Conscience once drownd in wealth and worldly pompe Esteemes all wisdome as meere foolishnes A guiltie conscience is a gnawing worme Conscience tâ—kes vengeance on her owne transgressions Nothing but true repent cleares conscience The riches we may carrie to our graue Is a good conscience blessed they that haue Conscience once faultie still abides in feare Innocence is the ioy of conscience A conscience standing free from all detect Feares no accuse or doth excuse respect Lookes confident and sober shew cleane soules Conscience for heauen contemns all worldly things To frame excuse before thou be accusde Shewes that thou hast not conscience truly vsde Conscience doth couet nothing but her owne Conscience craues nothing but by lawfull meanes Conscience wiâ—l willingly offend no man Conscience once loden with the weight of sinne Is Iudge and Iuror to it selfe therein Conscience doth bind vs to respect our kinne Conscience despiseth bribes in any case Conscience commaunds vs to relieue the poore A conscience cleare is like a well fenc't tower Not to be shaken by rough Canon shot Conscience to princes alwaies giues their due Conscience submits when Iustice doth commaund Similies on the same subiect AS persecution is the bodies death So foule despaire quite kills the conscience As the bright Sunne doth lighten all the world So a cleare conscience shineth in the soule As beautie is a thing glads mortall sight So vnstain'd conscience doth high heauen delight As wine cheeres vp the heart when it is sad So peace of conscience makes it much more glad As brazen walls defend a cittie best So conscience taintlesse is at peace and rest As gold is best when through the fire 't is tride So conscience is by troubles purifide Examples likewise on the same O Restes matricide was iustly plagu'd With sting of conscience by his mothers ghost And Nero whose foule fact did equall his Was whipt in conscience with her walking shape Caesar Caligula could neuer rest But conscience torment did him still molest Tullie affirmes a conscience well emploi'd Is chiefest comfort in aduersitie Plato saith Sweetly sleâ—peth innocence In the safe chamber of good conscience Lactantius writes that no sinne can preuaile Where quiet conscience sits and guides the saile Conscience must leaue a little while to grieue To let in horror comming to reprooue Of Religion Religion is the ground of euery grace And teacheth man saluation to embrace WHere God is not religion cannot be Sundrie religions make no religion Where saints are clarks there alwaies God is iudge Religions touchstone best doth trie the truth Religion is the soule of innocence Working in each vnspotted conscience After religion painted zeale doth runne Blessings come seldome but by earnest prayer Ignorance is religions enemie The Scriptures are sufficient to resolue All doubts that in religion can arise The word 's a med'cine to a troubled mind Religion is the perfect bond of loue No poyson worse than Scripture falsly taught Religion is in truth not fallacies No surer signe of kingdomes ouerthrow Than where religion liueth in contempt Change of religion is most daungerous Faith and not reason teacheth true religion Man was created for religions vse There is no error halfe so daungerous As that committed in religion Ill happens when religion we neglect Doubt in religion punishment deserues Where no religion is no vertue bides Religions cloake can couer much abuse Those men may well be cald religious That hate the world and nothing mind but heauen Religion linketh men in vnitie Religion to all vertues is the guide Humilitie expresseth true religion Religion doth relieue the fatherlesse And succours widowes in aduersitie Religion is the councell of the iust Religion only can support the weake Religion teacheth remedie gainst sinne Religion comforts all afflictions Similies on the same subiect LIke as a Torch directs vs in the darke So doth religion lighten all our hopes As these our bodies liue by earthly food So true religion doth our soules most good As yron maketh soft the rudest earth So doth religion temper hardest hearts As sore eyes cannot gaze against the Sun So wicked minds brooke no religion As want of food the body hunger-sterues So pines the soule through pure religions lacke As med'cines make sicke bodies whole and sound So doth religion wash out errours wound Examples likewise on the same BRennus for wronging of religion Was smitten with a thunderbolt to death Conomachus religious rites prophan'd But with an earthquake was he swallowed vp Pherecydes nick-nam'd religion For which he was consum'd by wormes aliue In Athens they would not create a king Except he had tane orders of a Priest The chiefest oath th' Athenians had was this Pugnabo pro sacris cum alijs solus Old Rome her sonnes sent to Hetruria To be instructed in religion Of Truth Truth is the fount of knowledge earths best light The scale to heau'n and onely rule of right THe weakest things are strongest props to truth Truth is most strong and alwaiâ—s findeth friends Truth neuer failes and true loue wants no might Triall doth certainliest the truth bewray Falshood with truth may by no