vse fayned speach that he liuinge in this plenteous store and aboundaunce of worldly glory fealt himselfe neuerthelesse content but moued with farder desire Zeno immoderately with open mouth exclaimeth vpon this man reuilinge him as a pezant and mad man chiefly for that he cannot maister and qualifie that motion of the minde throughe the power whereof he is moued to desire infinitely then for that in the aboūdance of worldly wealth he professeth himselfe still oppressed with penury Whom for all that if you indifferently iudge you ought to pardon For put case his minde with those good thinges should rest contēted which can come to passe by no reasō For if you should powre into the mind all those good qualities that mought be procured by mans trauaile and industrie you coulde not by any meanes satisfy the vnsatiable capacity thereof But admit it satisfied yet notwithstandinge shall it be inflamed continually with the desire of immortalitye But this saieth he no wise man will desire Which hath appoincted vnto him selfe such boundes and limites that he ordereth his life by the rule of nature and not of desire As thoughe it were beesides nature to lyue euer Or as though there were any thinge more agreable to nature To proue this wherefore are we pensiue and carefull of those thinges that happen to vs after our deathes Wherefore doe we desire ofspringe and the succession of children Why do wee thinke it a worthye thinge to be commended to oure posteritye Whye are most pregnant and florishinge wittes moued with the desire of perpetuall fame and glory Assuredly this affection proceedes of no other cause then of the desire of immortality For whereas man beinge a creature endued with reason and vnderstandinge plainly and euidently seeth that that is not to be thought to appertaine to perfecte blessednes which is variable subiect to alteration knowinge also for a certainty that those thinges whiche may be lost or taken from vs are mutch disagreinge with the nature of felicity he dreadeth death and is stirred vp wyth an egree motion of the mynde and moued wyth a wonderful instincte of nature to couet the fruition of immortality And beinge yet vncertaine to attaine the same is duringe this life tossed and turmoyled hither and thyther and imployeth therto his whole study and diligence that by all meanes he possibly may he moughte preserue himselfe from vtter destruction and finall decaie Some man therefore holdeth himselfe most happy if he leaue behinde him after his death a perfecte portrayture of his owne name and one that shall be as it were himselfe in in another person Some man striueth excéedingelye by sententious sayinges and worthy monumentes of an excellent wit by noble and valiaunt Actes to purchase to himselfe continuall fame and memory Some other in erectinge great and sumptuous buildinges séeketh thereby to commende himselfe vnto posterity Which geueth a sufficient note that euen by natures instincte and fore warninge all men tremble and quake at the memory of death and then doe by all meanes sheewe their desire of perpetuity of life Therefore whereas the nature of man is such that it cannot haue on earth any longe contynuance for all kindes of estates are equally subiecte to death and the way to the graue as Horace saieth muste once be trode for this cause all men generally do apply therunto their whole diligence after death at least wise to leaue some representation or counterfaite shewe of life Howe can it therfore be gainsaide but that a creature desirous of euerlastingenes must needes bee stroken with great feare and terrour of death And seinge that no man in this life can attaine his ioye and hartes rest for how can the mind haue his contentation hauing not obteined that for the which it so mutch longeth it doth euidētly appeare that we are created to some other greater and more excellent purposes And therefore is it that oure myndes are not satisfyed wythe those good thinges that happen in this lyfe beecause all thinges here are of no estimation and streyghted into a narrow compasse in comparison of those whiche we through a secrete working and inclination of nature are prone to desire But to the knowledge of those good thinges which onely are accomted the chiefest and by all meanes possiblye to bee desired two wayes there are that may conducte vs First of all the very desire of the mynd it selfe wil open vnto vs plainly what it is then our byrth and the consideration of owr generation will more playnly shew vs what it is that we desire For we must not suppose anye other ende to bee proposed to eache thinge wee desire then that whereunto nature it selfe beynge not corrupted or depraued is bente and inclined neyther from any other fountaine ought the end of blessed life to be deryued thē frō that frō which we first borowed the beginning of lyfe FIrst therfore it is requisite to vnderstand what that appetite of desire is which is so depely imprīted in the mind of mā We se al mē for the most part do avoid as much as in thē lyeth the things that are displeasant and paynful and to desire inordinatlye that whiche maye stirre vp delectation and pleasure to make greate pryce of riches ability to be inflamed with the loue of learning the which if many through their dull and barrayn wits do not attayn yet they can do no lesse then loue and honour the learned man in so much that him whom they see furnished wyth moste excellente artes and sciences they thinke moste lyke and semblable to immortal Goddes Agayne dayly experiēce doth shewe vs that all mē are enamoured with the bewty and worthines of vertue and honesty in so much that wicked and euil disposed persons are moued and allured with the perfection thereof and beeyng taken in a trippe wexe ashamed at their offence desiring rather to be accompted honest and vertuous then leude and vngratious To conclude al mē are of that nature that they are not contented hauinge attayned one kynde of those thynges whyche are tearmed good but they would be fullye fraight with al together and cleane exempted from all feare and griefe of the mynd Agayn they immoderatly desyre to haue al those good thinges reache to the higheste degree of perfection and to haue theym continue and remayne for euer But what is this els then to desire to bee lyke vnto God in estate and conditiō For the omnipotent and diuine nature of God is suche that it aboundeth in all felicity and beyng replenyshed wyth his vnspeakable wysedome and vertue seperated from the contagion of all corruption reigneth in a most glorious kingdom blessed endles They therfore that woulde inioye the thinges that in perfectnes and principality exceede all other and woulde with an ardent desire couet an eternity and perpetuity therein wisheth hym selfe as it were to be of the numbre and companye of Heauenly sainctes What should I heere speake of the earnest zeale of religion by
of God to speake the vttermost as it were proceedinge from the nature and substaunce of God himselfe suppose notwythstandinge their felicity to be reposed in thinges transitory and subiect to chaunge and alteration It was therefore most wysely sayd of auncient Philosophers and of the Stoikes especially the beatitude and happines is nothing els but to liue a life correspondent to the law of nature But being ignorant what best did agree with the nature of man it consequently followed that they coulde not pâ—efectly knowe what did appertaine to the nature of blessed life Therefore that great ouersighte and blindenes bread mischeiuous errours and was cause of manye wicked and desperat opinons For looke vnto what opinion any man of himselfe was leudly addicted that ende and felicity he vnto himselfe appoyncted For they that knew not part of themselues to be immortall and supposed the sence of the soule to be extinguished with the body hunted after with all diligence and paine nothing els but things transitory and appertaininge to their bodily substance But they that sawe somewhat although through a miste thought not the desired ende of mans life to consist in thinges subiecte to inconstancy and mutability but rather in the qualities and ritches of the minde In this poyncte truly they sayd well But let vs vnderstand what qualities and ritches they ment If those which are borowed and deriued from no other but of God allmighty and are by his grace powred into our hartes naye remaine allwaies in God himselfe in this opinion there is no oddes betwixt them and vs But if they defend this learning the felicity consisteth in the vertues of the mind which through the study diligeÌ„ce of many are attained after this maner deme all to be chiefely in theÌ„selues herein they shew howe ignorant they are of their owne natures are fouÌ„de also most wicked and blasphemous against God him self For they seeme not to vnderstand that the soule is not of it selfe but toke his beginninge of God who referre the desired ende of all their life not to God but to their owne propre wit vnderstandinge and beinge impudente and presumptudusly mynded all their actions in their whole life which they ought to dedicate to the honour of Almighty God they coÌ„ferre and bestow vpon settinge foorth their owne fame glory If therefore true felicity and the end of our life is to be fixed in the cause and geeuer of life there is no man so blinde or selfewilled but may easelye perceiue that he is to be of vs chiefly desired as the laste ende of our actions by whose benefit aide and helpe wee came into the worlde whome through a meruaylous and exceedinge inclination of nature wee feruently desire wee entirely loue wée deseruedly reuerence worship and magnifie Let vs therefore eftsones turne and be spedilye coÌ„uerted vnto that fountaine of all good thinges that is euerlastinge can neuer be drawen dry from whence we came by whose grace we liue are preserued in our good estate For it is not to be doubted when we haue ended our life in this world we shal at leÌ„gth enioy an endles most blested so that all that restlesse desire wherwith our mindes were inflamed shal be satisfied neither shall we haue any thinge els iustly to require Wée must therefore referre all our doinges and actions to this ende that we maye at the length haue the fruition of the highest and euer liuinge god For if pleasures do in any wise appertaine to perfecte blessednes then shall we with him enioy stable and permanente pleasures and those which in no age shall decaie But if our soueraigne good rest in Sapience then at the length shall that insatiable desire of tracinge and searchinge out the truth be satisfied when all darknes and obscurity beinge taken away we shall not only contemplate beholde the perfect and true nature of each thinge but him that is Lorde and Ruler of nature it selfe And if longe life maketh vs happy that is onely to be tearmed longe life whiche is immortall and not that which through age and coÌ„tinuance of time is consumed Lastly if they iustly thinke that quietnes and security must be a part of the definition of felicity for they holde this opinion that our life is happye and blessed when we are assured of those good things wherewith it aboundeth shall longe