The cities aduocate in this case or question of honor and armes; whether apprentiship extinguisheth gentry? Containing a cleare refutation of the pernicious common errour affirming it, swallowed by Erasmus of Roterdam, Sir Thomas Smith in his common-weale, Sir Iohn Fern in his blazon, Raphe Broke Yorke Herald, and others. With the copies of transcripts of three letters which gaue occasion of this worke.

THE CITIES ADVOCATE , In a question of Honor , and Armes . Whether Apprentiship extinguisheth Gentrie .

The Contents of this first part . 1 THe present question very important for many great causes . Two Crowned Queenes of England , & much of the Nobility parties to it . Bullen & Calthorpe L. Majors of London ; their interesses in royall blood . What Quaestio status , and what the least capitis diminutio is . Only the base neglect it . Honour a faire Starre . Disparagement odious . Preuention of mischiefes by determining this question . Proud Citie-races vnworthy of the Citie . 2 The Cities Honors in Armes proued out of ancient Monuments . The L. Fitz Walter , Standard-bearer of London . Claurie and Biallie two termes in old blazon . 3 The transcendent power of opinion . To derogate from the splendor of birth , reputed a wrong . Whence comes the present question of Apprentiship . 4 The maine reason why some doe hold , that Apprentiship extinguisheth Gentrie . Apprentiship no bondage either in truth , or at all . The case truely propounded . The skill of honest gettings a precious mystery . What kinde of contract that seemes to be , which is betweene Master and Apprentise . 5 An obiection that Apprentiship is a kinde of bondage . The fine folly of Erasmus in his Etymologie of an Apprentise . The comparison betweene Seruus among Ciuilians , and Apprentises among Englishmen , holds not . What the word Apprentise meanes . Sir Thomas Smiths error in confounding seruitude and discipline . 6. 7. 8. Particular points touching Seruus . Sanctuarie at the Princes image . Manumission , and Recaptiuitie by Law . None of those points concerne Apprentises more then Souldiers , Schollers , or religious nouices . 9. 10. The finall cause denominates the action , and proues Apprentiship not to be base . The contrarie opinion pernicious to manners , and to good Commonweale among vs , chiefly now . The different face of both opinions in daily experience .

The First Part.

THE present question , Whether Apprentiship extinguisheth Gentry being now not so much a paradox , as growne in secret to be of late a common opinion , I am bold to call a weighty and important question vniustly grounded vpon the learned folly of Erasmus of Roterdam , and the incircumspection of Sir Thomas Smith Knight , in his booke de Republica Anglorum , and out of certaine wandring conceits hatcht among trees & tillage , as shall appeare hereafter . Weighty and important I am bold to call it , and it is so . Because in looking out vpon the concernings of the case , I finde that prospect so spacious , that within the compass thereof , as well the greater as the lesser Nobilitie of England are very notably , and very inexplicably enwrapped . What doe I say of the subalternall Nobilitie , when the Royall name it selfe ( with all humble reuerence be it spoken ) was deeply interessed in the proposition ? For Queene Elizabeth , though a free Monarch , and chiefe of the English in her turne , was a party of the cause , which shee ingenuously , and openly acknowledged , calling Sir Martin Calthorpe , kinsman , ( as indeed he was ) being at that time Knight , and Lord Maior of London : Yea Sir Godfrey Bullen ( Knight also and Lord Maior of London ) was lineall Ancestor to Queene Anne her mother ( saith Camden in his Annals ) no longer before then in the reigne of Henry the sixth King of England . Both which Knights ( being also Gentlemen borne , & of right Worshipfull Families ) ascended by due degrees from the condition of Apprentises to the greatest annuall honor of this Kingdome . It is weighty and important , because without much impropriety of speech , it may be called quaestio status , which in the ancient phrase of the Emperour Iustinian , is as much to say as a tryall , whether one is to be adiudged bond , or free , seruile , or ingenuous , and implieth that odious , and vnnaturall sequel , which by Textuists hath to name , Capitis diminutio : wherof though the Romane lawes make a threefold diuision , yet in this our question , if but onely the third and lowest degree were incurred , which hapneth , cum qui sui juris fuerunt , coeperunt alieno iuri subiecti esse , that alone should keepe vs from neglect . It is weighty and important , and can appeare none other , because it directly tends to darken , and as it were to intercloud the luminous body of that beauteous planet HONOR , with not onely foule but lasting spots . For what can lightly be a more disparagement , then for the free to become a kind of bondmen , or to be come of such ? Nay , there is nothing without vs , which can bee of so great disparagement . Finally , it is weighty , and important for very many other reasons , and particularly because it is not onely fit that states of opinions should be rectified in this kinde , as breeding bad affections among people of the same nation ( from whence great mischiefes often rise , euen to hatred , quarrels , and homicides ) but that such also , as through vanity , or other sicknesse of the wit , or iudgement , disdaine to seeme either Citie-borne , or Citie-bred , or to owe any thing of their worship , or estate , either to the City , or to Citizens , may vnderstand their owne place , and true condition , lest they be conuinced to be among them , who are vnworthy of so honest either originall or accession as the Citie yeeldeth .

But let vs first behold the Cities Honour in Armes , as it stands displayed in ancient Heraldry , and as it is commented vpon out of authenticke Monuments in that worthily well commended Survey of LONDON , composed by that diligent Chronologer , and vertuous Citizen M. Iohn Stowe ; The present figure with the same words as here they stand , is a copy of that which an old imperfect larger volume at the Office of Armes containeth .

〈◊〉 BADGES LONDON OF THE CITIE OF LONDON THE LORD FITZ-WALTER BANNERER

There needs no greater demonstration of the Cities ancient honor , and of her peoples free qualitie , then this , that a principall Baron of the Realm of England was by tenure her Standard-bearer . The figure of St. Paul ( titularie patron of London ) aduanced it selfe in the Standard , and vpon the shield those famous well-knowne Armories of the Crosse , and Weapon . The like picture of which Apostle was also embroidered in the caparisons of that horse of warre , which for the purpose of the Cities seruice he receiued of gift at the hands of the Lord Maior . Vpon the Standard-bearers coat armour are painted the hereditarie ensignes of his owne illustrious Familie , that is to say , Or , a Fesse betweene two Cheuerns Gules . Which kind of field the ancients called Claurie , perhaps à claritate , because such fields as were all of one colour made their charges the more clearely seene , and perspicuous . And as they gaue to that species of blazon a peculiar name for the dignitie , so did they also assigne to this manner of bearing two Cheuerns , the terme Biallie , or a coat Biallie , a numero binario . In which braue times had that noble Gentleman , but slightly , and farre off suspected , that he displayed that banner , for a kind of bondmen , or as for their seruice , his great heroick spirit would rather haue trodden such an office vnder foot . In good assurance therefore of this common causes iustice , we proceed .

Sound opinion ( meaning doctrine ) is the anchor of the world , and opinion ( meaning a worthy conceit of this or that person ) is the principall ingredient which makes words , or actions relish well , and all the Graces are , without it , little worth . To take the fame from any man that hee is a Gentleman-borne is a kind of disenablement , and preiudice , at leastwise among the weake ( who consider no further then seemings ) that is to say among almost all . Consequently a wrong . And if a wrong then due to be redressed . To find iniurie , we must first enquire

Whether Apprentiship extinguisheth Gentrie .

4 The maine reason , certainly the most generall , vsed to proue , that it doth , is , That Apprentiship is a kinde of bondage , and bondage speciallie voluntarie ( in which case the Imperiall law-rule , non officit natalibus in seruitute fuisse , may bee perhaps defectiue ) extinguisheth natiue Gentrie . But I denie that Apprentiship is either vera seruitus , or omnino servitus .

