the. And of a moste mercifull lorde and father make hym thy wrathfull and rigorous iudge For the cominalty complayneth new lordes succeded theyr olde auncients Excessiue in askinge rigorous in exactinge readier in takinge sparer in geuinge worste almost in all things For all commend the auncient Nobilitie condemne the children aduaunce their parentes to the heauens This posterity therefore briefely warne I not to oppresse with fines or incoms theyr tenants or countreimen Not to peruerte iudgementes not to enclose that erst was commen not raise theyr farmes hygher then of olde or beyonde reason not to crushe theyr backes with laboure not to dyffer to paye For all these are forbydden by the lawe of god Esay crieth Ceasse ye to afflicte learne to bee beneficiall searche iudgement And in hys thyrde chapter The lord shal come saith he to pleade with the elders and Prynces of hys people For ye haue cropped hys vyne and the spoyle of the poore is in your house Why begger ye my people and grinde as hit were the pore mens countenaunce And ther vice noteth hee in hys fifte chapter Woe to them that ioyne house to house and lande to lande leaninge roome for no Neyghboure Will ye onelye in dwell the earthe These be those Giants of the earth in times paste before the floude famous and Noble valiant and notable stronge sounde and mightie terryble and chayned These bee the successours of Nimrod stoute and boysterous hunters and rouers on the earth Whom eche where mencion the sacred scriptures Thus coūcelleth Salomon Moue not from theyr place the aunciente bounds nor enter on the lande of the Orphane For whereto staine Noble men them selues with this mucke wherto are they of so lowe base spiryte as to be chained to these earthly clogges who ought soare far higher For what are the ryches whiche here so much they prise but burthens and clogges of Cares Therefore saide Socrates oure myndes were no lesse hamperde and laden with them then oure bodyes with longe and side garmentes Ant Democritus featly depaynted money which vngotte wringes is kept with cares departeth with grieues Wherto then serueth this insatiable thirst of the which wantyng ye wayle hauyng howe loosing mourne This therefore knowe al Nobles and with like salues arme theyr brestes against this vnstanched thirst of coyne Well wite they they are no lesse bounden by lawes then euery poorest slaue And fyrst learn they they ought iniurie none Next whereto they are most bounden not onelye theym selues be not iniurious but also represse they like rauenours and extorcioners Worthye honour he is who harmeth none But who neyther suffereth others earneth doubled prayse Recor◠of that deuine Plato in his bookes of lawes For manye thinke power parted from iniury bare and contemptuous and falsely perswade them selues they are laweles and lordeles Imagining the lawes Cobwebbes That meashe a flea or flye whyche crowes or mighty beasts soone breake Some thinke a well moneyed man mayster of all lawes As erst sayd Cicero of Verres Nor ought so holy or reuerend that money may not pearce Ther be Iudges that gape for bribes and are corrupted with gyftes There are lawyers Noble mens counsaylours who sell theyr patronage hyre out theyr tounge and trauayle Gaynst those let this our Noble man watche and warde And heare Esaye rightly counsayling To ayde the oppressed to render the orphane ryghte to plead the widowes cause For herein ought they not credite theyr assystantes theyr soltcitours their lawyers who sith they purchase their reames and offices must consequentlye sell them Which wel sawe and foresawe that worthye Alexander Seuerus Who commaunded Vetranius Thurinus for taking bribes of sutors chayned to a stake with grene wood syered about him to be smothered That smoakes he might be payed who smoakes solde Sitte therfore the Nobles them selues in counsell heare causes and honoure iudgementes with their presence as erst those mightiest Monarches and Emperours of the worlde Mithridates Philippe and Alexander the greate For Noble men are prynces lieuetenants and wardens and ministers of the lawes For whereto are good lawes decreed if none bee by whose trauaile they enacted maye be kept Both againe and againe hit delighteth mee to honor the former age wherein Noble men were lawyers when the Roman gentlemen blushed not to professe this knowledge when Antonians Crasses Sulpitias Sceuolas Cicerons were no lesse skilful in the lawiers aunswers then the decrees of the .xii. tables Yea this profession was peculier to gentlemen Whiche would hit were renewed that them selues might order iudgementes the arte hit selfe haue more aucthoritie and these pedlers lesse luker For a ryghte and Noble Prynce and garden of the lawes is a beneficiall and earthly god to common weales In whom are many sores whiche hee easelye either with worde or becke mought remedy Be this therefore the first part of iustice him selfe to wrong no man The nexte in iust cause to defende others and withstande iniurye Nor onely is it requisite he be right of deede but of word also Which vertue is termed faithfulnes and trueth To stand to his promyse to performe and dyscharge hys credite For a Noble man ought accomplyshe yea what so hee noddeth to Who hateth