A fruteful, and pleasaunt worke of the beste state of a publyque weale, and of the newe yle called Vtopia: written in Latine by Syr Thomas More knyght, and translated into Englyshe by Raphe Robynson citizein and goldsmythe of London, at the procurement, and earnest request of George Tadlowe citezein [and] haberdassher of the same citie — Utopia. English

A fruteful, and pleasaunt worke of the beste state of a publyque weale, and of the newe yle called Vtopia: written in Latine by Syr Thomas More knyght, and translated into Englyshe by Raphe Robynson citizein and goldsmythe of London, at the procurement, and earnest request of George Tadlowe citezein [and] haberdassher of the same citie — Utopia. English

Table of contents

Title page

To the right honourable, and his verie singuler good maister, maister William Cecylle esquiere, one of the twoo principal secretaries to the kyng his mo••e excellent maiestie, Raphe Robynso• wissheth cōtinuaunce of health, with dayly increase of vertue, and honoure.

¶Thomas More to Peter Giles sēdeth gretynge.

¶The fyrste boke of the communycacion of Raphaell hythlodaye concernynge the best state of a commen wealthe.

The second Boke of the communication of Raphael Hythlodaye, concernyng the best state of a common wealthe: cō teynyng the discription of Vtopia, with a large declaration of the Godly gouernement, and of all the good lawes and orders of the same Ilande.

Of the cyties and namely of Amauro•te.

Of the Magystrates.

Of scyences Craftes and Occupatyons.

Of their lyuing and mutuall conuersatiō together

¶Of their iourneyenge or trauaylynge a brode, with dyuers other matters cunnyngly reasoned & wittilie discussed.

Of Bondemen, sicke persons, wedlocke, and dyuers other matters.

Of warfare▪

Of the religyons in Vtopia.

§

§

§

[Page]

[Page]

A fruteful / and pleasaunt worke of the beste state of a publyque weale, and of the newe yle called Vtopia: written in Latine by Syr Thomas More knyght, and translated into Englyshe by Raphe Robynson Citizein and Goldsmythe of London, at the procurement, and earnest request of George Tadlowe Citezein & Haberdassher of the same Citie.

¶Imprinted at London by Abraham Vele, dwelling in Pauls churcheyarde at the sygne of the Lambe. Anno. 1551.

To the right honourable, and his verie singuler good maister, maister William Cecylle esquiere, one of the twoo principal secretaries to the kyng his mo [...]e excellent maiestie, Raphe Robynso [...] wissheth cōtinuaunce of health, with dayly increase of vertue, and honoure.

[Page]

[Page]

VPon a tyme, when tidynges came too the citie of Corinthe that kyng Philippe father to Alexander surnamed y• Great, was comming thetherwarde with an armie royall to lay siege to the citie. The Corinthiās being forth with stryken with greate feare, beganne busilie, and earnestly to looke aboute them, and to falle to worke of all handes. Some to [...]owre & trymm [...] vp harneis, some to carry stones, some to amende and buylde hygher the walles, some to rampiere and fortyfie the [Page] bulwarkes, and fortresses, some one thynge, and some an other for the defendinge, and strengthenynge of the citie. The whiche busie labour, and toyle of theires when Diogenes the phylosopher sawe, hauing no profitable busi [...]es wherupō to sette himself on worke (neither any man required his labour, and helpe as expedient for the commē wealth in that necessitie) immediatly girded about him his phylosophicall cloke, & began to rolle, and tumble vp and downe hether & thether vpon the hille syde, that lieth adioyninge to the citie, his great barrel or tunne, wherein he dwelled: for other dwellynge place wold he haue no [...]e. This seing one of his frendes, and not a litell musynge therat, came to hym: And I praye the Diogenes (quod he) whie doest thou thus, or what meanest thou hereby? Forsothe I am tumblyng my tubbe to (quod he) bycause it were no reason y• I only should be ydell, where so many be workīg. In semblable maner, right honorable sir, though I be, as I am in dede, of muche lesse habilitie then Diogenes [Page] was to do any thinge, that shall or may be for the auauncement & commoditie of the publique wealth of my natiue countrey: yet I seing euery sort, and kynde of people in theire vocatiō, & degree busilie occupied about the cō mō wealthes affaires: & especially learned mē dayly putting forth in writing newe inuentions, & deuises to the furtheraūce of thesame: thought it my bo [...] ̄ den duetie to God, & to my countrey so to tūble my tubbe, I meane so to occupie, & exercise me self in bestowing such spare houres, as I beinge at y• becke, & cōmaundement of others, cold conueniently winne to me [...]elf: y• though no cōmoditie of that my labour, & trauaile to the publique weale should arise, yet it myght by this appeare, yt my [...]e endeuoire, & good wille hereunto was not lacking. To the accōplishemēt therfore, & fulfyllyng of this my mynde, & purpose: I toke vpō me to tourne, and translate out of Latine into oure Englishe tonge the frutefull, & profitable boke, which sir Thomas more knight compiled, & made of the new yle Vtopia, [Page] cō [...]eining & setting forth y• best [...], and fourme of a publique weale: [...] worke (as it appeareth) writtē almost fourtie yeres ago by thesaid sir Thomas More ye authour therof▪ The whiche mā, forasmuche as he was a mā of [...] tyme, yea almost of thies our dayes: & for y• excellent qualities, where [...] the great goodnes of God had plētyfully endowed hī, & for y• high place, & [...]owme, wherunto his prince had mo [...] graciously called hī, notably wel knowen, not only amōg vs his coūtremē ▪ but also in forrein coūtreis & nations▪ therfore I haue not much to speake of him. This only I saye [...] y• it is much to be lamēted of al, & not only of vs English men, y• a man of so incomparable witte, of so profounde knowlege, of so absolute learning, & of so fine eloquēce was yet neuerthelesse so much blinded, rather to obstinacie, then wt ignoraūce y• he could not or rather would not see the shining light of godes holy truthe in certein principal pointes of Christiā religion: but did rather che [...]se to perseuer, & continue in his wilfull & stubbourne [Page] obstinacie euē to y• very death▪ this I say is a thing much to be lamē ted. But letting this matter passe, I retourne again to vtopia. Which (as I said befor) is a work not only for y• matter y• it cōteineth fruteful & profitable, but also for y• writers eloquēt latine stiele pleasaunt & delectable. Which he y• readeth in latine, as y• authour himself wrote it, perfectly vnderstanding y• same: doubtles he shal take great pleasure, & delite both in y• swete eloquēce of y• writer, & also in y• wittie inuēcion, & fine cō [...]eiaūce, or dispositiō of y• matter: but most of all in the good, & holsome lessons, which be there in great plēty, & aboūdaūce. But nowe I feare greatly y• in this my simple translatiō through my rudenes & ignoraūce in our english tonge all the grace & pleasure of y• eloquence, wherwith y• matter in latine is finely set forth may seme to be vtterly excluded, & lost: & therfore the frutefulnes of the matter it selfe muche peraduenture diminished, & app [...]yred. For who knoweth not whiche knoweth a [...]y thyng, that an eloqent styele setteth [Page] forth & highly cōmendeth a meane, [...] ter? Where as on the other side rude, & vnlearned speche defaceth and disgraceth a very good matter. According as I harde ones a wise man say: A good tale euel tolde were better vntold▪ & an euell tale well tolde nedeth none other sollicitour. This thing I well pondering & wayinge wt me self, & also knowing, & knowledging the barbarous rudenes of my translatiō was fully determined neuer to haue put it forth in printe, had it not bene for certein frendes of myne, & especially one, whom aboue al other I regarded, a mā of sage▪ & discret witte, & in wordly matters by long vse well experiēced, whoes name is George Tadlowe: an honest citi [...]ein of London, & in thesame citie well accepted, & of good reputatiō: at whoes request, & instaūce I first toke vpō my weake, & feble sholders y• heauie, and weightie bourdein of this great enterprice. This man wt diuers other, but this mā chiefely (for he was able to do more wt me, thē many other) after that I had ones rudely brought y• worke to [Page] an ende, ceassed not by al meanes possible cōtinualy to assault me, vntil he had at ye [...]aste, what by y• force of his pitthie argumentes & strong reasons, & what by hys authority so persuaded me, that he caused me to agree & consente to the impryntynge herof. He therfore, as the chiefe persuadour, must take vpon him the daunger, whyche vpon this bolde, and rashe enterpryse shall ensue. I, as I suppose, am herin clerely acquytte, and discharged of all blame. Yet, honorable Syr for the better auoyding of enuyous and malycyous tonges, I (knowynge you to be a man, not onlye profoundely learned, and well affected towardes all suche, as eyther canne, or wyll take paynes in y• well bestowing of that poore talente, whyche GOD hath endued them wyth: but also for youre godlye dysposytyon, and vertuous qualytyes not vnworthelye nowe placed in aucthorytye, and called to honoure) am the bolder humblye to offer and dedycate vnto youre good mayst [...]rshyppe thys my symple woorke. Partly that vnder the sauffe conducte [Page] of your protection it may the better be defended frō the obloq [...]ie of thē, which can say well by nothing, that pleaseth not their fond, a [...]d corrupt iudgementes, though it be els both frutefull and godly: & partlye that by the meanes of this homely pre [...]e [...]t I may the better renewe, and reuiue (which of late, as you know, I haue already begonne to do) y• old acquayntaunce, that was betwene you and me in the time of our childhode, being then [...]colefellowes togethers▪ Notdoubting that you for your nati [...]e goodnes, and gentelnes will accept in good parte this poore gift, as an argument, or token, that mine old good wil, and hartye affection towardes you is not by reason of long tract of time, and separrtion of our bodies any thinge at all quayled and diminished, but rather [...] I assuer yo [...]) much augmented, and increased. This verely is y• chieffe cause, y• hath incouraged me to be so bolde with youre maistershippe. Els truelye this my poore present is of such simple and meane sort, that it is neyther able to recompense the least portion of your [Page] great gentelnes to me, of my part vn [...]eserued, both in the time of our olde acquayntance, and also now lately again bountifully shewed: neither yet fitte, & mete for the very basenes of it to be offered to one so worthy, as you be. But al mighty god (who therfore euer be thā ked) hath auaūced you to such fortune, & dignity, that yo [...] be of hability to accept thankefully aswell a mans goodwill as his gift. The same god graunte you and all yours long, and ioyfully▪ to contynue in all godlynes and prosperytye.

¶Thomas More to Peter Giles sēdeth gretynge.

[Page]

I Am almoste ashamed, right welbeloued Peter Giles, to sēde vnto you this boke of y• vtopian commen wealth, welnigh after a yeares space, which I am suer you loked forwithin a moneth & a half. And no marueil. For you knewe welenough, that I was already disbourdened of all y• labour & study belō ging to the inuention in this work, and that I had no nede at all to trouble my braynes about the dispositiō, or cōueyaunce of the matter: & therfore had her in nothing els to do, but only to rehearse those thinges, which you a [...]d I togethers hard maister Raphaell tel and declare. Wherefore there was no cause whie I shold study to setforth y• matter with eloquēce: for asmuch as his talke cold not be fine & eloquent, being firste not studied for, but sodein and vnpremeditate, and then, as you know, of a m [...] ̄ [Page] better sene in the greke language, then in the latine tong. And my writing, the nigher it shold approche to his homely playne, and simple speche, somuch the [...]igher shold it go to the trueth: whiche is the only marke, wherunto I do and ought to direct all my trauail and study herin. I graunt and confesse, frende Peter, meself discharged of somuch labour hauing all thies thinges, redy done to my hand, that almoost there was nothing lefte for me to do. Elles other the inuention, or the disposition of this matter might haue requyred of a witte nother base, nother at all vnlearned bothe some time & leasure, and also some studye. But yf yt were requysyte, and necessary, that the matter shoulde also haue bene wryten eloquentelye, and not alone truelye: of a suerty that thynge coulde I haue perfourmed by no tyme nor studye. But nowe seynge all thyes cares, stayes, and lettes were taken awaye, wherin elles somuche laboure and studye shoulde haue bene employed, and that there remayned no other thynge for me to doo, but onelye [Page] to wryte playnlye the matter as I hard it spoken: that in dede was a thynge lyghte and easye to be done. Howe beit to the dyspatchynge of thys so lytell b [...] synes my other cares and troubles did leaue almooste lesse, then no leasure.

Whyles I doo daylye bestowe my tyme abowte lawe matters: some to pleade, some to heare, some as an arbytratour wyth myne awarde to determyne▪ some as an vmpier or a iudge with my sentence finallye to discusse. Whiles I go one way to see and visite my frend: an other way about mine owne priuat affaires. Whiles I spend almost al the day abrode emonges other, and the residue at home among mine own: I leaue to meselfe, I meane to my boke no time. For when I am come home, I muste commen with my wife, chatte with my chyldren, and talke wyth my seruauntes. All the whyche thynges I reke [...] and accompte emonge busynes, forasmuche as they muste of necessytye be done: and done muste they nedes be, oneles a man wyll be a straunger in [Page] hys owne howse. And in any wyse a man muste so fassyon and order hys condytyons, and so appoynte and dyspose hym selfe, that he be merye, iocunde, and pleasaunte amonge them, whome eyther nature hath prouyded, or chaunce hathe made, or he hymselfe hathe chosen to be the fellowes, and companyons of hys lyfe: so▪ that wyth to muche gentle be hauyoure and famylyaryte he doo not marre them, and by tomuche sufferaunce of hys seruauntes make them hys maysters. Emonge thyes thinges nowe rehearsed stealethe awaye the daye, the moneth, the yeare. Whe [...] doo I wryte then? And all thys whyle haue I spoken no woorde of slepe, nother yet of meate, whyche emonge a greate number doth waste no lesse tyme, then dothe slepe, wherin almooste halfe the lyfe tyme of ma [...] crepethe awaye. I therefore doo wynne and gette onelye that tyme, whyche I steale from slepe and meate. Whyche tyme bycause yt ys verye [Page] littell, and yet somwhat it is, therfore haue I ones at the last, thoughe it be longe first, finished Vtopia, and haue sent it to you frende Peter to reade and peruse: to the intent that if anye thynge haue escaped me, you might putte me in remembraunce of it. For though in this behalf I do not greatly mistruste meself (whiche woulde God I were somewhat in witte and learnyng, as I am not all of the wor [...]e and dullest memory) yet haue I not so great trust and confidence in it, that I thinke nothing could fall out of my mynde. For Iohn Clement my boye, who as you knowe was there present with vs, whome I suffer to be awaye from no talke, wherin may be anye profit or goodnes (for out of this yong bladed & newe shotte vp corne, whiche hath alredy begonne to sprynge vp bothe in Latine & Greke learnynge, I looke for plentiful increase at length of goodly rype grayne) he I saye hath brought me into a greate doubte. For wheras Hythlodaye (oneles my memory fayle me) sayde that the bridge of Amaurote, whiche goeth [Page] ouer the riuer of Anyder is fyue hu [...] dreth paseis, that is to saye, half a [...]yle in lengthe: my Ihon sayeth that [...]. hundred of those paseis must be plucked awaye▪ for that the ryuer conteyneth there not aboue thre hundreth paseis in bredthe. I p [...]ye yow hartely calle the matter to youre remembraū ce. For if you agree with hym, I also wyll saye as you saye, and confesse me selfe deceaued. But if you cannot remember the thynge, then suerly I wyl write as I haue done, and as myne owne remembraunce serueth me. For as I will take good hede that there be in my booke nothyng fal [...]e, so if there [...]e any thynge in doubte▪ I wyll rather tell a lye then make a lye: bicause I had be good thē wise rather. Howbeit this matter maye easely be remedied, if you wyll take the paynes▪ to aske the question of Raphaell himselfe by worde of mouthe, if he be nowe with you, or els [...] youre letters. Which you must nedes▪ do for an other doubte also, whiche hath chaunced, throughe whoes faulte I cannot tell▪ whether through [...] [Page] [...]yne or youres or Raphaels. For neither we remembred to enquire of hym, nor he to tell vs in what parte of that [...]we worlde Vtopia is situate. The whiche thinge, I had rather haue spent no small somme of money, then that it should thus haue escaped vs: aswell for that I am ashamed to be ignoraunt in what sea that Ilande stādeth, wherof I write so longe a treatyse, as also because there be with vs certayne men, a [...]d especially one deuoute and godly man▪ a [...]d a professour of diuinitie, who is excedynge desierous to go vnto Vtopia: not for a vayne and curious desiere to see newes, but to the intent he may [...] further and increase oure religion whiche is there already luckely bego [...]e. And that he may the better accomplyshe and perfourme this his good intent, he is mynded to procure that he maye be sent thether of the byshoppe, yea and that he hymselfe may be ma [...]e bishop of Vtopia: beynge nothynge scrupulous: herein, that he must obteyne this byshopricke with suete. For he counteth that a godly [Page] [...], whiche procedeth not of the desiere of honour or lucre, but only of a godly zeale. Wherfore I moste earnestly desyere you, frende Peter, to talke with Hythlodaye, if you can, face to face, or els to wryte youre letters to hym, and so to worke in this matter, that in this my booke there maye neyther any thynge be founde whiche is vntrue, neither any thinge be lacking, whiche is true. And I thinke verely it shalbe well done that you shewe vnto hym the booke it selfe. For if I haue myssed or fayled in any poynte, or if any faulte haue escaped me, no man can so well correcte and amende it, as he can: and yet that can he not do, oneles he peruse and reade ouer my booke writtē. Moreouer by this meanes shal you perceaue, whether he be well wyllynge and contente that I should vndertake to put thys worke in wryting. For if he be mynded to publyshe and putforth his owne labours and trauayles hymselfe, perchaunce he would be lothe, and so would I also, that i [...] publyshynge the Vtopiane weale publyque, [Page] I shoulde preuente, and take from hym the flower and grace of the noueltie of this his historie. Howbeit, to saye the verie truthe, I am not yet fully determined with meselfe, whether I wyll put forth my booke or no. For the nat [...]res of men be so diuers, the phantasies of some so wayewarde, theire myndes so vnkynde, theire iudgementes so corrupte, that they which leade a merie and a iocounde lyfe, followinge theire owne sensuall pleasures and carnal lustes, maye se [...]e to be in a muche better state or case, thē they that vexe and vnquiete thēselfes with cares and studie for the putty [...]ge forth and publyshynge of some thynge, that maye be either profett or pleasure to other: whiche neuertheles wyl disdaynfully, scornefully, & vnkyndly accepte thesame. The moste parte of al be vnlearned. And a great numbre hath learnynge in contempte. The rude & barbarous alloweth nothynge but that which is verie barbarous in dede. If it be one that hath a lytell smacke of learnynge, he reiecteth as homely and commen [Page] ware whatsoeuer is not [...] full of olde [...]oughteate [...] wordes, and that be worne out of vse. Some there be that haue pleasure onely in olde rustie antiquities. And some onely in theire owne doinges▪ One is so sowre, so crabbed, and so vnpleasaunt, that he can awaye with no myrthe nor sporte. An other is so narrow in y• sholders, that he can beare no iestes nor [...]awntes. Some [...] poore soules be so aferd that at euery s [...]appishe worde theire nose shalbe bitten of, that they stande in no lesse drede of euerye quicke and sharpe worde, then he that is bytten of a madde dogge feareth water. Some be so mutable and waueryng, that euery houre they be in a newe mynde, sainge one thynge syttynge, and an other thynge standy [...]ge. An other sorte sytteth vpon theire allebencheis, & there amonge theire cuppes they geue iudgement of the wittes of wryters, & with greate aucthoritie they condemne eue [...] as pleaseth the [...] euery wryter accordyng to his writinge: in moste spiteful maner mockynge, lowtynge, and [...]l [...]wtynge [Page] them: beynge themselfes in the [...] [...]eason [...]a [...]ffe, and as sayth the prouerbe, out of all daunger of go [...]neshotte. For whye they be so [...] & smoethe, that they haue not somuch as [...]ne heare of an honest man, whereby one may take holde of them. There be moreouer some so vnkynde and vngen [...]ell, that thoughe they take great pleasure and delectation in the worke, yet for al that they can not fynde in theire hartes to lo [...]e the authour therof, nor to aforde hym a good worde: beynge muche lyke vncosrteis, vnthankefull, and chourlishe guestes. Whiche whē they haue with good and deyutie mea [...]es well filled theire bellyes, departe home geuynge no thankes to the feaste maker. Go youre wayes nowe & make a costly feaste at youre owne charge is for guestes so dep [...]tie mouthed, so dy [...]ers in taste, and bisydes that of so vnkynde and vnthankefull natures. But neuertheles frende Peter do I praye you with Hythlodaye as I willed you before. And as for this matter, I shalbe at my lybertie afterwardes to take [Page] newe aduisement. Howebeit, seynge I haue taken great pay [...]es and laboure in wrytynge the matter, if it may stande with hys mynde & pleasure, I wyll as touchinge the edition or publishing of the booke, followe the counsell and aduise of my frendes, and specially yours. Thus fare you well ryght hartely beloued frende Peter, with youre gentell wyfe: and loue me as you haue euer done, for I loue you better then euer I dyd.

¶The fyrste boke of the communycacion of Raphaell hythlodaye concernynge the best state of a commen wealthe.

[Page]

[Page]

