the study and searching of knowledge and vvisedome By hearing not seeing vvee come to the knowledge of truth Bernard Hearing is the preparation of the sight Ber. That which the eye seeth the hart is often greeued at The sence of the eyes aunswereth to the element of fire Nihil est difficilius quam á consuetudine oculorum mentis aciem abducere Totius hominis debilitas est occulos perdidisse Hearing THe eare tryeth the vvords as the mouth tasteth meate To vvhom soeuer at the first the sence of hearing is denied to them the vse of the tong shall neuer be graunted As a stone cast into the water maketh many rounds so a sound which is begotten in the ayre hath his circles vvhich are multiplied vntill they come to the eare Arist. The eares of a man the eares of an Ape are not to be moued Plinie writeth a wonderfull example of the sence of hearing that the battaile which was fought at Sybaris the same day was heard at Olympia the places being aboue fiue hundred miles distant Nothing is more pleasant to the eare then variety The sence of hearing is aunswerable to the element of the ayre Qui audiunt audita dicunt qui vident plane sciunt Auris prima mortis ianua prima aperiatur eâ— vitae Bernardus Smelling THe sence of smelling is meerely conioyned with the sence of tasting The sence of smelling is not only for pleasure but profit Sweet smells are good to comfort the spirits of the head vvhich are subtile and pure and stinking sauours are very hurtfull for the same Albeit euery thing that smelleth vvell hath not alwayes a good taste yet what-soeuer a man findeth good to his taste the same hath also a good smell and that which is found to haue an ill relish the same hath also a badde smell This sence of smelling agreeth with the aire and fire because smells are stirred vp by heate as smoake by fire which afterward by meanes of the ayre are carried to the sence of smelling Non bené olet qui semper olet Odorem morum fama dijudicat colore conscientiae Bernardus Tasting THe sence of taste is that sence vvhereby the mouth iudgeth of all kinds of taste The iudgement of taste is very necessarie for mans life and especially for the nourishment of all liuing creatures because all things which the earth bringeth forth are not good for them Taste as is sayde before of smelling is not onely for pleasure but also for profit This sence of tasting aunswereth to the element of ayre Intellectus saporum est caeteris in prima lingua homini inpalato Gustus mecratum inuitat Euripides Touching THe sence of touching aunswereth the element of the earth to the end it might agree better vvith those things that are to be felt thereby The vigour and sence thereof ought to be close together and throughout and such as taketh more fast and surer hold then any of the rest The sence of touching although it be the last yet is it the ground of all the rest Arist. One may liue vvithout sight hearing and smelling but not without feeling Sensuum ita clara iudicia et certa sunt vt si optio naturae nostrae detur et ab ea Deus aliquis requirat contentané scit suis integris in corruptisque sensibus an postulet mâ—lius aliquid non vidiam quod quaerat amplius Cic. Nos Aper auditu Linx visu Simia gustu Vultur odoratu nos vincit Aranea tactu Of Children Deâ—i Our chyldren are the naturall and true issues of our selues of the selfe same mould temprature begot by the worke of nature and made by the power of the Almighty CHildren are a blessing of God bestowed vpon man for his comfort Chyldren according to theyr bringing vp prooue eyther great ioy or great greefe to their parents He is happy that is happy in his children VVhen we behold our children wee see a new light Theocritus A good sonne is a good Cittizen Stobaeus That child is not bound in duty to his parents of whom he neuer learnt any vertuous instruction VVhatsoeuer good instructions chyldren learne in theyr youth the same they retayne in their age No error giues so strong assault as that which comes armed with the authority of parents S. P. S. The wicked example of a Father is a great prouocation of the sonne to sinne Nothing is better to be commended in a Father then the teaching of his children by good ensample as much as by godly admonition Children by theyr lasciuious and vngodly education grow in time to be persons most monstrous and filthy in conuersation of liuing The fault is to be imputed vnto the Parents if chyldren for vvant of good bringing vp fall to any vnhonest kind of life As those men vvhich bring vp horses vvill first teach them to follow the bridle so they that instruct chyldren ought first to cause them to giue â—are to that which is spoken Men ought to teach theyr children liberall Sciences not because those Sciences may giue any vertue but because theyr mindes by them are made apt to receaue any vertue Seneca Those children vvhich are suffered eyther to eate much or sleepe much be commonly dull witted and vnapt to learne As waxe is ready and plyant to receaue any kinde of figure or print so is a young childe apt to receaue any kinde of learning The youngest plants vvell kept become great trees and children vvell brought vp most worthy men The childe that hath his minde more constant then his yeeres yeelds many hopes of a staied and toward age Hee that corrects his sonne and brings him vp in awe giue his sonne an example how to bring vp his own children afterward in humble obedience Children are soone pleased and soone displeased He that letteth his sonne runne at his owne liberty shall finde him more stubborne then any head-strong Colt when he commeth to be broken The best way to make thy children to loue thee vvhen thou art olde is to teach them obedience in their youth VVoe be to those parents vvhose children miscarry through want of good education Nothing eyther sinketh deeper or cleaueth faster in the minde of man then those rules which he learned when he was a child The sonne cannot but prosper in all his affaires vvhich honoureth his parents with the reuerence due vnto them VVhen thy father vvaxeth old remember the good deeds he hath doone for thee when thou wast young Thou hast liued long enough if thou hast liued to releeue the necessity of thy father in his old age The lawe of nature teacheth vs that vvee should in all kindnes loue our parents The child is bound vnto his fathers will Those chyldren that denie dutiâ—ull obedience vnto theyr parents are not vvorthy to liue Solon made a law that those parents should not be releeued in their old age of their children vvhich cared not for theyr vertuous bringing vp He is a wretched father that bringeth a
