then will idle stand Peasants may beare but kings must needs requite Who would all mastring maiestie defeat Of her best grace that is to make men great A princes wrath is messenger of death What els is pompe rule raigne but earth and dust Kings must haue some be hated worse than they On whome they may their weight of enuie lay Pride is no ornament for diademes Selfe-loue doth very ill beseeme a prince Blest is that league where citties further Kings And kings doe further them in other things Kings that would haue lawes kept must rule themselues Graue heads are meetest Councellors for kings Looke what a King doth most of all embrace To that his subiects will encline as fast The strength of princes is their subiects loue Kings ought be free from partialitie Sleeplesse suspition pale distrust cold feare Alwaies with princes company doth beare Kings should be fathers to their common-â—â—aleâ— Kings should preferre them most that 〈…〉 least A Prince not fear'd hath oft his death 〈…〉 And dreaded Princes haue their deathâ— deâ—â—â—â—â— Maiestie scornes to looke on cowardise Kings reasons should be more than their opiâ—â—â—â—â— What else are kings when regiment is gâ—nâ— But like to shadowes in a Sun shine day In â—â—â—iâ—cts wrongs princes sustaine abuse It'â—â—â—â—ater care to keepe than get a crowne Kings fauours in their eye-lids vse to hang. Ready with euery winke to be wip'te out He is no king that is affections slaue No fall like his that falleth from a crowne Kings are not tearmed Gods for wearing crownes But for o're fame and fortune they are Lords Misgouern'd kings are cause of common wracke Kings chaunging customes euer feare a chaunge Iest not with Princes if that thou be wise For in vnequall iest great daunger lyes Kings are their subiects ioy their countries hope True subiects hearts are princes chiefest stay In Princes these two qualities well sit For strength a Lyon and a Foxe for wit Great perils are compriz'd within a crowne Beggers make maiestie a gazing marke True iustice is the chiefe and onely thing That is reâ—uir'd and lookt for in a king Mislikes are sillie lets where kings resolue Iust soueraigntie can neuer be displac'd A king hereft of all his trustie friends Is dead aliue for fame and honour ends All lawfull princes first or last preuaile A princes safetie is his peoples loue Who hath been kneel'd vnto can hardly kneele Or begge for that which once hath been his owne Kings greatnes stands on the great king of heauen No maiestie where vertue is despis'd Similies on the same subiect AS princes wills are commonly held lawes So life or death dependeth on their lookes As often burials is Physicians shame So many deaths argue a kings hard raigne As beasts obey the Lordly lyons looke So meane estate must mightie princeâ— brooke As the Sun-beames doe lighten all the world So princes liues are lâ—nternes to their lands As Princes wanting wealth learne tyrannie So too much treasure makes them vicious As biggest winds enkindle greatest flames So much submission makes a king most mild Examples likewise on the same THe Kings of Persia alwaies shewed themselues More subiect to the law than to their Lords Antiochus told his sonne Demâ—trius That kingly rule was noble slauerie Bâ—lus the sonne of Nemrod was first king That in this world had title of that name The Romane kings did vse to weare no crownes But alwaies bare their scepters in their hands Tully saith then 't is best to checke a prince When he forgets himselfe to be a prince Sâ—â—â—ates wil'd good kings preferre their friends And shewe some kindnesse to their enemies Of Kingdomes c. The Kingdome Countrey and the Common-weale Are things that subiects loue doe most reueale KIngdomes are Fortunes slattering gifts soone lost Kingdomes are burd'nous to the wiâ—est men Conâ—â—rd doth keepe a Realme in stable stay When discord brings all kingdomes to decay Wretched the state where men desire to die Who striues to alter lawes disturbes the state Kingdomes are commonly much sooner lost Than kept desir'd than had with mightie cost Kingdomes are Fortunes â—atall tenise balls A wicked king makes a more wicked land A man that takes delight in doing all To trouble all the State deuiâ—eth â—â—iâ—l