of his minde is no whit distracted but resting in securitie smileth at the worlds turbulent state Finally it is a bloud in the vain giuing life to the whole body the head of all vertues for of her selfe she may do many things but without her the rest can doo nothing rightly Fortitude is a greatnesse of mind which without furious or rash resolution feareth not to hazard it selfe in the greatest perils and with eager pursuite to hunt after honourable actions thirsting after glory not respecting the tedious difficultie of the passages therevnto to encounter wiih dangers wade through the mystic clouds of darknes willingly endure all bitternes of fortune for the safegard of the country such were Scipiones Fabij Alcibiades Hannibal c. who by their valour great prowes reached to the top of honour Neither is true Fortitude measured by the compasse of a great body nor by dooing great enterprises in respect of the huge stature but by a fierce and couragious spirit striâ—ing in a good cause the cause is all it is not the torment that maketh a Martyr but the cause for which he suffereth So that to speake properly Fortitude is that which is granted vpon good cause possible to be atchieued such true valour was in Dauid who could not abide to heare the name of God blasphemed by such a monster as Goliah therefore knowing God would aide his enterprise he relyed not vpon his owne strength but cast off all vaine glory for when matters are rightly attempted many straunge aduentures proceed euen as it were by myracle a iust honest cause maketh a man bolde hardie and venterous to striue against one of greater force as King Alexander being of small body sought hand to hand with Porrus which was a more mightie man it is not then any great person or huge Collosse that can triumph ouer a good cause The Romaine Scipio was woâ—t to say no man ought to leuie war or fight with his enemie without iust cause offred but if hee were prouoked by an iniust intrusion it booteth not to tarry til they come but intercept theÌ„ in comming for such cause giueth encouragement to set vpon them freely As when our common enemies in 88. with their Spanish braues meant to haue inuaded our Territories and came armed with instruments of tirannie to insult ouer our natioÌ„ and to bring our necks into a Spanish yoake it pleased God to abate their pride and turne their cruelties into their owne bosomes Heere was cause to make a coward valiant and the fearefull forward to fight because he was compelled to take vp weapons for his owne safetie and he that will not defend himselfe is not worthy to liue in peace especially when his wife children father mother brothers sisters yea the whole Countrey is in daunger â—o be torne and rent in peeces by sauage and mercilesse tyrants When it is for a common defence is not he a wretch that will sit still and see his mothers throate cut What if he dye in the conflict were he not better to dye honourably like a Martyr and souldier of Christ then liue to see the ruine and desolation of his whole Countrey wherefore no man ought to stagger or saint at a good cause but bee the more imboldened because it giueth good encouragement We may call to mind and we cannot remember it too often the ouerthrowe they then had not simply in respect of our owne prowesse but by the assistance of a higher power we being but a poore handfull to their great multitude they came like Briarius threatning the heauens and casting mountaines at Iupiter yet theyr glorious tytle of inuincible was confounded to theyr shame and our glory this we may thinke vpon with reuerence but ascribe the honour of the victorie to him by whose meanes it was wrought If warre be leuied without cause or if one man shall be so foole-hardie to attempt things impossible and presume on his strength to assaile a greatmany beyond hope to vanquish it is no maruaile if the successe fall out against his desire for Ne Herculus contra duos For Hercules himselfe held it oddes to deale with two but when for the common good of the Countrey as I said before any man shall vndertake some hard aduenture to free it of some imminent perill if sent by imperiall commaund though he loose his life in the action yet for that hee is indued with true Fortitude doth winne immortalitie as the three Romans called Decij who for the safegard of their Countrey auowed to dye and with resolute and vndaunted courages pierced the host of their enemies and though they lost their liues yet by their stout example gaue such audacitie and courage to the rest of the Romaines by prouoking them forward as they easily obtained the victorie which was thought to be vnconquerable I might speake the like of Codrus Marcarius Curtius Marcus and Regulus which dyed most willingly for their Countrey I might recite here also a Catalogue of those valorous English Knights that haue honourably yeelded vp their liues in the field of Mars for their Prince and Countrey but that I intend not now to make an Apologie of this Vertue but referre it to a Treatise of Iustice which I suppose shall succeed this worke especially vpon the improuement of this God giuing mee time and quietnesse of minde to performe that This manlinesse is a Vertue that fighteth in defence of equitie and iust dealing but we neuer finde that any man got true praise and honour by rash furie for nothing is honest that is voyd of Iustice He that is hastie to surprise a man soone moued to impatiencie without iust cause cause doth rather merit the name of leaud boldnesse then manly courage because this Vertue standeth in honest deeds and not in vaine glory and being truly carried serueth as a hammer to beate downe those Vices that oppose themselues to the beautie of Vertue which chiefly doth appeare when preferment doth lift a man aloâ—t by imbracing humilitie and ouercomming pride which soone creepes vpon the aduanced or if tossed in aduersitie he be vigorous and beare an inuincible courage to combat against the passion of the minde which is ready basely to decline for whatsoeuer falleth out crookedly is turned to the better part she inableth to vndergoe damage to beare iniurie to be patient and not to stâ—rre but for a common good or his priuate defence when a violent intrusion is made vnto his person Many hide themselues vnder the wings of this Vertue that neuer seeke to apprehend her aright and would seeme valorous and magnanimous when they are but white liuerd cowards and miscreants as many of these brawlers and swashbucklers whose hot bloud once stirred cannot be cooled without reuenge and field-meetings which for euery light cause they vndertake and so violently swaid with fury that they rush forward into all desperation without reuerence of the lawes of
