caring for such men as care for them But if a man bée so vnwise to trouble a Womans wit to care for him howe wise is hee and what a wit hath shoe Confesse you that haue guiltie consciences and learne to bee wise and thinke this sufficient commendation for a Woman if shee bee a Uirgin for chastitie with Uirginitie vertuous of condition courteous and true of loue such a Woman ought to bee and if such they be not pray for them as I d ee and such as are honour them as worthie and for their sakes all other whatsoeuer they bee iudge the best till you see the contrarie and where you knowe it shake your heade and say nothing but it is pittie God hath done his part in her God amend her put the fault in pride and not in her And you shall fee such a chaunge that it was not shee no forsooth as little children say it was the Bulbegger They say nowe the worlde is towardes the last yeare and men towarde theyr last wittes then let Women bee towardes their first Wisedome And if they shew but little Wisedome yet let that haue such commendation that they may bee encouraged to continue and encrease the same For surely well considered a man can not do honour to a more worthie person then a Woman Is it not an abuse in a man to disprayse his friende What greater friend to a man then a Woman who can discommend that he loues except he dissemble sore hypocrisie is as ill as heresie What can a man loue more then a Woman what such loue as betwixt them Marrie some will say they must loue déerely or hate deadly God forbidde that anie man should bée out of charitie I would thinke it a harde matter to hate a woman Yet since it is possible to doo little better I thinke it wisdome to conceale it for there is nothing gotten by reuealing it Well not to séeme tedious let me drawe towards an ende thinke well of as many as you may loue whome you haue cause hate none whatsoeuer you thinke say nothing in their dishonour least you growe in their vtter dislyking and then your roome as good as your company When you seeke for fauonr take a flowte with you I maruaile you can away so long with a Womans companie â—…c But well to anoyde the frumpes flowtes skowles disdainefull spéeches quippes tauntes and angrie couutenaunces that Women will soone bestow where they sée cause doo this if you cannot loue yet doo not loath if you will not honour yet doo not hate if your conscience let you not commend them yet let your courtesie not let you doo the contrarie Remember your Mother forget not your friend offend not your Mistresse and make much of your selfe If you like my counsaile followe it if not disdaine it not if you loue a Woman remember mée if you care for none wee will none of vs trouble you if wee doo it it is agaynst our willes But who is he that loues not a Woman and wherefore then will any looke awrie vpon mée I knowe not and shall I say I care not Well let it goe since it is not I doo all for the best and I trust the best will take it so as for the rest there lyes neither life nor death vpon a looke and therefore hoping the best I will not doubt the contrarie And if men be as well contented with me for this prayse of Women as I am determined to content them with the like of them héereafter if will be not froward and Wit faile me not I trust the Ace of Diamonds will go to the stocke and cuerie man will be pleased In the meane time aboute some better worke then I meane to make boast of I must attend my Haruest ere I fall to Hawking Thus if I said anie thing amisse God forgiue mée if I haue sayde well God bée thanked take it among you if I haue said truly it is not to be blamed if otherwise I haue but spoken mine opinion which I hope to see fully approued And so sorie if I haue sayd that the wise will mistike and glad if I haue written that the good will take well I conclude of a suddaine with this short sentence Hic haec homo Considera quid mulier Like of them as you list loue whom you can when you séeke for fauour God send you good fortune And so fare you well N. G. Gent. FINIS A Dialogue betweene Anger and Patience Anger FIe on the world the flesh and the Diuell Patience What is the matter Anger The world is naught Pati It may amend Anger When it is too late Patience Better late then neuer Anger As good neuer a whit as neuer the better Patience A crust is better then no bread at all Anger A crust is hard of disgestion Patience Not for a hungrie stomacke Anger Oh it will aske vile chewing Patience Take time enough Anger My belly will thinke my throate cut that I â—…eede no faster Patience A little sufficeth Nature Anger When she hath enough Patience Then shee néedes no more Anger Yea but where is that enough Patience In Gods Grace Anger Why I haue the grace of GOD but I want the wealth of the world to grace my selfe withall Patience Alas the brauerie of the world is but beggerie before God And the rich man to heauen goes as a Cammell through a needles eye Anger Yea but begging is a vile life in the meane time Patience Then worke Anger That goes against the Wooll Patience Paines brings profit Anger I haue often lost my labour Patience Take héed thâ—…n howe you worke Anger Had I wist was a foole Patience Then learne to be wise Anger But how Patience Not with hasse Anger How much leysure Patience A little and a little Anger Wordes are good but that they bring no substance Patience A colde winde is good in a hotte Summer Anger Yea but the winde of wordes is but a blast Patience I perceiue one cooling card will nâ—…t sâ—…rue a hot gamâ—…ster Anger Oh what a slaue was I Patience Wherefore Anger Play play Patience Play no more Anger Oh Primero Patience Rest from rests Anger And what shall I do Patience Be quiet Anger I cannot Patience What troubles you Anger All things Men Women and Children Men be 〈◊〉 Women worse and Children costly Patience Condemne not all for a few and take héede whome you trust Men are wise Women wittie and Children must bee cared for Anger Why doost thou crosse me Patience To 〈◊〉 thée to right Anger Why whether was I going Patience From thy selfe Anger Why am I mad Patience No but in a melanchoâ—…y Anger That is but an humour Patience 〈◊〉 yâ—…u whereof it comes Anger No I pray you tell me Patience Of Choller Anger How should I get helpe â—…it Patience It must be purged by Patience Anger That is forst Phisicke Patience Yet will it worke well Anger When shall I take it Patience Euening and morning