liue well Like as in a payre of tables nothing may be well written before the blots and blurs be wiped out so vertue and noblenesse can neuer be seene in a man except hee first put away his vices Mar. Aur. Measure thy pathes and marke what vvay thou walkest so shalt thou be sure to passe in safetie Si vis ab omnibus cognosci da operam vt á nemine cognoscaris Nulli te facias nimis sâ—dalem Gaude bis minus et minus dolebis Of Consideration Defi. Consideration or iudgement is that which properly ought to be in euery Magistrate obseruing the tenor of the law it is the distinguisher of controuersies and bringer foorth of happy counsailes and agreements COnsideration is the enemie to vntimelie attempts Actions well meant ought alwayes to bee well taken There is no needles poynt so small but it hath his compasse neither is there any haire so slender but it hath his shadow Hee is not to be accounted rich vvho is neuer satis-fied nor happie vvhose stedfast minde in quyet possession of vertue is not established It is better to practise doe aduisedly then to thinke and imagine neuer so wisely The consideration of pleasures past greatly augments the paines present No man doth so much reioyce at his prosperity present as he that calleth to minde his miseries past Chilo It is farre better for a man to be absent then present at perrils It is a benefit to denie such thinges as will hurt him that asketh them The pardon may well be granted where he that hath offended is ashamed of his fault VVise men will alwaies consider what they ought to do before they conclude any thing As we haue the audacity to commit a fault so if wee list wee may inforce our selues to worke amends August In any affaires whatsoeuer there can be no greater danger or else no greater safety then soundly to consider into vvhose hands men commit their causes Not so hard is the inuention in getting as the disposition in keeping when it is gotten Men loose many thinges not because they cannot attaine them but because they dare not attempt them Pythag. As a vessell sauoureth alwayes of the same liquor wherewith it was first seasoned so the minde retaineth those qualities in age wherin it was trained vp in youth CoÌ„sideration is the root of all noble things for by her we doe attaine to the end of all our hopes True consideration is the tutor both to action and speaking The haters of consideration neuer prosper in their actions Consideration is an honour to the meanest and improuidence a shame in princes Good consideration ought to be laide before we giue credit for faire tongs oft-times worke great mischiefes Circumspect heed is an espetiall care of the minde to bring those things which wee take in hand to some good purpose Circumspect heede in warre is the cause of scaping many dangers in peace Circumspect peace doth all things to the increase of vnity amongst men The causes bringing circumspection are feare care necessity and affection Feare afflicteth care compelleth necessity bindeth affection woundeth Bee circumspect to shevve a good countenaunce to all yet enter not into familiaritie with any but onely such whose conuersation is honest and vvhose truth by triall is made trusty Archim Suddaine trust brings suddaine repentance Qui sua metitur pondera ferre potest versate diu quid ferre recusent Quid valeant humeri Of Office Defi. Office or dutie is the knowledge of man concerning his owne nature contemplation of diuine nature and a labour to benefit our selues and all other men it is also taken for authority or rule MAns life may not bee destitute of office because in it honesty consisteth Office is the ende where-vnto vertue aymeth and chiefely when vve obserue things comely Office marrieth the soule to respect maketh it principally acquainted with piety The first office of dutie is to acknowledge the Diuinity Office is strenthened by zeale and zeale makes opinion inuinsible VVee must feare a dissembling officer because he delights in a tyrannous office A busie officer doth best become a troublesome office The office of a wise-man prefers euer consideration before conclusion Office without profit brings a man to pouerty and profit without office looseth his best reward Men to rule mens desires is the greatest authority In dooing nothing but what we ought wee deserue no greater reward but what we beare about vs. Chris. To know euill is an office of profit but to vse euill is a sinne of indignity Vpon the Anuile of vpbrayding is forged the office of vnthankfulnes It is an office of pitty to giue a speedy death to a miserable and condemned creature It is also an office of charitable loue to doe good vnto euery man that needeth and to refraine from seeking reuenge for our owne iniuries Loue sufficiency and exercise are the three beauties which adorne offices Old men well experienced in lawes and customs ought chiefly to be chosen Officers It is not meete that man should beare anie authoritie which with his money seeketh to buy another mans office The buiers of offices sell by retaile as deerâ— as they can that which they buy in grosse No poynt of philosophy is more excellent then office in publique affaires if officers doe practise that which Philosophers