of whō no writer reporteth Which thing happeneth for two causes especially The firste and chiefeste cause is the britle fraile condition of nature throughe the mutabilitie whereof it cōmeth to passe that the estate of worldly thinges may in no wyse be perpetuall and euerlasting but all thinges as I haue before declared are ful of chaūges and alterations In so muche that they either before they come to perfection are cut of through the malice and frowardnes of Fortune either throughe olde age withered wasted brought to nothing The second cause maye be imputed to impietie it selfe and abundaunce of vices which vtterly extinguisheth the cleare shyning brightnes of aūcient families before the course of nature doth so require As exp●rience teacheth in those who by ouermuch winebibbinges impayre their bodies health and through superfluitie immoderatenes of belly cheere as it were with a deadlye poison procure their owne bane vtter destruction Wherfore it is requisite and necessary to search out diligently the qualities and vertues whereby wee attayne nobilitie so will the vices whereby it is lost and bereued of his wonted grace and accustomed brightnes eftsones appeare But here I may something doubte least that this my discourse may seeme to deserue iust reprehension because it may at the first shew appere contrary to it selfe wheras in our first entrie this assertion we mainteyned that no man was to be accompted honourable excepte hee did first descend from some noble line and family Which if it be true neither he which is borne of low degree and base parentage may by any meanes be honourable neither he who descendeth from noble race maye throughe his owne industry attaine renowne glory but defende onely and maintayne carefully the Nobilitie gotten and purchased by the manhode and puissaunce of his auncestours These are the scruples and doubtes wherewith some maye bee ledde to argue mee of lightnes and inconstancie But I in good sooth am not he which do beleue those onely which are comonly called Gentlemen to be by naturall inclination apte to vertue and valiauntnes whereas the pathwaye to prowesse and vertue is open to all them that do desire thinges in their nature most excellent and commendable Notwithstāding to that ende tended the drifte of all my disputation that the gentle and noble bloude is more then the other by nature enclyned to dignitie commendable actes the worthines whereof notwithstandinge is surely grounded on vertue For like as we attribute to the seede and carnell in the ground the cause and generation of the Tree so we deeme the worthy and noble parent through generation to poure on his posteritie some part of true Nobilitye which then appeareth most liuely and florishing when it is throughe good studies and exercises brought to perfection And where we would haue nobilitie to bee highlye esteemed and honoured because it doth commonly excell in vertue truly oure meaninge is that Vertue which is worker and causer of so noble a qualitie doth deserue greate honour and estimation which manye times wee see of noble men let passe and forsaken and of such exceedinglye embraced who are not commended vnto vs for their noble progenie For no doubte it is not founde true in all that the loftie and hautie minde which is seene in Nobility doth eftsones stirre them vppe to the loue of Vertue neither would we haue established that opinion but that we chiefely meant that was founde moste vsuall and generall Notwithstandinge Vertue from Nobility fraighte and beautifyed with vertue differeth in this one pointe that the prayse and commendation of vertue belongeth to euery priuate singuler person but noblenes is found more ample and large and concerneth the honour and magnificence of a whole stocke and familie Therefore there maye happelye aryse some late and new made gentleman endued with al kinde of vertue who also through his worthines maye beare such a countenaunce that amonge all men hee may onely excell yet notwithstanding because he is the first of that linage may not be reckoned amonge noble men But after that many of the same family shall bee founde by his ensample to be inflamed with the loue of honour and glorie then at the length that exceeding brightnes of true and perfecte Noblenes shal shine and glister most gloriously Therefore at the first hee is called a man endued with much gentlenes and curtesie in no wyse a noble man That that maye be the difference which the Grecians make betweene one that is a noble Gentleman and a gentleman For the latter hath relation to the worthines of the minde and the other signifyeth the honour and dignitie of the race and familie Therfore as one we terme not a number but the beginning of a number so that first man we suppose and iudge worthy of chiefest honour but yet no noble man but rather an authour beginner of Nobilitie vnto his race and