A booke called the Foundacion of Rhetorike / because all other partes of Rhetorike are grounded thereupon, euery parte sette forthe in an Oracion vpon questions, verie profitable to bee knowen and redde

Transcriber’s Notes

About this book: A booke called the Foundacion of Rhetorike was published in 1563. Only five copies of the original are known to exist. This e-book was transcribed from microfiche scans of the original in the Bodleian Library at Oxford University. The scans can be viewed at the Bibliothèque nationale de France website at http://gallica.bnf.fr.

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The following alterations have been made:

1. Long-s (ſ) is regularized as s.

2. The paragraph symbol, resembling a C in the original, is rendered as ¶.

3. Missing punctuation, hyphens, and paragraph symbols have been added in brackets, e.g. [-].

4. Except for the dedication, which is in modern italics, the majority of the original book is in blackletter font, with some words in a modern non-italic font. All modern-font passages are rendered in italics.

5. Incorrect page numbers are corrected, but are included in the list of [printer errors] at the end of this e-book.

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A macron over a vowel represents m or n, and is rendered as it appears in the original, e.g., cōprehēded = comprehended.

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Sources consulted: The uneven quality of the microfiche scans, as well as the blackletter font and some ink bleed-through and blemishes in the original, made the scans difficult to read in some places. To ensure accuracy, the transcriber has consulted the facsimile reprint edited by Francis R. Johnson (Scholars’ Facsimiles and Reprints, New York, 1945). The 1945 reprint was prepared primarily from the Bodleian copy, with several pages reproduced from the copy in the Chapin Library at Williams College, Williamstown, Massachusetts, where the Bodleian copy was unclear.

¶ A booke cal-
led the Foundacion of Rhetorike, be-
cause all other partes of Rhetorike
are grounded thereupon, euery parte sette
forthe in an Oracion vpon questions,
verie profitable to bee knowen
and redde: Made by Ri-
chard Rainolde
Maister of
Arte,
of
the Uniuersitie of
Cambridge.
1563.

Mens. Marcij. vj.

¶ Imprinted at London, by
Ihon Kingston.

THE EPISTLE DEDICATORIE

¶ To the right honorable and my singuler good Lorde,
my Lorde Robert Dudley, Maister of the
Queenes Maiesties horse, one of her highes pri-
uie Counsaile, and knight of the moste honou-
rable order of the Garter: Richard Rai-
nolde wisheth longe life, with
increase of honour.

RISTOTLE the famous Phi-
losopher, writing a boke to king
Alexāder, the great and migh-
tie conquerour, began the Epi-
stle of his Booke in these woor-
des. Twoo thynges moued me
chieflie, O King, to betake to thy Maiesties handes,
this worke of my trauile and labour, thy nobilitie and
vertue, of the whiche thy nobilitie encouraged me, thy
greate and singuler vertue, indued with all humanitie,
forced and draue me thereto. The same twoo in your
good Lordshippe, Nobilitie and Vertue, as twoo migh-
tie Pillers staied me, in this bolde enterprise, to make
your good Lordshippe, beyng a Pere of honour, indued
with all nobilitie and vertue: a patrone and possessoure
of this my booke. In the whiche although copious and
aboundaunte eloquence wanteth, to adorne and beau-
tifie thesame, yet I doubte not for the profite, that is in
this my trauaile conteined, your honour indued with
all singuler humanitie, will vouchsaufe to accepte my
willyng harte, my profitable purpose herein. Many fa-
mous menne and greate learned, haue in the Greke
tongue and otherwise trauailed, to profite all tymes
their countrie and common wealthe. This also was my
ende and purpose, to plante a worke profitable to all ty-
mes, my countrie and common wealthe.

And because your Lordshippe studieth all singula-
ritie to vertue, and wholie is incensed thereto: I haue
compiled this woorke, and dedicated it to your Lorde-
shippe, as vnto whō moste noble and vertuous. Wher-
in are set forthe soche Oracions, as are right profitable
to bee redde, for knowledge also necessarie. The duetie
of a subiecte, the worthie state of nobilitie, the prehe-
minent dignitie and Maiestie of a Prince, the office of
counsailours, worthie chiefe veneracion, the office of a
Iudge or Magestrate are here set foorthe. In moste for-
tunate state is the kyngdome and Common wealthe,
where the Nobles and Peres, not onelie daiely doe stu-
die to vertue, for that is the wisedome, that all the
graue and wise Philophers searched to attaine to. For
the ende of all artes and sciences, and of all noble actes
and enterprises is vertue, but also to fauour and vphold
the studentes of learnyng, whiche also is a greate ver-
tue. Whoso is adorned with nobilitie and vertue, of
necessitie nobilitie and vertue, will moue and allure thē
to fauour and support vertue in any other, yea, as Tul-
lie the moste famous Oratour dooeth saie, euen to loue
those whō we neuer sawe, but by good fame and brute
beutified to vs. For the encrease of vertue, God
dooeth nobilitate with honour worthie
menne, to be aboue other in dignitie
and state, thereupon vertue
doeth encrease your
Lordshipps
honor,
beyng a louer of vertue
and worthie no-
bilitie.

Your lordshippes humble ser-
uaunt Richard Rainolde.

To the Reader.

PHTHONIVS a famous man, wrote
in Greke of soche declamacions, to en-
structe the studentes thereof, with all fa-
cilitée to grounde in them, a moste plenti-
ous and riche vein of eloquence. No man
is able to inuente a more profitable waie
and order, to instructe any one in the ex-
quisite and absolute perfeccion, of wisedome and eloquence,
then Aphthonius Quintilianus and Hermogenes. Tullie al-
so as a moste excellente Orator, in the like sorte trauailed,
whose Eloquence and vertue all tymes extolled, and the of-
spryng of all ages worthilie aduaunceth. And because as yet
the verie grounde of Rhetorike, is not heretofore intreated
of, as concernyng these exercises, though in fewe yeres past,
a learned woorke of Rhetorike is compiled and made in the
Englishe toungue, of one, who floweth in all excellencie of
arte, who in iudgement is profounde, in wisedome and elo-
quence moste famous. In these therefore my diligence is em-
ploied, to profite many, although not with like Eloquence,
beutified and adorned, as the matter requireth. I haue cho-
sen out in these Oracions soche questions, as are right ne-
cessarie to be knowen and redde of all those, whose cogitaciō
pondereth vertue and Godlines. I doubte not, but seyng my
trauaile toucheth vertuous preceptes, and vttereth to light,
many famous Histories, the order of arte obserued also, but
that herein the matter it self, shall defende my purpose aga-
inste the enuious, whiche seketh to depraue any good enter-
prise, begon of any one persone. The enuious manne
though learned, readeth to depraue that, which he
readeth, the ignoraunt is no worthie Iudge,
the learned and godlie pondereth vp-
rightly & sincerely, that which
he iudgeth, the order of
these Oracions
followeth afterward, and
the names of thē.

¶ The contentes of
this Booke.

N [Oracion] made, vpon the Fable of the Shepher-
des and the Wolues, the Wolues requestyng the
Bandogges: wherein is set forthe the state of eue-
ry subiecte, the dignitie of a Prince, the honoura-
ble office of counsailours.

An [Oracion] vpon the Fable of the Ante and the Gres-
hopper, teachyng prouidence.

An [Oracion] Historicall, howe Semiramis came to bee
Quéene of Babilon.

An [Oracion] Historicall, vpon Kyng Richard the thirde
sometyme Duke of Glocester.

An [Oracion] Historicall, of the commyng of Iulius Ce-
ser into Englande.

An [Oracion] Ciuill or Iudiciall, vpon Themistocles, of
the walle buildyng at Athenes.

An [Oracion] Poeticall vpon a redde Rose.

A profitable [Oracion], shewyng the decaie of kingdomes
and nobilitie.

An [Oracion] vpon a Sentence, preferryng a Monarchie,
conteinyng all other states of common wealthe.

The [confutacion] of the battaile of Troie.

A [confirmacion] of the noble facte of Zopyrus.

An [Oracion] called a Common place against Theues.

The [praise] of Epaminundas Duke of Thebes, wherein
the grounde of nobilitée is placed.

The [dispraise] of Domicius Nero Emperour of Roome.

A [comparison] betwene Demosthenes and Tullie.

A lamentable [Oracion] of Hecuba Queene of Troie.

A [descripcion] vpon Xerxes kyng of Persia.

An [Oracion] called Thesis, as concerning the goodly state
of Mariage.

An [Oracion] confutyng a certaine lawe of Solon.

The foundacion of
Rhetorike.

¶ A Fable.

The ground
of al learning[.]

Irste it is good that the learner doe vnderstand
what is a fable, for in all matters of learnyng,
it is the firste grounde, as Tullie doeth saie, to
knowe what the thing is, that we may the bet-
What is a
fable. ter perceiue whervpō we doe intreate. A fable
is a forged tale, cōtaining in it by the colour of a lie, a matter
Morall. of truthe. The moralle is called that, out of the whiche some
godlie precepte, or admonicion to vertue is giuen, to frame
and instruct our maners. Now that we knowe what a fable
is, it is good to learne also, how manifolde or diuers thei be,
Three sortes
of fables.
i. A fable of
reason. I doe finde three maner of fables to be. The first of theim is,
wherein a man being a creature of God indued with reason,
is onely intreated of, as the Fable of the father and his chil-
dren, he willing thē to concorde, and this is called Rationalis
fabula, whiche is asmoche to saie, as a Fable of men indued
ii. Morall. with reason, or women. The second is called a morall fable,
but I sée no cause whie it is so called, but rather as the other
is called a fable of reasonable creatures, so this is contrarilie
named a fable of beastes, or of other thinges wanting reason
or life, wanting reason as of the Ante and the Greshopper, or
of this the beame caste doun, and the Frogges chosyng their
iii. Mixt. king. The thirde is a mixt Fable so called, bicause in it bothe
man hauyng reason, and a beaste wantyng reason, or any o-
ther thing wanting life, is ioyned with it, as for the example,
of the fable of the woodes and the housebandman, of whom
Poetes in-
uentours of
fables.
Oratours
vse fables. he desired a helue for his hatchet. Aucthours doe write, that
Poetes firste inuented fables, the whiche Oratours also doe
vse in their perswasions, and not without greate cause, both
Poetes and Oratours doe applie theim to their vse. For, fa-
Good doctrin
in fables.
Hesiodus. bles dooe conteine goodlie admonicion, vertuous preceptes
of life. Hesiodus the Poete, intreatyng of the iniurious dea-
lyng of Princes and gouernours, against their subiectes, ad-
monished them by the fable of the Goshauke, and the Nigh-
Ouide. tyngale in his clause. Ouid also the Poete intreated of di-
uers fables, wherein he giueth admonicion, and godly coun-
Demosthe-
nes vsed fa-
bles. saile. Demosthenes the famous Oratour of Athens, vsed
the fable of the Shepeherdes, and Wolues: how the Wol-
ues on a tyme, instauntlie required of the Shepeherdes their
bande dogges, and then thei would haue peace and concorde
with theim, the Shepeherdes gaue ouer their Dogges, their
Dogges deliuered and murdered, the shepe were immediat-
ly deuoured: So saieth he, if ye shall ones deliuer to Philip,
the king of the Macedonians your Oratours, by whose lear-
nyng, knowlege and wisedome, the whole bodie of your do-
minions is saued, for thei as Bandogges, doe repell all mis-
cheuous enterprises and chaunses, no doubte, but that raue-
nyng Wolfe Philip, will eate and consume your people, by
this Fable he made an Oracion, he altered their counsailes
and heddes of the Athenians, from so foolishe an enterprise.
Also thesame Demosthenes, seyng the people careles, sloth-
full, and lothsome to heare the Oratours, and all for the flo-
rishing state of the kingdome: he ascended to the place or pul-
pet, where the Oracions were made, and began with this fa-
The fable of
Demosthe-
nes, of the
Asse and the
shadowe. ble. Ye men of Athens, saied he, it happened on a tyme, that
a certaine man hired an Asse, and did take his iourney from
Athens to Megara, as we would saie, frō London to Yorke,
the owner also of the Asse, did associate hymself in his iour-
ney, to brynge backe the Asse againe, in the voyage the
weather was extreame burning hotte, and the waie tedious
the place also for barenes and sterilitée of trees, wanted sha-
dowe in this long broyle of heate: he that satte one the Asse,
lighted and tooke shadowe vnder the bellie of the Asse, and
because the shadowe would not suffice bothe, the Asse beyng
small, the owner saied, he muste haue the shadowe, because
the Asse was his, I deny that saieth the other, the shadowe is
myne, because I hired the Asse, thus thei were at greate con-
tencion, the fable beyng recited, Demosthenes descended frō
his place, the whole multitude were inquisitiue, to knowe
The conten-
cion vpon the
shadowe and
the Asse. the ende about the shadowe, Demosthenes notyng their fol-
lie, ascended to his place, and saied, O ye foolishe Athenians,
whiles I and other, gaue to you counsaill and admoniciō, of
graue and profitable matters, your eares wer deafe, and your
mindes slombred, but now I tell of a small trifeling matter,
you throng to heare the reste of me. By this Fable he nipped
their follie, and trapped them manifestlie, in their owne dol-
tishenes. Herevpon I doe somwhat long, make copie of wor-
Fables well
applied bee
singuler. des, to shewe the singularitee of fables well applied. In the
tyme of Kyng Richard the thirde, Doctour Mourton, beyng
Bishop of Elie, and prisoner in the Duke of Buckynghams
house in Wales, was often tymes moued of the Duke, to
speake his minde frelie, if king Richard wer lawfully king,
and said to him of his fidelitée, to kepe close and secret his sen-
tence: but the Bishop beyng a godlie man, and no lesse wise,
waied the greate frendship, whiche was sometyme betwene
the Duke & King Richard, aunswered in effect nothyng, but
beyng daily troubled with his mocions & instigacions, spake
a fable of Esope: My lorde saied he, I will aunswere you, by
The fable of
the Bisshop
of Elie, to the
duke of Buc-
kyngham. a Fable of Esope. The Lion on a tyme gaue a commaunde-
ment, that all horned beastes should flie from the woode, and
none to remain there but vnhorned beastes. The Hare hea-
ring of this commaundement, departed with the horned bea-
stes from the woodde: The wilie Foxe metyng the Hare, de-
maunded the cause of his haste, forthwith the Hare aunswe-
red, a commaundemente is come from the Lion, that all hor-
ned beastes should bee exiled, vpon paine of death, from the
woode: why saied the Foxe, this commaundement toucheth
not any sorte of beast as ye are, for thou haste no hornes but
knubbes: yea, but said the Hare, what, if thei saie I haue hor-
nes, that is an other matter, my lorde I saie no more: what he
ment, is euident to all men.

