wealthe for grauitée and coūsaile nor the posteritée of ages twoo more worthie celebracion Thusidides speakyng in the commendacion of famous men sheweth as concernyng the fame of noble men whose vertue farre surmounteth thē and passeth al other Thenuious man seketh to deprane the worthinesse of fame in other his bragging nature with fame of praise not decorated The ignoraunte and simple nature accordyng to his knowlege iudgeth all singularitée and tempereth by his owne actes the praise of other But the fame of these twoo Oratours neither the enuious nature can diminishe their praise nor the ignoraunt be of them a arbitrator or iudge so worthely hath all ages raised fame and commendacion of their vertues ¶ Of their countree IN Grece Demosthenes the famous Oratour of Athenes was borne whose Countrée or Citee lacketh no cōmendacion either for the nobilitée of the lande or glorie of the people What nacion vnder the Sunne hath not heard of that mightie Monarchie of Grece of their mightie citees and pollitike gouernaunce What famous Poetes how many noble Philosophers and Oratours hath Grece brede What science and arte hath not flowne from Grece so that for the worthinesse of it it maie bee called the mother of all learnyng Roome also in whom Tullie was brought vp maie contende in all nobilitee whose power and puisant glorie by nobilitee of actes rose to that mightie hed In bothe soche excellencie is founde as that no nacion might better contende of their singularitée and honour of countrée then Grece and Rome yet first from the Grekes the light of Philosophie and the aboundant knowledge of all artes sprange to the Romaines from the Grecians The Godlie Lawes wherewith the Romaine Empire was decorated and gouerned was brought from the Grecians If the citee maie bee a honour and glorie to these twoo Oratours or their Eitees a singuler commendacion there wanteth in bothe neither honour or nobilitee ¶ Of their auncestours and parentes BOthe Demosthenes and Tullie were borne of verie meane parentes and auncestours yet thei thorowe their learnyng and vertues became famous ascendyng to all nobilitee Of their vertues and learnyng not of their auncestours nobilitée rose to them ¶ Of the educacion THE singuler vertues of theim bothe appered euen in their tender youth wherupon thei being brought vp in all godlie learnyng and noble Sciences theibecame moste noble Oratours and by their copious Eloquence counsaile and wisedom aspired to nobilitée honor ¶ Of their 〈…〉 BOthe were taught of the mouthe of the best learned Demosthenes of Iseus a man moste Eloquent Cicero of Philo and Milo famous in wisedome and Eloquence ¶ Of their exercise CIcero did exercise hymself verie mothe to declaime bothe in Greke and Latine with Marcus Piso and with Quintus Pampeius Demosthenes wanted not industrie and labour to attain to that singularitée whiche he had bothe in Eloquence and pronounciacion ¶ Of the giftes of their minde IN bothe integritee humanitee magnanimitee and all vertue flowed at what time as Demosthenes was commaunded of the Athenians to frame a accusacion againste a certaine man Demosthenes refused the acte But when the people and the whole multitude were wrothe with hym and made a exclamacion against hym as their maner was Then Demosthenes rose and saied O ye men of Athenes againste my will you haue me a counsailer or pleater of causes before you but as for a accuser calumniator no not although ye would Of this sorte Tullie was affected excepte it were onely in the sauegard of his countrée as against Catiline bothe were of godlie and of vpright conuersacion altogether in Mediocrite and a newe leadyng their life ¶ Of their actes DEmosthenes and Tullie bothe gaue themselues to trauail in the causes and affaires of their common wealthe to the preseruacion of it How vehemently did Demosthenes pleate and ingeniouslie handle the cause of all his countree against Philip for the defence of their libertee whereupon he gatte fame and greate glory Whereby not onely he was coumpted a great wise counsailour but one of a valiaunte stomacke at whose wisedome all Grece stode in admiracion The kyng of Persia laboured to enter fauour with him Philip the king of the Macedonians would saie often tymes he had to doe against a famous man notyng Demosthenes Tullie also by his Eloquence and wisedome saued Roome and all partes of that dominion from greate daungers ¶ Of their aucthoritee THeir aucthoritee and dignitee was equalle in the common wealthe For at their twoo mouthes Roome and Athenes was vpholed Demosthenes was chief in fauour with Caretes Diophetes Leostines Cicero with Pompei Iulius Cesar ascending to the chief seate and dignitee of the Consulship ¶ Of a like fall that happened to them before their death YOu can not finde soche twoo Orators who borne of meane poore parentes that attained so greate honour who also did obiecte themselues to tyrantes a like thei had losse of their children a like bothe were out of their countree banished men their returne was with honour bothe also fliyng happened into the haudes of their enemies ¶ Of their death BOthe a like Demosthenes and Tully wer put to death Demosthenes died Antipater gouernyng by the handes of Archias Cicero died by the commaundement of Marcus Antonius by Herenius his hedde was cutte of and sette in Marcus Antonius halle His handes also were cutte of with the whiche he wrote the vehement Oracions against Marcus Antonius ¶ The conclusion TO speake as moche as maie bee saied in the praise of theim their praise would rise to a mightie volume but this is sufficiente ¶ Ethopoeia Ethopoeia is a certaine Oracion made by voice and lamentable imitacion vpon the state of any one This imitacion is in iij. sortes either it is Eidolopoeia Prosopopoeia Ethopoeia That parte whiche is called Ethopoeia is that whiche hath the persone knowne but onely it doeth faigne the maners of the same and imitate in a Oracion the same Ethopoeia is called of Priscianus a certaine talkyng to of any one or a imitaciō of talke referred to the maners aptly of any certaine knowen persone Quintilianus saieth that Ethopoeia is a imitacion of other meane maners whom the Grekes dooe calle not onelie Ethopoeia but mimesis this is in the maners and the fact This parte is as it were a liuely expression of the maner and affeccion of any thyng whereupon it hath his name The Ethopoeia is in three sortes The firste a imitacion passiue whiche expresseth the affection to whom it parteineth whiche altogether expresseth the mocion of the mynde as what patheticall and dolefull oracion Hecuba the quene made the citee of Troie destroied her housbande her children slaine The second is called a morall imitaciō the whiche doeth set for the onely the maners of any one The thirde is a mirt the whiche setteth for the bothe the maners and the affection as how and after what sorte Achilles spake vpon Patroclus he beyng dedde
