the matter brake off you shall fauour me in that I haue a speciall desire to heare at the full you hauing so notablie entred into the declaration thereof You left at absolute vertues which are the gifts of nature and accompany Gentlemen from their birth Huddle Sithence by your desire I am put in minde of complete vertues which are said to be in Princely descents of bloud from the beginning and at their entrance into the world I am contented there to beginne againe All creatures in manner that beare life haue also at the first an inclination towards a very neare similitude of the nature from whence they came by which I prooue the perfections that are in parents descend wholy and without change steps or goings on in like manner and sort to their children as they were indued therewith themselues but if the parent want the perfection thereof himselfe his childe may attaine vnto it but not by natures benefit for that the foregoing one had not the entire possion thereof in the time of his life It is euident to euery vnderstanding that absolute vertues neither decrease nor increase for looke what is perfect in it owne fulnesse the same is able to enriche and fortifie what it affecteth and naturally inclineth it selfe wholy vnto it neuer decreasing as I said because of it perfection it can be no lesse in the succeeding childe then it was in the proceeding father so that the vertue most excellent in the one shall be the same without exceeding or diminishing in the other admitting no mediocritie reacheth at the first the vttermost point of the vertue which was of that integritie in the former Worthie That vertue which wanted perfection in the progenitour his ofspring may attaine vnto but it is not his proper and peculiar blessing as it should haue bene had it not wanted perfection in the other Because the one wanted the full and entire possession thereof he cannot deliuer it ouer by descent in bloud Dunsta Belike then if the worthie progenitour had attained to the tipe of all perfections his worthie of-spring had at the first immediately bene seasoned with that most precious liquor according to the influence into the former vessell Hud Yea vndoubtedly but the mysterie of the perfection celestiall which you rightly termed a most precious influence it is too deuine to dwell vpon earth or to be discust by mortall sence and vnderstanding but the next vnto that omnipotencie are Kings and Princes because they receiue theyr blessings from God directly without other benefit or additament whatsoeuer Dunst Then I pray you Sir how do diuerse without the benefit of this generous bloud attaine to such ripenesse as may make them worthie high place and dignitie in the word Huddle Through forward inclination and disposition taken with the loue and desire to immitate such seruiceable vertues as they haue seene approoued and rewarded in others whose more properly at the first they were and so vpon iust cause are both receiued and held worthie men In the first vertuous man I shewed you euen now after his good speed was seene and the way knowne how he did great things others were stirred vp to haue pleasure and delight in the like yet such also as were better endued and of a more ready motion then the rest For all could neither be incited by example nor forced by compulsion to needfull and concerning duties to the pleasuring of themselues Dunst By this reckening wisdome to forethinke is not the least helpe both to seeke and also to become great places attained vnto Hud All my speeches haue tended to that end and purpose Yet first I shewed you how bold courage did rouse and waken men from out the cradle of securitie before they were assisted by consultation euen then also had they failed of resolution to enterprise and breake through disficulties such also as perhaps were repugnant vnto reason and aboue that wit could perswade to be possible then all had fainted and nothing had bene atcheiued Now wit arte and counsell which you spake of right now might haue serued them to prolong their plenty and to haue held them still in ease to haue leslened and made away by deuise some of their superfluous and rising numbers but the strong vertue was first and it preuailed to best purposes and blessings Dunst Now sir I beseech you speake somewhat of the defects that were found in them that neuer came forward Hud I haue promised so to do You may imagine that while the sunne is oppressed and surcharged with cloudes her vertue of comforting is for the while hindered but when she hath out wrought them and broken thorough the black prison her light is then cleare and her operations effectuall Likewise whilest wantonnesse belly cheare and other entangling delights held men back from the vse and knowledge of themselues till I say the maisterfull spirit had by maine force spoiled and driuen away all impediments they could purchase no freedome nor rest contented vnlesse they were able also to make a through conquest of themselues then which there could not be a greater victorie Dunst A faire and a vertuous generation of worthy men fit to take example