pollicie soche a one was Epaminundas to his enemies and coūtrée ¶ The comparison NEither Hector of Troie nor Achilles of Grece might bee compared with Epaminundas Numa Pompilius was not more godlie Adriane the Emperour of Roome no better learned nor Galba the Emperour more valiaunte Nerua no more temperate nor Traianus more noble neither Cocles nor Decius Scipionor Marcus Regulus did more valiauntly in the defence of their countrie soche a one was this Epaminundas ¶ The conclusion OF many thynges these fewe are recited but if his whole life and vertues wer worthely handeled fewe would beleue soche a rare gouernour so vertuous a Prince so hardie and valiaunte a capitaine to haue remained in no age ¶ The parte of Rhetorike called dispraise THis parte of Rhetorike which is called dispraise is a suuectiue Oracion made againste the life of any man This part of Rhetorike is contrary to that whiche is before set called laus that is to saie praise and by contrary notes procedeth for the Oratour or declaimer to entreate vpō This parte of Rhetorike is called of the Grekes Psogos In praise we extoll the persone First by his countrée Then by his auncestours and parentes In the third place by his education and institucion Then in the fowerth place of his actes in life In the fifte place vse a comparison comparyng the persone with other whiche are more inferiour Then the conclusion Now in dispraise contrarily we doe procede Firste in the dispraise of his countrée Of his auncetours and parentes His educacion is dispraised Then his actes and deedes of life Also in your comparison with other dispraise hym Then in the laste place adde the conclusion All thynges that maie be praised maie be dispraised ¶ The dispraise of Nero. AS vertue meriteth commendacion and immortall renoume for the nobilitée and excellencie reposed in it so ougle vices for the deformitée of them are in mynd to be abhorred and detested and with all diligence counsaile and wisedome aucided As pestiferous poison extinguisheth with his corrupcion and nautinesse the good and absolute nature of all thinges so vice for his pestiferous nature putteth out vertue and rooteth out with his force all singularitée For vice and vertue are so of nature contrary as fire and water the violence of the one expelleth the other for in the mansion of vertue vice at one tyme harboreth not neither vertue with vice can be consociate or vnited for vertue is a singuler meane or Mediocrite in any good enterprise or facte with order and reason finished Whose acte in life doeth repugne order and reason disseuered from all Mediocrite soche do leaue iustice equitée wisedome temperaunce fortitude magnanimitée and al other vertues bothe of minde and body onely by vertues life men shewe theimselues as chief creatures of God with reason as a moste principall gifte beautified and decorated In other giftes man is farre inferiour to beastes both in strength of bodie in celeritée and swiftnesse of foote in labour in industrie in sense nothyng to bee compared to beastes with beastes as a peculier and proper thyng wee haue our bodie of the yearth but our minde whiche for his diuinitée passeth all thynges immortall maketh vs as gods emōg other creatures The bodie therefore as a aliaunt and forain enemie beyng made of a moste base moste vile and corruptible nature repugneth the mynde This is the cause that wickednesse taketh soche a hedde and that the horrible facte and enterprise of the wicked burste out in that reason exiled and remoued from the minde the ougle perturbacions of the minde haue their regiment power and dominiō and where soche state of gouernemente is in any one bodie in priuate and domesticalle causes in forraine and publike affaires in kyngdome and cōmon wealthe Vertue fadeth and decaieth and vice onely beareth the swaie Lawe is ordered by luste and their order is will soche was the tyme and gouernment of this wicked Nero. ¶ Of his countres NEro was a Romaine borne though in gouernement he was wicked yet his coūtrée was famous and noble for the Romaines wer lordes and heddes ouer all the worlde The vttermoste Indians the Ethiopes the Persians feared the maiestie and aucthoritée of the Romaines From Romulus who was the firste founder and builder of that Citee the Romaines bothe had their name of hym and grew afterward to marueilous puisaunt roialnes There was no nacion vnder the Sunne but it dreaded their Maiestie or felte their inuincible handes there hath been many mightie kyngdomes on the face of the yearth but no kyngdome was able with like successe and felicitée in their enterprise or for like famous gouernors and continuance of their state to compare with them This was and is the laste mightée Monarchie in the worlde Roome a olde aunciente citee inhabited firste of the Aborigines which came from Troie The prouidence of God so disposeth the tymes and ages of the world the state of kyngdomes by the fall of mightier kyngdomes meaner grewe to power and glorie The Carthagineans contended by prowes and magnanimitee to be lordes ouer the Romaines Carthage was a greate mightie olde auncient famous citee in the whiche valiaunte wise and pollitike gouernours helde therein regiment long warres was susteined betwene the Romaines and Carthagineans emong whom infinite people and many noble péeres fell in the duste Fortune and happie successe fell to the Romaines the people of Carthage vāquished and prostrate to the grounde Scipio the noble Consull beyng at the destruccion of it seeyng with his iye Carthage by fire brunte to ashes saied Talis exitus aliquando erit Rome euē as of Carthage like shall the destruccion of Rome bee as for continuaunce of the Romaine state of their glorie power and worthie successe no nacion vnder the Sunne can compare with theim soche was the state of Rome wherein wicked Nero raigned ¶ Of his anncestours DOmitianus Nero the sonne of Domitius Enobarbus Agrippina was his mothers name this Agrippina was Empresse of Rome wife to Claudius Tiberius the daughter of his brother Germanicus This Agrippina the Chronicle noteth her to be indued with al mischief and crucltée For Tiberius her housbande hauyng by his firste wife children thei were murthered by her because she might thei beyng murthered with more facilitée further the Empire to her soonnes handes many treasons conspired against them oftentimes Agrippina poisoned her husbande then Nero succeded ¶ Of his educacion SEneca the famous Poete Philosopher was scholemaister to Nero who brought hym vp in all nobilitie of learnyng mete for his state though that Nero was wickedlie of nature disposed as his beastlie gouernement sheweth yet wickednes in him was by the seueritie of Seneca and his castigacion depressed for Traianus Emperour of Rome would saie as concernyng Nero for the space of fiue yeres no Prince was like to hym for good gouernement after fiue yeres losely and dissolutly he gouerned ¶ Of his actes THis
¶ A booke called the Foundacion of Rhetorike because all other partes of Rhetorike are grounded thereupon euery parte sette forthe in an Oracion vpon questions verie profitable to bee knowen and redde Made by Richard Rainolde Maister of Arte of the Vniuersitie of Cambridge 1563. Mens Marcij vj. ¶ Imprinted at London by Ihon Kingston ¶ To the right honorable and my singuler good Lorde my Lorde Robert Dudley Maister of the Quéenes Maiesties horse one of her highes priuie Counâ—â—â—e and knight of the moste honourable order of the Garter Richard Rainolde wisheth longe life with increase of honour ARISTOTLE the famous Philosopher writing a boke to king AlexaÌ„der the great and mightie conquerour began the Epistle of his Booke in these woordes Twoo thynges moued me chieflie O King to betake to thy Maiesties handes this worke of my trauaile and labour thy nobilitie and vertue of the whiche thy nobilitie encouraged me thy greate and singuler vertue indued with all humanitie forced and draue me thereto The same twoo in your good Lordshippe Nobilitie and Vertue as twoo mightie Pillers staied me in this bolde enterprise to make your good Lordshippe beyng a Pere of honour indued with all nobilitie and vertue a patrone and possessoure of this my booke In the whiche although copious and aboundaunte eloquence wanteth to adorne and beautifie the same yet I doubte not for the profite that is in this my trauaile conteined your honour indued with all singuler humanitie will vouchsaufe to accepte my willyng harte my profitable purpose herein Many famous menne and greate learned haue in the Greke tongue and otherwise trauailed to profite all tymes their countrie and common wealthe This also was my ende and purpose to plante a worke profitable to all tymes my countrie and common wealthe And because your Lordshippe studieth all singularitie to vertue and wholie is incensed thereto I haue compiled this woorke and dedicated it to your Lordeshippe as vnto whoÌ„ moste noble and vertuous VVherin are set forthe soche Oracions as are right profitable to bee redde for knowledge also necessarie The duetie of a subiecte the worthie state of nobilitie the preheminent dignitie and Maiestie of a Prince the office of counsailours worthie chiefe veneracion the office of a Iudge or Magestrate are here set foorthe In moste fortunate state is the kyngdome and Common wealthe where the Nobles and Peres not onelie daiely doe studie to vertue for that is the wisedome that all the graue and wise Philophers searched to attaine to For the ende of all artes and sciences and of all noble actes and enterprises is vertue but also to fauour and vphold the studentes of learnyng whiche also is a greate vertue VVho so is adorned with nobilitie and vertue of necessitie nobilitie and vertue will moue and allure theÌ„ to fauour and support vertue in any other yea as Tullie the moste famous Oratour dooeth saie euen to loue those whoÌ„ we neuer sawe but by good fame and brute beutified to vs. For the encrease of vertue God dooeth nobilitate with honour worthie menne to be aboue