For explication of this difficultie , I will set before your eyes the case as it is . A Gentleman hath a sonne , whom he meanes to breed vp in an Art of thrift , not rising meerely out of a stocke of wit , or learning , but out of a stocke of money , and credit , managed according to that Art ; and for this cause hee brings his child at 15. or 16. yeares old , more , or lesse , to the Citie of London , prouides him a Master , and the youth , by his fathers counsel , willingly becomes an Apprentise , that is to say , interchangeably seales a written contract with his Master by an indented instrument . That he , for his certaine yeares true and faithfull seruice , shall learne that precious mystery of how to gaine honestly , and to raise himselfe . Let the legal and ordinarie forme of that instrument ( extant in Wests Precedents , and familiar euery where ) be duly pondered , and it will appeare a meere ciuill contract , which as all the world knowes , a bondman is vncapable of . If you would know vnder what kinde , or species of contract that doth fall ; I answer : That it seemes to be a contract of permutation , or interchange : In which mutuall obligation , or conuention , the act of binding is no more , but that ( as reason and iustice would ) the Master might be determinately for the time , and sufficiently for the manner , sure to enioy his Apprentise . Apprentiship being therfore , but an effect of a ciuill contract , occasioned , and caused by that prudent respect which the Contrahents mutually haue to their lawfull and honest commodity , and such onely as are free-borne , being capable to make this contract with effect , Apprentiship doth not extinguish Gentry .

On the contrarie , it is vrged : That although Apprentiship bee not a true bondage to all constructions , and purposes , yet , that it is a temporary bondage , and equall ( for the time it lasteth ) to very seruitude . In which opinion Erasmus is , making his Etymologie of our Prentises to be , for that they are like to such as are bought with money , pares emptitijs , which conceipt , as it is more literate , then happie , so , if it were set to sale , would find few Chapmen , but to laugh at it . For Erasmus is aswell proued to be errans mus in obscurorum virorum Epistolis , as Apprentises in England to be pares emptitijs . But we absolutely deny that Apprentiship is in any sort a kinde of bondage . For notwithstanding that to proue it be so , they make a parallel between the ancient Roman seruitude , and the London apprentiship , yet will these comparata , be found disparata , if not disparatissima . For seruus among the old Romans , was so called of seruando of preseruing or sauing , and not of seruiendo , of seruing , saith the Law-maker himselfe , the Emperor Iustinian . But the word Apprentise commeth of Aprenti , the French word , a raw souldier , or young learner , Tyro , rudis discipulus ; or of the French verbē , which signifies to learne , or of the Latine word apprehendo , or apprendo , which properly is to lay hold of , and translatiuely to learne , which deriuations are consonant to the thing , and true howsoeuer Sir Thomas Smith in his bookes de Republica Anglorum , not remembring to distinguish betweene seruitude and discipline , bondage , and regular breeding , iniuriously defined them to be a kind of bondmen ( meaning meere slaues , and not as in some places of England , bondsmen are taken for such as are in bonds for actionable causes ) and such bondmen as differ onely thus from very bondmen ( whose like words for signification are those foulest ones , slaues and villaines ) that Apprentises be but for a time certaine . An ouersight which I could haue wished far off from so graue and learned a Gentleman , as that Knight , who was of priuy Counsell , in the place of Secretarie , to Queene Elizabeth .

Againe , that which did constitute a bondman among the old Romans , was such a power and right , vested in the Lord , ouer the very body of his bondman , or slaue , as descending to him vnder some receiued title , or other iure gentium , was maintained to him , iure ciuili Romanorum . By vertue whereof he became proprietarie in the person of his bondman , as in the body of his oxe , horse , or any other beast he had , which proprietariship was indeterminable , but only by manumission , and that act meerely depended vpon the will of his Lord , without any endentment , or condition on behalfe of the slaue , which a right Roman would neuer endure to heare of from his bondman . Finally ( which in the qualitie of that seruitude was most base , ) seruus among them , nullum caput habuit , had no head in law , and neither was in censu , nor in lustro condito ; asmuch to say , that they were out of the number of men , their names being neither put , as among such as had wherewith to pay , in the Rolles of their Exchequer , or tables of their Capitol , nor , as bodies wherewith to serue in the generall musters of their Commonweale , but ( to bee briefe ) were reputed ciuilitèr mortui , dead in Law , death , and bondage being alike among them , without any more reputation of being members in the body politique , then brute cattell , for bondmen were reputed no body , serui pro nullis habiti .

And albeit the authority of the commonweale vpon this good ground of State , interest reipublicae ne quis re sua male vtatur , and the Maiestie of Soueraigne Princes , meerly as in honor , and as moued with commiseration of humane miseries , did sometime interpose it selfe vpon iust causes ; as , where the Lord did immeasurably tyrannise , or the bondman tooke Sanctuary at the Emperours statue , and image , or , at the altar of some one or other of their gods ( an example whereof is in Plautus ) yet the bondman after manumission , continued in such relation to his late Lord , that in certaine cases , ( as ingratitude ) he who was once enfranchised was adiudged backe to his patron , and condemned againe to a farre more miserable seruitude then euer .

These things considered , and nothing being like in Apprentiship , who liues so carelesse of the honour of the English name , as to bring the disciples of honest Arts , and Schollers of mysteryes in ciuill trade , and commerce for vertuous causes , all called by the faire title of Apprentises , into the state or qualitie of bondmen ? Faire I call it , because that title is common to them with the Inns of Court , where Apprentises at Law , are not the meanest Gentlemen . Apprentiship therefore is no voluntarie bondage , because it is no bondage at all , but a title onely of politicke or ciuill discipline . Apprentiship therefore doth not extinguish Gentry . So then , Apprentises , whether Gentlemen of birth or others , whatsoeuer their Indentures doe purport , and howsoeuer they seeme conditionall seruants , are in truth not bound to do , or to suffer things more grieuous then yong souldiers in armies , or schollers in rigorous schooles , or nouices in nouiceships : each of whom in their kind vsually do , and suffer things as base and vile in their owne quality , simply , & in themselues considered , without respect to the finall scope , or aime of the first institution , as perhaps the very meanest of fiue thousand Apprentises in London .

The finall cause therefore of euery ordination qualifies the course , and the end denominates the meanes and actions tending to it . For if that be noble , no worke is base prescribed in ordine , or as in the way to that end . Though abstracting from that consideration , the worke wrought , in the proper nature of it , be seruile . As , for a souldier to dig or carie earth to a rampire , or for a student to goe bare-headed to a fellow of the house within the Colledge , as far off as he can see him , omitting the more deformed necessitie , of suffering priuate , or publike disciplines : or for a nouice in a nouiceship to wash dishes , or the like seeming-base workes , as by report , is vsuall . If then the generall scope , or finall reason of Apprentiship be honest , and worthy of a Gentleman ( as will appeare hereafter that it is ) what can be clearer then that Apprentiship doth not extinguish Gentry ?

I am the more feruent in this case ; because this one false conceit ( at all times hurtful , but chiefly in these latter times , in which the meanes of easie maintenance are infinitely straitned ) that for a Gentleman borne , or one that would aspire to bee a Gentleman , for him to be an Apprentise to a Citizen , or Burgensis , is a thing vnbeseeming him , hath fill'd our England with more vices , and sacrificed more seruiceable bodies to odious ends , and more soules to sinfull life , then perhaps any one other vnciuill opinion whatsoeuer . For they who hold it better to rob by land , or sea , then to beg , or labour , doe daily see , and feele , that out of Apprentises rise such , as sit vpon them , standing out for their liues as malefactors , when they ( a shame , and sorrow to their kinred ) vndergoe a fortune too vnworthy , euen of the basest , of honest bondmen .

The Contents of this second part . 1 APprentiship a laudable policie of discipline , not a bondage . The contrarie opinion ouer throwes one maine pillar of Commonweale Seueritie of discipline more needfull to be recalled , then relaxed . 2 The aduersaries conceipts brand our founders . Mechanicall qualities Gods speciall gifts . 3 Of Tubal-Cain , and the dignitie , and necessitie of crafts . Hiram , the brasse founder . S. Pauls handy Art , and the cause shewed out of the Rabbins . Of other ennoblements touching them . 4 The wisedome of instituting Apprentiship defended by the argument a minori ad maius . 5 London the palace of thriuing Arts. Concerning Hebrew bondmen . The qualitie of Masters power ouer Apprentises . Masters nos Lords , but Guardians and Teachers rather . 6 The aduersaries manifest follie . Of corruption in blood the onely meanes of extinction , and disenablement to Gentry . Of bondmen , or villaines in England .