ought amisse to dimme his glorie For it is impossile quoth hee in so many yeares and so much opportunitie that I should neuer offend and blemish my vertue with some dishonourable action deseruing either prewarning in the beginning or reproofe in the ende and so expelled him his seruice Here is a mirrour of true honour this noble Prince cast off his Steward because he concealde his faultes amongst Christians that should be inspired with higher wisedome the contrary is daily practised the â—eruant shall be dismist for telling truth and honest minds purchase shrewde rebukes this head-strong opinion is the downe-fall of all good order for when men-pleasers and claw-backes doo leade captiuitie capâ—iue in the fetters of vanitie a multitude of honest mindes are in daunger to be seduced to imitate their course of life For as the Marriners in a shippe haue theyr eyes earnestly bent vpon the Maister that sitteth at the helme and readie at his becke to doo his will so such men as stand vp in the Common-wealth and holde the Rudder of direction in theyr handes are duly watcht and attentiuely ouerseene and according to their aime the common sort bend their course O howe riches mocke men with certaintie when nothing is more mutable and slippery with perfect happineâ—â—e when nothing is more wretched the nursâ— of pride the schoole of abuse and the guide that leades into many temptations it is much better rather to shine in Vertue then in riches And therefore our Sauiour Christ in the Gospell compâ—reth the felicitie of a rich man to an impossibilitie â—aying that it is as hard for him to climbe to heauâ—n being loaden with drosse as for a Cammell to creepe through the eye of a Needlâ— and this made the Philosophers in their humane wisedome so much despise worldly honour and vndergoe pouertie with so great patience Aâ—nacreon hauing a huge masse of money sent him by Policrates could neuer rest till he was rid of it againe his minde troubled his sleepe broken returned it againe to him that sent it saying he neuer liued in so great feare and dread all his life long as hee had done those two dayes while the mony was in his house Phoâ—â—â—n in like manner when the king had sent him a great beneuolence hee asked him that brought it what mooued his maister to send him so much mony seeing the king did not know him answered it was in respect of the great fame he heard of his vertues If that be the cause quoth he carry it backe to him againe and let him leaue me as I am and â—ot by increase of wealth to diminish my vertues Diogines refused all and craued nothing but the common benefâ—â— of the Sunne which Alexander had taken from him by standing betweene him and it Plutarch reporteth that when Alexander vpon a time came into a poore barren Countrey thinking to haue made some great conquest found the inhabitants gathering rootes grasse to â—ate neither vsing force to repell and keep him backe nor any meanes to disswade him from his warlike attempt but as poore snakes were altogether busied for their bellâ—es The King considering their pouertie and vnfruitfulnesse of their countrey had pittie and compassion on their miserie and bad them aske what they would and it should incontinently be graunted Quoth they with one consent giue vs euerlasting life Why how can I giue that quoth he that am but a mortall man Then why seeke you to win the whole world as though you were immortall and should neuer dye Zenon Crates infinite were the examples of those that were rauished with the formossitie and excellent hue of Vertue that they contemned money riches pompe choosing pouertie for the pure life of perfection bearing the bitternesse of fortune with an vnconquerable courage The auntient victorious Romaines â—ought after Vertue and by their noble deedes and heroicall spirits got the palme of true honour not sparing body or goods to aduance the CoÌ„mon-wealth in so much as many of them had not wherewith to endowe theyr daughters nor which was lesse to defraye Funerall charges but what they had out of the commoÌ„ store which by their conquests they had so greatly enriched as Sâ—ipio Sylla and the great Pompâ—y for then Vertue was their chiefest riches An example we finde of a noble captaine who beeing offered a great reward by his Generall for his knighthood and valour done in seruice with this gratulation thou shalt bee paide in riches for thy valour and not in honour for Vertue hee refused the one and tooke the other counting riches not worthy to bee matched wiâ—h the dignitie of Vâ—rtue The Martyrs in all ages are much to bee admired that being indued with true fortitude did most willingly embrace their deathes and suffer their bodies to bee rent torne and cruelly burned by the persecutors for the profession of a good conscience and by theyr meeke sufferings gained perpetuall honour And although it falleth out as for the most part it doth that men indued with rare and singular vertues are vtterly forgotten and scarce noted while they liue yet beeing dead theyr fame mounts vp to heauen and is divulged and spread in the earth for the want of a good thing is then most precious when it is remooued farthest off Cato was scarce knowne while he liued but after his death was of great price and all those famous Philosophers Orators schoole-men that liued in darknesse and were so basely esteemed yet wee see by the memorie of their goodly vertues they now liue againe by being recommended from one age to an other And herehence sprung the multiplicitie of Heathen goddes I meane from the notable vertues of singular men for the foolish antiquitie honoured men as gods after their deathes which eyther were of high dignitie while they liued of great birth or had done some notable benefite for their Countrie for honour and reuerence is rehibited for some certaine cause rising of externall things framed by Vertue for honour is compounded of honestie Hâ—rmes or Mercurius was of such fame among the Aegiptians as hee was deified and made a god calling him the Messenger of Iupiter Mars a great warriour Bacchâ—â— the inuenter of wine Esculapius a Phisition Pythâ— was so reuerently thought of amongst the Barbarians for that by his singular wisedome hee had withdrawne the inhabitants from their vices that they made of his Cottage a Temple giuing him diuine honour What contumelies and strife was about the bodie of Homer when seuen Cities were at variance to possesse his corpes when he was dead Septem vrbes certant de stirpe insignis Homeri Smyrna Rhodes Colophon Salamiâ— Ios Argos Athenae Diogenes liued beggerly in contempt but after his death was honorably interred in a monument of fame so that the memorie of these sprung from the roote of Vertue and from some notable exployt which got the peoples loue who thought the applause of this worlde was no sufficient
be downe in misery yet if honest and vertuous hee is raised vp to immortall glory for the excellency of Vertue makes him shine with such a grace as hâ— may soone be eleuated to the top of true honour and cannot goe vnrewarded for his honourable seruice for hauing valiantly fought vnder the banner of so noble a matron his paie is fame in despite of death and eternall felicitie in the world to come for Vertue inableth a man to enioy the fruition of perfect happinesse and eternall life Then let a poore maâ— reioyce in affliction and patiently beare aduersitie and comforte him selfe with the hope of a better life which assuredly hee shall enioy if so be he hold out to the ende in a holy and vertuous course and for sorrow here haue ioy there and for a hellish life now a heauenly life then when those that haue their heauen here and wallow in solace ioy and carnall pleasures in this world must with Diues be tormented in endlesse flames in the world to come To what end then should a man be grieued at misery and murmur as though hee were an abiect an ouâ— cast and forlorne when there shall be a supply of his wants in aboundant measure and be crowned a king of that heauenly Ierusalem Vpon a time Solon found a poore man sitting by the sea side bewayling his miserie in great dispaire whom he comforted in this manner Brother why weep you what haue you lost is it want and pennury that nippeth you Alas for that you haue small cause for say you were in the middest of yonder great sea loaden with