OFTEN tymes consideryng with my selfe most hartely beloued frendes ? the high and most vertuous respect , which the famous romayn Preceptum Catonis . Cato hadde to the common wele , when he so earnestlye amonge other his moral preceptes did teach Propositio . that we shulde fyght for oure countrye . I thought it myght be neyther Beneuolentiam consiliat a sua et auditorium persona . inconuenient nor yet incomly but very commendable and necessarye for vs that I shuld bestowe this small layser , in declaryng vnto to you some argumentes and perswasions tochinge our most boun den duetie to oure natiue and naturall countreye . That ones hearynge the same , as we that haue redde and perused th history of the noble feates of them that attayned immortall glorye in that behalfe as therby encoraged , you also with semblable alacritie and Scopus . towardnes may vertuouslye aduaunce youre selues to follow the wholsome doctrine of the Sapient Cato . And notwithstandynge that after I reuolued this attemptate in my mynde and with inwarde contemplacion behelde euery way howe I myght best begynne , and begon , procede and so condinglye perfourme it accordinge the due expectacion that you myght haue of me , interprysynge the same , I found it to be a burden heuier then I myght wel sustayne seing right wel that yf I shuld take th occasions A difficultate rei attentiores facit . to write , that the mater frely offereth to my hand : no volume could comprehend the same , and scantly the hole entreual of my lyfe shuld therevnto suffise : yet as the maner is of other recent writers takynge this sodayne occasion as well of Ansa . my propre exile , as of the most god lye quarels of our moost drad soueraigne lorde kynge Henrye the eyght , who most tenderly desyreth the welth of hys loyall subiectes and paynefully stodyeth for the same : the trompe whereof soundeth throughe oute al the regions of the earth , and shal be doubtles foreuer a miroure to all suche as shall hereafter desyre to gouerne in a common wele , I can no lesse doo then expresse vnto you , such symple reasons , as haue at this presente concurred in my memorye touchynge oure sayde mooste bounden deutye and office to oure natiue countreye , whiche I haue gathered together partelye of the sayenges of famous auctours and partely of the experience that I daylye se in men of noble Ingene and vertuous educacyon . Consiliarios regios sibi consiliat , dum circa remp : se adeo solicitum predicat .

Trustynge that thereby , the zele that nature hathe in me kendled towarde my countreye , may apere in me not onelye inextynguyble , but also alwayes vygylante and cyrcumspecte for the good and commodytye of the same . For yf anye of vs , hauynge receyued offycyous pleasure at our frendes handes , wyll not onelye remember Sillogismos . the same with rendrynge due thankes , but also euen shewe aparant tokens of oure good wylles to regratifye it with lyke offyce , why then , consideringe that by the exemple of our fathers we ought to be alwayes thankefull for oure nutricion . Shuld we not accumulate and heape our thankes and officious dueties to oure natyue contrey , by whose ayde moost principally we were not onely produced and nouryshed , but also Hiis malis infantes obnoxii sunt maxime . preserued when we coulde neither speke nor go nor yet of our selues euite the peryll of fyre water yron or such lyke daungerous thinge , whereby we myght peryshe in our infancy . By her benefite , we fyrste learned A beneficiis . to go on the grunnde , and in amiable maner to frame oure babyshe tongues , to speake oure mother tounge or contrye language . By her benefite the stronge , the weke , the poore , the ryche , the noble , and th inferiour persons lyue together & are serued together in their vocacion with the necessaryes of theyr bodye . In our countrey we fyrste dyd beholde the most beautyfull bryghtnes of the sonne , which the euerlastyng god hath so disposed to the vse of man , that beynge common to al that nacions of the earth , it extendeth beames and lyght , as though the same were propre to eche countreye : wherein the workemanshyp of god appereth to be equall vnto vs his sapience , exceadinge the iudgement of man . Out of her wombe dyd ebullulate and Baptizamur in patria . sprynge the water wherewith the most heauenly ceremonie through which we are called christians was in vs perfourmed . By her benefit the rude feldis of oure , readie to growe with all kynd of vnclene thinges , were sowed with the diuine precepts of the gospel without the instructions whereof we shulde be as thinfideles that do not knowe god , who can therefore repende condigne offyce or thanke though we dyd study paynfully for the same . And as the famous Lucianus in opusculo de patrie encomio . auctor Lucian sayeth , there is nothinge in this worlde , so honourable , or so godly , whereof the goodnes of the natiue contrey is not in some respecte a maistres , & an occasion . Nether can we name the commoditie , the