fell and died violently Cesar likewise caught with ambicion not bearyng the equalitée or superioritie of Pompei was tourned of violentlie froÌ„ Fortunes whéele Many princes of like sorte and kingdomes By ambicion onely had the cause of their ruine The glorie of the Assirian Monarchie grewe moste mightie by the ambicion of Ninus kyng of Babilon the offpryng of Ninus whiche were kynges lineallie descendyng to the firste kyngdome of the Medes bothe inlarged their kyngdomes and also had the decate of theim by ambicion Let the Medes also assoriate them selues to theÌ„ from Arbactus the first kyng vnto Astiages the laste the beginnyng and falle of the Persian Monarchie The mightie state of Grece the seate Imperiall of Rome by ambicioÌ„ first extolled theim selues and also by it their glorie scepter and kyngdome was translated but the falle of Troie came not by ambicion that the Grecians sought But as the Poetes doe saigne the beautie of one women so wounded their hartes that the Grecians did hasarde the perilles of theiâ—â—â—untrie The Troians so moche estemed the beautie oâ—â—â—â—ena as that the state of all their kyngdome perished I alas no glorie nor honour to the Grecians to resiste by armour and to defende the violente takyng awaie of Helena from her housbande nor it was no honour the Grecians to pursue by armour the takyng awaie of Helena beyng a harlotte So that by no meanes it can followe these thynges to bee true of the battaile of Troie ¶ Confirmacion The other part contrary to destruccion or subuersion is called confirmacion Confirmacion hath in it so greate force of argumente to stablishe and vpholde the cause or proposicion as destruccion hath in castyng doune the sentenÌ„ce or proposicion Confirmacion is a certain oracion whiche with a certain reprehension of the persone or facte by order and waie of art casteth doune the contrary propounded As in the other parte called destruccion those proposicions are to bee subuerted whiche are not manyfestlie true with all other notes before specified so in contrariwise this oracion by contrary notes is declaimed by as for example 1. It shall behoue you first for the entring of the oracion to induce a reprehension againste those whiche haue confutid as a truthe that whiche you will confirme 2. In the seconde parte place the exposicion and meanyng of the aucthours sentence 3. Shewe the matter to be manifest 4. Credible 5. Prossible 6. Agreyng to the truthe 7. Shewe the facte comelie 8. Profitable This exercise of Rhetotike doeth contain in it all streÌ„gth of arte as who should saie all partes of Rhetorike maie 〈…〉 â—ee handled in this parte called confirmacion You 〈…〉 matter riseth ioigne twoo notes together as the reason â—â— the argumente cometh in place whiche Apthonius a Greke aucthour herein vseth As manifest and credible possible and agreyng to truthe comelie and profitable but in al these as in all the reste the theme or proposicion by itself is to bee placed the reprehension of the aucthour by itself the exposicion of the theme by itself ¶ The theme or proposicion IT is true that is saied of Zopyrus the noble Persian who veÌ„tered his life did cause the deformitie of his bodie for the sauegarde of his countrie ¶ The praise Iustinus the Historiographer for worthinesse of fame and wisedome deserueth to the posteritie of all tymes immortall fame by whom the famous actes of Princes and other noble men doe remaine Chronicled Giuyng examples of all valiauntnesse and vertue for bothe the actes and worthie feares of Princes would passe as vnknowen in all ages excepte the worthinesse of them were in monumentes of writyng Chronicled For by the fame of their worthines and vertues coÌ„mon wealthes and kyngdomes doe stablishe and make Lawes the hartes of people are incensed and inflamed to the like nobilitie of actes and famous enterprices Histories of auncient tymes bee vnto vs witnesses of all tymes and ages of kyngdomes and common wealthes a liuely example A light to all truthe and knowledge a scholemaister of maners a memorie of life for by it we se the wisedom of all ages the forme of the beste and florishing common wealthes We learne by the vertues of Princes and gouernours to followe like steppe of vertue to flie and auoide vices and all soche thynges as are to the destruccion and decaie of realme and countrie How brutishe wer our 〈◊〉 if 〈◊〉 knewe no more then we se presently in the state of 〈…〉 wealthe and kyngdome The kyngdome◠〈…〉 and common wealthes that 〈…〉 by the longe experience wisedome pollicy counsaile and godlie lawes of Princes of auncient times no smal praise and commendation can be attributed to all suche as doe trauell in the serching out the veritie of auncient Histories for bi the knoledge of them we are as it were liuyng in all ages the fall of all kyngdomes is manifeste to vs the death of Princes the subuersions of kingdomes and common wealthes who knoweth not the first risyng ende of the Assiriane monarchie the glorie of the Persians and the ruynge of the same the mightie Empire of the Grekes risyng fallyng the Romane state after what sorte florishyng and decaiyng so that no state of common wealthe or kyngdome is vnknowen to vs therefore Iustine and all suche as doe leue to the posteritie the state of al things chronicled deserue immortal commendacions ¶ The exposicion IN the time of Darius kyng of the Persians the AssyriaÌ„s who ware subiects to him sence the time of Cirus the firste kynge of the Persians rebelled inuaded and toke the myghtie Citie of Babilon whiche beyng possessed with much difficultie and not withoute greate daungers coulde bee attained Darius the kynge hearyng of the treason of the Assyrians and that the mightie Citie of Babilon was taken was very wroth waiynge with himselfe that there by the ruyne of the Persian Kyngdome mighte happen Zopyrus one of the .vij. noble Peres of Persia seing the daunger of the countrie the state of the Prince and the welfare of the subiectes to decaie in the safegarde of his countrie leuyng all priuate commoditie for the behoufe and felicitie of the Persian kyngdome did venter his owne life commaunded his seruauntes at home to 〈…〉 reÌ„te his bodie with whippes to cut of his nose his 〈…〉 his eares these thinges being vnknowen to Darius 〈…〉 â–ª As sone as Darius sawe Zopyrus so torne and deformed bewailed his state being astonished at so horrible a faict but Zopyrus shewed to the kynge his hole intente and purpose that he mynded to go to Babylon whiche the Assyrians dyd traitorouslie possesse complained as that these things had ben don by the tyrannte and crueltie of Darius be weÌ„t to Babilon and there complained of the crueltie of his Kyng whereby purchasyng the fauor and loue of the Assyrians he shewed them how Darius came to be kyng not by worthines not by vertue not by the common
when for his sake he determined to fight the determinacion of hym sheweth the maner The frende slaine the affection In the makyng of Ethopoeia lette it be plaine and without any large circumstaunce In the makyng of it ye shall diuide it thus to make the Oracion more plaine into three tymes A presente tyme. A tyme paste A tyme to come Eidolopoeia is that part of this Oracion whiche maketh a persone knowne though dedde and not able to speake Eidolopoeia is called of Priscianus a imitacion of talke of any one vpon a dedde manne it is then called Eidolopoeia when a dedde man talketh or communicacion made vpon a dedde manne Eidolopoeia when a dedde manne talketh is set forthe of Euripides vpon the persone of Polidorus dedde whose spirite entereth at the Prologue of the tragedie Hector slain speaketh to Eneas in Eidolopoeia O Eneas thou goddes sonne flie and saue thy self from this ruine and fire the enemies hath taken the walles and loftie Troie is prostrate to the grounde I would haue thought I had died valiantlie inough to my countrée and my father Priamus if with this my right hande Troie had bee defended Polidorus beyng dedde in Eidolopoeia talketh to Eneas whiche Virgil sheweth in his thirde booke of Eneados Iulia the wife of Pompei beyng dedde spake to Pompe preparyng his arme against Cesar Eidolopoeia Reade Lucane in the beginnyng of his thirde booke Tullie vseth Eidolopoeia when he maketh talke vpon Hiero beyng dedde If that kyng Hiero were reduced frō his death who was a aduauncer of the Romaine Empire with what countenaunce either Siracusa or Rome might be shewed to hym whom he maie beholde with his iyes His countree brought to ruin spoiled if that kyng Hiero should but enter Rome euen in the firste entryng he should beholde the spoile of his countree Tullie also vseth the like Eidolopoeia as thus vpon Lucius Brutus dedde If it so wer that Lucius Brutus that noble and famous manne were on liue and before your presence would he not vse this oracion I Brutus somtyme did banishe and cast out for crueltee the state and office of kinges by the horrible fact of Tarquinius againste Lucretia and all that name banished but you haue brought in tyrauntes I Brutus did reduce the Romain Empire to a fredome and libertée but you foolishly can not vphold and maintein the same giuen to you I Brutus with the daunger of my life haue saued my countree of Roome but you without all daunger lose it ¶ Prosopopoeia AS cōcerning Prosopopoeia it is as Pristianus saith when to any one againste nature speache is feigned to bee giuen Tullie vseth for a like example this when he maketh Roome to talke againste Cateline ¶ Prosopopoeia of Roome NO mischief hath been perpetrated this many yeres but by thee Catiline no pestiferous acte enterprised without thee thou a lone for thy horrible murther perpetrated vpon the citee of Rome for the spoile and robberies of their gooddes art vnpunished Thou onelie haste been of that force and power to caste doune all lawes and aucthoritee Although these thinges were not to be borne yet I haue borne them but now thy horrible factes are come to soche an issue that I feare thy mischiues Wherfore leaue of Cateline and deminishe this feare from me that I maie be in securitée Lucane the Poete intreating of mightie and fearce warres againste Pompei and Cesar maketh Roome to vse this Prosopopoeia againste Cesar Quo tenditis vltra quo fertis mea signa viri Si iure venitis si aues hucusque licet Prosopopoeia is properlie when all thinges are faigned bothe the maners the persone as of Roome in this place ¶ what lamentable Oracion Hecuba Quene of Troie might make Troie being destroied WHat kyngdome can alwaies assure his state or glory What strength can alwaies last What power maie alwaies stande The mightie Okes are somtyme caste from roote the Ceadars high by tempestes falle so bitter stormes dooe force their strength Soft waters pearseth Rockes and ruste the massie Iron doeth bryng to naught So nothyng can by strēgth so stande but strength maie ones decaie yea mightie kingdoms in time decaie haue felt Kingdomes weake haue rose to might and mightie kyngdomes fallen no counsaile can preuaile no power no strength or might in lande God disposeth Princes seates their kyngdome there with standes I knewe before the brickell state how kyngdomes ruine caught my iye the chaunge of fortune sawe as Priamus did aduaunce his throne by fauour Fortune gat on other Fortune then did froune whose kingdom did decaie Well now I knowe the brickle state that fortune hath no staie all rashe her giftes Fortune blind doeth kepe no state her stone doth roule as floodes now flowe floodes also ebbe So glory doth remaine sometyme my state on high was sette in Princelie throne my porte and traine ful roiall was a kyng my father also was my housband scepter held Troie and Phrigia serued his becke many kynges his power did dreade his wille their power did serue The fame of Troie and Brute his glorie and renouine what landes knoweth not But now his falle all toungues can speake so greate as glorie was though kyngdomes stronge was sette loftie Troie in duste prostrate doeth lye in blood their glorie people kyng are fallen no Quene more dolefull cause hath felte The sorowes depe doe passe my ioyes as Phebus light with stormes caste doune Hectors death did wounde my hart by Hectors might Troie stiffe did stande my comforte Hector was Priamus ioye of Troie all the life the strength and power his death did wound me for to die but alas my dolefull and cruell fate to greater woe reserueth my life loftie Troie before me felle sworde and fire hath seate and throne doune caste The dedde on heapes doeth lye the tender babes as Lions praies are caught in bloode before my sight Priamus deare murdered was my children also slain who roiall were and princes mates No Queene more ioye hath tasted yet woe my ioyes hath quite defaced My state alwaie in bondage thrall to serue my enemies wille as enemie wille I liue or dye No cruell force will ridde my life onely in graue the yearth shal close my woes the wormes shall gnawe my dolefull hart in graue My hedde shall ponder nought when death hath sence doune caste in life I sought no ioye as death I craue no glorie was so wished as death I seeke with death no sence In prison depe who dolefull lieth whom Fetters sore dooeth greue Their dolefull state moste wisheth death in dongion deepe of care my harte moste pensiue is vnhappie state that wisheth death with ioye long life eche wight doeth craue in life who wanteth smart Who doeth not féele or beare somtime a bitter storme to doleful tune mirth full oft chaunged is the meaner state more quiet rest on high who climes more deper care more dolefull harte doeth presse