at Hud The princely worthy that had bene the cause of the beginning and discouerie of all these things through his search and aduenturous inquirie after I say he had laid these fast knowledges sufficient both for their owne foundation and also for continuing their succeeding posterities making alwaies the end of one discouerie the beginning of another and after himselfe for all these benefits had bene deseruedly crowned and holden in due honor and regard of the rest at once he amended all their estates bringing the number of such as were out of order into order by prouision as aforefaid of such necessaries acquired as nothing but the iustice and displeasure of almightie God could bereaue them Now to iumpe with your desire I will directly shew you who were the pecora campt to whome for their vnwillingnesse little or nothing was possible You must also remember how at the first I tolde you few by nature and their owne ready inclination were warlike yet by instruction and imitation shaking off and expulsing the first disease called slouth many were fashioned and instituted by the desire they had to folow the discipline of the first worthies Notwithstanding all this there remained a sculke of such as neither care nor castigation could amend or make able to entertaine other purpose or desire then at the first Besides to increase their number sort there were diuerse whose courages abated degenerating and declining by immoderate and intemperate contrarieties thorough which they corrupted and lost their first bloud and estimation differing in a manner altogether from the good resolutions to vertues which at the first either themselues or their auncestors had bene raised vnto who rather then faile by erudition and tradition for the honour of their owne first vertues were desirous to haue had
in arts or vnderstandings aboue the rest they straight thought it a point of their deepest skill to hold others back from the reache thereof purposely to haue the more ignorant to dote vpon them else could not the maisters of balductum ceremonies haue climed vp by craftie conueiance to sit in thrones aboue Emperours and Kings I suppose by your ancient patterns and fashions you meane apparell and hospitalitie wherein to my small power I will do my good will to take away the error of your mislike beginning first at apparell Amongst sundry sorts of men there haue alwaies bene diuers kinds of attires according to the humors degrees abilities of the wearers the shape fashiō being euer in the or dainers choises to please themselues according to the deuice and conceit of best becomming Therin this present age hath rather surpassed to their commendation fitting nearer by Tailers shapes and garnishings with better proportioning and setting out garments to their bodies then the Rutterking Tailors of the old stampe wherevnto you would haue fashions brought back againe You might as well appoint men to go naked or loosely attired which they haue done as not to allow them that must were clothes to fit their bodies according to their owne minde and fantasie Had you found fault with too costly apparrell where neither the degree nor place requireth it or with too fantasticall or superfluous wearing where halfe the stuffe would suffice to make a farre more seemly garment or had you spoken against their follies who fet enuious patterns to outvie and vndoe one the other by trying maisteries in fashions who should bcare the prodigall bell away which time and cost had bin better spent in the emulation of vertues acts who should haue deserued best in deeds of marshall prowesse beseeming fortitude therein had I agreed with you but through the hast you made to finde out these not so worthie your displeasure such haue also escaped you I rather thinke you wanted words to expresse your good conceit not accustomed to speake in such things then any wayes come short of iudgement to discerne aright in greater difficulties Dunst Surely you fauour me rightly for it was my meaning to shew the dislike I had of such as weare more on their backs in one day then their fathers did in their whole life time Hud Now I dare vndertake by your waightie words you meane such as weare more armour on their backs in one day or are girte with more wounds and stripes then their Fathers were Dunst Nay rather I speake against that excesse where commendable Farmes which were wont to maintain bring vp honest tennants and their children ouer and aboue the rent are dasht vpon one sute of apparrell together with one daies vnmeasurable expences Hud I perceiue you could be content to dwell rent-free vpō the grudge you beare hereat all the daies of your life But now to your patterns of housekeeping I will see to fit you better therein for I know that troubles you most and giueth you least cause of offence Know you how all fathers that leaue their heires lands charge the said liuings First the mother her carrying away a iointer moueables and furniture of the house that must needs be one hinderance why the sonne should not begin where the father left then paying out of brothers