Syr, I am as glad of your safe ariuall, as any one of your best, and assured friendes.

You had past by (I promise you) vnknowen, had not your cour­tesie excéeded my memory. But now that I call you to minde (my good and approued friende) no man (be­leue me) can be more welcome to me, then you, no man more beloued of me, then your selfe: wherefore let not my forgetfulnesse (I pray you) bring our friendshipp vnstey­ned, so long and so déepely fixed, in question.

No féeblenesse of memory can purchase suspition, or bréede mislyke there, where inward affections ioyne, and méete swéetely together: Sense, and féeling, is fraile and slippery, what the minde recordeth, and caryeth in it most faythfully imprinted, that I holde most deare and pretious.

Had I not alwayes noted in you that secret and ex­cellent instinct, of the good and better vnderstanding: I had neuer bene so much inclined towardes you.

I thanke you hartely of your good opinion, but chiefely I ioy in this: that you and I agrée in the onely ground and foundation of true and perfect amitye, where­hence the causes of all noble actions whatsoeuer doe flowe: that whatsoeuer we purpose, attempt, and aduenture, re­steth wholy in the excellencye of the minde, and of that part of the minde, which reason perswadeth, pietye directeth, honor rewardeth, felicitye crowneth.

What meane you syr, where you say of that part of the minde? Is not the minde a complete and entire thing? Is it not in his proper nature most pure, and frée [Page] in it selfe from contagion? Or hauing moe partes, is there a preheminence and superioritye?

The minde according to the opinion of Philoso­phers (the true and diligent searchers out of naturall cau­ses) is sorted twofoldly. The partition whereof, standeth chiefely of reason, then of sence: the one hath lesse, the other more communion with the bodye. The reasonable part in euery well gouerned bodye, hath the dominion, and ru­leth principally. The duetye and action of the other, may not vnfitly be compared (albeit in a contrary manner) to a faythfull Corporall, who diligētly attendeth the watch­full, and carefull call of his Sentenell, or to a ready and valiant souldiar, who executeth most spéedely the will of his commaunder. The office of the one, as of a chiefe, is to commaunde, rule, and controlle: the dutye of the other to o­bey, and cherefully prosecute the charge to him commit­ted. So that as to an armye encamped no greater perill can happē, if the Corporall sléepe, when the Sentenell cal­leth, or the Souldiar disobey, whē the Chiefe, or Captayne commaundeth: in lyke manner, a miserable confusion can­not but follow that minde and bodye, where right is abu­sed, and the course of nature violated.

I cannot but assent (except I would striue agaynst reason) to your good opinion. For where fansie is plan­ted without iudgements appoynting, where lust taketh his pleasure without reasons lyking, where furye raun­geth without polityke direction, to conclude, where any affect is found phantastick: there vnlooked for miserie ouer­takes the minde forethinking, there soueraignetye lamen­tably sobbeth, through the ryott of indignitye.

I perceaue by your assertion, that euery man in this lyfe (as on a Theatre or stage) playes one parte or o­ther, which meriteth shame and obloquie, or deserueth (as his owne right) due commendation.

It is an vndoubted veritye. O that men knew, [Page 2] and dayly presented before their eyes, the swéete and glo­rious garland that is purchased by vertue, and chiefely, by Magnanimitye. There would not be then that vnseaso­nable, and lothsome puffing, such stryuing, and wrestling would not be then for so vile a wretch. The complayntes of the poore would not be then so many, and so pitifull, the complayntes of the rich would not be found then so few and beggarly. Gentlemen of great value, should not then wander as Pilgrims, in forrayne landes, suspected as ba­stardes, and children borne in hast. Women of gentle kinde & noble bloud, should not be reputed as blasted blos­somes. O miserye, O mischiefe, O wickednes.

What tempest, what styrre, what tumult is this? what cursed caytife is it you speake of? wherehence pro­céedeth your woefull crye?

I stand in doubt, whether silence were my best: my minde notwithstanding, indeuoreth to offend none, most carefully willing my Countryes good.

I commend in no wise silence in him, whose minde is so well bent, and disposed: for his manner is to produce good and fruitefull reason. wherefore say on, if you haue conceaued aught, worthye the hearing.

Being in Friseland it was our happ (if you well remember) wherein you tooke at that tyme no small plea­sure, to be ofte rancked together: Where, partely to make our labours more pleasaunt, but chiefely to sift and féele ech others drift, you with many moe of sound and ripe ex­perience, moued questions too and fro of no small impor­taūce. All which had relation to pollicye, and ciuile gouer­ment.

I cannot easely forget the diuersitie of those discour­ses, interlaced with so many pleasaunt and pithye spea­ches. In y^e varietye of which inuention, a castle by you ar­tificially erected, was, of as many as heard your discourse, extolled to the skyes. wherein you (as some other Amphi­on) [Page] moued, remoued, drewe, withdrewe the eares of your hearers, whither the progresse of your vnderstanding (de­liuered in so deyntye and trym wordes, in so decent and comely order, in so sugred & swéete a tongue) bent it selfe. Wherefore recount, I most hartely pray you the same a­gayne.

I thinke it not best.

Why so I pray you?

Were it not (thinke you) a poynt in me of great follye & rashnesse, to committ to the viewe of wise and learned men a re­petition of a wearisome tale and fond Imagination, especially knowing my selfe to haue receaued the least portion of learning, wherewith infinite nūbers of our owne Countrymen and strau­gers are plentifully indued? Agayne, what fruite will you reape, or who will the more accompt of vs, if you and I speake, or write of knowledge, in a worlde replete and glutted with letters? Farther who will now almost looke vpon, and regard any in­uention, except it senteth lyke a flower,and in shew, and hue be lyke vnto a Lillye? Lastly, doe not you hazard greatly your credite, to ioyne with so poore and simple a man, any way as my selfe, you being through many daungerous and bitter bruntes, in the field approued, in Martiall affaires expert, for your skill and pollicye reputed?

Discreete and sober men pardone imperfection, where the minde andinclination is good. The fruite that I purpose, and hope hereby to reape, is the weale of my Countrye. Which ho­nest and vpright intent, thowsand moe writers can no wise pre­iudice. And whereas many fauor pleasures, and therefore co­uet such letters, which you haue not vnproperly compared to flowers, & Lillyes (which by nature are good, yelding a sweete but yet a shorte sent, pleasing rather the sence of some, singular persons, then profiting the soule of a Commonwealth) yet all are not so ledd and minded. Wherefore vnto those other, these labors shall be dedicated, who are of a more highe and lofty spi­rite: your pouertye which you meane, and speake of, hindreth [Page 3] not, but that you may be much more, for that inricht in minde. Simplicity is the ground and roote of heauēly wisedome. In con­clusion who could fitt me to addresse and finish this good and ho­nest enterprise so well as he, that hath bene my fellow Souldiar in the warres, who hath also (except I be deceaued greatly) more then tasted of the streames and riuers of learning? Wherefore be of good courage, my powers are prest to vpholde your penne.

I am altogether wonne to your good desire: building my labors (as on a sure & vnmoueable rock) vpō your déep and tryediudgement. Yet so, that we both submitt what­soeuer shall be by vs vttered, to the verdite and censure of those who preuayle in witte, excell in knowledge and lear­ning. The absolute frame and building therefore, whereof I in our March discoursed, consisted of sixe Romes and Chambers.

Before you enter further into this discourse, shew me (I pray you) the forme and figure of the frame.

It was sphericall, or round.

How were the lodginges deuided?

The Roofe and highest couering conteyned thrée especiall Chambers with theyr peculiar offices, directly vn­derneath were other thrée by squares and spaces distinc­ted. And to the end you should holde it to be the onely mo­nument in the worlde, (beleue me) the rarest Mathemati­tian in Europe, vewed first the place and according to the swéete and safe constillation of the starres drew the Platt: deliuering to posterity this testimony for his perpetuall honor and memory, y^t if the partes within did alwayes ob­serue and aunswere the face of the frame, they should feare no force, no fury, no brauado, no bullett, no battery.

The figure of this frame is so absolute, the state­linesse so sumptuous, the beauty so séemely and excéeding rich, that I may deeme it, for right good cause, the onely pa­terne and péereles Pallace in y^e world, what name hath it?

This Architecture hight Pollicye.

For whome was this sumptuous and curious worke wrought, who shall possesse a Pallace so péereles?

A King, A Iusticer, A Souldiar, A Marchaunt, An Artificer, A Tiller of the ground.

Are these the partes you spake of before? is this the power that shall possesse and defend with security thys inuincible forte? May no one of greater skill and déeper reatch controle this diuision, adde vnto, or diminish the number?

In no wise.

Why so?

The workemanship is so rare, the strength wher­of standeth on the combination of the partes within con­tayned.

What is that? of what kinde and excellency is it, that hath so fast glued them together, and is to the frame so great a stay and firmament?

I will shew you. To euery parte before rehear­sed, belonges his proper and peculiar vertue and qualitye. To the Prince, preheminence, to the Iusticer, iudgement, to the Souldiar, puissaunce, to the Marchaunt, desire to be enriched, to the Artificer, delight in his occupation, to the Tiller of the groūd, true obedience. That which doth most firmely and strōgly ioyne and knitt these partes together, is Proportion: which broken and defaced, not onely ren­teth and plucketh in sunder the frame, but tottereth with­all, and tumbleth down the Prince, peruerteth iustice, poy­soneth and plucketh downe the good and vpright minde of the Souldiar, robbeth the Marchaunt, ransacketh the Ar­tificer, spoyleth vtterly the simple and poore laboursome man.

Is this that you call Proportion, a thing of so great perfection?

Proportion is of that force and stretcheth forth so [Page 4] largely, that no mā without an especiall regard of it, can well go­uerne himselfe: in a Family, Citty, and commō wealth, the power thereof doth more eminently appeare.

What is Proportion (I pray you) shew me?

Proportion is the iust, right, and naturall measure of thinges, directed to theyr originall and first creatiō. So that what soeuer is more, or lesse, greater, or smaller, then Arte hath deuised, & course of kinde kept & obserued in all ages, limited to the first and successiue shape, not onely of men, but of all other thinges created, is in no wise to be called proportioned.

Then all thinges haue according to your opinion, a right or wrong, a iust or vniust proportion.

In no wise so. For this opinion I defend that all thinges proportioned are straightened and made vpright through knowledge and wisedome: all other crooked and mishapen thinges are to be termed Monsters, not adding there unto the name of proportion: for that they are made & ingendred through error and blindenesse.

If you would in a simile or example more playnely disclose your drifte, you should doe me a right acceptable pleasure.

As there is in the body a fayre or foule, a neate or lesse fine, an amiable or odible feature, that is, when euery part according to his accustomed and naturall proportion aunswereth other, or as superfluous lumpes resulteth: So there is in the minde (betwixt which, in excellency and cre­ation of nature there is no comparisō) a dimme or daynty, a cleare or cloudy, a rough or royall, a harde or gentle and haughty Image, for both which, according to their vnseme­ly or swéete, cleane or corrupt state, some are lothed, some loued, some refused, other raysed to honor and dignity. Whose héele excéeds his head in quātity, whose arme swelleth, and hath in it as it were a blowing billow as bigg as his wast, we (not reckoning so much of his miserye and [Page] wretchednesse, wherewith he is most pittifully wrapt in) scarse number him (and that for right good cause) among men. In like maner, in whose minde there is an intrusion made, that is where lustfull pleasure, fond faneye, wilfull desire, taketh reason with all her powers and faculties pri­soners, and bring them in most lamentable and mourning maner like Captiues fast chayned to the lothsome & darcke dungeon of scilence: there the excellency of Proportion in that part is as much euerted, as if the earth should be­come no more y^e Centre, & violently contrary to kinde chal­lenge the chiefe and superiority of fire, and fire, contrary to all reason, fall downe and vpholde the water.

Your reason resoundeth their saying who affirme, that no corrupt, can suppresse a finer creature.

Me thinkes, as they iudge: howbeit sometimes ca­sually or rather by the sufferance of God, the earth and wa­ter contayneth an aiery part: which notwithstanding, in those lower caues and dennes beneath, in his kinde stri­ueth most egerly, and at length breaketh out to the terror and amasing of men: flying (as one: redéemed out of thrall) vp agayne to his wonted place of rest. So that euery thing disordered, commeth either to ineuitable losse and ruine, by the extremitye of riott, or by natures good grace & go­uermēt, receaueth againe his accustomed light and beauty.

