AN ESSAY OF the Meanes hovv to make our Trauailes into forraine Countries the more profitable and honourable VERITAS TVA ET VSQVE AD NVBES At London Imprinted by H. L. for Mathew Lownes 1606. To the Reader HAuing framed this discourse long since for mine owne aduertisement what might and ought to be done by Trauaile and now considering the manifould errors and misprisions that the greater sort of such as trauaile into forraine Countries haue heretofore committed because these dayes wherein we now liue are no lesse disordered then when pilgrimages were on foote and how few haue arriued vnto that perfectiō which was requirable for the wāt of a Guide or Counsellor to aduise aduertise them of the fairer and more readie way to make their trauailes somewhat more profitable and honorable I haue been encouraged worthy Reader vpō the vertue of the yonger sort of such noble gentlemen as intend so recōmendable a course to prepare and addresse the same by way of Essay the rather also for that in other languages I haue suruayed some of like proiect for other Nations who I am sure stand not more in neede then wee in this State doe Protesting as in the inferiornesse of the stile may well appeare that neither vanitie of glorie nor selfe presumption being of many the most vnworthie to haue enterprised this taske nor other priuate respect then dutie to my good friends that haue requested this at my hands and Zeale to my louing Countriemen hath made me publish it For considering of all voluntarie Commendable actions that of trauailing into forraine States vndertaken and performed Regularly is the most behoueable to be regarded in this Common-weale both for the publike and priuate good thereof singularly also for that the same is not vndergone with ordinarie charge care hazard or taking of paines but of most vncertaine issue and commoditie to Trauailers It seemeth vnto mee vertuous Reader a faire dutie where other worthie men haue beene so long silent in giuing a perfect rule for Trauailing as it is in vse at this day to begin the hewing out of one that by some master workeman it may hereafter be better planted formed and tried Moreouer I thought good for the informatiō of some Readers to vncouer my intent in sundrie points therin cōtained And first that wheras diuers other sortes of Trauailers are mentioned thē those Generall Voluntaries for whom this discourse was framed they are honoris gratia obiter Salutati and rather by way of order then worthie to receiue direction mentioned Secondly that whereas by the found of some words some people and Nations may thinke they be taxed in certaine points notwithstanding therein I may say Nihil iam quod non prius ab omnibus dictum fuit yet I trust the honest Reader will perceiue may meaning to bend rather to the rectifying then preiudicing of any Thirdly where any point is obserued by way of secreat or policie that no other Construction be made thereof then the literall to ensample and aduance knowledge Fourthly that considering for the priuate respect of the most vnexpert more Minute Subdiuisions and points are cōtained then per aduenture will rellish with the taste of some that such will take for their better stomacke the benefit of those Marginall notes which for their sakes I haue set downe Lastly seeing not only we here in England may as all other Nations in the world doe account it a shame that there should be so many and such fugitiues vnworthie of the honourable name of Trauailers as this Land hath affourde hertofore who haue not afterwards made conscience of their owne wayes nor of others but like the most pernitious haue communicated with all euill and mischiefe in their trauailes to subiect their own Countrie Princes State Parents friends and all that is held deare in this life let me discouer so much of my secretest affections vnto thee discreet Reader that the preuenting hereof was one of the first motiues to vndertake this worke And so I heartily pray to God to make thee happie in all vertue and godlinesse and to set to thy helping hand as much as in thee lyeth to encounter that imputation to our Countrie leauing vnto thy discreete iudgement moreouer these Tables which are here abstracted for the ease and aide of mens memories And so I bid thee farwell From Wingham the first of Iulie 1606. Tho. Pal. TO THE MOST Excellent Illustrious and vertuous Prince HENRIE eldest Sonne to our Soueraigne Lord the King and Heire apparant to the Kingdomes of Great Britaine c. * ⎠* COnsidering with what libertie and Applause Princes in times past vndertook voluntarie trauaile aduentures into forraine parts and how of latter dayes those Illustrious Stemmes of noblenesse I know not now by what custome restrained of that recreation and renowne haue notwithstanding improued their pretious times at home vnto no lesse rent of commoditie commendablenes by suffering themselues to be trayned vp and delighted in the faculties and knowledge of diuine and humane things I haue presumed most excellent and gratious Prince humbly to prefer vnto your rare protectiō and view this Essay of the means how to make the trauailes of other men who for the good of this kingdom wherein they liue so happily their better seruice to his Maiestie and making of themselues more Compleat in all things haue faire libertie desire to aduenture trauaile somewhat more profitable and honorable not only before trauaile but in the interim of trauaile and after their returnes First because your highnesse is in all happie possibilitie to be a most noble Iudge of all mens deserts in this point rather then to make experience your selfe therin vnlesse in Martial causes wherin I know not whether I may account your royall Auncestors Princes of this State to bee more happie