The Second Part.

THese things considered , how should it fall into the minde of any good , or wise discouser , That Apprentises are a kind of bondmen , and consequently , That Apprentiship extinguisheth natiue Gentry , and disenableth to acquisitiue ? For , if that opinion bee not guilty of impiety to our Mother Countrey , where that laudable policie of Apprentiship necessary for our nation , is exercised as a point of seuere discipline , warrantable in Christianitie ; certainly it hath in it a great deale of iniurious temeritie , and inconfiderance ; and why not impietie also , if they wilfully wrong the wisdome of England , their naturall common parent , whose children are free-borne ? Surelie , notorious inconsiderance is apparent , because there are but two maine pillars of Common-weale , PRAEMIVM & PAENA , Reward and Punishment . Of which , in ciuill rewards , Honor is highest , according to that of the most eloquent Tullie in his perished workes , de republica , ( as S. Augustine citeth them ) as that thing with which hee would his Prince should bee fed , and nourished ; and in his Philosophie hath vttered that famous sentence concerning the same , Honos alit artes , omnesque accenduntur ad studia gloria . Among vs therefore coats of Armes , and titles of Gentlemen ( which point the Knight beforesaid , howsoeuer erring in Apprentises estate , hath truely noted to be commodious for the Prince ) being the most familiar part of Honor , they rip vp , and ouerturne the principall of those two pillars of common-weale , from the very basis . A strange ouersight , specially of professors of skill in the Arts of publike gouernment , vnlesse perhaps they speake it because they would haue things reformed , or changed in this particular of Apprentiship . But we do not remember , that either Sir Thomas Eliot in his Gouernor , or Sir Thomas Chaloner , ( Leigier Ambassador for Queen Elizabeth in Spaine ) in his bookes of Latine Hexameters de rep. Anglorum instaurandâ , ( published with the verses of the Lord Treasurer Burghley's before it ) or any other Author rightly vnderstanding our England , and her generous people , did euer once taxe our Countries policie in this point . Yea , some make it a quaere , whether the Cities discipline had not more need to be reduced neerer to the ancient seuerity thereof , considering with what vices London flowes , and ouerflowes , then that it should bee abduced , though but a little , from it .

Now then let any one but rightly weigh with what conscience , or common sense , the first institutors , or propagators of the English forme of gouernment could lay vpon Industry , and ciuill Vertue ( whose subiect are the lawfull things of this life , and whose neerest obiect is honor , and honest wealth ) so foule a note as the brand of bondage , or any the least disparagement at all ? whereas to quicken , & inflame affections in that kind , all wise Masters in the most noble ciuill Art gouernement , and all founders of Empire , and States , haue bent their counsels , and courses , to cherish such as are vertuously industrious , yea , God himselfe , ( the onely best patterne of gouernours ) hath made it knowne , that euen Mechanicall qualities are his speciall gifts , and his infused , as it were charismata .

3 For Moses hauing put into eternall monuments , that Iabel was pater pastorum ( the most an-Art of encrease ) and that Iubal was pater canentium ( the first of which inuentions was for necessary prouisions of food , and raiment , & the second to glorifie God , and honestly to solace men , towards sweetning the bitter curse which Adam drew vpon humane life , ) it is thirdly vnder added in accomplishment of the three maine heads to which mortalls vse to refer all their worldly endeuors ( necessitie , profit , & pleasure ) that Tubal Cain was Malleator , and faber ferrarius , an hammer-Smith , or worker in yron , that being one of those Arch-mysteries , sine quibus non aedificatur ciuitas , as the words are in Ecclesiasticus , Nay , there belonged in Gods owne iudgement so great praise to the particular excellency of some artificers , as that , in the building of Salomons Temple , they are registred to all posterities in Scripture ; and their skill is not onely made immortally famous , but a more curious mention is put downe of their parentage , and birth place , then of many great Princes , as in Hirams case , not he the King , but the brasse-founder . And in the new Testament , S. Paul , ( being a Gentlemen borne of a noble familie , as the Ancients write ) had the manuall Art of Scoenopoea , commonly englished , Tent-making : vpon which place of St. Pauls trade ( whereof in his Epistles he doth often glorie ) it is declared to vs out of the Rabbins , that S. Paul ( who himselfe tells King Agrippa that he had liued a Pharisee ; according to the most certaine way of Iewism ) was brought vp so , by a traditionall precept , binding such a would studie sacred letters , to learne some one or other mysterie in the Mechanicks . And at this present among other things which the Turks retaine of the Iewish rites , this seemes one , when euen the Sultan himselfe , or Grand Signior ( as all his progenitors ) is said to exercise a manuall trade , little , or much , commonly once a day . And in fresh memorie Rodulphus the Emperour had singular skill in making Dials , Watches , and the like fine works of Smith-craft , as also a late great Baron of England , which they practised .

4 If then such honor be done by God ( as beforesaid ) not onely to those which are necessarie handy-crafts , but to those also which are but the handmaids of magnificence , and outward splendor , as engrauers , founders , and the like ; hee shall be very hardie who shall embase honest Industry with disgracefull censures ; and too vniust , who shall not cherish , or encourage it with praise and worship , as the ancient excellent policie of England did , and doth , in constituting corporations , & adorning Companies with banners of Armes and speciall men with notes of Noblesse .

5 And , as of all commendable Arts all worthy Common-weales haue their vse , so , in London they haue as it were their palace . But into the bodie of the Citie none generally are encorporated , but such onely as through the strait gates of Apprentiship aspire to the dignitie and state of Citizens . That Hebrew bondmen were not , in MOSES law , among themselues , like to our Apprentises ( howsoeuer the seuenth yeare agrees in time with the ordinarie time of our Apprentises obligation ) is euident both in the bookes of Exodus , and Deuteronomie . For , first , their title to their bondmen grew to their Lords by a contract of bargaine , and sale , which was indeed a kind of seruitude . For , when the seuenth yeare , in which the bondage was to determine , and expire , if then he resolued not to continue a bondman for euer , he was compelled to leaue his wife ( if maried in his Lords house during bondage ) together with his children , borne in that mariage behinde him , though himselfe departed free , but withall rewarded also . So that voluntarie bondage is not onely de iure gentium ( as the Romane lawes import , by which a man might sell himselfe , ad participandum precium ) but also de iure diuino positiuo . By which notwithstanding it doth not appeare , that such a bondage was any disparagement , or disenablement in Iewish blood among the Iewes , because in Exodus wee read of a prouision made for the Hebrew bond-woman , whom her Lord might take in mariage to himselfe , or bestow her vpon his son , if he so thought good , but might not violate her chastitie , as if hee had ius in corpus . But the condition of an Apprentise of London resembleth the condition of no persons estate in either of the lawes , Diuine or Imperiall ; For he directly contracteth with his Master to learne his mysterie , or Art of honest liuing , neither hath his Master ( who therefore is but a Master , & not a Lord ) Despoticum imperium ouer his Apprentise ( that is , such a power as a Lord hath ouer slaue ) but quasi curaturam , or a Guardianship , and is in very truth a meere Discipliner , or Teacher , with authority of vsing moderate correction as a Father , not as a Tyrant , or otherwise . Immoderate correction whosoeuer doth vse , is ( by a gracious statute of the fifth of Queene Elizabeth ) subiect to be punished with the losse of the Apprentise , by absolutely taking him away .

