MEE thinketh I heare a neighing and trampling of Horses without , goe HERMES , goe know what strangers there are .

Syr , yfmy sight fayle me not , it is RIGO , the principall Secretarie .

A goodly matter , scarse haue you been two dayes at home , and nowe you must be sent for agayne to the Court , perhaps to be sent abrode in some embassage .

God forbyd , iudge the best , it may be he comes to see me of curtesie and frendship .

Ah maister CONO , I am glad I haue founde you in the middes of your countrey ioyes and pleasures : Surely you are a happy man , that shifting your selfe from the troubles and turmoyles of the Court , can picke out so quiet a life , and geuyng ouer all , can secretly lye hid in the pleasant Countrey , suffering vs in the meane time to be cost and torne with the cares and businesse of the common weale .

Surely I must confesse I haue taken a happy way , yf these goddes of the Earth would suffer me to enioy suche happinesse , that haue bequeathed the troublesome and ambitious life of the Court to the bottome of the Sea. But what ? doo you intend to bring me againe to my olde troubles , being thus happily discharged ?

Nothing lesse , though I woulde be very glad you should not so hastily forsake the Court , nor ridde your selfe from the affayres of the common wealth . You know we are not borne to liue to our selues , nor at our owne pleasures : but for our countrey , our common weale and state whereto we are called . There can not be a woorse thing , then for a man to suffer his countrey forsaken , to come into the handes of villanous persons , and to reioyce with him selfe , that being out of Gunshot , he hath left the hurlie burlie of gonernment . And though Cato had no neede of Rome , yet Rome and Cato his freendes had neede of hym .

I graunt you , as long as yeeres and strength wyll beare it , wee are bound to serue in our vocation : but as you your selfe are driuen to confesse , there is sometime a reasonable cause of geuing ouer . Lucullus is highly commended , Lucullus . that whyle his body was strong and lusty , he applied him selfe wholy to the seruice of his Countrey , and that after his honourable seruice both abrode and at home , in the ende he got him selfe quietly agayne to his booke . And Scipio , Scipio . who after he had conquered both Carthage and Numidia , was content rather to leaue of and rest him sel●e , then to doo as Marius dyd , who after so many woorthy victories and atchiued honours , coulde not content him selfe when he was well , but puft vp with vnmeasurable desyre of glory and gouernment , would in his olde age contend with young men , wherby he brought him selfe at the length to most miserable miserie . Surely Cicero tooke a better way by much , Ci●ero . when after the ouerthrowe of Catelins conspiracie , he rather contented him selfe to liue quietly at home , then by ambitious intermedling with the contentions of the common wealth , to bring him selfe in danger of his lyfe . The desyre of bearing rule in a common weale , is to be moderated with a certaine bounded modestie , specially in this age of ours , when Courtes are subiect to suche enuies , hatreds , flatteries , slaunders , couetous and ambitious desyres , and where no place is left for vertuousnesse and christian simplicitie . These are the thinges that droue Socrates and Plato from their common weales , and doo likewyse keepe me , being nowe of good yeeres and sickely , the Court forsaken , in this my poore cottage at home .

Yea , but age is no sufficient excuse for you to leaue the gouernyng of your countrey . You knowe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , the labour of young men , and the counsell of olde men , and how those common weales are safely alwayest guided , where olde mens heads , and young mens armes are stirryng . Father Nestor got great commendation for his counsell at the siege of Troy , Nestor . where as Peleus and Laertes were despised , and accompted for benchwhistlers at home . 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉

Some are tickled with glory : some with gaine , gifts , and rewardes , retayne the Cockrowen Courtiers , yea suche as haue one of their feete alredy in the graue . Now yf we woulde content our selues with this lyfe , and geue our selues to the true and perfect lyfe , In Princes Courtes we should not gape nor gase , Nor yll successe in sutes should vexe our mynde : No vayne nor fond deuise our eyes should dase , Nor lewde affection should our fancie blynde . All suche thynges should be left and layde asyde , Nowe lyues alas eache out of order quite : And to our shame the tyme away dooth slyde● All seeke to lyue , but none to liue vpryght . As the Poet excellently wel wryteth in his Epigram , it were the part of a mad man or a coxcome to runne headlong without any profite into danger , when as he may liue godly and quietly at home without all trouble , as our olde fathers were woont to doo .