meanes abide Deeds not by manhood or the doâ—rs might Are to be scand but by their truth and right What shineth nearest best holds truest worth Where then is truth if there be no selfe trust Truth is the onely shield of best defence When truely in our selues our faults we see We deeme them known to all as well as wee An honest tale speeds best being truly told Truth may be shent but neuer shall be sham'd Truth to all goodnesse is the perfect guide All doubts resoluing is by finding truth How shall he thinke to find a straunger iust That in himselfe dare put no confidence False dreames do euermore the truth deny Time shewes the truth and wit that 's bought is best Truth soundeth sweetly in a sillie tongue Who cherish wrongs are bent against the truth Truth needeth not the aid of Rhetoricke Happie the people blessed is the land Where truth and vertue get the vpper hand Nothing so hard but is by truth explain'd All hidden secrets truth can best disclose Truth to all goodnes is the perfect guide Truth hath two friends Wisdome and Constancie Truth standeth not vpon the tongues of men Nor Honour on authorities bigge frownes Truth triumphes long when falshood soone decaies The truth of things the end or time will trie The smoothest tale hath oft-times smallest truth Truth most delights when shee goes meanest clad The seate of Truth is in our secret hearts Not in the tongue which falshood oft imparts Truth needs no Orators to plead her cause Truth feareth nothing more than to be hid Truth with her owne light is best satisfide A certaine truth doth need no subtill glose Truth is a health that neuer will be sicke An endlesse life a Sunne that neuer sets Truth shewes her selfe in secrecie of trust A cleare case needs no shifting councellour Truth vnbefriended will find friends
inmous Fame that the liuing saues reuiues the dead Fame hath two wings the one of false report The other hath some plumes of veritie No law can quit where fame is once endighted Fame is the ioy and life of valiant minds Preferre sharpe death before infamous life The chiefest thing a princes fame to raise Is to excell those that are excellent Glorie doth neuer blow cold pitties fire There 's nothing can be done but fame reports To know too much is to know nought but fame Let not proud will hold vp thy head for fame When inward wants may not expect the same Fame dyes with them that all their honour waste Fame bad concealer of our close intenrs Fame got by follie dyes before it liues Fame with her golden wings aloft doth flie Aboue the reach of ruinous decay He liueth long enough dies soone with fame Where fame beares sway there Cupid will be bold Good fame is better than a crowne of gold Similies on the same subiect AS thunder nor fierce lightning harmes the Bay So no extremitie hath power on fame As precious stones though set in Lead will shine So fame in poorest corners will appeare As earth producing salt brings nothing else So vertue seeking fame craues nothing else As many voices make the consort sweet So many vertues doe confirme true fame As pride is enemie to good report Solowly thoughts doe lead the way to fame As sight receiues his splendour from the aire So fame from vertue doth deriue her selfe Examples likewise on the same PVblicola wonne fame for leading armes And Solon by his ciuill actions The fame Milciades got at Marathon Would not permit Thems stocles to sleepe Fabius did by his vertues get such fame As Maximus was added to his name Lysimachus was famous through the world Because he kill'd a Lyon in his youth Seneca saith Fame should be followed Rather than coueted by fond desire No man saith Cicero is learn'd and wise But fame must needs attend his actions Of Praise c. Praise is the hyre of vertue for those partes That well deserue it both in eyes and hearts PRaise is but smoake that sheddeth in the skie Men for their owne deeds shall be prais'd or blam'd True laâ—d proceeds by the report of other Of more esteeme when we our selues it smoother The peoples voice is neither shame nor praise Safetie may breed delight not nourish praise Hard words doe discommend some men to day Yet praise tomorrow with all might they may Many will praise in words but spight in workes Chiefe praise consisteth in contented life It 's better to be praised for a truth Than for a leasing to be honoured To praise vnworthie men is flatteriâ— Saue vertuous deeds there 's nothing merits praise When men doe praise themselues immoderately Makes other sentence them with obloquie Praise stirres the mind to great and mightie things Praise nourisheth true vertue where it sprang The benefits of peace deserue more praise Than all the cunningst stratagenis of warre Praise maketh labour light enricheth hope When others praise thee best to iudge thy selfe Praise is a poyson to ambitious men Because it makes them out ran honestie In doing that we ought deserues no praise By counterfeited vertue seeke no praise In vaine we seeke the idle smoake of praise Since all things by antiquitie decayes All good things haue preheminence in praise Neuer praise that which is not commendable Oft those whome princes patronage extold Forget themselues and