owne that is open wroÌ„g Contrary wyse to withdrawe somethynge from they selfe to geue to other that is a pointe of humanitie and geâ—tylâ—es whiche neuer taketh a waye so muche commoditie as it bryngeth agayne For it is recompensed with the retourne of benefytes and the conscieÌ„ce of the good dede with the remembraunce of the thankefull loue and beâ—euolence of them to whom thou hast done it doth brynge more pleasure to thy mynde then that whiche thou hast withholden from thy selfe could haue brought to the bodye Finallye which to a godly disposed a religious mind is easie to be persuaded God recompenseth the gifte of a short small pleasure with great and euerlastinge ioye Therfore the matter diligentlie wayde and considered thus they thinke that all our actions and in theÌ„ the vertues theÌ„selfes be referred at the last to pleasure â–ª as their ende felicitie Pleasure they call euery motion and state of the bodie or mynde wherin maÌ„ hath naturally delectatioÌ„ Appetite they ioyne to nature And that not without a good cause For like as not only the â—enses â–ª but also right reason coueteth whatsoeuer is naturally pleasaunt so y â— it may be gotten without wroÌ„g or iniurie not letting or debarring a greater pleasur nor causing painful labour eueÌ„ so those thinges that meÌ„ by vaiâ—e ymagination do fayne against nature to be pleasaunt as though it lay in their powre to chaunge y â— thinges as they do y â— names of thinges al suche pleasurs they beleue to be oâ— so small helpe furtheraunce to felicitie that they counte theÌ„ great let and hinderauÌ„ce Because that in whom they haue ones taken place all his mynde they possesse with a false opinion of pleasure So that there is no place left for true and naturall delectacions For there be manye thynges whiche of their owne nature conteyne no plesauntnes yea the moste part of them muche grief and sorrow And yet through the peruerse and malicious flickering inticemeÌ„tes of lewde and vnhoâ—este desyres be takeen not only for speciall souereigne pleasures but also be counted amonge the chiefe causes of life In this couÌ„terfeat kinde of pleasure they put theÌ„ that I speake of before Which the better gown they haue on the better men they thynke theÌ„ selfes In the whiche thynge they doo twyse erre For they be no lesse deceaued in that they thynke their gowne the better than they be in that they thinke themselfes the better For if you consider the profitable vse of the garmente whye shoulde wulle of a fyner sâ—onne threde be thoughe better then the wâ—l of a course sponne threde Yet they as though the one dyd passe the other by nature and not by their mistakyng auaunce themselfes and thinke the price of their owne persones therby greatly encreased And therfore the honoure whiche in a course gowne they durste not haue lokyd for they require as it were of dewtie for their fyâ—er gownes sake And if they be passed by without reuerence they take it angerlye and disdaynfully And agayne is it not a lyke madâ—es to take a pride in vayne and vnprofitable honoures For what naturall of trewe pleasure doest thou take of an other mans bare hede of bowed knees Will thys ease the payne of thy knees or remedye the phreâ—sie of the heade In this ymage of counterfeyte pleasure they be of a maruelous madnes which for the opinion of nobilitie reioyse muche in their owne coâ—â—eite Because it was their fortune to come of suche auncetours whoe 's stocke of longe tyme hath bene counted ryche for nowe nobilitie is nothynge elles specially ryche in landes And though their auncetours left them not one fote of lande or els they themselfes haue pyssed it agaynste the walles yet they thynke themselfes not the lesse noble therefore of one heare In thys numbre also they counte them that take pleasure delyte as I saide in gemmes and precious stones and thynke themselues almoste goddes if they chaunce to gette and excellent one speciallye of that kynde whyche in that tyme of their owne contreye me◠〈◊〉 had in hyghest estimation For one kynde of stone kepeth not hys pryceâ—tyll in all contreis â–ª and at all tymes Nor they bye them not but taken out of the golde and bare No nor so nother before they haue made the selleâ—â—o sweare that he wyll warraunte and assure it to be a trewe stone and not coâ—Ì„terfeyt geme Suche â—are they take lest â— counterfet stone shoulde deceaue their eyes in the steade of a right stone But whye shouldest thoâ— not take â—uen asmuche pleasure in beholdynge a counterfette stone whiche thyne eye cannot discerne from a ryght stone They should both be of lyke value to the euen as to a blynde man What shall I saye of them that kepe superfluous ryches to take delectacion only in the beholdynge and not in the vse or occupyenge therof Do they take trewe pleasure or els be they deceaued with false pleasure Or of them that be in a coâ—trary vice hydynge the golde whiche they shall neuer occupie nor peraduenture neuer see more And whiles they take care leaste they shall leâ—se it do leese it in dede For what is it elles when they hyde it in the grouÌ„de takynge it bothe from their owne vse and perchaâ—nce from all otheâ— mens also And yet thou when thou haste hidde thye treasure as one out of all care hoppest for ioye The whyche treasure if it shoulde chaunce to bee stoolen thou ignoraunt of the thefte shouldest â—ye tenne yeares after all that tenne yeares space that thou lyâ—edest after thy money was stolen â–ª what matter was it to the whether it hadde bene taken a waye or els sauffe as thou lefteste it Truelye bothe wayes lyke proffyt came to the To thyes so foolyshe pleasures they ioynâ—dycers whoe 's madnes they knowe by heare say aâ—d not by vse HuÌ„ters also and hawkers For what pleasure is there sayâ— they iâ— castynge the dice vpoÌ„ a table Which y â— hast done so ofteÌ„ that iâ— theire were anye pleasure in it yet the ofte vse myghte make the werye therof Or what delite can there be and not rather dyspleasure in heaâ—ynge the barkynge and howlynge of dogges Or what greater pleasure is there to be felte when a doggâ— followeth an hare then when a dogge followeth a dogge for one thynge is done in both that is to saye runninge â–ª if thou haste pleasure therein But iâ— the hope slaughter â–ª and the expectâ—tion of tearynge 〈◊〉 pieces the beasâ—e dothe please the thou shouldest rather be moued with pitie to see a seely innocent hare murdered of â—â—dogge the weake of the stronger the fearefull of the feaâ—â—â— the innocente of y ◠〈◊〉 and vnmercyfull Therefore all thys exercyse of huntynge as a thynge vâ—worthye to be vsed of free mâ—n the Vtopians haue reiected to their bochers to the whiche crafte as wee sayde before they appointe ther bondmen For they counte huntyng the loweste vyleste and moste abiecte
newe shotte vp corne whiche hath alredy begonne to sprynge vp bothe in Latine Greke learnynge I looke for plentiful increase at length of goodly rype grayne he I saye hath brought me into a greate doubte For wheras Hythlodaye oneles my memory fayle me sayde that the bridge of Amaurote whiche goeth ouer the riuer of Anyder is fyue huâ—dreth paseis that is to saye half a â—â—yle in lengthe my Ihon sayeth that â—â— hundred of those paseis must be plucked awaye â–ª for that the ryuer conteyneth there not aboue thre hundreth paseis in bredthe I pâ—â—ye yow hartely calle the matter to youre remembrauÌ„ce For if you agree with hym I also wyll saye as you saye and confesse me selfe deceaued But if you cannot remember the thynge then suerly I wyl write as I haue done and as myne owne remembraunce serueth me For as I will take good hede that there be in my booke nothyng falâ—e so if there â—e any thynge in doubte â–ª I wyll rather tell a lye then make a lye bicause I had be good theÌ„ wise rather Howbeit this matter maye easely be remedied if you wyll take the paynes â–ª to aske the question of Raphaell himselfe by worde of mouthe if he be nowe with you or els 〈◊〉 youre letters Which you must nedes â–ª do for an other doubte also whiche hath chaunced throughe whoe 's faulte I cannot tell â–ª whether throughâ— â—yne or youres or Raphaels For neither we remembred to enquire of hym nor he to tell vs in what parte of that â—â—we worlde Vtopia is situate The whiche thinge I had rather haue spent no small somme of money then that it should thus haue escaped vs aswell for that I am ashamed to be ignoraunt in what sea that Ilande staÌ„deth wherof I write so longe a treatyse as also because there