is a beame proceeds from that true sunne Which giues not only vnderstanding light But kindles our affection still to shunne What should offend the God of power and might She is the quicke the cleere and purest light Which doth direct all other vertues right 69 As sight amongst our numbred senses fiue Accounted is as fairest and most cleare So other vertues must their light deriue And brightest splendor from her glorious Spheare By her direction all good works are wrought And mēs minds cloth'd with mild cōstant thought 70 This vertue doth containe three other parts As Vnderstanding Memory Foresight Esteemed Eyes by learned men of Arts Which makes her iudge and censure times aright Time present first and past the second showes The last of these doth future times disclose 71 Nor may we here exclude the Canonists Nor Schoole-men which auouch fiue needfull parts Which in this Princely vertues power consists Liuely described in the liberall Arts. These do attend obserue and keepe their place For humane good and heauenly works of grace 72 The first of them they terme Didacticall Which teacheth vs our selues to know and guide The second they holde Oeconomicall To rule ones house and maintenance prouide By this our selues our house and people learne Twixt good and euill rightly to discerne 73 The third is taken for a warlike Spirit By which an Armie 's marshal'd rul'd and led To yeeld reward to valiant men of merit To cure the hurt and care to burie dead Which giues ech one his office and his place Pleasing the best and giuing none disgrace 74 The fourth is deem'd for Politicke estate Which Architecton men of wisdome name Ordaining lawes the trueth for to debate As right falles out to censure of the same Establish such Decrees as may vs leade To know the path of perfect good to treade 75 The last is pure and simple Policie By which the subiects do their fortunes shroud Vnder the King in their extremitie As skies ou'rcast within a mighty cloud Which Prince for peace sets downe and keeps good lawes And with iust care doth heare the poore mans cause 76 Prudence doth manage exercise and trie The secret acts and functions of the rest Respecting parts of true Philosophie Wherewith so many vertues are possest Aethicke and Oeconomicke those they call And Politicke they terme the last of all 77 The first true maners in it selfe doth frame The second families doth rightly guide The third doth gouerne cities of great fame And mightie kingdomes where good lawes abide So that our selues our houshold-state and lands What best becomes are brought to vnderstand 78 This vertue is threefold in secret skill Whereof the first is taken from the hart Disposing things that are in present still And noteth all what 's past on eu'ry part It doth prouide for future times euent That Had I wist prouoke not to repent 79 The second from the mouth doth aye proceed Which doth consist in mod'rature of speech This is the badge of wisdome pure indeed As proofe and eke experience doe teach For fooles that holde from prattle and vaine talke Shall in account of perfect wise men walke 80 The third is of the worke and true effect Which in this place as proper doth consist To shew good actions and the bad reiect And from the works of faith not to desist But meat such measure vnto all we should As euery one to giue to vs we would 81 Well may we further note and so obserue The worlds Prudence and next thereto humane The third diuine which doth the soule preserue All call'd alike but not in worke the same Yet two do seeme from vertue to proceed In outward shew but not in worke or deed 82 The first is busied dayly to procure All temp'rall things which most mens humor feed The second neuer ceaseth to allure Carnall desires which soules confusion breed The third with zeale indeuours Christ to please And craues his helpe Gods anger to appease 83 Against this vertue there are opposit Foure vices couer'd vnderneath a vaile Resembling in some sort true signes of merit But not abiding touch their purpose faile Yet do they striue and worke and labour still With goodly shew to worke the course of ill 84 The first Prudentia carnis we do name Astutia the second we may call The third Dolus a branch is of the same And Fraus the last though not the least of all Which euer in their actions do agree With vertues cloke to worke all villanie 85 Yet finde they in themselues a different course Though in vile plots and purposes one head For Craft we may of these account the worst Which first the path to wickednesse doth tread These with their subtill false and slie deceits In shew like honest lay soule-trapping baits 86 Next Dole and Fraud do cunningly defend And still excuse the damned works of euill But Dolus to deceit is surest friend And couching close doth seeke the soule to spill Yet Fraud most properly doth rest in facts Not in the words of such deceitfull acts 87 This vertue did with orient brightnesse