what they were of old Condemne not that deserueth praise by due An ill mans praise is praise for doing ill Who striues to gaine inheritance of aire Leaues yet perhaps but beggâ—â—ie to his heire Helping the poore deseruâ—th double praise Vertue begetreth praise praise honours height Nothing of more vncertaintie than praise For one dayes gift another robs vs of An open praise deserues a secret doubt Too much commending is a heauie load He that commends a man before his face Will scant speake well of him behind his backe Bad nature by good nurture mended merits praise Abasing worthie men argues selfe-praise It is more worthie praise to keepe good fame Than the bare stile or getting â—f the same Our elders praise is light vnto our liues Be not too rash in discommending any Be not too hastie in bestowing praise Nor yet too slow when due time calls for praise A mans owne praise is publicke infamie Honest attempts can neuer want due praise Similies on the same subiect AS shadowes on our bodies doe attend So praise doth wait on vertue to the end As praising make the Peacocke spread her taile So men commended doe expresse themselues As fooles in folly are not to be sooth'd So wicked actions are not to be prais'd As Cockes by crowing shew their victorie So mens owne praises blab their obloquie As niggards are discerned by their giftes So mens commendings doe expresse their loue As greatest praises fatten not thy fields So much commending pleaseth not thy friend Examples likewise on the same THe noble Romane Titus Flaminius Could not endure when any praised him Caesar beholding Alexanders image Wept in remembring his exceeding praise Pompey did count it praise enough for him To set Tigranes in his throne againe Agathocles condemned all vaine praise And still confest himselfe a potters sonne By vertue saith Euripideâ— get praise For that will liue when time expires thy dayes Solon said All vaine-glorious men were fooles And none praise-worthie but the humble-wise Of Friendship c. The summe of friendship is that of two soules One should be made in will and firme affect TRue friends partake in either weale or woe Faint-hearted friends their succours long delay A deare friends graue is a more heauie sight Than all the feares wherewith death can affright Of foes the spoile is ill farre more of friends Who faileth one is false though true to other That friendship can no length of time endure Which doth â—â—â—se ill or euill end procure The truest friendship is in equalitie Likenesse in manners makes best amitie When equall might is vp vnto the chin Weake friends become strong foes to thrust him in Among kind friends departing drinkes vp ioy Better a new friend than an auncient foe Call him not friend that sauours most of foe Teaâ—me him thy deaths-man looke he prooue not so Giue foes no oddes nor friends vnequall power Trust not to foes if friends their credit loose For friends if one should die were rarely much But die for foes the world affoords none such In base minds dwells friendship nor enmitie No seruice will a gentle friend despise Looke what abuse is offer'd to a friend The shame and faule finds no excuse or end To wrong a friend doth prooue too foule a deed Foes often wake when loyall friends doe sleepe Faire louely concord and most sacred peace Doe nourish vertue and make friendship fast A stead fast friend is to be lou'd as life Faint friends when they fall out prooue
solace like a vapour flyes And hath no power repining hearts to mooue Solace and sorrow haue their certaine times While pleasure withers paine more ripe doth grow When pleasures â—bbe then griefes begin to flow To vaine delights a man may easily goe But safely to returne may much be fear'd Best musicke breeds delight in loathing cares The strong through pleasure falls â—he weak by smart Pleasures doe neuer feed but â—n excâ—sse He that in pleasures vaine doth time bestow Treads but the path to his owâ—e ouerthrâ—w In things without vs no delight is sure Pleasure is felt opinion but conceiu'd Pleasure is short and glory lasts not long The sweets we wish for tuâ—ne to â—â—atâ—ed son eâ—s Euen in the moment that we call them ours That pleaseth most is â—arthest from the eye Low is the stalke whereon best pleasures grow Pleasure asleepe then soâ—â—ow will awake Maids are not wonne by brutish force or might But speeches full of pleasure and delight Pleasure maintain'd by care is quickly lost After long sicknesse health brings most delight Vncertaine pleasures bring a certaine paine Maâ—des doe take more delight when they prepare And thinke of wiues state than when wiues they are Shortest delights doe bring a long repent Pleasures them-selues are but imaginations Things soone obtain'd doe least of all delight This woâ—ld is but the pleasure of an houre And yet the sorrow of a thousand daâ—es Oft pleasures past doe way to woe prepare In worldly miâ—th lurketh much miserie All sweet delights are drown'd in dulled minds Pleasures liâ—e posting guests make but small stay Where griefes â—ide long and leaue a score to pay It 's true delight to know the cause of griefe Miâ—th â—oundeth harsh to melancholly men Mirth makes the