Selected quad for the lemma: virtue_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
virtue_n	fortitude_n	justice_n	temperance_n	2,097	5	10.3230	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A16206	The castle, or picture of pollicy shewing forth most liuely, the face, body and partes of a commonwealth, the duety quality, profession of a perfect and absolute souldiar, the martiall feates encounters and skirmishes lately done by our English nation, vnder the conduct of the most noble and famous Gentleman M. Iohn Noris Generall of the Army of the states in Friseland. The names of many worthy and famous gentlemen which liue and haue this present yeare. 1580. ended theyr liues in that land most honorably. Handled in manner of a dialogue betwixt Gefferay Gate, and William Blandy, souldiars. Anno 1581.	Blandie, William.; Gates, Geffrey.	1581 (1581)	STC 3128; ESTC S104609	42,363	70

hoyse vpp the sayles of the minde whereby the course thereof may be made more swift certayne And euen as a skilfull couragious horseman doth not alway delight in a soft and gentle pace but sometymes geueth his horse the spurre to the end his stede should moue more liuely So by reason sometymes the affections of the minde are styrred and prycked forward that we might more cherefully dispatch our busines You know by these what Tēperaunce is wherein it doth consist and by what meanes it is attayned Gate My minde hitherto hath his content striue and styrre at all to the contrary I may not except you be silēt wherefore say on so shall you bring me a swéete rest Blandy It foloweth that I shew you my opiniō of prudēce which vertue is the very ornamēt and garland of the other two without which they before spoken of can no wise florish and geue out kindely their cleare and bright lights of glorye the want whereof maymeth the minde of a king Prudence therefore resteth in the knowledge of ciuile gouernement which learneth vs not onely to gouerne wisely our selues and families but to rule poletikly great Cittyes and Commonwealthes And that you may fully vnderstand by what meanes this vertue is attayned it is right necessary expediēt you call to minde how men liuing as Barbarians in woods and desolate places were brought to order and at length perswaded to lyue vnder one lawe embracing mutuall loue all kinde of humanitye Wherefore if the swéetenes and excellencie of eloquence in antiquitie so much preuailed that men were with y e mellodious harmonye thereof drawen from barbarousnes to ciuilytye If puissance in the beginning repelled iniuries and became thereby the roote of royaltye if good and profitable lawes stayed most fastly men thus reclaymed and brought to the quiet and happy home of peace and rest I holde the onely redye and perfect stepp to trace out prudence by the loue of Eloquence by the honor of chiualrye by the knowledge and studye of the ciuile lawes For these sciences are right worthely reckoned among those which are the most chiefe highest for y t they haue bene the founders of Citties the safegard of common societye the principall stay and rocke of all noble and florishing Commonwealthes To be prudent in a priuate man is right worthely commended in a king in a prince and in the place of Maiestye it geueth out such comfortable beames that thousands and infinite numbers thereby receaue reliefe For her propertye is to be diligent and busie for the weale of all They are therefore in no wise to be déemed prudent which séeke the aduauncement of themselues and the preferment of any one priuate Familye Wherefore if you to your expectation and our wished and laboured intent purpose to behold the high and hautye hue of the Maiestye of a king marke and imprint déepely in your minde what briefly insueth A king therefore as it appeareth by the discourse precedent came of no small beginning deriued and springing of no other roote then an honorable and royall hart garnisht and deckt with all worthye and noble vertues So that this king which we speake of and haue through the viewe and consent of many famous and worthy writers chosen to be chiefe in this our Commonwealth is such a one whose Scepter iustice raysed whose soueraigntye fortitude defendeth whose preheminence prudence ruleth whose prerogatiue temperaunce keepeth in most safe and quiet estate Which chiefe and principall vertues reste alwayes in perpetuall mouing the motion whereof bringeth forth aboundantly braunches or rather if you please buddes which cann be by no irkesome and sharpe aire blasted for that the sapp and iuice of this trée in euery braunch and twigge thereof continually equally florisheth being subiect to no tyme and season Herehence mercy floweth herehence mildenes herehence