and the eies of his purest seruaunts folow stolne venerye and facts not in deede onelye but euen in talke stinkinge Nicocles in Isocrates thoughe a Kynge though a Paynim teperately passed his vnstayned life And bosteth hee neuer knewe other then hys owne wyfe teaching hys subiectes by hys presydent to lyue a lyke But what in these dayes is done by those who fill the highest honoures and empyres so god saue me my talk blusheth to tell And I forbeare to launce godly eares with the filthines of the talke such dedes requyre But thappeachers thereof are the Sunne and Moone the heauen earth Nor lyeth ought couered to the great offence of the weake the Ieweâ— and Turkes seyng suche crimes commen emonges those that beare the name of Christ and professe his ghospell And with such especially as seeme are accounted Christianest Who should be to others both theyr countreymen and forreyners presidents of perfectâ—t continence This licence ought be restrayned euen in the highest Dionisius kynge of Sicâ—le vnderstandinge hys sonne had forced the wyfe of one his subiecte in great rage asked him yf euer he learned that touche of his fatherâ— To whom the prynce replyed Your father syr was not a kyng So princely seemd it to this gentleman to haunt whoredome But hereto what reioyned the father Nor shalt thou truly if euer thou double this deede haue sonne Threatning him death if euer he incurred like crime Yf a wicked tyranne wonlde not suffer so haynous cryme vnpunished in hys sonne What shal we thinke it lawefull for Noble men quite I saye not to rauishe others but diuorce theyr owne wiues commendable for good name beautye and dowrie to be double yea treble maried at once To wed theyr brothers wyues To abuse their true wiues as harlotts and vse harlottes as wiues But sith in my fyrst entry I promised to vse gentlenes in chiding chastitie in talke albeit the borrour of the fact require vengeance not onely with nippinge wordes but seuere rigoure Yet wyll I staye my selfe nor chaffe in talke sith here I meane to geue enstructions not amplify abuses But this caÌ„ I not dissemble Whoremongers and adulterers god will iudge And that otherwhere hereto Paule ioyneth No adulterer shal enter the kyngdome of which sounded warre he much honored Which wel may we extend to all iestes tryfles wanton light toyes But by these fewe had I rather the rest were conceyued then with muche talke to breede lothsomnes or offence to the reader Agaynst excesse and ouermuch magnificence Nowe remayneth it we speake of the thyrde parte wherein consisteth the meane of all thinges and comelines it selfe and as it were a certaine honour of life and temperate refrayning ryot and superfluous magnificence What we haue taughte is of thinges fastened and grafted in hym selfe What foloweth toucheth those that are in deede withoute hym but yet belong onelye to him his pryuate house and household In conclusion fyue poyntes oughte here be touched A noble and honourable mans Table apparayle buildinges playes trayne Wherein I wil briefelye note the simplicitye of the auncientes the ryot and excesse of oure Nobles That by the one may appear what is commendable by the other what discommendable and nedeth refourmyng ¶ Of his Table and prouision A Noble mans Table as lawgeuer I decree no thing Nor will I prescribe him any diete of meates and drinkes Which according to his bealth his acquaintance with his body and his owne wit and wisedome he ought limite him selfe For well I wot this estate for the most breedeth sober ciusle and most temperate personages And many Nobles shall you fynde small caters lesse drynkers Farre greater gluttons and quaffers emonges the commen sorte But in the most misse I domestical discipline and blame their excesse Wherein fault maye growe two wayes Eyther in quantitie or qualitye Quantitie meane I when in sumpiuousnes and magnificence they exceed meane For it happeth manye times they feede not so muche theyr bellyes as eyes And albeit them selues modestlye vse it yet so greate furniture is there such store of dainties as would not onely suffise the ghestes but euen cloye anye Hercules herdes of wolues for our neede but pleasure But what so is superfluous is lothsome and vnsauerye and looseth all the sweete in enioyeng For neither take they meat to staye their harkinge stomackes or to appease theyr hongers rage nor feele they therein any pleasure The emperour Pertinax had nine pouÌ„d of fleshe scrued in at 3. seueral courses But nowe what shewe of dishes what store of seruices Nor nowe 9. but a hundred poundes and more are serued to a small nomber I say not in kinges or emperours courtes but euery lordes house In times past as Plinye witnesseth they kepte in theyr housen no cookes but hyred theym from the shambles Nowe 5.6.7.10 suffise not to bye furnishe scald seeth rosle bake stewe mynse and sawse so infinite sortes of dyshes Nor yet contenteth it some daintye mouthes but they haue forren and straunge cates We read that Romulus was a very sober and spare prince And afore I mencioned Epaminundas would be sober in others dronkennes For howe infamous is it anye where to fynde a Noble man a bibber But dronken or dronkerd most villaynous Wherfore the quaffing of the dutche Nobilitye is presently haled through al realmes And for there are found some sturdye cospottes theyr blame turneth to the infamy of the whole nacion As some also terme Englishmen gluttons not for they rauen fo muche for they are for the most as spare feeders as any But for they prepare so muche and with such plentie and variety of meates and sumptuons furniture charge not theÌ„ selues but theyr tables with superfluous dishes And to speake indifferently no where els euer sawe I or heard tables spread with suche excesse all partes so farsed with lauishenes as some Nobles may worthelye compare euen with any Lucullus For that most vnworthy is the very scrappes which might suffise many families feede huge heapes of beggers are lothed not onely of their seruauntes but euen of the boyes and scullerye And that most villainous is not onelye whole beefe and mutton but euen capons and connyes left by seruauntes are cast to houndes and spanielles The meane whyle many Lazares lieng at that dores vnrelieued yea with a cromme of bread Which albeit I presuppose happeth often the maysters vnwitting through the neg linence of their seruauntes yet thus warnet but timelye they abate somewhat of this theyr immoderate excesse they wil abye it most dearely Bothe for they suffer the good giftes of god be spilt and also for throughe theyr defaulte so many needye members of Chryste peryshe wyth famine whyche might be relieued with a bare boane Neyther warne I onelye our Englyshe nacyon but all others who more pryse theyr houndes then the poore for whom Chryst dyed Not onely shall they be called dogges as that Cananite but also in the kyngedome of heauen the
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