the educacion of youthe in the whiche he cutte of all pamperyng of them because in tender yeres in whose bodies pleasure harboreth their vertue science cunnyng rooteth not labour diligence and industrie onelie rooteth vertue and excellencie Vices as vnprofitable weedes without labour diligence and industrie growe vp and thereby infecteth the minde and bodie poisoneth all the mocions incensed to vertue and singularitie Who euer attained cunnyng in any excellent arte or science where idlenes or pleasure helde the swaie Philosophie sheweth pleasure to bée vnmete for any man of singularitie for pleasure idlenes and ignoraunce are so linked together that the possession of the one induceth the other So many godlie monumētes of learning had not remained to this posteritie of ours and of all ages if famous men in those ages and tymes had hūted after immoderate pleasure Thindustrie of soche who left to the posteritie of all ages the knowledge of Astronomie is knowen the monumentes of all learnyng of lawes and of all other woorkes of antiquitie by vertue noble by industrie labour and moderacion of life in studie not by pleasure and wantones was celebraied to all ages the mightie volumes of Philosophers bothe in morall preceptes and in naturall causes knewe not the delicate and dissolute life of these our daies Palingenius enueighyng against the pāpered and lasciuious life of man vttereth a singulare sentēce Qui facere et qui nosce cupit quam plurima et altum In terris virtute aliqua sibi querere nomen Hunc vigilare opus est nam non preclara geruntur Stertendo et molles detrectat gloria plumas Who so coueteth to purchase fame by actes or whose minde hunteth for aboundaunte knowledge or by vertue in this life to purchause good fame He had not nede to slugge and flepe in his doynges for good fame is not vpholded by gaie Pecockes feathers Of this Demosthenes the famous Oratour of Athens vttereth a worthie saiyng to the Athenians in his Epistle if any will iudge Alexander the greate to be famous and happie in that he had successe in all his doynges let this be his cogitacion that Alexander the greate alwaies did inure hymself to doe thynges and manfullie to assaie that he enterprised The felicitie of his successe came to hym not slepyng or not cogitatyng thereof Alexander the greate now dedde Fortune seketh with whom she maie accompanie and associate her self Thusidides comparyng the Lacedemonians and the Athenians together shewed a rare moderacion and temperature of life to be in the Athenians wherupon thei are moste commended and celebrated to the posteritie ¶ The contrarie EVen as idlenes and a sluggishe life is moste pleasant to all soche as neglecte vertuous exercises and godlie life So paine labour and studie bestowed and emploied in the sekyng out of vertue arte or science is moste pleasaunt to well affected mindes for no godlie thyng can be attained to without diligence and labour ¶ The similitude EVen as housbandmen with labour and trauaile dooe labour in plantyng and tillyng the grounde before thei receiue any fruicte of the same Euen so no vertue arte or science or any other thyng of excellencie is attained without diligence and labour bestowed thereto ¶ The example LEt Demosthenes the famous Oratour of Athenes bee an example of diligence to vs who to auoide all let from studie vsed a meanes to kepe hymself therto preuentyng also the industrie of artificers The same Demosthenes wrote seuen tymes out the storie of Thusidides to learne thereby his eloquence and wisedome ¶ The testimonie PLinie Plato and Aristotle with many other mo are like examples for diligence to vs who wrote vpon vertue and learnyng like sentences ¶ The conclusion THerefore Isocrates dooeth pronounce worthelie the roote of learning and vertue to be bitter and the frutes pleasaunte ¶ A Sentence THe Oracion whiche must be made by a sentēce is in al partes like to Chria the profitable exercise onelie that the Oracion made vpon a sentence as aucthours do saie hath not alwaie the name of the aucthour prefixed in the praise a small matter of difference who so can make the one is expert and exquisite in the other aucthours doe define a sentēce in this maner A sentence is an Oracion in fewe woordes shewyng a godlie precept of life exhorting or diswadyng the Grekes dooe call godly preceptes by the name of Gnome or Gnomon whiche is asmoche to saie a rule or square to direct any thyng by for by them the life of manne is framed to all singularitie Thei are diuers sortes of sentences one exhorteth an other diswadeth some onely sheweth there is a sentence simple compounde profitable true soche like Frame your Oracion vpon a sentence as in the Oracion before 1. The praise of the aucthour 2. The exposicion of the sentence 3. A confirmacion in the strength of the cause 4. A conference of the contrarie 5. A similitude 6. The example 7. The testimonie of aucthors shewing y e like 8. Then adde the conclusion ¶ An Oracion vpon a sentence ¶ The sentence In a common wealthe or kyngdome many kynges to beare rule is verie euill let there be but one kyng ¶ The praise of the aucthour HOmere who of all the Poetes chiefly excelled spake this sentence in the persone of Vlisses vpon the king Agamemnon kyng of Grece This Homere intreating of all the princely affaires and greate enterprices of the Grecians and of the mightie warre againste the Troians emong whom soche discorde rose that not onely the warre for lacke of vnitie and concorde continued the space of tenne yeres But also moche blood shed hauocke and destruccion came vpon the Grecians vttered this sentēce This Homere for his learnyng and wisedome remaineth intteled in many monumentes of learnyng with greate fame and commendacion to all ages What Region Isle or nacion is not by his inuencion set foorthe who although he were blinde his minde sawe all wisedome the states of all good kyngdomes and common wealthes The verie liuely Image of a Prince or gouernour the faithfull and humble obediēce of a subiect toward the prince the state of a capitaine the vertue and noble qualities that are requisite in soche a personage be there set forthe The perfite state of a wiseman and politike is intreated of by hym The Iustice and equitie of a Prince the strength of the bodie all heroicall vertues also are set forthe his eloquence and verse floweth in soche sorte with soche pleasauntnes so copious so aboundaunt so graue and sentencious that his singularitie therein excelleth and passeth The mightie prince Alexander in all his marciall enterprices and great conquestes did continually night by night reade somewhat of the Ilias of the Poete Homere before he slepte and askyng for the booke saied giue me my pillowe Alexander as it semeth learned many heroical vertues policie wisedome counsaill thereof els he occupied in so mightie and greate warres would not
where God displaseth or putteth doune Soche is the state of Princes and their kyngdomes ¶ Thesis THesis is a certain question in consultacion had to bée declaimed vpon vncertaine notyng no certaine persone or thyng As for example Whether are riches chieflie to be sought for in this life as of all good thynges the chief good Whether is vertue the moste excellente good thynge in this life Whether dooe the giftes of the mynde passe and excelle the giftes and vertues of Fortune and the bodie Whether doeth pollicie more auaile in war then streÌ„gth of menne Who so will reason of any question of these he hath nede with reason and wittie consultacion to discourse and to declaime vpon the same The Greke Oratours doe call this exercise Thesis that is to saie a proposicion in question a question vncertain included with no certaintée to any perticuler thyng The Latine men doeth call it a question infinite or vniuersall Tullie in his booke of places called Tâ—pickes doeth call Thesis Propositum that is to saie a question in determinacion Priscianus calleth it positionem a proposicion in question on ether parte to be disputed vpon As for example Whether is it best to marie a wife Whether is frendship aboue all thynges to be regarded Is warre to be moued vpon a iuste cause Is the Greke tongue mete and necessarie to be learned There is an other kinde of question called hypothesis hypothesis is called questio finita that is to saie a question certaine notyng a certaine persone or thyng a certaine place tyme and so forthe As for example Is it mete for Cesar to moue warre against Pompei Is not there a certain persone Is the Greke tongue to be learned of a Diuine Is the Greke tongue maete for a Phisicion In this kinde of exercises famous men of auncient time did exercise youth to attain bothe wisedome and Eloquence therby to make a discourse vpoÌ„ any matter by art of lerning Aristotle the famous Philosopher did traine vp youthe to be perfite in the arte of eloquence that thei might with all copionsnes and ingenious inuencion handle any cause Nothing doeth so moche sharpe and acuate the witte and capacitee of any one as this kinde of exercise It is a goodly vertue in any one man at a sodain to vtter wittely and ingeinouslie the secrete and hid wisedome of his mynde it is a greate maime to a profounde learned man to wante abilitee to vtter his exquisite and profounde knoweledge of his mynde ¶ Thesis tHis question Thesis which is a question noting no certaine persone or thyng is moche like to that Oracion intreated of before called a Common place ¶ A Common place BVt a Common place is a certaine exaggeracion of matter induced against any persone conuicted of any crime or worthie defence ¶ Thesis Thesis is a reasonyng by question vpon a matter vncertaine Thesis that is to saie a questioÌ„ generall is in two sortes A question Ciuill Contemplatiue QVestions Ciuill are those that dooe pertâ—ine to the state of a common wealth and are dailypractised in the common wealthe As for example Is it good to marie a wife Is Vsurie lefull in a citee or common wealthe Is a Monarchis the beste state of gouernement Is good educacion the grounde and roote of a florishyng common wealthe ¶ A contemplatiue question THe other Thesis is a question contemplatiue which the Grekes dooe call Theoricas because the matter of them is comprehended in the minde and in the intelligence of man The example Is the soule immortall Had the worlde a beginnyng Is the heauen greater then the yearth A questionA question is either Simple Compounde Is it good for a man to exercise hymself in wrastlyng or in Is it profitable to declaime A compounde Is vertue of more value then gold to the coueitous man Doeth wisedome more auaile then strength in battaile Doe olde men or young men better gouerne a common wealthe Is Phisicke more honourable then the Lawe A Oracion made vpon Thesis is after this sorte made Vse a exordium or beginnyng Vnto the whiche you maie adde a Narracion whiche is a exposicion of the thyng doen. Then shewe it lawfull Iuste Profitable And possible Then the conclucion To this in some parte of the Oracion you maie putte in certaine obieccions as thus Vpon this question Is it good to marie a wife In Mariage is greate eare and pensiuenesse of minde by losse of children or wife whom thou loueste There is also trouble of dissolute seruauntes There is also greate sorowe if thy children proue wicked and dissolute The aunswere to this obiection will minister matter to declaime vpon ¶ Is it good to Marie SInce the tyme of all ages and the creacioÌ„ of the worlde GOD hath so blessed his creacion and meruailous workemanship in manne as in all his other creatures that not onelie his omnipoteucie is therby set forthe But also from tyme to tyme the posteritee of men in their ofspring and procreacion doe aboundantlie commonstrate the same The state of all kyngdomes and common wealthes by procreacion deriued haue onelie continued on the face of the yearth thereby many hundred yeres How sone would the whole worlde be dissolued and in perpetuall ruine if that God from tymes and ages had not by godlie procreacion blessed this infinite issue of mankinde The dignitee of man in his creacion sheweth the worthie succession maintained by procreation In vaine were the creacion of the worlde if there were not as manne so excellente a creature to beholde the creatour and his meruailous creacion To what vse were the Elementes and Heauens the Starres and Planettes all Beastes and Foules Fisshe Plantes Herbes and trees if men wer not for mannes vse and necessitée all thinges in the yearth were made and procreated Wherein the Stoike Philosophers do note the excellencie of man to be greate for saie thei Que in terris gignuntur omnia ad vsum hominum creari To what vse then were all thynges if man were not for whose cause vse necessitée these thynges were made If a continuaunce of Gods procreacion were not immediatlie a ruine and ends would ensue of thinges What age remaineth aboue a hundred yeres If after a huÌ„dred yeres no issue wer to be on the face of the yearth how sone wer kyngdoms dissolued where as procreacion rooteth a newe generacion issue and ofspring and as it were a newe soule and bodie A continuaunce of lawes a permanente state of common wealthe dooeth ensue Though the life of manne be fraile and sone cutte of yet by Mariage man by his ofspryng is as it were newe framed his bodie by death dissolued yet by issue reuiued Euen as Plantes by the bitter season of Winter from their flowers fadyng and witheryng yet the seede of them and roote vegitable and liuyng dooe roote yerelie a newe ofspryng or flower in them So Mariage by godlie procreacion blessed doth perpetually increase a newe bodie and therby a vaste
