and that being hereafter published vnder that high Title many learned eyes and curious fingers not so much for the matter forme of the Treatise as for the Maiestie patronizing it would peruse these yong rules in this vnperfect accedence to gouernment and percase beare them through diuers of your Maiesties Kingdomes I haue also through my whole discourse as occasioÌ„ serued in diuers places made a continuall Apostrophe to your Maiestie which I beseech your Highnes eueÌ„ as it is in sinceritie so to refer it vnto the true meaning of my most dutifull immaculate hart towards your Grace and not to any vaine singularitie nor presumption in my self The God of al true light coÌ„tinue that illumination brightnes and wisedom which appeareth in your true graces by that figure of the Sun confirme that piercing inspection apprehension prenotion of all princely deuises wisdoms practises which may be bent in opposition to your Maiestie by forren kings decyphered in that imperial Eagle corroborate that true fortitude to the confusion of Gods of your Highnesses enemies which is expressed in the royal Lyon so that your kingdoms being susteined amplefied conserued by Iustice prudence fortitude froÌ„ posteritie to posteritie through many generations so long as it shall please God euenly to susteine this earth in her owne place within the firmaments such serenitie may beame forth from your gracious wisedome as foreuer may moue the peoples hearts of these your Kingdomes of all your confederates and contributories to daunce inwardly with praise and thankefulnesse vnto God for that blessing which through your Graces speciall goodnesse infinitely succeedeth to Gods people vnder your imperiall Scepter Your most high Maiesties most humble and obedient Subiect BARNABE BARNES To Master Barnabe Barnes this Madrigall vpon his Booke IF all the world were sought from Malta to Mone From candid Gaule to black-brow'd Calicute No frame more various mought haue been made one In eu'ry ioynt or point like absolute For as some Spirits while they haue beene attent On states of Princes and on earthly right Haue follow'd the wordly side with that intent And yet vnmindfull of the highest Sprite Others againe too much I ween yblent With heauenly zeale and with Religion Haue for the same the Secular forwent So if a meane there be as meane but one To twine the Crossier with the sword atone O let me then with licence to avow T' will right Paladine be by onely you W. Percy MVSOPHILYS Spes calamo occidit In honour of the Author by Tho Campion Doctor in Physicke To the Reader Though neither thou doost keepe the Keyes of State Nor yet the counsels Reader what of that Though th' art no Law-pronouncer mark't by fate Nor field commander Reader what of that 〈◊〉 not this Booâ—… for if thou mind'st to be Vertuous and honest it belongs to thee Here is the Schoole of Temperance and Wit Of Iustice and all formes that tend to it Here Fortitude doth teach to liue and die Then Reader loue this Booke or rather buy EIVSDEMAD AVTHOREM PErsonas proprijs rectè virtutibus ornas Barnesi liber hic viuet habet Genium Personae virtus vmbra est hanc illa refulcit Nec scio splendescat corpus an vmbra magis To my singular good friend Master Barnabe Barnes GRaue Architector of a Commonweale Well trauail'd in the mysteries of state Vouchsafe me roome among the rest some deale Thy loftie frame to view and wonder at And where the workemanship doth please mine eye To say t' was wrought with painefull industrie That 's euery where for all doth merit praise The forme the firme foundation and the frame The forme Quadrangular most meete to raise A Pallace sacred to eternall fame Founded on wisedome builded vp on high With goodly lawes and Christian policie Vp held with foure strong Piles whose bases ar Sage Counsell awfull Iustice armed Might Aboundant Treasure sinewes of the war These make it strong to last and faire to sight Where soure such pillers doe the bulke sustaine What feare we thunders tâ—…pests winds or raine Heere maist thou fix with bold Alâ—…mena's sonne NIL VLTRA as the farthest continent That wisest statist euer yet did runne Within this world of ciuill gouernment And as the woorke so doth the style excell That of Boterus Bodin Machiauell Tho Michelborne R. H. In commendation of the Author Some vncouth Muse which mountes vpon the wings Of siluer fountaines or sweet breathing windes Chaunt out her notes when she diuinely singes To dignifie the state of these foure kindes Which Treasurers to moderation bindes And gracious prudence to graue men of State Where Themis rules of sacred Iustice findes Where fortitude doth sword-men animate O let some potent muse these great designes relate And let bright fame whose worthy spirit pearceth The worlds whole center and those heaueuly speeres Assume this taske for him which here reherseth These morall Offices of States and Peeres And thou that soundest in the prudent eares Thy golden trumpet of rich Oratorie Gracious Thalia let these learned Queares Be graced as thou doest each gracious Story That BARNES may liue by them in euerlasting glorie Robert Hasill Iohn Forde in commendation of his very good friend the Author Not to adorne but to commend this Frame Drawne by the curious hand of iudgements art Nor to commend for this commends the same But solace to thy labours to impart A worke of thankes out liuing terme of fate In briefe prescriptions of a formall State Great were thy paines but greater is thy fame Lock't in the Iewel-house of precious treasure Which doth by Counsailes wisedome reare thy name In equall Iustice of well-ballac't measure Thou teachest souldiers discipline of fight And they againe defend thy merits right Write on rare Myrrour of these abiect dayes Thy good example others will aduise Thy subiect values loue thy Studies praise A president to youth life to the wise So euer shall while times and Empires last Thy workes by thee thou by thy works be grac't Verba decor grauitas confirmant denotat ornat 〈◊〉 lepidum re grauitate manu Iohannes Forda Encomiastes Barnabe Barnes his Preface to the honourable and discrete Reader I Haue apportioned my foure bookes of Offices wherin certaine speciall qualities and principles are expressed for generall gouernement and the choise both of ciuill and martiall ministers in euery Commonwealth vnto the foure vertues cardinall For as much therefore as royall treasure being the maintenance of euery state without which no principalities can consist or augment ought to be mistically couched within the diuine treasure Temperance which is the moderator guide of her other three sister vertues ensuing I therefore haue placed Temperance in this first Paralel considering the resemblance which it should haue with a Princes treasure so well in the manner of getting leuying as in the sauing disbursing of mony by discrete moderation which office of Treasurers possesseth the first booke of
