CAMBRIDGE ENGLISH CLASSICS
English Works
of
Roger Ascham
ROGER ASCHAM
Born 1515
Died 1568
ROGER ASCHAM
f ENGLISH WORKS
TOXOPHILUS
REPORT OF THE AFFAIRES AND STATE OF GERMANY
THE SCHOLEMASTER
EDITED BY
WILLIAM ALOIS WRIGHT, M.A.,
VICE-MASTER OF TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE
CAMBRIDGE :
at the University Press
1904
SonDon: C. J. CLAY AND SONS,
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS WAREHOUSE,
AVE MARIA LANE.
®laasota: 50, WELLINGTON STREET.
: F. A. BROCKHAUS.
1 ork : THE MACMILLAN COMPANY,
anto Calcutta: MACMILLAN AND CO.. LTD.
JAN 1 6 1956
[All Rights reserved}
PREFACE.
OF the three English Works by Ascham printed in this
volume, the Toxophilus is probably the only one which
appeared in his lifetime. It was first published in 1545 by
Edward Whitchurch. A second edition printed by Thomas
Marshe appeared in 1571, and a third in 1589 printed by Abell
leffes. As copies of the first edition vary slightly, it is as well
to state that I have followed one in the Library of Jesus
College, Cambridge, for which I have been indebted to the
kindness of Mr Arthur Gray, with occasional reference to the
Capell copy in Trinity Library. There are some readings in
one of the copies in the British Museum (C. 31. c. 27) which
I have found nowhere else. Mr Arber in his reprint appears
to have followed this.
The Report and Discourse of the affairs and'state of Germany
was written in 1553, about the time of the death of Edward
the Sixth (see p. 138), but it was apparently not printed till
after Ascham's death by John Daye, without date but probably
about 1570. In Bohn's edition of Lowndes's Bibliographer's
Manual it is said that l there are two other editions, one 1570,
the other without date,' but I can find no other record of
them. In the Dictionary of National Biography it is said
to have been republished in 1572, but I do not know on what
authority.
The Scholemaster first appeared in 1570, two years after
Ascham's death, and was printed by John Daye. A second
edition, also printed by Daye, was issued in 1571, and a third
in 1589, printed by Abell leffes. Other editions in 1572,
1573, 1579, and I5^3-> 'according to the bibliographers,' are
mentioned in the Dictionary of National Biography. I have
not been able to discover any trace of them, except that in the
edition of 1571, although 1571 is on the title-page, we find
1573 in the colophon.
In giving the list of Errata in the early copies, I have not
thought it necessary to record any but those which are mis-
leading, nor have I mentioned the many printer's errors in
Greek which have been silently corrected. On pages 72 and
vi Preface
1 68 I have substituted 'leste' for 'lesse,' supposing it to be a
misprint, but not feeling certain that it might not be a pro-
vincialism if not an archaism, I have allowed ' lesse ' to stand
on pages 215 and 258, though it is altered in the edition of
1571. In the curious Italian Pasquinade in the Report (p. 136)
1 have been assisted by the kindness of Count della Rocchetta,
Mr Arthur Tilley, and Mr E. G. W. Braunholtz, to whom are
due the corrections which have brought it to its present form.
It originally stood as follows :
Interlocutor! Pasquillo et Romano.
Pasq. T Anno vn bel gioco il Re, et rimperatore
\_ J_ per terzo el Papa, e giocano a Primera.
Rom. che v* e cT in vito ? Pasq. Italia tutta intera.
Rom. Chi vi r ha messa ? Pasq. il coglion del pastor e.
Rom. Che tien in mono il Re ? Pasq. Panto magiere
el Papa hacinquant' vno, e se despera.
Rom. Ctesar che Ponto sa ? Pasq. lui sta a Primera
Rom. che gli manca f Pasq. danari a far sauore
II Papa dice a vol, e voll Partita :
Casar Pensoso sta Sopra di questo,
teme a Scropir di trouar moneta
II Re dico, no, no, Scoprite Presto,
che to tengo Ponto, a guadagnar f in vito
P ho li danari, et Ceesar se gli aspeta.
IF Tufti stanno a vedetta.
Chi di lor dui guadagni. Rom. il Papa ? Pas. e fuora
vinca chi vol, lui Perda, in sua ma!' hora.
IT Le Jmp era tore anchor a.
Teme, Men stretto, e Scopre Piau le carte,
e qui, la sorte gioca, pin che /' Arte.
1F Metra questi indisparte.
Stabilito e nel del quelle, che esserde,
ne giona al nostro die, questo Sara questo e.
W. A. W.
ao October 1904.
H> ReioyfeEnglandeileghddftnd me r/r,
TR O T H E ouercommeth thyneenemyes <t/7.
T/ie Scor,tfor Frenche ma n,the Pope,and hcfttie
OVERCOMMED by Trothe^xe had * fail:
Sttckc ro the Trothe,and eKermorethoHfhjll
Alt maner of enemies, quite cue rrkroWc
Gualterus Haddonus
Cantabrigien.
Mittere qui ce/eres summa uelit arte sagittas,
Ars erit ex isto summa profefla libra.
Quicquid habent arcus rigidi, neruifa rotundty
Sumere si /ibet, hoc sumere fonte licet.
Aschamus est author, magnu que fecit Apollo
Arte sua, magnum Pa/las & arte sua.
Doff a mar? dedit hue, dedit hue mes dofia libellu :
Qua: uidet An Psus uisa, parata facit.
Optimum heec author quia tradidit optima scripta,
Conuenit hec uobis optima uelle sequi.
To the moste graciouse, and our most drad Soueraigne lord,
Kyng Henrle the .viii, by the grace of God, kyng
of Englande, Fraunce and Irelande, Defen
der of the faythe, and of the churche
of Englande & a/so of Irelande
in earth supreme head, next vn
der Christ, be al health
viflorie, and fe-
licitie.
WHAT tyme as, moste gracious Prince, your highnes this
last year past, tooke that your moost honorable and
victorious iourney into Fraunce, accompanied with such a porte
of the Nobilitie and yeomanrie of Englande, as neyther hath
bene lyke knovven by experience, nor yet red of in Historic :
accompanied also with the daylie prayers, good hartes, and
willes of all and euery one your graces subieftes, lefte behinde
you here at home in Englande : the same tyme, I beinge at my
booke in Cambrige, sorie that my litle habilitie could stretche
out no better, to helpe forward so noble an enterprice, yet with
my good wylle, prayer, and harte, nothinge behynde hym that
was formoste of all, conceyued a wonderful desire, bi the praier,
wishing, talking, & communicatio that was in euery mas
mouth, for your Graces moost vi6loriouse retourne, to offer vp
sumthinge, at your home cumming to your Highnesse, which
shuld both be a token of mi loue and deutie toward your
Maiestie, & also a signe of my good minde and zeale tovvarde
mi countrie.
This occasion geuen to me at that time, caused me to take
in hand againe, this litle purpose of shoting, begon of me before,
yet not ended tha, for other studies more mete for that trade of
liuinge, vvhiche God and mi frendes had set me vnto. But
when your Graces moste ioifull & happie viclorie preueted mi
dailie and spedie diligencie to performe this matter, I was com-
pelled to vvaite an other time to prepare & offer vp this litle
boke vnto your Maiestie. And whan it hath pleased youre
Highenesse of your infinit goodnesse, & also your most honor-
able Counsel to know and pervse ouer the contentes, & some
parte of this boke, and so to alow it, that other me might rede
it, throughe the furderaunce and setting forthe of the right
worshipfull and mi Singuler good Master sir Vvilliam Pagette
Knight, moost worthie Secretarie to your highnes, & most
open & redie succoure to al poore honest learned mes sutes, I
moost humblie beseche your Grace to take in good worthe this
litle treatise purposed, bego, and ended of me onelie for this
intent, that Labour, Honest pastime & Vertu, might recouer
againe that place and right, that Idlenesse, Vnthriftie gamning
and Vice hath put them fro.
And althoughe to haue written this boke either in latin or
Greke (which thing I wold be verie glad yet to do, if 1 might
surelie know your Graces pleasure there in) had bene more
easier & fit for mi trade in study, yet neuerthelesse, I supposinge
it no point of honestie, that mi commodite should stop &
hinder ani parte either of the pleasure or profite of manie, haue
written this Englishe matter in the Englishe tongue, for
Englishe men : where in this I trust that your Grace (if it
shall please your Highnesse to rede it) shal perceaue it to be a
thinge Honeste for me to write, pleasaunt for some to rede, and
profitable for manie to folow, contening a pastime, honest for
the minde, holsome for the body, fit for eueri man, vile for no
man, vsing the day & ope place for Honestie to rule it, not
lurking in corners for misorder to abuse it. Therfore I trust
it shal apere, to be bothe a sure token of my zeele to set forvvarde
shootinge, and some signe of my minde, towardes honestie and
learninge.
XI
Thus I vvil trouble your Grace no longer, but
with my daylie praier, I vvil beseche God to
preserue your Grace, in al health and feli-
citie : to the feare and ouerthrovve
of all your ennemies : to the
pleasure, ioyfulnesse and
succour of al your sub-
iectes : to the vtter
destruction
of papi-
strie and heresie : to the con-
tinuall setting forth of
Goddes vvorde
and his glo
rye.
Your Graces most
bounden Scholer,
Roger Ascham.
TO ALL GENTLE MEN AND YOMEN OF
ENGLANDE.
Bias the wyse man came to Cresus the ryche kyng, on a
tyme, when he was makynge newe shyppes, purposyng to
haue subdued by water the out yles lying betwixt Grece and
Asia minor : What newes now in Grece, saith the king to
Bias ? None other newes, but these, sayeth Bias : that the
yles of Grece haue prepared a wonderful companye of horsemen,
to ouerrun Lydia withall. There is nothyng vnder heauen,
sayth the kynge, that I woulde so soone wisshe, as that they
durst be so bolde, to mete vs on the lande with horse. And
thinke you sayeth Bias, that there is an ye thyng which they
wolde sooner wysshe, then that you shulde be so fonde, to mete
them on the water with shyppes ? And so Cresus hearyng not
the true newes, but perceyuyng the wise mannes mynde and
counsell, both gaue then ouer makyng of his shyppes, and left
also behynde him a wonderful example for all commune wealthes
to folowe : that is euermore to regarde and set most by that
thing whervnto nature hath made them moost apt, and vse hath
made them moost fitte.
By this matter I meane the shotyng in the long bowe, for
English men : which thyng with all my hert I do wysh, and if
I were of authoritie, I wolde counsel all the gentlemen and
yomen of Englande, not to chaunge it with any other thyng,
how good soeuer it seme to be : but that styll, accordyng to the
oulde wont of England, youth shulde vse it for the moost
honest pastyme in peace, that men myght handle it as a mooste
sure weapon in warre. Other stronge weapons whiche bothe
Xlll
experience doth proue to be good, and the wysdom of the
kinges Maiestie & his counsel prouydes to be had, are not
ordeyned to take away shotyng : but y* both, not compared
togither, whether shuld be better then the other, but so ioyned
togither that the one shoulde be alwayes an ayde and helpe for
the other, myght so strengthen the Realme on all sydes, that no
kynde of enemy in any kynde of weapon, myght passe and go
beyonde vs.
For this purpose I, partelye prouoked by the counsell of
some gentlemen, partly moued by the loue whiche I haue
alwayes borne towarde shotyng, haue wrytten this lytle treatise,
wherin if I haue not satisfyed any man, I trust he wyll the
rather be content wl my doyng, bycause I am (I suppose) the
firste, whiche hath sayde any thynge in this matter (and fewe
begynnynges be perfect, sayth wyse men) And also bycause
yf I haue sayed a misse, I am content that any man amende it,
or yf I haue sayd to lytle, any man that wyl to adde what hym
pleaseth to it.
My minde is, in profitynge and pleasynge euery man, to
hurte or displease no man, intendyng none other purpose, but
that youthe myght be styrred to labour, honest pastyme, and
vertue, and as much as laye in me, plucked from ydlenes,
vnthriftie games, and vice : whyche thing I haue laboured
onlye in this booke, shewynge howe fit shootyng is for all
kyndes of men, howe honest a pastyme for the mynde, howe
holsome an excercise for the bodye, not vile for great men to
vse, not costlye for poore men to susteyne, not lurking in holes
and corners for ill men at theyr pleasure, to misvse it, but
abiding in the open sight & face of the worlde, for good men if
it fault by theyr wisdome to correct it.
And here I woulde desire all gentlemen and yomen, to vse
this pastime in suche a mean, that the outragiousnes of great
gamyng, shuld not hurte the honestie of shotyng, which of his
owne nature is alwayes ioyned with honestie : yet for mennes
faultes oftentymes blamed vnworthely, as all good thynges haue
ben, and euermore shall be.
If any man woulde blame me, eyther for takynge such
a matter in hande, or els for writing it in the Englyshe tongue,
this answere I maye make hym, that whan the beste of the
XIV
realme thinke it honest for them to vse, I one of the meanest
sorte, ought not to suppose it vile for me to write : And though
to haue written it in an other tonge, had bene bothe more
profitable for my study, and also more honest for my name, yet
I can thinke my labour wel bestowed, yf wl a little hynder-
aunce of my profyt and name, maye come any fourth er-
aunce, to the pleasure or commoditie, of the gentlemen and
yeomen of Englande, for whose sake I tooke this matter in
hande. And as for ye Latin or greke tonge, euery thyng is so
excellently done in them, that none can do better : In the
Englysh tonge contrary, euery thinge in a maner so meanly,
bothe for the matter and handelynge, that no man can do
worse. For therin the least learned for the moste parte, haue
ben alwayes moost redye to wryte. And they whiche had
leaste hope in latin, haue bene moste boulde in englyshe : when
surelye euery man that is moste ready to taulke, is not moost
able to wryte. He that wyll wryte well in any tongue, muste
folowe thys councel of Aristotle, to speake as the comon people
do, to thinke as wise men do : and so shoulde euery man vnder-
stande hym, and the iudgement of wyse men alowe hym.
Many English writers haue not done so, but vsinge straunge
wordes as latin, french and Italian, do make all thinges darke
and harde. Ones I communed with a man whiche reasoned
the englyshe tongue to be enryched and encreased therby,
sayinge : Who wyll not prayse that feaste, where a man shall
drinke at a diner, bothe wyne, ale and beere ? Truely quod I,
they be all good, euery one taken by hym selfe alone, but if you
putte Maluesye and sacke, read wyne and white, ale and beere,
and al in one pot, you shall make a drynke, neyther easie to be
knowen, nor yet holsom for the bodye. Cicero in folowyng
Isocrates, Plato and Demosthenes, increased the latine tounge
after an other sorte. This waye, bycause dyuers men yl write,
do not know, they can neyther folowe it, bycause of theyr
ignorauncie, nor yet will prayse it, for verye arrogauncie, ii.
faultes, seldome the one out of the others companye.
Englysh writers by diuersitie of tyme, haue taken diuerse
matters in hande. In our fathers tyme nothing was red, but
bookes of fayned cheualrie, wherin a man by redinge, shuld be
led to none other ende, but onely to manslaughter and baudrye.
XV
Yf any man suppose they were good ynough to passe the time
with al, he is deceyued. For surelye vayne woordes doo woorke
no smal thinge in vayne, ignoraunt, and younge mindes, specially
yf they be gyuen any thynge thervnto of theyr owne nature.
These bokes (as I haue heard say) were made the moste parte
in Abbayes, and Monasteries, a very lickely and fit fruite of
suche an ydle and blynde kinde of lyuynge.
In our tyme nowe, whan euery manne is gyuen to knowe
muche rather than to liue wel, very many do write, but after
suche a fashion, as very many do shoote. Some shooters take
in hande stronger bowes, than they be able to mayntayne.
This thyng maketh them sumtyme, to outshoote the marke,
sumtyme to shote far wyde, and perchaunce hurte sume that
looke on. Other that neuer learned to shote, nor yet knoweth
good shafte nor bowe, wyll be as busie as the best, but suche
one comonly plucketh doune a syde, and crafty archers which
be agaynst him, will be bothe glad of hym, and also euer ready
to laye and bet with him : it were better for suche one to sit
doune than shote. Other there be, whiche haue verye good
bowe and shaftes, and good knowlege in shootinge, but they
haue bene brought vp in suche euyl fauoured shootynge, that
they can neyther shoote fayre, nor yet nere. Yf any man wyll
applye these thynges togyther, [he] shal not se the one farre
differ from the other.
And I also amonges all other, in writinge this lytle treatise,
haue folowed sume yonge shooters, whiche bothe wyll begyn to
shoote, for a lytle moneye, and also wyll vse to shote ones or
twise about the marke for nought, afore they beginne a good.
And therfore did I take this little matter in hande, to assaye my
selfe, and hereafter by the grace of God, if the iudgement of
wyse men, that looke on, thinke that I can do any good, I maye
perchaunce caste my shafte amonge other, for better game.
Yet in writing this booke, some man wyll maruayle per-
chaunce, why that I beyng an vnperfyte shoter, shoulde take in
hande to write of makyng a perfyte archer : the same man
peraduenture wyll maruayle, howe a whettestone whiche is
blunte, can make the edge of a knife sharpe : I woulde ye same
man shulde consider also, that in goyng about anye matter, there
be .iiii. thinges to be considered, doyng, saying, thinking and
XVI
perfe&nesse : Firste there is no man that doth so wel, but he
can saye better, or elles summe men, whiche be now starke
nought, shuld be to good : Agayne no man can vtter wyth his
tong, so wel as he is able to imagin with his minde, & yet
perfe&nesse it selfe is farre aboue all thinking. Than seing
that saying is one steppe nerer perfe&enesse than doyng, let
euery man leue maruaylyng why my woorde shall rather
expresse, than my dede shall perfourme perfe6te shootinge.
I truste no man will be offended with this litle booke
excepte it be sume fletchers and bowiers, thinking hereby that
manye that loue shootynge shall be taughte to refuse suche
noughtie wares as they woulde vtter. Honest fletchers and
bowyers do not so, and they that be vnhonest, oughte rather to
amende them selues for doinge ill, than be angrie with me for
sayinge wel. A fletcher hath euen as good a quarell to be
angry wl an archer that refuseth an ill shaft, as a bladesmith
hath to a fletcher yl forsaketh to bye of him a noughtie knyfe :
For as an archer must be content that a fletcher know a good
shafte in euery poynte for the perfecler makynge of it, So an
honeste fletcher will also be content that a shooter knowe a good
shafte in euery poynt for the perfiter vsing of it : bicause the
one knoweth like a fletcher how to make it, the other knoweth
lyke an archer howe to vse it. And seyng the knowlege is one
in them bothe, yet the ende diuerse, surely that fletcher is an
enemye to archers and artillery, whiche can not be content that
an archer knowe a shafte as well for his vse in shotynge, as he
hym selfe shoulde knowe a shafte, for hys aduauntage in sellynge.
And the rather bycause shaftes be not made so muche to be
solde, but chefely to be vsed. And seynge that vse and
occupiyng is the ende why a shafte is made, the making as it
were a meane for occupying, surely the knowelege in euery
poynte of a good shafte, is more to be required in a shooter than
a fletcher.
Yet as I sayde before no honest fletcher wil be angry with
me, seinge I do not teache howe to make a shafte whiche
belongeth onelye to a good fletcher, but to knowe and handle a
shafte, which belongeth to an archer. And this lytle booke
I truste, shall please and profite both partes : For good bowes
and shaftes shall be better knowen to the comoditie of al shoters,
XV11
and good shotyng may perchaunce be the more occupied to
the profite of all bowyers and fletchers. And thus I praye
God that all fletchers getting theyr lyuynge truly, and al
archers vsynge shootynge honestly, and all maner of men
that fauour artillery, maye lyue continuallye in
healthe and merinesse, obeying theyr
prince as they shulde, and louing
God as they ought, to whom
for al thinges be al ho-
nour and glorye for
euer. Amen
TOXOPHILVS,
The schole of shootinge
conteyned in two
bookes.
To all Gentlemen and yomen of Englande^
pleasaunte for theyr pastyme to rede,
and profitable for theyr use
to folow, both in war
and peace.
The contentes of the first booke.
Earnest businesse ought to be refreshed wyth ho-
neste pastyme. Fol. I. [p. i.]
Shootyng moost honest pastyme. 3. [ 4.]
The inuention of shootinge. 5. [ 6.]
Shootynge fit for princes and greate men. 5. [ 7.]
Shootyng, fit for Scholers and studentes. 8. [ TO.]
Shootynge fitter for studentes than any musike
or Instrumentes. 9. [ 12.]
Youthe ought to learne to singe. u. [ 14.]
XIX
No maner of man doth or canvse to muche shoo-
tynge. 14. [p. 18.]
Agaynste vnlawfull gammes and namelye car-
des and disc. 16. [ 21.]
Shootyng in war. 24. [ 32.]
Obedience the best propertie of a Souldyar. 25. [ 33.]
Reasons and authorites agaynste shootynge in
war with the confutacion of the same. 26. [ 35.]
God is pleased with stronge wepons and valy-
aunt feates of war. 28. [ 39.]
The commoditie of Shootyng in war throughe
the Histories Greke and Latin, & all nations Chri-
sten and Hethen. 29. [ 41.]
Vse of shootynge at home causethe strongeshoo-
tinge in warre. 41. [ 55.]
Vse of shootynge at home, except men be apte by
nature, and connynge by teachyng, doth litle good
at all. 43. [ 58.]
Lacke of learnynge to shoote causethe Englande
lacke many a good archer. 46. [ 62.]
In learnyng any thyng, a man must couete to be
best, or els he shal neuer attayne to be meane. 47. [ 63.]
XX
A Table conteyning
the seconde booke.
By knowing
• thinges belo-
ging to shoo-
tyng.
I Eraser
Shotingloue
Strynge
Bowe
Shaftes
[Wether
General to I
all men. |Marke.
Shotyng >
streyght.
Bothe
Hittyng the
>-comme
marke, by
Kepyng
partly.
.a length J
By hande-
^linge thyn-
ges beloging *
to shotyng.
IStandinge
Nockynge
Drawinfe
Holdynge
Lov^singe.
/Bolde corage.
within
a man. ! Auoydynge
I all affeftion.
TOXOPHILVS,
A,
\
first bofee of tfte grfiole of sfjotmg,
Philologus. 'Toxophilus.
pHILOLOGUS. You studie to sore Toxophile. TOX. I
X wil not hurt my self ouermoche I warraut you. PHI. A
Take hede you do not, for we Physicions saye, that it is
nether good for the eyes in so cleare a Sunne, nor yet holsome
for ye bodie, so soone after meate, to looke vpon a mans
boke. TOX. In eatinge and studyinge I will neuer folowe anye
Physike, for yf I dyd, I am sure I shoulde haue small pleasure in
the one, and lesse courage in the other. But what newes draue
ou hyther I praye you ? PHI. Small newes trulie, but that as
came on walkynge, I fortuned to come wl thre or foure that
went to shote at the pryckes : And when I sawe not you amonges
them, but at the last espyed you lokynge on your booke here
so sadlye, I thought to come and holde you with some com
munication, lest your boke shoulde runne awaye with you.
For me thought by your waueryng pace & earnest lokying,
your boke led you, not you it. TOX. In dede as it chaunced,
my mynde went faster then my feete, for I happened here to
reade in Phedro Platonis, a place that entretes wonderfullie of
the nature of soules, which place (whether it were T D, ,
. '. ^n. . . In fnearo.
for the passynge eloquence of rlato, and the
Greke tongue, or for the hyghe and godlie description of
the matter, kept my mynde so occupied, that it had no leisure
to loke to my feete. For I was reding howe some soules being
well fethered, flewe alwayes about heaue and heauenlie matters,
other some hauinge their fethers mowted awaye, and droupinge,
sanke downe into earthlie thinges. PHI. I remebre the place
verie wel, and it is wonderfullie sayd of Plato, & now I se it
2 Toxophilus. A.
was no maruell though your fete fayled you, seing your minde
flewe so fast. TOX. I am gladde now that you letted me,
for my head akes wl lolcing on it, and bycause you tell me so,
I am verye sorie yl I was not with those good feloes you spake
vpon, for it is a verie faire day for a ma to shote in. PHI. And
me thinke you were a great dele better occupied & in better
copanie, for it is a very faire daye for a ma to go to his boke
in. TOX. Al dayes and wethers wil serue for that purpose,
and surelie this occasio was ill lost. PHI. Yea but clere
wether maketh clere mindes, and it is best as I suppose, to
spend ye best time vpon the best thinges : And me thought you
shot verie wel, and at that marke, at which euery good scoler
shoulde moste busilie shote at. And I suppose it be a great
dele more pleasure also, to se a soule flye in Plato, then a shafte
flye at the prickes. I graunte you, shoting is not the worst
thing in the world, yet if we shote, and time shote, we ar not
like to be great winners at the length. And you know also we
scholers haue more ernest & weightie matters in hand, nor
we be not borne to pastime & pley, as you know wel ynough
M Cic i off. w^° savtk' TOX. Yet the same man in the
same place Philologe, by your leue, doth admitte
holsome, honest and manerlie pastimes to be as necessarie
to be migied with sad matters of the minde, as eating
& sleping is for the health of the body, and yet we be borne
for neither of bothe. And Aristotle him selfe
ribui. io!T sayth, yl although it were a fonde & a chyldish
thing to be to ernest in pastime & play, yet doth
he affirme by the authoritie of the oulde Poet Epicharmus,
. Afi3t pol that a man may vse play for ernest matter sake.
8. 3. And in an other place, y* as rest is for labour, &
medicines for helth, so is pastime at tymes for
sad & weightie studie. PHI. How moche in this matter is to
be giuen to ye audoritie either of Aristotle or Tullie, I ca not
tel, semg sad me may wel ynough speke merily for a merie
matter, this I am sure, whiche thing this faire wheat (god saue
it) maketh me remebre, yl those husbadmen which rise erliest,
and come latest home, and are content to haue their diner and
other drinckinges, broughte into the fielde to them, for feare of
losing of time, haue fatter barnes in haruest, than they whiche
will either slepe at none time of the daye, or els make merie
'The schole of shoting. 3
wl their neighbours at the ale. And so a scholer yl purposeth
to be a good husband, and desireth to repe and enioy much
fruite, of learninge, muste tylle and sowe thereafter. Our
beste seede tyme, whiche be scholers, as it is verie tymelye, and
whan we be yonge : so it endureth not ouerlonge, and therfore
it maye not be let slippe one houre, cure grounde is verye
harde, and full of wedes, our horse wherw1 we be drawen very
wylde as Plato sayth. And infinite other mo
lettes whiche wil make a thriftie scholer take
hede how he spedeth his tyme in sporte and pleye. TOX. That
Aristotle and Tullie spake ernestlie, and as they thought, the
ernest matter which they entreate vpon, doth plainlye proue.
And as for your husbandrie, it was more probablie tolde with
apt wordes propre to ye thing, then throughly proued with
reasons belongynge to our matter. For contrariwise I herd my
selfe a good husbande at his boke ones saye, that to omit studie
somtime of the daye, and sometime of the yere, made asmoche
for the encrease of learning, as to let the lad lye sometime
falloe, maketh for the better encrease of corne. This we se,
yf the lande be plowed euerye yere, the corne commeth thinne
vp: the eare is short, the grayne is small, and when it is brought
into the barne and threshed, gyueth very euill faul. So those
which neuer leaue poring on their bokes, haue oftetimes as
thinne inuention, as other poore me haue, and as smal wit and
weight in it as in other mens. And thus youre husbandrie me
thinke, is more like the life of a couetouse snudge that oft very
euill preues, then the labour of a good husbad that knoweth
wel what he doth. And surelie the best wittes to lerning must
nedes haue moche recreation and ceasing from their boke, or
els they marre them selues, whe base and dompysshe wittes
can neuer be hurte with continuall studie, as ye se in luting,
that a treble minikin string must alwayes be let down, but at
suche time as when a man must nedes playe : when ye base
and dull stryng nedeth neuer to be moued out of his place.
The same reason I finde true in two bowes that I haue, wherof
the one is quicke of cast, tricke, and trlme both for pleasure
and profyte : the other is a lugge slowe of cast, folowing the
string, more sure for to last, then pleasaunt for to vse. Now
sir it chauced this other night, one in my chabre wolde nedes
bende them to proue their strength, but I can not tel how,
A 2
4 T'oxophilus. A.
they were both left bente tyll the nexte daye at after dyner :
and when I came to them, purposing to haue gone on shoting,
I found my good bowe clene cast on the one side, and as
weake as water, that surelie (if I were a riche man) I had
rather haue spent a crowne : and as for my lugge, it was not
one whyt the worse : but shotte by and by as wel and as farre
as euer it dyd. And euen so I am sure that good wittes,
except they be let downe like a treble string, and vnbent like
a good casting bowe, they wil neuer last and be able to cotinue
in studie. And I know where I speake this Philologe, for I
wolde not saye thus moche afore yong men, for they wil take
soone occasion to studie litle ynough. But I saye it therfore
bicause I knowe, as litle studie getteth litle learninge or none
at all, so the moost studie getteth not ye moost learning of all.
For a mans witte sore occupied in ernest studie, must be as wel
recreated with some honest pastime, as the body sore laboured,
must be refreshed with slepe and quietnesse, or els it can not
endure very longe, as the noble poete sayeth.
Quid. What thlg watf quiet & meri rest endures but a smal while.
And I promise you shoting by my iudgement, is ye moost
B honest pastime of al, & suche one I am sure, of all other, that
hindreth learning litle or nothing at all, whatsoeuer you &
some other saye, whiche are a gret dele sorer against it
alwaies tha you nede to be. PHI. Hindereth learninge litle or
nothinge at all ? that were a meruayle to me truelie, and I am
sure seing you saye so, you haue some reason wherewith you
can defende shooting wlall, and as for wyl (for the loue that
you beare towarde shotinge) I thinke there shall lacke none in
you. Therfore seinge we haue so good leysure bothe, and no
bodie by to trouble vs : and you so willinge & able to defende
it, and I so redy and glad to heare what may be sayde of it
I suppose we canne not passe the tyme better ouer, neyther
you for ye honestie of your shoting, nor I for myne owne
mindsake, than to se what can be sayed with it, or agaynste it,
and speciallie in these dayes, whan so many doeth vse it, and
euerie man in a maner doeth common of it. TOX. To speake
of shootinge Philologe, trulye I woulde I were so able, either
as I my selfe am willing or yet as the matter deserueth, but
seing with wisshing we can not haue one nowe worthie, whiche
The schole of shoting. 5
so worthie a thinge can worthilie praise, and although I had
rather haue anie other to do it than my selfe, yet my selfe
rather then no other. I wil not fail to saye in it what I can
wherin if I saye litle, laye that of my litle habilitie, not of the
matter it selfe whiche deserueth no lyttle thinge to be sayde
of it. PHI. If it deserue no little thinge to be sayde of it
Toxophile, I maruell howe it chaunceth than, that no man
hitherto, hath written any thinge of it : wherin you must
graunte me, that eyther the matter is noughte, vnworthye, and
barren to be written vppon, or els some men are to blame,
whiche both loue it and vse it, and yet could neuer finde in
theyr heart, to saye one good woorde of it, seinge that very
triflinge matters hath not lacked great learned men to sette
them out, as gnattes and nuttes, & many other mo like thinges,
wherfore eyther you may honestlie laye verie great faut vpo
men bycause they neuer yet praysed it, or els I may iustlie take
awaye no litle thinge from shooting, bycause it neuer yet
deserued it. TOX. Trulye herein Philologe, you take not so
muche from it, as you giue to it. For great and commodious
thynges are neuer greatlie praysed, not bycause they be not
worthie, but bicause their excellencie nedeth no man hys prayse,
hauinge all theyr comendation of them selfe not borowed of
other men his lippes, which rather prayse them selfe, in
spekynge much of a litle thynge than that matter whiche they
entreat vpon. Great & good thinges be not praysed. For who
euer praysed Hercules (sayeth the Greke prouerbe) And that
no man hitherto hath written any booke of shoting the fault is
not to be layed in the thyng whiche was worthie to be written
vpon, but of men which were negligent in doyng it, and this
was the cause therof as I suppose. Menne that vsed shootyng
moste and knewe it best, were not learned : men that were
lerned, vsed litle shooting, and were ignorant in the nature
of the thynge, and so fewe menne hath bene that hitherto were
able to wryte vpon it. Yet howe longe shotying hath con-
tinued, what common wealthes hath moste vsed it, howe honeste
a thynge it is for all men, what kynde of liuing so euer they
folow, what pleasure and profit cometh of it, both in peace and
warre, all maner of tongues & writers, Hebrue, Greke and
Latine, hath so plentifullie spoken of it, as of fewe other thinges
like. So what shooting is howe many kindes there is of it,
6 Toxophilus. A.
what goodnesse is ioyned with it, is tolde : onelye howe it is to
be learned and brought to a perfectnesse amonges men, is not
toulde. PHI. Than Toxopkile, if it be so as you do saye, let
vs go forwarde and examin howe plentifullie this is done that
you speke, and firste of the inuention of it, than what honestie
& profit is in the vse of it, bothe for warre & peace, more than
in other pastimes, laste of all howe it ought to be learned
amonges men for the encrease of it, whiche thinge if you do,
not onelye I nowe for youre comunication but many other mo,
when they shall knowe of it, for your labour, & shotying it
selfe also (if it coulde speke) for your kyndnesse, wyll can you
very moche thanke. TOXOPH. What good thynges me
speake of shoting & what good thinges shooting bringes to men
as my wit & knowlege will serue me, gladly shall I say my
mind. But how the thing is to be learned I will surely leue to
some other which bothe for greater experience in it, & also for
their lerninge, can set it out better than I. PHI. Well as
for that I knowe both what you can do in shooting by ex-
perience, & yl you ca also speke well ynough of shooting, for
youre learning, but go on with the first part. And I do not
doubt, but what my desyre, what your loue toward it, the
honestie of shoting, the profite that may come therby to many
other, shall get the seconde parte out of you at the last.
C TOXOPH. Of the first finders out of shoting, diuers
men diuerslye doo wryte. Claudiane the poete
inhistri™ sayth that nature gaue example of shotyng first,
by the Porpentine, whiche doth shote his prickes,
and will hitte any thinge that fightes with it : whereby
„.. , men learned afterwarde to immitate the same in
findyng out both bowe and shaftes. Plinie re-
ferreth it to Schythes the sonne of lupiter. Better and more
noble wryters bringe shoting from a more noble inuentour : as
Insympo. Plato, Calimachus, and Galene from Apollo.
In hym. Yet longe afore those dayes do we reade in the
Afolf' bible of shotinge expreslye. And also if we shall
beleue Nicholas de Lyra, Lamech killed Cain
Nic.delyra. with a snafte go this great continuaunce of
shoting doth not a lytle praise shotinge : nor that neither doth
not a litle set it oute, that it is referred to thinuention of
Apollo, for the which poynt shoting is highlye praised of
T'/ie schole of shoting. j
Galene : where he sayth, yl mean craftes be first foud out
by men or beastes, as weauing by a spider, and Galen in ex-
suche other : but high and comendable sciences by hor. ad bo-
goddes, as shotinge and musicke by Apollo. And nas artes-
thus shotynge for the necessitie of it vsed in Adams dayes, for
the noblenesse of it referred to Apollo, hath not ben onelie
comended in all tunges and writers, but also had in greate price,
both in the best comune wealthes in warre tyme for the defece
of their countrie, and of all degrees of men in peace tyme,
bothe for the honestie that is ioyned with it, and the profyte
that foloweth of it. PHILOL. Well, as concerning the
fyndinge oute of it, litle prayse is gotten to shotinge therby,
seinge good wittes maye mooste easelye of all fynde oute a
trifelynge matter. But where as you saye that mooste com-
mune wealthes haue vsed it in warre tyme, and all degrees of
men maye verye honestlye vse it in peace tyme : I thynke you
can neither shewe by authoritie, nor yet proue by reason.
TOXOPHI. The vse of it in warre tyme, I wyll declare here-
after. And firste howe all kindes and sortes of men (what degree
soeuer they be) hath at all tymes afore, and nowe maye honestlye
vse it : the example of mooste noble men verye well doeth proue.
Cyaxares the kynge of the Medees, and greate graunde-
father to Cyrus, kepte a sorte of Sythians with
him onely for this purpose, to teache his sonne
Astyages to shote. Cyr5 being a childe was brought vp in
shoting, which thinge Xenophon wolde neuer
haue made mention on, except it had ben fitte ^en: m instlf
r • i i Lyn. i.
for all princes to haue vsed : seing that
Xenopho wrote Cyrus lyfe (as Tullie sayth) not to shewe
what Cyrus did, but what all maner of princes
both in pastimes and ernest matters ought to do. ^ Quint.
Darius the first of that name, and king of
Persie shewed plainly howe fit it is for a kinge to loue and
vse shotynge, whiche commaunded this sentence to be grauen
in his tombe, for a Princelie memorie and prayse.
Darius the King lieth buried here Strabo. 15.
That in shoting and riding had neuer pere.
Agayne, Domitian the Emperour was so cuning in
shoting that he coulde shote betwixte a mans Tranq. suet.
8 Toxophilus. A.
fingers standing afarre of, and neuer hurt him. Comodus also
was so excellent, and had so sure a hande in it,
that there was nothing within his retche & shote,
but he wolde hit it in what place he wolde : as beastes runninge,
either in the heed, or in the herte, and neuer mysse, as Hero-
diane sayeth he sawe him selfe, or els he coulde neuer haue
beleued it. PHI. In dede you praise shoting very wel, in yl
you shewe that Domitian and Commodus loue shotinge, suche
an vngracious couple I am sure as a man shall not fynde agayne,
if he raked all hell for them. TOXOPH. Wel euen as I
wyll not commende their ilnesse, so ought not you to dispraise
their goodnesse, and in dede, the Judgement of Herodian vpon
Commodus is true of them bothe, and that was this : that
beside strength of bodie and good shotinge, they hadde no
princelie thing in them, which saying me thinke commendes
shoting wonderfullie, callinge it a princelie thinge.
Furthermore howe commendable shotinge is for princes :
Themistius the noble philosopher sheweth in a
certayne oration made to Theodosius themperoure,
in ora. o. i_ • •_ j ^ i • • /• • •• •
wherein he doeth commende him for .111. thmges,
that he vsed of a childe. For shotinge, for rydinge of an horse
well, and for feates of armes.