The fable of the Bishop of Elie to the duke of Buckyngham The fable of the Bishop of Rochester againste the graunt of the Chauntries The firste exercise Inuentours of al excellent artes and sciences commended to the posteritee Apelles Parthesius Polucletus The ende of all artes is to godlie life Esope worthie moche commendacioÌ„ Philophie in fables Realmes maie learne concorde out of Esopes fables Preceptes to Kynges and Subiectes Preceptes to parentes and children The content of al Lawes I true praise commeÌ„ded by fame it self The wolue moste rauening cruell The wolues of all beastes moste obâ—â—uious The wolue inferiour to the bandogge The Dogge passeth all creatures in smellyng Plinie The worthines of Shepe The wolle of Shepe riche and commodious Man a chief creature Stoike Philosophers The office of the shepeherdes are profitable and necessarie wealth profit and riches riseth of the wolles of Shepe Man called of the Philosophers a little worlde The bodie of man without concord of the partes perisheth The common wealthe like to the bodie of manne Menenius The baseste parte of the bodie moste necessarie The amiable parte of the body doe consiste by the baseste and moste beformeste The Shepeherdes state necessarie The state of the husbande manne moste necessarie No meane state to be contempned Rotten members of the coÌ„mon wealth Plato A common wealth doe consiste by vnitie of all states Aristotle what is a coÌ„mon wealth A liuely exaÌ„ple of commoÌ„ wealthe The counsail of wolues Lycaon The firste progenie of wolues The inuencion of the Poet Ouide to compare a wicked man to a wolue Lycaon Lycaon chauÌ„ged into a wolue wolue Manner The counsail of wolues The counsail of wicked meÌ„ to mischief The cogitacions of wicked men and their kyngdoÌ„ bloodie The state of counsailours worthie chief honour and veneracion Plato Homere The Shepeherdes name giueÌ„ to the office of kyngs The state or good counsallers troublous A comparision from a lesse to a greater The worthie state of Princes and counsailours The amitie of wicked menns To beleue lightly a furtheraunce to perill The praise of Esope Cresus Samians Licerus Delphos winter The Ante. The Ante. Manne Greshopper A poincte of wisedome A wise cogitacion Pouertie Wisedome Housebande menne Frendship Homere Nature The cause of our bearth Ianus Prouidence Diligence Idelnes The Ante. Tyme Persone The cause The facte The waie how The facte The place The persone The tyme â–ª The place The horrible murther of king Richard The facte The tyme. The maner how The cause The state of a wicked maÌ„ A dolefull stale of a quene The wicked facte of kyng Richard a horror and dread to the commons God permit meanes to pull doune tyrauntes Lichefelde Leicester Bosworthe Kyng Richard killed in Bosworth fielde The tyme. The persone The cause The fame and glorie of Britaine The prowes of Iulius Cesar The maner how Cesars communicacion with the marchauntes as concernyng the lande of Britaine The ware politike gouernement of y t Britaines Aliaunce in tyme traiterous Britain somtyme called of the Grekes Olbion not Albion Caius Volusenus Embassadour to Britaine Comas Atrebas secoÌ„de Embassador from Cesar Cassibelane king of London at the ariue of Cesar Cassibelane a worthie Prince ImanueÌ„cius The Troynouauntes by treason let in Cesar Treason a confusion to the mightiest dominions A senteÌ„ce grauen of Britaine in the commendacion of Cesar Lusimachus Prodicus Gorgias Leontinus Demosthenes learned eloquence of Isocrates All excelleâ—◠〈…〉 is attained The roote of learnyng bitter Who is a vnfortunate childe Good educacion the foundacion of the Romaine Empire Euill educacion bringeth to rume mightie kingdoms Lydiâ— Cyrus The decay of a kyngdome The mightie dominions of Cyrus Euill educacion Pithagoras Eatona Lycurgus Vertue Vice Pleasure Idlenes Ignoraunce Alexander the great coÌ„mended for diligence Gnome The praise of Homere The content of Homers bookes Alexander The Ilias of Homere mete for princes to looke vpon The state of many kinges in one lande Athenes Carthage in a monarchie The state of many kinges mone lande A monarchie in heauen One Sunne The Ante. The Bee Constancius Licinius Marabodius Pompey Cesar Marius Silla Assiria the first monarchie The monarchie of the Medes The PersiaÌ„ Macedonia Asia Siria Egipte in a Monarchie Tirannis Nero Domicianus Caligula what doeth beautifie the throne of a Prince Aristocratia The ende of Aristocratia Politeia Tirannis Oligarthia Democratia A monarchie prefarred of the Persians The duetie of al noble peres Darius Kyngdomes rise and fall The answer of Alexander to Darius as coÌ„cernyng a monarchie AlexaÌ„der the great prefarred a Monarchie Alexanders monarchie fel by many kinges Antipater Crates Meliagrus Perdiceas Ptolemeus Learcus Cassander Menander Leonatus Lusimacus Eumenes Seleucus Fraunce Spaine Germanie Britaine The vanities of Poetes The battaill of Troie x yeres for a harlotte The vain inuention of Poetes Plato reiecteth Poetes from the common wealth Helena The cause of the forged inuencion Nocommendacion in vpholdyng and maintainyng of hariottes Helena followed Paris Vertuous life worthie commendation in al ages Lucrecia Tarquinius the kyng banished for rauishyng Lucrecia and all of his name banished Penelopes chastitie Nestor Vlisses Grece the lande of faire women Vncomelie Beautie without vertue nothyng of valour Beautie a poison in a adulterous mynde Beautie sone fadeth Paris Helenas louer Phrigia Vncomelie Grece the fountain of al learnyng Menelaus housbande to Helena Harlottes loue dissentbled Troians Grecians Absurditie The defence of Helena Troie a kingdome of whordome Nature abhorreth the warre of the Grecians Helena Priamus Ambicion Eesar fell by ambicion Discorde Pompey Romulus killed Remus by ambicion Iustinus Chronicles moste necessary to be red The worthinesse of histories what is a historie An ignorant life 〈…〉 The knowlege of Histories maketh vs as it were liuyng in all ages Historiogriphers The treason of the Assyrians Darius Babilon taken of the Assyrians The fact of Zopyrus Zopyrus caused the deformitie of his bodie for the good state of his countrie The pollicie of Zopyrus Trogus PoÌ„peius Zopyrus The saiyng of Tullie Plato 〈…〉 The state of a publike wealthe is to beeÌ„ preferred before a priuate wealth Pericles A good subiecte is redie to liue and die for his countrie Horacius Cocles Marcus Attilius Cynegerus Hismenias Thrasibulus Leonides kyng or the Lacedemonians Leonides Agesilaus Conon Lisander Archidamus Codrus Epamniundas Grecians Troians Romans who liueth in shame Epamenundas a most noble and valiaunt pere The order of Athenes Thusidides The duetie of all good subiectes The cause of our birthe The facte of Zopyrus The fact of Zopyrus Zopyrus deformed a beautie of his countree Why it is called a common place Pristianus what are Lawes Aristotle Plato Order Man borne by nature to societee All thinges beyng on the yearth dooe consiste by a harmonie or concorde Order conserueth common wealth Euil maners was theoccasion of good Lawes Theiues not mete to be in any societie Why theiues and wicked men are cut of by lawe A due rewardes for thieues and murtherers
other to grounde profunde and subtill argument to fortifie make stronḡe our assercion or sentence to proue and defende by the force and power of arte thinges passyng the compasse reach of our capacitée and witte Nothyng can bee more excellently giuen of nature then Eloquence by the which the florishyng state of commonweales doe consiste kyngdomes vniuersally are gouerned the state of euery one priuatlie is maintained The commonwealth also should be maimed and debilitated except the other parte be associate to it Zeno the Philosopher comparing Rhetorike and Logike doeth assimilate and liken them to the hand of man Logike is like saith he to the fiste for euen as the fiste closeth and shutteth into one the iointes and partes of the hande with mightie force and strength wrappeth and closeth in thynges apprehended So Logike for the deepe and profounde knowlege that is reposed and buried in it in soche sort of municion and strength fortified in few wordes taketh soche sorce and might by argumente that excepte like equalitée in like art and knowledge doe mate it in vain the disputacion shalbe and the repulse of thaduersarie readie Rhetorike is like to the hand set at large wherein euery part and ioint is manifeste and euery vaine as braunches of trées sette at scope and libertée So of like sorte Rhetorike in moste ample and large maner dilateth and setteth out small thynges or woordes in soche sorte with soche aboundaunce and plentuousnes bothe of woordes and wittie inuencion with soche goodlie disposicion in soche a infinite sorte with soche pleasauntnes of Oracion that the moste stonie and hard hartes can not but bee incensed inflamed and moued thereto These twoo singuler giftes of nature are absolute and perfect in fewe for many therebe whiche are exquisite and profound in argument by art to reason and discusse of any question or proposicion propounded who by nature are disabled smallie adorned to speake eloquently in whom neuertheles more aboundaunt knowledge doeth somtymes remaine then in the other if the cause shalbe in controuersie ioined and examined to trie a manifeste truthe But to whom nature hath giuen soche abilitée and absolute excellencie as that thei can bothe copiouslie dilate any matter or sentence by pleasauntnes and swetenes of their wittie and ingenious oracion to drawe vnto theim the hartes of a multitude to plucke doune and extirpate affecciōs and perturbacions of people to moue pitee and compassion to speake before Princes and rulers and to perswade theim in good causes and enterprises to animate and incense them to godlie affaires and busines to alter the coūsaill of kynges by their wisedome and eloquence to a better state and also to be exquisite in thother is a thing of all most noble and excellent The eloquence of Demosthenes I socrates Tisias Gorgias Eschines were a great bulwarke and staie to Athens and all Grece Rome also by the like vertue of Eloquence in famous and wise orators vpholded the wise and eloquente Oracions of Tullie againste Catiline The graue and sentencious oracions of Cato in the Senate haue been onelie the meane to vpholde the mightie state of Rome in his strength and auncient fame and glorie Also the Chronicles of auncient time doe shewe vnto vs the state of Rome could by no meanes haue growen so meruailous mightie but that God had indued the whole line of Cesars with singuler vertues with aboundaunt knowlege singuler Eloquence Thusidides the famous Historiographer sheweth how moche Eloquence auailed the citees of Grece faliyng to dissenciō How did the Corcurians saue them selues from the inuasiō and might of the Poloponesians their cause pleated before the Athenians so moche their eloquence in a truthe preuailed The Ambassadours of Corinth wanted not their copious wittie and ingenious Oracions but thei pleated before mightie wise and graue Senators whose cause accordyng to iudgemēt truthe and integritée was ended The eloquēt Embassages of the Corinthiās the Lacedemoniās the Mituleneans the Athenians who so readeth shall sone sée that of necessitee a common wealth or kyngdome must be fortefied with famous graue and wise counsailours How often did Demosthenes saue the cōmon wealthes of Athens how moche also did that large dominion prospere and florish by I socrates Tullie also by his Eloquēt please Cato Crassus Antonius Catulus Cesar with many other did support and vphold the state of that mightie kyngdō No doubte but that Demosthenes made a wittie copious and ingenious oracions when the Athenians were minded to giue and betake to the handes of Philip kyng of the Macedonians their pestiferous enemie moste vile and subtell the Orators of Athens This Philip forseyng the discorde of Grece as he by subtill meanes compassed his enterprices promised by the faithe of a Prince to be at league with the Athenians if so be thei would betake to his handes the eloquente Oratours of Athens for as long saith he as your Oratours are with you declaryng so longe your heddes and counsaill are moued to variaunce and dissencion this voice ones seased emong you in tranquilitée you shal bee gouerned Demosthenes beyng eloquente and wise foresawe the daungers and the mischieuous intent of him wherevpon he framed a goodly Oracion vpon a Fable whereby he altered their counsaile and repulsed the enemie This fable is afterward set forth in an Oracion after the order of these exercises profitable to Rhetorike ¶ A Fable FIrste it is good that the learner doe vnderstand what is a fable for in all matters of learnyng it is the firste grounde as Tullie doeth saie to knowe what the thing is that we may the better perceiue whervpō we doe intreate A fable is a forged tale cōtaining in it by the colour of a lie a matter of truthe The moralle is called that out of the whiche some godlie precepte or admonicion to vertue is giuen to frame and instruct our maners Now that we knowe what a fable is it is good to learne also how manifolde or diuers thei be I doe finde three maner of fables to be The first of theim is wherein a man being a creature of God indued with reason is onely intreated of as the Fable of the father and his children he willing thē to concorde and this is called Rationalis fabula whiche is asmoche to saie as a Fable of men indued with reason or women The second is called a morall fable but I sée no cause whie it is so called but rather as the other is called a fable of reasonable creatures so this is contrarilie named a fable of beastes or of other thinges wanting reason or life wanting reason as of the Ante and the Greshopper or of this the beame caste doun and the Frogges chosyng their king The thirde is a mixt Fable so called bicause in it bothe man hauyng reason and a beaste wantyng