haste may hinder thée and slouth may set thée behinde hand Looke where the Sprites be take héede least they catche holde of thée and then all we leaue thée and then bee sure the Ladies will euer disdaine thée nowe â—…llowe my counsaile and God spéede thée Thus with humble thankes vnto vvisdome I tooke vvit and â—…eason and set foorth towarde Fancie Syr quoth shee whither walks you Friend quoth vvit tell her whither vvit and Reason shall carrie me with Content frâ—…m Francie Lorde at this aunswere howe shee scoulde Canst thou not passe by mee quoth shee but thâ—…u must robbe mee of my Content Well thou must aske Loue leaue yet ere hee go and if hée will let him go take him to thée and away sheeflung to Follie Nowe as I came by Loue friend quoth shee whither newe let us haue a little talke with you Saye quoth vvit your Tale will bée too long I cannot tarrie I am going whither Carefull vvisedome wilde vvit and Reason to leade mee with Content from Loue. Oh howe he frowned what quoth hee wilt thou not leaue me my Content Well Patience hath a part in him Sée what shée will say to thee since â—… cannot keepe him so away hee ranne so Rage and so I lost him Nowe must I come by Frenzie who lookt on me so terribly that without giuing eares to his spéeches I fetched a leape almost from vvit and Reason too but thanked bee God when I came to Patience I founde them both againe Howe nowe quoth shee whither will you Tell her quoth vvit whither vvisedome with Care hath commaunded vvit with Reason to take Content from Patience and so to accompanie me till I return againe Alas quoth Patience Ultra posse non est esse I can not holde him thou must haue him and so heauiliâ—… shee went to wofull Discontent with whome shee abode till our returne againe Nowe was I â—… most daunger wee must passe along by the Spirits whome as I came by with Content in hande they snatcht and caught at vs. When vvit and Reason by carefull vvisdomes warning kept vs aloofe from their fingers Then when they sawe they could not catch vs Lorde what meanes they made to allure vs. Vanitie had a Million of toyes which so pleased mine eye that Wit and Reason had much a doo to holde me from her shee would shewe mee such gallant inchaunted Glasses and in them such swete Ladies such heauenly Faces such singular bodies with such excellent Graces that if I had had Fancie with mee shee had beene fast for starting if Loue he had beene linckt if Frenzie he had beene in his kinde if Patience shee would haue forgot her selfe I maye tell you that Wit and Reason had neuer so much in their liues to doo to kéepe Content and me from them But Carefull VVisedome maye doo much Now when Beautie could doo nothing then did shee fill out dilicate Wines into Artificicall Glasses and sette daintie Iunkettes to mooue me to that vaine delight But my stomacke was full what coulde I wishe more then Content When this would doo no good with mee then brought shee forth a sight of gallant Horsses their heades full of Feathers 〈◊〉 Content coulde goe on foote then thought shee now or neuer Oh shee had a Citterne on which â—…hee plaâ—…de me a fine peece of Italian Musicke and sung Che Compraâ—… Mâ—…tonne Tushe I was not then fasting and therefore I cared not for her fleshe Then did shée open a pretie Chest out of which shee drâ—…we out â—…che Iewelles rare Pearles precieus Stones and after them Silkes of all colours fine Ribbons Cutworke Ruffâ—…s Stringes Laces Purses 〈◊〉 Pinnes Gloues and a thousand things with what doo you lâ—…cke Syr Noneof these quoth Wit Reason would be gâ—…ne Now suddainly began the blacke Sprite to sound his Trumpet but Lorde what an vnpleasant noise it made Nowe it was time for I beganne to be afraide which Wit and Reason seeing comforted me with Content of hope to sée she ende of my happie iourney Now when I was past them I askt of wit what they were Why quoth hee wee shall heare by and by Knowledge here before kéepes the key of Vertues gates he will tell vs. Now when we came to him he told me the one was a Pyper and the other a Pedier Nowe Knowledge not ignoraunt of my trauaile nor my guides brought vs all before the two Ladies Vertue and Fâ—…me Before whome we fell on knee and first to Vertue beséeching fauour shee demaunded of Knowledge what and whence we werâ—… who reported no other then truth and shee considering the friends that sent vs her chiefe Councellours and VVit and Reason their chiefe Seruaunts badde Content bee of good chéere hée should receiue Courtesie so in short she did vouchsafe vs her fauour Nowe was I become seruant to Vertue But quoth shee for mine elder Sister Fame fauour you maye haue promise of but not entertainement vntill you haue fulfilled certaine of my commaundements Which are these heare them let Wit note thâ—…m Reason remember and Wisedome take care to see thée execute them The first is when you passe by Vanitie tell her you are sworne to Vertue And ere you go sweare to shunne Vanitie and â—…schew her Uiâ—…s Looke in her Glasses but loue not her painted faces Come