in Poesie was most rich and his sweetnesse and facilitie in a verse vnimitably excellent as appeareth by that Master peece his Psalmes as farre beyond those of B. Rhenanus as the Stanza's of Petrarch the times of Skelton but deseruing more applause in my opinion if hee had fallen vpon another subiect for I say with one Mihi spiritus diuinus eiusmodâ— places quo scipsum ingessit a Patre illoruÌ„ piget qui Dauid Psalmos suis calamistris inustos sperarant efficere plausibiliores And certaine in that boundlesse field of Poeticall inuention it cannot be auoided but something must be distorted beside the intent of the Diuine enditer His Tragedies are loftie the stile pure his Epigrams not to be mended saue heere and there according to his Genius too broad and bitter But let vs looke behinde vs and wee shall finde one English-bred whose glorie and worth although Cineri suppôsta doloso is inferiour neither to Buchanan or any of the ancients and so much the more to be valued by how much the brighter he appeared out of the fogges of Barbarisme and ignorance in his time that is Ioseph of Exeter who liued vnder Henrie the 2. and Richard the first who wrote that singular and stately Poeme of the Troian warre after the Historie of Dares Phrygius which the Germanes haue printed vnder the name of Cornelius Nepos He died at Bourdeaux in France where he was Archbishop where his monument is yet to bee seene After him all that long tract of ignorance vntill the daies of Henrie the 8. which time Erasmus calleth the Golden Age of learning in regard of so many famously learned men it produced more then euer heretofore flourished Sir Thomas More sometime Lord Chancellor of England a man of most rich and pleasant inuention his verse fluent nothing harsh constrained or obscure wholly composed of conceipt and inoffensiue mirth that he seemeth ad lepôres fuisse natum How wittily doth hee play vpon the Arch-cuckold Sabinus scoffe at Frenchified Lalus and Herney a French cowardly Captaine beaten at the Sea by our English and his shippe burned yet his victorie and valour to the English disgrace proclaimed by Brixius a Germane Pot-aster What can be more loftie then his gratulatorie verse to King Henrie vpon his Coronation day more wittie then that Epigramme vpon the name of Nicolaus an ignorant Phisitian that had beene the death of thousands and Abyngdons Epitaph more sweete then that nectar Epistle of his to his daughters Margaret Elizabeth and Cicelie But as these ingenious exercises bewraied in him an extraordinary quicknesse of wit and learning so his Vtopia his depth of iudgment in State-affaires then which in the opinion of the most learned Budaus in a preface before it our age hath not seene a thing more deepe accurate In his yonger yeeres there was euer a friendly and vertuous emulation for the palme of inuention and poesie betweene William Lillie the author of our Grammer and him as appeareth by their seuerall translations of many Greeke Epigrammes and their inuention tried vpon one subiect notwithstanding they lou'd and liu'd together as deerest friends Lillie also was beside an excellent Latine Poet a singular Graecian who after he trauelled all Greece ouer and many parts of Europe beside and liued some foure or fiue yeeres in the I le of the Rhodes he returned home and by Iohn Collet Deane of Paules was elected Master of Pauls Schoole which he had newly founded Shortly after began to grow eminent aswell for Poesie as all other generall learning Sir Thomas Challoner Knight father to the truly honest and sometime louer of all excellent parts Sir Thomas Challoner who attended vpon the late Prince borne in London brought vp in Cambridge who hauing left the Vniuer sitie and followed the Court a good while went ouer with Sir Henry Knyuet Embassadour to Charles the fift as his friend and companion what time the Emperour being preparing a mightie fleete against the Turkes in Argier the English Embassadour Sir Thomas Challoner Henry Knowles M. Henry Isam and others went in that seruice as voluntaries with the Emperour But the Galley wherein Sir Thomas Challoner was being cast away by foulenesse of weather after he had laboured by swimming for his life as long as he was able and the strength of his armes falling him he caught hold vpon a cable throwne out from another galley to the losse and breaking of many of his teeth and by that meanes saued his life After the death of King Henry the 8. he was in the battaile of Muskleborough and knighted by the Duke of Sâ—mmerset And in the beginning of the raigne of Queene Elizabeth hee went ouer Embassadour into Spaine where at his houres of leisure he compiled ten elegant bookes in Latine vers de Ropub Anglorum instauranda superuised after his death by Malim and dedicated to the old Lord Burghley Lord Treasurer Being sent for home by her Maiestie he shortly after died in London and was buried in Paules neere to the steppes of the Quire toward the South-doore vnder a faire marble but the brasse and epitaphe written by Doctor Haddon by sacrilegious hands is since torne away But the Muse and Eternall Fame haue reared him a monument more lasting and worthy the merit of so excellent a man Of English Poets of our owne Nation esteeme Sir Geoffrey Chaucer the father although the stile for the antiquitie may distast you yet as vnder a bitter and rough rinde there lyeth a delicate kernell of conceit and sweete inuention What Examples Similitudes Times Places and aboue all Persons with their speeches and attributes doe as in his Canterburie-tales like these threds of gold the rich Arras beautifie his worke quite thorough And albeit diuers of his workes are but meerely translations out of Latine and French yet he hath handled them so artificially that thereby he hath made them his owne as