persuadour must take vpon him the daunger whyche vpon this bolde and rashe enterpryse shall ensue I as I suppose am herin clerely acquytte and discharged of all blame Yet honorable Syr for the better auoyding of enuyous and malycyous tonges I knowynge you to be a man not onlye profoundely learned and well affected towardes all suche as eyther canne or wyll take paynes in y â— well bestowing of that poore talente whyche GOD hath endued them wyth but also for youre godlye dysposytyon and vertuous qualytyes not vnworthelye nowe placed in aucthorytye and called to honoure am the bolder humblye to offer and dedycate vnto youre good maystâ—rshyppe thys my symple woorke Partly that vnder the sauffe conducte of your protection it may the better be defended froÌ„ the obloqâ—ie of theÌ„ which can say well by nothing that pleaseth not their fond aâ—d corrupt iudgementes though it be els both frutefull and godly partlye that by the meanes of this homely preâ—eâ—t I may the better renewe and reuiue which of late as you know I haue already begonne to do y â— old acquayntaunce that was betwene you and me in the time of our childhode being then â—colefellowes togethers â–ª Notdoubting that you for your natiâ—e goodnes and gentelnes will accept in good parte this poore gift as an argument or token that mine old good wil and hartye affection towardes you is not by reason of long tract of time and separrtion of our bodies any thinge at all quayled and diminished but rather â— I assuer yoâ— much augmented and increased This verely is y â— chieffe cause y â— hath incouraged me to be so bolde with youre maistershippe Els truelye this my poore present is of such simple and meane sort that it is neyther able to recompense the least portion of your great gentelnes to me of my part vnâ—eserued both in the time of our olde acquayntance and also now lately again bountifully shewed neither yet fitte mete for the very basenes of it to be offered to one so worthy as you be But al mighty god who therfore euer be thaÌ„ked hath auauÌ„ced you to such fortune dignity that yoâ— be of hability to accept thankefully aswell a mans good-will as his gift The same god graunte you and all yours long and ioyfully â–ª to contynue in all godlynes and prosperytye ¶ Thomas More to Peter Giles seÌ„deth gretynge I Am almoste ashamed right welbeloued Peter Giles to seÌ„de vnto you this boke of y â— vtopian commen wealth welnigh after a yeares space which I am suer you loked forwithin a moneth a half And no marueil For you knewe welenough that I was already disbourdened of all y â— labour study beloÌ„ging to the inuention in this work and that I had no nede at all to trouble my braynes about the dispositioÌ„ or coÌ„ueyaunce of the matter therfore had her in nothing els to do but only to rehearse those thinges which you aâ—d I togethers hard maister Raphaell tel and declare Wherefore there was no cause whie I shold study to setforth y â— matter with eloqueÌ„ce for asmuch as his talke cold not be fine eloquent being firste not studied for but sodein and vnpremeditate and then as you know of a mâ—Ì„ better sene in the greke language then in the latine tong And my writing the nigher it shold approche to his homely playne and simple speche somuch the â—igher shold it go to the trueth whiche is the only marke wherunto I do and ought to direct all my trauail and study herin I graunt and confesse frende Peter meself discharged of somuch labour hauing all thies thinges redy done to my hand that almoost there was nothing lefte for me to do Elles other the inuention or the disposition of this matter might haue requyred of a witte nother base nother at all vnlearned bothe some time leasure and also some studye But yf yt were requysyte and necessary that the matter shoulde also haue bene wryten eloquentelye and not alone truelye of a suerty that thynge coulde I haue perfourmed by no tyme nor studye But nowe seynge all thyes cares stayes and lettes were taken awaye wherin elles somuche laboure and studye shoulde haue bene employed and that there remayned no other thynge for me to doo but onelye to wryte playnlye the matter as I hard it spoken that in dede was a thynge lyghte and easye to be done Howe beit to the dyspatchynge of thys so lytell bâ—synes my other cares and troubles did leaue almooste lesse then no leasure Whyles I doo daylye bestowe my tyme abowte lawe matters some to pleade some to heare some as an arbytratour wyth myne awarde to determyne â–ª some as an vmpier or a iudge with my sentence finallye to discusse Whiles I go one way to see and visite my frend an other way about mine owne priuat affaires Whiles I spend almost al the day abrode emonges other and the residue at home among mine own I leaue to meselfe I meane to my boke no time For when I am come home I muste commen with my wife chatte with my chyldren and talke wyth my seruauntes All the whyche thynges I rekeâ— and accompte emonge busynes forasmuche as they muste of necessytye be done and done muste they nedes be oneles a man wyll be a straunger in hys owne howse And in any wyse a man muste so fassyon and order hys condytyons and so appoynte and dyspose hym selfe that he be merye iocunde and pleasaunte amonge them whome eyther nature hath prouyded or chaunce hathe made or he hymselfe hathe chosen to be the fellowes and companyons of hys lyfe so â–ª that wyth to muche gentle be hauyoure and famylyaryte he doo not marre them and by tomuche sufferaunce of hys seruauntes make them hys maysters Emonge thyes thinges nowe rehearsed stealethe awaye the daye the moneth the yeare Wheâ— doo I wryte then And all thys whyle haue I spoken no woorde of slepe nother yet of meate whyche emonge a greate number doth waste no lesse tyme then dothe slepe wherin almooste halfe the lyfe tyme of maâ— crepethe awaye I therefore doo wynne and gette onelye that tyme whyche I steale from slepe and meate Whyche tyme bycause yt ys verye littell and yet somwhat it is therfore haue I ones at the last thoughe it be longe first finished Vtopia and haue sent it to you frende Peter to reade and peruse to the intent that if anye thynge haue escaped me you might putte me in remembraunce of it For though in this behalf I do not greatly mistruste meself whiche woulde God I were somewhat in witte and learnyng as I am not all of the worâ—â—e and dullest memory yet haue I not so great trust and confidence in it that I thinke nothing could fall out of my mynde For Iohn Clement my boye who as you knowe was there present with vs whome I suffer to be awaye from no talke wherin may be anye profit or goodnes for out of this yong bladed
