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
and that hath credence with the Prince that is magnanimous and more feared for his vprightnes thaÌ„ hated for his policie according to Machiauel Fiftly being thus known vnto the Councel that he couet not special fauor after the guise of a sycophaÌ„t or after an ambitious maner of any other persons but that he make shew of a constant and an vnderstanding Gentlemen Moreouer though it be requisite to be thus generally knowen of all yet let such take heede to intrude into the friendship of any but with great respect and for good cause vsing modestie and sparingnesse euermore in reuealing of any thing obserued in trauaile vnlesse vpon demands and in vrgent causes and seldome any thing of a strange and incredible nature but to familiars and in priuate Lastly in our sixt point let our Trauailer from time to time procure of other Trauailers Merchants and others such things as they haue obserued for it is a thing impossible for one man to obserue all things fully in a small time required in trauailing to be knowen as we haue considered in the sixe generall points of knowledge comparing them with his owne as with such bookes as happily haue discoursed of them Finally let him plot to haue dayly intelligence if so be hee liue from the Court retired of euery accident forreine and domesticke in the Court Land and Citie by the which the obseruations made in trauaile shal be kept in continuall tilthe and being well husbanded shall occasion at the least sweete contentment the onely pleasure in the world which no worldling can obtaine if not aduancement in the State to doe more good than priuate persons in the Church and Common-weale which is the godly and proper ende of our trauaile and pilgrimage here on earth that thereby God may be singularly glorified the Prince serued the Common-weale and Church benefited and our selues prepared for a greater happinesse then can bee represented in any contentment in this life The which I hartily wish to be respected of all that intend trauaile and to all in all perfection FINIS Trauayling duple Regular trauailing Two orders of Trauaylers Regular Trauailers triple Foure things of Trauailers obserued Two moouing causes efficieÌ„t and finall Three efficieÌ„ts secondary of Trauailers The princes pleasure The maintenance of Religion The hope to do good in the Church and Common-weale Non Voluntaries duple Honorable Non Voluntaries Non Voluntaries not honorable Fiue circumstaÌ„ces required of the honorable Non Voluntaries Vertues and faculties required in Ambassadours Postes Intelligencers Pointes required in Intelligencers Base Intelligencers Men of warre Three generall offices of men of warre To be prouident and faithfull Not to exceed Commission To make true and diligent relation Inuoluntaries vpon displeasure Banished persons of two sorts Their offices in trauaile Such as trauaile for Religion and conscience sake In what cases their trauaile is warrantable Their duties before trauell No licentious humor may presse these forth Right ReligioÌ„ Toleration of Religion To sue for licence of the Magistrate What Countries are best for these to trauaile in Of three one free from danger Their offices in trauaile To serue God sincerely To obey the lawes and discipline Not to change the discipline being once Regular In discipline the doctrine not the policy is to be sought after Not to refuse any honest trad to liue by No excesse to be discouered No Diuers into the politicke gouernement or secrets Neuer to bee noted for idle persons Not trecherous to their owne Prince or Countrie Their offices when they returne Noe busie bodies or moouers of sedition To vse a godly and quiet conuersation Of VoluÌ„taries The moouers of Voluntaries The pleasure of parents The finall and efficient moouing causes considered Two lawfull final moouers The prime The secondarie is duple What times are fit to trauaile in What age is meetest to trauaile in These voluntaries are Nobles or Commons The nobles either make profession or not Foure notable professions Two rankes of Marchants Men of warre their offices The duties of marchants To accommodate their country with good and most needfull thinges Neuer to transport thinges prohibited To conceale the secrets of their Princes states Mechanicke trauailers The offices of Mechanickes in iourneying The consideration of the foure notable professions in noble trauelers Diuines inhibited trauaile but in speciall cases The person of a subiect belongs cheifely to the Princes disposition Foure lawfull pretenses of Diuines to trauaile The generall Counsaile A famous Librarie Ciuilians The offices of Diuines and Ciuilians To be settled and stable in Religion To be studious To take degrees Souldiers Two sorts of good Soldiers A Compleatâ— Souldier The first point of learning in a Souldier The second point of consideration The third The fourth The fift What maketh a good soldier A triple kind of seruice to perfect souldiers Their duties in seruice Note Physicians Two knowledges requireable in Physicians The studie of Physicians Common and accidentall diseases The vertue of Physicians These Voluntaries are to vndergoe sixe poâ—nts before trauaile The