For giftes do blind the eies and peruert the words of the righteous No magistrates therfore must presume to take gifts vnlesse they be to be eaten or drunke vp within three dayes at the furthest that not of suters for they giue them to the intent they may corrupt their authority and so speed of their owne pleas and pursuites Let them rather imitate Cicero who as long as he was Pretour of Cilicia would neyther himselfe receyue nor permit any of his company to take presentes no not that beneuolence which by the law Iulia was due vnto him At Thebes the images of iudges were put up without hands wherby is meant that they ought not to receyue any rewards that were offered them There is at this present time a publique law amōg the Switzers that magistrates vnder paine of death should not take any thing eyther directly or vndirectly for iudging The fourth Plant. Of the Education of Gentlemen Chap. 32. MAn is by nature a gentle creature who with his happy nature getting good education becommeth diuinely disposed but if hee lacke this education he waxeth the most wicked of all creatures that are borne vpon the earth Many drops of water as wee see falling vpon the hard marble stone do pierce and make it hollow And the ground being well tilled and manured beareth goodly corne So in like maner a man well brought vp acknowledgeth his duty towards his Maker knoweth how to conquer his owne affections Whereas contrariwise Gentlemen being euill nurtured cā neuer vnderstand how farre the power and abilitie extendeth that God hath giuen them For they neuer read it themselues neither are they taught by them that know it Nay few that vnderstand it are admitted to their presence and if one bee yet dare he not instruct them in it for feare of displeasure or if happily at any time hee put them in minde thereof no man will abide him or at least he shall be accounted but a foole peraduenture also it may be taken in il part and so turne to his harme Howbeit the vertuous must not abstain from their godly admonitions seeing that they cannot benefite the common-wealth more then when they teach and instruct young mē especially in those times wherein they are so corrupted that they must needes by all well disposed persons bee refrained and restrained of libertie One saith I am an heire borne to a thousand pound land Another sayth I haue a fat farme and a house well furnished What cause haue I to feare Let the world chance as it will Another againe craketh and breaketh his lungs wel-nigh with windie bragges because he is a Knights eldest sonne fetching his pedegree by a thousand lines and branches from some worthie Lord and because some neere kinsman of his is made Censour Maior Iustice of peace or Lieutenant of the Shire to whom he may say Good morrow Cousin Infinite are the fooleries of youth which by due correction and diligent exhortation must bee rooted out I will therefore comprehend their education vnder foure lessons The first is instruction vnder which are cōtained foure rules The 1. wherof is to teach children the feare and loue of GOD and to shew them that they must not glorie too much in worldly goods Secondly to teach them how to bridle their tongues to bee modest and to embrace vertue for education properly is nothing else but a bringing vp of youth in vertue Thirdly to shew them the facultie of exercise which serueth to the maintenance of health and strength by ordering the body with light and gentle exercises Fourthly familiarly to declare vnto them examples as well of good men as of wicked men that thereby they may learne how the good are rewarded and the wicked punished The second lesson appertaining to the instruction of youth is prayse that is to commende them when they doe well that thereby they may bee incouraged the better to goe forwardes For youth is like vnto moyst and soft clay and for that respect is to bee egged on to glorie in well doing The third is counsell which must bee giuen by their sage Vncles or auncient men concerning their dutie towards their parents elders and teachers The fourth poynt of instruction is threatning and correction which is to bee vsed when they offend and neglect to follow the aduice of their teachers and when they beginne to bee headie stubborne and selfe-willed This the diuine Philosopher verie well noted saying that a boy not as yet hauing fully and absolutely giuen himselfe to vertue is a deceitfull cruell and a most proud beast Wherefore he must be bound with a schoolemaster as it were with a strong bridle The causes why so fewe Gentlemen no we adaies be vertuously disposed Chap. 33. I Find that there bee foure causes why so few Gentlemen in this age attaine to the knowledge of vertue The first is the corruption of the whole world for now are the abominations of desolation These be dayes of vengeance to fulfil althings that are written The minds of men are so peruerse and barren that they will not receiue the seed of true wisedome Their cogitations are too much bent to the pompes and follies of this transitorie world The second cause proceedeth of counterfeit and vnsufficient teachers whose onely occupation is couertly to woo yong scholers that come guidelesse and headlesse into the Vniuersitie and 〈◊〉 gotten them into their nets they afterward let them runne at randon But 〈◊〉 iudgement such youths as suffer 〈◊〉 to be snatched vp for haukes meate in this or the like maner do therin imitate sicke folkes who refusing the good Phisician by some braine-sicke mans counsell doe commit themselues to the tuition of such a one as by ignorance killeth them The third cause is the niggardize of parents who continually labour to gather the drossie and vnconstant pelfe of this world and in the meane time make no reckoning of their children but permitte them to grow old in follie which destroyeth them both bodie and soule The fourth and last cause is the indulgence and fond loue of the parents who take their sonnes from the Vniuersitie as fruite from a tree before it is ripe or rather as pullets without feathers to place them at the Innes of Court where as I haue written in my Commentarie vpon Persius they gad to Stage-playes are seduced by flattering coni-catchers Whether youths ought to be corrected Chap. 34. A Good huswife knoweth how hard a thing it is to keepe flesh sweete and sauorie vnlesse it bee first poudred and put in brine So likewise it is impossible for parents to reape any ioye of their sonnes except they bee first corrected Roses must needes wither when they be ouergrowne with briers and thornes and children that are assailed and ouertaken by whole legions of affections must at last fall if they be not accordingly succoured * Hee that spareth the
