cheekes which seemed before like roses or shining Carbuncles conteyned nothing at all of their former and naturall beawty Like act did many wise well learned Damosels and holy virgines of the Primitiue church of whom especiall memory is made among Christians at this day What say ye of our Courtezans whom God by his especiall grace hauing not giuen the gift to bee the fairest of all other howe daily they cease not to inuent newe and strange manners of paintinges to counterfeit and disguise their age and first naturall shape with false haires Spanish white Pomâ—des Targon distilled waters braied drugs Oyles Powders and others follies too long to be recounted Oftentimes they shaue or burne their artificiall haire and then againe rub slick chafe and washe themselues only to seeme faire yet notwithstanding looke on them at night or in the morning and ye shall finde them more deformed than before but what ensueth soone after vppon this goodly industry Sinne Death and the anger of God Now then desire this feigned faire beawty whoe will and such as best thinke themselues worthy of it for I hold most firmely that it is better to hate flie it then to wish or affect it seeing nothing procedeth thereof but pride ouer-weening and vaine-glorie as also the moste mishapen horned creatures of the world Neuer was I of any other minde since the time I had power of reason to discerne and knowe truth from falshood but that deformed people deserued more praise then the beawtifull nor is it without cause or disagreeing with best sense considering such as are hard fauoured are commonly chast humble ingenious holy and haue euer some sweete appearance of most commendable grace But for them that boast of beautie I leaue to you the consideration of their behauiour which is often times so counterfeit as nothing can be saide to agree lesse with nature You shall see them of lofty countenance inconstant demeanour wandring lookes bold pace and like language nowe iudge at your pleasure what ye conceiue of them Conclude then will I that it is much better to be fowle than faire let no aduersary party intrude himselfe to replie against my speeches for I am both stoutlie determined and sufficientlie furnished to make him answer Had I no more but the testimony of Theophrastus who hath left vs in writing that bodily beawtye is nothing else but secret deceit And he that will not heere with content himselfe to him let me produce the aduise of Theocritus that beawty is an vnknown detriment Shall we then be so vnwise and sottish that euen at the first sight wee will pursue our owne euils and misfortunes more easilie embracing most perillous and damageable beawtie then deformitie ten times more auailing and profitable Would God that foolish minde might not abide in any one but rather that we all would hate what is so vnfit for vs from which commeth no goodnes or felicitie For the ignorant Declamation 3. That ignorance is better than knowledge THe more I thinke heereon the more I resolue and rest in this opinion that it is better to haue no knowledge in letters then to be expert or skilfull therein considering that such as haue consumed the more part of their age in the study of sciences haue in the ende repented themselues thereof and haue oftentimes found very euill successe thereby Valerius the great writing of Cicero who by good right deserued to be called not only the father of eloquence but euen the fountaine of all excellent lerning saith that in his latter years he conceiued such an hatred against letters as if they had beene the cause of his so many greefes and trauailes The Emperour Licinius Valentinianus Heraclides Licianus and Philonides of Malta haue openlie tearmed the skill in letters sometime to be a publique plague sometime a common poison to men And I haue found written in many good Authors that hee which couets knowledge couets vexation that from great experience ensueth oftentimes the greatest daunger Likewise it is certaine that all heresies as well ancient as moderne came from men of knowledge coÌ„trariwise that in people esteemed idiots or men of little knowledge haue beene vsuallye noted expresse signes of vertuous workes and good examples I highly commend the order among the Lucanes that no one professing capacity of letters or esteemed learned may obtaine any office or sit as a Magistrate in their parlement for they stande in feare least these lettered men by their great knowledge which makes them presume so much on their persons should trouble the good order and tranquillity of their common wealth Nor may this be reckoned but to very good purpose if we would well consider their insolencie who vnder shaddow of probation in a colledge would haue euery one stand bounden or be holding to them and thinke vnder colour of their faire allegations with interpretations God wots crooked enough sometime to ouerthrow the best naturall sence in the worlde and they of dutie ought to be aboue all onely heard and listened to Some of them there be that like to Mydas confound in their obstinate opinions and stiffe-necked conceits all things whatsoeuer they take in hand I cannot imagine to what ende are auaileable these men so highly learned who in honor of their followers are called fine polished curious and ingenious wits For if they might serue to gouerne any publique cause how many nations are seene without the knowledge of lawes imperiall or of Stoical or Peripatetical philosophy so to gouerne entertaine themselues that they out-goe al auncient CoÌ„mon weales To thinke that they may serue for the art military I dare boldly witnesse thus much vnto ye that I haue knowne more then one or two Gentlemen and captains wel lettered who by the helpe of their books haue laboured and busied themselues to point out a field leuy an armie put men in arraie and furnishe their squadrons which practise neuer returned them any honor For in truth in matter of warre we daily behold to happen incident nouelties and vnaccustomed stratagems which neuer before were registred or put in vse by the very skilfullest writers in times past Howe can wee then with reason affirme the bookes of Frontinus or Vegetius to be profitable for the art of warre In my conceit the good iudgment of a Captaine ioyned with his long vse and experience in these matters is sufficient enough for him without troubling him to turne ouer bookes of the Art militarie That these lettered people are meet to guide a house or gouerne a houshold which the Philosophers called Oeconomia howe can I agree thereto when at this day is to be noted both heere and elsewhere how many good and honest mothers of families who neuer in their liues studied in any Vniuersitie yet both haue and doe well order their houses guide their houshold yea aboue one or two hundred women for example whoe no displeasure to Aristotle or Xenophon may learnedly reade them
