Of the Harmonie and agreement that ought to be in the dissimilitude or vnlike callings of subiects by reason of the duty and office of euery estate 743 67 Of Peace and of Warre 754 68 Of the ancient Discipline and order of Warre 764 69 Of the office and duty of a Generall 772 70 Of the choise of Souldiors of the maner how to exhort them to fight and how victory is to be vsed 783 71 Of a happie Life 794 72 Of Death 804 THE FIRST DAIES WORKE of this Academie with the cause of their assemblie WHen GOD by his infinite and vnspeakable goodnes beholding with a fatherly bountifull and pitifull eie our poore France which most cruel against it selfe seemed to run amain most furiously to throw it self headlong into the center of some bottomlesse gulfe had sent from heauen the wished-for newes of peace in the midst of ciuill and domesticall armies which a man might say were of purpose prepared for the finall ouerthrow of this French Monarchie that hath florished so long time sparing by his heauenlie grace and fauor and that in despite of them the bloud of those men who held foorth their right hand to cut off the left among manie who touched with the loue of their countrie and with true zeale to pietie reioiced at this so well liking and healthfull newes fower yong gentlemen of Aniou who came togither to serue their Prince and to sacrifice their liues if need required for the welfare and safetie of the Common wealth were none of the last that sought out one another and met togither to testifie ech to other as their mutuall kindred and sworne frendship did inuite them the ioy which filled their souls arising of so happie and vnlooked for successe and alteration of affaires to the end also that they might giue glorie and praise to him who for the benefit of his knoweth wel how to take order euen in those things which according to the iudgement of men are desperate and past recouery And that which gaue them greater occasion to reioice for this peace and so diligently to seeke out one another was this bicause contratie to hope they saw the meanes offered them to returne home and to continue an exercise that greatly pleased them which not long before the last fal of France into troubles they had happily begun Now to let you readers vnderstand what this exercise was these fower gentlemen being of kin and neere neighbors and in a maner of one age were by the care and prudence of their fathers brought vp and nourished togither from their yoong yeeres in the studie of good letters in the house of an ancient wise gentleman of great calling who was the principall stocke and roote of these fruitfull buds This man by reason of his manifold experience and long abode in strange countries knew that the common corruption of French youth of it selfe inclined to pleasure proceeded chiefly from the ouer great licence and excessiue libertie granted vnto them in the Vniuersities of this Realme as well through the fault and negligence of the gouernors and tutors in them as also bicause of the euill gouernment of the townes at this day He knew also that they were no lesse abused who thinking to auoide this dangerous downe-fall at home did send their children to studie abroad amongst strangers where the traffike and merchandise of mischiefs is more common and easie to be made bicause they feare not that newes will presently or so speedily be caried to their parents as if they were neere vnto them Oh how well woorthie of eternall praise is the prudence of this gentleman bringing to my remembrance Eteocles one of the most noble Ephories of Lacedemonia who freely answered Antipater asking fiftie pledges that he would not giue him children least if they were brought vp farre from their fathers they should change the ancient custome of liuing vsed in their owne countrie and become vicious but of olde men and women he would giue him double the number if he would haue them Wherevpon being threatened by this king if he speedily sent him not of the youth we care not quoth he for threatenings For if thou command vs to do things that are more greeuous than death we will rather choose death so carefull were the men of old time that the dressing and trimming of these yoong plants should not be out of their presence But let vs go on with our matter This good and notable old man hauing spent the greater part of his yeeres in the seruice of two kings and of his country and for many good causes withdrawen himselfe to his house thought that to content his mind which alwaies delighted in honest and vertuous things he could not bring greater profit to the Monarchie of France than to lay open a way and meane to preserue and keepe youth from such a pernicious and cancred corruption by offering himselfe for example to all fathers and shewing them the way to haue a more carefull eie in the instruction of their children and not so lightly to commit them to the discipline of vices by the hands of mercenarie and hired strangers And this was begun vpon these fower yoong gentlemen whom he tooke to his owne house by the consent of their parents offering himselfe to the vttermost of his power to helpe their gentle nature which appeered in them woorthie their ancestors by training it vp first in the feare of God as being the beginning of al wisedome secondly in humane learning and knowledge which are necessarie helps to liue well and happily to the benefit of the societie of men To this end after that he himselfe had shewed them the first grounds of true wisedome and of al things necessarie for their saluation according to the measure of grace giuen him from aboue and as their age could conceiue them he labored earnestly to haue in his house some man of great learning and wel reported of for his good life and conuersation vnto whom he committed the instruction of this yoong Nobilitie Who behaued himselfe so wel in his charge that not greatly staying himselfe in the long degrees of learning which being ordinarie and vsuall in our French Colledges are often more tedious besides losse of time than profitable to youth after he had indifferently taught his schollers the Latine toong and some smackering of the Greeke he propounded for the chiefe part and portion of their studies the morall philosophie of aucient Sages and wise men togither with the vnderstanding searching out of histories which are the light of life therein following the intent and will both of him that set him on worke and also of the parents of this Nobilitie who desired to see their children not great Orators suttle Logitians learned Lawiers or curious Mathematicians but onely sufficiently taught in the doctrine of good liuing following the traces and steps of vertue by the knowledge of things past from the first ages vntill this present that they
went about to pull downe Images But I am of this opinion yet readye to yeeld to a better iudgement that if men were honest and vpright and walked in their calling holily they would neuer fight among themselues for religion And if there had beene no other cause mingled therwith in our ciuill wars we should not haue had experiēce of those miseries which daily ouer-whelme vs. The authoritie of a holie and free Councell may by the grace of God end all these dissentious in the meane time let euery one seeke by good life and amendment of manners to serue for a light to those that are out of the way laying aside all part-takings forgetting all iniuries and taking vp againe our first vnitie concord friendship Yea I doubt not but that a Prince embracing with a true zeale the opinion of his religion and neglecting the contrarye would abolish it without force or constraint if God maintain it not For the minds of men resolued in a religion are more confirmed therin if they be resisted but shrinke of themselues if compulsion be not vsed Now for the end and conclusion of our discourse laying a part the causes of seditions and ciuil wars which bring alteration and ouerthrow many times to Estates and Monarchies whereof we haue particularly intreated we will heere comprehend and reduce to a certaine number the causes of the changes of all Common-wealths namely when the posteritie of Princes faileth and the greatest amongst them enter into ciuill warre for the Estate when most of the subiects are extreme poore and a few exceeding rich when the diuision of offices and honors are vnequall or else through extreame ambition and desire of commanding through the reuenge of iniuries through the crueltie and oppression of tyrants through the feare of chasticement which some haue that deserue it through the change of lawes and religion through the greedie desire that some haue to enioy at wil those pleasures which they seeke after lastly through the expulsion of such as defile the places of honor with excessiue and beastly pleasures All these things breede the change corruption and finall ouetthrow of flourishing Estates and great Monarchies and therefore all Princes Gouernors and politike Rulers ought carefully to looke vnto them The ende of the sixteenth daies worke THE SEVENTEENTH DAIES WORKE Of the preseruation of Estats and Monarchies and of remedies to keepe them from sedition Chap. 65. ASER. WIsedome saith Lactantius is giuen of God to all men that euery one according to his abilitie and capacitie might seeke after things vnknowne and examine that which he knoweth And we must not thinke that such as haue gone before vs many yeeres and ages did so possesse and vse hir that she is now lesse forceable in vs. She cannot be wholy possessed no more than the light of the Sunne and as the Sunne is the light of our eies so is wisedome the light of mans hart If your delight thē saith the wise man be in thrones and scepters O kings of the people honor wisedome that ye may raigne for euer Truly she is necessarie prouision for them that would raigne that they may do it woorthily and safely maintaine their estate yea she is no lesse requisite in euery calling For she illuminateth and sharpneth the discourse of reason by the knowledge of things she ruleth and conducteth the will to that which is the true and onely Good Therefore seeing that wisedome which is asmuch to say in regard of vs as the searching out of the truth is both offered and needefull for all men euery one ought to be stirred vp to imbrace it with a burning zeale and affection that he may bring foorth the fruits of perfect charitie by applying it next after the seruice of God to the common profite of men Which thing seeing it hath prouoked our yong and vnexperienced yeeres to vtter our former Morall and Politicall discourses and to handle yesterday the causes that breede change and ruine to Estates and Monarchies although such high matters surpasseth the capacitie of our vnderstanding yet let vs my Companions follow with the same zeale our venturous enterprise and as we haue profited in the schoole of this selfe same wisedome let vs enter into the consideration of those meanes and remedies that are contrary to the causes of corruption in policies and that may serue to their preseruation Albeit they may be knowne by the same causes that corrupt them seeing contrary effects proceede from contrary causes and corruption is contrary to preseruation But the vnderstanding of this matter will be more cleare and profitable heereby to them that will take the benefite thereof AMANA If all callings were content with their owne fortune and goods if they would abstaine from other mens goods and from offering them wrong if they would be more intentiue to amend their owne life than to reprehend others and submit them-selues willingly to the obedience of their Magistrats lawes and ordinances I thinke it would be a meane to cause euery Monarchie to flourishe and to continue happie a longe time ARAM. Equalitie said Solon neuer breedeth sedition in the gouernment of a Common-wealth but is the nursing mother of peace and concord and the maintainer of loue whereby the vnitie of subiects is preserued But as the graue and destruction are neuer glutted according to the saying of the wise man so mens eies are neuer satisfied But the discourse of this matter heere propounded belongeth to thee ACHITOB. ACHITOB. That great louer of knowledge and vertue Ptolomy king of Egypt as he feasted one day seuen Embassadors of the best and most flourishing Common-wealthes in his time reasoned with them about their gouernments that hee might knowe which of them had the best policie and was furnished with the best lawes and moste commendable customes The disputation was long and the matter throughly debated amonge them with manye reasons But Ptolomy being desirous to bee instructed by them in the best and rarest pointes necessarye for the preseruation of an Estate prayed them to propounde euerye one three of those customes and lawes that were moste perfect in his Common-wealth The Embassadour of the Romanes beganne and sayde Wee haue the Temples in great respect and reuerence wee are very obedient to our Gouernours and we punish wicked men and euill liuers seuerely The Carthaginian Embassadour said In the Common-wealth of Carthage the Nobles neuer cease fighting nor the Common-people and Artificers labouring nor the Philosophers teaching The Sicilian sayd In our Common-wealth iustice is exactly kept merchandise exercised with truth and all men account themselues equall The Rhodian sayd At Rhodes old men are honest yoong men shamefast and women solitarie and of fewe wordes The Athenian sayd In our Common-wealth rich men are not suffered to be diuided into factions nor poore men to be idle nor the Gouernours to be ignorant The Lacedemonian sayd In Sparta enuie raigneth not for all are equall