In the time of king Hēry theight (a prince of famous me-
morie) at what time as the small houses of religiō, wer giuen
ouer to the kinges hand, by the Parliament house: the bishop
of Rochester, Doctour Fisher by name stepped forthe, beyng
greued with the graunt, recited before them, a fable of Esope
to shewe what discommoditee would followe in the Clergie.
The fable of
the Bisshop
of Rochester,
againste the
graunt of the
Chauntries. My lordes and maisters saieth he, Esope recited a fable: how
that on a tyme, a housebande manne desired of the woodes, a
small helue for his hatchet, all the woodes consented thereto
waiyng the graunt to be small, and the thyng lesse, therevpō
the woodes consented, in fine the housbande man cut doune
a small peece of woodde to make a helue, he framyng a helue
to the hatchette, without leaue and graunt, he cut doune the
mightie Okes and Cedars, and destroyed the whole woodd,
then the woodes repented them to late. So saith he, the gift of
these small houses, ar but a small graunt into the kinges hā-
des: but this small graunt, will bee a waie and meane to pull
doune the greate mightie fatte Abbees, & so it happened. But
there is repentaūce to late: & no profite ensued of the graunte.

¶ An Oracion made by a fable, to the first exer-
cise to declame by, the other, bee these,

F euery one of these, a goodlie Oraciō maie be made
these excercises are called of the Grekes Progimnas-
mata, of the Latines, profitable introduccions, or fore
exercises, to attain greater arte and knowlege in Rhetorike,
and bicause, for the easie capacitée and facilitée of the learner,
to attain greater knowledge in Rhetorike, thei are right pro-
fitable and necessarie: Therefore I title this booke, to bee the
foundaciō of Rhetorike, the exercises being Progimnasmata.

I haue chosen out the fable of the Shepeherdes, and the
Wolues, vpon the whiche fable, Demosthenes made an elo-
quente, copious, and wittie Oracion before the Athenians,
whiche fable was so well applied, that the citée and common
wealth of Athens was saued.

The firste
exercise.

¶ A fable.

These notes must be obserued, to make an Oracion by a
Fable.

¶ Praise.

1.Firste, ye shall recite the fable, as the aucthour telleth it.

2.There in the seconde place, you shall praise the aucthoure
who made the fable, whiche praise maie sone bee gotte of any
studious scholer, if he reade the aucthours life and actes ther-
in, or the Godlie preceptes in his fables, shall giue abundant
praise.

3.Then thirdlie place the morall, whiche is the interpreta-
cion annexed to the Fable, for the fable was inuented for the
moralles sake.

4.Then orderlie in the fowerth place, declare the nature of
thynges, conteined in the Fable, either of man, fishe, foule,
beaste, plante, trées, stones, or whatsoeuer it be. There is no
man of witte so dulle, or of so grosse capacitée, but either by
his naturall witte, or by reading, or sences, he is hable to saie
somwhat in the nature of any thyng.

5.In the fifte place, sette forthe the thynges, reasonyng one
with an other, as the Ant with the Greshopper, or the Cocke
with the precious stone.

6.Thē in the vj. place, make a similitude of the like matter.

7.Then in the seuenth place, induce an exāple for thesame
matter to bée proued by.

8.Laste of all make the Epilogus, whiche is called the con-
clusion, and herein marke the notes folowyng, how to make
an Oracion thereby.

¶ An Oracion made vpon the fable of the
Shepeherdes and the wolues.
¶ The fable.

He Wolues on a tyme perswaded the Shepeher-
des, that thei would ioyne amitée, and make a
league of concord and vnitee: the demaunde plea-
sed the Shepeherdes, foorthwith the Wolues re-
quested to haue custodie of the bande Dogges, because els
thei would be as thei are alwaies, an occasion to breake their
league and peace, the Dogges beyng giuen ouer, thei were
one by one murthered, and then the Shepe were wearied.

¶ The praise of the aucthour.

He posteritee of tymes and ages, muste needes praise
the wisedome and industrie, of all soche as haue lefte
in monumentes of writyng, thynges worthie fame,
Inuentours
of al excellent
artes and sci-
ences, com-
mended to the
posteritee. what can bee more excellently set foorthe: or what deserueth
chiefer fame and glorie, then the knowledge of artes and sci-
ences, inuented by our learned, wise, and graue aūcestours:
and so moche the more thei deserue honour, and perpetuall
commendacions, because thei haue been the firste aucthours,
and beginners to soche excellencies. The posteritée praiseth
Apelles.
Parthesius.
Polucletus. and setteth forth the wittie and ingenious workes of Apelles,
Parthesius, and Polucletus, and all soche as haue artificial-
ly set forth their excellent giftes of nature. But if their praise
for fame florishe perpetuallie, and increaseth for the wor-
thines of theim, yet these thynges though moste excellent, are
The ende of
all artes, is to
godlie life. inferiour to vertue: for the ende of artes and sciences, is ver-
tue and godlines. Neither yet these thynges dissonaunt from
vertue, and not associate, are commendable onely for vertues
sake: and to the ende of vertue, the wittes of our auncestours
were incensed to inuent these thynges. But herein Polucle-
tus, Apelles, and [Perthesius] maie giue place, when greater
Esope wor-
thie moche
commendaciō[.] vertues come in place, then this my aucthour Esope, for his
godly preceptes, wise counsaill and admonicion, is chiefly to
bée praised: For, our life maie learne all goodnes, all vertue,
Philophie in
fables. of his preceptes. The Philosophers did neuer so liuely sette
forthe and teache in their scholes and audience, what vertue
Realmes
maie learne
concorde out
of Esopes
fables. and godlie life were, as Esope did in his Fables, Citees, and
common wealthes, maie learne out of his fables, godlie con-
corde and vnitee, by the whiche meanes, common wealthes
florisheth, and kingdoms are saued. Herein ample matter ri-
seth to Princes, and gouernours, to rule their subiectes in all
Preceptes to
Kynges and
Subiectes.
Preceptes to
parentes and
children. godlie lawes, in faithfull obedience: the subiectes also to loue
and serue their prince, in al his affaires and busines. The fa-
ther maie learne to bring vp, and instructe his childe thereby.
The child also to loue and obeie his parentes. The huge and
monsterous vices, are by his vertuous doctrine defaced and
extirpated: his Fables in effect contain the mightie volumes
and bookes of all Philosophers, in morall preceptes, & the in-
The content
of al Lawes. finite monumētes of lawes stablished. If I should not speake
of his commendacion, the fruictes of his vertue would shewe
his commendacions: but that praise surmounteth all fame of
A true praise
commēded by
fame it self. glory, that commendeth by fame itself, the fruictes of fame
in this one Fable, riseth to my aucthour, whiche he wrote of
the Shepeherd, and the Wolues.

¶ The Morall.

Herein Esope wittely admonisheth all menne to be-
ware and take heede, of cloked and fained frendship,
of the wicked and vngodlie, whiche vnder a pretence
and offer of frendship or of benefite, seeke the ruin, dammage,
miserie or destruccion of man, toune, citée, region, or countree.

¶ The nature of the thyng.

F all beastes to the quantitée of his bodie, the
The Wolue
moste raue-
ning & cruell. Wolue passeth in crueltee and desire of bloode,
alwaies vnsaciable of deuouryng, neuer conten-
ted with his pray. The Wolfe deuoureth and ea-
teth of his praie all in feare, and therefore oftentymes he ca-
steth his looke, to be safe from perill and daunger. And herein
his nature is straunge frō all beastes: the iyes of the Wolfe,
tourned from his praie immediatlie, the praie prostrate vnder
The Wolues
of all beastes,
moste obliui-
ous. his foote is forgotten, and forthwith he seeketh a newe praie,
so greate obliuion and debilitée of memorie, is giuen to that
beaste, who chieflie seketh to deuoure his praie by night. The
The Wolue
inferiour to
the bandogge[.] Wolues are moche inferior to the banddogges in strength, bi-
cause nature hath framed thē in the hinder parts, moche more
weaker, and as it were maimed, and therefore the bandogge
dooeth ouermatche theim, and ouercome them in fight. The
Wolues are not all so mightie of bodie as the Bandogges,
of diuers colours, of fight more sharpe, of lesse heddes: but in
The Dogge
passeth all
creatures in
smellyng. smellyng, the nature of a Dogge passeth all beastes and
creatures, whiche the historie of Plinie dooe shewe, and Ari-
stotle in his booke of the historie of beastes, therein you shall
knowe their excellente nature. The housholde wanteth not
faithfull and trustie watche nor resistaunce, in the cause of the
Plinie. maister, the Bandogge not wantyng. Plinie sheweth out of
his historie, how Bandogges haue saued their Maister, by
their resistaunce. The Dogge of all beastes sheweth moste
loue, and neuer leaueth his maister: the worthines of the bā-
dogge is soche, that by the lawe in a certaine case, he is coun-
ted accessarie of Felonie, who stealeth a Bandogge from his
maister, a robberie immediatly folowing in thesame family.

The worthi-
nes of Shepe[.] As concernyng the Shepe, for their profite and wealthe,
that riseth of theim, are for worthines, waiyng their smalle
quantitie of bodie, aboue all beastes. Their fleshe nourisheth
purely, beyng swete and pleasaunt: their skinne also serueth
The wolle of
Shepe, riche
and commo-
dious. to diuers vses, their Wolles in so large and ample maner,
commmodious, seruyng all partes of common wealthes. No
state or degrée of persone is, but that thei maie goe cladde and
adorned with their wolles. So GOD in his creatures, hath
Man a chief
creature. created and made man, beyng a chief creatour, and moste ex-
cellent of all other, all thinges to serue him: and therefore the
Stoike Phi-
losophers. Stoicke Philosophers doe herein shewe thexcellencie of man
to be greate, when all thinges vpon the yearth, and from the
yearth, doe serue the vse of man, yet emong men there is a di-
uersitee of states, and a difference of persones, in office and cō-
The office of
the shepeher-
des, are pro-
fitable and
necessarie. dicion of life. As concernyng the Shepherde, he is in his state
and condicion of life, thoughe meane, he is a righte profi-
table and necessarie member, to serue all states in the commō
wealthe, not onely to his maister whom he serueth: for by his
diligence, and warie keping of thē, not onely from rauenyng
beastes, but otherwise he is a right profitable member, to all
Wealth, pro-
fit, and riches
riseth of the
Wolles of
Shepe. partes of the common wealth. For, dailie wée féele the cōmo-
ditie, wealth and riches, that riseth of theim, but the losse wée
féele not, except flockes perishe. In the body of man God hath
created & made diuerse partes, to make vp a whole and abso-
lute man, whiche partes in office, qualitée and worthinesse,
are moche differing. The bodie of man it self, for the excellent
workemanship of God therein, & meruailous giftes of nature
Man called
of the Philo-
sophers, a lit-
tle worlde. and vertues, lodged and bestowed in thesame bodie, is called
of the Philosophers Microcosmos, a little worlde. The body
of man in all partes at cōcord, euery part executing his func-
cion & office, florisheth, and in strength prospereth, otherwise
The bodie of
man without
concord of the
partes, peri-
sheth.
The common
wealthe like
to the bodie
of manne.
Menenius. thesame bodie in partes disseuered, is feeble and weake, and
thereby falleth to ruin, and perisheth. The singuler Fable of
Esope, of the belie and handes, manifestlie sheweth thesame
and herein a florishing kingdom or common wealth, is com-
pared to the body, euery part vsing his pure vertue, strēgth &
operacion. Menenius Agrippa, at what time as the [Romai-]
were at diuision against the Senate, he vsed the Fable of E-
sope, wherewith thei were perswaded to a concorde, and vni-
The baseste
parte of the
bodie moste
necessarie. tée. The vilest parte of the bodie, and baseste is so necessarie,
that the whole bodie faileth and perisheth, thesame wantyng
although nature remoueth them from our sight, and shame
fastnes also hideth theim: take awaie the moste vilest parte of
the bodie, either in substaunce, in operacion or function, and
forthwith the principall faileth. So likewise in a kyngdome,
or common wealth, the moste meane and basest state of man
taken awaie, the more principall thereby ceaseth: So God to
The amiable
parte of the
body doe con-
siste, by the
baseste and
moste defor-
meste. a mutuall concorde, frendship, and perpetuall societie of life,
hath framed his creatures, that the moste principall faileth,
it not vnited with partes more base and inferiour, so moche
the might and force of thynges excellente, doe consiste by the
moste inferiour, other partes of the bodie more amiable and
pleasaunt to sight, doe remain by the force, vse and integritée
of the simpliest. The Prince and chief peres doe decaie, and al
the whole multitude dooe perishe: the baseste kinde of menne
The Shepe-
herdes state
necessarie. wantyng. Remoue the Shepeherdes state, what good follo-
weth, yea, what lacke and famine increaseth not: to all states
The state of
the husbande
manne, moste
necessarie. the belie ill fedde, our backes worse clad. The toilyng house-
bandman is so necessarie, that his office ceasyng vniuersallie
the whole bodie perisheth, where eche laboureth to further
and aide one an other, this a common wealth, there is pro-
sperous state of life. The wisest Prince, the richest, the migh-
tiest and moste [valianntes], had nede alwaies of the foolishe,
the weake, the base and simplest, to vpholde his kingdomes,
not onely in the affaires of his kyngdomes, but in his dome-
sticall thinges, for prouisiō of victuall, as bread, drinke, meat[,]
clothyng, and in all soche other thynges. Therefore, no office
or state of life, be it neuer so méete, seruyng in any part of the
No meane
state, to be
contempned. common wealthe, muste bée contemned, mocked, or skorned
at, for thei are so necessarie, that the whole frame of the com-
mon wealth faileth without theim: some are for their wicked
behauiour so detestable, that a common wealthe muste séeke
Rotten mem[-]
bers of the cō[-]
mon wealth. meanes to deface and extirpate theim as wéedes, and rotten
members of the bodie. These are thefes, murtherers, and ad-
ulterers, and many other mischiuous persones. These godly
Lawes, vpright and sincere Magistrates, will extirpate and
cutte of, soche the [commo wealth] lacketh not, but rather ab-
horreth as an infectiue plague and Pestilence, who in thende
through their owne wickednesse, are brought to mischief.

Plato. Read Plato in his booke, intiteled of the common wealth
who sheweth the state of the Prince, and whole Realme, to
stande and consiste by the vnitee of partes, all states of the cō-
A common
wealth doe
consiste by
vnitie of all
states. mon wealth, in office diuers, for dignitée and worthines, bea-
ring not equalitée in one consociatée and knit, doe raise a per-
fite frame, and bodie of kingdome or common wealthe.

Aristotle.
What is a cō-
mon wealth. Aristotle the Philosopher doeth saie, that a cōmon welth
is a multitude gathered together in one Citée, or Region, in
state and condicion of life differing, poore and riche, high and
low, wise and foolishe, in inequalitee of minde and bodies dif-
feryng, for els it can not bée a common wealthe. There must
be nobles and peres, kyng and subiect: a multitude inferiour
and more populous, in office, maners, worthines alteryng.
A liuely exā-
ple of commō
wealthe. Manne needeth no better example, or paterne of a common
wealthe, to frame hymself, to serue in his state and callyng,
then to ponder his owne bodie. There is but one hedde, and
many partes, handes, feete, fingers, toes, ioyntes, veines, si-
newes, belie, and so forthe: and so likewise in a cōmon welth
there muste be a diuersitee of states.