not a lyenge Lorde Deepe in hys minde therfore must be imprint this sayeng of Salomon Sixe thinges god hateth and the seuenth vtterly abhorreth Proude lookes a lyeng tounge blondye handes a minde ymagining mischiefe swift feete to euell a false witnesse a vaine man and sower of strife twixt brethren A golden sentence and worthy to be grauen in the heartes of all noble sutes euen from theyr tender yeares But I must measure my measurelesse talke The neyghbour vertue to this is equitye Not to racke al thinges by extreme right to yelde somewhat and thinke nothinge more beloued then mercy or curtesye Mercy consisteth in pardoning winkinge at faultes and forgeuenesse seeld punishinge and that vnwillyng accusinge not often nor but compeld of necessitye Curtesye requireth easie speache ciuile company frendly pleasant and curteous talke For wherto shewe Nobles thē selues so seeld Why are they so statelye and hawtye in talke to theyr brethren theyr semblables Nothynge more hygh or loftye then the sunne Yet vayleth he his golden rayes downe to the base earth Communicateth his influēce with herbes plantes seedes shineth lighteth and heateth as well the vniuste as iuste the poore as riche yea the bruite beastes Agayne the higher and loftyer he is the slower and slacker mociō he hath Euen so ought Noble men the higher they are raysed the humbler and quieter to be the more to vse lenitye curtesy to al men bridle their stomakes bury theyr vnbroken rage The contraries therfore statelines importunitye crueltye and anger much more must they flye Which when they light on anye armed with authority Nobility and power more trouble and stirre eche state For inflamed with these nourishementes and oyle as it were they haue more force to hurt Of anger well counsayled
hoarie auncientie of Nobilitie lasted through so many ages and families Chiefely if the moare of vertue be not cropped but dayly rooted deepelyer But sith Cain Cham the children of Iacob and after Absolon Rhoboam and other ill sutes sprong of holiest rootes and the heires of Scipio Fabius and Cicero proue that Children treade not alwayes theyr fathers steppes but oft degenerate and commōly it happeth the most chaungelinges moste crake the simple glory of theyr auncientie them selues suinge no sounde or perfecte vertue therfore for it is lawful it liketh and behoueth mee somewhat to reason not against antiquitie but the vaine confidence of antiquitie not of myne owne heade but the aucthoritie and iudgementes of learned Sages And as hitherto wee haue pulled nought from it so henceforth wyll we adde nought to it but his owne least with borowed plumes it seeme to it selfe What other then shal we terme auncient bloud then goare or putrified as sayde Gregory Nazianzene to lyke effecte Blushe to be termed ill not base or bare Race is their praise who longe since notten are Lo hee termeth them putrified festred and rotten in theyr graues from whom these boast theyr birth And Cicero in scoffe rightly termed Pisos aged and aunciet Images smoakie Vaine therfore is this vaunt of auncient Nobilitie if nought els renowme hym but his worme eaten stocke or emptie rewes of drawen descents For who walowes in this errour and weenes him selfe greater for this shade of forreyne happes is not to bee reckned amongs the Noble and honorable but rather to hee deemed a foole and fondlinge But happely you wyll reply theyr race is not only auncient but riche and mightie But therin others eyther matche or passe them and yet not therefore are accompted Noble And ryches ofte are blocks mids the race to our nobility and ofte forslowe the voyage to this true glory at least not alwaies further hit Further it may perhappes be douted who were those Nobles glorious worthies of whom these Impes descended Truly what maye be sayde I see But howe I maye playnelye speake withoute offence I doubte For what more frowarde or stately then he who seemeth to him selfe happye Who is hardlier taught the who dreauth him selfe most fortunate Plato refused to geue the Cirenenses lawes for he counted it most difficult to order so welthy people Neuertheles both for it is true profitable for thym to heare◠necessary for me to speake my conscyence mouynge me to vtter hit I must not conceale it I wishe therfore all Nobles would call to minde reape vp out of all memory theyr auncestours progenitors So shal they finde perhaps a petygree genealogy wherof they ought rather blushe thā swell I styrre not this mixen Let thē selues searche the chronicles and theyr petygrees and marke yf theyr auncestours haue hene murtherers of theyr brethren as Cain reprobate as Esau of whose house the booke of Genesis reckeneth many dukes and kinges Whether they haue beene rouers as Nimrod the great hunter or tyrantes as Nero Phalaris others Idolaters as Thare the father of good Abraham persecutours of christian religion as Iulian the Apostate or effeminate vicious persons as Sardanapalus Whose children or posterity haue small cause to vaunte the honour of theyr auncestours but rather to lament their miserable state And declynyng theyr by-pathes them selues sue better And so begynne to rayse to theyr posteritye some paterne of true Novility What sayeth Chryste of the buylders