as the pay that hath bene thus spent might haue bene a great deale better spared so there is nothing more hurtful to the procéedings of Warre then too much miserie and pinching where the spending of mony and but in necessary sort shall be more respected then either the losse of honour or the hazard of a Kingdome Pill And it might be tearmed to be but a thréed-bare War where besides an ordinarie pay there is not likewise an extraordinary recompence whereby to gratifie desert Skill Where well doing is not regarded there dutie is many times neglected and although the law doe inforce some and necessitie prick forwards others to the seruice of their countrie yet Rewarde and Recompence are more effectuall to induce a noble courage then any other meane for men hardly entertaine hazard where there is no hope and great mindes that wil aspire to great aduentures must be recompenced with great rewardes But would you haue examples how good desert hath bene aduaÌ„ced looke into the holy scriptures sée the noble Caleb promised his reward by Gods owne mouth for his great courage and constancie amongst the children of Israel and Caleb himselfe bestowed his faire daughter Achsah vpon Othniell his brothers sonne for taking the Citie Cariath Dauid in like maner receiued great riches of Saul for killing Goliath but the Romanes amongst the rest to stirre vp mens mindes to martiall prowes besides bountifull and liberall rewardes they inuented glorious triumphes whereby he that deserued Fame might for euer after be eternized In those daies honours and the highest places were rewards for valiant men and good desert was recompenced with great preferment now there is no reward but for villanie for betraying of a Towne for poisoning of a Prince for practising of treason or for some other like conspiracie Now for him that liues within the compasse of an honest life they think his wit wil afforde him no better as there is no reward for the couragious so there is no punishmeÌ„t for y e coward In diebus illis after victories obtained troubles ouer-past then began the Souldiers glorie for then good deserts were euer recompenced so that the end of the war was the beginning of the souldiers felicitie but now the end of the warre is the begining of his beggery and an almes is the best recompence for the best desert When Glorie was the reward of Vertue men would then contend who should most excéede in Vertue but now sithence that hope hath bene quenched they sâ—riue who should be most insolent for where Glorie is taken from Vertue there Vertue is likewise taken from men Pill There is yet a comfort left to those that haue honestlie serued the Countrie when they may say that there best recompence is the testimony of a good conscience and the contentment of an honest minde Skill The testimonie of a good conscience is better then a thousand witnesses and he that hath a contented minde hath greater treasure then Fortune is able to depriue for what aduersitie can check him that is armed with contentment Pill Contentment is the marke we all shoote at but who could euer hit it Salomon sought seriously after it but he could not finde it the wise men of the world haue hunted after it in the world and although they haue sometimes had it in chase baiting themselues with a present satisfaction for a time yet our affections are so variable that more changeable then the Moone we erect euerie day a new choyee loathing that to morrow that we liked of to day Skill Where then shall we séeke for that soueraigne contentment by vs so much desired if not in this world why then by a fract more excellent and diuine then Reason it selfe is able to reach vnto Pill There are yet many reasons whereby to maintaine that soueraigntie of contentment which to those that are earthly minded may séeme vnpleasant but to a soule once setled in contemplation they are the ministers of méere Diuinitie Skill Who liueth heere in that content liues happilie for he sequesters his wandering thoughts from the vanitie eâ— the world and so tampers all his spirits that he wholie resignes himselfe to meditation O precious freedome of the minde that thus funes his fancies on the Lydian Harpeâ— he may with Theseus take hold on the Clue that leadeth from the Babyâ—inth of worldly vanities for he so frees himselfe from the sreakes of fortune that as the seaman with his Iacobs staffe doth count the ascending and descending of the Sunne so he beholds al the choaking chances of the ambitious world sometimes climing vp againe declining downe If his meanes will not serue to mount so he cannot lightly fall for Flatterie caÌ„not blast him with his breath nor Aspolike Enuie flinges him not asléepe héere the Traitors armed hand affrightes him not nor Sinon sugered teares are able to deceiue but Magnitude with a perfect courage of a constant minde attends and waites on him and thus retirde from all his worldly cares he reapes the fruite