¶ The reasonyng of the thynges
conteined in this Fable.

Hus might the Wolues reason with them sel-
ues, of their Embassage: The Wolues dailie
molested and wearied, with the fearce ragyng
Masties, and ouercome in fight, of their power
and might: one emong the reste, more politike
and wise then the other, called an assemble and counsaill of
The counsail
of Wolues. Wolues, and thus he beganne his oracion. My felowes and
compaignions, sithe nature hath from the beginnyng, made
vs vnsaciable, cruell, liuyng alwaies by praies murthered,
and bloodie spoiles, yet enemies wée haue, that séeke to kepe
vnder, and tame our Woluishe natures, by greate mightie
Bandogges, and Shepeherdes Curres. But nature at the
firste, did so depely frame and set this his peruerse, cruell, and
bloodie moulde in vs, that will thei, nill thei, our nature wil
bruste out, and run to his owne course. I muse moche, wai-
yng the line of our firste progenitour, from whence we came
firste: for of a man wee came, yet men as a pestiferous poison
doe exile vs, and abandon vs, and by Dogges and other sub-
Lycaon. till meanes doe dailie destroie vs. Lycaon, as the Poetes doe
faine, excedyng in all crueltées and murthers horrible, by the
murther of straungers, that had accesse to his land: for he was
king and gouernor ouer the Molossians, and in this we maie
worthilie glorie of our firste blood and long auncientrée, that
The firste
progenie of
Wolues. he was not onelie a man, but a kyng, a chief pere and gouer-
nour: by his chaunge and transubstanciacion of bodie, wée
loste by him the honour and dignitee due to him, but his ver-
tues wée kepe, and daily practise to followe them. The fame
The inuen-
cion of the
Poet Ouide
to compare a
wicked man,
to a Wolue. of Lycaons horrible life, ascended before Iupiter, Iupiter the
mightie God, moued with so horrible a facte, left his heauen-
lie palace, came doune like an other mortall man, and passed
doune by the high mountaine Minalus, by twilighte, and
so to Licaons house, our firste auncestoure, to proue, if this
Lycaon. thing was true. Lycaon receiued this straunger, as it semed
doubtyng whether he were a God, or a manne, forthwith he
feasted him with mannes fleshe baked, Iupiter as he can doe
Lycaon chaū-
ged into a
Wolue. what he will, brought a ruine on his house, and transubstan-
ciated hym, into this our shape & figure, wherein we are, and
so sens that time, Wolues were firste generated, and that of
manne, by the chaunge of Lycaon, although our shape is
chaunged from the figure of other men, and men knoweth
Wolue.
Manne. vs not well, yet thesame maners that made Wolues, remai-
neth vntill this daie, and perpetuallie in men: for thei robbe,
thei steale, and liue by iniurious catching, we also robbe, al-
so wée steale, and catche to our praie, what wee maie with
murther come to. Thei murther, and wee also murther, and
so in all poinctes like vnto wicked menne, doe we imitate the
like fashion of life, and rather thei in shape of men, are Wol-
ues, and wee in the shape of Wolues menne: Of all these
thynges hauyng consideracion, I haue inuented a pollicie,
whereby we maie woorke a slauter, and perpetuall ruine on
the Shepe, by the murther of the Bandogges. And so wée
shall haue free accesse to our bloodie praie, thus we will doe,
wee will sende a Embassage to the Shepeherdes for peace,
The counsail
of Wolues. saiyng, that wee minde to ceasse of all bloodie spoile, so that
thei will giue ouer to vs, the custodie of the Bandogges, for
otherwise the Embassage sent, is in vaine: for their Dogges
being in our handes, and murthered one by one, the daunger
and enemie taken awaie, we maie the better obtain and en-
ioye our bloodie life. This counsaill pleased well the assem-
ble of the Wolues, and the pollicie moche liked theim, and
with one voice thei houled thus, thus. Immediatlie cōmuni-
cacion was had with the Shepeherdes of peace, and of the gi-
uyng ouer of their Bandogges, this offer pleased theim, thei
cōcluded the peace, and gaue ouer their Bandogges, as pled-
ges of thesame. The dogges one by one murthered, thei dis-
solued the peace, and wearied the Shepe, then the Shepeher-
des repented them of their rashe graunt, and foly committed:
The counsail
of wicked mē
to mischief. So of like sorte it alwaies chaunceth, tyrauntes and bloodie
menne, dooe seke alwaies a meane, and practise pollicies to
destroye all soche as are godlie affected, and by wisedome and
godlie life, doe seke to subuerte and destroie, the mischeuous
The cogita-
cions of wic-
ked men, and
their kyngdō
bloodie. enterprise of the wicked. For, by crueltie their Woluishe na-
tures are knowen, their glorie, strength, kyngdome and re-
nowne, cometh of blood, of murthers, and beastlie dealynges
and by might so violent, it continueth not: for by violence and
blooddie dealyng, their kyngdome at the last falleth by blood
and bloodilie perisheth. The noble, wise, graue, and goodlie
counsailes, are with all fidelitée, humblenes and sincere har-
The state of
counsailours
worthie chief
honour and
veneracion. tes to be obeied, in worthines of their state and wisedome, to
be embraced in chief honour and veneracion to bee taken, by
whose industrie, knowledge and experience, the whole bodie
of the common wealth and kyngdome, is supported and sa-
ued. The state of euery one vniuersallie would come to par-
dicion, if the inuasion of foraine Princes, by the wisedom and
pollicie of counsailers, were not repelled. The horrible actes
of wicked men would burste out, and a confusion ensue in al
states, if the wisedom of politike gouernors, if good lawes if
the power and sword of the magistrate, could [uot] take place.
The peres and nobles, with the chief gouernour, standeth as
Plato. Shepherds ouer the people: for so Plato alledgeth that name
well and properlie giuen, to Princes and Gouernours, the
Homere. which Homere the Poete attributeth, to Agamemnon king
of Grece: to Menelaus, Ulisses, Nestor, Achillas, Diomedes,
The Shepe-
herdes name
giuē to the of-
fice of kyngs. Aiax, and al other. For, bothe the name and care of that state
of office, can be titeled by no better name in all pointes, for di-
ligent kepyng, for aide, succoryng, and with all equitie tem-
peryng the multitude: thei are as Shepeherdes els the selie
poore multitude, would by an oppression of pestiferous men.
The commonaltee or base multitude, liueth more quietlie
The state [or]
good counsai-
lers, trou-
blous. then the state of soche as daily seke, to vpholde and maintaine
the common wealthe, by counsaill and politike deliberacion,
how troublous hath their state alwaies been: how vnquiete
from time to time, whose heddes in verie deede, doeth seke for
a publike wealth. Therefore, though their honor bée greater,
and state aboue the reste, yet what care, what pensiuenesse of
minde are thei driuen vnto, on whose heddes aucthoritée and
regiment, the sauegard of innumerable people doeth depend.
A comparison
from a lesse,
to a greater. If in our domesticall businesse, of matters pertainyng to our
housholde, euery man by nature, for hym and his, is pensiue,
moche more in so vaste, and infinite a bodie of cōmon wealth,
greater must the care be, and more daungerous deliberacion.
We desire peace, we reioyce of a tranquilitée, and quietnesse
to ensue, we wishe, to consist in a hauen of securitée: our hou-
ses not to be spoiled, our wiues and children, not to bee mur-
The worthie
state of Prin-
ces and coun-
sailours. thered. This the Prince and counsailours, by wisedome fore-
sée, to kéepe of, all these calamitées, daungers, miseries, the
whole multitude, and bodie of the Common wealthe, is
without them maimed, weake and feable, a readie confusion
to the enemie. Therefore, the state of peeres and nobles, is
with all humilitée to be obaied, serued and honored, not with-
out greate cause, the Athenians were drawen backe, by the
wisedome of Demosthenes, when thei sawe thē selues a slau-
ter and praie, to the enemie.

¶ A [comparson] of thynges.

Hat can bée more rashly and foolishly doen, then the
Shepeherdes, to giue ouer their Dogges, by whose
might and strength, the Shepe were saued: on the o-
ther side, what can be more subtlie doen and craftely, then the
Wolues, vnder a colour of frendship and amitee, to séeke the
The amitie
of wicked
menne. blood of the shepe, as all pestiferous men, vnder a fained pro-
fer of amitée, profered to seeke their owne profite, commoditee
and wealthe, though it be with ruine, calamitie, miserie, de-
struccion of one, or many, toune, or citée, region and countree,
whiche sort of men, are moste detestable and execrable.

¶ The contrarie.

S to moche simplicitie & lacke of discrecion, is a fur-
theraunce to perill and daunger: so oftētimes, he ta-
To beleue
lightly, afur-
theraunce to
perill. steth of smarte and woe, who lightly beleueth: so con-
trariwise, disimulaciō in mischeuous practises begon w[ith] frēd-
ly wordes, in the conclusion doeth frame & ende pernisiouslie.

¶ The Epilogus.

Herefore fained offers of frendship, are to bee taken
heede of, and the acte of euery man to bee examined,
proued, and tried, for true frendship is a rare thyng,
when as Tullie doth saie: in many ages there are fewe cou-
ples of friendes to be found, Aristotle also cōcludeth thesame.

¶ The Fable of the Ante, and Greshopper.
¶ The praise of the aucthour.

The praise of
Esope.

Sope who wrote these Fables, hath chief fame of all
learned aucthours, for his Philosophie, and giuyng
wisedome in preceptes: his Fables dooe shewe vnto
all states moste wholsome doctrine of vertuous life. He who-
ly extolleth vertue, and depresseth vice: he correcteth all states
and setteth out preceptes to amende them. Although he was
deformed and ill shaped, yet Nature wrought in hym soche
vertue, that he was in minde moste beautifull: and seing that
the giftes of the body, are not equall in dignitie, with the ver-
tue of the mynde, then in that Esope chiefly excelled, ha-
uyng the moste excellente vertue of the minde. The wisedom
Cresus. and witte of Esope semed singuler: for at what tyme as Cre-
sus, the kyng of the Lidians, made warre against the Sami-
ans, he with his wisedome and pollicie, so pacified the minde
of Cresus, that all warre ceased, and the daunger of the coun-
Samians. tree was taken awaie, the Samiās deliuered of this destruc-
cion and warre, receiued Esope at his retourne with many
honours. After that Esope departyng from the Isle Samus,
wandered to straunge regions, at the laste his wisedome be-
Licerus. yng knowen: Licerus the kyng of that countrée, had hym in
soche reuerence and honor, that he caused an Image of gold
to be set vp in the honour of Esope. After that, he wanderyng
Delphos. ouer Grece, to the citée of Delphos, of whom he beyng mur-
thered, a greate plague and Pestilence fell vpon the citee, that
reuenged his death: As in all his Fables, he is moche to bee
commended, so in this Fable he is moche to be praised, which
he wrote of the Ante and the Greshopper.

¶ The Fable.

N a hotte Sommer, the Grashoppers gaue them sel-
ues to pleasaunt melodie, whose Musicke and melo-
die, was harde from the pleasaunt Busshes: but the
Ante in all this pleasaunt tyme, laboured with pain and tra-
uaile, she scraped her liuyng, and with fore witte and wise-
Winter. dome, preuented the barande and scarce tyme of Winter: for
when Winter time aprocheth, the ground ceasseth frō fruict,
The Ante. then the Ante by his labour, doeth take the fruicte & enioyeth
it: but hunger and miserie fell vpon the Greshoppers, who in
the pleasaunt tyme of Sommer, when fruictes were [aboun-
dauute], ceassed by labour to put of necessitée, with the whiche
the long colde and stormie tyme, killed them vp, wantyng al
sustinaunce.

¶ The Morall.

Ere in example, all menne maie take to frame their
owne life, and also to bryng vp in godlie educacion
their children: that while age is tender and young,
thei maie learne by example of the Ante, to prouide in their
grene and lustie youth, some meane of art and science, wher-
by thei maie staie their age and necessitée of life, al soche as do
flie labour, and paine in youth, and seeke no waie of Arte and
science, in age thei shall fall in extreme miserie and pouertée.

¶ The nature of the thyng.

Ot without a cause, the Philosophers searchyng the
nature and qualitee of euery beaste, dooe moche com-
The Ante. mende the Ante, for prouidence and diligence, in that
not [oneie] by nature thei excell in forewisedome to thē selues,
Manne. but also thei be a example, and mirrour to all menne, in that
thei iustlie followe the instincte of Nature: and moche more,
where as men indued with reason, and all singulare vertues
and excellent qualitées of the minde and body. Yet thei doe so
moche leaue reason, vertue, & integritée of minde, as that thei
had been framed without reason, indued with no vertue, nor
adorned with any excellent qualitée. All creatures as nature
hath wrought in them, doe applie them selues to followe na-
ture their guide: the Ante is alwaies diligent in his busines,
and prouident, and also fore séeth in Sommer, the sharpe sea-
son of Winter: thei keepe order, and haue a kyng and a com-
mon wealthe as it were, as nature hath taught them. And so
haue all other creatures, as nature hath wrought in thē their
giftes, man onelie leaueth reason, and neclecteth the chief or-
namentes of the minde: and beyng as a God aboue all crea-
tures, dooeth leese the excellent giftes. A beaste will not take
excesse in feedyng, but man often tymes is without reason,
and hauyng a pure mynde and soule giuen of God, and a face
to beholde the heauens, yet he doeth abase hymself to yearth-
Greshopper. lie thynges, as concernyng the Greshopper: as the Philoso-
phers doe saie, is made altogether of dewe, and sone perisheth[.]
The Greshopper maie well resemble, slothfull and sluggishe
persones, who seke onely after a present pleasure, hauyng no
fore witte and wisedom, to foresée tymes and ceasons: for it is
A poincte of
wisedome. the poinct of wisedō, to iudge thinges present, by thinges past
and to take a cōiecture of thinges to come, by thinges present.

¶ The reasonyng of the twoo thynges.

