IT hath beene holden for a great blessing of God, when the sworde and all other weapons of warre, are turned into Plough-yrons; but we doe not consider that war is the minister of Gods iustice, ei­ther for contempt of himself, neg­lect of his Religion, or for the wicked life of world­lings; it is the surfers of peace, that hatcheth vppe war, and it is the finnes of the people, that draweth the Sol­diers Sword, for warres are but as a Corrector to the disorders of peace, it is as fire to the mettell that wants refining, as a phisition to a body ouergrowne with grosse and corrupt humors, it is the scourge of Securi­ty, the plague of Timeritie, a miserable necessity in na­ture, and a necessary Corrector of times infirmity.

Warre, stirs vp the bloud, it cals courage to the field, and it is the Theatre where on Nobilitie was borne to shew himselfe.

Peace breedes Cowards, it effeminates our mindes, it pampers our wanton wils, and it runs headlong into all sorts of sinne.

[Page] VVarres, vpholds our right, Peace will put vp wrong, and what we honourably winne in war, wee cowardly loose againe▪ in peace.

Peace, filles the world with pompe, war abates the edge of pride, Peace feedes Folly fat, makes vertue lean, and it armeth Cape a Pee, all manner of inormity; warre spends the pelfe that Peace hath miserably scraped for. And what should I say, warre like a storme that comes ratling in the skie, doth clense and purge the aire infec­ted with the misty fogs of peace: war hath had his be­ginning with the world, and it will neuer haue end so long as there is a world.

Valiancy hath an eye to warre, and warre hath the like againe to peace, and warre should not be vnderta­ken but to the end to haue peace; and as peace is the parent of prosperity, so it is the nurse of pride, and draweth after it the very corruption of manners.

In the time of peace, a fauorite shall ruffell it out with the wealth of a realme, whilst Souldiours in the time of warre are ready to mutiny for want of pay.

In warre, those are onely dignified that are found to be valiant, or otherwise approued to be of worthy re­putation, peace preferreth Carpet Knights, and such as will scratch at dignity without desert.

The Souldiour, who in the time of warre sauoreth of sweat, (the true testimony of exercise and labour) in the time of Peace, is all to bee spiced with perfumes (the witnes of effeminate and womanish nicite.)

As long as Carthage waged warre against Rome, so long were the Romaines in dayly exercise of Armes, vi­gilant and watchful, fearing that which after followed▪ but Carthage being once razed and brought to destruc­tion, [Page 2] the youth of Rome being at liberty▪ and freed from all feare and care of Warre, set loose the bridle of plea­sure, and hauing no stranger against whome to exer­cise Armes, they conuerted their weapons against their owne bowels, arrearing ciuill warres and seditions a­mongst themselues, which brought the Romaines liber­ty to ruine: for which cause S. Augustine in his booke De Ciuitate Dei sayeth, More hurtfull was the City of Carthage after her destruction, then during the whole course and season of the warres, which the Romaines had with her, for whilst they had enemies in Affricke, t hey knew not what vices ment in Rome.

Adrianus in the time of a generall peace, would yet vndertake seuerall iornies, sometimes into France, som­times into Germany, otherwhiles into Asia, but still cau­sing his men of warre to march with him, lest being i­dle, they might likewise grow effeminate.

I might heape together a great deale of matter, if I should speake of those miseries that do attend & waite vpon warre; but if I should enter into a particular de­scription, how many vices are hatched vp in the time of peace, I might quickly spie out matter wherewith to beginne, but neuer find time when to make an end; we haue such dayly innouations, aswell of Follies, as of Fassions, that our auncestors (I perceiue) were but bunglers at vice, they had not the wit to grace a sinne, nor to set it forth to the show, their conceites were but dull and blunt, they had not the frisking wittes of this our age: but I will not intangle my selfe in that La­borinth, to speake of those follies that are already past, I am come to a fragment of the time present, t [...] a for­ward Sprigge, that is already sprouted and sprong from [Page] this little prety moment of our calme and quiet peace.

The warres that were wont to stirre vp mens minds to striue who should march in the formost rank against the Enemy, who should giue the first charge, and who should make the first approch to enter the breach, this litle time of peace hath conuerted to a base alteration: for now all our strife and contention is, who shall sit a­boue the salte, who shall goe next the wall, who shall stand formost in the Herauldes bookes, and who shall goe before, and who shall come behind.

We call it a happy peace, & we blesse the time with­all, when our Armes are set apart, when our Ensignes are fyrled vp, and when our Drummes and warlike in­struments do serue to fetch home May, or are hanged by the wals: but the warres of Westminster Hall, are then in their greatest fury, and the incounters there maintained and continued, not against an open foe to our country, not against a Traytor to the Prince, or a­gainst a rebell, or a spoiler of the common wealth; but the neighbour against the neighbour, the friend against the friend, the brother against the brother, & somtimes the father against the sonne.

These warres are vnnaturall wars, and these wars wil neuer bee dissolued, but are like to grow euery day more violent then other; and I wonder all this while we haue had no hote Alarmes about this precedence, and taking of places; for it is growne to a general con­trouersie, not onely amongst the inferior forte of those that would faine be reputed to be Gentlemen, but like­wise amongst the better sort of those that be knowne to be Gentlemen by birth and others that by their places [Page 3] and professions are gentelized, and worthy to bee so esteemed, as hereafter shall be declared.

I will not meddle with those of the decayed order of Knighthood, amongst whom there hath likewise fallen out some contentions, the vnworthy somtimes com­paring with those that bee worthy; for I doe make a difference in reputation between Knight and Knight, and I hope hereafter to shew a reason why.

But to come to those intruders that do extort to thē ­selues places and dignities that belong to others, who neither by birth, nor by discent can challenge the place or title of a Gentleman, vnles (perhaps) countenanced by some petty office, or otherwise haue raked together some yearely reuenue, more then all their ancestors were euer able to leaue to their heires▪ and not attai­ned vnto by vertuous industry, but gotten sometimes by deceiuing the Prince, otherwhiles by preiudicing the common wealth, & most times, by exacting & op­pressing as many as they had to deale withal, but vnder these pretences, they would vsurpe to themselus a kind of preheminence, to throng & thrust before those that are their betters both by birth and qualitie: and this malipert sawcines maketh them to be the more hateful to as many as know from whence they are descended.

It is not the giuing or taking of places, that either gi­ueth or taketh away vertue, nor euery man that is inue­sted with an office, is not therefore by and by had in the better reputation, but if they be so desirous of esti­mation, they must indeuor by their own labor & indu­stry, to heape to themselus so precious treasure, when curtesie & affability are known to bee the instruments, whereby the hearts of the people are won.

[Page] And as this thrusting and striuing for places, is a common sicknes amongst men, so the infection is farre more violent amongst women, and hath preuailed so farre, as (I thinke) it be past cure, for not one amongst them, being willing to giue place, but euery one ende­uouring and striuing to take place, they are ready to scratch for it, and to take their roomes perforce, & will not let to render reasons to maintaine their right; one makes her plea, my husband is a Squire, and I will giue place to none but to my Lady; an other will say, my husband is a Doctor, and why should not I go with the formost: one stands vpon her owne petigree, and de­riues her selfe from some ancient stocke or family, ano­ther vauntes of her husbands office, another of his wealth, another of her chains, iewels & silken gowns, and of so many other vanities besides, that if their hus­bands should fal to dealing in those quarrels set abroch by their wiues, they would neuer be determined with­out bloody noses.

But what women be those that doe most generallie stand vpon those termes, or that will soonest presse to be thus forward, but those that be of the basest birth, or haue beene otherwise noted and detected of infamy?

I doe not meddle with Ladies all this while, for al­though these vpstart women be ful of iniury, yet Ladies that are descended of gentle parentage, are full of curte­sie, they are not vengible the one against the other, they are not proud, they are not slanderous, they are no tatlers, to carpe at those thinges that belongs not vnto them; now Ladies in these daies (a great many of them) are none of these great vaunters, to brag of their wor­shipfull parents, of their fathers, of their grandfathers: [Page 4] they would be much ashamed in any proud humour, to go search the Herauldes bookes for their auncestors Armes, or to seeke out from what stocke or lineage they are descended.

But what do these men or women gaine, that doe stand so much of their tiptoes? that do take the matter so highly vpon them, and are so ready to perch before their betters? they doe but be▪pisse their owne credits? they raise vp dust to hurt their owne eyes, for it makes others to harken after them, what they were by birth, how they haue beene brought vp, what their conuer­sation hath been in times past: and there will be inqui­sition made, not onely of themselues, but of their pa­rents, first what they were, from whence they came, & how they haue liued, for wise mē takes no knowledge of our riches, but of our vertues, not of our offices, but of our honesties, not of our dignities, but of our de­serts; not of our proud and lofty lookes, but of our kinde and curteous behauiours, but howsoeuer it bee befitting vnto men, O what an ornament it is to a wo­man to be of a mild and modest disposition?

And yet I cannot commend this counterfeit sobrie­tie in her that will sit and simper, and spend a whole diner-time, in speaches, strained and deliuered like ora­cles, that will bee drawing out of a welcome, whilst a man would haue eaten his dinner: no, I rather com­mend her that hath a little verball quicknes, a nimble spirited wench that can laugh when she list, weepe when she list, chide when she list, that can be sick when she list, and well againe when it please her selfe, that when she is vp and ready in a morning, her day-worke is done, that is fit for all companies, that hath a sweete [Page] touch with her tongue, a quicke loose with her lippes and t'is no matter though she do sometimes lie; for if shee be married, a lie well told may sometimes please her husband.

O what a pretious sight it were to see a woman that were but young in yeares to bee sober and modest, glory and admiration attends her in all her actions? & it were good in her that were olde likewise, because in an old woman, the contrary were abhominable, b ut where should wee finde such a woman ready made, vnlesse we should bespeake her of purpose, and then we should pay more for the fashion, then the whole frame would be worth.

If a man should but straine his penne a litle to write in the generall praise of women, and should paint them forth with so many perfections as nature doth not v­sually bestow in these our dayes, as many women as did but vnderstand of this description would wonder and be inquisitiue what women they should be that were so magnified, and if they did not reward the wri­ter with a mocke, his best recompence should bee, to be thought a meere dissembler: but hee that shoulde but blaze the abuse of any one particular woman, and should write in an obscure manner, not naming what one it were that he had thus displayed, euery woman that did but heare it, would take it to her selfe, and shee would not be perswaded, but that it was so ment.

The pretious iewels that were wont to garnish those women, that were most honourably esteemed of, were the excellent ornaments of modesty, of sobrietie, of bashfulnes, of silence, of chastitie, and such other, but now those are best esteemed, that are most impudent, [Page 5] that are most audacious, that are most shameles, that are most vnciuill; and what shall I say, that are many wayes more masculine then men.

It is strange again to see some women that do stand vpon their wisedome, that do stand vpon their honor, that do stand vpon their honesty; and yet will seem to vphold and maintain those women that are immodest in their manners, lasciuious in their life, filthy in their communication, odious and hatefull in all their de­meanours, that haue beene noted of incontinencie, and well knowne to be infamous: and yet those wo­men, that a man would thinke they were made all of vertue, (& without doubt, some of them no lesse good then they seeme) they will notwithstanding hold them company, take them vp into their Coaches: nay, they will imitate them, sometimes in their garish and light attire, that are many times more Curtisan-like, then eyther modest or comely: sometimes againe in their impudent boldnes of behauiour, that were more fit­ting for my Lady Greene-sleeues, then decent for those women, that are of any good sort or reputation. A­mongst the Romains, it was accounted a great reproch and infamy, for a woman to bee praysed by any man, eyther for her beauty, or for her feature, or for any quality that was not corespondent to vertue▪ but Thu­cidides accounteth those women to bee most honest, that were least spoken of eyther in prayse or disprayse.

