Iustice doth aduance 17 Sage Prudence busied in foresight of things And moderate Temperance with her golden squire True manly Fortitude the heart of Kings Ioin'd with impartiall Iustice all desire For their more safetie and securer rest A sacred mansion in your Princely brest 18 Now Vertue lookes more debonaire and sweet And darts strange flames of loue in euery place T' is so when she and Princely greatnesse meet Accept the good that Vertue giues your Grace A double ease then shall your Highnesse finde Making these Vertues Squires of your minde 19 What comfort comes by such a gracious King In whom the foure rare morall vertues raigne A Prince that wants of these in anything Can not serue God nor subiects well maintaine All which great gifts his Princely minde must beare That will Th'emperiall Crowne of honour weare 20 These foure a Chariot of foure wheeles haue fram'd Which whoso mounts shall great and mightie be And for this merit shall as much be fain'd As if the Conquerer of the world were he Few Kings this goodly Chariot haue driuen For vnto few these Cardinals are giuen 21 Which vertues are fast knit and ioin'd together Yet proper and distinct in qualitie Like Riuers flowing in a stormie weather Out of the fountaine of pure honestie Thus all are one and one esteemed all Who wanteth one possesseth none at all 22 There is one only wise and Soueraigne king Who sitteth on his high and holy throne And by his word created euery thing From whom true wisdome doth proceed alone Which teacheth vs his holy word to know And in abundance doth his mercy show 23 These Morall vertues Cardinall are nam'd A cardine as ancient writers say Which is a hindge on which the doore is fram'd By which it shuts and opens euery way All Monarchs kingdoms commonwealths Kings Guided by these possesse mostblessed things 24 By these they are made open vnto God And to all goodnesse in their land and state Preseru'd from Sathan and his wicked rod And from those vices which these vertues hate Who rules by these shall haue eternall blisse And raigne with God where vertues glory is 25 Further they call them Card'nall as I gesse By reason of their firme stabilitie Both in themselues and persons they possesse Where they inhere with perfect constancie When doores are mou'd the hindges fixt remaine And yet not chang'd returne the same againe 26 The third cause is for that our conuersation And course of life supported ought to be By these foure vertues without alteration As doores borne vp on hindges which we see Though to and fro the doore do dayly passe Yet borne on hindges is the same it was 27 Fourth reason why we do them Card'nall proue Is praeminence and power aboue the rest The Cardin's are the chiefest parts aboue Of Heauen of Earth and Sea which God hath blest Alluding vnto man compos'd by nature Of elements or els no perfect creature 28 These vertues do exceed all others farre By them are noble acts and deeds begunne The least of them shines bright as any starre And all in one as glorious as the Sunne The soule who striues the greatest works t' effect By these foure vertues doth herselfe direct 29 The fifth cause is their principalitie For vnto them all vertues are inclin'de They leade the motions power and qualitie Of heart of soule of bodie and of minde They teach they rule they gouerne and they guide The minde and soule that is to wisdome tide 30 Prudence the act of Reason still doth sway Which vertues is from vices to discerne Twixt good and bad which is the perfect way To take or leaue it teacheth vs to learne It makes vs see and know the good from ill And hauing choise to take the better still 31 Temperance the act doth rule leade and direct Of the concupiscible facultie Which is things good and pleasing to elect To comfort man and with Gods word agree It doth dispose all actions which delight Mans humane good and highest God of might 32 Fortitude rules the actions will and power Irascible in hearts and mindes of all That manage valourous actions at each stower And to indure what perils can befall Rather than faint in any fearefull guise They shew themselues both valiant stout and wise 33 These former vertues do themselues dispose With seuerall actions in their proper places But Iustice doth direct and leade all those To all good works indu'de with heauenly graces And by her vnderstanding power controule The outward acts and inward thoughts of soule 34 In number foure these choisest vertues are Which learned men in books define to be A bodie knit with substance firme and rare Sound without change from all corruption free Yet haue they obiects in a diff'rent kinde To euery wicked thought and worke inclin'd 35 Gainst Prudence warreth senselesse Ignorance Infirmitie with Fortitude doth fight Vnbridled Lust defieth Temperance And hatefull wrong gainst Iustice bends his might Thus euery vertue findes a vicious foe The one doth good the other doth not so 36 The Church which is of Christ the Spouse and mate By these foure vertues is adorn'd and wrought As of foure precious stones of highest rate Not to be match't if all the world were sought Which do protect and keepe on euery side Gods Word and Trueth so often purified 37 Prudence before doth teach her to foresee All future mischiefes like to come at last Iustice behinde will alwayes witnesse be To euery thing before is gone and past For what 's to come the first doth her defend For matters done the latter helpe doth send 38 But Temperance the right hand doth attend Lest it be puft vp with prosperitie And Fortitude the left hand doth defend For feare it fall into aduersitie These former vertues doe the Church vpholde In Gods true feare that cannot be controlde 39 Next wise men do these Cardinalls compare To the foure Riuers pure of Paradise Which water that faire garden Eden rare The place of all delights and high deuise For as they moisten earth in euery place So those bedew the soule of man with grace 40 By these men coole the heat of carnall lust And wicked passions which oppresse the minde By these our hearts are mou'd to do what 's iust From ill to good they make vs still inclin'd By these the Lord his blessings still imparts Vnto the sonnes of men to glad their harts 41 They are compar'd to those faire colours pure In whose cleere hue those Curtaines were discern'd Of Moyses Tabernacle built most sure From whom are all good acts and precepts learn'd Which seuerally the vertues do define And shew Christs Church on high to be diuine 42 The first the Iacinth is of heauenly hue Whose rarenesse doth to Prudence appertaine Whereby we imitate our
