know shame would cōstraine thee to be hartely sorie The Heauens know and my deedes might well witnesse that neither was I willyng to defraude Brunellus in any thing nor to haue voyolated Orienta whom I loue as myne own life but if misfortune hath befalne vs it is by other mens leudnesse not by myne whose practise if I might learne out I would so auenge my self as well should acquite me of all suspition and make myne innocencie well knowne to the world With this interrupted by the forseu of his teares he fell doune dead with very greefe of mynde The whole companie pitiyng the destresse of the olde man releued hym as thei might till Brunellus perswaded somewhat by the sorrowes he made saied thus Well Sertorius although many and sundrie occasions might perswade me to suspect yet truely thy bitter bewailynges doe somewhat induce me to beleeue thou art iniuried but seeyng impacience can not now serue to medicine our greefe let vs finde the meanes to finde out the practiser An aged and noble Gentleman a deare freend to Fuluius and priuie to all the premisses seyng it now season to breake of all suspitions saied thus Sertorius and Brunellus you haue seen many yeares and as it should séeme learned but little modestie that in your friends house who vseth you so courteously you demeane your selues so dishonourably Your Daughter sir is without any staine of good name yea and worthely fittyng her degree before my self and sundrie other Gentlemen she is solemnie maried to Fuluius and is now accompanied with her noble housbande so that Brunellus you haue no cause to mislike nor Sertorius it is now no time for you to sorrowe Loue made them in one vnitie to conclude freendship and we as willing to preferre chast Loue haue vouchsafed the ioynyng of them together so that satisfie you your self as a Father for your Daughter hath made a good choyce and you Sertorius altogether vnmeete for suche a matche praise fortune who hath better prouided for the Gentlewoman for your self I would wishe you to liue in Scienna according to your yeares in deuotion let these be admitted to the Mariage bed that may liue in the world with blessed encrease Herevpon Lodouico de villa noua for so this Gentleman was called takyng Brunellus and his wife the one in one hande the other on the other he coueied them to Fuluius bed Chamber where Brunellus not knowing in what passion to enter his speech said as followeth And haue I brought thee vp Orienta to follow thyne owne desires and not to bee leueled by my derection Is thy hautie courage such as thou disdainest my perswasions in thy proceedynges Alas vnhappie was I in departyng from Scienna vnluckie thy Mother but Sertorius most infortunate who for his benefites thou hast rewarded with so foule disloyaltie but since the mischeefe is remedilesse I beseeche thee Fuluius by the nobilitie of thyne Auncesters so tender my Daughter that I maie haue cause to blesse thy Weddyng bed and not occasion to curse thy conueiaunce Orienta ouercome with sorrowe could not aunswere wherevpon Fuluius comforting her and the better to confirme bothe father and mother saied thus Father for now Mariage makes me acquainted with that name if you knewe the zeale wherewith I reuerence your Daughter my wife you would turne your woe to gladnesse and reioyce in this successe beyng assertained of your proceedynges That we loued one the other Mariage may perswade you for vnchast Loue alwaies shunneth such conclusions that I am noble you doubt not for my Reuenues I am a Signior in Italy so that neither is this matche to bee contemned nor Parentes to be agreeued For your Daughter on myne honour here I assure you that what so in reason you shall request in Dower I will alowe and so desiryng you to cease your needelesse sorrowes I beseeche you withdrawe your selues till wee maie prepare vs in readinesse to come forth amongst you Bothe father and mother rauished with exceedyng ioye to heare the reasonable perswasion of Fuluius ranne vnto hym embracyng hym with mutuall loue and in open tearmes blessing their newe vnlooked for sonne in lawe And hauyng satisfied their expectation and leauyng the newe Maried couple to their priuate pleasures thei resorted to Sertorius who Bedlem mad with anger stampyng and staryng with doutie Duggion in his vnwildy fist sweares by no Beggers he would be reuenged callyng Heauen Yearth and all to witnesse what iniuries he had sustained whom when by no meanes he could bee perswaded Brunellus attempted in this forte My good freend Sertorius although my perswasions maie not worke with thee for that I knowe I haue wronged thee yet let reason induce thee to be pacient since the cure is remedilesse thou maiest neither blame the fates nor accuse me but thyne owne folly who laied the Trappe to catche the Mouse and poysoned the baite to beguile the fishe it was thou brought vs hether to encounter with these troubles and therefore since by thyne owne endeuours the remedies are vncurable cease to followe furie whiche is vnnecessarie The angrie Magnifico when he had a while stormed replied thus Now thou hast buffeted me Brunellus thou wouldest giue me a plaister but the wrong shal not be indured though hetherto I haue bin silent In myne owne house at myne owne suite to be cozoned of myne owne Loue. Oh wicked Fuluius millions of plagues light on such Purchaces Oh cruell Orienta is this the rewarde of my constauncie is this the effect of thy beautie aye me that haue liued to see these miseries But Brunellus what I promised Orienta I reuoke it and I doubt not but to crie quittaunce with Fuluius Wherevppon like a mad mā he runnes about the house seeking for Fuluius who laughyng very hartely to see our Magnifico in suche choler caused hym forth with to be shut out of doores who exclaimyng a long tyme yet without remedie bethought hym in the ende to take his Horse and so forthwith to post to Scienna to seeke Iustice Meane while all occasions of strife were shut vp betweene Fuluius his newe maried wife her father and freendes the father prefixed a proportion the Gentleman made a liberall Dowrie eche partie beyng thus pleased with greate iolitie beyng accompanied with their cheefe freendes thei all resorted to Scienna whiche being once bruited in the Citie Sertorius feede his Aduocates he exclaimes on Fuluius before the Iudges thei readie to redresse wronges perfixt a daie of hearyng Fuluias and Orienta were summoned and at the appointed daie thei appeared the Iudges beyng set Sertorius becan thus to accuse Noble Magistrates beyng sought to by this subtill Gentelman for a supply of money there passed a bargaine betwene vs bothe the saile of a Manner of his called Brentio the price was set 120000. Crownes and accordingly the money paied I tooke seasure of the Lande and beyng in possession I bestowed it on a Gentlewoman whom I thought to make my wife her this craftie seducer so hath