pleasure , the qualitie , the honoure or any other good thynge wherof the natyue countrey is not to be thanked . Ye though our contrey were in dede so baraign , as that she shuld nede the fruytes of other realmes and A contratii obiectione . so rude of tonge , the in treatinge of weyghtie matters we shulde nede the ayde of estraunge languages : yet resteth in her as in the originall and principall a great occasion of thankes and immortall prayses . Moreouer let vs considre the very instruct of nature that worketh Natura . vniuersally in all men , who was euer so vnnatural , ye though he excelled many in auctoritie & power in the straunge contreye , to be delired with the pleasant and voluptuos contemplacion of the compasse and riches of grat cyties , the costly buyldynge of edificis , or any lyke blandiment , that he wolde totally forget his natiue contrey ? Peraduenture in the comparison or weyinge together of the goodnes of countrayes or famous cities , men wyll haue sometyme consyderacion & respecte to theyr amplitude , elegance , plentifulnes & riches . But nowe at all the nature hath rightly educed , wyll chose for him felfe a more mete place to dwell in , then his natyue conntreye : preferryng the same with all her faultes , to al the copious & rych places of the world . Thus do the legitimate & trewe children . Thus do the fathers also that be honest , good , and ryghtuous . A chylde certis hauynge any respecte of humanitie wil not prefer in honour any mortal creature to his father , nor the father Mutuum parentum & filiorum officium . embrace with more fatherly affection any yonglynge before his na turall chylde , yf then we owe due honour , to oure fathers as by the Honora patrem et matrem . very commaundement of god we are bounde , howe great study and industry is requisite of vs to forse that no wrake or euyll maye come to our natiue contrey , wherin our fathers are preserued and kepte , howe can it be sayde , that we do due honour to our fathers , yf sufferynge a permcyous myscheyf to growe agaynst our common wele that successiuely maye destroye the same : we spare our bodyes or goodes to take it awaye , and to establyshe a certayne order therin accordinglye : yf we be bounde to Locus a fortiore . oure fathers , we be moche more bounde to our lynnage , and so per quensequently to oure countrey , where they are conserued . You maye beholde the aged man , who all his lyfe tyme hath lyued , reiectynge all maner the commodite ease and pleasour that he hath in the straunge countreye howe he wissheth most instantlye in his natiue countrey euen to repose his bodye as it were on the brest of his naturall mother : yea nature worketh with such fearce in men that whyle they suspecte them selues to be deprehended in an vnked contrey thinkynge ther to be buryed and turned to the dust they can not but euermore desyre to departe . And the more we haue sene men come to the opinion of wysedome and to the nomber of yeares , the more subiectes they semed to be to this affection that you haue herde here rehersed . ye anye aliant or straunger , that lyke a bastarde or spurious vilipendeth the name of his natiue countrey , estemynge exile a small matter , & lyke a glotten reposinge his felicitie in the stinkynge and bestly voluptuousnes of the body , and the vile pleasours of the same , yeldinge his industrye to satisfye concupiscence , without studie charge or consideracion of the wele of his countrey , is in no wise to be prosecuted with th argument of a gentle and regratifieng harte . Moreouer the goddis ( as poetes do fayne ) do delite in their natiue conntrey , Who , as Lucyan sayeth , beholdynge the whole possessions of Lucianus men with the compas of the earth and occean : and knowynge them selues , as they write to be owners thereof : yet euery of them preferreth with more inwarde affection his natiue countrey then any other place of the worlde without respecte . Whose opinion I haue here to you rehersed , to th ende onely that the affection , which is borne from the beginnigne to the natiue contrey , maye appere to you thereby . But let vs haue oure recourse to the holy scripture , which is farre from the faynige of poetes , and considre we that is sayde of our sauiour Iesus christe the verye owner and redemer of the worlde , wherof the holy prophet Micheas Miche . 5. enspired with the spirite of god rekenynge with him self the honour due of all men to their natiue countrey sayeth these wordes folowing which the holy euangelyste Mathewe Mathei . 