alwaies in their good successe or in the faithfulnesse of their voluntarie great traines Secondly for that the people of great Britaine of all other famous and glorious Nations separated from the maine Continent of the world are by so much the more interessed to become Trauailers by how much the necessitie of euerie seuerall estate of men doth require that for their better aduancement Lastly in regard this subiect hath not worne an English habite hertofore from the custom dew to Princes in the Novelty of things I thought it my dutie vnder the compasse of my obligation and seruice vnto your Highnesse to make a present hereof although but meanly apparelled and suited and in most humble wise to beseech the greatnesse of your Excellencie to fauour patronize the same Which gratiousnes I must euer acknowledge sir to proceede from the cleare fountain of your generous ingenuous and princely disposition vnto all bountie goodnesse and vertue and the world alreadie knowes that your singular towardlines to euerie good perfect thing is such that neither can it or is likely to be paralleled of any in the world so long as your
discipline Fiftly vnder the extraordinarie cause of Expense or the lauishe spending of the treasure Sixtly vnder the strange Impositions and exactions on subiectes Seauenthly vnder the apprehension of that which most impouerisheth or enricheth a State Lastly vnder the knowledge of such Weake places vpon the borders confines and costes of the Countrie as also within the Land wherein I would aduise Trauailers to bee verie studious for so much as this point only is of great moment to bee well sought into Out of which there arise contrarie secreates mutatis mutandis Whereof Trauailers cannot be ignorant being so common and familiar Finally about these or any other let not Trauailers omitte to procure with their purse what by discretion obseruation and friends cannot be attained vnto Thus much concerning those sixe pointes of generall knowledge that accomplish the peregrination of men and make them compleate in knowledge of thinges It now remaineth to handle briefly the behauiour of our Trauailer when he shall returne home to liue afterwards wel cōtented happily the which we see fewe do But afore wee can obserue the offices he must vnder goe when he commeth home there are certain points of him to be performed before to fit himself against his returne if so be he expect speciall grace and prefermēt afterwards which being an honorable colour spurre of vertue may neither bee neglected of Trauailers nor indecided of vs. These rest chiefly in two points First in aduertising frō time to time by Letters during their trauaile some one of the priuie Councell and none other of the Countrie to which they belong of such occurrences and things as chance worthie to be sent and committed to consultation and viewe Wherein let Trauailers bee prouident to whom they giue aduertisement For otherwise their labour may bee lost or crost with ingratitude and vnthankefulnesse Neither is it necessarie that such a Councellor should take knowledge of them before their Trauaile for this action will be get acquaintance and tie that Councellor afterwards to yeelde such an one due respect Neither is it conuenient for Trauailers to aduertise any other whatsoeuer of those matters they send to a Councellor nor to aduertise many Councellors of things the one arguing lightnesse the other hazardeth the respect of those Councellors vnlesse it be apparant that the Trauailer is many wayes tied to those Councellors in their owne knowledge Wherein also hauing occasion to write of diuerse matters let him diuide those matters amongst them with discretion Moreouer let our Trauailer take heede to aduertise an vntruth for certaintie but as touching reportes and rumors let him handle them discreetly and touching diuinings probabilities and consequences let thē be sparingly or not at all set downe to Councellers whose wisedome ought to haue the reference and collection of them But vnto other persons and friends they are sensible and plausible enough Lastly in the sending and dispatching of such letters to Councellers wherein are supposed to be importances let our Trauailer bee verie circumspect for it were better for him not to write at all then by writing either to hazard himselfe or bewraie imperfections And therfore let him take heede to aduertise any thing that is treasonable or offensiue to the State in which he remaineth Vnlesse such light vpon good and sound Messengers or vnlesse it concerne the life and safetie of his Prince and Countrie wherein only hee ought to hazard his life especially if his Prince haue no Ambassadour in that State at the present Hence springeth that second office to bee perfourmed of our Trauailer That hee make oft repaire to the Ambassadour of his Prince in case there remaine any there aduertising him of such importances as shall chaunce vnto him in that Countrey where hee abideth with the Ambassadour before hee committe the same in writing to any Counceller at home For that seemes to derogate from the Ambassador from whom all importances are expected besides negotiations and argueth no good carriage of such a Trauailer vnlesse in speciall cases namely where the cause vrgeth haste to giue aduertisement which by distance from the Ambassador can not so competently bee dispatched if the same should be first giuen vnto him and where the Ambassadour is no friend of that Trauailer For it is the office of euery Subiect thus trauailing whether hee goe out of the Land with his Princes Ambassadour or be in trauaile before or trauaile afterwards to giue attendance on his Princes Ambassador especially going to the Court. For that is an honour to his Nation and Prince and