is of yt selfe verye fertyle and frutefull for thys â—ause â—other they goo to other cowâ—ireys nor other comme to them And accordynge to the olde custome of the lande they desyre not to enlarge the bowndes of they re domynyons and those that they haue by reasoâ— of the hyghe hylles be easelye defended and the trybute whyche they paye to the myghtye Kynge settethe them quyete and free from warfare Thus they re lyffe ys commodyous rather then gallawnte and maye better be callede happâ—e or luckyâ— then notable or famous For they be not knowne asmuche as by name I suppose sauynge onlye to theyr nexte neyghbours and borderours They that in thys lande be attayâ—tede and conuycte of felonye make restitutyon of that they stoole to the ryghte owner and not as they doo in other landes to the Kynge whome they thynke to haue no more ryghte to the thefe stolen thynge than the thieffe him selfe hath But if the thynge be loste or made awaye then the value of yt is paide of the goodes of such offeÌ„dours whyche elles remayneth all hole to theire wyffes and chyldrene And they them â—elfes be condempned to be common laborers and onles the thefte be verye heynous they be nother locked in pryson nor fettered in gyues but be vntyed and goo at large laborynge in the coÌ„mon workes They that refuse labour or goo sâ—owly sâ—acly to thâ—re woorke be not only tied in cheynes but also pricked forward with stripes They that be diligent about their woorkâ— liue without checke or rebuke Euery nyghte they be called in by name and be locked in theyr chambers Besyde their dayly labour their lyffe is nothyng harde or incommodyous Their fare is indyfferent good borne at the chardges of the weale publyque bycause they be commen seruauntes to the commen wealth But their charges in all places of the land is not borne a lyke For in some partes that is bestowed vpon them is gathered of almes And though that waye be vncerteyn yet the people be so full of mercye and pytie that none is fownde more profytable or plentyfull In some places certeyâ— landis be appoynted here vnto of the reuenewes wherof they befownde And in some places euery maÌ„ geuyth a certeyne trybute for the same vse and purpose Agayne in some partes of the lande thies seruyng men for so be thies damned pâ—rsons called do no common worke but as euery priuate man nedeth laborours so he cometh into the markette place and there hiereth some of them for meate and drynke and a certeyne limityd wayges by the daye sumwhaat cheper then he shoulde hire a free man It is also lawfull for them to chastyce the slowth of thies seruynge men wyth stryppes By thys meanes they neuer lacke woorke and besydes their meate and dryncke euery one of them bryngeth dayly sum thynge into the common treasoury All and euery one of them be apparrayled in one colour Their heddys be not polled or shauen but rownded a lytle aboue the eeâ—es And the typpe of the one eare is cut of Euery one of them may take meat and drincke of their frindes also a cote of their owne collour but to receyue monye is deathe as well to the geuer as to the receyuour And no lesse ieopardie it is for a free man to receyue moneye of a seruynge man for any manner of cause and lykewyse for seruynge men to touche weapons The seruyng meÌ„ of euery seuerall shyere be dystyncte and knowen from other by their seuerall and dystyncte badges whyche to caste away is death as it is also to be seene owte of the precyâ—cte of their owne sheire or to talke wyth a seruynge man of another shyere Anâ— it is no lesse daunger to them for to in teâ—de to runne awaye then to do yt in dede Yea and to concele suche an enterpryes in a seruynge man yt is deathe in a free man seruytude Of the contrarye parte to hym that openeth vâ—â—ereth suche cownselles be decreyde large giftes â–ª to a free man a great somme of moneye to a seruynge man freedome and to them bothe forgeuynes and pardone of that they were of councell in that pretence So that yt can neuer be so good for them to goo forwarde in they re euyll purpose as by repentaunce to turne backe Thys is the lâ—we aâ—d ordre in thys behalfe as I haue shewed yow Wherin what humanytye is vsede howe farre yt is frome crueltye and howe commodyous yt is yow doo playnlye perceue For asmuche as the ende of their wrath and punyshemente intendeth nothyng elles but the distrucâ—yon of vyces and sauynge of men wyth so vsynge and orderynge them that theye can not chuse but be good and what harme so euer theye dyd before in the â—eresydewe of they re lyffe to make amendys for the same Moreouer â—t is so lytle feared that they shoulde torne agayne to they re vycyous condyâ—yons that wayefarynge men wyll for they re sauegarde chuse them to they re guydes before annye other in euerye shepre chaungynge and takynge newe For yf they wolde commytte robberye theye haue nothynge abowte them meate for that purpose They maye towchâ— no weapons moneye fownde abowte them shoulde betraye the robberye They shoulde be no soner taken wyth the maner but furthwyth they shoulde be punysshed Nother theye can haue annye hoope at all to skape awaye by flyenge For howe shoulde a man that in no parte of hys apparrell is lyke other men flye preuelyâ— and vnknowen oneles he wolde runne awaye naked Howe be yt so also flyinge he shoulde be dyscryued by hys rounding and his â—are maâ—ke But yt is a thynge to be dowted that they will lay their heddes togither and conspire agaynst the weale publyque No no I warraunte you For the seruyng men of one shere alone could neuer hoope to brynge to passe suche an enterpryse wythowte sollycytynge entysynge and allurynge the seruynge men of many other shyeres to take their partes Whych thynge is to them so impossyble that they may not asmuche as speake or talke togethers or salute one an other No it is not to be thought that they wold make their owne countrey men and companyons of their cownsell in such a matter whych they knowe well shoulde be ieopardye to the concelour therof and greate commodytye and goodnes to the openner of the same where as on the other parte ther is none of them al hoopeles or in dyspayre to recouer agayne hys freedome by humble obedience by pacyent suffrynge and by geauyng good tokens and lyklyhode of hymself that he wyll euer after that liue lyke a trewe and an honeste man For euery yeare dyuers be restoryd agayne to their freedome throughe the commendatyon of their patieÌ„ce WhaÌ„ I had thus spoken saynge moreouer that I coulde see no cause whie this ordre might not be had in England with much more proffyte then the Iustyce which y â— lawier so highly praised Naye quod the lawier this could neuer be so stablished in
