and farsed with calamitie For hit if so that Nobility we frame is garded and accompanyed with such stoutnes of courage suche hautines of stomake that in storme it is calme in basenes Nobleâ— in pryson free in pouerty plentuous in darkenes bryght in exile as at home in the mids of fier vntouched vnscorched not meltyuge not consuminge But wee saye they are no pryests teachers nor pastours So great perfection is not requyred of Nobility But sith they be christians they ought not shrinke to die for christ And sith they be Nobles armed with this franke gentry of stomake so many bulwarkes of scriptures so many prooffes and presydents they oughte dreade no force of Sathans tiranny no fornace no rage of flame or fier For that vnnoble doggyshe Philosopher Diogenes a man excellent in wisedom and vertue albeit in substance bare surnamed the dogge adiudged those most Noble who contemne pleasure honours life who feare not pouertie infamy death But to beleue faithfullye to embrace with faithe what true is and sincere the same with tounge to blase and conceiued wordes to confesse and euen to yelde for it throate and lyfe pertaynes alike to all earnest Christyans yea to those of the basest sorte But this is peculyer to Noble men to relieue the cause of the gospell faintinge and fallynge to strengthen with theyr ayde empoueryshed religyon to shield it forsaken with theyr patronage For as it is incydente to all wretched pore and beggerly to suffer so to succour the afflicted beloÌ„gth not but to them who excell in aucthoryty whose power and lieuetenant labour god vseth in redeemynge and defendynge relygion Theyr parte hit is to fight for theyr homes and Churches They be in maner the pastours of the people and gardeins of freÌ„dles piety For great yea greatest weight hathe a noble mans iudgemente on either parte Wherby both the Tyranny of Prynces is brideled and the rage of the commen people repressed and the pryde of Prelates tamed And therefore as they may so they ought rule moderate kinges with theyr councell the people with theyr authoritye the pryests with their grauity For neuer had so many bin haled to firc and torments neuer so many drawen to presente death ne blasinge brandes had not Nobles entermedled lente theyr wicked ayde would they haue bin eyther sharpe scourges of the wicked or meanes intercessours for the guiltles innoceÌ„t or fauourable Iudges to the godly For not causeles is their authority credited theÌ„ The power wherof not in staieng but sauing the afflicted they ought display And as that true faith ought by them be defeÌ„ded by the sworde deliuered them of god and the aucthority wherewyth they are from aboue armed and inuested so oughte they race oute all the rootes and sutes of superstition and suffer no delusion of Idolatry creepe into the Churche Nor must they vnsheath the sworde of theyr authoritye agaynste the good and guyltles But all the dreade and ferrour of theyr power ought they redouble and reuiue in restraining and tormentinge the wycked Nor muste they raise the bristles of theyr seuerity and sharpnes against the godly who in life sound opinions sue christ but shoote them at that wicked mischeuous persoÌ„s Nothing more noble then power if it meete with mercy and equytie Heinous of it selfe it is to staye a man More hainous if for erroure of iudgment not of frowarde wyll Most haynous wycked and iniuryous to disturbe from life no erronious but wel minded member Much were it to be lamented if that estate that oughte to bee a safe Baye and refuge for the godly should be the plage and butchery of the good But as oft as I consyder the frailty of maÌ„s nature and the slippery state of Nobilytie as ofte as I renewe the memory of later yeares so oft thinke I it may happe that the Nobles may fall with the people yea ofte I see they who most should staÌ„d not aye stoutest with the trueth nor vndertake that patronage of eche rightful cause but worshyp false and fayned superstitions and commaund theÌ„ to be reuerenced of others wherwith also I remember that euery excellentest nation and most noble personage were not only more superstitious and seuere in mayntenance thereof then the rest but euen more sharpe and fower Who more auncient then the Egyptians who more Noble Againe who more superstititous Who more cruell Whose myndes were so muche infected with the errours of Idolatry that if any vnwyttinge had harmed the fowle Ibis the poysonful serpent Aspis a Cat dogge or Crocodyle the same were alwayes most seuerely and rygorously punyshed by the lawes Thathenians in all mens iudgementes the Princes of Grece reuerenced with theyr prophane honor not onely Minerua Neptune and theyr house gods but Protagoras for he seemed somewhat to doubte of them forthwith banyshed Socrates for he denied their godhead condemned to die Like was the impietie and no lesse rigour gor in punishement of the Romaines on the behalfe of theyr great God Iupiter of the Capitoll and theyr other mammeties For when Chryst dead was commended vnto them and proposed to be canonised emonges the rable of theyr Goddes and Tiberius the Emperour had set him in his closet coÌ„maunding theÌ„ to worship him the Romaines by a counter decree of the Senate withstoode