first point Fiue principall euil mouers of men to trauaile to be shunned The second point Knowledge Iudgement the enhablers of trauailers Without learning or experience no knowledge Iudgement the collector of profitable things The defect of learning or iudgement what it breedeth The third point Three things appertaine to themselues Qualities duple The necessary For Ornation Their vertues The rules of Art are as faith full helpers of mens memories Musicke rather a qualitie then a Science in trauailers of this kinde The fourth point To be well accomodated of all things needfull To trauell in a priuate fashion most gainefull The fift point What Countries men must resolue to trauell in Two enemies of an estate vpon cause A twofold coÌ„sideration of Countries friends What Countreys afford most gaine to trauell in Why men trauaile into Italy Fiue specialties in the commeÌ„dation of Italy England the best Court Italy a corrupter of men Rome the Forge of euil The sixt point Without the blessing of God men trauaile in vaine In the interim of trauaile sixe things are to be obserued The first The seâ—ond Three preuenters of mischiefes in trauailing Diet. Exercise Sixe things in iourneying to be regarded Moderation of Passion The Law of God the best Counsailer and Physician of the soule The third The fourth What customs are to be followed in other countreys No Customes in forraine States how wicked soeuer are to be publikely withstood The fift What things are chiefly to be exercised The sixt Sixe principall heads of knowledge which are to be learned in trauelling The meanes whereon all policie is grownded The Tongue the first point to be learned Three perfections in Languages What the vnderstanding is of a tongue The State of all Languages at this day The Hebrue tongue the Phoenician or Sarmatian Character Vnder the second Vnder the third Vnder the fourth The deriuation and CoÌ„position of English tongue The
to decree warre or peace or to enter into treaties concerning them The third is to institute and ordaine principal officers The fourth is to haue the last Appeale which is one of the true markes of Souereigntie vnder which dependeth the power to grant pardon to the condemned by course of law in fauour to redresse the rigor of the lawe and formall proceedings of Magistrates whether concerning life goods honor banishment or libertie In all which Trauailers shal find in most States great defect in fewe all absolutely For concerning the first what honourable Prince not naming the Pope the Turke the Tartarian and such like tyrants of himself without associates decreeth lawes And not without good cause for it noteth iustice and desire to gouerne aright knitting the Subiects to their Prince Neuerthelesse we see that in former times the Princes of this Land and of France as of òther States did constitute of themselues many good lawes in force at this day So touching the second there be some States that by custome and willingnes to complease their subiects will seldome make warre or entertain peace without priuate consent of their Councell or general debating of the Parliament Likewise of the third there is amongst States and gouernements a great diuersitie in the instituting and ratifying of principall officers which custome hath been brought from the Prince or State no doubt for the shew of the Common-weales good so the same be not transported to forraine States as the Pope arrogateth in Ecclesiasticall promotions And touching the last point we see also how great Princes are stripped of their Souereignty reigntie by the Pope in matters of appeale of giuing pardons and such like regalities to subiects and great offenders against their Prince and countrey Thus in these let Trauailers euerie where make obseruation how of custome either the States doe hold their Souereigntie or howe by like Custome they haue abbridged or lost their marks of absolutenesse Lastly let it be considered of the customes and prerogatiues of the Nobilitie of a nation the chiefe whereof resteth in their superioritie and preheminence in sitting going talking eating washing subscribing arrogating peculiar phrases and order of stile in writing and such like All which are to be considered by times places and persons that thus and by a customarie dutie and respect honour each other Wherein if Trauailers wil be verie iudiciall they had neede to be good heralds and studious in the customarie lawe and discipline of Armes of that nation Hitherto concerning the lawes and customes of a nation so briefly as we could to the vnexpert in the affaires of the countrey The fift point of knowledge now offereth it selfe which is concerning the gouernment of the countrey 5 The Gouernment hath a twofold managing therof the one exterior and discernable the other interior secret and priuate onely in a wise State to the Counsel thereof or onely lodged in the breast of the Prince which to a wise Prince is a high pointe of politicke gouernment Of this interior we will giue Trauailers a secret taste in the last part namely in the Secrets For the obiect of a Trauailer is properly the publike and reuealed gouernment In this Gouernment three things concurre First the persons gouerning secondly the