at his death desired to be better stored O chaste and humble pouertie wheron as on a most firme rocke was builded of olde the Churche of God Pouertie architectrix of great citties towns inuentresse of all Artes and faire sciences alone without any fault or reproch Triumphant in very great excellence and worthy of all honour and commendation By thee was the Philosopher Plato esteemed so deuine Socrates so wise and good Homer so eloquent By thy meanes was erected the Empire of the great Romaine people and to be briefe how much for other things thou art to be loued singularlie yet for this one respect art thou highlie to be praised because apparantlie thou makest knowne who among friends are the feigned and counterfeit Wherfore I say that such as forsake and reiect thee ought to be shunned as a sauage beast chased from euery one considering that in refusing thee he repulseth the mistresse of all goods excellence of the spirit of man That this is true howe many persons haue beene seene by the meanes of honest want to be brought to all modesty humility chastitie prouidence and lastlie to ioy in that which false phylosophy by long time and continuall studie could hardly at any time bring to memorie If mine oath might vrge ye to beleefe I durst affirme before ye that I haue seen some in their worldly felicities more furious than euer was Orestes more proud then Athamantis more voluptuous libidinous then Verres or Clodius who soone after by some inconueniences being brought to pouerty became in one instant chast courteous and so debonaire as not so much as the very shadow of their bodies but appeered to be affable and gratious And neuer did so much the gainesaiers of this vertue no not in the honesties of morall philosophy for it is a thing very certaine that shee could neuer performe like worthy deedes as our good pouertie hath doone I beseech ye consider what a mistresse in her house she hath alwaies beene to forbid that where she soiourneth sloth prodigalitie gouttinesse luxurie with such like mishapen and detestable matrones should haue any harbour Whersoeuer she sheweth her selfe it behoueth pride to bee gone with all diligence neuer must enuy haue any place there such trumperies and abuses she scattereth from her abroades But may it please ye to vnderstand Gentlemen whereon they so much affected to riches and couetousnesse of money doe ground themselues which in all seasons hath beene held for the greatest ruine and destruction of men They say that such is the inclination of our spirit I would demand of them what societie haue the spirits of men being of their owne nature diuine and celestial with earthly superfluities because nothing else is gold or siluer then the very excrement of the earth where finde they that any one of them who were highly wise would euer place riches in the number of those thinges that truely ought to bee called goods Vnhappy thornes which brings ye such greefe in the gathering which with so many warme teares and ouer-bitter sighs ye leaue lost and dissipated and with such paines and anguishes ye cause to be guarded and tended Seneca an author of great reputation saide That the man is greatly to be commended whoe prizeth earthen vessels as much as if they were of siluer but much more praise deserueth he that esteemeth vesselles of golde or siluer no more then if they were of earth So in truth if we consider well the condition of these so highly beloued riches we shall find them naturally to be such as in dispending or employing them they cause nothing else but trouble and torment And thinking to keepe them safe and sure vnder key neuer the more easie benefite is receiued thereby but oppressions of such care as we cannot but repute our selues simple subiects and seruants to them For this it is that our God of infinite wisdom and bountie calleth the poore most blessed who euer gaue so much fauor to pouertie as he in imitation of whom many I thinke by him inspired haue buried their goods fearing least themselues shoulde be buried in them And brieflye to discouer the pleasure of these riches If we desire them to haue a sumptuous stable of horses double and single Courtals ambling and trotting Geldings Iennets Hungarian Barbarian Turkish and other horsses of excellence let vs consider that the horsse by nature is a fantasticall beaste night and day eating the goods of his maister yet for all that neuer satisfied a lofty and a couragious beast bread and nourished vppe for warre to whom somtimes their needes but a wispe of strawe to affright him with a shadow which endagers the ouerthrow of his maister A beast that oft times will not obey the bridle or the spurre and without the meanes of well ordering and managing will fall into a thousand bogges or quag-mires How many daungerous alarmes and spoile of Countries caused by the vnhappie incursions of the Gotthique Vandalian Hunnes Danish horses haue the noble kingdoms of France Italie and Spaine receiued whoe but for this helpe had neuer beene enterprized vppon by those barbarous Nations What damage yeerely doe the poste horses not only to riders for offices and benefices but likewise to Princes and Lords who somtime for their pleasure desire to winne ground in hast I neuer looke on them that so boldly place their affection in horses and who without any reasonable cause so affect and keepe them but I say to my selfe betweene him that loueth and the thing beloued it behoueth there should be some similitude and resemblance otherwise such an appetite should neuer bee ingendred nor could these two so well agree togyther Seeing then that rich men are so immesureably affected to their horsses as they can thinke on no other pastimes in the world but to send to buy them at Naples in Turkie in Almaigne and Spaine it must needes be esteemed that they holde some disposition agreeing with the horsses participating with some strange and brutishe nature And not to be silent in other discommodities which horsses bringeth as well in the field as the Citty first of all if they trot they will breake their reynes and if they amble they are ready to stumble and fall hazarding thy ouerthrow or perishing some member of thy body Beside this as saith the great Alfirtocus and many good Authors of Escuyrie the horsse is subiect to more diseases then a man So let me leaue ye to bethinke on such other greefes and vexations which horsses daily bring vnto ye If we see into the pleasure of the rich concerning the beawtie of their Cabinets garnished amonge other iewels with pointed diamonds Rubies Topazses Emeraldes or other beautifull stones wee may at this day perceiue by proofe that the price and valew of pretious stones consisteth only in the affection of very wealthy persons or in the smooth language of the abusers that sell them the reputation and esteem of them being subiect to
the incertitude and variety of opinions That it is so the Agath which now is of so slender prize was of olde had in great reputation with Pyrrhus who kept one as most deere and pretious The Saphire because it resembled the faire colour of Heauen was wont to bee in very high account nowe it is of little esteeme and helde as a slender iewell The Diamond was neuer by our elders greatly prized now ye see howe it is reckoned and valued The Topaze was in good credit with Ladies but now at this present for what occasion I know not it is reputed the simplest iewell one can weare And who knowes not in what dignitie the Emerald should be Now ye see how it lies complaining on Fortune Thou wilt tell me that it were good for one to be rich that he may bee decked in faire and sumptuous garments finely cut and framed after diuers fashions Thou art very sottish and simple if thou perceiuest not that such braueries bring thee perpetuall sollytude and molestation for hauing gotten garmentes of these sorts thou must so often rubbe wipe brush fold vnfolde alter amend ayre and such like quallitie else beside to keepe them from spots moaths wherein thou maiest apparantly note and expresse deepe vanity that thou wilt couer thy body which is made of nothing but dirt and slime with purple silke gold and other curiosities Some good drinker would desire money to see his sellers full of the best and most delicate wines as of Balme Arbois wine of Orleance Rosetta Muscadels Bastardes Malmesies Corsa Greeke wine Vernacula Romania and others which are not heer to be nominated These were good for thee were it not that thou forgettest the discommodities which drinke bringeth and to be drunke For wine according as Plato