it And what they graunted filthiest Idolles vncleanest spirytes that they though most politike sage noble men denied the true liuing god and onely sauiour Beware Nobilitye therfore what they decree in their parliamentes and assemblies What religion they establishe what they condemne For after the Romaine Senate thus denied Christe nor would admit him either god or guide what moÌ„sters raignes ensued What slaughters of Senatours vnder Nero What sighes and sobbings of the people What miseries felt they what gulfes of calamities swalowed the caytifes their Emperours wasting them with tiranny the barbarous nacions spoyling theÌ„ and lastlye the Gotbâ—s Vandales frettinge al thinges to vtter ruine And euer since gan the maiesty of the Romain empyre decline wane The wicked Synagoge â—f the Iewes reiected Christ and feared the Romaines more then God Whos 's fauour and frendshippe they thought to purchace in crucifieng Christe But what they feared not long after hapned For the Romaines after the deathe of Ghrist besteging them rased the temple of Hierusalem pasted spoiled traÌ„slated all thingâ—â— So they that draâ—ie Christ to the crosse found other kinges crosses scourges to theÌ„ Let Nobility therfore which in al thiÌ„ges chalegeth lordshippe ruleth al asseÌ„blyes prouide it offend not God the father if eyther dissembling it deny Christ his sonne or stubbornelye withstande him or condemne Christs quicke liuely members to fyer and faggot This to beleue is the part of true pietie This to coÌ„fesse and for the same to suffer the charge of constancie This to defeÌ„d and withstand the contrary the dutie of perfect Nobility And thus of the duties concerning god and religion be it
duties thereof That it may casely appeare by what vertues it is kyndeled by what vices quenched Truly thus I perswade my selfe Nobilitye is farre greater then manye conteyue of it And the callyng heauenly but hard The honour lightsome but the burthen heauye And to vaunt and professe him selfe others superiour and better of all others the moste massye charge Nor place I the honour of Nobilitye in those thynges whyche so the commen people honoureth hawkynge huntynge hastines mightye power vayne vauntes traynes of horse and seruauntes ryot myschyefes brauerye roystynge porte or great lyne For these are partly fonde partelye frayle partly filthye and abhominable But thys accompte I the surest sygne and token of Nobilitye howe muche men passe beastes so muche the Nobles to excell the rest and by all the degrees and stayers of vertue to clyme and scale the steepe â—lyeue of Nobilitye For so nor shall cowardry amate the chaungelynge courages nor stayne of lyfe clypse or blemyshe wyth infamye the bryghtnes of theyr byrth But they shall playnelye proue theym selues descended of that reuerende auncient and Goddishe race whyche for the excellencye of her vertue and manye merites of mankynde is deemed to haue had heauenlye byrth and glyded from the skyes and as the Sauiour and preseruer of mankynd is honoured with the tunges and pennes of all men These are the true prooues the Noblest Petygrees and surest oruamentes and armes of an auncient stocke To conclude I thus defyne it The hawtiest worthiest and honourablest Nobilitye is that whyche with the renoume and fame of auncestrye hath coupled excellent Chrystyan and farre spred vertue Whereby both ciuile societyes are maynteyned and the commen life of man supported Wherein the profitable bloomes of Vertue approoue theyr roote With these sparkes of true prayse and Vertue enflamed our Nobilitye striueth with it selfe And treadynge the steppes and pathes of her auncestoures fyndeth the entry open onely by two steaites Namely the commendation of Justice and religion By Justice the commen wealth is gouerned by religion the churche is sowdred Justice with ryght eye beholdeth eche cause with euen care listneth them wyth straighte foote wadeth to the indifferencye of ryghte with vncorrupte and vpryght heart trulye weigheth them Nor euer is spotted wyth dregges of couetyse or by ambicious lust of rule bearyng wryed from ryght iudgement The nursers of religion are Kynges and Princes Her nurses Queenes As heauenly teacheth the euangelicall prophete Esay But for euerye man can not hereto reache two aydes are requisite Fyrst wysedome and learnyng Where withoute what kingedome what state what Citye what household may stand Naye who maye limite him selfe lawes of lyfe eyther greenelye or nothing nousled in knoweledge of heauenly diuinity or humaine philosophy The truthe whereof the Paganes learne vs. Who seyng the vnlearned blundred as crowes in the mist confounding and disorderynge all thinges and contrarye wyse wysedome fyned by knowledge shoane and cleared all mystes aduysed to ioyne to them selues teachers or philosophers as guydes and moderatours of theyr whole lyues As Achilles Chyron Agamemnon Hector Hector Polidamas as witnesseth Homere And Vlisses we reade in the Odissees accompanied with Minerua entred and departed Cyclops caue dronke vnchaunted Circes cuppe herd but approched not the Syrenes temptynge songes trauayled to but abode not wyth the Lotophagi scaped vndrowned Silla People that feed onely on the tree Lotos to