the deedes dye wiâ—h thâ— death of the Husband And therefore for troth I must giue praise to those whom you haue named but â—ouching their death for that the same was doone desperately there can be no cause of prayse preferred to such persons For that by sacred writ we are 〈◊〉 in what sorrow or 〈◊〉 soeuer we be not to shorten 〈◊〉 dayes by any stroke of death but paciently to take the same vntill by the prouidence of God we finde ease of all such euils And therefore Learning hath left no such lawde of the death of these Dames although their liues be woorthy the writing Therfore Madame you muste vale now and giue place to Learning or els you erre much in your oppinion for that you by their deathes make them to be renowned which rather deserue vtterly to be reprochefully reputed In that they to féede their fonde and amorous affection would by the losse of their 〈◊〉 breathe life into the bodyes of their buryed husbande 〈…〉 wish with my hart all women 〈◊〉 follow the same but touching theyr deathes that I referre to Diuines but surely on my part it is vtterly detested For I can appropriate no 〈◊〉 to such a pernicious 〈◊〉 ne can any man commend the same to be doone of constancie but rather frantick or foolishly And therefore Madame I cannot allow your argument to be good Ladie Why Sir I am sure I haue forged no fable whereby to make theyr prayse a president 〈◊〉 my purpose â—e séeke I to attribute to their dooinges any larger discourse then I can affirme â—y authority And therefore i◠〈◊〉 the contrary haue declared of 〈…〉 â—ene dead And if by their deathes they haue rather merited reproche then renowne who then is in the fault but those y â— haue painted their prayse in place of dysprayse For if their liues were honorable and their deathes odyous theyr liues should haue béene registred their deathes béene put in obliuion But I will not be perswaded although you deeme their desperation to be damnable but that those Dames doo yet liue in delight 〈◊〉 for at that time they rather chused death to winne a 〈◊〉 life thereâ—y then to liue licenciously to die a double death And therefore â—y opinion is these Ladyes although they knew not Christianity 〈◊〉 had and haue theyâ— foules the glory and gaine of 〈◊〉 on and therefore Learning 〈…〉 lâ—ttle to contend with 〈…〉 But now vnto a farther 〈◊〉 you will not allow Looue to be 〈◊〉 ouer Learning and therefore 〈◊〉 approoue it by an example 〈◊〉 shalbe no lesse familiar then faithfull What will you then giue ouer Scholler Madame I will â—iue you the hearing and as I like your reason so shall you heare my reply if it be good I will allow it if otherwise I muste and will confesse the conâ—rarie Ladie Well then Sir to the purpose WHen the King of Hetruria had sent his defâ—aunce to the Senate of Roome and that his Legats expected the aunswer of the Senatorâ— Mutius Scâ—â—uola and Coclius then Consuls béeing in the Senate theâ—â— was a controuersie betwéene 〈◊〉 they were deuided on contraâ—â—◠〈◊〉 parte helde it best to make 〈◊〉 with the Hetrurians and 〈◊〉 some to giue aunswer to the â—â—ntrary but especially Coclius who 〈◊〉 an eloquent Oration openly 〈◊〉 the Senate perswaded the Roâ—â—ines not to take truce but valiantly to prooue themselues as theyr noble Progenitors had doone before them Whose Oration béeing ended as you know Scaeuola replyed that Coclius had little care of his Countrey so to perswade them to warres when by their wisedomes they were able to appease the hatred of the Hetrurian King But whilest they contended about this case a Messenger came running 〈◊〉 into y e Senate house and brought ridings how the enemy was at 〈◊〉 the Feildes were couered with armed men and the Walles of Roome at point to bâ— scaled Which Coâ—â—â—us heaâ—ing now my Lordes quoth he defend Roome by your wisdome and Learning I leaue you and with that woord sodainly departed and hastily 〈◊〉 himselfe came firste to 〈…〉 where by an assault the enemy 〈◊〉 ready to enter But Coclius 〈◊〉 more the sauegarde of his 〈…〉 then surety of himselfe stoode in 〈◊〉 fence and kept the Bridge 〈◊〉 the whole Hoste of Heâ—rurians and when he sawe no remedy he fired the Bridge twixte him and the enemy and taking his halfe Shéelde which then he had left he refused not to leap into Tyber and so to hazarde his life rather then to leaue to his foes the conquest and spoile of his Countrey Héere was Looue more then Learning for if Learning could haue defended Roome I déeme it sufficiently supplied with Schollers But héer was Looue conquerâ—â— and whilste Looue labored by life to frée Roome froÌ„ ruine Learning lay soft at home expectyng when the enemie would come to fight with words But had Looue bothe by Coclius and after by Mucius Scaeuola