Moreouer, not onelye kinges and emperours haue ben brought
vp in shoting, but also the best comune wealthes that euer were,
haue made goodlie a&es & lawes for it, as the Persians which
Herod I dio vn<^er Cyrus coquered in a maner all the worlde,
had a lawe that their children shulde learne thre
thinges onelie, from v. yeare oulde vnto .xx. to ryde an horse
Leo de stra WeUj tO sJl°te WeJ1' tO sPealce trutne alwayes &
tag. 20.^ r' neuer lye. The Romaines (as Leo themperour
in his boke of sleightes of warre telleth) had a lawe
that euery man shoulde vse shoting in peace tyme, while he
was .xl. yere olde and that euerye house shoulde haue a bowe,
and .xl. shaftes ready for all nedes, the omittinge of whiche lawe
(sayth Leo) amonges the youthe, hath ben the onely occasion
why the Romaynes lost a great dele of their empire. But more
of this I wil speake whe I come to the profite of shoting in
warre. If I shuld rehearse the statutes made of noble princes
of Englande in parliamentes for the settyng forwarde of shoting,
through this realme, and specially that acte made for shoting
The schole of shoting. 9
the thyrde yere of the reygne of our moost drad soueraygne lorde
king Henry the .viii. I could be very long. But these fewe
exaples specially of so great men & noble comon wealthes,
shall stand in stede of many. PHI. That suche princes and
suche comune welthes haue moche regarded shoting, you haue
well declared. But why shotinge ought so of it selfe to be
regarded, you haue scarcelye yet proued. TOX. Examples
I graunt out of histories do shew a thing to be so, not proue
a thing why it shuld be so. Yet this I suppose, y1 neither
great mens qualities being comedable be without great
authoritie, for other men honestly to folow them : nor yet
those great learned men that wrote suche thinges, lacke good
reaso iustly at al tymes for any other to approue the. Princes
beinge children oughte to be brought vp in shoting : both by-
cause it is an exercise moost holsom, and also a pastyme moost
honest : wherin labour prepareth the body to hardnesse, the
minde to couragiousnesse, sufferyng neither the one to be marde
with tenderhesse, nor yet the other to be hurte with ydlenesse :
as we reade how Sardanapalus and suche other were, bycause
they were not brought vp w1 outwarde honest payneful pastymes
to be men : but cockerde vp with inwarde noughtie ydle
wantonnesse to be women. For how fit labour is for al
youth, lupiter or else Minos amonges them of Grece, and
Lycurgus amonges the Lacedemonians, do shewe
by their lawes, which neuer ordeyned any thing ^ *' Tus'
for ye bringyng vp of youth that was not ioyned
with labour. And the labour which is in shoting of al other
is best, both bycause it encreaseth strength, and preserueth
health moost, beinge not vehement, but moderate, not ouerlay-
ing any one part with werysomnesse, but softly exercisynge
euery parte with equalnesse, as the armes and breastes with
drawinge, the other parties with going, being not so paynfull
for the labour as pleasaunt for the pastyme, which exercise by
the iudgement of the best physicions, is most alowable. By
shoting also is the mynde honestly exercised where
a ma alwaies desireth to be best (which is a worde ' *' d,e
c . . . i i L san- fatnd-
of honestie) and that by the same waye, that
vertue it selfe doeth, couetinge to come nighest a moost perfite
ende or meane standing betwixte .ii. extremes, eschewinge
shorte, or gone, or eithersyde wide, for the which causes
i o Toxophilus. A.
Aristotle him selfe sayth that shoting and vertue be very like.
Moreouer that shoting of all other is the moost
Anst. i. de honest pastyme, and hath leest occasion to
morib. . . r J . , . . . .. ,.
noughtmesse loyned with it .11. thinges very
playnelye do proue, which be as a man wolde saye, the tutours
and ouerseers to shotinge : Daye light and open place where
euerye man doeth come, the maynteyners and kepers of shoting,
from all vnhonest doing. If shotinge faulte at any tyme, it
hydes it not, it lurkes not in corners and huddermother : but
openly accuseth & bewrayeth it selfe, which is the nexte waye
to amendement, as wyse men do saye. And these thinges
I supgose be signes, not of noughtinesse, for any man to
disalowe it : but rather verye playne tokens of honestie, for
euerye man to prayse it.
The vse of shotinge also in greate mennes chyldren shall
greatlye encrease the loue and vse of«hotinge in all the residue
of youth. For meane mennes myndes loue to be lyke greate
menne, as Plato and Isocrates do saye. And that
euerye bodye shoulde learne to shote when they be
yonge, defence of the comune wealth, doth require whe they
be olde, which thing can not be done mightelye when they be
men, excepte they learne it perfitelye when they be boyes.
And therfore shotinge of all pastymes is moost fitte to be vsed
in childhode: bycause it is an imitation of moost ernest
thinges to be done in manhode.
Wherfore, shoting is fitte for great mens children, both
bycause it strengthneth the body with holsome labour, and
pleaseth the mynde with honest pastime and also encourageth
all other youth ernestlye to folowe the same. And these
reasons (as I suppose) stirred vp both great men to bring vp
their chyldren in shotinge, and also noble commune wealthes so
straytelye to commaunde shoting. Therfore seinge Princes
moued by honest occasions, hath in al commune wealthes vsed
shotynge, I suppose there is none other degree of men, neither
D lowe nor hye, learned nor leude, yonge nor oulde. PHIL. You
shal nede wade no further in this matter Toxophile, but if
you can proue me that scholers and men gyuen to learning
maye honestlie vse shoting, I wyll soone graut you that
all other sortes of men maye not onelye lefullie, but ought of
dutie to vse it. But I thinke you can not proue but that all
The schole of shoting. 1 1
these examples of shotinge brought from so longe a tyme, vsed
of so noble princes, confirmed by so wyse mennes lawes and
iudgementes, are sette afore temporall men, onelye to followe
them: whereby they may the better and stroglyer defende the
commune wealth withall. And nothing belongeth to scholers
and learned men, which haue an other parte of the commune
wealth, quiete and peaceable put to their cure and charge, whose
ende as it is diuerse fro the other, so there is no one waye that
leadeth to them both. TOXO. I graunte Philologe, that
scholers and lay men haue diuerse offices and charges in the
comune wealth, whiche requires diuerse briging vp in their
youth, if they shal do them as they ought to do in their age.
Yet as temporall men of necessitie are compelled to take some-
what of learning to do their office the better withal : So scholers
maye the boldlyer borowe somewhat of laye mennes pastimes,
to maynteyne their health in studie withall. And surelie of
al other thinges shoting is necessary for both sortes to learne.
Whiche thing, when it hath ben euermore vsed in Englande
how moche good it hath done, both oulde men and Chronicles
doo tell : and also our enemies can beare vs recorde. For if it
be true (as I haue hearde saye) when the kynge of Englande
hath ben in Fraunce, the preestes at home bicause they were
archers, haue ben able to ouerthrowe all Scotlande. Agayne
ther is an other thing which aboue all other doeth moue me,
not onely to loue shotinge, to prayse shoting, to exhorte all other
to shotinge, but also to vse shoting my selfe : and that is our
kyng his moost royall purpose and wyll, whiche in all his
statutes generallye doth commaunde men, and with his owne
mouthe moost gentlie doeth exhorte men, and by his greate
gyftes and rewardes, greatly doth encourage men, and with his
moost princelie example very oft doth prouoke all other me
to the same. But here you wyll come in wl teporal man and
scholer : I tell you plainlye, scholer or vnscholer, yea if I were
.xx. scholers, I wolde thinke it were my dutie, bothe with
exhortinge men to shote, and also with shoting my selfe to
helpe to set forwarde that thing which the kinge his wisdome,
and his counsell, so greatlye laboureth to go forwarde : whiche
thinge surelye they do, bycause they knowe it to be in warre,
the defence and wal of our countrie, in peace, an exercise
moost holsome for the body, a pastime moost honest for the
1 2 Toxophilus. A.
mynde, and as I am able to proue my selfe, of al other moste
fit and agreable with learninge and learned men.
PHI. If you can proue this thing so playnly, as you speake
it ernestly, the wil I, not only thinke as you do, but become
a shooter and do as you do. But yet beware I saye, lest you
for the great loue you bear towarde shotinge, blindlie Judge of
shootinge. For loue & al other to ernest affe&ions be not for
nought paynted blinde. Take hede (I saye) least you prefer
shootinge afore other pastimes, as one Balbinus through blinde
affe&ion, preferred his louer before all other wemen, although
she were deformed with a polypus in her nose. And although
shooting maye be mete sometyme for some scholers, and so
forthe: yet the fittest alwayes is to be preferred. Therefore
if you will nedes graunt scholers pastime and recreation of their
mindes, let them vse (as many of the doth) Musyke, and playing
on instrumentes, thinges moste semely for all scholers, and
moste regarded alwayes of Apollo & the Muses. TOX. Euen
as I can not deny, but some musike is fit for lerning so I trust
you can not chose but graunt, that shoting is fit also, as
Calimach9 doth signifie in this verse.
Col. hym. i. Both merle songes and good shoting deliteth Appollo.
But as concerning whether of them is moste fit for learning,
E and scholers to vse, you may saye what you will for your
pleasure, this I am sure that Plato and Aristotle bothe, in
their bookes entreatinge of the comon welthe, where they shew
howe youthe shoulde be brought vp in .iiii. thinges, in redinge,
in writing, in exercise of bodye, and singing, do make mention
of Musicke & all kindes of it, wherein they both agre, that
(Musike vsed amonges the Lydians is verie ill for yong men,
which be studentes for vertue and learning, for a certain nice,
softe, and smoth swetnesse of it, whiche woulde rather entice
the to noughtines, than stirre them to honestie.
An other kinde of Musicke inuented by the Dorians, they
both wonderfully prayse, alowing it to be verie fyt for the
studie of vertue & learning, because of a manlye, rough and
stoute sounde in it, whyche shulde encourage yong stomakes,
to attempte manlye matters. Nowe whether these balades &
roundes, these galiardes, pauanes and daunces, so nicelye fingered,
so swetely tuned, be lyker the Musike of the Lydians or the
'The schole of shoting. 1 3
Dorians, you that be learned iudge. And what so euer ye
Judge, this I am sure, yl lutes, harpes, all maner of pypes,
barbitons, sambukes, with other instrumentes euery one,
whyche standeth by fine and quicke fingeringe,
be codemned of Aristotle, as not to be brought
in & vsed amonge them, whiche studie for
learning and vertue. )
Pallas when she had inuented a pipe, cast it away, not so
muche sayeth Aristotle, because it deformed her face, but
muche rather bycause suche an Instrumente belonged nothing
to learnynge. Howe suche Instrumentes agree with learning,
the goodlye agrement betwixt Apollo god of learninge, &
Marsyas the Satyr, defender of pipinge, doth well declare,
where Marsyas had his skine quite pulled ouer his head for
his labour.
Muche musike marreth mennes maners, sayth Galen,
although some man wil saye that it doth not so, but rather
recreateth and maketh quycke a mannes mynde, yet me thinke
by reason it doth as hony doth to a mannes stomacke, whiche
at the first receyueth it well, but afterwarde it maketh it vnfit,
to abyde any good stronge norishynge meate, orels anye
holsome sharpe and quicke drinke. And euen so in a maner
these Instrumentes make a mannes wit so softe and smoothe
so tender and quaisie, that they be lesse able to brooke, stronge
and tough studie. Wittes be not sharpened, but rather dulled,
and made blunte, wyth suche sweete softenesse, euen as good
edges be blonter, whiche menne whette vpon softe chalke
stones.
And these thinges to be true, not onely Plato Aristotle &
Galen, proue by authentic of reason, but also
Herodotus and other writers, shewe by playne Herodotus
... . r „ J r, / , m Clio.
and euident example, as that or Cyrus, whiche
after he had ouercome the Lydians, and taken their kinge
Cresus prisoner, yet after by the meane of one Pactyas a verye
headie manne amonges the Lydians, they rebelled agaynste
Cyrus agayne, then Cyrus had by an by, broughte them to
vtter destruction, yf Cresus being in good fauour with Cyrus
had not hertelie desyred him, not to reuenge Pactyas faulte, in
shedynge theyr blood. But if he would folowe his counsell, he
myght brynge to passe, that they shoulde neuer more rebel
1 4 Toxophilus. A.
agaynst hym, And yl was this, to make them weare log
kyrtils, to ye foot lyke woomen, and that euerye one of them
shoulde haue a harpe or a lute, and learne to playe and sing
whyche thinge if you do sayth Cresus (as he dyd in dede) you
shall se them quickelye of men, made women. And thus
lutinge and singinge take awaye a manlye stomake, whiche
shulde enter & pearce depe and harde studye.
Euen suche an other storie doeth Nymphodorus an olde
greke Historiographer write, of one Sesostris kinge
Nymphod. & „ i • • • u sli u
of Egypte, whiche stone because it is somewhat
longe, and very lyke in al poyntes to the other and also you do
well ynoughe remembre it, seynge you read it so
Comment. j t - Sophoclis commentaries, I wyll nowe passe
in Antig. / . . ' '. „. . r
ouer. I herefore eyther Aristotle and rlato knowe
not what was good and euyll for learninge and vertue, and the
example of wyse histories be vainlie set afore vs or els the
minstrelsie of lutes, pipes, harpes, and all other that standeth
by suche nice, fine, minikin fingering (suche as the mooste
parte of scholers whom I knowe vse, if they vse any) is farre
more fitte for the womannishnesse of it to dwell in the courte
among ladies, than for any great thing in it, whiche shoulde
helpe good and sad studie, to abide in the vniuersitie amonges
scholers. But perhaps you knowe some great goodnesse of
suche musicke and suche instrumentes, whervnto Plato &
Aristotle his brayne coulde neuer attayne, and therfore I will
saye no more agaynst it. PHI. Well Toxophile is it not
ynoughe for you to rayle vpon Musike, excepte you mocke me
to ? but to say the truth I neuer thought my selfe these kindes
of musicke fit for learninge, but that whyche I sayde was rather
to proue you, than to defende the matter. But yet as I woulde
haue this sorte of musicke decaye amonge scholers, euen so do
I wysshe from the bottome of my heart, that the laudable
custome of Englande to teache chyldren their plainesong and
priksong, were not so decayed throughout all the realme as it is.
Whiche thing howe profitable it was for all sortes of men, those
knewe not so wel than whiche had it most, as they do nowe
whiche lacke it moste. And therfore it is true that Teucer
sayeth in Sophocles. «
Sophocles Seldome at all good thinges be Knowen how good to be
Before a man suche thinges do misse out of his handes.
The schole of shoting. 1 5
That milke is no fitter nor more naturall for the bringing
vp of children than musike is, both Gallen proueth by authoritie,
and dayly vse teacheth by experience. For euen the litle
babes lacking the vse of reason, are scarse so well stilled in
suckyng theyr mothers pap, as in hearynge theyr mother syng.
Agayne how fit youth is made, by learning to sing, for
grammar and other sciences, bothe we dayly do see, and
Plutarch learnedly doth proue, and Plato wiselie did alowe,
whiche receyued no scholer in to his schole, that had not learned
his songe before. The godlie vse of praysing God, by singinge
in the churche, nedeth not my prayse, seing it is so praysed
through al the scripture, therfore nowe I wil speke nothing of
it, rather than I shuld speke to litle of it.
Besyde al these commodities, truly .ii. degrees of mene, which
haue the highest offices vnder the king in all this realme, shal
greatly lacke the vse of Singinge, preachers and lawiers, bycause
they shal not without this, be able to rule their brestes, for euery
purpose. For where is no distinction in telling glad thinges and
fearfull thinges, gentilnes & cruelnes, softenes and vehementnes,
and suche lyke matters, there can be no great perswasion.
For the hearers, as Tullie sayeth, be muche affe&ioned, as he
is that speaketh. At his wordes be they drawen, yf he stande still
in one facion, their mindes stande still with hym : If he thundre,
they quake : If he chyde, they feare : If he coplayne, they sory
with hym : and finally, where a matter is spoken, with an apte
voyce, for euerye affe&ion, the hearers for the moste parte, are
moued as the speaker woulde. But when a man is alwaye in
one tune, lyke an Humble bee, or els nowe vp in the top of the
churche, nowe downe that no manne knoweth where to haue
hym : or piping lyke a reede, or roring lyke a bull, as some
lawyers do, whiche thinke they do best, when they crye
lowdest, these shall neuer greatly mooue, as I haue knowen
many wel learned, haue done, bicause theyr voyce was not
stayed afore, with learnyng to synge. For all voyces, great
and small, base & shril, weke or softe, may be holpen and
brought to a good poynt, by learnyng to synge.
Whether this be true or not, they that stand mooste in nede,
can tell best, whereof some I haue knowen, whiche, because they
learned not to sing, whan they were boyes, were fayne to take
peyne in it, wha they were men. If any man shulde heare me
1 6 T'oxophilus. A.
Toxophile, that woulde thinke I did but fondly, to suppose
that a voice were so necessarie to be loked vpon, I would aske
him if he thought not nature a foole, for makig such goodly
instrumentes in a man, for wel vttring his woordes, or els if
the .ii. noble orators Demosthenes & Cicero were not fooles,
wherof the one dyd not onelie learne to sing of a man : But
also was not ashamed to learne howe he shoulde vtter his soudes
aptly of a dogge, the other setteth oute no poynte of rhetorike,
so fullie in all his bookes, as howe a man shoulde order his
voyce for all kynde of matters. Therfore seinge men by
speaking, differ and be better than beastes, by speakyng wel,
better than other men, and that singing is an helpe towarde the
same as dayly experiece doth teache, example of wyseme doth
alowe, authoritie of learned men doth approue wherwith the
foundacion of youth in all good common wealthes alwayes hath
bene tempered ; surelye if I were one of the parliament house,
I woulde not fayle, to put vp a bill for the amendment of this
thynge, but because I am lyke to be none this yeare, I wil
speake no more of it, at this time. TOX. It were pitie truly
Philologe, that the thinge shoulde be neglected, but I trust it is
not as you say. PHI. The thing is to true, for of them that
come daylye to ye vniuersitie, where one hath learned to singe,
vi. hath not. But nowe to cure shotinge Toxophile agayne,
wherin I suppose you can not say so muche for shotyng to be fitte
for learninge, as you haue spoken agaynste Musicke for the same.
Therfore as concerning Musike, I can be content to graunt
you your mynde : But as for shooting, surely I suppose
that you can not perswade me, by no meanes, that a man can
be earnest in it, and earnest at his booke to : but rather I thynke
that a man wl a bowe on his backe, and shaftes vnder hys
girdell, is more fit to wayte vpon Robin Hoode, than vpon
Apollo or the Muses. TOX. Ouer ernest shooting surely I
will not ouer ernestlye defende, for I euer thought shooting
shoulde be a wayter vpon lerning not a mastres ouer learning.
Yet this I maruell not a litle at, that ye thinke a man with a
bowe on hys backe is more like Robin Hoode seruaut, than
Appllose, seing that Apollo him selfe in Alcestis of Euripides,
whiche tragidie you red openly not long ago, in a maner glorieth
saying this verse.
/f&«A I* l* my won* alwaies my bowe with me to beare
The schole of shoting. 1 7
Therfore a learned man ought not to much to be ashamed to
beare that some tyme, whiche Apollo god of lerning him selfe
was not ashamed always to beare. And bycause ye woulde
haue a man wayt vpon the Muses, and not at all medle with
shotyng I maruell that you do not remembre howe that the ix.
muses their selfe as sone as they were borne, wer put to norse
to a lady called Euphemis whiche had a son named Erotus with
whome the nine Muses for his excellent shootinge, kepte euer
more companie wlall, & vsed dayly to shoote togither in ye
mount Pernasus : and at last it chauced this Erotus to dye,
whose death the Muses lamented greatly, and fell all vpon theyr
knees afore lupiter theyr father, and at theyr request, Erotus
for shooting with the Muses in earth was made a signe, and
called Sagittarius in heauen. Therfore you se, that if Apollo
and the Muses either were examples in dede, or onelye fayned
of wise men to be examples of learninge, honest shoting maye
well ynough be companion with honest studie. PHI. Well
Toxophile, if you haue no stronger defence of shotinge then
Poetes, I feare yf your companions which loue shotinge, hearde
you, they wolde thinke you made it but a triflyng and fabling
matter, rather then any other man that loueth not shotinge
coulde be persuaded by this reason to loue it. TOXO. Euen
as I am not so fonde but I knowe that these be fables, so I am
sure you be not so ignoraunt, but you knowe what suche noble
wittes as the Poetes had, ment by such matters : which often-
tymes vnder the couering of a fable, do hyde & wrappe in goodlie
preceptes of philosophic, with the true Judgement of thinges.
Whiche to be true speciallye in Homer and Euripides, Plato,
Aristotle and Galene playnelye do shewe : when through all
their workes (in a maner) they determine all cotrouersies, by
these .ii. Poetes and suche lyke authorities. Therfore if in this
matter I seme to fable, and nothynge proue, I am content you
iudge so on me : seinge the same iudgement shal condemne
with me Plato, Aristotle, and Galene, whom in that errour I
am wel content to folowe. If these oulde examples proue
nothing for shoting, what saye you to this ? that the best learned
and sagest men in this Realme, whiche be nowe alyue, both loue
shoting and vse shoting, as the best learned bisshoppes that be :
amonges whome Philologe, you your selfe knowe .iiii. or .v.
which as in all good learning, vertue and sagenesse they gyue
1 8 Toxophilus. A.
other men example what thing they shoulde do, euen so by
their shoting, they playnely shewe what honest pastime, other
me giue to learning, may honestly vse. That ernest studie
must be recreated with honest pastime sufficientlye I haue
proued afore, both by reason and authoritie of the best learned
men that euer wrote. Then seing pastymes be lefull, the
moost fittest for learning, is to be sought for. A pastyme,
. saith Aristotle, must be lyke a medicine. Medi-
cines stande by contraries, therfore the nature of
studying considered, the fittest pastyme shal soone appeare. In
studie euery parte of the body is ydle, which thing causeth grosse
and colde humours, to gather togyther & vexe scholers verye
moche, the mynde is altogyther bent and set on worke. A
pastyme then must be had where euery parte of the bodye must
be laboured to separate and lessen suche humours withal : the
mind must be vnbent, to gather & fetche againe his quicknesse
withall. Thus pastymes for the mynde onelye, be nothing fit
for studentes, bycause the body which is moost hurte by studie,
shulde take away no profyte at all thereat. This knewe Erasmus
verye well, when he was here in Cambrige : which when he
had ben sore at his boke (as Garret our bookebynder hath verye
ofte tolde me) for lacke of better exercise, wolde take his horse,
and ryde about the markette hill, and come agayne. If a
scholer shoulde vse bowles or tennies, the laboure is to vehe-
ment and vnequall, whiche is codempned of Galene : the
example very ill for other men, when by so manye actes they
be made vnlawfull.
Running, leaping, and coyting be to vile for scholers, and
so not fit by Aristotle his iudgement : walking alone into the
felde, hath no token of courage in it, a pastyme
jfcTT'i? ^ke a s'mP^e man wmch is neither flesh nor fisshe.
Therfore if a man woulde haue a pastyme hole-
some and equall for euerye parte of the bodye, pleasaunt and full
of courage for the mynde, not vile and vnhoneste to gyue ill
example to laye men, not kepte in gardynes and corners, not
lurkynge on the nyght and in holes, but euermore in the face
of men, either to rebuke it when it doeth ill, or els to testifye
on it when it doth well : let him seke chefelye of all other for
shotynge. PHILOL. Suche commune pastymes as men com-
menlye do vse, I wyll not greatlye allowe to be fit for scholers :
The schole of shoting. 19
seinge they maye vse suche exercises verye well (I suppose)
as Galene him selfe doth allowe. TOXOPH.
Those exercises I remembre verye well, for I tuend. 2.
read them within these two dayes, of the whiche,
some be these : to runne vp and downe an hyll, to clyme vp a
longe powle, or a rope, and there hange a while, to holde a man
by his armes and waue with his heeles, moche lyke the pastyme
that boyes vse in the churche whe their master is awaye, to
swinge and totter in a belrope: to make a fiste, and stretche out
bothe his armes, and so stande lyke a roode. To go on a man
his tiptoes, stretching out thone of his armes forwarde, the
other backewarde, which if he blered out his tunge also, myght
be thought to daunce Anticke verye properlye. To tuble ouer
and ouer, to toppe ouer tayle : To set backe to backe, and se
who ca heaue an other his heles highest, with other moche like :
whiche exercises surelye muste nedes be naturall, bycause they
be so childisshe, and they may be also holesome for the body :
but surely as for pleasure to the minde or honestie in the doinge
of them, they be as lyke shotinge as Yorke is foule Sutton.
Therfore to loke on al pastymes and exercises holsome for the
bodye, pleasaunt for the mynde, comlye for euery man to do,
honest for all other to loke on, profitable to be sette by of
euerye man, worthie to be rebuked of no man, fit for al ages
persos and places, onely shoting shal appeare, wherin all these
commodities maye be founde.
PHIL. To graunt Toxophile, that studentes may at tymes
conuenient vse shoting as moost holsome and honest pastyme :
yet to do as some do, to shote hourly daylie, wekelye, and in
a maner the hole yere, neither I can prayse, nor any wyse
man wyl alowe, nor you your selfe can honestlye defende.
TOXOPH. Surely Philologe, I am very glad to se you come
to that poynte that moost lieth in your stomake, and greueth
you and other so moche. But I truste after I haue sayd my
mynde in this matter, you shal cofesse your selfe that you do
rebuke this thing more tha ye nede, rather then you shal fynde
that any man may spende by anye possibilittie, more tyme in
shotinge then he ought. For first and formoost the hole tymc
is deuyded into .ii. partes, the daye and the night : whereof the
night maye be both occupyed in many honest businesses, and
also spent in moche vnthriftinesse, but in no wise it can be
B 2
20 Toxophilus. A.
applyed to shoting. And here you se that halfe oure tyme,
graunted to all other thinges in a maner both good and ill, is at
one swappe quite taken awaye from shoting. Now let vs go
forward, and se how moche of halfe this tyme of ours is spet in
shoting. The hole yere is deuided into .iiii. partes, Spring
tyme, Somer, faule of the leafe, and winter wherof the whole
winter, for the roughnesse of it, is cleane taken away from
shoting : except it be one day amonges .xx. or one yeare
amonges .xl. In Somer, for the feruent heate, a man maye
saye likewyse : except it be somtyme agaynst night. Now
then spring tyme and faule of the leafe be those which we
abuse in shoting. But if we consider how mutable & chaunge-
able the wether is in those seasons, and howe that Aristotle him
selfe sayth, that mooste parte of rayne fauleth in these two
tymes : we shall well perceyue, that where a man wolde shote
one daye, he shall be fayne to leaue of .iiii. Now when tyme
it selfe grauteth vs but a litle space to shote in, lette vs se if
shoting be not hindered amonges all kyndes of men as moche
otherwayes. First, yong childre vse not, yong men for feare of
them whom they be vnder to moche dare not : sage men for
other greater businesses, wyll not : aged men for lacke of
strengthe, can not : Ryche men for couetousnesse sake, care
not : poore men for cost and charge, may not : masters for their
housholde keping, hede not : seruautes kept in by their maisters
very oft, shall not : craftes men for getting of their lyuing, verye
moche leysure haue not : and many there be that oft beginnes,
but for vnaptnesse proues not : and moost of all, whiche when
they be shoters gyue it ouer and lyste not, so that generallye
men euerye where for one or other consideration moche shoting
vse not. Therfore these two thinges, straytenesse of tyme,
and euery man his trade of liuing, are the causes that so fewe
men shotes : as you maye se in this greate towne, where as
there be a thousande good mens bodies, yet scarse .x. yl vseth
any great shoting. And those whome you se shote the moost,
with how many thinges are the[y] drawen, or rather driuen, fro
shoting. For first, as it is many a yere or they begyn to be
greate shoters, euen so the greate heate of shotinge is gone
within a yere or two : as you knowe diuerse Philologe your
selfe, which were sometyme the best shoters, and now they be
the best studentes.
T'he schole of shoting. 2 1
If a man faule sycke, farewell shoting, maye fortune as
long as he lyueth. If he haue a wrentche, or haue take colde
in his arme, he may hang vp his bowe (I warraunt you) for
one season. A litle blayne, a small cutte, yea a silie poore
worme in his finger, may kepe him from shoting wel ynough.
Breaking and ill luck in bowes I wyll passe ouer, with an
hudred mo sere thinges, whiche chaunceth euerye daye to them
that shote moost, wherof the leest of them may compell a man
to leaue shoting. And these thinges be so trewe and euident,
that it is impossible either for me craftelye to fayne them, or
els for you iustly to deny the. Tha seing how many hundred
thinges are required altogyther to giue a man leaue to shote,
and any one of the denied, a ma can not shote : and seing
euery one of them maye chaunce, and doth chaunce euery
day, I meruayle anye wyse man wyll thynke it possible, that
any greate tyme can be spent in shoting at all.
PHI. If this be true that you saye Toxophile, and F
in very dede I can denye nothinge of it, I meruayle greatly
how it chaunceth, that those, whiche vse shoting be so
moche marked of men, and ofttymes blamed for it, and yl in
a maner as moche as those which pleye at cardes
and disc. And I shal tell you what I hearde spoken Ca^dd se
of the same matter. A man no shoter, (not
longe agoo) wolde defende playing at cardes & disc, if it were
honestly vsed, to be as honest a pastime as youre shotinge :
For he layed for him, that a man might pleye for a litle at
cardes and dyse, and also a man might shote away all that euer
he had. He sayd a payre of cardes cost not past .ii.d. and that
they neded not so moche reparation as bowe and shaftes, they
wolde neuer hurte a man his hande, nor neuer weare his gere.
A man shulde neuer slee a man with shoting wyde at the cardes.
In wete and drye, hote and coulde, they woulde neuer forsake
a man, he shewed what great varietie there is in them for
euerye mans capacitie : if one game were harde, he myght
easelye learne an other : if a man haue a good game, there is
greate pleasure in it : if he haue an ill game, the payne is shorte,
for he maye soone gyue it ouer, and hope for a better : with
many other mo reasons. But at the last he concluded, that
betwixt playinge and shoting, well vsed or ill vsed, there was
no difference : but that there was lesse coste and trouble, and
a greate deale more pleasure in playing, then in shotynge.
22 Toxophttus. A.
TOX. I can not deny, but shoting (as all other good thinges)
may be abused. And good thinges vngoodlye vsed, are not
good, sayeth an honorable bishoppe in an ernester matter then
this is : yet we muste beware that we laye not mennes faultes
vpo the thing which is not worthie, for so nothing shulde be
good. And as for shoting, it is blamed and marked of men for
that thing (as I sayde before) which shoulde be rather a token
of honestie to prayse it, then any signe of noughtinesse to
disalowe it, and that is bycause it is in euerye man his sight,
it seketh no corners, it hydeth it not : if there be neuer so litle
fault in it, euerye man seeth it, it accuseth it selfe. For one
houre spente in shoting is more sene and further talked of, then
.xx. nightes spent in dysing, euen as a litle white stone is sene
amonges .iii. hundred blacke. Of those that blame shotinge
and shoters, I wyll saye nomore at this tyme but this, that
beside that they stoppe and hinder shoting, which the kinges
grace wolde haue forwarde, they be not moche vnlyke in this
poynt to Wyll' Somer the king his foole, which smiteth him
that standeth alwayes before his face, be he neuer so worshipfull
a man, and neuer greatly lokes for him whiche lurkes behinde
an other man his backe, that hurte him in dede.
But to him that compared gamning with shoting somewhat
wyll I answere, and bycause he went afore me in a coparison :
and comparisons sayth learned men, make playne matters: I
wyl surely folowe him in the same. Honest thynges (sayeth
Plato) be knowen from vnhonest thinges, by this
"* difference, vnhonestie hath euer present pleasure
in it, hauing neyther good pretence going before, nor yet any
profit folowing after ; which saying descrybeth generallye, bothe
the nature of shooting & gamning whiche is good, and which
is euyl, verie well.
Gamninge hath ioyned with it, a vayne presente pleasure,
but there foloweth, losse of name, losse of goodes, and winning
of an hundred gowtie, dropsy diseases, as euery man can tell.
Shoting is a peynfull pastime, wherof foloweth health of body
quiknes of witte, habilitie to defende cure countrye, as our
enemies can beare recorde.
Loth I am to compare these thinges togyther, & yet I do
it not bicause there is any comparison at al betwixte them, but
therby a man shal se how good the one is, howe euil the other.
T'/ie schole of s hating. 23
For I thinke ther is scarse so muche contrariousnes, betwixte
hotte and colde, vertue & vice, as is betwixte these .ii. thinges:
For what so euer is in the one, the cleane contrarye is in the
other, as shall playnlye appere, if we consider, bothe theyr
beginnynges, theyr encreasynges, theyr fructes, and theyr endes,
whiche I wyl soone rydde ouer.
C The fyrste brynger in to the worlde of shootynge, was
Apollo, whiche for his wisdome, & great com- .
modities, brought amonges men by him, was estemed
worthie, to be counted as a God in heauen. Disyng surely is
a bastarde borne, because it is said to haue .ii. fathers, and yet
bothe noughte : The one was an vngracious God,
called Theuth^ which for his noughtines, came inPhedro
neuer in other goddes companyes, and therfore
Homer doth despise onse to name him, in all his workes. The
other father was a Lydian borne, whiche people
for suche gamnes, and other vnthriftines, as
boowlyng and hauntyng of tauernes, haue bene
euer had in most vile reputation, in all storyes and writers.
The Fosterer vp of shoting is Labour, ye companion of
vertue, the maynteyner of honestie, the encreaser of health and
welthinesse, whiche admytteth nothinge in a maner in to his
companye, that standeth not, with vertue and honestie, and
therefore sayeth the oulde poete Epicharmus very pretelye in
Xenophon, that God selleth vertue, & all other
good thinges to men for labour. The Nource of
disc and cardes, is werisom Ydlenesse, enemy of
vertue, ye drowner of youthe, that tarieth in it, and as Chauser
doth saye verie well in the Parsons tale, the greene path waye
to hel, hauinge this thing appropriat vnto it, that where as
other vices haue some cloke of honestie, onely ydlenes can
neyther do wel, nor yet thinke wel. Agayne, shooting hath
two Tutours to looke vpon it, out of whose companie, shooting
neuer stirreth, the one called Daye light, ye other Open place,
whyche .ii. keepe shooting from euyl companye, and suffers
it not to haue to much swinge, but euermore kepes it vnder
awe, that it darre do nothyng in the open face of the worlde,
but that which is good and honest. Lykewyse, dysinge and
cardynge, haue .ii. Tutours, the one named Solitariousenes,
whyche lurketh in holes and corners, the other called Night an
24 Toxophilus. A.
vngratiouse couer of noughtynesse, whyche two thynges be very
Inkepers & receyuers of all noughtynesse and noughtye thinges,
and therto they be in a maner, ordeyned by Nature. For on
the nighte tyme & in corners, Spirites and theues, rattes and mise,
toodes and oules, nyghtecrowes and poulcattes, foxes and
foumerdes, with all other vermine, and noysome beastes, vse
mooste styrringe, when in the daye lyght, and in open places
whiche be ordeyned of God for honeste thynges, they darre not
ones come, whiche thinge Euripides noted verye well, sayenge.
// thinges the night, good thinges the daye doth haunt & vse.
Jphi. i Tau.
Companions of shoting, be prouidens, good heed giuing,
true meatinge, honest comparison, whyche thinges agree with
vertue very well. Cardinge and dysinge, haue a sorte of good
felowes also, goynge commonly in theyr companye, as blynde
Fortune, stumbling chaunce, spittle lucke, false dealyng, crafty
conueyaunce, braynlesse brawlynge, false forswerynge, whiche
good feloes wyll sone take a man by the sleue, and cause him
take his Inne, some wl beggerye, some wyth goute & dropsie,
some with thefte and robbery, & seldome they wyl leaue a man
before he comme eyther to hangyng or els somme other
extreme misery. To make an ende, howe shoting by al mennes
lawes hath bene alowed, cardyng and dysing by al mennes
iudgementes condemned, I nede not shewe the matter is so
playne.
Therfore, whan the Lydians shall inuent better thinges
than Apollo, when slothe and ydlenes shall encrease vertue
more than labour, whan the nyghte and lurking corners, giueth
lesse occasion to vnthriftinesse, than lyght daye and opennes,
than shal shotynge and suche gamninge, be in sume comparison
lyke. Yet euen as I do not shewe all the goodries, whiche is in
shotynge, whan I proue it standeth by the same thinges that
vertue it selfe standeth by, as brought in by God, or Godlyelyke
men, fostered by labour, committed to the sauegarde of lyght
and opennes, accompanied with prouision and diligens, loued
and allowed by euery good mannes sentence, Euen lykewyse
do I not open halfe the noughtines whiche is in cardyng &
dising, whan I shewe howe they are borne of a desperate mother,
norished in ydlenes, encresed by licence of nyght and corners,
The schole of shoting. 25
accompanied wyth Fortune, chaunce, deceyte, & craftines:
condemned and banished, by all lawes & iudgementes.
For if I woulde enter, to descrybe the monstruousenes of
it, I shoulde rather wander in it, it is so brode, than haue any
readye passage to the ende of the matter : whose horriblenes is
so large, that it passed the eloquence of oure Englyshe Homer,
to compasse it : yet because I euer thought hys sayinges to haue
as muche authoritie, as eyther Sophocles or Euripides in Greke,
therfore gladly do I remembre these verses of hys.
Hasardry is Pery mother of ksinges,
And of deceyte, and cursed sweringes,
Blasphemie of Ch[r~\ist, manslaughter, and waste also,
Of catel of tyme, of other thynges mo.
11 Mother of lesinges) trulye it maye well be called so, if a
man consydre howe manye wayes, and how many thinges, he
loseth thereby, for firste he loseth his goodes, he loseth his
tyme, he loseth quycknes of wyt, and all good lust to other
thinges, he loseth honest companye, he loseth his good name
and estimation, and at laste, yf he leaue it not, loseth God, &
heauen and all : and in stede of these thinges winneth at length,
eyther hangyng or hell.
U And of deceyte) I trowe if I shoulde not lye, there is not
halfe so muche crafte vsed in no one thinge in the worlde, as in
this cursed thynge. What false disc vse they? as disc stopped
with quicksiluer and heares, disc of a vauntage, flattes, gourdes
to chop and chaunge whan they lyste, to lette the trew disc fall
vnder the table, & so take vp the false, and if they be true disc,
what shyfte wil they make to set ye one of them with slyding,
with cogging, with foysting, with coytinge as they call it.
Howe wyll they vse these shiftes, whan they get a playne man
that can no skyll of them ? Howe will they go about, yf they
perceyue an honest man haue money, which list not playe, to
prouoke him to playe ? They wyl seke his company, they wil
let hym paye nought, yea and as I hearde a man ones saye that
he dyd, they wil send for hym to some house & spend
perchaunce, a crown on him, and at last wyll one begin to saye :
what my masters, what shall we do? shall euerye man playe his
.xii. d. whyles an apple roste in the fyre, and than we wyll
drinke & departe: Naye wyl an other saye, as false as he, you
26 T'oxophilus. A.
can not leaue whan you begyn, and therfore I wyll not playe:
but yet yf you wyll gage, that euery man as he hath lost his
.xii. d. shall sit downe, I am content, for surely I woulde winne
no mannes money here, but euen as much as wolde paye for
mye supper. Than speketh the thyrde, to the honest man that
thought not to playe, what wylle you playe your .xii. pence if
he excuse hym, tush man wyll the other saye, sticke not in
honest company for xii. d. I wyll beare your halfe, and here
is my mony.
Nowe al this is to make him to beginne, for they knowe if
he be ones in, and be a looser, yl he wyl not sticke at his .xii.
d. but hopeth euer to gette it agayne, whiles perhaps, he loose
all. Than euery one of them setteth his shiftes abroche, some
wl false disc, some wyth settynge of dyse, some with hauinge
outelandishe syluer coynes guylded, to put away at a tyme for
good gold. Than yf ther come a thing in controuersie, muste
you be Judged by the table, and than farewell the honest man
hys parte, for he is borne downe on euerye syde.