if they set their hearts vpon righteousnesse and call vpon the name of the most highest For vnto this precious gift of temperance their nature is most neare because their braines are lesse prouoked by the distemperature of their inferior irascible and concupiscentiall parts The complection therfore most eligible is sanguine aubourne haire of a meane stature vertuously instructed healthfull and long liued And these vnlesse some other defect or violence against nature peruert the same are for the most part endowed with much wisedome and wit of which excellent kind we read in the bookes of the Kings that king Dauid was as faire and ruddie with a comely countenance body well shaped of a meane stature Howbeit we find that he many times through those concupiscenciall motions was excited to sinne yet had God so blessed him that he did not loose that habite of vertue which was put vpon him with that blessing when choise was first made of him to be the seruant of God and vicegerent to rule his chosen people In election of counsellors according to Pliny it was obserued that no man vnder thirtie yeeres of age should be permitted to consult in principall causes of the Commonwealth nor men very aged as after the terme of sixtie yeeres according to Vâ—…rro Which Seneca likewise confirmeth limiting the seruice of soldiers to fiftie yeeres and of Senators to sixtie Per legem annariam For according to that Law the Romanes well knew when they might in respect of their yeeres sue to be Tribunes Quaestors Dictators Consuls or in other offices as it was limited appearing by this of the Poet Ovid. Finit aque certis Legibus est atas vnde petatur honos That age by which men may sue for honors or promotions is confined within certaine Lawes For if in respect of their experience by many yeeres old men be regarded it must be respected that by course of nature they be timerous suspicious incredulous couetous and so much more froward and fearefull as they bee more wasted in yeeres impatient of labour and paine obliuious by which defect diuers occasions are neglected talkatiue obstinate in opinion their vnderstanding dull their heate which is the spurre of action wasted Yong men are likewise void of experience much subiect to vicious affections and pleasures of nature to passions and perturbations of minde so distracted with heat of youth heedlesse temeritie and surcuidrie that they cannot obserue any temper in grauitie neither will the people cleaue vnto their counsells And as that excellent Morallist Seneca writte Iuuenile vitium est regere non posse impetum It is a vice naturally graffed in youth not sufficiently to bridle appetite Men therefore of middle age are to be chosen whose humours are plausible and temperate whose inward affections are delayed with some experience and discretion which can dispose remember and execute matters with a proportionable strength courage and grauitie whose memorie will richly serue them for things past whose vnderstanding to iudge of things present according to truth and whose imagination participating of them both can presage or prouide things to come such men are importuned with thronging multitudes for counsell and are to be chosen as I set downe before by the prince himselfe vpon good experience had of their sufficiencies Yong men admitted to that place are fitly called abortiue counsellors and certaine of theÌ„ like summer fruits of the first season soone ripe fit for the administration of weightie matters but naturally decay quickly some long before they be come to be sound in iudgment but hauing attained perfection in knowledge are the men indeed fitt for aucthoritie most excellent aboue others their wisdome continuing long with them yeelding a faire and commendable light euen to the last spiracle of their naturall life so long as the least droppe of oyle is remaining in their earthly lampes As that most reuerende Father in Christ Iohn Whytgift late Archbishop of Canterbury and the right sage and euer-worthy Lord Treasurer William Cecill declared long after the terme of sixtie yeeres euen to the last period of their breath Such yong towardly plants as are like by the gifts of nature and pleasantnesse of their wit to proue fit in time for such seruice must first be diligenly taught in Schooles and Vniuersities after good knowledge in arts commended with honest and faithfull Tutors attending them into forreine countries there to note and learne good fashions of people with their Languages and such things as I spoke of before in peregrination and then towardes the three or foure and twentieth yere of their age when firmer strength may beare it exercised and practised some-deale in the warres which is a great glory to noble yong spirits and groundeth them in the loue of vertue when armes are exercised with a perfect heroicall resolution and to good purposes as Cicero writeth Prima est adolescenti commendatio ad gloriam si qua ex bellicis rebus compaâ—…ari potest The best honour of a yong man proceedeth from his perfection in armes And according to Plato Liberum hominem maxinè decet armoruÌ„ disciplina equitatio c. Martiall discipline and horseman-ship most honoureth a Gentleman By these meanes hauing well broken the inordinate heate of youth with some manly moderation and experience they may be chosen if the Prince thinke it fit into counsell imployed in publike affares of policie till sixtie yeeres be past and then let them take leaue of their Prince returning to their quiet for the better purifying and rectifying of their consciences seeking after their soules health studying how to die a blessed death and hauing their honors and reuenues enlarged by the Princes great bene ficence towards them The Soueraigne which is the fountaine of these counsels needeth not any rules concerning his apport or carriage in administration of graue and weightie businesses of his kingdomes and state for so much as it should bee presupposed that all the wise consultations and actions of his immediate ministers issue from him as being the fountaine or Loadstarre of their direction in whom all glorie which is attained by the mature deliberations and seruices of them that attend his counsels remaineth And therefore I craue pardon herein if vnhapily some shall imagine me so foolishly presumptuous as to prescribe rules of policie for any princes not hauing sufficient in my selfe to serue those priuate purposes that are required in a single man of meane condition for well I know QuaÌ„ difficile atque asperuÌ„ sit consiliuÌ„ regi aut imperatori dare postremo cuiquam mort alium cuius opes in excelso sunt quippe cum illiâ—… consultoruÌ„ copia sunt I know that it is difficult and harsh to minister counsell vnto a King or Emperor or to any mortall man whose riches are huge and honorable because such persons are plentifully furnished with choise of counsellors Onely this in briefe the respects importing his princely care
it was miserable and ruinous in short tiâ—…e Not much vnlike was that of king Philip Valoys called Le Beau who published an Edict That euerie third yeare inquisition should bee made into the manners state and behauiour of the secret Counsellors administrng in the French state In this forme of triall therefore great iudgement and good heed must bee had to those accusations so preferred which sometimes like pilles haue their bitternesse fairely gilt and shaddowed as hath beene manifoldly seene by good experience heretofore In which case the Prince imitateth S. Thomas not crediting further than his eyes and hands haue seene and felt For honours and Offices are either bestowed vpon men for desert for fauour or in respect of their power He which in this choice hath inspexion onely to the first sheweth wisedome and vertue but they that simply standvpon power and fauour differ little from the touch of tyrannie A fit Counsellor therefore a little after his election should haue adoption by the prince into that societie before his noble and immediate ministers of Iustice where to him must bee shewed that for his wisedome and honest parts and in regard of the peoples good opinion attesting his sufficiencie choice was made of him which good fame if he would cherish the glorie should in speciall redound vnto himselfe whereas otherwise the neglect thereof would disgrace and deiect him proposing rewards and punishments suting with his demeanour by which course the people will be well satisfied the Counsellor tied to care how this honour may be with answerable dutie retained and to knit vp the couenant his oath being as Cicero tearmeth it a religious affirmation must bee ministred vnto him in presence which will summon his conscience to warie circumspection and faithfulnesse in that Office arming him with honest constancie when partiall respect of blood or friendship shall chalenge him vpon vniust tearmes by which means he may take honourable exceptions against them And hence is it that Salust sayth