Duell-ease A worde with. valiant spiritts shewing the abuse of duells, that valour, refuseth challenges and priuate combates. sett foorth by G.F. a defendour of Christian valoure.

True Valoure

● . Challenge .

Valiantly refused Cowardly accepted

I accepted the Challenge .

Suffer .

fight .

Who standes not in his Li ● , Will Choose the right .

I feele him not

I better him .

DVELL-EASE A WORDE WITHValiant Spiritts Shewing the abuse of Duells , that Valour , refuseth Challenges and Priuate Combates .

Quicunque effuderit humanu ▪ Sanguine fundetur sanguis eius . Gen. 9. Who soe Sheddeth mans blood by man shall his blood be Shedd . Gen. 9. Vers. 6.

sett foorth by G. F. a Defendour of Christian Valoure .

I reuenge .

I Challenge

Imprinted by ▪ Ann Griffin London . 1635.

Nec enim Lex iustior Vlla . Quam necis artifices arte perire sua Nor is ther Lawe more right ▪ Then that Who drawes his brothers blood Shall Spill his owne by fight .

TO THE MOST EXCELLENT AND POWERFVLL PRINCE CHARLES , by the Grace of God , King of England , Scotland , France , Ireland , Cyprus , &c.

GOD hath stored your Maiesty with such excellent wisdome , as by it he ruleth more then your own kingdomes . You are his Eye for Europe , and at your sacred girdle , Heaven hangs the Storehouse-keyes of Christian blood .

Wee may well say it ; Since in this age of blood , none hath grieved more to spill it then your Maiesty , none laboured so much to spare it . You have weakned its swelling streames , to the anger of puissant Princes .

Had your Armies troden the bankes of Danow ; Nations well know , what bloody floods you had encreased ; Your Treasure Star hath led you a more milken way , rather to lead Christian orbes quiet , then to hasten them to the wrenching of their owne sinewes , satisfied in your selfe that those who best use the Olive , will soonest weare the Laurell .

Wee have lived to see ( but ô , teares should have curtained our eyes ) the greatest inundation of blood that ever flowed from Christian vaines , and that by so many tides . Great Kings have kept open the sluces , whom in respects most proper to their boasts of better Religion , it would better become to dry up those ruddy springs , were it with the losse of their designes and fortunes . Say Christian drums must needs beat , and bullets fly sometimes to spend of their owne firy spirits , yet may they not finde out a fitter Enemy in Asia , or frame one out of Africa ? Heaven hath onely enlightened your Maiesty to abhorre deluges of homicides , wallowing in baptized bloud . Your reg●ll beames of piety most advisedly reflected , that all quarrels are not to bee decided by the sword , nor every difference to make its full point at Tyburne . More , even in Kings , desires , although iust , must not alwayes be obtained , all cannot be had , many but at seasons , and of those which may be had , some ought to suffer a barre , but such as shall bee warded with ages of happines . Not upon a crossing of I will have , are bowels to be drawne out by the Hangman , or lims suddenly severed by Armies ; humane blood is a liquor not to be stirred without much warines ; if wrongs draw it , it gusheth not out without crying to Heaven . Sanguis clamat de Gen. 4. terra . The greatest wit , Aristotle instructing a most valorous Prince saith , Parce effundere sanguinem humanum . Arist. ad Alex. Draw not the bloud of men by rivers , but by drops . What Art offered to Alexander , your Maiestie holdeth by Nature ; whereby our Albania , better claymeth now her name from the candorous splendour of your Royall Scepter then from her native Rocks . This your Maiesties most wary disposition to prevent a waste of men , wingeth my hopes flying to your Maiesties feete with these few leaves , which cover or discover ( as your Maiesties bright shining eye shall open , or close them ) some few Antidotes to prevent and cure a fiery distemper , a Consumption , or waste of blood fatall to the noble bowels of your kingdome . These times have begotten this idle beliefe in the brave ones , and they will owne it ; that who is stained by any abuse is bound in honour to scoure it by a challenge , and hee from whom the mistake first slipt , must presently be drawne to Calis sands : whence if the one be carried to a grave , the other walketh home with honour .

Your radiant wisdome to the high glory of your Diadem enlightneth and rectifieth this mervailously mistaken way . May a dueller raise honour , because death stumbled upon the better man ? No , it is not ever the lot of the Valiant or Innocent , to be death-free in Combats , there are confused uncertainties : death is not alwayes borne by strong armes , nor doth the mightinesse of Manhood alwayes cite it : sometimes a sand under foot , a Moate in the Eye , a very silly misfortune brings it . But alas , this is a disease of cradle-courage : duellers , take them at any action of able men , and wee shall finde honour , and them of very small acquaintance : yet forsooth they become honour-sicke ; for they deeme their honour must needes dye , unlesse they drinke the blood of the bravest .

Will Kings suffer them so pretious a Niceph. lib. 7. hist Eccl. cap. 33. Bar. to . 3. Annal. ad an . Dom. 324. potion ? it is physicke too chargeable for a Kingdome . Great Constantine was but once allowed humane blood to cure his direfull disease , he thought it too deare for a Caesar ; and must meane duellers dayly to cure a distemper meerely in fancy , bee permitted bloud , not of Infants , but of men ? yea the stoutest ; for commonly to the meaner man an abuse is given , and to the better a Challenge ; for by the better spirit , as readiest to spend its mettall , the affront is offered , and by the baser creature , a Challenge is thrust on , as not able to creepe into Honour , but by the casualty of a combat , where a desperate Coward is often Victor against a Hector .

By this meanes is a way oft-times Proc●am 11. Iacob . found to draw bloud out of the breasts of your Maiesties best servants , and dayly there are lost brave subjects ; which moved your Father of happy memory our dread Soveraigne Lord King ●ames , to thunder out by his Proclamations & Edicts , severe punishments against all hatchers of Challenges , and putters on of such counterfeit manhood .

Wee hope your Maiesty will renew and endow them with a double vigour : penalties may bee put up upon such as provoke duels , and a way layed open to an easie redresse of wrongs by whomsoever offered : So shall you become an English Augustus , and we will say with Seneca , excubat Principis cura pro salute singulorum : Seneca de brevit vitae . omnium domos tua diligentia defendit , omnium delitias tua industria ; your Princely care assureth all men safety , freeing your faire dominions from the canker of Duellisme , and fond Mothers shall owe unto you their darlings . Why may not Lawes cure losses of honour , as well as of life and fortunes ? Let him keep his councell whom wrongs privately pinch , and they are cured ; if abuses further vent into an open noyse , the Marshals court may arraigne them ; when the matter is scarce perceptible : it is much , so small a weapon should hurt one , and such a person is too delicate , tender , and unfit to live among men that must bristle : but if there be left a scarre , a blemish to be seene ; your Maiesty may gratiously provide for a faire satisfaction , and when wrongs be such as dare not produce , but must hide their cause , there is no right owing them , as no light to darkenesse .

Here I lay downe my pen , and deities ; being to bee adored at a distance . From my chamber in the Temple , I kisse your Maiesties Royall feet , and with all happinesse to your Crowne and Person ; for which I am ready cheerefully to pawne the life of

Your faithfull and most humble subiect . G. F.

Preface .

To the Gentle Reader .

FRom the presse I come to Paules , to be gazed on by many : some will read and guesse at my good meaning , that it was not so much to keepe steele out of sight , as to keepe manhood in possession : and that my leaves of Paper are not for cowards to shelter themselves under . I doe not aime to oppose true valour , by branding it with ignominy : I guild not the drosse of mankinde with glorious excuses : the brave-worded faint-hearts with warranties of their effeminate weakenesse . I rather doe honour unto manlike courage , and wish it long life .

I truely apprehend valour a pretious Iewell ; therefore not to bee handled disrespectfully : a principall ornament in a well ordered common weale , therefore not to be abused by every horse-groome , not to be trampled in every taverne , nor to wayt upon every fond lover : with freedome may I speake it ; valour is not to be hazarded upon meane enterprises , but to bee laid up for dearer times : by it Kings doe hold their scepters , without it Equity will fall out of credit , and the world shall not dare to shew a good liking to honesty : men must keepe courage to looke vice in the face ; to make it to heare its owne name . And in this respect there is great oversight in the havocke of valorous spirits , which dayly the power of vulgar opinion maketh perish in Duells .

Yet I doe not generally denounce an exile to all Duels , from al countreyes , from all occasions ; sometimes they have their lawfulnes ; the unadvised are insufferable , and such I desire to suppresse : the too too much levity in falling into wrath , turneth the merit of courage into a meere shaddow , which ever followeth , but such as wander out of the light of reason , misled by strong passion : for certainly when the causes of quarrells are no bigger than little sands , they lye onely on the eye of such , as are over flowne with an Ocean of Anger .

To the Dueller .

YOu will say I deale with brave Duellers , too too discourteously : favour me , it is your Vice I kicke at ; I both honour and extoll your valour . Bee not offended , if I say Duels be bad , that they are acts unlawfull , unluckie , that the combater breedeth most mischiefe to himselfe when he is victor , when he kils his Adversary : I doe but tell you what the nature of Duellisme is . You will needs notwithstanding make a challenge , you will goe to the field , when you rage : but understand , you goe out of your way , I shew it you , you are in the darke , in a passion ; what harme doe I unto you , if I light you with a candle ? Stout Pericles , the mirrour of Athens and forty Bas . hom. 24 de legendis libris Gentilium . yeares ruler of that common wealth , heard one a whole day wrangling and reviling him ; provoking him from the word to the sword ; and when the currish fellow had done barking , Pericles lighted him home with a lanthorne . You are inraged , you will answer the Duell ; I will but light you with a lanthorne , that you may see what a foule thing you goe about ; how iniurious to your selfe , to your King , to your country : how you make your selfe a meere childe in suffering your selfe to be led by the sleeve to the field like a babie : you make your selfe a Bedlam by running into furie and frenzie : Did you desire Honour , to be thought valiant ; I doe here shew you wherein true Honour , and true Valour doth consist : if yet ye will leave the true for the shadow , and being hungry , will choose painted meates before the wholesome ; blame not me for warning you , before you fill your selfe with winde , which will shame you .

You will tell me I presume , when I talke of valour : it is out of my element , valour is in the highest region of the fire , and I in low water , cold , snowy , the point of the penne , ever hath had small acquaintance with the poynt of the weapon : none but Eagles can look on bright valours rayes : I am but an Owle that flyeth by night , and use not the world by day light , where when mens courages rise up , there must bee rushing to whet them , else manhood will grow rustie . I commend in you the care of valour , keepe it , but loose not your wits , keepe altogether and know from me ; some may want skill to use their weapons and not want knowledge to use courage , and to teach you . Gladiatores perfectissimos ( saith Tertullian ) non tantum magistri , sed etiam Idiotae quique adhortantur Tertull. ad Mar. c. 2. de longinquo , et saepe de ipso populo dictata , suggesta profuerint , you most expert swordmen , Gladiatores perfectissimos , call me Ideot in armes : Idiote , but yet , confesse a meane skill , can tell you in your eare something that will doe you good , when your swords are clashing : de ipso populo suggesta profuerint .

To the Schooleman .

I Have affected brevity , because I speake vnto passion , that never stayeth long to heare any thing . I come not often to the schoole for the definition of things , that s too fine a thread for bleere-eyed quarellers to looke on : it sufficeth me to have a quiet word with plaine reason , not caring much for formality in perswasion , which it selfe indeed is not much in use ( as men use to say now a dayes ) in a Nation that so little suffereth to bee perswaded to any thing , though fondly led to most things , by creatures of no choice , not by any good quality , but by a kinde of fancie : Preachings and perswasions , say many , may be found for any caprich : as if reasoning were a kinde of Iugling , fast and loose , or that becommed not rationall creatures , to be led by reason , no more then to bee led by the nose : Men clayme not that name , untill they can leade themselves ; the Cannot becomes onely women and children . I run often upon Examples , because they delight longer , and move stronger : of what we see other worthies have done , perchance wee may take to doe something , whiles wee will be perswaded to nothing ; in matter of knowledge , our own must ever be the best , because ( as we pretend ) we see circumstances , we see presidents : and there are fashions of passions , as well , as of apparell , which the power of opinion will have followed .

To the Common wealths-man .

IT is you that sit in gowns ; that must overrule weapons : cedant arma togae . I dare not require my penne to Cic. in epist. reach unto Vertue , that were to bee ieered at : I aske but Order , and aske no more , but what a civill common-wealth must grant me : I pray assistance . If you bid me reflect , that boyling youth , & their fiery vayns , are not yet fit , for the still musick of the heavens , I know it ; yet in many kingdomes the God of this world gathereth up brave youth in clusters ; whiles indeede in some countries heaven findes but a poore picking : let hot spurs in these inferiour orbes , where so much striving and struggling is for meanes & manners , feele what is for the best advantage of the universe : so grace them , and make you them wear the diamond of valour , now and then , with a foyle , I say not of Piety , but of Christianity : your wisdomes bee pleased to effect it . If men must now and then , hew one anothers limmes ; yet let them not goe on , like wilde beasts ; of these , their fights and Fates end together , and have no after reckonings : but men must come again before a iust God ; therefore helpe them to keepe good quarter : and you that are the Treasurers of the Commonwealth , increase your treasure , give them a good behaviour , which may keepe them , so they will keepe it : binde them to Peace , and I will end , and hold mine .

To the courteous Reader .