shine In Salomon that matchlesse king of praise Who left with fame his Prouerbs most diuine To be true Prudence guide for vs alwaies Whose holy wisdome all the world bereft That since his death the like was neuer left 88 Who did true wisdome in his censure show Betwixt two women striuing for a childe An inward prudence wrought the trueth to know That the true mother should not be beguilde In offring them the infant to diuide He both the trueth of loue and nature tri'de 89 The lawfull mother did lament and crie She would not any such diuision make But rather seem'd her right cleane to denie And bid the mother false the whole to take By which the King in wisdome vnderstood The mother right whose loue preseru'd the blood 90 I rightly may of Iesus Sirach speake And famous Esdras who did both designe Such prudent rules they neuer meant to breake But all mens faults by vertue to refine And by their light and holy works to moue Mens mortall hearts to honour God aboue 91 By Prudence Alexander did obtaine Two battels of Darius Persians King Which time twelue hundred thousand men were slaine And fifteene Nations did to bondage bring Fiue thousand Townes and Cities he that day By wisdome power and rule did ouersway 92 Did not this vertue Iulius Caesar show In reconciling Senators of Rome By whome he learn'd the perfect way to know For Consulship to haue the peoples dome Then Prudence ioyn'd with bounty worth and wit Brought him in Rome an Emperour great to sit 93 The worthie fame of Solons prudence springs With branches great of endlesse memorie Which the Athenian iarres to concord brings And all to liue in loue and vnitie This he obtain'd
in taking part with none Yet made them chuse him Ruler all alone 94 Lycurgus worthy maker of sharpe lawes Who did reforme the Lacedemons state Fiue hundred yeeres of peace he was the cause And setled loue'mongst those that swel'd with hate So that they liu'd in gouernment and peace Vntill his lawes and ordinance did cease 95 Well may we note how Phocion spake his minde Against th' Athenians enterprise in warre And sith they tooke his counsell to vnkinde He spake aloud that men might heare him farre You force me do the things I ought not thinke Nay yet from speech nor counsell for to shrinke 96 Demosthenes a woman poore preseru'd Who had ingag'd herselfe vpon receit To them of whom from faith the one was sweru'd And got the money from her by deceit Her cause by prudence he did well defend And for the paiment made her foes attend 97 Here strike we saile and now the anker cast Of our bifronted Prudence in the bay Of sacred royaltie there remaining fast Till her faire sister Temp'rance bring we may O that she finde such quiet harbour there As may the date of datelesse time outweare 98 This Cardinall doth wicked wayes subdue Chacing bad motions which misleade the minde Preseruing man in meane and measure true Gods lawes to keepe which are to vs assign'de And to contend by all the meanes we can To beat downe sinne and raise the inward man 99 This Temp'rance is describ'd three parts to haue First Continence doth rightly challenge one The second office Clemencie doth craue And Modestie the third doth holde alone Ech one of these sits in his proper place To build Gods house and Sathans to deface 100 The first the minde and appetite doth leade With inclination to good works of light The other carnall motions downe doth treade And all externall euils pardon quite The third distinctly measur'd with suspence Doth iudge the cause and maner of offence 101 From Continence two other branches spring One drawes our hearts from pleasures to refraine And those corrupt desires of eu'ry thing That should procure our euerlasting paine The other works to bridle that desire of golde and wealth which sets the heart on fire 102 By Continence the appetite is taught And gouern'd by the square of graue aduise Vertue to loue and vices set at nought And for the best all courses to deuise Whereby is prou'd that vile intents contain'd Are chang'd to good and wicked acts refrain'd 103 Clemencie is a Temp'rance of the minde When iust Reuenge may take his time and power Or Lenitie in noble hearts most kinde Which might afflict inferiours euery hower And to impose vpon them punishment For all offences done with ill intent 104 Though this for all men be expedient Yet vnto Princes chiefly it belongs Whose care to punish faults conuenient Giues vs example to desist from wrongs Which is confirm'd and prou'd in ech respect When God made Moyses Iudge of his elect 105 Who was the meek'st and temperat'st Prince aliue That liu'd obedient in Gods feare and loue And would no man of his due right depriue Nor once his foot from that was trueth remoue Then England Ioy God hath a Moyses sent His right to keepe and all our harmes preuent 106 Well may we note in Isr'el many Kings That were most gentle in their toilsome raigne Which did in mercie censure doubtfull