perfection of these two great gifts of nature is a good sound iudgement proceeding from pondering and from a firme discourse of reason lightned by the spirit of God and by the same spirit purged from error illusion and all vaine opinion which are vsuall in man and hinder him from iudging aright of the truth But to continue our speech of the woonderfull effects of memorie so much esteemed of Plato that he writeth that we shuld leaue of to be men become like to the gods if our memory could retaine and keepe so much as the eies can read and see We must not here forget to make mention of Iulius Caesar that great monarke of whom Historiographers report that at one time he caused his Secretaries to write vnto foure seuerall persons of sundry matters and that oftentimes he would indight a letter to one of his Secretaries read in a booke and heare another speake all at one time Seneca rehearsed two thousand sundry names hauing onely heard them pronounced before beginning at the last and continuing to the first By these examples we see the greatnes of memorie wherby we may easily indge how profitable it is for the inriching of the minde with all things necessarie to the gouernment of mans estate Yea it is vnto vs a helpe requisite to saluation as that whereby we keepe in remembrance the gifts and graces which we daily receiue from the goodnes and fauor of God to this end that we should not be vngrateful but yeeld vnto him glorie and praise without ceasing Nowe bicause one of you my companions touched this that they which haue a ready and quick wit commonly want memorie that they which hardly learne retaine and keepe better that which they haue learned I will giue you this reason with Plutark that hardnes of belecfe seemeth to be the cause why men comprehend slowly For it is very euident that to learne is to receiue some impression whereupon it followeth that they which resist least are such as soonest beleeue And therefore youth is easier to be perswaded than old folks sick than sound women than men and generally the weaker that thing is which discourseth and doubteth the easier may a man put and adde vnto it what he will as likewise the selfe same thing is sooner lost and let slip away Some others as Iustine Martyr saith haue rendred this reason of the quicknes or slownes of mans wit saying that it commeth of the good or immoderate mixture temperature of the elements of which our bodies are compounded and framed and of the symmetrie and proportion of the organicall or iustrumentall parts ioyned togither in him And surely these seeme to giue the true reason therof For we see many who in their beginning and first age shew that they haue a prompt and sharp wit but when they come to old age are changed become slow and dul to conceiue Which is a great token and argument that a good or bad complexion and constitution of the body is the cause of such a disposition either in quicknes or slownes of spirit as the difference of yeeres doth affoord them Besides doe we not perceiue that they which haue the head ouergreat and ill fanored whom we cōmonly call great blockheads bicause there is not an equall symmetry and moderate proportion betweene that and the other parts of the bodie are naturally vnapt to conceiue and to bring foorth any sensible and wittie thing But the resolution of al this speech shall be that all gifts of the spirit are from aboue that amongst all sorts of men there are some found that are prompt wittie to comprehend great and diuine things by a speciall grace and fauour which God hath bestowed vpon them Some by the gift of the holie Ghost haue wisedom others knowledge and vnderstanding of things and all giuen to euerie one for the profiting both of himselfe and of his neighbor Knowing therefore by this present discourse according to the weakenes of our iudgement the creation and nature of the spirit which is the principall and most noble part of vs and that whereof dependeth and proceedeth all our happines rest and felicitie let vs be carefull and diligent to search it out and to prouide such things as it desireth of vs as helps to that effect bestowing all our care labour and studie to adorne and deck it with righteousnes and holines according to the holie desire therof wherin consisteth life and peace And let vs beware that we seeke not to feede it with strange meats which may make it sorrowfull and with which our flesh aboundeth to hir death and destruction But mortifieng all the deadly desires and affections thereof let vs labour not to walke any more according to the flesh but according to the spirit and let vs know that all wearisomnes and tediousnes which troubleth the tranquillitie and rest thereof proceedcth from the want of experience in affaires from the want of good discoursing grounded vpon a resolute and setled iudgement and from the want of skill fitly to apply our selues to present occasions And this is that which troubleth all sorts and conditions of life as well rich as poore But the way to preserue the spirite in rest and quietnes is to nourish and exercise it in the studie of wisedome where it learneth reason which of it selfe can cure it of all sorrow anguish and greefe through wise discoursing and worke in it a like inclination and constant behauior in euerie alteration of life causing man to liue happie throughout the whole course of his life not without the hope and certaine expectation of a blessed immortalitie The end of the second daies worke THE THIRD DAIES WORKE Of Dutie and Honestie Chap. 9. ASER. ALthough all things were created of diuers natures and properties and manie of cleane contraries yet by an incomprehensible wisedom they were appointed to refer themselues to one onely certaine and common end namely to shew foorth the infinite power and greatnes of their worke-maister sufficient in the lest of his works with admiration to rauish man to whom he hath made al things subiect But as in him alone the treasures of his heauenly graces haue been without comparison more liberally vnfolded and that in all fulnes and bountie as well in regard of the goods and commodities of this life which he draweth from heauen from the earth from the aire from the water from beasts and plants and generally from all things contained vnder the cope of the firmament as also in respect of that vnspeakable happines and eternall felicitie which by the speciall grace of God is purchased and assured to him onely in the immortalitie of the second life so also hath God from the beginning vntill this present and for euer reserued to himselfe a particular homage and that not for a time or for certaine yeeres of his life but to continue without intermission from time to
that these fiue vices namely to make glorious sepulchers to weare rings of gold to vse spice in meates to alay wine with snow and to carrie about with them perfumes and sweet smels were sent to the Romanes for a present from the Asians as a reuenge for the cities which they had taken from them and for the bloude which they had drawne of them And which was woorst of all he saith that these vices would alwaies remaine with them but the country conquered for a little time Experience telleth vs that no countrey is so poore which is not sufficient and able all superfluitie cut off to nourish and maintaine those men that are bred in it with things necessarie for them Whervpon a man may easily ghesse that want of prudence and ambitious desires first inuented the art of Nauigation sailing into farre countries Fabatus the consul in seauenty yeeres which he liued departed not once from his village of Regio to go to Messana which was but two miles off by water And when one asked of him the cause why The barke quoth he is foolish for it alwaies stirreth vp and downe the mariner is foolish for he neuer abideth in one opinion the water is foolish for it neuer standeth stil the winde is foolish foâ— it runneth continually Now if we vse to go from a foole when we meete him vpon the land what reason were it for me to hazard my life with foure fooles vpon the sea But whatsoeuer my speech hath bin hetherto my meaning is not to finde fault with the right vse of hospitalitie which ought to be maintained kept inuiolable in euerie well established common wealth In this respect Fraunce hath beene commended aboue all nations for intertaining and receiuing all sorts of people prouided alwaies that they be not preferred before our own children and that they be contented to obey liue according to the common lawes of the country Neither do I reprehend that traffick and trade with strangers which serueth for a bond of humaine societie whereby the commodities of one to another are communicated togither with common profite prouided alwaies that superfluous and vnnecessarie things be left and forsaken But ere we enter too farre in with them it were good for vs not to vndertake such voyages to gather wit and experience as the most say before we haue profited well in the knowledge of vertue and are garded with good and commendable maners which are able to resist all new strange corruption wherby otherwise the nature of man desirous of diuersitie and noueltie suffreth it selfe easily to be ouercome making marchandise amongst them of naughtines rather than of goodnes As hitherto experience sheweth vs that from this fountaine hath proceeded the curiositie of supersluous apparell of gold of silke tapistrie pictures vessels perfumes painting of faces delicasie of meate and all prouocations of voluptuousnes whooredome gluttonie and of other filthy dissolutenes and infamous vices too much knowne amongst vs wherof we haue heertofore made mention and will heerafter continue the particular discourse of them Nowe after we are well armed at all points with good doctrine and vertue we may according to the example of Plato of Apollonius Thyaneus and of many other notable men seeke after those that are best learned in strange countries that we may profite and be instructed by them Plato after he was well instructed by Socrates sought out the Mages and wise Men of Egypt by whose means he saw the books of Moyses Then he went into Italy to heare Architas Tarentinus the most renowmed philosopher