not on the backe of her pampered Pâ—…lfrayes and giue a puffe at her foolishe Feathers Delight not in her Glasses Drinke not of her Wine nor feede of her Dainties stoppe thine eares from her fidling Musicke and close thine eyes from her Trumperies Shake thy heade at the shamefull sounde of Infaime and so passe that 〈◊〉 Passe aloÌ„g by Patience with pleasure flie by Frenzie with feare looke away from Loue with loyaltie to Vertue frowne on Fancie with Fidelitie to Fame Make much of wit and loue Reason honour wisedome by carefull wisdome seeke wealth sufficient let wealth not make thâ—… Couetous leâ—…st that thou loose Content This is the sum of my Will which as wisedome writes me woorde hee sees with Care performed â—…t your returne I promise you preferment to Fame and thus fare you well Thus backe againe went I through all the perillous passages y â— I had gone through before Now first I must passe by the two Spirits which as I came by the pieâ—… Spirit first began thus to play the Trull with mee shee helde mee out a Glasse wherein shee did liuelie showe me such intising toyes as woulde haue made a man that had any life in him to haue lookt towards them First shee shewed mee a trowpe of faire Ladies euerie one her Louer colling and kissing chinning and embracing and looking Badies in one anothers eyes Anon they were set downe euerie Ladie with her Louer hard by her with his head in her lay and his hand in her purse By them a sight of sweete Soules sitting by a Candle catching of Fleas There were other sights of more effect then all these to set a yong mans heart on
your selues to Care And him acknowledge for your cheefest King VVith whome no King or Keisar may compare who beares so great a sway in euery thing At home abroad in Peace and eke in warre Care chiefly stands to eyther make or marre The Court he keepes is in a wise conceit His house a head where reason rules the wit His seate the heart that hateth all deceit His bed the braine that feeles no frantick fit His diet is the Cates of sweete content Thus is his life in heauenly pleasure spent His kingdome is the whole world round about Sorrowe his sword to such as dare rebell His counsaile wisedame that decides each doubt His skill foresight of things to come to tell His chiefe delight is studies of deuise To keepe his Subiests out of miseries Oh courteous King oh high and mightie Care VVhat shall I write in honour of thy name But to the vvorld by due desert declare Thy royall state and thy immortall Fame Then so I ende as I at first begun Care is the King of Kings vvhen all is done FINIS VVIll Surely I neuer heard so much of Care before but reason hath shewed me all is true that you haue spoken of him And therefore let vs humbly craue his helpe in this our worke which wee are to take in hand I dare warrant his fauour VVit Saist theu so VVill then let vs goe Time trudgeth away we haue talked long Mountaines neuer meete but freendes often good happe comes oft vnlookt for but neuer vnwelcome I thought not to haue found thée heere but we see Fortune doth much but Fates more to bring fréendes togither and friendship doth much where faith is fixed And faith is a Iewell and Iewelles are precious and precious is for Princes Oh God trust me wil we must be warie to work so with aduise of Care that as we are friends one to another so we may prooue in all actions to shew our chéefest Iewell our faithfull heart to God and her Maiestie To whom might we once be so happie as to present a péece of work worthie the receit oh how glad should then eur hearts bee which with faithful dutie would aduenture death for her most excellent fauour which til by desert we finde alwaies let vs loue and honour our singuler good Lord that hath vouchsafed vs his vndeserued fauour and let vs heartily praye for the preseruation of her most excellent Maiestie with long and prosperous reigne ouer vs as for the aduancement of his Honours estate who by his Uertues deserues and by desertes hath found Fauour of her Highnes loue of her Péeres honour of vs and a number our betters And so let vs away into my Closset of Conceit where from company we will thinke vpon such matters as heere weâ—… wil not talke on Wil. Content Wee wll goe togither studie thou and I will make my pen ready at thine or his Honours commandement And thus til we haue dispatcht our worke in hand lette vs take our leaue humbly of our good Lord and courteously of all our fréendes Wishing them to imploy their studies to the pleasure of God conteÌ„t of the best sort profit of themselues and good example to others and so Bacciando le mani del Signore let vs bid them all Adio From our heart this 20. of August 1597. Iâ—…genii voluntas The Authors Dreame of straunge effects as followeth NOT many daies since it was my hap to trauaile not farre hence into a Countrey called the Iland of Inuenâ—…on where I met with many of mine acquaintance as well fréendes as foes New my foes began to flatter mee and my fréendes as fast to frowne on me My fréends were wit and Reason Wisdome Care Wealth and ConteÌ„t My foes were Wil and Rage Folly and Rechlesnes Woe and Discontent now there were other betwixt fréendes and foes that stood looking at mee with a straunge countenaunce as who shoulde say wilt thou or wilt thou not these were Fancie Loue Frenzie and Patience Now there were two Ladies that sate in such a state that I had much a doo to looke vp to them these were Vertue and Fame Nowe belowe there were two Sprites which I was vily afraide off the one was pide of all colours and the other as blacke as a Coale the coloured was Vanitie and the other Infamie Nowe as I lookt about mee â—… remember my first words were these God blesse me from