his Troilus and Cresseid The Romant of the Rose was the Inuention of Ithan de Mehunes a French Poet whereof he translated but onely the one halfe his Canterburie-tales without question were his owne inuention all circumstances being wholly English Hee was a good Diuine and saw in those times without his spectacles as may appeare by the Plough-man and the Parsons tale withall an excellent Mathematician as plainly appeareth by his discourse of the Astrolabe to his little sonne Lewes In briefe account him among the best of your English bookes in your librarie Gower being very gracious with King Henrie the 4. in his time carried the name of the onely Poet but his verses to say truth were poore and plaine yet full of good and graue Moralitie but while he affected altogether the French phrase and words made himself too obscure to his Reader beside his inuention commeth farre short of the promise of his Titles He published onely that I know of three bookes which at S. Marie Oueries in Southwarke vpon his monument
THE Compleat Gentleman Fashioning him absolute in the most necessary Commendable Qualities concerning Minde or Bodie that may be required in a Noble Gentlemaâ— By Henry Peacham Mr. of Arts Sometime of Trinity Coll in Cambridge inutilis olim Ne videar vixisse Anno 1622 Imprinted at London for Francis Constable and are to bee sold at his shop at the white lioÌ„ in Paules churchyard The Compleat Gentleman whose Titles are contained in these Chapters following Chap. 1. OF Nobilitie in Generall Chap. 2. Of the dignitie and necessity of Learning in Princes and Nobilitie Chap. 3. The time of Learning c. Chap. 4. The dutie of Parents in their Childrens Education Chap. 5. Of a Gentlemans carriage in the Vniuersity Chap. 6. Of stile in speaking writing and reading Historie Chap. 7. Of Cosmography Chap. 8. Of memorable obseruation in suruey of the Earth Chap. 9. Of Geometry Chap. 10. Of Poetry Chap. 11. Of Musicke Chap. 12. Of Drawing and Painting in Oyle Chap. 13. Of Armory or Blazing Armes Chap. 14. Of exercise of the body Chap. 15. Of reputation and carriage Chap. 16. Of Trauaile Ad optimae spei generosissimaeque indolis adolescentem D. Gulielmum Howard illustriss ac vere honoratiss Thomae Comitis Arundeliae summi totius Angliae Mareschalli c. filium tertiogenitum Ingenio genio dum vis Generosus haberi Ingenua haec discas ingeniose puer Stemma nihil cultis animum nisi moribus ornes Et studeas studijs nobilitare genus TO THE TRVLY NOBLE AND MOST HOPEFVLL MR. WILLIAM HOVVARD third and youngest Sonne to the Right Honorable THOMAS Earle of Arundell and Surrey Earle Marshall of England c. WHat Motiue Noble Sir may induce others in their Dedications I know not sure I am none other hath incited me then the regard of your owne worth and that natiue ingenuitie and goodnesse of Spirit I haue euer perceiued in you since it was my good hap to enioy your acquaintance and to spend some houres with you at your Booke in Norwich where at this present you haue your education vnder the Reuerend Religious and my Honorable good Lord the now Lord Bishop of Norwich And indeed to whom rather of right should appertaine these my Instructions in regard of their subiect which is the fashioning of Nobilitie after the best Presidents then to your selfe euery way so Nobly descended Beside it is affirmed that there are certaine sparkes and secret seeds of vertue innate in Princes and the Children of Noble personages which if cherished and carefully attended in the blossome will yeild the fruit of Industry and glorious Action not onely aboue the strength of the vulgar but euen in the scient and before the time Nature hath appointed So Achilles while hee was yet very young vndertooke to shoote the fiercest Lions and Boares and was so nimble on foote that he was able to take a wilde Beast without either â—oyle or Dogge Alexander also when an Egyptian Priest saluted him being very young by the names of Son and Child replyed But you shall finde me a Man before the walls of Athens But to omit Heathenish examples Salomon wee reade when he was but euen a child begged wisdome of God and grace to gouerne well and Ignatius that holy Martyr writeth Salomon was scarce 12. years of age when he decided that hard controuersie betweene the two Harlots so Iosias was but eight years old when he walked religiously before God And mee thinkes Sir as in that Cornelian Stemme whereof Scipio was said to be the top and In quo vt plura genera in vnam arborem videtur infita multorum illuminata sapientia already you grow apace reflecting as from a faire Glasse that Princely Moderation and Honesty of heart of the good Duke your great Grand-father the Honourably disposed mind of my Lord your Noble Father together with his loue and admiration of whatsoeuer is honest or excellent so that verily you need no other patterne to the absolute shaping of your selfe then the Images of your fore-fathers But as Aristotle saith of the Vine by how much it is laden with Clusters by so much it hath need of props so say I of Greatnesse and Nobilitie euer fruitfull and apt to abundance it hath hourely need of support and helpe by all timely aduice and instruction to guide and vphold it from lying along Wherefore since the Fountaine of all Counsell and Instruction next to the feare of God is the knowledge of good learning whereby our affections are perswaded and our ill manners mollified I heere present you with the first and plainest Directions though but as so many keies to leade you into far fairer roomes and the readiest Method I know for your studies in general and to the attaining of the most commendable qualities that are requisite in euery Noble or Gentle-man Nothing doubting but that after you haue herein seene the worth and excellence of Learning how much it addeth