suffred chap. 20. Of vsurers chap. 21. Of the particulars wherein vsurie is cōmitted chap. 22. Whether it be lawfull for an householder to ingrosse corne in the market to the intent hee may sell the same another time at a deerer price ch 23. The fift part Of Hospitality chap. 24. Wherein good hospitality consisteth chap. 25. Why housekeeping now-adaies is decayed chap. 26. Of Almes and the forgetfulnes thereof in these dayes chap. 27. Circumstaunces to be obserued in giuing of almes chap. 28. Of Fasting that an housholder should obserue fasting dayes chap. 29. Of the true fast chap. 30. The third Booke The first part Of a commonwealth chap. 1. The diuision of a commonwealth ch 2. Of a monarchy chap. 3. That hereditarie succession is better election chap. 4. The duties of a Prince chap. 5. Of the name of Emperour chap. 6. Of the name of a King chap. 7. Of a Gynaecracie or womēs raigne ch 8 Of Tyrants chap. 9. Whether subiects may rise against their soueraigne being a Tyrant or an Hereticque chap. 10. Of an Aristocracie chap. 11. Of a Democracie chap. 12. The second part The members of a Commonwealth chap. 13 Of Noblemen chap. 14. The properties of a Gentleman cha 15. That Gentlemen must not greatly respect what the common people speak of them chap. 16. Of Knights of honour chap. 17. Of Citizens chap. 18. Whether outlandish men ought to be admitted into a citie chap. 19. Of Marchants chap. 20. Of Artificers chap. 21. Of Yeomen their oppression ch 22. The third part Of Counsell chap. 23. Of Counsellours chap. 24. Of Parliaments chap. 25. Of Iudgements chap. 26. Of Iudges and their duty chap. 26. Of Bribes and going to law chap. 27. Of Magistrates chap. 29. Of the great cares and troubles of Magistrates chap. 30. Whether magistrates may receyue presents sent vnto them chap. 31. The fourth part Of the education of Gentlemen ch 32. The causes why so few Gentlemen nowadayes bee vertuously disposed chap. 33. Whether youths ought to bee corrected chap. 34. Of scholemasters their duties cha 35 That scholemaisters should haue large stipendes allowed them chap. 36. Whether it be better for parents to keepe their sonnes at home with a priuate scholemaister or to send thē abroad to the publike schole chap 37. Of Tutoures in the vniuersitie and how to discerne a good Tutour chap. 38. The fift part Of Grammar chap. 39. Of Logick chap. 40. Of Rhetorick and the abuse thereof in these dayes chap. 41. Of Poetrie and the excellency thereof chap. 42. Of Philosophie chap. 43. Of the Art magick chap. 44. Of Physick chap. 45. Of Law chap. 46. Of the cōmon law of England chap. 48. Whether alteration of lawes be good in a commonwealth chap. 48. Of Diuinitie chap. 49. Whether two religions may be tolerated in one kingdome chap. 50. Of simonie one of the chiefest ouerthrowes of religion chap. 51. The sixt part Of the alteration of a commonwealth chap. 52. The effects of al the Cometes and chiefest Eclipses which haue hapned in this last age chap. 53. The causes of sedition and ciuill broiles chap. 54. Of Treason chap. 55. Of Idlenes chap. 56. Of Dice-play chap. 57. Of superfluitie in apparell another cause of the alteration of a commonwealth chap. 58. The seuenth part Of the cōseruation of a commonwealth chap. 59. Of Taxes and subsidies chap. 60. Remedies against sedition and priuie conspiracies chap. 61. The felicity of a Commonwealth chap. 62 The eight part Of warre chap. 63 Whether it be lawfull for Christians to make warre chap. 64 What warres bee most lawfull chap. 65. That before wee beginne warres preparation is to bee made of sufficient necessaries thereto belonging chap. 66. The duties of a Generall chap. 67. Of the choyse of souldiers chap. 68. Whether the straunger or the home borne subiect is to bee preferred chap. 69. How the enemy is to bee vanquished chap. 70. The conclusion of Peace The first Booke of the Golden-groue moralized The first part Of Gods nature Chap. I. FOrasmuch as all the endeuoures of humane actions do proceed from God and except hee build the house and vphold mens enterprises their labour is but lost that build I hold it a requisite point of my duty that in these morall discourses and politique traditions I beginne principally of his Maiestie and search out some essentiall property flowing from his Diuine incomprehensible forme For the accomplishing of which and of all the rest which I write assist mee O thou great Gouernour of heauen and iudge of the world with thy sacred power graunt I beseech thee that my mind may ascend vp into the straight and noble seate of vertue where I may find the fountaine of goodnesse and reueale the same being found vnto thine almost lost astraied sheepe Gods supernatural nature I confesse being euery way infinite cannot possibly be contained by any limited creature Things subiect and familiar to sence are comprehended in the mind by an imaginarie resemblance of them but as for things infinite and not subiect to sence of which nature God is how shall I be able to imprint their likenes in my feeble and shallow braine No man hath seene God at any time yet we know him by his miraculous workes To come neerer his description I find that God is a most pure essentiall and actiue forme without mixture of matter forme or distinction of partes euery where alike and the very same And againe God is vncreate perpetuall that is he euer was and euer wil be he was not made of nothing for nothing according to the Philosophers saying is made of nothing The Gentiles albeit wāting the light to vnderstand perfect truth were yet all of them for the most part amazed at the excellēt glory power of God Pythagoras said that God was a liuely mind that pearced into al things of whom al liuing creatures receiued their being Thales esteemed him to be an vnderstāding that created all things of the element of water Chrysippus called him a naturall faculty endued with Diuine reason Thus we see that there is engrauen in the hearts of men a certaine feeling of Gods nature which cā neuer be rooted out And although swinish Atheists doe laugh at that which I haue written touching the Godhead yet that is but a laughter from the teeth outward because inwardly the worme of conscience gnaweth them much more sharply then all hote searing irons Finally to leaue the Gentiles opiniōs I iudge it not amisse if wee satisfie our selues to beleeue that God is almighty his might vnsearchable his power admirable And as the soule is wholy both in the whole body also in euery mēber of it so God is wholy both in the world likewise wholy in euery part of the same Of the knowledge of God Chapt. 2. DIagoras and Theodorus were not ashamed to dispute against the Deitie Neither as I
or of flattâ—rers Fiftly let him compare his owne deeds with those of the holy meÌ„s in times past Sixtly hee must not enquire what the common people say of him Seuenthly let him take heed by other mens harmes and muse vpon the case of those men who desiring to eate some fruite regarded not the height of the tree whereon they grew but laboured to climbe vp to the toppe and so fel downe headlong by reason of the weakenes of the boughes Of Fortitude Chap. 28. THe meanes to discerne a valiaunt man be eight The first if he be not astonied in aduersity nor proud in prosperity but leading both the one the other within the square of Mediocrity Secondly he is a valiaunt man that is milde and courteous of nature Thirdly if he scornes priuily to ouercome his aduersary Fourthly if hee contemne to fight in a bad quarrell for fortitude without equitie is the fewell of iniquity Fiftly if hee giue not place to miseries but goeth the more couragiously agaynst them Sixtly he is a valiant man that sorroweth to die an inglorious death Seuenthly that feareth shame As Hector did when his friendes counselled him not to goe out of the city Eightly hee is a valiaunt man that will fight stoutly in his Countries defence and not feare to die Such a one was Captaine Diagio of Millan who in the yeere of our Lord 1400. beyng enuironed with fire and enemies not finding any means to defend his charge or escape honestly with life threw ouer the wall of the place where he was inclosed and where no fire as yet burned certaine clothes and straw and vpon the same his two children and sayd to his enemies Take you here those goods which Fortune gaue me but my goods of mind wherein my glory consisteth neyther will I giue them nor can you take them from mee The enemies saued the poore children and offred him ladders to conueigh himselfe downe safe But hee refusing all succours chose rather to die in the fire then receyue life from the enemies of his countrey What shall I speake of sir Philip Sydney sir Richard Greeneuil and sundry others of our owne countrymen who of late yeeres not vnlike to those of auncient times so highly commended willingly and valiauntly lost their liues rather then they would trust to the mercy of the Spaniards In briefe * commonly they that are most affrayd to offend the lawe are in the field most stout against their enemies and will shunne no perill to winne fame and honest reputation Of Foole-hardinesse Chapt. 