Conscience once drownd in wealth and worldly pompe Esteemes all wisdome as meere foolishnes A guiltie conscience is a gnawing worme Conscience tâ—kes vengeance on her owne transgressions Nothing but true repent cleares conscience The riches we may carrie to our graue Is a good conscience blessed they that haue Conscience once faultie still abides in feare Innocence is the ioy of conscience A conscience standing free from all detect Feares no accuse or doth excuse respect Lookes confident and sober shew cleane soules Conscience for heauen contemns all worldly things To frame excuse before thou be accusde Shewes that thou hast not conscience truly vsde Conscience doth couet nothing but her owne Conscience craues nothing but by lawfull meanes Conscience wiâ—l willingly offend no man Conscience once loden with the weight of sinne Is Iudge and Iuror to it selfe therein Conscience doth bind vs to respect our kinne Conscience despiseth bribes in any case Conscience commaunds vs to relieue the poore A conscience cleare is like a well fenc't tower Not to be shaken by rough Canon shot Conscience to princes alwaies giues their due Conscience submits when Iustice doth commaund Similies on the same subiect AS persecution is the bodies death So foule despaire quite kills the conscience As the bright Sunne doth lighten all the world So a cleare conscience shineth in the soule As beautie is a thing glads mortall sight So vnstain'd conscience doth high heauen delight As wine cheeres vp the heart when it is sad So peace of conscience makes it much more glad As brazen walls defend a cittie best So conscience taintlesse is at peace and rest As gold is best when through the fire 't is tride So conscience is by troubles purifide Examples likewise on the same O Restes matricide was iustly plagu'd With sting of conscience by his mothers ghost And Nero whose foule fact did equall his Was whipt in conscience with her walking shape Caesar Caligula could neuer rest But conscience torment did him still molest Tullie affirmes a conscience well emploi'd Is chiefest comfort in aduersitie Plato saith Sweetly sleâ—peth innocence In the safe chamber of good conscience Lactantius writes that no sinne can preuaile Where quiet conscience sits and guides the saile Conscience must leaue a little while to grieue To let in horror comming to reprooue Of Religion Religion is the ground of euery grace And teacheth man saluation to embrace WHere God is not religion cannot be Sundrie religions make no religion Where saints are clarks there alwaies God is iudge Religions touchstone best doth trie the truth Religion is the soule of innocence Working in each vnspotted conscience After religion painted zeale doth runne Blessings come seldome but by earnest prayer Ignorance is religions enemie The Scriptures are sufficient to resolue All doubts that in religion can arise The word 's a med'cine to a troubled mind Religion is the perfect bond of loue No poyson worse than Scripture falsly taught Religion is in truth not fallacies No surer signe of kingdomes ouerthrow Than where religion liueth in contempt Change of religion is most daungerous Faith and not reason teacheth true religion Man was created for religions vse There is no error halfe so daungerous As that committed in religion Ill happens when religion we neglect Doubt in religion punishment deserues Where no religion is no vertue bides Religions cloake can couer much abuse Those men may well be cald religious That hate the world and nothing mind but heauen Religion linketh men in vnitie Religion to all vertues is the guide Humilitie expresseth true religion Religion doth relieue the fatherlesse And succours widowes in aduersitie Religion is the councell of the iust Religion only can support the weake Religion teacheth remedie gainst sinne Religion comforts all afflictions Similies on the same subiect LIke as a Torch directs vs in the darke So doth religion lighten all our hopes As these our bodies liue by earthly food So true religion doth our soules most good As yron maketh soft the rudest earth So doth religion temper hardest hearts As sore eyes cannot gaze against the Sun So wicked minds brooke no religion As want of food the body hunger-sterues So pines the soule through pure religions lacke As med'cines make sicke bodies whole and sound So doth religion wash out errours wound Examples likewise on the same BRennus for wronging of religion Was smitten with a thunderbolt to death Conomachus religious rites prophan'd But with an earthquake was he swallowed vp Pherecydes