it is to geue so muche vntill he saye ho. Howe muche more we haue somuche more we desier to haue And loke how muche the more we grow to abundaunce somuche the hotter waxeth the fier of our couetousnes within vs as we sée the flame of the fyer to be somuche the more feruent as thabundaunce of substaunce of woode ministreth occasion Neyther wil Ambicion and inward disyer of honour permit a man to rest himself in that degrée and estate whervnto some time before himself would neuer for shame haue desired to aspyre For if haply he be chosen Tribune he doth not adiudge that office thaÌ„kes worthye except he be preferâ—ed to be a Pretor And hauing attained therunto yet he holdeth not himself coÌ„teÌ„t vntil he be made CoÌ„sul Neither wil be rest ther if there be aâ—y one office aboue that eyther in estimacion or proffet For Couetousenes allwayes goeth on forwarde and séeketh still to haue neuer wayeng a mans present good state or casting the eye backe thyther where he began but wholly addresseth the minde to attaine that it hunteth after And yet is enuye more pestiferous and harmefull theÌ„ any these that I haue named As that which with her infinite and those odious comparisons making neuer suffreth vs to be at quiet with our selues Thus saythe Enuye Indéed suche one did me suche a benefitte or shewed me suche a plesour howbeit he did much more for such one that with farre more expedicion spéed Moreouer Enuye neuer examineth eythâ—r one mans matter or other And in thâ—se that touche concerne herself she is â—ut of all measure parciall Cha. 28. BUt how muche better and honester were it to extoll set forth and commend the benefitte and plesour that we haue receiued and to perswade our selues that none standeth so highly in the fauour or grace of him that hath plesoured vs as we our selues As to saye vndowtedly I had had a far gretter benefit at his handes then this sauing that in verie déed he might not theÌ„ commodiously doo it for he had more to plesour after the same maner besids me Well this was the first and it is a good beginning Let me take this in good part it shall encourage him to doo the better by me an other time when he seeth me take so simple a thinge so gratefullye Thoughe it be but litle he dyd nowe well he will doo it the ofterner What though he pleasoured suche one before me dyd he not preferre me also before a nomber of others I graunt that neyther hee nor he were to be compared with me in no degree and yet why shold not he vse his benefits as was his owne plesour What though my parentage be better then anye of theirs that were preferd before me yet muste I néedes graunt in that he shewed me any pleasonr at al he did more then he owed me He extended hys liberalitie more largelye vppon varlettes then he dyd vppon me and what maketh that anye matter you may sée how like herself vncerteinly and vnequallye fortune doth sometime deale Doo you not se how naughty people are aduauÌ„ced to honors wallow in welth and far honester then they are do waÌ„t To trew it is yet not to be stuck at Doo wée not also sée that goodmens corne is striken with blightes and blasting yet euill mens corne scapeth cléere As eche man hath his seuerall hap and fortune in other worldly matters so hath he also in finding frendshyp But to conclude there is no benefitte done so thoroughlie nor effectuallie but the naughtie and peruerse natures of men can quarell against it And againe there is no plesure so small or simple but an honest naturd receiuer therof caÌ„ enlarge it and make it séeme great ample There shal neuer doutles want cause of complaint so long as a man wil misconster the maner of doing of benefites and interprete them to the woorst Chap. 29. HOwbeit it is but litle or nothynge to be merueyled at â—hough among our selues we quarell on this sorte the one against thother seyng not the ignorant and vnleaned people onely but eueÌ„ they also who professe Philosophie and take on them to haue suche vnderstandynge that they woulde take great scorne to be trippt any whit in their doinges or iudgemeÌ„t exclaime in many things against godd himself and that for matters of no importaunce and such againe as nature neyther will assent vnto As for that meÌ„ are not framed in fayture and proportioÌ„ of body as huge as Elephants as swift as Roes as light as birdes as strong as Bulles their skine as thycke as any bestes hyde as comelie to behold as does as thick with hear as a Beare as soft as the Ownce his smelling as fine as the dog as sharp sighted as the Egle as loÌ„g lyued as the Crowe and as fortunat in his natiuitie as anye brute best that he might streight help himself And though some of these qualities are not possible by course of nature to agrée in anye one bodye together as consistyng in maner of contrarieties yet blush not they to say that it is a great iniurye done to mans nature that he being superiour to al thinges created should want the exact perfection of diuers suche qualities whereby his inferiours excel him Affirming moreouer that manne was muche wronged that he had not in his birth and with his first being parfit helth inuincible streÌ„gth and fore knowledge of thinges to come graunted Yea they haue caught the byt of Reason so fast betwene their tethe of follie and waxe so hedstrong that they runne gadding so far that vnneth they can be stayed from enuienge that their nature is suche as it is and not equall with God himself But if we weighed and considered thynges aright howe muche more méete were it for vs and agreable with our estate to direct the sight of our mind to behold and dewlye consider the miraculous forme and order of those thynges to rendre thankes for so many sondrie benefits bestowed vpon vs for that we haue our being here in this world in such sort as we haue it and all other thinges vnder our subiection to vse at our plesours What soeuer hath bene denied vs by him whiche fyrst formed vs we ought to iudge that he did it for that he knew it neyther méet conuenient nor expedient for vs. Therfore Whosoeuer he be that iudgeth so wyde of mans moste perfect creacion let hym consider with himself how stroÌ„g beastes we maister how swift bestes and foules we catche Finallie what thing there is in all the world but is at our plesour to saue or spill and he shall I think easelye perceiue and confesse his great errour Besides al this what a nomber of excellent vertues are we far aboue all other creaturâ—s endewed wit all What knowledge what sciences and artes and what a wit and vnderstanding haue we which so sonne as it deuiseth any thyng forthwith it
THE LINE of Liberalitie dulie directinge the wel bestowing of benefites and reprehending the comonly vsed vice of Ingratitude Anno. 1569 Imprinted at London in Fletestrete neare to S. Dunstones Church by Thomas Marshe To the right woorshipfull Sir Christopher Heydon knight his â—ost courteouse Creditour of many his bounties and benefites IN requiting courtesies good turnes and benefites receyued at others handes ryght worshipful heedily ought we to folovv the fertile and frutâ—ful grouÌ„des which yeld in profit the manifold doubled gayne of the labour cost and traueile that their tyller and husbandly maÌ„ employed vpon theÌ„ and charyly fle the sovver and naughty nature of barren soyle whyche after many tillinges great charge bestovved of payne and costes in fine aunsvvere scarsely or not at all the ovvne seed agayne worthie to be resembled to insaciable svvalovving goulfes deuoriÌ„g stil vvithout shevv of any recept And forsomuch as according to thaduise of Cato it behoueth him that presumeth to geue precepts and to aduertise others vvarily to take regard he deserue not reprehension himself for that he rebuketh others for I thougt it more theÌ„ high tyme after so many benefits and courtesies so muche traueyle and costes sondrye vvayes at diuers tymes abundantly receiued by me and had of your vvorshypps greate bountye ioyned vvith courtesie to shevv novv at length some profe of the nature of the soyle vvhervpon so franckly you haue employed the same Concerninge vvhiche point of gratitude and thankfull nature coÌ„sisting in requiting benefits courtesies and plesours receyued at your vvorships haÌ„des although in habilitie manye doe in goodvvill yet vvell meaning and thankfulnes no one shall surmount ne passe me For albeit that blind Fortune through vvant of eysight povvring out or pinching in blindly her giftes vvithout regard graunteth to some habilitie to surcharg by geuing and againe pincheth others some by abridging their povver to be able to aunsvvere lyke for lyke receyued yet sith that as Tullye sayth the best and principal part of requyting benefites and yeelding condigne thankes for benefites and courtesyes receiued resteth in the minde vvhiche vvhen it hath vnfaynedly declared it self to be vvillinge to requite vvhat hath bene receiued is to be thought to haue made recompeÌ„se abouÌ„dantly As one thorough eased herevvith of the heauy charge vvhervvith the huge burthen of your bounties and Fortunes pinching parcialitie oppressed me amyd this narovv streyte of my disabilitie not fainting but triumphing ouer Fortunes blinde