The prouerbes of the noble and woorthy souldier Sir Iames Lopez de Mendoza Marques of Santillana with the paraphrase of D. Peter Diaz of Toledo: wherin is contained whatsoeuer is necessarie to the leading of an honest and vertuous life. Translated out of Spanishe by Barnabe Googe.

THE Prouerbes of the noble and woorthy souldier Sir Iames Lopez de Mendoza Marques of Santillana , with the Paraphrase of D. Peter Diaz of Toledo : Wherin is contained whatsoeuer is necessarie to the leading of an honest and vertuous life .

Translated out of Spanishe by Barnabe Googe .

¶ Imprinted at London by Richarde Watkins . 1579.

To the right honourable Sir William Cecill , of the most honourable order of the Garter Knight , Baron of Burghley , maister of her Maiesties wardes and liuereis , and Lord high Treasurer of England .

WHen I had ( right honourable and my especial good lord ) thorowly perused and considered these Prouerbs , or rather Aphorismes of the marques of Santilliana . I thought it not amis to bestow some trauaile in turning them into English : albeit I found them in some places so darkly written , and so corrupted by the Printer , as I could sundrie times hardly attain to the authors meaning . The gentleman ( if but in respect of his estate and calling deserueth of all men to be welthought of . But considering the matter wherof he entreateth ( which is chiefly to traine his readers to honestie and vertuous life ) he meriteth at the handes of euerie good man with double honour to be receiued and welcomed . For there is nothing assuredly more acceptable to God , nor that in deede better beseemeth man , then an vpright and honest conuersation . And although the chiefe intent of his writing was for the institution and behauiour of a Prince , yet are his rules and instructions so generall , as they may verie well serue for guides in good demeanour , to euerie man of what degree soeuer he be . My simple translation ( for the Authour himself needeth no defender ) I most humbly commend to the protection of your Lordship , as to him that is perfectly able to iudge , whether I haue truly and faythfully followed my paterne , or no. As for such faults as haue passed , as well in the title as in the notes , being as they were committed in my absence , & without my knowlege , I trust your lordship wil discharge me of the blame . God sende your Lordship with long and happie life to attaine to the end of your good and honourable desires .

Your Lordships faythfull seruaunt Barnabe Googe .

The life of Sir Iames Lopez de Mendoza , Marques of Santilliana .

SIr Iames Lopes de Mendoza , Marques of Santilliana , & Earle of the Realme of Mancanares , Lorde of Vega , sonne of the Admirall Don Diego de Hurtado , and nephewe to Peter Goncales de Mendoza , Lord of Alua , was a man of a meane stature , verie well limmed and proporcioned , and of a gracious countenance , discended of great parentage , a Castilian and verie ancient . He was a man of a quicke iudgement , and discrete , and of so great a minde , that neither could the weightiest matters that were dismay him , nor the dealing in matters of smal moment any whit delight him . In the staiednesse of his person , and the grauitie of his speach , he shewed him selfe to be a Gentleman , and of a noble mind . He was a man , as they vse to say , verie well spoken , so as hee was seldome heard to speake any thing that was not woorth the noting : whether it were in matters of learning , or of disport . He was courteous and of great interteinment to all such as came vnto him , specially learned men . After the decease of the Admirall his father , and the Ladie Eleanor of Vega his mother , being left verie yong and within age , he was disseised of the Asturies of Santilliana and a greate peece of his liuing beside . But comming to riper yeares , & perceiuing himself to be greatly abused , verie want and necessitie , which many times awaketh a good wit , & his great mind that could not abide to be consined , made him to vse such diligence , as partly by lawe , partly by swoorde , hee did shortly recouer his owne . Hee was both in his meate and his drinke verie temperate , hauing herein a singular and speciall grace . Touching his inclination , he gaue himselfe in his life time vnto two notable exercises , the one the feates of armes , the other studie and learning , neither did his warlike exercises anie whit hinder his studie , nor his studie was anie impediment to the conference which he had with the Souldiours and Gentlemen of his house : about the trampe & fashion of their armour & Instrumentes of defence , howe to offend the enimie , how to order his battails , & how to encampe , how to assault , and how to defend fortresses , and other like actions belonging to martiall affaires , wherin hee tooke a great deale the more pleasure , because he had therwith been brought vp from his youth . And to the ende that such as serued vnder him might haue experience of such things as they had hearde him speake off , hee had alwayes in his house , Tilt , Turney , and Barriers , with sundry other exercises belonging to the fielde , to the ende that his people being alwayes accustomed to such martiall exercises , might better away with the paines of a souldier , when they came to it . Hee was a gentleman of great nobility and valour , beeing in his determinations very wise and temperate , and in his execution speedy and resolute : so as there could neither be founde any rashnesse in his courage , or any iot of cowardise in his deuises . He had been Generall in many fought Battailes betwixt the Christians and the Sarazens , wherein he both wan and lost . But the greatest and of most account , was a battaile that was fought with the Aragoneses , and one other at the riuer of Torotto . And these two Battailes were indeed every hot and blooddy . For fighting without any retire on either side , there were slaine an infinite number on both sides : at which seruices , because this worthy gentleman happened to be present , though hee sawe his owne forces all to weake , and very vnmeete to match with the enimie , yet because the enemie was in sight , he thought it a greater shame and reproche to turne his backe without Battaile , then to loose his life or the fielde in fighting . Wherevpon he determined to try the battaile , wherein hee fought with such egernesse and courage , that although he was his selfe sore hurt , and all his company defeated , yet for his own person he gained the name and reputation of a worthy & valiant Captaine . The sufficiencie of this noble gentleman beeing thorowly knowen to King Iohn , he was sent Lieutenant general against the Sarazens , which charge he toke vpon him with a verye glad and willing minde , continuing a long time vpon the frontiers . During which season he fought diuers battailes , and had many sharpe encounters , both with the king of Granada & others of his captaines , wherin he had alwayes the better . He made many roades into the Country , where he wan by fine force the towne of Huelma , & draue the Moores to such a streigt , that hee he woulde haue wonne a number of townes more , & haue done diuerse worthie exploites had not the king ( being by matters of more importance at home enforced ) commaunded him to make an ende of the warres , and to conclude a peece vpon the receyt of which commission he bare such a hand vpon them as he brought them in subiection , and caused them to pay for yearely tribute a great quantitie of golde , such as neither the king did euer looke to receyue , nor the Sarazens did euer thinke to haue payed . And beside this yearely tribute , he compelled them to set at libertie all such Christian prisoners as remained in their custodie , all which this good Marques redeemed out of captiuitie , and brought them home to their Countrey . He gouerned with great wisedome all such souldiours as were vnder his regiment , behauing himselfe amongst them both as a captaine and a companion , being neither insolent in authoritie , nor base minded in his familiaritie . For he was alwayes in heart of such humilitie and mildnesse , as made him to be beloued of God , and outwardly of such grauitie and countenance as caused him to be reuerenced of men . He bountifully bestowed vpon his souldiers , what so euer belonged vnto him in right of his generallship of al such spoyles and booties as were taken , besides that which he gaue them in their necessities out of his owne purse : and to such as shewed themselues thankefull for his bountie , he vsed to say , that if we wish wel to him that doth well vnto vs , wee ought to giue well to him that wisheth well vnto vs . and thus maintayning his credite by the meanes of his great liberality , he was of all his souldiours greatly beloued , who fearing to offend him dyd alwayes obserue a perfect discipline in the fielde . His rare and singular vertues beeing knowen to the king , and how woorthy he was of honor & dignity , he forthwith aduaunced him to the Marqueship of Santilliana & created , him Erle of the Real of Mancenares , addorning him with great lands & reuenues . Sometimes he committed vnto him the charge of his owne person , and many times the gouernment of al his dominions . Who had such a special grace in his gouerning , as the Poets of that age accounted him for his noble behauiour in court , an other Apollo : & for his great valour in the field a 2 Hanibal . He was a great obseruer of al such things as belonged to perfit manhood , & so great a reprehender of cowardise and faintnesse of heart , that seeing on a time a Gentleman to weepe , for the great mishappes that had happened vnto him , breaking foorth into some choler , he sayd vnto him : Oh what a shame is it to see a Gentleman to shedde teares for anie thing , howe grieuous soeuer it be , sauing onely for his offences towardes GOD ? He was a man of a great minde , which noblenesse of minde was an ornament & beautie to all other his vertues . A couetous worldling comming vnto him , and telling him that hee let his landes farre vnder the value , and promising to make him a much greater reuenew , as one not willing to giue eare to any such matter , hee made him this aunswere : My friend I doe not vnderstand thy language , goe speake it , I pray thee , to some other that can better vnderstand thee . He vsed alwayes to say to those that sought to liue in pleasure and delight , that much more delightfull ought to bee vnto vs a vertuous trauaile , then a life without vertue , howe pleasaunt soeuer it seeme . He was of such a pitifull minde , that whosoeuer came to him in his extremitie , being either persecuted , or any wayes troubled , shoulde finde reliefe and defence in his house , not regarding any daunger that might happen him for so dooing . Hee did euermore measure bothe the partyes , and the cause according as in deede they were , and not as they were supposed to bee : and in this thing hee had a moste singular and almoste heauenly vertue , for he was neuer knowen to make any acception of persons , nor to regarde the riches , the wealth , or mightinesse of any man , but to regarde euery man according to the equitie of his causethe wrote in verse the Prouerbs that begin , My Sonne whom I doe dearely loue . &c. In which Prouerbes are contained almost all the precepts of Morall Philosophy , whatsoeuer appertaineth to a vertuous life . He had a very great Library , and gaue himselfe chiefly to the study of Moral Philosophy , Histories , and Antiquities , hee kept alwaies about him Doctours and men of great learning , with whom he vsed to conferre of such thinges as he read . Hee wrote besides diuerse other treatises , aswel in verse as prose , tending all to the aduauncing of vertue , and abolishing of vice , & in such exercises he spent the most parte of his leasure . He was of great fame & renowme in many other Countryes beside Spaine , but alwayes made more account of the estimation of a fewe wisemen , rather then the praise of the multitude , and because that for the moste parte wee see that the conditions of men are answearable to their complexions and that they are most times euill dysosed that are euyll complexioned , wee neede not to doubt but that this Gentleman was greatly in fauour with GOD , who gaue him so good a teacher as hee was of ability to receaue euery kinde of vertue , and to resist without any greate paine , euery euill motion of sinne . I will not deny but that hee was touched with such temptations , as our fraile flesh doth many times assail the spirit withal , and that he was sundry times ouertaken , as well with anger as with the delight of the flesh , and that he did sometimes offend aswel in doing more then was mete , as in fayling to do that which he ought to haue done , For being as he was continually conuersant in the warres & dayly employed in sundry many matters . It should haue beene a matter of greate difficultie liuing among suche a number of errours , to carry him selfe cleane without any errour . But if it be true , that vertues doe make a mery hearte , as on the other side vices breede heauinesse and sorrowe , seeing that this gentleman was the most parte of his time disposed to pleasantnesse , it is a greate deale more likely that he was rather accompanyed with vertues that bring forth pleasure , then subdued with vices , that continually doe vexe men with griefe . And notwithstanding that he receiued many misfortunes in the warres , and that hee sustained diuers griefes , as well for the death of his Children , as of others his neere kinsemen , yet he did alwayes beare them with such a noble minde , as he serued for an example to all others how to behaue themselues in the like cases . He ended his life with great honour & prosperitie , at the age of lxv . yeers . And if it may be thought that men may after their departure haue any felicitie in this world ( as some suppose they may ) we may assuredly thinke that this gentleman had it : for he left behinde him vi . sonnes , wherof the eldest increased his inheritance with the estate of a dukedome : his second sonne was Earle of Tendilla the thirde was Earle of Curunna : the fourth was Cardinal of Spain , Archbishoppe of Toledo , Bishop of Ciguenca , & one of the greatest Prelates that was in his time : To these foure and to the two others , Don Iohn , and Don Hurtado , he left such Lordshippes , rents , & reuenewes , as made fiue great houses , besides his owne principall house .

FINIS .

❧ The first Chapter , of Loue , and Feare .

1. My sonne , whom I doe dearly loue , Vnto my wordes geue eare ▪ Seeke not by rigour for to rule , Nor gouerne men by feare ▪ Loue , and thou shalt beloued be . And by the same shalt doe Such worthie things , as hated thou shalt neuer attaine vnto .

The Paraphrase .

EVery wyse Oratour , as Tullie in his booke de Oratore teacheth , ought principally ▪ in whatsoeuer matter he dealeth , to consider three things : That is , to make all those that shall eyther heare his speach , or reade his workes , to be well willing , vnderstanding , and mindefull . The speaker shall make his audience well willing , when he laboureth to obteyne their fauour and good wil towardes him . For no man wil gladly geue eare to such a man , as he is afore euil perswaded of : he maketh his hearers to vnderstand , when he declareth the matter , that hee meaneth to entreate off , in shewing that it shal be profitable & commodious , he causeth them to be attentiue , or mindeful , when he mooueth or stirreth them vp by good meanes & inductions to be readie to heare , not hauing their minds caried away with anie other matters . All these points hath this learned gentleman ( folowing this inscription ) obserued in al his discourse . But especially in this first Prouerbe he hath obserued the first , in making him that shal reade him , wel minded towardes him , procuring his fauour & goodwil , in calling him by the name of his sonne & beloued . For as the Ciuil law sayth , we can name no man by a more sweet or better name , than to call him our sonne . He maketh him to vnderstand , in shewing him howe to direct or order his life amongst the people : he maketh him attentiue , in these wordes , where he saith , Geue eare . And the meaning and matter of this Prouerbe , is the most sweet & gracious behauiour , that men of all degrees ought to vse in their conuersation . And if so be , that men of gret estate & calling , ought to vse this gentle behauiour , much more ought they that are of meane degree to do it . And therfore Seneca in the speach that he hath with the Emperour Nero ( as he bringeth in , in his 9. Tragedie ) when the Emperour did striue to gouerne rather by feare then by loue , and commaunded sundrie things to be done by force and disorder , to the ende the people should feare him : because Seneca did therefore greately blame him , the Emperour tolde him , that whatsoeuer he did , he ought by reason for to do , for the sword was it that defended the Prince . Seneca answeared , that the faith and true allegiance of his subiects would better defend him . The prince that is feared , is neuer beloued The Emperour replied , That it is good that the Prince bee feared . Seneca answeareth : it is better that he be beloued . The naked sword ( saith Nero ) shal make them doe what I wil haue them . Beware , saieth Seneca , you neuer fall into suche an errour . The Emperour answereth , I wil force the people to feare mee . Surely saith Seneca , that which you force and compell the people to doe , they will verie hardly suffer . And therefore it is not meete that anie person ( as is sayde ) especially suche gouernours as are vertuous and iust , should vrge or force any thing agaynst the good will of the people , much lesse that priuat persons should in their conuersation one with an other doe it . For ( as Seneca in his thirde Epistle sayeth , whereas hee sheweth the deliberation that a man ought to haue in the getting and keeping of his friende ) If thou wilt be beloued , loue , or as the Prouerbe sayeth , By loue thou shalt doe , that hated thou shalt neuer attayne vnto . For there is nothing in the world that is sought with loue , either by the prince of his subiecte , the Lorde of his tenant , or the friend of his familiar , but it is easily obteined . For as Virgill saith in his Bucolikes . Loue ouercommeth al thinges , insomuch is for the great loue that the Almightie bare vnto mankinde , hee sent his only begotten sonne , to take our flesh vppon him , and to die for vs , that he might beare our faults and infirmities ( as Esai saith , ) and suffer for our offences . And therefore if loue coulde cause God to abase himselfe to be conuersant with man , and to doe that , which might chiefly auayle vs , being euerlasting and most perfect , and we mortall , and imperfecte : what shall it not doe in the companie and conuersation of one man with an other ? Whereuppon Valerius in his thirde booke in the title of Loue and delight , writeth that Damon and Pithias , two of Pythagoras his schollers , bare so great loue and affection one to the other , as when Dionisius of Sarragos would haue put one of them to death , he seeyng that there was no remedie but needes he must dye , required that hee might haue libertie to goe home to dispose & set in order suche thinges as hee had , promising to put in sureties for his returne , at what day soeuer he woulde appoint him . Dionisius supposing that none so faithfull a friend could be found , that in such a case woulde become suretie , to the hazard of his life , and all that he had , aunsweared , that he was content to giue him leaue & time to goe to his house , so that he put in such suretie as hee promised : whereuppon he left him for suretie his other friende . And as the last day was now come , wherein the condemned person was bound to returne , & to suffer his determined death , all those that were present did count a great follie in him that woulde in suche a case become suretie , & hazard his life for an other , how great soeuer the friendship was betwixt them . But the partie that was suretie did no whitte distrust the fidelitie of his friende , nor repent him any whitte of his suretyshippe . Nowe as they were all gaping and gasing to see the ende of the matter , at the last day , and euen in the last houre , commeth the condemned man , wherat Dionisius was greatly astonished , and for the great faithfulnes & loue , that he saw betweene them , pardoned the partie that he had condemned , and desired them both , that they woulde vouchsafe him for a third into their friendship . Wherby it is euident , that loue is of so greate a force , that it forceth such men as be true friends , to venter & giue their liues the one for the other . So that very well saith the Prouerbe : Loue , and thou shalte beloued bee . For Seneca in his thirde Epistle affirmeth , that nothing doeth more trouble a man in his prosperitie and wealth , then to thinke that they can neuer bee to him good and faithfull friendes , to whom he himselfe hath neuer been good . Howe manie kindes of Friendshippes there bee , and howe some bee friendes for Commoditie sake , others for pleasure and delight , others for vertue and honestie , howe some bee sworne friendes , and what difference there is betweene Loue and Friendship , because I will make no long processe , I leaue here to speake of . Of all which both Aristotle in his eight booke of his Ethickes , Tullie in his booke of Friendshippe , and Seneca in his nienth Epistle , do largely and thorowly discourse . I should also here declare , how we shoulde behaue our selues in getting of friendes , and hauing once gotte them , howe to continue them . Whereof Seneca intreateth in his 3. Epistle : whyther , for auoiding tediousnes , I referre the Reader .

2. Who can assoile the man that s dread from care and deadly feare ? If any reason , minde , or witte in him that dreads appeare ? Esteeme , and thou shalt be esteemed : for feare is to the sense A griefe that cannot be exprest , a deadly pestilence .

The Paraphrase ,

IN this prouerbe the Marques his minde is , to prooue by natural reason , that which he hath written in the former prouerbe , that is , that men ought to be gentle and eurteous in their conuersations , and that they ought not to doe anie thing by force or feare , but rather by loue and gentlenes . He also setteth down the inconuenience that foloweth to him that had rather be feared then loued , saying : Who can assoyle the man that is dread from care and deadly feare , &c. For if he that feareth , haue not altogether lost his discretion and vnderstanding , he wil not feare him that he feareth : For he may esily vnderstand , that he , that liueth in dread , will seeke by all the meanes to be deliuered of him that he feareth . For feare ( as Aristotle saith in the 3. booke of his Ethiks ) is a continuall looking for the harme that shal happen . According to which , such as feare others , do continually looke to receiue harme at the handes of those whom they feare , or to escape the euill that they looke for . They imagine how they may preuent , in doing of euill , them of whom they thinke to receiue euill : And therefore in the speache that Thyestes the Sonne of King Pelops hath with his sonne Philistines , where his sonne requireth him to forsake the place of his banishment , and to come and gouerne and liue together with his brother Araeus ( as Seneca sheweth in his seconde Tragidie ) where Thyestes doth shew the reasons , that moueth him rather to liue in a poore estate , then to be a man of greate place & authority , saying , While I liued in princely state and maiestie , I was neuer free from fearing of those that feared me , yea and many times I was afraide of the very sword that hung by mine owne side , least in the ende I should come to be slayne with it . And afterwarde , Oh what a great happines is it , not to be feared of anie , to sleepe soundly vpon the grounde , and to eate in safety the meate that is prouided . Poison is presented in golden cuppes : meaning , that it is not geuen to the poore labourer that drinketh in earth or wood , but to great estates , that drinke in golde geuen by those that feare them , and by such as they haue good cause to feare . And therefore Tullie saieth , in his booke of Friendship , that in the life of Tyrantes , which be such as gouerne by force and feare , more then by loue , there can be neither faith , loue , nor stedfast friendshippe . To the Tyrant all thinges are suspicious , and euerie thing ministreth , vnto him occasion of sorrowe and care . And it followeth : Who can loue him whom he feareth , or him of whom he knoweth he is feared ? With this agreeth that , which Boetius in his third booke of Comfort writeth , that such as are guarded with men of warre , stand in dread of those , whom they seeme to make affraide . And therfore wel sayth the Prouerbe , That feare is a deadly griefe vnto the sense . Which is verified as well in the person that feareth , as in him that is feared . It is written of Dionisius , as Boetius in his 3. booke of Comforte witnesseth , that hee was a great Tyrant , and such a one as by tyranny and crueltie subdued many countries , and did manie harmes and mischiefes , who as he sought to gouerne by tyrannie and force , it is most like hee was rather feared then beloued . It is written , that a special friende of his comming to see him , told him , that he had great cause to thinke him selfe happie , in that he had atteyned to so greate and so hygh estate as hee was in : Dionisius made no answere at all , but bad him to dinner , where ouer the chaire where his ghest should sit , he caused to be hanged , by a verie smal thred , a weightie and a sharp pointed sword , in such sort as his friend being set , the sword hung directly ouer the crowne of his head , so as if the thred brake , it was sure to run thorow him , & thus caused him to sitte down to dinner : who al the while that he sat , sweat for feare , least the thread breaking , the sword should fal vpon him & destroy him . Dionisius caused him with sundrie dishes to be deintily and delicately serued : the borde being taken vp , he asked his ghest if hee had not pleasantly dined ? Who answeared him : what pleasure coulde I haue at mymeate , seeing the swoorde by so small a stay hanging ouer my head , and still looking for the losse of my life , whensoeuer the thred should breake ? Loe saith Dionisius , such is the life of all tyrantes , who for the mischiefes and tyrannies that they have doon , and for feare of those whom they haue offended and wronged , doe liue continually in feare and in dread , and doe looke euerie howre for eyther death , or some great danger , touching the which I haue made a more large discourse in my Commentaries vpon the Prouerbes of Seneca , in the Prouerbe that beginneth , He that alwaies feareth , is euerie day condemned . To the which because I wil not be long , I referre the reader , since the Marques hath well concluded in this Proueth , where he sayth , Esteeme , and thou shalt be esteemed : meaning , that it lyeth in thine owne power to be feared , or to be loued , and that feare is a deadly grief to the sense , of which euerie man will seeke to ridde him selfe with as much speede as he may .

3. Great Caesar as the stories tell , most cruelly was slaine , And yet the woorthiest conquerour , that in the world did raigne . Who on the earth so mightie is , that when he is alone , Can of himselfe doe any more , then can a seely one ?

The Marques .

CAesar ( most woorthie prince ) he that is heere mencioned , was called by the name of Iulius , and of others Caius , the selfe same that passed the Rubicon against Pompey , as Lucan writeth in his booke of the Ciuill-warres , who after the death of Pompey and Cato , triumphing with great pomp in the citie of Rome , and taking into his handes the common treasurie , behaued himselfe with such pride and outrage towarde the Citizens , that they coulde by no meanes abide him : and as his hautinesse was thought of them intollerable , they conspired to kill him , which treason of theirs they did no long time delay . The chiefe of this conspiracie , were Brutus and Cassius , as is more at large set foorth by Eutropius in his booke of the Emperours of Rome . Valerius Maximus doeth also recorde the same , and Iohn Boccace in his booke of Ladies , where he entreateth of the vertues of women , commending Porcia the daughter of Cato , and wife of this Brutus .

The Paraphrase of the doctour .

IN this Prouerbe the Marques proueth by familiar example , that which hee hath shewed in the Prouerbe before by naturall reason . For as Aristotle saith in the second of his Rhethorikes : In the workes and actions of men , that which commeth after , doeth commonly resemble that , which hath been done before , & therfore it is a common vse with writers , when they woulde perswade or haue their doinges well thought of , to bring in examples of thinges that in the like case haue happened . And for the same cause the Marques hath in this Prouerbe made mention of that which happened to Iulius Caesar , whose doinges are largely set out by Lucan , in his booke that hee wrote of the ciuill warres . This Iulius Caesar by force and tyrannie sought to aspire ( which nothing appertained vnto him ) to the gouernement of Rome , and subdued and ouercame both Pompey , and all his fauourers , who fought for the lawes and liberties of their countrie . In the prosecuting whereof Caesar slue manie , disinherited a great sorte , and iniuried a number . And for the mainteining of this his tyrannicall iurisdiction , hee was forced to make himselfe to be feared , to the intent hee might keepe them from rebelling . But for al that euer he could doe , two gentlemen citizens of Rome , whose names were Brutus and Cassius , conspired against him , and in the Parliament house where he mistrusted no such thing , sette vpon him , and siue him , giuing him , as it is written , foure and twentie woundes , whereof he presently died : and therefore the Prouerbe sayeth . Great Caesar as the stories tell : and so saieth Lucan , most cruelly was slayne . Although hee was a mightie Prince , and had a strong and a puysant garde : yet at the time that Brutus and Cassius trayterously murdered him , they found him without anie of his friendes or seruantes all alone . It followeth . Who on the earth so mightie is , that when hee is alone , can of him selfe doe anie more , then can a seelie one ? That is to say , though a man be neuer so mightie , yea , though he be a king of many landes and countries , yet is he but a man , and for his owne person can doe no more then a man maie doe . And although we reade in the second booke of the Kinges , that the person of a King in an armie , is of more value then a thousand souldiers : and that the death of a Prince or a Captaine , is more hurtfull to an armie , then the death of a thousand others , because of the worthinesse of the Prince or Captaine : yet , as S. Hierom in one of his Epistles affirmeth , though in the ordering of a battaile , the worthinesse of a Prince or a Captaine is chiefly considered , when it comes to the fight , not the degree , but the dooinges of euerie partie , is respected : for when it commeth to the shout , the force and prowesse of euerie one is his safegarde , be he King or Emperour : If he fight not as he ought to doe , he is of none account . And though he be neuer so valiant , being but one man , he can , as the Prouerb is , do no more then an other man .

