THe famous philosopher Plato , being asked by his scholers , why he went so often from Athens into Sicilia , the way being long , and the sea very tempestuous , and perillous to trauerse and passe : he answered them : the occasion that moues me to goe and come so often from Athens into Sicilia is for no other cause , but onely to see my friende Phocion , a man very excellent in his works and learning : wise in his sayings , and iust and true in his wordes : and also for that he is my great friend , and enimie to vice , and a louer and follower of vertue , I goe willingly to ayde him to my power , and to consult with him of all things that I know . And further he sayd : you ought to knowe , my good schollers , that a good Philosopher , or wise man , to visite and succour his friends , to practise and conferre with him , ought to estéeme the voiage little , and the 〈…〉 : yea though he should saile ouer the sea , or should iourney ouer all the land . Apollonius Tianeus a notable philosopher . Appollonius Tianeus parted from 〈◊〉 , passed through all Asia , did saile ouer the great floud Nylus , Nilus a famous Riuer in Egipt . endured the coldes of the mount Caucasus , The mountaine Caucasus , a famous mountaine extreame colde . & suffered the great hoards of the Ryphean mountaines , The Riphean mountaine extreame hoate . passed the landes of the Massagets , entred into the great India , making this long peregrination & trauel for no other respect , but to visite and conferre with Hyarchos the Philosophor , this great friend Agesilaus , sometime a famous Captaine among the Greekes , hauing knowledge that the king Hytarius did hold prisoner another Captaine his very friend , leauing and setting apart al his affaires and trauels thorough infinite countries , till he came to the king , and after most humble and reuerent salutation sayd these wordes : I beseech thee most renowned king , that it may please thée to pardon Mynotus , my singular friend , and thy humble subiect : and all that it shall please thee in fauour to doe for him , I shall and will account it done to myselfe . And I assure thée , O king , thou canst not chastice , or punish his person , but that thou shalt giue vnto me feeling of the lyke torment , that thou giuest or causest to be done to him . The king Herode , after that Marcus Antonius was vanquished by the Emperor Augustus , Marcus Antonius a noble Romaine and of great auctoritie . he came to Rome , and set his crowne at the féete of Augustus ; , and with a bolde hearte spake vnto him these words : thou shalt now know , O Augustus , if thou doest not already knowe it , that if Marcus Antonius had rather beléeued me then his friend Cleopatra , Cleopatra Queene of Egipt after the death of Marcus Antonius , enclosed her self in a tombe full of liue serpents , & so ended her life , for the great loue shee bare vnto Marcus Antonius her louer . thou shouldest haue prooued how great an enimie he had béene to thée . And thou shouldest likewise haue knowen , how great a friend I had béene to him , as yet I am : but he as a man that would rather gouerne himselfe by the will of a woman , then be ledde by reason and wisedome , he tooke of me mony , and of Cleopatra councell : and sée here my Realme , my person and my Crowne here at thy féete , which I offer willingly to thée to dispose at thy will and pleasure : but with this consideration , O inuincible Augustus , that no punishment or hurt be done , vpon my Lord and friend Marcus Antonius . For a true friend will not forsake his friend , not for the perill of death , nor after his death , be forgetfull or vnmindfull of him , although his person be absent . By these examples and many other , that I could bring , it maybe considered , what fayth and fidelytie one true friend oweth to an other , and what perils one of them ought to aduenture for an other : for it is not sufficient , that one friend be sory for an other , for their mishaps or euill fortunes , but to put them selues euen to the daunger of death , rather then to faile his friend in his extreame néed .

Hée then of good right ought to be called a friend , and esteemed as true and perfect , that dothe willingly offer , ¶ Note how to know a perfect friend . departe , and giue to his friend those things that he lacketh , before he asketh his ayde : and that spéedely commeth to succor & helpe his friend , béeing in peril , without calling , or sending for . And therefore there is not , nor can not be in this world , better friendshippe , than this that I haue spoken of , which is that commeth with a frée heart of himselfe to ayde his friend in necessitie , and to succor him when he is in griefe or sorrow : further we ought to know , that to continue and make perfect friendship , thou oughtest not to enter into friendshippe with many : following the counsell that Seneca the Philosopher gaue to his friend Lucillus , willing him to be the onely friend to one , and enimie to none : for the number of friends causeth greate importunity , the which causeth perfect amity to diminish for considering well the liberty of our hearte , it is impossible , that one man should , or can conforme or dispose his nature and condition to the will and liking of many : nor that many should conforme themselues to the desire and liking of one . Tully and Salust were two Orators in Roome , very renomed amongst the Romaines : which two Orators were mortall enimies : and during their enimities , Tully had for his friendes all