questionyng with his Host what Straungers were habitaunt in the Citie he reported vnto hym that amongst the Carthusians a Secte of Friers instituted by Bembo of Paris there was at that instaunt inuested a Gentleman of Nobilitie a Spanyard once renowned for his holy life though heretofore he had bin a Courtier of singuler brauerie within that Citie and hauyng learned his name whiche was Fredericke de Cicuta he likewise sought the meane to finde hym out and beyng preferred to his speech by the licence of the Superintendent or Prouost he saluted hym thus Signior beeyng ariued a Straunger in this Citie and vnderstandyng by reporte of your beyng here who are as I am enformed my Countrey man I thought it a poinct of wisedome to acquaint my self with one of myne owne Nation and a parte of ciuilitie to visite a Gentleman of such renowne as I vnderstand you to be of willyng if you haue any seruice wherin to commaunde me if it bee your pleasure at any tyme to imploy me you shall finde me more willing to performe then you readie to commaunde Frier Fredericke hauing giuen him the Baseles manes after the fashion of our Napolitan Courtiers aunswered hym thus It can not bee courteous Gentleman that my Countrey man a straunger should want any seruice I maie accomplishe especially perceiuing you to be a Gentleman and willing to grow into the high way of experieÌ„ce wherfore if you please to walke with me into my priuate Cell you shall accordyng to myne abilitie be welcomed and if in the Citie I can doe you any curtesie doubt not but you shall commaunde me Wherevpon thei bothe passyng to the fornamed place and hauyng discoursed of the causualties of their Countrey they recommended eche vnto other the originall cause of their trauaile of their birthe abode and suche like in the ende Frier Fredericke demaunded of Simonides the cause of his departing from Ciuill and why he trauailed towardes Naples whom Simonides satisfied thus Religious Father your reuerent eares should hardly daine considering the subiect to vouchsafe the hearing of a discourse so vnnecessarie especially since my cause of trauaile standeth on suche nice pointes as ere I had resolued to departe Ciuill I was almost at Rome My yong yeares as you see subiect to sundry impressions at last tooke holdfast on vnstaied Loue and myne eyes beyng curious in regardyng Beautie fixed them at last vnremoueably on the blaze of a faire Damosell called Clarinda whom accordyng to custome when I had eft courted yet neuer conquered impacient of delaies I desperatly left Ciuill trauailyng to vnknowne Cities led by this resolution that by sight of many thyngs I should learne something and in returnyng home constaunt in loue and accompanied with many good qualities I should be better welcomed to my Clarinda On this ground I haue seen Ferrara visited Venice past through Genoua attained Rome where inticed by the generall reporte of the nobilitie and courtlike behauiour of Naples I am come hether to weete if the brauerie bee correspondent to that I haue heard the demeanure so commendable as it is esteemed of These breefly are the causes of my trauaile somewhat I haue seene els where and now what I looke for here if by your meanes I might good Countrey man I would gladly accomplishe And was it Loue noble Simonides saied Fredericke that made you leaue Ciuill truely an vniust cause to aduenture tedious trauaile for small or no commoditie It is a greate errour Countrey man that made you amorous it was not the garishe beautie of your Mistris the aluryng raies of her eyes â—he exquisite feature of her bodie that captiuated your sences but an idle mynde of yours inclinyng to no good exercise and disdainyng orderly aduertisementes which vouchsafed to follow suche inconstant groundes as these be for it neuer falleth out but where Idlenesse is predominaunt that Loue preuaileth for where heauenly contemplation occupieth the mynde and orderly functions employ the bodie the soule disdaineth to like of dust and ashes the bodie subdued by discretion becommeth not desolute If wee keepe as dutifull dispositions of our tymes as the limitations of Nature hath prescribed vs our errours should bee finished in an instaunt our vertues encreased euery hower for as all thynges maie bee recouered but losse of tyme so vnlawfull pleasures should bee no reasonable mans companions I haue knowne of many Louers thus muche that for a little pleasure in their youth thei haue proued vnwildie men in their age but for those that in youth haue been Studientes in Philosophi in their declinyng yeares thei haue proued Philosophicall and not troubled with distempreture of bodies If you knew therefore Simonides what it is to compasse the tyme neither loue should preuaile though it assault you nor vaine pleasures conquer you when you are well armed with happie exercise For he that distinguisheth tymes well and compares the commoditie of his houres reading to his daies lotering would wishe his daies spent in Loue readyng howers and repent euery minute let slippe with a thousand sighinges For by how muche we ouerpasse our daies in idle exercise by so muche we abridge the limites of our happinesse by how much we aply our mynde to blinde and amorous actions by so muche we dispossesse our mynde of the most blessed benefites of reason In studiyng to attaine Loue wee are recompenced with small rewarde In studiyng to possesse Vertues what one thyng maie be compared to our blessednesse In possessyng suche transitorie pleasures as Loue is a man is enuied at by his Riuall In attainyng the inscrutable benefite of verteous sacred knowledge a man is reuerenced euen by his Enuiers So that you see the slothfull amorous man is tamed and made lesse then a man by his follie and negligence where contrarie he is most happie and blessed that fearyng to be idle is not content to bee a man and indeuouryng in honest exercises is a demy God by his vertues Oh Simonides I speake all this to this ende that thou shouldest see thy follies and in seeyng them subdue them in thy self for in those onely actions wee proue our selues reasonable wherein we subdue suche contrary affectes as withstande aduisement and maister those fleshly passions as altogether dispossesseth our happinesse For it is a point of reason to distinguishe good from ill so is it the parte of a reasonable man to followe the better and flye the worse These considered good Countrey man for your first parte of trauaile you can not but confesse it to bee grounded on small reason yet notwithstanding I will with you confirme this that by it you haue gotten experience and whereas here you are ariued to learne the fashions of Court whatsoeuer by eye sight your self shall perceiue I by my experience can alreadie laie open and not onely describe you a Courtier in all his colours but also open vnto you the imperfections that proceede from their profusednesse wherevpon if it please you to yeeld attentiue