holdeth was in manner sent down here beneath by the Gods to inflict punishments vppon men and to take vengeance on their offenses making them after they be become drunke to kill murther one another For this cause Androcides aduertised Alexander that wine was the bloud of the earth and he ought to guard himselfe well in the vse thereof This counsell beeing not well obserued by that great Emperour in his intemperance he slewe his most deere Clitus burned the Citty of Persepolis stabbed his Phisitian committing many other filthie and infamous deedes of excesse Wherefore was it but for this that the Carthaginians forbad wine to theyr souldiors and houshold seruants and to such likewise as held any estate of gouernment in their Common wealth especially during the time of their authoritie and office in the Citty Leotichus being desired to tel the reason wherfore the Spartanes by his commandement were so sober in drinking wine answered that he did it to deliuer them from trouble in consulting with other nations touching their owne affaires Cyneas Ambassador to Pyrrhus whose sweet tongue was so much esteemed by euery one and of so great profit to his Prince being one daye in Auara beholding the exceeding height of the countrey vines in smiling merely thus spake Good right had such a mother to be hanged on so highe a Crosse or Iibbet because she brought forth such a dangerous childe as wine was Should one wish riches to haue great troopes of fat cattell store of wooll or corne to see his court ful of fowles his doue-cotes well bred and haunted Turtle doues in cages Peacocks Phesants Turky hens with other kinds of excellent fowle choisly kept vppe I thinke that the great number of these seuerall kindes serues but for venison to the Fox or Wolfe or else their rapine that haue not the meane to compasse the like the pleasure whereof may be called somewhat beastlie because it is nourished among beasts And as for fowles what are they if not kept as a pray for foxes Cats and Weasels then are they viands for hunters the spoile of gardens and destruction of Garners Can one imagine like vexation to this beastly delight for one paultry egge what cry what cackling and noise heare we for so smal a thing albeit it were good as some doubt it is not For who knowes not by experience cheefly by the testimony of Phisitians that the new laide egge subuerteth the stomach and when it is not new it corrupteth and hurteth it What shal I say of the Turtle doue whose sorrowfull note brings such griefe to the hearer and to the eater such appetite to fleshly concupiscence What likewise shall I say of the Pigeon whose noise neuer ceaseth day or night which breakes her maysters head and beside fileth the fairest houses And as for her hoarse note I finde it nothing inferiour to that of the Peacock in matter of annoying and bad sound sauing that the Peacocks crie is more mighty in terrour euen as it were to affright the deuils I beleeue the man that brought them into this countrey had much more regard to his belly then to the quarrels and disturbing of neighbours to disgrace the couerture of houses and spoile of so many well mannured and pleasant gardens Some good supposer may say that riches serue for a pleasant recreatiue life Because if I haue wealth I can make good cheere I can behaue my selfe merilie and entertaine companies of most excellent Musitians that shall make me pastime and take from me all offending irkesomnesse Let mee aduertise thee that in musicke is not to be receiued one onely good or honest pleasure because it is naturally vaine and dissolute That it is so Saint Athanasius Bishop of Alexandria a man of very profounde knowledge to the reading of whose bookes Saint Ierom moste instantlie exhorteth vs chased musicke foorth of the christian Church because it too much weakned and softned mens spirits making them inclined and disposed to all worldlie pleasures and lasciuiousnes beside this it increased melancholie in him that was first by nature surprized therewith Saint Augustine had neuer any will at all to proue it the Egyptians blamed it not so much for being vnprofitable as dangerous and damnable Aristotle most highly hated it when it hapned him to say that Iupiter neuer could sing or play on the harpe Phillip of Macedon very much blamed his sonne Alexander because he saw him giuen too much to musicke and sawe him one time among other take too great pleasure in singing melodiously who would then wishe great store of goods to employ them in such a fantasticall studie Who would desire riches for the pastime of hunting hawking and other manner of chasing sportes the chase is no recreation at all that a studious or a vertuous spirit should followe for whosoeuer will well resolue himselfe thereof shall finde it an exercise of crueltie a sport for desperate people and if I durst say so for mad men This pastime was first inuented by the Thebanes a nation beyond other most cruell and beastlie nor was it had in any vse but among the most barbarous such as were the Idumaeans Ismaelites and Philistines For the truth
was slaine by the people of his owne countrey If I would stand to number all I shoulde vndertake one of Hercules labours specially to recite the misery of them that haue beene and euen nowe are to theyr paine glad to go seeke their fortune onely through the cause of learning Wherefore is it that a Cooke a Horse-keeper a Gardener or a Peazant shal be receiued more honorablie and better prouided for in the Courts of princes and great Lordes then shall a man of great wisedome It is because they receiue more profit by such fellowes then they do by curious students or labourers in letters the countenance and slender seruice of whom makes them in the Court so little regarded as they are but mocked at for euery worde so that if any one of them thinke to aduance himselfe in company by pronouncing three poore words of latine hardly can he haue opened his mouth but one is ready to call him maister of the Towne or School-maister of the Colledge which are wordes of no more regard by the report of themselues that vtter them then if one should call him poore and miserable wretch for that is vnderstood without the speaking as vnder the name of an vnthankefull man are comprehended all the faults that may be alleaged against him Did not one make a law that whosoeuer shoulde speake of letters should be greeuously punished and corrected And hee that shoulde touch a booke of what science soeuer shoulde haue his handes either burnt or cut off with perticuler forbiddings to euery one vnder the paine of hanging no more to vse paper inke pennes or inke-hornes with vtter abolishing of the artes of impression cutting grauing or other kind of stamp in what manner soeuer it should be to the end that learning being by this edict driuen forth of the sight and beholding of men by the same meanes might be preuented the vnhappinesse that from thence dailye ensueth aswell through the greeuous afflictions that learninges followers suffer in themselues as also in respect of the great daunger and losse in those places where the Academies are assembled of learnings schollers Better it is then to be ignorant then skilfull better to hate letters then so deerely to cherishe and loue them Moreouer our poore ignorant people shew not themselues astonied or confounded of whome God be praised I see a sufficient competent nūber and as it were infinite but they reioice and thanke God in their harts for the great Fortune happening to them by reason of their ignorance For they remember that when good Socrates was iudged generally and held by the Oracle to be wise then himselfe openly manifested to euery one that it was because he knewe nothing