consent of men but by the neynge of a horse Zopyrus therefore admonished them that they should trust more to their armour then to their walles he willed them to proclame opeÌ„ warre forthwith they encountred with the Persians and for a time victorie fel on the Babilonians side suche was the pollice of Zopyrus The Assyrians reioised of the successe and felicitie of their warres the King of the Babilonians gaue to Zopyrus the chiefe power office to leede a mightie armie of the whiche beynge Lientenaunt he betraied the Babilonians and their Citie ¶ Manifeste NOt onlie Trogus Pompeius the famous Historiographer and Iustine which tooke the Story of him but also the Greke writers doe sette forthe as matter of truthe the valiaunte enterprises of Zopyrus so that the straunge and mightie facte of him can not seme vncredible hauyng testimonie of it in all ages Zopyrus hauing not respect to his owne life to his owne priuate wealthe or glorie did thereby put of the daunger that insued to the Persiane Kyngdome It maie seme a greate matter to a mynde not well affected towarde his countrie to destroie or deforme his owne bodie for the sauegarde of countrie or common welth But if we waie the State of oure bearth oure countrie chalengeth more at oure handes then frindes or parentes so muche price Plato the Philosopher and 〈…〉 vnto our countrie the volumes of all 〈…〉 doe prefare oure naturall countrie before the priuate state of owne manne wealthe glorie honor dignitie and riches of one or fewe the Statutes of all Princes sekyng the glorie of their countrie doe prefare a vniuersal welthe before a priuate and particulare commoditie Pericles the noble Athenian in his oration made to the Athenians sheweth that the glorie and welthe of one man or manie cannot plante suche glorie and renowne to their countrie as that in all partes thereby to be beautified and decorated but wheÌ„ glorie a happie and florishyng state redoundeth to the kyngdome the subiectes the nobelles and hye peres the gouuernour standeth happie and fortunate Who so hopeth in sparing costes and charges monie or ornaments to the behouf and imploiment of his countrie and not by all meanes to his power and strength aydeth and defendeth his naturall countrie from the daunger and inuasion of his enemie what state inioyeth he or what wealth remaineth priuatlie when the trone and scepter of his kyng faileth the enemie wasteth spoileth and destroieth all partes of his state with the reste his life perisheth so that no daunger coste is to bee refused to serue the kingdom and prince by whose scepter iustice lawes and equitie we are gouuerned there is no subiect well affected but that he onlie liueth to proffite his countrie to liue dye therein ¶ Probabell IF only Zopyrus had enterprised this valiaunt act and that no memorie were remainyng in anie age of the noble acts of other men it may seme not truelie chronacled but from time to time in all ages coÌ„mon wealthes famous men for their acts nobilitie haue ben whiche with like courrage and magnanimitie haue saued their countrie by the losse of their owne liues Horatius Cocles is bothe a witnesse and a light to the same by whose aduenture the mightie and stronge Citie Rome was saued 〈…〉 aâ— what time as the Hetruscians entred on the citie and were on the bridge Horatius cocles defendid the ende of the same baryng of the brunte and stroke of the enemie vntill the Romans for the sauegarde of the cytie had broken doun the bridge as sone as Horatius Cocles sawe the Cytie thus deliuered and the repulse of the enemie he lepte with his armours into the flud Tibar it semed he had not regard to his life that beyng burdened with the waighte and grauitie of his armour durst venter his life to so main and depe a water Marcus Attilius in the defence of his Prince his right hand being cut of the which he laide on the ship of the Massilians forthwith he apprehended with the lefte hand and ceased not vntill he hadde soouncke the same ship Cynegerus the Athenian lineth by fame and like nobilitie of actes veÌ„teryng his life for his countrie The mightie cytie of Athenes brought vnder the dominions of the Lacedemonians Thrassbulus Hismenias and Lisias bi their aduenture and noble atchiue reduced Athenes to his falicitie so moche loue soo faithefull hartes they hadde towardes theire countreie Leonides the King of the Lacedemonians defendyng the narow straights of the cytie Thermopolie with sower thousand men against the mightie and huge armie of Xerxes for Xerxes contemned theire smalle number and armie Leonides the kyng hearde that the place and hill of the battell was preueÌ„tid of .xx. thousande enemies he exorted his souldiours parte of them to departe vntill a better time might be locked for and onlie with the Lacedemonians he proued the conflicte and the combate although the campe of Xerxes was mightier more in number yet Leonides the kyng thought it good for the sauegarde of his contrie for saieth he I must rather saue it then to haue respecte to my life although the oracle of Delphos had foreshewed that euen Leonides muste die in the fielde or battell of the enemie and therefore Leonides entred battall comfortid his men for their countrie sake as to die therein therefore he preuented the narrowe straightes of the countrie and the dangerous places where the force of 〈◊〉 â—nemâ—e â—â—ught bruste in he lingered not leste the enemie mighte compasse him in but in the quiet season of the nighte he set vppon his enemie vnloked for and they beynge but sixe hundred men with the kyng Leonides brust into the caÌ„pe of their enemies beyng sixe hundred thousand menne their valiauntnes was suche and the ouerthowe of their enemies so great and Xerxes the Kyng hauyng two woundes retired with shame and loste the honor Agesilaus and Conon valiaunte in actes and excellynge in all nobilitie what great and mightie dangers haue thei atchiued and venterid for their countrie sake howe moche haue thei neglectid their owne wealth riches life and glorie for the aduauncement and honor of their couÌ„trie Lisander also the Lacedemonian was indued with like nobilitie with faithfull and syncéer harte towarde his country Archidamus also lieth not in obliuioÌ„ whose fame death buried not the famous aduenture of Codrus kyng of the Athenians is maruelous and almoste incredible but that the Histores truelie set forth and declare a manifest truthe therof who is more famous then Epaminundas bothe for virtue nobilitie and marciall feates among the Thebans the mightie armie of the Grecians at the longe sege of Troie what valiaunte Capitains hadde thei whiche in the defence of their countrie hasarde their life the Troians also wanted not for proues valiauntnes and al nobilitie their péeres and nobles amonge the Romans what a greate number was