a point of ciuilitie belonging to the person of an Ambassador that equalleth during his legation any Subiect in the worlde if so such an one be resident or neere his person Of which humanitie an Ambassadour cannot be vnsensible no more than the Councellor written vnto but is tied to haue his discretion and wisedome in recommendation which oft turneth to the good of Trauailers when they returne home to their Countrey Thus hauing brought home our Trauailer there rest onely sixe offices to be vnder gone of him whereby he shall reape contentment honour and estimation The first is that he manifest vnto all men his vncorrupt and vnspotted Religion and zeale therein Not onely in the due and orderly going to Church and seruing of God but making expression therof by the fruits of all vertues demeanours and actions and that singularly in sixe habilities and vertues namely Silence which vseth few words but fitly and to purpose Incuriositie which banisheth all affectations and apish trickes and fashions of other nations that are not more estimable then those of ones owne Countreys Customs and vses Spirit which shall free them from reproche quarrels and putting vp of dishonourable iniuries making him equally sensible with the Italianated Duellist but farre more iudiciall to take iust acception and make risentiment Prudence which being a discreet Councellor shal direct all his words and actions according to reason and to their proper ends Bounty which strippeth him of couetousnesse which in Trauailers is hateful and rellisheth of dishonesty Lastly Faithfulnesse and sociablenesse which shall enable him for all companies to be both honestly thought of and regarded the which is free from offering wrong from Lust and Sensualitie that dissolue loue and societie The second office is that he preferre not policie before honestie or equall with it either in matters affecting Honour Wealth or Reuenge whereof the Conscience must be a director and a Counsellor The third is that he make himselfe knowen to the Prince and Councell by commendable means onely in whose hands rest preferment and are to be supposed to esteeme men according to their worth and merit The fourth is in the choice such an one must make to procure him an honorable friend as is able to haue him in recōmendation to his Prince such an one as is not of a couetous minde but loueth vertue
is not much betweene the home States man not hauing spent some time in trauaile the compleate Trauailer for forraine matters Yet herein hath a Trauailer the start of a home States man which is fed by aduertisements only and is ledde by other mens eyes Euen as a Soldier in Action may presume of better euēt then the Theorist whose booke rules in accidentall things faile many times as in particular motions For the eye hath a more perfect sense in iudgement then the eare if the same be rightly considered by iudgement Of these sixe the tongue is the first by right to be discoursed of the right knowledge whereof is somewhat more then wee required such to learne before they vndertooke trauaile For now in the interim of trauaile it is requisite that Trauailers grow in perfection otherwise such as stay at home may ranke with them which is reproachfull The perfection wherof consisteth in three things namely in vnderstanding speaking and writing the same To vnderstand a tongue perfectly is not barely to vnderstand what is read or heard pronounced but to obserue the peculiar phrase idiom constructiō of words and singularly to note whereof the tongue hath his speciall deriuation if it be a deriuatiue or his composition wherin Trauailers cānot be too good Grāmarians For in these dayes there is the true confusion of Babell and languages through the world either deriuatiuely or compositiuely or both And though at all times the like might be auouched howsoeuer there was generally held many ancient Tongues as the Hebrue the Chaldean or Assyrian the Arabian and the Egyptian yet by their characters and composition it is euident that they were all confounded or perished sauing the Hebrue which was the most auncient of all the rest and the spring from which the rest deriuatiuely or compositiuely are descended necessitie and imitation being the parent of these and succeeding languages For Adam the good Grammarian of the Hebrue tongue appropriated words not ad placitum but according to the nature of things and framed a certaine idiome of speach which in his dayes was generally spoken till the confusion of Languages So since other Monarches of the world haue excogitated words according to the light of nature and operation of things vnknowne to perfect their deriued languages by composition and meere inuention Now as we see the simple and vncorrupt Hebrue Tongue was the originall to other Languages and singularly to the Phoenician Chaldean Assyrian these two only differing in that the Assyrian had the purer dialect and rellish of the Hebrue so euerie Monarchie haue arrogated the deriuation and composition of the Tongues subiected vnto them Hereof it comes that the foure Monarchiall tongues are accompted originals by vsurpatiō and not of proprietie namely the Chaldean or Assyrian which in the first Monarchie was famous to particular States subiected gaue words and manners of speach Howbeit the Armenian and Arabian languages held their own though in some wordes and phrases they might be by commerce cōfounded as we see other neighbour Countries through the world borrowe and search from others to appropriate their tongues So was it of the second Monarchie the Persian when not onely the Chaldean becāe corrupted but that Language also was driuen to search after the phrases and words of the Persian till the third Monarchie came vp by Alexander namely the