despyte I present your goodnes loe vvith a mind vvelmeaning and thankfull hart supplyeng that defect vvith the certein riches of the mind vvhich the frayle and flâ—tting vvelth of the body vvill not permit me to do A simple present for your vvorthie personage and inferiour in valevv far to any of yours receiued yet suche as shall suffyse to discharge me of Ingratitude In vviâ—he self same seking to requite your benefit passed I must of force yeeld me your double dettour Touching my self â—or your gentle aâ—ceptaunce of my pore goodvvill touching this my pore preseÌ„t for your grauÌ„ted patronage vvhiche simple gift of mine vvithout al regard had to your passed desertes which on my part notvvithstaÌ„diÌ„g may in no vvyse be vvrapt vp in obliuion of very devv for titles sake may challenge to be dedicated to your vvorship For vvhy to speke frely and yet voyd of all suspicion of flatterie the verity vvherof I referre to the report and iudgement of infinite vvellnigh and those credible vvho is he to vvhome the report of your vvorshippes name hath come but vvith the same report hath lykevvyse heard your vvorthie renoume and verteues vvelnigh of al sortes suche as may challeng and claime your deserued crovvne of immortalitie Amonge vvhiche vvhat shall I recompt your rare sobryetie greate lenytie paslyng familiaritie commendable policie gentle grauitie pregnant vvisedome deepe discrecion large liberalitie paynefulnes to plesour all honest persones ample hospitalitie to the admiration and vvellnigh astonnyeng of all that see suche rare gyftes so plentifullye placed in your ovvne person vvith an infinite nomber vvelnigh of vertues besides in the lest of vvhiche resteth trevv vvoorshyppe For vvhyche causes vvith one voyce as if they had conspired together all Norfolke soundeth eche vvhere your immortal praise In nomber of vvhyche company simplest I yet depest bounden acknovvledge amonge the rest my vovved devvtie vvith happy acclamacions and vvellvvyshynges testifieng my conceyued perfitte ioyeng at your haypie estate and desyrous vvhat in my sclender povver doth consyst for vvitnes of my assured vvell meanynge mynde dedicated to your vvoorshyp altogether to record by my simple skil confirmed vvith aÌ„ple testimonie of vvellnigh infinite your vvelldeserued prayse vnto posteritie wherein for your vvonted goodnes and beneuoleÌ„ce accept in good part my well vvillinge hart and seclude me not from your fauour passed Thus I leaue troubling your vvorshippe vvhom to the great vvelthe and earnest contentacion of all your contrey vvith many others confyâ—es God of his goodnes preserue and increase in prefit helthe vvith abundaunce and felicitie to his plesour Your vvorships depe dettour Nicolas Havvard THE LINE OF Liberalitie ☞ The first Booke Chapter 1. AMonge the nomber and those great vices with raygne among men that lyue discorderly are not guyded with the rule of Honestie I dare well saye there is no one that bréedeth so muche hurt as this That we knowe not dewly how to bestow vppon others nor to receyue at others handes suche benefites and plesures as eyther we doo our selues or els by others are done to vs. By meane wherof it foloweth that benefittes euilly bestowed are in lyke maner euilly repaied and of such ouer late we complain when we find theÌ„ not as we would wish them recompensed For those benefits accoÌ„pt I as loste whiche are so bestowed without dew regard And certes it is no whit to be merueiled at though amonge all the faultes of men which in déed are excedinge great and welnigh innumerable there is not to be founde any one ryfer and more in vse then vnthankfulnes whiche vndowtedly I sée doth happen through diuers causes The first and chefest is for that wee haue no respect on whom we bestow our benefites But if we wer to lend money to any one doutles we would enquere diligently before hand what maner of man he were of what credyt habilitie Neyther is any plowmaÌ„ so vnwise we se to sow his corn on ground which he knoweth to be barren But our benefites which far excell any other thynge that we can geue we bestow héere and there without any consideracion before had whether they are dewly employed and vpon suche as deserued thesame or not And verely I can not say whether is more discortesie to be thought in him that is to be plesured if he refuse a benefit when it is profered or in him that doth the pleasour to requier recompense for that which he hath done But if we mynd to benefitte any man we ought before haÌ„d to coÌ„ceiue this
Unlesse thou makest none accoÌ„pâ— of thyself being in state as thou now art wherfore assure thyself that I will restore thée to thyself farre bettered then I now receiued thée Loe by this gift allmoste of no vallew did Eschines farre surmount the bountifull hart of Alcibiades who was no lesse gentle and courteouse then welthye And in Socrates iudgement passed the largesse and munificence of all his yong companions Chap. 9. HEreby may you well sée that a noble minde is able to find out matter whereby he may declare his liberalitie euen in the extremitie and narowest straytes of al his pouertie In which case Aeschines me semeth might wel haue sayd thus A hard and cruell Fortune Yet hast thou gained nothing herby that thou haste made me thus poore For though I haue nothynge of thyne wherwith I may worthely or at all present my maister I will not yet let to doo my dewty but I will now doo it of mine own And yet should noman thinke that he accompted nothing of himself for that he presented so himself as is sayd For hereby the wytty yong man found occasion to bind Socrates to him after a sort So that to retourne againe to our purpose it appereth that it is not the excellencie or valew of the gyft whyche is to be regarded but the hart with whyche it is geuen and the order of the doing therof The hawty and curious Courtiars who are in office and by meane thereof haue that séeke vnto them will hardly and with muche a doo be spoken with of their sewters aboute anye matter of weight and yet when they are spoken with they fode fourth selly folkes with many fayer wordes and bare promesses whiche in thend standeth them in verye small or no stead And yet of a far worse nature iudge I him to be that with opprobriouse and crewell woordes with a churlish and frowninge countenaunce vttred after a dispytefull sorte displayeth what he hath done for this man or that For therehens commeth it that although we see the poore outwardely make a face and shewe of goodwill towarde the Riche yet inwardly they hatâ— them in theyr hartes to the death And that altogether for their fortune And yet diuers there are of them that hate one an other for doynge some thynges whyche they that reprehende them perhaps woulde doo if they were in lyke power and authoritie Few there are but emproue their Landes to thuttermost to maigntaine their owne auarice They regard nothing but despice othermennes pouertie and séeke to the vttermost all y e meanes they can how to shonne it themselues fearryng nothyng ells but fallyng into penurye For redresse and preuenting wherof they cesse not to molest their vnderlings and inferiours oppressynge theyr poore tenauntes allwayes vexing them that are not able to make resistaunce and kepynge them downe still with might and mayn And yet what can a man well saye agaynste some such pilling of prouinces and makynge the vttermost of suche offyces as thou hast thyself payed derelye for seyng that the CoÌ„mon Law among men whiche proceâ—eth and is grounded vpon naturall reason permitteth thée to sell againe the thing that thou bowghtest Chap. 10. BUt loe the grief to see thinges somuch disordred hath caused me to straye father from my matter in hande theÌ„ I thought to haue done for that sufficient matter to talke of still offred it selfe Wherefore for thys time I make here an end for feare least I deduce the lyke cause of blame to these our dayes Our auncestours and forefathers haue complained them of this hertofore we our selues at this present find vs agreued thereat and I feare very much that our posteritie shall haue lyke cause to be wayle themâ— to sée that good condicions and honest maners amonge men are so corrupted that naughtines hath altogether got their places that wordly affayres fall out eche daye worse and woorse with somuche euill that allmose there can be no more And now are these thinges rooted so and settled as it were in this state that lykely they are so to continew and hold on stil onely now and then perhaps they may chaunce to be tossed to and fro a lytle lyke the waues of the sea which when they haue for a season bene still and quyet with in the shore if there happen to ryse a sodaine flaw or a sharp pyrry of winde streight way they woorke aloft and tosse vp and downe for the time So may it chauÌ„ce to fare with these euill condicions of men For as the times doo alter and channge right so follow they Somewhile shal ye sée Daliaunce and bodily plesure beare chefest sway eftsones againe vnmeasurable festing ryotous banqueting and superfluous féeding shall playe his part Sone after shall all they be exiled forth of place then none shal rule but