of swéete and quiet rest Pill O happie he that leuels out his life by this line for a soule thus armed with this coate-armour is able to wade through al the strreames of trouble firing his anker hope in the inuiolate constancie of a minde thus setled what can dismay or affright him Death it selfe is héere despised and although the verie name be bidrous and terrible to fooles beating in the eares of the idle and slouthfull yee heere it cannot hurt But what obiect I Death or why should I speake of a buriall shall we doubt of that which is naturall and for the which we were borne O how vnfortunate might he be accouÌ„sed that is loath to returne to his countrie of rest Skill Then to winde vp our conclusion and to make an end of our conference at this time I will speake a little of life and death as they should be esteemed for if we could dulie consider of the good that coÌ„meth vnto vs by death it would appeare that the whole Tragedie of the euils of this life is there finished and that the sting of Death is but the beginning of life Pill Your conclusion wil be both apt and to a very good purpose but first I will conclude with many thankes for this your vndeserued curtesie and because I will not longer interrupt you I will now rest attentiue Skill Since life is the race wherein we striue to obtaine honour and death is the tearme whereby our honours are crowned I will speake of life as it should be confirmed to vertue and of death as the true gate of felicitie Life saieth the Philosopher is but a borrowed dreame of pleasure wherein we apprchend all things incertainly by reason of the swist and irrecouerable chaunges thereof It is a race wherein the wicked man seeketh to ouerthrowe the good and the good man that standeth on his feete will not helpe the good man that fieth on the ground It is a vision of delight that vanisheth in imagination a warfare of vncertaintie and a way to death In life there is no distinction either of greatnes or abiectnes for the begger in life hath as great interest as the King It is only the way wherein we walk crowned with honour to our graue or buried w t infamies to séeke out eternall death Wretched is that life which hath but a time to liue and that in death a life without the which death had not béene Briefly to expresse how abiect a thing life is let that saying of Philip of Macedon serue to confirme y â— same who finding a fit place to incampe in but vnfit to allowe his beasts of burthen any â—other How miserable saith he is our life who are inforced to bestow the best opportunities of the same to the seruice of Asses It is like a Pageant or Stage whereon all sortes shew theÌ„selues that chalengeth nothing froÌ„ eternitie but the fruits of good imploimeÌ„ts The hazard of life is determined by y â— iustice of y â— cause it is neuer more happy theÌ„ wheÌ„ lost worthily The shortnesse thereof is redeemed by the vse for Life well imploied is a preuention of Death As for Death what is it but a blessed necessitie to the good man and a fearefull enemie to the euill There is nothing more certaine to flesh blood theÌ„ Death nothing more fearful to fooles then to thinke they must die when it is but a passage to a better life And how happy is that death which leadeth to that life which is not subiect to death It is a seperation from an vncertaine to an assured estate a retrail wherein Honour liueth and obscuritie sléepeth A Harbinger assigning rest without payment A Gate to that felicitie the soule longeth for For which cause Aeschilus calleth it the remedy of worldly sorrow wherein we escape that which life feared and winne that which a quickning faith hopeth for Since therefore Life is but a sum of money put out to vse and our iudgements and honours are assigned vs as we imploy the same death is but the fire to try our deseris whether they were born to obscuritie or reserued for eternitie let Souldiers liue so as when the casualties of warre shall allot them death they may be held good stewards of this betrusted and vncertain treasure that like good children being nourished in all dutie by their mother the Common-wealth they may dye with coÌ„stancy in the defence therof that as earst the Spartan womeÌ„ so their mothers may say in their deaths We bare them for their country and we haue happily lost them for their country Or rather thus with Critias He rather pleaseth me more that he died a death both worthy his friends and country theÌ„ that he should haue liued a life vnworthy both his friends and country