GEntle Reader , it was the authors intent to have presented thee with a compleat receit for the cure of this bloudy fluxe , wherewith the gallants of our age are too muc● distempered , but some intervenient occasions unhappily diverting the current of his endevours to another course , hee hath not beene able to comply with his earnest desires , yet having already prepared some few sheets for the presse , hee judged it not inconvenient to communicate them with thee , as an essay and pledge of what he intendeth to perfect hereafter : hoping they may prove as sometimely preparatives , to asswage and mitigate the sharpe and corrosive humours , wherewith many hearts are unnaturally tormented . And if he shall find the successe in this kinde to be in any reasonable degree correspondent to his desires and expectation . I make no question , but he will esteeme their ease not onely a sufficient recompense for his forepassed endeavours , but also a forcible encouragement for their further cure , to accomplish that which ye●●●mayneth unperfect . The fruits whereof thou mayest expect this next terme : till when and ever , I wish thou mayest enioy thy selfe in perfect peace and patience : which is no lesse my desire , than the Authors intent .

Section I. Reason Pleadeth against the custome of Duelling . 1 The first founders of duells were base Creatures . 2 By duell-Law , wise men must follow fooles . 3 Strength , can be no triall of truth . 4 To enter a Duell , is to turne theefe . 5 The Dueller , alwayes mistakes his enemy .

DVellers are fraught , with most violent passion : therefore , they must needs bee voydest of reason . Reason is a light , Passion is darkenesse : what is more contrary to light then darkenesse ? Hence , I finde Duellisme , though it creepe into use , can bee but a blinde custome . Some men will affect a custome , for their respect due to the beginner of it : in that , may appeare reason : but see , who were the first devisers of Duells .

Point . 1. Plea . 1. The first founders of Duells were base Creatures .

DVells and Devils begun together . Lucifer conceited himselfe the better creature , and would not give wall to man made of a mould-hill : hee worded the matter , with the master , stept to his face , Ascendam , and told him to his teeth , Esay . 14. he was as good as God : Similis ero altissimo : upon this quarrell , Lucifer and Michael met , with their seconds : the valiant Archangell ( with leave ) came to close Apoc. 12. fight : and the lawlesse challenger Lucifer , with his seconds fell . Here lye the first Duellers , and their fortune . After these quarrelling spirits were sent to hell : I heare no more of combats , till the fashion of Cowards came in .

Cowards and chalengers , came hand in hand into the world together . Scarce had God made ground , for men to worke upon : when Cain , an idle fellow , that had many obligations at home , yet spent his time all abrode in hunting : whilest Abell , his younger brother did play the good husband : and therefore the Lord loved him , Cain hates him , and makes it a quarrell . Cain will prove himselfe the better Gen. 4. man by a combat : when good men be all gone , Cain hopeth to come into election . Like a wretched Coward he inveagles Abell to the field , eamus in Agrum , without weapon : and suddenly sets upon him , and kils him . Here I shew you the next dueller .

So Duellisme brings its badge of infamy , even from the beginning ; Inquire the worthies , whom maintainers of Duels doe imitate , you will finde but Devills and Cowards . Therefore let noble spirits , yeeld thus farre unto reason , that Duellisme in the cradle , deserves no love , for the fathers sake : and let us goe nearer it , to looke if reason will affoord any better regard for its owne merits .

Duell law is , that differences must be tryed by the weapon : as wrongs will all the yeare bee budding , so men must ever be bleeding . Duellisme , is a game ; where you shuffle swords , and the maddest gamester hath ever the leading : so that , one maine thing in this hot sporte , is , that wisemen must follow fooles . If a fellow gaze at noone and sweare it is night , nay will sweare it by the sunne that shines , and say you lye if you deny it , and challenge you , and goe to the field , why , there goes a foole : and you must follow him : else by staying at home , you loose your honour , and where ? nay I cannot tell , nor you neither , where you had it .

Point . 2. Plea . 2. By Duell-law wisemen must follow fooles .

WIll you see , two wise challenge-makers , stuffed with honour , as a goose with groates ? which is but for wise men to Relatum mihi a side digni● . feed on : Both were big-lookt souldiers : our happy age did bring them : the lofty low-countryes did breed them : amongst the most warlike troupes of Europe . The one set to dice , and proved unlucky ; his mony being out , his mettle got up , & from dicing , he would needs to duelling , but wanted matter : he spies on his owne head a blacke hat , hee casts that downe bravely , and sweares it is white . This champion fights not now , for the beauty of his mistris , but for his old hat : if any dare gaine say him ; he doth challenge , and will kill : thus he crakes up and downe , like a gander . The rest of the flocke , were fluttering in their game , and so the challenge stayeth unanswered . Till anon , another of the hopefull company , was cast away on the same shoare , the waves or the knaves had swallowed up his mony : and away sayleth he to give a crosse challenge , for now hee that was fooled out of his mony , he was in the right cue of a Dueller : he will challenge ; and fight , and kill , and lookes blacke : and all , to maintaine the hat was blacke .

Iust , our Duellers now adayes : much to the like , or lesser purpose , our quarrells : for a false smile of a beauty ; a simple conceit , of some hollow friend : a light mistake of a foe , things all of no value , a challenge must passe , must have its answer : else honour goe exiled for ever . That such men are not wise , I say not : but surely , to be a follower of such men , is a very poore service , for honour .

If a Bedlame in knowne attire , armes naked , and cap-feathered , challenge you , to hurle your selfe downe a rocke , and breake your necke : though hee leade to the bottome upon the same termes , shall you be termed a Coward , if you follow him not ? In Westminster , if those grave Senates , were challenged by plaintiffes ; must all the Iudges , rise ftom the Bench , runne to cutlers and buy swords , thence to S. Iames his fields : and make of their bookes bucklers ? what confusion of mankinde ? would not this heavily be censured in Starre chamber , that such able men , follow such weake ones ? And is it not , as punishable ; when men by their blood , of great worth : by their nature , of excellent wit : by their experience , of singular wisdome : doe cast all these good merits , into the flame of a Duell , only because some inconsiderate man doth challeng them Valour , should ever thinke it base , to lye open , unto every ones anger : to wait at a mad-caps heeles , to bee at hand whensoever he calls to the field : there ought to be a greater distance , betweene courage and folly , betweene greatnesse and weakenesse .

Lewis the 12 of France , when in a lower fortune , ●yps● Mon●● . Polit. lib. 2. c. 12. he was but Duke of Orleance , suffered a great abuse from some peeres , and was throughly sensible thereof , he minded to right himselfe by his weapon , and reach his enemy to the heart : the meane time advanced him from a Dukedome ( of Orleance , ) to a kingdome , of France , and now sitting soe high , hee hath quite lost the sight of quarrell : hee fancieth not any feeling of it : his nobles , friendly remember him , to revenge himselfe : no saith Lewis . Parum de corum est regi Galliarum iniurias illatas Aurelianorum ducibus ulcisci ; it becomes not a king to take up so low a quarrell : that were , to wreath the Scepter with disgrace , to hang the crowne upon infamy . The affront did call , but upon a Duke , Iniurias Aurelianorum ducibus illatas , why shall a king follow it ? when the creature which offends , is but meane , and is too base , for a Lion-courage to prey upon ?

Thus you ( if you hold your selfe worthy ) should discourse with your selfe ; when you are called to combat , say you will not stir , not because you are too weake , but because you are too great : what lyeth too far below us , is as far out of our reach , as what is placed too far aboue us ; cast a stone at the stars , they will not send you a challenge by night , they cannot fight with such Lownes as you : They know their glo●y is too high for you to blemish , or hope to offend : therfore , they can have no cause to be angry with you . So you know your selfe , to be a bright star of valour , a sparke of the planet Mars , and scorne to come neere little ones . If a childe revile you ; will you cite him , wilde to the field ? why , quarrelling duellers , are but children ; they know no more where they set their feet when they goe to the field , no more to governe themselves , nor their weapons , then if they were babies ; and it were good , the nurse should swadle againe their armes up , they use them so crookedly ; they will never keepe their fingers out of their mouths , all the strength of their armes hangs still at their tongues end . O Gentlemen of worth and of honour ! when you are by some fiery hot-spur chalenged to the field , say with King Lewis , Parum decorum est ulcisci , looke upon the greatnesse of your owne valour , and doe not abuse it , by using it so meanely . It is cowardly : a man , all cloathed in steele , to draw upon a man naked ? I hold it worse , a man fortified with valour , to set upon a weakeling quareller ? it is ever a weakenesse of stomacke to turne soure at every morsell : and quarelling spirits are certainely of the softest kinde of mettall ; every little touch doth so bruse them , that they will leake bloud presently . The worthier you are , the lesse warrant you will still find , to follow a quareller to the field : which ponderation Holy court . moved Augustus Caesar that most valiant and victorious Prince , Prudently to refuse Marke Anthony his rash and indiscreet defiance , commanding the challenge-bearer for to tell Anthony , that when hee was weary of his life , he could find other more noble meanes to be deprived of it , then in hazarding it with Anthony in single combat : so ( that is much to bee lamented ) this base combating humour , hath so farre crept into honour , and that it lurkes most in good blood : whilest the infection , cannot spread amongst meaner Persons ; it seemes these are grown to a stronger constitution of manhood .

This was it : the wiseman teaching to our times , Eccles. 10. 7. so much wondered at : Vidi saith hee , servos in equis , Principes ambulantes in terra , A strange sight ! I see a meane man , hot in passion , provoked mightily by his foe , growne so furious , that you would iudge rage runneth away with him beyond all reason : and yet hee handles the raines of his passion so well , hee keeps his saddle sure that hee falls not , vidi servos in equis : he holds still that command over himselfe , that none can draw him a Duelling : he feeles , it must be his owne undoing : in pursute of his right : hee appeales still , from his owne arme , unto a court of iustice . And yet , those that weare honour out at the elbowes : and the world cals , its best men : at the very first guird of anger , loose their stirrops , and reele , vidi Principes in terra : they follow they know not whither , any passionate man , that will lead them : and willfully , will carry their wrongs , to triall bysteele , contemning all legall causes , as though , all gentlemens rights , must admit of no other probatur , but the rapier .

Point . 3. Plea . 3. Strength , can bee no triall of truth .

THis giddy Duelling : is no fruit of honour , it is the worme of honour : a fit of falling sickenesse , of manhood : when reason , is out of doores , and soules are cast , quite past their senses . But will you come to your selfe ; and heare reason ! Your enemy , offended you ; why , so he did the law too ; then let law punish him , for you both , rather leave the weapon , to the stronger hand : let law answer the challenge ; so will you bee sure to revenge , your king will be your second .

If you grow out of love , with kings lawes : and to come by your right , you will call no iury , but fury : whosoever makes of you ( as you say ) an asse , you will make of him an oxe , and knocke him in the head . Let us then , pull Littletons quoyfe over his eyes , and turne the blinde foole out of Westminster : we will make that hall , a goodly shambles : of Inns of Courts , we will devise fencing schooles : and will have , no more assises : all care must be , to finde out a lusty butcher , that can knocke downe readily . Whosoever , hath best skill in armes , shall have best right , to others lands : ( wee will have a new conquest ) if you deny , the strongest mans right ; hee shall give you the lye , and boare a hole in your bosome , and that way come into possession . The truest tongue , shall ever grow neerest the lustiest shoulders : and from the stoutest mouth , you must alwayes gather verities : Nay , wee will passe into trades : the valiantest taylor , shall doe your worke , so you may goe out of fashion : the lustiest mason , shall bee your layer , so your house may fall on your head . And such be the consequences of unruly courage .

These like tenets , are too mad ; to passe for currant , amongst men . One will fight , will kill , to prove himselfe the valianter man ; that is no good consequence . It may be your enemy his foote failed him , not his heart , he stumbled ; so you killed him : His weapon forsooke him , not hee , the action ; so you overtooke him . The wrenching of a sinew , hindered the right rule of his sword , whereby you got within him : so , you reached him his deadly wound . And thus , the valianter man ; ofttimes dyeth .

Goe on : and let us heare , your further discourse : your enemie gave you the lie , therefore you will fight , you will kill him ; to prove that your selfe speakes , more truth then he : That is a worse consequence : strength of body , and true dealing , fall often a sunder : if every word , the strong man speakes , must passe for currant truth : that Ancient , was a very foole , which first invented a Polyphemus ; a mighty strong fellow , and yet with one eye onely : compacted , with strong limbs , and weake sight : a face , with a single Eye , and it out of the way , in his forehead , in this pendent-haire fashion now a dayes , hee would be alwayes hud-winked . Surely Vlysses had done great mischiefe to the world , in putting out that one eye , had hee not presently knocked out his braines : for , we should have had , a fellow as blinde as a betle , most strong , most powerfull , and so turne teacher of every body : for , all truth , must be delivered from his mouth , his lips only keepes the treasure of wisedome : from him , wee must take new doctrines , new councels , new customes , and every body must beleeve him , after his eyes be out , else every body must be knocked in the head ; because , hee is strong enough to do it .

If strength must thus maintaine truth : then let us resolve first , who is the strongest man in a countrey ; let that man prate at pleasure ; faire maidens must owe unto him , their good names : and gentlemen their good bloud . If you once finde the strongest man of a kingdome : hee may freely geere , and discourse . Let him say ; there is no honour , in peace : no valour , in warre : Captaines , be but kettles , of base extraction : some , forced , for feare of the pothookes , to hang over the fire of warre ; as not able , at home , to keepe open kitchings . Others , often , boyle ever ; they inrich themselves , so fast . Most , the rather maintaine fire of dissention about them , to have meat within them . Let him say : that men , are but frogs in ho●e and dublet : quackers , that women are but bundles of doubts , moved up and downe by the winde fi●kers . Let him say : there is , no inclosure upon earth : no kings , in the stocke : no great cards , but coted knaues ; some bigger , some lesser , some thinner in cloathes , some mufled in larger garments : and knaves all , that shuffle the queances , amongst them . And all this , must be so : nay , though , as he denyeth a king on earth , so hee deny unto the heaven , a godhead .

And all this must bee true , because hee is the most strong man , that saith so : and will challenge you , if you deny it : and proves all by the sword , as by a most bright argument . Is not all this , against reason ? when strength carrieth away truth , what shall poore women have ? they must speake never a true word ; and so their amorous swordmen , shall have worke enough , to make , for every lye , a quarrell .