is calme and still So from a Princes count'nance debonaire No gust of hardest censure issue will To doome the wracked of turmoiled barke That in her sailing made a King her marke Prooemium Mors Reginae Elizabethae * Exod. 7. v. 14. Exod. 14. v. 21. 22. Exod. 14. v. 28. 1 A seditione gladio vindice ac dissipante Ionae 1. v. 17. matt 12. v. 40. Dan. 3. v. 27. Sapient 8. 4. morall vertues the subiect of this booke De 4. virtutibus ingenere vsque ad paragr 63. * Plato in Phaedro Cic. 1. offic c. 5. Currus quatuor virtutum Virtutes connexae Arist. 6. Aethic cap. 17. 18. August 7. Trinit c. 3. Cic. 1. offic cap 6. 1. Tim. 6. v. 15. Genes 1. Ioan. 1. v. 3. * Iaco. 1. v. 5. Quadrupliciter Cardinales à cardine vel stabilitate dictae lsidorus Causa in nobiâ— ad cardinem disposita Homo qualrata figura Haec quinta causa est superaddita defectui tertiae Officia quatuor virtutum Cic. 1. rhetoric August lib. 83. quaest q. 31. Macrob. Cic. 1. Rheto. lib. 1. offic Aug. lib. 83. quaest q. 31. * Fine obiecto distinguuntur August lib. 2. de Genesi contra Manichâ—os cap. 10. * Corpus Morale Foure obiects contrarie to foure vertues Bene disponitur Ecclesia per has virtutes The properties of Prudence Iustice Temperance Fortitude Foure vertues compared to foure Riuers of Paradise in the first comparison Foure vertues compared to foure colours in the second comparison * Sanctorum iustificationes intellige Apoc. 19. v. 8. Purpura i. verbum Dei Apoc. 19. v. 13 Imperatores Reges Pontifices Coceineis vestibus iudicant Exod. 30. v. 23. c. Foure vertues compared to foure spices Comparat 3. * Per humilitatem omnem iustitiam intelligimus Matth. 3. v. 15. etenâ—m humilitas quod suum est Deo verè attribuit Apoc. 8. v. 4. * Vid. Seraphim Pro. 8. v. 31. Isai. 66. v. 2. * Peraldus Tomo 1. cap. 2. tract 1. de virt Cardi. Calamus contusus reâ—ert ecclesiam passa floret oppressa crescit contempta proficit laesa vincit c. Hilarius lib. 7. de Trinit Coniunction of foure in one Eccles. 7. v. 3. Prou. 22. v. 1. Foure vertues are compared to 4 wheeles in the fourth comparison 4. Reg 2. v. 11. Foure vertues compared to foure liuing creatures in the fifth comparison De his quatuor Apoc. 4. Aegle 1. Visus aquilinus acutissimus Plin. de aquila Barthol Arist. c. Calfe â— Lion 3. Prou. 30. v. 30. Man 4. Pro. 13. v. 6. Oic 1. offic c. 6. Thus farre in generall De Prudentia in particulari quae est prior naturaliter vt regula dirigens caeterae praeâ—edunt in esse perfecto quatenus diriguntur Fons primus Pro. 2. v. 4. 5. Rex prudens prudentia sensu regit Israel 1. Paral. 22. Vid. Pro. 29. v. 14. Arist. de sensu sensato Prudentiae tres partessen potentiae Cic. 1. offic Gabriel 3. sent dist 33. q. vnica conclus 2. Vid. Scholast lib. 3. sent Arist. 6. Ethic. in Politic. De his 5. vide Angelum de Clauasio in sua Summa verbo Prudentia Haec pars dicitur Legis positiua qua ciuitas vel Regnum administratur Prudentia principatum in dirigendo caeteras virtutes obtinet Ab etimologia Ioan de Combis lib. 5. cap. 34. Triplex prudentia Deut. 23. v. 29. Pro. 10. v. 31. 32. Adhuc Prudentia triplex mundana diuina humana Quatuor vitia Prudentiae opposita Examples 3 Reg. 3. v. 12. 1. Reg. 3. Extant libri in retâ—ri testamento Vid. Herodot lib. 8. 9. Plutarc in vita Alexand. Milites in vno praelio 1000000. Plutarc in Pompeio Plutarc in Solone Plutarc in Liturgo Plutarc in Phocione Cor Principis domicilium virtutis De Temperantia in particulari Tres partes Temperantia August lib. 83. quaest q. 31. August lib. de continentia cap. 13. Probatur exemplo mulierum Syrarum August lib. 2. cap. 20. de adulterinis coniugijs Sapient 8. Continentiâ Demonium superatur Esther 13. v. 2. Misericordia veritas custodiunt Regem roboratur clementiâ thronus eius Pro. 20. v. 28. * Num. 12. v. 3 3. Reg. 20. v. 31 Esther 13. v. 2. Matth. 21. v. 5. Modestiae descriptio Pro. 22. v. 4. Seneca lib. de 4. virtutibus 1. Tim. 2. v. 5. The properties of Temperance Species diuersae ab alijs deriuari possunt per modum dirigentis Sic Bonauent lib. 2. 3. sentent Gabriel lib. 3. sent dist 36. q. vnica Oecham lib. 3. sent q. 11. iuxta finem Quatuor virtutes ornamenta Regum Ab etimologia A definition Plutarch Plutarc in Alexandro a Vid. Plutarc in vit Pompei b Plutar. in Phoâ—ione Demetrio In viâ—â— eorum Anima Principis Temperantiae sedes Fortitudinis descriptio Deut. 20. Eleazar 2. Mach. 6. v. 19. 20. c. Dan. 3. Martyres Matth. 19. v. 28. 29. Duodecim brachia fortitudinis Pro. 2. v. 10. 11 Deut. 20. v. 2. 3 Dauid Reges Iuda Israel 2. Mach. vlt. 2. Mach. 6. v. 18. 24. Hoc dâ—lectantur Scithae Turci Arabes c. Bernard ad fratres de monte Dei. 1. Ioan. 5. v 4. Hebrae 11. v. 32. 33. c. Hebrae 11. v. 1. Timor filialis Prou. 1. v. 7. Psal. 111. v. 10. Non seruilis quia non habet charitatem 1. Ioan. 4. v. 18. Isa. 30. v. 15. * Phil. 4. v. 13. Sap. 3. v. 4. Matth. 25. v. 35. c. Iaco. 2. v. 15. Luc. 6. v. 31. Prou. 18. v. 19. Psal. 133. Eccles. 25. v. 1. Psal. 73. v. 28. Psal. 119. v. 31. Qui veritati inhaeret vanitati nullo modo succumbit Gregor in Moral Pro. 24. v. 5. Valdè fortitude destituitur nisi per consilium fulciatur Gregor in Moral Gregor in Moral Nulla aduersitas deijcit quem prosperitas nulla corrumpit 1. Tim. 6. v. 7. 