Hus might the Ante reason with her self, althoughe
the seasons of the yere doe seme now very hotte, plea-
A wise cogi-
tacion. saunt and fruictfull: yet so I do not trust time, as that
like pleasure should alwaies remaine, or that fruictes should
alwaies of like sorte abounde. Nature moueth me to worke,
and wisedome herein sheweth me to prouide: for what hur-
teth plentie, or aboundaunce of store, though greate plentie
commeth thereon, for better it is to bee oppressed with plen-
tie, and aboundaunce, then to bee vexed with lacke. For, to
whom wealthe and plentie riseth, at their handes many bee
releued, and helped, all soche as bee oppressed with necessi-
tie and miserie, beyng caste from all helpe, reason and proui-
dence maimed in theim: All arte and Science, and meane of
life cutte of, to enlarge and maintain better state of life, their
Pouertie. miserie, necessitie, and pouertie, shall continuallie encrease,
who hopeth at other mennes handes, to craue relief, is decei-
ued. Pouertie is so odious a thing, in al places & states reiected
for where lacke is, there [fanour], frendship, and acquaintance
Wisedome. decreaseth, as in all states it is wisedome: so with my self I
waie discritlie, to take tyme while tyme is, for this tyme as a
Housebande
menne. floure will sone fade awaie. The housebande manne, hath he
not times diuers, to encrease his wealth, and to fill his barne,
at one tyme and ceason: the housebande man doeth not bothe
plante, plowe, and gather the fruicte of his labour, but in one
tyme and season he ploweth, an other tyme serueth to sowe,
and the laste to gather the fruictes of his labour. So then, I
must forsee time and seasons, wherin I maie be able to beare
of necessitie: for foolishly he hopeth, who of no wealth and no
abundaunt store, trusteth to maintain his own state. For, no-
Frendship. thyng soner faileth, then frendship, and the soner it faileth, as
Homere. fortune is impouerished. Seyng that, as Homere doeth saie,
a slothfull man, giuen to no arte or science, to helpe hymself,
or an other, is an vnprofitable burdein to the yearth, and God
dooeth sore plague, punishe, and ouerthrowe Citees, kyng-
domes, and common wealthes, grounded in soche vices: that
the wisedome of man maie well iudge, hym to be vnworthie
of all helpe, and sustinaunce. He is worse then a beast, that is
not able to liue to hymself & other: no man is of witte so vn-
Nature. descrite, or of nature so dulle, but that in hym, nature alwa-
yes coueteth some enterprise, or worke to frame relife, or help
The cause of
our bearth. to hymself, for all wée are not borne, onelie to our selues, but
many waies to be profitable, as to our owne countrie, and all
partes thereof. Especiallie to soche as by sickenes, or infirmi-
tie of bodie are oppressed, that arte and Science can not take
place to help thē. Soche as do folowe the life of the Greshop-
per, are worthie of their miserie, who haue no witte to foresée
seasons and tymes, but doe suffer tyme vndescretly to passe,
Ianus. whiche fadeth as a floure, thold Romaines do picture Ianus
with two faces, a face behind, & an other before, which resem-
ble a wiseman, who alwaies ought to knowe thinges paste,
thynges presente, and also to be experte, by the experience of
many ages and tymes, and knowledge of thynges to come.

¶ The comparison betwene
the twoo thynges.

Hat can be more descritlie doen, then the Ante to be
so prouident and politike: as that all daunger of life,
& necessitie is excluded, the stormie times of Winter
ceaseth of might, & honger battereth not his walles, hauyng
Prouidence. soche plentie of foode, for vnlooked bitter stormes and seasons,
happeneth in life, whiche when thei happen, neither wisedō
nor pollicie, is not able to kepe backe. Wisedome therefore,
it is so to stande, that these thynges hurte not, the miserable
ende of the Greshopper sheweth vnto vs, whiche maie be an
example to all menne, of what degree, so euer thei bee, to flie
slothe and idelnesse, to be wise and discrite.

¶ Of contraries.

Diligence.

S diligence, prouidence, and discrete life is a singu-
lare gift, whiche increaseth all vertues, a pillar, staie
and a foundacion of all artes and science, of common
wealthes, and kyngdomes. So contrarily sloth and sluggish-
nesse, in all states and causes, defaseth, destroyeth, and pul-
leth doune all vertue, all science and godlines. For, by it, the
mightie kyngdome of the Lidiās, was destroied, as it semeth
Idelnes. no small vice, when the Lawes of Draco, dooe punishe with
death idelnesse.

¶ The ende.

The Ante.

Herefore, the diligence of the Ante in this Fable,
not onelie is moche to be commended, but also her
example is to bee followed in life. Therefore, the
wiseman doeth admonishe vs, to go vnto the Ant
and learne prouidence: and also by the Greshopper, lette vs
learne to auoide idelnes, leste the like miserie and calamitie
fall vpon vs.

¶ Narratio.

His place followyng, is placed of Tullie, after the
exordium or beginnyng of Oracion, as the seconde
parte: whiche parte of Rhetorike, is as it were the
light of all the Oracion folowing: conteining the cause, mat-
ter, persone, tyme, with all breuitie, bothe of wordes, and in-
uencion of matter.

¶ A Narracion.

Narracion is an exposicion, or declaracion of any
thyng dooen in deede, or els a settyng forthe, for-
ged of any thyng, but so declaimed and declared,
as though it were doen.

A narracion is of three sortes, either it is a narracion hi-
storicall, of any thyng contained, in any aunciente storie, or
true Chronicle.

Or Poeticall, whiche is a exposicion fained, set forthe by
inuencion of Poetes, or other.

Or ciuill, otherwise called Iudiciall, whiche is a matter
of controuersie in iudgement, to be dooen, or not dooen well
or euill.

In euery Narracion, ye must obserue sixe notes.

1. Firste, the persone, or doer of the thing, whereof you intreate.
2. The facte doen.
3. The place wherein it was doen.
4. The tyme in the whiche it was doen.
5. The maner must be shewed, how it was doen.
6. The cause wherevpon it was doen.

There be in this Narracion, iiij. other properties belōging[.]

1. First, it must be plain and euident to the hearer, not obscure,
2. short and in as fewe wordes as it maie be, for soche amatter.
3. Probable, as not vnlike to be true.
4. In wordes fine and elegante.

¶ A narracion historicall, vpon Semiramis Queene of Babilon
how and after what sort she obtained the gouernment thereof.

Tyme.
Persone.

Fter the death of Ninus, somtime kyng of Ba-
bilon, his soonne Ninus also by name, was left
to succede hym, in all the Assirian Monarchie,
Semiramis wife to Ninus the firste, feared the
tender age of her sonne, wherupon she thought
The cause.
The facte. that those mightie nacions and kyngdomes, would not obaie
so young and weake a Prince. Wherfore, she kept her sonne
from the gouernmente: and moste of all she feared, that thei
The waie
how. would not obaie a woman, forthwith she fained her self, to be
the soonne of Ninus, and bicause she would not be knowen
to bee a woman, this Quene inuented a newe kinde of tire,
the whiche all the Babilonians that were men, vsed by her
commaundement. By this straunge disguised tire and appa-
rell, she not knowen to bee a woman, ruled as a man, for the
The facte.
The place. space of twoo and fourtie yeres: she did marueilous actes, for
she enlarged the mightie kyngdome of Babilon, and builded
thesame citée. Many other regions subdued, and valiauntlie
ouerthrowen, she entered India, to the whiche neuer Prince
came, sauing Alexander the greate: she passed not onely men
in vertue, counsaill, and valiaunt stomacke, but also the fa-
mous counsailours of Assiria, might not contende with her
in Maiestie, pollicie, and roialnes. For, at what tyme as thei
knewe her a woman, thei enuied not her state, but maruei-
led at her wisedome, pollicie, and moderacion of life, at the
laste she desiryng the vnnaturall lust, and loue of her soonne
Ninus, was murthered of hym.

¶ A narracion historicall vpon kyng Ri-
chard the third, the cruell tiraunt[.]

The persone[.]

Ichard duke of Glocester, after the death of Ed-
ward the fowerth his brother king of England,
vsurped the croune, moste traiterouslie and wic-
kedlie: this kyng Richard was small of stature,
deformed, and ill shaped, his shoulders beared
not equalitee, a pulyng face, yet of countenaunce and looke
cruell, malicious, deceiptfull, bityng and chawing his nether
lippe: of minde vnquiet, pregnaunt of witte, quicke and liue-
ly, a worde and a blowe, wilie, deceiptfull, proude, arrogant
The tyme.
The place. in life and cogitacion bloodie. The fowerth daie of Iulie, he
entered the tower of London, with Anne his wife, doughter
to Richard Erle of Warwick: and there in created Edward
his onely soonne, a child of ten yeres of age, Prince of Wa-
les. At thesame tyme, in thesame place, he created many no-
ble peres, to high prefermente of honour and estate, and im-
mediatly with feare and faint harte, bothe in himself, and his
The horrible
murther of
king Richard[.] nobles and commons, was created king, alwaies a vnfortu-
nate and vnluckie creacion, the harts of the nobles and com-
mons thereto lackyng or faintyng, and no maruaile, he was
a cruell murtherer, a wretched caitiffe, a moste tragicall ty-
raunt, and blood succour, bothe of his nephewes, and brother
George Duke of Clarence, whom he caused to bee drouned
in a Butte of Malmsie, the staires sodainlie remoued, wher-
The facte. on he stepped, the death of the lorde Riuers, with many other
nobles, compassed and wrought at the young Princes com-
myng out of Wales, the .xix. daie of Iuly, in the yere of our
lorde .1483. openly he toke vpon him to be king, who sekyng
hastely to clime, fell according to his desart, sodainly and in-
gloriously, whose Embassage for peace, Lewes the Frenche
king, for his mischeuous & bloodie slaughter, so moche abhor-
red, that he would neither sée the Embassador, nor heare the
Embassage: for he murthered his .ij. nephues, by the handes
The tyme.
The maner
how. of one Iames Tirrell, & .ij. vilaines more associate with him
the Lieutenaunt refusyng so horrible a fact. This was doen
he takyng his waie & progresse to Glocester, whereof he was
before tymes Duke: the murther perpetrated, he doubed the
good squire knight. Yet to kepe close this horrible murther,
he caused a fame and rumour to be spread abrode, in all par-
tes of the realme, that these twoo childrē died sodainly, there-
The cause. by thinkyng the hartes of all people, to bee quietlie setteled,
no heire male lefte a liue of kyng Edwardes children. His
mischief was soche, that God shortened his vsurped raigne:
he was al together in feare and dread, for he being feared and
dreaded of other, did also feare & dread, neuer quiete of minde
faint harted, his bloodie conscience by outward signes, condē-
pned hym: his iyes in euery place whirlyng and caste about,
The state of
a wicked mā. his hand moche on his Dagger, the infernall furies tormen-
ted him by night, visions and horrible dreames, drawed him
from his bedde, his vnquiet life shewed the state of his consci-
ence, his close murther was vttered, frō the hartes of the sub-
iectes: thei called hym openlie, with horrible titles and na-
mes, a horrible murtherer, and excecrable tiraunt. The peo-
A dolefull
state of a
quene. ple sorowed the death of these twoo babes, the Queene, kyng
Edwardes wife, beeyng in Sanctuarie, was bestraught of
witte and sences, sounyng and falling doune to the grounde
as dedde, the Quéene after reuiued, knéeled doune, and cal-
led on God, to take vengaunce on this murtherer. The con-
science of the people was so wounded, of the tolleracion of the
The wicked
facte of kyng
Richard, a
horror and
dread to the
commons. facte, that when any blustryng winde, or perilous thonder, or
dreadfull tempest happened: with one voice thei cried out and
quaked, least God would take [vengauce] of them, for it is al-
waies séen the horrible life of wicked gouernors, bringeth to
ruin their kyngdom and people, & also wicked people, the like
daungers to the kyngdome and Prince: well he and his sup-
porters with the Duke of Buckyngham, died shamefullie.
God permit
meanes, to
pull doune
tyrauntes. The knotte of mariage promised, betwene Henrie Erle of
Richemonde, and Elizabeth doughter to kyng Edward the
fowerth: caused diuerse nobles to aide and associate this erle,
fledde out of this lande with all power, to the attainmente of
the kyngdome by his wife. At Nottyngham newes came to
kyng Richard, that the Erle of Richmonde, with a small cō-
paignie of nobles and other, was arriued in Wales, forthe-
with exploratours and spies were sent, who shewed the Erle
Lichefelde.
Leicester. to be encamped, at the toune of Litchfield, forthwith all pre-
paracion of warre, was set forthe to Leicester on euery side,
the Nobles and commons shranke from kyng Richarde, his
Bosworthe[.] power more and more weakened. By a village called Bos-
worthe, in a greate plaine, méete for twoo battailes: by Lei-
cester this field was pitched, wherin king Richard manfully
fightyng hande to hande, with the Erle of Richmonde, was
Kyng Ri-
chard killed
in Bosworth
fielde. slaine, his bodie caried shamefullie, to the toune of Leicester
naked, without honor, as he deserued, trussed on a horse, be-
hinde a Purseuaunte of Armes, like a hogge or a Calfe, his
hedde and his armes hangyng on the one side, and his legges
on the other side: caried through mire and durte, to the graie
Friers churche, to all men a spectacle, and oprobrie of tiran-
nie this was the cruell tirauntes ende.

¶ A narracion historicall, of the commyng
of Iulius Cesar into Britaine.

The tyme.
The persone.