of that country Apollonius who matched in learning all the philosophers of his time trauelled ouer three parts of the world to see and to conferre with all the skilfull men of his age and being returned into his country and inriched with woonderful knowledge he distributed all his goods whereof he had great abundance amongst his brethren to the poore and withdrawing himselfe into the fields he liued with bread and water onely that he might haue his minde free for the contemplation of heauenly things Now let vs come to the other kinde of curiositie which as we saide concerneth our brethren and countrimen This is that which Plutark calleth a desire to know the wants and imperfections of other men It is commonly ioined with enuie and euil speaking and is by that excellent philosopher compared to adulterie which may be called a curious inquirie after another bodies pleasure Moreouer curious folkes through an ouerweening incontinencie seeke to violate and to discouer their neighbors greatest secrets especially those which are blamewoorthy that by publishing blabbing them out they may nourish the intemperancie of their toongs For as venemous serpents seeke after infected and stinking places so curiositie delighteth in finding out euill things but despiseth those that are good and commendable If there be any one imperfection in a stock or kindred if any infamy fault error or euil gouernment in a house any quarelling any thing to be misliked or loathed therein it is the delight of curious folks to learne that throughly that they may sport themselues and tell long stories of them by that meanes vsing their memorie for a loathsome register of other mens vices and yet neither see or know any fault of their owne This causeth them all their life time to be the disciples of ignorance not of philosophy which teacheth vs not other mens faults but our owne as also the meanes how we may be deliuered from them Diogenes beholding one of his schollers in a publike place talking very earnestly with a yoong man that was thought to be subiect to his pleasure demanded what talke they had To whom the disciple answered that the other rehearsed vnto him a notable tricke of youth which he had plaid the night before Then Diogenes saide to them both My will and commandement is that ech of you haue fortie stripes with a whippe within the Amphitheater or playing place Thou quoth hee to his scholler for giuing eare vnto him and he for the follie committed bicause a philosopher deserueth as much for harkening to follie recited as doth the vagabond that rehearseth it What punishment thinke you would this wise man haue iudged them worthie of who harken and inquire so curiously after other mens faults and imperfections And yet a man may truly say of the most of these men that they will neuer looke vpon or consider their owne liues which is a very vnpleasant spectacle vnto them nor yet returne and looke backe with reason as with a light vpon themselues But their soule being full of all sorts of euil and fearing that which she feeleth within hir selfe leapeth foorth and wandereth heere and there in searching other mens doings thereby feeding and fatting hir owne ill nature and vsing curiositie as an eie to looke vpon other men Heerof it commeth that a curious man is more profitable to his enimies than to himselfe
countries as the histories of most nations in the world declare vnto vs and namely of the Germaines who in the time of Tacitus had neither law nor religion nor knowledge nor forme of commonwealth whereas now they giue place to no nation for good institution in all things Let vs not then be discouraged or faint by knowing our naturall imperfections seeing that through labor and diligence we may recouer that which is wanting but happie is that man and singularly beloued of God to whom both good birth and like bringing vp are granted together It followeth now to discourse particulerly of the maner of good education and instruction of youth but this will come in more fitely when we shall intreat of Oeconomy And yet seeing we are in the discourse of mans nature I thinke it wil not be from the purpose nor without profite if to make vs more seuere censurers of our owne faults we note that although our behauior be cheefely known by the effects as a tree by the fruit yet many times a mans naturall inclinatiō is better perceiued in a light matter as in a word in a pastime or in some other free and priuate busines wherein vertue or vice ingrauen in the soule may be sooner espied than in greater actions and works done publikely bicause in these matters shame or constraint commonly cause men to vse dissimulation Howbeit this also is true that the more power and authoritie a man hath when he may alleadge his owne will for all reason the inward affection of his hart is then best discouered For such an vnbrideled licence mooueth all euen to the verie depth and bottome of his passions and causeth all those secret vices that are hidden in his soule to be fullie and euidently seene Whereupon it followeth that great and noble men ought aboue all others to learne vertue and to studie to liue well especially seeing they haue all those requisite helps and commodities through want of which most men are hindred from attaining thereunto Let vs therefore learne by our present discourse to knowe that the nature of all men by reason of the corruption of sin is so depraued corrupted and vnperfect that euen the best men amongst many imperfections carry about them some enuie ielousy emulation and contention against some or other and rather against their verie friends This did Demas a noble man and greatly conuersant in matters of estate declare vnto the councel in the citie of Chio after a ciuill dissention wherin he had followed that part which ouercame For he perswaded those of his side not to banish all their aduersaries out of the city but to leaue some of them after they had taken from them all meanes of doing more harme least quoth he vnto them we begin to quarrel with our friends hauing no more enemies to contende withall For this cause we must fortifie our selues with vnderstanding and knowledge through labor and studie of good letters that we may restraine and represse so many pernitious motions mingled togither in our soules Let vs know moreouer that seeing our nature is assaulted and prouoked by a vehement inclination to do any thing whatsoeuer it is a very hard matter to withdrawe and keepe it backe by any force no not by the strength or feare of any lawes if in due conuenient time we frame not within it a habite of vertue hauing first wished to be well borne But howsoeuer it be let vs endeuor to be well borne through custome and exercise in vertue which will be vnto vs as it were another nature vsing the meanes of good education and instruction in wisedome whereby our soules shal be made conquerors ouer all hurtfull passions and our minds moderate and staied that in all our doings sayings and thoughts we passe not the bounds of the dutie of a vertuous man The ende of the fourth daies worke THE FIFT DAIES WORKE Of Temperance Chap. 17. ASER. THe diuine excellencie of the order of the equall wonderful constācie of the parts of the world aswell in the goodly and temperate moderation of the seasons of the yeere as in the mutuall coniunctiō of the elements obeying altogither with a perfect harmonie the gratious and soueraigne gouernment of their creator was the cause that Pythagoras first called all the compasse of this vniuersal frame by this name of World which without such an excellent disposition would be but disorder a world of confusion For this word world signifieth asmuch as Ornament or a well disposed order of things Nowe as a constant and temperate order is the foundation thereof so the ground-worke and preseruation of mans happie life for whom all things were made is the vertue of temperance which conteineth the desires and inclinations of the soule within the compasse of mediocritie and moderateth all actions whatsoeuer For this cause hauing hitherto according to our iudgment sufficiently discoursed of the first riuer of the fountaine of honestie I thinke we ought to set downe here in the second place although it be contrarie to the opinion of manie philosophers this vertue of Temperance saying with Socrates that she is the ground-worke and foundation of all vertues AMANA As a man cannot be temperate if first he be not prudent bicause euerie vertuous action proceedeth of knowledge so no man can be strong and valiant if he be not first temperate bicause he that hath a noble and great courage without moderation will attempt a thousand euils and mischeefes and will soone grow to be rash and headie Likewise iustice cannot be had without temperance seeing it is the cheefe point of a iust man to haue his soule free from perturbations Which cannot be done except he be temperate whose proper subiect the soule is ARAM. Heroicall vertue saith Plato is made perfect by the mixture and ioyning together of Temperance and fortitude which being separated will at length become vices For a temperate man that is not couragious easily waxeth to be a coward and faintharted and a noble hart not temperate becommeth rash and presumptuous Let vs then heare ACHITOB discourse of this Temperance so excellent and necessarie a vertue ACHITOB. Agapetus a man of great skill writing to the emperor Iustinian amongst other things had this saying We say that thou art truly and rightly both emperor and king so long as thou canst command and master thy desires and pleasures and art beset and decked with the crowne of Temperance and clothed with the purple robe of Iustice For other principalities end by death whereas this kingdome abideth for euer yea others are manie times the cause of perdition to the soule but this procureth a certaine and an assured safetie When we haue considered well of the woorthie effects and fruits of this vertue of temperance no doubt but we will subscribe to this wise mans opinion and to as many as haue written of the praises and roialties of that vertue Temperance saith thagoras is that light which
fifteene dayes he had gotten with child a hundred virgins of Sarmatia which he had taken prisoners in the warre Chilpericus the first king of France to the end he might the better enioy a whore called Fredegonda whō afterwards he maried compelled his first wife named Andeuora to become a religious woman and put to death two children which he had by her through the counsaile of his sayd concubine Then hauing in his second mariage taken to wife Galsonda daughter to the king of Spaine he caused her to be strangled and maried Fredegonda who perceiuing afterward that he noted in himselfe this loosenesse of life and offensiue kind of gouernment caused him to be slain A iust punishment suffred by God for his intemperance Xerxes monarch of the Persians was so intemperate and giuen to lust that he propounded rewards for those that could inuent some new kind of pleasure And therfore comming into 〈…〉 infinit number of men to subdue it he was ouercome and repulsed by a small number as being an effeminate and faintharted man Epicurus a learned philosopher was so intemperate that he placed the soueraigne Good and Felicitie in pleasure Sardanapalus monarch of Babylon the first of the foure Empires was so addicted to lust and intemperance that he stirred not all day long from the company of women being apparelled as they were and spinning purple Whereby he became so odious that two of his lieutenants iudging him vnworthy to command ouer Asia and ouer so many good men as were vnder his Empire raised his subiects against him and ouercame him in battell Wherupon dispairing of his safetie he caused a great Tabernacle of wood to be set vp in a sure place within the cloister of his palace and compassed it round about with great store of dry wood Then he caused his wife and his concubines whom