THe moste vyctoryous and tryumphante Kynge of Englande Henry the ight of that name in all royal vertues Prince moste peerlesse, hadde of late in contra [...]ersie with the right hyghe a [...]d myghtie king of Castell weightye matters a [...]d of greate importaunce, for the debatement & final determinatiō wherof y• kinges Maiest. sēt me Ambassadour into flaū ders ioined in cōmissiō wt cuthebert Tū stall a man doubteles owte of comparison, and whom the kinges maiestie of late to the greate reioysyng of all men did preferre to y• office of maister of y• Rolles: but of thys mans prayses I [Page] will saye nothynge, not bycause I do feare that small credence shalbe geuen to the testymo [...]y that commyth owt of a frindes mouthe: but bicause hys vertue and lernyng be greater and of more excellencye, than that I am able to prayse them: and also in all places so famous, and so perfectlye well knowne, that they nede not nor ought not of me to be praysed, onles I wolde seme to shew and set furth the brightenes of the sonne wyth a candell, as the Prouerbe sayth. There met vs at Bruges (for thus yt was before agreed) they whome theire prince hadde for that matter appoynted commyssyoners, excellente men all. The chiefe and the head of thē was the Marcgraue (as they cal him) of Bruges, a right honorable man: but the wisest and the best spoken of them was George Temsice pro [...]oste of Casselles, a man not onlye by lernyng but also by nature of singuler eloquence, and in the lawes profoundelye le [...]ned: but in reasonynge, and debatynge of matters what by his naturall witte, & what by daylye exercise, suerlye he hadde fewe [Page] fellowes. After that we hadde ones o [...] twise mette, and vpon certeyne poyntes or artycles could not fully and throughlye agre: they for a certeyne space toke their leaue of vs, & departed to Bruxelle there to knowe theire princes pleasure. I in the meane tyme (for so my busynes laye) wente streyghte thens to Antwerpe. Whyles I was there abydinge often tymes amonge other, but whyche to me was more welcome then annye other▪ dyd vysite me o [...]e Peter Gyles a Citisien of Antwerpe, a man there in hys contr [...]y of ho [...]est reputatyon, and also preferred to hyghe promotyons, worthye truelye of the highest. For it is harde to saye whether the yong man be in lerny [...]ge or in honestye more excellent. For he is bothe of wonderfull vertuous condytyons, and also singulerlye well [...]lerned, and towardes all sortes of people excedynge gentyl. But towardes hys fryndes so kynde harted so louynge, so faythfull / so trustye, and of so earneste affectyon, that yt were verye harde in any place to fynd a man, that wyth hym in all poyntes of frendshyppe [Page] maye be compared. No man can be more lowlye or courteys. Noman vsithe lesse symulatyon or dyssymulatyon, in no man ys more prudente symplycytye. Besydes this he is in his talke and commu [...]ycatyon so merye and pleasaunte, Yea and that wythout harme that throughe hys gentyll intertaynement and hys swete and delectable communycatyon in me was greatlye abated and dymynyshed the feruent desyre that I hadde to see my natyue contreye, my wyffe and my chyldren, whome then I dyd muche longe and co [...]ett to see, bicause that at that tyme I hadde byn more then .iiij. monythes frō them. Vpon a certeyne daye as I was herynge the deuyne seruyce in our ladies churche, whyche is the fayrest the moste gorgious and curyous churche of buyldynge in all the cytye and also moste frequented of people, and when the deuyne was done, was readye to goo home to my lodgyng, I chaunced to espie thys forsayde Peter talkynge wyth a certeyne straunger a man well stryken in age wyth a blake [Page] sonne burned face, a longe bearde and a cloke caste homely aboute hys shoulders, whom by hys fauour & apparrel forthwythe I iudged to be a maryner. But whē thys Peter sawe me, he cummythe to me and saluteth me. And as I was abowte to answere hym: see you thys man sayeth he (and therwyth he poynted to the man that I sawe hym talkynge wyth before) I was mynded quod he to brynge hym streyghte home to you. He should haue be [...]e verye welcome to me sayd I for your sake. Naye (quod he) for hys owne sake if you knewe hym, for there ys no man this daye lyuynge that can tell you of so manye strange and vnknowne peoples and co [...]treis as this man can. And I know well that you be verye desyrous to heare of suche newes. Than I coniectured not farre a mysse (quod I) for euē at the fyrste syghte I iudged hym to be a maryner. Naye (quod he) there ye were greatlye deceaued: he hayth sayled indede not as the maryner Palynure but as the experte and prudent prince Vlisses: Yea rather as the auncyent and [Page] sage Philosopher Plato. For thys same Raphaell Hythlodaye (for thys ys hys name) is verye will lerned in the Latyne tonge: but profounde and excellent in the greke tonge: Wherein he euer bestowed more studye than in the lattyne, because he had geuen hym selfe holye to the studye of Phylosphy. Wherof he knowe that there ys nothynge extante in the lattyne tonge that is to an [...]y purpose, sauynge a few of Senecaes & Ciceroes doinges. His patrymonye that he was borne vnto he lefte to his bretherne (for he is a Portugalle borne) and for the de [...]yre that he hadde to see and k [...]owe the farre contreys of the worlde he ioyned him selfe [...] companye wyth Amerike vespuce, and in the .iij. laste voyages of thoes iiij. that be nowe in prynte and abrode in euerye mans handes he contynued styll in hys companye, sauynge that in te laste voyage he came not home again wyth hym. For he made suche meanes and shyfte what by intreataunce and what by importune sute, y• he gotte ly [...]ence of mayster Amerycke (thoughe it [Page] were sore agaynst his will) to be one of the .xxiiij. whyche in the ende of the last voyage were lette in the contrye of Gulike. He was therfore lefte behynde for hys mi [...]des sake, as one that toke more thoughte and care for trauaylyng, then dyinge: hauynge customablye in hys mouthe theis sayi [...]ges. He that hathe no graue ys couered wyth the skie, and The way to heauen owte of all places is of like lenghth and distance. Which fātasye of his (if God had not bene his betterfrende) he hadde suerlye bought full deere. But after the departynge of Mayster [...]espuce, when he hadde trauayled thoroughe and abowte manye contreis with v. of his companyo [...]s Gulykyans, at the laste by maruelous chaunce he arryued in Taprobane, frō whens he wente to Calyquit, where he chaunced to fynde certeyne of hys contrey shyppes, wherin he retorned again into hys countreye, nothynge lesse thē lokyd for. All thys when Peter hadde tolde me: I thankyd hym for his gentyll kyndnes that he hadde vouchesaufed to brynge me to the speche of that [Page] man, whose commu [...]ication he thought sholde be to me pleasaunte and acceptable. And there wyth I turned me to Raphaell and when we hadde haylsede thone thother and hadde spoken thies comē wordes, that be customably spoken at the fyrste metynge and acquentaunce of straungers we wente thens to my house and there in my gardeyne vpon a benche coueryd wyth grene tor [...]es we satte downe talking togethers. There he tolde vs howe that after the departynge of vespuce, he and hys fellowes that tarryed behynde in Gulyke beganne by lytle and lytle thoroughe he fayre and gentle speche to winne the loue and fauour of the people of that contreye in so muche that within shorte space, theye dydde dwell amonges them not onlye harmelese, but also occupyed wyth them verye famylyerly. He tolde vs also that they were in hyghe reputatyon and fauoure wyth a certeyne greate man (whose name and contreye ys nowe quyte owte of my remēbraunce) which of hys mere lyberalytye dyd beare the costes and charges [Page] of hym and hys fyue companions. And besydes that gaue them a trustye g [...]yde to conducte them in theyre iorney (whyche by water was in botys and by lande in wagains) and to bring them to other princes witheverye frindlye commendatyons. Thus after manye dayes iourneis, he sayd they foūd townys and cytyes, and weale publyques full of people gouerned by good and holsom lawes. For vnder the lyne equynoctyall and of bothe sydes of the same as farre as the sonne doth extend hys course, lyeth (quod he) greate and wyde desertes and wyldernesses parched burned and d [...]yed vppe with continuall & intollerable heate. All thynges be hydeous terryble lothesome and vnpleasaunte to be holde: all thynges owte of fasshyon and comylynes inhabyted wyth wylde beastes and serpentes, or at the leaste wyse wyth people that be no lesse sauage wylde and noysome, then the verye beastes them selfes be. But a lytle farther beyonde that all thynges begyn by lytle and lytle to waxe pleasaunte. The ayre [Page] softe temperate and gentle. The groūd couered wyth grene grasse. Lesse wildnes [...] the beastes. At the laste shall ye come again to people cities, & townes wherin is contynuall entercourse and occupyinge of marchandyse and chaffare not onelye amonge them selfes and wyth theyre borderers, [...]ut also wyth marchau [...]tes of farre contreys bothe by lande and water. Ther I had occasion (sayde he) to go to man yecontreys of euery syde. For there was no shyppe reddye to anye voyage or iorney, but I and my fellowes were into it verye gladlye receauyde. The shyppes that they founde fyrste were made playne flatte and broade in the botome troughewyse. The sayles were made of greate russhes or of wyckers, and in some places of lether. Afterwarde they founde shyppes wyth rydged kyeles: and sayles of canuas, yea and shortelye after hauynge all thynges lyke owers. The shyppemen also verye experte and connynge both in the sea and in the wether. But he sayde that he founde greate fauour and [Page] fryndeshyppe amonge them for teachynge them the feate and vse of the lode stone. Whych to them before that tyme was vnknowne. And therefore they were wonte to be verye tymerous and fearefull vpon the sea. Nor to venter vpon it, but onlye in the somer time. But nowe they haue such a confidence in that stone, that they feare not stormy wynter, in so doynge ferther frome care then ieopardye. I [...] so muche that it is greatlye to be doubtyd, leste that thynge thoroughe theyre owne folyshe hardynes shall tourne them to euyll and harme, whyche at the fyrste was supposyde shoulde be to them good and commodyous. But what he tolde vs that he sawe, in euerye contrey wheare he came, it were verye longe to declare. Nother it is my purpose at this time to make rehersall therof. But peraduenture in an other place, I wyll speake of yt, chyefelye suche thy [...]ges as shalbe profytable to be knowne, as in specyall be thoese decrees and ordinaunces that he marked to be well and wyselye pro [...]yded and e [...]acted amonge suche peoples [Page] as do lyue to gethere in a cyuyle pollycye and good ordre. For of suche thynges dyd we busilie enquyre, and demaunde of hym, and he lyke wise verye wyllynglye tolde vs of the same, But as for mōsters, because they be no newes, of them we were nothynge inquysitine. For nothynge is more easye to be founde, then bebarking Scyllaes, rauenyng Celenes, & Lestrygo [...]es deuowerers of people, and suche lyke greate and vncredyble monsters, but to fynde cytyzyns ruled by good and holsome lawes, that ys an excedynge rare and harde thynge. But as he markyd manye fonde and folyshe lawes in thoose newe founde landes, so he rehersyde manye actes and constytutyons wherby thies our cytyes, nations, contreys and Kyngdomes maye take ensample to amende theyre faultes enormytyes and errors, wherof in another place as I sayde I wyll intreate. Now at thys tyme I am determyned to reherse onlye that he tolde vs of the maners customes, lawes, and ordinaunces of the vtopians. But fyrste I wyll repete [Page] our former communycatyon by thoccasyon, and as I myghte saye the dryfte wherof he was browghte into the mentyon of that weale publyque. For when Raphaell hadde verye prudently touched dyuers thynges that be amysse sume here and sume there, yea verye manye of bothe partes, and agayne hadde spoken of suche wyse and prudent lawes and decrees as be establyshed and vsyde bothe here amonge vs and also there emonge them, as a man so connynge and experte in the lawes and customes of euery seueral coū treye, as though into what place so euer he came geaste wyse, there he had lede al his life: then Peter much meruellyng at y• man: Surely mayster Raphaell (quod he) I wondere greatlye whie you gette you not into some Kinges courte, for I am sewre there is no prynce lyuynge that wolde not be very gladde of yowe: as a man not onlye able hyghelye to delyte hym wyth youre profounde lernynge, and thys youre knowledge of contreis and peoples, but also are meat to instructe him with [Page] examples and helpe hym wyth counsell. And thus doynge yowe shal bring yowre selfe in a verye good case, and also be in habylytye to helpe all youre fri [...]des and kyn [...]folke. As concernyng my fryndes and kyn [...]folke (quod he) I passe not greatly for them. For I think I haue suffycyentlye done my parte towardes them all readye. For thies thinges that other men doo not depart frō vntyll they be olde and sicke, yea which they be the [...] verye lothe to leaue when they can no lenger kepe, those verye same thynges dyd I beynge not o [...]lye lustye, & in good helth, but also in y• flowere of my youthe, deuyde among my fryndes and kyn [...]folkes which I think wyth thys my liberalytye owghte to holde them contentyd and not to requyre nor to looke that be [...]ydes thys I shoulde for theyre fakes gyue my selfe in bondage to kynges. Naye god forbedde (quod peter) it is not my mynd y• you shoulde be in bondage to kynges, but as a retaynoure to them at youre pleasure whyche sewrelye I thynke ys the nygheste waye that you can deuyse [Page] howe to bestowe youre tyme frutefullye, not onlye for the pryuate commoditye of your fryndes and for the general proffytte of all sortes of people, but also for the auauncemente of your selfe to a muche welthier state and condytyon then you be nowe in, To a welthyer condition (quod Raphael) by that meanes that my my [...]de standethe cleane agaynst? Nowe I [...]y [...]e at lybertye after myn owne mynde a [...]d pleasure, whiche I thynke verye fewe of thes greate states and peeres of realmes cansaye. Yea and there be ynowe of them that sike for greate mens frindeshippes▪ and therfore thynke it no great hurte, if they haue not me nor .ij. or .iij. suche other as I am. Well I perceyue plainlye frind Raphaell (quod I) that yowe be desierous nother of riches, nor of powre. And truly I haue in no lesse reuerēce and estimatyon a man that is of your mind, then an [...]y of them al that be so high in po [...]r and aucthoritie. But you shall doo as it becommith yow, yea and accordinge to this wisedome and thys highe and free co [...]raghe of youres, yf yowe can [Page] fynde in youre harte so to appoynte & dyspose your selfe that you maie apply your wytte and delygence to the proffyt of the weale publyque, though it be [...]ume what to youre owne payne and hyndraunce. And thys shall yow [...]euer so well doo, nor wyth so greate proffitte perfourme, as yf yowe be of sum great prynces councell, and put in his heade (as I doubte not but you wyll) honeste opynyons, and vertuous persuasyons. For from the pry [...]ce, as from a perpetuall well sprynge cummythe amonge the people the floode of all that is good or euell. But in yowe is so perfitte ler [...]ynge that wythowte anye experience and agayne so greate experyence that wythoute anye lernynge yowe maye well be anny kinges councellour. You be twyse deceaued maister More (quod he) fyrste in me, and agayne in the thing it selfe. For nother is in me that habilitye that yowe force vpon me, and yf it were neuer so muche, yet in dysquieting myne owne quietnes I should nothing further the weale publique, for fyrst of all the moste parte of all princes haue [Page] more delyte in warlike matters and feates of che [...]alrie (the knowlege wherof I nother haue nor desire) than in the good feates of peace, and employe muche more study howe by right or by wrong to enlarge their dominions, thā howe well and peaceablie to rule and gouerne that they haue all redie. More ouer they that be counsellours to kinges, euery one of them eyther is of him selfe so wyse in dede that he nede not orelles he thinketh him self so wise, that he will not allowe an other mans coū cell: sauing that they do shamefully and flatteringly geue assent to the fond and f [...]lishe sayinges of certeyn greate men. Whose fauours, bicause they be in high aucthoritie with their prince, by assentacion and flattering they labor to opteyne, And verily it is naturally geuen to all men to esteame their owne inuentyons best. So both the rauen and the apethincke their owne yongo [...]es fayrest. Than if a man in such a company, where some disdayne and haue despite at other mens in [...]entions, and some cownte their owne best, if among suche men [Page] I saye a man shoulde bringe furth any thinge: that he hayth redde done in tymes paste, or that he hathe sene done in other places, there the hearers fare as thoughe the hole existimacion of theyr wisdome were in ieopardy to be ouerthrowē, and that euer after they should be counted for very diserdes, onles they colde in other mens inuentions pycke out matter to reprehende and find [...]wt at. If all other pore helpes faile: then this is their extreame refuge. Thies thinges (say they) pleased oure forefathers and auncetours: wolde god wee coulde be so wise as they were: and as though they had wittely concluded the matter, and with this answere stoppid euery mans mouthe, they sitt downe agayn. As who should saye it were a very daungerous matter, if a man in any pointe should be founde wiser then his forefathers were. And yet be we contēt to suffer the best and wittiest of their decrees to lye vnexecuted: but it in any thinge a better ordre mighte haue bene taken, than by them was, theare we take faste holde and finde many fawtes. [Page] Many times haue I chaunced vpon suche prowde lewde ouerthwarte and waywarde Iudgementes, yea and o [...]es in Englande. I praye yow Syre (quod I) haue yow bene in owr cōtrey? yea forsothe (quod he) and their I tarried for the space of .iiij. or .v. monythes together, not longe after the insurreccion, that the westerne Englishe men made agaynst their kynge, whych by their owne myserable and pitefull slaughter was suppressed and endyd. In the meane season I was much bounde and beholden to the righte reuerende father Ihon Morton Archebishop and cardenall of Canterburye and at that tyme also Lorde chauncellour of Englād a man maister Peter (for maister More knoweth all reddy that I wyll saye) not more honorable for his aucthority, thē for his prudence & vertue. He was of a meane stature & streken in age though, yet bare he his body vpryght. In his face did shine such an amiable reuerence as was pleasaunte to beholde. Gentell in cōmunycatyon yet earneste and sage. He had greate delyte manye [Page] tymes wyth roughe speche to hys [...]ewters to proue, but wythowte harme, what prompte wytte, and what bolde sprite were in euery man. In the which as in a vertue much agreinge with his nature, so that therewyth were not ioyn [...]d impudency, he toke greate delectatyon. And the same person as apte and mete to haue an admin [...]stratyon in the weale publique he dyd louingly enbrace. In hys speche he was [...]yne eloquent and pythye. In the lawe he had profounde knowledge, in witte he was incomparable, aud in memory wo [...]derfull excellent. Thies qualytyes whych in hym were by nature synguler, he by learnynge and vse had made perfytte. The [...]ynge putt muche truste in hys councell the weale publyque also in a maner leaued vnto hym when I was there. For e [...]en in the chiefe of hys youth he was takē from schole into the Courte, and there passyd all hys tyme in muche trouble and busynes, & was contynually troubled and tossed with dyuers mysfortunes and aduersytyes. And so by many and greate daungers [Page] he lerned thee xperience of the wordle, whyche so beynge learned can not easely be forgotten. It chaunced on a certayne daye when I sate at hys table, there was also a certayne laye man cū nynge in the lawes of yowre Realme. Whyche, I can not tel wherof takyng occasyon, began dyligently and busily to prayse that strayte and rygorous iustice, which at that tyme was there executed vpon fello [...]es, who as he sayde were for the moste part .xx. hanged together vpon one gallowes. And seyng so fewe escapyd punyshement he sayd he coulde not chewse but greatly wonder and maruell, howe and by what euill [...]n [...]ke it should so cum to passe that theues neuertheles were in euery place so ryffe and ranke. Naye Syr quod I (for I durst boldely speake my mind before the Cardynall) maruell nothing herat, for thys punyshement of theues passeth of the lymytes Iustyce, and is also very hurtefull to the weale publyque. For it is to extreame and crewell a punishement for thefte, a [...]d yet not sufficient to refrayne men from [Page] theft. For simple thefte is not so greate an offence, that it owght to be punished w [...]th death. Nother there is any punishmente so horrible that it can kepe them from stealynge whych haue no other crafte wherby to get their liuing. Therefore in this poynte, not yow only, but also the moste part of the wordle be lyke euyll scholemasters whych be ready are to beate then to teache their scholers. For great and horryble punyshemētes be appoynted for theues, whereas muche rather prouysyon should haue bene made, that there were some meanes wherby they might gett theyr lyuynge, so that no man should be dreuen to thys extreame necessitie, fyrst to steale, & then to dye. Yes (quod he) this matter is well ynoughe prouyded for all ready. There be hādy craftes there is husbandry to gett their liuinge by if they wolde not wyllingely be nowgh [...]. Nay (quod I) you shall not skape so, for fyrste of all I wyll speake nothynge of them that come home owte of warre may mede and lame, as not longe ago owte of blacke heath filde, and a lityll [Page] before that owt of the warres in Fraū ce: suche (I say) as put their lyues in ieopardy for the weale publiques or the kinges sake, and by the reason of weakenes and [...]amenes be not able to occ [...] py their olde craftes, and be to aged to lerne newe: of them I wyll speake nothinge, because warre lyke the tyde ebbeth and floweth. But let vs consydere those thinges that chaūce dayly before our eyes. Fyrste there is a great numbre of gentilmen, which can not be content to lyue ydle them selfes like dorres of that whiche other haue laboryd for: their tenauntes I meane, whō they polle and shaue to y• quycke by reysing their rentes (for this only poynte of frugalitye do they vse, men els thoroughe their lauasse and prodigall spendynge able to bringe them selfes to very beggery) thies gentilmen (I say) do not only liue in ydilnes them selfes, but also carry about with them at their tayles a greate flocke or trayne of ydell and loytrynge seruynge men, whyche neuer learned any crafte wherby to get their liuinges. Thies men as sone as theyr [Page] maister is dead, or be sicke them selfes, be incontinent thruste owte of doores. For gē [...]lemen had rather kepe ydil perso [...]es then sycke men, and many times the d [...]ad mans heyr is not able to mainteyne so great a howse, and kepe so many seruinge men as his father dydde. Then in the m [...]ane season they that be thus destytute of seruice, other starue for honger, or manfully playe the theaues. For what wolde yow haue them to do? When they haue wandred abrode so lo [...]ge vntyll they haue worne threde bare their apparell and also appayred their health, then gentlemen because of their pale and sicke faces and patched co [...]es wyll not take them into seruyce. And husbandmen dare not sett them a worke: Knowyng well ynough that he is nothynge mete to doo trewe and faythfull seruice to a poore man wyth a spade and a mattoke for small wages and harde fare, whyche beynge dey [...]ely and tenderly pampered vp in ydilnes and pleasure, was wont with a sworde and a buckeler by hys syde to iette through the strete with a bragging [Page] looke and to thynke hym selfe to good to be any mans mate. Naye by saynt Marie se [...] (quod the lawier) not so, for this kinde of men muste we make most of. For in them as men of stowter stomackes, bolder spyrytes, and manlyer currages then handy craftes men and plowe men be, doth consyste the hole powre strengthe and puisaunce of oure hoste when we muste fight in battaill. Forsothe ser aswel yowe myghte saye (quod I) that for warres sake you must cheryshe theues. For sewerly yow shal neuer lacke theues whyles yowe haue thē. No nor theues be not the most false and faynt harted soldiers, nor souldiours be not the cowardl [...]ste theues: so well thees .ij. craftes agree together. But this fawte, though it be muche vsed among yow, yet is it not peculiar to yow only, but commen also almost to all natyons. Yet Fraunce besydes thys is troubled and infected wyth a muche sorer plage. The hole realme is fylled and besieged wyth hierede soldiours in peace tyme, yf that be peace, whyche be brought in vnder the same [Page] coloure and pretence, that haith persuaded yow to kype thies ydell seruynge men. For thies wisefooles and very archedoltes thought the wealth of the hole contrey herin to con [...]ist, yf there were euer in a readynes a stronge and a sewer garrisō, specyallye of olde practysed soldyours, for they put no truste at all in men vnexercysed. And therfore they must be fayne to seke for warre to thende they maye euer haue practysed souldyours and cunnynge mansleers: leaste that (as it is pretilie sayde of Sal [...]ste) their ha [...]des and their myndes thoroughe ydylnes or lacke of exercyse [...]houlde waxe dull▪ But howe pernycyous and pestylente a thynge it is to maynteyne suche beastes, the Frenche men by there owne harmes haue learned, and the examples of the Romaynes, Carthaginie [...]s, Siriens and of many other contreys do manyfestly declare. For not only the empire, but also the fieldys a [...]d cityes of all thies, by di [...]ers occasyons haue bene ouerrūned and destroyed of their owne armies before hand had in a reddines. Now how [Page] vnnecessary a thynge thys is hereby it maye appere: that the Frenche souldiours whyche from their youthe haue by [...]e practysed a [...]d vrede in feates of armes doo not cracke nor auaunce thē selfes to haue verye often gotte the vpperhande and masterye of your newe made and vnpractysed soldiours. But in thys poynte I wyll not vse manye wordes leaste perchaunce I maye seme to flatter yow. No nor those same hā dy craft men of yours in cities, nor yet the rude & vplandishe ploughemen of the cōtrey, are not supposed to be greatly affraid of your gentilmens ydill seruing men, onles it be suche as be not of body or stature correspondent to theyr strenghte and currage, orels whose bolde stomackes be dyscourraged thoroughe pouertye. Thus yowe maye see, that yt ys not to be feared leaste they shoulde be effe [...]y [...]atede they yf were broughte vppe in good craftes a [...]d laborsome wourkes, whereby to gett theyre lyuynge, whose stowte and sturdye bodyes (for gentlemen vouchesauffe to corrupte and [Page] spill none but picked and chosen men) nowe other by reason of r [...]st and ydil [...]es be brought to weakenes, orels by to easy and womanlye exercises be made feble and vnable to endure hardenes. Trewly howe soeuer the case stondeth, thys me thinketh is nothyng a veyleable to the weale publique, for warre sacke, whyche yowe neuer haue, but when yow wyll your selfes, to kepe and mainteyn an vnnumerable flocke of that sort of men, that be so troblesome and noyous in peace, wherof yow owght to haue a thowsande times more regard thē of warre▪ But yet this is not onlye the necessary cause of stealing. There is an other which as I suppose is proper and peculiare to yow Englishe men alone. What is that, quod the Cardenall▪ forsoth (quod I) your shepe that were wōt to be so myke and tame, and so smal eaters, now, as I heare saie, be become so greate deuowerers and so wylde, that they eate vp and swallow downthe very men them selfes. They consume destroy and deuoure hole fieldes howses and cities. For looke in what partes of [Page] the realme doth growe the fynyst, and therfore dearist woll, there noble men, and gentlemen: yea and certeyn Abbottes, holy men god wote, not contenting them selfes with the yearely reuennues and profyttes that were wont to grow to theyr fore [...]athers and predecessours of their landes, [...]or beynge content that they liue in rest and pleasure nothyng profytyng ye muche noyinge the weale publiqu [...]: leaue no grounde [...]or ryllage: they enclose all in pastures: they throw downe houses: they plucke downe townes, and lea [...]e nothing stondynge but only the churche to make of it a shepehowse. And as thoughe yow loste no small quantity of grounde by forestes chases laundes and parkes, those good holy men turne all dwellinges places and all glebelande into desolation and wildernes. Therfore that one couetous and vnsatiable [...]ormaraunte and verye plage of his natyue contrey may compasse abowte and inclose many thousād acres of grounde to gether within one pale orhedge, the husbandmen be thrust owte of their owne, orels other by co [...]eyne [Page] or fraude, or by vyolent oppression they be put besydes it, or by wronges and iniuries they be so weried that they be compelled to sell all: by one meanes therfore or by other, other by howke or crooke they must nedes departe awaye, pore, sylie, wretched soules men, women, husbandes, wyues fatherles chyldren, widdowes, wofull mothers with their yonge babes, and their hole housholde smal in substaū ce, and muche in nombre, as husbandrie requireth many handes. Awaye they trudge I say out of their knowen and accustomed howses, fyndyng no places to rest in. All their housholde stuffe, whiche is verye lytle worth, though it myght well abyde the sale: yet beyng sodeynelye thrust out, they be constrayned to sell it for a thyng of nought. And when they haue wanderynge about so [...]e spent that, what can they els do but steale, and then iustelye God wo [...]e behanged, or els go about a beggyng? And yet then also they be cast in prison as vagaboundes, because they go about and worke not: whom [Page] no mā will set a worke, though they neuer so willingly offer them selfes therto. For one shepherde or heard man is ynough to eate vp that grounde with cattel, to the occupying wherof about husbandrye many handes were requysyte. And this is also the cause that victualles be nowe in many places dearer. Yea besydes this y• pryce of wolle is so rysen that poore folkes, whiche were wont to worke it and make cloth of it, be nowe able to bye none at all. And by thys meanes verye manye be fayne to forsake worke, & to gyue them selfes to ydelnes. For after that so muche grounde was inclosed for pasture, an infinite multitude of shepe died of the rotte, suche vengeaunce God toke of their inordinate and vnsaciable couetousnes, sendyng amonge the shepe that pestiferous morreyn, which much more iustely should ha [...]efallen on the shepemasters owne heades. And though y• nūbre of shepe increase neuer so fast, yet the pryce falleth not one myte, because there be so fewe sellers. For they be almoste all cōmen into a fewe [Page] riche mens handes, whome no neade driueth to sell before they lust, and they luste not before they may sell as deare as they lust. Now the same cause bryngeth in licke dearth of the other kindes of cattell, yea and that so much the more, bycause that after farmes pluckyd downe, and husbandry decayed, ther is no man that passyth for the breadyng of yonge stoore. For thees ryche men bry [...]ge not vp the yonge ones of greate cattell as they do lā [...]es. But first they bye them abrode very chepe, and afterward when they be fattede in their pastures they sell them agayne excedyng deare. And therfor (as I suppose) the hole incommoditie herof is not yet felte. For yet they make dearth only in those places where they sell. But when they shall fetche them awaye from thens wheare they be bredde faster then they can be brought vp: then shall there also be felte great dearth when stoore begynnyth to fayle their, whear the ware ys bought. Thus the vnreasonable couetousnes of a fewe hath turned y• thyng to the vtter vndoyng of your Ilande in [Page] the whiche thyng the chiefe felicitie of your realme dyd cōsist. For this great dearth of victualles causeth euery mā to kepe as lytle houses and as small hospitalitie as he possible maye. And to put awaye their seruauntes: whether I praye you but a beggynge: or els whiche thies gentle blood is and stoute stomakes, wyll soner set theyr myndes vnto a stealinge? Nowe to amende the matters to this wretched beggerye, and myserable pouertie is ioyned great wantonnes, imp [...]rtunate superfluytie, and excessiue ryote. For not only gently mens seruauntes, but also handy craft men: yea and almoste the ploughemen of the countrey, with all other sortes of people, vse muche straunge and prowde newe fanglenes in their apparrell, and to muche prodigal riotte and sumptuous fare at their table. Nowe bawdes, qweynes, hoores, harlottes, strumpettes, brothelhouses, stewes, and yet an other stewes, wine tauernes, ale houses, and [...]ipling houses, with so many noughty lewde and vnlawfull games, as dice, [Page] cardes, tables, tennyes, bolles, coytes, do not al thys sende the haūters of the [...] streyght a stealynge when theyr money is gone. Caste out thies per [...]ycious abomynacyons, make a lawe that they why [...]he plucked downe fermes and townes of husbandrye, shall buylde them vp agayne, or els y [...]lde and vprender the possessyon of them to suche as wyll goo to the coste of buyldynge them anewe. Suffer not thies ryche men to bye vp all, to ingrosse and forstalle, and with theyr monopolye to kepe the market alone as please them. Let not so manye be brought vp in ydelnes, lett husbandrye and tyllage be restored agayne, let clothe workynge be renewed, that there maye be honest labours for thys ydell sorte to passe theyre tyme in profytablye, whyche hytherto other pouertye hathe caused to be theues, or elles nowe be other vagabondes, or ydell seruynge men, and shortelye wylbe theues. Dowteles oneles yowe fynde a remedye for thyes enormytyes, yowe shalbe [Page] in vayne auaunce your selfes of executinge iustice vpon felloues. For this iustice is more beautyfull then iuste or profytable. For by sufferynge your youthe wantonlye a [...]d viciouslye to be brought vp, and to be infected euen from theyr tender age by lytle and lytle wyth vyce: than a goddes name to be punyshed, when they commytte the same faultes after they be commen to mannes state, whiche frome ther youthe they were euer lyke to doo: In thys pointe I praye yowe what other thynge doo yowe, then make theues, and then punyshe them? Nowe as I was thus speakynge, the [...]awier beganne to make hym selfe readye to aunswere, and was determyned wyth hym selfe to vse the common fassyon and trade of disputers, whyche be more dylygent in rehersynge, then aunswerynge, as thynking the memorye worthye of the chiefe prayse. I [...] dede syr (quod he) yow haue sayd well beinge but a straunger, a [...]d one that myght rather here somme thynge of thyes matters, then haue [Page] anye exacte or perfecte knowledge of thesame, as I will incontinent by open proffe make manifest and playn. For firste I wyll reherse in ordre all that you haue sayde: then I wyll declare in what thynge yowe be deceaued, through lacke of knowledge, in all our fassions, maners and customes: and laste of all I wyll aunswere to your argumentes, and confute them euery one. Fyrste therfore I wyll begynne where I promysed. Foure thynges yowe semed to me: hold your peace (quod the Cardynall) for by lyke yowe wyll make no shorte aunswere, whiche make such a begynning, wherfore at thys tyme yowe shall not take the paynes to make youre aunswere, but kepe it to youre nexte meatynge, whiche I would be ryght gladde that it myght be euen to morrowe nexte (onles other yowe or mayster Raphaell haue any earnest lette). But now maister Raphaell, I woulde very gladly heare of yow, whie yow thynke thefte not worthy to be punished with death: or what other punyshment you can deuyse [Page] more expedient to the weale publique. For I am sewer yowe are not of that mynde, that yowe woulde haue thefte escape vnpunyshed. For if now the extreme punishment of death cannot cause them to leaue stealynge, then if ruffians & rubbers shoulde be sewer of their lyues, what violence, what feare were able to holde their handes frō robbynge, whiche would take the mitigacion of the punishment, as a verye peruocation to the mischiefe? Suerly my lorde (quod I) I thynke it no right nor iustice that y• losse of money should cause the losse of mans lyfe. For myne opinion is that all the goodes in the worlde are not able to counteruayle mans lyfe. But if they wold thus say: that the breaking of iustice, & the transgression of the lawes is recompensed with this punishmēt, and not the losse of the money, then why maye not thys extreame iustice wel be called extreme iniurie? For neither [...]o cruel gouernaū ce, so streyte rules, and vnmercyfull lawes be allowable, that if a small offence be commytted, by and by the [Page] sworde shoulde be drawen: Nor so stoycall ordinaunces are to be borne wythall, as to counte all offences of suche equalitie, that the kyllynge of a man, or the takynge of hys money from hym were bothe a matter, a [...]d the one no more heynous offence then the other: betwene the whyche two, yf we haue annye respecte to equitie, no symylytude or equalytie consysteth. God commaundeth vs that we shall not kyll. And be we then so hastie to kyll a man for takynge a lytle money? And yf annye man woulde vnderstande kyllynge by this commaundement of GOD to bee forbydden after no larger wyse then mans constitucio [...]s defyneth kyllynge to be lawfull, then whye maye it not lykewyse by mannes constitutions be determyned after what sorte hooredome, fornication, and periurye maye be lawfull? For where as by the permission of GOD no man hathe power to kyll nother hym selfe, nor yet annye other man: then yf a lawe made by the consente of [Page] men concernynge slaughter of men: oughte to be of suche strengthe force and vertue, that they whyche contrarye to the commaundement of GOD haue kylled those, whome thys constitucion of man commaunded to be kylled, be cleane quyte and [...]xempte owte of the bondes and daunger of Goddes commaundemente: shall it not then by thys reason followe that the powre of Goddes commaundement shall extende no further, then mannes lawe dothe defyne, and permytte? And so shall it come to passe, that in lyke manner mans constitucions in al thynges shal determyne howe farre the obseruation of all Goddes commaundementes shall extende. To be shorte Moyses lawe, thoughe it were vngentle and sharpe, as a lawe that was gyuen to bondmen, yea and them verye obstinate, stubborne, and styf necked: yet it punnyshed thefte b [...] the purse, and not wyth deathe. And let vs not thynke that GOD in the [Page] newe lawe of clemencie and mercie, vnder the whiche he ruleth vs with fatherlie gentlenesse, as his dere chyldrē hath geuen vs greater scoupe & license to execute crueltie, one vpon an other. Now ye haue hard the reasons whereby, I am perswaded that this punishmēt is vnlawful. Furthermore I thinke there is no body that knoweth not, how vnresonable, yea how pernitious a thynge it is to y• weale publique, that a thefe & a homicide or morderer, shuld suffer equall and lyke punyshmēt. For the thefe seing that man, that is condempned for thefte in no lesse ieoperdie, nor iudged to no lesse punishment, then hym that is conuict of māslaughter: through thys cogitacion onlye he is stronglye and forcybly prouoked, and in a maner cōstreyned to kyl him, whom els he would haue but robbed. For the murder ones done he is in lesse care, and in more hope that the dede shall not be bewrayed or knowen, seynge the partye is nowe deade and rydde out of the waye, whyche onely myght haue vttered & disclosed it. But [Page] if he chaūce to be takē & discriued: yet he is in no more daunger and ieopardie then yf he had commytted but single fello [...]ye. Therfore whyles we goo about wyth suche crueltye to make theues aferd, we prouoke thē to kyll good men. Now as touchyng this question, what punysshemente were more commodyous and better: that trulye in my iudgement is easyer to be founde, then what punysshement were wurse. For whie should we dowt that to be a good and a profytable waye for the punysshemente of offendours, whyche we knowe dydde in tymes paste so longe please the Romaynes, men in thadmynystratyon of a weale publyque moste experte polytyque and cunnyng? Such as amonge them weare conuycte of great and heynous trespaces, thē they condempned into ston quarris, and in to myenes to dygge mettalle, there to be kepte in cheynes all the dayes of theyr lyfe. But as concernyng this matter, I allow the ordenaunce of no nation so well as that I sawe (whyles I trauayled a brode abowt the wordle) [Page] vsed in Persia amonge the people that commenlye be called the polylerytes. Whose la [...]de is bo [...]he large and ample, and also well and wyttelye gouerned: and the people in all conditiōs free and ruled by their owne lawes, sauing that they paye a verely tribute to the great king of Persia But bicause they be farre from the sea, compassed & closed in almoste rounde abowte wyth hygh mountaynes, and do content thē selfes wyth the frutes of theyr owne lande, whyche is of yt selfe verye fertyle and frutefull: for thys [...]ause [...]other they goo to other cow [...]ireys, nor other comme to them And accordynge to the olde custome of the lande, they desyre not to enlarge the bowndes of theyre domynyons: and those that they haue by reaso [...] of the hyghe hylles be easelye defended: and the trybute whyche they paye to the myghtye Kynge settethe them quyete and free from warfare. Thus theyre lyffe ys commodyous rather then gallawnte, and maye better be callede happ [...]e: [Page] or lucky [...], then notable or famous. For they be not knowne asmuche, as by name, I suppose, sauynge onlye to theyr nexte neyghbours and borderours. They that in thys lande be attay [...]tede and conuycte of felonye make restitutyon of that they stoole to the ryghte owner: and not (as they doo in other landes) to the Kynge: whome they thynke to haue no more ryghte to the thefe stolen thynge than the thieffe him selfe hath. But if the thynge be loste or made awaye, then the value of yt is paide of the goodes of such offēdours, whyche elles remayneth all hole to theire wyffes and chyldrene. And they them [...]elfes be condempned to be common laborers: and onles the thefte be verye heynous, they be nother locked in pryson, nor fettered in gyues, but be vntyed and goo at large, laborynge in the cōmon workes. They that refuse labour, or goo s [...]owly & s [...]acly to th [...]re woorke, be not only tied in cheynes, but also pricked forward with stripes. They that be diligent about their woork [...] liue without checke or rebuke. [Page] Euery nyghte they be called in by name: and be locked in theyr chambers. Besyde their dayly labour their lyffe is nothyng harde or incommodyous. Their fare is indyfferent good, borne at the chardges of the weale publyque, bycause they be commen seruauntes to the commen wealth. But their charges in all places of the land is not borne a lyke. For in some partes that is bestowed vpon them is gathered of almes. And though that waye be vncerteyn, yet the people be so full of mercye and pytie, that none is fownde more profytable or plentyfull. In some places certey [...] landis be appoynted here vnto: of the reuenewes wherof they befownde. And in some places euery mā geuyth a certeyne trybute for the same vse and purpose. Agayne in some partes of the lande thies seruyng men (for so be thies damned p [...]rsons called) do no common worke, but as euery priuate man nedeth laborours, so he cometh into the markette place, and there hiereth some of them for meate and drynke, and a certeyne limityd wayges by [Page] the daye, sumwhaat cheper then he shoulde hire a free man. It is also lawfull for them to chastyce the slowth of thies seruynge men wyth stryppes. By thys meanes they neuer lacke woorke, and besydes their meate and dryncke euery one of them bryngeth dayly sum thynge into the common treasoury. All and euery one of them be apparrayled in one colour. Their heddys be not polled or shauen, but rownded a lytle aboue the ee [...]es. And the typpe of the one eare is cut of. Euery one of them may take meat and drincke of their frindes, & also a cote of their owne collour: but to receyue monye is deathe, as well to the geuer, as to the receyuour. And no lesse ieopardie it is for a free man to receyue moneye of a seruynge man for any manner of cause: and lykewyse for seruynge men to touche weapons. The seruyng mē of euery seuerall shyere be dystyncte and knowen from other by their seuerall and dystyncte badges: whyche to caste away is death: as it is also to be seene owte of the precy [...]cte of their owne sheire, or to talke wyth a [Page] seruynge man of another shyere. An [...] it is no lesse daunger to them for to in te [...]de to runne awaye, then to do yt in dede. Yea and to concele suche an enterpryes in a seruynge man yt is deathe, in a free man seruytude. Of the contrarye parte, to hym that openeth & v [...]ereth suche cownselles be decreyde large giftes▪ to a free man a great somme of moneye, to a seruynge man freedome: and to them bothe forgeuynes and pardone of that they were of councell in that pretence. So that yt can neuer be so good for them to goo forwarde in theyre euyll purpose, as by repentaunce to turne backe. Thys is the l [...]we a [...]d ordre in thys behalfe, as I haue shewed yow. Wherin what humanytye is vsede, howe farre yt is frome crueltye, and howe commodyous yt is, yow doo playnlye perceue: For asmuche as the ende of their wrath and punyshemente intendeth nothyng elles, but the distruc [...]yon of vyces, and sauynge of men: wyth so vsynge and orderynge them, that theye can not chuse but be good, and what harme [Page] so euer theye dyd before, in the [...]eresydewe of theyre lyffe to make amendys for the same. Moreouer [...]t is so lytle feared, that they shoulde torne agayne to theyre vycyous condy [...]yons, that wayefarynge men wyll for theyre sauegarde chuse them to theyre guydes before annye other, in euerye shepre chaungynge and takynge newe. For yf they wolde commytte robberye, theye haue nothynge abowte them meate for that purpose. They maye towch [...] no weapons: moneye fownde abowte them shoulde betraye the robberye. They shoulde be no soner taken wyth the maner, but furthwyth they shoulde be punysshed. Nother theye can haue annye hoope at all to skape awaye by flyenge. For howe shoulde a man, that in no parte of hys apparrell is lyke other men, flye preuely [...] and vnknowen, oneles he wolde runne awaye naked? Howe be yt so also flyinge he shoulde be dyscryued by hys rounding and his [...]are ma [...]ke: But yt is a thynge to be dowted, that they will lay their heddes [Page] togither, and conspire agaynst the weale publyque. No no I warraunte you. For the seruyng men of one shere alone could neuer hoope to brynge to passe suche an enterpryse, wythowte sollycytynge, entysynge, and allurynge the seruynge men of many other shyeres to take their partes. Whych thynge is to them so impossyble, that they may not asmuche as speake or talke togethers, or salute one an other. No it is not to be thought that they wold make their owne countrey men and companyons of their cownsell in such a matter, whych they knowe well shoulde be ieopardye to the concelour therof, and greate commodytye and goodnes to the openner of the same: where as on the other parte, ther is none of them al hoopeles or in dyspayre to recouer agayne hys freedome, by humble obedience, by pacyent suffrynge, and by geauyng good tokens and lyklyhode of hymself, that he wyll euer after that, liue lyke a trewe and an honeste man. For euery yeare dyuers be restoryd agayne to their freedome: throughe the [Page] commendatyon of their patiēce. Whā I had thus spoken, saynge moreouer that I coulde see no cause whie this ordre might not be had in England with much more proffyte, then the Iustyce which y• lawier so highly praised: Naye (quod the lawier) this could neuer be so stablished in England, but that it must neades bringe the weale publique into great ieopardie and hasarde. And as he was thus saying he shaked his heade, & made a wrie mouth, & so hel [...] his peace. And all that were ther presēt, with one assent agreid to his saying. Well (quod the Cardinallpunc; yet it were hard to iudge withowte a proffe whether this order wold doo well here or no▪ But when y• sentence of d [...]athe is geuen, if than the king should cōmaunde e [...]ecution to be differry [...] and spared, & wold proue this order and fassion: taking away the priuileges of all saintuaries: if thē y• proffe wold declare the thing to be good & profitable, thā it were well done that it were stablisshed: Els the cōdempned & repriued parsōs may aswell & as iustly be put to death after this proffe, as when [Page] they were first cast. Nother any ieoperdye can in the meane space growe hereof. Yea & me thinketh that thies vagaboūdes may very well be ordered after the same fassion, against whome we haue hitherto made so many lawes, & so litle preuailed. Whē the Cardinal had thus said, than euery man gaue greate praise to my sayinges, which a litle before they had disallowed. But most of all was estemed that which was spokē of vagaboundes, bicause it was the cardinalles owne addition. I can not tell whether it were best to reherse the communicatiō y• followed, for it was not very sad. But yet you shal here it: for ther was no euell in it, & partly it parteined to the matter before said. Ther chaūsed to stond by a certein iesting parasite, or scoffer, which wold seme to resemble & cownterfeit y• [...]oole. But he did in such wise counterfeyt, that he was almost y• very same in de [...]d that he labored to represēt: he so studied with wordes & saynges brought furth so out of time & place to make sporte and moue laughter, y• he himself was oftener laughed at thē [Page] his iestes were. Yet the foolish fellow brought out now and then such indifferent and reasonable stuffe, that he made the prouerbe trew, which sayeth he y• shoteth oft at y• last shal hit y• marke. So y• whē one of y• cōpany said y• thorough my communicatiō a good ordr [...] was foūd for theues, & y• the Cardinall also had wel prouided for vagaboūdes, so y• only remained some good prouisiō to be made for thē y• through siknes & age were fallē into pouerty, & were become so impotente and v [...]weldye, that they were not able to woorke for their liuing: Tush (quod he) let me alon with them: you shall see me do well ynough with them. For I had rather then anye good that this kind of people were dreuen sum [...]hether out of my sighte, they haue so sore troubled me many times & oft, whē they haue with their lamētable [...]eares begged money of me: and yet thei could neuer to mimind so tune theire sōg, that therby they euer got of me me one farthynge. For euer more the one of thies two chaunced: eyther that I wolde not, or elles that I could not, [Page] bicause I had it not. Therefore nowe they be waxed wyse: when they see me goo bye, bycause they wyll not leese theyr laboure they lette me go and saye not one worde to me. So they looke for nothing of me, no in good sothe no more thē if I were a priest▪ But I will make a law, that all thies beggers shalbe distribute, and bestowed into hou [...]es of religion. The men shalbe made laye bretherne, as they call thē, and the women nūnes. Here at the Cardenall [...]miled, & allowed it [...], yea and all the residue in good earnest. But a certeyne treare graduate in diuinitie to [...]e such pleasur and delite in this ieste of prie [...]tes and mōkes, that he also, bei [...]ge elles a man of grislye and sterue grauitye, beganne merilye and wantonlye to ieste and taunt. Nay (quod he) you shal not so be ridde & dispatched of beggers, oneles you make some prouisiō also for vs frears. Whie (quod the iester) that is doon a [...]lredy: for mi lord him selfe set a very go [...]d ordre for yow, when he decreed y• vagaboūdes should be kept strayt, and set to worke▪ for you be the great [...]st and [Page] [...]eriest vagaboūdes that be. This iest also whē they saw the Cardinal not disproue it, euery man tooke it gladly, sauing only the Frear. For he (aud that no marueil) whē he was thus towchyd one the quicke, & hit on the gawl so fret so fumed & chafi [...] at it, and was in such a rage, y• he could not refrayn himselfe frō chiding skolding, railing & reuiling. He called the fellow ribbald, villay [...], i [...] nell, backbiter, s [...]laūderer, & the sō [...]e of perditiō: citing therwith terrible threatening out of holy scriptur. Thē y• ie [...]ting skoffer begā to play y•, scoffer indede, & verily he was good at y•, for he could play apart in y• play no mā better. Patiēt iour self good maister Freare (quod he) & be not angry, for scriptur saith: in your patiēce you shal saue your sowles. Then the Freare (for I wil rehearse his oune very woordes) No gailous, wretche▪ I a [...] not angry (quod he) or at the leaste wise, I do not synne: for the psalmiste saith-be yo [...] angry and sinne not. Thē the Cardinal spake gently to the Freare, and desiered him to quyete hymself. No my lord (quod he) I speake not but [Page] of a good zeal as I ought: for holly mē had a good zeale. Wherfor it is said: y• zeale of thy house hath eatē me. A [...]d it is sōg in the church. The skorners of Helizeus, whiles he wēt vp into y• house of god felt the zeale of the bald, as peraduētur this skorning villain ribauld shal feel. You do it (quod y• cardinall) perchaūce of a good mind & affection: but me thinketh you should do, I cā not tel whether more holily, certes more wisely, if you wold not set your wit to a fooles witte, and with a foole take in hād a foolish contention. No forsoeth my lorde (quod he) I should not doo more wiselye. For Salomon the wise sayeth: Answer a foole according to his folishnes, like as I do now, & do shew him y• pit y• he shall fall into, if he take not hede. For if many skorners of Helizeus, which was but one bald mā, felt y• zeal of the balde, howe much more shall one skorner of many frears feele, amonge whom be many bald mē? And we haue also the popes bulles, wherby all that mock & skorne vs be excōmunicate, suspēded a [...]d acursed, The cardinal seing [Page] that none end wold be made sent away the iester by a preuy beck, & turned the cōmunicatiō to an other matter. Sho [...]tly after whē he was risen from the table, he went to heare his sueters, and so dimissed vs. Loke mayster More with how long & tedious a tale I haue kept you, which suerly I wolde haue bene ashamed to haue done, but that you so earnestly desiered me, & did after suche a sort geue eare vnto hit, as though you wolde not that any parcell of that communication should be left out. Which though I haue doone sumwhat briefely, yet coulde I not chuse but rehearse it, for the iudgement of thē, which whē they had improued and disallowed my sayinges, yet incontinent hearinge the Cardinall allowe them, dyd themselfes also approue y• same: so impu [...]ē [...] ly flattering him, y• they were nothinge ashamed to admit, yea almost in good earnest, his iesters folish inuentions: bicause that he him selfe by smylynge at them did seme not to disproue thē. So that hereby you may right well perceaue how litle y• courtiers wold regard & [Page] esteme me & my sayinges. I ensure you maister Raphael (quod I) I toke great delectation in hearing you: all thinges that yow sayde were spoken so wittily and so pleasaūtly. And me thought my self to be in the meane time not only at home in my coūtrey, but also throughe the pleasaunt remēbraunce of the Cardinall in whose housse I was brought vp of a child, to waxe a childe agayne. And frēd Raphaell, though I did beare verye greate loue towardes you before, yet seynge yow do so earnestly fauour thys man, yow wyll not beleue howe muche my loue towardes yow is nowe increased. But yet, all this notwithstanding, I can by no meanes chaunge my mind, but that I must needys beleue y• you, if you be disposed, and can find in youre harte to followe some prynces courte, shall with your good cownselles greatly healpe & further the commē wealthe. Wherefore there is nothynge more apperteynynge to your dewty, y• is to say to y• dewty of a good mā. For where as youre Plato Iudgethe that weale publyques shall by this mea [...]es [Page] attayne perfecte felicitie, other if phylosophers be kynges, or els if kynges giue them se [...]fes to the study of Philosophie, how farre I praye yowe, shall commen wealthes then be from thys felicitie, if phylosophers wyll vouchesaufe to instructe kynges wt their good counsell? They be not so vnkind (quod he) but they would gladlye do it, yea manye haue done it all readie in bookes that they haue putfurth, i [...] kynges and princes would be wyllyng & readie to [...]olowe good counsell. But Plato doubteles dyd well forsee, oneles kynges themselfes would applye their myndes to the studye of philosophie, that elles they would neuer thoroughlye allowe the counsell of philosophers, beyng themselfes before euen from their tēder age infectyd, and corrupt with peruerse, and euyll opiniōs. Whiche thynge Plato hymselfe prouyd trewe in kynge Dionise. If I should propose to any kynge holsome decrees, doinge my endeuour to pluck out of hys mynde the pernitious originall causes of vice and noughtenes, [Page] thynke you not that I shoulde furth [...] with other be dryuen awaye, or elles made a la [...]ghy [...]ge stocke? Goo to suppose that I were with the Frenche kynge, and there syttynge in hys counsell whyles that in that moste secrete consultation, the kyng hym self there beynge present in hys owne p [...]son [...] they beat their braynes, and serche the verye bottomes of theyr wyttes to discusse by what crafte and meanes the kyng maye styll kepe Myllayne, and drawe to hym agayne [...]ugatyue Naples. And then howe to conquere the Venetians, and howe to bryng vnder his Iurisdiction all Italye, then howe to wynne the dominion of Fla [...] ̄ ders, Brabant, and of all Burgundie: with dyuers other landes, whole kyngdomes he hath longe a goo in mynde and purpose inuaded. Here whyles o [...]e counselleth to conclude a leage of peace with the Venetians, whiche s [...]al so lōge endure, as shalbe thought [...] and expedient for theire purpose, and to make them also of their coūsell, yea and besydes that to gyue them [Page] parte of the praye, whyche afterwarde, when they haue brought they [...] purpose abowte after theyr owne myndes they maye requyre and claym agayne. An other thynketh beste to hyere the Germaneynes. An other woulde haue the fauoure of the Swychers wonne with money. An others aduyse is to appease the puyssaunte powre of the emperours maiestie with golde, as with a moste pleasaunt, and accep [...]able sacrifice. Whyles an other gyueth counsell to make peace wyth the kynge of Arragone, and to restore vnto hym hys owne kyngdome of Nauarra as a full assuraunce of peace. An other cummeth in wyth hys .v. egges, and aduyseth to howke in the kynge of Castell with somme hope of affynytie or allyaunce, and to brynge to theyr parte certeyne peers of hys courte for greate pensions. Whyles they all staye at the chyefeste dowte of all, what to doo, in the meane tyme with England: and yet agree al in this to make peace wt the englishmē, & with [Page] moste suere and strong bondes to bind that weake and feable frendshyppe, so that they must be called frendes, and hadde in suspicion as enemies: And that therfore the skottes must be hadde in a reddines, as it were in a standing, reddie at all occasions, in au [...]ters the Englyshe men should sturre neuer so litle, inco [...]tinēt to set vpon them. And moreouer preui [...]ie and secretly, for opē ly it maye not be doone by the truce that is taken, pr [...]elye therfore I faye to make muche of some peere of Englande, that is bannyshed his countrey, whiche must cleyme title to the crown of the realme, and affirme hym selfe iuste inheritoure therof, that by thys subtyll meanes they maye holde to them the kynge, in whom elles they haue but small truste and affiaunce. Here I saye, where so greate and high matters be in consultation, where so manye noble and wyse men counsell their kyng only to warre, here if I sely man should ryse vp and wylle them to t [...]rne ouer the leafe, and learne a newe lesson, sayng that my counsell is [Page] not to medle with Italy, but to tarrye styll at home, and that the kyngdome of fraunce alone is all moste greater, then that it maye well [...] be gouerned of one man: so that the kyng shoulde not [...]ede to studye howe to gett more: And then shoulde propose vnto them the decrees of the people that be called the Achoriens, whiche be situate ouer agaynst the Ilande of Vtopia on the sowthealte syde. Thies Achorien [...] ones made warre in their kinges qua [...] [...]el for to gette him an other kyngdom, whiche he layde clayne vnto, & auaunced hymself righte inheritoure to th [...] crowne therof, by the title of an olde aliaunce. At the last whē they had gotten it, an sawe that they hadde euen as muche vexation and trouble in keping it, as they had in gettyng it, and that other there newe conquered subiectes by sondrye occasions were makynge dayly insurrections to rebell agaynste them, or els that other countreys were contynually with diuers inrodes and forraginges inuadinge them: so that they were euer fyghtinge other for thē, [Page] or agaynste them, and neuer coulde breke vp▪ their campes: Seynge them selfes in the meane season pylled and impoueryshed: their money carryed owt of the Realme; theyr owne me [...] ky [...]led to mayntayne the glory of an other nation▪ whē they had no warre, peace nothynge better then warre, by reason that their people in warre had [...]red themselfes to corrupte and wycked maners: that they hadde taken a delycte & pleasure in robby [...]ge and stealyng that through manslaughter they had gathered boldenes to mischiefe: that their lawes were hadde in contemp [...]e, and nothynge set by or regarded: that their kynge beynge troubled with the chardge and gouernaū ce of two kingdomes, coulde not nor was not able perfectly to discharge his office towardes them bothe: seynge agayne that all thies euelles and troubles were endeles: at the last laid there heades together, and lyke faithful and louinge subiectes gaue to their kynge free choyse and libertie to kepe still the [...]ne of this .ij. kingdomes, whether he [Page] would: allegyng that he was not able to kepe both, & that they were mo the [...] might wel be gouerned of half a king: for asmuche as no man would be content to take hym for his mulettour y• kepeth an other mans moyles besides his. So this good prince was co [...]streyned to be content with his olde kyngdome, & to gyue ouer the newe to o [...] of his frendes. Whiche shortelie after was violētlie dreuē out. Furthermore if I should declare vnto them, that all this busy preparaunce to warre, wherby so many nations for hys sake shuld be brought into a troublesom hurley-burley when all hys coffe [...]s were emptied, his treasures wasted and his people destroyed, should at the length through som mischaūce be in vai [...]e & to none effect: & that therfore it were best for him to cōtent him selfe wt his owne kingdom of fraūce, as his forfathers & predecessours did before him: to make much of it, to enriche it, & to make it as flourisshing as he could, to endeuoure hīself to loue his subiects, & again to be beloued of thē, willingly to liue wt thē [Page] peaceably to gouerne them, and with other kyngdomes not to medle, seinge that whiche he hath all reddy is [...] [...]nough for hym, yea and more then he can well turne hym to: thys my [...]e aduyse maister More how thy [...]ke you it would be harde and taken▪ So God helpe me not very thankefully (quod I). Wel let vs pro [...]ede then (quod he). Suppose that some kyng and his counsell were together whettinge their wit [...]es a [...]d deuisinge what subtell crafte they myght inuēte to enryche the king with greate treasures of money. First one councelleth to rayse and enhaunce the va [...]acion of money when the [...]ing must paye any: and agayne to calle downe the value of coy [...]e, to less thē it is worthe, when he muste receiue or gather any. For th [...]s great sommes shalbe payde with a ly [...]yll money, and where lytle is due muche shalbe receaued. An other counselleth to fay [...]e warre, that when vnder this coloure & pretence the kyng hath gathered great aboundaunce of money, he maye whē it shall please hym make peace wyth [Page] great solempnitie and holye ceremonies to blynde the eyes of the poore communaltie, as taking pitie and compassion God wote vpon mans bloude lyke a louing and a mercifull prince. An other putteth the kyng in remembraunce of certeyn olde and moughteeaten lawes, that of long tyme haue not bene put in execution, whiche because no man can remembre that they were made, euerie man hath transgressed. The fynes of thies lawes he coū selleth the kynge to require: for there is no waye so proffytable, nor more honorable, as the whiche hath a shewe and coloure of iustice. An other aduyseth hym to forbidde manye thynges vnder great penalties and fines, specially suche thynges as is for the peoples profit not be vsed, and afterward to dispence for money with thē, which by this prohibicion susteyne losse and dammage. For by this meanes the fauour of the people is wonne, and proffite riseth two wayes. First by takyng forfaytes of them whom couetousnes of gaynes hath brought in daunger of [Page] thys statute, and also by sellynge preuyleges and licences, whiche the better that the prynce is forsothe, the deerer he selleth them: as one that is lothe to graunte to any pryuate persone any thyng that is agaynste the proffyt of hys people. And therfore maye sell none but at an exceding dere pryce. An other giueth the kynge counsell to endaunger vnto hys grace the iudges of the Reyalme, that he maye haue them euer on hys syde, whyche muste in euerye matter despute and reason for the kynges rygth. And they muste be called into the kynges palace, & be desired to argue & discusse his matters in his owne presence. So there shalbe no matter of his so openlye wronge and vniuste, wherin one or other of them, other because he wy [...]l haue sumthyng to allege & obiecte, or y• he is ashamed to saye that whiche is sayde already, or els to pike a thanke with his prince, wyll not fynde som hole open to set a s [...]are in, wherewith to take the contrarie parte in a trippe. Thus whiles the iudges cannot agree amonges themselfes, [Page] reasoning & arguing of y• which is playne enough, & bringing the manifest trewthe in dowte: in the meane season y• kyng may take a fyt occasion to vnderstād the lawe as shal most make for his aduaūtage, wher vnto al other for shame or for feare wil agree. Then the Iudges maye be bolde to pronoūce of the kynges side. For he that geueth sentēce for the kyng cānot be without a good excuse. For it shalbe sufficient for hym to haue equitie of his part, or the bar [...] wordes of the lawe, or a wrythen and wr [...]sted vnderstandynge of the same, or els whiche with good and iust Iudges is of greater force then all lawes be, the kynges indisputable prerogatiue. To conclude, al the counsellours agre and consent together with the riche Crassus, that no abundāce of gold can be sufficiēt for a prince, which muste kepe and maynteyne an armie: furthermore that a kynge, thoughe he would, can do nothynge vniustly. For all that all men haue, yea also the men thē selfes be all his. And that euery mā hath somuch of his owne as y• kynges [Page] gentilnes hath not taken from hym.