beautifull Ladies in Courte in whome beholdyng such strange and sundrie fashions such imitating of all excesse that was vsed through Europe he concluded in his imagination that either the Ladies bare these patternes in scorne of the abuse or loath to yeelde to anie countrie in curiositie vouchsafed the fashion though they admitted not the vice When he looked into the whole state of Gentlemen and finding some of the yonger sorte to be more than halfe effeminate light in attire imitating such newfangles as are vnseamly for men He varied in his opinion thus much that either Euphues sought to confirme him by contraries or English brauery was Napolitan excesse and that both Napolitan and Englishe ryot was to be lamented not commended This befell on Simonides in the oueruewe of the Englishe Court and thus fared it in his fantasies so that in him self he began to conclude an opinion when at the very instant noble Surius with Madamosilla Camilla with Philautus in the company all at one instante came vnto him conductyng him vnto their mantion house where Simonides beheld such new brauery as wrought in his minde a new wonder The musicke was so delicate the meate so daintie the entertainment so hartie the seruise so statly the seruitours so seamly to conclude euery thing was so sumptious as the glory of the Spanish Court seamed proposterous in comparison Camilla willing to delight the straunger with as great varietie as she could leauing the rest of the companie betooke her self to entertaine him began in these tearmes to commence her discourse Curtious Gentleman it seemeth me that either you are fed with disdain or led with some mislike your behauiour is so malancholike and your demeanour so miscontent if ought be here therefore that mislikes you forbid it if any thing that myght delight you command and it shall be had Madam saied Simonides if wonder bread malencholie I confesse my self subiect to the humour the pleasures here bee so infinit as one drowneth an other al haue relation to one beautie on whiche thei attend whiche amongst all the delightes that wait on your Court on myne Honour most contenteth mee And if beautie please your affectes so much saied Camilla truely this house is vnfortunate onely in that pleasure notwithstandyng such louely browne as our Courtiours are acostomd to you maie be aquainted with and your Ladieship maie doe me great fauour in this saied Simonides wherevpon the Ladie callyng out three of the most beautiefull Damoseles of her traine began to discourse againe thus with Simonides Since noble Spaniard it is beautie that delighteth you I haue brought you three patturns to imploye your cunnyng on whiche shall atend both on your cup and trencher and supplie such simple discourse as their yong heades will afford them And I madame aunswered Simonides gratiously accept your honourable curtisie and their singuler fauour wherevpon streinyng ech of them gentely by the hand he began to discourse with them thus Faire Ladies if all perfection of your myndes be aunswerable to the habitudes of your bodies I feare me that neither any climat in Europe can afford more beautifull nor ouerlooke more wise Mistris Elida a Gentlewoman of very quicke capacitie and incomparable beautie aunswered him thus Gentleman since so preiudicially you condemne all Eurâ—pe and admit of three silly offalles of beautie leauyng a whole Catologe of Courtiers vnlookt yet seemeth either you count vs mete subiectes to worke vppon since our imperfections be so many and the onely browne which furthereth your whit in your secret imagenation which if it be so you maie if it please you go forward in your purpose and we silly siphers will sit still while you figure forth your fantisie My faire Maidens saied Simonides I am neither so corrupt in nature neither so alinated from good nurture to saie one thyng and thinke an other nor so sequestred from all good gouernement as not to conclude with iudgement and determine with discretioÌ„ if therfore you doubt I alter in any thing I craue you to yeeld a reason before repulse and condemne not without a cause Thucida the second returned him this answere Signior Simonides if your opinion and thoughtes worke a like the ende must thus followe that where you alowe so precisely you must loue a little els in contemnyng that you commende we shall condemne you in that you pleade not guiltie And will you binde me Mistris to that extreamitie saied Simonides truely then the case will goe harde for if it must be concluded that I must loue there where I commend I should loue the white Mercurie though deadly poyson I should feede on the glorious Diamonde though rancke Aconitum yea I should by the deemyng of myne eye bee domed to myne owne destruction but because it is wisedome to auoyde suche an errour faire Ladies I must conclude this that I loue you all beyng beautifull I honour you beyng vertuous and reuerence you beyng wise I but saied Mistris Philida these colours are not halfe wel shadowed I must tey you within shorter limites you loue vs all you saie sir and we like you but well I wot three suche flees would comber one bed and one suche Gentleman would be shrewdly cloyed to mannage suche a leashe of merlines you must therefore growe to an equalitie and alowyng one the superioritie in beautie shrowd your self vnder her fauour so wee shall be left to them that list you aloted to her you loue and the Gentlewoman wonne by your good like loue hym faithfully whiche esteemeth of her so nobly Simonides vpon the sodaine thus tropmed vpon was almost past all helpe how to recouer hymself notwithstandyng trustyng vnto the plausabilitie of his wit he concluded all their circumuentions by this pretie delaie It was a custome faire Ladies amongst the most renowned Cities bothe of Asia and Europe in matters of importaunce not to conclude vppon the opinion of the Citizens but to refere the censure to the Oracle of Appollo whose imitations since I knowe them necessarie I will now alowe of beseechyng you Mes dames to giue me leaue to take counsaile of my pillowe and to morrowe you shall bothe heare my resolution and I doubt not but alowe of my choyce No soner had he ended but Madame Camilla brake vp the assembly so the night drawyng on and the companie readie to departe Philautus and Simonides bothe takyng their leaue withdrewe them to their Lodgyng where Simonides counsailyng with his pillowe of that he had seen by daie and remembryng hymself of his Mistris Clarinda he brake out into this discourse I see now that the state of the worlde is straunge and opinions of men vncertaine the pleasures of this life but shadowes and no happinesse to a contented mynde Haue I trauailed from Athens to England to be acquainted with vertue Haue I left Athens and sought Englande to finde continent staiednesse and neither in Athens nor in England can I finde what I lookt for The sumptuous Buildinges of