Saint Augustine speaking of the light behauiour of women, doth rather allow of that maiden, wife or widow, that will exercise her accustomed labour, (though it be on the Saboth day) then he doth of that woman that is a dancer, that must surrend [...]r herself to [Page] be felt and handled by those men, that are not onelie vnchast in their imbracements, but many times vn­godly in their appetites, and filthy in their desires.

I might take occasion here to speake of Fashions, it was wont to be a disease amongst Horse, but now it is become a generall sicknes amongst men and women; and yet I thinke Fashions be good for somewhat, for of my conscience it driueth a great number to Church, that goeth more to shew their own pride, and to learn the new Fashions that are broughtin by others, then to mend their owne manners, or to leuell their liues as they are taught by the Preacher.

Diogenes laughed them to scorne, that by intercessi­on sought helpe from the Gods, and yet continued in a dissolute and in a lasciuious manner of life: and me thinkes it stands with reason, that graue showes and light attires can neuer hang well together.

When the Cretans were vnnaturally intreated by the Romaines, they did not pray vnto the Gods to plague them with pestilence, with warre, with famine, and such like, but that they would send amongst them new Fashions, new inuentions, & new fangled follies, which they knew to be a greater plague and punish­ment, then any other that might befall them: And A­nacharsis was put to death for seeking to plant strange fashions which he had learned in his trauell.

For those women that be good & godly (as I know there bee a great many) they will neuer bee displeased though I blaze the abuses of the ill; for those other that be bad, if they be angry I care not, and for her that hath a guilty conscience, if she find her selfe to be toucht, let her beginne to chide first in Gods name.

[Page 6] It is written that Crates vsed to scold with common women, which he knew to be of mischieuous and ven­gible tongue▪ which he did of purpose, whereby to inure himself to beare all reproches with the more pa­tience: And Diogenes, to much like purpose, walking through Athens, and finding the statues and Images of many wo thy men which had beene erected for their well deseruing in the common wealth, went vnto them al, one after another, begging gifts and asking of almes: and being demanded what he ment to begge of dumb Images, he answered, I learne hereby to take deniall patiently.

Now if there be a woman that is sicke of the spleen, and a little to ease her stomacke, will needs pronounce her selfe guilty before she bee accusde, I am furnished (you see) with presidents inough to teach me to bee patient, & to beare all reproaches that may be imputed against me, by the most bitterest and spitefullest tongs.

A woman of vertuous life is neuer offended at any report that is ay [...]ed of her; for if it be true (shee being vertuous) it must be to her prayse, if false, her life and manners will proue the reporter to be but a lyer, & her owne innocency is inough to protect her against any deprauer.

But I am out of the text that I ment to take in hand; and here a man may see what it is to hit into good company, I am gotten amongst a company of women, a [...]d now I am loth to depart; but I must take my leaue of them for a time, and follow my vndertaken Sub­iect.

I remember, I was about to speake of a many of wranglers that were striuing for places, and disputing [Page] for dignities, but fearing I might bee accused of sa­criledge to steale out of the Gospell, I might remem­ber here where it is written; VVhen thou art bidden to a Feast, sit thee downe in the lowest roome, that when the good­man of the house commeth in, he may say, Friend, sit vp high­er, and so it shall be for thine honour, &c.

It is a great vertue in a man, to be an vpright Iudge of himselfe, for as it is the first Chapter of Fooles, for a man to thinke himselfe to be wise; so it is a signe of as little wit, to thinke better of our selues then there is cause.

Bucephalus, Alexanders horse, in an ordinary saddle, would easily admit any man to ride him, but being appointed in his royall furniture, would suffer none but Alexander to mount him: so there be some that in a meane estate (such as their fathers held before them) haue beene known to be lowly & tractable en­ough, but being after crept into an office, or a little ad­uanced, whereby they might proule for pence, they know not how to behaue themselues, but doe thinke that pride, disdaine, & currish demeanour, are the only complements belonging to Gentility. And this is it that armeth them with this sawcines (I mean) to take place of their betters whereby they become iniurious, and in time might grow to a matter of quarrell, when amongst persons of reputation, honour is preferred be­fore life; & euery iniurious action not repulsed, is hol­den by the opinion of all magnificent minds to be dis­honourable, infamous and reprochfull.

It should not be amisse therfore, but rather behoue­full, that we might be informed what iniury is, wherby we may with the more facility, both moderate our [Page 7] selues, and learne to represse it.

I doe not goe about to incite men to vnaduised or needles quarrels, but to informe the true meane how to shunne offences, or being offended, how to represse an iniury, with a due respect, both of honour and a christian consideration: Iniuries are aswell offered by wordes as by deedes; in wordes, by vnseemely spee­ches, as in giuing the lie, or such other like; in deedes, no lesse by depriuing men of their reputation & right, as in deprauing them of their due by any other meane [...] I might speake of infinite wrongs to be offered in both these kindes, that might draw to blowes: but I will let them passe, for I hold it no lesse expedient for wise­men to know when it is time to put vp, as when it is time to draw their weapons.

Vertue alloweth a iust Reuenge, and admitteth the defence of property and right: yet true it is, that the law of God willeth vs to be of that perfect patience, as not onely to endure iniurious wordes, but also quietly to disgest and putvp all other wrongs that are offered, what, or howsoeuer: but very few men haue attained to that perfection in suffering wrongs and iniuries, as the Law of God requireth: there is nothing more in­tollerable to flesh and bloud, then to endure wrong; let Diuinity and Philosophy too, perswade what they list, for impatient cruelty, making hot spurde youth his Agent, doth thinke no man capable of glory, that is not apt and ready to reuenge.

And here Cicero, to aggrauate the matter, tels mee, That it is as great iniustice to put vppe an iniury, as to doe awrong: But if it be iniustice to put vppe an iniurie, why then it is a vertue to Reuenge, but [Page] Reuenge proceedes of Anger, for Anger is the mo­ther of Reuenge, and what affinity may be betweene angry Reuenge, and doing of Iustice, I thinke is as much as is betweene doing of right, and doing of wrong, and so by consequence as is between vertue and vice.

I know not how to reconcile these matters together, but for him that is iniured I thinke the surest way is to reuenge himselfe by patience, for hee that is armed with patience, to endure and suffer wrong, punisheth more in not punishing, then the hastiest Executioner that is most speedy in reuenge.

Perhaps (now on the other side) it may seeme con­trary to the courage of man, to relent when they haue done a wrong, but rather to persist, and to vphold one wrong with another, the lesse with the greater: if wee could then but examine the matter with a christian consideration, it would appeare that he that doth per­sist to doe euill, doth still endeuour to condemne himselfe.

Who will impute him to be worthy of infamy, that is cowardly stricken by another, or that is oppressed by aduantage by any manner of meane? nay, who will not rather condemne him that offereth such an iniury and acquit him to whome it was done?

And who will not laugh to see the sawcines of some little worthy persons, in whome there is neither ver­tue, desert, nor any other merite of worth, but a little audatious boldnes, and yet will pearch and presume to take that place that is an other mans right?

To conclude therefore I say, that infamy is due to him, that willingly doth a dishonourable wrong; but [Page 8] no reproch at all to him that taketh it.

But to the end that men might know their owne places, both what they ought to take, and how they ought to giue, it shall not be amisse to distinguish of Gentry, and to shew the difference between Gentle­men and Gentlemen; from whence, and how it growes.

I say there is a disequality in Gentry, for vertue be­ing (as it were) the first steppe to Generosity, hee that can bur vaunt of the Scutchions left vnto him by An­cestors, seemeth himselfe to bee very destitute, for the more high he fetcheth his petigrie, the lesse reputati­on he meriteth himselfe, if hee cannot continue that honour, left vnto him by his Ancestors.

Whilst we doe hunt after a phantasticall glory, wee doe abandon the true; for the ground of honor con­sisteth in vertue.

Marcus Marcellus builded a Temple in Rome, which he called the Temple of Honour; but so seated, that none could enter it, but they must first passe tho­rough the Temple of Vertue.

It might be demanded, why noble bloud should be preferred before base Parentage (as they call it) for nei­ther is he that is of Gentle bloud more valiant then he that is of low degree, neither in his race more swifter, nor in health more lusty▪ nor of greater force; if then the case standeth thus, that neither the fauour of For­tune, nor the comely feature of the body, distingui­sheth man from man, and as it were, by distinct offi­ces deuideth them, no doubt, the diuersity is knowne by the qualities of the mind.

Gein Ottoman brother to the great Turke, being [Page] a prisoner at Rome, it was tolde him, how Fardinando was nimble and quicke in running, leaping, vawting, and such other exercises of the body: Ottoman answe­red that the slaues and base borne of his Country were endued with all those qualities, and that the Princes & mighty men, were onely famed & renowned for their valiance, their bounty and liberality.

An excellent answere of a Heathen, and it is truth, the Gentility as it is a glorious image of ancient pro­geny, so it is commonly garnished and replenished with singular vertues, farre exceeding the common sort.

Seneca aduiseth, that who would iudge of a Gentle­man, that might bee reputed worthy of that name, must first strip him out of his gay clothes, hee must set aside his liuinges and titles of honour, with all other fauours of Fortune, he mustalso imagine himto be with out a body, nor he must esteeme nor value nothing, but the excellency of the minde. If Gentlemen in these dayes should be brought to these Ballances, and none admitted worthy but those that hold out weight, there would not be such a thronging and thrusting as there is, the bordes end would bee more pestered th en the first messe.

I holde not him that from a base estate is exalted by a Princes fauoure (without desert) to be a Gentleman▪ for a Prince at his pleasure may make a man either rich or poore, but to make him eyther good or bad, belon­geth onely to the grace of God, but not to the Prince.

A Prince may then make a man great, but he cannot make him good, hee may giue him honourable titles, but he cannot giue him an honourable minde; and [Page 9] albeit that Gentlemen of late preferment, may excell in vertue, wit and policy; yet in this minority of years, they may not compare with families of noble bloud, and long discent: for euen as we do chiefly reuerence gray hayres and elder yeares; so the ancient race of gentility, is especially to bee esteemed and honoured, and a new made Gentleman, with what quality so euer endued (yet being the first of his house) must giue place to the other, that are of more auncient lineage and more honourable discent, prouided alwayes, that those that are digressed from the vertuous endeauors of their honourable auncestors, let them be reputed as degenerate, and vnworthy to chalenge eyther place or title: for he that doth swerue from the steppes of his auncestors, hee staineth the name of his family.

The Romaines and the Lidians had a Law, that those sonnes that followed not their fathers steppes in vertue, but liued in a licentious and vicious manner of life, should bee disinherited, and their landes and goodes bestowed of the most honest of the race: And we see many families, that in times past were ob­scure, and in small account, are now inkindled and stir­red vp, to purchase praise and winne renowne, by their owne vertuous indeauors: we see others againe that haue discended from old and ancient families, that by their owne vitious and vilde demeanoures, haue crackt their own credites, and haue extinguished the glory of their predecessors.