be with vs certayne men aâ—d especially one deuoute and godly man â–ª aâ—d a professour of diuinitie who is excedynge desierous to go vnto Vtopia not for a vayne and curious desiere to see newes but to the intent he mayâ— further and increase oure religion whiche is there already luckely begoâ—â—e And that he may the better accomplyshe and perfourme this his good intent he is mynded to procure that he maye be sent thether of the byshoppe yea and that he hymselfe may be maâ—e bishop of Vtopia beynge nothynge scrupulous herein that he must obteyne this byshopricke with suete For he counteth that a godly 〈◊〉 whiche procedeth not of the desiere of honour or lucre but only of a godly zeale Wherfore I moste earnestly desyere you frende Peter to talke with Hythlodaye if you can face to face or els to wryte youre letters to hym and so to worke in this matter that in this my booke there maye neyther any thynge be founde whiche is vntrue neither any thinge be lacking whiche is true And I thinke verely it shal be well done that you shewe vnto hym the booke it selfe For if I haue myssed or fayled in any poynte or if any faulte haue escaped me no man can so well correcte and amende it as he can and yet that can he not do oneles he peruse and reade ouer my booke writteÌ„ Moreouer by this meanes shal you perceaue whether he be well wyllynge and contente that I should vndertake to put thys worke in wryting For if he be mynded to publyshe and putforth his owne labours and trauayles hymselfe perchaunce he would be lothe and so would I also that iâ— publyshynge the Vtopiane weale publyque I shoulde preuente and take from hym the flower and grace of the noueltie of this his historie Howbeit to saye the verie truthe I am not yet fully determined with meselfe whether I wyll put forth my booke or no. For the natâ—res of men be so diuers the phantasies of some so wayewarde theire myndes so vnkynde theire iudgementes so corrupte that they which leade a merie and a iocounde lyfe followinge theire owne sensuall pleasures and carnal lustes maye seâ—â—e to be in a muche better state or case theÌ„ they that vexe and vnquiete theÌ„selfes with cares and studie for the puttyâ—ge forth and publyshynge of some thynge that maye be either profett or pleasure to other whiche neuertheles wyl disdaynfully scornefully vnkyndly accepte thesame The moste parte of al be vnlearned And a great numbre hath learnynge in contempte The rude barbarous alloweth nothynge but that which is verie barbarous in dede If it be one that hath a lytell smacke of learnynge he reiecteth as homely and commen ware whatsoeuer is not 〈◊〉 full of olde â—â—oughteateâ— wordes and that be worne out of vse Some there be that haue pleasure onely in olde rustie antiquities And some onely in theire owne doinges â–ª One is so sowre so crabbed and so vnpleasaunt that he can awaye with no myrthe nor sporte An other is so narrow in y â— sholders that he can beare no iestes nor â—awntes Some 〈◊〉 poore soules be so aferd that at euery sâ—appishe worde theire nose shal be bitten of that they stande in no lesse drede of euerye quicke and sharpe worde then he that is bytten of a madde dogge feareth water Some be so mutable and waueryng that euery houre they be in a newe mynde sainge one thynge syttynge and an other thynge standyâ—ge An other sorte sytteth vpon theire allebencheis there amonge theire cuppes they geue iudgement of the wittes of wryters with greate aucthoritie they condemne eueâ— as pleaseth theâ—â— euery wryter accordyng to his writinge in moste spiteful maner mockynge lowtynge and â—lâ—wtynge them beynge themselfes in the 〈◊〉 â—eason â—aâ—ffe and as sayth the prouerbe out of all daunger of goâ—neshotte For whye they be so 〈◊〉 smoethe that they haue not somuch as â—ne heare of an honest man whereby one may take holde of them There be moreouer some so vnkynde and vngenâ—ell that thoughe they take great pleasure and delectation in the worke yet for al that they can not fynde in theire hartes to loâ—e the authour therof nor to aforde hym a good worde beynge muche lyke vncosrteis vnthankefull and chourlishe guestes Whiche wheÌ„ they haue with good and deyutie meaâ—es well filled theire bellyes departe home geuynge no thankes to the feaste maker Go youre wayes nowe make a costly feaste at youre owne charge is for guestes so depâ—tie mouthed so dyâ—ers in taste and bisydes that of so vnkynde and vnthankefull natures But neuertheles frende Peter do I praye you with Hythlodaye as I willed you before And as for this matter I shal be at my lybertie afterwardes to take newe aduisement Howebeit seynge I haue taken great payâ—es and laboure in wrytynge the matter if it may stande with hys mynde pleasure I wyll as touchinge the edition or publishing of the booke followe the counsell and aduise of my frendes and specially yours Thus fare you well ryght hartely beloued frende Peter with youre gentell wyfe and loue me as you haue euer done for I loue you better then euer I dyd
thynke ys the nygheste waye that you can deuyse howe to bestowe youre tyme frutefullye not onlye for the pryuate commoditye of your fryndes and for the general proffytte of all sortes of people but also for the auauncemente of your selfe to a muche welthier state and condytyon then you be nowe in To a welthyer condition quod Raphael by that meanes that my myâ—de standethe cleane agaynst Nowe I â—yâ—e at lybertye after myn owne mynde aâ—d pleasure whiche I thynke verye fewe of thes greate states and peeres of realmes cansaye Yea and there be ynowe of them that sike for greate mens frindeshippes â–ª and therfore thynke it no great hurte if they haue not me nor .ij. or .iij. suche other as I am Well I perceyue plainlye frind Raphaell quod I that yowe be desierous nother of riches nor of powre And truly I haue in no lesse reuereÌ„ce and estimatyon a man that is of your mind then anâ—y of them al that be so high in poâ—r and aucthoritie But you shall doo as it becommith yow yea and accordinge to this wisedome and thys highe and free coâ—raghe of youres yf yowe can fynde in youre harte so to appoynte dyspose your selfe that you maie apply your wytte and delygence to the proffyt of the weale publyque though it be â—ume what to youre owne payne and hyndraunce And thys shall yow â—euer so well doo nor wyth so greate proffitte perfourme as yf yowe be of sum great prynces councell and put in his heade as I doubte not but you wyll honeste opynyons and vertuous persuasyons For from the pryâ—ce as from a perpetuall well sprynge cummythe amonge the people the floode of all that is good or euell But in yowe is so perfitte lerâ—ynge that wythowte anye experience and agayne so greate experyence that wythoute anye lernynge yowe maye well be anny kinges councellour You be twyse deceaued maister More quod he fyrste in me and agayne in the thing it selfe For nother is in me that habilitye that yowe force vpon me and yf it were neuer so muche yet in dysquieting myne owne quietnes I should nothing further the weale publique for fyrst of all the moste parte of all princes haue more delyte in warlike matters and feates of cheâ—alrie the knowlege wherof I nother haue nor desire than in the good feates of peace and employe muche more study howe by right or by wrong to enlarge their dominions thaÌ„ howe well and peaceablie to rule and gouerne that they haue all redie More ouer they that be counsellours to kinges euery one of them eyther is of him selfe so wyse in dede that he nede not orelles he thinketh him self so wise that he will not allowe an other mans couÌ„cell sauing that they do shamefully and flatteringly geue assent to the fond and fâ—lishe sayinges of certeyn greate men Whose fauours bicause they be in high aucthoritie with their prince by assentacion and flattering they labor to opteyne And verily it is naturally geuen to all men to esteame their owne inuentyons best So both the rauen and the apethincke their owne yongoâ—es fayrest Than if a man in such a company where some disdayne and haue despite at other mens inâ—entions and some cownte their owne best if among suche men I saye a man shoulde bringe furth any thinge that he hayth redde done in tymes paste or that he hathe sene done in other places there the hearers fare as thoughe the hole existimacion of theyr wisdome were in ieopardy to be ouerthroweÌ„ and that euer after they should be counted for very diserdes onles they colde in other mens inuentions pycke out matter to reprehende and find