of their controuercie vpon whiche conclusion Father Sebastian hauing taken counsaill of his cup and leanyng on his elbowe extendyng out his two fingers oritoriously discoursed thus The Obiection of Frier Sebastian against the Lawyer and Soldiour WE haue vndertakē at this present so great a taske Honourable straunger and religious Pilgrim yea wee haue attempted suche a controuersie as neither memorie can furnishe vs with sufficient discourse nor our methode any waies be aunswerable to the dignitie of the subiect Suū cuique pulchrum yet neither this nor that nor a thirde opinion can conclude a certaintie for what so euer is certaine in it self needeth no demonstration For my profession I can alledge no more sufficient commendations as touchyng the dignitie then this that it hath relation to a high contemplation that it perfecteth the soule subdueth the earthly parte yea and extreminateth al worldly pleasure out of memorie our obiect is God whom while wee consider of our soule is as it were reared vp and in suche diuine contemplation are wee at that instant resident as we doe but labour with Paule to be dissolued and to be with Christ These considered what maie the Ciuilian admitt of hymself or discourse of in his Science if he reason of comparisons he can not continue if of the efect what worketh he but a transitorie peace where Deuinitie maketh bothe peace with God and man Naie the greatest dignitie that maie be gathered by Deuinitie is this that the ground worke is infallible still permanent and irreuocable where amongst our Lawyers this Cannon may be anichilated by this learned Doctor this distinction frustrated by that Expositer yea and what not turned topsie turuie to serue the season for the Ciuilians commoditie The first disposer of Ciuill policie was your Iustinian the first informer of hym was God he concluded equum bonum the highest taught hym equum bonum Numa Pompilius man not priuie to the true knowledge of God yet cheefest of all referred his endeuours to the seruice of the Gods acompting that state vnhappy where the Gods haue not receiued due reuerence all States haue reuerenced the profession I am of eche one hath honoured the dignitie I am called vnto yea euen amongst the enemies of Christ the power of the highest hath broken out by the mouth of the Christian whereas law is but leueled by derection administred by appointment yea and referred all to reformation the confirmation whereof neede to be sought for in no other place then in your owne Cannons and Decreetalles in which you should finde suche corrections such frustrations suche anticipations and cautelles as the studient had euery daie neede of a new memorie to consider of his new coated clause If wee reason of antiquitie and meane thereby to make a superioritie no soner was the worlde made but Deuinitie was knowne yea the worde was before worlde for it was God and where Religion was most honoured there was peace most plentifull Then Justinians radices were not knowne but the lawe of the Tables were taught then the lawe was not in the Ciuill Magistrate to dispose but the Priest had it to propounde that lawe was deliuered by succession and confirmed by the presence of the Lawgiuer and while that lawe was continued Israell was partaker of the promise and benefited by the plentie the Heathen fell before them for the Lorde of hostes was amongst them In fallyng from the lawe thei were deliuered into the handes of their enemies where in continuyng in the lawe thei were the Lordes of all Nations so that wee ought to note this Deuinitie is a heauenly lawe confirmed by antiquitie sealed by God the Lawgiuer Cleargie men sanctified and appointed who not onely instruct our Ciuilians touching their soules but also how to dispose their Ciuill conclusions Our habit is aunswerable to our profession our life correspondent to them bothe where Lawyers are sumpteous in apparell though his profession is vertuous and concluded in Mediocritie yet his life so farre from his learnyng that they bee pugnantia inter se thei condemne Couetousnesse yet themselues are neuer satisfied Thei excomunicat the Incestious yet who more dissolute then they They make their Plea accordyng to the peney and not to the truthe They coyne delaies for priuate aduauntage they make straight crooked and crooked straight Men thei are fed with vainglorie led by fond opinion counsailed by vncertaine Cannons reuerenced rather for their authoritie then vertue yea Roome were happie if either thei were not or were better by the one she should be rid of contention by the other benefited in their amendmēt Good Lord how many Athenian Oratours haue wee that counterfaite Squinancy for a little coyne yet are to open mouthed against the poore mans Processe suche delaies from Court to Court suche dilatorie Pleas suche Iudgement with Prouiso that the poore suiter findes his purse soner emptied then his cause ended thei affectat eloquence to maintaine bad causes thei are studiously affable to procure new Clientes thei are deuillishly subtill to cloke inconueniences so that though the preceptes thei studie be neuer so perfect yet the professors are still so vntowarde that seemyng to be the ministers of light they hunt after continuall darknesse concluding the truthe within a golden Cloude makyng blacke white and white blacke darkenyng al thinges with their distinctions that should giue light so that though in all thynges thei seeme ciuill yet in all thynges thei are most inciuill But it maie bee Signior Sandalio you imagine these wordes to bee spoken of spite and that they are concluded by no proofe certainely if you doe so you are deceiued for what soeuer is here spoken by me I will not onely confirme it by written authoritie but also conclude it by your owne profession naie I will finde out that your expositers of Lawe wrote many thynges pugnantia inter se and agreeyng no waies one thyng confirmed this daie and frustrated the next daie yea if I should gather vp all inconueniences in heape I should not be satisfied with a sedull but write a whole volume whiche if no otherwise yet euen by Protulus the sonne of Nerua maie bee confirmed who by his iniurious cauilations was the destroyer of Othos cause a man singulerly familier with hym and whom by his owne profession to Vitellius he wickedly betrayed For contrarieties who doeth not accuse Baldus Perusinus who although for his exceedyng learnyng he was honoured amongst the famous Writers of our time yet amongst the learnedest is accused for inconstancie in his writyng and contrarious opinions in that wherein he should haue bin most firme Christopher of Castile he to shew the varietie of his wit did innouate so that to conclude the most parte of you bind your selues prentese to varyetie not bent to any stabilitie but accordyng to the vanitie of the tyme doe you fasten all your conclusion Some of you will seeme to be yet are not as Eneius Popilius who beyng cited as