tied to Experience Policie and Valiance and all but to reuenge what hath he to doe with Mercy or how can Mercie and Reuenge draw both in one yoke Skill As Iustice without temporance is reputed crueltie so Magnanimitie without Mercy is accounted Tyranny This goddes is milde gentle gratious and there is nothing wherein mortall men may so néerely resemble the diuine nature as in shewing of mercie and in giuing of life and safetie to shew comyseration to the distressed who in their sorowes haue no other recourse then to sighes sobbes which ascende vnto the presence of God where they are most fauourably receiued and what can men doe to shewe themselues more like Gods vpon the earth then in bestowing of this blessing to giue pardon and life Pill But this is fitter for Magistrates héere at home and to such as should receiue the petitions and complaintes of the poore but what is this to souldiers wheÌ„ they are in the field in the presence of their enemies Skil The incounter then must be pursued with courage but the victorie must be vsed with mercie The Lacedemonians vsed before they entered battell to make solemne sacrifice to the Muses to the end they might by them attaine aswell how to vse victorie gentilly as of Mars to become victors manfullie and Mercie carries not that grace and comelinesse in anie other person as it doth in a mightie Conquerour or a great Commander because they haue more occasion to vse and exercise it and it manifesteth it selfe most of all where it hath most matter to worke vpon Pill Pittie without equitie is plaine partialitie and Mercie out of time season or leaning ouermuch to lenitie hath more reâ—emblance to foolish Pittie But Policie sometimes excludeth both Mercie and Pitie as the Greeks who after the destruction of Troy slue Astianax the sonne of Hector fearing if he had liued he might haue sought reuenge It must therefore be a great vertue and especially in a Captaine to be both mercifull and wise together Skill Mercie is then a speciall ornament if vsed in reason and as the pleasure of Reuenge doth sudainlie passe vanish away so the contentment of Mercie doth for euermore indure Alexander was more famed for the clemencie he vsed to his enemies then by all the victories he otherwise obtained neither did hée repent him of the pardon he gaue to Diomides though a tyrant nor Marcus Antonius of the fauour he shewed to the great King Herod It is a common thing to pardon light and small offences but to remit faults of great importance belongeth onely to the magnificent minde and as much impossible for a noble hart to be cruell as it is for a cruell hart to be couragious A mercifull and a milde authoritie bringeth that to passe which a violent force is not able to â—o and a gentle intreaty is many times of greater efficacie then an Imperious commaund Mercie doth not only make men more honest but more assured and there is neither Sentinel nor Corpes de Guard planted in euery quarter may be so safe a defence as the good will and loue that is obtained by Mercy for Squad roue may be corrupted by force or fraude but this Castle is vnpregnable and néedeth no other fortification it carries with it such a swéetnesse and content and it drawes after it mens affections in such sort that a kingdome is better preserued by it then by an Armie Pill Then we may haue the lesse néede of Souldiers now at this present but yet as we haue already spoken of the Generall himselfe and of those things appertaining to his place so let vs now speake something of the ordinarie Souldier and of his reputation what it is or should be Now if you please Captaine Skill to make definition of a Souldier and how he should be accomplished being in that prime and full perfection as he ought I will aduenture my selfe to say what they are and to what condition they are growne vnto now at this present Skill Then to speake of a Souldier as I would haue him I will spend a great deale of spirit amongst the good spirits of these times not of that spirit that makes a winter billowe to breake vpon it selfe but of that spirite which like a Martyrs fire burnes vp a bodie to quicken many spirits I make my tongue mine eyes Oracle I chalenge time to be my tongues instance I will speake of pure loue in weake oratory I will shew though not a Philosopher to define yet a Souldier to execute Then what inferre I but this I will speake of a Souldier shall I search him as Diogenes did a man with a Candle at noone day no I will finde him with Scipio with a sworde at midnight I will define him as I proue him describe him as I wish him and wish him such in his life as I would be in my death Execution craues hazard and they that attempt much expect resist resist attaines an opposite an opposite ouer-throwe To make a Uictor tryumph is to inferre a Conquered to be conquered and not dye is to bée disgraced and yet liue to conquer and not dye is to buy Eternitie with little price Out of these conclusions chose I a Souldier as the Stoicks do their Wise men in that as they vainly imagine can no wayes erre I knowe him to be created to execute honourably and to be prepared for death since he liueth still marching forth to seeke it to hate subiection more then he feareth death and so coniecture the honour of his calling by the consequence of that he vndertaketh For what is the effect of a Souldiers