of the Apostles tombes and such as decked the monumentes of the iust Sayeng Had we liued in the times of our fathers we would not haue bene partakers wyth theym in the bloud of the Prophetes Therefore ye are wytnesses to your selues sayeth he that ye are theyr children who slewe the Prophetes Fyll ye also vp the measure of your parentes O ye serpents vypers broode howe wyll ye escape damnacion If is to be feared least he wyll saye the like to theym Who proude the bloude of theyr bloudye syres vaunte such armes as purchased by the spoyles and slaughter of the good not honour but dishonour them nor ought to rayse but quayle theyr stomackes and abashe and shame them God in Esaye calleth the Israelites traytours chyldren and froward broode This therefore in maner was the head of the Iewishe Nobilitye These be also the ofspringes of ours For to come nearer were they not Gentyles from whom thys Gentrye descended Lyued they not without god without law without Christ◠Whiche infamye thoughe it be commen to all and farther of nor peculyer onely to Nobles yet pertayneth to theym for it is vnyuersall And thereto this oure talke tendeth that such as aduaunce them selues for byrth aboue others may linke theym selues in this commen lyne with others and be included in one selfe throng with euery abiect person not exempting them selues from this contagion for theyr Nobilitye For suche as nowe weene theym selues nearest god are the rēnauntes of this wicked accursed brood So are they of the condemned sede of the Gentiles as al the rest Which had bene a simple Nobilitye had not the precious crosse of Christ our noblest sauiour legitimate them But nearer yet let vs touch this spring and roote of these noble twiggs Let vs in thought ouerrunne peruse all countreies of christendome see if in anye of them appeare anye sparke of true and auncient gentry Italye the queene and empresse sometime of the rest abundant in pleasures commodityes and sundrye blessinges of God howe large it was howe litle it is yf anye will but recount he shal finde no sure signes no euident steppes of any auncient Nobility Not whole townes not waste playnes retayne their former and principall names no pure whole families remaining The noble housen eyther ruined or decayed and newe and barbarous vpcrept For that part whiche sometimes the Apulians Samnites Greekes and Campanes inhabited is now the realme of Naples Latium Capaigne Gawle termed of Cesar behither the Alpes Lombardye Flaminia Romandiola the riuer Liris Galirian Ticinus Pauie Egnatia in Apulia Iuuenacium as Raymond Martian notes So as almost at this daye it retayneth no ioat of antiquity For it hath bene the pray spoile of al nations Not only in elder times mixt with mongrel and forren people as the Greekes Oenotrians Morgetes Sicilians Ausonians Aborigines Pelasgians Auruncans But also at last with al Barbary the Lombards Saracens Hungarians the factions of Gwelphes Gibellines others wherfore what meruaile is it if the priuate antiquity of Nobility famous housen be decaied what shal I say of Spaine which suffred like calamity what priuy murthers they committed with what barbarousnes thei infected it both I sorowe to thinke abhorre to recount Neither the Germaines al wer they of others moste free leaste open to inuasion were altogether quite frō forren bondage from the Romaines frō the Gentiles Pagans For the Sarmatians and Gothes wild and cruel people they bred in their owne bosomes What I
these skyppynge that fyrste and auncientst earthlye parent With whom no mortall may in this forte of Noblesse compare Fashiond holie scriptures Whereby we set it moste euident that Noblenes of house noughte auayleth the vnnoble Thus hitherto haue we cited presidents of the stayned with vice Whom become euell thoughe descended of good theyr parentes vertues nothing holpe but theyr owne vices infinite wayes anoyed Contrary wyse nowe others of better staâ—e wyll I vouche whose auncesters stayned wyth many and sundry crymes yet prooued they most worthy praise and emulacion Abraham The auncientst of the Iewishe stocke was a Chaldee His father an Astronomer of those that studye the Mathematicalls Decmyng these sterres and the whole frame of the world and skye Gods Flynging downe both good and euill to euerye one supposing no other cause then with theyr forren senses they discerne Then this what more villanous What more dishonor to the soule By the contemplacion of many meanes and creatures to growe to the the ignoraunce of thauncientst vncreate and framer of al thinges And both for those and other infinite consideracions whiche mans reasons comprehendeth not moost good Who he when once conceyued he ryghtelye worshypped forthwith forsooke his countrey kinnc and fathers bowers Knowyng yshe abode his errours also of many gods continued Whereby his minde should lesse further in searche of the one onely euerlasting God and father of all thinges as well conceyued in mynde as subiect to sence If he fled the vanitye of his opinion altered into truthe the errour also would departe his minde Whych his desyre to knowe the chiefe being muche more enflamed certayne expounded prophecyes on whom as steppes treadynge he scaled the speedye knoweledge and search of