can not take place to help theÌ„ Soche as do folowe the life of the Greshopper are worthie of their miserie who haue no witte to foresée seasons and tymes but doe suffer tyme vndescretly to passe whiche fadeth as a floure thold Romaines do picture Ianus with two faces a face behind an other before which resemble a wiseman who alwaies ought to knowe thinges paste thynges presente and also to be experte by the experience of many ages and tymes and knowledge of thynges to come ¶ The comparison betwene the twoo thynges WHat can be more descritlie doen then the Ante to be so prouident and politike as that all daunger of life necessitie is excluded the stormie times of Winter ceaseth of might honger battereth not his walles hauyng soche plentie of foode for vnlooked bitter stormes and seasons happeneth in life whiche when thei happen neither wisedoÌ„ nor pollicie is not able to kepe backe Wisedome therefore it is so to stande that these thynges hurte not the miserable ende of the Greshopper sheweth vnto vs whiche maie be an example to all menne of what degree so euer thei bee to flie slothe and idelnesse to be wise and discrite ¶ Of contraries AS diligence prouidence and discrete life is a singulare gift whiche increaseth all vertues a pillar staie and a foundacion of all artes and science of common wealthes and kyngdomes So contrarily sloth and sluggishnesse in all states and causes defaseth destroyeth and pulleth doune all vertue all science and godlines For by it the mightie kyngdome of the LidiaÌ„s was destroied as it semeth no small vice when the Lawes of Dracâ— dooe punishe with death idelnesse ¶ The ende THerefore the diligence of the Ante in this Fable not onelie is moche to be commended but also her example is to bee followed in life Therefore the wiseman doeth admonishe vs to go vnto the Ant and learne prouidence and also by the Greshopper lette vs learne to auoide idelnes lesse the like miserie and calamitie fall vpon vs. ¶ Narratio THis place followyng is placed of Tullie after the exordium or beginnyng of Oracion as the seconde parte whiche parte of Rhetorike is as it were the light of all the Oracion folowing conteining the cause matter persone tyme with all breuitie bothe of wordes and inuencion of matter ¶ A Narracion A Narracion is an exposicion orderlaracion of any thyng dooen in deede or els a settyng forthe forged of any thyng but so declaimed and declared as though it were doen. A narracion is of three sortes either it is a narracion historicall of any thyng contained in any aunciente storie or true Chronicle Or Poeticall whiche is a exposicion fained set for the by inuencion of Poetes or other Or ciuill otherwise called Iudiciall whiche is a matter of controuersie in iudgement to be dooen or not dooen well or euill In euery Narracion ye must obserue sixe notes 1. Firste the persone or doer of the thing whereof you intreate 2. The facte doen. 3. The place wherein it was doen. 4. The tyme in the whiche it was doen. 5. The maner must be shewed how it was doen. 6. The cause wherevpon it was doen. There be in this Narracion iiij other properties beloÌ„ging 1. First it must be plain and euident to the hearer not obscure 2. short and in as fewe wordes as it maie be for soche a matter 3. Probable as not vnlike to be true 4. In wordes fine and elegante ¶ A narracion historicall vpon Semiramis Queene of Babilon how and after what sort the obtained the gouernment thereof AFter the death of Ninus somtime kyng of Babilon his soonne Nuius also by name was left to succede hym in all the Assirian Monarchie Semiramis wife to Ninus the firste feared the tender age of her sonne wherupon she thought that those mightie nacions and kyngdomes would not obaie so young and weake a Prince Wherfore she kept her sonne from the gouernmente and moste of all she feared that thei would not obaie a woman forthwith she fained her self to be the soonne of Ninus and bicause she would not be knowen to bee a woman this Quene inuented a newe kinde of tire the whiche all the Babilonians that were men vsed by her commaundement By this straunge disguised tire and apparell she not knowen to bee a woman ruled as a man for the space of twoo and fourtie yeres she did marueilous actes for she enlarged the mightie kyngdome of Babilon and builded the same citée Many other regions subdued and vallauntlie ouerthrowen she entered India to the whiche neuer Prince came sauing Alexander the greate she paâ—â—ed not onely men in vertue counsaill and valiaunt stomacke but also the famous counsailours of Assiria might not contende with her in Maiestie pollicie and roialnes For at what tyme as thei knewe her a woman thei enuied not her state but marueiled at her wisedome pollicie and moderacion of life at the laste she desiryng the vnnaturall lust and loue of her soonne Ninus was murthered of hym ¶ A narracion historicall vpon kyng Richard the third the cruell tiraunt â–ª RIchard duke of Glocester after the death of Edward the fowerth his brother king of England vsurped the croune moste traiterouâ—â—â—e and wickedlie this kyng Richard was sâ—â—ll of stature deformed and ill shaped his shoulders