THis being modestly premised , ( for I disclaim all Dictatorian peremptoriness , and write with submission to the judgments of those that fear God and follow vertue ) It may not be from my purpose to insinuate , that there never was any Time or Nation in which there was not the footstep , if not the full portraicture of Nobility and distinction . The Jewes , whom I see no reason to disbelieve the first people , Councl . Ber●roni in Politia Iud●ica . had it by appointment from God , the chief of their Families were Priests and Princes to them , before their Judges & Kings , whom separated from the vulgar they called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Noble ; so is the reddition of the word Exod. 24. 11. and upon the Nobles of Israel he laid not his hand , & 41 Isai. 9. I have called thee from the chief men or Nobles of the Earth . Of these Nobles the Jewes by their Language made divers sorts , chiefly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heroiques , those that descended from brave ancestors men of blood , Viri candoris , 10 Eccles. 17. Blessed art thou O Land whose King is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the son of Nobles ; so 4. Neh. 19. 5. c. v. 7. 34 Isa. 12. And then they had others they called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Men of great riches and estate . For 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 aurum from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 includere imported men , whose Gold was their fence and confidence ; whence probably that passage , 2 Hab. 6. of lading himself with thick Clay ; 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 &c. Iosephus 〈◊〉 fratres apu●●hilonem p. 61. lib. de ●●seph . both these , for birth and riches besides others , were by the Jewes called Noble : After , the Egyptians , who termed themselves the chiefest of mortals , had great regard to worth both in men the Meriters , and in their posterities , renowned for , and priviledged by reason of them ; they had their Kings and their Seconds in the Throne , their purple Robes and their Insignia's of distinction , which were badges of mens preheminence , either for power or wealth , which moderately , and which conscience to the publique , administred , caused them to be accounted Men above men , that is , Heroiques or Pettit-Gods . Thus Diodorus Siculus writes , Nobility both in the Powery and Magnificent part of it , was for some Thousand years arbitrated by the Gods and by Godlike Kings , who did not only steer government to their own purpose of subjecting 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Lib. 1. p. 41. the persons of their people , and taking to themselves their estates and labours , but according to the patrial Laws indulged their security as Shepherds and their enriching as Fathers , leaving their own posterity such fortunes as they for them gathered by thrist and common consent of the people , which revenues , added to their wel-descended Fame , made them in the Moralists sence Noble ; 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Plut●rchus lib. cont. Nobilita●em . For Nobility ( saith he ) is nothing else but ancient Wealth , and ancient Worship , that is , Descent from ancestors , wealthy and worshipfull . In process , when Egypts glory withered , and the Greeks upon their stumps fixed their own increment , the learning of Egypt transmigrated with their fortune to Greece , where the Court Cards of request being , all the civill and learned order of declining Egypt , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Herodianus lib. 5. became prey to the Grecian trumps which ruffed and deported every excellency that quondamly they triumphed in ; and thereby Nobility became attributed in Greek Authors to every thing rare and excellent ; 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Aristot . 3 Politic. Birth of vertuous parents is called Nobility , Trees of a good kind 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by a a Lib. de Nob. Philo , and b b Euryp . in Heraclide . Euripides 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . The Noble born , have from their blood a hope , That they shall rule in Princedom's Horoscope . And so again , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , &c. Those that are brave and just in mind , Daring in deed , of nature kind , For Nobles are by God design'd .

And that the Trojans had Nobility amongst them , is plain from that of the Poet , Iuvenalis apud Lucium in Comme●tar. ad Virgilium . p. 903. Cerda in lib. 3. Aeneid . v. 3●9 . who mentioning valiant and divine men , terms them Trojugenas . — Iubet à Precone vocare Istas Trojugenas — Yea , in that * * Alexanerd M. cum fuerat 17. jure n●●●erni sanguini● Achille auctore , Paterni Hercule gloriatus est , Vel. Paterculus lib. 1. p. 14. edit. Lipsi● . Alexander was wont to glory of his descent from Hercules and Achilles , as did the Macedonian Kings after him , which Silius alludes to in those Verses ; Hic gente egregius veterisque ab origine regni , Aeacid●●● sceptris , proavoque tumebat Achille . This Gallant swollen was with boast to come From Hercules , Achilles , Seirs to whom They were , whose deeds gave them a glorious Tomb , So pregnant of renown's his Morning Womb.