8 Iob. 1. v. 21. Prou. 27. 26. Matth. 6. v. 25. Ecclesiastis 5. v. 17. 18. c. 1. Cor. 9. v. 27. 2. Cor. 12. 7. v. 8. 9. Psal. 41. v. 1. 112. 4. 9. Eccles. 11. 1. Dan. 4. v. 24. Tob. 4. 7. cap. 12. v. 9. c. Matth 25. 35. Iaco. 5. v. 15. 17. Exod. 17. Quatuor partes fortitudinis Effectus fortitudinis 6. Pro. 10. 4. Fortitudo fidei Hebrae 11. Fortitudinis officia 5. in quibus consistit Hebr. 11. v. 24. Cantic 8. v. 6. * Iaco. 4. v 7. 1. Pet. 5. v. 8. 9. * 2. Tim. 2. v. 5 Iob 7. 1. Vid. Caesaris Commentar Plutarc in Iul. Caesar. Plut. Plutar. in Pompeiâ— Vid. virtutem bellicam Agis in Plutarch in vit Agis Cleomenis Plutar. in Themistocle Plutarc in Paulo AEmilio De fortitudins Pyrris vid. Plutarch in Pyrro Plato Plutar. he Crasso De diuiso exercitu 40000. 7000. equitum sub Ptolom Nicanore Gorgia vid. 1. mach 3. 4. * 1. Machab. 3. v. 59. De Iustitia in particulari Proprietas Iustitie Sex pertinâ—nt ad Iustitiam 1. Religiâ— 2. Pieâ—as 3. Gratia 4. Vindicta mali Iudith 9. v. 16. 5. Reuerentia 6. Veritas Religionis definitio Iacob 1. v. 27. Pietus quid Gratiae descriptio Vindicta mali describitur Reuerentia describitur Praemium virtutis honos Veritas quid Sedes Iustitiae conscientia pura Vigor synceritas Iustitiae H. 7. Iacobus primus Reges Brutus Pace concordia stabiliuntur Regna sanguini Christiano optimè consulitur Summum iuâ— est summa iniuria Probatio Iustitiae Regnum sive iustitia est latrocinium Insignia iniustitiae Reprehensio malorum siqui sint non taxatio bonorum quorum synceritatem nouimus Impiorum fraus finis Omnes virtutes in vna Iustitia comprehensae Vid. Plutarc in Agesilao Deut. 1. v. 16. Ioan. 7. v. 24. Iere. 21. v. 12. 22. v. 3. Prou. 13. v. 6. Plutarc in Solone Leges Solonis Menethon Diodor Siculus Pausanias Plutarc in Aristide Titus Liuius Plutar. in Phocione Plutar. in Alexand. Pulchrum exemplum Iustitiae Reiecit Regis Persaâ—â—m literas ne iustitiam violaret vid. Plutar. in Agesilaâ— Libera vox foeminae The heart and conscience of Philip pierced with a womans word Regale exemplum Homo iustus vera Dei imago Aproprietate Salerata sanguinis effusio The paterne of Iustice. Conclusio Virtus id est vigor militaris monarchicus Româ— Bizantij sub Carolo Magno cius â—â—â—nis quinto in Saxonia Bohemia Arist. in Meteoris
VERTVE TRIVMPHANT OR A LIVELY DESCRIPTION OF THE FOVRE VERTVES CARDINALL Dedicated to the Kings Maiestie Prima canenda venit mater prudentia rerum Ordine tunc sequitur mens moderata suo Pòst animus magnus postremò munera dico Iustitiae per quam nectitur orbis amor AT LONDON Printed by Melchisedech Bradwood for Matthew Lownes 1603. TO THE RIGHT HIGH AND MIGHTIE Prince IAMES King of England Scotland France and Ireland Defender of the Faith THe deepe-grounded root most dread Soueraigne of my duteous loue to your famous and memorable Sister my gracious Queene and Mistresse being newly watered with the drops of your Princely fauour spreadeth it selfe into many branches of much loialtie and full desire to bring forth the fruit of my most humble zeale and faithfull seruice to your Maiestie And albeit my best labours being brought into a choise and Princely taste can neither desire nor deserue greater grace than to be held as perfunctorie and triuiall yet vouchsafe most mightie King to giue so fauourable a passage in your gracious consideration that were the stocke answerable to the bud of my deuoted minde or the fruit agreeable to my faith and loialtie it should at least haue carried the relish in your iudiciall allowance of good fruit Kirnels being set at first in time beare fruit but being vn-graft neuer come to perfection So may it please your Highnesse from this tender plant of mine there can appeare nothing woorthie either keeping or gathering but being grasted in the least fauour of your Maiesties protection it may hereafter bring forth matter of more approbation content and consequence I must confesse that this so woorthy a subiect might haue beene written with greater maturitie and deliberation but the golde of my inuention hath prooued too base therein to set the rare-orientall pearles of these roiall vertues onely my much respectiue dutie hath thus dared to vent her greatnesse which though it make no large current from the first head yet is it as pure and vndistained as where it floweth most The God of Heauen indue your Highnesse with all Princely blessings and dayly more and more propagate and spread abroad the glorious lustre of your Maiestie to the which as England Scotland France and Ireland so likewise the whole world may haue regard vnto as their true marke and perfect Cynosure since the vniuersall schoole of the world is the Person the House and Court of a vertuous Prince Your Maiesties humbly deuoted seruant of the honourable band of Pensioners William Leighton VERTVE TRIVMphant to the Kings Maiestie 1 NOw that Hyperion with his chearefull beames Hath cleer'd the troubled skie of cloudie state Since little springs do runne to largest streames And mutuall faith determins feare of hate Oh happie land who such a King do'st gaine By whom are dri'd the teares of sorowes raine 2 Our earth esteem'd halfe dead through Winters spight Grones vnderneath the burden of her spring The fields with natures Tapistrie are dight For ioy whereof the winged consort sing Ech vegetable Plant late nipt with frost Vowes treble hope for all the fruit we lost 3 Our memorable Phoenix now takes rest Her ashes doth a mightie Monarch raise Whom best men loue and God himselfe hath blest For all our good and his eternall praise Chosen by him on highest throne to sit For Wisdome Temperance Iustice Power Wit 4 Our cleerest skies with darke clouds ouer-cast In splendent brightnesse shew their wonted hue Our doubts of death are turn'd to life at last All wounds are cur'd and we reuiu'd anew Twixt present hope ioy past and former feare We scarse know what