It is very true , the Poete accompteth him blessed to whom this lyfe can happen : But in the meane tyme you are alone , and leade your lyfe with beastes , lowtes of the Countrey , and trees , that haue spent all your tyme before among wyse and honourable personages . Socrate● Socrates affyrmeth wysdome to be learned in Cities , and not among beastes and trees .

Socrates his iudgement , though I wyll not gaynesay , yet it appeareth by his disputations with Iscomachus in Xenophon , that he dyd not disalowe the Countrey mans lyfe . And as for my liuing alone , it almost happeneth here to me , as Cicero reporteth Scipio to say , that he was neuer lesse alone , then when he was alone : for being alone , I haue continuall conference with the grauest and wysest men . For eyther I apply my self wholy to the sacred oracles of the Prophetes and the Apostles , who teach the true wysedome , by which both Kinges rule , and Princes gouerne , and by which our soules ( whiche we cheefely ought to regard ) are fedde , whiche also shewe vnto vs the perfect way to that euerlastyng Court aboue : or when I list , I haue the company of the greatest Princes and Monarchies of the worlde , with whom I conferre of the doubtful state and gouernement of common weales , The vse of a solita●●● lyfe . in reading the Histories and Chronicles of the worlde , trauayling as it were throughout all nations , or readyng the woorkes of such as write in husbandrie , I occupie my minde in the beholdyng the woonderfull woorkemanship of GOD in Trees , Plantes , and Beastes , whereby in the Creature , I acknowledge the Creator . And besides these dumbe companions , my freendes come sometime to see me , sometime Gentlemen , sometime Noblemen , sometime the Prince hym selfe vouchsafeth to vnite me : so that there is scarcely any day but that some come vnto me , some for their pleasure , some for good wyll , and some for their businesse : For to my freendes and my neyghbours , I neyther denie my counsell , nor my trauayle . Therefore is it very expedient that good choyse be made of Lawyers , and discreete men for the Countrey , alwayes prouided , they geue their counsell free and without wages . Many times beside , you from the Court sende me hyther processe and arbitrementes to be tryed before me . Thus haue I in the Countrey sweeter and pleasanter company then you haue , eyther in the Court or Citie .

Tell me then I beseeche you , howe you bestowe your time , and howe you are occupied all the day ? for I doubt not but you doo as much as in you lyeth to spend the time as profitably as you may .