29. FOole-hardinesse is the excesse of fortitude vsed for the most part of Caualeers and tosse-pots For seldome is it seene that they at any time haue fought in iust causes or haue obserued the circumstances belonging to true Fortitude Their properties rather are to flaunt like Peacockes to play the Braggadochians and to trust most impudently in the hugenesse of their lims and in their drunken gates Such are many of our yong Gentlemen who by their wise parents are sent so timely to learne wise fashioÌ„s at LoÌ„don Such are they I say who cary beehiues and commonwealths in their pates who iet now and then in the streetes with bushes of feathers on their Cockescombed sconces and goe attired in Babilonian rayments But the higher they exalt themselues the greater will be their fall In the forefront of these madde-cappes may the Duke of Guise appeare who in the yeere 1588. one day before he was slaine as he sate at dinner found a litle scrowle of paper vnder his trencher wherein was written that hee should looke vnto himselfe and that his death was prepared But hee in the same paper rashly with his owne hande wrote these wordes They dare not and so threw it vnder the table By whose example let men take heed how they persist in any thing rashly for although the Poetes say that Fortune helpeth an audacious man yet notwithstanding that helpe is quickly ouercast and broken by the wofull calamities of the body Wherefore wee must deeme it expedient to resist and turne backe foole hardinesse rather late then neuer Obiection An audacious Braggadochian being knocked runneth away therefore there is no difference betwixt a foolehardy man and a coward Aunswere Two things are to be respected in a foolehardy Braggadochian 1 Madhardinesse or rashnes which leadeth him into daunger 2 Weaknes of nature not agreable to his mind this is the cause why he trusteth sometimes vnto his heeles rather theÌ„ his hands Of feare and Pusillanimity Cha. 30. EVen as the foole-hardy Caualeer trauerseth vp and downe like a Lion so a fearefull man is a pusillanimous meacocke he feareth his owne shadow by the way as he trauelleth and iudgeth ech bush to be a rouer When he is among Gentlemen he holdeth his head downe like a dunce and suddenly sneaketh away like an vrcheon He is either by nature melancholike or by vse a niggard or a tenderling such a one was that Gentleman of Portingall who craued of king Sebastian in the yeere 1572. a protection against some who had sworne his death The king gaue it him Shortly after he came againe vnto the king and complained vnto him of the great feare he was daily in notwithstaÌ„ding his protection Whereunto the king wisely answeared from feare I caÌ„not protect you Farre more feareful then this Portingall was that yong Gentleman of Patauine who of late yeeres beyng in prison vpon some accusation heard by one of his frieÌ„ds that of certainty he should be executed the next day following Which newes so terrified chaÌ„ged him that in one only night he became white grai-headed whereas before there was no appearance thereof The cause of this so wonderfull an alteratioÌ„ was feare which grouÌ„ded vpon a false opinion of mischief seazed on his heart and consumed it like a pestilent canker according to that saying A suddaine alteration hath no great beginning And again Vsuall things are seldome feared For being long expected how can they chuse but fall out lightly To conclude it is the first and suddaine feare that bereaueth the mind of aduise but often consideration of it breedeth confidence and quite expelleth all maner of feare The sixt part Of Temperance and Continence Chapt. 30. ALl vertues do make a Common-wealth happy and peaceable but temperance alone is the sustayner of ciuill quietnesse for it taketh care that the realme bee not corrupted with riot and wanton delights whereby diuerse states haue beene cast away This is that vertue which hindreth dishonest actions which restrayneth pleasures within certaine bounds and which maketh men to differ from bruite beastes Moreouer this is that hearbe which Mercury gaue to Vlisses least he should tast of the enchauntres cup so with his felows be traÌ„sform'd into a hog this is that vertue which great men ought specially to embrace that by their example the common sort might become temperate For
intolerable in a wel gouerned common-wealth And chiefly for six reasons First all Stageplayes were dedicated vnto Bacchus the drunken God of the Heathen and therefore damnable Secondly they were forbidden by Christian parliaments Thirdly men spend their flourishing time ingloriously and without credit in coÌ„templating of plaies All other things being spent may be recouered againe but time is like vnto the latter wheele of a coach that followeth after the former and yet can neuer attayne equally vnto it Fourthly no foolish and idle talking nor iesting should be once named amongst vs. Fiftly stageplaies are nothing els but pompes and showes in which there is a declining froÌ„ our beleefe For what is the promise of Christians at their Baptisme namely to renounce the Diuell and all his workes pompes and vanities Sixtly Stageplayes are the very mockery of the word of God and the toyes of our life For while we be at the stage wee are rauished with the loue thereof according to the wise mans wordes It is a pastime for a foole to do wickedly and so in laughing at filthy things we sinne Of Cruelty Chap. 52. THere bee two sortes of cruelty whereof the one is nothing els then a fiercenesse of the minde in inflicting of punishmeÌ„ts The other is a certain madnes together with a delight in cruelty of which brood I accouÌ„t theÌ„ to be who are cruell without cause The causes that procure cruelty be three The first is couetousnesse for as the auncient Latin Oratour recordeth madnesse is the father of cruelty and couetousnesse is the mother thereof The second is violence naturally ingraffed The third cause of crueltie is ambition which soweth in it a hope and desire of clyming higher Now to beautifie our subiect with examples I bring forth first of all Galeace Sfortia Duke of Millan who being woÌ„derful wroth with a poore man that by chaunce had taken a hare which he in hunting before had lost compelled him to eat the same raw skinne and all Further the Spaniards of all nations vnder the cope of heauen be most cruell as appeared by their monstrous and horrible cruelties exercised vpon the miserable Indians whom they in stead of alluring by faire means to the knowledge of the Gospell made some to be deuoured of dogs and others to be cast downe headlong from steepe hilles Moreouer many of our own couÌ„trymen haue bene eye-witnesse of their barbarous tyrannies In the yeere of our Lord 1588. they brought with them hitherward gagges and such like torments to inflict vpon vs if by Gods mercifull prouidence they had not beene speedily preuented and miraculously confounded and I pray God all they may be so serued that intend cruelly to vsurpe and incroche vpon other mens rights Neither with