nick-nam'd religion For which he was consum'd by wormes aliue In Athens they would not create a king Except he had tane orders of a Priest The chiefest oath th' Athenians had was this Pugnabo pro sacris cum alijs solus Old Rome her sonnes sent to Hetruria To be instructed in religion Of Truth Truth is the fount of knowledge earths best light The scale to heau'n and onely rule of right THe weakest things are strongest props to truth Truth is most strong and alwaiâ—s findeth friends Truth neuer failes and true loue wants no might Triall doth certainliest the truth bewray Falshood with truth may by no meanes abide Deeds not by manhood or the doâ—rs might Are to be scand but by their truth and right What shineth nearest best holds truest worth Where then is truth if there be no selfe trust Truth is the onely shield of best defence When truely in our selues our faults we see We deeme them known to all as well as wee An honest tale speeds best being truly told Truth may be shent but neuer shall be sham'd Truth to all goodnesse is the perfect guide All doubts resoluing is by finding truth How shall he thinke to find a straunger iust That in himselfe dare put no confidence False dreames do euermore the truth deny Time shewes the truth and wit that 's bought is best Truth soundeth sweetly in a sillie tongue Who cherish wrongs are bent against the truth Truth needeth not the aid of Rhetoricke Happie the people blessed is the land Where truth and vertue get the vpper hand Nothing so hard but is by truth explain'd All hidden secrets truth can best disclose Truth to all goodnes is the perfect guide Truth hath two friends Wisdome and Constancie Truth standeth not vpon the tongues of men Nor Honour on authorities bigge frownes Truth triumphes long when falshood soone decaies The truth of things the end or time will trie The smoothest tale hath oft-times smallest truth Truth most delights when shee goes meanest clad The seate of Truth is in our secret hearts Not in the tongue which falshood oft imparts Truth needs no Orators to plead her cause Truth feareth nothing more than to be hid Truth with her owne light is best satisfide A certaine truth doth need no subtill glose Truth is a health that neuer will be sicke An endlesse life a Sunne that neuer sets Truth shewes her selfe in secrecie of trust A cleare case needs no shifting councellour Truth vnbefriended will find friends
comes each mans good As Captaines are the eyes to lead their men So kings are Load-starres to their common-weales Examples likewise on the same VLysses lou'd so deare his natiue land As for it he refus'd to be immortall Aglaurus to redeeme his countries peace From Athens walls himselfe threw headlong downe Faire Iphigenia for her kingdomes good Made willing sacrifice of her owne blood King Codrus rather than his realme should perish Gladly did runne vpon his foe-mens swords Xenophon did thinke them vnworthie life That made no conscience of the common-wealth He that denyes to die in countries cause Deserues saith Tullie hate of all good men Of Nobilitie Nobilitie is a sir-name or praise Which to our selues by vertue we doe raise A Noble nature no mishap can daunt Vertue feeds scorne and noblest honour shame A noble mind doth neuer dread mischaunce That which in meâ—ne men we call patience In noble breasts is pale cold cowardise Noblenes neuer stoupes to seruile feare A noble heart doth still contemne despaire Oft noble deeds by falshood are desac'd Good gisâ—â—are sometimâ—s giuen to men past good And noblesse stoopâ—s oâ—t times beneath his blood Our vertues make vs noble nothing else Nobilitie from kinred is but borâ—owed It is thine owne desâ—â—ts â—nnobles thee He is not noble but most basely â—â—ed That ransacks tombes and doth dâ—â—ace the dead A noble nature is to all men kind Nobilitie contâ—â—neth â—latterie A noble resolution makes men iust Nobilitie is best continued â—â— those conuâ—nient meanes that made it rise In boldest actions noblesse shines most cleare He is not noble beares a niggaâ—ds mind True noblâ—sse is a signe of happie life In chaunge of streames â—ch fish makes shifâ— to liue And euery place a noble mind contentâ— Nobilitie to bad men is reproch To vertuous men nobilitie brings glorie Nothing are noblâ— tiâ—â—es worth if life be bad If noblenesse geâ—â— bâ—t a minutes slaâ—â—e An hundred yeares sâ—ant makes it well againe Truth is the title of true noblenesse 'T is vertue only giues nobilitie In vertues loue no noble mind dismayes Faire speech with vsage affable and kind Wipes malice out of any noble