Nowe sir, besyde all these thinges they haue certayne
termes, as a man woulde saye, appropriate to theyr playing :
wherby they wyl drawe a mannes money, but paye none,
whiche they cal barres, that surely he that knoweth them not,
maye soone be debarred of all that euer he hath, afore he lerne
them. Yf a playne man lose, as he shall do euer, or els it is a
wonder, than the game is so deuilysh, that he can neuer leaue :
For vayn hope (which hope sayth Euripides, destroyeth many
a man and Citie) dryueth hym on so farre, that
In supph. ' J , . J iii 11
he can neuer retourne backe, vntyl he be so lyght,
that he nede feare no theues by the waye. Nowe if a simple
man happen onse in his lyfe, to win of suche players, than will
they eyther entreate him to kepe them company whyles he
hath lost all agayne, or els they will vse the moste dyuellyshe
fashion of all, For one of the players that standeth nexte him,
shall haue a payre of false disc, and cast them out vpon the
bourde, the honest man shall take them & cast them, as he did
the other, the thirde shall espye them to be false disc, and shall
crye oute, haroe, wyth all the othes vnder God, that he hath
falselye wonne theyr moneye, and than there is nothynge but
houlde thy throte from my dagger, than euery man layeth
hande on the simple man, and taketh all theyr moneye from
'The schole of shoting. 27
him, and his owne also, thinking himselfe wel, that he scapeth
with his lyfe.
Cursed swerying, blasphemie of Christe.} These halfe verses
Chaucer in an other place, more at large doth well set out, and
verye liuely expresse, sayinge.
Ey by goddes precious hert and his nayles
dnd by the blood of Christe, that is in
Seuen is my chaunce, and thine is sinke and treye,
Ey goddes armes, if thou falsly playe,
This dagger shall thorough thine herte go
This frute commeth of the becked boones twoo
Forsweringe^ Ire, falsnes and Homicide. &c.
Thoughe these verses be very ernestlie wrytten, yet they do
not halfe so grisely sette out the horyblenes of blasphemy, which
suche gamners vse, as it is in dede, and as I haue hearde my
selfe. For no man can wryte a thing so earnestlye, as whan it
is spoke wyth iesture, as learned men you knowe do saye.
Howe will you thinke that suche furiousenes wyth woode
countenaunces, and brenning eyes, with staringe and bragging,
with heart redie to leape out of the belly for swelling, can be
expressed ye tenth part, to the vttermost. Two men I herd
my selfe, whose sayinges be far more grisely, than Chaucers
verses. One, whan he had lost his moneye, sware me God,
from top to toe with one breath, that he had lost al his money
for lacke of sweringe : The other, losyng his money, and
heaping othes vpon othes, one in a nothers necke, moost
horrible & not spekeable, was rebuked of an honest man whiche
stode, by for so doynge, he by and by starynge him in the face,
and clappyng his fiste with all his moneye he had, vpon the
boorde, sware me by the flesshe of God, that yf sweryng woulde
helpe him but one ace, he woulde not leue one pece of god
vnsworne, neyther wythin nor without. The remembrauce of
this blasphemy Philologe, doth make me quake at the hart,
& therefore I wyll speake no more of it.
And so to conclude wyth suche gamnying, I thynke there
is no vngraciousenes in all thys worlde, that carieth so far from
god, as thys faulte doth. And yf there were anye so desperate
a persone, that woulde begynne his hell here in earth, I trowe
he shoulde not fynde hell more lyke hell it selfe, then the lyfe
28 Toxophilus. A.
of those men is which dayly haunt and vse suche vngracious
games. PHIL. You handle this gere in dede : And I suppose
if ye had ben a prentice at suche games, you coulde not haue
sayd more of them then you haue done, and by lyke you haue had
somwhat to do with them. TOX. In dede, you may
honestlye gather that I hate them greatly, in that I speake
agaynst them : not that I haue vsed them greatlye, in that
I speake of them. For thynges be knowen dyuerse wayes, as
Socrates (you knowe) doeth proue in Alcibiades. And if euery
man shulde be that, that he speaketh or wryteth vpo, then
shulde Homer haue bene the best capitayne, moost cowarde,
hardye, hasty, wyse and woode, sage and simple : And Terence
an ouldeman & a yong, an honest man and a bawde : with
suche lyke. Surelye euerye man ought to praye to God dayly,
to kepe them fro suche unthriftynesse, and speciallye all the
youth of Englande : for what youth doth begynne, a man wyll
folowe comonlye, euen to his dyinge daye :
Euripides \vhiche thinge Adrastus in Euripides pretelye
in supph. . }
doth expresse, saymge.
What thing a man in tender age hath most in vre
That same to death alwayes to kepe he ska/ be sure
Therfore in age who greatly longes good frute to mowe
In youth he must him selfe aplye good seede to sowe.
For the foundation of youth well sette (as Plato doth saye)
the whole bodye of the commune wealth shal floryshe therafter.
If the yonge tree growe croked, when it is oulde, a man shal
rather breake it tha streyght it. And I thinke there is no one
thinge yl crokes youth more then suche vnlefull games. Nor
let no ma say, if they be honestly vsed they do no harme. For
how can that pastyme whiche neither exerciseth the bodye with
any honest labour, nor yet the minde with any honest thinking,
haue any honestie ioyned with it. Nor let noman assure hym
selfe that he can vse it honestlye : for if he stande therein, he
may fortune haue a faule, the thing is more slipperye then he
knoweth of. A man maye (I graunt) syt on a brante hyll syde,
but if he gyueneuer so lytle forwarde, he can not stoppe though
he woulde neuer so fayne, but he must nedes runne heedling,
he knoweth not how farre. What honest pretences, vayne
pleasure layeth dayly (as it were entisemetes or baytes, to pull
The schole of shoting. 29
men forwarde withall) Homer doeth well shewe, by the Sirenes,
and Circes. And amonges all in that shyp there was but one
Vlysses, and yet he hadde done to as the other dyd, yf a
goddesse had not taught hym : And so lykewyse I thinke, they
be easye to numbre, whiche passe by playing honestlye, excepte
the grace of God saue and kepe them. Therfore they that
wyll not go to farre in playing, let them folowe this cousell of
the Poete.
Stoppe the begynninges.
PHILOLO. Well, or you go any further, I pray you tell me
this one thing : Doo ye speake agaynste meane mennes playinge
onelye, or agaynste greate mennes playinge to, or put you anye
difference betwixte them ? TOXOPHI. If I shulde excuse
my selfe herein, and saye that I spake of the one, and not of
the other, I feare leaste I shoulde as fondlye excuse my selfe, as
a certayne preacher dyd, whome I hearde vpon a tyme speake
agaynste manye abuses, (as he sayde) and at last he spake
agaynst candelles, and then he fearynge, least some men woulde
haue bene angrye and offended with him, naye sayeth he, you
must take me as I meane : I speake not agaynst greate candelles,
but agaynst lytle candels, for they be not all one (q>he) I promyse
you : And so euerye man laughed him to scorne.
In dede as for greate men, and greate mennes matters, I lyst
not greatlye to meddle. Yet this I woulde wysshe that all
great men in Englande had red ouer diligentlye the Pardoners
tale in Chaucer, and there they shoulde perceyue and se, howe
moche suche games stande with theyr worshyppe, howe great
soeuer they be. What great men do, be it good or yll, meane
men communelye loue to followe, as many learned men in many
places do saye, and daylye experience doth playnelye shewe, in
costlye apparell and other lyke matters.
Therfore, seing that Lordes be lanternes to leade the lyfe
of meane men, by their example, eyther to goodnesse or
badnesse, to whether soeuer they liste : and seinge also they
haue libertie to lyste what they will, I pray God they haue will
to list that which is good, and as for their playing, I wyll make
an ende with this saying of Chaucer.
Lordes might finde them other maner of pleye
Honest ynough to driue the daye aivaye.
30 cToxophilus. A.
But to be shorte, the best medicine for all sortes of men
both high and lowe, yonge and oulde, to put awaye suche
vnlawfull games is by the contrarye, lykewyse as all physicions
do alowe in physike. So let youthe in steade of suche vnlefull
games, whiche stande by ydlenesse, by solitarinesse, and corners,
by night and darkenesse, by fortune & chaunce, by crafte and
subtiltie, vse suche pastimes as stand by labour : vpon the daye
light, in open syght of men, hauynge suche an ende as is come
to by coning, rather then by crafte : and so shulde vertue
encrease, and vice decaye. For contrarye pastimes, must nedes
worke contrary mindes in men, as all other contrary thinges
doo.
And thus we se Philologe, that shoting is not onely the
moost holesome exercise for the bodye, the moost honest pastime
for the mynde, and that for all sortes of men : But also it is a
moost redy medicine, to purge the hole realme of suche pestilent
gamning, wherw1 many tymes it is sore troubled and ill at
ease.
PHI. The more honestie you haue proued by shoting
Toxophile, and the more you haue perswaded me to loue it, so
moche truly the soryer haue you made me with this last sentence
of yours, wherby you plainly proue that a man maye not
greatly vse it. For if shoting be a medicine (as you saye that
it is) it maye not be vsed very oft, lest a man shuld hurt him
selfe with all, as medicines moche occupyed doo. For Aristotle
him selfe sayeth, that medicines be no meate to lyue withall : and
thus shoting by the same reason, maye not be moche occupyed.
TOX. You playe your oulde wontes Philologe, in dalying
with other mens wittes, not so moche to proue youre owne
matter, as to proue what other me can say. But where you
thinke that I take awaye moche vse of shoting, in lykening it
to a medicine : bycause men vse not medicines euery daye, for
so shoulde their bodyes be hurt : I rather proue daylye vse of
shoting therby. For although Aristotle sayeth that some
medicines be no meate to lyue withall, whiche is true : Yet
Hippocrates sayth that our daylye meates be
medicines, to withstande euyll withall, whiche is
as true. For he maketh two kyndes of medicines,
one our meate that we vse dailye, whiche purgeth softlye and
slowlye, and in this similitude maye shoting be called a medicine,
T'he schole of shoting. 3 1
wherwith dayly a man maye purge and take away al vnlefull de-
syres to other vnlefull pastymes, as I proued before. The other is
a quicke purging medicine, and seldomer to be occupyed, excepte
the matter be greater, and I coulde describe the nature of a quicke
medicine, which shoulde within a whyle purge and plucke oute all
the vnthriftie games in the Realme, through which the commune
wealth oftentymes is sycke. For not onely good quicke wittes
to learnyng be thereby brought out of frame, and quite marred :
but also manlye wittes, either to attempt matters of high courage
in warre tyme, or els to atcheue matters of weyght and wisdome
in peace tyme, be made therby very quaisie and faynt. For
loke throughoute all histories written in Greke, Latyne, or other
language, and you shal neuer finde that realme prosper in the
whiche suche ydle pastymes are vsed. As concerning the
medicyne, although some wolde be miscontent, if they hearde
me meddle anye thynge with it : Yet betwixte you and me
here alone, I maye the boldlyer saye my fantasie, and the rather
bycause I wyll onelye wysh for it, whiche standeth with
honestie, not determyne of it which belongeth to authoritie.
The medicine is this, that wolde to God and the kynge, all
these vnthriftie ydle pastymes, whiche be very bugges, that the
Psalme meaneth on, walking on the nyght and in
corners, were made felonye, and some of that
punyshment ordeyned for them, which is appoynted for the
forgers and falsifyers of the kynges coyne. Which punishment
is not by me now inuented, but longe agoo, by
the mooste noble oratour Demosthenes : which
meruayleth greatly that deathe is appoynted for
falsifyers and forgers of the coyne, and not as greate punysh-
mente ordeyned for them, whiche by theyr meanes forges and
falsifyes the commune wealthe. And I suppose that there is
no one thyng that chaungeth sooner the golden and syluer
wyttes of men into copperye & brassye wayes then dising and
suche vnlefull pastymes.
And this quicke medicine I beleue wolde so throwlye pourge
them, that the daylye medicines, as shoting and other pastymes
ioyned with honest labour shoulde easelyer withstande them.
PHIL. The excellent commodityes of shotynge in peace tyme,
Toxophile, you haue very wel and sufficiently declared. Wherby
you haue so persuaded me, that God wyllyng hereafter I wyll
32 Toxophilus. A.
both loue it the better, and also vse it the ofter. For as moche
as I can gather of all this communication of ours, the tunge,
the nose, the handes and the feete be no fytter membres, or
instrumentes for the body of a man, then is shotinge for the
hole bodye of the realme. God hath made the partes of men
which be best and moost neccessarye, to serue, not for one
purpose onelye, but for manye : as the tungue for speaking and
tasting, the nose for smelling, and also for auoyding of all
excremetes, which faule oute of the heed, the handes for
receyuynge of good thinges, and for puttyng of all harmefull
thinges, from the bodye. So shotinge is an exercyse of healthe,
a pastyme of honest pleasure, and suche one also that stoppeth
or auoydeth all noysome games gathered and encreased by ill
rule, as noughtye humours be, whiche hurte and corrupte sore
that parte of the realme, wherin they do remayne.
But now if you can shewe but halfe so moche profyte in
warre of shotynge, as you haue proued pleasure in peace, then
wyll I surelye Judge that there be fewe thinges that haue so
manifolde commodities, and vses ioyned vnto them as it hath.
Q TOX. The vpperhande in warre, nexte the goodnesse of
God (of whome al vidlorie commeth, as scripture sayth)
standeth chefelye in thre thinges : in the wysedome of the
Prince, in the sleyghtes and pollicies of the
Mach. i. 3. j • L j L £ 11
capitaynes, and in the strength and cherefull
forwardnesse of the souldyers. A Prince in his herte must
be full of mercy and peace, a vertue moost pleasaunt to Christ,
moost agreable to mans nature, moost profy table for ryche
and poore.
For tha the riche man enioyeth with great pleasure that
which he hath : the poore may obtayne with his labour, that
which he lacketh. And although there is nothing worse then
war, wherof it taketh his name, through the which great men
be in daunger, meane men without succoure, ryche men in
feare, bycause they haue somwhat : poore men in care, bycause
they haue nothing : And so euery man in thought and miserie :
Yet it is a ciuill medicine, wherewith a prince maye from the
bodye of his commune wealth, put of that daunger whiche maye
faule: or elles recouer agayne, whatsoeuer it hath lost. And
AdNico therfore as Isocrates doth saye, a prince must be
a warriour in two thinges, in conninge and know-
The schole of shoting. 33
ledge of all sleyghtes and feates of warre, and in hauing al
necessarye habilimentes belongyng to the same. Whiche matter
to entreate at large, were ouerlonge at this tyme to declare, &
ouermoche for my learning to perfourme.
After the wisdome of the prince, are valiaunt capitaynes
moost necessary in warre, whose office and dutye is to knowe
all sleightes and pollicies for all kyndes of warre, which they
maye learne .ii. wayes, either in daylye folowing and haunting
the warres or els bicause wisdome bought with strypes, is many
tymes ouercostlye : they maye bestowe some tyme in Vegetius,
which entreateth suche matters in Latin metelye well, or rather
in Polyenus, and Leo the Emperour, which setteth out al pollicies
and duties of capitaynes in the Greke tunge very excellentlye.
But chefely I wolde wisshe and (if I were of authoritie) I wolde
counsel al the yong gentlemen of this realme, neuer to lay out
of theyr handes .ii. authors Xenophon in Greke, and Cesar in
Latyn, where in they shulde folowe noble Scipio
Africanus, as Tullie doeth saye: In whiche .ii.
authours, besydes eloquence a thing moste necessary of all
other, for a captayne, they shulde learne the hole course of
warre, whiche those .ii. noble menne dyd not more wyselye
wryte for other men to learne, than they dyd manfully excercise
in the fyelde, for other men to folowe.
The strengthe of war lyeth in the souldier, whose chyefe
prayse and vertue, ' is obedience towarde his
captayne, sayth Plato. And Xenophon being a nf ^ce'
\ / i • • i plat- kg- it-
gentyle authour, moste chnstianlye doeth saye, Xen ^
euen by these woordes, that that souldyer whiche
firste serueth god, & than obeyeth hys captayne, maye boldelie
with all courage, hope to ouerthrowe his enemy. Agayne, wlout
obedience, neither valiant man, stout horse, nor
goodly harnes doth any good at al. Which obedi-
ence of ye souldier toward his captane, brought the hole empyre
of ye worlde, into the Romanes hades, & whan it was brought,
kepte it lenger, than euer it was kept in any comon welth
before or after.
And this to be true, Scipio Africanus, the moste noble
captayne that euer was amonge the Romaynes,
', , , & , I. Plutarchus
shewed very playnly, what tyme as he went in to
Afryke, to destroye Cartage. For he restinge hys hooste by
34 Toxophilus. A.
the waye in Sicilie, a daye or twoo, and at a tyme standing
with a great man of Sicilie, and looking on his souldiers howe
they exercised them selues in kepyng of araye, and other feates,
the gentleman of Sicilie asked Scipio, wherein laye hys chyefe
hope to ouercome Cartage: He answered, in yonder feloes of
myne, whom you se play: And why sayth the other, bycause
sayeth Scipio, that if I comaunded them to runne in to the
toppe of this high castel, and cast them selues doune backeward
vpon these rockes, I am sure the[y] woulde do it.
Salust also doth write, yl there were mo Romanes put to
death of theyr captaynes for setting on theyr
enemyes before they had licence, than were for
running away out of the fyelde, before they had foughten.
These two examples do proue, that amonges the Romaynes,
the obedience of the souldyer was wonderfull great, and the
seueritie of the Captaynes, to se the same kepte wonderfull
strayte. For they wel perceyued that an hoste full of obedyence,
falleth as seldome into the handes of theyr enemies as that
bod ye fawleth into Jeoperdye, the whiche is ruled by reason.
Reason and Rulers beynge lyke in offyce, (for the one ruleth
the body of man, the other ruleth the bodye of the comon
wealthe) ought to be lyke of condicions, and oughte to be
obeyed in all maner of matters. Obedience is nourysshed by
feare and loue, Feare is kepte in by true Justice and equitie,
Loue is gotten by wisdome, ioyned wl liberalitie : For where
a souldyer seeth ryghteousenesse so rule, that a man can neyther
do wronge nor yet take wronge, and that his capitayne for his
wysedome, can mayntayne hym, & for his liberalitie will
mayntayne him, he must nedes both loue him & feare him,
of the whiche procedeth true & vnfayned obedience. After
this inwarde vertue, the nexte good poynt in a souldier, is to
haue and to handle his weapo wel, whereof the one must be at
the appoyntment of the captayne, the other lyeth in the courage
and exercise of the souldier : yet of al weapos the best is, as
In Here fit. Euripides doth say, wherw* with leest dauger of
our self we maye hurt our enemy e moost. And
that is (as I suppose) artillarie. Artillarie now a dayes is taken
for .ii. thinges : Gunnes & Bowes, which how moch they do in
war, both dayly experience doeth teache, and also Peter Nanius
a learned man of Louayn, in a certayne dialoge doth very well
T'he schole of shoting. 35
set out, wherin this is most notable, that when he hath shewed
excedyng commodities of both, and some discomodities of
gunnes, as infinite cost and charge, combersome carriage : and
yf they be greate, the vncertayne leuelyng, the peryll of them
that stand by them, the esyer auoydyng by them that stande far
of: & yf they be lytle, the lesse both feare and ieoperdy is in
them, besyde all contrary wether and wynde, whiche hyndereth
them not a lytle : yet of all shotyng he can not reherse one
discommoditie. PHI. That I meruayle greatly at, seing
Nannius is so well learned, & so exercised in the authours
of both the tuges : for I my selfe do remembre that shotying
in war is but smally praysed, and that of diuers captaynes in
dyuers authors. For first in Euripides (whom you so highly
prayse) and very well, for Tullie thynketh euerye verse in him
to be an authoritie, what I praye you, doth Lycus that ouer-
came Thebes, say as concernyng shoting ? whose words as farre
as I remembre, be these, or not muche vnlyke.
What prayse hath he at al, whiche neuer durst abide,
The dint of a speares poynt thrust against bis side
Nor neuer bouldlie buckeler bare yet in his lefte hande
Face to face his enemies bront stiffelie to wythstande, Eurip.m
•n i i j i r 7 i • i Here, fur ent.
But a/way e trustetb to a bowe and to a jetbered sticke
Harnes euer most fit for him which to flie is quicke,
Bowe and shafte is Armoure metest for a cowarde
Which dare not ones abide the bronte of battel sharpe & horde.
But he a man of manhode most is by mine assent
Which with harte and corage boulde, fullie hath him bent,
His enemies looke in euery stoure floutelie to a bide,
Face to face, and fote to fote, tide what maye be tide.
Agayne Teucer the best Archer amonges all the Grecians,
in Sophocles is called of Menelaus, a boweman, &
a shooter as in villaynie and reproche, to be a ~£* *%
i • /- •• A it T-» i e> Aia. nag.
thing of no price in warre. Moreouer randar
the best shooter in the worlde, whome Apollo hym selfe
taught to shoote, bothe he and his shotynge is
quyte contemned in Homer, in so much that
Homer (which vnder a made fable doth alwayes hyde hys
Judgement of thinges) doeth make Pandarus him selfe crye out
of shooting, and cast his bowe awaye, and take him to a speare,
C 2
3 6 T'oxophilus . A.
makynge a vowe that if euer he came home, he woulde breake
his shaftes, & burne his bowe, lamentyng greatly, that he was
so fonde to leaue at home his horse and charyot wyth other
weapons, for the trust yt he had in his bowe. Homer signifieng
therby, that men shoulde leue shoting out of warre, and take
them to other wepons more fitte and able for the same, and I
trowe Pandarus woordes be muche what after thys sorte.
/// chaunce ill lucke me hyther broughte
III fortune me that daye befell,
Whan first my bowe fro the pynne I roughte
For Hettors sake, the Grekes to quell.
But yf that God so for me shap
That home agayne I maye ones come,
Let me neuer inioye that hap,
Nor euer twyse looke on the sonne,
If bowe and shaftes 1 do not burne
Whyche nowe so euel doth serue my turne.
But to let passe al Poetes, what can be sorer said agaynst
any thing, than the iudgement of Cyrus is agaynst shotynge,
whiche doth cause his Persians beyng the best
Iwi 6* shooters to laye awaye theyr bowes and take them
to sweardes and buckelers, speares and dartes, and
other lyke hande weapons. The which thing Xenophon so
wyse a philosopher, so experte a captayne in warre hym selfe,
woulde neuer haue written, and specially in that booke wherin
he purposed to shewe, as Tullie sayeth in dede, not the true
historic, but the example of a perfite wise prince
^Fra *"* anc* cornon welthe, excepte that iudgement of
chaugyng Artillerie, in to other wepons, he had
alwayes thought best to be folowed, in all warre. Whose
counsell the Parthians dyd folowe, whan they
JJ/M/f«/ chased Antonie ouer the moutaines of Media,
whiche being the best shoters of the worlde, lefte
theyr bowes, and toke them to speares and morispikes.
And these fewe examples I trowe, of the best shooters, do
well proue that the best shotinge is not the best thinge as you
call it in warre. TOX. As concernynge your first example,
taken oute of Euripides, I maruayle you wyl bring it for ye
The schole of shoting. 37
disprayse of shotyng, seyng Euripides doth make those verses,
not bicause he thinketh the true, but bicause he thinketh them
fit for the person that spake them. For in dede his true Judge-
ment of shoting, he doth expresse by & by after in the oratio of
the noble captaine Amphytrio agaynste Lycus, wherein a man
maye doubte, whether he hath more eloquentlye confuted
Lycus sayenge, or more worthelye sette oute the prayse of
shootynge. And as I am aduised, his woordes be muche
hereafter as I shall saye.
Against the wittie gifte of shotinge in a bowe
Fonde and leude woordes thou leudlie doest out throwe, Here fur
Whiche, if thou wilte heare of me a woorde or twayne
^uicklie thou mayst learne howe fondlie thou doest blame,
Firste he that with his harneis him selfe doth wal about,
That scarce is lefte one hole through which he may pepe out,
Such bondmen to their harneis to fight are nothinge mete
But sanest of al other are troden vnder fete.
Tf he be strange, his felovves faynt, in whome he putteth his trust,
So loded with his harneis must nedes lie in the dust,
Nor yet fro death he can not starte, if ones his weapon breke,
Howe stoute, howe strong, howe great, howe longe,
so euer be sue he a freke.
But who so euer can handle a bowe
sturdie stiffe and strange
Wherwith lyke hayle manie shaftes he shootes
into the thickest thronge :
This profite he takes, that standing a far
his enemie he maye spill
Whan he and his full safe shall stande
out of all daunger and ill.
And this in War is wisedome moste, which
workes our enemies woo.
Whan we shal be far from all feare
and ieoperdie of our foo.
Secondarily euen as I do not greatlye regarde what Menelaus
doth say in Sophocles to Teucer, bycause he spake it bothe in
anger, and also to hym that he hated, euen so doo I remembre
very well in Homer, that when Hector and the Troians woulde
38 Toxophilus. A.
haue set fyre on the greke shippes, Teucer with his bowe made
them recule backe agayne, when Menelaus tooke
hym to his feete, and ranne awaye.
Thirdlye as concerning Pandarus, Homer doth not disprayse
the noble gyfte of shotynge, but therby euery man is taught,
that whatsoeuer, and how good soeuer a weapon a man doth
vse in war, yf he be hym selfe a couetouse wretche,
Horn. IK. 5. a fafe ^^0^ Counsell, a peacebreaker as Pan-
darus was, at last he shall throughe the punishment of God fall
into his enemyes handes, as Pandarus dydde, whome Diomedes
throughe the helpe of Minerua miserablye slue.
And bycause you make mencion of Homer, & Troye
matters, what can be more prayse for anye thynge, I praye
you, than that is for shootyng, that Troye coulde neuer be
destroyed without the helpe of Hercules shaftes, whiche thinge
doeth signifie, that although al the worlde were gathered in an
army togyther, yet without shotinge they can neuer come to
theyr purpose, as Vlysses in Sophocles very plainlye doth saye
vnto Pyrrhus, as concernyng Hercules shaftes to be caried vnto
Troye.
Soph. phil. Nor you without them^ nor without you they do ought.
Fourthlye where as Cyrus dyd chaunge parte of his bowe-
men, wherof he had plentie, into other me of
^nsiif^tT warre, wherof he lacked, I will not greatlye
dispute whether Cyrus did well in that poynt in
those dayes or no, bycause it is not playne in Xenophon howe
strong shooters the Persians were, what bowes they had, what
shaftes and heades they occupyed, what kynde of warre theyr
enemies vsed.
But trulye as for the Parthians, it is playne, in Plutarche,
that in chaungyng theyr bowes in to speares, they
Anton ' brought theyr selfe into vtter destruction. For
when they had chased the Romaynes many a
myle, through reason of theyr bowes, at the last the Romaynes
ashamed of their fleing, and remembrynge theyr owlde noble-
nesse and courage, ymagined thys waye, that they woulde
kneele downe on theyr knees, and so couer all theyr body wyth
theyr shyldes and targattes, that the Parthians shaftes might
slyde ouer them, & do them no harme, whiche thing when the
The schole of shoting. 39
Partias perceyued, thinking that ye Romaynes were forweryed
with laboure, watche, and hugre : they layed downe their bowes,
and toke speres in their handes, and so ranne vpon them : but
the Romaynes perceyuinge them without their bowes, rose vp
manfully, and slewe them euery mother son, saue a fewe that
saued them selues with runnyng awaye. And herein our
archers of Englande far passe the Parthians, which for suche
a purpose, whe they shall come to hande strokes, hath euer
redy, eyther at his backe hangyng, or els in his next felowes
hande a leade maule, or suche lyke weapon, to beate downe his
enemy es .withall. PHI. Well Toxophile, seinge that those
examples whiche I had thought to haue ben cleane agaynst
shoting, you haue thus turned to the hygh prayse of shotinge :
and all this prayse that you haue now sayd on it, is rather come
in by me tha sought for of you : let me heare I praye you nowe,
those examples whiche you haue marked of shotyng your selfe :
whereby you are, and thinke to persuade other, yl shoting is so
good in warre. TOX. Exaples surely I haue marked very
many : fro the begynning of tyme had in memorie of wrytyng,
throughout all comune wealthes, & Empires of the worlde :
wherof the mooste part I wyll passe ouer, lest I shoulde be
tediouse : yet some I wyll touche, bycause they be notable,
bothe for me to tell and you to heare.
And bycause the storye of the lewes is for the tyme moost
auncient, for the truthe mooste credible, it shalbe moost fitte to
begynne with them. And although I knowe that God is the
onely gyuer of vi&orie, and not the weapons, for all strength
and vidtorie (sayth ludas Machabeus) cometh from „
heauen: Yet surely strong weapons be the instru-
mentes wherwith god doth ouercome yl parte, which he wil
haue ouerthrowen. For God is well pleased wyth wyse and
wittie feates of warre : As in metinge of enemies, for truse
takyng, to haue priuilye in a bushment harnest men layd for
feare of treason, as ludas Machabeus dyd wyth ^M^
Nicanor Demetrius capitayne : And to haue
engines of warre to beat downe cities with all : and to haue
scoutwatche amoges our enemyes to knowe their counsayles,
as the noble captaine lonathas brother to ludas ., ,
,, i- i • i r * i • • Mach. i. 12.
Machabeus did in the countne or Amatnie against
the mighty hoste of Demetrius. And besyde al this, god
40 T'oxophilus . A.
is pleased to haue goodly tombes for them which do noble
feates in warre, and to haue their ymages made, and also their
cote Armours to be set aboue theyr tombes, to
ac^ i- 13- their perpetual laude and memorie: as the valiaunt
capitayne Symon, dyd cause to be made for his brethren ludas
Machabeus and lonathas, whe they were slayne of the Getiles.
And thus of what authoritie feates of warre, and strong
weapons be, shortly and playnelye we maye learne : But
amonges the lewes as I began to tell, I am sure there was
nothing so occupyed, or dydde so moche good as bowes dyd :
insomoche that when the lewes had any great vpperhande ouer
the Gentiles, the fyrste thinge alwayes that the captayne dyd,
was to exhort the people to gyue all the thankes to God for
the vi&orye, & not to theyr bowes, wherwith they
had slayne their enemyes : as it is playne that
the noble losue dyd after so many kynges thrust downe by hym.
God, when he promyseth helpe to the lewes, he vseth no
kynde of speakyng so moche as this, that he wyll bende his
bowe, and die his shaftes in the Gentiles blood :
whereby it is manifest, that eyther God wyll
make the lewes shoote stronge shotes to ouerthrowe their
enemies : or at leeste that shotinge is a woderful mightie thing
in warre, whervnto y6 hygh power of God is lykened. Dauid
in the Psalmes calleth bowes the vessels of death,
Psal. 7. 63. a bytter thinge, & in an other place a myghty
power, and other wayes mo, which I wyll let
passe, bycause euerye man readeth them day lye : But yet one
place of scripture I must nedes remembre, which is more
notable for y6 prayse of shoting, then any yl euer I red in any
other storie, and that is, when Saul was slayne of
y6 Philistians being mightie bowmen, and lonathas
his sonne with him, that was so good a shoter, as ye scripture
sayth, that he neuer Shot shafte in vayne, and yl the kyngdome
after Saules deathe came vnto Dauid : the first statute & lawe
that euer Dauid made after he was king, was this,
that al ye children of Israel shulde learne to shote,
according to a lawe made many a daye before y* tyme for the
setting out of shoting as it is written (sayeth Scripture) in libra
lustorum^ whiche booke we haue not nowe : And thus we se
plainelye what greate vse of shoting, and what prouision euen
The schole of shotlng. 41
from the begynnynge of the worlde for shotyng, was amonge
the lewes.
The Ethiopians which inhabite the furthest part South in
the worlde, were wonderfull bowmen : in somoche that when
Cambyses king of Persie being in Egipt, sent
certayne ambassadours into Ethiope to the kynge Thalia '"
there, with many great gyftes : the king of
Ethiop perceyuinge them to be espyes, toke them vp sharpely,
and blamed Cambyses greatly for such vniust enterprises : but
after that he had princely entertayned them, he sent for a bowe,
and bente it and drewe it, and then vnbent it agayne, and
sayde vnto the ambassadours, you shall comende me to Cam-
byses, and gyue him this bowe fro me, and byd him when any
Persian can shote in this bowe, let him set vpon the Ethiopians :
In the meane whyle let hym gyue thankes vnto God, whiche
doth not put in the Ethiopias mynde to coquere any other
mans lande. This bowe, when it came amonge the Persians,
neuer one man in suche an infinite host (as Herodotus doth
saye) could styrre the stryng, saue onely Smerdis the brother of
Cambyses, whiche styrred it two fingers, and no further : for the
which a& Cambyses had suche enuy at him, that he afterward
slewe him : as doth appeare in the storye.
Sesostris the moost mightie king that euer was in Egipt, ouer-
came a great parte of the worlde, and that by archers : he subdued
the Arabians, the lues, the Assyrians: he wet farther into Scythia
then any man els : he ouercame Thracia, euen to the borders of
Germanic. And in token how he ouercame al men he set vp in
many places great ymages to his owne lykenesse, hauynge in the
one hande a bowe, in the other a sharpe heeded Herod, in
shafte : that men myght knowe, what weapon Euterpe.
his hooste vsed, in conqueryng so manye people. Diod. Sic. i
Cyrus, counted as a god amonges the Gentyles, for his
noblenesse and felicitie in warre : yet at the last
when he set vpon the Massagetanes (which people
neuer went without their bowe nor their quiuer, nether in
warre nor peace) he and all his were slayne, and that by
shotyng, as appeareth in the storye.
Polycrates the prince of Samos (a very little yle) was lorde ouer
all the Greke sees, and withstode the power of the
Persians, onely by the helpe of a thousande archers. "erod- ' <**
42 Toxophilus. A.
The people of Scythia, of all other men loued, and vsed
moost shotyng, the hole rychesse and househoulde stuffe of a
man in Scythia, was a yocke of oxen, a plough, his nagge and
his dogge, his bowe and his quiuer : which quiuer was couered
with the skynne of a man, which he toke or slewe fyrste in
battayle. The Scythians to be inuincible by reason of their
shotyng, the greate voyages of so manye noble conquerours
spent in that countrie in vayne, doeth well proue : But
specially that of Darius the myghtie kyng of Persie, which
when he had taryed there a great space, and done no good, but
had forweryed his hoste with trauayle and hunger : At last the
men of Scythia sent an ambassadour with .iiii.
gyftes: a byrde> a fr°sge> a mouse> and -v-
shaftes. Darius meruaylyng at the straungenesse
of the gyftes, asked the messenger what they signifyed : the
messenger answered, that he had no further comaundement,
but onely to delyuer his gyftes, and retourne agayne with
all spede : but I am sure (sayeth he) you Persians for your
great wysdome, can soone boult out what they meane. When
the messenger was gone, euery man began to say his verdite.
Darius Judgement was this, that ye Scythians gaue ouer into the
Persians handes, their lyues, theyr hole power, both by lande
and see, signify inge by the mouse the earthe, by the frogge the
water, in which they both liue, by ye birde their lyues which
lyue in the ayer, by the shaft their hole power and Empire, that
was maynteyned alwayes by shotinge. Gobryas a noble and
wyse captayne amonges the Persians, was of a cleane cotrary
minde, saying, nay not so, but the Sythias meane thus by their
gyftes, that except we get vs wynges, and flye into the ayer
lyke birdes, or run into ye holes of the earth lyke myse, or els
lye lurkyng in fennes & marisses lyke frogges, we shall neuer
returne home agayne, before we be vtterly vndone with their
shaftes : which sentence sanke so sore into their hertes, yl
Darius with all spede possible, brake vp his campe, and gat hym
Herod, fclio. selfe homewarde. Yet howe moche the Persians
Xenoph. in them selues set by shotinge, wherby they en-
cyrop. creased their empire so moche, doth appeare by
strab. ii. ajj. manifest reasons: firste that they brought
vppe theyr youth in the schole of shoting, vnto .xx. yere of
age, as dyuerse noble Greke authours do saye.
The schole of shoting. 43
Agayne, bycause the noble kyng Darius thought hym selfe
to be praysed by nothyng so moch, as to be counted a good
shoter, as doth appeare by his sepulchre, wherin he caused to be
written this sentence :
Darius the King lieth buried here Strab. 15.
That in shoting and riding had neuer pere.
Thirdlye the coyne of the Persians, both golde & siluer had
the Armes of Persie vpon it, as is customably vsed
in other realmes, and that was bow and arowes : Plutarch, in
by the which feate they declared, how moch they Agestla.
set by them.
The Grecians also, but specially the noble Athenienses, had
all their strength lyinge in Artillarie : and for
L • • /- A u L t_- L. Suidas.
yl purpose the citie or Athes had a M. men which
were onely archers, in dayly wages, to watche and kepe the
citie fro al ieoperdie & sodein dauger : which archers also
shuld cary to priso & warde any misdoer at ye comaundemet
of the hygh officers, as playnlye doth appeare in Plato. And
surely the bowmen of Athens did woderful feates
in many battels, but specially when Demosthenes
the valiaut captayne slue and toke prisoners all
the Lacedemonians besyde ye citie of Pylos, where Nestor
somtyme was lord : the shaftes went so thicke
that daye (sayth Thucydides) that no man could
se theyr enemies. A Lacedemonian taken prisoner, was asked
of one at Athens, whether they were stoute fellowes that were
slayne or no, of the Lacedemonians : he answered nothing els
but this : make moche of those shaftes of youres, for they
knowe neyther stoute nor vnstoute : meanynge therby, that no
man (though he were neuer so stout) came in their walke, that
escaped without death.
Herodotus descrybing the mighty hoost of Xerxes especially
doth marke out, what bowes and shaftes they vsed,
signifying y1 therin lay their chefe stregth. And
at the same tyme Attossa, mother of Xerxes, wyfe
to Darius, and doughter of Cyrus, doeth enquire _ , _ _
(as Aeschylus sheweth in a Tragedie) of a cer-
tayne messenger that came from Xerxes hoste, what stronge and
fearfull bowes the Grecians vsed : wherby it is playne, that
44 T'oxophilus. A.
Artillarie was the thing, wherin both Europe and Asia at those
dayes trusted moost vppon.
The best parte of Alexanders hoste were archers as playnelye
doth appeare by Arianus, and other yl wrote his life : and those
so stronge archers, that they onely, sundrye tymes ouercame
their enemies, afore any other neded to fyght : as
was sene in the battayl which Nearchus one of
Alexanders capitaynes had besyde the ryuer of Thomeron.
And therfore as concerning all these kyngdomes and comune
wealthes, I maye coclude with this sentence of Plinie, whose
wordes be, as I suppose thus : If any man woulde
PCai> If l6 remebre the Ethiopians, Egyptians, Arabians,
the men of Inde, of Scythia, so many people
in ye east of the Sarmatianes, and all the kyngdomes of the
Parthians, he shall well perceyue halfe the parte of the worlde,
to lyue in subie&ion, ouercome by the myght and power of
shotinge.
