seasoned that ability of wit with soâ—eyne arts and manners The Nations though valiant beware can very well 〈◊〉 peace They are not suddainly mooued to 〈◊〉 but being once raised they 〈◊〉 like men and are not easily â—ppeased The people are excellent at working in 〈◊〉 or iron and drawing it into curious sculptures For the Inuenâ—tion of Printing and Gunpowder the world is indebted to the Germane wits a benefit altogether doubtfull whither 〈◊〉 to the 〈◊〉 or behooâ—e of mankind Their mindes are full of 〈◊〉 nor â—â—ying nor carâ—ing at the vertues deedeâ— or 〈◊〉 of other men especially thâ—se thâ—â— are absent but extolling them with sincere and many times immoderate pruises But nothing is more magnificent in that Nation then that the Christian Empire and Eagle is seated there as if Germany had vanquished Rome and the lost of the Prounces that bowed to the Romane yoake it now the onely country where the name and reliques of the Romane fortune doe rest themselues The Sacred Maiesty of soe great a name is eclipsed by noe a mulation of other Princes and Kings though farre greater in power then he yet willingly giue place to the Imperiall Maiesty That highest dignity was heretofore supported by a power answerable which by little and little as were in a fatall old age did lessen and consume away For by domesticke warrs and the immoderate power of Princes of the Empire and besides the dignity being electiue not haereditary the vigour of the Empire falling to ground hath onely retained a venerable name more by the piety of others then her own strength Among other causes of the decay of this power this you shall finde to bee the greatest the Princes being of great wealth and encreased by the bounty of former Emperours haue at last changed those Prouinces which were first deputed vnto them into absolute Principalities to haue some priuiledge about the Emperour who oweth his estate not to right of inheritance but their suffrages they haue made their own dignities inheritances to their posterity By this meanes the mindes of those Nations and People which are naturally enclined to honour their Princes and heretofore onely in loyalty to the Emperour came by degrees to honour those Princes as his deputies and afterwards as their owne absolute Lords which was a nearer way either to profit or danger See the power of those Princes begun and strengthned did exhaust the strength of the whole Empire and first of all as much as remayned in France then Italy it selfe the fountaine of the Empire afterwards the strongest parts of Germany taken as it were out of their owne body did fall away and were diuided by the variety and number of Princes into other loyalties But in France and Brittaine which are most true Kingdomes it was ordered farre otherwise and those Princes whose power was too great and worthy of suspition by the prouidence of God and industry of the Kings were suppâ—essed and rooted out For what roome were left for the Maiesty and State of Kings if Normandy Brittaine Aquitaine Burgundy Auuergne Pâ—cteirs Prouence and Champaine were possessed by Dukes or Earles as once in the gouernment of petty Kings who safe in their owne strength would obey the King vpon curtesie and onely not contemne him as inferiour to themselues But what miseries in the Kingdome of Brittaine haue beene caused by the great and too formidable power of Dukes and Count Palatines endued with regall priuiledges and mighty in faction and attendance what bloody rebellions haue they oft raised against their Kings there is noe more certaine safety of the Kingdome at this day then that the power of those great men and their Families are vtterly suppressed and the nerues of the Kingdome guided by one onely The Emperours therefore should then haue preuented this renting of the Empire when first the Princes began to grow too great But now the disease too farre growne and all affaires too long setled so that the Empire especially consisteth of those Princes to extort the power out of their hands were not onely an vnseasonable but a vaine enterprise soe many vpholders of those dignities would ioyne in confedency against him for their common security especially seeing at this day their Principalities doe as lawfully belong to them as the Empire doth to him their titles accrewing both from the consent of them that first gaue that power into their hands and also by time and long possession whereby all titles of Soueraignty which for the most part are weake or wrongfull at the first are made lawfull But the last and mortall disease of the expiring Empire was this that many or most of the cities imitating these Princes gathered themselues into Commonwealths making themselues Lawes and ordaining Magistrates and to make it knowne that they had renounced their first loyalty in this sliding from the Empire they challenged the name of Free States entering into leagues among themselues to maintaine each other against the Soueraignty of the Emperour Soe that country which in one State vnder one Gouernour had beene able to contest with all Europe puissant in men and strong cities and worthy to receiue the translated dignity of the Romane Empire can now finde noe Prouince nor scarce any city that shee can deliuer to her Emperour in free power and Soueraignty For the Commonwealths and Principalities will suffer noe Imperiall garrisons within them nor can that Prince that beares soe great and glorious a title finde any place among soe many cities where hee may hâ—â—e his subiects leaue to dwell By this sweet and pâ—blike errour they haue diserâ—ed the Maiesty of their owne country The seauen Electors by the custome of the country are to choose no man Câ—sâ—â— but a great man possessed of a Kingdome or other great wealth and Territoryes of his owne already Vertue and Nobility alone can neuer carry those voices For where should the seate of the Emperour bee vnlesse be had one already without the Empire where should that Court bee kept which were answerable to the title of soe great Maiesty they would hardly suffer him to dwell any where among them whom they loue to honour in his absence But if the fate of that valiant Nation would permit that the whole Prouince might be absolutely subiect to their Elected Casâ—â— then they might easily finde among themselâ—â— some that were fit for that great and puissant honour and bee forced to seeke after nothing in their Elections but vertue onely The Emperour then hath some power but limited and straightned ouer all the country In ciuill contentions they doe often appeale to him But capitall crimes the Princes and Free States doe iudge in there owne territories The Emperour has power to call diots to proclaime warrs and determine controuersies betweene the Princes themselues When warrs doe threaten Germany hee commands men and money from the Prouinces if that may bee termed by command which cannot bee obtained without their free consent The Free Princes
put on of set purpose they seeke occasions of doing curtesies and ambitiously affect the fame of integrity and loue to their Countrey They are exceedingly liberall to the poore great punishers of those vices of which themselves gave example and lastly eyther Authors or restorers of the best Lawes and publike buildings for ornament of the Citty to decline by those meanes the present envy and infamy of posterity In this manner a Tyrant is eyther bad by the fault of his condition not his disposition or else is good by necessity His minde is wonderfully austere his countenance wilde his thoughts ready uppon all occasions especially those occasions which he feares true pleasure he doth not know but is led with a hope of it and with vaine pompe sweetning his inward cruell cares he doth as it were cousen his owne minde But a lawfull King eyther by election or inheritance confident in the right of his royalty doth not so descend to base feares or wicked preventions although perchance hee fall upon turbulent times mad Subjects and whatsoever else a Tyrant feareth But those Princes which owe their fortune to election whose royalty continues not in their family being as it were private men in one respect namely as they consider their posterity doe seldome with their whole care and endeavour so much procure the publike good as those Princes which receiving the Kingdome from their Ancestours strive to adorne it for their owne Posterity Therefore those cares which are due to the publicke they bestow upon their domesticke affaires in a piety which may be excused if they can fitly divide their thoughts and looke both wayes so