silence can I ouerskip the cruelties of Cardinall Albert Archduke of Austria and deputy of the lowe countries on the King of Spaines behalfe This Cardinal about foure yeeres since hauing taken Caleis in Fraunce spared not man woman nor child But Tigerlike caused them all to be butchered Likewise about a yeere and a halfe a-goe the said Cardinall departing from the low couÌ„tries with inteÌ„t to be maried vnto the king of Spaines sister that now is left Frauncis Mendoza Admirall of Aragon his substitute to wage war in the low countries But what cruelties this Mendoza together with his ragged â—out hath committed within this twelue-moneth the whole world reporteth and especially they of Cleue land his owne confederats to their vtter vndoing can beare witnesse of the Spanish cruelty God of his goodnesse preserue our realme of England from their rauening clawes abate their pride which already beginnes to rise and to assaile the reformed Church of Christ. The ninth part Of Patience Chap. 53. PAtience is a vertue that is exercised in tolerating mildly of iniurious words of losse of goods or of blowes But alasse wee shall now-adaies sooner find them that wil do away themselues rather then they will beare any thing patiently the reason of this their impatieÌ„ce is because they know not the effects of patience which are these following namely first to hope well and then if any thing happen besides their expectations to beare the same patieÌ„tly SecoÌ„dly not to be moued without a cause Thirdly not to giue place to any trouble Fourthly not to enuy them which manage although simply matters of estate Fiftly a patient man must spare him that hath offended him being his weaker and must spare himselfe if his stronger hath iniuried him For what skilleth it whether fortune alway displeaseth thee canst not thou coÌ„temne her frownes accoÌ„pany God the authour of all things without murmuring Consider with thy self how God tempteth some good men with aduersity lest that long prosperity should puffe vp their minds with pride how he suffereth others to be molested with pensiuenesse and damages that thereby they might confirme the vertues of their mindes Perhaps thou complainest of sickenesse or of sturdy seruaunts Admit thou art so vexed yet notwithstanding remember that there is no passion so great no calamity so grieuous whose waight mans nature fayleth to sustaine Follow the example of Casimire Duke of Polonia who playing at dice with a certaine Nobleman of his realme chaunced to winne a great summe of money and thereupon would needes giue ouer But the Nobleman whose money hee chiefly wonne was there at so fiercely moued that hee stroke his Duke and by the benefit of the night escaped away scotfree Neuerthelesse the next day following hee was apprehended and brought before the Duke euery man beleeuing that he should lose his head Yea many of the Barons perswaded the Duke to put him to death Whereunto his grace aunswered in this wise Truely I know no cause why I should punish him seeing that whatsoeuer hee did was done in rage my selfe rather am woorthy of blame for that I vsed such vnseemely gaming wee must giue losers leaue to chafe But to returne to my matter percase thou art poore suppose thou be canst thou not by study ouerwhelme this griefe nature is with a little satisfied I am banished thou sayest and by enuious flatterers brought into disdaine among my chiefest friends What wilt thou therefore torment thy body and mind and deface the workemanship of God no For these misfortunes are not peculiar to thee alone but common eyther early or late vnto all mortall creatures Let the freedome of thy banishment comfort thee as that which is farre to be preferred before domesticall seruitude In fine forget not to thinke vpon those famous wights who chaunced to be buried in a forraine soile Of Anger Chap. 54. ALthough I haue written of this furious vice els where yet notwithstanding I will aduenture once againe to expresse the same in a more familiar tongue to make it appeare the more easie I hold anger to be daungerous for nine reasons First it is contrary to Gods spirit for where by it wee are
mildly and modestly towards their inferiours The sixt that Princes bee not partiall in their subiects factions The seuenth the Prince his Coūcell must not giue care to euery tale and crafty deuice for it may be that the enemy hath his intelligence in the realme The eight to cast out Heretickes and Schismatickes frō amōg the people The ninth to muster traine the people once a moneth in martiall affaires The tenth is to discard stageplayes vsury extorsiō bribes and such like abominable vices Of Taxes and Subsidies Chap. 60. THe peace and tranquillity of a commonwealth can neuer be had without souldiours nor souldiours without maintenance pay not pay cā be purchased without taxes and subsidies which are the lawfull reuenewes of the Prince to maintaine his Realme But thou wilt say taxes and subsidies bee for the common good of the Realme not for the Princes maintenaunce To which I answere that the Prince may likewise vse taxes and subsidies to his priuat royalty which is after a maner conioyned with the honour of the Princely state that hee beareth How is it possible for a Prince to beare a stately port vnlesse hee hath sufficient reuenewes Let therefore all true hearted subiectes giue vnto Cesar that which is Cesars tribute to whome tribute belongeth and custome to whome custome Without this ground we had long since been a pray vnto our enemies The Scots would haue swalowed vs vp The Spaniards also would haue triūphed cruelly massacred vs as they did the poore Indians None but wizards and niggards will seeke to be exempted from contributions shake off the necessary yoke of obedience Experience layeth downe before our eyes the successe of them that grudge and rebelled against their Prince for taxing The beginnings haue beene vngodly and the ends miserable In the yeere of our Lord 1381. the cōmons of Kent Essex to the number of threescore thousand rebelled against king Richard the second beyng their Soueraigne but they were discomfited and the most part of them sharply punished Likewise in the yeere 1484. a great commotion was moued by the commons of the North by reason of a taxe which was imposed vpon them of the tēth peny of all their lands goods But their rash attempt was speedily broken and their ringleaders hanged at Yorke By this wee see the miserable issue of all such rash reuoltings and therewithall consider how detestable they are in the sight of God Let therfore al subiects patiently endure whatsoeuer subsidy is leuied and night day beseech the Lord to graunt thē peace whereby their taxes will become shortned Remedies against sedition and priuy conspiracies Chap. 61. THe plaisters that are to bee applied vnto sedition be diuers according to the causes therof Yet notwithstāding I will epitomize and draw some of them into a breuiary First the Prince must betimes forethinke to alay the seditions which beginne to kindle For euery mischiefe at first is soone cured but being let alone and taking farther roote it gathereth more strength Secondly the Prince must by espials know who slaūder or speake euil of him Howbeit respect must be had lest the innocent be iniuried Thirdly the Prince must proclaime rewards to the reuealers of conspiracies Fourthly the Prince must aforehand remoue munitions and artilleries out of the way put them in safe custody In so doing he shall find the seditious the more tractable Fiftly the Prince must seuerely punish the authors of sedition lest they that come after go about to imitate