to Nobilitie what errors are hourely comitted through Ignorance how sweet a thing it is to conuerse with the wisest of all Ages by Historie to haue in-sight into the most pleasing and admirable Sciences of the Mathematiques Poetrie Picture Heraldrie c. whereof I heere intreat together with the most commendable exercise of the body with other generall directions for Carriage Trauaile c. you will entertaine this Discourse as Vlysses did Minerua at his elbowâ— your guide to knowledge the ground not onely of the sweetest but the happiest life And though I am assured there are numbers who notwithstanding all the Bookes and Rules in the world had rather then behold the face of heauen burie themselues in earthly sloath and basest idlenesse yet Mr. William Howard at the least let vs recouer you from the tyrannie of these ignorant times and from the common Education which is to weare the best cloathes eate sleepe drinke much and to know nothing I take leaue from my house at Hogsdâ—n by London May 30. Who is and shall be euer yours HENRY PEACHAM To my Reader I Am not ignorant Iudicious Reader how many peeces of the most curious Masters haue beene vttered to the world of this Subiect as Plutarch Erasmus Viues Sadolet Sturmius Osorius Sir Thomas Eliot M. Askham with sundry others so that my small Taper among so many Torches were as good out as seeming to giue no light at all I confesse it true But as rare and curious stamps vpon Coynes for their varietie and strangenesse are daily enquired after and bought vp though the Siluer be all one and common wâ—th ours so fares it with Bookes which as Meddailes beare the Pictures and deuices of our various Inuention though the matter be the same yet for variety sake they shall bee read yea and as the same dishes drest afâ—er a new fashion perhaps please the tastes of many better But this regard neither mooued me When I was beyond the Seas and in a part of France adiorning vpon
in processe of time assumed to themselues the Surname of Cavendish as being Lords of the Towne and Mannor of Cavendish in Suffolke out of which familie disbranched that famous Trauailer Mr. Thomas Cavendish who was the third that trauailed about the world whose voyage you shall finde set downe at large in the English Discouerers written by Mr. 〈◊〉 It is borne by the name of Hobart and was the proper Coate of Sir Iames Hobart Knight Atturney Generall vnto King Henry the seauenth a right good man withall of great learning and wisedome hee builded the Church of Loddâ—n and Saint Olaues commonly called Saint Toolies bridge in the County of Norfolke This worthy Knight lyeth buryed vnder a faire monument in the middle I le on the Northside in Christs Church in Norwich But it is now borne with the Coate of Vister by the gift of King Iames vnto him as a Barronet by the Honourable and Nobly minded Sir Henry Hobart Knight and Baronet Lord chiefe Iustice of the Common Pleas of Blickling in the County of Norfolke whose vprightnesse in Iustice and loue to his country hath like his owne Starre communicatiue of it selfe dispersed the fairer beames into all places Râ—x dilect◠〈◊〉 sâ—o Roberto de Woodhouse Archidiacone de Richmâ—nd Thesaâ—rario sâ—o salutem Negotiaâ—os statum regni contingentia c. vobis mandamus â—irmiter iâ—iungentes quod omnibus alijs praterâ—issis c. Beside I haue sâ—ene the will of King Henry the fourth and Heâ—rie the fifth where one was a gentleman of Henry the fourth's chamber and by his will made one of his executors as also he was to Henry the fifth who wrote his letter to the Pâ—ior and Chapter of the Church of the Trinitie in Norwich to giue him leaue to build himselfe a Chappell in their Church So that from time to time they haue held an Honourable place and at this day are worthy stayes and pillars of Iustice in their Countries Nor must I heere let fall the worth of two sons of this Gentleman Sir Thomas Woodhouse Knight who marryed Blanch Sister to the right Honourable Henry now Viscount Rochfâ—rt and Master Roger Woodhouse his brother Gentlemen not onely learned but accomplished in what euer may lend Lustre to worth and true gentilitie This was also the Coate of Sir Thomas Louell Knight of the Garter made by King Henrie the seuenth of whose hoâ—se hee was Treasurer and President of the Counsell This Sir Thomas Louell was a fift sonne of Sir Ralphe Louell of Barton Bendish in the Countie of Norfolke This his Coate with the Garter about it standeth ouer Lincolnes Inne Gate He founded the Nunnery of Halliwell where was also his house on a wall of which not maâ—y yeares since was to be read this inscription All ye Nuns of Halliwell Pray ye both day and night For the Soule of Sir Thomas Louell Whom Harry the 〈◊〉 made Knight It appeareth also that Sir William Louell Lord Morley was Knight of the Garter for in Morley Church the seate of his Baronnie is yet remaining in a Glasse window which I haue seene this Coate with the Garter about it This Coate Armour is verie ancient as is proued by sundry bookes of Armes Church windowes and seuerall deeds wherof I haue seene two bearing date Anno 18. Richard the 2. with seales of this very Coate fixed thereunto with this inscription about the same viz Sigillum Robertide Ashfield as also another deed bearing date Anno 3. Henrie the fixt made from Robert the sonne of Iohn Ashfeild of Stow-Langton Esquire to Simon Finchanâ— and Iohn Whitlocke with a faire Seale of red Waxe whereupon was a Griffâ—â— Sâ—iant with his wings displayed ouer whose body is this Armes with this inscription about the whoâ—e Seale viz S. Robertide Ashfeild Armig. The aboue named Robert Ashfeild builded the Church of Stow Langton in the Quire whereof which I haue seene hee lyeth butied vnder a faire Marble he was seruant vnto the blacke Prince whom he followed in his