AS vnto thee,The diffe­rence betwixt true and perfit friendship which is on­lye among good men, and the fay­ned familli­arity of the wicked. deare friend Demoni­cus, as also vnto all others, it is mani­festly apparent, howe greatly in moste things, the deedes and thoughts of the godly and well disposed, doe differ and varry from the wicked pretenses and vayne imaginations of the dissolute and lewde liuers: so truelye in nothing more, can this disagreeablenesse and contrarietye more playner appeare, then if thou marke and consider the friendship and familliarities v­sed of either of them: For the one onelye so long regar­deth and reuerenceth his Friend, as he remayneth pre­sent with him: the other, when they are farthest asonder then are they moste carefull and louing, neuer vnmind­full, but alwayes adiudging the welfare of both to con­siste in one.By this comparison, and by other cir­cumstaunces folowing, as also in shew­ing the cause of his wry­ting to be in respect of the good will borne to the party to whome hee writeth, hee purchaseth the good will and atentin­nes of his hearers. Also the loue which is among the wicked (if that may be counted loue to fauour anothers follye) is soone hote, and soone colde, continuing but a small time, but that true friendship and familliaritie of good men, no continuaunce of time can euer weare out, or by any meanes decay or infringe. The case therefore thus going, supposing that there is nothing more requi­site and necessary for those that desire to attayne vnto honour, and are willing to spend their youthfull yeares in the knowledge of good Literature, then to appoynte with themselues to follow the pathes and steppes of the vertuous, as also with all care and dilligence, to shunne and eschew the fond indeuours and foolish practises of e­uill men: I haue thoughte it good vnto that vse, to be­stow vpon thee this breefe discourse, requesting thee to [Page] accept the same as an vnfained pleadge of my good will borne towards thee, and also as a simple token and re­membraunce of that old familliaritie and friendship, had in times past betwixt thy Father Hipponicus and me: For as the inheritaunce of his worldly wealth doeth of right dissend vnto thee,If the loue that Mice▪ thus did beate vnto A [...]acilaus his Lorde had not con­tinued vnto his children, he woulde not haue re­stored vnto them their Fathers Kingdome, and banished himselfe so willingly. so in my iudgement also oughte the good will borne vnto the Father, remayne vnto his children, and for performaunce of the same in vs, time it selfe, yea and this our present estate of liuing, doe seeme as it were to yeelde their consent and furtherance ther­vnto, in that for thy part thou art desirous to be instruc­ted, and paynefully giuest thy selfe to the searching oute of wisedome and knowledge, and I likewise do now be­stow my time in the teaching and instructing of others, opening the verye readye waye vnto wisedome, vnto all those whom I shal finde carefull and willing to imbrace her:The error and vayne: glorious in­tent of di­uers writers which couet more to be counted elo­quent then to profite their hearers being a fault most com­mon in these our dayes. And although I must confesse that they whiche take in hand to wryte vnto their friendes some exhorta­tion, or other as touching vertue, doe goe about a verye good worke, worthye of great commendations, yet doe they commonly leaue that vntouched, whiche is moste requisite and necessarye vnto the studye thereof in that they haue more regarde to set oute the same in filed and figured wordes, whereby they might bring them to a flowing and eloquente phrase of speeche, then to the a­mending of manners, or instructing of well liuing, but as those men profite moste whiche indeuoring both, haue greatest care to describe y^e perfite platforme of an honest conuersation, then to the painting forth of their oratoriall skill: So surely are they moste worthy of all men to be highly praysed, and their workes with great dilligence to bee carefully perused: Minding there­fore not by the way of an exhortation, as they doe, vsing long and tedeous circumstaunces, but onely in setting downe breefely, certaine rules and preceptes, to aduise thee both as concerning those thinges whiche are of all yong men to be followed and imbraced, as also contra­rily [Page 2] for the auoyding and eschewing of such thinges as are hurtfull, and pernitious. I haue in this short Trea­tise taken vpon me in few wordes to declare vnto thee, what company thou oughtste to frequent, as also howe, and after what sort the whole race of thy life is to be or­dered and directed, for as the prouerbe is, the twigge be­ing greene, is easily twined and twisted euerye waye: neyther hath Nature made any thing so fierce or wilde, but being yong, it may be brought easilye to a tame and tractable order.This caused the romains so carefullye to bring vp their youth, and to ap­point euerye one to such a trade of lyfe whereto hee should bee found apt a [...] twelue yeeres of age, because as witnes­seth Horace the earthen pot keepeth longest the sauour of that licouce wherewith it is fyrste seasoned. 1 All sauing vertue is va­nity, 2 Socrates being asked what hee thought of the prospe­rous estate of a certaine king, aboun­ding in great wealth, said: I must first before I giue aunswere, know of you how much he is giuen to the desire of vertue and knowledge, supposing the felicitie of man to consiste only in these two. 3 Bewty, riches, and strength of body, as also any other good gift, are rather hurtfull then profitable, if they be not vnder the gouernment of a discreete minde. Seneca. And as man ought to think the time ne­uer to soone to amend that which is amisse, (I meane to forsake folly) so surely, no season so temperate, wherein the seedes of vertue may better be sowne, to the taking of deeper roote, then are those tender yeares of our first age: What slouthfulnesse is there then in them? Nay rather what madnesse? which hauing a vessell so sweete, apt to receiue the best licour, will rather attaint it with the filthie dregges, and mustie smelles of corruptible vi­ces, then in time to season the same with the pleasaunte sappe and redolent sauour of pure vertue, especially se­ing that here on earth, wee can not inioye or possesse any thing, either worthier or more certayne vnto vs. For breefely to touch those thinges which we make most ac­count of: are not age and sicknesse mortall enemies to bewty, soone wasting and withering the same? As for riches, they are rather the procurers of mischiefe, then the furtherers of honestie, either inflaming the harte of man with haughtinesse and pride, or causing of sloth­fulnesse and idlenesse, or else procuring of youth to fonde vanities, & filthy pleasures vtterly seducing them from all good order. Moreouer, the strength and valiantnesse of body, as it is profitable, being wisely and discreetely vsed, so is it moste hurtful to the possessors themselues, if it once stray aside from Dame prudencies traine, ta­king [Page] in her steede fond temerity and foolish hardinesse:4 Stilpo the Philosopher being asked by Demetri­us (who had subdued and spoyled his countrey, what he had lost, aunswe­red that he had lost no­thing that was his own, accoun­ting vertue as onely per­manent and certaine, and all other thinges as none of his, because they were transi­tory. 5 A renow­ned and ver­tuous lyfe procureth perpetuall fame and maketh the dead as alwayes liuing. For, as it is an Ornament setting forth a commendable comlinesse in the Champions body, so doe we daylye see it doth hinder the curing of the inward sore, in that, men trusting too much to their Bilboe Blades, voide of all feare, haue no respect to God, nor Godlinesse. 4 But in whome Vertue taketh her dwelling, where shee is once thorowly rooted, shee alwayes abideth and continueth with thee, eche daye togither with thy age increasing, chearefully accompanying thee, euen to the last gaspe, yea, (& that which is stranger) making thee being dead, as alwaies liuing. Those thinges whiche by no other meanes may be brought to passe, she only subdueth, wil­linglye vndertaking the hardiest and difficultst causes, accounting idlenesse as a vice moste detestable, and la­bour as her greatest felicitie. 5 As is manifested vnto vs by those singuler enterprises of Hercules, together with the valiaunt acts of Theseus, by which their ex­ploites, Vertue being their guide, they haue obtayned that fame and renowne, that no age shall bee able to de­face by obliuion, the worthinesse of their names. Thus all thinges else decaying, as subiecte to the frailtie of Fortune, only vertue remaineth vnuincible, And where as diuers and sundry examples might be alleaged,Antistenes. for confirmation of that which hath bene spoken,The best in­struction that the Fa­ther canne giue vnto the sonne, is the well ordring of his owne lyfe, for the childe thin­keth it as lawfull for him to doe that which hee shall know his Father to haue done before him. leauing them all as not necessarye in a matter so plaine, I will onely referre thee to the consideration of that moste perfite course which thy owne father here liuing obser­ued which will bee both a notable and a sufficient proofe in my behalfe, as touching this thing.

This my deare friende Hipponicus thy Father, in such sort ordered and framed his life, that he neuer se­med in any respect, either a contemner of vertue, or lo­uer of slouthfulnesse, but continually applying his body to trauaile and paine, lodged in his brest a most willing and ready minde, alway prest to vndertake any kinde of daunger, for the profiting of his countrey, or furthe­raunce [Page 3] of his friendes, in nothing more waying or estee­ming this worldly mucke, then that it might serue for his necessary vses,We must liue to day, as if we shoulde dy to morow. hauing continually such care ouer his Family, as though he shoulde haue liued euer, and yet so vsing eche thing, as if he should die to morrow, on­ly content with his owne, and not delighting in offering iniury to any, or being as one greedilye coueting that which was an others. Neyther did he leade this kind of life, after a base and obscure order, but it was done with great honour, and that with the praise and commendati­ons of all men,Tully af­fyrmeth true friendship to surpasse Consanguinitye, in that a man may bee a kinsman, [...] not a friend. for he was a man both bountifull & li­berall, to all his well willers, more esteeming a faithfull friend then a flattering kinsman adiudging that the con­firmation and ground of true friendship did rather con­sist in the disposition of nature, then in ought law orday­ned and constituted by mans reason, and that the lykeli­hoode and agreeablenesse of condicions, were of more force therein, then any bond of consanguinity, or kinred: The grounde of true friendeship is good will born for vertues sake, and not for hope of gain, or in respecte of our owne necessity. Tully. alleaging also good will as the principall cause thereof, and not the respect of necessitye, or the hope of gaine.

Truely time would fayle me, if I should perticulerly prosecute the rest of his worthinesse, wherefore leauing this to a fitter place, I haue here breefelye showne vnto thee a superficiall protracture of thy Fathers singuler disposition and nature, the which it becommeth thee to haue alwayes before thy eyes, as the marke whereby thou maist be directed, accounting his Godly conuersa­tion as a Law, making continuall wondering at his ver­tues, and indeuouring as much as in thee lieth to coun­teruaile the same.We oughte studiously to labour to counteruayle the worthi­nesse of our auncestours. (9) For whereas the Painter through Art, learned by dayly practise, obtayneth that skill, most liuely to shadow and deliniate the perfectst shape of the bewtifulst creature, with what infamie then are those children to be noted with, which hauing nature her selfe as a special furtherer of the same, and so louing a schole­mayster, euen their owne Fathers refuse to adde that [Page] little laboure and care, to frame themselues to followe their steppes, liuely to present the worthinesse of theire vertues, as children being worthy of such parents.

Note the great negli­gence and folly of youth.But such is the folly of our time, that wee doe not onely leaue this vndone, but also worke rather the con­trary, euery day through our lewde doinges, and licensi­ous liuing,This was the destructi- of Commo­dus, as also Alexander the great through flat­tering of such forgetting himself, was sone, brought to his end. stayning and infaming the honour gotten by our Auncestoures, searing our selues with the hote yron of perpetuall ignomie, to the great discreadite and shame of all our kindered, giuing rather credite to the flattering tales of Sicophants and Ruffins, then to the sage and graue aduise of our owne naturall parentes, in so much, that if wee applye our shapes with theirs, wee shall finde so monsterous and so straunge a proportion, with such great difference that we may rightlyer be ac­counted Bastardes, then the legitimate sonnes of anye such men.Isocrates hauing vsed these former wordes, as the preface or introduction vnto the mat­ter, which he were about, now com­meth vnto that which at the first hee had purposed Now therefore to the eschewing of al these euils, and to show thy selfe as worthy of such a Father, perswade thy selfe that it is as needefull for thee, to bee as well furnished, and to haue as great a care in the vn­dertaking of this enterprise, as hath the worthiest cham­pion when he entereth the Liste against all his aduersa­ries: And seing it were verye harde that any one should go about a thing so waighty except he were before hand well and thorowly instructed with diuers and sondrye good preceptes appertaining therevnto, I will therefore breefely indeuour to describe vnto thee how thou shalte best proceede herein, both to the obtaining of vertue, as also to the winning of eternall praise and honour to thee and to thy postery for euer.The bodye saith Cicero, waxeth wea­ry through continual la­bour and tra­uayle, but the mind the more it is oc­cupied, the fresher and [...]di [...]t it is. For as the body by daylye and continuall excercises, is hardned, to the abyding and sustayning of any kinde of labour and trauaile, so surely is the minde of man to be practised and induced, by good and godly Discipline, that thereby it may be made wil­ling & apt to be obedient to y^e rule of reason, immitating the good, and auoyding the euill.

First therefore, aboue all thinges, remember duly and [Page 4] reuerently worship and honour theHonour God aboue all thinges. Gods immortall, not only in offering vp sacrifices vnto them for their vn­speakeable benefites dayly bestowed vpon thee, but also in the obseruing and fulfilling of all such vowes iustlye and truely, which at any time thou shalte protest and sweare to fulfill,Thy duty towards god is to loue and to wor­ship him, and to offer vp the sacrifise of thankes­giuing for his benefits receaued: thy duty toward man is iustly and truely to perfourme thy promise both wordes and deedes agreeing in one. for the former (whiche are thy Sacrifices and thankesgiuings) shall cause them the more aboundauntly to increase thy wealth, and to fur­ther thy intents. The other (I meane the obseruation of thy promises) will be a manifest proofe vnto all men, of thy integritye of life and honest conuersation.Pericles that worthy Athenian, would neuer vse any spech vnto the peo­ple, or con­sult of anye thing apper­tayning to the commo­ditie of his countrey, be­fore he had besought the heauenly aid of God. Alex­ander the great also did vse euerye Morning the like ex­cercise, and so did manye o­ther heathen men, to the condemnati­on of vs counterfet christians. According to Aristophanes, the delightfull thing at length wa [...]et lothsome. And as it behooueth thee alwayes to bee mindfull of his deuine power and onmipotencie, of whom also thou receiuest all that thou hast, so oughtst thou moste chiefelye so to doe, when as common solemnities are ordayned, generallye for the performing of the same, that by this thy consente it may appeare that thou honourest the same God with them, as also that thou art an obedient Subiect to the lawes of thy Prince.

(8) So vse thy selfe towardes thy Parentes, as thou wouldst wishe to be vsed thy selfe of thy owne chil­dren, when as thou shalt happen to be made a Father.

Practise only those excercises of body whiche maye make for the preseruation of thy health, nothing waying the vayne ostentation of Follye, in desiring to haue thy selfe accounted strong or mighty, least that by indeuou­ring more then thou art able, or attempting the thing which is aboue thy reach, thou shouldst chaunce to come to some mishap, and farther inconuenience, and this shalt thou easily performe, (9) if thou suffer not thy selfe to be wearied, or as it were ouer faciated and cloyed in anye kinde of thing which thou goest about.

Fauour not a flearing lookes, nor take no delight in a brasen face, for as the one is the signe of small grace [Page] so doth the other betoken a simple witte: let thy counte­naunce therefore be framed after a comely and graue or­der not frowning nor pouting for as the former is a per­fect signe of great modestie,Traian the Emperour thought is not meete for a Prince to looke an­gerly or lou­ringly vpon his people. so doth the latter describe a proude and hautie minde, a froward hart and a froward nature.

Account these foure vertues, as thy chiefest furniture namely, Modestie, Sobrietie, Iustice and Temperancy, for in them is contained the perfect derection of mans life.

Remember to haue al­wayes a cleare consci­ence.Doe nothing but that which thou carest not if all the world did see thee, for neuer thinke to keepe that secrete, which thou shalt commit at any time, if it be vnhonest, for in that thou indeuourest to conseale it from others, thou makest it alwayes as freshe in thy owne remem­brance,Nothing so secretly done but at length it commeth to light. so that continually it tormenteth thee and at the last it will burst out: moreouer doe not iudge that, as seeming to be spoken which is vnhonest to be done, al­wayes hauing in thy remembrance these fowre thinges feare God, honour thy parence, reuerence thy friend and obey the lawes of thy Prince.

In all our doinges wee must haue a care of our credite, com­mitting no­thing that is vnseeming. Giue no oc­casion of euil report.For the refreshing and recreating of thy minde, vse such sportes as are agreeable to thy estate and honour, for as honest mirthe is commendable and profitable, so surely mirth without measure breedeth great inconue­niences.

Beware of false accusations and slaunderous reports for the common sort of people being ignorant of y^e truth, as also rashe in iudgement, doe commonly geue their verdite either by heare say, or as affection leadeth.

Nothing more vnsee­ming then reproouing another to be found faulty thy selfe in the same.Thou shalt greatly increase thy credit if thou be not founde faultie in those thinges which thou shalt seeme to reproue in an other body: alwayes so ordering thy selfe that thou mightes seeme to sturre and to cause a certaine admiration to arise through the singulernesse of thy owne vertues.

Be willing to learne, so shalt thou profite much, inde­uoring [Page 5] The worthinesse of King Augus­tus and Adria­nus Emperours of Rome, the one suffering no day to passe, wherein he did not reade or write some ex­cercise the other so diligent in learning the greeke tongue, that through his paines taken therein, he be­came so skilfull, that he was cal­led Greculus. Scipio woulde omit no leisure giuen vnto him eyther at home or in Warre, nor Cato Vticensis, the very respite which he had e­uen in the senate house, but that they would bee occupied in per­using of some Booke or other. Democritus trauailed into Egipt, as farre as the red Sea, to heare the Caldeans, Pi­thagoras also went into Per­sia to become a Scholler vnto the wise men of that countrey, called Magi. Fair words and courteous spee­ches are to be v­sed to all men. Liturgus would not suffer the youth of Lacedemonia to weare eyther hose or Shoes. Phocion also of A­thens, and Masinissa King of Numidia, went alwayes barefooted, and bareheadded, both in Warre and at home, euen in the coldest weather, hardning themselues against all aduer­sitie to come. Cains Fabricius did rather choose to eate his meate in an earthen plat­ter▪ then to receiue the great treasure sent vnto him by king Pierchus, Phocion also in like sorte refused the gifts of Alexander, because the receiuing of them was not honest. by dayly practise to keepe that thou knowest, as also to come to the vnderstanding of that which as yet thou art ignoraunt of, for it is as great a fault not to beare away a profitable lesson taught thee, as it is fond­ly to refuse the gift of thy friend when it is offered thee.

Also what leasure so euer shall fall out, bestowe the same in the studie of good literature for so it will come to passe that by dayly reading, thou shalt easely and a­fore thou art aware obtaine that skill which others be­fore thee haue scarse gotten with great labour.

And whereas to heare and to knowe much surpasseth all worldly treasure in that the one is permanent & sure the other vncertaine and mutable, let it neuer greeue thee to vndertake a farre and painefull iourney to heare the wisedome & learning of such as are able to instruct thee therein, seeing that the marchant to increase his brickell treasure ventereth ouer so many perilous and daungerous seas leauing no place vnsought where he vnderstandeth any gaine may be gotten.

Be lowly in thy behauiour, and courteous in thy speache, vsing friendly salutations and gentle wordes towards all men, wherevnto thou shalt easely frame thy selfe, if thou frequent the company of good men, for so shalt thou be sure to shunne the euill will of many, and purchase in the ende both loue and credit with the best, but beware of many wordes, neither seeme to vrge one thing too often.

Enforce thy selfe willingly to take paines that if neede shoulde so require thou maist be able to abide it, carefully preuenting before hand the mischiefe that af­terwardes may fall out.

Be sure to set thy heart free from the seruice of those whose seruauntes to be is accounted a vile and vntolle­rable [Page] How we may easily subdue the vaine motions and perturbati­ons of our mindes, and namely these fower as princi­pall, Couetous­nesse, Wrath, the desyre of the fleshe, and Sorow. Athenodorus the Philosopher being to departe from the Courte of Augustus, be­cause of his age, at his departure gaue him this counsayle, doe nothing in thy anger before thou hast repea­ted ouer the greeke Alphabet. Men (sayth Tul­ly) are taken with the allure­mentes of plea­sure, as Fishes are with the bayte, and here­vpon it is called a golden mis­chiefe, a sugred poyson, and a deceitfull Siren. Policrates the fortunatste that euer was, ha­uing neuer in his life felt what aduersity ment, at length was hanged on a gab­bet, by one O [...] ­ [...]es a Persean. Fayth more to be esteemed then money. The renowned Regulus was contente willingly to suffer the cruell tormentes of his eni­mies, rather then to breake his faythfull promise made vnto them for his retourne. As Socrates is reported to haue had alwayes one manner of countenaunce, both or prosperitie and aduersitie, so lykewyse he is sayde to haue bene so constant in his words that he neuer varied in any thing. seruitude, as namely, the desire of gaine, anger, pleasure and sorrowe, the which euils in this sort thou shalt easely withstande: first, account that onely to be gainefull vnto thee which is honestly gotten, and ma­keth to the increasing of thy honour and credit, and not those thinges which may serue for the inriching of thy cofers or stuffing of thy pursse, as the vse of men is in this our time, then the which nothing is viler: Second­ly, thy anger is soone appeased if thou would be content to shewe thy selfe such a one towardes him that hath of­fended or displeased thee, as thou thy selfe wouldest wishe to be ordered, if thou were in his case, alwayes hauing a respect to the fault committed and that with fauour, and not with extremitie.

As for pleasure shee is soone subdued, if thou either consider her ende, which is alwayes bitter, bringing on­ly sorrowe and repentaunce when it is too late, or else if thou thorowly marke her vanitie, which scarce shewing her face, sodenly vanisheth away like a shadowe leauing nothing behinde her, but infamie and shame.

And nowe to come to the last: in thy aduersitie if thou doe but behold and consider the miseries and calamities of others, remembring also that thou art a man subiect to mishappes as they are, thou must of necessitie be forced patiently to abide the same, seeing it is not thy case a­lone, neither hath any creature here liued but tasted of the same cuppe were he neuer so fortunate.

Haue also greater care in geuing thy worde, then in lending thy money, for this being lost may be gotten a­gaine, but the other once broken is vnrecouerable: wher­fore it is the part of a good man so to deale, that the inte­gritie of his life may be such that his worde may be as soone taken as his othe: And as I woulde haue thee to [Page 6] giue this credit to the wordes of an honest man, so trust not at all to any wicked or euill disposed person, neither doe thou commit the secretes of thy hart to any,Papirius would not disclose, no not to his owne mother the so­cretes of the Se­nate of Rome. Thou mayste lawfully sweate for two causes. but one­ly to those to whom it shall appertaine, as carefully to keepe the same secret, when they heare it, as it doth vnto thee who telles it.

If it shalbe lawfully required at thy handes it shalbe lawfull for thee to take an othe so that it be for either of these two causes as to purge and to cleare thy selfe from the infamie of any hainous crime falsly obiected against thee, or else to ridde and to deliuer thy friend from trou­ble being eyther vniustly accused, or wrongfully oppres­sed, the truth whereof to thee onely knowne,We will in these dayes rather for­swere our selues so that we maye haue gaine ther­by, then it shal be lost for lacke of swearing. is not to be concealed, neither for feare or affection, but in money matters it shall not be lawfull for thee to sweare by any God, although it be that thou canst doe it with a cleare conscience, least that therby any one might adiudge thee either periured in swearing, or too to couetous in thy dealinges.