to remember their family that they forget not their publike charge But if by chance they hope or desire top referre any of their owne bloud to the succession then by rewards and curtesie the peoples suffâ—ages must be bought Force must be omitted and Majestâ— it selfe layed aside So by aâ— hidden and troublesome care his minde is a Servant even to those men by whom in publike hee is served and adored In such cares oftentimes for their private family is the industry of those men taken up who for their Heroicall vertues did before seeme worthy to weare a Crowne Many times they decline to the worse part corrupting their manners exercising with revenge their ancient hatreds and aemulations when not forgetting who were before at dissention with them or who were crosse in voyces to their election their new power not yet able to governe and containe it selfe doth swell onely with desire of revenge But if they be troubled with none of these mischiefs yet for the most part they are ambitious to doe strange and wonderfull things and by theÌ„ to renowne themselves and their times to Posterity These high desireâ— may aswell be inconvenient as profitable to the Common-wealth For as in Apples and Berries too early and forced ripenesse is onely pleasant because of the novelty of it but the Trees themselves by such forced manuring and unseasonable heats after this fruit is brought forth doe presently decay so in publike affaires especially the greatest acertaine order is to be observed and those who pervert or praecipitate those affaires doe seeme as it were to kill the Commonwealth Yet notwithstanding elected Kings almost in all ages burning with desire of a lasting fame have eyther raised Warres abroad or sought to innovate something in their owne Realmes to gaine a name by their owne boldnesse and the danger of their men and perchance valuing it at that rate Few of them with Stephanus Baâ—torâ—us the King of Poland doe measure their actions not by their owne profit but the welfare of their couÌ„try There is a saying of his extant worthy to expresse the bravery of his disposition I will make the world quoth he understand how much a King chosen for vertue by the consent of a Nation is better than he whom right of succession thrusts upon the shoulders of unwilling people But those Kings to whom most truly this name of Majesty belongs who leave to their children that perpetuated honor which they received froÌ„ their ancestors now owing nothing to the peoples voyces from whom aâ— came at the first may seeme born to reigne with another Geâ—tâ— But to search out this disposition of theirs that oweth it selfe only to God may perchance be too sacrilegious a wisedome Nor is it lawfull for us to pry into those affections which the power of heaveÌ„ hath inspired into theÌ„ for governing oâ— the world for alteration of states managing the fates of Mankinde Some that are cuâ—ious may perchance enquire whether it were better for Kings to begin their reignes in their childhoood so accustomed to that greatnesse as a thing borne with them than to grow up under the reigne of their Fathers or kinsmen and afterward receive their great inheritance whether a quiet and obedient people doe soften and spoyle a Princes disposition while his power has a free swindge or rather that love of the Subjects doe not endeare the Prince his affections to them as the master of a family to dutifull Servants Lastly if a lawfull Prince by the peoples ill affection toward him be forced to fight for his owne right whether after the victory he will reign cruelly showing an hatred and contempt of them or rather strive to appease them by a mutual respect as remembring the past dangers to bee such as may returne more heavily upon him Arguments and examples are not wanting on both sides which in the changes of humane affaires although proceeding from the same causes have not alwayes found the same events But it is in vaine to search into these decrees of heaven let the Kingly height not bee touched with curious cogitations but pryed into onely with adoration as the secret mysteries of religion were for it is piety to wish for good Princes but to condemne bad ones is unlawfull And seeing moreover that they doe not so much governe themselves as give way to the fates leading who by their affections doe ordaine the declinations and growth of States all art and wisedome that lookes into their Genius and conjectures of it is oft deceived The first step from this great height is the condition of Noblemen Eyther thoser whom Kings chuse for Counsellours to share with them the cares of the Common-wealth or those who by a great and entire ty of love are endeared to their Kings Through both these as through the mouths of rivers which discharge themselves into a great Sea are the desires and hopes of the people caâ—ried But they as being advanced for different respects have different wayes and dispositions Those therefore who by their flower of age or high birth or sweetnesse of behaviour are highly endeared in Princes Favours have for the most part mindes bent to please which although deny'd to their owne affections they square according to the disposition of their Lord. This is indeed a wonderfull kind of servitude and full
into any sea oâ— note and arriue at any 〈◊〉 if the Frenchmen could delight as well in sailing as in horsemanship and en â—ertaine lasting pâ—oiects as well as suddaine ones The people in generall are louers of their Prince and very obedient their King does truely raigne and they ccount it a crime to question the greatnesse of his preâ—ogatiue They are able in feates of warre especiaâ—ly the horsemen free from perfidiousnesse especially in publike counsells of an vncurbed strength within themselues but when they inuade a forreyne Nation their heate and fury is quickly forgotten by that meanes they possesse not long any forreyne conquest and are onely powerful to their own destruction They haue conquered heretofore by often victories Lombardy Naples Sicily and many other prouinces in the world but within a while they haue too securely conâ—emned their enemies not wholly subdued or out of an inconsiderate and open disposition too much trusted to their coâ—nterfeit obedience or else they have vsed their victory with too great a licence and more wantonly insulted them the nature of those Nations was able to suffer or last of all to forget they warrs and thinke of th◠〈◊〉 country whose absence theâ— are not long able to 〈◊〉 By these vices the 〈◊〉 come a prâ—y to those Nations ouer whom they haue triumphed and their waâ—s which haue begun prosperously haue oft ended in dishonour and losse Noe men in the world haue a Nature more fitted for manly behauiour A bold countenance gesture and motion becomming the whole body And this comely garbe is an ornament to the vertue of braue men but to weake soules it serues but as a vizor or naturall coâ—erture to hide or qualify their abiect mâ—ndes soe elegant and graceful is their carriage that what fashion of attire soeuer among aâ—l their 〈◊〉 variety of fashiâ—â—â— they are pleased to take or 〈…〉 of body in their 〈…〉 you will still thinke 〈…〉 could become theÌ„ 〈◊〉 But their neighbouring Nations deceâ—â—ed with a ridiculous errour and hoping to attaine the behauiour of the French by a 〈…〉 of their apparrell and garbes of â—rindging not knowing that in gestures of grace euery thing by the same Genius is maâ—e pleasing in some men but in oâ—hers whom Nâ—ture haâ—h not enriched with those changeable habit sa studious imitation of sâ—chdâ—lectable garbes is not onely vnpleasing but most ridiculous For vertues and vices and what euer motions are bred in the innermost loâ—gings oâ— the soule may easily be counterfeited for these affections are 〈◊〉 closely hidden and farre from the sight that noe man can discouer whither they be true or not Soe we may easily dissemble humility hatred loue or piety But those things which are not onely done by the gouernement of the minde but by custome and the outward hability and fitnesse of the body thou canst neuer counterfeit when Nature doth sâ—â—iue against it As a comely posture and carriage of the body a facility in reasting a grace in speaking are things noâ— begotten in the inneâ— but the outward man But these things being most eminent in the French behauiour can neuer be attained nor imitated by thee vnlesse thy Genius of his owne record haue disposed thee for that way But the world can neuer bee 〈◊〉 thankefull to the 〈◊〉 of France which seemeth to open a temple of hâ—manity or sanctuary for 〈…〉 of all