he loued best to enter into it and all the wealth he had to be brought thither This done shutting himselfe within it his Eunuches and seruants according to the othe which he had taken of them put fire to the said frame and so this miserable king of the Chaldeans and Assyrians with all that was with him was suddenly consumed with fire and ended his monarchie which his victorious lieutenants diuided betwixt them the one taking himself for king of Babylon the other of Medea Antonius one of Caesars successors in the Empire procured his own ruine through intemperance loosenes and stirred vp against himselfe the enuie and murmuring of the Romans for his retchlesnesse of feats of Arms in that warre ouer which he was generall against the Parthians For to the end he might quickly return to his concubine Cleopatra Queene of Egypt he hazarded all in such sort that without doing any thing worthy his first reputation he lost more than twentie thousand of his own men Afterward Octauius his companion in the Empire beyng armed against him that he might reuenge the iniurie which he had done him in forsaking his sister whom he had wedded to liue in his vncleannes gaue him battell wherein Antonius seeing his friend Cleopatra flie who had born him company in that warre folowed her with three skore of his owne gallies albeit the fight was yet equal the victorie doubtful Thus he betraied those that fought for him to follow her who already had begun his destruction to the end she might accomplish the same as in deed it fel out after For being besieged within Alexandria by the said Octauius and without hope of safetie he thrust himself through the body with his sword wherof he died and Cleopatra also procured her own death by the biting of the serpent Aspis Boleslaus the second king of Polonia being giuen to all vncleannes and filthines made no dout to take women by violence from their husbands Whereupon the bishop of Cracouia often admonished him therof and when by reason of his obstinate perseuerance he proceeded against him euen with excommunication he was caried headlong with such fury that he killed this holy man After that his subiects comming against him he was constrained to flie into Hungarie where falling mad he slew himself The emperor Adrian tooke such glory and pride in al execrable vices that he commanded a Temple with a sumptuous tombe to be made for a naughtie man named Antinoüs whō he had miserably abused in his life In our time Iohannes a Casa Archbishop of Beneuento and Legate in Venice wrote a booke in praise of the abominable vice of Sodomitrie Sigismundus Malatesta lord of a part of Romaignola a prouince of Italy striued to haue carnal knowledge of his sonne Robert who thrusting his poinado into his fathers bosom reuenged that great wickednes By these examples and infinit others whereof histories are full it appeereth sufficiently that man burning with intemperance careth not at what price with what shame hurt or hinderance he may come to the execution and practise of all such pleasure delight as he propoundeth to himselfe As if he purpose to haue his fame continue for euer he will not stick to do it although it be by some notable wickednesse And thus we read of him that burnt the Temple of Diana which was accounted the fift wonder of the world was two hundred eight and twentie yeeres in building by the Amazones within the citie of Ephesus in Asia The planks thereof were all of Cedar wood and the doores and garnishing of the wals of Cypres This wretched caitife confessed that he put fire to that sumptuous building for no other cause than to leaue his fame and renowne behind him in the world but commandement was giuen that none should fet down his name in writing Neuerthelesse he is named Erostratus by Solinus and Strabo from whence came that prouerb This is the renowne of Erostratus vsed when any man seeketh to be famous by a wicked act which we may also apply to all intemperate men As touching the defect of Temperance wherof mention was made in the beginning of our present discourse and which hath no proper name but vnproperly is called by some Stupiditie orsencelesnes it is rarely found amongst men who by nature are giuen to pleasure and caried away with all kinds of desires lusts For where shal we find any so dul blockish that hath no feeling of pleasure and that is not mooued with glory and honor Such a man may be truly taken and accounted as one void of sence and feeling like to a blocke Neither doth it belong to temperāce to be depriued of all desires but to master them For that man as Cicero saith that neuer had experience of pleasures and delights neither hath any feeling of them ought not to be called temperate as he that hath done nothing which may testifie his continencie and modestie Thus ye see we haue no matter offred wherabout to bestow time in reproouing this vice of defect frō which men are
too carefull to keep themselues But to come to the conclusiō of our discourse we say with Aristotle that concupiscences and desires change the bodie and make the soule outragious that so many as are infected with such a pernicious and damnable vice as intemperance is are no mē but monsters in nature leading a life altogether like to that of brute beasts which being destitute of all reason know nothing better or more honest than pleasure hauing no knowledge of the iustice of God neither reuerencing the beautie of vertue bestow al the courage craft force that nature hath giuen them to satisfie and to accomplish their desires So that if death brought with it an end of all sence and feeling and an vtter abolishing of the soule as well to men as to beasts intemperate folks should seeme to gaine much by enioying their desires and lusts during their life time and to haue good cause to waxe old and euen to melt in their foule filthie pleasures But seeing we know for truely he that doubteth hereof is very ignorant most miserable that sence and feeling remaine after death and that the soule dieth not with the body but that punishment yea euerlasting payne is prepared for the wicked let vs be careful to do the will of our father which is in heauen whilest we haue time that in the triumphing day of his eternal sonne we may not heare to our confusion that sentence of his mouth Depart from me ye workers of iniquitie At which time the iust shall shine as the sunne in the kingdome of God and the wicked shall be cast headlong into euerlasting fire where shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth Of Sobrietie and Frugalitie Chap. 19. ARAM. SOcrates vsed to dispute earnestly and grauely of the manner of liuing as of a thing of great importance For he said that continencie in meate and drinke was as it were the foundation and beginning of skill And truely the minde is much more prompt to comprehend all good reason when the operations of the braine are not hindered by vapours which the superfluitie of meates send vp thither I am of opinion therefore that we handle this vertue of sobriety which dependeth of temperance and is contained vnder the first part thereof namely vnder continencie ACHITOB. To liue well and frugally saith Plato is to liue temperately and as Epictetus saith there is great difference betweene liuing well and liuing sumptuously For the one commeth of temperance frugalitie discipline honestie and moderation of the soule contented with her owne riches and the other of intemperance lust and contempt of all order and mediocritie In the end the one is followed with shame and the other with true and lasting praise ASER. We can not well vse our spirite saith Cicero when we are stuffed with meate Neither must we gratifie the belly and intrailes only but also the honest ioy of the mind For that which is contained in the other parts perisheth but the soule separated from the body abideth for euer Let vs then harken to AMANA of whome we may vnderstand howe necessary sobrietie is for a happie life AMANA If we set before our eies the long and happy life of the Ancients so long as they obserued sobrietie and frugalitie out of doubt we will attribute one principall cause of our so short life and so full of infirmities to the riot superfluitie and curiositie of diet which at this day are seene amongst vs. The life of our first Fathers was it not maintained a long time with fruits milke honie and water Who euer came neere their long and happie daies since those times What preparation of exquisite victuals did those six hundred thousand Israelites thinke to find that came out of Egypt to go into a new land walking fortie yeeres through the wildernes drinking nothing but water and many times wanting that After those first ages the Grecians and Romanes loued sobrietie more than all other nations And as the Hebrewes vsed to eate but once a daye which was at dinner so the Grecians onely supped For this cause we read that Plato being demanded whether he had seene any new or strang thing in Sicilia answered that he had found a monster of nature which did eate twice a day This he spake of Dionysius the tyrant who first brought vp that custome in his countrey In the time of Iulius Caesar the Germaines a strong and warlike people liued onely of milke cheese and flesh not knowing what wheate and wine were nor yet what it was to labour the ground or to sowe Yea how many millions of men are there at this day in the West regions and Ilands who know not what all this superfluitie and daintines of fare meaneth and yet liue long and healthie in all frugalitie the greatest part of them vpon herbs and rootes whereof they make cakes in steede of wheate and others of raw flesh Whereby it is easie to iudge that sobrietie is the preseruation and maintenance of health and of naturall strength and vigor and so consequently of the life of man But when we looke higher and with the eies of our mind marke the excellent glorie and immortall praise deserued by so many Camilli Scipiones Fabriti◠Metelli Catones and by a thousand other famous families which executed so many woorthy acts by their owne vertue and yet in the meane while kept such a simple and sober diet that the most of them were contented with bread herbs and water endured and tolerated cheerefully all iniuries of weather went but homely araied and altogither contemned gold and siluer out of question we will iudge those men very blind and farre from the white of such glorie and honour who imbrace nothing but dissolutenes superfluitie lust dronkennes pride and all such like imperfections that beare sway amongst vs who behold Vice mounted so high that men must in a manner blush as much to speake of Vertue or to be vertuous in a thousand companies as in that happy time of the Ancients they were ashamed of vice or to be vitious And truly I thinke that these men being past shame care but little for the glorie that hath beene in many ages seeing they liue for the body onely after a brutish impietie without all regard of the foule or of the second life What say I for the body Nay rather they are the destroiers thereof seeing it cannot be denied but that sobrietie is a great benefit and helpe to preserue health and bodily strength and to expell diseases and is to be vsed as a good foundation to attaine to a happy old age The experience heereof is well knowne to euery one although there were no other proofe but this that we see the simple sort of people that labor and trauell to liue with bread and water grow old in health whereas our Princes and great Lords being delicately brought vp in idlenes die yoong men tormented with infinite diseases especially when they