reason or any other thing wanting life is ioyned with it as for the example of the fable of the woodes and the housebandman of whom he desired a helue for his hatchet Aucthours doe write that Poetes firste inuented fables the whiche Oratours also doe vse in their perswasions and not without greate cause both Poetes and Oratours doe applie theim to their vse For fables dooe conteine goodlie admonicion vertuous preceptes of life Hesiodus the Poete intreatyng of the iniurious dealyng of Princes and gouernours against their subiectes admonished them by the fable of the Goshauke and the Nightyngale in his clause Ouid also the Poete intreated of diuers fables wherein he giueth admonicion and godly counsaile Demosthenes the famous Oratour of Athens vsed the fable of the Shepeherdes and Wolues how the Wolues on a tyme instauntlie required of the Shepeherdes their bande dogges and then thei would haue peace and concorde with theim the Shepeherdes gaue ouer their Dogges their Dogges deliuered and murdered the shepe were immediatly deuoured So saieth he if ye shall ones deliuer to Philip the king of the Macedonians your Oratours by whose learnyng knowlege and wisedome the whole bodie of your dominions is saued for thei as Bandogges doe repell all mischeuous enterprises and chaunses no doubte but that rauenyng Wolfe Philip will eate and consume your people by this Fable he made an Oracion he altered their counsailes and heddes of the Athenians from so foolishe an enterprise Also the same Demosthenes seyng the people careles slothfull and lothsome to heare the Oratours and all for the florishing state of the kingdome the ascended to the place or pulpet where the Oracions were made and began with this fable Ye men of Athens saied he it happened on a tyme that a certaine man hired an Asse and did take his iourney from Athens to Megara as we would saie frō London to Yorke the owner also of the Asse did associate hymself in his iourney to brynge backe the Asse againe in the voyage the weather was extreame burning hotte and the waie tedious the place also for barenes and sterilitée of trees wanted shadowe in this long broyle of heate he that satte one the Asse lighted and woke shadowe vnder the bellie of the Asse and because the shadowe would not suffice bothe the Asse beyng small the owner saied he muste haue the shadowe because the Asse was his I deny that saieth the other the shadowe is myne because I hired the Asse thus thei were at greate contencion the fable beyng recited Demosthenes descended frō his place the whole multitude were inquisitiue to knowe the ende about the shadowe Demosthenes notyng their follie afrended to his place and saied O ye foolishe Athemans whiles I and other gaue to you counsaill and admoniciō of graue and profitable matters your eares wer deafe and your mindes slombred but now I tell of a small trifeling matter youthrong to heare the reste of me By this Fable he nipped their follie and trapped them manifestlie in their owne doltishenes Here vpon I doe somwhat long make copie of wordes to shewe the singularitee of fables well applied In the tyme of Kyng Richard the thirde Doctour Mourton beyng Bishop of Elie and prisoner in the Duke of Buckynghams house in Wales was often tymes moued of the Duke to speake his minde frelie if king Richard wer lawfully king and said to him of his fidelitee to kepe close and secret his sentence but the Bishop beyng a godlie man and no lesse wise waied the greate frendship whiche was sometyme betwene the Duke King Richard aunswered in effect nothyng but beyng daily troubled with his mocions instigacions spake a fable of Esope My lorde saied he I will aunswere you by a Fable of Esope The Lion on a tyme gaue a commaundement that all horned beastes should flie from the woode and none to remain there but vnhorned beastes The Hare hearing of this commaundement departed with the horned beastes from the woodde The wilie Foxe metyng the Hare demaunded the cause of his haste forthwith the Hare aunswered a commaundemente is come from the Lion that all horned beastes should bee exiled vpon paine of death from the woode why saied the Foxe this commaundement toucheth not any sorte of beast as ye are for thou haste no hornes but knubbes yea but said the Hare what if the i saie I haue hornes that is an other matter my lorde I saie no more what he ment is euident to all men In the time of king Hēry theight a prince of famous memorie at what time as the small houses of religiō wer giuen euer to the kinges hand by the Parliament house the bishop of Rochester Doctour Fisher by name stepped forthe beyng greued with the graunt recited before them a fable of Esope to shewe what discommoditee would followe in the Clergie My lordes and maisters saieth he Esope recited a fable how that on a tyme a housebande manne desired of the woodes a small helue for his hatchet all the woodes consented thereto waiyng the graunt to be small and the thyng lesse therevpō the woodes consented in fine the housbande man cut doune a small peece of woodde to make a helue he framyng a helue to the hatchette without leaue and graunt he cut doune the mightie Okes and Cedars and destroyed the whole woodd then the woodes repented them to late So saith he the gift of these small houses ar but a small graunt into the kinges hādes but this small graunt will bee a waie and meane to pull doune the greate mightie fatte Abbees so it happened But there is repentaūce to late no profite ensued of the graunte ¶ An Oracion made by a fable is the first exercise to declame by the other bee these An Oracion made by a A Fable a Narracion Chria Sentence Confutacion Confirmacion Common place The praise The dispraise The Comparison Ethopeia A Discripcion Thesis Legislatio OF euery one of these a goodlie Oraciō maie be made these excercises are called of the Grekes Progimnasmata of the Latines profitable introduccions or fore exercises to attain greater arte and knowlege in Rhetorike and bicause for the easie capacitée and facilitée of the learner to attain greater knowledge in Rhetorike thei are right profitable and necessarie Therefore I title this booke to bee the foundaciō of Rhetorike the exercises being Progimnasmata I haue chosen out the fable of the Shepeherdes and the Wolues vpon the whiche fable Demosthenes made an cloquente copious and wittie Oracion before the Athenians whiche fable was so well applied that the citée and common wealth of Athens was saued ¶ A fable These notes must be obserued to make an Oracion by a Fable ¶ Praise 1. Firste ye shall recite the fable as the aucthour telleth it 2. There in the seconde place you shall praise the aucthoure who made the fable whiche praise maie sone bée gotte of any studious scholer
a God or a manne forthwith he feasted him with mannes fleshe baked Iupiter as he can doe what he will brought a ruine on his house and transubstanciated hym into this our shape figure wherein we are and so sens that time Wolues were firste generated and that of manne by the chaunge of Lycaon although our shape is chaunged from the figure of other men and men knoweth vs not well yet the same maners that made Wolues remaineth vntill this daie and perpetuallie in men for thei robbe thei steale and liue by iniurious catching we also robbe also wee steale and catche to our praie what wee maie with murther come to Thei murther and wee also murther and so in all poinctes like vnto wicked menne doe we imitate the like fashion of life and rather thei in shape of men are Wolues and wee in the shape of Wolues menne Of all these thynges hauyng consideracion I haue inuented a pollicie whereby we maie woorke a slauter and perpetuall ruine on the Shepe by the murther of the Bandogges And so wee shall haue frée accesse to our bloodie praie thus we will doe wee will sende a Embassage to the Shepeherdes for peace saiyng that wee minde to ceasse of all bloodie spoile so that thei will giue ouer to vs the custodie of the Bandogges for otherwise the Embassage sent is in vaine for their Dogges being in our handes and murthered one by one the daunger and enemie taken awaie we maie the better obtain and enioye our bloodie life This counsaill pleased well the assemble of the Wolues and the pollicie moche liked theim and with one voice thei houled thus thus Immediatlie cōmunicacion was had with the Shepeherdes of peace and of the giuyng ouer of their Bandogges this offer pleased theim thei cōcluded the peace and gaue ouer their Bandogges as pledges of thesame The dogges one by one murthered thei dissolued the peace and wearied the Shepe then the Shepeherdes repented them of their rashe graunt and foly committed So of like sorte it alwaies chaunceth tyrauntes and bloodie menne dooe seke alwaies a meane and practise pollicies to destroye all soche as are godlie affected and by wisedome and godlie life doe seke to subuerte and destroie the mischeuous enterprise of the wicked For by crueltie their Woluishe natures are knowen their glorie strength kyngdome and renowne cometh of blood of murthers and beastlie dealynges and by might so violent it continueth not for by violence and blooddie dealyng their kyngdome at the last falleth by blood and bloodilie perisheth The noble wise graue and goodlie counsailes are with all fidelitée humblenes and sincere hartes to be obeied in worthines of their state and wisedome to be embraced in chief honour and veneracion to bee taken by whose industrie knowledge and experience the whole bodie of the common wealth and kyngdome is supported and saued The state of euery one vniuersallie would come to pardicion if the inuasion of foraine Princes by the wisedom and pollicie of counsailers were not repelled The horrible actes of wicked men would burste out and a confusion ensue in al states if the wisedom of politike gouernors if good lawes if the power and sword of the magistrate could not take place The peres and nobles with the chief gouernour slandeth as Shepherds ouer the people for so Plato alledgeth that name well and properlie giuen to Princes and Gouernours the which Homere the Poete attributeth to Agamemnon king of Grece to Menclaus Vlisses Nestor Achillas Diomedes Aiar and al other For bothe the name and care of that state of office can be titeled by no better name in all pointes for diligent kepyng for aide succoryng and with all equitie temperyng the multitude thei are as Shepeherdes els the sclie poore multitude would by an oppression of pestiferous men The commonaltee or base multitude liueth more quietlie then the state of soche as daily seke to vpholde and maintaine the common wealthe by counsaill and politike deliberacion how troublous hath their state alwaies been how vnquiete from time to time whose heddes in verie deede doeth seke for a publike wealth Therefore though their honor bee greater and state aboue the reste yet what care what pensiuenesse of minde are thei driuen vnto on whose heddes aucthoritée and regiment the sauegard of innumerable people doeth depend If in our domesticall businesse of matters pertainyng to our housholde euery man by nature for hym and his is pensiue moche more in so vaste and infinite a bodie of cōmon wealth greater must the care be and more daungerous deliberacion We desire peace we reioyce of a tranquilitée and quietnesse to ensue we wishe to consist in a hauen of securitée our houses not to be spoiled our wiues and children not to bée murthered This the Prince and counsailours by wisedome foresée to kéepe of all these calamitées daungers miseries the whole multitude and bodie of the Common wealthe is without them maimed weake and feable a readie confusion to the enemie Therefore the state of péeres and nobles is with all humilitée to be obaied serued and honored not without greate cause the Athenians were drawen backe by the wisedome of Demostnenes when thei sawe thēselues a slauter and praie to the enemie ¶ A comparson of thynges WHat can bée more rashly and foolishly doen then the Shepeherdes to giue ouer their Dogges by whose might and strength the Shepe were saued on the other side what can be more subtlie doen and craftely then the Wolues vnder a colour of frendship and amitée to séeke the blood of the shepe as all pestiferous men vnder a fained profer of amitée profered to seeke their owne profite commoditée and wealthe though it be with ruine calamitie miserie destruccion of one or many toune or citée region and countree whiche sort of men are moste detestable and execrable ¶ The contrarie AS to moche simplicitie lacke of discrecion is a furtheraunce to perill and daunger so oftētimes he tasteth of smarte and woe who lightly beleueth so contrariwise disimulaciō in mischeuous practises begon w t frēdly wordes in the conclusion doeth frame ende pernisiouslie ¶ The Epilogus THerefore fained offers of frendship are to bee taken heede of and the acte of euery man to bee examined proued and tried for true frendship is a rare thyng when as Tullie doth saie in many ages there are fewe couples of friendes to be found Aristotle also cōcludeth the same ¶ The Fable of the Ante and Greshopper ¶ The praise of the aucthour ESope who wrote these Fables hath chief fame of all learned aucthours for his Philosophie and giuyng wisedome in preceptes his Fables dooe shewe vnto all states moste wholsome doctrine of vertuous life He wholy extolleth vertue and depresseth vice he correcteth all states and setteth out preceptes to amende them Although he was deformed and ill shaped yet Nature wrought in hym soche vertue that he was in minde moste