thei bee the bruite beast by naturall instinct doe daily eschewe the inconuenience that folowe them and haue an eye to that whiche may profite them Contrariewise these Souldiers like to Hircan Tigers reuenge them selues on their owne bowelles some Parricides some Fratricides all Homicedes Alexander the great the onely noted man for a Souldier how iniuriously cruelly vsed he Calistines the Philosopher who for that accordyng to the preceptes of Philosophie he refused the Diefieng of a mortall Prince whervppon as a traiterous and rebellious subiecte he caused him to be dismembred and torne in peeces his eares cutte from his heade his lippes and nose deformed and by these vnacostomed and most horrible tormentes miserably to make end of his life It erketh me to remember the horible and murtherous mischeefes that befortuned vnhappie Roome in the tyme of the sedicious Warriour Caius Marius how many notable Citizens renowned Orators aged Fathers suckyng Children and sorrowfull Mothers were deuoured by this Monster who was not onely satisfied to martire them by his Tormentors but also endeuoured to be an actor in ministryng the torment wher neither eloquence neither desert towardes the common weale neither the teares of the Romaine Matrons nor the submission of the Cities in league could staie the furie of so greate a bloudsucker but that Marcus Anthoni that sweete tongued Orrator who in tyme by his eloquent perswasion asswaged the furie of the Soldiour and kept his sworde in sheath must sacrifice with his bloude to the vniust fury of Marius the father and the sonne both Crassi in eche others sight were cruelly murthered Yea alas what will not be attempted if the Soldiour once breake out into furie Pontanus maketh report of a most execrable and cursed murther as me thinketh Signior Pierro no time may wine out the staine from your profession certaine quarrelsome Soldiours hauing falne out amongst them selues and often tymes skirmished togethers be fortuned at an infortunate méetyng to kill one of the contrarie faction whose dead bodie when thei had gotten into their handes truly I am abashed to speake of it with bloudie handes thei cut in small peeces afterward taking out his liuer and harte thei broyled it on the coales distributed it in small gobbettes to euerie one a little amongst the copsemates at a Breakefast afterward with great ioye and gladnesse thei satisfied their insaciate thirst of reuenge with the verie taste of the murthered wretches bloud not leauyng to drinke to the Goodes themselues the verie reuengers of so detestable iniuries I maie therefore religious Gentleman leaue all now to your consideration who haue heard the dignitie of my callyng with the great innornitie of the profession of these two Gentlemen that is to say the couetousnesse of the Lawyer with the crueltie of the Soldiour and will conclude with the humilitie of the Deuine and accordyng to veretie reporte your iudgement for I now leaue farther to discourse and doubt not but Signior Sandalio will supplie the place The Lawyer and Soldiour both touched withe the harde obiection of this Oratorious Deuine after thei had a while gnawne on the bitte and disgested their choler Sandalio as his place serued him began his replie in this sort The replie of Sandalio the Lawyer AMidst the desert of Scithia a renouned Abbot called Moyses was resident who being desired to giue his censure vppon a Frier of the brotherhood that had offended he came in presence with a great sack of sand at his backe and beyng demanded what he brought with him he made aunswer thei were his sinnes whche scarcely he was able to beare thei were so burdensome muche lesse to correcte an others Saincte Fraunces trauilyng in companie with one of his fraternitie and thei meetyng with a poore man the Frier his companion saied vnto him Father although this man be poore touchyng the riches of the worlde it maie be yet in desire to enioy much he is riche which speeches beyng well waied of this Godly father he forced this coniecturyng Deuine to disrobe him self and to couer the poore man thinkyng hym worthie to make recompence by a benefite who with leude language had iniuriouslie slaundered the poore man The actions of these holy men wel considered be sufficient to condemne your presumtion Father Sebastian I feare me you haue more cause to cary the sacke then had Moyses and to be disrobed then the other Frier who not onely haue taken vpon you to slaunder others but also to dyfie your self feedyng your owne fancie with the copiousnesse of your sweete set wordes and imagine that your colours bee of continuance enough to shadow your iniurous counterfaite but by that time you haue heard but a little what you haue mistaken and consider of that I can reporte you shal find how greatly your own self haue neede of reformatiō and how vainly you vaunt before the victorie Your strst argumentes you brought touchyng the dignitie of your profession as I remember was this that it was Deuine inscrutable still parmenent prescribed by God immitated by you of the Clergie opened to vs of the Laietie and all this I admit nay I honour I acknowledge what so is religious is Honourable and if better title might bee I would minister it Yet thus farre maister Docter I must wade that our Lawes although thei were the dispositions of mortall mē yet are thei the inspiration of the highest and what so is sette doune by the finger of God for offensiue and not to be folowed is neither admitted of the Lawyer nor let slip without correction Where the Lorde was not knowne lawe ministred equite and where God is knowne the contēpt of some is such that if no corporall punishment did terrifie the bare commaundement of the lawe ministred by the hande of Moyses would little or nothyng preuaile And truely touchyng lawe in it self I find thus much that hauyng past through so many interpretours handlyng it can not be but the method should be exquisit and lookt into by so many Religions it can not be disordered And certainly beyng as it were leueled and proportioned according to the true meaning of the Scriptures it can not farre miscarie The end whereto Law hath relation is to profite the good perfecte the common weale releaue the oppressed and minister Iustice according to the equitie of the cause not the dignitie of the person There is no vice but Lawe bridleth it yea whatsoeuer past from the verie Ethnycke did alwaies abate the power of excesse Dionisious of Siracusa though otherwise a Tirant yet in this made a wise Lawe that those whiche excessiuely gaue them selues to banquetyng should be punished very asperly Licurgus made Lawes against Dronkennesse the Romaines against wicked and vngodly Whorehunting the Grecians against incest the Lacedemonians against excesse in apparell Augustus Ceaser against pompious buildynges the Lucans against prodigalitie the Aegiptians against Vsurie the Thebans against iniurious Parentes the Romaines against cruell and hard harted Maisters In my readyng this