warres in France This Coate is thus borne by Sir lohn Ashfeild Knight sole heire of that Family now Gentleman of the bedde Chamber to Prince Charles This ancient name and family of Crow was anciently of Suffolke for about the time of K. Edward the 4. Thomas Crow of Suffolke the elder purchased Bradsted in Kent whose sonne Thomas Crow the yoâ—ger married Ioane the onely daughter and heire of Nicholas Boare son of Iohn sonne of Richard Boare that married Lora the daughter of Simon Stocket of Bradsted in Kent The aforesaid Ioane brought to Thomas her husband his house called Stockets with a Chancell built by the aboue named Simon Stockets as appeareth by a French deede tempore Edw. 2. As also a house and certaine land called Boars by whom shee had issue Iohn Crow the elder father of Henry Crow father of William Crow of Bradsted Esq. who married Anne the second daughter and coheire of Iohn Sackuill of Chiddingleigh in Sussex Esq. The said Mannor of Chiddingleigh hath beene in the possession of the Sackuills aboue three hundred yeeres and at this day is part of the inheritance of the Right Honorable Richard Sackuill Earle of Dorset and Baron of Buckâ—urst which William Crow and Annâ— his wife hath issue Sackuill Crow their sonne and heire now liuing with others This Coate of Talbot belongeth vnto the Right worshipfull Master Thomas Talbot Doctour of the Ciuill Law of Miliers Hall in Wimâ—ndham in the Countie of Norfolke a very learned and honest Gentleman If you would proceede further in blazonry and the true knowledge of the desâ—â—â—ts of our English Nobility I refer you to that exact iust and elaborate worke of my singular and learned friend Master Augustine Vincent Rouge-croix very shortly to be publishedâ— which let it be vnto you of all that haue written in that kinde instar omnium So I referre you henceforward to your priuate reading and obseruation CHAP. 14. Of Exercise of the Body I Now from your priuate studie and contemplation bring you abroad into the open fields for exercise of your Body by some honest recreation since Aristotle requireth the same in the Education of Nobilitie and all youth Since the mind from the Ability of the Body gathereth her strength and vigor Anciently by the Ciuill Law these kinds of Exercises were onely allowed of that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which are the exercise of Armes by single combate as running at Tilt-barrians c. coiting throwing the hammer sledge and such like Running iumping leaping and lastly wrestling for the first it is the most Noble those Epithites of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 haue beene the attributes of Kings and Princes whose delight in auncient times was to ride and mannage great horses Hereby you are ennabled for command and the seruice of your Country And what saith Tullis can bee more glorious then to bee able to preserue and
a beautifull body Memorable as making to our purpose is that speech of Sigâ—smund the Emperoâ—r to a Doctor of the Ciuill Law who when he had receiued Knighthood at the Emperours hands left forthwith the societie of his fellow Doctors kept company altogether with the Knights which the Emperour well obseruing smilingly before the open assembly saide vnto him Foole who preferest Knighthood before Learning and thy degree I can make a thousand Knights in one day but cannot make a Doctor in a thousand yeares Now for as much as the Weale publique of euery Estate is preserued Armiâ— consilio this faire Tree by two maine branches disspreddeth her selfe into the Militarie Ciuil Discipline vnder the first I place Valor and Greatnesse of Spirit vnder the other Iustice knowledge of the Lawes which â— Consilij fons Magnificence and Eloquence For true Fortitude and greatnesse of Spirit were ennobled we reade Iphicrates that braue Athenian who ouerthrew in a set battaile the Lacedaemonians stopt the furie of Epaminondas and became Lieutenant Generall to Artaxerxes King of Persia yet but the sonne of a poore Cobler Eumenes one of the best Captaines for valour and aduice Alexander had was the sonne of an ordinarie Carter Dioclesian was the sonne of Scriuener or Book-binder Valentinian of a Rope-maker Maximinus of a Smith Pertinax of a Wood-monger Seruius Tullus sonne of a Bond-woman thence his name Seruius Tarquinius Priscus of a poore Merchant or rather Pedler in Corinth Hugh Capet the first of that name King of France the sonne of a Butcher in Paris who when Lewis the sixth sonne of Lothary was poisoned by Blanch his Wife for Adulterie being a stout fellow and of a resolute Spirit hauing gathered a company like himselfe and taking his aduantage of the time and distempered humour of the State carried himselfe and his businesse so that he got the Crowne from the true heire Charles the Vnckle of Lewis Lamusius the third King of the Lombards was the sonne of a common Strumpet found laid and couered with leaues in a ditch by King Agelmond who by chance riding that way and espying a thing stirre in the ditch touched it with the point of his Lance to see what it was which the Infant with the hand taking fast hold of the King amazed and imagining it as a presage of some good fortune toward the child caused it to be taken out of the ditch and to bee brought vp which after nursed in the lap of Fortune by many degrees of Honor got the Crowne of Lombardy Neither are the truly valorous or any way vertuous ashamed of their so meane Parentage but rather glorie in themselues that their merit hath aduanced them aboue so many thousands farre better descended And hence you shall many times heare them freely discourse of their beginning and plainely relate their bringing vp what their Parents were I remember when I was in the Low-Countries and liued with Sir Iohn Ogle at Virecht the reply of