And that it shalbe moste for y• kynges aduauntage that his subiectes haue very lytle or nothing in their possession, as whose sauegarde dothe herein consiste, that his people do not waxe wanton and wealthie through riches and libertie, because where thies thinges be, there me [...] be not wonte patientlye to obeye harde vniuste and vnlawfull commaundementes. Where as on the other part neade & pouertie doth holde downe and kepe vnder stowte courages, and maketh them patiēt perforce, takyng from them bolde and rebellynge stomakes. Here agayne if I should ryse vp, and boldelye affirme that all thies counselles be to the kyng dishonoure and reproche, whoes honoure and [...]auitie is more and rather supported and vpholden by the wealth and ryches of his people, then by hys owne treasures, and if I shuld declare that the cōminaltie chueseth their king for their owne sake & not for his sake: for this intent that through his labour and studie they might al li [...]e wealthily [Page] sauffe from wronges and iniuries: and that therfore the kynge ought to take more care for the wealthe of his people, then for his owne wealthe, euen as the office and dewtie of a shephearde is, in that he is a shepherd, to feade his shepe rather then hymself. For as towchynge this, that they thinke the defence and mayntenaunce of peace to consiste in the pouertie of the people, the thyng it self sheweth that they be farre owt of the way. For where shall a mā finde more wrāgling quarelling brawling and chiding, then amōg beggers? Who be more disierous of newe mutations and alterations, then they that be not content with the present state of their lyfe? Or finally who be bolder stomaked to brynge all in hurlie burlie (therby trustyng to get sum wyndfall) then they that haue nowe nothing to leese? And if so be that there were any kyng, that were so smallye regarded, or so behated of his subiectes, that other wayes he coulde not kepe thē in awe, but onlie by opē wronges, by pollinge and shauinge, and by brynging [...] [Page] them to beggerie, sewerly it were better for hym to fors [...]ke hys kyngdome, then to holde it by this meanes: whereby though the name of a kyng be kept, yet the maiestie is lost. For it is against the dignitie of a kynge to haue rule ouer beggers, but rather ouer ryche and welthie men. Of thys mynde was the hardie & couragius Fabrice, when he sayde that he had rather be a ruler of ryche men then be ryche hymselfe. And verelye one man to lyue in pleasure and wealth, whyles all other wepe and smarte for it, that is the parte not of a kynge but of a iayler. To be shorte as he is a folyshe phisition that cannot cure his patientes disease onles he caste hym in an other syckenes, so he that cannot amēd the liues of his subiectes, but be taking from them the wealth and cōmoditie of lyfe, he must nedes graunte that he knoweth not the feate how to gouerne f [...]e men. But let hym rather a mende hys owne lyfe, renounce vnhonest pleasures, and forsake pride. For thies be the chiefe vices that cause hym to runne in the contempt [Page] or hatered of his people. Let him lyue of hys owne, hurtinge no man. Let him do coste not aboue his power. Let hym restreyne wyckednes. Let hym preuente vices, and take a waye the occasions of offences be well orderyng hys subiectes, and not by sufferyng wickednes to increase afterward to be punyshed. Let hym not be to hastie in callynge agayne lawes, whiche a custome hathe abrogated: speciallye suche as haue bene long forgotten and neuer lacked nor neaded. And let hym neuer vnder the cloke and pretence of transgression take suche fynes and forfaytes, as no Iudge wyll suffre a priuate persone to take, as vniuste & ful of gile. Here if I should brynge furth before them the lawe of the Macariens, whiche be not farre distaūt from Vtopia: whose kynge the daye of hys coronacion is bounde by a solempne Othe, that he shall neuer at anye tyme haue in hys treasure aboue a thousande pounde of golde or syluer. They saye a verye good kynge, whiche toke more care for the wealthe & cōmoditie [Page] of hys countrey, then for thenrychinge of himself, made this lawe to be a stop and a barre to kynges for heaping and hording vp so muche money as might impoueryshe their people. For he forsawe that this som of treasure woulde suffice to supporte the kynge in battail against his owne people, if they shuld chaunce to rebell: and also to maintein his warres against the inuasions of hys forreyn enemies. Againe he perceiued thesame stocke of money to be to litle and vnsufficient to encourage and able hym wrong fullye to take a waye other mens goodes, whyche was the chiefe cause whie the lawe was made. An other cause was this. He thought that by thys prouisiō his people shuld not lacke money, wherewith to maynteyne their dayly occupieng and chaffayre. And seynge the kynge coulde not chewse but laye owt & bestowe all that came in aboue the prescript some of his stocke, he thought he woulde seke no occasions to doo hys subiectes iniurie. Suche a kynge shalbe feared of euell men, and loued of good men. [Page] Thies and suche other informatyo [...]s yf I shoulde vse emonge men holy encliued and geuen to the contrarye part, how deaffe hearers thyncke you should I haue? Deaffe hearers douteles (quod I) And in good faith no marueyle. And to speake as I thynke, truelye I can not a lowe that such communicatyon shall be vsed, or suche cownsell geuen, as you be suere shall neuer be regarded nor receaued. For how can so straunge informations be profitable, or how can they be beatē into their headdes, whose myndes be all reddye preuented with cleane contrarye persuasyons? Thys schole philosophie is not vnpleasaunte emonge fryndes in famylier communication, but in the counselles of kynges, where greate matters be debated and reasoned wyth great aucthorytye, thies thynges haue no place. That is yt whyche I mente (q [...]d he) when I said phylosophye hadde no place amonge kinges. In dede (quod I) this schole philosophie hath not: whiche thinketh all thinges mete for euery place. But ther is an other philosophye more cyuyle, [Page] whyche knoweth as ye wolde saye her [...]wne stage, and thereafter orderynge and behauynge herselfe in the play [...] that she hathe in hande, playethe her parte accordynglye wyth co [...]lynes, vtterynge nothynge owte of dewe ordre and fassyon. And thys ys the phylosophye that yowe muste vse. O [...]els whyles a commodye of Plau [...]us is playinge, and the vyle bondemen skoffynge and tryffelynge amonge themselfes, yf yowe shoulde sodenlye come vpon the stage in a philosophers apparrell, and reherse owte of Octauia the place wherin Seneca dysputeth with Nero: had it not bene better for yowe to haue played the domme persone, then by rehersynge that, which serued nother for the tyme nor place to haue made suche a tragycall comedye or gallym alfreye? For by bryngynge in other stuffe that nothynge apperteyneth to the presente matter, yowe must nedys marre and peruert the play that ys in hande, thoughe the stuffe that yowe brynge be muche better. What parte soeuer yowe haue taken [Page] vpon yowe playe that aswell as yow [...] canne and make the beste of yt: And doo not therefore dysturbe and brynge owte of ordre the hole matter, bycause that an othere whyche is meryere and bette [...]e cummethe to yowre remembraunce. So the case stondethe in a common wealthe, and so yt ys in the consultatyons of Kynges and prynces. Yt euell opynyons and noughty persuasions can not be vtterly and quyte pluckede owte of their hartes, if you can not euen as you wold remedye vyces, whiche vse and custome hath confirmed: yet for this cause yow must not leaue and forsake the commō wealth: yow must not forsake y• shippe in a tempeste, bycause yowe can not rule and kepe downe the wyndes. No nor yow muste not laboure to dryue into their heades newe and straunge in formatyons, whyche yow knowe well shalbe nothynge regarded wyth them that be of cleane cōtrary mindes. But you must with a crafty wile & a subtell trayne studye and endeuoure your selfe asmuch as in yow lyethe to handle the [Page] matter wyttelye and handsomelye for the purpose and that whyche yowe can not turne to good, so to ordre it that it be not very badde. For it is not possible for all thynges to be well, onles all men were good. Which I thynke wil not be yet thys good many yeares. By thys meanes (quod he) nothynge elles wyll be broughte to passe, but whyles that I goo abowte to remedy the madnes of others, I should be euē as madde as they. For if I wolde speake thynges that be trewe, I muste [...]eades speake suche thinges: but as for to speake false thinges, whether that be a philosophers part or no I can not tell, truely it is not my part. Howebeit thys communicatyon of myne, thoughe peraduenture it maye seme vnplesaunte to them, yett can I not see whie it should seme straū ge, or foolisshelye new fangled. If so be that I shoulde speake those thynges that Plato fayneth in hys weale publique: or that the vtopians do in theires, thies thinges thoughe they were (as they be in dede) better, yet they myghte seme spoken owt of place. For asmuch [Page] as here amonges vs, euerye man hath hys possessyons seuerall to hymselfe, & there all thinges be common. But what was in my communication conteyned, that mighte not, and oughte not in anye place to be spoken? Sauynge that to them whyche haue throughlye decreed and determined with them selfes to rome hedlonges the contrary waye it can not be acceptable and plesaunt, bicause it calleth them backe, and sheweth thē the ieopardies. Verilye yf all thynges that euell & vitiouse maners haue caused to seme inconueniente and noughte should be refused, as thinges vnmete & reprochefull, thē we must emong Christen people wyncke at the moste parte of all those thynges whyche Christe taughte vs, and so streytlye forbadde them to be wyncked at, that those thinges also whyche he whispered in the [...]ares of hys dyscyples he commaunded to be proclaymed in open howses. And yet the most parte of thē is moore di [...]ident frō the maners of the worlde nowe a dayes then my communicatyon was. But preachers slye & wilie mē [Page] followynge your cownsell (as I suppose) bicause they saw men euel willing to frame theyr manners to Christes rule, they haue wrested and wriede hys doctryne, and lyke a rule of leade haue applyed yt to mennys maners: that by some meanes at the leaste waye, they myghte agree to gether. Wherby I can not see what good they haue doone: but that men may more sickerlye be euell. And I truelye shoulde preuaile euen asmuche in kinges counselles. For other I muste saye other wayes then they saye, and then I were as good to saye nothynge, or els I muste saye thesame that they saye, and (as Mitio saieth in Terence) helpe to further their madnes. For that craftye wyle and subtill traine of yours, I can not perceaue to what purpose it serueth, wherewyth yow wolde haue me to studdy & endeuoure my selfe, yf all thynges can not be made good, yet to handle them wittily and handsomely for the purpose, y• as farre furth as is possible they maye not be very euell. For there is no place to dissēble in, nor to wincke in▪ Noughtye [Page] cownselles muste be openlye allowed, and verye pestylent decrees muste be approued. He shalbe cowntede worse then a spye, yea almoste as [...] uell as a trayt [...]ure, that wyth a faynte harte dothe prayse euell and noyesome decrees. Moreouer [...] man canne haue no occasyon too do [...] good chauncynge into the companye of them, whyche wyll sonere make noughte a good man, they be made good themselfes: throughe whose euell companye he shalbe marred, or els yf he remayne good and innocent, yett the wyckednes and folysshene [...] of others shalbe imputed to hym, and layde in hys necke. So that yt is impossyble wyth that craftye wyele, and subtell trayne to turne a [...]ny thing to better. Wherfore Plato by a goodly simplitude declareth, whie wise men refreyn to medle in the common wealth. For when they see the people swarm in to the stretes and dailie wett to the skin wyth ray [...]e, and yett can not persuade them to goo owt of the rayne, and to take their houses: knowynge well that if [Page] they shoulde goo owte to them, they shoulde nothynge preuayle, nor wynne ought by it, but be wett also in the rain, they do kepe them selfes within their howses, beynge contente that they be saffe them selfes, seynge they can not remedye the follye of the people. Howe be it dowteles mayster Moore (to speke truelye as my mynde geueth me) where soeuer possessyons be pryuate, where [...]oneye beareth all the stroke, it is hard and almoste impossyble that there the weale publyque maye iustelye be gouerned and prosperouslye floryshe: Onles you thynke thus: that Iustyce is there executed wher all thynges come into the handes of euell men, or that prosperytye their floryssheth where all is deuyded amonge a fewe: whyche fewe neuerthelesse do not leade their lyues verye wealthely, and the resydewe lyue myserablye wretchedlye and beggerlye. Wherefore when I consyder wyth my selfe and weye in my mynde the wyse and godlye ordynaunces of the Vtopyans, amonge whome wyth verye fewe lawes all thynges be so [Page] well and wealthelye ordered; that vertue ie had in pryce and estimatyon, and yet all thynges beynge ther common▪ euerye man ha [...]h abundaunce of euery thynge▪ Agaynt on the other part, when I compare wyth them so manye natyons euer makyng new lawes, yet none of them all well and suffycyentlye furnysshed wyth lawes: where euery man calleth that he hath gotten hys owne proper and pryuate goodes▪ where so many newe lawes daylye made be not suffycyente for euerye man to enioye defend and knowe from an other mans that whych he calleth his owne: which thyng the infinyte controuersies in the lawe, that daylye ryse neuer to be ended, play [...]ly declare to be trewe: Thies thynges (I say) when I consider with me selfe, I holde well with Plato, and [...] no thynge marueyll that he wolde make no lawes for them that refused those lawes, wherby all men shoulde haue and enioye equall portions of wel [...]hes and commodities. For the wi [...]e man dyd easely forsee, that thys is the one and onlye waye to the wealthe of [Page] amonge vs haue bene founde by chaū ce whych no wytte colde euer haue deuysed. As towchynge the auncyetnes (quod he) of common wealthes, than you might better iudge, if you had red the histories and chronicles of y• lande, which if wer may beleue, cities were there, before there were men here. Now what thinge soeuer hitherto by witte hath bene deuised, or foūd by chaūce: y• myghte be aswell there as here. But I thinke verily, though it were so that w [...] did passe them in witte: yet in studye & laboursome endeuoure they farre passe vs. For (as there Cronicles testifie) before our arriuall ther they neuer harde any thinge of vs, whome they call the vltraequinoctial [...]es: sauinge that o [...]es about. M. C. C. yeares ago, a certein [...]hyppe was loste by the Ile of Vtopia whiche was driuen thither by tempest. Certeyn Romayns and Egyptyans were caste on lande. Whyche after that neuer wente thence. Marke nowe what profite they tooke of thys one occasion through delygence and earneste [...]rauaile. There was no craft nor scy [...]ce [Page] within the impery of Rome, wherof any proffite co [...]ld rise, but they other lerned it of thies straungers, or els of them taking occa [...]ion to searche for yt▪ fownde it owte. So great proffyte was it to them that euer annye wente thyther from hence. But yf annye lyke chaunce before thys hath brought any man from thence hether, that is as quyte out of remembraunce, as this also perchaunce in time to come shalbe forgotten that euer I was there. And like as they quickelye, almoste at the first meting, made their owne, what so euer is among vs wealthely deuysed: so I suppose it wold belonge befor we wolde receaue any thing that am [...]nge them is better instytuted then amonge vs. And thys I suppose is the chiefe cause whie theyr common wealthes be wysel [...]ere gouerned and do florysh in more wealth then ours, though wee [...]other in wytte nor in ryches be ther inferiours. Therfore gētle maister Raphaell (quod I (I praye you and beseche yow descrybe vnto vs the Iland. And study [...]ot to be shorte: but declare [Page] largely in order their groundes, there ryuers, their cities, theire people, theire manners, their ordenaūces, ther lawes and to be short al thinges that you shal thinke vs desierous to knowe. And you shal thinke vs desierous to k [...]owe. And you shal thinke vs defierous to know whatsoeuer we knowe not yet. There is nothing (quod he (that I will do gladlier. For all these thinges I haue freshe in mind. But y• matter requireth leasure. Let vs go in therfor (quod I) to dinner: afterward we will bestowe the time at our pleasure. Content (quod he) be it. So we went in and dyned. Whē diner was done we came into yt same place again, & sate vs downe vpon the same benche, commaunding oure seruauntes that no man should trowble vs. Then I and maister Peter Giles desiered maister Raphaell to performe his promise. He therfore seinge vs desierous & willingeto harken to him, when he had sit still and paused a litle while, musing and bethinkynge hymselfe, thus he began to speake.