You haue to my thincking done well.

If what I haue sayd, be to any auaileable, it shall please me right well to receaue the same (as from a cleare and changeable welspring) of your owne lipps againe, wherefore, repeate (for the singular loue you beare me) briefely what I haue disclosed.

You haue spoken of the minde and bodye: betwixt the beautye & deformitye whereof (as you haue declared) there is no comparison. For I hold the calamitie of that minde and bodye incomparable, were the outward partes neuer so vnproper, the pearcing eye of whose minde sense [Page 5] hath blered, whose glistring lookes lust hath obscured, the light of whose vnderstanding and memory, error sprin­ging of earthlynes, hath ouerwhelmed with palpable darcknesse.

You rehearse nothing els, but whereunto I most willingly assent.

You haue most friendly satisfied the moyetye of my demaunde, the other braunche, whereof I shall tast some finer fruite, I desier with zeale to sée it spread forth.

What part and braunch is that?

You haue spoken of the deformitye of the minde, Now it is conuenient you tell vs of a conformed minde, or (as you please) of a minde proportioned: that the séeme­ly shape thereof being knowen, might enamour vs with the grace and brauery of her beautye.

When I consider the wonderfull greatnes, and worthynes of the minde, garnished with all pretious gemmes of noble vertues, I finde no florish of eloquence, no lights of learning, no trym speaches, or Khetoricall wordes sufficient for his description. For if the sharpe witts of those who haue professed Eloquence, when they would describe the prayses of any humaine vertue, were with the waight of the matter sometimes so cloyed, that their senses (to theyr great shame and rebuke) were cleane ouerwhelmed: how much more ought I then poore séely and simple man, stay & stagger, fearing, foltring, drea­ding to be drowned (as in a déepe lake) in so ample highe and graue an argument.

I commend truely herein more your modesty, then courage and wisedome. For I holde this the property of a well disposed, and good natured young man, earnestly bent in the studye of most worthye knowledges, not to rest con­tented with thinges of meane account, but earnestly prose­cute and clime vnto the highest causes: and then to be­stirre himselfe, and labor feruently, when he séeth himselfe [Page] to be intangled with greatest difficulty. Wherefore albeit you are in your owne opinion, (by reason of any witt and exercise) able litle to do, séeing that you haue taken in hand so great and difficult a matter, I holde your blame in ge­uing ouer, greater, then holdenesse in taking it in hand.

Your persuasion, (sith what you haue sayd is true) hath wonne me altogether: and the rather, that the action is right good and honest. Wherefore I am addressed (as my poore ability will serue) to discourse largely of the excellen­cy of the minde, and his creation.

Say on, I shall bend and recline my eare diligētly.

The most excellent power and maiesty of that hea­uenly minde, which being most high and euerlasting, we worthely reuerence and adore as our God, as the euerla­sting fountayne of life, as the maker and creator of all thinges, when it did séeme good to his vnspeakeable wise­dome, to deale bountifully, imparting his benefites to ma­ny (for nothing sheweth so much the goodnesse and vertue of God as his frée beneficence) in the beginning he created the inuisible world, beautified with holy Aungels, who be­holding alwayes his incomprehensible light and brightnes doe liue in euerlasting blessednesse.

Came all those his creatures to the same estate of glory and immortality?

In no wise. Those onely enioyed that pleasaunt plott of infinite rest, who reposed the stay and Castle of their safety, the lightnes of their brightnes, the cause and end of theyr blessed life, in theyr Lord and maker.

Did any of those holy and heauenly wightes fall from the true honor of theyr creator?

Holy scripture learneth vs of an infinite number, the chiefe of whom was named Lucifer.

What was theyr impiety (I pray you shew) decla­ring withall theyr punishment?

These first fell to y^e neglect & contempt of God, [Page 6] being enamored with the beauty of themselues, and main­tayning still this rebellious spirit: yelded at length to theyr owne natures a kinde of preheminence in glory, not vn­like to the very God head. Wherefore they were depriued of that passing cleare light, whereof they were most vnwor­thy, and throwne downe into the place of perpetuall and euerlasting misery, and into the darcke dungeon of that night that shall euer continue. So that after God had made the highest heauens and wonderfull worke thereof, which no eye hath séene, then he framed this world most beauti­full and of excéeding fayrenesse, garnishing it with all plea­sures and commodities. In the making whereof he vsed no other engine or deuise then his owne will and pleasure.

To what purpose, and for whose vse that most high creator and Lord of all thinges hath made this so beautiful workemanshipp, this so excellent forme and shape of hea­uenly bodies, this so large and spacious greatnesse of sea and land? For it is not the practise of his infinite wisedome to doe any thing in vayne, but for some excellent ende and purpose. For whose sake then, did (he after a most wonder­full order) frame that most goodly and séemely substance of thinges, dislike in nature, and yet agréeing among them­selues? For his owne sake thinke you, because he would haue a trimmer habitation?

In no wise, For it were not onely a wicked thing, but a poynt of extreame madnesse, to thinke so of that most blessed minde, then the which nothing more perfect and ab­solute may be imagined: the vertue and power whereof is infinite and inscrutable, to haue néeded any earthly and bo­dily tabernacle, or that at all times before he wanted some­what to accomplishing of perfect blessednesse, or to the ful­nes of his glory, or that God coulde be enclosed within any certayne rome or compasse.

What then? were these thinges prouided for the Aungels and Saintes of God?

In no wise. For they being seuered, and frée from [Page] all fellowshipp and coniunction of the bodye, desire nothing els but to behold their maker, neither can they reape any commoditye, or conceaue any pleasure of thinges be­neath in these lower partes. And to thinke this great and wonderfull worke to be made for vnreasonable creatures, or for the vse of trées and plantes, for fishes, byrdes, and fowles, it were to to absurde. God hath not therefore deui­sed this so goodly and beautifull a frame for himselfe, for Aungels, for the fruites of the earth▪ for creatures voyde of reason, but for man.

In all this season, where was man, for whome God had prepared so beautifull, so rich, so bountifull a kingdome?

Man was in the minde, vertue, and iudgement of God. So that, when at length the world it selfe was finished, he made first a bodye of earth, thē he breathed therein a minde finely fashioned, according to his owne Image and simili­tude. Syr sée you not manifestly the beginning and creati­on of the most excellent and noble minde of man?

I behold it (as in a glasse) deriued and taken out from no other thing, then the spirite of God: and being in­closed in the bodye (as in a worthy vessell) retaineth a de­uine forme, pure, and deuoyd of all filthy corruption.

This was (I assure you) mans first estate, this was the first beginning & foundation of that excellencye where­vnto man aspired, wherein no man can note any thing, but that which is right honorable, and worthye of high estimation. Then the bodye was not infected with any vice, whereby reason might be disturbed, or the minde ob­scured with darcknes. Man knewe then, all sciences, vn­derstoode the causes of all thinges, was sufficiently learned in the rule and discipline of lyfe, being instructed by no o­ther teacher thē God himselfe, the geuer of all knowledge and wisedome. And he did not onely excell all other crea­tures in the comely shape and feature of his bodye, but he [Page 7] was farr beyond them all in the amiable, most excellent, and deuine forme and figure of the minde. For there was in the minde no error, no motion in the sence, whereby the rule of reason might be disordered: whereas reasō it selfe, as it were in a perfect and florishing Commonwealth, so in a peaceable and quiet estate, could very easely restraine all raging affections. The minde therefore had no kinde of lett and impediment, whereby it might be hindered from dayly contemplation.

As your speach hath in a manner surprised me with ioy, to thinke of our originall, to call to memory, how gra­tiously the power of the almighty, dealt with vs (and to speake the vttermost) that we procéeded from the nature and substaunce of God him selfe: so I féele out of measure a touch of griefe, when I consider that we remaine not in the estate of our former felicitye▪ the choyse so happy, the chaunge being so lamentable. Wherefore, open (I pray you) the cause of so greuous and great a calamitye.

After God had shewed himselfe so liberall, & boū ­tifull towardes man, he made him president and chiefe ruler of the earth, appoynting him a princely place for his habitation. The Greekes call it Paradice: a Garden flow­ing with most pleasaunt and siluerlyke springes, most delectable, and decked with greate store and varietye of sweete senting flowers, most fitt to liue in all felicitye and pleasure. In this most pleasaunt seate, Man was placed, that by that place, (which as some say) was high, & moūted aloft, he mought learne not onely lyke a ruler and gouernour, wisely to guide the sterne thereof: but also thereby be admonished w^e discrete gouernement and frée libertye, to take vpon him the charge and rule ouer all other liuing creatures. He had therefore a princely iurisdiction ouer earth, he serued one­ly the Lord of heauen, and being a holy one, wholy dedica­ted to God, he was the expounder of his holy will and plea­sure, and the chiefe Prince, and first parent of all man­kinde. [Page] He had a lawe geuen him, that he should exercise that frée will in the practise of vertue, that at length he might by his owne demerites, deserue to be of the number and company of heauenly Saintes. And the law was, that he should not presume to touch the fruite of a certayne ex­céeding goodly apple trée, which conteyned the knowledge of good and euill.

Did God geue him this commaundement, that he disdayned, that man whome he had manifoldly blessed, should haue no vnderstanding thereof?

In no wise: but that by that meanes he would the better foresée and prouide for those thinges which apper­teyned to his good estate and preseruation. For he knew right well, that if man were set at libertye, he would straight way worke his owne cōfusion. So therefore, God did moderate his libertye, by ordayning that necessary and expedient lawe. Neither did he so much forbid him to eate of that fruite, as that he should not slipp into that, which by that fruite was meant and signified.

I could neuer yet heare, or haue imagined any other meaning thereof, then the letter testifieth.

Whether this may be construed of the not eating of the fruite or no, I leaue it, and stand to the iudgement and correction of other: that is, that he should not meddle with those causes, or search by his owne industrye to at­tayne the knowledge of those thinges, which his capacitye could not reach and comprise: Or that he should not in the choyse of good, and refusall of the euill, vse rather his owne iudgement, then the will and pleasure of the Almightye, by whose wisedome he should yelde himselfe to be gouer­ned: Or this, that he should not incline himselfe to the loue of those good thinges which are mixt and intermedled with a number of euills: therefore I say, whether he gaue that commaundement to Man, that he embracing that so­ueraigne good, that is not intermedled with any enill, [Page 8] should vtterly refuse other good things which appeare faire and pleasaunt, and yet are corrupt and poysoned: what more wholesome precept and cōmaundement might haue bene ordayned more profitable for Man.

Your saying is most true. For our wittes are vt­terly confounded, and cloyed with the search of those cau­ses, the excéeding déepnes whereof our capacity may not be able to compasse, & in any affayres, to follow our owne braine, and not to be ledd by the light of the wisedome of God, it is a most vndoubted token of our fall and vtter confusion. But to be leadd away from that good thing which is most principall and the onely piller and firmament that holdeth vp this proportioned minde you speake of, being deceiued with the swéetenesse of any vayne and transitory pleasure, it is to be holden generally a thing most daungerous and deadly.