In a well-gouern'd state one head is best Some men vnwilling benefit their land Fooles set in office doe their spleâ—es â—eâ—eâ—le And meaning well mâ—st hâ—â—t the common-weale Some vnawares their countries good proâ—erre All earthly kingdomes euen as men mâ—st perish Kingdomes are rul'd but badly where the base Will checke the chiefe that sit in highest place No state stands sure but on the grounds of right Realmes neuer get by chaunge but paine and losse When lawes are maâ—e they ought to be obey'd And rulers willes with reuerâ—nce to be weigh'd Wisdome and care are kingdomes chiefest propâ— Rude multitudes are kingdomes ouerthrow By nature man vnto the woâ—st iâ— bent If wholsome statutes stay not his intenâ— Innocent men are common-wealeâ— bâ—st treasure Innocence makes kingdoms florish more than arms That kingdome ought of right to be destroy'd Which once was vertues â—lower now vices weed Wise princes are their kingdomes conâ—â—oâ—ters Vniust exâ—â—â—ons killes a common-weale No greater da â—nger to a common-wealth Than when vnskilfâ—ll 〈◊〉 â—ide her powers Kingdomes are nothing elâ—e but common care Where tools bâ—are râ—le the common wealth decaies In â— calmeâ— a many see how 〈◊〉 â—â—gin But few respect the enâ— and emâ—â—lie Where wiâ—â— mâ—n are neglected kingdomes perish No nâ—arâ—r kinred can be than our countrey Theâ—e â—â—â— no common-weales more loose and bad Tâ—aâ— wâ—eâ—e the câ—mâ—â—nâ—â—â—ue most libertie Our countrey parents kin claime part in vs. Our countries loue ought be most deare to vs. And â—â—ties of common-weales dâ—â—ay â—â—â—â—â— bâ—ilâ—ingâ—â—â—â—â— and carelâ—sse heads beare sway Where any may liâ—e well that is his countrey Remembrance of ouâ— countrey is most sweet In common-weales such should be honour'd most As shew their care both insterne warre and peace â—â—â— countrey first by nature claimeth vs. â—â—â—â—â—t is the death in cause of common-weale The gouernment of common weales and state Will without wiâ—dome soone he ruinate Reward and punishment are kingdomes keyes Peace in a common-wealth is mellodie There 's nothing câ—n impresse so deare constraint As countries cause and common foes disclaine Men of desert their countrey least esteemes Discretion best doth rule a common-weale That kingdome may be counted fortunate Where no man liueth by anothers sweat Seditious heads disturbe the common good Vnruly members soone should be lopt of Similies on the same subiect AS spring and Autumne hazard health by chaunge So â—nnouations harme a common-wealth Looke how the body void of members is Euen so are kingdomes dispossest of lawes As ships in tempests need all helping hands So in a kingdome none must idlely stand As many Elements one temper frame So diuers mens endeauours helpe the state As from the heart all members haue their life So from the common-wealth
young men so â—â—â— old men wiâ—e Dâ—llâ—â—◠〈◊〉 learninâ— dâ—e desire Bu◠〈…〉 e wise To vnlâ—â—â—â—â—â—uill hat'hest learning is Opinion without lâ—â—rning is not good Some men so 〈…〉 That oâ—â— ther â—â—rre the worke before was well Knowledge continues when all wealth else wastâ— Knowledge in all things is â—ight prositable The mind withdrawne â—rom studie for supplies Is learnings wracke where want doth tyrannize To know and want performance is mishap Best knowledge is â—or men to know themselues Coy readers deeme that dull conceits proceed From ignorance the cause being onely need Poets are borne but Oratours are made Poetrie quickeneth wit sweetens discourse Poets scant sweetly write except they meet With sound rewards for serâ—oning so sweet Learning and knowledge good minds most desire Knowledge before all else should be preferd True learning hath a bodie absolute That in apparant sence it selfe can suâ—e Breuitie is great praise of eloquence Silence in wise men is sweet eloquence The man that scorneth all the Artes of schoole Lackes but a long coat to be natures foole Eloquence is the ornament of speech Eloquence makes bad matters oft seeme good They which doe like all Artes which can be thought Doe comprehend not any as they ought Experience is the mistresse of old age Men rich in knowledge hate all other wealth Arts which right hard doe seeme at our