treasure in daunger of drowning would you not willingly lose your goods to saue your life Why thinke then you were once in like perill and haue escaped and lost but your onely goods then now pacific your selfe be content with your state Thus we see what daunger a rich man is in by the opinion of this wise Heathen Two waies are proposed and laide open to all the one inuiting to Vertue the other alluring to vice the first is combersome intricate vntraded ouergrowne and many obstacles to dismâ—y a passenger the other plaine euen beaten ouershadowed with boughes tapistred with flowers and many obiects to feed the eye now a man that lookes but only to the outward shewe will easily tread the broadest pâ—the but if heâ— perceiue that this smooth and euen way leads to a neast of Scorpions or a litter of Beares he will rather take the other though it be rugged and vnpleasant then hazard himselfe in so great a daunger The high-way that leades to pleasure is verie spatious it lyeth open like the sea many tempting motions to inuoke the mind Lamea sitting by the way gorgiously deckt the Syrens with sweete melody to intrappe the passenger if with Vlisses he bind not himselfe to the mast of prouident respect and many LyoÌ„s Beares Wolues lie in waite for their pray But the pathe leading to Vertue though it be toylesome laborious difficult a way vneasie to be trackt hard to finde craggie stonie thorny and a sweating turmoyle as the Poet describeth Nam via virtutis dextrum petit ardua callem Dificilem que additum primum spectantibus offert Sed requiem praebet fessis in vertice summo For Vertues rugged pathe requires a stout and painfull minde And daungers new are multiplied to such as will her finde But in the ende great ioy she brings c. Yet seeing hee goeth streight to his iournies ende shall arriue at the house of Fame be crowned with honor who will not vndergoe a poore labour to gaine so rich a Iewell for though the rootes of Vertue be bitter yet the fruites be sweete Againe if in things dangerous and full of perilles a man will not sticke to hazard his life â—run through fire and water abide hunger colde and willingly beare a thousaud miseries incident to long and tedious iournies to diue into the bowelles of the earth for golde traffique to Orinoque the Indians and farre remote places to feede the long desire of this short life as the Poet saith Impiger extremos currit marcator ad Indos Per mare pauperiem sugiens per saxa per igneis How ought they theÌ„ to hunt after Vertue the bright sonne of prosperitie which can raise them vp tamquam ê puluere lutâ— out of dust and claie to the high pitch of euerlasting honour But as many waies crosse the Queenes high way so Vertue is wanted and thwarted with many smoothe paths if by exact care they be not auoyded and though there be a spatious opposition an Antithesis yet no such difference at the first seemeth for long pacing breedeth content by reason the mine is nummed and brought a sleepe with such varietie of obiects as dazle the sences and fixe the opinion so firme in an ill course that he findeth himselfe enexorable to turne head and set footing in the way of Vertue Neuerthelesse though Vertue is so noble glorious honourable immortall c. that neither my dull wit rudenesse of speech or this little volume is able to expresse her infinit praises but had rather need of prompt eloquence and cunning most excellent and much leisure therevnto yet Vice is painted out with such goodly colours and so gorgiously set out with pompe that iumping with the naturall impediment a man is soone lulde a sleepe in pleasures and deluded by phantasma a dreame a shadow as it was with Calippus that dreamd he was a King and wheÌ„awooke he was a begger or the foole of Syracâ—sa who being opprest with melancholy thought all the ships that arriued in the hauen were laden with his marchandiz e so doth it mocke the imagination with flattering allurements and drawe a man by litle litle to his owne destruction O t is an amiable diuel a sweet sinne a lycorous poyson a smiling cut-throate a weeping Crokidile so that by this the minde is drawne from all celestiall contemplation and from that heauenly regard which the singularitie of that diuine sweetnesse doth require and by that meanes become carelesse negligent in the pursuit of Vertue and haue no desire to be partaker of her vtilitie and profite but are wholy circumuented and carried away by Iniustice luxurie pride couetousnesse selfe loue and such like for this fleeting ioy is a sweet delight but as the Poets faine that drinking the water Lethae breedeth forgetfulnesse so vice and pleasure makes the mind obtuse and carelesse of all holy vertues wherby the whole man is transported into all licentiousnesse And for this cause are pleasures â—ompared to the Syrins that appeare louely in sight with golden locks chirry lippes rosie cheeks c. and all that part aboue the water goodly beautifull and pleasant to beholde but the tayle hid belowe is sharpe crooked venomous that she no sooner draweth a man vnto her by a wantoÌ„ countenance but presently stings him to death for paine pleasure are two
God the law of nature loue charitie which is aboue all care of their owne saluation do arrogant to themselues glory by defacing and spoyling the Image of their Creator The sonnes of Cain thus maistred with wrathful fuâ—ie murder and dismember their bretheren and as catiues and slaues bend the will to such inhumane crueltie and so become branded to euerlasting destruction Now if all Vertue doth consist in obeying God keeping his lawes maistring wicked anger and holding concord how can that be praised which is against such a blessed assembly of vertues or how thinke they that that offence can be remitted which is abhorred detested so expresly prohibited in the sixt Commaundement men ought to liue in Christian amitie and leaue all reuenge to him who saith Vengeance is mine and I will repay it The poore Cinick when one had hit him on the eare I thought quoth he I had left one place vncouered Socrates being tolde one spake many railing and euil words of him was no whit moued thereat and being asked why he would beare so great indignitie answered if he spake truth I haue no cause to be grieued being iustly blamed if false I haue lesse cause to be angry because that which hee spake pertained not to mee O that men would learne patience â— and not so often fight and murder one an other for verball and idle quarells for now if one amongst a hundred be patient quiet will carrie coales and meekely suffer rebuke he is noted of cowardize and deuoyd of manly parts Now lastly followeth Temperance as a sad and sober Matron a prouident guide and wise Nurse awaiting that voluptuousnesse haue no preheminence in the soule of man the most glorious Vertue in any kinde of estate she ordereth the affections with continencie an enemie to lust and a mediocritic in the pleasures of the body whose office is to couâ—t nothing that may bee repented of afterwarde nor to exceede the boundes of modestie but to keepe desire vnder the yoake of reason Of the lyneaments of her perfection the whole world doth subsist and abide euen from the lowest to the highest without whom our lusts would ouerthrowe our vnderstanding and the body rebell against all good order and the habit of reason wholy suppressed for shee tempereth and keepeth in frame the whole body of man without whose aide many enemies would creepe in and infect our best parts and vtterly ruinate and cast downe the bulwarke of reason