The ende of the Fyrste boke.

The second Boke of the communication of Raphael Hythlodaye, concernyng the best state of a common wealthe: cō teynyng the discription of Vtopia, with a large declaration of the Godly gouernement, and of all the good lawes and orders of the same Ilande.

[Page]

THe Ilande of Vtopia, conteyneth in breadthe in the myddell part of it (for there it is brodest) CC. miles. Whiche bredthe continueth through the moste parte of the lande. Sauyng that by lytle and lytle it commeth in, and waxeth narrower towardes both the endes. Whiche fetchynge about a circuite or compasse of .v c. myles, do fassion the hole Ilande lyke to the newe mone. Betwene thys two corners the sea runneth in, diuydyng them a sonder [Page] by the distaūce of .xi. miles or there aboutes, and there surmou [...]teth into a large & wyde sea, which by reason that the lande of euery fyde compasseth it about, and shiltreth it frō the windes, is not rough, nor mountith not with great waues, but almost [...]loweth quiclye not muche vnlike a great standing powle: and maketh almoste al the space within the bellye of the lande in maner of a hauen: and to the great commoditie of the Inhabitauntes receaueth in shyppes towardes euery parte of the [...]ande. The forefrontes or frontiers of the .ij. corners, what wythe fordys & shelues, & what with rockes be [...]ery ieoperdous & daungerous. In the middel distaunce betwene thē both stā deth vp aboue the water a great rocke, which therfore is nothing perillous bicause it is in [...]ight. Vpō the top of this rocke is afaire & a strōg towre builded, which thei holde with a garison of mē. Other roc [...]es ther be, that ly [...] hidde vnder the water, and therefore be daungerous. The cha [...]elles be knowen one [...]y to thēselfes. And therfore it seldome [Page] cha [...]nceth that any straunger onele [...] he be guided by a Vtopian can come i [...] to this hauen. In so muche that they thēselfes could s [...]aselie entre without ieoperdie, but that their way i [...] directed & ruled by certaine lande marke [...] stāding on the shore. By tur [...]ing translatynge & remouinge this markes into other places they maye destroye thei [...] enemies nauies be thei neu [...]r so many. The out side of the lande is also full of hauens, but the landing is so suerly defenced, what by nature and what by workmanshyp of mans hande, that a fewe defenders maye dryue backe many armies Howebeit as they saye, and as the fassion of the place it selfe doth partely shewe, it was not euer compassed about with the sea. But kyng Vtopus whose name as cōquerour y• Ilād beereth. (For before that tyme it was called Abra [...]a) which also brought the rude & wild people to that excellēt perfection, in al good fassions, humanitie, & ciuile gētilnes, wherin they now go beyond al y• people of the world: euē at his first arriuinge and enteringe vpon [Page] the lande, furth with obteynynge the victory, caused .xv. myles space of vplandyshe grounde, where the sea had [...]o passage, to be cut and dygged vp. And so brought the sea rounde aboute the lande. He set to thys worke not only the inhabitauntes of the Ilande (because they should not thynke it done in cont [...]melye and despyte) but also all hys owne soldiours. Thus the worke beyng diuyded into so great a numbre of workemen was with exceding maruelous spede dyspatched. In so muche that the borderers, whiche at the fyrst began to mocke and to gieste at thys vayne enterpryse, then turned theyr laughter to marueyle at the successe, & to feare. There be in the Ilande .liiij. large and faire cities or shiere townes, agreyng all together in one tonge, in lyke maners, institucions, and lawes. They be all set and situate a lyke, and in all poyntes fashioned a lyke, as farfurth as the place or plotte suffereth.

Of thies cyties they that be nighest to gether be .xxiiij. myles a sonder. Again there is none of them distaunt from the [Page] next aboue one dayes iorneye a fote.

There cum yearly to Amaurote out of euery cytie .iij. olde men wyse and well experienced, there to entreate and debate, of the cōmon matters of the lāde. For thys cytie (because it standeth iust in the myddes of the Ilande, and is therfore moste mete for the embassadours of all partes of the realme) is taken for the chiefe and head cytie. The precin [...]tes and boundes of the shieres be so commodiously appoynted out, & set furth for the cyties, that neuer a one of them all hath of anye syde lesse then xx. myles of grounde, and of som syde also muche more, as of that part where the cyties be of farther distaunce a son [...]er. None of the cities desire to enlarge the boundes & lymites of thei [...] shieres. For they count them selfes rather the good husbandes, then the owners of their landes. They haue in the countrey in all partes of the shiere howses or fermes buylded, wel appointed and furnyshed with all sortes of instrumē tes and tooles belongyng to husbandrie. Thies houses be inhabited of the [Page] cytezens, whiche cum thyther to dwel by course. No howsholde or [...]erme i [...] the countrey hath fewer then .xl. perso [...]es men and women, besydes two bō [...]en men, whiche be all vnder the rule and order of the good man, and the good wyfe of the house, beynge bothe very sage and discrete persones. And euery .xxx. fermes or famelies haue one heade ruler, whiche is called a Phy [...]arche, being as it were a hed baylyffe. Out of euery one of thies famelies or fermes cummeth euery yeare into the cytie .xx. persones whiche haue conty [...]ewed .ij. yeres before in the countrey. In their place so manye freshe be sent thither o [...]t of the citie, whiche of them that haue bene there a yeare all ready, a [...]d be therfore expert and conninge in husbandry, shalbe instr [...]cted & taught. And they the next yeare shall teache other. This order is vsed for feare that other skarsenes of victualles or some other like incommoditie shuld chaūce, through lacke of knowledge: yf they should be al together newe and fresh & vnexperte in husbandrie. This maner [Page] and fassion of yearlye chaunginge and [...]enewinge the occupiers of husbandrie, though it be solempne & customablie vsed, to thin [...]ent that no man shall be constrayned against his wil to contynewe longe in that harde and sharpe kynde of lyfe▪ yet manye of them haue suche a pleasure and delete in husbandrye, that they obteyne a longer sp [...]ce of yeares. Thies husbandmen plow [...] and till the grounde, and bryde vp cat [...]tell, and make readye woode, whiche they carrye to the cytie other by lande, or by water, as they maye moste co [...] [...]e [...]yently. They brynge vp a greate multytude of pulleyne, and that by a meruelous policie. For the hennes doo not syt vpon the egges: but by kepynge them in a certayne equall heate, they brynge lyfe into them, and hatche them. The chykens, assone as they be come owte of the shell, followe men and women in steade of the hennes. They bryng vp very fewe horses: nor non, but very fearce ones: & for none other vse or purpose, but only to exercyse their youthe in rydynge, [Page] and fea [...]es of armes. For oxen be put to all the labour of plowynge and drawyng. Whiche they graunte to be not so good as horses as sodeyne brunt, and (as we saye) a [...] a dead lifte, but yet they holde opinion, that oxen wyll abyde and suffre muche more laboure and payne, then horses wyl. And they thinke that they be not in daunger and subiecte vnto so manye dysseases, and that they bee kepte and maynteyned wyth muche lesse coste and charge: and fynally that they be good for meate whē they be past labour. They sowe corne onlye for bread▪ For their drynke is other wyne made of grapes, or els of apples, or peares: or els it is cleane water. And many tymes methe made of honey or liqueresse sodde in water, for therof they haue great store. And though they knowe certeynlye (for they knowe it perfectly in dede) how much victayles the cytie with the hole countrey or shiere rounde a [...]oute it dothe spēde▪ yet they sowe much more corne, and bryed vp muche more cattell, then serueth for their own vse, And the ouer [Page] plus they parte amonge their borderers. What soeuer necessary thynges be lackynge in the countrey, all suche stuffe they fetche out of the citie: where without anye exchaunge they easelye obteyne it of the magistrates of the citie. For euerye moneth manye of them goo into the cytie on the hollye daye.

When theyr haruest daye draweth nere, and is at hande, then the Philarches, whiche be the hed officers and bayliffes of husbandrye sende woorde to the magistrates of the citie what nū bre of haruest men is nedefull to bee sente to them out of the cytie. The whiche companye of haruest men beyng there readye at the daye appoynted, almoste in one fayre daye dispatcheth all the haruest woorke.

[Page]

Of the cyties and namely of Amauro [...]te.

AS for their Cyties, he that knoweth one of them knoweth them all: they be all so lyke one to an other, as ferfurth as the nature of the place permytteth. I wyll descrybe therfore to yowe one or other of them, for it skylleth not greatly whych, but which rather then Amaurote? Of them all this is the worthiest and of moste dignitie. For the resydwe knowledge it for the head Cytie, because there is the councell house. Nor to me any of them al is better beloued, as wherin I lyued fyue hole yeares together. The cytie of Amaurote standeth vpon the syde of a low hill in fashiō almoste four square. For the bredeth of it begynneth a litle benethe the toppe of the hyll, and styll contyneweth by y• space of twoo miles vntyll it cum to the ryuer of A [...]yder. The lenghte of it whiche lyeth by the [Page] ryuers syde is sumwhat more. The [...]yuere of A [...]yder rysethe .xxiiij. myles aboue Amanrote owte of a lytle sprynge. But beynge increasede by other small [...]oodes and bro [...]kes that runne into yt, and amonge othere .ij. sumwhat bygge ons, before the cytye yt ys halfe a myle brode, and farther broder. And .lx. myles beyonde the citye yt falleth into the Ocean sea. By al that space that lyethe betwene the sea and the cytye, and a good sorte of myles also aboue the Cytye the water ebbethe and flowethe .vi. houres togethere wyth a swyfte tyde. Whan the sea flowethe in for the lenghte of xxx. myles yt fyllethe all the A [...]yder wyth salte water, and dryuethe backe the fresshe water of the ryuer. And sumwhat furthere yt chaungethe the swetenes of the freshe water wyth saltnes. But a letell beyonde that the ryuer waxeth swet, and runneth forby the city fresh and pleisaunt. And when the sea ebbeth, and goyth backe agayn the freshe water followeth yt almoste euen to the verye falle in to the sea. [Page] There goeth a brydge ouer the ryuer made not of pyles or of tymber, but of stonewarke with gorgious and substanciall arche [...]s at that parte of the cytye that is farthest from the sea [...] to the intent that shyppes maye goo alonge forbie all the syde of the cytie without lette. They haue also an other ryuere whiche in dede is not very great. But it runneth gentelly and pleasauntlye. For it ryseth euen out of the same hyll that the cytie standeth vpon, and runneth downe a slope through the myddes of the citie into A [...]yder. And bicause it ryseth a lytle without the citie, the Ama [...]rotians haue inclosed the head sprynge of it with stronge fences and bulwarkes, and so haue ioyned it to the cytie. Thys is done to the intente that the water should not be stopped, nor turned a waye, or poysoned, if their enemyes should chaunce to come vpon them. From thence the water is deryued and brought downe in cannellis of brycke dyuers wayes into the lower partes of the cytie. Where that cannot be done by reason that the place [Page] wyll not suffer it, there they gather the rayne water in greate cisternes, which doth them as good seruice. The cytie is compassed aboute wyth a highe and thycke walle full of turrettes and bulwarkes. A deye dyche▪ but deape and brode and ouergrowen with busshes briers and thornes, goeth about .iij. sydes or quarters of the cytie. To the fowrth syde the [...]yue [...] it selfe serueth for a dytche. The stretes be appoynted and set forth verye commodious and handsome bothe for carriage and also agaynst the wyndes. The houses be of fayre and gorgious buyldyng, and in the streete syde they stonde ioyned to gether in a longe rowe throughe the h [...]e streate without anye partition or separacion. The stretes be twent [...] fo [...]e brode. On the backe syde of the houses through the hole lengthe of the st [...]ete lye large ga [...]deynes whyche be [...]closed in [...]ound [...] about with▪ the backe parte of the stretes. [...]uery house hath two doores, one into the strete and a posternne doore on the backsyde into the gardyne. Thyes doores, be made [Page] with two leaues neuer locked nor bolted so easye to be opened that they wil followe the least drawing of a fynger and shutte agayne by themselfes. Euerye man that wyll maye goo yn, for there is nothynge wythin the howses that ys pryuate, or annye mannes owne. And euerye .x. yeare they chaunge their howses by lotte. They sett great stoore be theyr gardeins. In them they haue vyneyardes, all manner of frute, herbes and flowres, so pleisaunte, so well furnished, and so fynelye kepte, that I neuer sawe thynge more fr [...]tefull, nor better trymmed in anny place. Their studye and delygence herin [...]ummeth not only of pleasure, but also of a certeyne stryffe and conte [...]tyon that is betwene strete and strete concernynge the try [...]mynge husbanding and furnyshyng if their gardeyns: euery man for hys omne part. And verily yow shall not lyghtly fynde in all the citye annye thynge, that is more commodyous, other for the proffyte of the citizins, or for pleasure. And therfore it may seme that the first fownder of the [Page] c [...]y mynded nothynge so muche, as h [...] dyd thies gardeyns. For they say that kyng Vtopus himself euen at the first begenning appointed, and drew furth the platte fourme of y• city into this fasion & figure that it hath nowe, but the gallaunt garnishing, & the bewtiful setting f [...]rth of it, whervnto he sawe that one mās age wold not suffice: yt he left to his posterity. For their Cronicles, which they kepe writtē with al deligēt circūspection, conteining the history of M.vijC.lx. years, euen from the fyrste conquest of the Iland, recorde and witnesse that the howses in the begi [...]ning were verye lowe, and lyke homelye cot [...]ges or poore shepparde howses, made at all aduentures of euerye rude pyece of woode that came fyrste to hā des, wyth mudde walles and rydged rooffes thatched ouer with straw. But nowe y• houses be curiously builded after a gorgiouse and gallaunt sort, wt .iij. storries one ouer another. The owte sydes of the walles be made other of harde Fly [...]te or of plauster orelles of [...]rycke, and the ynner sydes be well [Page] strengthened with tymber woorke▪ The rooffes be playne and flatte, couered with a certayne kinde of plaster that is of no coste, and yet so tempered that no fyre can hurte or perythe it, and withstandeth the violence of the weether better then anye leade▪ They kepe the wynde out of their windowes with glasse, for it is there much vsed, and sumwhere also with fyne lynnen clothe dipped in oyle or ambre, and that for twoo commodities. For by thys meanes more lyght cummeth in, and the wynde is better kept out.

Of the Magystrates.

EVerye thyrty families or fermes chewse them year lye an offycer, whyche in their olde language is called the Syphogra [...]te, & by a newer name the Phylarche. Euerye tenne Syphoagrauntes, with [Page] all their 300 families bee vnder an offycer whyche was ones called the Tra [...]ore, now the chiefe Phylarche. Moreouer as concerninge the electyon of the Prynce, all the Syphoagraūtes which be i [...] number .200. first be sworue to chewse him whome they thynke moste mete and expedyente. Then by a secrete electyon they name prynce one of those .iiij. whome the people before named vnto them. For owte of the .iiij. quarters of the citie there be iiij. chosen, owte of euerye quarter one, to stande for the election: Whiche be put vp to the counsell. The princes office contineweth all his liffe time, [...]nles he be deposed or put dow [...]e for suspitiō of tirannye. They chewse the tranibores yearlye, but lightlye they chaunge them not. All the other offices be but for one yeare. The Tranibores euerye thyrde daye, and sumtymes, if neade be, oftener come into the councell house with the prynce. Theire councell is concernynge the common wealth. [...] there be annye controuersyes amonge the commoners, whyche be very fewe, [Page] they dyspatche and ende them by and by. They take euer .ij. Siphogrant [...] to them in cowncell, and euerye daye a newe coupel. And yt ys prouydede that no thynge towchynge the common wealthe shalbe confyrmed and ratifyed, on les yt haue bene reasonede of and debatede .iij. dayes in the cowncell, before yt be decreed. It is deathe to haue annye consultaryon for the common wealthe owte of the cownsell, or the place of the common electyon. Thys statute, they saye, was made to thentente, that the prynce and Tra [...]ibores myghte [...]ot easely conspire together to oppresse the people by tyrannye, and to chaunge the state of the weale publique. Therfore matters of greate weyghte and importaunce be brought to the electyou house of the syphograuntes, whyche open the matter to their familyes. And afterwarde, when they haue consulted among them selfes, they shewe their deuyse to the cowncell. Sumtyme the matter is brought before the cowncell of the hole Ilande. Furthermore thys custome [Page] also the cowncell vseth, to dyspute or reason of no matter the same daye that it ys fyrste proposed or putt furthe, but to dyfferre it to the nexte syttynge of the cownsell. Bycause that no man when he hathe resshelye there spoken that cummeth fyrste to hys tonges ende, shalt then afterwarde rather studye for reasons wherewyth to defende and confyrme hys fyrste folyshe sentence, than for the commodytye of the common: wealthe as one rather wyllynge the harme or hynderaunce of the weale publyque then annye losse or dymyn [...] tyon of hys owne existymatyon. And as one that wolde not for shame (which is a verye folyshe shame) be cowntede annye thynge ouerseen in the matter at the fyrste, Who at the fyrste owghte to haue spoken rather wysely then hastely or rashelye.

Of scyences Craftes and Occupatyons.

[Page] HVsbandrye is a scye [...] common to them all ingenerall, both men and women, wherin they be all experte and cunnynge▪ In thys they be all instructe euen from their youth: partely in scholes with traditions and preceptes, and partely in the contrey nighe the cytye, brought vp as it wer in playing, not on lye beholdynge the vse of it, but by occasyon of exercisinge their bodies practising it al [...]o. Besides husbādry, which (as I sayde) is common to them all, e [...]ery one of them learneth one or other [...]e [...]erall and particuler science, as hys owne proper crafte. That is most commonly other clotheworkinge in wo [...] or s [...]are, or masonrie, or the smythes crafte, or the carpentes scye [...]ce. For there is none other occupacyon that anye numbre to speke of doth vse there. For their garmentes, whyche through [...] one fassion, ( [...]a [...]ynge that there is a difference betwene the mans garmente and the womans betwene the maried and the vnmaryed) [Page] and this one continueth for euer more vnchaunged, semely and comely to the eye, no let to the mouynge and weloynge of the bodie, also fitte bothe for winter and summer, as for thies garmentes (I saye) euery familye maketh theire owne. But of the other foreseyde craftes euerye man learneth one. And not only the men but also the women. But the women as the weaker sorte be put to the easere craftes: they worke wull and flaxe. The other more laborsome sciences be committed to the men. For the moste parte euerye man is brought vp in his fathers craft. For moste commonly they be naturally therto bente and inclined. But yf a mans minde stonde to anny other, he is by adoption put into a famelye of that occupatiō which he doth most fantasy. Whome not only his father, but also the magistrates do diligently looke to, that he be putt to a discrete and an hon [...]st householder. Yea and if anny person, when he hath lerned one crafte, be desierous to lerne also another, he ys lykewyse suffrede and permytted.

[Page]When he hathe learned bothe, he occupyethe whether he wyll: onles the cytye haue more neade of the one then of the other. The chyefe and almoste the onelye offyce of the Syphograuntes ys to see and take hede that no man sytte ydle. But that euerye one a pplye hys owne crafte wyth earneste delygence. And yet for all that not to be weryed from earlye in the mornynge to late in the enennynge wyth contynuall woorke, lyke laborynge and toplynge beastes. For thys ys worse then the myserable and wretced condytyon of bondemen. Whyche neuer thelesse is almoste euerye where the lyffe of woorkemen and artyfycers, sanynge in vtopia. For they dyuydinge the daye and the nyghte into .xxiiij. iust houres, appoynte and assygne only .vi of those houres to woorke .iij. before none, vpon the whyche they goo streyghte to dyner: and after dyner, when they haue rested, ij. houres, then they woorke .iij: and vpon that they goo to supper. Aboute .viij. of the clocke in the euenynge (cowntynge [Page] one of the clocke at the fyrste houre after none) they go to bedde .viij. houres they giue to sleape. All the voide time, that is betwene the huores of woorke slepe and meate, that they be suffered to bestowe, euerye man as he lyketh beste hym felfe. Not to thyntente they shoulde myspende thys tyme in ryote, or sloughfullenes. But beynge then lycensed from the laboure of theyr ow [...]e occupacyons, to bestowe the time wel and thriftely vpon some other good science, as shall please them. For yt ys a solempne custome there, to haue lectures daylye earlye in the morning, wher to be present they onlye be constreined that be namelye chosen and appoynted to learnynge. Howe be yt a greate multytude of euerye sorte of people, bothe men and women goo to heare lectures, some one and some an other, as euerye mans nature is inclyned. Yet, this notwithstonding, yf any man had rathere bestowe thys tyme vpon hys owne occupatyon, (as yt chaunceth in manye, whose myndes ryse not in the contemplatyon of annye scyence [Page] lyberal) he is not letted, nor prohibited, but is also praysed and commended as profitable to the common wealthe: After supper they bestowe one houre in playe: in somer in their gardeynes: in winter in their commē halles, where they dyne and suppe. There they exercise them selfes in musyke, or els in honeste and holsome communicai [...]on. Diceplaye and suche other folish and pernicious games they knowe not, but they vse .ij. games not muche vnlike the chesse. The one is the battell of nombers. Wherin one numbre stealethe awaye another. The other is wherin vices fyghte wyth vertues, as it were in battell array, or a set fyld. In the which game is verye properlye shewed bothe the striffe and discorde that vices haue amonge themselfes, and agayne theire vnitye and concorde againste vertues: And also what vices be repugnaunt to what vertues: with what powre and strenght they assaile them openlye: by what wieles and subteltye they assaute them secretelye: with what helpe and aide the vertues resiste, and ouercome [Page] the puissaunce of the vices: by what craft they frustate their purposes: and finally by what sleight or meanes the one getteth the victory. But here lease you be deceaued, one thinge you muste looke more narrowly vpon. For seinge they bestowe but .vi. houres in woork, perchaunce you maye thinke that the lacke of some necessarye thinges herof may ensewe. But this is nothinge so. For that small time is notonly inough, but also to muche for the stoore and abundaunce of all thinges that be requisite, other for the necessitie, or commoditie of liffe. The whiche thing you also shall perceaue, if you weye and cons [...] der with your selfes how great a parte of the people in other contreis lyueth ydle. First almoost all women, which be the halfe of the hole numbre: or els if the women be annye where occupied, their most comonlye in their steade the men be ydle. Besydes thys how great, and howe ydle a companye ys theyr of prystes, and relygyous men, as they call them? put there to all ryche men, speciallye all landed men, whyche comonly [Page] be called gentylmen, and noble men. Take into this numbre also their seruauntes. I meane all that flocke of stout bragging russhe bucklers. Ioyne to them also sturdy and valiaunt beggers, clokinge their idle leffe vnder the colour of some disease or sickenes. And truely you shall find them much fewer then you thought, by whose labour all these thynges be gotten, that men vse & lyue bye. Nowe consyder wyth youre selfe, of thies fewe that do woorke, how few be occupied in neeessary woorkes. For where money beareth all y• swing, ther many vayne and superfluous occupations must nedys be vsed, to serue only for ryotous superfluyte, and vnhonest pleasure. For the same multytude that now is occupied in woorke, if they were deuided into so few occupations, as the necessary vse of nature requyreth: in so greate plentye of thinges as then of necessity wolde ensue, doubtles the prices wolde be to lytle for the artifycers to maynteyne theyre lyuynges. But yf all thyes, that be nowe bisiede about vnprofitable occupations, with [Page] all the hole flocke of them that lyueydellye and slouthfullye, whyche consume and waste euerye one of them more of thies thynges that come by other mens laboure, then .ij. of the work men themselfes doo: yf all thyes (I saye) were sette to profytable occupatyons, yowe easelye perceaue howe lytle tyme wolde be enoughe, yea and to muche to stoore vs wyth all thynges that maye be requysyte other fo [...] necessytye, or for commodytye, yea or for pleasure, so that thesame pleasure be trewe and naturall. And thys in Vtopia the thynge yt selfe maketh manifeste and playne. For there in all the citye, wyth the hole contreye, or shyere adioynynge to yt, [...]caselye .500. persons of all the hole numbre of men and women, that be nother to olde, nor to weale to woorke, be licensed from labour. Amonge them be the Siphograū tes (which though they be by the lawes exemple and pryuyleged from labour) yet they exemp [...]e not themselfes: to the intent they maye the rather by their example prouoke other to woorke. The [Page] same vacation from labour do they also enioye, to whome the people persuaded by the commendation of the priestes and secrete election of the Siphograntes haue geuen a perpetual licence from labour to learnyng. But if anny one of them proue nott accordinge to the expectation and hoope of him conceaued, he is furth with plucked backe to the company of artificers. And contrarye wise, often yt chaunceth that a handicraftes man doth so earnestly bestowe hys vacaunte and spare houres in learninge, and through dilygence so profytte therin, that he is taken frome hys handy occupation, and promoted to the company of the learned. Owt of this ordre of the learned be chosen ambassadours, priestes, Tranibores, and finallye the prince him selfe. Whome they in their olde tonge call Barzanes, and by a newer name, Adanus. The residewe of the people being nother ydle, nother occupied about vnprofitable exercises, it may be easely iudged in how fewe howres how much good woorke by them maye be doone, towardes [Page] those thinges that I haue spoken of. This commodity they haue also abo [...]e other, that in the most part of necessary occupations they neade nott so muche worke, as other nations doo. For firste of all the buildinge or repayring of houses asketh euery where so manye mens continuall labour, bicause that the vnthyfty heyre suffreth the howses that hys father buylded in contynewa [...]nce of tyme to fall in decay. So that which he myghte haue vpholden wyth lytle coste, hys successoure is constreynede to buylde yt agayne a newe, to hys greate chardge. Yea manye tymes also the howse that stoode one man in muche moneye, anothere ys of so nyce and soo delycate a mynde that he settethe nothynge by yt. And yt beynge neglected, and therefore shortelye fallynge into ruyne, he buyldethe vppe anothere in an othere place wyth no lesse coste and chardge. But emonge the Vtopyans where all thynges be sett in a good ordre, and the common wealthe in a good staye, yt very seldome chaunceth, that they chuse a [Page] new plotte to buylde an house vpon. And they doo not only finde spedy and quicke remedies for present fautes: but also preuente them that be like to fall. And by this meanes their houses continewe and laste very longe with litle labour and small reparaciōs in so much that y• kind of woorkemen sumtimes haue almost nothinge to doo. But that they be commaunded to hewe timbre at home, and to square and trime vp stones, to the intente that if annye woorke chaūce, it may the spedelier rise. Now Syre in theire apparell marke I praye you howe few woorkemen they neade. fyrste of all whyles they be at woorke they be couered homely with leather or skinnes that will last .vij. yeares. Whē they go furthe a brode they caste vpon them a cloke, whyche hydeth the other homelye apparell. Thyes clookes thoroughe owte the hole Ilande be all of one coloure, and that is the naturall colour of y• wul. They therfor do not only spende muche lesse wullen clothe then is spente in othere contreys, but also the same standeth them in muche [Page] lesse coste. But lynen clothe ys made wyth lesse laboure, aud ys therefore hadde more in vse. But in lynen clothe onlye whytenese, in wullen oulye clenlynes ys regardede. As for the smalnese or fynesse of the threde, that ys no thynge passed for. And thys ys the cause wherfore in other places .iiij. or .v clothe gownes of dyuers colours, and as manye sylke cootes be not enoughe for one man. Yea and yf he be of the delycate and nyse sorte .x. be to fewe: where as there one garmente wyll serue a man mooste commenlye .ij. yeares. For whie shoulde he desyre moo? seing if he had them, he should not be the better hapt or couered frō colde, nother in his apparell any whyt the cumlyer. Wherefore, seynge they be all exercysed in profytable occupatyons, and that fewe artyfycers in thesame craftes be suffycyente, thys ys the cause that plentye of all thynges beynge emonge them, they doo sumtymes bring furthe an innumerable companye of people to amende the hyghe wayes yf annye be broken. Manye times also [Page] when they haue no such woorke to be occupied obout, an open proclamation is made that they shall bestowe fewer houres in woorke. For the magistrates do not exercise their citizens againste theire willes in vnneadfull laboures. For whie in the institution of that weale publique this ende is onlye and chiefely pretended and mynded, that what time maye possibly be spared frō the necessary occupations and affayres of the commen wealthe, all that the cytizeins sholde withdrawe from the bodely seruice to y• free liberty of ye mind & garnisshing of ye same. Forherin they suppose the felicity of this liffe to cōsist