beared not equalitie a pulyng face yet of countenaunce and looke cruell malicious deceiptfull bityng and chawing his nether lippe of minde vnquiet pregnaunt of witte quicke and liuely a worde and a blowe wilie deceiptfull proude arrogant in life and cogitacion bloodie The fowerth daie of Iulie he entered the tower of London with Anne his wife doughter to Richard Exle of Warwick and there in created Edward his onely soonne a child of ten yeres of age Prince of Wales At the same tyme in the same place he created many noble peres to high prefermente of honour and estate and immediatly with feare and faint harte bothe in himself and his nobles and commons was created king alwaies a vnfortunate and vnluckie creacion the harts of the nobles and commons thereto lackyng or faintyng and no maruaile he was a cruell murtherer a wretched caitiffe a moste tragicall tyraunt and blood succour bothe of his nephewes and brother George Duke of Clarence whom he caused to bee drouned in a Butte of 〈…〉 the staires sodainlie remoued wheron he stepped the death of the lorde Riuers with many other nobles compassed and wrought at the young Princes commyng out of Wales the .xix. daie of Iuly in the yere of our lorde 1483. openly he toke vpon him to be king who sekyng hastely to clime fell according to his desart sodainly and ingloriously whose Embassage for peace Lewes the Frenche king for his miseheuous boodie slaughter so moche abhorred that he would neither see the Embassador nor heare the Embassage for he murthered his .ij. nephues by the handes of one Iames Tirrell
The fable of the Bishop of Elie to the duke of Buckyngham The fable of the Bishop of Rochester againste the graunt of the Chauntries The firste exercise Inuentours of al excellent artes and sciences commended to the posteritee Apelles Parthesius Polucletus The ende of all artes is to godlie life Esope worthie moche commendacioÌ„ Philophie in fables Realmes maie learne concorde out of Esopes fables Preceptes to Kynges and Subiectes Preceptes to parentes and children The content of al Lawes I true praise commeÌ„ded by fame it self The wolue moste rauening cruell The wolues of all beastes moste obâ—â—uious The wolue inferiour to the bandogge The Dogge passeth all creatures in smellyng Plinie The worthines of Shepe The wolle of Shepe riche and commodious Man a chief creature Stoike Philosophers The office of the shepeherdes are profitable and necessarie wealth profit and riches riseth of the wolles of Shepe Man called of the Philosophers a little worlde The bodie of man without concord of the partes perisheth The common wealthe like to the bodie of manne Menenius The baseste parte of the bodie moste necessarie The amiable parte of the body doe consiste by the baseste and moste beformeste The Shepeherdes state necessarie The state of the husbande manne moste necessarie No meane state to be contempned Rotten members of the coÌ„mon wealth Plato A common wealth doe consiste by vnitie of all states Aristotle what is a coÌ„mon wealth A liuely exaÌ„ple of commoÌ„ wealthe The counsail of wolues Lycaon The firste progenie of wolues The inuencion of the Poet Ouide to compare a wicked man to a wolue Lycaon Lycaon chauÌ„ged into a wolue wolue Manner The counsail of wolues The counsail of wicked meÌ„ to mischief The cogitacions of wicked men and their kyngdoÌ„ bloodie The state of counsailours worthie chief honour and veneracion Plato Homere The Shepeherdes name giueÌ„ to the office of kyngs The state or good counsallers troublous A comparision from a lesse to a greater The worthie state of Princes and counsailours The amitie of wicked menns To beleue lightly a furtheraunce to perill The praise of Esope Cresus Samians Licerus Delphos winter The Ante. The Ante. Manne Greshopper A poincte of wisedome A wise cogitacion Pouertie Wisedome Housebande menne Frendship Homere Nature The cause of our bearth Ianus Prouidence Diligence Idelnes The Ante. Tyme Persone The cause The facte The waie how The facte The place The persone The tyme â–ª The place The horrible murther of king Richard The facte The tyme. The maner how The cause The state of a wicked maÌ„ A dolefull stale of a quene The wicked facte of kyng Richard a horror and dread to the commons God permit meanes to pull doune tyrauntes Lichefelde Leicester Bosworthe Kyng Richard killed in Bosworth fielde The tyme. The persone The cause The fame and glorie of Britaine The prowes of Iulius Cesar The maner how Cesars communicacion with the marchauntes as concernyng the lande of Britaine The ware politike gouernement of y t Britaines Aliaunce in tyme traiterous Britain somtyme called of the Grekes Olbion not Albion Caius Volusenus Embassadour to Britaine Comas Atrebas secoÌ„de Embassador from Cesar Cassibelane king of London at the ariue of Cesar Cassibelane a worthie Prince ImanueÌ„cius The Troynouauntes by treason let in Cesar Treason a confusion to the mightiest dominions A senteÌ„ce grauen of Britaine in the commendacion of Cesar Lusimachus Prodicus Gorgias Leontinus Demosthenes learned eloquence of Isocrates All excelleâ—◠〈…〉 is attained The roote of learnyng bitter Who is a vnfortunate