other in dignitie and state thereupon vertue doeth encrease your Lordshipps honor beyng a louer of vertue and worthie nobilitie Your lordshippes humble seruaunt Richard Rainolde â–ª To the Reader APHTHONIVS a famous man wrote in Greke of soche declamacions to enstructe the studentes thereof with all facilitée to grounde in them a moste plentious and riche vein of eloquence No man is able to inuente a more profitable waie and order to instructe any one in the exquisite and absolute perfeccion of wisedome and eloquence then Aphthonius Quintilianus and Hermogenes Tullie also as a moste excellente Orator in the like sorte trauailed whose Eloquence and vertue all tymes ertolled and the ofspryng of all ages worthilie aduaunceth And because as yet the verie grounde of Rhetorike is not heretofore intreated of as concernyng these exercises though in fewe yeres past a learned woorke of Rhetorike is compiled and made in the Englishe tounguei of one who floweth in all excellencie of arte who in iudgement is profounde in wisedome and eloquence moste famous In these therefore my diligence is emploied to profite many although not with like Eloquence beutified and adorned as the matter requireth I haue chosen out in these Oracions soche questions as are right necessarie to be knowen and redde of all those whose cogitacioÌ„ pondereth vertue and Godlines I doubte not but seyng my trauaile toucheth vertuous preceptes and vttereth to light many famous Histories the order of arte obserued also but that herein the matter itself shall defende my purpose againste the enuious whiche seketh to depraue any good enterprise begon of any one persone The enuious manne though learned readeth to depraue that which he readeth the ignoraunt is no worthie Iudge the learned and godlie pondereth vprightly sincerely that which he iudgeth the order of these Oracions followeth afterward and the names of theÌ„ ¶ The contentes of this Booke AN Oracion made vpon the Fable of the Shepherdes and the Wolues the Wolues requestyng the Bandogges wherein is set forthe the state of euery subiecte the dignitie of a Prince the honourable office of counsailours An Oracion vpon the Fable of the Ante and the Greshopper teachyng prouidence An Oracion Historicall howe Semiramis came to bee Quéene of Babilon An Oracion Historicall vpon kyng Richard the thirde sometyme Duke of Glocester An Oracion Historicall of the commyng of Iulius Ceser into Englande An Oracion Ciuill or Iudiciall vpon Themistocles of the walle buildyng at Athenes An Oracion Poeticall vpon a redde Rose A profitable Oracion shewyng the decaie of kingdomes and nobilitie An Oracion vpon a Sentence preferryng a Monarchie conteinyng all other states of common wealthe The confutacion of the battaile of Troie A confirmacion of the noble facte of Zopyrus An Oracion called a Common place against Theues The praise of Epaminundas Duke of Thebes wherein the grounde of nobilitée is placed The dispraise of Domicius Nero Emperour of Roome A comparison betwene Demosthenes and Tullie A lamentable Oracion of Hecuba Queene of Troie A descripcion vpon Xerxes kyng of Persia An Oracion called Thesis as concerning the goodly state of Mariage An Oracion conâ—â—â—â—â—g a certaine lawe of Solon ¶ The foundacion of Rhetorike NAture hath indued euery man with a certain eloquence and also subtilitee to reason and discusse of any question or proposicion propounded as Aristotle the Philosopher in his Booke of Rhetorike dooeth shewe These giftes of nature singuler doe flowe and abounde in vs accordyng to the greate and ample indumente and plentuousnes of witte and wisedome lodged in vs therefore Nature it self beyng well framed and afterward by arte and order of science instructed and adorned must be singularlie furthered helped and aided in all excellencie to exquisite inuencion and profounde knowledge bothe in Logike and Rhetorike In the one as a Oratour to pleate with all facilitee and copionslie to dilate any matter or sentence in the
the educacion of youthe in the whiche he cutte of all pamperyng of them because in tender yeres in whose bodies pleasure harboreth their vertue science cunnyng rooteth not labour diligence and industrie onelie rooteth vertue and excellencie Vices as vnprofitable weedes without labour diligence and industrie growe vp and thereby infecteth the minde and bodie poisoneth all the mocions incensed to vertue and singularitie Who euer attained cunnyng in any excellent arte or science where idlenes or pleasure helde the swaie Philosophie sheweth pleasure to bée vnmete for any man of singularitie for pleasure idlenes and ignoraunce are so linked together that the possession of the one induceth the other So many godlie monumētes of learning had not remained to this posteritie of ours and of all ages if famous men in those ages and tymes had hūted after immoderate pleasure Thindustrie of soche who left to the posteritie of all ages the knowledge of Astronomie is knowen the monumentes of all learnyng of lawes and of all other woorkes of antiquitie by vertue noble by industrie labour and moderacion of life in studie not by pleasure and wantones was celebraied to all ages the mightie volumes of Philosophers bothe in morall preceptes and in naturall causes knewe not the delicate and dissolute life of these our daies Palingenius enueighyng against the pāpered and lasciuious life of man vttereth a singulare sentēce Qui facere et qui nosce cupit quam plurima et altum In terris virtute aliqua sibi querere nomen Hunc vigilare opus est nam non preclara geruntur Stertendo et molles detrectat gloria plumas Who so coueteth to purchase fame by actes or whose minde hunteth for aboundaunte knowledge or by vertue in this life to purchause good fame He had not nede to slugge and flepe in his doynges for good fame is not vpholded by gaie Pecockes feathers Of this Demosthenes the famous Oratour of Athens vttereth a worthie saiyng to the Athenians in his Epistle if any will iudge Alexander the greate to be famous and happie in that he had successe in all his doynges let this be his cogitacion that Alexander the greate alwaies did inure hymself to doe thynges and manfullie to assaie that he enterprised The felicitie of his successe came to hym not slepyng or not cogitatyng thereof Alexander the greate now dedde Fortune seketh with whom she maie accompanie and associate her self Thusidides comparyng the Lacedemonians and the Athenians together shewed a rare moderacion and temperature of life to be in the Athenians wherupon thei are moste commended and celebrated to the posteritie ¶ The contrarie EVen as idlenes and a sluggishe life is moste pleasant to all soche as neglecte vertuous exercises and godlie life So paine labour and studie bestowed and emploied in the sekyng out of vertue arte or science is moste pleasaunt to well affected mindes for no godlie thyng can be attained to without diligence and labour ¶ The similitude EVen as housbandmen with labour and trauaile dooe labour in plantyng and tillyng the grounde before thei receiue any fruicte of the same Euen so no vertue arte or science or any other thyng of excellencie is attained without diligence and labour bestowed thereto ¶ The example LEt Demosthenes the famous Oratour of Athenes bee an example of diligence to vs who to auoide all let from studie vsed a meanes to kepe hymself therto preuentyng also the industrie of artificers The same Demosthenes wrote seuen tymes out the storie of Thusidides to learne thereby his eloquence and wisedome ¶ The testimonie PLinie Plato and Aristotle with many other mo are like examples for diligence to vs who wrote vpon vertue and learnyng like sentences ¶ The conclusion THerefore Isocrates dooeth pronounce worthelie the roote of learning and vertue to be bitter and the frutes pleasaunte ¶ A Sentence THe Oracion whiche must be made by a sentēce is in al partes like to Chria the profitable exercise onelie that the Oracion made vpon a sentence as aucthours do saie hath not alwaie the name of the aucthour prefixed in the praise a small matter of difference who so can make the one is expert and exquisite in the other aucthours doe define a sentēce in this maner A sentence is an Oracion in fewe woordes shewyng a godlie precept of life exhorting or diswadyng the Grekes dooe call godly preceptes by the name of Gnome or Gnomon whiche is asmoche to saie a rule or square to direct any thyng by for by them the life of manne is framed to all singularitie Thei are diuers sortes of sentences one exhorteth an other diswadeth some onely sheweth there is a sentence simple compounde profitable true soche like Frame your Oracion vpon a sentence as in the Oracion before 1. The praise of the aucthour 2. The exposicion of the sentence 3. A confirmacion in the strength of the cause 4. A conference of the contrarie 5. A similitude 6. The example 7. The testimonie of aucthors shewing y e like 8. Then adde the conclusion ¶ An Oracion vpon a sentence ¶ The sentence In a common wealthe or kyngdome many kynges to beare rule is verie euill let there be but one kyng ¶ The praise of the aucthour HOmere who of all the Poetes chiefly excelled spake this sentence in the persone of Vlisses vpon the king Agamemnon kyng of Grece This Homere intreating of all the princely affaires and greate enterprices of the Grecians and of the mightie warre againste the Troians emong whom soche discorde rose that not onely the warre for lacke of vnitie and concorde continued the space of tenne yeres But also moche blood shed hauocke and destruccion came vpon the Grecians vttered this sentēce This Homere for his learnyng and wisedome remaineth intteled in many monumentes of learnyng with greate fame and commendacion to all ages What Region Isle or nacion is not by his inuencion set foorthe who although he were blinde his minde sawe all wisedome the states of all good kyngdomes and common wealthes The verie liuely Image of a Prince or gouernour the faithfull and humble obediēce of a subiect toward the prince the state of a capitaine the vertue and noble qualities that are requisite in soche a personage be there set forthe The perfite state of a wiseman and politike is intreated of by hym The Iustice and equitie of a Prince the strength of the bodie all heroicall vertues also are set forthe his eloquence and verse floweth in soche sorte with soche pleasauntnes so copious so aboundaunt so graue and sentencious that his singularitie therein excelleth and passeth The mightie prince Alexander in all his marciall enterprices and great conquestes did continually night by night reade somewhat of the Ilias of the Poete Homere before he slepte and askyng for the booke saied giue me my pillowe Alexander as it semeth learned many heroical vertues policie wisedome counsaill thereof els he occupied in so mightie and greate warres would not