¶ A booke called the Foundacion of Rhetorike because all other partes of Rhetorike are grounded thereupon euery parte sette forthe in an Oracion vpon questions verie profitable to bee knowen and redde Made by Richard Rainolde Maister of Arte of the Vniuersitie of Cambridge 1563. Mens Marcij vj. ¶ Imprinted at London by Ihon Kingston ¶ To the right honorable and my singuler good Lorde my Lorde Robert Dudley Maister of the Quéenes Maiesties horse one of her highes priuie Counâ—â—â—e and knight of the moste honourable order of the Garter Richard Rainolde wisheth longe life with increase of honour ARISTOTLE the famous Philosopher writing a boke to king AlexaÌ„der the great and mightie conquerour began the Epistle of his Booke in these woordes Twoo thynges moued me chieflie O King to betake to thy Maiesties handes this worke of my trauaile and labour thy nobilitie and vertue of the whiche thy nobilitie encouraged me thy greate and singuler vertue indued with all humanitie forced and draue me thereto The same twoo in your good Lordshippe Nobilitie and Vertue as twoo mightie Pillers staied me in this bolde enterprise to make your good Lordshippe beyng a Pere of honour indued with all nobilitie and vertue a patrone and possessoure of this my booke In the whiche although copious and aboundaunte eloquence wanteth to adorne and beautifie the same yet I doubte not for the profite that is in this my trauaile conteined your honour indued with all singuler humanitie will vouchsaufe to accepte my willyng harte my profitable purpose herein Many famous menne and greate learned haue in the Greke tongue and otherwise trauailed to profite all tymes their countrie and common wealthe This also was my ende and purpose to plante a worke profitable to all tymes my countrie and common wealthe And because your Lordshippe studieth all singularitie to vertue and wholie is incensed thereto I haue compiled this woorke and dedicated it to your Lordeshippe as vnto whoÌ„ moste noble and vertuous VVherin are set forthe soche Oracions as are right profitable to bee redde for knowledge also necessarie The duetie of a subiecte the worthie state of nobilitie the preheminent dignitie and Maiestie of a Prince the office of counsailours worthie chiefe veneracion the office of a Iudge or Magestrate are here set foorthe In moste fortunate state is the kyngdome and Common wealthe where the Nobles and Peres not onelie daiely doe studie to vertue for that is the wisedome that all the graue and wise Philophers searched to attaine to For the ende of all artes and sciences and of all noble actes and enterprises is vertue but also to fauour and vphold the studentes of learnyng whiche also is a greate vertue VVho so is adorned with nobilitie and vertue of necessitie nobilitie and vertue will moue and allure theÌ„ to fauour and support vertue in any other yea as Tullie the moste famous Oratour dooeth saie euen to loue those whoÌ„ we neuer sawe but by good fame and brute beutified to vs. For the encrease of vertue God dooeth nobilitate with honour worthie menne to be aboue other in dignitie and state thereupon vertue doeth encrease your Lordshipps honor beyng a louer of vertue and worthie nobilitie Your lordshippes humble seruaunt Richard Rainolde â–ª To the Reader APHTHONIVS a famous man wrote in Greke of soche declamacions to enstructe the studentes thereof with all facilitée to grounde in them a moste plentious and riche vein of eloquence No man is able to inuente a more profitable waie and order to instructe any one in the exquisite and absolute perfeccion of wisedome and eloquence then Aphthonius Quintilianus and Hermogenes Tullie also as a moste excellente Orator in the like sorte trauailed whose Eloquence and vertue all tymes ertolled and the ofspryng of all ages worthilie aduaunceth And because as yet the verie grounde of Rhetorike is not heretofore intreated of as concernyng these exercises though in fewe yeres past a learned woorke of Rhetorike is compiled and made in the Englishe tounguei of one who floweth in all excellencie of arte who in iudgement is profounde in wisedome and eloquence moste famous In these therefore my diligence is emploied to profite many although not with like Eloquence beutified and adorned as the matter requireth I haue chosen out in these Oracions soche questions as are right necessarie to be knowen and redde of all those whose cogitacioÌ„ pondereth vertue and Godlines I doubte not but seyng my trauaile toucheth vertuous preceptes and vttereth to light many famous Histories the order of arte obserued also but that herein the matter itself shall defende my purpose againste the enuious whiche seketh to depraue any good enterprise begon of any one persone The enuious manne though learned readeth to depraue that which he readeth the ignoraunt is no worthie Iudge the learned and godlie pondereth vprightly sincerely that which he iudgeth the order of these Oracions followeth afterward and the names of theÌ„ ¶ The contentes of this Booke AN Oracion made vpon the Fable of the Shepherdes and the Wolues the Wolues requestyng the Bandogges wherein is set forthe the state of euery subiecte the dignitie of a Prince the honourable office of counsailours An Oracion vpon the Fable of the Ante and the Greshopper teachyng prouidence An Oracion Historicall howe Semiramis came to bee Quéene of Babilon An Oracion Historicall vpon kyng Richard the thirde sometyme Duke of Glocester An Oracion Historicall of the commyng of Iulius Ceser into Englande An Oracion Ciuill or Iudiciall vpon Themistocles of the walle buildyng at Athenes An Oracion Poeticall vpon a redde Rose A profitable Oracion shewyng the decaie of kingdomes and nobilitie An Oracion vpon a Sentence preferryng a Monarchie conteinyng all other states of common wealthe The confutacion of the battaile of Troie A confirmacion of the noble facte of