can not take place to help theÌ„ Soche as do folowe the life of the Greshopper are worthie of their miserie who haue no witte to foresée seasons and tymes but doe suffer tyme vndescretly to passe whiche fadeth as a floure thold Romaines do picture Ianus with two faces a face behind an other before which resemble a wiseman who alwaies ought to knowe thinges paste thynges presente and also to be experte by the experience of many ages and tymes and knowledge of thynges to come ¶ The comparison betwene the twoo thynges WHat can be more descritlie doen then the Ante to be so prouident and politike as that all daunger of life necessitie is excluded the stormie times of Winter ceaseth of might honger battereth not his walles hauyng soche plentie of foode for vnlooked bitter stormes and seasons happeneth in life whiche when thei happen neither wisedoÌ„ nor pollicie is not able to kepe backe Wisedome therefore it is so to stande that these thynges hurte not the miserable ende of the Greshopper sheweth vnto vs whiche maie be an example to all menne of what degree so euer thei bee to flie slothe and idelnesse to be wise and discrite ¶ Of contraries AS diligence prouidence and discrete life is a singulare gift whiche increaseth all vertues a pillar staie and a foundacion of all artes and science of common wealthes and kyngdomes So contrarily sloth and sluggishnesse in all states and causes defaseth destroyeth and pulleth doune all vertue all science and godlines For by it the mightie kyngdome of the LidiaÌ„s was destroied as it semeth no small vice when the Lawes of Dracâ— dooe punishe with death idelnesse ¶ The ende THerefore the diligence of the Ante in this Fable not onelie is moche to be commended but also her example is to bee followed in life Therefore the wiseman doeth admonishe vs to go vnto the Ant and learne prouidence and also by the Greshopper lette vs learne to auoide idelnes lesse the like miserie and calamitie fall vpon vs. ¶ Narratio THis place followyng is placed of Tullie after the exordium or beginnyng of Oracion as the seconde parte whiche parte of Rhetorike is as it were the light of all the Oracion folowing conteining the cause matter persone tyme with all breuitie bothe of wordes and inuencion of matter ¶ A Narracion A Narracion is an exposicion orderlaracion of any thyng dooen in deede or els a settyng forthe forged of any thyng but so declaimed and declared as though it were doen. A narracion is of three sortes either it is a narracion historicall of any thyng contained in any aunciente storie or true Chronicle Or Poeticall whiche is a exposicion fained set for the by inuencion of Poetes or other Or ciuill otherwise called Iudiciall whiche is a matter of controuersie in iudgement to be dooen or not dooen well or euill In euery Narracion ye must obserue sixe notes 1. Firste the persone or doer of the thing whereof you intreate 2. The facte doen. 3. The place wherein it was doen. 4. The tyme in the whiche it was doen. 5. The maner must be shewed how it was doen. 6. The cause wherevpon it was doen. There be in this Narracion iiij other properties beloÌ„ging 1. First it must be plain and euident to the hearer not obscure 2. short and in as fewe wordes as it maie be for soche a matter 3. Probable as not vnlike to be true 4. In wordes fine and elegante ¶ A narracion historicall vpon Semiramis Queene of Babilon how and after what sort the obtained the gouernment thereof AFter the death of Ninus somtime kyng of Babilon his soonne Nuius also by name was left to succede hym in all the Assirian Monarchie Semiramis wife to Ninus the firste feared the tender age of her sonne wherupon she thought that those mightie nacions and kyngdomes would not obaie so young and weake a Prince Wherfore she kept her sonne from the gouernmente and moste of all she feared that thei would not obaie a woman forthwith she fained her self to be the soonne of Ninus and bicause she would not be knowen to bee a woman this Quene inuented a newe kinde of tire the whiche all the Babilonians that were men vsed by her commaundement By this straunge disguised tire and apparell she not knowen to bee a woman ruled as a man for the space of twoo and fourtie yeres she did marueilous actes for she enlarged the mightie kyngdome of Babilon and builded the same citée Many other regions subdued and vallauntlie ouerthrowen she entered India to the whiche neuer Prince came sauing Alexander the greate she paâ—â—ed not onely men in vertue counsaill and valiaunt stomacke but also the famous counsailours of Assiria might not contende with her in Maiestie pollicie and roialnes For at what tyme as thei knewe her a woman thei enuied not her state but marueiled at her wisedome pollicie and moderacion of life at the laste she desiryng the vnnaturall lust and loue of her soonne Ninus was murthered of hym ¶ A narracion historicall vpon kyng Richard the third the cruell tiraunt â–ª RIchard duke of Glocester after the death of Edward the fowerth his brother king of England vsurped the croune moste traiterouâ—â—â—e and wickedlie this kyng Richard was sâ—â—ll of stature deformed and ill shaped his shoulders beared not equalitie a pulyng face yet of countenaunce and looke cruell malicious deceiptfull bityng and chawing his nether lippe of minde vnquiet pregnaunt of witte quicke and liuely a worde and a blowe wilie deceiptfull proude arrogant in life and cogitacion bloodie The fowerth daie of Iulie he entered the tower of London with Anne his wife doughter to Richard Exle of Warwick and there in created Edward his onely soonne a child of ten yeres of age Prince of Wales At the same tyme in the same place he created many noble peres to high prefermente of honour and estate and immediatly with feare and faint harte bothe in himself and his nobles and commons was created king alwaies a vnfortunate and vnluckie creacion the harts of the nobles and commons thereto lackyng or faintyng and no maruaile he was a cruell murtherer a wretched caitiffe a moste tragicall tyraunt and blood succour bothe of his nephewes and brother George Duke of Clarence whom he caused to bee drouned in a Butte of 〈…〉 the staires sodainlie remoued wheron he stepped the death of the lorde Riuers with many other nobles compassed and wrought at the young Princes commyng out of Wales the .xix. daie of Iuly in the yere of our lorde 1483. openly he toke vpon him to be king who sekyng hastely to clime fell according to his desart sodainly and ingloriously whose Embassage for peace Lewes the Frenche king for his miseheuous boodie slaughter so moche abhorred that he would neither see the Embassador nor heare the Embassage for he murthered his .ij. nephues by the handes of one Iames Tirrell
eloquēce as to Demonicus the king to Nicocles Euagoras against Philip the king of the Macedoniās by his wisedome and counsaill the Senate and vniuersal state of Athens was ruled the commons and multitude thereby in euery part florished chieflie what counsaill what wisedome what learnyng might bee required in any man of high fame and excellencie that same was aboundantly in Isocrates as in all his Oratiōs he is to be praised so in this sentence his fame importeth like commendacion ¶ The exposicion IN that he saieth the roote of learnyng is bitter and the fruictes pleasaunt he signifieth no excellent qualitie or gift vertue arte or science can bee attained except paine labour diligence doe plant and sette the same but when that noble gift either learnyng or any excellente qualitee is lodged and reposed in vs then we gather by painfull labours greate profite comforte delectable pleasures wealth glorie riches whiche be the fruictes of it ¶ The cause AND seyng that of our owne nature all men are enclined from their tender yeres and infancie to the extirpacion of vertue folowyng with all earnest studie and gréedie the free passage to vice and specially children whose iudgementes and reason are not of that strengthe to rule their weake mindes and bodies therefore in them chieflie the roote of learning is bitter because not onely many yeres thei runne their race in studie of arte and science With care and paine also with greuous chastisment and correcciō thei are compelled by their teachers and Maisters to apprehende the same the parentes no lesse dreaded in the educaciō of their children in chastisement and correction so that by all meanes the foundacion and roote of all learnyng in what sort so euer it is is at the firste vnpleasaunte sower and vnsauerie To folowe the times and seasons appoincted for the same is moste painfull and in these painfull yeres other greate pleasures as the frailtie of youth and the imbecilitie of nature iudgeth dooeth passe by but in miserable state is that childe and vnfortunate that passeth the flower of his youth and tender yeres instructed with no arte or Science whiche in tyme to come shalbe the onelie state helpe the piller to beare of the sore bront necessitie and calamities of life Herein the noble Romaines laied the sure foundacion of their mightie dominion in the descrite prouidente and politike educacion of children to whom the Grecians gaue that necessarie bulwarke and faundacion to set vp all vertue all arte and science In Grece no man was knowen to liue in that common wealth but that his arte and science gaue manifest probacion and testimonie how and after what sorte he liued The Romaines in like sorte the sworde and aucthoritie of the Magistrate executyng the same did put forthe and draw to the attainment of learnyng art or science all youth hauyng maturitie and ripenesse to it and why because that in a common wealth where the parentes are vndescrete and foolishe as in all common wealthes there are not a fewe but many thei not ponderyng the state of the tyme to come bringing vp their children without all ciuilitie vnframed to vertue ignoraunt of all arte and science the children of their owne nature vnbrideled vntaught wilfull and heddie doe run with free passage to all wickednes thei fall into al kinde of follie oppressed with all kinde of calamitie miserie and vnfortunate chaunces whiche happen in this life Nothyng doeth soner pulle doune a kyngdome or common wealthe then the euill and leude educacion of youth to whom neither substaunce wealth riches nor possessions doe descende from their auncestours and parentes who also of themselues wāt all art science and meanes to maintain them to liue who of themselues are not able to get relief for onely by this meanes life is maintained wealth and riches ar possessed to many greate siegniorics landes and ample possessions left by their parentes and line of auncetours haue by lacke of vertuous educacion been brought to naught thei fell into extreme miserie pouertie and wantyng learnyng or wealth to maintaine their state and delicate life thei haue robbed spoiled murthered to liue at their owne will But then as rotten dedde and putride members frō the common wealth thei are cutte of by the sworde and aucthoritie of the Magistrate What kyngdome was more mightie and strong then the kyngdome of Lidia whiche by no other meanes was brought to rume and destruccion but by idlenes in that thei were kepte from all vertuous exercise from the studie of artes and sciences so longe as thei meditated and liued in the schoole of vertuous life no nacion was hable to ouerthrowe them of themselues thei were prone and readie to practise all excellencie But Cyrus the kyng of Persians by no other meanes was able to bring them weaker He toke from thē al furtherance to artes destroied all occupaciōs of vertue whervpon by commaundemēt and terrour wer driuen to practise the vaine and pestiferous practise of Cardes and Dice Harlottes then schooled them and all vnhoneste pastyme nurtered them Tauernes an quaffyng houses was their accustomed and moste frequented vse of occupacion by this meanes their nobilitie and strengthe was decaied and kyngdome made thrall Ill educacion or idlenes is no small vice or euill when so mightie a prince hauyng so large dominions whō all the Easte serued and obaied Whose regimente and gouernemente was so infinite that as Zenophon saieth tyme would rather want then matter to speake of his mightie and large gouernement how many nacions how diuerse people and valiaunte nacions were in subieccion to hym If this mightie Prince with all his power and populous nacions was not hable to giue the ouerthrowe to the kyngdome of Lidia but by ill educacion not by marciall attēptes sworde or battaill but by giuyng them scope and libertie to dooe as he would No doubt but that Cyrus sawe by the like example of other kyngdomes this onelie pollicie to bee a ruine of that kyngdome Pythagoras the famous and godlie Philosopher saued the kyngdome and people of Crotona thei leauyng all studie of arte vertue and science This people of Crotona was ouercome of the people of Locrus thei left all exercise of vertue neclectyng the feates of chiualrie whervpō Pythagoras hauyng the profitable and godlie lawes of Lycurgus which he brought from Lacedemonia and the lawes of Minos kyng of Creta came to the people of Crotona and by his godlie teachyng and Philosophie reuoked brought backe the people giuen ouer to the neglectyng of all vertue declaryng to them the nobilitie and excellencie thereof he liuely set foorthe the beastlinesse of vice Pithagoras recited to them the fall and ruine of many regions and mightie kingdomes whiche tooke after those vices Idlenes beyng forsaken vertue embrased and good occupacions practised the kyngdome and people grewe mightie Emong the godlie lawes of Lycurgus Lycurgus omitted not to ordaine Lawes for