Grecian the singularitie of which tongue for proprietie of words hath deriued it selfe into the veines of all Ciuil Countries but singularly of States tributary making the fourth Monarchie glorious namely the Romaine And this Monarchie stretched it self far and neere We see the generall esteeme of the Latine tongue through Europe giuing as it were deriuation vnto the Italian and Spanish tongues with many proper and apt words making also France Germanie England and other Iles Coūtries fertile by the proper idiom of that tong as tributary States to the same especially wher Colonies or gouernmēts be established Herof it coms to passe that our English tongue hath a smacke of the Britanish which is a deriuatiue from the Grecian or Natolian tongue of the Latine of the Scottish and Pictish of the Danish Gothish Vandalish and Norwegian of the Norman and French tongues and also of the Flemish and Wallonish which though not by conquest yet since the reigne of Henrie the first by permissiō haue inhabited this Land whereof our tongue rellisheth also as in these dayes through commerce and affaires of the Italian and Spanish and Irish tongues howbeit we hold that the Brittish tongue is one of the Eleuen mother tongues in Europe In like sort stāds the French tongue the Italian Spanish Scottish and Dutch though of others the most pure being fallats and good gallimaufries of others tongues according either as they haue beene conquered and gouerned by strangers or thorow comemerce stand in neede of one anothers wordes and phrases Wherof it may be concluded that euerie language in his owne Countrey is most honorable and equally ancient though it be a a deriuatiue quoad tempus but not quoad perfectionem Neuerthelesse we see some Languages more general then other more esteemed here in Europe and that for two causes One through situatiō of the Coūtrie which maketh other neighbour Nations of necessitie acquaint themselues with one anothers Language the which chanceth to few Ilands that they may trafficke and haue commerce Hence the French the high Duch and the Sclavonian tongues are generall tongues passing through many kingdomes and States The like may also bee alleaged for some other States within the Continent that haue been at any time great and enforced others to seeke to them The other cause is thorow the perfection of the tongue as of copiousnes learning cōtained therin the which also make the same generally to bee regarded for necessitie of knowledge or for perfecting their owne barbarisme Hence the Greeke and Latine tongues are so generally taught and learned thorow the greatest parts of the whole world the words and phrases whereof are so well knowen that the Princes of Europe negotiate and contract in writing in the Latine as the Turke with Christian Princes in the Greeke as also for that princes Soueraigne will not yeeld at this day the honour to other Kings than to those that are indifferent and cannot bee challenged of any people And hence haue the French and Italians gotten the starte of vs in that their tongue was sooner refined and cast into bookes of many arts and histories and points of knowledge though at this day the English tongue draweth neere to the glory of the best of them Lastly hence it commeth that the yong Gentlemen of England affect so much the Italian tongue For that containeth spirit of inuention good phrase vtterance and delightfull matter to their appetites But to returne to our point let Trauailers hauing made obseruance of these things concerning the
capabilitie more or lesse to comprehend the same Hence we see those that inhabite vnder the intemperate Zones hot or cold bee more brutish simple and sauage than others between the Tropicks and in the temperate So also it is to be vnderstood that no nation in the world how Courtlike soeuer but hath the dregs and lees of barbarous inciuility and that many heathen people by the light of nature meerly inscribed in their hearts rest for ensamples and reproofes to many ciuill nations gouerned by a diuiner knowledge in points of ciuil actions conuersation For proofe whereof behold how the English Scottish French Italians Spanish which are the most reformed courtlike people are tainted with some blemish of barbarousnesse the which of other heathen nations they might learne to reforme And though of all ciuill nations we here may iustly chalenge preeminence yet how barbarous are we in many things namely the Commons of this land in the entertainement of strangers pursuing them with the vncharitablenesse of hatred and despight like the Lithuanians that vse neither faith nor ciuility to them Neither are we alone for the Commons of France and Spaine carie as hard a hand toward strangers whereas the African heathen Negros are so charitable to strangers that nothing shall be denied them if it rest in their powers to relieue their distresse and wants In like sort are the people of the East India so respectiue of strangers that the State deputeth certain persons to supplie them with all things requisite and in case a stranger chance to die the merchants of their countrey shall haue deliuered vnto them their goods And verely of al reformed States ther is none I iudge more humane toward strangers at this day than are the Nobilitie of England of Polonia What vnciuisitie of manners and policie doth the Pope in most of his regiments vse forbidding marriage to Priests that which the Ethiopians vpon the same inconuenience politicke permitted notwithstanding rather hazarding the incōuenience of remisnes couetousnes than the mischiefe of many more horrible sins How vnseemly is the custome of the Frenchmen toward their King and ancients in nobility yeers Short of that the Arabians attributed to euery ancient in