sumptuous apparelling and trimming the bodie with costly arraye And more then effeminat painting and prankyng the visage the most certaine argument of the fowlenes deformity of the minde with wastful profusion and spending of large patrimonyes and ample enheritaunces Again before a man would almost think it coulde be so all these vices are quyte shut vp as if they had not bene and Tiranny onely taketh place then fall they to Ciuill warres whereby all holy thinges are prophaned Lawes and good order quite extinguished goodnes and god lines wholly abolished DronkeÌ„nes for a time beareth the bel And it shalbe déemed a vertew in him that shall beare most drinke So that a man may sée that vices neyther continew allwayes in one staye but as they are altogether deuoyd of stedfastnes and at variaunce amonge themselues so they force one to geue an other place So that wée maye well pronounce of our selues to our gâ—eat shame and reproche that wée haue bene euill that wee are euill and that we are lyke it greueth me muche to saye it to be euill still For why there shall not fayle to be among vs from time to time manquellars tyrantes theues adulterers encrochers of other mens goodes committers of sacriledge traytours aswel hereafter as heretofore and at this present And yet Ingratitude ought no lesse to be detested then any the vyces that I haue named before as that from whense and by which all those others do procâ—de and haue their rooting Without whiche it is impossible that any euill could spriÌ„g and take his encrease at full as it dothe Wherfore eche one shunne flee it as y e horriblest vice that may happen to anye man And yet if it be thy fortune to byt vpon any that sheweth the Ingratitude forgett and forgeue it stil as the lightest fault that thou mayst finde among all others For the grettest losse that caÌ„ happen to thée hereby pardy is but the losse of thy benefit onely And yet he to whom thou didest it can not accuse thée that thou pleasouredst him not which is the commendablest thing that maye be and deserueth most prayse For as
plesoured or no. Some againe for anye benefit done vnto them will scantlie or but a litle moue their lyppes to y e geuer whiche is yet far worse and sauoreth muche more of Ingratitude then if they had altogether held their peace and sayd neuer a worde Whereas indéed a man shoulde accordyng to the quantitie or qualitie of the benefit that is done to him commeÌ„d and extolle the same with wordes which maye import his gratefull acceptaunce and vnfayned wellyking of it As to say Syr through the plesour you did me such a time you haue wonne the hartes of moe then you are ware of For there is no man but would that his well doynge shoulde be publyshed and knowen to a great many Again thus Syr you know not howmuche your benefits which you bestowed vppon me stode me in steade howbeit I ne may ne will in any wyse coÌ„ceale it from you but must let you tuÌ„derstand that I was much more plesoured thereby then as then myself wened for And who that vnfainedlie without glosing doth on this sort charge himself can not be iudged to coÌ„ceiue vnthankful lye of the plesour he founde As thus to saye In verie déed I graunt I am in no wise nor respect able to rendre you dew thaÌ„kes according to your desertes yet shall I not cesse ne fail at any time to acknowledge coÌ„fesse my said vnablenes Chap. 25. THere was nothiÌ„g that purchaced Furnius somuch fauour beneuolence at Augustus haÌ„des or y â— brought him to that passe that he might request obtaine what he wolde as dyd that his humble acknowledging with submissioÌ„ of the fauour goodnes bownte whiche Augustus had shewed him his extolling the same without all flatterie For being on a time driuen to be a peticioner for his Fathers lyfe to Augustus obtayning graunt of his request he sayd Truly there is nothing O Cesar that greueth me so muche as that I shall now by thy meanes liue gratefull as hauing shewed part of my dewty to my Father and shall dye ingrate and vnthankfull as not able to requite thye goodnes Sée now what more euident or apparant argument can there be of a mindefull carefull and thankfull hart then to graunt that by no meanes he can be perswaded euer to haue yelded thankes enoughe and dow recompeÌ„se and to confesse plainly to be quyte exempt from all hope of euer beynge able to attayne thereto with these I saye or suche lyke woordes let vs declare and shewe what ernest inward good will we haue to our power to requite the benefites we haue receyued Or if perhappes by woordes wee be not able to vtter it as we ought to doo yet let vs in suche sort as we may declare our vnfained desier to make recompense In whiche behalfe assured lie our minde will not fayle by our face to shew how we are bent that waye Who that receiueth a benefit thankfullie in the verye time of receiuinge it studieth how he should make recompense for it Chrisippus sayeth that lyke as he that is appointed to runne for a wager muste watche diligentlie to get the start of hys fellowe or he that is in prison wayteth when he maye finde best oportunitie to breke pryson and saue hymself so behoueth it hym that hath bene plesoured by all meanes he canne to deuise and study howe he maye fynde conuenient tyme to requite the benefyt he hath receyued and if he happe to find that oportunitie to laye sure holâ— on it that it escape him not Chap. 26. NOw we haue next to consider what it is that causeth menne to shâ—w themselues vnthankful Which in mine opinion ryseth by some of these thinges To wytte ouermuche arrogancie self lykynge of hys owne doinges or substaunce couetousnes or enuye These take I to be the principal heds out from whense Ingratitude floweth and taketh his beyng And to thend we may examine theÌ„ thoroughlye let vs beginne with the firste and so descend from one to an other There is no vnthankful man al most but I warraunt you he wil be thonly iudge of hys cause himself And thens groweth it that what he hath receiued he thynketh it nomore then he hath deserued and so iudgeth it not worth the while to recoÌ„pense as skant worth any suche labour of his And to confirme his opinion and make his tale good Thus will he saye Truthe it is nor I will not denye but suche one dyd this or that for me But how long was it I pray you ere I could obtaine it What labour susteined I about it Howmuche more might I haue benefited miself if I had bestowed y e seruice about suche one or suche one or if I had not troubled miself at all but lyued quietly w t mine owne I wis I had well hoped I should haue bene far otherwise rewarded at his haÌ„des I had bene better to haue bene without his plesours then to haue endured half these troubles as I haue done about the gettyng of them they in thend to be so worshipful as they are Chap. 27. CNeus Lentulus surnamed y e sothesaier was in his time noted to be a maÌ„ of passing great welth vntil such time y â— certein which had bene his boÌ„dmeÌ„ and wer by him enfraunchised despoiled and robbed him This Lentulus as the report went sawe of his own proper goods together at one time ten Millions of Crownes which at those dayes was couÌ„ted infinite as at these days it wer a good rouÌ„d soÌ„me And in that I sayd he sawe them I said very well For indéed he dyd but sée theÌ„ For that only excepted he had no vse of them Of a passing dull doltish wyt he was in all other respectes saue onely in muckering vp of money And for all y t he was an exceding couetous miser and suche a penie father as would part with nothing yet with more ease might an other get money from him theÌ„ he coulde himself bring forth any redy and plaine talk so great an impedimeÌ„t he had in his speche And wheras of dewty and ryght he should haue adscribed all his aduauncement and attainemeÌ„t to welth to Augustus to whome at first he came bare enoughe but what through the greate fauour of Augustus What through money wherewith he made waye for hymself he was nowe become to be as it were a Prince in the Citie And yet for all that neuer ceast he complayning to Augustus howe for his sake he had geueÌ„ ouer his boke and receyued in recompense nothing the lyke plesour nor gaine as he lost by leuing his studie Wherevpon Augustus ouer and besides all that he hadde els done for him dispatcht him also from hauing anye more cause to coÌ„plaine him in that sort Thus maye you sée that couetousnes will not permit a man to shew himself thankful though he haue neuer so great and iuste cause so to doo For to him that is altogether set on hauing impossible