Of their lyuing and mutuall conuersatiō together

BVt now will I declare how the citizens vse thē selfes one towardes another: what familiar occupieng & enterteynement there is emong ye people, and what fasion they vse in distributinge euery thynge. [Page] First ye city cōsisteth of families, ye families most cōmonlie be made of kinredes. For the women when they be maryed at a laufull age, they goo into their husbandes houses. But the male chyldrē, with al the hole male of spring continewe still in their owne familie, & be gouerned of the eldest and auncientest father, onles he dote for age: for then the next to hym in age, is put in his rowme. But to thi [...]tēt the prescript numbre of the citezens shoulde nether decrease, nor aboue measure increase, it is ordeined that no famylie whiche in euerye citie be .vi. thousand in the hole, besydes them of the contrey, shall at ones haue fewer chyldren of the age of .xiiij. yeares or there aboute then .x. or mo then .xvi. for of chyldren vnder thys age no numbre can be appointed. This measure or numbre is easely obserued & kept, by puttinge them that in fuller families be aboue the numbre into families of smaller increase. But if chaunce be that in the hole citie the stoore encrease aboue the iust numbre, therewith they fyll vp the lacke of [Page] other cityes. But if so be that the multitude throughout the hole Ilande passe and excede the dew numbre, then they chewse out of euery citie certeyn cytezens, & buylde vp a towne vnder their owne lawes in the nexte lande where the inhabitauntes haue muche waste & vnoccupied grounde, receauinge also of the inhabitaūtes to them if they wil ioyne a [...]d dwel with them. They thus ioy [...]ing and dwelli [...]g together, do easelye agre in one fassion of liuing, and that to the great wealth of both the peoples. For they so brynge the matter about by their lawes, that the grounde which before was nether good [...]or profitable for the one nor for the other is nowe sufficiente and frutefull enough for them both. But if the inhabitauntes of that lande wyll not dwell with them to be ordered by their lawes, then they dryue them out of those houndes which they haue limited and apointed out for themselues. And if they resiste and rebell, then they make warre agaynst them. For they counte this the moste iust cause of warre, when any [Page] people holdeth a piece of grounde voyde and vacaunt to no good nor profitable vse, kepyng other from the vse and possession of it, whiche notwithstandyng by the lawe of nature ought thereof to be nowryshed & relieued. If any chaunce do so muche dimynishe the numbre of anye of their cyties that it cannot be fylled vp agayne wythout the diminishynge of the iust numbre of the other cyties (whiche they say chaunced but twyse syns the begynnynge of the lande through a greate pestilente plage) then they make vp the numbre with cytezens fetched out of their owne forreyne townes, for they hadde rather suffer theyr forreyn townes to decaye and peryshe, then annye cytie of their owne Ilande to be dimynyshed. But nowe agayne to the conuersation of the cytezens amonge themselfes. The eldeste (as I sayde) rueleth the familie. The wy [...]es bee ministers to theyr husbandes, the chyldren to theyr parentes, and to bee shorte the yonger to theyr elders. Euerye Cytie is diuided into [Page] foure equall partes. In the myddes of euery quarter there is a market place of all maner of thynges. Thether the workes of euery familie be brought in to certeyne houses. And euery kynde of thynge is layde vp seuerall in barnes or store houses. From hēce the father of euery famelie or euery housholder fetcheth whatsoeuer he and hys haue neade of, & carieth it awaye with hym without money, without exchaū ge, without annye gage or pledge. For whye should anye thynge be denyed vnto hym: seyng there is abundaunce of all thynges, and th [...] it is not to be feared lest anye man wyll aske more then he neadeth? For whie should it be thoughte yt that man would aske more then enough, whiche is sewer neuer to lacke? Certeynly in all kyndes of ly [...]ynge creatures other fere of lacke doth cause couetousnes and rauyne, or in man only pryde, whiche counteth it a gloryouse thynge to passe and excell other in the superfluous and vayne ostentacion of thynges. The whyche kynde of vice amonge the Vtopians [Page] can haue no place. Next to the market places that I spake of, stonde meate markettes: whether be brought not onlye all sortes of herbes, and the fruites of trees with breade, but also fishe, and all maner of .iiij. footed beastes, and wilde foule that be mans meate. But first the fylthynes and ordure therof i [...] clene washed awaye in the runnynge ryuer without the cytie in places appoynted mete for the same purpose. From thence the beastes brought in kylled, and cleane wasshed by the handes of their bondemen. For they permyite not their frie citezens to accustome there selfes to the killing of beastes through the vse whereof they thinke that clemencie the genteleste affection of our nature doth by litle and litle decaye and peryshe. Nother they suffer anye thynge that is fylthye lothesome or vnclenlye, to be brought into the cytie, least the ayre by the stenche therof infected and corrupte, shoulde cause pestilente diseases. Moreouer euerye strete hath certeyne great large halles sett in equal distaunce one from [Page] an other, euerye one knowne by a sentrall name. In thies halles dwell the Syphograuntes. And to euery one of the same halles be apoynted .xxx. families, of ether side .xv. The stewardes of euery halle at a certayn houre come in to the meate markettes, where they receyue meate accordinge to the numbre of their halles. But first and chieflie of all respect is had to the sycke, that be cured in the hospitalles. For in the circuite of the citie a litle without the walles they haue .iiij. hospitalles, so bygge so wyde so ample & so lardge that they may seme .iiij. litle townes which were deuised of y• bygnes partely to thintēt the sycke, be they neuer so many in nū bre, shuld not lye to thronge or strayte, and therfore vneasely & incomodiously, and partely that they which were taken & bolden with contagious diseases, suche as be wonte by infection to crepe from one to an other, myght be laid a part farre from the cōpany of y• residue. Thies holpitalles be so well apointed, & with al thynges necessary to health so furnished, & more ouer so [Page] diligēt attēdaūce through the cōtinual presence of cūuyng phisitians is geue▪ that though no man be sent thither against his will, yet notwithstand inge there is no sicke persone in all y• citie, that had not rather lye there thē at home in his owne house. When the st [...] warde of the sicke hath receiued suche meates as the phisitians haue prescr [...] bed, then the beste is equally deuide [...] among the halles, according to the cō pany of euery one, sauing that there is had a respect to the prince, the byshop, the tranibours and to ambassadours, & all straungers, if there be any, whiche be verye fewe and seldome. But they also when they be there, haue certeyne houses apointed and prepared for thē. To thies halles at y• set houres of dinner & supper cummith all the hole Siphograuntie or warde warned by the noyse of a brasen trūpet: except such [...] be sicke in y• hospitalles or els in their owne houses. Howe be it no man is prohibited or forbid, after y• halles be serued, to fetch home meate out of y• market to his own house. For they knowe [Page] that no man wyl doo it without a cause resonable. For thoughe no man be prohibited to dyne at home, yet no mā doth it willynglye: because it is counted a pointe of small honestie. And also it were a follye to take the payne to dresse a badde dy [...]er at home whē they maye be welcome to good & fyne fare so [...]yghe hande at the hall. In this hal all vyle seruice all slauerie and drudgerye, with all laboursome toyle and busines is done by bondemen. But the women of euery famelie by course haue the office and charge of cokerye for sethinge and dressynge the meate, and orderyng al thinges therto belonging. They syt at .iij. tables or moo, accordyng to the numbre of their company. The men syt vpon the benche next the wall, and the women agaynst them on the other syde of the table, that if anye sodeyne euell should chaunce to them, as many tymes happeneth to women with chylde, they maye ryse wythout trouble or disturbaunce of anye body, and go thence into the nurcerie: The [...]ourceis sitte seuerall alo [...]e with their [Page] yonge suckeling [...]s in a certayne pa [...] loure apointed & deputed to the same purpose, neuer witho [...]t fire & cleane water, nor yet without cradels, that whē they wyll they maye laye downe the yong infauntes, and at their pleasure take them out of their swathynge clothes and holde them to the fyere, and refreshe them with playe. Eeuery mother is nource to her owne chylde, onles other death or sycke [...]es be the let. When that chaunceth, the wyues of the Siphograuntes quyckelye prouyde a no [...]rce. And that is not harde to be done. For they that can doo it do proffer themselfes to no seruice so gladlye as to that. Because that there thys kynde of pitie is muche praysed: and the chylde that is nouryshed euer after taketh hys nource for his owne naturall mother. Also amonge the nourceis, syt all the chyldren that be vnder the age of v. yeares. All the other children of both kyndes, aswell [...]opes as gyrles that be vuder the age of marryage doo other serue at the tables, o [...] [...]ls if they be to yonge therto, yet they [Page] stande by with meruelous silēce. That whiche is geuen to them frō the table they eate, and other seuerall dy [...]ner [...]yme they haue none. The Siphograunt & his wife sitteth in the middes of the highe table, forasmuche as that is counted the honerablest place, and because from thence al the hole companye is in their syght. For that table stā deth ouer wharte the ouer ende of the halle. To them be ioyned .ii. of the anctientest and eldest. For at euery table they syt .iiij. at a m [...]esse. But if there be a church stāding in that Siphograūtie or warde, then the priest and his wyfe sitteth with the Siphograūte, as chiefe in the cōpany. On both sydes of them sytte yonge men, and nexte vnto them agayne olde men. And thus throughe out all the house equall of age be sette together and yet be myxte with vnequall ages. Thys they saye was ordeyned to the intent that the sage grauitie and reuerēce of the elders should kepe the yongers from wanton licence of wordes and behauiour. For as muche as nothyng can be so secretly spoken [Page] or done at the table, but either they that syt on the one syde or on the other must nedes perceiue it. The disshes be not set downe in ordre frō the first place, but all the old mē (whoes places be marked with som speciall token to be knowē) be first serued of there meate, & then the residue equally. The old men deuide their dainties as they think best to the yonger that sit of both sides thē. Thus the elders be not defrauded of their dewe honoure, and neuerthelesse equall cōmoditie cōmeth to euery one. They begin euerye dynner & supper of reading sumthing y• perteineth to good maners & vertue. But it is short, because no mā shalbe greued therwith. Here of thelders take occasion of honest cō munication, but nother sad nor vnpleasaunt. Howbeit they do not spend all y• hole dy [...]er time thēselfes [...] long & tedious talkes: but they gladly here also the yong mē, yea & do purposly prouoke thē to talke, to thentent yt they maye haue a profe of euery mās wit & towardnes or disposition to vertue, which cō mōly in y• liberte of feastīg doth shew & [Page] [...]tter it selfe. Theire dyners be verye short: but there suppers be sumwhat lō ger, because that after dynner followeth laboure, after supper sleape and naturall reste, whiche they thynke to be of no more strengthe and efficacy to holsome and healthfull digestion. No supper is passed without musicke. Nor their bankettes lacke no conceytes nor iouckettes. They burne swete gūmes and speces for perfumes and pleasaūt sinelles, and sprincle about swete oyntmentes and waters, yea they leaue nothyng vndone that maketh for the cheryng of the company. For they be muche enclyued to this opinion: to thinke no kynde of pleasure forbidden, wherof cummeth no harme. Thus therfore and after this sorte they lyue togethers in the citie, but in the contrey they that dwell alone farre from anye neyghbours, do dyne and suppe at home in their own houses. For no famelie ther [...] lacketh anye kynde of victualles, as from whome cummeth all that the cytezens eate and lyue bye.

[Page]

¶Of their iourneyenge or trauaylynge a brode, with dyuers other matters cunnyngly reasoned & wittilie discussed.

BVt if any be desierous to vysite other their fryndes that dwel in an other Cytie, or to se [...] the place it selfe: they easelye obteyne lycence of their Siphograuntes and Tranibores, oneles there bee som profitable let. No mau goeth out alone but a companye is sente furth to gether with their princes letters, whiche do testifie that they haue licence to g [...] that iorney, and prescribeth also the day of their retourne. They haue a wageyn geuen them, with a cōmon bondman whiche driueth the oxen & taketh charge of thē. But onles they haue wome [...] in their company they sende home the wageyn againe, as an impediment and a let. And though they carrye nothyng furth wit thē, yet in all their iorney they lacke nothing. For whersoeuer [Page] they come they be at home. If they tary in a place longer then one day, thā there euery one of them falleth to his own occupation, & be very gentilly enterteined of the workmen & companies of thesame craftes. If any man of his owne head & without leaue, walke out of his precinct & boūdes, takē without the princes lettres, he is brought again for a fugitiue or a runaway with great shame & rebuke, & is shapely punished. If he be taken in that faulte agayne he is punished with bondage. If anye be desierous to walke a brode into the fieldes, or into the cōtrey that belongeth to the same citie that he dwelleth in, obteynyng the good will of his father, & the cōsent of his wife, he is not prohibited▪ But into what part of y• cōtrey soeuer he cūmeth, he hath no meat geuin him vntill he haue wrought out his fore [...]o [...]es taske, or els dispatched so muche worke as [...]here is wonte to be wrought befor supper. Obseruing this lawe and condition, he may go whether he well within the boundes of his owne citie. For he shalbe no les profitable to the [Page] citie, thē if he were within it. Now you see howe litle libertie they haue to loyter, how they can haue no cloke or pretence to ydelnes. There be nether wyn tauernes nor ale houses, nor stewes, nor any occasion of vice or wickednes, no lurking corners, no places of wicked coūcelles or vnlawfull assembles. But they be in y• present sight, & vnder the iyes of euery man. So that of necessitie they must other applie their accustomed labours, or els recreate thēselfes with houest & laudable pastymes. This fassion being vsed amōg the people, they must of necessitie haue store & plētie of all thinges. And seing they be al therof parteners equally, therfore cane no man there be poore or nedye. In the councel of Amanrot (whether, as I sayde, euery citie sendeth .iij. mē a pece yearly) assone as it is perfectly knowē of what thyuges there is in euery place plentie, and agayne what thynges be s [...]a [...]t in anye place: incontinent the lacke of the one is performed and fylled vp with the aboundaunce of the other. And this they doo frelye without [Page] any benifite, takyng nothing agayn of thē to whō the thinges is geuē, but those cyties that haue geuen of their store to anye other cytie that lacketh, reguyrynge nothynge agayne of thesame cytie, do take suche thinges as they lacke of an other cytie, to whome they gaue nothynge. So the hole Ilande is as it were one famelie, or housholde. But when they haue made sufficiente prouision of stoore for them selfes (whiche they thynke not doone vntyll they haue prouyded for two yeared followynge, bicause of the vncortentie of the nexte yeares proffe) then of those thynges wherof they haue abundaunce they carry furth [...] into other contr [...]is greate plenty as grayne, honnye, wulle, flaxe, woode, madder, purpledie felles, waxe, tallowe, lether, and liuyng beastes. And the seuenth part of all thies thynges they gyue franckely and frelye to the poore of that cōtrey. The resydewe they fell at a reasonable and meane price. By this trade of traffique or marchādise, they bring into their own cōtrey, not only great plētie [Page] of golde and siluer, but also all suche thynges as they lacke at home, whych is almoste nothynge but Iron. And by reason they haue longe vsed thys trade nowe they haue more abundaunce of thies thynges then any man wyll beleue. Nowe therfore they care not whether they sell for reddye moneye: or els vpon truste to be paide at a daye and to haue the most part in debtes. But in so doy [...]g they neuer followe the credence of pryuat men: but the assur [...]aunce or warrauntrse of the hole citye, by instrumentes and writinges made in that behalfe accordinglye. When the daye of paymente is come and expyred, the cytye gathereth vp the debte of the priuate dettours, and putteth it into the common boxe, and so long hath the vse and proffytte of it, vntyll the vtopians their creditours demaunde it. The mooste parte of it they neuer aske. For that thynge whyche is to them no proffyte to take it from other to whom it is proffytable: they thinke it no righte nor cō science. But yf the case so stande that they must lende parte of that money to [Page] an other people, then they requy [...] theyre debte: or when they haue warre. For the whyche purpose onelye they keap at home al y• treasure, whi [...]h they haue, to be holpen and so coured by yt other in extreame ieopardyes, or in suddeyne daungers. But especyallye and chieflye to hiere therwyth and that for vnreasonable greate wayges straunge foldyours. For they hadde rather put str [...]ungers in ieopardye then theyr [...] owne contreye men: knowinge that for mon [...]ye enoughe theire enemyes themselfes manye tymes maye be bowghte and solde, or els throughe treason be sette togethers by the eares emonge themselfes. For thys cause they kype an inestymable treasure. But yet not as a treasure: but so they haue yt, & vse yt, as in good faythe I am ashamede to shewe: fearynge that my w [...]ordes shal not be beleued. And thys I haue more cause to feare, for that I knowe howe [...]yff [...]cultlye and hardelye I meselfe wolde haue beleued an othere man tellynge the same, yf I hadde not presentlye seene yt wyth my [...]e owne iyes. [Page] For yt muste nedes be, that howe farre a thing is dissonaunt and disagre inge from the guyse and trade of the hearers, so farre shall yt be owte of theyr beleffe. Howe be yt a wyse and in dyfferente estymer of thynges wyll not greatly marueil perchaūce, seing al theyre other lawes and customes doo so muche dyfferre from owres, yf the vse also of golde and syluer amonge them be applyed, rather to theyr owne fassyons then to owers. I meane in that they occupye not moneye themselfes, but kepe yt for that chaunce, whyche as yt maye happen, so yt maye be that yt shall neuer come to passe. In the meane tyme golde and sylue [...], whereof moneye ys made they doo soo vse, as none of them dothe more estyme yt, then the verye nature of the thynge deseruethe. And then who dothe not playnlye see howe farre yt ys vnder Iron: as wythoute the whyche men canne no better lyue them wythowte fyere and water. Whereas to golde and syluer nature hathe geuen no vse, that ws may not wel lacke: [Page] yf that the folly of men hadde not sette it in hygher estym [...]cyon for the rare [...]s sake. But of the contrary parte, nature as a moste tender and louynge mother, hath placed the beste and moste [...] cessarye thynges open a brode: as the ayere, the water, and the earth it selfe. And hath remoued and hydde farthest from vs vayne and vnprofytable thynges. Therfore yf thies metalles amōg them shoulde be fast locked vp in some tower, it myghte be suspected that the pryu [...] and the cow [...]cell, as the people is euer foolyshelye ymagininge) i [...]tended by some subtyltye to deceaue the commons, and to take some proffette of [...] to themselfes. Furthermore if they should make therof plat & such other f [...] nely & cunningly wrought stuffe: yf at anye tyme they shoulde haue occasyon to breake it, and melte it agayne, and therwyth to paye their souldiours w [...] ges they see and perceiue very well that men wolde be lothe to parte from those thynges that they o [...]s begome to haue pleasure and delytein. To remedye all thys they haue fownde owt a meanes, [Page] which as it is agreable to al their other lawes and customes, so it is from ours where golde is so muche set by, and so delygently kepte, very farre discrepant and repugnaunt: and therfore vncred [...] ble, but only to them that be wise. For where as they eate and drincke in earthen and glasse vesselles, which in dede be curiously and properlie made, and yet be of very small value: of gold and siluer they make commonlye chamber pottes and other like vesselles, that serue for moste vile vses, not only in their common halles, but in euery mans priuate house. Furthermore of thesame mettalles they make greate cheynes with fetters and giues wherin they tye their bondmen. Finally who so euer for any offence be infamed, by their eares hange ringes of golde: vpon their fingers they were ringes of golde, and about their neckes chaynes of gold: and in conclusiō their heades be tiede about with golde. Thus by all meanes that may be they procure to haue gold and siluer emong them in reproche and infamy. And therfore thies [...]etalles, which [Page] other nations do as greuously and sorroufully forgo, as in a maner frō their owne liues: if they should all togethers at ones be taken from the vtopians, no man there wold thinke that he had lost the worth of one farthing. They gather also peerles by the sea side, & Diamondes and Carbūcles vpō certein rockes, and yet they seke not for them: but by chaunce finding them they cutt and polish thē. And therwith they decke their yonge infanntes. Which like as in the first yeares of their childhod they make much and be fond and proud of such orname [...]tes, so when they be a litle more growen in yeares and discretion, perceiuing that none but children do were such toies and trifeles: they lay them awaye euen of theyre owne shame fastenes wythowte annye biddyng of there parentes: euen as oure chyldren when they waxe bygge doo caste awaye nuttes, brouches, and puppettes. Therfore thyes lawes and customes whych be so farre dyfferente from all othere natyons, howe diuers fanseys also and myndes they doo cause, dydde I neuer [Page] so playnlye perceaue, as in the Ambassadoures of the Anemolians. Thyes Ambassadoures came to Amaurote whyles I was there. And bycause they came to entreat of greate & weighty matters, those .iij. citizeins a pece out of euery city were commen thether before thē. But al the Ambassadours of y• next contreis, which had bene there be [...]ore, and knewe the fassions & maners of the Vtopians, amonge whome they perceaued no honoure geuen to sumptuous aud costelye apparrell, silkes to be contemned, golde also to be enfamed and reprochefull, were wont to come thether in very homely and simple a [...] parrell. But the Anemolianes bicause they dwell farre thence, and had verye litle acquaintaunce with thē: hearinge that they were al apparelled a like, and that verye rudelye and homelye: thynkynge them not to haue the thynges whyche they dydde not weare: beynge therefore more proud then wise: determined in the gorgiousnes of their apparel to represent very goddes, and wyth the bright shynynge and glisteringe of [Page] their gaye clothinge to dasell the eyes of the silie poore vtopains. So ther came in .iij. Ambassadours wt .C. seruauntes all apparelled in chaungeable colours: the moost of them in silkes: the Ambassadours themselfes (for at home in their owne coūtrey they were noble mē) in cloth of gold w̄ [...] great cheiues of gold▪ w̄ [...] gold hāging at their eares with gold, ringes vpō their fingers in brouches & aglettes of gold vpon their cappes, which glistered ful of peerles & pretious stones: to be short tr [...]med, & aduorned with al those thinges, which emōg the vtopians were other the punnishement of bond men, or the reproche of in famed persones, or elles trifels for yonge children to playe with all. Therfore it wolde haue done a man good at his harte to haue sene howe proudelye they displeyed theire pecockes fethers howe muche they made of their paynted sheathes, and howe loftely they sett forth aud aduaunced them selfes, when they compared their gallaunte apparrell with the poore rayment of the vtopiās. For al the people were swarmed [Page] furth into the stretes. And on the other side it was no lesse pleasure to consider howe muche they were deceaued, and how farre they missed of their purpose: being contrary wayes taken then they thought they shoulde haue bene, for to the iyes of all the vtopians, excepte very fewe, whiche had bene in other contreys for some resonable cause, al that gorgeousnes of apparrel semed shamefull and reprochefull. In so much that they most reuerently saluted the vylest▪ and most abiect of them for lordes: passing ouer the Ambassadours themselfes without any honour: iudging them be their wearing of golden cheynes to be bondeme. [...]Yea you shuld haue sene children also that had caste away their peerles and pretious stones, whē they sawe the like sticking vpon the Ambassadours cappes: digge and pushe their mothers vnder the sides sayinge thus to them. Loke mother how great a lubbor doth yet were peerles and pretious stoones, as [...]hough he were a litel child still. But the mother, yea and that also in good earnest: peace sone saith she: I [Page] thynk he be some of the Ambassadou [...]s fooles. Some fownde fawte at theire golden cheynes as to no vse nor purpose: beynge to small and weake, that a bondeman myghte easelye breake them, and agayne so wyde and large that when it pleased him he myght cast them of, and runne awaye at lybertye whether he wolde. But when the Ambassadoures hadde bene there a daye or .ij. and sawe so greate abundaunce of gold so lyghtelye estymed, yea in no lesse reproche then yt was wyth them in honour: and besydes that, more golde in the cheynes and gyues of one fugytyue bondeman, then all the costelye ornamentes of them .iij. was worth: they beganne to abate theyre currage, and for verye shame layde awaye all that gorgyouse arraye wherof theye were so prowde. And specyallye when they hadde talkede famylyerlye wyth the Vtopyans, and hadde learnede all theyre fassyons and opynyo [...]s. For they marueyle that annye men be soo folyshe as to haue delyte and pleasure in the glysterynge [Page] of a lytyll tryfelynge stone, whyche maye beholde annye of the starres, or elles the soone yt selfe. Or that annye man ys so madde as to cou [...]te him selfe the nobler for the smaller or fyner threde of wolle, whyche selfe samewoll (be it nowe i [...] neuere so fyne a sponne threde) dyde ones a [...]hepe weare: a [...]d yet was she all that time no other thing then a shepe. They marueyle al [...]o that golde; whyche of the owne nature is a thynge so vnprofytable, is nowe emonge all people in soo hyghe estymatyon, that man hym selfe, by whō, yea and for the vse of whome yt ys so muche sett by; ys in muche lesse estymatyon then the golde yt selfe. In so muche that a lumpyshe blockehedded churle▪ and whyche hathe no more wytte then an asse, yea and as full of noughtenes and folyshenes, shall haue neuertheles many wyse and good men in subiectyon and bondage, onlye for thys, bycause he hathe a greate heape of golde. Whyche yf yt should be taken from hyme by annye fortune▪ or by some subtyll wyle of the lawe▪ [Page] (which no lesse then fortune doth raise vp the lowe, and plucke downe the high) and be geuē to the most vile slaue and abiect dreuell of all his housholde, then shortely after he shall goo into the seruice of his seruaunt, as an augmentation or an ouerplus besyd his money. But they much more marueill at and detest the madeues of them, whyche to those riche men, in whose debte and daunger they be not, do giue almoste diuine honowres, [...]or [...]on other consideration, but bicause they be riche: and yet knowing them to be suche nigeshepenuy fathers, that they be sure as lōg as they liue, not the worthe of one farthinge of that heape of gold shall come to them. Thies and such like opinions haue they conceaued, partely by education, beinge brought vp in that commō wealth, whose lawes and customes be farre different from thies kindes of folly, and partely by good litterature and learning. For though ther be not many in euery citye, whiche be exempte and discharged of all other laboures and appointed only to learninge, that is to [Page] saye: suche in whome euen from theire very childhode they haue perceaued a singuler to wardnes, a [...]yne witte, and a minde apte to good learning: yet all in their childhode be instructe in learninge. And the better parte of the people bothe men and women throughe owte all theire hole lyffe doo bestowe in learninge those spare howres, which we sayde they haue vaca [...]te from bodelye laboures. They be taughte learninge in theire owne natyue tonge. For yt is bothe copious in woordes, and also pleasaunte to the eare: and for the vtteraunce of a mans minde verye perfecte and sure. The mooste parte of all that syde of the wordle vseth the same la [...]gage, sauinge that amonge the Vtopians yt is fyneste and puryste, and accordynge to the dyuersytye of the contreys yt ys dyuerslye alterede. Of all thyes Philosophers, whose names be here famous in thys parte of the wordle to vs knowen, before owre cummynge thether nott as muche as the fame of annye of them was comen amonge them, and yett in Musycke, [Page] Logycke, Arythmetyke, and [...] they haue fownde owte in a manner all that oure auncyente Philosophers haue [...]awghte. But as they in all thynges be almoste equall to our olde auncyente clerkes, so our newe Logiciens in subtyll inuen [...]yons haue farre passed and gone beyonde them. For they haue not deuysed one of all those rules of restryctyons, amplyfy catyons and supposytyons, very wittelye inuented in the small Logycalles, whyche heare oure chyldren in euerye place do learne. Furthermore they were neuer yet able to fynde out the seconde in [...]entyons: in so muche that none of them all coulde euer see man hymselfe in commen, as they call hym, thoughe he be (as yow knowe) bygger then euer was annye gyaunte, yea a [...]d poynted to of vs euen wyth our fynger. But they be in the course of the starres, and the mouynges of the heauenlye spheres verye expert and cunnynge. They haue also wyttelye excogytated and diuised instrumentes of [...]iuers fassyons: wherin is exactly comprehended [Page] and conteyned the mouynges and sytuatyons of the sonne, the moone, & of all the other starres which appere in theyre horyzon. But as for the amityes and dissentyons of the planettes, and all that deceytefull diuynatyon by the starres, they neuer asmuch as dreamed therof. Raynes, windes, & other courses of tempestes they knowe before by certein tokens which they haue learned by long vse and obseruatiō. But of the causes of all thies thinges, & of the ebbinge, flowinge, and [...]altenes of the sea, and fynallye of the orygynall begynnyng and nature of heauen and of the wordle, they holde partelye the same opynyons that our olde philosophers holde, and partelye as our philosophers varye emonge themselfes, so they also whiles they bringe new reasons of thynges doo disagree from all them, and yet emonge themselfes in all poyntes they doo not accorde. In that part of philosophie which intreateth of manners and vertue theire reasons and opyuyons agree wyth ours. They dyspute of the good qualytyes of the [Page] [...]ye, shall haue no rewarde after hy [...] death? But now syr they thynke not felicitie to reste in all pleasure, but o [...]lye in that pleasure that is good & honest, and that hereto as to perfet blessednes our nature is allured and drawen euen of vertue, wherto only they that be of the contrary opinion do attribute felici [...]ie. For they define vertue to be a life ordered according to nature, and that we [...]e hereunto ordeined of god. And that he doth followe the course of nature, which in desiering and refusyng thynges is ruled by reason. Furthermore that reason doth chiefelie and pryncipallye kendle in men the loue and ve [...]eration of the deuyne maiestie. Of whoes goodnes it is that we be, and that we be inpossibilitie to attayne felicite. And that secondarely it moueth and prouoketh vs to leade our lyfe out of care in ioye and myrth, and to helpe all other in respecte of the sosiete or nature to obteyne thesame. For there was neuer man so earnest and paynefull a follower of vertue, and hate [...] of pleasure, that woulde so inioyne you [Page] laboures watchinges & fastinges, but he would also exhort you to ease & lighten to your powre, the lacke & myserye of others praysyng the same as a dede of humanitie and pitie. Then if it be a poynte of humanitie for man to bryng health and comforte to man and speciallye (whiche is a vertue moste peculiarlye belongynge to man) tomitigate and assuage the grief of others, and by takyng from them the sorowe and heuynes of lyfe, to restore them to ioye, that is to saye to pleasure: whye maye it not then be sayd that nature doth provoke euerye man to doo thesame to hymselfe? For a ioyfull lyfe, that is to saye, a pleasaunt lyfe is other euell: and if it be so, then thou shouldest not onlye helpe no man therto, but rather as muche as in the lieth helpe all men from it as noysome and h [...]rtefull, or els if thou not onlye mayste, but also of dewtie art bounde to procure it to others, why not chiefely to theself? To whome thou art bound to shewe asmuche fauour as to other. For whē natu [...] biddeth the to be good & gētle to other, [Page] [...]he commaundeth the not to be cruell and vngentle to the selfe. Therfore euē very nature (saye they) prescribith to vs a ioyfull lyfe, that is to saye, pleasure as the ende of all our operations. And they defy [...]e vertue to be lyfe ordered accordy [...]g to the prescrypt of nature. But in that that nature dothe allure and prouoke [...] one to healpe another to lyue merilye (whiche suerlye [...]he doth not without a good cause: for no man is so farre aboue the lot of mans state or condicion that nature doth carke and care for hym only whiche equallye fauoureth all that be comprehended vnder the cōmunion of one shape forme and fassion) verely she cō maundeth the to vse diligent circumspection that thou do not so seke for thine owne cōmodities, y• thou procure others incōmodities. Wherfore their opinion is that not onlye couenauntes and bargaynes made amonge priuate men ought to be well and faythfullye fulfylled obserued and kept, but also commen lawes, whiche other a good prince hath iustly publyshed, or els the [Page] people nother oppressed with [...], nother deceaued by fraude and gyell, hath by their common consent constitute and ratifyed, concernyng the particion of the commodities of lyfe, that is to say the matter of pleasure. Thies lawes not offendid, it is wysdome that thou looke to thyne own wealthe. And to do thesame for the common wealth is no lesse then thy duetie, if thou bearest any reuerent loue or any naturall zeale and affection to thy natiue contrey. But to go about to let an other man of his pleasure whiles thou procurest thyne owne, that is open wrōg. Contrary wyse to withdrawe somethynge from they selfe to geue to other that is a pointe of humanitie and ge [...] tyl [...]es: whiche neuer taketh a waye so muche commoditie, as it bryngeth agayne. For it is recompensed with the retourne of benefytes, and the consciē ce of the good dede with the remembraunce of the thankefull loue and be [...]euolence of them to whom thou hast done it, doth brynge more pleasure to thy mynde, then that whiche thou hast [Page] withholden from thy selfe could haue brought to the bodye. Finallye (which to a godly disposed & a religious mind is easie to be persuaded) God recompenseth the gifte of a short & small pleasure with great and euerlastinge ioye. Therfore the matter diligentlie wayde and considered, thus they thinke, that all our actions and in thē the vertues thēselfes be referred at the last to pleasure▪ as their ende & felicitie. Pleasure they call euery motion and state of the bodie or mynde, wherin mā hath naturally delectatiō. Appetite they ioyne to nature. And that not without a good cause. For like as not only the [...]enses▪ but also right reason coueteth whatsoeuer is naturally pleasaunt, so y• it may be gotten without wrōg or iniurie, not letting or debarring a greater pleasur, nor causing painful labour, euē so those thinges that mē by vai [...]e ymagination do fayne against nature to be pleasaunt (as though it lay in their powre to chaunge y• thinges as they do y• names of thinges) al suche pleasurs they beleue to be o [...] so small helpe & furtheraunce [Page] to felicitie, that they counte thē great let and hinderaūce. Because that in whom they haue ones taken place, all his mynde they possesse with a false opinion of pleasure. So that there is no place left for true and naturall delectacions. For there be manye thynges, whiche of their owne nature conteyne no plesauntnes: yea the moste part of them muche grief and sorrow. And yet through the peruerse and malicious flickering inticemētes, of lewde and vnho [...]este desyres, be takeen not only for speciall & souereigne pleasures, but also be counted amonge the chiefe causes of life. In this coūterfeat kinde of pleasure they put thē that I speake of before. Which the better gown they haue on the better men they thynke thē selfes. In the whiche thynge they doo twyse erre. For they be no lesse deceaued in that they thynke their gowne the better, than they be in that they thinke themselfes the better. For if you consider the profitable vse of the garmente, whye shoulde wulle of a fyner s [...]onne threde, be thoughe better, then [Page] the w [...]l of a course sponne threde? Yet they as though the one dyd passe the other by nature, and not by their mistakyng, auaunce themselfes and thinke the price of their owne persones therby greatly encreased. And therfore the honoure whiche in a course gowne they durste not haue lokyd for, they require as it were of dewtie for their fy [...]er gownes sake. And if they be passed by without reuerence, they take it angerlye and disdaynfully. And agayne is it not a lyke mad [...]es to take a pride in vayne and vnprofitable honoures? For what naturall of trewe pleasure doest thou take of an other mans bare hede of bowed knees? Will thys ease the payne of thy knees, or remedye the phre [...]sie of the heade? In this ymage of counterfeyte pleasure, they be of a maruelous madnes, which for the opinion of nobilitie reioyse muche in their owne co [...]eite. Because it was their fortune to come of suche auncetours, whoes stocke of longe tyme hath bene counted ryche (for nowe nobilitie is nothynge elles) specially ryche in landes. [Page] And though their auncetours left them not one fote of lande, or els they themselfes haue pyssed it agaynste the walles, yet they thynke themselfes not the lesse noble therefore of one heare. In thys numbre also they counte them that take pleasure & delyte (as I saide) in gemmes and precious stones, and thynke themselues almoste goddes, if they chaunce to gette and excellent one, speciallye of that kynde whyche in that tyme of their owne contreye me [...] [...] had in hyghest estimation. For one kynde of stone kepeth not hys pryce [...]tyll in all contreis▪ and at all tymes. Nor they bye them not but taken out of the golde and bare. No nor so nother before they haue made the selle [...] [...]o sweare that he wyll warraunte and assure it to be a trewe stone and not co [...] ̄ terfeyt geme. Suche [...]are they take lest [...] counterfet stone shoulde deceaue their eyes in the steade of a right stone. But whye shouldest tho [...] not take [...]uen asmuche pleasure in beholdynge a counterfette stone whiche thyne eye cannot discerne from a ryght stone? [Page] They should both be of lyke value to the, euen as to a blynde man. What shall I saye of them that kepe superfluous ryches, to take delectacion only in the beholdynge, and not in the vse or occupyenge therof? Do they take trewe pleasure, or els be they deceaued with false pleasure? Or of them that be in a co [...]trary vice, hydynge the golde whiche they shall neuer occupie nor peraduenture neuer see more? And whiles they take care leaste they shall le [...] se it, do leese it in dede. For what is it elles, when they hyde it in the groū de, takynge it bothe from their owne vse, and percha [...]nce from all othe [...] mens also? And yet thou when thou haste hidde thye treasure as one out of all care hoppest for ioye. The whyche treasure if it shoulde chaunce to bee stoolen, & thou ignoraunt of the thefte shouldest [...]ye tenne yeares after: all that tenne yeares space that thou ly [...]edest after thy money was stolen▪ what matter was it to the whether it hadde bene taken a waye or els sauffe as thou lefteste it? Truelye bothe [Page] wayes lyke proffyt came to the: To thyes so foolyshe pleasures they ioyn [...] dycers, whoes madnes they knowe by heare say a [...]d not by vse. Hūters also, and hawkers: For what pleasure is there (say [...] they) i [...] castynge the dice vpō a table. Which y• hast done so oftē, that i [...] theire were anye pleasure in it, yet the ofte vse myghte make the werye therof? Or what delite can there be, and not rather dyspleasure in hea [...]ynge the barkynge and howlynge of dogges? Or what greater pleasure is there to be felte, when a dogg [...] followeth an hare, then when a dogge followeth a dogge: for one thynge is done in both, that is to saye, runninge▪ if thou haste pleasure therein, But i [...] the hope slaughter▪ and the expect [...] tion of tearynge [...] pieces the beas [...]e dothe please the: thou shouldest rather be moued with pitie to see a seely innocent hare murdered of [...]dogge: the weake of the stronger, the fearefull of the fea [...], the innocente of y• [...] and vnmercyfull. Therefore all thys exercyse of huntynge, as a thynge [Page] v [...]worthye to be vsed of free m [...]n, the Vtopians haue reiected to their bochers, to the whiche crafte (as wee sayde before) they appointe ther bondmen. For they counte huntyng the loweste vyleste and moste abiecte parte of bocherye, and the other partes of it more profytable and more honeste, as whiche do brynge muche more commoditie, and doo kyll beastes onlye for necessytie. Where as the hunter seketh nothynge but pleasure of the seely and wofull beastes slaughter and murder. The whiche pleasure in beholdyng death they thynke dothe ryse in the very beastes, other of cruell affection of mynde; orels to be chaunged in continuaunce of time into crueltie, by longe vse of so cruell a pleasure. Thies therfore & all suche lyke, which be innumerable, though the common sorte of people doth take them for pleasures, yet they, seyng there is no naturall pleasauntnes in them, to playnelye determine them to haue no affinitie with trewe and right pleasure. For as touchyng that they do cōmonlye mo [...]e [Page] the sence with delectacion (whiche semeth to be a worke of pleasure) thys doth nothing diminishe their opinion. For not the nature of the thynge, but there peruerse and lewde custome is y• cause hereof. Whiche causeth them to accepte bitter or so w [...]e thinges for swete thinges. Euen as women with childe in their viciate & corrupt taste thinke pitche and [...]allowe sweter then anye honney. Howbeit no mans iudge [...]ent depraued and corrupte, other by sic [...] nes, or by custome can chaunge the [...] ture of pleasure, more then it can doo the natur of other thinges. They make di [...]ers ky [...]des of trew pleasures. For som they attribute to the soule, & som to the bodye. To the soule they gyue intellygence, a [...]d that delectation that cummeth of the contemplation of truthe. Here vnto is ioyned the pleasaunt remēbraunce of the good lyfe past. The pleasure of the bodye they de [...]ide [...] [...]. partes. The first is when delectatiō i [...] sensibly felte & perceaued. Whiche many times chaūceth by the renewing and re [...]esshyng of thoes partes which [Page] owre naturall heate drieth vp. Thys cumm [...]th by meate and drynke. And sumtymes whyles those thynges be voided, wherof is in y• [...]ody ouer great a [...]undaūce. This pleasure is felte whē wee doo our naturall easemente, or when we be doynge the acte of generatyon, or when the ytchynge of annye [...] is eased with rubbynge or stratchinge. Sumtimes pleasure riseth exhibitinge to any membre nothing that it [...]esireth, nor taking from it any payne that it feeleth, which for all that tikleth and mo [...]eth our senses with a certein secret [...] efficacy, but with a manifest motion, and turneth them to it. As is that which cummeth of musicke. The secōd part of bodely pleasure they say is that which consisteth and resteth in the quiete and vpright state of the body. And that truelye is euery mans owne propre health entermyngled and dysturbed wyth [...]o grieffe. For thys, yf yt be not letted nor assaulted with no greiffe i [...] [...] of yt selfe, thoughe yt be moued wyth no externall or outwarde pleasure. For though it be not so plain [Page] and manyfeste to the sense, as the gredye luste of eatynge and dryncky [...]ge, yet neuerthelesse manye take it for the chyefeste pleasure. All the Vtopyans graunte yt to be a ryghte greate pleasure, and as yow wolde saye the foundatyon and grownde of all pleasures, as whyche euen alo [...]e ys able to make the state and condytyon of lyffe delectable and pleasaunte. And yt beynge ones taken awaye, there ys no place lefte for annye pleasure. For to be wythowte greyffe not hauinge health, that they call vnsensybylyte and not pleasure. The Vtopians haue longe agoo reiected and condempned the opynyon of them, whyche sayde that sted faste and quyete healthe (for thys questyon also hath bene dylygentelye debated emonge them) owghte not therefore to be cownted a pleasure, bicause they saye yt can not be presentlye and sensyblye perceaued and felte by some owtwarde motion. But of the contrarye parte nowe they agree almoste all in thys, that healthe ys a moste souereygne pleasure. For seinge [Page] that in syckenes (saye they) is grie [...], which is a mortal ennemie to pleasure, euē as sick [...]es is to health, why shuld not then pleasure be in the quietn [...]s of health? For they say it maketh nothing to thys matter, whether yow saye that sickenes is a griefe, or that in sickenes is griefe, for all cummeth to one purpose. For whether health be a pleasure it selfe, or a necessary cause of pleasure, as tyer is of heate: truelye bothe wayes it foloweth, that they cannot be without pleasure that be in perfyt healthe. Furthermore whyles we eate (saye they) then health whiche began to be appayred fyghteth by the helpe of foode against hunger. In the whych fighte whyles healthe by lytle and lytle getteth the vpper hande, that same procedyng, and (as ye would say) that onwardnes to the wonte strengthe mynistreth that pleasure, wherbye wee be so refresshed. Health therefore, whiche in the conflycte is ioyfull, shall it not bee merye when it hathe gotten the victory? But as sone as it hathe recouered thee pristynat [...] [Page] strengthe, whyche thinge [...] in all the fyghte it coueted, shall it inco [...]tinēt be astonied? Nor shall it not knowe nor imbrace y• owne wealthe and goodnes? For that it is sayed healthe can not be felte, this, they thinke, is nothing trew. For what man wakynge say they, f [...] leth not hymselfe in health: but he that is not? Is there annye man so possessed wyth stonyshe insensibilitie, or with the steping sicknes, that he wyll not graūt health to be acceptable to hym a [...]d delectable? But what other thing is delectation, than that whiche by an other name is called pleasure? They imbrace chiefely the pleasures of the mind. For them they cownte the chiefist [...] most principall of all. The ch [...]yfe parte of them they thinke doth come of the exercise of vertue and conscience of good lyffe. Of thies pleasures that the boddye ministreth they geue the pr [...]mynence to helth. For the delyte of eating and drincking, and whatsoeuer hath [...] like pleasauntnes they determyne to be pleasures muche to be desiered, but no other wayes than for healthes [Page] sake. For suche thynges of theyre [...] nature be not pleasaunte, but in that they resyste syckenes pre [...]elye stealynge one, Therefore lyke as yt ys a wyse mans parte rather to a [...]oyde sycke [...]es, then to wyshe for [...], and rather to dryue away and put to flyghte carefull greyffes, then to call for comforte: so yt ys much better not to neade thys kynde of pleasure, then in fealynge the contrarye greyffe to be eased of the same. The whyche kynde of pleasure yf annye [...]an take for hys felycytye, that man muste nedes graunte that then he shall be in mooste felycytye, yf he lyue that lyffe whyche ys ledde in contynuall honger, thurste, itchynge, eatynge, drynkynge, scratchynge, and rubbynge. The whyche lyffe howe not onlye foule yt is, but also myserable, and wretched, who perceauethe not? Thyes dowteles be the baseste pleasures of all, as v [...]pure & vnperfecte. For they neuer cum but accōpanied wyth their contrary greiffes. As with y• pleasure of eatinge is ioyned hunger, & that [Page] after no very egal sort. For of thies [...] the gryeffe is bothe the more vehement and also of longer continuaunce. For it rysethe before the pleasure, a [...]d endeth not vntyll the pleasure dye wyth it. Wherfore such pleasures they think not greatly to be set by, but in y• they be necessary. Howbeit they haue delite also in thies, & thākfully knouledge y• tē der loue of mother nature, which with most pleasaūt delectation allureth her childrē to y•, which of necessitye they be driuē oftē vse. For how wretched & miserable should our liffe be, if thies daily greiffes of hūger & thrust coulde not be dreuē away, b [...]t with bitter potions, & sower medicines, as the other deseases be, where with we be seldomer troubled? But bewtye, strengthe, nemblenes, thies as peculiare and pleasaunte giftes of nature they make muche of. But those pleasures which be receaued by the eares, the iyes, and the nose, which nature willeth to be proper and peculiar to man (for no other kind of liuing beastes doth behold the fayrene [...] and the bewtie of the wordle, or is [...] [Page] with a [...]ny respect of sauours, bu [...] o [...]ly for the diuersity of meates▪ [...]other perceaueth the concordaunt and discor [...]ante distaunces of [...]oundes, and tu [...]es) thies pleasures (I say) they accept and allowe as certein pleasaunt reioysinges of liffe. But in all thinges thys ca [...]tell they vse, that a lesse pleasure hi [...] der not a bigger, & that y• pleasur be no cause of dyspleasur / whych they thinke to followe of necessytye if the pleasure be vnhoueste. But yet to dyspyse the cō lynes of bewtye, to waste the bodylye strengthe, to tourne nymblenes into s [...]o [...]ghishnes, to consume and make feble the boddye wyth fastynge, to doo iuiury to health, and to reiect the other pleasaunte motyous of nature (onles a man neglecte thies hys commodytyes, whyles he doth wyth a feruent zeale procure the wealth of others, or the cō men proffytte, for the whyche pleasure forborne he is in hope of a greater pleasure of GOD) els for a vayne shaddowe of vertue, for the wealthe and proffette of no man to punyshe hymselfe, or to the intente he maye be able [Page] [...]ragiouslye to suffre aduersityes whyche perchaunce shall neuer come to hym: thys to doo they thynke it [...] poynte of extreame mad [...]es, and a to [...]en of a man cruelly minded to warde [...] hymselfe, and vnkynd towarde nature, as one so dysdaynynge to be in her daū ger, that he [...] and refuseth all her benefytes. Thys is theire sentence and opinion of vertue and pleasure. And they beleue that by mans reason [...] ca [...] be fownde trewer then this, onles annye godlyer be inspyred int [...] man from heauen. Wherin whethe [...] they belyue well or no, nother the tyme [...]othe suffer vs to discusse, nother it ys [...]owe necessarye. For we haue taken vpon vs to shewe and declare theyrlore [...] and or de [...]aunces, and not to def [...]nde them. But thys thynge I beleue verely: howe soeuer thies decrees be, that their is in no place of the wordle, no [...]ther a more excellent people, nothers more flouryshynge commen wealthe. They be lyghte and quycke of boddy full of actiuity and nymblenes, and of more strengthe thē a māwold iudge [Page] them by theyre stature, whyche [...] [...]ll that ys not to lowe. And thoughe theyrt soyle be not verye frute [...]ll, nor theyre ayer verye holsome, yet agaynste the ayer they soo defende them wyth temperate dyete, and soo order and husbande theyr grounde wyth dylygente trauayle, that in no contreye ys greatter increase, and plentye of [...] and cattell, nor mens bodies of longer liffe, and subiect or apte to fewet defeases. There therfore a man maye see well and diligentlye exploited and furnished, not onlye those thinges whiche husbandmen doo [...] in other countreys: as by craft and c [...]ming to remedy the harrennes of y• grounde: but also a hole wood by the handes of the people plucked vp by the rotes in one place and sett agay [...]t in an other place. Wherin was hadde regar [...] and consideration not of plenty but of cōmodious carriage, that wood and tymber might be nigher to the [...]ea, or the riuers, or the cities. For it is less [...] laboure and busines to carrye grayue farre by lande then wood. The people [Page] be gentle, merye, quycke, and syne wytted, delytynge in quyet [...]es, and when nede requyreth, able to abyde and suffre muche bodelye laboure. Elles they be not greatelye desyerous and fonde of yt: but in the exercyse and studdye of the mynde they be [...]euer werye. When they had harde me speake of the Greke lytterarature or learnynge (for in Latyue theyre was nothynge that I thougthe they wolde grea [...]elye allowe, besydes hystorpeus and Poetes) they made wonderfull earneste and importunate sute vnto me, that I wolde teache and instructe them in that tonge and learnynge. I beganne therefore to reade: vnto them, at the fyrste iruelye more bycause I wolde not seme to refuse the laboure, then that I hooped that they wolde annye thyng proffytte therin. But when I had gone forwarde a lytle and perceaued incontyuente by theyr dylygence that my labour should not be bestowed in vayne, for they begaune so easelye to fassyo [...] theyre letters, so plainly to pronoūce y• woordes, [Page] so quyckely to learne by harte, and so suerly to rehearse the same, that I marueled at it, sauynge that the most parte of them were fyne, and chosen wittes, and of rype age, pyked oute of the companye of the learned men, whyche not onlye of theyr owne face and voluntarye wyll but also by the commaundemente of the cowncell, vndertoke to learue thys langage. Therfore in lesse then .iij. yeres space their was nothing in the Greke tonge that they lackede. They were able to reade good authors [...] anny stay [...], if the booke were not false. Thys kynde of learnynge, as I suppose they toke so muche the sou [...]er, bycause, it is sum what allyaunte to them. For I thynke that thys nation tooke their beginninge of the Grekes, bycause their speche which in all other poyntes is not muche vnlyke the persian tonge, kepeth dyue [...]s sig [...]es and too [...]ens of the greke la [...]gage in the names of their cityes and of theire magystrates. They haue of me (for when I was determyned to entre into my .iiij. voyage I caste into the shippe in the steade [Page] of marchandyse a pretye fardell of bookes: bycause I inteuded to come agayne rather neuer than shortelye) the mooste parte of Platoes woorkes, more of Aristotles, also Theophrastus of Plantes, but in diuers places (which I am sorye for) vnperfecte. For whyles wee were saylynge, a mormo [...]e [...] chaunced vpon the booke, as yt was neglygentlye layde by, whyche wa [...] tonlye playinge therewyth, plucked owte certeyne leaues, and toor [...] them in pieces. Of them that haue wrytten the grammer they haue onelye Lascaris. For Theodorus I caried not wyth me, nor neuer a dyctyonarye but Hesichius and Dioscorides. They sett greate stoore by Plutarches bookes. And they be delyted wyth Lucianes merye conceytes and iestes. Of y• Poettes they haue Aristophanes Homer, Euripides, and Sophocles in Aldus small prynte. Of the Historyans they haue Thucidides, Herodotus, and Herodian. Also my cōpanion Tricius Apinatus caried with him phisick bokes, certein small woorkes of Hippo [Page] crates, and Galenes Microtechue. The whyche boke they haue in greate esty [...]atyon. For thoughe there he almost no nation vnder heauen that hath lesse nede of Phisick then they, yet this notwithst [...]ndyng Phisicke is no where in greater honour. Bycause they count the knowledge of yt emonge the goodlieste, and mooste profytable partes of Philosophie. For whyles they by the helpe of thys Philosophie searche owte the secrete mysteryes of nature, they thynke that they not onlye receaue ther by wonderfull greate pleasur, but also obteyn great thankes and fauour of the auctoure and maker therof. Whome they thynke accordynge to the fassyon of other artyfycers to haue sett furthe the maruelous and gorgious frame of the worlde for man to beholde. Whome onelye he hathe made of wytte and capacytye to consydre and vnderstand the excellencye of so greate a woorke. And therefore saye they dothe he beare more good wyll and loue to the curyous and diligent beholder and vewere of his woorke & maruelour at the same, [Page] then he doth to him, whyche lyke a very beaste wythowte wytte and reason, or as one wythowte sense or mouynge, hath no regarde to soo greate and soo wonderfull a spectacle. The wyttes the refore of the Vtopians inurede and exercysed in learnynge, he marueious quycke in the inuentyon of feates, helpynge annye thynge to the aduantage and wealthe of lyffe. Howebeyt .ij. feates theye maye thanke vs for. That is the scyence of imprintyng and the craf [...]e of makynge paper. And yet not onelye vs but chyefelye and pryncypallye themselfes. For when wee shewede to them Aldus hys pryute in bookes of paper, and told them of the stuffe wherof paper is made, and of the feat of grauynge letters, speakynge sumwhat more then wee colde playnlye declare (for there was none of vs that knewe perfectlye other the one or the other) they furthwyth verye wyttelye coniectured the thynge. And where as before they wrote o [...]ely in skynnes, in barkes of tryes, & in rides, now they haue attempted to make paper & to imprint letters. [Page] And thoughe at the fyrste yt prou [...] not all of the beste, yet by often assay inge the same they shortelye gott the feate of bothe. And haue so broughte the matter abowte, that yf they had copyes of Greeke authores, they coulde lacke no bookes. But nowe they haue no moore, then I rehearsed before, sauynge that by pryntynge of bookes they haue multyplyed and increased the same into manye thowsande of copyes: Who soeuer cummeth thether to see the lande, beynge excellente in annye gyfte of wytte, or throughe muche and songe iournyenge well experiensed and sene in the knowledge of manye countreys (for the whyche cause wee were verye welcome to them) hym they receyue and interteyne wonders gentyllye, and louynglye. For they haue delyte to heare what ys done in euerye lande, howebeyt verye few marchaunte men come thythere. For what shoulde they brynge thither? onles yt were Iron, or els golde and syluer, whiche they hadde rathere carrye home agayne. [Page] Also suche thynges as arre to be caryed owte of their lande, they thynke yt more wysedome to carrye that gee [...] furthe themselfes, then that othere shoulde come thether to fetche yt, to thentente they maye the better knowe the owte landes of euerye syde them, and kepe in vre the feat and knouledge of saylinge.