4. Howe many haue I seene , by loue aduaunced hye ? But many more I haue beheld cast downe for tyranny . For vertuous minds in bondage brought , will slacke no time , but trie By all the force and meanes they can , to come to libertie .

The Paraphrase .

FOr the proofe and confirmation of that which goeth before , the Marques affirmeth , that he hath seene in his time great numbers aduaunced and set vp by loue , and manie ouerthrowne and tumbled downe , that haue sought to rule by feare , which proofe in hauing had the experience , is the truest and certainest that may be . For easier shall we be deceiued by olde recordes , or sooner erre in trusting our owne naturall reason , then faile in knowledge of the truth , in a thing that we haue had experience of . And therefore is it commonly sayd , that experience is the mother and mistresse of all things : and as Aristotle in the first of his Phisickes sayeth , If any that be wise doe erre , touching their opinions in learning , they may well be called backe againe , and brought to the knowledge of the truth , by natural reason and perswasion . But he that denieth that which he seeth with his eyes , heareth with his eares , and knoweth by the triall of his other senses , with suche a one we ought not to dispute : For he that denieth his senses , is altogeather without sense . And therfore the proofe that is made by experience , is most strong and assured . The Marques saieth , that in his time he hath seene many aduaunced by loue . Loue bringeth with it , vnitie , Peace , & concorde : where feare alwaies causeth hatred , as is witnessed afore by the testimonie of Tullie , in his booke of Friendship , howe great the force of friendshippe and concorde is , may easily be knowne , by the harmes that arise of discention and discorde . Which our Sauiour in the Gospel expresly sheweth , where he saith , That euery kingdome diuided within it selfe , shal be destroyed . and come to nothing : & suche as liue in peace and amitie , do prosper and encrease . And Salust in the conspiracie of Cateline saith , that by loue and concord the smallest thinges that be , encrease , and growe to be great , where by discorde , great and mightie thinges decay , & come to nothing . For vertuous minds in bondage brought , will slacke no time to trie by al the force and meanes they can , to come to libertie . It is lawful for euery man by the lawe of nature to defend his life , his goodes and his good name , by al the meanes & waies that he may : Insomuch as if any man will kill me , it is lawful for me for the safegard of my lyfe , to kill the partie , that doth so assault me , neither ought I to forbeare ( as the lawiers saie ) till I be stricken or hurt , for it is yenough for me the feare that I am in to be murthered , and that yf I kill him not , I am sure to be slaine my selfe . In so much that it hath been the opinion of some Doctours . That if I stande in feare of a mightier man then my selfe : and knowe that whersoeuer he meete mee , he will kill me , and am not able to stand vppon my guard , nor to bande with him , in this case I am not bounde to forbeare , but may kill him , at the best aduantage that I can take him . The lyke opinion is of some Doctors that yf I be wrongfully deteyned in prison , and stande in feare of some violence or vniustice , that in this case I may lawefully breake prison , and if a iudge shall wrongfullie condemne me , whereby I shall greatly bee damnified in my person , and that the execution be out against me , it shall be lawfull for me to assemble my friendes and my kinsmen , and to resist the officer , vsing all the meanes I maye to saue my bodie and my goodes : yea , I may hurt the other in the defence of my goodes , and the sauing of my credite . For as the Doctours saye , if I remaine in anie place , and knowe that mine enemie is comming to doe me some mischiefe , and that it shall bee greatly hurtfull and against my credite , to go from the place , that I neede not to depart , but maye well tarie there : and if the other assault mee , if I kill him , I am not to bee punished . And the reason is , that for the greate feare that I am in , it is lawfull for mee to saue my selfe , and my credite , as well as I may . And this is it , that the Prouerbe meaneth , that vertuous mindes in bondage brought . And therefore hee sayeth , Vertuous or good men : because the iniurie is not so great that is done to a raskall , or a lewde person , as that which is done to a vertuous or a godly man . And though such a man of a vertuous minde , will beare as much as maye bee , yet beeing vniustly wronged , and euill dealt withall , and put in feare , hee slackes no time to trie by all the meanes and wayes he can , to come to libertie .

5. O sonne , be milde and amiable , lay loftie lookes aside : The hautie and disdainfull man the Lorde can not abide . Of wicked and malicious men auoide the companie , For all their doings tende to strife , and ende with villanie .

The Paraphrase .

IN this Prouerbe , the Marques goeth aboute to beate downe all manner of hautinesse and pride of minde , shewing the greate misliking , that the Lorde hath of all such , as are prowde and disdainfull : As Dauid in his Psalme sayeth : That the Lorde resisteth the prowde , and giueth grace to those that bee humble and meeke . And Solomon in his Prouerbes affirmeth , that after pride commeth alwaies a fal , & he that hath an humble heart , shal come to great honour : & this is it that the Prouerbe meaneth , That euery man ought to be amiable . That is gentle and lowly in his speach , & not hautie , not proud , nor disdainful : It is written in a booke of the commendations of Caesar , that he neuer said to any Gentleman , get you away . But come you hither . And in the first booke of the worthie acts of Philosophers , it is written , that the great Caesar passing by a court of iudgement , where haply was arrained an ancient Gentleman that had somtime serued him in his warres , which Gentleman when he perceiued the Emperour , cried vnto him , & beseeched him to alight & to helpe him that he might be deliuered from his false accusers , the Emperor willed a learned aduocate that stood by , to take his cause in hande , & to do the vttermost he coulde for him for his sake . The poore Gentleman seeing the matter so put of , said with a loude voice : Caesar , when you were in the field , & like to be troden downe of your enimies , I did not in your danger serue you by a Proctor : but with the great hazard of my own life , I fought for the defence of your person , at which banquet I receiued these wounds for you : & there withal shewed his wounded body . Hard for a souldier in these daies to finde a Caesar . Which words when Caesar had heard , without any pride or disdain , he presently alighted , & comming himselfe to the barre , defended his cause . For he thought it a part not onely shamefull , but most vnthankful , if he should not haue done as he did ? And when the whole assembly did greatly wonder at this noble & worthy deed , he said , that the Prince that sought not to bee beloued , of his subiects , did neuer truly loue them , and to this end the Prouerb sheweth , what great good it bringeth to be louing and not high minded , & how greatly God doth hate the proud and the disdainful , who much displeaseth our Lord , as is said before . And Seneca in his first Tragedie saieth , That the gracious & righteous God doth alwaies hunt & persecute the proude . Proude Princes hateful to God . The Prouerbe saith , Forth of wicked & malitious men auoide the company : For al their doings tend to strife , and ende with villanie . There is , nothing that more disquieteth and troubleth the companie & conuersation of one man with an other , then a brauling or a contentious person , neither doth any thing more alure men to company one with another , than curtesie and gentle behauiour , and therfore Chilo that was one of the vii . wise men of Athens , demaunding whether of the twaine were best for a man to be , wrangling and contentious , or milde and quiet : It was answered him , that the better was he that was milde and quiet : For the friends and neighbours of such a man did rather honour him , then feare him .

6. And let your answeres still be such , as may procure good will , As best beseemes a gentleman , not froward , rude , nor ill . O sonne , howe little doth it cost , at all times well to speake , Howe little againe doth it auaile , with wordes thy wrath to wreake ?

The Paraphrase .

IN this Prouerbe , the Marques sheweth the order that men ought to haue in their answeres , when they be spoken to , and that howsoeuer it goeth with vs , we ought continually to bee curteous and gentle in our speach . And it is one of the principall graces that men can haue of God , as Dauid in his Psalmes witnesseth , Thy mouth is full of grace , & therefore the Lord hath blessed thee . And though a man fal out & wrangle with thee , yet if thou answerest him gently and mildly , not proudly nor frowardly , thou shalt a great deale sooner pacifie him . For as Solomon in his Prouerbs saith , A soft vorde wil breake the bone , and a sweete peach doth pacifie wrath . As Seneca in its first boke that he wrote of Anger & Wrath , shewing that great Princes , ought to bee gracious & gentle in their answeres , bringeth for example the King Antigonus , who hauing caused his men to march an vnreasonable iournie in a day , Princes ought to bee gentle in their speeches . when that they all weery and ouerlaboured , were come to the place where they should encampe , he made them , without giuing them any rest , euery man with great and heauy burdens to marche , whiche was a great way farther , close to the wall of a towne , that he ment to besiege : and as the poore men , beeing ouerladen , went rayling and curssing of the King , because hee had made them to take such an vnreasonable iournie , and after had caused them to marche with so extreame burdens , not suffering them any whitte to rest : the King perceiuing it , chaunged his apparell , and keepeing company with those that were scarse laden , and those that did moste reuile him , he helped them to carry their burdens , and as the souldiers felt themselues greatly eased by his company , they mused what he was that was amongst them , and so busy to helpe them , for the knewe him not , by reason he had so disguised him selfe , at the last being importunate with him , to tel what he was : You haue hitherto saith he , cursed and rayled at the king Antigonus , for whose sake a day and night you haue taken suche paines . Now speake wel of him , that hath made one amongest you and helped you , in bearing part of your burdens , this gracious answeare made the king to be a thousande times better beloued of his souldiours then he was before , and therfore the Prouerbe saith , Here well that the answeare shoulde alwaies be gentle , since good woordes coste but a litle . It auoideth quarrelling and fighting , when any man falleth out with them . In the Cronicle of the Philosopers , wee read , that one of Athens was alwaies quarelling and falling out with an honest quiet man one Anacharsis a Scithian , which countrey was of all others of least estimation . When the Athenian for the more despite called him a Scithian , Anacharsis , answering him gently again , and smiling , saide vnto him : my countrey is a shame to me , and thou art a shame to thy countrey . The Prouerbe goeth farther and saith , It litle doeth auaile with words thy wrath to wreake , that is : hee that threatneth with woordes , and hath a will to be reuenged , and to threaten , shal be counted but for a vaunter and a pratler , and if he haue a minde to reuenge , he looseth the oportunity of it by his boasting and threatning . In a Tragedie of Seneca , Medea vitterly threatening Iason , because he had cast her of , and maried an other , the Nurse reprehendeth her , and blameth her , telling her that it is not seemely for vs to be presumptious , highminded , nor enraged with those , with whome wee deale , neither oughte we on the other side so muche to abase our selues as we come therby to be counted for outcastes and persons of no value . Among all the vertues and vices that Aristotle doeth entreate of in the fourth Booke of his Ethycks , he speaketh of the vertue of Magnanimitie , whiche is for a man to stand vpon his honour that he knoweth , for his vertues and qualities he deserueth , and to keepe his estimation , in such sorte as it decay not : and to this ende saith the Prophet , My honor and my glory will I giue to no other . This vertue hath two extremities and vices , the one is , as Aristotle saith , for a man to be vaineglorious , proude and disdainfull : which is , when hee taketh vpon him , more then of right to him perteineth . In the other extremitie and vice , are thought to offend all such , as by reason of their base minde are nothing accounted of , nor esteemed : and if they happen to come to any honor or preferment , they behaue them selues like sheepe or mecockes . Of this vertue and the vices , the Marques speaketh in the Prouerbe where hee saith , Let not vnwoorthy honors please thee . For , those that are therewith all delighted , are vaunters , vainglorious , and foolish , as Aristotle saith , where he sheweth the inconueniences that follow to them , that make more of them selues , then there is cause why , saying that such honor commeth quickly to the ground . So that the man that taketh more vppon him then hee may , is of others by great good reason soone put from it . Of these proude and vaine vaunters speaketh Iob. The vaine man exalteth him selfe in his pride , and thinketh that he is borne free from subiection , as the Colte of a wilde Asse . And before hee saith , I would not haue thee so to throwe downe thy self , as to be counted an outcast . For this is not humilitie , but basenesse and weakenesse of minde , and this is it that Aristotle prooueth in the authoritie aforesaide . And the Apostle saieth , that forasmuch as hee was ordained the Apostle of the Gentiles , Humilitie springeth of Nobilitie . hee would honor and esteeme his dignitie and office , and yet for all that he left not to be humble and meeke : for humilitie springeth not of basenesse and feeblenesse of mind , but of vertue and noblenesse of nature . And that which the Marques doeth heere disalowe , is onely the basenesse and vilenesse of the minde , in what sort the conuersation of men ought to be . Isocrates in his Admonishments writeth in this sort , Be not hautie nor disdainefull to those that bee in thy company , for euen the very seruants will hardly away with their maisters that are proude and disdainful . The modest and temperate behauiour , is that which al men delight in , & that is neither to be to hautie nor to base , to hie minded nor to abiect .

7 Flee Taletellers and backbiters , that striue to please the eare : As greedy rauening wolues , that seek the seelly Lambes to teare , Whose traiterous traines and pathes do nothing else at all , But serue for snares and subtle traps , Where heedelesse men doe fall .

The Paraphrase .

IN the Prouerbe before , the Marques hath shewed , what order men ought to obserue in their speech : in this and those that folowe , he teacheth howe we should behaue our selues in hearing . For as the tongue ought to be bridled in speaking : so ought the eare to be temperate in hearing , for such as are wise and vertuous ought not to giue eare to euery worde that they heare , but only to suche as are good and honest . For as Salomon in his Prouerbe saith , The Prince that is contented to heare lies and tales , shall haue his court replenished with naughtie persons . For when the rest of his seruantes perceiue that he delighteth in a tatler or a taleteller , the whole company will straight addict them selues to be liers and slaunderers , & picke-thanks , for as saint Gregorie in the .xiiii. chapter of his booke of Moralls saith , That suche as delight in hearing of slaunders & accusations , are counted to be eaters and deuourers of men , as Salomon sayeth , Be not present at the banquets of sinners , nor eate thou with those that come togeather to feede of fleshe . To come togeather to eate fleshe is as S. Gregorie saith , To gather , them selues togeather , to speake euill of their neighbours . And therefore the Prouerbe saith , that we should flee taletellers as those that hurt & anoy Innocentes , For he that commeth to diffame or slaunder his neighbour , An euill prince maketh an euill Court. commeth clothed with a sheeps skin , but is in very deede a rauening Woolfe . For his intent is to infect and mooue the minde of him that heareth him against him whom hee slandereth . Valerius sheweth a way , how to reiect & rid away such slanders , & picthanks , & saith that there was 2 very deare friends hauing great enuy , and seeking to set discorde betweene them , came to the one of them , and tolde him , that he had heard his freend speake very euill of him Quoth the other , I cannot beleeue it , for hee is my frende , and I knowe he will not speake euill of me . The slaunderer beeing very earnest , and the other not seeming to credite him , hee confirmed it at last with a greate oathe , that the thing was true , that he had tolde him . I now beleeue you , quoth the other , since you sweare that my freend hath spoken euill of me : but be you well assured , it was something , that hee thought should benefite mee , that made him to speake as he did . With which aunswere the slaunderer was cleane out of countenance , perceiuing that the partie , whom he would haue abused , was to hard for him . For the traines and pathes of pickthankes , are not for wise men to fall in , but for grosse heads and simple people . Tullie in his Inuectiue that he made against Salust hath these wordes , I haue seene ( saith he ) many that in telling of other mens faultes , haue more offended the hearers , then did they that committed the faultes . And therefore Backbiters , whether their accusations bee false or true , are not to be suffered . Since as Tullie saieth , They more offende the mindes of such as heare them , with their spitefull and euill speech : then doe those that commit the euill in deede . And therfore wise men ought greatly to shunne & to stop their eares , against all Clawbackes , taletellers , and backbiters , and not only to banish them , but all vaine and idle talke , as Saint Bernard writeth in an Epistle , touching the gouernment of a house , to a gentleman called Raymond , wherein he sheweth , what wayes hee ought to vse to auoyde all Parasites and gesters , Gesters to be auoyded . saying : Whensoeuer thou art troubled with Coxecombes , counterfaits , or gesters , make as if thou diddest heare them , and let thy minde be vpon other matters , for if thou once answere them , and seeme to take pleasure in them , thou shalt neuer be rid of them , thou shalt shewe thy selfe to be but a light fellowe , in seeming to take pleasure in any such follyes , & shalt be forced to giue them rewards , loosing and casting away ( in so doeing ) whatsoeuer thou giuest .

8. Assuerus , if he had not heard , eche part with equall eare : Had greatly abusde the sword , that he for iustice due did beare . And into errour fallen , which straight he would haue wisht vndone : So had the guiltlesse creature died , that no offence had doone .

The Paraphrase of the Marques .

ASsuerus was a man of so great power amongst the heathen , that he was accounted for a Monarch , or ruler of the world : and as it is written in the Booke of Hester , Haman beeing in speciall fauour with the King , taking a displeasure against the Iewes ( who liued vnder the gouernment of Assuerus ) procured the Kings displeasure greately against them , but especially against Mardocheus , so as hee appointed him to be hanged . And as it was a custome that Assuerus alwayes vsed , to haue many times read vnto him a Booke , wherein was contained the seruices that any of his subiects or any other had done vnto him , where happely he chaunced to heare a speciall seruice that Mardocheus had done vnto him , ( what seruice it was I leaue here to speake off , beeing a matter commonly knowne to all such as haue beene studious in the scriptures ) . This being vnderstood of the king , and at the earnest request of Hester , hee commaunded that Haman should bee trussed vppe vpon the same Gallowes that hee had prepared for Mardocheus , whereby according to the saying of Dauid , Hee fell into the same pitte , that hee had digged for other . With this Prouerbe agreeth the saying of Solon , That euery well guyded common wealth , standeth vppon twoo feete , the one & the right foote , is the bountifull rewarding of those that haue doone good seruice : the other the left foote , is the punishment and correction of all disordered persons and offenders . What Prince soeuer wanteth either this bountie in rewarding , or iustice in punishing , his common wealth shall alwayes be lame and halting , and the good deedes and seruice of the subiectes , ought euermore to bee recorded , and many times read to the Prince , and the parties them selues continually to bee examined .

The Doctour .

IN this prouerbe the Marques sheweth by examples , that which he hath taught in the prouerbe before , and to this intent he bringeth in the story of king Assuerus , which story is written at large in the Booke of Hester , which is one of the Canonicall bookes of the holy Scripture . Of which to make you here a shorte relation , you shall vnderstand , that this Assuerus was one of the greatest & mightiest Princes that was in the world , and as it is written , was Lord of an hundred and xxvii . Prouinces , who toke to wife Hester , a Iewish woman , and of the linage of the Iewes , whom hee very entirely loued . This Queene had an vncle with whom shee had been brought vp , called Mardocheus , who vsed to come dayly to the Court , to learne and vnderstande how the world went with the Queene his Neece : and as the story telleth , the queene beeing so aduised by Mardocheus , did not discouer what country man he was , neither was it knowen that he was her vncle . This King Assuerus had one that was very great about him , called Haman , who bare all the sway in the Kings house , and as the whole company , aswell the greatest as the meanest , gaue honor and reuerence to Haman , beeing so commanded by the King , only Mardocheus would neither honor him , nor doe him any reuerence , notwithstanding that the Kings seruaunts had many times blamed him , for not honouring of Haman , nor making obeisance to him , as the rest of the Court ' both did , and the king had commanded : and because they sawe , that he would take no warning , they complained to Haman of him : who casting his eye vpon the Iewe , and perceiuing plainely , that he vsed no reuerence towardes him , conceiued a great hatred against him , and for the displeasure that he bare him , deuised howe he might procure the destruction , aswell of all the Iewes , as of Mardocheus , and therevpon tolde the King , that throughout all his dominions , there swarmed a lewde and a contemptuous kinde of people , beeing authors of new sects and Ceremonyes , and dispisers of his Maiesties lawes and ordinaunces , which was a thing not before seene , that such a kinde of people should be suffered to liue within his dominions , made humble request to the King , that hee might haue licence and authoritie from him , to destroy them , promising thereby , to bring to the Kings cofers , an infinite masse of treasure . The King answeared him , that he freely gaue him the treasure that he spake off , and for the people , hee bad him doe with them what he thought good , and gaue him his ring from his finger , that he might send out letters , for the execution of his commaundement . Whervpon Haman in great haste caused letters to be directed to all the Prouinces and Cities within the Kinges dominions , that they should at a day appointed , set vpon the Iewes , and destroy them , taking all their goods , and not leauing one of them aliue : which newes , when they came to the eares of Mardocheus , were not very pleasant vnto him : whereupon he hied to the Queene , and perswaded her to goe with great spede to the King , and to sue for pardon for her woful countrymen : which at the first she refused to doe , by reason of a law , that if any should presume to enter the Kinges chamber , without licence or speciall commaundement ( except the King did holde out , in signe of clemencie , the golden scepter that he held in his hand ) should presently dye for it . Notwithstanding , at the earnest request of Mardocheus , after that she & al the Iewes in the Citie had fasted three dayes & three nights , she got her to the king , whom when the King perceiued , in token of his fauoure towards her , he held foorth his golden scepter , and saide vnto her , Queene Hester , What haue you to say to mee ? Demaunde the one halfe of mine Empire , and I will giue it thee ? Who humbly beseeched the King that it would please him & Haman , to come to a Banquet that she had prepared for him , at which banquet she would declare what petition she had vnto him . At the later end of the banquet , when the king had well fed , and demaunded of Hester what her petition was , promising that if it were the halfe of his kingdome , hee would presently graunt it : She aunsweared , O King if I haue found fauour in thy sight , graunt me my life , & the life of my people , for both I and my people are betrayed and appointed to dye : if it had so been , that wee shoulde haue been solde for slaues , it had been farre more tollerable , and with my sorrowe I shoulde haue satisfied my selfe . when the King had hearde her , hee was greately disquieted , and asked who it was that durst presume to attempte so great a matter , and what authoritie he had . The Queene aunswered this great enemye . Of me and my nation , is this Haman that is heere present . Which when Haman heard , he was suddainely nipped in the head , and as the King flang foorth in a fury , towards the garden , Haman came to the bed where the Queene sat , to beseech her to haue mercy vpon him , because he perceiued that the King was determined that hee should dye . The King returning from the Garden , and finding Haman vppon the bed , where the Queene sat , supposing that he had been too familiar with her , began to conceaue a great hatred against him , and then some that were aboute him , tolde him that Haman had made a paire of Gallowes for Mardocheus : wherfore he commaunded , that both he and his sonnes should bee hanged therevpon . Which shortly set downe , sheweth the meaning of this prouerbe , that if Assuerus had not giuen eare to Hester , shewing him , that Haman against all order of iustice had determined to destroy the people of the Iewes , he had vndoutedly abused the sword , that he for iustice due did beare : & which he was bound as a King and a good Iusticer wel to vse . And into error had he fallen , & wished it streight vndone : so had the guiltles creature died , that no offence had done . Which had been a great blotte vnto him . For as the ciuill law sayeth : It is a better deed to leaue a fault vnpunished , then to punish an innocent .

9 For verie seldome shalt thou finde the absent to be cleare , And guiltie seldome shalt thou see the man that doeth appeare . Heare well the cause , and sodainly do no man thou acquit : Yet take good heed that in thy pause , thou vse both skill and wit .

The Paraphrase .

IN this Prouerbe , the Marques meaneth to prooue by naturall reason , that which in the other Prouerbe he shewed by example : and the reason why we seldome find the absent to be cleare , and that we seldome guiltie see the man that doth appeare , Is because he that speaketh euil of him that is absent , maketh his tale to seeme as true as may be , and perswadeth him that heareth him , to giue credite to his wordes , & though perhaps some speake in his defence , yet the partie that is absent , is alwayes thought to be faultie : and so likewise of the other , that the present is not founde to bee guiltie , because he is able to answere to whatsoeuer is spoken against him , and whatsoeuer his aduersarie hath set downe for certaine , by his deniall of it , he bringeth it to be doubted of . And as Tullie in his new Rethorike sayeth , If any man be accused of any crime or trespasse , if he bee not guiltie , hee may flatly denie it : and if he be guiltie , he may alledge what great cause and reason hee had to do , as he did , and so shal he cleare himselfe of the fault that is laide against him . No proceeding against him that is absent . And therefore it is a principal ground in the lawes , that whatsoeuer is done in iudgement against him that is absent , if he doe not absent himselfe vpon contempt , shal be nothing preiudiciall to him : & the greatest barre that may be to anie processe that is brought , is to say , that he was not willed to appeare . And therefore when Adam offended , and God was to condemne him for his disobedience , and contempt : the Text sayeth , that the Lord called and sommoned him to answere ( if any answere hee coulde make ) for himselfe , when he sayde , Adam , where art thou ? For the Lorde knew well enough , in what place he was , but because he should not say , that God had proceded against him , without hearing him , or calling him , being absent , & not contemptuous , he both called for him , & heard what he coulde say , and finding his answere not sufficient , condemned him , although he sought to lessen his fault as much as he could , when he said , The woman , that thou gauest me , gaue me the apple that I ate . Vpon this ground also stood Medea , ( as Seneca in his vii . Tragedie sheweth ) in the speach that she had with king Creon , the father in law of Iason , that would haue banished her his realme : when she asked , for what cause and fault she should be banished ? And that they ought not to proceede against her , without hearing her cause , affirming that shee was readie to proue her innocencie , and to purge hereselfe of any crime , that coulde be layde against her . And because Creon iesting at her , sayde : The poore innocent woman requireth to knowe the cause of her banishment , meaning that she was so lewde and so wicked , that her lewdnesse , and her naughtinesse beeing so openly knowne , it was not needefull to arraigne her , because she was knowne to all men to bee guiltie . She answered : A notable answere of a woman . If thou , being a King , takest vpon thee to be a Iudge , thou oughtest to heare me : If thou take vpon thee to be a tyrant , and an vniust man , thou mayest at thy pleasure take my life from mee . And when the King would by no meanes be intreated , but that she must depart his realme , she made this notable conclusion : that whosoeuer he be , that commaundeth any thing without hearing of the partie , though the thing be iust that he commaundeth , yet he himself is vniust in the commaunding of it . And the reason of this notable saying of Medea , is that which is before sayde , That according to the lawes both of God , of nature , and of man , no Iudge ought to proceed against any man , without hearing the partie : and the Prouerbe sayeth , You must heare the partie , and giue no iudgement , till you haue well weyed the matter . For there must information be had , and proofe , whether it be trueth , that the contrarie part alledgeth , and the proofe and the witnesse well examined by good foresight and aduise : and this is it that of right ought to be done in a case of iudgement , and one of the greatest defeatings , or auoydings , as the Lawyers say , of any proces , is , if iudgement haue been prooued or done without deliberation . And therefore the Prouerbe sayth , See that you take good deliberation in iudgement .