we should diligently in plesouring of al men especially haue regard to doo it to them that we iudge will proue thankfull and acknowledge it wilinglye again so ought we not to make restraint of benefitinge those whom alredy we knowe precisely they wil proue vnthankfull and that by profe had of them in times past As suppose thaâ— it laye in me to restore to anye manne his Children whom to doo it I must reskew w t great peril daunger I ought no whytte to stycke at the doynge herof vnlesse I were to susteine assured lye great harme and hindraunce therby myself And asfor him that I know worthie to he plesoured by me I may in no case refuse or lingar to do it were it so that I should spend my bloude and aduenture my lyfe for him And asfore him that I know assuredly vnworthy to whoÌ„ I shoulde doo any plesour yet if I saw him in daunger of théeues and that by my outcrye I might saue him deliuer him from them I may not stick to crye as lowed as possiblye I can for his suche safegarde Chap. 11. NOw followeth it that wee shew what those benefites be that we should doo the one to the other and howe we should doo theÌ„ First of all the thinges which we ought to geue should be suche as be necessary to him to whome we geue them Secondly they should be profitable Thirdly acceptable and suche chieflye as are of longest continuaunce It behoueth then that wee begine with those thinges that are necessarye Whiche are deuided into two sortes vnder thone of which are conteined those thinges whiche conserue maÌ„s lyfe Under thother are included those thinges whiche doo well gouerne thesame and cause it to be of long durance For among men ye shall finde some that will wake but small accompt of the recept of suche benefits as are transitorye and of no continuaunce and others some shall ye finde whiche disdaine to receiue any benefitte at an other bodyes hande sayeng It sufficeth me that I haue of minâ— owne I am well enough contented therwith I will not trouble my self with anye more to endet or endaunger me withall By whiche meanes he refuseth not onely to rendre the thankes courtesy dew for y e offer of plesour made to hym but with shamefull desdaigne reiecteth thesame Farther it is to be vnderstode that emonge the necessarye plesours whyche men maye do the one to the other there be certaine degrees of whyche some are principall as those without whyche we can not liue some next them and second as it wer as those without whiche we can not lyue well and other some thirde as those without whiche we wil not liue Of the first sort are these To be deliuered from the handes of our enemyes froÌ„ the fierce crueltye of Tirantes to be saued from exile and sentence of losse of goodes and Landes and other such lyke daungers whiche as they are indeed verye great so is our lyfe on eche syde assaulted with thesame And these I saye are of that nature that how muche gretter and more perillouse they séeme to be and thereby causers of gretter feare so muche the more shall they who are deliuered from them thynke gentlenes in vs â—y whose meanes thei are so dispatched from thesame For why the great feare whyche they were in shall make the benefytte when they fynde it séeme to them muche the gretter In whyche behalfe we may if the cause will conuenientlye beare it without damage or detriment to be susteined by the partye so endaungered some what delay the spéedy doing of the plesour to thend thapparant shew of the daunger maye cause hym bothe to accompt better and beare in mynde the longar the benefyt when it is shewed The benefits which occupie the second place and degrée are those without whiche we maye after a sort liue but yet so that we were better dead then lyuinge in suche maner As to be barred of liberty to be depriued of good name and fame to lose a mans sences wittes and others suche lyke In whiche degre may be noÌ„bred also al such thyngs as by affinity of bloud by vse or loÌ„g custome do becom dere to vs as our friÌ„des our wiues our Children and such lyke thynges to whiche our minde is so tenderly affectionat that it séemeth to vs lesse grief to losâ— our lyfe then to depart with any the thiÌ„ges afore mencioned Next after these as it were in the third place succede those things that are profitable which part extendeth very large and includeth a verye great multitude of thynges as money not superfluous or excessif but competent and reasonnable sâ—muche as may mainteigne vs in good state of lyfe Hetherto are also referd prefermentes of honour or attainment of any higher degrée And among al the thinges that are accompted profitable there is no one better then for a man to endeuour to aduâ—untage and profit hymself Asfor all other thinges whyche are not so necessary for mans lyfe as the aboue named thynges are wheâ— they are had they bréed but superfluitye and excesse which bringeth men to a certeine wantonnes and hauty minde But the things which we mean and of whyche we now doo entreat rest in this point chéefelye that for the commodiousenes of the time place whâ—che they serue they may well séeme to be pleasaunt And againe that they be suche as be not common to euerye man For by diligent notyng of these circumstauÌ„ces as time place person and thing presented we shall stande well assured that lightie wée shall neyther geue nor send to any man that thynge that shalbe eyther superfluous or not acceptable As to sende bookes to a rusticall person and vnlearned or nettes to a studious man and one altogether addicted to his boks séeme both gyftes not fit for that they are not agreable with the qualities and natures of them to whom they are sent In like maner behoueth it that we send no suche presentes to any man that the present may smell to touche any vyce or infirmitye of his to whom we sende the same As to sende wyne to one that we knowe will lightlye and commonly be dronke and plaisters and salues to hym that is muche geuen to sicknes or troubled with sores For in so doing we shal quyte disgrace our present and forne good will whyche we woulde séeme to séeke Wholly into disliking for that the partie maye after a sort séeme to be put in minde by our sayd present of the vicâ— which well enough he knoweth to be in hym Chap. 12. WHerfore if we will doo any plesour or ells bestow any benefit vpon any man aboue all other thyng we shall séeke to doo it by thinges of longest continuaunce to this end that oâ—r said gift and the memory therof may continew the longar For there are very fewe that be of so good nature to beare still in minde the plesour that hath
are at whose handes with more difficulty and paine a man shal get the bare doing and dispatch of a matter then he shall at some others obtain the gift or gouâ—rnemeÌ„t of a matter or sewt it selfe and that of weyght This man must be entreated that he wil but put his maister in mind and sollicite the matter That other must be desyred that he wil dispatche do that which his maister hath graunted yea commonlye these wil not speÌ„d somuch as their speche a litle without great Fées wheras their maister for the thing it self graunted requireth nothing but doth it gratis Thus when so many are to be entreated and sewed vnto about thobtaininge of one self thing eche one that coÌ„meth after the firste grauntour diminisheth parcell of the thaÌ„ks which otherwyse shold wholly redound to thâ—â—lye firste grauntour And when on plesour passeth through so many handes before it hath his perfectioÌ„ it happeth oftentimes that the least part of plesonr is his that requested it as a plesourâ— wherfore if thou wouldest doo a plesour and wouldst haue it accoÌ„pted of as a frindly plesour then in any wise sée it be not suche that shall come from hande to hande be tost from post to pillar and passe the pickes as the prouerbe is but y t it comme wholly from thy self and that immediately to theÌ„ to whoÌ„ thou woldst show suche plesour For there is none y t can get any thankes by the gyft whyche thou geuest but of force it muste lessen somewhat of that which otherwise shold haue bene wholly dewe to thy self Chap. 5. THere is nothing that bréedeth so great gryef or is suche a corosif to a man as to be loÌ„g foded fourth with wanne hoppe and in fine faile of his purpose also For few there are but had rather be abbridged of their hoping with a flat denyall at ones then to be lingred forth with fayer promises and finde no déedes when all is done But there are a multitude whiche of set purpose and for vaine glory they haue to be sewed to wil readily make fayer and faithfull promises enow fearing leaste their nomber of sewtours wold els perhaps decay and so the blasoning of their authoritye should faile if there were not a nomber who with their painfull and harmeful to themselues dauncing of attendaunce might record and testifie it to them that sée it Suche are manye officers in Court and diuers other placed in authorytie and rowme about Princes other Lordes of honour Who repose no small point of glorie to rest in manifestinge making their pryde to be apparant perswading themselues it were quite dasht vnlesse the multitude of séely folowynge sewters shoulde shew their authoritie Lyke glorious Pecockes boasting onely in their tayle The iniuries and wrongs that suche lyst to offâ—r are redy enough but the pleasures whiche they shew so slacke and faint that their féet are not able to beare them forward They neuer will dispatche any one sueâ— at ones Remembring nowhyt nor troubling theyr braynes with the sayenge of the Poete comicall Quid tu non intelligis tantuÌ„ te gratie demere quantum more adiicis Comment nentends tu pas que moindres sont les graces Du bien dautant ques loâ—g auant que tu le faces Who doth not vnderstaÌ„de that traâ—â— of tyme and space The bewty of the benefit doth thoroughly disgrace ANd herof