conclude sayled to hell but retourned safe What nede I mention Cicero Who ioyned to him Molo and many moe What Augustus Who had Athenodorus What Alexander Who had Aristoteles Sith it is euydente yea Tyrans had teachers Dionisius Plato Hiero of Siracuse Simonides Policrates Anacreon and Nero the monster of the whole earth held with him a while Seneca The other parte is the stomake and stoutenes of a hygh and hawtye courage For as learnyng sheweth howe iustly and godly to do so this refuseth no trauayle no peryll no torment runneth into fyer on weapons pointes ventreth and beareth with a pryncelye courage all hasards of life and limme rather then suffer the duties we haue reckened lye stayned or forsaken This iudge I most noble Queene the true vnfayned the bryghte and cleare not smoakye and shaded Nobilitye Whiche is iust louinge to religion and studious of learnyng And herewythal stout and wyth a royall readynes inflamed to action But O immortall God would we but in thought ouerrunne all realmes how fewe fynde we furnished with these vertues Naye rather howe many blemishd with contrary vices and mischieues Howe fewe Aristides in Justice Dauids or Josias in religion But howe manye tyrauntes oppressours brybe mongers and rauenours of the people Howe many fettred and lymed with supersticions or ignorant dysiemblers or persecutours of the trueth How few learned Maiestrates to whome notwithstandynge is credited power of lyfe and death To whom is permitted to draw vnsheath the sword of authority on al men To waste all as well holy as prophane with fyre and flame Howe many who not onely not guerdon learning and the learned but euen hate spyte and condemne them Howe fewe of them stoute warriours in Christes cause whom it behooued to haue bene his souldyours yea champions They who receyue of him all thinges yea more aboundantlye then the rest euen they for a matter of nothynge a goates fleese or an ashes shade for then heritaunce of a litle burroughe or lande what warres wage they not What hasards venter not Howe ofte spende they lyfe Howe ofte theyr bloud But the same for religion for defence of theyr heade scarse hasarde one fynger no not one farthynge Wherefore to suche ought this exhortacion worthelye profitablye and necessarilye be applyed to moue them to ioyne and purchase aunciente Noblesse to this theyr newe gentrye that all maye wyth one honest and commendable emulacion be enflamed to one selfe desyre and lyke contencion and stryfe towardes Vertue I accompte it truly my labour worthe that though grossely I atteÌ„pted to describe the ryghte pathe to Nobilitye Syth of it whatsoeuer eyther felicitye or calamitye is in our present state seemeth to issue But that my talke maye purchace better credyte and wynne greater authoritye I haue coupled to me as a companion and felow Theseus in my trauayle the excellent treatyse of Philo a Iewe. Whom playnely for the vse of studious noble young gentlemeÌ„ I translated out of Greeke into Latyne That iointly with the knoweledge of the tounge they maye drynke godlynes Thus heare you most noble Queene what I treate You haue also heard what chyefelye moued me to it But though neyther to Englande nor our Nobilitye namelye my talke be referred but generallye the cause it selfe debated god helpyng to profyte al yet after the custome and wonte of wryters meante I to flye to some ones protectioÌ„ vnder shadow of whose defence I mought arrest my selfe And therfore chyefelye to you my Queene and pryncesse thought my selfe bounden to offer this symple sygnyfyeng of my obseruaunce and duetye
ouer so manye prouinces For who doubtes but in setling these in so many realmes kingdomes he sought his owne honour prepared him selfe a meane to maynteyne stablishe his vsurâ—ed dignitie Truly not altogether the best prouided their parentes for their owne honour much lesse for the churche who stoared with plenteous abundanÌ„t issue their yongest either banishd into cloisters as Abbottes or Abbesses to rule that Conents or procured to be created Chations or Bishops Bishops I saye not to ouersee their flocke but to forese theyr priuate gayne So as they become the lordes of their bodies not feeders of theyr soules Which for it is vngod lye oughte greatly of the godly to be plained For hit is wisked ought by that magistrates to be punished But I can neyther disgrade theÌ„ of the name nâ—r title of Nobilitye But by what title clayme or rightfull interest they sue to be registred in this rewe of Nobles which here I searche truly I see not For albeit the maner and phrase of commen speache hath otherwyse determined yet â–ª if more we credite the authority of sound learning then vicious custome or the truthe then vanitie and the termes of the rude ignoraunt people of necessitye we must eyther iudge them belyed priestes or sclasidred Nobles For if abandoning the world and their birth right they fled to the church in that station and calling must they abide For one sole man must vse one onely callyng And the first right surrendred to late it is to reclayme Both at once they can not be Syth God and Mammon seruice and lordshippe are no lesse contrary then fyer and water Neyther well gouerneth he a spirituall charge who entermedleth