â— béene no better Soldiers to their Countrey by theyr Looue then such Sâ—hollers by their 〈…〉 walles of Rome should then 〈◊〉 at this day the sloth of theyr 〈◊〉 Senators and prayse the Looue and vertue of Coclius and 〈◊〉 And though the one held 〈◊〉 a wrong opinion against the other when Mutius Scaeuola had heard what a valliant exployt was by Coclius atcheiued What quoth he shall Mutins he mewed vp in the Senate and heare such fame ringe in Rome of Coclius No. And with that woord he departed to the Campe of his enemy where he by his endeuor shewed such a Looue to his Countey as neuer was the like since the death of Curtius Whose example if I séeme to passe with out prayse I should sure ecclipse the honour that by him was doone to Roome and also wrong much the Knight who for his CouÌ„try counted his lyfe to be as nothing These and such other examples are ryfe in memory and therefore I but giue notyce of theyr noble nature But Sir how many were in Roome of your profession that for the publique weale would put himselfe in perill like to any of these that is to say Coclius Curtius or Mutius Scaeuola And how if I named Marcius Regulus Manlius Coriolanus yea or Scipio surnamed Africanus these were all Schollers yea and Senators But how many shewed like Looue to Roome as they did and had so small a guerdon for their good will Manlius after long and manye yeares venturing his life in the quarrell and right of his Countrey When he came vnto Roome was throwne ouer the walles into the riuer Tyber Coriolâ—nus was banished and when he 〈…〉 Voltians against the 〈◊〉 Roome they then fearing theyr destruction sent out his Mother Wife and children with charge not to returne till they with him had gotten truce Which once vnderstood of the Voltians when he returned to his Campe he â—as of them trayterouslie slaine Mâ—râ—us Regulus after many notable things by him aâ—chieued was cruelly stoned or presâ— to death by his owne
Countreymen whom he had doone so much for Scipio likewise spending all his time in the wars and defence of his Country neuer found any such enemy as Roome which rewardeâ— him with banishment So that he dyed in a Uillage in the Countrey accusing Roome to be the enemy and author of all his euils Hanniball likewise found Carthage so vnkinde that flying in his olde age to Prusius â—or succour 〈…〉 and so rather then to yeelde to his foes poysoned himselfe These fellowes looued not to praâ—â— of Table Philosophie nor to make a 〈◊〉 sitting in theyr Ladyes lappâ—s For these Loouers neuer went to studie what elloquencâ— they should vse to please theyr Loouers but bluntly powred it out that bothe earth and Skies resounded the Eccho df theyr enuie And furthermore when as Dametria vnderstood that her sonne sent in the defence of his Countrey fayled to shew his valliancie according as it was in charge to him committed How aunswered she the Messenger Hath not my sonne quoth she wun fame to his Countrey No certainly quoth he but vtter dishonor by his cowardnes Well quoth shee and what he hath loste among his foes at his returne he shall finde amongst his freends he shall neuer bring confusion to his Countrey nor sorrow to my soâ—le 〈…〉 rewarde 〈…〉 sonne within a while came home and hauing then prooâ—â—â— valiant indéedâ— came according to the auncient custome of Câ—nquerâ—â—s Which whâ— she sawe she with teares séemed tenderly to welcome him But in the dead time of his sléepe she murthered him And béeing demaunded the cause shée replyed thus Héereby quoth shée I haue fréeed my selfe and â—ountrey from a cowarde and giuen victory to him by death that could not attayne it by life meaning that by his death his Countrey should neuer come to ruine by his cause Héere was a straunge kinde of Looue when the Common wealth was nourished before nature and the libertie thereof pawned by the pryce and corpes of her owne Childe But shee estéemed not his life so much as the Looue she ought to her Countrey yet was she Learned and 〈◊〉 Lawe of nature thought her sonne woorthye to taste such a torment Also Genutius when his enemyes Campe and his were so nigh as that the one would in time of truâ—â— visit â—he other he commaunded vpon paine of death no man for any cause the Trumpet of truce once sounded should encounter his enemy Not long after it hapened a noble youth comming towards the Campe of Genutius from the other side bothe in signes and woords of reproche challenged Briaro the sonne of Genutius who knowing the daunger yet séeing the hautie heart of his enemie answered Neuer shall it be sayde that a Consulles sonne of Roome will suffer himselfe to bee so scorned and turning himselfe towardes his foe gaue him that which to crakers and praters is moste