To the Gouernour Angulo , declaring many good doctrines , with other consolations to such as are Widowers .

THe fourth of Ianuary , I receyued your letters , which standing albeit more vpon varietie of wordes then necessitie of matter , yet they well expressed your setled grauetie , and no lesse resembled our auncient friendshippe . Amongest other things bearing prayse to your behauiour , I am glad you haue forsaken the warres , and giuen ouer the regiment of Nanarre , for that I hold those people hard to reclaime , and not easie to gouern : And in this common absence of oures , albeit we could not conueniently communicate in the state and parts of our priuat conuersation , yet , for that you were employed out of the realme , I remayned alwayes in desire to knowe howe you kept societie with fortune , because such are the checkes and mutations which she bringes generally vppon the people of the world , that she neither dissembleth with the straunger , and much lesse pardoneth such as be naturall . For which cause Cicero writing to his friend Attiquus , restrayneth one friend to wishe to an other more then these thrée things , Three desires amongest friends to enioye health , to possesse honour , and not to suffer necessitie , the same well expressing a Christian modestie , and truly agréeing with humaine reason : For , to him that hath sufficiencie to furnish the vse & necessitie of his life , what remaineth to be required more ? who enioyeth continuall health , lacketh nothing to make vp the ful felicitie of his worldly delites : & what can that man haue lost in this worlde who neuer lost the reputation of honour ? Therefore , neyther I for you , nor you to me , are bound to desire more one for an other , then to haue health for the solace of our transitory time : to enioye a compotent measure of wealth for the administration of our life : and to be raised to honour by the which we may retayne reputation : For , as all other thinges are passed to vs by fortune , not to honour vs , but to affront vs , So , sir , I wish you this moderation , to rest contented with that which God hath bestowed of you , and giue him often recompence of humble thankes for taking you out of so many daungers : for , as much do we owe to God for the daungers from which he deliuereth vs , as for the great wealth & dignities wherevnto he hath alwayes raised vs .

The propertie of Gods loue towards vs . God is so good and loues vs with so swéete affection , that alwayes he requireth vs , continually he doth vs good , neuer ceasseth to visite vs , and seldome spareth to aduertise vs : yea , he handleth vs not as our offences deserue , but as his mercie willeth : euill should it stand with vs sniners if , with the rod of sinne , God should do present iustice , séeing that such is the horrer and infamie of sinne , that if imediatly with the fact , God would put vs to punishments , our soules would be caried forthwith into the bottomes of hell .

As it is suffred in the high and hidden secretes of God , to dissemble some things , to pardon others , and correct the rest : so let vs remember that God vseth no small mercie to hym whom he chastiseth in this worlde , since that , to whome hée giues no affliction , it séemes he is of him much forgotten : Therefore when God administreth to vs diseases , sorrowes , deathes , and infelicities , they be not thinges wherewith hée chastiseth vs , but necessarie matters by the which he visiteth our fraile condicion : wherein his intention is not to loase vs , but to admonish vs : not to make vs stumble , but to holde vs from falling : not to poyson vs , but to purge vs : not to make vs slide into sinne , but to call vs to amendement of behauiour : so that with this full measure of bountie and mercie , he giues vs not onely that which we aske , but prepares vs more to that which he would we should demaund of him : this giues me occasion to smile that our power being little , our selues so small a thing , and our knowledge so slender , yet we thinke and conster to great importance all our enterprises , when in déede , that which in our opinion wée holde most profitable , takes sometime a contrary habit , and becomes most hurtfull and against vs .

By meanes whereof , the Lorde , with good reason vsing his wonderfull mercie , takes from vs those occasions wherewith we may offend him , and leades vs in the exercise of such thinges as stand vs in most stéede to serue him .