people gouerned lastly the common and speciall policie or instruments that subsist for the establishing of a cōmon good towards all men by the vertue wherof life health peace prosperitie and happinesse without interruption is conueyed vnto the bodie politick Wheras the defect and vicious ordering of things soon corrodeth or putteth the same into a consumptiō irreuocable Concerning the persons gouerning we obiect to Trauailers a triple consideration according to the three-fold diuersitie of Cōmon-weales For by the persons gouerning we meane also those simple variable three formes of gouernment namely the Monarchial which is when the Soueraignty and supreme authority without controlment resteth in one person or Prince as in our King of Great Britaine The Aristocraticall is when as the lesser part of the people or of the Nobilitie haue the Souereigntie in body giuing lawes to the rest of people in generall and particular as the Seigniorie of Venice and the State of the vnited Prouinces in the Lowe Countreys And the Democraticall or popular Estate which is when as the whole people or greater part thereof in bodie hath the Souereigne authoritie Which had neede to bee well considered of Trauailers by so much the more as they see great learned men confounded or deceiued in the iudgements of them For neither the qualities of persons can change the nature or number of them nor can there bee any mixt State of forme and continuance but either by Graunt Permission Communication Association or Assignation of the Souereigne power to the members subiect But lest Trauailers might be misseled by the opinions of others let them obserue diligently in what persons and in which of these those foure markes of Souereigntie before spoken of in the Customes of the Countrey doe reigne which here for breuitie I omit especially the ordering of officers the decreeing of peace and warre and taking of Appeales But for the publishing of lawes the most ciuill States for the better securitie of them and content of the people are euer assisted in Monarchies with the three Estates And in some States also for the better dispatch of things many of the other three markes are committed but yet restrictiuely and vnder controulement Wherefore let Trauailers consider now these things aright and proue the censures of other men by those markes of Souereigntie which inuest the formes with supreme power Moreouer in the second place let Trauailers note what principall officers are in the commitment ordained to helpe the motion and gouernment of the helme of the State And lastly how farre their seuerall offices doe extend For the better insight into which there may bee gathered a triple consideration of officers namely first such as stand by ancient right and Custome as those which we cal Officers at the Common Lawe Secondly such as haue their authoritie by Commission and that from the prerogatiues of the Prince or State Souereigne Lastly such as are ordained by the positiue lawes of the land to vndergo any businesse for the good of the Common-weale Finally let Trauailers be carefull to obserue the maner and order of making publishing of lawes there vsed the course of entertaining warres the ordinarie policie vsed in time of peace concerning preparation for warres defensiue and offensiue the common course of proceeding in iustice and iudgement the places and times and ministers the fashion of punishing rewarding of all sorts of people acording to their deserts and such like appurtenances appendices of the gouernment Let these suffice for the persons gouerning The People gouerned wee cast into sixe moulds namely into that of Husbandmen of Handicrafts men and Labourers of Marchants of the Nobilitie and Gentrie of stipendarie
the interim of trauell Lastly what commendable carriages and behauiour such are to expresse at their returnes to the further honour of themselues good of the State and glorie of God The first of these according to the ancient diuision of Causes hath fowre head mouers but it may be impertinent to intreat of aboue two at this present namely of the efficient and finall For the formall esteemed causes which are pedestriall equestriall or nauticall stand either at the disposition of the efficient or pretend perfection and vse from the finall In like manner the materiall causes which pertaine either to the bodie or the minde though in subiect they differ not alwayes yet in consideration of the places and the things in them contained being obiects to be respected may either depende vpon the pleasure of the efficient or from the finall draw their motion and contentation There are only three iust efficients next vnder God which is the efficient of all good things in a secret manner that ought to stirre vp men to trauell from their Countrie which as a parent tyeth all in duetie to respect it before sorteine parts and wherein euerie one ought to leade his life godly and soberly to aduance the Common-weale thereof Those are first the pleasure of the prince or State or Law vnder which men liue The second in number though in order preferable aboue all things in the world is the maintenance and exercise of true Religion and Godlinesse The third is a godly thought to