that vnity Neuer ceassyng tyl he had conceyued the clearest vision not of Gods substaÌ„ce for that may not be but as farre forth as may be of his Nature and prouydence And therefore is fyrst reported to haue beleued in God For he fyrst helde an vnmooued and constant opinion there was one supreme cause gouernour bothe of the worlde and worldlye This Science of all vertues the certainst once atâ—aind forthwith he gat the rest So as of that people where he forourned he was renerenced as a prynce not for his robes wherein he passed not a pryuate person But the hawtye reache of his wytt pryncely minde As subiects theyr prynce so honoured they hym A mased at his maiestie and reuerendnesse of Nature as more perfect and precious theÌ„ mans For not the commen phrase of speache but more statelye and loftye talke he vsed nearer approchyng the deuyne maiestye For enflamed wyth Gods spyryte he grewe alwayes better in countenaunce he we stature habite iesture and voyce The spyryte of God descended from aboue possessing his mynde geuynge I is body grace his talke persuasion his hearers vnderstanding And will any deny this exile destitute of all his frendes and familyers couetyng Nobilitye coupled wyth god and trauaylyng to be accepted acquaynted with hym placed emonges the Noblest rankes of Prophetes crediting no mortal created man before the vncreate immortal Father of all esteemd as a kynge of theym that harboured him not conqueryng yet his Empyre as some by armes not wyth warlike force but the gyfte of the almygh tye God the honourer of his godly seruauntes wyth heaped authority to theyr commodity with whom they are conuersaunte to haue bene Noble He is doutelesse to all exyles flyenge the obseruance of monstruous maners detestable customes attributing to stones stockes and lyueles counterfaytes almoste heauenlye honoures so iour neying to the very liuelye and quycke commen wealthe whose presydent and watch is truth the very squyer and paterne of Nobilitye Whych many godly not onely men but women imitated Unlearning the ignorauÌ„ce which eueÌ„ in theyr cradles they sucked of worshypping hand wrought I mages And learning the doctryne of that ones gouernemente by whose Monarchye the whole is paysed Thamar a simple woman borne in that parte of Philistia that bordereth on Syria was bredde in a citye worshipper of many Gods stuffed with Sinagoges I mages and all fortes of Idolls But after amyds she dungeon of darkenes as throughe a narowe chynke the lyght glimse of truthe was reuealed her she fled to it forthwyth though with manifest peryll and hasard Not prysyng the lyfe she mought not well leade Accountyng thonely ryght lyfe the worshyppe and honouryng of one onelye cause Who though after wedded to two brethren bothe wycked to the fyrst a mayde the next by the lawe of enheritaunce for his brother left no issue preseruing yet vnstayned her wemles life both purchased her selfe the praise that wonteth to accompany all good and became thoriginal and pryncesse of Nobilitye to her whole posteritye But she though an alyene was peraduinture free and borne of Noble and no base parentes But the poore handmaydes in the farthest borders of Babylon beyonde Euphrates Agar geuen hy Sara to Abraham were geuen to the wedded spouses and vouchsaued of the Sages beddes fyrst scaled the name and dignitye of wyues And of handmaydes became almoste I should saye peeres in honoure to theyr ladyes yea by theym whiche is almost incredible preferd to this dignity For enuy harboreth not in sage brestes Which where it wanteth all thinges are commen Theyr bastard sonnes were actompted legitimate not onely of the syre for no wonder were it if the father shewe like countenauÌ„ce to his chyldren but euen of theyr right wiues theyr stepdames Who forgettyng their wonted hate to theyr sonnes in lawe vsed lyke care and loue towardes all The Chyldren aunsweryng wyth exchaunged loue reuerenced theyr stepdames as theyr naturall mothers The halfe brethren also seuered onelye by vertue loued not wyth parted or quartered tone But supplyed what wanted in Nature with doubled yea redoubled affection And in sweete harmonys and consent of maners endeuouted to resemdle eyther parent We must not therefore pelde to those who boaste others gyftes as theyr owne Who exceptynge suche as we last mencioned may worthely be deemed enmyes of the Israelites and all other Nacyons Of theym for they licence all of one stocke to neglect the pryuate practise of vertue through confidence of thonour already gotten by theyr auncestours Of the Gentyles for they teache they aspyre to the tipe of vertue altogether in vayne for theyr auÌ„ce stours were vicious Then whych doctrine scarce wot I if anye be more pestilent For if the euell progenie of the good auengyng plage awaite why should honour be foreclosed the good descended of the euel Sith the law praiseth or punisheth all not for their kinsfolkes but their owne desertes Scapes in Prynting Fo. Pa. Li. 7 2 21. for like of wantonnesse read like wantonnesse 10 1 32. for who what wheresoeuer who and wheresoeuer what 21 2 1. for great greater 58 2 3. for aut and. 45 1 13. for happy happy 69 1 12. for dreauth dreamth 88 1 19. for Cyesus Cresus 144 1 23. for wearned wearyed 156 1 6. for as is 180 2 1. for of to 194 2 21. for gaawe gnawe 201 2 18. for that a 204 1 22. for Soles Schooles for chempaling empaling 208 1 3. for Denonicus Demonicus 209 1 21. for Cea Cesar The rest small iudgentente by respecte of the circumstances may reforme ¶ Imprinted AT LONDON IN Fletestrete nere to Saynct Dunstons Church by Thomas Marshe