God deales in one sort with the Christian sinner , and in an other maner with the iust man : to the sinner , he pardoneth his offence , and from the iust , he takes away the occasions to sinne : by which , we finde that we stand more déepely bound to him which suffreth vs not to fal , then to him that lendes vs his hand to helpe vs vp againe . This much ( sir ) to instruct you in patience for the losse of so good a wife , whose death , if you lament in the office of a good husband , I haue not ben without my sorow , according to the dutie of a faithfull friend : And albeit there is no doubt but your wife was a right worthy member of a noble house , and therewithall plentifully replenished with euery condicion appertayninge to the vertue and modestie of a woman , yet since in her creation she brought with hir a subiection to death , I thinke your wisedome is too great , to make that grieuous to you , which nature ordeyneth common to all : yea if in your wife were fully filled a full example of all perfection , That , that is common to all , ought not to be intollerable to one . you can not in better sort expresse your zeale , then to suffer God to haue his will without grudge : And if you reioysed in the vse of so happie a wife whilest she liued , let your gladnes still continue , for that you hope she is now happely layde vp wyth God , with whom this is one familiar propertie , that the more honest we be , the lesse while we liue , for that being deare to him he doth the sooner drawe vs to his kingdome . I knowe that in your wife , God had expressed a spirit of great méekenesse to you , made her very acceptable to her neighbours , most plawsible to your parents , & very pitifull to the poore , wherein by how much she was agréeable to all and her nature hurtfull to none , by so much haue you to hope that shée is already in the way to hir saluation . But séeing she is dead , and now set in the place of Gods eternall appointment , and since in the world is no power eftsones to raise her , let her rest at quiet in the ioyes of Paradise , and resort you hereafter to a resolute patience . Become imediatly carefull for your life , and leaue of those funeralles , and vayne ceremonies for the dead , séeing that if God hath fulfilled his will to call her to him , it is to place her in his tabernacle of eternall rest , and leauing you still in the world , he doth it to none other end but to giue you time of amendement : For where God promiseth to man long and many daies , it is vnder this warning , that he giue order to the correction of his life . Many times haue I spoken , and written , that the sounde and noyse of Belles , doth not so much benefite the dead , as do good to those that liue , for that as the dead , béeing wythout sence are also voyde of nature and habilitie to resume remorse , so to such as liue the Belles giue warning of death , as those that are alreadie departed , yea they pronounce that we shall all be buried , as such as are alreadie put in the graue , and no more remembraunce remayne of vs then of them that lie couered with claye : which makes mée still maintaine , that albeit to the dead the Belles are merly vnprofitable , yet , to the liuing , they serue as officers to somon vs to the fatall banquet . They call vs to prepare our reckoning , and make vs readie to appeare afore our soueraigne iudge to heare our sentence : yea they put vs in remembrance of the last houre of our miserable life , and then as I knowe none that wish to haue bene Emperours , so there is no doubt but many desire to haue liued in the state of poore heardsmen : But now to perswade with you somewhat familiarlie , aswell to witnesse my good will , as to warne your frailtie , I wishe you to vse patience , not so much to expresse your grauetie , as to solace the heauinesse of your minde : and by so much haue you néede to cal for aid to the spirite of God , by how much the greatnes of your losse séemes to excéede the resistance of flesh and bloud : consider that to render retribucion is a dutie of nature , and a debt to be payed either in youth , in age , or at other season , and that not in the hand and discretion of man , but at the will and good pleasure of God , with whom we haue no power to contend , for that the thinges which he commaundeth ought to be accomplished , and what he willeth , is well worthy to be approued , being impossible that he should exact any vniust thing , he that is euen the selfe supreame and souereigne iustice . Be it ( sir ) that you are sory for her death , of whom can you redemaund your losse but of death , against whom there is neyther prescription nor authoritie : It is he in whom is wrought the very effect and stipend of sinne , and it is he that is the fearefull tirant ouer the world , Death the very effect and stipend of sinne . who yéeldes no compassion to the teares of men , takes no care of their sighes , scornes at their complaints , and playeth with their afflictions : he maketh great kinges fall as lowe as the ground : he deuides their principallities , destroyeth their heyres : he confoundes the proude and mightie , and rayseth the humble and méeke : hée neither pardoneth old men , nor pitieth the young sort : yea he hath authoritie to call all men to reckoning , and no man to demaund reason of him . The Philosopher Secundus , being asked what death was , Aunswered that it was an eternall sléepe , a terror of riches , a desire of the miserable , What death is . a seperation of friends , a voyage vncertaine , a robber of men , a beginning of those that liue , and an end of such as die . Death hath this absolute libertie to enter where hee list without knocking at the gate : condemne whom he will & not heare them speake , and carie away what he thinkes good , without that euen the highest authoritie either can or dare resist him . Yea , we must be pleased with what he leaueth vs , and not complaine of that he takes from vs .