10. The deed that s done by good aduice , doth alwayes firmely stand , And seldome seene to craue amendes at any second hand . Be ruled by counsaile euermore , whatsoeuer thou dost intend , And from thy side let neuer goe thy faythfull aged friend .

The Paraphrase .

THe Marques in this Proueth concludeth two things . The first is , the effect that followeth , when a thing is done with good deliberation , and brought to passe by good aduise and counsaile : the seconde is , whose aduise and counsaile in our doings we ought to follow . Touching the first , Solomon in his Prouerbes saith , The determinations of a man neuer come to good , where counsaile is not afore had . The deuises that are executed by good aduise , are alwayes perfect & good . And Seneca saith , Do al thy things by good aduise , & thou shalt neuer repent them . For a man not taking counsaile nor aduise in that which he intendeth , it is not possible for him , that he should foresee the errours that he shal fal in . And falling therein , for want of good foresight & counsaile , it must needes be , that he must repent himselfe , and say , I had not thought so great a mischiefe woulde haue folowed . And as Valerius writeth , that Scipio of Affrica was wont to say . It was an euill fauoured , & a shameful thing , for a man in any matter ( especially in such as belong to a man of warre ) to say , I would not haue thought it . For such things as are to be done with the sword , ought well to be thought of before . For the errours that in warres are committed , can neuer , as Scipio saith , be amended . And as Vegetius in his booke that he made Of the knowledge of the Warres affirmeth , There is no other reason to be yeelded why the Romanes did subdue the whole worlde , & conquered wheresoeuer they came , but because they did al that they did by great deliberation & aduise , being verie skilfull & well trained in such things as belonged to the warres . For what ( saith he ) was a handful of poore Romanes to the infinite numbers of the Frenchmen ? or what could so slender a power preuaile against the great forces & puissance of the Germanes ? Certaine it is , that the Spaniards were more in number , and of greater strength & force , than were the Romanes . The skill of the souldier the only aduauncement of Rome . They were alwayes behind the Affricanes , both in wealth & policies . And no man doubteth , but the Greeks were farre beyond them in grauitie & wisedom . Yet alwayes did the souldier of Rome preuaile , because of his skill , being continually trained & daily exercised in the warres . For there could nothing hap in any skirmish or battel , wherewith they had not long time afore been acquainted . Certaine it is , as the Prouerb saith , that that which is done by deliberation , commeth not to craue amendment at the second hande , and that from this counsaile and aduise , the olde stager ought neuer to be shut out . For as Aristotle sayth in the first of his Ethickes , The yong man by reason of his small experience , can haue no great knowledge in anie matter , and therfore not able to giue anie good counsaile . And beside in his booke of Rethorike , In mans affaires and actions , the thinges that haue passed , be commonly like to the thinges that after happen : and as the young man hath had no experience of such thinges as haue happened before , so can hee neuer bee able to iudge of the things that shall after fal out , & therefore the auncient men are alwayes able to giue better counsaile . And therefore Roboam the sonne of Solomon , for taking the aduise of yong men , and refusing the olde and expert fellowes , did verire worthily forgoe tenne partes of twelue , of his kingdome , as shal hereafter be more at large declared . And though young men are by reason of strength and lustinesse , more able and fitte for the fight , than are the olde men : yet as Tullie in his booke of Age saith , The great and notable exploites are neuer done by force nor agilitie of body , but by counsaile , aucthoritie , & secresie , And among the principal causes that we reade , why Alexander had alwaies the victory and the better hand , it was the chiefe , that he went alwaies accompanied with graue & auncient counsellours . For as Trogus Pompeius in his eleuenth booke writeth , That Alexander whensoeuer he was in any iourney of great daunger , he neuer called to counsel , nor made priuie to his doinges the young and lusty Gallantes , but the olde expert souldiers , that had folowed the warres with his father , and with his vncle , whom he vsed not so muche for souldiers , as for gouernours . And it is saide that those whom he put in his battailes , were commonly of the age of threescore yeeres & vpwarde , to the entent that none of them should thinke to run away , but to ouercome , and trusting more to their handes then their feete , shoulde set their whole mindes vpon the victory . And when diuers of his old souldiours desired him , that they might depart , to rest and refreshe them selues , offering him their sonnes , that were young and lustie to serue in their places . It is saide that he answered , I had rather to haue about me the well experienced grauitie of aged men , then the frowardenesse and vnaduised rashnesse of young men . And thus did Alexander attaine to whatsoeuer he desired , and was in all his doinges , honourable and vertuous , because he neuer suffered , as the Prouerbe sayeth , The olde man to depart from his side .

11 So long the common wealth of Rome Did floorishe strong and glad : As they their aged senatours , At home in honour had . But when that Tirantes once began , To rule and beare the sway , They neuer any conquest made , But lost from day to day .

The Paraphrase .

IN this Prouerbe the Marques sheweth , and prooueth by good example and greate experience of thinges before passed : That which before he declared , that as long as the Romanes gaue credit to the aduise and counsaile of their aged Fathers , so long they prospered , and did well : and when they once ceassed so to doe , their honour presently ceassed and came to nought . They were gouerned in those dayes by a certaine companie of men called Senators , which woorde and name commeth of the Latine woorde Senex , which signifieth aged . In what sorte and by what meanes the Romanes prospered , is plainely declared by Iudas Machabee , in the first boke of the Machabees : where he saith , The Romanes by their wisedome and sober behauiour possessed the whole worlde , and ouerthrewe the Princes that rebelled against them , and made Tributaries Galacia , and Spaine , subdued and overcame the king of the Persians , and Antiochus the king of Asia , hauing in his company a hundred and thirtie Elephants , sacked al their cities , and made Tributarie vnto them all their Dominions , and brought into subiection al the countries rounde about them , as wel farre as neare : So that their very name was a terrour to all that hearde of it . And the only cause of this their prosperitie , was the great wisedome and foresight , the which they had , and the great loue that they bare to their countrey , they were gouerned by three hundred and thirtie Senatours , which euery yere elected one to haue the chiefe auctoritie ? amongest them there was neither enuy nor ielousie , and therefore saith the booke , Iudas the Machabee , The Romanes prefer the common profite before their own . did enter frendship , and make a perfect league with them . For al their studie & care was to maintaine their common welth , not hauing any regard of any priuate commoditie : For as Tullie saieth , Two things they ought to doe , that wil profite their countrey . The first is , that leauing apart al priuate commoditie , they bestowe all that that they do vpon the common wealth . The second , that they be not forward in some one thing , and backward in an other . And whilest the Romanes obserued this order , their common wealth increased still greater and greater , according to the saying of Cato , whose wordes are witnessed by Saint Augustine , in the seuenth booke of the citie of God , the .ix. Chap. Doe not think : ( saith Cato ) that our forefathers brought the common wealth of Rome from a small thing to be greate , only by the sworde . For if that were the matter , our company at this time is greater , our souldiers more in number , and our furniture a great deale better . No , it was other matters that aduaunced our auncestours , whereof wee be cleane without : What made the Romanes to floorishe . they being at home , were alwaies careful for matters abrode , and gouerned vprightly and iustly , their hartes were alwaies free , and were continually faithful counsellours , they were neither entangled with riot nor vices , but we by our disordred lustes , haue brought our common wealth to be poore , & our selues to be riche . The offices and rewardes that were to be giuen , as recompenses , and the encouragementes of vertue , are solde for money , or geuen for fauour . Our ancestours to enrich the common wealth ; dyd make themselues poore : But in these corrupt times of ours the case is quite altered : The treasures of our owne common wealth are small and poore , & we our selues are become wealthy & rich , which is a thing most monstruous , and the ouerthrowe of all goodnesse . In whiche saying is verified and concluded whatsoeuer is conteined in this Prouerbe : When Tirantes once began to rule and beare the sway . Which Tirants be those , that more regarde their owne priuate commoditie then their countries , they not only ceassed their conquestes , but shortly loste that , which they had wonne .

The second Chapter . of Knowledge and Wisdome .

12 Apply thy selfe with all thy force , Some knowledge to attaine : Procure the same with studie great , With diligence and paine ▪ But seeke not to be learned thou , For fonde desire of praise : But skilfully to reprehende The vnskilful sinners waies .

The Paraphrase .

THe Marques in this Prouerbe sheweth , with what care and diligence we ought to seeke for knowledge and furthermore , to what ende wee ought to trauaile and seeke for it . For as Aristotle in a boke that he made of the Soule saith : Our soule or minde at the time of our birth , is as a blanke , or a cleane peece of paper that hath nothing vpon it , but is redy to receiue any perfectnesse , knowledge , or maners and therefore if it so be that : the very perfection of the soule , is knowledge . the Marques doeth to good end admonish and exhort vs to seeke for this knowledge , by al the meanes that we may . Cato saith , Seek to get knowledge or Art : For when fortune is fickle & wil faile , yet Art and science wil neuer forsake thee . And therefore it is written in the sixth booke of Policrates , That the Emperour Octauian , as great a Prince as he was , caused his children to be so brought vp , that if euer fortune shoulde faile them , yet they shoulde haue a meanes to get their liuing . And therefore he caused his sonnes to be trained vppe in knowledge of the warres , to learne , to runne , to leape , to swimme , to caste the dart , to throw the stone , both with the hand and with the sling , and his daughters to woorke all maner of linnen woorkes , and woollen woorkes : So that yf euer it shoulde chaunce them to fall into pouertie , they shoulde yet be able with their handes to get their liuing , and the Prouerbe saith more , That a man ought not to seeke learning for fonde desire of prayse , Learning to what end it ought to be sought . but skilfully to reprehende the vnskilfull sinners waies . For the intentes of suche as seeke to be learned are diuers : Some , to the end they might be counted wise & great learned men , and for suche reputed and commended in euery place , not for any good that they meane to do to others therby : and the ende of this is vanitie : Others , not for to doe anye good withall , nor for any desire of praise , but for their owne pleasure : the ende of whiche is foolishe curiositie . Some againe seek to be learned , to come to riches and promotion : the ende whereof is couetousnesse : Others seeke to attaine to knowledge , to profite & benefite their neighbours withall : And the ende of that is charitie : Others to be instructed and edified them selues : And the ende of that is wisedome : And these two last be they , that seeke not to be learned for vaineglory , but to be skilfull reprehenders and admonishers of others .

13. By learning shalt thou vnderstande , What God hath doone for thee : And what he dayly bringes to passe , For all in eche degree . And howe to loue and honour him , This dreame forgotten quiet : Whereof within a litle time . Thou shalt forgoe the sight .

The Paraphrase

HEere doeth the Marques declare what profite & commoditie commeth by knowledge , The commoditie of learning . saying , that by learning we come to knowe what GOD hath doone , and what he doeth for vs . The knowledge whereby we may knowe GOD , and what he hath doone for vs , is to be had by perusing the olde and newe Testament , wherin we shall finde , how God is the creatour of al the whole worlde and how he created it only of his owne goodnesse & mercy , and how he hath giuen vs lawes and commaundementes , by the which we may serue and obey him , & that though a man haue of long time liued vertuously and godly , yet if in the ende he offende God , and die without repentance , that God wil neuer remember his righteousnesse nor good life , that went before : Againe , yf a man hath been a greeuous sinner all his lyfe time , and yet in the ende repent and turne vnto GOD , and die with vnfaigned repentance , the mercifull Lorde will neuer lay to his charge any sinne that he hath committed : According as the Prophet Ezechiel from the Lordes owne mouth testifieth , We shal also therein see that all the race and posteritie of man , for the offence of our first father Adam , are adiudged and condemned to euerlasting damnation : And howe GOD , for the great loue that he bare to mankinde , hath sent his only begotten sonne Iesus Christ , to take our flesh vpon him , & to suffer most cruel death for our saluation : And to pay , as Esay saith , The price of our redemption . Also by the Scriptures wee know , what other benifites soeuer the Lord hath doone for vs . Beside , the scripture teacheth vs how we ought to loue God with al our hart , with all our minde , & with all our forces , & that we ought rather to die a glorious death , then to offend him with a sinfull life : & this he meaneth when he saith , The dreame is forgotten quite that soone thou shalt forgoe . For our life is compared to a sleepe , which we shal leaue before we be aware , as Innocentius saith in a booke that he wrote of the wretchednes of the state of man , where he hath these words : Tel me my brother , The vanitie and miserie of this life . what goodnesse doest thou finde in these worldly delights ? What doeth thy glory profite thee ? What doeth thy pleasures auaile thee ? These be not they that can deliuer thee from death , nor defend thee from the wormes : For he that late was lustie and glorious in his Pallace , lieth nowe dead and stinking in his Sepulchre : he that late was tickled with the delightes of the bed , lyeth nowe torne a sunder with the wormes in his graue What meanest thou to be proude , being but wormes meate and ashes ? Why moylest thou for riches , that shall shortly be distributed to the poore ? As the Prophet saith , They slept their sleepe , & those that were lately riche , The great good that commeth by reading the scriptures . haue nowe nothing in their handes . There true wisdome , knowledge of God , and skill in the scripture , bringeth vs to this vnderstandyng . by this a man knoweth how to serue God , not regarding this transitorie life , which passeth as a sleepe or a dreame .

14. To Gentlemen it doeth belong . To knowe the artes diuine , Where knowledge chiefly floorisheth , And learning best doeth shine . Assuredly he well deserues To haue the vpper seate , That garnished with wisedome is , And deckt with learning great .

IN this Prouerbe the Marques sheweth what maner of men ought to seeke for learning and vnderstanding , and for the better vnderstanding hereof , we must consider , that there be artes Mechanicall and arts Liberal . Artes Mechanical are those , that are vsed by men of base condition , as Shoemakers , Taylours , Carpenters , Smithes and all other that are handicraftesmen : Arts Liberal are those learnings , and sciences , wherunto liberal or free men , that is , noble men or Gentlemen applie them selues , as the seuen Liberal sciences , & therfore they are called liberal , or free , that bestow their time in these knowledges , because they be not of base minde nor estate , neither are they subiect or bounde to anie vyle occupation : And therefore in the olde time there were none brought vp in learning , but onely the children of noblemen and Gentlemen : and therefore saith the Prouerbe , To Gentlemen it doeth belong , to know the artes diuine , That is to say , to suche men as are of good estate and condition . Traian ( as Policrates in his sixth booke writeth ) who was a Spaniarde and Emperour of Rome , in a letter that he writeth to the Frenche king , perswadeth him , to bring vp his children in the knoweledge of the liberall artes , saying , that a kinge without learning , is like an Asse with a crowne , & therefore the kinges and Emperours in the olde time did commit their children to the best learned men , that they coulde get . Traian was brought vp with Policrates : The emperor Nero with Seneca : & great Alexander with Aristotle . To whom ( as Policartes in the forsaid booke saith ) King Phillip vppon the birth of his sonne Alexander wrote his letters in this sort : Phillip the king , sendeth greeting to Aristotle the Philosopher . I vnderstande that I haue a sonne borne , for which I geue thankes to the Gods , not so much for his birth , as that he hapned to be borne in thy time , by whom I trust to haue him so brought vp , that he shal be woorthie to succeede me in my kingdome and dominions , The Prouerb saith further , That he deserueth preheminence , that is garnished with wisdome and learning . And assuredly looke what difference there is betwixt perfection and imperfection , The diuersitie betwixt the learned and the ignorant . and betwixt darknesse and light , so great is the diuersity betwixt a learned man and an ignorant , & because we should vnderstande what great honour he deserueth that is beautified with learning and wisedome , both Daniel in his seconde vision , and S. Ierome in his preface to the Bible doe witnesse , that the learned and the wise shall shine , as the brightnesse of the firmament , and those that haue instructed many in godlynesse , shall glister like the starres for euer and euer . And therfore great preheminence doeth he deserue , that is garnished with wisedome and learning .

15 The head and spring of goodnesse al , Is wisedome , that doeth shewe The meanes for to discerne the trueth , And vertue pure to knowe . Who so beginneth in his youth In vertue to delight , No doubt , but when he comes to age , Will leade his life aright .

The Paraphrase .

IN this Prouerbe the Marques sheweth that one of the principall causes of wisedome and knowledge , is to feare God , as Salomon in his prouerbes saith , The beginning of wisdome , is the feare of God , and wisedome & knowledge the foolish doe abhorre , and therfore he saith , That wisedome is more woorth then the weapons of the mightie , of greater value then precious stones , & more fine than pure gold . For by wisedome we are able to discerne betwixt good and euill , betwixt vertue and vice , to which ende leauing to speake of the doctrine and rules of the holy Scripture , whereby we are taught to flee from all sinne and wickednesse and to embrace and followe vertuousnesse ) Aristotle hath written three bookes : In the one of them he entreateth of the rules and orders that are requisite for the guiding of a countrey and citie , which booke is called the Politiques : In the other he sheweth howe a man ought to gouerne his house , his wife , and his children , & this booke is called the Aeconomikes . The thirde , teacheth how a man shoulde gouerne him selfe , wherein there is a medlie of rules & obseruations , by which a man may knowe the vertuous , and discerne and seuere them from the vices . And specially in this booke he sheweth , that all maner of vertues are gotten by vse and custome , and that a man by vsing a long time to liue vertuously , it commeth at length to bee naturall vnto him , and although a man be naturally enclined to vice , yet yf he accustome him selfe to vertue , he shall leaue his euill inclination and become vertuous . And this is it that the Prouerbe sayeth , Who so beginneth to liue well in his youth , it is a signe that he shall not doe amisse in his age . But it is not one vertuous act alone , that can be called a beginning , as Aristot . saith , no more then can one swallow shew a spring . And the greatest presumption by which we may coniecture ( as Aristotle in the second of his Ethickes sayeth ) whether a man shall proue vertuous or no , is the pleasure or the heauinesse that he taketh in his well doing . For if he be ioyfull , & take delight in the vertuous actes that he doeth , it is a token that he wil proue well in his age , and be verie vertuous . But if he goe about them , with an euill will , and seeme to take no delight therein , it is a signe that his vertues will not long endure . And therefore as the wise man sayeth : By the pleasauntnesse and heauinesse of a child in his youth , we shall easily ghesse what he will be in his age .

16. That most renowmed Solomon for wisedome chiefely sought , Whereby his Empire and his state to order good he brought . He gouernd of himselfe alone , and neuer did debate , Nor counsaile callde for anie thing , that longed to his state .

The Paraphrase .

AS it is written in the thirde Booke of the Kinges , Solomon the sonne of Dauid , after the death of his Father , was chosen to be King . And the first thing that euer he did , because he would lay a good foundation , he went to a hie Mountaine , that was neare about him , called Gabaon , to offer sacrifices to the Lord . And that night the Lorde appeared to him in his sleep , and said vnto him , Aske what thou wilt , that I may giue it thee . And Solomon sayd . Thou hast shewed vnto thy seruant Dauid my father great mercie , in that thou hast giuen him a sonne to sit vpon his seate , and to succeede him in his kingdome : And now , O Lord my God , it is thou that hast made thy seruant king , in stead of Dauid my father , and I am but yong , and know not how to goe out and in , and thy seruant is in the middest of thy people , which thou hast chosen , and verely the people are so manie , as can not be tolde , nor numbred for multitude : Giue therefore vnto thy seruant an vnderstanding hart , to iugde thy people , that I may discerne betwixt good & bad . And this pleased the Lord well , that Solomon had desired this thing . And God said vnto him , Because thou hast asked this thing , and hast not asked long life , neither hast asked riches , nor the soule of thine enemies , but hast asked vnderstanding and discretion in iudgement : Beholde I haue done according to thy petition , for I haue giuen thee a wise & an vnderstanding hart , so that there hath been none like thee before thee , nor after thee shall anie arise like vnto thee . This storie serueth here for this Prouerbe , that sheweth , how Solomon sought chiefly for wisedome , by which without debating of anie matters , or calling of any counsaile , hee was able sufficiently to gouerne his kingdome and dominions .

17. If thou be eloquent , great praise thereof to thee will rise , But much more commendable it is to be discrete and wise . For he that wisedome hath , will all his life obedient be Vnto the rules , he learned hath in sweete Philosophie .

The Paraphrase .

THe Marques here sheweth in this Prouerbe , what is the marke that a man ought specially to shoote at , and sayth , that although it be a goodly thing for a man to be eloquent , and to haue a good tongue , yet it is a great deale more worthie praise , to be wise . Eloquence is a fine and sweete kinde of speaking , by the pleasantnesse whereof , it draweth men to the opinion of the speaker : The figures , and rules whereof are set foorth by Tullie in his Rethorike : And if this eloquence be ioyned with wisedome and knowledge , it is a speciall ornament : but if a man haue more wordes then wit , he shall be counted a vaine iangler and a pratteler . And therefore sayeth Tullie , That farre better is wisedome voyde of eloquence , then foolish pratteling without discretion . Wisedome among all the moral vertues , that Aristotle in his Ethicks intreateth of , is the most principall vertue , or rather , as he saith , the onely vertue , meaning that all the vertues are chained and linked together in one . And therefore the Philosophers commonly say , that whosoeuer hath one , hath al. For if he haue one vertue , he must needes haue wisedome thorowly , he that hath wisdome thorowly , hath all vertues : therefore hee that hath one vertue , hath all vertues . Wisedome , as the Philosophers say , consisteth of three partes : the first is memorie , to remember such things as hath passed : the second knowledge , to know such things as are present : the thirde , prouidence , to foresee such thinges as are to come . And he that hath these three partes , may be counted wise , and a seruant obedient to morall Philosophie . For as I sayde before , wisedome conteineth in her selfe all morall vertue : And as Aristotle sayeth , It is a thing vnpossible for a man to bee wise , and not to be good . And therefore the Prouerbe sayeth , The wise man is all his life obedient to morall Philosophie .

18 Roboam being one that had no skill , but did assay , In euerie thing to striue against the streame , did soone decay : For vexing and molesting of his subiects kept in thrall , When least he look'd for such a change , they quite forsooke him all .

The Paraphrase of the Marques .

ROboam was the sonne of Solomon , and King of Israel , who after his fathers decease , did vse such tyrannie ouer his subiectes , that verie woorthily hee was depriued of the moste parte of his gouernment .

The Doctour .

TO proue the harmes and mischiefes , that he that wanteth wisedome runneth into , the Marques here bringeth in the Storie of Roboam , the sonne of Solomon : Of whom it is written in the thirde Booke of the Kinges , that after the death of Solomon , the people assembled togither to make him King , and spake vnto him , saying , Thy Father made our yoke grieuous , nowe therefore make thou the grieuous seruice of thy father , and his heauie yoke , that he put vpon vs , lighter , & we will serue thee . And hee sayde vnto them , Depart yet for the space of three dayes , and then come againe to mee . And the people departed . And King Roboam tooke counsaile with the olde men , that stoode before his Father , while hee yet liued , and sayde , What counsaile giue you , that I may haue matter to aunswere this people ? And they sayde vnto him , If thou be a seruant to this people this day , and folow their mindes , and answere them , & speake gently vnto them this day , they wil be thy seruants for euer . But he forsooke the counsaile that the olde men had giuen him , and called vnto his counsaile yong men , that were growne vp with him , and waited on him , & said vnto them . What counsaile giue you , that we may answer this people ? And the yong men , that were growne vp with him , answered him , saying , Thus shalt thou say vnto the people : My little finger shall bee weightier then my fathers whole bodie , and where as my father did lade you , and put a grieuous yoke vpon you , I will make it heauier . At which words the people greatly disdaining , ten tribes of them presently forsooke him , and chose Ieroboam for their king . Wherby is concluded , that Roboam , because he was not wise , nor aduised , nor carefull , to preuent such mischiefs as might happen , ouershooting himselfe shamefully in his foolish answere , was worthily forsaken and reiected of his people : as is mencioned in the Prouerbe .

19. My sonne , serue God with all thy heart , for why , his wrath from hie Doth fall , and whiske through all the worlde in twinkling of an eie . For when he list , he casteth downe such as he blessed late , And doth aduaunce the godly man to great and hie estate .

The Paraphrase .

THe Marques sheweth in this Prouerbe the profite and commoditie that commeth of seruing and fearing God , and the hurtes & inconueniences that follow to such as offende him according to the dayly lessons of the church . The soueraign power of God is shewed , in casting downe the mightie out of their seate , which are those that heape to them selues his displeasure , and in exalting the humble and the meeke , which are those that feare him . For as Dauid in one of his Psalmes sayth : The Lord throweth downe one , and lifteth vp an other , for the vessell is in the hand of God : And of such as serue and feare God , he sayth , I haue not seene the iust forsaken , nor his seede begging their breade : And of those that offende , and fall into his displeasure , he saith , I haue seene the wicked in prosperitie , and flourishing like the Cedars in Libanus , and within a while I went by the place where he was , and beholde , he was perished , and not to be seene . And therefore well saith the Prouerbe , The Lord bringeth the mightie to the ground , that offendeth him , & prouoketh his displeasure , & aduaunceth to honour the poore man that feareth him . And vpon this is the whole Scripture in a maner grounded : that is to wit , that God promiseth euerlasting ioy , & sufficiencie of worldly goods to all those that serue him , and euerlasting destruction both of life and goods , to those that offend , and prouoke his wrath .

20. Be conformable to the time , and season that dooth fall : For otherwise to be , is cause of griefe and losse of all . Abhorre presumption as a monster and an enimy To knowledge , that is onely light and lampe of magestie .

The Paraphrase .