â—â—wt at If all other pore helpes faile then this is their extreame refuge Thies thinges say they pleased oure forefathers and auncetours wolde god wee coulde be so wise as they were and as though they had wittely concluded the matter and with this answere stoppid euery mans mouthe they sitt downe agayn As who should saye it were a very daungerous matter if a man in any pointe should be founde wiser then his forefathers were And yet be we conteÌ„t to suffer the best and wittiest of their decrees to lye vnexecuted but it in any thinge a better ordre mighte haue bene taken than by them was theare we take faste holde and finde many fawtes Many times haue I chaunced vpon suche prowde lewde ouerthwarte and waywarde Iudgementes yea and oâ—es in Englande I praye yow Syre quod I haue yow bene in owr coÌ„trey yea forsothe quod he and their I tarried for the space of .iiij. or .v. monythes together not longe after the insurreccion that the westerne Englishe men made agaynst their kynge whych by their owne myserable and pitefull slaughter was suppressed and endyd In the meane season I was much bounde and beholden to the righte reuerende father Ihon Morton Archebishop and cardenall of Canterburye and at that tyme also Lorde chauncellour of EnglaÌ„d a man maister Peter for maister More knoweth all reddy that I wyll saye not more honorable for his aucthority theÌ„ for his prudence vertue He was of a meane stature streken in age though yet bare he his body vpryght In his face did shine such an amiable reuerence as was pleasaunte to beholde Gentell in coÌ„munycatyon yet earneste and sage He had greate delyte manye tymes wyth roughe speche to hys â—ewters to proue but wythowte harme what prompte wytte and what bolde sprite were in euery man In the which as in a vertue much agreinge with his nature so that therewyth were not ioynâ—d impudency he toke greate delectatyon And the same person as apte and mete to haue an adminâ—stratyon in the weale publique he dyd louingly enbrace In hys speche he was â—yne eloquent and pythye In the lawe he had profounde knowledge in witte he was incomparable aud in memory woâ—derfull excellent Thies qualytyes whych in hym were by nature synguler he by learnynge and vse had made perfytte The â—ynge putt muche truste in hys councell the weale publyque also in a maner leaued vnto hym when I was there For eâ—en in the chiefe of hys youth he was takeÌ„ from schole into the Courte and there passyd all hys tyme in muche trouble and busynes was contynually troubled and tossed with dyuers mysfortunes and aduersytyes And so by many and greate daungers he lerned thee xperience of the wordle whyche so beynge learned can not easely be forgotten It chaunced on a certayne daye when I sate at hys table there was also a certayne laye man cuÌ„nynge in the lawes of yowre Realme Whyche I can not tel wherof takyng occasyon began dyligently and busily to prayse that strayte and rygorous iustice which at that tyme was there executed vpon felloâ—es who as he sayde were for the moste part .xx. hanged together vpon one gallowes And seyng so fewe escapyd punyshement he sayd he coulde not chewse but greatly wonder and maruell howe and by what euill â—nâ—ke it should so cum to passe that theues neuertheles were
HVsbandrye is a scyeâ—â—â— common to them all ingenerall both men and women wherin they be all experte and cunnynge â–ª In thys they be all instructe euen from their youth partely in scholes with traditions and preceptes and partely in the contrey nighe the cytye brought vp as it wer in playing not on lye beholdynge the vse of it but by occasyon of exercisinge their bodies practising it alâ—o Besides husbaÌ„dry which as I sayde is common to them all eâ—ery one of them learneth one or other â—eâ—erall and particuler science as hys owne proper crafte That is most commonly other clotheworkinge in woâ—â—â— or sâ—are or masonrie or the smythes crafte or the carpentes scyeâ—ce For there is none other occupacyon that anye numbre to speke of doth vse there For their garmentes whyche through 〈…〉 one fassion â—aâ—ynge that there is a difference betwene the mans garmente and the womans betwene the maried and the vnmaryed and this one continueth for euer more vnchaunged semely and comely to the eye no let to the mouynge and weloynge of the bodie also fitte bothe for winter and summer as for thies garmentes I saye euery familye maketh theire owne But of the other foreseyde craftes euerye man learneth one And not only the men but also the women But the women as the weaker sorte be put to the easere craftes they worke wull and flaxe The other more laborsome sciences be committed to the men For the moste parte euerye man is brought vp in his fathers craft For moste commonly they be naturally therto bente and inclined But yf a mans minde stonde to anny other he is by adoption put into a famelye of that occupatioÌ„ which he doth most fantasy Whome not only his father but also the magistrates do diligently looke to that he be putt to a discrete and an honâ—st householder Yea and if anny person when he hath lerned one crafte be desierous to lerne also another he ys lykewyse suffrede and permytted When he hathe learned bothe he occupyethe whether he wyll onles the cytye haue more neade of the one then of the other The chyefe and almoste the onelye offyce of the Syphograuntes ys to see and take hede that no man sytte ydle But that euerye one a pplye hys owne crafte wyth earneste delygence And yet for all that not to be weryed from earlye in the mornynge to late in the enennynge wyth contynuall woorke lyke laborynge and toplynge beastes For thys ys worse then the myserable and wretced condytyon of bondemen Whyche neuer thelesse is almoste euerye where the lyffe of woorkemen and artyfycers sanynge in vtopia For they dyuydinge the daye and the nyghte into .xxiiij. iust houres appoynte and assygne only .vi of those houres to woorke .iij. before none vpon the whyche they goo streyghte to dyner and after dyner when they haue rested ij houres then they woorke .iij and vpon that they goo to supper Aboute .viij. of the clocke in the euenynge cowntynge one of the clocke at the fyrste houre after none they go to bedde .viij. houres they giue to sleape All the voide time that is betwene the huores of woorke slepe and meate that they be suffered to bestowe euerye man as he lyketh beste hym felfe Not to thyntente they shoulde myspende thys tyme in ryote or sloughfullenes But beynge then lycensed from the laboure of theyr owâ—e occupacyons to bestowe the time wel and thriftely vpon some other good science as shall please them For yt ys a solempne custome there to haue lectures daylye earlye in the morning wher to be present they onlye be constreined that be namelye chosen and appoynted to learnynge Howe be yt a greate multytude of euerye sorte of people bothe men and women goo to heare lectures some one and some an other as euerye mans nature is inclyned Yet this notwithstonding yf any man had rathere bestowe thys tyme vpon hys owne occupatyon as yt chaunceth in manye whose myndes ryse not in the contemplatyon of annye scyence lyberal he is not letted nor prohibited but is also praysed and commended as profitable to the common wealthe After supper they bestowe one houre in playe in somer in their gardeynes in winter in their commeÌ„ halles where they dyne and suppe There they exercise them selfes in musyke or els in honeste and holsome communicaiâ—on Diceplaye and suche other folish and pernicious games they knowe not but they vse .ij. games not muche vnlike the chesse The one is the battell of nombers Wherin one numbre stealethe awaye another The other is wherin vices fyghte wyth vertues as it were in battell array or a set fyld In the which game is verye properlye shewed bothe the striffe and discorde that vices haue amonge themselfes and agayne theire vnitye and concorde againste vertues And also what vices be repugnaunt to what vertues with what powre and strenght they assaile them openlye by what wieles and subteltye they assaute them secretelye with what helpe and aide the vertues resiste and ouercome the puissaunce of the vices by what craft they frustate their purposes and finally by what sleight or meanes the one getteth the victory But here lease you be deceaued one thinge you muste looke more narrowly vpon For seinge they bestowe but .vi. houres in woork perchaunce you maye thinke that the lacke of some necessarye thinges herof may ensewe But this is