imagined For nothing marreth more the behauior simplicitie and natural goodnes of any people than this bicause they soone receiue into their soules a liuely impression of that dissolutenes and villanie which they see and heare when it is ioyned with words accents gestures motions actions wherewith players and iuglers know how to inrich by all kind of artificiall sleights the filthiest and most dishonest matters which commonly they make choice of And to speake freely in few wordes we may truely say that the Theater of players is a schoole of all vnchastnes vncleannes whoredom craft subtletie and wickednes Now let vs speake of those that propound as we said vnto themselves the vainglory of outward shew among the best and men of great calling through friuolous vnprofitable and superfluous expences as in sumptuous and costly apparel precious and rich moueables goodly furniture and trapping of horses great traine of seruing men dogs birds other vanities gifts and presents sent to such as are vnwoorthie thereby to obtaine the good will of them that are most wicked in authoritie to the end to prepare a way vnto high callings and to preferments vnto offices Besides the wasting of their goods hereupon to their shame and confusion which they should imploy vpon charitable works they spend many times other mens goods euen the substance of the poore which they craftily get by vnlawfull meanes This is that which at length as Crates the Philosopher said very well stirreth vp ciuill warres seditions and tyrannies within cities to the end that such voluptuous men and ambitious of vaine glorie fishing in a troubled water may haue wherewith to maintaine their foolish expences and so come to the ende of their platformes Heerof we haue many examples in the ciuil wars amongst the Romanes as namely vnder Cinna Carbo Marius and Sylla Likewise in the conspiracie of Catiline his complices who being of the chiefe families in Rome and perceiuing themselues to be brought to the estate of bankrupts as we commonly say sought by all meanes to prosecute their first deliberation which was alwaies to seeme great and mightie Thus dealt Caesar in procuring to his countrey that ciuill warre which he made against Pompey after he had indebted himselfe in seuen hundred and fiftie thousand crownes to get the fauor and good liking of the people This is that which Heraclitus meant to teach his countreymen when after a sedition appeased and quieted being asked what waie were best to be taken that the like should not fall out againe he went vp into that place from whence orations were made to the people there in steed of speaking began to eate a morsell of browne bread and to drinke a glasse of water Which being done he came downe againe and spake neuer a word Heerby he would signifie that vntill daintines of fare were banished the citie and immoderate expences cut off and sobrietie and modesty brought in their place they should neuer be without sedition If this counsell were euer requisite in a Monarchie it is certainly most necessarie at this present for ours wherein all kind of supersluitie riot and weltring in pleasures curiositie in apparell tapistrie and pictures vessels perfumes and painting of faces aboundeth in greater measure than heertofore it did amongst the Persians which was the cause of their finall subuersion and of Alexanders greatnes who subdued them That which for the space of fiue hundred yeeres and more maintained the Lacedemonian estate being the chiefest in Grecia for glory and goodnes of gouernment was the cutting off and abolishing of all superfluitie in diet apparel moueables and of all strang wares which Lycurgus banished Whereby also forraine merchants the cause of corruption banished themselues as they that seeke not after others but for gaine by selling their nouelties very deere vnto them Neither did the Romane Commonwealth florish more at any time than when those men that caried about them perfumes and sweetesmels and those women that were found swilling like drunkards were corrected with the same punishment This caused Cato being the Censurer of the election of two captaines that one of them might be sent as General of the Pannonian warre to say with a loud voice that he would dismisse Publius his Allie bicause he neuer saw him returne wounded from the war but had seene him walke vp and downe the citie of Rome perfumed What would he haue said of our Courtiers so finely curled ruft and perfumed The Kings and Magistrats of those so happie times were the principall obseruers of their owne lawes and edicts reforming themselues before all others and liuing so austerely that their example constrained their subiects more to follow them than all the punishments which they could haue deuised to propound vnto them We haue a notable testimonie heereof in Agis king of Sparta who in his returne from the warre wherein he had ouercome the Athenians being desirous to sup priuately with his wife sent into the kitchen that was appointed for his band and company for they liued all in common being seuered into quarters to haue his portion But this was denied him and the next morning for this fact he was fined by the Ephories who were ioined in soueraigne authoritie with the kings for the maintenance of lawes and of iustice in which sentence and iudgement of theirs he willingly rested But to returne to our matter how ought we to blush for our riot and excesse in apparell which we maintaine with such glorie What follie is it to imploy the industrie of the soule ordained for heauenlie things in trimming decking and gilding hir enimie hir prison and if I may so speake hir poison the bodie Excesse of apparell saith Erasmus is an argument of the incontinencie of the soule and rather whetteth the eies of the beholders thereof to wicked desires than to any honest opinion and conceite Decke not thy house saith Epictetus with tables and pictures but paint it with temperance For the one is to feede the eies vainely but the other is an eternall ornament and such a one as can neuer be defaced If we make account of things of small importance we despise those that are of great weight but in not caring at all for little things we make our selues woorthie of great admiration That great Monarke Augustus Caesar ware no other garments than such as his wife and daughters made and those very modest Agesilaus king of Lacedemonia neuer had but one kind of garment for winter and sommer Epaminondas Generall Captaine of the Thebanes was contented with one onely gowne al the yeere long Further if we looke vnto their simplicitie and modestie in their traine and followers truely it was woorthie of reuerence being without pride pompe or superfluous magnificence Scipio Africanus that great Captaine going as delegate into Asia to compound and end certaine contentions that were betweene the kings of that countrey was accompanied but
contract matrimony leuied an impost by way of a fine vpon their legacies windfals coÌ„ming by the death of others that did not marry after 25. yeeres of age or that had no children Wherby he greatly chastised whoredoms adulteries sodomitrie furnished Rome with good citizens which then was greatly destitute of them by reason of ciuil warres What is the cause saith Vlpianus the lawyer that womens dowries had such great priuiledges It was for no other reason then bicause of the profit that commeth to al common-wealths by mariages He that had 3. childreÌ„ amongst the Romans could not be coÌ„pelled to cary a message or publike embassage he that had 5. was exempted froÌ„ personal charge he that had 13. from al charge And in our time in the common-welth of Florence as Raphael Volateraniâ— reherseth in his Philologie Euery citizen that is father of 5. children either males or females is exempted freed discharged of all publike taxe loane subsidie If nothing be more blessed nor happines more to be desired than immortalitie line all propagation maketh vs immortal through the continuing of kind Wherupon we may inferre by way of conclusion that no greater happines can come to man wife in this world than to leaue issue as a testimony to posteritie that once they were in the world haue left behind them a token of their life It was enacted by Lycurgus lawes that no citizen preferring the estate of continencie before that of mariage should be at publike playes which at that time was a note of great ignominie We account not him a good gardiner that painfully dresseth those fruitfull trees which he hath in his garden or orchard if he haue no care to plant and graft new therby to substitute others in their place which by succession of time waxe old die And how shal we take him for a good citizen and such a one as zealously seeketh the good of the common-welth that â—ontenteth himselfe with those citizens that are aliue and neglecteth the ing endring of new in good and lawfull matrimonie wherby to supply the want of such as daily decay Further if I should go about to reherse here the happines pleasure contentatioÌ„ which maÌ„ wife liuing holily togither according to the duty of their vocation do mutually receiue one of another who doubteth that a whole day would not suffice me What greater solace in the whole world can be found than for a man to liue with hir vnto whom he is coupled not by good wil only but also by a mutuall coÌ„munication of bodies If we take great delight to conferre with our friends familiar acquaintance about our secret affaires shall we not receiue greater ioy without coÌ„parison to disclose our thoughts to hir vnto whom we speake as safely as to our selues who is also partaker as wel of our aduersity as prosperity and accounteth our weale or woe to be hir owne We are ioined to our friends by good will and liking onely but to our wife we are conioined and linked by soueraigne charitie by bodily commixtion by sacred confederacy by an inseparable felowship society in al weathers If the man abound in teÌ„poral goods the wife wil keep them faithfully for him and encrease them by hir industrie and labor If he be poore persecuted by fortune she will comfort him If through feare sicknes or any other mishap he be constrained to shut vp himselfe in his house his wife will take away that irkesomnes from him which otherwise would seaze vpon him being solitarie If he go abroad he is glad that he hath left that partie in his house which he most trusteth In youth she is a sweete and amiable companion in old age a very conuenient comforter and solace Moreouer by mariage a man encreaseth his friends allies kinsfolks neighbours which is a very great benefit and inuincible strength Brethren sisters nephews nieces are doubled Peace is many times procured between monarchs princes by mariages and infinit quarels dissentions appeased But what vnspeakable pleasure doth euery father take to see his liuely picture ingrauen in the face of his children and that so neere the quick as neither Lysippus Mentor Polycletus Phidias Praxiteles Zeuxis Apelles nor Parrhasius had euer the skil to graue or paint so wel Againe what ioy receiueth he by hoping that when his children shall waxe great they will be the staffe of his age the stay of his weakenes the pillar of his house and that ouerliuing him according to the course of nature they shall close vp his eies and cause such funerals ceremonies to be done for him as are requisite in that case For the conclusion therefore of this present matter we say that no man can iustly blame mariage vnto which all lawes both diuine and humane exhort vs nature prouoketh vs honestie draweth vs infinite commodities inuite vs all nations shew vs the way thither and lastly necessitie of continuing our kind constraineth vs. And briefly to answere the grounds alleaged to the contrary they may be ouerthrowen by one onely dictinction which is that most of them that dispraised mariage were heathens and blinded in their vain wisedom or to speake better in their folly wanting then that knowledge of the truth which God of his grace hath since reuealed vnto vs. And no maruell if they erred in dispraising Mariage seeing they could neuer attaine to the knowledge of the true and soueraigne good of man as we haue handled already But yet it can neuer be found that Socrates Plato and such as were most excellent amoÌ„g the Philosophers blamed it but rather honoured commended it the most of them also being maried as namely Socrates Plato Aristotle Seneca Plutarke and others As for their strongest reason that mislike mariage namely the deceiuing of men by women the fault ought to be imputed rather to the men than to the women bicause men according to the perfection of their sexe ought to be wiser than women who are by nature more changeable by will and more fraile in counsell although all are not so So that if there be any imperfection it ought not to be obiected to them by way of reproch but rather to nature than to them And they that vpbraid them therewith shew that they wander out of the path of reason are destitute of all good sence and are vnworthie that women should haue conceiued them brought them into the world giuen them sucke and nourished them Of a house and familie and of the kinds of mariage of certaine ancient customes obserued in mariage Chap. 46. ACHITOB IN the beginning of my present speech of mariage I noted this that the communion of the husband and wife extendeth it selfe vnto all the parts that depend of their house Therefore I suppose my Companions that for the sequele and vnderstanding of that matter which we haue propounded to