the Senators in Roome , and Salust had no other friend in Roome but Marcus Antonius : and one day these two Orators , being in contention in wordes togither , Tully with great disdaine did reproch Salust , saying vnto him : what canst thou doe , or enterprise in Roome against me ? for wel thou knowest , that in all Roome thou hast to thy friend but onely Marcus Antonius , and that I haue in Roome no enimie but him . Salust , made him a ready answere : thou makest great bragges , O Tully , for that thou hast but one enimie , mocking me , that I haue but one friend : but I hope in the immortall gods , that all thy friends shall not be able to defend thée from destruction , and that this one friend of mine if all be of power sufficient to kéepe mée from daunger against thée and all thy adherents : and so it came to passe within fewe daies after , that Marcus Antonius caused Tully to be slaine , and did aduance Salust to great auctority and honour . A friend may part to another body with all that he hath , as bread , wine , golde , siluer , and all other his temporal goods , but not the hart : for that can not be parted nor giuen to more then one : for this is true and certaine : many hold it for great glory to haue many friendes , but if they consider to what purpose : such a number of friendes serue for no other cause , but to eate , drinke , walke , and talke together : not to succor them in their necessities , with their goods , fauour and credits , nor brotherly to reproue them of their vices and faults , where in truth , where is a perfect amite , neither my friend to me , nor I to my friend ought neuer to dissemble but one to tell another their vices and faults : A perfect friend a great measure . for in this world is not founds so great a treasure that may be compared to a true and perfect friend , considering that to a true and assured friend , a man may discouer the secrets of his hearte , and recounte to him all his griefes , trust him with things touching his honour , and deliuer him to keep his goods and treasures , which will sucour vs , in our paines and trauels , councell vs in all perrilles and daungers , reioyce with vs in our prosperityes , and will be sorrowfull with vs in our aduersities , and disgraces of fortune . Finally , I conclude , that a faithfull friend doth neuer fayle to ayde vs during his life , nor to complaine & mourne for vs after our death . I agrée that gold and siluer is good , and parents and kinred , but farre better is true friends , without comparison : for that all other things cannot helpe vs in our necessity , if by fortune it happen that we be plonged in troubles , but riches many times doth danger vs , yea & doth further increase our perill , and deceiueth vs , making vs to enterprise vnprofitable attempts , leading vs to the toppes of craggy mountaynes , from which , we fall in great perrill , and perpetuall ruine : but a true friend séeing or hearing his friend in daunger or heauines doth minister to him of his goods , trauell and daunger his person , takes long and paynfull voiages , enters into debates and speches , and doth hazard his person , onely to helpe and release his friend out of perill , with suche a pure affection & amitie , that he would yet doe more for him if it were in his power : hauing then presupposed that it is necessary to choose a friend , & only to vse him alone , great consideration is to be had in the choyce and election of such a one , least thou finde thy selfe deceiued in thy trust , in vttering thy secretes to him : How to chose a perfect friend . haue regarde that he be not couetous , vnpacient , or angry : a great talker , seditious , or a mouer of strife , neither presumptuous : for if he be infected with these vices , thou wert better to haue him thine enimie , then to choose him for thy friend : but thy perfect friend ought to be of good conditions , and honest customes : that is to be gentle of nature , wise in his purposes , and paynefull in trauels , patient in iniuries , sober in eating and drinking good in councell giuing : and aboue all faythfull and constant in amity , and kéeping thy secretes : and such a one thou maist surely choose for thy friend . And where want and defaylance shal be of these conditions , to flye his friendship as a daungerous pestilence . Holde this for a certayne thing , that much worse is the amity of a fayned friend and fantasticall , then the malice of an open enimie . We se none will buie a horse , till first he hath séene him goe , and wel vewed him : silke nor cloath without séeing and féeling it : wine without tasting it : fleshe without cheapening it : nor house without vewing it within : nor instruments without hearing them sounded , and played vppon : by a more great reason thou oughtest in choosing thy friend , to know his behauiour and wisdome and vertues , long before thou admittest him as thy secrete friend . Note the Emperour Augustus order in friendship . The Emperor Augustus was warie & difficil in admitting a special friend , but after he had receiued him into his friendship , he would neuer leaue him , nor reiecte him for any cause or displeasure . Friendshippe ought to bée exercised with good men , & in vertuous actions : for although a man make his friend Lord of his secretes , and libertie , yet alwayes reason ought to reserue vertue frée . Plutarke saieth in his Politicks , that we were much better , to sell dearely to our friends our good turnes , Note Plutarks opinion . and