teach VVhere offices are vendible there the best monied ignorants beare the greatest rule They which sell offices sell the most sacred thing in the vvorld euen iustice it selfe the Common-wealth subiects and the lawes It is as hard an office to gouern an Empire as to conquer an Empire He is only fit to rule beare office which comes to it by constraint against his will The office of a Monarke is continually to looke vpon the Law of God to engraue it in his soule and to meditate vpon his word Officers must rule by good lawes good examples iudge by prouidence wisedome and iustice and defend by prowesse care vigilancie Agesil Pericula labores dolores etiam optimus quisque suscipere mauult quaÌ„ deserere vllam officij partem Cicero Sigismundus Romanorum Imperator dicere solitus est nulla nobis militia opus esset si suas quique ciuitates praetores caeterique magistratus moderaté iustequé gubernarent Of Auncestors Defi. Auncestors are our fore-fathers the reputed first beginners of our names and dignities from whom we challenge a line all desent of honour proouing our selues of theyr selfe substance TRue nobility desending from auncestry prooues base if present life continue not the dignity VVhat can the vertue of our ancestors profit vs if we doe not imitate theÌ„ in their godly actions Great merrits aske great rewards great auncestors vertuous issues As it is more coÌ„mon to reuenge then to reward so it is easier to be borne great then to continue great Stobaeus VVhere the perrill is great and the redresse doubtfull men are content to leaue right auncestrie in distresse It is miserable
armes legs only instruments of action but only it was intended the mind should imploy them There must not only be in a man a mind of charity but also distributing hands Ambr. Action is the matter of vertue honour By the actions of a good man vve adiudge alwaies the excellencies of his life An imperfect man by one perfit good action gaines a liberall name of goodnes Speech is one of the greatest actions which makes manifest the prudent vertues of the soule All newe actions seeme sayre though they be like a painted woman To keepe a friend certaine is a harder action then to get a friend Doe what thou wouldest haue doone vnto thee for indifferencie is iniustice Chilo Presumtious boldnes is a base action in the eyes of thy betters So loue as thou mayst hate so hate as thou maist loue and both without challenge VVill ought alwaies to be accounted an action Fire vvhich is hid acts greater violence theÌ„ that which breakes forth in flames The ende of euery thing is the tryall of the action Conscientia bene actae vitae multorumque benefactorum recordatio iucundissima est Exercitationes virtutum in omni aetate mirificos asserunt fruclus Of Prayse Defi. Prayse is an exhalting or lyfting vp to honour eyther the good parts we behold in others or those excellencies with which our eyes tickled by delight are inamoured THere be many that in words are ready to prayse that which is good and few that in works are willing to follow the same Ploti It is better to be praysed for true speaking then to be honoured for flattering and lying For a man to praise too much his own writings is nothing els but to giue men occasion to speake euill both of him and his works As it is seemely for a Philosopher and a wealthy man to praise the profits of peace euen so in his mouth it is vncomly to prate of the perrils of warre It is no lesse praise-vvorthy to deserue honour then to hold it Persit praise felicity consisteth in a contented life and a quiet death Solon Praise bestowed on an vnworthy person is a manifest signe of flattery Praise is a poyson to the ambitious man for it leadeth him beyond the scope of honesty Nothing deserueth commendation vnlesse it be vertuous Praise encourageth the spyrit to great and mighty things and nourisheth true vertue where it is begun Commendations maketh the labour light the wit studious and the hope rich Three things are commendable in a Scholler silence in his tongue diligence in his reading ciuility in his behauiour Commend nothing for the fairenes for the Lilly is vvhite but in stinketh nor for the bignes for mighty things are combersome but for the goodnes which maketh thinges vnapt conuenient apt things gracious He which often prayseth one abuseth himselfe confirmeth an error and prooueth in the end a lyer and hee which is praised becommeth a great deale more vaine Aug. Praise is the hire of vertue Cic. Too much praise is a burthen Xenophon The praise that Silla gaue to Cynna made him to commit periury It was most notable and memorable in Lucullus that being very young and before he sought any dignity in Rome he accused Seruilius Augur before the Senate vvho had detracted from his Fathers praise and honor Amongst all the praises of Lucullus â—ee deserued most by this aunswere I had rather said he deliuer one Romaine froÌ„ the hands of an enemy then enioy all the riches of mine aduersaries Pompey beeing growne to the height of his fortune and exalted by many praises victories was thus prettily checkt at his departing out of Athens Quantum hominem te esse nosti eatenus es Deus He that praiseth a man openly wil not stick to flatter him secretly Diog. To do good to the poore is a double praise because a double sacrifice one to God another to man Most praise-vvoorthy is the good nurture that can amend a bad nature Vertue begets prayse and prayse begets honour and authority Nothing is more vncertaine then praise for what one day giues vs another day takes away from vs. Tis greater praise to help the helplesse then to maintaine the needlesse In doing that we ought deserues no praise because it is duty Aug. Hee that abaseth a worthy man seeketh to eleuate his owne commendation It is meere vvickednesse to seeke prayse by counterfeited vertue If another man prayse thee yet remember thou to be thine owne iudge All