courtesie affabilitye liberalitye prouidence loue which maruelously graceth the maiestye of a king This is also to be required chiefely looked for of a King y t what noble acte soeuer he take in hād whether it appertayne to ciuile gouernmēt in tyme of peace or to martiall prowes in tyme of warre his clearenes and excellencye geue most manifest notice and signification that he setteth no store by humaine thinges but doth with most earnest indeuour intention of minde affect those thinges that be heauenly and euerlasting This high and lofty intention of minde causeth the Péeres and nobilitye of his nation with all dutye and reuerence to behold him styrreth all good men with all loue and honor to embrace him forceth all base and vile minded men to feare and tremble at his sight and presence Gate As you in our March discoursed in this manner and came to the lyke issue you haue hitherto bent the drift of your vnderstanding I with many moe if you remember well caused you to cutt of the rest speaking to our simple opinions sufficiently you would haue sayd of the Maiestye of a king Minding you of a Queene by distance of place then farre of yet by nature neare by due comparison of whose excellēt cleare brightnes either that haue bene in any monument of Antiquitye honorably spoken of or liue at this present Christened in magnificence merited most high renoume that when her excellencye was named all our powers and spirites were in a manner surprised with ioy and pleasure beholding through your speach as in a glasse her great guiftes rare vertues and noble gouernement At what tyme all wee most lowly prostrating our selues with one voyce assēted that Q. Elizabeth our most high noble maistres should suffice not onely vs her true faythfull naturall subiects but all other peeres of what kinde of people they sprang of of what noble lyne parentage they descended to behold in her excellencie the true and absolute Maiestye of a Prince and gouernour wishing then most earnestly that one among vs had a penn of that propertie that either he could at once write all lāguages or that all natiōs could vnderstand what he wrote Then not onely Europe which at this present ringes of her glory but all the world besides should have knowledge and vnderstanding of his soueraigne Lady and Maistres Blandy I can not easely forgett what ioy and pleasure we tooke of that honorable report wherein as we then rested in the cogitation of so rare and royall an example so I thinke it fitt to finishe our speach of this first and chiefe piller of our Common-wealth directing all other that would vnderstād more throughly of the perfection of a Prince which nothing sheweth forth more liuely then example to the beholding our most gracious Queene and gouernour whose fayth in Christian Religiō whose knowledge in learning whose pollicie in gouerning whose clemēcy in pardoning whose bountifulnesse in preferring whose pittifull and tender commiseration of the poorest wretch that liueth within her dominiōs doth not without great cause establish her louing subiects in honoring her powring out dayly

dastardly feare Gate Doe these two vertues onely make in a Prince the fulnes of a florishing fame néedeth the Maiestye of a King no more for the setting forth of his glistring and shyning glorye Blandy There are other twoe most necessary which also must accompany the other spoken of before as speciall and chiefe vertues Gate What name haue they Blandy The one is called Prudence the other Temperaunce Gate If you would more at large display their singular condicions and priuate natures you should doe me a right acceptable friendshipp percase your report should bring no small profite to many other of the simpler sort Blandy No will I assure you shall want in me to pleasure you or profite any reckoning my selfe most fortunate if the meanest man may reape of my penn the least fruite Gate You speake most friendly wherefore I hartely pray you say on Blandy The excellencie therefore of iustice stands of force and vertue the vertue of iustice resteth in the measure of thinges ordered according to reasons prescription which teacheth that all men should beare the lyke affection to other as they would be affected of other The force of iustice is to make of many one to vnite and knit many partes in one which euidently may appeare if we call to minde that in the beginning it did so greatly excite and stirre vp mens mindes that for her loue they surrēdered their goods and possessions into the handes of one especiall man in whose amiable face this vertue did through flashing flames shewe forth her cleare light of glory I reade of Numa Pompilius a Romaine of meane estate who by vpright dealing and supporting