I wyll tell you throughly , and not dissemble with you , yf ye wyll geue me the hearing , and to begin , I wyll vse the woordes and verses of the foresaide Poete , though in other his writinges fearse honest , yet in this speaking very graue & wyse . Fyrst serued on knees the Maiestie diuine , My Seruantes next and ground I ouerlooke : To euery man his taske I doo assigne , When this is doone I get me to my booke . I vse commonly to ryse first of all mee selfe , specially in Sommer , when we loose the healthfullest and sweetest time with sluggishnesse . Aristotle accompteth early rysing to be best both for health , wealth , and studie . In the Winter yf I be loth to ryse , yf either the vn●easonablenesse of the weather , or sicknesse cause me to keepe my bed , I commit all to my Steward , whose faith and diligence I am sure of , whom I haue so well instructed , that I may safely make him my deputie , I haue also Euriclia my maide , so skilfull in huswyferie , that she may well be my wyues suffragan , these twayne we appoynt to supply our places : but yf the weather and time serue , I play the woorkemaister mee selfe . And though I haue a Bailiffe as skilfull as may be , yet remembring the olde sayeing , The best doung 〈◊〉 groun● is the ma●●ters foote . that the best doung for the feelde is the maisters foote , and the best prouender for the horse the maisters eye , I play the ouerseer mee selfe . That it is holsome to ryse betimes , I am perswaded both by the counsell of the most graue Philosophers , and besides by myne owne experience . When my Seruantes are all set to woorke , and euery man as busie as may be , I get me into my Closet to serue GOD , and to reade the holy Scriptures : ( for this order I alwayes keepe , to appoint mee selfe euery day my taske , in reading some part eyther of the old Testament or of the newe ) : that doone , I write or reade such thinges as I thinke most needefull , or dispatche what businesse so euer I haue in my house , or with Sutars abrode . A litle before dinner I walke abrode , if it be faire , eyther in my Garden , or in the Feeldes , if it be foule , in my Galerie : when I come in , I finde an Egge , a Thick , a peece of Rid , or a peece of Ueale , Fishe , Butter , and suche like , as my Foldes , my Yarde , or my Dayrie and Fishpondes wyl yeelde , sometime a Sallet , or such fruites as the Garden or Orchard dooth beare : whiche victuals without any charges my wyfe prouideth me , wherewith I content mee selfe aswell , as yf I had the dayntiest dishe in Europe . I neuer lightly sit aboue one houre at my meate : after dinner I passe the tyme with talking with my wyfe , my seruantes , or yf I haue any , with my ghestes : I rise and walke about my ground , where I viewe my woorkemen , my pastures , my medowes , my corne , and my cattel . When I am in the Countrey , I goe euery day , yf the weather be good , and no other great businesse , about my grounde : if not euery day , at the least once in two or three dayes : as often as I come to the Citie from the Countrey , I doo the like , to vnderstand howe my ground is husbanded , and what is doone , what vndoone : neither doo I euer goe about it , but some good commeth of my trauayle . In the meane whyle I beholde the woonderfull wysdome of Nature , and the incomprehensible woorking of the most mightie GOD in his Creatures , which as Cicero truely affirmeth , A●adem . ●u●st●o . lib. 1. is the delicatest foode of the Soule , and the thing that maketh vs come neerest vnto God . Here way I with mee selfe , the benefites and woonderfull woorkes of God , who bringeth foorth Grasse for th● cattell , and greene Herbe for the vse of man , that he may bring foode out of the Earth according to the Psalme . Psalm. 104. Heere he preacheth to me . The fruitefull Earth that tyld in sundry wyse , Vnto the eye her goodly fruites dooth yeelde : The Violettes sweete that eache where thicke doo ryse , And stayne with purple dye the pleasant feelde , The feelde with hearbes , the hearbes with branches braue , The glittring flowres that shine like starres of lyght , And springyng fast disclose the grace they haue , Eache hearbe with sundry flowre most sweete in syght . What woorkeman is there in the world , that is able to frame or counterfeyte suche heauenly woorkes ? Who could of a sclender grasse make Wheate or Bread , and of a tender twigge bring foorth so noble a licour as Wine ? but only that mightie Lorde that hath created all thinges visible and inuisible . With these sightes doo I recreate my mind , and geue thankes vnto GOD , the creator and conseruer of all thinges , for his great and exceeding goodnesse , I sing the song , to thee O Lorde belongeth prayses in Sion , or , praise thou the Lorde O my soule . &c. beseeching GOD to blesse the giftes that he hath geuen vs through his bounteous liberalitie , to enriche the Feeldes , and to prosper the Corne and the Grasse , and that he wyll crowne the yeere with his plenteousnesse , that we may enioy the fruites of the Earth with thankesgeuing , to the honour of him , and the profite of our neighbour . Then returning home , I goe to writing or reading , or suche other businesse as I haue : but with study , or inuention , I neuer meddle , in three houres after I haue dyned . I suppe with a smal pittans , and after supper I eyther seeldome or neuer write or reade , but rather passe the time in seeing my Sheepe come home from the Feelde , and my Oxen dragging home the Plowe with weerie neckes , in beholding the pleasant Pastures sweetely smelling about my house , or my heardes of cattel lowing hard by me : sometime I list to rest me vnder an old Holme , sometime vpon the greene grasse , in the meane time passeth by me the pleasant Riuer , the streames falling from the springes with a comfortable noyse , or els walking by the Riuer side , or in my Garden , or neerest pastures , I conferre with my Wife or Seruantes of husbandry , appointing what I wil haue doone : if my Bailiffe haue any thing to say , if any thing be to be bought or solde : for a good husband , as Cato sayth , must rather be a sellar then a byer . A good husband must r●ther be a sell●r th●n a byer . Sometimes ( specially in Winter ) after s●pper , I make my Minister to tell something out of the holy Scripture , or els some pleasant storie , so that it be honest and godly , and such as may edi●ie . Two or three houres after supper I get me to bedde , and commonly as I saide before , the last in the house , except my Chamberlayne and my Stewarde .