In as much , I say , as these things are in Authors of credit , we are to be concluded , that Nobility was in account with the Greeks ; nor else would the holy Text have used the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , as it doth , Luke 19. v. 12. 1 Cor. 1. 26. Acts 17. 11. If this Nobility , which those places allude to , had not been in reputation in the world , and that in its several Vertigo's and traverses of power and Empire : For when the Romans superseded the Greeks ( Men and States having their hot and cold sits ) with the Conquests and Colonies of the Romans , the Grecian usages , Inde prodiit jus Imaginum quas nobiles ab armorum laude pararint Familiae 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Et nomina militum clypeis ascripta . Forrerius in leg. 195. Vegetius lib. 2. c. 28. de re Micitari . laws , and opinions , eat themselves into the Roman greatness , and became , by common approbation , Roman ; and then Rome swells with the bulk of Patricians and Senators , and groans under the overgrown weight of Triumphers and Coronetted persons ; and it not only allows Citizens to write their names upon their Bucklers , or to charge on them some honourable device , by reason of which they put a great value upon them , De Clypeorum dedicatione lege Plinium lib. 35 p. 3. and would not cowardly lose them to their enemies , but while they could , carry them , as their Badges of Honour , and at last dedicate them to their Gods , and to the memory of their Progenitors : I say , Rome did not only allow her Citizens this mark of clarescency , but animated them to every Instance of Heroickness . Now no Porch is without its Frontispiece ; no corner in its Room of State without a Monument of Nobility , Nobiles autem primum Patricii , dicti sunt quippe quibus primum honores iis quibus nobilitas co uparatur , in Republ. p●●ueru ut post autem plebeii etiam ubi primi ad Curules honores pervenerunt Nobiles dici caep●i sunt ; neque enim ex genere nobilitas sed ex im●ginibus parabatur . Sigonius de nom . in Romam . p. 368. in some Obelisques and Pyramids , in others Triumphal Arches ; here a Marble Pourtraicture , there a goodly Statue , or Pillar ; every where some Trophy , or Fescue , to Honour manlily acceded to : Yea , though they most set by their first instituted Orders , and reckoned the Descendants from them the Virtuoso's primarum gentium ; yet had they admissions into , and enlargements of Honour , to reward brave Actions in obscure Men : Which made Seneca , no small Courtier , nor yet a man of a refuse birth , to encourage real Virtue thus , No man is more noble then another , unless he have a nobler soul , and be apter to virtuous Atchievements ; Eadem ●mnibus principia eademque origo , nemo altero nobilior , nisi cui rectius ingenium , & artibus bonis aptius , qui Imagines in atrio exponunt , &c. Et paulo post , sive libertini ante vos habentur , sive servi , sive exterarum gentiuns homines , erigite audacter animo● , & quicquid in medio sordidi jace● transilite , expectat vos in summo Magna nobilitas ib. 3. de Benesic . c. 27. those that are full of the Antiquities of their Progenitors , and make an endless Narrative of them , adorning their Portals with their Effigiesses , are by them more noted then noble ; there is one common Parent of all Men : This World , whether Men come first or last , are valued , or not , is not much by a wise Man to be stood upon : Despise no Man , saith he , that which only is valuable is nobility of mind , which expects the best praise , and makes them that have it worthy of it . Thus he : And hereupon he proceeds to defend Cleanthes , Chrysippus , and Zeno , though in condition beneath Magistrates , and so not enrolled in the publick Charters of Benefactors to the Government , proving that they , in the institution of men in moral Philosophy , Lib de O●io Sap. c. 31. and Rules of Virtue , were as useful as men of great Estates and Courage , In cujuscunque animo virtus inesset ei plurimum esse ritbuendum . Patercul . lib. 2. p. 76. to support the power of the Commonwealth , were , though then the Romans did prize Virtue and Wisdom in men of the first head , and thought highly of Coruncanus , Carvilius , Cato , Marius , Fulvius , Asinius Pollio , Omnes boni sempen uobilita●i ●avemus & quia utile est Reipubl . nobiles homines esse dignos majo . ribus suis & quia valet apud nos clarorum virorum memoria etiam mortuorum Cic. pro Sex●io . who all were of no Families , but names of Honour and Nobilitation to themselves , yet did they not wholly exclude the race of Worthies , though degenerated from conspicuity reflecting on them from their Ancestors , who begetting Children in nature and body , not alwayes in nobility of soul , like themselves , they caution'd not to be wholly casheired Esteem : Not thus is Seneca to be misunderstood ; but his meaning , in what is praealledged , is , That if meer descent from a virtuous stock , and antecedent Patricians , and personal virtue in an upstart , must be weighed each against the other , as two separate and abstracted things , not resolvable into one person ; then he , as a Roman , and Man of reason , had rather chuse virtue without blood , then blood without virtue : For as Phalaris wrote to Antiochus , Virtue is the true and only Nobility , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Epistola ad Antiochum . other things are referrable to fortune . To which Philo suffragates , Truth and Iudgment , quoth he , considers not Nobility only from the race of blood , but from justice and courage of action . For when the rattle and noise of descent and blood is drowned in the casualties and confusions of worldly instability , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Philo lib. de Nobilit . p. 904. Virtue susteins it self in every condition , and is welcome to another , when ●it is banished from , or unhappy in , it s own Country . Whence is discovered the vanity of too much resting on Blood and Honour , which is only considerable in conjunction with Wealth , which hath wings , and may with them fly away , and then the Nobility of an ignoble soul'd man leaves him helpless , and remarkable for nothing but misery . Where then Names and Titles are concurrent with Virtue , and the Mind is a strenuous second to the Names pretension , there can be no attribution too luxuriant almost for such an Emeriter , Quid est eques Romanus aut libertinus aut servus , nomina e● ambitione aut ex injuria nata , subsilice in Coelum ex angulo licet , ex surge modo & ●e quoque dignum finge Deo . Senec. Fp. 31. who turns the little cottage he is in , into a Theater of Majesty , and reduces the grandeur of a Heaven into the uncouth angle of his residence . For such Phaenixes , whose latitudes of love , and intentness of general good , Sint hi reges quia majores ●orum non suerunt , quia pro summo imperio habuerent Ius●itiam , abstinentiam , quia non Rempub. sibi sed se Reipub. dicaverunt , Regnent tu quia vir bonus quidam proavus eorum suit qui anima supra fortunam gessit qui ini dissensione Civili quoniam expedieba● Repu● vinci quam vincere malui lib. 4. de Benef. c. 32. puts them upon self neglect , in conscience to the general , more precious to , and valued by , them : The wisdom of Nations ought not only to decree publick gratitudes , but to invite others by their acceptation to be free spirited : For they deserve best to be trusted and relyed on , who ( as Seneca says ) were single hearted , and unended , who did not abe● factions to admit themselves into request and wealth , but retained in turmoils that just sobriety , rather to be ruined in their private fortnnes , then to sacrifice the common peace to their ambitious and malignant acremonies : So he .

As therefore the wisdom of Ages , and Governments , have given great vertue its due Guerdon , so have they quickened the faint and languishing hopes of it , by signal favours collated on them , whom by them they , as it were , bribed and bespake to become and abide excellent .