2 reherseth in his seconde chapter . Thou bethleem sayth he , of the lande of Iuda , arte not the lest amonge the princis of Iuda : for out the shall there come vnto me the captayne that shall rule my people Israel : yf the holy prophet of god did note such respect in our A fortiore sauyoure Iesus Chryste whiche doutles in that he was man , was in hym aswell assyduous as ferueut . The scripture testyfyeth the Luce 19. Io. 11. same by that he so tenderlye dyd wepe for the dissolation of Ierusalem , and sundreye other exemples whiche at this presente I neade not to rehearse . What inhumayne , yea rather what bestly instyncte shulde rule in vs yf we shulde haue no affectyon of loue risynge in oure hartes to our natiue countrey , whose fathers and whole generacion and progenie is earthy & of the erth & , who as you haue harde receaue so many officious commodities by her only benefite . In this place by occasion of the matter wherof I treate , I am caused to remember the moost detestable vilenie of Delapole , Path , Garrot Delapole Path. Garrot & such others as with like madnes not only haue forsaken the swete vicisitude & offices of their natiue countrey . But also with most execrable & vngodly ingnominie haue wrought most falsely & trayterous ly against the same . How be it lest I shuld seme in their vituperie which no tunge can condingly vtter to digresse from my purposed matter , I leue to them for a perpetual torment to their hartes the same whiche the makers of the lawes haue ordeyned to punish greuous offendours , euen exile . And for an euerlastinge exemple of their contumely the , most excellent benefites whiche they haue receaued of their sayde natyue countrey , to be contrepeysed in the sight of all the worlde with their abhominable in gratitude & vnthankfulnes . Lettynge you to witte that who so euer offendeth in the like trespas , not onely breketh the bounde of al humanitie and gratitude , falleth from the high degre of liberty , renegeth for euer to runne in the race of honour , but also transgresseth the high institution and prouidence of god wherwithby inexplicable prescience he hath ordeyned , and constitued eche man to lyue vnder the powers of the earth as it is written in diuerse 〈…〉 et 17 〈◊〉 Ro. 13 Sapien. 6 places of the holy euangelye we can not be therof ingnoraunt : not vnder such powers as we our selues shall chose or desyre , either through our blynde affections or otherwise : for he by the wounderful depte of his wisedome & his inuestigable wayes of for knoweledge , before we came to the world , hath ordeyned prouyded and appoynted for vs , expresly that we ought in that behalfe to obserue and folow : in shewyng our duety to our natiue countrey without we shuld after the maner of gyauntes , as sayth the Prouerbe fyght against Cum diis pugnare . god , & worke against his be hestes . It may be well apperceaued by this hyghe prouydence of god that among al transitory thinges we are principally bounde to our natiue countreye , And also that it Epilogus primi capi tis . maye not lye in vs to chaunge that god hath appoynted the same beinge euen the verye fyrste gyfte the we receyue of our creator , by this also the wordes of the romayne oratour Tully , apere to be true where he sayth that oure byrth is the possession of our natiue countreye . It can not be expressed vnto your sightes by more viuely coullour of rethoricke , how moch com moditie and office accrueth vnto vs that be the germayne Citizens of our natiue contreye . Then if it myght be depinged before you , howe intollerable calamitie and vnquietnes is to them that be banished and expelled from the same , who beinge totally descruciate by the grefe of their perigrinacion , cesse and to affirme that amonge all the good thynges of the world the natyue countrey is the beste . And miserably complayning their infortunate and wretched lyfe , for that they inhabite not their natyue countreye , they esteme them selues for that cause onely , most in fortunat though in al other thinges , they haue their hartes desire of all the riches and pleasours of the worlde . And how they that for a while , as estraungiers and aliantes Alienigene . haue leaded their lyues hauynge attayned no lyttle splendour and glorie , eyther by ryches and possessions , dignite and honoure , notable fame of excellent lerninge and Ingene or renowne of diuine vertue , striuen together who may first come to their natine countrey as though no wher elsthey might with prayse excersyce their sayde goodes to the contentation of their myndes : ye the more I haue sene men auctorised and taken as mete tachiewe greater attemptates the more they semed to accelerate , to their natyue countrey to th ende they might conuerte their industrye to the behofe thereof . So as truely I am made of the opynion that the whole studye and labour that men take to attayne knowledge or to heape to gether treasours is pretended to Nihill non tenetur patrie . th ende either they myght with the same do profitte in exercisinge liberalitie in tyme of neade or els in doing some laudable thing where of high commodite myght growe to the common wele , you maye be Notat tria viria quibus ho mines detinentur a 〈◊〉 . sure I meane not here these grose marchauntes these sarcastical pre stes and possessioners of greate anuyties nor suche others , whose iudgementes touche nether heuen nor earth , but is caried with suche auydyous desire to hepe and to kepe as hath no maner ende .