common place though it semeth to be made againste this man or that man because the matter of the same shall properly pertain to all giltie of the same matter Pristianus sheweth that this parte of Rhetorike is as it were a certaine exaggeracion of reason to induce a manifest probacion of any thyng committed As for example a Theife taken in a robberie in whom neither shamefastnesse nor sparcle of grace appereth against soche a one this oracion maie be made to exasperate the Iudges from all fauour or affeccion of pitie to be shewed ¶ The order of this Oracion followeth with these notes to be made by ¶ The firste Proheme â–ª DEmosthenes the famous Orator of Athenes in his oracioÌ„ made against AristogitoÌ„ doeth saie that Lawes wherewith a common wealthe citie or Region is gouerned are the gifte of God a profitable Discipline among men a restraint to with holde and kepe backe the wilfull rashe and beastilie life of man and therupoÌ„ Aristotle and Plato doe shewe that through the wicked behauour of men good lawes were first ordained for of ill maners saie thei rose good lawes where lawes doe cease and good order faileth there the life of man will growe rude wild and beestlie Man beyng a chiefe creature or God indued with manie singuler vertues is framed of nature to a mutuall and Godlie societie of life without the whiche moste horrible wolde the life bee for not onlie by concorde and agremente the life of man dothe consiste but al things on the earth haue therin their being the heauens and lâ—ghtes conteined in the same haue a perpetuall harmonie concente in finishyng their appointed race The elementes of the worlde where with the nature and substaunce of all thinges doe consiste onlie by a harmonie and temperature of eche parte haue their abidyng increase prosperous beyng otherwise their substaunce perisheth and nature in all partes decaieth Kyngdomes and common wealthes doe consiste in a harmonie so long as vertue and all singularitie tempereth their state and gouernemente and eche member thereof obeieth his function office and callynge and as partes of thesame bodie euerie one as nature hath ordained theim occupiyng their roume and place the vse of euerie parte all to the vse and preseruacion of the hole bodie and as in the bodie so in the common wealthe the like concorde of life oughte to be in euery part the moste principall parte accordyng to his dignitie of office as moste principall to gouerne thother inferior partes and it thei as partes moste principal of thesame bodie with all moderacion and equabilitie teÌ„peryng their state office and calling The meanest parte accordyng to his lowe state appliyng hymselfe to obeie and serue the moste principall wherein the perfecte and absolute frame of common wealthe or kyngdome is erected And seyng that as the Philosophers doe saie of ill maners came good lawes that is to saie the wicked and beastlie life of man their iniurius behauiour sekyng to frame themselues from men to beastes moued the wise and Godlie elders to ordaine certaine meanes to rote discipline whereby the wickedlie disposed personne should bee compelled to liue in order to obeie Godlie lawes to the vpholdyng of societie Therefore all suche as dissolue lawes caste doune good order and state of common wealth out as putride and vnprofitable weedes to be extirpated and plucked vp from Citie and Common wealthe from societie who by mischeuous attemptes seke to extinguishe societie anntie and concord in life Princes gouernors with al other magistrates ought in their gouernment to imitate the practise of the Phisician the nature of man wekedned and made feble with to moche abundaunce of yll humors or ouermoch with ill bloode replenished to purge and euacuate that and all to the preseruacion and healthe of the whole bodie for so was the meanyng of the Philosopher intreatyng of the politike gouernment of kingdome and commonwealth when thei compared a kingdome to the bodie of man the thefe and robber as a euill and vnprofitable member and all other as without all right order lawe equitie and iustice doe breake societie of life be the against lawe and nature possessing the goodes of a other man are to bee cutte of as no partes méete to remaine in any societie ¶ The seconde Proheme THe chifest cause that moued gouernours and magistrates to cutte of the race of theues and violeÌ„te robbers and of all other mischeuous persons was that by them a confusion would ensue in al states What Citee could stande in prosperous state yea or what house priuatlie inhabited where lawes and aucthoritee were exiled where violence will luste and appetite of pestiferous men might without terrour bee practised If the labour and industrie of the godlie should be alwaie a praie to y e wicked and eche mannes violence and iniurious dealyng his owne lawe the beaste in his state would bee lesse brutishe and iniurious Who so seketh to caste doune this societee he is not méete to be of any societée whiche he dissolueth Who so robbeth or stealeth to liue by the gooddes of an other manne as his possession is by violence and againste Nature so by violence and against nature their pestiferous doinges do frame their confusion their execrable desietable purpose do make theim a outcaste from all good people and as no members thereof cut of from all societée their euill life râ—â—â—th perpetual ignomie and shame And 〈…〉 the tragicall ende of their enterprise ¶ The contrarie HErein the lose and dissolute state of gouernments called of the Grekes Democratia haue contented the wilfull heddes of pestiferous men wherein euery man must bee a ruler Their owne will is their Lawe there luste setteth order no Magistrate but euery one to hymself a Magistrate All thynges in common as long as that state doeth remain emong the wicked a most happie state coumpted a wished state to idell persones but it continueth not Herein the murtherer the thiefe were meete to be placed The greater thiefe the better manner the moste execrable murtherer a moste mete persone for soche state of gouernemente There is no nacion vnder the Sunne but that one tyme or other this troublous state hath molested theim and many haue sought to sette vp soche a monsterous state of regiment a plagued common wealthe and to be detested Soche was the order of men when thei liued without lawes When the whole multitude were scattered no citee Toune or house builded or inhabited but through beastlie maners beastlie dispersed liued wilde and beastlie But the wise sage and politike heddes reduced by wisedome into a societie of life nature leadyng thereto Houses and habâ—tacions were then for necessitte made families multiplied villages and Taunes populoustie increased and Citees raised emong so infinite people Nature by God inuented and stablished Lawe and the sage and wise persones pronounced and gaue sentence vpon Lawes Whereupon by the
so ample and plentifull to enriche them whereby thei growe to be lordes ouer many thousandes of poundes yet the wealthe gotten by it is so iniurious that thei are a greate plague to all partes of the coÌ„mon wealthe so many daungers and mischiues riseth of theÌ„ Cato the noble and wise 〈◊〉 of Rome being demaunded diuers questions what was firste to bee sought in a familie or housholde the aunsweres not likyng the demaunder this question was ashed O Cato what senfeÌ„ce giue you of Vsurie that is a goodlie matter to bee enriched by Then Cato aunswered in fewe woordes Quid hominem occidere What saie you to be a murderer Soche a thyng faieth he is Vsurie A brief sentence againste Vsurers but wittely pronounced from the mouth of a godlie sage noble and descrite persone whiche sentence let the Vsurer ioigne to his Vsure retourned and repeate at the retourne thereof this sentence of Cato I haue murthered This one sentence will discourage any Vsurer knowyng hymself a murtherer Though moche more maie be spoken against it this shalbe sufficient The Hebrues calleth Vsurie by the name of Shecke that is a bityng gaine of the whiche many haue been so bitten that whole families haue been deuoured beggerie haue been their gaine And as Palingenius noteth Debitor aufugiens portat cum faenore sortem The debtour often tymes saieth he runneth awaie and carieth with hym the debte and gaines of the Vsurie The Grekes calleth Vsurie Tokos that is properlie the trauaile of women of their childe soche is their Vsurie a daungerous gettyng Demosthenes likeneth their state as thus as if terrestriall thynges should be aboue the starres and the heaueÌ„s and celestialle bodies gouerned by the base and lowe terrestriall matters whiche by no meanes can conserue the excellencie of them for of them onely is their matter substauÌ„ce and nature conserued ¶ Exclusion of mercie WHerefore to whom regimente and gouernemente is committed on whose administracion the frame of the coÌ„mon wealth doe staie it self thei ought with al wisedome and moderacion to procede in soche causes whose office in worthinesse of state and dignitie maketh theÌ„ as Goddes on the yearth at whose mouthes for wisedome counsaill and fortunate state infinite people doe depende It is no smal thing in that their sword