we are or late we were 5 Elizaes losse made wet the driest eies And spred sad sorow through our state and land But present blisse shone from the glorious skies For mightie Ioue stretcht forth his holy hand In one sad morne by death our hearts were slaine Which at midmorow were reuiu'd againe 6 As Pharoes heart most deeply hard'ned was And would not let Gods chosen people goe Nor suffer them from yoking bondage passe But sought their liues and hopes to ouerthrow Through raging Sea without thought of despaire God made their passage easie drie and faire 7 Yet he with might and maine did still pursue Our Gods elected Nation to confound Till in that Sea himselfe he ouerthrew And all his host were in an instant drou'nd The like God works to those whose hate would bring Death to his elect or his anointed King 8 Our state that liu'd so many months and yeeres Odde weeks and daies with fearfull thoughts of death See how Gods power and mightinesse appeares To giue vs life that gron'd and gaspt for breath And doth defend our countrey state and land As those he loues from cruell Pharoes hand 9 Yet some may seeke by enuie and debate To sow sedition in our fields of peace But they shall reape the sheaues of Pharoes hate That sunke in Seas when they sought to increase God grant all those that grudge our Regall power The Sea may drowne or earth may quicke deuower 10 Our ships of care on dangerous Seas were tost Our hopes of life the waues of death sanke downe Like Ionas in the fishes bellie lost Till God gaue grace where first he gan to frowne Now doe our storm-beat-ships their full sailes spread And we like Ionas liue ere-while thought dead 11 As Sidrach Misach and Abednego Did safely walke amids the burning heat And in the flames aliue themselues did show That force of fire could not them ill intreat So we beset about with flames of fire God quencht the rage and sent our hearts desire 12 What people liu'd more fit for mourning cheere What countrey left in greater griefe and scorne Our fall lookt for by Neighbours far and neere Drownd in despaire we held our selues forlorne Yet see the worke of Mightie Ioue his hand That sent such comfort to a wofull land 13 Our Kingdome cast in dreadfull desolation Our mindes seduc'st with spight and proud sedition Our factions fraught with secret expedition To take our liues and worke vs all perdition How great a debt owe we to him aboue That sends a King to worke vnited loue 14 Pardon dread Lord these harsh and ruder times Vnfitting obiects for a Princes eies The thunder-scorning bird of Ioue sometimes Makes a lowe pitch to earth from loftie skies Enough is me if but your Highnesse daine The smallest approbation of my paine 15 To Maiestie alone belongs my Theame The sure foundation of a Royall state Breaking the boistrous surge of fortunes streame Held vp by Prouidence the Curbe of fate In this as in a Crystall thou shalt see What best befitteth Rule and Emperie 16 Vertue that labours like heauens golden eie To light the world with her admired raies Comes to salute your sacred Maiestie Tendring her ofspring to your happie daies First Prudence next to her comes Temperance Then Fortitude whom
Sauiour true And with his Angels hope in blisse to raigne This colour doth so bright in glory shine That mortall hearts by faith see things diuine 43 The second pure white silke doth signifie And vnto Temperance of right belongs It doth the soule both clense and purifie Diuinely freeing it from offering wrongs To worke to speake to thinke the heart it moues To all those things the highest God approues 44 The third is Purple of a ruddie show Which doth on noble Fortitude attend To venture life and bloud at eu'ry blow The spotlesse truth of Iesus to defend No dangerous aduenture labour toile In Gods iust cause can make her once recoile 45 The fourth is Crimsen of a fierie red Resembling iustice in her scarlet tires To censure humane causes as their head Whose burning zeale Christs glory still desires And as this colour lasteth without staine So shall the conscience cleere from touch remaine 46 These vertues natures liuely we may proue In spices foure from whence that vnction wrought T' anoint the place and Priests of highest Ioue And vessels all that to Gods house were brought Which stately Throne perfum'd with heauenly sweet Affoords these vertues place as roome most meet 47 First weeping Myrrhe which Temperance signifies With actions gouern'd in our time of youth This doth the wicked thoughts of men surprise From iudgements rash to see and know the trueth And makes vs in our courses oft incline From damned plots to muse on things diuine 48 The second is the sweetest Cynamon Whose colour is for darkish browne allow'd This being pounded sendeth foorth anon A pleasing breath that mounteth like a cloud Which doth present to vs Humilitie As well the booke of books can verifie 49 From whence all prayers do ascend and rise Of faithfull people like the morning dew As incense sweet whose smoke doth clense the skies Which in the euening like a mist doth shew As this spice broke doth make sweet smell ech where So humble prayers pierce our Sauiours eare 50 What spice so sweet as when this same is bruis'd What sacrifice so pleasing in Gods sight As prayers which in broken heart are vs'd Which flame and burne and shine like glittring light Which mildly draw the Maiestie diuine With humble humane creatures to combine 51 To whom shall I send downe my holy Spirit But vnto those that are of contrite hart Who shall my holy land of blisse inherit But those from whom true meeknesse doth not part Whose hearts do quake and tremble at my word Which wounds thē more than men or mortal sword 52 The third is Cassia which in waters growes Resembling Prudence and doth comfort take From purest streames where perfect doctrine flowes And of small Springs a Riuer great do make From will to wit our senses