How Counsellors should in their difficult consultations set apart all hatred friendship wrath and mercie Haud etenim facile vera prouidet animus vbi illa officiunt neque quisquam omnium libidini simùl vsui paruit For hardly can the mind foresee the truth where those offend neither did euer any man become subiect at once to his lust and commoditie And to make it the surer an oath is most auaileable with honest and ingenuous consciences and natures which Cicero likewise addeth to the charge of a magistrate Neque contra rempub neque contra iusiurandum ac fidem amici sui causa vir bonus faciet nec si Iudex quidem erit de ipso amico A good man will not enter into any action either against the Commonwealth or contrarie to his oath for any respect of friendship no though he were the Iudge in his friends cause For euery noble magistrat which respecteth honour will onely doe those things Quae salua fide facere possit Nullum etenim vinculum ad astringendam fidemiure inrando maiores arctius esse voluerunt For our Elders were of opinion that there could not bee deuised any firmer bond to retaine a mans faith than his solemne oath If Princes therefore will hold this course in planting Counsellors many very noble persons by birth will with vertuous studies furnish and enable themselues for those Offices and suppose they beeing licenciously nuzzled in delicate effeminacie corrupt their natures with pestilent sluggishnesse yet will other ingenuous spirits not so pampered and assotted with sensualities in their education naturally contend to become absolute and with some experience and practise prooue planets of happinesse to the Commonwealth where they minister In my iudgement that was a very strange and politicke prouision of former times in Fraunce which did so worke in the phantasticall spirits of those Noblemen For Vincentius Lupanus noteth That they did abhorre as a qualitie base barbarous and disgracefull that their gentlemen of the most liberall birth and nature should bee learned in the liberall Sciences and in Philosophie prouiding onely that their education should tend to good skill in horsemanship in hunting and in the practise of armes In which opinion it seemeth to mee that they were formerly confirmed and animated by the kings of that realme vpon very prudent respects howbeit I could neuer read it written in any booke neither haue I receiued it from the mouth of any mans opinion what cause might induce them to that kind of stupiditie But vnder pardon I deeme that they being of a fierie stirring and haughtie stomacke as the noble natures of that Nation hath beene many times by many wise obseruers noted and being rooted or implanted rather to the ciuile factions of diuerse Dukes and pettie princes through blood and alliance oppositely combined against some kings and others of those prouinces it hath beene a kind of foolish caball tending to the preseruation of that State and taught vnto them for the priuation of their rationall and intellectuall knowledge which otherwise through their sedicious complots and deuices such as haue alwayes beene plentifull amongst them they might haue coyned out of the noble mint of hystories and other politike discourses and therewithall endangered the publicke state For certaine it is that by the goodnesse of God and the naturall benefit of that climate vnder which they liue those noble men of Fraunce are docile ingenuous apprehensiue variable rash and for the most part fitter for alteration than confirmation of great affaires Howbeit in the flourishing age of king Frauncis the first some threescore and ten yeares past at what time God graciously visited the most parts of Christendome with his spirit of all true knowledge and literature when the most comfortable beames of his blessed sonne our Sauiour Christ his Gospell after a long and infernall eclipse of ignorance beautifully brast out and was dispersed amongst the poore leane and hunger-starued sheepe of his pasture as well with vs in these Realmes as with them and in Germanie euen then did the French Nobilitie take it as their highest honour and a true type of perfect glorie to bee learned in all vertuous contemplation and studies that therein also which so much surreacheth momentanie fortunes they might like as many starres surmount and be discerned from the vulgar shâ—…ddowes So that vnto men enriched with those noble qualities the prince vertuously studying to glorifie the state of that flourishing kingdome diuolued the great and noblest Maiesties Offices and Magistracies of his state whereof the number is infinite vnto such as were learned and vertuous Sola namque virtus vera Nobilitas est For very Nobilitie is composed of vertue onely And certaine is it found in all kingdomes That if the Prince delight in hunting Poetrie Musicke Armes Astrologie c. not onely those neerest him in court but the vulgar will fashion themselues according to their abilities vnto such studies and pleasures And if hee take comfort
and wise considerations without eloquence because cogitation conuerseth in it selfe and eloquence is beneficiall towards all which heare it for when a man enamelleth a wise speech with copiousnesse the people will confirme their opinions and counsels in his sapience if therewithall hee season the same as it were with a pleasant modestie infused into constant grauitie There be foure kinds of eloquent speaking and writing according to Macrobius Copiosum in quo Cicero breue in quo Salustius siccum quod Frontoni pingue floridum quod Plinio secundo c. The copious wherein Cicero the briefe in which Salust the drie through which Fronto the full and fruitfull for which Plinius the second were famoused Any of which beeing ingenuously practised without affectation or sophistrie carrie with them great force of reconciliation Much eloquence is found in those letters which king Philip of Macedon did write to his sonne Alexander and in those Epistles which Antipater and Antigonus did write vnto Captaines persuading them by benigne and fauorable tearmes to mooue the peoples hearts and to cherish or toll on the souldiors to seruice with the Metaphysicall oyle and balme of their eloquence and persuasion but to deliuer those attributes of Oratorie with a kind of feruencie zeale and affection in all causes of weight and passion is of great auaile and force which Cicreo specially noteth Oratio quae in multitudinem cum contentione habetur soepe vniuersam excitat gloriam Those Orations or speeches which in audience of the people are deliuered with a vehement and stirring spirit commonly mooue or procure a generall glorie beeing intended here vnto the speakers proceeding from the auditorie Obseruing alwayes that Philosophicall decencie which prohibiteth him Tanquam luculentum suem cum quouis volutari non enim procacitate linguae vitae sordes eluuntur Like a durtie sow which walloweth in any puddle for the dishonest touches of a mans conuersation are not washed out with sawcie taunts or speeches Such like was that luxurious kind of procacitie for which Salust and Cicero were both grieuously taxed in their verball eskairmouches together misbeleeuing the prudent tongues of grauitie And therefore Tacitus specially well describeth that excesse of eloquence thus Eloquentia luxuriosa alumna licentiae comes sedicionum effraenati populi incitamentum siue obsequio siue seruitute contumax tomeraria arrogans quaeque in bene constitutis ciuitatibus non oritur c. Luxurious eloquence is the nurce of licence the companion of seditions the spurre which pricketh forth vnruly people not acknowledging either seruice or dutie it is stubborne rash arrogant and neuer bred or nourished in any well ordered cities These obseruations are required in a perfect Counsellor and yet wholly depending vpon his excellent wit which I last before touched seruing as a precious elixar of life and mettall for many strange purposes And by these notes and