THere dwelt neare the Cittie of Vienna , a Gentleman , named Narbonus : of personage beautiful , and in behauiour bountiful : in substance , not superiour to any : yet 〈◊〉 wit , inferiour to many : in goodnes , gratefull : and to his power , beneficiall : He had left him , by th● death of his father , some small possessions , & a litle land● to maintain his calling : wherwith , had hée bene so wisely disposed , as hée was wantonly delighted , hée might haue bragged with the best , and accompanied the greatest : and had his wit bene so well imployed , as his will was euely occupied , hée had néeded no counsailer for his commodity , nor any schoolemaister for his humanitie : But as he was younge , so was he wilde : and as he was wealthy , so was hée disposed pleasantly : as hée was ritche , so was hée ryotous : and yet as hée was wanton , so was hée curteous . But wit is neuer good before it be bought , & youth neuer brydled before hée haue bidden the brunt : and as the tender twigge will easely be bowed , where the olde trée wil not by any ●eanes be bente : as the yonge Coult will be reclaymed with a snaffle , when the olde Iade will neuer be manaced with any brydle : as the yonge Fawne will be made take bread at a mans hand , when the old Bucke will not by any meanes looke vpon a man : so as yet this Impe was to bée grafted to beare the first fruit , and now began the spring when it should yéeld the brauest blossom : now was the sap come into the hart , and now such séede as was sowen , such fruit should be found : such as was the plant , such would prooue the peare : how the ground was tilled , such fruit would come from it : and as the fertillest fields not wel husbanded , will yéelde the thickest thistles , so contrary , wrought as it should bée , giueth greatest encrease of corne : the more perfect memory in any man , the apter to delight in vile vice , which once reclaimed to honesty , the one blotted out , great goodnes quickly insueth : who then Paule a greater persecutor ? who then hée a more godly professour ? Samuell first called by God , after chosen his Chaplaine : Caesar first a slauish Souldiour , after , a great and valiaunt Conquerour : as the yeares doo encrease , so should a mans goodnes grow , and as strength entereth into a mans armes , so should wisedome enter into the braynes : Why doth a man grow in greatnesse , but that also hée should waxe in goodnes ? this youth was acquainted with many vices the which hée accustomed , and nozled in some vertues which he not greatly frequented , some of his blossoms were blasted , and some séedes prospered perfectly : some of his vertues were bitten with ●rost , which made no shew til they came to the ripenesse : but then flourished fresh and gréen● : other of his plantes prospered wel , and made a goodly shew on so perfect a trée as nature her selfe saw the growth therof : The Riuer Nilus ingendreth the foule Crocadile , and castes vp the precious perles : the filthy Toade hath a faire stone in hir heade : the Serpents skin is very medicinable for sundry things , where contrary , the Bée hath Hony in her mouth and a sting in her tayle : the swetest rose hath some pricke , the clearest Well , some dyrte in the bottom : so the most deformed man may haue some good condicion , the vylest nature some good imaginacion : the greatest pretended mischiefe , some spot of mercy : the stinging Netle is salue for some sore : the poysoned Hemlocke retayneth some vertue , and the Poppy séede is excellente good for many thinges : but the purest perfection may haue some spot of suspicion , the clearest complexion some fault of fauour , the best wit stayned with some diuelish deuice : Narbonus was neither voyd of humility , nor ouerladen with amity : not troubled with more honestly then he néeded to occupy : nor charged with more goodnes then his body could carry , nor filled with more feruencie then his stomacke could digest : yet his condicions not to bee blamed , nor his vnconstancy any wayes reproued : beeing in the Countrey hee wanted no companions to court him , and spending● his time so lewdly , lacked no Louers to entice him to folly : and though the rusticall Countrey be not so stuffed out with swa●hers , as the Cittie is fortified with swearers , yet their fruite is often eaten with Caterpillers , & more full fraughted then néedeth with flatterers : not so full of good nurture , as infected with vile nature : better fed then taught , and better manned then mannered : This curteous crue that followed his humor , enticed him sumtimes to follow the houndes , then to flye with the Hawke : now to rowse the bristlinge Boare from out his drowsie den , & then to haue the bouncing Bucke in chase : sometimes to vse the Tilte yardes , and then againe to exercise their weapons , here was neyther practised Geomitry , nor studied Philosophy : neither Musicke vsed , nor