childe Good educacion the foundacion of the Romaine Empire Euill educacion bringeth to rume mightie kingdoms Lydiâ— Cyrus The decay of a kyngdome The mightie dominions of Cyrus Euill educacion Pithagoras Eatona Lycurgus Vertue Vice Pleasure Idlenes Ignoraunce Alexander the great coÌ„mended for diligence Gnome The praise of Homere The content of Homers bookes Alexander The Ilias of Homere mete for princes to looke vpon The state of many kinges in one lande Athenes Carthage in a monarchie The state of many kinges mone lande A monarchie in heauen One Sunne The Ante. The Bee Constancius Licinius Marabodius Pompey Cesar Marius Silla Assiria the first monarchie The monarchie of the Medes The PersiaÌ„ Macedonia Asia Siria Egipte in a Monarchie Tirannis Nero Domicianus Caligula what doeth beautifie the throne of a Prince Aristocratia The ende of Aristocratia Politeia Tirannis Oligarthia Democratia A monarchie prefarred of the Persians The duetie of al noble peres Darius Kyngdomes rise and fall The answer of Alexander to Darius as coÌ„cernyng a monarchie AlexaÌ„der the great prefarred a Monarchie Alexanders monarchie fel by many kinges Antipater Crates Meliagrus Perdiceas Ptolemeus Learcus Cassander Menander Leonatus Lusimacus Eumenes Seleucus Fraunce Spaine Germanie Britaine The vanities of Poetes The battaill of Troie x yeres for a harlotte The vain inuention of Poetes Plato reiecteth Poetes from the common wealth Helena The cause of the forged inuencion Nocommendacion in vpholdyng and maintainyng of hariottes Helena followed Paris Vertuous life worthie commendation in al ages Lucrecia Tarquinius the kyng banished for rauishyng Lucrecia and all of his name banished Penelopes chastitie Nestor Vlisses Grece the lande of faire women Vncomelie Beautie without vertue nothyng of valour Beautie a poison in a adulterous mynde Beautie sone fadeth Paris Helenas louer Phrigia Vncomelie Grece the fountain of al learnyng Menelaus housbande to Helena Harlottes loue dissentbled Troians Grecians Absurditie The defence of Helena Troie a kingdome of whordome Nature abhorreth the warre of the Grecians Helena Priamus Ambicion Eesar fell by ambicion Discorde Pompey Romulus killed Remus by ambicion Iustinus Chronicles moste necessary to be red The worthinesse of histories what is a historie An ignorant life 〈…〉 The knowlege of Histories maketh vs as it were liuyng in all ages Historiogriphers The treason of the Assyrians Darius Babilon taken of the Assyrians The fact of Zopyrus Zopyrus caused the deformitie of his bodie for the good state of his countrie The pollicie of Zopyrus Trogus PoÌ„peius Zopyrus The saiyng of Tullie Plato 〈…〉 The state of a publike wealthe is to beeÌ„ preferred before a priuate wealth Pericles A good subiecte is redie to liue and die for his countrie Horacius Cocles Marcus Attilius Cynegerus Hismenias Thrasibulus Leonides kyng or the Lacedemonians Leonides Agesilaus Conon Lisander Archidamus Codrus Epamniundas Grecians Troians Romans who liueth in shame Epamenundas a most noble and valiaunt pere The order of Athenes Thusidides The duetie of all good subiectes The cause of our birthe The facte of Zopyrus The fact of Zopyrus Zopyrus deformed a beautie of his countree Why it is called a common place Pristianus what are Lawes Aristotle Plato Order Man borne by nature to societee All thinges beyng on the yearth dooe consiste by a harmonie or concorde Order conserueth common wealth Euil maners was theoccasion of good Lawes Theiues not mete to be in any societie Why theiues and wicked men are cut of by lawe A due rewardes for thieues and murtherers
eloquēce as to Demonicus the king to Nicocles Euagoras against Philip the king of the Macedoniās by his wisedome and counsaill the Senate and vniuersal state of Athens was ruled the commons and multitude thereby in euery part florished chieflie what counsaill what wisedome what learnyng might bee required in any man of high fame and excellencie that same was aboundantly in Isocrates as in all his Oratiōs he is to be praised so in this sentence his fame importeth like commendacion ¶ The exposicion IN that he saieth the roote of learnyng is bitter and the fruictes pleasaunt he signifieth no excellent qualitie or gift vertue arte or science can bee attained except paine labour diligence doe plant and sette the same but when that noble gift either learnyng or any excellente qualitee is lodged and reposed in vs then we gather by painfull labours greate profite comforte delectable pleasures wealth glorie riches whiche be the fruictes of it ¶ The cause AND seyng that of our owne nature all men are enclined from their tender yeres and infancie to the extirpacion of vertue folowyng with all earnest studie and gréedie the free passage to vice and specially children whose iudgementes and reason are not of that strengthe to rule their weake mindes and bodies therefore in them chieflie the roote of learning is bitter because not onely many yeres thei runne their race in studie of arte and science With care and paine also with greuous chastisment and correcciō thei are compelled by their teachers and Maisters to apprehende the same the