continue If therefore without securitie wee cannot so much as vnderstand what happines is there shal we be sure to be released from all cares vexations when no terrour no sodaine motions shal disquiet vs when we shal haue the most high and mighty God the buckler of our defence the preseruer of our safety But now I wil briefly conclude knit vp those reasons which occasioned me to fall into this kind of disputacion This was set downe by vs as a grounde and principle that vertue was a certayne perfection of the mind directing vs the right way to our last chiefe desired end Againe felicity as it is declared is no where to be put but in God alone Then it foloweth by good reason that no quality or affection of the minde can be sayd vertuous except it be ascribed vnto god Wherfore if neither felicitie neyther any thing which it coÌ„teyneth may be thought fraile mutable for it were a grosse errour to thinck those thiÌ„gs happy blessed that vanish away sodainly but assuredly meÌ„ passing theyr times as they that are tossed in a trouble teÌ„pest or sea of waueriÌ„g affections no doubt men in no wise may be thought happy except they be daily by the grace fauour of God stayed vp protected Againe it is of all men confessed that vertue is the meane whereby wee are conducted ledde to felicitie and therefore that is not to be taken for a vertue that doth not ioyne vs to God and is not referred to him alone And therin onely consisteth the worthines of true vertue where all other are in no wise to be esteemed as vertues but the shadowes false counterfaytes of vertue For by what reason should we giue the name of vertue vnto that which hath not prefixed before it an end of blessednes Aristotle affirmeth that Diomedes was in no wyse puissaunte eyther shewed anye pointe of manhoode and true magnanimitie when the Grekes being put to flighte hee remayned behinde alone and had rather wyth daunger of his personne stande agaynste the force of Hector then to beare the ignomye of a Turne-backe ranne awaie I praye you whie so Was it not a noble acte and worthy of greate honour when Diomedes beinge relinquished of his friendes and countrimen himselfe alone or with a very fewe stoode to his tacklinge thinking it better to die manfully theÌ„ to liue wretchedly makinge more accoumpte of his glorye and estimation then of his safety and preseruation No doubte it was very well done quoth he but for that Diomedes in hys enterprice sought not so mutch true
labores Accipe sint loculis scrinia sacra tuis Ioannes Butterwike ET meritò Blandaee tuos tua dona libellos Qui reserant verae nobilitatis iter Vouisti egregio Comiti cui tempus in omne Debetur verae Nobilitatis honos Materia ille tui est operis Comes inclytus ille Cui semper cordi Pegasis vnda fuit Et sibi sic animos deuincit amabilis omnes Temporis vt nostri iure vocetur honos Perpetuos igitur superare laboris honores Possis tua post fata superstes eris Non video quid plus tua dent tibi secula viues Eternùm foelix pectoris arte tui Richardus VVarnefordus NOn dubito Osorij de Nobilitate libellos Tam bene materno qui facis ore loqui Quin Blandaee suo te afflauit numine totum Nobilitas studijs nobilitata tuis Ioannis VVakemani Distichon NE metuas Blandaee tuos ne blenna labores Obscuret non est blittea vena tibi Aliud â—atta solet fatuas Blateronum rodere chartas Blandaei blandum non morietur opus Thomas Newtonus MAgna est Nobilibus laus esse parentibâ—s ortum Estudijs maius stemma decusque fluit Maxima sed Pietas vera insignia laudis Vendicat haud vna concelebranda chely Qui tribus his claret titulis ter maximus ille Ter meritò foelix ter venerandus erit Percitus Aonio facundus Osorius â—estro Haec panxit calami dexteritate sui Diuite quem vena Glaucopis Athena beauit Quique ardet Clarij totus amore chori Quem iuga Parnassi lambentia vertice stellas Quem capit alati fons pede factus equi Grandisono cuius splendent monumenta cothurno Praecipuumque tenent à Cicerone locum Cuius voce loqui cupiunt si voce latina Quicquam efferre velint ipsae Heliconiades Quo tellus tanto Lusitanica iactat alumno Qui Tartessiaco condecoratur agro Romulidis Gallis Germanis notus Anglis Pannonijs Dacis atque Caledonijs Verborum phaleris Phrasibusque vberrimus omnes Aequiparat veteres exuperatque nouos Nec sapit obscurum genus aut ignobile stemma Sermo suus suamens docta Thaliasua Ille ille est nostri Phaenix Tullius â—ui Alpha disertorum dicier ille potest Numine Blandaeus Phoebaeo concitus huius Scripta Latina docet verba Britanna loqui Perspicuè nitidè succinctè Apolline dignè Cunctaque plectro agili blandisonante tuba Cuius melliflua celebratur Osorius arte Namque etiam hunc fouit Diua Minerua sinu Viuite vterque igitur foelices pergite plures Omine tam fausto scribere vterque libros Thomas Newton VVilliam Foster AS no mannes els but Caesars pen could Caesars deedes indite Who was himselfe right wel enur'de both well to doe write So no man but of noble price Nobilities actes may blase The vulgar sort of creeping wormes cannot come nie her grace How hapneth then that Blandie durst so great attempt to trie Where many are of greater birth that could not soare so hie The cause is this as I suppose loke what he wants in bloud His curteous manners learned skill and vertues maketh good When these gaie gifts of Blandies breste this Goddesse once did see Shee cher'de him on and frendly sayd thou art a trumpe for mee Let Nobles doe as thou prescribes their bloud shall neuer fall Do thou thy selfe and be assur'de thy bloud shall rise withall THE EPISTLE DEdicatorie of Hieronimus Osorius written to the most noble and vertuous Prince Lewis sonne to Emanuell king of Portugale AFter I had obtayned throughe your good meanes fauourable helpe Lewes moste renowmed PriÌ„ce to haue recourse againe vnto my accustomed exercises of studie I employed my selfe more dilligeÌ„tlye then I did before in the searche of knowledge and wysedome For in my first entrie being moued onelye wyth the instincte of nature I moderately folowed my studies wherby reaping at the length some fruite I might imparte parte thereof to the profite commoditie of my natiue country But now whereas I haue alreadie proued sufficientlye your bountefull harte and clemencie and therefore am alwayes mindfull of your honour and worthines it lyeth mee vppon to bend therunto all the force vehemeÌ„t intentioÌ„ of my minde that I may in some case seeme worthy to be reckoned of esteemed for knowledge learning Neither do I seeke herein the praise of mine own wit but that I may if not reÌ„der due thanks yet declare my greate good will and dutifull hart ready alwayes and glad to accoÌ„plish your good desire VVherfore I wil in no wyse 〈…〉 to set forth in this kinde of wryting the full meaninge of my good disposition and will bring to passe that my obseruaunce towards you shal be knowen in all places And I am fully perswaded that whatsoeuer I do in shewynge my singular loue towards you wherewith I am maruelyously inflamed it is notwithstanding in it self but smally to be accompted of But it behoueth them not to bee squemish in geuinge a small simple gift who may not throughe vvante of abilitie bestowe of greater valewe and estimation and they which in matters of greater importaunce caÌ„not stand their soueraignes in steede should not therfore by not geuing a trifle slacke their dutye towards such whom they aboue all other honour and reuerence especially whereas in euery kinde of duty and curtesie not so much the valewe of the rewarde as the bountifulnes of a true meaning minde is generally allowed of and accepted VVhereas therefore the rather to discharge my dutie towards you most noble renowmed Prince I haue taken in hand for exercise of my stile after the maner and fashion of Aristotle to dispute of many questions I thought principally to entreate of true Nobilitie And because that so high stately an argument seemed vnto mee most meete for a worthy noble personage and for that these my discourses and treatises of Nobilitie were more curiously compyled and wyth more laboured studie I determined to present theÌ„ vnto your maiestie And so muche the more readily was I induced so to do by how much the more emineÌ„tly appeared in you the glistering gleames of true and auÌ„cient 〈…〉 deserue due prayse and coÌ„mendation then there is nothing amonge men more honourable then the title name of a king of them especially which according to the will and pleasure of God vseth theyr auctoritye and iurisdiction such as were truly the predecessours from whom issueth the fountayne of your Genealogie If renowme be obteyned by vertue who is more valiaunt then you who more bountefull who more endued wyth wysedome and pollicie I omitte to speake of the great loue and amity betwixt your brother and you a king endued wyth much honour Nobilitie a iust Prince and louer of his country againe of your great curtesie towards all men lastly which is principall of the rest of your feruent and most earnest desire to set forth and aduaunce
Christian relligion But I will here stay my selfe For I thincke it not at this present meete the goodly giftes and indumeÌ„ts of your minde to set forth and describe wyth due prayse and commeÌ„dation Now therefore I am to beseech you most valiaunt and renowmed Prince that you will vouchsafe to take these my trauayles curteously and most gratiously bestow some leysure time in readiÌ„g my doings such as they are accordinge to your accustomed gentlenes and clemencie VVhich if I may vnderstaÌ„d to be fauourably receyued I shall enforce my self tâ— wade farther neyther shall I wyth any maner toyle bee wearied so that I maye be assuredly perswaded these my endeuours vnto your highnes not to be vnpleasaunt THE FIRST BOOKE of Hieronimus Osorius contayning a treatise of Nobilitie ordayned by man maintayned and established by ciuill Pollicie WHereas sondrie seditious coÌ„trouersies arise betweene them whoe haue receiued the like discipline are bounde to obserue one Lawe no one broile is founde more pestilent and hurtfull to any weale publique then that which is betwixt the Nobility and Comminaltie For this fyre brand hath so wasted many flourishing and noble Citties that the estate of the common wealth hath ben thereby miserably mangled then the which nothing can be imagined more hurtfull and poysonous to the coÌ„mon societie of man For if we call to memory what is reported in Histories of antiquitie wee shall finde no one Cittie so happely founded begonne which hath not ben shaken and rente in sonder through ciuill dissention risen betwene men of auncient Nobility the meanest sorte of the rascal and peuish people In so mutch that sometimes but very fewe had the gouernment of the whole agayne some other time the multitude hauinge violentlye excluded those fewe furiously abused the Empyre and place of maiesty Which alterations and vtter confusion of al Estates could not be without bloudye and cruell slaughter of many neither yet without the pestilent and ruthfull ouerthrowe of Noble Peeres For what is hee if he were more folish hardy then the rest which durst not attempte bouâ—olye the breach of lawes whiche durste not wickedly violate the ordinaunces