Diuinity loued : nothinge seene in Arithmeticke , and as litle knowledge in Astrology : neyther the Law lyked , nor so much as a booke looked on : but all began to goe to wracke , and euery good motion no sooner thought on , but as speedily forgotten . Hee had dwellinge in Vienna an Unckle of great estimacion , and his credite no lesse than hée deserued , for hee was beloued of his Neighbours , and fauoured of his fréendes , commended of his acquaintance , and honoured of those that knew him , lyked of the most , and hated but of few : for wisedome , hee was furnished to serue his turne , and his wit any way merited no blame : for his substance sufficient to satisfie his estate , and his goods so many as suffised his callinge : for his courtesie he wanted no instructor , and for good entertainement : to few inferiour : and for that hée was without any Sonne , and vnlikely euer to haue a Daughter : neuer a childe by nature , nor any kinsman to his knowledge except his Nephew : Hee therfore behouldinge the life that hee led , and the folly hée folowed , the litle gouernment hee had of his lyuing , and as small regarde to employ it the best way : not regarding any study , and caringe not whither euer he tumbled ouer his Bookes , or neuer looked on them againe : but apt to follow any wilfulnesse , and not regardinge to apply any goodnesse : waying more the pleasure of his companions , then the furtheraunce of his owne felicity : and an yuche of pastime , was woorth an ell of profite . His Unckle therfore on a time sente for him to Vienna , the messenger certefiyng him of great businesse , who willingly condiscended to awayte on his good Unckle , glad to bee at the commaunde of his fauourable freendshippe : and in deede repaired accordinge to promise , vnwillinge to displease him whom aboue all others hee fauoured : but well contented to heare the cause of his sending for . Where no sooner come , but entertained as courteously as him felfe desired : where after a fewe matters of course , and common thinges of custome : the good man his Unckle vttered the occasion of his sendinge for , and wherfore hee was cyted to arriue at his house , by these wordes followinge .

Nephew Narbonus , the longest Sommers day hath but his limited time of common course & then the Sunne draweth towardes the westerne Mountaynes , cleane from our sight , and wee enioy the vncomfortable night againe : the weary winters night lasteth but the appoynted time , and wee beholde the ioyfull dawning as before : the pleasaunt springe sweetly beginneth , and flyeth againe like a shadow : the wallowinge Waues hauinge attained their highest , retire to their former place as before : the grene Grasse once growen to the ful perfection , withereth to nothing but earth , as at the first : The greatest Monarche that euer liued , ranne but his race , and so his name grew againe to nothinge , hauinge the time of his death appointed as well as other men : The happiest felicity hath some fall , & the greatest goodnes some dram not very dainty : the fruitfullest trees are not free from some Caterpillers , & the most fortunate Weale wrought with some woe : and how longe doth this tickle state indure , or this fluttinge fortune remaine , when Empires are subuerted , & Kingdomes ouerthrowne : when Dukedomes goe to wracke , and Princes pine in pouerty : when the ritchest fall to decaye , and the prowdest stoupe to the yoake of fortune : who will reioyce in his welfare , and trust the vncertainty of his time ? who therfore can think hée sayleth safely , that is alwayes in danger of the rocks ? who can imagine hee trauaileth surely , that is alwayes amongst theeues ? who is safe in warfare , whither he flie or follow , the greatest certainty is not sure , and the best vncertainty vnstedfast ? Who so prowde as Lucifer , who sooner throwne downe into Hell ? who so highe minded as Nabuchodonozer , but who so changed from so mighty a Prince to a brute Beast ? who so wicked as Ahab , who more seuerely punished : the strongest cannot boste of his happinesse , nor the mightiest crake of the length of his life : the prowdest cannot brag of his tiranny , nor the rychest reioyce that hée liued euer the longer : the greatest that euer liued hath felt the force of fortune , & the highest hath beene made to stoupe : though Cacus were a Gyant , yet was Hercules stronger : and though Goliah were high , yet was hée made shorter by the head : and if Samson were the stowtest that euer liued , yet met hée with his match : if not by strength , yet by pollicie : if not by might , yet by slight : if not by greatnes of bodye , yet by the sleightes of subtill deuices . Vlisses was valiaunt , yet won to be a seruile subiecte : Achilles was gallaunt , yet met hee with his péeres : though Lemnon were feared , yet was hée vanquished . Alas , the most fortunate is but fickle , and the