NOTHINGE DOTHE seme so commodious to the life of man , as to consider and immitate , this present state of the world . For if euery man wold ▪ call to remembraunce , how , and after what sorte , eche kinde of state doth liue , & reuolue with him selfe , the woorkes of the Almighty , whiche is so magnanimous , then shall hee perceiue , if that man leadeth his life agreable vnto the worde of God , and especially those that are learned , whiche haue the knowledge of the trueth , and can vnderstand the doctrine that is conteined in the misteries of the scriptures : they in mine opinion shuld be the followers , moste chiefely of the same : But I am of the opinion of S. Augustine , whiche saithe , thoughe that the learned rowte , do reade and see the way to saluation , yet I thinke ( saith he ) that those whiche are vnlearned , wyll be there before them : for in deede I say so my selfe , that it is an easy matter for a horseman to ride to Rome soner then Horsemen are swifter then footemen . hee the which doth god a fote : by which I doo meane , that those the whiche are learned , should soner obtaine the kingdome of God , then the ignorant can do : and they maye rather followe the waye of vertue , because they do beholde , the enormitie , that ensueth to those that do breake , or stray from that waye of vertue , and run into the horrible and lothsome way of wickednesse , as many doo at this present time , for I se dayly that nature doth growe , more peruerse then other : for those , whiche a man wyll esteeme to be most ciuyll , are moste ryotous , and those the whiche are thought to be moste prodigall or riotous , are by their exterior or outward aparance most full of ciuillitie , whereby one is not able to say that hee doth knowe a perfect man of liuinge , the whiche is a thynge to be wondred at , considering the great learninge that flowes at this day , more then euer it dyd , and the Gospel is truly preached , yet the state of the worlde , is growen to such malignitie , as though that we had no teaching nor preaching , for it was neuer more couetouse , nor the people were neuer more edicted vn to riotousnesse : for hee which is a man but of a meane estate , wil bragge of his gentillitie , yea , and kepe companie with those the whiche hathe substaunce and wealthe , because that he will not be counted an inferior vnto them . More whoredom , filthy fornication , was neuer vsed , since the first originall , more dissimulation , neuer was hard of nor seene ? What more should I say , sithe the state of all thynges doth decay : and the world was neuer more full of impietee . And what is the cause of this ? I will accordynge to my simple knowledge , reuele vnto you . You see , dayly with your eyes , that euery man , if that he be of any reputation , he will stande in the same , yea , and rather then he wil lose any parte of his reputation , he will boast of the same , to make men beléeue , that is ignorant of his state , that he is some Frankelin , or some Gentilman borne , then he to vpholde his state , will seeme to be a roystyng gamster , at Dice or at tables , or at Cardes , the which if he vse any thynge longe , will make his reputation fall , and consume his substance , thoughe it be but small , then he must be driuen of meere necessitie , to go borrow money of some of his familiar aquaintance : and when he hath borrowed the same money , hee wyll neuer reste tyll the dice haue lefte none , and thus he wyll and must make shifte to mainteine his gaminge : Now the time drawes on , that hee must pay his creditour the money whiche he borrowed , and hee hath it not to pay : then must hee sell his landes or his goodes to pay it , or els must go to prison , and because that hee wyl not seeme so to be defamed by imprisonment , he will sell that whiche is worthe a hundred pound for .iiij. scoore , and thus hee must do if he frequent him selfe in exercise of such vnseemely gaminge : then of force hee must be constrayned to make shifte for money one waye or other . Some wyll These are the common pactises of some at this daye . vse a kinde of dissimulation , to cloake matters couertely , and will cogge and foyste , and addulate a matter to gayne by : and other some styll goe playe the roystinge rouers , and watche quicke corses , when it were more meeter for them to be in their beddes a sleepe ▪ and all because that they wante that whiche they shoulde haue , to maintayne theyr estates : Nowe if that hee be a man of any reputation , and thus in superfluitie haue spent his substaunce , then wil hee crowche and crepe to his friendes , now if his friendes perceiue any grace or amendment in him , they wyll helpe him , and bestowe theyr lyberalitie on him , and then : if he againe do fal , to the lyke vice , as hee dyd before , they wyll seme to drawe theyr fauour from him , and so will cleane reiect hym , and thus shall hee be broughte into misery . And