of the forefathers whose conscieÌ„ce would be any thing moued if he saw the sodayn change and alteratioÌ„ of all estates if he might be perswaded therby to be aduaunced to higher estate I let to shew in this place what mischiefe and miserye this kynde of sedition betwixt the nobility and the people hath wrought wheras it is apparante that manye worthy cityes hath beene through sedicioÌ„ ciuil discord vtterly wasted confouÌ„ded For whyle the subiectes haue enterprysed to displace the rulers Magistrats as though their gouermeÌ„t were rigorous and proude on the other syde whyle their Lordes and Princes soughte with all extremitie to suppresse the outragious furye of the people there is no facte so horrible cruel and odious which hath not of both parties bene practised and hauinge coÌ„ceiued great rancker and malice against each other haue bene at such defiance that to bee reuenged they haue to the enemie be traied their common safety and peculiar liberty And for this it is the more to be merueyled at that they liue vnder one lawe and are diuersly affected so that there seemeth to bee no occasion of theire eygre strife and contentious dealinge For in thys one poincte which merueylously encreaseth mutuall loue and amity both of them accorde together that is in defendinge their country and they altogether want that which causeth great discorde and enmity in the common wealth For all displeasure and deadly debate proceadinge from enuy and malice is commonly founde amonge such as professe the same arte and are entangled with the desire of the selfe same thinges But there is no cause why men of high Estate should stomach such as are more base of viler coÌ„dicion whereas their endeuours be contrarye and they re myndes not ledde with the like affection For Noble men are inflamed with the desire of renomne and glorie but the multitude desyre not so mutch to exceed other in worship as in wealth in pompe as in power and ability Therefore whereas they stande not for the like promotioÌ„ there is no cause why they shoulde contentiouslye striue against each other especially seeinge that neither of them may attayne his purpose and desyre without eache others aide furtherance For neither may the subiects liue in safty excepte they be defended by Rulers Princes neyther may men of Honoure and highe degree maintayne their countenance withoute the people whiche liue vnder their winge iurisdiction So that the multitude is allwaies preserued through the defence and power of Nobility Likewise the Estate of Noblemen is of the People both through their trauell amplyfied and also throughe prayse and admiration exceedingely magnified Whereas therefore these both Estates should by the lawe of nature and man principally embrace the league of amitie and coÌ„corde yet notwithstandinge as it appeareth by the testymonies of aunciente wryters there hath beene no debate more spitefull and deadly neither that hath more soughte the vtter ruine and subuersion of many commoÌ„wealthes then that whiche ariseth oftentimes betwixt the Nobilitye and comminalty Wherefore so oft as I consider with my selfe so great and common misery I am somwhat perswaded that all these seditions for the moste part do proceede from the intollerable pride of suche as haue the prerogatiue of gouernment For albeit the heade of the multitude is fraighte with fury and their imaginations tendeth to owtrage madnes yet notwithstandinge whatsoeuer mischieue they imagine or take in haâ—be is to bee imputed to Rulers and Magistrates For wheras the coÌ„mon and baser sorte of men are folowers of the maÌ„ners conuersation of their Rulers and Princes no doubte the people woulde not be entangled with such lewde liberty licentious lust and wilfull desires except they sawe Noble Personages immoderately delyghted therewith. Herehence it commeth to passe that the wicked lyfe of subiects which Noble men might by the example onlye of good liuinge represse is through their loose life mutch more encreased And when the peoples mindes are poysoned with al kind of mischife riot excesse no lawes no authority no feare of punishemeÌ„t may stay their furious heady enterprices neyther any reason may perswade them but that one time or other they will desperately breake out to the vtter vndoinge of their Natiue Countrye All kinde of mischiefe therefore as from a fountaine first springeth froÌ„ the Peeres Noblemen in whose power it rested to staye such vnbridled desires both by seuerity of lawes and ordinaunces and by the good example of their innocent life I cannot but meruayle in the meane whyle what moueth many men to make so great accompte of their gentilitye that they thincke theym selues worthye of suche honoure and estimation For either Nobility by nature hath no renowne or preheminence annexed thereunto or els the greater parte of those who commonlye are tearmed Noble
of gentle bloude whose myndes are infected with manye maladies come nothinge neare to true Nobilitye For it were not to be doubted theÌ„ but if Nobility were knowen by exercisinge it selfe in some notable exploite deseruinge due prayse and commendation it would stirre vp the mindes of a greate many to embrace and loue the excellencye thereof in so mutch that all men woulde willingely obey the lawes and submit theymselues to the aucthoritye of their superiours For ther is no man which would not exceedingely bée inflamed wyth the loue of vertue and all men woulde thincke themselues moste happy and blessed to be gouerned by the wisedome and vertue of Noble Personages I haue thought it therefore must appertynent to my purpose to search out diligently the nature originall right rule and foundation of true Nobilitye the vertues whiche bee incident thâ—â—â—unto in the inquisition whereof it will eftsones appeare howe mutch it auaileth to dignity worthines what oddes there is betwixt the counterfayt and liuely image of perfecte Noblenes But whereas this name of Nobility is many and suÌ„dry wayes to be interpreted that onely will I touche whiche importeth the worthines and dignity of Noble Parentage THe first thinge that may be questioned of is to knowe whether that Nobilitye may be accompted amongest those thinges with deserue honour estimation For we may alledge many argumentes whiche maye seeme to proue that the Noblenes of byrth and worthines of Parentage may neither conteine in it selfe anye superioritye neither by any meanes to be reduced to those thinges which in theÌ„ selus are tearmed good For as mutch as apperteineth to our nature and the common course of wordly welth wée cannot conceiue what gaine may growe by this wonderfull shewe admiration of Princelye porte For as soone as we entre into this life full of lamentation and miserye we are all ruled gouerned by the same kinde of lawes neither is any man exempted and set free from an infinite heape of miseries wherewith the condition and estate of mortal men is afflicted wee therefore make our first entrie into life with blubberinge teares and bitternes of sorow wee from our natiuity are wrapped in woe and misery wée sighe in sobbes and liue in lamentation and wée in the ende dolefully draw to death through the continual affliction of mutch perturbation But so farre of from Nobility is it to be preserued from such plagues and scourges the mutch more slippery and daungerous is that estate the ende more intermedled with mischiefe and misery then any other estate of mankinde whatsoeuer For as euery vapour ascendeth more naâ—â—â—ally to the highest places euen so sicknesses murders subtill vndermininges perilles poysons and a number other intollerable plagues myschiues doe alwayes pursue theym whiche are placed in hyghest roomes But if any man ponder weyghe in his mynde the natural qualities of the body in the same truely shall he finde nothinge whye noble bloude shoulde bee preferred before base Parentage For neither is he whiche is of gentle bloude more valiant then hee which is of lowe degre neyther in his race more swyfte neyther yet in health more lusty and of greater force Nay rather the more daintily be feedeth the weaker is his body made the more apte to be troubled with extreme payne in any kynd of infirmity If then the case standeth thus that neither the fauour of fortune nor the comely feature of the bodye distinguissheth man from man and as it were by distincte offices deuideth them then no doubt the diuersity of man hys estate is knowen manifestlye by the qualities of the minde or els it is no place els where to be founde For the perfect shew of Nobility is to be seene by one of these thre vertues besides the which there is none whereby it may be perceiued But whereas wee see the pathwaye to vertue open vnto al men and that Gentlemen descendinge of honourable families geue themselues to all impietye and other of lowe and simple parentage excelleth the rest in honesty vertue and integritye of life me thinketh therefore that that Nobility which is generally so mutch aduauÌ„ced is but vayne and grounded onely vppon the vnconstancye of peoples phantasie These thinges no doubt may be obiected against the worthines of noble Parentage But yet wée must thincke it to be for some great cause that all men willingly do yelde the Souerainty to someone house and progeny so that the generall consente and agremente of all countries is to be taken for the lawe of nature Which thinge that wée may perceaue more playnly I will begin with nature her selfe VVHosoeuer therefore wyll intentiuelye behoulde the woonderfull woorcke of Nature and the degree of al liuinge creatures shal finde that euery thinge is not of like qualitye but that some one thinge in excelleÌ„cye of nature exceedeth other and some other thinge yeeldeth vnto other in estimation and dignity For so merueilously nature hath wrought in her creatures that euen as they one in forme and shape differ from a nother so they should in like manner be disposed diuersly and not endued with the like power and vertue in so mutche that some shoulde moue other bee moued some rule other willingely obey PriÌ„cipally therfore if you will more deapely ponder this matter and aduisedly waygh the gloryous hue of Heauenly constitution you shall vnderstande the partes thereof not to be of like worthines or endued with the selfe same beauty and seemelynes For it is most apparant that the Starres obserue not the some course neyther are of like proportion neyther of like operation in so mutch that by their influences wée see the one as it were to haue domynion ouer the other and to receaue of the partes more excellent and predominaÌ„t light power and vertue Further wée may find the Element of fyre whiche for the exâ—ellentcy of his nature right worthtly hath the hygher place to rule the bodies mouinge vppon the face of the Earthe whose properties are diuers and dislike eache to other To descend to the Earth and the creatures therof what needeth it to discourse howe diuersly they are disposed Are they of one nature are they all endued with the same quality and vertue Neyther is this difference to be noted in those creatures alone which are of contrary natures but also in those which are of one kynde and qualytye For trees which are of one kynde spreadeth not their braunches in like fayrenes nor euery Stede doth his carrire wtih the lyke loftines neither euery Lion is of lyke strength Finally in al the worckes of nature there is to be noted some variety and alteration of degree place and dignity This excellency of nature neuer decayeth in the thinges that be euerlastinge but in the thinges which for a time doe florishe nature most secretly throughe the quality of the parent conueigheth to posterity accordinge to the sayinge of that worthy Poete Good men and stronge by course of kinde lyke issue doe