IT is written of Dauid the King , that for feare of falling into the hands of Saule , he fled into an other countrey neere adioyning , where they well vnderstood that hee was annointed king ouer Israel : And when they had taken him , and brought him before the King of the countrie , whose name was Achis , because they should not detaine him in prison , nor gratifie Saule with the deliuery of him , hee fayned him selfe to bee mad , and wryed his mouth , as one that had been possessed with a spirite , and fomed at the mouth : & this was counted for a great wisedome and discretion in Dauid , because he framed him selfe according to the time and season , whereas if he had doone otherwise , he had cast away him selfe . And Cato saith , That it is a great pointe of wisedome , to counterfaite follie in some place : and in an other place , It is good for a man to seeme half out of his wit & enraged , when time and reason requires . As Aristotle in his third Booke of Ethicks witnesseth , where he speaketh of Fortitude : At some time againe it shall behooue him to shew him selfe to be humble and meeke , yea and also fearefull , as Aristostle in the very same booke writeth . The like is to bee obserued in the vertues of Temperaunce , Liberalitie , and all other vertues , in knowledge of which circumstances , Wisedome doth chiefly consist . Againe the Prouerbe sayeth , That a man ought to abhorr presumption , as the enemy , and contrary to the cleare Lampe of Knowledge . Wherevpon Sainct Hierome in one of his Epistles writeth after this sorte .

Amongst all other things , that the Romaines wisely deuised , this was one , That whensoeuer any of their Captaines returned with victory to Roome , least he shoulde be puft vp with pride and vainglory , for the worthynesse of his person , or brought into a fooles paradise , forgetting himselfe , for the great honor and triumph that was done vnto him , they thought good , that as they honoured him three maner wayes , for the ouerthrowe that hee wan : so the selfe same day , to make him remember him selfe , and to let fall his Pecockes taile , they likewise dishonored him with thre notable dispights . The honor ( which was doone to all conquerours ) that they did vnto him was in three manners : The first was , that all the people of the Citie , came out to meete and receiue him , with great ioy and gladnesse : The seconde , all the Prisoners that he had taken , went before his Chariot , with their hands bound behinde them . The third , they put vpon him a shert of the God Iupiters , and set him in a Chariot of Golde , which was drawen with foure white Horses , in which sorte they caried him to the Capitoll , with great honor , ioy , and showtes of the people . And with these three sortes of honor , they ioyned these three reproches , to the end hee shoulde not wax proude nor insolent . The firste was , they placed by him cheeke to cheeke , a ragged and an vnseemely knaue : and thus they did to signifie , that any man though his state were neuer so base nor miserable , might by vertue attaine to the like honour : The second , this beggerly companion , did nowe and then buffet him , to the ende , he should not be too proude of his honour , and euer as he strake him , badde him to remember that hee was a man , and should dye : The thirde dishonour was , that it was lawfull for euery man to giue him the shamefullest woordes they coulde deuise . And this the Romaines did as I saide before , to the ende the Conquerour should abhorre presumption , which is the aduersarie of the Knowledge , that clere and comfortable light .

21. For time is it , that all things makes , and time doth all things marre : And when dame Fortune pleased is , such things as hurtfull are , Fall out to our commoditie , and many times doe please : While such things as commodious are , doe turne to our disease .

The Paraphrase .

THis is the onely difference betwixt euerlasting thinges , and transitory things : The euerlasting things , endure for euer : the transitory thinges , as with time : they come , so with time they decay , & therefore in the proueth before , the Marques giueth vs aduice , and exhorteth vs to bee conformable to the time & season ; And that reason that maketh him so to say , is , that as a thing is in one time wrought & done , so is it in an other time vndone & destroied . For as Solomon in his Eccleastes saith , There is a time to be borne & a time to die , a time to build , & a time to pluck downe : neither ought we as the prouerb saith , to be offended , if things fal not out according to our desire , for when it pleaseth Fortune , such things as seeme displeasant vnto vs ; shall redound to our commoditie . For the better vnderstanding wherof , we must consider what is the true signification of this word ( Fortune ) of which there be many & sundry opinions . For some , those that be heathen people , as Boetius in his first booke Of Consolation saith , will needs haue this Fortune to be a Lady , and a great goddesse , vnder whose gouernment and at whose disposition , are all the treasures and riches of the world : & farther they say , that shee hath all maner of persons in the , worlde vpon a wheele , & that her condition and nature ( for she is a woman ) is , neuer to be long of one minde , but somtime of great and honourable personages , to make poore and miserable creatures , & againe of poore & miserable caitiues , to make hye & mightie Princes , stil whirling about her vnstedfast wheele , as pleaseth her . Aristotle hath also the like maner of speach in his Booke Of good Fortune , where he affirmeth , that there are diuerse and sundry opinions aboute Fortune . But all their opinions are farre differing from our Christian faith . For as Boetius in his firste Booke Of Consolation , And Saint Augustine in the fourth Booke Of the Citie of God , doe vnite , this Fortune & destinie , are no other things , then the prouidence of God , & therfore to speake like a good Christian , that which the Prouerbe heere saith : When as it pleaseth Fortune , &c. is as much to say , as when it pleaseth the prouidence of God , the thinges that bee hurtfull vnto vs , shall turne to our profit , and such things as are profitable , to our hurt and destruction . Whereof there is a very good example in the holie Scriptures , in the first Booke of Moses , where it is written , that the Children of Iacob , for the malice that they bare to Ioseph their brother , threw him into a deepe pitte , and after solde him to certaine Merchants , who solde him to an officer of King Pharaoes , that vpon the vnfull accusation of his wife , kepte him a long time in Prison , from whence hee was sent for by King Pharao , and after that hee had declared the meaning of his dreame and foreshewed the comming of the deare and the barren yeares , he was made the greatest man aboute him , which was the cause that the patriarch Iacob with all his house escaped the great famine , & came to liue honourably in Aegypt and thus did it please fortune , that is to say , God , that the hurtfull things , that is , the imprisonment of Ioseph , and all the other harmes and miseries that he sustained , should turne to the profite of himself , his father , and his brethren . So likewise doe the things that appeare good and profitable , many times fall out to bee hurtfull and euill vnto vs , as to haue great store of monie , is a profitable thing , and yet it often falleth , that their throates are cut for it , that haue it : and so doeth a profitable thing become hurtefull .

22. My sonne , the wiseman and his life , still set before thy face : And speake no euill of thy Prince , in anie secret place ; Looke that thy toung & iudgement both such nets do warily shun : For why , the very walles them selues , Will witnes what is doone .

The Paraphrase .

THE Marques in this Prouerbe sheweth , that if a man be not able of him selfe to rule and order his life , hee should seeke out , and set before his eyes , same wise and notable man , according to whose doings he shuld in euery point frame his life , as Seneca writeth to Lucilius , & it is one of the chiefest lessons that hee could deuise to giue him , for the framing of his life aright . He willeth him , that he shuld alwaies imagine him selfe to bee in the presence of some good man , for example sake either Cato or Lelius , for ether of them were both vertuous & wise : and that he should frame al his thoughts , and direct all his deedes , according to the life and vertues of them , and so should he neuer do amisse , and this is it , that is ment in the prouerbe , Follow the wise man and his lawe . The law of the wiseman is his discretion , for as Aristotle saieth , The iust and the vertuous man is a lawe vnto him selfe , for hee measureth the times , & disposeth his things , according as the time and reason doth require . And the Prouerbe saith more , Speake thou no euill of thy Prince : according to the doctrine of the Apostle Sainct Paule , We are bound to feare God , and to honour the King. We ought to serue the King as our naturall Lorde , and wee offende God grieuou●ly , in dissobeying of him : In so much as some Doctors of law are of opinion , that whosoeuer obeyeth not the Kinges commaundement findeth deadly , according to that is written in the second of the Kings , Hee that obeyeth not the Prince , shall dye for it . And therefore as it is a grieuous and greate sacriledge , to blaspheme the name of God : so is it a damnable and horrible offence to speake euill of the King : and against such as shall so offende , it is very well prouided , bothe by the constitutions of the Emperours , and by the lawes and statutes of Spaine . And the Marques sayth , That wee ought not onely to forbeare to speake euill of the Prince abroade and in company , whereby it may come to his eare , but also wee ought not to do it in secrete . For Solomon sayth in his Prouerbs . The Prince not to be euill spoken of . Speake no euill of the Prince in any wise , for if thou doest , be sure the verie birdes of the ayre will disclose it . The Byrdes of the ayre , as some Doctoures teache , are the Spyrtes and Diuelles , according to the saying of our Lorde and Sauiour in the Gospel , where hee telleth the parable of the seede , that fell by the highe waye , and the Byrdes of the ayre deuoured it . The The birdes of the Aire saith our Sauiour , are the lewde and wicked spirits , that take out of the heart of man the worde of God . And in this sorte is the aforesaide allegation to be vnderstoode , that the birdes of the aire will discouer it , that is to say , the wicked spirites , who shall reueale the treason that thou haste spoken in secret , and this is it , that the Prouerb meaneth , when it saith . The very walles will witnes beare .

The third Chapter of Iustice .

23. From Iustice see thou varrie not , for duetie , loue , nor feare : Let no good turne at any time procure thee to forbeare . Or for to swarue in any point , from sentence iust and right : In giuing dewe correction to the faithlesse fautie wight .

The Paraphrase .

AS Aristotle in the first Booke of his Ethicks affirmeth , that the cleerest & most bewtifull vertue of all others , The duetie of a Iustice . is Iustice , whose brightnesse doth farre exceede either the day starre , or the euening starre : and therefore he saith , That Iustice comprehendeth in it self all other vertues . And Saint Augustine saith in his fourth Booke Of the Citie of God , that Iustice beeing taken away , the kingdomes of the earth are nothing else but greate companyes of theeues , nor the companyes of theeues any other then small kingdomes . And therefore saith the wise man in his Ecclesiastes , Follow iustice , all you that are Iudges on the earth . Whosoeuer is a Iudge , ought to bee as a Balance , and iust weight , in all his doinges , and neither for feare , friendship , nor any other respect , to forbeare the executing of vpright Iustice . And therefore Valerius sheweth in his sixth booke , that where as a certaine Iudge forbare to do iustice , because of the loue that he bare to the partie that was accused , A good example . Cambises caused his skin to be plucked ouer his eares , & to be nayled to the bench where hee sat , commaunding his sonne to be set in the place , and to giue the sentence , that his father should haue giuen : which was suche a terror to all those that came after , that from that time forwarde , they could neuer bee brought by feare or friendship , to giue any other iudgement , then that which was iust and vpright . And so hath God in his lawes commaunded , Thou shalt doe Iustice to the pore aswel as to the mightie , neither shalt thou haue any respect of persons . One of the seuen wise men of Athens , as it is written in the liues of the Philosophers , was wont to say , that the lawes , where good Iusticers wanted , were like vnto Eobwebs , where flyes and such weake Creatures doe hange and stick fast : but the great and the strong doe breake thorow without any stop . Who soeuer wil deale in iustice as he ought to do , must haue no respecte of persons , but must punish aswel the euil doeings of the great ones , as the offences of the meanest sort .

24. This is the iust and certaine line , that safely vs doth guide : And shewes the true and perfect path , by measure truely tryed . She chosen was by God him selfe , sent downe from heauen hye , The Prophet doth confirme ▪ that she descended from the skye .

THe Marques here sheweth how great the excellency of Iustice is : and Tully writeth in the dreme of Scipio , that for such as haue well gouerned in the common welth , and vprightly & truely administred Iustice , there is prepared in an other worlde more hyer and glorious places then for vs , because of the labours & toyles that they haue sustained , for the preseruing of their country . And as Aristotle writeth in his Ethicks Iustice is an externall good , and is properly to giue to euery man that whiche is his . There are many that can vse them selues well in such matters as touch their owne commoditie , but not in things that are to the behoof of others . And therfore Iustice is a most excellent vertue , and the very line and straight path that leadeth vs to heauen , & as the Prophet saith , Righteousnes ( which is God ) loketh continually downe from heauen , for to giue euery man according to his deserts : glory & rewarde to such as do wel , and correction & punishment to such as haue done euil . And that al men are bound to do Iustice , Elianus proueth by a prety tale in his story of the Romanes , where hee sheweth that Traian the Emperour , going with a great armie against his enimies , there meeteth him a widowe , that with piteous cryes and lamentations , falling downe at his fete , besought him that she might haue Iustice of certain that had slaine her sonne . Traian made her aunswere , that as soone as he returned from his iourney , hee would doe her iustice . And what , saith shee , If you neuer returne , who shall doe mee iustice ? That shall , quoth Traian , my successor . The widdowe answered , What is that to thee if thy successor doe wel : when thou art to receiue the rewarde of thine owne doings , and are bounde to doe me iustice : thy successor shal be bounde to doe Iustice to such as suffer wrong in his time , neither shall the iustice of an other man bee an excuse for thee . The Emperor being touched with these words , A good Emperour . alighted from his horse , & departed not from thence , till hee had thorowly satisfied the poore woman . For the continuall remembrance of which his worthy deed , the people set vp his image in brasse in the middest of Rome , because he shewed the true and perfect Iustice , that was elected by God .

25. Howe worthie was the famous act of Lentus noble knight , Who all affection set aside , and loue forgotten quight , Contented was ( though guiltlesse he ) of anie trespasse donne , The cruel torturs of the lawe to suffer with his sonne ?

The Marques .

LEntus , as Valerius in his sixth booke declareth , was a Senatour of Rome , by whom the citie was strengthened with good and profitable lawes . Amongst a number of others , he made a law , that whosoeuer was taken in adultrie , should lose his eyes . It happened that a sonne of his was taken for the same offence . Vpon whom when the father obseruing the lawes that hee had made , would without qualifying or discharging of any point , presently haue executed the punishment : the whole citie being moued with compassion towardes the yong man , did earnestly sue for his pardon , with whose importunate and instant requests , the father being ouercome , graunted . Yet because the offence should not remaine vnpunished , he first caused one of his owne eies to be plucked out , and after one of his sonnes : which both is and ought to be a great example to all such as beare the sworde of Iustice .

26. Frondinus to the ende he would preserue the lawe he made , Without delay did cast himselfe , vpon the piercing blade . And therefore ought we to enforce our selues to liue vpright . If that we will correctours be of others ouersight .

The Marques .

FRondinus was a Citizen of Rome , as Valerius in his sixth booke , and Iohn Galensis in a Breuiate that he made of the foure principall vertues , writeth : Contentions & quarellings arising many times amongs the Citizens of Rome , about the debating of their matters , there was a law made amongest them , that whosoeuer should come to the Capitol with a weapon , should suffer death . Frondinus forgetting himselfe , comming from the felde with his sworde about him , came into the Capitoll , which when one of the standers by perceiued , he blamed him , and tolde him , that he had broken the lawe that hee made . Nay , quoth he , thou shalt see that I will confirme the lawe that I made , and sodainly thrust himselfe thorowe with his owne swoorde , whereas hee might well with some colourable reason haue escaped the punishment .

The fourth Chapter of Pacience and moderate Correction .

27. Be not to hastie nor to quicke , in rage without respect , But beare a temperate hand , when thou the offender dost correct . For moderate correction is good , and free from blame : Where crueltie , that doth exceede . deserues reproch and shame .

THe Marques doth shewe the moderation that a man ought to haue in giuing of correction , and sayth , Whensoeuer we punish the euill doings of any man , wee ought not to doe it furiously , nor hastily , but with temperance and reason , whereof Valerius hath diuers notable examples , but specially in his fifth booke , he writeth of one Archita of Toranto , a man of great possessions , that hee was a long time absent from his Countrey , about the studie of Pythagoras his doctrine . And when hee returned home , & had surueyed his manours and possessions , he found them to be greatlie spoyled and decayed : wherevpon calling to him his steward , he said vnto him . Surely if I were not at this present furiously bent against thee , I woulde punish thee according to thy desertes , and make thee an example to all vnfaythfull varlets . So that Archita chose rather to leaue the greate negligence and euill dealing of his Stewarde vnpunished , then hastily and furiously to correct him in his wrath . The same Valerius doeth also in the same booke tell vs , that this Archita beeing extreeme angrie with one of his seruantes , for a villaynous part that hee had played , woulde not in anie wise punishe him himselfe , but committed the punishment of him to Spensippus a friend of his , to the ende that he , not mooued with wrath , shoulde vse measure and temperance in the corecting of him . Seneca writeth also of the verie same Archita in his thirde Booke of Anger , that being on a time greatly offended with one of his slaues , hee caused him to bee stripped starke naked , thinking to haue scourged him : and as hee was readie to strike him , hee plucked backe his hande , and restrained himselfe , wherewith a friend of his happening to come in , and asking what the matter was , I thought ( quoth hee ) to haue scourged this fellowe , but feeling my selfe to bee in a rage , I thought it no meete thing to punishe anie man in mine anger . And this is the meaning of the Prouerbe , where it sayeth , That moderate Correction is good , and free from blame : And when it is out of measure , deserues reproch and shame .

28 The man that seekes to make amends ▪ refuse not to relieue , Nor let it euer thee delight , the wofull wretch to grieue . A base and beastly minde it is to follow him that flies , And valiant is it , to assaile the tyrant that destroyes .

The Paraphrase .

IN this Prouerbe , the Marques sheweth how men ought to behaue themselues towards such as haue offended , and are sorowfull for it . For according to the saying of the Prophet , God desireth not the death of a sinner , but to haue him to turne and be saued . And the chiefest lesson that olde Anchises ( as Virgil in the sixth book of his Eneados writeth ) did will his sonne to take heede vnto , was to seeke in all his exploites to mainteine peace , as much as he might , to pardon such as were sorrowful for that they had done , and to vse the swoorde against proude and disdainfull tyrants . And to say true , it is not the part of a man , to persecute any man that is in miserie , to followe him that flieth , nor to striue with such as are weake and vnable . And therefore Iob sayth vnto God , Wilt thou shew thy power against a leafe , that trembleth with the winde ? And persecute a straw that is drie and withered ? Meaning , that it was not a thing beseeming the maiestie of God , who was almightie , to persecute so miserable a creature , as he was . And the Prouerbe sayeth , That it is a point of manhood , to assaile him , that mindeth to doe mischiefe , And to inuade with the sworde , as Anchises sayeth to Enaeas , the proude and contemptuous persons , not suffring them to vse their tyrannous minde in doing of euil , as the Ciuill lawe teacheth , touching the duetie and behauiour of a Conquerour or gouernour , that they ought to take such order in euerie Prouince , that the wealthie & the mightie oppresse not the poore & the needie , and that they hinder not such as go about to defende and chearish them . And this is the verie meaning of the Prouerbe , where it sayeth , That it is the signe of a valiant minde , to resist all such , as seeke to doe wrong .

29. It doth declare a noble minde , for to forgiue a wrong , And with a perfect pacience , to forbeare and suffer long , The mercie that with measure meetes is vertue great to praise , Restorer of thy state with life , and lengthner of thy dayes .

The Paraphrase .

AMong the rest of the vertues that Aristotle in the fourth Booke of his Ethickes speaketh of , Magnanimitie , or greatnesse of minde is one . And the speciall grace of this vertue is , that such as haue it , can not bee touched with anie iniurie or reproche . For if iniurie bee offered vnto them , a noble minde maketh no accompt of it , but rather disdaines him that offereth it , as a vile and an vnwoorthie person . Tullie writeth in his Booke of the vertues of Caesar , that hee was of so greate a courage , and so noble a hart , that where hee was verie mindefull of all other thinges , hee neuer would remember any iniurie doone vnto him . And Saint Augustine , in one of his Epistles saith , that he that hath a greate minde , and a noble and gentlemanly heart , doeth not onely , not beare in memorie , an iniurie doone vnto him , but also denieth , that he receiued anie iniurie . And Seneca in one of his Epistles sayth , that if a man of a noble and valiant minde , be at anie time iniured , he ought to behaue himselfe as Plato did , who when one had giuen him a blowe in the mouth , neither sought for amendes , nor laboured to reuenge , but denied , that anie iniurie was done vnto him . The same Seneca in his booke of wrath telleth , that the Atheniens hauing sent their Ambassadours to king Phillip : the king , after their message declared , required of them to knowe what thing he might doe , that might be most acceptable to the people of Athens . Wherwith one churlishe knaue amongst them , called Democritus , stepped foorth and tolde him , that the greatest pleasure that he coulde doe to the citie of Athens , The great modestie and magnanimitie of king Phillip . was to goe hang him selfe , and when all the companie that stood by , were greatly offended with this lewde answere , and were about to haue torne him in pieces , the king woulde by no meanes that they should hurt him , but let him alone , and sayd vnto the Ambassadours , Goe tell your maisters of Athens , that much more proude are they that doe vtter such woordes , then those that heare them , and not reuenge them : neyther is there any other cause of this , but the modest clemencie and vertue .

30. What man is there aliue , that may So great offender be , But if that he be iudged by rules of loue and charitie : His trespasse shall appeare such as May pardon well deserue ? For mercie is the shield , that doeth The guiltie onely serue .

The Paraphrase .

SAint Isidorus saith , Euill is that iustice that pardoneth not the frailtie of man : And a little after , Doe not desire to condemne , but to correct and amende . Beware of rigour in the executing of iustice , and thinke of mercie in geuing of sentence . And Saint Gregorie in his Pastorall sayeth , That iustice without mercie , and mercie without iustice , are both vnperfect . And therefore although a man haue offended and done amisse , if he be not frowarde , obstinate , and without grace , being iudged with loue and charitie , his offence shall be founde tollerable , and the seueritie of iustice , beng tempred with pitie , shall bring the offendour to repent and amende .

31. I alwayes iudge him worthy prayse , that pardoneth gratiously : For mercie doubtlesse is to man a crowne of honour high . On the other side I doe mislike , the sworde with blood to stayne , The stroke whereof vniustly dealt , cannot be called agayne .

The Paraphrase .

TO forgeue , and shew mercie to such as offend , we are stirred vp both by the lawe of nature , the holie Scriptures , and the gracious admonition of our Sauiour . The lawe of nature doeth moue vs to bee mercifull , as Seneca in his firste booke of Mercie writeth , and hereof we haue a naturall example in the king of Bees , whom nature hath framed without a sting , hauing taken away his weapon , to the ende hee shoulde be neither fierre , nor cruell , nor a reuenger of iniuries , and that men might take examples of these little poore creatures . The Scripture mooueth vs to mercie , as it appeareth in the Epistle of Saint Iames , where he saith , that iudgement shal● be geuen without mercie , to such as shewe no mercie . Our Sauiour exhorteth vs to mercie , where hee saieth : Blessed are all those that are mercifull , for they shal obteine mercie . The Prouerbe saith , That the punishment of the sword is misliked for if it bee once done , it is past all redresse . And therefore Salust in the Conspiracie of Catiline sayeth , that wee ough● to trie euery way , that may be , before we come to the sworde , euen as the Phisitions doe , who vseth all the medicines that may be , before they cut of the member . And if so be that Princes may geue sufficient correction without the death of the offendour , they ought to doe it . For if it be once done , it is to late to say , I woulde it were not .

32. I do not meane that lothsome crimes , and hainous pardon craue : Or that the wholsome lawes , or good decrees restraint shoulde haue : For such a man ought not to liue , as murdereth wilfully : True iustice alwaies doth commaund , that he that killes , shal die .

The Paraphrase .

IN this Prouerbe are limited and interpreted the Prouerbes that goe before . For such as ought to forgeue , are either priuate persons or officers , in the common wealth . As they be priuat persons , they are bound to release the extremity , but not the iniurie , for they may require a recompence at the law : But if they doe not , their reward shal be the greater . According to the saying of our Sauiour in his Gospel , Forgiue , and you shall be forgiuen . And touching the examples that are in the prouerbs that goe before : if they be officers and in authoritie , they cannot pardon an offence that is doone against a common wealth , nor trespasse , that is done betwixt neighbours : But they may vse a moderation and discretion , according to the circumstances of the matter , as if the partie grieued be a slaue , or free born , if he be a gentleman , or a common person , if the offence were in words , or vpon proposed malice , or ignorantly , & not wilfully done , if he murdered with poyson , or with the swoord . In such cases the Iudges and those that be in authoritie are woont to haue great consideration : for he that killeth with poyson , by treason , or secretly , his offence is more horrible than his that killeth by chancemedlie . And therefore it is prouided by the lawes of Spaine , that if the Prince vppon speciall consideration doeth pardon a man that hath killed , suche cases are alwayes excepted : for hee that murdereth after anie of the aforesaide manners , is not to be suffered , nor pardoned : and this is the effect of the Prouerbe .

33. To pardon such a kinde of man , were verie crueltie : And quite contrary to the rule , of all humanitie . Nor name of pitie doeth deserue , that suffers vilannie . But is the ouerthrowe of lawes , and all authoritie .

The Paraphrase .

THe meaning of this Prouerbe , is declared in the Prouerbe that goeth before . For it is a greate crueltie , and contrarie to al humanitie , to pardon such a one as murdereth by treason , or villanously , and it woulde be the decay and destruction of all iustice and authoritie . For as S. Augustine in his booke Of the citie of God saith , Iustice is of such an excellencie , as the lewdest people that be , cannot liue without it , much lesse those that be good & vertuous . Likewise Saint Augustine , as hath been alleaged before , sayth , Take iustice away , and your kingdomes are nothing else but greate companies of theeues , and therefore it is ordayned in the statutes of Spaine , that if there be in anie Prouince or Countrie , great numbers of euill disposed persons , and if they happen to take one of them , though the partie deserue not to die , yet it shall bee lawfull for the Iustice to hang him , for a terrour and example to the others . And if he otherwise do , it deserues not the name of pittie , But of euill sufferance , and the hinderance and ouerthrowe of lawes and authoritie .

The fifth Chapter of Temperance .

34. As much as it deserueth praise , with temperance to feed . Which doth our mortall life sustaine , and serueth for our need : So much abhorred ought to be the greedy glutton great , That thinkes there is no other life , but for to drinke and eate .

The Paraphrase .

IN this Prouerbe , and certaine others that followe , the Marques sheweth the order that we ought to obserue in eaeating and drinking : and these two , being the chiefest sustainers of our life , a man hath as much a doe as may bee , to vse a moderation and temperance in them . For as Aristotle in the second boke of his Ethicks saith , These two do onely sustaine our mortall life , and are alwayes desired as things of moste pleasure : and because wee haue so great delight in them , as the things wherewith wee haue been accustomed from our birth , it is very hard and painefull to be restrained of them . But those that exceede and obserue no measure therein , are counted of Aristotle in the first of his Ethickes , to liue like Dogges , and to choose the life of monsters . The same Aristotle in his Ethicks , telleth vs of a great glutton , that was called Philoxenus , who put all his felicitie in eating and drinking : and the earnest request that hee made to the Gods , was that they would make his neck as long as a Cranes necke , to the ende his delight might be the greater , in the long goyng downe of his meate , and his drinke . For he tooke that for the chiefest pleasure that was .