Of Bondemen, sicke persons, wedlocke, and dyuers other matters.

THey nother make bondemen of prysoners taken in battayll, oneles yt be in battaylle that the fowghte themselfes, nor bondemens chyldren, nor to be shorte annye man whome they canne gette owte of an othere countreye, thoughe he were theyre a bondeman. But other suche as amonge themselfes for heynous offences be punnyshed wyth bondage, or elles [Page] suche as in the Cytyes of other landes for greate trespasses be condempned to deathe. And of thys sorte of hondemen they haue mooste stoore. Formanye of them they brynge home sumtymes payinge very lytle for them, yea mooste commonlye gettynge them for gramercye. Thyes sortes of bondemen they kepe not onelye in contynuall woorke and laboure, but alsoo in bandes. But theyre owne men they ha [...]dle hardeste, whome they Iudge mored esperate and to haue deser [...]ede greater punnysshemente, bycause they beynge so godlye broughte vp to vertue in soo excellente a common wealthe, cowlde not for all that be refreyned from mysdoynge. An other kynde of bondemen they haue, when a vyle drudge beynge a poore laborer in an other cowntreye dothe chewse of hys owne free wyll to be a bondeman [...] monge them. Thyes they handle and order honestelye, and enterteyne almooste as gentyllye, as theyre own [...] free cytyzeyns, sauynge that they put them to a lytle more laboure, as thereto [Page] accustomede. Yf annye suche be dysposed to departe thens (whyche seldome ys seene) they nother holde hym agaynste hys wyll, nother sende hym awaye wyth emptye handes. The sp [...]ke (as I sayde) they see to wyth greate affectyon, and lette nothynge at all passe concernynge other Physycke or good dyete, wherby they may be restored agayne to theyre healthe. Them that be sycke of iucurable dyseases they comforte wyth syttynge by them, wyth talkynge wyth them and to be sh [...]te wyth all maner of helpes that maye be. But yf the dysease be not o [...]elye vncurable, but also full of contynuall payne and angnyshe: then the priess [...]s and the m [...]gistrates exhort the man, sey [...]ge he ys not able to doo annye dewtye of lyffe, and by ouerlyuing hys owne deathe is noysome and yrke some to other, and greuous to hymself: that he wyll determyne with hymselfe no longer to cheryshe that pestilent and peynefull dysease. And seynge hys lyfe ys to hym but a tourmente, that he wyll nott bee vnwyllynge too dye, [Page] but rather take a good hope to hym, and other dyspatche hymselfe owte of that paynfull lyffe, as owte of a pryson, or a racke of tormente, o [...] [...]lles suffer hym selfe wyllynglye to be rydde owte of yt by other. And in so d [...]ynge they tell hym he shal doo wyselye, seynge by hys deathe he shall lyse no commodytye, but ends hys payne. And bycaufe with at acte he shall followe the cownsell of the pryestes, that is to saye of the interpreters of goddes wyll and pleasure, they shewe hym that he shall do [...]yke a godly and a vertuouse man: They that be thus persuaded fynyshe theyre lyues wylly [...]glye othere wyth hunger, or elles dye in theyre steape wythowte annye fealnige of deathe. Bu [...] they cause none suche to dye agaynte hys wyll, nor they vse no lesse dilygence and attendaunce about hym: beleuynge thys to be an honorable deathe. Elles he that kylleth hym selfe before that the prpestes and the cownsell haue allowed the cause of hys deathe, hym as vnworthy [Page] both of the earth and of fyer, they cast vnburied into some stinkyng marrish. The womā is not maried before the be xviij. yeres olde. The man is .iiij. yeres elder before he mary. If other the man or the woman be proued to haue bodely offended before their marriage, with an other, he or she whether it be is sharpely punyshed. And both the offenders be forbydden euer after in all their life to marrye: oneles the faulte be forgeuen by the princes pardone. But bothe the good mā and the good wyfe of the house where that offence was done, as beyng slacke and neglygent in lokyng to there chardge, be in daunger of great reproche and infamye. That offence is so sharpelye punyshed, bicause they perceaue, that onles they he diligentlye kept from the lybertie of this vice, fewe wyll ioyne together in the loue of marriage, wherin all the lyfe must be led with one, & also all the griefes & displeasures that come therewith must paciently be taken & borne. Furthermore in cheusyng wyfes and husbandes they obserue earnestly and [Page] [...]raytelye a custome whiche semed to vs very fonde and folysh. For a sad & [...]n honest matrone sheweth the wom [...] be she maide or widdowe [...] to the wower. And lykewyse a sage and discrete man exhibyteth the wowere naked to the woman. At this custome we laughed a [...]d disalowed [...] foolyshe. But they on the other part doo greatlye wo [...]der at the follye of all other nations, whyche in byinge a c [...]lte▪ where as a lytle money is in hassarde, be so charye and circumspe [...]te, that though he [...]e almoste all bare, yet they wyll not bye hym, oneles▪ the saddel and all the harneys be taken of, leaste v [...]der those couerynges be hydde som galle [...] soore. And yet in chewsynge a wyfe, whyche shalbe other pleasure, or dyspleasure to them all theire lyfe after, they be so recheles, that all the resydewe of the woomans bodye, beinge co [...]ered wyth cloothes, they esteme here scaselye be one handebredeth (for they can se no more but her face) and so do ioyne her to them not without great ieoperdie of euell agrei [...]g together, [Page] if any thy [...]ge in her body afterwarde do offende a [...]d myslyke them. For all men be not so wyse as to haue respecte to the vertuous condicions of the partie. And the endowmētes of the bodye cause the vertues of the mynd [...] more to be estemed and regarded: [...]ea euen in the mariages of w [...]se men. We rely so fowle deformit [...]e may be hydde vnder thoes coueringes, that it maye quite alienate & take awaye the [...]ans mynde from his wyfe, whē it shal not be lawfull for their bodies to be sep [...]rate agayne. If suche deformitie happen by any chaunce after the mariage is cō sumate and finyshed: well, there is no remedie but patience. Euery mā must take his fortune well a worthe. But it were well done that a lawe were made wherebye all suche deceytes myghte be eschewed, & aduoyded before hand. And thys were they constre y [...]ed more earnestlye to looke vpon, because they onlye of the the nations in that parte of the worlde bee contente euerye man wyth one wyfe a piece. And matrymoney is there neuer broken, but [Page] by death, excepte adulterye breake the bonde, or els the intollerable waiward maners of eyther partie. For if either of them fynde themselfe for any su [...]he cause greued: they maye by the licence of the councell chaunge and take an other. But the other partie lyueth euer after in infamye and out of wedlocke. But for the husbande to put away his wyfe for no faulte, but for that some myshappe is falle [...] to her bodye, thys by no mea [...]es they wyll suffre. For they iudge it a greate poynte of crueltie that any▪ body in their moste nede of helpe and comforte, shoulde be cast of and forsaken, and that olde age whych both bry [...]geth sy [...]knes with it, and is a syckenes it selfe, should vnkyndlye & vnfaythfullye be delte withall. But nowe and then it chaunseth, where as the man and the woman cannot well agree betwene themselfes, bothe of thē fyndy [...]ge other with whome they hope to lyue more quyetlye and meryly, that they by the full consent of them both be diuorsed a sonder and newe ma [...]ied to other. But that not without [Page] the aucthoritie of the councell. Which agreeth to no dyuorses, before they and their wyfes haue diligently tried and examyned the matter. Yea and thē also they be loth to cōsent to it, bicause they knowe thys to be the nexte waye to breke loue betwene man and wyfe, to be in easye hope of a newe mariage. Breakers of wedlocke be punyshed with moste greuo [...]s bondage. And if both the offenders were maried, the [...] the partyes whiche in that behalfe haue suffered wronge be diuorsed from the auoutrers if they wyll, and be maried together, or els to whō they luste. But if eyther of them both do styll contynewe in loue towarde so vnkynde a bedfellowe, the vse of wedlocke is not to them forbydden, if the partie be disposed to followe in toylinge and drudgerye the person, which for that offence is condempned to bondage. And very ofte it chaunceth that the repe [...]taū ce of the one and the earnest diligence of the other, dothe so moue the prince with pytie and compassion, that he restoreth the bo [...]de perso [...]e from seruitude [Page] to libertie and fredom again. But if the same partie be taken [...]ftsones in y• faulte, there is no otherway but death. To other trespaces there is no pres [...]ript punyshment appoynted by anye lawe. But accordinge to the hey [...]ouse [...]es of the offence, or contrarye, so the punyshemente is moderated by the discretion of the councell. The husbandes chastice theire wyfes: and the parentes theire chyldren, oneles they haue done anye so horryble an offence, that the open punyshemente thereof maketh muche for the aduauncemente of honeste ma [...]ers. But moste commenlye the moste heynous faultes be punyshed with the in commoditie of bondage. For that they suppose to be to the offenders no lesse griefe, and to the common wealth more profitable, then if they should hastely put thē to death, and make them out of the waye. For there cummeth more profite of theire laboure, then of theire deathe, and by theire example they feare other the lenger from lyke offences. But if they beinge thus vsed doo rebell and kicke [Page] agay [...]e, then forsothe they be stayne as desperace and wilde beastes, whom [...]o ther pryson nor chay [...]e could restraine and kepe vnder. But they whiche take theire bondage patientlye be not left all hopeles. For after they haue bene broken and tamed with longe myseries, yf then they shewe suche repen [...]aunce, wherebye it maye be perceaued that they be soryer for theire offence then for theire punyshemente: sumtymes by the Pry [...]ces prerogatyue, and sumtymes by the voyce and co [...] sent of the people, theire bondage other is mitigated, or els cleane remytted and forgeuē. He that moueth to aduo [...] trye is in no lesse daunger and ieoperdie, then yf he hadde committed aduontrye in dede. For in all offences they counte the intente and pretensed purpose as euell as y• acte or dede it selfe. For they thynke that no lette owghte to excuse hym, that dyd hys beste too haue no lette. They sette greate store by fooles. And as it is greate reproche to do to annye of them hurte or iniury, so they prohibite not to take pleasure [Page] of foolyshnes. For that they thy [...]ke doth muche good to the fooles. And if any man be so sadde and sterne, that he cannot laughe nother at their wordes nor at their dedes, none of them be cō mytted to his tuition: for feare lest he would not ordre them gentilly and fauorably enough: to whom they should brynge no delectation (for other good [...]es in them is none) muche lesse any proffyt shoulde they yelde hym. To mocke a man for hys deformitie, or for that he lacketh anye parte or lymme of hys bodye, is counted greate dishonestie and reproche not to hym that is mocked, but to hym that mocketh. Which vnwysely doth imbrayde any ma [...] of that as a vice, whiche was not in his p [...]wre to eschewe. Also as they counte and reken very lyttell wytte to be in hym that regardeth not naturall bewtie and comlines, so to helpe the same with pay [...]tinges is taken for a vay [...]e and a wanton pryde, not without great infamye. For they knowe euen by verye experience, that no comeli [...]es of bewtie doth so hyghly cō mende [Page] and auaunce the wyues in the conceyte of there husbandes, as honest conditions and lowlines. For as loue is oftentimes wonne with bewtie, so it is not kept preserued and continued, but by vertue and obedience. They do not only feare theire people frō doinge euell by punyshmentes, but also allure them to vertue with rewardes of ho [...]oure. Therfore they set vp in the market place the ymages of notable men, and of such as haue bene great & bounteful benefactors to the cōmo [...] wealth, for ye perpetual memorie of their good actes: and also that the glory & [...]enowme of the auncetors may sturre & p [...]ouoke theire posteritie to vertue. He that inordina [...]lie & ambitiously desireth p [...]omotions is lefte all hopeles for euer a [...] [...]eynyng any promotion as longe as he liueth. They lyue together louingly. For no magistrate is [...]ther haw [...]e or [...]erefull. Fathers they be called, and lyke fathers they vse themselfes. The citezens (as it is their dewtie) do willingly exhibite vnto them dewe honoure without any cōpulsion. Nor the prince [Page] hymselfe is not knowē from the other by his apparel nor by a crown or diade me or cappe of maintenau [...]ce, but by a littell sheffe of corne caried before hym. And so a taper of wax is borne befor y• byshop, whereby onely he is knowen. Thei haue but few lawes. For to people so instructe a [...]d institute very fewe do suffice. Yea this thynge they chieflye reproue amonge other nations, that innumerable bokes of lawes and expositio [...]s vpon thesame be not sufficient. But they thinke it against al right and [...]ustice that mē shuld be bound to thoes lawes, whiche other be in numbre [...]o then be able to be readde or els blinder and darher, then that any mā can well vnderstande them. Furthermore they vtterly exclude and bannyshe all proctours & sergeauntes at the lawe: which craftely handell matters, & subtelly dispute of the lawes. For they thinke it most mete, that euery mā [...]huld pleade his owne matter, & tell thesame tale before the iudge, that he would tel to his man of lawe. So shall there be lesse circumstaūce of wordes, & the trwth shal [Page] soner cū to light, whiles ye iudge with a discrete iudgement doth waye y• wordes of hym whom no lawier hath instruct with deciet, & whiles he helpeth and beareth out simple wittes agayn [...]t the false & malicious circū [...]ertions of craftie chyldren. This is harde to be obserued in other countreis in so infinitie a numbre of blynd and intricate lawes. But in Vtopia euery man is a cunnyng lawier. For as I sayde they haue verye fewe lawes: and the playnner and grosser that anye interpretation is: that they allowe as most iuste. For all lawes (saye they) bee made and publysshed onelye to thenthente, that by them euerye man shoulde be put in remembraunce of hys dewtye. But the craftye and subtyll interpretation of them can put verye fewe in that remembraunce (for they be but fewe that do perceaue them) where as the simple the plaine & grosse meaning of the lawes is open to euerye man. Els as touchynge the vulgare sorte of the people, whiche be bothe moste in [...]umbre, & haue moste neade to knowe [Page] theire dewties, were it not as good for them that no lawe were made at all, as when it is made, to brynge so blynde an interpretacion vpon it, that without greate witte and longe arguynge no man can discusse it? To the findinge out whereof nother the grosse iudgement of the people can attayne, not her the hole lyfe of them that be occupied in woorkynge for theire lyuynges can suffyse therto. Thies vertues of the Vtopians haue caused theire nexte neyghbours and borderers, whiche lyue fre and vnder no subiection (for the Vtopians longe agoo haue delyue [...]ed manye of them from tyrannye) to take magistrates of them some for a yeare, and some for fyue yeares space. Whiche when the tyme of theire office is expired, they br [...]ge home agayn with honoure and prayse, and take newe ons agayne wyth them into theire countrey. Thies nations haue vndowtedlye verye well and holsomlye prouyded for theire cōmon wealthes. For seynge that bothe the ma [...]yng and the marrynge of the weale [Page] publique doth depende and hange of the maners of the rulers a [...]d magistrates, what officers coulde they more wyselye haue chosen, thē thoes whiche cannot be ledde from honestye by brybes (for to them that shortlye after shall departe the [...]s into theyre owne countreye money shoulde be vnprofytable) nor yet be moued other with fauour, or malyce towardes annye man, as beynge strau [...]gers and vnaquainted with the people. The which twoo vices of affection and auryce where they take place in iudgementes, incontynente they breake iustice, the strongeste and suereste bonde of a common wealthe. Thies peoples whiche fetche theire officers and rulers from them the Vtopians cal theire fellowes. And other to whome they haue bene beneficiall, they call theire frendes. As towchynge leages, which in other places betwene countrey and countrey be so ofte concluded, broken, and made agayne, they neuer make none with anye nacion. For to what purpose serue leagues saye they? As [Page] though nature had not set sufficient lo [...]e betwene man and man. And who so regardeth not nature thynke yowe that he wyll passe for wordes? They be brought into thys opinion chiefely bicause y• in thoes parties of y• wordle leagues betwene princes be wont to be kept and obserued very slenderly. For here in Europ [...], and especiallye in thies partes where the faythe and religion of Christe reygneth, the maiestie of leagues is euerye where estemed holly and inuiolable: partlye through the iustice and goodnes of princes, and partelye through the reuerēce of great byshoppes. Whyche lyke as they make no promysse themselfes but they doo verye religiouslye perfourme thesame so they exhorte all prynces in any wyse to abyde by theyre promisses, and them that refuse or denye so to do, by theire pontificall powre and aucthorytie they compell therto. And surely they thynke well that it myght seme a verye reprochefull thynge, yf in the [...]eagues of them whyche by a pecu [...]iare name [...]e called faythfull faythe [Page] shoulde haue no place. But in that newefo [...]nde parte of the worlde whiche is scaselye so farre from vs beyonde the ly [...]e equinoctiall, as owre lyfe and manners be disside [...]te from theirs, no truste nor confydence is in leagues. But the mo and holyer cerymonies the league is knyt [...]e vp with, the so [...]er it is broken: by some cauillation founde in the woordes, whyche manye tymes of purpose be so craftelye put in, and placed, that the bandes can neuer be so sure nor so stronge, but they wyll fynde some hole open to crepe owte at, and to breake bothe league and trewthe. The whiche crafty dealynge, yea the whiche fraude and deceyte, yf they shoulde knowe it to bee practysed amonge pryuate men in theire bargaynes and contractes, they woulde incontinent crye owte at it with a sower conntena [...]nce, as an offence most detestable, and worthie to be punnyshed with a shamefull death: yea euen verye they that auaunce themselfes authours of like councel geuē to princes. [Page] Wherfore it maye well be thought other that all iustice is but a basse and a lowe vertue, and whiche avaleth it self farre vnder the hyghe dignitie of kynges. Or at the least wyse, that there be two iustices, the one mete for the inferioure sorte of the people, goinge a fote and cr [...]pynge by [...]owe on the grounde, and bounde downe on euery side with many bandes, because it shall not run at rouers. The other a pryncely vertue, whiche lyke as it is of muche hygher maiestie then the oth [...]r poore iustice, so also it is of muche more lybertie, as to the whiche nothinge is vnlawful that it lusteth after. Thies maners of princes (as I sayde) whiche be there so euyll kepers of leagues cause the Vtopians, as I suppose, to make no leagues at all, whiche perchaunce woulde chaunge theire mynde i [...] they lyued here. Howebeit they thynke that tho [...]ghe leagues be neuer so faythfullye obserued and kept, yet the custome of makinge leagues was verye euel be gonne. For this causeth mē (as though [...]ations which be separate a sondre by [Page] the space of a lytle hyl or a ryuer, were cōpled together by [...]o societe or bonde of nature) to thynke them selfes borne aduersaryes and enemyes one to an other, and that it is lawfull for the one to seke the death and destruction of the other, it leagues were not: yea and that after the leagues be accorded, f [...]yndeshyppe dothe not growe and encrease: But the lycence of robbynge and stealynge doth styll remayne, as far [...]urthe as for lacke of forsight and aduisement in writinge the woordes of the league anny sentence or clause to the contrary is not therin suffycyentlye comprehended. But they be of a contrary opiniō. That is that no man ought to be counted an enemy, whyche hath done no i [...] iury. And that the felowshyppe of nature is a stronge league: and that men be better and more surely knitte togethers by loue & bene [...]ole [...]ce, thē by couenaūtes of leagues, by hartie affectiō of minde then by woordes.