This therefore was the estate of our first parent which should haue bene most happy and blessed, if he had not acquaynted himselfe with that huge and cruell mon­strous beast, y^t hath brought to all nations pestilent infecti­ons. For when the Prince of darckenesse (the chiefe Cap­taine of those Angels as I haue declared) who through the puffe of Pride fell into the lamentable and pittifull pitt of perdition, who vnderstood and saw man made of earth, as­cend into that place of glory frō whence he fell: he through mallice waxed hoate, imagining all kinde of meanes to o­uerthrow vtterly the state of mankinde. Taking vpon him therefore the shape of a Serpent assaulted through guiles and fayned sleightes, the woman our first parentes fellow mate, whom he thought to subdue with lesse labor, for that she was frayle and the féebler vessell, he therefore inticeth her, and with swéete and sugred wordes allureth her, to the eating the fruit forbidden: bearing her in hand, that as soone as she should take a tast of that most pleasaunt Ap­ple, she should eftsoone be inspired with that heauēly know­ledge, of good and euill. The woman therefore being mar­ueiloulsy [Page] allured with the fayrenesse of the trée, and also in­flamed aboue measure with the desire of that heauenly sci­ence and wisedome, was easily induced to drinke that cupp of deadly poyson, offered vnto her, by that most subtle and pestilent Serpent. Thus, the woman neglecting the com­maundement of the most high God, and gracious geuer of all goodnesse, folowed the counsell of her most deadly ene­my, inuiting also her husband to that woefull and bloudye banquett. This was the originall and beginning of the misery of man. Herehence came all trouble some motions of minde, here­by was ingēdred in the flesh all chaūgeable & wauering desires, herehence came all kinde of corruption, herehence sprang all foolish and vayne opinions: from this roote rose mortality, most bitter and greuous lamentations, sorrowes, sobbes, and grones, for feare of death grew from this foundation: which the seely and wretched minde of man incontinently felt. For this was most iustly deeréed, that he which had broken the com­maundement of his Lord, and most impudently and wic­kedly stood agaynst his will and pleasure, in like manner should haue those parts which before were obedient, rebel­lious and contraryly disposed, assaying most desperately to inuade and ouerthrow the fortresse of reason. And whereas two thinges especially belonged to man, that is to exer­cise himselfe in action and cōtemplation, and therefore was indued with a reasonable minde, that in whatsoeuer he tooke in hand, he should wisely gouerne euery affect of the minde and imploy all the power of his minde in searching out of heauenly wisedome: he in both these partes was déepely wounded. For the minde, when the cleare light therof was extinct, wherewith it before glistred gloriously, lay now ouercast with darckenesse and obscurity, and the whole order of life being (as it were with darcke night) o­uerwhelmed, was wellnigh yut beside his rule and soue­raygnety, so that although in that darckenesse some glimse of light appeared, yet could it not thereby be guyded to the [Page 9] end desired. Then shamefull silthynesse shewed it selfe, be­fore that time vnknowen, by the ougly sight and monstru­ous aspect whereof, our first partes being dismayed, shrow­ded thēselues in darcke woodes, and couered those partes with leaues of trees, which they felt to be most striuing a­gaynst reason and vnderstanding. Nothing was done in those dayes for a great season by due order of reason and di­scipline, but all matters were executed violently whereas frantique and furious headinesse had the vpper hād. Then Robberyes were rife, then rapes common, then incest not accompted of, then murthers infinite. Then those, who in force and sturdines past other, tooke it no offence at their pleasure to afflict & punish the weaker sort. In this great darknes, in this common miserye, in this vniuersall woe­fulnes, there appeared a man, who through his cleane and vnspotted handes, his cleare & pityfull eyes, his streight and vpright minde, drewe many extremely handled, to his reuerence, loue, and honor. Whome when they noted, not onely to absteine himselfe from villany, but bend to Cay­tiues and Murtherers a sterne and irefull countenaunce, and take commiseration of the afflicted: then these wret­ched wormes crawled vnto him, making a scritch & woe­full cry. Of whose sutes and lamentable complayntes, when he had taken compassion, and sought by witt and pollicie to ayde and assist, became vnto them at length, a lanterne of Justice, a mirrour of mildnes and courtesie. This supporter of right, when he had taken on him the charge of those s [...]lye soules miserably, and supplyantly yealding themselues to his order and direction: and decla­red vnto them the earnest desier he had to take away all in­iurious inuasions, and to represse violent murthers, and valiantly to reuenge wrongfull oppressions, and to linke vnder lyke lawes, both the mighty men and simpler sorte: it came to passe, that as many as tendered their peculiar libertye, and sought their owne securitye and quietnes, [Page] supposed him to be the defence and bulwarke of their safe and prosperous estate, whose fame most florished for iustice and equitye. Behold here (my good friend) the fountayne and head spring, from whence hath flowed the power and authoritye of kinges, the preheminence, and prerogatiue of princely gouernment. Herehence soueraigntye, and the cause of all renowne and glory was deriued.

I perceaue by your discourse, y^t the originall, from whence hath issued this high and stately gouernement of Kinges, is worthy all reuerence, honor, and obedience: and that there is no one stock more auncient, or more ex­cellent, then the Petegree of Princes, which through their owne vertue and valiantnes abandoned all barbarous crueltye, reducing the people to good order and ciuilitye.

You see therefore manifestly how Principalitye grewe first, and that equitye and puissance were the rootes and ray­sers of royaltie, and that no king can holde long his scepter sure, if his minde become base through vniustice and dastardly feare.

Doe these two vertues onely make in a Prince the fulnes of a florishing fame? néedeth the Maiestye of a King no more, for the setting forth of his glistring and shyning glorye?

There are other twoe most necessary, which also must accompany the other spoken of before, as speciall and chiefe vertues.

What name haue they?

The one is called Prudence, the other Tempe­raunce.

If you would more at large, display their singular condicions, and priuate natures, you should doe me a right acceptable friendshipp, & percase your report should bring no small profite to many other of the simpler sort.

No will (I assure you) shall want in me, to plea­sure you, or profite any, reckoning my selfe most fortu­nate, if the meanest man may reape of my penn the [Page 10] least fruite,

You speake most friendly, wherefore I hartely pray you, say on.

The excellencie therefore of iustice, stands of force, and vertue: the vertue of iustice resteth in the measure of thinges ordered, according to reasons prescription, which teacheth that all men should beare the lyke affection to o­ther, as they would be affected of other. The force of iustice is to make of many, one, to vnite and knit many partes in one: which euidently may appeare, if we call to minde that in the beginning it did so greatly excite and stirre vp mens mindes, that for her loue they surrēdered their goods and possessions into the handes of one especiall man, in whose amiable face this vertue did through flashing flames shewe forth her cleare light of glory. I reade of Numa Pompilius a Romaine of meane estate, who by vpright dealing, and supporting of Justice, was thought and pro­claymed by the whole consent of the Romaines, worthe­ly to succéede Romulus in the state of Royall Maiestye. What néedeth me here to speake of Licurgus, Draco, and Solon, that I omit in meane while to make mention of Mercurie, Phoroneus, Pittacus of Millen, and diuers other, who by iustice haue bene aduaunced to great honor, and haue thereby purchased to their posteritye, perpetuall fame and memorye. Therefore, to perswade our selues that no one vertue deserueth the lyke preheminēce, eyther is alyke to be honored, it is hereby to be séene, that each kinde of vertue being voyde of Justice, hath lost his honor and estimation, whereas Iustice alone secluded from other vertues, retayneth still his especiall grace & dignitie. Where­by it is euident and playne, that there is no way more cer­cayne then this, to enlarge our honor, no way more readilye to commend to posteritye our fame and memo­rye.

I rest satisfied with your not so short as swéete [Page] discourse. It remaineth that you speake of fortitude.

Fortitude resteth in an inuincible minde, attempting for the loue of some excellent thing, great, difficult, and daun­gerous actions. Which high and lofty courage hath bene in all ages worthely magnified. For it is a matter of no small importance, so litle to esteeme of lyfe, (which we all in gene­rall deeme to be sweete) as to bestow it willingly, and cherefully for the safegard and preseruation of a fewe, and to refuse and feare for the wealth of our Countrie no daunger and terror of the enemy. The recordes and ordinaunces of antiquitye, doe playnely and manifestly shewe, that there hath bene no glorye so great, no renowme so honorable in any well gouerned Commonwealth, as that which hath bene attri­buted to valiantnes and fortitude. On the other side there were for Cowards euē by very good lawes, bitter tauntes and reproches, most iustly appoynted. There was in olde tyme among the Macedonians a lawe ordeyned, that he who had not in fight of battaile ouercome one, should in the sight of all men be trust vp with an halter. Therefore, most wisely was it thought of Solō greatly honored among the Gre­cians for his deepe iudgement, that the securitye and pre­seruatiō of a Commonwealth, did consist in preferment, & punishmēt. For by this, wicked and desperate persons are restrained & cut of, by the other, noble natures & florishing witts are vehemētly styred vp to y^e embracing of vertue & honestye. It hath bene therefore by deuine prouidence esta­blished of our forefathers, y^t in what kinde of men soeuer this vertue eminently appeared, the same should be with many worthye and noble ensignes, and titles honored. And that I speake something of the Romaines, Can any man be able to recite so many Images of men of Armes, So many gar­lands either geuen to them that scaled the walles, or first entred their enemies Tents, or to them that by maine force saued the life of any one Citizen, or to them, that victoriously triumphed ouer their enemies? Is any man able to recompt so many [Page 11] ensignes of vertue, so many pryses of Prayes, as to prowes and puissaunce were by the Romaine lawes assigned?

It is not therefore to be maruailed at, that that Cit­tie grewe to be so great and large in Empire, wherein prowes and valiantnes was so honorably rewarded.

In that people, this is also greatly to be noted, that not onely noble men were wonderfully inflamed with the loue of glorye, but very many of the common people. And that I may, of a great and infinite number, call a fewe to memory, the two Decii by race and byrth no gentlemen, for theyr rare and singular fortitude, aspired in the commō wealth to the highest degrée of honor and dignity: and in y^e end, in theyr countryes quarrell, consecrates themselues as valiaunt and vowed vessels, to glory and immortality. Lucius Marcius, euen he, which in Spayne recouered y^e Romaine Empyre, therefore shrunken and fallen downe to the ground, was borne of simple and poore parentage, yet through puissaunce obtayned in his countrey great honor & a principal dignity. What should I recite Marcus Porci­us Cato, a man much commended for his wisedome and pollicy? To what end should I speak of Marcus Marcellus who first gaue Haniball the ouerthrow, & shewed playnly, that the way to ouercome, was by prowes and valiantnes. Agayne why shoulde I omitt Marius that worthye wight and a thowsand moe being no gentlemen borne, which not­withstanding through theyr passing skill and experience in feates of Armes were aduaunced to honour, and promoted to high estate, leauing to posterity fame and immortalitye. Herehence the armes and cognizaunces of honor and no­blenesse, which euen in these our dayes are borne, and had right worthely in estimation, did fetch their originall and first beginning. For when any man had in battayle shewed some notable poynt of a good valiaunt souldiar, he was by the Generall made a gentleman, & had some badge or token therof assigned vnto him, wherby his bloud might [Page] be ennobled, through the prayse and glorye whereof his of­spring might be in like maner pricked with the desire of fame and commendation. Therefore some haue in their scochins, Castles engrauē, geuing forth therby the strong holdes, fortes, straightes, scōces and passages, that were by them in warre wonne and vāquished: other some, ringes or bendes, or any other thing for the number of enemies which they had in some doubtfull and daungerous battaile sub­dued. Other haue in theyr schochins starres, signifiyng per­case that they brought in some darcke and cloudy calamity, no small light and comfort to the miserable afflicted state of their natiue countrye, by this it is playne that fortitude openeth the way to worshippe, and bringeth vs most redy­ly to the beholding the excéeding bright and cleare nature of true nobility. And to the end you may vndoubtedly discerne the true value of a man, and know assuredly where fortitude is, where puissaunce, where that high and lofty minde dwelleth: the calamities which doe equally assault aswell the noble as base­borne, some with griefe, some with feare some with terror, some with trembling, may yelde vs a plaine and vndeceiueable marck and testimony. For where puissaunce and fortitude is, there is ingraffed a minde not to faynt for any trouble, not to dispayre in any perrill, not to languish in any woe and greeuous misery, yea if Fortune frowne, if daunger & death ensue, a worthy mind will not be forgetfull. So that nothing may alike shew a gentle and valiant hart, thē not to be vāquished: which is seene in sorrow, tried in trouble, proued in persecution.

Nothing might haue bene sayd (in my simple opinion) more truely and with better proofe. For euen as contented suffe­raunce in the extremest and bitterest cruelty, proueth the mind to be high and diuine, as stedfastnes in a state neuer so vnstay­ed & tottering, argueth an vncōquered value: So truely, time­rousnes interror and daunger bewrayeth the faynt and feeble­nesse of a base and cowardly nature.

No maruaile is it therefore if they which haue not [Page 12] bene dismayd at the terror of death, they which haue with most valiaunt courage suffered bodely tormentes, they that would for no manner of griefe be disturbed in minde, and do any thing to stayne their honour and estimation, haue bene alwayes had in great admiration. The prayse and glory whereof, springeth frō the contempt of death.

Is the contempt of death in all men equally hono­red? Or may all those alike be worthely commended, that would willingly dye?