yeeres Behold what great respect the Turkes Tartarians and Persians giue to their Princes in which point the French come shortest All men know how sauage the Italians are toward their wiues by imprisoning cooping vp locking vp al thorow the heat of their ielous harts though themselues are the most Libertines thorow the world And yet the Parthian heathen are so courteous ciuill kind to their wiues as without manifest proofes they wil not be ouer ielous or suspicious From whom I suppose the French haue learned not a little renowne in that point not trauailing to presse down that which like y e Palme tree the more it increaseth Be not the Dutchmen most slouēly and sluttish in their apparell feeding wheras the Africans detest the same accounting bodily cleanlinesse and honestie a point of dutie And though the Turks and Indians other Barbarians of Africk and the sauage out-lawes of many nations eat their meat on the ground yet are they more neat cleanly than those Dutchmen or our Irish. So the barbarousnesse which of all other Nations possesseth those Dutchmen except the Tartarians or Hell-hounds which equally account it an honour to be drunke to eate to drinke and become more vnciuill than beasts It is not reprehended in the Scythians that cruell natiō none daring to drink any wine but such as the King shall drinke vnto and giue vnto which is commonly to those onely that in times of watre haue killed most of their enemies and shed most blood For amongst them none are reputed valiant but such as haue caroused the blood of men Doe not the Egyptians refraine to eate or drinke more than sufficeth nature and that for good cause seeing superfluitie of meate breedeth all diseases and many incurable The reparation of which abuse nature teacheth in the Schoole of brute beastes Hath not that enemie of reason of those Dutchmen and Tartars infected the greater number of our gallants and those of ciuill nations since their conuerse in the Lowe Countreys In so much that at ordinary assemblies some striue to be first and most drunke others are compelled to the like against nature and manners whereof many bitter incouueniences haue growen insomuch as I see not why it should be a lesse matter for any that compels another to drinke against his will and thereby mscarieth in health than in forcing any to eate or drinke poyson And it is knowen that vnder the raigne of heathen Monarchs it was a law at feasts not to bee compelled to drinke more than euery man pleased The Italian although in conuersation hee be not offensiue but obedient and humble to his superiour to his equall obseruant to his inferior gentill and courteous amiable to strangers and swimming in complements and louing tearmes yet the least occasion dissolueth auncient bonds of loue so vnsteadie and inconstant are they in ciuill offices noe lesse important then the other As it fareth with those that frequent our Ordinaries such as be gamesters the least crossing of whom though great friends and companions other waies looseth the simmond of frendship compounded in many places and many yeares at an instant For such would haue the world know the ciuilitie that is in them cannot brooke vnciuilitie profered without risentiment in the highest nature And as in picking of quarrells so in managing them I thinke no nation hath beene so rude in generall For whether cause be proffered or no or whether it stands men vpon to make iust risentiment and seeke reparation for iniurie or indignitie or whether such be in the right or wrong euerie man according to his fancie proceedeth or as the stare standes humorous What Gothishe barbarousnesse possesseth the Italians in the pursuite of their lust What vnciuilitie and alluringnesse to lust do their Curtizans in gesture and apparell vse And though the Tarnassariās a people in habiting the Cost of Bengala neuer marrie women before some white Christian or Mawhometan haue cropped their Virginities yet afterwardes doe they carrie themselues so ciuilly that the least inconstancie bringeth death on such not vnlike to an olde custome that the Nobilitie of Scotland vsed in times past to leuie the Virginitie of all such Maides as held of their Mannors and in case such were married before homage Virgineall done to their Lords they were subiect to great fines So by the like barbarous custome the chiefe sacrificing Priest of Calecut before the King would marrie his Ladie was enioyned to take the Assaie of the Queene and trie her Virginitie for which acte the king alwayes rewarded him with an hundred Crownes Yet wee see how detestable that barbarousnesse is amongst other heathen people that death is thought to good for any Adulterer or fornicator or deflowrer of Virgines
season and verie needefull in speciall cases Neuerthelesse there bee many verie pertinax in this opinion that Though a State shall inflict for good causes a greater punishment on malefactors for such and such crimes then the lawes of God or of Nature doo yet they are ignorāt by what warrāt of like policie any State may abbridge the rigor of the law of God in capitall offenses For such lawes say they are both iudiciall and eternal by which policie no doubt States may bee best gouerned for proofe whereof the abbridgers say they of such laws are by the heathē people that haue not the written law of God conuinced taught how to rule in like cases Of humane and positiue lawes there is a variable consideration according to the vse and titles that euery Countrie and State holdeth peculiarly almost As generally heere in England wee tearme our law by the name of Common law it being a peculiar law to this State and members So the Romans in times past called their law the Ciuile law Though indeed all good lawes as Iustinian himselfe