it were ouershadowed with darkenes wherin there dwelleth sutch a one as may be tearmed a lighte of most deuine and resplendent vertue for so it should bee accoumted not barbarous but famous neither yf there were in that commonwealth a meÌ„ber neuer so exceadinge fraight with especiall vertues yet could he come foorth to light and chalenge due deserued dignity and commendation shakinge of the cloudy mistines wherewith the whole countrie was ouerwhelmed Therefore the chyefest benefite that nature can bestowe on vs is to be borne and broughte vp in a country in fame and glory the next good gifte of nature is to bringe owr descent from some noble linage and worthy parentage Themistocles his aunswere to Tymodeus Aphydneus most fitely agreeth to this matter To whom it was disdainfully obiected that he was not through his owne vertues so mutch honoured of the Lacedemonians but onely for that he was borne an Athenian Thowe hast sayde ê™ Themistocles for neyther I my selfe if I had bene borne in thy countrey Aphydnum coulde euer attayne so greate renoume and glory neither thou if Athens had bene thy countrey couldest thereby atchiue to the title of honour and dignity Which may in this manner be applyed For he which is obscurely borne and of low degrée may not throughe the worthines of any place be made noble neither any of gentle bloude shall haue yelded vnto hym estymation dewe to hys byrthe and estate in a barbarous and obscure Citty Noble men therefore haue their due honoures in their owne manour houses and country But perfecte and true nobility is not chaungeable through the alteration of place but wheresoeuer it hath his beinge and is déepely rooted and printed in mens myndes it is of all men honoured and magnified a like For what is hee amongest the Romaines at what time the estate of that renoumed Citty florished in all prowes and Nobilitye that hadde in admiration or made any accompt of the Princes of Sicilie or Bythinia On the other side the Barbarians did magnify the Romains as Gods. Therefore nobility may also be deuided in this maner The one most absolute and florishinge in al natioÌ„s the other tyed to the place from whence it first proceded This nobility therefore sheweth her selfe no farther forth then the boundes of his natiue countrey will streach rather vaynely of the people commended then deseruedlye honoured But that nobility beautified with the glory of Princely parentage euery where and amonge al men shal haue deserued reuerence This caused Helena to thincke that she beinge amonge strauÌ„ge people might vse her accustomed liberty in speakinge who in this manner vaunteth her selfe Who will as captiue coumpte or seruile her assigne who by desceÌ„t doth come from Gods and sacred lyne IT is a thinge most surely ingraffed in true nobility not to faynte for any trouble not to dispaire in any perill not to languish in any wo and greuous misery Yea if fortune froune if daunger death ensue a noble mynde will not be forgetfull So that nothinge may a like shewe a gentle and valiant harte then not to be vanquished which is seene in sorowe tryed in trouble proued in persecution Which thinge Virgill wittely noteth vnto vs where Queene Dido commendeth exceedingly thus Aeneas Forsoth I thincke ne am beguilde froÌ„ Gods descends his lyne There is no labour lost in examininge the cause why he deemed Eneas to be allyed vnto the Gods in byrth and coÌ„sanguinity See what reason he yeeldeth A bastard borne of base degree by dastardnes is knowen Nothinge might haue bene sayd more truely or with better profe For euen as patience in persecution proueth a noble nature as valiantnes in aduersity argue than vncoÌ„querable minde So truely timerousnes in terroure and daunger euidently sheeweth a man to bee base and of vile condition Nowe finisheth he the commendations and prayeses of Eneas A griefe it is to tell how he was tost by cruell fates what warres to him befell IT seemeth a thing farre passinge the reache of reason the suche a one who abode stoutlye so greate a brunt who valiaÌ„tly ouerstoode so many dangerous skirmiches to be no gentleman borne whereas he declared before that basenes of byrth linage was knowen by feare cowardlines Whereas then to return again from wheÌ„ce we haue digressed Nobility is diuersly sorted that is the one more generall absolute and principall whiche not onely receiveth his light from a countrey florishing in all vertue but taketh his ofspringe of a familye famous muche spoken of for equitye iustice and magnanimitie the force whereof may be nowhere abased deminished grounded and fixed surelye on some vnspeakable vertue The other not of such excellencie onely professed in sâ—me one particuler prouince and country where is decayed the studye of noble qualityes My meaninge therfore is to descrybe the nature of the most principal and chiefe nobilitye And to the entent that I may leaue no one parte theroâ—â—â—â—â—â—â—hed I wil speake of the original and beginninge thereof grounding my argument on some other principle VVHat time nature tooke in hande to make man to frame in him a spirit much like to the diuine nature it apeareth with what prouidente foresight iudgement she finished so hard and great an enterprice not for this cause and consideration onely that mankynd was endued with the selfe same gifts and qualities of the minde and so knit and vnited together throughe the likenes of their nature that amongest al other liuing creatures none was so fitte to keepe and maintaine society but in this also that in disposinge their affections diuersly it was broughte to passe that those whych were by nature ordeyned to liue in loue and amity should be therunto forced by necessity for wheras innumerable sorts of artes hath bene deuised to maintayne the common societye of man and no one may excell in al it was not without the prouidence and deuine decree of nature appoynted that some should seeke out the hydden secretes of scyences other some shoulde bestow themselues busely in their faculty whereby euery one labouring in his calling earnestly myght by the trauaile of other atchiue to that which by his owne industrie he should neuer attaine It may not be because Hippias most arrogantly gloried of him selfe that hee throughe the sharpenes of his witte and quycknes of his capacitye coulde vnderstaÌ„d all thinges that therefore euerye other man shoulde stand in like manner in his owne conâ—eit who besides that he attributed to hymself the skil of al such sciences whiche contayne all learninge and wysedome was not ashamed allso to saye that in euerye vyle and seruile occupation he had an especiall gifte that he through â—â—â—ninge dyd make the ring that he woare the 〈◊〉 that courted him and the sockes that serued his necessitie I say it were hard for anye man were his witte neuer so quicke and pregnante to take vppon him so many intricat laboures In so much that I thinke that Hippias could not acquite himself
the people To conclude therfore what is in thee wherein wee maye perceyue any shewe and resemblance of aunciente nobilitye Sir saith hee whatsoeuer your make of me I am a gētlemā borne Diddest thou neuer vnderstande thou ignorant and peuishe person that anye stocke or linage is set foorth beutified by vertue vertue not beutified and set forth by linage and that all nobilitye proceedeth from the excellencie of vertue and honestye but what thinge is more vayne then the bare and naked name of nobilitye yf you take away the ornamente of vertue and the fruite that is reaped of true glorie but though vertue be seperated frō worthines of birth notwithstandinge there is nothing in the whole life of mā mor excellēt nothing better to maynteyne common societye nothing more cōsonāt and agreeable to nature whiche is alwayes of it selfe moste amiable beutiful and wheresoeuer it is placed remayneth cōstante nor at any tyme can lose his worthines and dignity But I pray you let vs vnderstande how this gentleman by name onely would bestirre himself yf his country were in great daunger of the enemye or afflicted cruelly with ciuill dissention In this cause valiantnes and pollecie preuaylethe not the vayne ostentation of cognisance and armes I am sure you must of force yeelde and geue place to gentlemanshippe latelye made whiche you so muche disdayn if wyth long experience in common affaires and singuler vertues you se it defēded and vnderpropped Nay sayth he I wil maintaine the same countenaūce honoure and estimation wherein my auncestors liued with great fame commendation and let these vpstartes kepe their owne houses and aplye themselues to those occuptions which their parentes professed theyr fathers before them folowed Assuredly you haue spoken full wyselye pleasaūtly Your meanīg is that we should in a tēpestuous perillous time when the estate of the cōmon wealth is daūgerously assaulted follow the follie of certayne gētlemē delighting alwayes in Fethers feastīgs neglect the aduise and counsell of righte worthy and valiaunte men But I coulde wishe you were perswaded of this opinion that you do a greate and wonderfull reproch to your auncestours from whom hath descended to you this so great a shew of honour and Nobilitie For truly he that was first rayser of your royaltie and the chiefest cause that you are in this estate and countenaunce was an vpstarte and newe made gentleman Therefore whereas you in this maner taunt and reuile them which are most like to your predecessours and do disdainfully rippe vppe those reproches agaynste them which maye bee turned backe vppon your owne frendes you do not onely bring that to passe the throughe your shamefull behauiour you staine and deminishe the prayse of your auncestours but also vngratefully and most vnkindly you demeane your selfe whilste that with scorneful speaches you debase and extenuate the worthy renowne of them of whom you first receyued this outward shew of honour and dignitie But I will omitte to speake any more of those lustie and loftie gentlemen who hauing nothing in them worthy of prayse and honour stādeth so much vppon their worship and gentilitie to whom fitly maye bee applyed that sayinge of Dionisiodorus of Trezene in Greece who oftentimes was wonte to vtter this sentence of great efficacie Who braggeth so much of theyr line and petegree as a foolishe and vntowarde progenie Notwithstāding I would haue the greatest reuerēce dutie that may be giuen to true Nobilitie which is throughe the excellencie of vertue aduaunced to highe degree which also in vertue reposeth the chiefest staye onely felicitie Againe I could wish that