6 Which things , so often as I deeply ponder , I cannot but hold it as loose , and as wandring a conceit , and as vnciuill a proposition in ciuill matters as any : That Apprentiship should be imagined either to extinguish , or to extenuate the right of natiue Gentrie , or to disable any worthy , or fit person to acquisitiue Armories . For how can it in Gods name worke that effect , vnlesse it be criminall to be an Apprentise ? Because no man loseth his right to beare Armes , or to write Gentleman , vnlesse hee be attainted in Law for such a cause , the conuiction whereof doth immediately procure corruption in blood , which as in this case no man yet hath dreamed of .

Againe , when by the old common Law of England there are onely two sorts of bondmen , that is to say , villaines in grosse , and villaines regardant to a Mannour , and it is most certaine , that our Apprentise , or Schollar in Citie-mysteries , is neither one nor other of them , what ignorance then , or offence was mother at first of this , not paradox , but palpable absurditie , that Apprentiship extinguisheth Gentry , or that Apprentises are as with vs a kind of bondmen ?

The Contents of this third part . 1. 2. FOr clearer vnderstanding the question , the seruice of an Apprentise described . 3 The foure maine points of the Indenture discussed , the seruice , the time , the contract , the condition . 4 The case of Laban , and Iacob weighed . 5 Of the mutuall bond betweene Master and Apprentise . 6 An Apprentise proued to be in no respect a bondman . Of the right of blood in Gentrie , and of the right of wearing gold-rings among the Romans . 7 The Masters power ouer the Apprentises body , obiected and solued . Aristotles errour about bondmen . Of young Gentlemen , Wards in England . Of Vniuersitie Students , and of Souldiers , in respect of their bodies . 8 Apprentiship a degree in commonweale . 9 Of the tokens , or ensignes of that degree , the flat round cap , and other . 10 Vnwisely discontinued . 11 Resumption of Apprentiships markes , or habits , rather wished then hoped . 12 The iniurious great absurditie of the Aduersaries opinion , and the excellency of London .

The third Part.

1 THough in the premisses wee seeme to our selues , to haue said enough for establishing our Negation in this important question , that is to say , That Apprentiship is not a kinde of bondage , consequently , that it cannot worke any such effects as is before supposed , yet to leaue no tollerable curiositie vnsatisfied , wee will set before vs , as in a table , the whole condition of an Apprentise . Meaning chiefly such an Apprentise as being the son of a Gentleman , is bound to a Master , who exerciseth the worthier Arts of Citizens , as Merchants by sea , Assurers , Whole-sale-men , & some such few others which may more specially stand in the first classe of the most generous mysteries , as those in which the wit or minde hath a farre greater part then bodily labour .

2 Such an Apprentise therefore when first he comes to his Master is commonly but of those yeares which are euery where subiect to correction . His ordinarie seruices these . Hee goes bare-headed , stands bare-headed , waytes bare-headed , before his Master and Mistresse , and , while as yet he is the yongest Apprentise , hee doth perhaps ( for discipline sake ) make old leather ouer-night shine with blacking for the morning , brusheth a garment , runs of errands , keeps silence till he haue leaue to speake , followes his Master , or vshereth his Mistresse , and sometime my young Mistresses their daughters ( among whom some one , or other of them doth not rarely proue the Apprentises wife ) walkes not farre out but with permission , and now , and then ( as offences happen ) he may chance to be terribly chidden , or menaced , or ( which sometime must be ) worthily corrected ; though all this but onely in ordine , and in the way to Mastership , or to the estate of a Citizen , which last worst part of this Apprentises condition continues peraduenture for a yeare , or two , and while hee is commonly but at the age of a boy , or at the most but of a lad , or stripling . And , take things at the very worst , hee doth nothing as an Apprentise vnder his Master , which , when himselfe comes to be a Master his Apprentises shal not doe , or suffer vnder him . Such or the like is the bitterest part of an Apprentises happy estate in this world , being honestly prouided , at his Masters charge of all things necessarie , and decent . The Master in the meane-while seruing his Apprentises turne with instruction , and vniuersall conformation , or moulding of him to his Art , as the Apprentise serues his Masters turne with obedience , faith , and industrie .

3 Here haue we a representation of an Apprentises being , or rather the well-being of a child vnder his father , who hath right of correction . Vpon view whereof we demand , why it should be supposed That Apprentiship extinguisheth Gentry ? For if an Apprentise in London ( since to haue Apprentises is a power not deriued to corporations out of prerogatiue , and royall priuiledge , but out of common Law ) bee in their conceipts a kinde of bondman , it must either be , ratione generis obsequij , or ratione temporis adiecti , or contractus , or conditionis , or for all together ; a fifth cause being hard to be either assigned , or imagined .

For the first point ( which is in regard of the kind of seruice ) that is but an effect of the contract , or bargaine , and consequently depends thereon , or participates in nature with it ; which not importing any kind of bondage , neither can the seruice it selfe , due by that agreement , bee the seruice of a bondman . So that as on the one side wee grant , that Apprentises , as Apprentises , doe some things , which Gentlemen would not doe , that liued sui iuris , specially vpon a necessity to obey , yet on the other side we constantly deny , that they doe any of them , either as seruile , or as seruilely , but propter finem nobilem , that is , to learne an honest mysterie to enable them for the seruice of God and their Countrey , in the station , place , or calling of a Citizen .

For the second ( which is in respect of a certaine time ( as of seuen yeeres at least ) added and limited in the contract , that is meerely but a circumstance of the agreement , and per consequens cannot alter the substance of the question . For if Apprentises are not a kind of bondmen , abstracting from the time which they are bound to serue , the addition of time , addeth nothing to the quality of the contract , to make it seruile .

For the third ( which is in regard of the contract , as it raiseth a relation , or the titles betweene two , of Master , and seruant ) if the very act of binding to performance , be a sufficient reason to make Apprentises a kinde of bondmen , and so to disenable them to Gentry , either deriuatiue , or acquisitiue , the Masters themselues are also a kinde of bondmen , because , suo genere they aswell are bound as the Apprentises .

For the fourth ( which is in respect of the condition either vocally exprest , or vertually implide in the contract ) there is in it no proofe of bondage , but the contrarie . For in that the obligation is mutuall , it proues the Apprentise free as from bondage , though ( for the Apprentises owne good ) not free from subiection to discipline . Because onely free men can make contracts , and challenge the benefit of them . The verbe , not , seruire , but the verbe , deseruire ( which is of farre lesse weight ) comprised in the instrument , or Indenture , and containing the whole force of the obligation , hath onely in that place the sense of obsequi , & facere , to obey , and doe as an Apprentise , and not according to the ancient sense , which it had among the Romanes . This ought not to seeme a paradox . For the word dominari , to which seruire is a relatiue , and the word dominus , haue in tract of time beene so softened , and familiarised , as they are growne to be words of singular humanity . And what so common among the noble as to professe to serue ? But the relation constituted in this case , is peculiar , and proper , the odious word dominus is not there at all , nor seruus , no nor famulus ; the relation constituted is directly named betweene Master , and Apprentise : a cleare case that all iniuries to blood , and nature , are of purpose auoided in those conuentions ; and conuentiones they are called in the interchangeably sealed instrument it selfe . So cleare a case , that in the Oath which all freemen make in the Chamber of London at their first admission , this clause among many others , is sworne vnto by them , That they shall take None Apprentise , but if he be Free borne , that is to say , no Bondmans sonne : which are the very words of the oath . Thus carefully open was the eye of institution in this noble point of the Cities policy , to preuent that no staine , no blemish , nor indignitie should wrong the splendor thereof . A thing which could not but follow ineuitably , if they who prouided against admission of bondmens issue , into the estate of apprentiship , should themselues by making apprentises , make bondmen ; or should in any sort embase their blood , whose Masters they were to be , as to the purpose of comming to bee Citizens in time . They neuer meant to make any man bond , who would haue none but the sonnes of free-borne persons bound apprentises . It shall be wilfull ignorance or malice from hence forth to maintaine the contrary .