due in so muche that hée slewe him Whereat the Souldiours reioysyng thinking to haue had praise of 〈◊〉 bewrayeth the whole summe Which when he heard béeing mâ—â—ued therewith that his commaundement was no more regarded Goe quoth he take him whippe him at a â—â—ake and after strike of his head Neuer shall the Lawe of the Romaines be broken by Genutius How thinke you Sir hee was Consull and he bothe knew Looue Learning and Lawe yet was Looue preferred héere before bothe Therefore you now cannot otherwise but accoumpte this saying true Amor vinciâ— omnia For héer generally Loue is still Conqueror and Learning the onely Uassaile and Subiect vnto Looue Scholler You haue waded very farre in searching authorityes but sure Madame you are yet wide of the white your Shaftes are well shotte but they light very short of the Marke and therefore Madame I hold it best you rather giue ouer with indifferencie then to weary your selfe and loose all in the end Ladie Well sayde Sir I am content that I serue you vaine 〈◊〉 to giue you delight by my 〈◊〉 to trye your wit and capacetie and séeing you are so plesauntly disposed haue with you for company but first I pray you make me resolution 〈◊〉 this demaund Who was the wisest that 〈◊〉 was the Learnedst that euer was the Loouingst that euer was the liberallest that euer was and the strongest that euer was Loe this is all therefore commaunde your wittes into your counting house and let me sée how finely you can define of this Demaund it is as good for you as a Doncaster bitte therefore hemme and to it with a courage What faynte you all readie nay soft you must yet sift a little farther turne the backside of your braynes once the backside of your braynes once more ouer 〈◊〉 now man no metuas be not afraide Scholler Tush Madame these your quippes I 〈…〉 delightfull as your disputation 〈◊〉 etting that passe I now apply my selfe to the aunswer of your demaunde The 〈◊〉 that euer was sinâ—◠〈…〉 was Sâ—llomon for that there was no Riddle nor Allegor 〈…〉 but by his wisdome he made 〈◊〉 â—aâ—e open But yet for all his wisdome he fell from God and was by Looâ—e made thrall to a number of vices But why Madame stande we héere vpon Me thinkes you inâ—er 〈◊〉 vpon necessitie because you want matter to follow your argument which if you doo I shall not onely 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 a Ladie but reioyse that by my meanes your minde shall bee altered from Looue Ladie Forwarde Sir you haue yet mist the marke and gon some what downe the winde but shoote once more Who was the Learnedst that euer was Scholler If a man may aime 〈…〉 then were the sonnes of 〈◊〉 the learnedst for knowing and 〈◊〉 the secreates and Misteries of the Heauens they found that the world should be destroyed either 〈◊〉 fire or water And therefore to leaue a memorie behinde them of such 〈◊〉 hidden misterie they erected 〈…〉 the one of earthe and the 〈◊〉 of brasse in which they orderly engraued the Science of Astrologie and Astronomis thinking that if the worlde were consumed with fire the 〈◊〉 of Earthe should yet be 〈◊〉 and if with water then the other of Brasse So that I déeme them the Learnedst for that they were the founders of Learning Ladie All this is labour lost well what and who was the loouingst that euer was Scholler The 〈◊〉 that euer was I déee◠〈…〉 our Sauiour Christe whose 〈◊〉 was such towarde vs poore sinners that he disdayned not to leaue Heauen to come and take 〈◊〉 nature héere vpon him on earth 〈◊〉 so of his mercy he might make â—â—tisâ—action for our sinnes whose 〈◊〉 otherwise had béene â—leane 〈◊〉 of saluation So that I affirmâ— his Looue towards vs neuer was is or shalbe the like Ladie So sir come no more aâ— that scantling I pray you for you haue hit the Clowte in the middest 〈…〉 againe who was the liberalleâ—â— that euer was Scholler The liberallest that euer was was Esau for he solde bothe his inheritaunce and also the blessing of God to his
brother for a messe of Pottage I neuer knew a more liberall gifte vpon so little gaine And as for the strongest that euer was I confesse that Sampson was he for that he was almoste inuincible if he had not fallen in his faithe Ladie Well and is this your definition are you content to yéelde it vp so Scholler Yea sure Ladie If you doo it is little to your praisâ— for that except in one point you haue fayled in all Yea and in that too for that all these vertues expressed are resident with one person and you haue prooued them contrarie to be dispersed But what will you say if I prooue them all in one Scholler I saye then Madame that you doâ— very well Ladie Nay but if I approoue iâ— true and like case conclude Looue to be Nurse to Learning Will you â—o affirme and cease