Sprites And then looking vpwardes I wisht to God I could clime vppe to the two Ladies But soft a while there is more in it then so more steppes in a Ladder then one and more stickes then one to the making of the steppes Soft fyre makes swéete Maulte Non cuiâ—…is attâ—…ngit adire Coriâ—…thum The Court is not for common persons let Beggers stand at Gates I am but a poore trauailer I must acqaint my selfe with meane men before I séeme to looke so high let me go speake with my friendes But what meane my foes â—…hus to vse me with courtesie What would they bee friends with me But let me see who is hée that so frownes on mee while I am looking on my foes Oh it is my friend VVit let mee go to him and learne the cause of his choller Why art thou angrie good VVit VVill is at thy commaunde if thou thinkest well of thy friende leaue those frowning lookes that will soone bring me out of loue with thee What quoth Reason remember who is thy friend haâ—… thou forgotten what I haue tolde thée what is will without wit yea quoth I and what is VVit without Reason Oh quoth VVisdome cold wordes VVisedome showes wit cannon want Reason yea but quoth I where is wisedome Oh quoth Care come to me and I wil telthâ—… tush quoth I what is Care without wealth Oh yes quoth VVealth Content is sufficient riches Yea marrie quoth I but where is that Tush quoth Fanâ—…e come away and go with mee Come thou hast béene from me a great while VVit iâ—… become a sworne brother to Reason and they two are seruants to wisdome VVisedome hâ—…e is consulted with Care to huâ—…t after wealth and wealth forsooth must winne Content Oh it were a trim life to take in hand to follow these fellowes Come go soft quoth I I haue béene fantasticall inough alreadie Then quoth Fancie looke whâ—…re Loue is tush quoth I my heart is done What wilt thou go with me quoth Frenzie no quoth I I would I were further from thée Then quoth Patience I trust you and I shall be friends yet no quoth I for I am sure thou neuer camest to me for any good With that Fancie turned her face Loue lookt another way Frenzie fomed at the mouth like a Bore â—… Patience lookt like a poore Companion Now came my foes neare me Will he comes swearing that Wit was so waywarâ—… that no bodie could abide him Rage hee swore Reason was so woonderfull as he knew not what to make of him Follie he badde fie vpon
fire but let them all go when I wisht my selfe a Louer what quoth Reason Loue hath no Reason wouldst thou loâ—…e me when I wisht my selfe a Flea Why quoth wit wilt thou bee a Beast want Reason and be subiect to euerie sluttâ—…s fingers then I had done When I wisht my selfe somewhat else not to be named I must rule you quoth Reason else I see you would quickly ruâ—…e to ruine Now when Vanitie sawe shee could doo nothing with me this way she beganne to to vse Uillanie with me come slaue quoth shee doost thou thinke scorne to looke towards her whome Princes doo so dearely account of thou art my â—…laue and darest thou denie mee seruice Yea quoth I I dare and doo denie thee I am sworne seruant to Vertue Therefore a poynt for thee and thy Uillanieâ—… Doost thou challenge mee for a seruant that do scorne thy â—…lauerie prate to Patches when thou findest a foole for thy diet feede him with a dish of Diddledomes for I haue done with thee if euer I serued thee I am sorie for it and since my wages was but lost I meane to liue no longer by it As will brought mee to thee so hath wit by Reason brought me from you both At these words her Cake was dowe shée hung the head her Trumpetter sounded Toutest Moote thus I past the first perrill Nowe must I come by Patience who sate with Discontent whome I onelie smiled on as I went by to see her simplicitie Promise quoth shee let mee haue my Content Tell her quoth wit Reason sayes enemies are too néere send away Discontent and as wisdome allowes of it you shall heare more of him Till then perforce Patience be still and so Adieu Shee aunswered nothing but putting finger in the eye let mee passe Then came I by Frenzie whose madde countenance so amazed me as that nowe it was no booâ—…e to bidde me leape lightly till I were beyonde him For wit tolde mee before that Frenzie was an enemie to Reason Then escaping his clutches I must come by Loue newe began I to looke away as it were ouer the shoulder towardes my Mystresse who had commaunded mee to take héede of looking towardes Loue. Yet did I heare him vtter these speeches is VVit and Reason not sufficient to deale with Loue Why Art thou afrayed to looke Why Cupid will not strike thee blinde Tush quoth VVit tell him Reason sayes Loue is too loâ—…tie for Reason to rule and VVit too weake when Reason must yeeld I would bee loath to venter mine eye sight At this answer Loue with Rage kept such a reakes that I thought they would haue gone mad togither Well thus leauing them not farre from Frenzie I must passe by Fancie whome I frowned on so that shee had little minde to flatter mee and therefore bluntlie shee askt mee what friend are you angrie with me and wherefore For that quoth I thou art a blocke in my way to Fame I would quoth shee Fancie were no bodie Yes quoth Wit tell her Reason dooth admit her one with Loue but not with Wisedome and so bid her farewell Thus thanked be God I had well euergone tâ—…is companie and with Wit and Reason I brought my Content to Wisdome To whome when I had deliuered my message from Vertue Well quoth he nowe shalt thou once passe backe againe through this companie and then thou shalt haue entertainment of thy desired Lady My selfe will so accompanie thee that though great will bee thy daunger yet little shall bee thy harme and easie thy passage Nowe thou hast passed hitherto with Wit and Reason I