that valiant Gentleman Colonell Edmondes to a Countrey-man of his newly come out of Scotland went Currant who desiring entertainment of him told him My Lord his Father and such Knights and Gentle-men his Couzins and Kinsmen were in good health Quoth Colonell Edmondes Gentlemen to his friends by beleeue not one word hee sayes my Father is but a poore Baker of Edenbourgh and workes hard for his liuing whom this knaue would make a Lord to currie fauour with me and make ye beleeue I am a great man borne c. So that the valiant Souldier you see measureth out of the whole cloath his Honour with his sword and hence in ancient times came Rome Athens Carthage and of late the Ottoman Empire to their greatnesse Honor being then highly prized euery one aymed at Nobilitie and none refused the most desperate attempts for the good of his Countrey Thus the Decij Cato Marcellus with infinite others became ennobled and had their Altars Statues Columnes c. and were welnigh adored with as great respect as their Gods themselues From no lesse meanesse of birth and beginning we find many great and famous Bishops Ciuilians Orators Poets c. to haue attained to the greatest dignities both of Church and Common-wealth and to haue checked with their Fortunes euen Glorie her selfe Pope Iohn the two and twentieth was a poore Shooe-makers sonne Nicholas the fifth was sonne of a Poulter Sixtâ—â— the fift of a Hog-heard Alphenus but a Tailors Apprentice who running from his Master went to Rome and there studied the Ciuill Law and so profited that for his learning and wisedome he was after created Consull Vlpian but meanely borne yet Tutor to Alexander the Emperour Cicero was borne and brought vp at Arpinum a poore and obscure Village Virgil the sonne of a Potter Horace of a Trumpeter Theophrastus of a Botcher with infinite others I might alledge as well of ancient as moderne times For doing Iustice the Romanes of a priuate man and a stranger chose Numa for their King and on the contrary as Plutarch writeth comparing them together Lycurgus of a King for Iustice sake made himselfe a priuate man for A goodly thing saith Plutarch it is by doing iustly to obtaine a Kingdome and as glorious to prefer Iustice before a kingdome for the vertue of the one Numa made him so esteemed and honoured that he was of all thought worthy of it of the other so great that he scorned it In like manner for their good Lawes and doing Iustice were aduanced to their Thrones and goodly Tribunals Minos Rhadamantus though subiects of Poets fables Aratus Solon c. And how fairely beyond their Lawrels the name of Iust became Aristides Traiant Agesilaus with many others I leaue to Historie to report For Magnificence and obliging the places wherein they liued by great benefits were ennobled Tarquinius Priscus a stranger and a banished man and of later times Cosmo di Medici in Florence vpon whose vertues as vpon a faire prospect or some princely Palace giue me leaue a little as a traueller to breathe my selfe and shew you afarre off the faire Tutrets of his more then royall Magnificence being but a priuate man as I finde it recorded in his Historie by Machiauell This Cosmo saith he was the most esteemed and most famous Citizen being no man of warre that euer had beene in the memorie of man either in Florence or any other Citie because he did not onely excell all others of his time in Authoritis and Riches but also in Liberalitie and Wisedoms For among other qualities which aduanced him to be chiefe of his Countrey he was more then other men liberall and magnificent which liberalitie appeared much more after his death then before For his sonne Piero found by his Fathers Records that there was not any Citizen of estimation to whom Cosmo had not lent great summes of Money and many times also he did lend to those Gentlemen whom he knew
infinite Sea of the praise and vse of so excellent an Art but I onely shew it you with the finger because I desire not that any Noble or Gentleman should saue his priuate recreation at leasurable houres prooue a Master in the same or neglect his more weightie imployments though I auouch it a skill worthy the knowledge and exercise of the greatest Prince King Henrie the eight could not onely sing his part sure but of himselfe compose a Seruice of foure fiue and sixe parts as Erasmus in a certaine Epistle testifieth of his owne knowledge The Duke of Venosa an Italian Prince in like manner of late yeares hath giuen excellent proofe of his knowledge and loue to Musicke hauing himselfe composed many rare songs which I haue seene But aboue others who carryeth away the Palme for excellency not onely in Musicke but in whatsoeuer is to be wished in a braue Prince is the yet liuing Maurice Landgraue of Hessen of whose owne composition I haue seene eight or ten seuerall sets of Morets and solemne Musicke set purposely for his owne Chappell where for the greater honour of some Festiuall and many times for his recreation onely he is his own Organist Besides he readily speaketh â—en or twelue seueral languages he is so vniuersall a Scholler that comming as he doth often to his Vniuersitie of Marpurge what questions soeuer he meeteth with set vp as the manner is in the Germane and our Vniuersities hee will Extempore dispute an houre or two euen in Bootes and Spurres vpon them with their best Professors I passe ouer his rare skill in Chirurgeriâ— he being generally accounted the best Bone-setter in the Country Who haue seene his estate his hospitalitie his rich furnished Armorie his braue Stable of great Horses his â—â—tesie to all strangers being men of Qualitie and good parts let them speake the rest But since the naturall inclination of some men driueth them as it were perforce to the top of Excellencie examples of this kind are very rare yea