the doctryne of Christe which is as likely a thynge as to myngle fyre and water together And a gobbet we haue receyued of the ciuell lawes bycause of the equitie that semeth to be in them And to th ende they shuld the better serue our purpose we haue as nere as may be writhed and plyed the doctrine of the gospell to them Nowe by the ciuile lawe it is leful for a man to defende violence with violence and eache to pursue for his ryght Those lawes approue bienge and sellynge they allowe vsury so it be measurable they praise warre as a noble thynge so it be iuste Fynally al the doctryne of Christ is so defiled with the lernynge of Logiciens sophiâ—ters astronomers oratours poetis philosophers laweyrs and gentyles that a man shall spende the mooste parte of his lyfe ere he may haue any leysure to serche holy scripture to the whiche when a man at laste cometh he muste come infecte with so manye worldly opinions that eyther he muste be offended with Christes doctrynes or els he muste applie them to the mynde doctryne of them that he hath lerned before And this thynge is so moch approued that it is nowe a heynous dede if a man presume to study holy scripture whiche hath not nosilled hym self vp to the harde eares in those trifils or rather sophestries of Aristotle As thoughe Christis doctrine were suche that it were not lefull for all men to knowe hit orels that it coude by any meanes agre with the wysedome of philosophers Besyde this we admitted at the begynnynge of our feyth some honour whiche afterwarde we claymed as of duite Than we resceyued riches but that was to distrybute to releue poore men whiche afterwarde we turned to our owne vse And why not sith we haue lerned by the lawe ciuile that the verye order of chariâ—e is that euery man muste fyrste prouide for hym selfe Nor there lacke no colours to cloke this mischiefe fyrste hit is a good dede to prouide for our children and it is right that we forsee how to lyue in age Finally why shulde we say they gyue our goodes away if we come by theym without fraude By these grices hit is by lyttell and lyttell come to passe that he is taken for the mooste best man that hath moste ryches nor neuer was there more honour gyuen to ryches amonge the hethen people then is at this daye amonge the christen people For what thynge is there eyther spirituall or temporall that is not done with greatte shewe of riches And hit semedde a thynge agreable with those ornamentis if christen men had some greate iurisdicion vnder theym Nor there wanted not suche as gladly submitted theym lelse Albeit at the begynnynge it was agaynste theyr wylles and scantly wolde they receyue hit And yet with moche worke they resceyued it so that they were contente with the name and tytle only the profite therof they gladly gaue vnto other men At the laste by lyttell and lyttell it came to passe that a byshop thoughte hym selfe no bishoppe excepte he had some temporal lordship withal An abbot thought him self of smal auctorite if he had not wher with to play the lordly syre And in conclusion we blushed neuer a dele at the matter we wyped awey al shamfastnes shoft a side al the harres of comlynes And what euer abusion was vsed amonge the hethen people were it couetousnes ambition riotte pompe or pride or tyranny the same we folowe in the same we matche theym ye and farre passe theym And to passe ouer the lyghter thinges for the while I pray you was there euer warre amonge the hethen peple so long continually or more cruellye than amonge christen people What stormy romblynges what violente braydes of warres what tearynge of leages and what pitious slaughters of men haue we sene our selfe wiâ—hin these fewe yeres What nation hath not fought and skyrmoushed with an other And then we go and curse the Turke and what canne be a more plesante syghte to the Turkes then to beholde vs dayly eche sleynge other ¶ â—erxes doted when he ledde oute of his owne countreye that huge multitude of people to make warre vppon the Grekes Trowe ye he was not madde when he wrot letters to the mountayne called Atho thretnynge that the hylle shulde repente it except he obeyed his lusteâ— And the same â—erxes commaunded also the see to be beaten bycause it was somewhat rough when he shuld haue sailed ouer ¶ Who wol denye but Alexander the great was madde also He the yonge god wished that there were manye worldes the whiche he myght conquere So greatte a feâ—er of vayne