.ij. vilaines more associate with him the Lieutenaunt refusyng so horrible a fact This was doen he takyng his waie progresse to Glocester whereof he was before tymes Duke the murther perpetrated he doubed the good squire knight Yet to kepe close this horrible murther he caused a fame and rumour to be spread abrode in all partes of the realme that these twoo childreÌ„ died sodainly thereby thinkyng the hartes of all people to bee quietlie setteled no heire male lefte a liue of kyng Edwardes children His mischief was soche that God shortened his vsurped raigne he was altogether in feare and dread for he being feared and dreaded of other did also feare dread neuer quicte of minde faint harted his bloodie conscience by outward signes condeÌ„pned hym his iyes in euery place whirlying and caste about his hand moche on his Dagger the infernall furies tormented him by night visions and horrible dreames drawed him from his bedde his vnquiet life shewed the state of his conscience his close murther was vttered froÌ„ the hartes of the subiectes thei called hym openlie with horrible titles and names a horrible murtherer and excecrable tiraunt The people sorowed the death of these twoo babes the Queene kyng Edwardes wife beeyng in Sanctuarie was bestraught of witte and sences sounyng and falling doune to the grounde as dedde the Queene after reuiued knéeled doune and called on God to take vengaunce on this murtherer The conscience of the people was so wounded of the tolleracion of the facte that when any blustryng winde or perilous thonder or dreadfull tempest happened with one voice thei cried out and quaked least God would take vengauÌ„ce of them for it is alwaies seen the horrible life of wicked gouernors bringeth to ruin their kyngdom and people also wicked people the like daungers to the kyngdome and Prince well he and his supporters with the Duke of Buckyngham died shamefullie The knotte of mariage promised betwene Henrie Erle of Richemonde and Elizabeth doughter to kyng Edward the fowerth caused diuerse nobles to aide and associate this erle fledde out of this lande with all power to the attainmente of the kyngdome by his wife At Nottyngham newes came to kyng Richard that the Erle of Richmonde with a small coÌ„paignie of nobles and other was arriued in Wales forthewith exploratours and spies were serit who shewed the Erle to be encampled at the toune of Liâ—â—hfield forthwith all preparacion of warre was set forthe to Leicester on euery side the Nobles and commons shranke from kyng Richarde his power more and more weakened By a village called Bosworthe in a greate plaine méete for twoo battailes by Leicester this held was pitched wherin king Richard manfully fightyng hande to hande with the Erle of Richmonde was slame his bodie caried shamefullie to the toune of Leicester naked without honor as he deserned trussed on a horse behinde a Purseuaunte of Armes like a hogge or a Calfe his hedde and his armes hangyng on the one side and his legges on the other side caried through mire and durte to the graie Friers churche to all men a spectacle and oprobrie of tirannie this was the cruell tiramites ende ¶ A narracion historicall of the commyng of Iulius Cesar into Britaine WHen Iulius Cesar had ended his mightie and huge battailes about the stood Rhene he marched into the regioÌ„ of Fraunce at the same time repairing with a freshe multitude his LegioÌ„s but the chief cause of his warie in Fraunce was that of long time he was moued in minde to see this noble Islande of Britain whose fame for nobilitee was knowen and bruted not onelie in Rome but also in the vttermoste laÌ„des Iulius Cesar was wroth with theÌ„ because in his warre sturred in Fraunce the fearce Britaines aided the Fenche men and did mightilie encounter battaill with the Romaines whose prowes and valiaunt fight slaked the proude and loftie stomackes of the Romaines and droue theÌ„ to diuerse hasardes of battaill But Cesar as a noble warrier preferryng nobilitee and worthinesse of fame before money or cowardly quietnes ceased not to enter on y e fearce Britaines and thereto prepared his Shippes the Winter tyme folowyng that assone as oportunitee of the yere serued to passe with all power against them In the meane tyme Cesar inquired of the Marchauntes who with marchaundise had accesse to the Islande as concernyng the quaÌ„titee and bignes of it the fashion and maner of the people their lawes their order and kinde of gouernmente As these thynges were in all poinctes vnknowen to Cesar so also the MarchauÌ„tes knewe no more thaÌ„ the places bordring on the sea side For the Britaines fearing the traiterous and dissembled hartes of aliauÌ„tes politikelie repelled them for no straunger was suffered to enter from his Shippe on the lande but their marchaundice were sold at the sea side All nacions sought to this land the felicitee of it was so greate whereupon the Grekes knowyng and tastyng the commoditée of this Islande called it by a Greke name Olbion whiche signifieth a happie and fortunate countrie though of some called Albion tyme chaunged the firste letter as at this daie London is