parentes no lesse dreaded in the educaciō of their children in chastisement and correction so that by all meanes the foundacion and roote of all learnyng in what sort so euer it is is at the firste vnpleasaunte sower and vnsauerie To folowe the times and seasons appoincted for the same is moste painfull and in these painfull yeres other greate pleasures as the frailtie of youth and the imbecilitie of nature iudgeth dooeth passe by but in miserable state is that childe and vnfortunate that passeth the flower of his youth and tender yeres instructed with no arte or Science whiche in tyme to come shalbe the onelie state helpe the piller to beare of the sore bront necessitie and calamities of life Herein the noble Romaines laied the sure foundacion of their mightie dominion in the descrite prouidente and politike educacion of children to whom the Grecians gaue that necessarie bulwarke and faundacion to set vp all vertue all arte and science In Grece no man was knowen to liue in that common wealth but that his arte and science gaue manifest probacion and testimonie how and after what sorte he liued The Romaines in like sorte the sworde and aucthoritie of the Magistrate executyng the same did put forthe and draw to the attainment of learnyng art or science all youth hauyng maturitie and ripenesse to it and why because that in a common wealth where the parentes are vndescrete and foolishe as in all common wealthes there are not a fewe but many thei not ponderyng the state of the tyme to come bringing vp their children without all ciuilitie vnframed to vertue ignoraunt of all arte and science the children of their owne nature vnbrideled vntaught wilfull and heddie doe run with free passage to all wickednes thei fall into al kinde of follie oppressed with all kinde of calamitie miserie and vnfortunate chaunces whiche happen in this life Nothyng doeth soner pulle doune a kyngdome or common wealthe then the euill and leude educacion of youth to whom neither substaunce wealth riches nor possessions doe descende from their auncestours and parentes who also of themselues wāt all art science and meanes to maintain them to liue who of themselues are not able to get relief for onely by this meanes life is maintained wealth and riches ar possessed to many greate siegniorics landes and ample possessions left by their parentes and line of auncetours haue by lacke of vertuous educacion been brought to naught thei fell into extreme miserie pouertie and wantyng learnyng or wealth to maintaine their state and delicate life thei haue robbed spoiled murthered to liue at their owne will But then as rotten dedde and putride members frō the common wealth thei are cutte of by the sworde and aucthoritie of the Magistrate What kyngdome was more mightie and strong then the kyngdome of Lidia whiche by no other meanes was brought to rume and destruccion but by idlenes in that thei were kepte from all vertuous exercise from the studie of artes and sciences so longe as thei meditated and liued in the schoole of vertuous life no nacion was hable to ouerthrowe them of themselues thei were prone and readie to practise all excellencie But Cyrus the kyng of Persians by no other meanes was able to bring them weaker He toke from thē al furtherance to artes destroied all occupaciōs of vertue whervpon by commaundemēt and terrour wer driuen to practise the vaine and pestiferous practise of Cardes and Dice Harlottes then schooled them and all vnhoneste pastyme nurtered them Tauernes an quaffyng houses was their accustomed and moste frequented vse of occupacion by this meanes their nobilitie and strengthe was decaied and kyngdome made thrall Ill educacion or idlenes is no small vice or euill when so mightie a prince hauyng so large dominions whō all the Easte serued and obaied Whose regimente and gouernemente was so infinite that as Zenophon saieth tyme would rather want then matter to speake of his mightie and large gouernement how many nacions how diuerse people and valiaunte nacions were in subieccion to hym If this mightie Prince with all his power and populous nacions was not hable to giue the ouerthrowe to the kyngdome of Lidia but by ill educacion not by marciall attēptes sworde or battaill but by giuyng them scope and libertie to dooe as he would No doubt but that Cyrus sawe by the like example of other kyngdomes this onelie pollicie to bee a ruine of that kyngdome Pythagoras the famous and godlie Philosopher saued the kyngdome and people of Crotona thei leauyng all studie of arte vertue and science This people of Crotona was ouercome of the people of Locrus thei left all exercise of vertue neclectyng the feates of chiualrie whervpō Pythagoras hauyng the profitable and godlie lawes of Lycurgus which he brought from Lacedemonia and the lawes of Minos kyng of Creta came to the people of Crotona and by his godlie teachyng and Philosophie reuoked brought backe the people giuen ouer to the neglectyng of all vertue declaryng to them the nobilitie and excellencie thereof he liuely set foorthe the beastlinesse of vice Pithagoras recited to them the fall and ruine of many regions and mightie kingdomes whiche tooke after those vices Idlenes beyng forsaken vertue embrased and good occupacions practised the kyngdome and people grewe mightie Emong the godlie lawes of Lycurgus Lycurgus omitted not to ordaine Lawes for