suche counsaile for to guide As rather seeke succeedyng stiles of fame Then pompious wealth to leaue their wanton hires VVhose eyes may see and followe that is iust Not formyng Justice like a nose of waxe VVhiche quickly leaues th' impression it had once VVhom thus I wishe in studiyng still for peace To worke the feate by no vnlawfull meanes Least happie ende be spoyld by leud attempt By suche vaine meanes Kyng Phirrus would not winne Then suche vaine meanes let noble myndes refraine Jn peace adore the secretes of the Gods By whom your peace her cheefest of spryng had And if aspiryng thrist of others raine Thy naybour Kyng doe force thy sworde vnsheath Appease the powres at first with holy vowes Next with the Grecian Prince a Nester chuse VVho may consult when Aiax would attempt so traine your youth that idle rest maie not Enforce them fall vpon their enemies sword But teache in peace how to preuent in warre To take occasions groweth from the Gods And blest is he that can preuent in tyme. Giue warrior wealth in quiet calme to liue That in distresse he maie the better fight By this it fortunes that not nipt by want He will not bende his eares to riche rewardes Beleeue me Athens this is certaine true Desire of gaine hath power on powers and men And needie men will sonest bend to bowe Preuent this errour with aduised eye From forraine warres vnto thy Court in peace Thou Prince that in my Countrey loues to raigne Beware of Pride mongst those amidst the traine For vaine opinions makes men to aspire And as disposde so feede thou humours to Yet make a medlie of the sweete and sowre For though some bende by wordes some force not blowes Turne them the edge let others haue the blunt And if they like the shewes of Kyngly state Hang sharpened sworde vpheld by horses hire Ore flatterers heades to make them knowe the cares That waite on those whom honour doth aduaunce As for the choyce of Judges in the state VVhose errours cause the Kyng to beare the blame Chuse suche as measure not their priuate gaine But Princes glory and the subiectes good VVith whom let right so ouermaister wrong As tyrauntes tauntes maie neuer them affright VVhom neither fauour may by Letters winne Nor Midas compas with a Mase of golde Jn rulyng thus the good perceiuyng then That honour shall betyde them doyng well VVill labour more and more in Countreis cause The bad confirmde that fauour will not yeeld And breach of lawe shall stoope to Iustice sworde VVill raine their willes from working wicked wyles Thus eche estate by wisedome leueld out Preuent thou then suche meanes as may corrupt Restraine the greedie mynd of neighbours good VVho pilles the poore to make his fleeces fat And cast a coller on the headstrong Jade Least loth to yeeld he breake the Riders necke Excesse is that whiche onely Athens spoyles In that the riche to honours are preferde Eche plies it now by hooke and crooke to gaine Jn hope by wealth to clime the steppes of state Preuent the meanes the matter then must faile Prefix reward to that whiche profite bringes And punishe that whiche onely fostereth vice So idle artes will sone be laide aside And eche will followe that whiche maie preferre Jn choyce of Citizens conserue these rules As Romaines did as recordes doe resite Jf hand be hardined by assidious toyle That man is meete to haue a subiectes rome Jn softined fistes small profite doeth consist VVho labours well doeth scarce imagine ill All onely factions first from idle spring VVho onely serue to serue vsurpers turne VVho when thei finde no meanes to maintaine warre VVill feare attempt or climyng catch a fall Beleeue me what so Prince preferres these rules He shall conceiue the profite thei doe bryng But for those weales wherein the wealth consist Of Athens good keepe thou vnto thy self Let not thyne enemie knowe thy priuate power For while thou holdst hym in suspicious thought Thy little power will make hym thinke it greate Thy greate supplies will make hym feare to warre Cut of suspition to thy foe of feare Make hym beleeue thy sworde is readie drawne VVith Masse of golde supplie not neighbours neede Least he refrainyng till his fist be full Assaile thee then with those thy golde maintainde And make thee glad to stoope to seruile yoke In eche defence suppose there is offence Put not thy power into a traitours fist For flatteryng shewes Imbassads maie preferre See and not see and searche by questions straunge VVhat hidden venome is in flatteryng guile Thou maist in this full sone finde out the false Jn plighted leage preuent all cause of breache Yet if alies first faile in fixed faith Take thou reuenge as though thou knewst it not Disceite is well rewarded by disceite By this those illes whiche once by breache of lawe VVhiche your Licurgus leueld for your weale You ouerslippe you shall in tyme preuent And J shall rest in peace amongst the Sainctes Reioysing in my Countreis happie state This leaue I witnesse of my tried zeale This craue J last before bothe Godes and men That thou O Athens for Licurgus sake VVill not accept this precept of renowne VVhiche as in breefe thou hast presented here So let no age extinguishe proofe thereof This wishe J done and this my last adewe Jn feare of Gods O Athens still proceede And flie excesse and thus I bid farewell This sedull ouer read by one of the cheefest Magistrates of the Citie the whole assemblie continued mute along space in the ende an auncient Philosopher as he seemed bespake him thus Vnsearchable O ye Athenians is the power of the Godes by whose benefites since this Towne hath been a long tyme maintained yet cease thei not by their euerlastyng wisdomes to continue it to whose beneficence if we compare our ingratitude we shall iustly conclude that the Godes created vs to many vertues and wee haue bound our selues bondslaues to monstrous vices If therefore we looke into our owne states and compare our aunciters good with our ill we shal confirme Licurgus dead testimonie and pointyng to our best Athenian Philosophers we shall touch this one with the blot of auerice and note that other with the blemishe of vaine glorie If by the hidden workyng of the Godes we are put in memorie of our escapes let vs mend them And since with more fauour then to other Cities thei haue blessed vs with more circomspection in reuerence of their bountie let vs become more circomspecte This scedull presenteth vnto our Prince pollicie to our Religious sanctimonie to our Layetie continency By excesse onely we are found to haue falne hauing gathered in so many yeres ouer passed many errors recouered no vertues Oh happie Athens when Agis not respectyng the furie of his comparte nor Kyng began to pull downe the pride of Athens Oh vnfortunate Citie when by the diligence of Pericles Golde brought pride into Athens We stand amased now confounded