will this giue thee to vnderstande that I haue a friende and a seruaunt both of one name My friend is Reason and so do I call my seruant my friend is Reason giuen mee by diuine Grace who helpes mee to see howe high the power of God is aboue the greatest Potentate vpon the earth Howe much naturall Reason is subiest to diuine Iudgement by the dutie that Nature dooth owe vnto her Creator Nowe as thou goest by Fancie perhappes she will get helpe by naturall Reason to bring her to thy bowe But I will bée by thée to keepe thee from her bent So will Loue vse Reason to bring thee to his Lure but let mee alone to kéepe thée from his lewdnesse Frenzie there is no talking with let vs flie him speedilie Patience will perswade thee with Reason but I will pleade with her so for thée that thou shalt passe her well enough Now if Vanitie gette Reason wee shall doo ill enough with her yet will I finde her Uaine so as that if I lette her blood I will strike her heart so deade as that shee shall haue no stomacke to striue longer with vs nor Infamie for sorrowe haue power to sounde his Trumpet And therefore now reioyce that though thou hast long runne astray yet that now at last thou hasâ—… hit on a happie way well time trudgeth away thou wouldest fain begon and I would as faine preferre my seruants therefore let vs be going Now anone we came to Fancie who had gotten wit and Reason and as soone as shée had espied me Freende quoth shée welcome better late then neuer Nâ—…we I trust we shall not parte so soone as wee haue doone Yes quoth I for any thing that I can see what shall I doo with thée What quoth shee wilt thou not yeelde to Reason Yes quoth I so Wisdome will mee Why quoth Reason am not I seruant to VVisdome Yes quoth I so is VVisedome thy Maister And quoth he hath not my Maister sent mee hither to tell thee that there is no man but must yeelde to his Fancie Tell him quoth VVisdome where Grace doth gouerne Fancie must obeye Yea but quoth Reason Nature followes Fancie Yea but tell him quoth Wisdome diuinâ—… Grace bridles Nature Yea but quoth Reason Nature will haue her course Tell him quoth Wisdome with leaue of diuine power else not Why thâ—… quoth Reason shal Fanice be nothing Yes quoth I with naturall Reason but not with diuine Iudgement Why then quoth Reason what doo I with her Tell him quoth VVisdome helpe her to Câ—…sin Fooles and so fare well Nowe Loue wee must passe by who thus saluted me Why Nowe I trust we shall be 〈◊〉 dâ—…s for all our falling out Noâ—… a whit quoth I I haue doone with Loue gramercie I will no more of thy company What quoth Loue wilt thou not bee ruled by Reason Yes quoth I so he bee not ruled by Nature Why quoth he wilt thou not allowe Reason to yéelde to Nature yes quoth I Naturall Reason and quoth hee wilt thou take Reason for no bodie yes quoth I when I am without wisedome and when you are with him what doo you thinke him aline to leade a foole to Loue and a iâ—…st for wisedome to laugh at Then quoth hee I see thou art out of lyking with Loue or out of Loue with mee With both quoth I but with thee neuer so much
but with Arte it dooth better What sayde Cicero Plus ego togatus quam armati decem He did more in his Gowne then ten in their coate Armours Cedaâ—… armatoga concedant laurea linguâ—… Let the Gunne giue place to the Gowne and giue the braue tongue the Bay tree Was not Cicero â—…ratorum prestantissimus an excelent Scholer Cataline was a braue Souldiour but yet Cicero and his side gaue the ouerthrowe Againe howe should the Fame of your gallaunt Souldiours remainâ—… in Memorie had there not béene Schollers willing for the good will they bare them to set them out with such a grace of glorie that all men should be glad to reade and heare them yea and a number to followe them But euerie man must not nor can bée a Souldiour for some must be at home for diuerse causes of importaunce appertinent vnto the Common wealth which in their kinds are as worthie honour as the Souldiour The Souldiour Not so I graunt that it is necessarie for some to sit by the fire side while the other fetch Wood and Cole But they are slouthfull while the other take paines and whether is more worthie honour labour or idlenesse Againe when the Souldioâ—…s of Rome had playde the men in the ouerthrowe of Cataline Was it not a fault in Cicero to shewe such arrogancie in his spéeches to take vppon him more effect then ten men in Armour eyther hee ment it merrâ—…ly by some odde ten persons that neuer came out of the Towne to the battaile because yet hée sayde somewhat vnto the Souldiours to encourage them and they that were away neither sayde nor did anything And so hee meant it to the discommendation of their Cowardise in kéeping farre enough from the fight Or else he meant hée prâ—…ted more himselfe then any ten Souldiours in the Campe. But happie it was for him that the day went of his side though the victorie came not by his eloquence I graunt hee did great good with his perswasions for in déede good wordes will moue much especially in good causes as that was besides God is good and he dooth commonly giue the good victorie and if he suffer them to be ouerthrowen it is for a further good he meanes them Nowe therefore if he had giuen the chiefe glorie to God and the rest to the valiaunt Captaines and Souldiours in my iudgement he had done wel but to come out with Plus ego me thinkes he played the foole Ipse Againe whereas you speake of the great fauour of Schollers that they doo vnto Souldiours in setting foorth their famous deedes I must giue them commendation for their paines but for Honour confesse who deserues more Honour the man that dooth the déede or he that wrytes of it when it is done I graunt Learning an ornament