called for the toune of kyng Lud. Cesar thereupon before he would marche with his armie to the people of Britain he sent Caius Volusenus a noble man of Rome a valiaunte and hardie Capitaine as Embassadour to the Britaines who as he thoughte by his Embassage should knowe the fashion of the Island the maner of the people their gouernemente But as it seemeth the Embassadour was not welcome For he durste not enter froÌ„ his Ship to dooe his maisters Embassage Cesar knewe nothing by him Yet Cesar was not so contented but sent an other Embassadour a man of more power stomack and more hardie Comas Atrebas by name who would enter as an Embassadour to accomplish the will expectacion of Cesar Comas Atrebas was so welcome that the Britains cast him in prison Embassages was not common emong theim nor the curteous vsage of Embassadours knowen Al these thinges made Cesar more wrothe to assaie the vncourtous Bristaines In those daies Cassibelan was kyng of London this Cassibelan was a prince of high wisedom of manly stomacke and valiaunt in fight and for power and valiauntnesse was chosen of the Britaines chief gouernour and kyng Dissencion and cruell warre was emong theÌ„ through the diuersitie of diuers kinges in the lande The TroinouauÌ„tes enuied the state of Cassibelan bicause Immanuencius who was kyng of London before Cassibelan was put to death by the counsail of Cassibelan The sonne of Immanuencius hearing of the commyng of Cesar did flie traiterouslie to Cesar The Troinouauntes fauoured ImmanueÌ„cius part thereupon promised as moste vile traitours to their countrie an enteryng to Cesar seruice and homage who through a self will and priuate fauour of one sought the ruine of their countrie and in
of noble peres whose studie alwaies was to liue and dye in the glorie aide and defence of their countrie for he liueth not by whose cowardlines fainted harte and courage the contrie or kyngdome standeth in perrill he liueth in shame that refuseth daunger coste or charge in the defence or procuryng better state to his countrie The worthie saiyng of Epaminundas declareth who liueth to his countrie who diyng valiauntlie in the felde beyng thrust thorow with the speare of his enemie asked those questions of these that stoede by him at the poincte of deathe is my speare manfullie broken and my enemies chassed awaie the whiche things his cōpanions in warre affirmed then saide he nowe your Capitaine Epaminundas beginneth to liue in that he dieth valiauntlie for his countrie and in the proffite aduauncement of the same a worthie man noble and valiaunte his sentence also was worthie to be knowen and followed of all suche as bee well affected and Godlie mynded to their countrie Marcus Marcellus of like sorte and Titus Manlius Torquatus Scipio Aemilianus Marcus Attilius shewed in what hye price our naturall countrée ought to bee had by their valiaunt atchifes and enterprises I might passe by in silēce Scipio Cato and Publius Scipio Nasica but that thei by like same honour and glorie liue immortall to their countrie the fame also of Vibeus Valerius Flaccu◠and Pedanius Centurio giueth ampell and large matter to all menne endued with nobilitie and valiaunt proues for the defence of their countrie with Quintus Cocctus Marcus Sceua and Sceuola ¶ Possibilitie THere nedeth no donte to rise of possibilitie seinge that examples doe remain of famous men of godlie and well affected persones whiche haue with like magnaunimitie putte in daunger their life to saue their Prince kyngdome and countrie Greate honour was giuen of the Athemans to soche noble and valiaunte men whiche ventered their liues for their common wealthe to maintaine the florishyng state thereof The eloquente and copious oracion of Thusidides the true faithfull and eloquente Historiographer doeth shewe what honour and immortall fame was attributed to all soche as did venter their liues in the florishyng state of their countrie in supportyng mainteinyng and defendyng the same Who although thei loste their liues whiche by death should bee dissolued their fame neuer buried liueth with the soule to immortalitie the losse of their Priuate wealthe glorie riches substaunce or dignitie hath purchased and obtained fame that withereth not and glorie that faileth not ¶ Agreyng and comelie BOthe the true Histories doe leaue in commendacion the facte of Zopyrus and the noble and worthie enterprises of other whiche haue giuen the like assaie and their fame is celebrated and titeled with immortall commendacion and glorie to the posteritie of all ages followyng What harte can bee so stonie or brutishly affected that wil not venter his life goodes landes or possessions if with the daunger of one that is of hymself the whole bodie and state of his countrie is thereby supported and saued What securitie and quietnesse remained what wealth honour or fame to Zopyrus if not onely Zopyrus had perished but the kyng people vniuersally had been destroied Therevpon Zopyrus weighing and cōsideryng the state of his birthe that his countrie chalenged his life rather then the dissolucion of the whole kyngdome the decaie of the Prince