35 Great honour doth this temperance , deserue at all assayes , Sith it a vertue alwayes is , of great and speciall praise : For heate and furie great it doeth by honestie asswage , And stayes the frantike flame , that in the youthfull yeares doth rage .

The Paraphrase .

WE do read , that many haue greatly offended more by excesse in eating & drinking , then for any other offence . For example sake , let vs looke vppon our first Father Adam , who for a gluttonous desire of eating , brought both himselfe and al his posterity to destruction . Lot , the brother to Abraham , by too much drinking , as it is written in Genesis , shamed not to lye with two of his daughters . And therfore is Temperance & sobrietie worthie of greate honour , being a vertue of greatest commendation . The maides of Rome that were appointed to attend vpon their Gods , to the ende they shoulde be sober & temperate , did neuer eat more than three meales in a weeke : and Valerius writeth in his first booke , that the women of Rome , to keepe themselues chast and sober , did neuer drinke wine . Of such sobernes & temperance was the greate Alexander ( as Vegetius writeth in his booke Of the art of warres ) that he was so farre from setting his delight in eating & drinking , that he neuer vsed to eate but as he trauailed . We likewise reade , that hard by the campe of Hanniball , there grew an appletree , being as ful of apples as it might hang : And so great was the continence and temperance of the souldiers , that the tree after their departure remained as full of fruite , as it was when they firste encamped . For they counted it a greate shame and dishonour , to eate any thing that was deyntie , while they were in the fielde . And of Iulius Caesar the Emperour , wee reade that his dyet was grosse and common , as herringes , sprattes , cheese , and greene figges , & that he did eate at all times , and in all places , whensoeuer he was hungry , and with this temperance and modestie , he bridled the furie and disorder that followeth of to much eating and drinking . Gluttonie prouoketh Lecherie . For the bellie , being stuffed with good meates and wines , doeth presently yeeld to the rage of riot and Lecherie . And therefore sayeth Solomon in his Prouerbes , That wine ought not to be geuen to Princes : For where drunkennesse hath place , no secrete can bee kept , And therefore the Prouerbe sayeth , Temperance stayeth the raging lust of youth , and of small and temperate feeding , there ariseth neither disordinate lust , nor other euill . Saint Augustine did euer vse to saie , that he liued not to eate , but did eate for to liue , and this is the Temperance which , as the Prouerbe sayeth , is woorthie of honour .

36. But seeldome pouertie is seene , such persons to molest : As are of heedfull gouernement , and slouthfulnesse detest , But idlenes and gluttonie where once they doe infect , No vertue euer doe regarde , nor honour doe respect .

The Paraphrase .

SAint Bernarde in an Epistle that hee writeth of the ordering and gouerning of a house , to one Raimond a gentleman , doth specially amongst other things exhort him , to haue a careful eye to his liuing , and to his expenses , and to take heede that his receits be greater then his charges . For if his expenses and his reuenues be one as much as the other , hee shall bee sure to bee ouershoes and vndone before he be aware : and therefore his counsell is , that he that is wise , shoulde alwayes set his bellie and his purse at discorde , and vppon their strife be taught to knowe whose parte he shoulde take . The belly proueth his purpose by the present delight that he feeleth , and the purse prooueth his by the trial of the present harme and the miserie to come : and farre better is it for a man to prouide and be carefull before hee come in neede , then to seeke for helpe , when hee is in miserie . And this is it that is meant by the Prouerbe , That pouertie is seeldome knowne to come to a person of good gouernement : And gluttonie , and sloth , where they once come , haue neuer regarde to Nobilitie . For as Sainte Bernarde saieth , The negligence and pouertie of the Maister of the house is , as it were , a burning and consuming fire in the toppe of it .

37 His time he may not idlely spend , that seeketh for to gaine . For knowledge is not gotten , but by industrie and payne . So oughtest thou for to rule thy life , and order such to keepe : As thou preferre a gaineful watche , before a harmefull sleepe .

The Paraphrase .

SOlomon in his Prouerbes willeth the slugard & the loyterer , that he go to the Emoth , and consider her order and her tratrauayls , which hauing neyther Captaine , nor gouernour , seeketh and prouideth in Sommer for her liuing , and gathereth and layeth vp in the Haruest time , as much as shall suffise hee to liue by in the winter : And sayth , that if a man will take paynes & be diligent , his haruest shal flow like a fountayne , and pouertie shal presently flie from him , and therefore doth the Prouerbe bid , To preferre a gaynefull watche before a harmeful sleepe . For learning is not to be got without trauell , for all men haue not knowledge by the inspiration of the holy Ghost . But he that will atteine to knowledge , must seeke and take paines for it , and he that will come to be able to liue , must as the Prouerbe saith , preferre a good watching , before an euil sleepe .

38. For procreation onely , and encrease of mortall kinde , Forsake the chast virginitie , with wise and sober minde . Consider that this vaine delight was once the wofull fall Of Solomon , for which he lost both wit , and grace and al.

The Paraphrase of the Marques .

THe perfection and profoundnesse of Solomon the king of Israel , as wel in natural iudgement , as in knowledge of the lawe , is both at this day sufficiently knowne , and shal be alwaies hereafter manifest , who in his latter age being waxen effeminate , and altogether ruled by women , laied aside his obedience to GOD , and became an idolatour , as may be seene at large in the booke of the kinges .

The Doctour .

THe Marques hauing in his Prouerbs before , declared the inconueniences that men fall into by gluttonie , and excesse in eating and drinking , doeth shewe vs in this Prouerbe , and a fewe that folowe , the inconueuiences and harmes that proceede of carnall and fleshly lust : For where as men cannot liue for euer , nor alwaies continue , and that it is incident and common to them , that some be borne , and some die : it is therefore of necessitie prouided by nature , that men should haue the company and vse of women , and so breake the bondes of virginitie : And this ought to be doone with great modestie and consideration , as the Prouerbe heere sheweth : For a man to lie with any other then his owne wife , though it be with intent of encreasing the worlde , is hainous and deadly sinne , Yea , yf a man lie with his owne wife vpon a fleshly desire , and not for procreation , hee doeth offend : For a man ought not to haue the vse of a woman for any other end , then for the encreasing of posteritie : Or for auoiding of whoredome , he may vse his own wife . And those that doe otherwise , doe fal into that filthie sensualitie , that brought Solomon to all his miserie , wherof the Marques hath partly spoken aboue .

39. And for the selfesame greeuous sinne , Was Dauid brought full lowe : And in the midst of mortall plagues , was taught his fault to knowe ▪ The loftie Tarquin in his pride , Was punished therfore , And from the stately gates of Rome , Was thrust for euermore .

The Paraphrase of the Marques .

DAuid that most holy Prophete , and king of Israel after Saul , was a man that did many woorthie and notable acts , and a man of great wisedome , hee doeth greatly set foorth the glory and Maiestie of GOD in his Booke of Psalmes . Notwithstanding hee dyd greeuously fall and offende in fleshly and beastly affection , committyng moste horrible adulterie : howbeit hee afterwardes turned to GOD with great repentance , and with great griefe and mourning bewailed his offence . Hee committed adulterie with the wife of Vrias , who was mother to Solomon , for the which greeuous offence , the Lorde was more offended with him , then for all that euer hee did , as is to be seene at large in his life .

The Doctour .

SExtus Tarquinius was the sonne of Tarquinius the King , as Liuie in the first of his Decades writeth . The like is affirmed by Saint Augustine in his boke of the Citie of GOD , Valerius Maximus , and many other auncient writers . No lesse was Lucretia famous for her vertue , then was this Tarquine to be abhorred for his wickednesse . Amongst many that haue written of the woorthinesse of this Ladie , none doeth so greatly delite me , as M. Iohn Galensis , in a booke that hee wrote of the foure principal vertues , whom I only determin to folow . His words as I haue translated them out of the Tuscan tongue are these : Well woorthie of immortall and euerlasting remembraunce , is the noble & vertuous Lady Lucretia : Who refusing to liue any longer , did rip out the stain of the villany and violence done vnto her , with the death of her owne person : The maner wherof S. Augustine telleth in his boke of the citie of God , saying , that Sextus Tarquinius came with Collatinus the husbande of Lucretia , to a house of his , called Collatinum , where they found Lucretia vertuously disposed amongst her maidens and women : the only Paragon of her time , & most commended of all others , was this Lucretia : Whom when the sonne of Tarquinius king of the Romans had throughly behelde , he was presently inflamed with disordinate and wicked loue towardes her : whereuppon within a fewe dayes after , accompanied only with one man , he returneth vnknowne to Collatinus , vnto the aforesaide place , where he was honourably entertained and receiued of Lucretia : who made him great cheare , and lodged him according to his estate , supposing that she had had her friende , and not her enimie in her house . Tarquinius being now a bed , & al a fire with the flames of beastly desire , perceiuing that they were all fast a sleepe in the house , taking his swoorde in his hande , leapeth out of his bed , and goeth directly to the chamber of Lucretia , whom he founde fast a sleepe : where laying his hande vpon her brest , he said vnto her , Lie stil Lucretia , I am Sextus Tarquinius , yf thou makest any noise , thou shalt die for it . Wherewithall the Lady beeing with great feare awaked , and seeing no succour about her , nor any waye too escape death , Tarquinius beginneth to disclose vnto her his great affection , and somtime with faire woordes , intreating her , and sometime againe terribly threatning her , assaieth all the waies that he can deuise to bryng her to graunt to his desire : But when he saw that she was by no waies to be remooued from her stedfast and chaste minde , and that the terrour of death coulde nothing preuaile , he casteth about againe , and thinkeeth to boorde her on an other side , and saith vnto her , I will tel thee what I will doe , if thou wilt not consent vnto me , I wyll first kill thee , and afterwards kill an euil fauoured knaue that I haue heere in the house , and laye him in bedde with thee , whereby it shal be reported to the worlde , that thou wert taken in shameful and filthie adulterie . And with this feare he ouercame the chaste minde of the vertuous Ladie , and hauing obteined his desire , with great disdaine departed . Wherewith the poore Lucrecia , beeing now ouerwhelmed with sorowe and pensiuenesse , for her great and greeuous mishappe , sendeth with al speede possible to her father , her husbande and all other their friendes at Rome , earnestly desiring them to come vnto her with as muche haste as they coulde . Who when they were come , Lucrecia , all heauie and sorowfull in her bedde , at their entring into the house , fell into a great weeping , and when her friendes began to salute her , and to bid her bee of good comfort : Alas , quoth she , What comforte can there be to a woman that hath lost her chastitie ? and lookeing stedfastly vppon her husbande , shee cried out , and saide , O Collatinus , the feete of a straunger hath been in thy bed : But I sweare vnto thee of a trueth , only the body is defiled , for the mind was neuer consenting , and that shal my death presently declare : And therefore I require you all to shewe your selues men , and not to suffer this horrible act to remaine vnpunished . Sextus Tarquinius was he , whom I receiued , not as an enimie , but as a supposed friende , who hath this laste night depriued me ( and you also , yf you be men ) of al ioy . When shee had vttered these wordes , they all beganne to comfort her , and to tel her that her offence was nothing , beeyng forced and constrained thereunto , and that where there was no consent , there coulde be no offence . Whereunto Lucrecia replied , and saide , As for that , looke you to those thinges that concerne your selues , I , though I dooe cleare my selfe of beeing guiltie of any offence , yet doe I not discharge my selfe of punishment . There shal neuer chaste woman take occasion to be euyll by the example of Lucrecia : And with these wordes , plucking out a knife that she had secretly hidden , and thrusting it to her hart , she fell downe dead , whereat both her husbande and Brutus her father , makyng great lamentation , presently drewe out the knife out of the wounde , being al stained & embrued with blood : which knife Brutus takyng in his hande , sware to reuenge the iniurie and the death of his daughter , and to destroy both Tarquin the king , his wife , and his children , either by fyer , by swoord , or by al the waies that he might , and neuer to suffer any of the kindred to reigne in Rome . With which he gaue the knife to Collatinus , and so from one to another : Whereby this mourning chaunged into wrath , and desire of reuenge : they all made promise to folowe Brutus , and taking with them the body of Lucretia , they brought it to Rome , and laide it in the middest of the market place , to the ende that the horrour of so strange a facte , might stirre vppe the people to reuenge it . At the sight wherof , the people were straight in armes , and folowing Brutus , they thrust out of Rome Sextus Tarquinius , who after miserably died in prison .

4● No lesse was worthie Scipio , Commended for the deede : That from his chaste and worthie mind , Did worthily proceede . Then for his valiant manly actes , Esteemed in his daies , By which he to his Countrey got , A neuer dieyng praise .

The Paraphrase of the Marques .

COrnelius Scipio , as Valerius rehearseth in his thirde booke , hauing taken the Citie of Carthage , was tolde by his souldiours that in the sacke of the Towne there was taken a young maiden , of woonderful beauty & great parentage , who was affianced to a Gentleman of the nobilitie : which as soone as he vnderstoode , he commaunded that the Damsel , her husbande , and her parentes , should be brought before him , and caused the young maide safe and vntouched to be deliuered vnto them , giuing with the maide in marriage , a great masse and quantitie of Treasure , that was offered for their raunsome .

41 Shunne idlenesse , and giue thy selfe To honest exercise . That neither wicked vice , nor lewde Alurementes of the eies , Haue power or force at any time , To bring thy hart in thrall : For to subdue the raging fleshe Is ( sure ) no matter small .

The Paraphrase .

SAint Hierome saith , in a certaine aduice that he giueth to a friende of his , Be alwaies busie in some labour or other , that the Deuil may finde thee occupied . And the reason is , because idlenes is the roote and groundwoorke ( as the Prouerbe saith ) of all maner of sinne , specially , of lecherie , which springeth sooner of idle imaginations , then any sin beside : Whervpon Seneca in his fourth Tragedie , bringeth in the olde Nurse , who seeketh to disswade Phaedra from the beastly loue that she bare to her sonne in law Hippolytus , where Phaedra saith that there was no blame nor fault in her , since Cupid the God of loue had so mortally wounded her , and that there was none to be blamed for it , but the God himselfe . The Nurse aunsweareth , That brainsicke and wicked persons , the better to cloake and coloure their naughtinesse , and that they might the freelier attaine to their letcherous purposes , haue vainely imagined a God-head to be in loue , saying that there is a GOD of loue , whose power extendeth not only to men , but euen to the verye Gods : which , saith the nurse , is a false and shamefull deuise . For whosoeuer hath abundance of wealth , & liueth at pleasure , giuing him selfe to idlenesse , banqueting , and surfeiting , passing his life in dalliaunce and disport , suche a one doeth loue continually torment : yf it be not so , aske of the Ladie Venus , howe chaunce shee hath so colde entertainement in the poore labourers houses , where you shall seldome or neuer see any of them goe mad for loue ? And the only reason of it is , that they are continually painefully labouring and trauailing to get their liuing , not hauing any time to be idle or euill occupied . To liue in the fleshe , as the Diuines say , and not to folowe the fleshe , is a woorke more proper to God then to man , and cannot possibly be done without great labour and vertuous exercises : And therefore the Prouerbe saith , It is no smal matter to subdue the fleshe : That is to say , for a man to conquere him selfe . And therefore those that first deuised Monasteries , and religious orders , did aboue all other things ordeyne , that they shoulde neuer be idle , nor haue any thing to occupie their mindes withall but vertuous exercises , and this is the effect of the Prouerbe , where it saith : Shunne idlenesse , and giue thy selfe to honest exercise .

42. For not yenough it is , to flee From actions lewde or il , But also from the motion to offende in thought or wil. So muche we ought for to eschewe , The foule and wicked thought : Because it is the only seede , And roote of doeing nought .

The Paraphrase .

THE faultes that we heere committe are of two sortes , either they are doone by chaunce , and vnwittingly , or they are doone vppon knowledge , which cannot be without imagination : Also our thoughts and imaginations are , as the Doccours say , of two sortes . One is the first motion that we haue to offende , and this because it is not in our power , being , as we be naturally , inclined to deadly sinne , is not to be reckoned for sinne : But if wee take pleasure in our euill thoughtes , and continuing in them , determine to put them in execution as soone as wee may haue time and place , this is as great an offence as yf we had alredy doone it , according to the saying of our Sauiour in the Gospel , Whosoeuer looketh vppon a Woman , to luste after her , hath alredy committed adultrie in his hart . For the euill thought was the seede and causer of the sinne , and would , yf time hadde serued , haue perfourmed the deede . And therefore Seneca in his fourth Tragedie , bringing in the Nurse , that disswadeth Phedra from her euill pretence that she had to play the Whoore with her sonne in lawe , maketh her to saie thus , O woorthie and moste renowmed Ladie , descended of the woorthie Stocke of Iupiter , and wife vnto Theseus , banishe speedely from thy noble and chaste brest this moste hainous and shamefull imagination , quenche quickly the raging flames of this vnnatural desire , make not thy minde to be the woorker of so wicked and Diuelishe a deuise : whosoeuer resisteth this franticke and fond affection of loue , the same may be well assured that hee shall conquere and ouercome it : But he that nourisheth the sweete poyson , that is , the wicked thought , and delighteth in it , it is very harde for suche an one to refuse the yoke , to which they haue once submitted their necke . And this is it that the Prouerbe heere saith , That wee ought not onlie to flee from doeing of euill : But also from thinking of euill , for of euil thoughtes , there neuer springeth , as is said , good seede .

43 A goodly ornament to man , I doe account the wife , Where as shee is obedient , To reason all her life . In marriage looke thou be not led , By fancy or opinion : But in thy choyse beeware and wise , With heede and great discretion .

The Paraphrase .

SOlomon sayth in his Prouerbes , that the man that hapneth vppon a good wife , is blessed of the Lorde , and the tale of his yeeres shal be doubled , that is , he shall liue twise so long as he should haue doone . And in an other place , hee saith , That no better lot can happen to a man , then a good wife . And this is it that the Prouerbe saith , That the wife is an ornament to her husbande , when shee will be ruled by reason . In what sort this obedience ought to be , the Apostle teacheth , saying , Let the husband be the head of the woman , and as the head hath the preheminence and principalitie ouer all the rest of the members , so ought the husbande to haue ouer his wife , who as Aristotle in his Oeconomikes doeth say , ought not to be vsed of her husbande like a Slaue , but as his companion , and his felowe : And the husbande according to the doctrine of the Apostle , Is bounde to vse her wel , and to loue her , and shee to honour and feare him . Feare ( as Aristotle in the boke aboue mentioned saith ) is of two kindes . The one is called a seruile feare , the other a sonnely feare . The seruile is that , which is hadde for feare of punishment , and not for any loue : and this is the feare that the Slaue hath of his maister , who as hee serueth against his owne will and by force , hee doeth it more for feare , then for loue . The Sonnely feare , is a meddlie of feare and loue togeather : And this is the feare that the sonne hath of his father , and that the wife ought to haue of her husband , for if the wife feare her husband , and doeth what soeuer he commaundeth her , she ought not to doo it for feare of any punishment that shee shoulde haue yf shee did it not , but for feare of displeasing & offending her husband , and to the end her husband should thinke well of her , in seeing her willingnesse in doeing whatsoeuer he commaundeth her . And this is the meaning of the prouerbe A godly ornament to man , I do accompt the wife , where as she is obedient to reason all her life . That is , when she shall loue and reuerence her husband , and while shee keepe her selfe honest and chaste , looking carefully to such thinges as bee aboute the house , as Aristotle at large discourseth in his said booke of Oeconomykes , and Solomon in the ende of his Prouerbes , whither because I would be short , I referre the reader . The Prouerbe sayth further , That in mariage a man ought not to followe his fansie . The choise of a wife . Wherein there are two things to be vnderstoode . The first , that he take a wife of a good & vertuous kindred , according as a Philosopher once answered , when it was asked of him , what maner of wife were best to be chosen . Marie , quoth he , such a one whose mother & grandmother thou knewest to be honest & chast : for as the parents haue been , such will commonly the daughter be . So likewise in marying , a man ought to choose a wife of like degree & state to him self , & such a one as is answerable to his yeeres , according to the olde Prouerbe , Like good , like blood , like age , maketh a good mariage . And as Ouid sayeth , The Oxen that are vnequally matched , will neuer draw well together . And therfore the Prouerbe saith , Choose thy wife with heed , and great discretion .

44. For such as seeke a wife for goodes , and do not greatly way Her vertues , nor her honestie , do seeke their owne decay . A harme it is that hath no helpe , such mariage for to make , Wherefore , my sonne , let neuer such a fault thee ouertake .

The Paraphrase .

IT is generally agreed vpon amongst the Philosophers , that good is deuided into two kindes , the one of them profitable and commodious , the other honest . And where profite on the one side , and honestie on the other side meeteth , we ought alwaies to preferre honestie before profite . And as their opinion is , the vertues are conteined vnder the kind of honest goodes , and worldly goodes , vnder the kinde of profitable goods . And he that refuseth a vertuous wife for her want of worldly wealth , and taketh a wife for riches , not regarding her vertues , trespasseth against reason , and seeketh his owne disquietnesse and harme ; that will neuer be recouered . For the goodes that hee hath , shall quickly be consumed , & he shall be plagued at home with a froward foole . For as the wise man in his Prouerbs saith , A wise and a vertuous wife , raiseth and setteth vp the house , but a foolish woman bringeth it to ruine : for shee will waste and consume the goods that she brought with her , and whatsoeuer her husbande besides by his traualle getteth : neither is it good to take a wife of greater parentage then he himself is , but only to regard , that she be vertuous , and equal in degree to himselfe . For as it is written in the Chronicle of the Philosophers , Cleobolus one of the seuen wise men of Athens , did euer say , that the wife ought to bee of no greater blood than her husbande . For if thou takest a wife of hier degree then thy selfe , thou shalt alwayes bee sure to haue thy wiues kindred to bee as Lordes ouer thee . And therefore the Prouerbe sayeth , My sonne , beware thou neuer commit such a follie .

45. The beautie and the fauour sweete of women could I praise , If them I found accompanied with wisedome anie wayes . But verie hardly or by happe , they agree togither right , And many times they are the markes of persons that be light .

The Paraphrase .

MOst certain it is , that the more good things do meete together , the better it is . As to haue a wife that is honest , beautifull , and wise , is farre better then to haue one that is honest , and neither wise nor well fauoured . But because they seldome happen togither , nor are not farre distant from loosenesse , you shall verie hardly see a verie faire woman to be verie wise , and as Ouid saith , hautinesse , and disdaine , is naturally incident to faire women . Pride is alwayes the companion of beautie . And herein is verified that which the Poets in their fables haue written , and also Seneca in his seuenth booke declareth , that the Goddesse Venus the better to hide her whordome , enclosed herselfe and her mate within a verie darke house , and yet not so close , but the iealous Sunne was peping in with his bright beames at the small cranies & holes , where he discouered all . Whereat the good Ladie taking greate displeasure with the Sunne , because he had so vncurteously handled her , laide her heauie cursse vppon him , causing that all the womankinde that were discended from the Sunne , should be as good as euer twigged . Now of the linage and kinred of the Sunne , are all welfauoured and beautifull Dames , and therefore , because you shall hardly find a faire woman , that is not foolish and dishonest , it is said , that the curse of Venus did light vpon them . And this is the signification of this tale . And Solomon saieth in his Prouerbes , That beautie in a woman without wisedome , is like vnto a ring of golde in the snoute of a sowe . And this is it , That beautie and wisedome seldome meete , nor are farre distant from lightnesse .

46. Yet here withall I do not count the kinde of women all , To be vnprofitable , or of vse or value small : For why , I know they haue been praisd of diuerse worthily , And that their vertues haue been pende in manie an hystorie .

The Paraphrase .

PYthagoras , and his followers , were of opinion , that there were two chiefe heades , the one the authour of all goodnesse , the other the authour of euill . And vnto these two they referred al things that were wrought in the worlde , and sayd , that of the God of goodnesse , proceeded and came the light , and all things that were good and perfect : of which number they accounted Man . Of the God of euill , sprang darknesse , and all vnperfect things : amongst which they reckened the woman . And in verie deede , hauing respect to man , the woman is an vnperfect creature , although not so vnperfect ▪ but by teaching shee may bee brought to some perfection , and to be profitable in her kind . For as Aristot . saith in his Oeconomikes , and they be also the wordes of saint Isidore , that to bring things to a perfection , it behoueth to haue the man , the woman , & the oxe that ploweth . And in the name of the woorking oxe , hee includeth all maner of Instrumentes that are necessarie about an house . And further , he sayth , that it proceeded of the great wisedome and discretion of nature , that man was made of more perfection then the woman , because he was to commaund , and she to obey , and that man was of more actiuitie and abilitie then the woman , because his office was to trauail in matters abroad , & without doores , & hers only to sit at home , and to keepe that which is brought in . And therefore the Prouerbe saieth , that the woman is not vnprofitable , nor vnperfect . Neither ought we to thinke , that because some women haue been to blame , therefore they are all to be condemned . For as the nurse sayth to Hippolytus , as Seneca in his fourth Tragedie sheweth , where Hippolitus saith , that if there had neuer been other euill woman but Medea , the wife of Aegeus , her onely villanies were sufficient to cause all other women to be abhorred . Wherto the nurse answereth , that it were greatly against reason , that the offence of one or two should be the blame of all the rest : And therefore sayeth the Prouerbe , that notwithstanding the faultes of a fewe , the vertues of women haue been highly commended and set out with the pen.

47. For , setting here aside that sweete and blessed worthie rose , That ouer all the rest doth shine , and farre beyonde them goes : The daughter of the thundring God , and spouse vnto the hiest , The light and lampe of women all , who bare our sauiour Christ :

48. Manie Ladies of renowne and beautifull there bee , That are both chast and vertuous , and famous for degree . Amongst the blessed holy saintes , full many a one we find , That in this compasse may be brought , for liues that brightly shinde .