great personages many times are more violently carried then might well stand with their Honours and necessitie of their affaires yet were it to these honest and commendable exercises sauouring of vertue it were well but many neglecting their duties and places will addict themselues wholly to trifles and the most ridiculous and childish practises As Eropus King of Macedonia tooke pleasure only in making of Candles Domitian his recreation was to catch kill flyes and could not be spoken with many times in so serious employment Pâ—olomans Philadelphus was an excellent Smith and a Basket maker Alphonso Atestino Duke of Ferraâ—ra delighted himselfe onely in turning and playing the Ioyner Rodolph the late Emperour in setting of Stones and making Watches Which and the like much eclipse State and Maiestie bringing familiaritie and by consequence contempt with the meanest I desire no more in you then to sing your part sure and at the first sight withall to play the same vpon your Violl or the exercise of the Lute priuately to your selfe To deliuer you my opinion whom among other Authors you should imitate and allow for the best there being so many equally good is somewhat difficult yet as in the rest herein you shall haue my opinion For Moâ—â—â—s and Musicke of pietie and deuotion as well for the honour of our Nation as the merit of the man I preferre aboue all other our Phoenix M. William Byrd whom in that kind I know not whether any may equall I am sure none excell euen by the iudgement of France and Italy who are very sparing in the commendation of strangers in regard of that conceipt they hold of themselues His Cantiones 〈◊〉 as also his Gradualia are meere Angelicall and Diuine and being of himselfe naturally disposed to Grauitie and Pietie his veine is not so much for light Madrigals of Canzonets yet his Virginella and some others in his first set cannot be mended by the best Italian of them all For composition I preferre next Ludouico de Victoria a most iudicious and a sweete Composer after him Orlando di Lasso a very rare and excellent Author who liued some forty yeares since in the Court of the Duke of Baueir He hath published as well in Latine as French many sets his veine is graue and sweete among his Latine Songs his seuen poenitentiall Psalmes are the best and that French Set of his wherein is Susanna vn jour Vpon which Dittie many others haue since exercised their inuention For delicious Aire and sweete Inuention in Madrigals Luca Marâ—â—zio excelleth all other whosoeuer hauing published more Sets then any Authour else whosoeuer and to say truth hath not an ill Song though sometime an ouer-sight which might be the Printers fault of two eights or fifts escape him as betweene the Tenor and Base in the last close of I must depart all haplesse ending according to the nature of the Dittie most artificially with a Minim rest His first second and third parts of Thyrsis Veggo dolca 〈◊〉 ben chi fa hoggi mio Sole Cantava or sweete singing Amaryllie are Songs the Muses themselues might not haue beene ashamed to haue had composed Of stature and complexion hee was a little and blacke man he was Organist in the Popes Chappell at Rome a good while afterward hee went into Poland being in displeasure with the Pope for ouermuch familiaritie with a kinswoman of his whom the Queene of Poland sent for by Luca Marenzio afterward she being one of the rarest women in Europe for her voyce and the Lute but returning he found the affection of the Pope so estranged from him that hereupon hee tooke a conceipt and died Alphouse Ferabosco the father while he liued for iudgment and depth of skill as also his sonne yet liuing was inferior vnto none what he did was most elaborate and profound and pleasing enough in Aire though Master Thomas Morley censureth him otherwise That of his I saw my Ladie weeping and the Nightingale vpon which Dittie Master Bird and he in a friendly aemulation exercised their inuention cannot be bettered for sweetnesse of Aire or depth of iudgement I bring you now mine owne Master Horatio Vecchi of Modena beside goodnesse of Aire most pleasing of all other for his conceipt and varietie wherewith all his workes are singularly beautified as well his Madrigals of fiue and sixe as those his Canzonets printed at Norimberge wherein for tryall sing his Viuo in fuoco amoroso Lucretia mia where vpon Iâ— catenatâ— more with excellent iudgement hee driueth a Crotchet thorough many Minims causing it to resemble a chaine with the Linkes Againe in Sâ—is potessi raccor'i mâ—i Sospiri the breaking of the word Sospiri with Crotchet Crotchet rest into sighes and that fa mi vn Canzonâ— c. To make one sleepe at noone with sundry other of like conceipt and pleasant inuention Then that great Master and Master not long
principles of this Art in a manner quite lost amongst them So that while certaine Graecian Painters sent for by some of the Nobilitie of Florence were painting a Church in Florence one Ioannes Cimabus a young man and naturally affecting this Art grew so farre into familiar acquaintance with them that he learned the manner of their draught and mingling colours that in a short time he excelled the best Masters among them and was the first that I can find among the Italians that brought Painting into credit and got a name by his skill herein For some of his peeces for the raritie were carried out of his house into the new Church in Florence with Musicall Instruments of all sorts and solemne processionâ— others being vttered at great rates ouer all France and Italy in so much as Charles the French King moued with his fame came to Florence to see his Worke. He died in the yeare 1300. leauing behind him his Scholler Giotto who by the opinion of Dante 's in his Purgatorie farre surpassed him He was so humorous