¶ The first Chapiter .

MY deere freend Liberalis , among the many and sundrie errours of our vndiscreete and vnaduised lyfe : I may well saie , there is in a maner nothyng more hurtfull , than that wee knowe not , either how too bestow , or how too take good turnes . For it foloweth of consequence , that the good turnes which are ill bestowed should bée i● owed . And therefore if thei bée not requited , it is too late for vs too complayn , forasmucheas thei were lost in the verie bestowing of them . And it is no maruell that among so many and so greate vyces , there is none more ryfe than vnthankfulnesse . I see many causes thereof .

The first is , that wee choose not worthie persones too bestowe vpon . But if wee mynde too put out money too interest , wée make diligent inquirie of the landes and substaunce of our detter . Wee cast no seede intoo hungrie and barreine soile . But as for our benefites ( without any choycemaking ) wee rather throwe them away , than bes●owe them . And I can not easely say , whether it bée more shame too deny a man a benefite , or too claime it ageine . For this is suche a kynde of credit , as a man must receiue no more of it , that is frankly offered hym . Wherof too mislike , truely it is the foulest shame that can bee , euen in this respect , that too the discharge of this ●●edit , there neede●h not welth , but will . For he requiteth a good turne , that oweth it willingly . But whereas those are too blame , that cannot find in their hart so ▪ muche as too acknowledge it : there is a faulte in vs also . Wée fynde many vnthankfull ▪ but wée make mo . For one whyle wee bee bitter in vpbraiding and chalenging : an other whyle wee bee ●●ckle , and suche as anon after repent vs of our weldooing : and other whyles through our waywardnesse and fynding fault at euery trifle , wee vtterly disgrace all courtesie , not onely after wee haue doon good turnes , but also euen in the verie dooing of them . For whiche of vs is contented with lyght intreataunce , or with once intreataunce ? What is he , whiche suspecting that somewhat should bee requested of him , hath not knit the browes , turned awaie his face , feyned buzinesse , with long and endlesse bytalke purposely cut of occasion of sute , and by sundrie deuises dalied out the necessitie that required speede ? Or if he were taken at aduauntage , either he hath made delaies , or flatly saied nay too it . Or if he graunted , it was hardly , it was with a sowre looke , it was with murmuryng wordes scarce vttered from the lippes . But no man will gladly bee in ones daunger , for that whiche he getteth by importunatenesse , and not by gentlenesse . Can any manne bee beholden too suche a ●ne , as either fastened a good turne vppon hym for a glorie , or forced it vppon hym in a furie , or did it too bee rid of trouble , because he was weerie of hym ? He mistakes his markes , whiche thinkes that partie bounde vnto hym , whom he hath weeried with long delaye , or tormented with long lingeryng . Looke with what mynde a good turne is doon with the same it is due ageine . And therefore it must not bee doon vnaduisedly : ( for a man oweth no thanke for the thing whiche he hath gotten at suche a ones hande , as wiste not what he did ) Nor ●●owely : ( for sith the estimation of all tourtisie dependeth chéefly vpon the will of the dooer : he that is ●low in dooing , may seme too haue bin vnwilling ) No , nor yet disdeinfully : for inasmucheas Nature hath so framed vs , that shrewd turnes sin●ke deeper in our stomackes than good turnes , so as the good bee soone forgotten , but the other sticke fast in remembraunce : what can he looke for , whiche displeaseth euen in pleasuryng ? A manne is thankfull enough towardes suche a one , if he doo but beare with his vnkyndely courtesie . But there is no cause why the multitude of thanklesse persones should make vs the ●lower too doo men good . For first ( as I saied ) wee our selues increace th● number of them . Ageine , the Gods immortall are not driuen from their néedefull lauishnesse , though menne bee wicked and without regarde of them . They vse their owne Nature , and beare with the wicked : yea , and they doo good euen too those that abuse their giftes . Lette vs then followe them for our guydes , so muche as mannes fra●●tie auoordeth . Let vs giue our good turnes , and not put them out too Usurie . Worthie is he to bee deceiued , whiche mynded receiuing ageine , when he gaue .

But he hath had ill successe .