I doubt not but it is grieuous to you to féele the want of so deare a wife , aswell for the solace of your person , as direction of your house and children : but séeing the chaunces of mortall creatures do shew that al men are subiect to the law of nature and fortune , All men subiect to the lawe of nature and fortune . and that of necessitie this must passe so : put on a good countenaunce to the world , and shake of all inward heauines of mind , séeing the care of thinges impossible is vaine and only proper to weake men : you know also that in this troublesome life , many mo in number are the things that amaze vs , then those that hurt vs : And therfore to wéepe much , to sigh often , to sorrowe alwaies , to weare attire of dule , to flée societie of friends , to retire into desolate & priuat places , & to delite in solitarines , be , in one of your grauetie , matters more to be rebuked , then affected , séeing , that as too great ioye estrangeth the heart into the like , so , for the most part much parplexitie & sorrow , bring with them the effect of dispaire : You ought not for the death of your wife , to be negligent in the administration of your house , carelesse in the state of your health , forgetfull to entertaine the reputation of your honour , nor vnmindful to direct your reuenue : For the passions and afflictions of the hart , Passions of the minde cured with the longnesse of time . are neuer cured by newe grieues , but with the longnesse of time . One of the greatest trauels that we suffer in this transitory race , is , that sorowes & grieues enter our harts sodainly , which afterwards we cannot expell but with great time and vertue : And therfore we ought not at the first to vrge a troubled minde to forget his paine , but rather to perswade to moderate it : for that at the beginning the mind receiueth more comfort in debating the harme , then in speaking of the remedie : And therefore to a mind afflicted with gréene sorrowes , the best remedy is to deferre them , vntill by time they be more apt to receiue consolation : For as tract of time carieth with it a law of forgetfulnes of things past , so to a hart grieued , The remedie of a heart grieued . the true & souereigne plasters , are , temperance , time , & forgetfulnes : So that , neither because you are a widower , nor in respect of your passions , you ought to commit to negligence the order of your person nor the nouriture of your children : for as it is no small fully to wéepe for the dead whom we haue no power to recouer , so it can not but be a great madnesse to be carelesse of them that liue standing in the way of perdicion : withall , no man is bound to raise vp againe such as are dead , but euery one is tied to this dutie , to giue succours to them that liue . I hope ( sir ) you wil not lay afore you the example of your neighbour & friend Roderico , who assone as he was in the state of a widower , put the coole on his head , eate not vppon any table cloth , was not serued in vessell of siluer , tooke not his seate in a chaire , was not séene to looke out of a windowe , in two monthes did not wash his face , and in a whole yeare did not lie out of his cloathes : All which I alleadge to you not so much to condemne Roderico for his follie past , as to put you in remembrance that to continue in ceremonies , is to offend god , and abuse the reputation of a wise man . One of the greatest benefites that a man can haue in this life , is , to be thankfull to Gods prouidence and not to attribute any thing to fortune . The resolute man is neyther chaunged by a froward fortune , nor raised into presumption by any prosperitie , but standes as a trée well rooted which albeit is shaken with diuerse windes , yet none can make it fal : And be it that aduersitie make some mutation in goods , yet it ought not to exchange the person , & much lesse haue power ouer our wisedome : For the shamefast & noble mind loseth much more in loasing that he deserueth , then if he lost al the goods he was possest of : by which reason I accompt that no losse which falles in transitory goods , if , with the losse of them , hée recouer his shame and wisedome : for let not that man thinke he hath found little , which hath found himselfe : it is a thing to be wondered at , and no lesse worthy of slaunder that for the losse of any thing of right meane value , men omit no paine nor cost to recouer it : but if they loase shame , patience , continencie , yea and conscience too , they will neither be sory for losing them nor make great search to recouer them . Oh corrupt nature of oures , which cares not how we faile , & makes lesse reckoning to go the right way , and that which worse is , after we haue folowed error , and falne from a faire path into a foule puddle , we will not onely not search to find our selues , but ( according to our full wickednesse ) we will not sée nor confesse that we are lost . All things in this world ( what vile and base estimation so euer they beare ) we do not only make care and cost to kéepe them , but also séeke out others to ioyne with vs for their safetie , except our selues : who not only forbeare to watch and kéepe our selues , but also we search others to helpe to loase vs . I wish you for end , that you giue ouer to be priuat , and enter into the discharge of the requestes and legacies of your wife : so shall you expresse a dearer remembrance of hir , then with al the funerall ceremonies you can vse : for as she kéepes now no reckoning whether you are serued vpon a table , at in a chaire , or vse your other obseruations of dignitie , so , you can not yéeld a more worthy recompence to the affection she bare you , then to visite hospitalles , and haunt sermons , and rather expresse the office of a true Christian , then mourne in the habite of a pitifull wydower .