By a Gentleman born, it is ment, he must be discen­ded from three degrees of Gentry, both by father and mother (for this is the opinion of the Heraldes) other­wise they are called Gentlemen of the first head, night­growne, [Page] mushrumpes, start-vppes and such other.

Nobilitie it selfe (as some would describe it) is a com­mendation proceeding from the deserts of our ancient Progenitors: but to speake truely, both according to Diuinity and Philosophie, there is no true Nobility, but that which proceedes from vertue.

Faith is a rich treasure, yet without works it is dead; so Nobility is honorable, but without vertu it is base. Iacob and Esau were brethren descended from one wombe, yet the one was noble by vertue, the other ignoble by vice: so Titus and Domitian were both sonnes to the Romaine Emperour vespatian, but Titus was called by the Senate, The delight of the world, and Domitian through his execrable tyranies was named, The monster of humaine kinde. Nobility without ver­tue, is like a Knighthood without desert: and as there hath beene many noble Families, excelling in vertue, & quality of wit, so there hath beene Cities of hono­rable account, namely, that of Athens, worthily famed & renowned, where there were bred many wise sages an d valiant Captaines, which through their counsell and wisedome did rule and preserue the weale pub­like, by whose puisance the enemy was repelled, by whose vnconquerable courage & vertue, their domi­nions were inlarged.

I might likewise speake of mighty Rome, that was sometimes mistris of the world, it was then accounted a great glory to be reputed a Romaine: but as (by the opinion of her owne writers) shee had her originall from a base and a bastardly generation, I meane, from the fugitiue Troians that escaped the burning towne, and slaughtered heapes of their betraied Countrimen: [Page 10] but her glory hath beene sithens obscured, and (as it were) ouershadowed with darknes: but I wonder that our English Nation, for the glory of antiquity shoulde bee so fond to recount their Genealogy fro m such a desteyned progeny: a fugitiue people, a crauen gene­ration, hunted and ferrited, from place to place, from country to country, from region to region: their City of Troy it selfe three times sackt, yet to proue our discents from thence, we do mingle our matters with so many fained inuentions, as it might seeme strange vnto wisemen, but more absurd to enterlace the vain fantasies of Poets with matters of truth; and that it might the better appeare, I will set downe the story in as briefe and short manner as I can.

Leomedon the sonne of Dardanus, the feyned sonne of Ioue, a false periured Prince, for whose offence (as their owne hystories makes mention): Troy was first ouerflowne by the raging of the sea, after that visited againe with a most deadly plague; which could not be appeased but by the monthly gift of a Virgin, to a sea­monster, as they fell out by lot, till in continuance of time, it lighted on Hesione the daughter of Leomedon, who was rescued & freed by Hercules vpon conditions formerly vowed, protested and plighted by oath to be performed by Leomedon to Hercules: but Hesione being deliuered, the sea-monster slaine, and the City freede from all incombrances by Hercules: Leomedon now a­gaine falsifying his promise, Hercules to reu enge the disloyalty of that twice periured prince, first sacked the City of Troy, where Leomedon sauing himselfe by flight, Hercules carried away with him prisoners, Pria­mus and Hesione, the children of Leomedon, who after [Page] Hercules being departed, returned againe, and hauing reedifyed and new builded the city, was a second time assaulted by Hercules, who hauing slaine Leomedon, and now againe taken the City; Hercules that was mag­nificent in all his enterprises, enlarged Priamus, and established him in Troy to succeede his father; who yet againe erected and builded that infortunate City which flourished in pompe and pride till his sonne Paris, (who nothing digressing from his vnfaithfull progenitors) in a treacherous manner stole away He­lena the wife of Menelaus, king of Lacedemon, who had both honorably feasted, banqueted and entertained both him and his company: in reuenge of which fact, the angry Greekes ariuing before Troy with a mighty Army, after ten years siege, and a great slaughter of Princes, with other valiant men, by the treason of Ae­neas, together with the consent of his father Anchises, & Antenor his confederate; the City of Troy was taken, miserably burnt and defaced, the country ruined and wasted, the aged king Priamus miserably slaine, and the whole Troian estate vtterly ouerthrowne: thus wri­teth Dictis Cretensis, that serued with the Greekes a­gainst the Troians during that ten yeares warres, who maketh a large description of the disloyalty of the Tro­ians, & (in mine opinion) not without iust cause; for although Virgil in his Aenidos doth write more fauou­rably in their behalfe, it is to be considered that the Ro­maines deriuing themselues from the Troians, Virgil himselfe being a Romaine, doth therefore labour so much as in him lies to colour out the vnfaithfullnes of the Troyans, and would likewise deriue the Troian Princes from the line of the Pagan Gods, which they [Page 11] themselues had deified; but if Dardanus were the sonne of Ioue (as their writers doe report) his Sonne Leo­medon that proued periured, faithles and vntrusty, did farre digresse from any sacred disposition: so did Paris, that was Priams sonne, who shewed himselfe rather to proceede from the issue of a diuell, then from the line of a God, as it appeared in his behauiour, both to Oe­none; who before had saued his life, and againe with Menelaus, that in such a princely sort had entertained him.

And what shall I say of our great Grandsire Aeneas, from whome the Romaines would so faine deriue themselues? and from whome (as some of our Eng­lish writers would perswade) our British nation did dis­cend? let vs see what Virgil himselfe doth testifie of him, whose penne is stained in the finest manner, to blazon forth the glory of Aeneas, yet doth hee not describe him to bee the sonne of a common strumpet begotten by old Anchises of Venus, whom the Romaines haue die­fied together with their great Goddes Flora, another bird of the same wing: but Aeneas, after he had betrai­ed his countey, he himself with the rest of his treache­ious companions, were forced to wander at the sea, robbing and spoyling, attending what Destiny would bestow of him, landed in the end vpon the coast of Africa, at new built Carthage, where he likewise falsi­fied his faith, and betrayed Dido, and so leauing Car­thage, in the end arriued in Italy, where, by menacing threates mingled with faire promises, together with corruptions & gifts, he made such discord & dissention in the coūtry, by means wherof such horible slaughters of the people wer cōmitted, that dispossessing the quiet [Page] princes thereof, hee established himselfe in the king­dome, raigning there vntill he died, after him, his fu­gitiue sonne Ascanius raigned, and his brother Siluiu Posthumus succeeded him, that was afterwardes slain by his vnblessed Babe Brute, who for that fact was banished Italy, and (as some writers would haue it) after hee had troubled many quiet countries, ariued in England, the called Albion, from whence they would deriue our English Petigrie: and this discent is not lightly ac­counted of by those that are of little vnderstanding, as though it were such a dignity to be reputed the poste­rity of a harlots brood: I like not the conceit, and I hold it to bee as fabulous, as that of Dioclesian the Siri­an Prince, who (as some of our English Croniclers do affirme, committed thirty of his daughters to the sea in a small vessell without Pylote or guide, who chan­cing to land in this Isle, called it Albion (after one of their owne names) and after this arriuall of these thirty sisters, they were carnally knowne by Deuils, and brought forth a propagation of Giants, which were afterwardes slaine by Brutus.

A ridiculous tale, and for matter and circumstance, fitter to furnish the Legenda Aurea, then to be inserted for matter of truth in a Chronicle history, and it may well become the Romaines to bragge of their prede­cessor Aeneas; but for vs that be English (me thinks) there should be small pride to depend of that antique generosity, that is so basely descended: and againe, comparing of histories, there is no possibility, how the tales can hang together: for the fictions of Poets, they are no groundes for Historians to build vppon, and therefore to returne againe to our first purpose, I [Page 12] say, there are degrees of gentrie, aswel as of dignities & honors, and that one is so much more a Gentleman by birth then another, by how much his Gentry is more ancient, more renowned, more manifest, and more mighty, which may bee said, not onely in respect of birth, but likewise in respect of vertue.

Gentlemen bee of three kindes, the first in respect of bloud, for so the vulgar sort vnderstands it; the se­cond, in respect of vertue, for so the philosopher doth teach it: the third, in respect of both, and that (say I) is true Gentrie indeed.

Gentrie by bloud belongeth but to the body; but gentrie by good conditions, hath relation to the mind: but when a man is gentill both by birth & vertue, I see not what may bee added vnto him: yet some would haue a third supply of riches & wealth, but riches can adde no degree to a Gentleman, and hee that woulde draw gentrie from wealth, is iniurious to the graces that are giuen vs from the heauens.

But wealth is a ready instrument to put in practise certaine vertues belonging to gentrie, namely, bounty, and liberality: otherwise riches are rather a disgrace then a grace to a Gentleman, that doth not bestow them bountifully, as is befitting his estate.

Yet those that be of the scraping humour, wil som­times pilfer a Text out of the holy Scripture, which, wresting into a wrong sense, they will alledge for themselues, that their greedy heaping and gathering together, is but a christianlike care, that euery man should haue to prouide for his family.

These scraping excuses are fitter for Churles then [Page] for Gentlemen, (and yet me thinkes) Simonydes shifted himselfe pretily, who being demanded, why he began to grow so miserable in his latter yeares, to fall a hor­ding vp of riches, when he was ready for the graue; to acquit himselfe from a couetous disposition, aunswe­red, because (said he) I had rather haue goodes to leaue to mine enemies when I am dead, then to stand in need of my friendes, whilst I am aliue.

I cannot forget to giue Dionisius his due commen­dation, who being aduertised of one that abounded in wealth, and yet liued a sparing and a miserable life, he commanded the party vpon paine of death, to bring in his riches, and to resigneall that euer hee had to bee disposed at his pleasure: the party that durst not di­rectly contradict what the King had commaunded; made semblance to deliuer all that euer hee had, but secretly reseruing a small portion to himselfe, where­with departing into a remote place, hee after liued with that little pittance, (which he had concealed in a more bountifull manner, then euer he had done before when hee was possessed of his greatest aboundance; which being certified to Dionisius, hee sent yet once a­gaine for him, and giuing him all which before he had taken from him, he said; now thou knowest how to vse riches, take what is thine owne, for now thou well de­seruest them.

I might conclude, that if the enioying of wealth & riches, be matter sufficient, to make a man to be gen­tilized, it were then a vilde thing to bee a Gentleman, because they are seldome attained vnto, but by oppres­sion, extortion, deceit, fraud, & such other corruption▪ [Page 13] there are comprised vnder the title of Gentry, all Ec­clesiastical persons professing religion, all Martial men that haue borne office, and haue had commaund in the field; all Students of Artes and Sciences, and by our English custome, all Innes of Court men, profes­sors of the Law: It'skilles not what their Fathers were, whether Farmers, Shoomakers, Taylers or Tinkers, if their names be inrolled in any Inne of Court, they are all Gentlemen.

The profession of Armes being honourable, euery ordinary Souldier that hath serued seauen years with­out reproch, ought to be accounted a Gentleman, and by the lawes of Armes may challenge the combat of a­ny Gentleman, in defence of his reputation.

A Gentleman hauing aspired to any title or dignity in the field, and in respect of age, or of any other infir­mity is retired to his owne house, or to any other re­sting place, ought neuerthelesse to enioy that title and reputation, which he had formerly gained.