Likewise they forget not the goodly prouerbe of Saint Augustine that the simple are lifted on high and reioice the heauens but the learned with their curious lessons and sciences shall be ouerthrowne Lastly they call to mind that which was so highly said and reprooued to S. Paule by Festus the iudge that the multitude of Sciences and deepe knowledge in thinges oftentimes puts a man beside himselfe and carrieth him quite from all good sense For Blindnesse Declamation 4. That it is better to be blinde then to see cleerely IF we would in breefe compare the commodities of sight with the great hurts it brings to men we should finde on the one side all voluptuous delights and pleasures which daily ende in bitternes alienation of sense prouocation to enuie irritation and commotion against the heart and on the other side we should beholde the strength of spirit better imagination and contemplation of things high and heauenly with perfection of memorie which more excellently shewes it selfe to the blinde then to the cleerest sighted because that their light which is the force of mans vnderstanding is neither heere or there disorderly transported Now that memorie is the most noble part of the hart it is sufficiently made plaine vnto vs by the Testimony of Cicero in his Orator where hee calleth it the treasure of wisedome Also by the honour the Greeks haue doone thereto in naming it the mother of sapience Beside this that so many other persons knowing themselues to be depriued of naturall memorie in regard of the estimation they made therof inuented another called artificiall with very delicate and pretious oyles sundry emplaisters sirrops and drugs fetcht from very farre countries That the blinde are of farre better apprehension and imagination then the sharpest sighted it is too euident vnto vs if we woulde consider that the powers of the soule are in them more equallye assembled withall that they haue this speciall prerogatiue of not beholding so many deformed and dishonestactions which are daily to be seen in this world whereby their spirit might be alienated or turned from contemplation of high and heauenly matters First of all when a blinde man is led by his little lad along the streets he is free from beholding a multitude of counterfeited monsters people but halfe made by nature a thousand toyes on their heades their bellies all buttons holding vppe their nose and chins like puppets with other such like vaine heads so mishapen and deformed as Octauianus Augustus would call the very iestes and mockeries of Nature He is free from seeing so many troubled with palsies leprosies dropsies goutes falling euilles impotent with botches biles scabs blaines scurffes and such like What shall I say of the graces that blindnes brings to her children not suffering them to taste one only greefe or molestation but giues them leisure and commoditie of power at their owne ease to contemplate celestiall beawties and excellences diuine Heere of was the Philosopher Democritus so zealous that he made himselfe blind regarding firmelye and stedfastlie the sun that by the losse of his bodily eies he might recouer better vse of the eies of the minde and with more ease contemplate supernatural things which otherwise he coulde not so well intend when he vsed the obiects of this world which alwaies constrained him to continuall laughter Homer as blinde as he was was accounted held to be the most famous excellent Poet in all Greece Blindnesse neuer hindered Dydimus Alexandrinus but that most elegantly he attained the Greeke Latine languages and which is more a thing perhaps incredible he became very excellent in the mathematicall sciences Blindnes did no waie impeache Claudius Appius though he was very olde weak but he was daily seene in councell with the Senate of Rome where most prudentlie hee deliberated on the affaires publique and gouerned beside with great honour a mighty and innumerable family To be blinde no way offended Lippius albeit hee was a most perfect Oratour What was it the worse for Hānibal that he had lost one of his eyes did he therby loose one iote of courage but pursued the more furiously vpon the Romaines perswade your selues that if he had lost both his eyes he woulde haue beene a much more valiant Captaine
to affirme that this worlde is a very Cage or mine of such people And if all they which holde of that race would suffer themselues to be written in the rowle or paper belonging to the Prince of fooles or bee registred in the Abbey of these happy people there should not neede so much strife and lawe for calling one another sot or foole For in sooth it is a name that may beseeme the very greatest and wisest in the worlde yea were it to the great king Salomon who albeit he only among the Hebrewes bare the title of wise yet beside that hee well deserued the name of a foole when he sacrifised to Idols and entertained so long such a great number of Concubines Also of this name were capable the seuen Sages whom ambitious and lying Greece vaunted to bring forth and nourish their actions and behauior Cicero affirmeth that whosoeuer will lightly runne ouer and cull them out shall finde them to be more full of follie then wit How many haue beene seene since the Creation of the worlde that haue escaped infinite daungers only by counterfeiting folly What might they more haue doone if they had beene fooles indeed when the onlye shaddowe was to them the cause of such good How many haue we knowne and heard of that haue beene absolued of theftes murders and other misdeeds by supposition that they indeed were fooles Thinke yee that heauen dooth customablye giue so faire and excellent priuiledges to others as to people diuine and celestiall The farther I wade in contemplation of follie the more pleasing I finde it and garnished with all faire commodities See howe a foole troubles him selfe with a kingdomes affaires or fortifiyng of a Cittye See what paine he puts himselfe to in gouerning an housholde or pertaking with one Prince or other yet notwithstanding we see such as are esteemed the wisest to iniury themselues heereby and wexe very olde with such molestations of the minde May it please ye to vnderstand the difference which I finde betweene the foole and wise man Regard the passions and affections in them both First of all the foole is not any thing curious in his meate or drinke neyther cares for fine decking and clothing himselfe they whom we call wise neuer haue enough and neuer are satisfied with the goods of this world neither can all humane industry or the very goddesse aboūdance with hir great Cornet suffice their insatiable desires Now iudge hereby which of these two come neerest the obseruation of Gods commandement who forbiddeth vs in his Gospell not to be carefull for our food or raiment Beside the foole makes no esteeme of honours and worldly dignities he contemns great preheminences refusing the places and seates honourable in magnificent companies Contrariwise they that holde themselues so wise seeke nothing at this day but worldly honour And to attaine superiour dignities they feare not to endure heat or cold they forget the discommoditie of great trauaile as also losse of rest by day and night to the hazard oftentimes of their liues so deerely beloued and by them held in such pretious account The foole feeles not himselfe prouoked with so many pricks of Fortune he meddles not with sights or combats he hath no Lawe-pleadings nor quarrels wherby to get or defend his goods he hath not such paine in attending on the Court as others haue to be entertained by one or other he yeelds not him self for the miserable requital of two or thre crowns a buckler to ten thousand bullets of shot