Zopyrus An Oracion called a Common place against Theues The praise of Epaminundas Duke of Thebes wherein the grounde of nobilitée is placed The dispraise of Domicius Nero Emperour of Roome A comparison betwene Demosthenes and Tullie A lamentable Oracion of Hecuba Queene of Troie A descripcion vpon Xerxes kyng of Persia An Oracion called Thesis as concerning the goodly state of Mariage An Oracion conâ—â—â—â—â—g a certaine lawe of Solon ¶ The foundacion of Rhetorike NAture hath indued euery man with a certain eloquence and also subtilitee to reason and discusse of any question or proposicion propounded as Aristotle the Philosopher in his Booke of Rhetorike dooeth shewe These giftes of nature singuler doe flowe and abounde in vs accordyng to the greate and ample indumente and plentuousnes of witte and wisedome lodged in vs therefore Nature it self beyng well framed and afterward by arte and order of science instructed and adorned must be singularlie furthered helped and aided in all excellencie to exquisite inuencion and profounde knowledge bothe in Logike and Rhetorike In the one as a Oratour to pleate with all facilitee and copionslie to dilate any matter or sentence in the
.ij. vilaines more associate with him the Lieutenaunt refusyng so horrible a fact This was doen he takyng his waie progresse to Glocester whereof he was before tymes Duke the murther perpetrated he doubed the good squire knight Yet to kepe close this horrible murther he caused a fame and rumour to be spread abrode in all partes of the realme that these twoo childreÌ„ died sodainly thereby thinkyng the hartes of all people to bee quietlie setteled no heire male lefte a liue of kyng Edwardes children His mischief was soche that God shortened his vsurped raigne he was altogether in feare and dread for he being feared and dreaded of other did also feare dread neuer quicte of minde faint harted his bloodie conscience by outward signes condeÌ„pned hym his iyes in euery place whirlying and caste about his hand moche on his Dagger the infernall furies tormented him by night visions and horrible dreames drawed him from his bedde his vnquiet life shewed the state of his conscience his close murther was vttered froÌ„ the hartes of the subiectes thei called hym openlie with horrible titles and names a horrible murtherer and excecrable tiraunt The people sorowed the death of these twoo babes the Queene kyng Edwardes wife beeyng in Sanctuarie was bestraught of witte and sences sounyng and falling doune to the grounde as dedde the Queene after reuiued knéeled doune and called on God to take vengaunce on this murtherer The conscience of the people was so wounded of the tolleracion of the facte that when any blustryng winde or perilous thonder or dreadfull tempest happened with one voice thei cried out and quaked least God would take vengauÌ„ce of them for it is alwaies seen the horrible life of wicked gouernors bringeth to ruin their kyngdom and people also wicked people the like daungers to the kyngdome and Prince well he and his supporters with the Duke of Buckyngham died shamefullie The knotte of mariage promised betwene Henrie Erle of Richemonde and Elizabeth doughter to kyng Edward the fowerth caused diuerse nobles to aide and associate this erle fledde out of this lande with all power to the attainmente of the kyngdome by his wife At Nottyngham newes came to kyng Richard that the Erle of Richmonde with a small coÌ„paignie of nobles and other was arriued in Wales forthewith exploratours and spies were serit who shewed the Erle to be encampled at the toune of Liâ—â—hfield forthwith all preparacion of warre was set forthe to Leicester on euery side the Nobles and commons shranke from kyng Richarde his power more and more weakened By a village called Bosworthe in a greate plaine méete for twoo battailes by Leicester this held was pitched wherin king Richard manfully fightyng hande to hande with the Erle of Richmonde was slame his bodie caried shamefullie to the toune of Leicester naked without honor as he deserned trussed on a horse behinde a Purseuaunte of Armes like a hogge or a Calfe his hedde and his armes hangyng on the one side and his legges on the other side caried through mire and durte to the graie Friers churche to all men a spectacle and oprobrie of tirannie this was the cruell tiramites ende ¶ A narracion historicall of the commyng of Iulius Cesar into Britaine WHen Iulius Cesar had ended his mightie and huge battailes about the stood Rhene he marched into the regioÌ„ of Fraunce at the same time repairing with a freshe multitude his LegioÌ„s but the chief cause of his warie in Fraunce was that of long time he was moued in minde to see this noble Islande of Britain whose fame for nobilitee was knowen and bruted not onelie in Rome but also in the vttermoste laÌ„des Iulius Cesar was wroth with theÌ„ because in his warre sturred in Fraunce the fearce Britaines aided the Fenche men and did mightilie encounter battaill with the Romaines whose prowes and valiaunt fight slaked the proude and loftie stomackes of the Romaines and droue theÌ„ to diuerse hasardes of battaill But Cesar as a noble warrier preferryng nobilitee and worthinesse of fame before money or cowardly quietnes ceased not to enter on y e fearce Britaines and thereto prepared his Shippes the Winter tyme folowyng that assone as oportunitee of the yere serued to passe with all power against them In the meane tyme Cesar inquired of the Marchauntes who with marchaundise had accesse to the Islande as concernyng the quaÌ„titee and bignes of it the fashion and maner of the people their lawes their order and kinde of gouernmente As these thynges were in all poinctes vnknowen to Cesar so also the MarchauÌ„tes knewe no more thaÌ„ the places bordring on the sea side For the Britaines fearing the traiterous and dissembled hartes of aliauÌ„tes politikelie repelled them for no straunger was suffered to enter from his Shippe on the lande but their marchaundice were sold at the sea side All nacions sought to this land the felicitee of it was so greate whereupon the Grekes knowyng and tastyng the commoditée of this Islande called it by a Greke name Olbion whiche signifieth a happie and fortunate countrie though of some called Albion tyme chaunged the firste letter as at this daie London is called for the toune of kyng Lud. Cesar thereupon before he would marche with his armie to the people of Britain he sent Caius Volusenus a noble man of Rome a valiaunte and hardie Capitaine as Embassadour to the