O Inconsiderate Duellers , will no reason force you , to put up your weapons ? but still , they play , to gaine you honour : then , take this point ; they can win you , no honour , but what must be stayned , with Infamy . I know , honour and wealth , are things in great price . But hearke ; a tall fellow , that never sowed , will now gather wealth upon the highwayes : and you , like it not : such moneyes , come in basely ; who will have them so must be a theefe : why no otherwise you , the honour which you get by murthering , is as base ; when you duellize , you latronize : when you project combats , you doe noe otherwise then as in an honest neighbourhood , to turne theefe : and who protects you , is no better , then a receiver of th● e●es .

Point . 4. Plea . 4. To enter a Duell is to turne Theefe .

IN a Duell , what doe you strive for ? life : why , that is not yours : when you rob a man of his life , you steale it ; then if you goe a combating , you goe a stealing . You kill your enemy , you expose your selfe , to be killed ; why , you dispose of things , none of your owne ; that is but a tricke of a theefe . Your life , God hath given it , to your king ; and unto you , but the loane of it : the king keepes it , for his owne turne ; you may take the use of it , in your owne affaires , only during the kings pleasure : when the king cals for it , to the warre , or his other service , you must carry it : is it not then , against all reason , that you should spoyle your life when you will ? May one murther himselfe in the field ? no heathen dare say it : why , neither can you carry your selfe to field , to be murthered by any other : you are accessary to both crimes , equally ; a stranger , should have , rather lesse power over your life , then you have your selfe ; so , you foulely mistake , in concurring with any , to kill you . You will call any priuate man , theefe , that drives but a beast off your ground , and sels it : that takes , against your will , but a crust out of your house , and casts it to the dog : and will not you call him a worser theefe , that snatcheth a soule , out of a living body , and casts it perchance to the divell .

Your life is not your owne ; God keepes it for his owne use ; there are two Ioint lords of your life ; God , and Caesar ; God will have you , to liue longer , to pay him services : God , is Lord of the Honour : and he will have you live a longer terme . Gods bayly Reason , warneth you , that it is not fit , you should remove out of Gods f●alty , disrespectfully : you cannot leave Gods service suddenly , at your pleasure , or displeasure ; take heed , it will beare an action , in the leet of heaven .

This reason , was so strong , that in a great uprore , it held the courage , of the valiant Weneslaus king of Bohemia , in very good order . His brother Bodeslaus , set upon him furiously , striking with every blow to kill : king Weneslaus manfully defending himselfe , unweaponed his brother , whom spreading now upon the ground , when the waves of anger in Weneslaus , would have swallowed up Bodeslaus , when iust furie did cry , kill and revenge . At that instant , reason strikes in , and Weneslaus reflects , what hee is going about : to take away , a life , unto which indeed he hath right , because he is Caesar ; but yet God hath also a right unto it ; and therefore , Weneslaus resolveth to meddle no further with it : but sheatheth his steele , and saith those golden wordes : mallem ut fraterdeo sanguinis reddat rationem , quam si ego in fratrem manus iniecero , et fratris necis ●●usam apud 〈◊〉 . Polit. Deum dicere compellerer . I will not adventure to steale out of the world a life , for the which , in a higher court , one day , I must come to triall : let my brother , keepe his life , and answer in Court himselfe , for it .

Why will not subiects , submit unto reason , that forced so mighty a prince : when they bee called to combats , may they not without blushing , speake after so warlike a king , and refuse , least necis causam apud deum dicere compellerer . I will not runne away with mens lives , and have a punishing God at my heeles . But our Duellers will gather liues , as leaves : and mow mens heads , with asmuch pleasure , as husbandmen doe their meadowes . Neither God nor king , shall keepe them from killing men , they will drinke bloud to coole their choler : and rather then want it , they will goe so farre out of all reason , that they will take the lives of those that neuer offended them : they will bereaue innocency , of its possession : it seemes they will fight , for no other cause , but to shew they can kill .

Point . 5. Plea . 5. The Dueller mistakes alwayes his enemy .

HOw often , hath it happened ▪ that in a sudden distaste , you mistook your iniurer ; you struck , & did not touch , the man that wronged you . Let reason , here in a corner , talke with you a little , of things out of fight . Wee all know , wee have unknowne Foes ; and a bosome enemie still bites neerest the heart : a wound , least in eye , is most in danger . To open the truth to you ; the Devill is your greatest enemie , hee brought the man , which you terme your abuser , to the Ale-house ; to squabble with you , there : doe not then challenge the Drunkard , but charge the Devill : else , you mistake your enemie ; you use to say , you will fight with the Devill ; why strike him now , when Man doth strike you . More , it is drinke , that hath beene the brocher of all the quarrell , and hath stirred the man , against you : else , all had beene quiet : then turne the drinke , up and downe the floore , and tumble not the Drunkard : but pitie , to see , how the Devill plies him with fire and water , with furie and small Ale .

If you doe otherwise ; you are so farre out of reason , that you turne an irrationall creature : you turne Cur : Simile quiddam canibus admittis , saith Basil , speaking ●●s . hom. de ir● . of the quarrelling man , qui saxa mordere solent , non jactantes : Cast a stone at a dog , and how quick he will meet it in the field ! what a combat , what a gnawing , what a pawing ; O had the dog but a sword by his side , what a brave Dueller hee would make ! And all the while of this doggishnesse , there is no looking , where is the man that did hurt the dog , no notice taken of the hand that moved the stone to set at the dog , and did all the mischiefe .

So you Duellers : You use a just dog-trick , when you carrie your selves so ●●●●ishly towards him tha● thumpes you with heavie words : it is true , hee it is , whose breath doth touch you : it is him , you feele : and from whom commeth your smart : yet he is , but the stone , and very like it , blinde and heavy : reflect then , there is another hand , which doth throw him at you , which wheeles him , and violently casts him upon you . Therefore in all reason , in hunc hominum interfectorem , iram transfer : the Divell is the iniurer , and faine would be your murtherer , hominum interfectorem : therefore , turne all your hatred upon the Divell : it is crafty Sathan , that sets on a fellow blinde with passion , to anger you ; take pitty , to see , how the divell playes upon him , making him a blocke to lie in your way to stumble at , fratris in te peccantis miserere , commiserate , when you feele him under you , remembring it was the divell , that laid him there .

Doth your enemie abuse you in a publique meeting , doth hee invite you to a bosome full of your bloud ? aliquis te infestat saith Chrysostome , is he very peevish with you ? yet looke not after him , in ipsum ne respice , it is not worth your labour ; you will never come that way within reach of him that did you the wrong in daemonem instigantem iram funde , ingage your rage , your courage , in setting upon the Divell . You may arme your selfe with weapons of proofe ; wherewith you may anger him : be but patient and meeke , you will fret him mightily : be humble , you give him a great buffet ; use any goodnesse , and you will stabbe his very heart ; keepe but one graine of grace , and hee dare never tarry with you . Why will you not then , lay downe your sword , wherwith you mistake your enemie , and take up some better weapons , wherewith you might beat the divell your murtherer .

Thus you see , how Duellisme , is every way against reason : the dueller mistakes his masters , they bee divels , cowards , or fooles : he mistakes his way ; to the triall of truth : hee mistakes himselfe , to make himselfe a theefe : and lastly , he mistakes his enemy : and having mistaken himselfe so many waies , hee runneth yet into further mistakings ; hee doth mistake his God , for hee goeth about to set up a new Deitie , and ●o heave the true God out of heaven .

Section II. It is prime valour , to put off Challenges , and to suffer . Either , 1. To shun the greater harme . Or , 2. To be master of your owne courage . 3. To reserve your valour for weightier imployments . 4. To overcome your selfe .

THere is no speaking to some Sparks . Men are many times of so stubborne Spirits , that God himselfe , let him say any thing contrarie to their mindes , rather than endure it , they will doe themselves a mischiefe . A Hot Spurre , before hee will beare a small distaste one houre , will breake his owne necke for ever .

God forbade a lustie Captaine , to taste a Honey-comb 1 Reg. 14. 27. which hung in a tree : he snuft at it , and grew distempered : he apprehended it unworthy so tall a Fellow , to be checkt like a Childe , not eat but with licence ; and hee lifted up his Truncheon , ( against God ) touched the Honey , bearing it to his lips , so , pitifully mildewing a plentifull Harvest of victories , and blasting the future springs of all his flourishing fortunes . Who could imagine a Souldier , would so much to his losse , strive with God for a licke of Honey ?

From a great Queene , God tooke but one Apple : Gen. 2. 17. and yet left it her growing , to beautifie her Garden : But charged her , not to eat it ; God reserved it , for his owne dish : he advised her , not to minde it : shee termed that a scorne of her soveraignty , to chide her fancie ; quarrelled with God about it , and heaped a world of sorrowes and wants , unto her selfe and all her children . Who would beleeve , a Queene of the earth , to contend with the King of Heaven for an apple ? But read the Chronicles of Palestine , and see Gen. 3 16. what befell them both , for striving with their betters ; and learne thereby to goe slowly into distastes against your greater .

Point 1. Suffer . 1. It is true valour , to suffer , when you must lose , by striving .

IT is prime valour , oft times , to suffer : for no other reason , but because one that is above you , ( by Scepter , or Crozier , by might , or craft ) will have you suffer ; and you cannot hinder it , but by doing your selfe more hurt , than all your suffering can mount unto : in such a case , I say , true valour doth bid you , not seeke revenge , but force your selfe to suffer : you shew stoutnesse , to dare look an abuse in the face , and not to squeale out at the first touch of it . You call it courage , to submit to the Surgeons knife , when a disease hath made him your Master : so if your weaknesse makes a meane man way to master you , you shew good metall , when you let him cut you : for you fence still a greater mischiefe off , with a lesser : and prove , it resteth in no enemies power , to lay on you what load he please : you will take up your owne burthen ; that is manlike . To live free from all sufferings , were to live beyond the rate of mortall men : a meane Cottenger makes oft times a mightie man suffer . The difference betweene valiant and cowardly spirits I finde is , that valour will be still his owne carver ; whilest cowards doe gape , like Cewetts , when you bob them under the chin . The stout man can for his advantage , hold his own snarlish nose to the Grindstone , when it growes too sharp , and dull the edge of honour : hee will suffer a lash of disgrace , or discontent , to get free from a more burthensome evill : and to winde himselfe into a better occasion , to get his right , to punish his abuser , and not abuse himselfe too .

Certainely , men ought not to be so pettish with God and man : meanes should be used , to bring suffering a little more into credit and practice : suffer a great man , sometimes , be it but for his greatnesse . If great God , will take from you your honey , your delight , your apple , your profit ; strive not therefore ; you and God grow not to be enemies . A greater , a craftier , a peevisher man than your selfe , will have some of your ancient rights from you : why , if hee will needs snatch them , be not presently a struggling ; beat him not out of breath , with drie blowes of bags of money : if you waste your treasure in Law , so you joyne with your enemie to undoe you : never fetch a golden fee over the barre at Westminster , because a great man leaps over your hedge a hunting : fence not a little harme off with a mightie one : that is not to be Prudentes sicut Serpentes ; upon everie distaste Matth. 10. 16. be not a striving . A great heart may stand a time under a great burthen of wrongs , and the stoutest shoulders rise not upon the legs that are the quickest kickers .

Abraham was a man of good ranke in the world , Gen. 12. 1. and had great wealth , a faire house , certaine and goodly demeanes in Vr and Haran : his Land-Lord God , upon a small warning turnes him out a doores , sets house and lands over his head to another . Abraham is silent , he never questioneth God in the high Chancerie of his mercies . Abraham knew his time to suffer , And he suffereth more yet ; Hee hath but one sonne , upon whom hee had bravely builded the hopes of a Gen 22. 2. mirth of posteritie , all the comfort of those ages : God will needs make a Calfe of this Sonne , and knock him on the head , as a Victime unto the Almightie . Abraham carrieth his sonne to the slaughter .

Caius Caesar had a subject stout , wealthy , and honourable : he was of the order of Knights , the onely Nobilitie of those ages , when Dukes now deny , Kings claim'd no place at the side of the Scepter . This noble Knight was father to a hopefull Heire , & was Owner of a Spanish mettall , which ever breedeth the best steele : his name was Pastor , and learned Lipsius observeth some of that name at this day in Spaine . This Pastors eldest sonne was undeservedly called to execution by the angrie Emperour Caius : the father hath both love to feele , and valour to revenge , yet striveth not against the potent Prince , but suffereth his sonne to dye : and beares it out so cheerfully , that betweene his words and thoughts you could not spie a sorrow : Nec dolorem aliquo signo erumpere passus est . Pastor is mightily sensible , and yet you perceive him not discontented . If you aske him how his sonnes wrongfull death goeth downe with him so gently ? why is his stoutnesse so pliable to suffer ? Seneca answereth you for him wittily , Pastor had another sonne to lose , Habuit alterum . Pastor Lib. 2. de I●● , cap. 33. did suffer , to save himselfe from greater sufferings : the Knight had more yet to lose , therefore his best course was to be quiet : had he contended with his Prince , had he urged that mightie arme , it would but inlarge his harme : so Pastor might have lost all his children , and himselfe too .

Have you a few acres in a whole Mannor , or one Mannor amongst many , which a neighbour great or covetous gapes after , and sighes for sorely ? ease him and your selfe too , and let him take it ; sometimes merrily , because upon that ground , you will raise no unkindnesses : remember with Pastor , Habes alterum , you have more lands to lose ; and if you cannot suffer one to rob you of this , in some by-way he will wait for you , he will set law upon you , to rob you of all the rest . When such a crosse mischiefe must come into request , deny it not ; there is no cure , but to diet your choler , and walke out of the way of your conceit of honour : if you will goe to law , to answer a great mans gall , all your lands may sinke in it : take therefore Pastors counsell in time , suffer one losse , lest you suffer many . Your childe , your wealth , your comfort , let it goe when mightie God will have it so : remember Habes alterum ; if you be impatient , if your heart rise , God will pick the rest away from you . Your enemie hath gauled you , and Dulce est dolorem reddere , It is honey to you to cut his Seneca de Ira , lib. 2. cap. 32. throat : lose that honey , that sweetnesse of revenge , though you can reach it : say with Pastor , Habes alterum ; you have a life to lose , a quietnesse of life to lose , which is all the comfort of life ; and if you stir to your enemie his losse , for your selfe , you must make another : therefore set your heart at rest to suffer .