49. What should I of Saint Katheren that blessed martyr tell : Among the rest of Virgins all , a flowre of preecious smell ? Well worthy of remembrance is her beawty , and her youth : And eke no lesse deserueth praise her knowledge in the trueth .

The Marques .

SAint Katherin was a virgin , and a holy Martyr , and among the whole company of Saintes of speciall commendation , touching whose life and death , beeing a thing so commonly knowne , I refer the Reader to the booke called The Flower of Saints .

50. We finde that Hester wanted neither beawtie great , nor grace : Whose noble minde was ioyned with the fauour of her face . Of Iudith likewise doe we reade , the bewtie great to bee : And how she vertuously behaude her selfe in eche degree .

The Paraphrase of the Marques .

HEster the Queene , was the wife of King Assuerus , of whom it shall not bee needefull to speake much , considering that in the Paraphrase to the prouerbe of Assuerus , in the beginning of the Booke , there hath been enough saide . It is sufficient to knowe that she was a holy woman , and a deuout seruaunte of God , as appeared by her vertuous life , and by the earnest Prayers that shee made vnto God , in the case of Hamon and Mardocheus . Iudith ( as her Booke testifieth , which is one of the 24 bookes of the Bible ) was reputed among the Iewes , for a woman of singular wisdom , and of great honestie in life : who slewe the great Holofernes , that being sent by the King Nabuchodonosor with a great and puisant Campe , had besieged the Citie of Ierusalem , as her Booke at large declareth , where it also appeareth by what great policicie ( after shee had slaine him ) shee conueyed his hed , passing thorowe the watch of the Camp , to the aforesaid Citie . This only fact ( renowmed Prince ) strake such a feare and terrour to the harts of the enemies , as they speedily and without order , to their great losse , brake vppe their siege . So as shee is greatly commended in the Scripture , for her beautie , and for her noble and valiant stomacke .

51. The famous worthy women , that among the heathen warre , No reason that of good reporte among the rest we barre . For why ? their valure and renoume was woundrous in their dayes : And therefore not to be depriude of due deserued praise .

52. In Athens and in Thebes too wer Ladyes great of fame . The Troians , Sabynes , Greeks & Arge had many a worthy dame . The Laurentines , the Amasons may triumph for the same . And Rome of vertuous women can , remember many a name .

53. No fairer creatures coulde be seene , then Vagnes and Diana : Daphnes , Dido , Anna , and the vertuous Lucretia . Nor vnrembred let wee passe Virginia , the same Whose passing chastitie procurde her euerlasting fame .

The Paraphrase .

VAgnes as Statius in his Booke of the Warres betwixt the Thebanes and the Argians reporteth , was the cheefe among the Argian Ladies , that went altogether to King Creon with humble petition , for the deliuery of the dead bodyes of their husbandes and kinsemen , that were slaine at the battaile of Thebes , fighting against Ethiocles the Sonne of Oedippus , and nephew to King Layus , who was of the linage and stock of Cadmus : Who hauing receiued a flat denyal , went altogither to Theseus , that then was Duke of Athens , declaring vnto him with great exclamation , the great crueltie and extremitie that was showed vnto them . Theseus who was then newly come from the warres of the Amasons ( as Iohn Boccace the poet of Florence , in his Booke of Theseus , at large discribeth ) vowed , that before he entred the Citie , he would go out of hand with his whole forces against Creon , requiring him yet before by his Embassadours , to graunt vnto the poore Ladyes , this their so iust and reasonable request : which when he disdainfully refused to doe , hee made warres vpon him , and slew him , wherby the gentlemen of Argos , by the industrie and diligence of the vertuous Vagnes , came in the ende to bee honourably buryed . At the ende of this battaile , wherin Creon was slaine by the handes of Theseus , beginneth the story of Arcyt and Palemon , the seruants and great louers of Emilia the sister of Hypolitus , which because of the tediousnes , and that the matter maketh nothing to our purpose , I heere passe ouer . Diana was counted the goddesse of Chastitie , a Lady that set all her delight vpon the feeld in the chase and hunting of wilde beastes . Lucretia and other the famous Ladies of Rome , are sufficiently mencioned , as wel by Lyuy , and Valerius in their storyes , as by Saint August . a man of more credit , in his Boke Of the Citie of God , and Iohn Boccace in the fall of Princes , and commendation of woorthy women , where it is shewed how she , beeing the wife of Collatinus , was violently forced by Sextus Tarquinius , wherevpon with a knife , or a swoord , shee slewe her selfe , saying , I free my selfe from the faulte , but not from punishement : which I heere but briefely touch , because I haue writen thereof before in the story of Sextus Tarquinius . Daphnis was daughter to Peneus , a Virgin , dedicated to Diana the Lady of Chastitie , who as Ouid writeth , beeing greatly desired of Phebus , and not consenting nor able to withstande the force of her furious louer , commending her selfe to all the gods , but specially to Diana whom shee serued , was ( as the Poets faine ) transformed into the Laurell , a tree of continuall greenenesse , sweete of sauour , and of a delectable shadowe . The morall whereof beeing declared by diuers Authors , as Fryer Thomas of Capua in his Moralls vpon the Metamorphosis , Iohn Boccace , in his Genealogie of the heathen gods , and Maister Iohn the Englishman , commenting vppon the same Booke , I heere leaue to declare , as a thing to long to entreate off . It may suffice that shee was counted among the heathen for a mayden of singular beawtie . Anna was mother to the Virgin Mary , and wife to Ioachim , a woman of great sanctitie and vertuousnesse of life . An other of the same name was sister to Queene Dido , a woman of great commendation among the heathen , both of them as wel she of the Hebrues as the Heathen , were worthy to be had in continual memory . Dido as appeareth by her true story , was the daughter of King Belus , sister to Pigmalion , & wife of Sichaeus , who after the death of her husband made a vowe neuer to marry againe , & forsooke the countrie where her husband was murdered , by the meanes of her traiterous brother Pigmalion , & comming into Affrica , founded the stately Citie of Carthage . Where while shee purposed to liue a sole and a chaste life , beeing required in marriage by the King Hiarbas , and vtterly refusing , she was by the saide Hiarbas strongly besieged , and brought to so hard a poynt , that seeing no other way to escape , and to preserue her chastitie , chosing rather to die then to liue thus violated , threw her self , into a great flame of fire , & so ended her daies . This story although Virgill doe otherwise declare , yet is he not , considering the liberty of a Poet , greatly to be blamed . Virginea with what earnestnesse she was required by Appius Claudius , to consent to his dishonest and vnlawfull lust , is sufficiently declared by Liuie in his second Decade , and likewise by Iohn Boccace in his Booke Of the fall of Princes , where it is at large declared , with howe great constancy the chaste mayden preserued her virginitie .

54. Prefer a life with libertie , aboue all other things : A vertue great it is , and worthy of the paines it bringes . A shamefull great reproch it is , without it for to flye : An honourable thing it is for such a good to dye ,

The Paraphrase .

THe auncient Philosophers were of opinion , that all the Vertues were to be reduced into the number of foure , which they named Cardinall or principall vertues , whereof they accounted to bee chiefe Fortitude or manhood , which as Aristotle in the thirde of his Ethicks testifieth , is so much the more excellent and praiseworthy , as the subiect and matter wherwith it dealet , his dreadful and difficult : for manhood hath for his obiect or contrary , Death , which is , as Aristotle saith , the last of all dreadfull and terrible thinges , beside the great dangers , and sharp and cruell aduentures : So as by reason of the difficultie or hardnesse of the obiect , there are but few that happen to attaine to this vertue . And as it is written in the Ciuil lawe , those that lose their liues for the libertie of their countrey , are counted to liue for euer : for muche better is it for a man to dye freely in fight , for the libertie of his Countrie , then escaping to liue with a shamefull and cowardly flight . And as the Prouerb heere saith , and they be the very words in effect of Aristotle in the 3. of the Ethicks , The death that is honourable , is to be preferred before a dishonourable life , which the Marques doth plainly set foorth by examples following .

55. Oh , what a death had Cato dyed if it had lawfull beene : And had not by the iust decrees of God beene made a sinne . No lesse doe I the worthy fact of Mucius heere commend : That Lyuie in his story hath so eloquently pende .

The Paraphrase .

AFter that Pompey was ouerthrowen by Caesar at the battail of Pharsalia , & had retired him selfe to Lesbos , where his wife Cornelia lay , & passing from thence to Aegypt , was slaine by the hands of Photinus and Achillas , at the commaundement of king Ptolomei , who was at that time his seruant . Cato , who saw that the side of Pompey went in such sort to wrack , as was not by any meanes to be recouered , fled vnto the citie of Vtica : where , fearing by some misaduenture to fall into the handes of Caesar his mortall enemie , he presently dispatthed him selfe . Mucius Sceuola was a man of great courage among the Romanes , who when Porsenna the King had with a great power besieged the Citie , determined with a noble minde to raise the siege : and to bring his matter to better effect , went secretly alone out of the Citie , with full intent to kill the Kinge , and happening to spye in the Campe , a Secretary of the Kings appareled in Princely roabes , supposing that it was the King , thrust him thorowe the body with his swoorde , wherevpon beeing presently taken by the Guarde , and such as stoode by , hee was shackeled and brought before the King , who demaunding of him what foolishe presumption had brought him to this misery ? he aunswered , that not onely hee , but diverse others , to the number of an hundred more , had professed by solemne othe , for the deliuerance of the Citie , to doe their vttermost indeuour in killing of the king : Whervpon Porsenna , giuing credite to the words of Mucius Sceuola , presently raysed his siege , commaunding that Sceuola should foorthwith be burned : who when hee was brought vnto the fire , thrusting out his hand with a valiant courage into the flame , there held it , til such time , as the whitenes of the bones , the flesh beeing scorched away , appeared , and when he was asked , what made him to vse such crueltie to his owne fleshe : he aunswered , that since his hand had failed of his vertuous purpose , it was good reason , that it should suffer such punishment for so greate an offence .

56. For ( sonne ) if thou do much esteeme thy selfe , and seekst to liue , Thou neuer shalt receiue the crowne , that mightie Mars doth giue : But if thou doost abandon all faint hart and foolish feare : Thou shalt not want the honour , nor the state thou seekest to beare .

The Paraphrase .

ACcording to the true opinion of both the Astronomers and the Catholike diuines , we are not in such sort constrained by the starres to doe any thing , as we bee thereby depriued of our owne will , to doe of necessitie that which they foreshowe , but by inclining vs to doe certaine actions , they moue al our bodyly forces to do such things as they signifie . Which doth not so farre inforce vs , but that as Ptolomy saith in his Centiloquium , A wise and a vertuous man , may rule & reigne ouer the starres . That is , though the starres doe stirre and moue a man to doe euill , yet the partie him selfe hath sufficient power , if he will , to doe wel . But the olde people , beeing ignorant of this vertue , and seeing the Planet Mars did mooue men to be venterers and souldiers , held opinion , that he was the onely god of battailes , and that hee aduaunced and rewarded all such as were valiant and venterous : which olde maner of speaking , is here by the Marques at this time followed . And most certaine it is , that such as make much of them selues , doe shunne as much as they may , the comming into any perill or daunger . Of which sort of people Seneca in his first tragidie speaketh , where he saith , That great yeeres and gray heares , happeneth to faintharted , and such as loue to sleepe in a whole skin . For such manner of persons will be sure to commit themselues to no hasard nor danger , wherby they are vncapable of any vertue or honor . For Honor as Aristotle in the fourth of his Ethicks saith , is a reuerence , that is giuen to men in rewarde and recompence of their vertues . And therefore the Marques saith , That whosoeuer is so valiant , as not to regarde his life in any vertuous attempt , shal be sure to receiue the crowne of Mars : that is , the renowme & rewarde of a vertuous minde , which he shall quickly attaine vnto if he represse feare . And where as there are in the vertue of Fortitude two extreames or vices , the one in ventering to farre , the other in fearing to much : the Marques hath not here said , If thou restrainest boldnesse , as hee sayeth , If thou abandonest feare : because as Aristotle in the thirde of his Ethicks affirmeth , and as dayly experience teacheth , the nature of man is more inclined to fearfulnesse then to boldenesse , and therefore those that seeke to bee valiaunt and vertuous , ought more to trauel in the repressing and abandoning of feare , then in the restraint or temperaunce of boldenesse . And therefore to good purpose sayeth the Marques in this Prouerbe , If thou abandonest or forcest feare , and not corrage , and because as it is sayde abooue , it is in euery mans power and will to bee vertuous , it is heere well saide of the Prouerb , Thou shalt not want the honour , nor the state thou seekest to beare .

57. Detest an euill life , that s led with foule reproch and shame : And alwayes ready be to dye , with honorable name . For life cannot be lent for loane , nor let from day to day : Nor can the appoynted houre bee shund nor skaped any way .

The Paraphrase .

THE Emperours did in their lawes carefully prouide for the behoofe and good estate of their Subiectes , to sette downe rewardes and encouragements , for such as were honest and vertuous , and to deuise punishments and corrections , for suche as were wicked and euill disposed . And it is very wel thought , as hath been saide before , that such as valiantly lost their liues , either in defence of their faith , or for the libertie of their countrie , are rewarded with euerlasting life : or if any man dye in the defence of his owne honesty , he shall continually be well thought of , and commended . But such as cowardly forsake the feelde , and run away from the warres , the lawes haue appointed to dye , and are accounted for wretches and villaines , whether they dye or liue , and their shameful and reprochfull life , is more griefe to them then any death that can bee deuised , especially an honest death , & this is the meaning of the Prouerbe , Detest an euill life &c. For as Aristotle in the 3. of his Ethicks saith , A man is borne to honor & libertie , which two things , we ought alwaies to keepe and maintaine , and to couet by all meanes we can , to diehonestly , & to liue vertuously . The Prouerb saith further , that life can not be borrowed . For as Iob sayeth , The Lord hath rated the dayes of our life , which can not bee lengthened : And therefore no man may shunne the appointed houre that God hath determined . And herevpon ariseth the tale among the Poets , of the three sisters of destinie , whereof the one of them called Clotho , carieth the distaffe , the other named Lachesis , spinneth , and draweth out the threede , which the thirde sister , Atropos , windeth vppe vpon the reele . And as Seneca in his first Tragedie sayth , These three sisters are so cruell and hard , that it was neuer seene , that the threede which they had once wounde vppe , could euer bee got backe againe . These sisters of the Destinie doe signifie in deede the posting time of our transitorie life , whereof the day once past , can neuer be called backe againe . And therefore sayeth Seneca , these three vnliberall Ladies doe rule by assured order , and may neither shorten nor lengthen , otherwise then is appointed . Therefore ought euerie man to applie himselfe to die well , since the time of his death can by no maner of meanes be altered .

58. King Codrus rather chose to haue the conquest then to liue , And neuer did his noble minde refuse his life to giue , To saue a valiant companie of such as him did serue , The life is alwayes well bestowed that doth such praise deserue .

The Paraphrase .

COdrus beeing ( as both saint Austine & Valerius report ) the king of Athens , when as he was to fight with Pelops duke of the Lacedemonians , and had answere of his Idols , to whom he sacrificed , that the side whose captaine was slaine should haue the victorie , preferrin , glike a worthie gentleman , the liues & prosperitie of his poore subiects farre aboue his owne , apparailing himselfe in a base and simple habite , and rushing into the thickest of the enemies , was presently slaine . Of whom Virgil writeth , that he chose rather to die with the victorie , then to liue with the ouerthrow .

59. Take no delight to heare thy deedes commended to thy face , A thing that wisedome alwayes hath accounted for disgrace , And if thou doest reprochfull wordes of anie man sustaine , It is no commendation , to to report the same againe .

The Paraphrase .

VNder the vertue of Fortitude is taken and included all maner of vertuous and godly actions , that are done without respect of praise . For a man ought not to look for the praise of the people , as a recompence for his good deed , and specially if it be done in his owne presence , which for two causes is to be disliked . The one , because that glorie nor praise is no perfect recompence or rewarde for anie vertue : For as Boecius sayeth , Praise or glory is nought else amongest the multitude , but a tickeling and bewitching of the eares . The other reason is , that praises and commendations before the face , doth rather seeme a kinde of flattering and clawing , then a praise . The Prouerbe saith further , That if thou doest reprochfull wordes of any man sustaine , It is no commendation , to report the same againe . The meaning of it is , that no man that is of great minde or courage , ought to speake of the iniurious and euill words that hath been offered him , but shall rather bee counted both wiser and valianter , if he dissemble them , and seeme not to wey them , as it is written in the third booke Of the liues of the Philosophers : where a Philosopher being railed at , and reuiled , made this answer , Thou , quoth he , hast learned to speake euill , and I haue learned , to make no accompt of lewd speech . And more is he to be commended , that beareth euill wordes , then he that offreth them .

60. Likewise the praising of thy selfe , thine actes and speciall grace , Doth neuer thee aduaunce , but all thy doings doth deface . For if the deedes that here thou dost , be onely done for praise , An errour great thou dost commit , and walkst the croked wayes .

The Paraphrase .

SOlomon is his Prouerbes sayth , Let a stranger commend thee , and not thine owne mouth . And Cato saieth , Neither praise nor dispraise thine owne doings : for thy praise in thine owne mouth is a great disgrace vnto thee . And those that praise themselues , because as Tullie sayth , it seemeth to proceede of pride , doe thereby bring themselues into hatred and euill will . So as if any man shall set foorth his owne doings , to the ende to bee commended & honoured , and shall thereby be reputed to bee a man of great vanitie and folly , his errour as the Prouerb saith , shal appeare to be great .

61. Such things as wonderfull do seeme , but seld or neuer tell , For all men haue not heades alike , To iudge thy credite well . And many wordes to vse doth shew , no great perfection , T is better for to shew thy deedes , and let thy tongue alone .

The Paraphrase .

THe chaunces that are wonderfull , are those that doe seldome happen , which though a man hath seene with his own eies , yet will not the common people ( who neuer beleeue more then is subiect to their grosse senses ) giue credite to him that shall report them , but shall bee counted a liar and vaine prater for telling of them . And therefore if a man be not driuen by necessitie to tell it , it is much better for him to keepe his tongue . For as Isocrates sayeth , I haue manie time repented for woordes that I haue spoken , but for keeping silence , neuer . And euerie mans perfection doeth rather stande in the proofe of his workes , then in his words , according as Saint Luke writeth in the beginning of the Actes of the Apostles , touching our Sauiour , where he sayeth , that our Lorde Iesus Christ beganne to do and to teach : where he placeth his workes before his woordes , which is the meaning of the Prouerbe , And manie woordes to vse doeth shewe no great perfection , t is better , &c.

The sixth Chapter of Liberalitie and Franknesse .

62. Be franke and free at all assayes , with speede bestowe thy gift : The goodliest grace in giuing , is to be short and swift . Well vnderstand the qualitie of that thou doest bestowe , Which seene , thou shalt be able soone the quantitie to knowe .

The Paraphrase .

AS Seneca sayeth in his booke of Benefites , wee are not borne to liue onely to our selues , but to benefite and profite our kinsmen , our friendes , our neighbours , yea , and euerie other person that we can . Sith nature , as the ciuill law saith , hath linked all men in a consanguinitie and duetie eche to other . And therefore we are bound being of abilitie , to be liberall and bountifull to such as liue in wante and necessitie , though as the Doctours say , it ought to bee done by order and degrees , as first to consider our parents , next our children , then our kindred , and after them our friends , and so thorowout as they be in degree . And if so bee we haue some of our kindred that be of the householde of fayth , and others that be not , the Apostle willeth vs ( if our power be not sufficient to serue them both ) rather to relieue those that be of the fayth , then the others , and this great vertue , Liberalitie hath , as Aristotle writeth in the fourth of his Ethickes , certaine circumstances : As that hee that giueth ought , to consider to whom he giueth , and to what end he giueth , and to looke that the things which hee giueth , be not of the basest of his substance , as Caine did , who offered vnto God the verie worst and vilest of his flocke , whereas Abel offring the best that hee had , his Sacrifice was accepted , & Caines refused . Likewise , he is to consider , to whom he giueth . For to giue to such as haue no neede , is to cast away that , which is giuen . It must also be knowne , whether the partie to whom we giue , be able to woorke , and can by his labour sufficiently maintaine himselfe . For to giue to such a one , were to rob another , that is not able to labour , nor hath any meane to gette his liuing , and yet , as the lawiers say , if a man be well borne and descended of a good house , so as he cannot , considering his parentage , without great shame & disparagement , giue himself to anie base trade of life , although he be of abilitie for bodie to trauell and labour , yet is it a good turne to relieue him , because he is in the same case with him that can neither labour nor hath means to get his liuing , A right Spanish stomacke . for with his honesty he cannot abase himselfe to any vile occupation , and therfore is to be considered . Moreouer we ought to regard the manner and intent of our liberalitie , which ought not to bestowed for anie vaunt or vayneglorie , as appeareth by the example in the Gospel , where our Sauiour , beeing present in the temple , there commeth in together , to offer , a proude wealthy Pharisey , and a poore vertuous widdowe . The riche Miser offereth of his great substance , great and precious presentes : the poore widowe turneth out of the bottome her purse , and her hart , a poore sillie Farthing . Our Lord demaundeth , which of the twayne had offered most , and gaue sentence with the poore widow , because the mind of the giuer , who onely gaue it in respect of the seruice of God , & not for anie vaunt , or vaineglory , as the riche man did . Beside al this , we ought to geue that , which we geue , with a willing & a cheerful minde , as the Apostle saieth , For the Lorde doeth loue a cheerfull giuer , and such a one , as is not slacke nor slowe in the bestowing of his benefites . For he giueth double , as the common prouerb is , that giueth soone : & as Solomon saith in his prouerbs , Say not vnto the pore man , go , & come againe to morrow , when it is in thy hand to helpe him presently . For as Aristotle in the fourth of his Ethicks saith , Liberality standeth not in the giuing of many & sumptuous gifts , but in the habit of him that giueth , whatsoeuer it be that is giuen : that is to say , in the cheerfull & bountiful mind of the giuer , which all are here briefly comprehended by the Marques : Be franke and free . &c.

63. By worthy liberalitie great Alexander wan His fame and high renowne , when all the worlde he ouerran . And likewise Titus for his frankenes great , and actes of fame . Amongst the worthy conquerours obteind a woorthy name .

The Paraphrase .

ALexander king of the Macedons , and one of the 3. monarchies of the world , was a Prince of great liberality and franknes , of whom Seneca writeth in his Booke of Benefites , That when as a poore minstrell came vnto him , & beseeched him to bestowe a pennie vpon him , the king presently gaue him a whole towne , and when the poore felow , halfe astonied , tolde that so greate a gifte was not fitte for him : Alexander answered him , hee did not regarde what was meete for suche a fellowe to receiue , but what was seemely for so greate a Prince to geue . Titus was Emperour of Rome , a Prince of a noble minde , and of greate liberalitie , who as it is reported by Eutropius in his life , and other auncient Authours had proclaimed , that whosoeuer had anie sute vnto him , what soeuer it were , it should be graunted , & when some of his counsell misliking it , had tolde him , that it woulde bee a meanes to discredite him , when hee shoulde not be able to performe that which he promised . He aunsweared them , that it was not conuenient , that any person shoulde departe from the face of a Prince with a discomforted and heauie hearte . It is also reported of him , that beyng set at Supper , and calling to remembrance that he had not bestowed any thing vpon any man that day , looking with a discontented countenaunce , hee saide vnto those that were with him , Alas my friends , I haue vtterly lost this day : meaning that the time is neuer well spente of Princes , wherin they are not geuing to some bodie .

64. But Midas with his masse of golde , was had in great disdayne , And he and al his treasures thought to be but fond and vayne , The fowle vnprincely answeare of Antigonus the king , With stayne vnto his state , his name to infamie did bring .

The Paraphrase .

MIdas , as Ouid in his Metamorphosis declareth , was king of Phrigia , who receiued with great interteinement the Gods , Iupiter , and Mercury , as they happened to come by him , who willing to make him some recompence for his good will towardes them , bade him to aske of them whatsoeuer hee most desired . Midas being a most miserable wretch , and couetous as the Diuell , desired of them , that whatsoeuer he touched , and whatsoeuer touched him , might presently turne into golde : which was by and by graunted him , whereby he became in a short time to bee wonderfull riche , but when the foole was in the middest of his Paradise , the very drinke and meate that should sustayne him , turning into gold , he died , ( as it is reported ) of famishment . The moral of this tale , I here meane not to meddle with , because it hath been touched by many greate and learned Philosophers and Poets . It suffiseth to knowe , that it noteth and reprooueth the shamefull and most wicked vice of couetousnesse and filthie auarice . Antigonus the king is greatly blamed of Seneca , in his booke of Benefites : of whom he writeth , that when a poore man desired of him a great quantitie of golde , he made answer , that it was a great deale too much , and not meete for him to require : and when the poore soule desired him to giue him but a pennie , he answered againe , how that was too small a thing for a king to giue . And thus not regarding how foully this dishonorable niggardlines , & pinchpining doth blemish the name of a Prince , the couetous Antigonus made these answers to the poore miserable felow , which deserue for euer to be recorded , as a foyle & counter shewe to the noble Emperours Alexander and Titus .

65. I lyke not him that s prodigal , nor such I list to prayse : And yet the man that well deserues , I hurt not any wayes . The troth is , that I much mislike to liue in neede and want : But ten times more a miser , that is couetous and scant .

The Paraphrase .