Hen Iulius Cesar had ended his mightie and huge
battailes, about the flood Rhene, he marched into the
regiō of Fraunce: at thesame time repairing with a
freshe multitude, his Legiōs, but the chief cause of his warre
in Fraunce was, that of long time, he was moued in minde,
The cause.
The fame
and glorie of
Britaine. to see this noble Islande of Britain, whose fame for nobilitée
was knowen and bruted, not onelie in Rome, but also in the
vttermoste lādes. Iulius Cesar was wroth with thē, because
in his warre sturred in Fraunce, the fearce Britaines aided
the [Fenche] men, and did mightilie encounter battaill with
the Romaines: whose prowes and valiaunt fight, slaked the
proude and loftie stomackes of the Romaines, and droue thē
The prowes
of Iulius
Cesar. to diuerse hasardes of battaill. But Cesar as a noble warrier
preferryng nobilitee, and worthinesse of fame, before money
or cowardly quietnes: ceased not to enter on ye fearce Britai-
nes, and thereto prepared his Shippes, the Winter tyme fo-
lowyng, that assone as oportunitee of the yere serued, to passe
The maner
how.
Cesars com-
municacion
with the mar[-]
chauntes, as
concernyng
the lande of
Britaine. with all power against them. In the meane tyme, Cesar in-
quired of the Marchauntes, who with marchaundise had ac-
cesse to the Islande: as concernyng the quātitée and bignes of
it, the fashion and maner of the people, their lawes, their or-
der, and kinde of gouernmente. As these thynges were in all
poinctes, vnknowen to Cesar, so also the Marchaūtes knewe
The ware &
politike go-
uernement of
ye Britaines.
Aliaunce in
tyme traite-
rous. no more thā the places bordring on the sea side. For, the Bri-
taines fearing the traiterous and dissembled hartes of aliaū-
ces, politikelie repelled them: for, no straunger was suffered
to enter from his Shippe, on the lande, but their marchaun-
dice were sold at the sea side. All nacions sought to this land,
the felicitee of it was so greate, whereupon the Grekes kno-
wyng and tastyng the commoditée of this Islande, called it by
Britain som-
tyme called of
the Grekes
Olbion, not
Albion. a Greke name Olbion, whiche signifieth a happie and fortu-
nate countrie, though of some called Albion, tyme chaunged
the firste letter, as at this daie, London is called for the toune
of kyng Lud. Cesar thereupon before he would marche with
Caius Uo-
lusenus, Em[-]
bassadour to
Britaine. his armie, to the people of Britain, he sent Caius Uolusenus
a noble man of Rome, a valiaunte and hardie Capitaine, as
Embassadour to the Britaines, who as he thoughte by his
Embassage, should knowe the fashion of the Island, the ma-
ner of the people, their gouernemente. But as it seemeth, the
Embassadour was not welcome. For, he durste not enter frō
his Ship, to dooe his maisters Embassage, Cesar knewe no-
Comas A-
trebas, secōde
Embassador
from Cesar. thing by him. Yet Cesar was not so contented, but sent an o-
ther Embassadour, a man of more power, stomack, and more
hardie, Comas Atrebas by name, who would enter as an
Embassadour, to accomplish the will & expectacion of Cesar,
Comas Atrebas was so welcome, that the Britains cast him
in prison: Embassages was not common emong theim, nor
the curteous vsage of Embassadours knowen. Al these thin-
Cassibelane
king of Lon-
don, at the a-
riue of Cesar[.]
Cassibelane
a worthie
Prince. ges, made Cesar more wrothe, to assaie the vncourtous [Bris[-]
taines]. In those daies Cassibelan was kyng of London, this
Cassibelan was a prince of high wisedom, of manly stomacke
and valiaunt in fight: and for power and valiauntnesse, was
chosen of the Britaines, chief gouernour and kyng. Dissen-
cion and cruell warre was emong thē, through the diuersitie
of diuers kinges in the lande. The Troinouaūtes enuied the
Imanuēcius[.] state of Cassibelan, bicause Immanuencius, who was kyng
of London, before Cassibelan, was put to death, by the coun-
sail of Cassibelan. The sonne of Immanuencius, hearing of
the commyng of Cesar, did flie traiterouslie to Cesar: The
Troinouauntes fauoured Immanuēcius part, & thereupon
The Troy-
nouauntes by
treason let in
Cesar. promised, as moste vile traitours to their countrie, an ente-
ryng to Cesar, seruice and homage, who through a self will,
and priuate fauour of one, sought the ruine of their countrie,
and in the ende, their own destruccion. But Cassibelan gaue
many ouerthrowes to Cesar, and so mightelie encountred
with hym, so inuincible was the parte of Cassibelane: but by
treason of the Troinouauntes, not by manhod of Cesars po-
wer, enteryng was giuen. What house can stande, where-
Treason a
confusion to
the mightiest
dominions. in discord broile? What small power, is not able to enter the
mightiest dominions or regions: to ouercome the strongeste
fortresse, treason open the gate, treason giuyng passage. Al-
though Cesar by treason entered, so Cesar writeth. Yet the
fame of Cesar was more commended, for his enterprise into
Britain, and victorie: then of all his Conquest, either against
A sentēce gra[-]
uen of Bri-
taine, in the
commendaci-
on of Cesar. Pompey, or with any other nacion. For in a Piller at Rome
this sentence was engrauen: Of all the dominions, Citees,
and Regions, subdued by Cesar, his warre attēpted against
the fearce Britaines, passeth all other. After this sort Cesar
entred our Islande of Britaine by treason.

¶ A narracion iudiciall, out of Theusidides,
vpon the facte of Themistocles.

He Athenians brought vnder the thraldome of
the Lacedemonians, soughte meanes to growe
mightie, and to pull them from the yoke, vnder
the Lacedemonians. Lacedemonia was a citee
enuironed with walles. Athenes at thesame
tyme without walles: whereby their state was more feeble,
and power weakened. Themistocles a noble Sage, and a
worthie pere of Athens: gaue the Atheniās counsaile to wall
their citée strōgly, and so forthwith to be lordes and rulers by
them selues, after their owne facion gouerning. In finishing
this enterprise, in all poinctes, policie, and wittie conuei-
aunce wanted not. The Lacedemonians harde of the pur-
pose of the Athenians, & sent Embassadours, to knowe their
doynges, and so to hinder them. Themistocles gaue counsaill
to the Athenians, to kepe in safe custodie, the Embassadours
of Lacedemonia, vntill soche tyme, as he from the Embas-
sage was retourned frō Lacedemonia. The Lacedemonians
hearyng of the commyng of Themistocles, thought little of
the walle buildyng at Athens. Themistocles was long loo-
ked for of thē, because Themistocles lingered in his Embas-
sage, that or the matter were throughly knowen: the walle
of Athens should be builded. The slowe commyng of The-
mistocles, was blamed of the Lacedemonians: but Themi-
stocles excused hymself, partly infirmitie of bodie, lettyng
his commyng, and the expectacion of other, accompaignied
with hym in this Embassage. The walle ended, necessitie
not artificiall workemanship finishing it, with al hast it was
ended: then Themistocles entered the Senate of Lacedemo-
nia, and saied: the walle whom ye sought to let, is builded at
Athens, ye Lacedemonians, that wee maie be more strong.
Then the Lacedemonians could saie nothyng to it, though
thei enuied the Athenians state, the walle was builded, and
leste thei should shewe violence or crueltie on Themistocles,
their Embassabours were at Athens in custodie, whereby
Themistocles came safe from his Embassage, and the Athe-
nians made strong by their walle: this was politikely dooen
of Themistocles.

¶ A narracion Poeticall vpon a Rose.

Ho so doeth maruaile at the beautée and good-
ly colour of the redde Rose, he must consider the
blood, that came out of Uenus the Goddes foot.
The Goddes Uenus, as foolishe Poetes dooe
feigne, beyng the aucthour of Loue: loued Ado-
nis the soonne of Cynara kyng of Cypres. But Mars called
the God of battaile, loued Uenus, beyng nothyng loued of
Uenus: but Mars loued Uenus as feruently, as Uenus lo-
ued Adonis. Mars beyng a God, loued Uenus a goddes, but
Uenus onely was inflamed with the loue of Adonis, a mor-
tall man. Their loue was feruent, and exremely set on fire
in bothe, but their kinde and nature were contrary, wherev-
pon Mars beyng in gelousie, sought meanes to destroie, faire
amiable, and beautifull Adonis, thinkyng by his death, the
loue of Uenus to be slaked: Adonis and Mars fell to fighting
Uenus as a louer, ranne to helpe Adonis her louer, and by
chaunce she fell into a Rose bushe, and pricked with it her
foote, the blood then ran out of her tender foote, did colour the
Rose redde: wherevpon the Rose beyng white before, is v-
pon that cause chaunged into redde.

[¶] Chria.

Hria, this profitable exercise of Rhetorike, is for the
[porfite] of it so called: it is a rehersall in fewe wordes,
of any ones fact, or of the saiyng of any man, vpō the
whiche an oracion maie be made. As for example, Isocrates
did say, that the roote of [learnng] was bitter, but the fruictes
pleasaunt: and vpon this one sentence, you maie dilate a am-
ple and great oracion, obseruyng these notes folowyng. The
saiyng dooeth containe so greate matter, and minister soche
plentie of argumente.

Aucthors intreatyng of this exercise, doe note three sortes
to bee of theim, one of theim a Chria verball, that is to saie, a
profitable exercise, vpon the saiyng of any man, onely con-
teinyng the wordes of the aucthour, as the sentence before.

The seconde is, conteinyng the facte or deede of the per-
sone: As Diogines beyng asked of Alexander the Greate, if
he lacked any thyng, that he was able to giue hym, thinkyng
his demaūde vnder his power, for Diogenes was at thesame
tyme warmyng hymself in the beames of the Sunne: Dio-
genes aunswered, ye take awaie that, that ye are not able to
giue, meanyng that Alexander by his bodie, shadowed hym,
and tooke awaie that, whiche was not in his power to giue,
Alexander tourned hymself to his men, and saied, if I were
not Alexander, I would be Diogenes.

The thirde is a Chria mixt, bothe verball and notyng the
facte, as Diogenes seyng a boie wanton & dissolute, did strike
his teacher with a staffe, vtteryng these woordes: why dooest
thou teache thy scholer so dissolutlie.

You shall learne to make this exercise, obseruyng these
notes.

Firste, you shall praise the aucthour, who wrote the sen-
tence, waighing his life, if his life be vnknowen, and not easie
to finde his sentence or sentences: for godlie preceptes will
minister matter of praise, as if these saiynges bee recited, thei
are sufficient of them selues, to praise the aucthour.

Then in the seconde place, expounde the meanyng of the
aucthour in that saiyng.

Then shewe the cause, why he spake this sentence.

Then compare the matter, by a contrary.

Then frame a similitude of thesame.

Shewe the like example of some, that spake the like, or
did the like.

Then gather the testimonies of more writers of thesame[.]

Then knit the conclusion.

¶ An Oracion.

ISocrates did saie, that the roote of learnyng [is] was bit-
ter, but the fruictes were pleasaunt.

¶ The praise.

His Oratour Isocrates, was an Athenian borne,
Lusimachus[.] who florished in the time of Lusimachus the chief
gouernor of Athens: this Isocrates was brought
vp in all excellēcie of learning, with the moste fa-
Prodicus.
Gorgias Le-
ontinus. mous and excellent Oratour Prodicus, Gorgias Leontinus
indued him with all singularitie of learnyng and eloquence.
The eloquēce of Isocrates was so famous, that Aristotle the
Demosthe-
nes learned
eloquence of
Isocrates. chief [Pholosopher], enuied his vertue & praise therin: Demo-
sthenes also, who emong the Grecians chieflie excelled, lear-
ned his eloquence, of the Oracions whiche Isocrates wrote,
to many mightie and puisaunt princes and kinges, do shewe
his wisedome, & copious eloquēce, as to Demonicus the king
to Nicocles, Euagoras, against Philip the king of the Mace-
doniās, by his wisedome and counsaill, the Senate and vni-
uersal state of Athens was ruled, & the commons and multi-
tude thereby in euery part florished: chieflie what counsaill,
what wisedome, what learnyng might bee required, in any
man of high fame and excellencie: that fame was aboundant[-]
ly in Isocrates, as in all his Oratiōs he is to be praised, so in
this sentence, his fame importeth like commendacion.

¶ The exposicion.

N that he saieth, the roote of learnyng is bitter, and
the fruictes pleasaunt: he signifieth no excellent qua-
All excellen-
cie with labor
is attained. litie or gift, vertue, arte or science can bee attained,
except paine, labour, diligence, doe plant and sette thesame:
but when that noble gift, either learnyng, or any excellente
qualitee, is lodged and reposed in vs, then we gather by pain-
full labours, greate profite, comforte, delectable pleasures,
wealth, glorie, riches, whiche be the fruictes of it.

¶ The cause.

ND seyng that of our owne nature, all men are en-
clined from their tender yeres and infancie, to the ex-
tirpacion of vertue, folowyng with all earnest studie
and gréedie, the free passage to vice, and specially children,
whose iudgementes and reason, are not of that strengthe, to
rule their weake mindes and bodies, therefore, in them chief-
lie, the roote of learning is bitter, because not onely many ye-
res thei runne their race, in studie of arte and science. With
care and paine also, with greuous chastisment and correcciō,
thei are compelled by their teachers and Maisters, to appre-
hende thesame: the parentes no lesse dreaded, in the educaciō
of their children, in chastisement and correction, so that by all
The roote of
learnyng bit-
ter. meanes, the foundacion and roote of all learnyng, in what
sort so euer it is, is at the firste vnpleasaunte, sower, and vn-
sauerie. To folowe the times and seasons, appoincted for the
same, is moste painfull, and in these painfull yeres: other
greate pleasures, as the frailtie of youth, and the imbecilitie
of nature iudgeth, dooeth passe by, but in miserable state is
Who is a vn-
fortunate
childe. that childe, and vnfortunate, that passeth the flower of his
youth and tender yeres, instructed with no arte or Science,
whiche in tyme to come, shalbe the onelie staie, helpe, the pil-
ler to beare of the sore brent, necessitie, and calamities of life.
Good educa-
cion the foun-
dacion of the
Romaine
Empire. Herein the noble Romaines, laied the sure foundacion of
their mightie dominion, in the descrite prouidente, and poli-
tike educacion of children: to whom the Grecians gaue, that
necessarie bulwarke and [faundacion], to set vp all vertue, all
arte and science. In Grece no man was knowen, to liue in
that common wealth, but that his arte and science, gaue ma-
nifest probacion and testimonie, how and after what sorte he
liued. The Romaines in like sorte, the sworde and aucthori-
tie of the Magistrate, executyng thesame, did put forthe, and
draw to the attainment of learnyng, art or science, all youth
hauyng maturitie and ripenesse to it, and why, because that
in a common wealth, where the parentes are vndescrete and
foolishe, as in all common wealthes, there are not a fewe,
but many, thei not ponderyng the state of the tyme to come,
bringing vp their children without all ciuilitie, vnframed to
vertue, ignoraunt of all arte and science: the children of their
owne nature, vnbrideled, vntaught, wilfull, and heddie, doe
run with free passage to all wickednes, thei fall into al kinde
of follie, oppressed with all kinde of calamitie, miserie, and
Euill educa-
cion bringeth
to ruine migh[-]
tie kingdoms[.] vnfortunate chaunces, whiche happen in this life. Nothyng
doeth soner pulle doune a kyngdome, or common wealthe,
then the euill and leude educacion of youth, to whom neither
substaunce, wealth, riches, nor possessions doe descende, from
their auncestours and parentes, who also of them selues wāt
all art, science and meanes, to maintain them to liue, who of
them selues are not able to get relief, for onely by this mea-
nes, life is maintained, wealth and riches ar possessed to ma-
ny greate siegniories, landes, and ample possessions, left by
their parentes, and line of auncetours, haue by lacke of ver-
tuous educacion, been brought to naught, thei fell into ex-
treme miserie, pouertie, and wantyng learnyng, or wealth,
to maintaine their state and delicate life, thei haue robbed,
spoiled, murthered, to liue at their owne will. But then as
rotten, dedde, and putride members frō the common wealth
thei are cutte of by the sworde, and aucthoritie of the Magi-
strate. What kyngdome was more mightie and strong, then
Lydia. the kyngdome of Lidia, whiche by no other meanes was
brought to ruine and destruccion, but by idlenes: in that thei
were kepte from all vertuous exercise, from the studie of ar-
tes and sciences, so longe as thei meditated and liued in the
schoole of vertuous life: no nacion was hable to ouerthrowe
them, of them selues thei were prone and readie, to practise all
Cyrus. excellencie. But Cyrus the kyng of Persians, by no other
meanes was able to bring them weaker. He toke from thē al
furtherance to artes, destroied all occupaciōs of vertue wher-
vpon by commaundemēt [aud] terrour, wer driuen to practise
The decay of
a kyngdome. the vaine and pestiferous practise, of Cardes and Dice. Har-
lottes then schooled them, and all vnhoneste pastyme nurte-
red them, Tauernes an quaffyng houses, was their accusto-
med and moste frequented vse of occupacion: by this meanes
their nobilitie and strengthe was decaied, and kyngdome
made thrall. Ill educacion or idlenes, is no small vice or euill
when so mightie a prince, hauyng so large dominions, whō
all the Easte serued and obaied. Whose regimente and go-
uernemente was so infinite, that as Zenophon saieth, tyme
The mightie
dominions of
Cyrus. would rather want, then matter to speake of his mightie and
large gouernement, how many nacions, how diuerse people
and valiaunte nacions were in subieccion to hym. If this
mightie Prince, with all his power and populous nacions,
was not hable to giue the ouerthrowe, to the kyngdome of
Euill educa-
cion. Lidia, but by ill educacion, not by marciall attēptes, sworde
or battaill: but by giuyng them scope and libertie, to dooe as
he would. No doubt but that Cyrus sawe, by the like exam-
ple of other kyngdomes, this onelie pollicie to bee a ruine
Pithagoras. of that kyngdome. Pythagoras the famous and godlie Phi-
losopher, saued the kyngdome and people of Crotona, thei
leauyng all studie of arte, vertue and science. This people of
[Catona]. Crotona, was ouercome of the people of Locrus, thei left all
exercise of vertue, neclectyng the feates of chiualrie, whervpō
Pythagoras hauyng the profitable and godlie lawes of Ly-
curgus, which he brought from Lacedemonia: and the lawes
of Minos kyng of Creta, came to the people of Crotona, and
by his godlie teachyng and Philosophie, reuoked & brought
backe the people, giuen ouer to the neglectyng of all vertue,
declaryng to them the nobilitie and excellencie thereof, he li-
uely set foorthe the beastlinesse of vice. Pithagoras recited to
them, the fall and ruine of many regions, and mightie king-
domes, whiche tooke after those vices. Idlenes beyng forsa-
ken, vertue embrased, and good occupacions practised, the
kyngdome and people grewe mightie.