againe , if that one hauinge substaunce , and spende it so superfluous , and hath no friendes to helpe him , nor none to whom he may sewe for any reliefe , them must hee forsake his olde companions , then his riotousnesse is tourned into a most myserable state of penurie : thus doth many at this present time decay , thus are they brought lowe , whiche loked so highe . I woulde wishe therfore eche state to consider his callinge , and to remember the inconuenience of superfluitie : for what wil a man do , when that hee wanteth substance , which somtyme had it ? for when hee considereth the state hee hath been in , and reuolue with him selfe his state present , it wyll be dolerous vnto him , mary the nerest waye to auoyde the daunger of this dolour , is : before to consider this whiche is chaunced afterward , and thinke with him selfe , that if I do nowe spende ryotously this substance whiche I haue in my youth , I shal want the same in my age , therefore I wyll spare it , I wyll pleade simplicitie , I wyll not stand on my reputation , but yeld vnto the worst rather then geeue occasion of wronge , this will hee doo , the whiche doth not regarde the pleasure of vaine thynges : Nowe I doo not wryte this vnto you , pretendinge to alowe couetousnesse to Couetousnesse is of th' aucthor here reiected . be exercised among suche youthes , as I do wryte of , but I doo write this to the intente that they should not spend that whiche they haue , in superfluitie , as in gaminge , in gay apparell , in kepynge Good exercises are here alowed . of suche companie as are edicted vnto riotousnesse . In frequentinge such exercises as are not commendable : mary in deed I can not disalowe some kinde of exercises , which are wrought by the agilitie of the body , so that they be vsed with a mediocritie , not superfluous , nor vppon brauery , to gayne the name of a lyuely youthe : and some other exercises I do discommende , because they are viciouse . Nowe I wyll not seeme to teache a man what exercise hee shall vse , for that will I referre to his owne discrete minde : but I do shewe the enormitie whiche ensueth to those , which friuolously do spend their time in vaine pleasures of the worlde : as in delighttinge in Pryde , whiche is the mother of all mischiefe , and in drunkennes : for when a man or woman is drunke , they are then edicted vnto all mischiefe , and other vices beside , whiche I perceyue that the worlde is geuen to , therfore I woulde wishe that this may be a reformation for those the which haue hitherto led their liues in suche wickednesse , and that they may henceforthe , frame their mindes to the Imitatinge of vertuous exercise : & not to esteme the vaine pleasures of this worlde , whiche is but a vale of miserie , but I do beleeue it were as easie to tourne the stone into the water , as to cause some of them to exterminate and cast of the vse of suche vices , for they are soo rooted in them , that they can not parte a sonder : But nowe to procede further , let vs se what worthy Histories the auncient Historiographers haue left with vs in learned bookes , towchinge the fall of Prodigalitie . Herodotus a Greeke historiographer . Marcus Huua was Dictator of Rome , one of the highest offices there . I call to remembraunce that Herodotus a writer of Histories , dyd pen in his Booke , that sometime one Huua was Dictatour of Rome , this Huua hauing no more sonnes but onely one , he was verye carefull for hym , and loued him entierly , for as the story saith , that he did decke him vp in costly aray , the fyneste that mighte be gotten , and kept him at schole : but he was so pampred and nusled vp in worldely prophanitie , that hee had rather minde on his Prodigalitie then on his Booke , and woulde rather exercise hym selfe in diuers kyndes of games , as disinge , cardinge , and other moe , whiche oughte not to be vsed , but rather to be reiected and so hee continued the space of seuen yeres , in whiche time he had consumed his fathers substaunce , so muche , that his father dyd seeme to withdrawe his greate loue and good wyll from hym , and dyd kepe him in so shorte , that hee coulde not haue the value of one penye , but his father woulde knowe how that it was bestowed . Nowe this youthful sonne , contrary vnto his fathers wyll , woulde priuielye resorte vnto his olde companions , whose companies before hee frequented , and they gaue him such councell , that hee woulde not seeme no more to be kepte in at his fathers pleasure , but dyd shewe him selfe so obstynate , that all his friendes hated him : it came to passe that his father dyed , and he possessed his landes and goodes , & he through his companions entisement , was seduced from all vertuouse trade and led his life in a most ryotous rate , and consumed it cleane : when all was gone , and had nothinge lefte to maynteine his former state , his olde companions which before had frequented his company