do good in the Church and Common-weale grounded either vpon probable reason or vndertaken for priuate necessitie and respect Seeing the two former belong either to Non voluntarie or Inuoluntarie trauellers it shall bee the more sparingly discoursed of them in regarde the Voluntarie are the the true subiects of our point in hand The Persons first occasioned to trauell by the Princes or States fauour are either men of peace or men of warre Those of peace are either honorable or not according to the circumstances of places persons and times to whom and in what times they are sent The honourable be either Embassadors Commissioners or Messengers with or without credence The not honorable be Postes and such like Currers necessarie in States to aduertise Princes speedily concerning their mindes or such as goe vnder the name of Intelligencers As cōcerning the honourable though the prouidence of euerie Prince State make election of meete personages to vndergoe such charge as is committed vnto them and are euer well instructed concerning principall matters and momentall yet for other mens obseruations there are fiue circumstāces required of these principall Trauellers to bee considered First from whom such are sent Secondly to whome and to what gouernement Thirdly what is their Embassage in speciall Fourthly what they themselues are so chosen to vndergoe the office of Embassadors of Commissioners or Messengers And fiftly that the States of those Coūtries fashiō of the people as welfrom whence as vnto which they are sent be pondered at the time of their legation which shal enable thē the more to be answerable in all points of cōsequencie that the Prince sending may be cōpleatly serued honored that the State or Prince to whome may accordingly admire and haue the Embassage and them in recommendation that the Embassage may take best effect And lastly that no reproche chance vnto them either concerning their traines or themselues but contrariwise commendation reward Moreouer it is required of such that they be eloquent to obtaine and efect that which they plead for in negotiations prudent in accusing excusing demanding denying and such like politicke affaires liberall honest humane popular but with respect ciuile in words and ceremonies faithfull aboue all carefull to dispatch affaires and painefull to ripen and prepare them and lastly obseruant in forreine affaires to get intelligēce These may be sufficient at this present As touching the not honorable though wee might be also silent passe thē ouer for the reasō aforesaid yet let these things be remembred First that Postes whether mediatly or immediatly be speedy and faithful to put in execution things committed to their charge Secondly as concerning Intelligencers and Referendaries being persons of notable esteeme to support the policie of the Estate by the knowledge of the secrets of forreine powers and daily occurrences that chaunce in them Wherby Princes may shew all offices vnto their friends and confederates and be sufficiently armed with knowledge to resist the malice of their enemies or encounter such as are held in iealousie These are sent out by the mediation of the Councell in most States or by some of the principall Of these Intelligencers it is required first before their vndergoing so dangerous an actiō To speak singularly the tongues that may stand them in stead in that Countrey out of which they must gather intelligence and to imitate the common gestures and behauiour of those nations to cloke their purposes the more artificially Also to bee well accōmodated of things needefull for their enterprises the which being variable and changeable according to the alteration of States and times haue no certaine rules Only this that such may safest trauell vnder the shewes of those people which that State wherein such must trauel to get intelligence hath the least ielousie of and are in good friendshippe Lastly to keepe the order and manner of their enterprise so secret as that those which send out such shall not know the plot of all things if so be the same be deuised by the Intelligencers themselues which is euer least dangerous Moreouer it is required of such to enure themselues to endure the accidentes of Sea or Land as stormes heate colde excesse of meates and drinkes sickenesse much riotte of speech simplicitie and such like And in a word whether abroad or at home let such be carefull they be not discouered for Intelligencers or had in ouermuch iealousie but so warily demeane themselues that they may aswell secure their own persons as benefite the State by their intelligence There is an other kinde of Intelligencers but base in respect of the former by reason they assume a libertie to say what they list who are inquisitors or diuers into the behauiours and affections of men belonging to a State the carriages of whom are verie insupportable oftentimes exercising any libertie and licentiousnesse to prie into the hearts of men to know how such stand affected But being also necessarie euils in a State I would counsaile such as vnhappily shall haue to deale with this packe of Muches not so fauourablie to suffer them to raile vpon the Nobilitie of this Land and discouer faults in the State to blaspheme and dishonor the Maiestie of God and of their Prince but rather to coniure such so as neuer afterwardes they shall delight in that humorous-carnall-tempting and diuellish profession The other sort which