yf all thyes that be nowe bisiede about vnprofitable occupations with all the hole flocke of them that lyueydellye and slouthfullye whyche consume and waste euerye one of them more of thies thynges that come by other mens laboure then .ij. of the work men themselfes doo yf all thyes I saye were sette to profytable occupatyons yowe easelye perceaue howe lytle tyme wolde be enoughe yea and to muche to stoore vs wyth all thynges that maye be requysyte other foâ— necessytye or for commodytye yea or for pleasure so that thesame pleasure be trewe and naturall And thys in Vtopia the thynge yt selfe maketh manifeste and playne For there in all the citye wyth the hole contreye or shyere adioynynge to yt â—caselye .500 persons of all the hole numbre of men and women that be nother to olde nor to weale to woorke be licensed from labour Amonge them be the SiphograuÌ„tes which though they be by the lawes exemple and pryuyleged from labour yet they exempâ—e not themselfes to the intent they maye the rather by their example prouoke other to woorke The same vacation from labour do they also enioye to whome the people persuaded by the commendation of the priestes and secrete election of the Siphograntes haue geuen a perpetual licence from labour to learnyng But if anny one of them proue nott accordinge to the expectation and hoope of him conceaued he is furth with plucked backe to the company of artificers And contrarye wise often yt chaunceth that a handicraftes man doth so earnestly bestowe hys vacaunte and spare houres in learninge and through dilygence so profytte therin that he is taken frome hys handy occupation and promoted to the company of the learned Owt of this ordre of the learned be chosen ambassadours priestes Tranibores and finallye the prince him selfe Whome they in their olde tonge call Barzanes and by a newer name Adanus The residewe of the people being nother ydle nother occupied about vnprofitable exercises it may be easely iudged in how fewe howres how much good woorke by them maye be doone towardes those thinges that I haue spoken of This commodity they haue also aboâ—e other that in the most part of necessary occupations they neade nott so muche worke as other nations doo For firste of all the buildinge or repayring of houses asketh euery where so manye mens continuall labour bicause that the vnthyfty heyre suffreth the howses that hys father buylded in contynewaâ—nce of tyme to fall in decay So that which he myghte haue vpholden wyth lytle coste hys successoure is constreynede to buylde yt agayne a newe to hys greate chardge Yea manye tymes also the howse that stoode one man in muche moneye anothere ys of so nyce and soo delycate a mynde that he settethe nothynge by yt And yt beynge neglected and therefore shortelye fallynge into ruyne he buyldethe vppe anothere in an othere place wyth no lesse coste and chardge But emonge the Vtopyans where all thynges be sett in a good ordre and the common wealthe in a good staye yt very seldome chaunceth that they chuse a new plotte to buylde an house vpon And they doo not only finde spedy and quicke remedies for present fautes but also preuente them that be like to fall And by this meanes their houses continewe and laste very longe with litle labour and small reparacioÌ„s in so much that y â— kind of woorkemen sumtimes haue almost nothinge to doo But that they be commaunded to hewe timbre at home and to square and trime vp stones to the intente that if annye woorke chauÌ„ce it may the spedelier rise Now Syre in theire apparell marke I praye you howe few woorkemen they neade fyrste of all whyles they be at woorke they be couered homely with leather or skinnes that will last .vij. yeares WheÌ„ they go furthe a brode they caste vpon them a cloke whyche hydeth the other homelye apparell Thyes clookes thoroughe owte the hole Ilande be all of one coloure and that is the naturall colour of y â— wul They therfor do not only spende muche lesse wullen clothe then is spente in othere contreys but also the same standeth them in muche lesse coste But lynen clothe ys made wyth lesse laboure aud ys therefore hadde more in vse But in lynen clothe onlye whytenese in wullen oulye clenlynes ys regardede As for the smalnese or fynesse of the threde that ys no thynge passed for And thys ys the cause wherfore in other places .iiij. or .v clothe gownes of dyuers colours and as manye sylke cootes be not enoughe for one man Yea and yf he be of the delycate and nyse sorte .x. be to fewe where as there one garmente wyll serue a man mooste commenlye .ij. yeares For whie shoulde he desyre moo seing if he had them he should not be the better hapt or couered froÌ„ colde nother in his apparell any whyt the cumlyer Wherefore seynge they be all exercysed in profytable occupatyons and that fewe artyfycers in thesame craftes be suffycyente thys ys the cause that plentye of all thynges beynge emonge them they doo sumtymes bring furthe an innumerable companye of people to amende the hyghe wayes yf annye be broken Manye times also when they haue no such woorke to be occupied obout an open proclamation is made that they shall bestowe fewer houres in woorke For the magistrates do not exercise their citizens againste theire willes in vnneadfull laboures For whie in the institution of that weale publique this ende is onlye and chiefely pretended and mynded that what time maye possibly be spared froÌ„ the necessary occupations and affayres of the commen wealthe all that the cytizeins sholde withdrawe from the bodely seruice to y â— free liberty of y e mind garnisshing of y e same Forherin they suppose the felicity of this liffe to coÌ„sist Of their lyuing and mutuall conuersatioÌ„ together BVt now will I declare how the citizens vse theÌ„selfes one towardes another what familiar occupieng enterteynement there is emong y e people and what fasion they vse in distributinge euery thynge First y e city coÌ„sisteth of families y e families most coÌ„monlie be made of kinredes For the women when they be maryed at a laufull age they goo into their husbandes houses But the male chyldreÌ„ with al the hole male of spring continewe still in their owne familie be gouerned of the eldest and auncientest father onles he dote for age for then the next to hym in age is put in his rowme But to thiâ—teÌ„t the prescript numbre of the citezens shoulde nether decrease nor aboue measure increase it is ordeined that no famylie whiche in euerye citie be .vi. thousand in the hole besydes them of the contrey shall at ones haue fewer chyldren of the age of .xiiij. yeares or there aboute then .x. or mo then .xvi. for of chyldren vnder thys age no numbre can be appointed This measure or numbre is easely obserued kept by puttinge them that in fuller families be aboue the numbre