From Logronio the xj . of August . 1523.

To Sir Peter Giron , banished into Oran , comforting such as liue in exile .

IT is written in the wonderfull visions of the prophet Daniel , that two Angels disputing afore God , the one mayntained that it was not méete to put the Hebrues in libertie , least they were conuerted to the Persians , and the other proued it necessary to giue them licence , to the ende they might do Sacrifice & reedifie the temple of Ierusalem : by which may be inferred , that , that which amongest the wicked is called stubburnes , with the good sort is named zeale . This I write to bring into discourse the contents of your Fathers Letter and yours , in which I finde such contraritie , that it is harde to Iudge which is greater , eyther the sorowe of the Father , or the constant minde of the Sonne : the Father expressed great heauinesse seing his Sonne sent into Exile , vsing the nature of a pitifull Father , and the Sonne ( according to the propertie of a noble minde ) beares this disgrace without grudge or griefe : if this banishement had pleased your Father , and you likewise had declared signes of disdaine and dispight , he had abused the dignitie of a father , and you transgressed the law of a valiant Knight : but seing you both perfourm that which you ought , you haue no reason to distrust of that which you desire : For my part , to satisfie the dutie I owe to the one , and exercise the good will I beare to the other , I thought it agréeing with your estate , and my profession , to recommend vnto you these Particuler instructions , which if you finde Tedius to read , you shall at least féele wholesome to obserue , specially conteyning poyntes of Consolation in your present banishement : Now is the time wherein you are to call into exercise your Auncient wisedome to gouerne you , your setled discretion to minister consolation , and your valiant minde to entertaine the reputation of your honour by some worthie enterprise which thrée thinges if you omit , you shall be holden a banished man euen in your owne Citie , where putting them in execution being exiled , you shall be sure to encrease the renowne of a valiant knight . It is a verteous disposition to yéelde compassion to the afflicted , but nature most of all doth chalenge it of those , The bonde of a friend . who prouing an estate of necessitie , haue founde comfort in others . And albeit one friend can owe no more to another , then to remedie his necessities , & comfort his aduersities : yet the wordes of a friend do giue lyfe to the hart of his friend , if to the same be ioyned effectes of true affection : and as prosperitie and aduersitie haue such societie by kinde , that the one followeth the other as the shadow doth the man , Prosperit & aduersitie haue societie together by nature . so also such perplexities as are fastened within a hart are hardly fogotten but with the passions of another mind the languisheth , according to this example : At the death of the only sonne of Diomedes the Gréeke ( and vppon whome depended the possibilitie of succession ) there appeared to this mourning father many affections of many his noble friends : amongst the presse of others that came to visit and comfort his sorrowes , there resorted a pore woman demaunding iustice : Diomedes , seing her wéepe , & as it were accompanie him in his sorrowfull moodes , & his other friendes to deliuer only reasons of consolation without teares , tolde them the albeit his eares had receiued the impression of their words , yet none had made passage into his hart but the sorrowful compassion of that simple woman , in whome I haue receiued ( sayth he ) somuch the more comfort , by how much I sée her hart suffereth the selfe same sorrowes which by effect I féele . According to the conformitie of this aunswere ( sir ) you may iudge my disposition , & therwithal take occasion to giue faith to my wordes , & belieue the affection of my hart : for by the fayth of a friend I sweare vnto you , that as I haue always folowed you with an vnfeined zeale , so your present misfortune stands in such compassion with me , that if to my want were ioyned welth , & with my wil were matched conuenient libertie , you should know that though I am innocent of your fault , yet I would be partner of your paine : or if as you stand in ful power to distribute & dispose your goods , you had also the facultie to impart your perplexities , the world shuld be iudge whether my frendshp stretch to affect your goods , or to communicate with your fortune & calamitie : And as I cannot but confesse that you haue always expressed towards me one perpetual nobilitie & bountie of mind , so I hope you wil not denie but I haue retributed that recompence which belongs to the power of so poore a friend : But as I know you haue this propertie in nature to kepe in continual memorie the good turnes you receiue of others , so , if I forget the benifites which you haue bestowed of me , let my profession suffer indignitie by the which I holde the countenaunce of my reputation : & so wil I wade no further in protestation , since great offers are vsed amongst staungers , and good déedes ought to be familiar with true meaning friendes : I know this banishement may bréede you some conceyt by the opinion which this court may haue of you , and I doubt not but asmuch the Ioye of your enimies will dispight you , as the displeasure of your friendes will grieue you , for that ( in a chance of calamitie ) most men are more sorie for the their enimies can say , then for the martirdome they indure . Plutarke in his Apothegmes , recites of a famous Captaine and Louer of the Lacedemoniens , to whome a certaine Reader of the Atheniens , making his complaint , that