of Justice was thought and proclaymed by the whole consent of the Romaines worthely to succéede Romulus in the state of Royall Maiestye What néedeth me here to speake of Licurgus Draco and Solon that I omit in meane while to make mention of Mercurie Phoroneus Pittacus of Millen and diuers other who by iustice haue bene aduaunced to great honor and haue thereby purchased to their posteritye perpetuall fame and memorye Therefore to perswade our selues that no one vertue deserueth the lyke preheminēce eyther is alyke to be honored it is hereby to be séene that each kinde of vertue being voyde of Justice hath lost his honor and estimation whereas Iustice alone secluded from other vertues retayneth still his especiall grace dignitie Whereby it is euident and playne that there is no way more cercayne then this to enlarge our honor no way more readilye to commend to posteritye our fame and memorye Gate I rest satisfied with your not so short as swéete discourse It remaineth that you speake of fortitude Blandy Fortitude resteth in an inuincible minde attempting for the loue of some excellent thing great difficult and daungerous actions Which high and lofty courage hath bene in all ages worthely magnified For it is a matter of no small importance so litle to esteeme of lyfe which we all in generall deeme to be sweete as to bestow it willingly and cherefully for the safegard and preseruation of a fewe and to refuse and feare for the wealth of our Countrie no daunger and terror of the enemy The recordes and ordinaunces of antiquitye doe playnely and manifestly shewe that there hath bene no glorye so great no renowme so honorable in any well gouerned Commonwealth as that which hath bene attributed to valiantnes and fortitude On the other side there were for Cowards euē by very good lawes bitter tauntes and reproches most iustly appoynted There was in olde tyme among the Macedonians a lawe ordeyned that he who had not in fight of battaile ouercome one should in the sight of all men be trust vp with an halter Therefore most wisely was it thought of Solō greatly honored among the Grecians for his deepe iudgement that the securitye and preseruatiō of a Commonwealth did consist in preferment punishmēt For by this wicked and desperate persons are restrained cut of by the other noble natures florishing witts are vehemētly styred vp to y e embracing of vertue honestye It hath bene therefore by deuine prouidence established of our forefathers y t in what kinde of men soeuer this vertue eminently appeared the same should be with many worthye and noble ensignes and titles honored And that I speake something of the Romaines Can any man be able to recite so many Images of men of Armes So many garlands either geuen to them that scaled the walles or first entred their enemies Tents or to them that by maine force saued the life of any one Citizen or to them that victoriously triumphed ouer their enemies Is any man able to recompt so many ensignes of vertue so many pryses of Prayes as to prowes and puissaunce were by the Romaine lawes assigned Gate It is not therefore to be maruailed at that that Cittie grewe to be so great and large in Empire wherein prowes and valiantnes was so honorably rewarded Blan. In that people this is also greatly to be noted that not onely noble men were wonderfully inflamed with the loue of glorye but very many of the common people And that I may of a great and infinite number call a fewe to memory the two Decii by race and byrth no gentlemen for theyr rare and singular fortitude aspired in the commō wealth to the highest degrée of honor and dignity and in y e end in theyr countryes quarrell consecrates themselues as valiaunt and vowed vessels to glory and immortality Lucius Marcius euen he which in Spayne recouered y e Romaine Empyre therefore shrunken and fallen downe to the ground was borne of simple and poore parentage yet through puissaunce obtayned in his countrey great honor a principal dignity What should I recite Marcus Porcius Cato a man much commended for his wisedome and pollicy To what end should I speak of Marcus Marcellus who first gaue Haniball the ouerthrow shewed playnly that the way to ouercome was by prowes and valiantnes Agayne why shoulde I omitt Marius that worthye wight and a thowsand moe being no gentlemen borne which notwithstanding through theyr passing skill and experience in feates of Armes were aduaunced to honour and promoted to high estate leauing to posterity fame and immortalitye Herehence the armes and cognizaunces of honor and noblenesse which euen in these our dayes are borne and had right worthely in estimation did fetch their originall and first beginning For when any man had in battayle shewed some notable poynt of a good valiaunt souldiar he was by the Generall made a gentleman had some badge or token therof assigned vnto him wherby his bloud might be ennobled through the prayse and glorye whereof his ofspring might be in like maner pricked with the desire of fame and commendation Therefore some haue in their scochins Castles engrauē geuing forth therby the strong holdes fortes straightes scōces and passages that were by them in warre wonne and vāquished other some ringes or bendes or