the moste in discourse as delectable in loue as stedefast his affections are not so various as the Courtiers for that his life is not so lasciuious if thine honour be depraued he wil reuenge it if thou be subiect to any imperfection he will beare with it for it muste needes folow that he who winketh at so many outrages in his Souldior wil not be much incensed with a womans naturall fragilitie their eies are chaste in all places But where they loue their actions more honourable when they remember them of their beloued Alexander that noble Macedon though he had in his subiection the wife of Darius and his beautifull daughters hee woulde not violate them whereas I feare mee if a Courtier were so faire offered he woulde haue made one of them sing a fa burthen while he were descanting a loft A souldiour perhaps may bee accompted bloudie minded and therfore not mete for a delicate damosels bed but in my opinion it were better to marrie a man than a meacocke for the Souldiour offereth no rigour but to his enimie if hee be displeased it is with such as enuie the felicitie of his Mistris the Courtier perhaps shutes it out in better colours but the Souldiour hauing no fine phrases to please humours laieth it on with plaine truthe whiche is the plea of him that in loue wil prooue most constant Whereupon I must conclude mistris Secrobia that either you must proue affectionate in your choice or peruerse in resolution makyng election of the worser and leauinge the better and on this conclusion I refer my self to iudgment And to this conclusion I shape this aunswer saied Secrobia though you haue tied me within limites of election Signior Fauellus yet I will susspend my resolut iudgment and for that you shall not thinke by your reason thus to win the goole thus much for the courtier Who so in all actions most fitteth wonens fantasies is most conuenient to be alowed but Courtiers are thei that most con ueniently satisfie faire Ladies likynges and therefore metest to be had in wedlocke For the truth is so that whereas faire demoseles are delighted with seamlinesse modest pleasure with like courtly behauiours such thinges are most agreable to their delicate humours and therefore it cannot bee but that a Courtiour must bee admitted who is the onely man for this purpose to furnish them in that thei looke for The Courtiour with seamly parsonage with honourable behauiour with philed phrases with sweet musicke and with twentie amarous deuices will delude the time so pretely that we Laidies can not imagine them but to be the onely ministers to procure our pleasure In the Soldiour what resteth there either to be wondreth at or wished for that the Courtiour wanteth in the Courtiour is there any thing missyng in whiche he exceedeth not the Soldiour the Courtiour is as good a horseman as practised a man at armes as valiaunt to defend his mistris yea more resolute in beauties cause they stand on euery light tearme of honour not sufferyng the least staine to take hould of their gentrie The Soldiour is fed withe murthers delighted in blodshed the memorie of whose massakers would make the memorie of his pleasures most loothsome And Signior Fauellus that contenencie whiche you impute to Soldiours aledging the example of Alexander that would not regarde the beautie of Darius wife daughters imagiyyng thereby the chastitie of Soldiors myndes I can not by this excuse your grose imagination but doe rather thinke Soldiours to be so betle blinded that thei are not able to distreye the perfection of beautie or els composed of so base a substaunce not to estem of so rare a benifit as hath mad the wisest to stoupe The Courtiour continueth in one compâ—sse that is alwaies constant redie at a becke for all seruice the Soldiour when his mistris should haue most nede of him is wandryng I knowe not where and returneth I can not tell when The Courtiour pretermitteth not a daie without varietie of delight lyberall he is in expence bountifull to her he honoureth he respecteth not either this occasion of conquest or that bootie to inriche him but acountes his chefest felicitie in the attainment of beautie and to doe faire Ladies seruice and should not thei thinke you be to vnkynde that would forget the diligence of so louing Gentlemen Truely Fauellus I must conclude my fancie with faire Laidies opinions for I take my self sometimes to be one of their preuie counsaile that Soldiours are more fitter for the feilde then for the feilde bed more meter for a massacre then for a mariage And the Courtiour to be the onely necessarie man that fitteth to worke a faire Ladies pleasure If this be not true I referr me to the iust determination of this gentleman our iudg All the companie laughed hartely at this mery conclusion till such tyme as madame Eraunces discoursed thus Sith the matter is sorted out thus farr gentle Furnelius I will now streine curtisie with you and inuert the order and because my memorie is but brittle I will begin the soner least I forget the latter Your profession I dout not is such good sir as you which haue practised the profit thereof so long are not now to seeke how to praise it whereupon at this present I meane to argue thus Whether the Lawyer or the Phisition be more commendable in a state I will defend the Lawyer for you as beeyng a Phisition by profession you maie the better defend since you are the more practised The professer of the law if he had naught els to commend hym the verie name it self would make it praise worthy for by the lawes good disciplines are prescribed the state gouerned and all policies to the maintenaunce of peace both begun continued and ended The Lawyer knowyng the punishment of all errours and findyng him self to be a president in all good demeaner so ordereth him self as when he but passeth the streates as Cato Censer did all Rome refraineth idlenesse and becommeth well ocupied he purgeth the state of suspitious inconueniences he prescribeth in the Commenwealth such preuentions as that an errour now spronge vp can neither take head nor be contenued no not in those of great countenaunce the professer of the law hath relation to leade him conscience to direct him iustice to counsell him honour to reward him In his life he is vertuous in his counsailes constant in his iudgementes vpright in his pleadynges vncorrupte in conclusion he is the onely necessarie membre in a state by whom the Noble are counsailed the subiect kept in awe and the truth is that the Common wealth is vnhappie whereas the Lawyer hath not both preferment by his practise and poure to reproue what he misliketh It was a Lawyer yea and a learned practiser of the science Apius Claudius who when the whole senate and state hunge in susspence by the approch of the enimie not onely counsailed that whiche was profitable but also preferred those