and sisters portions is also a hinderance to make him lesse able to keepe house and porte equall with your ancient patterne Now againe besides lands and goods perhaps he wants the offices and entertainmets from his prince which his father was assisted by in that ample manner to do that you so hastely require But put the case all Noblemen and Gentlemen were in better sort able to maintaine housekeeping after this fashion then any ancestour they had I will shew you sufficient reasons and those profitable also to the common wealth to haue such lauish housekeeping forborne When you had these prodigall spendings for custome sake they neither knew why nor wherfore a progenie of voluntarie or rather wilfull beggers were thence outrraised the swarme and rable whereof by continuance haue defamed and slandered the whole nation besides the generall and particular hurts they do in the places where they are yet in that sort maintained Is one Gentleman be able to shew you halfe a thousand thus bred and continued from one descent to another for many hundreds of yeares it is like England hath some greater store of these straw companions It were much for me to say that the first brawle of them came from this occasion because of the likelyhood I will venture to thinke they did and shew you my reasons First their breeding and customarie aboade in one place excercising one selfe kind of life then the commodiousnesse of a wastefull house to fcster them vp in that free and liberall sort without exception to any that would helpe away with beefe and mutton as much at their commaundement that would in this sort come to take it as at theirs whose breeding and growing it was of For it is more likely they tooke their beginning from houses thus wantonly kept then from a farther fetcht deuise of Abbeys and Priories whose benefacting that way extended chieflie to their supposed children and Paramoures inhabiting Milles and out-granges within their belles ringing whither by out-leaps they made their Sabaoth dayes iourneys their cherishing was onely of such to do to haue as the Scot saith an ease for a pleasure Againe such as were fallen by casualties or burthensome occasions of many children into pouertie former times I must confesse had greater respect in time to see to them then we haue who lightly alwaies by charitable contributions restored thē back againe in time to an estate ere they could catch a habit or delight therein a matter better pleasing no doubt to the parties relieued then the other contemptuous custome of wilsull begging Now whether it be likely that vnmeasurale house keepings were the occasions to draw loytering disposed persons from labour to ease and from one entising degree to another till it had fully possest them to erect a habit or facultie of slouthfull beggers the first degreebeing in themselues through this prouision other members of their like sort and qualitie as the rogue and vagrant begger indeed haue proceeded from the number and superfluitie of the first kinde now I say the better consideration hereof to iudge I referre to your selfe Dun. Through your gentle teachings I begin to perceaue an approoued error in ouerdoing as well in things that haue good purposes and intents as also in matters grounded vppon mischiefs carrying an outward shew of holy and religious deeds I confesse Monasteries and Priories were not so likely to haue bin causes hereof as the other dissolute houses where refreshings were without respect or partiality The Moncks and Abbots of my knowledge cut large shiuers of the loafe for which they neuer sweate to make themselues strong in the peoples fauour
out thus vnder my nose and I to sweate and swinke to maintaine his lozelrie Huddle This you take in so ill part is not worth your lament nor complaint If you consider the olde bondage and vassalrie men of your condition were wont to bein you should finde that to bestow a sonne thus vpon a gentlemā to haue him brought vp were a pledge of your good will to the maister for the mā his good no such hainous matter as you make it neither is the place as you impute it the cause or occasion of your sonne his faults for there can no Gentleman be of other minde but that he had rather his man had many good qualities then one euill condition Your sonnes climbing follies to equall or rather exceed them he should not striue withall in costly apparrell and lauish expences is also blame-worthy in your selfe setting proud feathers higher in his toppe at the first then you are able to reach and pull downe againe when you would Had you said the taking of gifts and bribes to peruert and hinder the course of iustice had bene a matter of common sorrow and is wont to be withstood and helped by the presence and authoritie of the honorable their countries ancient benefactors next and immediatly vnder the Prince then had you bene of the minde I would haue you with me to be in by such reasons examples as I am ready to yeeld you Gifts are said to draw a curtaine betweene truth and the prudent light vnderstanding of the iust to make crooked the straight and