You haue (I assure you) moued me a questiō right profitable, and not vnfitt to be handled in this place. For many, yea to to many there are, who being throwne down from an happy and pleasing state of life, do abide that hard­nesse, & féele in theyr flesh and natures such vnaccustomed bitternesse, that they haue receiued into theyr hartes a vo­luntary disposition to depart from life, and therefore in an extreme desperation of chaunge, and better fortune, doe themselues to death: who notwithstanding are of many through ignoraunce vnderseruedly commended, whereby you may note, that the strength and force of true vertue is such, that the counterfayte shewe thereof stirreth vp some, both to admire and commēd a lott, rather lamentable, then laudable. For I condemne them vtterly guilty of dastardly cowardise, for that they hasten theyr dying day, not at all shewing thereby theyr constancy, but rather a minde van­quished and subdued through a small tast of vading misery. Other there are which offer themselues to daunger, not with iudgemēt, and prudent aduise, but being pricked for­ward with a certayne rage or fury of minde conceiued ei­ther of hatred, enuy, or some other earnest & hoat affection. Some other there are, y^t aduenture a daungerous attempt, being moued thereunto with a very earnest hope, or with a desperate feare of their present estate. Such, except t [...]y had some certayne hope to escape daunger, or gayne some priuate commodity, or els were past all hope of escaping, [Page] would be neuer perswaded to come to daunger) therefore sith they misse the true & good purpose of Action, they may also want the honour due vnto so great and noble a ver­tue.

What is the purpose or marke whereunto this ac­tion, this contempt of death should be directed, which also winneth vs that high renowne and glory?

The marke and end which this contempt of death ought to respect and looke vpon, is the glory of Christ, the honor of our Prince, the cause of our countrye, the defence of our name and honesty. They that venture theyr liues for these poyntes, are appoynted in the right course and race of true honor: for that they obtayne the true and vn­doubted end of vertue: wherefore all other that purpose vnto themselues riches fame and glory depending on the consent of the vnlettered multitude, and respect not the true soueraygne good, they are rather to be accompted men puft vpp with vayne desire, and ambition, then valiant and couragious men.

You haue (me thinkes) not vnlearnedly discoursed of fortitude: wherein I cannot easelie comprehende, whether my profitt or pleasure hath bene greater, both which your penn yel­deth to all those that happelie peruse your labours. It remay­neth that you speake of Temperance and Prudence, which displayed, the maiesty of a King will appeare more liuely and apparant. Wherefore say on I most hartely pray you.

Temperance standeth in the true and iust mode­ration of our actions, comming from a kinde of propentiō, or inclynation, which is most deepely by nature in vs im­printed. And that you may more plainely conceiue the pro­perty, and worthynesse of this vertue, thus when we talke of Temperance we vse to dispute. There is in vs a kinde of power, inferior to reason, yet her next handmayd, wher­by we féele in vs a prones to be this or that way affected. The affection therefore that is ingendred by this faculty, is [Page 13] such, that as it is most fitt, good and necessary, so if it wat­cheth not the direction, and as it were the finger poynt of reason, it is intollerable & bréedeth oft our woe and confu­sion. For by nature we waxe hoate, angry, and cholericke, naturally we loue, naturally we loth, we pitty, we despise, we feare, we frowne, we desire, we disdayne, we are mar­uailously by kinde stirred vp with ioy and pleasure. Which affections before they become actions, least they should ex­céede theyr iust due and proportion, and turne thereby to our annoy, are to be tempered and moderated by reasons rule and discipline. This man therefore that can thus go­uerne, and moderate the motiōs of the minde, hath wonne the loue of Temperaunce, and shall be honored of all men as one indued with a rare, and singular vertue. The af­fections therefore of the minde, as ire, loue, pleasure, and the solace it selfe of lyfe, with many other are not (as igno­raunt men suppose) to be raced out, but rather with the light and flame of reason in the best and highest mindes enkindled. Lyke as in the sea, such quiet & calme weather is not to be desired, wherewith the floud may not be with the least puffe of winde troubled, but rather such open aire wherby the shipp at the stearne may sulck the Seas with a mery gale and prosperous winde: euen so there is to be desired in y^e minde a puffe, & as it were, a blowing billow to hoyse vpp the sayles of the minde, whereby the course thereof may be made more swift & certayne. And euen as a skilfull & couragious horseman doth not alway delight in a soft and gentle pace, but sometymes geueth his horse the spurre, to the end his stede should moue more liuely. So by reason, sometymes the affections of the minde are styrred, and prycked forward, that we might more chere­fully dispatch our busines. You know by these, what Tē ­peraunce is, wherein it doth consist, and by what meanes it is attayned.

My minde hitherto hath his content, striue and [Page] styrre at all to the contrary I may not, except you be silēt: wherefore say on, so shall you bring me a swéete rest.

It foloweth that I shew you my opiniō of prudēce: which vertue is the very ornamēt and garland of the other two, without which, they before spoken of, can no wise florish, and geue out kindely their cleare and bright lights of glorye, the want whereof, maymeth the minde of a king. Prudence therefore resteth in the knowledge of ciuile gouernement: which learneth vs not onely to go­uerne wisely our selues, and families, but to rule poletik­ly great Cittyes and Commonwealthes. And that you may fully vnderstand, by what meanes this vertue is at­tayned, it is right necessary, & expediēt you call to minde, how men liuing as Barbarians, in woods and desolate places were brought to order, and at length perswaded to lyue vnder one lawe embracing mutuall loue, & all kinde of humanitye. Wherefore, if the swéetenes and excellencie of eloquence in antiquitie so much preuailed, that men were with y^e mellodious harmonye thereof, drawen from barbarousnes, to ciuilytye: If puissance in the beginning repelled iniuries, and became thereby the roote of roy­altye: if good and profitable lawes stayed most fastly, men thus reclaymed and brought to the quiet and happy home of peace and rest: I holde the onely redye and perfect stepp to trace out prudence, by the loue of Eloquence, by the ho­nor of chiualrye, by the knowledge and studye of the ciuile lawes. For these sciences are right worthely reckoned a­mong those which are the most chiefe & highest: for y^t they haue bene the founders of Citties, the safegard of com­mon societye, the principall stay and rocke of all noble and florishing Commonwealthes. To be prudent in a priuate man, is right worthely commended: in a king, in a prince, and in the place of Maiestye it geueth out such comfortable bea­mes, that thousands and infinite numbers thereby, receaue re­liefe: For her propertye is, to be diligent, and busie for the weale [Page 14] of all. They are therefore in no wise to be déemed prudent, which séeke the aduauncement of themselues, and the pre­ferment of any one priuate Familye. Wherefore, if you to your expectation, and our wished and laboured intent, purpose to behold the high and hautye hue of the Maiestye of a king, marke and imprint déepely in your minde, what briefly insueth. A king therefore, as it appeareth by the discourse precedent, came of no small beginning, deriued, and springing of no other roote, then an honorable and roy­all hart, garnisht, and deckt with all worthye, and noble vertues So that this king which we speake of, and haue through the viewe, and consent of many famous and worthy writers, cho­sen to be chiefe in this our Commonwealth, is such a one, whose Scepter iustice raysed, whose soueraigntye fortitude defendeth, whose preheminence prudence ruleth, whose prerogatiue tem­peraunce keepeth in most safe and quiet estate. Which chiefe and principall vertues, reste alwayes in perpetuall mo­uing, the motion whereof bringeth forth aboundantly braunches or rather (if you please) buddes, which cann be by no irkesome and sharpe aire blasted, for that the sapp and iuice of this trée in euery braunch and twigge thereof continually equally florisheth, being subiect to no tyme and season. Herehence mercy floweth, herehence mildenes, herehence courtesie, affabilitye, liberalitye, prouidence, loue, which maruelously graceth the maiestye of a king. This is also to be required & chiefely looked for, of a King, y^t what noble acte soeuer he take in hād, whether it appertayne to ciuile gouernmēt in tyme of peace, or to martiall prowes, in tyme of warre, his clearenes and excellencye, geue most manifest notice and signification, that he setteth no store by humaine thinges, but doth with most earnest indeuour & intention of minde, affect those thinges that be heauenly, and euerlasting. This high and lofty intention of minde causeth the Péeres and nobilitye of his nation, with all du­tye and reuerence to behold him, styrreth all good men with [Page] all loue and honor to embrace him, forceth all base and vile minded men to feare and tremble at his sight and pre­sence.

As you in our March discoursed in this manner, and came to the lyke issue, you haue hitherto bent the drift of your vnderstanding, I with many moe (if you remem­ber well) caused you to cutt of the rest (speaking to our simple opinions sufficiently) you would haue sayd, of the Maiestye of a king. Minding you of a Queene by distance of place then farre of, yet by nature neare, by due comparison of whose excellēt cleare brightnes, either that haue bene in any monument of Antiquitye honorably spoken of, or liue at this present Christened in magnificence, merited most high renoume: that when her excellencye was named, all our powers and spi­rites were in a manner surprised with ioy and pleasure, behol­ding through your speach as in a glasse, her great guiftes, rare vertues, and noble gouernement. At what tyme all wee (most lowly prostrating our selues) with one voyce assēted, that Q. Eli­zabeth our most high & noble maistres, should suffice, not onely vs her true, faythfull, & naturall subiects, but all other peeres, of what kinde of people they sprang of, of what noble lyne & paren­tage they descended, to behold in her excellencie, the true and absolute Maiestye of a Prince and gouernour: wishing then most earnestly, that one among vs had a penn of that propertie, that either he could at once write all lāguages, or that all natiōs could vnderstand what he wrote. Then not onely Europe which at this present ringes of her glory, but all the world besides, should have knowledge and vnderstanding of his soueraigne La­dy and Maistres.

I can not easely forgett, what ioy and pleasure we tooke of that honorable report, wherein as we then rested in the cogi­tation of so rare and royall an example, so I thinke it fitt to fi­nishe our speach of this first and chiefe piller of our Common­wealth: directing all other that would vnderstād more through­ly, of the perfection of a Prince which nothing sheweth forth [Page 15] more liuely then example) to the beholding our most gracious Queene and gouernour: whose fayth in Christian Religiō, whose knowledge in learning, whose pollicie in gouerning, whose clemē ­cy in pardoning, whose bountifulnesse in preferring, whose pitti­full and tender commiseration of the poorest wretch that liueth within her dominiōs, doth not without great cause establish her louing subiects in honoring her, powring out dayly most feruent­ly their prayers for her safe, long, and prosperous gouernement. God of his infinite mercy and goodnesse keepe her to raigne long ouer vs.

It séemeth now therefore right good, you speake of the Justicer.

I will most gladly doe my indeuour. The two limmes that chiefly and aboue other, strengthē the body of Princely maiestie, is the Iusticer and souldiar. The charge of which is great, and honor acquired thereby right worthely had in estimation: The one executeth the will of his Soue­raigne vpon the offender at home, and in the Citty, the o­ther wreaketh the indignation of the Prince in the field, vp­on the body of his enemy. The one is chosen for his pru­dence, the other for his prudence, and puissaunce, the one for his rightfull dealing, the other for his vpright minde, exposing his body to all perrils, to all pouerty, to all lacke. The one with his toung kéepeth peace, the other with the sword restoreth peace in daunger, & clean lost to his former state. So that whereas both shoot at one principall marcke (for the good and perfect souldiar hath two marckes and endes of his action, the one victory, wherein he winneth honor, more priuate: the other peace, wherby he returneth triumphantly to receiue of his Prince and countrey the ti­tles due to so great desart, which maketh his former honor which I before named more priuate, more publicke, more knowē, more ample and glorious) yet sith the meanes dif­fer not a litle, whereby the iusticer is promoted to his de­gree, and the souldiar aduaunced to an honorable calling in [Page] the commonwealth I cannot finde in my poore and sim­ple consideration, but that the souldiar in his proper right may challenge a kinde of superiority of the Lawyer.

I cannot gaynesay your position, which is that the souldiar and iusticer prefixe before theyr mindes one end and purpose, so that I am induced to thinke clearely, that whereas the meanes are differing, oddes to be therefore betwixt theyr both desertes. For what can the iusticer has­sard in peace, where the enemy is repelled, where force is subdued, where fury is put to flight? his treasure, wealth, wife and children, are by the lawes, as with a sure and strong forte) defended his name and honesty, a number of lately richt clients (with earnest and difficult suites subdu­ed) garde, his health phisicke preserueth. On the other side the souldiar so litle estemeth safety at home, content in his mate, pleasure in his children, solace with his friendes, that where his fidelity to his Prince, loue to his countrey, honor of his vpright minde, shall be brought in question, and stand to be tryed, he will not onely most willingly for­goe all these, but cherefully vow and consecrate his lustye limmes to tiresome labours, his body richly clad, to pin­ching nakednesse, his feeding nature, to staruing hunger, his fresh and liuely lookes to lothsome languishing: his si­nowes to be seuered, his ioyntes to be cut in two, his bloud to be spilt, his carcase to be stamp to dyrt & myre. Where fore I sée no reason but that the souldiar may in the com­mon wealth be preferred before the iusticer.