things And with attention heare the poore complaine And hauing heard the truth on both parts tri'de In temp'rate iudgement did the cause decide 107 I would in no wise wrong my Regall power Nor once abuse the greatnesse of my place But rule my subiects eu'ry day and hower With pitie mercie lenitie and grace This Esther writes renowmed Queene of fame That following Princes might obserue the same 108 Beholde the King doth come vnto the milde And with the gentle maketh his abode But from th' obdurate he will be exilde And shun the path where wicked people trode From Clemencie this knowledge still doth spring To know a Tyrant from a gracious King 109 A shamefast wise regard is Modestie Of honest things inhabiting the minde And the reward hath of authoritie The which doth pure and stable actions binde And teacheth vs in compasse how to liue Of precepts such as Temperance doth giue 110 This sheweth man himselfe how to behaue In laughter words and gesture decently In ord'ring well those parts which God vs gaue In comly habits of Ciuilitie All these Sobrietie doth still obserue And neuer from true modest actions swerue 101 Temperance doth guide the seasons of the yeare And their coniunctions firme and mutuall makes Of elements whose temp'rate times appeare In ord'ring things that Prudence vndertakes It is the compasse of the wide worlds frame And perfect ornament to decke the same 102 It is the ground-worke of mans happie life And preseruation of his inward soule It is the curbe and bridle of all strife Drawing the raines which choler do controule It doth containe the inward thoughts of minde By which all actions mod'rate passage finde 103 From Prudence rightfully she drawes her line Withouten which we cannot Temp'rance gaine Nor any can to Fortitude incline Vnlesse the mod'rate vertue he attaine For courage will be rash and heady still And wanting Temp'rance followes rages will 114 This vertue knit and ioyn'd with all the rest Doth worke perfection in their true effects Without the which no vertue is possest With that true good that Wisdome most respects In Noble mindes where temp'rate motions faile Presumptuous thoughts do euermore preuaile 115 The ornament that best beseemes all Kings Inuesture is with robes of Temperance That makes their fame so high to flie with wings And to the heauens their Scepters doth inhance In right and trueth a King we may him call That his desires and pleasures masters all 116 This vertue is the light that banisheth Obscuritie of passions round about A double vertuous qualitie she hath For she preseru's vs both within and out With priuate publike and humane respect Shee frees the soule which vice did so infect 117 She is a stedfast mod'rate rule of reason Ouer the passions of Concupiscence She keepes the motions of the minde in season And to the soule is still a sure defence Nothing so rare on earth can be espi'de As she which both the soule and minde doth guide 118 It joines and fastens bodie to the soule As firme and fast as surest driuen naile It roots out lust and doth bad facts controule And makes perfections in our minds preuaile That man who entertaines not such a guest True reason wants and liueth like a beast 119 It is the pillar of true Fortitude The helme and shield against luxuriousnesse It is the eye by which our works are view'd And draw'n and kept to lore of
fift doth holde a Reuerend respect And due regard of those that best deserue The last doth well the works of truth effect And from good lawes and praeceps neuer swarue But still maintaine what euer 's good and iust And not to vaine deceitfull toies to trust 171 Religion is the worship pure of God Obseruing of his iust and holy lawes To visit those that suffer scourge of rod And to relieue when want doth offer cause It keeps our minds vnstain'd and vndefilde From all infection of the world so vilde 172 But pietie is a bountifull regard Whose care respects aswell the bond of bloud As duties or priorities reward Or great obedience to the meane and good In all degrees it makes an equall show To yeeld true measure to the high and low 173 Fauour or grace a vertue we may call Wherein the true and perfect friendship shines With memorie of subiects duties all Whose bounds and limits grace to vs defines It doth containe will to remunerate The gifts and qualities of ech estate 174 Reuenge of things vniust a vertue is That doth subdue oppression force and wrong All obscure acts which leade men farre amisse She doth repell be neuer they so strong It doth defend the pure and innocent And chastice those that in transgression went 175 Much holinesse dread reuerence behights For iust obseruance of the merit due To those on whom all perfect honour lights Whose worth makes their deseruings good and true It giues renowme and honour in her kinde To men of note and of a Noble minde 176 Trueth is a practicke habit as I weene Or veritie which doth the minde possesse