forreynes to flâ—â— vnto They consider not the country but the worth of a mâ—â— and make not a stranger oâ— new-dweller among them aâ—cording to the errour of other Nations to suffer for the plaâ— of birth which chance alloâ—e him soe with a simple and frâ— loue of vertue they admire 〈◊〉 men what country mâ—◠〈◊〉 without any câ—â—y aâ—â— are glâ—d to see then 〈…〉 reward of the humaâ—â—ty the◠〈…〉 â—to the French State Nor neede â—hose strangers to put of the 〈◊〉 of their owne country â—nd imitate the garbe of France â—e their carriage bee free from â—ride or barbaâ—isme For the veâ—y profession of a forreine fashiâ—â— will moone the desires of â—hat curious Nation who with â—ore simplicity admire forâ—eine then their owne customes â—somuch as that some vices of â—fe and blemishes of body haue â—eene there in esteeme if â—rought from another country For wee haue seene the eloquence of a forreiner euen for â—he often errours of his tongue 〈◊〉 beene more pleasing and 〈◊〉 a great opinion of wisedome because they were not vnderstood The common people are truely respectiue of the gentry not out of feare or institution onely and againe their greatest nobility are by the same Genius honour'd by inferiour Gentlemen but pride or disdaine they cannot brooke if thou wouldst seeme to domineere they are ashamed to serue A curteous behauiour which by artificiall countenances and gentle glances is expressed vnto them or by familiarity of discourse with them will gaine to the Princes more oâ—â—icious seruants then the greatnesse of 〈◊〉 power and dignity can doe All wealth and life it selfe iâ— of lesse esteeme among them then honour especially the Spirits of their great Princes doe often fâ—ye out both to their owne damage and their countries affliction because the very experience and 〈◊〉 of poueâ—ty it sâ—â—fe can perswade none of them to vndertake Merchandise or any profitable course of trade They are pleased with a preposterous ambition to a mulate the greatnesse of their ancestors and conceiue it a disparagement to noble blood to liue in a calling like the common people Soe the vaine name of Nobility and foolish ostentatation of magnificent idlenesse doth arme them with patience against the burthen of their cares which doe neuer leaue them before their death This loftynesse of minde although it please themselues and seeme to bee farre from all basenesse is often corrupted by almost necessary wickednesse and raises in their poore fortunes a turbulent industry eyther by secret villanies or publike commotions to stâ—â—â—e to repell the contempt of pouerty Merchandise is baselier esteemed of there then befits a thing of soe great vtility and which first did spread humanity through all the world Selon the famous Athenian Lawmaker and most of the Gracians which were famed to our eares transported their commodities by such traâ—fique into forreine countries and acquainted their countrymen likewise with the riches of other lands Nor doth Italy disdaine that custome where the Noblest families by industrie in merchandise doe heape vp wealth Brittnry likewise accounteth not her blood of Gentry any way debased by such a calling But in France not onely the ancient Gentry doe altogether disdaine this way of thriuing but the merchants themselues as if ashamed of their calling when they are growne rich doe bring vp their sonnes in some other discipline enioyning them as it were to looke higher then their fathers did But the high mindes of the French Nation are in nothing more perfectly discerned then the eager pursuite of Magistracies where the shamefull sale of them doth exclude the needy how
sword-play whither more accepted â—or the show or profit of it â—s the furtherance of skâ—â—l in â—ighting For who can deny that skillfull art of striking with the â—word or auoyding the blowes which were aimed at him â—s a thing appertaining to the military arâ— this the Graecians the Romanes and euery Nation hardâ— in armes haue sought afteâ— with great intention But now they fâ—ght not as eâ—clâ—sed and 〈◊〉 in the preâ—â—e of an army as warâ—s are madâ— but as it were in the freedomâ— of an open theater they trauâ—â—se their groâ—nd â—hey shift their bodies with all agâ—lity and by safe proffers of the hand and gâ—ances of the eye they deceiue 〈◊〉 her 〈◊〉 doe rather as euery man may see enable â—heir mâ—â—deâ—ous cruelty vpo◠〈◊〉 hatreds then instruâ—t themselues in a pious 〈…〉 of thâ—â—r country and â—ow their rage â—uen betweene friends and kindred â—ulâ—â—leth the height of madnesse and all impiety Kinsmen and most familiar acquaintance vpon noe heinous iniuries but vaine exceptions at idle wordes or almost for nothing are engaged in quarrels and embrued in each others blood and which you may iustly censuâ— the highest degree of madnesse they fight not onely â—pon their owne iniuries but wickedly enterpose themselues into the quarrels of others and engaged in hatâ—eds which belong not vnto them they sacâ—iâ—â—ce themselues and the dearest of their friends For they freely goe when by these men which are to fight and aâ—e loth to die alone they are 〈◊〉 to thâ—s mortail play as it â—ere to a suppâ—â— recreation and there doe 〈◊〉 doubt to 〈…〉 should be neere and deare to man out of a most foolish desire of fame that they may bee sayd with a great contempt of life to haue gon into the field that is to â—aue vndertaken a most horrid cruelty out of a barbarous ignorance of true valour But these euils and whatsoeuer else haue crept into the dispositions of the French may be well excused for the vertues of those men whom the maturity of age or weight of iudgement doth soe temper as that they are not carryed away with their country-vices There is in them a wonderfull cuâ—tesie not feigned nor trecherous to ensnare them whom they court with friendship they are free from decâ—it and secret hatreâ—s they are free to entertaine all who desire their acquaintance aâ—d society and respectiue of all men according to their degrees and rankes It is enough for a forreiner which is admitted into their company to preserue their friendship if he keepe himselfe from open villay and too absurd foâ—y soe that in other places thou had'st neede haue a care of other men disposâ—â—ons least they â—urt thee but among true and accomplished Freâ—chmen to keepe thy selfe from giuing offence Nor is theiâ— any thing more happy in humane society then the maâ—ly sweetâ—esse oâ— such compleat company The Fourth Chapter BRITTAINE THe greatnesse of Brittaine though it bee an Island of large extent and exposed to many and different seas may be rather esteemed by the seuerall and vnlike manners of her inhabitants then by the names and harbours of soe many shores As if in the Ocean Britâ—aâ—â—e alone were another world all kinde of dispositions are to bee found in her inhabitants There is not a fayrer Island 〈◊〉 the whole world Sicily Crete and Cyprus though they haue all carryed the state and names of Kingdomes if they were all ioyned into one 〈◊〉 were not able eyther in circuit or wealth to equall Brittaine Being in former times a valiant Nation they gaue occasion of many fabulous stories which by forreyne wits and languages were commonly written and read as if nothing could be fained soe strange but might be atchieued by the people of Brittaine it was once diuided into nine Kingdomes But afterward by continuall warrs and frequent leagues those Monarchies and their bounds were often changed vntill at the last the whole Island became subiect to three Princes The colonyes of Saxony whom we call English are gathered together vnder the felicity of one sâ—epter the reliques of the old Brittaines which constantly cleare to the Cambrian Mountaines and are cal'ed 〈◊〉 Thirdly the Scots inhabiting the North part of the Island to whom a remnaut of the Picts who were almost â—ooted out haue ioyned themsâ—lues But Wales in a shoâ—t time vnable in warre to resist the strength of all England was ioyned to that scepter The Scots though despairing euer to bee able to conquer England yet disdaining to yeeld vnto it as an argument of lasting aemulation contended with the English not more stiffely by warre then by a different and auerse Nature from them vntill the fates condemning at last this peâ—nicious â—mulation conioyned them both vnder one King by whose spirit as it were the whole Island is now vnited in one body England abounding in rich pastures and ground fruitfull in procreation of diuerse and different trees doth euery where delight the eyes of the beholders with a most beautifull verdancy the easie and free encrease