it increaseth And by experience perfect wisdome teacheth 53 The fourth is Calamus a fragrant Plant That beares the branches of true Fortitude Which in extreames no patience doth want This driues away contagious sent and rude The more these spices we do beat and bruise The sweeter smell and sauour still ensues 54 Ioine vnto these a godly feare and Loue And all the heauenly works of Charitie Which with the grace proceeding from aboue Doth make this ointment smell in puritie For better is a good and honest name Than any wealth or precious ointments fame 55 Fourthly these vertues are esteemed fit To the foure wheeles of that same firie coach Wherein Elias and Gods seruants sit Being lifted vp the heauens to approach Which firie Chariot to vs knowledge giues Of their true zeale that in our Sauiour liues 56 Fifthly the number of these vertues can Be well alluded to foure liuing creatures The Aegle Calfe a Lion and a Man Which do describe their perfect seuerall natures These foure do sundry kindes decide How these rare vertues do themselues diuide 57 The first doth vs a perfect figure giue Of Prudence in her secret propertie To watch obserue and note the age we liue And with quicke sight all diffrent things to see Whose prouident praescience doth preuent All future acts might come to ill euent 58 The second shewes true Temperance to appeare Which makes vs giue our bodies vnto God With true oblation to our Sauiour deare As sacrifice not fearing scourge of rod But still to hazzard liuing life and all For Gods true cause what euer should befall 59 The third of these doth Fortitude containe Which is the Lion of all beasts the king As he aboue them all doth rule and raigne So this rare vertue rules aboue each thing As th' one no man nor creature can dismay So th' other will from all the rest beare sway 60 Man being the fourth doth Iustice comprehend Which is the band of true societie This doth all right and causes iust defend In faith in truth and lawfull equitie And doth preferre with care the poore mans right Before rewards or greater men of might 61 Lastly to note the number still persists Of these chiefe vertues whereof we intreat How God appointed foure Euangelists As blessed Gospels to confirme their seat Which shewes that those who teach the truth indeed In these foure seu'rall vertues should exceed 62 What euer honest is doth come from them For they of honestie the fountaines beene And from graue Reason draw their sacred stem All vnto vertue bowing as their Queene These thus discoursed of in generall I haste to shew their powers seuerall 63 From Wisdome daughter of immortall loue And sacred Science of Diuiner things Belonging to the Deitie aboue The birth of well aduised Prudence springs This the first fountaine is that purely runnes From Reasons head whereas true vertue wonnes 64 No mortall man can perfect good attaine That wants this vertue in her heauenly kinde Nor can his life from actions vile refraine Nor yet controule the wicked thoughts of minde Of Prudence therefore this is vnderstood Men wanting her are not accounted good 65 She is the nurse of true and holy feare Both to loue God and to obey our King She is the Ancient doth the colours beare Into those fields where fairest blessings spring She makes vs know our selues and feare the Lord To loue the king and in one faith accord 66 A prudent King a firme assurance is Vnto his people ouer whom he raignes Vpholds the right and mends the faults amisse He roots out vice and vertue still maintaines Clap hands for ioy when such a King we crowne That raiseth good and pulles the wicked downe 67 This vertue sprung from wisdome most diuine With knowledge got and by Gods goodnesse had Doth rule mens actions and their hearts encline For to discerne and chuse the good from bad Whose office doth consist by skill to chuse What vertue bids and all the rest refuse 68 She
in taking part with none Yet made them chuse him Ruler all alone 94 Lycurgus worthy maker of sharpe lawes Who did reforme the Lacedemons state Fiue hundred yeeres of peace he was the cause And setled loue'mongst those that swel'd with hate So that they liu'd in gouernment and peace Vntill his lawes and ordinance did cease 95 Well may we note how Phocion spake his minde Against th' Athenians enterprise in warre And sith they tooke his counsell to vnkinde He spake aloud that men might heare him farre You force me do the things I ought not thinke Nay yet from speech nor counsell for to shrinke 96 Demosthenes a woman poore preseru'd Who had ingag'd herselfe vpon receit To them of whom from faith the one was sweru'd And got the money from her by deceit Her cause by prudence he did well defend And for the paiment made her foes attend 97 Here strike we saile and now the anker cast Of our bifronted Prudence in the bay Of sacred royaltie there remaining fast Till her faire sister Temp'rance bring we may O that she finde such quiet harbour there As may the date of datelesse time outweare 98 This Cardinall doth wicked wayes subdue Chacing bad motions which misleade the minde Preseruing man in meane and measure true Gods lawes to keepe which are to vs assign'de And to contend by all the meanes we can To beat downe sinne and raise the inward man 99 This Temp'rance is describ'd three parts to haue First Continence doth rightly challenge one The second office Clemencie doth craue And Modestie the third doth holde alone Ech one of these sits in his proper place To build Gods house and Sathans to deface 100 The first the minde and appetite doth leade With inclination to good works of light The other carnall motions downe doth treade And all externall euils pardon quite The third distinctly measur'd with suspence Doth iudge the cause and maner of offence 101 From Continence two other branches spring One drawes our hearts from pleasures to refraine And those corrupt desires of eu'ry thing