obedience of lawes and preeminente authoritie of Magistrates The state of mightie kyngdomes and Common wealthes haue growen to soche a roialnesse and loftie state many famous kingdomes haue been on the face of the yearth many noble Princes from tyme to tyme succedyng whiche without a order of godlie lawes could not haue continued What was the cause that the mightie Monarchies continued many hundred yeres did the losse and dissolute life of subiectes and Princes cause the same but good lawes and obedience to orders Therefore where Magistrates bothe in life and office liue in the obedience of Lawes the multitude inferiour by example of the Magistrates singularitie incensed dooe place before them their example of life as a strong lawe Theodosius Emperor of Rome writyng to Volufianus his chief Pretor as concernyng his office in these woordes saieth Digna vox est maiestate regnantis legibus alligatum se principem profiteri Adeo de autoritate Iuris nostra pendet autoritas et reuera maius imperio est submittere legibus principatum oraculo presentis edicti quod nobis licere non patimur alijs indicamus It is a worthie saiyng and meete for the Maiestie of a Prince to acknowledge hymself vnder his lawe For our aucthoritie power and sworde doeth depende vpon the force might and aucthoritie of Lawes and it passeth all power and aucthoritie his gouernemente and kyngdome to be tempered by lawe as a moste inuiolable Oracle and decrée so to doe as we prouulgate to other Whereupon it is manifeste what force godlie lawes gaue to the Prince what aucthoritie Take lawes awaie all order of states faileth the Prince by Lawe is a terrour to the malefactour his Maiestie is with all humblenesse serued feared and obeied By lawes his state maketh hym as a God emong menne at whose handes thé preseruacion of eche one of house citee and countrie is sought Seing bothe lawes and the Prince haue that honour and strength that without them a Chaos a confusion would followe in the bodie of all common wealthes and kyngdomes Let them by aucthoritie and lawe bee confounded that practise to subuerte aucthoritie to neclecte the Prince and his godlie lawes ¶ The exposition THe theife or any other iniurious persons doeth seke to bee aboue all lawes exempted from all order vnder no obedience their pestiferous dealyng dooe vtter the same For as Demosthenes the famous Orator of Athenes doeth saie If that wicked men cease not their violeÌ„ce if that good men in all quietnes and securitie can not enioys their owne goddes while lawe and aucthoritie of the magistrate seuerelie and sharply vseth his aucthoritie and sword If dailie the heddes of wicked men cease not to subuerte lawes orders and decrees godlie appoincted Whiles that in all Citees and common wealthes the Princes and gouernours are by lawes a terror to them Lawes then ceasyng the dreadfull senteÌ„ce of the Iudge and Magistrate wanting The sworde vndrawen all order confounded what a confusion would followe yea what an open passage would bee lefte open to all wickednesse The terrour of Lawes the sworde and aucthoritie of the Magestrate depresseth and putteth doune the bloodie cogitacions of the wicked and so hindereth and cutteth of many horrible and bloodie enterprises Els there would bee neither Prince Lawe nor subiects no hedde or Magistrate but euery manne his owne hedde his owne lawe and Magistrate oppression and violence should bee lawe and reason and wilfull luste would bee in place of reason might force and power should ende the case Wherefore soche as no lawe no order nor reason will driue lo liue as members in a common wealthe to serue in their functioÌ„ Thei are as Homere calleth theim burdeins to the yearth for thei are of no societie linked with Nature who through wickednesse are disseuered abhorryng concorde of life societie and felowship Whom sinister and bitter stormes of fortune doe daiely vexe and moleste who in the defence of their countrie are masmed and thereby their arte and science for imbecilitie not practised all art otherwise wantyng extreme pouertee fallyng on them reason muste moue and induce all hartes to pitee chieflie their state who in defence and mainteinaunce of our Countrie Prince and to the vpholdyng of our priuate wealthe at home are become debilitated deformed and maimed els their miseries will driue them to soche hedlesse aduentures that it maie bee saied as it was saied to Alexander the Greate Thy wartes O Prince maketh many theues and peace will one daie hang them vp Wherein the Grecians as Thusidides noteth had a carefull prouidence for all soche as in the defence of their Countrie were maimed yea euen for their wiues and children of all soche as died in warre to be mainteined of the commoÌ„ charge and threasure of Grece Reade his Oracion in the seconde booke niade vpon the funerall of the dedde soldiours ¶ A comparison of vices THe dronkarde in his state is beastlie the proude and arrogante persone