In the meane time being farre from the Churche , ne●ther can you heare the sermons , nor be present with your wyfe & your household at seruice : for your owne part though ye may supply the matter with reading , yet your wyfe and your seruantes can not so doo .

For my part ( without vaunt be it spoken , ) I haue seruice euery day at certaine appointed houres , where preacheth to me dayly the Prophetes , the Apostles , Basil , Chrisostome , Nazianzen , Cyril , Ciprian , Ambrose , Austen , and other excellent preachers , whom I am sure I heare with greater profite , then yf I shoulde heare your sir Iohn lacklatines and foolishe felowes in your Churches . My wyfe also being geuen to readyng , readeth the Byble and certaine Psalmes translated into our owne tongue , if there be any thing to hard or darke for her , I make her to vnderstand it : besides , she hath priuate praiers of her owne that she vseth : in the meane time I haue one , that vppon the holy dayes ( if the weather or our businesse be such as we can not goe to Church ) readeth the Gospell , teacheth the Catechisme , and ministreth the Sacramentes when time requires : but in the Sommer time , if the weather be not vnreasonable , we goe alwayes vpon the Sundayes and Festiuall dayes to our Parishe Churche , where we heare our Curate , and receaue the blessed Communion : as for my household , I bring them to this order , that they alwayes serue God before their going to woorke , and at their comming to meales . It is written of Anthonie the Ermite , that being demaunded of a certaine Philosopher , howe he coulde in the solitarie wyldernesse without any bookes , occupie him selfe in the studie of diuinitie : The saying of saint Anthonie . He answeared , that the whole world serued him for bookes , as a well furnished Librarie , in which he alwayes read the woonderfull woorkmanship of God , which in euery place stood before his eyes . In the like sort haue I my household seruantes well instructed in the cheefe groundes of true religion , who leauyng to their vocation and innocencie of their life , not caried away with the vaine entisementes and pleasures of Cities , doo beholde the Maiestie of GOD in his woorkes , and honour the Creator in his Creatures , not only vppon the Sundayes , but euery day through the yeere , where they may also heare the litle Birdes , & other creatures in their kindes , setting out the glory and Maiestie of God .

You seeme to tell me of a Schoole of diuinitie , and not of a husbandmans Cottage , this was the very order of the Patriarkes , and the Monasteries in the Primatiue Churche .

Homelie . 56 ●pon the. 16 of Matth. and in other places . In deede Chrisostome would haue all Christians , maried folkes and vnmaried , to leade their liues according to the rule and order of Monkes : but of such Monkes as liued in those dayes , not such good felowes as ours be nowe : for the profession of a Monke in that age , was no other but the life of the purest and perfectest Christians , whiche kinde of life the olde Patriarkes as the Scriptures doo witnesse did leade .

I oftentimes woondred , that hauing so goodly a house and so well furnished in the Citie as you haue , what you meant to desire rather to dwell in the Countrey : but nowe that I see the good order of your life , I leaue to woonder any longer .

It is naturall to me , and left me by my parentes , to delight in husbandrie : for my Father , my Graundfather , my great Graundfather , and as farre as I can fetche my petigree , all my Auncestours were occupiers of husbandry , and were all borne and died in this house that you see .

I remember not long since , being in businesse with the Chauncellour Hypsographus , a sober man , your neighbour , and one that delightes in husbandry , it was my chaunce to see your father , surely a man would haue taken him for olde Laertes in Homer , or rather for Abram , or Isahac , and as the Chauncellour tolde me , he was foure score and tenne yeeres olde : but so faire he bare his age , as I tooke him to be scarse fiftie , his memorie and iudgement seemed to serue him woonderous well , he would talke of the orders of the Countrey , of the antiquities there abouts , of the stories of the Scripture , so sweetely and eloquently , as I was woonderfully in loue with him : he had the Prophetes and the Euangelistes at his fingers endes , so that I sawe the noble men had him in estimation , not without great cause .