mind Much babbling doth offend a noble â—â—re A noble nature is religious Pouerties best friend is the noble mind Noble discents make vertue more diuine Similies on the same subiect AS none but Eagles gaze against the Sunne So none but vertuous eyes discerne nobilitie As credit from opinion often comes So from desert ensues nobilitie As bricks from clay haue their originall So noblesse first rose from meane parentage As grosse thicke clouds obscure the Suns faire light So muddie crimes disgrace nobilitie As bitter roots may yet yeeld pleasant fruit So meane discent may bring forth noble minds As in the barren grounds best gold doth grow So poorest race sâ—aines not true noblesse Examples likewise on the same CAmillus did expresse a noble mind In safe returning tâ—e â—alâ—riâ—n youthes Pyâ—â—â—us well found â—â—bâ—itiâ—s noble nature When his Physicion would haue poyson'd him Lysander in his famous viâ—toâ—ies Euer declar'd his minds trâ—â— noblenesse Catilines wicked life disgraced him And quite obscur'd his former noble race The name of Noblenes saith Cicero Must giue them place that by their vertue claime it Plato affirmeth that a noble heart Will not by base attempts once wrong it selfe Of Honor dishonor Honour is that the mind doth couet most And no dishonour like that honour lost HOnour once lost can neuer bâ— repair'd Honor ambitious womens sexe doth please It is no honour to be Princes heires When we can boaâ—t but only birth is theirs Their fall is great that from high honour slide Honour is least where oddes appeareth most Honour was first ordained for no cause But to see right maintained by the laweâ— To honour beautie is a due by right Die rather then doe ought dishonour yeelds True loue doth alwaies bring forth bourteous deeds And in good minds desire of honour â—reeds It is more honour to preserue than sâ—ill Who cheapneth honour must not stand on price Fie on the fawe for which good same is sold Or honour with indignitie embaâ—'d Honour is grounded on the tickle Ice No kingly vaile can couer villanie An honourable graue is more esteem'd Than the polluted closeâ— of a king No scepter serues dishonour to excuse No subtill plea reuokes dishonours error Prâ—fiâ—e with honour still must be commixt Or else our actions are but scandalous Honour and enuie are companions Honour is purchas'd by the deeds we doe To frustrate them that but expect their due Doth ill beseeme an honourable mind On generall bruit honour doth most depend With painfull â—oyle is honour soonest found Honour will hardly fellowship endure Nor neuer Crowne corriuall could abide Some honour liues in honourable spoile 'T is honour to forgiue a yeelding foe The mightier man the mightier is the thing That makes him honour'd or begets him hate Daunger hath honour great dessignes their fame Honour 's a thing without vs not our owne It 's honour to depriue dishonour'd liâ—e The one will liue the other being deâ—d Honour by oath ought right poore Ladies wrongs Honours are smoakes and dignities haue câ—â—es Honour and beautie in the owners armes Are weakely fortrest from a world of â—armes Honour relieues a foe as well as friend It is no honour to be swolâ—e with pride Honour doth scorne dishonourable thoughts The vâ—â—tor can no honour iustly claime To loose the meanes that should aduance the same Where hate beares soueraigntie there honour diâ—s He that regards his honour will not wrong it Disquiet honour hurteth more than helpes Honour and wealth oft times too dearely cost The death of all so altogither lost Honour doth euer iudge with lenitie No greater honour than a quiet mind Honour 's no priuiledge against defame Alwaies doth great employment for the great Quicken the blood and honour still beget Honour to many is more sweet than life Honour is fruit of vertue and faire truth Honour once gone bids farewell to all hope The inward touch that wounded honour beares Findeth no helpe till death cure the disease Honour and glorie labours in mistrust Honour is first step to disquietnesse How hard is princely honour to attaine High honour not long life the treasure is Which noble mindes without respect defend Dishonest deeds no honour can attaine The praise of honour is not alwaies blood Neuer retire with shame bright honour saith The worst that can befall thee is but death Honour doth scorne the height of Fortunes pride Great honours youth may loose it selfe in age Report that seld to honour is true friend May many lies against true meaning mint No honour comes by spilling aged blood Who seekes for honour lingers not his time Vilde is that honour and the title vaine The which true worth and honour did not gaine Honour doth hate with base delights to dwell Honour helpes nothing where contentment wants He that contends with th' inferiour sort May