qualities of Oratorie if any viue ember or spiracle of ingenuous facilitie remaine in men it shall appeare conspicuously The well speaking of many languages may bee mustered amongst the rest for one speciall and most needfull qualitie in speciall the tongues of those kingdomes and prouinces which are either subiects contributaries or confederates to the prince and also the languages of his enemies as appeareth in the learnedest of our princes his Counsell at this day For amongst them the Greeke Latine Italian Spanish French Danish Polish and Dutch tongues are well spoken and vnderstood This is a comfortable benefit when forraine people either with vs at home or abroad are heartely glad to vnderstand and to be vnderstood by those with whom they haue businesse opening their own meanings better and more perspicuously by their owne mouth than with helpe of an interpretor Mutuall counsels likewise may by this knowledge be more safely debated than by meanes of a third person interpreting what more beneficiall commendation than to heare vnderstand and deliberate vpon peaceable and hostile legations If they bee friends it better confirmeth their amitie when Counsellors consult or debate with them in their owne language persuading themselues commonly that it proceedeth from loue and good obseruation Admit they be sometimes deceiued in that opinion yet such a kind of frustration is auaileable And suppose them enemies which so conferre with you by that occasion their beneuolence is so much the sooner attained It must be noted also that few men interprete perfectly many more satisfying their owne humors than the precise meaning of the parties adding or substracting somewhat alwayes What if vnder pretext of interpretation a referendarie be foisted in vpon whose secrecie the whole weale and honour of a king with all his Soueraignetie dependeth Admit the matters so require that no delayes without danger will serue to dispatch present answer to the Prince is it not then a double shame and offence to make enquirie for such an interpretor as will deale faithfully What if no fit man can bee found out of hand Or if hee bee found admit the one partie credite not his interpretation All these are most dangerous difficulties and therefore the knowledge of tongues is of speciall force in a secret Counsellour and also that he know the fashions and conditions of those people whose language he speaketh but for the prince chiefely necessarie that his Counsellors can speake write and interprete in those tongues before him rather than repose affiance in strangers Which trust is commonly fallacious and then vndoubtedly pernicious The cause why the Latine and Greeke languages are so commonly studied and embraced in most parts of the world is in regard of their many most learned bookes and monuments of former time The reason of their so many volumes and written workes is deriued from their auncient and ample Monarchies endowed formerly with so many precious spirits which both for ciuile and militarie knowledge so much surpassed and exceeded Their leagues tributes lawes ciuile customes their many battailes victories and triumphs as those of Alexander Caesar and of others infinite beeing speciall attributes of their gouernment gaue infinite matter to noble wits in those Empires continually to write such excellent dignities and exploits as their natiue countrey men had borne away with much honour and renowne both in peace and warre The Princes Consuls Dictators and Emperors yeelding royall encouragement and most munificent salaries to those Writers for their owne glories sake which by such their art and industrie were ennobled did make infinite the numbers of bookes and Authors in all liberall faculties The multitudes of those bookes through the greatnesse of these Monarchies were farre and neere dispersed The learning of those volumes after the dissolution of these Empires hath beene euermore and againe thirsted and hunted after by the best and all well disposed Commonweales and Princes which since that time were alwayes enlightened by them yeelding a continuall patterne of perfect humane knowledge to posteritie And in these later ages since the time of our Sauiour Christ
and haue shewed how their late tryumphant countries were sodainely mangled and betrayed through the wild-fire of vnnaturall wolues This horrible and vnnaturall appetite is called Rabies quadam remerariae ambitionis sitiens immodicae gloria prorsusque inflammata perpetua quadam singulari 〈◊〉 dominandi A certaine woluish rage of rash ambition immoderately thirsting after vndeserued glory and violently flaming out in all partes with a kinde of endlesse and singular greedinesse of domination and empire Many noble natures adulterated with this counterfeit of honour haue been falsified and corrupted with diabolicall furies which though that pâ—…dent Consull Salust calleth Vitium virtuti propius A vice cosen germane to â—…e Yet seemeth not sauing in hypocriticall sence for somuch as that qualitie teacheth men as he faith Aliud clausum in pectore aliud promptum in 〈◊〉 habere To conceale his meaning close within his heart and to deliuer a coâ—…rary matter with his tongue This pestilent feuer of the minde proceedeth from riches in great abundance allotted vnto men Quibus neque 〈◊〉 neque modestia cordi est Which take no pleasure either in mediocritie or modestie For luxurie when with pride auarice it possesseth the spirits of intemperate green-headed fooles doth draw persons of immoderate fierie stomacks into want of maintenaÌ„ce throgh their own negligence so by such their improuidence into dangerous attempts against their owne persons and against the whole bodie of the Commonwealth Also these are they which hauing fallen from their former reputation by their owne misgouernance waxe intollerable through that discontentment which continually tosseth their fierie spirites with a most insatiable thrist and ambitious desire of domination soueraigntie These are they which with the eyes of Basilisks peirce into the benefits of times places persons oftentimes poisoning and deceiuing themselues these are they which with a false iudgement and opinion had of their owne plots actions partisanes conspiracies wherein they flatter their owne hearts wilfully betray themselues to confusion and calamitie these men hath God in his diuine power blinded and depriued of those faculties by which men commonly discerne all apparant grieuous punishments that are reserued against such firebrands by the lawes equitie these are they which continually violate iustice and that which is a most lamentable truth such persons haue not any sunshine of reason lent vnto them to see that foule turpitude and shame which inseperably tanquà m vmbrae like shadowes waite vpon their dishonourable actions their minds are deceitfull subtil variable hypocriticall and couetous of other mens goods prodigall of their owne burning in lust alwayes malicious neuer quiet more tongue then witte more witte then wealth more wealth then wisdome more wisedome then honestie and yet poore imprudent giddie-headed talkatiue a vaste minde aspiring to degrees dignities beyond all iust opinion measure The seeds of sedition being vpon such plots grounds natures sowne sprout foorth into the blades of rebellion first when the noble sort of magistrates or peeres in a Commonwealth peruert their power into pride and when the common people whose licence is the viue embleme of confusion turne their liberties into lust at which time all disordered persons catch snatch and oppresse iustice Their mother the Commonwealth like a woman violated prostituted and defamed with her garments rent her haires disheuelled and feltred her face disfigured and blubbred standing or rather falling betwixt them both in this mutinie suffereth torture distraction the noble men depending vpon parties and the multitude leaning to what factions they list the chiefe