the takyng awaie of the scepter the slaughter of infinite people to ensue He was borne to be a profitable member to his countrie a glorie and staie to the same and not sparyng his life or shunnyng the greate deformitie of his bodie to bee a ruine of the same Was it not better that one perished then by the securitie of one a whole lande ouer runned as partes thereby spoiled it was the duetie of Zopirus to take vpon hym that greate and famous enterprise It was also comelie the kyngdome standyng in perill a sage and descrite persone to preuente and putte of soche a daunger at hande The faicte altogether sheweth all vertue and greate singularitie and a rare moderacion of minde to cast of all respectes and excuses forsakyng presentlie honour quietnesse and obiecting himself to perill he sawe if he onelie died or by ieopardie saued his countrie many thereby liued the kyngdome people florished where otherwise he with his Prince and kyngdome might haue perished ¶ Proffitable AL the power of the Babilonians was by his pollicie throwen doune the Citee taken the enemie brought to confusion on the other side the Persians rose mightie soche a mightie enemie put vnder foote The fame of Zopryus and glorie of the facte will neuer be obliterated or put out of memorie if this were not profitable to the kyngdome of Persia if this were not a renoume to the prince and people and immortall glory to Zopryus iudgeye Zopyrus therfore beautified his countree by the deformitie of his bodie Better it wer to haue many soche deformed bodies then the whole state of the realme destroied or brought to naught if we weigh the magnanimitie of that man and his enterprise there is so moche honour in the fact that his fame shall neuer cease ¶ A common place A Common place is a Oracion dilatyng and amplifiyng good or euill whiche is incidente or lodged in any man This Oracion is called A common place because the matter conteined in it doeth agree vniuersally to all menne whiche are partakers of it and giltie of the same A Oracion framed againste a certaine Thefe Ertorcioner Murderer or Traitor is for the matter conteined in it metelie and aptlie compiled against all soche as are giltie of theft murder treason or spotted with any other wickednes This oracion of a common place is like to the laste argument or Epilogus of any oracion whiche the Grekes doe call Deuterologian whiche is as moche to saie as a rehearsall of that whiche is spoken of before Wherefore a common place hath no exhordium or beginnyng yet neuerthelesse for the profite and exercise of the learner you maie place soche a proemium or beginnyng of the oracion as maie be easie to induce the learner This parte of Rhetorike is large to intreate vpon for the aboundaunce of matter This part of Rhetorike is large to intreate vpon for the aboundaunce of matter The common place whiche Aphthonius intreateth of is to be aplied against any man for the declaimor to inuade either against vices or to extoll and amplifie his vertues This oracion of a common place serueth bothe for the accuser and the defender For the accuser to exasperate and moue the Iudges or hearers against the offender or accused For the defendour to replie and with all force strength of matter to mollifie and appease the perturbacions of the Iudges and hearers to pulle doune and deface the contrarie alledged There is greate force in this oracion on bothe the sides Properlie this kinde of Rhetorike is called a
emploied studie therein Iulius Cesar the Emperour commendeth this Poete for his singularitie his commendacion giueth ample argument in this singulare sentence whiche preferreth a Monarchie aboue all states of common wealthes or kyngdome ¶ The exposicion HOmere the Poete signified by this one sentence no kyngdome or common wealthe can prospere or florishe to continue where many holde gouernement as kynges For the mindes of many rulers and princes doe moste affecte a priuate wealthe commoditie and glorie and where many doe beare soche swaie and dominion the common wealth can not be good For thei priuatly to theim selues doe beare that regiment and alwaie with the slaughter of many do seke to attain and clime to the whole gouermeÌ„t ¶ The cause MAny occasions dooe rise whereby many princes and gouernours in a common wealth be diuerslie affected so that the gouernmeÌ„t of many can not prosper For bothe in quiete state their counsailes must bee diuerse and vncertaine and where thei so differ the kyngdome standeth in great ieopardy and daunger Isocrates intreatyng of a Monarchie sheweth that the common wealth of Athenes whiche detested and refused that forme and state after the ruine and fall of their citee beyng vnder the thraldome of the LacedemoniaÌ„s bothe in their externall chiualrie and seates bothe by sea and by lande and also in regimente otherwise their citee grewe mightie and state stedfast The Carthagineans also gouerned by one had their gonernment stedfaste and kyngdome totall who in puisaunte actes might compare with the noble Romaines As the obedience to one ruler and chief gouernour sekyng a common wealth is in the hartes of the subiectes