ofspringe Which name and title I my selfe know not whither I may esteeme farre and in many degrees to exceede and passe the other Wherefore that is moste cleare and manifeste that neither that is false which wee before put downe in wryting and this also which we now take in hande to explicate and set forth doth beare wyth it credite of vndoubted trothe For that famous man who through the excellencie of his nature applyed himself first to the studie of renowne and glorie albeit commonly he be not termed noble when notwithstandinge hee hath attained great fame and commendation and hath left to his progenye the tokens and ensignes of vertue doth seeme to haue layd a notable foundation of Nobilitie and with his vertuous actes to haue geuen a

require The Stere the Stede most times vvee see mutch like vnto his sire THerefore whereas the force of nature is such that the inclination thereof so mutche preuayeleth that it is seene in brutishe thinges and creatures mere voyde of reason and vnderstandinge maye not wee thincke it hath imprinted in man some thinge of greater excellencye who is made by God his prouision reasonable and lorde of al other Creatures I pray you is it not for great good cause that many are car●ful haue an especial regard frō what Tree they plucke their plante of what kynde they choose their whelpe or their horse And shall wee thincke it a thinge little to bee considered of what Parentage a man taketh his ofspringe In good sooth if wée woulde obstinately deny it the thinge it selfe would eftsones appeare and conuince vs of errour For it is most cleare and euidēt that euery Region and Country doth keepe the same accustomed maner facion A note whereof may hereby bee gathered that nature hath so fastened her foote in euerye Nation that it is not possible to withdrawe them from the whereunto they ar● 〈◊〉 and that the māners of men are conueighed euen to posterity For example wée sée the Frenchmen with what fury and rage they runne vppon their enemies againe how quickely they are qualified founde most curteous to their countreymen This therefore is ●he nature property of that nation hasty to be reuenged easy to be entreated The Germanes haue bene euermore accompted a moste cruell and a fearce people who nothing dismayed die desperatly The Spaniards at this present as heretofore are noted aboue other Natiōs to excel for their diligence industrie in martiall affairs whoe euermore wyth a iollye stomacke and good courage wageth battayle The Italians are preferred before all other in finenes of wit purenes of eloquēce So that there is no coūtry which is not through the inclination and instinct of nature more apt to excell in vertue or more prone to al impiety with is through generatiō in al places cōtinued A more euident clere profe wherof may be gathered out of some one stocke familye For this almost euerye where is seene and experienced that those whiche are descended of a noble lyne doe embrace those vertues which chieflye brought to theyr auncestores greate renowne and glory So that as manye as are of that linage are moste commendable for their valiant stomache other are notable for their liberalitye some other atchiue to great glory for their knowledge wysedome and pollicie Wherevpō it foloweth that vertue is not obteined so much by studye and industrye as gotten by nature and by the good bloud of Noble parētage And that we cal true Nobility for as mutche as it is nothinge els then the glorious sparcke of vertue ingraffed in some Noble and renomned familye IT hath bene sufficientlye declared that th● 〈…〉 true Nobilitye co●●●ceth not in the opinion of manne but commeth by naturall descence Which is to be vnderstoode in this maner euen as good groundes fruitefull fyeldes are hadde in gerat estimation not for that they are fyeldes but that they bring through their fertilitye great gayne commoditye to the owner of the soyle euen so we preferre that kinred especially which yeldeth aboūdante fruite of vertue and godlines But who so now listeth to behold the perfect nature of true Nobility may looke theron with litle laboure For gentility is a most glorious and liuely image of auncent progenie most commonlye garnished wyth excellente vertues and for asmuch as euerye one which excelleth in all vertue add honestye cannot attayne the title of honoure and Nobilitye this large definition is to bee restrayned by limitation for neyther may they which the rather to attayn knowledge and wysedom haue abandoned all company and liue in continuall studye be thought most worthye honourable although they be fornished wyth rare and singular vertues and for profoūd knowledge in deepeste matters be had in admiration for that they do not earnestly employ the benefit of their artes and sciences to the auaile and commoditye of the common-wealth Neither yet any Noble family hath bene able at any tyme