Amongst Students, there be many, that to attain wisedome and knowledge, haue betaken themselues to continuall study, and haue thereby attained to sin­gular vertues, and for profound knowledge in many matters, be had in admiration: but that kind of vertue that extendeth it selfe to the common profit of al men, that is altogether occupied about the maintenance of the common wealth, hath his first preferment, but those that doe but imploy the benefite of their studies to some particular purpose, or to their own priuate gain, must giue place to the former. The true martialing of soueraigne honour, to place euery one in his right de­gree, and to giue him his due; the Diuine is first to haue [Page] preferment, for the Minister of the word of God ought to haue the chiefest and most honourable place, espe­cially when they be such as they ought to be, as Saint Paul writing to Timothie: They deserue to haue double honour (faith he) where they reade or preach the Gospell, & where their works and manner of liuing are conformable & agreeing to their doctrine. And as Saint Hierome saith; Great is the dignity of Prelates, but greater is their fall if they be wicked.

But this honour thus rendered vnto them, they can not challenge as their proper right or due apertaining to themselues, for that Prelate that is ambitious of worldly honour and estimation, doth rather smell of the Spirite of Antichrist, then shew himselfe to bee a follower to our Lord and Sauiour Iesus Christ, whose prescriptions are humility: for hee that exalteth him selfe, or desireth to bee great amongst you, let him be brought low (sayeth our Sauiour) let him bee your seruant.

It is manifest, that in Mathew and Marke, he repro­ueth the ambition of the Sonnes of Zebedie, who ambi­tiously desired the one to sit on his right hand, the o­ther on his left; and as Christ elsewhere condemneth the ambitious affections of such as ambitiously desire to exalt themselues, and to seeke superiority: so doth he in like sort condemne all other, what or who soe­uer, that are so puft vp with pride and arrogancy, that they disdaine to giue place and reuerence to those that haue iurisdiction and magistracy in the Church of God: and there is no lesse pride and contempt in those that will refuse to giue honour and reuerence to him that is in authority to beare office and rule in the [Page 14] ministery, then there is in him on the other side, that doth ambitiously desire to rule, but not to profite the Church; the which, so farre as my little skill will af­forde me, may most aptly bee applyed to the Pope & his shauelings.

But he that hath any spirituall charge, or hath the cure of soules in the Church of God, I say with Saint Paul, He is worthy of double honour, and he that diligently preacheth the Gospel and conformeth his life accor­ding to his doctrine (I say still) wee cannot reuerence him enough, nor render him too much honor.

Our Sauiour himselfe would in no wise take vpon him to iudge betweene the brethren that came vnto him about the diuision of their land; neither is there a­ny example in all the New Testament, where any of the Apostles (after their calling) intermedled wich matters appertaining to temporall Magistracy, but applyed their whole endeauors to the preaching of the Gospell; the auncient Romaines had that obser­uation, for they would in no wise admit that their Flamius, nor any other of their sacrificing Priests, shold beare any rule or gouernement in the common wealth, but that they should onely exercise them­selues in the seruice of their Gods: but this prohibi­tion was not done in any disgrace, whereby to abate or diminish the least iot of their honor or estimation, for king Dridanias censuring of professions, which might bee most worthie, gaue the highest degree of honour to the Priests, that did dayly offer sacrifice in the temples of their Gods.

If the Heathen did thus much exalt and dignifie the reputation of these prophane Priests that were but [Page] dedicated to the seruice of Idols, and Pagan Gods, what estimation, what reuerence, what honour may wee render to those that are the Ambassadors of the Almighty God? that are sent vnto vs with the glad and ioyfull tidings of our saluation? that are our Fa­thers to begetvs to Iesus Christ, by the preaching of his Gospell? that are his Stewardes to dispence his holy mysteries amongst vs: to whome wee are not onely to attribute honour, but for whome wee are also bound to pray: if they doe not make themselues vnworthy of it by their owne contempt, by their co­uetousnes, by their pride, and by their ambition, as there bee some that haue set themselues opposite to the ordinance of the Church, that haue set the holy scrip­tures at a iarre, that will many times make the glose to ouerthrow the Text, that will cry out for Discipline, yet will obey no Discipline, that will take vpon them to teach al men, yet they themselues wil not be taught, that are angry against Bishoppes, and would not haue them to be Lordes, yet are become so Lady like them­selues, that they would haue euery one a new fashion particular to himselfe: these are to proud in their own conceites, these be they that disdaining to yeelde to authority▪ do shew greater pride in their contempt, thē the other can shew in their most ambitious desires.

Saint Paul writing to Timothie: Hee that desireth the office of a Bishoppe, that man desireth a good worke: I hope the office of a Bishoppe is not altogether without au­thority, and that authority in the Church of God, is not altogether vnworthy of honour: and where Christ prohibited his Disciples, that they should not be caled Rabbi, that they should not be called Doctors, [Page 15] &c. by the opinion of the most learned writers, those words of Christ doe not condemne superiority, lord­ship, or any other like authority, but the ambitious de­sire onely; neither doth he say elsewhere, that no man should be great, or beare rule amongst them: but his words are; He that desireth to be great amongst you, let him be humbled, And Timothie notwithstanding those words spoken by Christ, calleth himselfe the Doctor of the Gentiles; and Paul in like manner writing to the Co­rinthians, calleth himselfe their Father.

Now as the holy Scriptures exhorteth the profes­sors of the Gospell to be humble & meeke, so we ought to render them the first title of honour, and to giue thē precedence in the formost ranke, especially to those that do not ambitiously desire it. Loe, heare now the difference betweene the Disciples of Christ, and the followers of Antichrist, the one refuseth the prefermēts of the world, that are offered vnto them by the Deuill, and contenteth themselues with their vocation in the ministery: the other with the Pope, accepteth of al that is offered, & besides their ecclesiasticall promotions, they hunt after temporall iurisdictions, & other proud titles of the world, to vphold and maintain their pride and ambition, for the better manifestation whereof, I thinke it will not bee out of season to remember a iest, that was merily broken by a plaine Country fellow, vpon one of the Popes Chaplaines, the Bishoppe of Cullen, who passing on a iourney sumptuously moun­ted, and gorgeously furnished, both himself and al the rest that were in his company, was encountered by a rude country fellow, who comming to the Bishop, after hee had bluntly saluted him, he saide, my Lord, [Page] I haue heard speaking of Peter and Paul, and of some others that were reputed to be good and godly men, I may well commend their goodnes, but I will neuer prayse their wit, for they were glad to amble about the country on foot, for falling followed (perhaps) with some poore thred bare fellowes like themselues, but I see God hath prouided for your Lordship better then for them, or your wisedome is the more to prouide so well for your selfe.

The Bishop that heard himselfe to bee thus pretily nipt, returned this answere; but sirra (said he) you mi­stake your text, you thinke I take more state vppon me, then is befitting an Apostle; but let Peter & Paul goe or ride how they list, I am not only the Bishoppe of Cullen, but I am ouer and besides a Prince Elector: and for this state that you thinke I take vpon mee, as you thinke it to be too much for a Bishoppe, so I know it to be too little for a prince, and thus you are answe­red: you haue answered well (said the other), but good my Lord but one question more, if this prince E­lector, that you speake of, do happen to goe to the De­uill for his pride, what will become of my Lord Bishop of Cullen?

We might make the like demaund to the Pope, who notwithstanding his humble p [...]etence to bee Seruus Seruorum Dei, yet hee assumeth to himselfe the dispose of the whole world, & not contented with that neither but he further taketh vppon him to haue commaund both in Heauen and Hell, to let in, and shut out, as it pleaseth him: but because his intollerable pride is well inough knowne, I may be the more sparing: it was the bounty and liberality of princes, that first begat [Page 16] this ambition in Popes: so, ambition was it again, that first destroyed Religion: but for the tru professors of the Gospell (I protest) I thinke it a sinne, to carry a­ny ill conceit against thē, whose praiers vnto God doth so appease his displeasure towardes vs, that hee many times forbeareth to punish vs, when wee haue worthi­ly deserued it: and as the prayers of Moses did rather procure the victory against Amalecke, then all the swordes that did accompany Iosua to the fight: so I beleeue that the petition of one godly man, deliuered with a confident zeale, is of more effect then the prayers of a multitude, that are but breathed in words, and are rather vttered from the mouth, then procee­ding from the heart.

Hauing thus placed the Diuine in the formost rank; the Souldier is next to be preferred: for honor can­not be wanting in those men of valour, that haue resto­red to their country their bloud, which their conntrie first gaue vnto them: if wee stand vpon birth onely, then the most auncient, whether in Nobility or Gen­tility: if we stand vpon desert, then the martiall man, hee that doth deliuer his country from the seruitude of strangers, the oppression of Tyrantes, that doth countermaund the miseries of ciuill dissentions, that doth restraine the pride▪ and ambition of aspiring trai­tors, that doth inlarge their territories, defend their li­berties, vphold and maintaine Iustice, and make hono­rable defence against all inuaders.

The Souldier is the man that holdeth the whole world in awe, and is not onely a sure defence against forraine inuasions, but likewise against domesticall rebellions: wee need not in this case to seeke after [Page] farre fet precedents, when wee haue home examples inough of our own, who hath not heard of Iack Straw, Iacke Cade and of Ket, with many others now of later times in Ireland, that if the Souldiers sworde had not beene of greater vertue, then a writ out of the Kinges Bench, to haue brought them before my Lord Chiefe Iustice, they would neither haue made appearance nor haue paid fees.

I say then, that the execution of Iustice lieth in Arms▪ but (me thinkes) I see a Lawyer laugh at this, for those that bee of the sorrier sort of Lawyers, will in no wise that the Souldier should bee a maintainer of Iustice, for that they onely would arrogate to themselues: but for the better credite of the matter, I will salute my Maisters of the Law with a few wordes deliuered by S. Ambrose, and thus they follow.

Valiant men that do defend their Country, and protect the Weale from spoile and ruine, doe the office of true iustice; Souldiers do protect the common wealth, and they defend it from all sorts of spoile, eyther forraine or in­testine, but onely, they cannot saue it from the spoyle of the Lawyers.

Hauing thus placed the Deuine and now the Soul­dier, in the third ranke are to march, those that doe compose and compound lawes and ordinances, for the maintenance of right and ciuill society▪ amongst these the venerable and reuerend Iudges, and all other that are established in office and authority vnder Princes, but especially, if they execute their places with ho­nour and honesty.

The Lawyers will neuer thinke mee to be a good Sariant Maior, to martiall them thus in the Rereward, [Page 17] that would ranke themselues with the formost; especi­all, in the time of peace, for they take themselues to bee the onely Agents of a happy gouernment.

It is our wickednes that maketh the Lawyer neces­sary; so necessity is it, that maketh him honourable, & therefore he is not to march in equall ranke, neither with the Souldier, nor with the Philosopher.

The principall office of the Law is, in the time of peace to commaund thinges honest and vertuous, and to forbid what is dishonest and vicious; but what can the Lawyer doe with his prescriptions, before there be a setled obedience, which is first to bee established by the Souldier?