vnlawfull assembles But they be in y â— present sight vnder the iyes of euery man So that of necessitie they must other applie their accustomed labours or els recreate theÌ„selfes with houest laudable pastymes This fassion being vsed amoÌ„g the people they must of necessitie haue store pleÌ„tie of all thinges And seing they be al therof parteners equally therfore cane no man there be poore or nedye In the councel of Amanrot whether as I sayde euery citie sendeth .iij. meÌ„ a pece yearly assone as it is perfectly knoweÌ„ of what thyuges there is in euery place plentie and agayne what thynges be sâ—aâ—t in anye place incontinent the lacke of the one is performed and fylled vp with the aboundaunce of the other And this they doo frelye without any benifite takyng nothing agayn of theÌ„ to whoÌ„ the thinges is geueÌ„ but those cyties that haue geuen of their store to anye other cytie that lacketh reguyrynge nothynge agayne of thesame cytie do take suche thinges as they lacke of an other cytie to whome they gaue nothynge So the hole Ilande is as it were one famelie or housholde But when they haue made sufficiente prouision of stoore for them selfes whiche they thynke not doone vntyll they haue prouyded for two yeared followynge bicause of the vncortentie of the nexte yeares proffe then of those thynges wherof they haue abundaunce they carry furthâ— into other contrâ—is greate plenty as grayne honnye wulle flaxe woode madder purple-die felles waxe tallowe lether and liuyng beastes And the seuenth part of all thies thynges they gyue franckely and frelye to the poore of that coÌ„trey The resydewe they fell at a reasonable and meane price By this trade of traffique or marchaÌ„dise they bring into their own coÌ„trey not only great pleÌ„tie of golde and siluer but also all suche thynges as they lacke at home whych is almoste nothynge but Iron And by reason they haue longe vsed thys trade nowe they haue more abundaunce of thies thynges then any man wyll beleue Nowe therfore they care not whether they sell for reddye moneye or els vpon truste to be paide at a daye and to haue the most part in debtes But in so doyâ—g they neuer followe the credence of pryuat men but the assurâ—aunce or warrauntrse of the hole citye by instrumentes and writinges made in that behalfe accordinglye When the daye of paymente is come and expyred the cytye gathereth vp the debte of the priuate dettours and putteth it into the common boxe and so long hath the vse and proffytte of it vntyll the vtopians their creditours demaunde it The mooste parte of it they neuer aske For that thynge whyche is to them no proffyte to take it from other to whom it is proffytable they thinke it no righte nor coÌ„science But yf the case so stande that they must lende parte of that money to an other people then they requyâ—â— they re debte or when they haue warre For the whyche purpose onelye they keap at home al y â— treasure whiâ—h they haue to be holpen and so coured by yt other in extreame ieopardyes or in suddeyne daungers But especyallye and chieflye to hiere therwyth and that for vnreasonable greate wayges straunge foldyours For they hadde rather put strâ—ungers in ieopardye then theyrâ— owne contreye men knowinge that for monâ—ye enoughe theire enemyes themselfes manye tymes maye be bowghte and solde or els throughe treason be sette togethers by the eares emonge themselfes For thys cause they kype an inestymable treasure But yet not as a treasure but so they haue yt vse yt as in good faythe I am ashamede to shewe fearynge that my wâ—ordes shal not be beleued And thys I haue more cause to feare for that I knowe howe â—yffâ—cultlye and hardelye I meselfe wolde haue beleued an othere man tellynge the same yf I hadde not presentlye seene yt wyth myâ—e owne iyes For yt muste nedes be that howe farre a thing is dissonaunt and disagre inge from the guyse and trade of the hearers so farre shall yt be owte of theyr beleffe Howe be yt a wyse and in dyfferente estymer of thynges wyll not greatly marueil perchauÌ„ce seing al they re other lawes and customes doo so muche dyfferre from owres yf the vse also of golde and syluer amonge them be applyed rather to theyr owne fassyons then to owers I meane in that they occupye not moneye themselfes but kepe yt for that chaunce whyche as yt maye happen so yt maye be that yt shall neuer come to passe In the meane tyme golde and sylueâ— whereof moneye ys made they doo soo vse as none of them dothe more estyme yt then the verye nature of the thynge deseruethe And then who dothe not playnlye see howe farre yt ys vnder Iron as wythoute the whyche men canne no better lyue them wythowte fyere and water Whereas to golde and syluer nature hathe geuen no vse that ws may not wel lacke yf that the folly of men hadde not sette it in hygher estymâ—cyon for the rareâ—â—s sake But of the contrary parte nature as a moste tender and louynge mother hath placed the beste and moste 〈◊〉 cessarye thynges open a brode as the ayere the water and the earth it selfe And hath remoued and hydde farthest from vs vayne and vnprofytable thynges Therfore yf thies metalles amoÌ„g them shoulde be fast locked vp in some tower it myghte be suspected that the pryuâ—â— and the cowâ—cell as the people is euer foolyshelye ymagininge iâ—tended by some subtyltye to deceaue the commons and to take some proffette of 〈◊〉 to themselfes Furthermore if they should make therof plat such other fâ—nely cunningly wrought stuffe yf at anye tyme they shoulde haue occasyon to breake it and melte it agayne and therwyth to paye their souldiours wâ—ges they see and perceiue very well that men wolde be lothe to parte from those thynges that they oâ—s begome to haue pleasure and delytein To remedye all thys they haue fownde owt a meanes which as it is agreable to al their other lawes and customes so it is from ours where golde is so muche set by and so delygently kepte very farre discrepant and repugnaunt and therfore vncredâ—ble but only to them that be wise For where as they eate and drincke in earthen and glasse vesselles which in dede be curiously and properlie made and yet be of very small value of gold and siluer they make commonlye chamber pottes and other like vesselles that serue for moste vile vses not only in their common halles but in euery mans priuate house Furthermore of thesame mettalles they make greate cheynes with fetters and giues wherin they tye their bondmen Finally who so euer for any offence be infamed by their eares hange ringes of golde vpon their fingers they were ringes of golde and about their neckes chaynes of gold and in conclusioÌ„ their heades be tiede about with golde Thus by all meanes that may be they procure to haue gold and siluer emong them in reproche and infamy And