to winne vnto it self the tytle of honour soueranty for that many of that Noble line excellinge in qualities of witte to a voyde a Courtiers life haue addicted them selues to the dimensions of Geometry or the rules of Phisicke or the recordes and sweete Harmony of Musicke If this be true what kinde of vertue is that through the cleare shininge whereof the Noblenes of any Kinred the Dignity and Honour of any family may be knowen Forsoth euen that kinde of vertue which extendeth it selfe to the common profit of al men which a voydinge idlenes is altogether occupied about the maintenaunce and preseruation of a Commonwealth as for example puissance and valiantnes in warlike affaires in time of peace the execution of Iustice and Equity add to these the study of Oratorie the knowledge of the Ciuil lawes and whatsoeuer is of force apperteineth to the gouernmēt of a Cōmonwealth Nobility therefore is an highe and honourable degrée of aūcient progeny frō whence hath issued owt such vertues as the Estate of the hole country hath bene by them established and the safegard of all men kept and maynteined Of this honourable order there are two kindes The one is generall apperteininge to a whole Citty the other speciall and concerneth any priuate family In this maner wee accounte Athens to bee honourable for that in that famous commonwealth were bredde manye wise sages and valiaunt captaynes which throughe their coūsell and wisedome did rule and preserue the weale publique by whose puissance the enemy was repelled by whose vnconquerable prowes vertue their dominions were enlarged by whom the country was with īnumerable benefites endowed In this manner Sparta is honourably reported of by this onely meanes wanne Carthage so great reno●me and for this cause Roome the noblest Citty that euer was merueilouslie tryumphed The selfe same rule is obserued in euery priuate familye For that house excedeth other in honour and nobility from whence hath issued and descended a greater company of renoumed personages Wherby it foloweth that the force of vertue is found as excedinge in the one as in the other onely this is the difference the one is priuate the other is publique To exemplefie thys second poincte we haue reade of the Noble house of the Fabians of the Claudians of the Scipioes and Cornelians all which haue beene honoured in all posterity for their prowes and magnanimity So oughte we notwithstandinge weigh both these partes before seuered that he is in no wise to be deemed noble and honouble and honourable which wanteth eyther of them the perfet is It may not be therefore that in a blinde and obscure Citty there should be a family of any fame for were it not a thinge incredible that such a commonwealth should be obscure as

cōfirmed his mind with praiers powred out to God with an earnest and Zealous affection Which his godlines and deuotion a singuler good effecte followed For as sone as the banners beinge displaied he came hand to hande to bicker with his enemies sodainely there arose most vehement and mightye whirlewindes which ouerthrewe his enemies host and rebounded with great force their dartes slonge at Theodosius his host vpon their owne heades This noble victorye Claudian recordeth for in this maner hee writeth vnto Theodosius O too too deare to mighty God to whom from caues belowe In armour clad colde winter stormes Don Aeole out doth throwe Whom souldiarlike the welkin serues to whom at trōpets soūd The Windes obeye as thoughe conspird their enmies to cōfound Agayne what may be spoken of Carolus Martellus is it to be thought he coulde beinge at the firste a man of small power and ability haue raised himselfe to so greate honour and glory without the aide assistance of Christe himselfe present Especially sith he hath done those valiaunt actes that by mans power could by no meanes possible be atchiued It may seeme peraduēture vnto many in credible that is written three hundred seuenty thowsande Arabians were in one skirmishe slaine through the onely valiaunt dealinge and happy gouernmēt of the said Marcellus and in that time whē that nation was most stronge and puissaunt and had subdued and spoyled all Spaine Affrica But vnto me truly nothinge seemes lesse to be wondered at For there is nothinge so hard to ouercome or so well fortified and defended which a most noble minde inflamed with the loue of God may not vtterly ouerthrowe and beat downe to the grounde Charles the greate bourninge with the like zeale made moste sharpe and vehement warres againste the enemies of them that professed the name of Christe and for the wealthe of Chrystyans neuer refused anye daunger what soeuer Therefore his greate vertues by the which as by certaine staires he climebed vp to heauen are cōmended to immortall memory by all manner of worthye Monumentes Longe after him many other Princes Italians and French beinge