things that are good haue euer the preheminence in praise and comparison As the shadoâ— followeth the body so praise followeth vertue Seneca Neuer praise any thing that is not commendable neyther disprayse that vvhich is praise worthy To be praysed of euill men is as euill as to be praised for euill dooing Bion. If thou wilt prayse anie man praise him for those thinges vvhich may neyther bee giuen him nor taken from him that is not for his faire house his goodly garments or his great possessions but for his vertue wit and perfit reason The prayse of our auncestors is a light to their posterity Salust VVhen they offered to Titus a crowne of gold together with great praises for taking Ierusalem he said that hee himselfe was not the Author thereof but God Neuer challenge to thy selfe the praise of other mens inuentions Aur. Hee that prayseth anie man because hee is a gentleman praiseth his parents also As they vvhich giue vnvvillingly seeme to haue but little themselues so they vvhich praise other men slenderly seeme desirous to be praised themselues It is a poynt of flatterie to prayse a man to his face Be neyther too hastie to praise nor too forward to discommend any Anachar There is no day so cleere but it hath some clowde nor any prayse so complete but it is subiect to the scandall of the enuious Si laus allicere nos ad recté faciendum non potest nec metus quidem á faedissimis factis potest auocare Cic. Laus vbi noua oritur etiam vetus admittitur Of Ayde Defi. Ayde generally is any reliefe or succour chiefely in our extreamities and is the greatest vpholder of ability when it is most weake and desperate SOrrow is so hard of beliefe that it refuseth all ayde imagining truth to be dreames and dreames to be truth Fatall is the ayde that brings vs to the assent of a crowne from vvhence men come not downe but fall downe The ouer-spreading pompe of ayde or might dooth darken weakenes and debace his violence The excesse of ioy and sorrowe neuer affords ayde vnto affliction no not so much as in words Sorrow makes silence her best ayde her best Orator Reuerent order vvill not ayde iniquity or preuart right Offences vrged in publique are made worser and expell ayde The show of iniustice aydes and agrauates despight The multitude which looke not into causes rest satisfied with any thing which is ayded by the Lawes He findes more then enough which findes
vp in silence will both fire the sences and shrink the sinnewes VVhat is done closly is halfe pardoned affections which are maintained vvith loyalty are but slender faults The choyce is hard vvhere one is compelled either by silence to die with griefe or by writing to liue with shame Hee beareth his miserie best that hideth it most Archim As silence is a gift without perrill and containeth in it manie good thinges so it vvere better our silence brought our simplicitie into suspition then to speake either inconueniently idely or vnnecessarily Those thinges vvhich are vntolde are vndone for there can bee no greater comfort then to know much nor any lesse labor then to say nothing Silence digesteth that vvhich follie hath swallowed and wisedom weaneth that which fancie hath nursed Venus temple is neuer shut Cupids register lyes euer vnfolded and the secrets of loue if they be concealed breede eyther danger by silence or death by secrecie Better it is by speaking little to make a smal skarre then a deepe vvound by much babling Silence is a gift vvithout perrill and a treasure without enemies Phocion Silence is vnsuspected but much babling is treasonfull VVomen are fitter to conceiue Children then to conceale secrets By mispending treasures wee loose wealth by discouering secrets honor and life Amongst the Egiptians it was a capitall vice to reueale secrets That vvhich thou vvouldest fewe should know keepe secret to thy selfe Silence is more safety then speech wheÌ„ our enemies be the auditors In some place at some time in some coÌ„pany it is better to be silent then talkatiue Pythagoras vvilled all that came into his schoole to tarry fiue yeres before they spoke Augerona the Goddesse of silence vvas drawne vvith her finger vpon her mouth showing in vvhat reuerence they ought to hold secrecie Alexander perceauing Hephesâ—ien had read a letter which his mother sent him with his signet closed his lips Pompey suffered one of his fingers to burne because he would not reueale the counsell of the Senate As the Viper is torne in sunder when shee bringeth forth her little ones so secrets comming out of their mouths that are not able to conceale them doe vtterly vndoe and ruine such as reueale them Lactan. VVe haue two eyes and two eares but one onely tongue and that so inclosed within the teeth and lips betweene the braine and hart seruing as their truth-man hauing aboue it the instrument of all the sences to the ende she put forth nothing before she haue taken counsell of the said sences her neighbours of the inward faculties of the soule which are the vnderstanding and reason placed within the braine Zeno reproched a great prater in that his eares were founded vpon his tongue VVine descending into the bodie cause words to ascend Homer writeth that Vlisses in his youth refrained from speech vntill hee knew how to speake well In some cases silence is dangerous as if any know of conspiracies against theyr countrey or King or any that might greatly preiudice theyr neighbour they ought to discouer it As wee must render account for euery idle word so must we likewise for our idle silence Ambrose Quaerit aquas in aquis et poma fugacia captat Tantalus hoc illi garrula lingua dedit Non vnquam tacuisse nocet nocet esse locutuÌ„ Of Oath Defi. Oath is a perswasion or calling of God to witnesse that our assertions are iust true and honest and of oathes some be lawfull some vnlawfull the lawfull oath is that which is taken before authoritie the oath vnlawfull is that which