confesseth may wel enough be tearmed Ciuile lawes yet for distinction sake let it bee taken heere whensoeuer wee shal name Ciuile lawes for those that were refined by the Emperor Iustinian and set foorth by him the which at this day are vsed in most of the ciuile States and Nations of Europe either in part or altogether From whence let Trauailers make this obseruation Whether the lawes of the Countrie wherein they trauaile be lawes prerogatiue or positiue For there are some Countries gouerned by lawes meerely prerogatiue of which wee will first expound to such as intende for to trauaile These kinde of Lawes be for the most part vnwritten and therefore require the more care to be searched out and into for their vncertaintie Moreouer let Trauailers obserue how farre the prerogatiue of Princes and States doth stretch ouer their Subiects For there are some so absolute and sole tyrannous that all things are gouerned according to the will of the Prince and euerie commoditie of the Countrie stands at the Princes pleasure Such is the Tartarian and great Cam. Others there are halfe tyrannous whose displeasure and will hath no law to curbe the vnrulinesse thereof such is the Turke the Muscouian and the Pope Others there are according as they are religious and fearers of the true God and Princes of ciuile and religious States whose prerogatiue is much but yet in ciuile and honest actions being free themselues from punishment of their lawes in some sorte and may from time to time dispense with and chaunge their lawes constituting new as is expedient for the good of the Common-weale Neuerthelesse some there are that haue of these also greater prerogatiue then others according to their gouernment and state of policie For better discouerie the law prerogatiue is to be searched either in the person of the Prince or in the Magistracie which hath his power from the Prince on State The Prince or State if it bee an Aristocracie hath absolute power not controulable to command anything action or person whatsoeuer carrieth semblance of good to the State or that cōtrarieth not the law of God of Nature Moreouer to forbid controule anything persō or actiō whatsoeuer of like nature whether by word of mouth whether by letters proclamatiōs edictes or such like means as Princes or States vse And lastly by cōmission to authorize other to reward and punish according to the offence done euerie fault that is not encountred by the Law positiue alreadie perseruing the life members and speciall liuelyhood of the delinquents The prerogatiue of the Magistracie may be discerned as in our Countrie in the high Court of Parliament in the authoritie of the Councell in that of the Starre Chamber in the Lord Chancellor Lorde Treasurer Lord high Counstable Lord Mareschall Lord Admirall in the principal Secretarie in the chiefe Iustices and iudges of the Land in each Maior and Towne Corporate and lastly in euerie high Commissioner and speciall Officer that the Prince of this Land deputeth to vndergoe any charge at home or abroad So is it in all other States and Countries The which being cōsidered by Trauailers they shal be able to discerne the authoritie royall of the Prince and State as well in Politicall as in Ecclesiasticall giuing making of Lawes Touching the lawes Positiue they bee either Political or Ecclesiastical The Political are either ancient Maximes of perpetuall obseruāce or Modern mutable The ancient are such as the Romanes called the Ciuile lawes in speciall such as the French their law Salique such as we the Common law The Moderne are all those lawes which goe vnder the name of Statutes Decrees Ordinances Edicts and such like being in all Ciuile States put into print the which are by so much the easier to bee attained vnto by Trauailers wherin they may at leasure discouer euerie thing as in a glasse either cōcerning the nature of the people or the State of the Countrie The Politicall lawes are changeable according to the standing of things that the State may grow to perfection The Ecclesiasticall are tradicions lawfull or vnlawfull The vnlawfull bee such as are contrarie to the lawe of God and tha◠in no sort tend vnto edification of which crue a Trauailer shall meete within most States But let him bee carefull to collect the best wheresoeuer the which hee shall discerne by their coates namely if they crosse not Gods word or destroy not more then they edifie The lawfull tradicions be rules or Canons of doctrine of manners of rites and Ceremonies pertaining to godlines that consent with the holy word of God and tend to edification Touching the rules of doctrin the Apostles inspired with the holy Ghost haue left many the generall and prouinciall Synodes of godly and honest minded men haue set foorth others the which are for the vnderstanding of the holy Scriptures verie profitable And lastly euerie lawfull State and Church hath absolute power without the consent of the Pope or any other forraine approbation to doe the like gathering euermore their constitutions rules form the word of God Touching those of manners and of Ceremonies euerie lawfull State and Church hath absolute power to decree that which shall be most agreeable with the nature of the State yet so as all those Constitutions tend to edification and bee so neerely drawen from the holy Scriptures and the best discipline of other Churches as neere may be These bee the exacte rules for to make discouerie wherby three commodities shall redound to Trauailers First they shall be able to iudge whether the Countries leane by their lawes to this or that religion Secondly whether the people be nourished in the right or wrong and lastly they may gather thereby the most sincere and vpright orders for the perfecting of their owne Countrie and informing themselues For when such are well seene