Britaines who as he thoughte by his Embassage should knowe the fashion of the Island the maner of the people their gouernemente But as it seemeth the Embassadour was not welcome For he durste not enter froÌ„ his Ship to dooe his maisters Embassage Cesar knewe nothing by him Yet Cesar was not so contented but sent an other Embassadour a man of more power stomack and more hardie Comas Atrebas by name who would enter as an Embassadour to accomplish the will expectacion of Cesar Comas Atrebas was so welcome that the Britains cast him in prison Embassages was not common emong theim nor the curteous vsage of Embassadours knowen Al these thinges made Cesar more wrothe to assaie the vncourtous Bristaines In those daies Cassibelan was kyng of London this Cassibelan was a prince of high wisedom of manly stomacke and valiaunt in fight and for power and valiauntnesse was chosen of the Britaines chief gouernour and kyng Dissencion and cruell warre was emong theÌ„ through the diuersitie of diuers kinges in the lande The TroinouauÌ„tes enuied the state of Cassibelan bicause Immanuencius who was kyng of London before Cassibelan was put to death by the counsail of Cassibelan The sonne of Immanuencius hearing of the commyng of Cesar did flie traiterouslie to Cesar The Troinouauntes fauoured ImmanueÌ„cius part thereupon promised as moste vile traitours to their countrie an enteryng to Cesar seruice and homage who through a self will and priuate fauour of one sought the ruine of their countrie and in
of noble peres whose studie alwaies was to liue and dye in the glorie aide and defence of their countrie for he liueth not by whose cowardlines fainted harte and courage the contrie or kyngdome standeth in perrill he liueth in shame that refuseth daunger coste or charge in the defence or procuryng better state to his countrie The worthie saiyng of Epaminundas declareth who liueth to his countrie who diyng valiauntlie in the felde beyng thrust thorow with the speare of his enemie asked those questions of these that stoede by him at the poincte of deathe is my speare manfullie broken and my enemies chassed awaie the whiche things his cōpanions in warre affirmed then saide he nowe your Capitaine Epaminundas beginneth to liue in that he dieth valiauntlie for his countrie and in the proffite aduauncement of the same a worthie man noble and valiaunte his sentence also was worthie to be knowen and followed of all suche as bee well affected and Godlie mynded to their countrie Marcus Marcellus of like sorte and Titus Manlius Torquatus Scipio Aemilianus Marcus Attilius shewed in what hye price our naturall countrée ought to bee had by their valiaunt atchifes and enterprises I might passe by in silēce Scipio Cato and Publius Scipio Nasica but that thei by like same honour and glorie liue immortall to their countrie the fame also of Vibeus Valerius Flaccu◠and Pedanius Centurio giueth ampell and large matter to all menne endued with nobilitie and valiaunt proues for the defence of their countrie with Quintus Cocctus Marcus Sceua and Sceuola ¶ Possibilitie THere nedeth no donte to rise of possibilitie seinge that examples doe remain of famous men of godlie and well affected persones whiche haue with like magnaunimitie putte in daunger their life to saue their Prince kyngdome and countrie Greate honour was giuen of the Athemans to soche noble and valiaunte men whiche ventered their liues for their common wealthe to maintaine the florishyng state thereof The eloquente and copious oracion of Thusidides the true faithfull and eloquente Historiographer doeth shewe what honour and immortall fame was attributed to all soche as did venter their liues in the florishyng state of their countrie in supportyng mainteinyng and defendyng the same Who although thei loste their liues whiche by death should bee dissolued their fame neuer buried liueth with the soule to immortalitie the losse of their Priuate wealthe glorie riches substaunce or dignitie hath purchased and obtained fame that withereth not and glorie that faileth not ¶ Agreyng and comelie BOthe the true Histories doe leaue in commendacion the facte of Zopyrus and the noble and worthie enterprises of other whiche haue giuen the like assaie and their fame is celebrated and titeled with immortall commendacion and glorie to the posteritie of all ages followyng What harte can bee so stonie or brutishly affected that wil not venter his life goodes landes or possessions if with the daunger of one that is of hymself the whole bodie and state of his countrie is thereby supported and saued What securitie and quietnesse remained what wealth honour or fame to Zopyrus if not onely Zopyrus had perished but the kyng people vniuersally had been destroied Therevpon Zopyrus weighing and cōsideryng the state of his birthe that his countrie chalenged his life rather then the dissolucion of the whole kyngdome the decaie of the Prince the takyng awaie of the scepter the slaughter of infinite people to ensue He was borne to be a profitable member to his countrie a glorie and staie to the same and not sparyng his life or shunnyng the greate deformitie of his bodie to bee a ruine of the same Was it not better that one perished then by the securitie of one a whole lande ouer runned as partes thereby spoiled it was the duetie of Zopirus to take vpon hym that greate and famous enterprise It was also comelie the kyngdome standyng in perill a sage and descrite persone to preuente and putte of soche a daunger at hande The faicte altogether sheweth all vertue and greate singularitie and a rare moderacion of minde to cast of all respectes and excuses forsakyng presentlie honour quietnesse and obiecting himself to perill he sawe if he onelie died or by ieopardie saued his countrie many thereby liued the kyngdome people florished where otherwise he with his Prince and kyngdome might haue perished ¶ Proffitable AL the power of the Babilonians was by his pollicie throwen doune the Citee taken the enemie brought to confusion on the other side the Persians rose mightie soche a mightie enemie put vnder foote The fame of Zopryus and glorie of the facte will neuer be obliterated or put out of memorie if this were not profitable to the kyngdome of Persia if this were not a renoume to the prince and people and immortall glory to Zopryus iudgeye Zopyrus therfore beautified his countree by the deformitie of his bodie Better it wer to haue many soche deformed bodies then the whole state of the realme destroied or brought to naught if we weigh the