Galba for his vertue was renowmd Thales affirmes that nothing in the world For man was meet but vertuous actions Cicero saith That vertue of it selfe Is the solâ— cause of happie life and death Vertue was neuer â—ireling of the mind But still will liue though fame had ne're a tongue What sute of grace hath vertue to put on If vice shall weare as good and doe as well Of Faith and Zeale Faith shewes a good mans fruits preserues the soule And zeale doth best giue euidence of faith FAithes best is triall then it shineth most The faithfull stands the faultie man will flye Zeale is but cold where louelesse law restraines T is hastie rashnes where true faith doth flye In deepe distresse true faith doth best auaile When once mans faith is spotted and defamd The bodie had been better neuer framd Zeale and good courage best become a Prince Faith bides no perfit triall but by time Shipwracke of faith is made where conscience dyes Friends haue no priuiledge to breake their faith The gift deserueth most is giuen in zeale False fainting zeale shadowed with good pretence Can find a cloake to couer each offence Fâ—lse faith is ouer-poisâ—le with weâ—lâ—â—st weighâ— The ballancâ— yeelds vnto the lightest feather An easie yeelding zeale is quickly quaild Faith violate is most detestable Faith once resolu'd treads fortune vnder foot The man that holds no faith shall find no trust Where faith doth fearelesse dwell in brazen tower There spotlesse pleasure builds her sacred bower A zealous heart is alwaies bountifull The faith of Knighthood is by vertue tryed Euery occasion quailes a hireling faith The gift deserueth much is giuen in zeale A princes greatest fault is breach of faith The faith of Pagans ought not be belieu'd Faith is a fortresse gainst all fainting feare And Zeale the walles doth euermore vp-reare Take faith from iustice all things runne to spoile Authoritie is strengthened best by zeale Who binds himselfe by faith had need beware Faith to rash oathes no credit giues at all The greater faith the greater sufferance Faith is the true foundation of the soule And soonest doth redeeme the same from sinne Zeale makes opinion stand inuincible A good mans wish is substance faith and fame Selfe-will doth frown when earnest zeale reprooues Faith mounteth to the clouds on golden wings Faith brings forth workes and workes declare our faith No faith too firme no trust can be too strong Similies on the same subiect AS raine makes euery ground bring forth encrease So faith of euery soule doth shew the fruits As honours fire doth kindle high desires So zealous faith lifts vp the lowest soule As night doth best the diamonds glory show So sharpe affliction best makes faith to grow As wisdome is the only way to weale So true discretion best directeth zeale As loue and hate cannot agree in one So without zeale faith thinkes her selfe alone Examples likewise on the same PArmenio wild his king to breake his faith I would quoth he were I Parmenio Lysander made no reckoning of his faith And therefore was by euery one reproou'd Attilius sent to Rome vpon his faith Boldly return'd although it cost his life Rastrix the Duke of Cleueland breaking faith Was therefore dispossest of both his eyes Let none speake ill of vs said Pittacus To whome we stand obliged by our faith Keepe faith saith Cicero with enemies What ere mishap doe follow thereupon Of Hope Hope is the sad hearts help the sick thoughts friend And what distrust impaires Hope doth amend ALl hope is vaine without the feare of God Hope on each least occasion taketh hold Hope doth forbid vs sorrow to beleeue When loue growes sickely hope then daily sterues Things out of hope by ventring oft are woon Hope many times on blessed hap doth light When hope is lost in care then comfort bleeds Vnworthy he of grace whome once deniall Excludes from fairest hope without more triall All foolish hopes haue euermore bad speed Councell doth come too late when hope is past Men well may hope to rise but feare to fall It s good to hope the best but feare the worst Chaunging the aire hopes time will alter chance Despaire and hope doe still attend on loue It s good to feare yet let our feare be so That to our hope it prooue no ouerthrow Oft present hap makes future hope to yeeld No hap so hard but hope doth much amend Hope to enioy is little