emploied studie therein Iulius Cesar the Emperour commendeth this Poete for his singularitie his commendacion giueth ample argument in this singulare sentence whiche preferreth a Monarchie aboue all states of common wealthes or kyngdome ¶ The exposicion HOmere the Poete signified by this one sentence no kyngdome or common wealthe can prospere or florishe to continue where many holde gouernement as kynges For the mindes of many rulers and princes doe moste affecte a priuate wealthe commoditie and glorie and where many doe beare soche swaie and dominion the common wealth can not be good For thei priuatly to theim selues doe beare that regiment and alwaie with the slaughter of many do seke to attain and clime to the whole gouermeÌ„t ¶ The cause MAny occasions dooe rise whereby many princes and gouernours in a common wealth be diuerslie affected so that the gouernmeÌ„t of many can not prosper For bothe in quiete state their counsailes must bee diuerse and vncertaine and where thei so differ the kyngdome standeth in great ieopardy and daunger Isocrates intreatyng of a Monarchie sheweth that the common wealth of Athenes whiche detested and refused that forme and state after the ruine and fall of their citee beyng vnder the thraldome of the LacedemoniaÌ„s bothe in their externall chiualrie and seates bothe by sea and by lande and also in regimente otherwise their citee grewe mightie and state stedfast The Carthagineans also gouerned by one had their gonernment stedfaste and kyngdome totall who in puisaunte actes might compare with the noble Romaines As the obedience to one ruler and chief gouernour sekyng a common wealth is in the hartes of the subiectes feruent and marueilous with loue embraced â—â— the Maiestie of hym is dreade with loue serued and with sincere barte and fidelitie obeied his maners folowed his lawes imitated Many gouernours bearyng regiment as their maners be diuers and fashion of life euen so the people bee like affected to the diuersitie of diuers princes And if we weigh the reuolucion of the heauens and the marueiles of God therein the maker of the same who beyng one God ruleth heauen and yearth and all thynges coÌ„tained in the same The heauen also adorned with many a starre and cleare light haue but one Sunne to gouerne theÌ„ who being of a singulare vertue aboue the rest by his vertue and power giueth vertue to the reste Also in small thynges the Ante and the Bee who for prouidence and wisedome at moche commended haue as it were a common wealth and a king to gouerne theÌ„ so in all thinges as a confusion the state of many kings is abhorred in gouernmeÌ„t After the death of Constantinus the greate Constancius his sonne was made Emperour and Licinius with him partaker in felowship of the Empire But forthwith what blood was shed in Italie with all crueltie vntill Constancius had slaine Licinius partaker of the Empire and Marabodius was slaine also whom Licinius did associate with hym in the gouernment So moche princes and chief gouernours doe hate equalitie or felowship in kingdomes After the same sort in this mightie Monarchie of Rome diuerse haue attempted at one and sondrie tymes to beare the scepter and regiment therein but that mightie Monarchie could not suffer but one gouernor The kyngdome of Thebes was in miserable state the twoo sonnes of Dedipus Eteocles and Polunices striuing bothe to be Monarche and onely kyng The kyngdome of Assiria whiche was the golden kyngdome and the first Monarchie hauyng 36. kynges by succession continued 1239. yeres this kyngdome for all nobilitie and roialnes excelled and all in a Monarchie The kyngdome of the Medes in a Monarchie florished in wealthe and glorie and all felicitie who in dominion had gouernmente 300. lackyng 8. yeres After that the monarchie of the Medes ceased the PersiaÌ„ people rose mightie bothe in people and Princes and continued in that state 236 and 7 monethes Macedonia rose from a base and meane people to beare the whole regiment and power ouer all kingdomes So God disposeth the state and seate of princes ouerthrowyng often tymes mightier kyngdomes at his will the continuaunce of this Monarchie was 157. and eight monethes ten kynges linealie descendyng Asia and Siria was gouerned by one succedyng in a sole gouernement Nicanor gouerned Siria 32. yeres In the other Antigonus raigned Demetrius Poliorchetes one yere Antiochus Soter also the scepter of gouernment left to the succession of an other then Antiochus Soter ruled all Asia and Siria hauyng 16. kinges whiche in a monarchie coÌ„tinued 189. yeres The Egipcians had famous wise and noble princes whose kyngdome and large deminion in all felicitée prospered whiche was in the tyme of Ninus the first king of the AssiriaÌ„s who hauing 10 â–ª princes one by one succedyng Cleopatra their Quéene gouerning stoode in a monarchie 288. This one thyng sheweth that kinde of gouernmente to bee roiall and moste famous not onely for the felicitée and glory therof but also for the permanent and stedfast state thereof Aristotle and Plato setteth forthe thother formes of gouernmeÌ„t But in all those no long coÌ„tinuaunce of felicitee nor of happy state can appere in them as for the contrarie to a Monarchie is tirannis pestiferous and to be detested where one man gouerneth to his priuate gaine pillyng and polyng his subiectes murderyng with all crueltie neither Lawe nor reason leadyng thereto but will bearyng regiment ouer lawe Iustice and equitee whiche princes often tymes see not How the wilfull rashenes or tirannicall minde doeth abase them and make them though in vtter porte the same princes yet in verie déede thei bee thrall and slaue to beastlie affeccion Nothyng dooeth so moche adorne and beautifie the seate and throne of a prince as not onely to beare dominion ouer mightie people and regions then to be lorde ouer hymself The state of a fewe pèeres or nobles to holde the chief and whole gouernment who bothe in vertue learnyng and experience dooe excelle is a goodlie state of common wealth But the profe of that common wealthe and ende sheweth and the maner of Princes who although thei be of life godlie wise graue expert and politike For these vertues or ornamentes ought to be reposed in soche noble personages thei doe marueilously chaunge and alter So honour and preeminente state puffeth theim vp and blindeth theim that euery one in the ende seeketh to climbe ouer all as hed and gouernour Shewe me one kinde of this state and forme of gouernmente whiche either longe prospered or without bloodshed and destruccion of the rest of the nobles and peres haue not caught the whole regimente Seyng that in all common wealthes and kingdomes equalitee or felowshippe will not be suffred in gouernmente for it can not bee that this forme of common wealthe maie bée good as Aristotle and Plato sheweth The ende of this gouernemente fell euer to one with a ruine of the
of any thyng declaimed or dilated in the whiche by order of art the declaimer shall procede to caste doune by force and strengthe of reason the contrarie induced In this exercise of Rhetorike those proposicions are to be subuerted whiche are not manifeste true neither it so repugnaunt from reason as that there can appere no bolde to induce a probable reason to confounde the same But soche proposicions are meete for this parte as are probable in both sides to induce probabilitie of argument to reason therupon It shall behoue you firste for the entryng of this matter to adde a reprehension there against those whiche haue confirmed as a truthe that whiche you will confute In the same place adde the exposion and meanyng of his sentence Thirdly shew the matter to be obscure that is vncertain Incrediblie Impossible Not agreyng to any likelihode of truthe Vncomlie to be talked of Vnprofitable This exercise of Rhetorike doeth contain in it al strength of arte as who should saie all partes of Rhetorike maie copiouslie be handled in this parte called confutacion so ample a matter Tullie doeth note this parte to be ¶ The theme or proposicion of this Oracion It is not like to be true that is said of the battaill of Troie ¶ The reprchension of the aucthor and of all Poetes NOt without a cause the vanities of Poetes are to bee reproued and their forged inuencions to bee reiected in whose writynges so manifestlie are set forthe as a truthe and Chronicled to the pesteritie of ages and times soche forged matters of their Poeticall and vain wittes Who hath not heard of their monsterous lies against God thei inucntyng a genealogie of many Goddes procreated where as there is but one God This vanitie also thei haue set forthe in their monumentes and woorkes How a conspiracie was sometyme emong the Goddes and Goddes to binde the great God Iupiter How impudentlie doe thei set forthe the Goddes to bee louers of women and their adulterous luste and how thei haue transformed theimselues into diuers shapes of beastes and foules to followe after beastly luste The malice and enuie of the Goddes one to another â–ª The feigne also the heaueÌ„ to haue one God the sea an other helle an other whiche are mere vanities and false imaginacioÌ„s of their Poeticall wittes The like forged inuencion haue thei wrote of the mightie and terrible battaill bruted of Troie for a beautifull harlot susteined ten yeres In the whiche not onely men and noble peeres gaue the combate of battaile but the Goddes toke partes against Goddes and men wounded Goddes as their lies exceade all nomber because thei hee infinite so also thei passe all truthe reason and iudgemente These fewe examples of their vanities and lies doe shewe the feigned ground and aucthoritie of the reste Accordyng to the folie and supersticiousnes of those tymes thei inuented and forged folie vppon folie lye vpon lye as in the battaill of Troie thei aggrauate the dolour of the battaill by pitifull and lamentable inuencion As for the Poetes themselues Plato in his booke made vpon the administracion of a common wealth maketh theim in the nomber of those whiche are to bee banished out of all common wealthes ¶ The exposicion HOmere dooeth saie and many other Poetes that the warres of the Grecians against the Troians was for beautifull Helena and continued tenne yeres The Goddes and Goddis toke partes and all the people of Grece aided Menelaus and the kyng Agamemnon to bryng home again Helena neclecting their own countrie their wife and childreÌ„ for one womaÌ„ The Grekes inuentyng a huge and mightie horse made of Firre tree and couered with brasse as huge as a mouÌ„tain out of the whiche the Grecians by treason issuyng brought Troie to ruine ¶ The obscuritie of the matter IT semeth a matter of folie that so many people so mightle nacions should bee bewithed to raise so mightie a armie hassaroyng their liues leauyng their countrie their wiues their children for one woman Be it so that Helena passed all creatures and that Nature with beautie had induedher with all vertue and singularitie yet the Grecians would not be so foolishe that vniuersallie that would seke to caste doune their owne wealthe and moche more the common wealthe of Grece and kyngdome to stande in perill Neither is it to be thought the Grecians sekyng to aduauÌ„ce the beautie of Helena would leaue their owne state But it is like the wittes of Poetes did immagine so forged a Chronicle that the posteritie of ages followyng should rather wounder at their forged inuencion then to beleue any soche warre truly mencioned There was no soche cause seyng that the kyngdome of Grece fell by no title of succession to Helena for them to moue warre for the bringyng backe of that beutifull harlotte Helena Neither in Helena was there vertue or honestie of life to moue and exasperate the Grecians to spende so greate treasures to raise so mightie an armie on euery side What commeÌ„dacion had the Troians to aduaunce Helena and with all roialnesse to entreate her she beyng a harlotte the folie of the Grecians and the Troians is so on euery side so greate that it can not be thought soche a warre truely chronicled If violence and power had taken Helena from her housebande and not her owne will and luste caught with the adulterous loue of Paris beyng a straunger If her moderation of life had been so rare as that the like facte for her chastitie had not been in any age or common wealthe her vertues would haue giuen occasion The Princes and nobles of Grece to stomacke the matter The example of the facte would with all praise and commendacion be mencioned and celebrated to al ages Lucretia for her chastite is perpetuallie to be aduaunced whervpon the Romaines banished Tarquinius their kyng his stocke and name from Rome The rare chastite of Penelope is remainyng as a example herein So many shares laied to caste doune her vertuous loue towarde her housebande Vlisses But Vlisses made hauocke by murder on these gaie and gallante Ruâ—â—ins who in his absence sought to alienate and withdrawe the chaste harte of Penelope consumyng his substance A greater example remaineth in no age of the like chastite As for the battaile of Troie raised for Helena could wise men and the moste famous nobles of Grece So occupie their heddes and in the same bothe to hasarde their liues for a beautifull strumpet or harlot The sage and wise Nestor whom Agamemnon for wisedome preferred before the moste of the péeres of Grece neither it Vltisses wanted at the same tyme hauyng a politike and subtill hedde to withdrawe theim from so leude and foolishe a enterprise Grece wanted not beautifull creatures Nature in other had bestowed amiable faces personage and comelie behauiour For at those daies Grece thei called A chaida calligunaica that is Grece the lande of faire women The dolorous