magnanimitie of that man and his enterprise there is so moche honour in the fact that his fame shall neuer cease ¶ A common place A Common place is a Oracion dilatyng and amplifiyng good or euill whiche is incidente or lodged in any man This Oracion is called A common place because the matter conteined in it doeth agree vniuersally to all menne whiche are partakers of it and giltie of the same A Oracion framed againste a certaine Thefe Ertorcioner Murderer or Traitor is for the matter conteined in it metelie and aptlie compiled against all soche as are giltie of theft murder treason or spotted with any other wickednes This oracion of a common place is like to the laste argument or Epilogus of any oracion whiche the Grekes doe call Deuterologian whiche is as moche to saie as a rehearsall of that whiche is spoken of before Wherefore a common place hath no exhordium or beginnyng yet neuerthelesse for the profite and exercise of the learner you maie place soche a proemium or beginnyng of the oracion as maie be easie to induce the learner This parte of Rhetorike is large to intreate vpon for the aboundaunce of matter This part of Rhetorike is large to intreate vpon for the aboundaunce of matter The common place whiche Aphthonius intreateth of is to be aplied against any man for the declaimor to inuade either against vices or to extoll and amplifie his vertues This oracion of a common place serueth bothe for the accuser and the defender For the accuser to exasperate and moue the Iudges or hearers against the offender or accused For the defendour to replie and with all force strength of matter to mollifie and appease the perturbacions of the Iudges and hearers to pulle doune and deface the contrarie alledged There is greate force in this oracion on bothe the sides Properlie this kinde of Rhetorike is called a
obedience of lawes and preeminente authoritie of Magistrates The state of mightie kyngdomes and Common wealthes haue growen to soche a roialnesse and loftie state many famous kingdomes haue been on the face of the yearth many noble Princes from tyme to tyme succedyng whiche without a order of godlie lawes could not haue continued What was the cause that the mightie Monarchies continued many hundred yeres did the losse and dissolute life of subiectes and Princes cause the same but good lawes and obedience to orders Therefore where Magistrates bothe in life and office liue in the obedience of Lawes the multitude inferiour by example of the Magistrates singularitie incensed dooe place before them their example of life as a strong lawe Theodosius Emperor of Rome writyng to Volufianus his chief Pretor as concernyng his office in these woordes saieth Digna vox est maiestate regnantis legibus alligatum se principem profiteri Adeo de autoritate Iuris nostra pendet autoritas et reuera maius imperio est submittere legibus principatum oraculo presentis edicti quod nobis licere non patimur alijs indicamus It is a worthie saiyng and meete for the Maiestie of a Prince to acknowledge hymself vnder his lawe For our aucthoritie power and sworde doeth depende vpon the force might and aucthoritie of Lawes and it passeth all power and aucthoritie his gouernemente and kyngdome to be tempered by lawe as a moste inuiolable Oracle and decrée so to doe as we prouulgate to other Whereupon it is manifeste what force godlie lawes gaue to the Prince what aucthoritie Take lawes awaie all order of states faileth the Prince by Lawe is a terrour to the malefactour his Maiestie is with all humblenesse serued feared and obeied By lawes his state maketh hym as a God emong menne at whose handes thé preseruacion of eche one of house citee and countrie is sought Seing bothe lawes and the Prince haue that honour and strength that without them a Chaos a confusion would followe in the bodie of all common wealthes and kyngdomes Let them by aucthoritie and lawe bee confounded that practise to subuerte aucthoritie to neclecte the Prince and his godlie lawes ¶ The exposition THe theife or any other iniurious persons doeth seke to bee aboue all lawes exempted from all order vnder no obedience their pestiferous dealyng dooe vtter the same For as Demosthenes the famous Orator of Athenes doeth saie If that wicked men cease not their violeÌ„ce if that good men in all quietnes and securitie can not enioys their owne goddes while lawe and aucthoritie of the magistrate seuerelie and sharply vseth his aucthoritie and sword If dailie the heddes of wicked men cease not to subuerte lawes orders and decrees godlie appoincted Whiles that in all Citees and common wealthes the Princes and gouernours are by lawes a terror to them Lawes then ceasyng the dreadfull senteÌ„ce of the Iudge and Magistrate wanting The sworde vndrawen all order confounded what a confusion would followe yea what an open passage would bee lefte open to all wickednesse The terrour of Lawes the sworde and aucthoritie of the Magestrate depresseth and putteth doune the bloodie cogitacions of the wicked and so hindereth and cutteth of many horrible and bloodie enterprises Els there would bee neither Prince Lawe nor subiects no hedde or Magistrate but euery manne his owne hedde his owne lawe and Magistrate oppression and violence should bee lawe and reason and wilfull luste would bee in place of reason might force and power should ende the case Wherefore soche as no lawe no order nor reason will driue lo liue as members in a common wealthe to serue in their functioÌ„ Thei are as Homere calleth theim burdeins to the yearth for thei are of no societie linked with Nature who through wickednesse are disseuered abhorryng concorde of life societie and felowship Whom sinister and bitter stormes of fortune doe daiely vexe and moleste who in the defence of their countrie are masmed and thereby their arte and science for imbecilitie not practised all art otherwise wantyng extreme pouertee fallyng on them reason muste moue and induce all hartes to pitee chieflie their state who in defence and mainteinaunce of our Countrie Prince and to the vpholdyng of our priuate wealthe at home are become debilitated deformed and maimed els their miseries will driue them to soche hedlesse aduentures that it maie bee saied as it was saied to Alexander the Greate Thy wartes O Prince maketh many theues and peace will one daie hang them vp Wherein the Grecians as Thusidides noteth had a carefull prouidence for all soche as in the defence of their Countrie were maimed yea euen for their wiues and children of all soche as died in warre