Make no league of friendship with any,Very necessary rules es tou­ching friendship, before thou haste thorowly tried his nature, and conuersation, as al­so howe and after what sort he hath dealt with others, through which thou mayst coniecture and hope that hee will be likewise affectioned towards thee, as hee hath bene vnto them, but to the end that neither thou maist be ignoraunt of thy friends conditions, neither yet haue a­ny cause afterward to try to thy cost, as it oftē faleth out thou shalt pretend thy selfe then in most necessitie,As did that Ro­main of whome Plutark writeth in trying the faithfulnesse of his wife, in com­mitting vnto her a fained tale, in steade of the se­cret which the desyred to know. when as thou haste least neede, or else seeme to impart that as a great secrete whereof thou haste no care, and thus if he be vnfaithfull, thou shalt be sure to take no harme, but hauing vndermined his pretended amitie, and rebuking him for his folly, learne to be more circumspect in trus­ting him or any other hereafter. And as I would wishe thee to take leisure and good aduise in knitting of this knot, so woulde I also that when it is once finished, it should neuer be broken, but that it should alwayes be ob­serued [Page] The faithfulnes of friends might be constrined by diuers histories plainly shewing the singulernesse and sundry com­modities of true friendship, but the only saying of Dionisius the Tyraunt shall now suffice, who comming into his sonnes Clo­set, and there fin­ding diuers rich iewels which he had giuen him, sharpely rebu­king his sonne, sayd: I gaue thee not these Iewels to hoord vp in a corner, but rather to bestowe them vpon others to get the friendship and loue of thy people thereby, for friendes are a surer de­fence vnto the state of a Kingdome, then is gold or siluer. Hereto agreeeth the Posie that was in Catoes King. Be thou a friende to one, and a foe to none. The touchstone to try a friend is aduersity, as pro­ued Tarquinius the proude, who being banished, then affirmed that he vnder­stoode what friends and what foes he had, being then not able either to pleasure his friends, or to re­uenge his enemies. Titus Vaspasian would say, that that day was lost, wherin he had not pleasured some one of his friends. Scipio Africanus also would neuer depart from the market place, vntill he had through his liberallity and friendly courtesye, procured the good will of one of them into whose company he happened that day. as long as it containeth it self within the bounds of true friendship, which is neuer to swarue from vertue for truely it were better to haue no friend at all, then to vse any chopping or chaunging in friendship. And as the purenesse of the golde is tried by the Fornesse, so is the faithfulnesse of friendes by aduersitie, suppose therefore those frindes as most sure and trustie vnto thee, which are not onely sorie for thy misfortunes and miseries wil­ling to be partakers and sustainers of the same, to the in­tent that the burthen may seeme the more tollerable vn­to thee: but also such as will not pyne or be greeued at thy prosperitie, as those which are lothe to see any o­ther to fare better then themselues: for there are many men which as they are sorie for thy mishappes, so will they commonly enuie at thy felicitie. Nowe therefore as thou must be circumspect in chosing and trusting thy friend, so must thou be carefull in the ordering and kee­ping of so great a treasure once gotten. This loue ther­fore, as is before sayd taking her beginning from vertue through the agreeablenesse of conuersations & natures, by increasing the same by dayly societie and mutuall a­mitie profered and vsed one towardes the other, thou must remember not to demaunde or request any thing of this thy friend that is vnlawfull or vnhonest: thou must not looke to be intreated or state vntill thou be requested to doe this or that in his behalfe, but as one hauing as great a care of him as of thy selfe, thou must voluntarily of thy owne accord onely of good will, seeke to further and pleasure him as muche as in thee lyeth, reioysing when occasion shalbe giuen thee, wherein thou maiste profite him: Also thou must thinke it as great infamie to be excelled and surpassed of thy friend in boūtifulnesse and liberalitie, as it would be a griefe vnto thee to bee foyled by thy enimie. Thou must alwayes haue that cre­dite [Page 7] Licurgus was wont to say that we should eate no more meate then to satisfie our hun­ger, neither vse more garments, then were requi­site to withstand the colde, and to couet our bodies Claudia a gentle­woman of Rome accounted as vn­honest because of her curiositye in Apparrell. Scipio Aemili­us, contented himselfe only with such things as were necessa­ry for his affairs nothing respec­ting eyther the aboundaunce of wealth or pri [...] ly porte but desy­ring rather that occasion mighte be giuen to the people to speake of his valyaunt acts, then of his great treasures. The worthy La­dye Cornelia af­ter she had shew­ed all the com­modities of her house vnto a stranger of Campania, that lod­ged with her as a ge [...]te, added last of all, as the chiefest furniture of her house, her two son­nes, who for their learning and wisdome were then as [...] ­nowned through out all Rome. in thy friend as thou hast in thy selfe, neuer suspec­ting or misdoubting any thing, or geuing care to any false report wherby dissention might arise, but louingly reuerencing one another, you must take in good parte eche others doinges and sayinges, content sometimes to be rebuked or reprooued as occasion serueth, whether it be either sharpely or kindly: moreouer thou must ne­uer be vnmindfull or forgetfull of thy friend, but euen then when he is farthest off or longest absent, he must continue as still in presence, and as one alwayes before thy sight.

Let thy Apparell be comly and decent, voyde of all vayne superfluity and fond brauery, for as a seming gar­ment doth set out the body in comly sorte, contayning in it a token of great grauitie and wisedome, so doth the o­ther shew forth a light minde and a proude hart.

Desire not the aboundaunce of wealth, neither seeke for excesse gain, but so deale, that thy goods may be both necessary and profitable vnto thee, accounting that onlye as necessary, which serueth to a good vse, & that also as profitable whiche is well bestowed. As for those men whiche take great care and paines to increase their sub­staunce, and then when it is gotten, are ignoraunt howe to vse it, refraine them as those which are subiect to their owne follie, being most like vnto that man whiche be­stowing greate charges to buy a goodlye and statelye Courser and when he hath gotten him, neither dareth to come on his backe, neither knoweth howe to order him, but onely keepeth him to suffice his eye, for the satis [...]ing of his fancie.

As the chiefest furniture, and bewty of thy house doth consist in the purchasing of good will and credite by thy well doinges, whereby perpetuall renowne is gotten to thee, and to thy posterity, and as it is thy duety to see thy children and family well instructed, and trained vp in the Scoole of Vertue: So likewise it shall be requisite and necessary for thee, especially for two causes, to doe thy [Page] Such is the mu­tabillity of For­tune that some­ti [...] [...]he [...]al [...] [...] at [...]ea [...] [...] the [...]ne of [...] po [...]t [...] to be king of Sicili [...]. Tele­phan [...]e of a cart [...] so bee King of Lidia and Iustinus of a s [...]heard to be an Emperour of Rome, with Darius of Per­sea, Ptolomeus of Egypt, and Basilius of Ma­cedon, and di­uers others, somtimes also, shee bringeth the mightiest to gre­test pouertie, as Dionisius King of Sicilia to kepe a Schoole, Pazaites King of Turkie to eate the crummes vnder Tamber­ [...]ans Table, Bellisarius after many victories to begge, and rich Crassus to come to extreme penury. As proued Mar­cus Tullius, be­ing slaine of Pompilius, whome before he had saued from the Gal­lowes, the lyke also did Publius Se [...]lius to [...]u­cius Cesar his dearest friend. indeuour to augment and increase thy worldly wealth: First, to be the better able to abide and sustaine the bit­ternesse of aduersitie, if it shall chaunce to happen: Se­condly that thou maist helpe thy friend in his necessitie: prouide for thy children, and haue a competent sufficien­cie for time to come, so that in the getting of these things there bee no greedye desire in thee, nor oughte vniust or wrong dealing towards any, holding thy selfe content with that thou haste, and yet as one seeking by all honest meanes to better thy estate.

Seeme not to deride or to haue in scorne the misera­ble estate of any man, neither doe thou hitte any thing opprobriously in his teeth, for though thou seest this thy present state, yet knowest thou not what will happen vn­to thee hereafter, seeing thou hast no more assurance of fortune then he had.

Forget not also to doe good vnto good men and as much as in thee lyeth, bee readie to profite and to plea­sure them, for the benefites bestowed on such are as a most precious treasure with which thou being through­ly stored and inriched, maist account thy selfe to liue in greater saftie then he that possesseth a kingdome aboun­ding in greatest wealth: as for the wicked haue no ac­quaintaunce with them, for by deseruing well at their handes thou shalte gaine no more then they doe which giue bread to another mans dogge, for as the dogge doth commonly barke as well at those that feede them, as at others, so is it the vse of euill disposed persons, as well to seeke to displeasure them of whom they haue receaued greatest courtesie, as them of whom they haue sustained greatest iniurie, so that to be conuersant with lewde and wicked companie is as it were to treade bare footed a­mong thornes, or as it fareth with him which would suf­fer a snake to breede in his bosome: and among this com­pany of detestable creatures, remember as carefully to shunne, and eschew the sugered payson closely couched vnder the fawning faces and glosing wordes of flatte­ring [Page 8] and dissembling Sycophantes,Flatterers and Coloners al one as thou wouldest in­deuour to flie & auoide the vilest couseners and craftiest deceauers, for both their dealinges and meaninges are a like as sure to trust to as is a broken staffe to leape ouer a dike: naye to speake further by suche customers, and moste vile companions, thou shalte loose the loue and friendship of all good men in so much that when thou art brought to extreeme miserye (of the which thou must make a iust account:No trust nor credite to be giuen to the wordes of a wicked man.) thou shalt be shalt be sure to be left destitute of all helpe, as for them if they woulde not for­sake thee (as there propertie is) yet can they not pleasure thee at all, being neither of habilitie able (because they liue by others mens tables) neither of any credite that there wordes may serue or betaken in any respect to far­ther thee.Curteous spee­ches sayth Vale­rius Marinius appeaseth anger, mittigateth the wrath of the greatest tiraunt and is the onlye meanes to win the good wil and loue of all men.

Vse courtesie and lowlinesse both in behauiour and in speache vnto all those which shall come to common and to talke with thee, for if seruauntes can scarse abide the haughtie and hotte wordes of their maisters, much lesse will they take in good part thy arrogant and loftie spea­ches which owe thee no more duetie then thou shalt de­serue at their handes, through the good vsing of thy selfe. As for lowlinesse thou shalt easely retaine her with thee, if thou wilt obserue these thinges: namely, be not contentious, be not froward nor fromward, bee not per­uerst or ouerthwart in thy dealinges, auoyde all quar­relling and brawling, see also that thou adde not worde for worde, neither stande too stiffely in thy opinion,Pisistratus be­ing reuiled with diuers opprobri­ous speeches by the friend Tra­sippus at a Sup­per did not onely beare with him forgiuing the of­fence but also the next day friendly talking with him, conti­nued with no le [...] good wil then he did before. no though any of thy companions or friendes happen to be angrie and moued with thee without a cause, doe rather beare with him vntill this heate be past, and so when he is cooled friendly rebuke him, and gently shewe him his follie: for anger blindeth the minde and robbeth a man of all his vnderstanding and iudgement.

Moreouer seeme not to dally or to sporte in any ear­nest matter neither bee thou too earnest in any trifling cause, for thinges vnorderly vsed, breede farther trouble [Page] which other wise being taken heede vnto in time, were soone ended with small charges and little labour.Pickthankes and busy med­lers are to be shunned. Seeke not to currie fauour with any, neither be thou an accu­ser or a finde fault for it is both odeous and reprochfull, as also causeth enmities and debates to arise. Finally, be no intermedler in other mens matters more thē thou art requested, dealing therein vprightly, procuring vni­tie and peace rather then any dissention or variance, ge­uing good counsaile and faire language to all manner of persons, remembring that a gentle aunswere, is as good cheape as a foule.

Moderate and honest banque­ting tollerable.Thou shalt doe nothing better then to refraine thy self from banketing and feasting, but if it so fall out that of necessitie through the intreatance of thy friendes thou must of force keepe company,In his drunken­nesse Alexander killed his dea­rest friendes, Cleomines king of Sparta be­came madde, Armitus a Si­racusan vanished his owne daughter, Caligula wasted his trea­sure, and Nero became so beastly that in steede of Tiberius Nero he was called Biberius Mero Diuers others also, through the first plague of God haue died in this their ab­hominablenesse. beware of surfeting and excesse quaffing of wines, least thou become drunken then the which nothing is beastlier or abhominablier: for drunkennesse depriueth thee of all thy sences, robbeth thee of that principall gift of reason, maketh thee more odious then the brutest beast, and taketh from thee the knowledge of God and man, headlong carrying thee a­way into a thousand euills most like vnto a wagon, the which the horses hauing lost their guide, doe hale vp and downe vntill it be broken to fitters.

Let thy chiefest desire be to winne immortall praises, & renown through the valiauntnes and magnanimitie of a noble and vnuincible minde, being neither incensed by prosperitie to be haughtie or proude, neither so discoura­ged through aduersitie, as to become timerous or feare­full: but in such sort ordering thy selfe in all things that neither mony may corrupt thee,Pericles could be induced by no intreataunce of any friend, to bee present at any Banquet. As Scipio Afri­canus the elder deserued with the best immortall praise, and commendations of all men, for his create Conquestes, valiauntnesse of mind, and integritie of life, so did he purchase greater fame in humbling himselfe so lowly towardes all men in his greatest prosperitye, in refusing so great honours as were offered him by the Senate and people of Rome. nor affection moue thee, nor anger prouoke thee, nor pleasure alure thee, neyther death her selfe compell thee from the executing of iustice and equitie, indifferently to al men, accounting with thy [Page 9] selfe that herevnto thou hast no deadlier enimie then is ignoraunce, nor contrarily no greater friend nor better helpe then is knowledge and vnderstanding,Ignoraunce our deadliest enemy. for as from the one commeth no profit nor goodnesse, but rather hurt and sundry inconueniences, so surely from the other pro­ceedeth the perfection of all that hath beene before re­hearsed, making thee of a painted wall a liuely creature, and of a sencelesse stocke a wittie Counseller.

If thou shalt fall into any consultation with thy selfe as touching thinges to come,How thou s [...]ite best forecast [...] prouide for ti [...] to come. the best way is to make coniecture by things past what is likely to happen here­after:Because moste men are so blin­ded, saith Demo­critus, that they can not or will not perceiue their own faultes and doe most ea­sily see and vnderstand that which is amis in an o­ther, it shall bee best for them to marke other mens doinges, and so by thei [...] to amend their owne. First therefore hauing had a perfect consideration of thy owne estate waying well eche thing that is inci­dent and appertaining to the same, as well casting the worst as constering the best, thou must then cal to thy re­membrance the euentes and happes of other men, which haue heretofore liued in that order, and degree of calling wherein thou nowe doest remaine, & so from them draw­ing, a perfect draft by comparing of thinges paste with thinges present, thou shalt easely deserue and iudge of thinges to come, for nothing is or shalbe hereafter but that the like hath happened in former time, so that thou canst not misse of some example or other, whereby thou maist be directed, learning by other mens harmes to be­ware and so to shunne that which might be hurtfull vn­to thee: And nowe as touching those thy deliberations and aduisementes to bee vsed in eche matter,Thales M [...]es [...] ­us being asked wh [...] was the wisest thing, he aunswered [...]e because [...]eth [...] the truth in euery thing. it shalbe good for thee therein to take time and leasure, touching euery part as it were to the quicke, before thou begin to enterprise or to take in hande any thing, but yet see that in the executing and dispatching thereof, thou vse all kinde of diligence and speede, for nothing is more daun­gerous then procrastenation: And as God hath bestowed vpon vs, nothing more excellent then is a good fortune, that is then to preserue & to direct all our doings to the best, so surely the singulerst thing that proceedeth from man towardes himselfe, is good aduisement and a pru­dent [Page] foresight: And seeing we are often times compel­led to aske the aduise of another,What thinges are to be obser­ued in asking the aduise of any o­ther. therein also are these caueates to be obserued. First, as touching the partie of whom we aske counsaile, in whom we must note these three thinges, his wisedome and knowledge, his report and credite, the good gouerning and well ordering of his owne affaires, for he can not commonly further another man which knowes not howe to profite himselfe: second­ly, as in respect of our selues, and the thing to be demaū ­ded. If the matter that thou wouldest aske aduise and counsaile of, be such that thou wouldest not haue it open­ly knowne, and yet because thy owne wit will not serue to comprehend the same,In this sort did Erastratus deale to vnderstande the minde of his Lord and may­ster Seleucus, King of Siria, that so without daunger he might vtter that which he purpo­sed. Though Zopi­rus pretended the safety of the Babilonians, yet as soone as hee had obtained his purpose, he be­trayed them into the handes of Darius. but that thou must needes shew it to another, herein it shalbe best for thee to deale as it were a farre off, and framing thy talke as of some other matter, putting the case to be in some such like thing and so by the vsing of certaine interrogations and questions thou shalt priuily vndermyne his meaning, and come to some light in the matter which thou didst before doubte of, and yet not describing thy selfe to be the partie, nei­ther the thing at all to touche thee: Nowe the third Ca­ueat is concerning the counsaile giuen, which must bee well waighed and considered, for the Syrens sweete harmonie is the poore shipmans subuersion & the stron­gest poyson is commonly contained in a golden Goblet, many there be which will pretend in wordes to bee thy dearest friendes, bearing thee in hand that they seeke on­ly thy commoditie,Perpenna pre­tended greate friendship to­wards Quintus Sertorius, and yet ment he no­thing lesse, for de­syrous to haue the gouernment of Spaine, as only in his owne hands, courte­ously inuiting him to supper, he cruelly slue him. caring for nothing more then if in ought they may pleasure thee, protesting euen death for thy sake, ye and if wordes will not serue to bring thee to their baite they will not spare also to doe somewhat or other for thee, wherein their good will may seeme to ap­peare when as in verye deede they minded nothing lesse. Therefore to escape these their hookes, so sweetely bai­ted: haue more respect vnto their meaning then to their wordes vnto the soundnesse of their counsaile, then to their painted speache, vnto the truth and faithfulnesse of [Page 10] When as Epa­minundas did se [...] the people of Theabes moste merriest, banque­ting and feasting on the other then was hee most heauiest and saddest, fea­ring and misdou­ting least some mishap woulde follow thereon, for he wel kn [...] that aduersity [...] as hande [...]a [...] to prosperitie. As it is commendable to immi­tate the good condit [...]ons and ver­tues of any man, so nothing more vnseeming then either to be coun­te [...] Dionisius Dogge with A­ [...]ppus, or to vphold the folly [...] of Alexander with the Para­site Gages. the heartes together with their honest conuersation o life, then to their fayned lookes or flattering tongues: alwayes waying, and pondering with thy selfe why and wherefore this friendship is showen thee.

Being then as moste carefull to preuente the greatest mischiefe when as thou thinkest thy selfe in moste safety herin, immitating the vse of those men, which to cōtinue, & to keepe their bodies in perfect health, do continuallye seeke to auoyde all those thinges which they knowe or can learne to be hurtfull, or vnholsome for them, for as calling to remembraunce the great griefes and vntolle­rable paynes, which we abyde and suffer in our sickensse, we will haue the greater care, to preserue our selues in health, so surely, if we woulde not forget the sundry in­conueniences which rashenesse bringeth we would soone be wiser, both in our deliberations as also in all our o­ther affaires and dealinges.

Haue in admiration the vertue and princely maiestie of the King thy gouernour, conforming thy selfe in all thinges to his will and pleasure, studying most earnestly to immitate, the sincerenesse and integritie of his life so shall the people the better like of thy dealinges, and the King himselfe haue greater cause to be well affectioned towardes thee, and that so muche the more if thou showe thy selfe a faithfull obeyer of his lawes and commaunde­mentes, as also an earnest maintainer of the same, not seeking to conseale or to keepe counsayle with any other which by worde or deede shall goe about to doe contrarie to the Kinges pleasure, or to impaire the royall estate of his Crowne and dignitie: or in corrupting of his lawes by there lewde inuentions, and subtill interpretations,A vice most vsu­all in these dayes alwayes finding some starting hole or other to preuent the statute or else through fawning on some noble man to get some licence or other to profite himselfe, to vndoe many thousandes.

Wherefore when thou shalt be aduaunced to honour,The duty of those which a [...]e in authority. be mindefull hereof seeking rather to care for the com­moditie [Page] Saleueus thogh he were intrea­ted to the contra­ry, would not suffer his owne sonne to goe vn­punished, where­by the law which he had made, might not bee broken, but to obserue the same did pluck out one of his own eyes, and another of his sonnes, the law being, that whosoeuer did offend in adulte­ry, should haue his eyes pluckt out. of all men indifferently, then for the profiting of one man to hinder the rest: geue not thy counsaile and aduise to the making of a good law, and then afterwards to be a meanes to breake the same againe. For the a­uoyding whereof take good heede that thy vnder officers whom thou shalt admit as furtherers of thy charge, bee none of those which vse to see with one eye and to wincke with the other, hauing their handes open, their eares stopt, and their consciences as wide mouthed as a Faul­coners bagge: for surely the infamie of their euill dea­linges, shalbe imputed vnto thee, vse thy office as a ste­ward doth his stewardship vnder his lorde to the gaine of his maister, and not to his owne aduauntage: for thou oughtest rather to indeuour to leaue thy office with ho­nour and good will gotten,Spurius Cassi­us and Titus Manlius shewed themselues suche maintainers of the lawes of their countrey that they spared not to put to death their owne sonnes, being found transgres­sors. by the well gouerning of the same, then to be accounted the wealthier or y^e richer ther­by: for the good report and praise made of thy iust and vpright dealings, is more to be esteemed and regarded, then the increase of thy wealth, preferring alwayes ho­nest pouertie, before the abundance of euil gotten goods, the one pleasuring thee but for a small time, the other causing thee to be well spoken of, euen when thou art dead. As for riches waigh them not neither haue any de­sire to bee like vnto any of those whome thou shalt vn­derstand to bee inriched by any vnlawfull or vnhonest meanes,Paulus Aemili­us brought no­thing home vnto his owne house of all that trea­sure which he had gotten in Mace­donia, but onely a perpetual me­mory of his wor­thy enterprises, & hauing bene con­sul diuers times, in the ende died so pore that hee was fayne to be buried by the common tresure. Themistocles had rather to marry his Daughter to an honest man being poore, then to a [...]iche man being vicious, for though sayth Tully thou maist be the richer through thy welth for a time yet can they not make thee any iot the honester. but showe thy self a friend and fauourer of those whiche shall sustaine wrong for righteousnesse sake, for wealth is a thing incident as well to the wicked as to to the godly, but righteousnesse is the onely propertie of good men, who if in nothing else, yet in this thing espe­cially they excell the wicked in that they haue alwayes through her a good hope and a quiet conscience, whereas the other dispayring through their owne mischiefes, remaine continuallye tormented and vexed, with the [Page 11] As it is infamie to vpholde the cause of any lewd person, so greate praise is gotten by opening and detecting their wickednesse, as happened to Marcus Anto­nius for accusing of C. Norbanus and vnto Iulius Cesar for defec­ting of M. Albu­tius. guiltinesse of their offences, immitating therefore the perfect steppes and pathes of the righteous showe thy selfe no helper nor furtherer of any euill cause least men should conceiue that opinion of thee that as thou main­tainest the wrong of another, thou thy selfe wilte also practise the like in any matter of thy owne, doe thou therefore so behaue thy selfe, that thoughe thou arte in higher aucthoritie, and canst doe more then another, yet thou maist seeme alwayes to liue as one subiect to the same lawes as other are, executing iustice not for feare of offending or as fedde with vaine glory, but onely for the seale and loue thou bearest vnto equitie her selfe.

And as thou oughtest to be carefull for the obtayning and getting of all such thinges as are necessarie to the maintenance of thy estate,Plato being as­ked how long he would be a schol­ler, aunswered▪ vntill I repent me that I am made wiser. so especially vse greatest la­bour, & indeuour in the bedecking thy minde with those most precious pearles, namely learning and knowledge that thou maiest be able to bring to perfection, thy owne determinations, & as it were a farre off to foresee things to come without the helpe of another, for in the body of man there is nothing contayned more worthyer or more excellent then is a wise and discrete minde the which perceiuing all earthly thinges as vncertaine, vaine and transitorie, will neither be ouer haughtie or insolent in prosperitie neither it too too cowardly or faint harted in aduersitie, but paciently abyding the pleasure of God, al­wayes hoping for the best,We must not thinke our selues as worthy of the worst, and yet must wee hope for the best. and yet condemning himselfe as vnworthy of the worst. But as I discommend an ar­rogant and haughtie minde, bragging and presuming vpon the multitude of his riches, or in the greatnesse of his power as also the base mindes of those which are ei­ther altogether discomforted with y^e least blast of aduer­sitie or else doe ragingly and furiously vexe and greeue thereat, so doe I also account it lawfull for a man to re­ioyce and to be glad in his prosperitie, not being vn­thankefull for the same, vnto him of whome hee hath re­ceiued so good hap and fortune, yet woulde I that both [Page] M. Antonius so discreetely beha­ued himselfe in all his doinges, that men coulde not gather by a­ny outward ap­pearaunce, what was the inwarde thought of his hart, for neither prosperity nor aduersitie could cause him to change his coun­tenaunce. Cecilius Merel­lus being asked by one of the Tribunes of the people, what hee ment to doe, Aunswered: if I thought this gar­ment which I haue on my back were priuie to my thought, I would throwe it off, and burne it in the fyre. The first thing that Pithagoras did teache his Schollers, was to keepe silence, Agatho healde a stone in his mouth three yeares to hinder his speeche, that thereby he might learne to holde his peace. Zeno hauing in­uited the Ambas­sadors of King Antigonus, and diuers other Philosophers to sup­per, when as all the rest of the company had v­sed speeches in the commendacions of their knowledges, as occasion of talke was giuen, hee onelye was found to hold his peace, the which the Ambassadours perceiuing and wondering thereat, demaunded of him what was the occasion that he was so mute, nothing sayd he, but to let you vnderstande that the hardest thing of all is to hold once peace. this ioy as also that pacience to bee vsed in aduersitye, should be as it were ouershadowed, that is moderatelye and discreetely ordred, for if with great care wee keepe secrete in our houses from the knowledge of others, oure mucky masse of Golde and siluer, with other treasures, whereof we make any account, then howe vnseeming a thing were it for vs so to deale, that euery one should vn­derstande and perceiue the intente and purpose of oure hartes, then the whiche nothing oughte to bee more sea­crete.

But where as there are many men, whose tongues runne before their wittes, no sooner thinking oughte in their minds, but straight wayes they babble it out to o­thers, I would wishe thee to remember, to reuolue and consider with thy selfe before hand, euery thing whereof thou mindest to speake, so shalt thou be sure to auoyd and escape all kinde of reprehension, the ignomie and infamy whereof, ought as greatly to be feared of all good men, as death it self is horrible and terrible to the wicked and vngodly. And nowe the better to order thy selfe in this thou shalt vnderstand that there are two times or seasōs to speake in: the one is, when as thou secretly consultest as touching those thinges which remaine as knowne on­ly to thy self, and in these causes it shalbe better for thee to holde thy peace then to speake at all: least thou bee thought to vtter a thing vntrue, and so to bee deemed a common tale teller or fabler, or else seeme to disclose that which ought to haue been consealed, in respect of thy owne commoditie which nowe being made common to many, may turne as well to thy hinderaunce and hurt, as to thy furtheraunce or profite. The other time or rather occasion of speaking, is when as thou doest discourse and reason of thy necessarie affaires and businesses and of such thinges which are necessarily to bee imparted and [Page 12] A time to speak and a time to hold thy peace. vttered vnto others, and herein it shalbe requisite for thee to preferre sober and discrete talke before foolishe silence, for as it is singuler wisedome to vse fewe wordes or none at all, at sometimes and in some cases, so is it meere folly to refraine the same, the place and time re­quiring the contrarie.

