neyther can be in any parte quiet or fortunate except by the aucthority and councell of the Magistrates it be gouerned And yet notwithstaÌ„dinge multitude of Magistrates troubleth and perturbeth the order of a Cyttye For as in seafaring and warlike busines regarde must be had that there bee but sewe commaunders many obayers so also iudge I it meete and requisite to be obserued in the state of a coÌ„monweale Auncient wryters commend the Massilians whose common weale for order sake and equitye they prefer before all others for they had Senators in number as Strabo maketh mention 600. of whome fyftene euery yeare by turnes bore greatest aucthoritye and of those fyftene also three were apointed to decide laws matters in coÌ„trouersy these few only gouerned the ciuil society very wel but in time of warres vprores these Massilians did chose suche Generalles and Princes as were sufficient and wel able to take some wayghtye charge of warres in hande for verye manye Phisicians being brought vnto one sicke person do rather stryue amonge theym selues by waye of vayne ostentation then minister those thinges which may heale or remedye the paciente And dyuers counselles or opinions in greatest dauÌ„gers do rather hazard and endamage a matter then helpe it these and many others are to be considered in the ordayninge of Magistrates But this agayne and againe I deeme worthye to bee spoken that very well it is and moste meete that the administration of the Common weale shoulde bee commytted vnto olde men whyche both by reason of their age experience in matters haue moste skyll for true is that sentence of Plato and which of Cicero is holden as it were for an oracle Blessed maye that man be coumpted to whome euen in his olde age it hath chaunced to obtayne both wysdom and true opinions Crantor an ordynary scholar of Xenocrates and moste excellent Philosopher reckoninge the state of mans lyfe and descypheringe by most wyse deuision our actions cogitacions affirmed that the fyrste part of our lyfe is to bee imployed vnto vertue the second to good health the thirde to honest pleasure and the fowerth as he thoughte vnto ryches For doubtles nothing that good or pleasant is can happen vnto vs without vertue next vnto thys as the best coÌ„panion of vertue he deemed to be good health For scarcely can it be well wyth vs in oure mynde when it is euill with oure bodie and scarcelye can the griefe of the bodye bee without the griefe of the mynde Moreouer hee that is in good healthe enioyeth fréeer mynde and is not frustrate of the quietnes of hys wytte and senses next vnto these twayne let honest pleasure come as a third coÌ„paignion which then doubtlesse is chiefe and best when the minde enioyeth it selfe it measureth all thinges vnto the tranquillitye and pleasures of the mynde â–ª it is not delighted wyth the tickling of the sences or allurementes of the bodye but in contemplation of greate and waightye matters whyche surelye bee the foode of an honeste minde well furnished with liberall studies That fourth parte whyth hath society with the former three although it be the least of all yet when wee respect humaine necessitie and when wee consider that man hath nede of meat drincke apparel dwelling house it cannot bee accouÌ„pted otherwise then necessary For as Callymachus saith wythout ryches vertue aduaunceth no man and that vertue without ryches doth little or nothing adorn any maÌ„ Theognis the true Poet testifieth that for feare of pouerty we goe headlong euen into the Seas for penury nowe then vrgeth excellent persons and compelleth them to attempt very harde enterprises Plantus the most pleasaÌ„t among comical Poetes for want and scarsitie of victuals placed himselfe for hyre to grynd in a Myll and there so often as he had any vacant tyme from his worcke hee accustomed himselfe to write Comedies and to sell theim Cassius Seuerus also an excellente Oratour hauinge coÌ„tinued for the space of xxv yeares a vanished man died in great penurie scarcelye hauinge ragges wherewith to couer his priuities And Valerius the compaignion in office of Brutus dyed so pore that hee was buried at the coÌ„mon costes of the Cyttye And the legittimate sonne of kinge Perseus as Marcellinus wryteth after his miserable calamity and frowning fortune was glad to practize the Smythes occupation to get his lyuing withall these cogitacions ought oftentimes to be reuolued in mynde of all theym that will rightlye constitute humane societye They that take vpon theym the office of a Magistrate let them knowe that they beare a maiestie of the common weale and let them forget themselues so longe to be pryuate persons as they execute or vse the administration of a publique office let the magistrates euermore haue before their eyes the lawes of the common weale wherunto in all pointes let them know that obedience is to be geueÌ„ For as the lawes do gouerne the magistrates so the magistrates oughte to gouerne the people For true is that Prouer be pronounced by Tully The Magistrate is lawe that doth speake and dispute But the Law is a Magistrate silent and mute For this happeneth in a good common weale that hee whiche modestlye obeyeth may seeme worthy and meete somtyme to beare aucthority and it is expedient that he whiche obayeth the Lawes shoulde hope to beare rule in tyme to come and hee that is in offyce and hath Iurisdiction or gouernaunce let him thinke that not long after it may come to passe that he must obay others let the first retaine vertues as their guides to direct and rule them without the whiche nothinge is well donne whereof the firste and principall is Iustice whiche layeth the foundation of humane societie conteyneth in it godlines whyche Sâ—xtus Empiricus teacheth to bee the knowledge of worshipping God aright For this vertue especially respecteth the deuyne reuerence mysteries and ceremonies without the which nothinge orderlye neyther any thing â—olilye or godly can bee done in a common weale It is the nature of Iustice to hurt no man nor to iniurye any to geeue to euery man that whyche is hys ryght to rewarde those that deserue well wyth fauour prayse and giftes and those that deserue euil with losses reproch shame punishementes and death but moreouer a righte excellent duetye of Iustice is in word and deede to keepe fayth promise for nothinge can be more filthye in those whyche beare sway in the publique weale then to breake promyse whiche reproche doubtlesse is neuer blotted out wyth obliuion as wee reade of the Carthaginians whom Ennius the Poet called faythlesse or leaguebreakers because they started from their leagues and promises whyche certes was the onely and chiefest cause why that cittye which for the Empyre of the whole worlde contended so many yeares wyth the People of Rome the chief vanquishers of all other Nacions was destroyed Prudence the second vertue consisteth in
with oyntment wer noted with this checke their horses taken from theym and they dismissed and discharged out of the hoaste In iudgementes of lyfe and deathe greate care hede ought to be had for cyuil hatreds and priuye conspiracies then burst forth vnto reuenge whē as the magistrates haue power of life and deathe and therfore the Romaines when they had appointed their Consulls vnto whom they committed the speciall charge of the common weale yet was it not lawful for theym to execute or put to death anye citizen of Rome and trulye not withoute good cause for nothinge more procurethe the distruction of the weale publike then the punishement by death of those whiche specially haue but smally delt with others or whose crymes or offences haue not so farre came to lighte as by no meanes they can or may be denayed or elles that they bee aparantly knowne vnto all men for that worketh a perpetuall iniurye when suspicion of innocencye remaynethe in the peoples heades of theym whyche throughe false or rashe iudgement are sayde to be vniustly condempned for innocencye caryeth with it great fauour and the rumour or mutteringe of the people stryketh feare into thē which haue condempned innocentes And moreouer the forre of conscience bringes to passe that suche persons as haue so ouerreached themselues are thought neuer to lyue in securitye but appoint vnto themselues present punishmēt before their eyes Howe notable is that sentence of Iulius Caesar whyche with often repeticions he would vse A wretched companion of olde age truelye Is the memorye of auncient crueltye And therfore they that must geeue sentence and iudgement of the lyfe and spyrite of man whych is parte of the worlde and hathe a mynde by the speciall gyfte of God partakinge of reason and filleth vp the number of the lyuinge ought carefully to aduise and consult wyth deliberation and not to do any thynge wyth rashe iudgemente because suche a Deede once done cannot bee called backe agayne Alexander kinge of Macedonie vnto his mother Olympias vrginge hym greatlye to kyll a certayne guyltlesse person requestinge the kinges consent thereto in consideration of that nyne monethes space whyche shee bore hym in hyr wombe most gently thus answered O good mother rather request or demaund any other reward at my handes for mannes lyfe cannot bee acquited or recompēsed wyth any good turne or benefit Sabacus moreouer kinge of the Egiptians a man for godlynes and religion famous as Diodorus Siculus maketh mencion did so muche abhorre sheding of bloud that he commaunded the conuict and condempned persons being bound with chaynes to become slaues for the city rather then that they should be put to death doubtlesse true is that tragicall sentence and in harte and mynde euermore to bee recited and recorded of them which do beare rule viz. UUhat euer thou be that doest rule or raygne From sheding bloud leaue and abstayne There was wonte to bee amongest the Romaynes eyght kindes of punishmēts that is to say amerciamēts banishment imprisonmēt whipping recōpence of asmuch for trespas made reproche bondage death yet seldome with death did the Romaines accustome to pursue except against Parrycides murtherers rebels and such like wicked persōs whose lyues was not to be spared But nowe an ill custome hathe taken place that theeues euen for small matters are executed by death so they take awaye that whiche can neuer be restored vnto mortall men The great consideratiō for the comon treasure in a cōmon weale ought to be had for treasures money are compted the sinewes or strengthes of the citty without the whyche it can scarcely be preserued for these thinges do beautifye a city in prosperity bring ready succour in aduersity wherfore there are to be ordained treasurers which may haue the aucthority of receyuing keeping layinge out of the common treasure these men ought to be graue and vpright and ought to abstayn theyr hands from publique priuate corruption not vnhonest troublesom persons but which can diligently measure the rate of fortune of suche persons as they shal haue to deale withal and besides this let thē take hede that publicanes and tollers extorte nothinge by violence or craftye collusion from theym ouer whom they haue rule for that kynde of people is odious and nowe and then by reason of theyr vnhonest dealing lewd demeanour prouoketh rnd stirreth the common people to desire of new fanglenes In leuyinge of Tributes and Taxacions treasurers oughte to bee gentle and seeldome tymes to doe it for it greueth the cittizens to haue their proper priuate stock and substance imployde on publique affayres excepte in great distres or tyme of daunger for then all good cityzens doe of their owne good accorde fall in consideration hereof willing be contributory to payment but if they maye spare their priuate substaunce they lyue better contented if there be no other remedy but to do otherwise then ought they to entreate all men gentlye thereby the more easely to rayse their tributes and winne the peoples hartes withall for farre more is the good will of citizens to be esteemed then any masse of substance of treasures Noble was the sayinge of Alexander the great when on a tyme being demaunded where he had his treasures laid vp aunswered he had layd them vp with his fryndes welwillers and that they were wel warely kept to hys vse there for good wyl good loue is the lady both of a mannes owne substaunce and of another mannes also Tyberius Caesar also vnto his Lieutenauntes receyuers or treasurers whiche counselled him to exacte trybute of his prouinces and countries answered that it was the parte of a good shepeheard to sheare his shepe not to flea thē The tyhat be aucthorised to coyn mony ought to obay the commaundement of the treasurer least they forge or embase the coyne or mingle it with any other base mettall for it is moste daungerous to make counterfeicte Monye of lesse value then it shoulde bee the consideration wherof is most diligētly to be ouersene of the treasurers som do suppose that the word Moneta is called so properly because it geueth warning that no deceipte in mony stamp or weight be made or vsed but that name of Pecunia as Varro sayth toke his beguning of Pecus for y riches substāce of men in tymes past consisted in Pecoribus that is to saye in Cattel And this thinge doth Lucius Columella testifye to bee true and Ouid. libro 5. Fastorū maketh mention where he saith All other Instrumentes as yet were not for vse out founde The wealthy Cattle did possesse or els greate store of grounde And hereupon were richmen calde hereof hath mony name But now vnlawfully eche man to seeke for wealth doth frame Cambyses the father of Cyrus king of Persia beinge asked by what meanes citties mighte bee kepte in best sauegar aunswered if they whiche keepe the same citties doe
thincke they can neuer be wary enoughe of their enemye The saying of this most wise kinge is alwais to be reuolued of them which beare aucthority in a common weale for what auayleth armour what municions what are the walles annd towers profiting vnto them which negligeÌ„tlye keepe and looke to their watches and wardes for wee see verye manye citties by negligence of their watches and scoutes with the sodayn comming of their enemies put to the spoyle and sacked and moreouer as touchinge night watches to whome citizens trustinge and sleeping soundly haue not knowen any thinge of the comminge of their enemie vntil the scaling ladders haue bene set vp to their walles and they throwne downe headlong from the tops of their turrets Spargapyses the sonne of Tomyris queene of Scythia beinge together wyth all his hoast of men druncke with wyne and slumbring or slepy were in that estate alltogether destroyed and doubtlesse no Scoutes nor watches can more safelye or diligentlye bee exercised then of theym which beare the chiefest aucthority whether the same bee in the Tents or within the walles certes it is scarce safe enoughe for the Cytizens to sleepe soundlye when they shall perceyue the chiefe ouerseers of the watchmen to be wantinge and a Captayne seemeth to commyt his hoast to the hazard of fortune so long as he sleepeth Alexander of Macedonie hath left vs a good lessoÌ„ for this matter who because he wold not be deceiued by meanes of sleepe vsed as he lay in his bed to stretch out his arme hauing vnder the same a brasen bolle or bason standing to hold in his hand a balle of siluer to thintent that wheÌ„ slepe had weried and taken away the force of his fingers hearinge the fall of the siluer ball into the bolle or bason hee shoulde streight way by the noyse sounde thereof awake agayn out of slepe surely this lesson I thinck that most excellent king learned of the Cranes which do vse a nightly watch among themselues alwayes and because they would not be deceyued or betrayde by any mishap in their sleepe they stand vpon one leg holdinge a lytle stone in the other which when it falleth from them by hitting the other standing leg or making a noyse with lighting on the grounde they are thereby awaked oute of their sleepe Euen so with no lesse care ought they to watch whych beare aucthority in a common weale that in such maner they may set in order their watches and keepe the holdes of their cittye that the common weale susteyne no discom modity nor dishonour therby neyther in tyme of warres neyther yet in tyme of peace