to be mainteined of the commoÌ„ charge and threasure of Grece Reade his Oracion in the seconde booke niade vpon the funerall of the dedde soldiours ¶ A comparison of vices THe dronkarde in his state is beastlie the proude and arrogante persone odious the riotous and prodigall persone to be contempned the coueitous and nigardlie manne to bee reietted But who so by violence taketh a waie the goodes of an other man or by any subtill meanes iniustlie possesseth the same is detestable with all seueritée to be punished The adulterer and the harlotte who by brutishe behauiour leude affection not godlines leadyng theréto who by their vnchast behauior and wanton life doe pollute and coÌ„taminate their bodie in whom a pure muide ought to be reposed Who therowe beastly affection are by euill maners transformed to beastes and as moche as in theim lieth multipliyng a brutishe societie The homicide in his state more horrible accordyng to his outragious and bloodie life is to bee tormented in like sort all other vices accordyng to their mischiues reason Lawe and Iustice must temper and aggrauate due reward and sentence to them ¶ The sentence NO vice was more greuous and horrible emong the Scithians then thefte for this was their saiyng Quid 〈…〉 potent silicet furarl what can be safe if thefte bee â—eâ—ull or tolerated Herein the vniuersalle societee of â—â—â— is caste doune hereby a confusion groweth and a subuersion in all states immediatlie followeth equitee iustice and all sincere dealyng is 〈…〉 violence extirpateth vertue and aucthoritie is 〈◊〉 of ¶ The digression THe facte in other maie be with more facilitie tolerated in that to theim selues the facte and conuersacion of life is moste perâ—â—â—â—â—us and hâ—rtfull but by so he kinde of nature whole kyngdomes and common wealthes would bee 〈…〉 for a prosperous state and common wealthe a common woe and calamitee would fall on them tumultes and vprores maintained right and lawe exiled neither in field quitnes welth or riches houses spoiled families extinguished in all places sedicion warre for peace violence for right will and â—â—st for lawe a hedlesse order in all states And as concernyng Vsurers though their 〈◊〉 be neuer
vertues graffed nobilitie to the posteritie of his line and ofspryng followynge And euen so as their famous enterprices excelled nobilite in theim also increased Catilina wicked was of a noble house but he degenerated from the nobilitie of his auncestours the vertues that graffed nobilitie in his auncestors were first ertinguished in Catiline Marcus Antonius was a noble Emperour a Prince indued with all wisedome and Godlie gouernmēt who was of a noble parētage it what a wicked sonne succeded him the father was not so godlie wise and vertuous as Commodus was wickedlie disposed and pestiferous There was no vertue or excellence meete for suche a personage but that Marcus attained to Who for wisedome was called Marcus Philosophus in his sonne what vice was thē that he practised not belie chier druncknes and harlottes was his delite his crueltie and bluddie life was suche that he murthered all the godlie and wise Senatours had in price with Marcus his father Seuerus in like maner was a noble and famous Emperor in the Senate moste graue politike and in his warres moste fortunate but in his sonne Marcus Antoninus Caracalla what wickednes wanted whose beastlie life is rather to be put in silence then spoken of In the assemble of the Grecians gathered to consulte vpon the contencion of Achilles armour Aiax gloriouslie aduaunceth hymself of his auncestrie from many kinges descended whom Vlisses his aduersarie aunswered makyng a long and eloquente Oracion before the noble péeres of Grece concernyng Aiax his auncetours These are his woordes Nam genus et proauos et que non fecimus ipsi Vix ea nostra voco sed enim quia retulit Aiax esse louis pronepos As for our parentage and line of auncetours long before vs and noble actes of theirs as we our selues haue not doen the like how can we call and title their actes to be ours Let them therefore whiche haue descended from noble blood and famous auncetours bee like affected to all nobilitée of their auncetours what can thei glory in the nobilitée of their auncetours Well their auncetours haue laied the foundacion and renoume of nobilitee to their ofspryng What nobilitee is founde in them when thei builde nothyng to their auncetours woorke of nobilitée Euen as their auncetours noblie endeuoured them selues to purchase and obtain by famous actes their nobilitée for nobilitée and vertue descendeth alwaies to the like so thei contrary retire and giue backe frō all the nobiliée of their auncestours where as thei ought with like nobilitée to imitate them Many haue been whiche through their wisedome and famous enterprises in the affaires of their Prince worthche to honour haue been extolled and aduaunced who also were the firste aucthours and founders of nobiliée to their name and ofspring Whose ofspring indued with like nobilitee of vertues and noble actes haue increased their auncestors glorie the childrē or ofspring lineally descendyng hauyng no part of the auncestours glorie how can thei vaunte them selues of nobiliée whiche thei lacke and dooe nothyng possesse thereof Euen from lowe birthe and degree Galerius Armentarius was aduaunced euen from a Shepherdes sonne to sit in the Imperiall seat of Roome Galerius Maximinus whom all the Easte obaied his vertues and noble acts huffed hym to beare scepter in the Empire of Roome Probus a Gardiners soonne to the like throne and glorie ascēded so God disposeth the state of euery man placyng and bestowing dignitée where it pleaseth him as he setteth vp so he pulleth doune his prouidence might is bounde to no state stocke or kindred ¶ Of his educacion EPaminūdas beyng borne of soche parentes was brought vp in all excellente learnyng for vnder hym Philippe the kyng of the Macedonians the soonne of Amintas was brought vp This Epaminundas the Histories note hym to be a chief Philosopher and a capitaine moste valiaunte In Musike in plaiyng and singyng finelie to his Instrumente notable and famous no kinde of learnyng arte or science wanted in his breaste So greate and aboundante were his vertues that aboue all gouernours whiche haue been in Thebe his name and fame is chieflie aduaunced ¶ The praise of his actes EPaminundas beyng moste valiaunte and noble leauing all priuate commoditée glory and riches a side sought the renoume of his countree as all rulers and gouernours ought to do