longest iournies to seeme short What more apparant signe can be of madnesse Than haue anothers pleasure cause thy sadnesse Who buyes a minutes mirth may waile a weeke Mirth searcheth out the bottome of annoy Vnlawfull pleasures haste destruction Potions if pleasant though insectious Are sooner taâ—ne than holesome pillâ— for health Sorrow fore-going pleasure graceth it Gladnesse with griefe continually is mixt Banke-rupts in pleasure can but pay with woe We are right docible to imitate Depraued pleasures though degenerate Short pleasures many times haue large repents Pleasures are still inductions to our griefes Oft hath a tragicke entrance pleasant end Similies on the same subiect AS no estate can stable stand for aye So euery pleasure hath his ending day As small brookes swell and are enrag'd with raine So sight of pleasure trebleth euery paine As weeds expeld the corne doth better thriue So care being kild pleasure bides long aliue As greatest griefes doe make the least not seene So huge delights cause meane ones vanish cleane As greatest light is in the largest skie So that delights is furthest from the eye As sad minds brooke no merrie companie So sorrow is to pleasure enemie Examples likewise on the same SArdanapalus was so giuen to pleasure That of a man he made him-selfe a beast Xerxes bestowed gifts on none but such As daily could inuent new kinds of pleasures In King Latinus Court the â—royans In choise of all delights did spend their time Demetrius being to all vaine pleasures giuen Was by the Macedonians quite expulst Cineas told Fabritius that vaine pleasure Did like a moath consume the life of man Demosthenes in his Orations Alwayes forbad voluptuous vaine delights Of Paine Paine as companion doth on Pleasure wait And Daunger is the hand-maid to Delight SHort paine may be endur'd that brings long ease He neuer findeth helpe that hides his paine Farre harder is it to learne continence In ioyfull pleasures than in grieuous paine They lesser paines can beare that hide the great Paine profit reapes if seeds be wisely sowne Where words be scarse th' are seldome spent in vaine For they speake truth that breath their words with paine Soone-dying mirth begets long-liuing paine Who bears the wound perforâ—e must feele the paine The man that needs will seeke for vnknowne gaine Oft liues by losse and leaues with mickle paine The greater paine the greater miserie Paine payes the in-come of each precious thing It easeth some though none it euer cur'd To thinke that others haue their paines endur'd It 's paine to keepe the things we would expresse All labours haue their end but paine hath none No paine or sicknesse doth so swiftly breed As euill humours grow the griefe to feed To get and keepe not is not losse but paine Paine breedeth honour vertue getteth fame Better in prison euer to remaine Than being â—orth to suffer greater paine With ease a sparke with paine is quencht a flame Pleasure doth follow paine and blisse annoy It 's paine and griefe to beare and suffer wrong But shame and sinne to him that causeth it An inward sore strikes the Phisition blind Salues seldome helpe ouer-long festred sores How mightie is the soueraigne power of loue Which paine thirst hunger no nor death can mooâ—â— Sad musicke to sad passions addes more paine One paine is lessened by anothers anguish Let him for euer liue in woe and griefe That feeleth paine and will not haue reliefe Paine is the entrance to eternall ioy How fraile is that which men atchieue with paine They that must either serue or pine in want Ought scorne no paines that â—ay relieuâ— their scaâ—â—â— The cause and not the paine the martyr makes Remembrance of ioyes past breeds greater paine He that with ease may paine and harme eschew Is vaine if he his proper death pursue Patience doth put all toyle-some paine to flight He best doth beare his paine that hides it most â—ew linke for loue but all for greedie gaine Though in the end it turnes them most to paine An vnknowne paine is greatest miserie He cannot iudge of pleasure ne're felt paine Similies on the same subiect AS daunger waiteth at the heeles of pride So euery pleasure hath a following paine As where mishaps doe flow there loue doth ebbe So where friends faile the heart feeles no like paine As sicke men with least anguish are disturb'd So to vexe troubled minds augments their paine As Sun-shine daies of fortune getteth friends So paine or perill looseth them as soone As miserie a med'cine hardly finds So inward paines are not with pratinge cur'd As he beares sorrow best that hides it most So who knowes patience stands prepar'd for paine Examples likewise on the same PHilostrates endured all his paines To th'admiration of his enemies Marius the Romane said he felt no paine In all his hurts if but one friend were by Sextus Pompeius could abide no paine No not so much as feele his head to ake The Spartanes for their pleasures made strict lawes Shewing what paine to each one did belong Cicero said No paine could touch the mind That was but rampierd in with â—usterance And Aristotle held the same opinion Firme resolution could subdue all paine Of Pouertie c. Pouertie is