first sight By triall are â—ade easie quicke and light Experience times characters racâ—th out Knowledge distinguisheth twixt â—en and beasts Learning will liue and vertue still shall shine When follie dyes and ignorance doth pine Learning with courage make a man complete Let Guns serue gownes and bucklers yeeld to books Arts want may stop our tongues but not our teares Similies on the same subiect AS learning helpe to purchase all men fame So truly leâ—â—n'd doth more renowme their name As ground vntil'd can neuer bring â—oâ—th gâ—aine So vnlearn'd valour 〈◊〉 taketh paine As men by folly â—â—â—â—â—â—â—â— the Gods Euen so by 〈…〉 they neerest them As Bees sucke honey out of diâ—ers flâ—weâ—s So out of Scienceâ— men knowlâ—dâ—â— learne As seales iâ—pâ—inâ—â—â—â—â—â—â—ly â—oâ—â—e in waâ—e So Poets in dull mindâ—â—â—â—â—â—â—houâ—hts â—â—presse As Musque quicâ—â—n◠〈…〉 heaâ—tâ— So drowsie soules are câ—â—â—â—'d wâ—th eloquence Examples likewise on the same ALexander honoured Aristotle And made his pillow Homers â—â—ades In campe or else-where â—â—sar alwaies bare His Commentaries as hiâ— bosome friend Robert king of Sciâ—ill vs'd to say Kingdome and all goe â—â—â—â— I learning loose Ptolomie Philadelpâ—â—â— lâ—â—â—iâ—gs friend Fiue hundred thousand bookes had in his studiâ— Man as saith Aristotlâ— was create To vnderstand and afterward to doe Oh Science said graue Plato how would men Loue and esteeme thee if they knew thee right Of Kings and Princes Kings are the images of Gods on earth And therefore they are cal'd Gods of the earth KIngs like to Gods should gouerne euery thing Monarchs misdeeds cannot be hid in clay Vnhappie kings that neâ—er may be â—aught To know themselues or to discerâ—e their saulâ—â— Princes are glasses to their subiects eyes The liues of princes are their subiects bookes To whome should suâ—iects for true iustiâ—â—â—sâ—â—e When Kings themselues doe reigâ—e by 〈◊〉 The greatest scandale waiâ—s on greatâ— sâ—sâ—aâ—e Poore groomes are sightlesse night Kings glorious day A king should euer priuiledge his pleasâ—â—e And make his peeres esteeme it as tâ—â—ir treasure The cares of kings wast liâ—â— and hasten age Within one laâ—d one single sway iâ— best Princes like Sunnes are euâ—â—â—â—re in sight All see the clouds that doe ecclipse their ligâ—t Diuided kingdomes make diuided hearts Good deeds from kings must not be drawne perforce A Princes wealth in spending still doth spread Like to a poole with many fountaines fed Minions too great argue a king too weake Kings sleeping see with eyes of other men Whereas proud conquest keepeth all in awe Kings oft are forc'd in seruice â—okes to draw A kings great arme doth reach from shore to shore Kings vse their loues as garments they haue worne Princes haue but their titles for their glorie And outward honour for an inward toyle Kings pardon death but can not pardon shame Kings want no means t' accomplish what they would Princes for meere vnseli imaginations Do often feele a world of resilesse caâ—eâ— It shames a Prince to say IF THAT I COVLD Kings liues reputed are their subiâ—cts lights Betweene kings titles and their lowly name There 's nothing differ but the outward fâ—â—me No common fortunes can once blemish kings A begging prince what begger pitties not Where Angele in the cause of Kings doe sight VVeake men must fall for beaâ—â—n regards the right A king woes slaue must kingly woe obey Kings may winne kingdoms but not conquer hearts Not all the water in the rough rule sea Can wash the balme from an annoiâ—ted king The linkes of princes loue are blood and warre Poore priuat men â—ound not their princes hearts This fault is euer incident to kings Too much to credit ouer pleasing things Princes respect their honour more than blood To be a Prince is more than be a man The man that at a subiects use doth anne To the princes bodie giues a priuie maime Princes like Lyons neuer will be tam'd Kings will be onely competirors must downe Gnats are vnnoted where-soe're they flie But Eagles gaz'd vpon with euery eye A kings great name makes not his fault the lesse Desire of soueraigntie respects no faith Foolish the begger that to touch a crowne VVould with the scepter strait be smitten downe The