vainely and without occasion is vttered THat oath is vnlawfull vvhich is made against dutie The oath which is honest is a proofe of fidelitie the violation whereof is impietie An oath is the foundation of iustice the truth of incertaintie It is better neuer to take God to witnesse then to forsweare him in mockery Lactan. Nothing more then our credite bindeth vs to performe that which our necessity forceeth vs to promise Oathes doe not credite men but men theyr oathes Sopho. He that deceiueth his enemy vvith oathes giues a sufficient testimonie that hee feares him It becommeth a man to keepe inuiolate the oath which hee maketh to his aduersarie although mishap cause him to yeeld vnto it Through neglect in our oathes keeping we fill our soules full of lying If the pledge for iustice be disloyall there is no trust in theyr oathes The greatest fault that can be in a Prince is periurie Gods oath is the confirmation of hys promise August The bare word of a Prince ought to stand as an oath in lawe and his faith as firme as an Oracle To sweare forsweare is a vice so hatefull that slaues themselues iudge it worthy of punishment Perian Hee is vnwise that putteth any confidence in the promise of a common swearer Hee that accustometh his mouth to manie oathes procureth vnto himselfe many plagues for a punishment Sigism As it is not necessary to credite the oath of an infidell so it is not lawfull for a Christian to breake his vowe although it bee made to a Sarazine From oathes periurie issues treason that most pernicious plague of kingdomes and Common-weales Traytors bewitcht with periurie feare not to betray themselues so they may betray others Periuries are pursued euer vvith vnhappie effects contrarie to the platformes of the faythlesse Hee that layeth his fayth in pawne bindeth his safetie his honour and his soule also VVhere fayth is taken from oathes â—ustice is ruind loue vvounded and societie confounded God in his iustice chastens periurie euen from the cradle to the graue Fauour gotten by periurie is honor wonne by infamie Sinne is punished with repentance but periurie with damnation Quintil. Vertue is neuer in the mouth where lauish oathes are resident Scarsitie of oathes is a most blessed barrennesse The oathes vttered in furie in calmes are repented with teares VVicked mens oathes are written in water Stobaeus Hee that hath beene often deceiued vvith oathes will not rashly hazarde himselfe on protestation and hee vvhich is wise by hys owne folly is vnhappily made wise Fayth giues no honour to any oath yet oathes broken dishonour fayth To maintaine oathes is to subborne blasphemie Fayth is the deuotion of the soule and the redemption of the same Ierom. VVise men thinke more then they speake and to sweare is the least part of their knowledge Solon tantam morum probitatem inesse hominibus oportere dicebat vt non opus esset ligare iuramento Lycurgus eatenus amicis et familiaribus auxiliandum esse dicebat vt interim periurium non admitteretur Of Doubts Defi. Doubts are any incertainties or irresolute opinions of things whereby the minde is altogether vnsatisfied and perplexed DOubt beeing a frenzie of the soule labouring to attaine the truth confoundes it selfe in it selfe The hurts are boundlesse which commeth by doubts and incertainties To rest doubtfull in religion is vvoorthie certaintie of high punishment As the
Saint Augustine reproueth Varro Pontifex Scaeuola vvho were of opinion that it vvas very expedient men shoulde bee deceiued in Religion because that there is no felicitie or certaine rest but in the ful assurance thereof and in an infallible truth without diuinitie and the doctrine of GOD none can take any principle at all in the discipline of manners Polybius vvriteth that nothing so much aduaunced the Romaines as theyr Religion albeit it were not pure The VVorde is a medicine to a troubled spirit but being falsely taught it prooueth a poyson Bern. Religion is like a square or ballance it is the canon and rule to liue well by and the very touch-stone vvhich discerneth truth from falshood The auncient Fathers haue gyuen three principall markes by which the true Religion is known first that it serueth the true God secondly that it serueth him according to his VVord thirdly that it reconcileth that man vnto him which followeth it The true worshyppe of God consisteth in spyrit and truth Chrisost. VVhere religion is Armes may easily bee brought but where Armes are without religion religion may hardly be brought in There can bee no surer signe of the ruine of a kingdome then contempt of religion There can bee no true Religion vvhere the word of God is wanting Those men are truly religious which refuse the vain transitory pleasures of the world and wholy sette theyr mindes on diuine meditations Hee which is negligent and ignorant in the seruice of his Creator can neuer be careful in any good cause Religion doth linke and vnite vs together to serue with willingnes one God almighty It is the guide of all other vertues and they who doe not exercise themselues therein to withstand all false opinions are like those souldiers which goe to warre vvithout weapons The Romaines allowed the seruice of all Gods and to that end builded a Temple to all Gods called Pantheon yet woulde they neuer receiue the true God to wit Iehouah the Lord God of the Hebrues The principall seruice of God consisteth in true obedience which the prophets call a spirituall chastitie not to swarue there-from nor to thinke that whatsoeuer wee find good in our owne eyes pleaseth him The knowledge of true religion humilitie and patience entertaineth concord August If men dyd knowe the truth and the happinesse which followeth true religion the voluptuous man woulde there seeke his pleasures the couetous man his wealth the ambitious man his glory sith it is the onely meane which can fill the hart and satisfie theyr desire it serueth vs