Albeit it be a matter very difficult to iudge, whether should be preferred before other, sith the vertue in a iusti­cer and souldiar are not of one kinde (although they pricke at one marcke) and that it farre passeth the reach of either of our capacityes to waygh their priuate vertues so diffe­ring, in equall ballances, leauing therefore the controuer­sie to be decided by men of déeper indgement, and ryper experience, notwithstanding I thinke it most fitt the iusti­cer [Page 16] not vnworthyly (if his calling and condition of life be well examined) to haue the second place in this our com­monwealth. For where you reason thus, that the souldiar doth hassard more then the iusticer, fearing no force, drea­ding no daunger, pricing no perrill whereby his honoura­ble minde should be more séene and appear (with lofty and high courage I cannot with words sufficiently commend) yet your reasō is inféebled by this, that it is agaynst the na­ture of peace, and therefore much agaynst the duety, order and course of good magistrates, to suffer (as much as in thē lyeth) any such iniurious action to be committed, whereby the stomake of the least man should be so tried and proued. The actions are not of one kinde, for that they take not the like beginning, although they haue the like end and direc­tion. Agayne a reason springing of one singuler Action, to conclude in generality, a better or worse hath small, or ra­ther no force at all. Wherefore sithe you made mention of fortitude and magnanimity as though the souldiar onely, and not the iusticer did regarde and embrace so greate and noble a vertue, and might be condemned of dastardly cow­ardise, I haue thought it good and expedient to cleare so high and estimable a calling, of so base & foule a crime. First therefore, whereas it is most manifest that the minde of the iusticer and souldiar is occupyed about one thing, that is, peace and tranquility, the one to kéepe it alwayes flori­shing, the other to restore it decaying and in daunger, here it would be demaunded, whither the honour of the iusticer is not as great and nobler in preseruing common quiet, or the worthinesse of the souldiar to be more extolled in pur­chasing & redéeming peace pressed and throwen downe to the ground. Wherefore (that this doubt and controuersy may more clearely appeare) shew (I hartely pray you) wherein honor resteth and by what meanes it is atchiued.

Honor depēdeth of the iust measure of value showē in the defence of a good cause.

How then may value be knowen?

Value springeth of contention, contention of two mindes contraryly affected. So that where there is an as­sault, and defence, the defender is to winne honor by hys value, which perswadeth him during life to vpholde and mainetaine the right of the cause.

If so, the value of the iusticer will anone more e­minently and clearely shine then the vertue of the souldiar. Who doth not holde it a harder matter to kill a secret, thē an opē enemy? The iusticer and souldiar carry and vpholde both an honorable minde. The souldiar standes readely furnisht to fight in the fielde, where he may looke round about: The iusticer is inclosed in a little cell or studdy, where he may be secretly slayne. The souldiar hath warning y^t the enemy approacheth by the neighing of barbd horses, ratling of mē of armes, sound of trumpet, Phife and drumme: The iusti­cer hath foreknowledge also, but by a more séely and féeble noyse, as a dores créeke, knacke, and whisper. The souldiar séeth men glittering as white as siluer: The iusticer séeth one man offering enbost workemanshipp like fire and An­gels of golde. The souldiar fighteth commonly man to mā. The iusticer is inuaded sometimes at once w^t no lesse thē twenty men. And wheras the iusticer and souldiar (sith we all professe Christ) directe their Actions to eternity, to e­uerlastingnesse, to that blessed and endlesse felicity, and that the iusticer is assaulted although after an other manner, as egerly of his enemy in the chamber, as the souldiar prouo­ked to fight in the fielde with his deadly foe (I speake not here of a bodely death, but of a death whereunto bodye and soule through offence is subiect) and that peace is to be pre­ferred before warres, for which we dayly pray, the offi­cers and magistrates in peace, and therefore the iusticer their chiefe and principall, shall haue the second place in this commonwealth: as one that will not harken to cor­ruption, much lesse suffer his minde to be abused and defiled [Page 17] with bribery. For woe, woe, may that cōmonwealth crie, if they which sitt in iudgement will be by any maner of en­tisementes allured and wonne from the swéete and sacred countenaunce of iustice. In consideration whereof, this realme of England is in my opinion in this poynt thrise happy and blessed.

Verely I thinke no lesse, if the Lawyers of this Realme for the most part with theyr companies, did as well imitate the vertue and sincere dealing, as they daylye beholde the grauity of the iudges of this land: their order should not at this present be subiect to a deserued disgrace: such rebuke, such reproch, should not follow those fellow­shippes, and houses of courte, where gentlemen descended of noble Parentage, liue, and suppose themselues to trace the steppes of honor and worshipp.

What say you?

I speake not against the law, for without it no kingdome can stand. The good and well minded Lawyer I greatly reuerence. The young Gentlemen which come thither either to study the law, or to approue what exercise and condition of life may best fitt theyr noble natures, I highly commend: wishing my selfe as able to perswade thē the best, as they are of a good inclination tractable. The rē ­nant which retayne no good thing, I would (with all lowly duety and submission to the state I speake it) were well imployed.

Are any of this profession idle and vnoccupyed.

It were better they were idle, then so ocupied.

Is it possible?

This is the blowing billow; you in your bodye pro­portioned spake of before, which deformeth all other parts. This is y^e mortiferous & deadly worme, which hath almost with his eger and perpetuall gnawing and biting, worne the legges to the bone. This is the impostumation, which if it be not in time pricked, will with his stincking contagiō [Page] poison all. This order is the nurse & mother of those mates, which at their seasons styrre hither and thither to moue brawles. It is a worlde to beholde, what new and straunge natures they haue clapt on, how they transforme them selues. There, where there is no hope of gayne, he stādeth as he thinketh gaylye, but yet (as he is) a counterfaite, looking to be worshipped, and will not stick (so vnmanerly a puppye he is) to take the vpper place of right good gentle­men. Here, the same man hoping to gayne of a poore and simple clowne of the Countrye fortye pence, is become his slaue and drudge. O that Georgias Leontinus did lyue in some English mans hart and stomack: who reprouing the rulers of Larissa because they had receaued into the company of plea­ders any kinde of people, was wont to say: that euen as plaste­rers of any kynde of stuffe, would make Morter, or any thing of lyke sort: So there were so conning crafismē in Larissa, which of any condition and kinde of men would make a Lawyar. Cice­ro the most famous orator and learned in the lawes that euer Rome nourisht (whē they brake their lists and lymits & grewe disordered) nippeth most wisely those of his owne order, in this māner. Proueniūt nobis oratores noui, stul­ti adolescētuli. So that I pray God most hartely, it fareth not with vs the inhabitants of this noble Iland, as it did after the forewarnings and shewes of these two (not so faythfull to their Countrye, as inséene in the state of their Commonwealth) with the people of Larissa and the Cit­tizens of Rome. For not long after, these people and flori­shing Citties, fell downe headlong to the ground. For how was it possible, that the state of those Empires could long stand stedfast, when the chiefe and principall pillers that should susteyne the waight and burthen of so huge, so high, so honorable and ample a gouernement, became rot­ten. Which ruine and ouerthrowe of the whole Common­wealth appeared then, not so much by decayed houses which were aunciēt & of great nobility, as by erecting mā ­nors [Page 18] where dyrt and dong was found. In consideration whereof, I let to speake of the hills and mountaynes raysed, lands and possessions purchased, aboundance of wealth gathered and forst together by men in our nation, neither wise, nor learned, politike, nor prudent, temperate, liberall, nor pitifull.

Is it not a poynt and chiefe poynt (thinke you) of great pollicye and wisedome, to aduaunce our stock and family? Is it not in the opinion of most men a happy thing to be rich? doe not all men delight in, and therefore desire a fayre, large and beautifull house? To be Lord of many▪ Mannors, to receaue many reuenewes, doth it not in gender great fauour, bring much worshipp and reuerence?

If you folowe herein the iudgement of the multi­tude I assent. If you forgett their blinde and grosse Imagi­nations, and cleaue to the assured and vndeteaueable direc­tions of wise men, you shall briefely vnderstand, what is séemely in, and best becommeth a Lawyar. Where the the minde is styrred with a desier to be aduaunced, and to rayse his name and bloud, frō a meane to a higher degrée, there is the minde so vexed with diuersitye, that at length it yeldeth to some great and greuous extremitye. But whē the minde is taught, that the chiefe and soueraigne good resteth in an honest and vertuous lyfe, there are the cogi­tations calme and swéete, there content holdeth desier re­strayned from any ambitious affection. This man that is thus affected, séeketh altogether to please and inrich his minde, prouideth for no more then will suffise nature, hol­deth it a perilous thing to be rich, and is assuredly perswa­ded, that aboundance and flowing of worldly wealth, ra­ther hindereth then helpeth, rather plucketh downe then erecteth the courage and aspiring minde of a noble na­ture. The Iusticer therefore and Lawiar which is the right hand of a Prince ought (if he purpose to kéepe the state & condition of his lyfe cleare and vnsteyned) to lyue in the contemplatiō of iustice, feede and nourish his minde with [Page] the lone of vertue: thinking it a thing farr vnfitt for his high calling to be déemed in his desiers a Marchaunt, in his order and course of lyfe, an artificer. The Souldiar, who hath the third place in this Cōmonwealth (of whose lyfe, nature, and propertye we purpose presently to treate of) yeldeth the desire of riches to the Marchaunt: déeming it for his condition of lyfe and profession, a foule matter to be addicted to such trash, dyrt, and pelfe.

Syr, you haue spoken so truely of the lyfe and condition of a Lawyer, that I thinke the good and better part of the professors of the law, will yelde you, (not with­out your desart) a good opinion, so farre is it vnlikely, that any other will cōceaue offēce. I stand now attētiue to heare your discourse of a Souldiar, in which kinde of lyfe, you, euen from your gréene and tender yeares, haue bene tray­ned, and therefore may learne me the more readily, what is in him most decent and chiefly required.

In this case I thinke it most expedient and necessa­rye, I sort a Souldiar first into his diuersitye, or rather braunches, which knowen, you shall more playnely vn­derstand what he is. All these therefore are conteyned within the name of a Souldiar. The Generall, high Mar­tiall with his Prouostes, Serieant generall, Serieant of a regiment, Corownell, Captayne, Liuetenent, Auncient, Serieant of a Company, Corporall, gentleman in a com­pany or of the Rounde, Launce passado: these are speci­all, the other that remaine, priuate or commō Souldiars. The Profession as well of the cōmmon, as priuate Sould­iar is honorable, which resteth in the maintenaunce to death, of a good and rightfull cause: the condition no lesse paynefull then full of perill, the quality, cleane, diligent, duetifull, delighting rather in braue furniture and glitte­ring armor, then in deynty dyet, womanlyke wantonnes, and vayne pleasures. It is fitt he be not onely skilfull in the weapon he vseth, but also in any other that his strength [Page 19] will geue him to handle and winne at his pleasure and cō ­maundement. It is also to be required he hath the skill and qualitye of Swimming, lykewise in Marching, turning, retyring, fighting to obserue the order by his Captayne prescribed: Such a one may be called a good trayned sould­iar, and if he be ignoraunt hereof, although he hath bene twentye yeares in y^e warres, I accompte him not worthy the name of a Souldiar. Finally the onely & chiefe grace, that beautifieth the minde of a Souldiar, is the cōtempt of Spoyle, and refusall of riches. For the corrupt opinion of wealth and pleasures, are the enemies of verue, the al­lurements not to so fond, as wicked endeuors.

You haue not vnskilfully deliuered your opini­on of a Souldiar in generall. Now, if you would briefely set downe the duety that belongeth to euery seuerall offi­cer, you should highly pleasure me. what is therefore to be desired in a Generall of an Armye?