Lycurgus. Emong the godlie lawes of Lycurgus, Lycurgus omit-
ted not to ordaine Lawes, for the educacion of youthe: in the
whiche he cutte of all pamperyng of them, because in tender
yeres, in whose bodies pleasure harboreth, their vertue, sci-
ence, cunnyng rooteth not: labour, diligence, and industrie
Uertue.
Uice. onelie rooteth vertue, and excellencie. Uices as vnprofitable
weedes, without labour, diligence and industrie growe vp,
and thereby infecteth the minde and bodie, poisoneth all the
mocions, incensed to vertue and singularitie. Who euer at-
tained cunnyng, in any excellent arte or science, where idle-
nes or pleasure helde the swaie. Philosophie sheweth, plea-
Pleasure.
Idlenes.
Ignoraunce. sure to bée vnmete for any man of singularitie, for pleasure,
idlenes, and ignoraunce, are so linked together, that the pos-
session of the one, induceth the other. So many godlie monu-
mētes of learning, had not remained to this posteritie of ours
and of all ages: if famous men in those ages and tymes, had
hūted after immoderate pleasure. Thindustrie of soche, who
left to the posteritie of all ages, the knowlege of Astronomie
is knowen: the monumentes of all learnyng of lawes, and
of all other woorkes of antiquitie, by vertue, noble, by indu-
strie, labour, and moderacion of life in studie, not by plea-
sure and wantones, was [celebraied] to all ages. The migh-
tie volumes of Philosophers, bothe in morall preceptes, and
in naturall causes, knewe not the delicate and dissolute life
of these our daies. Palingenius enueighyng against the pā-
pered, and lasciuious life of man, vttereth a singulare sentēce

Qui facere et qui nosce, cupit quam plurima et altum,
In terris virtute aliqua sibi querere nomen:
Hunc vigilare opus est, nam non preclara geruntur,
Stertendo, et molles detrectat gloria plumas.

Who so coueteth to purchase fame by actes, or whose
minde hunteth for aboundaunte knowledge, or by vertue in
this life, to purchause good fame. He had not nede to slugge
and slepe in his doynges: for good fame is not vpholded by
gaie Pecockes feathers. Of this, Demosthenes the famous
Oratour of Athens, vttereth a worthie saiyng to the Athe-
nians in his Epistle: if any will iudge Alexander the greate,
to be famous and happie, in that he had successe in all his do-
Alexander
the great, cō-
mended for
diligence. ynges, let this be his cogitacion, that Alexander the greate,
alwaies did inure hymself to doe thynges, and manfullie to
assaie that he enterprised. The felicitie of his successe came
to hym not slepyng, or not cogitatyng thereof: Alexander the
greate now dedde, Fortune seketh with whom she maie ac-
companie, and associate her self.

Thusidides comparyng the Lacedemonians, and the A-
thenians together, shewed a rare moderacion, and tempera-
ture of life, to be in the Athenians: wherupon thei are moste
commended, and celebrated to the posteritie.

¶ The contrarie.

Uen as idlenes and a sluggishe life, is moste pleasant
to all soche, as neglecte vertuous exercises, and god-
lie life. So paine, labour, and studie, bestowed and
emploied, in the sekyng out of vertue, arte, or science is moste
pleasaunt to well affected mindes: for no godlie thyng can be
attained to, without diligence and labour.

¶ The similitude.

Uen as housbandmen, with labour and trauaile,
dooe labour in plantyng and tillyng the grounde,
before thei receiue any fruicte of thesame. Euen so
no vertue, arte, or science, or any other thyng of ex-
cellencie is attained, without diligence and labour bestowed
thereto.

¶ The example.

Et Demosthenes, the famous Oratour of Athenes,
bee an example of diligence to vs, who to auoide all
let from studie, vsed a meanes to kepe hymself ther-
to: preuentyng also the industrie of artificers. Thesame De-
mosthenes, wrote seuen tymes out the storie of Thusidides,
to learne thereby his eloquence and wisedome.

¶ The testimonie.

Linie, Plato, and Aristotle, with many other mo, are
like examples for diligence to vs: who wrote vpon
vertue and learnyng like sentences.

¶ The conclusion.

Herefore, Isocrates dooeth pronounce worthelie, the
roote of learning and vertue to be bitter, and the fru-
tes pleasaunte.

¶ A Sentence.

He Oracion, whiche must be made by a sentēce
is in al partes like to Chria, the profitable exer-
cise, onelie that the Oracion made vpon a sen-
tence, as aucthours do saie: hath not alwaie the
name of the aucthour prefixed in the praise, a
small matter of difference, who so can make the one, is ex-
pert and exquisite in the other, aucthours doe define a sentēce
in this maner. A sentence is an Oracion, in fewe woordes,
shewyng a godlie precept of life, exhorting or diswadyng: the
Gnome. Grekes dooe call godly preceptes, by the name of Gnome, or
Gnomon, whiche is asmoche to saie, a rule or square, to direct
any thyng by, for by them, the life of manne is framed to all
singularitie. Thei are diuers sortes of sentences, one exhor-
teth, an other diswadeth, some onely sheweth: there is a sen-
tence simple, compounde, profitable, true, & soche like. Frame
your Oracion vpon a sentence, as in the Oracion before.

¶ An Oracion vpon a sentence.
¶ The sentence.

In a common wealthe or kyngdome, many kynges to
beare rule, is verie euill, let there be but one kyng.

¶ The praise of the aucthour.

Omere, who of all the Poetes chiefly excelled, spake
this sentence in the persone of Ulisses, vpon the king
Agamemnon, kyng of Grece. This Homere intrea-
ting of all princely affaires, and greate enterprices of the
Grecians: and of the mightie warre againste the Troians,
emong whom soche discorde rose, that not onely the warre,
for lacke of vnitie and concorde, continued the space of tenne
yeres. But also moche blood shed, hauocke, and destruccion,
came vpon the Grecians, vttered this sentēce. This Homere
for his learnyng and wisedome remaineth, [intteled] in many
monumentes of learnyng: with greate fame and commen-
The praise of
Homere. dacion to all ages. What Region, Isle, or nacion is not, by
his inuencion set foorthe: who although he were blinde, his
minde sawe all wisedome, the states of all good kyngdomes
The content
of Homers
bookes. and common wealthes. The verie liuely Image of a Prince
or gouernour, the faithfull and humble obediēce of a subiect,
toward the prince, the state of a capitaine, the vertue and no-
ble qualities, that are requisite, in soche a personage, be there
set forthe. The perfite state of a wiseman, and politike, is in-
treated of by hym. The Iustice, and equitie of a Prince, the
strength of the bodie, all heroicall vertues: also are set forthe
his eloquence and verse, floweth in soche sorte, with soche
pleasauntnes: so copious, so aboundaunt, so graue and sen-
tencious, that his singularitie therein excelleth, and passeth.

Alexander. The mightie prince Alexander, in all his marciall enter-
prices, and great conquestes, did continually night by night,
The Ilias
of Homere,
mete for prin-
ces to looke
vpon. reade somewhat of the Ilias of the Poete Homere, before he
slepte, and askyng for the booke, saied: giue me my pillowe.
Alexander as it semeth, learned many heroical vertues, poli-
cie, wisedome, & counsaill thereof, els he occupied in so migh-
tie and greate warres, would not emploied studie therein.

Iulius Cesar the Emperour, commendeth this Poete,
for his singularitie, his commendacion giueth, ample argu-
ment, in this singulare sentence, whiche preferreth a Monar-
chie aboue all states of common wealthes or kyngdome.

¶ The exposicion.

Omere the Poete, signified by this one sentence, no
kyngdome or common wealthe can prospere, or flo-
rishe to continue, where many holde gouernement
as kynges. For, the mindes of many rulers and princes, doe
moste affecte a priuate wealthe, commoditie and glorie: and
where, many doe beare soche swaie and dominion, the com-
mon wealth can not be good. For, thei priuatly to theim sel-
ues, doe beare that regiment, and alwaie with the slaughter
of many, do seke to attain and clime, to the whole [gouermēt][.]

¶ The cause.

The state of
many kinges
in one lande.

Any occasions dooe rise, whereby many princes, and
gouernours in a common wealth, be diuerslie affec-
ted, so that the gouernmēt of many, can not prosper.
For, bothe in quiete state, their counsailes must bee diuerse,
and vncertaine: and where thei so differ, the kyngdome stan-
deth in great ieopardy and daunger. Isocrates intreatyng of
Athenes. a Monarchie, sheweth that the common wealth of Athenes,
whiche detested and refused, that forme and state, after the
ruine and fall of their citee: beyng vnder the thraldome of the
Lacedemoniās, bothe in their externall chiualrie and feates,
bothe by sea and by lande, and also in regimente otherwise,
their citee grewe mightie, and state stedfast.

Carthage in
a monarchie. The Carthagineans also, gouerned by one, had their go-
uernment stedfaste, and kyngdome roiall: who in puisaunte
actes, might compare with the noble Romaines. As the obe-
dience to one ruler and chief gouernour, sekyng a common
wealth, is in the hartes of the subiectes: feruent and maruei-
lous with loue embraced, so the Maiestie of hym is dreade,
with loue serued, and with sincere harte, and fidelitie obeied,
The state of
many kinges
in one lande. his maners folowed, his lawes imitated. Many gouernours
bearyng regiment, as their maners be diuers, and fashion of
life: euen so the people bee like affected, to the diuersitie of di-
uers princes. And if we weigh the reuolucion of the heauens
and the marueiles of God therein, the maker of thesame, who
A monarchie
in heauen. beyng one God, ruleth heauen and yearth, and all thynges
cōtained in thesame. The heauen also adorned with many a
One Sunne[.] starre, and cleare light, haue but one Sunne to gouerne thē:
who being of a singulare vertue aboue the rest, by his vertue
and power, giueth vertue to the reste. Also in small thynges
The Ante.
The Bee. the Ante and the Bee, who for prouidence and wisedome, ar
moche commended: haue as it were a common wealth, and a
king to gouerne thē, so in all thinges as a confusion, the state
of many kings is abhorred in gouernmēt. After the death of
Constancius[.]
Licinius[.]
Marabodius[.] Constantinus the greate, Constancius his sonne was made
Emperour, and Licinius with him, partaker in felowship of
the Empire. But forthwith, what blood was shed in Italie,
with all crueltie, vntill Constancius had slaine Licinius,
partaker of the Empire, and Marabodius was slaine also,
whom Licinius did associate with hym in the gouernment.
So moche princes and chief gouernours, doe hate equalitie,
Pompey.
Cesar.
Marius.
Silla. or felowship in kingdomes. After thesame sort, in this migh-
tie Monarchie of Rome, diuerse haue attempted at one and
sondrie tymes, to beare the scepter and regiment therein, but
that mightie Monarchie, could not suffer but one gouernor.
The kyngdome of Thebes, was in miserable state, the twoo
sonnes of Oedipus, Eteocles, and Polunices: striuing bothe
Assiria the
first monar-
chie. to be Monarche, and onely kyng. The kyngdome of Assiria,
whiche was the golden kyngdome, and the first Monarchie:
hauyng .36. kynges by succession, continued .1239. yeres, this
kyngdome for all nobilitie and roialnes excelled, and all in
a Monarchie. The kyngdome of the Medes, in a Monarchie
florished in wealthe and glorie and all felicitie: who in domi-
nion had gouernmente .300. lackyng .8. yeres. After that, the
The monar-
chie of the
Medes.
The Persiā.
Macedonia. monarchie of the Medes ceased, the Persiā people rose migh-
tie, bothe in people and Princes, and continued in that state
236 and 7 monethes. Macedonia rose from a base and meane
people, to beare the whole regiment, and power ouer all king[-]
domes. So God disposeth the state and seate of princes, ouer-
throwyng often tymes mightier kyngdomes at his will: the
continuaunce of this Monarchie was .157. and eight mone-
Asia[.]
Siria[.] thes, ten kynges linealie descendyng. Asia and Siria, was
gouerned by one succedyng in a sole gouernement. Nicanor
gouerned Siria .32. yeres. In the other Antigonus raigned,
Demetrius Poliorchetes one yere, Antiochus Soter also, the
scepter of gouernment, left to the succession of an other, then
Antiochus Soter, ruled all Asia and Siria, hauyng .16. kin-
Egipte in a
Monarchie[.] ges whiche in a monarchie, cōtinued 189 yeres. The Egipci-
ans, had famous, wise, and noble princes, whose kyngdome
and large dominion, in all felicitée prospered: whiche was in
the tyme of Ninus, the first king of the Assiriās, who hauing
10. princes, one by one succedyng, Cleopatra their Quéene,
gouerning, stoode in a monarchie .288. This one thyng she-
weth, that kinde of gouernmente to bee roiall, and moste fa-
mous, not onely for the felicitée and glory therof: but also for
the permanent and stedfast state thereof. Aristotle and Plato
setteth forthe, thother formes of gouernmēt. But in all those,
no long cōtinuaunce of felicitee, nor of happy state can appere
Tirannis[.]
Nero[.]
Domicianus[.]
Caligula. in them, as for the contrarie to a Monarchie, is tirannis, pe-
stiferous, and to be detested, where one man gouerneth to his
priuate gaine, pillyng and polyng his subiectes, murderyng
with all crueltie, neither Lawe nor reason, leadyng thereto:
but will bearyng regiment ouer lawe, Iustice and equitee,
whiche princes often tymes see not. How the wilfull rashe-
nes, or tirannicall minde doeth abase them, and make them,
though in vtter porte thesame princes, yet in verie déede, thei
What doeth
beautifie the
throne of a
Prince[.] bee thrall and slaue to beastlie affeccion. Nothyng dooeth so
moche adorne and beautifie, the seate and throne of a prince,
as not onely to beare dominion, ouer mightie people and re-
Aristocratia. gions, then to be lorde ouer hymself. The state of a fewe pée-
res or nobles, to holde the chief and whole gouernment, who
bothe in vertue, learnyng, and experience dooe excelle, is a
goodlie state of common wealth. But the profe of that com-
mon wealthe and ende sheweth, and the maner of Princes:
who, although thei be, of life godlie, wise, graue, expert and
politike. For, these vertues or ornamentes, ought to be repo-
sed in soche noble personages, thei doe marueilously chaunge
and alter: So honour and preeminente state, puffeth theim
vp, and blindeth theim, that euery one in the ende, seeketh to
climbe ouer all, as hed and gouernour. Shewe me one kinde
of this state, and forme of gouernmente, whiche either longe
prospered, or without bloodshed, and destruccion of the rest of
the nobles and peres, haue not caught the whole regimente.
Seyng that in all common wealthes and kingdomes, equa-
litée or felowshippe, will not be suffred in gouernmente: for,
it can not bee, that this forme of common wealthe maie bée
The ende of
Aristocratia. good, as Aristotle and Plato sheweth: The ende of this go-
uernemente, fell euer to one, with a ruine of the kingdome
[Politcia]. and people. The multitude to beare dominion, and though a
publike wealth bée sought for a tyme, moche lesse thei conti-
nue in any good state: for in the ende, their rule and gouerne-
ment, will be without rule, order, reason, modestie, and their
lawe must bee will. The other three states, are the refuse of
good common wealthes, not to bée tollerated in any region.
Tirannis. The one of them is a tyraunte, to bée gouernour onely to his
owne glorie, with crueltie tormented his subiectes, onelie to
Oligarthia. haue his will and lust, ouer all lawe, order, and reason. The
nobilitée rulyng to them selues, euery one for his owne time[.]
Democratia. The third, the base and rude multitude, euery one for hym-
self, and at his will. This troublous state, all Regions and
common wealthes, haue felte in open sedicions and tumul-
tes, raised by theim, it is a plagued and pestiferous kinde of
gouernemente. The example of a good Monarchie, is of
greate force, to confounde the state of al other common weal-
thes, and formes of Regimente.