be not enflamed to warre but perswaded to moderance pacience peasablenes and lenity that so eyther part be clawed and smothed as weapons maye be layed not taken theyr furies quenched not kindled Of the duties of Nobility whē talke of that order so requireth I wil speak hereafter Now must I commen with the commens those that weene that degree ought be extinct and Nobility wasted with might and maine But al to sharpe a medecine is warre And farre feeter for bruite beastes than men Though in these desperate and bloudy daies to slaye and be slayne is accounted but a feat of Mart. Where what a man is what humanity is altogether vnknowen Whereof I saye litle It is to copious a theame wherto is farre easier to finde entrye than ende Onely thus much I saye It is a sharpe and sower playster that so salueth the sore as it maimeth one halfe and murthereth the bodye of the commen wealth How much better were it to imitate Surgeons than tormen tours The surgian heales the sore the tormentour quelles the man And neither doth he cut or seare hym when he may cure him with potions with oyntments or with gentle platsters It is no medecine that in healynge the sore parte of the commen weale harmeth the whole and sound Naye it is a butcherye and beastlye crueltye They rather heale it who prouide that by good order and lawefull meanes the yll be punished Or if neede so require yf at home emonges theym selues bate can not be quayled and quieted procure those to whose power it appertayneth to execute the authoures of sedicion not rage on the whole order But mowe of yll heades as infections and plagues of commen weales They must euer thynke warre booteth neyther parte that it is vnfeete for men much lesse to be tendered to our owne countreymen scarse to our enemies Ought ye not rather in this case to debate these Questions with youre selues Ought ye not thus to reason what ye entende whereto Gaynste whome wherefore who ye are that mynde it Whiche let vs a while seuerallie consider What wage ye Warre Whereto For proposing euel ende ye must knowe the wicked pretence proues worst to the worker and what ye come for others shall lyghte on youre owne heade This hyghe estate truly is maruaflous brickle For it is in maner planted and mounted on heyghthe open to the blastes of all enuies flawes Wherfore yf for ye enuie the honoure and dignitie of Nobilitie and coueit your selfe to clime and scale their roomes ye attempte this bloudye meane and more respecte your priuate glorft than the manifeste hasarde of the common wealth and so cruel and bloudy murther theym in field this bee ye moste assured who liueth not contente with his owne estate shall rue to worse Who climes the hyghest shall sinke lowest Wyth what measure ye meate to other with the same ye shall be repayed But if to good purpose in claymynge and demaūding right ye wage warre if in fighte ye demeane your selues moderate mercifull yet if you who in hope of victory first toke the fyelde be conquered as commenlye it happeneth in how wretched state your goodes hope fortune libertye and lyfe consiste is none so ignoraunte who knoweth not so blinde who seeth not But admitte ye conquere yet is not your conquest so gaynefull as harmerul in bearinge armes agaynst those whom ye ought haue shielded For with whom warre ye whom wythstand ye Whom assault ye Whose bloude and life pursue ye ye murther perdy a noble man Whyche when I saye much more say I then a priuate or loane person Of god he hath what so he hath For all power rule dignitye paternity Nobility Nouity auncientye descondeth from that authour and geuer of all heauenly and earthly giftes But whom prouoke ye whom inuade ye perdy either your naturall countreymen or your liege lorde or some ciuile magistrate To slaye your owne countreiman nature and reason gayne say Sith for ye are in one commen wealth as one barke togither of necessity ye must either suffer wracke or escape To laye hādes on your liege lord to whom ye owe all honour and reuerence the ciuile lawes beare not To violate the magistrate all lawes both of God and man forbid Whom then prouoke ye whom assault ye perhaps good men For emonges thē are of the best But good men euerye man not altogether yll will loue reuerēce But be they euel Patience is the armour and conquest of the godly This meriteth mercy when any cause les suffereth sorowe But let vs also consider the cause that enflameth the commens against the Nobility For if in a wrongefull quarel they runne to weapon it is not onely iniurious but wicked Admytte the cause be iust Yet nedeth the people naturally to rashe rather a curbe to rayne and bridle theyr stomake thē a spurre to prouoke it For euen iuste causes haue their courtes And ought rather be decided and determined by the doomes of graue and sober than the blades of madde and furyous men For noughte els is warre than meere fury and madnes