doubtles Socrates in Plato vsed great diligence care in the choyse of such as should kepe watch and ward and surelye the better more wel their citizens be the more fitter persons are they to kepe watche and warde which otherwise we see falleth out in rude or barbarous cityes wherein laborers worckemen porters and pore men are put to scoutes and watch but the richer men cocker themselues and lyue at ease within their owne houses Sometimes watches are committed in charge vnto the Souldiers only which nowe and then being wearied wyth their dayly trauayle eyther watche rechleslye or ells sleepe so soundlye that they are not to be awaked with any noyse at all as it chanced vnto those Romaines which kept theyr Capitol when it was befieged by the Frenchemen whiche Romaines had not they bene awaked out of their sleepe by the gagling of a goose had bene vtterlye vndone and the common wealth of the Latines for euer extinguished Let there bee placed orderlye vppon the Walles in places fitte for that purpose two warders whyche muste haue geeuen theym a Watche woorde leaste they bee deceyued and lett theym bee called vppon and punished whyche sleepe in their watche tyme Let the Scoutes in the daye tyme watche before the Gates on the towers at loupe holes or at other chosen places leaste that a multitude of guestes vnlooked for come as it were betweene theym and home and take awaye booties carrye awaye Captyues and inuade the Cittye wyth no lesse care also let the night watches bee placed in the cyttye then vpon the walles for moste myschieuous deedes are rather put in practyse by Nyghte then by Daye Theeues Harlottes Cutthroates and robbers are no lesse to bee restrayned then Publique Enemies agaynste whome doubtlesse needefull it is that the Ouerséers of the Watche shoulde extende Punnishmente wyth greate seueritye yf they wyll rightlye prouyde for the good estate of theyr Cyttye For worste of all fareth it wyth that cytye wherin Harlots and nyght Theeues raunginge in the same bee not sufficientlye mette wythall It was lawfull amonge the Romaynes by the Lawe of Twelue Tables to kyll a nyght thiefe So hathe yt also bene lawfull to do to an Adulterer taken wyth the manner and also to a woman committing Fornication These notwythstandinge I iudge are not to bee permytted but in suche manner to bee handled that for feare of punnishmente all men keepe theymselues at home from doynge euyll abroade For hee louethe to doe nothinge that is good or ryghte whyche shonneth daye lyghte and hee that stealeth in lurckynge manner is afrayde leaste some shoulde see hym and bewraye hym and so thyncketh the nighte more safer for him then the day tyme. It was not wont onely to bee the charge of theym that had the ouersighte of the Watches amongeste the Romaynes to exercise watches wardes vppon the walles â—ut also it was enioyned that they shoulde bee vigilant agaynste all nighte Traueylers whereby the Publique quietnes of the cyttye mighte bee preserued mayntayned moreouer these and suche lyke watches doe helpe in many other matters and especiallye in auoydyng casualties of Fyer whiche surely are seene to be most dauÌ„gerous in cytties for both do they quenche casuall chauÌ„ces of fyer wythin the Cyttye happeninge and also often tymes do catche in a tryppe subtyll Fyrers of houses whose offence therein is to bee accoumpted capitall and worthye of deathe and theym also whiche negligentlye rake vp theyr Fyers they ought to punishe by whippinge and cudgellinge Dinocrates an excellente Architecte of Macedonie hauinge promised vnto Alexander the greate to rayse vppe the Hyll called ATHON in THRACIA of a moÌ„strous height vnto the similitude and resemblaunce of a man whose lefte hande shoulde supporte the walles of a moste large Cyttye and the righte hande shoulde holde a bowlle whyche should receyue the flouddes descending from the Hyll and poure theym into the Sea Alexander being delighted wyth the deuise of this figure asked hym whether there were any fieldes neare vnto it to nourishe and mainteyne the Cyttye wyth Corne and victual yea or no DINOCRATES aunswered that yt must haue Succour and reliefe from beyonde the Seas The kynge sayd that suche a deuyse was not to be allowed at all â–ª for sayth he as the infant lately borne into the worlde can neyther lyue
I would hazard the publishing therof Whiche when I had obtayned euen then bethinkinge mee on whoÌ„ I might best bestow the benefite of this my simple trauel beyonde the desertes of all others consideringe with my selfe the manifeste benefites whiche I haue receyued from tyme to tyme these twelue yeares at your worshippes bountiful hands I deemed my selfe a debter euen in dutie to dedicate the same vnto you as a testimonie of my thanckefull seruisable well wishinge hart towardes you as a pledge of the faythefull zeale that I beare to this famous Cittye of London whereof you are an auncient Magistrate and I your poore seruaunt a simple member of the same and consequentlye as an earneste token of my vnfayned good will and true meaninge towardes this my natiue country Beseeching your Worshippe and all other well meaning Magistrates to pardon my bolde rudenesse herein and to accepte well in woorth my poore good will and well meaning minde as wishing vnto you especiallye that this my simple Myte were in value more worth theÌ„ Midas his golden Diademe to bee throwen into the treasurye of your worthy deserts and as if this my pore present were more in price then a purchased prize of precious Smaragdes from India had they so luckely light in my lot I could willingly at this present vouchesafe to thenriching of this my natiue couÌ„trye yet neuertheles such as it is pretending simply syncerelye wishinge herein to profite pleasure all men not to disprofite nor displease anye I yelde the same to bee shielded vnder Gods good pleasure and youre worthie patronage CoÌ„cluding with dutiful and hartie praier vnto the almighty for the long and prosperous preseruation of our most gracious soueraigne Lady the Queenes maiestie and her honourable Counsellours for the florishinge estate of this oure Publique weale in euery degree where including the welfare and felicitye of this honourable Cittie by duetifull remembraunce I praye especially amongest all others that your Worshippe my good Lady Mistres your louing wife and al your ChildreÌ„ may enioye longe and happie dayes on earth and in fine the most assured habitacle of perdurable felicities Amen Your worshippes most humble seruaÌ„t and faythfull Oratour Rycharde Robinson Thomas Newtonus Quantas Patritio debet Respublica grates Cui suus hoc studio vindice constat honos Aureus hic monstrat vel me reticente libellus Ingenio genio diuite et arte scatens Hinc morum species hinc dogmata pura petuntur Hinc vitae elicitur ciuica norma piae Historiae quicquid Latiae memorántue Pelasgae Vtile Patritius sedulus exposuit Dia celebratur dignis Concordia phthongis Dissidij hicque lues pingitur atra trucis Hic bene perspicimus vestigia trita Sophorum Quamque malèa priscis degeneramus auis Qui praesunt summae rerum et moderantur habenas Ex isto exugent coÌ„moda magna libro Primates Regni Symmistae bella gerentes Artificesque etiam hic quo doceantur habent Denique Rex et Grex populus promiscua plebsque Permagnum hinc possunt conciliare decus Ifoelix Liber i dextra contexte Minerua Digne teri à cunctis clima per omne viris Thomas Newton Cestreshyrius ⧠Certaine notes selected oute of the Preface of Franciscus Patritius Senensis Byshop of Caieta into his Boke of the Institution State and Gouernment of a Commonweale THe pleasauntnes of the Soyle wherein the City Caieta staÌ„deth the merueilous fruictfulnes of that countrye and the wonderful holsomnes of the ayre fostereth and nourisheth men long and many yeares in health Therfore the wordes of Scipio Affricanê° are the lesse to bee merueyled at in sayinge that he became yonge waxed as it were a chylde againe when he together with his frend Laelius gathered picked vp little round smoth stones at Caieta Nothing better sheweth what a man is then his speache for it openeth the sence or meaning of his mynde and expresseth the deuises of the same which both is deuine is also coÌ„fessed knowen to be the best chiefest parte of man Hereunto tendeth y wyse saying of Socrates wheÌ„ as he sayd these wordes vnto a youngman that helde his peace speake sayde hee that I may see what thou art Meaning hereby that a man is not to be considered and deemed by the outwarde lineamentes and feacture of his bodye and face but by the inwarde disposition and qualitie of his mynde As it is gladsome acceptable for wayfaringe men to treade in their steppes which haue walked well afore theym so is it vnto a good gouernour to direct his course that way whereby many afore haue easely arriued to the hauen of their desires We see al y best writers in euery excelleÌ„t Art haue beâ—e as it were spighted il reported torne in pieces by backebsters And namelyÌ„ Homer who notwithstanding he was the father of al Poets the grauÌ„d capitayn of all disciplines yet had he many enemies and spightful carpers especially one Zoylus of Macedonia who presuming to prefer his owne rustie wyt before the golden vayne of that deuine Poete saucelye inueighed by wryting against the Iliades Odisseas of the same Homer affecting thereby the syrname to be teaâ—med Homeromastix Homers whippe It is the custome of all writers almost to enterlace other mens doings into their own both because they may wryte thinges more certaine and also because their writinges should be y more acceptable and pleasauÌ„t vnto the Reader And as Flauius Albinus sayth this is one kinde of fruit gotten by readinge that a man may imitate that which he lyketh and alloweth in others and such speciall poyntes and sayinges as hee is especially delighted in loue withall by apt and fitte deriuation maye wrest to serue his owne turne and purpose Afranius also an excellent wryter of Comedies in the aunswere that he made to them which layde to his charge that hee had taken many thinges out of Menander I confesse sayth hee I haue not onely receyued and taken out of him but also out of euery other as they seemed to haue any thinge that made for my purpose Yea out of Latine also haue I excerpted gathered whatsoeuer I thought my selfe coulde not do better Quintilian geeueth vs in precept which Macrobius also aduoucheth laboureth to perswade that we should imitate the little Bees which do waÌ„der â—fly abroad to seke their hony out of many flowers then dispose they in order whatsoeuer they bring home and couche the same in their Combes and hyues and conuert the diuers iuyce therof with the breath of their mouthes vnto a most surpassinge sweete honie the pleasauÌ„t relishe whereof surmounteth all other Neyther may this seeme newe or straunge when we see y al Authours both Greeke and Latine doe vsually enterlarde their owne workes wyth other mens doinges For from Homer not onely all Poetes haue recourse euen as all Riuers from the Ocean sea but also the wryters of all other matters for wee see that Strabo
perswasion surely me thincketh is the best of all others And if it might by any meanes be brought to passe that all men mighte lyue instructed in this doctrine wee should be exonerated and discharged of a great parte of our labour otherwise For if euerye man woulde prescribe what were nedefull to bee done and beinge so lincked and ioyned together were not affected or moued wythe couetousnes nor other perturbations of the mynde they shoulde doe rightewell Ambicion shoulde not catche holde vpon anye man couetousnes shoulde not snare anye man dissencion or mutine shoulde not entrappe anye man neyther shoulde enuie circumuente anye manne to withdrawe hym from the reason of that wherein truthe and equitie consisteth neyther should hee pursue and seeke for his priuate proffyte or inordinate pleasure rather then a publique weale or that reason order truthe and equitie requireth Anacharsis when he had heard say that Solon had geuen himselfe to the studie of publyshynge Lawes at Athens exceedinglye deryded and scorned his industrie and diligence affirminge that those lawes shoulde in tyme to come be like vnto Spiders webbes whiche did catch and keepe faste the small flyes but were broken and burste in sonder of the greate flyes whiche sentence also Solon hym selfe would vse and not without a cause for oftentimes in great Citties and wherein the studies of good artes and scienees do florishe we se there are very manye which liue worse then as if they had beene brought vp in the woods and wâ—elde countries Dion in his bookes which are intituled Of the state of a Kingedome did saye that weightie matters were farre better handled by the councel of a few persons then withe multitude and power of most stronge and lustye younge men whiche in deede is ratified by the sentence of Homer where as hee broughte in Agamemnon as pertinent to his purpose affirminge that hee could farre moore easlye destroye the Troianes common weale if he had ten such as Nestor or Vlisses were then if hee had so manye suche as Aiax and Achilles were fyghtinge stoutly and valiauntlye That state of a Common weale wherein fewe doe gouerne differeth verye little at all from the state of Tyrannye for by their wealthe and their riches the magistrates are chosen and onelye wealth beareth swaye Neyther doth this prescribe libertie or ende of vertue but onelye how to gette ryches whiche Cicero affirmeth Are the subsedies of warfare and the ornaments of peace But the matter goes ill with the rich men when no place is reserued for vertue and the common people bee as it were altogether brought vnder foote subiection And it coms to passe now then that in som cities onely haÌ„dycraftesmen husbandmen do beare a sway which because thei are moore in number they doe decaye those that bee more noble of birth and callinge yea and haue suche in derision and contempt which are zealous in any kind of vertue and learned in good artes or sciences It maye bee brought to passe by fortune that such a Cittye which is so gouerned may stand in safetye and quietnes for a certayn tyme but fortune frowning on them it is sone perceiued how hard a matter it will be to lyue well amongest suche manner of men For they that are broughte vp in fieldes or in shoppes are voyde of experience in all thinges and do beare aucthoritie with a seruile mynde neyther are they furthered or furnished with doctrine noblenes of race or with thexperience of waighty affaires And whyle they stande in feare of the nobler sort they doe all thinges eyther rashlye withoute aduisemente or cruellye withoute measure for euery coÌ„munaltie eyther serues in obedience with humilitie or ruleth with great crueltie Furthermore it seemeth contrary to equitie the wheras the citie cannot consist of Nobles onelye but farre greater muste bee the reste of the multitude or communaltie that onelye the Noble men shoulde bearerule and all the reste obaye For tillage of ground husbandrie bringeth vnto vs natural nourishement and marchandize doth bringe vnto vs all other thinges necessarie for our vse Whereby it comes to passe that neither without husbandmeÌ„ nor without marchauntes can ciuill societie bee amongeste men They therfore are not to be exempted away froÌ„ publike offices whose seruice is seene to bee necessary in a Common weale leaste they thinkinge theymselues to bee had in contempte shrincke awaye and withdrawe theymselues from the Rulers and Gouernours For so often as the people of Rome did seperate theymselues from the Senatours they were neuer withoute greate peryll and daunger eftsones renued Surelye the meane sorte of men which are neyther to much abiect or base neither yet boaste theymselues in the wealth of their nobilitye doe farre more modestlye beare rule But if it must needes â—ee that either the nobilitie or communalty onelye shoulde beare auctority I thinke it farre more safely should the matter be handled by gouernment of the Nobles then of the commons for seeldome againste comlynes or honestye dothe â—ee any thing whiche seeth that by his doings he shall hazard the prayse of his auncestors with hymselfe but he that being of hymselfe base and obscure hathe hys auncestors farre more obscure seemeth to make vnto hymselfe a very smal losse if sometimes he do any thing amisse And if ther wante no examples of rusticall persons and men vnknowen which haue fought valiantly for their couÌ„try For wee reade that some haue beene called from the plowe other some from the flocke of shepe or other heardes which haue obtained great victories vnto that Romaines But I am one of that noÌ„ber which account that to be the best coÌ„mon weale which is intermixt with al kind of people That is counted the beste common weale wherein not euery man that listeth or the more parte doe beare auctoritye at the Becke and Checke of wyll but that Common weale wherein the Lawe onelye shall beare a swaye for equality of iustice amongest citizens maketh a stable fyrme society which euen then greatly florisheth when as all thinges are iudged and ordered with equall ryght and Iustice For it chaunceth for the most parte that affections doe trouble the iudgementes of men some one feare appaulleth some others hatred some hope some other awe and dread and some other ambicion or couetousnes coÌ„pelleth to iudge those thigs which are not only coÌ„trary to equity but also contrary to that mind of him which iudgeth For we see oftentymes the Iudge moued wyth a certeyn affectioÌ„ doth determin those things whych wythin a short space after he would willingly alter and chaunge Equality amongst Cytyzens causeth concord without the whych ciuyll societye is seene to be neyther firme nor stable at al. For no force or streÌ„gth can sufficieÌ„ily preuail no sauegard no riches no reuenâ—es can suffice those cities which are disquieted or troubled with intestine warres And agayn also neyther shal that â—yty be sclender in power nor of smal coÌ„tinuance which is enuyroned