heads and ringleaders of which commotions and seditious factions falling from great honor from their princes fauour through condigne disgrace into discontentment presently trauaile their wits horribly to disturbe or diabolically roote vp the publike State in whose sight for that time iustice magistracie be held in great scorne and disdaine Vnto them of this distemperature all foollish people tag and ragge mixt of diuers qualities insenced with pouertie lust and couetousnesse tossed disturbed in conscience with their impious and nefarious deuises and practises such as hold dissention to be their sweetest ease and garboyles their happiest peace which heape tumult vpon tumult hurliment vpon burliment are coparteners and competitors in their ambition such as being neither with glorie nor shame mooued prepaire themselues to strangle that Common-wealth which gaue them life and light The traps the nets the snares of cruell malice of treasonable conspiracies and of extreame wickednesse erected for slaughter of their best and most honest countrie men pitched to make a spoyle of their wealth and wouen against the common peace of their nation are infinite and ineffable the Commonwealth it selfe as a bloody shambles of infamous ciuill murther is by these means exposed to the slauish oppression of auaricious and barbarous strangers These nefarious firebrands of malecontentment and meteors of ciuill mischiefe studying nothing so much as to become excellent beyond the comparatiue apprehension of malice before their first charge or onset will make all things in the most readinesse for such a miserable tide of calamitie They therfore euen as it is witten of Catiline diue into the natures humors inclinations of noble yong gentlemen liberally and prodigally disposed for some according to their delights they prouide whores for some horses and dogges armes for these of a more heroycall condition and haukes for those vsing all vile means and abusing their owne fortunes and modestie that they might draw yong Gentlemen vnskilfull and of tractable natures into their horrible actions to ruine themselues in the oppression and confusion of their Countrey Such was the nature of Coesar Borgia whom Nicholas Machiauell remembreth vpon the like termes when he conspired against the Orsini and Colonnesi Those therefore that would liue magnificently or delicately with such as delight in hazard they that prefer warre before peace are for these actions The first action of conspiracie therefore commonly tendeth to the cutting off and extirpation of those by whom the Commonwealth and publique peace is sustained as Piso and Autronius quiparabant in Capitolio Lucium Torquatum Lucium Coitam Coss. interficere Which were prepared and resolued to murther Lucius Torquatus and Lucius Cotta the two Consuls in the Capitoll So did Brutus and Cassius with others oppresse Caesar with their short daggers in the Capitoll So did the mutinous Guysians deale with that noble Admirall of France Gaspar de Coligni An. 1572. For the first signall or watche stroke to euery seditious commotion or insurrection is the slaughter of some one notable good man in great authoritie as Caius Cornelius and Lucius Vargunteius noble patricians villanously combined in that treasonable conspiracie with Catilyne Constituere cum armatis hominibus sicuti salutatuÌ„ introire ad CiceroneÌ„ ac de improuiso domi suae imparatum confodere They were prouided with men in armes to come into the chamber where
Cicero was in his owne house vnder the colour of salutation and instantly to stabbe him before he could suspect them Cethegus being appointed captaine of that guard which should haue attended without the doores of his house I could giue more late familiar examples as he which readeth and conferreth these may very well be brought to remember euen in the same nature and of the like fashion but I say with Cicero Externa libentiùs hac in re quam domestica recordor In these cases I more willingly record forraine then domesticall examples For the conference of causes and heads of the like plots and conspiracies with their euents and issues will rub vpon their remembrance After this the curioust marshalling ordering and disposing of their euill disposed and disordered complices as places streetes and quarters appointed to be spoyled or guarded by this captaine that rebel for their pillage and to be mantled and defaced with so many terrible traitours in armes some to surprise such strong peeres and noble persons some to guarde places possessed and taken others to spoile and make waste of all good things round about them Their nefarious captaines impiously darting those vertues and graces giuen vnto them by God and headed with the venomous forkes of ambition and malice vpon the naked breastes of their natiue contries whose minds incessantly troubled breath fourth in pestilent sighes in horrible execrations in blasphemous oathes and in vaineglorious menaces a sudden death against all good men For their hearts being enraged and as it were drunken with strange and violent wrath and feritie eate and hauocke vp the peace of their contrimen with incredible immanitie they thirst extremely for ciuill blood greedily gaping for a generall spoyle menacing sword and fire without any mercy to the bodies and families of their owne fathers and contrimen The principall conspirator and archtraitor being like Sathan totally composed of craft and confusion and so by nature able to conciliate aucupate the friendships good willes of men and being guilesully gotten to deale with them as trecherously seemeth very munificent and prodigal of gifts and treasure howbeit most rauenous in auarice of other mens possessions present in counsell and hatefull in all temeritie These are they which open the prisons letting loose the wolues beares and foxes of the Commonwealth out of their chaines which furiously reioyce and exult as on the deuils feast day to ransacke honest mens houses and to keepe a bloody triumph in the defaced streetes Before them their captaine as vpon a tragicall stage made of murther and of dead bodies a man resolute and steeled in thoughts and actions of spight and smoaking slaughter of his owne contrimen calleth and commandeth some of his Canniballes to feede vpon the flesh and to drinke the blood of such noble persons and of others in the place of high magistracie some he commandeth vnto the spoyle and sacke of houses many to set fire and to lay waste such ports bastilles and noble fortresses fenced against them matrons and wiues being torne from their husbands embracements become wofull subiects of their insatiate lustes widowes left naked of all wealth and comfort both of them lamentably subiected to their bloody weapons young maidens and daughters wrung from their parents bosomes rauished polluted and violated with villanous abhomination their most precious iewels openly carried in their sight away from them which lie bound and pitteously wounded without hope of any recouerie round about houses burning and carcases some mortally wounded diuerse breathlesse and all wallowing in blood others lying in the high-wayes and ditches mantled ouer and staunched full with humane bodies finally no noyse but of murthers woundes teares clashing of weapons breaking vp of doores grones and outcries with the mortall lamentations of fathers men old wiues women and children Behold here the bloody scene of sedition which euen nature abhorreth to behold and reason shuddereth to consider can any thing be more flagitious vpon earth then to bestow that life which our owne contrey breathed into our bodies by the sufferance of God vnto the ruine and calamitie thereof vtterly repugnant to the will of God or can any thing bee thought of more abhominable then to deuise the torture seruitude of them whom the same lawes and fashions of life haue included within the same limits liberties and houses with vs Certaine it