musquets or harguebuzes he breaks not his neck in riding post after offices benefices or confiscations he languishes not in pursuing the loue or fauour of Ladies hee paies no taxe or tribute lastly he is not subiect to any one but liueth in perfect franchise and liberty He is permitted and licensed to speake what himselfe thinks good touching the dealings of Princes priuate persons without encurring thereby any danger of imprisonment or corporall punishment He hath no need of Rhethoricall cunning to make him selfe attentiuely listened vnto but bestowes on each one the ioyous pastimes of his meriments I stand in need of a whole sourse of eloquence wherewith I might thorowlie paint foorth and discipher the honest vertues of most pretious follie the contrary whereof hath beene cause of the punishing of an hundred thousand iniuries and of ouerthrowing the intelligence and actions of many great personages I find that Fortune hath euermore beene very carefull in bestowing perticular aide vpon fooles and defended them as her most deere children frō infinite perils and dangers Likewise wee see by experience that the greater part of fooles liue longer and more happily then the wise doe Wherefore should we thinke this to be so but because they giue not themselues to any melancholie neuer meddle with Lawe-causes debates or quarrels neither mollest themselues with matters publique or priuate which makes me say and affirm vnto ye that folly euen as Poesie is somewhat celestiall and filleth the hartes of her children with a certaine spirite of prophesie and diuine furie by meanes wherof they seeme agreeable to euery one and purchase very great esteeme and fauour in the eies of Princes You shall finde by experience that many great wealthy Lords turne their faces from company and conference with wise men yea such as are saide to haue the greatest learning that they may intertaine pleasure with a foole and commune familiarlie with him yea sometimes they will leaue their best and most auncient seruantes or fauorites to delight and bestow countenance on the first foole that comes before them Is it not maruellous that we shall neuer see a man of great knowledge indeede but hath some part of this pretious folly in him Though ye woulde produce neuer so many learned men or of what profession else so euerye please be they Philosophers Orators Painters Statuaries Musitians Builders yet they haue some tast heereof and generally all people of learning whatsoeuer Where shall yee finde one singular Poet at this day that doth not participate in this folly Euery one knoweth that the Poet deepest skild therein is accounted most excellent And if the greate Philosopher Plato had not had more then a reasonable portion of this diuine folly thinke yee that he had deliuered so many faire excellent matters which we haue at this day after his maner And yet you are ashamed to be accounted or called fools The inuenter of the Italian Cardes whereat they haue a play or pastime called Tarault did in my cōceit very ingeniouslie when he put the Deniers or monyes and Bastons or clubs in combate togither as the very encountring of force and iustice But yet he deserued more praise for giuing in this play the most honourable place to the foole as we do to the Ace which we should rather call Nars that in dutch signifieth a Foole. This deuiser well noted the great seruitude whereto they most commonly are subiect that couet a place
among the very wisest for it behoues them to haue so many discretions so manye respects so many considerations wherwith the happie foole neuer troubleth himselfe so that they are constrained oftentimes to submit themselues and continue like countenance and daily against theyr natures to seeme graue and seuere The Foole doth not repose any confidence in his owne wisedome neither hath recourse to the subtletie and deceits of this world He neuer rests himselfe on the support and fauour of other whereby anye harme may happen to him for God hath him in his custodie and safegarde Which is a worde whereat our Catoes at this day will easily enter into choller But they must lightly passe it ouer and by constraint of verity confesse it true if they will giue but neuer so little regarde to the holy Scriptures there they shall finde that the wisedome of this world hath byn more sharpely taxed and with more greeuous arrests condemned then folly And yet our bold ouer-weeners will goe contrary to this diuine word to take part with that which God the Creator not onelye hath reproued among men but likewise greatly hateth I finde that the very greatest and most renowmed Nations in Europe haue long while since gotten some title or marke of folly To beginne with the Gaules did not Saint Paule call them foolish Gallathians Albeit the prowesse and strength which they haue daily shewen in deedes of Armes may sufficientlie testifie from East to West yea euen to the Antipodes at the ende and limits of which regions hath their Ensignes beene most brauely displaied The Portugals by their haughtie enterprise who notwithstanding haue beene reputed foolish passed so farre as the Indiaes where with losse and damage of their men they conquered many places in those Countryes and got by these meanes the commoditie to traffique with many places before not inhabited This is it which makes them so proud in the trade of merchandise and brag of the excellencie of their Lishbone enritched with so faire a port of the sea also two so wel proportioned mountaines at the entrāce and the floud with golden sandes As for the Germaines it is well knowne that they haue a large share heerein especially they who in imitation of women or children so often change into many opinions and maisters seruices For this it may be saide that Caesar in his Commentaries did them not so much honour as to call them valiant champions or prudent in affaires of warre If we will passe so farre as into Italie we shall finde many goodly and noble Citties among the rest that serue as great or very faire Cages to fooles of all fashions and that they are in fauour of such an esteemed matter the most honourably scituated in al the Countrey and by the great number of fooles contained in them they are diuinely embellished and inritched with the very cheefest excellencies and noble priuileges that can be desired That this is true let vs consider the excellent scituation of auncient Sienna for the honest libertie wherof the King not many daies past so earnestlie trauailed You shall there beholde as a matter of antiquity to preserue fooles in health erected a pleasant beautiful building enuironed with the most sweet and gratious aire in the world garnished with rich and honourable lodgings villages neere hand of great receit naturall Bathes very pure and healthfull Moreouer as with men so is it well furnished adorned with Ladies gentle and courteous young people so well disposed as may be good musitians and Rhetoricians as any cittie else thereabout except the ancient Vniuersitie adioyning and the newe Academie of the Intronati who by the meanes of their so highlie fauoured folly do in time of peace thinges of incomparable pleasure and recreation What shall I say to ye of Parma where to maintaine fooles in pastimes is a very faire plaine of grasse rounded neighboured with many pleasant mountaines How fertile is it likewise of noble and puissant families and couragious souldiours whoe by vertue of their singular follye beeing assisted with the aide and succour of the French are redoubted and feared of all their neighbour countries I will hold my peace of the Parmesane cheese whereof notwithstanding that I haue tasted yet I cannot forbeare but say in my hart that if for that meate