aucthoritee doeth sette or determine all thinges that tendereth a prosperous state whereupon with all integritee and equitée thei ought to temper the affeccions of their mynde and accordyng to the horrible facte and mischiues of the wicked to exasperate agrauate their terrible iudgemente and to extirpate from the yearth soche as be of no societie in life The 〈…〉 the thief the adulterer for by these all vertue 〈…〉 out all godlie societie extinguished citâ—â—â— râ—alâ—es and câ—untries prostrate plagued for the toleraâ—ion of their 〈…〉 agâ—inst sâ—ch â—renâ—â—hip in iudgemente muste cease and accordyng to the state of the cause equitee to retaine frendship money muste not blinde nor rewardes to force and temper Iudgementes but accordyng to the veritâ—â— of the cause to adde a conclusion Worthelie the pictures of Princes Gouernours and Magistrates in auncient tymes doe shewe this where the antiquitée maketh theim without handes therein it sheweth their office and iudgemente to proceade with equitée rewardes not to blind or suppresse the sinceritie of the cause Magistrates not to bee bounde to giftes not rewardes to rule their sentence Alciatus in his boke called Emblemata in senatuÌ„ sancti principis Effigies manibus trunce ante altaria diâ—â—â—e Hic resident quarum himine capta prior Signa potestatis fumme sanctique senatus Thebanis fuerant ista reperta viris Cur resident Quia mente graues decet esse quieta Iuridicos animo nec variare leui Cur sine sunt manibus Capiant ne xenia nec se Pollicitis flecti muneribus ve smant Cecus est princeps quod solis auribus absque Affectu constans iussa senatus agit Where vertue and integritie sheweth it self in the persone and cause to vpholde and maintain the same Roote out horrible vices from common wealthe that the more surer and stronge foundacion of vertue maie be laied for that onelie cause the scepter of kinges the â—â—â—ice of magistrates was left to the posteritee of allâ—ges ¶ Lawfull and just SEyng that lawes bee godlie and vniuersally thei temper equitée to all states and giue according to iustice euery man his owne he 〈◊〉 vertue that disposâ—â—â—e than other manne of his own and 〈…〉 Iustice And thereupon his beastly life by 〈…〉 forceth and driueth lawe and Magistrate to terrible iudgement For who so against right without order or lawe violateth an other man soche a one lawes of iustice muste punishe violentlie and extirpate from societée beyng a 〈◊〉 of societee ¶ Profitable IF soche wicked persones be restrained and seuerelie punished horrible vices will be rooted out all artes sciences and godlie occunacions maintained vpholded and kept Then there must bee a securitee in all states to practise godlines a mutuall concorde The Magistrate with equitée the subiecte with faithful and humble obedience accomplishyng his state office and callyng Whereupon by good Magistrates and good subiectes the common wealthe and kyngdom is in happie state stablished For in these twoo poinctes as Plato doeth saie there is vertuous rule and like obedience ¶ Easie and possible AL this maie easely be doen when wickednes is cutte of in his firste groweth when the magistrate driueth continually by sworde and authoritee all menne to obedience bothe of lawes and gouernuurs Then in al good common wealthes vices are neuer tolerated to take roote because the beginnyng and increase of vices is sone pulled vp his monsterous kyngdome thereby ouerthrowen ¶ The conclusion SO doyng happie shall the kyng be happie kyngdome and moste fortunate people ¶ The parte of Rhetorike called praise â—His Oracion which is 〈◊〉 praise is a declamacioÌ„ of the vertuous or good qualitees properties belongyng to any thyng whiche dâ—â—th procede by certaine notes of aâ—te All thynges that maie be seeâ—â— with the iye of 〈◊〉 touched or with any other senâ—â— apprâ—hendâ—d â–ª that maie be praised or dispraised 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Fâ—â—â—e Beaâ—â—â— Orthardes Stones Trees 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Caâ—â—â—â—â— Tâ—â—â—â—â— â—aâ—dâ—ins 〈◊〉 Artes. Sciâ—ncâ—â— Any vertue maie be praised as wisedome rightuousnes fortitude magnanimitie temperaunce liberalitee with all other These are to be celebrated with praise The persone as Iulius Cesar Octauius Auguâ—â—â—â— Hiereâ—â—le Tullie Cato Demosthenes Thynges as rightuousnes temperaunce Tymes as the Spring tyme of the yere Sommer Haruest Winter Places as Hauens Orthardes Gardeins Toures Castles Temples Iâ—â—andes Beastes wantyng reason as Horse Shepe Oxen 〈…〉 In the praise of vertue this maie be saied THe excellencies of it the antiquitâ—e and originalls beginnyng 〈…〉 any region by it as no 〈…〉 without vertues and to extoll the same in makyng a comparison with other giftes of nature or with other giftes
of fortune more inferiour or base Vpon a citee praise maie be recited consideryng the goodlie situacion of it as of Paris Venice London Yorke consideryng the 〈◊〉 of the lande the wealthe and aboundaunce the noble and famous gouernours whiche haue gouerned the same The first aucthors and builders of the same the politike lawes and godlie statutes therein mainteined The felicitee of the people their maners their valâ—aunt prowes and hardines The buildyng and ornatures of the same with Castles Toures Hauens Floodes Temples as if a manne would celebrate with praise The olde famous and aunciente Citée of London shewyng the auncient buildyng of the same the commyng of Brutus who was the firste aucthor and erector of the same As Romulus was of the mightie Citée Rome what kyngs haue froÌ„ tyme to tyme lineally descended and succeded bearing croune and scepter therein the valiauntnes of the people what terror thei haue been to all forraine nacions What victories thei haue in battaile obteined how diuers nacions haue sought their amitée and league The false Scottes and Frenche menne truce breakers many and sonderie tymes losyng their honour in the field and yet thei through the puissaunt harte of the kynges of this lande vpholdyd and saued from the mighte and force of other enemies inuadyng theim The twoo famous Vniuersitées of this lande from the whiche no small nomber of greate learned men and famous haue in the comon wealthe sprong with all other thynges to it The praise of a Kyng Prince Duke Erle Lorde Baron Squire or of any other man be maie declaimed of obseruing the order of this parte of Rhetorike This parte of Rhetorike called praise is either a particuler praise of one as of kyng Henry the â—â—â—te Plato Tullie Demosthenes Cyrus 〈◊〉 Alexander the greate Or a generalle and vniuersalle praise as the praise of all the Britaines or of all the citâ—â—â—inâ— of London ¶ The order to make this Oracion 〈…〉 Firste for the enteryng of the matter you shall place a exordium or beginnyng The second place you shall bryng to his praise Genuseius that is to faie Of what kinde be came of whiche dooeth consiste in fower poinctes Of what nacion Of what countrie Of what aâ—â—cetours Of what parentes After that you shall declare his educacion the educacion is conteined in thrée poinctes In Institucion Arte. Lawes Then put there to that whiche is the chief grâ—â—â—de of al praise his actes doen whiche doe procede out of the giftes and excellencies of the minde as the fortitude of the mynde wisedome and magnanimitée Of the bodie as a beautifull face amiable countenaunce swiftnesse the might and strength of the same The excellencies of fortune as his dignitée power aucthoritie riches substaunce frendes In the fifte place vse a comparison wherein that whiche you praise maie be aduaunced to the vttermoste Lasts of all vse the Epilogus or conclusion ¶ The example of the Oracion ¶ The praise of Epaminundas IN whom nature hath powred singuler giftes in whom vertue singularitee in 〈…〉 enterprises aboundeth whose glorie renowne 〈◊〉 to the 〈…〉 immortall 〈…〉 â—n the graâ—e their vertues and godlie life tasteth not of Obliuion whiche at the length ouershroweth all creatures Citées and regions Thei liue onelie in all ages whose vertues spreadeth same and noble enterprises by vertue rooteth immortalitee Who so liueth as that his good fame after death ceaseth not nor death with the bodie rutteth of their memorie of use Soche not onely in life but also in death are moste fortunate In death all honor dignitee glorie wealthe riches are taken from vs The fame and glorie of singulare life is then chieflie takyng his holde and roote wise men and godlie in life knowen famous after death remain woste worthie glorious Who knoweth not of Tullie the famous Oratour of Rome Doeth Demosthenes lieth hidden that noble Oratour of Athenes Is not y t fame of Iulius Cesar Octauius Augustus remainyng of Vespasianus of Theodosius of Traianus of Adrianus who by praise minded be left to the ende of al ages Soche a one was this Epaminundas the famous Duke of Thebe whose vertues gane hym honour in life and famous enterprises immortalitée of fame after death What can bee saied more in the praise and commendacion of any peere of estate then was saied in the praise of Epaminundas for his vertues were so singulare that it was doubted he beyng so good a manne and so good a Magistrate whether he were better manne or better Magistrate whose vertues were so vnited that vertue alwaies tempered his enterprises his loftie state as fortune oftentymes blindeth did not make hym vnmindfull of his state No doubt but that in all common wealthes famous gouernours haue been but in all those the moste parte haue not been soche that all so good men and so good magistrates that it is doubted whether thei 〈…〉 or better magistrates It is a rare thyng to be 〈…〉 but a more difficult matter to bee a good Magistrate and moste of all to be bothe a good man and a good Magistrate Honour and preeminent state doeth 〈…〉 whereupon thei ought the more 〈◊〉 to wadeâ— in all causes and with all moderacion to temper their preeminent state The Philosophers ponderyng the brickle and slippere state of fortune did pronunce this