youth if we obserue and vse these fower things Instruction Admonition Promise Praises and Threatnings We will comprehend all Instruction vnder sixe precepts The first shall be to shewe vnto children that they must worship God and honour him chiefly and aboue all things referring all their thoughts and deedes to the glorie of his name that it is he that hath created and preserueth all things that he suffereth no wickednes to passe vnpunished nor good worke vnrewarded but giueth eternall happines to good men and euerlasting paine and punishment to them that are euill Let them knowe that without his grace and fauour they can doe nothing no not so much as liue one moment and therefore that they must continually and before euery worke call vpon him and beware that they offend him not by neglecting his commandemēts which for this cause they must diligently learne The second instruction which I finde most necessarie for youth is to teach them not to glorie in earthlie and worldlie goods but to learne rather to despise them and to transport the loue of the bodie and of carnall goods which it desireth to the loue of the soule and of eternal goods which properly belong vnto them They must not make great account of the beautie of the bodie which hauing inclosed within it the soule that is defiled with vice and sinne is nothing else but a pretious and proud sepulcher vnder which is contained a stinking and putrified carrion They must not put their hope and confidence in riches but be perswaded that they are rich and happie if they be wise learned and vertuous And whilest their vnderstanding is good and in vigour and themselues haue time they must put all their strength to the obtaining of that which will be profitable vnto them in their olde age namely of knowledge and vertue which will procure vnto them honour safetie praise happines rest and tranquillitie in their life time and will in the ende guide them to eternall life to be made coheires of the kingdome of heauen with Iesus Christ Thirdly they must be taught to eschewe and flie from all such thinges which they see are hurtfull to others and learne to be wise by their dangers and perils Nowe that which marreth and hurteth others is disobedience lying pride infidelitie naughtines hazarding games whoredome drunkennes prodigalitie idlenes and euill companie Against the contagion of which vices no better preseruatiue can be had than to ingraue modestie in their hartes by the rule and measure whereof they may easily be directed to behaue themselues vertuously For this cause Plutarke sayth very elegantly that the foolish opinion and presumption which yoong men commonly conceiue of themselues ought rather to be emptied than the ayre wherewith bottles and Kiddes skinnes are puffed vp when any good thing is to be put into them Otherwise being full of the winde of ouer-weening they receiue none of that good instruction which men thinke to powre into them For the fourth precept of their instruction we will set downe these fower thinges which will stande them in great steede towards the attayning of a happie life Let them not be delicate or superfluous in anye thinge Let them bridle their toong and not be full of wordes nor vtter filthie and dishonest talke at anie tyme but be gratious and curteous in speaking to all men saluting euery one gladly and willingly giuing place in those things wherein the truth is not hurt Let them maister their choler by cutting off impatience as much as may be which is a singular vertue Lastly let them haue pure hands seeing manie great men by taking monie vniustly haue stilled all that honour which they had gathered togither all the former time of their life Fiftly the examples of good and bad men are to be laid before their eies through the reading and vnderstanding of histories that they may knowe that vertuous men haue beene well rewarded and the vitious receiued an euill and miserable ende For this cause we reade that the olde men of Rome vsed at feastes to singe the famous actes of their Ancestours before their youth For the sixt and last precept we say that it is needfull for youth to be vsed to labour and wearisomnes to keep them from idlenes and from falling into any dishonest pleasure We haue seene what exercises and pastimes are meete for them according to the opinion of the Ancients and at this daye we knowe howe to make choice of them as shall be meetest for the nobilitie Now to speake briefly of the other three generall precepts giuen by vs for the institution of youth Admonition is very necessarie for that age For although youth be well borne and brought vp yet hath it such actiue and vehement prouocations that it is easily brought to stumble Wherfore yoong men must be often admonished of their dutie and spoken vnto of honestie and of vertuous men bicause words mooue their minds The steps of their honest predecessors are to be laid before their eies to induce them to follow their paths And aboue all things the promise of that life which is eternally happie for those that perseuere in vprightnes and iustice is to be propounded vnto them O man well affected saith Horace go ioifully whither thy vertue leadeth thee and thou shalt reape great rewards for thy deserts O ye yoong men saith Plautus walke on in that way wherein vertue will direct you and ye shall be very well recompenced For he that hath vertue hath all thinges necessarie for him and wanteth nothing These are the promises which ought to be beaten into the harts of children adding further to them that are very yoong a promise to giue them what they will so that they learne well that which is taught them Last of all praises and threatnings must be added by commending children when we see them profit in vertue and honestie to encourage them to go forward and to do better better Glorie saith Ouid giueth no small strength to the mind and the desire and loue of praise causeth the hart to be resolute and readye to vndertake all things Quintilian would haue yong men praised when they profitte and are willing to learne as likewise they are to be threatned if they be slothfull and negligent in the obtaining of vertue and honestie and wil neither heare nor vnderstand nor yet put in practise those good admonitions that are giuen them And if they amend not with threatnings they must haue good discipline and correction vsed towards them and be chasticed with discretion To this purpose Plutark saith that the hope of reward and feare of punishment are as it were the two elements and foundation of vertue For hope maketh yoong men prompt and readie to vndertake all good and commendable things feare maketh them slowe in presuming to commit such things as are vile and full of reproch So that if
infringe the decrees of the Senate Since that time according to the sundry alterations of their estate and gouernment the councell varied in forme Augustus established a particular councell of the wisest Senators those but few in number and after that another strict councell of Mecaenas and Agrippa with whom he decided the chiefest matters In Turkie the councell is kept foure daies in a week by the Bassaes wheresoeuer the prince soiourneth If it be in time of peace at Constantinople or in some other towne within his dominion if in warre it is kept within his pauilion In this councell called Diuan where audience is open to euery one they consult of embassages and of answers to be made vnto them of matters of estate and of soueraigntie of the meanes how to prouide for decaied prouinces of murders and condemnations The suppliant complainant or suter speaketh without an aduocate and is forced to answer presently to the obiection of his aduersarie if he be present or to prooue his sayings by witnesses and foorthwith the definitiue sentence is giuen which may not be reuoked When the councell hath continued 7. or 8. houres the Bassa Visir maketh true relation to the prince of all that hath been handled if he lie it is present death For the prince oftentimes listeneth at a window called daungerous right against the Diuan which is made in such sort that he may heare and see and not be perceiued and although he were neuer there yet they thinke that he is alwayes there After he hath heard the discourse and aduise of his councell he seldome gainsaieth but confirmeth or moderateth the same These things being thus ordered they are written and registred by officers appointed thereunto Concerning his treasure the Bassaes meddle not there-with but two generall treasurers are ouer-seers and chiefe dealers therein the one being of Romania the other of Anatolia Two Cade lisquers haue the administration of all iustice who sit with the Bassaes in the Diuan neither doth any other sit there but the twelue Bellerbeis the Prince his children beyng Presidents in their fathers absence The Muphtie is chief of the religion and looketh vnto matters of conscience At Venice the generall assemblie of Lordes and gentlemen is called the great councell which hath the soueraigne power of the estate and of which the Senate and the authoritie of all their magistrates dependeth Besides this great councell and Senate compounded of threeskore persons there are foure other councels that is the councell of Sages for sea matters the councell of Sages for land matters the councell of tenne and the councell of seuen where the Duke maketh the seuenth and this is called the Seignorie If there arise any hard matter among the Sages it is referred to the councell of tenne and if they be diuided the councell of seuen is ioyned to the councel of tenne But if the matter be of great waight the Senate is called and sometime also albeit rarely the great councell of all the Venetian Gentlemen in which the last resolution is made At Rhagusium they create a President from moneth to moneth who dwelleth in the pallace and hath twelue counsailors which assembly is called the little councell There is also an other councell called the councell de Pregadie into which a hundreth of the ancientest citizens may enter Next there is the great councell at which all the nobilitie aboue twentie yeeres of age are present At Genes the whole common-wealth is gouerned by them that are borne of eight and twentie families neither is any man called to beare any office whatsoeuer vnlesse he be of this assemblie which they call an Aggregation Out of this are taken foure hundreth which make the great councell that hath all the power and authoritie of the estate and is chosen from yeere to yeere They create the Duke and the eight gouernours of the Common-wealth who are renued from two yeeres to two yeeres In Switzerland there are two councels