odious the riotous and prodigall persone to be contempned the coueitous and nigardlie manne to bee reietted But who so by violence taketh a waie the goodes of an other man or by any subtill meanes iniustlie possesseth the same is detestable with all seueritée to be punished The adulterer and the harlotte who by brutishe behauiour leude affection not godlines leadyng theréto who by their vnchast behauior and wanton life doe pollute and coÌ„taminate their bodie in whom a pure muide ought to be reposed Who therowe beastly affection are by euill maners transformed to beastes and as moche as in theim lieth multipliyng a brutishe societie The homicide in his state more horrible accordyng to his outragious and bloodie life is to bee tormented in like sort all other vices accordyng to their mischiues reason Lawe and Iustice must temper and aggrauate due reward and sentence to them ¶ The sentence NO vice was more greuous and horrible emong the Scithians then thefte for this was their saiyng Quid 〈…〉 potent silicet furarl what can be safe if thefte bee â—eâ—ull or tolerated Herein the vniuersalle societee of â—â—â— is caste doune hereby a confusion groweth and a subuersion in all states immediatlie followeth equitee iustice and all sincere dealyng is 〈…〉 violence extirpateth vertue and aucthoritie is 〈◊〉 of ¶ The digression THe facte in other maie be with more facilitie tolerated in that to theim selues the facte and conuersacion of life is moste perâ—â—â—â—â—us and hâ—rtfull but by so he kinde of nature whole kyngdomes and common wealthes would bee 〈…〉 for a prosperous state and common wealthe a common woe and calamitee would fall on them tumultes and vprores maintained right and lawe exiled neither in field quitnes welth or riches houses spoiled families extinguished in all places sedicion warre for peace violence for right will and â—â—st for lawe a hedlesse order in all states And as concernyng Vsurers though their 〈◊〉 be neuer
when for his sake he determined to fight the determinacion of hym sheweth the maner The frende slaine the affection In the makyng of Ethopoeia lette it be plaine and without any large circumstaunce In the makyng of it ye shall diuide it thus to make the Oracion more plaine into three tymes A presente tyme. A tyme paste A tyme to come Eidolopoeia is that part of this Oracion whiche maketh a persone knowne though dedde and not able to speake Eidolopoeia is called of Priscianus a imitacion of talke of any one vpon a dedde manne it is then called Eidolopoeia when a dedde man talketh or communicacion made vpon a dedde manne Eidolopoeia when a dedde manne talketh is set forthe of Euripides vpon the persone of Polidorus dedde whose spirite entereth at the Prologue of the tragedie Hector slain speaketh to Eneas in Eidolopoeia O Eneas thou goddes sonne flie and saue thy self from this ruine and fire the enemies hath taken the walles and loftie Troie is prostrate to the grounde I would haue thought I had died valiantlie inough to my countrée and my father Priamus if with this my right hande Troie had bee defended Polidorus beyng dedde in Eidolopoeia talketh to Eneas whiche Virgil sheweth in his thirde booke of Eneados Iulia the wife of Pompei beyng dedde spake to Pompe preparyng his arme against Cesar Eidolopoeia Reade Lucane in the beginnyng of his thirde booke Tullie vseth Eidolopoeia when he maketh talke vpon Hiero beyng dedde If that kyng Hiero were reduced frō his death who was a aduauncer of the Romaine Empire with what countenaunce either Siracusa or Rome might be shewed to hym whom he maie beholde with his iyes His countree brought to ruin spoiled if that kyng Hiero should but enter Rome euen in the firste entryng he should beholde the spoile of his countree Tullie also vseth the like Eidolopoeia as thus vpon Lucius Brutus dedde If it so wer that Lucius Brutus that noble and famous manne were on liue and before your presence would he not vse this oracion I Brutus somtyme did banishe and cast out for crueltee the state and office of kinges by the horrible fact of Tarquinius againste Lucretia and all that name banished but you haue brought in tyrauntes I Brutus did reduce the Romain Empire to a fredome and libertée but you foolishly can not vphold and maintein the same giuen to you I Brutus with the daunger of my life haue saued my countree of Roome but you without all daunger lose it ¶ Prosopopoeia AS cōcerning Prosopopoeia it is as Pristianus saith when to any one againste nature speache is feigned to bee giuen Tullie vseth for a like example this when he maketh Roome to talke againste Cateline ¶ Prosopopoeia of Roome NO mischief hath been perpetrated this many yeres but by thee Catiline no pestiferous acte enterprised without thee thou a lone for thy horrible murther perpetrated vpon the citee of Rome for the spoile and robberies of their gooddes art vnpunished Thou onelie haste been of that force and power to caste doune all lawes and aucthoritee Although these thinges were not to be borne yet I haue borne them but now thy horrible factes are come to soche an issue that I feare thy mischiues Wherfore leaue of Cateline and deminishe this