our Father Adam had transgressed in my conceit hee had beene somewhat excuseable nor should I after taste thereof haue any desire to the Nectar and Ambrosia of great Iupiter O how they of Verona Brescia and Venice were beholding to worthy folly when they made answere to K. Lewes the twelfth that they were wise inough whereby they constrained him to send them so many French-men as were accounted fooles because their wisedome and magnificence knew not how to resist th' others forse prowesse So were the fools of the saide king Regentes and maisters ouer the wise Venetians as before they had been ouer the Genewaies Millaineses as long time before that the fools that were led by the great Frenche Captaine were maisters ouer the mighty and wise Romaines Too long woulde the rehearsall be of fooles and Arch fooles that are to be found enclosed within the Citties of Italie Wherefore to finishe this discourse I will thus frame my conclusion that fooles ought to be singularlie esteemed and commended bicause God doth them so much fauour as hee hath chosen by them to confound and ouerthrow the wisdome of this world withall that the most noble Citties puissant Nations ought to be esteemed much more for folly then wisedome For him that hath lost his worldly Honours and Preferments Declamation 6. That a man ought not to be greeued though he be despoiled of his goods and honours I Am not a little abashed for what cause the noble men of our time make so much adoo and mooue such quarrell and contention for the losse of their fraile and slippery estats seeing it followeth vpon necessitie that one day they must needes be dispossessed and taken from them if not by force yet by the meanes of death who of his owne nature imposeth an ende on all things And I see no cause or reason why they being subiect to so many humaine passions and fortunes as euen the very poorest basest condition in the world shoulde presume and hazard themselues before so manye persons of greater valour perhaps then themselues for aduancement and superiority and yet they take scorn to be made of like mettall as they are to whom by right of nature they are altogither equall semblable An excellent Philosopher and of very great reputation in his time maintained that the rich hadde euer some occasion to contend with their riches and temporall goods as also beautifull persons with their bodilie graces But the greatest and most excellent contention that men ought indeed to haue among themselues were to striue who should surmount ech other in gentlenesse and honestie and the very highest preheminence that should bee
sought for in this world were to enuie one another who shoulde bee most liberall courteous and affable For this cause Dioclesian was praised esteemed among the wise men of his time when by his modestie he deigned to make refusall of the Romain Empire which then was farre greater and better prouided then euer it had beene before in imitation of whom many other great persons haue since beene moued to doe the like Such an one was the Vnckle to great king Charlemaine who became a Monke at Mont Cassin where hee liued the remainder of his yeares most holy and religiouslie drawing by his example to the like many Barons and great Lordes of the Realme of France Antiochus King of Syria being by the Romaines depriued and deposed from the iurisdiction which he had by the mountaine Taurus came and rendered sollemne thanks therefore to the Senate commending them because heereby he found himselfe well deliuered and disburdened of such a great weightie molestation Heracleus and Galerian in like manner eased discharged themselues from the superioritie rule they had ouer the people gaue their delight altogither to the pleasure of husbandrie And why hath not the like minde continued since then in the harts of our Noble men to this instant What mean our wise men that they disswade not the fansies of great Lordes from this endlesse heate and desire of rule which bringeth nothing else therewith but an ouer-feruent and ambitious will That it is so looke where such couetous and ambitious men beare sway there is slender iustice the rich eate the poore and the Nobles out-rage the Peasants The Inhabitants of the Isle Taprobane hadde in mine opinion a very worthye and commendable custome when they vsed to elect for their Prince and Gouernour such an one among them whom they had knowne and had proofe of a long time to bee a true desirer of the profit of their weale publique and him likewise by right and semblable order they would againe deiect and depose if by any meanes he swerued or changed from his right course I haue heard that they of Dace and Bohemia went very neere this custome but it came to passe that since those times they coulde not make choise of any better I could wish that such as deserue the gouernement of Signiories and common weales shoulde be drawne and compelled thereto as it were perforce and by the same meanes the gate to be barred against couetousnesse greedinesse ambition violence and deceipt But what makes me speake thus Marie because I haue knowne in Italie certaine Lordes gouernors of the people to lead their liues after a very strange course or manner bearing capitall hatred to their poore subiects Lords that haue had no other care but heere and there licentiouslie to reuell and dishonour the very honestest maidens in their iurisdiction drawing them violentlie by meanes of certaine ruffians which they entertaine as hounds onely for this vile purpose forth of the best houses in their townes and Cittyes Poore blinde men destitute of naturall sense is this the manner your elders taught ye whereby to rule and guide your subiects Was it thus that the good Lordes of times past the vertuous Princes as well Ecclesiasticall as secular whom Homer woulde so honourably call pastors of the people were wont to doe This so beast-like and dishonest custome doth it any iote sauour of true Christianity They are no pastors that commit such insolencies they are rauening wolues and destroyers of all humane societie Some are to be found in Italie and else-where to whom is publikely giuen this faire report that they dilligently enquire after their people not to chastise or reforme their vices and bad behauior but contrariwise to enquire secretlie who amongest them hath the best pursse and after knowledge thereof seeke some couerture to make them lose their goods subborning false witnesses against them who without any reason shal enforme false plaints or quarrels against them or else by greeuous iniuries and outrages prouoke them to vndertake Armes where likwise false villaines appointed for the nonce taking some intended cause of offence presently informe or complaine against them and hauing seazed on their bodies afterward by these means their riches comes into the Lordes hand who vnder coulour of iustice causeth them to be condemned by Iudges in greeuous paines and amercements so getting subtillie yet with some colour of excuse their goods by way of confiscation Crueltie well beseeming a Tragedie and which since the creation of the world was neuer the like heard of A Baron of Lombardie one day made this brag as for a great proofe and example of his singular vertue prowesse that not long before he had gotten the spoile of one of his mightiest subiects emptiyng his Garners seazing on his goods perforce proceeding euen to the imprisonment of his body The matter obiected against him by forged witnesses at the Lordes appointment was that he had runne the Hare and flowne the Partridge vpon his land albeit the poore honest Gentleman was more readie to chase a good piece of Beefe then Hares and had neuer run farre of neere after strange beastes or