glorye had enbraced his yonge lustye courage And yet these same men the whiche Seneca doubted not to call madde theues warred after a gentyller facion then we do they were more feythfull of theyr promise in warre nor they vsed not so mischiuoâ—s ingins in warre nor suche craftes and subtelties nor they warred not for soo lyghte causes as we christen men do They reioysed to auâ—unce and enryche suche prouynces as they hadde conquered by warre and the rude people that lyued lyke wylde beastis withoute lawes lernynge or good maners they taughte them boothe ciuyle condicions and craftis where by they might lyue lyke men In couÌ„treys that were not inhabited with people they builded cities and made them bothe fayre and profitable And the places that were not very sure they fensed for sauegarde of the people with bridges bankes bulwarkes and with a thousande suche other commodities they holpe the lyfe of man So that then it was ryght expedient to be ouer come Ye and howe manye thynges rede we that were eyther wysely done or soberly spoken of theym in the myddes of theyr warres As for those thynges that are done in christen mens warres they are more fylthy cruell than is conueniente here to reherse More â—uer loke what was worst in the hethen peoples warres in that we folow them ye we passe them ¶ But nowe it is a worlde to here by what meanes we meyntayne this our so gret madnes Thus they reson If it had not ben leful by noo meanes to make warre surely god wolde neuer â—aue benne the auctour to the Iewes to make warre agaynst theyr ennemes Wel sayd but we must adde herevnto that the Iewes neuer made warre amonge them selfe but ageynste strangers and wicked men We christen men fyght with christen men Diuersite of relygioÌ„ caused the Iewes to fyghte agaynst theyr ennemyes for theyr ennemyes worshypte not god as they dyd We make warre often tymes for a littell chyldyshe angre or for hunger of money or for thyrste of glory orels for fylthy mede The Iewes fought by the commandment of god we make warre to auenge the grefe and displeasure of our mynde And netheles if men wol so moch leane to the example of the Iewes why do we not thaÌ„ in like maner vse circumcision Why do we not sacrifice with the
furies of hell nor euery one of the furies was not mete and conuenient to bryng about this busynes but the moste pestilent and mischieuoust of them all was chosen oute for the nones whiche hathe a thousande names and a thousande craftis to do hurte She beinge armed with a thousand serpentis blowith before her fendly trumpette Pan with furious ruffelynge accombreth euerye place Bellona shakethe hir furious flayle And then the wycked furiousnes hym selfe when he hathe vndone all knottis and broken all bondes russheth oute with blouddye mouthe horryble to beholde The grammarians perceyued right welle these thynges of the whiche some wyl that warre haue his name by contrary meanyng of the worde Bellum that is to seye fayre bycause it hathe nothynge good nor feyre Nor bellum that is for to sey warre is none other wyse called Bellum that is to seye fayre than the furies are called Eumenides that is to seye meke by cause they are woode and contrarye to all mekenes And somme gran maryans thynke rather that Bellum warre shoulde be deryuied out of this worde Belua that is for to say a brute beaste for soo moche as hit belongeth to brute beastis and not vnto menne to runne to gether eche to distroye other But it semeth to me to passe farre all wylde and all brute beastlynes to fyght to gether with weapons Fyrste for there are manye of the brute beastis eche in his kynde that agree and lyue in a gentylle facion to gether and they go to gether in hirdes and flockesâ— and eche helpeth to defende other Nor it is not the nature of all wylde beastes to fyghte For some are harmeles as doois and haaris But they that are the moste fierse of all as lyons wolfes and tygers doo not make warre amonge theym selfe as we doo One dogge eatethe not an nother The lyons thoughe they be fierce and cruelle yet they fyghte not amonge theym selfe One dragon is in peace with an other And there is agrement amonge poysons But vnto man there is no wylde or cruel beast more hurtfull than man Ageyne when the brute beastis fyght they fyght with theyr owne naturall armour we men aboue nature to the distruction of men arme our self with armour inuented by craft of the dyuell Nor the wylde beastis are not