In the commune wealth of Rome, which exceded all other
in vertue, noblenesse, and dominion litle metion is made of
shoting, not bycause it was litle vsed amonges them, but rather
bycause it was bothe so necessarye and comune, that it was
thought a thing not necessarye or requyred of anye man to be
spoken vpon, as if a man shoulde describe a greate feaste,
he woulde not ones name bread, although it be mooste common
and necessarye of all : but surely yf a feaste beynge neuer
so great, lacked bread, or had fewsty and noughty bread, all the
other daynties shulde be vnsauery, and litle regarded, and than
woulde men talke of the commodity of bread, whan they lacke
it, that would not ones name it afore, whan they had it : And
euen so dyd the Romaynes as concernynge shootyng. Seldome
is shootinge named, and yet it dyd the moste good in warre,
as didde appere, verye playnlye in that battell, whiche
Scipio Aphrican9 had with the Numantines in Spayne,
whome he coulde neuer ouercome, before he sette bowemen
amonges his horse men, by whose myght they were clean van-
quished.
Agayne, Tiberius fyghtynge with Armenius and Ing-
uiomerus princis of Germanic, had one wing of
Cor. Tac. 2 u i_ i c L c
archers on horseback, an other or archers on foot,
by whose might the Germanes were slayne downe ryghte, and
T'he schole of shoting. 45
so scattered and beate oute of the feelde, that the chase lasted
.x. myles, the Germanes clame vp in to trees for feare, but the
Romanes dyd fetche them downe with theyr shaftes as they had
be birdes, in whyche battell the Romaynes lost fewe or none, as
dothe appeare in the historic.
But as I began to saye, the Romaynes dyd not so muche
prayse the goodnesse of shootinge, whan they had it, as they
dyd lament the lacke of it, whan they wanted it, as Leo the .v.
the noble Emperour doth playnly testifie in sundrie places in
those bokes whiche he wrote in Greke, of the sleyghtes and
pollicies of warre. PHIL. Surelie of that booke I haue not
heard before, and howe came you to the syghte of it. TOX.
The booke is rare trulie, but this laste yeare when master
Cheke translated the sayd booke out of greke in to Latin, to ye
kinges maiestie, he of his gentlenesse, wolde haue me very ofte
in hys chaber, and for the familiaritie that I had wyth hym,
more than manye other, woulde suffer me to reade of it, whan
I woulde, the whiche thinge to do, surelye I was very desirous
and glad, because of the excellent handelynge of all thynges,
that euer he taketh in hande. And verily Phllologe^ as ofte as
I remembre the departynge of that man from the vniuersitie,
(whiche thinge I do not seldome) so ofte do 1 well perceyue our
moste helpe and furtheraunce to learnynge, to haue gon awaye
with him. For by ye great comoditie yl we toke in hearyng
hym reade priuatly in his chambre, all Homer, Sophocles, and
Euripides, Herodotus, Thucydides, Xenophon, Isocrates and
Plato, we feele the great discommoditie in not hearynge of
hym, Aristotle & Demosthenes, whiche ii. authours with all
diligence last of all he thought to haue redde vnto us. And
when I consider howe manye men he succoured with his helpe,
& hys ayde to abyde here for learninge, and howe all men were
prouoked and styrred vp, by his councell and daylye example,
howe they shulde come to learning, surely I perceyue that
sentence of Plato to be true, which sayeth that there is nothyng
better in any common wealthe, than that there shoulde be
alwayes one or other, excellent passyng man, whose lyfe and
vertue, shoulde plucke forwarde the will, diligence, laboure and
hope of all other, that folowyng his footesteppes, they myght
comme to the same ende, wherevnto labour, lerning & vertue,
had coueied him before. The great hinderance of learning, in
46 Toxophilus. A.
lackinge thys man greatly I shulde lament, if this discomoditie
of cures, were not ioyned with the comoditie & welth, of y6 hole
realme, for which purpose, our noble king full of wysedome
hath called vp this excellent man full of learnynge, to teache
noble prince Edwarde, an office ful of hope, comforte & solace
to al true hertes of England : For whome al England dayly
doth praye, yl he passing his Tutour in learnyng & know-
ledge, folowynge his father in wisedome & felicitie, accordyng
to yl example which is set afore his eyes, may so set out and
mayntayne goddes worde to the abolishment of al papistry,
the confusion of al heresie, that therby he feared of his en-
nemies, loued of al his subiedtes, maye bring to his own glory,
immortal fame & memorie, to this realme, welthe, honour
& felicitie, to true and vnfayned religion perpetuall peace,
concorde and vnitie.
But to retourne to shootynge agayne, what Leo sayeth of
shootynge amonges the Romaynes, hys woordes, be so muche for
the prayse of shootynge, and the booke also so rare to be gotten,
that 1 learned the places by harte, whyche be as I
Leo. 6. 5. T? ' • i • •
suppose, euen thus, ryrste in his sixte booke,
as concerning what harneys is best : Lette all the youth of
Rome be compelled to vse shootyng, eyther more or lesse, &
alwayes to bear theyr bowe & theyr quiuer aboute with them,
untyll they be .xl. yeares oulde.
For sithens shootynge was necgle&ed and decayed among
the Romaynes, many a battayle and fyelde hath been loste.
Agayne in the n. booke and . co. chapiter, (I call
Leo. ii. 50. , b ', ji- i i_ i
that by bookes and chapiters, whyche the greke
booke deuideth by chapiters and paragraphes) Let your soul-
dyers haue theyr weapons wel appoynted and trimmed, but
aboue all other thynges regarde moste shootinge, and therfore
lette men when there is no warre, vse shootynge at home : For
the leauynge of, onely of shotynge, hath broughte in ruyne and
decaye, the hole Empire of Rome. Afterwarde he commaund-
eth agayne, hys capitayne by these wordes : Arme your hoste
as I haue appoynted you, but specially with bowe
Leo. 1 8. ii. i i • T> i • i •
and arrowes plentie. ror shootynge is a thinge
of muche myghte and power in warre, and chyefely agaynst the
Sarracenes and Turkes, whiche people hath all their hope of
vi&orie in theyr bowe and shaftes : Besydes all this, in an other
The schole of shoting. 47
place, he wryteth thus to his Captayne : Artillerie is easie to be
prepared, and in time of great nede, a thing moste profitable,
therfore we straytlye commaunde you to make proclamation to
al men vnder our dominion, which be eyther in war or peace,
to all cities, borowes and townes, and fynally to all
maner of men, that euerye scare persone haue eo' 20> 79'
bowe and shaftes of his owne, & euerye house besyde this, to
haue a standing bearyng bowe, and xl. shaftes for all nedes, and
that they exercise them selues in holtes, hilles, and dales, playnes
and wodes, for all maner of chaunces in warre.
Howe muche shooting was vsed among the olde Romanes
and what meanes noble captaynes and Emperou[r]s made, to
haue it encrease amonge them, and what hurte came by the
decaye of it, these wordes, of Leo the emperour, which in a
maner I haue rehersed woorde for woorde, playnly doth declare.
And yet shotynge, although they set neuer so muche by it,
was neuer so good than, as it is nowe in Englande, whiche
thing to be true, is very probable, in that Leo doth saye, that
he woulde haue his souldiers take of theyr arrowe
heads, and one shote at an other, for theyr "' '' *
exercise, whiche playe yf Englyshe archers vsed, I thinke they
shoulde fynde smal play and lesse pleasure in it at all.
The great vpperhande maynteyned alwayes in warre by
artillery, doeth appeare verye playnlye by this reason also,
that whan the spanyardes, franchmen, and germanes, grekes,
macedonians, and egyptians, eche contry vsing one singuler
weapon, for whyche they were greatelye feared in warre, as the
Spanyarde Lancea, the Francheman Gesa, the German Framed^
the Grecian Machera^ the Macedonian Sarissa, yet coulde they
not escape, but be subie&es to the Empire of Rome, whan the
Parthians hauyng all theyr hope in artillerie, gaue no place to
the, but ouercame the Romanes, ofter than the Romaynes
them, and kepte battel with them, many an hundred yeare,
and slue the ryche Crassus and hys son wyth piutarch t
many a stoute Romayne more, with their bowes. M. Crass. &>
They draue Marcus Antonius ouer the hylles of J M. Anto.
Media & Armenia, to his great shame and reproch. Ael- Spart.
They slue lulianus Apostata, and Antoninus Caracalla, they
helde in perpetual pryson, ye most noble emperour Valerian in
despite of all the Romaynes and many other princes, whiche
48 Toxophilus. A.
wrote for his delyueraunce, as Bel soils called kynge of kynges,
Valerius kynge of Cadusia, Arthabesdes kyng of Armenia, and
many other princes more, whom y« Parthians by reason of
theyr artillerie, regarded neuer one whitte, and thus with the
Romaynes, I maye conclude, that the borders of theyr empyre
were not at the sunne rysinge and sunne settynge, as Tullye
sayeth : but so farre they went, as artillarie woulde gyue them
leaue. For I thinke all the grounde that they had, eyther
northewarde, farther than the borders of Scythia, or Easte-
warde, farther than the borders of Parthia, a man myght haue
boughte wl a small deale of money, of whiche thynge surely
shotyng was the cause.
From the same contrie of Scythia the Gothians Hunnes,
and Wandalians came wyth the same wepons of
artillarie, as Paulus Diaconus doth saye, & so
berafte Rome of her empyre wyth fyre, spoyle, & waste, so yl
in suche a learned citie was lefte scarce one man behynde, that
had learnynge or leysoure to leue in writinge to them whiche
shoulde come after howe so noble an Empyre, in so shorte a
whyle, by a rable of banyshed bondemen, wythoute all order
and pollicie, saue onelye theyr naturalle and daylye excercise in
artillarye, was broughte to suche thraldome and ruine.
After them the Turkes hauing an other name, but yet the
same people, borne in Scythia, brought vp onely
in artillarie, by the same weapon haue subdued
and beraft from the Christen men all Asia and Aphrike (to
speake vpon,) and the moost noble countries of Europe, to the
greate diminishing of Christe his religion, to the great reproche
of cowardyse of al christianitie, a manifest token of gods high
wrath & displeasure ouer the synne of the worlde, but
speciallye amonges Christen men, which be on slepe made
drunke with the frutes of the flesh, as infidelitie, disobedience
to Goddes worde, and heresie, grudge, euelwyll, stryfe, con-
tention, and priuie enuye, coueytousnesse, oppression, vn-
mercifulnesse, with innumerable sortes of vnspeakeable daylye
bawdrye : which thinges surely, yf God holde not his holy
hande ouer vs, and plucke vs from them, wyl bryng vs to a
more Turkishnesse and more beastlye blynde barbarousnesse :
as callyng ill thinges good, and good thynges ill, contemnyng
of knowledge & learnynge, settynge at nought, and hauyng for
'The schole of shoting. 49
a fable, God and his high prouidence, wyll bring vs (I say) to
a more vngracious Turkishnesse (if more Turkishnesse can be
then this) tha if the Turkes had sworne, to bring al Turkye
agaynst vs. For these frutes surelye must neades sprynge of
suche seede, and suche effect nedes folowe of suche a cause : if
reason, truthe, and God, be not altered, but as they are wont
to be. For surely no Turkyshe power can ouerthrowe vs, if
Turkysshe lyfe do not cast vs downe before.
If god were wyth vs, it buted not the turke to be agaynst
vs, but our vnfaythful sinfull lyuyng, which is the Turkes
moder, and hath brought hym vp hitherto, muste nedes turne
fod from vs, because syn and he hath no felowshyp togither.
f we banished ill liuyng out of christendome, I am sure the
Turke shulde not onelye, not ouercome vs, but scarce haue an
hole to runne in to, in his own countrye.
But Christendome nowe I may tell you Philologe is muche
lyke a man that hath an ytche on him, and lyeth droke also in
his bed, and though a thefe come to the dore, and heaueth at
it, to come in, and sleye hym, yet he lyeth in his bed, hauinge
more pleasure to lye in a slumber and scratche him selfe wher
it ytcheth euen to the harde bone, than he hath redynes to
ryse up lustelye, & dryue him awaye that woulde robbe hym
and sleye hym. But I truste Christe wyl so lyghten and lyfte
vp Christen mennes eyes, that they shall not slepe to death,
nor that the turke Christes open enemy, shall euer boste that
he hath quyte ouerthrowen vs. But as I began to tell you,
shootynge is the chefe thinge, wherewith God suffereth the
turke to punysh our noughtie liuinge wyth all :
The youthe there is brought vp in shotyng, his
priuie garde for his own person, is bowmen, the
might of theyr shootynge is wel knowen of the Spanyardes,
whiche at the towne called Newecastell in Illirica, were quyte
slayne vp, of the turkes arrowes : whan the Spanyardes had no
vse of theyr gunnes, by reason of the rayne. And nowe last
of all, the emperour his maiestie him selfe, at the Citie of
Argier in Aphricke had his hooste sore handeled wyth the
Turkes arrowes, when his gonnes were quite dispatched and
stode him in no seruice, bycause of the raine that fell, where
as in suche a chaunce of raine, yf he had had bowmen,
surelye there shoote myghte peraduenture haue bene a litle
^o Toxophilus. A.
hindred, but quite dispatched and marde, it coulde neuer haue
bene.
But as for the Turkes I am werie to talke of them partlye
because I hate them, and partlye bycause I am now affe&ioned
euen as it were a man that had bene longe wanderyng in
strauge contries & would fayne be at home to se howe well his
owne frendes prosper and leade theyr lyfe, and surely me
thincke I am verie merye at my harte to remember how I shal
finde at home in Englande amonges Englysh men, partlye
by hystories, of them that haue gone afore vs, agayne by
experience of the whych we knowe, & lyue with vs as
greate noble feates of warre doone by Artillarye, as euer was
done at any tyme in any other common welthe. And here I
must nedes remeber a certaine Frechman called
Textor, that writeth a boke whiche he nameth
Officina, wherin he weueth vp many brokenended matters
and settes out much rifrafte, pelfery, trumpery, baggage &
beggerie ware clamparde vp of one that would seme to be fitter
for a shop in dede than to write any boke. And amonges all
other yll packed vp matters, he thrustes vp in a hepe togyther
all the good shoters that euer hathe bene in the worlde as he
saythe hymselfe, and yet I trow Philologe that of all the
examples whiche I now by chauce haue rehersed out of the
best Authors both in greke and latin, Textor hath but .ii. of
them, which .ii. surely yf they were to reke agayne, I wold not
ones name the, partly bycause they were noughtie persons, and
shoting somoche the worse, bycause they loued it, as Domitian
and Commodus the emperours : partelye bycause Textor hath
them in his boke, on whom I loked on bychaunce in the
bookebynders shope, thynkynge of no suche matter. And one
thing I wyl say to you Philologe, that if I were disposed to do
it, and you hadde leysure to heare it, I coulde soone do as
Textor doth, and reken vp suche a rable of shoters that be
named here and there in poetes, as wolde holde vs talkyng
whyles tomorowe : but my purpose was not to make mention
of those which were feyned of Poetes for theyr pleasure, but of
suche as were proued in histories for a truthe : but why I
bringe in Textor was this : At laste when he hath rekened all
shoters that he can, he sayeth thus, Petrus
Crinitus wryteth, that the Scottes whiche dwell
The schole of shoting. 5 1
beyonde Englande be verye excellent shoters, and the best
bowmen in warre. This sentence whether Crinitus wrote it
more leudly of ignoraunce, or Textor confirmeth it more
piuyshlye of enuye, may be called in question and doubte : but
this surelye do I knowe very well that Textor hath both red in
Gaguinus the Frenche hystorie, and also hath hearde his father
or graundfather taulke (except perchauce he was borne and
bred in a Cloyster) after that sort of the shotynge of Englisshe
men, that Textor neded not to haue gone so piuishlye beyonde
Englande for shoting, but myght very soone, cue in the first
towne of Kent, haue founde suche plentie of shotinge, as is not
in al the realme of Scotland agayne. The Scottes surely be
good men of warre in theyr owne feate as can be : but as for
shotinge, they neyther can vse it for any profyte, nor yet wil
chalege it for any prayse, although master Textor of his
getlenesse wold gyue it them. Textor neaded not to haue
fylled vppe his booke with suche lyes, if he hadde read the
storye of Scotlande, whiche loannes Maior doeth
wryte : wherein he myghte haue learned, that oa
when lames Stewart fyrst kyng of that name, at the Parliamet
holden at Saynt lohnnes towne or Perthie, commaunded vnder
payne of a greate forfyte, that euerye Scotte shoulde learne to
shote : yet neyther the loue of theyr coutrie, the feare of their
enemies, the auoydying of punishment, nor the receyuinge of
anye profyte that myght come by it, coulde make them to be
good Archers : whiche be vnapte and vnfytte therunto by Gods
prouidence and nature.
Therfore the Scottes them selues proue Textor a Iyer,
bothe with authoritie and also daily experience, and by a
certayne Prouerbe that they haue amonges them in theyr
comunication, wherby they gyue the whole prayse of shotynge
honestlye to Englysshe men, saying thus : that euery Englysshe
Archer beareth vnder hys gyrdle .xxiiii. Scottes.
But to lette Textor and the Scottes go : yet one thynge
woulde I wysshe for the Scottes, and that is this, that seinge
one God, one faythe, one com passe of the see, one lande and
countrie, one tungue in speakynge, one maner and trade in
lyuynge, lyke courage and stomake in war, lyke quicknesse of
witte to learning, hath made Englande and Scotlande bothe
one, they wolde suffre them no longer to be two : but cleane
D 2
5 2 T'oxophilus. A.
gyue ouer the Pope, which seketh none other thinge (as many
a noble and wyse Scottish man doth knowe) but to fede vp
dissention & parties betwixt them & vs, procuryng that thynge
to be two, which God, nature, and reason, wold haue one.
Howe profytable suche an attonement were for Scotlande,
/ hn Ma ^oth I°nannes Maior, and Ector Boetius which
ior. 6. hist. wrote the Scottes Chronicles do tell, & also all
Scot. the gentlemen of Scotlande with the poore
comunaltie, do wel knowe : So that there is nothing that
stoppeth this matter, saue onelye a fewe freers, and suche lyke,
whiche with the dregges of our Englysh Papistrie lurkyng now
amonges them, study nothing els but to brewe battell and
stryfe betwixte both the people : Wherby onely they hope to
maynetayne theyr Papisticall kyngdome, to the destruction of
the noble blood of Scotlande, that then they maye with
authoritie do that, whiche neither noble man nor poore man in
Scotlande yet doeth knowe. And as for Scottishe men and
Englishe men be not enemyes by nature, but by custome : not
by our good wyll, but by theyr owne follye : whiche shoulde
take more honour in being coupled to Englande, then we
shulde take profite in being ioyned to Scotlande.
Wales being headye, and rebelling many yeares agaynst vs,
laye wylde, vntylled, vnhabited, without lawe, Justice, ciuilitie
and ordre : and then was amoges them more stealing tha true
dealing, more suretie for them that studyed to be noughte, then
quyetnesse for them that laboured to be good : when nowe
thanked be God, and noble Englande, there is no countrie
better inhabited, more ciuile, more diligent in honest craftes,
to get bothe true and plentifull lyuynge withall. And this
felicitie (my mynde gyueth me) within these few dayes shal
chauce also to Scotlande, by the godly wysedome of oure
mooste noble Prince kynge Henrye the .viii. by whome God
hath wrought more wonderfull thynges then euer by any prince
before : as banishing the byshop of Rome and herisie, bringyng
to light god his worde and veritie, establishing suche Justice and
equitie, through euery parte of this his realme, as neuer was
sene afore.
To suche a Prince of suche a wysdome, God hath
reserued this mooste noble attonement : wherby neither we
shalbe any more troubled, nor the Scottes with their best
The schole of shoting, 53
countries any more destroyed, nor ye see, whiche God or-
deyneth profitable for both, shall from eyther be any more
stopped : to the great quietnesse, wealth & felicitie of all the
people dwellynge in this lie, to the high renoume & prayse of
our moost noble kyng, to the feare of all maner of nacions that
owe ill wyll to either countrie, to the hygh pleasure of God,
which as he is one, and hateth al diuision, so is he best of all
pleased, to se thinges which be wyde and amysse, brought to
peace and attonement. But Textor (I beshrowe him) hath
almooste broughte vs from our comunicatio of shoting. Now
sir by my Judgement, the Artillarie of England farre excedeth
all other realmes : but yet one thing I doubt & longe haue
surely in that point doubted, whe, or by whom, shotyng was
first brought in to Englande, & for the same purpose as I was
ones in companye wyth syr Thomas Eliot knight, which
surelie for his lerning in all kynde of knowlege bringeth much
worshyp to all the nobilite of Englande, I was so bould to aske
hym, yf he at any tyme, had marked any thing, as cocernynge
the bryngynge in of shootynge in to Englande : he aunswered
me gentlye agayne, that he had a worcke in hand which he
nameth, De rebus memorabilibus Angli^ which I trust we shal
se in print shortlye, and for the accomplyshmente of that boke,
he had read & perused ouer many olde monumetes of Englande,
and in seking for that purpose, he marked this of shootynge in
an excedyng olde cronicle, the which had no name, that what
tyme as the Saxons came first into this realme in kyng
Vortigers dayes, whe they had bene here a whyle and at last
began to faull out with the Brittons, they troubled and
subdewed the Brittons wyth nothynge so much, as with theyr
bowe and shaftes, whiche wepon beynge straunge & not sene
here before, was wonderfull terrible vnto them, and this
beginninge I can thynke verie well to be true. But now as
concerning many exaples for the prayse of English archers in
warre, surely I wil not be long in a matter yl no ma doubteth
in, & those few y* I wil name, shal either be proued by ye
histories of our enemies, or els done by men that now Hue.
Kynge Edward the thirde at the battel of Cressie ageinst
Philip ye Freche king as Gaguinus the frech Historiographer
plainlye doeth tell, slewe that daye all the nobilite of Fraunce
onlye wyth hys archers.
54 Toxophilus. A.
Such lyke battel also fought ye noble black prince Edward
beside Poeters, where lohn ye french king wl hys sonne & in
a maner al ye peres of Frauce were taken beside .xxx. M. which
that daye were slayne, & verie few Englyshe men, by reason of
theyr bowes.
Kynge Henrie the fifte a prince pereles and moste vy&ori-
ouse conqueroure of all that euer dyed yet in this parte of the
world, at the battel of Dagin court with .vii. M. fyghtynge
men, and yet many of them sycke, beynge suche Archers as
the Cronycle sayeth that mooste parte of them drewe a yarde,
slewe all the Cheualrie of Fraunce to the nomber of .XL. M.
and moo, and lost not paste .xxvi. Englysshe men.
The bloudye Ciuil warre of England betwixt the house of
Yorke and Lancaster, where shaftes slewe of both sydes to the
destruction of mannye a yoman of Englande, whome foreine
battell coulde neuer haue subdewed bothe I wyll passe ouer for
the pyttyefulnesse of it, and yet maye we hyghelye prayse
GOD in the remembraunce of it, seynge he of hys prouydence
hath so knytte to gether those .ii. noble houses, with so noble
and pleasunte a flowre.
The excellent prince Thomas Hawarde nowe Duke of
Northfolk, for whose good prosperite wl al his noble familie
al English hertes dayly doth pray wl bowme of England slew
kyng lamie wl many a noble Scot cue brat agest Flodo hil, in
which battel ye stoute archers of Cheshire & Lanchasshire for
one day bestowed to ye death for their price & coutry sake, hath
gotten immortall name and prayse for euer.
The feare onely of Englysh Archers hathe done more
wonderfull thinges than euer I redde in anye historye greke
or latin, and moost wonderfull of all now of late beside Carlile
betwixt Eske and Leuen at Sandy sikes, where the hoole
nobilite of Scotlande for fere of the Archers of Englonde (next
the stroke of God) as both Englysh men and Scotyshe men
that were present hath toulde me were drowened and taken
prisoners.
Nor that noble adte also, whyche althoughe it be almost
lost by tyme, commeth not behynd in worthinesse, whyche my
synguler good frende and Master Sir William Walgraue and
Sir George Somerset dyd with a few Archers to ye number as
it is sayd of .xvi. at the Turne pike besyde Hames where they
T'he schole of shoting. 5 5
turned with so fewe Archers, so many Frenchemen to flight,
and turned so many oute of theyr lackes, whych turne turned
all fraunce to shame & reproche and those .ii. noble Knightes
to perpetuall prayse & fame.
And thus you se Philologe, in al contries Asia, Aphrike and
Europe, in Inde, Aethiop, Aegypt & lurie, Parthia, Persia,
Grece, and Italic, Schythia, Turky, and Englande, from the
begynninge of the world euen to thys daye, that shotynge hath
had the cheife stroke in warre. PHI. These examples surelye I
apte for the prayse of shotynge, not feyned by poetes, but
proued by trewe histories, distindl by tyme and order, hath
delyted me excedyng muche, but yet me thynke that all
thys prayse belongeth to stronge shootynge and drawynge
of myghtye bowes not to prickyng and nere shotinge, for which
cause you and many other bothe loue & vse shootyng.
TOX. Euer more Philologe you wyl haue some ouertwhart
reson to drawe forthe more communication wlall, but neuerthe-
lesse you shall perceaue if you wyl, that vse of prickyng, and
desyre of nere shootynge at home, are the onelye causes of
stronge shootyng in warre, and why ? for you se, that the
strongest men, do not drawe alwayes the strongest shoote,
whiche thyng prouethe that drawinge stronge, liethe not so
muche in the strength of man, as in the vse of shotyng. And
experience teacheth the same in other thynges, for you shal se
a weake smithe, whiche wyl wyth a lipe and turnyng of his
arme, take vp a barre of yron, y* another man thrise as stronge,
can not stirre. And a strong man not vsed to shote, hath his
armes breste and shoulders, and other partes wherwith he shuld
drawe stronglye, one hindering and stoppinge an other, euen as
a dosen stronge horses not vsed to the carte, lettes & troubles one
another. And so the more stronge man not vsed to shote,
shootes moost vnhasumlye, but yet if a strong man with vse of
shooting coulde applye all the partes of hys bodye togyther to
theyr moost strengthe, than should he both drawe stronger than
other, and also shoote better than other. But nowe a stronge
man not vsed to shoote, at a girde, can heue vp & plucke in
suder many a good bowe, as wild horses at a brunte doth race
& pluck in peces many a stronge carte. And thus strong me,
without vse, can do nothynge in shoting to any purpose, neither
in warre nor peace, but if they happen to shoote, yet they haue
56 Toxophilus. A.
done within a shoote or two when a weake man that is vsed to
shoote, shal serue for all tymes and purposes, and shall shoote
.x. shaftes, agaynst the others .iiii. & drawe them vp to the
poynte, euerye tyme, and shoote them to the mooste aduauntage,
drawyng and withdrawing his shafte when he list, markynge
at one man, yet let driuyng at an other man : whiche thynges
in a set battayle, although a man, shal not alwayes vse, yet in
bickerynges, and at ouerthwarte meatinges, when fewe archers
be togyther, they do moste good of all.
Agayne he that is not vsed to shoote, shall euermore with
vntowardnesse of houldynge his bowe, & nockynge his shafte,
not lookyng to his stryng betyme, put his bowe alwayes in
ieoperdy of breakynge, & than he were better to be at home,
moreouer he shal shoote very fewe shaftes, and those full
vnhandsumlye, some not halfe drawen, some to hygh and some
to lowe, nor he can not driue a shoote at a tyme, nor stoppe
a shoote at a neede, but oute muste it, and verye ofte to euel
profe. PHI. And that is best I trow in war, to let it go, and
not to stoppe it. TOX. No not so, but somtyme to houlde
a shafte at the heade, whyche if they be but few archers, doth
more good with the feare of it, than it shoulde do if it were
shot, with the stroke of it. PHI. That is a wonder to me, yl
the feare of a displeasure, shoulde do more harme than the
displeasure it selfe. TOX. Yes, ye knowe that a man whiche
fereth to be banyshed, out of hys cuntrye, can neyther be mery,
eate, drynke nor sleape for feare, yet when he is banished in
dede, he slepeth and eateth, as well as any other. And many
menne doubtyng and fearyng whether they shoulde dye or no,
euen for verye feare of deathe, preuenteth them selfe with a
more bytter deathe then the other death shoulde haue bene in
deade. And thus feare is euer worse than the thynge feared,
Ciri ted as 's P^^'y6 proued, by the communication
of Cyrus and Tigranes, the kynges sunne of
Armenie, in Xenophon.
PHI. I grante Toxophile, that vse of shotyng maketh a
man drawe strong, to shoote at most aduauntage, to kepe his
gere, whiche is no small thinge in war, but yet me thinke, that
the customable shoting at home, speciallye at buttes and prickes,
make nothynge at all for stronge shooting which doth moste
good in war. Therfore I suppose yf men shulde vse to goo
The schole of shoring.
57
into the feyldes, and learne to shote myghty stronge shootes,
and neuer care for any marke at al, they shulde do muche
better. TOX. The trouthe is, that fashion muche vsed,
woulde do muche good, but this is to be feared, least that waye
coulde not prouoke men to vse muche shotyng, bycause ther
shulde be lytle pleasure in it. And that in shoting is beste, yl
prouoketh a man to vse shotinge moste : For muche vse maketh
men shoote, bothe strong & well, whiche two thinges in
shootinge, euery man doeth desyre. And the chyefe mayn-
tayner of vse, in any thyng, is comparyson, and honeste
contention. For whan a manne stryueth to be better than
an other, he wyll gladly vse that thing, though it be neuer so
paynful wherein he woulde excell, whiche thynge Aristotle
verye pratelye doth note, sayenge.
Where is comparison, there is vidlorie : where is viclorie,
there is pleasure : And where is pleasure, no man
careth what labour or payne he taketh, bycause
of the prayse, and pleasure, that he shal haue, in
doynge better than other men.
Agayne, you knowe Hesiodus wryteth to hys brother
Perses, yl al craftes men, by contending one
honestly wl an other, do encrease theyr cunyng
wl theyr substance. And therfore in London,
and other great Cities, men of one crafte, moste commonly,
dwelle togyther, bycause in honest stryuyng togyther, who shall
do best, euery one maye waxe bothe cunninger and rycher, so
lykewyse in shootynge, to make matches to assemble archers
togyther, to contende who shall shoote best, and winne the
game, encreaseth ye vse of shotynge wonderfully amonges men.
PHI. Of Vse you speake very much Toxophile but I am
sure in al other matters, Vse can do nothing, wythoute two
other thinges be ioyned wyth it, one is a natural Aptnesse to
a thinge, the other is a true waye or Knowledge, howe to do
the thing, to which ii. yf Vse be ioyned, as thirde felowe, of
them thre, procedeth perfe&nesse and excellencie : If a manne
lacke the first two, Aptnesse and Cunnyng, Vse can do lytle
good, at all. For he yl woulde be an oratour and is nothinge
naturallye fitte for it, that is to saye lacketh a good wytte and
memorie, lacketh a good voyce, countenaunce and body, and
other suche like, ye[t] yf he had all these thinges, and knewe
Aristo. rheto,
ad Theod.
Hesio. i ope.
et die.
58 Toxophilus. A.
not what, howe, where, when nor to whome he shulde speake,
surelye the vse of spekynge, woulde brynge out none other
frute but playne follye and bablyng, so yl Vse is the laste and
the least neccessarye, of all thre, yet no thing can be done
excellently without them al thre. And therfore Toxophile
I my selfe bicause I neuer knewe, whether I was apte for
shooting or no, nor neuer knewe waye, howe I shulde learne
to shoote I haue not vsed to shoote : and so I thinke fiue
hundred more in Englande do besyde me. And surely yf I
knewe that I were apte, and yl you woulde teach me howe to
shoote, I woulde become an archer, and the rather, bycause of
the good communication, the whiche I haue had with you this
daye, of shotyng. TOX. Aptnesse, Knowlege, and Vse,
euen as you saye, make all thinges perfefte. Aptnesse is the
fyrst and chyefest thinge, without whiche the other two do no
good at all. Knowledge doeth encrease al maner of Aptnesse,
bothe lesse and more. Vse sayth Cicero, is farre aboue all
teachinge. And thus they all three muste be had, to do any
thinge very well, and yf anye one be awaye, what so euer is
done, is done verye meanly. Aptnesse is ye gyfte of nature,
Knowlege, is gotten by y6 helpe of other : Vse lyeth in our
owne diligence & labour. So that Aptnesse & vse be ours and
wlin vs, through nature & labour : Knowledge not ours, but
comynge by other : and therfore moost dilligently, of all men to
be sought for. Howe these three thinges stande with the
artillery of Englande, a woorde or twoo I will saye.
All Englishe men generally, be apte for shotyng, and howe ?
Lyke as that grounde is plentifull and frutefull, whiche withoute
anye tyllynge, bryngeth out corne, as for example, yf a man
shoulde go to the myll or market with corne, and happen to
spy] some in the waye, yet it wolde take roote and growe,
bycause ye soyle is so good : so Englad may be thought very
frutefull and apt to brynge oute shoters, where children euen
from the cradell, loue it : and yong men without any teachyng
so diligentlye vse it. Agayne, lykewyse as a good grounde,
well tylled, and well husbanded, bringeth out great plentie of
byg eared corne, and good to the faule : so if the youthe of
Englande being apte of it selfe to shote, were taught and
learned how to shote, the Archers of England shuld not be only
a great deale raker, and mo then they be : but also a good deale
*The schole of s ho ting. 59
bygger and stronger Archers then they be. This comoditie
shoulde folowe also yf the youth of Englande were taught to
shote, that euen as plowing of a good grounde for wheate, doth
not onely make it mete for the seede, but also riueth and
plucketh vp by the rootes, all thistles, brambles and weedes,
which growe of theyr owne accorde, to the destruction of
bothe corne and grounde: Euen so shulde the teaching of youth
to shote, not only make them shote well, but also plucke
awaye by the rootes all other desyre to noughtye pastymes, as
disynge, cardyng, and boouling, which without any teaching
are vsed euery where, to the great harme of all youth of this
realme. And lykewise as burnyng of thistles and diligent
weding them oute of the corne, doth not halfe so moche ryd
them, as whe ye ground is falloed and tilled for good grayne, as
I haue hearde many a good husbandman say: euen so, neither
hote punishment, nor yet diligent searching out of suche
vnthriftinesse by the officers, shal so throwly wede these
vngracious games out of the realme, as occupying and bringyng
vp youth in shotynge, and other honest pastyme. Thirdly, as
a grounde which is apt for corne and also wel tilled for corne :
yet if a man let it lye stil and do not occupye it .iii. or .iiii. yeare:
but then wyll sow it, if it be wheate (sayth Columella) it wil
turne into rye : so if a man be neuer so apte to shote, nor neuer
so wel taught in his youth to shote, yet if he giue it ouer, and
not vse to shote, truly when he shalbe eyther copelled in war
tyme for his countrye sake, or els prouoked at home for his
pleasure sake, to faule to his bowe : he shal become of a fayre
archer, a stark squyrter and dribber. Therefore in shotynge,
as in all other thinges, there can neyther be many in number,
nor excellent in dede : excepte these .iii. thynges, Aptnesse,
Knowledge, and Vse goo togyther.
PHIL. Very well sayde Toxophile, and I promyse you, I
agree to this iudgement of yours altogyther and therefore I can
not a lytle maruayle, why Englysshe men brynge nomore helpe
to shotynge, then nature it selfe gyueth them. For you se that
euen children be put to theyr owne shiftes in shotyng, hauing
nothynge taughte them : but that they maye chose, and chaunce
to shoote ill, rather then well, vnaptlye soner then fitlye, vnto-
wardlye, more easely then wel fauouredlye, whiche thynge
causeth manye neuer begynne to shoote : and moo to leaue it
60 T'oxophllus. A.
of when they haue begone, and moost of all to shote both worse
& weaker, then they might shote, if they were taught. But
peraduenture some men wyll saye, that wyth vse of shootynge
a man shall learne to shoote, true it is he shall learne, but what
shal he learne ? marye to shoote noughtly. For all Vse, in all
thynges, yf it be not stayed with Cunnyng, wyll verie easely
brynge a man to do yl thynge, what so euer he goeth aboute
with muche illfauorednes and deformitie.
Which thinge how much harme it doth in learning both
Crassus excellencie dothe proue in Tullie, and I
my selfe haue experiens in my lytle shootyng.
And therfore Toxophile, you must nedes graunt me that ether
Englishe men do il, in not ioynyng Knowlege of shooting to
Vse, or els there is no knowlege or cuninge, which can be
gathered of shooting. TOX. Learnyng to shoote is lytle
regarded in England, for this consideration, bycause men be so
apte by nature they haue a greate redy forwardnesse and wil to
vse it, al though no man teache them, al thoughe no man byd
them, & so of theyr owne corage they rune hedlynge on it, and
shoote they ill, shote they well, greate hede they take not. And
in verie dede Aptnesse wl Vse may do sumwhat without Know-
lege, but not the tenthe parte, if so be they were ioyned with
knowlege.
Whyche thre thynges be seperate as you se, not of theyr
owne kynde, but through the negligence of me whyche coupleth
them not to gyther. And where ye doubte whether there can
be gadered any knowlege or arte in shootyng or no, surely
I thynke that a ma being wel exercised in it and sumwhat
honestly learned with all, myght soone with diligent obseruynge
and markynge the hole nature of shootynge, find out as it were
an Arte of it, as Artes in other matters haue bene founde oute
afore, seynge that shootyng stadeth by those thinges, which
maye both be thorowlye perceued, and perfitly knowen, and
suche that neuer failes, but be euer certayne, belongynge to one
moost perfect ende, as shootyng streight, and keping of a lenght
bring a man to hit the marke, ye chefe end in shootyng: which
two thynges a man may attaine vnto, by diligent vsynge, and
well handlynge those instrumentes, which belong vnto them.
Therfore 1 can not see, but there lieth hyd in the nature of
Shootynge, an Arte, whiche by notynge, and obseruynge of
'The schole of shoring. 61
him, that is exercised in it, yf he be any thyng learned at al,
maye be taught, to the greate forderaunce of Artillarie through
out al this Realme. And trewlye I meruell gretelye, that
Englysshe men woulde neuer yet, seke for the Arte of shootynge,
seinge they be so apte vnto it, so praysed of there frendes, so
feared of there ennemyes for it. Vegetius woulde „
haue maysters appointed, whyche shoulde teache
youthe to shoote faire. Leo the Emperour of Rome, sheweth
the same custome, to haue bene alwayes amongest , ,
ye olde Romaynes : whych custome of teachyng
youth to shoote (saythe he) after it was omitted, and litle hede
taken of, brought the hole Empire of Rome, to grete Ruine.
Schola Persica, that is the Scole of the Persians,
appoynted to brynge vp youthe, whiles they were
.xx. yeres olde in shooting, is as notably knowne in Histories
as the Impire of ye Persians : whych schole, as doth apere in
Cornelius Tacitus, as sone as they gaue ouer and
fell to other idle pastimes, brought bothe them
and ye Parthians vnder ye subie&ion of the Romaines. Plato
would haue common maisters and stipendes, for
to teache youthe to shoote, & for the same purpose
he would haue a brode feylde nere euery Citie, made common
for men to vse shotyng in, whyche sayeng the more reasonably
it is spoken of Plato, the more vnresonable is theyr dede
whiche woulde ditche vp those feeldes priuatly for ther owne
profyt, whyche lyeth open generallye for the commo vse : men
by suche goodes be made rycher not honester sayeth Tullie.