Inspir'd into the soule of man not seene By God himselfe whose sp'rit brings happinesse This maketh difference twixt the good and euill To chuse her selfe and hate her foe the deuill 177 Iustice is term'd the simple poore mans treasure Lockt in the chest of soule and conscience It yeelds to them the trueth of great mens measure And keepes it swept from eating-moths offence All precious stones whose vertues breed no doubt It doth reserue and cast all other out 178 He is not iust that dreadeth death or paine Or feares exile or stings of pouertie No conscience cleere whose eyes do looke for gaine Or heart prefers the foes to equitie No man for good or honest we regard Whose minde doth measure iustice with reward 179 Iustice hath wrought to vs most happie things Iustice by right hath taught our land to know A royall lawfull true descent of Kings Whose vaines the bloud of Henrie seuenth show It brought him in he will not shut her out Let none for Iustice therefore feare or doubt 180 This Princely branch from that pure roote now springs Of Brute that mightie monarch of great fame Whose buddes the fruit of perfect Iustice brings And to his people auncient Britans name Which he adorns with vnitie and peace Throughout the world for euer to increase 181 We see the buds of that same stately tree Whose blossoms yeeld our hearts and eies delight We reape the fruit of Iustice equally As moats still subiect to the Sunne of light Iustice diuine chiefe vertue of renowne Commands with loue our sacred King to crowne 182 Prudence with Iustice did coniunction make Vniting so foure kingdomes into one Heau'ns in the change did all our troubles slake In giuing pow'r and right to Ieames alone He is the first that ouer all did raigne Or could with loue and peace the crowne obtaine 183 He with his Iustice doth all strife debate And makes vs loue one onely God and king He ioineth loue twixt those that iarr'd with hate And doth our hearts to true religion bring He makes vs liue in peace and vnitie With kingdoms great and haue our trafficke free 184 Blest be his name that made vs Iustice know By such a Prince whose heart intends no wrong Blest be his power that such a tree did show From that true stocke of Brutus graft so long Blessed be heau'n a Princely Britaine raignes And that so goodly plants of Brute remaines 185 Iustice brings peace and concord to our land And breeds not warres by off'ring others wrong It knits men fast like faggots in a band In faith and loue that to one state belong Religion loue and vnitie increase Vnder the King whose heart desireth peace 186 Iustice extreme is neuer to be vs'd With crueltie or rigorous intent It may with ouer-wresting be abus'd And turne to wrong the good which vertuement The summe of Iustice which is in rigor seene To iniurie is chang'd and alt'red cleene 187 True Iustice riches neuer can infect Nor gaine of kingdomes cut off course of right No priuate whisper shall the cause detect Till both be heard and trueth be brought to light Where Iustice flies with flatt'ring wings to th' eare The Kingâ—s abus'd and subiects buy it deare 188 Most pitifull that land and people's left Where perfect iustice is not vnderstood They are of all true happinesse bereft And sure to sinke let cause be ne'er so good But still to labour striue consume and spend All that they haue yet neuer make an end 189 What greater plague or viler punishment Than liue in hope of right from day to day What greater torment to a state is sent Than Iudges to sell Iustice with delay Who rule the cause with coine vnto their will And keepe true Iustice from the iudgement still 190 They that abuse this image pure of God And sell the trueth for pictures of a King Are made the meanes to vse the deuils rod And all good causes to confusion bring They neuer care how matters come about So that the purse the golde be powring out 191 Paulus the Pythagorian doth direct How all men should this gift diuine embrace As nurse and mother truely to effect The works of all the rest with heauenly grace Gods prouidence to Iustice is appli'de Which doth the world both gouerne rule and guide 192 In Townes and Cities it is rightly thought The perfect path to equitie and peace In priuate homes twixt man and wife is wrought True vnitie and concord to increase It makes men serue their masters with regard And masters kinde good seruants to reward 193 It is commanded by Gods holy spirit All Magistrates should Iustice dayly vse And that their hearts should iudgement pure inherit And not Gods holy lawes for to abuse For whoso doth infringe and breake the same Can not auoid the curse of endlesse shame 194 It doth to Iustice duely appertaine To entertaine the pure and innocent Them to protect till they be free againe So sent away full safe to their content Iudgement resists bold deeds of wickednesse And doth with punishment all faults redresse 195 By Solon this was truely taught as meane For great