Thus Constantine's Brother , Zrz●mus lib. 2. Eutrop. in breviar. p. 112. & lib. 8. and Anaballianus ( though men of no great dedegree in virtue ) were for their very allyance to Constantine Nobilissimated ; so the Emperor created his Son Iulian 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 , and thus all Powers have done , to ingage their Relations and Attendants to follow Majesty in such manifestations of it as are expected from their respective conditions , and opportunities : For surely , if Nobility , and whatever is couchable under it , and understood by it , be worth desiring and obtaining , 't is chiefly for the subsidy it yields to Virtue , and the addition it makes to Men and Things , which thereby are advanced to a Sphere superiour to their common natural influence and operation , as Macrinus notably noted to the Roman Senate , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Herodian lib. 5. p. 560. When he so smartly traduced the Idol of Nobility abstracted from Virtue , as that it appeared the vapour and bladder of a tumorous nothing , and the blazing semblance of an insignificant non ens .

From all which it appears , That Nobility and distinction amongst men has been ever in observance , but chiefly when compeer to vertue ; the association with which , though it was not ever in an express of notability , yet in a truth of being , and in some degree or other of sutable appearance , which verifies that golden saying of Demosthenes , 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 . Apud Stobaeum Serm. 217. He that is born vertuous is truly born Noble : And since pure Nobility may well be compared to a River issuing out of four principall Wels , all which rise from the compass of one Hill ; the Wells are Prudence , Fortitude , Iustice , Temperance : Bishop of Saint Davids Sermon at the entertainment of the IL. of Essex , 21 Eliz. Holingshed p. 1263. the Hill whence they spring is the fear of God and true Religion ; as a learned Prelate of our Church long since observed . Happy is that man whom the graces of a regenerated and subdued soul to God , dignifies and declares Noble , Foeli● ille quem non excellentia generis sed mores virtutesque nobilitaverunt . Apulejus . though he be in other regards straightned and reduced to be the object of a generous pitty , or of what 's more usual , degenerous scorn .

Not only men then , but even Families have been happy enjoyers of Nobilitation . For though the immediate ray of honour be darted upon the face of the first actor , and that for his action couragiously and with wisdom performed ; yet are the reflexions of it considerable advantages to all his family and relations , yea to his servants , who were chiefly Aliciat ad legem 40. signified in the old Oscan word Famul , the lodge or lie of servants . Nor did the Family extend then to Wives , Children , Nephews or Libertines , but onely to the drudging or least free part of their domestiques . Though times and conquests have enfranchised words as well as men , so that at this day Family extends it self to the utmost line of consanguinity , which the great Master of reason as well as eloquence , Tully , Arist Polit●e . lib. 1. c. 3. fully sets forth , when he tells us , that even Nature hath so expatiated charity in man , Et ipsa charitas generis quae nata à primo satu à procreatoribus na●i diliguntur & tota domus conjugio & st●rpe conjungitur serpit sensim foras cogniti●●ibus primum tum ad ●in●tatibus , deinde Amicitiis . lib. 5. de Fin. bon. & malorum . that he does not only accept them for his Family , who are descendants from his body ; or in a direct discent come from one common and numerical ancestor , or are by marriage affianced to him , but also by the frankness and latitude of that vertue , friends though more remote in blood are adopted into the fruits and kindness of it . But this is a large sense of Families , and would require a vast force of Fancy and pains to man the lines and outworks of its circumvallation . That only notion of Families which is commonly understood to be branches from one stock , is that which is the family I treat of .