4. A most memorable example in Scripture to the purpose of the present question is that of Iacob and Laban in the nine and twentieth Chapter of Genesis , where the time ( seuen yeares ) yea , & the very word ( seruire ) are plaine in that contract which was made betweene the vncle , and the nephew : yet who did euer say that Iacob was for this a kind of bondman ? The reason why he was not , riseth from consideration of the finall cause , or intention of the contract , which is recorded to haue beene honorable ; the obtaining of a worthy wife , and of an estate to maintaine her with . Neither , when he was no longer defrauded of Rahel then seuen daies after his first seuen yeares , and when in the fruition of Rahel he serued also other seuen yeares , was he a kind of bondman , by as it were a relapse , or as by a cessation of expecting his reward , which he enioyed in enioying her . Out of which it followeth , that as Iacob was no kind of bondman though he serued , and serued out all his time twice ouer , so neither are Apprentises . And from this place of the Bible it is vnanswerablie proued that bodily seruice , is a laudable meanes to atchieue any good , or honorable purpose ; a meanes truly worthy of a Gentleman .

5 Hereunto we finally adde , and repeat , that as an Apprentise tyes himselfe to his Master in the word deseruire , that is , to obey , and doe , restrictiuely to the ancient reason , and traditionall discipline of Apprentiship in London , so the Master tyes himselfe to his Apprentise in the word docere , in lieu of his honest seruice , to teach him his Art to the vtmost . Which Masters part is growne to such estimation as that Apprentises now come commonly like wines with portions to their Masters . If then Apprentiship be a kinde of seruitude , it is either a pleasing bondage , or a strange madnesse to purchase it with money .

6 An Apprentise therefore , as an Apprentise , being neither ratione obsequij , temporis , contractus , nor conditionis in any kinde a bondman , is in no respect a bondman : and hath therefore no more lost his title , and right to Gentrie , then hee hath done to any goods , chattels , lands , royalties , or any thing else , which , if hee had neuer beene an Apprentise , either had , might , or ought to haue come vnto him . Nay , much lesse can Gentry bee lost in this case , then right to lands , and goods , how much more inherent the rights of blood are then the rights of fortune . For , according to the law-rule , iura sanguinum nullo iure ciuili dirimi possunt ; whereas those other may be dissolued . And , that Gentry is a right of blood may appeare by this , that no man can truely alienate the same , or vest another in it , though legally he may , in case of Adoption , which is but an humane inuention in imitation of nature , and therefore , in rei veritate , no alienation at all , but a fiction , or an acception in law as if it were such . So that none can any more passe away his gentrie , to make another a Gentleman thereby , who was not a Gentleman before , then he can passe away any habit , or quality of the minde , as vertue , or learning , to make another honest , or learned , who was vnlearned , or dishonest before . For Gentry is a quality of blood , or name , as vertue , and learning are of the minde . Vpon which reason that rule of law is grounded , which teacheth vs , that annulus signatorius ornamenti appellatione non continetur .

7 To all this if it bee replied : That Apprentiship is a kind of bondage , for that if an Apprentise abandon his Masters seruice ; his Master may both fetch him backe , as Lord for the time ouer his seruants body , and compell him also to liue vnder obedience . We answer thus . That such a power ouer the bodie of an Apprentise is not sufficient to constitute a bondman , though the seruice of the Apprentise belongs to the Master , Gods partin him , and the Commonweales being first deducted .

Aristotle held , that onely the Grecians were free , and all the barbarous , that is to say , all not Grecians , were bond . Some among vs seeme Aristototelians in this point , who as he gloriously ouer-valued his Country-men , so these ouer-value their paragon-Gentry , and repute none worthie of Armes , and Honor but themselues , we supposing on their behalfe , that they are indeed not vaine-pretenders onely , but true descendents from the most vnquestionable noble races , howsoeuer troubled perhaps with some little of the spirit of vanitie , and of too too much scorne of others . But as the Italians in our time , notwithstanding they thinke meanely of all who are not Italians , calling them ( in Aristotles humor ) Tramontani , and in that word implying them to be barbarous , doe commit an error , aswell as that great Philosopher , so those Gentlemen ( how eminently noble soeuer ) will be likewise found to liue in errour , for that others also may bee truely Gentlemen , for any thing which as yet is spoken in the former Sophisme : videlicet ; The Master hath power ouer his Apprentises bodie : Ergo , Apprentises are a kinde of bondmen . Because if such a power bee enough to constitute a bondman , wee will say nothing of those free-borne persons being in minoritie , whose bodies their Guardians , may not onely by a right in law , fetch backe after escape , or flight , but giue away also in mariage . Nay , if for that reason Apprentises , borne Gentlemen , shall bee thought to haue forfeited their Gentry , in what estate are all the sonnes , and children of good houses in England , whose bodies their parents by a right of nature , may fetch back after flight , & exercise their pleasure , or displeasure vpon them , euen to disinherison ? Nay , in what case are souldiers ( to whom most properly , and most immediately the Honor of Armes doth belong ) who for withdrawing themselues from their banner , or Captaine without leaue , may not only be forced backe to serue , but ( according to the vsuall discipline of warre ) may be martiall Law bee hanged vp , or shot at the next tree , or wheresoeuer , depriued of breath at once , and of braue reputation together ? So absurd it is to dispute , that the power of a Master , by the title of a contract ouer the body of an Apprentise , in case of discipline , doth conuince a seruilitie of condition in the sufferer . For if the right to exercise corporall coerction should absolutely constitute a state of bondage in the subiect , the iniurie of that vntrue assertion would reach to persons of farre higher marke then City-prentises , as is most plainely proued . And therefore they must alledge somewhat else besides subiection of bodie to draw the estate of Apprentiship into that degree of reproach , which as they cannot doe , wee hauing preuented those obiections , so must they leaue it cleare from taint , or scandall .

8 We lay it downe therefore out of all the antecedences for a cleare conclusion : That Apprentises are so farre from being a kinde of bondmen , as that in our Common-weale they then first begin habere caput , and to be aliqui : to bee of account , and some bodie . For Apprentiship in London is a degree , or order of good regular subiects , out of whose as it were Nouiceships , or Colledges , Citizens are supplied . Wee call them Colledges according to the old Romane Law-phrase , or fellowships of men , for so indeed they are , comprehended within seuerall corporations , or bodies of free persons , intended to bee consociated for commerce , according to conscience , and iustice , and named Companies , each of them seuerally bearing the title of their seuerall worthy Monopolies , as Drapers , Salters , Clothworkers , and so forth . Wee say as before , that Apprentises in the reputation of our Commonweale , when first they come to bee Apprentises then first begin to be some bodie , and that Apprentiship is a degree , to which out of youth , and yong men , who haue no vocation in the world , they are aduanced and that out of Apprentises , by other ascents or steps , as donari ciuitate , to come to bee free of London , or Citizens , from thence to be of their companies Liuerie , the gouernours of Companies , as Wardens , and Masters , and gouernors in the City , as Common-counsel-men , Aldermens-deputies , Sheriffes , and Aldermen ; and lastly the principall gouernour , or head of the Citie , the Lord Maior ; yea sometimes also Counsellors of Estate to the Prince ( whereof Master Stowe hath examples ) are very orderly elected ; and the whole policie disposed after as excellent a forme as most at this day vnder heauen .

9 True it is , that Apprentiship , as it is a degree , so is it the lowest degree , or classe of men in London . Lowest wee say , that it may come to the highest , according to that of S. Augustine , and of common sense , that those buildings rise highest , and stand fasteth , whose foundations are deepest . And as Apprentipish is the first in order , & meanest in dignity , so can that be no title to embase the vocation , because there must be a first in all things . Of this degree the flat round Cap , haire close-cut , narrow falling-band , course side-coat , close-hose , cloath stockings , and the rest of that seuere habite was in antiquitie , not more for thrift , and vsefulnesse , then for distinction , and grace , and were originally arguments , or tokens of vocation , or calling , which point of ancient discipline the Catoes of England , graue common Lawyers , to their high commendation therein , retaine in their profession , and professors at this present , euen to the partie-coulored coates of seruing men at Serieants Feasts . An obiect , far more ridiculous among the new-shapes of our time ( enemie of rigour , and discipline ) then that of Apprentises . At which retained signes , and distinctiue notes among Lawyers , though younglings , and friuolous nouices , may somewhat wonder , till the cause be vnderstood , yet is the thing it selfe so farre in it selfe from deseruing contempt , as that they who should offer it , would themselues bee laughed at . For the late Lord Coke , in the preface of his third booke of Reports , hath affirmed for the dignitie of the word Apprentise , that an Apprentise at Law is a double reader , whose degree is next to that of a Serieant at Law , who is only inferiour to a Iudge , and to no other degree of Lawyers .