That should procure our euerlasting paine The other works to bridle that desire of golde and wealth which sets the heart on fire 102 By Continence the appetite is taught And gouern'd by the square of graue aduise Vertue to loue and vices set at nought And for the best all courses to deuise Whereby is prou'd that vile intents contain'd Are chang'd to good and wicked acts refrain'd 103 Clemencie is a Temp'rance of the minde When iust Reuenge may take his time and power Or Lenitie in noble hearts most kinde Which might afflict inferiours euery hower And to impose vpon them punishment For all offences done with ill intent 104 Though this for all men be expedient Yet vnto Princes chiefly it belongs Whose care to punish faults conuenient Giues vs example to desist from wrongs Which is confirm'd and prou'd in ech respect When God made Moyses Iudge of his elect 105 Who was the meek'st and temperat'st Prince aliue That liu'd obedient in Gods feare and loue And would no man of his due right depriue Nor once his foot from that was trueth remoue Then England Ioy God hath a Moyses sent His right to keepe and all our harmes preuent 106 Well may we note in Isr'el many Kings That were most gentle in their toilsome raigne Which did in mercie censure doubtfull things And with attention heare the poore complaine And hauing heard the truth on both parts tri'de In temp'rate iudgement did the cause decide 107 I would in no wise wrong my Regall power Nor once abuse the greatnesse of my place But rule my subiects eu'ry day and hower With pitie mercie lenitie and grace This Esther writes renowmed Queene of fame That following Princes might obserue the same 108 Beholde the King doth come vnto the milde And with the gentle maketh his abode But from th' obdurate he will be exilde And shun the path where wicked people trode From Clemencie this knowledge still doth spring To know a Tyrant from a gracious King 109 A shamefast wise regard is Modestie Of honest things inhabiting the minde And the reward hath of authoritie The which doth pure and stable actions binde And teacheth vs in compasse how to liue Of precepts such as Temperance doth giue 110 This sheweth man himselfe how to behaue In laughter words and gesture decently In ord'ring well those parts which God vs gaue In comly habits of Ciuilitie All these Sobrietie doth still obserue And neuer from true modest actions swerue 101 Temperance doth guide the seasons of the yeare And their coniunctions firme and mutuall makes Of elements whose temp'rate times appeare In ord'ring things that Prudence vndertakes It is the compasse of the wide worlds frame And perfect ornament to decke the same 102 It is the ground-worke of mans happie life And preseruation of his inward soule It is the curbe and bridle of all strife Drawing the raines which choler do controule It doth containe the inward thoughts of minde By which all actions mod'rate passage finde 103 From Prudence rightfully she drawes her line Withouten which we cannot Temp'rance gaine Nor any can to Fortitude incline Vnlesse the mod'rate vertue he attaine For courage will be rash and heady still And wanting Temp'rance followes rages will 114 This vertue knit and ioyn'd with all the rest Doth worke perfection in their true effects Without the which no vertue is possest With that true good that Wisdome most respects In Noble mindes where temp'rate motions faile Presumptuous thoughts do euermore preuaile 115 The ornament that best beseemes all Kings Inuesture is with robes of Temperance That makes their fame so high to flie with wings And to the heauens their Scepters doth inhance In right and trueth a King we may him call That his desires and pleasures masters all 116 This vertue is the light that banisheth Obscuritie of passions round about A double vertuous qualitie she hath For she preseru's vs both within and out With priuate publike and humane respect Shee frees the soule which vice did so infect 117 She is a stedfast mod'rate rule of reason Ouer the passions of Concupiscence She keepes the motions of the minde in season And to the soule is still a sure defence Nothing so rare on earth can be espi'de As she which both the soule and minde doth guide 118 It joines and fastens bodie to the soule As firme and fast as surest driuen naile It roots out lust and doth bad facts controule And makes perfections in our minds preuaile That man who entertaines not such a guest True reason wants and liueth like a beast 119 It is the pillar of true Fortitude The helme and shield against luxuriousnesse It is the eye by which our works are view'd And draw'n and kept to lore of
happinesse It good preseru's the obstinate denies And hates the soules disordred enemies 120 Rare Scipio the noble African King Cyrus stout and Alexander great Wasting the world with fire and sword outran Yet conquer'd were by Continence intreat Prou'd by the beautie of Darius dames When they subdu'd the heat of wicked flames 121 Architas was with this rare gift indu'd Isaeus Pompey and Zenocrates Antigonus and Gracchus all eschu'd Such youthly motions might their fancies please And when such sparks their hearts do set on fire Their Temp'rance rules the heat of lusts desire 122 We reade of Charles that Emp'rour of great fame Lysimmachus Fabritius and the rest Rodulphus Cato Socrates by name All which this vertue pure and rare possest By her they did their course of life direct And strongest passions of the minde reiect 123 Sith golden meane doth temperance out measure Happy the man that can the same attaine Neither to melt in th'hot desire of pleasure Nor frie in heart-breake griefe and hardest paine The greatest enemie that she doth finde Is stubburne perturbation of the minde 124 Now seat thee Temp'rance by thy sisters side Humbly deuoluing all thy vertuous power To him that in his chaste thoughts doth prouide His Princely minde to be your trustie