gretest subiecte to slauery : thraldome hath happened to the noblest , and bondage to the brauest : the yoake hath beene layde on the neckes of Princes , and Emperours , led in cheines of Iron : the greatest goodnes that a man gaineth in this lustly life , is the same that followeth by learning , and the only honour we should hunt after : then the which what is there greater ? then the which , what is there more pro●●table● then the which , what is there more estimable ? then the which , what is there more commendable in all ages ? then the which , what one thinge is there that lasteth after life ? And how is vertue attained ? or by what meanes is wisedome found out ? from whence commeth the knowledge of all prowesse ? and how doo Kings learne to beare swaye ? is it not the ground of all goodnesse , and the only hope of all happines ? Vi●it post funera virtus : and what can a man name the lasteth after death , or what memoriall is there made of any thinge whatsoeuer , after our departure ? do riches indure after death , because they abound in life ? no trust mee : euery good thinge taketh the originall from thence , and as it hath a beginning , so shall it neuer haue ende : who commendeth not the Bookes of Cicero , before the wealth of Cressus ? and the wisedome of Solomon , before the strength of Sampson ? the sweet wordes of Tullic , before the threatnings of Minos : and the sober sayinges of Anaxagoras , before the flattering tales of Aristippus : the prudence of Cato , before the foolishnes of Midas : and the Schoole of Thalias , before the Court of Venus : And for that I know the Countrey to be more giuen to pleasure , then profited by wisedome : better disposed to vse pastime , then to frequent Uertues Scholes : more delighted with the loue of liberty , then practised in the law of ciuility : more pampered in their owne foolishnes , then well nurtured in behauiour , or gratefulnes : you are not ignoraunt of the great good will , that alwayes was beetweene your Father and mee , not onely brotherly loue , but also such mutuall fréendship , as my purse lay alwayes open at his commaund : and he to requite me as fréendly vsed like courtesie in what soeuer . I lamente your Fathers departure , the more your losse , the greater my gréefe : for kinsmen you haue fewe , but such as for money will claime you of their kindred : for acquaintaunce , you haue more then is needefull , vnlesse greater for your gaine , and more profitable : I onely am lefte the standerde , and you the seconde , both which make but halfe a messe , a ●●mple seruice for so aunciente a family : as for children , you know none I haue , nor any am likely to get : my possessions are not small , and my landes not the least , my liuinge more then I spende the reuenues , and my credit● more then I would it were : but as my charges is great , so my care cannot be litle : and as my substaunce is much , so the meanes to leaue it is yet to make , and for the bestowing therof , the choice is yet in mine owne handes : and if duety binde mée to perticipate my lyuinge to you , the onely heire of mee , for want of a childe to enioy my landes , yet nature bindeth mee more straightly to beestowe it on you beeinge the last , or at the least néerest allied to me in line or lignage : and for that it is common for euery man to giue to his cousen , when hée hath neyther children nor brothers , I wil not be found to digresse the boundes of nature , or breake auncient custome : but if you merite well you shall haue ynough , if sufficient serue the turne : know you therfore , that the cause of your comming , and the busines I sent for you , is to let you vnderstand somewhat for your profite , and a litle for your commodity : the loytering life which you leade in the Country , and the careles consuming of your time , is the way to weary you , and the meanes to make you no miser , yet miserabler : of small credite , and as litle callinge : better acquainted , then beloued : and better knowne than trusted : In déede , I confesse the Countrey to be passing pleasant , & excellent painefull : more daungerous then dainty : more maydenly then mannerly : and more troublesome then trusty : for delights they are not dainty , and all exercises greatly vsed : all which are baites to allure a stronger than your selfe , & to win one more wise to delight their wiles● Of thrée thinges therfore I giue you your choice , leaue which you list , and choose that which liketh you , whither to bee a Marchaunt , and vse those trades which I can acquaint you withall , or a Studient to follow the Scholes , and vse the Uniuersities , or a Trauailer , to see for raine Countreies , and learne straunge languages : and in that your lyuing is but small , it shall be augmented : and the better to maintaine your state , your allowance shall bee amended : if you thinke good to be here with mee , I shal