And nowe last of all,A quiet life brin­geth sundry com­modities. To obtaine the quietnesse of minde, sayth Tully, diuers Philosophers, many noble princes, and other graue and wise men contemning the vanitie of the world, haue liued solitarilye content with a little. Lothsome secu­rity to be shunned. When as M. Scaurus vnder­stoode that his sonne was run out of the fielde, and had taken himselfe to flight with other Ro­maines, as not daring to incounter with the cun­briaris, againste whome they were sent, willed one of his seruaunts to certifie his sonne that he should come no more in his fight, seing he had so infa­med his Aun­cestours, for said he, I had rather to haue seene thy body dead in the fielde, then once to behold thy Cowards face now liuing Androc [...]idas being found fault withall, in that being lame hee woulde enter into the Battell, aunswered it must be the intent of those that come into the fielde with weapons against their enemies, not to runne away, but to fight. and especially aboue all other thinges, indeuour to liue quietly, so shalt thou not onely prolong thy dayes in great safety, but also be the readier and the minde fuller to obserue and to followe eche thing before prescribed, for being vexed and disquieted in mind it must needes followe that thou wilt become forgetfull of thy duety, and so to transgresse the boundes of vertue, but yet I woulde haue thee to auoyde idle and lothsome securitie, and when time shall so require willingly to yeld thy selfe to the vndertaking of any daunger, or trou­ble in any honest quarrell, as in defence of thy countrey, for the maintenance of equitie and iustice, or for the fur­raunce of thy friend in a iust and right cause: wherein as much as thou maiest respecting thy honour it behoueth thee to haue care for thy owne preseruation, and not rash­ly to venter thy selfe further then wisedome shall direct thee, so that thereby no infamie nor dishonour may arise, otherwise it shalbe more better valiantly to die in fielde then to liue with shame and discredite, for as nature hath pronounced the condempnation of death, as a generall iudgement vnto all men, so hath she allotted and assigned an honorable and honest ende as peculier and onely pro­per to the valiaunt and vnuincible courage of a noble heart.

Thus haue I briefely discoursed and described vnto thee, that which at the first I had purposed and determi­ned, wherein (as well I knowe) I haue touched diuers and sundry thinges, neither meete nor necessary to haue [Page] been spoken of, as altogether disagreeable to these thy yeares and present state of liuing,Isocrates con­cluding, sheweth the [...] of his writing, whereat perhappes thou wilt wonder, I therefore let thee to vnderstand that the ende of this my determination was euen in an little treatise, to set forth vnto thee as well the thinges now or heretofore requisite and necessarie to haue been vsed and obserued on thy behalfe, as also that which is hereafter to be practised and done either by thee, or by any other which is desirous through his well doinges and good be­hauiour to obtaine and winne eternall praise and memo­rie: And whereas I considered with my selfe that it was a very hard and difficult thing for a man to finde a faith­full and friendly counsayler (although experience might haue taught thee as much as I haue saide) to the intent thou shouldest not neede to goe any further to seeke any aduise herein of any other,A faithful friend is hard to bee founde. but that thou mightest take from hence as from a most plentifull storehouse, all suche thinges as might be expedient and profitable for thee in time to come, as well as now, I haue thought it my part not to omit any one thing, wherein I might seeme to coū ­saile thee, thinking my selfe much bounde vnto the good­nesse of God, if that the good hope I haue conceaued of thee, might not be frustrated. For though it be the vse of most men to make greater account of those friends which doe most beare with their follies, and holde vp their yea and nay in euery thing,Flattery getteth friendship, but truth purchaseth hatred. then they doe esteeme and regard them, which will friendly and plainely without dissem­bling, rebuke them for their misbehauiour and euill dea­linges, immitating those men which waighe more the sweete taste, then the wholseome operation and working of the Phisitian drugges, yet doe I see thee to be of a con­trarie nature as dayly proueth thy earnest indeuour and paynes taken in most godly exercises and studies, where­by I haue been perswaded, to thinke that thou which arte so well affectioned and disposed of thy selfe, wilt most wil­lingly in thankefull wise, accept and receiue this simple proferre of him which speaketh onely of meere good will [Page] A person [...] [...] and v [...]ble ioyes [...] o [...]t the procureth, as also of such counterfet delights, as that suffer­ring and deceitfull misteries, D [...]me pleasure seemeth to p [...] ­ter vnto vs. gladly to exhort and incouraged thee to the imbracing of vertue, wherevnto thou shalt easely be induced, if thou doe marke and consider the true ioyes and sundry commo­dities, which she bringeth with her, as for those fond de­lightes, that idlenesse and rietous excesse of licentious li­uing doe seeme to possesse, they are so sauced with the bit­ter dregges of misery and sorrowe, that they doe no more but beare an outward showe of pleasure, but vertue who moderately and orderly, directeth the race of mans life, doth euery day more and more bring foorth and procure most delightfull and most perfectest delectious,The hope of Victory maketh the man of [...] ­venterous, the hope of gaine maketh the marchaunt refuse no perrill, the hope of health perswadeth the [...] patient, not to respect the vnsa­uery tastes, or extreame operations of the phi­sitions mede­cines, and thus the end of euery thing breedeth, patience, and g [...] ueth incouragement. continu­ing for euer: Moreouer if in most thinges which wee take in hand, we doe more respect the ende and the conse­quentes insuing the same, then we vse to consider the be­ginning or entraunce, neither doe we refuse any paynes, if we once vnderstand the profites and commodities to be gotten thereby, what reason is there then that mē should not most of all labour and trauell to get vertue, whose en­traunce though it be accounted hard, yet is there nothing more pleasaunt nor gainefuller then the ende thereof, whereas contrarily those counterfeite pleasures make vs as it were laughing and sporting to runne headlong into our owne destruction, wilfully working our owne ouer­throwe, And though it be supposed tollerable or at least­wise made no great account of, if any simple man offende and transgresse both in respect of the basenesse of his e­state as also through his ignoraunce and slendernesse of witte (for what maruell is it to see a sow tumbling in the myre or an Idiot more esteeming an Apple then a peece of Golde) yet may not those men whose noblenesse of birthe and derteritie of witte is had in admiration,A [...] man of [...] a great [...]. adiudge it lawfull for them once to swarue aside or at all to offende, no not in the least thing, but that it will straight wayes turne to their dishonour and infamie, yea the vse of men is as much to hate and abhorre that man which showeth himselfe a dissembler in his dealinges,A [...] [...]. working nothing worthy of his calling, nor agreeable to that hope which [Page] they had conceiued of him, as they doe detest and defie him which impudently tumbleth and walloweth himselfe in wickednesse and mischiefe, in that he onely hurting himselfe so dealeth that euery man may easely take heede and beware of him, but the other both discrediting him­selfe, and infaming his auncestors doth also to the great and heauie displeasure of God, misuse and mispend those giftes bestowed vpon him, as namely his wealth, honour, wisedome and knowledge, shewing himselfe altogether vnworthy of that blessednesse, & happinesse of life, where­vnto he is called:Marke well gentle Reader, the heauenly Philosophy of this Painun. finally, if it be lawfull for vs by coniec­tures to searche and to trie out the heauenly will of the immortall God, we shall finde that he hath required no­thing more at our handes then a pure and vertuous lyfe, yeelding a reward to good men as also extreeme and end­lesse punishmentes and tormentes, to them that are wic­ked, hauing no respect of persons, as plainely appeareth by these two brethren Hercules and Tantalus the sonnes of Iupiter, the one for his wonderfull vertues crowned with the crowne of eternall fame and euerlasting memo­rie the other perpetually tormented with great and grie­uous punishments for his abhominable and wicked life. It becommeth vs therefore (hauing these and such like examples, as looking Glasses before our eyes) with an earnest and vnsatiable desire,An exhortation to Vertue. to couet and to indeuour to imbrace vertue, and to frame our selues, to a sincerenesse and purenesse of life, both for the worthinesse of the thing it selfe, and in respect of the great and sundry commodi­ties gotten thereby, which are these, eternall praise, per­petuall memorie, loue and good will of all men and end­lesse felicitie in time to come, as also for the auoyding and eschewing of all those euils, and myseries which are in­cident vnto vs if neglecting the former, wee chaunce to take our delightes and to spende our time in those vaine and transitorie pleasures, which in the ende procure no­thing else but repentaunce dearely bought with continu­all shame and infamie.

[Page 14]And thus minding at this time to conclude, resting in hope to see good successe of that which hath bene spoken, I would not wishe thee so to bee adicted vnto this my sceadile and slender discourse, that thou shouldst only sa­tisfie thy selfe herewith, but that thou shouldst also day­lye reade ouer & beare away the profitable lessons which are to be gathered out of the writinges of Poets,A good and n [...] ­cessary lesson for stude [...]es. or any other learned workes, necessary for this purpose, for as the Bee vseth to light vpon euery flower, and thense sucketh that which serueth for her store, so surelye it be­commeth them that are desirous to attain vnto learning and knowledge, not to be ignoraunt in any thing, but moste painefullye to spende theire youth in perusing and reading ouer the Bookes and writinges of the lear­ned dilligentlye noting and collecting all suche thinges as may seeme necessary and appertaining to the ordring and directing of their liues in Godlye and vertuous ex­cercises:The corruptnes of mans nature. For surely the stubbornesse of this our vile and rebellious nature is such, that we shall hardly or ne­uer subdue and bring vnder the same as subiect to the lore of reason, except it be restrayned in tyme, with a moste sharpe and straight Bitte.

The Aucthour procureth the good will and affection of the King toward him, in respect of the worthines of the gift which he presenteth vnto him, as also in reprouing the vanity of others. If these faining flatterers, with their pretended courtesy, were re­warded with a Rape roote wrapt in a peece of Silk, as was that Courtier, of Fransiis, the frenche King, for that he had pre­sented vnto him vpon hope of gaine, a stately Courser: then would they study by their well do­inges to deserue praise, rather then to curry fa­uour with any such giftes, as men gaping af­ter gaine. TRuelye in my iudgement, renowned Prince, those men (whose vse it is, vppon pretence of good wil, to presēt vnto you which are Kings, either costly Garmentes, curiouslye wrought, or any treasure of Golde or Siluer, as Vessell, or Plate, or any such like thing, wherof they themselues haue grea­test neede, and you for your partes sufficiente store) doe seeme herein, rather to make a gaynefull Mart, then any token or showe of liberallitie, or friendly courtesie, more subteller selling their wares, then those men doe who o­penly professe the trade thereof, yet notwithstanding, be­ing as one desirous with them to expresse and to signifie my well willing minde towardes thee, and yet coueting as much as may be, to be exempted from their number as in respect of their greedy desire, in hunting after gayne, I haue thought with my selfe that I should be best able to perfourme the same, if I did enterprise in this small Treatise, breefely to describe vnto thee, as touching the gouernment of thy Cittie and kingdome, all such things as I should thinke necessary on thy behalfe, both to be ob­serued and kept, as also contrarily to be eschewed and a­uoided, whereby the prosperous estate of thee and thy sub­iectes might be preserued, this being a Gifte or Presente not onely singuler and profitable, but also moste necessary and meete, as well to be receiued of thee, as also to be offe­red and giuen by me, in that the worthinesse of this trea­sure is such, that the more it is bestowed, the more it in­creaseth, so that neither I shall want by giuing, and yet thou the richer by receiuing. There are diuerse and sundrye thinges,Of the state of a priuate person. the whiche may instructe and teache a priuate person to bee wise and circumspecte in [Page] But such is the licenciousnes of these our dayes, that most men as careles, liue at liberty, fewe show themselues as faithfull o­bayers of the lawes, yea not one can abide to be tolde of his fault, and if anye reade ouer the Godly precepts of the learned, yet are they no­thing amended thereby, for com­ming in at the one eare, it goeth out at the other, and therefore no marueile if we say with the Prophet, they are all gone a­stray, there is not one that doth good. his dealinges, as namely the miserable estate of his own life, the dayly necessitie and care which hee must needes take for the supplying the want of those thinges whiche are necessary for his mayntinaunce, also the lawes and ordinaunces made by the prudent and grauer sort, (by the which, he and the whole Cittie is directed and gouerned) that hee must as it were perforce keepe the path prescri­bed vnto him: Againe he inioyeth that libertie through the Priuiledge, whereof his friendes may lawfullye re­buke him and amende him, yea and his enimies reprooue and reuile him, if at any time he offende, and besides this, he hath the perfect fourme of well liuing set downe vnto him in the workes and writinges of learned Poets, and graue Philosophers, so that thus being as it were prop­ped on euery side if he take any heede, or haue any care at all, he must needes prooue a good Citizen. But as for Princes, they are bereft and spoyled of all these helps and commodities, for standing on the slipperest place, they haue least stay, and whereas they ought to bee instructed moste, comming once to their Crowne, they passe their time as liketh themselues best,When as the Romaines vn­derstoode that it was vnpossi­ble for their Cit­ty to continue, except they were ruled and direc­ted by lawes, they sent tenne wise men to A­thens, to gather out the statutes of good gouern­ment, as they thought best for them, but these ten men hauing done as they were comman­ded, at their retourn brought also aboue their charge, the instruments of the law, as namely Whippes, Gibbots, Pillories, Stockes, with other thinges appertayning to the executing of the sayd lawes, signifying, that vice is neuer the more amended, bee the lawes neuer so good, except they be truely executed, and this is the cause why England so aboundeth with wickednes. There is no remembraunce sayth Tully, of equitie or Iustice, among those in whom the desire of honour and authoritie is once lodged. The spoyle that insueth by am­bitions minds, is manifested by the doinges of Lucius Silla, Caius Cesar, and Cauis ma­ [...]ius, turning all vpside downe, without the feare of God or man. without controlement: For as it is not lawfull nor requisite for many to haue ac­cesse vnto them, so is it the vse of those that are commonly conuersaunte aboute them both to doe and to saye onelye that whiche they perceaue, and vnderstande to feede their humours best, not so much respecting the safety and preseruation of their Princes, or the commoditie of theire Countrey, as they doe their owne proper gayne. And hereby it hath come to passe that through the wealth and authoritie of these men so wickedly gotten as also so gret­ly abused, most men stande in doubt whether the life of a priuate person honestlye and orderlye behauing himselfe, [Page 17] Antigonus be­ing to take vpon him the gouern­ment of the king­dome, and to put on the crown on his head be­set with Dia­demes and other riche and prince­ly Pearles, sayd, O Ornament more honorable then happy, for if we did consider what great care, daunger and trouble thou doest bring, we would not once take thee vp from off the ground. Anaxagoras be­ing asked whom he supposed hap­pye, not those, saith he, whiche doe abunde in wealth, or are clothed in purple but euen those whome thou supposest miserable, I account happy what manner of men they are which being con­tent with a mo­derate liuing, had rather to appeare honourable in their deeds then in their Gar­mentes. Cesar slaine in the Senat, Alex­ander poysoned, Pompey bought & solde, Dionist­us killed by his dearest friend Calicrates, and diuers other mi­serably betrayed and murthered. is not to be preferred, & rather to be wished for, then that princely maiestie or high estate of gouernmēt. For as in beholding their great honours, excesse wealth, & royall authoritie, they adiudge thē as Gods aboūding in grea­test felicitie, so likewise considering the great daūgers, & wonderfull troubles which they liue in, calling to mind how most of them are murthered and slaine, euen by the handes of those in whome they haue put most trust, com­pelled often times to vse extreame crueltie towardes their dearest friendes, these thinges with infinite other inconueniences thorowly wayed, they suppose it better to leade the poorest and basest life with quietnesse and safety, then to possesse the gouernment of all Asia, in such terrible feares and continuall daungers.

But the erroure of this their opinion ariseth in that through their ignoraunce they make no difference at all betwixt the gouernment of a kingdome (whiche as it is the greatest and chiefest charge, so doeth it require the more care and prouidence) and the priuate authoritie of any other man, supposing alwayes, the one to be as easy as the other being like vnto those, whiche according to the prouerbe are continually talking of Robin hoode when as they neuer shotte in his bowe, and thus preten­ding a cereaine skill, they rashly giue their sensure of iudgement of that wherof in very dede they themselues are ignoraunt. But now setting these men aside, and to retourne to my purpose. I suppose it the duetye of them that are thy counsailers dayly attending on thy person carefully to forecast and to foreshew vnto thee (as occasi­on serueth) howe and after what sorte eche perticuler thing is to be ordered and directed, as well for the pre­seruing and maintaining of that which is good and god­ly as also for the auoyding and subduing of eche vnlaw­full and wicked pretence and abuse. But as concerning those thinges which may be spoken of in generall, as ap­pertaining vnto those excercises and indeuours by the which thou art to be conducted vnto that happye ende [Page] We excuseth his boldnesse and slendernesse in writing. wherevnto the whole race of thy life is to be applyed, I shall as much as in me lieth indeuour at this instaunt to declare and describe vnto thee.

Wherein if the slendernesse and basenesse of my discourse when it is ended shall not seeme agree­able or correspondente vnto the worthinesse of the mat­ter whiche I haue taken in hande (the whiche at the be­ginning can not so easilye bee disearned,Hope is often frustrated especi­ally in those thinges as de­pend vpon the iudgement of many, for com­monly, so many men, so many oppinions.) and that it should happen to fall out with me, as it hath done with diuers learned Poets, whose workes before they were finished, and as it remained in their owne imaginations did seeme to portend vnto themselues great and strange matters, likely to cause and to purchase vnto the Auc­thours both credite and commendations, and yet at length when as they came to light,For there neuer yet lacked a Mo­ [...]nus or Zoylus, no though their workes were ne­uer so perfect. as set forth in bokes vnto the view and iudgement of the worlde to bee read and perused by others, they haue then gained lesse praise then they looked for: Yet neuerthelesse my hope is that how soeuer the case standeth I shall not be misliked, the singulernesse of my enterprise being thorowlye wayed, and considered, which is, euen to doe that, whiche all o­thers haue left vndone, and as it were to take vpon mee to prescribe lawes vnto kinges and Princes, then the which as nothing can be harder,Though Phillip king of Mace­don tooke in good part the counsaile of that pore captiue, that secretly told him how that his Cloke did fit vn­comely: yet did Cambises of Persia put to death the sonne of Prexaspis, be­cause he wilde him to auoyd his beastly dronken­nesse, so daunge­rous a thing it is to correct the a­buses of princes so surely nothing is or may be more profitabler. For they which take paines in the instructing and teaching of a priuate person doe no more but profite him onely, but he who enterpriseth to stirre vp and to incourage the Lords of the people to the following and imbracing of vertue, this man procureth and bringeth sundry commodities, both vnto the Prin­ces themselues, as also to their subiectes, as in purcha­sing to the one a more surer estate, and causing vnto the other a moste blessed and happy common weale. Nowe therefore first of all before we goe any further, lette vs consider what the duetye of a King is, as also by him what appertaineth vnto all other inferiour Magistrates vnto whome the common weale is or shal be committed: [Page 18] For the chiefe and principall parte that wherein the whole effect of our matter consisteth being thorowlye knowne and perfectly described, wee shall by the viewe thereof, the easier iudge of all other thinges incidente vnto the same.The author thus hauingended his Preface or Pro­pheme now com­meth to the mat­ter intended, and sheweth firste what is the charge and dutie of those whiche are kings or go­uernours. Truely I suppose that the iudgement of all men generally is that it belongeth and appertayneth vnto all princes and gouernours carefully to defend and preserue their kingdomes and Cities from all kinde of trouble, misery, and calamitie, to maintaine the prospe­rous estate thereof, as also to inlarge and to increase the liberties and dominions of the same, making them of lit­tle and small countreyes, to become greate and mightye nations, and as for all other thinges which doe daylye happen, they are all to be referred and applyed vnto this end:The vse and or­der of Alexander was to lie with one of his armes out of the bedde, holding a brasen Ball in his hand that by the fall thereof, he might be awaked to consult of those things which he had to doe and that he might not be as one ouer­come with sleepe And this is also as manifest and as it were already graunted as a thing not requiring further proofe, that it doth not become them in whome this authoritie doeth consist, and whose charge it shall be to deliberate of these matters, to giue themselues to slothfulnesse or idlenesse, but with all dilligence most circumspectly to foresee and forecast eche thing, and so to spende their time that they may be found farre wiser in all their dealinges then any other man, for as experience showeth, their realmes are in such sort gouerned and guided, as they themselues are disposed and inclined: Wherefore it is not so necessarye for any champion with such great care to excersise his body to the Combate, as it is requisite for Princes and Rulers to sharpen their wittes,The Athenians punished idlenes as greeuously as any other offence and to quicken their vn­derstandinges, seeing that the greatest price wonne and gotten in the greatest game, is nothing compareable to the least parte of those rewardes,Iulius Cesar hauing bene all day in the fild, or else any otherwise busyed, did con­tinually deuide the night into three partes, spending the first in sleepe: the second in consul­ting of his affayres: the third and last in Musick, for the refreshing and recreating of his wearied mind. It was not the Consulship neither anye other office or authoritie whiche Scipio Africanus possessed among the Romaines, that caused king Antiochus so to reue­rence his person, or the Pirates so to be astonyed at his sight, but onely the excelency of his vertues, and the immortall praise which he purchased through the integritie of life. for which you that are kinges doe dayly and continually contend.

These thinges therefore thus considered, it behoueth [Page] Seripius obiec­ting againste Themistocles that his country made him hono­rable not his owne desertes. Themistocles aunswered, that though he were Seriphius, yet should he be ho­nourable, but if Feritheus him­selfe were an A­thenian yet would he be ne­uer the worthier. Aiax Locrensis tamed a serpent, Pithagoras a Beare, Porus an Elephant, Augustus the Emperour a Ti­ger, and Paulus Leonensis a Dragon. This made king Darius to wishe for as manye Megabizes mates as there were Curnels in a Pomgarnet, this caused Xerxes to vse his friend and coun­sailer Boges so familierly, this forced Alexander so to lament the death of Ephes­ton, for they all knew that there was nothing compareable to a faithfull and trusty counseller. Marcus Aureli­us dying willed his sonne Com­modus to be ru­led by the aduise of his graue counsaylers, and to place about him the wisest of his people. To this ende did Romulus at the first appoint that noble company of graue counsailers, called Sena­toures, to be Adiutors vnto him in his affaires. This was also the intent of Solon in insti­tuting his Ariopagite that thereby the Princes and Rulers of Athens, mighte not wante discrete and wise Sages, such as would be carefull for the profite of their countrey. thee to doe thy indeuour so farre to excell all others in vertue and well doing, as thou doest surpasse and excede them in honour and authoritie. Neither would I wishe thee to thinke that where as care and dilligence are of sufficient force to bring the difficultst matters aboute, that they should not be likewise auaileable to the obtay­ning of vertue and wisedome, or as of none importaunce to better our selues, neither doe thou go about to con­demne vs men of such great folly that we shoulde bee a­ble to inuent meanes and wayes to alter the course of nature, in the brute beast in making him tame and trac­table, teaching him diuers and sundry quallities, brin­ging him as most obedient to our willes, and yet should not in like sort be able to frame and to applie our selues to the obtaining and winning of her, which of her owne nature so louingly alureth and intiseth vs vnto her: nay rather perswade thy selfe that through Godly instructi­ons and dilligent indeuour vsed in the following and practising of the same (I meane vertue) the minde of man is easyer to be salued and cured, then the least scar or greeuous wounde. Placing therefore about thee the wisest and discreetest men of thy countrey, take thy de­light in their companye, vsing them famillierlye and friendly, that so they being imboldened by thy clemencie maye not stand in doubt or in feare at any time, to vtter or to disclose their opinions vnto thee, in anye thing which they shall see amisse, yea though it be not deman­ded.

Send also into other nations for those of whome thou shalt heare any commendable report giuen for their sin­guler vertues, and dexteritie of witte, or at least wise if they be not to be gotten, indeuour to cause the like admi­ration to arise from thy self, by immitating that in them for which thou vnderstandest them to bee so highlye re­nowned: [Page 19] Ptolomeus king of Alexan­dria did send a­broade for all such learned men of whome he hearde anye fa­mous reporte, and gaue them great stipendes the like also did Iulius Ceasar, & Vaspasianus Emperours. King Ferdinan­dus as Textor reporteth, did yearely bestowe great summes of money out of his treasure, towarde the maintenance of Retorisions, Phisitions, Philosophers, & Deuines. I can not lette passe the earnest sute made by Artaxerxes king of Persia vnto Hiscamus, the gouernour of Helespontus for the inioying of the companye of Hipocrates that famous and renowned Phi­sition, the iorney of Alexander to see Diogenes, the sending of Dionisius for Plato, nor the reuerence which the Athenians gaue vnto Zeno seing their do­inges doe so ma­nifestly condemn the carelesse con­tempt of the learned in these days. They saith Solon which willingly gouern others, must first learn to rule themselues. Codrus King of Athens vnderstanding that if he were slaine in the Battell his com­pany should not haue the victory, clothed himselfe in pore aray, and intended himself among his enemies, ended his life for the loue he did beare to his countrey, there are also infinite Histories both of Princes and priuate persons which haue done the like. Moreouer, let no learned Poet or famous Re­trision escape thee, but if they be liuing send for them, or else being dead, diligently peruse and reade ouer their workes being alwayes willing to heare, and carefull to learne, shewing thy selfe a skillfull and prudent iudge ouer thy inferiours as also an earnest louer & follower of thy betters, being such as excell thee in wisedome & knowledge, so shalt thou easely and quickly become such a one, as we would wishe him to be which shoulde take vpon him rightly to gouerne a Realme or orderly to di­rect the state of a Citie. And herevnto thou shalt be the earnester incensed, if thou account it as a thing most vn­seeming to see the inferiour to rule his superiour, the foolishe and witlesse to become gouernours ouer the wise, or the seruaunt commaunding, and the maister o­beying, for howe much the more thou abhorrest and mis­likest other mens madnesse and folly, the carefuller thou wilt be to apply thy selfe to the obtayning of learning and knowledge. And in this sorte must they which seeke the perfection of duetie indeuour as especially to adorne and to beautifie their mindes with vertue and wisedome learning first howe to gouerne themselues before they take in hand to rule others.