10 Here now let me be bold to say , that Apprentises seeme to haue drunke and sacrificed too deepely to their new Goddesse , Saint Fashion ▪ An Idoll which was alwayes noted fatall to the English . As at the periods , or vniuersall concussions of Empire in our portion of great Britaine , may in old Writers bee obserued . This they doe not without wrong in our opinions to the honestie of their degree , at leastwise in so farre abandoning their proper ornament , the Cap ( anciently a note of libertie among the Romans ) as not to haue one day at least in the yeare , wherein to celebrate the feast of their Apprentiship in the peculiar garbe thereof , which they should doe well and wisely to frequent for downe-bearing of contumelie , and scorne , by making profession in this wise , that they glorie in the ensignes of their honest calling .

11 For reuocation of which into vse though wee see no manner of hope , yet are those late Magistrates of the Citie who laboured to reduce Apprentiship to practise this laudable point of outward conformitie , not the lesse to bee commended : and it were to be wished perhaps , that instead of scattering Libels , and of discouering inclinations to tumult , Apprentises had rather submitted their vnderstandings , and resigned their wills in this particular to their louing superiours , making humble , and wise obedience the glorie of their persons , much rather then apparell in the fashion . For they who are not ashamed of their profession , ought not to be ashamed of the ensignes , and tokens of their profession , or degree . They indeed are out of fashion who are not in that fashion which is proper to their qualitie . The flat round Cap , in it selfe considered as a Geometricall figure , is far more worthy than the square , according to that ground in the Mathematicks , figurarum spaerica est optima , and in Hieroglyphickes , is a symbol of eternity , and perfection , & a resemblance of the worlds rotunditie . But I will make no encomium for caps . This I say , that as the square capp is retained not onely in the Vniuersities , but also abroad among vs , as well by Ecclesiasticall persons in high places , as by Iudges of the Land , so the round capp being but a note in London , of Apprentises , and Citizens of London , as it is of Students , Barresters , Benchers , and Readers , in the Innes of Court , so the wearing thereof by Londoners cannot be a reproach , but an ornament . But communis error facit ius , and how freely soeuer these thoughts come from me out of abundant loue to the preseruation of vertue in that most honorable City , which ciuill discipline is ablest to doe , yet as much pietie as it is to wish the best , so great is the vanity to thinke to stoppe the generall streame of predominant custome by priuate wishes . Apprentises moreouer , and Citizens , because they are alwaies conuersant in the light of action , and concourse , and not shut vp in Colledges for studies sake , may thinke by this contrary way the more to honor their Citie , and to enioy themselues .

12 Well may they in the meane time blush at their temeritie , who by teaching that Apprentises are called Apprentises , as if they were pares emptitijs , doe dishonour and highly wrong the excellent old policie of this land . For they ( as much as lyeth in the credit of their words ) most dangerously discourage flourishing Industrie , who cast such an aspersion vpon any ciuill profession , and order of men ( assembled to vphold a kingdome by commerce , according to Iustice ) as the least conceipt of so hatefull a note as bondage . And if it be temeritie to cast it vpon any renowned , or other corporation vniustly , it is singular iniquitie ( let it not be called madnesse ) to lay it vpon London , which shines among all Cities within the Empire of Britain . — velut inter ignes ; Luna minores —

The Contents of this fourth part . 1 THe Author meanes not to erect a new Babylon by confounding degrees . Horaces monster . The common lawes distinction . 2 Citizens as Citizens not Gentlemen , but a particular species . The Gentleman the naturall subiect of all Nobilitie . The Authors meaning explained . Encouragement of honest Industrie . Ius annulorum , that among the Romans , which bearing of Armes among vs . The causes compared . The distinction of a meere Citizen . Disparagement of Wards how to bee vnderstood in this case . King Edward the first his displeasure an efficient of what effects . Armories to symbolise with the first bearers quality . Antiquities sacred care in point of ennoblements . 3 The Authors Apostrophe to Fathers , whether they be Gentlemen borne , or not . No cause why the Great should be ashamed of City-beginnings . Martiall vertue principal owner of Armories . The Chamber of the King . 4 Kings of England ennoble the Companies of London with their persons , by a singular fauour . Henrie the seuenth his admirable sociabilitie , or configuration of himselfe to popular formes . Clothworkers his late Maiesties brotherhood . 5 London-Companies denominated of their Monopolies , but not embased thereby . Of Circensian-games and colors . Plinius his complaint . Gentlemens meanes if properly entituled are as meane as London-Mysteries . Nor , in that respect , any great disparilitie betweene Countrey , and Citie-Gentlemen . 6 The Ecclipticke line of Londons Zodiacke . The minde , and not names is essentiall to qualifications . 7 The Authors second Apologie for his meaning in this case . His scope to beate downe iniurious vanity , not to wrong vocations . London Companies best so called as they are . The first Roman Consul , not being a Patrician , free of Butchers . Where Maiestie is , there can be no basenesse . The glorie of wit , and armes due to London . 8 All honest natures loue glorie , and no glorie good but as subordained to God .

The fourth Part.

THough thus I haue been the Aduocate , and Defender of the credit of the City , yet desire I not to be mistaken . For it is very far from my thoughts , by this Apologie , or patronisation , to confound degrees in common-weale , so to set vp as it were a new Babylon of mine owne . I am not ignorant therefore , that Citizens , as Citizens , are not Gentlemen , but Cizens ; To hold otherwise were to take one order , or degree of men out of the Realme , or like Horaces monster ( a mans head , and a birds bodie ) to create a thing which had halfe one , and halfe another , and our lawes giue a proper name both to the tenure , and person , calling the tenure of Citizens in Cities , Burgage , and their persons , Burgenses , among whom the more eminent of them in London had of old not onely the honour of the title of Citizens , or Burgesses , but of Barons also .