be as well satisfied , as you sufficiently contented : which if you do , my counsell shall not bee hurtfull to perswade you , nor my dooinges a cause of your hinderaunce , but the onely meanes for your preferment : Here you may turne your Gould to the greatest gaine , and your Siluer to the surest safety : vse mine , so it be to your profite : and your owne as benificiall as you may : you may walke the Cittie , and treade the streates : make your Marte with Marchantes , and vse conference with Trauailers , debate with Counsellours , and associate the Cittizens : accompany Artifficers , and vse the fellowshippe of some faithfull fréendes : and so make your choice , as you rue not your losse , nor repent your bargaine : for all sortes of fréendes are here to be sound , both good and bad : both honest and disloyall , both trusty and faithles : as wel the Spider as the Bée , as well the Toade as the Turtle , as well the Woolfe as the Lambe , as well the Foxe as the Dooue : As wel Iason the falsest , as Iesippus the faythfullest : as well Aneas most vntrue , as Camillus most constaunt : as well Cressid forsworne , as Troylus most iust of his worde . The féelds that are full of flowers : are ful of wéedes and Nettels : & this Citty so populous , not without flatterers or dissemblers : the ground yéeldeth as well corne for commodity , as Thistles that are hurtfull : the fresh Riuers bréed as well the fléetinge fish , as the sprawling Frog : if you here escape the Cirtes , you may fall into Caribdis : if you flye the wrath of Iupiter , you may finde the frowning of Saturne : if you escape the Semplagades , yet you shall come amidst the gaping Cicloppes . You shal heare these Swashbucklers sweare , and these ruffians royst it in their rudenesse , who will not sticke to cracke out othes good cheape , and to coyne lyes for nothinge : great acquaintaunce you shall finde , but few fréendes to credite : paynted sheathes , but rusty swoordes : faire faces with crooked condicions : those that will laugh in a mans face and cut his throat : If happely thou finde any whom thou like to make thy freend , and his fancy please thy fauour , trie him before thou trust him , and prooue him before thou praise him , and vse him before thou 〈◊〉 him : if thou finde him faithful , vse him familiarly : if faithles , reward him as slenderly : if doubtfull , be thou daungerous : if subtill , be thou ielous : carry a Ringe in the one hand , and a Fig in the other : write him but in thy tabling booke , so maiest thou easely blot him out againe : vse him as the Irishman doth his wife : who marrieth her for a moneth , then if hée like hir not sendeth her packing : bee wary therfore how thou dealest , and careful with whom thou doost bargaine : whom thou likest , and how thou set him at sale : how his conuersation is , & what his fréends are : whither his calling be so good as thine , or vnfit thy person : the subtilnes of some will cause thée dislike of many , and the collusions of dissemblers , will make thée carefull whom thou choosest thy familiars : the highest flying Hawke , prooueth often haggardly , and the best condicions ly not alwayes vnder braue apparel : the sweetest words may come from faithlesse lippes , and louing lookes often deceyue fond fooles : the highest hilles not surest to build vpon , nor the fayrest riuer surest to swimme in : the greenest grasse hideth the greatest Snake , and in the richest ground lyeth the filthy Toade : and is not the pretious pearle found in the moulded earth ? the Siluer tryed out of the sande ? the swéete Rose groweth on a stinkinge dunghill : where lodgeth more honesty , then in a simple couche of strawe ? where resteth more fréendship then in poore apparrell , where more vertue then vnder a ragged coate ? way not the estate of the man , but the man by his condicions : regarde not his goodly personage , but his good behauiour : estéeme not his great reuenewes , but his goodnes , béeing as gratefull to his power , as thou art benificiall to thy callinge : thou knowest the painted pottes haue deadly poyson within them , & costly clothes , ragged walles vnderneath them : and where will the filthy Spider sooner spin her poisoned webbe , then in the brauest houses : and to vse the company of thy superiours , thou shalt bee accounted sawcy , although thou be shamefaste : prowd in minde , be thou neuer so simple in spirite : haughty in harte , be thou neuer so duetifull in thy dooinges : the surest safegards is the merry meane , and the safest sayling in the smoothest Riuers : If they thy betters , what shalt thou doo but please them , though thou displeasure thy selfe ? what shalt thou say but sooth them , though a very lye ? what shalt thou speake but to flatter them , though contrary thy conscience ? if thou excell them in apparrell , they will say thou art prowde , in not contenting thy selfe with