wealth whose lawes and customes be farre different from thies kindes of folly and partely by good litterature and learning For though ther be not many in euery citye whiche be exempte and discharged of all other laboures and appointed only to learninge that is to saye suche in whome euen from theire very childhode they haue perceaued a singuler to wardnes a â—yne witte and a minde apte to good learning yet all in their childhode be instructe in learninge And the better parte of the people bothe men and women throughe owte all theire hole lyffe doo bestowe in learninge those spare howres which we sayde they haue vacaâ—te from bodelye laboures They be taughte learninge in theire owne natyue tonge For yt is bothe copious in woordes and also pleasaunte to the eare and for the vtteraunce of a mans minde verye perfecte and sure The mooste parte of all that syde of the wordle vseth the same laâ—gage sauinge that amonge the Vtopians yt is fyneste and puryste and accordynge to the dyuersytye of the contreys yt ys dyuerslye alterede Of all thyes Philosophers whose names be here famous in thys parte of the wordle to vs knowen before owre cummynge thether nott as muche as the fame of annye of them was comen amonge them and yett in Musycke Logycke Arythmetyke and 〈…〉 they haue fownde owte in a manner all that oure auncyente Philosophers haue â—awghte But as they in all thynges be almoste equall to our olde auncyente clerkes so our newe Logiciens in subtyll inuenâ—yons haue farre passed and gone beyonde them For they haue not deuysed one of all those rules of restryctyons amplyfy catyons and supposytyons very wittelye inuented in the small Logycalles whyche heare oure chyldren in euerye place do learne Furthermore they were neuer yet able to fynde out the seconde inâ—entyons in so muche that none of them all coulde euer see man hymselfe in commen as they call hym thoughe he be as yow knowe bygger then euer was annye gyaunte yea aâ—d poynted to of vs euen wyth our fynger But they be in the course of the starres and the mouynges of the heauenlye spheres verye expert and cunnynge They haue also wyttelye excogytated and diuised instrumentes of â—iuers fassyons wherin is exactly comprehended and conteyned the mouynges and sytuatyons of the sonne the moone of all the other starres which appere in they re horyzon But as for the amityes and dissentyons of the planettes and all that deceytefull diuynatyon by the starres they neuer asmuch as dreamed therof Raynes windes other courses of tempestes they knowe before by certein tokens which they haue learned by long vse and obseruatioÌ„ But of the causes of all thies thinges of the ebbinge flowinge and â—altenes of the sea and fynallye of the orygynall begynnyng and nature of heauen and of the wordle they holde partelye the same opynyons that our olde philosophers holde and partelye as our philosophers varye emonge themselfes so they also whiles they bringe new reasons of thynges doo disagree from all them and yet emonge themselfes in all poyntes they doo not accorde In that part of philosophie which intreateth of manners and vertue theire reasons and opyuyons agree wyth ours They dyspute of the good qualytyes of the â—ye shall haue no rewarde after hyâ— death But now syr they thynke not felicitie to reste in all pleasure but oâ—lye in that pleasure that is good honest and that hereto as to perfet blessednes our nature is allured and drawen euen of vertue wherto only they that be of the contrary opinion do attribute feliciâ—ie For they define vertue to be a life ordered according to nature and that we â—e hereunto ordeined of god And that he doth followe the course of nature which in desiering and refusyng thynges is ruled by reason Furthermore that reason doth chiefelie and pryncipallye kendle in men the loue and veâ—eration of the deuyne maiestie Of whoe 's goodnes it is that we be and that we be inpossibilitie to attayne felicite And that secondarely it moueth and prouoketh vs to leade our lyfe out of care in ioye and myrth and to helpe all other in respecte of the sosiete or nature to obteyne thesame For there was neuer man so earnest and paynefull a follower of vertue and hateâ— of pleasure that woulde so inioyne you laboures watchinges fastinges but he would also exhort you to ease lighten to your powre the lacke myserye of others praysyng the same as a dede of humanitie and pitie Then if it be a poynte of humanitie for man to bryng health and comforte to man and speciallye whiche is a vertue moste peculiarlye belongynge to man tomitigate and assuage the grief of others and by takyng from them the sorowe and heuynes of lyfe to restore them to ioye that is to saye to pleasure whye maye it not then be sayd that nature doth provoke euerye man to doo thesame to hymselfe For a ioyfull lyfe that is to saye a pleasaunt lyfe is other euell and if it be so then thou shouldest not onlye helpe no man therto but rather as muche as in the lieth helpe all men from it as noysome and hâ—rtefull or els if thou not onlye mayste but also of dewtie art bounde to procure it to others why not chiefely to theself To whome thou art bound to shewe asmuche fauour as to other For wheÌ„ natuâ— biddeth the to be good geÌ„tle to other â—he commaundeth the not to be cruell and vngentle to the selfe Therfore eueÌ„ very nature saye they prescribith to vs a ioyfull lyfe that is to saye pleasure as the ende of all our operations And they defyâ—e vertue to be lyfe ordered accordyâ—g to the prescrypt of nature But in that that nature dothe allure and prouoke 〈◊〉 one to healpe another to lyue merilye whiche suerlye â—he doth not without a good cause for no man is so farre aboue the lot of mans state or condicion that nature doth carke and care for hym only whiche equallye fauoureth all that be comprehended vnder the coÌ„munion of one shape forme and fassion verely she coÌ„maundeth the to vse diligent circumspection that thou do not so seke for thine owne coÌ„modities y â— thou procure others incoÌ„modities Wherfore their opinion is that not onlye couenauntes and bargaynes made amonge priuate men ought to be well and faythfullye fulfylled obserued and kept but also commen lawes whiche other a good prince hath iustly publyshed or els the people nother oppressed with 〈◊〉 nother deceaued by fraude and gyell hath by their common consent constitute and ratifyed concernyng the particion of the commodities of lyfe that is to say the matter of pleasure Thies lawes not offendid it is wysdome that thou looke to thyne own wealthe And to do thesame for the common wealth is no lesse then thy duetie if thou bearest any reuerent loue or any naturall zeale and affection to thy natiue contrey But to go about to let an other man of his pleasure whiles thou procurest thyne