2 The ordinarie Citizen therefore , is of a degree beneath the meere Gentlemen , as the Gentleman is among vs in the lowest degree , or classe of Nobilitie in England . And all Citizens as Citizens , yea , the Lord Maior himselfe , simply as a Citizen , is not a Gentleman , but Burgenfis . As the greatest Princes , and Despots that euer were , or euer shall be in the world , considered in their first naturall condition , are at most but Ingenui , or free-borne , in which respect all are equall , for omnes natura aequales , and their first ciuill degree , or generall state , which either comprehends all the orders of Nobilitie , or is capable of them , is among vs the Gentleman . In which respect he who shall say , That this or that King , or Emperour is a Gentleman , speakes rightly , and as the thing is . For Gentleman is the title , about which all other titles , as they concerne honor , and conueigh no iurisdiction , are put as robes and ornaments . This therefore is my meaning ; That some Citizens may be a Citizen , and yet truely a Gentleman , as one , and the same man may in seueral respects be both a Lord and Tenant . Citizen in regard of his encorporation in London , Gentleman in regard of birth , or of Armories assigned for encouragement of Industrie , to ennoble his honest riches and titles of honor , or worship , in that City , whereof he is a qualified member . Neither is the communication of rewards , which consist of painted distinctions , composed according to the receiued rules of Heraldrie , iniurious to ancient Gentrie any more then the promiscuous permission of wearing gold-rings on their fingers alike to freed-men , as to freemen , granted by the Emperour in the authentickes : the reason of gold-rings among Romanes , and of Armories among vs being the same . Nor is it a new thing in our Commonweale , that speciall Citizens , not borne to armories , but the sonnes of yeomen , or not of Gentlemen , should haue armes assigned them . For there is perhaps scarce any record of Armes granted in England more ancient then testimonies in the Halles of London , that speciall Citizens haue bin honourd with particular bearings . And these are aduanced vpon the Lord Maiors day by the speare-men of that companie of which his Lordship is a member , not all of them specially giuen of old , but some vndoubtedly borne by right of blood , as descendents of Gentlemen , but other againe as vndoubtedly assigned for excellency in City-Arts . Of which number there are at this day not a few , whose seri nepotes whose great-grand-childrens children are reputed among the oldest and best families of their Shires , without any relation to London , which notwithstanding raised them . Hence it followes , that as an Apprentise being a Gentleman-borne remaineth a Gentleman , which addition of splendor , and title , as God blesseth his labours , so a worthy Citizen is capable of honor and Armes , notwithstanding his Apprentiship . And by this distinction made betweene a Citizen meerely as a Citizen , and of a Citizen , as hee may also be a Gentleman , that obiection which some bring out of a Statute enacted vnder one of our Kings , which forbidding the disparagement offered by the Guardian to marie the Ward borne gentle , to a Burgensis , may easily bee salued and answered . For in that Statute the word Burgensis is spoken in the natiue , and more narrow sense thereof , that is of one who is simply Burgensis , without any consideration of him as hee may otherwise bee a Gentleman , Esquire , or Knight , which in some places happens , as in the famous corporation of Droit Wiche in Worcestershire . But howsoeuer , cerainely Burgensis here nothing concernes Citizens of London , who by an excellency of their calling had the honor in antiquity to beare the name of Barons , and were styled so ; and weighing that , the Citizen is a distinct degree from Burgensis , and aboue it ; and therfore that law concernes them not . For the proofe of their title to the appellation of Barons , by way of Hexoche ( as artists in eloquence call it ) most famous is that place in the Histories of Mathew Paris , where speaking of the Londoners of his time , vnder King Henry the third , these words are eminent in him : Londonienses quos propter ciuitatis dignitatem , & ciuium antiquitatem , Barones consueuimus appellare . As for the distinct degree of a Citizen from a Burgensis , that appeares in this , that the City of London doth not send Burgesses to the Parliament , but Knights , or Citizens ; and the enumeration of the rankes is cleare in a Statute of King Richard the second , enacted the fift yeare of his raigne , and the fourth Chapter of the same , where they are , Count , Baron , Banneret , Cheualier de Counte , Citizen de Citie , Burgeis de Burgh . The Princes before that time , but specially the Princes following ( as the worthinesse of Citizens inuited ) did ennoble them exceedingly , and continue more and more so to doe . Yet , in conferring Armes , and arguments of honor vpon Cizens , not borne Genlemen , reason requireth that they should not haue coats of the fairest bearing assigned to them , but such as either in Canton , Chiefe , Border , or otherwise might carie some testimonie , marke , or signe to shew the Art by which they were aduanced , as Merchant-Aduenturers to beare Anchors , Grocers Cloues , Clothworkers a Tezel , Merchantaylors a robe , and so forth ; which those Gentlemen ought in honestie , and thankfulnesse to choose , and not only to accept ; and rather striue to match the best in goodnesse , and worth of spirit then in the silent tokens of it . Posteritie thriuing , there may then some change be also made in the coat for the better . Specially considering what pretty riddance hath beene in our times made of surcharges in armories granted about the end of King Henry the eight ; what encroachments vpon old Gentlemens rights , by new ones , because their names onely haue beene the same ; and many other inuentions to blanch or beautifie newnesse . According to which notion and dictamen , coats of Armes haue beene deliuered from their originall deformities , surfets , and surcharges , by their proper Physitian , the prouinciall King of Armes ; So Sir Thomas Kitsons of Suffolk , whose Chief , now simply gold , was heretofore ouerladen with three ogresses , and they with an Anchor ( the badge or argument of the originall ) and two Lyons rampant argent ; as at this houre is publikely extant to be seene in Trinitie Hall at Cambridge , whereunto he was a benefactor : and besides that Gentlemans , the coat armours of some of the Peeres of this land , and of others also , not a few : very many more needing the like reliefe , or remedie . The rule of proportion seemes diligently obserued in antiquitie among vs , where the principall , and most noble charges , and formes of Armories were not appropriated but to analogicall competencies of honourable qualitie .

3 Such therefore being the nature of Apprentiship , and such the condition of Citizens estate , as to the purposes of honor , and armes , let Fathers who are Gentleman put their children , who are not rather inclining to Armes , or letters , to Apprentiship , that is to say , to the discipline , and Art of honest gaine , giuing them a title of being somewhat in our Countrey . For it is a vocation simply honest , and may proue a stay to posteritie , and giue credit to their names , when licentious and corrupted eldest sonnes haue sold their birth-rights away . For albeit many Citizens thriue not , but breake , yet those fathers , or such who are in place of Fathers , worke more probably , who put their children , or Orphans into a certaine method of life , then others who leaue them at large . And as some riotous , foolish , or vnfortunate Citizens miscarrie , so ten to one more yonger brethren in the Country . And fathers , such of you are not gentlemen , put your children to be Apprentises , that so as God may blesse their iust , true , and vertuous industrie , they may found a new family , and both raise themselues and theirs to the precious and glittering title of Gentlemen bearing Armes lawfully . For which cause no Lord , nor Peere of this Land , who may perchance owe his worldly estate , and as well the completiue , as the fundamentall greatnesse , or amplitude of meanes , to such as haue beene Citizens of London ; nor those other , whose originalls were from cheualrie , and martiall seruice ( the most pure , and proper Noblesse of all , as to the purpose of bearing Armes ) and yet since haue beene mixt with Citie-races , ought to thinke it the least disparagement to owne their benefactors and ancestors , Citizens of London . On the other part it will worthily well become them , freely and thankfully to acknowledge so honest originalls , and accession to originalls , as all this Realme from thence is filled with . Because among them the vertues of commutatiue iustice , and of commendable industrie flourish , and , the sinewes of warre , and peace , abundance of treasure , are stored vp , as in the Chamber of the King .

4 Which acknowledgment , besides that it is in the lawes of honor , an act of bounden duty , they may the rather take it for a glorie , because our Princes haue vouchsafed to be incorporated ; as members of seuerall Companies in the Citie , comming thereby as it were vnder that banner . Nor onely so , but Henrie the seuenth ( whom all of vs will easily confesse to haue well enough vnderstood what he did ) is credibly said to haue beene in person , at the election of Master & Wardens , and himselfe to haue sitten openly among them in a gowne of crimson veluet , Citie-fashion , with a Citizens hood of veluet on his shoulders a la mode de Londres , vpon their solemne feast-day , in the common hall of his Company , Merchantailers . Moreouer , his grand-childe , Queene Elizabeth ( no way inferior to her ancestor in high pollicie ) was free of Mercers . Lastlie ( which is more to our present purpose ) our late dread Soueraigne himselfe King Iames more learned then they both ( though learning hath beene a Royall abilitie in our ancient Princes , & so flourishing in Sebert , King of East-England , that our venerable countreyman BEDE , affirmes him to haue been , per omnia doctissimus ) encorporated himselfe into one the most important society of this kingdome Clothworkers , as men dealing in the principall and noblest Staplewares of all these Ilands ; wooll , and cloath .