[Page]

Of warfare▪

WArre or battel a [...] a thinge very [...]rast [...]lye, and yet to no kynde of beastes in so muche vse as it is to man, they do detest and abhorre. And contrarye to the custome almost of all other natyons, they cow [...]te nothinge somuch against glorie, as glory gotten in warre. And therefore though they do daily practise and exercise themselfes in the discypline of warre, and that not only the men but also the women vpon certeyne appoynted dayes, leste they shoulde [...]e to seke in the feat of armes yf nead should requyre, yet they neuer to goo to battayle, but other in the defence of their owne cowntreye or to dry [...]e ow [...]e of theyr frendes lande the enemyes that be comen in, or by their powre to deliuer frō the yocke and bondage of tyran [...]ye so [...]e people that be oppressed wyth tyrā ny. [Page] Whyche thynge they doo of meere pytye and compassion. Howebeit they sende healpe to theyre fryndes not euer in theire defence. But sumtimes also to requyte and reuenge iniuries before to them done. But thys they do no [...] [...]les their counsell and aduise in the matter be asked whyles yt ys yet newe and freshe. For yf they fynde the cause probable, and yf the contrarye parte wyll not restore agayne suche thynges as be of them iustelye demaunded, then they be the chyeffe auctores and makers of the warre. Whyche they do not onlye as ofte as [...]y i [...]rodes and in [...]asions of soldiours prayes and booties be dreuen away, but then also much more mortally, whē their frindes marchaūtes in any land other vnder y• pretence of vniust lawes, orels by the wresting & wronge vnderstonding of good lawes do sustaine an vniust accusation vnder the colour of iustice. Nother the battel which the vtopians fowghte for the Nephelogetes against the Alaopolitanes a lytle before oure time was made for annye other cause, but that the [Page] Nephelogete marchaunte men as the vtopians thought suffred wrong of the Alaopolita [...]es▪ vnder the pretence of righte. But whether it were righte or wrong, it was with so cruell and mortal warre reuenged, the countr [...]is roūd about ioy [...]ing their healpe and powre to the puysaunce and malice of bothe parties, that most fl [...]rishing and wealthie peoples beyng some of thē shrewedely shaken, and some of them sharpely beaten, the mischeues were not finisshed nor ended, vntill the Alaopolitanes at the last were yelded vp as bondmen into the iurisdiction of the Nephelogetes. For the vtopians foughte not this warre for themselfes. And yet the Nephelogetes before the warre, when the Alaopolitanes flourished in wealth were nothyng to be cōpared with thē. So egerly the Vtopians prosequ [...]te the iniuries done to ther frindes yea in money matters, and not their owne likewise. For if they by co [...]eyne or gyle be wiped beside their gooddes, so that no violēce be done to their bodies, they wreake their anger by absteining from occupieng [Page] with that nation vntill they haue made satisfaction. Not for bicause they set lesse stoore by their owne cytyzeyns, then by theire frindes: but that they take the losse of their fryndes money more heuely then the losse of theyr owne. Bicause that their frindes marchaunte men, forasmuche as that they leise is their owne priuate goo [...]des, susteyne great damage by the losse. But their owne citizeyns leise nothing but of the commē gooddes, a [...]d of y• which was at home plentif [...]ll and almost superfluous, elles hadde it not bene sent furth. Therfore no mā feeleth the losse. And for this cause they thynke it to cruell an acte to reuenge that losse wyth the death of many, the incommoditie of the whiche losse no man feeleth nother in his li [...]fe, nother in his liuinge. But if it chaunce that any of their men in any other countreye be may [...]ed or [...]ylled, whether it be done by a commē or a priuate councell, knowing and trying out the treuth of the matter by their ambassadours, o [...]les the offēders be rendered vnto them in recompence of the iniury, [Page] they willl not be appeased: but inconti [...]ent they proclayme warre against thē The offenders yelded they punnishe other with death or with bondage. They be not only sorye, but also ashamed to atchieue the victory with much blood shed, co [...]tinge it greate follye to bye pretyo [...]s wares to dere. They reioyse and auaunte themselfes yf they vaynquyshe and oppresse theire enemyes by crafte and deceyt. And for that act they make a generall tryumphe, and as yf the matter were manfullye handeled they s [...]tt vp a pyller of stone in the place where they so vanquysshed theyre enn [...]myes in token of the vyctory. For then they glorye then they booste and cracke that they haue plaied the men in dede, when they haue so ouer commen, as no other lyuynge creature but onely ma [...] coulde: that ys to saye by the myghte and pusyaunce of wytte. For wyth boddelye strengthe (saye they) beares, lyons, [...]oores, wulffes, dogges and other wylde beastes doo fyghte. And as the mooste parte of them doo passe vs in strengthe and fyerce courrage, [Page] so in wytte and reason wee be muche stronger then they all. Theyre chyefe and princypall purpose in warre ys to obteyne that thynge, whyche yf they had before obteyned they wolde not haue moued battayle. But if that be not possible, they take so cruell vengeaunce of them whych be in the fault, that euer after they be aferde to doo the lyke. Thys y [...] theyre cheyffe and pryncypall intente, whyche they immedyatelye and fyrste of all prosequute, and sette forewarde▪ But yet in, that they be more cyrcumspecte in auoydynge and eschewynge▪ ieopardyes, then they be desy [...]rous of prayse and renowne. Therfore immediatl [...] after that warre is ones solēply denounced, they procure manye proclamatiōs signed with their owne commen seale to be sett vp preuilie at one time in their ennemyes lande, in places mooste frequented. In thyes proclamatyons they promysse greate rewardes to hym that w [...]ll kyll their e [...]emies prince and sumwhat lesse gyftes, but them verye greate also for euerye heade of them▪ [Page] whose names be in the sayde proclamacions conteined. They be those whome they coūt their chieffe aduersaries, next vnto the pri [...]ce. What soeuer is prescribed vnto him that killeth any of the proclamed persons, that is d [...]bled to him y• bringeth any of the same to them aliue, yea and to the proclamed persones thē selfes, if they wil chaūge their mindes and come into them takinge their pa [...] tes, they profer the same greate rewardes with pardon, and suerty of their liaues. Therfore it quickely c [...]mmeth to passe that they haue al other men in suspicion, and be vnfaithfull and mistrusting emong themselfes one to another, liu [...]g in great feare and in no lese ieopardye. For it is well knowen that dyuers times the most part of them, a [...]d specially the prince him s [...]lfe hath bene betra [...]ed of thē in whome they put their most hoope and trust. So that there is no ma [...]r of acte nor dede that giftes & rewardes do not enforce mē vnto. And in rewardes they kepe no measure. But remembring and considering into howe great hasard and ieopardie they [Page] call them, endeuoure themselfes to recompen [...]e the greatenes of the daunger with lyke great benefites. And therfore they promisse not only wonderfull greate abundaunce of golde, but also lā des of greate reuenues lyenge in moost sauffe places emonge theire fryndes. And theyre promysses they perfourme faythfully wythowte annye [...] or couyne. Thys custome of byinge and sellynge aduersaryes amonge other people ys dysallowed, as acruell acte of a basse a [...]d a cowardys [...]e mynde. But they in thys behalfe thynke themselfes muche prayse woorthye, as who lyke wyse men by thys meanes dyspatche greate warres wythowte annye battell or skyruyshe. Yea they cownte yt also a dede of pyty and mercye, bycause that by the deathe of a fewe offenders the lyues of a greate [...]mber of ynuocentes aswell of their own mē as also of their enemies be raū somed & saued, which i [...] fighting shoulde have bene sleane. For they doo no lesse pytye the basse and commen sor [...]e of theyr enemyes people, then they doo [Page] theyre owne: knowynge that they be dryuen to warre agaynste theyre wylles by the furyous madnes of theyre prynces a [...]d heades. Yf by none of thies meanes the matter go forwarde, as they wolde haue yt, then they procure occasyons of debate, and dyssentyon to be spredde emonge theyre enemyes. As by bryngynge the prynces brother, or some of the noble men in hoope to obtayne the kyngedome. Yf thys way preuayle not, then they reyse vp the people that be nexte neygheboures and borderers to theyr enemyes, and them they sette in theyre neckes▪ vnder the coloure of some olde tytle of ryghte, suche as kynges doo neuer lacke. To them they promysse theire helpe a [...]d ayde in theyre warre. And as for moneye they gyue them abundance. But of theyre owne cytyzeyns they sende to them fewe or none. Whome they make so much of, a [...]d loue so intyerlye, that they wol [...]e not be willing to chaung auye of thē for their aduersaries prince. But their gold and siluer, bycause they kepe yt all for thys only purpose, they [Page] laye it owte frankly and frely: as who shoulde lyue euen as wealthely, if they hadde bestowed it euerye pennye. Yea and besydes theyre ryches, whyche they kepe at home, they haue also a [...] in fy [...]yte treasure abrode, by reason that (as I sayde before) manye natyons be in their debte. Therefore they hyere soldyours oute of all countreys and sende them to battayle, but cheiflye of the Zapo [...]etes. Thys people is .500. myles from Vtopia eastewarde. They be hydeous sauage and fyerce, dwellynge in wild woodes and high mountaines, where they were bredde & brought vp. They be of an harde nature, able to abide and susteine heate, cold, & labour, abhorrynge from all delycate deyntyes, occupyenge no husbandrye nor ty [...] lage of the ground, homelye a [...]d rude both in the buildinge of their houses & in their apparrell, geuen vnto no goodnes, but onelye to the breede and bringynge vp of cattell. The mooste parte of theire lyuynge is by huntynge and stealynge. They be borne onelye to warre, whyche they dylygentlye and [Page] [...]arnestlye seke for. And when they haue gotten yt, they be wonders gladde therof. They goo furthe of theyre countreye in greate companyes together, and who soeuer lacketh souldyours, there they proffer theyre seruyce for small wages. Thys ys onely the crafte that they haue to gette theyre lyuynge by. They maynteyne theyr lyfe, by sekyng theyre deathe. For them whomewyth they be in wayges they fyghte hardelye fyerslye, a [...]d faythefullye. But they bynde themselfes for no certeyne tyme. But vpo [...] thys condytion they entre into bondes, that the nexte daye they wyll take parte wyth the other syde for greatter wayges, and the nexte daye after that they wyll be readye to come backe agayne for a lytle more moneye. There be fewe warres there awaye, wherin is not a greate numbre of them in bothe partyes. Therefore yt daylye chauncethe that nye kynsefolke whyche were hiered togetheron one parte, and there verye fryndelye and famylyerly vsed themselfes one wyth an other, shortely [Page] after beynge separate into contrarye partes, runne one agaynste an other enuyouslye and fyercelye: and forgettynge bothe kyndred and frendeshyp, thruste theyre swordes one in another. And that for none other cause, but that they be hyered of contrarye prynces for a lytle moneye. Whyche they doo so hyghelye regarde and esteame, that they will easelye be prouoked to chaū ge partes for a halfpenye more wayges by the daye. So quyckelye they haue taken a smacke in couetesenes. Whyche for all that ys to them no proffyte. For that they gette by syghtynge, ymmmedyatelye they spende vnthryftelye and wretchedlye in ryott. Thys people fyghte for the Vtopyans agaynste all natyo [...]s, bycause they giue them greatter wayges, then annye other natyon wyll. For the Vtopians lyke as they seke good men to vse wel, so they seke thyes euell and vycyous men to abuse. Whome when neade requyreth wyth promisses of greate rewardes they putt furthe into greate ieopardyes. From whens the mooste [Page] part of them neuer cummeth againe to aske their rewardes. But to them that remain on li [...]e they paye y• which they promissed faithfully, that they may be the more willinge to put them selfes in like daūgers another time. Nor y• Vtopians passe not how many of thē they bring to distruction. For they beleue y• they should doo a very good deade for all mankind, if they could ridde out of ye wordle all that fowle stinkinge denne of that most wicked and cursed people. Next vnto thies they vse the soldiours of them whom they fight for. And then the help of their other frindes. And last of al they ioyne to their owne citizeins. Emong whome they gyue to one of tried vertue and prowes the rewle goouernaunce and conductyon of the holy armye. Vnder hym they appoynte ij. other, whyche whyles he ys sauffe be bothe pryuate and owte of offyce. But yf he be taken or slayne, the one of the other .ij. succedeth hym, as yt were by in herytaunce. And if the second miscarry then the third taketh hys rowme, leaste that (as the chaunce of battell [Page] ys vncerteyne and dowtefull) the yeopardye or deathe of the capytayne shoulde brynge the hole armye in hasarde. They chuse soldyers owte of euerye cytye those whyche putt furthe themselfes wyllynglye. For they thruste no man furthe into warre agaynste hys wyll. Bycause they beleue, yf annye man be fearefull and faynte harted of nature, he wyll not onelye doo no manfull and hardye act hym selfe, but also by occasyon of cowardenes to hys fellowes. But yf annye battell be made agaynste theyre owne countreye, then they putt thyes cowardes so that they be stronge bodyed in shyppes emonge other bolde harted men. Or elles they dyspose thē vpon the walles, from whens they maye not flye. Thus what for shame that theyre ennemyes be at hande, and what for bycause they be withowt hope of runnynge awaye, they forgette all feere. And manye tymes extreame necessytye turneth cowardnes into prowes and manlynes. But as none of thē ys thrust forthe of his coūtrey into [Page] warre agaynste hys wyll, so women that be wyllynge to accompanye their h [...]sbādes in times of warre be not prohybyted or stopped. Yea they prouoke and e [...]horte them to yt wyth prayses. A [...]d in sett fylde the wyues doo stande euerye one by here owne husbandes syde. Also euery man is cōpassed nexte abowte wyth hys owne chyldren, kins fol [...]es and alliaunce. That they, whom nature chiefelye moueth to mutuall succoure, thus stondynge together, maye helpe one an other. It is a great reproche and dishonestie for the husbande to come home wythowte hys wiffe, or the wiffe withoute her husband, or ye sonne without his father. And therfore if the other part sticke so harde by it, that the ba [...]tell come to their hādes, it is fought with great slaughter & bloodshed, euē to the vtter destruction of both partes. For as they make all the meanes and shyf [...]es that maye be to kepe themselfes from the necessitye of fyghtynge, so that they may dispatche ye battell by their hiered soldyours: so when there is no remedy but yt they muste neades [Page] fyghte themselfes then they do as corragiouslye fall to it, as before, whyles they myght, they dyd wyselye auoyde i [...]. Nor they be not moste fierce at the fyrst bro [...]te. But in continuaunce by litle and lytle theire fierce corrage encreaseth, with so stubborne and obstynate myndes, that they wyll rather die then gyue backe an ynche. For that suertye of lyuynge, whiche euery man hath at home beynge ioyned with noo carefull anxietye or remēbraunce how theire posteritie shall lyue after them (for this pensifenes oftentymes breaketh a [...]d abateth couragious stomakes) maketh them stowte and hardy, and dysdaynful to be conquered. Moreouer theire knowledge in cheualrye and feates of armes putteth them in a good hope. Finally the holsome and vertuous opinions, wherin they were brought vp euē from theire childhode, partely through learnyng, and partelye throughe the good ordenaunces and lawes of theire weale publique augmente and encrease theire manfull currage. By reason whereof they nother [Page] set so litle store by theire liues that they will rasshely & vnaduisedlye cast them away: nor they be not so farre in lewde & fond loue therewith, that they will shamefully couete to kepe them, whē honestie biddeth leaue thē. When the battel is hottest & in al places most fierce & feruent, a bende of chosen a [...]d picked yong men, whiche besworne to liue & dye togethers, take vpon them to destroye theire aduersaries capitaine, hym they inuade now with preuy wyeles, now by opē strength. At hym they strike both nere & farre of. He is assayled with a long & a continewal assault, freshe men styll commyng in the w [...] ried mens places. And seldome it chaū ceth (onles he saue hymselfe by flying) that he is not other slayne, or [...]ls taken prysoner, & yelded to his enemies alyue. If they wynne the fyelde, they persecute not theire enemies with the violent rage of slaughter. For they had rather take them aliue then kyll thē. Nother they do so followe the chase & pursute of theire enemies, but they leaue behy [...]de them one parte of theire hoste [Page] in battayl arraye vnder theire s [...]andardys. In so muche that if all theire hole armie be discumfetyd and ouercum sauing the rerewarde, & that they therewith achieue the victory, the [...] they had rather lette all theire enemies scape, then to followe them owt of array. For they remembre it hath chaunced v [...]to themselfes more thē o [...]es: the hole powre & strength of theyre hoste being vanquished & put to flight, whiles theire enemies reioysing in the victory haue persecuted them flying some one way and some an other, fewe of theire men lying in an ambusshe, there reddy at all occasions, haue soday [...]ly rysen vpon them thus dispersed & scattered owt of array, and through presumptiō of safetye vnaduisedly pursuynge the chase: and haue incōtinent changed the fortune of the hole battayll: and spyte of there tethes wrestynge owt of theire handes the sure & v [...]dowted victory, being a litle before conquered haue for theire parte cōquired the cōquerers. It is hard to say whether they be craftier in laynge an ambusshe, or wittier in [Page] [...]duoydynge thesame. Yowe woulde thynke they i [...]tende to f [...]ye▪ whem they [...]eane nothing lesse. And cōtrary wise when they go about that purpose▪ yow wold beleue it were y• least part of their thoughte. For it they perceaue themselfes other ouermatched in numbre, or closed in to narrowe a place, then they remoue their campe other in the [...]yght season with silence, or by some pollicie they deceaue theire enemies, or in the daye time they retiere backe so softely, that it is no lesse ieoperdie to medle with them when they gyue backe then when they preese on. They fence and fortifie theire campe sewerlye with a deape and a brode trenche. The earth therof is cast inward. Nor they do not set drudgeis and slaues a worke about it. It is doone by the ha [...]des of the souldiours them selfes. All the hole armye worketh vpon it: except them that watche in harneis before the trenche for sodeyne auentures. Therefore by the labour of so manye a large trenche closinge in a great cōpasse of grounde is made in lesse tyme thē any mā wold [Page] beleue. Theire armoure or har [...]ei [...] whiche they weare is sure and stronge to receaue strokes, and handsome for all mo [...]inges and gestures of the bodye, in somuche that it is not vnweldy to swymme in. For in the discipline of theire warefare amonge other feates thei lerne to swimme in harneis. Their weapons be arrowes afarre of: which they shote both strongely and suerly, not onelye fotemen but also horsemen. At hande strokes they vse not swordes but polla [...]es whiche be mortall, aswel in sharpenes as in weyghte, bothe for foynes and downe strokes. Engines for warre they deuyse and inuente wō ders wittely. Whiche when they be made they kepe very secret, leaste if they should be knowen before neade requyre, they should be but laughed at, and serue to no purpose. But in makynge them herevnto they haue chiefe respecte, that they be both easy to be caried and handsome to be moued and turned about. Truce taken with theire enemies for a shorte time they do so fermelye and faythfully keape, that they [Page] wyll not breake it: no not though they be theire vnto prouoked. They do not waste nor destroy there enemies la [...]de with forraginges, nor they burne not vp theire corne. Yea they saue it as muche as maye be from beinge onerrune and troden downe other with men or horses, thynkynge that it groweth for theire owne vse and proffyt. They hurt no man that is vnarmed onles he be an espiall. All cities that be yelded vnto them, they defende. And suche as they wynne by force of assaute they no ther dispoyle nor sacke, but them that withstode and dyswaded the yeldynge vp of thesame they put to death, the other souldiours they punnyshe with bondage. All the weake multitude they leaue vntouched. If they knowe that a [...]ye cytezeins counselled to yelde and rendre vp the citie, to them they gyue parte of the condempned mens goodes. The resydewe they distribute and gyue frely amonge them, whose helpe they had in thesame warre. For none of them selfes taketh anye portion of the praye. But when the battayll is [Page] fynyshed and ended, they put theire frendes to neuer a penny coste of al the chardges that they were at, but laye it vpon theire neckes that be conquered. Them they burde [...]ne with the hole chardge of theire expēceis, which they demaunde of them partelye in money to be kept for lyke vse of battayll, and partelye in sandes of greate reuenues to be payde vnto them yearlye for euer. Suche reuenues they haue nowe in ma [...]ye countreis. Whiche by litle and lytle rysyng of dyuers and sondry causes be encreased aboue .vij. hūdreth thousand ducates by the yere. Thither they sende furth some of their citezei [...]s as Lieuete [...]auntes, to lyue theire sumptuously lyke men of honoure and renowne. And yet this notwithstanding muche money is saued, which cōmeth to the cōmen treasory: onles it so chaū ce, that thei had rather truste y• coūtrey wt the money. Which many times thei do so lōg vntil they haue neade to occupie it. And it seldome happeneth, y• thei demaūd al▪ Of thies lādes thei assigne part vnto thē, which at their request & [Page] exhortacion put thems [...]lfes in such ieoperdies as I spake of before. If anye prynce stirre vp warre agaynst them, intendyng to inuade theire lande, they mete hym inco [...]tinent owt of theire owne borders with great powre and strengthe. For they neuer lyghtly make warre in their owne countreis. Nor they be neuer brought into so extreme necessitie as to take helpe out of forreyne landes into thire owne Ilande.

Of the religyons in Vtopia.