such wickednesse Sixtly the seditious must be sundred by some policy or other Seuenthly the seditious must be allured with ambiguous doubtfull promises Eightly the Prince must diligently looke that his loyall subiects cōmunicat not with the seditious for such communing together at such times and in such sort is very daungerous especially for the party that is like to take the foile Ninthly the Prince must * send men of honour and dignity vnto the rebels vnder pretence of reward to the intent that their Captaines who desire innouations may be withdrawen from them Of the felicity of a commonwealth Chap. 62. THe felicity of a commonwealth is when by some Diuine prouidēce frō aboue there meeteth in one person the right maiesty of a Prince and the mind of a wise Philosopher For then needeth no cōpulsion no rigour no extremity to bridle the subiects what is more delightfull then to see the true image of vertue in their visible Prince then to heare the wise lessons and golden speeches issuing out of such a mouth Happy I say is the Realme where the Prince imitateth the order of an expert Phisicion who whē the remedies which he prepareth to cure the weakenesse of the inferiour members encrease griefe in the head he throweth away all infirmities most light and with the fauour of time hee proceedeth carefully to the cure of that which necessarily importeth the health of the patient or commōwealth The eight Plant. Of warres Chap. 63. BEcause * a Prince ought to be prouided against all chaūces as well of warre as of peace it will not bee amisse if I write somewhat of warrelike affaires The original whereof in my opinion proceeded from Nemrod the iolly hunter before the Lord. The Graecians inuented first of all the vse of armour And the Almaines deuised in the yeere of our Lord 1381. gunnes being the most terrible engines of al others Now touching the causes and effects of warre doubtlesse God seing that no benefits could fructifie nor threatnings disswade vs from our disobedience sendeth warre as his fearefull instrument to rouse vs frō sluggishnes to plague vs for our manifold iniquities according to that dreadfull alarum which long since hee sounded against vs. If quoth he you wil walke in my ordinances I will send peace in the land but if you will not obey me but despise my cōmandements I will send a sword vpō you that shall auenge the quarrell of my couenant and you shall be deliuered into the hands of the enemy This the Spaniards of the Island saint Maries knew felt this last Summer being the yeere of our Lord 1599. insomuch as when two English ships and one ship of Amsterdame had taken the said Island and the Generall had demaunded the Spanish Gouernour wherefore hee yeelded so soone Hee answered that the sinnes of the inhabitants were great and therefore it was bootlesse for them to resist As for the discommodities of warre they be infinit it treadeth vnder foot the lawes of God and man it maketh the Church to be derided and placeth tyrants in the throne of Iustice. In conclusion warre enduceth many malecontēts to follow the importunity of the time and breedeth pestilence and dearth for victuals spent dearth must needs ensue Whereupon sundry infectious diseases spring Whether it be lawfull for Christians to make warre Chap. 64. ALthough the Marcionists haue heretofore doubted whether Christians might make
money to faine theÌ„selues with child made of a cushion for coÌ„cealmeâ—t wherof the bawds must be wel bribed to caper in mens armes til they haue guld theÌ„ of their purses to counterfeit teares with an onioÌ„ yea to vse fine glozing speeches as Sir you mistake your marke I am none of your wanton Gilles you abuse my credit my mistris cals me And immediatly after perceiuing the lusty wooer to haue mony in his purse she begins by degrees to listen saying Many men will promise much but performe little they beare vs in haÌ„d vntil they haue got their pleasures of vs and then away they go but you loâ—ke like an honest man After this the bawdes seeing their wenches deformed they giue theÌ„ drugges to raise their colours and to seeme fairer This is the bawdes acquisitiue facultie whereby they liue Some bawds haue a dozen damsels some lesse yet of euerie man they take largely as 20. shillings a weeke or tenne pound a month It is said that loÌ„g Meg of Westminster kept alwaies 20. Courtizans in her house whoÌ„ by their pictures she sold to all commers But I returne to the extirpation thereof We reade that Theodosius the great in the yeere of our Lord 392. vtterly chased al stewes out of his Empire For which notable act his name eueÌ„ at this day is greatly honoured No lesse praise deserueth Henry the eight of famous memory for abolishing putting down of the stewes in London which then were innumerable Therin he imitated the good K. Iosias who brake down the houses of the Sodomites that were in the house of the Lord. Finally no man is ignorant that the pestilent disease of the French pockes was sent as a punishment to stewes Of Vsurers Chap. 21. HE that receiueth any thing ouer and aboue the capitall summe that was lent is an vsurer For which respect I compare him to an aspet for euen as he that is stuÌ„g with an Aspe falleth asleepe as it were with delight but dieth ere he awakes so an vsurer taketh great pleasure in his interest at the first but at length he is so ouercloyed with money that he can neuer enioy any rest the cause is his conscience which like a multitude of furies vexeth his heart and fortelles him of his euerlasting damnation Hence it is that the Romanes inflicted as great punishment on an vsurer as on a theefe and not without cause for hee that killeth a man riddeth him out of his torments at once whereas an vsurer is long in punishing and vndoing his creditour causing him by little and little to pine away Also an vsurer by vndoing of one vndoeth many namely the wife and whole houshold Moe Gentlemen heere in England haue Vsurers Banquers and Marchants driuen to despaire then either warres or sicknesse For when a yong Punie commeth vnto them desiring to be credited for money or apparrell then one of them counterfeiting themselues forsooth to be coy like women wil burst foorth into these termes The world is hard and wee are all mortall wee may not venture our goods God knowes howe wee earne our liuing wherefore make vs assurance and you shall haue tenne poundes worth in silkes and veluets Well this passeth on currant assurance is giuen with a witnesse A little after if the Gentleman hath not wherewithal to pay as wel the interest as the principall agreed vpon whensoeuer this reprobate cut-throate demaundeth it then presently as round as a ball hee commenceth his statute-marchant against him and for tenne poundes profite which was scarce woorth fiue pound in money hee recouereth by relapse ten pound a yeere O intolerable wickednesse O diuelish haberdashers and worse then those vngodly tenants who seeing their Landlords heyre comming sayde one to another This is the heire come let vs kill him and wee shall haue his Inheritance Darest thou O wretched cormorant hope to bee saued and expect to bee partaker of the heauenly blessings Art thou a Christian and wilt suffer thy brother in Christ thus to miscarie through thy entanglements exactioÌ„s No no thou art a member of Sathan thou art in the gall of bitternes and in the bond of iniquitie Obiection The lawes of England do permit vsurie to wit two shillings in the pound therefore an vsurer is not wicked Answere It is one thing to permit vsurie and another to allow thereof By our positiue lawes is meant that those men who cared