nothinge so For that small time is notonly inough but also to muche for the stoore and abundaunce of all thinges that be requisite other for the necessitie or commoditie of liffe The whiche thing you also shall perceaue if you weye and consâ—der with your selfes how great a parte of the people in other contreis lyueth ydle First almoost all women which be the halfe of the hole numbre or els if the women be annye where occupied their most comonlye in their steade the men be ydle Besydes thys how great and howe ydle a companye ys theyr of prystes and relygyous men as they call them put there to all ryche men speciallye all landed men whyche comonly be called gentylmen and noble men Take into this numbre also their seruauntes I meane all that flocke of stout bragging russhe bucklers Ioyne to them also sturdy and valiaunt beggers clokinge their idle leffe vnder the colour of some disease or sickenes And truely you shall find them much fewer then you thought by whose labour all these thynges be gotten that men vse lyue bye Nowe consyder wyth youre selfe of thies fewe that do woorke how few be occupied in neeessary woorkes For where money beareth all y â— swing ther many vayne and superfluous occupations must nedys be vsed to serue only for ryotous superfluyte and vnhonest pleasure For the same multytude that now is occupied in woorke if they were deuided into so few occupations as the necessary vse of nature requyreth in so greate plentye of thinges as then of necessity wolde ensue doubtles the prices wolde be to lytle for the artifycers to maynteyne they re lyuynges But
into families of smaller increase But if chaunce be that in the hole citie the stoore encrease aboue the iust numbre therewith they fyll vp the lacke of other cityes But if so be that the multitude throughout the hole Ilande passe and excede the dew numbre then they chewse out of euery citie certeyn cytezens buylde vp a towne vnder their owne lawes in the nexte lande where the inhabitauntes haue muche waste vnoccupied grounde receauinge also of the inhabitauÌ„tes to them if they wil ioyne aâ—d dwel with them They thus ioyâ—ing and dwelliâ—g together do easelye agre in one fassion of liuing and that to the great wealth of both the peoples For they so brynge the matter about by their lawes that the grounde which before was nether good â—or profitable for the one nor for the other is nowe sufficiente and frutefull enough for them both But if the inhabitauntes of that lande wyll not dwell with them to be ordered by their lawes then they dryue them out of those houndes which they haue limited and apointed out for themselues And if they resiste and rebell then they make warre agaynst them For they counte this the moste iust cause of warre when any people holdeth a piece of grounde voyde and vacaunt to no good nor profitable vse kepyng other from the vse and possession of it whiche notwithstandyng by the lawe of nature ought thereof to be nowryshed relieued If any chaunce do so muche dimynishe the numbre of anye of their cyties that it cannot be fylled vp agayne wythout the diminishynge of the iust numbre of the other cyties whiche they say chaunced but twyse syns the begynnynge of the lande through a greate pestilente plage then they make vp the numbre with cytezens fetched out of their owne forreyne townes for they hadde rather suffer theyr forreyn townes to decaye and peryshe then annye cytie of their owne Ilande to be dimynyshed But nowe agayne to the conuersation of the cytezens amonge themselfes The eldeste as I sayde rueleth the familie The wyâ—es bee ministers to theyr husbandes the chyldren to theyr parentes and to bee shorte the yonger to theyr elders Euerye Cytie is diuided into foure equall partes In the myddes of euery quarter there is a market place of all maner of thynges Thether the workes of euery familie be brought in to certeyne houses And euery kynde of thynge is layde vp seuerall in barnes or store houses From heÌ„ce the father of euery famelie or euery housholder fetcheth whatsoeuer he and hys haue neade of carieth it awaye with hym without money without exchauÌ„ge without annye gage or pledge For whye should anye thynge be denyed vnto hym seyng there is abundaunce of all thynges and thâ—â— it is not to be feared lest anye man wyll aske more then he neadeth For whie should it be thoughte y t that man would aske more then enough whiche is sewer neuer to lacke Certeynly in all kyndes of lyâ—ynge creatures other fere of lacke doth cause couetousnes and rauyne or in man only pryde whiche counteth it a gloryouse thynge to passe and excell other in the superfluous and vayne ostentacion of thynges The whyche kynde of vice amonge the Vtopians can haue no place Next to the market places that I spake of stonde meate markettes whether be brought not onlye all sortes of herbes and the fruites of trees with breade but also fishe and all maner of .iiij. footed beastes and wilde foule that be mans meate But first the fylthynes and ordure therof iâ— clene washed awaye in the runnynge ryuer without the cytie in places appoynted mete for the same purpose From thence the beastes brought in kylled and cleane wasshed by the handes of their bondemen For they permyite not their frie citezens to accustome there selfes to the killing of beastes through the vse whereof they thinke that clemencie the genteleste affection of our nature doth by litle and litle decaye and peryshe Nother they suffer anye thynge that is fylthye lothesome or vnclenlye to be brought into the cytie least the ayre by the stenche therof infected and corrupte shoulde cause pestilente diseases Moreouer euerye strete hath certeyne great large halles sett in equal distaunce one from an other euerye one knowne by a sentrall name In thies halles dwell the Syphograuntes And to euery one of the same halles be apoynted .xxx. families of ether side .xv. The stewardes of euery halle at a certayn houre come in to the meate markettes where they receyue meate accordinge to the numbre of their halles But first and chieflie of all respect is had to the sycke that be cured in the hospitalles For in the circuite of the citie a litle without the walles they haue .iiij. hospitalles so bygge so wyde so ample so lardge that they may seme .iiij. litle townes which were deuised of y â— bygnes partely to thinteÌ„t the sycke be they neuer so many in nuÌ„bre shuld not lye to thronge or strayte and therfore vneasely incomodiously and partely that they which were taken bolden with contagious diseases suche as be wonte by infection to crepe from one to an other myght be laid a part farre from the coÌ„pany of y â— residue Thies holpitalles be so well apointed with al thynges necessary to health so furnished more ouer so diligeÌ„t atteÌ„dauÌ„ce through the coÌ„tinual presence of cuÌ„uyng phisitians is geue â–ª that though no man be sent thither against his will yet notwithstand inge there is no sicke persone in all y â— citie that had not rather lye there theÌ„ at home in his owne house When the stâ—warde of the sicke hath receiued suche meates as the phisitians haue prescrâ—bed then the beste is equally deuideâ— among the halles according to the coÌ„pany of euery one sauing that there is had a respect to the prince the byshop the tranibours and to ambassadours all straungers if there be any whiche be verye fewe and seldome But they also when they be there haue certeyne houses apointed and prepared for theÌ„ To thies halles at y â— set houres of dinner supper cummith all the hole Siphograuntie or warde warned by the noyse of a brasen truÌ„pet except such 〈◊〉 be sicke in y â— hospitalles or els in their owne houses Howe be it no man is prohibited or forbid after y â— halles be serued to fetch home meate out of y â— market to his own house For they knowe that no man wyl doo it without a cause resonable For thoughe no man be prohibited to dyne at home yet no maÌ„ doth it willynglye because it is counted a pointe of small honestie And also it were a follye to take the payne to dresse a badde dyâ—er at home wheÌ„ they maye be welcome to good fyne fare so â—yghe hande at the hall In this hal all vyle seruice all slauerie and drudgerye with all laboursome toyle and busines is done by bondemen But the women of euery famelie by course haue the office and charge of