It is truth, the Lawyer and the Souldier could neuer thriue both in one shire, and therefore no maruell though they crie out with Tully, Caedant arma togae, for, these doe not onely loue to sleepe in a whole skin, and are afraid of knockes, but vnder the pretence of honou­ring peace, they would both excuse their cowardize, and would arrogate to themselues a supreame autho­rity, to be the principall pillars to conserue and vphold peace; and because Tully would haue it, that weapons should giue place to the gown, they would from hence conclude, that the Souldier must giue place to the Lawyer; but as good lucke would haue it, Tully himselfe in the same booke of Officis, hath bequeathed a double honour vnto those men, who armed do make warre, and robbed do gouerne the common wealth: and the Poets haue fained Minerua to be armed, sig­nifying, that Captains and Souldiers, should be as wise in counsailing, as couragious in conquering as politike in keeping, as valiant in getting.

[Page] But to put all questions out of doubt, and that the Lawyer should not thinke himselfe disgrast, by giuing place to the Souldier, I wil proue by sufficient instance that the profession of Armes is more honourable then the profession of Law, and so by consequence the Sol­dier is of greater worth and excellency then the Lawyer.

The affaires of warre is a knowledge behoueful for the greatest Monarch, when a king is not so much re­nowned for his crowne, as for his skill in knowledge of Armes. The nine Worthies of the worlde, were Martiall men, reputed honourable for their prowes, not for their knowledge eyther in Law or Philosophy though the knowledge of them both be of great ex­cellency.

Although all the gifts of Fortune are to be despi­sed in respect of learning; yet there is nothing so glo­rious, as to bee called a great Captaine, or a worthie Souldier: and it was very neatly answered by him, who being demanded by his friend, whether hee had rather to be Achilles or Homer; asked the other again, whether he had rather to be a Captaine or a Trumpe­ter: letters are but the ornaments of Armes, and lear­ning is more necessary for a man of Warre, then for a­ny other profession.

The aduentures vndertaken by warre, the true pro­uocation is glory; but he that sauoureth not the fruits of letters, hath as little feeling in the greatnes of glory. A man that is ignorant in Artes, can neuer excell in Armes, and as Plato sayeth; Happy is that common wealth, where eyther the Prince is a Philosopher, or where a Philosopher is a prince: so it may be cal­led [Page 18] a fortunate warre, where the chiefe Commander is a great scholler, or a great scholler is the chiefe Commaunder.

What made the Romaines to become so famous, but that their Captaines and Commaunders were as great schollers as they were warriours? it is not exercise in warre, that maketh euery man fit to be a Captaine, though he follow the profession neuer so long, especi­ally, if he be vnlearned; yet there is none so vnapt for the warre, but if he be lettered, it so much the more helpeth his experience.

A man that is aged (let his yeares be neuer so many) yet he seeth but the thinges that are done in his owne time, but the learned man seeth not onely his owne age and experience, but whatsoeuer hath beene done many hundred yeares past, yea since the first Writer tooke penne in hand: and therefore aswell amongst Souldiers, as amongst all other professions, the vnlear­ned must giue place to the learned, for no memorie can compare with writing. And as amongst the vnlearned, he that hath liued fourescore yeares, must haue more experience, then hee that hath liued but forty: so hee that seeth by bookes the accidents of a thousand yeares, knoweth more then hee that by li­uing a hundred yeares is able to attaine vnto.

I might inferre examples of excellent Captaines of old time, which all enioyed the ornament of letters, with the prowes of Armes.

It is well knowne that Alexander had Homer in such reuerent estimation, that hee laid his Iliades alwayes vnder his beds head; and hee applyed diligently not those studies onely, but also the speculation of philoso­phy, [Page] vnder the discipline of Aristotle.

Alcibiades in like manner increased his vnderstan­ding, aswel by letters, as with the instructions of Socra­tes. What diligence Caesar vsed in study, his owne wri­tinges doe sufficiently make manifest.

Scipto Affricanus would not goe without the bookes of Xenophon.

I might further speake of Lucullus, Scilla, Pompeius, Brutus, and of many other both Romaines and Greti­ans, that were famous Souldiers and great Philoso­phers, & how conuersant a matter it hath been in times past for Arts & Arms to march together in one ranke.

This might suffice to proue that the dignity of the soldier is not bestowed vpon him gratis, or (as it were) without desert; but that it appertaineth vnto him by property and right, and but according to his owne merite; then who is more fit to manage the affaires of peace, as hee that hath an able iudgement to know what is fit both for peace and warre.

But it hath beene a former question, & disputation hath beene had many yeares sithens, what profession might be thought to be most worthy; and sundry men haue hereupon giuen their seuerall censures.

King Oridanias was wont to say to the Cicilians, that to the sacrificing Priestes of the Temple, most honour was due; whereby it may appeare, that the religious from the beginning were had in reuerent estimation: & it was not giuen them without some consideration, for as it is recorded, the Priestes of Diana were limited to their seuerall seasons, the first wherein they might learn wisedom, the second, wherein to exercise it them selues, and the third, to instruct others▪ Brias king of Ar­giues, [Page 19] gaue most honor to the Philosophers that read in schooles. Numa Pompilius amongst the Romains, was of opinion, that he was worthy of most reputation, to whom had happened the victory of any famous battel and that was fortunate in warre.

But Anaxarchus the Philosopher, ordained amongst the Phenitians, that in a common wealth, such shoulde be especially honoured, who in the time of peace en­tertained the state in tranquility; and in the fury of war, was found to bee a valiant protector of the limites and liberties of his country, concurring with that of Tul­ly, who likewise preferreth to the highest degree of ho­nour; those, who armed doe make warre, and robbed, do rule and gouerne the common wealth: but be­cause this little pause of peace, hath euen almostlulde vs in that security, that now the souldier hath hanged vp his armor a rusting by the wals, they would likewise hang himselfe a rusting with his Armes, I thinke it not amisse therefore to giue him a litle furbushing, though not to cast him into any counterfeit colour, or so to vernish or gild him, wherby to make him more bright by Art then he is of himselfe by Nature: a litle there­fore to rub out the canker, that time hath already be­gun for to eate, I will make him as well as I can, to gli­ster and shine in his own vertue.

Warre is a minister of Gods iustice for sinne, God is not the author of ill, but the chasticer of abuse; he or­dereth the will of Princes to punish or reuenge: the Souldiers as obedient Subiectes, are the Minister to performe: if power were not to maintaine Princes proceedinges, the Prince might sometimes bee dis­possest of his Estate; cruell handes woulde bee [Page] layed on the Ministery, yea, the Lawyers woulde bee pulde from the Barre, and the Iudge pluckt downe from the place of Iustice; so that in peace the name of a Souldier restreyneth the rebellions, and in warre, maketh subiect the proudest resister.

The Souldier referreth himselfe to the will of the prince, the prince is not disposed but by the direction of God, who since hee is the gouernour of euery actiō, I dare auow they are not vicious.

It may be obiected, that in the proud attemptes of Princes, the Souldier is still present, not respecting the cause so much as his owne profite.

This were a hard position to bee obiected against Lawyers, but the Souldier being a subiect, is tied to follow his Prince: but in iniurious enterprises, I know there are Souldiers, that are as contrary to the warre as he that is most ready to reprehend: who by proofe and not by gesse, do conclude of the euent of the battel when the cause proceedeth from a wrongfull ground.

But let vs speake of Souldiers in their minorities, when they first become to bee apprentises to Armes. In the choice of a Souldier, wee do not onely regard the ability of his body, but the quality of his minde: for if religion, circumspection, preuention, counsell, experience, zeale, fidelity, resolution, continency and care, be not in him that should enter the profession, the charge is ill lookt into; neither is such a one to bee admitted, that is not thus accomplisht: then if a Sol­dier of iudgement be had, when he is imployed, how liues he in the field? first, in the feare of God, not assured of his life from one houre to another, surely tied to al vertuous actions, abstinent in diet, diligent to [Page 20] please, carefull to correct, dutifull to obey, tired with trauell, handes, feet, legges, thoughts and all, toyled, occupied, and employed, so that neither leisure serues him to be idle, nor the seuerity of his Captaine admits him to runne astray: such Souldiers should be, and thus they ought to be employed, and if there were not some such, the name and title were hardly bestead.

For those imputations wherewith Souldiers are charged, to be rash, rebellious, cruell, mutinous, incon­tinent &c. they are but scandals malitiously imposed: for first, if they were rash, their successe would be more infortunate, then commonly it falleth out.

If rebellious, and not to bee gouerned, without doubt, Alexander had not conquered so many coun­tries, subdued so many kingdomes, and ouercome so many nations, and (as it were) but with a handfull of his Macedonians and Cretians.

If bloudy minded, why then spared Caesar those Se­nators, & citizens of Rome, when both by their own hand▪writing and often attempts, hee well knew to be the followers of Pompei, and his capitall enemies.

If murtherous, how often might the Venetian Ar­mies haue worthily spoiled the whole Iland of Create, which not onely had murthered many of their famili­es with the sword, but also rebelled against them fiue or sixe seuerall times.

Ifincontinent, what caused Scipio to redeliuer that noble young Virgin, who for her passing beauty, and great admiration of person, was presented vnto him as a rare gift; Scipio himselfe amased at the sight, would yet deliuer her to Luceias, to whome shee was espou­sed, and gaue him also for a dowrie, the gold that her [Page] parents had brought to redeeme her.

If couctous, how fell it out, that after L. Mumius had taken Corinth, and adorned all Italy with the ri­ches of that spoile, he kept so little to his own vse, that the Senate was faine for very need, to giue dowry to his daughter of the common treasure.

But because Rome hath beene especially famed, let vs see from whence shee attained to her greatnes, we shall find that the Souldier was he that defended the estate, the Souldier was hee that made Rome notable: yea, the Souldier was he that had the creation of the Emperour. When the souldier had this sway, peace was as plentifull at Rome as after it was, the reuenews of Rome greater then now they be, the abhomination of Rome lesse then now it is: In the time of the soul­diers gouernment, Rome was renowned for her iu­stice, and was reputed to bee the mistris of the world: now the rule is in the hand of a counterfeit priest, Rome is insamed for her idolatry, and is accounted the scorne of the world: In the dayes of Traian, other countries sought their lawes from Rome, now in the dayes of the Vicar of Christ, Rome is accounted lawles of all the world.

In the losse of a souldier, how mourned Iulius Caesar? whome not onely he dignified with great honors being aliue, but also buried with bitter teares being dead.

Pompei the great builded the city of Nicopolis to no other end but to harbour souldiers.

Alexander the Romaine, would seldome giue giftes vnles it were to souldiers, affirming it to be vnlawfull for him that was high steward of the common wealth to conuert those reuenewes which the Pro­uinces [Page 21] did contribute, eyther to his owne spottes and pleasures, eyther yet to spend and consume them a­mongst his friendes and fauourites.

Yea, the most notable Emperours, that euer yet were heard on, hath accounted of a Souldier as of his familiar, calling him his companion, and fellow in Armes. Now I haue heard of them, that haue been learned in the lawes, and some others likewise that haue beene famous Orators, that haue been entertained by Princes, but neuer reputed to be their fellowes, yet many times accounted to be their flatterers, to sooth thē vp in their pleasurs, and to follow and vphold them in their idle humors.

Perhaps, for the maintenance of a good Plea, a law­yer may get a little popular praise; but the souldier, for subduing an enemy to Rome, had the honor of a Triumph. I might here enlarge a great deale of other matter fitting to my purpose: but will you heare what testimony the holy Scriptures will affoorde vs in the commendation of Souldiers? in the 3. of Luke, amongst a number of all sorts of people that came to Iohn Bap­tist, aswell to heare him preach, as also to bee baptised, the soldiers were not behind, but stired vp with the like godly zeale, they came amonst the rest, desirous to bee instructed in the way of their saluation, and as the o­ther had done before them, they demaunded of Iohn what they might do to inherite heauen; the Prophet rendring no rough reply, mildly said vnto them, Doc no violence, but be content with your pay.