THE Prodigall man , as Aristotle in the fourth booke of his Ethikes sayth , is he that spendeth more then is needefull , & where it is needelesse . Who , perceyuing the vertues of the liberall man , that spendeth that which is meete , and where it behoueth , and that the couetuous miser is condemned , for not spending that , which hee ought : taketh himselfe straightwayes for a liberall and a vertuous Gentleman : and sayeth , that hee vseth monie , as it ought to bee vsed . And this is a vice greatly to bee auoyded , for the meane betwixte these two extremes of Prodigalitie , and Couetuousnesse , is the vertue Liberalitie . Howebeit , true it is , as Aristotle sayeth , the lesser vice of the twayne , and more to bee borne withall , is Prodigalitie . For the prodigall man profiteth those to whom hee geueth , although hee hurteth himselfe : But the Churle and the miser neither profiteth himselfe , nor anie man els . Besides hee that is prodigall , will sooner come to be vertuous , and liberal , them the couetous , for two reasons . The one is , that by reason of his greate expenses falling in to neede and want , he will quickely see what hurt he receiueth by too much spending , and will from that time forwarde learne to bee wiser , and to keepe his money the better . The seconde is , that with the time of his spending , hee waxeth aged , and people in their olde yeeres be more sparing and thriftie , then in their youth , because the hope of gaming is nowe taken from them , whiche in youth doeth alwayes encourage them . But , the couetous person cannot be brought to the vertue , by neither of these reasons . For the older he waxeth , the more miser he waxeth , and therefore if wee mislike a man , that by reason of his prodigalitie commeth to be poore , we ought a great deale more to detest a Misar that by couetousnes groweth to be rich . For as Salust saith in his booke of Catiline , Couetuousnesse hath vtterly banished both faith and honestie , and cleane destroyed all artes and knowledges . Whereby it hath brought in pride & crueltie , contempt of God , and a generall Merchandise of suche thinges as shoulde freely bee geuen . Couetousnesse is alwayes infinite , and neuer satisfied with abundaunce , nor diminished with want . And therefore Though the prodigall bee to bee mislyked in necessitie , and want : yet ten times worse , a miser that is couetous and scant .

66. The great Darius easllyer was , destroyde for all his might , And of his valiant aduersary subdued , and put to flight : Then might Fabricius moued be , with couetous desire , Whose hart with filthy auaryce coulde not be set on fire .

The Paraphrase .

FRabricius , beside a number of other his noble , vertuous , and worthie actes , excelled in the vertue of liberalitie , of whom it is reported by Valerius in his nienth booke , that when he was presented by the state of Beneuento , with a great masse of monie , hee returned the embassadoures with their treasure home agayne , as one that contented himselfe with the benefite of his Temperance , and helde himselfe satisfied with that small wealth which hee had , supposing it to bee a sufficient riches : For hee did alwayes saie , that riches consisted not in much hauing , but in little coueting .

67 To helpe a man in miserie , our dutie vs doeth binde : And not to doe it when we may , is odious and vnkinde . A noble minde will neuer stayne it selfe with such a blotte , Nor suffer such a great offence , nor such a filthie spotte .

The Paraphrase .

THE Prophet Dauid saieth in his Psalter : Blessed is that man , that hath compassion vppon the poore and the needie : For in the time of his necessitie , the Lorde shall deliuer him . And Solomon in his Prouerbes sayth , That who so hath pitie vppon the poore , and relieueth , them lendeth vppon vsurie to GOD , who shall restore him with great gayne , that which hee hath disbursed . And therefore the Prouerb saieth , To helpe a man in miserie , our dutie vs doth bind . Where Duetie is taken for a woorke of Mercie , as Seneca accounteth it in his Booke of Dueties , and farther it saith , Not to succour when we may , is odious and vnkind . For as Solomon in his Prouerbs saith , Whosoeuer stoppeth his eare at the crie of the poore , shall crie for helpe himselfe , and not be hearde . And therefore it is not to bee thought of a noble minde , but if hee see a man in miserie or distresse , hee will followe the aduise of the Prophet Esaie , who saith : Breake thy breade to the hungrie , and carrie home to thy house the sorowfull and the poore , where thou seest a man bare and naked , cloth him , and despise not thine own flesh , Solomon saith in his Prouerbes , He that hath pitie vpon the poore , shal be happie . And this is the meaning of this Prouerbe . A noble minde wil neuer staine , &c.

The seuenth Chapter of Truth .

68 Truth honour thou , & alwayes loue , step not from her aside , But frame thy friendship after her , that euer may abide . The Image faire of holy life , and daughter true is she , As faithful sister vnto vertue , chiefe is honestie .

TRuth is of so great a worthines and excellencie , that God himselfe , as it appeareth in the Gospel , is called the Truth . This truth hath two extremities . The one , called vayne boasting , which is when men brag of themselues , more then they are able to performe : the other is named Ironia , when men publishe of themselues , that which is not in them . Men ought to loue and honour the trueth after one of these two manners , eyther where it concerneth onely them , and therein men ought to beware , that they neither exceede , nor doe lesse then that which is reason . The other is , when it toucheth an other , & in this case , to reuerence the trueth , is as much to say , as to performe whatsoeuer is promised , and to bee true of our worde , as well to our enimies , as to our friends , as we are bound by the Ciuill lawe : for there is no greater duetie betwixt man and man , then to keepe their faith and promise iustly one with the other , without the which , all trafficke and dealing amongst men must of necessitie cease . And therefore the Prouerbe sayeth , Truth honour thou , and alwayes loue , steppe not from her aside . And farther , that we ought to frame our friendshippe after truth . Friendshippe , according to the minde of Aristotle in his Ethickes , is in one of these three sortes , eyther for profite , for pleasure , or for honestie . Friendshippe for profite , as Seneca sayeth , is Merchantes friendshippe , which neuer endureth longer than there is hope of gayne . Friendshippe for pleasure , lasteth as long as delight and pleasure lasteth , and as delightes doe alter with yeeres , and suche thinges as seemed pleasant at some age , are thought displeasant in an other : Therefore this Friendshippe can neuer long continue . Friendship for honestie , is that which is grounded vppon truth and vertue : and as vertue , truth , & honestie , are thinges euerlasting & vnchangeable , so the friendship that is grounded vppon them , cannot but continue for euer . This friendshippe floorisheth in the time of prosperitie , and continueth and remayneth in the time of misfortune and aduersitie , and therefore hee saieth : That shee is the daughter of holinesse , & that honestie is the faithfull sister vnto the most soueraigne vertue . Honestie , ( as Plato reporteth , & as it is brought in by Tullie in the beginning of his offices ) is of suche an excelling beauty , as if she might be seene with mens eyes , the whole worlde woulde bee in loue with her . Who because shee is stedfast , assured , sounde , and euerlasting , is saide to bee The faithfull sister to soueraigne vertue .

69. Attilius knowing well before , That he shoulde surely dye If vnto Carthage he returnd , , Obseruing faithfully His troth and woord , deferd no time For to returne againe , Where as he suffred tormentes great By death and deadly paine .

The Paraphrase .

MArcus Attilius , as S. August . writeth in his 1. booke of the Citie of God , and also Tullie in his Booke of duties , beyng prisoner among other Romanes , in Carthage , & sent vnto Rome , to persuade an exchange of prisoners : when he came to the citie , and hauing declared his message , was demaunded to geue his opinion what hee thought best to bee done , after that he had thorowly considered that the Roman prisoners were olde , & impotent men , and that the Carthaginians were all young and lustie fellowes : his aduise was , that they shoulde in no wise make anie exchaunge , and when his friends , vnderstanding that his counsell was allowed , laboured by all meanes they could to keepe him from goyng agayne . He told them that hee had geuen his faith and his woorde to the Carthaginians , that he would returne himself with the answere , and therfore notwithstanding that he knew & was sure that his goyng thither should be harmefull & dangerous , comming into the handes of his cruell & dealy enimies , yet considering that he had promised , he would performe it , and so in deede did , whereas he suffered most cruell death , with greate torture and tormentes .

The eight Chapter of Continence in coueting .

70 Of worldly goodes possesse no more , nor farther seeke to haue . Then may suffice thy neede , & cleare thy conscience after graue . All ouerplus with heede auoyde , for more then meete is nought , And nothing can continue long , that on the earth is wrought .

The Paraphrase .

SOlomon saith in his Prouerbs , that the praier which euery man ought to make vnto God , is this Pouertie nor riches lord giue thou vnto me , but only that with is sufficient for my maintenance , least by hauing to muche , I be tempted to forget God , and to saie , Who is the Lord ? and hauing on the other side to litle , I bee forced by miserie and want , to blaspheme the ●ame of my God . And this aucthoritie of Solomon is in a maner the full Commentarie of this Prouerbe . Likewise Aristotle in the tenth of his Ethickes saith , To seeke to possesse a meane & moderate wealth , is the perfection that a man attaineth vnto . And Seneca in a booke that he made of the quietnesse and satisfyng of the minde , moueth this question , What quantitie of the goods of fortune a man ought to enioy to , and what is the meane & temperate state of riches ? That a man ought to seeke for and possesse so muche as may keepe him from pouertie , and yet to be not farre from it : And this is it that preserueth a man from falling , as the piller , which is the conscience , being the greatest rest and quietest that a man can carry with him . The Prouerb saith , Nothing can continue long , that on the earth is wrought . The world it selfe must ende , and all thing that therein is created : wee see that nothing endureth long , beautie decayeth , fauour faileth , strength abateth , and life it selfe but a smal time lasteth . The greatest princes that be , must away , and though the whole world be subiect to them , yet are they them selues but subiectes to miserie , to casualtie , to sorowe , to sicknesse , and to death , and muste die as an other man : all our pompe , our vanities and follies muste haue an ende , wee haue no continuall abiding place , as saint Paule saith , but must al away , some to heauen , some to hell , according as they haue heere behaued them selues : And therfore is it a great madnes for any man to set his felicitie in so fickle an estate , that he knoweth can not long time endure , & to behaue him so fondly for the small time that he is heere , as to liue hereafter in torments , that shall neuer ende .

71 The more thou gettest continually , the more thou still doest craue , Nowe iudge ( of twaine ) which is the best , if that thou reason haue : To be a Lorde of riches great , with griefe and toile and care , Or quietly to liue content with small and decent share ?

The Paraphrase .

SVbstaunce and riches doe neuer satisfie the appetite nor desire , but as Cassiodorus writeth in an Epistle , as in a dropsie , which is a disease that causeth continuall thirste , the more a man drinketh the thirstier he remaineth : So yf couetousnesse be not bridled , the more riches we get , the more wee desire : and therfore the Prouerb heere willeth , that a man shoulde waie with himselfe , whether it be better to possesse great riches with trouble and tormente , or to enioye a reasonable liuing with contentation and quietnesse . For as Seneca in his Epistle to Lucilius saith , There is no man that is loued or fauoured of God , but he that contemneth and despiseth riches . The possession whereof , saith Seneca , I doe not take from thee , but would that thou shouldest enioy them without feare , which to attaine vnto , thou hast no other way , but to liue happily & quietly with them , esteeming them as thinges transitorie , that soone may be forgone . And he that possesseth them in suche sort possesseth them with quietnesse and contentation .

72. The riches that we heere possesse With hast away doe flee : And as the tides with floods and ebbes , They mooue continually . Seeke thou the treasures of the minde , Which stande like brasen walles , Both firme and sure , a safe defence Whatsoeuer thee befalles .

THe riches & wealth of the worlde , are the thinges that are most accounted of amongst the goodes of fortune , which do sometime encrease , & sometime decrease , as Boetius in the person of Fortune speaketh , saying , that the seruantes ( which are these temporall goodes ) doe stil attend vppon their mistres , which is Fortune , with whom they do alwaies both come and goe , and therfore saith Boetius , that Fortune hath the whole worlde vpon her tottering wheele , bringing whom shee list aloft , and casting others downe , making poore men of suche as were riche , and riche men of suche as were poore . And therefore the Marques heere warneth vs , that we apply all our forces to the obteining of morall goodes , that is to say , Vertues , which are in deede the perfection of the Soule , as Aristotle in his boke of the Soule , writeth . And these , saith the Prouerbe , stande like brasen walles , both firme and sure , a safe defence , whatsoeuer thee befalles , as muche to say , as they neuer leaue nor forsake a man : As Tullie declareth in his Paradoxes , where he bringeth in Bias the Philosopher , one of the seuen wise men of Athens , who , when the Citie was taken by a Tirant , and the people fleeing , hadde taken with them as muche as they coulde carry , only Bias medled with nothing , and when one of his neighbours did aske him howe chaunce he tooke none of his goodes with him : he answeared him , that all which was his , he carried about him , not counting any thing to be his , but the vertues of the minde , esteeming the goodes of the worlde to belong as wel to any others . And this is the meaning of this prouerb , Seeke thou the treasures of the minde , &c.

73 Seeke not ambitiously to reigne , nor rule with tirranny , But both her woorkes and waies see that thou shunne aduisedly : And choose the meane estate , among the which t is best to liue : So shalt thou passe with pleasure all the time that God doeth giue .

The Paraphrase .

A Tyrant is he , as Aristotle in the seuenth of his Politiques saith , that commeth to the Crowne by force or by pollicie , who endureth no longer then he is of force or power , as Medea saide vnto Creon in the seconde Tragedie of Seneca , Tyrantes and euil gouernours doe not endure for euer , and as Agamemnon saith vnto Pyrrus in the speache that they had about the death of Polixena , Their gouernments that are by force , continue no long time , but the gentle & mild gouernment is that which endureth . And therefore the Prouerbe saith , Seeke not ambitiously to raigne , nor rule with tyranny , and that we ought to forsake her pathes , and her workes , and choose to liue among the meanest sort , which is the best and the quietest life . Which is that which is saide in the Prouerbe before , that Seneca wrote in his Epistle to Lucilius , That there is no man esteemed or accounted of GOD , but those that despise & contemne the pompe and wealth of the worlde .

74 For thinke not that the loftie state , nor throne of high degree Doeth make a man the perfecter , or hapier to be . It rather doeth his cares encrease , and giues him griefe and paine , And on his necke , that erst was free , doeth cast a careful chaine .

The Paraphrase .

NOworldly wealth , but specially no tyrannicall gouernment , can bring a man to perfection , or to liue happily , but rather draweth with them feare , daunger , vexation , and cares , and as Boetius saith , The Tirants that are alwaies waited vpon with their guard , to terrifie and amase others , are alwais afraide them selues of those , whom they suppose to feare . And Tullie in his booke of Friendship saith , that in the life of the Tirant , there is neither faith , loue , nor any long enduring goodwill , of euery thing is he ielous , and eche thing ministreth vnto him cause of care , and disquietnesse . And further he saith , Who can euer loue him , whom he feareth , & of whom he knoweth that he is feared ? And this is the meaning of the Prouerbe , The loftie states , nor throne of high degree , doeth make a man . &c. Touching the which , Boetius in his thirde booke of Consolation writeth of Dionisius of Sarogosi , who from a meane man was aduaunced to the Crowne , to whom , when his friende came vpon a time to see him , and greatly praised the happinesse of his estate , telling him that he ought to account him self most happy , that had attained to so high a dignitie : Dionisius bidding him to a dinner , caused him to sit downe , where ouer his head was hanging a terrible Sworde with the point downewarde , who with the feare and agonie that he was in for falling of the sworde , made but an vnpleasant dinner , sitting all the time vpon thornes : After he was risen , Dionisius asked him , yf his dinner were not pleasant vnto him : Suche a pleasure ( quoth the poore fellow ) GOD keepe me from , that euery moment looked to haue a Swoorde vppon my pate : and suche ( quoth Dionisius ) is the life of euery Tyraunt , euen as full of pleasure as hath been thy dinner : for the highnesse of his state encreaseth his miserie , and chaineth him with the chaine of thraldome , touching the which I haue spoken at large before in the second Prouerbe .

75 Seeke that which thou maist easily haue , and care not for no more , For thou shalt see from time to time , if that thou watch therfore , The loftie states and mightie powers , come topsie-turuy downe : And he that late a Miser was , with ioy to weare the crowne ,

The Paraphrase .

BOetius in his second booke of Consolation saith , that nature contenteth her selfe with a very smal thing : and yf you shal at any time ouercharge her with thinges that are superfluous , the more you charge her , the more hinderance , hurt , and displeasure you doe vnto her . And therefore the Prouerb saith , that we ought to seeke that , which we may honestly and easily attaine vnto , and no more . For if wee will well marke it , as Boetius in his first booke of Consolation saith , We shall see a man in one houre hoysed vppe a lofte , and in the selfe same houre caste downe againe , and an other aduaunced in his place : for solace and sorowe succeede one the other . And as Seneca in his seconde Tragedie sayth , haue their turnes . And this is it , that the Prouerbe saith , That loftie states and mightie powers , come downe . &c.

76 Trust not vnto the state of those , that hastilie mount a hie : But looke to see them fall as fast as euer they did flie . For be thou sure the wicked man , shall neuer long endure : His happy fortune shall him faile , when most he thinkes her sure .

The Paraphrase .

SOlomon sayth in his Prouerbes , That the goodes which are hastilie gotten , will as swyftly be gonne . So that the sodayne rising aloft , hath alwaies his fall and great mischiefe at hande : For as Dauid sayth in his Psalmes , Neuer trouble nor frette thy selfe at the prosperitie of the wicked , nor at the aduauncement of the vnrighteous , for they shall sodaynly be plucked vppe by the rootes , and those that faithfully abide in the Lord , shal inherite the land . And againe , I haue seene the wicked floorishing like the Cedar of Libanus , and within a while after there was no remembraunce of his beeing . And therfore saith the Prouerbe , Be sure , the wicked man , shal neuer long endure .

77 If that thou wilt abundance haue , liue to thy selfe content With only that which nature findes , to be sufficient . I haue not seene men troubled much their liuing for to get : But many for to mount alofte , Their hartes asunder fret .

The Paraphrase .

SEneca saith , in an Epistle to Lucilius , that he is not poore that hath but a litle , but he that desireth muche . For great riches is it to nature , to haue a litle with contentation and ioy , for a very small thing doeth nature require , and a litle suffiseth her : And therefore the Prouerbe saith , I haue not seen men take any great paine or trauaile to liue in the worlde , but miserably doe they moile and toile , and fret their hartes asunder , that seeke to clime aloft .

78 Then let vs well the matter waie , what if thou doest possesse , Great store of goodes obteined heere , by fraude and wickednesse ? What great assurance hast thou nowe , that thee may certifie Thou shalt not come by chaunce or hap to begge before thou die ?

The Paraphrase .

TVllie saith in his Philippicaes , that the goodes which are wickedly gotten , will euil fauouredly be spent : And therfore there is nothing that can assure a man of the continuance of his state , for a thousand misfortunes maye happen that may make a riche man a begger . And therefore Seneca saith , that we ought to possesse those riches we haue without care , so as it may neuer greeue vs , though wee loose all we haue , taking them not for our owne , but as straungers and thinges lent vnto vs , and for the time that we haue enioyed them , we ought as Boetius sayth , to giue thankes that wee haue been benefited by them as by external goodes , neither ought we to complaine yf we loose them . And this is the effect of the Prouerb , where it saith , What great assurance hast thou nowe , that thee may certifie ? &c.

79 How many riche men haue we seene , in litle time decay , And from their great & loftie states , slipt downe and fallen away ? How many haue been laught to scorne , For putting of their trust In this fonde fickle honour heere , nowe tumbled in the dust ?

The Paraphrase .

WIth great wisedome saith Dauid in his Psalms , If riches happen to abounde , set not thy hart vpon them , least yf we fortune to forgoe them , we shoulde sorowe and torment our selues for them : For whatsoeuer happen vnto vs , it is alwaies best to say with Iob , The Lord hath giuen , the Lorde hath taken away : Blessed be the name of the Lorde for euer . And so shall no man be scorned nor derided , for any thing that he hath lost , or may loose .

80 And thus if I haue tolde the trueth , In these preceptes of mine : Seeke not for riches nor desire , the thing that is not thine . And if thou doest demaunde of me , to whom they doe belong : To fortune : thus I answeare thee , that list not to be long .

The Paraphrase .

OF goods there are two sortes , outwarde and inwarde . The outwarde goodes be such as fortune giueth , and these be none of our owne , according to the saying of Bias before alleaged : but our owne goodes are those , that be within vs , which are the Morall vertues , which are not subiect to anye change of fortune : For when al the giftes of Fortune fayleth , yet learning and vertue remaineth , which neuer leaue nor forsake a man , but mainteine and accompany him all his life time , according to the opinion of Cato in his Philosophie . This beeing , as it is very true , wee ought not so with carke and care , to heape , to regarde , and scrape vppe riches , which belong not vnto vs , and may many waies be taken from vs , doe what we can to keepe them . And therefore our Sauiour hath warned vs , that we shoulde lay vp our treasures in heauen , where neither rust nor mooth can come , and where no theeues can breake in , to steale it . This can we not doe with our goodes of the world , but howsoeuer wee dispose them , they are subiect to chaunce and casualties , that may happen .

The nienth Chapter . Of Enuie .

81 Let not the enuious man in life , a paterne be to thee , Nor walke thou in his froward paths , nor keepe him companie . It is not for a vertuous minde , such errour to commit : Nor doth a noble hart beseeme so ill to vse his wit .

The Paraphrase .

ENuie , as Aristotle in the seconde of his Rethorikes sayeth , is a sullennesse and griefe of that men haue , to see either honour or any good thing to happen to anie that is of the same calling that they themselues are , and it is one of the vilest natures that can be in a man : so as manie times the enuious person , without anie iust cause at all , becommeth a mortall enemie to his neighbour , according to the saying of Saint Gregorie in his Pastorall , where hee sayeth , That the enuious man , beeing not able to cleare his hart from the venim that is there congealed , discouereth himselfe , and falleth to working of mischiefes openly . Wherevpon our Sauiour Christ sayeth in his Gospel , That there is no Prophet without honour but in his owne Countrey . For his owne kindred and companions , for the great disdaine they haue of his estimation , doe seeke by all the meanes they can to discredite and deface him , which is not for a vertuous minde , nor doeth a noble hart beseeme . For it is for a noble and gentlemanly hart to behaue himselfe as the good Moyses did , who when certaine enuious persons , to moue him to displeasure , came vnto him , and tolde him that two of the common people did prophesie in his tent , Moyses verie graciously answered them , that he wished to GOD , that euerie one of the people were able to prophesie , which milde speech proceeded from a noble and a valiant minde .

82. Nought else doth enuie bring to passe nor other seede doth sowe , Then murders , mischiefes , cruelties , and suttle ouerthrowe . As by the Scripture doth appeare , where cursed Caine did kill Poore Abel ( that offended not ) vpon malicious will .

The Paraphrase .

ABel and Caine were brothers , as Moses in the first of his fiue bookes writeth . The cruell murther of Caine done vppon Abel , and the cause thereof , is in the same Booke at large described . And therefore , to make anie , long Paraphrase vpon it , were but a thing superfluous . And it is well knowne , that enuie , the roote of mischiefs , was the first deuiser of that so shamefull and horrible a fact .

The tenth Chapter of Thankefulnesse .

83. Good turnes that haue been done to thee , haue still before thine eie , And when to recompence the same it in thy power doth lie , Require them with a cheerefull hart And waying well in minde What friendship hath been shewde to thee be neuer thou vnkinde .

The Paraphrase .

SEneca in his Epistle to Lucilius writeth , that the vnthankefull man is he , that returneth a good turne without interest : in whose opinion we are bound not barely to returne the benefite which we haue receiued , but to do it with recompence . For as Valerius in his fifth booke writeth , Hee that doeth not thankefully recompence a good turne , doeth clearly bereaue men of the doing and receiuing of pleasures , without the which , the life of men is rather a death , then a life . And this is it that the Prouerbe saith , Good turnes that haue been done to thee , haue stil before thine eie . &c.

84. O what a shamefull staine it was , to Ptolomei the king , The noble Pompey traiterously vnto his death to bring . And Ezekias , for his great vnthankfulnesse did pay , When by the wrath of God he should haue died before his day .

The Paraphrase .

PTolomey was king of Egypt , who as Lucan writeth , was seruant to Pompey the Emperour of Rome , at whose handes he receiued his kingdome . And as the Ciuill warres beganne to waxe hot betwixt the two mightie Princes , Cesar , and Pompey , ( after the battaile of Pharsalie ) Pompey retired from the fieldes of Philippos , to a place in Lesbos where hee had appointed his wife Cornelia to lie : but perceiuing the people of the Countrey not to bee such as hee might trust , hee went by Sea from thence to Egypt , where he committed himselfe to the handes of Ptolomey , who conspiring with Photinus , and Achillas , ( two mischieuous persons ) betraied him , and after they had slaine him , presented his head vnto Caesar , at the sight whereof , Caesar , as the storie telleth , could not refraine from shedding of teares . Whervpon maister Frances Petrarch in one of his Sonets thus writeth .

Caesare poiche'l traditor d'Egitto , Lifece il don de l' honorata testa . Celando l'allegrezza manifesta , Pianse pe gliocchi fuor , si come è scritto .

Which in our vulgare speech is thus ,

Caesar , when as the false Egyptian had Presented him with worthie Pompeys hed , Hiding his ioy with coloured countnance sad , His fained teares foorthwith , they say , he shed .

Of the reproches of this Ptolomey , all hystories are full . And because as I haue said , Lucan setteth out this matter more at large , it is needlesse to make any long discourse thereof , since this Booke requireth no such exquisitenesse , nor intreateth of anie forraine storie . Ezechias being of the tribe of Iudas , was king of Ierusalem , the seruant and greatly beloued of God : who , when Senacharib king of the Assirians had besieged the Citie , & fent Rabsacah his messenger vnto him , and to the rest of the people , willing them to yeeld themselues , and promising them their liues , threatning them , that if they otherwise did , he would assuredly put them all to the sworde , and that neither their God , nor any other God beside , should be able to deliuer them , as they might see by the experience of a number of other mightie countreys that he had conquered & brought in subiection : Ezechias being afrayed of the hugenesse of the armie , and of the great power of Senacharib , shewed vnto Rabsacah the temple of Ierusalem , with all the vessels and ornamentes thereof , and all the Iewels of his owne house , which had been gotten together , and laid vp by his predecessors : but the Lord knowing the weaknesse and faintnes of Ezechias , and foreseeing that he was determined to yeeld himself into the handes of Senacharib , or at his appointment to Rabsaces , being greatly offended with him , sent vnto him the Prophet Esay , to let him vnderstande , that he should presently die : but such and so great was his sorowfull lamentation and mourning , as it pleased the almightie to reuerse the sentence .

The eleuenth Chapter of Friendship .

85. The man that councell good can giue and will thee reprehend , And warne from euery euill act , choose thou to be thy friend . And thinke thy selfe thrise happy , when thou such a friend canst haue , That will thee well instruct , and from all ill aduises saue .

The Paraphrase .