also of longer continuaunce For it rysethe before the pleasure aâ—d endeth not vntyll the pleasure dye wyth it Wherfore such pleasures they think not greatly to be set by but in y â— they be necessary Howbeit they haue delite also in thies thaÌ„kfully knouledge y â— teÌ„der loue of mother nature which with most pleasauÌ„t delectation allureth her childreÌ„ to y â— which of necessitye they be driueÌ„ ofteÌ„ vse For how wretched miserable should our liffe be if thies daily greiffes of huÌ„ger thrust coulde not be dreueÌ„ away bâ—t with bitter potions sower medicines as the other deseases be where with we be seldomer troubled But bewtye strengthe nemblenes thies as peculiare and pleasaunte giftes of nature they make muche of But those pleasures which be receaued by the eares the iyes and the nose which nature willeth to be proper and peculiar to man for no other kind of liuing beastes doth behold the fayreneâ— and the bewtie of the wordle or is 〈◊〉 with aâ—ny respect of sauours buâ— oâ—ly for the diuersity of meates â–ª â—other perceaueth the concordaunt and discorâ—ante distaunces of â—oundes and tuâ—es thies pleasures I say they accept and allowe as certein pleasaunt reioysinges of liffe But in all thinges thys caâ—tell they vse that a lesse pleasure hiâ—der not a bigger that y â— pleasur be no cause of dyspleasur whych they thinke to followe of necessytye if the pleasure be vnhoueste But yet to dyspyse the coÌ„lynes of bewtye to waste the bodylye strengthe to tourne nymblenes into sâ—oâ—ghishnes to consume and make feble the boddye wyth fastynge to doo iuiury to health and to reiect the other pleasaunte motyous of nature onles a man neglecte thies hys commodytyes whyles he doth wyth a feruent zeale procure the wealth of others or the coÌ„men proffytte for the whyche pleasure forborne he is in hope of a greater pleasure of GOD els for a vayne shaddowe of vertue for the wealthe and proffette of no man to punyshe hymselfe or to the intente he maye be able â—â—â—â—ragiouslye to suffre aduersityes whyche perchaunce shall neuer come to hym thys to doo they thynke it â— poynte of extreame madâ—es and a toâ—en of a man cruelly minded to wardeâ— hymselfe and vnkynd towarde nature as one so dysdaynynge to be in her dauÌ„ger that he 〈◊〉 and refuseth all her benefytes Thys is theire sentence and opinion of vertue and pleasure And they beleue that by mans reason 〈◊〉 caâ— be fownde trewer then this onles annye godlyer be inspyred intâ— man from heauen Wherin whetheâ— they belyue well or no nother the tyme â—othe suffer vs to discusse nother it ys â—owe necessarye For we haue taken vpon vs to shewe and declare theyrloreâ— and or deâ—aunces and not to defâ—nde them But thys thynge I beleue verely howe soeuer thies decrees be that their is in no place of the wordle noâ—ther a more excellent people nothers more flouryshynge commen wealthe They be lyghte and quycke of boddy full of actiuity and nymblenes and of more strengthe theÌ„ a maÌ„wold iudge them by they re stature whyche 〈◊〉 â—ll that ys not to lowe And thoughe theyrt soyle be not verye fruteâ—â—ll nor they re ayer verye holsome yet agaynste the ayer they soo defende them wyth temperate dyete and soo order and husbande theyr grounde wyth dylygente trauayle that in no contreye ys greatter increase and plentye of 〈◊〉 and cattell nor mens bodies of longer liffe and subiect or apte to fewet defeases There therfore a man maye see well and diligentlye exploited and furnished not onlye those thinges whiche husbandmen doo 〈◊〉 in other countreys as by craft and câ—â—ming to remedy the harrennes of y â— grounde but also a hole wood by the handes of the people plucked vp by the rotes in one place and sett agayâ—t in an other place Wherin was hadde regarâ— and consideration not of plenty but of coÌ„modious carriage that wood and tymber might be nigher to the â—ea or the riuers or the cities For it is lessâ— laboure and busines to carrye grayue farre by lande then wood The people be gentle merye quycke and syne wytted delytynge in quyetâ—es and when nede requyreth able to abyde and suffre muche bodelye laboure Elles they be not greatelye desyerous and fonde of yt but in the exercyse and studdye of the mynde they be â—euer werye When they had harde me speake of the Greke lytterarature or learnynge for in Latyue they re was nothynge that I thougthe they wolde greaâ—elye allowe besydes hystorpeus and Poetes they made wonderfull earneste and importunate sute vnto me that I wolde teache and instructe them in that tonge and learnynge I beganne therefore to reade vnto them at the fyrste iruelye more bycause I wolde not seme to refuse the laboure then that I hooped that they wolde annye thyng proffytte therin But when I had gone forwarde a lytle and perceaued incontyuente by theyr dylygence that my labour should not be bestowed in vayne for they begaune so easelye to fassyoâ— they re letters so plainly to pronouÌ„ce y â— woordes so quyckely to learne by harte and so suerly to rehearse the same that I marueled at it sauynge that the most parte of them were fyne and chosen wittes and of rype age pyked oute of the companye of the learned men whyche not onlye of theyr owne face and voluntarye wyll but also by the commaundemente of the cowncell vndertoke to learue thys langage Therfore in lesse then .iij. yeres space their was nothing in the Greke tonge that they lackede They were able to reade good authors 〈◊〉 anny stayâ— if the booke were not false Thys kynde of learnynge as I suppose they toke so muche the souâ—â—er bycause it is sum what allyaunte to them For I thynke that thys nation tooke their beginninge of the Grekes bycause their speche which in all other poyntes is not muche vnlyke the persian tonge kepeth dyueâ—s sigâ—es and tooâ—â—ens of the greke laâ—gage in the names of their cityes and of theire magystrates They haue of me for when I was determyned to entre into my .iiij. voyage I caste into the shippe in the steade of marchandyse a pretye fardell of bookes bycause I inteuded to come agayne rather neuer than shortelye the mooste parte of Platoes woorkes more of Aristotles also Theophrastus of Plantes but in diuers places which I am sorye for vnperfecte For whyles wee were saylynge a mormoâ—eâ—â— chaunced vpon the booke as yt was neglygentlye layde by whyche waâ— tonlye playinge therewyth plucked owte certeyne leaues and toorâ— them in pieces Of them that haue wrytten the grammer they haue onelye Lascaris For Theodorus I caried not wyth me nor neuer a dyctyonarye but Hesichius and Dioscorides They sett greate stoore by Plutarches bookes And they be delyted wyth Lucianes merye conceytes and iestes Of y â— Poettes they haue Aristophanes Homer Euripides and Sophocles in Aldus small prynte Of the Historyans they haue Thucidides Herodotus and Herodian Also my coÌ„panion Tricius Apinatus
caried with him phisick bokes certein small woorkes of Hippo crates and Galenes Microtechue The whyche boke they haue in greate estyâ—atyon For thoughe there he almost no nation vnder heauen that hath lesse nede of Phisick then they yet this notwithstâ—ndyng Phisicke is no where in greater honour Bycause they count the knowledge of yt emonge the goodlieste and mooste profytable partes of Philosophie For whyles they by the helpe of thys Philosophie searche owte the secrete mysteryes of nature they thynke that they not onlye receaue ther by wonderfull greate pleasur but also obteyn great thankes and fauour of the auctoure and maker therof Whome they thynke accordynge to the fassyon of other artyfycers to haue sett furthe the maruelous and gorgious frame of the worlde for man to beholde Whome onelye he hathe made of wytte and capacytye to consydre and vnderstand the excellencye of so greate a woorke And therefore saye they dothe he beare more good wyll and loue to the curyous and diligent beholder and vewere of his woorke maruelour at the same then he doth to him whyche lyke a very beaste wythowte wytte and reason or as one wythowte sense or mouynge hath no regarde to soo greate and soo wonderfull a spectacle The wyttes the refore of the Vtopians inurede and exercysed in learnynge he marueious quycke in the inuentyon of feates helpynge annye thynge to the aduantage and wealthe of lyffe Howebeyt .ij. feates theye maye thanke vs for That is the scyence of imprintyng and the crafâ—e of makynge paper And yet not onelye vs but chyefelye and pryncypallye themselfes For when wee shewede to them Aldus hys pryute in bookes of paper and told them of the stuffe wherof paper is made and of the feat of grauynge letters speakynge sumwhat more then wee colde playnlye declare for there was none of vs that knewe