wyth the woâ—lde And therfore is it in some commâ—n wealthes decreed that none shall beare at once two offices or practise two sundrye craftes For eche dutye claymeth not the halfe but the whole man Except perhaps they wil be like those Serpentes whyche are sayde to be double headed and tayled For so are these double faced and chaungelinges sometime for auantage ecclesiasticals otherwhiles Nobles as meÌ„ of al degrees sortes For to such not vnworthely Erasmus resembled them But by their pacience this state as euel opinioÌ„ as false ought be rooted When the Apostles stroue for lordship wheÌ„ the .ii. brethren sued for the right lest place in the kingdome of heauen our sauiour otherway wried their ambitious lustes and earthly mindes Nor grauÌ„ted what they fondly craued nor flatly denyed theyr â—est But seemed in maner to yeld yet in yelding to roote out the affeâ—tâ—oÌ„ For expressely he forbids to practise lordship or dominion affirming it to belong to heatheÌ„ princes Also the deuiue Peter whose vicar the Romaine bishop hath lately found him selfe opened these a more honourable gappe in his epistle in no wise wil that Pastours or byshoppes rule ouer their flock Yf the Apostles refused to serue the lordes Table the better to enteÌ„d preaching and posted this as a great let and hinderance to others yf Paule whollye to applye the preaching of the gospel in maner forsooke the ministracioÌ„ of baptisme wher yet those offices are sibbe in maner ioynt truly these most repugnat charges wherof eyther chalengeth occupieth the whole man with what bond they may be coupled or how two such contraries maye be applyed to one none I thinke may easely ymagyne Or yf he conceyue shall not so easelye confyrme Neyther by any indifferent lawe oughte one selfe member be a thrall of Iesus Christe and a worldelye lord a teacher and preacher of God retainer of the world Nay rather suche a compouÌ„d creature is neither-simply to be termed a noble man nor simplye a priest Put to speake truly indifferentlye is a neuter and mongrell ye wil happely saye then shall the bishop or minister be so cloggd to preachyng of the Ghospell as he maye entende nought els Trulye I denye not they maye also entermedle with some forreyne affayres as Moses and Ambrose to determine doubtfull controuersyes sometimes trauayle in embassyes purchace peace ayde theyr Princes with theyr couÌ„sayles frequeÌ„t iudgemeÌ„ts But these seeld happeÌ„ are no necessarye burthens But to preache proclaime that newe couenant is their proper appointed charge And woe to theÌ„ if they preach not They chalenge also benefices in maner by title for their auncestours gaue theÌ„ But other was the mind other the entent of the geuers Namely that feruent praiers should incessaÌ„tly flame â–ª religioÌ„ spread that kingdome gospel of Christ be enlarged To other end if they tended il fouÌ„ded giftes wil fayle And so the geuers mocked of their rewarde What so they willd thus hath God decreed And albeit this ecclesiasticall nobility ground on Popes patentes whereby both entry is forclosed the poore to yâ— highest Ecclesiasticall degrees and noble desceÌ„t required of either pareÌ„t all theyr auncestours of suche as shall attaine them yet sith they haue neyther godlines nor learninge their pledges or warrantes Vnworthye are they of this aucthoritie all were they able to vouche infinite descents and petigrees of their race and those confirme as they wont with their sacred othe Why then they will happely aske mee may not a noble man take charge of soules and preache What els if when he beareth the simple person of a preacher he disgrade him selfe of the honour and pride of his Nobillitie For they ought not bee debarde that kind of life if faithfully they wil discharge their charge But of ghosts shades and Images my talke entreateth that deuoure the Church goodes Who accompte it vilanous to learne vile to teach Such Archebishops Archepryestes or Archecourtiers wee remoue from this rewe of Nobles as counter faites and Newters For as Moyles engendred twirre a Horse and Asse are neither Horsse nor Asse but a mixt and myngled kynde euen so are these As begotten not of men but Goddes who not onely descended of aunciente house but also imitate the aunciente meane and maner of life As sayeth in Virgyle Dido of Aneas I thinke and not amisse he is Impe of Gods For the childe is the fathers Image and in maner him selfe if as in body so in minde hee endeuour to resemble him Neither is the phrase straunge in the Scriptures to terme Maiestrates and Nobles gods and Sonnes of the highest We ought also to prise auncientie sith god for Abraham Dauid and theyr fathers shewed mercy to theyr Children as appeareth euydently in the bible And ofte we loue the Child as the fathers mirrour But so muche the more if many his auncestoure continued the selfe possessioÌ„ of praise with continued worthines Wherefore some force to prouoke loue bathe the aged memory of wel deserued parents Nobilitie also hath her seuerall ages encreases and degrees Wherfore as we reuerence age so sith this springeth spireth prospereth and buddeth hauinge her blossoms as youth and ripenes as hoare beares truly we ought and wonte all to honour this