For a kyngdome or common wealth can not rise to any high nobilitée or Roialnesse where gouernours rulers and magistrates neclecting the vniuersall and whole body of the common wealthe doe cogitate and vigilantly endeuour themselues to stablish to them and theirs a priuate peculiar and domesticall profite glorie or renoume Coueiteousnes whiche is in all ambicious Magistrates the poison plague destruccion and ruine of the beste and florishing cōmon wealthes of al wickednes and mischief the roote a vice whereupon all vice is grounded from whom all mischiefe floweth all execrable purposes issueth That wanted in Epaminundas for in the ende of his life his coffers were so thin and poore that euen to his Funerall money wanted to solempnise the same Priuate glorie nor excesse was hunted after of hym yet his vertues were of soche excellencie that honour dignitée and prceminent state was offered and giuen to hym vnwillinglie This Epaminundas was in gouernement so famous and so vertuouslie and politikelie ruled the same that he was a glorie renoume honour and felicitée to his kingdome by his state Before the time of Epaminundas the countree of Beotia was nothyng so famous in their enterprises neither the citee of Thebe so roiall puissaunt or noble the antiquitee of that tyme sheweth that Epaminundas wantyng the power of Thebes their glorie strength and felicitee fell and decaied The learning of Epaminundas and knowlege was so aboundant and profounde bothe in Philosophie and in all other artes and sciences that it was wounderfull In chiualrie and in feates of warre no péere was more couragious and bolde or hardie neither in that whiche he enterprised any could be of greater counsaile in hedde more pollitike of minde more sage and wittie his gouernement so good that beyng so good a Magistrate it is doubted whether he be better man or better Magistrate Epaminundas died in the defence of his countrée The Athenians were enemies to the Thebanes and many greate battailes were assaied of theim and foughten and often tymes the Athenians felt many bitter stormes and fortune loured of them he beyng so valiaunt a capitain Epaminundas beyng dedde the Athenians ceased to practise any one parte of chiualrie their prowesse and dexteritée decaided thei hauyng no aliaunte and forraine enemie to moleste theim or whom thei feared So that a famous wise pollitike and valiaunte capitaine is not onely a staie a pillar and strong bulwarke to his countrée But also forraine nacions hauyng one whō for his valiauntnes thei dreade doe practise and inure themselues to all dexteritee counsaile wisedome and
Democratia The thiefe The murtherer Houses Families Tounes Citees Obedience of Lawes did stablishe the mightie monarchies The life of the Magistrate a lawe The Epistle of Theodosiuâ—s Emperor of Rome Princes Lawe Theiues and all iniurious persones Demosthenes in Aristogiton The force of lawes wicked men burdeins of the yearth Maimed soldiours muste be prouided for The saiyng of a shuld our to Alexander the greate The druÌ„kard The proude persone The prodigal The coueites is The robber The adulterer The hariot The homicide Thefte horrible amoÌ„g the Scitheans A sentence agenst thefte Horrible vices Vserers The sentence of Cato against vsurers Vsure is â—â—â—ther The sentence of Cato a discomfort 〈…〉 Vsure a dangerous gaue Princes and magistrates be as Gods on the earth The 〈◊〉 â–ª The Theue The Adulteror Whey the pictures of magistrates bee picturid with oute handes Princes and magistrates graue â—â—â—stante Lawes giue equitee to all states What briueth y e magistrate to horrible sentence against wicked persons Magistrate Subiect The begynnyng of vice is to be cutaf Wherein the praise of a citie consisteth The praise of London Brutus builded LondoÌ„ in the. â— yeare of his raine Fraunce and Scotlande vpholdid by y e gouernors of this lande Cambridge Oxforde Obliuion Who liue in all ages Good fame chieflie routeth after death Tuilie Demostheues Iulius Cesar Ocrauius Augustus Vespasianus Theodosius Traianus Adrranus Good man good magistrate boothe a good man and a good magistrate The saiynge of the Philosophers Obliuion Cadmus Amphion Hercules Nobility rose by vertue Cesar Scipio Catilina Marcus Antonius Commodus Seuerus Marcus Antonius Caracalla Aiax Vlisses Nobilitee A beginnyng of nobilitee Galerius a Shepherds sonne Emperor of Rome Probus a Gardeiners sonne Emperour The dutie of good gouernors Nowe a kingdome riseth to all felicitie Couetousnes a great euill Beotia Thebes A valiant capitain to his countrie a pillar to his â—â—â—mie a occasioÌ„ to dexteritie Hector Achilles Numa Pompeius Adrianus Vertue Vice what is vertue Rome Carthage Destruction of Rome to ashes in tune Agrippina Seneca schol maister to Nero. The dreame of Agrippina mother to Nero in his concepcion Nero a viper Pontus Colchis Cappadocia Armenia Nero vnworthie to be chronicled Seneca â–ª The shamful life of Nero. Galba Caius Iulius The death of Nero. Nero. Caligula Domitianus Antoninus Plato Aristotle Tullie Thusidides The enuious manne The ignoraunte Darius Philip. Demostheues Antipater Demosthenes Archias Marcus Antonius Tullie Eidolopoeia Lucius Brutus Catiline Kyngdomes Okes. Cedars Fortune hath no staie Hector Priamus The armie of Xerxes Xerxes a cowarde Xerxes laste in battaile and first to runne awaie The pride of Xerxes Themistocles The saiyng of Vespasianus A sentence comfortable to al princes Kyngdomes continue by mariage and coÌ„mon welth The dignitee of man sheweth the worthines of mariage Godlie procreacion A similitude The libertie in mariage A brutishe societie with harlottes Ehastitee in mariage The loue of a harlotte Hercules Omphala The harlottes lesson to her louers The life of the Amazones Thalestris The offer of a woman to Alexander The answer of Alexander to the offer The facte of the matrones of Rome Papirius The OracioÌ„ of a matrone to the Senatours Eleccion in Mariage Emperours Mariage The Mariners The Marchauntes warre The lawe of Nature A chaste woman A wretched executour Gods prouidence Death Mariage The mariage of a chaste woman The choise of a wife Lawe The moste rigorous and moste cruell lawe of SoloÌ„ Adulterie a horrible vice Plato againste adultrie made a lawe Catos sentence vpon adulterie Lawe The Iudge a liuely lawe A godly law The good manne Lawe Vice as a lawe by custome Adulterie The lawe vniuersall and equall to all menne Thefte The Iudge liuely lawe The will of a tyraunte his owne lawe Lawes were made for two causes The state of good lawes