lesse than ioy Honour once lost giues farewell to all hope Vnhappie men are subiect to no hope Fortune may take our goods but not our hope The heart that 's inly hurt is greatly easd With hope of that may make griefe best appeasd Hopes are vnsure when certaine is the paine We often fall when most we hope to clime As wee waxe hopelesse violence still growes Hope well in loue what euer be thy hap Hope is the daily dreame of waking men This life is but the hope of endlesse life Vnworthie is he of one happie day That will not take the offer of good hope There is no trust in youth nor hope in age The hope of things vnseene beares greatest price Good conscience alwaie hath a perfect hope Hope is a pleasing passion of the mind To hope against all hope is high resolue True hope is swift and flyes with swallowes wings Kings it makes Gods and meaner creatures Kings Inconstant hope is drowned oft in feares In midst of griefe hope alway hath some part Hope being deluded makes the torment more Who cannot feare to loose ne're hopes to haue All greedie hope vaine vicious humour feeds Hope is companion euermore to loue No one without great hopes will follow such Whose power and honour doth not promise much No hope of rest where hap true hope delayes Hope still perswading hope expecteth good Hope is the God of miserable men In vaine he hopes who here his hope doth ground From fruitlesse hopes but sillie fauours spring The euenings hope may comfort mornings care Hope built vpon the world doth neuer thriue But grounded once on God at no time failes Hope is the bread and food of wretched men Bad haps are holpe with hope and good beliefe No greater griefe in loue than fruitlesse hope Hope waits on great mens tongues and oft beguilâ—â— Hopes aboue Fortune doe fore-point deepe falls Who thinkes to thriue by hope oft haps to begge To hope too much is boldly to presume To hope too little â—asely to despaire Small is his gaine that hopes for golden griefe Meane mens preferments eleuates their hopes Sad hopes seeme ouer long and burdenous Grace to thy hope is alwaies safest guide When hope and hap when health and wealth is highest Then woe and wracke disease and need is nighest Hope of all passions is the pleasantest Vaine hopes are like a Vane turn'd with the wind To haue no hope is held most miserable To liue in hope of that men meane to giue Is to deceiue our selues and not
good is only thought Worthy reward who will be bad for nought Raise not the bad to make the good complaine No good at all with doing ill is wonne Let vs not thinke that that our good can frame Which ruin'd hath the Authors of the same They are too blame which deeds well done wil wrest Good deeds the cruelt'st heart to kindnesse brings Good done to any doth impression strike Of ioy and loue in all that are alike Good deeds are famishment vnto the deuill The end is crowne of euery worke well done Good still is best when it is soonest wrought For lingring-fauour euer comes to nought The way to good is neuer learn'd too late Faults should be measur'd by intent not deed Nothing so good but may through guiltie shame Be much corrupt and wrested to great blame Igâ—orant faults craue pardon still by course Faâ—â—ts done may be repented not reclaim'd He that will purchase things of greatest price Must conquer by his deeds and not by words Faults vncommitted challenge no repent Many deserts may lessen slender faults Vniust offences daunger scape a time But yet at length reuenge doth pay them home Faults oft are measur'd by their secrâ—cie An error past is likewise past recalling There 's nought so vile that on the earth doth liue But to the earth some speciall good doth giue Good is the end that cannot be amended Where good is found we should not quit with ill There 's nought so good but strain'd from that faire vse Reuolts to vice and stumbles on abuse Gold and base mould no difference but by vse Better to heare than doe what is not well For ones offence why should a number fall Or priuas sinne be plagu'd in generall Seldome but some good commeth ere the end Gay without good is good hearts greatest loathing Forraine defects giuing home faults the way Make many times bad actions well succeed Still the directest courses best succeed Vertue conducteth to all things are good First weigh the qualitie of each offence And thereunto apply the punishment What one thinkes good another counts as vaine The highest iudger quickely can â—spie If faults or fraud doe vnder couert lye Wisdome directs to know the good from bad As oft as we doe good wee sacrifice