friendshippes , either in prosperity or aduersitie , then to féeds them with faire & dissembling words , & vaine promises , not meaning to performe any of our friendships offered . I wish these my trauells might be agreable to them , that shall peruse that I haue written of Amity , and choise of a friend , hauing writte fréely , without flattery . Saluite in his booke of the Iugurthine warres , shews that it is no lesse commendation for a writer to write truly the valiant acts of the worthy , then to the conquerour to haue executed his charge with valure and worthinesse of armes : for often it happeneth , the captaine to be slaine in gaining the battaile and victory , yet faileth he not to be reuiued by good reputation , Good fame remaineth after death , that he gained before his death , being set downe in true history by the writer . Good counsell is of great efficacie in a friend : Marcus Aurelius a famous empeour of Rome . as said Marcus Aurelius to his secretary Panucius , saying that a man with money may satisfie and recompence many pleasures and good turnes done him , but to reward good counsell all the goods had néede to satisfie and recompence . If we will beléeue auncient historyes , we shall finde it true , that the vertuous Emperors , fortunate Kings , and hardy Captaines , going to the warres , to conquere their enimies , haue alwaies bene desirous to haue in their company some discréete and learned philosopher , as well to counsell with , as also to recorde in writing their aduentures and noble faets . Great Alexander had Aristotle : King Gyrus , Chilon : King Ptholome , Pithimon : King Pirrhus Zatvru : The notable emperors and kinges haue esteemed learned men greatly . the emperour August Simonides Scipio , Sophocles : the emperour Traian , Plutarke : the emperour Antonius p●●● Georgias . The company of al these philosophers and excellent men of the worlde serued only for good counsell , wherein their services deserued praise : as did the valiant Captaines , by their hardinesse & manhood . The emperour Nero asked Seneca the philosopher , what he thought of Scipio the Affrican and ●a to the Censor : he answered the emperour that it was : As Armes is necessarie so is learning also . as necessary that Cato should be borne into the worlde , for the common wealth , as Scipio to , for the warres : for as much , as the good Cato , by his counsell did : chace the vices out of the common wealthe : and Scipio by his actiuity and valiantnesse in armes , did chastice the enimy of the common wealth . And surely who shall followe the counsell here written , shal finde them necessary and profitable : and shal help him to assure his estate . For all the troupe of philosophers do affirme , that the felicitie doth not consist in great puissance , nor in hauing worldly riches , To deserue wel is the propertie of good men . but in deseruing wel . For the honour , fauor , and greatnesse of this mortall life is of more practise in them that deserue it then to them that possesse it without deserte , by happe or fortune : for if the earthquakes doo most hurte where be the most costly buildinges , and the tempest and lightning is most extreeme vpon the high mountaines , more then in the vallies , and low planes : and that in the greatest and most proud and most peopled cities , the pestilence doth most rage , more then in other places of smal inhabitation : and the birds be entrapped in the nets vnknowen to them : and the calmnesse of the Sea is token of some great tempest to come : and that after long health sicknesse is most daungerous : so doe I inferre hereby , that it is necessary for al men to beware of fained friends and beware of falling into ruine and daunger of euil fortune , & entrapping of dissembled friendes . The emperor Augustus asked Virgil how he might long maintaine himselfe in his empire , & be liked of the common weale : he answered , often to examine thy self , O Emperour , and to know that as thou excellest all in estate and degrée , and authority , so oughtest thou to surpasse all other in vertus and noblenesse : which was a most excellent and wise answere . The ancient and wise Historiographers did praise greatly the greatnesse of Alexander , the learning of Ptholome , the instice of Numa Pompilius , the clemency of Iulius Caesar , the patience of Augustus , the veritis of Traian , the pittie of Antonius , the temperance of Constantius , the continency of Scipio , and the humanity of Theodosius : so that these great princes got their great reputation more by their vertues , then valiancy and great déedes of armes , victories , & tryumphes . One thing is most certaine , that how vicious , dissolute or dissembling a man be , when he considereth , and remembreth his wicked doings , and thinkes what he hath béene , what he he is , It is a wicked thing to dissemble . and what may happen to him , for dissembling with his friends , and other his euill doings , that if any sparke of grace , or any goodnesse remaine in him , he will repent him of his former euil , & it bringeth heauinesse to him , when he hath done wickedly : for so say truly , we neuer receyue so much pleasure and contentment in doing euill , as we shall finde displeasure , griefe , vengeance and punishment , after euil doing . Certaine counsells and good aduertisments I will giue all men , Note these councels . neuer discouer nor declare to any person all that thou thinkest , nether make any priuy how much treasure , or valure in goods