You shall see Abraham suffer yet more : hee had a Gen. 12 14 , 15 , 16. wife , the Flower of all Asia , that ever hath brought forth the primest Beauties : her face might have enamoured the Heavens . If the ancient amorous Angells any more were to come to court the filias hominum , the Damosells of Damaseene , this beautifull creature would surely draw those merrie Spirits from their Heavens : her prettie countenance was a cluster of all the perfections of Nature : from her fame Apelles afterwards stole all his neatest features : when she faded , her crimson she left to the Rose , her candor unto the snow , which in her kept heat enough to inflame millions . This woman being Abrahams wife , God bad him trust her to court , thrust her to the Kings bosome , and shee her selfe adventured the bed of a Pharo : yet Abraham made no quarrel against his God , nor against his consort● resteth quiet : shee will be faithfull to the homely heardsman , amiddest the embraces of a king . Certainely , honest Abraham both had the Desart to meet , and the happinesse to injoy a most honest wife : hee beleeved God would keepe her .

More : Abraham was a sufferer , not onely of God , Gen 13. v. 8. 9. who he was sure , could master him : but you shall see in him , towards mean men , a great deale of mildnesse . Abraham had a great stocke ; his Cosen Lots shepheards , fenced up pastures ( for themselves ) and drove off Abrahams cattel : grasse began to be short , & the hungry beasts bellowed aloud for meat : Abrahams heart did ring with sorrow ; yet he held it quiet ; he went not about to trie the title with Lot , by Law , nor armes , nor yet offered any blowes to the shepheards . But after a while goeth to Lots house , with hat in hand , obsecro , I pray faire dealing , without foule words : upon the goodly bankes , by these fertile brookes , in the shadie dales , there groweth grasse in plentie ; and wee have room enough for us both , therefore let us have no iusling betweene us ; Obsecro non fit jurgium inter nos ; to what purpose should we two , goe to bore holes in one anothers skins , for our mony to drop thorow into the Surgeons fingers ? wee are Cosens , let not mis-beleevers censure the kindred of the faithfull for most unkind : its true , a kinsman ought not to suffer too much from a kinsman , sometimes such may quarrel ; but let us see first what cause we have to fight , and then we will trie , how we can fight it . I pray thee Lot , let us not kill our selves out of an humour , for a handfull of grasse : wee are but strangers in the countrie , and we are but two to strengthen one another , let us not breake our backes to fill our beasts bellies .

All this pleading the matter was but a staiednesse of Abrahams valour , no slownesse of his metall : Abraham reflected upon inconveniences of greater consequence , and so withstood his owne combating courage : for though you heare Abraham here a great sufferer , you shall see him anon a great souldier ; and know you hereby , that when you suffer , you be not presently of the sise of a coward ; rather when you suffer to advantage your selfe , you shew a piece of very good manhood . About this same time , of Abrahams crouching to his neighbour Lot , Kings in person led martiall troopes abroad the countrey : and you shall see Abraham dare looke Kings in the face and beat them : five kings rove abroad and pillage , and one Abraham will be able to make a rescue : Gen. 14. v. 1● . ●● . 16. a few servants , a handfull of shepherds , led by an Abraham ; do kill kings , rout troopes , returne spoiles , and fill the aire with applauses of victory : see whether Abraham be a man of metall or no , and whether his suffering was his want of feeling , and of valour ; no it was his judgement , to lead alwaies his courage unto his best advantage . O Dueller , you of the number of the faithfull ? si filii Abraham estis , opera Abraham facite ; whom willingly you follow in faith , bee not ashamed to follow in good manners : I like well , you be as Abraham was , with your weapon , a mighty doer ; but I would have you also be , as Abraham was , at fit times , a meeke sufferer .

Point . 2. Suffer . 2. True valour is to be master of your owne courage , and not upon any ones call , to combat .

I Observe , some men take wonderfull pleasure in squabbling ; therby they vaunt spirit , ( which they cal ) the touch-stone of generositie , they care not after what cause they go , so they carry it stoutly : this kind of courage , hangs sometimes upon a good heart , yet it is not the fruit , it is but some little dead leafe that falls from the goodly plant of valour ; or reckon it , as a moat amongst the rayes of valour . The shining Sunne , will not be long without moats , it will finde them thorow one hole or other : it is as true , a man Gen. 〈◊〉 of bright and sharpe mettal cannot belong without meates , hee will fetch them strangely out of corners . Yet that is not , because the light doth like imperfections , or valour love mis-usage ; but because , as moats doe follow the glorious Sunne , so some madnesse doth ever follow manhood : nullum ingenium magnum Sen. l. de Tranquil . sine . sine mixtura dementiae , scarce shall you meet a great courage , but it hath a little of unruly carriage ; those that can bridle it , are the most excellent men .

Therefore , if you love credit , keepe your valour at a stand : suffer it not to stirre , untill it sue first for leave ; to the Queene of morall vertues , Prudence : so you shall truely be master of mettle , and not , your mettle master of you , that is not to be a man , but to be a slave of manhood , haled up and downe by mettlesome passions basely . These be harsh masters , when they tyrannize over you . The greatest skil of a sword-man , is not to goe , but to stay to chuse an opportunitie , to wrench it from his enemies in spite of them ; else you are angry , but as the mouldy worpe , which with blinde furie biteth all it meets withall : if an offence cal on you and your anger rise , bid it lie down againe , and sleepe untill you awake it . Will you have your heart to be the centre of valour ? then hold you quiet , when all the world flieth to pieces about you : for of all the earth , onely the centre can never be moved .

Caius Marius was undoubtedly of the best souldiers The French Academy of Pierre de Primandie . the Romane Militarie bred : hee was powerful in victories , hee hewed to peeces one hundred thousand brave Low-countreymen in one battle : he was dreadfull to his foes , he put the rugged Cambriats to quicke flight , the noise of his name defeated many enemies . Yet when Paulus Sylla stept to his teeth and dared him to fight , Marius stands still like a lambe : it was not because Marius had lost his mettle , but because he held the reines of it , and would not suffer it runne after so silly a fellow as Sylla was ▪ but plainely refuseth the challenge , and saith , If Sylla holds himselfe so tall a fellow , that hee can beat Marius , let him try to force Marius to fight in spite of his heart : for Sylla must know Marius maintaineth , hee will not fight , but when it please himselfe . It is a greater strength to hold backe the roaring Bull , than to run as fast as he : nay it is much more might , to hold his striving strength quiet , than to fight with him . You Duellers , when you are called to the field , if you will be master of the field , stay your valour : looke upon Marius , who will draw upon no mans command , no mans challenging , no mans bidding : all challengers are but pratlers ; to talke of fightings , and fiercenesse unto Marius , are but tales of Robin-hood .

Men of best valour themselves know best , what time to fight : and the quarreller , with his humorous words , is no clocke for them to count by : they will not be tyed to keepe any mans houre : valour will be his owne chuser , for time , place , and quarrell , and will hold nothing under its enemy ; it will owe no service , and wil fight , but for what it selfe will . Certainly , it is a most poore custome , crept now adaies into credit , that men must fight when they bee bidden , ( when they be challenged ) that is to make of men children . What difference betweene the cradle and gray haires ? but that the one is carried ( and so is the duell-answerer ) the other walkes where hee please : the little one feeleth not where it goes , the great man knoweth hee hath great charge ( of honour ) about him , and therefore will take his owne time of the day .

Fabius Maximus the Non plus ultra , upon the Pillars The French Academy of Pierre de Primandy . of the Romane Fortitude , had the command of a select troope , at the time Hannibal entred Italy ; a Fabian souldier , thought it unworthy his so great a Commander lying in the way , the Garthaginian standard should approach the walls of Rome ; and therfore with angry speeches , attempted to rouse the most mightie Generall Maximus to fight : but hee stirred not ; all those windes blustering f●om foolish lips , shaked no corn in Fabius his ears : Fabius saith , be wil shew valor , in that he wil not be drawn from his deliberation ( which is to stay a convenienter time ) not for all their tarring reproches : Fabius his valour runnes not out of sight for a childs chasing ; his heart is no henne , that will be driven off the nest ( of his hopes ) with a hushing : that man is very weake headed , that suffereth his heart , to runne away with him : that is but a convulsion of courage . Fabius reflected , his credit was great , his foot must not stirre , but the whole earth must shiver : his head must not move , but the very heavens must tremble : when hee rouseth , the whole universe must quake in a dreadfulnesse : therefore Fabius bids his courage be quiet , untill such time as an opportunitie falls out , hee may doe something becomming a Maximus . Say you so too , when you are challenged by a boysterous quarreller , that you hold him no fit matter for your courage to worke upon ; and so shew that you can take time to deliberate , what a man of your rights to honour is fitting should doe .

Old Souldiers , ( that ever be the valiantest men ) will sticke long before you can get their heads into a quarrell : they know what obligations follow men that goe to the field , what ties of honour doe gird their great hearts . When a valiant man is bent upon revenge , hee will take it : hee must not play the weather-cocke , if the thunder-bolt strike , it must turne the bardest metall into dust : and stout mens anger must not be the push of a feather , blowne off with a faire word , with a little entreatie . The valiant man reflects what a great opinion of valour , the world holds on him : a verie sweet & pleasing thing to carrie , but chargeable in its retinue ; when wrongs do cal it abroad , it must have a great traine of bloud after it , to amaze an Injurer . The stout man considereth the great report there is of the excellencie of metall within him : and therefore now that it is to come forth , if it doe not carrie away the eyes of all men , he shall be a scorne for ever : his honour hath beene yet amongst his neighbours , but as the blossome on a tree , or corne in the buske ; now time is come that all men will expect a harvest , the sickle must goe , and everie body will be gaping at what is reaped ; wide gaping wounds must be the barnes , where hee must inne his honour . With these and like reflections , courage doth hang its course almost still in the deepest resentments ; and certainly , whil'st quarrellers , like little brookes , keepe a loud prattling , manhood glides so quiet , that you would thinke it is not moved .

Fabius Maximus commanded his courage to forbeare Hannibal , expecting for his valour some better service , to present it to his Countrey ; it was not feare of death , that frighted him . So you shall see ; let Rome , in whose hands hee willingly leaves the raines of his valour , set him aworke with three hundred men onely , hee will set upon all the warlike troopes of Hannibal . The necessitie of the Common-wealth , bids the Romane Eagles flie , a Fabius shall flie before them : and all the beames of Hannibals glistring Armie , shall not dazle the eyes of Fabius : But he shall pull the rayes from Hannibals head , and strike therehence his frontlet : and so like a Phoenix of Honour , dye amid the beames of the African glorie : having the frontlet about him .

Certainly , men may stay from fighting , and yet have a great minde to fight ; when a good occasion is wanting , it is wisdome , to locke up your valour , fortunate be they that can doe it . When you are too weake , to goe into the blustringaire , you keepe your chamber ; that is not to keep your house , but to keep your health : so to stay out of the way , is not alwayes servile feare , sometimes it is strength of courage , that expects hard for a victorie . The Souldier that undermineth the wall , you will not say , he hideth himselfe blindly in a wonty-locke ; hee walketh but a while in a hole , to raise up his valour with a brighter glorie . So when men stay from fighting , if a challenge be given , and no answer had , let it not be termed cowardlinesse ; it may be manhood is labouring with its full strength , to reach the furthest pitch of valour , it is not to run away , but to fetch a fee to leape beyond the Worthies . Actions of consequence , as honour is , required good deliberation : we see verie often times , men wish themselves againe at the the beginning of a quarrell , whereunto they have fallen too too suddenly : therefore the best Souldiers are slow fighters , and it will be a long time before hot words can heat them : the fuell that makes the strongest fire , you take it tardie a kindling , whiles light straw will soone present your eye with flashes .

Point . 3. Suffer . 3. True valour reserveth it selfe , for weightier imployments , than to dance in a Duell .

HAve you true courage ? the marke will not be , that you rore booted and spurred for a Duell : when valour is in you , you will hang out for your signe , Silence . A man that layes up gold in heapes , lieth ; spends not on Ladies smiles , sugar suppers : nor turnes his money to smoake in a Kitchin : and who owneth the treasure of valour , shuts it up better than to vapour it out , to draw it forth upon everie Mad-caps frowne to a killing : When affronts call men of courage abroad , their valour invites them to stay at home : it is gentile , and must not goe into ill company . Great valours have alwayes great fortunes to follow , and no leisure to attend quarrellers : therefore when private wrongs doe flie , the valiant mans eye doth not regard them .

The Romane Orator leading a streame of eloquence to overflow the merits of Caesar , presenteth us with his pietie in war , his courage in peace , his staid heart in victories , and his rising hopes in mis-fortunes : One fault Cicero confesseth in him , that hee had no memorie . And was Caesar so forgetfull indeed ? I am sure he forgot himselfe lesse than all the Romane Captaines that went before him ; for quickly he tooke up the Diadem from under a company of Gulls or Consulls , that so long bred it amongst them , and never spied it . But yet ( saith Cicero ) Caesar was forgetfull , of what ? Extollens dicebat Cicero , saith the learned African , mee thinkes I see Cicero breake out into a smile , and say , Nihil oblivisci solebat nisi injurias : Apud Aug. Epist ▪ 5. ad Marcall . Valiant Caesar could not frame himselfe to picke strawes , or picke quarrells , ( which is all one ) he could never bestow so ill his courage ; and therefore you would thinke ever he did forget his injurer : his private abuses , hee laid so far out of minde , that time would say , he could never remember them . It seemes hee kept all the roomes of his thoughts for conquests : for everie corner of his heart , he had a severall Kingdome : therefore hee would make no place for shuffling quarrells : no , it was a furtherance to his victories , that Caesar had a speciall gift , in having no gift at all of memorie , for his wrongs : and so Cicero goeth on neatly , observing Caesar , who was of so excellent a memorie , so rare in that Art , that hee was not knowne ever to have forgotten any thing : Nihil oblivisci solebat : yet , to everie man hee did seeme mainely forgetfull of his injuries , hee did so wonderfully sleepe in them : and it was , he would not stirre in them , hee had so much other worke for his courage .