towardes you Beseechynge ye thys small volume of Nobles or Nobility maye appeare vnder safeconducte and protection of your name Not for I mynde to teache your Noble maiestye any dutyes of Nobylitye but for whyche is no meane plague through all Chrystendome yf my choyce should chaunce on some other hardlye perhappes could he skyll the latyne phrase So should I chose some such Tutor and patrone to defend my cause as knewe it not But on you and your most victorious brother the kynge your father employed no benefyte eyther greater or Nobler then in procuryng ye to be pâ—olished with all sortes of good artes For howe much rarer so muche welcomer tytle it is trulye to terme a prince trende to the Muses and learnynge Farther meant I at thys present to beseech your hyghenes that for you knowe my fyrst heste and gladlye I hope graunte it you would next chiefely furnishe your court as most paynefullye and pollitikely ye do with men famous for commendacion of Iustice godlynes and learning And studious earnest appliers practisers therof CoÌ„tinue to cheryshe and honour true Nobilitye wherewyth your kingedome swarmeth and nowe youre Courte flourysheth Syth it is the keye of your reygne the lyghte of youre realme and the safest garde of youre person But frome Mockecourtyers and counterfayt Nobles yf any such yet lurke as Augustus Cesar whilome disfraÌ„chised theÌ„ who coulde not vse theyr citye eyther reeue you as vnworthy this priuiledge or at least with Dauyd banyshe your courte forswearers blasphemers money marchaunts and bribe takers Whych is more wyshed for it is gentelest and most commodious for them Which also I despayre not shortly to see Both by your graue counsaylours aduyce and other Nobles and your owne president For as the rulers leade so foloweth and formeth it selfe the rable rest Worthye it is that Plutarche noteth of Dionisius To whom lieng at Siracuse when Plato came whyle he gaue hym selfe to study of philosophye al the court was sprent wyth dust And euery corner swarmed wyth clusters drawyng Geometricall fygures But after his breache wyth Plato when he forsooke philosophye and fell to women and banketting the other courtyers alyke wyth chaunged moode altered theyr myndes and thoughtes to lyke of wantonnesse of life lyke hate contempt of dust and learnynge This therefore maye be other cause of my geuinge it to youre grace To propose your maiestie paterne of the auncient dignifye Image of tholde honour and piller of true Nobilitye That in a woman Noble men maye finde what to learne what to folowe what to wonder Whether they weygh your vpryghte Iustyce welcome to the good dreadfull to the enemye or the synguler learnynge wherewyth euen to mens mase you are stoared or your feruent zeale loue and furtherynge of religion or your noble and hawtye courage who in greatest tempestes and stormes both a woman and sole weeld and steare most wysely and stoutelye the sterne of so great a kyngdome Whyche hawtynesse of stomake to tonfyrme keepe I see I nede not exhorte you For maye we doubt but who with so synguler prudence so sweete consent of all degrees so quietely and happely restored the churche myserablye and horriblye deformed with erroures supersticions and infinite heapes of Idolatrye to the state of her primitiue purenes the same if yet any dregges remayne anye limpinge or haltyng eyther in ordes or maners wil with al helpe care councell speede prouyde for it withstande it and reforme it For neyther wyl who began this good worke in you not finishe it to whom onelye belongeth to geue princelye mindes to prynces Nor is youre wysedome ignoraunt what you do is Gods worke not your owne His the house yours the buyldynge Wherein nor the feare of few nor murmuryng of many ought withdrawe you from your forward foundacion For his wil it is his temple should be raysed the walles of Hierusalem repayred Our Cirus our anoynted and Chryste willeth what your mightyest father Henrye began youre godlyest brother furthered that you euen you should finishe and accomplyshe Thoughe Foxes barke and howle though Sanbaliet and the Gentyles rulers with al their might and power withstande it The lord of Hoastes he is who byds you buyld men they are that withstand you As in the person of god speaketh Esaye to this effecte I I am he who comforte the. Who then art thou that fearest a mortall or the sonne of man whoe shall become as haye I haue put my wordes in thy mouthe and with the shadowe of my hande shyelded the. That I may plante the heauens and settle the earth that it may be sayde to Syon to Englande my people art thou Wherefore moste humble thankes we yeelde the god of Sabaoth who so hathe armed and assisted youre valyaunte courage in finishynge so perfectlye and boldelye thys his businesse as nor the dartes of enuy haue pearced you nor the shotte of malyce shaken you nor the wyles of your ennemyes snared you nor the enmye campe of Sathan ouerrunne you We greete wel also our christian Nobilitye who prouoked by your pryncelye presydent and enflamed wyth gentilmanlye courage doubted not to folowe the call and authoritye of theyr guyde and Capitayne Yea so to folowe as they blushed not to set to theyr handes to employ theyr councel and trauayle to repayrynge and buyldynge thys heauenly frame Proceede therefore proceed O most noble Quene wyth this your noble trayne in settyng like rooffe and ende to your beginninges But so haue you a Mayden Queene begonne so beganne youre brother a chylde and kynge as ye seeme to shadowe all your grauÌ„dfathers great grauÌ„dsyres to haue lyghtned your owne name and vaunced an enseygne and glysteryng paterne to all your famelye and posteritye As you haue begonne therefore so proceede Though aloane though a woman So wonteth Christ to daunt the world Not in mennes myght but enfantes sucklynges women Debbora brake the Iron Charrettes of Labinus the Cananite Iudith slewe Holofernes Hester saued the Iewes condemned to dye from the rampyng mouth and yawninge Iawes of death Nor is he sole whom god assisteth Who seeth Gods campe As Iacob agaynst Esau Whose mounte is enuyroned wyth horse and fierye chares As against the king of Siria the prophete Elizeus Howe are ye desolate when god encampeth in the syghte of his seruauntes So as Dauyd sole feared not thousandes of enemyes For the lord was with him Who can when him pleaseth from heauen commaund whole legions He fyghteth not with noumber but wyth hys only breath prostrateth felleth kings Holy warre wyl he wage for you his haÌ„dmaydeÌ„ That onely he may tryumphe who onely is the mightiest champion and noblest conquerour But whereto tease I and prouoke you to this christiaÌ„ battaile of your selfe through the holy spirites inspiracion prone enough Or wheretoe mention I warre where no suspicion of warre no campe no foe appeareth God hauinge on all sides planted peace and graunted all nacions tyme and place of rest All iarres appeased at
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