If I shold a litle paraphrase of this Text I might ea­sily make it appeare, that souldiers are not so puffed vp with desire of a little transitory glory, that they neg­lect [Page] the glory that shall endure world without end.

The Captaine againe, that sent vnto Iesus aboute helping of his sicke seruant, as our Sauiour was com­ming towards his house, hee was encountred by a se­cond messenger, acknowledging himselfe vnworthy to receiue him vnder his roofe, beseeching him but only to speake the word, and he knew his seruant should be safe, whereat our Lord himselfe wondred, and turning him to those that followed, he said, I haue not found so great faith, no, not in Israel.

There is yet mention made in the Acts of the Apo­stles, of Cornelius a Captaine, a deuout man, & one that feared God, with all his houshold, to whom an Angell appearing, willed him to send to Ioppa for Simon Peter, who should instruct him, and baptise him in the name of Iesus Christ; and the Captaine called vnto him a deuout Souldier (for those be the wordes of the Text) whome he sent with others, about this message.

This Testimony we haue in the new Testament of Souldiers that were godly enclined: but I doe not finde mention made of any Lawyer, but of those that came amongst the Scribes and Pharisies, that sought still to tempt and crucifie Christ, against whome our Sauiour himselfe, pronounced, VVoe be to you Lawyers, for you loade men with beaute burdens to be borne: but you your selues will not touch them with your little fingers.

I haue trauelled a large circuit, and by what is alrea­dy past, it might well inough appeare, that he is most beneficiall to his Country, whose body executeth what his wisedome plotteth, I might yet holde on a larger iourney, but I thinke it needles, and therefore I meane to weary my selfe no further.

[Page 22] But I cannot see what the Lawyer can challenge of his country, the lawyer (I meane) that makes his plea but for his priuate profite, whole onely contemplation hath but regard to his owne cofers.

In the beginning, when Iustinians Radices were not knowne, but the law of the Tables were taught, then the law was not in the ciuill magistrate to dispose, but the Priest had it to propound: that law was deliuered by succession, and confirmed by the presence of the Law-giuer: and whilst that law was continued, Israel was partaker of the promise; the Heathen fell before them, for the Lord of hostes was amongst them, but in continuance of time, as sinne and corruption began to encrease, the lawes likewise began to multiply: for it is offence that begetteth lawes, and from the wic­kednes of men, it is that good laws do proceed.

Dionisius of Siracusa (though otherwise a tyrant) yet hee made a Law, that those that excessiuely gaue them selues to banqueting, should bee punished with great asperity: Licurgus made a Law against drunkennes, Augustus Caesar against pompious buildings, the Luca­nes against prodigality, the Lacedemonians against ex­cesse in apparrell, the Egyptians against whoredome & adultery, the Thebians, against negligent parents, that brought vp their children in idlenes and insolencie, the Romaines against those maisters, that were too seuere and cruell to their seruants; and there was a Law established in Rome, called Iulia, the tenor wher­of was, that no man should be so hardy to shut vp his dores, whilst they were at dinner, that the officers of the City might haue the more easie accesse to see if their ordinary did not exeede their ability.

[Page] I might speake of the lawes of Draco, of those that were made by Numa Pompilius, and of infinite num­bers beside that were made by seuerall men at sondrie times, and for diuers purposes, so that law is but leue▪led by direction, administred by appointment, and stil referred to reformation.

This Canon may be anihilated by this learned Do­ctor, that distinction frustrated by that Expositor, and what not turned Topsieturuy, to serue the season for the Lawyers commodity.

There is no agreement amongst themselus, for what they confirm to day, to morrow they disauow; looke into their own Canons, consider of the first institution of their laws politique, positiue, and prouinciall, and there will be found so many corrections, so many fru­strations, so many anticipations, so many cauteles, and such seuerall expositions, as the studient had need e­uery day of a new memory, to consider of his newe coated clause. With this multiplicity of laws, there is likewise crept in such a superaboundance of Law­yers, that by wresting and corrupting of the lawes, doe maintaine themselues, their wiues and their family, in presumption and pride.

These bee they that with Protulus the sonne of Ner­ua, by their iniurious cauillations, wil destroy the cause of Otho their familiar friend, and will not let wickedly to betray him to Vitelius for a little gaine.

These be they that with Christopher of Castill, haue bound themselues apprentises to variety, and with E­neius Popilius, will know nothing without a golden Fee.

These be they that with Baldus Perusinas, are aswell [Page 23] hated for their inconstancy, as honoured for their lear­ning, and with Saturius (that was neuer heard to deli­uer a profitable sentence in Law) doth yet vphold their ambition by the scrapinges of the law.

These be they that with Hortensius pleade hard for Verres, for the fee of a siluer Spinx, and with Au­gilius Rats wil nonsute his Clients cause, if he denay him but to change a peece of base mony.

These be they, by whose corruptions, the lawes are made but Traps and Traines, where by both rich and poore are caught and spoiled, and how many Atheni­an Orators haue we, that wil counterfeit the Squinan­cy for a litle gaine, and yet are to open mouthed a­gainst the poore mans processe, that will make their plea, but according to the peny, that will come de­layes from Tearme to Tearme, from time to time, from yeare to yeare, that haue so many shifts, and are so ful of collusion, that I protest, I doe not know any thing wherein wee stand in greater need, then of pro­uident and godly lawes, whereby to curbe and re­strain the corruptions of the greatest number of our Lawyers, but especially from the detestable exactions of those that bee Clarkes and vnder officers, that are cryed out vpon by poore sutors, for their extorting & taking of vnreasonable fees.

But as I haue heard there hath beene some refor­mation of these things in England, and I hope there will be the like had in Ireland, where this extorting by Clarks, is in such vse and custome, that some of the discreet ludges themselues, haue found faulte at it, and I my selfe haue heard no worse man then the Kinges Atturney Generall of that realm that did both [...] [Page] nor Iudge to dete mine it, in such a case (by the lawes of all nations, the triall is still referred to the lawes of Armes, from a Company of wrangling Aduocates, that with their sophistications doe hunt after continual darknes, to the honourable prescriptions set down by Souldiers, that to discouer falshood, to bring hidden practises to open light, to make their trials by way of Combat, presupposing that God, who onely knoweth the secrets of all things, will giue victory to him that aduentureth his life for iustice and right.

This supposition is not vainely grounded, for histo­ries are full of examples: how many vngratious and vngodly practises haue beene discouered and laide o­pen, and of many other trials that haue beene made by those honourable incounters of Combat, & somtimes determined by Martiall court?

But the Souldiers confidence is not to be forgot­ten, who referring the equity of his cause to the righ­teous iudgement of God, doe neither seeke for loue, nor for fauour, nor for gaine, neither arethey drawne by any manner of corruption, to obscure matters, to darken them, or to shut them vp in a golden cloude: or after three or foure yeares continuance in sute, to make them more intricate then they were the very first day they were commenced.

No, the martiall law is of a more speedy dispatch, it seeketh no corners, it neither vpholdeth wrong, nor suppresseth right: I may therefore conclude with a good conscience, that if there be not some difference in the lawes themselues, yet in the administration there is a great inequality.

I would not wish you to belecuc for all this, that I [Page 25] would haue all sutes, all quarrels, and all manner of controuersies to be tried by martiall law: doe you aske me, how I would then haue them ended? I protest I will tell you what I would doe my selfe in such a case; I would walke Powles till I were weary, but I woulde meet with him that wold say, had don him wrong, or betweene whome and my selfe, there were like to arise any cause of contention or sute in law; and hauing once found him, he should be very hard hearted, but I would intice him to a Tauerne, where calling for a po­tle of wine, and placing it at the vpper end of the Ta­ble, I would make it an arbitrator between vs for that time, and I would likewise draw in some other of our friendes and acquaintance, that if the wine shoulde be too hote or too furious in his execution, they should moderate and qualifie his rigour with some indifferen­cy: you know my meaning, if it were a matter of a thousand pounds weight, I had rather abide a triall a­monst neighbours and friendes, (that might make a quicke dispatch) and a quiet end, then to follow a sute at Westminster Hall, that will scarse be finished in an age, especially, if the matter bee doubtfull or intricate. To conclude, I would not wish a wise man to goe to Law at all, if it were possible; marry, if there bee no re­medy, arme your selfe with patience, and store your purse with crownes; for be sure, you shall haue occasi­on to vse both the one and the other: for the Lawyer and the Vintner too, are very costly if they bee well followed, and they do both of them make their grea­test gainby selling of the Elements, for the one sels water, and the other sels wind; but caueat Emptor, for he that sels wine, though it be but by the pint, wil game [Page] more at the yeares end, then hee that buyes it by the pottle: but he that liues by venting of law, woe be to the buyer, for they retaile such rotten stuffe, they will make you pay for the very dregs & drosse of their law; they sell the very parings, the scraping, and the of [...]cou­rings of the law at vnreasonable rates: you shall pay for euery leafe, for euery line, for euery word, for euery sillable, for euery scrape, for euery dash with a penne, for euery drop of inke; you shall pay for their toying, for their trifling, for their delaying, sometimes for their lying; you must attend at their chambers, you must wait for them at their study dores, you must bee sure to haue their fees in readines, for he that wants mony amongst Lawyers, is like a flower in the Frost, nipt in one night, and withered the next day.

Cato seeing the inconuenience that grew in the com­mon wealth by the prouocation of Lawyers, that ani­mated and maintained dishonest sutes & quarrels a­mongst neighbors and friends; wished that the courts of Pleas might be set with trappes and ingines, to catch and insnarle the professors of that study of law: and Fardinando sending a vyz-Roy into the Indies then newly discouered, he forbad him to carry any Lawyers with him, to the end they might not sow the seedes of sutes.

I hope I shall not be mistaken (by those that are wise) nor my wordes construed to the worst meaning (by those that are honest) for I am not ignorant of manie worthie Gentlemen that are professors of the law, and I thinke both the study and administration of law, to be most befitting and behouefull for Gentlemen: for what are they but this base borne broode, that cree­ping [Page 26] into the Innes of Court, and hauing a little scra­ped together a few fragments & scrapings of the law, because they would not mend shoos, foot stockinges, driue the cart, and do as their fathers did before them; they neither care what lawes they peruert, nor what Clients they consume; these be they against whome I haue all this while whetted my penne; with others I haue not had to deale.

For the graue and reuerent Iudges, Fathers and Founders of the Law, my penne hath not touched, no, far be it from me to thinke an euill thought, much lesse to detect them. There be many other Gentle­men, both of name and bloud that I know are not to be detected; amongst the which, some I loue for their honesty, some I reuerence for their quality, and some I honour for their excellency many wayes expressed, but especially in their liues: amongst the rest that are now remainant in the realme of Ireland, one that hath made himselfe more famous then the rest, and therefore aboue the rest in that Region most worthy so to be famed. I need not blaze his name, for he that hath but learned to know himselfe, hath heard of him. I might say more but I need not, for he hath said more for himselfe then I am able to say.