and a necessarie appertinent vnto a Souldiour Otherwise in deede it is harde for him to bée a good Captaine for by Learning he knowes vpon what cause it is good to beginne warre and warre offered vpon what cause it growes and if it bee without cause howe good then is the defence Else if a Souldiour will vpon a fagarie or madde humour in the heade goe showe his great businesse and little wit hee knowes not nor cares not vpon whome where or for what cause I will say his foolishnesse makes him vnworthie of the name of a Souldiour his deedes worthie to bee put in obliuion and himselfe vnwoorthie honour Therefore I confesse a good Captaine had neede to â—…ee somewhat a Scholler ere he take 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hand 〈◊〉 yâ—…t in his Scholership not so worthie honour as when he hath shewed him selfe a Souldiour Marrie this I allowe of the vnlearned the Scholler is to bée honoured and the Souldiour to be beloued But yet I say still the Souldiour is to bée honoured both of the Scho ler and the vnlearned of the Scholer for his Wisedome with valure and of the other for his â—…outnesse with vertue Now what say you for the Scholler The Scholler This I say the grounde I thinke was before the Grasse the tree before the fruite the Plaine song before the Deskant and so foorth The ground I must confesse is worthie loue for bringing foorth Grasse so is Grasse to be loued for the Cattailes sake that it feedes which wee 〈◊〉 by Nowe if the ground brought out nothing but Mosse then were it little to be loued againe the Grasse cut and not well handled would doo little good and were worthie as little loue The Tree were ill would beare no Fruite and the Fruite ill would please no taste the Plaine song were plaine stuffe without Deskant and the Deskant were a madde péece of Musicke without Plaine song to be the ground But as the ground for the Grasse so the Grasse for his â—…wéete iuyce the Trée for the Fruite and the Fruite for the sweete taste the Plaine song for swéete Deskant and the Deskant for skill are loued So is the Scholler for â—…is Learning and the souldiour for â—…ertue to bée honoured a like and if any more then other the scholler for that hee findes by Learning what is Honour howe it is to bee gotten howe maintained and what to be esteemed Hee sees whether his bodie bee to his minde and if it bée then if both bée fit to abide the life of a souldiour then dooth hee proue a Famous fellowe if God send him good fortune If not why then hee takes in hand Law Phiâ—…cke or Diuinitie the most excellent study whereby to win no lesse honour during life then Fame after death By learning comes knowledge by learned knowledge comes a man of meane countenance to giue counsaile vnto Princes By learning is seene what sinne is howe it is hated of God and whâ—…t hurt it doth to man by learning is Uertue founde and howe it is beloued of God and honoured of the best minds and so ought to be of all men by learning comes the knowledge of the nature of many things and the vse of the same by learning can the Phisition cure the souldiour beeing sicks or hurt by learning dooth the man of Peace knowe the law of Armes In summe I know no man excellent in anie thing without learning which is the grounde of all excellencie If then learning be excellent the tune that is spent in that is most excellently well bestowed which time may be well called the Schollers time and the scholler for so well bestowing that time most worthie to bée honoured Now what say you for the Souldiour The Souldiour Marrie this I say the better the grasse the more is the ground esteemed and till the grounde beare grasse what was it to be estéemed but as barrain and therfore a thing of little woorth but when it brings foorth good grasse then it is called a fatte grounde good ground so forth Marrie if this grounde lie in a colde corner it will be long ere the grasse spring and being come vp it commonly proues sower and dooth not so soone nor
say you haue saide well for the Souldiour but yet I must saye that note the liues of them both and you shall see the Schollers life most worthy honour and why the Scholler findeth as you say by discretion whither his body be to his minde and both apte for Armes if not yet he is ready and able to instruct those that are able in those cheefe pointes that doo most appertaine vnto that Art Wherby the willing minde hauing but litle knowledge may speedily purchase great perfection by small experience Further the Schollers Booke will not lette him be ydle but to fall to some honourable studie or other As if he study 〈◊〉 I fâ—…tche my auâ—…thoritie out of Scripture Dooth â—…t Christe bâ—…d vs honour the Phisitian If he study Lawe what thing 〈◊〉 â—…ore honourable then that which 〈◊〉 Countries in good order the Prince in peace and the sâ—…ectes in awe the well dooâ—…rs in centinuance and the offenders in feare And is not Lawe then an honourable study If he study Diuinâ—…ty who in the world more worthy honour then hee that pronounceth the worde of God to the comfort of the peâ—…tent and the perdicion of the obstinate In that studie is seene who is the good Souldiour What is the good quarrell against whome it is good to â—…ight and who giues the ouerthrowe The true Christian is the good Souldiour which with onely Faith fightes against the foule â—…nde Sathan and all his filthie and hâ—…sh crâ—…we whom Christ hath ouerthrowne and troden vnder his feete this is the good fight to God bee giuen the glorie of the ouerthrowe And is there any time more happily spent then in this warre is there any man so worthy honour as hee that spâ—…ndes his time so happily no sure this is the good Souldiour and this Souldiour is the