THere be dyuers kyndes of religiō not only in sondry partes of the Ilande, but also in dyuers places of euerye citie. Some worshyp for God the sunne: some the mone, some some other of the planetes. There be that gyue [Page] worshyp to a man that was o [...]es of excellente vertue or of famous glory, not only as God, but also as the chiefest & hyghest God. But the moste and the wysest parte (reiectynge all thies) beleue that there is a certayne Godlie powre vnknowen, euerlastyng, incomprehensible, inexplicable, farre aboue the capacitie and retche of manswitte, dispersed through out all the worlde, not in byg [...]es, but in vertue a [...]d powre. Hym they call the father of all. To hym allone they attrybute the begynnynges, the encreasynges, the procedynges, the chaunges, and the endes of all thynges. Nother they gyue deuine honours to any other then to him. Yea all the other also, though they be in diuers opinions, yet in this pointe they agree all togethers with the wisest sort in beleuynge that there is one chiefe and pryncipall God the maker and ruler of the hole worlde: whome they all commonly in theire countrey language call Mythra. But in this they disagre that amonge some he is counted one, and amonge some an other. For [Page] euery one of them, whatsoeuer that is whiche he taketh for the chiefe God, thynketh it to be the very same nature, to whose onlye deuyne myght and maiestie the som and soueraintie of al thinges by the consent of all people is attributed and geuen. Howe be it they al begynne by litle and litle to forsake & fall from thys varietie of superstitiōs, and to agree togethers in that religion whiche semethe by reason to passe and excell the resydewe. And it is not to be dowted but all the other would longe agoo haue bene abolyshed, but that whatsoeuer vnprosperous thynge happened to any of them as he was mynded to chaunge his religion, the fearefulnes of people dyd take it not as a thynge cummynge by chaunce, but as sente frome God owt of heauen. As thoughe the God whose honoure he was forsakynge, woulde reuenge that wicked purpose against him. But after they harde vs speake of the name of Christe, of his doctryne, lawes, myracles, and of the no lesse wonderful constancie of so manye martyrs, whose [Page] bloude wyllynglye shedde brought [...] great numbre of nations throughe out all partes of the worlde into theire secte: yowe wyll not beleue with howe gladde myndes, they agreed vnto the same: whether it were by the secrete inspiration of God, or els for that they thought it next vnto that opiniō which amonge them is counted the chiefest. Howe be it I thynke this was no smal healpe and furtheraunce in the matter that they harde vs saye that Christ instytuted amonge hys all thynges commen: and that thesame communitie dothe yet remayne amongest the rightest Christian companies. Verely howe soeuer it came to passe, manye of them consented togethers in oure religion, and were wasshed in the hollye water of baptisme. But because amonge vs foure (for no moo of vs was left alyue two of oure compa [...]ye beynge deade) there was no prieste, whiche I am ryghte sorye for, they beinge entered and instructed in all other poyntes of oure relygion, lacke o [...]elye those Sacramentes, whyche [Page] here none but priestes do minister. Howe be it they vnderstande and perceyue them, and be verye desierous of thesame. Yea they reason and dispute the matter earnestly amonge themfelfes, whether without the s [...]ndyng of a christian bysshoppe one chosen out of theire owne people may receaue the ordre of priesthode. And truly they were mynded to chuse one. But at my departure from them they hadde chosen none. They also whiche do not agree to Christes religion feare no man frome it, nor speake agaynste anye man that hath receyued it. Sauing that one of oure companye in my presence was sharpely punyshed. He as sone as he was baptised began against our willes with more earnest affection then wisdome to reason of Christes religiō ▪ and began to waxe so hotte in his matter that he dyd not only preferre oure relygion before all other, but also dyd vtterlye despise an cōdempne al other, callynge them prophane, and the followers of them wicked and deuelishe, and the chyldren of euerlasting dampnation. [Page] When he had thus longe reasoned the matter they layde holde on hym, acc [...]sed hym, and condempned hym into exyle, not as a despyser of religion, but as a sedicious persone, and a rayser vp of dissention amonge the people. For this is one of the auncientest lawes amonge them: that no man shalbe blamed for reasonynge in the mayntenaunce of his owne religion. For kyng Vtopus euen at the first begynning, hearing that the inhabitaū tes of the lande were before his commyng thether at con [...]ynuall dissention and stryfe amonge themselfes for their religions: perceyuing also that this cō mondissention whyles euerye seuerall secte tooke seuerall parties in fyghting for theire countrey, was the only occasion of hys conquest ouer them all, assoue as he had gottē the victory: First of all he made a decrie, that it shoulde be lawfull for euery man to fauoure and followe what religion he would, and that he myght do the beste he cold to bryng other to his opinion, so that he dyd it peaceably, gentelye, quyetly, [Page] and soberlye, without hastye and contentious rebuking & inuehyng against other. If he coulde not by fayre & gentle speche i [...]duce them vnto his opiniō, yet he should vse no kinde of violence, and refrayne from displeasaunt & seditious woordes. To him that would vehemently and feruentlye in this cause striue & contende was decreid bannish mēt or bondage. This lawe did kynge Vtopus make not only for the maintenaūce of peace which he sawe through continuall contention & mortal hatred vtterly extinguished: but also because he thought this decrye shuld make for the furtheraunce of religion. Wherof he durst define and determine nothing vnaduisedly, as dowting whether god des [...]eryng manifolde and diuers sortes of honoure, would inspire sondrie men with sondrie kyndes of religion. And this suerly he thought a very vnmete and folishe thing, and a pointe of arrogant presumption to compell all other by violence and threatenynges to agre to thesame that thou beleuest to bee [...]rewe. [...]urthermore though there be [Page] one religion whiche alone is trewe, & all other vayne & superstitious, yet did he well forsee (so that the matter were handeled with reason, and sober modestie) that the trewthe of the owne powre woulde at the laste issue owte and come to lyght. But if contention and debate in that behalfe shoulde continuallye be vsed, as the woorste men be moste obstynate and stubburne, and in theire euell opynion moste constante: he perceaued that then the beste and holyest religion woulde be troden vnder foote and destroyed by moste vayne superstitions, euen as good corne is by thornes and weydes ouergrowen and choked. Therfore al this matter he lefte vndiscussed, & gaue to euery man free libertie and choyse to beleue what he woulde. Sauinge that he earnestly and straytelye chardged them, that no man shoulde conceaue so vile and base an opinion of the dignitie of mans nature as to thinke that the sowles do dye and perishe with the bodye: or that the worlde rūneth at al auentures gouerned by no diuine pro [...]idence. [Page] And therfore thei beleue that after this lyfe vices be extreamelye punyshed & vertues bountyfully rewarded. Hym that is of a contrary opinion they coū te not in the numbre of mē, as one that hath aualed the hyghe nature of his sowle to the vielnes of brute beastes bodies: muche lesse in the numbre of their citiziens, whoes lawes & ordenaūces if it were not for feare he wold nothing at al esteme. For yow may be suer that he wil study other with crafte preuely to mock, orels violently to breake the commen lawes of his countrey, in whom remayneth no further feare thē of the lawes, nor no further hope then of the bodye. Wherefore he that is thus mynded is depryued of all honours, excluded from all offices and reiecte from all common administrations in the weale publyque. And thus he is of all sorte despysed as of an vnprofitable and of a base & vile nature. Howe be it they put hym to no punyshemente, because they be perswaded y• it is in no mans powre to beleue what he lyst. No nor they constrayne hym [Page] not with threatninges to dissemble his minde and shewe countenaunce contr [...] ry to his thoughte. For deceite and falshed and all maner of lyes, as next vnto fra [...]de, they do meruelouslye deteste and abhorre. But they suffre him not to dispute in his opinion and that o [...]lyeemong the commen people. For elle [...] a parte emong the the pryestes and mē of grauity they doo not only suffre but also exhorte him to dispute and argue: hoopinge that at the laste that madnes will giue place to reason. There be also other, and of them no small numbre, whych be not forbidden to speake their mindes, as grounding their opinion vpon some reason, being in their gli [...]ine nother euell nor vitious. Their heresye is much contrary to the other. For they beleue that the soules of brute beastes be immortall and euerlasting. But nothi [...]ge to be compared with owers in dignitie, nother ordeyned and predestinate to like felicitie. For all they beleue certeinly and sewerly that mans blesse shall be so greate, that they doo morne and lamente euerye mans sicknes but [Page] no mans death, oneles it be one whom they see depart from his liffe carfully, and agaynst his will. For this they take for a very euell token as though the sowle beinge in dyspayre and vexed in conscience, through some preuy & secret forefeilyng of the punnishment now at hande were af [...]rde to▪ depart. And they thinke he shall not be welcome to God whyche when he ys called runneth not to hym gladly, but ys drawen by force and sore agaynste hys wyll. They therfore that see thys kynde of deathe doo adhorre it, and them that so die they buye wyth sorrow and silence. And whē they haue prayed God to be mercifull to the sowle, and mercifully to pardon the [...]nfirmities therof they couer ye dead coorse with earthe. Contrarye wise all that depart merely and ful of good hoope, for thē no man mo [...]rnethe, but followethe the heerse with ioyfull synging, cōmending the soules to god with great affectiō. And at the last not with mourning sorrow but with a great [...] uerēce they bourne y• bodies. And in ye same place they set vp a piller of stone, [Page] with the deade mans titles therin graued. When they be cōme home they reherse his vertuouse ma [...]ers & his good dedes. But no parte of his liffe is soooft or gladly talked of as his mery deathe. They thinke that this remēbraunce of their vertue & goodnes doth vehemē tely prouoke and enforce the quicke to vertue. And y• nothing cā be more pleasaunt & acceptable to the dead. Whom they suppose to be present emong them when they talke of them, though to the dull and feoble eyesight of mortall mē they be inuisibly. For it were an vncon [...]enient thinge that the blessed shoulde not be at libertye to goo whether they wold. And it were a poynte of greate vnkyndnes in thē to haue vtterly caste awaye the desyer of vysytynge and seynge their frindes, to whome they were in theyr lyfe tyme ioyned by mutuall loue and charytye. Whych in goodmē after theyre deathe they cownte to be rat [...] encreasede then dymynyshede. They beleue therefore that the deade be presentlye conuersaunte emong y• quicke, as beholders and witnesses of all [Page] their woordes and deedes. Therefore they go more corragiously to their busines as ha [...]ing a trust and affiaunce in such ouerseers. And this same belefe of y• present cōuersaciō of their forefathers and auncetours emonge them fearethe them from all secrete dishonesty. They vtterly [...]espise and mocke sothe sayinges and diuinacions of thinges to come by the flighte or voyces of birdes, and all other diuinations of vayne superstition, which in other countreys be in great obseruation. But they highly esteame and worshippe miracles that come by no helpe of nature, as workes and witnesses of the presente powr [...] of God. And such they saye doo chaunce there very often. And sūtimes in great and dowtefull matters by commen intercession and prayers they procure and obteyne them with a suer hoope & confidence and a stedfast beleffe. They thinke that the contemplacion of nature and the prayse thereof cumminge, is to God a very acceptable honour. Yet there be many so earnestly bent and affectioned to religion, that they passe no [Page] thinge for learning nor giue their mindes to no knowledge of thinges. But ydelnes they vtterly forsake & esch [...]e, thinkinge felicitie after this liffe to be gotten and obteined by busy labors and good exercises. Some therfore of them attende vpon the sicke, some amend highe waies, clense ditches, repaire bridges, digge turfes, grauell and stones, fell and cleaue woode, bring wood cor [...]e and other thinges into the cities in cartes, and serue not onlye in commen woorkes, but also in pryuate laboures as seruanntes, yea more then bondmē. For what so euer vnpleasaunte, harde, and vile worke is any where, from the which labour, lothsū [...]es, and desper [...] tion doth fraye other, all that they take vpon them willingly and gladly, procuring quyete and rest to other remayning in continuall woorke and labour themfelfes, not embrayding others there wyth. They nother reproue other mens liues nor glorye in theire owne. Thies mē the more seruiseable they behaue them selfes the moore they be honoured of all men. Yet they be diuided [Page] into .ij. sectes. The one is of them that liue single and chast absteining not only from the company of women, but also from the eating of flesh, and some of them from al maner of beastes. Which vtterly reiectynge the pleasures of this present lyffe as hurtefull, be all hollye set vpon the dessire of the lyffe to come by watchynge and sweatynge hoping shortely to obtaine it, beyng in the meane season meerye and lustye. The other sect is no lesse desyerous of labour, but they ēbrace matrimony, not despising the solace therof, thinking that they cā not be discharged of theire bon [...]den duetyes towardes nature withoute labour and tiole, nor towardes their nati [...]e countreye wythowte procreacion of chyldren. They abstayne from no pleasure that dothe nothynge hynder them from laboure. They loue the fleshe of fourefoted beastes, bycause they beleue that by that meate they be made hardier and stronger to woorke. The Vtopians count this secte the wiser, but y• other the hollier. Which in that they preferre single liffe before matrimony, and [Page] that sharpe liffe before an easier liffe, if herin they grounded vpon reasō they wold mock them. But now forasmuch as they say they be ledde to it by religion, they honour and worship thē. And thies be they whome in their language by a peculyare name they call Buthresca [...], the whyche woorde by interpretation signifieth to vs men of relig [...] on or religious men. They haue pryestes of exceding hollines, and therefore very few. For there be but .xiij. in euery city according to the number of theire churches, sauynge when they go furth to battell. For than .vij. of them goo furthe wyth the armye: in whose steades so manye newe be made at home. But the other at theyre retourne home agayn reentre euery one into his own place, they that be aboue the numbre v [...]tyll suche tyme as they succede into the places of the other at theyre dyi [...]ge be in the meane season continuallye in companye wyth the bishoppe. For he ys the chyeffe heade of thē all. They be chosen of the people as the other magistrates be, by secrete voices for y• auoy [...] [Page] they be consecrate of their owne company. They be ouerseers of all deuyne matters, orderers of religious, and as it were Iugers and maisters of maners. And it is a great dishonestye and shame to be rebuked or spoken to by anny of thē for dissolute and incontinēt liuing. But as it is their offyce to gyue good exhortations and cow [...]sell, so it is y• de [...]ty of the prince and y• other magistrates to correct and punnyshe offē ders, sauynge that the priestes whome they find exceading vicious liuers, thē they excomm [...]icate from hauing any interest in diuine matters. And there is almoost no punnishment emonge them more feared. For they runne in verye great infamy, and he inwardly tormented with a secrete feare of religion, and shall dot long scape free with their bodies. For onles they, by quycke repentaūce approue the amendement of their lyffes to the priestes, they be taken and punnished of the cownsell as wycked & irreligious. Both childhode and youth is instructed, and tought of them. Nor they be not more deligente to instructe [Page] them in learning then in vertue & good maners. For they vse with very greate endeuour and deligence to put into the heades of their children whiles they be yet tender and pliaunt good opinions and profitable for the conseruation of their weale publique. Which whē they be ones rooted in children do remayne wyth them all th [...]ir lyfe after: & be wō ders profitable for the defence & maintenaunce of the state of the cōmen weal the. Which neuer decaieth but through vi [...]is risinge of euell opinyons. The pryestes onles they be women (for that kynd i [...] not excluded from pryesthode, howebeit fewe be chosen, and none but widdowes and old women) the mē priestes I saye take to their wifes the chiefest women in all their countreye. For to no office emong the vtopians is more honour and preeminence geuē. In so much that if they committ any offence, they be vnder no cōmen iudgemēt, but be left only to god & thēselfes. For they thinke it not lawfull to touch him with mannes hande, be he neuer so vityous, whiche after so singuler a sort was dedicate [Page] and consecrate to god as a holly offering. This maner may they easely obserue, bicause they haue so few priestes & do chuse thē with such circūspection. For it scasely euer chaunceth that y• most ver [...]uo [...]s emōg vertuous which in respect only of his vertue is auaunced to so high a dignity, can fal to vice and wickednes. And if it should cha [...] ̄ ce in dede (as mans nature is mutable and fraile) yet by reason they be so few and promoted to no might nor powre, but only honour, it were not to be feared that anye great dammage by them should happen and e [...]sue to the cōmen wealth. They haue so rare and few priestes least if the honour were cōmunicate to many y• dignity of y• ordre which emong them now is so highly estemed should runne in contempt. Speciallye bicause they thinke it harde to find many so good, as to be meet for that dignity, to the execution and discharge wher of it is not sufficiēte to be endued with mean vertues. Further more thies priestes be not more estemed of their owne countrey mē, then they be of forrein & [Page] straung coūtreis. Which thing maye hereby plainly appere. And I think also y• this is the cause of it. For whiles y• armes be fighting together in opē feld, they a litle beside not farre of knele vpon their knees in their hallowed vestimentes, holding vp theyr hādes to heauen, praying first of all for peace, nexte for vyctory of theyr owne parte, but to neyther part a bluddy vyctory. If their host gette the vpper hand they runne in to the mayne battayle, and restrayne theyre owne men from sleying and cr [...] ellye pursuynge theyre vanquyshed e [...] nemies. Whyche ennemyes yf they do but see them and speake to them, yt ys ynoughe for the sauegarde of theyr lyues. And the towchynge of theire clothes defēdeth & saueth al their gooddes frō ra [...]yne & spoyle. Thys thing hath auaunced thē to so greate wourshyp & trew maiesty emong al natōis, yt many times they haue aswel preserued theire own citizēs frō y• cruel force of their enemies, as they haue their enemies frō the [...] furyous rage of theyre owne men. For yt ys well knowen that whē [Page] their owne army hathe reculed, and in dyspayre turned backe, and runne away, theyr ennemies fyerslye pursuing with slaughter and spoyle, then the priestes cumming betwine haue stayed the murder, and parted bothe the hostes. So that peace hath be [...]e made and concluded betwene bothe partes vpon equall and indyfferent condytions. For there was neuer anny natyon, so fiers, so cruell and rude, but they hadde thē in suche reuerence, that they cownted theyr bodyes hallowed and sanctyfyed and therefore not to be violentlye and vnreuerentlye towched. They kepe hollye daye the fyrste and the laste day of euerye moneth and yeare, deuydynge the yeare into mo [...]ethes, whyche they measure by the course of the moone, as they doo the yeare by the course of the sonne. The fyrste dayes they call in theyr language Cynemer [...]es, and the laste Trape [...]ernes, the whyche woordes maye be interpreted primifeste and finifest or els in our speache first feast and last feast. Their churches be very gorgyous, and not onelye of fyne and [Page] curious workemāship, but also (which in the fewenes of thē was necessary) very wide and large, and able to receaue a great company of people. But they be all sumwhat darke. Howbeit that was not donne through ignoraunce in buylding, but as they say by the cownsell of the priestes. Bicause they thought y• ouer much light doth disperse mens cogitations, where as in dimme & doutefull lighte they be gathered together, & more earnestly fixed vpon religion & deuocion, which bicause it is not there of one sort emong all men, and yet all the kindes a [...]d fassions of it, thoughe they be sondry and manifold, agree together in the honoure of the deuine nature, as going diuers wayes to one ende, ther fore nothing is sene nor hard, in y• churches, which semeth, not to agre indifferētly with them all. If ther be a distinct kind of sacrifice peculiare to any seuerall secte, that they execute at home in their owne houses. The cōmon sacrifices be so ordered that they be no derogatyon nor preiudyce to a [...]ye of the pryuate sacryfyces and religiōs. Therefore [Page] no ymage of annye god is se [...]ne in the churche, to the intente it maye be free for euery man to conceyue god by their religion after what likenes and similitude they will. They call vpon no peculiar name of god but only Mithra. In the which word they all agree together in one nature of y• deuine maiestye whatsoeuer it be. No prayers be vsed but such as euerye man maye boldelye pronownce wythowt the offending of anny secte. They come therefore to the churche, the laste day of euery moneth and yeare in the euenynge yet fastyng, there to gyue thanckes to GOD for that they haue prosperouslye passed ouer the yeare or monethe, wherof that hollye daye ys the laste daye. The next daye they come to the churche earlye in the mornyng, to praye to GOD that they maye haue good fortune and successe all the newe yeare or monethe, whyche they doo begynne of that same hollye daye. But in the holly dayes that be the la [...]e dayes of the monethes and yeares, before they come to the churche the wiffes fall downe prostrat [Page] before their husbandes feet at home, & the chidren before the feete of their pa [...]entes cōfessing & acknowleginge that they haue off [...]nded other by some actuall dede, or by omissiō of their dewty, & desire pardō for their offence. Thus yf anye cloude of preuy displeasure was risen at home, by this satisfaction it is ouer blowen, that they may be present at the sacrifices with pure and charitable mindes. For they be aferd to come there wt troubled cōsciēces. There fore if they knowe themselfes to beare anye hatred or grudge towardes anye man, they presume not to come to y• sacrifices before they haue reconcyled themselfes and purged theyre conscyences, for feare of greate vengeaunce & punyshemente for their offence. Whē they come thyther the men goo into the ryghte syde of the churthe and the the women into y• left syde. There they place themselfes in suche ordre that all they which be of the male kind in euery houshold sitte before the goodmā of y• house, and they of the female kynde before the goodwyfe. Thus it is forsene [Page] that all their gestures and behauiours be marked and obserued abrode of thē, by whose aucthoritye & discipline they be gouerned at home. This also they diligentlye see vnto, that the yo [...]ger euermore be coupled with his [...]lder, lest it childrē be ioyned together they [...]hold passe ouer that time in childish wantō nes, wherin they ought principallye to conceaue a religious and deuou [...] feere towardes god: which is the chieffe and almost yt only incitatiō to vertue. They kill no liuing beast in sacrifice, nor they thinke not that the mercifull clemency of god hath delite in bloud and slaughter, which hath geuen liffe to beastes to the intent they should liue. They burne frāckensence and other sweet sauours, and light a [...]so a great numbre of waxe candelles and [...]apers, nott supposinge this geere to be any thing auaylable to the diuine nature as nother the prayers of men. But this vnhurtfull and harmeles kind of worship pleaseth thē. And by thies sweet sauoures and lightes, & other such ceremonies mē feele thēselfes secretly lifted vp, & encouraged to [Page] deuotion with more willynge and [...]eruent hartes. The people weareth in the churche white apparell. The priest is clothed in chaungeable coloures. Whiche in workemanshyp be excellent, but in stuffe not verye pretious. For theire vestementes be nother embrodered with golde, nor set with precious stones. But they be wrought so fynely and connyngly with diuers fethers of fowles, that the estimacion of no costelye stuffe is able to coūteruaile the price of the worke. Furthermore in thies birdes fethers, and in the dewe ordre of thē, whiche is obserued in theire settyng, they saye is conteyned certayn deuyne misteries. The interpretation wherof knowen, whiche is diligentlye tawght by the pri [...]stes, they be put in remembraunce of the bountyfull benefites of God towarde them: and of the loue and honoure whiche of theire behalfe is dewe to God: & also of theire dewties one towarde an other. When the priest first commeth out of the vestrie thus apparelled, they fall downe incontinent euery one reue [...]ently to the [Page] grounde with so styll silence on euery part, that the very fassion of the thinge striketh into them a certayne feare of God, as though he were there personally presente. When they haue lieu a litle space on the groūde, the priest giueth them a signe for to ryse. Thē they sing prayses vnto God, whiche they inter [...]nix [...] with instrumentes of musick, for the moste parte of other fassions then thies that we vse in this parte of the worlde. And like as some of owrs bee muche sweter then theirs, so some of theirs doo farre passe owrs. But in one thynge dowteles they goo excedinge farre beyond vs. For all theire musicke, both that they playe vpon instrumentes, and that they si [...]ge with mans voyce doth so resemble and expresse naturall affections, the sownd & tune is so applied and made agreable to the thynge, that whether it bee a prayer, or els a dytty of gladnes, of patience, of trouble, of mournynge, or of anger: the fassion of the melodye dothe so represente the meaning of the thing, that it doth wonderfullye moue, stire, [Page] pearce, and enflame the hearers my [...] des. At the laste the people and the priest together rehearse solempne prayers in woordes, expreslye pronounced, so made that euerye man may priuatelye applye to hymselfe that which is commonlye spoken of all. In thies prayers euerye man recogniseth and knowledgeth God to be hys maker, hys gouernoure, and the principal can se of all other goodnes, thankyng him for so many benfites receaued at hys hande. But namelye that through the fauoure of God he hath chaunced into that publyque weale, whiche is moste happye and welt bye, and hath chosen that religion whyche he hopeth to be moste true. In the whyche thynge yf he doo annye thynge erre, or yf there bee annye other better then eyther of them is, beynge moore acceptable to GOD, he desiereth hym that he wyll of hys goodnes let hym haue knowledge thereof, as one that is readye too followe what waye soeuer he wyll leade hym. But yf thys forme and fassion of a commen [Page] wealthe be beste, and his owne religiō moste true and perfecte, then he desyreth God to gyue hym a constaunte stedfastnes in the same, and to brynge all other people to the same ordre of lyuyng, and to the same opinion of God: onles there be any thynge that in this dyuersitie of religions doth delyte his vnsercheable pleasure. To be shorte he prayeth hym that after his deathe he may come to hym. But how soone or late that he dare not assygne or determine. Howebeit, if it myght stande with his maiesties pleasure, he would be muche gladder to dye a paynfull dethe and so to go to God, thē by long lyuing in worldlye prosperytie to bee awaye from hym. Whan this prayer is sayde they fall downe to the ground agayne, and a lytle after they ryse vp and go to dynner. And the resydewe of the daye they passe ouer in playes, and exercise of cheualrye. Nowe I haue declared and descrybyd vnto yowe, as truely as I coulde the fourme and ordre of that commen wealth, which verely in my iudgement is not onlye the [Page] beste, but also that whiche alone of good ryght may clayme and take vp [...] ̄ it the name of a commen wealthe or publyque weale. For in other place [...] they speake stil of the comme [...] wealth. But euerye man procureth hys owne pryuate wealthe. Here where nothynge is pryuate, the commen affayres be ear [...]estly [...]oked vpon. And truely on both partes they haue good cause so to do as they do. For in other coū treys who knoweth not that he shall sterue for honger, onles he make some seuerall prouision for hymself, though the commen wealthe floryshe neuer so muche in ryches? And therefore he is compelled euen of verye necessitie to haue regarde to hym selfe rather then to the people, that is to saye to other. Contrarywyse there where all thynges be commen to euerye man, it is not to be dowted that anye man shal lacke anye thynge necessarye for hys pryuate vses: so that the commen store houses and barues be sufficientlye stored. For there nothynge is distrybuted af [...]er [...] nyggyshe sorte, nother there is [Page] any poore man or begger. And though no man haue any thynge, yet euerye man is ryche. For what can be more [...]ychethen to lyue ioyfullye and merylye without all griefe and pensifenes? Not caryng for hys owne lyuing, nor vexed or trowbled with hys wyfes importunate complayntes, not drydynge pouertie to his sonne, nor sorrowyng for his dowghters dowrey. Yea they take no care at all for the lyuyng and wealthe of themselfes and al theirs, of theire wyfes, theire chyldren, theire [...]ephewes, theire childrens chyldren, and all the succession that e [...]er shall followe in theire posteritie. And yet besydes thys there is no lesse prouision for them that were ones labourers, and be nowe weake and impotent, then for them that do nowe laboure and take payne. H [...]ere nowe woulde I see yf anye man dare be so bolde as to compare with thys equytie, the iustice of other nations. Among whom, I forsake God, if I can fynde any signe or token of equitie and iustice. For what iustice is this, that a ryche [Page] goldsmythe or an vsurer, or to be shorte any of them, whyche other doo nothyng at all, or els that whiche they do is suche, that it is not very necessary to the common wealthe, should haue a pleasaunt and a welthy [...]yuynge, other by Idilnes, or by vnnecessary busynes? When in the meane tyme poore labourers, carters, pro [...]smythes, carpenters, and plowmen, by so great and continual toyle as drawyng & bearyng beastes be skant able to susteine, and agayn so necessary toyle that with out it no commen wealth were able to continewe and e [...]dure one yere, do yet get so harde and poore a lyuing & lyue so wretched and miserable a lyfe, that the state and cōdition of the labouring beastes maye seme muche better and welthier. For they be not put to so contynuall laboure, nor theire lyuynge is not muche worse, yea to them much pleasaunter, takynge no thowghte in the meane season for the tyme to come. But thies seilie poore wretches be presently tormented with barreyne & vnfrutefull labour. And the remēbraunce [Page] of theire poore indigent and begerlye olde age kylleth them vp. For theire dayly wages is so lytle that it will not suffice for the same daye, muche lesse it yeldeth any ouerplus, that may dayly be layde vp for the relyefe of olde age. Is not thys an vniust and an vnkynd publyque weale, whyche gyueth great fees and rewardes to gentelmen as they call them, and to goldsmythes, & to suche other, whiche be other ydell persones or els onlye flatterers, and deuysers of vayne pleasures? And of the contrary parte maketh no gentle prouision for poore plowmen, coliars, laborers, carters, yronsmythes, and carpenters: without whome no commen wealth can cōtinewe? But whē it hath abused the laboures of theire lusty and flowringe age at the laste when they be oppressed with olde age and syckenes: being nedye poore and indigent of all thynges, then forgettynge theire so many paynfull watchynges, not remembrynge theire so many and so great benefytes, recompenseth and acquyteth them moste vnkyndly with myserable [Page] And yet besides this the riche men not only by priuate fraud, but also by commen lawes do euery day plucke & snatche away from the poore some parte of their daily liuing. So where as it semed before vniuste to recompense with vnkindnes their paynes that haue bene beneficiall to the publique weale, nowe they haue to this their wrong & vniuste dealinge (whiche is yet a muche worse pointe) geuen the name of iustice, yea & that by force of a law. Therfore whē I consider and way in my mind all thies commen wealthes which now a dayes any where do florish, so god helpeme, I can perceaue nothing but a certein conspiracy of riche men procuringe theire owne cōmodities vnder the name and title of the cōmen wealth. They inuent and deuise all meanes and craftes first how to kipe safely without feare of lesing that they haue vniustly gathered together, and next how to hire and abuse the woorke and labour of the poore for as litle money as may be. Thies deuyses when the riche men haue decreed to be kept & obserued for the cōmen wealthes [Page] sake, that is to saye for the wealth also of ye poore people then they be made lawes. But thies most wicked & vicious men, when they haue by their vnsatiable couetousnes deuided emōg thē selfes all those thinges which wold haue suffised all men, yet howe farre be they from the wealth and felicity of the vtopian commen wealth? Owt of the which in that all the desire of moneye with the vse therof is vtterly secluded & bannisshed, howe great a heape of cares is cut away? How great an occasiō of wickednes and mischiefe is plucked vp by the [...]otes? For who knoweth not that fraud, theft, rauine, brauling, quarelling, brabling, strisse, chiding, cōtentiō, murder, treasō, poisoning, which by dayly punishmētes are rather reuēged then refrained, do dye when money di [...]th? And also that feare, griefe, care, laboures, and watchinges do perishe euē the very same moment that money perissheth? Yea pouerty it selfe which only semed to lacke money, if money were goue, it also wold decrease & vanishe away. And that you may perceaue this [Page] more plainly, consider withyour selfes some barrein and vnfrutefull yeare, wherin many thousandes of people ha [...]e starued for hōger. I dare be bolde to say, y• in the end of that pen [...]ry so much corne or grain might haue bene foūd in y• riche me [...]s barnes if they had bene searched as being deuided emong thē, whome famine and pestilence hath killed, no man at all should haue felt that plage and pe [...]ry. So easely might m [...] gett their liuinge, if that same worthye princesse lady money did not alon stoppe vp the way betwene vs and our liuing, whiche a goddes name was very excellētly deuised & inuēted, that by her the way therto should be opened. I am sewer the ryche men perceaue thys, nor they be not ignoraunte how much better yt werre to lacke [...]oo necessarye thynge then to abunde with ouermuch superfluy [...]e, to be rydde owte of in numerable cares and trowbles, then to be beseiged wyth greate ryches. And I dowte not that other the respecte of euery mans priuate commoditie, or els the aucthority of oure sauioure Christe [Page] (which for his great wisdom could not but know what were best, & for his inestimable goodnes cold not but coūsell to that which he knew to be best) wold haue brought all the wordle long agoo into the lawes oft his weale publique, if it were no y• one only beast the prince and mother of all mischiefe pride, doth wi [...]hstonde and let it. She measureth not wealth and prosperity by here own cōmodities, but by the miseri [...]es & incō modities of other. She wold not by her good will be made a goddes, if there were no wretches left, whom she might b [...] lady ouer to mocke and scorne: ouer whose miseries her felicity might shine whose pouerty she might vexe, tormēt, & encrease by gorgiously setting furthe her riches. This hell hound [...]epeth in to mens hartes: and plucketh thē backe from entering the right pathe of liffe, & is so depely roted in mens brestes that she can not be plucked out. This forme and fassion of a weale publique, which I wold gladly wisshe vnto all natiōs: I am glad yet that it hath chaūced to y• Vtopians, which haue followed those [Page] institutions of liffe, wherby they haue laid such fondations of their common wealth, as shall cōtinew & last not only wealthely, but also as farre as mās wit maye iudge and cōiecture shall endure for euer. For seinge the chiefe causes of ambition & sedition with other vices be plucked vp by the rootes and abandoned at home there can be no ieopardye of domesticall dissention, which alone hathe caste vnder fote and broughte to noughte the well fortefied and strongly defenced wealth and riches of many cities. But for asmuch as perfect cō cord remaineth, and holsome lawes be executed at home, the enuy of all forrein princes be not able to shake or moue y• empire, though they haue many tymes long ago gone about to do it, beinge euermore dreuen backe. Thus whē Raphaell hadde made an ende of his tale, thoughe manye thinges came to my mind which in the manners and lawes of that people semed to be instituted & foūded of no good reasō, not only in ye fassiō of their cheualry & in their sacrifices and religions, and in other of their [Page] lawes, but also, yea & chieffely in that which is the pri [...]cipall fondacion of al their o [...]dinaunces, that is to saye in the communitie of theire liffe and liuinge, without anny occupieng of money, by the whyche thynge onelye all nobilitie, magnificence wourship honour and maiestie, the true ornamentes and honoures as the common opinion is of a common wealth vtterly be ouerthrowen and destroyed: yet bicause I knew that he was wery of talkinge, and was not sure whether he coulde abide that any thing shoulde be said againste hys minde: speciallye bicause I remembred that he had reprehended this fault in other which be, aferd least they shoulde seme not to be wise enough, o [...]les they could find some fault in other mens inuentions: therfore I praising both their institutions and his communication, toke him by the hand and led him into supper: saying that we wold chuse an other time to way and examine the same matters, and to talke with him more at lardge therin. Whiche wold to God it might ones come to passe. In the mean [Page] time as I can not agree and consent to all thinges that he said, being els without dowte a man singulerly well learned, and also in all wordely matters exactely and profoundely experienced, so must I nedes confesse and graunt that many thinges be in the vtopian weal publique, which in our cities I may rather wisshe for then hoope after.

Thus endeth the afternones talke of Raphaell Hythlodaye concerning the lawes and institutions of the Iland of Vtopia.

§

§

¶Imprinted at London by Abraham Vele, dwelling in Pauls churcheyarde at the sygne of the Lambe. Anno. 1551.

Information about this book

Title statement

A fruteful, and pleasaunt worke of the beste state of a publyque weale, and of the newe yle called Vtopia: written in Latine by Syr Thomas More knyght, and translated into Englyshe by Raphe Robynson citizein and goldsmythe of London, at the procurement, and earnest request of George Tadlowe citezein [and] haberdassher of the same citieUtopia. English

More, Thomas, Sir, Saint, 1478-1535.

Edition statement

1551

Publication

Publisher

Text Creation Partnership,

Place of publication

Ann Arbor, MI ; Oxford (UK) :

Date

2003-03 (EEBO-TCP Phase 1).

ID [DLPS]

A07706

ID [STC]

STC 18094

ID [STC]

ESTC S110035

ID [EEBO-CITATION]

99845655

ID [PROQUEST]

99845655

ID [VID]

10569

Availability

This keyboarded and encoded edition of the work described above is co-owned by the institutions providing financial support to the Early English Books Online Text Creation Partnership. This Phase I text is available for reuse, according to the terms of Creative Commons 0 1.0 Universal. The text can be copied, modified, distributed and performed, even for commercial purposes, all without asking permission.

Series

Early English books online.

Notes

(EEBO-TCP ; phase 1, no. A07706)

Transcribed from: (Early English Books Online ; image set 10569)

Images scanned from microfilm: (Early English books, 1475-1640 ; 439:03)

Source

— A fruteful, and pleasaunt worke of the beste state of a publyque weale, and of the newe yle called Vtopia: written in Latine by Syr Thomas More knyght, and translated into Englyshe by Raphe Robynson citizein and goldsmythe of London, at the procurement, and earnest request of George Tadlowe citezein [and] haberdassher of the same citie, Utopia. English, More, Thomas, Sir, Saint, 1478-1535., Robinson, Ralph, b. 1521..

Extent

[288] p.

By [S. Mierdman for] Abraham Vele, dwelling in Pauls churcheyarde at the sygne of the Lambe,. Imprinted at London :: Anno. 1551.. (Actual printer's name from STC.) (Signatures: [cross] A⁴ B-R S⁴.) (Reproduction of the original in the Henry E. Huntington Library and Art Gallery.)

Creation

Created by converting TCP files to TEI P5 using tcp2tei.xsl, TEI @ Oxford.

Editorial practices

EEBO-TCP is a partnership between the Universities of Michigan and Oxford and the publisher ProQuest to create accurately transcribed and encoded texts based on the image sets published by ProQuest via their Early English Books Online (EEBO) database (http://eebo.chadwyck.com). The general aim of EEBO-TCP is to encode one copy (usually the first edition) of every monographic English-language title published between 1473 and 1700 available in EEBO.

EEBO-TCP aimed to produce large quantities of textual data within the usual project restraints of time and funding, and therefore chose to create diplomatic transcriptions (as opposed to critical editions) with light-touch, mainly structural encoding based on the Text Encoding Initiative (http://www.tei-c.org).

The EEBO-TCP project was divided into two phases. The 25,363 texts created during Phase 1 of the project have been released into the public domain as of 1 January 2015. Anyone can now take and use these texts for their own purposes, but we respectfully request that due credit and attribution is given to their original source.

Users should be aware of the process of creating the TCP texts, and therefore of any assumptions that can be made about the data.

Text selection was based on the New Cambridge Bibliography of English Literature (NCBEL). If an author (or for an anonymous work, the title) appears in NCBEL, then their works are eligible for inclusion. Selection was intended to range over a wide variety of subject areas, to reflect the true nature of the print record of the period. In general, first editions of a works in English were prioritized, although there are a number of works in other languages, notably Latin and Welsh, included and sometimes a second or later edition of a work was chosen if there was a compelling reason to do so.

Image sets were sent to external keying companies for transcription and basic encoding. Quality assurance was then carried out by editorial teams in Oxford and Michigan. 5% (or 5 pages, whichever is the greater) of each text was proofread for accuracy and those which did not meet QA standards were returned to the keyers to be redone. After proofreading, the encoding was enhanced and/or corrected and characters marked as illegible were corrected where possible up to a limit of 100 instances per text. Any remaining illegibles were encoded as <gap>s. Understanding these processes should make clear that, while the overall quality of TCP data is very good, some errors will remain and some readable characters will be marked as illegible. Users should bear in mind that in all likelihood such instances will never have been looked at by a TCP editor.

The texts were encoded and linked to page images in accordance with level 4 of the TEI in Libraries guidelines.

Copies of the texts have been issued variously as SGML (TCP schema; ASCII text with mnemonic sdata character entities); displayable XML (TCP schema; characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or text strings within braces); or lossless XML (TEI P5, characters represented either as UTF-8 Unicode or TEI g elements).

Keying and markup guidelines are available at the Text Creation Partnership web site.