feruent and marueilous with loue embraced â—â— the Maiestie of hym is dreade with loue serued and with sincere barte and fidelitie obeied his maners folowed his lawes imitated Many gouernours bearyng regiment as their maners be diuers and fashion of life euen so the people bee like affected to the diuersitie of diuers princes And if we weigh the reuolucion of the heauens and the marueiles of God therein the maker of the same who beyng one God ruleth heauen and yearth and all thynges coÌ„tained in the same The heauen also adorned with many a starre and cleare light haue but one Sunne to gouerne theÌ„ who being of a singulare vertue aboue the rest by his vertue and power giueth vertue to the reste Also in small thynges the Ante and the Bee who for prouidence and wisedome at moche commended haue as it were a common wealth and a king to gouerne theÌ„ so in all thinges as a confusion the state of many kings is abhorred in gouernmeÌ„t After the death of Constantinus the greate Constancius his sonne was made Emperour and Licinius with him partaker in felowship of the Empire But forthwith what blood was shed in Italie with all crueltie vntill Constancius had slaine Licinius partaker of the Empire and Marabodius was slaine also whom Licinius did associate with hym in the gouernment So moche princes and chief gouernours doe hate equalitie or felowship in kingdomes After the same sort in this mightie Monarchie of Rome diuerse haue attempted at one and sondrie tymes to beare the scepter and regiment therein but that mightie Monarchie could not suffer but one gouernor The kyngdome of Thebes was in miserable state the twoo sonnes of Dedipus Eteocles and Polunices striuing bothe to be Monarche and onely kyng The kyngdome of Assiria whiche was the golden kyngdome and the first Monarchie hauyng 36. kynges by succession continued 1239. yeres this kyngdome for all nobilitie and roialnes excelled and all in a Monarchie The kyngdome of the Medes in a Monarchie florished in wealthe and glorie and all felicitie who in dominion had gouernmente 300. lackyng 8. yeres After that the monarchie of the Medes ceased the PersiaÌ„ people rose mightie bothe in people and Princes and continued in that state 236 and 7 monethes Macedonia rose from a base and meane people to beare the whole regiment and power ouer all kingdomes So God disposeth the state and seate of princes ouerthrowyng often tymes mightier kyngdomes at his will the continuaunce of this Monarchie was 157. and eight monethes ten kynges linealie descendyng Asia and Siria was gouerned by one succedyng in a sole gouernement Nicanor gouerned Siria 32. yeres In the other Antigonus raigned Demetrius Poliorchetes one yere Antiochus Soter also the scepter of gouernment left to the succession of an other then Antiochus Soter ruled all Asia and Siria hauyng 16. kinges whiche in a monarchie coÌ„tinued 189. yeres The Egipcians had famous wise and noble princes whose kyngdome and large deminion in all felicitée prospered whiche was in the tyme of Ninus the first king of the AssiriaÌ„s who hauing 10 â–ª princes one by one succedyng Cleopatra their Quéene gouerning stoode in a monarchie 288. This one thyng sheweth that kinde of gouernmente to bee roiall and moste famous not onely for the felicitée and glory therof but also for the permanent and stedfast state thereof Aristotle and Plato setteth forthe thother formes of gouernmeÌ„t But in all those no long coÌ„tinuaunce of felicitee nor of happy state can appere in them as for the contrarie to a Monarchie is tirannis pestiferous and to be detested where one man gouerneth to his priuate gaine pillyng and polyng his subiectes murderyng with all crueltie neither Lawe nor reason leadyng thereto but will bearyng regiment ouer lawe Iustice and equitee whiche princes often tymes see not How the wilfull rashenes or tirannicall minde doeth abase them and make them though in vtter porte the same princes yet in verie déede thei bee thrall and slaue to beastlie affeccion Nothyng dooeth so moche adorne and beautifie the seate and throne of a prince as not onely to beare dominion ouer mightie people and regions then to be lorde ouer hymself The state of a fewe pèeres or nobles to holde the chief and whole gouernment who bothe in vertue learnyng and experience dooe excelle is a goodlie state of common wealth But the profe of that common wealthe and ende sheweth and the maner of Princes who although thei be of life godlie wise graue expert and politike For these vertues or ornamentes ought to be reposed in soche noble personages thei doe marueilously chaunge and alter So honour and preeminente state puffeth theim vp and blindeth theim that euery one in the ende seeketh to climbe ouer all as hed and gouernour Shewe me one kinde of this state and forme of gouernmente whiche either longe prospered or without bloodshed and destruccion of the rest of the nobles and peres haue not caught the whole regimente Seyng that in all common wealthes and kingdomes equalitee or felowshippe will not be suffred in gouernmente for it can not bee that this forme of common wealthe maie bée good as Aristotle and Plato sheweth The ende of this gouernemente fell euer to one with a ruine of the