cruell for euery cause but eyther when hunger maketh them fierce or els when they perceyue them selfe to be hunted and pursued to the dethe or elles when they fere leste their yonglynges shuld take any harme or be stollen from them But oh good lord for what tryflynge causes what tragidies of warre do we styre vpâ— For moste vayne titles for chyldyshe wraâ—he for a wenche ye and for causes moche more scornefull then these we be inflamed to fyght More ouer when the brute beastis fyghte theyr warre is one for one ye and that is verye shorte And when the battayle is soorest foughten yet is there not paste one or two that goeth away sore wounded When was it euer harde that an hundred thousande brute beastis were slayn at one tyme fyghtyng and tearynge one an other whiche thynge men do full oste in many places And besyde this where as some wylde beastes haue naturall debate with some other that be of a contrary kynde So agayne there be some with whiche they louyngly agree in a sure amitie But man with man and eche with other haue amonge them continuall warre nor there is no leage sure inough amoÌ„ge any men So that what so euer it be that hath gone out of kynde it hath gone out of kynde into a worse facion then though nature her selfe had ingeÌ„dred therin a malyce at the begynnynge Wyll ye se howe beastly howe fowle and howe vnworthy a thynge warre is for man Dyd ye neuer beholde a lyon let loose vnto a beare What gapynges what rorynges what grisely gnesshynge what tearynge of theyr flesshe is there He trembleth that be boldeth theym yea though he stande sure and safe inough from them But howe moche more grisely a sighte is it howe moche more outragious and cruel to beholde man to fyght with man arrayed with so moche armour and with so many weapons I beseche you who wolde beleue that they were men it were not bycause warre is a thyng so moche in custome that no man meruayleth at it Theyr eies glowe lyke fyre theyr faces be paale theyr marchynge forth is lyke men in a furie theyr voyce skrytshynge and gruntynge theyr crye and clamour woode all is iron theyr harnes and weapons gynglen and clutteren the gounnes thondren It myght haue ben better suffred if man for lacke of meate and drynke shuld haue fought with man to the intent he myght deuour his fleshe and drynke his bloudde All be it it is come also nowe to that passe that somme there be that do it more of hatrede then either for hunger or for thyrste But now this same thynge is done more cruelly with weapons enuenomed and with diuilyshe ingins So that no where may be perceyued any token of man Trow ye that nature coude here knowe the same thynge that she sometyme had wrought with her owne handes And if any man wolde enfourme her that it were man that she behelde in suche array myght she not well with great wonderynge saye these wordes What newe maner pageant is this that I beholde what dyuell of hell hath broughte vs forth this monstre There be some that calle me a stepmother bycause that amonge so great heapes of thynges of my makynge I haue brought forth some venemous thynges and yet haue I ordeyned the selfe same venemous thynges for mans behofe And bycause I haue made somme beastes verye fiers and peryllous and yet is there no beest so wilde nor so peryllous but that by crafte and diligence he may be made tame and gentyll By mannes diligente labour the lyons bene made tame the dragons meke and the beares obedient But what is this that wors is thanne any steppemother whiche hathe broughte vs forthe this newe vnreasonable brute beaste the pestilence and mischiefe of all this worlde One beaste alone I brought forthe holly dedicate to be beneuolente pleasante frendely and helthe of all other What hath chaunced that this creature is chaunged into suche a brute beaste I perceyue nothynge of the creature manâ— whiche I my selfe made What euyll spirite hath thus defyled my warke What Wytche hath bewitched the mynd of man and transformed it into so beastysshe What sorceresse hath thus tourned hym oute of his kyndely shappe I commaunde and wolde the wretched creature shulde beholde hym selfe in a glasse But alas what shal the eies se where the mynde is awey Yet beholde thy selfe if thou canst thou furious warriour and se if thou mayste by any meanes recouer thy selfe agaâ—ne From wheâ—se haste thou that tâ—retnynge creste vppon thy heed Frome whens haste thou that shynynge helmette from whens are those iron hornes Whens cometh it that thyne