The more â—ur grace and goodnesse doth encrease The more our soules prepare them selues to God Truth is the guide to all good actions Neuer repent thee of thy well-done deeds The goodnesse that proceeds from ignorance Iâ— like the hearbs that on a dunghill growes Good men doe still delight in doing good Good deeds doe shew the fruits of zealous faith Similies on the same subiect AS hardest stones are pierâ—'d with softest drops So vertuous deads reforme the loosest minds As â—ond behauiour most displaies a foole So honest deeds declare an honest heart As falling starres are soone extinguished So slight offences craue quicke pardoning As sullein lookes bewrayes reuenge-full thoughts So mild aspect declares a gentle heart As golden bridles better not a horse So words without good deeds shew not a man As bankets haue no grace where wanteth guests So words are litle worth where deeds come short Examples likewise on the same TRaiane reproou'd for listning poore mens wrongs Said None should hindet him from doing good The Emperour Auâ—elian had great care Least malice should obscure his well done deeds Philip did thanke the woman for her checke And said Still câ—ide me when I doe not well Augustus left his friend to iudgements triall For hindring law quoth he becomes no king Cleon being call'd to deale in state affaires Fore-warn'd his friends be carefull of their deeds Reward the good saith Solon for their doing good Aud punish them delight in wicked deeds Of euill Deeds c. Euill deeds and wicked come from vicious minds And here or some-where els due vengeance finds EXtreamest ills some time a ioy possesse Ill hardly set on is as hard got out Those things which we deeme good oft prooue but ill Counsell that comes when ill hath done his worst Blesseth our ill but makes our good accurst To put backe ill our good we must forbeare Euill tidings still doe faster flye than good Our greatest ills we most of all mistiust A guiltie conscience vrged with the thought Of former ill done deeds not easily erres Euils vnto euils still conducters are Ill comes too soone repentance oft too late Ill newes hath wings and with the wind doth â—â—ye In the first rising seeke to stifle ill Least it get head and grow against thy will That daye 's ne're ill that brings a pleasing night Worse than the worst of euils are wicked thoughts No blush can paint the shame is due to ill The apprehension of what e're is good Giues but the greater feeling to the worse All wicked deeds doe wrathfull doomes procure In euills counsell is the comfort chiefe Many times good doth grow by euils proofe By euill courses may be vnderstood That their euents can neuer fall out good When ill is hapt teares but encrease the ill Ill by example often gaineth good It 's double griefe to see a helplesse ill Great men that will haue lesse doe for them still Must beare them out although their deeds be ill Good heart in ill doth much the ill amend It 's better to reforme than cut off ill The worâ—er deed the doer likes for best Neuer was man so euill did or thought But would pretend some good cause though starke naught Good words doe often couer ill pretence One day doth wreake the ill that many wrought Mischiefe oft falls vpon the meaners head An euill deed â—one by authoritie Is mightie sinne and subornation The good compar'd with bad is soonest seene Who will not stoope to good must yeeld to ill Mischiefe doth euer ouer-match the bad The wicked cannot sleepe or take their rest Till they be pleased with some ill done deed Mischiefe is light and mounteth ouer head Old mischiefes oft doe set new ills abroach Ill president the tyde that waâ—tes to vice A minute spent in good seemes long loath'd day But nights of ill like moments slip away The more ill threats vs we suspect the lesse To harme there alwaies needs but little helpe Euill ensueth of each wrong intent With vniust men to stand debating lawes Is to giue power to hurt a rightfull cause Constrained ill must needs be suffered We see the good but yet we chuse the ill Oft that is vile shewes like a vertuous deed Nothing the world with greater harme doth fill Than want of feeling one anothers ill Mens faults doe seldome to them-selues appeare Men smoother partially their owne misdeeds Faults still against them-selues giue euidence When better choices are not to be had We needs must take the seeming best of bad The euill doth alwaies argue the offence One bad done deed may worke to many ill Euill seeming good is most pernicious Those euils where to a man by loue is driuen So much the rather