of fortune more inferiour or base Vpon a citee praise maie be recited consideryng the goodlie situacion of it as of Paris Venice London Yorke consideryng the 〈◊〉 of the lande the wealthe and aboundaunce the noble and famous gouernours whiche haue gouerned the same The first aucthors and builders of the same the politike lawes and godlie statutes therein mainteined The felicitee of the people their maners their valâ—aunt prowes and hardines The buildyng and ornatures of the same with Castles Toures Hauens Floodes Temples as if a manne would celebrate with praise The olde famous and aunciente Citée of London shewyng the auncient buildyng of the same the commyng of Brutus who was the firste aucthor and erector of the same As Romulus was of the mightie Citée Rome what kyngs haue froÌ„ tyme to tyme lineally descended and succeded bearing croune and scepter therein the valiauntnes of the people what terror thei haue been to all forraine nacions What victories thei haue in battaile obteined how diuers nacions haue sought their amitée and league The false Scottes and Frenche menne truce breakers many and sonderie tymes losyng their honour in the field and yet thei through the puissaunt harte of the kynges of this lande vpholdyd and saued from the mighte and force of other enemies inuadyng theim The twoo famous Vniuersitées of this lande from the whiche no small nomber of greate learned men and famous haue in the comon wealthe sprong with all other thynges to it The praise of a Kyng Prince Duke Erle Lorde Baron Squire or of any other man be maie declaimed of obseruing the order of this parte of Rhetorike This parte of Rhetorike called praise is either a particuler praise of one as of kyng Henry the â—â—â—te Plato Tullie Demosthenes Cyrus 〈◊〉 Alexander the greate Or a generalle and vniuersalle praise as the praise of all the Britaines or of all the citâ—â—â—inâ— of London ¶ The order to make this Oracion 〈…〉 Firste for the enteryng of the matter you shall place a exordium or beginnyng The second place you shall bryng to his praise Genuseius that is to faie Of what kinde be came of whiche dooeth consiste in fower poinctes Of what nacion Of what countrie Of what aâ—â—cetours Of what parentes After that you shall declare his educacion the educacion is conteined in thrée poinctes In Institucion Arte. Lawes Then put there to that whiche is the chief grâ—â—â—de of al praise his actes doen whiche doe procede out of the giftes and excellencies of the minde as the fortitude of the mynde wisedome and magnanimitée Of the bodie as a beautifull face amiable countenaunce swiftnesse the might and strength of the same The excellencies of fortune as his dignitée power aucthoritie riches substaunce frendes In the fifte place vse a comparison wherein that whiche you praise maie be aduaunced to the vttermoste Lasts of all vse the Epilogus or conclusion ¶ The example of the Oracion ¶ The praise of Epaminundas IN whom nature hath powred singuler giftes in whom vertue singularitee in 〈…〉 enterprises aboundeth whose glorie renowne 〈◊〉 to the 〈…〉 immortall 〈…〉 â—n the graâ—e their vertues and godlie life tasteth not of Obliuion whiche at the length ouershroweth all creatures Citées and regions Thei liue onelie in all ages whose vertues spreadeth same and noble enterprises by vertue rooteth immortalitee Who so liueth as that his good fame after death ceaseth not nor death with the bodie rutteth of their memorie of use Soche not onely in life but also in death are moste fortunate In death all honor dignitee glorie wealthe riches are taken from vs The fame and glorie of singulare life is then chieflie takyng his holde and roote wise men and godlie in life knowen famous after death remain woste worthie glorious Who knoweth not of Tullie the famous Oratour of Rome Doeth Demosthenes lieth hidden that noble Oratour of Athenes Is not y t fame of Iulius Cesar Octauius Augustus remainyng of Vespasianus of Theodosius of Traianus of Adrianus who by praise minded be left to the ende of al ages Soche a one was this Epaminundas the famous Duke of Thebe whose vertues gane hym honour in life and famous enterprises immortalitée of fame after death What can bee saied more in the praise and commendacion of any peere of estate then was saied in the praise of Epaminundas for his vertues were so singulare that it was doubted he beyng so good a manne and so good a Magistrate whether he were better manne or better Magistrate whose vertues were so vnited that vertue alwaies tempered his enterprises his loftie state as fortune oftentymes blindeth did not make hym vnmindfull of his state No doubt but that in all common wealthes famous gouernours haue been but in all those the moste parte haue not been soche that all so good men and so good magistrates that it is doubted whether thei 〈…〉 or better magistrates It is a rare thyng to be 〈…〉 but a more difficult matter to bee a good Magistrate and moste of all to be bothe a good man and a good Magistrate Honour and preeminent state doeth 〈…〉 whereupon thei