tower Stout Fortitude is my next morall theame The fountaine third of reasons sacred streame 125 This Fortitude is th' earnest appetite And strong desire of great and mightie things That in contempt of actions base will fight And seruile causes to subiection brings With constant suffring in an honest cause And humble labour to defend good lawes 126 It is the strength and valour of the minde Against the tedious troubles of our age Which doth with setled resolution binde Our liues and lands for Gods trueth to ingage And to defend with courage bolde and stout Christs chosen Church the vniuers throughout 127 Twelue helps to this rare vertue do belong The first is Counsell of the graue and wise When they adrayne a battell great and strong The Priest stands in the vantguard to aduise And with loud voice the people doth exhort They should not faint to lose the towne or fort 128 And bids them hearken when he calles and cries To fight the battell with vndaunted hearts And march on stoutly gainst their enemies Not fearing death nor his relentlesse darts This shewes that courage which doth counsell lacke Runnes on at first but in the end turnes backe 129 Let vs obserue that wise and holy King That arm'd his souldiers not with speare and shield Exhorting them courageous hearts to bring With policie and strength to winne the field Which doth most plaine and perfectly declare Warr's little worth where graue aduise is rare 130 The fame which the olde Herôes did atchieue By their braue deaths and did the same commend To datelesse memory and time to liue Was fortitude and courage without end As Eleazars death hath left behinde A worthie proiect for ech Noble minde 131 Another helpe is dayly exercise Whereby the bodie 's kept in perfect vse Without the which it hourely droups and dies And made a subiect to most vile abuse Which shewes that vse and exercise doth make The partie apt and prompt all good to take 132 Hard sinews and strong armes the rusticks haue Which exercise and dayly vse hath wrought Whose perfect actions dayly custome gaue And earnest labour readinesse hath taught Vse therefore exercise which giueth strength And brings effect to all our works at length 133 The fourth is Faith which euer doth subdue And conquer all the world with victorie Faith is to Fortitude a Captaine true Fit for to march in deeds of dignitie She is the hope of things not had in sight The ioy whereof doth giue the heart delight 134 The fifth is Feare which often helpe doth bring To Fortitude in matters of import Of eu'ry sinne it doth abate the sting And to cleane hands this vertue doth exhort The feare of God the true beginning is Of perfect wisdome and eternall blisse 135 The sixth is Hope which euer appertaines In perfect silence to this vertue pure And so inabled mightie things it gaines In him that doth sweet comfort still assure So Secresie and Hope true solace bring To Fortitudes attempt in eu'ry thing 136 The seuenth pure and perfect Charitie By which we may two waies obserue and take First how we should in need relieued be And of our neighbours helpe good vse to make Which doth instruct vs in our deeds to do To others as we would be done vnto 137 A brother which his brother doth vpholde Is like a goodly citie of great strength If one do fall the other waxeth bolde Him to support and raise againe at length What with Gods blessed Word doth more agree Than brethrens loue and neighbours charitie 138 The second is adhaering to the trueth To which whose mindes and hearts do euer cleaue Shall still controule foolish wayes of youth And not let worldly vanities deceaue For those that are to constant trueth inclin'de Will not admit vaine thoughts to vexe the minde 139 The eighth is Wisdome which we may esteeme A fitting helpe and comfort in this place A wise man stout and valiant we should deeme A strong man learned giues his learning grace Thus Valour should to Wisdome still be tied And learned men with strength be beautified 140 The ninth is Temperance which most pursue The steps and paths of true prosperitie And doth sinister accidents subdue For being downe cast in aduersitie No losse of goods can change or grieue that minde Whom all the gifts of Fortune can not blinde 141 He that doth liue and naught desires at all Of wealth or riches in his course of life Needs not to feare the force of Fortunes fall Nor to molest his minde with care and strife Sweet is the time the yeeres and dayes well spent Where that one hath doth giue the heart content 142 The tenth is pure and perfect discipline Of these our bodies in corrupt estate Which makes vs from our fleshly foes decline T' imbrace good things which we by nature hate And being conquer'd works in vs more strength For to attaine true vertues goale at length 143 Another helpe is Almes and good reliefe Vnto the poore and them which stand in need To clothe the naked and to ease the griefe Of those for whom our Sauiour Christ did bleed Which Almes with honour shall obtaine the field And rule the mighty Monarchs speare and shield 144 The last is prayer of most great auaile With Fortitude conioyn'd doth high ascend When Moyses did by prayers God assaile To Israel the conquest he did lend Which shewes that prayer with