typling houses and places of ryot they do hurt vnto many and profyt to no man. And those that exercise or vse light arts and faculties whereby riseth no profite are to bee neglected and had in contempte and rather to bee derided then esteemed or rewarded The fyrste respecte or regarde of geuinge our voyces is to be had of honesty and vertue And the seconde of lyberall sciences which in a Citty bringe with them moste plentifull profit The thirde consideration is to bee had of Nobilitye for they whose auncestours haue florished famous with some kinde of prayse their children and posterity are not to be neglected except by their reproch or ignominye they do darken emblemish the prayse and coÌ„mendation of their auncestours And the fourth consideration ought to be had of them which profet the Citizens by trade of Merchaundice worckmanship and industrye makynge the Citye therebye more wealthye and renowmed Uulcane who was most skilfull in the arte of Astronomie which was also the successour of Mercury in the kingdome dyd inuent the mines of siluer gold and iron The Grecians holde opinion that he fyrst made and deuised the fier tonges of brasse or copper other necessaryes touchinge husbandry And they saye that in the Arte of warre he could do verye muche and that hee was made lame by reason of a wounde whiche he receyued in his foote he also helde opinion that the Planets and starres were fyery and that all thinges were made and created of fyre It shal therfore behoue them which beare rule in a coÌ„mon weale to be careful that there want no deuisers or chief worckmaisters in a citty for when the sacred or publique buildinges are by euill measure proportion framed yt ministreth occasion to straungers to thinke that the chief princes and rulers of that common weale are cleane voyd of elegancy but pryuate mens houses being euil tymbred vnhandsomely seuered withe windowes and lightes and beautified vncomely are for habitacion nothing handsom and expedient Let the chiefe master of the worke therfore respect and loke wel to the forme and fashion of houses in the city to the coÌ„moditye of the buyldings houses in time of peace and quietnes but in time of warres an Architecte or chiefe deuiser of workes shall stande in so good steede for engines gonnes and other municions that hee cannot but he worthy of great prefermeÌ„t honour publique offices for we reade of some cittyes that haue bene delyuered froÌ„ the siege of their enemies only by the skilfull dylygence of the chiefe deuiser or workemaister Amongst other spectacles which throughout al y world are praysed the city of Thebes in Egipt was couÌ„pted for the greatnes therof for the walles and for building most worthiest of admiration for it had C. gates by situation distinct seuered one from another with notable and artificial workmanship wherupon it had so glorious a name was of such excellency that al the whole prouince there was called by the name of the Citizens of Thebes and yet the same was subuerted before the Empyre of Rome The brick walles of Babylon which Semiramis builded contayned in compasse 385. fâ—â— longs in height betwene the towers fyfty cubites and in bredth thirty foote The Art of payntyng she weth in it selfe greate â—rudicion learning much resembleth poetry For Sextus Empiricus after the opinioÌ„ of Symonides the poet said that a picture is a stil or sileÌ„t Poesie the poesie to be a talking picture And certaynlye it is an arte of great wysdome and doth touche neare vnto deuine knowledge so to conceyue in mynd the dyuers formes oflyuing creatures and other things so to expresse them with pencill and dyuers coullours that there seemes nothinge wantinge vnto theym but lyfe and breathe For wee reade that an Oxe dyd lowe at the beholding of a certayn pyctured Oxe and that not a fewe haue ben deceyued wyth the sighte of grapes pictured And that byrdes haue also bene styrred vp to reioyce at the paynted proportion or similitude of their kynde For a pycture hath not onely a grace with it and geeueth wonderfull delectacion but also reserueth the memory of thinges that are done and past and showeth perpetually before our eyes the bystorye of thinges that are done And moreouer in reading of paynted stories wherin notable exploytes are expressed wee are excited vnto the studies of prayse and to the endeuour of accomplishinge weighty and great matters Wherfore it shal not be feared least that the hands of young men be stayned or spotted wythe coullors sythens payntinge commethe nearest vnto learninge it selfe Iulius Caesar being sent as Ouestor or Threasurer into Spayne when he came to Gades marking well and beholdynge the Image of Alexander the great in the Temple of Hercules sighed as it were bewayled his own slouth negligence that as yet in those yeares of his he had not done any thinge worthye prayse whereas Alexander before hee attayned to that age had conquered the greateste parte of the worlde He required of the Senate that he might haue free lyhertye to ease hymselfe of those their affayres and beinge pricked forward with memoriall of such like prayse wythin a small tyme hee excelled and surmounted the deedes prowes of Alexander of Macedonie Cato Censorius seemed scarce quiet in mynde because there was no Image erected for hym and vnto one that demaunded hym why he had not hys picture or ymage aswell as a greate sort of others he aunswered I had rather that good men should muse and doubte why I haue it not then whyche is worse to murmure in their mynds why I should haue it FINIS THE SECOND BOKE entreatinge of carefull regarde for the supportation of learning the necessarie vfilitie of liberal Artes and Scyences and ex amples perswading to the vse of other exercises corporall profitable to a weale publique THE kynges of Egipte farre more esteemed the prayse of good disciplines Sciences then of Warfare And therefore they all with a woÌ„derfull dylygence bent theymselues to the studies of wisdome neyther dyd any of theym thincke hymselfe able or sufficiente enoughe to beare rule vnlesse hee surmâ—unted and excelled the residue in some kynde of doctryne or learninge and employed hys whole indeuour to the furtheraunce and profitinge of many others Wyth thys industrye Ptolomeus beinge incited furnished and made that famous Library at Alexandria to the ende he mighte therby sow the seede of wisdome vnto his Posteritye and profite bothe the Cyttizens and also straungers Hee also instituted playes vnto the Muses and vnto Apollo and ordayned vnto Poetes and Dratours at theyr disputations as vnto Champions in their Combattes greate rewardes and hyghe dignities that they myghte the more diligently take paynes in the studies and exercises of learning Learninge doubtlesse was most auncient among the Egiptians whose priestes whiche were conuersaunte about their Kinges and rulers were accompted the firste of all others
that were notable in the Mathematicall sciences and vnto them also did resort thick and threfolde scholars out of all nacions of y world to learne neyther was any man thought sufficiētly learned which was not skilful in the Egiptian lore or discipline to the attayning whereof as Diodorus Siculus maketh mention Orpheus Musaeus Melampus Daedalus Homerus Lycurgus Solon Pythagoras Plato Eudoxus Democritus Euripides and many others went thyther who haue made famous al disciplines of all other nations I deeme it best first especially that al men if it were possible should be learned neyther am I of their opinion which saye that learning is the plague and destruction of wyt memory amongst whom was Plato who affirmed that the vse of letters was a hinderaunce vnto memorye because those thinges which we haue layd vp in wryting we as it were cease to kepe in memory euen as those thinges which we haue layd vp in strong chestes vnder locke and key we thinke to be sure ynough take no more care therfore notwithstanding amongst al the deuises of mē I doubt whether euer any thinge were deuised or vttered more excellent for it seemeth a thing straunge and miraculous howe in a fewe notes or Letters so infinite speches of men innumerable words sētences should be cōprised cōprehended for al kynd of doctrine learning should be mortall subiect vnto decay yea the acts gestes of men should be sone buried in obliuiō if they wer not registred and reserued in monumentes of learninge which haue bene so highely accompted of that many both people and moste excellente personages doe challenge to them selues the inuention thereof Those letters therefore doe I deeme not onelye to bee throughly learned but also scarcely can I thinke any mā in a free cytty can or may deserue the name of a witty Citizen withoute the knowledge of learninge for how without learning can we attaine not only vnto the high knowledge of liberall sciences but also thereby learne manye small artes or faculties neither can merchandize it selfe or husbādry be in sufficient sauety without them for these do keepe the memory of things past they instruct posterytye they annexe and compare thinges done and past vnto thinges yet to come and do keepe a perpetuall reckoninge of all our whole lyfe The best waye here in to bee done therefore is to trayne yong childrē herunto before they apply any other maters if in tyme to come wee desire to haue them proue men or to be reputed and taken in the nomber of Cytyzens for surelye the Greeke prouerbe is A man voyde of skill and wantinge learned lore To a tree vnprofitable comparde is euermore Gouernours therfore of common weales oughte to be carefull diligently to foresee that for euery liberall Art or good learning ther may be assigned y best scholemaisters to be mayntayned wyth a publique stipend whyche maye teache openlye for euery priuate person cannot maintein lyuing for their Chyldren and recompence their Scholemaisters wyth conuenient stypende ▪ and ordynary salary And especiallye let the Scholemaisters teaching Grammer be excellent and notable yea not onely in learninge but in manners also moste approued for it is most daungerous as it is spoken in the Prouerbe To betake a sheepe into the custodye of a wolfe And to fynde hym whom thou puttest in trust as scholemaister to thy cihldren a corrupter and marrer of them For the vices wherewithe Chyldren at that age are polluted do eyther remayne perpetually or elles wyth greate diffycultie are they withdrawn from them The Romaynes so greatly esteemed Grammer that by decree they ordayned the same to be taught wyth a cōmon salary in the open streetes or high ways by meanes whereof it was called long time the cōmon Science manye affirme that this Art was first deuised and inuented at Memphis a cyttye in Egipt Pythagoras the Prince of Italian Philosophie whom Plato doth in all pointes for most parte imitate thinketh the scyences Mathematicall to be moste necessarye for the ciuill man In vayne as he iudgeth shall a man studye Philosophy which hath not tasted of the same ▪ not as they saye superficially but euen throughly and effectually Lucius Columella would haue euery day to be obserued by the rules of Astronomie bothe for profite in husbandrye and agayn for the auoyding of manyfold daungers whereof we may be warned to take hede by them that be skylfull Anaximander Milesius forewarned the Lacedaemonians that they shoulde looke well to their Cyttye and houses for he foresawe by this Science that there was an earthquake at hand whych thynge doubtlesse came so to passe and a greate parte of that Cytty and of the hyll Taygetus fell flatte to the grounde So Hyppocrates did foreshewe a plague or pestilence whiche shoulde come from the Illyrians and dispersed his Scholars round about the Cytties of Greece to succour and relieue them that should be diseased Pericles generall of the Athenians when as his hoste was astonied at the Eclipse of the Sunne and ready to yelde the victorye to their enemies whom they thought y gods more fauoured deliured thē from their perplexity disclosing the cause namely that it was the natural order of the Sunne and that it came not to passe by any displeasure of god or anye vnnaturall euent In the discipline or doctrine of Astronomie in other sciences Mathematical Publius Nigidius did very greatlye excel amonge the Romaines to whome was attributed for a Sirname Potter by reason of his excellent deuise and inuention of that knowledge for when it was proposed argued why two Twinnes both borne at one byrth shoulde haue diuersitie of destenie seinge they were both begotten and borne vnder one Planet and be defending his Art denied y that could not be by reason of y swift mouinge of Celestiall Orbes shewinge the same by this meanes he styrred about the wheele that bare about the Potters Claye withe greate force and vppon the same did caste two droppes of Incke and after a pawse made from turning the wheele the droppes were found a good waye a sonder in the vttermoste partes of the Wheele how now saythe he can they thincke that Twynnes be a lyke destenied and borne vnder one planet when as the heauens are moued and whirled with so swift mouinge turning seing the wheele of a Potter being turned about with a small course doth manifest before your Eyes the two drops of yncke at one time to be shaken and sprinkled into two seuerall places surelye this deuise was so well lyked of the Audience that it yelded vnto the Aucthoure the palme and vyctorye of the disputacion and a perpetuall Syrname Lycurgus dyd so allowe and esteeme the Scyence of Musicke that hee affirmed the same to bee geeuen vnto men by nature to the more easie bearing and tolleration of their laboures and trauayles and be ordayned the vse of playinge on the shalmes in warfare whereuppon they should playe both