birds Yet notwithstanding this good deed the honest minded Baron which matter most of all displeaseth me would make profession of sanctitie religion and deuotion Lord God that thy patience is thus great nor is it without great reason that thou art called full of patience and longanimitie seeing that so sweetly thou endurest the dealings of these so cruel and insupportable monsters brought forth borne on the earth only to consume and deuoure thy poore people Assure ye that I haue seene in the kingdome of Naples many monsters of this fashion and nature hauing harts like Lions and nailes like Griffons to whome nothing seemed impossible concerning inhumanity and impietie And with these few examples I am constrained to content my selfe without spending time to bring ye other proofes for defence of this present occasion because the greefe I both find and feele in rehearsing these enormities driueth me into ouer great affliction making my hart so weake and feeble as all the residue of my vitall powers want their helping vse Now in truth let vs thus reason a while What is he who will denie that such deedes and behauiour of life is not sufficient to prouoke the anger of God against vs And to cause that those Lordes through long space of time that they haue thus ruled held their places should in a moment be elsewhere transported Thinke ye if the very greatest Lordes aswel spirituall as temporall woulde at this daye doe their endeuour and employ themselues night and day as best beseemes them to well gouerne and admonish their people wee shoulde finde such a number of men to couet and reach after kingdomes and Signiories as now we doe and such as are so mal-contēt to be depriued of their great charges and vexations as now with greefe we may behold It is then in
That it is better to be sicke then alwaies healthfull THe aduise of the most auncient wise men hath euermore been that the feeble and weake complexion of our bodies hath at al times serued as a soueraigne aduertisement to the holie life of sobrietie and parsimonie Wherfore I dare maintaine against him that will striue to iustifie the contrary that perpetually this vertuous dame hath beene aduersarie to mens vaine pleasures and idle lubricities euen as the most soueraigne mistresse of all humilitie and modestie True it is that at the first sight she seemeth scant pleasing or rather very offensiue to some natures but they consider not at all the speciall good shee dooth to men by continuall exhorting them to all constancie and hope of immortalitie bringing so many times to the memorie of the mind the moste pittifull and miserable frailtie of our earthly bodies This was it that mooued Stilpo the Philosopher to make comparison of a sicke man to one founde in a prison fore crazed and shiuered as it were in manie partes of his bodie by meanes of the manifest ruines from which he speedilie hopes to passe enter into perpetuall liberty In like manner I beleeue that sicke and infirme people haue alwaies this good hope of quick departure from their mortall prison when they perceiue themselues so often subiect to Catharres weaknesse of stomach Collickes Goutes and other naturall imbecilities For euen as in a broken or torne scabbard many times is found a sworde or knife of perfect mettall and good temper so by experience we shall commonly see in a sicklie and crazed body an excellent spirit and rich in all noblenesse a courage high and magnificent ready notwithstanding the bodies weakenesse not only to attempt but to bring to passe many faire and honourable enterprises See we not in the Gallies that they giue the Oare to the strongest and moste mightie Galliots when to the weakest and feeblest of members which oftentimes are the wisest and most skilfull is left the charge and guide of the Rudder Hath not the strength sooner beene ouerthrowne of Milo Aiax and Hercules then the abillities in Solon Nestor Cato or Socrates Euen so what other thing is the body wherof we make so great account but the house and poore lodging of the most rich and noble spirite And albeit the body be found sometimes fraile and diseased yet dooth it no hurt to the spirit because it is her Inne but for a little while Poore and miserable wretches are we who neuer knowing aright what wee ought especially to wish or desire daily finde fault and are discontented with our sicklie weake bodies which neuerthelesse are of longest life and continuance As for proofe the Italians who for the better seething of a great turffe of hearbes are wont to cleaue break the couer of earth wherewith they are hidden in the pot to giue them aire better boiling and sauor yet notwithstanding the earthen pot thus brused will serue and endure longer time then a sound one nothing at all broken as if by meanes of the cleauing and rupture it had attained a longer while of continuance The selfe same may be saide of our bodies the strongest and most sturdie wherof is found to be sooner infected then they whose skin is more thinne and soft by reason they cannot so easilie euaporate or exhale the superfluities out of them whence ensueth that more suddenlie and oftener strong menne die then such whose bodies are sicklie and tender Plinie in his naturall historie makes the number infinite of greeuous and daungerous diseases that customably take hold vpon vs yet neuerthelesse we are of so simple consideration as for a little head-ake or one fitte of an Ague wee enter into vnspeakeable impatience And we complaine on the feuer quartaine wherein we rather ought to reioice or at the least not greeue or offende our selues therewith so strangely considering that if she bee a bad mother to vs for one day she is good to vs for two after and whosoeuer is cured thereof say many Physitians shall liue afterward more healthfull and better disposed If for so little we contend with patience we may then hazard losse of all together if it should happen to vs as it didde to Pherecides the Philosopher that from our bodies should come foorth innumerable serpents as much as befell to good Mecaenas that our eies should not shut in three yeares togither or if we should fall into an Ethick feuer which lasteth perpetually and neuer would leaue vs till wee came to our graue Then would we crie out against God howbeit wee ought contrariwise rather to reioice because the Apostle himselfe hath sayd That neuer is the body well indeed but when it is sicke indeed To proue this true the partie afflicted with anie sicknesse is neuer puffed vp with pride neuer buffeted with fleshlie desire neuer couerous enuious or ouercome with wrath neuer strangled with gluttonie sursetting in slothfulnesse or conquered by ambition and would to God we were such in health as oftentimes we promise to be when wee are sicke The good Saint Basill because he felt himselfe weake and not sounde in health practised right well the art of medicine wherein he profited so perfectly as he was esteemed one of the wisest and most expert physitians in his time Plato the Philosopher because he felt himselfe strong and ouer-mightie in nature to followe his studie as he ought chose for his place of abiding a watrie marshie ground a trobled discontēted ayre where heauen shewed none other but darke and pichie cloudes that thereby he might become sicke and so haue meanes to refraine the tedious and perilous assaults of the flesh wherewith he felt himselfe sometimes pricked and moued for his aduise was that a good mind could not flourish if first of all the flesh were not ouer-maistred And certainlie I am thus perswaded that the weakenesse of the slender thred whereto my poore and miserable life is fastened makes me the more highlie to reioice and my heart the merrier for the desire it hath of speedie departure and the sooner to flie or mount alofte where it first receiued her faire soule Now see in conclusion of howe many felicities the infirme and sicklie complexion of men are the cause First of all it is the meane of making vs liue long in this world which is the thing that men of greatest courage with for For admit the case so falleth out as there be people of diuers complexions some more chollericke and impatient then other that the sicke man desireth in himselfe to depart from this world thorow the greefe vexation and tediousnes he heere receiueth yet then he happens to bee crossed with so many impeachments as delaies and makes him tarry therein the longer But if he would remember setting all other troubles apart to wishe he might liue longer for the profit and commoditie of his friends he may then chance to escape longer then one in perfect health neuer