and walles of vnderstanding but hee that doth sacrifice his endeuours to so diuine an essence swimmeth safe betweene two Riuers deuoyd of daunger Extreames are euer hurtfull for if a man eate too much or too little doth it not hurt the body so is it of too immoderate labour or too much idlenesse of too much boldnesse and too much cowardnesse these extremities are vicious and euill but the meane doth temper them both No man is wise happy or any thing worth if Temperance square not out the course of his life And herein the benefite of olde age is to bee honoured for that it hath this preheminence ouer youth time hath weakened theyr affections abated their courage and stayed the intemperate blastes of vnbrideled libertie and by long experience haue gotteÌ„ a more large portioÌ„ then they whose affections being strong and discretion weake set themselues against this Vertue eclipse her brightnesse with the fogges of ignorance And for this cause haue wise men so ioyfully embraced olde age which Tully so highly applaudes in his booke De Senectute This is guided by Prudence which doth gouerne the life of man with such reason as shee is euer carefull for the welfare of the body by curbing those passions of the mind which are vehement and vnruly by her the mind is made capable of honest actions and beautifull demeanours and like a prouident gouernesse ruleth ouer concupiscence flouds of lusts which would else surround the puritie of the minde A potion to purge the soule an Antidote against pride and a valiant tryumpher ouer flaming desires not like Aetna too hotte or Caucassus too colde but is content betweene both and reioyceth in it If the bodie be not dieted with moderation it will proue a stubborne seruant to the soule vnfruitfull fit for nothing but thorny cogitations the greatest enemies to the spirituall powers that can be for the flesh pampered in delicates or kept short of her naturall needments is effeminated corrupted and weakened and many diseases be gotten which are all staid by a meane and temperate dyet and the boyling lusts of the bodie asswaged Thus farre of these Vertues more might be added if I meant to intreat of them at large but this briefe recapitulation may serue as an introduction to our following discourse Omnis virtus vna virtus absoluta All Vertues are but one simple Vertue being chained and linked so neer together as one cannot be sundred from the other without disparagement of the whole Fortitude is a noble Vertue but if destitute of Iustice shee is hurtfull to the good if Temporance keepe not her vnder she will turne into rage and if Prudence be absent they all fall into error There is a mutuall league a proximitie and neare acquaintance which doth conglutinate and ioyne them all in one one must haue relation to an other and follow by degrees Pietie Truth and Temperance must march before Fortitude In a word Vertue is no other but Vitium fugere hating Vice and loathing euil and we better knowe her by her contrary then by her selfe which doth make the imagination gesse at Vertue a farre off so that knowing Vice is a good grounde of Vertue whereby the inwarde powers are helde in with vnspotted simplicitie farre more better then such as cunningly seeke to knowe what Vertue is then willingly betake themselues to follow it in theyr life so that knowledge is not enough alone vnlesse it be practised by outward action for it is better to doo wisely then wisely to deuise So that in generall Vertue rightly carried comprehendeth whatsoeuer is conducing and leading to a good and holy life and hee that once hath tasted the sweetnesse of one is drawne with much desire to an other one good thing begetteth an other and taking once a deepe impression his estate is thereby preserued incorruptible without chaunge whereas if a man taketh holde on externall goods and leane to the mutabilitie of Fortune doth often stumble vpon many daungerous Rockes and fall into wretchednesse when Vertue will firmely vpholde a man in the midst of all calamitie Villius argentum est auro virtutibus â—â—râ—m Siluer is cheaper then Gold and Gold of lesse price then Vertue She is of great moment and most inestimable value although a carnall and grosse minde cannot equally deeme the price of so rare a Iewell for where ignorance doth couer the minde she is reiected and held of base esteeme as a simple peasant trampleth many wholsome hearbes vnderfoote
goods of a wise man which no force of fire can coÌ„sume nor the furie of no enemy take away In like maner an other being told his own son was dead was no whit moued at yâ— message and being told againe again he was dead why quoth he what of that I knew I begat a mortall creature and being mortall he must needs die who could beare such great cause of griefe without some shew of sorrow but such smal reckning did the wise HeatheÌ„ make of worldly losses for it is the nature of maÌ„ to relent deplore and be subiect to lamentations yet their wisedome kept it vnder the yoake of reason or who in these daies would refuse such preferment as Diâ—genes oâ— his loade of gold as Fabritius or cast his treasure into the sea as Antippus I verily suppose fewe or none would bee of that minde neither is it so needfully required Christian sorrow for worldly losses is sufferable riches and wealth to a good man are comfortable by reason he hath greateâ— means to do good for the daunger lyeth in the abuse and not simply in the vse for to a bad man they are indeede the cause of more euill because they minister more matter to his wicked and sinfull desire A man may warme him by a fire though hee burne not himselfe in it so a rich man may modâ—rately vse his riches though with them hee stoppe not vp the gappe to happinesse but the deadly hatred they bore to externall things shewed theyr loue to Vertue and the desire they had to diue into the depth of wisedome ô how they stroue about the contemplatiue and actiue life some choosing one some the other strugling who should come nearest vnder the wings of Vertue and yet for all this they laboured but in darkenesse and blinde ignorance and neuer attained to that true ioy by which the heart is exalted to immortalitie for the true and absolute Vertue is the true knowledge of GOD the way to worship him aright and true comfort in aduersitie for nothing can bee good without the soueraigne good if mâ—n bee ignorant of that all is false and theyr intentions goe awrie but the Philosophicall summum bonum rested in this namely in the quiet apprehending of reason and fashioning the outward man to ciuill obedience and could neuer possesse themselues of that heauenly felicitie vnder which all Vertue is comprehended Pouertie ought not to moue the minde with restlesse passions but to allaie the heate with contentation and pacific the vnstaied affections which will more easily be done if a man considerately call to mind how many persons in the world are in as wretched or more wofull estate then he himselfe is yet the deare children of God too but in aduersitie many lose themselues in discontentment not patiently wayting but greedily snatching not content with that they haue be it neuer so much but adding goods to goods and multiplying more to enough with neuer satisfied desire tormenting the minde with vnquiet motions and by that meanes make the freedome of life a sharpe and bitter bondage for if their life were six times so long as it may be by the inuitable course of nature yet the tenth part of that they haue were sufficient to maintain them well and