of the inward mynd She hath ordeined him armes to clyp enbrace She hath gyuen hym the wytte and vnderstandynge to kysse wherby the very myndes and hartes of men shulde be coupled to gether euen as thoughe they touched eche other Vnto man alone she hath gyuen laughyng a token of good chere and gladnes To man alone she hath gyuen wepynge teares as it were a wedde or token of mekenes and mercy Ye and she hathe gyuen hym a voyce not thretnyng and horrible as vnto other brute beâ—tes but amiable and pleasant Nature not yet content with al this she hath gyuen vnto man alone the commoditie of speche and raysonynge the whiche thynges verily may specially bothe gette and noryshe beneuolence so that nothynge at all shulde be done amonge men by violence She hath indewed man with hatred of solitarynes and with loue of company She hath vtterly sowen in man the veâ—y sedes of Beneuolence She hathe so doone that the selfe same thynge that is moste holsome shulde be mooâ—te â—wete and delectable For what is more delectable than a frende And ageyne what thynge is more necessarie Moreouer if a man myght leade all his lyfe moste profytably withoute any medlynge with other men yet nothyng wold seme plesant without a felowe except a man wolde caste of al humanitie and forsakyng his owne kynd wold become a beaste Besyde al this Nature hath indewed man with knowlege of liâ—eral sciences and a feruent desire of knowledge whiche thynge as it doth moste specially withdrawe mans wyt from all beastly wyldnes so hath it a speciall grace to get and knyt to gether loue and frendshyp For I dare boldely sey that nother affinitie nor yet kynrede doth bynde the myndes of men to gether with â—trayter and surer bandis of amitie than dothe the felowshyppe of them that be lerned in good letters honeste studies And aboue al this nature hath diuided among men by a merueylous varietie the gyftes as wel of the soule as of the body to thintent truly that euery man might fynde in euery synguler persone one thyng or other whiche they shuld other loue or preise for the excellency therof or els greatly desyre and make moche of it for the nede and profyte that cometh therof Finally she hath indowed man with a sparke of a godly mind so that though he see no rewarde yet of his owne courage he delyteth to do euerye man good For vnto god it is mooste propre and naturalle by his benefyte to do euery bodye good Els what meaneth it that we reioyce and conceyue in our myndes no lyttell pleasure when we perceyue that any creature is by our meanes preserued More ouer god hathe ordeyned man in this worlde as it were the verye image of hym selfe to the inteÌ„t that he as it were a god in erth shuld prouide for the welthe of al creatures And this thiÌ„g the very brute bestis do also perceiue for we may se that nat only the tame bestis but also the liberdis lions and other more fierce and wylde when they be in any great ieoperdie they flee to man for succour So man is whan all thyngis faile the laste refuge to all maner creatures He is vnto them all the verye assured aulter and seynctuarie I haue here peynted oute to you the ymage of man as welle as I canne On the other syde if it lyke you ageynste the figure of man let vs purtraire the facion and shap of warre Nowe then imagin in thy mynde that thou doste beholde two hooâ—tis of barbarous people of whome the loke is fierce and cruelle and the voyce horrible the terrible and ferefull rustelynge and glysteryng of theyr harnes and weapons the vnlouely mourmour of so howge a multitude the eies sternely menassyng the blody blastis terrible soundes of trumpettis clarions the thondryng of the gonnes no lesse fearefull than thonder in dede but moche more hurtefulle the woode crie clamour the furious and mad runnyng to gether the outragious slaughter the cruel chances of theym that slee and of those that are stryken downe and slayne the heapes of slaughters the feldes ouerflowen with bloudde the ryuers dyed redde with mans bloudde And it chauncethe often tymes amonge that the brother fyghteth with the brother one kynsman with an other frende ageynst frende and in that coÌ„mon furious woodnes ofte tymes one thrusteth his weapon quyte through the body of an other that neuer gaue hym so moche as a foule worde Verily this tragidie conteineth so many mischeues that it wold abhorre any mans harte to speake therof I wyl lette passe to