inflamed with the like feruent zeale of religion Godfreye beinge their captaine generall a man mutch renoumed aswell for his singular stoutnes of courage as for his rare exceedinge sanctimony banishinge the Turkes and Saracens recouered Syria Cylicia all that parte of Asia and in the ende with mayne force and with a stronge army wonne Hierusalem for deliuerance whereof they relinquished all those thinges which in mans life are deare and pleasunt and tooke vppon them vnmeasurable toyle and laboure In whom I knowe not whether I shoulde more admire their princely puissaunce or their vnspeakeable vertue and godlines For their valiantnes was so great that they subdued the Barbarians driuinge them out of the borders of Syria whych were so stronge and many in number that they had in theyr mindes purposed to extinguishe and raze out of the memory of man the very name of a Christian Their exceedinge great vertue and godlines dyd appeare in this that beinge neither vrged by necessity nor prouoked by iniury they made warre vpon all the enemies of them that were called by the name of Christians to the intent they might reuerence and render due honour vnto such monumentes as Christe had left behinde him and to the footesteppes of Christe imprinted there in the grounde for the more liuely remembrance of the benefit of Christe bestowed vppon vs and also to take awaye and blot oute vtterly that olde infamy and reproche wherewith Christian people were somewhat stayned before as concerninge the moste holy place of his sepulchre which had bene spitefully abused by the Barbarians VVHat shoulde I intreate of the worthye and noble actes of the Spaniardes with most stoute and couragious stomaches and rare and singular godlines done and accomplished Which were of such sorte that no wyse man can otherwise surmise but that they coulde not possibly be contriued without the present healpe and assistaunce of Christe for whose loue the whole nation of the Spaniardes did cherefully aduenture and hazarde their liues For when as the powre and strength of all Arabie and Afrike together makinge a rode and rushinge into Europe had subdued the Spaniardes by sworde and murdered most cruelly an infinite numbre of men a very fewe persons in numbre of them that were left a liue after that great ruin and wracke gatheringe themselues together did so valiauntly withstand and kepe backe the force of their enemies that they deliuered a great parte of Spaine and set them againe at libertye Their successours also not longe after followed the ensample of those their auncestours in such sorte that beinge but a fewe in numbre at that time when as Africa did vse very ofte to sende in greate strength of men to succoure and ayde the Saracens then dwellinge in Spaine they did not onely withstande the forcible inuasion of so huge a multitude and valiauntlye abide their violent force but also at length they droue all the Barbarians cleane out of Spaine The which noble and valiaunt acte your graces graundfather Ferdinande the Kinge Lewis most noble Prince was wonderfully commended and praysed of all men as a man of stomach vnconquerable and excellent man for all qualities euerye waye singularly to be honoured But if a man shoulde aske the question howe it came to passe that the selfe same people which had brought vnder their subiection Spaine then florishinge and in good estate was afterward by the remainder of Spaine expulsed and put to flight he shall finde no other cause thereof but an earnest zeale to set forth the religion of Christe which afore truely was almost extinguished but after that generall scourge and calamity wherewith those our countries were afflicted was wonderfully stirred vppe and renued They therefore set on and vrged forwarde with that wonderfull feruent loue of vertue and godlines when they aduentured to do all maner of worthy actes in defence of Christes holy name those thinges they accomplished deseruing euerlastinge memorye It would be an endlesse laboure for mee to rehearse in howe manye places they haue put to flight and vanquished a meruaylous number of their enemies with a small bande of men howe often by most euident signes they haue perceiued that healpes and supplyes came downe from Heauen vnto theym whych was playnely to bee seene in Alphonsus the first kinge of Portugale and the chyefest of youre name and kinred For that man indued wyth ryghte excellente vertues and sutch pyetye as exceedeth common creditte hauinge consumed his whole age in moste holye warres taken in hand for the honoure and dignity of true religion and seeyng on a certayne day himselfe with a very smal bande of men ready to encounter with a huge and mighty host he he held in the element the image of Christ being rounde about it enlightened wyth a shyning brightnes wyth which sight hee was so encouraged animated that he ouerthrew and