These without doubt repose their Luce. 16. whole felicite in the wicked Mam Mammon without further purpose than to se the same locked vp as the high treasour of their hartes . The very Etnickes that neuer receaued the fayth and consolacion of the word of god nor herde the manifolde reproches Luc. ● ▪ ●6 that Christe layeth against the rych for their abuses ( were not Ma. 6 . so blynde but they wolde for their countreyes sake bestowe not only their goodes but also their bodies as by exemples I wyll somewhat Secundum . declare . I meane not also these studientes that studie a great perte of their youth with great diligence and paynes to th ende they myght vnder coullour of the lawe or the worde of god , worke thinges for their priuate ease , and commoditie : a great nomber of suche byrdes buylden theyr nestes in the braunches and vnder the shadow of good doinge , whiche dayly inuent newe craftis of dissimulacion . These studie & watche always to encrease and augment their voluptuous ease , and amplifie their possessions and lyuelode , not regardynge th anxious thoughtes and studie that they are bound to take for the common wele and pre seruacion of the churche of God . Soch haue not receaued reuelaci on of the respect that our sauiour Iesus christ had to the common wele Ma. 17. when he payed the peny founde in the fisshes belly , and when he aunswered Ma. 22. Luce. 20. the pharisees touchinge that tribute due to Cesar , neither consi dre they the study and circumspection Petrus . Barnabas . Paulus . Passim in actibus Apostolorum et epistolis . whiche the appostles , Peter , Barnabas , and Paule had to the common wele , in preachinge the gospell , obseruynge alwayes the circumstances that made for the common wele : which thinges and many other necssarie instructions for our christen sotietie , while they stu die the contencious and inutile ru les of Duns , Thomas and suche Iohannes Dunt Thoma● de aquine others , and while they sticke in de fuse & insoluble questions of diuinite , are declared vnto vs with great & heuenly discrecion by the very Etnickis as Plato , Socrates , Aristotle , Plato . Socrate ▪ Aristoteles . Tullius ▪ Lato. Plutarchus . Seneca . Tully , Cato , Seneca , Plutharch & al other famous auctors that euer hitherto did write . I wold o god that such were th industry and good wyl of our prestes & studientes that are allowed to sit at home to preach the gospel & ministre that lawe , peraduenture , in such heuenly iudgement Spūs paracletus namque di ci●ur spū● dorodoti● they had the help of the spirite of god , whose gracis are further extended then we can interprete or defyne . Neither do I meane such Tertium Demosthenes . as are reproued by Demosthenes that sometyme were militynge in Grece for the onelye loue of moneye and profite , without the inwarde study that they shuld haue to do the honour of their countrey who for that they trusted in the corrupte myndes of their captaynes to be by them reaceaued agayne to fauour when they wold for moneye . Went about when any daunger came vpon them , euery man to saue him selfe without any respect to the shame that they therby disserued . Wherfore the said Demosthenes extolleth with high praise , the order taken for soche in the common wele of Democratia : where Resp. De●ocratica suche offendours coulde neuer agayne be receaued to fauour . And where many excellent honest and rightous istituciōs were set forth very necessarye for eche man that is beneuolent or studious for the good of his countrey to obserue and folowe , which for your sakes I trust shortly to se transphrased into our mother tonge , notwithstandynge that in this exemple of the cowarde grekes I can in no wise meue you . Whose deades be manifest ynoughe thankes be to god in declarynge your wyllynge hartes , to do the profitte and honour of our natyue countrey .