threats of kings are like the thunders noise Kings haue long armes and rulers reach at large Princes are as the glasse the schoole the booke VVhere subiects eyes doe learne doe read doe looke Maiestie shines like lightning from the East A princes will ought not exceed his law Mildnesse doth better sute with maiestie Than rash reuenge and rough seueritie Princes desires are many times corrupt Princes oft fauour flatterers more than friends Kings doe approach the nearest vnto God By giuing life and safetie to their people Vnworthie mens preferment shames the prince Kings Courts are held as vniuersall schooles Succeeding heapes of plagues doe teach too late To learne the mischiefes of misgnided state Kings by example sinne more than by act Kings seates for soules distrest are sanctuaries The youth of Princes haue no bounds for sinne Vnlesse them-selues doe make them bounds within Princes oft purchase quiet with price of wrong Wish for good princes but endure the ill Subiects may well complaine but not correct A princes faults they beare more high respect No ruler yet could euer all content The face of kings makes faultie subiects feare Kings Lords of times and of occasions May take aduantage when and how they list It 's hard to rule and please both good and bad New kings doe feare when old Courts furder straine Poore maiestie that other men must guide Whose discontent can neuer looke aright When princes worke who
they gree in one Arme not vnskilfulnes with mightie power He who his owâ—e cause makes doth still deuise To make too â—â—â—ch to haue is more than sure Great is the daunger of vnmastred might Too many great one kingdome cannot hold Where power hath decreed â—o find offence Thâ— cause is better still than the defence Might makes a title where he hath no right Mâ—n count that wrong is compassed by might He onely trâ—â—ds the sure and perfect path To greatnesse who loue and opinion hath Vncertaine power cannot it selfe retaine Custome hath power to kill with weakest might Who falls buâ—â—ow may quickely rise againe Who falls â—rom hâ—ight is mercilessely slaine Loue is not alwaâ—es dignâ—â—ies companion The tallest trees are shaken most with winds When one selfe-power is common made to two Their duties they nor suffer nor will doe Preferment is the first step to disquiet In equall play-fellowes no perill lyes The man that giues a weapon to his stronger Is like himselfe to carrie rule no longer Ech little spot appeares most in the face Great might is like a fortified tower No man can manage great affaires of state And yet content a wayward multitude Where many lead they lead to many blowes Let Gods with Gods and men with men contend What ere he be with his superiour playes Stands in the mouth of daunger many wayes He hardly will entreat that may commaund All dignitie on tickle stayes doth stand With mightie men 't is better ceasing strife Than an vnequall quarrell to maintaine There is no hell like to declining pompe He sits not safest that is mounted high In high degree small faulâ—s are quickely spyde But low estate a many errours hyde No high estate can yeeld a quiet life The power of vertue euer-more preuailes What though our sinnes goe braue and better clad They are in ragges as base and all as bad Might breakes the law the sacred Senat makes The more our greatnesse makes our faulâ—s the more Similies on the same subiect AS in fine cloth the brightest staines we see So faults are most discern'd in high degree As â—â—stie clâ—mbers oft catch suddaine falls So might mis-vsde doth kindle nought but braules Aâ— he that stands on high stands still in feare So they that manage states doe want no care As Rasors are not fit for childrens hands So fooles no way beseeme authoritie As presidents are aptest meanes for youth So rulers goodnesse giues example best As the great Elme supports the spreading vine So might ought still support humilitie Examples hereof are generally through the booke as in Kings Princes Kingdomes Magistrates c. and therefore no need of other collections Of Courage c. Courage is foe to faint-heart cowardise And man-hood teacheth valour to be wise COurage emboldneth wit wit courage armes Without experience valour wants his armes