agro positus litem vt discerneret aruis There was set and ordayned a lymyt or bound To auoyde contention in fallowed grounde For now and then contention ariseth for debarringe or stopping the course of raine water or of other matters whiche daylye happen in Fyeldes or elles in the Cyttyes when men doe argue and stande in contencion for the walles of their houses for droppinges of their hâ—use eues and of Rafters not fastened and oftentimes it comes to passe that amongest merchauntes contentions may arise and speciallye when many are found vayne double dealers with whome a man must not deale in secrete meanes but before some arbitrators or conuenient witnesses and Iudges Suche manner of stryfes whereby enimitye and hartâ—urninges may growe ought straightwayes by coÌ„position to be determined and ended that y citizens may be brought into concorde which then is brought to passe wheÌ„ euery man enioyes his own obteyneth his due right all variaunce or dissention set aparte Upon holydayes and suche dayes as are appointed eyther for Fayres or feastes it shal be good to staye prosecution of causes and matters iudiciall whych thinge also ys customablye frequented in any publique ioy or mourning A Praetor amoÌ„gest the Romaines was so called because hee bare rule and hee was called Urbanus amongest the citizens administred the lawes It was in the power of y Praetor to minister both publike priuate aucthority therfore it is nedeful that the Praetors be men of vpright dealing well deseruing of the publique weale who oughte in no parte to be ignoraunt of the lawes and customes of the coÌ„mon state but playnlye and absolutely to bee so skilfull in lawes both publike and priuate that nothing appeare vn to them eyther obscure or doubtful Let good and conscionable lawyers pleade causes and handle nothinge with craft and maleengine but let them speake all things trulye and let them not leaue a lye vnpunished for there ought to be nothing in a comoÌ„ weale so vncorrupt syncere as iudgement which surely is more often corrupted with speach then with mony wherupon very wel said Cicero that hee vnderstode not why he y corupteth iudgemeÌ„t with mony should be worthy of punishmeÌ„t he that corrupts it with eloqueÌ„ce should haue prayse to me sayth he it rather appeareth that he offendeth more in this point which rather with speache then with mony corrupteth the iudge because no maÌ„ with mony can corrupt a wise iudge but with smothe and disseÌ„bling speach any man may for how are that corrupters of causes worthy to be hated and how greuously are they to be punished for they doe sell the patronage of Iustice forsake the best office in the world whiche is defendinge right somtime they pynch get mony from the defendaÌ„t sometyme agayn poule the plaintife and in the ende delude them both and many do very il which take on theim the patronage or office of defeÌ„ding the client do handle y same so coldly that they differ smallye from forgers of causes for true is the sentence of Cicero which sayth perhaps men caÌ„ not be defended without dispraise that negligentlye to bee defended coulde not bee without great wickednes Let lawyers therfore patrones of causes pleade their clients causes and that for dutie sake that they may deserue wel of the citizens let their rewarde bee to haue a good report in al mens mouthes let it not be lawful for them if by any meanes it may that they take any bribe or gyft for handling the cause as it was established by the law called Cincia for a filthy thing it is and not worthy any man to set out the tongue for gayne or lucre in pleading causes Surely Antipho Rhamnusius as antiquity reporteth was the first that euer for defence of any cause toke reward whose example long times after the GreciaÌ„s Latines folowed saying that the merchandize of the tong was of far other sort then any other merchandize whatsoeuer but the Romaines from whom all good examples aswel of honestie as of vertue are to be taken by the law Cincia prescribed an order vnto the couetousnes of orators and pleaders of causes because yonge men puffed vp with hope of gain should not be permitted negligeÌ„tly to handle matters at the request of Appius Claudius they suffered the lawe Cincia to be moderated Unto those Magistrates which wee aucthorize to haue thadministring of iustice we rather ought to impart som staÌ„ding fée or publike stipeÌ„d then priuate gain least therby the iudgementes of the lawe be set to porte sale whych thing no doubt is preiudiciall vnto al people and for the most part the coÌ„mon decay of the publike weale whether the iudgement be corrupted or whether ells any thing be done by deceipt or violence by them whych be iudges and haue iurisdiction in executing Iustice Ouerséers of shamfastnes modesty are so necessarye in a coÌ„mon weale that without them litle or nothing do other magistrates prenaile for there cannot be a more comodious thiÌ„g theÌ„ to haue people well manered with ciuility wherfore the most grauest persons most approued in vertu som out of euery seueral tribe or ward are her unto to be admitted which may reforme redresse the maners of the city lest thereby there crepe in pieuesh customes pernicious both to the people to that whole city therfore great diligeÌ„ce is to be required that the maners of the people be most syncere perfect then again that no pernicious custom do inuade the citizens then the which ther can nothing in cities happen worse lastly that the religion ceremonial orders which haue bene by our elders wel established be also wel obserued The Romaines called the Censure of shamefastnes modesty the Lady and Maistres of discipline and theym whyche bore offices in the coÌ„mon weale they called CeÌ„sors which tooke their name of iudging comptrolling coÌ„stituting or commaunding of what effect it is very wel to discharge and execute this office euen hereby-may wee perceyue in that this office or dignytye of Censor dydde geeue the sirname vnto Cato Censorius who very wel executed this same function The Infamy which wee call the Censors checke was farre more greuouslye taken of that Romaines then any other punishmente and sometimes that rygour thereof stretched against the magistrates for the Senators were cast out of the Senate house by the Censors checke as wee reade of Lucius Antonius because hee put away from him a yoÌ„g Uirgine whom he had maried none of his frendes beinge called to councell so reade we also of Lucius Flaminius who caused certayne to be put to death for looking lasciuiouslye at certayne women whom they loued also Caius Fabricius the Censor remoued out of the Senate house Publius Cornelius a noble personage because he broughte ten poundes worthe of plate to a certayne banquet Fat and corpulente Souldyers perfumed
nor prosper wythoute the mylke of the Nurse So neyther can a Cittye bee sustrayned or cherished without the fruites of the fieldes The example of this noble kinge ALEXANDER ought to exhort all builders of cities to appoint the situacion therof in plentiful fruiteful places and that they whych haue charge ouer the people do especially prouide corne and victuals for their sustētacion for smally should the defence and sauegarde of the citty preuayle to small purpose should the lawes rytes and order of a city serue if the people shoulde sterue for honger for what can bee more daungerous among that people whom neyther armour magistrates neyther Gods Iustice nor mannes Lawes neyther anye shame can keepe in streight order then dearth and famine for verye aptly hereunto saythe Lucanus the Poet. Nescit plebs Ieiuna timere Let therfore first and principall care be for competent prouision of victuall namely bread corne the vse wherof is seene to be farre more necessary then any other thinge and let there bee made three Purueyghours or principall victuallers to haue the ouersighte and surueighe of all victual and make prouision of the same accordinglye let the corne be kept for common vse eyther in deepe trenches cleane fāned from the chaffe and couered ouer whereby for seuen yeares store it may bee well reserued or in brode graners wyth lyttle wyndowes on the north ende thereof wherein for three yeares space it may be preserued from the mothe wyuell and all noysome vermin and let them haue a speciall care that there be no corne or grayne carryed forthe of the citye but in great store and plenty thereof least it become mustye but let it rather be brought in by exchaunge and rechaunge made from y countries neare adioyninge for it were farre better to haue store enoughe at home sufficiently not only to serue them and their country but also if nede were to helpe our distressed neighbours And let theym set a rate or price of things least they being bestowed at the wyl of them that shall sell theym they bee rated and esteemed as it shall seeme good vnto them at all tymes Regarde also must be had that not with a little care diligence the temples and churches of the immortall god which with suche great costes and charges are edefied whiche make the cities specially therby farre more gorgeous haue suche officers and ouerseers for the gouernment thereof leaste otherwise by negligence and slouthe they falle to ruine or decay wherfore AEdiles are to bee appointed which thereupon were called by the Romaines by that name AEdiles because as Varro sayth they had the ouersighte of sacred and priuate houses It was also the charge of the same Officers amongest the Romaines to see that the common streetes and highwayes should bee well leuelled and made euen and that the same should be kept in decent order and that therupon no buildinge should be erected and set which eyther might hynder the commodity or comlynes of the same also they had a charge enioyned them to see that the water conduites common sewers and sinckes should be clensed and scoured and that the bridges should bee repayred and amended moreouer there is nothinge in a free cyttye whyche dothe more breede enuye or hatred then to see certayne fellow citizens in a shorte tyme enryched with the comon mony or treasure whereas the same coulde not suffice them all THE FOVRTH BOKE entreatinge of mutuall Societye in Mariage mayntenaunce of housekeeping ordering of a housholde wyth morall examples of necessary duties in eache degree ADRIANVS Caesar was a Prynce of excellence wytte and exquisite learninge for often tymes he both wrote spake heard others speake and talked wyth hys frendes at once woulde do all this at one tyme he was also greatelye geeuen to Poetrye and a fauourer of all good Sciences in Arithmetique Geometrye Musicke and Payntynge most skilfull he often was wont to say that the Common weale is so to bee regarded of theym whiche beare rule in the same that euerye one shoulde knowe how that he had to doe for the common weale and not for his owne proper and priuate estate Phocion the Athenian when as abundance of treasures was sent vnto hym of gyft from Philip king of Macedonie would not take any of it at all and to the kinges embassadors exhorting him that if he himselfe could easelye lacke the same treasures yet at the least to take it for his childrens vse for whom sayde they it was verye harde beinge in such penury and distresse as they were to maintaine their fathers dignitye he aunswered if my chyldren do resemble and bee lyke to me their father in condicion this lyttle plott of grounde whych hath brought maynteyned me to this dignitye shall also suffice to bringe vp and mainteyn them but if they doe not resemble me sure I wyll not mayntaine their ryotte with these Treasures and ryches In no place at these dayes is founde that lande whiche of it owne frutefulnesse nourisheth the Cyclopes without tyllage and sowing neyther is that Erithrea of Lusitania whyche men saye Gerion sometimes possessed beinge of so rancke and fruitefull soyle that when once the corne is cast vpon the groūd the new sprouting seede eftsones bringethe forthe newe blades and beareth Seauen or rather more haruestes one after another neyther floweth in our coastes that floud Nylus whiche of it selfe bringeth forth an Herbe called Lotos whereof men in those partes doe make bread to eate and whereof wyth such gredynes as Homer sayth they doe eate that they altogether forget y ordering of their housholde affayres wherfore men must prouyde to haue possession of Landes that prouysion of victualles may be reserued from tyme to tyme. Marcus Curius hath by his wysdom taught vs to haue greate store of publique landes and that priuate menne shoulde haue so much thereof as to the meynteyninge of their lyfe and lyuinge shoulde bee necessarye for when as hee oute of his tryumphes had adiudged innumerable acres of Lande to the cōmon weale to euerye manne in seuerall hee onelye alotted Fowertye neyther ▪ reserued he anye greater porcion thereof vnto hymselfe then the reste had Hee was blamed of certayne persons bycause he had geeuen himselfe the leaste parte and had entytled the common weale to the moste parte hee sayde vnto them that no man ought to thincke that grounde to be a little or vnsufficiente whiche shoulde suffice his owne vse and his families As it behooueth ciuill Societye to haue fewe to beare aucthoritye and manye to obey so in housholde affayres there ought to bee one whiche shoulde haue chiefe rule hee to bee auncient in yeares and all the residue to obay And as in a city by due obedience to lawes the magistrate is sayde to gouerne others iustelye so in Commaundynge and obayinge wee haue accustomed to gouerne domesticall dealinges let them whiche beare aucthoritye or office in a common weale know
them be put to learne the practize of some other trades and occupations especiallye such as come uearest in goodnes vnto learning least that they remayne vnprofitable by meanes of Idlenesse and slouthe for true is that sentence of Marcus Cato By slouth and doinge nothing at all Men learne to doe euyll great and small Therfore diligent and paynful cytizens ought to dryue sluggishe and slouthfull people out of their citties euen as the diligent Bees do the Drones or Dorres which wyll not take paynes for the common Honnye and wee muste esteeme as most holye that ordinaunce whiche Solon enacted affirming that That chylde to his father is nothing bounde In any respect of dutie naturall If that for him hee hath not founde Some kinde of trade to lyue withall But if all other disciplines and Arts should be lacking yet oughte they to foresee and regarde that their children be not brought vp without the rule of good manners for it is farre better for men to bee wythoute children and to be for euer barreyne and berefte of all progenye or Issue then when men haue children to bringe them vp euill nurtured or of sewde behauiour Epaminondas the Thebane a worthye man and of greate wysedome neuer maryed anye wyfe whiche thing his friend Pelopidas reprehending because hee left not the Seede or succession of his valiantnesse vnto his children and therfore that in so doinge hee dyd ill prouide for the commoditye or profite of his countrye Epaminondas thereupon smyling aunswered take you heede frende Pelopidas least you doe worse prouide for the publique vtilitie of your countrye which may happen to leaue such a sonne begotten by you whose lyfe perhaps hereafter may be wished of some to bee better by whiche sayinge this most wyse Gentleman sheweth that Parētes ought to feare nothinge more then least they haue suche childrē as may degenerate frō their steps qualities Neocles the Athenian a man noble and excellente had a sonne called Themistocles whome in his youth he disherited because hee was mislyked and thought to lyue verye lewdely wastinge his substance and in euerye poynte disobayinge his fathers commaundemente this seuere and harde dealinge did not discourage the sonue but did rather farre more encourage him to remēber himselfe for hee thinkinge that suche a manifest blemish of misdemeanour coulde not bee extinguished withoute some singuler industrye and prayse from thence foorth wholy vent hym selfe to thexercise of vertue and by al care and study that in him was possible endeuoured to traueyle for the commoditye of his common weale with all dyligence that he could protected and maynteyned the causes of his friends and priuate iudgements and within short space so amended his faultes and reformed the vices of hys youthe that there was no one man in his tyme preferred before him and verye fewe were thoughte to bee founde equalle vnto him therefore the seueritye of a father towardes such a Sonne was not to be found fault wythal who in dede of a most naughtie lewd person reclaimed him to be a man in all kynde of prayse moste cōmendable Polemon the Athenian lyuinge vnchaste in his youthfull yeares was wanton and geeuen to filthy behauiour sometimes also ouerseene with drinke hauing a Garlande as the custome was for the stoutest drincker to haue rushed with his companions into Xenocrates schoole onely to floute and mocke and to playe some