hoarie auncientie of Nobilitie lasted through so many ages and families Chiefely if the moare of vertue be not cropped but dayly rooted deepelyer But sith Cain Cham the children of Iacob and after Absolon Rhoboam and other ill sutes sprong of holiest rootes and the heires of Scipio Fabius and Cicero proue that Children treade not alwayes theyr fathers steppes but oft degenerate and commōly it happeth the most chaungelinges moste crake the simple glory of theyr auncientie them selues suinge no sounde or perfecte vertue therfore for it is lawful it liketh and behoueth mee somewhat to reason not against antiquitie but the vaine confidence of antiquitie not of myne owne heade but the aucthoritie and iudgementes of learned Sages And as hitherto wee haue pulled nought from it so henceforth wyll we adde nought to it but his owne least with borowed plumes it seeme to it selfe What other then shal we terme auncient bloud then goare or putrified as sayde Gregory Nazianzene to lyke effecte Blushe to be termed ill not base or bare Race is their praise who longe since notten are Lo hee termeth them putrified festred and rotten in theyr graues from whom these boast theyr birth And Cicero in scoffe rightly termed Pisos aged and aunciet Images smoakie Vaine therfore is this vaunt of auncient Nobilitie if nought els renowme hym but his worme eaten stocke or emptie rewes of drawen descents For who walowes in this errour and weenes him selfe greater for this shade of forreyne happes is not to bee reckned amongs the Noble and honorable but rather to hee deemed a foole and fondlinge But happely you wyll reply theyr race is not only auncient but riche and mightie But therin others eyther matche or passe them and yet not therefore are accompted Noble And ryches ofte are blocks mids the race to our nobility and ofte forslowe the voyage to this true glory at least not alwaies further hit Further it may perhappes be douted who were those Nobles glorious worthies of whom these Impes descended Truly what maye be sayde I see But howe I maye playnelye speake withoute offence I doubte For what more frowarde or stately then he who seemeth to him selfe happye Who is hardlier taught the who dreauth him selfe most fortunate Plato refused to geue the Cirenenses lawes for he counted it most difficult to order so welthy people Neuertheles both for it is true profitable for thym to heare◠necessary for me to speake my conscyence mouynge me to vtter hit I must not conceale it I wishe therfore all Nobles would call to minde reape vp out of all memory theyr auncestours progenitors So shal they finde perhaps a petygree genealogy wherof they ought rather blushe thā swell I styrre not this mixen Let thē selues searche the chronicles and theyr petygrees and marke yf theyr auncestours haue hene murtherers of theyr brethren as Cain reprobate as Esau of whose house the booke of Genesis reckeneth many dukes and kinges Whether they haue beene rouers as Nimrod the great hunter or tyrantes as Nero Phalaris others Idolaters as Thare the father of good Abraham persecutours of christian religion as Iulian the Apostate or effeminate vicious persons as Sardanapalus Whose children or posterity haue small cause to vaunte the honour of theyr auncestours but rather to lament their miserable state And declynyng theyr by-pathes them selues sue better And so begynne to rayse to theyr posteritye some paterne of true Novility What sayeth Chryste of the buylders of the Apostles tombes and such as decked the monumentes of the iust Sayeng Had we liued in the times of our fathers we would not haue bene partakers wyth theym in the bloud of the Prophetes Therefore ye are wytnesses to your selues sayeth he that ye are theyr children who slewe the Prophetes Fyll ye also vp the measure of your parentes O ye serpents vypers broode howe wyll ye escape damnacion If is to be feared least he wyll saye the like to theym Who proude the bloude of theyr bloudye syres vaunte such armes as purchased by the spoyles and slaughter of the good not honour but dishonour them nor ought to rayse but quayle theyr stomackes and abashe and shame them God in Esaye calleth the Israelites traytours chyldren and froward broode This therefore in maner was the head of the Iewishe Nobilitye These be also the ofspringes of ours For to come nearer were they not Gentyles from whom thys Gentrye descended Lyued they not without god without law without Christ◠Whiche infamye thoughe it be commen to all and farther of nor peculyer onely to Nobles yet pertayneth to theym for it is vnyuersall And thereto this oure talke tendeth that such as aduaunce them selues for byrth aboue others may linke theym selues in this commen lyne with others and be included in one selfe throng with euery abiect person not exempting them selues from this contagion for theyr Nobilitye For suche as nowe weene theym selues nearest god are the rēnauntes of this wicked accursed brood So are they of the condemned sede of the Gentiles as al the rest Which had bene a simple Nobilitye had not the precious crosse of Christ our noblest sauiour legitimate them But nearer yet let vs touch this spring and roote of these noble twiggs Let vs in thought ouerrunne peruse all countreies of christendome see if in anye of them appeare anye sparke of true and auncient gentry Italye the queene and empresse sometime of the rest abundant in pleasures commodityes and sundrye blessinges of God howe large it was howe litle it is yf anye will but recount he shal finde no sure signes no euident steppes of any auncient Nobility Not whole townes not waste playnes retayne their former and principall names no pure whole families remaining The noble housen eyther ruined or decayed and newe and barbarous vpcrept For that part whiche sometimes the Apulians Samnites Greekes and Campanes inhabited is now the realme of Naples Latium Capaigne Gawle termed of Cesar behither the Alpes Lombardye Flaminia Romandiola the riuer Liris Galirian Ticinus Pauie Egnatia in Apulia Iuuenacium as Raymond Martian notes So as almost at this daye it retayneth no ioat of antiquity For it hath bene the pray spoile of al nations Not only in elder times mixt with mongrel and forren people as the Greekes Oenotrians Morgetes Sicilians Ausonians Aborigines Pelasgians Auruncans But also at last with al Barbary the Lombards Saracens Hungarians the factions of Gwelphes Gibellines others wherfore what meruaile is it if the priuate antiquity of Nobility famous housen be decaied what shal I say of Spaine which suffred like calamity what priuy murthers they committed with what barbarousnes thei infected it both I sorowe to thinke abhorre to recount Neither the Germaines al wer they of others moste free leaste open to inuasion were altogether quite frō forren bondage from the Romaines frō the Gentiles Pagans For the Sarmatians and Gothes wild and cruel people they bred in their owne bosomes What I