Moreouer Princes and Magistrates ought to haue a loue and a seale to their people and to their Countrey, for it can not bee that any man can vse any thing well, whether it be horse, hounde, or men, except he take de­light in the thing whereof he hath charge. Take heede then that thou haue a care ouer thy people, supposing thy selfe then to be surest when as they are well pleased and contented with thy gouernment: yea eche state of gouernment, whether it be in the ordering of a fewe of many or of one, it then continueth longest and prospereth best when as the greatest care and regard is had of their [Page] The safety of a Prince consisteth in the good will of their people. Talantia a wor­thy Lady of Sparta vnderstanding that her sonne Peda­retus did not vse himselfe well in the gouerning of the people of Chius, an yle in Greece, she sente him word in that he had lost the good will of his people, except by his behauiour and good go­uernment he did winne it againe, he should tarrye there, and as shee hoped, receaue condigne punish­ment at their handes, for if he did come home vnto her, he should not think to liue one hower. The notes of a well ordred com­mon Weale. Herodotus wri­teth Miceranus King of Egipt to haue bene so carefull in the executing of ius­tice, that if anye man had bene iniured, that the offender shoulde be punished ac­cording to his trespasse, and the partie iniured by him fully satisfyed, or else he himselfe, the offender not being able, would recompence the plaintife out of his owne Cofer. Because that one of Tamburlanus Souldyers had taken from a pore woman but a messe of Milke, the king caused him to be put to death, his bowels to be ript, and the Milke to bee taken out. In auncient time neither the Romaines, neither the Lacedemonians had any laws as prescribed in writing, but only as the offences were committed, and the offendoures knowne, the punishmentes were referred to the iudgement of the iudges. The Lawes which Draco had made among the Athenians were altered and chaunged by Solon. people: for there hath neuer byn, as yet any King so mightie or so strong but at the laste he hath byn ouer­throwne through the enuie and euill will of his subieets so that perfect honour is both gotten, and maintained by these three thinges. The loue and goodwill of the peo­ple wonne through gentlenesse and lowlinesse, with be­neficencie and liberality annexed by credit gotten by iust and vpright dealing. And through an admiration had at thy vertues as when thou shewest thy selfe in the inte­gritie and purenesse of life to surpasse others, especially not being giuen to licentious and vnordinate lust, nei­ther as one able to be moued with the desire of money, for as the suspicion of couetousnesse is to be eschewed of all men, so is the least part thereof most abhominable in any prince or magistrate being the onely subuertion and ouerthrowe of a common weale.

Thou also shalt be accounted to rule well if thou nei­ther fauour the folly or wantonnesse of thy people, ney­ther suffer any other to vse any Loftie or Lordly Autho­ritie ouer them, whereby they should be iniured in anye respect, but so ordering and foreseing eche thing, that due honour may be giuen vnto the godly and well dis­posed, executing iustice in such sort vppon the trangres­sors, and breakers of thy lawes that the rest quietly in­ioying their owne may be the louinger and obedienter to thee, as also not sustaining wrong or iniurie by any, more esteeming an honest man be he neuer so poore, then thou doest the vicious liuer, yea though he abounde in greatest wealth, for this is the first and chiefest point of a well ordered publike Weale.

Abrogate and alter all suche decrees and statutes, [Page 20] The lawes which the De­cemviri fyrste brought to come from Athens growing to bee corupted through the abuse of time were afterwards altered in some pointes, the like also did Zeleu­cus in Sparta. A good law must haue all these properties. As it is before specifyed, the ro­mains at twelue yeares of age ap­pointed their youth to such artes and trades of liuing, as they were found mete for, and after­warde, if they were euer taken in the streates idlely loytering they were depri­ued of their free­dome, and vsed as bondmen. The Athenians so farre detested Idlenesse, that to the intent their Citizens shoulde applye them­selues to honest marchandise, and other trades of liuing, they or­dayned that eue­ry man shoulde giue an account how and by what Science hee maintained himselfe vnto their Iudges called Arcopagitae. In Lucania there was a Lawe that who soeuer did lende anye thing vnto an idle person, shoulde loose the thing which he had lente, that men beeing tought heareby to trust to themselues, mighte learne to laboure and to take paynes for their liuing, and not to liue by shifting, as manye now doe. Euthimus that Valiaunt Captayne vnderstanding that a Citizen of his, called The­mesius, had gathered togither excesse wealth by vniust meanes, and vntollerable Vsurie, caused him to make restitution of all that euer hee had gotten vnto those whome he hadde iniured. which thou shalt vnderstand to be either not necessarie or in any clause amisse or culpable, and this being done doe thy indeuour to inuent and constitute some other in their places and if it be that of thy selfe thou canst not doe it, then doe thou aske the aduise of others, taking a pat­terne of all such ordinaunces which thou shalte see or learne to bee obserued in any other Countries, being good and godly. Let thy lawes also be indifferent and a­like profitable vnto all persons, no more respecting one then another, moreouer take heede that they be not con­trarie or repugnant one to the other, but agreeable in e­uery part making no dissention nor controuersies to arise among thy people, but in all thinges procuring vnitie and peace, to the maintaining of Iustice and equitie, and to the ouerthrowing of vice and wickednesse, all whiche thinges are necessary to be obserued, if thou desire to make perfect and substanciall lawes.

Ordaine such kinde of marchandice and traffiques to be vsed among thy people, as may be gainefull and pro­fitable for them, and if they fall at variaunce and strife among themselues, let them smart for the same, that so hauing sustayned dammage by the one they may learne the more diligenter to apply themselues to the other: but yet in such sort as men content with an honest and indif­ferent gaine and not either seeking excesse, or studying to increase their wealth by any vnlawfull or deceitefull meanes.

Also when thou shalt come to giue iudgement vpon any controuersie, depending betwixte partie and partie speake nothing vpon affection or fauour, neither for ha­tred or enuie but vprightly and indifferently as y^e trueth [Page] When As Phil­lip of Macedon being as it is written sleepy or drowsy, taking no great heede to the cause of Ma­chotas then plea­ded before him had rashly giuen iudgemente a­gainst machetas, and afterward vnderstoode he had iudged wrongfully, be­cause his sen­tence shoulde bee vnreuocable, and yet the party not inuited, he him­selfe satisfyed the law, and payde the money for which Mache­tas was con­demned. The Romaynes builded a Tem­ple called Tem­plum Concordie through the which the Sena­tours should passe, as they came into the Senate house, to the ende that there they should as it were put off both mallice and affection, and so to come straight to sit in iudge­ment as men being in vnitie and loue with all the world, to exe­cute iustice in­differently. Acheus king of Lidia riotously spending his treasure, was therby compelled to exact a new kinde of tribute of his Subiectes, the which the people not tollerating, vsed vi­olence vpon him, and hanging him vp by the heeles, with his head downeward, caused him miserably to end his life. Couet rather with Paulus Emilius to lay vp so much Trea­sure in thy Capitole house as may discharge and exonorate thy subiectes from all exactions as also to haue sufficient to withstand the inuasion of thy enimies then to spend so lauishlye then thou shouldest be constrained to confiscate the goods of thy people. Antonius Pius made his treasure as common to his friendes: Lucius Lucullus was also so liberall in maintaining all such learned men which came as straungers to Rome that his house was termed the Hospitall for Trauellers. shall leade thee, neither let thy opinions be founde vari­able or vncertaine, but according to equitie, be alwayes of one minde in all semblable causes, and that without any discordance and not as a man to be led away hether and thether, or to be perswaded to this or that, for it is expedient and necessarye that the woordes of a Prince should remaine immutable and vnchaungeable, alwayes to be taken of all men as an approued lawe and vnmoue­able decree.

So order thy Citie as thou wouldest vse thy fathers house adorning and beautifying the same, with most sumptuous and costly furnitures, making it famous and renowned through the excellencie and worthinesse of thy Princely maiestie, thinking thy selfe then most inriched when as thou seest their most florishing, not forgetting to take a diligent and carefull accounte of thy reuenewes that both the worthinesse of thy name may bee spread a­brode, through iust desert by the well bestowing of the same, as also to preuent any other occasion which hereaf­ter may happen though nowe vnknowen, remembring so to spend that thou maist haue alwayes some store before hand, both for the better maintaining of thy owne estate as also for the supplying of euery necessitie: otherwise thy Citizens and subiectes shalbe peeled and powled, thy name through others euill dealings defamed, and yet thy treasure neuer the more inriched, for it is commonly in­tercepted by such as stand at receite, and it fareth well with the Prince, if of the pounde he receyue a shilling the poore subiect exacted to the vttermost and paying not one farthing the lesse.

Adiudge not that to bee magnificencie or liberalitie, [Page 21] In satisfying the licentious­nesse of the flesh, as did Demetrius, who bestowed on his Harlots CC.l. talents of siluer. In excessiue eating and riottous banqueting, as did Heliogaba­lus, Vitellius, and Cleopatra in the supper she prepared for Antonius. Or in setting foorth of fond shewes and Playes, as did Nero, Caligu­la, and Mar­cus Tigellius. Or last of al in the building of superfluous monuments. The charges bestowed in any of these, is not to be counted liberalitie. When as the Senat hadde­nied to pay the ransome for the redeeming of those Cap­tiues which Quintus Fa­bius Maxi­mus had brought home from Haniball, promising to see their ransome discharged, he re­fused not to sell a certaine pecce of his Lands, and so to discharge the paiment him selfe, rather than the pore men shall remaine in Captiuitie. Alexander hauing sub­dued Poruz King of India, being both sicke and impotent, did not onely cause him to bee cured of his disease, but also taking him as one of his dearest friendes, gaue him greater possessions than he before had inioyed. when as great charges are consumed in vaine and tran­sitorie pleasures, delighting onely thy eye, and that but for a time, but rather suppose true magnificence to con­sist in the doing of those thinges which I before haue na­med, as in prouiding and preparing of thinges necessarie for the defence of thy Countrey, as well in the present e­state of peace, as in the time of warre, extending thy be­neficence, and liberalitie vpon thy friendes, vpon good men being in myserie, in redeeming of Captiues, and in sustaining the causes of the fatherlesse and wydowes wrongfully oppressed. For that which thou shalt bestow in this sort, shalbe permanent and sure, continuing for e­uer, to the eternall praise of thy name, & bringing grea­ter commodities vnto thy posteritie, than those superflu­ous, and friuolous expences.

Diligently obserue that religion which thou hast re­ceiued of thy forefathers, accounting that to bee a most worthy, acceptable. and commendable sacrifice, and as a seruice most pleaseable and thankefull before the face of God, when as thou shewest thy selfe a iust and vpright dealer, for there is greater hope, that the immortall God will sooner and willinger heare, and graunt the petition of such men, than he doth esteeme or regarde y^e requestes of those, whose vse it is with defyled & corrupted consci­ences to offer vp the fattest Bullockes or greatest offe­ringes, for it is not the outward ceremonie, but the in­ward disposition of the heart that God respecteth.

Yeelde vnto thy dearest and trustiest friends, the chie­fest and principallest honours, and place thy well willers in those roomes which thou most desirest to be vncorrup­ted. And as for the custodie of thy bodie, thinke it then most safest, when as it remaineth as garded with y^e faith­fulnesse [Page] Alexander Seuerus the Emperor, thought them as wor­thiest of the chiefest prefer­ments whome he heard moste renowned for their integritie of life. Plato was wont to say, that euerye country should be the moste happiest, when as onely wyse men were pre­ferred to beare authoritye, and the kinges themselues did also become studious to gette wisedome and knowledge. It is the part of a good Citi­zen, saith Cice­ro, to haue a care for the commodity of all men gene­rally, and not to seeke to ple­sure a few, or to get the good will of men in authority only. And therefore the Romanes appointed cer­tain officers called Censors to loke vnto the behauiours and doings of their peo­ple, that no man should liue either idlely or dishonestly. Pomponius Atticus did neuer speake an vntruth, neither could suffer a lye to be told in his presēce, the like is reported of Amonius. As the Massilenses did graunt free entraunce to all straungers into their Citie, so had they as greats care to see them peaceably and quietly dealt withall, and that this might be the better performed, they would suf­fer not one in their Citie to weare any weapon, neither any straunger to enter with any, but that he should leaue it with the porter of the Citie gate, and so to receiue it agayne at his returne. of friendes, as defenced with the goodwill of thy Citizens, and as established by thy owne wisedome and prudence, for these are they by whom honour and autho­ritie are soone wonne and obtained, as also easily and longest preserued.

Haue also good awayte and diligent care, as touching the priuate estate of euery Citizen particularly, and per­swade thy self that both he that wasteth, spendeth of that which is thine, and the man that is thriftie & vsing good husbandrie, is also an increaser and augmenter of thy wealth and substaunce, for the liues and landes, and the whole goodes of all them that be subiectes, inhabiting within the dominions, appertaine vnto the mainte­naunce of all such Princes as are their rulers, if so bee that their gouernment be iust and righteous: neither is there any faithfull Citizen which will seeme to denie the same when it shall be demaunded, or rather not volunta­rily to offer it, when neede so requireth.

Haue alwayes such reuerence of the truth in thy mouth euen through thy whole life, that thy word may sooner be credited and taken of all men, than the oth of him which sweareth deepest.

Let thy Citie be free vnto all straungers, see also that they be honestly and well dealt withall, and that none of thy people goe about to cosen or to deceiue them in any of their contractes or bargaines, but that iustice be indiffe­rently ministred vnto all men: And amongest all the rest esteeme them most which trusting to their owne innocen­cie, and to thy goodnesse, come boldly to craue some cour­tesie and friendship at thy hands, bringing thee nothing: [Page 22] As the Empe­rour Galienus through the great lowlines and humilitie which he was indued withal, did neuer deny any thing that was requested of him, so con­trarily he could not abide to see any of his sub­iects to present him with anye gift, especially when as they came to craue any courtesy at his hands. If mercy and clemency vsed by Camillus, procured the subiectiō of his enimies, win­ning vnto him more countries than euer he subdued by force of armes, what may wee thinke it is able to do in getting the good wil of subiects tow­ard their prin­ces? Bion being as­ked what was the hurtfullést beast liuing: Answered of all cruell beastes a tyraunt, & among all gentle beastes a flatterer. King Pirrhus vnderstanding that certaine of his subiectes had spo­ken certaine opprobrious speeches of him, caused the offenders to be brought be­fore him, & when he had vnderstoode the truth, & rebuked the men for their follie, he mercifully pardoned their offence. Alexander the great did not win so much loue among his Souldiers, in tendring the health of that old Souldier, whom he so curteously placed in his owne Chayre by the fyre syde, because he was colde, as he did procure their harts against him, when cruelly he put to death his worthie Captayne Calisthenes, Clitus, and Lysimachus. When as the people of Room­made an insur­rection against Antonius Pi­us through the penury of corne which they thē sustayned, An­tonius did not cruelly reuenge their trespasse, but shewing them friendly their fault sought to ap­pease them, in vttering the care which hee had ouer them. The worthy & renowned fame of the greate magnanimitie which was in the Romane Captaines, did not so muche a­mase and terri­fye their eni­mies, as did the cowardlye report made of Sardanapa­lus, and Helioga­balus giue cause to their aduersaries to inuade and subdue them: for as sayd Ar­bates, one of Sardanapa­lus Captaines, what greater shame can there be, than men to be ruled by such ef­feminate persons? Antigonus vnderstanding that his sonne was slayn through a rash conflict made with the enimies, Aunswered that he died not to soone that woulde so rashlye vndertake more than hee coulde bring to passe. Alexander Seuerus the Emperour, being reproued by his Mother, for that he had not lefte his Empyre so famous and renowned through Conquestes gotten by his prince­ly actes ouer other nations, as his Father had done before, Answered that he had done more than his Father hadde done, for he had lefte it in more safety and qui­etnesse, through which it should longer continue. than thou doest those whiche thinke with themselues to gaine and to deserue a good turne at thy handes, by be­stowing vppon thee some present or other: for by this thy honour done vnto y^e former, in respect of their worthi­nesse, and by condemning of y^e vanitye and folly of the lat­ter in contemning their gifts, thou shalt winne the grea­ter praise and commendation amongst all others.

Take also away from thy Citizens all kinde of tyran­nicall feare, neither seeme thou terrible vnto them which haue not offended, for loke after what sorte thou wouldest haue them affectioned towards thee, thou must vse thy self in like order towards them. Thou must do nothing in thy fury, but rather dessemble thy anger, as time and occasion serueth, but yet see that thou be eager and earnest in the trying and serching out of the truth in euery thing that shall happen to be done, shewing mercie in mitigating the extremitie of the punishmentes due to the offenders, maintaining y^e authoritie of thy kingdome, not by sharpe­nesse and seuerenesse of torments, but by good aduise and prudent foresight had and vsed in euery matter, that all men may bee perswaded thereby, that thou hast greater care, and more tenderest their safetie, than they them­selues.

It is likewise necessarie for thee to be accounted and knowne to bee a valiaunt and hardie man at armes, as well in respect of thy knowledge in warlike affaires, as also in thy carefull prouiding of all kinde of furniture seruing thereunto, delighting more in a small company of skilfull and tryed souldiours, than in a huge number and multitude of cowardes: the which to preuent, thou [Page] must dayly practise and traine vp the youth of thy realme in such kinde of exercises: but yet so dealing therein as one that desireth peace rather than warres, going about to challenge nothing but that which is thy owne, & doth of right appertaine vnto thee, remembring to shewe thy selfe such a one towardes those Cities which are too weake to resist thee, as thou wouldst be cōtent to be dealt withall by them which should be too mightie & too strong for thee. Neither goe thou to warre for euery trifle, but only for that, y^e victorie whereof being gotten, shalbe suf­ficient to satisfie thy charges, as also to recompence thy paynes, not blaming them which are vanquished to their owne commoditie, but rather accounting them as fooles, which doe vanquish others to their owne detriment, she­wing thy selfe also mercifull vnto all those which humbly shall yeelde themselues to thy mercy, and dealing with extremitie with those which desperately shalbe bent to a­byde the vttermost blowe.

Account not magnanimitie or valiauntnesse of minde to be in them, which wilfully and rashely doe vndertake greater thinges than they are able to bring to passe, but rather adiudge it in them, which enterprising that onely which is within their reache, doe speedilye bring their purposed intentes to good effect.

Be thou not too too earnest a follower of those men, whose delight is onely to get authoritie, and to inlarge y^e boundes of their kingdomes, nothing waying or regar­ding howe or after what sort they obtaine it, so that their greedie desire bee satisfied: but doe thou rather imitate them which seeke well and quietly to preserue and keepe [Page 23] Philip of Macedon fal­ling by chaunce flat vpon the grounde, and rising againe, beholding the length of his body in the dust, saide, how strange a thing is it to see, that nature hath a­lotted so smal a peece of ground vnto euery one & yet the whole world will not suffice many. I maruell saith Antisthe­nes that men are so circum­spect in the bin­ing of any worldly things and yet are so carelesse in the chusing of a faithful friend. Pisistratus a tyraunt of A­thens did finde the faythfulnes of friends to be such a stay to a kingdome, that when he was forsaken by his friendes, they flying for feare of him, and he had vnderstoode where they did remayne, he tooke vp a fardell of suche thinges as were needfull for him, and carrying it on his back, came vnto them, and proffe­red rather to die with them, than to raigne as a King, they being gone. Marius Maximus supposed it better for a common weale to haue an euill Prince with good councelloures about him, than to haue a good King with euill counsellours for as it is easye and lykely that many good may make one bad good, also like vnto themselues, than for a good man to continue in his goodnesse, keeping the compa­ny of euill men. When as Orontes had more sharpely reproued Demaratus the King, than did well become him, in so much that Demaratus seruauntes stan­ding by and misliking the same, seemed to moue the king [...]t asking him whether he would take in so good part Orontes spee­ches, the king answered: that he had more cause to thank Orontes, than to reproue him for they rather (sayde hee) doe vs hurt, which flatte­ringly speake to curry fauor with vs that are Princes, thā they which friendly seeme to rebuke vs. Telecrus bro­ther complay­ning vnto him that he had not the good wil of the Citizens as much as he had: it is (sayd he) because thou doest not vse thy selfe curteously to­wards them: & therfore Phil­lip aboue all thinges, willed his sonne Alexander to vse himselfe lowly and friend­ly towardes his people, but yet so, that there be alwayes a regard had that a me­diocrities be obserued in euery thing. Traian being reprooued for his humi­litie and lowlinesse vsed toward his subiectes, aunswered: it becommeth me so to vse my selfe towards them, as I being in their case would looke to be delt withal. Antisthenes opinion was, that it were better to be in companie with Crowes, then with Flatterers, for Crowes will but deuour the body when it is dead, but the other will eate vp a man aliue. We must (sayd Diogenes) not only giue our handes infriendly wise to our friendes, but also we must remember to haue oure fingers closed and clinched: that is, not onely to giue them fayre words, but also to deale friendly and liberally by them. Thearidas being a whetting his sworde with a whetstone, was asked by one that passed by, whether it were sharp, wher­to he made an­swere, that it was as sharpe as a slaunder or false accusa­tion, for as wit­nesseth Clean­tes, there is nothing more hurtfull. If saith So­lon, false accu­sers should scape vnpuni­shed, then would the state of the common weale be soone subuerted. Alphonsus king of Aragō, would say, that there was no­thing so vn­seeming, than for him to rule others, whiche is subiect to his owne af­fections. A ge­silaus reioyced most, in that ruling others he also remay­ned a King o­uer himselfe. Herevpon Tullie willeth that when youth are permitted to take their recreation, the graue and elder sort shoulde bee present. The auncient Romanes knowing that Vertue was the only meanes to attaine to true honour, as also to signifie the same to the worlde by an expresse testimonie, they builded the Temples of Vertue and Honour adioyned the one to the other, and that in such sort, that you could not enter into the Tēple of Ho­nour, except you first came through the Temple of Vertue. As wee doe not sayth Socrates, iudge the Corne to be good because it did grow vpon a fruitefull ground, so neyther are we to suppose them as worthy of honour, whiche were borre of honourable Parentes: because both the Corne growing on the good ground may proue euil, & the child also that issueth frō an honest father, may proue wicked and dissolute, and therefore they are only worthy of honour, whose Ver­tues are such that they deserue the same. It is a wise mans part, saith Mu­natius so to behaue him­selfe, that though he of­fende, his fault may not ap­peare to euerye one, also vn­derstanding his error, pre­sently to amend it, and to learne to be wiser af­terward. When as a­certaine man had sayde to king Antigo­nus, that all thinges were lawfull for Princes, it is so sayth he, to those that are of a barbarous nation, but vn­to vs onlye, thinges honest are lawfull. As in a hearde of beastes, if the for moste stand still, or if he run forward the rest will do the like, so saith Plutarche, it goeth with the people, who in euery thing conforme themselues to the manners of their gouernours. The Effenians a certayne people inhabiting in India, doe gouerne their countrey by these three rules: with a feruent loue towardes God, in hauing an earnest desyre to liue vertuously, and in bearing a charitable affection and loue one towards ano­ther. Textor. Antigonus King of Macedon being perswaded by his friendes strongly to fortifye the Citie of Athens, if he did meane to keepe it, least it should reuolt away from him againe, aunswered, that he was alwayes of this opinyon, that there was no such sure defence for the preseruation of his kingdom, than was the good will of his subiectes. When Demetrius Phalerius vnderstood that the Athenians had plucked downe the pictures which they had set vp in remem­braunce of his worthy enterprises, made aunswere that though the pictures were thrown down, yet could not his vertues be defaced, which first deserued the same. that which they haue alreadie gotten, ruling thy people not with crueltie or feare, but shewing thy selfe such a one as becommeth thee to be: diligently dispatching thin­ges presēt, as also wisely & circumspectly vndertaking of thinges indifferent, being neither too great for thee to compasse, neither too base for one of thy degree to medle or to deale with all, so shalt thou liue a most happie life, a­bounding in great felicitie, and as one wanting nothing.