Yf men can be perswaded to haue shootynge
taughte, this au<5thorite whyche foloweth will
perswade them, or els none, and that is as I haue ones sayde
before, of Kynge Dauyd, whose fyrste acle and ordinaunce was
after he was kynge that all ludea should learne to shoote. Yf
shotyng could speake, she would accuse England of vnkyndnesse
and slouthfulnesse, of vnkyndnesse toward her bycause she
beyng left to a lytle blynd vse, lackes her best maintener which
is cunnynge : of slouthfulnesse towarde theyr owne selfe, bycause
they are content wyth that whych aptnesse and vse doth graunt
them in shootynge, and wyl seke for no knowlege as other
noble comon welthes haue done : and the iustlier shootynge
myght make thys complaynt, seynge that of fence and weapons
62 'Toxophilus. A.
there is made an Arte, a thyng in no wyse to be compared to
shootynge.
For of fence all mooste in euerye towne, there is not onely
Masters to teache it, wyth his Prouostes Vsshers Scholers and
other names of arte & Schole, but there hath not fayled also,
whyche hathe diligently and well fauouredly written it and is
set out in Printe that euery man maye rede it.
What discommoditie doeth comme by the lacke of know-
lege, in shootynge, it were ouer longe to rehearce. For manye
that haue bene apte, and loued shootynge, bycause they knewe
not whyche way to houlde to comme to shootynge, haue cleane
tourned them selues from shootynge.
And I maye telle you Philologe, the lacke of teachynge to
shoote in Englande, causeth very manye men, to playe with
the kynges Aftes, as a man dyd ones eyther with the Mayre of
London or Yorke I can not tel whether, whiche dyd commaund
by proclamation, euerye man in the Citie, to hange a lanterne
wyth a candell, afore his dore : whiche thynge the man dyd,
but he dyd not lyght it : And so many bye bowes bicause of
the afte, but yet they shote not : not of euyll wyll, but bycause
they knowe not howe to shoote. But to conclude of this
matter, in shoting as in all other thynges, Apte-
nesse is the fyrste, and chyefe thynge, whiche if it
be awaye, neyther Cunnynge or Vse, doeth anye good at all,
as the Scottes and Fraunce men, wyth knowledge and Vse
of shootynge, shall become good Archers, whan a cunynge
shypwright shall make a stronge shyppe, of a Salowe tree : or
whan a husbandman shall becom ryche, wyth sowyng wheat
on Newmarket heath. Cunnynge muste be had,
bothe to set out, & amende Nature, and also to
ouersee, and corre&e vse : which vse yf it be not led, & gouerned
wyth cunnyng, shall sooner go amisse, than strayght.
Vse maketh perfitnesse, in doinge that thynge, whervnto
nature maketh a man apte, and knowlege maketh a man
cunninge before. So y* it is not so doubtful, which of them
three hath moost stroke in shoting as it is playne & euident,
that all thre must be had, in excellent shootynge. PHI. For
this communicacio Toxophile I am very glad, and y4 for myn
owne sake bicause I trust now, to become a shoter, And in
dede I thought a fore, English me most apte for shoting, and
The schole of shoting. 63
I sawe them dayelye vse shotyng, but yet I neuer founde none,
that woulde talke of anye knowlege whereby a man might
come to shotynge. Therfore I trust that you, by the vse you
haue had in shoting, haue so thorowly marked and noted the
nature of it, that you can teache me as it were by a trade or
waye how to come to it. TOX. I graunte, I haue vsed
shootinge meetly well, that I might haue marked it wel
ynoughe, yf I had bene diligent. But my much shootynge,
hath caused me studie litle, so that thereby I lacke learnynge,
whych shulde set out the Arte or waye in any thynge. And
you knowe that I was neuer so well sene, in the Posteriorums
of Aristotle as to inuent and searche out general Demonstra-
tions for the setting forth of any newe Science. Yet by my
trothe yf you wyll, I wyll goe with you into the fealdes at any
tyme and tel you as much as I can, or els you maye stande
some tyme at the prickes and looke on the which shoote best
and so learne. PHI. Howe lytle you haue looked of Aristotle,
and how muche learnynge, you haue lost by shotynge I can
not tell, but this I woulde saye and yf I loued you neuer so ill,
that you haue bene occupyed in sumwhat els besyde shotynge.
But to our purpose, as I wyll not requyre a trade in shotinge
to be taught me after the sutteltye of Aristotle, euen so do I
not agre with you in this poynt, that you wold haue me learne
to shoote with lokyng on them which shoote best, for so I
knowe I should neuer come to shote meanelye. For in shotyng
as in all other thynges which be gotten by teachynge, there
must be shewed a waye & a path which shal leade a man to ye
best and cheiffest point whiche is in shootynge, whiche you do
marke youre selfe well ynough, and vttered it also in youre
communication, when you sayde there laye hyd in ye nature of
shootyng a certayne waye whych wel perceyued and thorowlye
knowen, woulde bring a ma wythout any wanderyng to ye
beste ende in shotyng whych you called hitting of the pricke.
Therfore I would refer all my shootinge to that ende which is
best, and so shuld I come the soner to some meane. That
whiche is best hath no faulte, nor can not be amended. So
shew me beste shootynge, not the beste shoter, which yf he be
neuer so good, yet hath he many a faulte easelye of any man to
be espyed. And therfore meruell not yf I requyre to folowe
that example whych is without faulte, rather than that which
64 Toxophilus. A.
hath so manye faultes. And thys waye euery wyse man doth
folow in teachynge any maner of thynge. As Aristotle when
he teacheth a man to be good he settes not before hym Socrates
lyfe whyche was ye best man, but chiefe goodnesse it selfe
accordynge to whych he would haue a man dire&e his lyfe.
TOX. This waye which you requyre of me Philologe^ is to
hard for me, and to hye for a shooter to taulke on, & take as
I suppose out of the middes of Philosophic, to serche out the
perfite ende of any thyng, y6 which perfite ende to fynde out,
sayth Tullie, is the hardest thynge in the worlde,
Ora. ad Bru. , J , j u
the onely occasyon and cause, why so many sectes
of Philosophers hathe bene alwayse in learnynge. And
althoughe as Cicero saith a man maye ymagine and dreame in
his mynde of a perfite ende in any thynge, yet there is no
experience nor vse of it, nor was neuer sene yet amonges men,
as alwayes to heale the sycke, euer more to leade a shyppe
without daunger, at al times to hit the prick : shall no Physicion,
no shypmaster, no shoter euer do. And Aristotle saith that in
all deades there are two pointes to be marked,
possibilitie & excelecie, but chefely a wise ma
must folow & laye hand on possibilitie for feare he lease bothe.
Therfore seyng that which is moost perfect and best in shoot-
yng as alwayes to hit ye pricke, was neuer sene nor hard tel on
yet amoges men, but onelye ymagined and thought vpon in
a man his mynde, me thinck this is the wisest cousel & best
for vs to folow rather that which a man maye come to, than yl
whyche is vnpossible to be attained to, leste iustely that sayeng
of ye wyse mayde Ismene in Sophocles maye be verifyed on vs.
Soph. Anti. A foole be is that takes in hande he can not ende.
PHI. Well yf the perfite ende of other matters, had bene
as perfitlye knowne, as the perfite ende of shotynge is, there
had neuer bene so manye secies of Philosophers as there be, for
in shoting both man & boye is in one opinion, that alwayes to
hit the pryck is mooste perfe&e end that can be imagyned, so
that we shal not nede gretly contend in this matter. But now
sir, whereas you thynke y* a man in learning to shoote or any
thyng els, shuld rather wyselye folow possibilitie, tha vainly
seke for perfite excellencie, surelye I wyl proue yl euery wyse
man, yl wisely wold learne any thyng, shal chiefly go aboute y1
The schole of s ho ting. 65
whervnto he knoweth wel he shal neuer come. And you youre
selfe I suppose shal confesse ye same to be ye best way in
teachyng, yf you wyl answere me to those thinges whych I wyl
aske of you. TOX. And yl I wyl gladlye, both bycause I
thynke it is vnpossible for you to proue it, & also bycause
I desire to here what you ca saye in it. PHI. The studie of
a good Physicio Toxophile, I trow be to know al diseases & al
medicines fit for them. TOX. It is so in dede. PHI.
Bicause I suppose he would gladly at al tymes heale al diseases
of al men. TOX. Ye truely. PHI. A good purpose surely,
but was ther euer physicio yet among so many whyche hath
laboured in thys study, that at al times coulde heale all diseases?
TOX. No trewly ; nor I thyncke neuer shalbe. PHI. Than
Physicions by lyke, studie for yl, whiche none of them cometh
vnto. But in learning of fence I pray you what is y1 which
men moost labor for ? TOX. That they may hit a nother I
trow & neuer take blow theyr selfe. PHI. You say trothe, &
I am sure euery one of the would faine do so whe so euer he
playethe. But was there euer any of the so conning yet, which
at one tyme or other hath not be[n] touched ? TOX. The
best of them all is glad somtyme to escape with a blowe.
PHIL. Tha in fence also, men are taught to go aboute that
thing, whiche the best of them all knowethe he shall neuer
attayne vnto. Moreouer you that be shoters, I pray you, what
meane you, whan ye take so greate heade, to kepe youre stand-
ynge, to shoote compasse, to looke on your marke so diligently,
to cast vp grasse diuerse tymes and other thinges more, you
know better tha I. What would you do tha I pray you ?
TOX. Hit ye marke yf we could. PHIL. And doth euery
ma go about to hit the marke at euery shoote ? TOX. By
my trothe I trow so, and as for my selfe I am sure I do.
PHIL. But al men do not hit it at al tymes. TOX. No
trewlye for that were a wonder. PHIL. Can any man hit it
at all tymes? TOX. No man verilie. PHIL. Than by
likely to hit the pricke alwayes, is vnpossible. For that is
called vnpossible whych is in no man his power to do. TOX.
Vnpossible in dede. PHIL. But to shoote wyde and far of
the marke is a thynge possyble. TOX. No man wyll denie
that. PHIL. But yet to hit the marke alwayse were an
excellent thyng. TOX. Excellent surelie. PHIL, tha I am
66 T'oxophilus. A.
sure those be wiser men, which couete to shoote wyde than
those whiche couete to hit the prycke. TOX. Why so 1
pray you. PHIL. Because to shote wyde is a thynge possyble,
and therfore as you saye youre selfe, of euery wyse ma to be
folowed. And as for hittinge ye prick, bycause it is vnpossible,
it were a vaine thynge to go aboute it : but in good sadnesse
Toxophile thus you se that a man might go throghe all craftes
and sciences, and proue that anye man in his science coueteth
that which he shal neuer gette. TOX. By my trouth (as you
saye) I can not denye, but they do so : but why and wherfore
they shulde do so, I can not learne. PHILO. I wyll tell you,
euerye crafte and science standeth in two thynges : in Knowing
of his crafte, & Working of his crafte : For perfyte knowlege
bringeth a man to perfyte workyng This knowe Paynters,
karuers, Taylours, shomakers, and all oth'er craftes men, to be
true. Nowe, in euery crafte, there is a perfite excellencie,
which may be better knowen in a mannes mynde, then folowed
in a mannes dede : This perfytenesse, bycause it is generally
layed as a brode wyde example afore al me, no one particuler
man is able to compasse it : and as it is generall to al men, so it
is perpetuall for al time whiche proueth it a thynge for man
vnpossible : although not for the capacitie of our thinkyng
whiche is heauenly, yet surelye for the habilitie of our workyng
whyche is worldlye.
God gyueth not full perfytenesse to one man (sayth Tullie)
lest if one man had all in any one science, ther
shoulde be nothyng lefte for an other. Yet God
suffereth vs to haue the perfyt knowledge of it, that such
a knowledge dilligently folowed, might bring forth accordyng
as a man doth labour, perfyte woorkyng. And who is he, that
in learnynge to wryte, woulde forsake an excellent example,
and folowe a worse ? Therfore seing perfytenesse it selfe is an
example for vs, let euerye man studye howe he maye come nye it,
which is a poynt of wysdome, not reason with God why he may
not attaine vnto it, which is vayne curosite. TOX. Surely
this is gaily said Philologe, but yet this one thinge I am afraide
of, lest this perfitnesse which you speke on wil discourage men
to take any thynge in hande, bycause afore they begin, they
know, they shal neuer come to an ende. And thus dispayre
shall dispatche, euen at the fyrste entrynge in, many a good
T'/ie schole of shoting. 67
man his purpose and intente. And I thinke both you your
selfe, & al other men to, woulde counte it mere folie for a man
to tell hym whome he teacheth, that he shal neuer optaine that,
whyche he would fainest learne. And therfore this same
hyghe and perfite waye of teachyng let vs leue it to hygher
matters, and as for shootynge it shalbe content with a meaner
waye well ynoughe. PHI. Where as you saye y* this hye
perfitnesse will discorage me, bycause they knowe, they shall
neuer attayne vnto it, I am sure cleane contrarie there is
nothynge in the world shall incourage men more than it. And
whye ? For where a man seith, that though a nother man be
neuer so excellente, yet it is possible for hym selfe to be better,
what payne or labour wyl that man refuse to take? yf the game
be onse wonne, no ma wyl set forth hys foote to ronne. And
thus perfitnesse beynge so hyghe a thynge that men maye looke
at it, not come to it, and beynge so plentifull and indifferent to
euerye bodye that the plentifulnesse of it maye prouoke all men
to labor, bycause it hath ynoughe for all me, the indifferencye
of it shall encourage euerye one to take more paine than hys
fellowe, bycause euerye man is rewarded accordyng to his nye
comyng, and yet whych is moste meruel of al, ye more men
take of it, the more they leue behynd for other, as Socrates dyd
in wysdome, and Cicero in eloquens, whereby other hath not
lacked, but hathe fared a greate deele ye better. And thus
perfitnesse it selfe bycause it is neuer obteyned, euen therfore
only doth it cause so many men to be so well sene & perfite in
many matters, as they be. But where as you thynke yl it were
fondnesse to teache a man to shoote, in lokyng at the most
perfitnesse in it, but rather woulde haue a manne go some other
way to worke, I trust no wyse man wyl discomend that way,
except he thincke himselfe wyser than Tullye, whiche doeth
playnlye save, that yf he teached any maner of
c ijj r>i_ ML ij i u De Orat. $.
crafte as he dyd Rhetonke he would labor to
bringe a man to the knowlege of the moost perfitnesse of it,
whyche knowlege should euer more leade and gyde a manne to
do that thynge well whiche he went aboute. Whych waye in
al maner of learnyng to be best, Plato dothe also declare in
Euthydemus, of whome Tullie learned it as he dyd many other
thynges mo. And thus you se Toxophile by what reasons and
by whose au thorite I do require of you this waye in teachynge
E 2
68 T'oxophilus. A.
me to shoote, which waye I praye you withoute any more
delaye shew me as far forth as you haue noted and marked.
TOX. You cal me to a thyng Philologe which I am lothe to
do. And yet yf I do it not beinge but a smale matter as you
thynke, you wyll lacke frendeshyp in me, yf I take it in hande
and not bring it to passe as you woulde haue it, you myghte
thyncke great wat of wysdome in me.
But aduyse you, seing ye wyll nedes haue it so, the
blame shalbe yours, as well as myne : yours for puttynge vpon
me so instauntlye, myne in receyuynge so fondly a greater
burthen then I am able to beare. Therfore I, more wyllynge
to fulfyll your mynde, than hopyng to accomplysh that
which you loke for, shall speake of it, not as a master of
shotynge, but as one not altogyther ignoraunt in shotynge.
And one thynge I am glad of, the sunne drawinge downe
so fast into the west, shall compell me to drawe a pace
to the ende of our matter, so that his darkenesse shall
somethyng cloke myne ignoraunce. And bycause
you knowe the orderynge of a matter better
then I : Aske me generallye of it, and I
shall particularly answere to it. PHI.
Very gladly Toxophile: for so
by ordre, those thynges
whiche I woulde
knowe, you shal
tell the bet-
ter : and
those
thynges
whiche you shall tell, I
shall remembre
the better.
TOXOPHI-
LVS. B.
THE SECONDE BOOKE OF
the schole of shotyng.
PHILOL. What is the cheyfe poynte in shootynge, that
euerye manne laboureth to come to ? TOX. To hyt
the marke. PHI. Howe manye thynges are required to make
a man euer more hyt the marke ? TOX. Twoo. PHI.
Whiche twoo ? TOX. Shotinge streyght and kepynge of
a lengthe. PHIL. Howe shoulde a manne shoote strayght,
& howe shulde a man kepe a length ? TOX. In knowynge
and hauynge thinges, belongynge to shootyng : and whan they
be knowen and had, in well handlynge of them : whereof some
belong to shotyng strayght, some to keping of a legth, some
commonly to them bothe, as shall be tolde seuerally of them,
in place conuenient. PHI. Thynges belongyng to shotyng,
whyche be they ? TOX. All thinges be outwarde, and some
be instrumentes for euery sere archer to brynge with him,
proper for his owne vse : other thynges be generall to euery
man, as the place and tyme serueth. PHI. which be instru-
metes ? TOX. Bracer, shotynggloue, stryng, bowe & shafte.
PHI. Whiche be general to all men ? TOX. The wether
and the marke, yet the marke is euer vnder the rule of the
wether. PHI. wherin standeth well handlynge of thynges ?
TOX. All togyther wythin a man him selfe, some handlynge
is proper to instrumentes, some to the wether, somme to the
marke, some is within a man hym selfe. PHI. what handlyng
is proper to the Instrumentes. TOX. Standynge, nockyng,
drawyng, holdyng, lowsing, wherby cometh fayre shotynge,
whiche neyther belong to wynde nor wether, nor yet to the
marke, for in a rayne and at no marke, a man may shote a fayre
shoote. PHI. well sayde, what handlynge belongeth to the
jo Toxophllus. B.
wether? TOX. Knowyng of his wynde, with hym, agaynst
hym, syde wynd, ful syde wind, syde wynde quarter with him,
syde wynde quarter agaynste hym, and so forthe. PHI. well
than go to, what handlynge belongeth to the marke ? TOX. To
marke his standyng, to shote compasse, to draw euermore lyke,
to lowse euermore lyke, to consyder the nature of the pricke,
in hylles & dales, in strayte planes and winding places, & also
to espy his marke. PHI. Very well done. And what is
onely within a man hym selfe ? TOX. Good heede gyuynge,
and auoydynge all affe&ions : whiche thynges oftentymes do
marre and make all. And these thynges spoken of me generally
and brefely, yf they be wel knowen, had, and handled, shall
brynge a man to suche shootynge, as fewe or none euer yet
came vnto, but surely yf he misse in any one of the, he can
neuer hyt the marke, and in the more he doth misse, the farther
he shoteth from his marke. But as in all other matters the
fyrst steppe or stay re to be good, is to know a mannes faulte,
and than to amende it, and he that wyl not knowe his faulte,
shall neuer amende it. PHI. You speake nowe Toxophile,
euen as I wold haue you to speake : But lette vs returne agayne
vnto our matter, and those thynges whyche you haue packed
vp, in so shorte a roume, we wyll lowse the forthe, and take
euery pyece as it were in our hande and looke more narowlye
vpon it. TOX. I am content, but we wyll rydde them as
fast as we can, bycause the sunne goeth so faste downe, and
yet somewhat muste needes be sayde of euerye one of them.
PHI. well sayde, and I trowe we beganne wyth those thynges
whiche be instrumentes, whereof the fyrste, as I suppose, was
Bracer ^ ^raser- TOX. Litle is to be sayd of the
braser. A bracer serueth for two causes, one to
saue his arme from the strype of the strynge, and his doublet
from wearynge, and the other is, that the strynge glydynge
sharpelye & quicklye of the bracer, maye make the sharper
shoote. For if the strynge shoulde lyght vpon the bare sleue,
the strengthe of the shoote shoulde stoppe and dye there. But
it is best by my iudgemente, to gyue the bowe so muche bent,
that the strynge neede neuer touche a mannes arme, and so
shoulde a man nede no bracer as I knowe manye good Archers,
whiche occupye none. In a bracer a man muste take hede of
.iii. thinges, yl it haue no nayles in it, that it haue no bucles,
The schole of shoting. j I
that it be fast on with laces wythout agglettes. For the nayles
wyll shere in sunder, a manes string, before he be ware, and so
put his bowe in ieoperdy: Buckles and agglettes at vn wares,
shall race hys bowe, a thinge bothe euyll to the syghte, &
perilous for freatynge. And thus a Bracer, is onely had for this
purpose, that the strynge maye haue redye passage. PHI. In
my Bracer I am cunnyng ynough, but what saye you of the
shootyng gloue.
TOX. A shootynge Gloue is chieflye, for to saue a mannes
fyngers from hurtynge, that he maye be able to beare the sharpe
stryng to the vttermost of his strengthe. And whan a man
shooteth, the might of his shoote lyeth on the formooste fynger,
and on the Ringman, for the myddle fynger whiche is the
longest, lyke a lubber starteth backe, and beareth no weyght of
the strynge in a maner at all, therfore the two other fyngers,
muste haue thicker lether, and that muste haue thickest of all,
where on a man lowseth moste, and for sure lowsyng, the
formoste finger is moste apte, bycause it holdeth best, & for yl
purpose nature hath as a man woulde saye, yocked it wl the
thoumbe. Ledder, if it be nexte a mans skynne, wyl sweat,
waxe hard and chafe, therefore scarlet for the softnes of it and
thicknesse wyth all, is good to sewe wythin a manes gloue. If
that wylle not serue, but yet youre finger hurteth, you muste
take a searynge cloth made of fine virgin waxe, and Deres
sewet, & put nexte your fynger, and so on wyth youre gloue.
If yet you fele your fynger pinched, leaue shootyng both
because than you shall shoote nought, & agayn by litle & lytle,
hurtynge your finger, ye shall make it longe and longe to or
you shoote agayne. A newe gloue pluckes many shootes
bycause the stringe goeth not freelye of, and therefore the
fingers muste be cut short, and trimmed with some ointment,
that the string maye glyd wel awaye. Some with holdynge in
the nocke of theyr shafte too harde, rub the skyn of there
fingers. For this there be .ii. remedyes, one to haue a goose
quyll splettyd and sewed againste the nockynge, betwixt the
lining and the ledder, whyche shall helpe the shoote muche to,
the other waye is to haue some roule of ledder sewed betwixt
his fingers at the setting on of the fingers, which shall kepe his
fingers so in sunder, that they shal not hold the nock so fast as
they did. The shootyng gloue hath a purse whych shall serue
j2 T'oxophilus. B.
to put fine linen cloth and wax in, twoo necessary thynges for
a shooter, some men vse gloues or other suche lyke thyng on
their bow had for chafyng, bycause they houlde so harde. But
that commeth commonlye, when a bowe is not rounde, but
somewhat square, fine waxe shall do verye well in such a case
to laye where a man holdeth his bow : and thus muche as
concernynge your gloue. And these thynges althoughe they be
trifles, yet bycause you be but a yonge shoter, I woulde not
leue them out. PHI. And so you shal do me moost pleasure :
The string I trow be the next. TOX. The next in dede.
A thing though it be lytle, yet not a litle to be
regarded. But here in you muste be contente to
put youre truste in honest stringers. And surely stringers
ought more diligently to be looked vpon by the officers tha
ether bower or fletcher, bycause they may deceyue a simple
man the more easelyer. An ill stringe brekethe many a good
bowe, nor no other thynge halfe so many. In warre if a string
breke the man is loste and is no man, for his weapon is gone,
and althoughe he haue two stringes put one at once, yet he shall
haue small leasure & lesse roume to bend his bow, therfore god
send vs good stringers both for war and peace. Now what
a stringe ought to be made on, whether of good hempe as they
do now a dayes, or of flaxe or of silke, I leue that to the
iugemente of stringers, of whome we muste bye
Eustathius. t? u- u-
them on. Eustathius apon this verse or homere
Twag q the bow, & twag q the stringy out quicklle the shaft flue
Iliad. 4.
doeth tel, that in oulde tyme they made theyr bowe strynges of
bullox thermes, whiche they twyned togither as they do ropes,
& therfore they made a great twange. Bowe strynges also hath
bene made of the heare of an horse tayle called for the matter
of them Hippias as dothe appeare in manye good authors of the
. Greke tongue. Great stringes, and lytle strynges
be for diuerse purposes : the great string is more
surer for the bowe, more stable to pricke wythal, but slower for
the cast, the lytle stringe is cleane contrarye, not so sure,
therfore to be taken hede of, leste with longe tarienge on, it
breake your bowe, more fit to shoote farre, than apte to pricke
nere, therfore when you knowe the nature of bothe bigge and
J OO
The schole of shoting. 73
lytle, you must fit your bow, according to the occasion of your
shootinge. In stringinge of your bow (though this place belong
rather to the hadlyng than to the thyng it selfe, yet bycause the
thynge, and the handlynge of the thynge, be so ioyned together,
I must nede some tyme couple the one wyth the other,) you
must mark the fit length of youre bowe. For yf the stringe be
to short, the bending wyll gyue, and at the last slyp and so put
the bowe in ieopardye. Yf it be longe, the bendynge must
nedes be in the smal of the string, which beynge sore twined
muste nedes knap in sunder to ye distruction of manye good
bowes. Moreouer you must looke that youre bowe be well
nocked for fere the sharpnesse of the home shere a sunder the
strynge And that chaunceth ofte when in bending, the string
hath but one wap to strengthe it wyth all. You must marke
also to set youre stringe streygte on, or elles the one ende shall
wriethe contrary to the other, and so breke your bowe. When
the stringe begynnethe neuer so lytle to were, trust it not, but
a waye with it for it is an yll saued halpeny yl costes a man
a crowne Thus you se howe many ieopardyes hangethe ouer
the selye poore bowe, by reason onlye of the strynge. As when
the stringe is shorte, when it is longe, whe eyther of the nockes
be nought, when it hath but one wap, and when it taryethe
ouer longe on. PHI. I se wel it is no meruell, though so
many bowes be broken. TOX. Bowes be broken twise as
many wayes besyde these. But a gayne in stringynge youre
bowe, you must loke for muche bende or lytle bende for they
be cleane contrarye.
The lytle bende hath but one commoditie, whyche is in
shootyng faster and farther shoote, and ye cause therof is,
bycause the strynge hath so far a passage, or it parte wyth the
shafte. The greate bende hath many commodities : for it
maketh easyer shootynge the bowe beyng halfe drawen afore.
It needeth no bracer, for the strynge stoppeth before it come at
the arme. It wyl not so sone hit a mannes sleue or other
geare, by the same reason : It hurteth not the shaft fedder, as
the lowe bende doeth. It suffereth a man better to espye his
marke. Therfore lette youre bowe haue good byg bend,
a shaftemente and .ii. fyngers at the least, for these which
I haue spoken of. PHI. The braser, gloue, and
strynge, be done, nowe you muste come to the
74 T'oxophilus. B.
bowe, the chefe instrument of all. TOX. Dyuers countryes and
tymes haue vsed alwayes dyuers bowes, and of dyuers fashions.
Home bowes are vsed in some places nowe, & were vsed also
in Homerus dayes, for Pandarus bowe, the best
shooter among al the Troianes, was made of two
Goete homes ioyned togyther, the lengthe wherof sayth Homer,
was .xvi handbredes, not far differing from the lengthe of our
bowes.
Scripture maketh mention of brasse bowes. Iron bowes,
and style bowes, haue bene of longe tyme, and
also nowe are vsed among the Turkes, but yet they
must nedes be vnprofitable. For yf brasse, yron or style, haue
theyr owne strength and pith in them, they be farre aboue
manes strength : yf they be made meete for mannes strengthe,
theyr pithe is nothyng worth to shoote any shoote wyth all.
The Ethiopians had bowes of palme tre, whiche seemed to
be very stronge, but we haue none experience of
Hero, in *ol. , -ni_ i r i_ ••••
them. I he lengthe or them was .1111. cubites
The men of Inde had theyr bowes made of a rede, whiche was
of a great strengthe. And no maruayle though bowe and
shaftes were made therof, for the redes be so great in Inde, as
Herodotus sayth, that of euery ioynte of a rede,
In Thalia. r , , ' ' ^, ,
a man may make a fyshers bote. 1 hese bowes,
sayeth Arrianus in Alexanders lyfe, gaue so great a stroke, that
, . . no harneys or buckler though it were neuer so
Amanus. 8. J , , , . °r-^, , , c ,
strong, could wythstand it. 1 he length or suche
a bowe, was euen wyth the length of hym, that vsed it. The
Lycians vsed bowes made of a tree, called in
In Polym. T J ~ r . .
Latyn Lornus, (as concernyng the name or it in
English, I can soner proue that other men call it false, than
I can tell the right name of it my selfe) this wood is as harde as
home and very fit for shaftes, as shall be toulde after.
Quid sheweth that Syringa the Nymphe, and one of the
maydens of Diana, had a bowe of this wood
Metamor. i. , 3 , ,
wherby the poete meaneth, that it was verye
excellent to make bowes of
As for brasell, Elme, Wych, and Asshe, experience doth
proue them to be but meane for bowes, and so to conclude Ewe
of all other thynges, is that, wherof perfite shootyng woulde
haue a bowe made.
T'/ie schole of shoring. 75
Thys woode as it is nowe general! and common amonges
Englyshe men, so hath it continewed from longe tyme and had
in moost price for bowes, amoges the Romaynes, as doth apere
in this halfe verse of Vyrgill.
Taxi torquentur in arcus.
Virgilius.
i- r r Georg, i,
Lwe fit for a bowe to be made on.
Nowe as I saye, a bowe of Ewe must be hadde for perfedle
shootinge at the prickes, whiche marke, bycause it is certayne,
& moste certaihe rules may be gyuen of it, shall serue for our
comunication, at this time. A good bowe is knowen, much
what as good counsayle is knowen, by the ende and proofe of it,
& yet bothe a bowe and good counsell, maye be made bothe
better and worse, by well or yll handlynge of them : as often-
tymes chauceth. And as a man both muste and wyll take
counsell, of a wyse and honeste man, though he se not the ende
of it, so must a shooter of necessitie, truste an honest and good
bowyer for a bowe, afore he knowe the proofe of it. And as a
wyse man wyll take plentye of counsel afore hand what soeuer
need, so a shooter shulde haue alwayes .iii. or .iiii. bowes, in
store, what so euer chaunce. PHI. But if I truste bowyers
alwayes, sometyme I am lyke to be deceyued. TOX. There-
fore shall I tell you some tokens in a bowe, that you shal be
the seeldomer deceyued. If you come into a shoppe, and fynde
a bowe that is small, long, heauy and strong, lyinge st[r]eyght,
not windyng, not marred with knot gaule, wyndeshake, wem,
freat or pynche, bye that bowe of my warrant. The beste
colour of a bowe yl I fynde, is whan the backe and the bellye
in woorkynge, be muche what after one maner, for such often-
tymes in wearyng, do proue lyke virgin wax or golde, hauynge
a fine longe grayne, euen from the one ende of the bowe, to the
other : the short graine although suche proue well somtyme, are
for ye most parte, very brittle. Of the makynge of the bowe,
I wyll not greatly meddle, leste I shoulde seeme to enter into an
other mannes occupation, whyche I can no skyll of. Yet I
woulde desyre all bowyers to season theyr staues well, to woorke
them and synke them well, to giue the heetes conuenient, and
tyllerynges plentye. For thereby they shoulde bothe get them
selues a good name, (And a good name encreseth a mannes
76 Toxophilus. B.
profyt muche) and also do greate comodite to the hole Realme.
If any men do offend in this poynte, I am afrayde they be those
iourny me whiche labour more spedily to make manye bowes
for theyr owne monye sake, than they woorke dilligently to
make good bowes, for the common welth sake, not layinge
before theyr eyes, thys wyse prouerbe.
Sone ynough, ifwelynough.
Wherwyth euere honest handye craftes man shuld measure, as
it were wyth a rule, his worke withal. He that is a iourney
man, and rydeth vpon an other mannes horse, yf he ryde an
honest pace, no manne wyll dysalowe hym : But yf he make
Poste haste, bothe he that oweth the horse, and he peraduenture
also that afterward e shal bye the horse, may chauce to curse
hym.
Suche hastinesse I am afrayde, maye also be found amonges
some of the, whych through out y6 Realme in diuerse places
worke ye kinges Artillarie for war, thinkynge yf they get a
bowe or a sheafe of arrowes to some fashion, they be good
ynough for bearynge gere. And thus that weapon whiche is
the chiefe defence of the Realme, verye ofte doth lytle seruyce
to hym that shoulde vse it, bycause it is so negligentlye wrought
of him that shuld make it, when trewlye I suppose that nether
ye bowe can be to good and chefe woode, nor yet to well
seasoned or truly made, wyth hetynges and tillerynges, nether
that shafte to good wood or to thorowely wrought, with the
best pinion fedders that can be gotten, wherwith a man shal
serue his prince, defende his countrie, and saue hym selfe frome
his enemye. And I trust no man wyll be angrye wyth me for
spekynge thus, but those which nnde them selfe touched
therin : which ought rather to be angrye wyth them selfe for
doynge so, than to be miscontent wyth me for saynge so. And
in no case they ought to be displeased wyth me, seinge this is
spoken also after that sorte, not for the notynge of anye person
seuerallye, but for the amendynge of euerye one generallye.
But turne we agayne to knowe a good shootynge bowe for
cure purpose.
Euerye bowe is made eyther of a boughe, of a plante or of
the boole of the tree. The boughe comonlye is verye knotty,
and full of pinnes, weak, of small pithe, and sone wyll folowe
'The schole of skating. 77
the stringe, and seldome werith to anye fayre coloure, yet for
chyldren & yonge beginners it maye serue well ynoughe. The
plante proueth many times wel, yf it be of a good and clene
groweth, and for the pith of it is quicke ynoughe of cast, it wyl
plye and bow far afore it breake, as al other yoge thinges do.
The boole of ye tree is clenest wlout knot or pin, hauinge
a faste and harde woode by reasonne of hys full groweth, stronge
and myghtye of cast, and best for a bow, yf the staues be euen
clouen, and be afterwarde wroughte not ouerwharte the
woode, but as the graine and streyght growyng of the woode
leadethe a man, or elles by all reason it must sone breake, &
that in many shiuers. This must be considered in the roughe
woode, & when the bow staues be ouerwrought and facioned.
For in dressing and pikynge it vp for a bow, it is to late to loke
for it But yet in these poyntes as I sayd before you muste
truste an honest bowyer, to put a good bow in youre hand,
somewhat lookinge your selfe to those tokens whyche I shewed
you. And you muste not sticke for a grote or .xii. d. more
than a nother man would giue yf it be a good bowe. For
a good bow twise paide for is better than an ill bowe once
broken.
Thus a shooter muste begyn not at the makynge of hys
bowe lyke a bower, but at the byinge of hys bow lyke an
Archere. And when his bow is bought and brought home,
afore he truste muche vpon it, let hym trye and trym it after
thys sorte.
Take your bow in to the feeld, shote in hym, sinke hym
wyth deade heauye shaftes, looke where he comethe moost,
prouyde for that place betymes, leste it pinche and so freate :
whe you haue thus shot in him, and perceyued good shootynge
woode in hym, you must haue hym agayne to a good cunnynge,
and trustie woorkeman, whyche shall cut hym shorter, and pike
hym and dresse hym fytter, make hym comme rounde compace
euery where, and whippyng at the endes, but with discretion,
lest he whyp in sunder or els freete, soner than he is ware of,
he must also lay hym streght, if he be caste or otherwise nede
require, and if he be flatte made, gather hym rounde, and so
shall he bothe shoote the faster, for farre shootynge, and also
the surer for nere pryckynge. PHI. What yf I come into
a shoppe, and spye oute a bow, which shal both than please
78 I'oxophilus. B.
me very wel whan I by him, and be also very fit and meete for
me whan I shote in hym : so that he be both weake ynoughe for
easye shootynge, and also quycke and spedye ynoughe for farre
castynge, than I woulde thynke I shall nede no more businesse
wyth him, but be contente wyth hym, and vse hym well ynoughe,
and so by that meanes, auoyde bothe great trouble, and also
some cost whiche you cunnynge archers very often put your
selues vnto, beynge verye Englyshe men, neuer ceasynge
piddelynge about your bowe & shaftes whan they be well, but
eyther with shorting and pikynge your bowes, or els with newe
fetheryng, peecynge-and headinge your shaftes, can neuer haue
done vntyll they be starke nought. TOX. Wel Philologe,
surelye if I haue any Judgement at all in shootyng, it is no very
great good token in a bowe, whereof nothyng whan it is newe
and fresshe, nede be cutte away, euen as Cicero sayeth of a
yonge manes wit and style, which you knowe better than I.
For euerye newe thynge muste alwayes haue more than it
neadeth, or elles it wyll not waxe better and better, but euer
decaye, and be worse and worse. Newe ale if it runne not
ouer the barrell whan it is newe tunned, wil sone lease his pith,
and his head afore he be longe drawen on.
And lyke wyse as that coke whyche at the fyrste takynge
vp, nedeth lytle breakyng and handlyng, but is fitte and gentle
ynoughe for the saddle, seeldome or neuer proueth well, euen so
that bowe whyche at the fyrste byinge, wythout any more
proofe & trimmynge, is fit and easie to shoote in, shall neyther
be profitable to laste longe, nor yet pleasaunt to shoote well.
And therfore as a younge horse full of corage, wyth handlynge
and breakinge, is brought vnto a sure pace and goynge, so shall
a newe bowe fresshe and quicke of caste, by sinkyng &
cuttyng, be brought to a stedfast shootyng. And an easie and
gentle bow whan it is newe, is not muche vnlyke a softe spirited
boye when he is younge. But yet as of an vnrulie boye with
right handlyng, proueth oftenest of al a well ordered man : so
of an vnfit and staffysh bow with good trimming, muste nedes
folowe alwayes a stedfast shotynge bowe.
And suche a perfite bowe, whiche neuer wyll deceyue a
man, excepte a man deceyue it, muste be had for that perfecte
ende, whyche you looke for in shootinge. PHI. Well
Toxophile, I see wel you be cunninger in this gere than I :
'The schole of shoting. 79
but put case that I haue thre or fower suche good bowes, pyked
and dressed, as you nowe speke of, yet I do remembre yl manye
learned men do saye, that it is easier to gette a good thynge,
than to saue and keepe a good thyng, wherfore if you can teache
me as concernyng that poynte, you haue satisfyed me plentifullye,
as concernynge a bowe. TOX. Trulye it was the nexte
thyng that I woulde haue come vnto, for so the matter laye.
Whan you haue broughte youre bowe to suche a poynte, as
I spake of, than you must haue an herde or wullen cloth waxed,
wherw1 euery day you must rubbe and chafe your bowe, tyll it
shyne and glytter withall. Whyche thynge shall cause it bothe
to be cleane, well fauoured, goodlye of coloure, and shall also
bryng as it were a cruste, ouer it, that is to say, shall make it
euery where on the outsyde, so slyppery and harde, that neyther
any weete or wether can enter to hurte it, nor yet any freat or
pynche, be able to byte vpon it : but that you shal do it great
wrong before you breake it. This must be done oftentimes but
specially when you come from shootynge.