coÌ„meth it that some of very anguish and grief after long gaping and nothinge catching For dyre payne are forst to saye Syr I besech you if it be so that ye mind to plesour me and to doo for me in deed as you haue long borne me in hande you woulde doo it then Yf the matter be of no great daunger nor difficultie why doo you thus lingar it I had rather you woulde quite denye to plesour me then on this wise to delaye me Whiche tariauÌ„ce maketh me welnigh thorough werye and to lothe the benefit rather then I woulde thus long tarye and attend for it And is any manne to be called hasty churlysh or disdaignefull that hauynge iust cause shall thus saye iudge you No neuer adeale For as it is a greate péece of crueltie by tractyng the time to encrese and augment a mans death and againe a péece of courtesye to hasten the spéedy dispatche of his deth that is condemned néedes must dy without pardoÌ„ or raunsome rather then by lingring the time to make him die a thousaÌ„d deathes Right so deserueth that plesour inumerable thaÌ„kes that is done without delay in respect of y e whyche is tracted by long time and delayed For painful is the loÌ„g wayting euen for good thinges And forasmuch as by sondry benefits plesours are holpen and redressed sondrye grefes and harmes He that causeth any man to be long vexed and greued whom he may ease quicklye or hindreth his attayning to a benefit whom it lyeth in him to farther séemeth in that to lay violent handes on him and for that time to conspire his death as it were Take this for certeintie Courtesie alwaye hasteth to doo that whiche it can doo and it is the property of him that willingly doth any plesour to doo it without delaye Who so shewed plesour and stayed but one daye to do it dowtles neuer did it willingly if he might aswell haue done it afore Whereby he lost two woorthie and precious thinges The time and the showe of frindly good will Chap. 6. IN euerye thynge that is to be done chefest regard is to be had after what order maner euery suche thinge is to be done For like as spedy dispatching doth much aduauntage so doth long tariaunce not a litle annoye For as in dartes the Iron is allwayes one and a lyke able to hurt but the oddes and diuersitie riseth whether it be cast with a strong or weke arme and as the sword of it self is apt and plyaunt eyther to hurte but lyghtlye or wouÌ„d dedly or not at al as force is vsed to it and the place of the blow lyghtyng chosen So fareth it by benefites For that whiche is geuen or done remaineth alwayes one at a stay and vnchaâ—nged But yet the mind w t which it is geueÌ„ declareth great diuersitie to be therein How plesant and acceptable is that benefit for which he will not receiue thaÌ„kes that dyd it but euen while he doeth it endeuoureth to forget that he dyd any suche plesour Again to taunt and check and hit one in teth with the benefit thou didst is an apparaunt signe of a naughty nature and churlishe and vnfréendly stomacke of thyne and disgraceth that quite whyche otherwise thou deseruedst prayse for Sée therfore that in no wyse thy benefites be enterlaced with sorowfulnes or cause of discoÌ„forte And if ther be any other thyng whereof thou wouldest aduertise and as a frinde admonish him of whom thou hast benefited chose a fit and conuenient time and place therto and in no wyse doo it by
to haue commendacion The matters themselues shall declare our actes abundantly yea though we say neuer a woorde It is not only a thankles benefit but to be abhorred also which is skornefully geuen Chap. 12. CEsar on a time gaue PoÌ„pée the Punicien his lyfe if we maye saye he gaue lyfe that toke it not awaye wheruppon when Pompée bowed downe hymself huÌ„blie to haue reuerenced Cesar For his lyfe pardoned Cesar offred him forth his lyft fote to kisse Whiche presumptuous fact of Cesars they that séeme to excuse saye that he did it not for pride or disdainfulnes of mind but for that he would he shoulde sée the golden buskin he then waâ—e on richelye garnyshed with perle and stone But when all is sayde and the best they can made of it was it not shame enough iudge you that he that semd to be borne to no other end but to chaung y e Romain liberty into the thraldome of the Persians could not find any honester or more decent place of his bodye to offer to so graue a man as Pompée was who had also bene Consul but make him kisse the buskin vpon his foot He made but small accompt of this that so noble and auncieÌ„t a man hauing borne so high dignity and office in y e weale publique debased himself so much as to humble himself to him vpon the ground in the presence of suche an assemblie of so many great personages and men of honor in such sorte that vaÌ„quished enemies to get grace at their Conquerous handes could not doo more What séemed he to doo hereby but to tread as it were dispitefully y e weale publique vnder his féet But some will say that the kyssing of his left foot could auaile but litle to the vndoyng the state of the weale publique Uery truth but he shrewdly shewed his welmening mind Ouermuche had it bene reproche to him to haue delt with so worthye a man as Pompée was in geuing sentence in such sort as he did vpoÌ„ him though after such skornefull wise he had not forced him to kysse his foot Chap. 13. O Folish wantonnes and pride of men that are ones clymen to honour O passynge great follie and madnes that rayggneth in them Howe happie is he that hath not to deale with such nor néedeth to séeke for plesour at their haÌ„des How sone they can tourne benefites to iniuries and plesours to paine What pleasauntnes delight take they in excesse How vnséemelie are all their doynges And how muche the loftiar they séeke to clime somuche the lower they fal down at last Wherby they geue meÌ„ iust cause to thinke that they know not themselfs nor weigh their astates What may it bâ— that puffeth them vp so with pride and insolencie Geue they neuer so muche it is counted but loste I woulde here demaunde of Cesar as I would also of any man ells what it is that they beare theÌ„selues so loftie on What it is that shold chaung into woorse nature both the couÌ„tenaunce and behâ—uiour of men Those plesures giftes or benefites onelye are plesaunt that are geuen or done after a courteous maner and gentle sorte As when one that is farre my better geueth me any thing and yet doth not triumphe ouer me for that his munificence but with all gentlenes and debonairety maketh semblaunce as if he hadde nowhyt plesoured me in suche sort as he did chosing by his owne accorde to doo it and that quickly with expedicion to preuent the time rather then to differre it vntill I had néede Necessarie is it therefore that suche as are disposed to plesour others take good regard that they commit no follie wherby they shal lose the grace of the said benefit which thei haue done and again that they déeme the plesours they haue shewed to be nowhit the gretter for that they are manye in nomber whiche argueth for all that neuer the greatter bounty in them And that in any wise they auoid the desyer of vaine glory for any their suche plesours done which causeth their doinges to be hated whych otherwyse would be loued commended and had in great prite Chap. 14. ANd yet some thinges there are whiche of their owne natures are hurtefull to those that request the same which it is more fréendlines to denie then to grauÌ„te Wherfore in passing our graunt we are to weygh aswell the profitte as the satiâ—fienge the minde of the requesters For many times we make earnest pursute after thinges that are harmeful to vs and can not of our selues discerne howe pernicious they are for vs for that our blind affectioÌ„ for the time dimmeth the clerenes of our iudgement But so sone as that heat beginneth to slake when that burnynge desier whiche erst vanquished discrecion is some what quaild we our selues then dislike and detest the counsailours and fortherers of those euilles For as wée should not geue colde water to him that is in the fyt of a shakyng agewe nor we pon to hym that is besides his wittes no more ought we to graunt the request of euerye one by and by that humblie ernestly with compassion and pytye desireth some thinges of vs For Reason would that we shold take as good regard to thend as to the beginninges of suche plesours as we are to doo and that wée should geue such thinges wherby a man may take plesour not onely when he receiueth them but afterwarde also But some one will saye to himself perhapes well I know that that whiche suche one desireth of me shall not aduauntage nor plesour him but hurte and hindar him yet what should I doo He requesteth it of me so earnestly that I maye not saye him nay Let him sée to his owne safegarde he shall not haue cause to blame me This opinion is verye fals yes marye shall he haue cause to blame thee and that woorthelie For when he shall be better aduised on the matter and that the hoat fit of his shalbe qualified whye shoulde he not hate hym that in his time of follye forthred him to catche his bane To geue the assent to harme one is crewell pytye And as it is a verye charitable acte to saue them that through follies rage woulde without naye mischeue and destroye and vndoe themselues so is it to graunt hurtful thyngs to eche manne for the askynge as sygne apparaunt of pitiefull crueltie Let vs endeuoure to geue suche thynges that the longar they are enioyed and kepte the more plesaunt and profitable they maye appere to be and neuer fayle of their goodnes My money will I not geue to an adulterer for that I woulde not séeme to be a fortherer of his wickednes But if I know preciselye suche follye to haue place in him I will what I maye disswade him from it Neither woulde I geue it to a common quarreller nor one that hath no staye nor gouernement of himself for feare that an other daye he saye Suche one by louing me ouermuch and to tenderlye