Bothe children and wiues deceiue our expectation : and yet wee bring vp children , and Marrie wyues still . And wee bee so headstrong against experience , that being vanquished wee go ageine too the warres , and after shipwreck , wee go ageine too the seas . How muche more then becommeth it vs to continew in dooing good turnes ? whiche if a man bestowe not , because he receiueth not ; then bestoweth he too the ende he may receiue , & so iustifieth he the cace of the vnthankfull , vntoo whom it is a shame not too requyte if they maie . How many are vnworthie of the lyght ? And yet the daie springeth still . How many bewaile that euer they were borne ? And yet Nature yeeldeth newe issue , and suffereth those too bée , whiche had leuer not too bee . It is the propertie of a noble and vertuous minde , not too respect the profit of welldooing , but the welldooing itself : yea , and too doo good euen after it hath met with euill menne . For what noblehartednesse were it too doo good too many , if no manne did deceiue ? The trewe noblenesse then , is too bestowe benefites that shall neuer make returne , whereof the princely hart reapeth his frute out of hand . Surely , so little ought that matter too discourage mée , or too hinder the doing of so goodly a thing : that although I were past hope of finding a thankfull persone , yet should I rather forbeare the receiuing of good turnes , than the dooing of them . For he that dooth them not , is vnkynde before vnkyndnesse bée offered . Neuerthelesse , to say as I thinke , he that renderet● not one good turne for an other , offendeth more than he that dooth it not speedily .

¶ The Seconde Chapiter . If lauishe too all men thou purpose too bee , A like of thy benefites : holde thee content , For one well bestowed , a number too see , On persones vnthankfull quyte lost and misspent .

IN the first verse , a manne maie finde faulte with bothe the partes of it . For neither are benefites to bee lasshed out vpon all men : and as for lauishenesse , it is vncommendable in any thing , and least commendable in benefites : for i● yee take discretion from them , thei cease too bee benefites , and maie rather bee called by what other name yee list . The residue that followeth , is woonderfull geere , as which with the bestowyng of one good turne well , comforteth the bestowyng of many amisse . But see I pray you , if it bee not bothe trewer , and more agreeable too the noble hart of a well doer : That wee encourage him too doo good turnes , euen though he should bestowe none well . For it is a false grounde , too say that many must bee lost . None is lost , forasmuch as he that forgoeth it , made his reckenyng too hazard it . There is but one way for thee too doo good turnes : bestowe them . If he render any thing , it is cléere gaine : and if he render not , yet it is no losse . I bestowed it too make a free-gift of it . No man keepes a register of his benefites : neither dooth the couetous Usurer call dayly and howrely vppon his detter . A good man neuer thinketh vpon the good tournes he hath doon , except he bee put in mynde by him that requyreth . For otherwyse they passe intoo y● nature of de●●es . It is a vy●e Usurie too keepe a reckening of benefites , as of expenses . Whatsoeuer successe thy former benefites haue had , continue thou still in bestowyng vppon others . Better is it for thee , too let them rest emong the vnthankfull , whom either shame , or occasion , or feare may at one tyme or other make thankfull . Cease not too bestowe : go through with thy woorke : and accomplishe the dutie of a good man . Helpe this man with thy goodes , that man with thy credit , the thirde with thy fauour , an other with thy counsell , and an other with thy wholesome instructions .

¶ The third Chapiter .