life to vndertake the defence of Religion to fight for his Prince to withstand the hazards of his Countrey to repulie those that would depresse the same to protect his friende and family It followeth then that as none but the Uestall Uirgins were suffered to kindle the sacret fire neither any other admitted to sacrifice to Iupiter but such as were his Priests and were honoured for puritie of life so none should be admitted to the honour or title of a Souldier except his Conscience were answerable to his cause and his life as honest as the quartell he vndertaketh is waightie and good I account not him for a Souldier that like a Nazaret weares long lockes that can sweare swash and swagger and is more noted for the brandings he brought from the Sessions then for the woundes he receiued in the warres The Souldier I define and séeke must accustome himselfe to enquire with the Spratans not how many the enemies be but where they be His life must be deuout his behauiour modest his diet temperate his most hated enemy shamefull flight his greatest study to learne Agis that he is vnworthy to gouerne many that hath not often and sundry times fought against many Such in my iudgement should Souldiers be but such as Ciceros Orator are easily defined but seldome found Pill And where would you seeke
yet made more subtill by the meanes of subtill handeling that but with a little myst of knowledge they will peruert and deface knowledge it selfe then they are so fortified and garded with such store of distinctions defâ—nitions conclusions propositions so manie paraphrases so manie circumlocutions so manie translations so many figures and such a marie of other starting holes as I think Vulcans Net that snarled Mars himselfe were not able to hold them then what am I whose knowledge is but ignorance whose wit is but dull whose minde is inwured in a durtie prison of a sensuall bodie how would I then take vpon me amongst the frisking wits of these our daies to discourse of humours to speak of fancies and to set downe the dispositions of the foolish nultitude If Heraclitus were now liuing and should take a suruey of this straight of times I wonder with what countenance he would looke vpon vs I verilie thinke that where he wept but by fits to sée the infirmitie of those times wherein he liued de would now shead continuall teares without stinting to see the vnhappinesse of the time now present And I doubt againe that if we had another Democrites amongst vs in England to looke vpon the conuersation of all sortes of people I wonder whether he woulde laugh for ioy in contemplating our happinesse still squared out by the prouidence of godly Princes or laugh to scorne the practises of the vngodlie that are still platting and practising their owne infelicitie Some will say the world runnes on whéeles and it may be it hath done so in times past but I say now it goes on crourhes it is become Bis puer it is waxen olde decrepit and lame A limping worlde God knowes and nothing but halting betwéen neighbour and neighbour betwéen friend and friend betwéen brother and brother and sometimes halting downe-right betwéen the father and the childe Our auncesteurs alas they were but plaine dealing men they had not the mineing complements now in vse they knew not a Fantastick from a foole and they were better acquainted with a Shooing-horne then they were with a Setting-stick But now I will not giue a groate for his conceipt that cannot make an Owle an Hawke a Iack Napes a Shéepe an old Mil-horse a Palfrey for a man of honour if he cannot work wit like wax forme it into anie impression if he cannot poulder it perfume it and season it to please fancies if he cannot Anothomize and Martyr it and if néed require if he cannot draw wit into a Quintessence Yet there be some others so vnapt and dull that it might be beléeued that Nature had brought them into the world but in a despite and mockerie yet if the Cowe-pasture be flored with milch kine and that there be a Téeme or two of Oxen to plow the land some store of Hogges on the backside and that the wit will but serue to keepe them out of the corne and to know when it is a good season to sowe Barlie you shall see such a Magnisico when he causes to a Market-Towne will take more state vpon him then he that solde a groates-worth of wit in a 〈◊〉 worth of paper Now he that should heare but one of these Hoglings at assemblies and méetings how they will calculate of dearth and plentie and for Corne Cattell butter Chéese and such other like they will tell you this yeare what price it will beare the next if a great frost or a snowe doth sometimes happen more then ordinarie they will by by prognosticate of dearth or if it doe but raine one houre too much or halfe an houre too little the next market day they wil raise the price of corne by twelue pence in a bushell If these men did but knowe their owne vnworthinesse I think they would change their