speake of the hurtes whiche are in câ—mparison of the other but light and commune as the tredynge downe and distroying of the corne al about the burnynge of townes the villages fired the dryuynge aweye of cattell the rauysshynge of maydens the olde men ledde forthe in captiuitie the robbynge of churches and al thynges confounded and full of theftes pillages violence Nother I woll not speake nowe of those thinges whiche are wonte to folowe the mooste happye and moste iuste warre of all The poore commons pilled the nobles ouer charged so many olde men of their chyldren bereued ye and slayne also in the slâ—ughter of theyr chylderne so many olde women destitute whome sorowe more cruelly sleeth then the weapon it selfe so many honest wyues become wydowes so many chyldren fatherles so many lamentable howses so many ryche men brought to extreme pouertie And what nedeth it here to speake of the distruction of good maners sithe there is no man but he knoweth ryght wel that the vniuersal pestilence of al mischeuous lyuynge procedeth at ones of warre Therof cometh despysynge of vertue and godly lyuynge herof cometh that the lawes are neglected and not regarded hereof cometh a prompte and a redy stomake boldly to do euery mischeuous dede Out of this fountayne springeth so houge great companyes of thenes robbers sacrilegers and mourderersâ— And that is mooste greuouse of all this mischieuous pestilence can not kepe hir selfe â—ithiâ— hir boundes but after it is begon in â—â—m one corner it doeth not onely as a contagâ—ous disease sprede abrode and enfecte the couâ—treyes nere adioynynge to hit but also it draweth in to that commune rumble and troublous busynesse the countreyes that be verye farre of eyther for nede or by reason of affinitie or elles by occasion of some leage made Ye and more oâ—er one warre springeth of an other of a dissembled warre there comith warre in dede of a very smal a right great warre hath risen Nor it chancethe often tymes none other wyse in these thynges thenne hit is feyned of the monstâ—â— whiche laye in the lake or poâ—ddell called Lerna For these causes I trowe the olde poeâ—is the whiche most sagely perceyued the power and nature of thynges with most mete feyninges couertly shadowid the same haue left in wrytynge that warre was sent out of hel and that by the labour of the
waâ— on the one syde the incommodities on the other syde he shall fynde that vninste peace is farre better then rightous warre Why had we rather haue warre then peace Who but a madde man wolle angle with a golden fyshe hoke If ye se that the charges and expences shall amount farre aboue your gayne ye thoughe all thynges go accordynge to your mynde is it not better that ye forgo parte of your ryghte than to bie so lyttel commodite with so innumerable mischieues I had leuer that any other man had the tytle then I shoulde wynne it with soo gret effusioÌ„ of ChristeÌ„ mens blode He what so euer he be hath nowe ben many yeres in possessioÌ„ He is accustomed to rule his subiectes know him he behaueth him like a prince one shal come forth which fynding an olde tytle in some historyes or in some blynde euidence woll turne clene vp sette downe the quiete â—tate and good order of that commen wele What auaileth it with so gret ruffeling to change any tytle which in short space by one chance or other must go to an other man Specially sith we mowe se that there is nothing in this world that doth coÌ„tinue styl in one state but at the scorneful plesure of fortune they rol to fro as the waues of the see Finally if Christen men can not despise and sette at naughte these so lighte thynges yet wherto nedeth it by and by to runne to harneâ—s Sith there be so many bishops men of great grauite and lernynge sith there be so many venerable abbottes sith there be so many noble men of great ancientie whom longe vse and experience of thynges hathe made righte wise Why are not these trifelynge childishe quarels of princis pacified and set in order by the wisedome and discretion of these men But they seme to make a very honest reason of warre whiche preâ—end as they wolde defende the Churche As though the people were not the churche or as though the church of Christ was beâ—un augmented and stabâ—ished with warres and slaughters and not rather in spillynge of the bloude of martirs sufferance and despisynge of this lyfe or as though the holle dignite oâ— the churche reâ—ted in the riches