those who so coldly followe the steppes of their auncestours and playe the partes of gentlemen foolishly should be plucte downe the stage as they are most worthy to be hissed and skoffed at of all the company AFter that I haue reproued their brainsicke dealinge who vtter bitter contumelious taunts against such as are of late through their wysedome vertue preferred to the estate of gentlemen they themselues notwithstanding being defiled wyth all kinde of wickednes now it remayneth to be cald in question whether of them are to be preferred or more commended of all men They who haue through their vertue honestie purchased to themselues greate renowne prayse and commendation being stirred therunto by no example of their auncestours or they who do earnestly folow embrace those vertues which chiefly shined were highly cōmended in their forefathers For it is a doubtful and perplexed question and probable truly on either side in so much that either of them maye be defended by argument For the new made gentleman may defend his cause arguing in this maner I haue applyed my minde to the loue of vertue I haue bin inflamed wyth the desire of renowne not stirred therunto through the example of my forefathers or prouoked by the fame glory of any auncestour Againe I haue atchiued to the place of dignitie not by the helpe and furtherance of any other but by mine owne industry I haue aduaunced to honour my name bloud which was before obscure and litle reckoned of and I haue giuen an example and lighte to my posteritie But you sir who are descended of an honourable line and came of a righte gentlemans house haue had great furtheraūce to the attaynīg of renowne glory First examples at home pricked the forwarde so did that countenaunce and estate that thy auncestours had then thy education and trayninge vp gentlemanlike last of all the expectation of men which ioyned together forced the as it were by necessity to embrace vertue Neither is the commēdation so great which you haue gotten through the imitation and folowing the actes of your auncestours as the reproch and rebuke woulde haue bin if you had not manfully endeuoured to be like vnto them in glorye renowne which were of your owne house and kinred Therefore you haue done nothinge with praise and commendation whereas you were therunto brought and forced by necessity On the other side I had by no meanes stayned my bloud if I had remayned base and obscure especially whereas I wanted all those helpes and ordinary meanes wherewith you were greatly furthered to the attayning whatsoeuer you toke in hande Whereas therefore I beinge vrged with no necessitie but allured wyth sincere loue of vertue disposed my minde to do thinges of great importance soundinge to my greate credite and honour and that I perfourmed with no small praise and cōmendation beinge hindered and as it were intrapped with many lettes and impediments and I passed through the pikes of enuie which is a common ennemye to them that raise themselues to honour throughe my honest and vertuous vsage I see no cause at all why I should giue place to aunciente Nobility And this is the language of a lately spronge gentleman But what on the other side sayth the gentleman borne Wilt thou then contrary to all lawe and equitie
writinges which may profit vs at all no dought nothinge For they bereue vs of the vse of reason Whereas they do vtterly abandon and as it were plucke vp by the rootes all kindes of affections geuen vs by nature wherewith sometimes we are quickned to the exercise of vertue Howe cleare and apparant that is I leaue at this time to speake For there is no man so very a dolt but séeth how contrary it is to mans nature and they that would driue into our mindes that astonishment which the Stoikes call tranquility doe not determine mans felicity but do vtterly extinguish and bury in vs all kinde of humanity That therefore that is so manifest let vs omitâ— And let vs consider howe profitable to the preseruation of the ciuill society of man that opinion is Put the case that a rumour spread of the enemy comminge doth wonderfully terrefie the Citizens The whole Cittie beinge astonied with feare taketh great care howe they may put from them the euell which maye ensue In this case the gouernours and cheife rulers will looke vnto the common safetye the moste couragious and lustiest men they will appointe ready in armes garrisons they will set in order all the reste for the power and abylitye that euerye man hath wil diligentlye bestirre themselues to dryue from theire bouÌ„des the force of the enemye which as a mischiefe and that no small mischiefe they make accoumpte of But this great wyse man in that generall feare and horrour of all his country will not be by any meanes he which more will esteeme of this terryble tumulte then his owne pryuate studie and contemplation For why shoulde hee for a sorte of silye simplemens sakes withdrawe himselfe froÌ„ the study of wisedome he wil not do it in any wyse Nay whiche is more hee will not so much as chaunge his countenaunce in that greate hurlie burlye of the whole citty All this tyme he deludeth their doinges accompting theÌ„ very simple and ignorante whiche dreade that as a greate daunger and mischiefe which hee supposeth not to be accompted among the nombre of euil things At the length when he dooth see the siege layd agaynste the whole citye and the city to be set vppon wyth mayn force and that the chief rulers resist with might and main he cannot refrain from laughing to see the citizens with whom he dwelleth tremble and quake for feare sometymes to ruÌ„ne all on a heape sometimes to runne giddily hither and thither and to trye and assay euery way how to remoue and put away the force of the enemy Nay a wyse man woulde thynke in ihis pityfull plyght and common misery he should take armes and presently encounter with the stoutest of his enemies not for that he lightly thinketh it a great and perilous mischiefe as through reason and iudgemente hee is leade and induced to beleue the same But let vs know I pray you to what end and purpose this Stoyck should take weapon For wyse men are neuer noted to be rash in their doings and hasty and what they take in hand procedeth of great iudgement and consideration Therefore for what cause chiefly should he take weapoÌ„ in that kind of enterpryse Tel me I praye you should he for the assisting his neighboures and poore countryemen But for that cause he estemeth them onely miserable for that they are ignorant and caried away with vanity and errour of opinion Agayne that by the glimse and oâ—twâ—rde shewe whereof he seeth them striken into suche a dampe of feare an euil thinge he can in no wyse accounte And albeit he confesseth it bee a sharpe showre yet not to be so muche regarded that for the peeuishe opynion of a sorte of fooles it should be so exceedingly feared Therfore lasely and slothfully not manfully and couragiouslye doth he thinke that in that perilous conflict and bickeringe he shoulde behaue hymselfe Then I pray you what great fruite bringeth this wonderfull wisdome or where shall he shewe that so singular stoutnes of an inuincible mynde I do think at the last this will be the end of this tragicall matter wheÌ„ he shall see the City beaten doune to the ground when hee shal see all the treasure goodes and substance of the Citezens driuen caried away before his face he must shew himselfe suche a one as whom no sorrowe will daunte or dismaye no pouerty pinch no calamity crucifye but rather he vaunteth himselfe to be in bondage a kinge in extreame wante of all thinges a man stored wyth welthe in grife happye in misery florishinge and in good estate And that he mought proue the same and withdrawe his fryndes from folly in which onely hee reposeth the chife misery that maye happeÌ„ to maÌ„ hee framth certain horned crabbed sophistical arguments wherby he woulde geue vs a certâ—yne salue for the moste fonde opinion of his therby meaninge to proue death banishment pouerty lack of ofpringe contumelious reproche bondage not to bee accompted euill All these thinges to confesse the trueth are lustely and lostely spoken but the common socetye of men reapeth at al no fruit or commoditye thereby For if a maÌ„ be furnished wyth no other kind of skill and wysedome theÌ„ this it is not possible he should by wysedome preuent the imminent daungers of warre or wyth a valiant force or courage resist them that be present But paraduenture you will say This opinion auayleth much in thinges apperteyninge to ciuill affayres In what causes I pray you In publique matters Howe can hee vprightlye execute the office of a iudge or magistrate which maketh no difference of thinges doon in house of parlament or in place of iudgemeÌ„t which iudgeth him worthy of as much punishmente whiche hath but lightlye offended as him which hath most wickedly and abominablye destroyed his father What shal I stande in shewinge you that in priuate causes whiche happeneth betweene man and man it profiteth nothinge at all For how is it possible that hee wil haue compassion of the impotente pitee the afflicted succor the poore whiche holdeth hym that is mercifull a manne base minded and seruile Agayne may we thinke him apte to rebuke offenders and wicked persons sharply eyther to rewarde bountefullye men liuinge vertuouslye whiche is vtterly moued wyth no sence of loue or hatred And that I may knitt vp all in one woorde what shall hee profit the common sotiety of man which forgetteth himselfe to bee a man and in a maner diuorceth himselfe from humaine nature For the affections of the mynde are to be cutt of by reason not rashly to be plucked vppe by the rootes For the one is good and a profitable way and by wisedomes moderation maye bee obteyned the other maye in no wyse be compassed and if it might yet it were not so muche to be desired For all maner of vertue of what kind soeuer it be is at it were key colde and feeble which doth not spring out of a mynd stirred with most earnest prouocations of industrye and