the men at Armes in his Camp reproched them of Athens , answered that as the thing that is well kept is hardely lost , & that nothing prouokes the thiefe sooner then necligence , so , if the Atheniens had tied care and Circumspection to their wordes and Actions , they had neither falne into the Mouthes of the Lacedemoniens , nor feared their malice : Job saith Factus sum mihi met ipsi grauis , meaning that the misaduentures and disgraces which happen to vs for the most part , our selues doe search them : For as the power of fortune is to do more harme in one hower , then good in many Hundreth yeares , so when the chaunge falleth , it blindes our eyes that we cannot deserne it , and binds our handes that we cannot helpe it , Men are the instruments of our owne mishapes . making vs Instruments euen against our selues in the execution of our proper mishap : But for your part ( Sir ) if you had eyther followed my direction , or ioyned your selfe to the aduise of the Constable your deare vncle , the ignorance and rashnesse of your hoate youth , had not caried you thus far to your own ruine , yea , you had preuented that which now wyth payne you suffer . The vengeance which you sought to take ought not to be grounded vpon so small occasion , séeing oftentimes reason demaundes execution of a thing , which time will not suffer to be done , by which meane are spoyled many particuler causes , not for that they were not iust , but because they were not followed in season , for as conuenient is the obseruation of time & place to prosecute a businesse , as in due season to throw the séede into the earth to the end to haue a good haruest : therefore in your quarrell or pretence of action to the Dukedom of Medina Sidonia , much better had it become the vertue of a noble Gentleman , and farre more suretie to your title , to haue demaunded it in Parliament by iustice , then to recommend your selfe to the Bishop of Camore : I haue often tolde you that tyrants committe their triall to Armes , Tirantes vse triall by armes , but the iust sort referre their causes to the arbitrement of the Lawes . and the iust sort referre their causes to the arbytrement of the Lawes : Euen so , when I sawe you ioyne your selfe to the good Bishop , I felt great coniecture of the ill successe of your cause , in which I doubted not but he would rayse occasion to vndoe you , that earst made no conscience to put in perill the whole Realme , disobey the king , deceiue his confederates & dissemble euen with his own opinion . For where in one man doe méete incertaintie of affection , and malice of nature , there is no other hope in that man , then distrust , Periurie , wordes , and reuenge : I put you in remembrance of all these , more to reprehende you then to comfort you , and with all to reduce to your knowledge , that if you suffer any present affliction , thinke it is for no offence presently committed , but for the falt that then you did : for as euery offence hath his punishement , so God being bound to no time vseth to visit our olde insolencies , euen whom we accompt our selues most innocent : More 〈◊〉 is it to your wise friendes , to suffer your banishment obeying the Prince , then to sée you Duke of Medina with the displeasure of his Maiestie : and farre better shal you expresse that which is loked for of you , if simplie you attribute to the infirmitie of your discretion , that which in good equitie cannot but carie the very nature and habite of a great falt . Oh how well doth it become the reputation of a valiant knight to deserue to be holden gratious in the sight of his prince , and with good and true seruices , to enterteine the estate and fauour he hath of him , expressing alwayes this true effect and example of readie obedience , that if eyther in the court , the Kingdome , or any dominion of the Prince , there moue any faction , trouble , quarrell , tumult or mutinie : he may with libertie be heard speake , and giue occasion to be employed : but not of himselfe to practice secreat confederacie , nor yet without Authoritie to intrude himselfe into the councell or managing of affayres of estate : For the businesse of kingdomes conteyne in them many secret difficulties , more daungerous to be reformed , then easie to wéeld , which we sée dayly in sundry common weales euil gouerned , & worse reformed , for that , for the most part , the popular sort is ready to reuolt , and very hard to be appeased : great paine had Catiline to reforme Rome , Socrates Athens , Ptolome Pentapolis , Promotheus Egipt , and Plato the Siciliens : But in the ende of all these enterprises , where some of these noble men escaped death , the rest suffered banishement , & their comonweales notwithstanding in more broyle then before : But now to the matter of your exile , and the remedies proper to men in your fortune , In which if I satisfie not your passion , I doubt not but the lawe of our frendship will leade you to iudge wel of my reasons , assuring you that I had rather succour you then comfort you . For banished men . Weying ( Sir ) with your present condition being banished in Afrika , the consideration that you are of the frée Countrey of Spaine , I doubt not but the remembrance of the pleasures you haue passed in Spaine , will make this exchange more painfull to you being now restrained in Afrika , for the loue of our countrey is so naturall to vs and we so partiall in our proper affections , that albeit fortune make vs forsake our natiue countrey , yet nature will neuer suffer vs to for get it : yea so great a vehemencie hath the loue which most men beare to their naturall clymates , that they wil rather endure any iniury against their personnes , then to heare their countreys euill