Daunger and feare like cowards turnes aside Whâ—n man-hood is by resolution tryde Skill valour guides and valour armeth skill Who hopes a conquest leaues no means vnsought The inward thoughts that haughtie courage bearâ—s Griâ—ucs moâ—â— at words than deaths pale-faced fâ—arâ—s Courage with cowardise will not be matcht The valiant man doth most in warre delight Seldome shall any liuing creature seâ— That courtesie and manhood disagree The coward seekes to liue at home in ease Valour is neuer knowne till it be tryed They that attempt high daâ—ngers â—uident Vpon no reason are not valiant Actions doe kill imaginations sway Vnequall warres t'vnequall shame is sold. The man that dares not caring how he darâ—s Sells vertues name to purchase foolish skarres Rebellious natures must be roughly vs'd Repining courage yeelds no foe a foot Cowards doe onely wish and call for death While valiant hearts in silence banish breath Vaine words cannot bewitch a valiant mind Measure not manhood by the outward shewe The noble courage neuer weeneth ought That may vnworthie of it selfe be thought Chaffer no words high courage to prouoke Courage may lend a cloake to cowardise Nothing the praise of manhood more doth marre Than foule reuenge and base contentious iarre Action is fierie valours soueraigne good True valour lodgeth in the lowliest hearts High courage with true wisdome alwayes backe Winnes perfect fame and shunneth each mishap Weakenesse is false and faith in cowards rare Gloriâ— doth follow courage goes before The man that couples courage with desire Runnes freely through his daunger and preuailes True valour aimes at honour euermore A cowards heart keepes words and deeds asunder A iewell in a ten-times bard-vp chest Iâ— a bold spirit in a loyall breast Courage and industriâ— can neuer want In conquering will true courage most is shewen In vainâ— hee seeketh others to suppresse Who hath not learn'd first to subdue him-selfe All strength is fraile and full of ficklenesse No fortunes frowne can daunt true valors heart Beggers but â—eigning brauerie are the proudest And cowards bragging boldnesse wrangle loudest A valiant mind disdaines to hide his head It 's cowardise vnworthie wrongs to beare Where wronged valour reignâ—s it 's hard to find Such pittis as may honours pride controll True valour feeles nor griefe nor miserie Resolute courage makes loue fortunate Cowards in pâ—ace doe dread the weapons sight But vrg'd by need will venture then the pikes Courage to die exceeds a captiu'd life Courage despiseth dread and conquers death Similies on the same subiect AS courage addeth wings to braue desire So bloodie shewes doth quench incensedire As it is valour to be conquerour So wisdome maketh vse of victorie As courage keepes the mind from base assaults So cowardise infects it with all faults As courage is esteem'd a wise mans coat So cowardise is follies cognisance As Faulconers doe in Faulcons most delight So mightie men reioyceth in their might Examples likewise on the same THe Romanâ— Sergius loosing his right hand Slew with his left hand foure in single fight Scaeuola entred king Porsennaes Tent Either to kill him or be slaine by him Agis disswaded from the fight replyed No man wonne shame that with true courage dyde Stout Alâ—ibiades cheerd vp his followers By his couragious leadâ—ng them to field Courage saith Seneca is of such power As it can conquer any miserie Plato saith Courage eleuates the mind To all things that are laudable and iust Of Pleasure c. Pleasure and sweet Delights doe much beguile Expecting ioy griefe happens oft meane-while PLeasures are poore and our delights soone dye Where pleasure is displac'd care keepes his â—arte Where care killes pleasure life not long endures Who tries shall find that pleasures long restrain'd Be farre more pleasant when they once are gain'd Where strife is stirr'd there pleasure hath no part Worlds pleasure lasts not long but griefe abides Farewell delight when graueld is all grace Neuer haue vniust pleasures been compleat In ioyes entire but feare still keepes the doore The sweetest pleasure hath the shortest date Long wished things a sweet delight doe beare Pleasure and penaunce still are mortall foes Enforced