A monarchie
preferred of
the Persians[.] The nobilitée of Persia hauyng no kyng, linially des-
cendyng, to rule that mightie dominion of Persia, Cambises
beyng dedde, the vsurper murthered, thei tooke counsaill in
their assemble, what state of gouernment was beste, thei ha-
uyng the profe of a Monarchie: in their longe counsaill, thei
knewe the felicitie of that state, thei knewe as it seemed, the
perilous state of the other gouernmentes. If these noble and
peres had been ambicious, and that eche of them would haue
had felowshippe, or participacion in kyngdomes: thei would
not haue preferred a Monarchie aboue the reste. The anti-
quitie of that tyme sheweth, their personages, wisedome,
grauitie, and maiestie was soche, that eche one of theim was
mete for his vertues, to haue a whole kyngdome. If Aristo-
cratia would haue contented them, then was tyme and occa-
sion offered, no kyng remainyng to haue preferred that state.
The duetie of
al noble peres[.] But thei as vpright nobles, sincere and faithfull, hauyng al-
together respecte to a publique wealthe: to a permanent state
and felicitie of kingdome, sought no participacion by priuate
wealthe, to dissolue this Monarchie. But thei beyng moste
godlie, eche were content to proue, whose chaunce might be,
to set vp againe that Monarchie. The kyngdome at the laste
Darius. came to the handes of Darius, who was after kyng of the
Persians. This is a goodly example, to shewe the worthines
of a Monarchie, the Persian kingdome after many yeres de-
clinyng, from his power and state, not for any faulte of go-
Kyngdomes
rise and fall. uernment, but God as he seeth tyme, raiseth vp kyngdomes
and plucketh them doune. Afterward Darius the kyng, not
able to make his parte good with Alexander the Greate: of-
fered to hym the greatest parte of his kyngdome, euen to the
flood of Euphrates, and offred his daughter to wife: Alexan-
der was content to take the offer of Darius, so that he would
bee seconde to hym, and not equall with hym in kyngdome.
The answer
of Alexander
to Darius,
as cōcernyng
a monarchie. For, Alexander saied, that as the worlde can not bee gouer-
ned with twoo Sunnes, neither the worlde can suffer twoo
mightie kingdomes: wherupon it is manifest, that no king-
dome will suffer equalitie or felowship, but that if the will &
minde of Princes might brust out, the state of all the worlde,
would bee in one mightie gouernours handes. For, alwaies
Alexāder the
great prefar-
red a Mo-
narchie. Princes dooe seke to a sole regimente. Alexander the greate
cōquerour also, preferring for worthines a Monarchie, at the
tyme of his death, demaunded whō he would haue to succede
him in his mightie dominiōs, he by one signifiyng a Monar-
chie, saiyng: Dignissimus, that is to saie, the worthiest. After
Alexanders
monarchie fel
by many kin-
ges.
Antipater.
Crates.
Meliagrus.
Perdiccas.
Ptolomeus.
Learcus.
Cassander.
Menander.
Leonatus.
Lusimacus.
Eumenes[.]
Seleucus. the death of Alexander, Antipater caught the gouernmente
of Macedonia and Grece, and Crates was Treasurer. Me-
leagrus and Perdiccas caught other of his dominions, then
Ptolemeus possessed Egipte, Africa and a parte of Arabia,
Learcus, Cassander, Menāder, Leonatus, Lusimachus, Eu-
menes, Seleucus and manie other, who were for their wor-
thines in honor and estimacion with Alexander, caught in-
to their handes other partes of his dominions, euerie one se-
kyng for his time, his owne priuate glorie, dignitie, and ad-
uauncemente, but not a publike wealthe, and so in fine, am-
bicion broiled in their loftie stomackes, eche to attaine to o-
thers honor. Whereupon bloodshed, destruction of the peo-
ple and countries, the fall of these Princes ensued. So moche
kingdomes hate equalitie or felowship: let vs laie before our
Fraunce.
Spaine.
Germanie.
Britaine. iyes, the kyngdomes nere at hand. Fraunce, from the tymes
of Faramundus vntill this daie haue stoode, and did florishe
in a Monarchie. The state of Spaine, from the tyme of the
firste kyng, vntill this daie, hath florished continually in a
Monarchie. The great seigniories of Germanie, by one suc-
cedyng in gouernment, haue been permanent in that good-
lie state. Our noble Isle of Britain from Brutus, hath stoode
by a Monarchie: onely in those daies, the state of gouernmēt
chaunged, at the commyng of Iulius Cesar, Emperour of
Rome. The lande beyng at diuision, and discorde, through
the diuersitie of diuerse kynges: so moche the state of diuerse
kynges in one lande, is to be expelled, or the gouernment of
the base multitude, to haue vniuersally power of dominion,
or the state of peres, to bee chief in regiment, no kyng lefte to
commaunde ouer the people, and nobles, or els there can not
be but discorde in thende, whiche pulleth doune moste migh-
tie Regions and dominions, so that the beste state, the moste
stedfaste and fortunate, is in all tymes, in all ages, in all la-
wes, and common wealthes, where one king sekyng the ad-
uauncement, wealthe, glorie, of hym and his people.

¶ The contrarie.

Hat housholde or familie, can not be well gouerned,
where many and diuerse beareth gouernment, nec-
lectyng the state prosperous vniuersallie: for where
obedience is drawen to diuers and many, there can not bee
good gouernment, nor faithfull obedience. And so in a king-
dome where one chiefly gouerneth, and to a common wealth
there the hartes of the subiectes, be moste knitte to obaie.

¶ The similitude.

Uen as thei, whiche serue one maister, shall soneste
with labour please, and with fidelitie, accomplishe
his will and pleasure. For, the maners of many mē
be diuerse, and variable, so in a Monarchie, the state of one is
sone obaied, the minde and lawe of one Prince sone folowed,
his Maiestie dreaded and loued.

¶ The example.

ET the fower chief Monarchies of the Assirian, the
Persian, Grecian, and the Romaine, whiche haue
continued from the beginnyng mightie, moste hap-
pie, bee an example herein. If that state of gouernement, had
not been chiefe of all other, those mightie kyngdomes would
not haue preferred, that kinde of gouernment.

¶ The testimonie of auncient writers.

Herefore, Aristotle, Plato, and all the chief Philoso-
phers, intreatyng of the administracion of a common
wealthe: doe preferre before all states of gouernment
a Monarchie, bothe for the felicitie of it, and stedfaste state.

¶ The conclusion.

HOmere therefore deserueth greate commendacion,
for this one sentence, whiche preferreth a Monarchie
before all states.

¶ The destruccion.

His exercise of [Rhetotike], is called destruccion, or
subuersion, because it is in a oracion, a certain re-
prehension of any thyng declaimed, or dilated, in
the whiche by order of art, the declaimer shall pro-
cede to caste doune by force, and strengthe of reason, the con-
trarie induced.

In this exercise of Rhetorike, those proposicions are to be
subuerted, whiche are not manifeste true, neither it so repu-
gnaunt from reason, as that there can appere no holde, to in-
duce a probable reason to confounde thesame. But soche pro-
posicions are meete for this parte, as are probable in both si-
des, to induce probabilitie of argument, to reason therupon.

1.It shall behoue you firste, for the entryng of this matter,
to adde a reprehension there against those, whiche haue con-
firmed as a truthe, that, whiche you will confute.

2.In thesame place, adde the [exposion], and meanyng of his
sentence.

3.Thirdly, shew the matter to be obsure, that is vncertain[.]

4.[Incrediblie].

5.Impossible.

6.Not agreyng to any likelihode of truthe.

7.Uncomlie to be talked of.

8.Unprofitable.

This exercise of Rhetorike doeth contain in it al strength
of arte, as who should saie, all partes of Rhetorike, maie co-
piouslie be handled in this parte, called confutacion, so am-
ple a matter Tullie doeth note this parte to be.

¶ The theme or proposicion of this Oracion.

It is not like to be true, that is said of the battaill of Troie.

¶ The reprehension of the auc-
thor, and of all Poetes.

Ot without a cause, the vanities of Poetes are
to bee reproued, and their forged inuencions to
bee reiected: in whose writynges, so manifestlie
are set forthe as a truthe, and Chronicled to the
posteritie of ages and times, soche forged mat-
The vanities
of Poetes. ters of their Poeticall and vain wittes. Who hath not heard
of their monsterous lies against God, thei inuentyng a gene-
alogie of many Goddes procreated, where as there is but
one God. This vanitie also thei haue set forthe, in their mo-
numentes and woorkes. How a conspiracie was sometyme
emong the Goddes and Goddes, to binde the great God Iu-
piter. How impudentlie doe thei set forthe the Goddes, to bee
louers of women, and their adulterous luste: and how thei
haue transformed theim selues, into diuers shapes of beastes
and foules, to followe after beastly luste. The malice and en-
uie of the Goddes, one to an other: [The] feigne also the heauē
to haue one God, the sea an other, helle an other, whiche are
mere vanities, and false imaginaciōs of their Poeticall wit-
tes. The like forged inuencion haue thei wrote, of the migh-
The battaill
of Troie .x.
yeres for a
herlotte. tie and terrible battaill bruted of Troie, for a beautifull har-
lot susteined ten yeres. In the whiche, not onely men and no-
ble péeres, gaue the combate of battaile, but the Goddes toke
partes against Goddes, and men wounded Goddes: as their
The vain in-
uention of
Poetes. lies exceade all nomber, because thei bee infinite, so also thei
passe all truthe, reason, and iudgemente. These fewe exam-
ples of their vanities and lies, doe shewe the feigned ground
and aucthoritie of the reste. Accordyng to the folie and super-
sticiousnes of those tymes, thei inuented and forged folie vp-
pon folie, lye vpon lye, as in the battaill of Troie, thei aggra-
uate the dolour of the battaill, by pitifull and lamentable in-
Plato reie-
cteth Poetes
from the com[-]
mon wealth. uencion. As for the Poetes them selues, Plato in his booke,
made vpon the administracion of a common wealth, maketh
theim in the nomber of those, whiche are to bee banished out
of all common wealthes.

¶ The exposicion.

Omere dooeth saie, and many other Poetes, that
the warres of the Grecians against the Troians,
was for beautifull Helena, and continued tenne
yeres. The Goddes and Goddis toke partes, and
all the people of Grece, aided Menelaus, and the kyng Aga-
memnon, to bryng home again Helena, neclecting their own
countrie, their wife and chidrē, for one womā. The Grekes
inuentyng a huge and mightie horse made of Firre trée, and
couered with brasse, as huge as a moūtain, out of the whiche
the Grecians by treason issuyng, brought Troie to ruine.

¶ The obscuritie of the matter.