A Generall ought first and chiefely behold the Ma­iestye of God, and cause therefore his true Religion in his Armye to be had in due reuerence: in such sort, that his Souldiars may perceaue he is in déede Religious. And lett him by all meanes cause the Priestes and Ministers of his holy will and testament, in his Armye to retayne their dignitye, and to be estéemed and reuerenced of his Souldiars. For if the very Paynims by due obseruations of their fayned Religion, did kéepe their Armies in marue­lous obedience and order: how much more shall true Re­ligion, deliuered from our Lord and Sauiour, preuaile a Generall, and Armye that loueth him, to the atchieuing great and miraculous victoryes. Also the Generall ought to be modest, prudent, and temperate, geuen to no ryot and excesse, neither miserably bent to silthy lucre. It stā ­deth greatly on him to auoyd the name of a vaunter: which is séene in this, that he doe not vendicate to himselfe alone the prayse of good successe: but do impute the same first to [Page] God. Secondly to his Captaynes. Thirdly to his Sould­iars. Furthermore it behoueth a Generall to be a noble Gentleman, trayned vp in those sciences, through the knowledge whereof, he shall sooner attayne that perfecti­on, which in a Generall is néedefull. Lastly, for that I study herein breuitye, moued thereunto, through great and wayghty occasions, a Generall must be religious, tem­perate, sober, wise, valiant, liberall, curteous, Eloquent, & of good fame and reputation.

What haue you to say of the hygh Martiall.

The duety of the high martiall is as great in a Campe, as the office of a iusticer in peaceable and ciuile go­uernement. To him appertayneth the true administration of iustice, the hearing and determining of controuersies, & the punishing of disorders. And therefore as he ought of of himselfe to be a man, both graue, wise, learned, and tho­rowly well experienced in martiall affayres: so is it also conuenient for him to haue about him men of iudgement, sailfull in military discipline, and lawes of a Campe, redi­ly to resolue of euery question, according to equity and iu­stice. This belōgeth next & imediately (as part of his prin­cipal charge) to y^e high martiall, that he receiue the names and numbers of all the Corownets of horse, and compa­nies of footemen that are in the Armye: he must also lear­nedly proportion and cast, what scope of ground will suffice to encampe them with all theyr prouision, Carriadges, & Munition. The high Martiall must assigne euery battaile his conuoy, and guide, or two, to bring them most easye wayes.

Procéed (I pray you) to the Serieaunt Generall, or Maior, & Serieaunt of a Regiment.

This Officer ought to be a man of great courage and well experienced, that he be not dismayd with the ter­ror of the enemies presence. For the most part of all hys actiōs are to be exployted euen in the face of the enemy: he [Page 20] ought to be a man therefore of liuely spirite, and quicke in­uention, that he may soddenly perceiue, and quickely con­ceiue the nature of the Scituation, and order of the Ene­mies aray, altering and disposing accordingly of his owne. His duty is to attend the Lord high martiall, or Lieuete­nant Generall to receiue direction in what sort theyr plea­sure is, the Army that day shall march, he ought to haue a rolle of all the bandes, and in euery band, what number of short weapons, what Pikes, and what shot, and the same to haue alway about him: that if any want, he may admo­nish the Muster Mayster and Treasurer thereof, to the end there be according to the want, a fit and conuenient supply. To this Officer it appertayneth so to ranck his souldiars, that the best armed inpale the rest, and that the force and flankes of his battayles be armed with pikes, the Ensignes well garded with halberdes, the tayle well enclosed with y^e Cariages, winges of shot on eyther side, and those winges more or lesse, accordingly as the place is larger and straigh­ter, strōger or weaker, on the one or on y^e other side. Those winges represent the flankers in fortification and ought a [...] orderly to flancke and skoure before the face of the battayle as bulwarkes do the Curtayne of a Towne or fort.

Proceede now I pray you to the office and duty of a Corownell.

It appertayneth chiefly to a Corownell after the Prince hath elected him, to make a good and singuler choise of his Captaynes and Officers, that they may the better and more readely take good order for the good execution of any seruice. It is most requisite he hath nere vnto his persō certayne wise, expert, and valiant Gentlemen, that be able both quickely to conceiue, and plainely and sensibly to vtter the cause of any new accident, or thing whatsoeuer, that he shall sée. It behoueth him to take great héed, least the souldi­ars in his Regiment be discouraged for want of necessary prouision, but in such sort be prouided for, that the soul­diars [Page] may grow into a liking of their Captaynes. It shalbe an honorable part in a Corownell sometime to lend of his owne to his Captaynes, that they may in like maner ayde, and binde therefore their souldiars to them in theyr wants and extremitye. And aboue all other thinges, let a Corow­nell take héed that he be not noted to be a piller of the soul­diars, or to play the Marchaunt making his gayne vpon them: and as it behoueth him to cleare himselfe alwayes dythe contrary action, of so foule & dishonorable a crime, so it standes him greatly on, that his Captaynes be not infec­ted with the like corruption. For there is nothing so repug­nant to the honorable profession of a Souldiar in generall, and therefore much more of a Captayne, greater of a Co­ronell, as to be noted miserable.

What you haue sayd, no man with reason or know­ledge can withstand: I desire now to be instructed of the du­ty of a Captayne, and his Lieuetenaunt.

This déepe and principall consideration ought to be in a Captayne, that a charge of the liues of men is to him committed, so that if any quayle vnder his conduct, ei­ther by rashnes or by want of knowledge, he is to render accompt thereof before y^e great Judge. He ought not to be couetous or niggardly, neuer to kéepe backe his souldiars pay, but by all meanes possible to procure them theyr pay, and to his hability rewarding them ouer and aboue: for by that meanes he gayneth honor, and lincketh them fast and assured to him in any doubtful▪ & perilous seruice. A Lieue­tenant also is an office of credit and reputation: but in the absence of his Captaine farr greater and déeper. In all fac­tions or questions among the Souldiars, it behoueth him to be newtre, working most louingly pacification. It ap­pertayneth to him to ouersee the Serieantes and Corpo­ralls, that they doe theyr duetye, and oftentimes to ayde them with his owne person. He is to vse most frendly and brotherly his Auncient, he should be a man able to speake [Page 21] well and sensibly, and study by courtesy rather thē by seue­ritye to frame aright, crooked and peruerse mindes. It be­houeth the Liuetenant, much more therefore the Captaine to be continually Armed, as well when no perill is feared, as in tyme of daunger, to geue example to the rest of the Souldiars, that they may not thinke their Armor bur­thenous, but by vse to make it as familiar to them, as their clothes, shyrt, and skinne.

If you will in lyke manner declare, what belon­geth to an Auncient, Serieant of a company, and Cor­porall, you shall finishe a good and profitable labor.

The Auncient, and Ensigne bearer, ought to be a man of good accompt, honest, and vertuous, that the Cap­tayne may repose the rather more credite and affiance in him: he ought to behaue himselfe wisely, discretely, and soberly, that he be therefore more loued of the Souldiars: considering thereby, y^t not onely his owne person shall be in more safetye, when he attempteth perilous exploytes, but also the whole seruice more brauely and honorably ex­ployted: for the value and vertue of the Auncient setteth forth the vertue, and valour of the Captayne and whole Company. The Serieaunt of a Company ought to be a man chosen of quick spirite and actiue bodye: to the end he be not staggering and astonyed vpon new accidents, but prompt and readye on a soddayne, to doe that to him ap­pertayneth. His duetye resteth greatly, in ordering and rancking his Company, assigning to each Souldiar his due place, cutting of braules, and all manner of conten­tion. The Corporall is a degrée aboue the priuate Sould­iar, and therefore he should passe and surmount his inferi­ours in witt, discretion, and diligence. The Corporall ought to kéepe continuall company with his little troupe, committed to his charge, to lodge with them, and prouide for their want, and to instruct them how to handle and vse the weapon they carry. He ought to remember perfectly, [Page] how euery one is armed, and furnished, when he receaued them in charge, and to sée that no part therof be spoyled, but be preserued neate and trymme. Finally, the nature and qualitye of all good Souldiars is this, that they stand alwayes of their credite and reputation, accompting no losse of goods cōparable, to a dishonorable foyle, to haue a great, high, and waighty respect of his charge, and to be no lesse carefull and zealous thereof, then euery honest and honorable gentleman, should take of his wife, familye, and children: In conclusion, to feare nothing so much (appea­red it neuer so terrible to fleshe and bloud) as infamy. Thus you haue heard my poore conceit & opiniō, of a sould­iar: also the duet [...]es of those, who haue a superioritye in that profession: deliuered I confesse, not so amply and in so comely manner, as the waightynes of the Argument would requier: but as the slendernes of my skill, would permitt me in this discourse to followe.

Your treaty hitherto may counteruaile well, both your prowes, and profession. And whereas some other, grounded more in knowledge, could geue out a larger, and déeper drift, wheeunto you percase (if you were not short­ly to be imployed otherwise) would to your power bend y^e reach of your capacitye: yet these briefe speaches may hap­pely please, where heaped labors are found tyresome and vnseasonable. Wherefore, conuert your penne I hartely pray you, to the displaying the braue and worthye actions done by our nation in Friseland. Which performed, you shall discharge and accomplishe our both desiers.

Corownell Norris and his companyes, to y^e num­ber of xi. Ensignes of footemen, and one Cornet of horse­men ariued in West Friseland, at a town called Counder the xi. of July, where he was ioyfully receaued by the Graue van Hollock, by whose commaundement and auc­thoritye the Souldiars were Forraied on the Boares for their refreshing, for the space of two dayes. Wherehence [Page 22] being sodenly called, we marched by night, and pitched in a place called Fornecloyster neare to y^e towne of Col­leine: wherein were thrée Ensignes of Malecontentes, for the defence of that place, well and strongly fortified.

Before you enter farther into this matter, I pray you shewe me what are these Malecontentes, that trou­ble so much those Countries?

It is a people that feareth neither God, nor man, cruell, bloudy, and beggarly, gathered together of the froth and scomme of many nations: In manners barbarous, in opinion Turquishe, hoping with a whott and earnest in­deuor to spoyle and spill all Christian bloud.

Is it possible we should haue such helhoundes so neare vs? Herein the mercye and louing kindenes of our heauenly Lord and Sauiour towardes vs, is to be mag­nified, and sufferaunce towardes so cursed and peruerse a generation to be maruailed at. Procéede I pray you, in your taken in hand labor.

Those Malecontents, whereof I made mention before, being at the receipte of their pay, when aduertise­ment was brought them, that the Englishe men were in Pome cloyster, were stricken with such a feare, that omit­ting their pay, tooke their flight as it is written, no man folowing them. Vnto which Cloyster our Englishmen ariued. The day folowing our people remoued, marching to Vpslaught where fiue Ensignes of the enemy were strongly incoucht, furnished with Munition and 3. small péeces of Artillarye, seuered in two places. The Graue van Hollock sent a drūme to moue them to yeld vp those fortes, without condition (sauing their liues) to the vse of the Prince of Oringe, & the States, which they vtterly re­fused to doe affirming their tenure to be plāted in y^e right of y^e Popes holynes, & the Countie De Lalyne. Whereunto the Graue replyed, that he would commend them ouer to the power and will of the Englishe Corownell. Where­vpon, [Page] the Coronell did besett the places with his people so straightly, that there was no way left for the enemy to es­cape. The Malecontents perceiuing themselues so wrapt and inuironed, by such as they feared would haue no com­passion, sent forth a Dromme to craue mercye. The En­glishe men were then so sharpe sett to destroy so hellish a broode. Notwithstanding, whose heate and rage Coronell Norris committed the cause to the will and pleasure of the Graue, he permitted them to depart, their liues saued without Armes.

Herein the steyed and resolute wisedome of Mai­ster Norris deserueth as equally to be praysed, as mercy in the Graue, as Pardon in so good and honorable a person.

On the next day in the morning our people dislod­ged, marching towardes Grounning, the chiefe and prin­cipall Cittye in Friseland possessed of the Enemye: with­in thrée Englishe miles whereof, we were dispersed into diuers villages thereaboutes, and so remained till the sixt day of August. About xi. of the clocke of the same day, the Enemye gaue vs a Larum: In this case, least that the enemy might thinke their Larū to haue any maner wayes touched vs with a shiuer of feare, but rather with a flame of furye, Coronell Morgaine, an expert and olde Sould­iar, a noble & valiant Captayne, accompaned with Cap­tayne Salisbury, Captayne Chatterton, Captaine Corne, Liuetennant Carie, and Liuetenant Forder: with other Gentlemen and Souldiars of profe, to the number of 200 & more, went to discouer what that Larum was, w^t a purpose y^t if y^e Enemy were a thowsand, so that they were on foote, they should know & féele y^e force of Englishe bloud.

Behold here true value comming from a courage, most stedfastly setled in resolute mindes.