that Common Weale Moreouer if wealth abound let not such spend that lauishly wantonly or carelesly For that benefiteth not any much lesse strangers in a strange Nation especiall the religious the same being a scandall to their profession So in matters and affaires of the ciuill State let them not entermeddle nor be curious searchers into the secrets therof For being placed in a State only for zeale of Religion they must giue continuall shew of vertue and shunne euerie thing that may breed iealousie least that State into which they are receiued hold them rather for Spies then for Religious professors Neither let such bee noted for fayneants and idle persons for such corrupt an Estate And let them bee euer kinde and respectiue to the people with whome they are suffered to liue amongst rather sufferers of iniuries then offerers of any wrong to them neuer accepting Duello but by the permission of the Magistrate for capitall wrong Lastly that thorough no perswasion of their friends at home or of enemies abroad or of their owne tempting affections they goe about treacherously or rebelliously to practise or rise against their natiue Soueraigne in any sort howe vniust or vngodly soeuer their Prince be but rather seeke vnto God to turne his heart and to giue a peaceable returne home vnto them The last point we will briefly handle concerning their offices when they happily shal be recalled or permitted to returne in two obseruations First that howsoeuer the State stands affected it being permitted to them to haue libertie of conscience and priuate exercise of Religion Not to attempt or consent vnto any commotion insurrection or any such treasonable action but to carry loyall hearts towards the Prince and State not once publikely speaking or writing against the Ecclesiastical policie nor be strict and ouer-precise in things externall and indifferent but carrie respect vnto the times and late standing of things vsing all things to the glorie of God without offence or breach of conscience And considering that there is of most things a ciuill and superfluous vse let such retaine the Ciuill and construe euerie thing rather to the best and to edification then to preiudice the conscience of one another leauing the superstitious vseage to those that vppon good knowledge doe vse theÌ„ That other is the sociable peaceable carriage of euerie one to his neighbour seeking al occasioÌ„s to encrease loue and mutuâ—l societie As concerning other things required in Trauellers let it be sough for in the Voluntarie trauellers which now offer themselues to be discoursed on being the proper subiect of our point in hand 3 Before wee enter into the listes of this matter there are some things considerable for there be some that go vnder the name of voluntarie trauellers moued out of their parents pleasure and will The callings of which may seeme equally lawfull no doubte so their parents performe their offices and haue them well guided instructed in the interim of their iourny for trauell to some bodies are as new birthes that beare them of dull mindes and sowre good quicke and sweete conuersing spirits and inclinations yea amendeth many imperfections of nature so as the lawfulnesse of the parents ende and purpose haue a lawfull pretence also Thus may the efficient and finall causes come foule one of another for the clearing of which confusion I iudge it needefull to consider a few words of the endes in generall that when the particular kindes of trauailers shall be mentioned their endes by implication may appeare Of endes lawfull there are two heades one Prime and principal the other Congruent and Secondarie The prime is diuine and spirituall That afterwards we may leade a more quiet contented and peaceable life to the honor and glorie of God with knowledge and vnderstanding And this no doubt ought to bee the first marke for euerie man to shoote at in this life that by doing the reuealed will of God euerie one may seek vnto himselfe the assurance of heauenly happinesse which is incomprehensible and eternall That other Congruent and Secondarie is agreeable also and fitting the calling of euerie particular being of two sorts Publike or Priuate The Publike is most honorable and should stirre vp euerie man with delight to vndertake trauaile for the good of ones Countrie Neither is the Priuate discommendable considering it giueth satisfaction or at the least sufficiencie to liue well and happily according to the humor of the world whereby it may be apparant that the motiues and ends of some are all one Moreouer seeing it may be doubted whether all persons may be included vnder the third ranke of Regular Trauellers and also whether all times be fitting for these to vndertake Trauaile And lastly whether euery age be congruent with these let vs in order cleare these three points To the first I obserue three Opposers to wit Nature which prohibiteth Infants and decrepit persons whose defect of vnderstanding and doting age pleadeth insufficiencie