thou haste : for if thou canst not haue all thou desirest , doe not say all thou knoweste , nether doe hurte , to any that thou maiest , and is in thy power to doe : for commonly greate hurte doeth a man procure to himselfe in following his owne will , without resting vpon the rocke of good consideration and reason . The second is to be wary , & carefull , neuer to put to the hazzard of variant fortune those things that concerne thy person , thy estate and goods : for the wise will neuer repose or put themselues in perrill vppon hope , where daunger and perrill is likely to ensue : neither thinke , that all seruices and proffers that shal be made them in words and friendly protestations shal be performed for commonly those : that most liberally offer their friendships , are slack in performing , ye a sometime redyest , if they sée a man hath néede of him , or that fortune frowne vpon him to whome he professeth great good wil , none shall be found a greater enimie then he : neuer be thou a medler in other mens businesse , or matters that touch thée not , neither be slacke in following thyne owne : for a time lost in doing thy businesse , the like oportunitye thou shalt neuer finde , or recouer againe : if thou stand in daunger , and that there be hope of helpe , the duties of a perfect friend . spéedily preuent thy mishappe , least by detracting the time all hope of helpe may faile thée : choose them for thy friends assured and faithfull , that will haue care of thée , & hold thée vp from falling , & not them , do not opresse or hurte the poore . that after thou art fallen will proffer thée their hand to helpe thée vp againe : hurt not those that thou hast power to hurt : for the cryes and cursses of the poore , and sometimes of other , being wronged commeth before the presence of God , demaunding iustice and vengeance : in that thou art of abilitie to do good , help thy friends : parentes and kindred , and also the poore . In counsell that that thou shalt giue , be not affectionate : be not presumptuous , or seuere against them you may commaund : nether doe any thinge without good consideration : kéepe company with them that will speake the trueth , and flée from them that be lyars , flatterers , and dissemblers : for more account is to be made of them , that will forewarne thée of euill that may follow to thée , then to those that will giue counsell after thou hast receyued the hurte : For a wise man is to thinke that although euils commonly happen not to the prouident man , yet to thinke possible they may come , is wisdome : for it happeneth , the shippe soddainely by tempest to wracke , when the Sea is a litle before very calme & quiet , A wise consideration . and the more fauourable thou findest fortune , so much the more haue thou feare that she will be cruell , and despitefull against the : make no small accounte of this little worke , and briefe aduertisment , for experience teacheth vs , that a little diamond is of more estimation then a great ballays . Consider also , how the time flyeth away , and all things come to an ende : A notable councell . and that thou must depart from thy riches , be forsaken of friendes , and thy person to dye , and those that should succéede and follow thée shall vtterly forget thée : and thou shalt not knowe , to whome thy goods and succession , shall come , and lesse how thy children and heires shall gouerne themselues , nor whether they should proue good and vertuous , or not . Chilon the philosopher , being asked what thing he did finde in this worlde vpon which fortune had no power , he answered : there be two thinges onely in this worlde , which time cannot consume , Fame and verity will neuer be couered . nor fortune destroy , that is fame and good reputation of a man , that is written in bookes , and veritie hidde , for that veritye and trueth may be hidde and clowded for a time , but in the ende it will manifeste it selfe : if thou wilt sometime , for the recreation and contentment of thy spirites . To peruse these councels , here sette downe , thou shalt haue cause to think it a good trauaile , and woorke and time bestowed well . As Suetonius Tranquillus doth write of Iulius Caesar , Time spente vertuously . that among all the warres and continuall following them , he did not ceasse to reade and write some thing , yea being in the campe , and in his tente , commonly in one hande he held his speare , and in the other his penne , to write his commentaries . Man is to make great accounte of the time loste , more then to haue care to kéepe his treasures and riches : for the time being well emploied shall bring him to saluation , and treasures euill gotten shall be the cause of eternall damnation , ouer and besides a great trauaile and wearynesse to the body of man , and greater perrill to his soule , when he occupies all his dayes and all his life in the affaires , of this world , and cannot separate his mind from these worldly affaires , till he be called to the place , where he must make accounte of all his wretched doings , and leaue his body in the earth , a foode for woormes . And finally , I assure you all that shall reade this shorte aduertisemente and councell ; that of all the treasures , ritches , prosperities , seruices , authorities and powers that you haue , and possesse in this your mortal life , you shall carrie nothing with you , but only the time that you haue well employed and spente vertuously , during the course , and time of this your mortall life .