foode in sommer and in haruest stoares her barnes How longe wilt thou sluggarde snorte wylt thou neuer awake Loe Salomon deemth a sluggard worse then the Ant. But him termeth hee sleepy who but a litle slombers and somwhat lasely retcheth oute hys armes Loe man lifted to honor vnderstandeth not but is resembled to beastes and compared to brutishe creatures as songe Dauid this kinges father the kingly prophete If then the scripture by proposing vs simple creatures prouoke vs to worke if it be sufficiently and euydently proued that eche excellentest creature in his kinde is not for his Noblesse exempted from labour nor ought the priuilege of Nobilitie be pretended for an excuse and vayle of Idlenes in oure Nobles to purchace them vacation and as forworne Souldiours a pastporte But rather the better and Nobler they are the more ought they vpraise their courage therto As stronger beastes beare greater burthens Will you then wyll some happely say set hie borne lordes Husband dry not dispysed of the auÌ„cient Nobilytie to plough and Cart I cal them not therto but onely prouoke them to labour The certaintie and specialtie I limite not Howebeit if I shold moue them to the practise of some honest art or euen of husbandry what hurt For nor therein should they beginne any newe presydent nor greatly disparagethe brightnes of theyr honor if eyther they credite antiquitie or examples or the manifest reasons of wryters and the sound iudgement of the good For to speake of husbaÌ„dry not what I thinke but knowe and haue red antiquytie thought nought more liberal nought worthier a Noble man Nor was hit erst as nowe counted a base and contemptuous state which Consuls lordes and Prynces whiche kinges and Monarches coueited Whiche to proue first of the Romans and then of others wyl I borrowe somwhat which may serue to double purpose Bothe that oure Nobles maye imitate the labourious antiquytie of the auncyents with lyke successe and also to shewe that euen the auncyentest Nobles esteemd and vsed tyllage For wee reade that euen from the Ploughe to the Senate from theyr Coate to the Councell from Tyllage to offyce many stoute and worthy men were calld For. L. Quintius Cincinatus then held the Ploughe when newes came to hym hee was chosen Dictator Cato thelder writeth in Cicero he was merueilously rappt with the loue of Husbandry which hee affirmeth most sibb to a wyse mans lyfe And therefore many for theyr merueylous and incredible delighte therein gaynd them selues many surnames whyche for honours sake descended to posterytie And those not base or obscure famylies but euen of the Noblest and most famous Hence came the surnames of Hoggyshe Sheepyshe Asses Swinishe Hereby of the pulse Cycer was Tully named Cicero of pease Piso of beanes Fabius of Lintelles Lentulus and lykewyse dyuers other Yea the Iunians refused not the name of herds the Valerians of milkers the Licinians of spriggs the Statillâ—ns of bulles the Annians of Goates nor the Pomponians of Calues Naye rather they chearelye culd them as honourable tytles and carefullye retaynd them to them and theyr posterytie And thus muche of the Romans Nowe somewhat of others Homere in whose tales yf they bee tales is formed and shaped the Image of the auncyentest mauners Imagyneth in hys Odyssees Laertes the olde man the Lord and Kyng of Ithaca the father of Vlisses deluynge tillinge sowinge and dounginge That the practise of husbaÌ„dry was also familyer to Kynges the example of Cirus the younger proueth Who accounted it no stayne paynefully with hys owne hands to sowe whole fyeldes to graffe in his Orcharders cut border flowers and Herbes in hys Garden and curyously to plant hys trees in seemly order Nay when Lisander the Lacedemonian Legate came to hym with presentes vaunted to him that all hee sawe him selfe had sowed and set Whereat he wondring and viewinge hys purple Roabes hys bodies beautie the sumptuous Persian ornaments embrawderyes of golde and pearle amased cryed out Justly O Cirus men deeme the happy sith in the vertue and Fortune meete For so almoste translated it Cicero out of Xenophon Wherfore learned men for they see this laboure greately accepted and honoured of the Consuls and lords of Roome and the auncient grekes and kinges thinke it not vnmeete or vnsittinge to oure Nobles Noble mens children taught arteâ— Further not so vnseemely seemeth it to many Sages that Noble mens sonnes should learne some arte For sith Fortune standynge on vnstable wheele in smal moments sweyenge vpside downe bothe may wonteth to chaunge her cheere it may happe saye they whome pleasaunt and mery shee raysed to the highest fane of honoure the same frowning and froward shee may whyrle lowest Dionisius kinge of Sicile deposed from his kingdome was dryuen to kepe a schoole And wheretofore he ruled men then ruled boies So if any tyme they want they haue wherewyth to succoure theyr nede For euer the arte maynetayneth the artsman But neede they not Theyr arte lades theÌ„ not Nor is any burtheÌ„ lighter Therfore that oure forefathers dischargd the Nobles of baser craftes was not for they shoulde walowe and freese in ydlenes but to practise warlike feates and employe good artes For not all arces are base and filthye so as we ought be ashamed of theyr knowledge This therfore is as I haue sayde the aduice of many deeminge not altogether euel nor as me seemeth wholly to be condemned For heretofore both the custome was and by written lawe decreed emonges the Athenians that chyldren at thage of discrecion should be brought to occupacions the instrumentes of eche scyence layde before theym Where to whatsoeuer tooles anye voluntarilye ranne those was he taughte Wherefore if Noble ympes woulde spende some porcion of theyr youth in learninge any profitable or commendable arte it were not discommendable Naye rather theyr earnest will and modest labour were hyghlye to be praised Forasmuch as therby nought should they lessen theyr estimacioÌ„ and yet prouoke many others by their commendable example to greater diligeÌ„ce At least this rather ought they do theÌ„ nothing or liue idellye So shall not theyr childhood and youth passe wholy fruiteles many vices shall they kyll which ydlenes to fertile of sin breedes Right oft haue I heard many Nobles cloyed with ease complayne their werines Knowing not howe to passe the long dayes therfore wishe theÌ„ shorte which plaint shall ceasse if herein they will sometime vouchesafe to exercyse them selues and taste the commen trauayles miseries and grieues So shal they both better spare the crooked plowman and them selues enioye not altogether vayne delight mock the time with profitable pleasure to conclude please lesse theÌ„ selues god more But other I confesse those moste weightye charges some haue chiefly princes Who be they good care howe counsayle watche commen with theym selues their counsaile while others chiefely theyr subiectes careles snorte at home Which duties of Nobilitye god willing I will prosequute in my other