reason why one tongue is esteemed aboue another Why men treat in the Latine tongue for the most part The cause why we esteem the Italian tongue so much What the speaking of a tongue is What the writing of a toung is Whether euery tongue be of equal importance for trauailers Those toungs are best that profit most Tongues most needfull for this State The nature of the people the second point Fiue discouerers of the nature of people The first discouerer of the peoples nature Two causes of ciuility or barbarousnesse Rules of policy touching the nature of people The priuate vse that Trauailers are to make Meanes to interpret the nature of people The difference of natures No nation but may be tainted with barbarous fashions The consideration thereof The place of Ciuilitie and Barbarousnes Touching the varietie of manners what trauailers are to obserue and follow The second discouerer of the peoples nature Freedome or seruilenesse politicall Freedome froÌ„ slauery and misery By prescriptioÌ„ By arrogation By policie Ciuilitie the meanes to obedience Seruitude two fold 1. By oppression By depression The markes of seruitude Rules of policy touching the same The third discouerer of the peoples nature Religiousnesse or Profanenesse What is ment by these words Religious in Idolatrie and superstition A consideratioÌ„ The fourth discouerer of the peoples nature A triple consideration of warlike or effeminatenes The fift discouerer of the peoples nature The peoples condition discernable in three things The peoples inclination discouered in foure points Foure bewrayers of mens affections to vice or vertue Exercises tripâ—e Diet triple A triple consideration of apparell Conuersation The third point of knowledge The suruay of the Country In sixe points principally 1. Name 2. Populousnes 3. Situation 4. Qâ—antity 5. Commodities Naturall commodities foure â— Temperate ayre 2 Fruitfulnesse of the soyle 3. Plenty of Riuers 4. Springs and Baths Artificial commodities two 1. Buildings triply considered Seuen obseruations in Cities and Townes How the secret of places fortified may bee discouered A consideratioÌ„ of the naturall and of the artificial strengths of fortifications 2 Trades Mechanick sciences sixe Husbandry discouâ—red in three points Clothing Masonrie Carpentrie Smitherie Engining 6. Discommodities The fourth point of knowledge Concerning Lawes Lawes diuine and humane The Law is triple 1. The law of God Note Note 2. The Law of Nature Lawe of Nations A consideratioÌ„ of moment Sed hoc non defectu legis sed sensus 3. The law Humaine Note Lawes positiue variable Lawes prerogatiue How to discern lawes prerogatiue Lawes positiue Politicall Ecclesiasticall Customes Generall Particular Regal Particular Customs Regall Quia scripsit contra LutheruÌ„ The foure markes of Souereigntie Customes of the Nobilitie The fift point of knowledge Concerning the gouermeÌ„t Three things remarkeable in the gouernmeÌ„t 1. The persons gouerning Three formes of gouerment 2. The gouerned 3. The policie or Instruments The meanes how to discern the policie The sixt point of knowledge concerning the secrets The Common secrets of two sorts 1. Forraine A consideratioÌ„ of friends to an estate Two sorts of friends politicall The strength of friends Religious friends Warlike frends Freedome of friends 2. The State at home discernable in foure points 1 Sufficiencie of people 2 Store of coÌ„modities 3 Munition plenty 4 The Treasurie Priuate and publicke Seuen meanes whereby treasures are gathered 1. Reuenue 2. Conquest 3. Gifts 4. Tribute 5. Trafficke 6. Merchandise 7. Taxations Ordinarie and extraordinary 6 Causes to exhaust treasures 1. Almeshouses 2. Housekeeping 3. Reparations and buildings needfull 4. Due payments 5. Gifts to straÌ„gers and offisers 6. Donatiues politicke Secrets Accidentall Where those secrets may be discerned 1. NegotiatioÌ„s and Contracts 2. Suâ—cessiâ—n by election and by inheritance Heires apparant infants of the State A due consideration of the person of the Prince that ruleth The consideration of the people gouerned in sixe points The instrumeÌ„tall secrets obserued in eight points 1 Dearth 2 Mortalitie 3 Lostes 4. Defect of Iustice. 5. Riot and expenses 6 Impositions 7 The good or euill of the State 8 Weaknesse of the State Their discretioÌ„ vpon returning Note Sixe points to be perpended of Trauailers being returned 1. Manifestation of sound Religion 2. Honestie before policie 3 To be known by vertuous indeuours 4 To be stored of a worthy friend 5 Constancie without ambition 6 Diligence trauailing at home for aduertisments
like publike matters of the State which deserueth a publike and peculiar regard of subiects State and taketh away the hatred of taxes and impositions by rendering the same back againe to the hands of particulars and States good wherby profit honour and securitie ariseth Fourthly vpon the due payment of Souldiers and men of Martiall affaires the which argueth discretion and high care to encounter infinite occasions of euills both growing in the Commanders as common souldiers whereof a prying care must be had Fiftly vppon strangers as Embassadors and such of forraine Nobilitie as are therby retained in loue and office to bee tenderers of the honour and weale of those States of visiting Princes and also vpon Officers and men of good deserte within the State Lastly vpon the policie of the State it self for retaining of friends or procuring thē by donatiues politicke lendinges out of which arise many secreates according to the seuerall motions or actions of a Prince or State in vertuous or vitious dispending the same The last point of this common secreat is to note what ordinarie and