owne that is open wroÌ„g Contrary wyse to withdrawe somethynge from they selfe to geue to other that is a pointe of humanitie and geâ—tylâ—es whiche neuer taketh a waye so muche commoditie as it bryngeth agayne For it is recompensed with the retourne of benefytes and the conscieÌ„ce of the good dede with the remembraunce of the thankefull loue and beâ—euolence of them to whom thou hast done it doth brynge more pleasure to thy mynde then that whiche thou hast withholden from thy selfe could haue brought to the bodye Finallye which to a godly disposed a religious mind is easie to be persuaded God recompenseth the gifte of a short small pleasure with great and euerlastinge ioye Therfore the matter diligentlie wayde and considered thus they thinke that all our actions and in theÌ„ the vertues theÌ„selfes be referred at the last to pleasure â–ª as their ende felicitie Pleasure they call euery motion and state of the bodie or mynde wherin maÌ„ hath naturally delectatioÌ„ Appetite they ioyne to nature And that not without a good cause For like as not only the â—enses â–ª but also right reason coueteth whatsoeuer is naturally pleasaunt so y â— it may be gotten without wroÌ„g or iniurie not letting or debarring a greater pleasur nor causing painful labour eueÌ„ so those thinges that meÌ„ by vaiâ—e ymagination do fayne against nature to be pleasaunt as though it lay in their powre to chaunge y â— thinges as they do y â— names of thinges al suche pleasurs they beleue to be oâ— so small helpe furtheraunce to felicitie that they counte theÌ„ great let and hinderauÌ„ce Because that in whom they haue ones taken place all his mynde they possesse with a false opinion of pleasure So that there is no place left for true and naturall delectacions For there be manye thynges whiche of their owne nature conteyne no plesauntnes yea the moste part of them muche grief and sorrow And yet through the peruerse and malicious flickering inticemeÌ„tes of lewde and vnhoâ—este desyres be takeen not only for speciall souereigne pleasures but also be counted amonge the chiefe causes of life In this couÌ„terfeat kinde of pleasure they put theÌ„ that I speake of before Which the better gown they haue on the better men they thynke theÌ„ selfes In the whiche thynge they doo twyse erre For they be no lesse deceaued in that they thynke their gowne the better than they be in that they thinke themselfes the better For if you consider the profitable vse of the garmente whye shoulde wulle of a fyner sâ—onne threde be thoughe better then the wâ—l of a course sponne threde Yet they as though the one dyd passe the other by nature and not by their mistakyng auaunce themselfes and thinke the price of their owne persones therby greatly encreased And therfore the honoure whiche in a course gowne they durste not haue lokyd for they require as it were of dewtie for their fyâ—er gownes sake And if they be passed by without reuerence they take it angerlye and disdaynfully And agayne is it not a lyke madâ—es to take a pride in vayne and vnprofitable honoures For what naturall of trewe pleasure doest thou take of an other mans bare hede of bowed knees Will thys ease the payne of thy knees or remedye the phreâ—sie of the heade In this ymage of counterfeyte pleasure they be of a maruelous madnes which for the opinion of nobilitie reioyse muche in their owne coâ—â—eite Because it was their fortune to come of suche auncetours whoe 's stocke of longe tyme hath bene counted ryche for nowe nobilitie is nothynge elles specially ryche in landes And though their auncetours left them not one fote of lande or els they themselfes haue pyssed it agaynste the walles yet they thynke themselfes not the lesse noble therefore of one heare In thys numbre also they counte them that take pleasure delyte as I saide in gemmes and precious stones and thynke themselues almoste goddes if they chaunce to gette and excellent one speciallye of that kynde whyche in that tyme of their owne contreye me◠〈◊〉 had in hyghest estimation For one kynde of stone kepeth not hys pryceâ—tyll in all contreis â–ª and at all tymes Nor they bye them not but taken out of the golde and bare No nor so nother before they haue made the selleâ—â—o sweare that he wyll warraunte and assure it to be a trewe stone and not coâ—Ì„terfeyt geme Suche â—are they take lest â— counterfet stone shoulde deceaue their eyes in the steade of a right stone But whye shouldest thoâ— not take â—uen asmuche pleasure in beholdynge a counterfette stone whiche thyne eye cannot discerne from a ryght stone They should both be of lyke value to the euen as to a blynde man What shall I saye of them that kepe superfluous ryches to take delectacion only in the beholdynge and not in the vse or occupyenge therof Do they take trewe pleasure or els be they deceaued with false pleasure Or of them that be in a coâ—trary vice hydynge the golde whiche they shall neuer occupie nor peraduenture neuer see more And whiles they take care leaste they shall leâ—se it do leese it in dede For what is it elles when they hyde it in the grouÌ„de takynge it bothe from their owne vse and perchaâ—nce from all otheâ— mens also And yet thou when thou haste hidde thye treasure as one out of all care hoppest for ioye The whyche treasure if it shoulde chaunce to bee stoolen thou ignoraunt of the thefte shouldest â—ye tenne yeares after all that tenne yeares space that thou lyâ—edest after thy money was stolen â–ª what matter was it to the whether it hadde bene taken a waye or els sauffe as thou lefteste it Truelye bothe wayes lyke proffyt came to the To thyes so foolyshe pleasures they ioynâ—dycers whoe 's madnes they knowe by heare say aâ—d not by vse HuÌ„ters also and hawkers For what pleasure is there sayâ— they iâ— castynge the dice vpoÌ„ a table Which y â— hast done so ofteÌ„ that iâ— theire were anye pleasure in it yet the ofte vse myghte make the werye therof Or what delite can there be and not rather dyspleasure in heaâ—ynge the barkynge and howlynge of dogges Or what greater pleasure is there to be felte when a doggâ— followeth an hare then when a dogge followeth a dogge for one thynge is done in both that is to saye runninge â–ª if thou haste pleasure therein But iâ— the hope slaughter â–ª and the expectâ—tion of tearynge 〈◊〉 pieces the beasâ—e dothe please the thou shouldest rather be moued with pitie to see a seely innocent hare murdered of â—â—dogge the weake of the stronger the fearefull of the feaâ—â—â— the innocente of y ◠〈◊〉 and vnmercyfull Therefore all thys exercyse of huntynge as a thynge vâ—worthye to be vsed of free mâ—n the Vtopians haue reiected to their bochers to the whiche crafte as wee sayde before they appointe ther bondmen For they counte huntyng the loweste vyleste and moste abiecte