thine owne estate : if better monyed , they will immagine thou commest not by it so well as thou mightest doo : if thy curtesie bee better lyked of others , then their curiositie loued of any , they will seeke thee some displeasure , or procure thee some mischiefe : Where contrariwise , in vsinge the company of thy inferiours , thy credit will be cracked , and thy good name set soone to sale : they will imagine their curtesie , worthy to be preferred before thy wealth , and their vertues to be imbraced , before thy ritches are to be estéemed : their honesty before thy behauiour , and their goodnes before thy gratefulnesse : and they will not sticke to report , were not my honesty more regarded , then my ritches are to bee wayed , I could not haue gayned him my fréende , who fauoureth mee so wel : and in so dooinge , doth hée more then I deserue ? no trust mee , nor so much as I mente , for were I not worthy , I should not be chosen , and were not my condicions godly , my calling could not be so liked : thus the best bréedeth thy sorrow , and the worst increaseth thy greefe : the best forsooth is to good , and the worst to be preferred for vertues that know not what honesty meaneth , nor neuer had to doo with it : therfore Narbonus , prefer thy lykinge before my choice , thy loue before my desire , thy owne fancy , before my frée will : The Meane is the plainest noate , and the surest singinge , the Base is to low for thy liking , and the Treble to highe for thy reachinge : vse therfore thy choice , & take thy owne consent , make thy owne match , for thou art like to abide the bargaine : l●ke what thou bakest , such must thou eate , and such as thou takest , that must thou stand to : that which liketh the , cannot displease mée , so it be honest , and thy lyuing shall procure my loue , if it be vertuous : but sow in any wise the séede of constancy , so shalt thou reape the fruit of thy felicity , and vse thy faithfull fréend with loyalty to the last of thy life : so shalt thou purchase mee thy most assured , so longe as thou list : but thy duty alwaies reserued towardes mée , so shall my goodnes neuer leaue thée , til I forsake my life : & in forgoing my life , thy happines wil not be procured , though my liuings be obtained . Certefie mée therfore , good Narbonus , the ful effect of thy purpose , and let me vnderstand the drift of thy deuice , which is best thy liking , and what fittest thy dooing , I expect thy answere .

Narbonus stoode all this while , somtimes so wrapt with ioy , and then againe so mooued with obedience : now glad of his good hap , and then maruailing at the goodnes of his Unckle : now laughing in minde , and th●● weping in harte , to see the carefulnes hee had of him , and the vnkindnes of himselfe : but at length arming him selfe with boldnes , and reiectinge all manner of fearfulnes , hee replied as foloweth .

Deare Uncle , as I am to thanke you for your gratious counsell , so am I dutifully bound , to obey your excellent deuises : and as I am to be blamed for spending my tyme so loyteringly , so shall I for euer be at youre commaunde , for procuring my felicitie : and what youre good pleasure shall thinke beneficiall for my estate , my willing obedience shall not make any spotte of preiudicialitie , maugre your meaning : your hoarie heares do hasten my parte to conceyue passing well of youre determinations , and my mind being mollifyed with the rules of reason , will easily taste youre wholesome lessons , duety bindeth me to do no lesse , and age constreyneth me to my mighte , yet abilitie wanteth to my willing mind : which seeing it hath pleased your goodnesse so gratefully to offer , I will not be reproued of wilfulnesse , vngratiously to persist youre purpose : touching my estate as yet vnstayed , and my loytering life that hath vnprofitably bin led , hath hitherto not bin troublesome to many , nor chargeable to any , disliked of some , and loued of others , blamed as I deserued , but not vtterly conte●●ted , or altogither reprooued : the good demeanour you say of my Father , hath possessed mee a place in your heart , and if therefore my soule be founde vnmindfull of your benefites , I wish to be reiected , where now I am beloued , your ciuilitie ( déere Uncle ) bewrayes you not onely a Citizen in outwarde shew , but inwardly an helper to your poore friendes , and a furtherer of your neere neyghboures : but Sir , you condemne the Countrey causelesse , and imagine their craftinesse to be cloaked with simplicitie : but talke with a Clowne , and he will better resolue you then my selfe can certifye you : but this I know by experience , and that my eyes haue séene , my lippes maye boldly vtter , your stréetes are stately , oure pathwayes are pleasant : your houses haughty , our habitations handsome : your Shoppes abound in brauery , oure Barnes are filled with fruitefull commoditie : your Gardens are fine out of measure , our Fieldes are faire with all pleasure : your Dames decked in brauerie , our wines wedded in honestie : you wante nothinge , and wee lacke not all thinges : you confesse , oure exercises are first preferred , our healthes the likelier to bee preserued : you eate like Epicures , wee absteyne lyke Stoykes : you are cloyed with the excesse of Heliogabalus , wee contented with the roste of Romulus : you the quassinge of Alexander , we neuer surfet with drinking faire water : you the flatterie of Aristippus , we the faith of Laelius : you deuoute Uotaryes , we of God true feruitours , you the musike of Apollo , we the Pipe of Pan● we Hauke without hurt , you hunte lyke Homer : we ride for recreation , you rest for rewardes : we often méete merily , you oftner manerly : our banquetting brings restoritie , youre feastes are filled with gluttonie : you wanton , we warli●e : wee trie our strength , you drye your drugges : you fence it , we fight it : though you wante not any thing , yet haue we that sufficeth oure turnes , you giue me gratious instructions , and godly lessons , in warning me of your wiles , and telling me of your toyes : for ( alas ) the sillie Birde is quickly caughte with the lime-twigge , the subtile Foxe is taken in his owne hole , the gréedie Wolfe sometimes killed euen in the Shéepefold , and no maruell if my simplicitie gayne me quickly a place of infidelitie : in that there are both the Sirtes , and the Semphlagades , both Lays and Calipso , both Iesabell , and Iason , alas , how shall I looke ? how shall I walke ? whome shal I way ? whome shall I beléeue ? whome shal I trie ? whome shall I trust ? whome shall I credite ? who will not deceyue me ? how dare I ? nay , why dare I not ? for that dastards are oftnest in greatest daunger : héere are the swéete Sirenes , héere the meeke Mermaydes , héere the faythlesse flocke of Flora , but where the vestals of Diana ? héere is lust without loue , libertie without loyaltie , affection without fayth , constancie without chastitie , behauiour without honoure , fancie without feruencie , small vestalitie , yet lesse modestie : if happily I choose some faithfull friende , I shall bee fearefull he will proue a faithlesse foe : if I proue Damon ▪ he Damocles : he Theseus , I Vlysses : I Orestes , he Protheus which turneth into euery shape : I then shall be sorowfull beyonde measure , and my care will be greately increased : thus shal I graft grapes , and reape rushes : firste must I proue , then prayse : first view , then vaunt : firste gette , then gayne : first trie , then trust : first haue , then holde : once gayned , neuer forsaken , and once gotten neuer lost : if his birth better than myne , then wyll he blame me : if his lyuing greater , then disdeyne me : if hee many friendes , I beholding to him , if I few , he not regarding me : if hard-harted , then will he hate me : if furious hastie , faythlesse defye me : but to knowe , and then to kéepe , is a péerelesse patrimonie , and a doubt voyde of all daunger : and what ? shall I proue , and not be proued ? nay : shal I not be reproued ? tryall on any man , is sufficiente to acquite any villanie . Constantius , father to Constantine the Great , to the end to make tryall of his faithfull friends , and to represse his faithlesse foes , fauouring greatly the faith of the Gospell , and loathing those that liked it not , on a time determined to make knowne the good will he bare to his louing subiects , and to represse the rage of rebellious Roysters , putting in proofe a practise , as profitable to his owne estate , as commendable in so noble a man as himselfe , caused to be bruted abroade and proclaimed openly , that those olde ordinances of the Gentiles , and Statutes of the Paganes , touching Religion , shoulde in as ample manner be vsed , with such superstitious Ceremonies of the Canonicall Cleargie , and diuelish deuises of olde dotardes , as had before bin vsed , and euer till his time maynteyned , which to be perfourmed with speedy perfection , the forfeyture of fire and fagot was to be rendred to the resistantes : to the speedie dispatche whereof , the Nobilitie were first willed to vayle their bonets , and leade the dance , then the Laytie to follow within the compasse of the time alotted . Shortlye after , the Emperoure helde a generall Counsell , and made a solemne méeting , as well the Spiritualtie , as also the Temporaltie , where this matter was called in question , and sifted to the vttermost , all were asked , all examined , all prooued , but not all found péerelesse : all tryed , but not all found trusty : a great number of lusty gallants quickly consented , yéelding to all suche articles as were sette downe , and agréeing to whatsoeuer had bin proclaymed , no torture , no tormente , no fire , no fagot , shoulde cause them recant their sayings , or alter their determinations . Then were examined the Laytie , and those of the meaner sorte , the greatest number of the whiche had cast their ancker long sithence , which should neuer be remoued out of the sands of their soules , without the losse of life , and the fruition of the last felicitie . The good Emperour waying well the pouertie of their penurie , the truth of their tryall , and the clearenesse of their consciences , that losse of liuing , and forgoing this libertie , and rather the feare of death could not remoue their mindes , or change their heartes : whereat these gallantes that had lately turned their tippets , and moued their minds from better to worsse , laughed in their sléeues , and had the others greatly in derision , he caused immediately all those turnecotes to be banished the Court , and their liuings to be giuen vnto the others , and if euer they returned , death was their due , and they should surely haue it , made those Counsellors to his highnesse , and the others reiected for euer out of his presence : for ( sayde he ) these men are fitte for so noble a personage as my selfe , & worthy my Counsellors : suche friendes I feare me shall I finde , who will groape me for gayne , and turne away for euery trifle : march in the mayne battell , but flie from the fight , looke for the spoyle , but bide no brunt of the broyle : lost with an egge , and wonne with an apple : I as hote as Aetna , they as colde as Caucasus : I as true as Troylus , they as false as Iason : if I frie in faith , they will freese in falsehoode : if the company of some virgin do entice me to like hir , and perhappes allure me to loue hir , I shall hardlye finde a Castor : easilie a Flora , sooner a haggardish Helen , than a chast Lucretia : sooner a beastly Biblis , than a godly Theocrita : greate courtesie , but little chastitie : solemne protestations , but slender perfourmances : sweete words , but bitter in the eating : to flatter is a high poynct , and to glose a glorious gayne : the one yeeldeth perdition , the other bringeth distruction : to paynt than out in their pride and to carue them in their colours , I should but incurre their displeasures , and do my selfe small profite : the best is but badde , yet my selfe can not make the worst better : yet beautie , the more it is discommended , the greater desire a man hath to behold it : and a good thing mixed with that whiche is more vile , maketh a better shewe . Venus seemed most fayre of fauoure , when the blacke bearde of Vulcane was alwayes with hir : is not the Rose neatest that groweth amongst nettles : the coulour of white most perfect , paynted vpon a blacke grounde . But as all is not Golde that glistreth , nor all Siluer that shineth , so cache painted portrature prooueth not the purest , nor euerye sauce that is sauourest the most wholesomest : the sower broath doth as well comforte the stomacke ; as the sweete sugre séemeth pleasant in the tast : the choise of friends are so changeable , and the estate so vnstayed of such yong nouices as my selfe , that thynking to gayne the greatest treasure , I may finde but rusty iron , and deluing for the good gold , may get but couloured copper : whome should I choose my companions , when the highest are out of my reach , and the lowest stande vpon the tearmes of their vertues : to atteyne the touching of the Skyes with my finger I shoulde be counted very foolishe , and so base as to goe into Hell , the mind of a miserable man : then the earth is the onely place of my estate , and the seate to proue the penaltie of my fortune : the highest things haue the greatest fall , but he that goeth on the grounde , can fall but to the earth , and falling no farther , may easily rise agayne . Where you will me to vse your house as my owne home , your habitation , as my proper mansion , and your goodes , as my owne golde : the greatest thing ▪ to requite youre courtesie , and the most that I can giue you is thankes for your goodnesse , and obedience for youre desarte : the one I giue you so franckly as I am able to offer , as for the other where my doinges shall bee founde contrary to your desarts , I pray to be rewarded with shame , and to be dealte withall according to my doublenesse : pleaseth it you therfore to be some stay vnto me , and a helper , to maynteyne my poore portion , the best I thinke fitte my calling , and the likeliest I sée to be any preferment to my estate , is to apply the studie of the law , and to practise it so speedely as may be . Wittenberge hath the name for good Sudentes , and the better Schollers , the likelyer I , soonest to atteine the perfection of my studie , and the effect of my purpose : pleaseth you therefore to furnish mee with necessaries , and to prouide for my wantes , my long absence shall not procure my penaltie , nor the driuing off the time a hynderance to my studies .