of fruite doth nourish the sloth of the common people The fertile and fat grounds doe euery where yeild such abundance of pasture for horses and bullocks as sufficeth the perpetuall greedinesse of those beasts in other places where the ground is dryer and clothed with short grasse it feedeth innumerable flockes of sheepe excusing the barrennesse of the soile with an incredible profit which is made of wooll not the sharpnes of winter vnlesse perchance it prooue harder then vsuall doth driue their cattell which are euer accustomed to the open ayre into stalls or houses They are vsually contented with open sleepes in the cold fields and such pasture as the moderate warmth of the winter doth nourish For the winters are not there so sharpe as the climate and neerenesse of the North would make vs imagine when in France where it is neerely opposite to the coast of Brittaine the winters are extreme and much more rigid in the ayre of Holland In so great an indulgence and fauour of the ayre the grounds of Brittaine doe with great ease receiue and foster the seedes of all fruite They haue tall Baytrees and Rosemary which is precious in many countries by reason of the care in planting and preseâ—uing of it is there common and growing oftentimes in hedges as a fence for gardens The country is able to foster vines and bring grapes to full ripenesse For the pleasant fruitfull mountaines oâ— Kent and Hampsâ—ire with other places situated to the South or East had heretofore vinâ—yards which afterwards they omitted to cherish by reason of the commodity of 〈◊〉 there and the cheapnesse of wine transported from Aquitance Wolues also are rooted out of that part of the country and doe not vexe the flocks of Sheepe which freely graâ—e and often times without the guard of a dogge For the diligence of their forefathers when the rage of wolues was exceeding fierce and deceiued or wearied the care of the shepheards rooted out by great
industry the whole race of them soe that the hardinesse of their cattell which are able to endure the open ayre in all seasons and the destruction of wolues doe bring vnto the people an inestimable wealth The inhabitants at ease and almost forgetting labour doe grow rich in victuals hides and fleeces as benefits which the ground of her owne bounty doth bestow vpon them They scarce take any paines at all in nourishing of saffron whereof they haue store and exceeding good the herbe it selfe not in reward of care and industry but of her owne accord opening and offering her treasure to them And that nothing might be wanting to soe prosperous a fortune they haue felt noe inuasion of forreyne souldiers for many ages home-bred commotions in this age are very seldome neither doe warrs euer long continue in England as in other Lands In the compasse of eight dayes many times are great insurrections begun and ended They warre with men not with houses and goods and commotions but fresh and newly risen are suddainly decided in set battells By reason of wealth so easily accrewing the carelesse and rich common people are not a little puffed vp Soe that neyther according to the vse of other Nations doe they humbly reuerence the dignity of their Nobles nor are they industrious or skillfull in handy-crafts by reason of their ease and plenty For those that are bound to any trade doe for the most part finish their apprentiship in seauen yeares after which time they are free of the company and then as if themselues were exempted from-labour they take other apprentices to be vnder them who after a short learning are employed as iourneymen They themselues not onely on solemne and festiuall daies but euery holy-day who would beleeue it doe freely take their ation and pleasure if it be faire weather in the fields adioyning or if it be rainy are merry in tauernes Which causeth a dull and vnskillfull trading trusted to the knowledge of their apprentices and the buyers are more peremptorily raised to greater prices that the worke of the apprentices and the idlenesse of the Masters may be soe maintained But yet notwithstanding some kindes of workmanship wrought both with industry and most exact skill and highly prized through the whole world doe sufficiently declare that in that country there is noe fault in the climate to dull their wits but too much abundance to make them idle For as for the stirring vp of wits and cherishing of Arts too cruell and rigorous a gouernment is not at all good too much depressing the mindes of the people and dulling them with despaire soe too plentifull and wanton a fortune which intendeth labour but onely as it were in recreation and sport can neuer raise the industry and ability of the common people to an exact diligence and skill in Arts. There are noe tributes payed any where in that great Kingdome nor stations of Publicans in Cities or the passages of bridges except only in those places where shipping is set forth into forreyne countries For they are strictly tyed to make acknowledgement vnto those who are fanners of the Kings customs of all Merchandise whatsoeuer is brought into the Kingdome or carried out But the pride of the common people is not more bitter and distastfull towards strangers then towards their owne gentry who account themselues equall almost to the best and ancientest of them By which pride of the clownes the gentlemen doe suffer in some sort for the richnesse of their country and are brought almost into an hatred of that pretious cause of their indignation They are all in generall greaâ— honorers of the Nobility which is confined within the small number of those whom they call Lords Those are Dukes Marquesses Earles and Barons all the sonnes of Dukes and Marquesses and the eldest sonnes of Earles in equall honour with these the piety of their ancestors hath placed Bishops To these Noblemen it is not thought a disparagement for any tostoope to the lowest seruice and the Nobles vnderstand well enough that the people seated as it were on the ground doe behold with admiration their height nor are those dignities bought by the common people for money but descend to their heires by right of inheritance or new Noblemen by the grant of the King are aduanced into those degrees and that you may not thinke it a vaine title many Lawes and priuiledges doe encrease the respect of those high names For if it happen that a Lord be in debt and not able to pay the creditours can haue no law to attach his body though the bodies of other debtors euen before iudgement are imprisoned in England But this is a greater and more glorious priuiledge that Noblemen being accused of the greatest crimes as namely treason to their country are notwithstanding free from the racke the maâ—â—ers of the law would not haue it imagined that truth if noâ— otherwise could bee forced from them by racking or torment The English for the most part graue of retired spirits and fit for counsell they admire themselues and the manneâ—â— wits and dispositions of their owne Nation When they silute or write letters they scorne to descend to complements of feined seruice which the flattery of these ages haue brought vp vnlesse it be these which are infected with forreyne behauiour The people are studious of sea-businesse nor is there any stronger defence of that great Island then the diligence of soe many saylers They are as good souldiers by land as by sea especially when they are accustomed to another ayre and haue tasted of forreyne diet which whilest it is nouelty to them they affect with too much greedinesse For those inconueniences of gurmundizing haue beene often the consumption of aâ—mies brought from Brittaine And when that Nauy which was sent by Queene Elizabeth arriued on the shores of Portugall and had wasted the country and defeated their enemies the immoderate heate and the sweetenesse of apples and berries which that climate afforded destroyed almost the whole army They contemne all dangers and death it selfe with more courage then iudgment and hence it comes that they are the best souldiers when they are gouerned by wise captaines but when they goe on of their owne accord possessed with the blindnesse of that desperate valour they haue reason after sad defeates to accuse themselues more then their ill fortune In the late warrs of the Low-countries some souldiers of the Spanish party were taken by the Hollanders and were to be hanged in requitall of the enemies cruelty who had vsed their prisoners in the like manner But the Hollanders did not intend to execute them all Of foure and twenty for soe many were taken prisoners eight onely were appointed to bee hanged and the rest to escape with life There were lots therefore throwne into a helmet and the prisoners were commanded to draw their fortunes whosoeuer should draw a blanke was to escape death but whosoeuer should draw a blacke lot was