it myght seme a verye reprochefull thynge yf in the â—eagues of them whyche by a pecuâ—iare name â—e called faythfull faythe shoulde haue no place But in that newefoâ—nde parte of the worlde whiche is scaselye so farre from vs beyonde the lyâ—e equinoctiall as owre lyfe and manners be dissideâ—te from theirs no truste nor confydence is in leagues But the mo and holyer cerymonies the league is knytâ—e vp with the soâ—er it is broken by some cauillation founde in the woordes whyche manye tymes of purpose be so craftelye put in and placed that the bandes can neuer be so sure nor so stronge but they wyll fynde some hole open to crepe owte at and to breake bothe league and trewthe The whiche crafty dealynge yea the whiche fraude and deceyte yf they shoulde knowe it to bee practysed amonge pryuate men in theire bargaynes and contractes they woulde incontinent crye owte at it with a sower conntenaâ—nce as an offence most detestable and worthie to be punnyshed with a shamefull death yea euen verye they that auaunce themselfes authours of like councel geueÌ„ to princes Wherfore it maye well be thought other that all iustice is but a basse and a lowe vertue and whiche avaleth it self farre vnder the hyghe dignitie of kynges Or at the least wyse that there be two iustices the one mete for the inferioure sorte of the people goinge a fote and crâ—pynge by â—owe on the grounde and bounde downe on euery side with many bandes because it shall not run at rouers The other a pryncely vertue whiche lyke as it is of muche hygher maiestie then the othâ—r poore iustice so also it is of muche more lybertie as to the whiche nothinge is vnlawful that it lusteth after Thies maners of princes as I sayde whiche be there so euyll kepers of leagues cause the Vtopians as I suppose to make no leagues at all whiche perchaunce woulde chaunge theire mynde iâ— they lyued here Howebeit they thynke that thoâ—ghe leagues be neuer so faythfullye obserued and kept yet the custome of makinge leagues was verye euel be gonne For this causeth meÌ„ as though â—ations which be separate a sondre by the space of a lytle hyl or a ryuer were coÌ„pled together by â—o societe or bonde of nature to thynke them selfes borne aduersaryes and enemyes one to an other and that it is lawfull for the one to seke the death and destruction of the other it leagues were not yea and that after the leagues be accorded fâ—yndeshyppe dothe not growe and encrease But the lycence of robbynge and stealynge doth styll remayne as farâ—urthe as for lacke of forsight and aduisement in writinge the woordes of the league anny sentence or clause to the contrary is not therin suffycyentlye comprehended But they be of a contrary opinioÌ„ That is that no man ought to be counted an enemy whyche hath done no iâ—iury And that the felowshyppe of nature is a stronge league and that men be better and more surely knitte togethers by loue beneâ—oleâ—ce theÌ„ by couenauÌ„tes of leagues by hartie affectioÌ„ of minde then by woordes Of warfare â–ª WArre or battel aâ— a thinge very â—rastâ—lye and yet to no kynde of beastes in so muche vse as it is to man they do detest and abhorre And contrarye to the custome almost of all other natyons they cowâ—te nothinge somuch against glorie as glory gotten in warre And therefore though they do daily practise and exercise themselfes in the discypline of warre and that not only the men but also the women vpon certeyne appoynted dayes leste they shoulde â—e to seke in the feat of armes yf nead should requyre yet they neuer to goo to battayle but other in the defence of their owne cowntreye or to dryâ—e owâ—e of theyr frendes lande the enemyes that be comen in or by their powre to deliuer froÌ„ the yocke and bondage of tyranâ—ye soâ—â—e people that be oppressed wyth tyraÌ„ny Whyche thynge they doo of meere pytye and compassion Howebeit they sende healpe to they re fryndes not euer in theire defence But sumtimes also to requyte and reuenge iniuries before to them done But thys they do noâ—â—â—les their counsell and aduise in the matter be asked whyles yt ys yet newe and freshe For yf they fynde the cause probable and yf the contrarye parte wyll not restore agayne suche thynges as be of them iustelye demaunded then they be the chyeffe auctores and makers of the warre Whyche they do not onlye as ofte as â—y iâ—rodes and inâ—asions of soldiours prayes and booties be dreuen away but then also much more mortally wheÌ„ their frindes marchauÌ„tes in any land other vnder y â— pretence of vniust lawes orels by the wresting wronge vnderstonding of good lawes do sustaine an vniust accusation vnder the colour of iustice Nother the battel which the vtopians fowghte for the Nephelogetes against the Alaopolitanes a lytle before oure time was made for annye other cause but that the Nephelogete marchaunte men as the vtopians thought suffred wrong of the Alaopolitaâ—es â–ª vnder the pretence of righte But whether it were righte or wrong it was with so cruell and mortal warre reuenged the countrâ—is rouÌ„d about ioyâ—ing their healpe and powre to the puysaunce and malice of bothe parties that most flâ—rishing and wealthie peoples beyng some of theÌ„ shrewedely shaken and some of them sharpely beaten the mischeues were not finisshed nor ended vntill the Alaopolitanes at the last were yelded vp as bondmen into the iurisdiction of the Nephelogetes For the vtopians foughte not this warre for themselfes And yet the Nephelogetes before the warre when the Alaopolitanes flourished in wealth were nothyng to be coÌ„pared with theÌ„ So egerly the Vtopians prosequâ—te the iniuries done to ther frindes yea in money matters and not their owne likewise For if they by coâ—eyne or gyle be wiped beside their gooddes so that no violeÌ„ce be done to their bodies they wreake their anger by absteining from occupieng with that nation vntill they haue made satisfaction Not for bicause they set lesse stoore by their owne cytyzeyns then by theire frindes but that they take the losse of their fryndes money more heuely then the losse of theyr owne Bicause that their frindes marchaunte men forasmuche as that they leise is their owne priuate gooâ—des susteyne great damage by the losse But their owne citizeyns leise nothing but of the commeÌ„ gooddes aâ—d of y â— which was at home plentifâ—ll and almost superfluous elles hadde it not bene sent furth Therfore no maÌ„ feeleth the losse And for this cause they thynke it to cruell an acte to reuenge that losse wyth the death of many the incommoditie of the whiche losse no man feeleth nother in his liâ—fe nother in his liuinge But if it chaunce that any of their men in any other countreye be mayâ—ed or â—ylled whether it be done by a commeÌ„ or a priuate councell knowing and trying out the treuth of the matter by their ambassadours oâ—les the offeÌ„ders be rendered vnto them in