power as hit is greater and more abundant so ought theyr bountie be larger plentifuller For sithe Monkes eche where haue yet good names her â—fore ware oughte Nobles bee who succeaded in theyr Roomes and setsed theyr possessions that herein they proue not their inferiours Nor yelde to them in this practise of Charity whom farre they passe in purenes of farthe Therefore as ministers so noble mens part it is to prouide them harborough to leasse them vse of housen and Citie to open them the churches to succour them chiefely if relygious exiles neede theyr ayde Euer truly haue Noble mens housen lyen open to Noble ghestes Let eke theyr gates lie open to the myserable and banished for christes cause other wyse succourlesse That so both they be and may be rightly called almes gods on earth The auncient gentry is reported farre to drowne these our later nobles in this part of curtesy Sith now many mens charity cooleth The paynims counted it theyr chiefest commeÌ„dation to haue theyr entries worne And wonted to sit at theyr gates that no ghest mought scape them Herefore is that Cimon magnified in Cicero by the report of Theophrast Who toke suche order and so commaunded hys farmers that whatsoeuer inhabitant of Latium came to his manor shoulde haue al necessaries allowed him But he was liberal to his benefactors but once father Abraham and Lot his brother indiffereÌ„tly to all men Of whom the firste sate in the gate thother in the entrye of hys tabernacle eyther spie and prie for some straunger Whiche once seene they ryse runne meere hym embrace hym crouche doâ—one to the grounde and humblye entreate hym to enter For this is the request and sute of Abraham in Genesis to the Angels whome both hee sawe and toke to bee straungers I beseche you sir I may finde so muche fauour with you that you passe not my house Tary I pray you while a lytle water bee fette to washe your feete Rest ye vnder this tree and I wyll fetche you a loafe of breade and make you mery then goe forwardes on gods name For therefore turned ye into your seruaunte Loe Abraham the honourablest Prince of the Israelyteâ— the father of faith and all faithful abundant in Cattell Conqueroure in warres dreadfull to whole Nations kinges prostrateth him selfe on the ground entreateth theÌ„ professeth him selfe theyr Seruant to whom hee geueth Runneth to the herde his whole house attendeth those straungers and abiectes Sara bestirs her shee moulds thre bushels of finest meale â–ª knedeth Cakes the boye with all speede killeth a fat and fayer steere butter and milke is set them hym selfe standinge serueth them O simple and happâ—e age O maÌ„gled maners O straunge Metamorphosis O newe couersion vp side downe in and out Let Abraham humble paineful hospital learne our proud slouthful inhospitall Nobles Who not only not geue but chase away and stubbournely entreat strauÌ„gers checking them with threates scoffes and tauntes That Englishemen are â—urteous I denie not yea they haue bene euer counted the chiefest honourers of straungers And trulye so they be delyghted rather wyth forreyne wittes and traffyke then their owne countreyes Where notwithstanding they haue both plentye of excellent wittes and aboundaunce of all necessaryes and most ciuile inhabitaunts Yet so delight theym all forren pleasures that in maner they disdayne theyr home commodityes Whiche affection towardes straungers I condemne not Naye I rather exhorte theym more to imbrace and loue them but warning withall they despise not but reuerence and imbrace the good giftes of God theyr home commodities Howe sumptuous are they in enterteining Princes or embassadours How excessiue what glisteringe Nobles what pompe What shew Whome truly for the mayntenaunce of theyr dygnitie I commend But that vnmeasurable magnificeÌ„ce muche myslike whence what I couet dymynished that wyshe I employed on poore pylgrimes Christes and exiles To prouyde them necessary lyuing admitte them into felowshyps and allowe them yearely stypendes Whyche well I wotte the Noblest Prince Edward of happy memorye moste lyberally did bothe in London and eyther vnyuersitie whome some Dukes Nobles and byshops imitated Chiefelye the reuerende Father and late primate of Englande of the priuye Councel to Kynge Henry the .viii. and hys sonne Edwarde Crowned with blissefull Martirdom of Mary hys doughter Thomas Cranmar Archebyshop of Caunterbury a worthy successoure of william warram in that See whome so lyuelye hee resembled in sincerytie and bountie Emouges the Nobles not the leaste prayse earned Henrye Graye Marquesse Dorcet and Duke of Suffolke nowe a Noble Citezen of heauen Who lyberallye relieued manye learned exyles The like may wee saye of many other who renouncynge the worlde and worldely pleasures haue exchaunged lyfe wyth death or rather mortalytie with immortalytie Thus some deade haue I voutched Nor want there presidentes of the quicke But them wyll I not praise but rather erhorte daylye to contende with them selues that sith not a fewe of them were straungers in Germany and therefore vnderstande their estate by experience they would more and more put on that sence of humanytie and affecte of mercy To relieue pilgrimes wearned wyth trauayle and destitute of ayde banyshed now their Countrey bounds and succour and cherishe theyr needâ— wyth theyr plentie In conclusion be Nobility bountiful to all men But Iustice yf ought els chiefely pertayneth to mans societye Iustice Wherfore worthely of Aristotle it is called others vertue Where properly taketh place that sayenge of Pollux to Commodus the emperour termynge it the balanced lawe For in maner of balance with euen hande paysyng eaming eche thinge it sweyeth not from right nor more then iust is leaneth on either parte And that vertue is both fectest and necessariest for a Noble man Whose whole life and practises are chiefly busied in mayntaynyng commen commodityes Where wyth once adourned easelye hath he gotten the princesse of al vertues Whereby he shal rule both him selfe and others For neither is fortitude needefull where Iustice is and if lawes ruled armes shoulde hushe syth none should be iniuried But insurious they become through couctise and thirst of coyne For what worke we not to heape and hourd goodes Truly a filthie faulte in all men but hardly thinke I any maye be sayned filthier in a noble man For whom we would haue free liberall whom we wishe of highe minde and vndaunted courage who shoulde esteeme all worldly toyes as draffe and chippes howe vnseemely and seruile were it What blotte to his estimation he should encurre that mock of Euripides To be a happy horder and cofferer an vnwilling steward and disbourser of money Hieremye accuseth the princes of Israell as ranening wolues bloud-sheaders manquellers gredy guttes and Dauld calleth them Lions lieng in theyr dennes in waite for the simple and rauening the poore halinge hym into theyr nettes But beware least they crye to god and the mournynge of the poore ascending and peareyng the eares of the lord of Sabaoth prouoke him agaynst