how hee might be honest who hauing nought by discente possessed so many mens substaÌ„ce For hardly proue they good who sodainly proue riche Record of Plato in the fifth boke of his lawes which Salomon also of al kings the wisest proueth Saieng hasty enheritance at first is neuer fortunate at laste An other dysease eke haue these new nobles Namely pride and vaine boast whiles they loke not wheÌ„ce thes rose but what their coffers bourd MeÌ„ say Bucephalus yâ— stede of Alexander the greate vnsadled vnharnessed would suffer his keeper to sitte him but once furnished with his princely bosses and trappers abyde none but they kynge hym selfe snuffinge and snortinge at all others So is it wyth these new found nobles Then whom poore and base none more modest peasable or crouchinge but once enriched whom late they honored forthwith dysdayne and spurne Suche is the chaunge of theyr minde with fortune as hee were not hee who late he was But let them loke to it I accuse them not of pleasure How be it he accuseth not Nobilitie who seuerely entreateth the euyl to procure theyr amendemente Nor speaketh hee alwayes yll who telleth the trueth though freely It wyl bee worth theyr trauayle bothe agayne and agayne to beholde from what puddell they sprynge For so God chasteneth Saule vpbrayding him his late basenes and mysery Wast thou not ê™ he anoynted Kinge ouer all the tribes of Israell when thou waste but simple euen in thine owne sighte and thus lykewyse to Dauid whome entierly hee loued From the sheepefoldes toke I thee to be prince of the people Let such therfore as are dronken and reele with the meathe of newe honour and forget the dungehil whence by God they were raysed to the type of honour cal to minde theyr fathers coate and first homely cradles and not be ashamed of the basenes of theyr natyue byrthe If by theyr owne vertue and commendation of wisedoms they attaynde to this higher room as many at this day both singulerly learned and guyltles and sincere in life then are they truly most honourable and worthy a higher state But if eyther by force as lyons or fraude as foxes basest and obscurest misers be enriched by others goodes I le speake noughte bitterlye of theym onelye this I saye as they quickely climed through others wrack and misery so shall they stoope or rather totter as spedelye Marius the tyranne grewe to suche pride that he forgat he had bene a smith But mark the ende of his sodayne glorye In one daye made Emperoure the nexte he seemd to raygne the thyrde he was slaine of his owne souldiour with the sword him selfe forged Loath I were to boade vnluckly to the Nobles of our dayes but this I wyshe they would ofte and earnestlye consider whence they rose and howe what way what passage they hewed theym selues to Nobilitye Cicero in his oracion for Roscius complayneth that vnder the conquest and empyre of Silla the best Oratours and chosen counsayloures slayne and beggered arose a familye called Grucii whote accusers as after Cannas fyeld And likewyse the Capitons Chrisogons courtyers of Silla thirsting others goodes and lyues waxd sodainely myghtye and triumphed ouer the riches possessions of noblest counsayloures Who coueit to knowe what late happd in Naples Millan and other realines coÌ„sulting Chronicles nothing domme therin and listning tatling fame eche where pratlinge of it shal learne that BaroÌ„s Erles besides others worshipfull were fined partly w e the losse of life partly w e banishmeÌ„t That straunge ghests succeded or rather roiâ—ted into the auncieÌ„tst possessios and families of the true owners Truly this plentiful fruiteful haruest of Sillas tyine was neither at Roome nor then onely But is at al such times wheres as priuate men coÌ„demne nobles in losse of life exile or fine of goodes to enter them selues on their possessions When new come ghests displace the old inhabiitants wheÌ„ eyther circumuent other when they coine theÌ„ selues heires by forged testaments or by fraud for smal value wrye to them selues thenheritance of theyr naked neyghboure or begge wardes of the prynce to ryfle the poore Orphanes or by any like wycked meanes by others wracke enriche them selues Newe shiftes and polecies haue the Nobles of these dayes vnknowen to the elders First to rake to theÌ„ reuenues of benefices wherin though the name of ministery they neither beare nor coueit Beneficed not beneficial Gentlemen yet reape they the greatest part of the profites Bestowing on the toylinge sweating swinkiÌ„g minister the smaâ— lest parte porcioÌ„ Of which sorte the to many such be haue ben euen yâ— blind see and such as be in authority ought see reformed That euerye man haue wyth his labour his hire his guerdoÌ„ with his charge Abâ—eye Gentles Like is their risinge who in the rasynge of monasteryes sought not the commen but theyr priuate commoditye Whereby manye first became and were termed gentlemen to whom afore neyther that worshipfull name nor so large possessions were imparted Whych neuerthelas were they good men franke housekepers liberal louers and mainteiners of true religion staynde by the olde Tenants both them selues should be lesse enuied and others lesse iniuryed and their newe possession more excusable The third sorte is of