any other thing for the number of enemies which they had in some doubtfull and daungerous battaile subdued Other haue in theyr schochins starres signifiyng percase that they brought in some darcke and cloudy calamity no small light and comfort to the miserable afflicted state of their natiue countrye by this it is playne that fortitude openeth the way to worshippe and bringeth vs most redyly to the beholding the excéeding bright and cleare nature of true nobility And to the end you may vndoubtedly discerne the true value of a man and know assuredly where fortitude is where puissaunce where that high and lofty minde dwelleth the calamities which doe equally assault aswell the noble as base-borne some with griefe some with feare some with terror some with trembling may yelde vs a plaine and vndeceiueable marck and testimony For where puissaunce and fortitude is there is ingraffed a minde not to faynt for any trouble not to dispayre in any perrill not to languish in any woe and greeuous misery yea if Fortune frowne if daunger death ensue a worthy mind will not be forgetfull So that nothing may alike shew a gentle and valiant hart thē not to be vāquished which is seene in sorrow tried in trouble proued in persecution Gate Nothing might haue bene sayd in my simple opinion more truely and with better proofe For euen as contented sufferaunce in the extremest and bitterest cruelty proueth the mind to be high and diuine as stedfastnes in a state neuer so vnstayed tottering argueth an vncōquered value So truely timerousnes interror and daunger bewrayeth the faynt and feeblenesse of a base and cowardly nature Blandy No maruaile is it therefore if they which haue not bene dismayd at the terror of death they which haue with most valiaunt courage suffered bodely tormentes they that would for no manner of griefe be disturbed in minde and do any thing to stayne their honour and estimation haue bene alwayes had in great admiration The prayse and glory whereof springeth frō the contempt of death Cate. Is the contempt of death in all men equally honored Or may all those alike be worthely commended that would willingly dye Blandy You haue I assure you moued me a questiō right profitable and not vnfitt to be handled in this place For many yea to to many there are who being throwne down from an happy and pleasing state of life do abide that hardnesse féele in theyr flesh and natures such vnaccustomed bitternesse that they haue receiued into theyr hartes a voluntary disposition to depart from life and therefore in an extreme desperation of chaunge and better fortune doe themselues to death who notwithstanding are of many through ignoraunce vnderseruedly commended whereby you may note that the strength and force of true vertue is such that the counterfayte shewe thereof stirreth vp some both to admire and commēd a lott rather lamentable then laudable For I condemne them vtterly guilty of dastardly cowardise for that they hasten theyr dying day not at all shewing thereby theyr constancy but rather a minde vanquished and subdued through a small tast of vading misery Other there are which offer themselues to daunger not with iudgemēt and prudent aduise but being pricked forward with a certayne rage or fury of minde conceiued either of hatred enuy or some other earnest hoat affection Some other there are y t aduenture a daungerous attempt being moued thereunto with a very earnest hope or with a desperate feare of their present estate Such except t●●y had some certayne hope to escape daunger or gayne some priuate commodity or els were past all hope of escaping would be neuer perswaded to come to daunger therefore sith they misse the true good purpose of Action they may also want the honour due vnto so great and noble a vertue Gate What is the purpose or marke whereunto this action this contempt of death should be directed which also winneth vs that high renowne and glory Blandy The marke and end which this contempt of death ought to respect and looke vpon is the glory of Christ the honor of our Prince the cause of our countrye the defence of our name and honesty They that venture theyr liues for these poyntes are appoynted in the right course