sentence Difficilius est res aduersas pati quam fortunam eslantem ferre it is more easie to beare sharpe and extreme pouertie then to rule and moderate fortune because that the wisest menne of all haue as Chronicles doe shewe felte this obliuion that their maners haue been so chaunged as that natures molde in theÌ„ had ben altered or nuelie framed in the life of EpaminuÌ„das moderacion and vertue so gouerned his state that he was a honor and renowne to his state nothing can be more ample in his praise then that which is lefte Chronicled of him Of his countrie EPaminundas was borne in Thebe a famous citie in Beotia the which Cadmus the soÌ„ne of Agenor builded whiche Amphion did close enuiron with walles in the whiche the mightie and valiaunt Hercules was borne manie noble Princes helde therin scepter the which Citie is tituled famous to the posterity by the noble gouernment of Epaminundas ¶ Of his auncetours EPaminundas came not of anie highe nobilitie or blood but his parentes were honeste and verteous who as it semed were verie well affected to vertue instructyng their soonne in all singulare and good qualities for by good and vertuous life and famous enterprises from a meane state manie haue bene extolled to beare scepter or to attaine greate honour for as there is a begynnyng of nobilitie so there is an ende by vertue and famous actes towarde the common wealthe nobilite first rose The stock of Cesar and Cesars was exalted from a meaner state by vertue onelie to nobilitie Scipios stocke was not alwais noble but his
Nero at what tyme as his mother was conceiued of him she dreamed that she was conceiued of a Viper for the young Viper alwaies killeth his dame He was not onely a Viper to his mother whom he killed but also to his kyngdome and common wealthe a destroier whiche afterward shalbe shewed what a tyraunte and bloodie gouernour he was This Nero made in the Citee of Rome the rounde seates and scaffoldes to beholde spectacles and sightes and also the bathes He subdued Pontus a greate countrée whiche ioineth to the sea Pontuswhiche countrée containeth these realmes Colchis Cappadocia Armenia and many other countrées and made it as a Prouince by the suffraunce of Polemon Regulus by whose name it was called Pontus Polemoniacus He ouer came the Alpes of the king Cottâ—us â—ttius the king being dedde The life followyng of Nero was so abhominable that the shame of his life will make any man a fraied to leaue any memorie of hym This Domitius Nero caused his Scholemaister Seneca to be put to death Seneca chosing his owne death his veines beyng cutte in a hotte bathe died bicause he corrected wicked Nero to traine hym to vertue He was outragious wicked that he had coÌ„sideracion neither to his own honestie nor to other but in continuaunce he tired hymself as virgines doe when thei marie callyng a Senate the dourie assigned and as the maner of that solemnitee is many resortyng and frequentyng in maidens tire and apparell He went beyng a man to be maried as a woman beside this at other tymes he cladde hymself with the skin of a wilde beast and beastlie did handle that whiche Nature remoueth from the sight He defiled hymself with his owne mother whom he killed immediatlie He maried twoo wiues Octauia and Sabina otherwise called Poppea firste murtheryng their housbandes In that tyme Galba vsurped the Empire and Caius Iulius as sone as Nero heard that Galba came nere towardes Rome euen then the Senate of Rome had determined that Nero should bee whipped to death with roddes accordyng to the old vsage of their auncestours his necke yoked with a forke This wicked Nero seyng himself forsaken of all his friendes at midnight he departed out of the Citée Ephaon and Epaphroditus waityng on hym Neophitus and Sporus his Eunuche whiche Sporus before tyme had Nero assaied to frame and fashion out of kinde In the ende Nero thruste himself through with the poinct of his sworde his wicked man Sporus thrustyng foreward his trembling hande this wicked Nero before that hauyng none to murther hym he made a exclamacion in these woordes Is there neither friende nor enemie to kill me shamefullie haue I liued and with more shame shall 〈◊〉 in the .xxxij. yere of his age he died The Persians so atire ly loued hym that after his death thei sente Ambassidours desiryng licence to erecte to hym a monumente all countrées and Prouinces and the whole Citée of Rome did so moche reioyce of his death that thei all wearyng the Toppintant hattes whiche bonde men doe vse to ware when thei bee sette at libertie and so thei triumphed of his death deliuered from so cruell a tyraunte ¶ A comparison AS for wicked gouernement Nero doeth make Caligula like to Comodus Domitianus Antoninus Caracalla thei were all so wicked that the Senate of Rome thought it méete to obliterate their name from all memorie and Chronicle because of their wickednesse ¶ The conclusion MOche more the life and gouernement of wicked Nero might be intreated of but this shall be sufficient to shewe how tyrannically and beastly he gouerned vnmete of that throne ¶ A comparison A Comparison is a certain Oracion shewyng by a collacion the worthines or excelleÌ„cie of any thing or the naughtines of the same compared with any other thyng or thynges either equalle or more inferiour In a comparison good thynges are compared with good as one vertue with an other as wisedome strength whiche of them moste auaileth in peace and warre Euill thynges maie bee compared with good as Iustice with iniustice wisedome with foolishnes Euill thynges maie be compared with euill thynges as wicked Nero compared to Domitianus or Caligula to CoÌ„modus theft to homicide drunkenes with adulterie Small thynges maie be compared with greate the king with his subiect the Elephant or Camell to the Flie a Crocodile to the Scarabe In a comparison where monumente is supputated on bothe the sides worthetie to praise or dispraise Where a comparison is made betwene a thyng excellente and a thyng more inferiour the comparison shall procede with like facilitee All thynges that maie bee celebrated with praise or that meriteth dispraise al soche thynges maie be in a comparison The persone as Cato being a wise man maie be compared with Nestor the sage péere of Grece Pompei with Cesar as Lucane compareth them and so of all other men Thynges maie bee compared as golde with siluer one mettall with an other Tymes maie bee compared as the Spryng with Sommer Harueste with Winter Places maie be compared as London with Yorke Oxforde with Cambridge Beastes without reason as the Bée with the Ante the Oxe with the Shepe Plantes as the Vine and the Oliue First make a proemium or beginnyng to your coÌ„parison Then compare them of their countrée Of their parentes Of their auncestours Of their education Of their actes Of their death Then adde the conclusion ¶ A comparison betwene Demosthenes and Tullie TO speake moche in the praise of famous men no argument can wante nor plentie of matter to make of them a copious and excellent Oracion Their actes in life through nobilitée will craue worthelie more then the witte and penne of the learned caâ— by Eloquence expresse Who can worthelie expresse and sette foorthe the noble Philosopher Plato or Aristotle as matter worthelie forceth to commend when as of them all learnyng and singularitée of artes hath flowen All ages hath by their monuments of learning participated of their wisedome Grece hath fostered many noble wittes from whom all light of knowlege hath been deriued by whose excellencie Rome in tyme florishyng did seeke by nobilitée of learnyng to mate the noble Grecians So moche Italie was adorned and beautified with the cunnyng of the Grecians Emong the Romaines many famous Oratours and other noble men hath spronge vp who for their worthinesse might haue contended with any nacion either for their glorie of learnyng or noble regiment Emong whom Tullie by learning aboue the rest rose to high fame that he was a renoume to his countree to learnyng a light of all singuler Eloquence a fountaine Whom Demosthenes the famous Oratour of Athenes as a worthie mate is compared with whom not onely the nobilitée and renoume of their Countrée shall decorate but theÌ„ selues their owne worthines nobilitée of fame No age hath had twoo more famous for learnyng no common wealthe hath tasted twoo more profitable to their countrée and common
where God displaseth or putteth doune Soche is the state of Princes and their kyngdomes ¶ Thesis THesis is a certain question in consultacion had to bée declaimed vpon vncertaine notyng no certaine persone or thyng As for example Whether are riches chieflie to be sought for in this life as of all good thynges the chief good Whether is vertue the moste excellente good thynge in this life Whether dooe the giftes of the mynde passe and excelle the giftes and vertues of Fortune and the bodie Whether doeth pollicie more auaile in war then streÌ„gth of menne Who so will reason of any question of these he hath nede with reason and wittie consultacion to discourse and to declaime vpon the same The Greke Oratours doe call this exercise Thesis that is to saie a proposicion in question a question vncertain included with no certaintée to any perticuler thyng The Latine men doeth call it a question infinite or vniuersall Tullie in his booke of places called Tâ—pickes doeth call Thesis Propositum that is to saie a question in determinacion Priscianus calleth it positionem a proposicion in question on ether parte to be disputed vpon As for example Whether is it best to marie a wife Whether is frendship aboue all thynges to be regarded Is warre to be moued vpon a iuste cause Is the Greke tongue mete and necessarie to be learned There is an other kinde of question called hypothesis hypothesis is called questio finita that is to saie a question certaine notyng a certaine persone or thyng a certaine place tyme and so forthe As for example Is it mete for Cesar to moue warre against Pompei Is not there a certain persone