plaine testimonies and sentences of the righteous If bribes haue truth once in chase light she not on a strong couert and sanctuarie such an one as is nobilitie to refuge the wronged it is oddes after many wrinches and pinches giuen her in the course she will also be gathered vp and spoiled by her fierce pursuing enemies which by craft and subtilty can both gaine cope and take the simple harmlesse wretch in their cruell gins and mercilesse snares Golden blocks throwne in the way of iustice her Chariot is in great danger of ouerturning They therefore that thinke to do iustice should not so much as looke vpon gifts which are said to put out the eye of equitie The sellers and buiers thereof are not worthy to be trusted in a commonwealth much lesse fit to hold place and dignitie in the same In Romes best flourishing daies first iustice was sold then Rome it selfe was offered to be sold Two vnsatiable buiers we are sure of that is to say craft and power Now from viperous matricide sellers good Lord deliuer vs. But I hope there are none who would be contēt to see the tender bowels of their naturall parents lie bleeding before them but rather trust to God that all our English nation in generall will imitate the fidelity of our Noblemen who I am perswaded are all of worthy Fabricius his minde He hauing a great masse of treasure sent him from king Pirrhus freely without any conditions to do good or hurt in the time of his want also refused the same vtterly setting more by his honourable freedom to be beholding to no state or Potentate but his own then he did of all the wealth of Egipt at which deniall or vertuous spectacle the king admiring cōcluded it to be as easie a matter to alter the sun from his course as to change Fabricius from the strict obseruance of honeslie Besides their strong resolutions that way I hope they be Argus eyed to behold from the Beacons watch towers of their wisdomes that no rage of rebels shall enter the realme at vnwares to endanger her throane that is the welfare of vs all through whom vnder God we are vpholden Further also I doubt not but if any such serpents come creeping in to disperse their venome and to infect this sweet soile which is full of God and her benefits they will be as wise as Dedalus was with laborinths to intricate and inclose them so sent from greater snakes then themselues to endanger our christian peace Lay they all on one heape or were they suted alike the way to beware them were more easie But some time they lie lurking in fine penny grasse where they are suteably clad to beguile for greene can hardly be descerned from greene Other-whiles they lie inclosed in caues and dens where they tarrie to mew their old skins which by running through brambles and briers they hauing once shed and put off then become they youthfull and frolick it abroad drawn forth by the comfort of the least breath of a warme winde or small sunne-shine When they haue thus dissolued the ycie limmes before congealed and benummed in their frozen dens then are they fit for the company of them who cannot liue vnlesse they be fed with poison There they play the serpents indeed creeping at the first into the hearts of such as vnder the colour of deuotion they can easily draw into abuse supplanting allegeance at the first dash When they haue abused such with the infection of conspiracie to them they draw forth their commission whereat there hangeth the autenticall seale of Rome The first words within the escript are murther and rebellion In the next clause is contained plenarie remission and forgiuenesse to any that can flesh themselues in the sacred bloud of her gratious Maiestie or any that be especially neare vnto her Within this same writ notwithstanding the vnsatiate legates are named Catholicks and pretensaries to reforme religion through crueltie to be exercised vpon the annointed of God In the next clause following there is a charge to binde by oath all to be ready at all points furnished to recouer into obedience such as are fallen away from the statutes and ordinances of the sea Apostolick After that goeth on the last point vnder whom they must serue that is to wit vnder the Archstanderd-bearer of Antechrist the king of Spaine and his deputies Dun. I trust the ioyfull crowne that God hath giuen her Maiestie through her true feare and loue of him shall continue her triumph in godly and plenteous peace to fill the whole land still with her benefits notwithstanding helles sting and its roarings against her Hud Yea God doubtlesse will euer let them want somwhat to disapoint their wicked rages which their commission cannot supply notwithstanding their parcialities and factions as appeared by the omnipotent hand of God from heauen ouerthrowing bringing to naught their Giant-like deuises through the strength and greatnesse whereof they threatned the firmament and thought to haue supplanted the very foundations and ground-workes of heauen Because you may remēber how God cōfounded the deuises of those that put their confidence and trust in thēselues and their owne right hands because I say you saw how they were scattered and dispersed into diuers nations flying before the face of the winds no man forcing them I will therfore forbeare to speake of the notablenesse therof