excessiuely when thei entende to murther them cruelly so alowyng you a little scope to confirme the plausibilitie of your witte I must with the same reasons disswade by which you confirme so beatyng you with your owne rodde and maisteryng you in your owne conclusions Mistris Seâ—robia must haue the day and you the disaster You growe in commendation of Soldiours in whom what note you but constauncie and that is a vertue in whom what alowe you but valewe and that placed as it ought to bee is a black swane yet who fitteth the faire Cambrick with a black staine and the sweete Amber with the rancke Mandrake shall find he hath but acquainted an Asse with eloquence a Plow man with Philosophie Are Soldiours constaunt Fauellus it is then in vnconstancie Are Soldiours valiaunt Fauellus it is then in extreamities and I thinke who neuer doeth well before he be vrged his well doyng is not praise worthie for where the action is not freely enterprised though the successe be neuer so fortunate the vnwillyng attempt concludes an vnworthie exigent It is a Soldiour that you would make a Ladies maister and faire Damoselles vouchsafe not to accept so base fellowes to bee their seruauntes so then in myne opinion wee must conclude that he that will prefixe raines to womens fantasies and would prescribe them limites to keepe them within compasse must both bid the repulse of his vniust comparison and be displaced of Iudgement when he seekes to conclude that whiche is infinite A Courtier is a collop of pleasure whiche was first bred to feede Ladies with varietie and to sucke the Marrowe of the youth and to determine the pleasures of their age A Soldiour is no doubt of it reserued to an ende yet that exigent so sequesters them from any libertie of likyng that he who but carries the name for his after commoditie must bee glad of the repulse for his vniust title So that now Fauellus I must conclude in beauties cause as vniust tyrauntes in their owne ouerweanyng Stat pro ratione voluntas Beauties alowance standes for reason And if I haue not concluded well faire Ladies be you Iudge But Madem Frunces as you inuented the order so now must I alter my sentence and as your conclusions were most serious so will I more seuerely conclude of your censure You as naturally inclined to maintain a Commonwealth in that you are a necessary membre to multiplie giue pheminence to the law maker and not without reason First he contenueth and increaseth peace prescribeth and performeth good lawes ye so ordereth all thinges that no thinges can be lawlesse that is within his reche nor any thing vnlookt to where he maie haue libertie But Docter Furnelius who can descant on all natures in colouryng the errours of the Lawyer ciphereth out his owne perfections he will not tell how the Lawyer is a peny Father how a maintainer of contencions how like to Aesopes Rite who while the mouse and the Froge stroue togither for suprimecie in the Mâ—rshe he denoured them both and made the soure of their contention the swet of his praie But he wisely reputes him praise by that meanes to imploie the excellency of his practise for saieth he if the Lawyer bee commodious then he that contenueth this commodity must of force be accounted more profitable But if Doctor Furnelius should remember that by the operation of his potions the euil are enabled to more vnlawful practises and the Lawier being by him recouered is lefte to folow his wonted exercise to maintaine strife and contention in a state for the verie brables and quarrelsome debates that are had amongst fooles is the onelie credite reputation and maintenance of the Lawyer And therfore Madame Fraunces not to dissemble with you who hath said so well for them and not to flatter Maister Doctor who hath aleadged so much in his owne behalfe I must conclude the Phisition to bee the most profitable member in a common wealth for that he many times with his medicines killeth the Lawier who while hee liued in health cousins the poore comminaltie of their coine with his crafte So now my faire Ladies and good Gentlemen the debate may cease and if it shall please you to sleepe vpon my verdite if to morrow you shall not like it you may reuerse it with a writ of errour so you put in good sureties And we will not trouble the Iudge wyth common baile saide Madam Fraunces in so serious a cause yea but Madame said Simonides I must put you to your booke othe before I admitte you As for that conclusion said Ladie Fraunccs since it lieth on your curtesie to esteeme I doubt not but you will forbeare if you carrie a good opinion Segnior Simonides With these merie greetings the assemblie beyng broken vp eche betooke themselues to their lodging leauing Simonides to the curtesie of Philautus and his violet who conducted him to his chamber and lefte him to his nightes rest after his long trauaile He thus in a strange soile and amongst strange people was troubled with as strange imaginations first with the felicitie of the Ilande next of the opulencie of the inhabitants then of the bountie of their repast thinking in himselfe that Euphues praise might wel perswade so farre and that England was onlie fortunate beyng so fruitful in all blessings And sleepyng on these imaginations on the morrowe at conuenient time he was conducted by Philautus vnto the English court where he not onelie receiued a freendly Bein Venu of Surius but also a curteous salutation of Madam Camilla And here it were a wonder to write how his imaginations wrought comparyng Euphues reports with his own proofes there sawe he as great brauerie as might be as much beauty as was requisite ech subiect so sumptuous that rauished with the imagination of the inferiour he beganne euen then to meditate what might be in the superior but when the Princesse Elizabeth presented hir selfe in whom findyng austere seemelinesse befittyng a Princesse curteous affabilitie to entertaine freends incomparable beautie to allure an enimie admirable chastitie against all assaultes of fancies constant resolutions in wortthy attemptes inestimable dowers of learnyng without anie blemish of arrogancie he concluded as the Paynter did of Venus proportion that since these verie Principia of hir vertues were vnspeakeable it were not possible to cyphre out the true similitudes of hir perfections nor resemble that by shadowes which relied vpon a more than heauenly constellation Thus fared it with Simonides at that instant as that altogither confounded in his imaginations he here set vp his rest confirming that if England were as happie for subiectes as it was blessed in a Prince that it might be reported of as it was of Rome in the time of Cato that the gouernement was happy by reasons of vertues but especially blessed in so gratious a gouernesse Herevpon he posted ouer his wanderpng eies to more baser yet seemely obiectes and takyng the viewe of the