YEa euen wilde beastes perceiue who doo them good : neither is there any Beaste so sauage , but that by cherishing it , a man shall make it tame , and win it too loue him . Lions suffer their keepers too handle their mouthes , and hurt them not . Prouender winneth the wilde Elephantes , euen vnto slauishe obedience . So much dooth the continuaunce of diligent cherishyng ouercome , euen those thynges that are without the compasse of vnderstandyng , and consideration of a benefite . A man perchaunce is vnthankfull for one good turne : for an other he will not bee so . He hath forgotten twoo : The third will bring hym too remembraunce of bothe the other that were slipt away . That man hath lost his good turne , whiche in haste beleeueth he hath loste it . But he that holdeth on , and loadeth benefite vppon benefite ; wresteth out kindenesse , euen from the churlishe and forgetfull persone . He can not haue the hart too lift vp his eyes ageinste many . Wheresoeuer he turne himself too shunne his owne conscience there let him see thee . Besette him with thy benefites : and I will tell thee what the force and propertie of them is , if thou wilt first giue me leaue too ouerronne these thynges that pertaine not too the matter : namely why there bee three Graces , why they bee sisters , and why they go hand in hand : why they looke smyling , why they bee yoong , and why th●y bee maidens , and appareled in looce and sheere raiment . Some would haue it ment thereby , that the one of them bestoweth the good turne the other receiueth it , and the thirde requiteth it . Othersome , meene that there bee three sortes of benefyting : that is too wit , of be●réendyng , of requyting , and both of receiuyng and requyting together . But take whiche of these you list too bée trew . What dooth this maner of knowledge profite vs ? Why walkes that knot in roundell hand in hand ? It is in this respect , that a good turne passing orderly from hand too hand , dooth neuerthelesse returne too the giuer : and the grace of the whole is mard , if it bee anywhere broken of ▪ but is most beautifull , if it continew toogether and kéepe his course . The cause why they looke smyling , is for that the countenances of such as deserue well , are chéerfull , like as theirs also is woont too bee , both whiche bestowe , and which receiue benefites . Yoong they bee , bycause the remembraunce of good turnes must neuer wex old . Uirgins they bee , bicause benefites must be without foyle , pure , and holy too all men , wherein there ought too bee no bondage nor constreint . And therfore they weare looce garmentes , howbeit very sheere and thin , bicause weldooinges are willing too bee seene . Admit now that some man bee so farre in thraldomme too the Greekes , as too vphold that these thinges are necessarie : yet is there no man that can deeme these thinges folowing too perteyne too the matter : namely , that Aegle should bee the eldest , Euphrosyne the middlemost , and Thaleia the third : whiche are names that Hesiodus gaue them . And whereas Hesiodus gaue them these names vppon pleasure : euery man wresteth the interpretation of them according as hee thinkes they will best fit his owne purpose , and indeuereth too apply them vntoo some meening . Homere therfore chaunged the name of one of them , and called hir Pasithea . Yea and he brought hir foorth vntoo a mariage : wherby ye may knowe they bee no cloce Nunnes . I can fynd you another Poët , that bringes them foorth with Girdles about them , and Eares of Corne in their handes . Yea and Mercurie standeth with them : not bicause reason commendeth benefites , but bicause it so pleased the Peinter . Chrysippus also ( in whom is so excellent sharpnesse of wit , and so percing intoo the bottome of the truthe , who speaketh altogither too the purpose , and vseth no mo woordes than serue for the vnderstanding of the matter : ) stuffeth all his booke with these toyes : i●somuch that he speaketh very little of the maner of the bestowyng , receiuing , & requyting of benefites . Neither powdereth he these thinges with Fables , but fables with these thinges . For bes●des the said things ( which Hecaton wryteth ) Chrysippus saieth , that the thrée Graces are the daughters of Iupiter and E●ri●●me , and that they bee yoonger than the Howres , but farre more beautifull of face , and therefore are appointed too wait vppon Venus . Moreouer hee thinkes the name of their moother to make greatly too the matter . For he saieth shee was called Eurynome , bicause hee had neede too bee a man of greate welth , that should doo many men good . As who would say , that moothers were woont too bee named after their daughters , or that Poetes reported trew names . Nay verely , like as a reporter of newes vseth boldnesse in sted of memorie , and when he cannot reādely hit vppon mens names , giueth them some name of his owne makyng : euen so Poëtes thinke it not materiall too say truthe : but either vppon force of necessitie , or vppon imagination of comelinesse , they tearme a man by suche name as sometyme maketh trimly ageinst them . Neither is it any cracke too their credit , though they enlarge the matter with some newe deuice of their owne . For the last mencioned Poët makes the foresaid Ladies to beare names of his appointyng . And that yee may knowe it too bee so , behold Thaleia ( abow● whom is most adoo ) is with Hesiodus one of the Graces , and with Homer one of the Muses .

¶ The fourth Chapter .