lamentacion of the Ladies and Matronâ—â—â— Grecâ— would haue hindered soche a foolishe enterprise seyng their owne beautie neclected their honestie of life caste vp to perilles one harlot of innumerable people followed and hunted after in whom neither honestie vertue nor chastite was harbored ¶ Vncredible ALthough the folie of men is greate and the will of princes and gouernours beastlie and rashe yet by no meanes it can be so many yeres so greate folie to take roote in their hartes and that the wisedom of the GreciaÌ„s should not rather caste of as naught the beautie of Helena rather then the whole multitude the state of the Prince the welfare of the subiecte to stande in perill for the beautie of one What is beautie when a beastlie and adulterous minde is possessed Beautie without chastitie harboreth a monsterous rabelmente of vices a snare and haire to poison other Beautie in fewe yeres is not onely blemished but decated and wholie extinguished it is vncredible that the Grecians would seeke to bryng home Helena who had loste the chaste loue toward her housband beyng caught with the adulterous loue of Paris soonne to Priamus kyng of Troie The lande of Phrigia was a mightie Region the people noble puissaunte in warre the kyng for nobilitie of actes famous The Citee of Troie wherein the kyng helde his Scepter of gouernement was riche mightie and populous ruled and gouerned by the wisedome and policie of famous counsailours so that by all meanes it is vncredible without any possibilitie Thei neclectyng their owne state and kyngdoÌ„ so to preferre the beautie of one that the whole multitude of Grece thereby to perishe It is a matter vncredible in all Grece whiche for the fame of wisedome is moste celebrated emong all nacions not one wiseman at the same tyme to be therein whose couÌ„saile and politike heddes might ponder a better purpose Grece whiche was the mother and fountaine of all artes and sciences all Eloquence Philosophie wisedome flowyng from them and yet wisedome to want in their breastes Reason can not make any parswasion that any probabilitie can rise of any soche matter enterprised what could the intent be of the Grecians as concerning Menelaus In Menelaus there was no wisedom to seke and hunte after Helena or by any meanes to possesse her she beyng a harlotte her loue alienated her hart possessed with the loue of an other manne foolishlie he hopeth to possesse loue that seeketh to enioye the cloked poisoned and dissembled harte of a harlotte Grece was well ridde of a harlotte Troie harbouryng Helena In the Troians it is not to be thought that either the kyng or nobles for a harlotte would see the the people murthered their owne state the king to be in danger of ruine In the Grecians there was neither wisedome neither commendacion to pursue with a maine hoste with a greate Nauie of Shippes to bryng backe againe a harlotte whose enterprise rather might better bee borne to banishe exile soche a beastlie disposed persone The Troians mighte well scorne the Grecians if that the possession of a beautifull moste amiable and minsyng harlotte was of soche valour estimacion and price with theim not onely the beautie of all other to bee reiected But moste of all the vertuous life and chastitie of all their matrons and honourable Ladies to bee caste of as naught Grece that had the name of all wisedome of all learnyng and singularitie might rather worthelie bee called a harbouryng place of harlottes a Stewe and vpholder of whoredome and all vncleanes Wherefore these absurdities ought to bee remoned from the minde and cogitacion of all menne that should worthelie ponder the state of Grece Troie of like sorte to bee a kyngdome and common wealthe of all vice whoredome in soche price with the kyng and people that moste fortunate should the harlotte bee and the adulterour in soche a common wealthe that for adulterous loue putteth rather all their state to hasarde and perill for the maintenaunce of beastlie loue brutishe societie moste in price with soche a 〈◊〉 chastitie and moderacion of life abandoned and caste of ¶ Vnpossible and not agreyng IF wee weigh naturall affeccion it can not bee that the Grecians so moche abhorring froÌ„ nature should cast of the naturall loue of their wifes their children and countrie to bryng home againe by slaughter of infinite people soche an one as had lefte honestie and chaste loue of her housbande For what praise can redounde to the Grecians by warre to bryng home Helena though she of all creatures was moste beautifull beyng a harlotte followyng the bridell and will of an other man Maie shame or commendacion riseto the Troians can wisedome counsaile or grauitie defende the adulterous luste of Priamus soonne yea could Priamus so loue Helena for Paris his sonnes sake as that he had rather venter the ruine and destruccion of his citee and the falle of his people the murder and ruine of his children and wife for the beautie of one For what is beautie where honestie and vertue lacketh it is an vncomply matter though the Poetes so faigne it not onely that in heauen a contencioÌ„ should fall emong the Goddises of their beautie or that Iupiter of whom thei make an ignoraunt God to chuse Paris the kynges sonne of Troic chief arbitratour Iudge of that matter to whoÌ„ he should giue the goldeÌ„ Apell to her beautie as chief of al other was ascribed these thynges are vndecent to thinke of the Goddeses and moste of all to thinke there is more Goddes then one And euen as these are vanities and forged imaginacions of the Goddes so of the hattaile ¶ Vncomelie and vnprofitable THE daunger of many people doeth shewe that no soche thyng should happen either of the Grecians or of the Troians for it is a matter dissonaunt froÌ„ all truthe that thei should so moche neclecte the quiete state and prosperous renoume of their kyngdome in all tymes and ages since the firste can stitucion of all Monarchies and kyngdomes Who euer harde soche a forged matter to be Chronicled and set forthe Or who can giue credite to soche warre to be enterprised of so small a matter to leaue the state of waightier thynges for one woman All the women of that countrie to stande in perill the slaughter of their deare housbandes the violent murder of their children to insue Therefore the wilfulnesse of people and princes are the cause of the falle and destruccion of many mightie kyngdomes and Empires The fall of Grece ensued when the chief citees Athenes and Lacedemonis tooke partes and did consederate diuers citees to them to assiste theim and aide theim in battaile onely ambicion and desire of glorie moued bothe the Athenians and Lacedemonians froÌ„ concorde and vnitie by whiche meanes the power glory and streÌ„gth of all kingdomes falleth Ambicion was the cause that mightie Pompey
pollicie soche a one was Epaminundas to his enemies and coūtrée ¶ The comparison NEither Hector of Troie nor Achilles of Grece might bee compared with Epaminundas Numa Pompilius was not more godlie Adriane the Emperour of Roome no better learned nor Galba the Emperour more valiaunte Nerua no more temperate nor Traianus more noble neither Cocles nor Decius Scipionor Marcus Regulus did more valiauntly in the defence of their countrie soche a one was this Epaminundas ¶ The conclusion OF many thynges these fewe are recited but if his whole life and vertues wer worthely handeled fewe would beleue soche a rare gouernour so vertuous a Prince so hardie and valiaunte a capitaine to haue remained in no age ¶ The parte of Rhetorike called dispraise THis parte of Rhetorike which is called dispraise is a suuectiue Oracion made againste the life of any man This part of Rhetorike is contrary to that whiche is before set called laus that is to saie praise and by contrary notes procedeth for the Oratour or declaimer to entreate vpō This parte of Rhetorike is called of the Grekes Psogos In praise we extoll the persone First by his countrée Then by his auncestours and parentes In the third place by his education and institucion Then in the fowerth place of his actes in life In the fifte place vse a comparison comparyng the persone with other whiche are more inferiour Then the conclusion Now in dispraise contrarily we doe procede Firste in the dispraise of his countrée Of his auncetours and parentes His educacion is dispraised Then his actes and deedes of life Also in your comparison with other dispraise hym Then in the laste place adde the conclusion All thynges that maie be praised maie be dispraised ¶ The dispraise of Nero. AS vertue meriteth commendacion and immortall renoume for the nobilitée and excellencie reposed in it so ougle vices for the deformitée of them are in mynd to be abhorred and detested and with all diligence counsaile and wisedome aucided As pestiferous poison extinguisheth with his corrupcion and nautinesse the good and absolute nature of all thinges so vice for his pestiferous nature putteth out vertue and rooteth out with his force all singularitée For vice and vertue are so of nature contrary as fire and water the violence of the one expelleth the other for in the mansion of vertue vice at one tyme harboreth not neither vertue with vice can be consociate or vnited for vertue is a singuler meane or Mediocrite in any good enterprise or facte with order and reason finished Whose acte in life doeth repugne order and reason disseuered from all Mediocrite soche do leaue iustice equitée wisedome temperaunce fortitude magnanimitée and al other vertues bothe of minde and body onely by vertues life men shewe theimselues as chief creatures of God with reason as a moste principall gifte beautified and decorated In other giftes man is farre inferiour to beastes both in strength of bodie in celeritée and swiftnesse of foote in labour in industrie in sense nothyng to bee compared to beastes with beastes as a peculier and proper thyng wee haue our bodie of the yearth but our minde whiche for his diuinitée passeth all thynges immortall maketh vs as gods emōg other creatures The bodie therefore as a aliaunt and forain enemie beyng made of a moste base moste vile and corruptible nature repugneth the mynde This is the cause that wickednesse taketh soche a hedde and that the horrible facte and enterprise of the wicked burste out in that reason exiled and remoued from the minde the ougle perturbacions of the minde haue their regiment power and dominiō and where soche state of gouernemente is in any one bodie in priuate and domesticalle causes in forraine and publike affaires in kyngdome and cōmon wealthe Vertue fadeth and decaieth and vice onely beareth the swaie Lawe is ordered by luste and their order is will soche was the tyme and gouernment of this wicked Nero. ¶ Of his countres NEro was a Romaine borne though in gouernement he was wicked yet his coūtrée was famous and noble for the Romaines wer lordes and heddes ouer all the worlde The vttermoste Indians the Ethiopes the Persians feared the maiestie and aucthoritée of the Romaines From Romulus who was the firste founder and builder of that Citee the Romaines bothe had their name of hym and grew afterward to marueilous puisaunt roialnes There was no nacion vnder the Sunne but it dreaded their Maiestie or felte their inuincible handes there hath been many mightie kyngdomes on the face of the yearth but no kyngdome was able with like successe and felicitée in their enterprise or for like famous gouernors and continuance of their state to compare with them This was and is the laste mightée Monarchie in the worlde Roome a olde aunciente citee inhabited firste of the Aborigines which came from Troie The prouidence of God so disposeth the tymes and ages of the world the state of kyngdomes by the fall of mightier kyngdomes meaner grewe to power and glorie The Carthagineans contended by prowes and magnanimitee to be lordes ouer the Romaines Carthage was a greate mightie olde auncient famous citee in the whiche valiaunte wise and pollitike gouernours helde therein regiment long warres was susteined betwene the Romaines and Carthagineans emong whom infinite people and many noble péeres fell in the duste Fortune and happie successe fell to the Romaines the people of Carthage vāquished and prostrate to the grounde Scipio the noble Consull beyng at the destruccion of it seeyng with his iye Carthage by fire brunte to ashes saied Talis exitus aliquando erit Rome euē as of Carthage like shall the destruccion of Rome bee as for continuaunce of the Romaine state of their glorie power and worthie successe no nacion vnder the Sunne can compare with theim soche was the state of Rome wherein wicked Nero raigned ¶ Of his anncestours DOmitianus Nero the sonne of Domitius Enobarbus Agrippina was his mothers name this Agrippina was Empresse of Rome wife to Claudius Tiberius the daughter of his brother Germanicus This Agrippina the Chronicle noteth her to be indued with al mischief and crucltée For Tiberius her housbande hauyng by his firste wife children thei were murthered by her because she might thei beyng murthered with more facilitée further the Empire to her soonnes handes many treasons conspired against them oftentimes Agrippina poisoned her husbande then Nero succeded ¶ Of his educacion SEneca the famous Poete Philosopher was scholemaister to Nero who brought hym vp in all nobilitie of learnyng mete for his state though that Nero was wickedlie of nature disposed as his beastlie gouernement sheweth yet wickednes in him was by the seueritie of Seneca and his castigacion depressed for Traianus Emperour of Rome would saie as concernyng Nero for the space of fiue yeres no Prince was like to hym for good gouernement after fiue yeres losely and dissolutly he gouerned ¶ Of his actes THis