is therefore which Cicero noteth out of Dicaearchus the Peripatetike Homines hominum impetu plures deleri id est bellis seditionibus c. quam reliqua calamitate More men by the violence of men which is by warre seditions and rebellious treasons are wasted then with any other calamitie And hence is that prouerbe Homo homini lupus homo homini Deus A man is a wolfe amongst men and a god vnto men For in a noble and good action against forreine oppressors of our friends or of our liberties it is a dutifull piety that contrimen combine in armes howbeit to rise vp in rage one against another is more then brutish therfore Cicero concludeth thus homines hominibus plurimuÌ„ prosunt obsunt Men are very beneficiall and offensiue vnto men If into any such impious horrible practises or coniurations either by faction feare or affectioÌ„ any noble counsellor should be drawen let him assure himselfe that the second punishment besides that fearefull danger of the first is most intollerable I had almost said inexpiable Euery right noble and vertuous counsellor therefore will labour as Cicero writeth to deliberate in such cases whether they should wittingly become honest in auoyding that which they know to be reasonable or whether they should wilfully become wicked in the toppe of traytorie For they be deemed impious and abhominable which make a question thereof In ipsa namque dubitatione facinus inest etiamsi ad id non peruenerins For in the combate or doubt within a man whether he should commit treason or not there is a foule sinne although the plot thereof take not effect And herein is the very thought of conceiued treason though it be not put in practise made hainous and damnable A right noble and truely wise counsellor therefore Non modo facere sed ne cogitare quidem quicquid audebit quod non audeat praedicare Not onely dare not put in execution but also dare not harbour a thought of such things as staÌ„d not with his safetie to speak openly For if he were possessed with that ring which Plato mentioneth by which Gyges going invisible became king of Lydia hauing power to do what he list yet wold his wisdom honestie restraine him from all violence And therefore Cicâ—…ro vseth this sentence Honesta bonis viris non occultapetuntur Good men delight in open honestie not in hidden practises But I deeme how no truely-noble nature can be so farre debauched or corrupted vnlesse by flatterers and malicious minyons to whom for the most part great spirits are most addicted But
ciuill courts in this realme which master William Camden our most learned Brittaine Antiquarie did very commendably set forth in the last edition of his booke Now somewhat concerning the lawes but in speciall touching our owne nation It is said that Brutus vpon his settling in this Iland did write a booke of lawes in the Greeke tongue collected out of the Troiane lawes 1103. yeres before Christs birth which Greeke lawes the Druides first administred in this land being solemnly by vowes inhibited to promulgate them to vulgar vnderstanding From these Druides according to Caesar being found out amongst vs a colonie was deducted into Galle for the instruction of that people The frequent and reciprocall commerce and trafique betwixt the Galles and Brittaines in those times like to be by couenant or deeds ratified according to those Greeke lawes by which both the nations were gouerned should seeme as Str◅bo thinketh to confirme so much Molmutius Donwallo instituted two bookes of lawes in this land called municipiall and iudiciarie importing the statute lawes and the common lawes After him Mercia Proba the wife of king Guinteline another booke called Merciaes lawes King Afred also gathered diuers which being into one volume compiled he named a breuiarie drawen from diuers lawes of the Troians Greeks Brittaines Saxons and Danes Also Sigibert king of the East Angles published a booke called the Institutes of Lawes Edward the Confessor next king before William the first amongst the diuinest and worthiest lawyers may be registred which out of those infinite volumes of Brittish Romaine Danish and English lawes made a choise Rapsodie which he did intitle the common law as by the wordes of diuers diligent and faithfull Antiquaries appeareth After these princes king William the first vpon his great victories and militarie trauels in subduing the rebellious violence of the borderers impaling this land instituted diuers excellent and commodious lawes abolished since then abrogating others which were not so necessarie for those times as Geruas of Tilbury writeth After whom his sonne H. the first surnamed Henry Beauclerke of whom Henrie of Huntington who liued in his dayes recordeth much being a very learned and politike prince abolished certaine of them restoring diuers of the former which hee thought were more behousefull for those times And Henrie the second a prince of much mildnesse and humanitie compiled another volume diuided into the laws of this Commonwealth the statutes royall intituled But in this point I referre my selfe with the reader to the large very learned Epistle of S. Edward Coke to those bookes of Lawcases by him lately compiled And so much briefly touching the precise care and studies of former princes in ordeining collecting the laws the necessity wherof being so vulgarly knowen needeth no confirmation by further example considering how fresh it springeth in our memories omitting the most sage prudent prouisiō of that Numa of England king Henry the seuenth for the Commonwealth by good and politike institution administration of lawes that our late sacred soueraigne Elizab. whose very name imprinteth a reuerend remembrance in my heart instituted many diuine laws by which the miraculous peace of this Cōmon-wealth vnder the mercifull prouidence of God was amplified conserued eternised And here may not I with modestie passe or post ouer his Maiesties royall prudence knowledge and high paines in compiling and publishing the lawes of Stotland imprinted in one volume not doubting but that God of his great and inestimable loue to this nation vnder his blessed scepter also shall so worke by iustice in his princely spirit that this realme may becomein shorttime of a garden wherein his highnesse found some weeds a diuine paradise of most ciuill humanitie This hath bene the great care which did formerly with such vehement force worke in the brains hearts of al prudent kings emperours to make their people blessed this which amongst many more excellent vertues and honors attributed and ascribed formerly to Augustus Caesar made him so great and eternall in the golden memorials of time so that for the correction and promulgation of lawes in his owne name and for his sumptuous and many buildings it was truely and triumphantly spoken of himselfe Vrbem latericiam reperi relinquo marmoream These were the bulwarkes which protected the peace and honour of his Empire and those by which the superabounding tranquilitie of this Nation hath beene so long cherished and conserued It was recorded in the Romane Annals and memorials as a notable happines in Antoninus Pius that through his iustice prudence and fortitude there arose not any warres amongst the Romanes for 23. yeeres together which happeneth generally by the due distribution and execution of iustice and equitie What then may be said in our Chronicles of that our late gracious and auspicious planet of Christendome Queene Elizabeth whose beams yet after the dissolution of her mortalitie so diuinely shine amongst vs in those Lawes established and taught vnto vs whilst she raigned ouer vs who sauing some fewe moneths doubled those yeeres of happinesse vpon her people in admirable honor peace and plentie It is sooth and well answereth to the lore of wisedome that all policies States or Common-weales are most corrupt wherein there be many lawes established forsomuch as it is presupposed that where multitudes of