perfectlye other the one or the other they furthwyth verye wyttelye coniectured the thynge And where as before they wrote oâ—ely in skynnes in barkes of tryes in rides now they haue attempted to make paper to imprint letters And thoughe at the fyrste yt prouâ—â— not all of the beste yet by often assay inge the same they shortelye gott the feate of bothe And haue so broughte the matter abowte that yf they had copyes of Greeke authores they coulde lacke no bookes But nowe they haue no moore then I rehearsed before sauynge that by pryntynge of bookes they haue multyplyed and increased the same into manye thowsande of copyes Who soeuer cummeth thether to see the lande beynge excellente in annye gyfte of wytte or throughe muche and songe iournyenge well experiensed and sene in the knowledge of manye countreys for the whyche cause wee were verye welcome to them hym they receyue and interteyne wonders gentyllye and louynglye For they haue delyte to heare what ys done in euerye lande howebeyt verye few marchaunte men come thythere For what shoulde they brynge thither onles yt were Iron or els golde and syluer whiche they hadde rathere carrye home agayne Also suche thynges as arre to be caryed owte of their lande they thynke yt more wysedome to carrye that geeâ— furthe themselfes then that othere shoulde come thether to fetche yt to thentente they maye the better knowe the owte landes of euerye syde them and kepe in vre the feat and knouledge of saylinge Of Bondemen sicke persons wedlocke and dyuers other matters THey nother make bondemen of prysoners taken in battayll oneles yt be in battaylle that the fowghte themselfes nor bondemens chyldren nor to be shorte annye man whome they canne gette owte of an othere countreye thoughe he were they re a bondeman But other suche as amonge themselfes for heynous offences be punnyshed wyth bondage or elles suche as in the Cytyes of other landes for greate trespasses be condempned to deathe And of thys sorte of hondemen they haue mooste stoore Formanye of them they brynge home sumtymes payinge very lytle for them yea mooste commonlye gettynge them for gramercye Thyes sortes of bondemen they kepe not onelye in contynuall woorke and laboure but alsoo in bandes But they re owne men they haâ—dle hardeste whome they Iudge mored esperate and to haue deserâ—ede greater punnysshemente bycause they beynge so godlye broughte vp to vertue in soo excellente a common wealthe cowlde not for all that be refreyned from mysdoynge An other kynde of bondemen they haue when a vyle drudge beynge a poore laborer in an other cowntreye dothe chewse of hys owne free wyll to be a bondeman â—monge them Thyes they handle and order honestelye and enterteyne almooste as gentyllye as they re ownâ— free cytyzeyns sauynge that they put them to a lytle more laboure as thereto accustomede Yf annye suche be dysposed to departe thens whyche seldome ys seene they nother holde hym agaynste hys wyll nother sende hym awaye wyth emptye handes The spâ—ke as I sayde they see to wyth greate affectyon and lette nothynge at all passe concernynge other Physycke or good dyete wherby they may be restored agayne to they re healthe Them that be sycke of iucurable dyseases they comforte wyth syttynge by them wyth talkynge wyth them and to be shâ—â—te wyth all maner of helpes that maye be But yf the dysease be not oâ—elye vncurable but also full of contynuall payne and angnyshe then the priessâ—s and the mâ—gistrates exhort the man seyâ—ge he ys not able to doo annye dewtye of lyffe and by ouerlyuing hys owne deathe is noysome and yrke some to other and greuous to hymself that he wyll determyne with hymselfe no longer to cheryshe that pestilent and peynefull dysease And seynge hys lyfe ys to hym but a tourmente that he wyll nott bee vnwyllynge too dye but rather take a good hope to hym and other dyspatche hymselfe owte of that paynfull lyffe as owte of a pryson or a racke of tormente oâ—â—lles suffer hym selfe wyllynglye to be rydde owte of yt by other And in so dâ—ynge they tell hym he shal doo wyselye seynge by hys deathe he shall lyse no commodytye but ends hys payne And bycaufe with at acte he shall followe the cownsell of the pryestes that is to saye of the interpreters of goddes wyll and pleasure they shewe hym that he shall do â—yke a godly and a vertuouse man They that be thus persuaded fynyshe they re lyues wyllyâ—glye othere wyth hunger or elles dye in they re steape wythowte annye fealnige of deathe Buâ— they cause none suche to dye agaynte hys wyll nor they vse no lesse dilygence and attendaunce about hym beleuynge thys to be an honorable deathe Elles he that kylleth hym selfe before that the prpestes and the cownsell haue allowed the cause of hys deathe hym as vnworthy both of the earth and of fyer they cast vnburied into some stinkyng marrish The womaÌ„ is not maried before the be xviij yeres olde The man is .iiij. yeres elder before he mary If other the man or the woman be proued to haue bodely offended before their marriage
nye kynsefolke whyche were hiered togetheron one parte and there verye fryndelye and famylyerly vsed themselfes one wyth an other shortely after beynge separate into contrarye partes runne one agaynste an other enuyouslye and fyercelye and forgettynge bothe kyndred and frendeshyp thruste they re swordes one in another And that for none other cause but that they be hyered of contrarye prynces for a lytle moneye Whyche they doo so hyghelye regarde and esteame that they will easelye be prouoked to chauÌ„ge partes for a halfpenye more wayges by the daye So quyckelye they haue taken a smacke in couetesenes Whyche for all that ys to them no proffyte For that they gette by syghtynge ymmmedyatelye they spende vnthryftelye and wretchedlye in ryott Thys people fyghte for the Vtopyans agaynste all natyoâ—s bycause they giue them greatter wayges then annye other natyon wyll For the Vtopians lyke as they seke good men to vse wel so they seke thyes euell and vycyous men to abuse Whome when neade requyreth wyth promisses of greate rewardes they putt furthe into greate ieopardyes From whens the mooste part of them neuer cummeth againe to aske their rewardes But to them that remain on liâ—e they paye y â— which they promissed faithfully that they may be the more willinge to put them selfes in like dauÌ„gers another time Nor y â— Vtopians passe not how many of theÌ„ they bring to distruction For they beleue y â— they should doo a very good deade for all mankind if they could ridde out of y e wordle all that fowle stinkinge denne of that most wicked and cursed people Next vnto thies they vse the soldiours of them whom they fight for And then the help of their other frindes And last of al they ioyne to their owne citizeins Emong whome they gyue to one of tried vertue and prowes the rewle goouernaunce and conductyon of the holy armye Vnder hym they appoynte ij other whyche whyles he ys sauffe be bothe pryuate and owte of offyce But yf he be taken or slayne the one of the other .ij. succedeth hym as yt were by in herytaunce And if the second miscarry then the third taketh hys rowme leaste that as the chaunce of battell ys vncerteyne and dowtefull the yeopardye or deathe of the capytayne shoulde brynge the hole armye in hasarde They chuse soldyers owte of euerye cytye those whyche putt furthe themselfes wyllynglye For they thruste no man furthe into warre agaynste hys wyll Bycause they beleue yf annye man be fearefull and faynte harted of nature he wyll not onelye doo no manfull and hardye act hym selfe but also by occasyon of cowardenes to hys fellowes But yf annye battell be made agaynste they re owne countreye then they putt thyes cowardes so that they be stronge bodyed in shyppes emonge other bolde harted men Or elles they dyspose theÌ„ vpon the walles from whens they maye not flye Thus what for shame that they re ennemyes be at hande and what for bycause they be withowt hope of runnynge awaye they forgette all feere And manye tymes extreame necessytye turneth cowardnes into prowes and manlynes But as none of theÌ„ ys thrust forthe of his couÌ„trey into warre agaynste hys wyll so women that be wyllynge to accompanye their hâ—sbaÌ„des in times of warre be not prohybyted or stopped Yea they prouoke and eâ—horte them to yt wyth prayses Aâ—d in sett fylde the wyues doo stande euerye one by here owne husbandes syde Also euery man is coÌ„passed nexte abowte wyth hys owne chyldren kins folâ—es and alliaunce That they whom nature