honestly and declare whereto they were borne and inrich their posteritie after why should they then be so greedy and earthly minded to consume their dayes in such vnreasonable cares whereby they are neuer at rest but in continuall slauery so greatly do they feare least they should be poore and so in the midst of plentie liue in want and thus become incaple of reason and most miserable of all men for no externall thing can in themselues make a maÌ„ vnhappie if immoderate desire creep not in to breed rebellion so that still our former assertion must hold In medio concisâ—â—t virtus Vertue stands betweene two extreames in cooling the heate of desire with Temperance not in feeding the belly so much as it will hold cloathing the backe so farre as the purse will stretch and giuing scope to pleasure as though much wealth gaue much libertie for that is prodigalitie nor in pinching hoording it vp from necessary duties for that is illiberalitie ouerturneth the whole fellowship of mankind neither must a man neglect his priuat state but labour in his calling to supply his wants the meane therefore is the safest path to walke in in which whosoeuer goeth is safe from stumbling vpon extremities If Y cor as had held his medium tâ—tissâ—mum he had not so vntimely fallen or Phaeton obserued the good counsell of his father he had not bin striken with thunder but presumption arrogance casteth men healong into woe and misery So that if Temperance do not order the life and dispose our humane affaires we fall into an insatiable desire of hauing or into an vtter neglect of our own wants spending too much that vainly or sparing too much that too nigardly But as the higher we clime the lesse appearance those things seeme to haue that are vnder vs our sight being remoued from the obiect and species of things so the nearer we approch to God and frame our obedience vnto him the lesse we value these base transitory things Now if by this compendious course our mindes are abstracted drawen backward immediatly our cogitations ascend vp to heaueÌ„ as vnto the country to which we are trauelling we must not the incumber our mindes with so heauy a load as the cares of this life least they hinder vs in the pursuit to perfect blessednesse O what a burden of torments doth the couetous desire bring with it a disease like the Dropsie the more it hath the more it would thirsty as the serpent Diâ—sas neuer satisfied till it burst wanting that it hath and hath that it wanteth because the good vse of those things present are euer absent ô whither would the greedineâ—â—e of man run if Mydas golden Wish were to be had the couetous Lawier would haue the diuell and all the secular Priest be sick of the golden dropsie the Artificer Alcumize his Instruments into gold the plow man weary of his labour so that here would be Aurea atas a golden world Thus would extreame couetousnes bring a misery vpon the owners and though with Mydas they might turne any thing into gold with a touch yet should they be starued with hunger famish the bodie and robbe the soule of all true comfort For these waight alwaies on a couetous man Impietie periurie thefts rapines treasons fraud deceits and all kind of vnconscionable and mercilesse dealings Let a man then be content with his portion and not seeke to aspire vnto terrestiall honour by tearing out the bowelles of his brethren with vsurie extortion and vnconscionable brokerie For it is better to be contentedly poore then miserably rich and to surpasse in rare Vertues then in earthly treasure for albeit a man
worser then Pagans Let this great dutie therefore be considered seeing thou hast store with-hold nothing that is due is not hee a caytiffe that will see his mother dye for hunger and he hath bread to relieue her if he would why the Common-wealth is thy mother euery poore Christian is thy brother wilt thou see them famisht before thy face and not succour them hauing inough Thou hast thy wealth to that end if thou couldest see it and vse it aright Neuerthelesse we see how men of good place and reckening will hide themselues in corners liue priuately onely to keepe their purses that they may be lyable to no imposition and crowde into Cities Boroughs and priuiledge places or like nonresidents rowle vp and downe from one lodging to an other to the intent that being vncertaine where to be had their states may be vnknowne and by this meanes both ouerthrowe hospitalitie defraude the Queene and Common-wealth of necessarie duties and depopulate the countrey Is it not a token of a couctous minde that men of good possessions and faire liuings should breake vp house and soiourne onely with one or two seruants that they may hoorde vp theyr rents when they are sufficientlye able to keepe a good house themselues surely it is a signe of a base condition Furthermore many wealthy Yeomen rich Farmers that are risen vp to goods inough doo tread the same path For wheras erst when they dwelt vpon their owne they kept good houses and were no small stay to the places where they liued are eyther couetous of some vaine-glorious title of gentilitie or otherwise so miserly greedie of wealth for one of the two I know not which thrust themselues in like maner into Cities Corporations and Liberties and yet holde theyr Farmes still in their owne occupying for they haue such long armes that they claspe many great liuings And also lying vpon the aduantage take Farmes ouer their neighbours heads ten yeares before their Leases be expired And what do they with these plurified liuings but place shepheards heards vnderlings and such thred bare tenants in their stockes and that at such vnreasonable rents too that the poore snakes that dwell vnder them are driuen to weake shifts to fare hardly liue barely moyle and toyle the whole yeare to scrape vp theyr rent not sauing at the yeares ende for all theyr paines scarce the price of an old Frise Ierkin for theyr Lorde knowes better then they what profit will arise and how euery thing will fall out and if hee thriue vnder him then doth hee stretch and racke it to the vttermost till at last hee bring the whole gaine into his owne bagge and so by this means can hardly beare ordinarie charges much lesse doo workes of superrerogation being kept downe so cruelly by their greedie Land lords Now these haue not onely theyr meanes brought in vnto them by the sweat of poore mens browes and sleepe in peace and securitie when others watch and labour a great blessing if rightly weighed but will closely and cunningly seeke to shift off all duties by withdrawing them into odde corners Oh that men of such abilitie should haue such Iron rustie hearts to hide their heads shut their hands and whip deuotion from their doores doo they not seeke to subuert and weaken the state as much as they can by with-holding that part of dutie required by the lawe of nature but the greedinesse of gaine causeth vnrelenting hearts for one would possesse all alone O how are men deceiued in their owne estate that being rich are yet euer poore because opinion is neuer satisfied whereas if we onely respect nature no man can be poore Natà r a enim vt ait Philoso paucis minimisque contenta nature is content with necessitie But to bring all this to a head though some bee carried with the streame of pride some with the flouds of desire some prodigall some pinching and though the couetous man gape for more more and like hell mouth neuer satisfied yet will they hide theyr plough-sores vnder the carpet of liberalitie as now and then to giue an