BUt least I doo that thing myselfe , whiche I finde fault with in others : I will ●eaue all these toyes , whiche are so farre out of the matter , that they come nothyng neere it nor about it . Onely stand thou in my defence , if any man chardge mee for contro●ling of Chrysippus ( in good sooth ) a greate clerk , but yet a Gréek , whose sharpnes of wit being ouer thin , is soone blunted and oftentymes turneth edge : & when it seemeth too doo somewhat ; it pricketh , but pearceth not through . For what sharpnesse of wit is this ? He should speak of Benefites , and set order in a thing that most of al other knitteth men togither in felowship : he should haue made a lawe too liue by , so as neither vnaduised plyantnesse might bée setby vnder colour of gentlenesse : nor liberalitie ( whiche ought too bee neither skant nor ouerlauish ) bee restreined by the same rule that goeth about too measure it . He should haue taught men too receiue willingly , and too requyte willingly : and that those whiche bynd men by their deedes , prouoke them too a greate encounter , not onely how too matche them , but also how too surmount them in good will , bicause that hee whiche must requyte ; neuer ouertaketh , if he haue not outgone . The one sort were too bee taught too vpbrayd nothyng : and the other sort too thinke themselues the more in de●te . Too this m●st hon●rable striuyng who might ouermatche other in dooing good , Chrysippus exhorteth by telling vs , that inasmuchas the Graces bée Iupiters daughters , wée must beware that wée thinke it not a small offence too their father , if we offer wrong too so trim Ladies . Teach thou mee some of those thinges that may make mee the forewarder too doo men good , and the thankfuller too suche as deserue well at my hand : whereby the mynds of them that make men beholden , and of them that are beholden may striue : the bestowers too forget , and the detters too beare in remembraunce . And as for these toyes , leaue them vp too Poëtes , whose purpose is too delight mens eares , and too frame pleasaunt tales . But as for those that meene too amend mennes dispositions , and too mainteine faithfulnesse in worldly affaires , and too imprint the remembraunce of good turnes in mennes myndes : let them speake earnestly , and deale effectually : vnlesse perchaunce thou imagin , that the oue●throwe of gooddooing ( the thing of all others moste perillous and hurtfull ) may bee letted by lyght and fond fabling , and by olde wiues doting reasons .

¶ The fifth Chapter .

BUt like as I must ourronne superfluous thinges : so muste I needes shewe , that the first lesson which we ought too learne , is what wee owe when we haue receiued a good turne . For some man thinkes he oweth the Mouny that he hath receiued , another the Consulship : another the Preesthod : and another the Presidentship . These thinges are badges of benefites , but not the benefites themselues . The benifite it selfe may bee caried in hart , but it cannot be touched with hand . There is greate difference betweene the matter of a benefite , and the benefite it selfe . Therfore , neither Gold , nor Siluer , nor any of the thinges that wee receiue of our neighbours , is a benefite : but the good will of the giuer . Neuerthelesse , the vnskilfull regarde onely the thyng that is seene with the eye , and deliuered with the hande , and hild in po●session : and as for the thing that is deere and precious in the matter , they set light by it . These thinges whiche wee handle and ●ooke vppon , and whiche our greedinesse is so fast tyed vntoo are transitorie . B●th misfortune and force may take them from vs . But a good turne endu●eth still , yea euen when the thyng that was given , is gone . For it is suche a good deede as no force can vndoo . As for example : I haue reskewed my freend from Pirates : another enemy catches hym and castes hym in prison : now he bereeueth hym , not of my benefite , but of the vse of my benefite . Agein I haue saued a mans children from shipwrecke , or pluckt them out of the fyre , and deliuered them home too him : afterward either siknesse or vnfortuna●e mischaunce takes them away from him : yet the thyng that I gaue in them , contineweth euen without them . All the thinges therefore that wrongfully vsurp the name of a good turne , are but instrumentes wherby the frendly good will , vttereth it self . The same happeneth in other thinges likewise ; insomuch that the shewe of the thing is one where , and the thing it self another where . The general of an Army rewardes some Souldier with garlondes for skaling or for reskewing : What preciowsenesse hath the Garlond or Crowne it felf ? what hath the Robe ? what hath the Scepter ? what hath the Chayre of Estate ? what hath the Chariot ? None of all these thinges is honour , but the Badge of honour . Euen so the thing that is seene is not a benefite , but the signe and token of a benefite .

¶ The .vi. Chapter .

WHat is a benefite them ? It is a frendly good deede , giuing gladnesse au● taking pleasure in giuing , foreward and redie of it owne occord , too doo the thing that it dooeth . And therfore it is not material what is doon , or what is giuen , but with what mind . For the good turne consisteth not in the thing that is doone or giuen : but in the verye intent of the dooer or giuer . And that there is greate difference betwixt the sayd thinges , a man may perceyue euen by this , that the benefite it self is qnestionlesse good : but the thing that is doone or giuen , is neyther good nor bad . It is the meening that aduaunceth small thinges , and ennobleth bace thinges : that imbaceth greate thinges , and disgraceth thinges of estimation . For the thinges that are coueted , are of their owne nature neither good nor euill : the matter standes altogether vppon the directing of them by the mynd , which hath the rule of them , and which giueth all thinges their ryght names . Then is it not the good turne it self , that is nombered or delinered : like as also the honoring of God consisteth not in the flaughter of beastes , bee they neuer so fat and glistering with Gold : but in the deuout and ryght meening of the woorshippers . Therfore are good men religious , though they offer but Bran in Earthen vessells : wheras on the othersyde , euill men escape not the blame of vngodlinesse , though they imbrewe the Altars with neuer so much blud .