also for a guide to leade vnto God whereas the contrary dooth cleane with-hold vs from him No creature is capable of religion but onelie man Basil. The first precept that Socrates gaue to the Prince Demonicus was Tima ton Theon feare God The first law that should bee giuen to men should be the increase of religion and pietie The chiefest oath that the Athenians tooke was this In defending religion both alone with others will I fight against my foes The auncient Romaines through the instinct of Nature dyd so reuerently thinke of Religion that the most noble men of Rome sent theyr sonnes into Hetrurio to learne the manner of seruing God It is a very hard matter to change religion VVhere no religion resteth there can be no vertue abiding August True Religion is to be learned by fayth not by reason Religion is in truth not in falshood Religion is the stay of the weake the Mayster of the ignorant the phylosophie of the simple the oratory of the deuout the remedie of sinne the counsaile of the iust and the comfort of the troubled Pure religion vndefiled before God the Father is thys to visite the fatherlesse and widdowes in theyr aduersity and for a man to keepe himselfe vnspotted of the world Philosophia pernosci non potest siue Christiana veraque religione quam prelucentem si tollis fateor ecce et clamo ludibrium illa vanitas delirium Oportet principem anté omnia esse deicolam Country or Commonweale Defi. Our Country is the region or clime vnder which we are borne the Common mother of vs all which wee ought to holde so deere that in the defence thereof wee should not feare to hazard our liues THere can bee no affinitie neerer then our Countrey Plate Men are not borne for themselues but for theyr Countrey parents kindred friends Cicero There is nothing more to be desired nor any thing ought to bee more deere to vs then the loue of our Country Children parents friendes are neere to vs but our Country challengeth a greater loue for whose preseruation wee ought to appose our liues to the greatest dangers It is not enough once to haue loued thy Country but to continue it to the end Plut. VVhere soeuer wee may liue well there is our Country The remembrance of our Country is most sweet Liuius To some men there country is their shame and some are the shame of theyr country Let no man boast that he is the Cittizen of a great Citty but that he is worthy of an honourable Country Arist. VVe ought so to behaue ourselues towards our Country vnthankful as to a mother The profit of the country extendeth it selfe to euery Citty of the same Stobaeus Our Country saith Cicero affoordeth large fields for euery one to runne to honor So deere was the loue of his Country to Vlisses the he preferred his natiue soyle Ithaca before immortality Our country first challengeth vs by nature The whole world is a wisemans country Necessity compelleth euery man to loue his country Eurip. The loue which we beare to our country is not pietie as some suppose but charity for there is no pietie but that which we beare to God and our Parents Many loue theyr Countrey not for it selfe but for that which they possesse in it Sweet is that death and honourable which we suffer for our Country Horace If it be asked to whom we are most engaged and owe most duty our Countrey and parents are they that may iustly challenge it The life which we owe to death is made euerlasting beeing lost in the defence of our Countrey Giue that to thy country which she asketh for nature will constraine thee to yeeld it Happy is that death which beeing due to nature is bestowed vpon our Country Happy is that common-wealth where the people doe feare the law as a tyrant Plato A cōmon-wealth consisteth of two things reward and punishment Solon As the body without members so is the common-wealth without lawes Cicero Peace in a common-wealth is like harmony in musick Aug. Men of desert are least esteemed of in their owne Country Erasmus Coriolanus beare vnkinde Armes against his Countrey Plut. Nascia was most woorthily renowned for the defence of his Country Appian Q. Mutius Scaeuola Curtius deserued euerlasting memory for louing their country Nescio qua natale solum dulcedine cunctos Allicit et memores non sinit
they endure He bears his misery best that hideth it most Aduersities happening to good men may vexe the minde but neuer change their constancie As the most pestilent diseases do gather vnto themselues all the infirmitie where-vvith the body is annoyed so doth the last miserie embrace in the extreamitie of it selfe all his formermer mischieses S. P. S. The iust man is better reformed by the proofe of afflictions then power of pleasure Patience breedes experience experience hope and hope cannot be confounded The paine of death is sin the payne of conscience sin but the paine of hell is eternall The payne of the eye is lust the paine of the tongue libertie and the paine of both repentance Misery is full of wretchednesse fuller of disgrace and fullest of guilines S. P. S. The sight of misery maketh the sence of felicitie more euident Calamities which often fall in a Common-weale are cause of greater comforts He suffers double punishment that hath his paines prolonged Hee findes helps in aduersitie that sought them in prosperitie Quintil. Not to know our misery is to liue without danger The remembrance of pleasures past agrauates the paines that are present A fauning friend in prosperitie will proue a bitter foe in aduersity Hee that lendeth to another in time of prosperity shall neuer want helps himselfe in time of aduersitie It is hard in prosperitie to knovv vvhether our friends doe loue vs for our ovvne saâ—es or for our goods but aduersitie prooues the disposition of mens mindes Vt secunda moderaté tulimus sic non solum aduersam sed funditus euersam fortunam forâ—iter ferre debemus Nullus dolor est quem non longinquitas temporis minuat atque molliat Cicero Of