Imperfection others as fooles madde men and furious persons whose disabilities of minde are such as no hope can be expected for the one or other Lastly the Sex in most Countries prohibiteth women who are rather for the house then the fielde and to remaine at home then trauaile into other Nations but in speciall cases As touching the second what times are fittest for the voluntarie trauellers to goe in we must obserue a duple season either of their owne Countrie or of those whereinto they would trauaile Touching the first let none trauaile at those times when their Countrey is engaged with Ciuill or expecteth warres For to leaue the same in time of necessitie were vnnaturall and dangerous in the one case it being disparageable to leaue the Countrie when enemies inuade the same in the other case it may proue perilous to such many sundrie wayes And therfore that time is best wheÌ„ ones Countrie is in peace and tranquilitie Touching the second that the seasons also of such Countries where into such trauaile ought to be regarded it belongeth to euery particular to make obseruance When he may reape most profit thereby in the shortest time namely the souldier when there are warres the Ciuilian or Lawyer when great matters are debated in Parliaments Vniuersities or disputations concerning points of equitie prerogatiue iurisdiction and such like The Diuine when any Generall or Nationall Councel is heald touching their profession The Mechanicke when such and such Artes and trades doe singularly florish c. Yet euerie man so trauailing must take heede how he goe into a Countrie that is iealous of his Prince and subiects which chaunceth euermore when Princes are enimies or when they haue intestine warres and factions that vse any policie to aduantage their partie Now the third and last is whether any age be congruent for these voluntaries This is a harde thing to resolue vpon for there may be reasons on
managing of Armes 2 Skill in Musicke 3 Skill in Dauncing 4 Skill in Portraying 2 Vertues Morall and Diuine 3 Sciences 1 Astronomie 2 Astrologie 3 Cosmographie 4 Geographie 5 Geometrie 6 Hydrography 7 Arithmeticke 8 Architectury 2 Matters belonging to the Countrey into which they trauaile 4 To be well accommodated for trauaile with things needfull 5 To resolue to trauaile into such Countries as may afford least offence and most profit 6 To demand licence of God of Prince and Parents 2 In trauaile Looke the next Table * â— Being Returned 1 To manifest the soundnes of their Religion by 1 Diligent and orderly seruing of God 2 Wise and faithfull Conuersation which is discouered by 1 Silence 2 Incuriositie 3 Sprightfulnes 4 Prudence 5 Bountie 6 Faithfulnesse 2 To preferre Honestie before Policie 3 To be knowen by vertuous Endeuours 4 To be stored of a worthy friend 5 To be Constant to his Honourable friend without ambition 6 To bee studious for forraine aduertisements but not ignorant of home-matters 2 Speciall Of whom before we haue abbridged * Page 35. B. The rest of the second part abstracted We haue abstracted Voluntary Trauailers general to consider points before and after trauell let vs nowe here abbreuiate what is meete in the interim of trauaile namely 1 To attempt nothing without a good conscience and to make supplications to God daly 2 To prouide for the health of their bodies 1 By Diet 2 By trauaile 1 To haue faithfull guides and compainons 2 To chuse the least dangerous way 3 To be otherwise well accommodated 4 To be defeded against th'intemperatnesse of the aire 5 To be Armed against accidences on the way 6 To arriue timely in the Inne c. 3 By moderationi of passions 3 To be Humane and courteous towards all 4 To applie themselues vnto the Customes and maners of the countrey that are not per se Mala. 5 To put in practice the qualities for ornation which are 1 Armes 2 Musicke 3 Poetry 4 Dancing 5 Portraying 6 Vaulting 7 Running â— Dexteritie 6 Singularly to gain the knowledge of 1. The Tongue which consisteth 1 In right vnderstandig the same 2 I proper speaking and reading it 3 In true writing c. 2 The Nature of the people to be discouered 1 In Ciuilitie or Barbarousnesse 2 In freedome or Seruilenesse 3 In Religiousnesse or Profanenesse 4 In Warlike or Esseminatenesse 5 In Constitution of body and mind 3 The Countrey to be suruayed 1 In the name 2 In the populousnesse or scarcitie of the people 3 In the situation 4 In the quatititie 5 In the Commo dities which are 1 Naturall 1 The temperatnesse of the ayre 2 The fruitfulnesse of the foyle 3 The plenty of Rituers and Ports 4 Baths and medicinable things 2 Artisiciall 1 Buildings ad fortitfications c. 2 Trades or Sciences Mechanicke 6 In the discommodities that doe consist of 1 Impersections 2. Wants 4 The Lawe and Customes may bee discerned 1 Generally c. 2 Particularly c. 1 In Matters Ecclesicasticall 2 In matters Temporall 3 In matters Regall or of Prerogatiue 5 The Gouernments 1 Interior * 2 Exterior descrying 1 The persons gouerning 1 The Monarke 2 The Nobles 3 The Popularitie 2 The people gouerned doe consist 1 Of Husbandmen 2 Of Handi-crafts men and Labourers 3 Of Merchants 4 Of the Nobilitie and Gentrie 5 Of stipendary Souldiers 6 Of Ecclesiasticall persons 3 The Instruments