Had not the singular valour of Caesar done so , saith Augustine , yet Cicero did most well to say so : because great Caesar , should have done so : and not onely all the great masters of the earth , but also everie man of manhood : valour should follow glorie , not humour : so neat a thing as valour is , should be set upon better worke , than to cobble up Duells : Dicebat adulator , did Cicero but complement with Caesar , yet truly Talem esse debere ostendebat Principem civitatis August . ibid. qualem illum ( Caesarem ) praedicabat : Cicero wisely expressed what was fitting for great courages to doe ; men that will be great , must keepe their stomackes to hard meat ; it must not be said of them , they can swallow nothing but milke sops : You must learne to disgest great quarrells , you must have the stomack of an Ostrich , sometimes to swallow iron : though one draw on you , and wound you , yet a more glorious imployment , must hold your courage , from laying your heart upon the revenge of it : valiant men must not admit , that everie little crum of discontent can choake them : no , valour must swallow better than so : else the world , that so swarmeth with displeasing successes , had never made , of valorous men , its victors . Hence it came , that when Marke Antonie quarrelled with Caesar , yet Caesar would not awake , hee was so sleepie , that his legs could not carrie him to the field , as I said before .

This great Augustus was a Prince , got well by his weapon , therfore he had no reason to refuse to use it ; and the edge of his courage was well steeled with skill , therefore there was no great cause for him to feare Marke Antonie his arme , that was but a pillow for Ladies to lye on . This Caesar is the verie same ( though others say it was Iulius Caesar ) that comforted the timorsome Boat-man , with a Caesarem vehis : Flerus . assuring him , rough mis-fortunes durst not appeare in the presence of Caesar : why then should Caesar feare an effeminate Antonie ? surely it could not be feare , it was love , that Caesar bore to his valour . He resolved to reserve the thing he loved so deare , for more glorious actions : he would not spend of it , with that Spend-thrift of honour , Marke Antonie : hee played the better husband , and kept good metall for good use .

So , when the perfumed Courtier Antony challengeth Caesar to fight in single combat , Caesar saith to him in sadnesse hee will not : doth Caesar therefore not love fighting ? not so , Caesar rather loved it so well , that he will not bestow it upon t●e Aegyptian : Caesar prizeth fighting higher , than to cast away , as much as one crash , on a coward : Caesars fights , are to winne kingdomes , not to winne conceits : a Caesar will not spend his blowes to beat off cocks-combs , but to strike downe crownes : weightie must be the occasion , that can make stout men stirre : children may run after shittle cockes .

So you men of worth , you should set more by your lims , then to lay them at the stake to any that will play against them : shall every coward cut the cards upon you ? call you at all times of the night of darke passion , and shall he so trample your life , that is the fruitfull bed of honour , wherein so many glorious actions grow , in peace and in warre ? will you hazard all , of a challenger will draw cuts for it : if hee will cut off your necke , will you carry it to the field as quickely , as for your Prince to the scaffold ? see what soveraigntie you give unto base quarrellers . This is to make Apes leaders of Lyons : with lives men of great credit , should not part so easily : our jewels sometimes we loose , yet we find them againe ; but our lives once gone , we never meet them more , till the great wake of Iosaphat : therefore , you valiant men , seeing you gaine so much by life , you should have more care to keepe life on foot : all sparkling honour , all glittering valour , life is the cabonet that keepes it : hacke life to peeces , what remaines , can nevergain you honour : it is but a lumpe of senslesse flesh , so cowardly , that abuse it then , cast it on the ground , it dares not stirre : affront a body then , see if it dare challenge , it dare do nothing but grinne , and looke pale : wherefore if you love valour so well for honours sake ; love life a little better , and keepe it , to get you more honour , cast not life away so sleightly .

But doe you in honour burst with a Phanaticke desire , the world should know , that in your heart doth grow the orient pearle of valour ; and I pray you , what is it ? forsooth , that you can carry thorow your hot heart , a piece of cold yron and smile at it : that death never brings unto you her dreadfulnesse : why if you be so hot , walke alone to the warre , and shew so much there : doe service to your most wel-deserving king therewith , who will regard your advancement by pay ; so , your valour , unto honor , you shal adde profit , and by this , you may rise further into honour . Creepe not up and downe a countrey , killing rotten sheepe , poore silly fellowes , that when you bore them , you loose more ale than bloud out of their bodies . If you will strike like a mightie one , strike at the mountaines of manhood , set at armies : if you have fire , burne high Cedars , let low shrubs alone for little ones to blaze on : the high region of a thundering aire sends its boults against the highest towres , it sets against what stands mightiest ; but you must take in hand what lieth nearest : assoone as a neighbour angreth you , then you must needs fight : good Lord , how soone your valour riseth at home : if your courage be so earely up , why doe you not send it abroad to the field breath it up a rampier , where it shal finde worke enough ? But your worke must bee by the fire side , you must fight at home , that is your goodly valour . I must tell you , such men be alwaies of the chillest courage : and I beleeve though they now glow in London , they will quickly have a cold fit at the newes of a Canon : I wish them to take Physicke , and from Saint George his field , to lead their courage under Saint George his banner : it will turne their stomacke , and cure their choller .

That famous Bachet , lustre of the East , and Holy court . Generall of the Turkish Armies , understanding one of his Captaines had challenged his fellow souldier ; and both were gone to field , to coole their choler with cold steele : Bachet broke out into a most feeling compassion . O , quoth he ! what is our meaning ? shall we kill no more enemies , have wee done with the Iewish Redeemers children ( that deserve not the names of men ) shal no more of them scrawle on the tops of our launces ? In a world of hatefull adversaries , can wee finde leisure thus to turne our weapons upon the hearts of our fellowes ? have wee no more greatnesse to offer unto Mahomets glorie , that thus wee hang up our weapons in the bosomes of the supporters of his temple ? O , English Dueller , this Turke remembers you of a noble lesson : if your choller boyles so fast about your heart , that it makes your fingers ends tingle : lay them not therefore upon your neighbours , your kings subiects ; but go further from home , to prey upon humane bloud : your king hath enemies in the world , fal you on them abroad , and the kings lawes will in requital fal upon your foes at home . When your King hath no enemies , yet you may finde your selfe warre-like worke : bring in new found lands , to in large your kings kingdomes : the greatnesse of his royall merits deserve roome to spread over far more large territories : the Ocean should burst with shame to presse meares unto his Empire : rather it should open its bosome , and give ground to lay unto his Dominions : and go to overflow with its waves the countries of lesse deserving Princes : not bite away one crowne from the Brittaine shores ; great Charles his glorie hath need of every sand , to reckon his singular merits .

Walke you Dueller with your valour , abroad the world , it hath a large scope , and many skirts ; finde you one to lye upon , & lay on in a iust conquest lustily : shew greatnesse of valour in that you can make your good king greater ; and waste not his subiects at home , so you make him lesser : to shew your fiery mettle consume not your kings power . If you have skill to kill , open your shop where that trade will bee in good liking : if all your labor is to make the world know you care not for death ; walke there where you shall see it wait at your heeles ; and cryes round about you every minute , bring you tidings , it wil be anone within you . Bachet was a great souldier , of stout courage , and though bloudy enough ( hee was a Turke ) yet hee misliked mightily challenges and privat combats : hee deemed them but a havocke of manhood . If wee will needs play at kill-game , let us not play like boyes , that must alwaies play neere their owne doores ; let us goe where there is want of killers : at home there wants good livers .

Point 4. Suffer . 4. The valorous man his greatest victorie is to overcome himselfe .

BVt will you live at home , and fight too , and come by a mightie opinion of valour : I will descry unto you neere your owne doores , a terraincognita ( your selfe nosce teipsum ) a whole country to winne , A microcosmos , a little world , ful of great Commanders and fierce enemies , to conquer . I will carry you before two great high towers , of two mightie powers : the one , you will finde so understanding to master you , that it is all knowledge , the other so wilfull to crosse you , that it is nothing but will : so strange , that all the power of heaven and earth never makes it doe , but it s owne will . I will lead you amongst the ambushes of sensuall pleasures ; and shew you the strong hold of delight : the industrious sleights of profit : the wearilesse toyle of gaine : the wonderfull confidence of ease . Muster up here your couragiousest resolutions , you shal march amongst a number of most cunning foes : doe you know where the most potent lord Selfe raigneth ? one so ambitious , that the whole face of the earth hath bin ever yet too narrow for him to lay his eye upon ; he rowles it into the bottom of the seas , unto the centre of the earth , and crieth out still for more roome . One so mightily troublesome that he pillageth all the fields of Nature with whole armies of unsatiable Passions , that swell against the very heavens ; that strike at the very face of him that holds his head higher than the starres . One so venemous in his very heart , that after he is utterly defeated and laied on the ground , severed in pieces like a Snake , yet the one part of him will stir , and keep such a stirre , that it will raile and revile against its Victor , for a whole eternitie .

Do you desire not to go farre , and yet to go a combating ? why , take this combat in hand ; set at this strong enemie , and trie your valor on him : he dwels neare enough unto you , you may bee quickely with him , he is your owne selfe . I say , if you desire to take a master-peece of worke in hand , master your selfe ; and one thing know for your comfort , if you can compasse it , the noyse of your worthinesse shall surpasse all the nine of the fame . For who overcommeth himselfe , may challenge the freedome to take the first place amongst the valiant . Call you in valiant Caesar to a first chaire : him , so universall a conquerour , that the Princes of the earth presented him with Scepters , as meane tenants do their Land-lords with Chickins : you think this old souldier becomes the chaire well : you shall see a young Cato , a conqueror of himselfe , come in and bid him rise , & will take place of him .

Cato the yonger , at the time the Roman glorie was The French Academy of Pierre de Primandy . clouded in the sad siege of Vtica , was moved by his fellow Romans , lying al close blocked up , to submit unto conquering Caesar , else all must die . Valiant Cato at the mention of death , reades the inventorie of all his goods or goodnesses of all his life ; hee hath a long rowle of many good morall vertues : under the head of his conquests , he runnes over a number of great price : but under the head of his selfe Conquests he findes a great store : it seemes it was usuall with him to overcome himselfe . Hee often had curbed his anger , rising against some great men of the Citie , which might have driven him into rebellion . Hee had mastered his ambition , which perchance would haveled him upon the same action , as Caesar now is , to command the gates of Rome : but Cato bridled his unruly passions , better . Cato therefore answereth , hee will not submit unto Caesar . I ( sayth Cato ) have trulier conquered than Caesar ; therefore Caesar should rather submit unto me . Caesar hee is now taken and overcome : therefore none can make submission unto him as conquerour . Caesar , his own vitious ambition to master all , hath cast him over us all . His great feare ( having offended some of the Senate ) hath bound him fast to the Scepter to fence himselfe withall : for , could Caesar have submitted his fierce disposition to the grave Lawes of the Senators , which doubtlesse would have had a worthy feeling of him ; their owne profit by his conquests , would have sweetned their trouble in the ruggednesse of his nature : for wise men know a great spirit cannot serve them , but it must sometime offend them ; and actions from humane flesh , we must bee contented to take them ▪ as fish , a good one , and a shrow : could Caesar but have beene a little tractable to the light of higher powers , his heart had never vapoured so much heavy griefe as would presume to cloud the lawes of Rome , and for ever to eclipse the government of so many hundred yeares shining : usurping over the Senat soveraigne power himselfe , who by right of cradle , deserved not to be their meanest fellow . Therefore Cato stil saith , he will account himselfe the invincible , because in mastering of himselfe , he is mightier than Caesar . Cato scorned to yeeld unto the Victor of Rome : breathing the glory of being Victor over himselfe .

We are now come to the hold and keep , who must be the better man , he that can quarrell , or he that can suffer ; who mastereth many others , or who subdueth himselfe . Wee dare goe over shooes in bloud to angle for honour , but wee know not whether to goe from home with Caesar amongst strangers , or home againe with Cato unto ourselves . An offence is given , and you resolve therefore you must overcome your enemy , why doe you not resolve , you must overcome your selfe ? you say you must fight , why say you not , you must be quiet : How doe you prove , that it becomes a valiant man better to fight , than to suffer ? Or how is it a lesser victorie to conquer ones selfe , than another ? You plead you must discover valour , I say so to , but let us finde the best way : it will ever fall out , that we shal still come home againe to your selfe , and within your selfe , wee shall finde the best matter of victories . It is a golden verse of a good Poet , repeated by most Writers ; it seemes the witty saying doth take many :

Fortior est qui se , quàm qui fortissima vincit ▪ Man●uanu● . Moenia : nec virtus , altior ire potest . Arduares , vicisse alios , victoria major , Est animi motus , composuisse sui . O'recome your self , that s more than towres of brasse To win , your vertue can no higher passe . Hard thing it is , strong Armies to confound ; But more to hold your raging passions bound .

Sentence is given : it is more to beat ones Selfe , than a many thousands : therefore if you run a duelling , onely out of a desire to get honour : lay challenges with others aside , and make it your quarrell to master your selfe : chuse it , as the most difficult Duell , to overcome your selfe .