pageant of knauery at that tyme as it chaunced Xenocrates was discoursinge amongest his scholers touching modestie temperaunce and chastitye whiche purpose for al this hee chaunged not but playnly conuerted his meaning euen vpō Polemō there present by which oratiō made he so reformed himselfe that without any more ado forsaking there his companions and chaunginge his former old lyfe he yeelded himselfe scholar vnto Xenocrates and within a shorte space excelled all his scholefellowes and besides this so nerelye expressed his scholemaister in all matters that after his deceasse this Polemon beinge then lefte hys successor so learnedly behaued himselfe after thimit a ciō of y other that the Scholemaister was thought one styl and not scant perceyued to be chaunged Younge men also are to be enured wyth bodely exercises both for their better health for as Celsus satih slouth enfebleth the bodye labour strengtheneth it the one causinge vntimelye olde age the other long and lustye youth and also for that they might be made more proiftable members for y cōmō weale in tyme of warres wherin they are more prōpt and actiue if they come thereunto wyth a bodye exercised rather then vy slouth effeminated in which thinge the Lacedaemonians did verye muche excell whose children in runninge leapinge and castinge the dart were daylye exercised and practised from whō Diogenes on a tyme returning and goinge to Athens was asked whither he went and from whence he came I come saith he from men and am now goinge to women THE FIFTH BOOKE EFfectuallye discoursinge vppon the ENDEVOVRS TRADES OFFICES DVEties and seuerall vocations aswell of the ciuill cittizen as of the vplandish countreyman also the discouerye of vices with the daūgers that in euery realme and countrye thereby ensueth RApine promiseth Idlenes and rest but vertue sheweth before her labour and sweat Euill manered persons and suche as in their speache and gesture be grosse and vnnurtured be termed vnciuil because they rather seeme to haue bene brought vp in the coūtrey then in the Cytties From hence is deriued the worde phrase of speache called Ciuilitye or Urbanitye because it doth appertayn both to speach and manners and is so called by the name of the latine worde Vrbs a cyttye because through cyuil companying or meeting together of wyse learned men a certayn knowledge and learning is gotten which dyrecteth and trayneth vp men in gallant curtesie pleasaunt order and comelye grace the contrarye wherof is called Rusticitie If a man would in fewe woordes determine and define what a Ciuil man is hee shall say that he is a good man and one that is profitable to his common weale for firste and speciallye hee oughte to haue before his eyes that sentence of Plato where he sayth Men are of God created not onelye To profite themselues in this lyfe presente But that they shoulde their natiue countrye Studye to profite wyth honest intent Partely agayne that they be styllbent To profite frende children and kinsfolke naturall To this ende to lyue well ought all men mortall And by good righte humane societye is instituted and appointed to lyue together for one to profite another These thinges when wee shall consider vppon wee shall well perceyue that we ought to helpe and prouide for our natiue countrye The little Bees and Antes being creatures not only the least of all others but also dumbe and deafe oughte to be examples vnto vs whiche vndoubtedlye do laboure one for another they swarme together they keepe theim selues together they are preserued altogether wyth like
countreis to be resident among thē were disquieted with discordes We must especially take hede that nothing be done in the cōmon weale by violence or fraud for what things so euer are done by vyolence are weake vnstable not onlye prouoketh the multitude vnto enuie but also vnto reuenge Appius Claudius the Decemuir by violēce chalenged Virginia to be his bondwomā which thing her father not suffring thrust his daughter through the body with hys sword with embrewed handes returned to his hoast exciting vp the cōmon people against the Senators which thinge brought no small plague vnto the common weale There be some that are sorye to see others surmounte and excell in vertue there was sometimes amongest y Ephesians a certayn excellent mā called Hermodorus who excellīg others both in learning honesty was neuerthelesse banished out of his country and vnto certayn men that meruayled thereat asked those people why they had banished so worthy a mā they aūswered there was no other cause but that in vertue and integrity of lyfe hee dyd to farre excell y rest of his felow citizens for vnto all good men doth euer chaunce cōmon backbyters euil willers wherfore now and then we must dessemble if we desire to flye enuye assuredly wysedome must somtime geue place vnto rashnes for enuy doth not onely cast vnder foote verye manye notable personages but also doth subuert the state of cities yea vtterly destroy the cities themselues The Poets fables of Enuy are notable affirming that it is a plague feeding vppon Serpentes meaning thereby to shewe that enuious persons do swalow poyson and vomite vp venime agayne for an other mannes felicitye is poyson vnto the enuious persō neyther can he take any ioy of himselfe except he infect others with his poyson certes ther can be nothīg more filthy or more vnfitting a mā then to reioyse at an other mans euil to bee vexed or yll apayd for other mens good fortune both which things y enuious man vseth to do Tymon the Atheniā dyd once make an oration at Athēs in a great assēblie of people in the which he sayd that he had one only little Orcharde wherin was a great figtree vpon which many cittizens had hanged themselues and because in that place hee purposed to buylde a wall he sayd he must needes cut downe the same figge tree and that therfore he was come to tel them that if any would hang thēselues they should make haste and come quicklye whyle the figgetree were yet standinge Euerye man maintayneth his priuate Substaunce although it bee small Neyther doth the poore man lesse esteeme of his small pittaunce then the rych of his great Wealthe and if any Contencion happen to aryse beetweene a poore man and a rycheman although the ryche man in deede be wronged yet because hee is mightier wealthyer it will be thought that he doth the wrong iniurye and thereby purchaseth the enuye of many others but yet if any man do saye that the pore mannes patrimonye is taken from him by extorcion and violence or strōg hand euery man beginnes to feare his own case deayseth new fangled alteracions rayleth at his betters fauoreth the oppressed bendeth himselfe vnto Sedicions and can neuer be quiet in his mynde till hee see that he hath safelye and warelye ynough prouided for his own safety Periander practised Tyrannye in Ambracia and customablye cōmitted buggerye with a certayne boye whom on a tyme as hee was Drinckinge in presence of manye others hee merely asked whether hee was at anye tyme greate with childe by him or no the boy was throughlye enraged with anger and could not abyde that those filthy thinges which hee had suffered before shoulde haue bene once named and spoken of and thereupon founde he meanes to kyll and destroye this Tyraunte Pausanias also of Macedonie a youngeman in beautye and nature moste excellent was likewise violently and forcyblye abused in his bodye by Attalus and by him was made dronke with wyne and brought in at a banquet and offered as a common strumpet vnto the luste of the guestes there Pausanias stomacking this shamefull villanye tolde the whole matter to kinge Philip but the kinge with sundry delatory woordes seemed to haue thereof no care but rather made thereat a laughinge game preferring Attalus vnto better place and rowme in warfare then hee whiche iniury so throughly touched Pausanias that he conuerted his displeasure towardes the kinge and the reuenge whiche he could not take of his aduersarye hee extended vpon the vnrighteous Iudge for as he sate at the maryage of Cleopatra the daughter of Attalus betwen both the Alexanders the sonne and the sonne in lawe Pausanias slewe him fearing no such matter by killing the king turned into sorow and heauines that day which should haue bene a daye of ioye or gladnes playnely hereby shewinge that the complaintes of subiectes are not to bee disdayned nor contemptuouslye be reiected It goeth not wel in that common weale where a man must lyue by prayer or intreatye where Citizens muste liue in that case that they dare not speake frankly or boldlye those thinges whiche they thincke to be for their profite Philip king of Macedonie vnder a certayn pretence of libertie inuadinge a great part of Greece besieged Athens excusing himselfe by letters and Embassadors sēt vnto the Senate and people of Athens that hee did not those thinges to the ende hee would take away from thē their liberties or Franchises or to bringe the Citty into bondage but because he had a grudge against ten of their Citizens which in the Senate house had alwayes bareked against him and did not ceasse to rayle vpon him with reprochfull wordes and therefore if those fewe might be yelded vnto hym hee sayde hee woulde reyse his siege and departe and deliuer the people from warre and famine Namely and especially be required to haue that most excellence oratour Demosthenes deliuered vnto him vppon whom all the coūtenaunces and fauours of the Grecians were at that time bent and cast besides him nine others of y eloquentest notablest persons both for talke aucthoritye hereuppon the Senate was in great perplexitye and many of theym agreeing vpon this poynt cryed out that it were much better to saue a multitude then a fewe persons these fewe were shrewdely afrayde whom the king had requested thus to bee yelded into his hands to death scarcely durst they speake their myndes seeing that by their deathes all the residue hoped for peace lyberty it had come to passe in deede that these fewe had then bene yelded had not Demosthenes displayde y craft and dereiptful fetch of the kyng by this wittely deuised fable vttred vnto them The wolfe on a time sayth he perswaded certain sheepeheards whose diligēce he had a desire to deceiue to enter frendship and amity with him condicionally y the shepeheards should deliuer vnto him
Chestnuttes is profitable For it is not onely good for beastes to feâ—de vppon but also for a mannes whole housholde Thys Nutte is so couered and harnessed as it were with a prickinge shelle that it can scarce bee taken oute of the same without hurtinge of a mannes handes and therfore the countrye people were wonte to burye the same certayne dayes in pyttes or hoales within the earth tyll suchtime as the vtter moste pylle of the Nuttes opened of it selfe and so oute of euerye Shell there commeth â—woor three Kernelles This Tree groweth verye bygge and is profitable almoste in euerye respecte for buyldinge and of it are made verye good Tubbes and Wyne or Oyle Uesselles whiche the Carpenters of oure tyme doe call the Queene of all Trees because it is coumpted good almoste for all purposes and vses wherefore not onelye for fruite and wood but also for tymber it is to be accoumpted a chiefe and speciall wood How necessarye Fyre is not onely to the nourishment of mans lyfe but almost vnto al vses euery maÌ„ may easelye iudge Therfore very yll should any choyse of habitation be if it eyther stande farre distaunt from Woodes or altogether lacke the commoditye thereof For we haue reade and seene in our tyme that citties by the enemye besieged haue beene forced of necessitye to yelde for default and wante of wood Therefore that Countrye soyle is to bee chosen for habitation whiche aboundeth with fire woode whiche is so to bee vsed and appointed that euerye Seauenth yeare parte of the same Trees maye be cutte downe and lopte and that there maye bee enoughe to suffice the vse of all the whole people for that which is cutte downe had nede to haue Seauen yeares growth before it bee cut agayne that the younge Setttes and shrubbes therof may grow freshe agayne to their full Syse and Skantlinge The Woode whiche serueth for Tymber to Buylde Houses and Shippes wythall muste more diligentlye bee looked vnto preserued and kepte and to bee clensed euerye yeare from Thornes Bryars Brambles that they hynder not the newe Gryffes and springing plants from growynge to their full heighth syse and â—ignesse At the Springe of the yeare Trees do burgein and be stow all their Sappe and strength vpon bowes and buddes and therefore become they weake and exhausted as the bodies of women that are greate wyth Chylde are feebler weaker and slenderer of strength then others when their time of laboure or chyldebirth coÌ„meth they become for a tyme vnweildy and weake tyll they haue with good Cawdels nourishments recouered their former strengthe agayne Euen so trees whyle they burgeyn and beare leaues and afterwards while they nourishe their fruites yet vnrype are of lesse strength and force but wheÌ„ in Autumne their fruites or beries are shaken of and that their leaues doe fall the rootes do take agayne vnto them all their whole sappe and strength and so are restored vnto their former perfect soliditie Thales Milesius preferred water as the principall and chiefest of al other elements for mans nature can easâ—yer beare with the want of any thing theÌ„ of water for admit y corne fayl be not to be had yet the profitable encrease â–ª coÌ„ming of young setts and trees may supplie administer sufficient prouision wherwith to sustayn lyfe We may defende lyfe with fleshe by hauking by fishing with herbes and rootes but where water is wantinge there can no foode neyther bee had nor preserued fitte for mannes sustentacion and therfore we accompte that country altogether vnhappye whiche eyther lacketh water or hath water vnholsome and corrupt Moreouer it was a manner among the Egiptians and of theÌ„ very streitely for a long tyme obserued that before all the houses and temples of their goddes there shoulde be set a potte with water to th ende that they that wente into the Temples might therewith be sprinckled and falling down to the ground with their hands lift vp to heauen might geue thankes vnto the maiestye of God who had bouÌ„tifully blessed relieued them with most holsom water And furthermore wee reade of certayn countries by meanes of waters onely ennobled and made famous as the mountayne Thiliadus amongst the Molossians which Theopompus extolleth and sayth had an hundred bridges Magnesia is coumpted far more famous by reason of the excellency of a Well which the Poets do there testifye to be dedicated vnto the Muses because whosoeuer dranke out of y same became therby swete breasted clearer to singe Neyther is it to be mernayled at forasmuch there be founde innumerable vertues of waters partelye by apparaunt partely by secrete obscure reason Of the Sringe in Arcady whiche the Inhabitauntes called Clitorius which maketh such as taste of the Liquor therof straightways to abhorre al drinking of wine foreuer Uitruuius saythe that there is a Well in Paphlagonia whiche semeth as though it were myxt with wyne insomuch that they which drinke therof are made dronke The lyke Nature and qualitie the ryuer Licesius in Thracia is reported to haue on the banckes whereof manye tymes the traueylers and wayfaring persons are found dronken sleepinge The citty of Ephesus also hath Springes not farre from it the waters wherof seeme mingled with vynegar and therfore are most acceptable vnto sicke persoÌ„s And Strabo the Geographer wryteth that there is a water at Hieropolis so apt for dyinge of Wolle that if y rootes of herbs be stieped mixed therein it maketh as Orient gorious a colour as if it were Scarlet or purple There bee also whiche wryte that at Tharsis a Cyttye in Cicilia is a Ryuer called Cydnus where persons that are bathed and a certayne tyme washed are eased of the goute Moreouer Pomponius in his Cosmographye wryteth that one of the two Islandes called Fortunate is notable and famous throughe the singuler vertue of two seueral springs of whom who so tasteth of the one caÌ„not but laughe continuallye and the onely remedy for theym that bee in that case is to drincke of the other There is also another Springe at Susis in the countrey of Persia whiche looseth and shaketh out the teeth of those that drinke therof but to such persoÌ„s as do washe theÌ„selues therwith it is most holsome And so they saye there is a Lake in Assyria neare vnto the which groweth a slimye glewishe and bytuminous pytchâ— earthe of the same quality wherupon if a birde light shee is streightwaye lymed and tyed fast from flyinge any furder This kynde of Lyquor if it once be set on fier can neuer be extinguished nor queÌ„ched but onely by throwing dust therevppon Aâ—l whot waters haue a medicinable force and vertue aboue other waters although they be of their proper nature cold but because they do flow or haue course throughe the hoate and ardent vaynes of the Earth therfore they come for the warme which notwithstanding cannot long remayn so but be in short