to punish their offences in that kind They are wedded strangely to their owne fancies nor doe they take to themselues a greater licentiousnesse in manners and vnciuill conuersation then in opinions of religion and 〈◊〉 mattâ—rs of which 〈…〉 man without any feaâ—◠〈◊〉 both thinke and 〈…〉 selfe listeth Which 〈…〉 and are ashamed to learne 〈◊〉 best wisedome from another mans direction from hence it is that their mindes at this day are diuâ—ded into so many 〈…〉 haue among 〈…〉 fortunes They are apâ—er to bee outragious then deceitfull to any man and themselues easyer to bee ruined by fâ—aud then 〈◊〉 〈…〉 Poland Russia lyes 〈…〉 the Prince of the 〈…〉 doth reigne The 〈…〉 is named from the city 〈…〉 which by reason of 〈…〉 of inhabitants 〈…〉 of their Emperour is 〈…〉 of Russia also It extendâ— in a long and spâ—cious tract from the Ocean to the Caspian sea and borders vpon 〈◊〉 sides both with the 〈…〉 vpon other 〈…〉 till the Spring bee farre spent and then succeeds a cruell Summer which striuing as it were to redeem those delayes which the long Winter had there made doth ripen their fruites with a most 〈◊〉 heate but not so kindely 〈◊〉 trees in our Countries 〈◊〉 almost beyond beliefe 〈◊〉 should ripen there 〈◊〉 among vs require not 〈…〉 very hot but a continued Sâ—â—mer There are many woods in the countrey and in them beasts of most precious Furres They haue store also of 〈◊〉 and honey which 〈◊〉 the chiefest merchandises of that country 〈…〉 inhabitants but yet not answerable to the largenesse of the Land which they 〈◊〉 They are a Nation borne for seruitude fierce vpon any shew of liberty but quiet if strictly kept vnder and refuse not the 〈◊〉 They doe freely confesse 〈…〉 slaues to their Prince 〈…〉 both their estates and 〈…〉 at his disposing the 〈…〉 are not in a more sordid 〈…〉 subiection to the Scepâ—â— their Ottoman Emprours 〈◊〉 esteeme also of all other 〈◊〉 according to their owne Geniâ—s Strangers also that either by chance or on purpose doe come into Moscoâ—â— are condemned to the same 〈◊〉 and forced to bee slaues to that Prince 〈◊〉 they goe away and Bee 〈◊〉 againe they are punished as fugitiues The great men although themselues bee slaues are very proud toward the common people and they very fearefull of the great mens frowaes The people are reported to bee so ignorant of learning that few among them 〈◊〉 the ordinary prayers of 〈◊〉 Church vnto God by heaâ—◠〈◊〉 are fitter for warre then 〈◊〉 for the most part are in 〈…〉 ther to repell the inuasions 〈◊〉 Tartars on one side or on the other eyther to inuade or keep off the Polonians in this age they haue beene much busied in ciuill warres among themselues Their battaâ—lts consist all of horsemen they vse no foot for this reason because they place the moment of all their designes in celerity with great speede they both assault fly When once they begin to feare they are brought to vtter desperation so that when they flye from a battell if the enemy ouertake them they are farre froÌ„ making of the least resistance and doe so absolutely yeild themselues into the CoÌ„querours hand that they doe not so much as beg 〈◊〉 liues They are remisse in 〈…〉 of theft though seuereâ—◠〈◊〉 execute robbers 〈◊〉 awary Nation and very 〈◊〉 in deceiuing others nor 〈◊〉 ignorant that Merchants 〈◊〉 in that kind suspect them whom that they may get to haue the better opinion of them in their commerce oftentimes they 〈◊〉 themselues to bee other countrymen They are exceedingly giuen to drinking and besides their country drinkes they haue Wines brought them from forreyne parts Their Wiues liue in great bondage detained strictly at home worthy also of greater afflictions They are according to report of such incredibly seruile dispositions that they measure the kindnes of their husbanâ—â— by the number of the 〈◊〉 they giue them and 〈◊〉 thinke themselues so well 〈◊〉 when they fall vpon men of fierce dispositions A meane fellow of Germany trauelled into Moscoâ—ia and if in such a triâ—ling tale you desire his name he was called 〈◊〉 He continued there and liking the country married a wife in it Whom whilst he loued dearly and by all kindenesses sought to gaine mutuall affection from her she with a sad deiected countenance did often sigh and expresse other tokens of a sorrowfull minde At last when hee demanded the cause of her sadnesse professing that hee had beene wanting in no office of loue to her Why quoth the woman doe you so cunuingly counterfeit affection doe you thinke I know not how little you regard me and withall she began to make great lamentation He amazed at this began to embrace her and still asked her wherein hee had offended and if perchance hee had done ill hee would hereafter amend the fault To this his wife answered Where are theÌ„ those stripes by which thou testifiest thy loue For husbands among vs by beating their wiues doe expresse their loue and care of them When Iordan heard this amazement a while suppressed his laughter but afterward when they doth vanished hee thought it his best course to vse his wife as shee had prescribed and not long after hee tooke occasion to beate the woman shee appeased with stripes began then earnestly to loue and obserue he husband But hee could keepe no measure but grew more cruell then his wretched wife desired and at last with an vnhappy stroke they say broke he thighs and her necke also Germany where it is washed by the Balticke sea borders vpon the Cimbrian Chersonesus and through a small distance of sea surueys the other Ilands which make vp the same kingdome of the Cimbrians It is called at this day Denmarke from thence is but a short cut to Swethland to which on the North side Norway adioyneth And these are the regions out of which so great Nations famed both for their multitude and victories rushed like a whirlewinde ouer all Europe From thence came the Cimbrians Tentones Goths and Vandals by whom Italy Libya Spaine and a part of France were sore afflicted But of later times those Colonies that came from thence were called Normans that is Noâ—â—hrea men By these Britaine was long possessed and much of France wasted with fire and sword but there atlast after many dangers peace was compounded and they seated in Neustria which they afterwards called Normandy so that nothing in Europe escaped their fury and being terrible to all they were commonly accounted to bee inuincible How it should come to passe that so great a multitude and a spring as it were of Nations should at this day grow drie it is vncertaine But fore it is that now in those countries townes are very rate and they are so farre from fending Colonyes abroade that when they haue warre they are enforced to vse forraine souldiers I could beleeue that those barbarous Nations frugall in old times in their barraine soile
with the sure rules of Art and praecepts of the ancient but accusing antiquity as if they would if they may be trusted invent a new art under their owne names If fortune this way doe assist their rashnesse and the medicine given eyther for destructioÌ„ or health for they know not themselves which doe good eyther by chance or the strength of nature in the Patient they straight have gotten among the people a fame of certaine and almost divine knowledge and many others by their deaths shall pay for the cure of this one man while these Physitians doe then sinne more boldly and even with the applause of dying men But this Tâ—agicall boldnesse ariseth not from that disposition of minde by which couragious men whether valiant or rash are carryed upon high undertakings For boldnesse or valour is not to bee terrified with a mans owne danger and to feare in the behalfe of others is humanitie Contrary to this confident and undaunted minde is the timorous nature which as sometimes it is carryed upon honesty so most commonly it turnes to vice For if it bee altogether joyned with sloth as loving security of any nature it then degenerates into the basest vices and is altogether unfit for vertue or for privat or publike busines But it is hard unlesse onely when dangers are at hand to know such cowards because that knowing 〈◊〉 â—â—â—mselves this base feare they strive with diligence to hide the signes of 〈◊〉 and cunningly counterfeit â—old speeches challenging as it were all dangers when they see they are farre from them but injuries affronts and reproaches