The nearer an enemie layeth siege to a Citie , the more valour it is , to beat him backe ; and what can be more neare you , then what is within you . Magis sunt periculosa quae domestica , as Lactantius , very wittily Lib. 1. inst. cap. 9. observeth . A civill warre is the forest blow to a kingdome : because each part is sure to weaken the other , and all parts growing weake , that body must needs die . Yet there , onely one part is against the other ; but here all against everie part of you ; you rob your hands of their labours , your understanding you bereave o●●●s ●●ght ; from your will you steale its good customes : and from your internall senses , their gentle inclinations to right ; and thus you whose greatnesse consists of many Powers , doe engage your whole selfe in undoing everie severall part of your owne strength : then here is a civill warre more dangerous : When two Combators have lost the wales of their weapons , and cannot keepe one another out any longer , when fencing can maintaine no distance betweene them , but they are come within one anothers armes , then begins the bloudie part of the combat , there is nothing but poaching at life , strikes everie blow as fast as the weapon can come and goe . Can any be more within you , than your owne selfe ? none doth lay at you more fiercely . Then this is the most dangerous Duell . You shall not gape to eat , but the enemie creepes in at your mouth , and turnes your full stomack , to desire what is not , to torture you . You shall not goe to bed , but he followes you betweene sheets , and sets difficult fancies on you , and keepes your eyes open in spite of the rod of Mercurie : if toyle cast you into a little sleepe , the enemie watcheth your first waking , hee falleth to the same game againe , and pestereth you with most heat , when you be most naked . Rise , and hee will make you sow teares in vaine , reape words with no gaine : and betweene wind and water he will hit you so sore , that it is a thousand to one , he will sinke you . Is it not therefore good reason , that the subduing of his enemie , ( ones Selfe ) should be judged the greatest conquest .

This enemie doth fight upon such advantages , that it must needs be your greatest glorie to conquer him . And hence you shall ever finde those your best victories , whereof some part is , to overcome your selfe . A golden consequence ! if to conquer , you must master your selfe , your victories be profitable : the more they have of selfe-mastership , the more they will have of profit : for by our difficulties & dislikes , we know what doth become us : and by our desires , we reckon still our mistakings : I will talke still of things within the compasse of courage .

You are right valiant , as light to fight as a feather . Why there be peevish opposing Spirits abroad in your parish , that men cannot dwell by with quiet : if you durst but touch them with a word , they would like a Betle leave their filthy burthen of malice : and you finde great difficultie to speake , you sweat and groane with the conceit that a word must come out of your mouth , you are in labour . Overcome your selfe here , chuse this combat , and let Challengers alone . More , I will chuse you another combat . Your servants , within your owne doores , dare be disorderly : your Officers over-carelesse , or over-covetous , or both : if you have a stomacke that can rise , set against these . O you will not endure the toyle , you cannot suffer the barking noise of your own disorders , you will never abide to heare again of your own foolish expences , to offer you notes is to cast motes in your eyes , you finde mightie trouble . Why , overcome your selfe , you shall see it one of your best conquests : be not a coward , runne not away from your selfe , master your selfe for shame , to be master of your owne : sure , you are so great , so honourable , that you are afraid of your selfe : subdue your selfe in most things , so your spoyles shall be the heapes of many happinesses .

— Tunc omnia jure tenebis , Claud. ad Theod. Imp. Cum poteris rex esse tui .

Will you put all conquests into one , conquer your selfe : who cannot doe so , will never be Lord Treasurer of valour .

Hercules , you thinke , was a tall man , and had good strength : that could teare Lyons , beare on his backe whole miskins , over-run horses , over-flie birds , and roule up and downe the world doing wonders : Surely he had great limbs , yet Lactantius noted , they wanted their best sinewes : Vellem adjecisset Lact. ut supra . de insolentia : I wish I could heare of some feats of Hercules , how he dealt with his enemies at home : you tell me hee did beat monsters , but durst he touch himselfe : I heare he did cleanse neighbours dung-hills , but was hee not apt to crow upon his owne dung-hill ? Vellem adjecisset de insolentia : I feare hee was a little insolent . I should be glad to heare some newes , how he mastered his owne minde : and then saith Lactantius , I will yeeld unto antiquitie , and confesse that Hercules was a valiant man indeed , and a mirror of valour . Otherwise I will say , Hercules deserveth not his name , under the fame as it goeth . For I will no more esteeme him , for conquering beasts , birds , and enemies , than I will esteeme of a childe treading upon so many little Ants. Animum vincere fortissimum est , It is the conquest of himselfe that must make Hercules famous .

If you be ambitious of glorie , here is a way for you to goe beyond Hercules : Non enim fortior est judicandus , qui leonem , quàm qui iracundiam in se inclusam Lact. ibid. superat . When your heart doth fill with filthy revenge , sweeten it with mercie , and you shall bee Hercules , not the other fellow for cleansing the Kings stables : when your angrie thoughts flie unto the Higher Powers for punishment against your enemie ; flie you to overtake those thoughts , and tell them there is a God in Heaven , that bids you forgive : so you shall be the true Hercules , and not hee that overtooke a bird with an arrow . If the light of reason might be suffered to prefer a ray in the Star-Chamber ; it would most humbly desire reflection upon the riots against reason , wherein by violence of weapons such strange value of valour is maintained ; such unlawfull measures of honour are sealed with bloud . One that can but force a Beare , or face a Bull , is cried for valiant ; and he that doth the wonder of wonders , who mastereth himselfe , is jeered for a Coward . Let one overcome himselfe , hee must out-run his Countrey ; all men will so point at him for a meere Noddie , as fit for nothing but to make a Lubber , to lye in a Monasterie ; whiles perchance , for a worthy effusion of bloud he hath a better courage , than you that doe but play the Scullion , running up and downe the field to sticke a Goose . I admire not that vice is in good liking , it doth unto most men a pleasure : but when men without blush doe praise vice , I feare their faith hath a tainture . It may be a wonder in future ages that men desired to doe well , and said they durst not , for feare of the imputation of the vulgar ; they acknowledged they did ill , and could do no otherwise , they must be so over-ruled by the coyish fancie of the Commons .

Section III. Seven Antidotes , or quicke Reasons to put off Quarrells . 1. Take not notice of everie wrong . 2. You are not the worse for a discourtesie . 3. Put off wrongs with some pleasant jest . 4. In base occasions suffer wrongs to punish yeur selfe . 5. Beare with friends , be quiet and you punish your foes . 6. Revenge not wrongs suddenly . 7. Will nothing doe good ? Remember the tree at the Townes end .

D●seases of Duellisme have so long raged in our Kingdome : our over-great hearts swell so quickly with desires of cruell revenge , that to endevour a cure , is but to wash an Aethiope : there is difference indeed in colour , as between the jet and the scarlet : but colour in graine hardly admits a change , and Quarrellers are in graine commonly . The nature of this burning feaver , is to strike to the heart , which in an heape of resentments , not well digested , falleth into such an Apoplexie , that it findeth ease in nothing , but in bleeding . And though a combat be but one to one , it is an hundred to one both dye of it .

To come now and professe cures , for all such as roare under these dangerous purples , were but to act a Mountebanke , which if hee can but make names for some few salves , it sufficeth for his gaines : hee takes mens monies , and for mens cures he cares not : these must ever beare an after-date , untill such time as he shall be absent from place and shame , and then it never troubleth him that never returneth . I should be glad , if of a few that read my receipts , I could ease any ; many be the occasions of Duells , divers the dispositions of men that move them , and unto man and matter the Antidote should fit , else it will but trouble the eye , and enter no further : yet I must adventure to give , and you Reader , perchance to seeke , and to finde nothing .

Point . 1. Antidote . 1. Take not notice of everie wrong , you will otherwise but vex your selfe , without need .

SOme men will feed upon poyson , and certainly some stomacks rellish nothing but wrangling : the world worketh now adayes a strange kinde of medley , of cunning and folly : some forget themselves mightily , they will sleepe drunke in everie tap-house , and yet they will watch ; they will remember a shrewd turn a neighbour doth them , from the cradle to the grave . They will finde such gaps to creepe into quarrellings ; through a hedge they wil follow a pig : through a hole of a cott , they will follow a calfe for a straw : they will turne bloud-hound and tract a childe for a sticke ; a man for treading a grasse that doth but peep out of a path : and all this industrie onely to finde themselves brabbles . O quam solers est iracundia ad fingendas causas furoris ! I admire saith Seneca , the cunning that froward men have to frame combustions of nothing .

If Law will not serve quick , as their peevish mind doth call ; if paper bils cannot hurt , they will put in sharper weapons ; the steele , the pistoll shall cocke abroad : and thus in a peaceable kingdom , we live ( as it were ) on the frontiers of a mercilesse enemie ▪ now you see cattell driven , now violent hands laid on men , and they so handled , that it mattereth not whether they be drawne to an averse king , or a dread full dungeon : for slavery is the end of both Iourneyes .

The subtlenesse that some men use ( though otherwise simple ) to tricke up a quarrel , and to set it forth , meriteth observation . What a quicke eye to note it ? what a curious eare to take it up , amongst a noise of by-matters ? Some have the sleight of raking sparkes of discontents together , and keeping them long hot under the ashes of a counterfeit correspondency ; so at their pleasure they will steale an opportunity , to set all a Countrey together by the eares .

Certainely , such conditions are of the nature of Witches , that lie alwaies in ambush to do mischiefe : they live the life of a cut-purse , whose necke is neerest the halter , when his hand gets neerest the treasure : so these , when they bee fullest of matter of quarrels , ( which they greedily gape after ) then they bee furthest from their owne quietnesse .

Wherefore , wisemen will rather bestow their wits in taking upon them somtimes , not to see what their owne eies doth shew them . Doe any affronts sti●re , by word or deed against you ? still the occasion , neither blow nor breath , be neither hot nor cold ; carry your selfe so , that the standers by shall not perceive you do heare it . So they may come almost to thinke it was not you that was injured , they will rather draw in some other : that is an excellent skill . Hereby you shall keepe your valours credit , freeing it from ingagements for your honour ; and you may have your ful strength to put upon actions more for your profit , to tug in matters that may rather increase strength than draw bloud from you .

Turne therefore a quarrell off with some pretty question , or sudden discourse to a stander by : draw your spirits so hastily another way , that your bloud shall not have leisure to rise into disorder : distract the hearers with an unexpected event : with draw your senses , fasten upon some obiect , cloase choler that would stirre : round mens eares with new reflections , turne them into cares : nip a discourse , giddy it , that it may not turne directly unto you againe : break off companie , upon pretence of a weighty businesse , and then let none bring you thither againe . Let the affronter put on never so openly ; an undaunted spirit will deceive him of his marke , and put him out of his aime .

Cato , that worthy Romane , in a bathe was bare enough : Senec. l. 2. de ira . a sawcy fellow taunted him , and gave him a box on the eare ; yet Cato tooke no notice of it ; Cato said nothing . What could be a more publick wrong ; and in the bathe , wee heare no newes of it , no charging the Constables with the villaine that strooke Cato . All is in a hush : sure Cato was not strucken : yes , Catonem ( indeed ) quidam percussit , saith Seneca , but Cato would take no notice of it , maluit non agnoscere .

No question but Cato did feele the smart : yet his excellent wit found way to put shame by : doubtlesse his eare did glow , but his heart would not shew it . The man that strook felt Cato so stedfast , that having given the blow , hee thought almost that he was mistaken , and had not hit Cato at all ; rather that Cato was not there , either was gone in an extasie , into some region of Nature , profoundly searching out curiosities : or into the Schoole of the Stoicks preparing maxims to bridle humane passions , and wholly was not there when the blow was strooken at him ; it was but the shadow of Cato , or a bunch of stones , or hard bones that was smitten , as if one had strooke but the house for the owner . See how this striker hath lost his marke , and hath done nothing : hee aimed to affront Cato , but could not , because Cato could then not bee with his body , to the others thinking . So Cato saved himselfe from disgrace by his wise deportment , and rightly said , Maluit non agnoscere , quàm ignoscere . It was to bee expected from Cato that he should so do , he must not say , an affront did pierce him that hee was hurt : abuses must passe by him , as waves by a rocke , that never reckoneth them . It is a better testimonie of ones greatnesse , never to have had a foe , than to have revenged or forgiven him ( which is the revenge of a Cato ) for if you forgive , you confesse you were wronged , and that is a weaknesse ; therefore Maluit non agnoscere , quàm ignoscere : a Ruffian may strike a Cato ; but yet Cato wil say he was not touched ; so will you become a great spirit , a Cato : take no notice , feele not weak ones , they may do wrong to you , & harm themselves , but never hurt you .

Point . 2. Antidote 2. You are not the worse for a discourtesie . Then busie not your selfe with nothing .

COnsider with your selfe , what are you the worse , for the neglect full word or act of another ? you use to say , words breake no bones ; why then will you breake your heart to be revenged of them ? your enemie spake unto you a word , and perchance but a word , and is your choler so quicke , that therefore you will to blowes with him ? You say , he touched you in your honour , what then ? hee did but touch you , and will a touch hurt you ? men that wil be esteemed of valor , saith Gonsalvo , should Verulam de irae num. 57. have telam honoris crassiorem : is your honor so thin skinned , that a push with a rush will teare it ? is there no honour of Musket proofe ? shall every beardlesse boy with a crosse-bow that can scarce scarre a Sparrow , astonish you ? still your selfe rather a little , with a reflection , an acknowledgement of your owne courage : cry not out , one pinch hath undone you : hold a while rather than confesse your honour to bee of such an over-delicat temper : what hurt can the touch of a word doe ? can a little disrespect wound , which hits onely by conceit , and is nothing but ens rationis ? We have an old countrey man of our owne , which our new ones might imitate with credit .