saith the Interpreter of Dante 's that if himselfe or any other espyed any fault in his work he would like Mishael Ianss now liuing at Delft in Holland deface and breake it in peeces though he had bestowed a tweluemoneths paines thereon Andrea Taffi About this time also the Graecians brought the Art of working in Musiue or Mosaique to Venice where in S. Markes Church they wrought it with whom Taffi falling acquainted hee drew one of the best Masters among them named Apollâ—â—â—m to Florence who taught him to bake Mosaique Glasses and to temper the size for them so they wrought together but the rudenesse of that age was such that neither they nor their workes were in that esteeme as they deserued Gaddo Gaddi About this time also liued Gadde Gaddi a very rare Master a Florentine borne for the fine and subtile aire of Florence hath produced men of more sharpe and excellent spirits then any other place of Italy who excelled in Mosaique and wrought it with better iudgement then any before him insomuch as hee was sent for to Rome Anno. 1308 the yeare after the great fire and burning of the Church of S. Iohn Lateranâ— and the Pallace of Pope Clement the fifth whence well rewarded he returned backe into Tuscane where he dyed Anno 1312. Margaritene Margaritâ—nâ—â— was borne in Arezzâ— a very skilfull Master he was the first that deuised laying Gold or gilding vpon Bole Armoniacke to be burnished as we see it in knops now adaies vpon the Valences and Canopics of beds and to make a Glew for Picture Tables that should neuer decay Giotto Giotto was not onely a rare Painter but also an excellent Architect for all manner of curious conceipt in building and to say truth was the first who of latter times in Italy brought picture into admiration and her true height He was borne at Vespignâ—â—â— a village foureteâ—ne Italian miles from Florence his father was an husbandman and Giâ—ttâ— being a Boy of some twelue yeares of age was set by him to keepe sheepe but Nature hauing ordained him for another end the Boy while hee was tending his sheepe would be practising with a sticke vpon the sand or dustie high-way or vpon void places vpon walls with a Coale to draw whatsoeuer sorted with his fancie It fortuned on a time while he was drawing the picture of one of his sheepe Cimabus to passe by who admiring such Art in the Boyes draught who had neuer any other direction saue out of his naturall inclination demanded of him if he would dwell with him who answered Yea if his father were so contented The father agreed and placed him with Cimabus who in short time so excelled that he farre surpassed the rusticke Greeke manner of working bringing forth a better Moderne Art and the true working by the life which had not beene knowne in two hundred yeares before He was very inward and familiar with Dante 's the Poet whose picture he drew he was of all others famous for his skill and conceipt in expressing affections and all manner of gesture so that he might be truly called Natures Scholler His workmanship is especially seene at Acesi a Citie of Vmbria in the Cloisters of S. Francis where the body of S. Francis lyeth buried where among other rare inuentions of his is to be seene a Monke kneeling before Obedience who putteth a yoake vpon his necke he holding vp both his hands to heauen and shee laying her forefinger vpon her mouth casteth vp her eyes towards Christ from whose side the blood issueth in great abundance On either hand of her stand wisedome and humility to shew where true obedience is there is wisedome and humility which helpe to finish euery good worke on the other side is an historie where chastity standeth vpon a strong and high rocke as not to be won or mooued by the force of kings though they seeme to offer Crownes Scepters and Palmes At her feete lyeth purity in the shape of a childe washing it selfe and by chastity standeth pennance hauing diuen away with her discipline winged Loue in a third place standeth pouerty barefooted treading vpon thornes a dogge barking at her at one side a child throwing stones at her on the other another child with a sticke putting the thornes towards her legs This pouerty is marryed to Saint Francis whom Christ giueth by ioying their hands in a fourth place is Saint Francis praying with such great deuotion and inward affection expressed in his countenance that it detaineth the beholder with singular admiration From thence returning toward Florence he wrought in distemper as we call it or wet with size sixe histories of patient Iâ—b wherein are many excellent figures among others the positures and countenances of the messengers bringing the sorrowfull newes vnto him which are not to be mended withall a seruant with one hand keeping off the slies from his sore master and with the other stopping his nose the countenances and draperies of the standers by done with such grace and iudgement that the same hereof presently went ouer all Italy Insomuch that Pope Benedict sent a messenger from Rome into Tuscany to know what manner of man Giotto was and what his workes were beeing purposed to beautifie Saint Peters Church with sacred Histories by the hand of some excellent master This Messenger or Courtier from the Pope taking his iourney to Florence passed by Siena and still enquiring out the best masters tooke a draught of something from euery one of them to carry back to the Pope to choose as he thought best comming to Florence in a morning betimes he came to the shop of Giotto desiring as he had done of others to giue him a touch with his pencill or some peece to show his Holinesse Giotto being merily disposed tooke a sheete of paper vpon which with a pencill setting one arme vnder his side hee drew so absolute a Circle that by no coâ—passe a