they can put up as well as feare They tremble at every show of threatning fortune nor do they strive to decline those evils which they feare so much by a valiant and constant endeavour but by a dejected and ignoble way They esteeme the vertue and force of every man although untryed above their owne They hate all men and yet admire them with a secret veneration which is not 〈◊〉 against their wils but â—â—pleasing to them But when they may safely they are very cruell eyther to counterfeit courage or that their base and narrow natures are prone to revenge or else to prevent their future feare by destroying them that might afterwards threaten them But their countenances are kind and much different from their inward cruelty so that you may thinke them like quicke-sands covered with still waters but deepe and devouring in a storme But especially where a Prince is altogether of this timorous nature his Servants and Subjects have just cause to suspect that softnesse of minde which seekes indeed to give content but is not safe nor happy eyther to himselfe or others For even those men that durst insult over the captiv'd disposition of their fearfull Master doe sadly at the last suffer in satisfaction of contemned Majesty and the Prince himselfe though hee suspect those whom his inbred cowardlinesse makes him feare though hee give them respect more than is fitting yet he hates those men and sometimes breakes out against them letting himselfe loose wholly as it were with a storme as suddaine and violeut as before basely hee had yeilded to them But to have the Servants and Subjects cowardly is oftentimes of great moment to secure the Majesty of the Prince But then he must not governe them with too gentle a hand least they think he feare them nor provoke them by too harsh and unseasonable commands as altogether despising them for a dangerous insurrection may be made even of the most cowardly men where every man in so generall a mutiny is bold not trusting to himselfe but his fellowes spirits But if any man be so borne to a fearefull nature that yet notwithstanding by prudence and wisedome he can acquire true valour and where there is need of it temper his naturall feares he is not onely farre from basenesse but worthy of exceeding admiration that can change a weake passion and most commonly bad into true vertue A notable example of feare joyned with these strong vertues in our fathers memory was a great and renowned Souldier to whom France in her Warres did owe much Stout he was of hand and wise in counsell yet at the very approach of fight when the enemies were in sight filled with a representation of the danger his Body was so loosened that he needed a private place to empty himselfe both of his excrements and his feare But when hee had recollected his spirits so skilfull hee was in marshalling his Souldiers and so couragious in fight that you would doubt whether he performed better the office of a Chieâ—etaine or a common Souldier At the end of his life also his noble though calamitous courage proved to the world that such a pittifull feare may sometimes bee joyned with true valour For that tragicall battaile of Pavy where King FRANCIS was taken Prisoner and the French lost their hopes of Italy was made more sad by the death of this noble Captaine The day before this overthrow the King called a Councell and though himselfe were eager of fight yet desired his officers to give their advise This old man did exceedingly perswade the King to stay for supplyes which were already leavyed and neare at hand desiring him not to throw into hazard especially at a time unnecessary and in a forreine land the estate and welfare of France that their consultation was not onely for the Kings honour but his safety There was in the Councell a hot young man who of a turbulent spirit was fitter to begin than continue a fight He alledged that nothing was more honourable than that the victory of which hee doubted not should bee gained by fight that the enemies would receive too much honour if they should bee feared by so great a King and so cheerefull an Army that the Kings name had already frighted them and the French horse would at the first onset tread them under foote hee taunting besides this old Captaine said it was no marvaile though an old man and fearfull sought delayes whose minde was shaken with his usuall feares and now was seeking a passage through his guts The old man could not endure the scurrility of so immodest a jest but I qd he seing the K. will have us fight wildy to morrow aÌ„ honorable death before his face when thou forgetfull of thy brags and rashnesse shalt by abase â—light forsake that battaile which now thou hastenest on This sad Prophesie they both fulfilled for the young man fled basely from the battaile and the other through noble wounds in the Kings sight powred out that life which hee before had promised This wary and modest feare may not onely bee joyned to Prudence but is sometimes a great part of it and very profitable in those men for whose too too forward and rash spirits the Common wealth might smart But those men that by this just and wholsome Art can governe their owne mindes framed to fearefulnesse are usually adorned with a
have there played the trewants through wanton idlenesse or dulnesse of Nature may by the helpe of a little money attaine the degree of Advocate onely by buying the suffrages of the other advocates to whose testimony concerning the suffiency of Students the Magistrates and Iudges give credit Which was by an ancient custome that such honour should bee given to theyr testimonies in the old time before the mindes of Learned men and Lawyers were subject to so base a mercenary way And these men so undeservingly admitted to that degree doe afterwards live in ignoble Colonyes and among soules of their owne dulnesse will serve to make wretched advocates before a blind Tribunall Or if they bee borne of rich parents they are straight received for their wealth and afterwards which is the griefe are made Magistrates But those that have adorned a happie wit first with law and afterwards with eloquence perfited it they with their worth doe highly honour the whole ranke of advocates Scaâ—se in any other men are the Studies of humanity so truely found or so great and happy a care in good Learning insomuch as they seeme to instruâ—t the Muses whom austere and rude Philosophers have kept as wilde and rusticke out of the society of men to all the abilities of a civill life and taking them from their secret and mountainous aboades fit them for the true light of Conversation But some of them offend by affectation of too much Eloquence and heated with the incitations of Youth and vaine glory divert from their duty of advocation They desire onely to tickle the eare of the Iudges and Auditours with pleasure and of all the company doe lesse good to no man than theyr Client and as the Poet of old scoffed when they should speake of Goates they love to beginne theyr discourse with the warres of HANNIBALL to rehearse the overthrow at CANNAE and the stayning of AVFIDVS with Roman blood Others of them are great by exercising theyr wits in a long custome of deceiving and to the ruine of innocence prostitute theyr mercenarie faith to the patronage of any Cause So to beare downe the true evidences to draw an artificiall shadow and to make theyr wits have more to doe than the Lawes themselves in a Court of Iustice are things which proove enough this publike mischiefe there are no causes no offences questioned but may finde a Patron if they bring money which as a thing quite outweighing all love to their Countrey can never want observance and respect * ⎠* The sixteenth Chapter Of Divines Of Rulers in Religion LEt some of barbarous and unpolish'd natures scoffe as they list with contemptuous jests at the Majesty of learning and account that mind manly and noble which eschewes all the Muses as base and uselesse yet notwithstanding their estates are oftentimes lyable to the power of learning which reignes in all cases and in judgment seates which ought to be governed by the praescript of science they use to tremble forgetting both their birth and boldnesse But there is another and a greater power which gives learning a domination over all Mankind the administration of Religion and holy rites which is committed usually to men of learning and which truely reignes over most mens mindes curbing no lesse all others who are forced of necessity to conceale their Atheisme and Impiety Nor is there any estate so poore or of so ignoble a birth