In deede he tooke suche delight in the holy Scriptures , as no day passed him without reading some part of them : he vsed to goe commonly euery day to the next Parishe Churche , neither woulde he misse any Sermon that he coulde heare of , he brought both Preacher and Priest into order , and caused them to frame their liues according to the rule of the Gospell .

You paynt me here the patterne of a Bishoppe , or an ouerseer : in deede the most part of these Priestes had neede of suche ouerseers to restraine their couetousnesse , the spring of all their abuses .

To returne to my quietnesse or my husbandry from whence I digressed , doo you yet marueyle howe I can delight mee selfe with this so honest and profitable a quietnesse , then which in the iudgement of the holiest and wysest men , there is nothing more honest nor better , The commendation of husbandry . neither is there beside any trade of life more meete for a Gentleman , nor trauayle more acceptable to GOD , then is the tilling of the ground . The people in the olde time ( as Cato a man of great wysdome , and a teacher of husbandry dooth witnesse ) as oft as they would geue a man the name of an honest man , they woulde call him a good husbande , comprehending in that name as muche commendation , as they could geue him : besides , most mightie Kinges and Emperours were no whit ashamed to professe this trade , Emperour● and kinges professou●s of husbandry . as Xenophon reporteth of king Cyrus : the like wryteth Quintus Curtius of Abdolominus . Numa the king of the Romanes bare a singuler affection to husbandry , for that he thought there was no kinde of life so sitte to maintaine eyther peace or warres , or for the prouision of a mans life , being rather a geuer of good life , then richesse . Moreouer , Hiero , Philometor , Attalus , Archilaus , and a great number of Princes more , were delighted with the profession of husbandry : this knowledge is also hyghly commended by Homer , the very fountaine in his time of wysedome , whereas he describeth Alcinous the king of the Pheaces , whose delight in the planting and pleasures of his Orchardes was woonderfull . And Laertes the olde man , that with his continuall occupying of husbandry , brought his minde better to beare the absence of his sonne . Hesiodus in his woorke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 geueth great prayse to Astrea , that being banished the Citie , gaue him selfe to the life of the Countrey : Yea the ground hath beforetime been tilled by the handes of Emperours , the Earth in the meane time reioysing to be torne with a Uictorers shaare , and to be plowed with the handes of a tryumphant Conquerer , eyther because they dealt with the like regarde in their seede , as in their warres , or vsed suche diligence in the Corne feeldes , as they dyd in the Campe , or els because all things handled with honest and vertuous fyngers prosper the better , beyng more ●arefully looked to . Serranus when he was called to honour , Serranus . was found sowing of seede . The Dictators office was brought by the Purceuant to Cincinatus being all naked and besmeared with sweat and dust . Cincinatus . The Purceuantes had fyrst their name of calling Senato●rs and Gouernours , out of the Countrey to the Citie . In like sort had this name at the first , the Fabij , the Pisons , the Curij , the Lentuli , the Ciceroes , the Pilumni , and other auncient houses . Horace telleth , that of husbandmen haue been bread the valyauntest and woorthyest Souldiers , affyrming that the hand that hath been vsed to the Spade , prooueth often of greatest value in the Feelde . Homer reporteth a great valiancie in Vlisses his Netheard in the slaughter of those felowes that woulde haue rauished his maistresse . Most certayne it is , that a great number of Emperours haue sprong from the Plowe . And to let others goe , it is knowen that the Emperours Galerius and Maximinus , Husbandmen come to be Emperours . came both of them from poore Herdmen to the imperiall dignitie . The like is written of Iustine , Constancianus , Probus , and Aurelianus . The stories report , that M. Curius the Emperour was found in his house boyling of a Rape roote , when he refused the great summes of golde brought by the Samnites Embassadours . What should I speake of the antiquitie of it ? The antiquitie of husbandry . the holy Scriptures declare husbandry to be the auncientest of al trades . And to begin with the very beginning of man , and that neither Osyris , nor Dionysius , were the fyrst founders of this knowledge , as the Panims fable , but that the most mightie Lorde him selfe did fyrst ordayne it : for Adam and his sonnes were all husbandmen , Noe was a planter of Uines , The fyrst planter