spoken of the same parcialitie proceding for that men do not acknowledge that they are of the earth , liue in the earth , and must returne to the earth : when there is nothing belonging to them , but the which they cary with them to their graue , Socrates instructed his disciples not to atribute to themselues any particuler place or countrey : for ( sayth he ) albeit the eternall prouidence giues vs peculiar meanes to cloath vs , & priuate houses to defend the iniurie & passions of the ayre , yet nature hath left to vs all in common the vniuersall earth , which since , by the ambicion of men hath bene diuided into Cantles . Plutarke , in his booke of exile reports that Hercules the Thebain , being asked by the Sidoniens of what countrey he was , aunswered : I am neyther of Thebes , Athens , nor Licaonia , but naturally of the whole countrey of Greece : Socrates séemes to be of the same opinion to the great Sacrificator Architus , by whom being asked of what place he was , he aunswered : that he was borne in the world , & a natural heire of al the world : Plutarke rehearseth also that in the Ile of Cobde in Greece , was a Linage of Grecians called Agites , discended of the notable Greeke Captaine called Agis the good : amongst these Agites this law was specially obserued , that none durst call himselfe natural of the Ile , vnlesse he had done some valiant act , meaning the it is the countrey that ought to be commended for bringing forth such men , & not the people to be praysed to be eyther of this or that Region . So that ( Sir ) for my part , ioyning my selfe to the maner of these Ilande men , me thinkes I haue greater reason to estéeme you a valiant Affrikan Captaine , then a verteous Spanishe knight , seing that the honour which you lost in Spaine , you haue recouered in Affrika : yea , if you conferre the vanities which you vsed in Spaine , with the exercise you follow now in Affrika , you shall finde that banishment , better then ease , doth lead you to iudge of the precious value & estimation of time , yea , it will minister this discretion to you that if you féele any passion , it will appeare to you more by opinion , then by reason . In Spayne you wer noted to be a painefull follower of the pleasures of the fielde , a pleasaunt deuiser with Ladies , a swéete companion at sumtuous Banquites , giuen ouer to the disorders of the Court , to go to bedde at midnight and rise at mid day , all which though they be delightes of a young courtier , yet they are no exercises of a valiant knight , for the titles , and vertuous renownes of our Auncestors , were not gotten by enterprises of Hawking and Hunting , but with seruing theyr kings in the daungers of warres : The exercise which we are tolde you follow now in Orane , as to be sturring earlie , to breake your fast standing and whilest your Armour is in lacing , to be readie with the formost to distresse the Turkes , to acquaint your eare with the Musicke of the tromppet , to be painefull to march , and discréete to follow , and in all enterprises , to giue example of courage to your Soldiours : out of these differences you may gather whether it is more agréeable to your renowne , and profitable to your estate , to be estéemed a valiant Captain , or an Amorous Courtier : besides , in Spaine you could but recyte the déedes of others , & now the whole court is in discourse of the daungers you escape . Writers of histories are tied to the factes of perticuler men , and to expresse in their Cronicles that in such a time , such a thing was done , in such a season , such an enterprise perfourmed : but it belonges to the honour of a good knight not only to say I was a leader in such a war , but also to bear vpon his body the signes of the perilles he had past : So that in consideration of the Successe of this Banishement , I sée not but it is a Fortune necessarye , Happie is the punishment by the which we are passed into greater perfection . and an Estate working glorye to your Howse , and géeues no occasion of gréeffe to your personne : For right Blessed is that Marterdome by whose Paynes wée are passed into greater perfection : The Consull Siluanus holding part wyth the SILLANS , in full Senate reproched Marius scornefully that he was to ambicious of honour , being so base of linage : To whome Marius aunswered , I confesse ( sayth he ) that thou art more aunciently discended then I , euenso I cannot deny but that I am betrer man then thou , because , where thy house is not furnished but with painted Armories which thou hast inherited of thy Auncesters , thou mayest sée in mine many streaming ensignes which I haue woonne with the perill of my lyfe : Then thinke your selfe happie , for that in Spaine you were no better then Siluanus , but in Affrika you are equall in Prowes with Marius , with whome , in place of painted Armories where with you were woont to hang your house in Spaine , you shall now retourne not onely with ensignes besprent with bloud , but also expressing your triumphes ouer the common enimie of Christian fayth . There hath bene in the Ages past many great Personages , who no lesse desirous of renowne , then willing to win it by vertue , did not onely not grudge when they were Banished by Authoritie , but also of themselues and for themselues made a willing choise of exile , following the opinion and example of the right worthie Captaine Alcibiades , who in his Familiar deuice was woont to say , that fewe men in their naturalitie or simple nature become verteous : but the most sort following the passions of nature slide into many vices , according to the experience of a trée farre brought and newe replanted , which bringes forth fruite of farre more swéete and precious tast then others : euenso more glorie & renowne doe follow Noble men and mindes resolute in straunge and farre regions , then in their proper naturall countreys : yea , they had rather die poore abroade , then returne home loaden with wealth , and light with honour . Was not king Pirrhus borne in a village of Athens , and afterwardes was called Pirrhus the Epirote for that he vanquished that people ? was not the good Scipio bredde vp in a towne of Campania , to whome after was added the Surname of Affricanus as subduing those Regions ? Octauius Augustus wss nourished in village of Belistre , and after was raysed to the title of Octauius Germanicus , because he triumphed ouer the Almaines , & the good Titus was found in a poore village of Campania , and after was called Titus Palestinus , for preuailing ouer the Palestines : infinite is the number of such as haue sought fame in forraine regions , but more immortal & perpetual is the memorie of the enterprises which by the greatnesse of their courage they atchieued : For as no Fortune can resist him to whome nature hath giuen magnanimitie of minde : No fortune can resist him to whom nature hath giuen magnanimitie of minde . so whether at home or abroad , who is more wretched then he that estéemes himselfe vnhappy by the reputation of his courage . Many & many were the personages in the worlde past , who springing of base & darke place , of small renowne , and lesse wealth , haue , with the Fortune of their Banishment in countreyes , far remoued , euolted their linage , brought honor to their countreys , reputation to their posteritie , & riches to themselues . The valiant Themistocles & great captaine Phalaris , with great ignominie to their persons & spoyle of their goods , were banished out of Athens , & chased out of al Greece : yet such equitie of méede followed their iust vertues , that by the grace & fauour of king Ptolome in Alexandria , they retourned home with no lesse fame & honour to their countrey , they loaden with riches to the encrease of their familie : yea , Themistocles , vsed oftentimes to say familiarly to his wyfe & children , Perieramus omnino nisi perijssemus , as who say , if they had not bene passed into the perplexities of banishment , they had vtterly perished : for fortune oftentimes playes with banished men as doth the distiller of waters with his glasses or earthen pottes , whome he takes downe , not to breake or leaue them , but to fill them and set them vp : with this example , we may apply the misfortune of Joseph the son of Jacob , in whose fall was wrought the meane to the Jsraelites , that afterwards he was made Lord ouer the whole countrey of Egipt , & helper of the Hebrewes : That which somtimes séemes to a man heauy & sorrowfull , becomes oftentimes the meane of his comfort & gladnesse , and the same that in the beginning séemeth to worke his disgrace , bréedes at last the very effect of his desired fortune : euen as to him that thinkes himselfe in the right path , it happeneth the he is out of the way , as others suposing themselues to be misse led & gone astray , are notwithstanding in the high way to their felicitie : Camilla for a disgrace happening to him in Rome , was banished into Campania , where his vertues & seruice in the warres of that countrey succeded so happelie with him , that he retourned to Rome not as an offender , but in great triumph as Emperour : The iust & noble Emperour Traian , being banished out of Italie and withdrawne to the Citie of Agrepina , was addopted Heir of the empire there by the Emperour Nerua , his vncle , who communicated with him the ensignes of the Emperiall estate : by which chaunge & chaunce of fortune , Traian would often say to his familiars , that the bāishment which Domitian iudged him to , was his onely solicitor to the Empire . All these histories togither with the examples aswell of such as chused banishment to winne true renowne , as of others the fell into exile by falt & sentence , I haue reduced ( sir ) to your memorie , to the end that by their wisedome you should take comfort , and in their courage folow the example of their enterprises : for as the doings of others are but warninges to vs to direct well our estates : so it cannot be but vaine to represent vnto you the banishments they suffered , if you expresse not in your fortune the resolute minde which led them to the throane of their estimation : if you shew the true value & constancie of minde duely aperteining to a christian knight , you may with the oportunitie of the warres now against the Turke ; deserue to returne to Spain with as great honour : as Camilla was receiued into Rome : it behoueth you in that war of Affrique , to be liberall , secret , couragious , & modest , so shall all such as are sorie for the falt you haue made here , be recompensed with gladnesse in the effectes of your worthy behauiour there . Say with Diogenes , that as they banishe you out of Spaine , so you banish them out of Affrique , so , shall they in short time returne to compassion for that they make you to suffer , & you in the mean while beare with patience the iniurie you suppose is done to you : Men not accustomed to aduersitie haue least rule ouer their passions . For men not accustomed to aduersitie haue least rule ouer their passions , and such as neuer felt but prosperitie , can little iudge of the worthinesse of patience : I pray you vse this modestie in the letters you write hither , that neyther the King may perceiue that you are gréeued wyth his sentence , nor your ennimies vnderstande your euill lyking to that place : For no lesse will they reioyce to heare you abhorred there , then they were readie to procure your banishement from your friendes and countrey here .