Teares Defi. Teares or sorrow is a griefe or heauines for things which are done and past they are the onely friends to solitarines the enemies to company and the heyres to desperation TEares are no cures for distresse neyther can present plaints ease a passed harme There is no sovver but may bee qualified with sweet potions nor any dolefull maladie but may be allayed with some delightful musicke Teares craue compassion submission deserueth forgiuenes Greg. The violence of sorrow is not at the first to be stryuen withall because it is like a mighty beast sooner tamed with following then ouerthrowne by withstanding VVoe makes the shortest time seeme long S. P. S. VVomen are most prone to teares haue them soonest at commaund Eurip. Sorrowe bringeth foorth teares as a tree bringeth foorth fruite That griefe is best digested that brings not open shame Bury the dead but weepe not aboue one day Homer Teares are the signes of penitence VVe shall sooner want teares then cause of mourning in this life Seneca Sorrowes concealed are more sower and smothered griefes if they burst not out will breake the hart The hart that is greatly grieued takes hys best comfort when hee findes tims to lament his losse Teares are the vnfittest salue that any man can apply for to cure sorrowes Teares and sighes declare the hart to bee greatly grieued A teare in the eye of a strumpet is like heat drops in a bright sunne-shine and as much to be pittied as the weeping of a Crocodile Of sorrow and lamentation commeth watching and bleared eyes It is better to waile at the first then to weep at the last Teares are the badges of sorrow Archim Passion is a most combersome guest to it selfe S. P. S. Deepe conceited sorrowes are like to Sea-Iuie which the older it is the greater roote it hath Passions are like the arrovves of Cupid which if they touch lightly proue but toyes but once piercing the skin they proue deepe wounds As the hotest thunders are not alwaies queÌ„ched with raine so the deepest griefes are not alwaies discouered with teares VVhere the smallest show of teares is there is oft-times the greatest effect of sorrow Teares in many ease the grieued hart for griefe is like to â—â—re the more it is couered the more it rageth Plutar. Humble teares put the accusor to silence ouer-come the inuinsible pacifie the displeased Great is the vertue and povver of teares vvhich tye the hands of the omnipotent pacifie the rage of an aduersary appease the ire of the Iudge change his minde from vengeance to mercy Teares are the fruits of passion the strength of women the signes of dissimulation the reconcilers of displeasures and the tokens of a broken hart Teares are the foode of the soule Basil. There are in the eyes three sorts of teares the first of â—oy which in old men shew theyr kindnesse the second of sorrow vvhich in wretched men shew theyr misery the thyrd of dissimulation which in women shew their nature Lay thy hand on thy hart when thy vvife hath the teare in her eye for then shee intendeth eyther to found thee or to finck thee VVhen griefe doth approach if it be small let vs abide it because it is easie to be borne but if it be grieuous let vs beare with it because our glory shall be the greater Care not for sorrow it will eyther dissolue or be dissolued How miserable is that griefe vvhich can vtter nothing in the torment Men take a certaine pleasure in weeping when they lament the losse of theyr best beloued friends Solon hauing buried his sonne dyd vveepe very bitterly to whom when one sayde hys teares were all in vaine for that cause quoth he doe I weepe the more because I cannot profit with weeping He hath a hard hart that neuer lamenteth and his hart is effeminate that sorroweth too much for the death of his friends Too much sadnesse in a man is as much to be condemned as ouer-much boldnesse in a woman is to be despised By the Lawe of the twelue tables at Rome all weeping funerall teares are sharply forbidden Lepidus by a long griefe conceiued of the misbehauiour of his wife shortned his owne dayes To lament with tears the follies of our former life is profitable but to grieue too much for worldly losses is a signe of foolishnesse Per lachrymas argumentuÌ„ desiderij quaerimus et dolorem non sequinum sed ostendinus nemo enim sibi tristis est Curae leues loquitur ingentes stupent Seneca Of Neighbors Defi. Neighbours are those in whom wee find towards vs the greatest bonds of charitie and not as it is vulgarly taken theÌ„ that liue neere about vs. THe greatest loue in vs next vnto God ought to be loue towards our neighbors VVhatsoeuer duties wee performe in kindnesse towards our neighbours wee performe vnto God Loue is the first foundation of marriage coniunction of neighbourhood The end of a mans being is the glory of his Creator and the loue of his neighbour Neighbours are our likes or similitudes and our duties to them is charitie and loue equal with our selues The loue of neighbours appertaines mightily vnto saluation The loue of neighbours binds vs from vnlawfull actions The loue of neighbours binds vs