and race of true honor for that they obtayne the true and vndoubted end of vertue wherefore all other that purpose vnto themselues riches fame and glory depending on the consent of the vnlettered multitude and respect not the true soueraygne good they are rather to be accompted men puft vpp with vayne desire and ambition then valiant and couragious men Gate You haue me thinkes not vnlearnedly discoursed of fortitude wherein I cannot easelie comprehende whether my profitt or pleasure hath bene greater both which your penn yeldeth to all those that happelie peruse your labours It remayneth that you speake of Temperance and Prudence which displayed the maiesty of a King will appeare more liuely and apparant Wherefore say on I most hartely pray you Blandy Temperance standeth in the true and iust moderation of our actions comming from a kinde of propentiō or inclynation which is most deepely by nature in vs imprinted And that you may more plainely conceiue the property and worthynesse of this vertue thus when we talke of Temperance we vse to dispute There is in vs a kinde of power inferior to reason yet her next handmayd wherby we féele in vs a prones to be this or that way affected The affection therefore that is ingendred by this faculty is such that as it is most fitt good and necessary so if it watcheth not the direction and as it were the finger poynt of reason it is intollerable bréedeth oft our woe and confusion For by nature we waxe hoate angry and cholericke naturally we loue naturally we loth we pitty we despise we feare we frowne we desire we disdayne we are maruailously by kinde stirred vp with ioy and pleasure Which affections before they become actions least they should excéede theyr iust due and proportion and turne thereby to our annoy are to be tempered and moderated by reasons rule and discipline This man therefore that can thus gouerne and moderate the motiōs of the minde hath wonne the loue of Temperaunce and shall be honored of all men as one indued with a rare and singular vertue The affections therefore of the minde as ire loue pleasure and the solace it selfe of lyfe with many other are not as ignoraunt men suppose to be raced out but rather with the light and flame of reason in the best and highest mindes enkindled Lyke as in the sea such quiet calme weather is not to be desired wherewith the floud may not be with the least puffe of winde troubled but rather such open aire wherby the shipp at the stearne may sulck the Seas with a mery gale and prosperous winde euen so there is to be desired in y e minde a puffe as it were a blowing billow to

most feruently their prayers for her safe long and prosperous gouernement God of his infinite mercy and goodnesse keepe her to raigne long ouer vs. Gate It séemeth now therefore right good you speake of the Justicer Blandy I will most gladly doe my indeuour The two limmes that chiefly and aboue other strengthē the body of Princely maiestie is the Iusticer and souldiar The charge of which is great and honor acquired thereby right worthely had in estimation The one executeth the will of his Soueraigne vpon the offender at home and in the Citty the other wreaketh the indignation of the Prince in the field vpon the body of his enemy The one is chosen for his prudence the other for his prudence and puissaunce the one for his rightfull dealing the other for his vpright minde exposing his body to all perrils to all pouerty to all lacke The one with his toung kéepeth peace the other with the sword restoreth peace in daunger clean lost to his former state So that whereas both shoot at one principall marcke for the good and perfect souldiar hath two marckes and endes of his action the one victory wherein he winneth honor more priuate the other peace wherby he returneth triumphantly to receiue of his Prince and countrey the titles due to so great desart which maketh his former honor which I before named more priuate more publicke more knowē more ample and glorious yet sith the meanes differ not a litle whereby the iusticer is promoted to his degree and the souldiar aduaunced to an honorable calling in the commonwealth I cannot finde in my poore and simple consideration but that the souldiar in his proper right may challenge a kinde of superiority of the Lawyer Gate I cannot gaynesay your position which is that the souldiar and iusticer prefixe before theyr mindes one end and purpose so that I am induced to thinke clearely that whereas the meanes are differing oddes to be therefore betwixt theyr both desertes For what can the iusticer hassard in peace where the enemy is repelled where force is subdued where fury is put to flight his treasure wealth wife and children are by the