Is the Greke tongue to be learned of a Diuine Is the Greke tongue maete for a Phisicion In this kinde of exercises famous men of auncient time did exercise youth to attain bothe wisedome and Eloquence therby to make a discourse vpoÌ„ any matter by art of lerning Aristotle the famous Philosopher did traine vp youthe to be perfite in the arte of eloquence that thei might with all copionsnes and ingenious inuencion handle any cause Nothing doeth so moche sharpe and acuate the witte and capacitee of any one as this kinde of exercise It is a goodly vertue in any one man at a sodain to vtter wittely and ingeinouslie the secrete and hid wisedome of his mynde it is a greate maime to a profounde learned man to wante abilitee to vtter his exquisite and profounde knoweledge of his mynde ¶ Thesis tHis question Thesis which is a question noting no certaine persone or thyng is moche like to that Oracion intreated of before called a Common place ¶ A Common place BVt a Common place is a certaine exaggeracion of matter induced against any persone conuicted of any crime or worthie defence ¶ Thesis Thesis is a reasonyng by question vpon a matter vncertaine Thesis that is to saie a questioÌ„ generall is in two sortes A question Ciuill Contemplatiue QVestions Ciuill are those that dooe pertâ—ine to the state of a common wealth and are dailypractised in the common wealthe As for example Is it good to marie a wife Is Vsurie lefull in a citee or common wealthe Is a Monarchis the beste state of gouernement Is good educacion the grounde and roote of a florishyng common wealthe ¶ A contemplatiue question THe other Thesis is a question contemplatiue which the Grekes dooe call Theoricas because the matter of them is comprehended in the minde and in the intelligence of man The example Is the soule immortall Had the worlde a beginnyng Is the heauen greater then the yearth A questionA question is either Simple Compounde Is it good for a man to exercise hymself in wrastlyng or in Is it profitable to declaime A compounde Is vertue of more value then gold to the coueitous man Doeth wisedome more auaile then strength in battaile Doe olde men or young men better gouerne a common wealthe Is Phisicke more honourable then the Lawe A Oracion made vpon Thesis is after this sorte made Vse a exordium or beginnyng Vnto the whiche you maie adde a Narracion whiche is a exposicion of the thyng doen. Then shewe it lawfull Iuste Profitable And possible Then the conclucion To this in some parte of the Oracion you maie putte in certaine obieccions as thus Vpon this question Is it good to marie a wife In Mariage is greate eare and pensiuenesse of minde by losse of children or wife whom thou loueste There is also trouble of dissolute seruauntes There is also greate sorowe if thy children proue wicked and dissolute The aunswere to this obiection will minister matter to declaime vpon ¶ Is it good to Marie SInce the tyme of all ages and the creacioÌ„ of the worlde GOD hath so blessed his creacion and meruailous workemanship in manne as in all his other creatures that not onelie his omnipoteucie is therby set forthe But also from tyme to tyme the posteritee of men in their ofspring and procreacion doe aboundantlie commonstrate the same The state of all kyngdomes and common wealthes by procreacion deriued haue onelie continued on the face of the yearth thereby many hundred yeres How sone would the whole worlde be dissolued and in perpetuall ruine if that God from tymes and ages had not by godlie procreacion blessed this infinite issue of mankinde The dignitee of man in his creacion sheweth the worthie succession maintained by procreation In vaine were the creacion of the worlde if there were not as manne so excellente a creature to beholde the creatour and his meruailous creacion To what vse were the Elementes and Heauens the Starres and Planettes all Beastes and Foules Fisshe Plantes Herbes and trees if men wer not for mannes vse and necessitée all thinges in the yearth were made and procreated Wherein the Stoike Philosophers do note the excellencie of man to be greate for saie thei Que in terris gignuntur omnia ad vsum hominum creari To what vse then were all thynges if man were not for whose cause vse necessitée these thynges were made If a continuaunce of Gods procreacion were not immediatlie a ruine and ends would ensue of thinges What age remaineth aboue a hundred yeres If after a huÌ„dred yeres no issue wer to be on the face of the yearth how sone wer kyngdoms dissolued where as procreacion rooteth a newe generacion issue and ofspring and as it were a newe soule and bodie A continuaunce of lawes a permanente state of common wealthe dooeth ensue Though the life of manne be fraile and sone cutte of yet by Mariage man by his ofspryng is as it were newe framed his bodie by death dissolued yet by issue reuiued Euen as Plantes by the bitter season of Winter from their flowers fadyng and witheryng yet the seede of them and roote vegitable and liuyng dooe roote yerelie a newe ofspryng or flower in them So Mariage by godlie procreacion blessed doth perpetually increase a newe bodie and therby a vaste
aunciente tymes herein doe shew and the decrées of auncient elders also how horrible a thing adulterie is when thei punishe it with death Who knoweth not emōg the Israelites and in the olde lawe thei wer stoned to death Well as Magistrates are in common wealthes remoued or as times chaunge lawes also are chaunged and dissolued and as the Prouerbe is Lex vt Regio the Lawes are accordyng to the Region Afterwarde Valerius Publicola a man ascendyng to high nobilitée of honour and fame emong the Romaines gaue this Lawe Qua neminem licebat indicta causa necare By this lawe it was not lefull any manne to be put to death their cause not examined in Iudgemente this was a goodlie Lawe Then afterwarde Lawe giuers rose in the common wealth that with more facilitee tolerated that vice then wickednesse flowed adulterie not punished by death And sence that the Romaine Empire wrapped and snared with soche mischiues hath decaied in fame nobilitée and vertue Many a parte of their dominion plagued deuoured and destroied The good and godlie menne nede not to feare any Lawe godlie their life beyng in vertue and godlines nurtured The terrible sentence of a lawe forceth the good and godlie to perseuere and continue in godlines The terrible sentence of a Lawe cutteth of the wicked enterprises of pestiferous menne Vice where lawe is not to correcte will inure it self by custome as a Lawe or borne and tolerated againste a Lawe Therefore as adulterie without Iudgemente to bee punished worthie of death is vngodlie so it ought not to bee passed ouer or tolerated in any Region or common wealth as no lawe seuerely to punishe the same ¶ The contrarie AL other lawes doe differ from that rigorous lawe of Solon and Plate herein yea and though thei be vices horrible yet thei ar not determined with out the sentēce of the Magistrate and Iudge But this cruell Lawe of Solon doeth repugne all lawes stablished in all Citees and common wealthes And sithe the lawe is of hymself vniuersall with equitée giuing and tempering to all states Fonde muste that Lawe bee of Solon whiche rashely without consideracion of iudgement doeth procede no man ought in his own cause to be his own iudge or Magistrate This is argument sufficient to confounde the lawe of Solon All Lawes are repugnaunte to that because with Iudgement thei procede against vices moste pestiferous In common wealthes Theft is by lawe pronounced worthie of death whereupon also the Magistrate and Iudge determineth the matter and heareth of bothe the action of the case before he condempneth so in all other mischiues But you maie saie many mischiues riseth of adulterie Although it so be the Iudge determineth vpon Murder whiche is in like sort horrible soche also as dooe séeke to caste into perill their countrée and by treason to destroie the same Iudgemente proceadeth by determinacion of the Lawe and Iudge And so in all other wicked factes and mischiuous enterprises the Iudgement in euery cause procedeth as Lawe and right willeth from the mouthe of the Iudge he beyng a liuelie Lawe to the Lawe written The cruell Lawe of Solon is like to the phantasie and wille of a tyraunte who as phantasie and will leadeth murdereth at his pleasure whose will is alwaies a sufficient Lawe to hymself as who should saie so I wille so I commaunde my wille shall stande for a Lawe but godlie lawes doe iustlie accordyng to reason and vertue tempereth the cause of euery man No godlie Lawe maketh the accuser his owne Iudge ¶ Lawfull WHo so by Lawe is iudged and the offence proued there is no excuse in the malefactour nor suspicion seing that accordyng to lawe the fact is punished and as Demosthenes saieth twoo thynges moued the wise Elders to make Lawes that the wicked should bee hindered and cutte of from their purpose and that good men seyng by a lawe the actes of pestiferous men kepte vnder by the terrour of them are afraied to commit the like facte This was euen accordyng to lawe The terrible sentence of a law executed vpon moste wicked persones doe kepe vnder many a mischiuous enterprise whiche through the dolefull and lamentable ende of the wicked doe driue and force all other to all godlines ¶ Iuste THe accuser by Lawe and Iudge is able to defende hymself whē his cause is ended accordyng to law Vertue thereby vpholded when by order of lawe vice is condempned The malifactour hath no excuse all staie and colour remoued the accuser by iuste Lawe pleateth when the law is thereby supported and saued And herein a greate parte of Iustice is placed when the fauour of the Iudge or frendship is onely on the cause the persone neclected that is Iustice to giue to euery one his owne ¶ Profitable IT must be profitable to the whole bodie of the common wealthe when by the Iustice of godlie lawes vertue is in high price aduaunced vice by the open sentence and manifeste profe conuicted the malefactour