wherein not aduice but rashenes not righte but rage ruleth and rayneth We must therfore trye all meanes ere we flye to force We must fight with reasons not weapons We must runne to the counsaylours But in common courtes say they is no place for the poore Then must we appeale to other iudges to higher offices But here also hard it were the better monyed should spede worse in iudgement Then must we flie to princes whose charge it is to ende controuersies and to heare and determine ehe causes of the poore But here likewise for the entryes to princes are narowe for theyr officers wonte to be corrupted with brybes nor poore Roscius may haue passage to Silla for Chrisogonus saye they not according to iustice truth is the cause balanced Whether then shall the poore afflicted miser turne or winde him selfe By prayer let him appeale to god whose eares open not to plaint to fauour to affection whose court is holy and iudgement ryght Wherto nor couetise scales nor enuy hath made breache To him must he present his wofull supplication hym must he beseeche entreate He is the stout auengeour of the poore He will maintayne their cause agaynste the highest noblest Al means must they rather seke thē fight For though the Nobles ouercharge thē with iniuries crushe them with laboures burthens and perilles he yet that discharged the Israelites of the yoake and bondage of Pharao of the clay and bricke workes he euen he with the same hyghe and mightye arme with the selfe same auenging and assisting hand which is not now abridged shal deliuer the wretched and afflicted people groaninge sighing to him Whereto he nedeth not any fleshely or mans arme Forasmuch as he is the lord of Hostes and puissaunt of power But nowe to the last part who art thou that encounterest Nobility The naked people of number huge of power none
For al which be and wil be accounted nobles knowe not the reason of theyr name Neyther hath it lyke fence in all tounges For it is wellknowen this worde Noble is indifferent and doubtefull taken in eyther parte good or yll deryned of the Grammaryans from the Verbe Nosco whyche signifieth to know Wherby properly it rests in him who is famous eyther for vertue or vice or for anye other cause renoumed or notable But this large and general sence men leaue And cloase in narowe boundes the effect of Nobility and applye it to the brâ—ghtenes of byrthe pleuty of poffessions For euery estate ciuâ—â— society though it consist of many mâ—bers neuertheles was parted of yâ— Romaines after the maner of the Athenyans who seuered it twixt the Lordes and Husbandmen into two degrees formes as it were Accordingly it may emonges vs be deuided into the nobles and commens Thone part containes the Prince and men of greater porte and substaunce surmountinge farre thother in liuing and lynage Thother the inferioure multitude the meane and baser sorte But though we commenlye terme those Nobles who are next to the Prince and counsayle yet the Latines name him noble whom the Italyans Frenche men and we otherwise terme a gentleman Whereby it appeareth this worde with his largest reache contayneth not onely the highest estates and callinges but whatsoeuer worthies of what so euer power or place as also the Germaynes name theyrs Iunkers and Idelles which soundeth in englishe Idle men These also both be and may not vnproperlye be named men of the best sorte For albeit the best be of the best sorte of whatsoeuer estate or degre yet is this name restraynd to welth and dignitis Cicero writeth those are of the best who neyther are noysome nor of nature euell not furious not stayned with any domesticall spot who support and maintayne religion lawes their allies warfare the realmes honour the priuileges of magistrates the authoritye of the counsayle Noble men therfore so they flye vice and folowe vertue so they serue not so muche theyr pryuate as publicke honour so they be indifferent and vpright as in fauour authoritye and power they passe and finde most prosperous the pleasaunt gale of fortune and beare the chiefest charge and swaye in the common weale so both be and termed are the worthyest sages the noblest members stayes of states The Hebrewes terme them men of name and fame most famous and farthest knowen and cristall as it were and white clothed Whereby they signifie free and Noble men For such emonges theym is the weede of the free borne For the. 70. innterpreters translated it in the olde bibles fre borne And as the Latines call them great and lordly men so also the Hebrewes in place whereof the. 70. in the fifte of Ieremy write bright gorgeous noble and lordly And generaliye of the name thus much may it suffise to speake But though to aunciente house this name of nobility be commonly most apity knitte Thâ—e sortes of Nobilitie yet of those that are termed nobles are thre sortes First truly and properly those which are noble through their house auÌ„cestors Next they that are of theym selues noble Thirdlye a meane and mixte forte of such as partly rise of them selues and partlye claime from their forefathers as the source of theyr nobilitye Of which let vs seuerally treat The noble by birth the Grecians terme a wel borne man Nobilite of 〈◊〉 seuered from the rascall fort by the