there bee then in a vnitée of life the housebande to liue with his wife The beastes in their kinde doe condemne mannes brutishe affections herein there is no facte that sheweth a man or woman more like to beastes then whoredome ¶ The obieccion But you will saie many calamitées happeneth in mariage ¶ The solucion Fortunne herein is to bee blamed and not mariage if any misfortune happeneth to manne therein the felicitée and quiet state that any man enioieth thereby The discrete eleccion is therein approued in the state itself nothyng can bee founde worthie reprehension if a man will impute the bitter stormes of life to mariage whatseouer happeneth our owne reason maie iudge contrary Place before thy iyes all the affaires and occupacions of this life bee all tymes pleasaunte to the housebande man many a colde storme perceth his bodie and many a mightie tempeste dooeth moiest hym and greue hym Sommer is not the tyme to caste his seede in the grounde or implowyng to occupie hymself shall he therfore leaue his housebandrie or doeth he rather neclecte it his diligence therein is the more and labour more industrious From whence commeth the tempeste the stormes and bitter seasons From his house from his wife from his art and occupacion all those thynges by violence are expelled from the aire No state of life is able to giue riches healthe or securitée to his state There hath been princes and Emperours nedie full of infirmitées and sickenes in daungerous state oppressed with many calamitées was their dignitie and office the cause of their calamitées No God tempreth the state of euery one how and after what sorte to possesse the same Some are fulle fortunate in Mariage if Mariage were of necessitée the cause then all should be onely fortunate or onely vnfortunate then in mariage is not the cause if in marige the maners doe disagrée and loue is extinguished blame thyn own maners thy choise and thy eleccion The Mariner that passeth the daungerous Seas and by dreadfull tempestes and huffyng waues is alwaies in perille and many often tymes drouned The Marchaunt lesyng his marchaundise by shipwrack shall thei impute the daunger and losse to their wife at home Or doe the Mariners leaue for all these tempestes their arte of Nauigacion Or the owner breake his shippe Or the Marchaunt proue no aduentures because of his losse and many haue been of this sort drouned No. But more earnestlie thei dooe assaie theim selues thereto Because warre spoileth many a man of his life doe Princes therefore leaue to moue armour againste the enemie but because who so in the defence of his countrée dieth manfullie is worthelie aduaunced and in perpetuall memorie no daunger is refused because euill thynges happeneth in life is the state of good thynges to be auoided and eschued Were it not vnsemelie if housebande men for no storme or tempeste doe leaue their state their laborious and rough coÌ„dition of life nor the shipman his arte of Nauigacion because he seeth many drouned venteryng thesame and he hymself often tymes in daunger nor the soldiour or capitain their perilous condicion of life doe leaue for daunger Should Mariage bée lesse sette by because alwaies riches and quietnes happeneth not ¶ The obieccion The losse of a good wife and children is a greate grefe to any man and a cause to blame mariage ¶ The aunswere You your self are borne to dye thei also by death obaye likewise Nature this is the Lawe of Nature ones to dye whiche you seeme to blame Thou the death of thy wife and childreÌ„ is not the blame in Mariage What is the cause that you dye Natures imbecillitie and weakenes then in theim Mariage is not the cause Nature in her firste molde hath so framed all wherefore doe you ascribe that to mariage that is founde faultée in Nature Thei die that marie not what infirmitie daunger or peril happeneth to any in mariage as sharpe and perilous doe molest and torment the other If any manne by death leaseth aright honeste wife clothed with all chastites demurenesse sobrietée and also with all singularitée of vertue adorned he hath losse a rare treasure a iewell of price not in all to bee sounde Did you loue your wife that was so goodlie so honeste and vertuous there was greate cause saie you for her vertuous sake God hath chosen her froÌ„ a mortall creature to immortalitée with her it can not bee better There is no cause why you should blame mariage for the losse of her or of thy children or for the losse of thee she to blame mariage If for thy owne sake this sorowe bee Estseipsum amantis non amici it is then of a self loue to thy self not for her cause for I muste aunswere as Lelius did to Aâ—â—ricanus Cumea optime esseactuÌ„ quis neget quid est quod no assecuta est immortalitatem Who can deny saieth he but that with her it can not bee better What is it that she hath not attained Immortalitée She was vertuous chaiste sober descrete of behauiour womanlie for her vertues beloued Well now she hath immortalitée and blesse are you sorie thereat that were enuious Did you loue her liuyng loue her also departed her vertuous shewed vnto vs her immortalitee ¶ The obieccion There is a care for the wife and children if the housband dye before theim ¶ The aunswere If thou leaue them riches hope not that thy riches shal be a staie to theim though thei bee innumerable a wretched a miserable executour wasteth and destroieth oftentymes the fruictes of thy trauaile who reioyseth more of thy death then of thy life Or thy childrens father in Lawe shall spoile and spende with a merie harte that whiche thou haste long tâ—rauailed for Staie thy self and thyne vpon Gods prouidence for it hath been seen many a riche widowe with infinite treasure lefte to her children also like porcions descendyng afterwarde bothe wife and children haue been brought to miserie and beggerlie state Otherwise poore children committed to the prouidence of God and vertuouslie brought vp and the wife in like state yet thei haue so passed their daies that thei haue rose to a goodlie state See that thy richesse bée not iniuriouslie gotten by falshode by liyng by Vsurie if it so be then Male parta male dilabuntur That is this gooddes euill gotte euill spente soche riches neuer giue déepe roote to their ofspryng That is an euill care by a iniurious care to purchase thynges and gooddes wickedlie Also mariage taketh awaie widowhed and doeth repare with a newe freshe mariage the lacke and priuacion of the other She that was by death left a widowe mariage again hath coupled her to a newe housbande and doeth restore that whiche death tooke awaie That that death dissolueth and destroieth mariage increaseth augmeÌ„teth and multiplieth Bee it so but mariage is a painfull life it forceth euery one to trauaile to vpholde and
aunciente tymes herein doe shew and the decrées of auncient elders also how horrible a thing adulterie is when thei punishe it with death Who knoweth not emōg the Israelites and in the olde lawe thei wer stoned to death Well as Magistrates are in common wealthes remoued or as times chaunge lawes also are chaunged and dissolued and as the Prouerbe is Lex vt Regio the Lawes are accordyng to the Region Afterwarde Valerius Publicola a man ascendyng to high nobilitée of honour and fame emong the Romaines gaue this Lawe Qua neminem licebat indicta causa necare By this lawe it was not lefull any manne to be put to death their cause not examined in Iudgemente this was a goodlie Lawe Then afterwarde Lawe giuers rose in the common wealth that with more facilitee tolerated that vice then wickednesse flowed adulterie not punished by death And sence that the Romaine Empire wrapped and snared with soche mischiues hath decaied in fame nobilitée and vertue Many a parte of their dominion plagued deuoured and destroied The good and godlie menne nede not to feare any Lawe godlie their life beyng in vertue and godlines nurtured The terrible sentence of a lawe forceth the good and godlie to perseuere and continue in godlines The terrible sentence of a Lawe cutteth of the wicked enterprises of pestiferous menne Vice where lawe is not to correcte will inure it self by custome as a Lawe or borne and tolerated againste a Lawe Therefore as adulterie without Iudgemente to bee punished worthie of death is vngodlie so it ought not to bee passed ouer or tolerated in any Region or common wealth as no lawe seuerely to punishe the same ¶ The contrarie AL other lawes doe differ from that rigorous lawe of Solon and Plate herein yea and though thei be vices horrible yet thei ar not determined with out the sentēce of the Magistrate and Iudge But this cruell Lawe of Solon doeth repugne all lawes stablished in all Citees and common wealthes And sithe the lawe is of hymself vniuersall with equitée giuing and tempering to all states Fonde muste that Lawe bee of Solon whiche rashely without consideracion of iudgement doeth procede no man ought in his own cause to be his own iudge or Magistrate This is argument sufficient to confounde the lawe of Solon All Lawes are repugnaunte to that because with Iudgement thei procede against vices moste pestiferous In common wealthes Theft is by lawe pronounced worthie of death whereupon also the Magistrate and Iudge determineth the matter and heareth of bothe the action of the case before he condempneth so in all other mischiues But you maie saie many mischiues riseth of adulterie Although it so be the Iudge determineth vpon Murder whiche is in like sort horrible soche also as dooe séeke to caste into perill their countrée and by treason to destroie the same Iudgemente proceadeth by determinacion of the Lawe and Iudge And so in all other wicked factes and mischiuous enterprises the Iudgement in euery cause procedeth as Lawe and right willeth from the mouthe of the Iudge he beyng a liuelie Lawe to the Lawe written The cruell Lawe of Solon is like to the phantasie and wille of a tyraunte who as phantasie and will leadeth murdereth at his pleasure whose will is alwaies a sufficient Lawe to hymself as who should saie so I wille so I commaunde my wille shall stande for a Lawe but godlie lawes doe iustlie accordyng to reason and vertue tempereth the cause of euery man No godlie Lawe maketh the accuser his owne Iudge ¶ Lawfull WHo so by Lawe is iudged and the offence proued there is no excuse in the malefactour nor suspicion seing that accordyng to lawe the fact is punished and as Demosthenes saieth twoo thynges moued the wise Elders to make Lawes that the wicked should bee hindered and cutte of from their purpose and that good men seyng by a lawe the actes of pestiferous men kepte vnder by the terrour of them are afraied to commit the like facte This was euen accordyng to lawe The terrible sentence of a law executed vpon moste wicked persones doe kepe vnder many a mischiuous enterprise whiche through the dolefull and lamentable ende of the wicked doe driue and force all other to all godlines ¶ Iuste THe accuser by Lawe and Iudge is able to defende hymself whē his cause is ended accordyng to law Vertue thereby vpholded when by order of lawe vice is condempned The malifactour hath no excuse all staie and colour remoued the accuser by iuste Lawe pleateth when the law is thereby supported and saued And herein a greate parte of Iustice is placed when the fauour of the Iudge or frendship is onely on the cause the persone neclected that is Iustice to giue to euery one his owne ¶ Profitable IT must be profitable to the whole bodie of the common wealthe when by the Iustice of godlie lawes vertue is in high price aduaunced vice by the open sentence and manifeste profe conuicted the malefactour shall be knowen the sincere and godlie deliuered and from tyme to tyme maintained Lawes as thei be vniuersall so thei openlie ought to giue sentence ¶ Possible THen without lawe to procede and iudgemente of the Magistrate as Solon did in this lawe it were not possible any common wealthe to florishe therby Therefore in Iudgemente ought the cause of euery one to be pleated and examined that thereby all suspicion greuous enormitees maie be put of Vice is not therefore tolerated because for a tyme Iudgemente ceaseth but hereupon vices are more depely rooted out all people knowyng the determinacion of the lawe and the manifest sentēce of the Iudge heard A terrour ensueth to al malefactours and pestiferous men good men are incensed to all godlines whē vice by Lawe is condempned cutte of and destroied Good menne by Lawe and aucthoritée vpholded and maintained This is the state of good lawes by order to procede the cause in Iudgemente examined the facte proued vertue in any persone vpholded vice in all caste doune and defaced so there is good Lawe as Demosthenes saieth sincere Iudge and sentence inuiolable Rhetorike and Logike giuen of nature Arte furthereth nature Logike Rhetorike Logike Eloquence zeno Logike Similitude Logike Rhetorike like to the hande Rhetorike Logike and Rhetorike absolute in fewe The vertue of cioquence Demosthenes Tisias Gorgias Eschines Tullie Cato The Emperors of Rome famous in Eloquence Thusidides Corcurians Peloponesians Corinthians Lacedemonians Mituleniās Athenians Demosthenes Socrates Cato Crassus Antonius Catulus Cesar Philippe the kyng of the Macidoniās The saiyng of Philippe Demosthenes The ground of al learning what is a fable Morall Three sortes of fables i. A fable of reason ii Morall iii. Mixt. Poetes inuentours of fables Oratours vse fables Good doctrin in fables Hesiodus Ouide Demosthenes vsed fables The fable of Demosthenes of the Asse and the shadowe The contencion vpon the shadowe and the Asse Fadles well applied bee singuler