ought the more 〈◊〉 to wadeâ— in all causes and with all moderacion to temper their preeminent state The Philosophers ponderyng the brickle and slippere state of fortune did pronunce this sentence Difficilius est res aduersas pati quam fortunam eslantem ferre it is more easie to beare sharpe and extreme pouertie then to rule and moderate fortune because that the wisest menne of all haue as Chronicles doe shewe felte this obliuion that their maners haue been so chaunged as that natures molde in theÌ„ had ben altered or nuelie framed in the life of EpaminuÌ„das moderacion and vertue so gouerned his state that he was a honor and renowne to his state nothing can be more ample in his praise then that which is lefte Chronicled of him Of his countrie EPaminundas was borne in Thebe a famous citie in Beotia the which Cadmus the soÌ„ne of Agenor builded whiche Amphion did close enuiron with walles in the whiche the mightie and valiaunt Hercules was borne manie noble Princes helde therin scepter the which Citie is tituled famous to the posterity by the noble gouernment of Epaminundas ¶ Of his auncetours EPaminundas came not of anie highe nobilitie or blood but his parentes were honeste and verteous who as it semed were verie well affected to vertue instructyng their soonne in all singulare and good qualities for by good and vertuous life and famous enterprises from a meane state manie haue bene extolled to beare scepter or to attaine greate honour for as there is a begynnyng of nobilitie so there is an ende by vertue and famous actes towarde the common wealthe nobilite first rose The stock of Cesar and Cesars was exalted from a meaner state by vertue onelie to nobilitie Scipios stocke was not alwais noble but his
wealthe for grauitée and coūsaile nor the posteritée of ages twoo more worthie celebracion Thusidides speakyng in the commendacion of famous men sheweth as concernyng the fame of noble men whose vertue farre surmounteth thē and passeth al other Thenuious man seketh to deprane the worthinesse of fame in other his bragging nature with fame of praise not decorated The ignoraunte and simple nature accordyng to his knowlege iudgeth all singularitée and tempereth by his owne actes the praise of other But the fame of these twoo Oratours neither the enuious nature can diminishe their praise nor the ignoraunt be of them a arbitrator or iudge so worthely hath all ages raised fame and commendacion of their vertues ¶ Of their countree IN Grece Demosthenes the famous Oratour of Athenes was borne whose Countrée or Citee lacketh no cōmendacion either for the nobilitée of the lande or glorie of the people What nacion vnder the Sunne hath not heard of that mightie Monarchie of Grece of their mightie citees and pollitike gouernaunce What famous Poetes how many noble Philosophers and Oratours hath Grece brede What science and arte hath not flowne from Grece so that for the worthinesse of it it maie bee called the mother of all learnyng Roome also in whom Tullie was brought vp maie contende in all nobilitee whose power and puisant glorie by nobilitee of actes rose to that mightie hed In bothe soche excellencie is founde as that no nacion might better contende of their singularitée and honour of countrée then Grece and Rome yet first from the Grekes the light of Philosophie and the aboundant knowledge of all artes sprange to the Romaines from the Grecians The Godlie Lawes wherewith the Romaine Empire was decorated and gouerned was brought from the Grecians If the citee maie bee a honour and glorie to these twoo Oratours or their Eitees a singuler commendacion there wanteth in bothe neither honour or nobilitee ¶ Of their auncestours and parentes BOthe Demosthenes and Tullie were borne of verie meane parentes and auncestours yet thei thorowe their learnyng and vertues became famous ascendyng to all nobilitee Of their vertues and learnyng not of their auncestours nobilitée rose to them ¶ Of the educacion THE singuler vertues of theim bothe appered euen in their tender youth wherupon thei being brought vp in all godlie learnyng and noble Sciences theibecame moste noble Oratours and by their copious Eloquence counsaile and wisedom aspired to nobilitée honor ¶ Of their 〈…〉 BOthe were taught of the mouthe of the best learned Demosthenes of Iseus a man moste Eloquent Cicero of Philo and Milo famous in wisedome and Eloquence ¶ Of their exercise CIcero did exercise hymself verie mothe to declaime bothe in Greke and Latine with Marcus Piso and with Quintus Pampeius Demosthenes wanted not industrie and labour to attain to that singularitée whiche he had bothe in Eloquence and pronounciacion ¶ Of the giftes of their minde IN bothe integritee humanitee magnanimitee and all vertue flowed at what time as Demosthenes was commaunded of the Athenians to frame a accusacion againste a certaine man Demosthenes refused the acte But when the people and the whole multitude were wrothe with hym and made a exclamacion against hym as their maner was Then Demosthenes rose and saied O ye men of Athenes againste my will you haue me a counsailer or pleater of causes before you but as for a accuser calumniator no not although ye would Of this sorte Tullie was affected excepte it were onely in the sauegard of his countrée as against Catiline bothe were of godlie and of vpright conuersacion altogether in Mediocrite and a newe leadyng their life ¶ Of their actes DEmosthenes and Tullie bothe gaue themselues to trauail in the causes and affaires of their common wealthe to the preseruacion of it How vehemently did Demosthenes pleate and ingeniouslie handle the cause of all his countree against Philip for the defence of their libertee whereupon he gatte fame and greate glory Whereby not onely he was coumpted a great wise counsailour but one of a valiaunte stomacke at whose wisedome all Grece stode in admiracion The kyng of Persia laboured to enter fauour with him Philip the king of the Macedonians would saie often tymes he had to doe against a famous man notyng Demosthenes Tullie also by his Eloquence and wisedome saued Roome and all partes of that dominion from greate daungers ¶ Of their aucthoritee THeir aucthoritee and dignitee was equalle in the common wealthe For at their twoo mouthes Roome and Athenes was vpholed Demosthenes was chief in fauour with Caretes Diophetes Leostines Cicero with Pompei Iulius Cesar ascending to the chief seate and dignitee of the Consulship ¶ Of a like fall that happened to them before their death YOu can not finde soche twoo Orators who borne of meane poore parentes that attained so greate honour who also did obiecte themselues to tyrantes a like thei had losse of their children a like bothe were out of their countree banished men their returne was with honour bothe also fliyng happened into the haudes of their enemies ¶ Of their death BOthe a like Demosthenes and Tully wer put to death Demosthenes died Antipater gouernyng by the handes of Archias Cicero died by the commaundement of Marcus Antonius by Herenius his hedde was cutte of and sette in Marcus Antonius halle His handes also were cutte of with the whiche he wrote the vehement Oracions against Marcus Antonius ¶ The conclusion TO speake as moche as maie bee saied in the praise of theim their praise would rise to a mightie volume but this is sufficiente ¶ Ethopoeia Ethopoeia is a certaine Oracion made by voice and lamentable imitacion vpon the state of any one This imitacion is in iij. sortes either it is Eidolopoeia Prosopopoeia Ethopoeia That parte whiche is called Ethopoeia is that whiche hath the persone knowne but onely it doeth faigne the maners of the same and imitate in a Oracion the same Ethopoeia is called of Priscianus a certaine talkyng to of any one or a imitaciō of talke referred to the maners aptly of any certaine knowen persone Quintilianus saieth that Ethopoeia is a imitacion of other meane maners whom the Grekes dooe calle not onelie Ethopoeia but mimesis this is in the maners and the fact This parte is as it were a liuely expression of the maner and affeccion of any thyng whereupon it hath his name The Ethopoeia is in three sortes The firste a imitacion passiue whiche expresseth the affection to whom it parteineth whiche altogether expresseth the mocion of the mynde as what patheticall and dolefull oracion Hecuba the quene made the citee of Troie destroied her housbande her children slaine The second is called a morall imitaciō the whiche doeth set for the onely the maners of any one The thirde is a mirt the whiche setteth for the bothe the maners and the affection as how and after what sorte Achilles spake vpon Patroclus he beyng dedde
when for his sake he determined to fight the determinacion of hym sheweth the maner The frende slaine the affection In the makyng of Ethopoeia lette it be plaine and without any large circumstaunce In the makyng of it ye shall diuide it thus to make the Oracion more plaine into three tymes A presente tyme. A tyme paste A tyme to come Eidolopoeia is that part of this Oracion whiche maketh a persone knowne though dedde and not able to speake Eidolopoeia is called of Priscianus a imitacion of talke of any one vpon a dedde manne it is then called Eidolopoeia when a dedde man talketh or communicacion made vpon a dedde manne Eidolopoeia when a dedde manne talketh is set forthe of Euripides vpon the persone of Polidorus dedde whose spirite entereth at the Prologue of the tragedie Hector slain speaketh to Eneas in Eidolopoeia O Eneas thou goddes sonne flie and saue thy self from this ruine and fire the enemies hath taken the walles and loftie Troie is prostrate to the grounde I would haue thought I had died valiantlie inough to my countrée and my father Priamus if with this my right hande Troie had bee defended Polidorus beyng dedde in Eidolopoeia talketh to Eneas whiche Virgil sheweth in his thirde booke of Eneados Iulia the wife of Pompei beyng dedde spake to Pompe preparyng his arme against Cesar Eidolopoeia Reade Lucane in the beginnyng of his thirde booke Tullie vseth Eidolopoeia when he maketh talke vpon Hiero beyng dedde If that kyng Hiero were reduced frō his death who was a aduauncer of the Romaine Empire with what countenaunce either Siracusa or Rome might be shewed to hym whom