Knit the knot of friendship not with euery one that see­meth to seeke it at thy hands, but onely with those, whom thou vnderstandest and knowest through the excellencie of their vertues, to bee men woorthy of thy fauour: for they must be as helpers, furtherers, and counsellers to the wel gouerning of thy Citie, and not as companions merily to passe the time with all: wherefore see that thou doe trie and throughly consider the natures, and conuersations of those with whom thou shalt vse this familiaritie & friend­ship, for thou shalt be adiudged of all men, to be in like sort disposed and bent, as are the conditions and liues of those with whom thou vsest dayly to be conuersant: be not ther­fore rashe in companying with any, neither let it bee done at any time, without great cause, and take thou heede that thou commit the charge of those matters, wherewith thou wilt not meddle thy self, vnto such men, as will truely and iustly execute the same, for wherein so euer they offend, it shalbe ascribed vnto thee whose authoritie they beare.

Take not them for thy faithfull and loyall seruauntes, which doe most commend and praise thy doinges or spea­ches, but rather thinke well of them which in duetifull wise, and after a discrete order, will as occasion serueth se­cretely [Page] reproue and reprehende thy abuses and vanities. And to the ende that such as beare this true loue and af­fection towardes thee, may not bee affraide to vtter the same vnto thee, thou must graunt free libertie vnto such faithfull friendes and graue Counsellers to speake their mindes boldly and freely, so shalt thou come to the know­ledge of thy selfe: and if thou chaunce to doubt in any mat­ter, they presently will be readie to yeelde their helping handes to the dispatching thereof, presently trying out the certaintie in euerie thing.

And aboue all things be most carefull to shew thy selfe able to discerne, and to know those which artificially and craftily shall seeme to fawne and flatter thee, from them whiche with a true harte, and zelous affection reuerence and obey thee: least that being fedde and seduced by their glosing and dissembling, thou shoudst rashly aduaunce the wicked and euill man to greater honour, than thou dost the godly and well disposed: or else to suffer the lewd per­son to receiue more profite by thee, than they that bee ho­nest and vertuous.

If any one doe come to informe thee as touching the behauiour and dealinges of another that is absent, spea­king euill of him, geue no hastie credite vnto his wordes, but staying thy iudgement, doe thy indeuour to learne & to vnderstand, not onely the disposition and conuersation of him that hath told thee the tale, but also the behauiour and dealinges of that man, of whom the complaint was made, and so the truth being tryed and sifted out, the par­tie [Page 24] being falsely accused, let the slaunderer receiue as sharpe punishment as the offenders should haue sustained being founde guiltie in such a case: for there can bee no greater offence than to seeke to condemne the innocent.

Thou must also haue no lesse care to the gouernment of thy selfe, than thou takest in the well ruling of others: suppose it therefore as the chiefest and worthiest thing ap­pertaining or incident vnto thee, to be able to subdue and to conquer all vnlawfull appetites and licentious lustes, shewing thy selfe to haue greater stay, and more rule ouer all the affections and motions of thy minde, than thou hast ouer thy Citizens.

Admit no recreation without good aduisement, & that in y^e company of those, through whose presence thou maist proue the wiser, as also be thought the better of by others for their sake.

Desire not to be singular in any of those thinges which are as common to the wicked also, but let vertue bee thy chiefest delight, for in her the euill man hath no part, and as for that honour and reuerence which is done vnto thy person, either for feare or otherwise in respect of thy au­thoritie, esteeme it not, neither account it as true honour, but let them rather haue cause to wonder at thy great wisedome and prudence, than at thy good fortune, for herein consisteth true nobilitie.

Also if it should happen that thou shouldest be deligh­ted in any vaine or vnseemely thing, let it not be apparent but secretely dissemble the same, shewing alwayes an [Page] outward desire of the best, & amende thy folly with speede, for thinke it not lawfull for Princes and gouernours to liue at libertie, whereas all others are bounde to spende their times honestly and orderly: nay rather let thy tem­peraunce and modestie of life be such, that it may bee a good example to others, seeing as thou knowest the na­ture of the people is to conforme and to fashion themselues like in all poyntes to the conditions and dispositions of their Magistrates and Rulers.

Account the principall token and perfect proofe of good gouernment, to be, to see thy people inriched, as also god­ly and well instructed, obeying thy lawes, and liuing in vnitie and concorde together.

It shalbe better to ioyne vnto thy children eternall praise purchased by thy well doing, whereby thou hast wonne the hartes and good will of thy people, than the a­bundaunce of wealth or store of treasure, or great posses­sions: for the one is vncertaine and soone decayeth, and is the cause of much mischiefe: the other certaine, and sure continuing for euer, and is not to be taken from them by the falsehood or treason of any. Also riches are soone re­couered againe by him that is beloued, and hath a com­mendable report and honest fame, for all men pitying his want, will be ready to pleasure him, but a good name is not to be bought with any money.

Moreouer to abound in wealth, is the onely desire of wicked men, and they are commonly the richest, because vnto their nette no fishe commeth amisse, but true honour [Page 25] As the sumptu­ous furniture doth not make the Horse the better, so neither doe riches make a man the wor­thier, but it is the good reporte of his honest conuersation. Se­neca. Augustus Cesar was wont to tearme braue or curious Gar­mentes the ban­ner or badges of pride. When as Alex­ander Senerus was reprooued by his Courte­ors for his plainnesse in apparell, he aunswered: that the maiestie of a king did consist in Princelie vertues, and magnanimitie of minde, and not in costly apparell. When as in like sort the Counsel­lers of Alphon­sus king of Ara­gon, seemed to mislike to see him go apparel­led in baser sorte then other of his Nobillitie, and therefore courte­ouslie admoni­shing the king thereof willed him to put on such Ornaments as were meete for his estate, the Kings aunswere was, that he had rather to excell others in conuersation, and authoritie being to them an Example of well liuing, then to excell them in Princely robes, or to be the authour of pryde, in wearing of Purples and Silkes. Demona [...] being asked of a certaine friend of his, how he should best gouerne the Prouince which was committed vnto his charge, aunswered: that to speake little, and to heare much, was the best thing that was appertaining to a Gouernour. I haue found (sayd Artabanus) that to take good aduise­ment is no small profite. Mischiefe sayth Cicero at the fyrst creepeth, but when it hath once taken hold, it runneth on hedlong and therefore the counsayle of Horace is not to be re­fused, it is best healing the wound while it is greene. a good estimation and perpetuall renowne is onely inci­dent and proper vnto them which haue excelled in the in­tegritie and purenesse of life.

It shalbe lawfull for thee to adorne and to set forth thy person, with most comely and costly ornamentes meete and agreeable for thy princely estate, but yet in such sort that thou bee not effeminated thereby, but alwayes re­mayning as one both willing and able to abyde and sus­taine any labour or trauell in anye matter, wherein it shalbe requisite for princes to be imployed, for so shalt thou be esteemed and reuerenced of all those that beholde thee for thine honorable person, as a man most worthy to inioy that seate, wherein thou sittest, and thy nobles and familiar friendes shalbe also incensed through the vali­auntnesse and magnaminitie, which they see in thee to immitate the like, gladly yeelding themselues as copart­ners and companions in the same.

Haue good consideration of such wordes as shall passe thy mouth working also in all thy doings with good ad­uise, so shalt thou be sure most seldome to offende. And truely there can be nothing more commendabler then in all thinges to obserue and to keepe a meane, but because this can not be so easely discerned, it shalbe better to pre­uent an euill motion at the first, then to suffer it to take any further roote, for the force of mediocritie is sooner perceiued in the smallest then in the greatest thinges, for as vse preuaileth much to the bringing to passe of any good exercises, so doth practise in mischiefe make vs so holde, nay rather so blynde that wee can scarse euer or hardly perceiue or discerne the thing that is comely, but yet if we looke about vs at the first before it hath taken such sure holde vpon vs, we may easely shake it of and re­turne [Page] The counsaile of Chilon is that vnto authoritie there be adioined lenitie and cour­tesie, for as the one maketh thee to be reuerensed, so doth the other cause thee to be loued and not seated. It was a com­mon saying of Fronto A con­sull of Rome in the time of Nerua the Em­perour: that as it was euill to haue such a prince whose na­ture should be so Hoggish, that se­ueritie or extre­mitie should be vsed towards all men, so is it farre worse to haue so mercifull a go­uernour, vnder whome all men should seeme to liue at libertie: wherefore when as one said vnto Cleomines, that a good king ought to be mer­cifull and gentle towards al men: thou saist truth, (said he) so that a mediocritie be obserued, that no contempt doe grow thereby. Antonius Pius had rather to be counted too too pittifull, then through seuere­nesse to purchase enuie. Phillip of Macedon willed his sonne Alexander to vse himselfe familier and lowly towards the people of Macedonia, and yet so dealing, as one hauing a respect to his Princely maiestie, and not sparing to vse offenders extreamely, that as gentlenesse should be an incouragement to good men, so seueritie might bridle the presumption and boldnesse of the wicked. Alexander was so studious and desyrous of lerning, that he alwayes caried about him Homers Iliads. Gordianus the Emperour is reported to haue estemed bokes more then any treasure, & he had (as saith Textor) in his librarie, 62 thousand bokes. againe.

Thou must also vse both in speeche and in gesture, to­wardes all men, courtesie and lowlinesse, adioyning also therevnto grauitie and sobrietie of countinaunce, the one being most beseeming for all those which beare rule and authoritie, the other as necessarie for all companies. Al­beit to vse them both, may seeme a thing most difficile: in that by experience we see them which desyre to beare a certaine maiestie in their doinges, in looking bigge and sowerly on the matter, become at length so stately or ra­ther so stiffe, that they grow to a certaine surlinesse voyd of all humanitie: others also which couet to be accoun­ted courteous, doe often times so abase, and abiect them­selues, that through ouer much familliaritie they breede and procure in the end contempt and disdaine, or else doe yeelde a presumption to others to be the bolder to offend, through their too too great lenitie and gentlenesse vsed: wherefore a measure is to be obserued in them both, the inconueniences of the extremities being eschewed.

Be desirous to learne all such thinges as appertayne and are requisite for the maiestie of a king to vnderstand, now also vnto this willing minde desirous of knowledge, there must be anexed and adioyned good instructions to reade and to be occupied in, as namely the studie of Phi­losophie, wherevnto in like manner must be applied con­tinuall exercises and practise to bring the same to perfec­tion, for as the one teacheth thee howe, and after what sort eche thing is to be done, so the other maketh thee re­die and skilfull in the due ordring and executing of the same.

Diligentlie marke and consider the actes and deedes both of Princes and gouernours, as also of other priuate persons either none or heretofore done, & this not with­out [Page 26] As Zensius go­ing about to draw the picture of Iuno did chuse a­mong the good­liest and fayrest of all the Vir­gines of Agri­gentine fyue of the cheefest, so must we collecte and gather out the liues of the best and perfecest men which we can find mentio­ned in any Historiographer, and by them learne to direct the course of our liues, onely fol­lowing them in that which is excellent & good. The counsayle that Solon gaue Cressus was to consider the ende of euery thing, and carefully to forecast whereto it tendeth. A prince (saith A­gesilaus) must be inferiour to none in vndertaking of any daunger being profitable for his countrey. I had rather (said Cato) that men should aske why I had not a mo­nument made of me, seing I deserued the same, then that men shold aske wherfore was this monument erected here, as though the Picture should call to remembraunce my acts, and not the worthinesse of my doinges to be such, that they should be of themselues remembred. Otho the Emperour perceiuing that either he must resigne his Empire, or else be the cause of the slaughter of his pleople, if he did keepe it, determined to kill himselfe, wherevp­on his friendes and Souldyers perceiuing that he dispaired of the victorie, willing him not to feare, hee made them this aunswere, that he esteemed not his life so much that for maintenaunce thereof, he could abide to see any Ciuill warre to arise. To winne this eternall memorie. Calteratides would not stay from the Battell, although the South­sayer had tolde him that he should be slaine in the same, for said he, to flie were infamie, but either to die or to be victorer, shalbe for the praise of my countrey, in the same mind was Hippodamus, who being .lxxx. yeeres of age, and therefore willed to depart home, as one vnfit for the warres, did not onely stay, but valiauntly incountring with his enemies, was slaine euen before the face of his Prince and maister Ages, king of Lacedemonia. When as Demosthenes had boldly spo­ken before Phil­lip of Macedon, in the behalfe of his countrey, and Phillip had as­ked him whe­ther he did not feare that hee would command his hed to be cut of: though thou do so, said Demo­stenes, my coun­trey will restore it againe, mea­ning he should win eternall praise. The renowned Agosilaus of La­cedemonia be­ing to leaue this life, gaue straight charge that no picture or Mo­nument shold be made of him, for sayd he, if I haue done any wor­thy act it will be a sufficient Mo­nument for me, otherwise al the pictures in the worlde are not able to make me honourable. Solon termed the speeche of man to be the i­mage of his workes, Demo­c [...]itus called it the shadow of the life, for as Socrates saith, looke what the conuersation of the man is, such is his talke. Alexander beholding the Tombe of A­chilles, began to weepe through the desire he had to immitate his vertues and renown. Iu­lius Cesar in like sort, beholding the picture of Alexander, lamented that hee had spent his time so idlely, being so old, before he had equaled the princely acts, and victorious conquests of so yong a man. Theseus also became an earnest follower of the vertues of Hercules: & so did Themistocles the worthines of Melciades. Erasmus maketh mention of a certain man which being accused for beating his father, affirmed his deede as lawfull, because his Father had in like sort beaten his graundfather: this doe Children account it as lawfull to doe that which their fathers haue done before, be it good or euill. good consideration had of the effectes and euentes of euerie of them, and in what order they were accompli­shed, as also what ensued and followed thereon: for by calling to minde thinges past and comparing the same to thinges present, thou shalt easily giue iudgement of thinges to come.

Thinke it not decent for Princes to leaue that vndone whereby honour and renowne is to bee purchased & got­ten, or not to trauell and to apply themselues vnto those studies and labours, whereby in their life time they may be worthily praised, whereas priuate persons haue not spared, willingly to die to y^e intent after their deathes they might bee commended. Doe thou therefore desire and couet to leaue vnto thy children, the liuely protrac­tures and goodly images of thy Princely vertues and noble actes, rather than any stately picture or curious monument to be erected in remembrance of thy person.

And nowe aboue all thinges indeuour to preserue and to maintaine thy selfe and thy citie in safetie and tran­quilitie: but if of necessitie it so fall out that trouble and daunger is to be vndertaken, wishe rather a happie death than a shamefull life, alwayes mindefull of the commo­ditie of thy Countrey carefully prouiding, that nothing be committed to the blemishe of thy estate, neither that thou shouldest so order thy selfe that thou shouldest seeme as one quite forgotten, or as a man that neuer had been borne, for whereas thou consistest of body and soule, the one being mortall and corruptable, the other immortall [Page] and perpetuall, it shalbe conducible as also commendable for thee to leaue an euerlasting memorie of thy praise & good report, which thou hast obtained by thy well doing while thou here didst abide, being as it were an immor­tall remembraunce of thy soule which is immortall: for as thou wilt thinke it a signe of great good will, and as a thing most honorable for thy friendes to keepe in memo­riall of thee, the visnomie and picture of thy body depain­ted in some table or other, the which they may either lay vp in their Closets or hang vp in their houses, how farre more excellent or rather more princely, shall it be for thee to leaue thy renowmed actes and worthy enterprises not onely divulged and published by the mouthes of all thy Citizens, but also registred and spreed abroade into all Countries both farre and neere, by the writinges and sceadiles of such as be learned.

Remember to accustome thy selfe to talke & to speake alwayes of such thinges as are accounted good and ho­nest, that by so doing thy inward and secrete thoughtes, may also bee induced and practised to the meditating of the like, and so likewise to performe and to accomplishe that in deede which thou hast before so well and godly conceiued and imagined in thy minde, continually labou­ring & applying thy selfe to immitate and to follow that for which thou shalt see other men commended or praised hauing as it were enuie at him which shall seeme to sur­passe thee in well doing, and neuer to cease vntill thou hast counteruailed or ouertaken him, giuing also a liuely example in thy selfe, as touching those thinges which thou shalt will or commaunde thy children or seruauntes to obserue, whether it be as appertaining vnto such pre­cepts [Page 27] A wise man saith Thales Milest, as will not speake but when it is needefull, and when he is asked, he vseth but few words, so discretely dea­ling in al things, that he repentes him of nothing. Aristotle did al­wayes counsell his Schollers neither to praise, neither to dis­praise them­selues. Bragging and bosting persons are likened of Plutarche to the Cipres tree, which being great and migh­tie, doth neuer beare any fruite. When as Lisi­macus had threatned to put Theodorus the Philosopher to a sharpe and and cruell death he made him this aunswere, O Lisimacus threaten this vn­to those that weare st [...]ke gownes, as for me I passe not whether I rotte vpon the ground or hang on a gibbet. as are here prescribed by me, or else by inuenting & perscrutating of some other worthier or profitabler of thy selfe.

Moreouer, suppose those men as vnworthy of the name of a wise man, which can either curiously and sub­tilly cauill and reason of the smalest trifles or least cau­ses, or protesting and promising straunge wonders, or as it were mountaines of gold to others when as they them selues doe liue and abide in greatest miserie, but rather accept and take those men, as wise which vsing seemliest words, are able to giue best counsel euen in y^e waightiest matters: so wittily ordering whatsoeuer they take in hand, and so discretly behauing themselues towardes all men, as is to be required, or looked for at the handes of them whom we account most perfectest, ye though they seeme not in any respect to bragge or to boast of their industrie or singulernesse of knowledge: alwayes remai­ning, as those which being not able to be shaken or moo­ued with any chaūge or alteration of fortune, haue lear­ned to take in good part, and patiently to beare either prosperitie or aduersitie.

And thus to conclude, least I might be supposed too to tedious, I am humbly to request thee (most mightie and renowned Prince) not at all to maruell or wonder in y^t I haue touched, euen those things which (as well I know) are both knowen to thy selfe, as also to the most sort of men, because the multitude both of Princes, and other priuate persons is so great and so infinite, that it must followe that some of them haue heretofore spoken the selfe same wordes, which I here haue vsed, many also haue hard the like, or else haue seene the same practised in others, and diuers there be which haue experienced y^e fame in themselues: wherefore it must needes fall out that in this my discourse as touching duetie, being a thing neither straunge, vncredible nor vnusiall, no kinde of nouelties are to be looked for, yet neuerthelesse his la­bour is to be thankefully accepted, which shall take the [Page] We ought ra­ther to respecte the profite then pleasure, in the reading of any Authour. paines to collect and gather together, yea & to set downe in a small compasse, to the sight of all the world, a num­ber of thinges lying as it were scattered here and there, in the hartes and mindes of diuers men. But I knowe the vse of most men is such, that though they adiudge the workes and inuentions of Poets,How carelesse and negligent men be to per­use any Godly Booke. and of all other writers containing graue and good perswations vnto vertue to be commendable, and most profitable, yet can they not finde in their heartes to bestowe so much time as to reade and to peruse the same, but remaine in such sort affecti­oned towardes them, as most men are to those which shal goe about to giue them good counsell: that is, they will giue them thankes for their good will and paines taken, thinking themselues as bounde vnto them in that they seeme to haue a care of their well doing, yet neuerthe­lesse they loue their companie, as the beare loues to come to the stake, which is as all men knowe against his will, nay they will rather of the twaine, keepe them company which are the vpholders of their follie, then once to come within the sight of them which indeuour to perswade them from their wickednesse and mischiefe: As exam­ples for proofe hereof may be inferred the workes of He­siodus, Such is the force of vertue, that is commen­ded and well li­ked of, euen a­mong the wic­ked, though they loue nothing worse then to follow it. Theognes, and Phocillides, for euery man affir­meth that in these their writings, are contained excel­lent and singuler preceptes, appertaining to the perfect direction of well liuing. But although they say thus much to the praise and commendations of the writers, yet had they rather to spend their time in the reading of that whereto their owne madnesse and fondnesse indu­ceth them, then to be exercised in any of the workes be­fore specified,What great pro­fite they bring both vnto stu­dents, as also to all others which take the paines to collect in breuiaries the pithy and prin­cipall sentences of other mens writings. be they neuer so profitable: ye and besides this they remaine in like sort affectioned and disposed to­wardes them, which for their helpe and furtherance shall take the paines, briefely to gather together the pithie sentences of such writers, to the intent that either the lacke of leasure, or tediousnesse or rather stouthfulnesse, might hinder them from so great a benefite: because of [Page 28] the largenesse & hugenesse of the volumes, which would require long and continuall studie: but yet had they ra­ther (though by this meanes they may see euen in one mouth: as much as the writer painefully hath noted with many yeares trauell:Adde therefore Diogines when he had a graue matter to vtter to the people, would (to the end to make them to come to heare him) sing and counterfeit the foole in the mar­ket place.) to reade ouer the vilest Com­modie or tragidie bee they meere fables and fantasies than any such graue and learned discourses, yea though they be most artificially penned: but why doe I stay so long vppon euery trifling matter: for if wee throughly consider and marke the natures and conditions of al men generally, wee shall finde many of them to delight nei­ther in meats that be not wholsome, nor in studies which be altogether honest, nor in deedes that be most conueni­ent, neither in doctrine that is most commodious, but on­ly imbracing and following their owne foolish appetites to make most account of those thinges which are not one­ly vnseeming and hurtfull, but also most repugnant to their owne commoditie, esteeming them as actiue,Such as were Commodus, Caligula, and Heliogabilus, and such others which rewarded them most which were aptst to in­uent the lewdest deuises. wittie and painefull persons, which shewe themselues y^e grea­test neglectours of their duetie, or as I might say the re­diest to follie, and pronest to worke their owne confusion: wherefore howe may a man deale to please and content such kinde of people, how is it possible to giue them good counsell, or to let them to vnderstande any thing that is auaileable and profitable for their preseruation and safe­gard, especially in that they are not onely so disposed and bent as is aforesaid, but doe also beare a deadly hatred & enuie towardes the wisest, hauing indignation at them which speake truely, and accounting the plainely & true meaning man, a witlesse ideot and sencelesse delte being so farre wide frō vnderstanding the truth in euery thing, that they can neuer come to the knowledge of their owne estate. And herevpon it commeth to passe,The wicked haue alwayes a desperate and troubled minde. that if at any time they fall into any cogitation or consultation with themselues, as concerning their owne affaires, they pre­sently become both heauie and pensiue, in that seeing their owne follie when it is too late, they know not howe [Page] to remedie the same: but yet in talking, and reasoning of other mens matters, they will laugh and reioyce desi­ring rather to abide, and suffer any miserie or mishap, in­cident to the bodie, then to exercise their wittes or to beate their braines in forecasting with themselues any thing that might be either necessarie or expedient to the maintenance and succouring of this their miserable life: yea thou shalt finde them when they are in companie to­gether,This caused Ap­pius Claudius to say that trou­ble was better for the people of Rome, then qui­etnesse and peace because securitie breedeth idlenes and riotous li­uing. either backbyting, and reproouing other mens doinges, or else falling out and reuiling eche other, be­ing continually at daggers drawing, and likewise when they are alone then doe they also vse to spend their time in wishing for this or for that, but neuer consulting or deliberating, howe or after what sort they might frame themselues to get their liuing honestly and orderly. But I doe not speake this generally as of all men, but onely against such as are infected with any of those vices, which I before haue mentioned: yet truely this is most manifestly apparent that they which are minded to write any thing either in verse or proze, the which they would haue commended and well liked of among the people,As is seene by many in these dayes which doe rather buy ri­ [...]ning Sonets, and Pallaces of pleasure, then a­ny booke contai­ning wise Sen­tences, and god­ly instructions. they must not goe about to set forth any graue or profita­ble matter, but rather some foolish toy or vain imaginati­ons, for in the reading of such trifles is their chiefest feli­citie, as for wittie sayings, & graue sentences they waigh them not, except they be as it were againe reuiued, as liuely and exactly set out before their sightes: Where­fore the workes of Homer and of those men also which at the firste inuented Tragedies and Comodies, are great­ly to bee commended and praised,But not such Commodies as are plaide in these dayes, con­taining onely [...]oyes and bables as are the lyues of rogues and I­diots, with Po­eticall inuenti­ons appertai- you may come to a playe now, and neither vn­derstand the beginning nor ending, for it containeth not any example of well liuing, but onely a fardell of gibes cobled togither by an ignoraunt I­diot. in that perceiuing the fond and vaine disposition of mans nature, they directed their pennes to satisfie their humors, by both those mea­nes, the one by imitating and counterfeiting, the com­battes and incounters of those men, whom for their ver­tues they termed by the name of halfe gods, the other di­scribing by gestures on stages, the doinges of our aunce­stours bringing them again into actual apparance, to the [Page 29] intent that wee might not onely heare, but also beholde the same, with our outward eyes the more to stirre vs to beare it in memorie. And thus by these and such like proofes, it is plainely confirmed and approoued that they which desire to please there hearers and to seeke their good willes, must indeuour to write and to speake that thing onely which they perceiue the people to be best de­lighted withall, as for graue admonitions and godly ex­hortations they must not meddle nor deale withall.