of the pristis Nor to me truely it semeth not so alowable that we shuld so ofte make warre vpon the Turkes Doubtles it were not well with christen religion if the onely safegarde therof shulde depende on suche succours Nor it is not likely that they shulde be good christians that by these meanes are brought therto at the fyrste For that thyng that is gotte by warre is agayne an other tyme loste by warre Woll ye brynge the Turkes to the fayth of Christe Let vs not make a shewe of our gay riches nor of our great nombre of soudiours nor of our great strengthe Let them se in vs none of these solempne titles but the assured tokens of christen men a pure innocent lyfe a feruent desire to do well yea to our very ennemes the despisynge of money the neglectynge of glorie a poore simple lyfe Let them here the heuenly doctrine agreâ—ble to suche a maner lyfe These are the bâ—st armours to subdue the Turkes to Christe Nowe often tymes we beinge ill fight with the yuel Ye and I shall sey an other thynge Whiche I wolde to god were more boldly spoken then truely if we sette a syde the title and signe of the Crosse we fighte Turkes ageynste Turkes If our religion were fyrst stablisshed by the might and strengthe of men of warre if hit were confyrmed by dente of sworde if it were augmented by warre then let vs maynteyne it by the same meanes and wayes But if all thynges in our feyth were brought to passe by other meanes Why do we theÌ„ as we mistrusted the helpe of Christ seke suche succoure as the hethen people vse But why shulde we not say they kyll them that wolde kyll vs So thynke they it a great dishonour if other shoulde be more michiuous then they Why do ye not then robbe those that haue robbed you before Why do ye not skolde and chide at them that rayle at you Why do ye not hate them that hate you Trow ye it is a good christen maÌ„s dede to slee a Turke For be the Turkes neuer so wicked yet are they men for whose saluation Chriâ—te suffred death And kyllynge Turkes we offre to the dyuell moste pleasant sacrifice and with that one dede we please our ennemy the dyuell twyse fyrste bycause a man is slayne and agayne bycause a christen man slewe hym There be manye whiche desyrynge to seme good christen menne studye to hurte and greue the Turkes al that euer they may where they be not able to do nothynge they curse and ban and byd a mischife vpon them Now by the same one poynte a man may perceyue that they be farre from good christen men Succour the Tourkes and where they be wycked make them good if ye can if ye can not wyshe and desyre of god they may haue grace to turne to goodnes And he that thus dothe I woll say dothe lyke a christen man But of all these thynges I shall intreate more largely when I sette forthe my boke intytled Antipolemus whiche whilom when I was at Rome I wrote to Iuly byshoppe of Rome the seconde of that name at the same tyme when he was counsailed to make warre on the Venetians ¶ But there is one thynge whiche is more to be lamented then reasoned That if a man wolde diligently discusse the matter he shal fynde that all the warres amonge vs christen men do sprynge eyther of folishenes or els of malyce Some yonge men without experience inflamed with the yuell examâ—les of their fore fathers that they finde by redynge of histories writen of some folyshe auctours beside this being moâ—ed with the exhortations of flaterers with the instigatioÌ„ of lawiers and assentynge therto of the diâ—ynes the byshoppes wynkynge therat or perauenture inâ—ycynge thervnto haue rather of foolehardynes thenne of malice goone in hande with warre And with the great hurte damage of al this world they lerne that warre is a thynge that shoulde be by all meanes and wayes fled and eschewed Some other are moued by priâ—y hatred Ambition causeth some and some are stirred by fyrcenes of minde to make warre For truly there is almoste nowe none other thynge in our cities and common weales then is conteyned in Homers warke Ilias The wrathe of vndiscrete princis people ¶ There be whiche for none other cause moue Warre but to th entent they may by that meane the more easily exercise tyranny on theyr subiectis For in the tyme of peace the auctorite of the counsaile the dignite of the rulers the vigor and strengthe of the lawes do somwhat let that a prince can not do all that hym listeth But as soone as warre is ones begunne now all the handlynge of matters resteth in the