he maie beholde with his iyes His countree brought to ruin spoiled if that kyng Hiero should but enter Rome euen in the firste entryng he should beholde the spoile of his countree Tullie also vseth the like Eidolopoeia as thus vpon Lucius Brutus dedde If it so wer that Lucius Brutus that noble and famous manne were on liue and before your presence would he not vse this oracion I Brutus somtyme did banishe and cast out for crueltee the state and office of kinges by the horrible fact of Tarquinius againste Lucretia and all that name banished but you haue brought in tyrauntes I Brutus did reduce the Romain Empire to a fredome and libertée but you foolishly can not vphold and maintein the same giuen to you I Brutus with the daunger of my life haue saued my countree of Roome but you without all daunger lose it ¶ Prosopopoeia AS cōcerning Prosopopoeia it is as Pristianus saith when to any one againste nature speache is feigned to bee giuen Tullie vseth for a like example this when he maketh Roome to talke againste Cateline ¶ Prosopopoeia of Roome NO mischief hath been perpetrated this many yeres but by thee Catiline no pestiferous acte enterprised without thee thou a lone for thy horrible murther perpetrated vpon the citee of Rome for the spoile and robberies of their gooddes art vnpunished Thou onelie haste been of that force and power to caste doune all lawes and aucthoritee Although these thinges were not to be borne yet I haue borne them but now thy horrible factes are come to soche an issue that I feare thy mischiues Wherfore leaue of Cateline and deminishe this feare from me that I maie be in securitée Lucane the Poete intreating of mightie and fearce warres againste Pompei and Cesar maketh Roome to vse this Prosopopoeia againste Cesar Quo tenditis vltra quo fertis mea signa viri Si iure venitis si aues hucusque licet Prosopopoeia is properlie when all thinges are faigned bothe the maners the persone as of Roome in this place ¶ what lamentable Oracion Hecuba Quene of Troie might make Troie being destroied WHat kyngdome can alwaies assure his state or glory What strength can alwaies last What power maie alwaies stande The mightie Okes are somtyme caste from roote the Ceadars high by tempestes falle so bitter stormes dooe force their strength Soft waters pearseth Rockes and ruste the massie Iron doeth bryng to naught So nothyng can by strēgth so stande but strength maie ones decaie yea mightie kingdoms in time decaie haue felt Kingdomes weake haue rose to might and mightie kyngdomes fallen no counsaile can preuaile no power no strength or might in lande God disposeth Princes seates their kyngdome there with standes I knewe before the brickell state how kyngdomes ruine caught my iye the chaunge of fortune sawe as Priamus did aduaunce his throne by fauour Fortune gat on other Fortune then did froune whose kingdom did decaie Well now I knowe the brickle state that fortune hath no staie all rashe her giftes Fortune blind doeth kepe no state her stone doth roule as floodes now flowe floodes also ebbe So glory doth remaine sometyme my state on high was sette in Princelie throne my porte and traine ful roiall was a kyng my father also was my housband scepter held Troie and Phrigia serued his becke many kynges his power did dreade his wille their power did serue The fame of Troie and Brute his glorie and renouine what landes knoweth not But now his falle all toungues can speake so greate as glorie was though kyngdomes stronge was sette loftie Troie in duste prostrate doeth lye in blood their glorie people kyng are fallen no Quene more dolefull cause hath felte The sorowes depe doe passe my ioyes as Phebus light with stormes caste doune Hectors death did wounde my hart by Hectors might Troie stiffe did stande my comforte Hector was Priamus ioye of Troie all the life the strength and power his death did wound me for to die but alas my dolefull and cruell fate to greater woe reserueth my life loftie Troie before me felle sworde and fire hath seate and throne doune caste The dedde on heapes doeth lye the tender babes as Lions praies are caught in bloode before my sight Priamus deare murdered was my children also slain who roiall were and princes mates No Queene more ioye hath tasted yet woe my ioyes hath quite defaced My state alwaie in bondage thrall to serue my enemies wille as enemie wille I liue or dye No cruell force will ridde my life onely in graue the yearth shal close my woes the wormes shall gnawe my dolefull hart in graue My hedde shall ponder nought when death hath sence doune caste in life I sought no ioye as death I craue no glorie was so wished as death I seeke with death no sence In prison depe who dolefull lieth whom Fetters sore dooeth greue Their dolefull state moste wisheth death in dongion deepe of care my harte moste pensiue is vnhappie state that wisheth death with ioye long life eche wight doeth craue in life who wanteth smart Who doeth not féele or beare somtime a bitter storme to doleful tune mirth full oft chaunged is the meaner state more quiet rest on high who climes more deper care more dolefull harte doeth presse