Beware also whan you shoote, of youre shaft hedes, dagger,
knyues or agglettes, lest they race your bowe, a thing as I sayde
before, bothe vnsemely to looke on, and also daugerous for
freates. Take hede also of mistie and dankyshe dayes, whiche
shal hurte a bowe, more than any rayne. For then you muste
eyther alway rub it, or els leaue shootynge.
Your bowecase (this I dyd not promise to speake of, bycause
it is without the nature of shootynge, or els I
shoulde truble me wyth other thinges infinite
more : yet seing it is a sauegarde for the bowe, somthynge I wyll
saye of it) youre bowecase I saye, yf you ryde forthe, muste
neyther be to wyde for youre bowes, for so shall one clap vpon
an other, and hurt them, nor yet so strayte that scarse they
can be thrust in, for that woulde laye them on syde & wynde
them A bowecase of ledder, is not the best, for that is ofttymes
moyste which hurteth the bowes very much. Therfore I haue
sene good shooters which would haue for euerye bowe, a sere
case made of wollen clothe, and than you maye putte .iii. or .iiii.
of them so cased, in to a ledder case if you wyll. This wollen
case shall bothe kepe them in sunder, and also wylle kepe a
bowe in his full strengthe, that it neuer gyue for any wether.
At home these wood cases be verye good for bowes to stande in.
80 Toxophilus. B.
But take hede yl youre bowe stande not to nere a stone wall,
for that wyll make hym moyste and weke, nor yet to nere any
fier for that wyll make him shorte and brittle. And thus muche
as concernyng the sauyng and keping of [y]our bowe : nowe you
shall heare what thynges ye must auoyde, for feare of breakyng
your bowe.
A shooter chaunseth to breake his bowe commonly .iiii.
wayes, by the strynge, by the shafte, by drawyng to far, & by
freates : By the stryng as I sayde afore, whan the strynge is
eyther to shorte, to long, not surely put on, wyth one wap, or
put croked on, or shorne in sundre wyth an euell nocke, or
suffered to tarye ouer longe on. Whan the stryng fayles the
bowe muste nedes breake, and specially in the myddes ; because
bothe the endes haue nothyng to stop them ; but whippes so far
backe, that the belly must nedes violentlye rise vp, the whyche
you shall well perceyue in bendyng of a bowe backward.
Therfore a bowe that foloweth the strynge is least hurt with
breakyng of strynges. By the shafte a bowe is broke ether
when it is to short, and so you set it in your bow or when the
nocke breakes for lytlenesse, or when the strynge slyppes
wythoute the nocke for wydenesse, than you poule it to your
eare and lettes it go, which must nedes breake the shafte at the
leaste, and putte stringe and bow & al in ieopardy, bycause the
strength of the bowe hath nothynge in it to stop the violence of it.
Thys kynde of breakynge is mooste perilouse for the standers
by, for in such a case you shall se some tyme the ende of a bow
flye a hoole score from a ma, and that moost commonly, as I
haue marked oft the vpper ende of the bowe. The bow is
drawne to far .ii. wayes. Eyther when you take a longer
shafte then your owne, or els when you shyfte your hand to
low or to hye for shootynge far. Thys waye pouleth the backe
in sunder, and then the bowe fleethe in manye peces.
So when you se a bowe broken, hauynge the bellye risen vp
both wayes or tone, the stringe brake it. When it is broken in
twoo peces in a maner euen of and specyallye in the vpper ende,
the shafte nocke brake it.
When the backe is pouled a sunder in manye peeces, to farre
drawynge brake it.
These tokens eyther alwayes be trewe or els verye seldome
mysse.
The schole of shotmg. 8 1
The fourthe thyng that breketh a bow is fretes, whych
make a bowe redye and apte to breake by any of
the .iii. wayes afore sayde. Freetes be in a shaft
as well as in a bowe, and they be muche lyke a Canker,
crepynge and encreasynge in those places in a bowe, whyche
be weaker then other. And for thys purpose must your bowe
be well trymmed and piked of a coning man that it may come
rounde in trew compasse euery where. For freetes you must
beware, yf youre bow haue a knot in the backe, lest the places
whyche be nexte it, be not alowed strong ynoughe to bere wl
the knotte, or elles the stronge knotte shall freate the weake
places nexte it. Freates be fyrst litle pinchese, the whych whe
you perceaue, pike the places about the pinches, to make them
somewhat weker, and as well commynge as where it pinched,
and so the pinches shall dye, and neuer encrease farther in to
great freates.
Freates begynne many tymes in a pin, for there the good
woode is corrupted, that it muste nedes be weke, and bycause
it is weake, therfore it freates. Good bowyers therfore do rayse
euery pyn & alowe it moore woode for feare of freatynge.
Agayne bowes moost commonlye freate vnder the hande,
not so muche as some men suppose for the moistnesse of the
hande, as for the heete of the hand : the nature of heate sayeth
Aristotle is to lowse, and not to knyt fast, and the more lowser
the more weaker, the weaker, the redier to freate. A bowe is
not well made, whych hath not wood plentye in the hande.
For yf the endes of the bowe be staffyshe, or a mans hande any
thynge hoote the bellye must nedes sone frete. Remedie for
fretes to any purpose I neuer hard tell of any, but onelye to
make the freated place as stronge or stronger then any other.
To fill vp the freate with lytle sheuers of a quill and glewe (as
some saye wyll do wel) by reason must be starke nought.
For, put case the freete dyd cease then, yet the cause whiche
made it freate a fore (and that is weakenesse of the place) bicause
it is not taken away must nedes make it freate agayne. As for
cuttyng out of freates wythe all maner of pecynge of bowes
I wyll cleane exclude from perfite shootynge. For peced bowes
be muche lyke owlde housen, whyche be more chargeable to
repay re, than commodiouse to dwell in. Agayne to swadle
a bowe much about wyth bandes, verye seldome dothe anye
82 Toxophilus. B.
good, excepte it be to kepe downe a spel in the backe, otherwyse
bandes ether nede not when the bow is any thinge worthe, or
els boote not whe it is marde & past best. And although I
knowe meane and poore shooters, wyll vse peced and banded
bowes sometyme bycause they are not able to get better when
they woulde, yet I am sure yf they consyder it well, they shall
fynde it, bothe lesse charge and more pleasure to ware at any
tyme a couple of shyllynges of a new bowe than to bestowe
.x. d of peacynge an olde bowe. For better is coste vpon
somewhat worth, than spence vpon nothing worth. And thys
I speke also bycause you woulde haue me referre all to perfit-
nesse in shootynge.
Moreouer there is an other thynge, whyche wyl sone cause
a bowe be broken by one of the .iii. wayes whych be first
spoken of, and that is shotyng in winter, when there is any
froste. Froste is wheresoeuer is any waterish humour, as is in
al woodes, eyther more or lesse, and you knowe that al thynges
frosen and Isie, wyl rather breke than bende. Yet if a man
must nedes shoote at any suche tyme, lette hym take hys bowe,
and brynge it to the fyer, and there by litle and litle, rubbe and
chafe it with a waxed clothe, whiche shall bring it to that poynt,
yl he maye shote safelye ynough in it. This rubbyng with
waxe, as I sayde before, is a great succour, agaynst all wete and
moystnesse.
In the fyeldes also, in goyng betwyxt the pricks eyther wyth
your hande, or elles wyth a clothe you muste keepe your bowe
in suche a temper. And thus muche as concernynge youre
bowe, howe fyrste to knowe what wood is best for a bowe,
than to chose a bowe, after to trim a bowe, agayne to keepe it
in goodnesse, laste of al, howe to saue it from al harm and
euylnesse.
And although many men can saye more of a bow yet I trust
these thynges be true, and almoste sufficient for the knowlege
of a perfede bowe. PHI. Surelye I beleue so, and yet I
coulde haue hearde you talke longer on it : althogh I can not
se, what maye be sayd more of it. Therfore excepte you wyll
pause a whyle, you may go forwarde to a shafte.
TOX. What shaftes were made of, in oulde tyme authours
Hero. eittAr\p. ^° not so rnanifestlye shewe, as of bowes. Hero-
dotus doth tel, that in the flood of Nilus, ther
The schole of shoting. 83
was a beast, called a water horse, of whose skinne after it was
dried, the Egyptians made shaftes, and dartes on. The
tree called Cornus was so common to make
shaftes of, that in good authours of ye latyn tongue,
Cornus is taken for a shafte, as in Seneca, and that place of
Virgill,
Volat Itala Cornus. Virg. end. 9
Yet of all thynges that euer I warked of olde authours,
either greke or latin, for shaftes to be made of, there is nothing
so comon as reedes. Herodotus in describynge the mightie
hoost of Xerxes doth tell that thre great contries .
vsed shaftes made of a rede, the Aethiopians, the
Lycians (whose shaftes lacked fethers, where at I maruayle
moste of all) and the men of Inde. The shaftes in
T j i j u ir Arrtanus.8.
Inde were verye longe, a yarde and an halre, as
Arrianus doth save, or at the least a yarde, as
r\ r* - i \- j L r \. Q- Curt. 8.
Q. Curtms doth saye, and therfore they gaue ye
greater strype, but yet bycause they were so long, they were the
more vnhansome, and lesse profitable to the men of Inde, as
Curtius doeth tell.
In Crete and Italic, they vsed to haue their shaftes of rede
also. The best reede for shaftes grewe in Inde,
and in Rhenus a flood of Italy.
But bycause suche shaftes be neyther easie for Englishe
men to get, and yf they were gotten scarse profitable for them
to vse, I wyll lette them passe, and speake of those shaftes
whyche Englysh men at this daye moste comonly do approue
and allowe.
A shaft hath three principall partes, the stele, the fethers,
and the head : whereof euerye one muste be seuerallye spoken of.
C Steles be made of dyuerse woodes, as,
Brasell.
Turkic wood.
Fusticke.
Sugercheste.
Hardbeame.
Byrche.
Asshe.
Ooke.
F 2
84 Toxophilus. B.
Seruis tree.
Hulder.
Blackthorne.
Beche.
Elder.
Aspe.
Salow.
These wooddes as they be most commonly vsed, so they be
mooste fit to be vsed : yet some one fytter then an other for
diuers mennes shotinge, as shalbe toulde afterwarde. And in
this pointe as in a bowe you muste truste an honest fletcher.
Neuerthelesse al thoughe I can not teache you to make a bowe
or a shafte, whiche belongeth to a bowyer and a fletcher to
come to theyr lyuyng, yet wyll I shewe you some tokens to
knowe a bowe & a shafte, whiche pertayneth to an Archer to
come to good shootynge.
A stele muste be well seasoned for Castinge, and it must be
made as the grayne lieth & as it groweth or els it wyl neuer flye
clene, as clothe cut ouertwhart and agaynste the wulle, can
neuer hoose a manne cleane. A knottye stele maye be suffered
in a bygge shafte, but for a lytle shafte it is nothynge fit, bothe
bycause it wyll neuer flye far, and besydes that it is euer in
danger of breakynge, it flieth not far bycause the strengthe of the
shoote is hindred and stopped at the knotte, euen as a stone
cast in to a plaine euen stil water, wyll make the water moue
a greate space, yet yf there be any whirlynge plat in the water,
the mouynge ceasethe when it commethe at the whyrlynge
plat, whyche is not muche vnlyke a knotte in a shafte yf it be
cosidered wel. So euery thyng as it is plaine and streight of
hys owne nature so is it fittest for far mouynge. Therfore
a stele whyche is harde to stade in a bowe, without knotte, and
streighte (I meane not artificiallye streyghte as the fletcher dothe
make it, but naturally streight as it groweth in the wood) is best
to make a shaft of, eyther to go cleane, fly far or stand surely
in any wedder. Now howe big, how small, how heuye, how
lyght, how longe, how short, a shafte shoulde be particularlye
for euerye man (seynge we must taulke of the generall nature
of shootyng) can not be toulde no more than you Rhethoricians
can appoynt any one kynde of wordes, of sentences, of fygures
The schole of shoting. 85
fyt for euery matter, but euen as the man and the matter
requyreth so the fyttest to be vsed. Therfore as concernynge
those contraryes in a shafte, euery man muste auoyde them and
draw to the meane of them, whyche meane is best in al thynges.
Yet yf a man happen to offende in any of the extremes it is
better to offend in want and scaritnesse, than in to muche and
outragiouse excedynge. As it is better to haue a shafte a lytle
to shorte than ouer longe, somewhat to lyght, than ouer
lumpysshe, a lytle to small, than a greate deale to big, whiche
thyng is not onely trewlye sayde in shootynge, but in all other
thynges that euer man goeth aboute, as in eatynge, taulkynge,
and all other thynges lyke, whych matter was onse excellentlye
disputed vpon, in the Scooles, you knowe when.
And to offend, in these contraryes cometh much yf men
take not hede, throughe the kynd of wood, wherof the shaft is
made : For somme wood beloges to ye excedyng part, some to
F" scat part, some to ye meane, as Brasell, Turkiewood,
usticke, Sugar cheste, & such lyke, make deade, heuy lupish,
hobblyng shaftes Againe Hulder, black thorne, Serues tree,
Beche, Elder, Aspe, and Salowe, eyther for theyr wekenes or
lyghtenesse, make holow, starting, scudding, gaddynge shaftes.
But Birche, Hardbeme, some Ooke, and some Asshe, beynge
bothe stronge ynoughe to stande in a bowe, and also lyght
ynoughe to flye far, are best for a meane, whiche is to be
soughte oute in euery thinge. And althoughe I knowe that
some me shoote so stronge, that the deade woodes be lyghte
ynoughe for them, and other some so weeke, that the lowse
woodes be lykewyse for them bigge ynoughe yet generally for
the moost parte of men, the meane is the best. And so to
conclude, that is alwayes beste for a man, whiche is metest for
him. Thus no wood of his owne nature, is eyther to lyght or
to heuy, but as the shooter is him selfe whyche dothe vse it. For
that shafte whiche one yeare for a man is to lyghte and scud-
dinge, for the same selfe man the next yeare may chaunce be to
heuy and hobblynge. Therfore can not I expresse, excepte
generally, what is best wood for a shaft, but let euery ma when
he knoweth his owne strength and the nature of euery wood,
prouyde and fyt himselfe thereafter. Yet as concerning sheaffe
Arrouse for war (as I suppose) it were better to make them of
good Asshe, and not of Aspe, as they be now a dayes. For of
86 Toxophilus. B.
all other woodes that euer I proued Asshe being big is swiftest
and agayne heuy to giue a greate stripe with all, whyche Aspe
shall not doo. What heuynes doth in a stripe euery man by
experience can tell, therfore Asshe being both swyfter and
heuier is more fit for sheafe Arroes the Aspe, & thus muche
for the best wood for shaftes.
Agayne lykewyse as no one wood can be greatlye meet for
all kynde of shaftes, no more can one facion of the stele be fit
for euery shooter. For those that be lytle brested and big
toward the hede called by theyr lykenesse taperfashio, reshe
growne, and of some merrye fellowes bobtayles, be fit for them
whiche shote vnder hande bycause they shoote wyth a softe
lowse, and stresses not a shaft muche in the breste where the
weyghte of the bowe lyethe as you maye perceyue by the
werynge of euery shafte.
Agayne the bygge brested shafte is fytte for hym, which
shoteth right afore him, or els the brest being weke shoulde
neuer wythstande that strong piththy kynde of shootynge, thus
the vnderhande must haue a small breste, to go cleane awaye
oute of the bowe, the forehande muste haue a bigge breste to
here the great myghte of the bowe. The shafte must be made
rounde nothynge flat wyth out gal or wemme, for thys purpose.
For bycause roundnesse (whether you take example in heauen
or in earthe) is fittest shappe and forme both for fast mouing
and also for sone percynge of any thynge. And therfore
Aristotle saythe that nature hath made the raine to be round,
bycause it shoulde the easelyer enter throughe the ayre.
The nocke of the shafte is dyuersly made, for some be greate
and full, some hansome & lytle, some wyde, some narow, some
depe, some shalowe, some round, some longe, some wyth one
nocke, some wyth a double nocke, wherof euery one hathe hys
propertye.
The greate and full nocke, maye be well felte, and many
wayes they saue a shafte from brekynge. The hansome and
lytle nocke wyll go clene awaye frome the hand, the wyde
nocke is noughte, both for breakyng of the shafte and also for
soden slyppynge oute of the strynge when the narrowe nocke
doth auoyde bothe those harmes. The depe and longe nocke is
good in warre for sure kepyng in of the strynge. The shalow,
and rownde nocke is best for our purpose in prickyng for cleane
The schole of shoring. 87
delyueraunce of a shoote. And double nockyng is vsed for
double suerty of the shaft And thus far as concernynge a
hoole stele.
Peecynge of a shafte with brasell and holie, or other heauy
woodes, is to make ye ende compasse heauy with the fethers in
fliyng, for the stedfaster shotyng. For if the ende were plumpe
heauy wyth lead and the wood nexte it lyghte, the head ende
woulde euer be downwardes, and neuer flye strayght.
Two poyntes in peecing be ynough, lest the moystnes of the
earthe enter to moche into the peecinge, & so leuse the glue.
Therfore many poyntes be more plesaunt to the eye, than
profitable for the vse.
Sume vse to peece theyr shaftes in the nocke wyth brasel,
or holye, to counterwey, with the head, and I haue sene sume
for the same purpose, bore an hole a lytle bineth the nocke, and
put leade in it. But yet none of these wayes be anye thing
needful at al, for ye nature of a fether in flying, if a man marke
it wel, is able to bear vp a wonderful weyght : and I thlke
suche peecing came vp first, thus : whan a good Archer hath
broken a good shafte, in the fethers, & for the fantasie he hath
had to it, he is lothe to leese it, & therfore doeth he peece it.
And than by and by other eyther bycause it is gaye, or elles
because they wyll haue a shafte lyke a good archer, cutteth
theyre hole shaftes, and peeceth them agayne : A thynge by my
Judgement, more costlye than nedefull.
And thus haue you heard what wood, what fasshion, what
nockynge, what peecynge a stele muste haue : Nowe foloweth
the fetherynge.
PHI. I woulde neuer haue thought you could haue sayd
halfe so muche of a stele, and I thynke as concernyng the litle
fether and the playne head, there is but lytle to saye. TOX.
Lytle, yes trulye : for there is no one thing, in al shoting, so-
moche to be loked on as the fether. For fyrste a question maye
be asked, whether any other thing besyde a fether, be fit for
a shaft or no ? if a fether onelye be fit, whether a goose fether
onely, or no ? yf a goose fether be best, then whether there be
any difference, as concernynge the fether of an oulde goose, and
a younge goose : a gander, or a goose : a fennye goose, or an
vplandish goose. Againe which is best fether in any goose, the
ryght wing or the left wing, the pinion fether, or any other
88 Toxophilus. B.
fether : a whyte, blacke, or greye father ? Thirdly, in settyng
on of your fether, whether it be pared or drawen wl a thicke
rybbe, or a thinne rybbe (the rybbe is ye hard quill whiche
deuydeth the fether) a long fether better or a shorte, set on nere
the nocke, or farre from the nocke, set on streight, or som what
bowyng ? & whether one or two fethers runne on the bowe.
Fourthly in couling or sheryng, whether high or lowe, whether
somewhat swyne backed (I muste vse shoters wordes) or sadle
backed, whether rounde, or square shorne ? And whether a
shaft at any tyme ought to be plucked, and how to be plucked.
PHI. Surely Toxophile, I thynke manye fletchers (although
daylye they haue these thinges in vre) if they were asked
sodeynly, what they coulde saye of a fether, they could not
saye so moch. But I praye you let me heare you more at large,
expresse those thynges in a fether, the whiche you packed vp in
so narrowe a rowme. And fyrst whether any other thyng may
be vsed for a fether or not. TOX. That was ye fyrste poynte
in dede, and bycause there foloweth many after, I wyll hye
apace ouer them, as one that had manye a myle to ride. Shaftes
to haue had alwayes fethers Plinius in Latin, and
/Y. 1 6. 36. Julius Pollux in Greke, do playnlye shewe, yet
Her. Polym. onely the Lycians I reade in Herodotus to haue
vsed shaftes without fedders. Onelye a fedder is
fit for a shafte for .ii. causes, fyrste bycause it is leathe weake to
giue place to the bowe, than bycause it is of that nature, that it
wyll starte vp after ye bow So, Plate, wood or home can not
serue, bycause the[y] wil not gyue place. Againe, Cloth, Paper,
or Parchment can not serue, bycause they wyll not ryse after
the bowe, therfore a fedder is onely mete, bycause it onelye wyl
do bothe. Nowe to looke on the fedders of all maner of birdes,
you shal se some so lowe weke and shorte, some so course, stoore
and harde, and the rib so brickie, thin and narrow, that it can
nether be drawen, pared, nor yet well set on, that except it be
a swan for a dead shafte (as I knowe some good Archers haue
vsed) or a ducke for a flyghte whiche lastes but one shoote, there
is no fether but onelye of a goose that hath all commodities in
it. And trewelye at a short but, which some ma doth vse, ye
Pecock fether doth seldome kepe vp ye shaft eyther ryght or
leuel, it is so roughe and heuy, so that many me which haue
taken them vp for gayenesse, hathe layde them downe agayne
The schole of shoting. 89
for profyte, thus for our purpose, the Goose is best fether, for
the best shoter. PHI. No that is not so, for the best shoter
that euer was vsed other fethers. TOX. Ye are you so cun-
ninge in shootynge I praye you who was that. PHI. Hercules
whyche had hys shaftes fethered with Egles fethers
as Hesiodus dothe saye. TOX. Well as for
Hercules, seynge nether water nor lande, heauen
nor hell, coulde scarse contente hym to abyde in, it was no
meruell thoughe a sely poore gouse fether could not plese him
to shoote wythal, and agayne as for Egles they flye so hye and
builde so . far of, yl they be very hard to coe by. Yet welfare
the gentle gouse which bringeth to a man euen to
, ' j- • i? A Gouse.
hys doore so manye excedynge commodities, r or
the gouse is mas coforte in war & in peace slepynge and wakynge.
What prayse so euer is gyuen to shootynge the gouse may
chalenge the beste parte in it. How well dothe she make a
man fare at his table ? Howe easelye dothe she make a man lye
in hys bed ? How fit euen as her fethers be onelye for shootynge,
so be her quylles fytte onelye for wrytyng. PHILO. In deade
Toxophyle that is the beste prayse you gaue to a gouse yet, and
surelye I would haue sayde you had bene to blame yf you had
ouerskypte it. TOX. The Romaynes I trowe Philologe not
so muche bycause a gouse wyth cryinge saued theyr Capitoliu
and head toure wyth their golden lupiter as Propertius doth say
very pretely in thys verse.
inserts et tutum uoce fuisse louem.
T , . * Propertius.
Id est.
Theues on a night had stolne lupiter, had a gouse not a kekede.
Dyd make a golden gouse and set hir in the top of y6
Capitoliu, & appoynted also the Censores to alow
out of ye common hutche yearly stipedes for ye
findinge of certayne Geese, ye Romaynes did not
I saye giue al thys honor to a gouse for yl good dede onely, but
for other infinit mo which come daylye to a man by Geese, and
surely yf I should declame in ye prayse of any maner of beest
lyuyng, I would chose a gouse. But the gouse hath made vs flee
to farre from oure matter. Now sir ye haue hearde howe a
fether must be had, and that a goose fether onely. It foloweth
of a yong gose and an oulde, and the residue belonging to a fether:
~m
x*
90 Toxophilus. B.
which thing I wyll shortlye course ouer : wherof, when you
knowe the properties, you maye fitte your shaftes accordyng to
your shotyng, which rule you must obserue in all other thynges
too, bycause no one fashion or quantitie can be fitte for euery
man, nomore than a shooe or a cote can be. The oulde goose
fether is styffe and stronge, good for a wynde, and fyttest for
a deed shaft : the yonge goose fether is weake and fyne, best
for a swyfte shaft, and it must be couled at the first shering,
somewhat hye, for with shoting, it wyll sattle and faule very
moche. The same thing (although not so moche) is to be
cosydered in a goose and a gander. A fenny goose, euen as
her flesh is blacker, stoorer, vnholsomer, so is her fether for the
same cause courser stoorer & rougher, & therfore I haue heard
very good fletchers saye, that the seconde fether in some place
is better then the pinion in other some. Betwixt the winges is
lytle differece, but that you must haue diuerse shaftes of one
flight, fethered with diuerse winges, for diuerse windes : for if
the wynde and the fether go both one way the shaft wyl be
caryed to moche. The pinion fether as it hath the firste place
in the winge, so it hath the fyrst place in good fetheringe. You
maye knowe it afore it be pared, by a bought whiche is in it,
and agayne when it is colde, by the thinnesse aboue, and the
thicknesse at the grounde, and also by the stifnes and finesse
which wyll cary a shaft better, faster and further, euen as a fine
sayle cloth doth a shyppe.
The coulour of the fether is leste to be regarded, yet
som what to be looked on : lest for a good whyte you haue
sometyme an yll greye. Yet surelye it standeth with good
reaso to haue the cocke fether black or greye, as it were to gyue
a man warning to nocke ryght. The cocke fether is called that
which stadeth aboue in right nocking, which if you do not
obserue the other fethers must nedes run on the bowe, and so
marre your shote. And thus farre of the goodnesse and choyse
of your fether: now foloweth the setting on. Wherin you must
looke that your fethers be not drawen for hastinesse, but pared
euen and streyghte with diligence. The fletcher draweth a
fether when he hath but one swappe at it with his knyfe, and
then playneth it a lytle, with rubbynge it ouer his knyfe. He
pareth it when he taketh leysure and hede to make euery parte
of the ryb apt to stand streight, and euen on vpon the stele.
The schole of shoting. 9 1
This thing if a man take not heede on, he maye chaunce haue
cause to saye so of his fletcher, as in dressinge of meate is
communelye spoken of Cookes : and that is, that God sendeth
vs good fethers, but the deuyll noughtie Fletchers. Yf any
fletchers heard me saye thus, they wolde not be angrye with
me, except they were yll fletchers : and yet by reason, those
fletchers too, ought rather to amend them selues for doing yll,
then be angry with me for saying truth. The ribbe in a styfFe
fether may be thinner, for so it wyll stande cleaner on : but in
a weake fether you must leaue a thicker ribbe, or els yf the ryb
which is .the foundacion and grounde, wherin nature hath set
euerye clefte of the fether, be taken to nere the fether, it muste
nedes folowe, that the fether shall faule, & droupe downe, euen
as any herbe doeth whyche hath his roote to nere taken on with
a spade. The lengthe and shortnesse of the fether, serueth for
diuers shaftes, as a long fether for a long heauy, or byg shafte,
the shorte fether for the contrary. Agayne the shorte may
stande farther, the longe nerer the nocke. Youre fether muste
stande almooste streyght on, but yet after that sorte, yl it maye
turne rounde in flyinge. And here I consider the wonderfull
nature of shootynge, whiche standeth all togyther by that
fashion, which is moste apte for quicke mouynge, and that is
by roundenesse. For firste the bowe must be gathered rounde,
in drawyng it must come rounde compasse, the strynge muste
be rounde, the stele rounde, the beste nocke rounde, the feather
shorne somwhat rounde, the shafte in flyenge, muste turne
rounde, and if it flye far, it flyeth a round compace. For
eyther aboue or benethe a rounde copace, hyndereth the flyinge.
Moreouer bothe the fletcher in makynge your shafte, and you
in nockynge your shafte, muste take heede that two fethers
equallye runne on the bowe. For yf one fether runne alone
on the bowe, it shal quickely be worne, and shall not be able to
matche with the other fethers, and agayne at the lowse, yf the
shafte be lyght, it wyl starte, if it be heuye, it wil hoble. And
thus as concernyng settyng on of your fether. Nowe of
coulynge.
To shere a shafte hyghe or lowe, muste be as the shafte is
heauy or lyght, great or lytle, long or short The swyne backed
fashion, maketh the shaft deader, for it gathereth more ayer than
the saddle backed, & therfore the saddle backe is surer for
92 Toxophilus. B.
daunger of wether, & fitter for smothe fliing. Agayn to shere
a shaft rounde, as they were wount somtime to do, or after the
triangle fashion, whyche is muche vsed nowe a dayes, bothe be
good. For roundnesse is apte for fliynge of his owne nature,
and all maner of triangle fashion, (the sharpe poynte goyng
before) is also naturally apte for quycke entrynge, and therfore
sayth Cicero, that cranes taught by nature, obserue
Denat.deor. • a • • iru- i u
in flymge a triangle fashion alwayes, bycause it is
so apt to perce and go thorowe the ayer wythall. Laste of all
pluckynge of fethers is noughte, for there is no suerty in it,
therfore let euery archer haue such shaftes, that he maye bothe
knowe them and trust them at euery chaunge of wether. Yet
if they must nedes be plucked, plucke them as litle as can be, for
so shal they be the lesse vnconstante. And thus I haue knit vp
in as shorte a roume as I coulde, the best fethers fetheringe and
coulinge of a shafte. PHI. I thynke surelye you haue so taken
vp the matter wyth you, yl you haue lefte nothynge behinde
you. Nowe you haue brought a shafte to the head, whiche if
it were on, we had done as concernyng all instrumentes be-
longyng to shootynge.
TOX. Necessitie, the inuentour of all goodnesse (as all
authours in a maner, doo saye) amonges all other thinges
inuented a shaft heed, firste to saue the ende from breakyng,
then it made it sharpe to stycke better, after it made it of strog
matter, to Jast better : Last of all experience and wysedome of
men, hathe brought it to suche a perfitnesse, that there is no
one thing so profitable, belongyng to artillarie, either to stryke
a mannes enemye sorer in warre, or to shoote nerer the marke
at home, then is a fitte heed for both purposes. For if a shaft
lacke a heed, it is worth nothynge for neither vse. Therfore
seinge heedes be so necessary, they must of necessitie, be wel
looked vpon Heedes for warre, of longe tyme haue ben made,
not onely of diuers matters, but also of diuers fashions The
Troians had heedes of yron, as this verse spoken of Pandarus,
sheweth :
Vp to the pappe his string did he pull, his shaft to the harde yron.
Iliados. 4.
The Grecians had heedes of brasse, as Vlysses shaftes were
The schole of shoting. 93
heeded, when he slewe Antinous, and the other wowers of
Penelope.
Quite through a dore, flewe a shafte with a brasse heed.
Odysse. 21.
It is playne in Homer, where Menelaus was wounded of
Pandarus shafte, yl the heedes were not glewed on, but tyed on
with a string, as the comentaries in Greke playne-
lye tell. And therfore shoters at that tyme to
cary their shaftes withoute heedes, vntill they occupy ed them,
and than set on an heade as it apereth in Homer the .xxi. booke
Odyssei, where Penelope brought Vlixes bowe downe amonges
the gentlemen, whiche came on wowing to her, that he whiche
was able to bende it and drawe it, might inioye ,
her, and after her folowed a mayde sayth Homer,
carienge a bagge full of heades, bothe of iron and brasse.
The men of Scythia, vsed heades of brasse. The men of
Inde vsed heades of yron The Ethiopians vsed heades of a
harde sharpe stone, as bothe Herodotus and Pollux
do tel. The Germanes as Cornelius Tacitus „ Clio~
doeth saye, had theyr shaftes headed with bone, Polym
and many countryes bothe of olde tyme and nowe,
vse heades of home, but of all other yro and style muste nedes
be the fittest for heades.
lulius Pollux calleth otherwyse than we doe, where the
fethers be the head, and that whyche we call the
i j i_ 11 i i /• Pol- i : 10.
head, he calleth the poynte.
Fashion of heades is diuers and that of olde tyme : two
maner of arrowe heades sayeth Pollux, was vsed in olde tyme.
The one he calleth O^KIVOS descrybynge it thus, hauyng two
poyntes or barbes, lookyng backewarde to the stele and the
fethers, which surely we call in Englishe a brode arrowe head
or a swalowe tayle. The other he calleth 7X0)^19, hauing .ii.
poyntes stretchyng forwarde, and this Englysh men do call
a forkehead : bothe these two kyndes of heades, were vsed in
Homers dayes, for Teucer vsed forked heades, sayinge thus to
Agamemnon.
Eighte good shaftes haue I shot sithe I came, eche one wyth a
forke heade. Iliad. 8.
Pandarus heades and Vlysses heades were broode arrow
94 T'oxophilus. B.
heades, as a man maye learne in Homer that woulde be curiouse
in knowyng that matter. Hercules vsed forked heades, but yet
they had thre pointes or forkes, when other mennes
had but two0' The Partn7ans at that Sreat batte11
where they slewe ritche Crassus and his sonne vsed
brode Arrowe heades, whyche stacke so sore that the Romaynes
could not poule them out agayne. Commodus the Emperoure
vsed forked heades, whose facion Herodiane doeth
lyuely and naturally describe, sayinge that they
were lyke the shap of a new mone wherewyth he would smite
of the heade of a birde and neuer misse, other facion of heades
haue not I red on. Our Englyshe heades be better in war than
eyther forked heades, or brode arrowe heades. For firste the
ende beynge lyghter they flee a great deele the faster, and by
the same reason gyueth a far sorer stripe. Yea & I suppose if
ye same lytle barbes which they haue, were clene put away,
they shuld be far better. For thys euery ma doth graunt, yl
a shaft as log as it flyeth, turnes, and wha it leueth turnyng it
leueth goyng any farther. And euery thynge that enters by
a turnynge and boring facion, the more flatter it is, the worse it
enters, as a knife thoughe it be sharpe yet because of the edges,
wil not bore so wel as a bodkin, for euery rounde thynge enters
beste & therefore nature, sayeth Aristotle, made the rayne
droppes rounde for quicke percynge the ayre. Thus, eyther
shaftes turne not in flyeng, or els our flatte arrowe heades stoppe
the shafte in entrynge. PHI. But yet Toxophile to holde your
communication a lytle I suppose the flat heade is better, bothe
bycause it maketh a greter hoole, and also bycause it stickes
faster in. TOX. These two reasons as they be bothe trewe,
so they be both nought. For fyrst the lesse hoole, yf it be depe,
is the worst to heale agayn : whe a man shoteth at hys enemy,
he desyreth rather yl it should enter far, than stick fast. For
what remedye is it I praye you for hym whych is smitten wl
a depe wounde to poull out the shaft quickely, except it be to
haste his death spedely ? thus heades whyche make a lytle hole
& depe, be better in war, than those which make a great hole
and sticke fast in.
lulius Pollux maketh mencion of certayne kindes of
Pollux 7 heades for war which bear fyre in them, and
Psal. 7. scripture also speaketh somwhat of the same.
The schole of shotmg. 95
Herodotus doth tell a wonderfull pollicy to be done by
Xerxses what tyme he beseged the great Toure in
Athenes : He made his Archers binde there shafte Hero- Vran
heades aboute wyth towe, and than set it on fyre and shoote
the, whych thyng done by many Archers set all the places on
fyre, whych were of matter to burne : and besydes that dased
the men wythin, so yl they knewe not whyther to turne them.
But to make an ende of all heades for warre I woulde wyshe
that the head makers of Englande shoulde make their sheafe
arrowe heades more harder poynted then they be : for I my selfe
haue sene of late suche heades set vpo sheafe Arrowes, as ye
officers yf they had sene them woulde not haue bene content
wyth all.
Now as concernyng heades for pryckyng, which is oure
purpose, there be dyuerse kyndes, some be blonte heades, some
sharpe, some bothe blonte and sharpe. The blont heades men
vse bycause they perceaue them to be good, to kepe a lengthe
wyth all, they kepe a good lengthe, bycause a man poulethe
them no ferder at one tyme than at another. For in felynge
the plompe ende alwayes equallye he may lowse them. Yet in
a winde, and agaynste the wynd the wether hath so much power
on the brode end, yl no man can kepe no sure lengthe, wyth
such a heade. Therfore a blont hede in a caulme or downe
a wind is very good, otherwyse none worse.
Sharpe heades at the ende wythout anye shoulders (I call
that the shoulder in a heade whyche a mans finger shall feele
afore it come to the poynte) wyll perche quycklye throughe
a wyndc, but yet it hath .ii. discommodities, the one that it
wyll kepe no lengthe, it kepeth no lengthe, bycause no manne
can poule it certaynly as far one tyme as at an other : it is not
drawen certaynlye so far one tyme as at an other, bycause it
lackethe shouldrynge wherwyth as wyth a sure token a man
myghte be warned when to lowse, and also bycause menne are
afrayde of the sharpe poynt for settyng it in ye bow. The
seconde incomoditie is when it is lyghted on ye ground, ye smal
poynte shall at euerye tyme be in ieopardye of hurtynge, whyche
thynge of all other wyll sonest make the shafte lese the lengthe.
Now when blonte heades be good to kepe a lengthe wythall,
yet noughte for a wynde, sharpe heades good to perche the
wether wyth al, yet nought for a length, certayne heademakers
96 Toxophilus. B.
dwellyng in London perceyuynge the commoditie of both kynde
of heades ioyned wyth a discommoditie, inuented newe files and
other instrumentes where wyth [t]he[y] broughte heades for
pryckynge to such a perfitnesse, that all the commodities of the
twoo other heades should be put in one heade wyth out anye
discommoditie at all. They made a certayne kynde of heades
whyche men call hie rigged, creased, or shouldred heades, or
syluer spone heades, for a certayne lykenesse that suche heades
haue wyth the knob ende of some syluer spones.
These heades be good both to kepe a length withal and also
to perche a wynde wythal, to kepe a length wythall bycause a
man maye certaynly poule it to the shouldrynge euery shoote
and no farther, to perche a wynde wythall bycause the pointe
from the shoulder forwarde, breketh the wether as al other
sharpe thynges doo. So the blonte shoulder seruethe for a sure
lengthe kepynge, the poynte also is euer fit, for a roughe and
greate wether percyng. And thus much as shortlye as I could,
as concernyng heades both for war & peace. PHI. But is
there no cunning as concerning setting on of ye head ? TOX.
Wei remebred. But that poynt belongeth to fletchers, yet you
may desyre hym to set youre heade, full on, and close on. Ful
on is whan the wood is be[n]t hard vp to the ende or stoppynge
of the heade, close on, is when there is lefte wood on euerye
syde the shafte, ynoughe to fyll the head withall, or when it is
neyther to little nor yet to greate. If there be any faulte in
anye of these poyntes, ye head whan it lyghteth on any hard
stone or grounde wil be in ieoperdy, eyther of breakynge, or els
otherwyse hurtynge. Stoppynge of heades eyther wyth leade,
or any thynge els, shall not nede now, bycause euery siluer
spone, or showldred head is stopped of it selfe. Shorte heades
be better than longe : For firste the longe head is worse for the
maker to fyle strayght compace euery waye : agayne it is worse
for the fletcher to set strayght on: thyrdlye it is alwayes in
more ieoperdie of breakinge, whan it is on. And nowe I
trowe Philologe, we haue done as concernynge all Instrumentes
belongyng to shootynge, whiche euery sere archer ought to
prouyde for hym selfe. And there remayneth .ii. thynges
behinde, whiche be generall or comon to euery man the Wether
& the Marke, but bicause they be so knit wyth shootynge
strayght, or kepynge of a lengthe, I wyll deferre them to that
'The schole of shoting. 97
place, and now we will come (God wyllyng) to handle oure
instrumentes, the thing that euery man desireth to do wel.