In conclusiō we happened on their maine battayle: At what tyme Captayne Corne, a man alwaye little breading the Enemies presence, cried with a lowd voyce: [Page 23] My Maisters, and fellow Souldiars, my naturall and deare Countrymen, let vs now stand fast, and geue yon­der cursed company a Canuassado, for the honor of our Prince and Countrye. Let them vnderstand by our sto­maches, what minde and spirite remaineth in the rest, and by that which is found in the rest, to be looked for of all our nation. This little sayd, a charge was geuen.

Who can with wordes sufficiently commend the courage of this Captayne, the lostines of his high and ho­norable minde? This Corne was not great of bodye, a very graine in comparison, yet yelding aboundance of fine and white flower. This Corne smelled of no cockle, for that it grew, in so fertile, and sappie a soyle. Let all sould­iars therefore, that will féede their mindes with the bread, which so noble Corne hath made, moulded and baken for them to eate, receaue him most worthely: in prayse to preferre, in fidelitye to folow, in lyfe to imitate, in cou­rage to commend, in prowes and true vertue deseruedly to loue, honor, and reuerence. Now I pray you say on.

The Skirmish on both sides waxed great, whott, and violent. The egernes of our men, wrought the confu­sion of as many as were then slayne. For if they had in tyme retyred, we had gréeued greatly the Enemy, without the losse of one man. For at the same present, we lost ma­ny a proper Souldiar and tall gentleman. The principall whereof, was Captayne Corne, Liuetenant Carie, Mai­ster Browne, sometimes a towardly and earnest student of the Lawes in Lincoles Inne.

To this the Corne you spake of before?

The very same.

I would her maiestry our most gracious Quéene and gouernour had all the empty barnes in England at this present, and voyde houses full of suche Corne, as he was.

I do wish no lesse.

What of Lieuetenaunt Cary?

Cary approued in himselfe euery way to come of a gentle and noble race, he had to his manlynesse, ioyned a singuler myldenesse and curtesy.

What of Browne?

The lacke of experience was not in him so much lamentable, as value, fiercenesse, and courage laudable.

Were there slayne onely these at that present?

There were other in that conflicte consumed whose prowes and stoutnesse of right are prayseworthy.

Can you name them?

Some I know right wel, whose names were these, Williams, Snow, both bearing the office of a Corporall, Waller, a gentleman of the rounde, Brogdayne a priuate but a stout and couragious souldiar, one also I call to me­mory besides, a man y^t deserued greatly & would (if life had lasted) haue proued an expert souldiar, his name was Sa­muell Gréene, with many moe, whose prowes I commēd to those, to whome theyr proper names and peculiar na­tures are knowne as well as to vs theyr singuler manhood and rare vertue,

What became of the enemy? was not his body in any part and member wounded?

Yes most déeply as you shall presently vnderstād. For one halfe hower after this hoate and bloudy bickeryng we being retyred, immediately Roger Williams Captaine of the English horsemen, finding here and there dead car­cases couering the playne, part of whose Coates and pri­uye marckes gaue him to thinke they were of his nation, specially seeing the enemy neare vnto him, withdrew his Corownet of horsemē vnder the nuke of a mountayne, vt­tering briefly this maner of language. Gentlemen and fel­low souldiars, we shall presently proue the fauour of for­tune. Our lōg desire hath bene to sée the face of the enemy. My deare and louing countrey men behold now where the [Page 24] body is. It is farr more honorable for vs to charge them in this maner, then scattered, straggeling, or in Ambush and Troupe, let this liuely sight of dead bodyes, let fresh bloud newly spilt, stirr and pricke you forwardes, let desire of re­uenge and victory, lift vp your mindes, confyrme your cou­rage in my valor and constancy: which (by that sunne that shineth and his gouernour I sweare) shall not shrinke and quaile in this purpose intended. This sayd, he himselfe first with the rest of his gentlemen charged, and recharged to the great losse of the enemy. He in that conflict flew one hundred of the enemies folckes: Wonne two Ensignes, brought away twenty seruiceable horses. Who comming the next morning to the Campe was ioyfully receiued of the General, Corownelles, Captaynes and Souldiars.

His desert required no lesse, if his exployte be well examined: wherein I know not whether I may com­mend more his hardinesse and value, (which hath bene al­wayes throughly approued) or happ and vertue, which in a leader is as highly priced, as necessarily respected. For as it auayleth greatly an Armie to haue a happy Generall so it incourageth not a litle any company on horse, or foote to be guided and lead by a fortunate commaunder, whiche commeth not (as some thinke) by chaunce and of no cer­tayne and principall cause, but rather (as I suppose) of a suddayne and secret instinct and notice, that some man hath aboue another: in perill to escape, in place to pursue, in necessity to stand fast, in doubt to be quickly and prudēt­ly resolued, all which procéede of a proper and priuy cir­cumspection of minde, which rare and excellent condition and quality I yelde to this Captayne.

You haue yelded to him no more then he may by due challenge.

Whereas Captayne Williams gaue the Enemy a sore and sharpe blow (wherein his true value eminently appeared) there were other also no doubt, which did winne [Page] at that present if not the like, yet great prayse and honor: in so much I verely think the meanest man, knowne least for his triall and proofe, could not then but deserue well. A­mong echone Captayne Carellel now Serieant maior of the English Regiment, Cristopher Champernoone the Gitternebearer, Browne a gentleman experte in riding, George Strawbrudge, Thomas Smith, Brooke, Argell, Thomson, Turnor Lieuetenaunt before of a Company of foot mē were mounted brauely w^t many other. These are to you well knowen, all whose priuate vertues as it is not in you to explayne, so if you will to your ability disclose any one speciall property wherein they doe excell, and may (if it please God) they safe returne, be therefore wel imploy­ed to theyr Prince & countryes good, you shall by yelding thē a moyety of theyr desert, awake other of theyr bloud & familiarity here in England that be a sléepe: and thereby happely winne them by all honorable meanes to ennoble theyr names with the like exploytes and aduētures. What chiefly note you worthy of prayse in Captayne Care­lell, what in Champernoone, what in Browne the Rider, what in Strawbrudge, what in the rest?

Captayne Carelell now Serieant Maior in fea­ture and limmes of body is something inferior to Captain Corne when he liued in proportion of minde, if you respect therein prowes, equall: if pollicy, attayned by learning and study, his superior farre. These two principall giftes of a noble minde are in this Carelel beautified with other two in kinde and nature not so excellent, yet most fit and neces­sary to be resident there, where true nobility pleaseth to harbour.

What are those?

Affability & liberality. Champernoone hath his va­lue: more Gréene, yet likely to be ripe and proue good fruit. Browne according to his name is more then Gréene, har­dened through the proofe of many perilous attempt, whose [Page 24] value, courage and fury, the enemy in this conflict felt, through theyr fall and flight. Strawbrudge is a man of singuler vertue and stoutnesse. Doylye, Smith, Argell, Brooke, Thōson with y^e rest deserue highly to be praysed.

Shew (I pray you farther) your purpose inten­ded.

After which conflict the Malecontentes could neuer abide to encounter with y^e English companyes, sending to Graue van Hollocke then Generall of the Army this pretyiest: Dismisse English broode with theyr great Ruffes, we care not a pinne for all thy Muffes. The malecontēts therefore wandered through feare of English force as Pil­grims in theyr owne country hither and thither, according as they were informed by theyr spyes where the English Regiment lay: promising many times to fight with vs, meaning nothing lesse, as the effect did proue. In meane season Mayster Norris was made Generall of the whole Army, not without his great desert and triall of honor, by whose vertue and pollicy the enemy of late hath bene so plagued, that almost it is incredible to tell.

I pray you vtter briefly the trueth thereof.

On Sonday before Christmas last past 4. hundred fifty and foure Malecontents were slayne by the Englishe nation, at Swarfe Sluce in the west partes of Friseland, onely, with the losse of one Captayne named Elles & thrée other priuate souldiars. The glory of which ouerthrow and victory is chiefly to be geuen to God, the honor to M. Norris and his Captaynes, the prayse and commendation to his officers and souldiars. In consideration whereof, I call to minde a prouerbe not so olde as true: As the king is so is his people: which I may most fitly & truely apply to M. Norris now Generall of the Armye of the States in Friselād. As the Generall is, so are his Captaynes Lieue­tenauntes, officers and souldiars. For where the desire of true honor, & glory is in the Generall imprinted, there the [Page] Captaynes, officers, and souldiars, by a naturall loue and inclination that the best mindes are stirred therewith, are much more set on fire and enkindeled.

So that whereas this noble gentleman, hath by his va­liant actes, proued himselfe to be a fountayne of fame, a welspring of vertue, a riuer of royaltye, it cannot be, but that his people become péerelesse, noble, and magnificent. For where the Generall féedeth his minde, with high and honorable causes, and standes therein resolute, there his Captaynes and Souldiars are prest to all manner of at­temptes, be they neuer so difficult: And where such Cap­taynes are prest, there are atchiued feates more wonder­full, then reasonable. And to speake something of our Na­tion, and especially, of the small and litle troupe vnder Maister Norris, it is incredible to thinke and report how their vertue doubleth the worthynes of other Nations. For as their leaders, and commaunders excell in witt, prowes, and value: so haue they them in more loue, reue­rence, and admiration. For this may be truely sayd of our Countrymen: that euen the rude multitude, doe loue their rulers, and superiors, according to their vertues, and magnanimitye, that they sée in them. No people in the world more faythfull, more affectionate, then are the En­glish Nation, if they be reteyned accordingly: neither are they euercome a whitt with the hellish furies, and brutish crueltyes, that doe generally possesse all other Nations in the world. For, it is naturally geuē to the right English­man, to content himselfe with the victory, and to take pit­tye on the vanquished. And where this vertue of commise­ration and mercye dwelleth, there also dwelleth naturally hardynes & prowes. For it is an infallible rule, that where feare is, there is also crueltye. So that I conclude of this principle: sith our Nation doth excell other in loue, gentle­nes, courtesie, placabilitye and mercye, they also are to be preferred before the straunger in true value, hardynes, [Page 26] courage, prowes, and magnanimitye.

The ouerthrowe you speake of, was great: the prayses and honor you haue geuen to Maister Norris is such, that he may in right challenge them. The commen­dation of our Countrye, you haue most firmely grounded on a sure rock of reason. And whereas you haue made mē ­tion of the Generall, touching his small and litle troupe, to finish this worke, in my opinion shall fitt you best, to geue all Gentlemen, and Souldiars of our Nation a fare­well, who to winne their Prince and Countrye honor, feare no force, dread no daunger and terror of the Enemy. The number whereof, when I call to minde, I cannot forget Maister Iohn Seintleger: whose value and prowes ioyned with a princely humanitye and curtesie, my penn cannot deseruedly describe.

You haue I assure you, named a Gentleman: whose valor matcheth with the vertue of the best of our nation, that serue in the Nether Landes, although he be not a lyke preferred of the Prince there: But no doubt if he indure those seruices he cannot but beare a principall office, and that right worthelye in the field. His carefull payne in all exploytes, his equall labors in the tyresome March, his dreadles attemptes in any perilous aduenture haue bene such, so open, and manifest, that not onely his Country­men, but Souldiars of other nations, yelded him as his owne right, emong them vnknowen, a superioritye. All which, Captayne Morris (a man of great experience and knowledge in feates of warre) can witnes. And whereas you haue occasioned me to speake something of Maister Seintleger (whome in this maner, I commend and com­mit to good fortune) you haue minded me of a Gentleman, who if he were no Gentleman by byrth and lynage, as he is well borne, & of gentle bloud, yet he hath layed for his name perpetually a foundatiō, of high, and true Nobilitie. Blandy. What is his name?

Rowland Yorke.

The fame of his wisedome, and déepe aduise hath made me more inflamed with his person, then any former and priuate knowledge.

What is the report of him?

He is, sayth all that know the man (which cannot be fewe in number) bolde of courage, prouident in direction, industrious in labour, and quick in execution.

What can be more desired in a Generall of an Ar­mye?

I referr that to the iudgement of other, but this I may well say, that these are the most principall poyntes which are to be required in a Gouernour. What think you of the other Captaynes of our Nation?

I finde Captayne Gaynssord foreward in the field, prudent, liberall, and full of pollicye. Captayne Sallisbu­ry sufficient, Captayne Byshopp sure and stedfast, Cap­tayne Richardes a proper and tall Souldiar, Captayne Bowes most sufficient.