simplicitie to desperation and would conuert their pange of drowsie ignorance to a quotidian fit of frenzie I must yet confesse they showe great modestie that leauing the studie of wisdome to their friends do drawe the whole contentment from a little durt and drosse It would be tedious for me to deliuer the diuersitie in the dispositions of men we sée one readie to die for the loue of a woman another will set his wife to sale one would that euerie man should liue of his owne some other are so much inclined to Pitharoras sect that they would haue all things to be in common amongst friends one will boast with Thraso another will flatter with Gnato another to make Iohn his sonne a gentleman will himselfe lye like a mizer all the daies of his life but I think that be to verifie the prouerb Happie is the child whose father goes to the diuell What a numberlesse companie of hunts-men are there in the world that doe follow this chace of hunting after wealth assisted onely by this hope to make their sonnes gentlemen and how easie a matter is it to be a gentleman in these daies when there be so manie seruile practises to draw in wealth and euerie rich man may stand vpon his genterie We may now put a sir-reuerence when we speake of honestie when Briberie Vsurie Periurie and euerie other iniquitie are honest mens trades And I thinke if Hell were a place of returne and that there were anie hope of gold or gaine there so bée gotten more tryple headed dogges then one would not be able to defend the entrie Our auncestors hunted after honour but we after wealth they left themselues famed to posteritie by vertueus indeuoer we desire to leaue some Memorandum to after ages of our being but not for anie good déedes but as he that fired the Temple of Diana to be inrowled with perpetuall infantie Some to leaue themselues renowned to future times doe build stately houses the toppes eleuated to the cloudes which they haue set vp as 〈◊〉 of their glorie â—ot are the ensignes of vanitie and the monuments of miserable iniquitie To this colledge doe they also appertaine who by their life daies doe seriously inact with what pâ—mpe and glorie their funeralls shal be performed and are more famed for a sumptions tombe erected after their death then for anie good deede performed all the daies of their life Same others for leauing there Erecutors to giue pennis â—ole atter they are dead doe hope for that deede of charitie not onelie to be commended to posteritie but also to obtaine a Quietus est for all his former extortions exactions opressions whatsoeuer Skil Captaine Pill were it not good for you now to take a little breath and to think it better for a man to reforme his owne faults then to take exceptions at other mens Pill I know there is not a more daungerous enterprise then for a man to looke into the sinnes of the mighty Gyants of the world and I say againe we perish if we search out their euill that wil wallow in wickednesse and yet wil not be controwled It is now fortie yeares agoe
forth and beautifled by Vertue and Vertue not beautified and set forth by lynage Skill Yet Noblenesse hath euer bene honored by all men because it standeth with reason that good should spring of good and Vertue is most often succeeding in Noble blood and the worthinesse of honorable ancestors craueth a reuerend regard to be had in their posteritie where he that is but of meane or simple parentage must endure much to aduance his reputation and cannot raise his estimation but with that tediousnesse of time which the Noble by birth shall attaine vnto in a moment and the innovle may be sometimes inticed to Vertue but not by the allurement of Vertue it selfe but are rather prouoked vnto it by dread or by compulsion or sometimes perhaps in hope of preferment and where Vertue is thus darkened with a wauering hope a faint courage it is brought low and but créepeth by the ground where the vertue of true Noblenesse indeed being pure and vndefiled doth swiftly raise it selfe on high and doth with confidence mount vp to the highest heauens Pill I acknowledge that Nobilitie which as on a chiefe pillar is staied vpon Vertue but where that pillar of Vertue is shaken and ouerthrowne there Nobilitie it selfe must likewise fall to the ground And I do further truly confesse that he can do nothing gallantly valiantly or forceably whose minde is not kindeled and inflamed with honourable desire Thus giuing Nobilitie her due I preferre the Noble to be most worthy of this great commaund knowing that the bare tytle is more effectuall to draw a reuerent regard and to enforce a more dutifull obedience in an Army then the largest Commission A Prince may deuise to graunt to him that is but newly crept vp from a meane reputation or a slender account And because I haue here spoken of a Commission here now ariseth a doubt whether it be behouefull for a Prince for the benefit of his owne seruice to prescribe a Commission