defenceable delights and aiding powers graciouslie contented with honors and kingdoms deserued not at all disposed to any small things vsurped Thus you see whither the zeale of my heart hath carried me to matters of an other sort Had it not bene for marring my Lords sport and thereby to haue endangered your selfe a leasing long ere this you would haue hallowed me in from my counter-hunting Dunst Your words haue so drawne the consent of my heart vnto them that euen this busie haruest time I could be contented to lose a weekes worke and take it for the truest hunting I was at any grasse time in my life I thinke I shall neuer forget your Friar Ferret and his close hunting to the liuer at the first without ruffling a feather of his dames Chick Had I bin the good man I should haue coapt off the knaues priuie tithes for censuring my house with his relicks Huddle Had you the like care to your soule as she had you would beware to offend such holy men But you are one of those that had rather liue well I perceiue then to haue the Popes blessing Dunst Were I not cast into heauinesse with grieuing at my vngratious sonne I could match your old Friar with a new limmiter of later dayes but my minde is so carefully set vpon him and his vnreasonable mother together that vnlesse I be aided through your worships good counsell it will hasten my death but especially his mother her fond importunacie maketh me restlesse both night and day Hud If it be equinoctium with your wife now it will weare away as the nights and dayes grow longer or shorter But I thinke you meane the vertuous spirit within you which is said neuer to cease working in good mē Other rest it appeareth you want not for meat-health and sleepe-health you seeme to haue else could not your stomack distribute nourishmēt to such parts as shew to be fresh and well liking within you Dun. The hope of my restoring is vnder God in your worship Hud To aske me counsaile is to seeke helpe of a sick Phisition neuerthelesse such as it is it shal not be wanting to my good friend Me thought you were in minde to turne off your sonne Dun. Yea surely so I thinke it best stil Hu. Do you take it by casting him vp to all hazards by such masteries to calme his rough qualities or rather thereby shall you not raise a greater tempest of euils more like to ouerwhelme him making him thereby a cleane alien from vertue so of a prodigall child to become a gracelesse Caine Chirurgeons that meane well to their cures where the flesh is seuered by a greene wound or blow new giuen rather seeke to close vp that tenderly which is already torne thē cut the same out wider or longer to make the patient further off from help and restoring Tailors in like maner do not mend one paine by rending more but rather stitch vp that they found first broken Clouterly Tinkers onely marre where they should mend When fire is all out in your house to a little sparke you do not by and by stampe your foot or cast water vpon that which remaineth but rather seeke to repaire the same by adding such succours increasings as may renue that little There is also a certaine sparke or seed of vertue euer remaining in man in spight as they say of the deuill vnlesse reprobacie haue ouer-run all Seeke to find that in your sonne with good looking to and wise handling it may take deeper roote then at the first and so by the blessing of God bring forth both branches and fruits of vertue Dun. Your worships voutchsafing strong and friendly aides to my weake cogitations oppressed with wearisome doubts haue put me in more comfort then I feare me I shall finde cause to hope for in him Hud Let it not repent you to play the wise father gaining him by little and little your selfe If you had a hay barne or a mault-house crased or leaning too much to the one side you would not in a rage pull it downe and burne it but rather vnderprop it with studs and timber crouches till you were better able to build it vp againe Can you not with the same patience vse remedies and meanes to support your sonnes infirmities till you may frame them better to your mind Though you cannot at the first make him good do your best to abate his euils then seeke to prouide how they also may do the least hurt One while vse the authoritie of a Father another-while the commaund of a Maister at another time the loue of a friend Thus you shall haue cause to hope better of him by holding in his cheekes with the snaffle and raines in your owne hands then by sending him to seeke wilde aduentures with this short pasport Go be packing see thou hang thy self quickly Dun. Surely sir his owne conditions are like enough to be his warrant to Newgate and from thence without a pasport he shal be safe conducted to Tiburne by a sort of honest men who wil not stick to cut downe the hangman and him both for their coats For me to seeke vertues in vice his store-house it were foolish to beleeue and