crimes and vices predominate of strange and diuers qualities diuers vnusuall and strange lawes are necessarily made to restraine them or if they be preordained to correct or prohibit vices which are not yet may happen then it is as dangerous in regard of that expressed in this poeticall sentence Gens humana ruit in vetitum nefas For Adams children naturally lust after the forbidden fruit Not many Bookes which confound mens memorie with heapes of words and matter but few substantiall and necessarie referring all pettie things not being nefarious to the censure of venerable magistrates which will not suffer a sparke to make a flame and not to the written Letter of Poenall Lawes considering how the meane ministers and executioners of them which search out inquire and informe of such offences doe commonly more preiudice then benefit and honestie to the Commonwealth For wee know that by Gods finger all the lawes both diuine and humane were within a paire of marble Tables comprised in a compendious Decalogue The reports and causes of our common-lawes and iudgements haue appeared in two points that the former Kings of this Realme as king Edward the third Henrie the fourth Henrie the fift Henrie the sixt Edward the fourth Richard the third Henry the seuenth with prudent inspection found that necessitie which required a luculent interpretation of the difficult points in our Common-lawes wherevpon they by the faithfull conference of foure most reuerend and learned Iudges in the Lawes following the sage example of that most wise and victorious Emperor Iustinianus before mentioned did each of them in their seuerall raignes cause the genuine and very sence
or priute seales to delay any cause in iudiciall dependance proceeding by course of law yet shall the iudges proceede with mature expedition according to iustice notwistanding any precept from them directed For what can be said more to the disgracing and disrobing of any king then that which Freigius in the latter end of his politicall questions citeth out of a certaine oration of Scattaius against tyrannie Tu iusticiam imperabis interim tamen iniuriam alijs facies tu officium commendabis ab officij religione deflectes As if he should say Why wouldest thou be king to command men to deale iustly giuing in proper person example of wrong done to others How canst thou commend men for doing of their dueties and offices when thou thy selfe transgressest thy functions and dueties Thus if princes or iudges should preuaricat but a little thē their laws which ought to be the iudges of euery iust prince will restraine and reforme them And if those lawes be dissonant to the spirit of charitie trueth and equitie thē the diuine power sapience of God which are the very iudges of all laws princes iudges on earth wil correct punish them with their ministers Let therefore no partiall respect of power neither priuate affection nor vnexcusable ignorance of those laws which any iudge stewardeth blemish his iudgments For if he be partiall let him consider with himselfe that it proceedeth from affection or corruption which both are incorporate that it cannot be hidden from many men amongst infinite which behold and heare him from so conspicuous a place where all mens eyes are fixed vpon his maiestie and therefore according to Salust aequos bonosque fauere debet vt eius benefacta reipub procedant he must fauour men which are iust and good that he may declare himselfe beneficent towards the Commonwealth And if he be led by affection let him consider how fallacious a passion it is oftentimes opposite to reason euen in the men of honestest natures and constitutions shewing a kind of charitie for the most part where it falsefieth the vertue pulling downe of a mountaine to raise a molehill and to satisfie his affected commonly to deiect and make ruinous such aduersaries which percase euen in a worse case descrue much more affection Lastly but specially let him haue a speciall care to be skilfull in those lawes which he deliuereth and administreth for otherwise his honor is onerous and insupportable For if he shall with all graue and profound prudence consider how chargeable and iust accompt will be required at his hands that hauing much committed to his trust his accompts will arise to great summes not of monies and pounds but of men and people the noblest worke of diuine nature the creature in whom so soone as he was created the creator himselfe exceedingly reioyced and tooke so great pleasure that when through his owne preuarication he was taken captiue to sinne hell and death he ransomed him in the tender and vnspeakeable loue of his holy spirit in the most precious blood of his deare sonne Christ Iesus the righteous sacrifice of his vnrighteousnesse If therefore he counterpoise in equall scales of diuine reason the sacred allegeance in which he liueth spiritually bound vnto God the faithfull obedience wherein he standeth bodily subiected to his prince the zealous duetie which doth by nature inuite him to studie the weale of his countrey pondering these with his naked conscience hee will not only refuse those honors and dignities to sit in iudgement vpon Gods beloued people vnworthily or vnskilfully but rather will choose a death accompanied with the languishing sting of infinite tortures Albeit as Salust thinketh Plerosque non ijsdem artibus imperiū petere postquā adepti sunt gerere primo industrios supplices modicos esse dehinc per ignauiam superbiam at atem agere That many princes differ in their acquisition and gouernement of a kingdome because vpon the first they shew themselues industrious suppliant and temperate afterward in sloth idlenesse and pride passe their liues Euery king iudge and ruler of the people therefore ought to ponder with himselfe how great a part of the Commonweales hope dependeth vpon him which he should with his vertues and innocencie protect whereas all other meanes are forcelesse Yea verely the iudge representeth in himselfe the person of that Commonwealth where he ministreth wherefore he should sustaine the state and honor thereof by conseruation and administration of iustice bearing in carefull remembrance the trust of those things which are reposed in him A iudge is as it were an eye fixed in the kings scepter a priest of diuine iustice and equitie a moderator of the lawes the life of righteousnesse whose voyce is the pronouncer and preseruer of life and death a publike interpreter of the lawes vnto whom as to a common sanctuarie all persons oppressed with dammages iniuries repaire and refuge themselues to be relieued in equity And euen as iust iudgement is fitly defined to be the ballance of equitie the voyce of lawes and consummation of all strife and variance so is the iudge properly called th'interpreter of those lawes the steward of equitie and oracle of the Commonwealth They therefore that are fit and worthy to sit vpon the throne of equitie ought sincerely to be good men seuere incorrupt obdurate against flatterers impatient of smooth tales and secret detraction vnmercifull to them that are remedilesse inexorable in waightie causes of iudgement and such as will not transgresse the precincts of iustice in any case for according to the discretion of Aulus Gellius they must distribute to the king and begger equall measure without inclination or passion towards any mans estate or person as it was most diuinely shadowed in that misticall order of the Areopagites being a counsell in Athens consisting of sixtie citizens which successiuely through all offices and degrees of honor at length attained place vpon the seate of iustice to deale in affaires of state and in tempestuous times to prouide that the Cōmonwealth should endure no preiudice These in the darkest season of the night would decide causes in iudgement at such time as they might heare and not see the parties appealed Hence it is that Cicero saith Vir bonus ponit personā amici cum induit iudicis A good man layeth apart the person of a friend when he taketh upon him the place of a iudge And therefore iudges as saith that most reuerend Emperour Iustinianus must sacrifice pure and vncorrupt hands to God to the kind and to the law least that curse fall vpon them which our Sauiour Christ denounced against the Pharises Woe be to you interpreters of the L◅we for you haue taken away the key of knowledge you did not enter in your selues and them that would haue entred you forbad Amongst other politicke Lawes in Deutronomie deliuered from Gods mouth to the sacred prince his seruant Moses it was commanded