that when immoderate delicacy and riotte when vnsatiable desire of riches had ones by inuasion entered into the manners of the Romaynes wheÌ„ no accoumpte at al was made of the aucthority of the Lawes and Senate when the myndes of the raskall multitude by the sediciouse and bransicke orations of certayne desperate persons were tickled with hoope of rauine spoyle with violence and force to bereue the wealthyer sort of theire goodes and substance when crueltye armed with impunitye with slaughter effusion of the bloude of the Cityzens with goare bloud staunched the Citty when they that in feattes of Armes moste preuayled didde bende their thoughtes not to seke the liberty of their couÌ„try but their owne priuate aduauncemente when with all theese weapons the body of the commoÌ„ wealth was wounnded do you think that it could by any means be brought to pas that the coÌ„moÌ„weale could loÌ„ge coÌ„tinue Adde thereunto if it like you Saleable Elections Iudgementes raunsomed mattes of Prouinces extraordinarye and infinite aucthorityes the chardge of the commonwealth committed to certayn men caried forth headlonge with a hastye desire of rule and principality you may vnderstand that it could no otherwyse be but that the wealthe of the City vtterly decayed it must nedes come to ruin What should I in this place declare the bloudy broyls in the times of Scilla and Marius whiche infinitelye plagued and vexed the Citye and with al manner of cruelty dismembred the same and at lenghth by the infection of the dissentioÌ„ euen to posterytie continued layd open a gap to the gouerment of Tyrautes Doest thou then doubte but that the Citye beyng gashed and mangled with so many woundes should at the last be couered with moulde the Cityzens with salte and bitter teares waylinge and lamentinge at the funeralles thereof And therefore if it be demaunded of wyse men what time Roome fell to vtter decay they wil aunsweere I suppose that euen froÌ„ that time wherin the old order of discipine and gouernment was abolished that common wealth began to be of no reputation For they linger no longer aboute the consideration of the euent of any thinge which most certaynly gather the thinges that folow after by the causes that goe before If you aske them that lacke wisedome and experience they wil straight way elleadge that tyrannicall gouernment of Cesar. For there is no man so besydes himself that will thinke after the vtter abolishment of lawes the losse of liberty and the ouertourninge of the whole state of pollicy that any one sparke of the olde common wealth remaineth But I pray thee what toye tooke thee in the head that thou diddest impute the ouerthrowe of that Empire to the manners of Christians whereas not only the cause of that calamity but the euent it selfe was many yeares before the birth of Christe oure Kynge And if any man aske the question after tirannye had the vpper hande what wasted the wealth of Roome taken from the whole Citty and bestowed vpon one man first I will repeate those thinges that I before rehearsed that all those worthye qualities whereby the people of Roome obtained their auncient renoume and large Empire a great while began to decline at last fell hedlonge downe to the grounde For then immediatly in steede of frugality outragious riotte in steede of enduringe hardines in warre an excedinge tendernes and nicenes both of the whole body and minde in steede of dreade and awe of the lawes impudent boldnes vnsatiable luste immoderate desire vehemently assaulted the myndes of the Romaines and stirred vppe men that bare goodwill to their country to vprores and ciuill broyles Further this I affirme that the barbarous demeanour of their Emperours and their ouerthwarte nature ioygned with immoderate ryot and vnbridled lust did as it were cut them of from al their prosperity Neyther is there cause why I shoulde here recite so greuous plagues as wherewith the coÌ„monwealth was afflicted seinge that it is euidently knowen that many for their cruelty and horrible factes haue bene slâ—ine bothe of their Cittizens and of souldiars and ofteÌ„tymes of them that enuied them their place and high aucthority But when the custome of killinge of Rulers grewe to be familiar and there was not onely counterwaites and treachery deuised against wicked tyrantes but against discreet and moderate gouernours and that the name of rule and Empire wanted due reuerence at length the matter grewe to that passe that nothinge was so vily reputed of as the Emperour of Rome In the ende when the aucthority of the Senate and people of Rome was extinguished and the knowleadge of Souldiarfare together with auarice excessiuely increased it fell oute the souldiars for a booty in ready money to be paide did assign afore hand to whome they listed the Imperiall Crowne Therefore whereas they had respect neither to vertue neither to nobility but as it were makinge a bargaine of bying sale vnto him that promised most sold the Empire euery vile caitife leude varlet had free accesse to the swaye and gouernmente of the whole common wealth Therefore whereas the people of Rome were gouerned by sutch heades it coulde not be but all those thinges shoulde fal to vtter confusion whereby that common wealth was wont to be renoumed Especially seinge that oftentimes least there shoulde want at any time an occasion of ciuill dissention there was appoyncted in diuerse places many Emperours if they were to be called Emperours and not rather straunge and prodigious monsters Therefore the wealth of the Romaines partly by ciuill discord and horrible dissentions wasted partely dronke vppe and consumed by the meanes of great and terrible warres which throughout the whole worlde was waged againste the Romaine Empire was subiecte to common thraldome misery of all thinges incident and appertaininge to man And here I pray thee what cause hast thou to accuse the name of any thinge that is called Christian For if the doctrine of Christe had wrought in the manners of the Romaines contempte of lawes ryot wantoÌ„nes immoderate desire of rule most egre and vehement dissension of Cittizens amonge themselues if to conclude it had induced them to violente dealinge fury rage then moughtest thou haue iustly and truely sayd that that had bredde in the state of Rome all these mischieues For they be those horrible vices that haue plagued and destroyed not onely Rome but all other Imperiall Citties But if nothinge be more repugnant to Christian maners and conuersation then the vyces afore rehersed wyth whome nothinge agreeth but that whych is iuste and vpryghte tendinge to quietnes and temperaunce which most reuerently accoumpte of modesty and innocency and aboue all mischiues hate ciuill discord which abhorre all troublesome and desperat enterprices yet wilt thou be so sottish impudent that thou wilt seeke with this sclaunder to deface the dignity and worthines of Christianity Can there any maner of discipline more confirme and establishe cyuill pollicie theÌ„ that which teacheth Iustice equity
require The Stere the Stede most times vvee see mutch like vnto his sire THerefore whereas the force of nature is such that the inclination thereof so mutche preuayeleth that it is seene in brutishe thinges and creatures mere voyde of reason and vnderstandinge maye not wee thincke it hath imprinted in man some thinge of greater excellencye who is made by God his prouision reasonable and lorde of al other Creatures I pray you is it not for great good cause that many are carâ—ful haue an especial regard froÌ„ what Tree they plucke their plante of what kynde they choose their whelpe or their horse And shall wee thincke it a thinge little to bee considered of what Parentage a man taketh his ofspringe In good sooth if wée woulde obstinately deny it the thinge it selfe would eftsones appeare and conuince vs of errour For it is most cleare and euideÌ„t that euery Region and Country doth keepe the same accustomed maner facion A note whereof may hereby bee gathered that nature hath so fastened her foote in euerye Nation that it is not possible to withdrawe them from the whereunto they ar◠〈◊〉 and that the maÌ„ners of men are conueighed euen to posterity For example wée sée the Frenchmen with what fury and rage they runne vppon their enemies againe how quickely they are qualified founde most curteous to their countreymen This therefore is â—he nature property of that nation hasty to be reuenged easy to be entreated The Germanes haue bene euermore accompted a moste cruell and a fearce people who nothing dismayed die desperatly The Spaniards at this present as heretofore are noted aboue other NatioÌ„s to excel for their diligence industrie in martiall affairs whoe euermore wyth a iollye stomacke and good courage wageth battayle The Italians are preferred before all other in finenes of wit purenes of eloqueÌ„ce So that there is no couÌ„try which is not through the inclination and instinct of nature more apt to excell in vertue or more prone to al impiety with is through generatioÌ„ in al places coÌ„tinued A more euident clere profe wherof may be gathered out of some one stocke familye For this almost euerye where is seene and experienced that those whiche are descended of a noble lyne doe embrace those vertues which chieflye brought to theyr auncestores greate renowne and glory So that as manye as are of that linage are moste commendable for their valiant stomache other are notable for their liberalitye some other atchiue to great glory for their knowledge wysedome and pollicie WherevpoÌ„ it foloweth that vertue is not obteined so much by studye and industrye as gotten by nature and by the good bloud of Noble pareÌ„tage And that we cal true Nobility for as mutche as it is nothinge els then the glorious sparcke of vertue ingraffed in some Noble and renomned familye IT hath bene sufficientlye declared that th◠〈…〉 true Nobilitye coâ—â—â—ceth not in the opinion of manne but commeth by naturall descence Which is to be vnderstoode in this maner euen as good groundes fruitefull fyeldes are hadde in gerat estimation not for that they are fyeldes but that they bring through their fertilitye great gayne commoditye to the owner of the soyle euen so we preferre that kinred especially which yeldeth abouÌ„dante fruite of vertue and godlines But who so now listeth to behold the perfect nature of true Nobility may looke theron with litle laboure For gentility is a most glorious and liuely image of auncent progenie most commonlye garnished wyth excellente vertues and for asmuch as euerye one which excelleth in all vertue add honestye cannot attayne the title of honoure and Nobilitye this large definition is to bee restrayned by limitation for neyther may they which the rather to attayn knowledge and wysedom haue abandoned all company and liue in continuall studye be thought most worthye honourable although they be fornished wyth rare and singular vertues and for profouÌ„d knowledge in deepeste matters be had in admiration for that they do not earnestly employ the benefit of their artes and sciences to the auaile and commoditye of the common-wealth Neither yet any Noble family hath bene able at any tyme to winne vnto it self the tytle of honour soueranty for that many of that Noble line excellinge in qualities of witte to a voyde a Courtiers life haue addicted them selues to the dimensions of Geometry or the rules of Phisicke or the recordes and sweete Harmony of Musicke If this be true what kinde of vertue is that through the cleare shininge whereof the Noblenes of any Kinred the Dignity and Honour of any family may be knowen Forsoth euen that kinde of vertue which extendeth it selfe to the common profit of al men which a voydinge idlenes is altogether occupied about the maintenaunce and preseruation of a Commonwealth as for example puissance and valiantnes in warlike affaires in time of peace the execution of Iustice and Equity add to these the study of Oratorie the knowledge of the Ciuil lawes and whatsoeuer is of force apperteineth to the gouernmeÌ„t of a CoÌ„monwealth Nobility therefore is an highe and honourable degrée of auÌ„cient progeny froÌ„ whence hath issued owt such vertues as the Estate of the hole country hath bene by them established and the safegard of all men kept and maynteined Of this honourable order there are two kindes The one is generall apperteininge to a whole Citty the other speciall and concerneth any priuate family In this maner wee accounte Athens to bee honourable for that in that famous commonwealth were bredde manye wise sages and valiaunt captaynes which throughe their couÌ„sell and wisedome did rule and preserue the weale publique by whose puissance the enemy was repelled by whose vnconquerable prowes vertue their dominions were enlarged by whom the country was with iÌ„numerable benefites endowed In this manner Sparta is honourably reported of by this onely meanes wanne Carthage so great renoâ—me and for this cause Roome the noblest Citty that euer was merueilouslie tryumphed The selfe same rule is obserued in euery priuate familye For that house excedeth other in honour and nobility from whence hath issued and descended a greater company of renoumed personages Wherby it foloweth that the force of vertue is found as excedinge in the one as in the other onely this is the difference the one is priuate the other is publique To exemplefie thys second poincte we haue reade of the Noble house of the Fabians of the Claudians of the Scipioes and Cornelians all which haue beene honoured in all posterity for their prowes and magnanimity So oughte we notwithstandinge weigh both these partes before seuered that he is in no wise to be deemed noble and honouble and honourable which wanteth eyther of them the perfet is It may not be therefore that in a blinde and obscure Citty there should be a family of any fame for were it not a thinge incredible that such a commonwealth should be obscure as