almes against a good time as they call it to beate downe a hard opinion intimating thereby to bee good free-hearted men when all the yeare beside they scrape and clawe it from other by the excessiue prices of theyr badde commodities and by pinching them with many vncharitable gripes and yet will they hide theyr want of loue vnder Vertue and Religion and why so because it carrieth a generall good liking of all men for although many haue no religion at all nor one sparke of a vertuous man yet for all this wil they seeme to loue and embrace it intirely because of the vnspotted simplicitie they see in the true professors thereof and that chiesly because this outward shewe is some meanes to asswage the heate of sharp reprehensions and that vnder colour of this they may liue in some good report of the common sort for if they should not hide the malice within with a shewe of holinesse without but permit the rebellion to rush forth they would be hatefull to others and disquiet theyr owne peace to hold friendship therfore with the world it is expedient for them to be hypocrites and deceiuers and therefore will they performe many Christian duties and communicate with the Saints yea and crowde to the Church doore of true deuotion and both pray and vse good exercises in their families frequent Sermons yea and ride and goe six or seuen miles to heare a good Preacher are not these good things and the very properties of a true Christian yes verily but all this is but done in pollicie to mocke the world how know you that why looke into their course of life if any vaine opportunitie be offred wil theynot follow it if the wicked call to goe will they not run will they not dice carde sweare swagger and be drunke are they not vsurers extortioners proud persons and so cold in charitie that no Christian dutie can heat their loue so it is an casie thing to see their hypocrisie if a man but cast his sight vpon their conuersation And in like manner many at the end of the yeare as a charitable worke will keepe open house and set opē their gates for al the rake-hels loose vagabounds in a countrey and fill idle bellies with their flesh-pots when the poore blind lame and sicke are faine to lye in the depth of miserie without comfort helpe or succour and to what ende is this great superfluitie forsoothe to reioyce for the blessed feast of Christmas Indeede this feaste dooth bring great cause of ioy for that beeing all lost in Adam and heires of damnation are neuerthelesse by the comming of the Messias the sonne of God who tooke on him our flesh at this time of the yeare to vndergoe the wrath of his father due to vs redeemed vs from hell and made vs inheritors of heauen here is cause of ioy
ones assoone as they are hatcht because seeing them of an other hew thinkes them of an other kind so in like maner some rich men looke aloft snuffe fume at their poore brethren and cast off all deuosion brotherly loue because seeing them humbled and brought lowe in the world iudge them vtterly vnhappie when verily they are not only of one selfe-same issue parent but also more acceptable to God in their base estate theÌ„ they in all their royaltie Is it not lamentable to see a number of poore winterstarued people lye pining in miserie which might bee relieued if it were but with the surplusage of their vaine expences and comforted with that which they wastfully consume For do but view these kinde of men and you shall see they will spare for no cost to build faire houses as I said before though they impouerish themselues for euer galleries bowling-allies walkes and whatsoeuer may bring delight to ride with great retinew to shew their pompe and maintaine their quarrels to feede idle bellies with their flesh pots that are no sooner vp but run to vaine sports but if a poore man be fallen into want or an honest cause craue some reliefe a penny is as hardly gotten from them as fire out of a flint stone or if it doth at last come it is many times more for fashion to shunne reproach then for charitie to the cause But some perhaps will say it is my owne and may I not do with mine owne what I will but t is neither so nor so for it is not thine thou art put in trust to laie it out to helpe and succour thy poore needy brother Perhaps thou wilt say againe I brought him not to beggery did I lame him did I vnparell him or did I vnhouse him wherfore then should I recompence him whom I neuer wronged Are Bees bounde to gather honey for droanes and must I keepe life in rattes and myce and such vermine as are bred by the infection of a plentious yeare Indeed they are made poore but t is because thou art rich that thereby thou mightest exercise thy loue for there shall be poore alwayes to set charitie a worke yet some are so farre from loue as they fall into barbarous cruelty that they had rather cut their throats then cherish them with beneuolence as it is recorded of a B. B. of Constance that vnder colour of giuing almes assembled all the poore in the countrey together shut them vp in a barne set fire to it and burnt them vp together counting it a worke meritorious and no doubt for so doing he was cannonized a saint by the impietie of Antichrist If one of these Bacchanalls deliuer to his steward a great summe of mony to lay out in domesticke affaires and he lauish it out in ryoting drunkennesse and leaud company will not his maister pull his coate ouer his eares brand him for a knaue and turne him out at his gates no doubt he would be as rigorous as so leaude a prancke should deserue why then how do they thinke to escape being bailiffes and stewards to the Lorde of Lordes who hath committed his treasure to them with a charge to laie it out in such mercifull workes as he hath appointed and they runne with it to the market of vanities and expend it in prodigall vses Surely it will bee a mad reckening when they shall come in with Item in Pheasants Patriges Woodcockes sawses sops delicates for the body so much Item in strange fashions and new fangles for my backe so much vpon dogges so much in vaine building so much and such like I suppose this bill of Items will bee scarce pleasing to theyr maister that hath put them in so great trust Then seeing God hath made thee rich and thy brother poore be neuer the more pust vp with pride and disdaine but studiâ— how thou mayest discharge so great a reckning as thou hast to make think this with thy self he that made me rich could haue made me poore it is in his bountie not my deseruing I do but possesse that of which an other is owner who can disinherit me when he will why then should I bragge as if it were mine owne and though my brother be poore yet peraduenture he is richer to God then I I see no difference betweene vs we are both of one moulde â—aue that I haue more chaffe and rubbish then hee which is scattered with euery gust of winde so that if hee well consider his state and expostulate with himselfe in this manner that loade of riches that is now so heauie will be more easily borne The Poets faine that Plutus the god of money is lame when he commeth but hath wings swiftly to depart signifying that as riches are long in getting so they are suddealy lost and therefore a man should be rich in charitie and poore in desire and impart the benefite to the needments and necessitie of other For as there is a diuine coherence between the members of the bodie though they haue all a distinct and peculiar office yet they all minister to the common societie so in like manner we being members of that bodie whereof Christ is the head ought to bend our actiuitie for the health welfare of the same and to beare such a mutuall coniunction and simpathie as feeling members to open the bowels of compassion on such as are in want and this onely is Vertues Common wealth Neuerthelesse there be some well disposed and very forward to all good duties in saying till it come to doing but then they winch like a gald horse ô they cannot away with charge If my abilitie saith one would answere my willingnesse I would do this and that or if I had so much wealth I would relieue the poore better they should not goe emptie handed or if I had so much wit and such means I would countenance good causes with the beautie of honor and so do they vaunt of that they would do and yet do not that they should do I demaund what good doest thou with that little thou hast thou art wise and politique or at least thou thinkest so how doest thou vse it if thou art vnfaithfull in a litle no doubt thou wouldest be so in a great deale for as he is inconfident to whom mony is deliuered vpoÌ„ trust to pale to an other doth either keep it back all or deliuer but halfe so hee that hath much or litle doth not dispose it as he oght is not worthy to be trusted with more Perhaps thou wilt say such a maÌ„ is of great wealth and he doth litle good or none at all why then should I that am of lesser value do any thing this is no excuse for thee nor cause of suspence for thou art to looke to thy owne dutie and not weaken thy owne charitie by the negligence of other men An other wil boast of that litle he doth and be the trumpe of his
when the spirituall faculties are defiled with much conuersatioÌ„ in so much that many that hold places in sacred assemblies become affected to their phrases Metaphors Allegories and such figuratiue and suparlatiue termes and so much vaine eloquence as they yeeld no fruite at all to their auditors but driue them into amazement with a multitude of Inkehorne-termes scummed from the Latin and defused phrases as they flye aboue the commoÌ„ reach when the most profitable and best affected speech is that that is most congruable and fitly applied to the intendment vnderstanding of the hearers by familiar and ordinarie termes not sophisticall darke and obscure nor too base and barbarous but such as are animated by their present abillitie to speake more then other men and be addicted to affectation haue commonly a dearth of iudgement sildome edifie but gallop ouer prophane writers to shewe theyr vaine reading Demosthenes beeing called to declaime against the rude multitude that had assembled themselues in the Forum of Athens answered he was not yet readie if he that had Facacia ingenij the very soule of wit durst not speak in a serious matter without preparing himselfe before how caÌ„ such that come far short of him in promptnes of naturall wisdome presume to handle holy things so rashly with humane learning for it is an impudent boldnesse for a man to take vpon him to teach others that which he before hath not bene taught but I may speake as Tully spake of the Orators of Rome Sed tamen videmus quibus extinctus Oratoribus quam in paucis spes quanto in paâ—cioribus facult as quam in multis sit audacia We see saith he what noble Orators are put out of the way and how in fewe a hope remaineth in fewer a skill but in many a boldnesse that dare set vpon any thing To returne doo not these idle pernicious bookes poyson the well disposed manners of youth and macerate and kill the seedes of Vertue that begin to bloome for doo they not vse more vaine eloquence then confidence in matters of wisedome So that all that which they do is but to make a mutinie Men need not sowe for weedes for they growe fast inough so we are polluted inough by kinde though we be not more defiled by custome thus do they proceed like cankers to eate off the tender buddes Neither do they want some Mecenas to Patronize their witlesse workes and to haue some applause bend the scope of theyr argument to fit their dispositions yea and many times thrust their dedications vpon men of graue and sober carriage who will not sticke to recompence their idle labours Now if the principall scope of all our actions and counsels ought to be to some good ende and that it must needs passe as a Maxime that nothing can be good but that which moueth to Vertue theÌ„ it must coÌ„sequeÌ„tly follow that all prophane and lasciuious Poems are as an infectious aire that brings a generall plague because they striue against honestie And if Plato sawe so great cause to shut them out of his common-wealth as noysome to the peace and tranquillitie thereof what ought our Platonists to do sith they more abound heere then euer they did there or if we had but the zealous affections of the Ephesians we would loathe the price of so great iniquitie and sacrifice them at a stake though they were of neuer so great value But happily it will be demaunded how Ladies Gentlewomen c. should spend the time and busie their heads as though idlenesse were not a vice badde inough of it self without fire to be added and as though there were not a Bible and many good bookes wherein they might be vertuously exercised Of good wits well imployed what good would ensue by setting out the praises of the immortall maiestie that giueth hands to write and wittes to inuent what matter might they not finde both honest and necessary in which they might first want words to vtter then matter worthie to be vttered especially those that are not only by their outward felicitie freed from troubles and perturbation of minde imbracing content in the bosome of peace the nurse of Sciences but are also inabled and sufficiently gifted to publish any thing of worth ô how willing is Vertue to crowne them with honour But this contagion ought seriously to be considered by men of riper iudgement and by such as haue authoritie to suppresse the abuses for is it not lamentable that a Pamphlet discoursing nought but Paganisme should be so vendible and vertuous bookes want sale the one bought vp thicke and three fold the other lye dead for there commeth forth no sooner a foolish toye a leaud and bawdy ballad but if sung in the market by the diuels quirristers they flocke to it as crowes to a dead carkasse buying them vp as Iewels of price be they neuer so ribauld filthie or dorbellicall but bookes of Christianitie of modest argument that tenâ— to rectifie the iudgment lieth still in the Stationers hand as waste paper not so much as looked after so that by this we may plainly see what a froward generation we are fallen into where in such bookes as are most hurtfull and daungerous are most deuoutly coueted But if they would obserue the Philosophers rule to abstain from speaking fiue yeare I doubt not but in that time they would be fitted and fully established to write with sober iudgement as men of vnderstanding reason or if the Apostles rule were followed Be swift to heare and slowe to speake they would be more considerate and not runne out the course of their liues in such vnprofitable studie But touching the defence some make to approue this vaine writing it is too ridiculous and not worth an answere that they doo by this meanes polish refine our English tongue and drawe it from barbarisme into a more finer Cadence of words but those bookes that polish the toong depraue the life are dangerous and in the sentence of wise men in no case to be allowed for it were better for a man to be dumbe then by speaking to approue a wrong and accuse the innocent and better it were indeed that they had not only no learning at all but also that they had no eyes to see nor eares to heare for as it is in the Gospell it were much better for a man to goe blinde into heauen then with two eyes to be cast into hell Neither can I see but that they drawe our language from the auncient tenor by mixing it with so many straunge countries that it seemeth rather more artificiall then naturall and more baser then the common lawe which is compounded of French English and Latin c. The harsh tooting of Pans pipe was more pleasing to Mydas care then the sweet harmony of Apolloes harp but this fault was in the Iudge whose simplicitie could not distinguish them aright in like manner many are better content with vicious bookes