poore be preferred them Auncient Nobilitye I much reuerence whose Tables were spredde in deede not laden wyth diuecs dyshes but alwayes open to theyr neyghhoures the needye to all straungers and commers Which at this daye also is continued of some but onelye in Christemas times and other solemne feasts Hawebeit of some commenly and gladly would I both sparer and seelder But not onely in varietye and quantitie but in quality also they trespasse As in times paste manie Apitii Who were to nice with ouerconning and queynt mouthes Cicero twiteth Hircius for he coulde not suppe without a peacocke Who was as him selfe reporteth his scoler in learninge but his mayster in feastynge For of Heliogabalus what should I saye Who appoynted pryses for the inuentours of straunge dishes Who exceded all the Vitellians and Luculles Who liued with preseruatiues of the Fowles tounges whiche wee call Phenicopters and the braynes of Geese and Peacockes Whose fishepondes had springes of rosewater O daynty monster worthye to die in a draught as after happed But we must imitate and expresse the thrifte of the auncientes I saye not philosophers as Taurus Socrates Plato Diogenes But princelye personages Emperours good lawes Before the thyrd Punike warre by C. Fannius it was enacted that none should eate more birdes then one hen Which yll they obserue who haue euery where factours for theyr bellye theyr carpenters of Coquerie and deuisours of pleasures and daintyes who feede on sparowes peacockes fleshe fishe and all so tes of vyands And bye vp the farthest rarest and costlyest neclecting their home cates at theyr noses or of easye pryce As who lyenge farre of the sea woulde cate but fyshe and nearer to it the dayntyest fleshe To nice and fine be these cormorants not vnlike those ladies whō they say thinges farre fet dere bought best feete Or women I haue hearde of who scorned to bye egges at ten or twelue the penny but gladly gyue as muche for one As thoughe the quantitye of pryce commended the goodnes of the vittayle In auncient times rarest was the vse of wine For many yeares was it forbidden women in Rome So that longe afore anye lawe therefore decreed one Egnatius Metentinus for kyllyng with a batte his wife drinkynge wyne from the hogseheade was quyt and cleared by the iudgemente of Romulus And theyr Nobles as I sayde dronke but theyr countrey wyne But by the Consuls the forren straunge wines were by litle and litle brought in So as at length fowre sortes wer chyefelye commen and receyued in the time of Iulius Cesar Of Phalerne of Chius of Cyprus and Lesbos Lucullus onely once sawe Greeke wyne in his fathers house But him selfe retourning from Asia destributed more than a hundred thousand tonnes to make his largicion magnificent So stealyngly creapt in dronkennes at length of such impudence that M. Antonius wrote a booke of his owne dronkennes Whose dronken prayse to drowne M Giceros sonne was wont at once to drynke .ii. gallons Whyche nowe is no straunge stryfe Otherwise read we of Cato who seeld dronk wine And being in Spayne vsed no other then his mariners Of Noble men therfore requyre I moderate vse of meales and drinkes Nor onely moderate vse but more spare furniture That all excesse be abolyshed measure kepte and respecte hadde of theyr dignity Folowe they the honourable exaumple of Antoninus Pius not nygard but Noble not filthye but fruitefull that theyr plentye want reproofe theyr sparyng nygardise And theyr Table be stored not so much wyth farre set or sought dayntyes as the prouision of theyr owne seruauntes fawconers fishers hunters And thus much of the measure quantitye and qualitye But syth theyr meates are powdred with manye sawses to prouoke appetyte purchase they chiefly these 3 past all spicerye Honger exercise talke meete for a free and ciuile feast That honger is the sweetest sawce Socrates taught Who wonted with exercise to hunte for it afore meales Trauayle runnynge sweate were the Lacedemonians sawces as withnesseth Cicero Whom well pleased and liked that blacke broth that so much misliked Dionisius Then therefore must they eate when they hunger then drinke when they thirst The myghtye prynce Darius cloyed tofore with rables of Cookes Hurtors Cators maysters and doctors of Kitchenrie and greasers of the throate drinkyng in his flyght muddye puddle water though stynkynge wyth deade coarses denyed he euer dranke sweeter draughte For than dranke he thirstie whyche neuer tofore But wyse and godlye talke and reasoninge of matters pertinente eyther to godlye life or concernynge the cōmon wealth so within theyr boūds and in due time sometime also pleasaunte and merye so not trifelinge or fylthye profyte not onelye to prouoke stomacke but also to feede the mynde Which wanteth neither reason nor presidents of Princes For Adrian themperour whose modestye stoode in steede of lawe to his Subiectes exhibited in his diners Tragedies Comedies Poesyes and Doulcimers Nor is the vse of Musike amisse at this daye so Herodiades wanton daunsyng and bawdye ballets wante For the custome is auncient as appeareth by Homere Fayning one Demodocus synginge the Troyan warre in Vlisses presence Nor ought time of laughter be denyed pleasaunt wittes so they passe not theyr boundes and no talke or banket exclude Chryste euer present both a ghest and feaster Doubteles they may vnbend theyr browes and reuiue their spirites with mery talke yet wholesome and profitable As Cicero a sage counsaylour reporteth him selfe a ghest not of muche meate but much mirth Macrobius writeth in the feast dayes called Saturnalia the princes of the Romayne Nobilitye assembled spent most part of the day wyth weighty consultaciōs but the supper-while wasted with table talke For I meane not so to plie the Nobles with studye as that Chrisippus into whose mouth incessauntly reasoning of Philosophicall suttiltyes Melissa poared meat Nor requyre I all men to be Plinyes who studyed red and noted euen supperwhile and runninge as Plinye reporteth of his vncle But that wise christian and learned talke flowe from Nobles in their feastes What ghestes they ought bydde we haue already shewed entreatynge of liberality not parasites or fooles not iessers not bawdy minstrels not mē made to please the eares or tickle the minde nor simple soules for laughters sake as reporteth Demosthenes of Philippe and Cicero of Chrisogonus Nor the nedeles riche ne yet the poore rather to laughe at then pitye as some do Which is also accompted emongs Heliogabalus worthy feates Namelye to byd emonges other his ghestes 8. bald 8 purblind 8. gowtie 8. deaffe 8. murrions 8. slimsbies 8. fat foreaten slouens to feede with extreme laughter his wretched lust Chryste willeth to call the poore eyther liuing thinly or hardly toylīg with trauayle and enforced to lyue on others trencher and supplye theyr wantes otherwhere These are Christian suppers most honourable seastes and worthye Nobles ¶ But of apparayle thys must we principallye holde Of appacell That it is a matter indifferente nor greatlye