For a full conclusion of this, I protest, that I doe not know any man in Englād, a professor of the law, either one or other that I do malice; there be a number that I do loue, and I loue them for their owne vertue and worthines: neyther can I speake any ill of any one particular person amongst them of mine owne expe­rience; neither haue I heard the abuses of these petty­fogging fellowes more bitterly reprehended, then I [Page] haue heard amongst Lawyers themselues that are of the most worthiest sorte, and best learned in the lawes.

And now to returne to the subiect that I haue taken in hand, I say it is the best gentrie that is attayned by Armes or by learning, but best of all by both, and hee doth hardly deserue the title of a Gentleman, that is not aduanced by one or both; they are farre deceiued to thinke, that a little wealth, or a bare office, may make a man worthy of estimation, that is not attained vnto by desert, or accomplished by vertue: to gaine a reputation, to bee accounted wise or vertuous, many wise and vertuous acts are required; but for a man to make himselfe to bee esteemed for a foole, one foolish act sufficeth: and therefore a man had neede to take heede how hee marries a wife, that is of the flanting humour.

Some do think to aspite to gentility by their welth, but that were a base foundation, for riches are most cō ­monly heaped together by corruptions, by extortions by exactions, by oppressions, and by many other like, seruile functions.

And a man would laugh to heare some of these Hogelings (if they bee in company) what they will at­tribute to themselues, you shall see a fellow that was but lately digde out of a dung hill, whose wit and honesty both, doth onely consist but in compassing of crownes; that will take more state vppon him, then hee that is able to manage a princes Army in the field.

Some others doe thinke, that the greatest grace of gentility doth consist in gawdy showes, in foolish fa­shions, [Page 27] and to be like Protenus the God of shapes. Some their greatest vertue is, to poure it in, and to put it out againe: some doe thinke to bee registred in the He­raldes bookes, for wearing hayre of the new cut, one will haue it short, another will haue it long, an other will haue his loue locke, or his lady locke, (or call it what you will) that shall hang dangling by his eare, an excellent place of Ambuscado, to sheltre Nits & Lice.

There be some▪ that in their actions do affect honour, who in their ambition will protest of great wonders, and what they would bring to passe, if they had beene borne mighty, which sort of men are commonly much talked of, but little cared for, when honour doth best show her selfe in him, that doth rather seeke merite; then hunt after fame; yet I haue knowne of some of these aspiring potentates, that were ashamed to con­fesse their own parentage, but would challenge their alliance from some Lord, or from some knight, like the Mule that being demāded of his birth, being ashamed to confesse that hee was the sonne of an Asse; answered that he was cosen Germaine to a Horse. In euery wel gouerned common wealth, men of learning, vertue & honesty are aduanced and preferred, for dignity in an vnworthy person, is like a precious stone, that is set in base mettell, or like a rusty rapier in a veluet scaberd: but opinion is a perilous fellow, and I thinke there is not a more cosening thing in the world, for it decey­ueth Kings, Princes, Dukes, Earles, Lords, and what is he that is not ouer reached by opinion?

It draweth most to great fortunes, and it is bred and fostered by the breath of the vulgar.

It preferreth men to dignities, to offices & places of [Page] authority aswell in the time of peace, as in the time of warre, for where opinion beareth sway, shee rules like a God, she makes fooles to bee reputed wise, cowards to be called couragious, and silly ignorant men to be admired for iudgement and skill.

Opinion is a burre that still cleaueth to the mighty, and it is more nice & foolish to please, then iudgemēt.

Opinion is the mother of hypocrisie, it is blind, it is lame, it is selfe conceited, and it hath preuailed so farre that we want but another Erasmus to deifie Opinion, as one hath already writ in the prayse of Folly.

Opinion is most smoothed by those that doe affect and hunt after it themselues, and that is commonly by men of the basest condition, by such as doe thirst after promotion, as tale bearers, newes carriers, and such o­ther; and some too thinke to creepe into the very guts of Opinion, with drinking a health; some to winne Opinion, are excellent in discourse at a table, they will talke of their owne actiuity, how many fraies they made in Fleetstreet, what Ladies and Gentlewomen came to visite them when they lay sicke of the tooth­ach, and they will sometimes vaunt of a fauour from their mistres, that were scorned by the maide: and bar them from this or other like talke, and they are as vtter­ly vnfurnisht as a chimnies end in a countrie house without a pudding, or a peece of bacon. I haue seene some of these fellowes that are of the ietting be­hauiour, that do thinke to reach at opinion by com­plements and quaint deuises, that will dispute of intri­cate matters, that professe to bee seene in all faculties, that will speake by distinct spaces, and will refute all men by innouation of Method, that can sometimes [Page 28] speake well, and alwayes liue ill.

He that swaggereth and sweareth, and speaketh not a word, but it is full of terrour, that threatneth the stabbe or some other deadly blowe, that is able to dismember a man with the verie breath of his displeasure, that can shake him all to tatters, but vpon the point of his tongue, that is as fearefull to beholde, as the Gentleman that durst not looke in a glasse when hee was angry, for affrighting himselfe with the terror of his owne countenance, that scorneth to cut vppe the Goose-pie, that scorneth to drinke to him that will not pledge him a full cuppe, that scorneth sometime to pay his debts; all this and more too, is, but to winne opinion, and so from thence to steppe to preferment.

I neuer found lesse performance in deedes, then in some of these prating fellowes, that are so ful of words; but for my part if I hit into their company, when I heare their tongues beginne to wagge, I listen to their talke, as I listen to a Bagge-pipe, that the lowder it squeyles, the more abiect I hold the musicke.

Now for this insinuating basenes that dooth woo preferment, as if she were a wench to bee wonne with presents, with prayses, and with flattery; a faire worde, a smiling looke, or a flattering show, were recompence good inough for those creatures of seruitude.

For mine owne part, I haue euer scornd to purchase reputation, or to seeke aduancement, by ducking, by crowching, by deiecting and prostrating my selfe at mens feet, to submit to a voluntary professed seruitude, to daunce attendance, sometimes three houres by the clocke, and then to bee blest with a Nod, commende it he that list, I cannot like it, neither do I loue to com­mit [Page] the idolatry of out age, to make mortal men saints, to worship, to adore, to creepe, to crouch, & to make offerings: if any of these interpreting fellowes will say, I stand too much in my owne conceite, & there­fore (perhaps) will not sticke to breake a iest or two behind my backe, to get the start of such deprauers (& a litle to preuent them) I befoole him a fore hand, that doth thinke me so simple, as not to bee able to distin­guish betweene seruile flattery and beseeming curtesie; but to submit my selfe to a base kinde of submission, to begge a litle preferment: let them winne that way those that list, I hold the gaine to be more abiect and base, then Vespasians gaine gotten by vtine:

But of all fortunes that might befall mee, it woulde anger me to the heart, to creepe into an office (yea, if it were into Knighthood it selfe▪) more for my wiues sake, then for mine own worth.

I will speake no more of my selfe: but what indirect aspiring is this, that to attaine to a little title of dignity, we shall make our selues to be laughing stocks, and to be holden contemptible in seeking a dignity, not being able to vphold the reputation of the place?

It is a counterfeit fashion to face the outside with a litle satten, or some other like stuffe of a glorious show, and to patch and peece the inside with tatters & rags of litle worth: me thinkes there bee some, that if they did but examine and looke into their owne dignities, they should bee very angry, because they should find them to looke with squint eyes, wrie mouthes, and flearing countenance, as though they derided & moc­ked at their masters.

This eye beguiling glory deceiueth none but fooles [Page 29] and it is like the Gloweworme, that shineth a little in the darke, but in the light of the day, wee discerne it to bee but a paltry worme.

I haue hitherto but spoke of Gentlemen, that do not know their owne places, nor many times how to mar­tiall themselues but with disorder, iniuring and wron­ging others, and some of them with such vnreasonable presumption as might turne to offence, and so to a quarrell; I hold it not vnnecessary now (according to my promise) to say something of Knightes, amongest whom (if there be not some mistaking by the Heralds) there is some inequality and difference between them.

The time hath been, when the Yeomandry of Eng­land did flourish, and were had in some account, but after the prouerbe began to grow in custome. That euery lacke would be a Gentleman, our Yeomandry beganne to faint, and euen then to decay, and now our Gentlemē are as farre out of date, and this second pro­uerbe approued to bee in full strength and vertue, that is, Eyther a Knight or a knitter of Caps: for wee are now so full of Knights, that Gentlemen are had in little request: the order of knighthood is auncient, & the dignity in ages past, hath beene accounted hono­rable, neither was it giuen but to such as were able to countenance the place and had ability (both of wealth and wit) to gratifie their country, to benefite the com­mon wealth, yea and to be aiders and assistants to prin­ces in all their affaires, eyther in the time of peace, or in the time of warre.

Such they haue beene, and some such there be stil, but amongst them there be as vnworthy, as the others are worthy, and here is the difference and inequality [Page] betweene them.

The one are knowne by their troupes of seruantes, that are attendant and waiting vpon them; the other are knowne by a poore Page or Lackey, or if they cā get a pild fellow or two in a thred bare Liuerie, it is a greater traine then some of their Fathers, or other of their predecessors before them were able to main­taine.

The one are knowne by their hospitality and good house-keeping, aswell in the City as in the Country, the other are knowne by their frequent to other mens tables, that are not able to giue a meales meate, nor scarsly to eate a good one (at their own costs and char­ges) from one Sonday to another.

The one are knowne by the authority and gouern­ment they beare in the common wealth, and are ad­uanced for their wisedom, and renowned by their own desert, the other are better knowne for their wiues va­nity, then for their owne vertue, and not so much ad­uanced for their own wit, as for their wiues wanton­nes. To be short, the one are beloued of all for their wisedome, and the other are scorned of al for their fol­ly. I cannot tell whether it be an inconuenience to a common wealth, to haue so many vnworthy persons puft vp into prid [...]; but this I answere, that a great num­ber of the vnable sort must vphold their pride, either by begging from the prince, or by shifting or scambling in the common wealth: for sir Giles himselfe must haue his satten suite, and my good Lady his wife, must needs haue her Coach, for to see a Lady to walke the streetes without a Coatch, is like my Lord Maior, when he comes from Westminster without a Pageant, or like [Page 30] a Shroue Tuesday without a pancake.

For as Knightes grow poore, so Ladies grow proude, and when a Lady is out of the new Fashion shee is like a shippe that is out of Trim, shee will ne­uer steare well.

The Romaines would neuer admit any man to car­ry the name eyther of knight or gentleman, that had not serued in the warres, neither would they dignifie any man with any of those titles, but such as had been famed for their seruice in the field, or otherwise com­mended for some excellent vertue: me thinks it were well if this were obserued in the institution of knights, and that as good respect might be had to their ability of welth, as to their ability of wit, and although I doe here yoke wealth with vertue, yet I do make wealth to be but the handmaid to vertue, for the exercise of li­berality is many times as necessary for a knight as chi­ualry: but now we shall sooner meet with sir Dinnaden or sir Dagonet at a dinner, then sir Lancelot du Lake, or sir Trustrum de Liones in the field.