geuing largely and byndinge vnto theym their neyghboures and Cityzens by bestowinge on them bountifullye most ample rewards great benefytes By this onely way Tarquyne of auncient memory beynge a banished and obscure man wonne greate fame and honour in Rome and at length obteyned there the auctority of a Kinge By this kynde of curteous dealynge Pelops longe before his tyme beinge a mere straÌ„ger barbarian came to bear rule in that part of Greece w he alluding to his own name called Peloponesus And that I may shew you an historie of later time Cosmus Medices and Laurence his nephewe weere so muche for their liberall and francke natures commended that they therby were made chiefe gouernoures of Florence and were in all nations besydes excedingelye magnifyed Neyther truly is their any vertue which doth more become a noble mynde or setteth for the more a worthy wight either that winneth more praise commendation and getteth more goodwill loue and reuerence withoute whiche no man may mayntayne his owne estate or attayne to liue in any worshipful callinge And this seemeth to be their drift who by distinction say nobilitye is a noblenes of byrth and parentage ioyned wyth aboundance and store of riches For wheras the vertue of magnificence and liberalitye is chieflye seene in noble menne for moste parte of theim are aboue other found most curtious and liberall and no man may be therefore commended except he be furnished with worldly substance moste learned wyse men haue though treasuer it selfe and the aboundance of riches to be the very grounde and foundatyon of lyberalytye and therefore as termes necessarye to bee included wythâ—e in the defynition of true nobilitye Whether the force and true nature thereof be fully therein declared it is a thinge whereon I meane not to stande so that by that definition this may be graunted that the vertue of liberalitye to the enhauncinge of men to honoure and dignitye and the setting forth of their posteritye is most expediente and necessarye MAnye not of oure tyme onelye but allso of aunciente memorye hathe bothe throughe the excellencye of eloquence and theyr perfect knowledge of the ciuile Lawe atayned wonderfull fame and glorye For these sciences are right worthely reckoned among those that haue beene not withoute greate cause accompted the principallest staye in the coÌ„mon wealth without which the estate of Pollicy and the safegarde of common societye maye in no wyse longe continewe For to no purpose and in vaine do we abroade bidde battaile to the enemyes excepte oure affayres at home bee gouerned by the sounde aduise of prudent counsellers Besydes those whoÌ„ we haue allready spoken of many are made gentlemeÌ„ eyther through the grace fauour of the Prince or through the common consent of a free Cittye But this kynd of promotion seemeth at the first shewe not to be agreeable eyther to truethe or to the righte and perfecte nature of true nobility For nobilitye eyther resteth vppon opynyon of men or is obteined by vertue and the qualityes of the mynde eyther consisteth in nature and is deriued froÌ„ puisance and valiantnes Wyse and graue meÌ„ haue alwayes made litle accoumpt of wauering opynion and the inconstancie of peoples Phantasie But the commeÌ„dation of vertue resteth especyally in our selues neyther can by any meanes bee borowed abroade Agayne the force of gentle bloude deryued from our auncestors and apperteyninge to vs by naturall desceÌ„t cannot be wrested hither and thither by the iurisdiction and auctoritye of Princes For no easyer matter is it for any man by the assignement and benefit of Princes to become of baseborn a gentleman by byrth then to be sodenlye chaunged from a foole to a wyseman from on that wanteth vtterance to an eloquente orator from a whyteliuered and fayntharted cowarde to a venturous and valiant champion Which also in bestowing the freedom of a Citty may be euidently knowen and considered For yf he as many suppose bee taken and tearmed a Citizen which is bred and borne in a citye no reason is why into a Citye should be receyued an alian and straunger Thence it proceeded that Gorgias Leontinus skoffing at the rulers of Larissa because they had receiued into their City many straungers was wont to saye that euen as plastereres of anye kynde of stuffe would make morter or any thinge of lyke sorte so there were some so cunning craftesmen in Larissa whiche of any kynde of people were able to make Cityzens to inhabite Larissa But I for my parte do neyther lyke of Gorgias his oppynioÌ„ nor of any other mens iudgemente which in lyke maner would staye the cause of aduauncing subectes through the kinges and Princes most gratious fauour and clemencie For wheras all men which are of a more haughty mynde and soâ—â—y stomache are merueylously inflamed with the desire of vertue honour and renoune yf then you would frustrate the hope and expectation imprinted in mens mindes of promotion no doubte you shall make men slacklye and sclenderlye endeuoure to become puissant and venturous whose mynds should rather be inflamed and set on fire Then the which nothing canne be deuised more hurtfull to ciuill gouernment and disciplyne For this hath bene the purposed meaninge of Lawes and ordinaunces and all well gouerned common wealths ought to haue in theim this practysed and published that men desyrous to shew their valiant harts by daungerous attemptes albeeit they are of their owne nature apt to defend the rights and lybertyes of the common wealth yet notwithstanding they should stirre them therevnto through an earnest and ardente desire of fame and glorye For by this meanes the wealth of their couÌ„trey is most strongely defended and the indifferencie of Lawes ordinaunces best maynteyned For what fowler shame what greater dishonour can there be imagined then to haue in the common wealthe appoynted vnto famous men for their exceeding great and worthy exploytes no reward at all Eyther what reward may in any one poynte fully aunsweere and satisfy a noble mynde then to be receyued triumphantly of the people Furthermore what is in it selfe more princely and more glorious then to geue vnto vertue his due desert and to yeeld to worthines honourable titles to true nobilite the principallity that iustice might not onely by this meanes be happely kepte and preserued but also many thereby moughte be allured to bend themselues to the study of vereue For it is not in the power of the Prince that now I may answere that whiche mighte be obiected afore to bringe to passe that a bile and abiecte mynde shoulde bee noble and honorable whiche commeth not by grace and fauoure but proceadinge from nature is fully made and perfected by the exercises of moste worthy and lawdable sciences And yet a Prince maye adourne and sette foorth excedingly a noble inuincible mynde withe worthye and honourable titles Which thinge is not onely right good and expedient but also so requisite and necessary that in the performing therof ther semeth to
them they that make reporte of their aduerse and crooked fortunes wherewythall they were oftentimes tossed from poste to piller giue vs moste certayne and euidente notice of the intollerable burden of mannes miserye For they that in their worldly affayres had verye good and prosperous successe coulde not escape those hard brunts and ineuitable calamities wherwyth mans life is compassed on euery syde what maye wee thincke of all the residew which by all mennes confession were vnhappy and myserable But admitte Fortune were vnto any man so fauourable and bountiful that shee woulde heape vppon him all commodities that possibly hee could in his life requyre commonly we shall see him haue some Tragicall ende beinge eyther forlorne as a Caytife or trussed vppe like a Trayter The which thinge happened to Polycrates of the I le of Samos who when hee had lyued in greate prosperity during the space and terme of all his life was at length taken of his enemye bereued of his life and spoyled of all his goods What shoulde I here speake of the death of Cyrus What should I make mention of the ruthfull ende of Cambyses What should I call to memory the heauy lamentable and dolefull death of Pōpeie the great To what ende should I recite a number of other who haue yéelded sufficient matter of most pityfull lamentations in tragedies and other solempne stage-plaies Whereas daily the course of common life geueth vs to vnderstande that there is in the whole earth no kind of liuinge creature more subiect to al kind of miseries thē man If therefore accordinge to Aristotles opinion these good thinges eyther of the body or fortune to the full furniture of a blessed life are required And the euelles cōtrary to them make our life wretched and miserable no man I assure you can be accoumpted happy For their is no man but is sometimes greatly disquieted with horrible mischiues or at least which is to the same effect dreadeth not day night al misaduētures that may happē to man much like vnto those which are sayd to bée in hellishe torment Aboue whose heades great stones of flinte most ready still to fall do hange and seemeth falling aie to crush their pates with all Therefore that man of so great iudgement hath bestowed all his diligence in vaine by settinge forth vnto vs such a felicity which al men woulde wishe for willingely but no man can attayne possibly If so be that he that excelled all other in wit in industry in iudgement coulde not redely see what was to be desired in this life What may wee thincke of the rest whose iudgement was farre vnlyke