forsooke hym cleane , and rather sought his destruction , then for his prosperitie , and so in greate myserye , he wente beggynge his breade , and at laste , fell to robbinge , and soo was taken , and accordinge to the lawe suffered deathe : Oh what avayled Fortune whiche to hym was incomparable ? for where that he had welth and substance , was verye well esteemed and beloued amonge the Senatours of Rome for his fathers sake , nowe was he thorowe riotous Prodigalitie , broughte to vtter destruction : the like in these our daies wee maye beholde with our eies , for a noumbre there bee of suche chyldren , whiche doo include vice , and abrogate vertue , and all because that they are edicted vnto Prodigalitie , whiche is repugnaunt vnto vertue , as theyr exteriour operations doth manifestly ostend , Do nomore then your habilitie is able to reache . for where the minde is geuen to playe prodigall partes , and desirouse to goo braue and to kepe companie with roysters , to be franke in expences , to bee free in liberalitie , more then his habylitie is able to vpholde , for I count him a very innocent , that will put his hand further then his sleue wil reache , and to bragge or boaste of his gentillitie , all these vices dothe derogate vertue , but I muste confesse that lyberalitie procedeth of a gentle harte , as when hée doth geeue some thinge for a recompence , for gentelnes or profite , whiche he hath founde : but yet it maye digresse from the boundes of vertue . In rewardinge excesciuely , or in prodigal expences , or on other thinges inconuenient , of smal importance , in deede I must saye , that suche errogation , is not worthye to be counted the name of lyberalitie , but a thinge done on a brauerie : In prodygal promptnes , is a singular signe , that the aucthour thereof , is rather geuen to prodigalitie , then to ciuill demeanour : Nowe let vs see farther , how they whiche haue vsed prodigalitie , are come to vtter desolation . Iolas a lustye youthe , Iolas born in Athens . a worthye example . dwellinge in Athens , at a festiual day , whiche the Athenians vsed to celebrate hee to honour the Feast , bestowed .x. thousand pound in aparel for him selfe , They dyd celebrate to Diana , the Goddes of chastitie and .xx. men , whiche hee had hyred to waite vpon hym as that daye : he was so richely decked in costely robes , that euerye man wondered at him , and dyd stande in an admiration with them selues , howe that hee was able to deuyse so riche garmentes to be made , but the minde whiche is edicted vnto vyce , or prodigall actions , nothynge to suffice his minde , is to harde or difficulte for him to deuise or inuente : Hee beinge thus decked , in suche costly array , dyd glorye in him selfe , and perceiued that the people dyd wonder at his greate expences and cost in apparel , dyd euer after continually , weare the same , and stil mainteined it , as longe as his moneye did last : In the ende to conclude short , hee had neither moneye , goodes , nor landes , but was gladde to set his feete vnder other mens tables , and because he coulde not haue his wyll as hee was wonte to haue , he fell to shifting other waies , and kept company with whores and because that these harlots had robbed a gentell man , they were taken , and Iolas with theym in their company , Take hede of this exaumple . and so was prisoned , where in he died myserably . Thus ye se , what the ende of his prowde prodygalitie came vnto : Trewlye the ende of it is lyttell better , for if euerye youthe or younge man , would consider this , and reuolue with him selfe , the imminent daunger that on prodigalitie doth procede , they woulde abandone them selues from it : but he that is naturally disposed , to be prodigall , cannot be ciuill : In deede I muste confesse , that it is seldome seene that a young man shoulde be ciuill , till he come to .xxiiii. yeres of age , or there about : in deede then he growes to som stature , and by wisdome ▪ is ledde to be Bambes kinge of Nauers brother . Xenophon ciuill : I had almost forgotten Bambes , which was the king of Nauers brother , howe prodigally hee did liue , Xenophon makethe mention : for hee woulde vse to haue chaunge of aparell , iiij . times aday , and he did glory in it , in so much that hee woulde neuer haue resperte to thynke on the comon wealth : the ende of it was this , hee was oppressed with warres , by the Hungarians , and was taken prysoner , and coulde not be ransomed , without great substance , he was cladde in a riche armour , and sette in a peyre of scales or ballance , and he was weyed ten times in pure massie golde , whiche much enpouerished his treasury , that when hee came to his kingdom hee hadde but small substaunce , and because hee coulde not haue his pleasure of wealthe , as hee was wonte to haue , dyd ertorte his cominaltie , and they seinge Rebellion agaynst a prodigall kinge . theym selues ertorted , to