vnthankfull that denyeth the recept of the benefit whiche he had He is again vnthankfull that dissembleth and will not voluntarilie confesse and acknowledge it He is also vnthankfull that requiteth not the benefit whyche he receiued But he is most vnthankfull of all the rest that forgetteth it quite The residew yet though they requite it not yet they reste dettours for it and there appereth yet in them some signe and shew that benefites were by them receiued though they be reposed and coucht in an euill conscience And yet these persons vppon some one cause or other maye happe to be moued at one time or other to render thankes Perhaps shame will woorke remembraunce of their duties or the lyke néed at an other time thone of these otherwyle taketh place in verye naughty natures But he that hath quite forgot that he had suche plesour shewed hym séemeth to be past all hope that he euer will shewe himself to be thankfull And to saye the truth if it shoulde be put to your owne iudgement whych of these would you déeme most ingratefull him that refuseth and neglecteth to rendre thankes for the plesour whiche was shewed him or ells that other that forgetteth it quite and remembreth it nowhit at all Indéed those are euill eyes that can not endewer the brightnes of the light but they are plaine blind eyes that sée no whyt Assuredlye it is a wicked part if any one should hate and not loue his parentes But to refuse and denye and not acknowledge them is a manifest signe of madnes Who is so vnthaÌ„kfull as he that hath clene reiected careleslyke that whyche he should haue allwâ—yes in remembraunce and that so setteth it aside that he forgotteth it quite It maye be well thought that he neuer troubled his hed much with deuisâ—ng and studieng howe to requite the benefites whiche were done to him if he haue suffred them to slide quite forth of memory Chap. 2. NOw who that will requite the benefits and plesours that haue ben shewed him by an other hath néede of habilitie time Fortune fauowrable who that beareth in minde without forgetting the plesour â—e hath receiued is thankfull without any Farther charge And he that will not doo that that requireth neyther labour riches nor great good Fortune is worthie to haue but litle alledged for him by waye of excuse Dowtles he neuer mente to shew himselfe thankfull that cast benefits done to him so farre out of his sight that he did not somuche as thinke vppon them anye more For as that whiche is daylie at hande to vs and in continuall vse mouldeth not ne waxeth hoare and again those thinges which are laid aside out of sight and forgotten gather soyle of their owne accord by onely lieng stil So what is in the dayly exercise and occupieng of the mind is neuer forgotten as that whiche loseth nothing except it be that that is cast aside as it were neuer to be occupyed or thought vpon anye more Chap. 3. BEsydes this that I haue alledged there are other causes allso whyche often times let vs from remembring such benefits as are done to vs. The first and chefest of whiche is For that as we are altogether led with new desires so we regard neuer what we alredye haue had but consider whollye what we woulde haue not casting any eye or regarding that whych is in possession but respecting that onelye whiche we make pursute after The passing gréedie and couetous desier wee haue causeth vs to set but light by anye thing that we haue alredy and to weigh him but litle at whose handes we receiued it But him we loue to him we doo all maner of obseruaunce we affirme that all the stay of our welldoing dependeth on him so long as we lyste to lyke of the thinges we receiue at his handes But so sone as we begin to take a smatche of other greter plesours and that we féele any lyfe as they say in it that it is coming maye be got as the guise of men is nowadayes after they haue obtained great thynges to hunt still after greatter then farewell that we before had in so great price after the other w c might mayne Then weigh we no loÌ„gar the things which erst haue preferred vs but fixe our eyes wholly to consider how y t which we shote at hath aduauÌ„ced to fortime those y t had the same And how can a man be both enuyous of an other mans state and thankfull for his owne It is impossible For Enuye is allwayes accoÌ„panied with sadnes sorow thaÌ„kfulnes is associated with gladâ—es ioyfulnes Farthermore forasmuche as we regard nor weigh the passing time anye longar while then that it is in passyng seldom when we call to minde the thynges that passed in that tyme. Whereuppon it followeth that Scolemasters we sée so vsually lost their benefites whiche they bestow vppon vs in our youth For which notwithstanding that they demeryte inâ—éed worthely great thankes yet for all that they finde them not repayde for that we to whom they were done do neuer cal to mind nor weigh duly what thynges hapned within that age Neythere of the time it self when it is ones past no man maketh more accompt then as if it were lost And as thynges done in that time passe also with the tyme doutfull it séemeth lest when they are ones past they be also past hope of remeÌ„braunce Chap. 4. BUt in this place me séemeth I may very wel agre w t the Epiâ—ure and fortyfie his Reason who complaineth alwayes that we are so vnthankful vnmindful of the plesour that is past What commoditie soeuer we haue had we call it not to remembraunce nor accompt it any longar in the nomber of plesours Whereas indéed there is no one plesour so certein as that whiche is past for that we are well assured can by no meanes be taken from vs. Asfor the present plesours sayth the Epicure they stande not yet on sewer grounde for by one misfortune or an other a man may hap to lose them Yea perhaps when he thinketh himself most assured of them And as for those that are to come and not yet done but stande in happe de pays they hange suspiciouslye and vppon great vncertentye But those that all readye are had and be past they are ded sure And who that wil diligentlye bâ—hold the present benefits which he now enioyeth and but call to mind howmuche those whiche he hath receiued in times past stode him in stead at the time of the Recept of the same can not those as I déeme but shew himself thankful But who so passeth on still gaping for frâ—she benefites dowtles will take but small kéepe to the benefits that are ones past Chap. 5. AS there are some thynges whereof it is sufficient to geue precepts for thattainment of them and when they are ones had they are not lyghtly forgotten so are there
then assigne for them that are vnthankfull Assuredly I would assigne but one kinde of punishment to be dew to them all in generall And for that all kinde of benefits are not of lyke quantitie nor valew but some gretter som lesser I wold the sayde penaltye should be also diminished or increased accordyng to the quaÌ„titie and qualitie of the benefit so receiued and not requited Well theÌ„ admitte that there are some kind of benefites of whyche we ought to make as good accompt as of our lyfe And some againe whiche we haue cause to weigh déerer of then of our life If he that hath receiued these shew himself vnthankfull for the same what paine shal we iudge him worthy of Ought it to be any lesse then the benefit was whiche he receiued It were against conscience it should Shal it be then equall with it and lyke Alas what thing were there more miserable and crewel then that the end of benefits whiche in eche thing ought to be y e best shoulde be requited and payed with the death and bloud shedyng of those whom they should benefit Chap. 11. BUt some will say that Parentes yet ought to haue certeine priuiledges aboue others for suche benefites as they shall doo to their ChildreÌ„ I say nay For in receiuing benefites done by them to vs we obserue neyther order nor degrée more then wée doo in benefites receyued at anye other bodies hande Howbeit we ought to obserue and kéepe the reuerent respect oâ— dewtie that is and ought â—o be betwene the parentes and their children sacred and vnstayned for this that it is expedient they shoulde beget children And to them in bestowynge of benefites a manne can not well saye as he woulde doo to an other persone Consider and marke well with thyself on whome thou bestowest thy benefites any more henceforth If thou haue shewed pleasour and hast not found the lyke aunswered blame no manne but thye selfe who shouldest haue bene well