And this haue I spoken to signifie vnto thee, that as thou art not one of that many, that is a member of that rude multitude, but a King and gouernour ouer many, so sure­ly it is vnseeming for thee, to bee of their disposition or nature, as one more esteeming thy pleasure, and such things as may cause or procure fond and foolish delights rather then the sage aduise and graue admonitions of the prudente and discrete counsellers,Iustice to be ministred in­differently to all men. geuing iudge­ment in all causes and of all persons, not according to thy sensuall appetites, but as the veritie of the thing shall leade thee, and as their dealings by iust triall shall right­ly discerne of thee. And whereas they whom wee tearme the maisters of wisedome, seeme to be at variaunce, and greatly to disagree among themselues, as concerning the exercises of the minde, being as it were of diuers opini­ons therein, some perswading their hearers that they shal attaine to the perfection of wisedome and knowledge,Though there are seueral pre­cepts appertai­ning to euery art, yet al tende to one end, and they are all as keyes to one Cofer. by dayly practising and exercising themselues in the subtill and wylie pointes of Sophistrie: others affirming the like skill to bee attained vnto, if they perfectly beare in memorie the preceptes and rules of Rethorike: and a­nother sorte saying as much vnto them, which shall dili­gently apply themselues to the searching out of the hid­den natures and straunge properties of euery thing ex­sisting and being within the reache of mans capacitie, and so euery one in his arte, promising a certaine singularitie and yet all as agreeing in this, that they thinke it neces­sarie for a man that desireth and coueteth throughly to be [Page] instructed, to collect and to gather from euery one of these there saide studies, matter sufficient whereby he may come to the full perfection of wisedome, as also to the per­fect knowledge of good counsell,The difference betwixt a counseller and a Philosopher. letting passe therefore those thinges, whereof any doubt may arise, let vs inde­uour to apply our selues vnto that which is certaine, whereof there can growe no kinde of controuersie, and by whose helpe wee may easily iudge of all the rest: Where­fore, as touching those thinges which may seeme to re­quire present consultation, take thy aduise of thy coun­sellers about thee, not respecting either them which shoo­ting as it were at rouers, speake generally of all thinges neither those which through their ignorance shew them­selues to perceiue and to vnderstand nothing which is as then expedient and necessarie to bee done, for it can not be that he which is vnskilfull, as appertayning to the fur­theraunce of his owne affaires, shoulde bee able to giue good counsell to another. See therefore that thou high­ly esteeme and make great account of those men which hauing in them,He often repe­teth the great and vnspeake­able treasure that y^e Prince hath which in­ioyeth a faith­full counseller. a valiaunt and noble minde, are able tho­rowe their wisedome & prudencie, to foresee & forecast the euentes and happes of euerie thing which is or may bee incident vnto thee, perswading thy selfe that thou posses­sest and enioyest no treasure more royall, nor any thing else more worthier then is a faithfull and graue counsel­ler: moreouer adiudge them as most trustie vnto thee, as most carefull for thy safetie, and as the onely inrichers, and vpholders of thy kingdome which diligently shall seeke to adorne and beautifie thy minde with vertue and knowledge.He yieldeth his obeisaunce, re­questing an ac­ceptable accep­ting of this his gifte. And as for my part I am and shalbe readie to yeelde thee that honour which possible I may, hauing at this time thus briefely presumed to admonishe thee ac­cording to my simple vnderstanding in all such thinges as I thought requisite and expedient for thee, hoping that thou wilt as courteously accept the same as it hath beene friendly and willingly offered, wishing also that they likewise whose vse it is (as I said in the beginning) [Page 30] Hauing relati­on to his first entraunce, he endeth his O­ration with a briefe admoni­tion partly commending the worthines of his workes. to bestowe those giftes vpon thee, which thou dost dearer buy at the giuers handes, then they themselues did of the first sellers, would nowe also by this my example accu­stome themselues to present thee, hereafter with those presentes which being dayly occupied and worne, will at no time impaire, but rather augment and increase, and become the more precious by often handling: and thou also for thy part contemning the former as thinges both vaine and friuolous, to shewe thy selfe as one onely de­lighted with the latter, so shall not onely the folly of the giuer be reproued, and he constrained thereby to frame himselfe to finde out some such gifte wherewith he shall vnderstand thee to be best pleased, but also thou thy selfe: the receiuer both bettered and profited thereby.

The ende of the seconde Oration of that famous and learned Oratour Isocrates, concerning the Morall instructing of Prin­ces and Magistrates, as touching the go­uernment of themselues and their Countries.