whereby men gouerne and be gouerned are looked into 1 By their goodnesse or euilnesse 2 By the timely precuenting or neglecting of matters 3 B the execution or not of lawes in force 6 The secress 1 Common regardeth 1 Intelligence of forraine Friends Neuters or Enemies 1 In Populousnesse 2 In Scarcitie of people 3 In well disciplining them 4 In permitting a liberty from Martiall discipline 5 Whether Religious or Profane 6 Whether Warlike or Esteminate 7 Whether Free or Seruile 2 Kowledge of the ordinary strength of the State 1 For sufficiencie of people 2 For store of Comodities 3 For plentie of Munition 4 For the Treasure 2 How increased 1 By Reuenues 2 By Conquests 3 By Gifts 4 By Tributes 5 By Traficke 6 By Merchandise 7 By Taxations 2 How dispended 1 On Almes-houses 2 On Housekeeping 3 On Building 4 On Payments 5 On Gifts to strangers 6 On Donatiues politicke 2 Accidentall are to be sought out 1 In the persons gouerning by 1 Election 2 Inheritance generall or speciall 3 Any other hope 2 In persons gouerned 1 Addicted to ouer-much libertie 2 How standing affected to the Prince or gouernment 3 Whether wiser then their generation requireth 4 How affected in rumors 5 Who be popular beyond Custome 3 In the instruments c. 7 To aduertise some of the Councel of things important and needfull 8 To dee all the honour he may vnto the Ambassadors of his Prince in cafe there be any in that trauaile The second part THese Generall Voluntarie Trauailers are of the temporall Nobilitie of the Land whether superior or inferior and before they vndertake Trauaile if they will be bettered thereby are to vndergoe sixe dueties The first is to counsaile and deliberate with themselues whether they bee mooued with the iust pretence of doing good to the Common weale whereof they are and for the enabling of themselues with such knowledges as appertaine to their seuerall callings or whether their owne lusts and affections pricke them not forward For oft men are deceiued for want of due consideration thereof which turneth the plots of men topsieturuie And though it be hard to resâ—lue on this with humane strength and reason for that reason which by nature is in man is feeble and differeth little from that of brute beasts yet there is another reason in man or the same at the least enlightned and sanctified by God the which through faith and knowledge of his reuealed wil teacheth man to do that which is good and pleasing in his sight Wherefore as this reason is pure of an holy vnderstaÌ„ding nature so must the resolutioÌ„s of men if they would be approued and crowned with blessing be shaped accordingly And therefore all particular affects rising from the disordinate appetite of man corrupt and vnsauorie as Ambition Sensualitie vaine glorie couetousnes vanitie of knowledge such like must die in these honorable kind of Trauailers and in lieu of them the rootes of all vertuous affections must be planted to the glorie of God the good of themselues their Prince Countrie For considering these are principally the select members ordeined to trauaile by the appointing hand of God to helpe the motion and gouernement of the helme in temporall ciuill causes oftentimes let such take heede those vaine and gadding humors plucke not downe the iudgement of God to presse such to trauaile for punishment of their wayes whereby none can seale vnto themselues the assurance of life or prosperitie during their trauaile or afterwards Now in the second
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
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
that there were Lawes Morall contained vnder the Decalogue or ten Commandements perpetuall to all people and Nations though for a season the Gentiles were gouerned by another consenting Law therewith namely the Law of Nature Secondly that there were Lawes Politicall and Iudiciall peculiar to the Common-weale of Israell and lastly Lawes Ceremoniall which being meerely politicall also were temporall and to be abrogated by the perfecter namely by Christ by whom all the Ceremoniall and infantiue Lawes were disannuled and vtterly cancelled Moreouer it may not be forgotten that vnder that vnwritten Law of God is contained the Law of the spirit and of life which is peculiar to the Church of Christ that quickeneth the vnsanctified and weake Law of Nature inscribed in the hearts of men imprinting the will of God in their hearts whereby men by many degrees steppe forwarde in the true knowledge of God seruing of him at an instant as it were through the efficacie thereof more then euer by the Law of nature they are able to do These things thus briefly exposed vnto Trauailers let it not seeme tedious to any to consider well thereof For without an exact knowledge of the Law of God there can be no sound iudgement of the rest And as our Sauiour Christ soundly reproued Nicodemus the Pharisie for that he was a iudge in Israel and knewe not things of such excellencie and of so great importance so might a Trauailer bee censured for a shallow and ignorant person that trauiling into the lawes of Nations and peoples is neuerthelesse to be found ignorant in the Lawes of God of their deriuations which properly be the fountaines of all naturall and