extraordinarie treasure is euermore reserued in the State And as it is a daungerous thing in times of warre and troubles to vndertake businesse vppon borrowings or vsurie vnlesse in speciall cases so also it is perilous to assemble a greater treasure then is meete for that causeth subiectes oft to murmur if the same come from them or inuiteth other States to picke quarrelles to be nibbling therewith Lastly whether there be such niggardlinesse of the Prince seeking to spare treasure as hee diminish much the dignitie of his household and also the Maiestie of his person Whereof wee read that King Lewis the Eleuenth of France whome Philip de Comines so much extolleth so farre diminished his houshold as hee forbad his Nobles to followe him in Court at the least at their owne charges as that hee was faine to employ his Taylor for his Heralde at Armes his Barbar for an Ambassadour and his Physician for Chauncellor And for his person hee was so respectlesse as hee continually ware an olde course cloth Cappe and leauing a recorde for buying a paire of meane sleeues to an olde plaine doublet of his And also in his accomptes was obserued to pay xv pence for so much dripping to grease his bootes Thus much concerning the common Secreats Quaere tamen si sit frugalitatis causa propter Reip. bonum The Accidentall follow which are such as chance daiely in or without a State and that so diuersely as that we can but giue an assaie or taste of thē to Trauailers in this treatise For euerie action of the State wherin one trauaileth or of other forraine States vnfould secreates and are meete materialles to diuine of future things which now in the interim is to be required of Trauailers Those accidentall secrets are to bee sought in three thinges namely in the persons gouerning in the persons gouerned and in the instrumēts From the persons gouerning I obserue these points First what be the negotiations and contractes the State or Prince offereth and maketh with other States frō time to time the which although they seeme hard to come by yet discreet carriage and liberalitie will purchase them Secondly what order euerie principalitie hath in the succession of their gouernour whether by election or by inheritance The first ordaining of a Prince by election was good to auoyde all such wants and imperfections as raigne ordinarily in Princes hereditarie yet such corruption inuadeth this age that sildome soueraigne Princes will constitute their vicegerent or elect Prince of an other State a man popular or that is wiser then themselues And sildome wil subiects that are few in number to make election elect men of more spirit wisedome worthinesse then thēselues vnlesse in special cases wherof the Colledge of the Cardinalls and the Electors of the Emperor find ease and profitte Those Countries that are by succession of inheritance are likewise of two sorts generall and speciall Moreouer vnder this maine secret dependeth the insight into the Lawes concerning the disposing of the Crowne and the Wils testaments and deuises that are made by Princes to bequeath the same so farre forth as they in right may be stretched Thirdly concerning States that go by inheritance let it be considered who be the next apparant heires to the State either by the law of the Countrie or the law of Nature or other pretences Vnder which also let it be noted how where and after what order those infants are brought vp and what hope there is of them Fourthly what wisedome and discretion the Prince is of whether hee be wise enough to discerne the aduise of his Councell subtile enough to perceiue whether his Councell plot more for their owne particulars then for the publike good and honour of their Soueraigne or whether he rule not all things at his wil without consult of his Councell what spirit he is of how studious to warre and peace what care and order the Prince taketh to see good iustice done to euerie one and so of all other vertues that crowne Princes with honor and establish their gouernment the like arise of the Magistrates But the contrarie must bee gathered from the imperfections vices of the Prince and Magistrates mutatis mutandis Lastly what choise of persons the Prince hath about him for fauourites and whether hee carrieth an euen hand amongst them By which secrette the inclination of the PRINCE and his abilitie and weakenesse maye bee concluded Concerning the persons gouerned our assaie resteth in sixe Considerations First whether the people bee giuen to much libertie and so suffered to continue as in the State of Venice and through Italie Secondly howe they stand affected to their Prince and gouernment Thirdly whether the Commons suppose not they see much into gouernment and think themselues wiser then the Councell of State the which is dangerous whether the same be deriued from presumptiō of Nature or frō the inspectiō the people haue into the gouernours cariage conuerting all things to priuate commoditie Fourthly how the people stand affected in rumors of warre like accidents Fiftly who are the persons in greatest fauor and estimation amongst the people besides the Prince Lastly whether the Nobilitie contemne not the Commons and Citizens and whether the Commons hate and enuie not the Nobles in outward shew the which breedeth a great thirst after alteration either of religion or of policie the one springing from zeale the other from malcontednesse and factiousnesse The Instruments follow which likewise be the subiects of many secrets and may be included vnder eight heads namely vnder Dearth of the commodities of the land Secondly vnder Mortalitie of men and the heauie hand of God on the people Thirdly vnder the Losse of shipping of Munition and Dominions Fourthly vnder the Want of Iustice and good