in euery Canton a little one and a great one But if any great matter fall out that is common to all the leagues they hold their generall councell called a Iourney or a Diet. The like is vsed in Almaigne where the Emperour can ordaine nothing that concerneth the common benefite of Germanie or the authoritie and preseruation of the Empire without the counsell and consent of all the estates especially of the seuen Electors Hee may not of him-selfe vnder-take any warre at his pleasure neither leuie tributes nor rayse souldioures of that nation nor call in any forraine souldioures They haue also a councell established at Spira which is called the Imperiall chamber beyng as it were a Parliament of Almaignes for the administration of iustice among them In Polonia there is an assemblie of estates euery yeere especiallie for these two causes the one to administer iustice in soueraigntie vnto which are brought appeales from all the iudges of the countrey the other to prouide for the defence and safetie of the Countrey against their next enimies namelie the Tartares who make often incursions vppon them None is receyued for a Senatour amongst them if hee bee no Palatine Bishop Gouernour of some Forte or other Captaine or hath not beene Embassadour In Spayne there are seuen councels besides the priuie councell which are alwayes neere the King in seuerall Chambers vnder one roofe that the king may be the better infourmed of all affaires Their names are these the councell of Spayne of the Indies of Italie of the lowe Countreys of Warre of the Order of Saint Iohn and of the Inquisition In the Realme of Englande there is a priuie Councell which neuer exceeded the number of twentie persones The first establishment thereof was but of fifteene although it appeareth by the conclusion of a peace made betweene Lewes the ninth and Henry king of England that seuenteene of the priuie Councell sware vnto it namelie one Archbishop Chauncellour one Bishop six earles and six other lordes besides the high Treasurer and the two magistrates whom they call the chiefe iustices of England Frō three yeeres to three yeeres they hold a parliament where all the estates are called togither to deliberate about the affaires of the kingdom But enough of strangers Let vs now come to the establishment and institution of the councell in this French Monarchie where we shal see that it is not inferior if it go not beyond them in excellencie and good order to all that are alreadie set downe or that euer were First we know that the king hath all soueraigntie by right of the estate as heretofore we haue discoursed The first councell neere about him is the strict or secret councell called the councell of state affaires which is commonly held in the morning after his maiestie is vp None haue entrance into this but a fewe whom the king iudgeth wisest of greatest experience and most trustie to his maiestie with whome
he communicateth his waightiest affaires as they fall out and determineth with them of such principall matters as were deliberated of before in the priuie councell and in the councell of the treasurie if they be such as deserue to bee brought thither In the secret councell the letters of princes of embassadors of gouernors and captains are opened resolutions and matters agreed vpon are commended to the Secretaries of the estate gifts rewards granted with the rolles and records thereof letters and commaundements signed with the kings hand The priuie councell is compounded of diuers great personages called thereunto by his maiestie either for the nobilitie of their bloud and greatnes of their house or for their woorthines wisedom knowledge and experience who haue places and deliberatiue voyces in the councell as long as it pleaseth him Sometime the king sitteth among them when any great matter is in question in his absence the first prince of the bloud is President The Constable and Chancellour two chiefe officers of the crowne haue great authoritie therein the one being principall of warre the other of iustice They sit on each side in equall degree being alwayes one right before another This councel is held either for matters belonging to the treasurie or for other things concerning state-affaires of the kingdom and then none enter therein but the Secretaries of the estate the Treasurer of the priuie treasure the Ouer-seers of the treasures appointed to take knowledge of the leuying and laying out of money and the Secretaries belonging to the same or else it is held for parties that is for the affaires of iustice depending of the soueraigntie Then the maisters of the Requests seruing in their turns enter therin who bring in requests informations suites called thither by Iniunctiōs and other waightie matters which the king hath reserued to his owne knowledge or such as cannot be decided else where Somtimes also the parties themselues are heard or else they speake by Aduocates This is greatly to be commended therein that euery one that hath entrie into the councell although peraduenture he hath neither deliberatiue voyce nor place may bring in any mans request aduertise the councell of that which is profitable for the Common-wealth that order may be taken for the same And many times their counsell is first demaunded then the aduice of the counsellours of estate so that the greatest lordes giue their opinion last to the end that freedom of speech may not be taken away by the authoritie of the princes especially of factious and ambitious men who neuer suffer any contradictions but against their wils By this means also they that haue consulting voyces onely prepare the way and make it easie for them that haue deliberatiue voyces to conclude of matters and many times furnish the councell with good and forceable reasons and if they erre at any time they are brought backe againe by the residue without ielousie This priuie councel deliberateth finally determineth vnder the soueraigne will of the king of the complaints of priuate men in matters concerning the estate of the suites of towns and prouinces iudgeth of the appeales made from Parliaments considereth vpon extraordinary dayes of the decrees of Parliaments concerning their order discipline how it is kept dealeth with the transporting of wheate of wines also with all marchandises either brought in or caried out of the realme and with the impostes laid vpon them taketh order for the currant and finenesse of money hath regard to the demaines of the crowne to lones and taxes and other reuenues of the king and to the chief customs prolonging their yeeres abating the rentes of Farmers or discharging thē altogither taking knowledge of their cause and of former informations ioyning therewith the aduise of the Treasurers of the Generals of those charges All matters whatsoeuer being agreed vpon appointed to take effect must be signed by one Secretarie at the least and somtimes also by one of the masters of Requests before it be sealed by the Chauncellor who ouerlooketh and examineth narrowly all matters concluded vpon which maketh his authoritie very great somtimes odious The great councell which at the first institution therof was seldom imploied but about state-affairs was made an ordinarie court of 17. counsellors by Charles the 8. and Lewes the 12. made it vp 20. besides the Chancellour who was President of that court but vnder king Francis another President was appointed This coūcell had the knowledge of extraordinarie causes by way of commission sent from the priuie councell and ordinarily of appellations made from the Marshal of the kings house The court of Parliament was the Senate of France in old time and erected by Lewes the yong according to the truest opinion to giue aduise to the king in which twelue Peeres were established so that the name of the court of Peeres remaineth with it to this day But Phillip the faire made it an ordinarie court and granted vnto it iurisdiction and seat at Paris but tooke from it the knowledge of state-affaires For as we haue alreadie declared there are no counsellors of estate amongst all the magistrates of Fraunce but those that are ordinarie of the priuie councel But besides the councels specified by vs Princes haue alwayes had a strict councel of two or three of the dearest and trustiest about them wherin the resolution of the aduises and deliberations of other councels is had yea many times of the greatest affaires of the estate before others haue deliberated of them Neuertheles this auncient custome of calling the general estates of the realme togither when they saw it necessarie hath been always obserued by kings and princes Our first progenitours the Gaules before either Romanes or kings ruled ouer them assembled togither out of Aquitane out of the prouince of Narbone of Lyons and of other quarters about the number of threeskore nations to take aduise and counsell of their generall affaires Since that tyme our ancient kings of France haue vsed oftentimes to hold the estates which is the assemblie of all their subiects or of their deputies For to hold the estates is nothing else but when the king communicateth his greatest affaires with his subiects taketh aduise and counsell of them heareth their complaintes and griefes and prouideth for them according to reason This was called in olde time the holding of a Parliament which name it retaineth yet in England and Scotland But at this day the name of Parliament belongeth onely to priuate and particular courtes of Audience consisting of a certaine number of Iudges established by the king in sundry of his Prouinces and the publike and generall courtes of Audience haue taken the name of estates The estates were assembled for diuers causes according as matters were offred either to demaund succour and money of the people or to take order for iustice and for men of warre or for the reuenues of the
the Romanes cleane contrary to Lycurgus was so farre in loue with peace and referred all his lawes in such sort thereunto that during his raigne there was neither warre nor ciuil dissention nor any motion of noueltie in the gouernment of the Common-wealth Much lesse was there any enmitie or enuie conceiued against him particularly or conspiracie against his person through desire of ruling but all occasions of war being extinguished and remooued the Temple of Ianus was continually kept shut for the space of fortie yeeres which was a signe of peace amongest the Romanes For not onely at Rome the people were tractable through the example of the iustice clemencie goodnes of king Numa but also in the townes round about there was a maruellous alteration of manners insomuch that as the beames of a cleare Sunne are dispersed abroad so there was shedde in the hartes of men a secrete desire to liue in peace to labour the grounde to bring vppe their children quietly and to serue and honour their gods And Plutarke writeth in his life that in his time there was nothing but feastes plaies sacrifices and bankets throughout all Italy so that a man might say that the wisedome of Numa was a liuely fountaine of all goodnes and honestie out of which many riuers issued to water all Italy and that his peaceable prudence was communicated as it were from hande to hande vnto the whole worlde Nowe although these two men haue beene greatly praised and commended for sundrie rare vertues yet all men approoue not the extremities which they followed in this forme of gouernment For as he is pernitions that mooueth and continueth warre onely to subdue his neighbours to inlarge the borders of his countrie and to vsurpe other mens right which sauoureth more of brutishnes than of humanitie so a long peace bringeth with it many discommodities making men insolent commonly through too great prosperitie as also nice lauish and effeminate through abundance of wealth and idlenes Therefore Plato Aristotle and Polybius reprooue Lycurgus bicause he propounded onely the exercise of