knowe and I haue heard But sith prefentiye I remember not the certaintie I list not fayne Least happly I mysse the truth and lye Shortly be this the summe that none waxe proud of apparayle But repose him selfe in his myndes giftes That peacocke like they prise not more then right them selues with their painted plumes Sith nor the horse for his Veluet trappers nor the byrd for her golden cage wonteth to conceyue any stately pride But rather the first in swift race the other in swift winge So contemne a Noble man those vtward and more more coueyt these inward ornamentes Be the ende of apparayle to shrowde the bodye to chase colde hauing respecte of healthe strengthe honestyeâ— and comelynes Of a Noble mans bâ—â—se ¶ Hit foloweth nowe we speake of Noble mens buildinges For who weene any parte of happye life consisteth in this worlds bricklenes seeme not to theym selues happye enoughe though finely clad daintely fedde but also they dwell princely Then which happe is nought more miserable Which Salomon the kinglye preacher reckeneth amonge the commenlye accompted goodes in his searche of the soueraigne good I haue compassed ê™ he great driftes Built houseÌ„ planted vines leueld gardens and Paradises and in them set all sortes of fruytfull trees Plentiful pondes haue I made to water shadye groues Wherein he describeth al mennes driftes Yea of our dayes But some what after foloweth I turned to all the workes my handes had finished and the trauaile I tooke and loe al vanitie and trouble of minde and nothing lastinge vnder the sonne A golden sayeng of the wysest preacher Which would Nobles graue and carue on their postes pillers walles house and entryes ouer theyr dores and priuie chambers no poesye should they fynde more passing or pithy For vanitye of all vanityes sayeth the preacher and all trulye vanitye If then there be so greate vanitie and vainenes rest in al thynges what dignitie what Nobilitye may be purchased by buyldynge Yet thys vanitye worke we not say they on vaine consideracion but iust cause Both hospitality growe iustice more indifferentlye be ministred Cityes more flouryshe Citesens be linkd in nearer amitie and the neyghboure poore ofter relyeued Which all by thys theyr solitarye secession are executed seelder colder negligenter and throughe theyr farther distance lesse commodiouslye Why rather imitate they not the aunciente Romayne Nobles who reserued theyr manoures farmes rather to sport and refreshe them selues then to inhabyte as Pompeye Pomponius Atticus Crassus Ciccro and others Whose succour presence ward neither that city wanted nor their patronage councell or aydeâ— the citesens For in those daies rather chose they to decke the publike buildynges then priuate the commen citie then their owne homes As Aristides Pericles at Athenes Curius Fabricius at Roome In whose housen onelye them selues were beautiful and golden Noble was that vaunte of Augustus and worthye a Monarche Left to al Magistrates and Nobles to imitate Brycke huylt tooke I Roome I leaue it Marble Euer more ought he theyr care of publyke safetye and dignitye then priuate honour But the renoume and glorye alleaged for second cause is alike vaine vayneft Whiche yet moued and tickeled many euen in Chrisostoms dayes For do we good to the poore saye they who seeth it Yf any not many yf manye but for a time And time passeth and ther withal the memory of themployed benefite Better therfore to rayse buildinges which men not now onely but many ages after may behold O foole what profiteth thee this memory tormented where thou art and where thou are not commended And this commendacion of the quicke howe reacheth it to the dead Againe time wil end this praise and aged yeres shal blot freat out thy name and house with thy proud praise memory For if the golden Capitoll nowe mustye wayleth yf the noblest frames lye drenched in darckenes if Lucullus most magnificeÌ„t manors are soÌ„ke into obliuion chrough the malice of al frea ting time and nowe lye rased and neglected why vainely flatterest thou thy buyldinges with any eternity or lasting length Where are now those famous temples of Hierusalem and Delphos Where the church of Minerua Where the Image and huge statue of the Ephesians great Diana Where the Pyramydes of Memphis Where the vawtes where the triumphante arches Where so huge platformes Where the owners contriuers and carpenters of so princely palayces Thy house thoughe glisteringe with golde siluer and precious stoanes is but a swalowes neaste of durte and strawes In winter shall it fall and as a spiderweb be pearced with euery blast and perishe So is this cause like vayne Nor ought sounder is the thyrd for they will leaue it their chyldren Whom thus aunswereth Dauyd They hoarde treasure knowynge not for whom For if thou quicke forgot theym ofte after thy death they maye be reft thy sonne For eyther tyrants seeke to entrappe thee or false accusers with forged crime as poysoned darte in one momente with one lye one wyle wyll bereue thee that thou with so great charge so long time hast raysed So shal thy children be as couduyte pipes which receyuing water and seruing others drinke none Or yf others preuent them not them selues as gulfes and qwaues consume right oft great patrimony For ofte a thryftie father succeedeth a prodigal soonne Who selleth all not leauyng so much as tyle or stone As Crassus bordeth on Brutus Or with gluttony dising scatter they infinite substaÌ„ce gathered with great sweates And strayne whole maners and lordships through a deyntye throate Suche one mencioneth Valerius Maximus one Crassus surnamed bankrupte ryche Who though beggerlye and vnable to satisfye his creditours and a needy wretche was still saluted riche So these gluttons as if naked they gathered nuttes as iesteth Cicero pocket all in theyr bellyes Wherefore sith bothe vaine is their hope of securitye and searche of glorie and superfluous theyr heyres care No sufficiente causes are there whye these earthlye frayle temporall harborowes of our body wauing with euerye biast open to al enemies roades ryfe to al perill should be decked with such cost statelines and magnificeÌ„ce These faultes therfore auoyded be this moderance vsed Fyrst hauing of his parentes a house able to shroude him from showers and kepe hospitalitye rashely enlarge it not as many that rase rayse buylde alter frome square to round from rouÌ„d to square but vse it thankefullye For the house honoureth not the owner but the owner the house Nor deeme he him selfe his parents better but worthye a fayrer house Euer beare he thys of Horace in his brest Happye who farre from courtly toyle As Princes did in elder while Eareth with his beastes his natiue soyle But if neede and constraynt requyre newe buyldynge pryncipallye prouidehe the groundeworkes be iustlye layde not with others iniurye or nusaunce Not in others soyle but his owne Not in anye commen but his seuerall That he buylde not of the sacke and spoyle of the poore but