renoume auncienty of his race Though it maye be also interpreted noble as appereth in that booke of Ciceâ—â— whyche he entituleth Cato the elâ—er As in scoffe op he they say Themistectec twited a Scriphian Vpbrawinge him he mighte thanke his countrey not him selfe of his glory Neither truly ê™ he were I a Scriphid wer I base nor thon glorious al hadst thou ben an Athenian For so Plutarche reporteth it In like sort the excellent learned man Theodorus Gasa translated that selfe word Whereby the Greekes wonte properlye to note a famous or glorious maÌ„ In the Hebrewe likewise they are called glorious renoumed translated of the. 70 notable Iude in his epistle termeth theÌ„ glory or maiesties Which emplieth men heaped 〈◊〉 maiesty glory Other names are amonges the Hebrewes but taken to the worse Of which we wil sprake hereafter if place serue The Latines â—â—rme him a gentleman Feetly counterfayting the Grekes Betwirt wel borne geÌ„tle kindly this difference is That the first signifieth a man famous and commeÌ„dable by birth onely Thother two note not only a geÌ„tlemaÌ„ but also a german fre borne and natural child Who besides the name expresseth eke his parentes the wes Those Nobles which by others gained the name and dignity of their Nobilitye are named by Appyan well fathered in imitacion of the latine word Patricii Whose fathers flourishing with the grene glorye of their deedes lefte their children heires partners of their praise That such were of the lordes Senate Liuye witnesseth in the life of Romulus But though at the firste onelye suche were counted noble yet after wardes who so gaue armes by theyr auncestours were honoured with that title Yea the common sort had they once borne the chayre office The source of Nobilitie But that the of spring of Nobilitye may more cleare and plainely appeare we will more plentifullye pursue this purpose Best and briefeliest in the first of his Rhetorikes Aristotle described Nobilitye and deuideth it in two partes Thone he termeth commen or ciuile which farther spreadeth Thother nearer and more proper The commen is borowed of some famous nation or citye as heretofore to haue bene a Greeke was more coÌ„mendable then a Barbarian And an Athenian than any other Greeke Which Plate a wise man reckneth amonges his happes To be borne at Roome nobler than at Tibur or Lilibeum and at this day to be a Florentine Parisian or Londoner is accounted more glorious then to haue bene borne in a base village More noble also it is to be in maner borne of them selues in the countrey where they abide then to be ghestes or strangers as the Athenians boasted by Isccrates reporte in his Panegirica That others as the remnanntes of dyners mixtures were raked into sundrye corners But they not other whence came into Attike but were from euer borne and bred there Which to signify they wimpled their heades with caules wroughte with golden Gressehoppers for as Gressehoppers they crepte oute of the soyle which they fiil inhabited Whyche mencioneth also Hicronimus Osorius It is also more noble to descende of the auncient people than of any late fouÌ„ded city As the Athenians vauted their auncientie beyond all memorye For which also the Acthiopians contended soughte to proue theym selues fyrste borne The Arcadians fayned they preuented the Moone Thegiptians also and Scithians were parteners of the same strife For men weene much material to their owne theyr countreyes glory And therfore
browe shalt thou eat thy bread whych extendeth not to Adam onely but generally to al Adams and all hys posterity no man no Noble no King no Emperour exempted By this curse are they charged to labour in the sweat of their browes to eate theyr bread as the hindes of the almighty god lorde But it nedeth not say they they should moyle theÌ„ selues with needles superfluous toile Sith by gods hand al necessaries are abundantly ministred theÌ„ al thinges plenty with them sufficient left of theyr parents wel worshipfully to mainteine them and furnyshe theyr estate But if they scorne to beare this yoake of laboure with Adam with theyr fathers with theyr brethren if in slouth idlenes lasines they suffer houres daies to slyde they shal yeld to god the most seuer auditour accompt of theyr mispent time al wer they Cresus Crassus or Midas and possessed syluer Vynes golde mountes all beare they Chayne Brooche or Iewel on theyr coarse And though perhappes of custom they presume this ought of right pryuyledge bee pardoned them and neyther accompte of theyr lyfe mysled nor tyme loste nor fyne for theyr idlenes exacted yet wil they be faultlesse wil they escape vnpunished they must attende not what is licensed or permitted emonges a fewe men but what by Gods worde they may For this gappe opened not lawes but lycencious custome not ciuile ordinance but corrupted tymes Reuerende antiquitye nor vsed nor meante it But more by deedes than wordes and yet by wordes sufficiently condemneth this lewdnes and ydlenes in gentrye Hit is therefore labour worthe to displaye here the aunciente busye and paynefull life that our Nobilitye may euer caste theyr eyes to this antiquytye and hit propose theym selues for paterne Fyrste the Iewishe Prynces sawe this laboryous lotte of Adam pertayned