aduised to haue pleasoured sâ—che onelye as thou knewest woorâ—hy of the same But though the hauynge or not hauyng of Children resteth not at the pleasour and discreciâ—n of the parentes but in the handes and pleasour of God yet is it méete when they haue them that they shoulde haue power and authorytie ouer them whyche maye some what recomfort them agayne in the pacient abydynge and willinglye suffryng suche chaunces and casualties as are incident to them that aduenture themselues to attempt that kynde of fortune Againe greate oddes is there betwene the parentes and others in bestowynge of benefites For Parentes though they haue ones or oftener benefitted their Children and haue hadde cause to think the same euill bestowed yet maye not they cesse from benefiting them still for all that Moreouer the benefites of all Fathers are lyke for what is required of anye one in that respect that same is required of euerye one that beareth the denominacion of a Father and not of one or other more or lesse But thée Nature of benefites whyche whiche are done frome one to an other where there is no respect of causes why is far other And as those benefites are different among themselues so can they not be coÌ„prehended vnder any one Rule Chap. 12. DIuers thynges there are that are very costly chargeable to the geuers and other some thynges there are that are as thankfullie accepted and yet not so painfull for charges to be geuen Some thinges we geue to our Frindes and familiar acquainted and some againe to straungers and persons not knowen Though the giftes which thou geuest to seueral persons be to eche of them acceptable yet is that most commendable that thou geuest to him whom thou knewest not before but beginst by that to knowe in respect of that thou gauest to hym whome thou knewest before Some are able to grauÌ„t ayd in troubles Others to confort with counsel in heauines And others some to geue promocions and sondry prefermentes whereby the hauers countenaunce is muche amended and his astate bettered and as al these diuers sortes of benefits differ one from an other so shall you see diuers men diuersely desier thesame Some one you shal finde that shal thinke nothynge so excellent as to haue one that in the depest extremitie of hys miserye and when he is allmost desperate with sorow can yet wisely recoÌ„fort him with good councell Some other is there that hath more regard far to worship and preferment attayning then to liuing in safetie Again some other therâ— is that doth accompt himself more beholding to him that saueth him from perils and daungers then to him that carefully prouideth for his honestie So that wee se any of these thinges is so much more or lesse estéemed of as the partye who is to geue his sentence vpon the same doth more or lesse frame hys fansye to lyke thereof In money matters I chose my Creditour whome I lyst my selfe But benefits sometime I haue at his handes that willinglye I would not and otherwhiles I am vnwittingly bounden And what will you doo in this case will you call him vnthankfull that dothe not requite the benefit whych he receyued eyther vnwittingly or against his will Chap. 13. ONe that hath done me a plesour heretofore w c in a while after woorketh me a greate displesour Tell me nowe Should I thynke myself bounde to endewer asmany wronges and iniuries as he would lay vpoÌ„ me for that he plesoured me one time or ells shall I sette the wrong he dyd me against the plesour I founde before at his handes and as the prouerbe is the hares hed againste the goose ieblets If you were to be iudge in this case whether â—yde woulde you thinke the heuyer The benefit to charge the receiuer or ells the iniurye to be a barre to the geuer Time shoulde faile me if I woulde attempt to recyte all the matters of diffycultye that myght aryse in these cases by whyche the Iudge if it were so that thys matter shold come to pleadynge woulde by so troubled that hée coulde hardely saye what sentence to geue But you will saye that hereof it groweth that menne are so vnwillynge to shewe pleasours as they are partelye for that wée are soo slacke in requitynge the same partelye for that they that are so slacke are still permitted to escape vnpunished Not so neither There are few or none that enforce beneâ—ites vppon anye man whether he will or not and againe who that doth benefitte any man beyng moued so to doo for the goodnes and honesty of the cause that geueth him encouragement therto he doth that he doth gladlye and forthwith dischargeth him whoÌ„ he hath benefited from somuch as thinking that he should be endetted therefore he doth the same so franckly Except it be so that the party benefited of hys owne voluntarye will will willingly acknowledge himself his detour and séeke to requyte it For if he should looke fâ—r recompense or demaunde it all the whole glorie and
handes but put my self wholly in your grace vse me as you shall thinke good and with that layd downe his hedde to them to be smytten of O what a noble courage was he of that willinglye without constraint offred himself to dye to saue his maister and that at suche time when faithfulnes was almost quite exiled forth of the Cytie And was it not more straunge at that time to find suche Loyaltie in suche one when nothinge reigned among the verye best but crueltie and treason And what gretter punishment could there be deuised against the rankest Traytour that euer was but death with which he chose to be rewarded for his most trustines Chap. 24. I Will not passe ouer with scilence what chaunced in Rome of later time In the reigne of Tiberius Cesar it was a commoÌ„ practise and a disease that held wâ—llnyghe euery maÌ„ there to exhibit and preferre billes of accusacion one agaiÌ„st an other to Tiberius Which deuise during the while that the warre Ciuile did last had shrewdly shaken the nobles of Rome There was presented what talke men had of him as they sat on their alebenche and scantly could a man haue anye talke familiarlye with his Frinde but it was blowen to Tiberius eare There was no astate in safetie nor any man all most trustye The least cause that might be was matter sufficient for him to shew his creweltye If any haply were detected it néeded not to listen what should become of him for euen before the time of his attainder it was knowen welenowgh whether he should The axe and the blocke sate in iudgement of him It fortuned Paulus y â— Pretor at that time to suppe abrode froÌ„ home and ware vpon his fingar a King in whiche was engraued the picture of Tiberius This Paulus after he had dronk hard had lyst to make water and chaunced to take the chamber pot in that hand wheron he ware that King by Reason whereof the King touched the pot also Whiche thing Maro one that was present in companie a Sicophant and picke thanke noted full well reioycing mithhimself that he had suche matter to report to Tiberius thinking for his tidinges as it might haue proued if he could haue brought his deuise about to haue had the spoile of Paulus â—ut as he torned him about to call witnesses to testifie the fact the seruaunt of Paulus who stode by his maister and eyed Maro wel misâ—rusting that there was treason working agaiÌ„st his maister sodeinly pluckt the King froÌ„ of his maisters hand So y t when Maro tourned him again about to haue shewed the others and charged theÌ„ to record how Paulus had vnreuerentlye and vnhonorably abused the Emperours picture with touchinge soo vnsemelye thinges with it the seruaunt of Paulus hys maister not able to saye for himself for dronkennes denied it was so and for profe shewed the King whiche he had in his hande affirming that his maister before he went about his necessaries deliuered it him to kéepe for the time Chap. 25. DUringe the Reigne of Augustus Cesar men might yet w t muche more liberty and safetye talke their fancies then they myght vnder Tiberius for that he was not replenished with suche furye and Tyrannye In that tyme it chaunced that one Ruffus a manne of good honour who had sometime bene Consul of Romeâ— as he sate at supper on a tyme and was ouer gone with drinke suffred this vnwise wish folishly to escape hym That Augustus myght not safelye retourne froÌ„ a viage whiche he was about to make but that he might miscary in it adding moreouer that the very oxen and calues about Rome had cause to wishe the same There wanted not to be those that harkned and marked well his wordes as they past him On the morowe morning very early in y e dawning of the daye a seruaunt of his that stode by the night afore and herd al his talke recounted orderly vnto him what he hadde vnwisely amoÌ„g his cuppes suffred to scape him and soberlye aduised him to preueÌ„t all mischéefes with all spéede to get him to Augustus there accuse himself and put him in his graceâ— When after a litle deliberating with himself he was fullie perswaded that his seruaunt councelled him for the best determined with himself to follow it Wherevppon makyng him readye with sâ—éed got him on hys way to Augustus ward and there attended to méet him at his firste comming abrode And hauinge done firste his obedience put himself wholly