space cooled for if by Nature they had heate in them they wold not so sone become colde And surely vnto me it semeth a thing wonderfull that there are waters ordayned by the prouidence of god medicinable and able to cure all diseases incident vnto mortall men which do not in their curing vexe the diseased persons with slyâ—er sauces Receipts druggs and bitter dilutions neyther torment them with fyre or toole but with a most sweete bathe washing do restore them into their pristinate health Neyther haue y Springs whiche ryse from sulphereous or brimstony soyle these vertues only but those Springs also with passe haue their course through allomye soyle which doth cure the laske resolucion of y sinewes they are very good al 's for them that haue yll digestioÌ„ and yll stomackes Finally they do performe that thing which Asclepiades said was the office of a right good phisician y is to say to cure safely spedely pleasantly bituminous waters also haue their vertues which rather by drincking theÌ„ by bathing do helpe y diseased persoÌ„s for they do make the belly soluble without any payne or griefe do cure almost all the inward diseases of the body by purgation sometime the paynfull wringinge of the intrayles and guttes when they be exâ—lcerated wheÌ„ that excoriacion or bloudynes floweth froÌ„ theÌ„ are herby restored vnto their former health There is also a Nitrous kinde of colde water the drinking whereof doth purge diminisheal vnnatural accesses of the body specially the humours or swelling of the throate or the kinges euill such allomy saltish nitrous Springs yeld forth for the most part an euill smell relish for their ori ginall being from the very lowest partes of the earth do passe through the boate ardent haynes of the same Those that haue written of husbandry do say that euerye kinde of pulse being cast into water and set vppon the fier doth trye the same water very well they be quickly speedely boyled Certayn of the auncient Phisicians affirmed that kind of water to be best which is lightest or els y which being set on the fyre will soonest be boate so that it be cleane and pure vnmossye Al water that is fetchte froÌ„ the moorish or fenny grouÌ„ds is vnholsome so is al y doth not runne but standeth stil or els y whiche runneth through shaddowye places and darcke canes where the Sonne geeueth no shyne but worst of all is snowe dryce water as certayne auncient wrytens haue holden opinioÌ„ Cornelius Colsus doth thus wryte of waters Rayn water is the lightest water y is next is Spring or Wel water then ryuer water and laste of all is pytte water then describeth hee snow or yce water and that standinge water is heauye but the heauiest of all others sayth hee is that which is taken out of a moorish or fenny ground He that throughlye considereth the nature of these thinges wyll wyllingly prouide holesome liquor for the vse of himselfe and his fellowe Cittizens The best situacion for a City is y which is not farre distant froÌ„ the sea or froÌ„ som great nauigable riuer throughe which may be transported caryed out those things wherof we haue to great store and such thinges may bee brought vnto vs wherof wee stand in neede Surelye the mouthes or entries of ryuers haue great oportuâ—â—â—ye 〈…〉 their flowings pleasant tydes do not only enereâ—â—â— pleasure becom most holsom for all cattle sitheÌ„s they may goe easly without any coursing vebemeÌ„t resistaÌ„ce â–ª 〈…〉 water but also do make the fields pastures theruÌ„tâ— adioyning more rancke and fruictfull There is great diuersitie in ryuers euery of theÌ„ hath not coÌ„modity alyke for y riuer Nilus is couÌ„pted y most fertile fruitfullest riuer of al others it floweth through Egipt with great fertilitye for when it â—o hath ouer floweâ— the whole Lande all y Somer tyme it goeth backe agayne into his Chanell and leaueth the fieldes fatted witâ—mâ—ddâ— â–ª and very fruitefull for any tillage insomaâ—h that the inhabitauntes there haue scarcelye any neede of the labour of Oxen or of the helpe of anye husâ—aÌ„â—men to manure the same any further then only to cast thâ—ir seeâ—e theruppon And this do I iudge is to be attributed vnto Nature her selfe the best Parente of all thinges For sithens Egipt was destitute of â—eawe and rayne Nature in supplie thereof gaue thereunto this ryuer whiche should bee able to geeue nourishmeutes vnto Corne and Plantes For the deuine prouidence of God hath appointed innumerable courses of riuers for the vtilitye of the Lande and Soyle through which their course lyeth because no countrye shoulde be altogether without the helpe and furtherance of nature For the increase of the ryuer Nilus doth greately benefite and helpe that countrey because through the great ouerflowing therof many hurtfull beastes breeding there are thereby dispatched drowned except they spedely flye for refuge vnto y higher places vnto whiche Countrye alone these profites and commodities are incident that it neyther hath any cloudes nor cold windes or any thicke exhalacions the water thereof is very sweete insomuche that the Inhabitantes there can easely lyue without wyne and can drincke the same water with great pleasure I suppose the vicinitie or nearenes of the Sea maketh much better for the preseruation and safe keeping of a cittye both for the vse of ciuil lyfe and also for the gathering together of ryches wherewith citties are merueylousâ—ye enâ—â—eased but those Citties are farre more harder to bee besieged which the Sea washeth vpon seeing that to the siege and expugnacion thereof is required not onelye a greate power by Sea but also a greate Armie by land Wherof iâ— the one be wanting the Citizens maye easelye ouâ—â—come the other hoaste when as it shal be harde for y armie by lande to sende any succoure vnto the Nauye by Sea on the other parte the multitude or companye of sea Souldiers may easely be profligated and vanquished by horsemen Therfore conuenient and oportune hauens must bee carefully and wysely chosen out by all theÌ„ that would found and stablishe a Cittye Small fieldes and little Arable groundes easely bringeth dearth of Corne which surely is the cause that thyther is small recourse of people for people pynched with penury and famine be afrayde to mary neyther desireth to haue anye chyldren wherefore in such a couÌ„try they do nothing encrease yea rather the poorer sort hauing respect to their needines famine doe forsake their countrye and seeke to plant themselues in some pleasaunt and fruitfuller soyle elswhere especially if their own couÌ„try be so streite narow that it be not able to feede cattle for next vnto corne cattle whiche greately encreaseth fleshe Mylke and Cheese doe best nourishe As for fishing mee thinckes is not greatly to bee wished for partely because that fishes doe geeue yll nourishement to the bodye and agayne do make
mennes bodyes weake and sickelye whiche thing I maye proue by Homers testimony who neuer made his warriours and Souldiers which encamped by the Sea shore to taste or feede vpon fishe at any tyme and agayne because I doe alwayes see the Fysherman to be chillinge colde bare and needye THE VIII BOOKE DIScoursinge of Buyldings VValles Gates Castles Fortresses Garrisons Lybraries Churches other Monumentes of a Cittye AUngells whiche from the very natiuitie and birthe are appoynted vnto all men are called the messengers of truth which do sometime forshew tell vnto holy innocent men eyther sleeping or waking such predictions happes of thinges to come as by euent after wardes are founde true A place that standeth high or which hath readye wyndinges turninges or which standeth eyther vppon the Sea or some great ryuer needeth farre lesse laboure and cost for where as the place is well defended by the naturall situatiō of it selfe it nedeth the lesse walles but plain countries or places not highe muste be succoured helped with labour and charges otherwise for defence Regarde also must be had of the height and thicknes of the walles for when the walles be very highe they are easly shaken battred down with engins and Gonnes agayn where they are too low they are easely conquered skaled by the enemie with ropes skaling ladders Forty or fyftye cubites high is of many cunning Architects skilfull fortifiers allowed in the toppe wherof that thicknes is sayd to be sufficient whiche maye serue for two armed souldiers to go side by side without hindring one thother in meetinge Moreouer also there must be had very diligent consideration of the Gates of a citty for by meanes therof it chāceth sometimes y by sodeyn vprores the townes be taken sacked or when the townsmen citizens returne or flye the enemies being mingled among thē maye surprise the Gates As Romulus at one incursion inuaded and tooke the City of the Fidenatians for hee was purposed after that he had spoyled their fieldes to harrye the countrye dryue awaye his pray so to haue discamped with his hoast but whē the Fidenatiās issued out of theyr city there was betwene thē a skirmishe wherin they being weaker were discomfited put to flyght And therupon Romulus pursuing and chasing them rushed into the citty together with theim that fled as if they had bene al of one company so wan the city which he planted with Romaynes brought vnder hys owne subiection Regarde therfore must be had that the wayes of the Gates be not direct or streight forthright but turning wynding many ways to deceiue the enemies There hath bene no small disputation amongest theim which haue wryttē of ciuil society whether any tower or Castle be fitly to be placed in a free citty in which thinge this is to be considered whether it do more good or euill amongst free cittizens to haue a strong Fort cōmitted to the credite and keeping of a fewe And if we wyll truelye iudge of and throughly reuolue the monumentes of olde histories wee shall fynde that mocōmon weales estates haue bene subuerted ouerthrowne by negligence trechery of them y haue bene the rulers captaynes therof thē haue bene preserued yet notwithstanding Rome was takē fired by the Frēchmen but by y defēce of the Capitoll was in parte saued and at length with golde boughte peace But Aristotle affirmeth that a castle is vnto a good cōmon wealth vnprofitable daungerous that it geueth oportunitie vnto Tyranny who doubteth ▪ Tymotheus that notable Oratour of Corynth playnly affirmed that y citye which is kept by the garrisō of a castle cannot lightlye be without tyranny Pyrrhus kinge of Epyrotes on a tyme came to Athens was with curteous hospitalitie of the citizens receyued he after viewe taken of that cittye aboūdinge wyth excedinge greate ryches and whiche was the mother of all laudable Artes and Disciplines was broughte into the castle of Pallas there did his solempnities with deuoute reuerence beholding with greate admiracion the Castle how stronge impregnable it was both by naturall scituaciō also by artificial fortification at length whē he was ready to depart and was now come into the market place hee rendred greate thankes vnto the Rulers of the Cittye which accompanied him for the confidence fidelitie which they reposed in him finally warned theym that they shoulde neuer thence foorthe geeue libertye and leaue to any king to enter into their castle least after such entraunce and view some peraduenture vsinge that good oportunitie and holde should take the vauntage and ther upon inuade their cittie This counsell was very well lyked of the Athenians as they whiche well knewe howe daungerous a thinge it was for Cittizens to suffer stoute and valiaunt men to enter into their chiefe fortresse and so from thence forwardes they kepte the Gates thereof more diligently Priuate houses are to bee builte if it may be along the highe streetes on a rowe and of lyke proportion and makinge for so they beautifie and adorne the cittie Neither let them buylde any thinge too much outward thereby to hinder any highe wayes for wee must so liue that a pryuate house must be described to serue the vse and commeditye of the whole familye Neyther let any vacant or vnprofitable place be therein and so the very view sighte thereof shall bringe the more ornament thereunto for as Cicero sayth The gorgeousnesse of a mannes house augmenteth the dignitye of the person dwelling in the same And I iudge the couetousnes of theym to be worthye of greate reprehension who flowinge and aboundinge in greate wealth and ryches neuer bestow any coste in buildinge because they wolde spare their mony and fill their Chestes for their posterity wheras if our Auncestors had folowed any such order wee should vntill this day in our Citties haue had sheperdlye cabins rusticall Cotages A Lybrary ought to be erected in some holsome quyet place neyther ought we to suffer our Cittizens to bee defrauded and disappointed of suche benefite for if places of exercise which make for the health of mens bodyes be in many citties with such carefulnesse and coste erected appointed how muche more ought a Lybrarye to be furnished and set forth which is the foode of a wel nurtured mynde and the exercise of a freee or well inclined nature And if they that got the maysteries or prises in games deserued great honours insomuch that standing in the companie they were crowned with the garlande crowne of Uictorye and at their returne into their owne countrye were like triumphant victers caryed in chayres or Wagons were also demed worthy to be maynteyned wyth meat drinke apparell at the publique charges of the cyties perpetually howe much more are excellent learned men to bee had in estimacion which do further and helpe the common weale aswell in