minding such matters For the poore sicke man considering that he is weake and diseased will preserue himselfe very dilligentlie from al manner of excesse and liue more soberly then can the stiffest and strongest composed bodies These kind of men are such to whom oftentimes it happeneth thorow the ouer-much fiercenesse of their good disposition and strength that boldlie or carelesly they oppose themselues againste a thousand greefes perils and daungers vsing meates prohibited for the health of man taking the corrupted ayre in the euening or else without any need will wander into tempests raine snow winde stormes and thus aduenture themselues from morning to night And the worse is their successe thorowe the confidence which they repose in their bodies which they feeling to be strong and lustie feare not without any discretion to fight heere with one there to smite an other spoile outrage and commit a thousand euils Then what recompence haue they for al these They fall into the rightfull hande of Iustice who without any regard of valour strength dexteritie parents or riches makes them miserablie and shamefully to finish their daies before their expected time It is then great folly to desire strength and health of body so earnestlie seeing it is the cause of so many mishaps were it not onely but in regarde of the warres which we should neuer beholde so cruell or fierce but by the confidence that men suppose to be in their health and bodily strength wherewith great and wise Lordes vse to iest at each other and make as small account thereof as of balles running along the pent-house of a Tennis court For Teares Declamation 11. That it is better to weepe often then to laugh at any time NOt without great occasion is it that I must assuredlie by good right confesse the mourner to bee in better estate then the laugher seeing Salomon in his most holy Prouerbes hath lefte vs in writing that it is better to sleepe and repose in the house of sorrowe then in that of ioy and pleasure By laughter many soules haue beene seuered from their bodies to the infinite greefe of their good friends but by sadnesse not one only which I euer heard of at any time departed but well pleased Laughter hath euermore beene perticularlie proper to fooles mouthes or people without sence And it is not read in any one place of the holye Scripture that our blessed Sauiour euer laughed at any time but that he wept and sorrowed is to be found in sundry passages of the good and faithfull Euangelistes For this cause hath he promised eternall felicity to such as mourne and them that laugh he hath menaced with death To weepe is a signe of penitence and compunction whereto we are often inuited and exhorted by the voices of the holy Prophets but laughter hath beene the cause of mocking it selfe as the euident signe of ouermuch boldnes If we would make regard of the commodities ensuyng by teares howe many disdaines and howe many rages haue beene qualified by one little teare of the eie How manie poore louers haue they vnited and confirmed together that before liued not but in langour distresse How many storming hearts fierce and cruell one against another haue they brideled softened made gentle How many great and honest recompences haue beene obtained and measured by the waight of teares I am of this opinion that all the force and puissance of men assembled together cannot so soon winne or compasse what it would haue as one only teare can yea oftentimes it hath conqueringly obtained grace euen from obstinate and moste pittilesse persons For proofe heereof Heraclitus was alwaies more esteemed for his weeping then euer was Democritus for his laughing See how many thinges worthy of eternall memorie Crassus by this vertue accomplished purchasing the name of a scorner of vanities If we should need to produce the profit of teares often weeping Let vs consider that while our bodies are but young and tender they make them to grow and encrease Wherefore many Nursses in regard heereof are not very hastie to quiet their infantes when they lie criyng in the Cradle but by these meanes suffer them to dilate and stretch forth their members for so they come to the suddener growth And if proofes should faile me against laughter I would content my selfe with this only of good Hyppocrates who hath left written that the diseases which ensue by accident of laughter without any manifest cause are the most difficult to be healed Let vs then set laughing apart seeing it bringeth such offence to man and agreeth not with his honestie and grauitie beside we finde not at this daie among so many lamentable ruines where any place or oportunity for laughing indeed may be graunted or suffered And let vs conclude that laughter wrinkles and makes olde the face counterfeits the person makes the heart ake woundeth the lungs inwards of the bellie so that after long laughing many greefs doe follow whereof we neuer make doubt till wee feele them So that if laughter bee not refrained it makes the pallat of the mouth to fall the throte sore the voice hoarse and oft times shakes the body verie greeuously VVherfore very excellently said the wise man that the end of laughter was greefe and teares which ordinarilie endureth more space of time hath a longer taile behinde it than euer had mourning But the end of continuall teares after this mortall life is ioy and perpetual delectation which neuer hath ending and such as are promised by him who is onely truth it selfe For Dearth Declamation 12. That Scarsitie is better than aboundance ANy man of common sence and opinion will assure yee that for the ease and better estate of his person as also continuance of his pleasures aboundance or earthly goods ought well to be had in request But for one voluptuous man ye shall finde of this opinion I will furnish yee with an hundred of very singular spirit and perfect iudgement that liberally will maintaine the fertillitie and aboundance of goodes in this worlde is the mother and nursse of all euils enemie to all modesty and honestie and cheefe aduersarie to sobrietie The good Lady of Henault bemoned the great Dearth which the turbulence of the warres had caused and among other thinges she wept for the fertillitie of the former yeares past when as she called to minde what store of corne and wines she had and that before a weeke would be past both shee and all hir house shoulde scant tell where to gette foode or drinke once a day But the sober and frugal Solon-nist saith well to the contrarie that the lesse store of victuals are in a contrey the lesse is the insolence of the inhabitāts who in time of aboundance disdain the seruice of their superiors then hath a man greater paine to get a seruant how poore soeuer or bad disposed he be then a man of wisedome well skilde in good letters Moreouer what else