¶ The .vii. Chapter .

IF good turnes consisted in the thinges , and not in the very will of wel-dooing : than should they bee so much the greater , as the thinges be greater which wee receyue : but that is not so . For oftentymes wée bee most beholden too him that gaue vs smal thinges , howbéeit with greate good will : that with his hart did match the welth of Kinges : that gaue but little , howbeeit gladly : which forgate his owne pouertie , too releeue myne : who had not only a good will , b●t also a desyrounesse too help mee : who thought himself too receyue a good turne , when he did o●e : who gaue without mynding too receyue , and receiued as though he had not giuen : who both sought , and also preuented occasion too doo mee good . Contrariwise , vnacceptable ( as I sayd ) are the thinges , eyther that bee wrong out , or that slip from the bestower ; seeme they neuer so greate in the déede dooing , or in the outward apparance . And much more welcome is the thing that is giuen quickly , than the thing that is giuen with full hand . It was a small thing which that man bestowed vppon mee : but he was able too doo no more . Agein it is a greate thing that this man gaue mee : but he cast douts but he made delayes : but he syghed when he gaue it mee : but he gaue it disdeinfully : but he blazed it abrode , and he ment not too please him too whom he gaue it : he gaue it too his owne vaynglorie , and not too mee .

¶ The .viii. Chapter .

AT such tyme as manie men ( eche one according too his abilitie ) offered manie thinges vnto Srcrates : Aeschines being a poorescholer of his , said : Syr , I fynd nothing of sufficient worthinesse too bestowe vppon you , and by that meanes I feele myself too bee poore . Therfore I giue vntoo you the only thing that I haue , euen myself . This present , such as it is , I pray you take in good woorthe : and consider that wheras others haue giuen mutch vntoo you , they haue left more too themselues . To whom Socrates answered : And why is not the gift that thou haste giuen mee greate , as well as theirs ? vnlesse perchaunce thou thinke thy self little woorth . I will doo my indeuer therefore , too restore thee too thyself , better than I receyued thee . In this gift , Aeschines surmounted the mynd of Alcibiades matched with equall riches , and also the bountifulnesse of all the the welthy yoong men .

¶ The .ix. Chapter .

YOu see how the hart may fynd wherwith too bee liberal euen in the vtter distresse of pouertie . He s●emeth too mée too haue sayd thus : O fortune , thou ha●t woonne nothing by making mee poore . For I will neuerthelesse fynd out a gift meete for this man : and bycause I cannot giue him of thyne , I will giue him of myne owne . And there is no cause why yee should thinke he made small account of himself : he gaue himself in exchaunge for . Socrates Like a wittie fellowe , he found the meanes how too win Socrates too himself . We must not haue respect how greate thinges bee : what maner of persone he is that giueth them . Some fineheaded felowe graunteth accesse euen vnto such as are vnmeasurable crauers , and féedeth their importunate desyres with faire words , mynding not too help them at all in deede . Bu● yit worse is he too bee liked of , who being churlish in speeche , and sowre in countenance , vttereth his cace with disdeine . For men doo both fawne vppon him that is in prosperitie , and also enuye him : yea and they hate him that dooth but as themselues woold doo , if they could . Some men , bycause they haue dishonested other mens wiues , ( and that not priuely but openly ) are content too lend their owne wyues vnto other men . If there bee anie man that wilnot suffer his wyfe too setfoorth hirself too sale in hir Coche , and too bee iaunced from place too place as a gazingstock for all men too toote at : he is a Rudesbie , a Cloyne , and a cankred Carle , yea and a hatingstocke among greate Ladies . If there bee any that hath not blased himself by some louer , or lent his Ring too another mannes wyse : him doo the braue Dames call a Hodip●●ke , a sorie Leacher , and a singlesoaid louer . Heeruppon commeth it too passe , that whoredome is counted honest wedlocke : and in the opinion of vnwyuing Bachelers , noman hath wedded a wife , but he that hath inuegled hir from hir Husbond . Furthermore , they onewhyle striue to was●e whatsoeuer they can rap and rend : and anon with like couetouseness they stryue as fast too scrape toogether agein the thinges they haue scatered . They set all at six and at seuen , disdeyning other mennes pouertie , and dreading their owne ; and as for other harme , they feare none . They spare no wrong , but make hauocke of the weaker sort , and keepe them vnder with force and feare . For , that Prouinces are pilled , and Offices ●hopped and chaunged with louing and boding fr●m man too man : it is no wonder , considering that by the Lawe of al realmes , a man may sell that whiche he hath bought .