lawes as with a sure and strong forte defended his name and honesty a number of lately richt clients with earnest and difficult suites subdued garde his health phisicke preserueth On the other side the souldiar so litle estemeth safety at home content in his mate pleasure in his children solace with his friendes that where his fidelity to his Prince loue to his countrey honor of his vpright minde shall be brought in question and stand to be tryed he will not onely most willingly forgoe all these but cherefully vow and consecrate his lustye limmes to tiresome labours his body richly clad to pinching nakednesse his feeding nature to staruing hunger his fresh and liuely lookes to lothsome languishing his sinowes to be seuered his ioyntes to be cut in two his bloud to be spilt his carcase to be stamp to dyrt myre Where fore I sée no reason but that the souldiar may in the common wealth be preferred before the iusticer Blandy Albeit it be a matter very difficult to iudge whether should be preferred before other sith the vertue in a iusticer and souldiar are not of one kinde although they pricke at one marcke and that it farre passeth the reach of either of our capacityes to waygh their priuate vertues so differing in equall ballances leauing therefore the controuersie to be decided by men of déeper indgement and ryper experience notwithstanding I thinke it most fitt the iusticer not vnworthyly if his calling and condition of life be well examined to haue the second place in this our commonwealth For where you reason thus that the souldiar doth hassard more then the iusticer fearing no force dreading no daunger pricing no perrill whereby his honourable minde should be more séene and appear with lofty and high courage I cannot with words sufficiently commend yet your reasō is inféebled by this that it is agaynst the nature of peace and therefore much agaynst the duety order and course of good magistrates to suffer as much as in thē lyeth any such iniurious action to be committed whereby the stomake of the least man should be so tried and proued The actions are not of one kinde for that they take not the like beginning although they haue the like end and direction Agayne a reason springing of one singuler Action to conclude in generality a better or worse hath small or rather no force at all Wherefore sithe you made mention of fortitude and magnanimity as though the souldiar onely and not the iusticer did regarde and embrace so greate and noble a vertue and might be condemned of dastardly cowardise I haue thought it good and expedient to cleare so high and estimable a calling of so base foule a crime First therefore whereas it is most manifest that the minde of the iusticer and souldiar is occupyed about one thing that is peace and tranquility the one to kéepe it alwayes florishing the other to restore it decaying and in daunger here it would be demaunded whither the honour of the iusticer is not as great and nobler in preseruing common quiet or the worthinesse of the souldiar to be more extolled in purchasing redéeming peace pressed and throwen downe to the ground Wherefore that this doubt and controuersy may more clearely appeare shew I hartely pray you wherein honor resteth and by what meanes it is atchiued Gate Honor depēdeth of the iust measure of value showē in the defence of a good cause Blandy How then may value be knowen Gate Value springeth of contention contention of two mindes contraryly affected So that where there is an assault and defence the defender is to winne honor by hys value which perswadeth him during life to vpholde and mainetaine the right of the cause Blandy If so the value of the iusticer will anone more eminently and clearely shine then the vertue of the souldiar Who doth not holde it a harder matter to kill a secret thē an opē enemy The iusticer and souldiar carry and vpholde both an honorable minde The souldiar standes readely furnisht to fight in the fielde where he may looke round about The iusticer is inclosed in a little cell or studdy where he may be secretly slayne The souldiar hath warning y t the enemy approacheth by the neighing of barbd horses ratling of mē of armes sound of trumpet Phife and drumme The iusticer hath foreknowledge also but by a more séely and féeble noyse as a dores créeke knacke and whisper The souldiar séeth men glittering as white as siluer The iusticer séeth one man offering enbost workemanshipp like fire and Angels of golde The souldiar fighteth commonly man to mā The iusticer is inuaded sometimes at once w t no lesse thē twenty men And wheras the iusticer and souldiar sith we all professe Christ directe their Actions to eternity to euerlastingnesse to that blessed and