these skyppynge that fyrste and auncientst earthlye parent With whom no mortall may in this forte of Noblesse compare Fashiond holie scriptures Whereby we set it moste euident that Noblenes of house noughte auayleth the vnnoble Thus hitherto haue we cited presidents of the stayned with vice Whom become euell thoughe descended of good theyr parentes vertues nothing holpe but theyr owne vices infinite wayes anoyed Contrary wyse nowe others of better staâ—e wyll I vouche whose auncesters stayned wyth many and sundry crymes yet prooued they most worthy praise and emulacion Abraham The auncientst of the Iewishe stocke was a Chaldee His father an Astronomer of those that studye the Mathematicalls Decmyng these sterres and the whole frame of the world and skye Gods Flynging downe both good and euill to euerye one supposing no other cause then with theyr forren senses they discerne Then this what more villanous What more dishonor to the soule By the contemplacion of many meanes and creatures to growe to the the ignoraunce of thauncientst vncreate and framer of al thinges And both for those and other infinite consideracions whiche mans reasons comprehendeth not moost good Who he when once conceyued he ryghtelye worshypped forthwith forsooke his countrey kinnc and fathers bowers Knowyng yshe abode his errours also of many gods continued Whereby his minde should lesse further in searche of the one onely euerlasting God and father of all thinges as well conceyued in mynde as subiect to sence If he fled the vanitye of his opinion altered into truthe the errour also would departe his minde Whych his desyre to knowe the chiefe being muche more enflamed certayne expounded prophecyes on whom as steppes treadynge he scaled the speedye knoweledge and search of that vnity Neuer ceassyng tyl he had conceyued the clearest vision not of Gods substaÌ„ce for that may not be but as farre forth as may be of his Nature and prouydence And therefore is fyrst reported to haue beleued in God For he fyrst helde an vnmooued and constant opinion there was one supreme cause gouernour bothe of the worlde and worldlye This Science of all vertues the certainst once atâ—aind forthwith he gat the rest So as of that people where he forourned he was renerenced as a prynce not for his robes wherein he passed not a pryuate person But the hawtye reache of his wytt pryncely minde As subiects theyr prynce so honoured they hym A mased at his maiestie and reuerendnesse of Nature as more perfect and precious theÌ„ mans For not the commen phrase of speache but more statelye and loftye talke he vsed nearer approchyng the deuyne maiestye For enflamed wyth Gods spyryte he grewe alwayes better in countenaunce he we stature habite iesture and voyce The spyryte of God descended from aboue possessing his mynde geuynge I is body grace his talke persuasion his hearers vnderstanding And will any deny this exile destitute of all his frendes and familyers couetyng Nobilitye coupled wyth god and trauaylyng to be accepted acquaynted with hym placed emonges the Noblest rankes of Prophetes crediting no mortal created man before the vncreate immortal Father of all esteemd as a kynge of theym that harboured him not conqueryng yet his Empyre as some by armes not wyth warlike force but the gyfte of the almygh tye God the honourer of his godly seruauntes wyth heaped authority to theyr commodity with whom they are conuersaunte to haue bene Noble He is doutelesse to all exyles flyenge the obseruance of monstruous maners detestable customes attributing to stones stockes and lyueles counterfaytes almoste heauenlye honoures so iour neying to the very liuelye and quycke commen wealthe whose presydent and watch is truth the very squyer and paterne of Nobilitye Whych many godly not onely men but women imitated Unlearning the ignorauÌ„ce which eueÌ„ in theyr cradles they sucked of worshypping hand wrought I mages And learning the doctryne of that ones gouernemente by whose Monarchye the whole is paysed Thamar a simple woman borne in that parte of Philistia that bordereth on Syria was bredde in a citye worshipper of many Gods stuffed with Sinagoges I mages and all fortes of Idolls But after amyds she dungeon of darkenes as throughe a narowe chynke the lyght glimse of truthe was reuealed her she fled to it forthwyth though with manifest peryll and hasard Not prysyng the lyfe she mought not well leade Accountyng thonely ryght lyfe the worshyppe and honouryng of one onelye cause Who though after wedded to two brethren bothe wycked to the fyrst a mayde the next by the lawe of enheritaunce for his brother left no issue preseruing yet vnstayned her wemles life both purchased her selfe the praise that wonteth to accompany all good and became thoriginal and pryncesse of Nobilitye to her whole posteritye But she though an alyene was peraduinture free and borne of Noble and no base parentes But the poore handmaydes in the farthest borders of Babylon beyonde Euphrates Agar geuen hy Sara to Abraham were geuen to the wedded spouses and vouchsaued of the Sages beddes fyrst scaled the name and dignitye of wyues And of handmaydes became almoste I should saye peeres in honoure to theyr ladyes yea by theym whiche is almost incredible preferd to this dignity For enuy harboreth not in sage brestes Which where it wanteth all thinges are commen Theyr bastard sonnes were actompted legitimate not onely of the syre for no wonder were it if the father shewe like countenauÌ„ce to his chyldren but euen of theyr right wiues theyr stepdames Who forgettyng their wonted hate to theyr sonnes in lawe vsed lyke care and loue towardes all The Chyldren aunsweryng wyth exchaunged loue reuerenced theyr stepdames as theyr naturall mothers The halfe brethren also seuered onelye by vertue loued not wyth parted or quartered tone But supplyed what wanted in Nature with doubled yea redoubled affection And in sweete harmonys and consent of maners endeuouted to resemdle eyther parent We must not therefore pelde to those who boaste others gyftes as theyr owne Who exceptynge suche as we last mencioned may worthely be deemed enmyes of the Israelites and all other Nacyons Of theym for they licence all of one stocke to neglect the pryuate practise of vertue through confidence of thonour already gotten by theyr auncestours Of the Gentyles for they teache they aspyre to the tipe of vertue altogether in vayne for theyr auÌ„ce stours were vicious Then whych doctrine scarce wot I if anye be more pestilent For if the euell progenie of the good auengyng plage awaite why should honour be foreclosed the good descended of the euel Sith the law praiseth or punisheth all not for their kinsfolkes but their owne desertes Scapes in Prynting Fo. Pa. Li. 7 2 21. for like of wantonnesse read like wantonnesse 10 1 32. for who what wheresoeuer who and wheresoeuer what 21 2 1. for great greater 58 2 3. for aut and. 45 1 13. for happy happy 69 1 12. for dreauth dreamth 88 1 19. for Cyesus Cresus 144 1 23. for wearned wearyed 156 1 6. for as is 180 2 1. for of to 194 2 21. for gaawe gnawe 201 2 18. for that a 204 1 22. for Soles Schooles for chempaling empaling 208 1 3. for Denonicus Demonicus 209 1 21. for Cea Cesar The rest small iudgentente by respecte of the circumstances may reforme ¶ Imprinted AT LONDON IN Fletestrete nere to Saynct Dunstons Church by Thomas Marshe