their owne liues are not possessed of that hardnesse of true mettall which should oppresse such brutish turpitude and disgrace Horace the Poet excellently counselleth in this case Rebus angustis animosus atque Fortis appare sapientèr idem Contrahes vento nimium secundo Turgida vela Let courage and true strength appeare in troubles if in thy shippes sterne a stiffe gale blow prosperously skanten thy sailes Herein prudence is fitly ioyned with courage restrayning men from inconsiderate attempts least like beasts they seeme to build more vpon a violent affection of minde by profuse aduenture of their bodies then accordeth with reason There is a fortitude in men as Aristotle defineth depending vpon fortune when people become fearelesse through want of a due fore-sight and precaution of perils which sort of persons are ignorantly valiant some there are which armed in the strength and goodnesse of their cause and conscience doe shew good valour certaine which heartened in a kinde of fortitude by their skill and vse in ready practise of weapons others imboldened vnto valorous exploits in hope of victorie by their naturall strength and artificiall agilitie many that in regard of their often aduentures and escapes are hardened but very valour is seen in scornefull contempt of ineuitable death and in the cheerefull embracements of hazards and dangerous aduentures without any feare in all honorable causes surely grounded and preconsulted Stoutnesse and magnanimitie which vndertaketh and endureth all difficulties with patience and perseuetance being the substance and essence thereof is incorporate to fortitude Stoutnesse is a stedfast confidence of minde armed with assured trust and hope in great and honourable actions Audaciousnes contrarieth it without consideration iudgement and respect of honestie violently and rashly precipitating it selfe into perils whereas stoutnesse attempted with reason warie respect great boldnesse and moderation of the minde being inseperately fastned vnto vertue nobly worketh in the turbulent seas of danger Pusillanimitie which is a base deiection or rather desperation of the mind opposeth it yet commonly pursuing temeritie by the example of Philip late King of Spaine which amongst other his vnaduised attempts wherein the salt of warie premeditation was forgotten luculently to Gods vnspeakable glorie did appeare in his militarie businesse vndertaken against this nation as I touched before immaturely leuying armes not being soundly resolued how that action of such difficult and weightie consequence should bee managed or finished wholy leaning vpon the fickle wheele of fortune immesurably mounting in the pompe of his victories had in other places before and onely through want of knowledge how to guide the gorgeous bridles of his prosperous tryumphes but when the certaine successe of his shattered fleet which inwardly daunced before threatning the Brittaine seaes and shores in foolish confidence of vndoubted conquest had like a musket shaft peireed through his credulous eares to his trembling heart and late ambitious liuer where it was deeply fixed then as a weake and sraile woman impatiently throwing from him all royall and princely thoughts and courage passionatly did he teare off his owne beard beating his forehead and breast impatiently torturing himselfe with teares and lamentations in publike and priuat vpon which his disperation waxing fearelesse of any tokens or care in himselfe to conserue his owne Realms which had so fouldly mist in seeking to master ours made such apparance of his basenesse and viletie playing the lowly part of a weake and feeble woman which he prouided for our diuine Soueraigne Lady that wise men did very iudiciously consider vpon it by certaine circumstances how Queene Elizabeth might in the terror of that ouerthrow which thundred in Spaine amongst the Castillian courages haue easily with a small power subiected that nation thereupon Magnanimitie being the greatnesse of a mind inuincible and mightie the noble strength and stedfastnesse in execution of great and waightie matters doth support and corroborate stoutnesse Know therefore that heart to be noblest and most honourable in quest of all vertues which is open simple without hypocrisie graue modest repressing pride meerely great forgetfull of iniuries done to it selfe gentle aiming at eternitie contemning terrestrial benefits readier to giue then to receiue more studious of iust praise then profit For this kind of nobilitie contemneth that greatnesse which the profane vulgar admireth so much conuersing in the restraint of all perturbations in victorious resistance of all ambition auarice and fleshly desires that it may with more constancie resist other calamities This is seene in both prosperous and aduerse chaunces when a man is not altered through either but endureth constant and the same in all Haughtinesse aspiring from a stubborne and fastidious spirit and heart swolne vp with the poyson of pride which violently rauisheth humane reason and base abiection being the vilenesse and filth of mind are daungerous outlawes trangressing beyond the borders of magnanimitie From the first marcheth braggerie foolish boasting and ostentation which issueth from folâ—…e blinded in louing conceit and admiration of some worthinesse which they misconceiue in themselues being a most ridiculous vice to be represented in enterlude by the person of Thraso wholie repugnant to goodnesse and modestie hatefull in the thoughts of all honest men and acceptable to parasites onely Tke second being a foule abiection and beastly downefall of mind eschewing labour and neglecting matters of most moment in feare of some griefe and care which accompaineth it is altogether sopped and steeped in sluggishnesse such brutish people faint and languish in the quest of honourable and important affaires as Sardanapalus and Heliog abalus did Vnto these alreadie mentioned adde a desire of good fame opposite to which is ambition and neglect of honest report of impudencie but a moderate desire of honour which is placed betwixt ambition and the contempt of dignitie meerely proceeding from a mind that aspireth to the reward of her vertues is in my iudgement laudable and ambicious if I dare make a maxim positiuely of that which Aristotle holdeth ambiguously for a paradox But to conclude with this vertue magnanimitic Philosophers thinke it to be the rule how to desire and seeke for honour by due desert moderating and directing humane appetite in the acquisition of great and mightie matters her sisters accompaning are humilitie patience magnificence and mansuetude which is a calme spirit interset betwixt wrath and indulgence the meanes to restraine wrath and hatred are not to be couetous of vengeance seldome though sometimes vpon iust cause to be angry to wrong and vexe no man for enuie dependeth vpon wrath Securitie and licence of sinne followeth excessiue indulgence and I am perswaded that no man which is truely valiant can truely be said enuious though most of them are emulous Patience which is a vertue fencing and preparing a souldiers mind against all wounds inflicted in fight teacheth a Generall and all sorts of souldiers how to strengthen exercise and encourage themselues in all commendable hardnesse difficulties as noble