the vertue of warre to his Citizens which is the least of those foure that are necessarie for the establishment and preseruation of euery Empire saying that all his lawes were wel ordained to make men valiant but not iust temperat and prudent On the other side they that are too much affected to peace and quietnes weaken themselues by little and little before they be aware and by their example mollifie the courage of youth whereby they lie open to the iniuries of those that will inuade them and so loose their libertie not being able to defend their persons and goods But as the world is compounded of 4. elements by whose mixture it is so made that it is both seene and touched withall is preserued in such loue concord that it cannot be dissolued by any other thā by him that made it so euery publike Estate must be established by 4. vertues by whose harmony agreement it is preserued And as the fire the earth were first created to make the whol frame subiect to sight feeling and then the water the aire mingled with them that the dissimilitude of those extreames might be tempered according to proportion so fortitude and iustice are first required in the ordaining of Common-wealths bicause they cannot continue without law and strength and next prudence and temperance being ioined with them moderate the rigour and remisnes of both Againe as by these natures of which all things are made being dispersed aboue and beneath and on all sides the world is preserued and continued so that light things are kept from ascending through the waight of heauy things contrariwise heauy things held aloft that they fal not so by these 4. vertues dispersed amongst men a Common-wealth wel instituted guided by discipline is maintained And although by reason of the varietie and change of humane affaires it cannot continue so long so adorned as the worlde yet it will abide many yeeres Moreouer as the elements are bred one of another alter to fro going into returning continually from the first matter which receiueth them into it selfe for which cause they cannot be seene simple but mixed wherupon ariseth such a tēperature of al things that they wither not by drougth nor burne with heate neither are ouer-whelmed with too great moisture nor grow stiff with excessiue cold so these vertues whereby cities are instituted must be mingled one with another agree togither for their mutuall preseruation wisedome beeing President ouer them in which they are all contained For they cannot maintaine them-selues one without another nor keepe their vigor and dignitie Iustice without temperance is rigour fortitude separated from iustice is rashnes and crueltie and without prudence iustice is but craft and suttletie To conclude temperance without fortitude ought rather to be called cowardlines and nicenes whereby we see that they are so interlaced and depend in such sort one of another that they cannot be separated If it fal out otherwise that estate wherein such disorder taketh place must of necessitie be vtterly ouerthrowne or changed Out of these learned Philosophicall discourses we will draw a very good lesson namely that in euery Estate wel instituted for continuance this temperature of the foure vertues must necessarily be kept that men may be instructed howe to gouerne themselues well both in time of peace and of warre and obserue such a moderation therein that knowing how to deale in both times they may be ready and fit for warre when necessity vrgeth hauing this end before them to attaine to peace which must alwaies be preferred as rest is before trauell and good before euill as we shal easily vnderstand by considering their contrary effects It is certaine that Philosophie is best exercised in time of peace For when there is no trouble of war the spirite is quiet and fit for euery honest kind of rest so that arts and sciences go well forward lawes are in force iustice flourisheth vertue sheweth hir effects better vice languisheth the zeale of pietie encreaseth the discipline of the Church is authorised both the noble and meane man preserueth and augmenteth his wealth trade and trafficke is free briefly euery one receiueth good commoditie and so consequently the whole bodie of the Common-wealth But if we looke to those effects which the time of warre commonly bringeth foorth the desire of hauing is awakened couetousnes encreaseth iustice falleth to the ground force and violence beareth sway spoiling raigneth riot is set at libertie wicked men are in authoritie good men oppressed innocencie troden vnder foote maidens and wiues defloured countries wasted houses burnt Churches destroied tombs broken downe goods spoiled murders committed all vertue banished from among men vice honoured the lawes contemned and broken the seruice of God forsaken the estate of the Church derided the nobilitie and people burdened
com-Pared to a milstone The custome of the Egyptians Prouerb 31. 4. 5. Prou. 23. 29. â—0 Against masks mummeries The Israelites Lot Alexander Dionysius Lucullus The sumptuousnes of a Franciscan Frier Philoxenus Vitellius Muleasses Lewes Archbishop Charles 6. Against plaiers Against the curiositie of super fluous expences The beginning of ciuil warres How Heraclitus disswaded superfluitie Lycurgus banished all strange wares from Lacedemonia Why Cato would not chuse Publius General of the warre Agis Against excesse in apparell Augustus Agesilaus Epaminondas Examples of moderate traine of seruing men A good lesson for Princes and Magistrats to learne Commendable imposts for Princes to lay vpon their subiects A good law to cut off the occasions of idle expences Pouertie soâ—oweth superfluous expences Our pallate must not be more sensible than our hart Iames 5. 1. 5. 73. Emperors of Rome within 100. yeeres The force of desire to enioy any pleasure Two kinds of ambition What ambition is The effects of ambition The cause of ambitious desires Enuie a note of an ambitious man Sedition a fruit of ambition Ambitious men full of selfe-praise Ciuill warres a fruite of ambition Alcibiades A very fit admonition for France Caesar Pompey The Triumuirate The ambition of the Dukes of Orleans and Burgundy Ambitious men can be no good counsellers to Princes Effects of ambition in great men The names of Peace and Warre abused much by Princes Dionides answer to Alexander Examples of the fruits of ambition Fredericus 3. Antonius and Geta. Solyman Marcus Crassus iustly punished for his ambition Marius S. Melius M. Manlius How and wherin we may seeke for honor Cretes and Hermias Traians letter to Plutarke Vespasianus A notable saying of Titas Another of Philip king of Macedonia Pleassure the hooke of all euil Who they were that placed their chiefe Good in pleasure What pleasure is The fruits of pleasure The sundry profers which Vice and Vertue made to Hercules What whoredome is The effects of immoderate copulation Osey 4. 11. The effects and end of concupiscence Socrates disputation against incontinencie The fruits of whoredom The miserable effects of Adulterie Zaleucus law against adulterie The law of lulia against adulterers The punishment of adulterers vsed among the Egyptians Alexander hated adulterie Anthonie duke of Venice Testimonies of Gods wrath against whoredome Numb 25. 9. This sinne of Dauid was in numbring the people as appeereth 2. Sam. 24. 1. 1. King 12. Gen. 19. The danger that dependeth vpon the loosenes of a Prince Tarquinius Appius Claudius Caesar Teundezillus Caracalla Childericus Iohn Earle of Arminack Rodoaldus Roderigo Galeatius Duke of Millan Two brothers flaied aliue Peter Lewes Almendine and Delmedin Abusahid The whoredom of Frenchmen The scourges hat France 〈◊〉 Good counsell against whoredome 1. Cor. 6. 9. Ephes 5. 5. The iudgement of ignorant men touching noblenes of mind How we should make choice of a happy life The common down fall of the passions of the soule The Romanes built two Temples the one to Vertue the other to Honor. The first step to Honor. Wherin worldlings place honor The White at which euerie good man ought to aime The iudgement of the best not of the most is to be preferred alwaies A good man may sometime praise himselfe Themistocles did so And Nestor The effects of pride The works of fortitude must be grounded vpon equitie and iustice Mattathias exhortation to his sonnes How ielousie of glorie is tollerable Themistocles T. Flaminius Caesar wept at the sight of Alexanders image Cyrus A notable historie of an Indian Examples of the contempt and desire of 〈◊〉 glorie Pompeius Tamberlane seueritie towards Baiazet the great Turke Saphors towards Valerianus Pope Alexanders towards Friderike Psal 91. 13. Agathocles The honor of great men dependeth of their vertue not of their dignitie Herodes Dioclesianus Menecratus finely punished for his pride by Philip. Euery vain-glorious man is a foole Shame is the keeper of all vertues How shame may be made profitable in a man Sinne is naturall in man How we must auoid and represse sinne A notable custome among the Romanes What kind of shame is very hurtfull How we must learne to resist all naughtie shame Zeno. Agesilaus Pericles Xenophanes Other pernitious effects of foolish shame Perseus Dion Antipater I. Caesar What death Caesar thought best How the Persian youth was instructed Hippocratides saying to a yong man that blushed Eutichus The shamefastnes of the Romanes Cato his sonne Scaurus his sonne Parmenides Cleobulus A notable historie of the shamefastnes of the Milesian maidens Honest shame is alwaies commendable Fortitude is the third riuer of Honestie Wherein the perfection of euery worke consisteth Fortitude is a Good of the soule not of the bodie The Properties that are required in a valtant man Fortitude fighteth for iustice onely All hardie men are not valiant The resolution of valiant man is alwaies commendable and vnchangeable Fortitude contemneth mortal things Magistrates ought to make lesse account of worldlie goods than Philosophers Of bodily force Iulius Caesar was sickly Marcus Sergius lacked his right hand Fabius the Greatest Pompey the Great C. Marius Agis Dienecus Themistocles Damindas Dercyllides A notable answer of certaine Polonians Anaxarchus Socrates M. Crassus A notable oration Iudas Macchabeus Leonides L. Dentatus Eumenus Aristomenes Lysimachus Two kinds of feare A Temple dedicated to feare The feare of neighbour enimies is the safetie of a Common-wealth Two sorts of pernicious feare Of the good feare It is ioined with the true loue of God It causeth vs to respect the good of our countrie Phocion Antigonus Scipio Nasica The effects of too great prosperitie in Commonwealths Of that feare which is the defect of Fortitude Timorous men are alwaies litle Claudius Caesar The feares of faint-harts Mydas Cassius Base minds stand in great feare of death and griefe A strange alteration of a Gentlemans haire in one night Agamemnon dispensed with a rich coward What vices proceed of cowardlines Of seruile feare Of rashnesse of the effects thereof Who is a vertuous man Cato Iphicrates comparison of an armie to a mans bodie The rashnesse of Isadas How a man may be valiant What Magnanimitie is Magnanimitie consisteth in three things The goods of the body and of Fortune The first effect of Magnanimitie The second effect The third effect The common remedie of the Ancients in desperate cases Cato of Vtica The opinion of the Stoicks Brutus A notable historie of the Numantines No man ought to hasten forward the end of his daies Alcibiades constancie and courage in death Socrates speech at his arraignment What it is to feare death Examples of the second effect of Magnanimitie Fabritius Camillus A good lesson for a Generall to learne Treason and crueltie neuer find place in a noble hart Of the third effect of Magnanimitie Aristides Magnanimitie is inuincible Wherin the perfectioÌ„ of a wise mans life consisteth Alexander reserued hope only for himselfe Properties requisite in a Generall The definition