Scholler Againe the Schollers life is câ—…le modest content with little desiring no mans hurte and wishing all men well lothe to haue his hands imbrued with bloud and sorie to see the crueltie of the bloudie Souldiour The Scholler studies howe to set out the Souldiour howe to keepe the subiect at home in order the Countrey in quiet and himselfe in health the Scholler seekes by Lawe to redresse the poore mans wrong the Scholler studies to knowe all good and â—…hewe all ill If the Souldiour doo so too then is he as worthy honour as the Scholler but no more But in truth I haue not hearde many such like Souldiours as your selfe seeme to bee for you were an olde Scholler I pâ—…rceiue before you were a young Souldiour if your practise in Armes hath beene as great as your studie in Artes I must thâ—…ke you a rare Souldiour yea a Captaine woorthie to leade a great armie but if you will confesse a truth I thinke you wâ—…l not any longer 〈◊〉 your opinion iâ—… that the Souldiour should deserue honor aboue the Scholler The Souldiour Yes surely though I must confesse I see in you the minde of a Souldiour and the perfect poynts of a good Scholler and for your learning woorthâ—…e honour yet will I though vnworthie of any commendation hauing neuer done any famous exployts giue the cheefe honour to the Souldiour For though the Scholler doo flâ—…de by reading what is the good fight who is the good Souldiour who is the eneime to bee ouerthrowen and who gettes the victorie Yet if hee knowe this and will not put it in action it is then but for others instruction and not for his owne soules health Againe he that hath read little by grace may haue sufficient knowledge that the Diuell is naught and faith is the onely deâ—…nce for him God is the onely victor and his â—…e the glorie But further he that is borne vnder Mars as I said be fore and hath any thing studied the scriptures he will in the honour of God go trauaile the world seeke out such obstinate rebelles to Christ as take them vnto Antichrist leaue God and serue the Diuell such when hee findes hee will destroy them that they may not liue to infect other What better death then in such a quarrell What life so worthie honour as such a death What action so famous as such an enterprise Oh good Souldiour that so honours his God sweete Christ that vppon the Crosse lost his heart bloud for his sake that he will in his quarrell to do him due seruice aduenture and willingly loose his heart bloud and his life in this world for his sake knowing assuredly that he shall finde it againe with tenne tunes more blessed toy in the world to come The Souldiour seeketh aduentures heere and there stayeth wilde Beasts and would destroy the simple trauâ—…ler the Souldiour challengeth and slayeth the villaine that flaundereth the vertuous the Souldiour is courteous to all men hee is modest with Modestie to shew the height of his minde the Souldiour is content with any thing and sometime with nothing the Souldiour dooth helps the oppressed in a rightfull cause and dooth hurt no man but his enemies the Souldiour â—…nbrues neither his handes nor his blade in the bloud of any but those that would do the like in his breast the souldiour hath a Martiall law for such carelesse persons as will â—…ot obey the Law of Armes appoynted to maintaine good lawes and to cutte off the offendors of the same In sunt the souldiour is the seruant of God onely the scholler waytes too much of our Lady to do God good seruice I say not all schollers are so but I wish that the souldiours were so but as God is aboue our Lady so his souldiour aboue her scholler to be honoured Howe say you scholler will you allow me this or not The Scholler â—…yr I cannot buâ—… allow you this that the woorthie souldiâ—…ur is to be honoured aboue the wanton scholler but I must say the wise and carefull scholler is more worthy honour then the wilde and carelesse souldiour But I will a little speake of the scholler and so I will either haue it giue it or gree vpon it You must consider syr we are by nature all the children of sinne but by adoption the Children of God Nowe for the Planettes in deede the Childe that is borne vnder Mars is most â—…tte for battaile and vnder Mercurie for studie But he say I that is borne vnder Iupiter whose Parents were borne the one vnder Mars the other Mercurie he shall haue the operation of Iupiter wholy and partly each of the other in him and such a follow say I will proue the man of Honour in deede of all other As for example was not Marcus Aurelius a gallaunt and worthiâ—… Souldiour did he not beâ—…ow great time in his studie who wrote his workes but himselfe I will not stande vpon examples was not Dauid a braue souldiour A man worthie of great honour did hee not bestow great time in his Psalmes Had he not as great a delight in his Booke as in Battaile Well was he not in loue with Berseba and was