discipline and manners as also in their wrytinges by committinge all thinges vnto memory which in tyme to come maye profite their posteritie â–ª Let such a place bee chosen for a Lybrarye whose prospect may be Eastwarde for the eyesight requireth morning light for if it should eyther haue prospect southward or westwarde the wyndes blowinge from thence woulde with their moyste heate and warmenesse corrupte volumes and engender Moothes whiche consume and eate Bookes Lette the walles within the same bee handsomely polished and trymmed let them be set oute and beautified with greene colour for all greene thinges are good for the eyes and make the sighte thereof sharpe and quicke Ptolomeus king of Egipt is highly commended who finished and furnished a Lybrary at Alexandria to his inestimable charges and industrye in which librarye there were forty thousaÌ„d volumes al which bookes were destroyed stroyed by casualtye of fyre in the battle that Caesar had agaynst Achiles lieutenaunt of the kinges warres for wheÌ„ as the kinges Nauy beinge by chaunce withdrawen was commaunded to bee fyred and burned the flame thereof catched into a part of the cittye and ragingly burnt all y houses wherein the bookes were layde In whiche fire good learning and disciplines doubtles had a miserable lamentable wracke For the wryters of all Nacions and countryes did earnestly endeuour and stryue to conueygh their bokes thither as it had bene into a Theatre Mansion of wisdome and learning of which librarye if so muche as the steps were extant they should surely ease vs of greate labours and traueyles and with the lighte of Antiquity would clarifye and lighten the obscure darcknes of lettres and disciplines We must also with greate regarde foresee that sacred houses or churches be edified and buylded in â—itte oportune places of the citty wherin we must first and chieflye consider this that of churches and temples some be made for the most commodity of the citizens some for the vse of them that forsaking the world geue themselues onely to contemplacion which houses would be in some out Corner or solitary place where they may not be interrupted and troubled with the busie tatlinge and ciuile tumulte of the multitude therfore must be set out of the coÌ„pany resort of men and out of the sight of priuate houses and either be buylt in the territories or els without the wals of the citye But those that are ordayned for the publique vtility of the Citizens oughte to bee scituated in a fayre rowme place eyther in the harte of the Cittye or in the places that be best inhabited and peopled to thintente the citizens may conuenientlye thither repayre daylye wyth their wyues and children but those churches which they call Cathedrall churches wherof the bishopp of the Sea hath the rule and aucthority all Architectes thinck most expedient to be buylded vpon an high ground in the midst of the cittye that out of it the greatest part of the walles of the cittye may be viewed euery where round about for within the guarde and protection therof the whole cittye seemeth to consist and thither vppon holye dayes all men flocke together as it were vnto a spectacle of deuine and speciall matters As for places in the churches and houses of prayer or preachinge where deuine misteries are to bee celebrated let them be ordayned so farre as may bee best for the ministers and congregation and if it may coÌ„ueniently Eastwarde but if the nature of the place wyl not so suffer it let it be so and in such sort that it may staÌ„d in the full fight of the greater part of the churche wherin if they take aduise of the skilful Architectes to ouersee the workemanshippe they shall buylde all thinges commodiouslye and orderlye neyther shall they greatlye stande in nede of any my wryting or preceptes thereto sithens the deuise and reason of buyldinge requireth rather a liuelye instructor then a dead directer moreouer that is true whyche as a common prouerbe is wont to bee spoken that an vnskilful maister or owner caÌ„ a great deale better builde in his owne court or vpon his owne grounde then a most learned skilful worckmaister in another For mans diligence long coÌ„sideratioÌ„ of y owner or master surpasseth the deuise and skill of the Artificer THE NINTHE BOOKE entreating of warres and Martiall discipline Of Municions Ordenaunce Artillerie Victuals Musters Lieutenantes Generalles Captaynes and Souldiers Of peace and Warre with the circuÌ„stances therof THere is nothinge vnto mannes nature better then to be wyllinge neyther any thing greater theÌ„ to be able to benefite and helpe many â–ª But forasmuch as the seueral wealth of many persons particulerly is but sleÌ„der and small y although they would neuer so gladly yet can they not extend liberalitye and requitall towards them that well deserue Onely kinges and princes may be liberall bountiful nobly mynded Chilo the Lacedemonian who was one of the seauen wyse Sages of Greece was abundantly enriched in a maner with all kindes of vertues yet in nothing more then in beneficence and liberality therfore when as he was come to extreeme olde age oftentimes as it were reioycingly he was wont to say that in all his lyfe tyme he dyd neuer any thing ingratefully No vertue doth more coÌ„mende and adorne Capitaines Generalles and Gouernours of Armies then Liberalitie whereby they keepe their Souldiers constant and obedient in perfourminge their dueties and also thereby allure and winne their very enemies vnto them throughe hope of Benignitye and francknesse The first onset and clasping together of the Armies in fighte is alwayes coumpted daungerous and difficulte for true is that sentence of Scipio That there appeareth greater courage and hautines in him that inferreth peril and aduentureth to geeue the onset then is in him that redefendeth But after that open warre be denounced and that euery man prepareth home warde out of his fieldes to sticke to his safety and to stand circumspectly vpon his garde then they come together in their warlike order then they appoint their scoutes and marshall their souldiers euery man taketh stomacke and courage vnto him he beholdeth and seeth his enemie neyther thincketh he it good and conuenient to bicker disorderly and Skirmishinglye but orderlye and in good arraye and then those matters whiche feare ymagined to be daungerous reason doth teache to bee farre lesse and not so muche to be doubted then euerye man determineth withe himselfe what is nedefull to bee done neyther bee they taken vnprouided nor rceiue the foyle at their enemies hands but are euery daye more and more emboldened and encouraged and by these meanes they commonly carry away the victorye which were prouoked with iniurye afore thus do they many tymes reuenge themselues vpon their enemies and deliuer their countrye from all thraldome and Bondage But the order of waging battle is farre more streite and needeth deeper councell Neyther is it ynough for vs
to consider that wee goe to fight in a righteous quarell for iustlye demauÌ„ding our own right that for good causes warre may well be waged and proclaymed But we must also consider what our power is of what power strength our aduersaries and enemies are what manner of Souldiers we haue what partakers confederates what tributaries we haue and howe they bee affected towardes vs to what summe our coÌ„mon stocke or treasury amounteth to for it is a thing odious and hatefull to leuie tribute vppon priuate persons and is a thing that verye soone breedeth and getteth the enuie of the citizens Wee must also consider how strong how well fortified how wel victualled the ritty is with what garrisons the townes and Castles within our Iurisdiction be maynteyned and kepte and what store of municion and ordinauÌ„ce we haue in our armary these many such like are before haÌ„d to be perpeÌ„ded waighed which are theÌ„ chiefly acknowledged and best knowen when the gates of the cytye being shutte the enemie is kept out and driuen backe from the walles with slynges arrowes and gonshot Aduise valiauntnes and knowledge in matiall matters bee of greate force and do much good in warres but fortune chiefly excelleth al the rest wherfore that senteÌ„ce of Hannibal vnto Scipio is true where he saythe that the euentes of thinges neuer lesse agree and fall oute according to our purposes then in warre and therfore an assured peace is better and safer then a victorye which we do but hope for also wee must yelde somewhat vnto the multitude and vulgar sorte whose credence always hangeth vppon fortune and many tymes folow the myndes of men mingled and gathered together out of sundry countryes whome no zealous pietye or affection towards their couÌ„try no feare of god nor religioÌ„ kepeth in awe but are only there to allured with hyre stipendary wages All consultation of warres to be made vpon others although it be good for many purposes yet in a free Cittye it is daungerous for when the matter is referred to the Senate they do not all agree in one opinion some follow the truth some frame theÌ„selues according to thopinion of the coÌ„mon people bee people pleasers aduauÌ„cinge setting foreward the side which the vulgar sort best alloweth therfore the most part are deceiued for there is nothinge amongst mortall men so vnstable waueringe as the mindes willes opinioÌ„s of the citizeÌ„s which not only being disalowed of as Cicero sayth are angry or greued but also oftentimes do repine grudge at thinges that be wel done by right equity therfore a wise man wyll aduisedly deliberate consider ech circuÌ„stance before he absolutely geue his consent to thenterprising of making warres least that he lay such a burden vpon his shoulders vnder which he may fall downe Labienus a man fortunate and ryche who of his owne proper costes and charges builded out of the ground the town called Cingulum in Piceâ—â— tooke part too earnestlye with Pompeius wherfore he could not hope for any fauour or pardon at the victors hands although in deede most merciful For wheÌ„ther was an emparle treaty of peace betwene the Souldiers of Caesar the souldiers of Pompei this Labienus with a loud voyce exclaymed cryed oute saying Sirs leaue of to make any further taulke of intreaty for peace for except you first haue Caesars head froÌ„ his shoulders there can be no peace at all amongest you Nothing can be more daungerous in a free citty then for a man to promise that he will be the aucthour ryngleader of warres which thing surely euen they in mine opinion seeme to doe which openly in the counsel chamber auerre that warres are expedient to be taken in hand Solon was accoumpted a very wyseman yet be because he wold not frely geue senteÌ„ce that it was requisite to make warres againg the Megarians for the recouery of Salamine sodeÌ„lye fayned himselfe madde and beinge disguised in apparel like a fole prouoked the Athenians to fyght When the matter fell out well and that they had wonne Salamyne they al coÌ„mended wel allowed of his couÌ„sell deuise in that behalfe Now Solon al this while vnder the shield of fayned madnesse shrowded himselfe that if the matter should not haue come to passe as he before had told them and as hee would haue it yet therby hee myght purchase pardon for his wordes and deedes It is oftentimes called in question whether it be good to make warres for y encrease propagation of dominioÌ„ Lordshippe when any occasion of conquest is offered or elles whether it bee better to bee quiet and to lyue in peace many argumentes may be brought and alleadged on both partes But we rather encline vnto peace Glorious truelye is Martiall dealinges and I cannot tell whether there bee any thing more noble and no maÌ„ can denye but all greate dominions and noble Empires haue bene purchased and gotteÌ„ by the attempt of warrs Without all doubte the renoume and names of all moste noble and flourishing citties should for the moste part bee buryed in darcknes were they not made famous by martiall feates Neyther hath the Citty of Athens attayned so great fame or renowme which hath merited to haue the name of the mother of all Artes disciplines as Rome hath done which was in tymes passed the Imperial seate of the whole vniuersall worlde althoughe neyther of the twayne woulde seeme to lacke the others prayse and commendation For Rome it selfe excelled in the studies of all good Artes and Sciences and Athens lacked the glorye of warfare for eyther of these Citties bare greate Reuerence vnto the studies both of warre and peace and honored Minerua both armed and vnarmed but we as I said before do rather commend peace do especially desire to instruct our citizens in the same because it leadeth more safelye and surelye vnto the tranquillity of mynde And therfore lyuing content with the territories and couÌ„tries which we already enioy let vs not enter into any warres but onely such as is necessarye or if at any tyme we do enter into the same let vs as spedely as wee can seeke some way to brydle and qualefye our desires which thing euen armed Hanniball seemeth to ratify when as he sayd vnto Scipio in this maner It had bene very good if the Gods had geeuen that mynde vnto oure predecessors that you might bee contented with thempires of Italy and wee of Afrique Uayne glory and vayne desire of soueraignitie manye tymes so enflameth men that they be contented wyth no territories or boundes neyther take they any felicitye in peace Curtius wryteth that them bassadours of Scythia spake these wordes vnto king Alexander If the Goddes had geeuen vnto the a body agreeable to the great greedines and ambition of thy myude the whole world it selfe wold not suffice to conteyn thee thou wouldst with
for those that bee desirous of prayse doe not shonne nor refuse anye trauelles neyther shrincke they or withdraw themselues from anye perilles or daungers but being inflamed with desire of glorye do nothing doubt to hazard thēselues in all great aduētures daūgers Souldiers also must be punished that haue done amisse for too muche lenitye and fauoure doth make them more procliue and prone to offend and if it fall out that very manye haue offended yet muste wee not for feare pardon or dispence with all but must punish those that are in the greatest fault for if many be punished they are to be sent and distributed to receyue their executiō in diuers places Marcellus vpon a tyme openly perceyued and sawe Lucius Bantius Nolanus a man very bold and factious solliciting and stirringe the townesmen there to reuolte and turne vnto Hanniball yet durst he not put him to death for feare of the Nolanes wherfore he called him vnto him with fayre wordes praysing him openly as a worthy souldier and exhorting him to holde on and continue his good seruice and faythful loyalty to be willing styl to beare out that warfare with him And that the cittizens should y better credite y he was in such fauour with his capitayne Marcellus gaue him a goodly fayre Courser by meanes of whiche curtesie and gentlenesse he chaunged and altered the euyll mynde and trecherous disposition of Lucius and thence forwarde found both him and all his retinewe and crew trusty and faythfull Many holde opinion y a Generall of an Army oughte not to combate and fight hande to hande with his enemy except in tyme of great necessitye and that it is sufficiente for him to performe thoffyce of a Capitayn and leader not of a cōmon souldier For they say y citties haue bene vtterly sacked and whole hoastes slayn down right or at least discomfited put to flighte by the rashnesse of their Capitaynes and Generalles for whyle they pursue after euery particuler enemie they forsake and leaue the mayn hoaste at all aduentures and whyle they studye to take heede of one mannes blow they pull vpon their own heades the whole mayne force of their enemies not consideringe howe that their owne daungers bringes with it the generall calamitye and spoyle of the whole hoast Scipio Africanus to certayne men which sayde that hee was no great fighter wisely aunswered saying My mother brought me foorth into this worlde a Capitayne and a Generall not a fighter or common Souldier thereby meaning that victorye and conqueste consisteth rather in thexperience and wysedome of one then in the weapons and strength of manye Cyrus as Xenophon mentioneth asked Cambyses how a victorye might beste bee gotten to whom hee thus aunswered hee that would winne haue the vpper hande and victory must entrappe and take hys enemies by all manner of pollicie whatsoeuer eyther by secrete ambushes or deceipte and fraude yea by rapine theft and pylfery they must be spoyled robbed impouerished for nothing is to be pretermitted which may in anye respecttend to the subduing vanquishing of a mans enemies a very lye in conuenient tyme by the chiefe captayne made hath sodenly obtayned the victorye as that of Ualerius Leuinus who with a loude voyce cryed oute that he had slayne Pirrhus and therewithall to make the matter more credible helde vp his sword all bloudy with the bloud of a certayne Souldier whom a little before he had killed with which surmised lye the Epyrotes beinge sodenly astonied ran away as fast as they could weping tremblinge into their tentes Demosthenes the greatest oratour among the Greciās atchieued manye warres and was in a greate battell at Cheronea wherein Philip of Macedonie ouercame the Athenians out of which conflict Demosthenes by flight and running away saued himselfe this thing being by way of reproche afterwarde layed in his dishe after the death of Philip he excused himself by reciting this notable verse The partie vanquished weepes and wayles But the partie vanquishing by death quayles Iulius Caefar as hee in worthye exploytes surpassed all men so also did he excell almost all the Romaynes in Latine eloquence The knowledge also of histories is commodious and profitable for them which haue the conduction and gouernaunce of armies both because in takinge counsels and aduises by the euent and Fortune of other mens former happes moste firme examples are