Courtiers retaynens and such like Who by the preferment of their lordes or Prynces gyftes â—erâ—aÌ„uts presented or worshipful mariages clime to this crowne of worshippe whiche also Cicero coÌ„playnd vnder the blondy varte of Silla and Cesar When at the 〈◊〉 of Noble mens secâ—â—â—â—tes â–ª good â—â—â—s goodes and â—â—â—â—annres 〈◊〉 ryfled Albeit herein also our couâ—ryers passe them in sleight For they only in that calamity were honoured with such prayes and spoyles But these thinke it continuallye lawefull by flattertuge theyr lordes and hanging on the chiefest counsayloures to watche theyr commodity and oportunitye To catche the farme or lease they coueyte though with the iniurye of some poore wretche aged creple widowe or orphane wherof the folly resteth in Sillas and Cesars and such as suffer them selues to be flattered and corrupted to wrest from the ryghte owners by their authorityes and commaundementes honours and possessions to bestowe commenly on the vnworthiest Which Budee writynge on the Pandectes compleyneth of â— â—auâ—ce hys countrey being mayster of the requests borne in Parise of a noble house and honorable parentes howe bee if Nobler for hys learnynge then hys honour Whiche I am not here â—greâ—ed to wryte for that mischiefe farre spreadeth and extendeth to many persons and places That both they may be condemnd by the authority of so honourable person and ashamed of so iust complaynt and by wysedome and councel renoked to a better mind By Ciceros minde ê™ he the chiefest courtiers in maner Princes eyes and eares and euen of their priuye counsel in preferringe vnfeete men enâ—talling lorelles in chiefest benefices highest officer other pryses of vertue iustice freating thereat seeme to haue seared their names with
and empouerysheth the lordes of the land so as they neither plaÌ„t nor sowe nor theyr stocke spreadeth who withereth them with his breath causeth the wherlwynde to tosse them as strawe And albeit fooles and doltes as Dauid termeth them seke to leaue their children infinite substaunce and to roote theyr seates and memory for euer and name whole lands after them yet shal they not longe last in price and honor But theyr beauty wither theyr buildinges molte them selues rott like dienge beastes Yea truly all can they vouche infinite auncestours grandsyers possesse they whole myllyons of Coyne add hereto be they beautifyed with vertues and furnyshed wyth all those partes of Nobilitie whiche erste wee mencioned but they ioyne hereto Iesus Christ the piller crest and perfection of al Nobillty nought worth are all these whiche moste are prysed and accompted moste precious Be thou auncienter then Adam stronger then Sampson wyser rycher and more learned then Salomon more vprighte then Abraham Haue thou moste Noble and vertuous auncestours possesse thou all goods purchase thou all vertues be skylful in al thynges be thou Noblest beste hyghest and learnedst yet not but in Chryste onely mayest thou bee termed Noble yet shalt thou remaine anvnprofitable seruant For wyth God is no accompte or respecte eyther of stocke honoure or person eyther of deserte or dignytie but throughe Christe Iesus For ye see For ye see brethren sayeth Paule ye are calld not many wyse as to the fleash not many mightie not many Noble But god chose the foolishe of the worlde to shame the wyse the weakest to confounde the myghtie and basest and moste contemptuous and suche as were not to abolyshe the thynges that are That no flesh might glory in his sighte Albeit who clensed Naaman the Sirian the generall of hys Prynces armie and counsailour of greatest authoritie with his lorde as witnesseth the holy ghost in the second chapter of the fift of the kynges taught hym to professe his true confession and not reiected him who cald the Noble chamberlaine of Candace Queene of Ethiope treasurer of all hir Iewels to acknowledge his trueth wyll also admit Nobles if first they seeme to them selues vnnoble so they folow Christ the prince and spring of al Nobility Who being in forme of God thought no robbery his equalitie with god But so farre humbled him self that taking on hym a seruile forme hee became lyke men and in shape a man So lowe abiected hym selfe that hee was obedient euen to death yea the death of the crosse as we reade in the second Chapter to the Philippians But that this may more plainly appeare and the Nobles vnderstaÌ„d how they ought folow christ let them a while with me recount his high humilitie and noble basenes Far different is his and the worlds Nobilytie Christes Nobility As neare as the East and West the heauen earth For of how base how infamous line good God as to hys manhoade descended hee Not of the aunciente Monarches of Assiria Persia Greece but of the scorned Iewes Abraham Isaac Iacob shepheardes Not of Queenes or Coye Ladyes but of Thamar Ruth Rachel either strangers or harlots And in clothinge hys godheade with fleshe would not be fathered of August then Emperour or any other Monarche but chose Ioseph the carpenter his Father Mary an humble Mayde hâ—s Mother Not at Hierusalem but in Bethlem was hee borne Nor laye in princely downe or proude Palayce but in maunger swathed with bratts Nor wente hee garded with greate