maynteine his prodigalitie , rebelled against him , and slewe hym , thus alwaye the prodigal people do come ▪ to destruction for oftentimes we see , that he the whiche dothe exalte him selfe , is broughte lowe , and hee the whiche doth humble him selfe , is exalted : but we may perceius plainely , that at this day there is fewe of our younge youthes , or elles gentill men ( as ye would terme them ) that will enter into a pathe , which leadeth vnto humilitie , but rather wyll of him selfe be so obstinate , that hee wyll not force , friende nor foe , but wilfully runne astraye ▪ from the vertuous imitation , whiche hee oughte to practice , and if his friendes or his parentes , doo tell him of the same , then he is streight at defiaunce with them , and thereby he neglecteth his dewetie towardes them , which in the .xx. of Exod. we are commaunded Exodus . of God to kepe , sayinge , Honour thy father and thy mother , &c. but tho prodigall childe forceth not that , but wyll rather shewe him selfe obstynate against them , then dotheyr commandmentes , which now in these our daies , to our lamentable reproche , is to much seene and proued by experience . Chyldren more disobediente to parentes , I thinke was neuer seene : children and young men , more edicted vnto Pryde , and Prodigalitie , I iudge in mine opinion , was neuer harde of , chyldren more subtyll and crafty then are nowe in these our daies , I haue not harde of , for nowe the younge teacheth the olde , the yonge correcteth the olde , the yonge sekethe for the superioritie of the olde , the whiche is contrary vnto dewtie , for thoughe hee be neuer so poore , nor neuer so in myserie , if hee be olde , those which are young for the honour of their age , oughte for to yelde reuerence vnto them , and not stoutely to stande at defiaunce againste them : for wee must honour age , in hope that wee oure selues shall be olde : but wee maye perceiue that a greate number do stray from the same perfecte pathe of vertue , as the xlij , chyldren dyd , whiche mocked Heliseus , 4. Reg. 2. after the ascention of his master Helias . Then Heliseus turned againe , and cursed the Children , then immediately twoo shee beares came out of the wodde and deuoured them , this example I do bring in , in this place , because I perceiue that the world is at this stay that children being brought vp and nusled in wickednesse , when they come to age , they wyll not seeme to shewe any obedience to their parentes , but seeke to haue their owne wylles , whereby they fall from vertue vnto vice , and so aduaunce them selues euen to the top of the prodigall Porte : then there they set forth them selues in their brauery , and there they vaunte and bragge of theyr reputation , the whiche God knowes , is but very bace , yet they set a good face on the matter , and wyll not lose it for bosting , and as I call to remembrance the like example I did find in the workes of Maturia , a Romain writer , that Maturiae a Romain writer dwellinge in Verona at the Citie of Verona in Italye , there was a poore man which went begging of his bread , for wante of any other releuement , and when hee came within halfe a league of the Cittie , there was twoo lyttell boyes playinge together , whiche kepte sheepe oute of the corne , and this olde man came by , and they seinge hym , they lefte their playe , and rayled vpon him , and threwe stones at him , and with durte and mud they sore misused hym , then the olde man saide , take hed children , that you do not reape suche fruite , as your seede whiche you sowe , bringeth forth : Then those two children lefte the olde man , and fell to wrastlinge together , harde by a stynking pitte of mud 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it chaunced that the twoo boyes fell therein bothe together , one hauing holde of the other : and they beinge in , coulde not obteine no rescue , but there were drowned . Thus they whiche will seeme to despise age , otherwise then duetie doth binde them , we maye perceyue do come to a myserable ende , Nowe whether it was for wante of wyt that they did despise him , or whether it was vpon their owne voluntary wyll , in a brauery vpon prodigalitie , I cannot rightly saye : but wee may see at this daye , that youth is wilfull , and often times will do such dedes whiche dothe not become theim , and agayne , many of their parentes are soo fonde ouer theym , that theye wyll not geue correction , but rather geue occasion to prompte them in it : which when they come to age , they cannot refraine it , but muste needes put in vre his former practise : This is an other cause that manye fall to predigalitie , and include vice , and exclude vertue , whereby their deede is worthy of no landable reporte , but perpetuall infamie : for experience dothe enforme vs , that alwaies the doings of the prodigal wight is wicked , and that the ende of it is miserie : as for exaumple .