as can keepe a man from high fame who in the way of religion puts forth himselfe above the common honesty or badnesse And least we should thinke that this power of learning hath not taken effect how easily may we reckon up the names of men unarmed and onely powerfull in their bookes who in this age living under meane roofes and contending in points of Religion have set these great and proud contemners of the Muses together by the eares Bearing as it were the ensignes before Princes and Nations to calamitous and deadly warres which yet as it seemes is not wholly appeased with our calamities nor hath consumed the seeds of all that bitternes which brought it forth There can be therefore no survey of mindes more profitable than of those which in these manifold stormes of the world doe sit at the sterne of religion And these are to be distinguished into divers rankes some as Captaines doe begin new religions and eyther have true wisedome or run headlong in ambitious errour So was he that by lawes given from heaven governed the Jewes returning out of Aegypt So was the great Creator of heaven and earth who taking upon him man's nature did by his death open the way of life to Mankinde And so because heere we describe not onely honesty but fortune which playes her games in humane affaires was Oh villany That man which infected with his venome first Arabia and Syria afterward whatsoever lyes betweene the Hellespont and India and now from thence all the Countries as farre as the hither part of Hungary and with his sacrilegious superstition hath corrupted almost all Affrica And those whom true and caelestiall inspirations have led to the Majesty of founding religion are not to be looked into by us bnt onely with faith and adoration But others who are not afraid in so great a matter to abuse Heaven and coosen the people must of necessity have such a minde as beleeves nothing at all eyther of their owne Lawes or of Heaven as spares no vertue nor forbeares unlesse 〈◊〉 in show any vice but 〈◊〉 especially â—â—efull to gaine to themselves a 〈…〉 turning those lawes which they make to the lust and superstitions of their owne Nation Nor can those which offend in this kinde as in other wickednesse it oft falls out be deceived themselves or blinded with love of their owne opinions or the things in question but being conscious to their owne wickednesse they know themselves to be impious and the plagues of Mankind especially when to perswade the people to such a serious novelty is required a most bold presumption in subtill wit and besides many lyes are to be invented as namely that they saw or heard the Deity that they consulted with him and whatsoever else those lewd impostors use to averre But this is not a mischiefe incident to every age for but few and not alwayes with successe have gone so farre as to that most impious audacity There is another kinde of men and farre more frequent of those who professe not to forsake the religion of their Fathers or to broach any novelty but onely with more pure precepts to roote out errours which by humane corruption and contrary to the minde of antiquity have crept into religion And these men carry a most magnificent show of honesty and reverent wisedome for who but subtill and industrious men would venture on so great a matter And lastly the very desire of innovating and differing from other men doth almost alwayes finde a multitude of followers The wrangling of such interpreters have
hee was anxious and raging the faithfullest of his friends called him aside bade him to nothing rashly he tells him if hee resist his successour it would be censured rebellion that in their state there was no crime so hainous as not onely to 〈◊〉 but delay obedience Take saith hee a safer counseil meete thy 〈◊〉 with gifts and lest hee should suspect thy bounâ—y complaine to him that thy fortunes by this vntimely succession are almost sunk yet thou preferâ—est nothing before obedience Entreate him to receiue the Prouince which he is sent vnto and accept as a pledge of frieÌ„dship those gifts which thou in hospitality bestowest on him and that hee shall make thâ—e 〈…〉 for them if hee giue thâ—e his letters to Constantinople signifying in them that thou without delay did'st resigne according to command the gouernment priuiledge City and Prouince into his hands among thy gifte quoth hee there shall bee an handkerchiefe which I haue of â—â—re workemanship but anointed with a most mortall poison If thou hold this neere to his face as to shew him the elegance of the worke that the least insensible vapour may but come to him I will promise thee hee shall neuer gouerne in Aleppo The Gouernour takes the counsell of this subâ—â—â—e fellow and with great pompe meeting his successour brings him into his house There among other blandishments of his treacherous liberality hee shewes to him the fatall handkerchiefe 〈◊〉 wrought with silke and gold The other with 〈…〉 in the wretched man was 〈…〉 taken with the 〈◊〉 of so bountifull a predecessour and so when the night was well spent they went to bed In the morning the new Gouernour not able to resist the poisonous ayre which hee had drawn from the handkerchiefe lay in his bed a dead man nor did the cause of his suddaine death appeare to any but to those that contriued it When this mischiefe was done the murderous Bashaw sends letters to Constantinople both those in which his successour had signifyed his kinde entertainement and others of his owne to signifie the others death entreating that now his gouernment Prouince might becoÌ„tinued to him which he easily obtained fortune rewarding with felicity so great a wickednes In this cruell wickedly wonderfull art you neede not more admire their exquisite study and wretched subtlety in poysons then the corrupt manners of the Nation people sold by magistrates law and right measured by money and other mischiefes of the basest tyranny there scarce lie any actions against bribery and oppression the great magistrates doe too cheaply esteeme of the iniuries which the common people suffer and thinke them not worth reuenging who by continuance of slauery and education according dare not so much as repine at the misery of so abiect a condition I wonder at nothing more among the Turkes then that men that so constantly auerre the immortality of soules that they may from thence lesse value their liues doe giue themselues licence to act those crimes which Nature euen without a Law would abhorre Yet to relieue the poore and strangers many of them are very forward for these offices of humane compassion houses euery where are builded for the sicke or weary to abide in and maintenance eyther from the publike charge or priâ—ate mens Wills is giuen to them nor are wee though 〈◊〉 thinke vs and call vs dâ—gâ— debarred of that humanity and reliefe They doe wonderfully reuerence their parents and though at any time they be iniurious to them yet the remembrance of life receiued from them preâ—ailes aboue the sharpenesse of the iniury They eate much meate and are more carefull in adorning their bodies then their mindes For all those lusts for which they are infamous there is lesse fault in them then in their filthy prophet Mahomet who by his Law forbids not such concupisceÌ„ces too much inbred in mortall men though restrained by the lawes of God and modesty so did he thinke to allure that military people but yet as beeing Easterne esâ—aemiâ—ate in pleasures So that by a wretched ignorance of vertue they are exercised in these vices as being allowed to them Nor is cruelty seuered from their lust especially in their Prince who challenges to himselfe aswell the blood as the wealth of his subiects The Turkish Emperour passing thorow Constantinople to hunt in the adioyning fields spyed at a souldiers doore a young youth want only glancing his effeminate eyes The lust of the wicked Prince was kindled and hee commanded the Youth to bee taken and carried into his palace But the souldier that abused the boy loue ouercomming his allegiance ventured himself to rescue his Catamite with a drawn sword resisted the Princes ministers But what could one doe against a multitude The Emperour that vsed to be bloodily enraged at any disobedience of his men yet censured not so ill this souldiers violence of loue but gaue him a farme in the country as a price for the losse of his boy and commanded his stipend to be increased Immediately the Prince burned in lust with this Catamite and kept him not onely for his pleasure but ranked him highly in his friendship Which when the souldiers heard hee