trayne of Seruaunts but picked oute his Disciples Fishermen and Publicanes to whome as Seruaunt hee serued Nor haunted he the scornefull Courts but more beggerly then Birdes or Fores had neyther benne nor neast to couche hys heade Nor roade he on moile but asse accompanyed with no gards but enfants and sucklinges cryenge Hosanna and the lame blynde and deaffe limpinge after Nor fared he sumptuouslye but fasted in the desert thirsted hongred Nor bare he armes but pryntes of nayles woundes whiplashes and the crosse which for our sake he bare He rose as witnesseth Esaye as a sprygge or roote out of a drye thirstye ground where in is neyther shape nor seemelynesse the worldes scorne a soppe of sorowe a pacient of all infirmityes bearer of our grieues a simple sheepe ledde to slaughter and dombe lambe not bleatyng before the shearers And yet his Genealogye who maye blase Blush not for I propose ye this Chryst as paterne Blushe not though noble to humble your selues as base thoughe ryche to be poore in spyryte thoughe somewhat to accompt oure selues as nothynge But by his president laye of your pryde your stomacke your plumes Prostrate your selues and youres at his feete Submitte your Nobilitye maces Scepters and armes to hym Nothynge weygh your discents your petigrees though fette from farthest auncientye Fleshe Bloud Circumcision and forreyne happes what other are they in respect of this Nobilitye then rubby she as Paule termeth them Condemneth he not the auncienties and Genealogies of the Iewes Reiecteth he not the carnall sonnes of Abraham when the Iewes boasted Abraham theyr father For this Nobilitye is carnall mannyshe durtye sadinge incertayne whyche God can euen of stones rayse Be not then ashamed of this his leadyng Blushe not of Chryste whome god hath nowe aduaunced with highest honour and geuen a name aboue all names euen Iesu whereto al knees howe as well heauenlye earthlye as vnder the earth He once inglorious nowe glorifyed wyll heaue ye to the selfe same glorye He humble wyll rayse ye hyghe He poore will enryche ye He vnnoble will make ye moste noble Nor wyl he reeue the Nobility ye haue but geue ye grace to vse it Then this Nobility nothyng nobler Nor ought more honourable then he whoe borne to God regenerate in Chryste stampynge forreine pomye reposeth hym selfe in this heauenlye and Chrystyan Gentrye who is begotten not of bloude not of the wyll of fleshe or man Of this father thys brother these auncestoures who so is borne is both moste happelye and trulye Noble Gloryenge not in him selfe but God For he nor stayneth nor blemysheth but honoureth his parentes Nor leaneth onelye on theyr shadowe but to the prayses receyued of his aun cestoures addeth his owne and heapeth theyr gyftes wyth hys worthelye reuerenceth vertue yea more then the meaner sorte for he is Nobler Yet contemneth nobilitye honoures yea his vertues good deedes and deemeth hymâ— selfe aboundantlye honoured in Chryste not nobled or bettred by them Neuertheles stantelye and wyth Gentylmanly courage marcheth forwardes in good workes and trauayleth in excellent actions prepared of God for euery man accordynge to to his dignityâ— power and offyce to waine in But what der des and dutyes pertayne to Noble men we wyll nowe perticulerlye describe so farre forth as our lord Chryst the mayster of all truthe and teacher of al knowledge hath reuealed vnto vs. Wherby they may attaine to the siluer rouÌ„t of glorye whych floweth from God and
hitherto spoken Some duties also as erst I sayd they owe others and some respect must be had to the commen societie and generall corporacion of mankinde But albeit no mans safetie or commoditye oughte be neglected but all duties emploied on all men that all maye be wonne to Christe and God yet shall it be our laboure worth to determine what duties with whoÌ„ chiefely they ought coÌ„municate So muche at least as shall seeme in eche respect to this sort of men our purpose necessary Generallye in deede precepts maye be geuen the they do not to other what they nould feele them selues To loue their neighbours as them selues But these are appliable to al partes ef life and to al indifferently And spreade to largely through al degrees duties We wil note a fewe which chiefelye Nobilitye ought practise and vse towardes speciall sortes of men The first therfore they owe to God the next to theyr countrey Piety towarde their couÌ„trey For this is a reuerence and louing zeale grafted in eche gentle courage to wythe and wyl hit all good blisse and fortune Which is the common parent nurse and preserâ—er of all men Which pietie worthely honored the Romaines as a goddesse as it which contayneth all charities â—â—â—â—s and frendships The lawe of God commaundeth to reuerence our parentes Whereby we entend not onelye reuerence due to those of whom we are borne but also that we are datters of many dutyes to our countrey which contaynes our parentes kinsfolkes frendes and familiers Wherfore sith it willeth theym to reuerence the firste it is consequente of necessity they honour the last whyche nurseth and cherisheth theÌ„ all in her lappe and armes Nor swarueth this affection from the meanyng and maiestye of the Scriptures Syth euen Paule wryteth