true vertue knit Doth pierce the very Throne where God doth sit 145 This vertue doth foure other parts dispose Magnificence the first I take to be The next sure Trust which nothing will disclose The third is Patience in extremitie The fourth Perseu'rance in one purpose still And not to rest vntill she worke her will 146 It hath besides a number of effects The first triumpheth ouer all her foes The second keeps to each her true respects The third enricheth with the ware it showes For valiant hand doth gather wealth and store And still increaseth riches more and more 147 The fourth it doth expugne the highest seat And heauens kingdome wherein God doth raigne With violence it suffreth to intreat That glorious state where holy Saints remaine The fift adornes the bodie and the minde With comly robes which Fortitude doth finde 148 The sixt doth make mens hearts to be secure And arm'd with care in all extreme designes With strong defence all danger to endure At no dysast'rous chance it once repines Securitie it breeds to all good hap And nothing doubts malignant thund'ring clap 149 True Fortitude fiue offices doth holde The first attempteth matters of great doubt And in strange obiects difficults most bolde Still to effect the worke she goes about Do manfully with comfort and good cheare Daunt not your hearts with any kinde of feare 150 The second is contempt of things terrene And from the loue of earthly ioyes to runne The trueth whereof by Moyses plaine was seene Deny'ng to be Kings Pharos daughters sonne The third is the induring tribulations With loue as strong as death in alterations 151 The fourth is filthie Temptor to withstand And foule suggesting which the minde offends None shall be crown'd or holde that blessed land But he that curbeth sinne and life amends Appeasing so the wrath of God he giues The world adue Surmounting Sathan liues 152 Mans life is like a warfare on the earth Whose time is spent with troubles toile and cares Subiect to all temptations from his birth In woe he liues and dies at vnwares The surest signe true fortitude to show Is in this life all vice to ouerthrowe 153 The Romanes Monarch Iulius Caesar great Being sickly tender subiect to much griefe Did still the weaknes of his state intreat With warlike labour for his healths reliefe He made a med'cine of his daily toile And exercise to be his sicknes foile 154 Of Marcus Sergius we may likewise note Whose right hand from his body was bereft Yet by continuall vse and practise gote Such perfect skill ih th' other hand was left As he did call fower seu'rall men in sight And ouercame them one by one in fight 155 Fabius Cunctator cometh to my minde Whose mod'rate courage mixt with valour still Did shew himselfe of true and noble kinde When Hanniball his souldiers all did kill He rusheth foorth and puls from him his crowne Wounded to death there dies with great renowne 156 Pompey the great and mightie Prince of power Prepar'de to sea his ships hoist vnder saile There rose a stormie tempest and a shower That all his mariners began to quaile He puts to sea spreds saile and speech doth giue It 's good I goe not fit I stay to liue 157 Agys the Lacedêmons worthie king Resolu'd to fight though oft his counsell tolde His enemies then ten for one would bring Which made his warlike sp'rite to speake more bolde It needs must be whose power commandeth many Should not be fear'd with multitude of any 158 We may not slip with silence in this place Themistocles in whom true woorth appear'd Whom Xerxes mightie fleete could not disgrace Nor whole twelue hundreth ships once make affeard Three hundreth saile he brought with skill to fight Which in that conflict put the twelue to flight 159 Damyndas answer'd being often tolde The danger great the Graecians should endure Vnlesse they did with Phillip concord holde Who had prepar'd an armie strong and sure What euill can he cause vs for to take That no account of death it selfe do'th make 160 Dercyllides from Sparta being sent To Pyrrhus stout his meaning foorth to sound Wherefore he march't and what was his intent To bring his men on borders of their ground If thou be God our faults deserue no care If thou be man thou art but as we are 161 Thundring saith Plato terrifi'th a childe And threatnings are but scar-babes vnto fooles It daunteth none but those are base and vilde And neuer learn'd in this rare vertues schooles They feare not death where fortitude is found Nor care to rot aboue or in the ground 162 A man of wisdome once demaunded was Why he for shame such actions would commit That should his death procure or bring to passe Or end his daies at seasons so vnfit He answer'd Good men put in life no trust But in those things were honest good and iust 163 True proofe by Marcus Crassus we may finde Who shew'd his valour in his later age And lost his dearest sonne to grieue his minde And all his men in furie fight and rage Yet shew'd himselfe more valiant then before And neuer seem'd his losses to deplore 164 Let vs obserue stout Machabaeus fame When fortie thousand men appear'd in sight And being aduis'de not to abide the same But flie away and not endure the fight He thus resolu'd much better was to die Then lose his name and from his foes to flie 165 But stay my Muse And now braue fortitude Which art the part of honestie that reares The minde to heauen and solely do'st include The soule and spirit daunting abiect feares Make haste and to thy reu'rend sisters hie Borne on the wings of sacred Poesie 166 Iustice giues right to whom it appertaines First vnto God next vnto eu'ry man It is a habit in the minde remaines Which doth with care the course of profit scan Preseruing and maintaining common good Which makes true Iustice to be vnderstood 167 It giues to eu'ry one his proper place And dignitie with honour woorth and praise It yeelds desert his true and perfect grace And censures iudgement to the right alwaies It is the vertue that doth comfort bring To all true subiects from a godly king 168 Sixe things to vpright Iustice do pertaine The first Religion which Gods word hath taught The second place doth Piëtie obtaine By which true works of Charitie are wrought The third is Grace or fauour which proceeds From God aboue whose sp'rite works holy deeds 169 The fourth Reuenge of things which are vniust And contrary to Gods most holy will Not in the strength of man or horse to trust But in his word whose truth continues still Which shall not change but rest the same it was Though all the world the earth and heauens passe 170 The