to the vse of vertue Men are not borne for themselues but for their country parents and neighbours Cic. All things on earth are created for men and men created to worshyp God and ayde one another VVhosoeuer will follow nature must loue his neighbour and maintaine societie That man liueth most happily that lyueth least his owne and most his neighbours He which liueth to himselfe onely seperats profit from honestie Themistocles selling certaine land made it be proclaimed that it had a good neighbour Plutarch No man may slaunder or lye for his profit because such gaine is his neighbours indignitie Dutie and profit are two distinct things seperated belonging to our neighbours and our selues VVe must esteeme our neighbours loue as deerely as the purest gold It is more praise-woorthy to releeue one neighbour then to kill many enemies VVe must frame all our actions to the glory of God to the loue of our neighbors and to the profit of the Common-wealth The tydings of a badde mans buriall comes neuer too soone to the eares of his neighbor The enuie of a bad neighbour is worse then the sting of a serpent He that lyues alone liues in danger societie auoydes many perrills Gold is proued in the fornace and a neyghbours loue tried in time of trouble That neighbour is to bee well thought of which is ready in good will to helpe according to his power A rolling stone neuer gathers mosse nor a fickle minded man loue amongst his honest neighbours A flattering neighbour is a certaine enemy but a faythfull friend neuer dissembles The loue of neyghbors is the strongest pyllar to support the Common-wealth He is carelesse and vncharitable which will play at Cardes whilst his neighbours house is burning Good turnes doone to vnthankfull neyghbours is like water poured into open siues Necessity ingendereth in a man vvarre against himselfe and malice to hurt his neighbour Vt in re rustica non satis est teipsum bonum esse colonum sed magni refert cuiusmodi habeas et vicinum Sic in vita non satis est si teipsum integrum virum praestes sed refert cum quibus habeas consuetudinem Nunc ego illud verbum experior vetas aliquid mali esse propter vicinum malum Plau. Prouerbs Defi. Prouerbs are the onely sententious speeches of autentique Authors or the vsuall phrases begot by custome A Little streame serueth to dryue a lyght Myll a small summe will serue to pay a short reckoning a leane fee is a fit reward for a lazie Clark Perfit felicitie is the vse of vertue Arist. Bitter wordes proceedes rather from a foe then a friend sooner from an ill mind then from a good meaning It is a great shame for any man to reprooue those faults often in another which hee neuer seeketh to reforme in himselfe He that desireth to make a good market of his ware must watch opportunitie to open his shop VVhere the foundation is weake the frame tottereth and where the roote is not deepe the tree falleth VVhere the knot is loose the string slyppeth and where the water is shallow no vessell will ride VVhere sundry flyes bite the gall is great and where euery hand fleeceth the sheepe goe naked Demost. Loue is the refiner of inuention Bare words are no lawfull bargaines Poeticall fictions will not bare out folly nor the quirks of the law excuse apostacie Questions are sooner propounded then answered and demaunds in fewe wordes scant absolued with many One Swallowe brings not a Sommer neyther is one perticuler example sufficient proofe for a generall precept VVhite siluer drawes blacke lines fire is as hurtfull as healthfull and water is as dangerous as commodious Credit ought rather to be giuen to the eyes then to the eares VVhere many wordes are spoken truth is held in suspition Stobaeus He that goeth a borrowing goeth a sorowing A friend in the Court is better then money in thy purse Hee gyues twise that giueth quickly He that spareth to speake spareth to speed Seruice willingly offered is commonly refused and suspected A mans owne manners doth shape him eyther good or bad fortunes A neere friende is better then a farre dwelling kinsman Anger is the cradle of courage A noble cause dooth much ease a greeuous case S. P. S. Feare breedeth wit Ease is the nurse of poetry If the body be ouer-charged it may be holpen but the surfit of the soule can very hardly be cured The height of heauen is taken by the staffe the bottome of the sea sounded with Leade and the farthest Coast discouered by compasse He that talketh much and doth little is like vnto him that sayles with a side vvinde and is borne with the tide to a wrong shore It is hard to bring inward shame to outward confession S. P. S. Eagles â—â—ye alone and they are but sheepe that alwaies flock together The meane man must labour to serue the mighty and the mighty must study to defend the meane Standing streames gather filth and flowing riuers are alwayes sweet He that holds not himselfe contented vvith the light of the sunne but lyfts vp his eyes to measure the brightnes is made blind He that bytes of euery weede to search out the nature may light vpon poyson and he that loues to be sifting of euery cloude may be smitten with a thunder-stroke Blazing marks are most shotte at glittering faces chiefel marked looking eyes haue liking harts and liking harts may burne in lust A wanton eye is the dart of Cephalus that where it leueleth there it lighteth vvhere it hits it woundeth deepe It is hard to driue the corruption out of the flesh which is bred in the bone where the roote is rotten the stocke can neuer be newe grafted In little medling lyeth much rest Discipulus prioris posterior dies Dulce bellum inexpertis Of Sentences Defi. Sentences are the pithy sweete flowers of wit compiled in a ready deliuer braine and vttered in short and elegant phrases PIdgions after byting fall to bylling and pretty quips are messengers of pretty pastimes Sweet meate hath commonly sower sauce and pleasant mirth is accompanied vvith the traine of lothsome sorrowes Depth of wisedom height of courage and largenes of magnificence get admiration Truth of worde meeâ—nes curtesie mercie and liberality styr vp affection S. P. S. There is no man â—odainly excellent good or extreamely euill but growes eyther as he holds himselfe vp in vertue or lets himselfe slide to vice It is as badde a consequence to call a King proude for his treasure as a begger humble for his want It is better to deserue euerlasting fame with noble Fabius which saued his Country vvith delayes then to perrish with shamefull Callicratides which lost a goodly fleet of the Lacedemonians through his ouermuch hast Cunning to keepe is no lesse commendable then courage to commaund The court of affection is held by the racking steward Remembrance S. P. S. It profiteth little for a man