PHI. If you can teache me so well to handle these instrumetes
as you haue described them, I suppose I shalbe an archer good
ynough. TOX. To learne any thing (as you knowe better
than I Philologe) & speciallye to do a thing wl a mannes handes,
must be done if a man woulde be excellent, in his youthe.
Yonge trees in gardens, which lacke al senses, and beastes wlout
reson, when they be yong, may with handling and teaching, be
brought to wonderfull thynges. And this is not onely true in
natural thinges, but in artificiall thinges to, as the potter most
connyngly doth cast his pottes whan his claye is softe & work-
able, and waxe taketh printe whan it is warme, & leathie weke,
not whan claye and waxe be hard and oulde : and euen so,
euerye man in his youthe, bothe with witte and body is moste
apte and pliable to receyue any cunnyng that shulde be taught
hym.
This comunication of teaching youthe, maketh me to
remembre the right worshipfull and my singuler good mayster,
Sir Humfrey Wingfelde, to whom nexte God, I ought to refer
for his manifolde benefites bestowed on me, the poore talent of
learnyng, whiche god hath lent me : & for his sake do I owe
my seruice to all other of the name & noble house of the
Wyngfeldes, bothe in woord and dede. Thys worshypfull
man hath euer loued and vsed, to haue many children brought
vp in learnynge in his house amonges whome I my selfe was
one. For whom at terme tymes he woulde bryng downe from
Londo bothe bowe and shaftes. And when they shuld playe
he woulde go with them him selfe in to the fyelde, & se them
shoote, and he that shot fayrest, shulde haue the best bowe and
shaftes, and he that shot ilfauouredlye, shulde be mocked of his
felowes, til he shot better.
Woulde to god all Englande had vsed or wolde vse to lay
the foundacion of youth, after the example of this worshipful
man in bringyng vp chyldren in the Booke and the Bowe: by
whiche two thynges, the hole common welth both in peace and
warre is chefelye ruled and defended wythall.
But to our purpose, he that muste come to this high per-
feclnes in shootyng whiche we speake of, muste nedes begin
to learne it in hys youthe, the omitting of whiche thinge in
9 8 Toxophilus. B.
Englande, bothe maketh fewer shooters, and also euery man
that is a shoter, shote warse than he myght, if he were taught.
PHI. Euen as I knowe that this is true, whiche you saye,
euen so Toxophile, haue you quyte discouraged me, and drawen
my minde cleane from shootynge, seinge by this reason, no man
yl hath not vsed it in his youthe can be excellent in it. And
I suppose the same reson woulde discourage many other mo, yf
they hearde you talke after this sorte. TOX. This thyng
Philologe, shall discourage no man that is wyse. For I wyll
proue yl wisdome maye worke the same thinge in a man, that
nature doth in a chylde.
A chylde by thre thinges, is brought to excellencie. By
Aptnesse, Desire, and Feare : Aptnesse maketh hym pliable
lyke waxe to be formed and fashioned, euen as a man woulde
haue hym. Desyre to be as good or better, than his felowes :
and Feare of them whome he is vnder, wyl cause hym take
great labour and payne with diligent hede, in learnynge any
thinge, wherof procedeth at the laste excellency and perfecl:-
nesse.
A man maye by wisdome in learnyng any thing, and
specially to shoote, haue thre lyke commodities also, wherby he
maye, as it were become younge agayne, and so attayne to
excellencie. For as a childe is apte by naturall youth, so a
man by vsyng at the firste weake bowes, far vnderneth his
strength, shal be as pliable and readye to be taught fayre
shotyng as any chylde : and daylye vse of the same, shal both
kepe hym in fayer shotyng, and also at ye last bryng hym to
stronge shootynge.
And in stede of the feruente desyre, which prouoketh a
chylde to be better than hys felowe, lette a man be as muche
stirred vp with shamefastnes to be worse than all other. And
the same place that feare hathe in a chylde, to compell him to
take peyne, the same hath loue of shotyng in a man, to cause
hym forsake no labour, withoute whiche no man nor chylde
can be excellent. And thus whatsoeuer a chylde may be
taught by Aptnesse, Desire, & Feare, the same thing in
shootynge, maye a man be taughte by weake bowes, Shame-
fastnesse and Loue.
And hereby you may se that that is true whiche Cicero
sayeth, that a man by vse, may be broughte to a newe nature.
*The schole of shoting. 99
And this I dare be bould to saye, that any man whiche will
wisely begynne, and constantlye perseuer in this trade of
learnyng to shote, shall attayne to perfe&nesse therin. PHI.
This communication Toxophile, doeth please me verye well,
and nowe I perceyue that moste generally & chefly youthe
muste be taughte to shoote, and secondarilye no man is debarred
therfrom excepte it be more thorough his owne negligence for
bicause he wyll not learne, than any disabilitie, bicause he can
not lerne. Therfore seyng I wyll be glad to folowe your
cousell in chosynge my bowe and other instrumentes, and also
am ashamed that I can shote no better tha I can, moreouer
hauynge suche a loue toward shotynge by your good reasons
to day, that I wyll forsake no labour in the exercise of the
same, I beseche you imagyn that we had bothe bowe and
shaftes here, and teache me how I should handle them, and
one thynge I desyre you, make me as fayre an Archer as you
can.
For thys I am sure in learnynge all other matters, nothynge
is broughte to the moost profytable vse, which is not handled
after the moost cumlye fasio. As masters of fece haue no
stroke fit ether to hit an other or els to defende hym selfe,
whyche is not ioyned wyth a wonderfull cumlinesse. A
Cooke ca not chop hys herbes neither quickelye nor hansomlye
excepte he kepe suche a mesure wyth hys choppynge kniues as
woulde delyte a manne bothe to se hym and heare hym.
Euerye hand craft man that workes best for hys owne
profyte, workes most semelye to other mens sight. Agayne
in buyldynge a house, in makynge a shyppe, euery parte the
more hansomely they be ioyned for profyt and laste, the more
cumlye they be fashioned to euery mans syght and eye.
Nature it selfe taught men to ioyne alwayes welfauourednesse
w1 profytablenesse. As in man, that ioynt or pece which is by
anye chaunce depriued of hys cumlynesse the same is also
debarred of hys vse and profytablenesse.
As he that is gogle eyde and lokes a squinte hath both hys
countenaunce clene marred, and hys sight sore blemmyshed,
and so in all other members lyke. Moreouer what tyme of
the yeare bryngeth mooste profyte wyth it for mans vse, the
same also couereth and dekketh bothe earthe and trees wyth
moost culynesse for mans pleasure. And that tyme whych
G 2
i oo T'oxophilus. B.
takethe awaye the pleasure of the grounde, carieth wl hym also
the profyt of the grounde, as euery man by experience knoweth
in harde and roughe winters. Some thynges there be whych
haue no other ende, but onely cumlynesse, as payntyng, and
Daunsing. And vertue it selfe is nothynge eles but cumly-
nesse, as al Philosophers do agree in opinion, therfore seynge
that whych is best done in anye matters, is alwayes moost
cumlye done as both Plato and Cicero in manye places do
proue, and daylye experience dothe teache in other thynges, I
praye you as I sayde before teatche me to shoote as fayre, and
welfauouredly as you can imagen.
TOX. TT rewlye Philologe as you proue verye well in
other matters, the best shootynge, is alwayes the moost cumlye
shootynge but thys you know as well as I that Crassus shewethe
in Cicero that as cumlinesse is the chefe poynt, & most to be
sought for in all thynges, so cumlynesse onlye, can neuer be
taught by any Arte or craft. But may be perceyued well when
it is done, not described wel how it should be done.
Yet neuerthelesse to comme to it there be manye waye
whych wayes men haue assayde in other matters, as yf a man
would folowe in learnynge to shoote faire, the noble paynter
Zeuxes in payntyng Helena, whyche to make his Image bewti-
full dyd chose out .v. of the fay rest maydes in al the countrie
aboute, and in beholdynge them conceyued & drewe out suche
an Image that it far exceded al other, by cause the comelinesse
of them al was broughte in to one moost perfyte comelinesse :
So lykewyse in shotynge yf a man, woulde set before hys eyes
.v. or .vi. of the fay rest Archers that euer he saw shoote, and of
one learne to stande, of a nother to drawe, of an other to
lowse, and so take of euery man, what euery man coulde do
best, I dare saye he shoulde come to suche a comlynesse as
neuer man came to yet. As for an example, if the moost
comely poynte in shootynge that Hewe Prophete the Kynges
seruaunte hath and as my frendes Thomas and Raufe Cantrell
doth vse wl the moost semelye facyons that .iii. or iiii.
excellent Archers haue beside, were al ioyned in one, I am sure
all men woulde wonder at y« excellencie of it. And this is one
waye to learne to shoote fayre. PHI. This is very wel truly,
but I praye you teache me somewhat of shootyng fayre youre
selfe. TOX. I can teache you to shoote fayre, euen as
'The schole of shoting. 101
Socrates taught a man ones to knowe God, for when he axed
hym what was God : naye sayeth he I can tell you better what
God is not, as God is not yll, God is vnspeakeable, vnsearche-
able and so forth : Euen lykewyse can I saye of fayre shootyng,
it hath not this discommodite with it nor that discommoditie,
and at last a man maye so shifte all the discommodities from
shootynge that there shall be left no thynge behynde but fayre
shootynge. And to do this the better you must remember
howe that I toulde you when I descrybed generally the hole
nature of shootyng that fayre shotyng came of these thynges, of
standynge, nockynge, drawynge, howldynge and lowsynge, the
whych I wyll go ouer as shortly as I can, describynge the dis-
commodities that men comonlye vse in all partes of theyr bodies,
that you yf you faulte in any such maye knowe it & so go
about to amend it. Faultes in Archers do excede the number
of Archers, whyche come wyth vse of shootynge wythoute
teachynge. Vse and custome separated from knowlege and
learnynge, doth not onely hurt shootynge, but the moost
weyghtye thynges in the worlde beside : And therfore I maruayle
moche at those people whyche be the mayneteners of vses
wloute knowledge hauynge no other worde in theyr mouthe but
thys vse, vse, custome, custome. Suche men more wylful than
wyse, beside other discommo[di]ties, take all place and occasion
from al amend met. And thys I speake generally of vse and
custome.
Whych thynge yf a learned man had it in hande y* woulde
applye it to any one matter, he myght handle it wonderfullye.
But as for shootyng, vse is the onely cause of all fautes in it and
therfore chylderne more easly and soner maye be taught to
shote excellentlye then men, bycause chylderne may be taught
to shoote well at the fyrste, men haue more payne to vnlearne
theyr yll vses, than they haue laboure afterwarde to come to
good shootynge.
All the discommodities whiche ill custome hath graffed in
archers, can neyther be quycklye poulled out, nor yet sone
reckened of me, they be so manye.
Some shooteth, his head forwarde as though he woulde byte
the marke : an other stareth wyth hys eyes, as though they
shulde flye out : An other winketh with one eye, and loketh
with the other : Some make a face with writhing theyr mouthe
1 02 Toxophilus. B.
and countenaunce so, as though they were doyng you wotte
what : An other blereth out his tonge : An other byteth his
lyppes : An other holdeth his necke a wrye. In drawyng some
fet suche a compasse, as thoughe they woulde tourne about, and
blysse all the feelde : Other heaue theyr hand nowe vp no we
downe, that a man can not decerne wherat they wolde shote,
an other waggeth the vpper ende of his bow one way, the
neyther ende an other waye. An other wil stand poyntinge
his shafte at the marke a good whyle and by and by he wyll
gyue hym a whip, and awaye or a man wite. An other maketh
suche a wrestling with his gere, as thoughe he were able to
shoote no more as longe as he lyued. An other draweth softly
to ye middes, and by and by it is gon, you can not knowe
howe.
An other draweth his shafte lowe at the breaste, as thoughe
he woulde shoote at a rouynge marke, and by and by he lifteth
his arme vp pricke heyghte. An other maketh a wrynchinge
with hys backe, as though a manne pynched hym behynde.
An other coureth downe, and layeth out his buttockes, as
though he shoulde shoote at crowes.
An other setteth forwarde hys lefte legge, and draweth
backe wyth head and showlders, as thoughe he pouled at a rope,
or els were afrayed of ye marke. An other draweth his shafte
well, vntyll wythin .ii. fyngers of the head, and than he stayeth
a lyttle, to looke at hys marke, and that done, pouleth it vp to
the head, and lowseth : whych waye although sume excellent
shooters do vse, yet surely it is a faulte, and good mennes faultes
are not to be folowed.
Summe men drawe to farre, summe to shorte, sume to
slowlye, summe to quickely, summe holde ouer longe, summe
lette go ouer sone.
Summe sette theyr shafte on the grounde, and fetcheth him
vpwarde. An other poynteth vp towarde the skye, and so
bryngeth hym downewardes.
Ones I sawe a manne whyche vsed a brasar on his cheke,
or elles he had scratched all the skynne of the one syde, of his
face, with his drawynge hand.
An other I sawe, whiche at euerye shoote, after the loose,
lyfted vp his ryght legge so far, that he was euer in ieoperdye
of faulyng.
T'he schole of shoting. 103
Summe stampe forwarde, and summe leape backwarde.
All these faultes be eyther in the drawynge, or at the loose :
wl many other mo whiche you may easelye perceyue, and so go
about to auoyde them.
Nowe afterwarde whan the shafte is gone, men haue manye
faultes, whyche euell Custome hath broughte them to, and
specially in cryinge after the shafte, & speakynge woordes scarce
honest for suche an honest pastyme.
Suche woordes be verye tokens of an ill mynde, and
manifeste signes of a man that is subie&e to inmesurable
affe&ions. Good mennes eares do abhor them, and an honest
man therfore wyl auoyde them. And besydes those whiche
muste nedes haue theyr tongue thus walkynge, other men vse
other fautes as some will take theyr bowe and writhe & wrinche
it, to poule in his shafte, when it flyeth wyde, as yf he draue
a carte. Some wyl gyue two or .iii. strydes forwarde, daunsing
and hoppynge after his shafte, as long as it flyeth, as though he
were a mad man. Some which feare to be to farre gone, runne
backewarde as it were to poule his shafte backe. Another
runneth forwarde, whan he feareth to be short, heauynge after
his armes, as though he woulde helpe his shafte to flye. An
other writhes or runneth a syde, to poule in his shafte strayght.
One lifteth vp his heele, and so holdeth his foote still, as longe
as his shafte flyeth. An other casteth his arme backewarde
after the lowse. And an other swynges hys bowe aboute hym,
as it were a man with a staffe to make roume in a game place.
And manye other faultes there be, whiche nowe come not to
my remebraunce. Thus as you haue hearde, many archers
wyth marrynge theyr face and countenaunce, wyth • other
partes, of theyr bodye, as it were menne that shoulde daunce
antiques, be farre from the comelye porte in shootynge, whiche
he that woulde be excellent muste looke for.
Of these faultes I haue verie many my selfe, but I talke
not of my shootynge, but of the generall nature of shootynge.
Nowe ymagin an Archer that is cleane wythout al these
faultes & I am sure euerye man would be delyted to se hym
shoote.
And althoughe suche a perfyte cumlynesse can not be
expressed wyth any precepte of teachyng, as Cicero and other
learned menne do saye, yet I wyll speake (accordyng to my
1 04 T'oxophilus. B.
lytle knowlege) that thing in it, whych yf you folowe, althoughe
you shall not be wythout fault, yet your fault shal neyther
quickly be perceued, nor yet greatly rebuked of them that
stande by. Standyng, nockyng, drawyng, holdyng, lowsyng,
done as they shoulde be done, make fayre shootynge.
The fyrste poynte is when a man shoulde shote, to take
suche footyng and standyng as shal be both cumlye
}'nSe- to tne eye an(j profytable to hys vse, settyng hys
countenaunce and al the other partes of hys bodye after suche
a behauiour and porte, that bothe al hys strengthe may be
employed to hys owne moost auautage, and hys shoot made and
handled to other mens pleasure and delyte. A man must not
go to hastely to it, for that is rashnesse, nor yet make to
much to do about it, for yl is curiositie, ye one fote must not
stande to far from the other, leste he stoupe to muche whyche is
vnsemelye, nor yet to nere together, leste he stande to streyght
vp, for so a man shall neyther vse hys strengthe well, nor yet
stande stedfastlye.
The meane betwyxt bothe must be kept, a thing more
pleasaunte to behoulde when it is done, than easie to be taught
howe it shoulde be done.
To nocke well is the easiest poynte of all, and there in is
no cunninge, but onelye dylygente hede gyuyng,
to set hys shaft neyther to hye nor to lowe, but
euen streyght ouertwharte hys bowe. Vnconstante nockynge
maketh a man leese hys lengthe.
And besydes that, yf the shafte hande be hye and the bowe
hande lowe, or contrarie, bothe the bowe is in ieopardye of
brekynge, and the shafte, yf it be lytle, wyll start : yf it be
great it wyll hobble. Nocke the cocke fether vpward alwayes
as I toulde you whe I described the fether. And be sure
alwayes yl your stringe slip not out of the nocke, for than al is
in ieopardye of breakynge.
Drawynge well is the best parte of shootyng. Men in
oulde tyme vsed other maner of drawynge than
we do. They vsed to drawe low at the brest, to
the ryght pap and no farther, and this to be trew is playne
Iliad. 4. in Homer, where he descrybeth Pandarus shootynge.
yp to the pap his stringe dyd he put, bis shafte to the hard heed.
T'he schole of shoting. 105
The noble women of Scythia vsed the same fashyon of
shootyng low at the brest, and bicause their lefte pap hindred
theyr shootynge at the lowse they cut it of when they were
yonge, and therfore be they called in lackynge theyr pap
Amazones. Nowe a dayes contrary e wyse we drawe to the
ryghte eare and not to the pap. Whether the olde waye in
drawynge low to the pap, or the new way to draw a loft
to the eare be better, an excellente wryter in
Greke called Procopius doth saye hys mynde,
shewyng yl the oulde fashyon in drawing to ye pap
was nought, of no pithe, and therfore saith Procopius : is
Artyllarye dispraysed in Homer whych calleth it ovriBavov. I.
Weake and able to do no good. Drawyng to the eare he
prayseth greatly, whereby men shoote both stronger and
longer: drawynge therfore to the eare is better than to drawe
at the breste. And one thyng commeth into my remembraunce
nowe Philologe when I speake of drawyng, that I neuer red of
other kynde of shootyng, than drawing wyth a mas hand ether
to the breste or eare : This thyng haue I sought for in Homer
Herodotus and Plutarch, and therfore I meruayle how cros-
bowes came fyrst vp, of the which I am sure a
infill • i • Crosmnees.
man shall nnde lytle mention made on in any
good Authour. Leo the Emperoure woulde haue hys souldyers
drawe quycklye in warre, for that maketh a shaft flie a pace.
In shootynge at the pryckes, hasty and quicke drawing is
neyther sure nor yet cumlye. Therfore to drawe easely and
vniformely, that is for to saye not waggyng your hand, now
vpwarde, now downewarde, but alwayes after one fashion vntil
you come to the rig or shouldring of ye head, is best both for
profit & semelinesse. Holdynge must not be longe, „.
for it bothe putteth a bowe in ieopardy, & also
marreth a mans shoote, it must be so lytle yl it maye be
perceyued better in a mans mynde when it is done, than scene
wl a mans eyes when it is in doyng.
Lowsynge muste be muche lyke. So quycke and hard yl
it be wyth oute all girdes, so softe and gentle that
i i /- n • r i Lewsynge.
the sharte Hye not as it were sente out or a bow
case. The meane betwixt bothe, whyche is perfyte lowsynge
is not so hard to be folowed in shootynge as it is to be
descrybed in teachyng. For cleane lowsynge you must take
1 06 'Toxophilus. B.
hede of hyttynge any thynge aboute you. And for the same
purpose Leo the Emperour would haue al Archers
in war to haue both theyr heades pouled, and
there berdes shauen leste the heare of theyr heades shuld stop
the syght of the eye, the heere of theyr berdes hinder the
course of the strynge.
And these preceptes I am sure Philologe yf you folowe in
standyng, nockyng, drawynge, holdynge, and lowsynge, shal
bryng you at the last to excellent fay re shootynge. PHI. All
these thynges Toxophile althoughe I bothe nowe perceyue them
thorowlye, and also wyll remember them dilligently : yet to
morowe or some other day whe you haue leasure we wyll go to
the pryckes, and put them by lytle and lytle in experience.
For teachynge not folowed, doeth euen as muche good as
bookes neuer looked vpon. But nowe seing you haue taught
me to shote fayre, I praye you tel me somwhat, how I should
shoote nere leste that prouerbe myght be sayd iustlye of me
sometyme. He shootes lyke a gentle man fayre & far of.
TOX. He that can shoote fayre, lacketh nothyng but
shootyng streyght and kepyng of a length wherof commeth
hyttynge of the marke, the ende both of shootyng and also of
thys our communication. The handlyng of ye wether & the
mark bicause they belog to shootyng streyghte, and kepynge
of a lengthe, I wyll ioyne them togyther, shewinge what thinges
belonge to kepynge of a lengthe, and what to shootynge streyght.
The greatest enemy of shootyng is the wynde and the
wether, wherby true kepyng a lengthe is chefely
hindered. If this thing were not, men by teaching
might be brought to wonderful neare shootynge.
It is no maruayle if the litle poore shafte being sent alone, so
high in to the ayer, into a great rage of wether, one wynde
tossinge it that waye, an other thys waye, it is no maruayle
I saye, thoughe it leese the lengthe, and misse that place, where
the shooter had thought to haue founde it. Greter matters
than shotynge are vnder the rule and wyll of the wether, as
saylynge on the sea. And lykewise as in sayling, the chefe
poynt of a good master, is to knowe the tokens of chaunge of
wether, the course of the wyndes, that therby he maye the
better come to the Hauen : euen so the best propertie of a good
shooter, is to knowe the nature of the wyndes, with hym and
schole of shoting. 1 07
agaynste hym, that thereby he maye the nerer shote at hys
marke. Wyse maysters whan they canne not winne the beste
hauen, they are gladde of the nexte : Good shooters also, yl can
not whan they would hit the marke, wil labour to come as nigh
as they can. All thinges in this worlde be vnperfite and
vnconstant, therfore let euery man acknowlege hys owne
weakenesse, in all matters great and smal, weyghtye and merye,
and glorifie him, in whome only perfyte perfitnesse is. But
nowe, sir, he that wyll at all aduentures vse the seas knowinge
no more what is to be done in a tempest than in a caulme,
shall soone becumme a marchaunt of Eele skinnes : so that
shoter whiche putteth no difference, but shooteth in all lyke,
in rough wether and fayre, shall alwayes put his wynninges in
his eyes.
Lytle botes and thinne boordes, can not endure the rage of
a tempest. Weake bowes, & lyght shaftes can not stande in a
rough wynde. And lykewyse as a blynde man which shoulde
go to a place where he had neuer ben afore, that hath but one
strayghte waye to it, and of eyther syde hooles and pyttes to
faule into, nowe falleth in to this hole and than into that hole,
and neuer cometh to his iourney ende, but wandereth alwaies
here and there, farther and farther of: So that archer which
ignorauntly shoteth considering neyther fayer nor foule,
standynge nor nockynge, fether nor head, drawynge nor lows-
yng, nor yet any compace, shall alwayes shote shorte and gone,
wyde and farre of, and neuer cumme nere, excepte perchaunce
he stumble sumtyme on the marke. For ignoraunce is
nothynge elles but mere blyndenesse.
A mayster of a shippe first learneth to knowe the cummyng
of a tempest, the nature of it, and howe to behaue hym selfe
in it, eyther with chaungynge his course, or poullynge downe
his hye toppes and brode sayles, beyng glad to eschue as muche
of the wether as he can : Euen so a good archer wyl fyrste
wyth diligent vse and markynge the wether, learne to knowe
the nature of the wynde, and with wysedome, wyll measure in
hys mynde, howe muche it wyll alter his shoote, eyther in
lengthe kepynge, or els in streyght shotynge, and so with
chaunging his standynge, or takynge an other shafte, the
whiche he knoweth perfytlye to be fitter for his pourpose, eyther
bycause it is lower fethered, or els bycause it is of a better
io8 Toxophilus. B.
wyng, wyll so handle wl discretion hys shoote, that he shall
seeme rather to haue the wether vnder hys rule, by good hede
gyuynge, than the wether to rule hys shafte by any sodayne
chaungyng.
Therefore in shootynge there is as muche difference betwixt
an archer that is a good wether man, and an other that knoweth
and marketh nothynge, as is betwixte a blynde man, and he
that can se.
Thus, as concernynge the wether, a perfyte archer muste
firste learne to knowe the sure flyghte of his shaftes, that he may
be boulde alwayes, to trust them, than muste he learne by
daylye experience all maner of kyndes of wether, the tokens of
it, whan it wyl cumme, the nature of it whan it is cume,
the diuersitie and alteryng of it, whan it chaungeth, the
decrease & diminishing of it, wha it ceaseth. Thirdly these
thinges knowen, and euery shoote diligentlye marked, than
must a man copare alwayes, the wether and his footyng
togyther, and with discretion measure them so, that what so
euer the roughe wether shall take awaye from hys shoote the
same shal iuste footynge restore agayne to hys shoote.
Thys thynge well knowen, and discretelye handeled in
shootynge, bryngeth more profite and commendation and prayse
to an Archer, than any other thynge besydes.
He that woulde knowe perfectly the winde and wether,
muste put differences betwixte tymes. For diuersitie of tyme
causeth diuersitie of wether, as in the whole yeare, Sprynge
tyme, Somer, Faule of the leafe, and Winter : Lykewyse in one
day Mornynge, Noonetyme, Afternoone, and Euentyde, bothe
alter the wether, and chaunge a manes bowe wyth the
strength of man also. And to knowe that this is so, is ynough for
a shoter & artillerie, and not to serche the cause, why it shoulde
be so : whiche belongeth to a learned man and Philosophic.
In consydering the tyme of the yeare, a wyse Archer wyll
folowe a good Shipman. In Winter & rough wether, smal
bootes and lytle pinkes forsake the seas : And at one tyme of
the yeare, no Gallies come abrode; So lykewyse weake Archers,
vsyng small and holowe shaftes, with bowes of litle pith, muste
be content to gyue place for a tyme.
And this I do not saye, eyther to discomende or discourage
any weake shooter : For lykewyse, as there is no shippe better
T'he schole of shoting. 109
than Gallies be, in a softe and a caulme sea, so no man shooteth
cumlier or nerer hys marke, than some weake archers doo, in a
fayre and cleare daye.
Thus euery archer must knowe, not onelye what bowe and
shafte is fittest for him to shoote withall, but also what tyme &
season is best for hym to shote in. And surely, in al other
matters to, amonge al degrees of men, there is no man which
doth any thing eyther more discretely for his commendation, or
yet more profitable for his aduauntage, than he which wyll
knowe perfidy for what matter and for what tyme he is moost
apte and fit. Yf men woulde go aboute matters whych they
should do and be fit for, & not suche thynges whyche wylfullye
they desyre & yet be vnfit for, verely greater matters in the
comon welthe than shootyng shoulde be in better case than they
be. This ignorauncie in men whyche know not for what
tyme, and to what thynge they be fit, causeth some wyshe to
be riche, for whome it were better a greate deale to be poore :
other to be medlynge in euery mans matter, for whome it were
more honestie to be quiete and sty 11. Some to desire to be in
the Courte, whiche be borne and be fitter rather for the carte.
Somme to be maysters and rule other, whiche neuer yet began to
rule them selfe: some alwayes to iangle and taulke, whych
rather shoulde heare and kepe silece. Some to teache, which
rather should learne. Some to be prestes, whiche were fytter
to be clerkes. And thys peruerse iudgement of ye worlde,
when men mesure them selfe a misse, bringeth muche mysorder
and greate vnsemelynesse to the hole body of the common
wealth, as yf a manne should were his hoose vpon his head, or
a woman go wyth a sworde and a buckeler euery man would
take it as a greate vncumlynesse although it be but a tryfle in
respedte of the other.
Thys peruerse iudgement of men hindreth no thynge so
much as learnynge, bycause commonlye those whych be
vnfittest for learnyng, be cheyfly set to learnynge.
As yf a man nowe a dayes haue two sonnes, the one
impotent, weke, sickly, lispynge, stuttynge, and stamerynge, or
hauynge any misshape in hys bodye: what doth the father of
suche one commonlye saye ? This boye is fit for nothynge els,
but to set to lernyng and make a prest of, as who would say, ye
outcastes of the worlde, hauyng neyther countenance tounge
1 1 o Toxophilus. B.
nor wit (for of a peruerse bodye cumeth commonly a peruerse
mynde) be good ynough to make those men of, whiche shall be
appoynted to preache Goddes holye woorde, and minister hys
blessed sacramentes, besydes other moost weyghtye matters in
the common welthe put ofte tymes, and worthelye to learned
mennes discretion and charge : whan rather suche an offyce so
hygh in dignitie, so godlye in administration, shulde be com-
mitted to no man, whiche shulde not haue a countenaunce full
of cumlynesse to allure good menne, a bodye ful of manlye
authoritie to feare ill men, a witte apte for al learnynge with
tongue and voyce, able to perswade all men. And although
fewe suche men as these can be founde in a common wealthe,
yet surely a godly disposed man, will bothe in his mynde
thyncke fit, and with al his studie labour to get such men as
I speke of, or rather better, if better can be gotten for suche an
hie administration, whiche is most properlye appoynted to goddes
owne matters and businesses.
This peruerse iugement of fathers as concernynge the
fitnesse and vnfitnesse of theyr chyldren causeth the comon
wealthe haue many vnfit ministers : And seyng that ministers
be, as a man woulde say, instrumentes wherw* the comon
wealthe doeth worke all her matters wtall, I maruayle howe it
chauceth yl a pore shomaker hath so much wit, yl he will pre-
pare no instrument for his science neither knyfe nor aule, nor
nothing els whiche is not very fitte for him : the comon wealthe
can be content to take at a fonde fathers hande, the rifraffe of
the worlde, to make those instrumentes of, wherwlal she
shoulde worke ye hiest matters vnder heauen. And surely an
aule of lead is not so vnprofitable in a shomakers shop, as an
vnfit minister, made of grosse metal, is vnsemely in y6 como
welth. Fathers in olde time among ye noble Persians might
not do w* theyr childre as they thought good, but as the
iudgement of the comon wealth al wayes thought best. This
fault of fathers bringeth many a blot wl it, to the great
deformitie of the common wealthe: & here surely I can prayse
gentlewomen which haue alwayes at hande theyr glasses, to se
if any thinge be amisse, & so will amende it, yet the comon
wealth hauing ye glasse of knowlege in euery mans hand, doth
se such vncumlines in it : & yet winketh at it. This faulte &
many suche lyke, myght be sone wyped awaye, yf fathers
T'he schole of s footing. 1 1 1
woulde bestow their children on yl thing alwayes, whervnto
nature hath ordeined them moste apte & fit. For if youth be
grafted streyght, & not awrye, the hole comon welth wil
florish therafter. Whan this is done, than muste euery man
beginne to be more ready to amende hym selfe, than to checke
an other, measuryng their matters with that wise prouerbe of
Apollo, Knowe thy selfe : that is to saye, learne to knowe what
thou arte able, fitte, and apte vnto, and folowe that.
This thinge shulde be bothe cumlie to the common wealthe,
and moost profitable for euery one, as doth appere very well in
all wise mennes deades, & specially to turne to our communica-
tion agayne in shootynge, where wise archers haue alwayes
theyr instrumentes fit for theyr strength, & wayte euermore
suche tyme and wether, as is most agreable to their gere.
Therfore if the wether be to sore, and vnfit for your shootynge,
leaue of for that daye, and wayte a better season. For he is
a foole yl wyl not go, whome necessitie driueth. PHI. This
comunication of yours pleased me so well Toxophile, that
surelye I was not hastie to calle you, to descrybe forthe the
wether but with all my harte woulde haue suffered you yet to
haue stande longer in this matter. For these thinges touched
of you by chaunse, and by the waye, be farre aboue the matter
it selfe, by whose occasion ye other were broughte in.
TOX. Weyghtye matters they be in dede, and fit bothe in an
other place to be spoken : & of an other man than I am, to be
handled. And bycause meane men must meddle wyth meane
matters, I wyl go forwarde in descrybyng the wether, as con-
cernynge shooting: and as I toulde you before, In the hole
yere, Spring tyme, Somer, Fal of the leafe, and Winter: and in
one day, Morning, Noone tyme, After noone, and Euentyde,
altereth the course of the wether, the pith of the bowe, the
strength of the man. And in euery one of these times the
wether altereth, as sumtyme wyndie, sumtyme caulme, sum-
tyme cloudie, sumtyme clere, sumtyme hote, sumtyme coulde,
the wynde sumtyme moistye and thicke, sumtyme drye and
smothe. A litle winde in a moystie day, stoppeth a shafte more
than a good whiskynge wynde in a clere daye. Yea, and
I haue sene whan there hath bene no winde at all, the ayer so
mistie and thicke, that both the markes haue ben wonderfull
great. And ones, whan the Plage was in Cambrige, the downe
1 1 2 Toxophilus. B.
winde twelue score marke for the space of .iii. weekes, was
.xiii. score, and an halfe, and into the wynde, beynge not very
great, a great deale aboue .xiiii. score.
The winde is sumtyme playne vp and downe, whiche is
commonly moste certayne, and requireth least knowlege,
wherin a meane shoter with meane geare, if he can shoote
home, maye make best shifte. A syde wynde tryeth an archer
and good gere verye muche. Sumtyme it bloweth a lofte,
sumtyme hard by the grounde : Sumtyme it bloweth by blastes,
& sumtyme it continueth al in one : Sumtyme ful side wynde,
sumtyme quarter with hym and more, and lykewyse agaynst
hym, as a man with castynge vp lyght grasse, or els if he take
good hede, shall sensibly learne by experience. To se the
wynde, with a man his eyes, it is vnpossible, the nature of it is
so fyne, and subtile, yet this experience of the wynde had
I ones my selfe, and that was in the great snowe that fell .iiii.
yeares agoo: I rode in the hye waye betwixt Topcliffe vpon
Swale, and Borowe bridge, the waye beyng sumwhat trodden
afore, by waye fayrynge men. The feeldes on bothe sides were
playne and laye almost yearde depe with snowe, the nyght
afore had ben a litle froste, so yl the snowe was hard and
crusted aboue. That morning the sun shone bright and clere,
the winde was whistelinge a lofte, and sharpe accordynge to the
tyme of the yeare. The snowe in the hye waye laye lowse
and troden wyth horse feete : so as the wynde blewe, it toke
the lowse snow with it, and made it so slide vpon the snowe in
the felde whyche was harde and crusted by reason of the frost
ouer nyght, that therby I myght se verye wel, the hole nature
of the wynde as it blewe yl daye. And I had a great delyte &
pleasure to marke it, whyche maketh me now far better to
remember it. Sometyme the wynd would be not past .ii.
yeardes brode, and so it would carie the snowe as far as I could
se. An other tyme the snow woulde blowe ouer halfe the
felde at ones. Sometyme the snowe woulde tomble softly, by
and by it would flye wonderfull fast. And thys I perceyued
also that ye wind goeth by streames & not hole togither. For
I should se one streame wyth in a Score on me, tha the space
of .ii. score no snow would stirre, but after so muche quatitie
of grounde, an other streame of snow at the same very tyme
should be caryed lykewyse, but not equally. For the one
"The schole of shoting. 113
would stande styll when the other flew a pace, and so contynewe
somtyme swiftlyer sometime slowlyer, sometime broder, some-
time narrower, as far as I coulde se. Nor it flewe not streight,
but sometyme it crooked thys waye sometyme that waye, and
somtyme it ran round aboute in a compase. And somtyme
the snowe wold be lyft clene'from the ground vp in to the ay re,
and by & by it would be al clapt to the grounde as though there
had bene no winde at all, streightway it woulde rise and flye
agayne.
And that whych was the moost meruayle of al, at one tyme
.ii. driftes of snowe flewe, the one out of the West into ye
East, the other out of the North in to ye East : And I saw .ii.
windes by reaso of ye snow the one crosse ouer the other, as it
had bene two hye wayes. And agayne I shoulde here the
wynd blow in the ayre, when nothing was stirred at the groud.
And when all was still where I rode, not verye far fro me the
snow should be lifted wonderfully. This experiece made me
more meruaile at ye nature of the wynde, than it made me
conning in ye knowlege of ye wynd : but yet therby I learned
perfidy that it is no meruayle at al thoughe men in a wynde
lease theyr length in shooting, seying so many wayes the wynde
is so variable in blowynge.
But seynge that a Mayster of a shyp, be he neuer so
cunnynge, by the vncertayntye of the wynde, leeseth many
tymes both lyfe and goodes, surelye it is no wonder, though
a ryght good Archer, by the self same wynde so variable in hys
owne nature, so vnsensyble to oure nature, leese manye a shoote
and game.
The more vncertaine and disceyuable the wynd is, the more
hede must a wyse Archer gyue to know the gyles of it.
He yt doth mistrust is seldome begiled. For although
therby he shall not attayne to that which is best, yet by these
meanes he shall at leaste auoyde y* whyche is worst. Besyde al
these kindes of windes you must take hede yf you se anye
cloude apere and gather by lytle and litle agaynst you, or els yf
a showre of raine be lyke to come vpon you : for than both the
dryuing of the wether and the thyckynge of the ayre increaseth
the marke, when after ye showre al thynges are contrary clere
and caulme, & the marke for the most parte new to begyn
agayne. You must take hede also yf euer you shote where one
114 T'oxophilus. B.
of the markes or both stondes a lytle short of a hye wall, for
there you may be easlye begyled. Yf you take grasse and
caste it vp to se howe the wynde standes, manye tymes you
shal suppose to shoote downe the wynde, when you shote cleane
agaynste the wynde. And a good reaso why. For the wynd
whych commeth in dede against you, redoundeth bake agayne
at the wal, and whyrleth backe to the prycke and a lytle farther
and than turneth agayne, euen as a vehement water doeth
agaynste a rocke or an hye braye, whyche example of water as
it is more sensible to a mas eyes, so it is neuer a whyt the
trewer than this of the wynde. So that the grasse caste vp
shall flee that waye whyche in dede is the longer marke and
disceyue quycklye a shooter that is not ware of it.
This experience had I ones my selfe at Norwytch in the
chapel felde wythin the waulles. And thys waye I vsed in
shootynge at those markes.
When I was in the myd way betwixt the markes whyche
was an open place, there I toke a fether or a lytle lyght grasse
and so as well as I coulde, learned how the wynd stoode, that
done I wente to the prycke as faste as I coulde, and according
as I had foude ye wynde when I was in the mid waye, so I was
fayne than to be content to make the best of my shoote that I
coulde. Euen suche an other experiece had I in a maner at
Yorke, at the prickes, lying betwixte the castell and Ouse syde.