Of these defectus that you haue herde , I myght set forth domesticall exemples , wherewith my wordes mygh be opened euen to your owne eyes , but made odious and greuous vnto some mens hartes . But bicause it is necessary for him Locus comunis d● auditorum beneuole●tia : that wolde exhort the people , to al lure them with swete and pleasaunt instructions , to acquire fauour at their handes , for without that nothinge is to them acceptable , I will not so manifestlie set forth the faultis which ( without my speche ) shal be with such as I haue saide , confronted more and more to their perpetuall vitupery , & contempt , and to the immortall glorye , and vnspea kable renowine of the noble hartes that be of suche humayne , and officious ingene , as knoweth their bodies and goodes to be euen the very possessiou of the common wele of their natiue countrey . And then Marcus Tulius . selues as Tully sayth to haue ben borne to the vse thereof . Sythens therfore the noble oratour Demosthenes . Demosthenes not only counteth him selfe vnhable to dilate the noble vertu & the honour of such , who as I haue said , ar giuen to the common we le but also affirmeth the whole vigour of rethoricke to be therto insufficient : I were worthy to be redargued of moche arrogancy yf I shuld attempt to make vnto you a diffinicion ther of . He doubteth not to call suche men the very soule of their countreye , Anima patrie . bycause of their magnificence and nobylitie of harte , shewynge the same by an example of Grece , howe when such Citizens were decessed and passed out of the worlde the whole dignitie and noble aucthoritie of Grece , was taken awaye and fordone . He Lux patrie . calleth them also the lyghte of their countreye , meanings that as the lyght beinge taken awaye frome our vse , the rest of oure lyfe shulde be vnto vs tedyous : euen so the sayd noble cytizens beinge departed the spendour and glory of Grece , was turned vnto myserable darkenes , and so the commons brought to ryght great ruyne and decaye . By whiche exemples it is playnly aparant how muche difference is betwixt them that take paynes in the common wele of their countrey as you do . And them that lye lurkynge at A contratiorum comparatione . home lyke vnprofitable ye rather vnnaturall and bestlye people , the wyll not loke to render mutuall office and thanke to so many and spontayne pleasours , that theyr natiue countrey mynystreth vnto Uirtutis consummatio for ●●●udo . them . And bicause that this that you haue herde is the vyue fountayne of honour and the very offyce of fortitude , whiche of all ver tues is the consummate perfection . I wyl exhort , that we , who the for knowlege of god hath destinied to be of the noble church and congregacion of Englande and Irelande : lacke no courage to aduaunce our selues defendinge the worthy fame whiche our fathers before vs so longe tyme haue defended and preserued . And regardynge the great & noble magnanimitie of the very Ethnickis , let no defecte or slakenes be in vs to per Exempla magnanimitatis quorundam Et nicorum fourme so noble & worthy an inter prise . The Erectheans knowyng that their prince Erecthea dyd put to death his owne doughters called Hiacyntidas for his countreyes sake , thought it shuld be vndecent for them , seinge their prince being immortall and doinge so moch for their countrey , to esteme more their mortall bodies then immortall honour . The Agidians also knoweynge Agide . that their prince Ageus dyd fyrst establyshe lawes and institucions in the common wele , wherby he attayned immortal praise , were animated rather to dyspyse theyr mortall bodies then to be lyuers in Grece , after that the honour by him gotten shulde be in theyr default lost . The Leontians knowynge Agide . howe the doughters of their prynce Leon offred them selues a sacrifice for their countrey , thought it shulde be an argument of moch vilenie in them yf they shulde be counted inferiours in fortitude , & magnanimitie to women . The Aca A camantide . mantians also remembrynge the verse of Homer , howe the immortal prince Acamans did sayle into Troye for the saluegarde of his mother thought it shulde be requisite in them to bestowe theyr mortall carcaise for their countrey the same beynge the conseruatrice of all their parentes and progenie from the first of them to the