5 Nor let the names of Companies , because they seeme not to sound honorably enough as appellations of degrees in Gentry , and Nobility , auert the mind from them as things ignoble and vnworthy the dignity of generous dispositions , a thing erroniously holden in Fernes Blazon of Gentry . For all renowned Cities euer had in them vrbana nobilitas , and yet their citizens could not but bee distributed into orders , tribes , or titles of professions , yea sometimes also in their games , For the Circensian companies in Rome , called factiones , that is to say , companies , and denominated from the seuerall colors of their seueral clothings , White , blew , greene , and red , to which Domitian added two other , purple , and gold , were the speciall delights and exercises of Prince & people ; which grew to such excesse , no longer after then in Traians time , that Plinius secundus held it a matter worthy of his complaint , and censure , as in one of his Epistles is extant , where he saith nunc panno fauent , nunc pannum amant . Againe , such of the Gentry , who liue not in the citie , and doe most of all eleuate themselues with contempt of others in respect of the Arts , and wayes of maintenance , were they but incorporated vnder the true titles of their meanes , in which we will not speake of the prodigious eating vp of whole houses , townes , and people , by a thousand wicked deuises proper to the mysterie of depopulation ( against whose consuming works so many statutes of this land haue long time warred in vaine ) the names of those citie-brotherhoods , or Companies would easilie sound , in a most curious eare , full out as faire , and well . Corne , Cattle , Butter , Cheese , Hay , Wood , Wooll , Coles , and the like , the materialls of their maintenance , all of them inseparable to Countrey-Commonweales , and without which they can no more subsist then Drapers , as Drapers without cloath , Glodsmiths , as Goldsmiths without Iewels , or plate , and so forth . Neither doth it create any great odds in this point touching honour betweene parties in this dispute , that Gentlemen , by their officers , as Bailiffes , Reeues , or the like , doe order their affaires for their more ease , & dignities . For besides , that the wisest among them exercise that superintendency in their owne persons , so herein the worthy Citizen is no way behind , dispatching his businesses by Factors , Iourneymen , or expert Apprentises , reseruing onely to himselfe the oueruiew , and controll all their doings . Citie-noblesse so apparent , that the Knights or Gentlemen of Rome , professing Merchandise , and others among them that way bent , had their Hall , or seat of their Colledge , or companie vpon Mount Capitoline it selfe , dedicated to their patron Deity , or tutelarie God-head , Mercurie . Other encorporated societies there also were , as Goldsmiths , and the rest , who liued so far from being excluded out of the power of common-weale , or from honors , and signes of noblenesse , that they had right in some cases euen to ouertop the Lords , and out of their owne body to choose not only Consuls , but euen Dictators also , their super-soueraigne & most absolute Magistrate before their Emperors times . Yea so mighty were they growne in respect of elections and negatiue authoritie , that Clodius to be reuenged vpon Cicero , left his owne rancke of Patritians , and Lords , and turned Commoner .

6 To conclude , such Gentlemen are much deceiued , which no sooner heare one named to be of this , or that Societie , or Colledge of trade in London , as of Grocers , Haberdashers , Fishmongers , or of any other of the twelue principall Monopolies ( the Zodiacke of the citie , in whose Eclipticke line their Lord Maior must euer runne his yeares course ) but they forthwith entertaine a low conceit of the parties quality , as too too much beneath their owne ranck , and order , without further examination ; when it often happens , that he who is titularlie of this , or that Fraternity , neuer was bred vp in it , nor vnderstands any more what it meanes then the remotest Gentleman , their Masters themselues hauing been Merchants , or of other profession of life diuerse from their title , vnder which they are marshall'd , the law of the citie imposing an absolute necessity that all who are free of the city should cary the name of some one , or other of their brotherhoods . Againe , what doe the constellations of heauen shine the worse , or the lesse , because they carrie the names of Ramm , of a Water-bearer , of Fishes , and so forth ? Or how many the fewer are their seuerall lights for that ? Answerably to which I say , that if the parties mind be adorn'd with the starre-lights of vertue and honor , what basenesse is it for him to bee marshall'd vnder any of the names comprehending one , or other of the honest Arts of worldly life ?

7 In disputing thus , let me not be thought to set vp an enuious comparison betweene these two worshipfull degrees , or qualifications of men . That is very farre from me . For it must euer bee granted , to the authority of general opinion founded vpon custome among vs , that the true Countrey-Esquire caeteris paribus , is in his proper place before the Citie-Esquire , which with the perpetuall clause beforesaid of caeteris paribus holds also , throughout the other degrees of the inferior Noblesse in England . I reason here , as reason bids , not against the right , or dignities of persons either as in parallell , or as in disparagement , but against the vanity , and offences rising out of causelesse elation , and arrogance , and against their errours , who not vnderstanding the things of their owne countrey , are indeed meere Meteoroscopers , and houer in the clowdy region of admiration vpon rude , and vnlearned fansies , for which cause as minds needing to be healed , so would I sincerely that they were healed . Such are theirs , who would perhaps think the Companies , or Monopolies of the citie more worthy of their acknowledgement , if where now they are denominated of some particular ware , or craft , they were named of Eagles , Vultures , Lions , Beares , Panthers , Tygers , or so forth , as the seuerall orders of the Noble in Mexico ( which Iosephus Acosta writes ) vnder their Emperor : yet much better , because more truly , these fellowships of London cary the names of men as they haue vocations in professions , which onely men can execute . Or they would peraduenture thinke more noblie of them , if those societies were denominated of Eyes , eares , hands , feet , or of other members , as Philostratus , in the life of that impostor Apollonius Tianaeus , saith , the officers , and instruments of a Philosophical King in India were . But as those were called of their King his eyes , eares , and so forth , so haue these mysteries some one , or other professor in each among them , from the higher trade to the lowest eminently designed out with the addition of King , as the Kings Mercer , the Kings Draper , and so forth . Againe , how much more worthy the whole is then the parts , because the parts are in the whole , so by that argument it is more honourable to be marshall'd as a man among societies of ciuill men , then to be distinguisht by allusions to particular members . At leastwise , those singular Gentlemen might certainin their most contempt of the City remember that of Plato , Nemo Rex non ex seruis , nemo non seruus ex Regibus ; and that also rare and reall worth may bee in the persons of Citizens themselues , seeing Terentius ( Consul of old Rome , with that noble Paulus Aemilius ) was free of the Butchers company , and our Walworth Lord Maior of old London was free of the Fishmongers . And they were not onely the Lords , Knights , and Gentlemen of Rome , who had voice in election of their principall yearly Magistrates , but euen handycrafts-men ▪ and Artificers , as is most manifest by that place of Salust in his Iugurthine warre , where Marius was chosen Consul , by the speciall affection of that sort of Roman Citizens , who ( saith he ) sua necessaria post illius honorem ducebant , preferred his election by their voices , before the trades by which they earnd their liuings . Finally , they may remember , that in the posterity of Citizens many right noble , and worthy Gentlemen are often found , and that , besides the vniuersall mixture with Citie-races thorow the Kingdom , it may not be denyed that true nobless shineth often very bright among them . For they are Companies of free Citizens , in which , soueraigne Maiesty it selfe is incorporated , making them at once to be sacred as it were , and certainly magnificent . For euen as where the Sun is , there is no darknes , so where soueraign Princes are interressed parties , there is no basenes . And as the Philosophers Medicine purgeth vilest metals , turning all to gold , so the operation of Princes intention to ennoble Societies with his personall presence , transmetalls the subiect , and clearly takes away all ignobilitie . Which things as they are most true in London , so , for that , the Emperour Constantinus magnus ( if our ancient Fitz Stephan reports the right ) Henry King of England , sonne of king Henry the second , and that braue great Prince Edward the first , and whosoeuer else , were borne in the Citie , they giue to it the glory of Armes : and Ieffrey Chaucer , Sir Thomas Moore knight , with others borne in London , communicate thereunto the glorie of wits and letters . To nourish vp both which most excellent titles to reall nobilitie in the Citie , the Artillery-yard , and Gressam Colledge were instituted .

8 Thus this question of Honor , and Armes , vndertaken at the instance of interessed parties , but more for loue to that great Citie , and her children , being by Gods assistance , and , as we hope , sufficiently discussed , the end of all is this , that albeit the loue of humane praise , and of outward splendor in the markes , and testimonies of it , are very vehement fires in all worthiest natures , yet haue they no beatitude , nor ( so to say ) felicitation , but onely as with referment to this of the blessed Apostle ,