he is vexed wyth great gryefe and incessant torment yea and wisheth to be accursed for his brethreÌ„ kynsemen and countreymen the Iewes to whome he was linkd onely by the bond of the fleshe and zeale of his naturall soyle and countrey But as al men are enforced by natural inclinacion to loue theyr countreye wherein they were borne and bredde so chyefely the Nobles who receiue more ample and large benefites of the fruytefulnes and bountye of the soyle then the commen sorte To whom moreouer they owe that bothe they be and are termed Nobles For in forren realmes that home noblesse is eyther vnknowen or not so hyghly prysed For truly within theyr owne territories and the limites of their countrey is the whole ornament of theyr Nobilitye bounded But these may profyte singulerlye yea farre more then the commen sorte Both quyete peace flourishynge and warlyke in warfare In peace if all theyr polecyes perswade not warre but peace yf they garnishe the same with counsayle wysedome and good ordinaunces yf all theyr laboures and sweates tende to the profyte of theyr countrey if they applye theyr endeuoure experyence and practise to the gouernement of the commen wealth yf they be disposed to ciuile societye and meete to continue amiable companye emonges men yf they can snaffle and brydle the lawelesse people yf they respecte not their owne but the commen commoditye if they quenche the flames of ciuyle warres not with armes but wisedome and counsaile if they reuiue sleapyng lawes if they settle iudgement if thinges decated and much misordred they sowder by lawe if they procure to spreade through all their regions christian religioÌ„ yf they referre wholy theÌ„ selues al their doings to the glory of god the coÌ„moditye of their commens the safetie ornament of theyr countrey and increase of theyr prynces honour Of warre what to councel I am not sufficieÌ„tly adusted For neuer gladly blowe I the warre blaste For the rage of 〈◊〉 and wrath of battell hurtful to all men vtterly disswadeth me to thinke almost any warre iust emonges christiaÌ„s They must warre with vices with ambicion with selfe loue and be at defyance wyth pryde Which sorte of warre is both christiaÌ„ and bloudlesse In this combat ought they fight euen to the knees in bloud For the conqueroures wherein is reserued in heauen an assured incorruptible crowne But mans yea christiaÌ„s bloud to sheade not euer for iuste and weighty cause and while princes play as they say for balles or howesoeuer they raue to plague the poore coÌ„meÌ„s repugneth with nature reasoÌ„ humanity wisedome diuine yea ciuile lawes Let such therfore as tender their couÌ„trey are of authority with princes perswade yea vneuen peace to disswade warre the vtter subuersion of all vertues the seede roote of al vices But it for mans sinnes such times happen that it please god with that plague to reclayme and chasten his whorynge roaming people remember they as whylome Pollux sayde to Commodus the emperour to be warrionrs not warre louers wise not willig captaines For this warlike practise florished alwaies chiefelye emonge those who were beset with enemies But euery coaste is fraught with foes Hereby the Romaines lengthned the boundes and limits of their empyre euen to this our Britaine Hereto were the Lacedemoniâ—s to prone euen plain warre cockes borne either to bidd or take battell Of them therfore manye abounded with warlyke praise yea guerdons prices and tryumphes were adiudged the valtaunt Hence the oken grasse wal citie and golden crownes Hence the prefermeÌ„t to degrees hence the many surnames hence their armes I mages pensions of the commentreasure hence the division of landetas to Cesars old souldiours the field Stellas to Sillas Velaterrane and Auentine and to others other Hence sprong in times past the name of knightes kept yet in England and otherwhere Hence almost al Nobility rose grewe as in touching the original therof we shewed tofore To thys labour namelye the practises of peace warfare I exhorted the nobles somewhat aboue when I touched they ought not saint forslowe their eutye in ydlenesse For worthely is Sardanapalus scorned as a rascal esseminat wo maÌ„ly king Who chose rather amoÌ„gs womeÌ„ to handle the distaffe spyndle then to weld weapon with men Agaynst whome when his lieuetenants Belochus and Arbaces made insurrection he with his womannishe trayne scarce she wynge his face in syelde filthylye fled And vnderstandynge the losse of the fielde threwe both him selfe and his a mids the tier Bringe therefore Noble men to the common welthe warlyke skill and Courage whyche teasd they may vtter agaynste theyr enemyes the Turkes and other infidels For sith hindes til the grounde Craftsemen cleaue to theyr craftes Preachers warde Churches with the spirituall sworde against the assaults of Sathan the Nobles muste in the shadow of their palaices and in peace practise and ponder these duties ere they leaue theyr walls and take the fielde whole laboure theyr countrey more properly challengeth thinketh both more commodious and necessary for her Nor vnworthely For they releassed of bodely trauayle weare not hand crafts greatlye and sythe they maye well spare them selues this leasure maye labour in these