last . The Cecropians also considering Cecropide howe their prince Cecrope was ta ken to be pertely a man and pertlye a dragon for none other cause then that in ingene and iudgement he resembled a man , and in vigout a draggon , in th affaires of the common wele . And lykewyse Anthiochi de . Th antiochians forgettynge not that their prince Anthiochus was sonne vnto Hercules determined in theyr hartes either to leade a lyfe worthy the nobilitie of their prynces , or els to dye with the honour to them lefte . With diuerse , ye innumerable others as well Grekes & Romaynes as of other common weles the exemples whereof to be shewed our present leysar doth inhibite . Yf then such magnanimity Epilogos cum argumento . dyd reigne in the hartes of the very infidels , whiche in dede the lawe of nature gyueth in yeldyng their personnes to so many ieoperdies for their countreyes , howe muche more shulde the lyke desire be euen inflamed in our hartes who haue 〈◊〉 nature . aboue the lawe of nature the glad tydynges of helthe , the gospell of our sauiour Iesus Christ , who ex Ler diuina . emptyng not the lawe of nature , from his holy rules : hath further promised vs that our bodyes shal be reysed agayne with greater perfection ye with incorruptible glorie , Thess. iiii the hope whereof onely certis is no smale ioye and solace to our hartes , and an efficax remedie to put awaye from vs th anxious & formidelous thoughtes that might rise in vs of our fleshe , whiche we haue aboue th infydeles , and Etnickis that wante hope . Yf we shulde seme to staye and spare our wretched bodyes from so noble an interprise what maye thinfideles , as saynt Iohn Chrisostome sayth Chrisostomus . laye to our charge ? what will they not cast in our teth ? These be they thatso constantly affirme that ther shal be a resurrection of the dede : fayre wordes but their deades drawe not after that lyne , with their wordes : they affirme that there shal be a resurrection of the dead , but they dispayre in their hertes . Let not vs therfore frustrate the Hortatur ad stabilitatem . hope that our sauiour Iesu christ hath gyuen to vs for the recomforte of our hartes , as sayth saint Paule : lest we shuld lament and morne lyke them that want hope . And yf thinfideles remenbrynge the magnanimite of their princes were so animated : Howe moche more shulde we be euen enflamed beholdynge the princely clemency fortitude and magnanimitie of our liege and naturell kynge Hen rye the eyght by the grace of god kynge of Englande Fraunce and Irelande defendour of the fayth in earth vnder god of the churches of Englande Irelande the supreme hede , & of his noble progenitours whiche no volume can comprehende , were the same by any oratour explicable . ye why shulde we not be euen determined like men to fight for lyfe & death , rather than lyuing to se that princely dignitie , that euangelical gouernaunce defaced , which the very prouidence of god hath giuen to vs not to th ende we shuld permit the same to be by our enemies forfrushed and brought to nought , but that we shulde vertuouslye stande in the defence and mayntenaunce thereof in all fidelitie trouth and singlenes of mynde As the lawe of nature , the bonde ●erotatio of loue wherewith our natiue coum treye hath bounde vs , the exemple of the princely dexteritie of our noble kynge and his highnes noble progenitours . And also the verye worde of god in so manye places doth incite and perswade vs to do And finally lest we shuld be inferi ours to thinfideles whose magnanimitie I haue here to your parte ly declared , I most tenderly exhorte you euen with the wordes of saint Paule : let eche of vs possesse his bodie in all holynes and honour not in sustayninge dishonour as thoughe we knewe not god ye as though we had no hope , or knewe not these thinges that you haue herde of the officious and plentifull goodnes of our natiue countreye . Which I doubt not hath efficace strengthe and energie to chaunge the very cowarde harte to be hardie bolde and coragious in folowynge the precepte of the sapiente Cato , euen to fyght for the natyue countrey . And not with standynge that by the rehersal vnto you of histories of noble men this proposicion shulde haue the strong collection of argumentes , for our small laysar , let this that I haue sayd be vnto you for this tyme sufficient .