to them as his posteritye As the Noble Noah the Vyne setter Abraham and Isaac well myners Iacob the shepeheard as all the rest eyther shepeheardes Husbandmen Artificers or earnest toylers in some fruitefull trauayle Not w e ease effeminate or nice with pleasure lashd oute as Penelopes woers theyr welth in feasting banketting Shall onely these men then exempt them selues from the law indifferentlye geuen all men Sith these Patriarches so thoughte and that taught by theyr liues shal not our nobles measure them selues by the same meatrod of manhood Who would or could they read auncieÌ„t monuments should sufficientlye see what were the trauailes of the Paganes with howe many labours their life was laden how idlenes was algates punished in whatsoeuer estate degree or dignitye and that by some commodious trauayle and commendable sweat they earned this name and honour amonges theyr people For albeit some Romaines borowed their forefathers names as the Vitellians Antonies Mamilians Naucians Sergians Cecilians CluentiaÌ„s Iulians AcmiliaÌ„s who deriued their surnames either froÌ„ Eneas or his sonnes or felow exiles or of the Sabines or other auÌ„cieÌ„t people yet both endeuored they stoutly to deserue theÌ„ were for the most part farther termed either for their excelleÌ„t wisedome Sages as the Catons Brutes or surnamed of other vertues As emonges the Greekes some Beneficiall Brotherlye Sauioures â—monges the Romaynes Godlye Fauourers of the Commens Or of conquered cities as Coriolane Isaurike Numidian Asiatike Achayke Macedon of such realmes and cities Or of other noble feates either of warre or peace as Runner Lingerer Chaynd Valiant Conquerer and Drusus for he slew the king Drausus and Valerius the greatest for he reconciled the lordes coÌ„mens Or of their sugred eloquence as Pleasant wel-spoken Attike and others infinite As they therfore not for they were riche meante to wither in idlenesse so nor ought oures for they be noble ware starke stiffe Nay rather so much the busier it behoueth theÌ„ to be in all exercise as wel of minde as bodye to suppresse growinge vice and cutte of the buddynge baytes of euell whyche the poore wante To chasten and subdue theyr bodyes that they become not to wanton with the abundance of fortunes giftes finally so maister them selues as they may honest their stocke answere theyr name accomplishe the great expectacion conceaued of them Least otherwyse they become desperately vicious lycentious lybertines wantonly froward excessyue ryche noughtily Nobles and altogether dissolute Sith hereto their many baites and slipper traynes allure them Let them pervse the whole bible Yet shall they not I thinke finde any Idle degree instituted or once named of god In Moyses and the Christian common welth Kinges Iudges Souldiours and riche men haue their roomes And to eche sorte theyr charge prescrybed Of whose number if Nobles bee as if they wyll bee they muste they are doubtles bounde to theyr labours and taxes Plato and Aristotle in ordeyninge theyr Common Welthes admitte nâ— Idle state nor sluggishe Nobilytie But appoint all eyther husbandmen or Craftsmen or Marchants or hired Seruants or wardeins or gardeins But what is the cause why Nobles may not labour For they be honorable But are not all worldlye creatures howe much more excellente and precious so muche more enwrapped in restles laboure Nothing more honourable then the heauenly army the sonne the Moone the sâ—erres nothing in the whole worlde more beautyfull or excellente Yet leapeth the Sonne forth as a Gyant to runne his course The moone taketh charge of the night serueth men plants liuinge creatures The starres rise and set To conclude euery creature labours trauailes For euen the noblest beasts and Princeliest fowles are bounde by this law and most wretchedly captiued to dayly nightly toyle if they happe on myserable and cruel lords Of fowles the Eagle of beastes the Lyon and Elephant of tamer beasts Axen and such like To whom besydes the shadowed Images of certayne vertues which the vniuersal coÌ„sent of al writers aloweth them as of swiftnes streÌ„gth stomake godlines Iustice Prudence this is peculier to digge theÌ„ selues and theyr whelpes caues to purue y theyr foode and other necessaries with their owne laboure None of them that eyther flyeth not as Eagles or eareth not as Oxen or gallopth not as Horses or senteth not as Houndes Thus reasonles beasts performe their duties and denie not the Noble man at due tymes theyr woll mylke laboure and Seruice They are euer prest to serue hym beare burthens suffer strypes daye and nyghte are plaged and yet shrynke not from theyr dutie Shall onely then theyr Lorde Brute beastes labourynge sitte Idle and sluggyshe Credytynge them whyle hee snorts to feede so many hongrie mawes In hope Fortune wyll fyshe for hym whyle hee sleepes and poore Cattell brynge home hys wantes and in maner poore meate in hys mouthe The Lorde sayeth the Fowle was made to flee and man to laboure Where vnder Man hee encludeth all estates Salomon the wysest prince posteth them not to these Pryncely creatures but to the symple Ant. Sayenge goe sluggard to the Ant marke her paths so to become wise Without mayster teacher or chastner shee prouideth her