longer to coâ—tend thereof Scholler On that condition I will I promise you but if you fayle to doo it how then Ladie Then will I giue chéefe prize and prayse to Learning Scholler Well then Madame beginne at â—our pleasure Ladie The Wisest Learnedst Loouingâ—â—â— Liberallest and Strongest that euer was is Iehoua the onely maker and creator of all thinges who by his wisdome made the worlde and in the same hath not onely planted and placed all kinde of creatures but also made man to be the onely Lord of all creatures els liuing So that who may compare with his wisedome or who can comprehend a woorke of such woonder As touching now the Learnedst that euer was I likewise affirme that the Learning and Lesson which he first taught our Father Abraham was so profound 〈◊〉 of so great importance that all the Diuines in the world could neuer define the misterie thereof Thirdly you confesse him to be thâ— Loouingst that euer was and I musâ— néedes allow it For what greater Looue could he showe to man then firste to make him béeing nothing but slime like to his moste glorious and diuine Image Secondly when man had transgressed and was by the Law condemned how Loouingly sent he according to his promise his onely sonne our Sauiour to paye our raunsome and to deliuer vs from deathe and damnation What Looue was euer like to this and yet this Looue was meant to man before the beginning of the worlde And now touching his liberallitie what Prince in the world from the East to the West hath power to doo the like Firste he hath giuen vs the world frankely to liue in and all the creatures therein contayned to be at our comâ—â—ndement he féedes vs he cloathes vs he prouides vs hâ—rbor he hath giuen generally all the world and all things therein What can be more wished or who euer was so liberall Lastely the strongest that euer was like case he is for at his woorde bothe Heauen and the Earth shall faile the Mountaines fall yea and the Seas â—â—ell abooue the toppes of the same So that our God is inuincible and his woorkes not to be wondred at but praysed And therefore Sir now confesse your selfe subdued for Looue héere got the vpper hande of Learning how say you can you denie this haue I not prooued it bothe by Philosophie and also by Diuinitie Scholler 〈…〉 I muste commend 〈…〉 for Looue in déede in this 〈…〉 to Lâ—â—rning For that the same Looue hath no ende noâ— knew no begâ—â—ning And therefore it must 〈…〉 orriginall of Learning Ladie Well I am glad yet that one so simple as I haue confused 〈◊〉 a Scholler I well may 〈…〉 this victorye But yet for 〈…〉 â—â—e that you haue doone vnto me in this our longe 〈◊〉 I will conceale the conquest to my selfe vpon condition that you shall counte your selfe conquered For I would not ingratefully requite you in consideration that the cause of this long confâ—rence was onely through my meane and therefore Sir take it in good parte I â—ray you that I séemed so homely with you for I honour the Learned â—nd looue them as my life Scholler 〈◊〉 if ought in me yet 〈◊〉 hath brought liking to your honour I am glad you foâ—nde me héere so luckily And as for your conquest of trothe I muste confesse you haue 〈…〉 it and therefore by deserte you may best make boaste thereof But if héereafter when opportunitie shall permitte it be 〈…〉 to vse the like I rest at your â—â—mmaunde in any thing I 〈…〉 Ladie Sir 〈…〉 you and for that I sée 〈…〉 â—â—â—teth I leaue you to your foâ—mer exercise in hope héereafter you wyll not inuaye against Looue And thus good Sir fare you well when I haue the like occasion I will not make dainty in 〈◊〉 of your company Scholler Nor I Madame 〈◊〉 straunge in performing your 〈◊〉 〈…〉 FINIS A. M. Heere was wunne wealth by wisdome Philosophie in a woman Theology Genesis Whereof arose thâ—s Prouerbe Non liceâ— omnibus adire Corinthum Layes had more Schollers then euer had Socrates Layes was Daughter to one of the préests of Apollo A Philosopher subiect to Follie. Written 〈◊〉 Clearelâ—â—â—â— A proper example by threé Loouers written by Athineus A singuler curtesie in a Courtezan 11. Taâ—ents of Siluer giuen to a Hâ—rlot A large title Cornelius Suetonius A moste horrible acte of Nero bothe against God and the Lawe of nature Herodotus A father compelleth his owne daughter to liue laciuiously A straunge kinde of loouing Porcia consumed her selfe with hotte coales â—ppianus Alex. Titus Liuius Augustino de panchio Death tries the trothe of all men A good hope Titus Liuius One man fought against a whole Armie Curtius who leapte into the gulfe at Roome A sorâ—â— recompeÌ„ce for true seruice A 〈…〉 A rare example A moste rare constancie in Genutius who to kéepe inuiolate the Romaine law câ—used his owne Sonne to be slainâ—