not howe much they extorted out of poore mens handes for the loane of their money should bee empaled and limited within certaine meeres and bounds lest they ouerflowed reason So that the lawes do but mitigate the penalties and if it were possible they would restraine men from it Of the particulars wherein Vsurie is committed Chap. 22. A Man committeth vsurie sixe maner of wayes First whosoeuer lendeth corne vnto his neighbour with promise that at the redeliuery thereof he should giue him somewhat more is an vsurer As for example if he lend to a man fiue bushels of corne at May vnder condition that he giue him sixe bushels at Bartholmewtide Secondly hee that forestalleth and intercepteth corne in the market and that not for any want but to sell it againe dearer then hee bought it thereby to enrich himself with the impouerishing of many Thirdly he committeth vsury that for the loane of his mony receiueth a greater gage then the money valueth and claimeth the same as forfeit the money being not repayed him at the prefixed time Fourthly he is an vsurer that lendeth his money vpon coÌ„dition that the other buy his necessaries at his shop or grind at his mill Fiftly he is an vsurer that keepeth false ballances and that selleth bad musty things for good and new Finally hee that incloseth commons turneth tillage into pastures is an vsurer Whether it be lawfull for an householder to ingrate and ingrosse corne in the market to the intent he may sell the same another time at a dearer price Chap. 23. WHosoeuer hee be that forestalleth corne in the market and traÌ„sporteth it home into his garners there keeping it vntill a dearer time fall out without doubt committeth vsury For euery maÌ„ ought to sell as he bought and doing otherwise he is an vsurer and must make restitution of the ouerplus The which if he denie he is eftsoone depriued of all power to make his last will and testament Besides there be statute punishments ordained for the repressing of this filthy lucre as forfeits to the Clerkes of the market finesâ—to be paid to the Prince if the foresaid party be taken in the maner In summe his cankred gold and siluer which hee hath thus receiued of the poore buyers and the rust of them shall be a witnesse against him at the feareful day of iudgement and shall eat vp his flesh as it were fire The fift Plant. Of Hospitality Chap. 24. HOspitality is the chiefest point of humanity which an housholder caÌ„ shew not
only vnto his frieÌ„ds but also vnto straungers wayfaring men For which cause he that keepeth a good house and entertaineth straungers is said to receiue Christ himself Which likewise another holy father confirmeth saying We must teÌ„der hospitality without discretion lest that the person whom we exclude and shut out of doores be God himselfe This Abraham knew very well when hee accustomed to sit in his tent doore of purpose to call in trauellers and to relieue them Among whom he entertayned on a time three Angels This also was not vnknowen to Lot when as he vsed to harbour ghestes and compell Angels beyng vnder the shape of pilgrimes to come into his house Wee read that the harlot Rahab for her hospitality was saued with all her household from death at the winning of Iericho Wherefore O yee that be rich see that yee keepe good hospitalitie and relieue the impotent and distressed To conclude if we consider more narrowly and pierce more deepely with a sharpe eye into the benefits of hospitality though no other cause could perswade vs yet the monumeÌ„ts of the new testament might exhort vs thereunto Wherein good hospitality consisteth Chap. 25. THey are greatly deceyued who thinke that hospitality doth consist in slibber-sauces in spiced meates or in diuersities For these are nought els saue fooleries and fond wasting of goods whereby the flesh is prouoked to lechery becommeth altogether inflamed massy and diseased Further experience teacheth that none are more subiect to sicknesses then they that gurmaundize and feed on sundry kindes of dishes The reason is because that those diuersities which they eat be repugnant and contrary the one to the other and breed putrifaction and corrupt humours within their bodies Whereas contrariwise they that liue on one sort of meat and hardly do looke faire lusty well complexioned and most commonly attaine vnto very old age Good hospitality therefore consâ—steth not in gluttonous diuersities but rather in one kind of meat in clothing the naked and in giuing almes vnto the poore Why houskeeping now-adaies is decayed Chap. 26. THe causes why hospitality is nowadaies brought to so low a saile are fiue The first is ambition which moueth Gentlemen that are of large reuenewes to weare gorgeous attires to traile a costly port after them to caualiere it abroad and giuing vp house-keping at home to take a chamber in London where they consume their time in viewing of stage playes in carousing of healths perhaps in visiting of courtizans The second is hatred which pricketh GentlemeÌ„ to fall out with their neighbors and to enrich the lawiers by commencing of suites and coÌ„trouersies The third is couetousnesse which perswadeth landlords to hoord vp substaÌ„ce for the Diuell to enhaunce incomes to rayse rents for feare least yeomen keep better hospitality then themselues and to conuert tillage into pastures In consideration of which abominable abuse it was most prudently enacted in the last Parliament that all landes which were conuerted into sheepe pastures or to the fatting or grazing of cattell the same hauing beene tillage lands should be before the first of May in the yeere of our Lord 1599. last past restored to tillage by the possessours thereof and so should continue for euer It was further enacted in the said Parliament that euery person offending against the premisses aforesaid should forfeit for euery acre not restored the summe of twenty shillings yeerely as long as the offence continued The fourth reason why hospitality is caried to so lowe an ebbe proceedeth of building for sooner shall wee see a Gentleman build a stately house then giue almes and cherish the needy The fift and last cause of the decay of hospitality is gluttony which enduceth men to prepare artificiall cookeries diuers sorts of meate wheras one large and wholesome messe of meat could peraduenture counteruaile yea and go beyond all their iunkets and dainty delicacies Of Almes and the forgetfulnesse therof in these dayes Chap. 27. THe poore being an inferiour family in Gods church are recommended by him to our charge namely that wee should relieue them in their distresse consider that whatsoeuer wee do vnto them we do vnto Christ himselfe who for our sakes left a glorious habitation and became poore Besides we must remeÌ„ber to giue almes vnto the poore in respect of that holy mans saying The poore crieth and the Lord heareth him yea and deliuereth him out of all his troubles Alasse let vs ponder with our selues wherefore did the Lord giue vnto many of vs such great aboundaunce of wealth in this life aboue our brethren if it were not to vse them well and to furnish the needy The simplest idiot of vs al doth very wel know that wealth was not giuen vs to hoord vp no nor to consume the same in superfluous vanities Why then do we keep our clothes in our presses our money in our coffers Why do wee misspend our goods in gaudy rayments in caualiering shewes in feeding of houndes in banqueting in reuelling and in a thousand trumperies besides oh why do we not waigh in our minds that whatsoeuer wee spend more then wee need is none of ours but the poores to detaine from them is to pill and