¶ The .x. Chapter .

BUT the matter itself hath prouoked mee too raunge further than I thought too haue doon . Therfore let vs so end it , as the blame lyght not altogether vppon our present age . This haue our Father complayned of , this complayn wee of , and this shall our posteritie complayn of : that good behauyour is subuerted , that lewdnesse reigneth , and that the world decaying into all kynd of wickednesse , groweth euery day woorse than other . Notwithstanding , these thinges keepe at one stay , and shall keepe with small oddes vnder or ouer , like the waues of the Sea , which the Tyde at his flowing bringeth further in , and at his ebbing draweth back agein too the vttermost pointes of the shore . One whyle men shall sin more in whordome than in other vices ; and chastitie shal haue no stay of hirself . Another whyle outrageous feasting shall florishe , and the Kitchin shall most shamefully deuour mennes liuinges . Another whyle the world shal bee giuen too ouermuch curiousenesse of apparell and regard of beautie , bewraying in the bodie the deformitie of the mynd . In another age inordinate libertie shall turne too malapert behauour and flat Ruffianrie . Otherwhyles men shal be set wholly vppon crueltie as well publikly as priuately , and shall go toogither by the eares like madfolk , wherby al Religion and ryght shal bee confounded . The tyme will come that Drunkennesse shal bee had in estimation , and it shal bee counted a vertew too quaffe much wyne . Uyces continew not alwayes at one stay , but are euermore fleeting and at warre among themseues , and in turmoyling doo heaue out one another by turnes . And yit for all that , wee may alwayes sing one song of ourselues : naught wee are naught wee were , and ( loth I am too say it ) naught wee shal bee . The world shall neuer bee without Murtherers , Tyrantes , Theeues , Whoremoongers , Extorcioners , Churchrobbers , and Traytors . Beneath all these were an vnthankfull persone , sauing that al these proceede from a thanklesse mynd ; without which there hath not lyghtly growen anie greate mischeef . On thyne owne part eschew thou the committing of this , as the greatest fault that can bee : but if another man commit it , beare with it as a lyght offence . For , all the harme that thou canst receyue by it , is but the losse of thy good turne . But the best of it , ( which is , that thou hast bestowed it ) remayneth whole vnto thee . Nowthen , like as héede is too bee taken that we bestow our benefites specially vppon such as wil bee thankfull for them : so must wee bestowe and doo some good turnes , euen where wee ha●e no good opinion at al ; not only although wee mistrust that they wil bee vnthankfull hereafter , but also though wee knowe them too haue bin so before . As for example . If I can saue a thanklesse mans children from some great daunger , and restore them too him without inconuenience too myself : I shalnot sticke too doo it . As for a woorthie man , I shall defend him with the losse of my blud , and hazard myself too doo hym good . Also if I can saue an vnworthie man from robbing by raysing hew and krye : it shall not greeue mee too auoord him my voyce too doo him good , bycause he is a man .

¶ The .xi. Chapiter .

IT followeth that wee declare what benefytes are too bee bestowed , and how . First let vs bestowe such as bee needfull , secondly suche as bee profitable , thirdly sucheas are acceptable , and in any wyse durable . But wee must begin at suche as are needfull . For thinges that concerne lyfe or liuing , doo touche a mannes mynd otherwyse than the thinges that doo but garnishe , or furnishe him . A man may well make lyght account of the thing that he may easly forbeare , of whiche it may bee sayd , I passe not for the hauing of it , I am content with that whiche I haue of myne owne : yea , and when a man can fynde in his harte , not onely too sende backe the thing that he receyueth , but also too cast it away . Of thinges that bee needfull , somme chalenge the cheef roome , without whiche wee cannot liue : Somme chalendge the second roomee , without whiche wee should not liue : and ●omme the thirde roome , without whiche wee would not liue .