chiefelye moueth to mutuall succoure thus stondynge together maye helpe one an other It is a great reproche and dishonestie for the husbande to come home wythowte hys wiffe or the wiffe withoute her husband or y e sonne without his father And therfore if the other part sticke so harde by it that the baâ—tell come to their haÌ„des it is fought with great slaughter bloodshed eueÌ„ to the vtter destruction of both partes For as they make all the meanes and shyfâ—es that maye be to kepe themselfes from the necessitye of fyghtynge so that they may dispatche y e battell by their hiered soldyours so when there is no remedy but y t they muste neades fyghte themselfes then they do as corragiouslye fall to it as before whyles they myght they dyd wyselye auoyde iâ— Nor they be not moste fierce at the fyrst broâ—te But in continuaunce by litle and lytle theire fierce corrage encreaseth with so stubborne and obstynate myndes that they wyll rather die then gyue backe an ynche For that suertye of lyuynge whiche euery man hath at home beynge ioyned with noo carefull anxietye or remeÌ„braunce how theire posteritie shall lyue after them for this pensifenes oftentymes breaketh aâ—d abateth couragious stomakes maketh them stowte and hardy and dysdaynful to be conquered Moreouer theire knowledge in cheualrye and feates of armes putteth them in a good hope Finally the holsome and vertuous opinions wherin they were brought vp eueÌ„ from theire childhode partely through learnyng and partelye throughe the good ordenaunces and lawes of theire weale publique augmente and encrease theire manfull currage By reason whereof they nother set so litle store by theire liues that they will rasshely vnaduisedlye cast them away nor they be not so farre in lewde fond loue therewith that they will shamefully couete to kepe them wheÌ„ honestie biddeth leaue theÌ„ When the battel is hottest in al places most fierce feruent a bende of chosen aâ—d picked yong men whiche besworne to liue dye togethers take vpon them to destroye theire aduersaries capitaine hym they inuade now with preuy wyeles now by opeÌ„ strength At hym they strike both nere farre of He is assayled with a long a continewal assault freshe men styll commyng in the wâ—ried mens places And seldome it chauÌ„ceth onles he saue hymselfe by flying that he is not other slayne or â—ls taken prysoner yelded to his enemies alyue If they wynne the fyelde they persecute not theire enemies with the violent rage of slaughter For they had rather take them aliue then kyll theÌ„ Nother they do so followe the chase pursute of theire enemies but they leaue behyâ—de them one parte of theire hoste in battayl arraye vnder theire sâ—andardys In so muche that if all theire hole armie be discumfetyd and ouercum sauing the rerewarde that they therewith achieue the victory theâ— they had rather lette all theire enemies scape then to followe them owt of array For they remembre it hath chaunced vâ—to themselfes more theÌ„ oâ—es the hole powre strength of they re hoste being vanquished put to flight whiles theire enemies reioysing in the victory haue persecuted them flying some one way and some an other fewe of theire men lying in an ambusshe there reddy at all occasions haue sodayâ—ly rysen vpon them thus dispersed scattered owt of array and through presumptioÌ„ of safetye vnaduisedly pursuynge the chase and haue incoÌ„tinent changed
brute beastes be immortall and euerlasting But nothiâ—ge to be compared with owers in dignitie nother ordeyned and predestinate to like felicitie For all they beleue certeinly and sewerly that mans blesse shall be so greate that they doo morne and lamente euerye mans sicknes but no mans death oneles it be one whom they see depart from his liffe carfully and agaynst his will For this they take for a very euell token as though the sowle beinge in dyspayre and vexed in conscience through some preuy secret forefeilyng of the punnishment now at hande were afâ—rde to â–ª depart And they thinke he shall not be welcome to God whyche when he ys called runneth not to hym gladly but ys drawen by force and sore agaynste hys wyll They therfore that see thys kynde of deathe doo adhorre it and them that so die they buye wyth sorrow and silence And wheÌ„ they haue prayed God to be mercifull to the sowle and mercifully to pardon the â—nfirmities therof they couer y e dead coorse with earthe Contrarye wise all that depart merely and ful of good hoope for theÌ„ no man moâ—rnethe but followethe the heerse with ioyfull synging coÌ„mending the soules to god with great affectioÌ„ And at the last not with mourning sorrow but with a great â—â—uereÌ„ce they bourne y â— bodies And in y e same place they set vp a piller of stone with the deade mans titles therin graued When they be coÌ„me home they reherse his vertuouse maâ—ers his good dedes But no parte of his liffe is soooft or gladly talked of as his mery deathe They thinke that this remeÌ„braunce of their vertue goodnes doth vehemeÌ„tely prouoke and enforce the quicke to vertue And y â— nothing caÌ„ be more pleasaunt acceptable to the dead Whom they suppose to be present emong them when they talke of them though to the dull and feoble eyesight of mortall meÌ„ they be inuisibly For it were an vnconâ—enient thinge that the blessed shoulde not be at libertye to goo whether they wold And it were a poynte of greate vnkyndnes in theÌ„ to haue vtterly caste awaye the desyer of vysytynge and seynge their frindes to whome they were in theyr lyfe tyme ioyned by mutuall loue and charytye Whych in goodmeÌ„ after they re deathe they cownte to be ratâ—â— encreasede then dymynyshede They beleue therefore that the deade be presentlye conuersaunte emong y â— quicke as beholders and witnesses of all their woordes and deedes Therefore they go more corragiously to their busines as haâ—ing a trust and affiaunce in such ouerseers And this same belefe of y â— present coÌ„uersacioÌ„ of their forefathers and auncetours emonge them fearethe them from all secrete dishonesty They vtterly â—espise and mocke sothe sayinges and diuinacions of thinges to come by the flighte or voyces of birdes and all other diuinations of vayne superstition which in other countreys be in great obseruation But they highly esteame and worshippe miracles that come by no helpe of nature as workes and witnesses of the presente powrâ— of God And such they saye doo chaunce there very often And suÌ„times in great and dowtefull matters by commen intercession and prayers they procure and obteyne them with a suer hoope confidence and a stedfast beleffe They thinke that the contemplacion of nature and the prayse thereof cumminge is to God a very acceptable honour Yet there be many so earnestly bent and affectioned to religion that they passe no thinge for learning nor giue their mindes to no knowledge of thinges But ydelnes they vtterly forsake eschâ—e thinkinge felicitie after this liffe to be gotten and obteined by busy labors and good exercises Some therfore of them attende vpon the sicke some amend highe waies clense ditches repaire bridges digge turfes grauell and stones fell and cleaue woode bring wood corâ—e and other thinges into the cities in cartes and serue not onlye in commen woorkes but also in pryuate laboures as seruanntes yea more then bondmeÌ„ For what so euer vnpleasaunte harde and vile worke is any where from the which labour lothsuÌ„â—es and desperâ—tion doth fraye other all that they take vpon them willingly and gladly procuring quyete and rest to other remayning in continuall woorke and labour themfelfes not embrayding others there wyth They nother reproue other mens liues nor glorye in theire owne Thies meÌ„ the more seruiseable they behaue them selfes the moore they be honoured of all men Yet they be diuided into .ij. sectes The one is of them that liue single and chast absteining not only from the company of women but also from the eating of flesh and some of them from al maner of beastes Which vtterly reiectynge the pleasures of this present lyffe as hurtefull be all hollye set vpon the dessire of the lyffe to come by watchynge and sweatynge hoping shortely to obtaine it beyng in the meane season meerye and lustye The other sect is no lesse desyerous of labour but they eÌ„brace matrimony not despising the solace therof thinking that they caÌ„ not be discharged of theire bonâ—den duetyes towardes nature withoute labour and tiole nor towardes their natiâ—e countreye wythowte procreacion of chyldren They