poll yea and perforce to spoyle them What shall we say when God will demaund an account of our stewardships Doubtles except wee do out of hand repent and giue almes wee shall bee cast as a pray vnto the Deuill and with him bee tormented in hell for euermore O fearfull doome The misbeleeuing Turkes are woont secretly to send their seruaunts abroad purposely to hearkeÌ„ amongst their neighbours which of them hath most need of victuals money and apparell Yea more then that in their Musaph or Alcoran they haue these words If men knew how heauenly a thing it were to distribute almes they would not spare their owne flesh but would euen teare the same and slice it into carbonadoes to giue it vnto the poore The Papists that are ouerwhelmed in superstition and idolatry do hope although sacrilegiously to be saued by their almes-giuing Oh what a shamefull thing will this be against vs at the dreadfull day of iudgement Verily I feare me it will be easier for them then for vs to enter into the kingdome of heauen if speedily we amend not be bouÌ„tiful vnto the poore For whosoeuer stoppeth his eares at the crie of the poore shal also cry himselfe and not be heard Where now-adayes shall we find the woman of Sarepta to entertaine Elias where are Abraham and Lot to feast the holy Angels If Eliza were now liuing surely he should want his hostesse the Sunamite Nay which is more if Christ himselfe were here he should neither find Martha to welcome him no nor Mary to powre any sweet oyntments vpon his head The members of Christ make supplication and pray meekely but the rich giueth a rough aunswere Lazarus beggeth still without
Christ with whom the presence of his spirit will alwayes bee vntill the end of the world Therefore iniurie is done vnto him if wee allow of any other Monarch but onely him Answere EVen as it hath pleased God of his diuine prouidence to ordain the sunne Moone and elements as Emperours ouer this inferiour world so in like maner hee working by such meanes and instruments constituted Moses Iosuah and others iudges ouer his people by whome as his instruments hee brought to passe his sacred will and deliuered the Israelites from Egypt where they were enthralled And although hee defendes vs with an outstretched arme and hath illuminated vs with the light of his Gospel yet notwithstanding hee hath appointed Princes as his vicegerents and instruments heere on earth to see his word planâ—ed heresies rooted out and offenders by political lawes executed Monarches therefore must bee obeyed r as the ministers of God to take vengeance on the wicked There is no power but of God and the powers that bee are ordained of God Wherefore Let no man speake euill of the ruler of the Common-wealth That hereditarie succession is better then Election Chap. 4. MAny affect the place of a monarch not to any good end they being not good themselues whome neuerthelesse the custome or lawe of Nations hath restrained by a double bridle of election and succession The latter is that when maiestie commeth of descent and one Prince is borne of another The other when as birth-right being set aside they are chosen by consent of voyces Succession without doubt is the better as by reasons shall appeare First it is meete that the sonne possesse the Kingdome for the Fathers sake Secondly the sonne is brought vp to follow his fathers steps especially in defending of religion Thirdly the alteration of matters giues opportunitie to strange and great attempts Fourthly the sonne by nature from his father obtaineth a smacke of policie and beeing alwayes present with him knoweth the state of the Kingdome better then any other Fiftly the successour is woont to administer iustice more constantly and sincerely Whereas the elect Prince must in a maner fawne on his electours and newe subiects Finally No authoritie can prosper or endure which is purchased by canuasing and flatteries there is lesse danger in the acceptation of a Prince then in the election The dutie of a Prince Chap. 5. THere are foure cheefe qualities necessarie for a Prince to maintaine his reputation The first is clemencie to forgiue trespasses For as the Sunne when it is highest in the Zodiake moueth slowest so the higher a Prince is soared to greatnesse the more gratious and meeke hee ought to bee towardes his humble subiects The second to imprint the lawes and ordinances of God in his minde and to leuell all his actions to the glorie of the king of kings as well for the health of his owne soule which hee ought to hold dearer then his whole kingdome yea then all the world as for good ensample and imitation vnto his subiects The third is liberalitie to succour poore scholers and souldiours for as there is nothing more common then the sunne that communicateth his light to all the celestiall bodies and chiefely to the Moone so a prince ought to impart part of his reuenewes to the distressed and especially aboue the rest to students Souldiours The fourth to haue courage and vertue to tolerate abuses For Although his power and authoritie extend so farre that the countrie of India quaketh at his commandement although the farthest Island in the sea doth serue and obey him yet if hee cannot bridle his owne affections his power is not worthie to be esteemed Of the name of Emperour Chap. 6. THis name Emperour the Romanes first inuented not for their Kings but for their warlike Generalles Serranus Camillus Fabius Maximus and Scipio the Affrican as long as they gouerned the Romane hosts were entituled Emperours But when they finished their warres they were called by their owne proper names Afterward when Antonie was discomfiâ—ed by Augustus Caesar it chanced that the common-wealth came altogether into his hands Whereupon the Romanes desired that hee would not assume vnto himselfe the name of King because it was odious vnto theÌ„ but that he would vse another title vnder which they would bee his loyall and obedient subiects Then Augustus being at that time Generall and therefore named Emperour chose this title to doe the Romanes pleasure So that Augustus Caesar was the first that called himselfe by the name of Emperour The cause why they hated the name of King was by reason that their forefathers in auncient times hauing deposed their King Tarquin for his tyrannies and rapes had forbidden by an edict and solemne othe the name of King euer after to be vsed among them Augustus beeing dead Tiberius succeeded him in the Empire of Rome then Caligula Claudius Nero and foure and thirtie more before the Empire was by Constantine the great in the yeere of our Lord 310. transferred to Constantinople where it continued vnited vntill the yeere of our Lord seuen hundred ninetie and foure At which time the Empire was parted into the East and West which lasted in that sort vntill the yeere of our Lord a thousand foure hundred fiftie and three Constantinople to the great disparagement of all Christian Princes was taken by the great Turke called Mahomet the second Neuerthelesse the Empire of the West or rather of Germanie since that time hath as yet remained with the house of Austria Rodolph the second now raigning Of the name of King Chap. 7. TOuching the title of King it is to be noted that according to the diuersitie of Nations so did they diuersly nominate their Princes to wit among the Egyptians they named them Pharaoes among the Persians Arsacides among the Bythinians Ptolomeyes among the Latines Siluii among the Sicilians Tyraunts among the Argiues Kings among the Saraâ—ens Amiraes and nowe of late among the Persians Soldanes In the beginning of the world all Princes were termed Tyrants but when people beganne to perceiue how great difference was betwixt the one and the other they agreed among themselues to call the good Princes Kings and the wicked Tyrants Whereby wee see that this title of King is authorized only vnto iust Princes and that doe well deserue to be so named In this Realme of England there hath not at any time beene vsed any other generall authoritie but onely the most royall and kingly maiestie Neither hath any King of this Realme taken any inuestiture at the handes of the Emperour of Rome or of any other forraine prince but helde his kingdome of God to himselfe and by his sword his people and crowne acknowledging no Prince in earth his superiour and so it is kept and holden at this day Of a Gynecracie or Womans raigne Chap. 8. WOmen by gouerning haue got no lesse renowne then men as is euedent by learned