betweene Vice and Vertue and their affections so dull that they commonly embrace the cuill in stead of good In like maner Hippomachus hearing one of his schollers praised for his fidling bad him cease playing for he was sure there was some great errour in the fingering that hee was so applauded of the ignorant what true glory then can they iustly merit that are praised by the witlesse and braine-sicke multitude And as these copper-lace gentlemen growe rich purchase lands by adulterous Playes not fewe of them vsurers and extortioners which they exhaust out of the purses of their haunters so are they puft vp in such pride and selfe-loue as they enuie their equalles and scorne theyr inferiours Now the common haunters are for the most part the lâ—audest persons in the land apt for pilferie periurie forgerie or any rogorie the very scum rascallitie and baggage of the people theeues cut-purses shifters cousoners briefly an vncleane generation and spaune of vipers must not here be good rule where is such a broode of hell-bred creatures for a Play is like a sincke in a Towne wherevnto all the filth doth runne or a byle in the body that draweth all the ill humours vnto it For what more fitter occasion to summon all the discontented people together then Playes to attempt some execrable actioÌ„ commotions mutinies rebellioÌ„s as it hapned at WindhaÌ„ in Norff. in the time of Ed. the 6. where at a Stage Play according to a drunken custome there vsed the horrible rebellioÌ„ of Ket and his complices by a watch-word giuen brake out to the trouble of the whole kingdome and doth it not daily fall out in common experience that there is either fighting whereof ensueth murther robbing and theeuering whereof commeth hanging or spotting the soule with wickednesse that he becommeth the very sonne of Beliall and are they not growne odious to good men and ill reported of are these indifferent to bee vsed nay verily if a man loue his owne safetie he ought to withdrawe himselfe from such vaine spectacles But especially these nocturnall and night Playes at vnseasonable and vndue times more greater euils must necessarily proceed of them beeause they do not onely hide and couer the thiefe but also entice seruants out of their maisters houses wherby opportunitie is offered to loose fellowes to effect many wicked stratagems In a word as they are now vsed they corrupt good manners and set abroach the vessell of all vncleanenesse the eare is tickled with immodest speeches the minde imprinted with wanton gesture and the whole affections rauished with sinful pleasure in so much as many leaue their honest callings liue idlely and gadde to those places where the diuel displayeth his banner liuing so long vpon the spoile of other men till at last they are eaten vp by Tyborne Nay many poore pincht needie creatures that liue of almes and that haue scarce neither cloath to their backe nor foode for the belley yet will make hard shift but they will see a Play let wife children begge languish in penurie and all they can rappe and rend is little in ough to lay vpon such vanitie Neuerthelesse some will obiect they are necessarie and fit to be allowed in pollicie and why so because they are meanes to occupie idle people and keepe the worser sort from worser exercises for if Playes were not say they some would to drunkennesse some a whoring others to dice cardes riotting and such vile practises which by Playes is all preuented This proueth them as lawfull in London as the common Stewes in Rome or Venis for is this a sencible reason that of necessitie one sinne cannot be pulled downe but an other as bad or worse must be erected in stead of it it is no sound argument to dispence with one to eschew the other and so by shunning Carribdis fall vpon Scilla but how shall we spend the time as though there were no exercise to be vsed but that that leadeth to mischiefe Time flyeth away apace and therfore we are commanded to redeeme the time seeing we haue but too much when we wilfully loose and abuse it Idlenesse is a sinne great inough of it selfe though it haue no nourishment by sinfull games and sports but doubtlesse if the cause were remoued the effect would soone cease and the time bee spent in more honest endeuours and by litle and litle the lawe obserued the men would be wained from such intollerable abuses Others will belch out this blasphemie that a man may edifie as much at some Play as at a Sermon this I easily graunt if so be when he goeth to Church he leaueth his heart at home or at least it is so â—lintie that no good thing will penetrate the diuell sitting at the elbowe and eyther rockes him a sleeepe or amazeth the minde with wandring thoughts so that filling a place as a Cipher in augrime heareth a buzzing sound in his eares but is neuer truly toucht in his heart Beside the affections are not alike for at a Play the whole facultie of the minde is altogether bent on delight the eye earnestly fixed vpon the obiect euery sence busied for the time the eare narrowly waiteth to catch that that is vttered sending it to wit wit to reason reason to memorie which locketh it vp in a clozet least it slip out againe the diuell in the meane time like a quiet fellow doth not trouble the affections with strange delusions and why so because they are occupied in his worke Furthermore a man is not wearied be it neuer so tedious because they doo not onely as I say feed the eare with sweete words equally ballanced the eye with variable delight but also with great allacritie doth swiftly runne ouer in two houres space the dooings of many yeares galloping from one countrey to an other whereby the minde is drawne into expectation of the sequell and carried from one thing to an other with changeable motions that although hee were vnacquainted with the matter before yet the cunning Art hee seeth in the conueyance maketh him patiently attend the Catastrophae when as at a Lecture and holy exercise all the sences are mortified and possest with drowsinesse so that by this then we may see our corrupt nature and the sore that runneth ouer the whole body for the minde is nothing so tentible at a good instruction nor the eare so audible as at a vaine and sportiue foolerie ô how dull is the affections to the one and how prompt to the other how the tongue will itterate and repeate the one with great ioye and smoulder vp the other in drowsie melancholye Many well gouerned Common-wealths did not onely note them to bee infamous persons that acted them excluding them from offices and giuing testimonie in causes crimminall but also supplanted and beate downe Theaters and common Play-houses least any things should be imprinted in the peoples harts against honestie Licurgus banished all Players Pypers Sophisters c. Ouid for his wanton