Of the first sort bee suche as theis : too bee rescewed out of the handes of enemies , from the crueltie of Tyrauntes , from arreignement , and from the ●undrie and vncertaine perilles that beseege mannes lyfe . From whichesoeuer of theis thinges wee rid a man , the greater and terribler it is : the more thanke shall wee win . For it ronneth alwayes in their mynde , from how greate miseries they were deliuered , and the feare that went before , is an aduauncing of the good turne that enseweth . Yet notwithstanding , wee must not therefore vse the lesse haste in sauing of a man , than wee can , too the ende that feare may make our good turne of more weight . Next vntoo theis , are the thinges without whiche wee may in deede liue : howbeeit in suehewyse as a man had leuer bee dead : as libertie , Chastitie , and a good mynd . After theis wee may place the thinges that are deere vntoo vs by reason of Aliaunce , kinred , customme , and long acquaintance : as children , wyues , howsehold and suche other thinges , whiche the mynd hathe so neerly alyed too it self , that it esteemes it agreater greef too bee pulled from them , than too dye . Then followe profitable thinges , whiche haue sundrie and large groundes too woorke vppon . Of this sort is monnye , not superfluous , but orderly prepared for necessarie vses . Of this sort also is Honour , and the procéedinges of them that seeke too clymbe hygh : for of all profites , the best is to profit a mannes self . As touchyng the thinges that serue but for delyght , there is greate store of them . In theis wee must indeuer , that they may bee acceptable for their opportunitie ; that they bee not comon , but such as feawe haue had , or feawe haue within that tyme ; or suche as though they bée not precious of their owne Nature , may becomme acceptable for the season or place of them . Let vs consider what may doo moste pleasure when it is offered , and what may oftest comme too hand with him that shall haue it , so as it may stand vs in sted as oft as it is with him . In anye wyse let vs beware , that wee send not vnfit presentes : as hunting●eawe too a woman or an old man , or bookes vntoo a Cloyne , or Nettes too one that is giuen too studie and learnyng . Likewyse wee must looke about vs on the ●ontrarie part ; that when wee mynd too send acceptable thinges , wee send not suche thinges as maye note a mannes disease : as wyne to a drunkard , or Poti●arie ware to a ●●kly man . For the thing becommeth a Corzie , & not a Courtezie , wherein the disease of the receiuer is noted by it .

¶ The .xii. Chapiter .

IF the choyce of giuing bee in our owne power , wée must cheefly séeke durable thinges , that our giftes may not dye ouer hastely . For feawe are so thankfull as too thinke vppon a thing that they haue receiued , when it is out of their sight . But euen thanklesse persones stumble vppon the remembraunce of a gift , when they see it before their eyes , so as it suffereth them not too forget it , but presenteth and offereth vntoo them the giuer of it . And truely so muche the more durable thinges must wee seeke too giue , because wee must neuer putt the receyuer in mynd of them . Let the verie thyng it self reuyue the remembraunce of it that was vanishyng away . I had leuer giue siluer wrought , than coy●ed : and I had leuer giue Images and pictures , than apparell or a thing that w●ll soone bee worne out . Feawe thinke them selues beholden for a thing when it is once gone . But there bee many that neuer mynd thinges giuen , longer than they serue their turne . Therefore if it bee possible , I wllnot haue my gift consumable . Let it abyde with my freend , let it sticke by hym , let it liue and dye with hym . None is so foolishe as too neede warning , that he should not send swoordplayers , or baytingbeastes too him that is gone out of office : or that he should not giue Sommergarmentes to weare in Winter , or Wintergarmentes too weare in the hoate Sommer . Inbestowing benefytes , le●t a man followe comon reason . Let him obserue tyme , place , and person . For somme things are acceptable or vnacceptable , according too their tymes . How much more thanksworthy is it , if wee giue a man the thing he hathe not , than if wee giue him that wherof he hath store ? Or a thing that he hath long sought and could not fynd , than a thing that is too bee had euerywhere ? Let presentes bee , not so muche costly , as rare and gezon : and sucheas may bid themselues welcomme euen vntoo a riche man : Like as comon Apples which within feawe dayes after wilnot bee woorth the eating , are well liked when they comme more tymely than other frutes doo . Also it can not bee that suche thinges should bée vnesteemed , as either none other man hath giuen them the like , or as wee ourselues haue not giuen to others afore .