FRiendship , as Aristotle in the eight of his Ethikes , sayeth , and as hath been sayde afore vpon one of the Prouerbes , is of three sortes , for delight , for profite , and for honestie . Friendship of delight , is the friendshippe of flatterers , and iesters which endureth but a small while : for when the pleasure ceasseth ( as testers are not at all times , nor of all men liked ) this friendshippe straight wayes endeth . An other friendshippe there is , grounded vpon profit , and is , as Seneca termeth it , merchaunt friendshippe , for it endureth no longer then there is hope of profite : And those that vse this kinde of friendshippe , doe it , as Seneca sayeth , more vpon the profite , then in respect of the person . The Flye alwayes attendeth vppon the honie , and the Woolfe vpon the Carion . Which kinde of people are more in loue with the praye , and the spoyle , then with the man . The third kinde of friendship setieth it selfe only vpon honestie , and groundeth her selfe vpon vertue , and this endureth as wel in aduersitie , as in prosperitie . This is the allonely true friendship , which the Prouerbe counselleth vs to choose , and this is that which Aristotle sayeth causeth in friendes but one hart and one minde : and this friend , whose friendship is grounded vpon honestie , is he , that wel reprehendeth , and is no flatterer , nor will consent to any wickednesse nor euill , but giueth counsaile with out affection , iustly and vprightly , perswading alwayes to vertue and godlinesse of life , and all the actions and doinges of such friends as are knit in this friendship , doe ground them selues as the Prouerbe saith , vpon goodnesse and honestie of life .

86. And he that is thy friend , I wish and warne in any case , Thou keepe and vse him as a friend , in euery time and place . I speake not of the flatterer , who vnder colour sweete : Of sugred speeche and pleasant shewn with gift of gall doth greete .

The Paraphrase .

IN this Prouerb is mention made of the diuision of friendship , before specified , and it sheweth that the friendshippe that is vpon profit , which is the dissembling and flattering friendship , is not in very deede the true friendship . For there is no perfect friendship , but that which is grounded vpon vertue and honestie , which friend aboue all others we ought to esteeme : and of such a friend speaketh Aristotle , where he sayeth , What pleasure hath any man in his life , though hee haue all the felicities in the worlde , if he want a friende ? For , to liue happyly and quietly , it behoueth a man to haue one , to whome he may safely open all his doings , and with whom he may bee as bolde as with him selfe . We reade in the Cronicle of the Philosophers , that Aristotle beeing demaunded what hee accounted a friende to be : made answere , that it was one minde in two bodyes . Of this assured and perfecte friende doeth the Prouerbe heere speake .

87. If thou conceale thy thoughts , and that thy minde in secret lyes : Thou shalt be sure to be esteemde and taken to be wise . Ofte haue I found my selfe by speache in thrall and trouble brought : But neuer yet for keeping of my toung , I suffred ought .

The Paraphrase .

CAto in his morrall Philosophie saith , That the first and principall vertue that a man should haue , is to haue a sober and a modest tongue , for much is he in fauour with God , that is able to holde his tongue , when time and cause requireth . Isocrates in his Oration sayeth , that in two thinges onely , speache is to bee preferred before silence : the one is , in speaking that , which is to a publike commoditie : the other , in vttering that , which necessitie forceth . In all other thinges hee sayeth : that silence is farre to bee preferred before speech : but specially a man ought to keepe his owne secrets . For as Seneca saith , If thou art not able to keepe thyne owne secrets , how canst thou require an other man to doe it ? And therefore the Prouerb saith , Thou shalt be counted discrete and wise , if thou kepest thy secrets to thy self , and that a man bringeth him selfe in subiection by speech , but shall neuer bee harmed by silence .

88. But yet I would not haue thee heere , to be so straightly tyed : That from thy deere & speciall friend thou shouldst thy doings hide . For why ? it were to great offence , t' abuse his friendship so : And euen the redyest way it were , to make thy friend thy foe .

The Paraphrase .

SEneca in his third epistle setteth downe , the way and meane how to get freends , and being gotten , how to kepe them , saying to Lucilius , Way with thy selfe a long time the worthynesse of the partie whom thou doest choose for thy friend , and when thou hast founde him to be meete for thy friendship , commit all thy doings and all thy deuises vnto him , and be as bolde of him as of thy selfe . With thy friende saith Seneca , imparte all thy cares and all thy thoughts , and in so doeing thou shalt haue him faithfull vnto thee : but if thou growest once into ielousie , and hidest any thing from him , thou giuest him cause to be vnfaithfull , for diuers in fearing to bee deceiued , haue taught others to deceiue , and therefore the Marques saieth , The readiest way it were to make thy friend thy foe .

89. See thou thy life be alwaies such , in deede and eke in showe : As thou regardest not a whit , though all the worlde did knowe . Vnto thine honour and thy name , haue alwaies speciall eye : To shunne the thing thou oughtest to shunne and all offence to flye .

The Paraphrase .

SEneca in the aforesaid Epistle sayeth , That he which dare not trust his friend as much as him selfe , hee is greatly deceiued , as one that knoweth not perfectly the force of freindship , howbeit hee sayeth beside , Liue thou in such sorte , that thou committest nothing , neither in deede nor thought , that thou shouldest be ashamed to shewe thy friende : meaning , that a man mighte to haue no filthy nor dishoneste thoughts in his minde , but such as can minister no cause of offence to any man , not though it were to his very enemie .

The twelfth Chapter of Duetie to Parents .

90. Great reuerence to the parents euermore we ought to giue : And with obedience honor them , as long as they doe liue . The Lord him selfe hath promised assuredly that hee That doth the same , with long & happy life , shall blessed bee .

The Paraphrase .

SEtting aside the lawes both of God and man , we see that euen by very nature men are moued to honour , loue , & feare their parentes , and that we shun to offend them , for the benefite of nature that by them we haue receiued , as we are taught by the Ciuil law . Besides , our Sauiour Iesus Christe intreating of the Commaundements , hath not promised long life for the fulfilling of any of them , saue onely for this , where he saith , Honor thy father and thy mother , that thou maist liue long & many daies vpon the earth : As it is also written in Ecclesiasticus , He that honoreth his father , shall receiue ioy and comforte of his owne children , and shal liue a long and an happy life . And againe , The blessing of the father maketh stedfast the state of the children , but the curse of the mother bringeth them to distruction , Whervpon saith the Prouerbe , The Lorde him selfe hath promised , &c.

91. By motherly perswasions Veturia did asswage ( And with her presence pacifie ) the Roman in his rage . On th' other side the beastly lust of that same monster vile , With incest and with murder did , his hatefull hart defile .

The Paraphrase .

VEturia was an honourable Matrone of Rome , and mother to Coriolanus , a man of great wisedome and valure , to whom for his great deseruings , the common wealth of Rome was not a little beholding , howbeit as it is no newe thing amongst men , to haue their good deedes requited with vnthankfulnesse , he was moste vnkindely & vniustly banished by his owne Countrey men : the cause why , I finde not apparant , for malice neuer mindeth reason , neither doth euill will at any time regarde Iustice . But to returne to the matter of Coriolanus , beeing thus banished , goeth straightwayes to the Volscians , who at that time were in armes against the Romanes : and as vertue in all places getteth estimation , so was he receiued and interteined with great honour amongst them , and for his valour , within a very small time chosen to be their general . Wherby it came to passe ( as Valerius writeth ) that euen him , whose profit and good turnes his Citizens could not away with , nowe were they , the case beeing altered , driuen to dreade as their mortall enemy , and besieger of their towne : And beeing thus by the siege sore distressed ( which is alwayes more grieuous to great and populous Cities , then to small townes ) they were constrayned to send vnto Coriolanus , moste humbly requiring him to leaue his siege , and to departe from the Citie , and whereas their Embassadors , beeing the chiefe and principall men of the Citie and of the Capitoll , with colde entertainment , were neither heard nor answered , they continued their sute , and with humble submission sent out their priestes and clergie , beeing araied in their deuoutest vestures : but as the other were returned , so were these sent back , with very harde speeches and euel entertainment , whervpon the whole Citie bewayling their miserable case , and crying out for the cruel aunswere , that ( iustly deserued ) they had receued . Venturia the mother of this Coriolanus staudeth vp , and taking with her Volumnia hee sonnes wife , with her and her Children she goeth directly to the Campe of the Volscians , whom when Coriolanus a farre of perceiueth , hauing in his company a galant company of Gentlemen , he commeth foorth to meete her , though not a little disquieted , because his minde gaue him that their comming was onely to mooue him for the raysing of his siege , and as soone as he came neere vnto them , alighting from his horse , hee came towardes his mother to embrace her . But shee , putting him a little backe from her with her hand , with a heauie countenaunce saide vnto him these woordes , Before thou commest neare mee , and before I receiue thine embracinges , let mee vnderstande whether I bee come vnto my sonne , or to my enemie ? or whether I shall enter into thy tent as a mother , or as a sorrowfull captiue ? Alas , to what extremitie is my wretched Age come , to see thee firste bannished and expulsed thy Cittie , and nowe a cruell enemie and spoyler of thy Countrie that nourished thee ? howe couldest thou come into these partes with so deadely and reuengefull a minde ? howe couldest thou enter into these territories , and not let fall thy furious displeasure and threatnings ? Howe happened it , that at the sight of Rome thou saydest not vnto thy selfe , Loe heare within these walles is enclosed my natiue soyle ; my patrimonie , my mother , my wife , and my children ? Vnhappie woman that I am , who am well assured , that if I had neuer borne thee , Rome had neuer by thee been besieged : And if I had neuer beene deliuered of a sonne , I had happily dyed both free and at home in mine owne countrie . I speake not these woordes , because I am not able to suffer anie thing that shall be more reprochfull to thee , nor for the griefe of myne owne captiuitie , whose miserie can not be long by reason of my age , but onely for these , that be heere present , thy miserable wife & poore distressed infants . When Ventruria had thus ended her sorowfull complaint , Coriolanus imbracing her with teares in his eyes , said these wordes : Mine owne sweete Mother , my rage and fury is conquered & appeased , and is turned at your request from this mine vnnatural & vnthankful countrie : wherwith he presently discamped , & brake vp his siege . Wherevpon Valerius in the same Chapter sayeth , That the hart , that was full of wrath & reuenge , for the iniurie that he had sustained , and was now in assured hope of present victory , vpon the onely sight of his mother , and vpon his vertuous compassion , chaunged his intent of bloody warres , into a sweete and healthfull peace . Long were it to write , how greatly vertuous children haue alwayes beene gouerned by duetie and reuerence to their parents . Touching Nero of whom mention is made in this prouerb , where hee sayeth , The beastly lust of that same monster vile &c. Howe lothsome and horrible the lecheryes of this shamefull tyrant was , and what , and howe greate his disobedience was to his owne natural mother , is to bee seene in the story of his life , where who so liste may reade it . And therefore I meane to stand no longer vpon this prouerb , but to conclud , affirming that reuerence ought of bounden deutie to bee giuen to the Parents , for which the Lorde hath promised in the fourth of his Commaundements , a long and blessed life vpon the earth . I could heere bring in , if I were disposed , a great number of testimonies , as wel from the Philosophers , as from the holy Patriarches and Prophets . But because the olde saying is , The tedious tale offends the eare , and briefest words wee gladiest heare . And therefore let this that I haue saide , suffise the Reader , which I take to be inough for the vnderstanding of the Prouerbe .

92. And heere we may not ouerslip the wicked Absolon , But call to minde his froward hart , and fond presumption . For neuer haue we seene nor shall , that he that is vnkinde , Doth any grace with GOD aboue , or any fauour finde .

The Paraphrase .

ABsalon was the sonne of Dauid , a man of passing beautie and singular proportion , who found the meanes by certaine of his seruants to murder his brother Amon for the deflouring of Thamar his sister , & turning her dishonestly out of his house . For which murder Dauid was greatly offended , howbeit vppon fatherly compassion , and at the humble sute and request of Ioab , who was a speciall friende to Absalon , he pardoned him . But Absalon , whether it were because he found not the like countenaunce at his fathers hande as he was woonte to doe , or that hee was set on by some wicked seruauntes and leude Councellers , or whether it was the motion of his owne euill disposed minde , he presently withdrue himselfe ( as if he wont with his fathers fauour ) from Hierusalem , and came to Hebron , and with the sounde of the Trumpet , calling togither the people of Israel , without any regarde of his duetie to his father , he made him selfe King , with presumption to depose him , and to set vy him selfe , & to that intent he allured vnto him a great number of the tribes of Israel , and entred into open armes against his father . But God , who could neuer away with the disobedience of the childe to his father , turned all his deuises , force , and power to his owne confusion , for at the ioyning of the battailes , the fight being fierce , there was slaine to the number of twentie thousand , and Absalon him selfe galloping vp and downe , and passing thorowe a thick wood , was hanged by the heare of the head vpon the bough of an Oke , his Moyle running from vnder him , and beeing found so hanging , was slaine by Ioab and certaine of his seruants : wherby the good father obtained the victory of his disobedient sonne , where it plainely appeared , that God him selfe , abhorring his rebellious fact , fought against him , as is more largely declared in the seconde Booke of the Kinges , which I haue heere but briefely touched , to shewe that the disobedience to the father , is greatly displeasing of God .

The thirtienth Chapter , of Age .

93. Let not olde age thee discontent , since that it is the race , And moste approued perfect path , of goodnesse and of grace . O milde and honourable Age , that doest abate the fire Of vicious youth , and doest restraine , eche lewde and fond desire !

The Paraphrase .

THE blessed Apostle telleth vs , that as long as wee liue in this worlde , we are Pilgrimes and straungers to the Lorde , meaning that our true and naturall countrie is that , of which Dauid speaketh saying , I trust to see the glory of the almightie in the land of the liuing . The land of the liuing is the glory of Paradise , where who soeuer remaineth doe liue without any dread or daunger of death . And as the Apostle sayeth , all the while that we are absent from that place , wee are aptly here called straungers and pilgrims , meaning , that as the pilgrim wandreth here and there forth of his Countrey . So we are alwayes absent and out of our countrey , as long as wee liue in this transitorie life . And because that by the meanes of age we draw neare to our owne countrey , when we drawe neare to death : by which death , as Plato saieth in his Phedro , the soule atteineth vnto libertie , and breaking out from the Gaole of the bodie , being deliuered from sorrow and miserie , commeth to her owne quietnesse , ioy and solace . And therefore we ought not to be displeased at our olde age , since that it is the race of goodnesse , that is to say , the plaine path & way , by which wee passe from sorrow and trouble to quietnesse , and to rest . And this is onely to be vnderstood of the modest and well gouerned age , for that is shee that abateth the lustes and outrages of youth . For there is an age , as Aristotle sayeth in the first of his Ethikes , that being destitute of all vertue and good behauiour , is altogether doting and childish : For there is no difference , as Aristotle sayth , betwixt him that is yong of yeeres , and him that is young in behauiour , so that the age which shall not be displeasant , must be modest and furnished with good behauiour and vertuous exercises , and that is the age , that doeth abate the fire of vicious youth , and doeth restraine eche lewde and fonde desire . This age ( as Tullie in his booke de Senectute writeth ) doeth alay both lust , pride , & presumption , and doeth so enfeeble the force of the flesh , as it bringeth a man to bee lowly , milde , and modest . Of this kinde of age also speaketh the Psalme , where it sayth , When the time of meeknes & mildnes shal come , then shal we be reformed , which time of mildnes is from the age of threescore , to threescore and ten , which season suffreth not a man to be prowd or disdainful , but lowly , milde , and disposed to vertue . And therfore the Prouerbe saith , It doeth abate the fire of vicious youth , &c.

94. This to the vertuous man alone , doth giue authoritie , And makes him perfite in the pointes of grace and honestie . For who is he that in his youth can keepe the perfite way ? Or measure in his life obserueth ? or runneth not astray ?

The Paraphrase .

IT is commanded in the lawe of God , that whensoeuer we see an old ancient man , we should rise and reuerence him . And we finde in the Ciuil law , that in the Citie of Rome in the olde time , they vsed to worship and reuerence their aged persons , and the people of those dayes did yeelde the same honour to suche as were olde , as they did to their Iudges and Magistrates : and this onely they did in respecte of the honour that their olde yeeres doeth giue them , for no young man , though his wit be neuer so pregnant or quicke , is able to attaine to that vnderstanding , that the olde man by his experience hath gotten . For as Aristotle in the first and sixteenth of his Ethikes witnesseth , the number of yeeres is it that giueth knowledge & experience . And therefore he sayeth , that the yong man can neuer giue anie perfect iudgement of anie thing , because he neuer hath had anie great experience . And although that in naturall Philosophie , and in the liberal artes & learnings , there needeth nought else but a sharp and quicke conceite and vnderstanding : yet in morall Philosophie , which is the knowledge , by which we learne to liue vprightly and honestly , it is not onely enough to haue a good wit & capacitie to , but also to haue the experience and knowledge of time : and such thinges as are done by men of ripe yeares , we alwayes presume that they bee done vppon great aduise and deliberation , which is nothing so with yong men . And therefore vppon great consideration , our Sauiour being perfect God and man , although in the verie instant that he was conceiued , he was perfect in all knowledge & vnderstanding , & did not grow with space of time to more ripe knowledge & skill , would neither preach nor publishe his doctrine in his yong yeares , but at such time as he was come to his perfect age , neither doeth the Church receiue for trueth and certaintie anie other things , then those , which we read to bee done at his full age . Wherevpon all such Bookes as are written of suche thinges as hee did in his childehoode , and youngest yeares , the Church doeth take for Apocripha , and counteth them not in the Canon of holy Scriptures . And it is good reason that the thinges that are done in vnripe yeares should be of no authoritie , since our Sauiour Christ himselfe woulde neither preach , nor publish his doctrine , till such time as hee was of ripe and perfect age .

95. This made the Catoes so renoumed for wisdome great and graue : this made the valiant Scipioes , so great a name to haue . This onely gouernes in the field , and giues the victorie , And this in peace doth countries keepe from all hostilitie .

The Paraphrase .

THere is no man , as hath bene saide before , that attaineth to anie perfection in his doinges and deuises , but onelie by long experience of manie yeeres . And therefore saieth Aristotle in the sixth of his Ethikes , that young men ought alwayes to haue about them olde and auncient men , whose counsaile they may vse , and whom they ought in al things to beleeue , and therfore age is of great account and estimation , for it maketh , as the Prouerbe here sayeth , men to be wise , meete to iudge , and discrete in gouernment . And therefore Trogus Pompeius in his eleuenth Booke writeth , that Alexander whensoeuer hee happened vpon anie desperate aduenture , or sawe himselfe in great daunger in the field , woulde neuer haue about him anie yong blooddes or hewsters , but olde men that were of experience , such as had serued his Father , and his Grandfather in their warres , to the end hee might haue in his companie , not onelie Souldiours , but directers : he sayeth beside that , when his old Souldiours had required of him leaue to goe home to rest , and refresh their olde and weeried bodies , and that they woulde sende in their places their sonnes that were yong and lustie , and better able to doe him seruice : He answered them , that he made a great deale more account of the wise and skilfull grauitie and authoritie of such auncient men , then he did of the vnexpert actiuitie and strength of those couragious and lustie gallants . For age is onely it that maketh a man wise , and woorthie of reuerence . Neither ought anie man to mislike it , since it is the thing that euerie man desireth . And as Tullie in his De Senectute sayth , As the fruite is not in season , nor to be eaten , till it bee perfectly ripe , no more is man to bee accompted in his wisedome and perfection , till such time as hee bee olde , for then is hee onely come to his ripenesse , though as the fruite is , hee bee nearest his corruption : For then , as the Prouerbe sayeth , he gouerneth . &c.

The fourtienth Chapter , of Death .

Suppose thou not at any time that death is farre from thee , But alwayes thinke that he is nie , and streight at hande will bee . great madnesse were it for a man , to thinke this foolish life Should euermore continue with such miserie and strife .

The Paraphrase .

SEneca , as hath bene said before , sayth in his second Tragedie , that no man could euer yet haue the Goddes so fauourable , that they might be able to assure themselues , to liue till the next day . For although we bee most assured , that we shall die , yet is neither the houre nor the time of our death certaine , but rather , if we consider the great daungers and casualties that our wretched life is subiect vnto , wee ought euerie houre , yea euery moment to looke for it , according to the warning of our Sauiour , who willeth vs to watch and pray , for we knowe not the day , nor the houre of our visitation . And therefore as the Prouerbe sayeth , it is a great follie , to thinke that Death is not alwayes at hande , & that he shall not , as he came into the world , goe out of it . For as the Apostle sayeth , there is a lawe ouer all flesh , that they shal once die . Valerius telleth vs in his fifth booke , that when there was woorde brought to Anaxagoras , that his sonne was dead : Hee answered the messenger , that it was neither newes , nor a strange thing , that hee tolde him , but that it was such as he alwayes loked for . For hee knewe that there was nothing could come from him , that should liue for euer , and that it was a generall matter , that whatsoeuer receiued the spirite of life , must agayne restore it , and that as no man died , but that first he liued , so no man liued , but at last he died : And therefore well saieth here the Prouerbe , Greate madnesse were it for a man to thinke this foolish life . &c.

98. If it so were the blessed ioyes , that we doe hope to see , Should all in vayne and to no end , of vs desired be . Ne shoulde the glorie great of that almighty Lorde on hye , Our Sauiour Christ be looked for , that lasts continually .

AFter that our first Father had transgressed the commaundement of God , our life became straight to bee subiecte to death , and fulfilled with all kindes of calamitie , and miserie . For as the Apostle sayeth , Through the offence of our first father Adam , wee are all borne the children of wrath . And neuer shall we be without trouble , griefe , and miserie , during our mortall life , untill suche time , that our soule bee free and deliuered from the dungeon of the bodie : And this maketh the Apostle to saie : I desire to be loosed and to be with Iesus Christ . For the Apostle , being vexed with many sorowes , griefes , and miseries , desired to be dissolued , to the ende he might rest from all his trauayles , and Saint Iohn in his reuelation , saieth , Blessed are all those , that die in the Lorde , for they shall rest from their laboures . So as by a good and happie death , wee are sure to be made partakers of the euerlasting glorie of our Lorde and Sauiour Iesus Christ .

99 Then tel me , wherfore should we feare this death , why should it grieue ? Since that it is so good a lot , if that we doe beleeue , That after our departure here we goe to perfect rest , Attending for the glorious day , wherein we shall be blest .

The Paraphrase .

DEath as Aristotle in the thirde of his Ethicks sayth , is the last of al horrible & dreadfull things : which being , as Tully in his Tusculans sayeth , a thing that naturally happeneth , we ought not to thinke that it can be euill , since nature hath appoynted it . And Seneca in his Epistle to Lucilius sayeth , that life is geuen vnto vs , with condition , to looke for death . The path is playne and assured that leadeth vnto it , and to dye well , is to die willingly . And therfore death is neuer to bee feared of those that bee good and vertuous : But of the wicked the Psalm sayeth , The death of the vngodly is hurtfull and euill , but the death of the godlie is life , because they passe from transitory death , to euerlasting life . According to the saying of our Sauiour vnto the theefe , This day shalte thou bee with mee in Paradise : which happened into him , because hee beleued , according to the Prouerbe here , That after his departure here , he went to perfect rest , attending for the glorious day Wherein he shoulde be blest .

100 And heare to make an end , I say , the onely remedie In all extreames , is for to keepe , the perfect meane with thee : Which if thou takest for thy friend , a long and happie life Thou shalt be sure to leade , and liue without offence or strife .

ARistotle in the seconde of his Ethickes sayeth , that in all sciences , the woorke is brought to perfection , by hauing respect vnto the meane , neither adding nor taking from it more then is reason : meaning that the ouerplus and the defect , doe marre the whole matter , and that the meane doeth only saue and preserue it , which suche as are skilfull maisters doe chiefly consider . For seeing that vertue is the most certeine and best of all other artes , and that hir woorke and actions differ not from the actions of nature , it were greatly against reason , that she should not ( as wel as al other arts ) serch and finde out the meane : and further hee sayth , that the vertue morall consisteth as well in passion as in action , and that in all thinges that be , there is an extremitie of too much , and an extremitie of too little , and a meane betwixt both : As for example , in feare , in boldenesse , in coueting , in crueltie , in pittie , and of all thinges that concerne either pleasure or sorrowe , the meane , as Aristotle sayth , is to be commended , and the extreames doe alwaies bring shame and dishonour . And like as it happeneth , that to the perfection of any thing , there are a great number of thinges required , as likewise to make an imperfection , suffiseth that anie one of those thinges be wanting : euen so for a man to atteine vnto the very meane of vertue , there are a great number of thinges required , but to the not attaining therevnto , suffiseth the want of anie suche thing as is needefull . And hereof Aristotle putteth a verie familiar example of such as be Archers , that to hitte the white , is a matter of greate cunning and hardnesse , and none is able to say that hee can doe it but hee that is a perfect Archer : but to misse it , is a very easie matter , and euerie man that will , can doe it . So likewise is it of the vertuous meane , for euerie man that list , may auoyde it . And therefore is the number a greate deale more of the wicked , then of those that bee good , neither doth it followe , as Aristotle saieth , that of euerie thing the meane is alwayes best . For some things there are , that assoone as they bee named , they are mingled and wrapped in mischiefe . As for example , for a man to reioyce in an other mans harme , not to be ashamed of anie euill that he hath committed , to beare a repining spite at an other mans good happe , to commit adultery , to murder , to steale : of these things , and such like , there is no meane that may bee called vertuous . For howsoeuer a man doe them , they carrie with them mischiefe and offence , but in all other thinges that may bee well done & euil done , there are both extreames , and a meane . And of suche meaneth the Prouerbe , where it sayth , The onely remedie , in all extreames is , for to keepe the perfect meane with thee , which if thou takest for thy friende , ( that is : if so be a man in the order of his life ioyne himselfe with vertue , which is the meane : ) A long & happy life , thou shalt be sure to leade , and liue without offence and strife . In what sorte we ought to seeke out this meane , and how we ought to order our selues for the obteining of it , Aristotle at large declareth in the seconde of his Ethickes , whyther for auoyding of tediousnesse , I referre the Reader .

FINIS

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❧ Imprinted at London by Richarde Watkins . 1579.