Some doe hold, that amongst Knights, he is to haue the first place, that had his first creation, and this is it that I haue laboured all this while to impugne: for what a disparagement were this, that a man that were first by birth a Gentleman discended of worthy parents, trayned and fostered vp from his ve­ry infancy in knowledge and vnderstanding, that is of able reuenew to keepe hospitality, and to relieue the poorer sort that are inhabiting about him, whose wisedom and experience hath beene both tried and well approued, in his loue and seruice showne, aswell to his Prince as to his country, and such a one being [Page] worthily dignified to the order of knighthood, for his vertue and well deseruing, another that is but base by birth, compassed (perhaps) with some measur of welth but not with an inch of wit; some of them not greatlie pestered, neyther with wealth nor wit, his best com­plements, a litle pride and a great deale of ignorance) yet one of these little worthy creatures, creeping into a knighthood, whether by fauour, whether by fortune perhaps by fraud, but I am sure, neither by merite nor by desert, should yet shoulder the other from the wal, because he had his creation an howre or two before him.

I could here find in my heart to chide (and that ex­treamely) but especially in the behalfe of Ladies, I meane of those Ladies that may bee said to bee truely legitimate: for there bee of Ladies, as there bee of knightes, some in substance, and some in show: but for those that bee Ladies aswell in nature as by name, I reuerence those, nay I honor them, & although I know their vertuous inclination to be more ready to pardon, then willing to reuenge, yet what gentle spirite would not be grieued in their behalfes, to see a base borne Madam, whose mother would haue beene glad to haue beene a good Ladies Landres, and yet she will pranke and pearch, yea and sometimes contend with her for place and superiority, that hath had her betters to attend her in her chamber. I did once know one of these femall kind, that the best bringing vp she had whilst she dwelt with her owne mother (I thinke) was to study the Arte of Nauigation: shee had dayly fre­quent amongst Saylers and Seafaring men▪ and in continuance of time shee fell to practise the Iacobs [Page 31] staffe: and I durst bee sworne, she neuer so much as dreamte of a Ladiship, but fortune (they say) is blinde and she alwaies fauours fooles. The Prouerbe may be true, for we haue some knights in this age that are not accounted the wisest men, and amongst them shee was Ladyfied, and very shortly after that she was numbred in this societie to become a fellow Lady: she began to scorne this excrement of wormes, this satten, silke and veluet were to meane for my Ladies wearing, vnles it were decked, garded and garnished with the minerall of golde, siluer and other ornaments of more pure and precious nature.

Martial maketh mention of one of these base born brats called Poppeia, that after shee became a concubine to Nero, had her horses shod with pure gold: I woulde be ashamed of it, but I would match Poppeias pride with as base borne as her selfe, if I listed to picke out presidents, though not in shooing of horses with gold▪ yet in other superfluous vanities, no lesse nice and foo­lish then that: but let them passe, and thus I will con­clude, that as there is no ambition so violent, as that of the Beggers, so there is no pride to be compared to the pride of one of these abiect creatures, that is exalted & lifted vp from a base estate to a litle prosperity.

But now to speake of knights, I say that the dignitie was at the beginning giuen for seruice in the field, and was proper onely to martiall men, for there was the first institution, but since it hath growne by custome, that euery absolute Prince hath power to bestow that dignity aswell in the time of peace, as in the time of warre, but yet knights are of the more or lesse reputa­tion, according to the quality of the Prince, or partie [Page] that giueth the creation, for this is the opinion of the Heraldes, the Venetian estate, and the state of Genoa, doe take vpon them to make Knights, and so doth the Pope; but with these wee will not meddle.

In the time of the first institution, the creation was performed with many ceremonies, and as many cere­monies again were vsed in the degradatiō of a knight. There are three or foure sundry orders of knightes in England, but I will onely speake of those that haue neither garment badge, signe nor show whereby to be knowne from other ordinary Gentlemen, but by the addition of sir Iohn, sir Thomas, sir Richard, or sir Ro­bert, by which notes they are better known amongst our selues then they are to straungers, and these knightes are called by the Heraldes, knightes Bat­chelers.

These knights are made either by the king himselfe or by his commission and royall authority to his liue­tenant, especially in the time of warre, who hath his royal and absolute power for the instant.

This order is giuen vpon diuerse considerations, whereof the principall is for seruice in the field, and to these especially belongeth the greatest honour, and ought to take the first place, for I haue knowne, (and I haue somtimes seen) both Earles & Barons, that haue receiued the order of knighthood in the field, & haue thought themselues therby to be dignified: for as the beuty of euery common wealth consisteth in the ver­tue of their Nobility, so the wings of true Nobility, wherwith to make her to flie hie, are the deeds of chiu­alry, for being inlightened with martial skil, it maketh him to shine more cleare and bright.

[Page 32] In the time of Peace, the dignity of knighthood is bestowed of many worthy Gentlemen, who for their wisedome and ability euery way, are fit to sway & go­uerne in the common wealth, and these knightes are worthily honored, & are so to be reputed & regarded.

After these in the thirde ranke, let them march in Gods name, whom the prince himselfe doth aduance (perhaps) in hope of their future seruice, or for any o­ther respect or consideration (whatsoeuer) for it wel be­seemeth a king to make a knight (thogh it be but for his pleasur) because a prince may giue him maintenāce to hold his estate, as he gaue him Knighthood at his plea­sure, whither any substitute may doe the like, I will not dispute, for if hee makes a Knight for his pleasure that is vnable, eyther he makes a Begger, that must bee still crauing of the Prince, or such a burthen, that of necessity, must be a pester to the common wealth, for those knights that are but poore, bare and needy, are like cyphers that do make figures rich, but are them­selues worth nothing.

I am sorry now at last to speake of those that are a stayne to that honourable order of Knighthood, that knowing themselues to be of no desert, nor any waies able to merite, will buy the dignity and purchase their knighthood with money, a silly humour that loueth admiration, and procureth laughter.

I haue known of these betrayers of vertue, that whē hee had made his purchase of a knighthood, the best that he was able after to performe, was to take a place at the vpper end of the Table, and all the vertue that was in him beside, was this, hee loued to pay the Fidlers.

[Page] I might inlarge a great deale of other matter aboute this contending and striuing for places, this standing vpon precedence and superiority, who is better, and who is worse, but to him that is not partiall, it might very well appeare, that aswell amongst Noble men, as amongst Knights and Gentlemen, the martiall man is first to bee preferred, yea amongst Emperors, kinges and princes, hee is euer holden to bee most magnifi­cent, that is most martiall: and this is not mine, but the opinion of the Heraldes.

Now for a number of counterfeit Souldiers, that wil be called Captaines, some of them that neuer had charge, vnles (perhaps) at the fetching home of a May­pole, or sometimes preferred more for fauour then for any ability that was in them, vnles to leade men to the slaughter.

Some other againe that haue beene a littleat the sea, a pilfering, that for the seruice, or what belongeth to the sea, are more simple and ignorant then the poore shippe boy, and these bee they that are a slander and disgrace to the Art Militari, for there is no greater in­ciuility, no baser disorder, nor more shamefull misdea­meanor, then is vsed by these counterfeit Souldiers that do march vnder the title of Captaines.

But what profession is free from counterfeites, when Diuinity it selfe is sometimes made but a cloke for hi­pocrites: And here if I might but craue a litle li­cence, I might speake of a kinde and manner of affini­ty, that is between the Deuine and the Souldier, sym­pathizing and concurring so nearly together, that both their vertues and their vices might bee saide to bee a kinne, and to haue proceeding from one originall: [Page 32] they are both warriours, the one with the word, the other with the sword: the one fighting against the pride of sinne, and against all enemies ghostly & spiri­tuall: the other fighting against the ambition of Tirants and against all other oppressors, eyther forreine or do­mesticall. A good Captaine must haue training, pra­ctise and experience, before hee take vppon him to conduct in the seruice of his Prince: a godly Deuine must haue learning, wisedome and knowledge, before hee take vpon him the cure of soules in the church of God.

The vnskilfull Captaine but leadeth men to the slaughter: the ignorant Deuine leadeth soules to de­struction.

A good Captaine, fearing the attempts, and sodaine surprises of the enemy, is still vigilant and watchfull: A good Deuine fearing the creeping in of vice, & the hote Alarmes of sinne is euer ready to make resistance.

The Captaine that sometimes buyeth his company and attaineth to his charge more by fauour of friends then by his owne vertue, is more ready to poul & pill his Souldiers, then to performe any seruice; the De­uine that creepeth into a Benefice by sinister practise, more for the loue of the liuing, then for loue of the liuing God, will sooner fleece his flocke then feede it and will bee more ready to contend with his parishi­oners for those duties that are appertaining to himself, then to teach and instruct thē in those duties that they owe vnto God. Those Captaines that are too formal and in the prescribing of martiall Discipline, are more nice then necessary, are the disturbers of the loue and amity that should be amongst Souldiers, and doe ma­ny [Page] times hinder the expedition of seruice that might be performed: those Deuines that are more precise in the ceremonies of the Church then the worde it selfe doth warrant, are the seedes men of dissention, and by their too much curiosity, they set abroach those strifes and contentions, that are lets and hindrances to many godly proceedings that might benefite the church.

The careles Captain suffereth his Souldiers to spoile to rob, to steale, to bring in booties, aswell from friendes as foes, hee cares not from whome, so he may haue his share; the couetous Deuine suffereth his flock to wan­der in blindnes, to follow idolatrie, and to rob God of his glory, he cares not how, so it bringeth in beeues to his kitchen, horse to his stable, and money to his cofers.

I might be infinite in this comparison, but let it rest: and to conclude (I say) they are most detestable vices, that are most desirous to looke like vertues.

An Heretique of good life (saith Origen) is much more hurtfull, and hath more authority in his wordes, then he that doth discredit his doctrine with the lewd­nes of his life, wee must therefore take heed of Papists that are of godly conuersation to the show.

The holy Hipocrite is more to bee feared, then the Publican or Harlot, yet beware of a woman, that hath once marked her selfe with infamy, let her afterwardes pretend neuer so much honesty. I dare not vndertake to write an Apology in defence of his wit, that in de­spight of gray hayres and wisedome too, will intangle himselfe with one of those marked creatures; but she may bring him children, and teach him to sing with the summer bird, I might haue liued merily, if I had loued neuer.

[Page 31] But to conclude the Text that I haue taken in hand; we contend about precedence and superiority, wee striue who shall goe before, and who shall follow af­ter, and wee do all make semblance to hunt after ho­nour, but in truth we hunt contrary, and missing the right tract where honour is to bee found, wee content our selues with a little vaine glory; but it fitteth the time, and letit doe so still, for there is no amendment, the world (I see) is growne to be like Frier Bacons brasen head: The time is past, and there is no hope of reco­uery.

Christ sweateth bloud, whilst wee snort and sleepe; Christ wrastleth and ftriueth with the world, whilst we stand by, and giue him the looking on; Christ hath humbled himselfe to the Crosse, wee dispute of digni­ties, who shall sit on the right hand, who on the left, who shall goe before, and who shall follow after: wee are lifted vp in our owne conceites, wee swell with pride and presumption, the one of vs against the other, we misspend this treasure of time, which God in his mercy hath giuen vnto vs, this blessed season of peace, which by a gracious gouernement wee now enjoy, which should bee conuerted to better vse and pur­pose.

In the time of peace, Philosophie hath his peculiar exercise: and when wee are exempt from the trouble of warre, it is then time to settle religion, to establish lawes, and execute iustice, to endeuour the knowledge of Artes, and Sciences, and in the time of peace, it is thē high time to prouide for warre.