abstayne from no pleasure that dothe nothynge hynder them from laboure They loue the fleshe of fourefoted beastes bycause they beleue that by that meate they be made hardier and stronger to woorke The Vtopians count this secte the wiser but y â— other the hollier Which in that they preferre single liffe before matrimony and that sharpe liffe before an easier liffe if herin they grounded vpon reasoÌ„ they wold mock them But now forasmuch as they say they be ledde to it by religion they honour and worship theÌ„ And thies be they whome in their language by a peculyare name they call Buthrescaâ— the whyche woorde by interpretation signifieth to vs men of religâ—on or religious men They haue pryestes of exceding hollines and therefore very few For there be but .xiij. in euery city according to the number of theire churches sauynge when they go furth to battell For than .vij. of them goo furthe wyth the armye in whose steades so manye newe be made at home But the other at they re retourne home agayn reentre euery one into his own place they that be aboue the numbre vâ—tyll suche tyme as they succede into the places of the other at they re dyiâ—ge be in the meane season continuallye in companye wyth the bishoppe For he ys the chyeffe heade of theÌ„ all They be chosen of the people as the other magistrates be by secrete voices for y â— auoyâ— they be consecrate of their owne company They be ouerseers of all deuyne matters orderers of religious and as it were Iugers and maisters of maners And it is a great dishonestye and shame to be rebuked or spoken to by anny of theÌ„ for dissolute and incontineÌ„t liuing But as it is their offyce to gyue good exhortations and cowâ—sell so it is y â— deâ—ty of the prince and y â— other
magistrates to correct and punnyshe offeÌ„ders sauynge that the priestes whome they find exceading vicious liuers theÌ„ they excommâ—â—icate from hauing any interest in diuine matters And there is almoost no punnishment emonge them more feared For they runne in verye great infamy and he inwardly tormented with a secrete feare of religion and shall dot long scape free with their bodies For onles they by quycke repentauÌ„ce approue the amendement of their lyffes to the priestes they be taken and punnished of the cownsell as wycked irreligious Both childhode and youth is instructed and tought of them Nor they be not more deligente to instructe them in learning then in vertue good maners For they vse with very greate endeuour and deligence to put into the heades of their children whiles they be yet tender and pliaunt good opinions and profitable for the conseruation of their weale publique Which wheÌ„ they be ones rooted in children do remayne wyth them all thâ—ir lyfe after be woÌ„ders profitable for the defence maintenaunce of the state of the coÌ„men weal the. Which neuer decaieth but through viâ—is risinge of euell opinyons The pryestes onles they be women for that kynd iâ— not excluded from pryesthode howebeit fewe be chosen and none but widdowes and old women the meÌ„ priestes I saye take to their wife 's the chiefest women in all their countreye For to no office emong the vtopians is more honour and preeminence geueÌ„ In so much that if they committ any offence they be vnder no coÌ„men iudgemeÌ„t but be left only to god theÌ„selfes For they thinke it not lawfull to touch him with mannes hande be he neuer so vityous whiche after so singuler a sort was dedicate and consecrate to god as a holly offering This maner may they easely obserue bicause they haue so few priestes do chuse theÌ„ with such circuÌ„spection For it scasely euer chaunceth that y â— most verâ—uoâ—s emoÌ„g vertuous which in respect only of his vertue is auaunced to so high a dignity can fal to vice and wickednes And if it should chaâ—Ì„ce in dede as mans nature is mutable and fraile yet by reason they be so few and promoted to no might nor powre but only honour it were not to be feared that anye great dammage by them should happen and eâ—sue to the coÌ„men wealth They haue so rare and few priestes least if the honour were coÌ„municate to many y â— dignity of y â— ordre which emong them now is so highly estemed should runne in contempt Speciallye bicause they thinke it harde to find many so good as to be meet for that dignity to the execution and discharge wher of it is not sufficieÌ„te to be endued with mean vertues Further more thies priestes be not more estemed of their owne countrey meÌ„ then they be of forrein straung couÌ„treis Which thing maye hereby plainly appere And I think also y â— this is the cause of it For whiles y â— armes be fighting together in opeÌ„ feld they a litle beside not farre of knele vpon their knees in their hallowed vestimentes holding vp theyr haÌ„des to heauen praying first of all for peace nexte for vyctory of theyr owne parte but to neyther part a bluddy vyctory If their host gette the vpper hand they runne in to the mayne battayle and restrayne they re owne men from sleying and crâ—ellye pursuynge they re vanquyshed eâ—nemies Whyche ennemyes yf they do but see them and speake to them yt ys ynoughe for the sauegarde of theyr lyues And the towchynge of theire clothes defeÌ„deth saueth al their gooddes froÌ„ raâ—yne spoyle Thys thing hath auaunced theÌ„ to so greate wourshyp trew maiesty emong al natoÌ„is y t many times they haue aswel preserued theire own citizeÌ„s froÌ„ y â— cruel force of their enemies as they haue their enemies froÌ„ theâ— furyous rage of they re owne men For yt ys well knowen that wheÌ„ their owne army hathe reculed and in dyspayre turned backe and runne away theyr ennemies fyerslye pursuing with slaughter and spoyle then the priestes cumming betwine haue stayed the murder and parted bothe the hostes So that peace hath beâ—e made and concluded betwene bothe partes vpon equall and indyfferent condytions For there was neuer anny natyon so fiers so cruell and rude but they hadde theÌ„ in suche reuerence that they cownted theyr bodyes hallowed and sanctyfyed and therefore not to be violentlye and vnreuerentlye towched They kepe hollye daye the fyrste and the laste day of euerye moneth and yeare deuydynge the yeare into moâ—ethes whyche they measure by the course of the moone as they doo the yeare by the course of the sonne The fyrste dayes they call in theyr language Cynemerâ—es and the laste Trapeâ—â—ernes the whyche woordes maye be interpreted primifeste and finifest or els in our speache first feast and last feast Their churches be very gorgyous and not onelye of fyne and curious workemaÌ„ship but also which in the fewenes of theÌ„ was necessary very wide and large and able to receaue a great company of people But they be all sumwhat darke Howbeit that was not donne through ignoraunce in buylding but as they say by the cownsell of the priestes Bicause they thought y â— ouer much light doth disperse mens cogitations where as in dimme doutefull lighte they be gathered together more earnestly fixed vpon religion deuocion which bicause it is not there of one sort emong all men and yet all the kindes aâ—d fassions of it thoughe they be sondry and manifold agree together in the honoure of the deuine nature as going diuers wayes to one ende ther fore nothing is sene nor hard in y â— churches which semeth not to agre indiffereÌ„tly with them all If ther be a distinct kind of sacrifice peculiare to any seuerall secte that they execute at home in their owne houses The coÌ„mon sacrifices be so ordered that they be no derogatyon nor preiudyce to aâ—â—ye of the pryuate sacryfyces and religioÌ„s Therefore no ymage of annye god is seâ—ne in the churche to the intente it maye be free for euery man to conceyue god by their religion after what likenes and similitude they will They call vpon no peculiar name of god but only Mithra In the which word they all agree together in one nature of y â— deuine maiestye whatsoeuer it be No prayers be vsed but such as euerye man maye boldelye pronownce wythowt the offending of anny secte They come therefore to the churche the laste day of euery moneth and yeare in the euenynge yet fastyng there to gyue thanckes to GOD for that they haue prosperouslye passed ouer the yeare or monethe wherof that hollye daye ys the laste daye The next daye they come to the churche earlye in the mornyng to praye to GOD that they maye haue good fortune and successe all the newe yeare or monethe whyche they doo begynne of that same hollye daye But in the holly dayes that be the laâ—â—e dayes of the