Constantine the Emperour , his picture was drawne with a singular representation of great Maiestie : stored Chrysost. hom. 20. ad pop. Antioch . Garo . to . 3. ad An. Dom. 324 with Crownes , and strewed under feet with scepters , as rushes : beames rounded it with glory , and embroydered curtaines on rods of gold did defie the motes that dare set at the raies of the Sunne from defiling that Picture : all this ambition of reverence as an expression of a more veneration unto the Emperours person , freed not this Picture from a disgracefull affront . A most idle fellow , found an opportunitie to cast filth on it .

See now Constantine with his beams and bravery , all to besmeared with durt by a most base creature : the mightie Emperour of the world is laied in the mire , thinke you him not mightily displeased ? can you imagine him not thorowly inraged ? must not a world flow with bloud-shed to quench the fury of his iust revenge ? Surely it would so happen were you Constantine ; oh you are but a little Constantine .

See what Constantine the Great did , when officious complainers thronged in to plead against the audacious delinquent ; and the whole earth expected Constantine would revenge the disrespect done him , to an everlasting terrour of al such as cast scoffes and scornes : what doth Constantine that wanted not courage ? hee was Great , wanted no power , hee was Emperour of the rising and setting Sunne . Well friends ( saith Constantine ) you tell mee of a fellow that hath disgraced mee , and contemptuously cast dirt on mee : hee hath cast durt upon my Picture , I heare , but nothing doe I feele upon Constantine : I see Constantine cleane , the glasse sheweth no ordure in my face : your conceit may terme my face fowle and filthily abused ; but my conceit telleth mee nothing of it , how then can I be angrie ? I pray tell me , if Constantine feele no blow , no wound , no offence , the Picture be torne ; yet if Constantines skinne bee whole , for what shall Constantine be angry ?

So should you discourse with your self , when one reviles you : what are you the worse ? your enemie hewes your name to pieces , teares your credit to totters , hee frets and roares . So as one would thinke he could overturne mountaines of honour into an abysse of disgrace , but yet you are never the worse : he doth but frame your name in his mouth , it is but a vocall image of you , it is but your picture , & in the aire , that is something lesse than a picture in colours . And that name of yours , your picture , hee rowles up and downe his dirtie mouth , and dasheth it with disgrace : say then , your selfe are never the worse , never the fowler , and say with Constantine , why should you be angry ? O thrice happy Constantine ! whom heaven favored with that excellent temper , that so neatly could breake off occasions of unkinde quarrels ; and not spend time in hearkning unto boyes . Play , but better busie himselfe in the conquest of kingdomes , which made him so mighty .

A great Wit being asked how the Romanes from August . ad Marcellinum . Ep. 5. so poore beginnings had growne to so vast an Empire , Quomodo Romani ex inopi Rempublicam magnam fecerunt ? Presently answered for them thus ; it was because Acceptâ injuriâ ignoscere , quàm persequi malebant . The Senat of Rome did not spend their time , they wasted not their warlike Legions , they cast not the coine of the Capitoll , they did neither bruise nor busie that lustie bodie in revenging privat grudges against their neere , and perchance ( notwithstanding one offence or fault ) their true-hearted Subiects : but made the best of their owne strength about them , to compasse victories further from them . Which Lesson , when afterwards their children forgot , busying themselves in quick exceptions , one against another : they shaked to pieces their owne mightinesse , to which otherwise al the kingdoms of the world could haue done no hurt , saving by adding unto it greatnesse . So doubtlesse it would be unto you a great happinesse , if you could reserve your selves for weightier imploiments of profit , and neerer cares : and not go a wrangling for every bable , as children doe for Butter flies .

Point 3. Antidote 3. Put off wrongs with some pleasant iest .

SOmetimes , it is an excellent piece of wit to cut off quarrels with a iest , and not to professe as it were , to be a common crier of ones own shame , an aggravater to ones owne disadvantage . Have not so coyish a stomacke , as to take every course morsell like the venome of an Aspe : looke not soure upon every distaste ; speake sometimes merrily when your heart akes , then your sore will be the lesser . Iests now and then passe away evill times , and why not evill tempers ? Rodolphus the first Emperour of the Austrian Da●rou●●us in Flor. Exemp . Familie was sorely wounded by a carelesse archer : therefore his subiects in their most loving respects were forward to punish : they had the Archer in hold , and their rigour would faine have beene doing , and first they will cut off his hands : stay saith Rodolphus , if you had done so before hee had shot mee , you had done wisely , but now that I am wounded already , let him goe , and take both his hands with him .

Thus wise Rodolphus reflecting , perchance the Archer had noble friends , whom the Emperour was loth to lose ; with a jest freed himselfe from the trouble of a resentment , which edgeth on anger , that doth but load a great spirit with the charge of a revenge . Worthy Aristides , who for his integrity was called the Senec. de Consol. ad Holviam . Iust , an insolent fellow did spit in his face , to disgrace him ; yet hee , though chiefe Ruler of Athens many yeares , never stirred to implore revenge ; but smiling said : I pray you , my friend , gape not so wide , yawne not so undecently : though the fellow did disgorge himselfe in the chiefe Iustice his face , yet Aristides his thoughts at that time did hang upon more serious imployments , and therefore he put off the lack with a jest .

If one grow wilde with you in choler ; Laugh , and say he acts a mad man prettily , or rather you pitie his frenzie . Will he needs draw your bloud ? say to him , he is sicke of the bloudie flux at the wrong end , and wish him rather to use a Physitian , than a weapon .

Tell him , when he comes to himselfe , you will come to trie about with him : if he continue bandying words , say to your selfe , hee doth it but to purchase honour ; and seeing he will buy it of you , hee confesseth your store , and his owne want : will you be angrie with him for honouring you . Hee faine would get honour , and therfore would wound you : and why would you be offended with him , for loving himselfe better than you ? Though it be not according to the tie of charitie , yet I would not make it a breach of worldly amitie . Love that liveth with a little , should not dye so easily .

Doth some pretended friend wish you to revenge an old quarrell of one of your Grandsires : tell him you will finde better matter to make expression of your manhood : you will not busie your selfe with braules past , nor keep so many little bundles of thorny remembrances in your bosom , you have cast them out quite , to get quiet by forgetting them : Wisemen have enough to do with things present and to come , and will not trifle away time in past mistakings , which cannot be recalled , you would rather goe to burie them : by remembrance , you doe but bring your owne shame into new acquaintance , and so disgraces , in stead of dying , doth raise a new encrease ; discredits , the more you water them with bloud , the longer they wil continue growing . You may bestow your skill better .

If a drunken Quarreller open himselfe to you , and rage ; answer him , you know you are now at home in jolly mirth and plentie , and that his frownes are but a coppie of his countenance , that you will not dreame you stand in a Battalion , where mens hearts must lye upon the best advantage of their weapon : you will not fal to pell mel amongst good fellowes : it is pitie the kinde company of Bacchus should decay by grievous wounds , let the companies of Mars dye of that diet : let that plague fall upon those harsh fellowes , that doe nothing but strike and kill , not upon the merry-hearted cup-man that doth no harme , but fill a Swines belly with droppings of drinke , he doth so sip it : and now and then bite his fellow Hog by the eare , for standing by ; for stood he not there , they had beene good friends ever . Stout men no more regard cup-quarrels , than wise men do little houses , which children build with sticks .

Oftentimes men have no wrongs at all offered them , and yet they will fall into quarrells , and kill one another out of a conceit of wrongs . Such men are much like that tall fellow , who being to be beheaded , laid downe his lustie head on the block , and died with the stroake of a pudding : hee certainly beleeved it was a faulchion , and it was a puddings end . Why so it is with some , that conceive themselves sore trampled with a heavie disgrace , and beaten to dust , sure they thinke it was a thunder-bolt , but there was not as much as a thought : say you then sometimes , that the wrongs offered you are nothing , that they deserve not to have a puddings end for their God-Father .

Thus you may jest jars out of countenance , and your owne wit in the occasion may frame you prettier conceits : learne onely this from me , to like this sleight of stepping out of an affronts way . And yet sometimes you may deserve good commendations , by laying your selfe open unto affronts , and lying under them , by hearing them , and wishing they were greater , the more to torture you :

Point . 4. Antidote . 4. Wrongs happening in base occasions , suffer them to punish your selfe .

MEn ought to regard as well the credit of good manners , as of good manhood : nay one knowing himselfe bound to preserve both , should more readily punish his owne person , for discrediting his behaviour , than punish any other for disgracing his valour . You goe to the Taverne , where wine kindles the veines , and in a jollitie , men are made bone-fires ; so flaming grow all their faces : by and by happens a Metamorphosis , all the companie is turned into an herd of Swine , some grunt in the corners , others lye in their mire , and nothing but stench amongst them : Doe not you disgrace your selfe mightily by sitting on this miskin ? Why then doe you not thinke of punishing your selfe , for this foule fact of yours in comming thither , before you punish the other fellow for giving you there ill words , or blowes : you will stumble at straw , and leap over a blocke . Seeing you have no heart to chastize your selfe ; let this man whom you terme your Injurer , be your Beadle to whip you : and after you have used the rod , you may throw it into the fire .

Casimirus King of Poland would needs to dice , and for want of company fell to it with one Conarius a Martin Cromer de rebus Polon . ●● . 6. ann. 1176. meane man : the game was high , and Conarius quickly began to below in purse ; his money was gone , and by that time his anger was come : Conarius became furious , and thinking Losers had leave to speak ( so it is , when they play with their fellowes ) hee forgot hee played with a King : his money being run out of his reach , his tongue run after it , and played upon the King , and in the end , Conarius taking his leave of his coyne , up with his fist , and saluted the King with a buffet .

How doth now Casimirus ? Doth hee fret at his abuser ? No , with the buffet the King awakes , as it were , out of a dead sleepe , lookes upon himselfe , and reflects what he is doing . A King , on whom hangs the eyes , the hearts of a Kingdome , sporting in an unseemely manner : so he abuseth the hearts of his subjects , for their love must follow the King , else the heart is out of his place : and who can love disorder ? Love cannot come herselfe to what is nought , she may send her Hand-maid , Pitie . Well , Casimirus feeles now the smart of his owne folly , and thankes Conarius for it : you cannot well tell , whether the Kings eare glow more with the buffet , or his face with a reflection of his over sight : and therefore he never thinketh upon punishing Conarius , but is pleased to make Conarius a pun●sher of the King : so when his Nobles stirred to revenge his wrong ; No saith Casimirus , not so , Conarius is my Master , hee teacheth me a good lesson , let him beat me for being a truant King , and playing at dice with a fellow so far my inferiour .

So if you chance to be carried into an Ale-house , and there fixed in the Firmament of good Fellowes : where the Primum Mobile is browne Ale , that rowleth all eyes after it : if after a while , like a Phaeton or a Fatuus , you fall stumbling upon one another , and hang like Bees upon each others backs in a bundle : then , if you hap to be abused , to be provoked , if one kicke you , and use you verie ill , terme him not your injurer , but your benefactor : say not he doth you wrong , but that hee doth you great good in punishing you , in making your heart ake , for going to so vile a place . Doth one belay you with hard blowes ? he doth but shake you to awake you , that you may see to what place your idle carriage hath brought you : be not therefore angrie with him that strikes you , turne rather your anger upon your selfe ; busie it there , and forgive the other which did you no harme , but good service .

If casually , you stumble upon a crue of merrily disposed lads , and there meet the brave ones , with Tobacco pipes in their mouthes of a yard long , ietting so stout , as if they trailed pikes in an army ; that burne their lands at the pipes end , excellent husbandry ▪ and not breake up , but burn up house and house-keeping ; maintayning that the chimneyes of the forefathers , ought to be turned into the noses of their children : When you see all their noses there so flaming , that you cannot discerne at which end the pipe burneth with the more red-hot fire : if one of this sparkling company , will bee furious with you , because you will not drinke : if hee vow , you are no good fellow ( as though goodnesse were not got but by good ale ) dislike the ill speech , but suffer it : make it a meanes to loath the place , for the language : be glad you feele there , thornes of such words , that they may pricke you thence . If one call you Coward : beare , and say , for beere you want stomacke ; you have no courage to carouse : he is the better man at a bottle : wrangle not with him , but chide your selfe .

Doe as the stout Xenophanes did , when casually The French Academy of Pierre de Primandy . being at a feast , one upbrayded him , and called him coward , because hee would not play at dice. Xenophanes mightily troubled with the abusive taunt , yet quarrelled not with the fellow , rather answered to his tune . I am indeed a coward , fearefull to doe dishonest things : he would not wrangle for any thing done there , but grew ( doubtlesse ) into a great dislike with the place , where such virulent discourses were usually uttered . So you , never marke the speaker of an affront , but put a crosse upon the occasion , never to come into it againe .

But oh , say you , your occasion wherein you suffer wrongs , is not unworthy : it hath no relation to tobacco , not to Bacchus his Alliance ; a sparke of warre , a martiall man , another wise well-ordered Gentleman , my equall , upon a good cause , on a reall ground , with fury provoked me to Duell : and I shall dwell in endlesse disgrace , if he be not answered in the field .

Point . 5. Antidote 5. Beare with your friends : of your foes you take best revenge , when you are quiet .