dangerous to follow He that hath catc◅t a libertie to liue at his owne lust little thinketh that the authoritie of a father belongeth to him By that he eateth drinketh and sleepeth at my cost so farre hereckoneth me to be his father but farther he neither esteemeth nor regardeth me Sithence his peeuish mother will not suffer my black Oxe to tread on his foote I will send him where he shall be glad to draw in the black Oxe his yoake I heare there is a presse forth for men to serue the Queene God willing I will make suite to our deputy Lieutenants that he may be one for it is the best free schoole I can finde to prompt wit into a braggard foole Hud Neighbour I am beholding vnto you for your ready speeches not borrowing you phrases abroad amongst flatterers you tell me it is foolish to beleeue and dangerous to follow my counsell it is maruell you lest out your prouerbe how euery man can rule a shrew saue he that hath her The difference betwixt you and me this while hath not held whether he were my sonne or yours nor and if I were in your case it must of necessitie follow I should be of your minde By the like mistaking you may nextly charge me to bolster out your sonne in his misdemeanours against you his Father Because we are in a Parke I will vse a hunting terme and so make away the game thus wherein your selfe shall still be iudge See therefore in few words what I go about which is to haue you consider whether it be better in time to foresee then after to sorrow without remedie My selfe am also a Father and know the effects of nature Therefore though the case be your owne see you prooue
great so euer he be in the world to be a constant man firme in vertues but only a proud puffin of the world or a Pippin of S. Ioanes wood By hypocrites in this place are ment such as humble themselues beyond cause towards some on purpose to lift themselues vp beyond reason against other some Such are said to imitate the outward habite and shape of vertues but neuer to put on the inward abilitie of well doing Such hipocrites in their slattering promises resemble the deuil who offered our sauiour Christ all the kingdomes of the world to the intent to take from him if he would haue bene tempted by him the incomparable riches he was already possessed of The seditious Iesuites are here called poisoned Serpents and hooded Friars because they haue put on the hoods of Rome and Spaine which are murther and rebellion sent hither by the Pope and the King of Spaine who are called greater Serperts then themselues Friars haue alwaies bin cariers and recariers of the trash of Rome so as these lesuits are now By calling his dames house a chappell of ease is meant his sextrie or vestry wherin he was wont to bestow his holy relicks called by the frankling the Friars demisaries and by the Apothecaries Testiculum canis By fortunes wanton is meant such a one whose lust goeth ouer all things without being satisfied such a one as is euer sick of the surfet of plentie Fortitude is called a valiant vertue because the couragious hart thrusteth out the bloud from the shroud of the fearfull breast to succour and strengthen the vaines and outward parts of the body which are in a more readinesse to execute valorous things By the hockie dame is meant Vacana the goddesse of haruest to whom husbandmē giue thanks pray for rest and quietnesse after their great and sore labours Digestion is called a constant and a substantiall-humor medled in the body by opposite cōmixtions the better part wherof in the end by outward inward heat is aduanced to bloud in the body wherby life is fed and maintained Ingratitude especially towards parents the enemie to all graces Voluptuous pleasures gnaw in sunder the sinowes of Fortitude By the equinoxium is here ment a similitude betweene a restlesse woman and the Asse which is said in that season especially to bray twelue times in the day and twelue times in the night By the Phisition his foure times comming is meant thus much First he comes to heare his patients confession how he disordered himselfe at the diseases entrance whereby to finde the nature therof and state of the sick mans body the second time to minister Phisicke according to the diseased his griefe the third time to launch into his disease by austerenesse of phisick to open the windowes betweene life and death the fourth time if he chaunce to come it is to pronounce sentence of death By the diuers constructions of his disease amongst his men there is meant to be showed the properties of the ignorant for they euer take vpon them still diuerslie and for the most part euery one contrary to another in opinion Because he hated to do well he was therfore said to be in a frenzie and to refuse the light Drowsie and voluptuous persons are also said to be in a lethargie or deadly sicknesse and so to stand in need of the aire and the light thereof He was said to haue a deadpalsey all ouer his body because it is a disease of the sinewes weakning the strength and most effectuall parts of operation in a mans body wholy and at once surprising life and nature so that death