Such ( Sir ) as suffer exile , Priueledges of banished men . haue many notable priueledges which being incident to men , in the estate , it is necessary you know some , to the end you may take benifit of the best : it is a prorogatiue to men exiled , the they stand in grace of pitie with euery one , and seldome maliced of any , for that in common experience men most naturally beare grudge to such as liue in wealth , and pitie such as are farre remoued from their comfort . Banished men during the time of their restraint are exempted from all importunities of such as borrow money , since no man néedes to doubt but the man exiled hath for the most part , want of money , & plentie of perplexities : such as are banished haue libertie to borrow of others without eyther blushing or blot of conscience , for that their goods are confisked , & they far from the succour of their friendes , they are the men that most stand néede of the compassion of the worlde .

It is suffered to the banished man , to write into his countrey that he is sicke , when he enioyeth health , that he is in sorrow for his house , though he féele no remembrance therof , and that he is poore , when he hath ful plentie , and al to the end the prince should the sooner pardon his falt , and his friendes the more readilie succour his wantes .

The banished man , with out breach of honour , may be suffered to breake promise , being sufficient to acknowledge the fauors done to him , & to offer , when he is restored recompence according to the bountie of a gentleman : the banished man ( without staine to his honour ) hath libertie to liue in meane countenaunce for that amongst good men his case is pitied , & with the wise no other port expected then according to the rate & measure of his fortune .

The banished man is not subiect to the terrours of law and iustice , for the being far from his aduersaries , he may sléepe with out feare , & rise with out care : he is frée from the variable customes & complexions of his wyfe , from the griefe of the ill demeanour of his children , & from the distrust of his seruauntes , the same being such a comfort peculiar only to exiles , that many would be gladde to exchaunge their free condition , for the felicities of such Banishement .

The banished man standes exempt from all impostes & tributes , as in whose estate is sufficient griefe without necessitie of other Affliction .

The Banished man being farre from his friendes , liues not in care of their calamities , and is not called to be a partner of their Quarrelles , which libertie many séeke for , who Aunswere for many , follow many , and spend much of many , not of franke wil , but to perfourme the dutie they haue professed . Many more are the prorogatiues of exile , which you may boldly chalenge and enioy in Affrika , and we by no right can demaund in Spaine : And yet I doubt not , but more deare should be to you the kinges Pardon to returne home , then all these goodly priuiledges which to your great comfort you enioy in Affrika : For the Puddle water in our owne countrey carieth a more swéete tast , then the most pleasant fountaine in any forreine Region : Let this be your Solace for the time to serue and hope in God , to the ende he may leade the minde of the Prince to consent to your libertie , wherein there shall want no furtherance , which eyther the Authoritie of your friendes , or my continuall councell , may bring to passe .