T semeth a matter of folie, that so many people, so
mightie nacions should bee bewitched, to raise so
mightie a armie, hassardyng their liues, leauyng
their countrie, their wiues, their children, for one
Helena. woman: Be it so, that Helena passed all creatures, and that
Nature with beautie had indued her with all vertue, and sin-
gularitie: yet the Grecians would not be so foolishe, that vni-
uersallie thei would seke to caste doune their owne wealthe,
and moche more the common wealthe of Grece, and kyng-
dome to stande in perill. Neither is it to be thought, the Gre-
cians, sekyng to aduaūce the beautie of Helena: would leaue
The cause of
the forged in-
uencion. their owne state. But it is like, the wittes of Poetes did im-
magine so forged a Chronicle, that the posteritie of ages fol-
lowyng, should rather wounder at their forged inuencion,
then to beleue any soche warre truly mencioned. There was
no soche cause, seyng that the kyngdome of Grece, fell by no
title of succession to Helena, for them to moue warre, for, the
bringyng backe of that beutifull harlotte Helena. Neither in
Helena was there vertue, or honestie of life, to moue and ex-
asperate the Grecians, to spende so greate treasures, to raise
No commen-
dacion in vp-
holdyng and
maintainyng
of harlottes. so mightie an armie on euery side. What commēdacion had
the Troians to aduaunce Helena, and with all roialnesse to
entreate her, she beyng a harlotte: the folie of the Grecians
and the Troians, is so on euery side so greate, that it can not
be thought, soche a warre truely chronicled. If violence and
power, had taken Helena from her housebande, and not her
Helena follo-
wed Paris. owne will and luste, caught with the adulterous loue of Pa-
ris, beyng a straunger. If her moderacion of life had been so
rare, as that the like facte for her chastitie, had not been in a-
ny age or common wealthe, her vertues would haue giuen
occasion: The Princes and nobles of Grece to stomacke the
matter. The example of the facte, would with all praise and
Uertuous
life, worthie
commendaci-
on in al ages.
Lucrecia.
Tarquinius
the kyng ba-
nished for ra-
uishyng Lu-
crecia, and all
of his name
banished. commendacion be mencioned, and celebrated to al ages. Lu-
cretia for her chastite, is perpetuallie to be aduanunced, wher-
vpon the Romaines banished Tarquinius their kyng, his
stocke and name from Rome. The rare chastite of Penelope,
is remainyng as a example herein: So many snares laied to
caste doune her vertuous loue towarde her housebande U-
lisses. But Ulisses made hauocke by murder, on these gaie
and gallante Ruffins, who in his absence sought to alienate
and withdrawe, the chaste harte of Penelope, consumyng
Penelopes
chastitie. his substance. A greater example remaineth in no age, of the
like chastite. As for the battaile of Troie, raised for Helena,
could wise men, and the moste famous nobles of Grece: So
occupie their heddes, and in thesame, bothe to hasarde their
liues for a beautifull strumpet or harlot. The sage and wise
Nestor.
Ulisses. Nestor, whom Agamemnon for wisedome preferred, before
the moste of the péeres of Grece, neither it Ulisses wanted at
thesame tyme, hauyng a politike and subtill hedde, to with-
drawe theim from so leude and foolishe a enterprise. Grece
Grece the
lande of faire
women. wanted not beautifull creatures, Nature in other had besto-
wed amiable faces, personage, and comelie behauiour. For,
at those daies, Grece thei called Achaida calligunaica, that is,
Grece the lande of faire women. The dolorous lamentacion
of the Ladies and Matrons in Grece, would haue hindered
soche a foolishe enterprise, seyng their owne beautie neclec-
ted, their honestie of life caste vp to perilles, one harlot of in-
Uncomelie. numerable people followed and hunted after, in whom neither
honestie, vertue, nor chastite was harbored.

¶ Uncredible.

Lthough the folie of men is greate, and the will of
princes and gouernours beastlie and rashe, yet by
no meanes it can be so many yeres, so greate folie
to take roote in their hartes, and that the wisedom
Beautie
without ver-
tue, nothyng
of valour. of the Greciās, should not rather caste of as naught, the beau-
tie of Helena: rather then the whole multitude, the state of
the Prince, the welfare of the subiecte, to stande in perill for
Beautie a
poison, in a
adulterous
mynde. the beautie of one. What is beautie, when a beastlie and ad-
ulterous minde is possessed: Beautie without chastitie, har-
boreth a monsterous rabelmente of vices, a snare and baite,
Beautie sone
fadeth. to poison other. Beautie in fewe yeres, is not onely blemi-
shed, but decaied, and wholie extinguished: it is vncredible,
that the Grecians would seeke to bryng home Helena, who
had loste the chaste loue toward her housband, beyng caught
Paris Hele-
nas louer.
Phrigia. with the adulterous loue of Paris, soonne to Priamus kyng
of Troie. The lande of Phrigia was a mightie Region, the
people noble, puissaunte in warre: the kyng for nobilitie of
actes famous. The Citee of Troie, wherein the kyng helde
his Scepter of gouernement, was riche, mightie, and popu-
lous: ruled and gouerned, by the wisedome and policie of fa-
mous counsailours, so that by all meanes it is vncredible,
Uncomelie. without any possibilitie. Thei neclectyng their owne state
and kyngdō, so to preferre the beautie of one, that the whole
multitude of Grece thereby to perishe. It is a matter vncre-
Grece the
fountain of al
learnyng. dible in all Grece, whiche for the fame of wisedome, is moste
celebrated emong all nacions, not one wiseman at thesame
tyme to be therein: whose coūsaile and politike heddes, might
ponder a better purpose. Grece, whiche was the mother and
fountaine of all artes and sciences, all Eloquence, Philoso-
phie, wisedome flowyng from theim, and yet wisedome to
want in their breastes. Reason can not make any perswasion
that any probabilitie can rise, of any soche matter enterpri-
sed, what could the intent be of the Grecians, as concerning
Menelaus
housbande to
Helena. Menelaus. In Menelaus there was no wisedom, to seke and
hunte after Helena, or by any meanes to possesse her, she be-
yng a harlotte, her loue alienated, her hart possessed with the
loue of an other manne: foolishlie he hopeth to possesse loue,
Harlottes
loue dissem-
bled. that seeketh to enioye the cloked, poisoned, and dissembled
harte of a harlotte, Grece was well ridde of a harlotte, Troie
Troians. harbouryng Helena. In the Troians it is not to be thought,
that either the kyng, or nobles, for a harlotte, would see the
[the] people murthered, their owne state, the king to be in dan-
Grecians. ger of ruine. In the Grecians there was neither wisedome,
neither commendacion, to pursue with a maine hoste, with a
greate Nauie of Shippes, to bryng backe againe a harlotte,
whose enterprise rather might better bee borne, to banishe &
exile soche a beastlie disposed persone. The Troians mighte
Absurditie. well scorne the Grecians, if that the possession of a beautifull
moste amiable, and minsyng harlotte, was of soche valour,
estimacion, and price with theim, not onely the beautie of all
other to bee reiected. But moste of all the vertuous life, and
chastitie of all their matrons and honourable Ladies, to bee
caste of as naught. Grece that had the name of all wisedome,
The defence
of Helena. of all learnyng and singularitie, might rather worthelie bee
called, a harbouryng place of harlottes: a Stewe and vphol-
der of whoredome, and all vncleanes. Wherefore, these ab-
surdities ought to bee remoued, from the minde and cogita-
cion of all menne, that should worthelie ponder the state of
Troie a king[-]
dome of whor[-]
dome. Grece. Troie of like sorte to bee a kyngdome and common
wealthe of all vice: whoredome in soche price with the kyng,
and people, that moste fortunate should the harlotte bee, and
the adulterour in soche a common wealthe, that for adulte-
rous loue, putteth rather all their state to hasarde and perill,
for the maintenaunce of beastlie loue, brutishe societie moste
in price with soche a nacion, chastitie, and [moderaciou] of life,
abandoned and caste of.

¶ Unpossible, and not agreyng.

Nature ab-
horreth the
warre of the
Grecians.

F wee weigh naturall affeccion, it can not bee, that
the Grecians so moche abhorring frō nature, should
cast of the naturall loue of their wifes, their children
and countrie, to bryng home againe, by slaughter of infinite
people: soche an one as had left honestie, and chaste loue of
her housbande. For, what praise can redounde to the Greci-
Helena. ans by warre, to bryng home Helena, though she of all crea-
tures was moste beautifull, beyng a harlotte: followyng the
bridell and will of an other man. Maie shame or commenda-
cion rise to the Troians, can wisedome, counsaile, or grauitie,
Priamus. defende the adulterous luste of Priamus soonne, yea, could
Priamus so loue Helena, for Paris his sonnes sake, as that
he had rather venter the ruine and destruccion of his citée, and
the falle of his people, the murder and ruine of his children,
and wife for the beautie of one. For what is beautie, where
honestie and vertue lacketh, it is an vncomly matter, though
the Poetes so faigne it, not onely that in heauen, a contenciō
should fall emong the Goddises of their beautie, or that Iu-
piter of whom thei make an ignoraunt God, to chuse Paris
the kynges sonne of Troie, chief arbitratour & Iudge of that
matter, to whō he should giue the goldē Apell to her beautie,
as chief of al other, was ascribed these thynges, are vndecent
to thinke of the Goddeses, and moste of all, to thinke there is
more Goddes then one. And euen as these are vanities, and
forged imaginacions of the Goddes, so of the battaile.

¶ Uncomelie and vnprofitable.

HE daunger of many people doeth shewe, that no
soche thyng should happen, either of the Grecians
or of the Troians: for, it is a matter dissonaunt frō
all truthe, that thei should so moche neclecte the
quiete state, and prosperous renoume of their kyngdome, in
all tymes and ages, since the firste constitucion of all Monar-
chies and kyngdomes. Who euer harde soche a forged mat-
ter to be Chronicled, and set forthe. Or who can giue credite
to soche warre, to be enterprised of so small a matter: to leaue
the state of waightier thynges for one woman. All the wo-
men of that countrie to stande in perill, the slaughter of their
deare housbandes, the violent murder of their children to in-
sue. Therefore, the wilfulnesse of people and princes, are the
cause of the falle and destruccion, of many mightie kyngdo-
mes, and Empires. The fall of Grece ensued, when the chief
Ambicion.
Cesar fell by
ambicion. citées, Athenes and Lacedemonie tooke partes, and did con-
federate diuers citees to them, to assiste theim, and aide theim
in battaile onely: ambicion and desire of glorie, moued bothe
Discorde. the Athenians and Lacedemonians, frō concorde and vnitie
by whiche meanes, the power, glory, and strēgth of all king-
Pompey. domes falleth. Ambicion was the cause that mightie Pom-
pey fell, and died violently. Cesar likewise caught with am-
bicion, not bearyng the equalitée, or superioritie of Pompei,
was tourned of violentlie frō Fortunes whéele. Many prin-
ces of like sorte and kingdomes. By ambicion onely, had the
cause of their ruine. The glorie of the Assirian Monarchie
grewe moste mightie, by the ambicion of Ninus kyng of
Babilon: the ofspring of Ninus, whiche were kynges line-
allie descendyng to the firste kyngdome of the Medes, bothe
inlarged their kyngdomes, and also had the decaie of theim
by ambicion. Let the Medes also associate them selues to thē,
from Arbactus the first kyng, vnto Astiages the laste: the be-
ginnyng and falle of the Persian Monarchie. The mightie
Romulus kil[-]
led Remus
by ambicion. state of Grece, the seate Imperiall of Rome, by ambiciō first
extolled theim selues: and also by it, their glorie, scepter, and
kyngdome was translated, but the falle of Troie came not,
by ambicion, that the Grecians sought. But as the Poetes
doe faigne, the beautie of one woman so wounded their har-
tes, that the Grecians did hasarde, the perilles of their coun-
trie. The Troians so moche estemed, the beautie of Helena,
as that the state of all their kyngdome perished. It was no
glorie nor honour to the Grecians, to resiste by armour, and
to defende the violente takyng awaie of Helena, from her
housbande: nor it was no honour, the Grecians to pursue by
armour, the takynge awaie of Helena, beyng a harlotte. So
that by no meanes it can followe, these thynges to bee true,
of the battaile of Troie.

¶ Confirmacion.

The other part, contrary to destruccion or subuersion, is
called confirmacion.

Confirmacion, hath in it so greate force of argumente, to
stablishe and vpholde the cause or proposicion: as destruccion
hath in castyng doune the sentence or proposicion.

Confirmacion is a certain oracion, whiche with a certain
reprehension of the persone or facte, by order and waie of art,
casteth doune, the contrary propounded.

As in the other parte called destruccion, those proposici-
ons are to bee subuerted, whiche are not manyfestlie true,
with all other notes before specified: so in contrariwise, this
oracion by contrary notes is declaimed by, as for example.

1.It shall behoue you first, for the entring of the oracion, to
induce a reprehension againste those, whiche haue confuted
as a truthe, that whiche you will confirme.

2.In the seconde parte, place the exposicion and meanyng
of the aucthours sentence.

3.Shewe the matter to be manifest.

4.Credible.

5.[Prossible].

6.Agreyng to the truthe.

7.Shewe the facte comelie.

8.Profitable.

This exercise of [Rhetotike], doeth contain in it all strēgth
of arte, as who should saie, all partes of Rhetorike maie co-
piouslie bee handled in this parte, called confirmacion. You
maie as matter riseth, ioigne twoo notes together, as the
reason of the argumente cometh in place, whiche Apthonius
a Greke aucthour herein vseth. As manifest and credible, pos-
sible and agreyng to truthe, comelie and profitable, but in al
these, as in all the reste: the theme or proposicion by it self, is
to bee placed, the reprehension of the aucthour by it self, the
exposicion of the theme by it self.

¶ The theme or proposicion.

T is true that is saied of Zopyrus, the noble Per-
sian, who vētered his life: & did cause the deformi-
tie of his bodie, for the sauegarde of this countrie.

¶ The praise.

Iustinus.

Ustinus the Historiographer, for worthinesse
of fame and wisedome, deserueth in the poste-
ritie of all tymes, immortall fame, by whom
the famous actes of Princes, and other noble
Chronicles
moste neces-
sary to be red. men, doe remaine Chronicled. Giuyng exam-
ples of all valiauntnesse and vertue: for, bothe the actes and
worthie feactes of Princes, would passe as vnknowen in all
ages, excepte the worthinesse of them, were in monumentes
of writyng Chronicled. For, by the fame of their worthines,
and vertues, cōmon wealthes and kyngdomes, doe stablishe
and make Lawes, the hartes of people are incensed, and in-
flamed, to the like nobilitie of actes, and famous enter-
The worthi-
nesse of histo-
ries. prices, Histories of auncient tymes, bee vnto vs witnesses of
all tymes and ages, of kyngdomes and common wealthes, a
liuely example. A light to all truthe and knowlege, a schole-
What is a hi-
storie. maister: of maners a memorie of life, for, by it we se the wise-
dom of all ages, the forme of the beste and florishing common
wealthes. We learne by the vertues of Princes and gouer-
nours, to followe like steppe of vertue: to flie and auoide vi-
ces, and all soche thynges, as are to the destruccion and de-
An ignorant
life, a brutish
life. caie, of realme and countrie. How brutishe wer our life, if we
knewe no more then we se presently, in the state of our com-
mon wealthe and kyngdome. The kyngdomes of all Prin-
ces and common wealthes that now florisheth, doe stande by
the longe experience, wisedome, pollicy, counsaile, and god-
lie lawes of Princes of auncient times, no smal praise and
The know-
lege of Histo-
ries maketh
vs as it were
liuyng in all
ages.
[Historiogri-
phers]. commendation can be attributed, to all suche as doe trauell
in the serching out the veritie of auncient Histories, for bi the
knoledge of them, we are as it were liuyng in all ages, the
fall of all kyngdomes is manifeste to vs, the death of Prin-
ces, the subuersions of kingdomes and common wealthes,
who knoweth not the first risyng & ende of the Assiriane mo-
narchie, the glorie of the Persians, and the ruynge of the
same, the mightie Empire of the Grekes, risyng & fallyng,
the Romane state after what sorte florishyng and decaiyng,
so that no state of common wealthe or kyngdome is vnkno-
wen to vs, therefore Iustine, and all suche as doe leue to the
posteritie, the state of al things chronicled, deserue immortal
commendacions.

¶ The exposicion.

The treason
of the Assy-
rians.