The maketh his hearers atten­tiue in commen­ding vnto them the excelent gifte of Eloquence. WHereas there are certaine men of whome the studie of Eloquence seemeth to be mis­liked laying also vnto their charge which spend their time in the perscrutating and searching forth of wisedome and know­ledge that they prescribe & set forth rules and preceptes appertaining vnto their artes more in re­spect of their owne commoditie and gaine, then for any zeale or affection that they beare vnto vertue her selfe,This was the cursed opinion of Licinius, and Valentianus Emperours who accounted lear­ning as a poyson and common pestilence in a common woale. Honour saith Socrates, is on­ly proper vnto those that are in­dued with vertue and therefore A­gesilaus vnder­standing that the king of Persia was called by the name of a great and migh­ty Prince, wher­in said he, is he greater or better then I, except he excell men in Iu­stice or tempe­rancye. I would gladly know of these mē which are of this opinion, why they should finde so great fault with them, whose de­sire is to attaine vnto the perfection of speach, seeing they doe so highly praise and commend those that so earnestly practise and indeuour to purchase themselues credite by their well doinges: for if the commoditie and profite ari­sing thereby bee, that wherewith they are greeued, then truely haue they greater cause to mislike the other then this. For who seeth not greater gaine gotten by one good deede, then by an hundred woordes be they vttered & spo­ken neuer so sweetely. But what may better declare their follie herein, then if they shoulde confesse themselues so sencelesse as not to vnderstand and perceiue that the cause and ende wherefore we doe so much esteeme the purenesse of life, so greatly regard iustice, and temperancie & so ear­nestly apply our selues to all other vertuous exercises is that we may enioy and possesse the greater commodities thereby, and not that wee should bee of baser and meaner estate then others are. There is therefore no reason to condemne those thinges as euill through the which ver­tue being adioyned, we may be able to excell and surpasse [Page 33] Archidamus being commen­ded by a friend of his, in that he had valiant­ly ouerthrown the Arcadians in battell, aun­swered, it had bene more ho­nourable if we had ouercame them in vertu, for brute bests are able to con­uince vs by strength. Pantholidas hauing heard the Philoso­phers of A­thens lear­nedly disputing of vertue, did not vntlike their words, because they liued dissolute­ly, but being asked how he liked their dis­putation, I must said he needes affirme their wordes to be good, but yet altogither vnprofitable to them which in nothing doe follow the same. As did Aes­chius and C [...]esi [...]hon in Athens, who, though they for their abusing of that good gift which was in them were banished, yet was their art nothing infamed thereby. These men saith Cleantes, are like vnto an instrument, which yeelding a pleasant sound to others, it nothing profiteth it selfe. When as the Romanes hauing put downe their kings because of the licenciousnesse of Tarqont, which was the last, and now had deserued to liue at libertie, rising vp in armes against the sacred Senate, in so much that the state of their cōmon weale was now most miserable, only Publius Valerius through his eloquent Oration so perswaded them from this their mad­nesse, and preserued the cittie from ruine. others our inferiours, but rather those men are to bee ad­iudged culpable, and the faulte to bee imputed vnto them whiche doe seeme so lewdlye to abuse those good giftes through their euill applying of the same, as they doe which conuert and tourne Eloquence, the maintainer of truth, to be an vpholder & procurer of deceite and wrong. And now also if this abuse be the cause why some men do so greatly mislike her, I maruell wherefore they do not in like sort account riches, strength of body and valiaunt­nesse of hart as the thinges which are euil, because some­times they are wickedly bestowed and applyed, for they may as rightly alledge the same in the reproche of all o­ther good giftes, as to saye, Eloquence is to be hated, in that some that professe that arte, are lying and deceitfull persons: Are there not diuers men which being indued with the singulerst qualities and most excellentst know­ledge, haue not onely offended themselues, but also procu­red the harmes of many others, yet neuerthelesse those good giftes in them were not to be misliked no more then the strength of the body is to be accused, because the ow­ner thereof rashly beateth, and vyolently oppresseth eue­ry one that meeteth him, or the magnanimitie of mind to be supposed as euill, in that murtherers and theeues doe abuse the same, for the wickednesse of the man is not to be imputed as infamous vnto any good gifte, wherewith he is indued, but rather to his own vyle and corrupt nature which doth so dissolutely mispend those good qualities, turning that to the spoyle, and destruction of their Citti­zens, which was giuen them for their preseruation and mayntenaunce, and in this sort hauing no regarde to the distinguishing of eche perticuler thing because of the per­uerse dealinges of some, they fondly blame euen gene­rally [Page] M. Antonius by his eloquēt and sugred speeche, so ap­peased the wrath of them that were sent to kill him, that they put vp their swordes, and departed from him, as men amazed. Phillip of Macedon did know that the force of Elo­quence was the only and chiefest vphol­der of the es­tate of a com­mon weale, in that he so in­stantly sued vnto the A­thenians for their ten Ora­tours, at that time remai­ning among them. In whome, saith Demost­henes, the stu­dy of Eloquēce is, that man is one that see­keth to please all men, but he that sheweth himselfe a con­temner and dispiser of the same, is such a one as coueteth by force and vio­lence to bring all men to his becke, nothing waying or re­specting any gentle perswa­tions. Demetrius Phalerius af­firmed that e­loquence was of as great force at home in the common weale, as is the sword in the field, the one seeking to subdue our eni­mies by force, the other to perswade & to induce by rea­sons the peo­ple to the obey­ing of y^e lawes, ond imbra­sing of vertue. King Pyr­thus was wont to say that he wanne more Cities by the Elo­quence and O­ratoriall skill, of his Em­bassedor Cri­meas, then e­uer he did by force of armes. Alphonsus be­ing asked whō he thought the best and faith­fulst counseller aunswered: his bookes, for of them saith he, I shall be sure to heare that which is necessary for me to know, plainely tolde me, without feare or affection. Demetrius Phalerius exhorted Ptolome the King of Egipt, carefully to pro­uide such bookes, as appertained to the gouernment of a Kingdome, as also dilli­gently to reade them ouer, for that sayd he that thy counsellers fearing to displease thee, dare not vtter, thou shalt there fynde it written. without any exception, the whole studie of Elo­quence, being so deepely drowned in this their errour that they perceiue not themselues to become deadly eni­mies euen vnto that, then the which nothing hath been graunted vnto mankinde more profitabler or more neces­sarie, for there is no difference betwixt vs & all other li­uing creatures in any other qualitie: but onely in this, nay, we are surpassed of euery of them, either in quick­nesse or in strength or in any other gifte, which nature hath bestowed vppon vs, but onely in that through this singuler benefite, we take aduisementes and consultati­ons of eche thing as well present as past, as also to vtter and to expresse to eche other our mindes and opinions, by the which perticuler priuiledge, we doe not onely varie and differ from that brutishe life, but also learne by good forecast to builde Cities, to make lawes, and to inuent al Artes and trades of well liuing, dooing nothing which may be accounted singuler and exquisite, but that Elo­quence is the chiefest furtherer of the same, in so muche that nothing is broughte to passe withoute her helpe, for it is she onely that ordaineth and appointeth a conue­nient and decent order to bee obserued, both in thinges lawfull or vnlawfull, honest or dishonest, and in all cau­ses whatsoeuer they be, for otherwise the societie of man­kinde could not be maintained: It is she which reproo­ueth and correcteth the wicked, incourageth and imbold­neth the godly, instructeth the foolishe, craueth the coun­sell and iudgement of the wise: dissolueth and dispat­cheth all quarrels and controuersies, and procureth the knowledge and vnderstanding of thinges vnknowne. Those reasons which we vse in our pleadinges to y^e per­swading of others, are also as common to vs in our pri­uate deliberations and conferences, in so much that wee iudge those men to be eloquent, which can discretly and orderly frame their declamations before the people, as also wittily behaue themselues in the consulting and de­liberating of eche perticuler matter. For we thinke it [Page 34] an especiall token of a good iudgement & perfect brayne, to vtter our wordes in decente and comelye order, and that faire and honest talke is a sure signe of a plaine and true meaning heart: but to speake effectually of the full force of this science, wee shall finde nothing done with reason which hath not been brought about by the helpe of Eloquence, so that she remaineth the chiefest guide of all our thoughtes and deedes, being the onely instrument of the wise and learned. Nowe therefore as touching those men whose vse it is to speake so reprochefully of the maisters of this arte, and of all such as shewe themselues studious in the knowledge of good literature, truely in my opinion they are as greatly to be hated and misliked, as are they which cursedly violate and spoyle the tem­ples of the gods immortall. As I therefore thus com­mend the Orations and writinges of all men what so e­uer they bee, out of the which the least commoditie is to be gotten, so surely I must needes account those Authors as most singuler & worthiest for the handes of all Prin­ces and kinges (and especially for mee) which seeme so liuely to set downe before our eyes, all honest exercises of wel liuing, as also the right and perfect order of the true and good gouernance of euery Common weale: but yet especially aboue the rest I am inforced throughe their owne desertes highly to praise and extoll the workes and sceadilles of those men which haue taken the paines di­rectly to discribe, not onely howe and after what sorte Princes ought to behaue themselues, in the ruling and ordering of their people, but also in what manner it be­commeth subiectes to bee affectioned towardes their Princes and Gouernours: for by these meanes the pros­perous estate of eche Citie and Countrie is both aug­mented and preserued. And as touching the first of these twaine, concerning the duetie of Kinges and Princes, [Page] Hauing deui­ded the estate of euery well ordred commō weale, into two parts, the one consisting in good and iust gouernment, the other in true obeying, taking occasion as in that the one part hereof had bene let passe by Iso­crates, with due reuerence had vnto the man, the king himselfe pur­poseth to show vnto his sub­iectes what duetifull obe­dience is. Marcus Cu­ruis being Consull, when he vnderstoode that a certaine yong men had contemptuous­ly disobeied his commandment he presentlye spoyled him of all his goods, and possessions selling them vnto other, by the mouth of the publique Crier, and afterward deliuered his body into the tribunes of the people, to be solde as a bond man, affirming that he had no neede of that Cittizen, which knewe not how to obay the commaundement of his gouernoure. When as Manlius Torquatus had giuen commaundement that no man shoulde incounter with the enimies, or moue out of the campe, before then heard farther from him, and it so fell out that contrary to his commaundement, his own sonne did set vppon them, and ouerthrew them, because he knew that there was nothing more daungerous then to suffer so contemptious disobedience to scape vnpunished, he put to deth his own sonne, yea though he were victorer. you haue harde it at large discoursed by Isocrates, that graue and learned Oratour, nowe as appertaining to the second part, which is of the loyaltie and fidelitie of Citi­zens, towardes their Magistrates and rulers, I my selfe doe minde to declare vnto you, not in that I desire or seeke to excell or in the least thing to equall the excel­lencie of the man, but because I thinke it my parte and duetie, rather then any other in this case especially, lo­uingly and friendly to vse a fewe wordes vnto you. For there is no reason why I should bee offended, if you doe transgresse in any thing that is displeasing vnto mee, whereas I neuer expressed nor vttered vnto you hereto­fore, neither what I would haue obserued and followed, neither that which I would haue wished to haue been es­chewed and auoyded, but if nowe after you vnderstande my minde and from my owne mouth haue harde, what thinges I shall will and commaund you (being as well profitable vnto your selues as vnto me) if ye then offende if ye indeuour not to fulfill such thinges as I shall giue you in charge, then truely I shall haue iust cause to bee angrie and moued at that your so contemptuous disobe­dience. And now to the ende that you may bee the better incensed and stirred as well to marke and to beare away that which shall be spoken, as also willingly hereafter to practise, and to followe the same. I minde not only brief­ly to declare vnto you that which is to be saide, as concer­ning those thinges which are requisite on your behalfe, but also to signifie vnto you, howe greatly you ought to esteeme and regarde this estate of gouernment which you nowe are vnder, not onely in respect of your owne neces­sitie, because of duetie you ought to doe so or in that you [Page 35] It cannot continue long, said Theopompus that sodainlye springeth vp a­loft, as is seene in the beete, but that which increaseth by dayly continu­aunce, by little, and little, and so commeth to be great, conti­nueth and abi­deth long, as doth the Oke, approuing with Socra­tes that king­domes vnlaw­fully and wrōg­fully possessed, cannot long time prosper, according to that true and common say­ing: the goods euill gotten, are soone spente. It is an hono­rable thing, saith Antisthe­nes, to be born a King, but it is more hono­rable through thy vertues and Princelye qualities to deserue the same of thy self. That is true nobillitie said Iphicrates, which is gotten by our owne worthines, and not that which proceedeth to vs from our Ancesters. Antisthenes bee­ing asked what thing did most portend the dissolution of a common weale, aunswered, when as there is no difference made betwixt the good and the bad. Wee do not saide Cato the elder, aduaunce them to honour and authoritie, which weare Purple gownes, but those which shew forth the greatest proofe of their vertuous behauiour, and integritie of life, that by this meanes the youth of our Citie might be incensed the greedier to imbrace vertue, whom onely they do see to be honored The societie of mankinde is then best main­tained, as aun­swered Theo­phrastus, whē as the wicked are restrained by punishment and the godlye incouraged with the re­warde of ho­nour, euerye one being or­dred according to his deserts. How can men haue any zeale or desyre to do good, when as there is no re­ward to be ho­ped for, sayd Anaximenes, and therefore Alexander at all such times as any diffi­cult aduenture was to bee vn­dertaken, did presently pro­claime certaine rewardes and prizes to them that should enterprise the same. Maximinus being asked why he tooke so great paines seing he was in that autho­rity that hee might liue quietly, aunswered: that it behoued him, the higher in authoritie he was the more to be carefull, and to take the greater paines. Vaspasianus beeing greeuouslie afflicted with sicknesse, would not bee absente from hearing of causes, but commaunded all such suters as had to doe with him, to come to his bed syde, for which when he was reproued by his nobillitie and willed to spare himselfe, no said he, an Emperour must die studying, as one euer carefull for the estate of his kingdom. haue alwayes vsed the selfe same order in former time: but also because the worthinesse and excellencie of this kinde of gouernment, is such that it surpasseth and excel­leth all others, hauing me to your King, not possessing this authoritie as gotten either contrarie to your lawes, or by force and violence vsed vnto any or as an vsurper, but as receiuing the same rightly and lawfully, as well in the behalfe of all my auncestanrs, as of my father, and also as I hope in respect of my selfe. For these things be­ing foreshowne vnto you, and on your partes as through­ly waighed and considered as they ought to be, I doubt not but that euery one of you will confesse and acknow­ledge himselfe woorthy of extreame punishment, if he should stubbornely and disloyally disobey this my coun­sell and friendly exhortation giuen vnto you. First there­fore according to my promise, as concerning the estates of Common weales, I suppose euery man to be agreeable with me in this: that it is not meete, that the good and euill men should be as all one, or that the foolish and wi­sest should seeme as haile fellowes, but that it is necessa­rie that an order should be obserued, & a difference should be made betwixt them, that euery one might be esteemed, and preferred according to his worthinesse: but in those realmes where the gouernment, and authoritie consis­teth in the handes of a fewe, or in the whole multitude there is desired, and obserued an equalitie of persons, supposing the estates of their kingdomes as then most safest and in best ease, when as one man beareth no grea­ter authoritie than another, a kinde of life no doubte most acceptable to wicked and dissolute liuers. Nowe contra­rily in a Monarchie where one onely possesseth the supe­rioritie, [Page] there is due honour done to euery one according to his calling, the best and chiefest as placed in the princi­pallest roomes, the next vnto him in like order in the nee­rest place, the third and fourth in their degrees, and so e­uery one in comely and decent manner as he is founde in vertue and wisedome, the which though it be not the vse in euery Countrie, yet notwithstanding such is the hap­pie estate of this our Citie. And if we doe marke the di­uersitie of wittes, the sundry practises and enterprises a­mong men one farre exceeding and excelling another wee must needes confesse no kinde of Regiment comparable in any respect to the worthinesse of a Monarchie. For where no rewarde is to be looked for, what incouragement can men haue to doe good, nay rather who is so sencelesse which woulde not wishe himselfe a Citizen or subiect in that common weale, in which his vertues and valiaunt­nesse shall bee renowned and rewarded, then to leade his life in such sort that though he doe neuer so well, yet shall he alwayes remaine in base and meane estate. Moreouer, we must needes confesse the gouernment Monarchable, so much the tollerabler and the indifferenter, howe muche more easier it is to please and satisfie the minde and com­maundement of one man, then the sundry and diuerse dis­positions of many. Thus as you see it is prooued most e­uidentlye (though diuers other allegations might bee inferred) that the rule and authoritie of one man is of all other estates the delectablest, the mercifulst, and the most tollerablest and surest: but yet to goe a little fur­ther by comparing eche estate one with the other, we shall finde none more speedier in the dispatching and bringing to passe of any thing, none more readier in consulting and forecasting of any daunger or perill to come, or else more carefull or watchfull for the commoditie and preseruati­on [Page 36] of all men indifferentlye, then are kinges and Prin­ces enioying that sole authoritie: for they which euerie yeare chuse newe Magistrates, doe first leade a priuate and meane life before they come to the knowledge howe or after what sort to take vpon them that generall charge so that their skill must needes bee small whose practise continueth so short a time,When as Han­niball had hard the arguments of a certaine Stoic affir­ming that a learned man was onely meete to be an Emperour or gouernour, he presentlye laughed there­at, supposing it vnpossible that any man should be skil­full in that which he had not learned by experience and practise. Augustus Ce­sar was wont to counsell the Romanes to commit the charge of the common weale to such as had greatest expe­rience. whereas they who continually possesse this their princely estate, must needes be singuler through so long experience had therein, yea though their knowledge at the first enteraunce thereunto were small: moreouer where there are many rulers and euery one ha­uing equall authoritie, they commonly stand strayning of curtsie, staring one vpon another, and as it were shifting the matter one to the other, whereby they either leaue many thinges vndone, or else suffer much to perishe for lacke of heede taking, but the other knowing that on thē onely dependeth the whole charge, doe not cease continu­ally to be carefull and diligent to looke to the ordering of euery thing. Againe, the other fall often times at deadly variaunce and ciuill dissention amongest themselues to the vtter ruine and subuersion of their Citties & townes, but kinges and Princes (hauing no man as their better at whom they should enuie) seeke and studie by all meanes possible, to bring that to passe which may be most profita­ble for their subiectes and most agreeable vnto their ho­nours. The other also spend most part of their time about their owne affaires, hauing alwayes an inward desire to profite themselues, whereby they are often founde slacke and negligent in discharging their dueties, ye and when they meete together as to consult as concerning the estate of their Countrie,As did Cesar and Pompey, Scaurus also, and Rutilius, with diuers others. When as Cressus had adioyned vnto his Brother as Copartner with him in gouernment of the kingdome of Lidia, one of his counsellers came vnto him and tolde him that as there was nothing better for the increase of the earth then one sonne, who being taken away, all thinges would perrish, so is there nothing hurtfuller, then to haue two sonnes to shine, for by their heate, it must needes follow that all thinges should perrish. Although in the Romane gouernment there are diuers to be repeated which esteemed more the profyte of their countrey then their owne gaine, yet is it knowen vnto all those that haue read their I estes as also the actes of o­ther common weales, where such kinde of gouernment hath bene vsed, that there were continually se­ditions and fac­tions amongst them, one en­uying at the prosperitie of the other, brin­ging at length through Ciuill discords, the ouerthrow of the whole com­mon weale. As did Metel­lus who be­cause that Quintus Pō ­peius should succeede him in the gouern­ment of spaine, spoiled al suche prouision as he then being con­sull had, to the end the other should not be able to doe any worthy exploit after him. Antonius Pi­us would ne­uer enterprise any thing with out the aduise of his counsell affirming that it was meeter that he should be ruled by the graue aduise of his faithfull and wise Counsellers, then that they all should be compelled to follow his onely opinion. The worthy saying of king Pyr­rus remaineth as renowned for euer. Giue me said he, neither Golde nor Siluer, nor any other rewarde, neither yet such as may feede me with delicate dishes but let me haue hardie and valiaunt Souldyers, such as are able in time of neede to de­fend their countrey from spoile. Licurgus being asked why he would not suffer his citie to be walled about, because said he, that citie nedeth no such Munition, whose Citizens are va­liaunt. As did Crassus, Quintus Cassi­us, Valeruis, and Aulus Post­humus. I had rather (said Phillip of Ma­cedon) to haue a company of hartes, a Lion being their guide then a companye of Lions, hauing a hare to their leader. Albertus the fift of that name, Duke of Austrea, being asked whom he would appoint as con­ducter of the Ar­my into the field, whome said he, should doe it but my selfe, if I be Duke of Austrea for except I be the formost, and as becommeth me, the leader of the armie, giuing you incourage­ment by my own doinges, boldly and valiauntly [...] ­come after me, I am not to be cal­led a Duke. Cirus being to encounter with his enemies at a certaine place caled Cunar, one of his counsel­lers called Clear­chus willed him to withdraw himselfe, from out the daunger of the battel: what (said he) Clearchus wouldst thou haue me to shew my self as one vnwor­thy of a Kingdome, wheras I go about to winne a kingdome. Supposing him as vnworthy to be gouernour ouer others, which should be inferiour to any in valiantnesse and Magna­nimitie of minde. Alexander, Scipio, Cesar, and Hanniball, with diuers other most va­liaunt Princes, were nothing inferiour to the meanest Souldyer in warlike trauell. As the Carthagians vnder the onely conduct of Hanniball, the Lacedemonians vnder Cleo­menes, the A­thenians also vnder the go­uernment of E­paminundas. Pausanias be­ing asked how the Thracians might be best subdued made aunswere, if there be an Ar­mie of actiue and hardy Soul­diers sent a­gainst them, some one va­liaunt & wothy man being ap­pointed the con­ducter and guider for a politike and skilfull captaine, is as the heade is to the body. The Lacedemo­nians vnder the conducting of Milciades, ouer­threw the Persi­ans in the fielde of Marathon, in like sort they ob­tained victory a­gainst the same nation at Sala­mis, vnder The­mistocles, a­gainst the Lace­demonians by Pericles, but when they went into Sicilia, Ni­cias, Alimbiades and Lamacus being their Gene­ralles, all as led vnder the hands of Demosthenes and Eurimidon, they weare mise­rably conuicted, as also at all other times, both vnder the gouernment of their thirty Tyrauntes, as vnder their ten Pretors, vntill Conon did restore them againe. By the Aemulation betwixte Cleombrates and Agesilaus, as also betwixt Agesilaus and Lisander, the Lacedemonians receiued great damages, and miserable ouerthrowes. Such was the reuerence that the Painims had vnto their Gods, that their Emperours and Rulers in time of peace, as also their Captaines in the Warres, haue diuers times vsed the testimony of their Gods in the comprobating or perswading of any waighty matter, as did Numa Pompilius in setting forth his lawes among the Ro­maines, as ap­proued by the counsayle of E­geria the God­desse, Minas king of Crece, by affirming that by sitting in a certaine Caue, he there receiued those lawes he then prescribed as from Iupiter Licurgus also saying that the lawes he made were done by the aduise of Apollo, Selencus by the hand of Miner­ua, Lucius Silla incouraging his Souldyers in holding vp the picture of Apollo Quintus Se [...] ­torius in tal­king with a white hart, with Alexander, Sci­pio, and Cesar, and diuers other who vsed the like practises. Mecenas being asked of Octaui­an the Emperor, as touching the estate of his go­uernment, aun­swered, there is nothing (O Prince) more ho­nourable then lawfully to pos­sesse and inhe­rite a kingdome. Licurgus going about to perswade the people of Lacedemonia to a better kinde of life, did put them in remembraunce of their originall, which was from Hercules, saying, wherein doth this noblenesse of our Progenitours profite vs, except we according to their example, doe leade our liues in like sort, in doing of those thinges through which Hercules became so honourable, When as one had vsed many wordes in the praise of Alphonsus king of Aragon, in respecting the worthinesse of his auncestours, said he was sonne to a King, Bro­ther to a king, and nephew to a king: Alphonsus vnderstanding the same, aunswered that of all thinges which was to be repeated, he had spoken the least, for in that his auncestoures through their princely vertues had deserued a kingdome, and had left him heyre thereof, yet was their honour not his, except he did show himselfe to inherite the same by equallitie of vertue rather then by Testa­ment. Phillip of Ma­don vnderstan­ding that his sonne Alexander seemed to be gre­ued in that his father had so many sonnes by di­uers women doubting to whome the king­dome should be giuen: said vnto him, seing thou hast so many copartners, which may by right of birth chalenge my seat as well as thy selfe, indeuor therfore that by excelling them, thou maist by thy own wor­thinesse rather deserue the same then to haue it come vnto thee by inheritaunce. When as there were certaine that went about to perswade Fri­derticus the Em­perour of Rome, that he should priuily cause to be murthered Ladislaus the king of Hungari and Bohemia, re­maining then a childe in his custodie, signifi­ing the great wealth and kingdome whiche might be gained by his death, the Emperours aunswere was, I perceiue that you had rather haue me rich then iust, but know ye that I esteeme iustice, and an honest fame more then I doe the great wealth or largest kingdome. Theodorus the yonger being asked why he did not put to death those whiche had iniured him, nay said he, I had rather if I could, make them aliue which are dead alrea­die, signifiing that it became a Prince rather to forgiue then to reuenge, as did Agesilaus who preferred to honour and in all causes most earnestly defended and maintained his aduersa­ries, making them his friendes through his iust dealings, rather then by crueltie to seeke to be reuenged. Epaminundas being greatlye iniured by his citizens would neuer reuenge any one thing, for said he, it is a great offence to beare anger towards ones Countrey, for where enuy is there Iustice sleepeth. Agasicles be­ing asked how one might rule his people in moste safetye, aunswered if thou vse them as a Father doth his Chil­dren, geuing them cause for thy vertues to reuerence thee, rather then to feare thee for thy crueltye. I had rather sayd Antonius Pius to saue a Citizen then to kill a thousand enimies, signi­fiing that qui­etnesse is to bee preferred be­fore the grea­test commodity to be gotten by warre. Probus the Emperour did so painefully labour to conclude peace with all Prin­ces, that he doubted not to say, I hope ere it be long we shall accounte Souldyers as men not necessary. O happy world if Christen Princes would so agree among themselues, that in respect of their owne causes, they could say the same, and so ad­ioyne themselues with one consent against that deadly enemy of the church of christ the Turke and his adherentes. Agesilaus being asked which of these two Ver­tues Iustice or Fortitude were worthiest, answered that Fortitude was nothing auaileable, except iustice were adioyned. thou shalt sooner finde them taunting [Page] and reuiling one another, then friendly agereing to laye their heades together for the welfare of their people: but the Princely Monarchies without respecte of time ha­uing no lette nor staye to the contrarie are busyed both day and night, omitting no occasion giuen vnto them, but speedily dispatching eche thing in due season: Fur­thermore, those yeerely gouernours enuying the prospe­rous successe of their fellowes (being either companions with them in their office, or else as hauing been their pre­dicessors in the same charge before,) will doe their inde­uours (as much as they may) to cause them to bee seduced by others whereby they may bee founde faultie in their dealings, to the intent that they themselues might gaine the more credite and commendations for that which they shall doe, whereas they which enioy this principalitie for terme of their liues, without checke or controll haue al­wayes one desire, one heart, one and the selfe same good will vnto their subiectes at all times and in all causes, accounting the whole Common weale as their owne in­heritance, ordering the same with no lesse care then they would doe their owne housholde or familie, seeking also for the better directing therefore, to adioyne vnto them the wisest and learnedst among their people, alwayes carefully choosing and electing them to be as executours of their will and commaundementes, whom they shall finde most meetest and skilfullest in such thinges as are at any time to be vndertaken. And as kinges and Princes most esteeme and regard those whom they knowe and vn­derstand to be valiaunt and mighty men at armes, able to defend their Realmes in al daungers and troubles. So y^e other, supposing the charge which they haue in hande as [Page 37] appertaining vnto them but for a time, make most accoūt and place about them as their chiefest counsellers, them whom they knowe to bee the wisest and subtlest Mar­chantes, being able as occasion serueth, either to flatter or to deale roughly and stoutly with their people, ruling then best when they make most for their aduauntage. Fi­nally this studious indeuour and fatherly affection of him to whom alone belongeth the soueraintie, doth not onely appeare in the well gouerning of his domesticall & com­mon affaires in time of peace, but also in ech thing which shall be requisite and necessarie in time of warres, beha­uing himselfe in all causes more circumspect and carefull then those yearelinges: either haue done or can doe. Whether it be as touching the knowledge of the placing of the battell, the guiding and leading forth of one armie, the incouraging and imbolding of his souldiers, or else as appertaining to the politike directing and conducting of his men, whether it be openly into the fielde, or priuily to woorke his enimies ouerthrowe, not sparing to prouoke the slouthfull to make others the readier and forwarder through his liberalitie and bountifulnesse vsed towardes them, as also winning the good will of all men in shewing himself a companion in their labours, a copartner in their aduentures, a King and Captaine, and yet in courtesie and lowlinesse a familiar friend and fellowe: neither is this so easily to be prooued by wordes, as it is confirmed and manifested by the proofes and testimonies of sundry Common weales: for as we all knowe the Persian estate hath growne vnto this mightinesse and hugenesse which it now possesseth not by the helpe and counsell of a rude multitude, or by those yeerely Magistrates, but onely by the vigilent care and diligent indeuours of their Kinges and Princes: In like sort also haue wee seen the wealth [Page] & power of Dionisius the tyraunt to haue byn increased, who by his painefull labour and trauell saued his coun­trey from spoyle, making Sicilia (whom at his comming he founde besieged and in thraldome) the famous and re­nowned Citie of all Greece. The Carthagians and La­cedemonians, whose gouernments are accounted amongst all the Gretians as the singulerst & the perfectest though they were ruled at home in time of peace, by the authori­tie of diuers, yet in warre they alwayes obeyed the rule and commaundement of one man alone, I could also shew you that the Athenians (who most of all detested this Mo­narchall authoritie) when they sent diuers Emperours into the fieldes they had continually the worst: but when they constituted and appointed one onely as chieftaine and conductour of all, they alwayes returned with victo­rie. And nowe howe were it possible to make the worthi­nesse of this dignitie and Monarchall estate more euident vnto you, then by these and such like examples so plainly approuing and confirming, not onely those men which haue liued vnder the gouernment of Princes and Kinges to haue byn the most mightiest and valiantest in all war­like affaires, and the prudentest in all other their dealings but also those Countries whose vse it is to haue diuers and sundry gouernours, when any waightie cause or mat­ter of great importaunce, did compell them to send forthe their armies to haue alwayes vsed to elect and choose some one as principall guide to the rest, calling him by the name of an Emperour or King, yea and them also who did so much hate and abhorre this kinde of gouern­ment, neuer to haue prospered when as they sent so many generalles into the fieldes: for as I said before, one enuy­ing at the good successe of the other, and euery one being so affectioned that they thought his owne way best, thus [Page 26] striuing within themselues they haue commōly wrought their Countries decay: Moreouer if it be lawful for to re­peate that which is left vnto vs, as credible by the re­cordes of antiquitie, it is said that the gods themselues haue Iupiter as their King, the which report if it be true is also a probable assertion that they likewise doe preferre the worthinesse of this estate before all others, but if no man can say for certaine that it is so, yet doe wee seeme to inferre by this coniecture that our owne opinion is that the principalitie which one man doth possesse, is the chie­fest and best kinde of gouernment, for we would neuer say the gods did vse that kinde of superioritie amongest them but that our consciences doe perswade vs that it surpas­seth all others whatsoeuer they bee. And thus being not able either in thought to comprehend, or in wordes to vt­ter the singulernesse of this estate, it shall suffice for our purpose to haue spoken this much at this time in the be­halfe thereof. Nowe as touching the seconde part of my discourse, as concerning the right and title which I haue vnto this kingdome, and to the authoritie I doe possesse, I will briefely vse but a worde or two, being a case as well already graunted as not crauing or requiring any greater probatiō. Who knoweth not the renowned Teu­crus the first beginner and chiefe originall of this our lyne, gathering together the elders of his people to haue sayled vnto this Iland, and here building this Citie to haue distributed and allotted vnto them, these landes and possessions which we at this day enioy. My father Eua­goras also your late diseased King lineally dissending from him, recouering by hard and difficult aduentures, the possession of this kingdome when it had byn lost and [Page] vtterly subuerted by others before him, hath now brought all thinges to that passe that the Phenicians shall now no longer extend their crueltie on the Salaminians but that they shall now quietly possesse and enioy it, whose right it was and hath byn euen from the beginning: but letting this passe, it remaineth also that I speake somewhat as touching my selfe, to let you to vnderstande that I your king and gouernour and one which doth not chalenge this authoritie ouer you as by the right of my auncestours on­ly, but also as deseruing the same of my selfe through my owne worthinesse, for in my iudgement all men will con­fesse Iustice and Temperancie as the chiefest and princi­pallest of all other vertues, being profitable vnto vs not onely because of the excellencie of their owne natures, but also in that they are necessarye in all causes, in so much that if wee thorowly consider eche thing, wee shall finde nothing well done without them, and that all thinges come to good effect, where they are applyed. And truely if any one in times past hath byn as worthy to haue byn re­nowned through these vertues and Princely qualities. I can but thinke it reason that I should haue the like attri­buted vnto me, hauing deserued the same. And as for the executing of iustice it is soone seene howe I haue behaued my selfe therein, if you doe but consider with mee in what case your Citie was when I tooke vpon me the gouern­ment thereof. Did not I finde this Pallace naked & bare, the treasure emptie, great troubles & tumultes amongest you, eche thing wasted and consumed in such sorte that it required both a diligent care and a present redresse and that with no small charges. Also whereas I did know di­uers at that time to haue applyed themselues euery way to the saluing vp of their owne woundes, and on euerie side to haue laboured in the remeding of their owne pri­uate [Page 39] detrimentes, others also as compelled through ne­cessity to haue done, as also to haue yeelded their consents to many thinges contrary to their owne consciences, and quite disagreeable to their owne desires, yet coulde no­thing moue or prouoke mee so to deale with any one of them that any man myght haue thereby any occasion to say that I executed not my charge both iustly and paine­fully, not omitting any thing which might make either for your furtheraunce and commoditie, or for the safetie and prosperous estate of your Countrie: yea I haue vsed you all with such courtesie that you neither then had or at this time haue any neede to feare either banishments, for priuate dissentions, or the raunsacking of your treasure, or publication of your goods or any other kinde of calami­tie, as long as it shall please the Gods to graunt mee life to remaine amongest you. Whereas also through the late warres wee waged wee coulde not trafficke, nor vse any kinde of marchandries into any part of Greece, but that we were euery where and in all places robbed and rifled, you your selues knowe howe I haue appeased all quar­rels, howe I haue ended all matters, and how I haue pro­cured peace with all parties, partly in restoring vnto some of them the vttermost they could aske me, contenting others with an indifferent portion, and partly in taking day with the rest, seeking also to dispatch all controuer­sies as yet remaining with as great speede as may bee. Moreouer, when as the neere borderers on this our I­land were highly offended with vs as also the King of Persia being in very deede our deadly enimie though he seemed vtterly to be our friend, yet I so ordered the mat­ter that they were both reconciled againe vnto vs, the one by humble submission vsed towardes him, the other [Page] When as one had tolde Agis king of Lacede­monia, that Phillip of Macedon would stop the passage of the Lacedemonians in­to Greece, it ma­keth no matter said Agis, for our own countrey is able to suffise vs. by the obseruing of iustice and equitie. And as for my own part I so farre detested and abhorred the couetous desire and thirstie greedinesse of other mens possessions that I haue voluntarily refused, euen that which hath byn offe­red me. And although it bee the vse of most men, as soone as they growe to be of strength, and of greater power then their neighbours violētly to inuade them, as also wrong­fully to chalenge and to take awaye from them all that they can come by,Diogines com­ming vnto the Campe of Phil­lip of Macedon, was taken and brought before the King of whome the king asked whether he came as a spie I said Diogines, I may soone spie thy folly, and va­nitie which vo­luntarily without compulsion of a­ny doest hazarde as it were at dice thy life and king­dom, which thou already inioyest, to win that wherof thou hast no assuraunce. nothing respecting whether it bee right or wrong, yet had I rather to enioy my owne rightfully and quietly be it neuer so little, then in such sort vniustly to enlarge the boundes and limittes of my Countrie: but to what ende doe I vse so long a discourse as touching my selfe, or why doe I staye in the repeating of eche thing, perticulerly, seeing I may briefely in fewe wordes com­prehend and containe as much as is to bee spoken of, as concerning this matter: Is there any one amongest you which can saye that he hath receiued any wrong at my handes: nay, rather you may rightlyer affirme that there haue byn a greater number, both of Citizens and straun­gers more Curteously delt withall, and more bountifully rewarded by me then euer they were by any of my predi­cessors: neither can any one of you impute these my wordes as vaine gloriously spoken, for it becommeth those which seeke for to attaine eternall praise,A Prince or go­uernour saith A­gesilaus must haue with him these fower properties, a va­liaunt and hardy courage against his enemies, a loue and good will to his peo­ple, wisedome to forecast all daungers, and reason to vse time when time serueth. Alexan­der Seuerus kept alwayes noted in a note booke, whatsoeuer he had bestowed vpon any of his subiectes as also who they were that had receiued it, wherevpon when he happened to meete with any of his Citizens or seruaunts, which had but little of him, or such which ne­uer had craued any thing at his handes, he would call them to him, and aske them whether he ment to make them indebted vnto him, because they had receiued nothing of him. Nerua the Emperour was so bountifull towards his people, that when as he had bestowed all his treasure vpon his subiectes, he spared not to sell his owne garmentes, and Iewels, rather then they should lacke releefe, agreeing with Agesilaus, that as it behooued Princes, to offer iniury to no man, so ought they rather to giue then to take any thing from any man. through the exe­cuting and maintaining of iustice, as also by the eschew­ing and auoyding of Couetousnesse and extortion, so to behaue themselues that at all times they may bee able boldly and truely to speake thus much of their owne wor­thinesse, hauing so openly manifested the same in all their doinges, vnto the whole worlde that their deadliest eni­mies [Page 40] The alteration of the romaine gouernment as the expelling their kings, be­cause of the vn­ordinate lust of Tarquinius Superbus, to­wardes y^e good and chast Lady Lucretia, and againe in put­ting downe of their ten gouernours called Decemviri be­cause of the fleshly concu­piscence of Ap­pius towardes the daughter of Virginius, whom her own father slew, ra­ther then she should be defi­led. Rodericus, king of the Gothes slaine, and .lxx. M. people in a bat­tell faught be­twixt him and Iulianus the gouernour of the Prouince called Tingi­tana, a parte of Barbary, in that the sayd King had defi­led the daugh­ter of Iulianus: with other Histories infinite, of the desolation and subuertion of sundry monarchies, where such beastly appetites hath rained. When as Aras­pus had commended the bewty of Panthea the wife of Abradata before King Ci­rus as meete to be a Princes mate, the kings answere was, that she was so much the more to be refrained. The bewty of Darius daughters being highly com­mended vnto Alexander, as also being willed to goe to see them, being then his cap­tiues, he aunswered that he would not once go to them, for said he, it were shame for me to be subiect to a woman, which am now a conquerour ouer men. are compelled to confesse it for truth: Nowe also as touching the modestie and temperancie, which hath byn shewen by me in all my affaires & dealinges, if I shoulde so exactly prosecute the same, as it may seeme to require it woulde giue mee occasion to vtter many thinges, both straunge and wonderful, especially in a man of my degree and in one of my yeares, for when as comming to the yeares of discretion I had perfectly knowen, as also tho­rowly considered with my selfe, that al men held and estee­med as dearest vnto them their wiues and children & that they are wont to be soonest incensed and moued vnto yre, if any kinde of iniurie or villanie were vsed towards them and that such wronges offered and done in times paste, hath byn the occasion and originall of much mischiefe to the confusion and ouerthrowe as well of kinges & Prin­ces as of other meaner persons, I haue so muche detested and with such great care and diligence, eschewed & shun­ned these so horrible vices that from the time I first tooke in hande the gouernment of this kingdome, I neuer tou­ched or sought to vse the body of any other woman then of my owne wife, although I haue knowne sundry and di­uers persons which procuring the satisfaction of their li­centious appetites from other Countries, haue neuer­thelesse byn well thought of and highly commended of their people in that, by so doing they abstained from offe­ring iniurie vnto any of their own subiects, but as I was desirous so to frame my selfe that no such suspition might arise, of any such doinges of mine, so surely I most of all coueted that I might so order my selfe in all my actions that the integritie of my conuersation might be a lyuely example to all my Citizens to imitate and follow: for the propertie of the people is most commonly so to be disposed [Page] When as Alex­ander comming into Illia, be­holding a wo­man of a moste singuler bewty standing before the Aulter of Iupiter, did seeme vnto E­phestiō earnest­ly to view her, whervpon E­phestiō taking occasiō to speke vnto him, said, behold O price heare is a wo­man worthye to be thy loue, no not so, sayde the king, for it is a thing most vnseeming for me to show my selfe so inconti­nent which am wont so seuere­ly to punishe & to reprehende this vice in an other. When as Sci­pio had ouer­throwne Car­thage, being then but fower & twenty yeres of age, at which time there was broughte vnto him, among o­ther Booties, a certaine virgine of a surpassing bewtye whiche had remained a Captiue in Car­thage before his comming, he shewed himselfe so continent, that inquiring of her what she was, he presently sent her home vnto her Parentes, giuing her no small somme towardes her dowrie, in that he vnderstoode her as before be trothed to an other, wherevpon being afterwarde asked why he did not take her, because, said he I am an Emperour, to whome it belongeth to surpasse his people in the integritie of life. Antigonus the third as soone as he had beheld a certaine Virgine in the Temple of Diana at Ephesus, and did feele himselfe moued with the delight of her bewtie, he presently departed the Citie, least he should haue bike compelled to haue committed a thing so vnlaw full. A Harlot, saith Diogines, is a cuppe of sweete wine mixed with deadlye poison, whose tast though it be sweete, and pleasaunt, yet in the ende, it bringeth de­struction. A straunger demaunded of one Gerada a man of Spar­ta, what punishment adulte­rers had in his Countrey, see­ing Licurgus had made no law for the same, no sayde Gerada, it nee­ded not, for there is no ad­ulterer in Sparta, ney­ther is it pos­sible that there should be any among them, that doe so greatly detest excesse wealth sumptuous fare, laciuious wantonnesse, and fond foolishe pride, and in steede of them are content to liue mo­destly and soberly, yeelding dutifull obedience to their Magistrates, and obeying the lawes, not for feare, but for the zeale they haue to vertue herselfe. The coun­sayle of Aristotle was, that we should beholde pleasure as she went away and not as she did come towardes vs, for though she looke vppon vs, with a smyling and pleasaunt countenaunce, yet hath she alwayes hanging at her backe, care, sorrowe, and lamentable repentaunce. Alexander did not onely shew himselfe a conti­nent and chast liuer, but also reproued the same very seuerely in others, as appea­red in the sharpe rebuke he gaue vnto Cassander, for kissing of Pitho, being but the Concubine of Euius. When as a yong man had said vnto Monedemas that he thought it a great happi­nesse if a man might obtaine all that he de­syred, nay saide the Philoso­pher, it were more happier if we could not attaine any of those thinges which are vn­honest and vn­decent to be de­syred or sought for. Hauing spoken of the Conti­nency which ought to be in men, I cannot let passe those worthy dames with infinite o­thers, whose faithfulnesse and integritie of life hath bene most rare, or at least in these dayes is a thing moste straunge. Ze­nobia Queene of Palmerie, neuer desyred the company of her husbande, but onely for procreation sake. Sophro­nia a Lady of Rome when as she should be compelled to bethe Emperours Deci­us Concubine, killed her selfe with her husbandes sworde, rather then so to be de­fyled, and to the shame of those which being neuer so olde hauing once bene maried are so fleshly bent that they are neuer well till they be maried againe. The worthye Lady Rodogune, the Daughter of King Darius shall not be omitted, who killed her Nurse because she went about to perswade her to marry again, yea though she were yong and bewtifull. Iugurtha being the Bastard of Manastabalus kil­led the sonnes of Mitipsa his vncle, and Atreus and Thiestes the sonnes of Pe­lops borne of Hippodamia, murthered their brother Chrisippus borne by Danayida, because he was his fathers darling, such is the force of Ambition, that manye haue neither spared father, mother, brother nor sister, to obtain the sole principallity. and giuen as they shall see their Princes to be affectioned and bent, also it becommeth kinges and gouernours as farre to excell and to surpasse their subiectes in good li­uing, as they doe exceede them in honour and renowne and truely there is nothing more vnseeming then to con­straine others to liue soberly and honestlye and yet they themselues to haue no care howe fondly and licentiously they spend their time: Moreouer, I see that it is as an v­suall thing vnto most men to be able to brydle, and to re­straine their foolish desires and fond imaginations when soeuer they are moued with any perturbation or motion of minde in any other thing, but those raging fittes and burning flames of fleshly desire, neither the strongest nor wisest haue euer byn able as yet to exstinguishe or quench if so be that they were once fastened and kindled within them, ye though they suffered them to take neuer so little holde: wherefore I desired, yea & haue laboured, and that with great care, not onely to excell the basest and meanest in those trifles, so easily to bee done of euery one, but also to shewe my selfe a Conquerer and victorer euen in that wherein the greatest and renownedst Peeres of the world haue both fainted and failed. And nowe to giue my iudge­ment of those men which marrying and vowing themsel­ues to an honest and ioyfull societie of life at length, for­getting all their former promises and abiding by nothing care not howe or in what sort they offend those chaste ma­trons, with whom they are coupled, so that their beastly appetite may bee satisfied, when as they them selues can not abide to be contraried or displeased not in the least thing, truely I must of necessitie sharpely reprooue their folly as mē most lewdly bent supposing also those men as [Page 41] worthie of rebuke, which faithfully obseruing and fulfil­ling their promises in all other couenauntes & contractes according to equitie and iustice, are yet found so dissolute, as carelessely to breake and violate the vowes which they haue made to their wyues, the which truely in my opini­on ought aboue all other thinges firmely and strictly to haue byn obserued, in that they are worthier and of grea­ter importaunce, then all other promises are, whatsoeuer they bee: but if the ende hereof were thorowly considered if they would call to minde the great and sundrie discom­modities which they procure to themselues, the wonder­full dissention and discorde which they breede, and cause within their owne pallaces, the horrible feares and conti­nuall daungers, they wilfully bring themselues into, then would they soone be reuoked and reduced from this their errour, and it is the duetie of a Prince, to bee a pro­curer of vnitie and peace, not onely in his townes and Ci­ties, but also and that especially to see loue and amitie fos­tered within his owne Courtes and within the gates where he himself remaineth: for these are the originals and groundes both of Temperancie and iustice, whiche can not be maintained: where ryotous liuers and amo­rous wantons doe inhabite, but to returne to my selfe and to vse a fewe wordes, as touching the issue of my bodie as concerning my children, which the Celestiall gods haue lent me, and whom I hope I shall leaue behinde mee, to the better preseruation of your Citie and to the greater comforte of you all. I let you to vnderstande that I haue not herein followed the licentious order of other Princes whose vse hath byn to haue some by meane and base wo­men, [Page] others by noble and renowned Ladies, some also as bastardes, others as true and lawfully begotten of their owne bodyes through which their euill behauiour, great discentions, ciuill broyles, and bloudie warres haue hap­pened amongest their subiectes after their deathes: but I haue had that care herein that my children maye truely and euery one of them equally, challenge and claime a di­rect and perfect lyne of their petigrees from one father and mother, (as amongest men) vnto Euagoras my father as amongest those whom wee account the perfectes, and as it were halfe gods vnto Aeocus that iust and righte­ous iudge and so going forwardes amongest the Gods themselues euen vnto the great and mightie Iupiter, in so muche that there is not no not one of mine which is or shall bee depriued of this honour duely discending vnto them from so high and renowned auncestors. And truely as their are diuers and sundry causes whereby I myght be perswaded to perseauer in this my purposed and deter­mined course and race of liuing, so surely I am as especi­ally mooued or rather incouraged thereunto, in that I well perceiue these onely vertues, namely, Iustice and Temperancie to be the sole inheritaunce the onely pos­sessions and the perticuler properties of good and godly liuers. As for the valiantnesse of minde, the strength of bodye or worldly pollicies or any other especiall or com­mendable gift of nature, wee commonly see the wicked and lewde person to enioy as good part in them as the o­ther, supposing therefore that man to goe about and to take vppon him a thing most excellent, which painefully laboureth and striueth by all meanes possible to embrace, [Page 42] The onlye thing that is to be counted a­uaueable, is Iustice sayd Phocion, in re­spect of whome al other things are triues. Antonius Pi­us was wont to wish that his life might end y^e day or hower wherein hee swerued from Iustice, or neglected his duety. Sigismundus the Emperour being asked whome he sup­posed meete to be a prince or gouernour, an­swered, that man whome neither prospe­ritie can make hautye, neither aduersity time­rous or discomforted. It is the parte of a prince, sayd Agesilaus to excell his sub­iects and Citi­zens in the in­tegritie of life, and not in wantonnesse and daintinesse. Alcamenes be­ing asked how a realme might be best preser­ued, aunswered if the prince be not thirstye after gaine. Such was the continency and tēperācy which Pericles y^e worthy Captain of Athens had v­sed in all his life that he could boldly say at his death y^t hee had neuer giuen oc­casion to any of his Citizens to were any mourning garment. Socrates gaue his scollers al­wayes this les­son, to lodge wisedome in their hartes, shamefastnes in their counte­naunces, and silence in their tongues. As one swal­low saith So­crates doth not make a sum­mer so doth not one good deede proue a man to be iust and vp­right in his dealings. A wise man saith Anaxago­ras, doth not o­bey the lawes for feare of pu­nishment, but for the loue he beareth to ver­tue her selfe. It is a harde thing said Al­phonsus King of Aragon, to be a perfect and discreete guider of an army into the field to en­counter with the enemy, but it is a thing more diffi­cult for a Prince to shew himselfe vnto his people, a liuely example or ring leader vn­to vertue. It is not sayth Tully, the part of a good citizen to make any inter­mition of his du­ty, or to vse any slacknesse in exe­cuting of his of­fice or charge. Aristides wife would alwayes crie vnto him to remember that the publique affaires of his countrey were to be preferred be­fore his own pri­uate causes. If a man, saith Socrates should come into a Theatre, and cal­ling aloude shold will all Tanuers or al Smithes to arise, you shal see onely the men of those sciences to arise, and the rest to sit still, but if he should say, let all those that are iust and wise dea­lers stand vp, presently the whole multitude will arise. A certaine Philosopher of Pithagoras sect, had bought a payre of shoes of a shoemaker, not paying ready money, but a day being appointed vnto the paiment, at which time the Philo­sopher comming according to promise and finding the shomaker dead, not paying his money he departed ioyfully home, reioysing that he had gayned so much by the man, but being after­ward greatlye troubled in conscience as one that had possessed the goods of an other, he after­ward returned to the shomakers shop & threw the mony from him, saying, he is yet liuing to me, that is dead vnto others, so vnquiet are the consciences of those that wrgngfully posses other mens goods. Alphonsus that worthy and renowned King of Aragon accounted V­surers and such as are greedy after other mens goods, the rauining byrdes called Harpie. and to retaine in his custodie these two precious pearles, being as it were the onely badges and tokens, by y^t which good men are discerned and knowen from others in that as is aforesaid, they are as onely peculier and proper vnto them: I my selfe as induced by these reasons haue most studiously and carefully, aboue all other thinges applyed my whole indeuour to the executing and maintaining of iustice: obseruing as much as might be both modesty and Temperancie in all my dealinges taking my delightes in such thinges onely which might make to the increase of my honour, and to your furtherance: and not in that which being committed might both turne to my shame as also to the corrupting of many others through my euil and lewde example. And now as these vertues before spe­cified are most singuler, & among all others to be accoun­ted as the first & chiefest, so also euen in their owne kinde one farre excelleth another, either in respect of the cause or time wherein they are done, or else in respect of the per­son of him that is the doer thereof, so that you are not to giue iudgement generally or after one sort, of all vertues no though they bee contayned all vnder one name. The which if it bee true, then call to your remembraunce the iustice which I vsed in my greatest necessitie, the modesty of my life when I came to enioy the chiefest authoritie, and the continencie which I shewed euen in my youthfull yeares. These were the times which gaue vnto you a per­fect token and tried proofe of my disposition and nature: for though I were left very bare and poore by my father and founde all thinges as naked when I came to my Crowne, yet ministred iustice indifferently to all men that I am sure there is not one amongest you, which can say that I haue done him one inche of wrong, as one see­king by other mens decay to inriche my cofers or to aug­ment my treasure, and whereas I enioyed that power o­uer you that all might haue byn lawfull whatsoeuer had liked me, yet did I alwayes vse such modestie and lowli­nesse in all my doinges, that therein I haue shewed my [Page] selfe as one equall with the meanest. And these thinges did I euen in that age wherein the most part of men are wont to become carelesse and dissolute, as forgetting all duetie, neglecting all good order, and geuing themselues fondly vnto all vanities and fancies, but to haue vsed these speaches as appertaining to my owne praise before straungers, neither durst I neither would I not, in that they are vntrue or that I doe thinke my owne doinges as vnworthy of this commendation, but because I shoulde haue feared that they would not haue giuen credite vnto my wordes, but as for you, you your selues are witnesses of all that hath byn spoken, you your selues haue seene and knowne to your comfortes the truth confirmed before your eyes, nowe therefore as you doe account those men as a rare sorte of men, and such as are worthye of great commendations and praises, if any amongest you by the helpe of nature doe shewe themselues discrete and modest in all their doings, much more then must you of force sup­pose the like of them which voyde of that benefite, euen of their owne voluntarie affection, labour to attaine vnto the like perfection, for it may bee that they which after this sort vnaduisedly doe for a time obserue that good mo­tion of nature, leading as it were by chaunce, a temperate order of liuing, may at length bee seduced and withdrawē from the same, if that good seede happe to be chooked by some stincking and noysome weede ouergrowing it. But the other which ouer and beside the furtheraunce of na­ture, are fully perswaded and taught, that the chiefest fe­licitie and happinesse of this life, consisteth in the embra­sing and following of vertue, these men no doubt will con­tinually vnto their liues ende perseuer and continue in their determined purpose. And nowe to come to the whole and onely effect of all that which hath byn spoken, knowe ye that the onely cause why and wherefore I haue made this long discourse vnto you, both as touching my self, as also of all other thinges before rehearsed and specified, is that you should perswade your selues that there is nowe [Page 43] no excuse left to be alleaged, why you should not willing­ly and gladly obserue and obey the commaundementes, nay, rather the good counsaile and friendly exhortation which I shall giue you, seeing I burthen you with no greater burthen, nor charge you with no more then to fulfill that which I my selfe both haue done and willingly will doe, euen vnto my liues ende, wherefore I require and charge you that euery one of you doe execute that of­fice and function whereunto he is called, both diligently and faithfully: for it must needes come to passe that your dealinges must prooue euill, if either of these two pointes be not obserued, shewe not your selues therefore neglec­tors and contemners of my commaundementes, and yet not so addicting your selues as though you should thinke that the waight and importaunce of all, shoulde consist in the obseruing and obeying of my will onely, but that you would be so carefull and diligent in those thinges which you take in hand, as to perswade your selues that the well doing and ordering of euery perticuler matter, is the on­ly meanes whereby the vniuersall estate of euery Com­mon weale doth flourish and prosper, for there must needs bee a most happie Realme where euery man perticulerly hath a care to performe his duetie, and to amende himselfe in ought that is amisse, for when wee flatter our selues with our owne follies and are as it were blinded with our owne vanities, wee runne headlong into our owne destruction: bee you therefore no lesse carefull of my af­faires then of your owne, seeing the one dependes on the other, neither doe ye esteeme as vaine the honours which are prepared for them, which painefully and iustly order [Page] It is better sayd Chilon to sustaine losse, then to be en­riched through vnhonest meanes. Bias being as­ked what thing that was in the life of man, which was voyde of feare, aunswered, a cleare consci­ence. When as Pontius one of Ce­sars Centuri­ons was taken by Scipio, Pompeyes fa­ther in law and was promised his life, if hee would forsake Cesar, disclose his secretes, and adioin him selfe vnto Pompey, O Scipio said he, I giue you thankes for your gen­tle proffer, but know ye that I way my life lesse then I doe my faith, and dutifull obedi­ence towardes my maister, frō whom though I be absēt, yet is he as now present with me. Anonimus being asked what was the best meanes to cause men to deale iustly, aunswered the kinges eye, for said he, the dilligent attendaunce of princes ouer the affaires of their countreyes, shall imprint such a feare in the heartes of his subiectes, that they will alwayes thereby thinke them as pre­sent, although they be absent and so be fearefull to transgresse. Licurgus was wont to reioyce in that he had so liued, that his deadliest enimies were not able to burthen him that he had receaued one farthing vnhonestly, or committed any such folly for which they might haue cause to be sorry, or they to reioyce ouer him. When as one offered Iulius Drusus for fiue Talentes of Siluer to redresse the in­conueniencies of his house, in that diuers partes thereof did lye open to the prospect of his neighbors, nay said Dru­sus, I will ra­ther giue thee ten Talentes for to build my house, that not only my neigh­boures but the whole Ci­tie may perfectly see what is done in euery part thereof, signifying that a good man ought to doe nothing wher­of he should be ashamed, if it were knowne. If my father, sayde Pericles should conspire against my countrey, if re­son might not diswade him from this madnesse, I would surely betray him. Lisander being asked what common weale he suppo­sed in most happy state, that countrey sayd he, where vertue is rewarded, and vice punished.our businesse committed vnto them.