learne and agayne because the vertue that is praysed in others doth allure and moue vs to obtayne the lyke and fearefull Cowardise beinge reproued doth make men become more valiaunt and I cannot tel whether the knowledge of warfare may by anye other discipline be better helped then by perusinge historicall Monumentes by which we are taught and instructed to doe all thinges well and orderlye whiche may eyther be spoken or thought by man Nothinge newe and straunge nothinge wonderfull nothinge vnhearde or vncouth can happen vnto the Chieftayne whiche hath verye good knoweledge and experience in Hystories Warlike order and arraye Discipline of Souldiers good respecte and studye in inuadinge and bewaringe the enemie skyll in Marshallinge the armie in righte order of arraye knowledge when to begynne the Skirmish when to leaue how to plant Ambushes and stales how to take heede of the lyke whiche place is fitte to bee chosen whiche platte is moste commodious to bee firste preuented and gaygned which agayne is to bee left vnto the enemie howe and whiche waye to geeue the onsette and charge and how to resiste and stande at defence with innumerable other poynctes which scarce bee comprehended in longe discourse by what other meanes canne they more easely bee learned then by perusinge ouer Monumentes and recordes of Hystories Among all sortes of men there can be nothinge found more rare then a perfect Captayne and Generall whiche if hee be not to be found in the Citty he must bee sent for from other places for it is better to fighte well and fafelye protected vnder a straunger Captayne then in daunger and hazarde of lyfe vnder the gouernment of our natiue Citizen Hee that hath the charge and aucthoritye ouer a citty in the tyme of warre is also to loke to vrbane affayres ought to employ employ very greate diligence and to looke narowly vnto his charge that the Cittye do not sustayne any detrimēt or damage and as like a capitayn in the campe he ought to perfourme his office so like a wise gouernour oughte he to exercise and trayne his souldiers within the walles of the cittye that with ydlenesse nicenesse sittinge in the shade and other delicate and tender cockrings of the city they be not effeminated And sōtimes it shall behoue hymselfe in person to visite the wardes and goe throughe the watches and not to commit all thinges to the disposition of them whom he maketh maisters of the watches vnder him who in deede shall kepe their watch much more diligently and carefully if they
stand in feare and awe of him that is chieferuler ouer them al and see him to be watchfull and vigilant For there be which suppose that those persons are most sharply to be punished which negligētlye looke to their watch and warde leaste by sleepe slouth and negligence of one man the whole citty should perish which committeth all things to the diligence of those few persons wherfore histories do highly commende Epaminondas the Thebane who in time of greate distresse daūger viewing surueighing in proper person the watches thrust his sword through one of the watchmen whom hee found sleeping saying these wordes A deadman I found hym a deadman I leaue him Neither is it to be meruayled at that Epaminondas beinge otherwise a capitayne gentle and mercifull dyd vse and praccise such seuerity vpon a man sleeping seeinge that wee doe see how throughe such negligence whole cities haue bene sackt spoylde burnt wherupon Virgil sayth Inuadunt vrbe somno vinoque sepultam VVith wyne and sleepe the Citie carelesse made The enmies do with force af armes inuade By reason of this policie diligence Alcibiades aboue others is praysed For when the Athenians were by the Lacedemoniās be sieged he gaue warning vnto y watchmen that they shoulde well marke the light which hee in the night season out of the tower or Castle would shewe them and that at the sight beholding therof they should also holde vp an other light and if any were founde remiss◠or negligent in doing accordingly hee shoulde assuredlye suffer punishment therfore by meanes wherof hee made the watchmen to become most diligent and warye Also there ought always to be scoutes espialles to geue warning in the night seasō by some becon or flame of fire whē the enemies approched in the day tyme by smoke Neyther ought men to be suffered to goe out at y gates into their fields tyl that scoutes haue throughlye searched tried that they may safely go about their husbādry Neither let the same Scoutes continewe in their turnes any long tyme but dayly let fresh mē succede in their rowmes least with too much traueyle and tediousnesse they happen to handle their charge more negligently It is also very commodious and profitable that chiefe rulers and such as be in aucthoritye eyther at home or in warrs abrode where som daūgerous matters do chance shoulde goe forthe abrode in their own persons to see the state of thinges by the example of Marcellus who to his College or fellow in office sayd these wordes Let vs our selues goe with a fewe horsemen to make searche how the case standeth for the thing manifested vnto our eyes shal more certaynly direct our aduise and counsel what is best to bee done For Plato wylleth Princes ▪ of cōmon weales to goe forth and see how thinges frame abrode and wyth them to leade their children on horsebacke thereby to enure them with lesse feare to abyde the viewe and sighte of their enemies The auncient custome that the Frenchmen vsed is verye profitable to learne vnderstand of al thinges which the enemie doeth and pretendeth whiche custome manye naciōs princes in our tyme also do vse to put in practise which is y some witty persōs may be appointed to learn what fame and cōmon report goeth abrode and to make wayfaring persons wil they or nil they to stay and of thē to learne and sifte out what newes euery one of thē hath heard or knowen let them enquire of them oute of what coasts or countries they came and whither they mean to goe let them compell them to declare asmuche as they know◠of their pretence to come But yet suche newes flying ▪ tales and reportes they may not alwayes credite for many do tell lyes and do faigninglye aunswere according to the wyl and humour of him that asketh the question and so leaue the demaunders as wise for any certaintye as they were before but if the demaunders and sifters out of these matters be circumspecte and wyse they shall easely be able to boult and trye oute the truthe and thereby their councelles and aduises which are to be daylye taken in hande shal by such examinacion bee much the better furthered Let also the Lieutenant or Gouernour of a Cittie and Citizens be very diligent and circumspect in the safe kepinge and gardinge of the Gates the Reyes whereof let him keepe himselfe and let him set in good order the watches and wardes dulye let him also take heede that hee be not deceyued and dissembled withall vnder the colour of his owne souldiers or beguiled by the counterfeicting of an other knowen speach For Hānibal surprized many cyties in Italie by apparelling and arming his souldiers lyke Romaynes sending before him such of his Souldiers as by longe continuance in the warres coulde speake the Latine tongue Many subtile shiftes and deceipts are deuised in the entraunce of the Gates of a Cittye whiche are to be taken heede of For sometyme the Enemyes for the nonce and of set purpose doe make their Beastes and Cariages to falle downe or elles their Waynes that carye greate huge Stones to breake and falle in pieces and thereuppon the Enemies beinge sydaynlye at hande whyle the Gates cannot well bee shutte the townes are easelye taken The Massilians fearing this thing by the good Instytucions and Ordynaunces of their Common wealthe did so keepe and warde their Citties in tyme of Peace as if they had then beene continuallye vexed and troubled wyth warres Wherefore vpon the holy dayes they were wonte to shutte the Gates of their Citties to keepe their Watches to see their Souldiers in good arraye standinge vppon the Walles to muster and take a note of their Straungers and other war like affayres beside Reuoltes and Runnagates are not to bee receyued or intertayned into the Cittye for Synon the Grecian being gentlye interteyned was destruction of the Troianes And Zopirus the friende of Darius king of Persia perceyuinge the Kinge to waxe wearye with his long besieging of Babilon and beinge without all hope of wynninge it cutte of his owne nose and his owne eares and fledde away thēce vnto the Babilonians where he vttring many slaunderous and reprochefull wordes agaynst his kyng promised them that hee woulde deliuer into their handes the victorye and be auenged on him They beleeuing hys smothe words made this Zopirus their Generall Capitayne deliuered vnto him theyr power whiche when he had receyued incontinently hee betrayed deliuered both the Cittye and the whole hoaste vnto Darius So also Sextus Tarquinius fayning hymselfe to haue fledde awaye from his fathers Hoaste because hee was as hee fayde beaten with roddes and comming to the Cittye of Gabij then besieged perswaded theym to ioyne in lyke hatred with him against the kinge his father and being by them appointed chiefe Capitayne hee straight wayes betrayed the Cittye into the handes of his sayde father It is also daungerous to
retayne manye straungers Aliens into the cittye both because euerye multitude of people that is gathered and peeced together oute of sundrye nations is vnquiet and oftentimes of a small matter or quarell stirreth vp â—umults hurlyburlies but also because it is the parte of a madde man to deuide there those thinges amongst many which he knoweth not whether they wyll suffyce to the mayntenaunce of a fewe Unto this Sentence may bee aptly applyed that same precept of Cambises king of Persians which hee gaue vnto Cyrus his sonne where he sayth No man ought to staye tyll pouerty oppresse But rather to prouide in tyme of wealthynesse Alexander of Macedonie besieginge Leucadia suffered all the borderers and neighbours thereaboute to flye thyther for refuge and succour that they being many might the soner consume the victualls which being spent he ease lye obtayned the victory Antigonus semeth to haue vsed the like deuise againste the Athenians who hauinge destroyed their Corne fieldes departed thence and wente awaye in the tyme of seede sowinge that if they had anye remaynder of Corne yet left they might bestowe the same vpon sowinge so makinge his returne thyther agayn the nexte spring ouer came and spoyled all the Corne beinge nowe sprouted and shotte vp and so by famine broughte them to agree to any thing euen at his own pleasure The multitude also of souldiers is greately to bee feared this haue the Carthaginians apparantly taught for when they had made peace with the Romaines the mercenarye souldiers which were in number about 20000. which fought against the Romayns conspired together and reuolted fled from the Carthaginians and beside this eâ—ueygled and seduced all Africa and there vpon besieged Carthage and coulde not be kept from scaling the walles had not the greate labour and industry of Hamilcar then chiefe Captayne of Carthage bene the greater Let a Chiefetayne make dispatche and haste in those matters that he is bent and fullye perswaded to doe For speedye expedition is the best compaignion in warfare in which thinge Alexander of Macedonie is especially commended because in expedicion and spedinesse bee surpassed the celerity haste of all other Capitayns and he had so framed his footemen that they were as swyft and nimble on foote as horses wherfore Darius the king being by hym pursued chased and persecuted greuouslye complayned that he had no tyme of respite geeuen him to pawse consider how to withstaÌ„d the alacritie of Alexander who oftentimes couragiously traueyled with great Iourneys night and day to entrappe his enemies at vnwares and to set vpon them sodenly and vnlooked for Let also the chiefe Capitayn of the warres do his matters closely and secretly and let him not open and disclose his secretes vnto any man by thexample of Metellus who as Plutarch meÌ„cioneth thus answered a certayn freÌ„d of his which demaunded of him what he would doe y nexte day followinge If this my coate which I weare saythe hee coulde vtter foorthe and openlye declare my secretes and determinations I woulde straighte wayes put it of and burne it to ashes And Iulius Caesar purposing to traÌ„sporte and send his armie another waye toke his Iourney secretelye and diliuered to some one man his tables signed withe his hande dyrectinge theym at a certaine time and place to bee readye and in good araye of battle to doe what hee shoulde commaunde theym and nowe and then commaunded he notes to be wrytten vpon stones lying in y high ways wher his souldiers must passe where by he gaue them by certayne watchwords directly to vnderstande what waye was nedeful and best to be taken As it is the parte of a good phisitian to leaue no hurtefull thing in the bodye of his Patient so is it the parte of a good Generall to remoue and take awaye whatsoeuer shall hynder the prosperous estate preseruation of thys his aucthoritye for oftentimes it falleth oute that a small sparcke of fyre being neglected and not looked vnto causeth a greate flame as the prouerbe sayth And that sentence of Marcus Cato is to be holden for an Dracle wrytinge thus in his Booke of Warfare In other matters sayth hee whatsoeuer is misdone maye bee redressed or afterwards at more leasure amended but in warre we must not admit the promise of any ameÌ„dement for faultes committed because present punishment ought out of haÌ„d to folowe the offence For the reuenger of slouthe and Ignoraunce is euermore at hande ready and prest which is neuer fauouringe or pityfull towardes the enemy that offendeth There are two preceptes whiche seeme to conteyne in them the whole discipline or Arte of Warfare the one is that there bee but fewe Gouernours and Commaunders the same able well to gouern and theÌ„ also such as haue passed through al that degrees of warfare wherby by obeiinge aforetime theymselues they haue the better skyll to coÌ„maund others They which haue these things it caÌ„not be chosen but that they shall eyther obtayne the victory or els an honest and honourable peace but to them whiche fayle in these thinges no power or Force can suffice for their defence but they shal be caryed headlonge with a blynde rage to their vtter ruine destruction euen lyke brute beastes Clemencie and mercifulnesse towardes their Subiectes and vnderlinges both greatly set forthe the commendacion of Generalles and Captaynes and maketh their noble actes more famous Cicero affirmeth that they are to be receiued into fauour and protection which with submission cast downe their weapons and betake themselues to the mercye of the Generall yea althoughe the Ordynance and Engine haue shaken or battred down the wall And Caesar was wont to say that nothing pleased him better then to spare the simple sorte of people neyther is this vertue to bee omitted towardes those whiche are ouercome and vanquished For slaughter Luste Crueltye and euerye example of outragious Pryde towardes those that bee in distresse and miserye hath beene alwayes accoumpted detestable and horrible great commendation did Marcus Marcellus wyn who before he would graâ—â— the Spoyle of the wealthy Cyttye Syracuse vnto hys Souldiers wept and by an Edict commaunded that no manne shoulde hurte or Iniurye any Freeman of the Citye Liuius maketh mention that the Spoyle of that Cittye was so excedinge greate that there woulde haue beene scarcelye the lyke in CARTHAGE whyche was of Power and equall Strengthe alwayes to encouÌ„tre wyth theim In myne Opinion this note or Precepte is expediente to bee geeuen that wee shoulde farre more esteeme of a small Number of Souldiers beinge trayned vp and exercysed in the Feates of Warre and sooner shoulde they gayne the Uictorye then of a greate multitude whyche are bothe vnskilfull and Ignoraunte who doe open and as it were make a readye waye to their own destruction who are afrayde of euerye Tryfle and rather take care for flight then for glorye or renowme therefore the olde precepte willeth a man that lacketh an