feare from me that I maie be in securitée Lucane the Poete intreating of mightie and fearce warres againste Pompei and Cesar maketh Roome to vse this Prosopopoeia againste Cesar Quo tenditis vltra quo fertis mea signa viri Si iure venitis si aues hucusque licet Prosopopoeia is properlie when all thinges are faigned bothe the maners the persone as of Roome in this place ¶ what lamentable Oracion Hecuba Quene of Troie might make Troie being destroied WHat kyngdome can alwaies assure his state or glory What strength can alwaies last What power maie alwaies stande The mightie Okes are somtyme caste from roote the Ceadars high by tempestes falle so bitter stormes dooe force their strength Soft waters pearseth Rockes and ruste the massie Iron doeth bryng to naught So nothyng can by strēgth so stande but strength maie ones decaie yea mightie kingdoms in time decaie haue felt Kingdomes weake haue rose to might and mightie kyngdomes fallen no counsaile can preuaile no power no strength or might in lande God disposeth Princes seates their kyngdome there with standes I knewe before the brickell state how kyngdomes ruine caught my iye the chaunge of fortune sawe as Priamus did aduaunce his throne by fauour Fortune gat on other Fortune then did froune whose kingdom did decaie Well now I knowe the brickle state that fortune hath no staie all rashe her giftes Fortune blind doeth kepe no state her stone doth roule as floodes now flowe floodes also ebbe So glory doth remaine sometyme my state on high was sette in Princelie throne my porte and traine ful roiall was a kyng my father also was my housband scepter held Troie and Phrigia serued his becke many kynges his power did dreade his wille their power did serue The fame of Troie and Brute his glorie and renouine what landes knoweth not But now his falle all toungues can speake so greate as glorie was though kyngdomes stronge was sette loftie Troie in duste prostrate doeth lye in blood their glorie people kyng are fallen no Quene more dolefull cause hath felte The sorowes depe doe passe my ioyes as Phebus light with stormes caste doune Hectors death did wounde my hart by Hectors might Troie stiffe did stande my comforte Hector was Priamus ioye of Troie all the life the strength and power his death did wound me for to die but alas my dolefull and cruell fate to greater woe reserueth my life loftie Troie before me felle sworde and fire hath seate and throne doune caste The dedde on heapes doeth lye the tender babes as Lions praies are caught in bloode before my sight Priamus deare murdered was my children also slain who roiall were and princes mates No Queene more ioye hath tasted yet woe my ioyes hath quite defaced My state alwaie in bondage thrall to serue my enemies wille as enemie wille I liue or dye No cruell force will ridde my life onely in graue the yearth shal close my woes the wormes shall gnawe my dolefull hart in graue My hedde shall ponder nought when death hath sence doune caste in life I sought no ioye as death I craue no glorie was so wished as death I seeke with death no sence In prison depe who dolefull lieth whom Fetters sore dooeth greue Their dolefull state moste wisheth death in dongion deepe of care my harte moste pensiue is vnhappie state that wisheth death with ioye long life eche wight doeth craue in life who wanteth smart Who doeth not féele or beare somtime a bitter storme to doleful tune mirth full oft chaunged is the meaner state more quiet rest on high who climes more deper care more dolefull harte doeth presse
where God displaseth or putteth doune Soche is the state of Princes and their kyngdomes ¶ Thesis THesis is a certain question in consultacion had to bée declaimed vpon vncertaine notyng no certaine persone or thyng As for example Whether are riches chieflie to be sought for in this life as of all good thynges the chief good Whether is vertue the moste excellente good thynge in this life Whether dooe the giftes of the mynde passe and excelle the giftes and vertues of Fortune and the bodie Whether doeth pollicie more auaile in war then streÌ„gth of menne Who so will reason of any question of these he hath nede with reason and wittie consultacion to discourse and to declaime vpon the same The Greke Oratours doe call this exercise Thesis that is to saie a proposicion in question a question vncertain included with no certaintée to any perticuler thyng The Latine men doeth call it a question infinite or vniuersall Tullie in his booke of places called Tâ—pickes doeth call Thesis Propositum that is to saie a question in determinacion Priscianus calleth it positionem a proposicion in question on ether parte to be disputed vpon As for example Whether is it best to marie a wife Whether is frendship aboue all thynges to be regarded Is warre to be moued vpon a iuste cause Is the Greke tongue mete and necessarie to be learned There is an other kinde of question called hypothesis hypothesis is called questio finita that is to saie a question certaine notyng a certaine persone or thyng a certaine place tyme and so forthe As for example Is it mete for Cesar to moue warre against Pompei Is not there a