monethes and yeares before they come to the churche the wiffes fall downe prostrat before their husbandes feet at home the chidren before the feete of their paâ—entes coÌ„fessing acknowleginge that they haue offâ—nded other by some actuall dede or by omissioÌ„ of their dewty desire pardoÌ„ for their offence Thus yf anye cloude of preuy displeasure was risen at home by this satisfaction it is ouer blowen that they may be present at the sacrifices with pure and charitable mindes For they be aferd to come there w t troubled coÌ„scieÌ„ces There fore if they knowe themselfes to beare anye hatred or grudge towardes anye man they presume not to come to y â— sacrifices before they haue reconcyled themselfes and purged they re conscyences for feare of greate vengeaunce punyshemente for their offence WheÌ„ they come thyther the men goo into the ryghte syde of the churthe and the the women into y â— left syde There they place themselfes in suche ordre that all they which be of the male kind in euery houshold sitte before the goodmaÌ„ of y â— house and they of the female kynde before the goodwyfe Thus it is forsene that all their gestures and behauiours be marked and obserued abrode of theÌ„ by whose aucthoritye discipline they be gouerned at home This also they diligentlye see vnto that the yoâ—ger euermore be coupled with his â—lder lest it childreÌ„ be ioyned together they â—hold passe ouer that time in childish wantoÌ„nes wherin they ought principallye to conceaue a religious and deuouâ— feere towardes god which is the chieffe and almost y t only incitatioÌ„ to vertue They kill no liuing beast in sacrifice nor they thinke not that the mercifull clemency of god hath delite in bloud and slaughter which hath geuen liffe to beastes to the intent they should liue They burne fraÌ„ckensence and other sweet sauours and light aâ—so a great numbre of waxe candelles and â—apers nott supposinge this geere to be any thing auaylable to the diuine nature as nother the prayers of men But this vnhurtfull and harmeles kind of worship pleaseth theÌ„ And by thies sweet sauoures and lightes other such ceremonies meÌ„ feele theÌ„selfes secretly lifted vp encouraged to deuotion with more willynge and â—eruent hartes The people weareth in the churche white apparell The priest is clothed in chaungeable coloures Whiche in workemanshyp be excellent but in stuffe not verye pretious For theire vestementes be nother embrodered with golde nor set with precious stones But they be wrought so fynely and connyngly with diuers fethers of fowles that the estimacion of no costelye stuffe is able to couÌ„teruaile the price of the worke Furthermore in thies birdes fethers and in the dewe ordre of theÌ„ whiche is obserued in theire settyng they saye is conteyned certayn deuyne misteries The interpretation wherof knowen whiche is diligentlye tawght by the priâ—stes they be put in remembraunce of the bountyfull benefites of God towarde them and of the loue and honoure whiche of theire behalfe is dewe to God also of theire dewties one towarde an other When the priest first commeth out of the vestrie thus apparelled they fall downe incontinent euery one reueâ—ently to the grounde with so styll silence on euery part that the very fassion of the thinge striketh into them a certayne feare of God as though he were there personally presente When they haue lieu a litle space on the grouÌ„de the priest giueth them a signe for to ryse TheÌ„ they sing prayses vnto God whiche they interâ—nixâ— with instrumentes of musick for the moste parte of other fassions then thies that we vse in this parte of the worlde And like as some of owrs bee muche sweter then theirs so some of theirs doo farre passe owrs But in one thynge dowteles they goo excedinge farre beyond vs. For all theire musicke both that they playe vpon instrumentes and that they siâ—ge with mans voyce doth so resemble and expresse naturall affections the sownd tune is so applied and made agreable to the thynge that whether it bee a prayer or els a dytty of gladnes of patience of trouble of mournynge or of anger the fassion of the melodye dothe so represente the meaning of the thing that it doth wonderfullye moue stire pearce and enflame the hearers myâ—des At the laste the people and the priest together rehearse solempne prayers in woordes expreslye pronounced so made that euerye man may priuatelye applye to hymselfe that which is commonlye spoken of all In thies prayers euerye man recogniseth and knowledgeth God to be hys maker hys gouernoure and the principal can se of all other goodnes thankyng him for so many benfites receaued at hys hande But namelye that through the fauoure of God he hath chaunced into that publyque weale whiche is moste happye and welt bye and hath chosen that religion whyche he hopeth to be moste true In the whyche thynge yf he doo annye thynge erre or yf there bee annye other better then eyther of them is beynge moore acceptable to GOD he desiereth hym that he wyll of hys goodnes let hym haue knowledge thereof as one that is readye too followe what waye soeuer he wyll leade hym But yf thys forme and fassion of a commen wealthe be beste and his owne religioÌ„ moste true and perfecte then he desyreth God to gyue hym a constaunte stedfastnes in the same and to brynge all other people to the same ordre of lyuyng and to the same opinion of God onles there be any thynge that in this dyuersitie of religions doth delyte his vnsercheable pleasure To be shorte he prayeth hym that after his deathe he may come to hym But how soone or late that he dare not assygne or determine Howebeit if it myght stande with his maiesties pleasure he would be muche gladder to dye a paynfull dethe and so to go to God theÌ„ by long lyuing in worldlye prosperytie to bee awaye from hym Whan this prayer is sayde they fall downe to the ground agayne and a lytle after they ryse vp and go to dynner And the resydewe of the daye they passe ouer in playes and exercise of cheualrye Nowe I haue declared and descrybyd vnto yowe as truely as I coulde the fourme and ordre of that commen wealth which verely in my iudgement is not onlye the beste but also that whiche alone of good ryght may clayme and take vpâ—Ì„ it the name of a commen wealthe or publyque weale For in other placeâ— they speake stil of the commeâ— wealth But euerye man procureth hys owne pryuate wealthe Here where nothynge is pryuate the commen affayres be earâ—estly â—oked vpon And truely on both partes they haue good cause so to do as they do For in other couÌ„treys who knoweth not that he shall sterue for honger onles he make some seuerall prouision for hymself though the commen wealthe floryshe neuer so muche in ryches And therefore he is compelled euen of verye necessitie to haue regarde to hym selfe rather then to the