Histories For which cause The Diuine Philosopher found great fault with his countrymeÌ„ the Graecians because their Noblewomen were not instructed in matters of state policie Likewise Iustinian the Emperour was highly displeased with the Armenians For that most barbarously they prohibited women from enioying heritages and bearing rule as though quoth hee women were base and dishonoured and not created of God In the right of succession the sisters sonne is equall to the brothers sonne Whereby is vnderstood that women are licensed to gouerne aswell as men Moreouer there be two forcible reasons that conclude women to be most apt for Seignories First there is neither Iew nor Graecian there is neither bond nor free there is neither male nor female for they are all one in Christ Iesus The minds and actions of men and women do depeÌ„d of the soule in the which there is no distinction of sexe whereby the soule of a man should bee called male and the soule of a woman female The sexe rather is the instrument or meanes of generation and the soule ingendreth not a soule but is alway permanent and the very same Seeing therefore that a womans soule is perfect why should she be debarred by any statute or salique law from raigning The body is but lumpish and a vassall to the soule and for that respect not to be respected Secondly vertue excludeth none but receyueth all regarding neither substaunce nor sexe What should I rippe vp the examples of sundry nations which preferred women before themselues And for that cause they did neyther reiect their counsels nor set light by their answeres Semiramis after the death of her husband Ninus fearing lest the late conquered Aethiopians would reuolt and rebell from her Sonne yet young of yeeres and ignorant of rule tooke vpon her the principality and for the time of his nonage ordered the kingdome so princely that shee passed in feates of armes in triumphs conquests and wealth all her predecessours Nicocris defended her Empire against the Medes who then sought the Monarchy of the world and wrought such a miracle in the great riuer of Euphrates as all men were astonished at it for shee made it contrary to mens expectation to leaue the ancient course so to follow her deuice to and fro to serue the citie most commodiously insomuch that she did not onely surpasse all men in wit but ouercame the elements with power Isis after the decease of her husband Osyris raigned ouer Egypt and tooke care for so much prouision for the common wealth that shee was after her death worshipped as a Goddesse Debora iudged Israel Iudith the Bethulians Lauinia after the death of Eneas gouerned Italy Dido Carthage Olympias Pirrhus his daughter ruled ouer Epire Aranea was queen of Scythia Cleopatra of Egypt Helena after the death of Leo the Emperour raigned in Constantinople ouer all Asia as Empresse Ioanna was queene of Nauarre marying with Philip Pulcher the French king made him king of Nauarre in the yeere of our Lord 1243. Margaret ruled ouer Flaunders in the yeere of our Lord 1247. And another Princesse of that name y e only daughter of Valdemare the 3. king of DeÌ„mark Norway gouerned those kingdoms after her fathers death in the yeere of our Lord 1389. she tooke Albert the king of Swethland captiue kept him in prison 7. yeeres Ioanna was queene of Naples in the yeer 1415. Leonora Dutchesse of Aquitaine was maried to Henry Duke of Gaunt and in despight of the French K. brought him Aquitaine Poiteaux in the yeere 1552. Queene Mary raigned here in EnglaÌ„d in the yeere 1553. What should I write of Elizabeth our gratious Queene that now is which by her Diuine wisedome brought three admirable things to passe First her Maiesty reformed religion that by the Romish Antichrist was in her sisters time bespotted Secondly she maintayned her countrey in peace wheÌ„ all her neighbour Princes were in an vprore Thirdly she triumphed ouer all her foes both domesticall and hostile traiterous and outlandish If a man respect her learning it is miraculous for shee can discourse of matters of state with the best Philosopher she vnderstandeth sundry kinds of languages and aunswereth forreine Ambassadours in their forreine tongues If a man talke of the administration of iustice all the nations vnder the heauens cannot shew her peere In summe her Princely breast is the receiuer or rather the storehouse of all the vertues aswell morall as intellectuall For which causes England hath iust occasion to reioyce and to vaunt of such a gratious mother To whome the Monarch of Monarches long continue her highnesse and strengthen her as he hath done hitherto to his perpetuall glory confusion of all her enemies and to our euerlasting comfort Of Tyraunts Chap. 9. SIr Thomas Smith termeth him a Tyraunt that by force commeth to the Monarchy against the will of the people breaketh lawes already made at his pleasure and maketh other without the aduise and consent of the people and regardeth not the wealth of his commons but the aduauncemeÌ„t of himself his faction kindred Also there be two sorts of Tyrants The one in title the other in exercise He is in title Tyrant that without any lawfull title vsurpeth the gouernment In exercise he that hath good title to the principality and commeth in with the good will of the people but doth not rule wel and orderly as he should And so not onely they which behaue themselues wickedly towards their subiects are called Tyraunts as Edward the second of this realme in the yeere of our Lord 1319. and Alphonsus of Naples that lawfully came to the crowne in the yeere 1489. but also they are named tyrants which albeit they behaue themselues well yet they are to be called tyraunts in that they had no title to the principality as Sâ—eno the King of Denmark that vsurped this realme of England in the yeere 1017. and Pope Clement the eight that now is who about two yeeres ago seysed on the Dukedome of Ferraria onely by pretence of a gift which Constantine time out of mind bequeathed to the papacy Furthermore there be sixe tokens to know a tyrant The first if hee sends abroad pickthanks talebearers and espies to hearken what men speake of him as Tiberius the Emperour was woont to do The second if he abolisheth the study of learning and burneth the monuments of most worthy wittes in the market place and in the assembly of the people least his subiects should attaine to the knowlege of wisedome As Alaricus king of the Gothes did in Italy in the yeere 313. and the great Turke in his Empire The third if hee maintaine schismes diuisions and factions in his kingdome for feare that men should prie into his doings As the Popes haue done alway from time to time and of late daies the Queene mother in Fraunce The fourth if hee trust straungers more then his