cannot be resisted in such a one Caonia is a part of Epirus a region in Greece wherein is a wood called Dodoni haunted with a multitude of Stockdoues wherevpon this prouer became Caoniae columbae craftie Pigeons of Caonia because the yeare before the great preparation of ships which the Greekes made these birdes fore seeing the downfall of the wood fled into another country This craftie Franck ling likewise dwelling by a harmlesse Gentleman from whom without doing any desart he was sure to receiue benefit was content to giue him check mate But when one was comming to possesse the foresaid Gentlemans seate which was like more straightly to looke into this churle his vnworthinesse him he calleth a Hawke whose comming he may not abide to here tell off Of all birdes this Doue is said to be most priuie to the nature of a hawke and to liue in most contempt of hawkes Couetous men in this place are called the diuels Faulkners because it is the propertie of them when they are seazed of their pray and gotten into their tallents more then they can well gripe or need to gorge themselues vpon yet in that while if there come any other pray by which is like to be within their maisterie and command they force thēselues at that also which sheweth their cormorant desire to be snatching Besides from the height of their stand they are able to make many slights and such as by their swift and fast flying are neither seene nor heard till they be seized of that they pursue The Pheasant here his bloud is praised because it is medicinable and effectuall to many good purposes By the Stockdoues breasting to driue the Pheasant from her stand or pearke I take it is meant lack Straw Wat Tiler and the rest of his fellow rebels in Richard the seconds dayes who by their rustick and rude billing at the Pheasant would haue put back the best blouded birde within this wood from his high pearch had they not bene preuented by the vertuous endeuour of such an excellent worthy as for his vertuous act at that time shewed hath enriched many others since to a degree of worthinesse and that for his vertues sake Dione is the mother of Venus to whom chits and bawds are said to pray vnto to ripen their young plants and to make them slack pliant and ready for their haruest and that their young heiffors may grow to vse for the yoake and the paile sooner if it were possible then nature requireth The other starre here meant is called Luciferum Venus her owne starre to whom bawdes are wont to complaine when they were deceiued or robbed of any of their sequestred weanlings desiring by her light that they may be restored to the knowledge vvhere they are beseeching also hir aide to be reuenged of those wrongs in as much as she hath takē them into her protection to whom they are sworne by othe neuer to forsake that profession By an Eunuke here is meant an officer to keepe good rule in Gentlewomens chambers or else such a one altogether which the bawde hath in charge to keepe Cupids tender sacrifices inuiolated The Bawds house is called a Hiue in respect that as in a Hiue all Bees are so like one another that they cannot be discerned so within this hiue of good fellowship there is to be found such a
vpon me to ride aloft betweene the authors meanings but altogether go about humbly to resound vnto the world the eccho which was beaten back vpon me from out the wood or Parke wherein these matters were talked of Againe though thorow the whole booke there are few words that go for nought yet dare I not venture to expound them accordingly as I might barely imagine them to be spoken least I should make my selfe thereby a coactor or gatherer vp of other mens meanings as if I were able to beat out the braines of their sufficiences whose experience and knowledge I must of necessitie giue place vnto That which I am able to performe I offer my selfe willingly vnto which is to lay open such doubts as may arise to such as are not readily disposed of themselues to labour or regard the true intent and meaning of the dialogers who in my conceit were altogether desirous to benefit if they could such Gentlemen as dayly seeke to murther themselues by all maner degrees of violent follies Vnlesse in time they better respect themselues neither this supplying plaister nor Maister Kellie his great Elixer will be able to restore or recouer them from out their daungerous consumptions who by disorderly gouernment make this incurable disease also hereditable to their children so that the soueraigne medicine it self can giue the no remedie vnlesse in time they slie the priuie snares which all sorts of enimies both sleeping and waking intend against them As the spider with poisoned twist vnseene beguileth the silly flies so with the deadly sting of these venimous deceiuers thorow too much outragious follie do Gentlemen fuffer their bloud and their childrens bloud to be sucked vp The first speaker within this dialogue is called an ancient retired Gentleman because of his lowlie and milde kinde of liuing not at all disposed to striue with the world in a proud busie restlesse sort the