And certainly there is nothing has been more the care of wise and generous men to raise and confirm in honour and reputation then their Name and Family . That is , not onely their children and their off-spring , but their relations collateral , whom by lawes of nature and nations they accounted second heirs ; which appears not onely in the qualities men of great minds endeavour to attain , and by them to be notable and requested , but from the suitable improvements that they exercise the conspicuity of their parts about . For as they do invigilate themselves that their amorous or rash follys doe not precipitate their after preferment : so having well married do they caution the wel-breeding of their children , that fitted they may be for imployments and favours of respect and augmentation . Thus of old we read that the Patriarchs as they chose for themselves Wives worthy their piety and love , so did they to their sons present Wives , and them married , placed in courses of life laborious and supportive ; upon which foundation they laid all the superstructure of their after happiness and thrift . This after ages imitated them in , & while they saw themselves more then ordinarily mortall in their issues , they either having none , or such as concluded in their sex the nominal perpetuity of them , they made provision for their continuity by assumption of Nephews and Kinsmen , or by adoption of daughters children , Totius familiae interest ne quis ex ea vel in servitutem de . ducatur vel slagitiose damnoque dignitatis vivat . Ferrerius ad legem 195. which I best like , into their name ; and so investing them with what fortune and honour they had in their power : so great a zeal to the prosperity of blood , name and relations is there in a generous man , that as their glory is his delight , so their dislustre is his torment . Hence has it been ever the study of brave men to promote their kindred , and to resent their disobligements as unkindnesses done to themselves . Nor is there any more sure sign of a Noble soul , then this of endeavouring to know and improve the prosperity of his line and kindred , yea , and of his friends too ; for I preferre constant and prudent friends above relations that are loose and uncapable ; and truly I am declaredly of the opinion , that Greatness or Riches is not desirable by any Heroique , further then it capacitates the have to serve God , Quid enim generosius quam tot literarum proceres habuisse majores : nam si inve●era●ae & per genus ductae divitiae nobile● faciunt , multo magis praestantior est cujus origo the sauris prudentiae locuplis invenitur . Alatharicus Rex senatui Rom apud Cassiod var. lib. 8. ep. 19. and his Prince , officiates to the publique , and is a hook to draw into and a hedge to secure worthy friends and relations in the fellowship and affluence of it ; For although the other perquisites of it , as place , plenty , p●mp of life , respect with men , be tempting and taking motives to its pursuit , and obtainment , yet the prospect that it gives into the knowledge of men and things , and the encouragement and reward it priviledges a man to give to what is excellent and useful , though perhaps clouded and spiritless , is the Royallest incentive to af●ect and accept it ; I like the charity that begins at home , and since I account every one of my Family and Friendship that is vertuous and valuable in any Noble accomplishment , they shall be the objects of my respect and neerest to my kindness who are neerest of kin to the souls nobility , and who have in them the most of intellectual Majesty & practical Divinity . But I return to a mans family , which surely must be dear to him , upon the reason of interest , as it is his temporary conservatory , and that in the Lunary motions whereof he sees the ●bbs and flows of his own fame . For though he is but a termer for life in his person , and has but a contingent estate in that , yet in the continuity of his descendants he has a comparative fee , and an estate , as I may so say , of temporary eternity ; at least the lease he has is such as it may last many hundred years : which wise men contemplating , if issue of themselves fail by corporal defects , or anticipation of vice , vow , or what is parallel to them , provide substitutions to their memory , though they purchase them at rates transcending the ordinary values of reason . This makes them venture on those designes of hazzard , and labours of death , that none would cope with but those that had a motion of mind above mortals , Non potest grande aliquid & supra caeteros loqui nisi mota mens cum vulgaria & soli●a contempsit ins●inctoque sacro surrexit excelsior . Tunc demum aliquid cecinit grandius ore mortali non potest sublime quiddam & in arduo positum contingere quam diu apud se est . Senec. lib. de Tranq. animi . as Seneca sayes , and whose eares could hear no discouragement though death were the Messenger to disswade them ; and though they saw the pit of their sepulchre opened before them , and ready to receive them : for then they most sweetly modulate the notes of greatness , when they strayne their accounts beyond and above the Elah of ordinary attainment , and assay the supern greatness by the projects of a more then mortall action , which they meditate and are generously transported to produce .