shall be knowen the sincere and godlie deliuered and from tyme to tyme maintained Lawes as thei be vniuersall so thei openlie ought to giue sentence ¶ Possible THen without lawe to procede and iudgemente of the Magistrate as Solon did in this lawe it were not possible any common wealthe to florishe therby Therefore in Iudgemente ought the cause of euery one to be pleated and examined that thereby all suspicion greuous enormitees maie be put of Vice is not therefore tolerated because for a tyme Iudgemente ceaseth but hereupon vices are more depely rooted out all people knowyng the determinacion of the lawe and the manifest sentēce of the Iudge heard A terrour ensueth to al malefactours and pestiferous men good men are incensed to all godlines whē vice by Lawe is condempned cutte of and destroied Good menne by Lawe and aucthoritée vpholded and maintained This is the state of good lawes by order to procede the cause in Iudgemente examined the facte proued vertue in any persone vpholded vice in all caste doune and defaced so there is good Lawe as Demosthenes saieth sincere Iudge and sentence inuiolable Rhetorike and Logike giuen of nature Arte furthereth nature Logike Rhetorike Logike Eloquence zeno Logike Similitude Logike Rhetorike like to the hande Rhetorike Logike and Rhetorike absolute in fewe The vertue of cioquence Demosthenes Tisias Gorgias Eschines Tullie Cato The Emperors of Rome famous in Eloquence Thusidides Corcurians Peloponesians Corinthians Lacedemonians Mituleniās Athenians Demosthenes Socrates Cato Crassus Antonius Catulus Cesar Philippe the kyng of the Macidoniās The saiyng of Philippe Demosthenes The ground of al learning what is a fable Morall Three sortes of fables i. A fable of reason ii Morall iii. Mixt. Poetes inuentours of fables Oratours vse fables Good doctrin in fables Hesiodus Ouide Demosthenes vsed fables The fable of Demosthenes of the Asse and the shadowe The contencion vpon the shadowe and the Asse Fadles well applied bee singuler
The fable of the Bishop of Elie to the duke of Buckyngham The fable of the Bishop of Rochester againste the graunt of the Chauntries The firste exercise Inuentours of al excellent artes and sciences commended to the posteritee Apelles Parthesius Polucletus The ende of all artes is to godlie life Esope worthie moche commendacioÌ„ Philophie in fables Realmes maie learne concorde out of Esopes fables Preceptes to Kynges and Subiectes Preceptes to parentes and children The content of al Lawes I true praise commeÌ„ded by fame it self The wolue moste rauening cruell The wolues of all beastes moste obâ—â—uious The wolue inferiour to the bandogge The Dogge passeth all creatures in smellyng Plinie The worthines of Shepe The wolle of Shepe riche and commodious Man a chief creature Stoike Philosophers The office of the shepeherdes are profitable and necessarie wealth profit and riches riseth of the wolles of Shepe Man called of the Philosophers a little worlde The bodie of man without concord of the partes perisheth The common wealthe like to the bodie of manne Menenius The baseste parte of the bodie moste necessarie The amiable parte of the body doe consiste by the baseste and moste beformeste The Shepeherdes state necessarie The state of the husbande manne moste necessarie No meane state to be contempned Rotten members of the coÌ„mon wealth Plato A common wealth doe consiste by vnitie of all states Aristotle what is a coÌ„mon wealth A liuely exaÌ„ple of commoÌ„ wealthe The counsail of wolues Lycaon The firste progenie of wolues The inuencion of the Poet Ouide to compare a wicked man to a wolue Lycaon Lycaon chauÌ„ged into a wolue wolue Manner The counsail of wolues The counsail of wicked meÌ„ to mischief The cogitacions of wicked men and their kyngdoÌ„ bloodie The state of counsailours worthie chief honour and veneracion Plato Homere The Shepeherdes name giueÌ„ to the office of kyngs The state or good counsallers troublous A comparision from a lesse to a greater The worthie state of Princes and counsailours The amitie of wicked menns To beleue lightly a furtheraunce to perill The praise of Esope Cresus Samians Licerus Delphos winter The Ante. The Ante. Manne Greshopper A poincte of wisedome A wise cogitacion Pouertie Wisedome Housebande menne Frendship Homere Nature The cause of our bearth Ianus Prouidence Diligence Idelnes The Ante. Tyme Persone The cause The facte The waie how The facte The place The persone The tyme â–ª The place The horrible murther of king Richard The facte The tyme. The maner how The cause The state of a wicked maÌ„ A dolefull stale of a quene The wicked facte of kyng Richard a horror and dread to the commons God permit meanes to pull doune tyrauntes Lichefelde Leicester Bosworthe Kyng Richard killed in Bosworth fielde The tyme. The persone The cause The fame and glorie of Britaine The prowes of Iulius Cesar The maner how Cesars communicacion with the marchauntes as concernyng the lande of Britaine The ware politike gouernement of y t Britaines Aliaunce in tyme traiterous Britain somtyme called of the Grekes Olbion not Albion Caius Volusenus Embassadour to Britaine Comas Atrebas secoÌ„de Embassador from Cesar Cassibelane king of London at the ariue of Cesar Cassibelane a worthie Prince ImanueÌ„cius The Troynouauntes by treason let in Cesar Treason a confusion to the mightiest dominions A senteÌ„ce grauen of Britaine in the commendacion of Cesar Lusimachus Prodicus Gorgias Leontinus Demosthenes learned eloquence of Isocrates All excelleâ—◠〈…〉 is attained The roote of learnyng bitter Who is a vnfortunate childe Good educacion the foundacion of the Romaine Empire Euill educacion bringeth to rume mightie kingdoms Lydiâ— Cyrus The decay of a kyngdome The mightie dominions of Cyrus Euill educacion Pithagoras Eatona Lycurgus Vertue Vice Pleasure Idlenes Ignoraunce Alexander the great coÌ„mended for diligence Gnome The praise of Homere The content of Homers bookes Alexander The Ilias of Homere mete for princes to looke vpon The state of many kinges in one lande Athenes Carthage in a monarchie The state of many kinges mone lande A monarchie in heauen One Sunne The Ante. The Bee Constancius Licinius Marabodius Pompey Cesar Marius Silla Assiria the first monarchie The monarchie of the Medes The PersiaÌ„ Macedonia Asia Siria Egipte in a Monarchie Tirannis Nero Domicianus Caligula what doeth beautifie the throne of a Prince Aristocratia The ende of Aristocratia Politeia Tirannis Oligarthia Democratia A monarchie prefarred of the Persians The duetie of al noble peres Darius Kyngdomes rise and fall The answer of Alexander to Darius as coÌ„cernyng a monarchie AlexaÌ„der the great prefarred a Monarchie Alexanders monarchie fel by many kinges Antipater Crates Meliagrus Perdiceas Ptolemeus Learcus Cassander Menander Leonatus Lusimacus Eumenes Seleucus Fraunce Spaine Germanie Britaine The vanities of Poetes The battaill of Troie x yeres for a harlotte The vain inuention of Poetes Plato reiecteth Poetes from the common wealth Helena The cause of the forged inuencion Nocommendacion in vpholdyng and maintainyng of hariottes Helena followed Paris Vertuous life worthie commendation in al ages Lucrecia Tarquinius the kyng banished for rauishyng Lucrecia and all of his name banished Penelopes chastitie Nestor Vlisses Grece the lande of faire women Vncomelie Beautie without vertue nothyng of valour Beautie a poison in a adulterous mynde Beautie sone fadeth Paris Helenas louer Phrigia Vncomelie Grece the fountain of al learnyng Menelaus housbande to Helena Harlottes loue dissentbled Troians Grecians Absurditie The defence of Helena Troie a kingdome of whordome Nature abhorreth the warre of the Grecians Helena Priamus Ambicion Eesar fell by ambicion Discorde Pompey Romulus killed Remus by ambicion Iustinus Chronicles moste necessary to be red The worthinesse of histories what is a historie An ignorant life 〈…〉 The knowlege of Histories maketh vs as it were liuyng in all ages Historiogriphers The treason of the Assyrians Darius Babilon taken of the Assyrians The fact of Zopyrus Zopyrus caused the deformitie of his bodie for the good state of his countrie The pollicie of Zopyrus Trogus PoÌ„peius Zopyrus The saiyng of Tullie Plato 〈…〉 The state of a publike wealthe is to beeÌ„ preferred before a priuate wealth Pericles A good subiecte is redie to liue and die for his countrie Horacius Cocles Marcus Attilius Cynegerus Hismenias Thrasibulus Leonides kyng or the Lacedemonians Leonides Agesilaus Conon Lisander Archidamus Codrus Epamniundas Grecians Troians Romans who liueth in shame Epamenundas a most noble and valiaunt pere The order of Athenes Thusidides The duetie of all good subiectes The cause of our birthe The facte of Zopyrus The fact of Zopyrus Zopyrus deformed a beautie of his countree Why it is called a common place Pristianus what are Lawes Aristotle Plato Order Man borne by nature to societee All thinges beyng on the yearth dooe consiste by a harmonie or concorde Order conserueth common wealth Euil maners was theoccasion of good Lawes Theiues not mete to be in any societie Why theiues and wicked men are cut of by lawe A due rewardes for thieues and murtherers