other is termed a midling or franckling The world acknowledgeth no such degree as they of that sort desire to be holden in which is to be accounted more then a yeoman and lesse then a Gentleman such ones are said to harrow hell to make their sonnes Gentlemen Wherevpon commeth this by-word Maister how call you him the sonne of goodman what shall I call him These kinde of men are instant wonderers at lewdriches which when the canckered and malicious minded wretches enioy in any plenty then straight they thinke the troth and grace of all things consists in themselues presuming that their children and themselues put on new natures by attiring them beyond their birth and degree This sort of men Palingenius tooke great displeasure at saying If riches and worldly drosse should make Gentlemen then the Butcher the franckling the Barbar the Fishmonger the Sheapheard the Tanner the Bawde the theefe the Vsurer and all of euery filthie sort whom the vnequall hand of Fortune hath exalted might cloute out their gentilitie But God and nature forbids such as proceed from those base conditions addicting their mindes wholy vnto that which can deserue no worthy laude nor praise to attaine the gift and force deuine of gentility which is onely atchieued thorough vertuousnesse Good enterprises and vertuous deeds commend vnto this degree and not the body set out with gorgeous shews so that the minde alone procureth gentilitie which is an ornament to none but to him that doth appropriate himselfe to vertue Many of meane degree haue bodies and outward shapes bred in them thorough the force of nature which for all that still retaine in minde a base conceit of vertues Neither God nor nature giues this value vnto all but deales onely bountifull herein with such as respectively incline themselues to better their conditions If gentilitie consisted in triumphing names and brags of riches what lack might not be then a Gentleman To she stouthfulnesse to haunt righteousnesse to releeue the distressed to prouide for the weake to defend the iniured by these meanes was gentilitie at the first attained All men liued in equalitie till vertue made the difference Then were not men admitted to principall and greatest offices that could gaine or oppresse most Then was not authoritie fenced in with wickednesse It must needs be a miserable common-wealth where the best officer shall become the worst author and maintainer of naughtinesse It is a wofull authoritie that defendeth wickednesse Offices were not ordained for such as could most politicklie enrich themselues but rather for those which were likeliest to performe vnto their Prince and common-wealth best seruices If nothing should be law but the decree and pleasure of them that sit in the commaunding place vvhat hope should any haue long to enioy it in that certaintie and orderly frame that gratious and wise Princes haue commaunded them Princes lawes therefore are not to be executed according to the pleasure and commaundement of their officers but rather according to the office and dutie in conscience and honesty from their prince they are charged by Gracious Princes thinke it not sufficient for themselues to be conuersant and exercised in vertues vnlesse also they hold their principall offices in the strict obseruation of their iust and expedient lawes If it be fit for the Prince himselfe to be dect with iudiciall effects outward pompe and ostentatious showes will not alone suffice to discharge inferiours duties in their offices Such as from an high place offend in their office no account or correction can be so straightly taken as the qualitie of their offence meriteth faulting against the taske imposed vpon them by their Prince for the whole common-wealths good Such in this discourse were by their principall leader or chiefe worthie clearlie disfranchised from the societie or conuersation of men The strict exercises of iustice in the magistracie caused the Romaine Empire so long and so not ably to flourish But when they fell at their owne lust to dispence with lawes shaking off moderation and abstinence then ceased their happinesse and after them followed a more vnthrifty seed which made an viter end of all prosperous yeares bidding vertue in the end vtterly adue making the noble birth of their auncestours through the staine of their villanies a reproach vnto them shaming them also to whome they should haue passed their bloud by testament of vertues As the body engendreth a body where nature is complete so doth the minde beget a perfect minde according to such perfections of vertues as were entire in the state of vertues in the antecedent noble worthy By ignorant times in this place is ment the sort state men liued in ere they were takē with the desire of knowledge before there was any search made into naturall causes and the generall vse of creatures Because there should no contention arise who that principall worthy was that mended thus the condition of men he nameth him not At no hand he will allow him that hath an eye to himselfe without respecting the good of others how riche or