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: y^t 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, w^t .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 y^e mind & garnisshing of y^e 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 y^e people, and what fasion they vse in distributinge euery thynge. [Page] First y^e city cōsisteth of families, y^e 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 y^t 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 y^t 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.

¶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 w^t .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 y^e 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 y^e 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.

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 y^e 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 y^e 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 y^e battell by their hiered soldyours: so when there is no remedy but y^t 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 w^t 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 y^e 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 y^e 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, y^t 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 w^t 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 y^t 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 y^e 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 y^e 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.