desired much to see his once deare loue now in such high honour Therfore by entreaty and gifts hee preuailed with the guard at the doore that when the Emperour dined in his garden hee closely at their backes might see him and the youth together for hee was alwaies admitted to banquet with the Emperour At the appointed time hee came the Emperour after that country-fashion sate downe on the carpets and by him the impute Catamit proud with too great rewards of his vnchastity The souldier by chance vnwarily stept forth from his place so that the Youth spied him who remembring his old seruice ranne speedily to him and kist his hand The Emperour when the Boy returned starting vp and viewing him with a â—â—erne front and furious eye asked him whither false as he was hee had turned Sir quoth hee to my old master whom I could not chuse but salute at least Immediately the Emperour mad that hee had a Riuall with a short sword which hee wore about him thrust the Boy thorow But when he saw him fall hee fell vpon him to the Earth and with his brest coueâ—ing the wound hee bewailed his death The souldier presently was commanded to dy as being the occasion of so great sorrow to his Prince but hee breaking thorow the tumult escaped by the fauour of the guard and lurked in concealement till the Emperour was appeased So that no tyes of friend-ship can bee safe from such fell tyrants who valew not onely their owne safety but euen their pleasures aboue the liues of their subiects But the warres in that Nation are now but moderately followed and not with the fiercenesse of their forefathers since their Emperours were idle whose presence heretofore put greater courage into the souldiers Their Pratorian bonds in Constantinople whom they
call â—anizariâ—s discontinued from the exercise of true warre in idlenesse and city-delights are growne to a mutinous but 〈◊〉 boldnesse Hence the proud souldiers beginne to lose their discipline as not fit to endure 〈◊〉 labour or felicity There were the 〈◊〉 that made the Romans there to 〈…〉 But those of them which gouerne Aegypt especially the 〈◊〉 at Great-Caâ—re do with great praise exercise the glory of their old warfare for remooâ—ed farre from Court they are exercised to daily labours incurbing those troopes of robbers which from the mountaine-tops vse to make rodes into the valleyes But these souldiers valiant onely against a troope of flying theeues and yeelding enemies if they should fall vpon the strengâ—h of our armies would perhaps vse the 〈◊〉 of their horses in which they excell not so much for battell as for their owne safety by flight That vse of the bow the specâ—all strength of the Turke which was once so formidable to the world is now neglected I suppose because this art cannot bee attained without much 〈◊〉 and labour of the body and at this day the souldiers spoyled with â—ase and discipline ceasing will not buy valour at so deare a rate Their bowes are short and cannot be bent but by those that are skilfull but they discharge their arrowes with much more violence then our 〈◊〉 do their leaden bullets We saw indeed and could scarce credit our owne eyes a piece of 〈◊〉 three inches thicke pierced by a little arrow And no lesse wonder was it that a shalt wanting an iron head shot from a bow thorow the body of an indifferent tree appeared at both sides This art was taught to a man of great account among vs when hee was at Constantinople by an old souldier of Sclymans who confessed that skill by the slothfulnesse of his fellowes was quite lost and that there were scarâ—e three in that vast Empire which were carefull to preserâ—e in themselues that fortitude of their ancestours hee sayd the rest had weake bowes and onely dangerous to light-armed men If wee would make vse of the benefit of God and their vices what were more easy then at this time to 〈◊〉 those wealthy Prouinces out of their barbarous hands their oâ—dâ—ury which they accounted valour being now forgotten This do those poore Christians who groane vnder the yoake of their barbarous tyranny expect froÌ„ vs being a great multitude but destitute of armes and leaders this â—ur temples and rites of religion which they wickedly haue abolished and lastly humanity extinguished and countries once richly tilled now rude and desart nor euer vnlesse by our aide able to regaine their old lustre But if any be discouraged to thinke of so many attempts and so much wealth heretofore vainely wasted whilst our ancestours striued to redeeme Syria Palestine and Agypt out of the hands of Saracens and as often with great forces taking expeditions against the Turkes let him consider that they were more vanquished by emulation among themselues then by those enemies To let passe the Grecian Princes who were alwaies ill affected to our Western soldiers how often haue wee by vnprofitable hatred wasted our owne strength against our selues It were not fit to shame this age with late examples nor curiously to rehearse old calamities The mortall dissensions of the French and English in those warres shall bee argument enough of griefe and caution Richard the first King of England surnamed Cor de-lion led an Army into Syria and hauing reuenged the wrongs which Cyprus had done him hee had driuen the Souldan to extreme feares who was aduising to deliuer vp Ierusalem and so make peace with the Christians when loe Philip King of France surnamed Augustus returning himselfe from Syria ill affected to King Richard marched with his army into Normandy Normandy was then vnder the crowne of England and assaulting his townes some he tooke by force others by feare and faction So King Richards intent on the publike quarrell of Christendome was called home into Europe to preserue his owne estate and the Saracens at that time were by meanes of the French deliuered from the Christian army who were afterwards beholding to the English for the like benefit For scarce an age after when Philip of Valois King of France with all the strength of his Kingdome was bent vpon this Pious warre there came to ioyne with him the Kings of Nauarre Arragon and Bohemia and many besides whom eyther the strength of their kingdomes or the holynesse of the warre had inuited Their Fleete lay at anchor which carried forty thousand armed men and victuall for three yeeres their army to march by land was 300000. men But this so great preparation and hope of the Christian world was quite hindered by Edward the third King of England who at that time began to lay claime to the crowne of France as the inheritance of Isabel his mother So haue we turned our strength against our owne bowels and vanquished by ourselues haue giuen triumphs to Turkes and Saracens These are most sad chances but great is the comfort that wee haue yet strength enough to destroy that barbarous Monarchy Nor need all the Christian Princes so 〈◊〉 in this there are many of them that are alone sufficient to gaine this victory Wee neede no innumerable Army nor a Fâ—eet to oreâ—pread the wide Ocean A man of singular iudgement and prowesse and by long experience well acquainted with the Turkish affaires was not affraid to promise to his King that if hee would giue him a Fleete and an Army of thirty thousand with pay for two yeeres and victuall for a yeere hee would reduce vnder his dominion Peloponnesus 〈◊〉 the greater part of Achaia which vnlesse he performed he desired that that Army which was committed to him should take punishment of him for deceiuing the King and by 〈◊〉 most cruell death reuenge the rashnesse of his vaine promise The same hope of victory there and scarce with so much charge not long since was giuen to a great King by a 〈◊〉 expert Captaine a man â—oth for dignity and blood worthy of the charge of so great an expedition But death 〈◊〉 his great designe and 〈◊〉 was whether by poyson or no. Both these Captaines grounded their hopes vpon the strength and warlike discipline of our souldiers the number of Christians there and their prayers imploring our armes to their reliefe and lastly the slothfulnesse of the Turkes who hold by no other title the fame of â—ortitude then 〈◊〉 memory of their ancestours not yet wholy expired But it was the aduice of those Captaines that this firebrand must be throwne into the enemies bosome and not stand to defend our owne bounds in which the greatest reward of victory is to remooue the enemy from our Countrey who will afterwards returne more fierce vpon vs But if subdued our owne bondage and our Countreyes is present and therefore they would not haue vs stay in Hungary but marching speedily to encampe our selues in