What of Liuetenaunt Senis? Liuetenant Forder, Liuetenant Fewilliams, Liuetenant Burley, Liuetenant Gittens, Liuetenant Haruye, Liuetenant Kelly?

Senis is expert, paynefull, louing, and courteous. Forder, valiant and fortunate, Fewilliams redie, and reso­lute, Burley hautye, Gittens stoute, Haruie hardye, Kelly well approued.

What of Auncient Manning? Auncient Mar­chant, Auncient Ling, Auncient Maskrall, Auncient Bines.

All these are through long triall and experience ripe, most fitt to doe their countrye seruice.

What thinke you of Dorrell, Leye, and Louelace.

Dorrell hath well deserued, Leye, if you looke into him throughly, may be iudged a man most fitt to take a charge. Louelace is not behinde the best of his order. which [Page 26] are accompted of.

What of Knight, Baker, Cranmer, Copwydge, Gray, Sallisburies [...]oth?

Knight, for his manlynes and actiuitye, for his strength and knowledge in euery weapon that belonges to a tall and expert Souldiar, may garde in peace and warre the Maiestye of an Emperor. The other haue by their de­sartes wonne fame and glorye.

What of Smith, Owen, Padmore, Shepheard, Simmes, Rogers, Welch, with fiue hundred moe?

Good, and well trayned Souldiars, all which, so constant is their courage, so rare and resolute their mindes, so flaming their fayth and fidelitye, long sithens vowed and consecrated to theyr prince and Countrey, that for her ma­iesties safetye, honor and securitye, they will at once most readily and willingly aduenture with Vlisses his wan­dringes, and doubtfull viages, sixe hundred shippwrackes, the great glose, and swallowing sourge of Caribdis, the roaring of Silla, the daunger in auoyding the Antiphates, the greuous conflict which he had with Polephemus: fill vp with Curtius the gaping and daungerous breach: Per­forme in action, pouerty, lacke, and perill, although per­case not with the like happy happe with Drake the vnac­quaynted passage and stéepe downe straightes of Maielan.

More perfection in any people cannot be required. Wherfore I commend them all to good happ wishing them (as naturall loue bindes me) a safe and prosperous return hither agayne, if not, that fruit and successe of life which be­longes vnto these mindes which retayne true and perfect Nobility.

It appeareth therefore by your discourse that in a perfect commonwealth one chiefly should rule and sitt in the place of maiesty, other (chosen especially for theyr ver­tue, iustice, prudence and pollicy) occupy a place of honour, by whose wisedome and pollicy the multitude should be [Page] gouerned: other some, for theyr skill and vertue in warlike practises be aduaūced to high degrée. Now I thinke it most fit you speake of the Marchaunt, artificer, and Tiller of the ground.

When I consider with my selfe, how requisite and necessary it is, that men should differ in degree and dignity, and that inumerable artes and sciences haue bene deuised to mayntayne the common society of men, and no one may excell in all, and few at any time may attayne the best: I can no lesse maruayle at, then commend the deuine decree of nature, whose prouidence hath wrought and appoynted the varietyes of wittes, dispositions, & qualityes. Socrates in his booke intituled Phedro calleth this excellency of na­ture, the golde of the Gods, wherby he is induced to think that they whose mindes are of so rare and fine a making, are vnto them allyed and fitte of all other to be placed on the earth in the Throne of Maiesty. Dame nature there­fore the mother of all thinges hath placed in the world prin­cipally such in the highest Roomes: of which order are kings and Princes. Other some she hath not framed in such per­fect wise, for the clearnesse and shining glory of vertue and nobility: yet she hath imparted vnto them a most sharp wit and ready capacity, greate value and singuler prouidēce. Herehēce the iusticer and souldiar springeth, of which thrée lofty and stately partes it is already discoursed. On other she hath bestowed a mind and courage, that for the magni­ficence of theyr prince, weale of theyr countrey, honor of theyr City, estimation and creditt of theyr owne priuate familyes, will, by land, be the perill neuer so great, by sea, be the daūger neuer so déepe and difficult, with the hassard of vnknowen goods & déepe expence of a rich pursse, aduen­ture straūge and vntried vioges. Herehence y^e famous com­panies of aduenturing Marchauntes floweth, which are the Princes of all other which buy and sell wares. Other she hath made more simple of vnderstanding, more colde [Page 28] of courage, and therefore iustly hath appoynted vnto them, to toyle in seruile artes, of which sort are they, whome we terme artificers, men of occupation, Tillers of the grounde with theyr helpers, poore, simple, and laboursome men.

What you haue sayd hitherto of these thrée partes I can in no wise discommend.

May not these suffice?

I am not vnacquaynted with your accustomed flo­rishes, I know and am assuredly perswaded, you can if you will and please deliuer more of this matter.

Will you that I write more then I haue spoken? Would you me attempt the commendation of theyr state? If so, I shall hardly auoyd the suspitiō of feare, or flattery: acknowledging notwithstanding how vnable a man I am to yelde to the good and vertuous Marchaūt the true guer­don of his due desert. Would you me instruct them in theyr kinde of life? Should my pen pinch or improue their dayn­ty fare? Should I be so bolde, as to enter into theyr house­chappell, and mangle theyr to to much carued Imagery, nipp theyr soft & nice nightbeds? I assure you it is not my part so to do. And albeit these (as some will) superfluities of fend more others that want such furniture, then in right turne to the Marchauntes rebuke, being bought and pur­chased with his paynefull & perillous trauayle: So no mā of wise and déepe iudgement shall be caried away from the good opinion of a Marchaunt, through the sight of those beautifull, pleasing, and passing vanities. If the Plowman hath for a short iorney at his seasan his swéete, if the labor­some man for his dayly toile his penny, if the sheppeard for his carefull care his pipe: much more is it to be graunted to y^e Marchaunt, whose endeuors are farre greater, whose tra­uaile more large, whose paines more perillous, & full of er­pence, his choise and solace, his rest and content at home, and in his priuate Family. All these pleasures are to him graunted, if he performe what is in him required.

What is his duety, and wherein chiefly doth it con­sist?

What I speake is generall, and toucheth princi­pally those who haue wonne by any knde of fortune great wealth, & yet striue most egerly to augment y^e same. I could wish such (as it becommeth Marchauntes indéed) to make their marte wisely w^t straungers in forraigne landes, & not to make a pray wyly of the wantes of Gentlemen in theyr owne countrye, what maketh the state of any common­wealth more florishing thē aboūdance? Then, what plague is found to the happynesse thereof more pestiferous, then want & penury? If so, the procurers of the one are to be detested as much, as y^e actors of y^e other right worthely honored. And herein I pray you note, that the Marchaunt whatsoe­uer, which harkeneth after the wants, phantasies, spending humors of gentlemen of his owne countrey, and especi­ally of such who do kéepe good and worshipfull familyes, or of such whose possessions through theyr Fathers vntimely death, are come vnto them in the rage and fury of youth, with an earnest purpose and intention to chaunge launes for landes, gummy silcke for a swéet and fat farme (abusing herein notwithstanding theyr owne calling) geue theyr Countrye to often most vnnaturally a dépe and deadlye wound.

Uerely I thinke no lesse. Is there any of so vile and corrupt minde in England?

I can accuse none: But if there be any, and that my iudgemēt might be taken and accepted of, I would haue all such seared in the forehead, with the marke, and figure of death: signifiyng therby, that whereas to this day there is no lawe made, for the inquisition and punishing here on earth, of so fowle and vnsatiable desiers, there hath bene from the beginning of the world, by the iust iudge­ment of God, appoynted a death in Hell: where such ma­lefactors shall burne, and be tormented with euerlasting, [Page 29] and vnquenchable fiers.

My busines may not suffer me to stay long: Wherefore, procéede to the Artificer, and Tyller of the ground.

All of one nature, are not indued with the selfe­same qualitye and vertue, neither is this difference to be noted in men onely: but in beastes, trées, and plantes. For trées which are of one kinde, spread not their braunches in lyke fayrenes, euery Stead doth not his Carrier with the lyke loftynes, neither is euery Lyon of lyke strēgth. In all the workes of Nature, as I haue before declared, there is to be noted a varietye of value, disposition, and qualitye: so that according to that diuersitye, and inclina­tion of nature wée sée the oddes of labors, and stud­dye. Some therefore according to their skill, and reach, embrace a science, which more strengtheneth, and stayeth the weaker partes of a Commonweale, then other: in which place, I putt the Clothyer, other worke on gold and siluer, other worke on Iron, other till the ground, other in this, or that science, bestow their carefull paynes: all to the profitt and commoditye of their natiue Countrye. In consideratiō of whose diuers dispositions, in one kinde and nature, this I iudge most worthy to be reported, reade, and remembred: that Nature by disposing our affections, so diuersly, brought to passe most prouidently, that man, who of all other creatures was ordayned to maintayne a societye, should be thereunto forced of necessitye. For the trauayle of each man thus differing, yeldeth to other that which by his owne instustrye, he could neuer attayne.

You haue generally made mention of many scien­ces: emong them all, the knowledge and skill of clothing, séemeth most worthye to be disputed of: for that it concer­neth y^e maintenaunce of thousandes, whose good and pros­perous state, yeldeth to their Prince, in peace pleasure, in warre, no small supply of men, to withstand the force and [Page] furye of the Enemye.

I assent most gladly, to your good and honest desire, wishing my selfe as able, as willing, to vphold their state now falling, if the Prince, & prouidence of the Péeres and and nobilitye of England doe not with their pitifull eyes, and tender commiseration of so poore and approued condi­tion of men, propp vp, and establish more strongly those thyghes, knées, and ioyntes of this Commonwealth.

Is the state of Clothiers inféebled?

Their state is well nigh decayed, although they for the most part, retayne still their due, and naturall in­tention of minde, which causeth thē to tast of some hardy­nes themselues, rather thē nombers of good & honest mē, (which cannot be otherwise relieue, thē by their first lear­ned occupation) should pearishe for want of sustenaunce.

In this action I assure you, they deserue much loue and reuerence. But how commeth it to passe, that men imployed in so good and honest trade of lyfe, should want the guerdon of so long and well approued toyle and lobor?

If you would know that, I thinke it most fitt, you sift, and search the ground and matter of their science.

What is that, they chiefely handle and worke on?

Woll, Oyle, Ode, Madder, Gall, Ware, and many other thinges differing in nature, yet through the skill of y^t workemā made one, all which, as they are not of one kinde, so are they not made, or ingendred in one place. Whose qualityes also differ greatly, and therefore, néedeth the labor of many men to worke them, to the Artificers drift, vse, and knowledge. So that where there is a science in a commonwealth that handleth so many thinges, to the workemāshipp whereof men in number are required, and besides where this faculty hath so long florished, being not stayned in any crime, that the Prince or commonwealth might conceiue griefe: I assure you (to speake the very [Page] trueth) the ouerthrow [...] throw the body of a common [...] that a body may stand without legges. [...] could [...] science into his braunches: that is, to the science of [...] narrow & broad clothes: setting downe by due comparisone theyr odds and peculiar difference. But for that I holde thē both of price, and that my poore and vnlearned penne may litle preuayle them in this case, I refer them, and all other causes whatsoeuer, to the Maiesty of God, whose vnspeak­able goodnes, vertue, & mercy I pray, y^t (whereas it hath pleased him, y^t all mortall mē should haue reasō, although not y^t like capacity, all a minde, although not of like vnder­stāding, y^t all should liue, although not in this world, in the like state, place, degrée, and dignity) it would please his di­uine maiesty to graunt vs all in disposition so differing, a mind not differing, in inclination so much altering, the U­nity of his spirit, grace, and vertue: the inestimable excellē ­cy wherof, lyeth open (through earnest and careful prayer) as well to the poore man as Prince, to the simple, as Pru­dent, to the weak, as mighty, to the man that hath scarse to nourish and féed his hungry nature, as to him that aboun­deth with all daynty and superfluous fare. Who doth not know how vile all these wordly thinges are, how mortall, how trāsitory, how ful of error & contēptible vanity? Who doth not finde in himselfe beholding y^t vncertainty of riches the wauering condition of honor and humayne glory, the paynted shew of kinred and nobility, lastly the counterfait and deceitfull Image of swéet sayd pleasures, his minde & and harts desire to be satisfied? If so, why should we striue so egerly for those thinges that worke our annoy and perpetuall harme? If so, why should we not ear­nestly pursue vertue which leadeth vs to the life which shall euer endure?