BVt stay : goe not on so suddenly to overthrow him : remember now , perchance he hath beene unto you a strong friend , and is but newly broken : See first if you can recover him , before you cast him and your selfe both away : you would bee loth to lose a nag , for once stumbling ; and will you leave a friend , if you finde him once tripping ? esteeme better of old friends than so ; you may lose him when you please , but see how you can yet save him : true friends be scarce found , and in this friend you have had a happy triall of true love : onely this one time , hee hath fayled you , hee hath greatly wronged you , hee hath broken with you fouly ; yet let his ancient merits defend this breach : Base were the souldiers , that upon a first breach surrendred up their citty ; thy friends deserts are great and worthy , they shew themselves now stoutly upon the breach , and day , thou shalt not enter as an enemy to subvert them all , I le not forget them . Thus they parley , it is of the first fault , and of a deare friend you will say , hee being your friend which abused you , therefore you tooke it the worse ; and the rather you will fight to punish one that being your friend , would wrong you ; were he a foe , you could better suffer him . It is true ; Cos●●us , the great Duke of Florence , I beleeve was of your minde , when hee made that madde observation upon the Gospell ; you shall reade , saith he , that we are commanded to forgive our enemies : you never reade that we are commanded to forgive our friends ; but let a wiser master , fescue that raw scholler that wringeth blood out of the letter so quickly : shall we , saith Iob , take good at Gods ( good friends ) Iob. ● . 10. hands , and refuse to take a little evill ? Say your friends breath is now an ill blast unto you , but hee hath blest you with many good turnes ; if hee now frowne and looke backe at you , time was , he shined on you , to the growing of your best fortune ; remember the merry houres you past in his company , and now for his sake , suffer a sad cloud that will passe presently ; Post nubila Phoebus : suffer but a short eclipse , Ovid. and you shall clippe and love like good friends againe ; after a little close weather , a short storme of hayle , of sputtering words , the day will breake againe into a hot friendship .

Doth your friend thunder , that one would thinke heaven and earth bee going together by the eares ? Videmus horribiliter vexatum . Doth the sky C●r●sost . hom. in Mar. cast it selfe downe in tempest ? doth your enemy his eye threaten to fall upon you with weapons ? Oh stand you still : supportamus , saith Basill , to be a friendly Atlas , hold him from falling : amidst Basil hom. de ira ▪ all the showers in the deluge of anger , be you the dove , hold the branch of Olive in your mouth : dry you up the Seas of wrath , with your silence : So you shall begin a new world of happinesse : for when the passion is past , cùm amaritudinem deposuerit ; when your friend comes againe to himselfe , ubi convaluerit , you shall not onely have him thenceforth your faithfull friend , but for ever your humblest servant ; te ut Dominum venerabitur : Here is a pretty plot of a victory : you wound your enemy without bloud , you vanquish him without speare , and by conquest you make him your slave , te ut Dominum venerabitur : nay , were there meaner Gods upon earth ; by his voyce , you should come into election , for a Godhead , venerabitur . If you tell me , hee which offended you is not your friend , and therefore you owe him no such service , as to suffer him ; nor will you waite the leisure of his mad fits , or stay for his favour , untill the feaver of his furie declines .

Say then hee be your ancient and bitter enemy : will you goe about to bee deepely revenged on him ? yet , your next way is to be quiet , to keepe your selfe still : say nothing , and you shall catch him lying under your feet , heart-broken . Doth he swell with fury ? looke off him : doth hee runne into your face ? let your eare goe by him : doth he roare ? hearken to something else : doth he madly fret ? neglect it : make all , but nothing : that is to breake his very heart-strings , Si despexeris , acrius eum vindicabis . Despise him , that is the cruellest kinde of wrong : for it is all one , as to set one a worke with his fists to beate a stone wall , wherein he doth but hurt his owne fingers : carry your selfe like a wall of brasse , stedfast against his boysterous fury , and you shall breake the storme only with your suffering : sine illum frustra adlatrare in seipso disrumpi : hee will swell and puffe still more , finding he cannot stirre you : doe you then but suffer him , sine , and he with his owne winde will swell so fast , that it must burst him , in seipso disrumpi .

Doe you know what you doe when you fret ? you comfort your foe ; it is perturbati animi consolatio : that is your raging enemy his delight , to see his fury begins to worke upon you , to disturbe you , to shake you , to make you reele , so hee will hope to fall you : the faster you stand , the giddier your enemy groweth in rage : whiles you keepe out of his way , hee toyles and runnes the more a madding to seeke you : as soone as you shew your heart disquieted , with a convulsion of discontents , then you sport and feast your enemy : inimicum plectere , that is , iram animumque satiare : Doe you cry out , as if you were sore beaten , as if you were outed of your quietnesse and safety ? that is your enemy his satiety : your plectere is his satiare . Againe shew your enemy in his rage , that you are not touched , that hee comes not neere you : and so you encrease his hunger after you : you make a meere Tantalus of Valour , having it onely hanging on his lippes , at his tongues end , and is not able to bring it any further ; Thus onely with your quietnesse , you punish your enemy , so cruelly , that you shew a punishing power , parallel even to the Poets fiction : you can hurt as much as Poets can faigne .

Wherefore strive to stand stedfast like a rocke , and let your enemy strike , see what hee shall get by it ; qui lacessat placidum , magis dolet : the more Nazianz : in oratione de ira . he rageth , the more he suffereth : who runneth into passion with a man that can bide still , doth all one as wrastle with a tower , which is but to weary ones armes : or with a phantasme , whereon you can never catch hold , to ease you . Who is wheeled up and downe , desires to fasten upon something , to hold by : when an arrow comming from a carelesse Archer , threatned the safeguard of ones person ; to lay hold , but on the arrow , to breake it , hath beene an ease unto the heart that began to be angred . And so you see , how by being quiet , you may exceedingly vex such as stirre most against you .

If you pleade , God hath not made you of such a temper ; for such peeces of worke , of wonder : you are no Salamandra in human societie : you cannot live amongst flames of fury , and your selfe not burne : if you come neere furious dispositions , you must grow warme : yet doe thus much ; scortch not your selfe with hasty flames : leisurely , fire gives unto things best season .

Point . 6. Antidote . 6. Revenge not your wrongs suddenly , least you repent .

DIscreet Antenodorus taught Augustus Caesar , Plutarch . in Apophtheg . Rom that if in anger he were to act any thing , hee should first , for his prologue recite an Alphabet , and stay so much time before he did begin the Tragedie .

If you be so furious , as that your blinde weapon must needs bee doing something : yet let a little time first passe , for Reason to rise and peepe in upon you ; nil facias iratus priusquam 24 literas graecas percurreris , said Antenodorus , stay a while . And certainely , a little time will strongly change the liking of actions . This is so true , that who best governe on earth , oft-times reprieve their owne private resolutions , till a second meeting ; reason returnes againe her tale , and then they lead her forth into action with a safer liking . Therefore let not Passion deny the appeale unto time . When feare tels you , anger sits on the bench ; you are discreetly advised , from Caesar , to appeale unto Caesar , and give him time for his associate : and will you goe to duell , will you carry a man to execution in a sudden fury ? who giveth quickely , you say giveth twice ; and so I take it , who is hurt quicklie , hath ever double measure . In our sonnes , the first the eldest , by instinct of nature wee love best ; but in our thoughts ( that be likewise ours by a kinde of generation ) it is not so , there the youngest ; the last fruit , the latest , that longest hath beene a ripening , is of best relish , and wholsomest , Posteriora consilia saniora .

Theodosius made a Law , inviolably to be kept thorowout Theodoret. in Hist. sua . lib. 5. c. 17. his Empire , that sentence of death delivered in anger , should beare no force , till after thirtie dayes expired : then if after a review by reason , when passion were out of Court , it went currant , it might stand : for so long time the Emperour would a stay , of whatsoever had beene done in anger : if this Law was laudable in actions civill , where reason hath roome to look about her : much more it ought to be in actions martiall , where reasons eyes are quite out : who walketh in the darke , must goe by leisure .

Therefore doe not suddenly yeeld to enter into a quarrell , lest you repent it ; take first Theodosius his thirtie dayes leisure , and forgive for so long time : of that that will never repent you : Neminem pepercisse , Tetrarcha . multos vindicasse poenituit , saith Tetrarcha : resolve well first what to doe , else you may have more adoe , to undoe it againe , than you are aware of : you may at any time punish : It is an easie matter to finde a staffe to beat a dog : but if a mischiefe be once hatcht , it will creepe out of the nest , and doe you a shrewd turne , when you cannot fence it : you may hurt your enemie so over-much , that afterwards you must undoe your selfe to make him amends . That is to doe and undoe .

Be sure , not to hearken to your choler , when it first breakes forth ; whatsoever satisfaction it bid you then require , beleeve it not : the first anger , Prima Senec. lib. 3. de ira . ira , saith Seneca , doth never guide well , nor will never be well guided , it will not heare reason , Surda est & amens , It is wild and virulent : therefore let it run a while , Dabimus illi spatium : Let the Whale wallow in the waves , in the deepe of discontent , give it lin● and cord : and take you space before you speak , before you challenge , before you fight , before you doe any hurt ; else in stead of taking satisfaction , you doe vengeance .

In the eighth of S. Iohn , the Scribes tell that a Ioan 8. married woman was taken napping in another mans bosome : a shrewd fault . The husband and his friends must needs be revenged : the Chancellours Court suddenly censured , that with stones shee should bee scratcht to death , for having defiled her marriage bed . Thus in hurly burly they came all unto Iesus , who saw them then newly acting mad anger : for it was but modò apprehendimus , they were even then newly entred into the action . And Iesus will act unto them the cure : first hee goes about to looke a little time ; Iesus must needs stay them , whilest digito scribebat in terra , whilest he doth write ; and what doth Iesus write ? no man hath yet told : let me ghesse , Iesus did write the foure and twentie letters of Antenodorus : I say Iesus only aimed to get a little time , for them to think first what they were going about , that they should not goe kill a bodie so suddenly .

Thus , whilest Iesus was writing his 24. Letters in that little time , the accusers perchance reflected , they might have done wiser not to have made the matter so publique ; before it was onely the wives hurt , now it became the husbands disgrace , the childrens infamie . The witnesses also reflected , such as bee so busie to have others ●ives punished , should think upon their owne faults , for thereby lawes may bee brought to call upon them with a smart reckoning : And so with a little pause on the matter , but whilest Iesus writ 24. Letters , the quarrell was quite ended , those that challenged the woman , put up their weapons and turned their backes ; that when Iesus having ended his scribebat , lifted up his hand to give order for entring the lists of Iustice , there was no body to go with the woman to the field .

Are you so angry and offended ? give me then but a little time , you cannot loose much by it , you shall get to know whether it be fitting what you go about ; yeeld me a little stay ; your delay at least shall leave your mischiefes the fewer : it shall shew you how to hurt another , with least harme to your selfe . And peradventure you may find more : for it is ever true , that Remedia in remissionibus morborum prosunt ; at the Sen. de ira . declining of the burning ague of anger , Doctor Reason doth use to prescribe her Physicke . And so sometime you may chance to forget to quarrell by a little delay of quarrelling ; so it hath happened unto many : when anger is going out , is the best time to cure it .

If no way can helpe you , if nothing can stay you , but you will to the field suddenly to a Duell ; then fare you well , and call upon the gallowes , as you come home : if you be so happy , as to live , as to come to it .

Point . 7 Antidote . 7. If nothing can serve , there is a tree will serve you .

DElictorum impunitas saith the Stoicke , homines facit audaciores ad malum . Certainely had Law beene rightly executed against Duellers , they had never growne to that head and number as they are now adaies . I aime not to draw Princes to the edge of severity , which ever have in them discreet mercy for companion . But thus I presume to speak ; if ever severitie were to walke alone , it should bee to the house of the Dueller : for the tender love to humane bloud doth bid you spill it , for to spare the further spilling of it . Heavens stop nothing : let then , when the love of Powers on earth , look about them

Democritus maintained , there were two Gods ; no more , and cared little for either ; Paena and Praemium , one a Punisher , and another a Rewarder . And Duellers , I beleeve , do a little Democratize from the rewarder God , which inhabites the heavens ; the Dueller expecteth no great Preferment , and so that God hee little regardeth . As for the other God , the Punisher , who raigneth upon earth , and men commonly call the King , as soone as hee is a little out of the way ; the Dueller thinkes he can shift , and so he cares not what mischiefes he doth unto mankinde : therefore the Punisher , God or his rod , should stirre abroad somthing the oftner .

If youth were once perswaded , that whensoever they make a challenge , their life is ended , their thread is spunne , and must needs either be cut by the sword , or crackt on the gallows : their heads must off ; either by their enemy , or by the hang-man : certainly youth would never enter into Duels . For life is sweet , and none will cast away all hopes of keeping it ; if one way they hazzard it , yet some way they still hope to save it . Men say , they fight for honour , but who cares for honor after death ? not the Dueller . Let him vaunt his fancy , I will but smile at it : and thinke even those that you brag have cast themselves away for honor , either did it to be rid of loathsom life , or yet hoped to escape and live to inioy the glory of their proffer .

It was wittily discoursed by the wisest of the Philosophers ; the Bull roareth and rageth against the Mastives : some hee worieth , others he killeth , and most he woundeth : you stand by and laugh , because whiles the Bull thus layeth about him , the butcher expecteth , and the combat ended , the Victor Bull is carried away to the slaughter . Even so , Duellers , they fight , they kill , they keep a roaring like bulls ; the officers laugh , and looke about them , and soone after the fight ended , the Dueller Victor is to be led by a coward to the gallowes ▪ If our times do tell you it is not so , then give humble love leave , to drop a teare , and whisper : young spirits may sport at bull baiting , but greedy gaine should not doe so at duelling : let humane bloud rise to a dearer esteeme : let that bloud fall like another Nilus , with such noise , such cries for vengeance , that those which si● at the bankes of Iustice ( before whom these bloudy streams must come ) be ever deafened unto prices and praiers ; else time may warrant vices , to set fury a worke , a taske for the extirpation of mankind , to rid the earth of men , for a piece of money .

To talke to you here of things beyond the Moon : of a most great God , of a most strict Iudge ; to come neere you , and speake of a most severe punishment , an eternall smart laied on by a hand so heavie , that at one blow , it could strike all the Divels , from the highest of the Heavens , to the lowest Centre of the earth ; were to talke to you Non-sence : ( therefore here in a corner , I ioyne gallows and goodnesse together as equally pleasing you ) they may be pretty stories to tell women and children ; but you will fight with the Divell himselfe ; nay , God doth wisely to stand out of your way , within doores in his heaven , there you meane not trouble him ; nor I my self with you any longer , rill you learne more wit .

FINIS .