certain persone Is the Greke tongue to be learned of a Diuine Is the Greke tongue maete for a Phisicion In this kinde of exercises famous men of auncient time did exercise youth to attain bothe wisedome and Eloquence therby to make a discourse vpoÌ„ any matter by art of lerning Aristotle the famous Philosopher did traine vp youthe to be perfite in the arte of eloquence that thei might with all copionsnes and ingenious inuencion handle any cause Nothing doeth so moche sharpe and acuate the witte and capacitee of any one as this kinde of exercise It is a goodly vertue in any one man at a sodain to vtter wittely and ingeinouslie the secrete and hid wisedome of his mynde it is a greate maime to a profounde learned man to wante abilitee to vtter his exquisite and profounde knoweledge of his mynde ¶ Thesis tHis question Thesis which is a question noting no certaine persone or thyng is moche like to that Oracion intreated of before called a Common place ¶ A Common place BVt a Common place is a certaine exaggeracion of matter induced against any persone conuicted of any crime or worthie defence ¶ Thesis Thesis is a reasonyng by question vpon a matter vncertaine Thesis that is to saie a questioÌ„ generall is in two sortes A question Ciuill Contemplatiue QVestions Ciuill are those that dooe pertâ—ine to the state of a common wealth and are dailypractised in the common wealthe As for example Is it good to marie a wife Is Vsurie lefull in a citee or common wealthe Is a Monarchis the beste state of gouernement Is good educacion the grounde and roote of a florishyng common wealthe ¶ A contemplatiue question THe other Thesis is a question contemplatiue which the Grekes dooe call Theoricas because the matter of them is comprehended in the minde and in the intelligence of man The example Is the soule immortall Had the worlde a beginnyng Is the heauen greater then the yearth A questionA question is either Simple Compounde Is it good for a man to exercise hymself in wrastlyng or in Is it profitable to declaime A compounde Is vertue of more value then gold to the coueitous man Doeth wisedome more auaile then strength in battaile Doe olde men or young men better gouerne a common wealthe Is Phisicke more honourable then the Lawe A Oracion made vpon Thesis is after this sorte made Vse a exordium or beginnyng Vnto the whiche you maie adde a Narracion whiche is a exposicion of the thyng doen. Then shewe it lawfull Iuste Profitable And possible Then the conclucion To this in some parte of the Oracion you maie putte in certaine obieccions as thus Vpon this question Is it good to marie a wife In Mariage is greate eare and pensiuenesse of minde by losse of children or wife whom thou loueste There is also trouble of dissolute seruauntes There is also greate sorowe if thy children proue wicked and dissolute The aunswere to this obiection will minister matter to declaime vpon ¶ Is it good to Marie SInce the tyme of all ages and the creacioÌ„ of the worlde GOD hath so blessed his creacion and meruailous workemanship in manne as in all his other creatures that not onelie his omnipoteucie is therby set forthe But also from tyme to tyme the posteritee of men in their ofspring and procreacion doe aboundantlie commonstrate the same The state of all kyngdomes and common wealthes by procreacion deriued haue onelie continued on the face of the yearth thereby many hundred yeres How sone would the whole worlde be dissolued and in perpetuall ruine if that God from tymes and ages had not by godlie procreacion blessed this infinite issue of mankinde The dignitee of man in his creacion sheweth the worthie succession maintained by procreation In vaine were the creacion of the worlde if there were not as manne so excellente a creature to beholde the creatour and his meruailous creacion To what vse were the Elementes and Heauens the Starres and Planettes all Beastes and Foules Fisshe Plantes Herbes and trees if men wer not for mannes vse and necessitée all thinges in the yearth were made and procreated Wherein the Stoike Philosophers do note the excellencie of man to be greate for saie thei Que in terris gignuntur omnia ad vsum hominum creari To what vse then were all thynges if man were not for whose cause vse necessitée these thynges were made If a continuaunce of Gods procreacion were not immediatlie a ruine and ends would ensue of thinges What age remaineth aboue a hundred yeres If after a huÌ„dred yeres no issue wer to be on the face of the yearth how sone wer kyngdoms dissolued where as procreacion rooteth a newe generacion issue and ofspring and as it were a newe soule and bodie A continuaunce of lawes a permanente state of common wealthe dooeth ensue Though the life of manne be fraile and sone cutte of yet by Mariage man by his ofspryng is as it were newe framed his bodie by death dissolued yet by issue reuiued Euen as Plantes by the bitter season of Winter from their flowers fadyng and witheryng yet the seede of them and roote vegitable and liuyng dooe roote yerelie a newe ofspryng or flower in them So Mariage by godlie procreacion blessed doth perpetually increase a newe bodie and therby a vaste