to his Lieutenant or Generall so tying him within certaine limits that he may not passe the bounds of his commandment whatsoeuer occasion might be taken for the benefit of seruice Skill For the answere of this doubt it is first to be considered that when a Prince will bridle his Generall by such a-Commission it is necessary that he furnish him with all maner of prouisions so aboundantly that he shall not want for otherwise what seruice is to be expected where they are first pinched in theyr prouisions and after bound so fast by their Commissions that they shall not be able to helpe themselues Next it is as behoouefull for that Prince that will tye his Generall to straight limits that he doo likewise very circumspectly instruct and direct him in those seruices he hath to performe which is almost impossible for him to doo for how should men that are ignorant themselues in the affaires of warre prescribe their Generalls what they should do or what they should not doo or how should those that are absent giue prescriptions to him that is and must be in present view and not bereaue him of those aduantages that the varietie of times and occasions may offer Some Princes and States that haue bene suspitious of their Captaines haue brideled them by straight Commissions other some againe that hauing had respect to the dangers of times yet foreseeing the inconueniences that might ensue by ouermuch pairing their Generalls authoritie haue in theyr Commissions left this proviso That they should proceede according to the variety of time and occasions notwithstanding any restraint in them contained Pill But whether a Generall that is thus tyed may not sometime vse his owne discretion vpon occasion as opportunitie may offer Skill The seueritie of Manlius Torquatus might suffice to discourage any man to stand in this conceit who spared not the life of his own sonne but for fighting with an enemie contrary to his commandment notwithstanding he obtained the victorie But the Almighty himselfe preferreth obedience to be better then sacrifice and it is more fit by executing the commandement of a Prince to shew obedience then by exceeding their bounds to shew contempt For this cause the Souldier was worthily commended who hauing already aduanced his weapon to haue taken the life of an enemie that was vnder his mercy whilest his arme was yet lifted vp to haue giuen the deadly stroke the Trumpet sounded a retraite wherewith the Souldier staying his blowe let his enemie thus escape this being espied it was demaunded of him why he let slip so great an aduantage he answered I bolde it farre more honourable to obey my Captaine then to kill mine enemy Pill He that had a compleate Army of such Souldiers might worke wonders but some wil say that when occasion is offered to a Generall for the benefit of his Prince he ought not so â—icely to stand vpon the prescript of his Commission as to neglect the benefit and fortune presented vnto him when there is no Prince so prouident who is able to foresee euery accident that may happen he is therefore to be reputed neither for wise nor valiant that wil stand so much vpon his Commission as to neglect any occasion that may bring aduancement to the honour and profit of his maister Skill It is a daungerous thing for him that shall swarue from the Commaundement of a Prince trusting more to his owne iudgement then in his whom of reason he ought to obey because if his imagination do faile him and his enterprise conclude but with ill successe he runneth into the penaltie of disobedience without any hope of excuse or pardon But admit that his purpose be well effected and brought to a good passe according to his desire he may then thanke his fortune more then his wit and this is all that he hath to trust vnto The Romanes in the prime of their greatnes were not only strict in punishing these offences but they were as seuere to punish with shame and ignomy their Generalls and principall Commaunders without any respect of their greatnes that by shamefull practises had sought to vanquish and by dishonourable meanes had obtained victories vpon their enemies neither could I 〈◊〉 Pius so escape with his drunken conquest but that in stead of a glorious tryumphe which he required he was repaied with a shamefull death and a flaunderous Epitaphe which he deserued Pill But had they not in those dayes the practise of vile and villainous deceit as to bereaue an enemy of his life by poyson or by some sodam stab or stroake with a weapon or to hire a murderer secretly so do some shameful office or executioÌ„ These haue bene the policies of late times and these practises haue bene especially approued Skill By these meanes Fabritius would net win he not only refused a conquest offered vnto him by that traytor Timocliares but he likewise detected and accused his treason to the King his maister neither would Camillus receiue the Schoole-maisters offer though