Prologo Psalm Psal. 80. Psal. 90. Psal. 1. Psalm 104. * The place to this day is called Rowlands vallie and was in times past a great pilgrimage there being a Chappell built ouer the tombe dedicated to our Ladie called commonly but corruptly our Ladie of Rouceuall Panormitan lib. 1. de geslis Alphensi a Who gaue him it is thought his Mannor of Ewhilme in Oxfordslhire To Charles the eight Lewis the twelfth Prudence In Poetie lib. 3. qui Idea ca. 25. Aeneid 11. Parâ—ise ciuibus Aneid 4. Sweetnesse Aeneid 11. Aeneid 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Pale Scal. lib. 3. Pâ—câ— cap. 27. * Phalariâ—a Aeneid 4. Aeneid 11. Ouid. Virgilium 〈◊〉 vâ—di Vide Surium in Commentariâ— retum in orbe gestarum Anne 1581. fol. 1026. Horace Scaliger Poet. lib. 6. Totius Tâ—â—acoâ—â—â—usis Rex Iuvenal Persius Martial Lucane Seneca Claudian Ignobili subiecte oppressus Statius Propertius Plautus Terence Buchanan Iul. Cas. Scaliger Ioseph of Exeter Sir Thomas More William Lillie Sir Thomas Challoner Sir Geoffrey Chaucer Gower Lydgate Harding Skelton Henrie Batle of Surrey Sir Thomas Wyat. Northmimmes in Herford-shire neere to S. Albanes Deut. 32. * It was an instrumeÌ„t three square of 72. strings of incomparable sweetnesse “ Answering one another in the Quire Chron. 2. ca. 5. ver 12. and 13. Iâ— lib. de Aâ—gore animi 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Odyll 8. Arist. Politic. Cicero Tâ—sc quast lib. 1. Erasm. in Farragine Epist. D. of Venosa The iust praise of Maurice Lanâ—graue of Hessen 〈…〉 〈…〉 M. William â—yrd Ludouice de Victoria Luca Marâ—nzio Horatio 〈◊〉 Horatio Vecchi Giou 〈◊〉 Croce Peter Phillips Boschettâ— his Motets of 8. parts printed in Rome 1594. Polyb. lib. 4. cap. 7. Iulian Imperat. in Epist. ad Antioch Rhetorique and Musicke their affinitie The strange effects and properties of Musicall proportions The manifold vse of painting or lâ—â—ning Iob 9. 16. * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lomaziâ—e Alberâ— Durer â—ub Golâ—â—ius Michael Angelo Haâ—ns Holben a He painted the Chappell at white Hall and S. Iames Ioseph of Arimathia Lazarus rising from the dead c. were his Ioan. Shaâ—â—â— Witrix Crispin de Pasâ—e Of painting in oyle Of preparing your table for an oyle picture a The fiâ—â—er for our yealow ruffes * The Modell of the steeple of the cheefe Church in Florence Lib. 1. Dionysius Halicarnaâ— antiquit Rom. lib. 2 Balâ—asar Ayala deâ—nic offâ—â—s Bell. lib. 1. Iâ—n lib. 1. 〈◊〉 lib. 16 cap. 4. Dion Halicarn lib. 2. antiquit Rom. Liviâ—â— l. â— 9. Cicero Offic. lib. 3. Flor. l. 2. cap. 18. Vide Noâ—â—um Marecellum lib. 3. Cicero lib. 2. delegitus De laprimitive Institution dâ—s â—â—ys Herauldz et poursus vans d' armes Girald Camb. â—iv lib. 8. Iosephus Plutarch in vita Pelopâ—â—a Arist 〈◊〉 lib. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Iosephus lib. 3. Xenophon de Cyri. paed lib. 7. Curtius lib. 3. Martij pueri Porcina srons pitrius lib. 9. Hierog 〈◊〉 The corte of Portugall Osorius de Râ—gis institutions D. of Bavaria M Freeherus in origine Palasinaâ— Verslegan 〈◊〉 Freherus Dr Origine yalaâ— Solymans opinion of the Emperour Charles Holinshead in the Tâ—â—le of Scotland The originall of the Noble Family of the Haâ—es in Scotland Aluares de violla Fields of equall composition The Fesse Remaines M. Guillim in his Display Of difference by the Bordure Tillet Tillet * Alduham a Sandrige a 〈…〉 So that Iames was Atturney generall vnto Henry now Henry vnto Iames. M. Iohn Woodhouse * In Norfolk Master â—ug Vincent In L. Solâ—â—â— â— de Alea lusu Aleâ—â—â— Of Horsemanship Of Tilting and Torneaments Guide Panciâ—llo in lib de reb no viter reâ—ertis tit 20. Nicetas lib. 3. Of throwing leaping and wrestling Of running C. Casar in Epistolis a To cure the smalnesâ—e of his voice he would vsually run vp a hil a fit Embleme for such as when they haue ascended the heigth of preferment both looke and speak big Of leaping Of swimming Liv. lib. 2. Decad. 1. The resolute aduenture of Gerrard and Haruey in 88. Of shooting Langius lib. 2. Epist. 59. Quercetan in Diatetico poly hist. Sect. 2. Cap. 11. Iul. Firmicus lib. 5. cap. 8. Melancthon lib. 5. Chronâ— folio 789. Budaus de venatione Aucupâ—o Concil Auâ—el cap. 4. Agathâ—usi 55. Epanneusi â— 4 â— Exâ—â— de Clerico â—enatore Volatteran lib. 7. avâ—iqâ— Ionius in Barnaba 〈◊〉 lib. 7. Ecclesiastic Psal. 1â— 9. 9. Athenaeus lib. 5. cap. 4. Diodorus lib. 20. 1. Magnus lib. 7. cap. 17. Erasim lib. 6. Apotheg ca Spartians Xiâ—hilinus Plutarch in Philoâ—â—m Philip Commines c. 34. Ludouis Viues In Emblem Of Frugalitie Iustine Plutarch in Philopoemen Ciâ— pro Deiotaro Iuliaâ—us 〈◊〉 decura â—urio Plutarch in Aristide The modesty and humility of Charles the fifth The Duke of Norfolâ—â— Machiauestâ— in Host. Florent In Philopoem Plutarch Of Diet. Seneca Rhet. 7. Cicero pro Caetio Plutaâ—â—h de Sanitate tuenda Plutarch in Scylla Sabâ—ll Emâ—â—ad 2. Suâ—toniâ—â— Euery Romane penny was about seuen pence halfe penny of our mony C. Rhâ—digiâ— lib. 6. cap. 35. Suidas Politian lib. 15 Miscellan Drinking the destruction of wit plague of our English Gentry Invâ—nal Satyâ— Drunkennes not many yeares since very rare in England Plin lib 4. Historia sub finem Prouerb 23. Ecclesiast 31. vers â—7 Athenaâ—s Sleidan lib. 19 Affability in Discourse This hapned in Norfolke Of a Souldier of Breda Pasquâ—â—e a marble Image in Rome on which they vâ—e to sixe libels Because an Earle in Rome had marryed a chamber-maide Plato saith it is onely allowed Physitions to lie for the comfort of the sicke Dâ—â—â—ys Halicarnaâ—â— Dâ—â—â—er sâ—c lib. 1. Diâ—g Lâ—ers lib. 2. in vita Arthel Lipsiuâ— * Nod. Gene. 4. M. Dallington Casar Com. 3. The Lovure The Tuilleries Fontainebleaâ— Blâ—is Amboise Villiers Cosâ—ereâ—â— Charleval The Castle of 〈◊〉 Of Spaine Yet the finest Wooll is of Sâ—gâ—uia