in his grace and exponing to him all the discourse of the matter and his disloyaltie with earnest repentaunce for his folly so sowlye ouer shot wishing it might rather hap on himself and his besought him humblie of his gracious pardon which Augustus as he was bountifull and debonayre graunted immediately But none quod Ruffus will credit that I stande in your fauour except it may appere to theÌ„ that you gaue me something and therevpon besought him that he would grauÌ„t him a resonable some of money as he then requested whyche Augustus gaue charge should be deliuered him And farther quod Cesar of my more ample grace this I promise thée that on my parte there shalbe no cause geuen why wee twayne will euer hereafter fall out again Did not Cesar graciously so lightly to remit the fact but more worthie of commendacion was it in that he annexed to hys clemencie such liberalitie Who that shall but heare this Historie reported can not chose but highly commende Augustus and yet can he not chose but praise this bondman before him But would you not now loke that I shold tel you that he was manumitted and made Frée for his labour I thinke you wold and that woorthely also He was so and Augustus himself paid the money for his redemption Chap. 26. VPon thalledging of somanye examples I suppose there is no man that will dout but that the mayster may well enough receiue a beneâ—it at his seruauntes hand And to say the truth what Reason is it that the parson of the man should more disgrace the thing y â— he doth theÌ„ the thing that is done may coÌ„mend the parson of him that doth it Al men ingenerall haue but one and the self same ofspring if we iudge things aright and the causes of the same as they ought to be then shall we confesse that he onely is most noble that is of best most vertuous nature and disposicion aboue others or more apt and geuen to good sciences then other One onely péece of mould was the first pareÌ„t to vs al how soeuer we deriue our parentage from thense by base or noble race The least cause of boastiÌ„g that is riseth of our auncetours who if they were noble famouse for any their vertewes in which only consisteth trew parfect nobility if we disseÌ„t disarge froÌ„ their said vertuousnes with our shame and reproche enowgh may we record them or make claime to them from whom wâ— so farre
be Wherevppon Manlius so sone as he had gotte oportunitie and that he hadde the Tribune alone drew forthe a naked sworde whyche he had priuely hidde vnder his gowne and layeng holde vppon the Tribune thretned him sayeng Assuredly except thou presentlye sweare vnto me that thou wilt neyther make nor meddle with my Father but discharge him quite of this matter without makyng anye farther a doo about it I will here presently runne thee through with this swoorde For well I stande assuâ—ed that it resteth wholly in thy hande whether my father shall haue anye accuser or not The Tribune seynge himself at suche a strayte sware he woulde doo as he required him and ryght soo perfourmed it Chap. 33. A Uerye easie matter if is to recite one after an other an infinitie noÌ„ber almost of notable examples of such as haue delyuered their parentes from great and present daungers whiche haue aduâ—unced them from base to high degree and whereas they were neyther of name nor fame but inglorious they haue by their meanes made them to be remembred and as it were to lyue perpetuallye By no efficacie of fytt and sufficient woordes by no exactnes and exquisitenes of wit is it able to be sufficientlye expressed howe excâ—llent a thinge it is and prayse worthie to make a mans fame to liue perpetuâ—llie What a noble prayse and commeâ—dâ—cion is it for the childe to be haue hâ—â—selfâ— so that indéed without trip he may iustâ—ly saye I haue shewed my self obedient to my parentes I haue done after their commaundements wer it right or wrong to my self that they required of me I haue framed my self to serue their appetites In this onely thyng haue I shewed myself disobedient to them that I woulde not willingly geue place ne yeeld to them in bestowing benefites on theÌ„ and requyting theyr receyued Eche child I wish to contend on this sort No maner pesons I would should yéeld herin to be vanquished namely in rendring benefits whiche at any mans hand they haue receiued And if it happen anye to waxe dull herein let them whet theyr edges agayne and begine afresh Happy are they that shall get the victorie and happy they that shalbe vanquished if it be not a yéelded victorye What more noble thinge is there then when a man may iustly saye I haue excelled my Father in doing him plesours yea there is none at whose handes I euer receiued benefitte but I haue passed hym farre in requiting the same Who is there that lyueth more fortunat then the olde parentes that maye vppon good proofe reporte that they haue suche a childe that hath with great encrease yeelded them the benefits whyche they bestowed vppon him Generallye who can be called more happy then he that reportyng the truthe may saye I neuer did plesour nor bestowed benefit that I had cause to repent or thinke lost but had it as redily repaid and requited as I was willing to do it and that doubled many folde And then hauyng brought eche partie to that passe that they may iustly so say and find what thing can there happen more happy and so happly to make an ende FINIS Ingratitude the mâ—st coÌ„mon vice the cause why Uery vnthankfulnes in worde dede and the causes The true descripsion of him that dothe no pleasour but by importunat request Benefits ought not to be done slowly vpoÌ„ request The multitude of ingrate pleople shold not make vs y â— slower to doo goodâ— That we shold persist on in weldoiÌ„g Wheriâ— coÌ„sisteâ—h the force of a benefyt Immesurable geuinge is commeÌ„dable in no thynge Benefitâ—s done shold not be remeÌ„brâ—d by him that dyd them Brute bests acknowledge good done to them Thre graces Why y e .iii Graces holde one thother by y e hand Whi thei laughe Whi thei are yoÌ„g Uirgins why thei are so aparelled The law of lyfe â—s to showe the waye how to liue to be conuersante amonge others The coÌ„teÌ„cion of honesty resteth in geuiÌ„g takiÌ„g rendriÌ„g benefites The right vse of this coÌ„teÌ„cion Poetes common lyers and flaterers What hurt ryseth by Ingratiâ—ude Wher is the very seate and plaâ—e of benefits Benefits neuer decay Corona muralis Corona Ciuita The discripsion of a benefyt The hart al one coÌ„mendeth al things Symple thynges gyuen with a goodwiâ— more acceptable then rich giftes with gruâ—chyng A notable example of liberality of one hauing nothing to geue gaue hiÌ„ self â—he courtyar Cause of coÌ„plainte vppon naughtines hath not wanted in old time Ingratitude the roâ—e of al vyces Ingratitude the greattest vyce that may be done and y e lightest that may be suffered The perfit trial of a liberall hart The maner how meÌ„ shold do their benefites One as euil as an ingrate person A diuisioÌ„ of benefites Causes why benefyts seme the gretter Causes by which our benefites may sâ—me â—â—e gretter we â—uâ—ht to shew profitable plessours Thinges to be noted in sending presentes UnthaÌ„kful forgetful meÌ„ Giftâ—s ought to be oâ— longest continâ—auÌ„ce Thyngs rare most acceptable Omne rarum charum A notable exaÌ„ple of arrogaÌ„cy pryd Uery maÌ„hod plesour generall to al men is acceptable to noâ— in priuat Regarde to be had in beneâ—iting what plesour is well employed â— wittye â—â—yinge Now we shold plesour others Whiche benefites are moste commendable Nothing so dere boughtâ—s that is boughtâ— with entreaty A benefit done vpoÌ„ requeste cometh to late That benefitte most thaÌ„kefull y t is done without request A preâ—ye similitude Wantâ— of spekynge bredeth want of speeding Trewe acknowledgiÌ„g of good wil The woorst kinde of nature that doo good Better easier leuyng to y e hed â—heÌ„ to the fet Long delaye bredeâ—h werynes Folish pryde Courtesy seketh quickly to plesour Delay to doo pleaâ—our hurtfull â—nplesant plesours Odiousâ— maner of benefites A trew liberall act whether it be requisit that he that is plesoured know by whom he was plesoured the lâ—w of benefiâ—es An exaÌ„ple of theÌ„ that vpbrayd others w t their benefites A benefiâ— ought noâ— to be recited by hiÌ„ that dyd it to hiÌ„ to whom he dyd it Inconueniences that grow by repetyng our benefites The nobler the personage is y â— courtâ—ouslye dâ—th hys benefit so muche more praise worthi Uanglorie 〈◊〉 full Confide racioÌ„s to be had in doing ouâ— benefites Regarde to be had whom howe we benefyt CircuÌ„stances to be noted in bestowyng benâ—fites An honorable aâ—Ì„swere of antigonê° â— good similitude of Tenis playe Ingratitude oft growth by vs. The vsâ—râ—r How we ought to râ—ceiue benefits Benefits ought not to be takeÌ„ at eche maÌ„s haÌ„d To whoÌ„ these precepts are geuen A benefâ—te enforced not to bee repayd as of dewty Some receiue Plesours and yeâ— are to thiÌ„ke theÌ„ seluâ—sboÌ„â— for â—he â—ame Monarchy y â— best state of wele publique A plesoâ—r shold not be receyued at a naughty persons hande we ought not to receiue plesour at our friÌ„des hande if y â— doing of y e aâ—â—e may hurt him