Democratia The thiefe The murtherer Houses Families Tounes Citees Obedience of Lawes did stablishe the mightie monarchies The life of the Magistrate a lawe The Epistle of Theodosiuâ—s Emperor of Rome Princes Lawe Theiues and all iniurious persones Demosthenes in Aristogiton The force of lawes wicked men burdeins of the yearth Maimed soldiours muste be prouided for The saiyng of a shuld our to Alexander the greate The druÌ„kard The proude persone The prodigal The coueites is The robber The adulterer The hariot The homicide Thefte horrible amoÌ„g the Scitheans A sentence agenst thefte Horrible vices Vserers The sentence of Cato against vsurers Vsure is â—â—â—ther The sentence of Cato a discomfort 〈…〉 Vsure a dangerous gaue Princes and magistrates be as Gods on the earth The 〈◊〉 â–ª The Theue The Adulteror Whey the pictures of magistrates bee picturid with oute handes Princes and magistrates graue â—â—â—stante Lawes giue equitee to all states What briueth y e magistrate to horrible sentence against wicked persons Magistrate Subiect The begynnyng of vice is to be cutaf Wherein the praise of a citie consisteth The praise of London Brutus builded LondoÌ„ in the. â— yeare of his raine Fraunce and Scotlande vpholdid by y e gouernors of this lande Cambridge Oxforde Obliuion Who liue in all ages Good fame chieflie routeth after death Tuilie Demostheues Iulius Cesar Ocrauius Augustus Vespasianus Theodosius Traianus Adrranus Good man good magistrate boothe a good man and a good magistrate The saiynge of the Philosophers Obliuion Cadmus Amphion Hercules Nobility rose by vertue Cesar Scipio Catilina Marcus Antonius Commodus Seuerus Marcus Antonius Caracalla Aiax Vlisses Nobilitee A beginnyng of nobilitee Galerius a Shepherds sonne Emperor of Rome Probus a Gardeiners sonne Emperour The dutie of good gouernors Nowe a kingdome riseth to all felicitie Couetousnes a great euill Beotia Thebes A valiant capitain to his countrie a pillar to his â—â—â—mie a occasioÌ„ to dexteritie Hector Achilles Numa Pompeius Adrianus Vertue Vice what is vertue Rome Carthage Destruction of Rome to ashes in tune Agrippina Seneca schol maister to Nero. The dreame of Agrippina mother to Nero in his concepcion Nero a viper Pontus Colchis Cappadocia Armenia Nero vnworthie to be chronicled Seneca â–ª The shamful life of Nero. Galba Caius Iulius The death of Nero. Nero. Caligula Domitianus Antoninus Plato Aristotle Tullie Thusidides The enuious manne The ignoraunte Darius Philip. Demostheues Antipater Demosthenes Archias Marcus Antonius Tullie Eidolopoeia Lucius Brutus Catiline Kyngdomes Okes. Cedars Fortune hath no staie Hector Priamus The armie of Xerxes Xerxes a cowarde Xerxes laste in battaile and first to runne awaie The pride of Xerxes Themistocles The saiyng of Vespasianus A sentence comfortable to al princes Kyngdomes continue by mariage and coÌ„mon welth The dignitee of man sheweth the worthines of mariage Godlie procreacion A similitude The libertie in mariage A brutishe societie with harlottes Ehastitee in mariage The loue of a harlotte Hercules Omphala The harlottes lesson to her louers The life of the Amazones Thalestris The offer of a woman to Alexander The answer of Alexander to the offer The facte of the matrones of Rome Papirius The OracioÌ„ of a matrone to the Senatours Eleccion in Mariage Emperours Mariage The Mariners The Marchauntes warre The lawe of Nature A chaste woman A wretched executour Gods prouidence Death Mariage The mariage of a chaste woman The choise of a wife Lawe The moste rigorous and moste cruell lawe of SoloÌ„ Adulterie a horrible vice Plato againste adultrie made a lawe Catos sentence vpon adulterie Lawe The Iudge a liuely lawe A godly law The good manne Lawe Vice as a lawe by custome Adulterie The lawe vniuersall and equall to all menne Thefte The Iudge liuely lawe The will of a tyraunte his owne lawe Lawes were made for two causes The state of good lawes
eloquēce as to Demonicus the king to Nicocles Euagoras against Philip the king of the Macedoniās by his wisedome and counsaill the Senate and vniuersal state of Athens was ruled the commons and multitude thereby in euery part florished chieflie what counsaill what wisedome what learnyng might bee required in any man of high fame and excellencie that same was aboundantly in Isocrates as in all his Oratiōs he is to be praised so in this sentence his fame importeth like commendacion ¶ The exposicion IN that he saieth the roote of learnyng is bitter and the fruictes pleasaunt he signifieth no excellent qualitie or gift vertue arte or science can bee attained except paine labour diligence doe plant and sette the same but when that noble gift either learnyng or any excellente qualitee is lodged and reposed in vs then we gather by painfull labours greate profite comforte delectable pleasures wealth glorie riches whiche be the fruictes of it ¶ The cause AND seyng that of our owne nature all men are enclined from their tender yeres and infancie to the extirpacion of vertue folowyng with all earnest studie and gréedie the free passage to vice and specially children whose iudgementes and reason are not of that strengthe to rule their weake mindes and bodies therefore in them chieflie the roote of learning is bitter because not onely many yeres thei runne their race in studie of arte and science With care and paine also with greuous chastisment and correcciō thei are compelled by their teachers and Maisters to apprehende the same the parentes no lesse dreaded in the educaciō of their children in chastisement and correction so that by all meanes the foundacion and roote of all learnyng in what sort so euer it is is at the firste vnpleasaunte sower and vnsauerie To folowe the times and seasons appoincted for the same is moste painfull and in these painfull yeres other greate pleasures as the frailtie of youth and the imbecilitie of nature iudgeth dooeth passe by but in miserable state is that childe and vnfortunate that passeth the flower of his youth and tender yeres instructed with no arte or Science whiche in tyme to come shalbe the onelie state helpe the piller to beare of the sore bront necessitie and calamities of life Herein the noble Romaines laied the sure foundacion of their mightie dominion in the descrite prouidente and politike educacion of children to whom the Grecians gaue that necessarie bulwarke and faundacion to set vp all vertue all arte and science In Grece no man was knowen to liue in that common wealth but that his arte and science gaue manifest probacion and testimonie how and after what sorte he liued The Romaines in like sorte the sworde and aucthoritie of the Magistrate executyng the same did put forthe and draw to the attainment of learnyng art or science all youth hauyng maturitie and ripenesse to it and why because that in a common wealth where the parentes are vndescrete and foolishe as in all common wealthes there are not a fewe but many thei not ponderyng the state of the tyme to come bringing vp their children without all ciuilitie vnframed to vertue ignoraunt of all arte and science the children of their owne nature vnbrideled vntaught wilfull and heddie doe run with free passage to all wickednes thei fall into al kinde of follie oppressed with all kinde of calamitie miserie and vnfortunate chaunces whiche happen in this life Nothyng doeth soner pulle doune a kyngdome or common wealthe then the euill and leude educacion of youth to whom neither substaunce wealth riches nor possessions doe descende from their auncestours and parentes who also of themselues wāt all art science and meanes to maintain them to liue who of themselues are not able to get relief for onely by this meanes life is maintained wealth and riches ar possessed to many greate siegniorics landes and ample possessions left by their parentes and line of auncetours haue by lacke of vertuous educacion been brought to naught thei fell into extreme miserie pouertie and wantyng learnyng or wealth to maintaine their state and delicate life thei haue robbed spoiled murthered to liue at their owne will But then as rotten dedde and putride members frō the common wealth thei are cutte of by the sworde and aucthoritie of the Magistrate What kyngdome was more mightie and strong then the kyngdome of Lidia whiche by no other meanes was brought to rume and destruccion but by idlenes in that thei were kepte from all vertuous exercise from the studie of artes and sciences so longe as thei meditated and liued in the schoole of vertuous life no nacion was hable to ouerthrowe them of themselues thei were prone and readie to practise all excellencie But Cyrus the kyng of Persians by no other meanes was able to bring them weaker He toke from thē al furtherance to artes destroied all occupaciōs of vertue whervpon by commaundemēt and terrour wer driuen to practise the vaine and pestiferous practise of Cardes and Dice Harlottes then schooled them and all vnhoneste pastyme nurtered them Tauernes an quaffyng houses was their accustomed and moste frequented vse of occupacion by this meanes their nobilitie and strengthe was decaied and kyngdome made thrall Ill educacion or idlenes is no small vice or euill when so mightie a prince hauyng so large dominions whō all the Easte serued and obaied Whose regimente and gouernemente was so infinite that as Zenophon saieth tyme would rather want then matter to speake of his mightie and large gouernement how many nacions how diuerse people and valiaunte nacions were in subieccion to hym If this mightie Prince with all his power and populous nacions was not hable to giue the ouerthrowe to the kyngdome of Lidia but by ill educacion not by marciall attēptes sworde or battaill but by giuyng them scope and libertie to dooe as he would No doubt but that Cyrus sawe by the like example of other kyngdomes this onelie pollicie to bee a ruine of that kyngdome Pythagoras the famous and godlie Philosopher saued the kyngdome and people of Crotona thei leauyng all studie of arte vertue and science This people of Crotona was ouercome of the people of Locrus thei left all exercise of vertue neclectyng the feates of chiualrie whervpō Pythagoras hauyng the profitable and godlie lawes of Lycurgus which he brought from Lacedemonia and the lawes of Minos kyng of Creta came to the people of Crotona and by his godlie teachyng and Philosophie reuoked brought backe the people giuen ouer to the neglectyng of all vertue declaryng to them the nobilitie and excellencie thereof he liuely set foorthe the beastlinesse of vice Pithagoras recited to them the fall and ruine of many regions and mightie kingdomes whiche tooke after those vices Idlenes beyng forsaken vertue embrased and good occupacions practised the kyngdome and people grewe mightie Emong the godlie lawes of Lycurgus Lycurgus omitted not to ordaine Lawes for