of Vines . Abraham , Isahac , and Iacob , were shepheardes , Saul from his Asses , and Dauid from his sheepe were called to the crowne , Eliseus and Amos of shepheardes were made Prophetes . Ozias as we reade professed husbandry . Iesus the sonne of Syrache commending husbandry aboue the rest , sayth , he customa●ily vsed him selfe to hold the Plow , to driue the Cart , and to keepe Cattell : but what neede we more ? Our Sauiour CHRISTE him selfe glorieth to be the sonne of a husbandman , and frameth his parables of planting of Uines , of Sheepe and Shepheardes : moreouer , as it is in Luke , our Lorde seemeth to be a teacher of husbandry , where he sheweth , that ●rees are to be digged about and dunged , that they may prosper the bette● . For si●h this knowledge is of al other most innocent , and without which it ●s most plaine we are not able to liue : the best and the godliest men haue alwayes imbraced it , and the olde fathers haue euer counted it the very Cosin Germane to wysedome . Husbandry the mother and nurse of all other artes . Cicero calleth it the mistresse of iustice , diligens , and thriftinesse : some others call it the Mother and Nurs of al other artes . For wheras we may liue without the other , without this we are not able to sustayne our life : besides , the gayne that hereof aryseth , is most godly , and least subiect to enuie , for it hath to deale with the Earth , that restoreth with gayne such thinges as is committed vnto her , specially y● it be furthered with the blessing of GOD . The only gentlemanly way of encreasing the house , is the trade of husbandry : and for this cause they were alwayes accompted the perfectest Gentlemen , that , The woorthynesse of husbandmen . content with the liuing their auncestours left them , liued in the Countrey of their landes , not medling with figging , chopping , and changing , nor seeking their liuing by handycraftes . M. Varro in his time sayth there was great complaint made , that the Fathers forsaking the Plough and the Sicle , began to creepe into the Towne , and busied them selues rather with Pageantes and Midsommer games , then with the Uineyard or the Feeldi● , whereas the Gouernours of Rome so deuided the yeere , as they assigned only the nienth day for businesse of the Citie , and the rest of t●e tune for the tyllage of the Countrey , whereby being hardened with labour in peace , they might the better be able to abyde the trauayle of warres . Whiche Countrey people were alwayes preferred before the people of the Citie , and more Nobilitie thought to be in them that tyld the ground abrode , then in those that liuing idely within the walles , spent their time vnder the shadowe of the Pen●house : except a man wyll , with the common sort , thinke it more honest to get his liuing with the blood and calamitie of poore soules , or not daring to deale with the swoorde to make his gayne of marchandize , and being a creature of the land , contrary to his kind , geue him selfe to the rage of the Seas , and the pleasure of the Windes , wandring like a Birde from shore to shore , and countrey to countrey , or to folowe this goodly profession of bawling at a barre , and for gaine to open his iawes at euery benche . Surely as I saide before , this onely hath been euer counted the innocentest trade of life , of al men , & in all ages . By husbandry were made riche the godly Fathers , Abram , Loth , Iacob , and Ioab : and most certaine it is , that this profession and this gayne , is most acceptable to GOD , when he commaunded Adam to tyll the grounde , Gene. 3. and to get his liuing with the sweat of his browes . Thus is husbandry of suche aucthoritie , as GOD with his open witnesse hath alowed it , Husbandry pleasyng to God . and afterwardes by his seruant Moses hath added his blessing vnto it , saying , I wyl geue the ground my blessing in the sixth yeere , and it shal bring foorth the fruites of three yeeres . And againe , If you wyl keepe my commaundementes , Leuit. 26. I wyll send you raine in due season , and the Earth shall yeelde her increase , and your trees shal be loden with fruite , the threasshing time shall last tyll the vintage , and the vintage shall endure tyll the sowing time , and you shall eate your bread with plenteousnesse . What can there be nowe more pleasant to a Christian man , then to get his liuing by suche meanes as he knoweth dooth please GOD , and to play the Philosopher in the most sweete contemplation of the benefites of GOD , and to acknowledge and reuerence the wysedome and power of the diuine Maiestie , and his bounteousnesse to mankinde , to geue him thankes and prayse for his goodnesse , the very hearbes and Creatures in the Feelde in the meane time preaching vnto vs .