whose conninge and knowledge in the searchinge out of high and subtile qestions was farre differinge such as the Stoikes were ANd the chiefe of this Stoike secte was Zeno a man bothe sage and continente who thoughte him selfe through vertue sufficiently able both to withstand the prickinge griefes of sorowe to escape the threatninge thūderboltes of frowarde fortune because he was very well armed with onely vertue for the body he set at naught and measured felicity onely by the qualities of the mind Notwithstandinge he taught such kinde of doctrine which no wise man will beléeue excepte he be wedded vnto his opinion for often times many doe stande in argument more that they mought seeme constante then beinge thereunto induced by reason and vnderstandinge I saye hee mainteyneth such kinde of learninge whiche may in no wise of the learned be defended and is skofte at of the ignorant For he would that the minde of man should be so firmely staied and grounded vppon constancy that it shoulde at no time so mutch as one iotte be moued For he thinketh it an hainous faulte to be tormented wyth griefe or care to be inclined to gratious fauour and mercy to be inflamed with any desire to be prouoked with wrath hatred or any perturbation of the minde In this condicion of life voide of all affection which the Greekes call impassibilitye hee thinketh the soueraigne good conteined so that he which hath attained it may be takē for a man absolutely wise a Kinge a blessed and happye man Againe as touchinge the rest theym as sottes as seruile men steyned wyth all kinde of dishonestye hee contemneth and nothinge regardeth First and principally therefore whereas hee placeth felicity in the dignitye worthines of the soule of man so that the vertue thereof can by no griefe of the body or pinchinge paine and calamity seuered from that blessed and happy estate of life Herein he hath disputed more stoutly and valiantly then wisely and truly For whereas the minde is through the coniunction of mutuall loue fast tied and vnited to the body truely it can sincke into no wyse mans heade as longe as they remaine one if the bodye be through calamity afflicted but that the minde eftsoones languisheth and is disquieted If therefore the Stoikes opinion is to bee folowed teachinge vs that the heauines dolour of the minde worketh mans miserye then must it folow consequently except they will wrest the truth from vs by violence and tell vs that senses are deceiued in thinges most cleare and euident that no man were he neuer so wise can attaine felicity in trouble and vexation of body For if we wanted our senses and that our bodye it selfe were not of our nature then a man of meane perceyueraunce might be persuaded that he whose bodye were tormented with fire were neuerthelesse happy But where as we consist of body and soule howe can we duringe this life suppose that to be felicity which hath regarde only to one parte of vs and in miserable distresses leaueth the other Especially whereas by the necessarye operation of nature when the bodie feeleth paine the minde suffereth the same Therefore men of great wisedome and Iudgement hath not affirmed without great consideration that the appetite of anger and desire hath bene ingraffed in our mindes for two causes that the myndes themselues should haue good regarde to preserue those bodies whose guides and keepers they ought to be That is to witt that they should by desire for bodily sustenaunce couet thinges méet and conuenient and by anger should eschewe and auoyde thinges hurtefull and daungerous Therefore whereas wrath and desire are in vs by nature it cannot be againesaide when there is a shew of any excéedinge good fortune or great euell imminent or likely to follow but that oure myndes stirred vp with a kinde of more vehemency are either more redy with ioy and pleasure to gratulate that which happely commeth to passe either more stil and pensiue to bewaile that which hath vnfortunat y chaunced And whereas this terrour of feare that I omitt to speake of any other passion hath once by the wrestlinge of nature assayled the minde it hath streight waies vtterly ouerthrowen the Stoikes felicity which consisteth chiefly in security And that they conclude all matters with their owne argumentes what can be shewed out of their
called wyth whom I haue to deale may not deeme in any wyse worthy of contempt because they had no knowledge of true relligion which he in no wyse woulde haue to be magnifyed and were notwithstandinge partakers of trayterous attemptes the meanes of descryinge whereof hee supposeth worthye of great commendation But how obscure is their constācie if it be compared with the valiaunt courage and magnanimitie of Christian men For if you respecte the cause they for hate of the tyraunts by whom they were annoyed paciently endured theyr cruell punishments our men for the loue of Christe of whom they had receyued wonderfull benefits thought all tormentes easye and tollerable If you weighe the exceedinge greatnes of the tormente the continuance thereof you shall finde them not common and vsuall as theyrs were but new and straunge tortures were deuised for Christians which as longe as might be moughte teare their liue bodies and wonderfully beate and bruse them Furthermore they when they were driuen to extreeme miserye and state of desperation seemed outwardlye to beare an externall shewe of their former worthines and hauty minde Christians when they had free election to accepte that they best liked of yet not with vnwilling minds they exchaunged a glorious and honourable death wyth a lyfe stayned wyth ignomye and shame If you regarde the nomber it is a ridiculous thing to set an infinite nomber against a very fewe Dost thou then despyse this holsome discipline oute of which hath bin yelded so manye notable and worthy examples of vertue Canst thou constantly affirme that the mindes of men are induced to thinke beastly and abiectly of themselues by this doctryne which hath with stoutnes far beyonde mannes creditte armed the tender nature of womē and the feeble age of childred whiche hath stirren vppe so great a multitude to an ernest desire of prayse and glorye What peruerse ouerthwart perswasiō of mind is this that thou shouldest haue in admiration the vayn shadow of vertue and shouldest suppose true vertue worthy of no estimation at all But no doubte herehence procedeth this great erroure Thou doste beholde onely the externall forme of the Crosse of afliction that excellente vertue that vnder the forme of the crosse lieth hidden thou dost not beholde For the dull capacity of a simple vnderstandinge ouerwhelmed wyth darknes and with filth defiled is not able to abyde the bryghtenes of so cleare a lighte For the doctryne of Chryste as Paule saythe seemeth to wicked and desperate persons to haue a shew of ignorāce and to muche humilitye But to them that are of a milde spirite and confirmed with the grace of God it sheweth a fullnes of heauenly wisedome and most excellent vertue For euen as in the personne of Chryst all men beeholde that face wherin as it was by the prophesie of Esaie foretolde there was no forced bewtye nor semelines and yet all men sawe not the glory of that diuine nature which Iohn beheld euen so manie through the lyke blyndes and wante of vnderstandinge contemne the lyfe of Christians voide of al wordlye pompe and are by no means able to beholde the excellent brightnes of Christian nobility BVt as concerning the Romain Empyre that we may say some thinge thereof albeit it semeth a thing far frō our intent and purpose hath not this fine fellow which is so expert in all matters of pollecie reade in most learned wryters that euen Cities themselues haue their chāges and courses and that all comonwelthes do as it were by the course of nature rise and fal Neyther that it is possible that any thing vnder the Moone should be immortall and contynewe for euer All thynges as they haue a beegynnynge soe necessarye it ys that they shoulde ones decay and through the cruelty of death dispatchinge euerye thynge perishe and come to nothinge For how manye Cityes how many countryes and nations are beaten flat to the grounde and couered with moolde whiche long agoe most of all florished both by reason of their farr stretched Empyre and glory and renoomne purchased by famous and noble actes who hath ouerthrowen the dominions of the Assirians and Persians who hath wasted the wealth of the Athenians who hath abrydged the power pompe of the Macedonians Truely no other thinge can be alleaged as cause thereof but the natural course of the worlde then the which nothinge is more britle and vncertain For if Cirns had not vtterly extinguished the Assirians Empire if Alexāder had not as it were crushed in peces the power of the Persians if the Macedonians al Greece by the warres of the Romaynes had not beene vtterlye vanquished yet notwithstandinge it muste be graunted of necessitye that al these Empyres shauld haue bene destroyed with some other power or declyninge with age at last shoulde haue perished and decayed Wherefore it falleth oute that no wyse man doth wonder at the vtter subuersions and destruttions of common wealthes and on the contrary part they thinke nothing so worthy admiration as the continuāce of a City established indued with great principallityes And therfore they suppose the question is rather to be asked why Sparta so many yeares continued in the selfe same maner of gouernmente and in the selfe same order of disciplyne then why the glorye and wealth of the Athenians so soone decayed And this also is soe much the more wonderful in the Romaines cōmon wealth by howe mutch more this Cittye excelled all other that euer were in worthines both of glory and dominion For many thinges easelye beare vp themselues but the highest thinges by their owne peyse waight are come in sunder and fall doune to the grounde Therefore wheras this fareth it with all Cityes and countryes that no wyse mā wondereth at their fall but thinketh the cause of their longe continuance with greate studie to bee considered of as a thing very incredible This man well skilled as he himselfe thinketh in ciuill pollicie lamenteth the decaye and ruinous fall of Rome and as thoughe it shoulde haue beene perpetuall excepte it had beene hindered by the religion of Chryste hee argueth of cryme the sonne of God himselfe O thou man in madnes exceedinge all other dost thou aske what other thing hath decayed the welth of the Romayne Empyre First I answere that as that Citye was happely erected then grue to a more parfecte state and by noble actes florished thē confirmed with lawes and ordinaunces came to a perfecte rypenes of Dominiō and was wonderfully aduaunced so was it necessary that it now yeelding to stooping olde age should at the length haue as it weere a laste daye to liue in and shoulde feele the heauy strok of the hand of death Furthermore this I affirme that all those good meanes by the which the Empyre was first established by the which it moughte haue beene mayntained in the same estate long before the birth of Chryste was lost and oute of their handes Canste thou in any wyse thinke