Refraine your handes from other mens goodes, to the ende that you your selues may the safer and the quieter possesse that which is your owne, for it is reason that you shewe your selues such manner of men towardes others, as you would wishe others to bee affectioned towardes you.

Make no more hast to get Riches then an honest re­port, for amongest the Greekes, and amongest all other people bee they neuer so barbarous, they commonly enioy the chiefest honours and the greatest wealth, which are found to deserue through their vertues, the greatest com­mendations.

As for vnhonest gaine it bringes not so great store of treasure into your Cofers, as it doth daunger vnto your persons both in the getting and keeping: neither woulde I haue you to thinke your selues euer the richer by re­ceauing, or the poorer in giuing, for the properties of these two are oftentimes chaunged, and truely you can not doe amisse herein, if ye respect either the time or the necessitie of the case, so that it be agreeable to vertue.

Goe not about to hyde or to keepe secrete from me any one thing whatsoeuer it bee, that either you nowe are a­bout to doe as presently, or else hereafter minde to bring to passe, no although it bee that which remaineth as pri­uie in your owne imaginations, being as yet onely kno­wen vnto your selues, for though my bodye bee not al­wayes in one and the same place with you, yet ought the remembraunce of me to be continually present in all your affaires & enterprises, for this being borne in minde shall cause you as carefully and as discretely to deale, as if I there did stand as present to behold you. Againe, as you [Page 44] knowe close and priuie practises containe in them great troubles with continuall terrour and feare, so order your selues therefore in that charge which is committed vnto you, that nothing may bee sayde to haue byn done either secretly or deceiptfully, but that all your doings may ap­peare so plaine and manifest vnto all the world, that your deadliest enemie though he sought it, may not bee able to finde one little hole in your garment, no not one iust occa­sion to triumphe ouer you, for the least acte which you should commit or doe vndiscretly.

Imitate the Eagle, go get you to a sunnie banke, looke vpon your Talentes, if you finde them dull sharpen them againe: examine your owne workes if they bee good goe forward, as you haue begunne, but if they be euill amend them, adiudging those thinges as vnworthy and vnsee­ming to be done, which you desire to keepe secrete from me, and that onely to be honest and good which I vnder­standing shal haue iust cause to commend, as also through them to conceiue the better opinion of you your selues.

Keepe not the counsell of those which shall seeke either to indamage my person, or to subuert my kingdome but rebuke them and reproue them, yea though they bee your dearest friendes, for no lesse punishment shall be giuen vn­to the counseller then to the chiefest trespasser: neither doe you iudge them as happie, which can craftily couer their wicked and naughtie intentes, but rather suppose those men as most safest which offend not at all, for as it is requisite that the one shoulde receiue conding punish­mentes according to the hainousnesse of their offences which in time doe appeare, so is it conuenient that the o­ther shoulde receiue a meete rewarde for their well do­inges.

You shall gather together no assemblies, nor call no counsell without my authoritie and consent, for as suche conspiracies haue byn most pernitious vnto that state of [Page] Licurgus being asked why his countrey men did so often re­moue their tents or Campes from place to place, aunswered that we may the easier deceiue our enemies, sig­nifying that no­thing brought sooner destructi­on than often al­terations and chaunges. When as Stra­bard euery fa­uour with Au­gustus, had vsed words to the re­proofe of the stubbornnesse of Cato Vticensis, in that he slue himselfe, rather then he would consent to the al­teration of the estate of gouern­ment before vsed Augustus aun­swere was, that that man was onely to be ac­counted a good and honest Citi­zen which desy­reth not the state of the common weale to be alte­tered & changed, but holdeth him­self content with things present. Cleon hauing taken vpon him the gouernment of the common weale of Athens protested that he would now as it were vnlose the bandes of all friendship, because sayd he friends are oftentimes lettes vnto the executing of iustice. O how happy was Scipio Africanus who con­ducting so great an army into Afrike, was able to say: there is not one Souldyer in all this Campe, whome if I should commaund to throw himselfe hedlong down this Turret, which would refuse to doe it. The vse among the Romaines was at their feastes and solemne meetinges to sing the actes and doinges of their auncesters in verse vpon shaulmes & flutes to the end that their youth by the heating the same, might be incouraged to immitate the like A certaine wo­man of the coun­trey of Ionia, a part of Greece, bragging of a peece of curious worke, which she had made, repro­uing the vnskil­fulnesse, or rather idlenesse of a cer­taine woman of Lacedemonia, because she could not shew the like the Lacedemoni­an matron for aunswere brin­ging forth her fower sonnes whome shee had brought vp in all honest and godly exercises, said vnto her, this is the worke wherein a good and careful mother is to be ocupied about, to procure vnto her country honest & obedient citizens then to bewtify her house with fond brauery. To teache their youth both duti­full obedience towards their Magestrates & elders. as also to make them the redier & skilfuller in the vnderstan­ding of their du­ties, the Ro­maines had an order that their yong men should dayly attend and waite on the Se­natours and fathers, accompanying them vnto the Senate house, and so home again, giuing the like reuerence both in the streates, as also at feastes, Leontichidas being asked [...]herin youth ought most to be instructed, aunswered in those thinges which may profite them most when they come to mans estate. When as Phocion was reproued because he would not receiue the great treasure that was sent to him from Minillus, neither yet suffer his sonne to receiue it, his aunswere was that if his sonne were of honest conuersation, his patrimonye left vnto him would suffice him, but if he were a riotous and wanton liuer, neither that trea­sure, neither any other, would be sufficient for him. When as Tissaphernes had broken promise with A­gesilaus, he sente certaine Orators vnto him to giue him thanks in y^t by breaking his promise he had not onely iniured him, but also procured the indig­nation of the Gods against him, in being so carelesse of his faith. One going about to perswade A­nazilaus to doe a certaine thing that was vnho­nest to be done, affirming that he neede not feare the doing thereof, seing that he could not be thought the vnhonester ther­by, because he might keepe it vnknowne from all men, though said Anazilaus as thou sayst I may keepe it vnknowne from others, yet will it be alwayes known to my selfe. Fridericus ha­uing called al his counsellers be­fore him into his court burst out into these spee­ches, would God my counsellers would put of and leue behind them in the Porters lodge at my Court gate, two things, so should I be sure to be wel counselled by them, and I my selfe also should easily deserue what were best to de done for the profite of my people, at which wordes his counsellers amazed, because he vsed no more wordes, one of the company asked the Emperour what were these two thinges, it is sayd he flattering and dissembling, the murtherers of truth, the vndoers of Princes, and the ouerthrowe of euery common weale. Carneades saying was, that Princes were neuer perfect in any thing but in riding, for said he, it is the vse of all men that haue to deale with them to flatter & to dissemble with them but the horse not caring whome he carieth be he King or Citizen, without re­spect of persons, throweth them of from his back, except they be skilfull in ordering & riding of him. Antigonus the King of Macedon, being asked why he so greatly esteemed Zeno, because said he, I did neuer finde him to dissemble with me in any thing when as one had sayd vnto Theopompus, King of Lace­demonia that the people of Lacedemonia should be then most happye, when as their Princes had learned to rule well, thou saist truth said the King, if the people haue also learned in like sort to obay. If the citizens obay their ma­gistrates, and the Magis­trates in like sort obay the lawes, that Ci­tie sayd Solon shall prosper and continue, otherwise it is soone ouer­throwne. As the stage player must not onely seeke to please his hearers, in showing him­selfe singuler in playing the last act of the Commody, but also in euery sceane, euen from the first be­ginning: so must we saith Socrates euen from the first entraunce into this life, ap­plie our selues vnto vertue, and the knowledge of our duties, and not defer the same from day to day, or vntill we be olde, the which we may rightly tearme the last acte of this our miserable pilgrimage. It was a common saying among the Lace­demonians, that Fortune was to be called vpon with mouing handes, signifying that if we would doe our indeours and applie our selues to a vertuous and honest life, we could not chuse but inioy a good fortune, that is, to liue happely. gouernment holden of many, so surely is it the daunge­rous thing that can happen, vnto that sole authoritie pos­sessed by Princes.

Seeke ye with as great care to auoyde those thinges which may giue any suspitiō of euill liking as you would doe, not to be thought guiltie of the offence it selfe.

Moreouer, I would haue you to account my good will and friendship so sure and certaine vnto you, that I am yours to vse to your profites and furtheraunces in any honest and iust case, doe you therefore diligently indeuour to maintaine and vpholde this my estate, and bee not desi­rous of alterations or chaunges, for surely by suche tu­multes the destruction and subuertion of your Citie and Countrie will soone ensue.

Let mercie and seueritie be showen, according to the desertes and behauiour of my people, and not as wholy depending on the iudgementes and affections of the Ma­gistrates, for as they may bee made fauourable through the intreataunce of friendes, so also many of them are of­ten moued and incensed, to bee sometimes too too sharpe and seuere through the ouerthwartnesse and frowardnesse of others, doe you therefore execute iustice indifferently towardes all men, trusting more to your owne innocencie and iust dealinges, then to my mercie or fauour, accoun­ting also my saftie to be yours, and the well ordering of my affaires to be the inriching of your owne treasures.

It shall be your dueties in like sort to shewe your due­tifull obedience vnto my Crowne and dignitie to obserue my commaundementes, to obey my lawes and ordinaun­ces, and to behaue your selues honorable, and commenda­ble in the gouerning of my people, willing in all thinges to execute my will and pleasure.

Be you also the incouragers, and stirrers vp of youth [Page 45] to the imbracing of vertue, and that not onely in giuing them good and graue counsell, but also in practising the same in your owne doinges, that thereby they may vnder­stand what manner of men it behoueth them to bee which seeke to be accounted noble and honorable: Teache also your owne children to be faithfull and loyall subiectes to­wards their Princes, and see that they be especially trai­ned and brought vp in the true knowledge and perfect practise of this vertue, for when they haue thorowly lear­ned to obey, they will rule with greater discretion those which shalbe subiect vnto their authoritie, the profite also thereof shalbe their owne, for if they prooue faithfull and honest Citizens, they shalbe pertakers of our wealth and prosperitie, but if they become riotous and dissolute li­uers, then will they soone hazard euen that which is their owne consuming, that in a shorte time yea and that with shame and infamie which you their fathers haue ho­norably gotten with long trauell and continuall paynes: suppose therfore that you then leaue your children richest and in most safetie when as you see them most worthiest of my fauour.

Account those men of all others as most miserable and wretched which being carelesse in keeping their promi­ses haue lost their credite with those which were wont to trust them, for without doubt such men spend the rest of their life with an vnquiet and fearefull conscience, not daring to trust their friendes further then their foes, ei­ther because they suppose euery man like themselues or that the guiltinesse of their own crime, breedes a distrust within themselues. They therefore may bee deemed as most happie which knowing themselues cleare from any such villanie, leade their liues in great quietnesse.

[Page]Let not that outward shewe of profite to be gotten by any dishonest meanes, seeme to be of more force with you then a vertuous and godly life, neither thinke ye the name of a wicked liuer, as onely odious and that you are as scotfree and safe, if you can by concealing and cloaking of your naughtinesse auoyde or escape the report there­of, and so to be accounted as honest men, because it is not openly knowne: for truely howe so euer it be done eyther secretly or openly, it is alwayes one for the nature of the thing it selfe, and the name giuen thereunto doe nothing differ be it done neuer so closely or priuily.

Seeme ye not to mislike or to enuie at them, whom you shall see in chiefest authoritie and fauour with mee, but rather contend & indeuour through your owne wor­thinesse and vertues to become equall vnto the best suppo­sing them as worthy to be beloued and reuerenced whom you shall perceiue, and knowe your king to make most ac­count of, so shall I haue good cause to attribute the like vnto you your selues, when time and occasion shall so re­quire.

Continue ye alwayes of one minde, speaking no worse of me behinde my backe, then you shall vse to protest be­fore my face, confirming your good willes towardes mee in deedes, rather then in wordes, dealing no otherwise with other men then you would bee content to bee dealte withall your selues: let your wordes and deedes bee a­greeable, and thinke ye so to be vsed and esteemed of mee as I shall finde you affectioned towardes me.

Say not amongest your selues, this man or that man doth well, and is worthy of great commendations, but ra­ther labour that other men may haue cause to say the like [Page 46] of you: accounting also that vnto all those which willing­ly will shewe themselues obeyers and fulfillers of my commaundementes shalbe gaunted free libertie, to leade their liues as shall best like themselues. And thus I mind briefly to conclude this long and tedious discourse, which I haue made as hauing spoken sufficient as concerning those thinges which at y^e first I had purposed: hauing as great hope to see you as carefully and as gladly to put in practise this which I haue charged you withall, as you haue seemed vnto mee both ioyfully and willingly to haue geuen eare vnto the same, while it hath byn tolde you. Wherein I would haue you onely to beare in minde this one thing, as the whole effect of all the rest, which is no more but that you would thinke it your duetie, to shew your selues in such forte obedient vnto mee, and as care­full of my affaires as you your selues, would looke to bee serued and obeyed of them which are vnder you, and vnto whom you commit the ordering and disposing of your owne businesse, the which thing if you doe vnfainedly and faithfully obserue and keepe, it were truely but loste la­bour for mee to take in hand at this time to discribe vnto you the sundry and innumerable commodities which will growe and arise thereby, for if I for my part doe in suche sort behaue my selfe hereafter as heretofore I haue done, and you also doe your indeuours, as gladly and as wil­lingly to shewe your dutifull obedience and diligent care towardes mee, you soone shall see to your great ioy and comfort, your owne wealth increased these my domini­ons inlarged, and this our Citie in most happie and pros­perous estate: wherefore seeing this thing is so conduci­ble and profitable vnto you, and so worthy of your labour, [Page] it shall behoue you to take paine herein, to be circumspect in your dealinges, to haue alwayes a most vigilant and watchfull eye to the charge committed vnto you, and for the obtaining of so great felicitie, not to refuse any la­bour, but with gladsome hartes ioyfully to vndertake the greatest perils, perswading your selues that euen pre­sently this combat is to bee attempted, for euen nowe it consisteth in your owne powers, and as it were in your owne handes to bee victorours without all labour to ac­complishe your hartes desire, and to winne that wished forte, if you would doe no more but shewe your sel­ues true and faithfull subiectes, cheerefully accompanying him in all godly exerci­ses which willes you to doe no more then he himselfe will doe. (⸪)