hee not soâ—…ie for it Well though he serued our Ladie a little hée loueâ—… God best and God loued him for all his offence and why for that hee left his follie was sorie for his sinne and was ashamed of himselfe hee craued mercie in heart and was therefore receyued into fauour Wherefore good sir condemne not schollers for seruing Ladies which in deed is your meaning for Bersebae beautie bewitched the wittes of King Dauid and made him quite forget his Wisedome Nowe there are sewe King Dauids left for their wisedome but for beautie many Bersabaes If then the worlde be as full of fayre Ladies as euer it was and not men of so rare wisedome Blame not schollers for their seruice nor make souldiours saints for their minds to God-ward But as Dauid was both a good souldiour and no worse scholler and Marcus Aurelius as good a scholler as a souldiour and were therfore more honored then the vnlearned Captains so I pray you grant that the valiâ—…nt scholler in honour is to be preferred before the vnlearned souldiour And that the Scholler is so fit a Companion for the Souldiour as they can not well be one without the other and beeing togither do deserue the greatest honour of all men liuing There is such a loue and vnion betwirt them and the one is so necessarie vnto the other that some men thinke the one and the other is as it were Alter â—…ple so that they do deserue like honour and not one to be higher then the other Now sir what say you Will you thinke so well of the Scholler or not The Souldiour Baléeue mée Scholler since thou cemest so neere mée welcome This I must say to thee I see thou hast a good minde to a Souldiour and therefore since thou art entred into traâ—…ile and I haue beene in some skirmishes let vs both forget we are at home and being héere let vs determine to season our selues for all weathers let our faithfull prayer be our defence against the Diuell and all his temptations my sworde â—…ee our defence agaynst bodily enemies and thy wise counsaile my comfort to arine my selfe with patience Let vs feare neither fire nor water care for no weather faire nor foule sticke not for night nor day take what we finde thankefully part it friendly and spende it merily liue togither louingly and die vertuously so shall we be spoken of on earth amously and liue in Heauen eternallie which that God may graunt willingly let vs fall downe presently and pray heartily that we may rise roundly walke wisely and speede luckely What saiest thou Scholer The Scholler Oh sir right gladly and since you haue so courteously vouchsaied mee your companie I here sweare my selfe your owne at commaundement alwayes and as much as may bee I reioyce to haue found you I hepe to liue with you and neuer to leaue you so dearely I loue you that I will die with you ere I will forsake you and as you doo loue me so put your trust in me and this bee sure of me that you shall commaund mee till liues ende beleeue mee Now that we may togither to the heauenly place thither the onely place whither the Scholler espieth the good Souldiour hieth with humble he artes lâ—…tte vs pray that we may walke the way that at the latter day we may haue cause to say Truth will not lead a stray To which good blessed place God grant vs all his grace that when wee haue runne this race that wee may walke apace that within little space wee may all face to face beholde our blessed Lord whose name with one accord lette vs with laude record And so let the souldiour make much of the Scholler and trust to the Scholler that he loues the Souldiour and let vs bee sure of this when wee doo pray iâ—…is Gods hand doth neuer misse to worke for our auaile THus did the Souldiour put the Scholler out of his Nothing and togither they are gon about something But for that I knowe not what till I see them againe I will héere bid them farewell and with my selfe wishe you well Promising that if I doo méete them you shall hears what became of them Till when and euer God so blesse vs héere that we with ioyfull châ—…re may all at once appeare before his heauenly throne to which his grace alone guide vs right euery one both Men Women and Children I would he were hanged that will not say Amen Marti Mercurius N. B. FINIS The Praise of vertuous Ladies An Inuectiue against the discourteous discourses of certaine Mailcious persons written against Women whome Nature Wit and Wisedome well considered would vs rather honour then disgrace For proofe whereof eade what followes VVritten by the saide Author N. Breton Gentleman Hic haec homo Considera quid mulier To the Courteous and gentle Reader GEntlemen others to whose viewe shall come this woonderfull peece of worke of the praise of womeÌ„ considering how little cause of commendation is found in a number of them I beseeche you before you begin to read resolue with your selues to take in good part what you thinke I haue written against my conscience And though I haue perhaps as great cause to write the contrarie in respect of the little good that I haue founde in some Yet the hope of good that I haue to find by fauour of some one none such hath made me in the behalfe of women generally for her sake say as much as I wish all to approoue and I would as gladly affirme In the meane time I hope I haue offered none iniurie in dooing them a courtesie I craue pardon of none for saying my minde and good thoughâ—…s of them of whome I deserue it Meaning to deserue as wel as I may of all the world and desiring too as little ill to any as may be Thus wishing you to wish Women no better then you see them woorthy I pray you wishe me no woorse then your selues as I wishe all you From my Chamber in the Blacke Fryers this present and alwaies Your friend N. Breton Gentleman The Author to the vertuous Ladies and Gentlewomen LAdies and Gentlewomen or other well disposed what soeuer I haue in your commendations saide as much as I hope you will deserue and more then I thinke hath beene said for you this great while Nowe if yet thinke that I haue said is said for flatterie you should shewe me little fauour For to flatter all I should but haue a floute of a number and to speake well of all I hope will make none mine enemie I craue no fâ—…rther friendship then I deserue nor greater thankes then may requite good will which wisheth well to ye all that are well minded and if you thinke I haue saide trulie in that I haue written thanke your selues for giuing so good occasion if contrarie doo your endeuonr to make good what I haue saide and will bee glad to see and so rest ready to doâ—… you