humane lawes that be good honest through the world But touching the Law of Nature there is some controuersie amongst the learned For the Lawyers define the Law of Nature to be that which teacheth all Animall liuing things But the Scholist Diuines say the law of Nature that to be which is common to all people and that by instinct not by constitution restraining the same only to men Wherefore to make the same more euident by fauourable interpretation of both wee distribute the Lawe of Nature into Common and Proper The Common is that which equally is common to other liuing Creatures aswell as vnto men that is to say to defend themselues against violēce to preserue and maintain their liues and States to propagate procreate nourish instruct their owne to eate drinke sleepe rest mooue and such like things euerie species according to his being and kinde The Proper is that lawe which is only peculiar vnto men being the will of God and diuine reason inscribed immediately by God in the hearts of all men wherby generally they know what is good and euill and consequently what is to be followed and auoyded the law of conscience by which the heathen and such as haue not the law of God written shall be iudged The effect of which law is displaied in the knowledge of God and in the worshippe of him and also in the conseruation of mutuall loue and societie betwixt mankinde From which not only the law of Nations hath a name of substance but the humane and positiue lawes their descent and speciall deriuation as from the spring of right and reason Moreouer this law is not equally or so effectually planted in the hearts of all men alike but in some more plentifully then in others according to the secret and wonderfull dispensation of the good pleasure of God in the gouernement of the world From whence there ariseth such strange worshipping of God amongst the Heathen almost euerie Nation in a variable sorte Thus wee may see furthermore that the law of Nature and of Nations strictly and in the proper sense taken may well bee confounded for one and the same concerning actions though after the common sense they are distinguishable For the law of Nations is a certaine right and equall reason that naturally bursteth out of men and Nations for the necessarie vse and conseruation of mankinde and for societie the which is also perpetuall and arguing the conscience if it dissent from the same From whence the Lawes of Armes concerning prisoners taken in the warres the entertainement of messengers and forraine Ambassadors as all manner of contractes twixt person and person State and State haue their authoritie and reason and doe in speciall manner giue a name to the law of Nations to the lawe of Nature which offereth to our Trauailer these three cōsiderations First that in the Courts of Princes as otherwhere hee obserue what order and manner of entertainement and respect is giuen to Ambassadors and Messengers of forraine States Secondly if such an one chance to arriue in the warres of other Princes and States to note the carriage of one aduersarie to another in matters of right and of Prisoners and Captiues especially as of Combattes In a word to get their discipline Lastly to note amongst heathen people what order in buying and selling exchanging lending borrowing mortgaging pawning and keeping of societie For happily from thence hee shall descrie a more equall carriage and behauiour in them by the law of Nature only guided then many of our Ciuile States do by all their meanes of knowledge in the laws of God of Nature and of men the which we might easily prooue But to our Point now concerning the Lawes Humane Those are called the Lawes Humane which frō the capacities of men are conceited by men are promulgated and authorised whether they depend vppon the Law of God and of Nature or vpon their owne fancies Wherof there are two rankes Honest and Iust or Tyrannicall and vniust The honest and iust do flow frō the general springs and Maximes of the diuine and naturall law ordained for the publike good of the Church and Cōmō-weale Wheras the Tyrānical vniust issue out either of the vsurping breasts of vnlawfull authoritie that haue no power to make lawes or from such as hauing power do after their own carnall mindes make ordinances for their owne proper commoditie and behoofe whereunto the traditions of men yea and euery superstitious ordinance and euill custome may be referred Wherefore whensoeuer a Trauailer shall looke into the body of the lawes of any Countrie or people let his iudgement be neither partiall nor weake but grounded vpon the sound rules and eternall reason of the diuine and Naturall Law Moreouer by the word Lawes humane is meant in this place the written positiue and politicall Lawes For in substance they are all one and conuertible yea and for the profitte of each Nation commutable so as they neuer contrarie the lawes diuine or naturall By reason whereof we finde that some honest lawes in qualitie differ either in punishing or rewarding or in inciting to that which is good or restraining from that which is euill the which is meerely a politicall promulgation consonant to some States for a
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