And although you smile Philologe, to heare me tell myne owne
fondenes : yet seing you wil nedes haue me teach you somwhat
in shotyng, I must nedes somtyme tel you of myne owne
experience, & the better I may do so, bycause Hippocrates in
teachynge physike, vseth verye muche the same
morb'vulg wa7e- Take heede also when you shoote nere
the sea cost, although you be .ii. or .iii. miles from
the sea, for there diligent markinge shall espie in the moste
clere daye wonderfull chaunginge. The same is to be cosidered
lykewyse by a riuer side speciallie if it ebbe & flowe, where he
yl taketh diligent hede of ye tide & wether, shal lightly take
away al yl he shooteth for. And thus of ye nature of windes
& wether according to my marking you haue hearde Philologe :
& hereafter you shal marke farre mo your selfe, if you take hede.
And the wether thus marked as I tolde you afore, you muste
take hede, of youre stading, yl therby you may win as much
The schole of shoting. 1 1 5
as you shal loose by the wether. PHI. I se well it is no
maruell though a man misse many tymes in shootyng, seing ye
wether is so vnconstant in blowing, but yet there is one thing
whiche many archers vse, yl shall cause a man haue lesse nede
to marke the wether, & that is Ame gyuing. TOX. Of
gyuyng Ame, I can not tel wel, what I shuld say. For in
a straunge place it taketh away al occasion of foule game, which
is ye only prayse of it, yet by my iudgemet, it hldreth ye
knowlege of shotyng, & maketh men more negligente : ye which
is a disprayse. Though Ame be giue, yet take hede, for at an
other mas shote you can not wel take Ame, nor at your owne
neither, bycause the wether wil alter, euen in a minute, & at
the one marke & not at the other, & trouble your shafte in the
ayer, when you shal perceyue no wynde at the ground, as I my
selfe haue sene shaftes tumble a lofte, in a very fayer daye.
There may be a fault also, in drawing or lowsynge, and many
thynges mo, whiche all togyther, are required to kepe a iust
length. But to go forward the nexte poynte after the markyng
of your wether, is the takyng of your standyng. And in a side
winde you must stand sumwhat crosse in to the wynde, for so
shall you shoote the surer. Whan you haue taken good footing,
than must you looke at your shafte, yl no earthe, nor weete be
lefte vpon it, for so should it leese the lengthe. You must loke
at the head also, lest it haue had any strype, at the last shoote.
A stripe vpon a stone, many tymes will bothe marre the head,
croke the shafte, and hurte the fether, wherof the lest of them
all, wyll cause a man lease his lengthe. For suche thinges
which chaunce euery shoote, many archers vse to haue sume
place made in theyr cote, fitte for a lytle fyle, a stone, a Hun-
fyshskin, and a cloth to dresse the shaft fit agayne at all nedes.
Thys must a man looke to euer when he taketh vp his shaft.
And the heade maye be made to smothe, which wil cause it flye
to far : when you re shafte is fit, than must you take your bow
euen in the middes or elles you shall both lease your lengthe,
and put youre bowe in ieopardye of breakynge. Nockynge
iuste is next, which is muche of the same nature. Than drawe
equallye, lowse equallye, wyth houldynge your hande euer of
one heighte to kepe trew compasse. To looke at your shafte
hede at the lowse, is the greatest helpe to kepe a lengthe that
can be, whych thyng yet hindreth excellent shotyng, bicause
H 2
1 1 6 'Toxophilus. B.
a man can not shote straight perfitlye excepte he looke at his
marke : yf I should shoote at a line and not at the marke, I
woulde alwayes loke at my shaft ende, but of thys thyng some
what afterwarde. Nowe if you marke the wether diligentlye,
kepe your standynge iustely, houlde and nocke trewlye, drawe
and lowse equallye, and kepe youre compace certaynelye, you
shall neuer misse of your lengthe. PHI. Then there is nothyng
behinde to make me hit ye marke but onely shooting streight.
TOX. No trewlye. And fyrste I wyll tel you what shyftes
Archers haue founde to shoote streyght, tha what is the best
waye to shoote streyght. As the wether belongeth specially to
kepe a lengthe (yet a side winde belongeth also to shote streight)
euen so the nature of the pricke is to shote streight. The
lengthe or shortnesse of the marke is alwayes vnder the rule of
the wether, yet sumwhat there is in ye marke, worthye to be
marked of an Archer. Yf the prickes stand of a streyght playne
groud they be ye best to shote at. Yf y6 marke stad on a hyl
syde or ye groud be vnequal wl pittes & turninge wayes be-
twyxte the markes, a mans eye shall thynke that to be streight
whyche is croked : The experience of this thing is sene in
payntynge, the cause of it is knowen by learnynge.
And it is ynoughe for an archer to marke it and take hede
of it. The cheife cause why men can not shoote streight, is
bicause they loke at theyr shaft : and this fault commeth bycause
a ma is not taught to shote when he is yong. Yf he learne to
shoote by himselfe he is a frayde to pull the shafte throughe the
bowe, and therfore looketh alwayes at hys shafte : yll vse con-
firmeth thys faulte as it doth many mo.
And men continewe the longer in thys faulte bycause it is
so good to kepe a lengthe wyth al, and yet to shote streight,
they haue inueted some waies, to espie a tree or a hill beyonde
the marke, or elles to haue sume notable thing betwixt ye
markes : & ones I sawe a good archer whiche did caste of his
gere, & layd his quiuer wl it, euen in the midway betwixt ye
prickes. Sume thought he dyd so, for sauegarde of his gere :
I suppose he did it, to shoote streyght wlall. Other men vse to
espie sume marke almoost a bow wide of ye pricke, and than go
about to kepe him selfe on yl hande that the prycke is on, which
thing howe muche good it doth, a man wil not beleue, that doth
not proue it. Other & those very good archers in drawyng,
The schole of shoting. 117
loke at the marke vntill they come almost to ye head, than they
looke at theyr shaft e, but at ye very lowse, wl a second e sight
they fynde theyr marke agayne. This way & al other afore of
me rehersed are but shiftes & not to be folowed in shotyng
streyght. For hauyng a mans eye alwaye on his marke, is the
only waye to shote streght, yea & I suppose so redye & easy
a way yf it be learned in youth & confirmed wl vse, y1 a man
shall neuer misse therin. Men doubt yet I loklg at ye mark
what way is best whether betwixt the bowe & the stringe, aboue
or beneth hys hand, & many wayes moo : yet it maketh no
great matter which way a man looke at his marke yf it be
ioyned wl comly shotynge. The diuersite of mens standyng
and drawing causeth diuerse me loke at theyr marke diuerse
wayes: yet they al lede a mas hand to shoote streight yf nothyng
els stoppe. So that cumlynesse is the only Judge of best lokyng
at the marke. Some men wonder why in casting a mans eye
at ye marke, the hande should go streyght. Surely yf he con-
sydered the nature of a mans eye, he wolde not wonder at it :
For this I am certayne of, that no seruaunt to hys mayster, no
chylde to hys father is so obedient, as euerye ioynte and pece of
the body is to do what soeuer the eye biddes. The eye is the
guide, the ruler & the succourer of al the other partes. The
hade, the foote & other members dare do nothynge wlout the
eye, as doth appere on the night and darke corners. The eye
is the very tonge wherw1 wyt & reaso doth speke to euery parte
of the body, & the wyt doth not so sone signifye a thynge by
the eye, as euery part is redye to folow, or rather preuent the
byddyng of the eye. Thys is playne in many thinges, but
most euident in fence and feyghtynge, as I haue heard men
saye. There euery part standynge in feare to haue a blowe,
runnes to the eye for helpe, as yonge chyldre do to ye mother:
the foote, the hand, & al wayteth vpo the eye. Yf the eye
byd ye had either beare of, or smite, or the foote ether go
forward, or backeward, it doth so : And that whyche is moost
wonder of all the one man lookynge stedfastly at the other mans
eye and not at his hand, wyl, cue as it were, rede in his eye
where he purposeth to smyte nexte, for the eye is nothyng els
but a certayne wyndowe for wit to shote oute hir hede at.
Thys wonderfull worke of god in makynge all the members
so obedient to the eye, is a pleasaunte thynge to remember and
1 1 8 T'oxophilus. B.
loke vpon : therfore an Archer maye be sure in learnyng to
looke at hys marke when he is yong, alwayes to shoote streyghte.
The thynges that hynder a man whyche looketh at hys marke,
to shote streyght, be these : A syde wynde, a bowe either to
stronge, or els to weake, an ill arme, whan a fether runneth on
the bowe to much, a byg brested shafte, for hym that shoteth
vnder hande, bycause it wyll hobble : a little brested shafte for
hym yl shoteth aboue ye hande, bicause it wyl starte : a payre
of windynge prickes, and many other thinges mo, which you
shal marke your selfe, & as ye knowe the, so learne to amend
them. If a man woulde leaue to looke at his shafte, and learne
to loke at his marke, he maye vse this waye, whiche a good
shooter tolde me ones that he did. Let him take his bowe on
the nyght, and shoote at .ii. lightes, and there he shall be
compelled to looke alwayes at his marke, & neuer at his
shafte : This thing ones or twyse vsed wyl cause hym forsake
lokynge at hys shafte. Yet let hym take hede of settynge his
shaft in the bowe.
Thus Philologe to shoote streyght is the leaste maysterie of
all, yf a manne order hym selfe thereafter, in hys youthe. And
as for keypynge a lengthe, I am sure the rules whiche I gaue
you, wil neuer disceyue you, so that there shal lacke nothynge,
eyther of hittinge the marke alwayes, or elles verye nere
shotynge, excepte the faulte be onely in youre owne selfe,
whiche maye come .ii. wayes, eyther in hauing a faynt harte or
courage, or elles in sufFerynge your selfe ouer muche to be led
with affe&ion : yf a mans mynde fayle hym, the bodye whiche
is ruled by the mynde, can neuer doe his duetie, yf lacke of
courage were not, men myght do mo mastries than they do, as
doeth appere in leapynge and vaultinge.
All affections and specially anger, hurteth bothe mynde and
bodye. The mynde is blynde therby : and yf the mynde be
blynde, it can not rule the bodye aright. The body both blood
and bone, as they say, is brought out of his ryght course by
anger: Wherby a man lacketh his right strengthe, and therfore
can not shoote wel. Yf these thynges be auoyded (wherof I
wyll speake no more, both bycause they belong not properly to
shoting, & also you can teache me better, in them, than I you)
& al the preceptes which I haue gyuen you, diligently marked,
no doubt ye shal shoote as well as euer man dyd yet, by the
T'he schole of shoting. 1 1 9
grace of God. Thys communication handled of me Philologe,
as I knowe wel not perfytly, yet as I suppose truelye you must
take in good worthe, whcrin if diuers thinges do not all togyther
please you, thanke youre selfe, whiche woulde haue me rather
faulte in mere follye, to take that thynge in hande whyche I
was not able for to perfourme, than by any honeste shamefastnes
withsay your request & minde, which I knowe well I haue not
satisfied. But yet I wyl thinlce this labour of mine the better
bestowed, if to morow or some other daye when you haue
leysour, you wyl spende as much tyme with me here in this
same place, in entreatinge the question De origlne anim^ and
the ioynyng of it with the bodye, that I maye knowe howe far
Plato, Aristotle, & the Stoiicians haue waded in it.
PHI. How you haue handeled this matter Toxoph. I may
not well tel you my selfe nowe, but for your gentlenesse and
good wyll towarde learnyng & shotyng, I wyll be content to
shewe you any pleasure whensoeuer you wyll : and nowe the
sunne is doune therfore if it plese you, we wil go home and
drynke in my chambre, and there I wyll tell you playnelye
what I thinke of this comunication and also, what daye we will
appoynt at your request for the other matter, to mete here
agayne.
Deo gratias.
^LONDINI. •«
In <edibus Edouardi Whytchurch.
Cum priuilegio ad impri-
mendum solum.
J545-
REPORT
and Discourse written by
Roger Ascham, of the affaires
and state of Germany and the
Emperour Charles his court,
duryng certaine yeares
while the sayd Roger
was there.
AT LONDON.
Printed by lohn Daye,
dwelling ouer Aldersgate.
Cum Gratia & Priuilegio Regime
Maiestatis, per Decennium.
John Astely to R. Ascham.
I Now finde true by experience, which I haue oft heard of
others, & sometymes read my selfe : that me make no such
accompt of commodities when they haue the, as when they
want the. I meane this by our frendly fellowshyp together at
Cheston Chehey, and here at Hatfield her graces house : our
pleasant studies in readyng together Arhtotles Rethorike, Cicero,
and Lime : our free talke mingled alwayes with honest mirth :
our trimme coferences of that present world : and to true
iudgementes of the troublesome tyme that followed.
These commodities I now remeber with some grief, which
we then vsed with much pleasure, besides many other fruites of
frendshyp that faythfull good will could affourd. And these
thinckynges cause me oft to wish, either you to be here with
vs, or me to be there with you : but what wishyng is nothyng
els but a vayne waylyng for that which will wanteth, I wil
cease from wishyng, and seeke the true remedy for this sore.
And that is whilest we mete agayne in deede, in the meane-
while to ease our desires with oft writyng the one to the other :
I would in deede I had bene partaker in your company, of that
your pleasaunt absence out of your countrey : And because I
was not, I pray you let me be partaker by your letters of some
fruite of that your Journey.
We heare of great sturres in those parties : and how the
Emperour a Prince of great wisedome and great power hath
bene driuen to extreme shiftes, and that by the pollicie of mean
men who were thought to be hys frendes, and not by the
puisantnes of others who were knowne to be his open enemyes. I
124 -A Letter.
know your wont in markyng diligently and notyng truely all such
great affaires : And you know lykewise how desirous I am alwayes
to read any thing that you write. Write therfore I pray you,
that we your frendes beyng at home may en-
ioye by your letters a pleasant memory of
you in this tyme whilest you be absent a-
broad. Farewell in Christ from Hat-
field, xix. O&obris.i552.
R. Ascham, to lohn Asteley.
SAlutem Plurimam in Christo lesu. That part of your
letters from Hatfield, decimo nono Offob. renewing a most
pleasaunt memory of our fredly fellowship together, & full of
your wonted good will towardes me : I aunswered immediatly
from Spires by Fraunces the post : whiche letter if it be not yet
come to your hand, ye might haue heard tell of it in M. Secre-
tary Cicels chamber in the Court.
As concernyng the other part of your letter, for your wish,
to haue bene with me, in this mine absence from my countrey :
and for your request, to be made partaker by my letters of the
sturre of these times here in Germany. Surely I would you
had your wish : for then should not I now nede to bungle vp
yours so great a request, when presently you should haue sene
with much pleasure, which now peradueture you shall read
with some doubt, lesse thynges may encrease by writyng
which were so great in doyng, as I am more afrayd to leaue
behind me much of the matter, then to gather vp more then
hath sprong of the trouth.
Your request conteineth few wordes but coprehendeth both
great and diuers matters. As first the causes of the open
inuasion by the Turke : of the secret workyng for such
soddeyne brechesse in Italy, and Germany : of the fine fetches
in the French practises : of the double dealyng of Rome with
all partes : the more particularly why Duke uffauio, the Prince
of Salerne, Marches Albert, and Duke Maurice brake so out
with the Emperour, which were all so fast knit vnto hym as
the bondes of affinitie, loyaltie, bloud, and benefites could
assure him of them : Otfauio being his sonne in law, the Prince
one of hys priuy chamber, Marches Albert hys kynsman, and
Duke Maurice so inhaunsed with honor and enriched with
benefites by hym, as the Duke could not haue wished greater
in hope, then the Emperour performed in deede. Here is
stufte plenty to furnish well vp a trimme history if a workeman
had it in handlyng. When you and I read Lime together
126 A discours and affaires
if you do remember, after some reasonyng we cocluded both
what was in our opinion to be looked for at his hand that
would well and aduisedly write an history : First, point was, to
write nothyng false : next, to be bold to say any truth, wherby
is auoyded two great faultes, flattery and hatred : For which
two pointes C<esar is read to his great prayse,
P loiiius anc^ I°utus tne Italian to hys iust reproch. Then
to marke diligently the causes, cousels, actes, and
issues in all great attemptes : And in causes, what is iust or
vniust : in cousels, what is purposed wisely or rashly : in actes,
what is done couragiously or fayntly : And of euery issue, to
note some generall lesson of wisedome & warines, for lyke
Polibius. matters in time to come : wherin Polibius in
Phi. Co- Greeke and Phillip Comines in French haue done
mines. tne dimes of wyse and worthy writers. Dili-
gence also must be vsed in kepyng truly the order of tyme :
and describyng lyuely, both the site of places and nature of
persons not onely for the outward shape of the body : but also
ThucieK- ^or tne mwar^ dispositio of the mynde as Thuci-
des. dides doth in many places very trimly, and Homer
Homer. euery where and that alwayes most excellently,
which obseruation is chiefly to be marked in hym. And our
Chaucer doth the same, very praise worthely :
marke hym well and conferre hym with any
other that writeth of our tyme in their proudest toung who-
soeuer lyst. The stile must be alwayes playne and open : yet
sometime higher and lower as matters do ryse and fall : for if
proper and naturall wordes, in well ioyned sentences do lyuely
expresse the matter, be it troublesome, quyet, angry or pleasant,
A man shal thincke not to be readyng but present in doyng
of the same. And herein Liuie of all other in
any toung, by myne opinio carieth away the
prayse.
Syr Thomas More in that pamphlet of Richard the thyrd,
doth in most part I beleue of all these pointes so
content all men, as if the rest of our story of
England" were so done, we might well compare with
Fraunce, Italy^ or Germany in that behalfe. But see how the
pleasant remembraunce of our old talke together hath caried me
farther then I thought to go. And as for your request to know
of the state of Germanic. 1 27
the cause and maner of these late sturres here ye shall not looke
for such precise order now in writyng, as we talked on then. No
it is not all one thing to know perfectly by reading and to
performe perfectly in doyng I am not so vnaduised to take so
much vpo me, nor you so vnfrendly to looke for so much from
me. But that you may know that I haue not bene altogether
idle in this my absence, and that I will not come home as one
that can say nothing of that he hath sene and heard abroad :
I will homely and rudely (yet not altogether disorderly) part
priuately vnto you such notes of affaires as I priuately marked
for my selfe : which I either felt and saw, or learned in such
place and of such persos as had willes to seeke for, and wayes
to come by, and wittes to way the greatest matters that were
to be marked in all these affaires. For no wieke almost hath
past in the which there hath not commonly come to my hand
for the most part of the notable thynges that haue bene
attempted in Turky, Hungary^ Italy, Fraunce, and Germany.
In declaryng to you these thyngs I will obserue onely the first
two pointes of our wont communication : that is to my writyng
I will set forward nothyng that is false, nor yet keepe backe
any thyng that is true. For I playing no part of no one side,
but sittyng downe as indifferent looker on, neither Imperial!
nor Freeh, but flat English do purpose with troth to report the
matter. And seyng I shall lyue vnder such a Prince, as kyng
Edward is, and in such a countrey as Englad is (I thanke God)
I shall haue neither neede to flatter the one side for profite, nor
cause to feare the other side for displeasure. Therefore let my
purpose of reportyng the troth as much content you, as the
meane handlyng of the matter may mislike you. Yet speakyng
thus much of trouth, I meane not such a hid trouth as was
onely in the brest of Monsieur d' 'Arras on the Emperours side,
or in Baron Hadeck on Duke Maurice side, with whom and
with on other of his counsell he onely conferred all his purposes
three yeares before he brake out with ye Emperour : but
I meane such a troth as by conference and common cosent
amongest all the Ambassadors and Agentes in this Court and
other witty & indifferent heades beside was generally conferred
and agreed vpo. What better comoditie to know the trouth
any writer in Greeke Latine or other toung hath had, I can not
perceiue, except onely Xenophon, Casar, and Phillip Comings :
128 A disc ours and affaires
which two first worthy writers wrote their owne actes so wisely,
and so without all suspicion of parcialitie, as no ma hetherto by
mine opinion hath borne him selfe so vprightly in writyng the
histories of others : The thyrd hauyng in a maner ye like
oportunitie hath not deserued lyke commendations, at least
as I suppose. Englad hath matter & Englad hath me furnished
with all abilitie to write : who if they would might bryng both
lyke prayse vnto them selues, & like profite to others, as these
two noble me haue done. They lay for their excuse the lacke
of leysure which is true in deede : But if we cosider the great
affaires of C&sar we may iudge hee was worthy to winne all
praise that was so willing & wittie to winne such time when
his head & his handes night and day were euer most full,
would to God that these our me as they are ready to prayse
hym were euen as willyng to follow hym, and so to wynne like
prayse them selues.
And to keepe you no longer with my priuate talke from the
matter it selfe, I will begyn at the spryng of the matter from
whence all these mischiefes dyd flow, the which now hath so
ouerflowed the most part of Christendome, as God onely from
heauen must make an end of this miserable tragedie, wherein
these two great Princes take such pleasure still to play. In
The cause of Religion & libertie were sayd to be of many men
ye sturres in the very causes of all these sturres : yet in myne
Italy & opinion & as the matter it selfe shall well proue
it, vnkyndnes was the very sede, whereof all these
troubles dyd grow. A Knight of England of worthy memorie
for wit learnyng and experience old Syr Thomas
Wiat wrote to his sonne that the greatest mis-
chief amongest men and least punished is vnkyndnes : the
greatest mischief truly & least punished also by any ordinary
law & sentence, yet as I haue sene here by experience,
vnkyndnes hath so wrought with men, as the meane were not
affrayd to attempt their reuege, nor the Emperour able to
withstand their displease. Yea vnkyndnes was onely the hoke,
which Henry the French kyng hath vsed these late yeares to
plucke from the Emperour and draw to hym selfe, so many
Princes and great comodities as he hath : with this hoke bayted
with money the bayte of all mischief, the French kyng hath not
ceased to angle at as many harts in Italy and Germany as
of the state of Germanie. 129
he knew any matter of vnkyndnes to bee ministred vnto, by
the Emperour. There be few Princes in all the Empire but
if I had leysure, I could particularly proue, and when I come
home in our priuate talke I wil fully declare that some good
big matter of vnkindnes hath bene offred vnto them by the
Emperour. Yea Ferdinando his brother, Maximilian his nephew
and sonne in law, the Dukes of Bauarie and Cleues which haue
maried his nieces haue bene shrewdly touched therwith. Also
ye Papisticall Byshops as Mentz^ Pamburge^ Herbipolis, Saltz-
burge, and diuers others haue felt their part herein. Few
Princes or states, Protestantes or Papistes, but haue bene
troubled therwith. But euen as a quaterne in the begynnyng
is a wanderyng disease in the body vnknowne what it wil turne
vnto, and yet at last it draweth to certaine dayes & houres :
euen so these grieues in the whole body of the Empire dyd first
worke secretly and not appeare openly, vntill this melancholy
vnkyndnes did so swell in mens stomaches that at length in
Insburgh it brast out into a shrewd sicknes, whereof the first fit
was felt to be so daugerous, that if the Emperour and we had
not more spedely chaunged the ayre, I am affrayed and sure
I am we were wel affrayd then, the sickenes would haue proued
also to vs that were present with hym very contagious. Well
this grief growyng this to certaine fittes, and I my selfe beyng
not greatly greued at ye hart with it but had leysure enough
with small ieoperdy (I thanke God) to looke quietly vpon them
that were sicke, because I would not be idle amongst them
I began dayly to note the workyng of this sickenes, and namely
from the xix. of May .1552. when we ranne from Insburgh till
the first of next January whe the siege of Metz was abadoned.
Neuertheles before I come to these ordinary dayes I will
shortly touch how the Emperour beyng in peace with all the
world .1550. when we came to his Court, had soone after so
many enemyes as hee knew not which way to turne hym.
fl The Turke.
THe date of peace betwixt the Emperour and the Turke had to
expire an. 1 55 1. The Emperour hearyng what The brech
preparation the Turke had made the yeare before wjth the
for warre and specially by Sea, which must needes Turke.
130 A disc ours and affaires
be agaynst Christendome, thought it better for him to ende
the peace with some aduauntage, the that the Turke should
begyn the warre with too much strength & therfore in
sommer .1550. he sent lohn de Vega Viceroy of Cicile &
Andrea Dorea into Barbaria, who wan the strong towne of
Affrica from Dragut Rates sometyme a Pirate and now the
Turkes chief doer in all the affaires of Affrike and mare
mediteraneo. This Court raised vp other rumors of this brech
with the Turke how that this enterprice was made for Seripho
sake a hethen kyng. But the Emperours frend in Barbaria
to whom Dragat Rayes had done great wrong, yet men that
knew the troth, and are wont also to say it, haue told me that
the towne of Affrica stode so fit to annoy Spayne for the Turke
when he list, that the Emperour was compelled to seeke by all
meanes to obtaine it, much fearyng, lest when he was absent
in Germany, the Turke would be too nigh and to homely a gest
with hym in Spayne whensoeuer the peace should be expired.
The whole story of winnyng Affrica ye may read whe you
list beyng wel written in Latin by a Spaniard that was present
at it.
Affrica was earnestly required agayne by the Turke, and
fay re promised agayne by the Emperour, but beyng in deede
not deliuered, the Turke for a reuenge the next yeare, first
assaulted Malta and after wan Tripoly from whence the Turke
may easely and soddenly whensoeuer hee list set vpon Clcelle,
Naples, or any cost of Italie or Spayne and most commodiously,
what soeuer the Emperour doth hold in Barbary : so that the
gayne of Affrica is thought nothyng comparable with the losse
of Tripoly.
When Tripoly was besieged by the Turkes, Monsieur Dara-
mont was sent Ambassadour to Constantinople from the French
kyng : and ariuyng by the way at Malta, hee was desired by
the great master of the order to go to Tripoly, and for the
frendshyp that was betwene Fraunce and the Turke to treat for
the Christians there. Daramont did so and had leaue of the
Turkes generall to enter the towne and talke with the Captaine.
And by this meanes they within yelded, on this condition
to part safe with bag and baggage which was graunted by the
generall. But assoone as the Turkes entred the towne they put
old & yong, man, woman, and child to the sword sauing two
of the state of Germanie. 1 3 1
hundred of the strongest men to be their Galley slaues for euer.
The generall beyng asked why he kept no promise made this
aunswere : If the Emperour had kept faith with my master
for Africa I would not haue broken with them of Tripoly,
and therfore (sayth he) with Christen men which care for no
trothe promises may Justly be broken. This Turkish crueltie
was reuenged this last yeare in Hungary, when lyke promise of
lyfe was made, and yet all put to the sword the Christians
biddyng the Turkes remember Tripoly. To such beastly crueltie
the noble feates of armes be come vnto betwixt the Christen
men and the Turkes, And one fact of either side is notable
to bee knowen, yet horrible to be told and fouler to be
followed : and it is pitie that mas nature is such, as will
commonlie commend good thynges in readyng and yet will as
commonly follow ill thynges in doyng.
The Bassa of Buda, tooke in a skirmish a getleman of the
kyng of Romanes : for whose deliuery men for
entreaty and money for hys raunsome were sent fa"t °
to Buda. The Bassa appointed a day to geue
them aunswere, and at time and place assigned, called for them
and sent for the gentleman likewise. And soddenly came out
two hangmen bare armed with great butchers kniues in theyr
handes bringing with them certaine bandogges musled kept
hungry without meate of purpose : the Bassa bad them do their
feate : who commyng to the gentleman stripped him naked,
and bound him to a piller, after with their kniues they cut of
his flesh by gobbets and flang it to the dogges. Thus ye poore
gentlema suffred grief great for ye payne, but greater for the
spight : nor so tormeted in feelyng his fleshe mangled with
kniues, as in seyng him selfe peece meale deuoured by dogges.
And thus as long as hee felt any payne they cut him in collops,
and after they let their dogges lose vpon him to eate vp the
residue of him, that ye grief which was ended in him being
dead might yet continue in his frendes lookyng on. They
were bad depart and tell what they saw, who ye may be sure
were in care enough to cary home with them such a cruell
message.
Not Ion? after this, three Turkes of good estimation and
o ' o
place, were taken by the Christen men : for whose raunsome
great summes of gold were offred. Aunswere was made to the
I 2
132 A discours and affaires
messenger that all the gold in Turky should not saue the.
And because ye Turkes will eate no swines flesh, you shall see
if swine will eate any Turkish fleshe. And so likewise great
bores were kept hungry, & in sight of the messenger the three
Turkes were cut in collops and throwne amongest them.
For these foule deedes I am not so angry with the Turkes
that began them as I am sory for the Christen men that follow
them. I talked with a worthy gentleman this day both for his
great experience and excellent learnyng Marc Anthonio d'Anula
Ambassadour of Venice with the Emperour: who
told me that the great Turke him selfe (Religion
excepted) is a good and mercyfull, iust and liberall
Prince, wise in makyng and true in performyng any couenant,
and as sore a reuenger of troth not kept. He prayed God to
Mustapha kepe him long aliue : for his eldest sonne Mustapha
the Turkes is cleane contrary, geue to all mischief cruell,
eldest sonne false) gettyng he careth not how vniustly, and
spendyng he careth not how vnthriftely what soeuer he may
lay hand on, wilye in makyng for his purpose, & ready to
breake for his profite all couenantes, he is wery of quietnes and
peace, a seeker of strife and warre, a great mocker of meane
men, a sore oppressor of poore men, openly contemnyng God,
and a bent enemy agaynst Christes name and Christen men.
But to go forward with my purpose. The Turke beyng onest
disclosed an open enemy to the Emperour, many meane men
bega to be the bolder to put out their heades to seeke some
open remedy for theyr priuate injuries : Fraunce beyng at euery
mans elbow to harten and to helpe, whosoeuer
Italie ^a(i cause to be aggreued with the Emperour.
And first Oflauio Duke of Parma, much agreued
as nature well required with his fathers death & besides that
fearing the losse not onely of his state, but also of his lyfe, fell
from the Emperour in the end of the yeare .1550.
Pietro Aloysio Farnesio sonne to Papa Paulo tercio Duke of
. Place tia : father to this Duke Oftauio Duke
of Parma which maried the Emperors base
daughter, and to Horatio Duke of Castro, who of late hath
maried also the French kynges base daughter, and the two
Cardinals Alexandra and Ramusio Farnesy, was slaine men say
by the meanes of Ferranto Gonzaga gouernour of Millan by
of the state of Germanie. 1 3 3
whose death the state of Placentia beloging then to the house
of Fernesia came into the Emperour handes. The whole
processe of this mans death is at length set out in the stories of
Italic : my purpose is onely to touch it, because hereby rose
such a heate betwixt the whole famely of Fernesia and Don
Ferranto Gonzaga as hath stirred vp such a smoke in Italy
betwixt the Emperour and Fraunce, as is not like to be
quenched but with many a poo re mans bloud, as Horace noteth
wittely out of Homer, saying :
. What follies so euer great Princes make :
The people therfore go to wrake.
Qftauio beyng sorest greeued with his fathers death and
beyng best able to reuenge it was so feared of Gonzaga that
he thought hym selfe neuer assured for Petro Luis death as long
as Ottauio his sonne should lyue : for men neuer loue whe
they haue iust cause to feare, but must nedes still mistrust
without all hope of reconcilyng whom they haue before hurt
beyod all remedy of amendes. And yet I heard a gentlema
of Millan say (who was sent hether to the Emperour by
Gonzaga} that Oftauio is such a Prince for good nature and
gentle behauiour that he supposed there was not one in Italy
but did loue hym except it were his maister Gonzaga. These
two Princes beyng neighbours the one at Millan the other at
Parma shewed smal frendshyp the one to the other. But
Offauio was euermore wrong to the worse by many and sundry
spites, but chiefly with dayly feare of hys life by poysoning :
for the which fact certain persons in Parma were taken and
layd fast. Neuertheles Oftauios nature is so farre from seekyng
bloud and reuenge and so geuen to pitie and gentlenes, that
although they went about not onely to geue away his state by
treason, but also to take away his life by poysonyng, yea, and
after that the deede was proued playnly on them, and sentence
of death pronounced openly agaynst them, yet he gaue them
lyfe and libertie which would haue taken both from hym.
And when Monsieur Thermes earnestly told him that where
the euill were not kept in with feare of Justice, the good should
neuer lyue in suretie and quietnes : his aunswere was that he
so abhorred the sheddyng of bloud in others as he would neuer
wash his handes in any : let his enemies do to him the worst
134 ^ discours and affaires
they could. Addyng, that he thought it his most honor to be
vnlykest such for his gentlenes which were misliked of all
me for their crueltie : wherby he hath wonne that he which of
good nature can hurt none, is now of right loued of all and
onely hated of him who no man in Italy for his cruelty doth
loue. And this talke is so true that it was told in an other
language but in the selfe same termes at an honorable table
here in Bruxels by a gentleman of Millan an agent in the
Court, a doer for Gonzaga, who the same tyme was prisoner
in Parma.
And although Qflauio by good nature was harmeles in not
seekyng reuenge, yet he was not careles by good reason in
seekyng hys remedy but made oft & great coplaintes of his
grieues to the Emperour, which were not so hotely made, but
they were as coldly heard, that at legth Oftauio findyng least
comfort, where of right he looked for most ayde, & seyng that
displeasures could not be ended in Gonzaga nor could not be
amended by the Emperour : then he compelled agaynst his
nature turned his hate due to Gonzaga to reuenge this vndeserued
vnkyndnes in the Emperour, euen as Pausanias dyd with Phillip
kyng of Macedonie, who conqueryng with pollicie and power
all outward enemyes, was slayne when and where, he thought
him selfe most sure of his dearest fred, for vnkindnes, because
Phillip ought and would not reuege Pausanias on him that had
done him a foule displeasure.
Oftauio seyng what was done to his father euen when hys
graundfather was Byshop of Rome, thought, that now as his
house decayed, so his iopardy encreased. And therfore agaynst
a desperate euill began to seeke for a desperate remedie, which
was fet from Rome a shop alwayes open to any mischief as you
shall perceiue in these few leaues if you marke them well.
Oftauio coplained to lulio tercio of the wroges of Gonzaga
& of the vnkindnes of the Emperour, desirying that by his
wisedome and authoritie, he would now succor him or els not
onely he should leese his life but also the Church of Rome
should lose her right in Parma, as she had done before in
Placentia. The Byshop gaue good eare to this talke, for he
spied that hereby should be offred vnto him, a fit occasion to set
the Emperour and Fraunce together by the eares. He thought
the Emperour was to bigge in Italy hauyng on ye one side of
of the state of Germanic. 135
Rome Naples vnder his obedience, on the other side Siena,
Florence and Genoa at his commaundement, besides Placentia,
Millan, Monteferrato, and a great part of Piemount.
The Emperour beyng thus strong in Italy, the Byshop
thought his own state to be his so log as it pleased the
Emperour to let him haue it : & therfore if Parma were not
left an entry for Fraunce to come into Italy, he might ouersoone
be shut vp in present miserie when all outward ayde should be
shut out from him.
The Popes counsel was that Oftauio should put him selfe
vnder the French kynges protection whom hee knew would
most willingly receiue him : Parma lying so fit for the French
kyng, when soeuer he would set vpon the enterprice of M 'Ulan.
This practise of the Pope Monsieur de Thermes the French
kynges Ambassadours dyd vtter before the consistorie of
Cardinals at Rome : prouing that the Pope, not the kyng his
master was the occasion of that warre.
When Ottauio with the whole house of Farnesia became
thus Freeh, the Emperour more fearyng the state of Millan
then lamentyng the losse of Oftauio persuaded on his side the
Byshop of Rome to require Parma as the Churches right, & to
punish Qflauio as the Churches rebell, promising that he him
selfe as an obedient sonne of the Church would stretch out his
arme and open his purse in that recouery of the Churches
right : neuertheles the Byshop must beare the name of the
warre because hee might not breake peace with Fraunce. Thus
Princes openly cotenacing quietnes & priuily brewyng debate
although they got others to broch it, yet God commoly suffreth
the selues to drinke most of the misery thereof in the end.
The Byshop seyng that he must either begyn the mischief or
els it would not on so fast as he wished to haue it, set lustely
vpon it : and first cited Ottauio, after excommunicated him,
and shortly after besieged Parma ayded both with me and
money by the Emperour : which thyng the
French kyng began to stomach, thinckyng that ye Fraunre
Emperour dyd offer him both wrong & dishonor
in not sufFring him beyng a kyng to helpe a poore man that
fled to his ayde. And thus these two Princes first helpyng
others began by litle and litle to fall out them selues. And
that the Pope dyd set these two Princes together, a Pasquill
136 A discours and affaires
made at Rome and sent to this Court doth well declare. And
seyng that you so well vnderstand the Italian toung and that if
it were turned into English it would leese the whole grace
therof, I will recite it in the toung that it was made in.
Interlocutor! Pasquillo et Romano.
Pasq. T T Anno vn bel gloco il Re, et F Imperatore
_£~L per terzo el Papa, e giocano a Primera.
Rom. che v* e d1 invito ? Pasq. Italia tutta intera.
Rom. Chi vi P ha messa ? Pasq. il cog/ion del pasture.
Rom. Che tien in mono il Re ? Pasq. Ponto magiore.
il Papa ha cinquant' vno, e se despera.
Rom. Cffsar che Ponto fa ? Pasq. lu'i sta a Primera.
Rom. che gli manca ? Pasq . danari a far fauore.
II Papa dice, a voi, e vuol Partita :
Ctesar Pensoso sta Sopra di quest 'o,
teme a Scoprir di [non] trouar moneta
II Re dice, no, no, Scoprite Presto,
che io tengo Ponto, a guadagnar F invito
I' ho li danari, et Cessar se gli aspeta.
1F Tutti stanno a vedetta
Chi di lor due guadagni. Rom. il Papa ? Pas. e fuora,
vinca chi vuol, lui Perde, in sua maF hora.
IF Z,' Imperatore anchora
Teme, e tien stretto, e Scopre Pian le carte,
e qu\ la sorte gioca, piu che F Arte.
T Metta questi in disparte.
Stabilito e nel del quello, che esser de,
ne gioua V nostro dir, questo Sara questo e.
The French king in the sommer .1551. proclaimed warre
against Charles kyng of Spayne, abusing that name for a sottlety
to separate ye whole quarell from the Empire : when the
Emperour would not be persuaded at Augusta that either the
Turke would, or the French kyng durst make him open warre,
or that any Prince in Italy or Germany could be entised to
breake out with him.
of the state of Germanic . 1 37
Monsieur Mariliacke the French Ambassadour at Augusta
euer bare the Emperour in hand that such rumors of war were
raysed of displeasure & that his master intended nothyng so
much as the continuance of amide, yea this he durst do, when
many in ye Emperours court knew that the war was already
proclaimed in Fr ounce,
The Emperour blinded with the ouer good opinion of his
own wisedome, likyng onely what him selfe listed, and
contemnyng easely all aduise of others (which selfe will con-
dition doth commonly follow, and as commonly doth hurt all
great wittes) dyd not onely at this tyme suffer him selfe thus to
be abused : but also afterward more craftely by the Pope for
the continuaunce of warre at Parma, & more boldly by Duke
Maurice for his repayre to Inspruke, and not the least of all,
now lately at Metz by some of his owne counsellours for the
recouery of that towne.
But Princes and great personages whiche will heare but
what and whom they list, at the length fayle when they would
not, and commonly blame whom they should not : But it is
well done that as great men may by authentic contemne the
good aduise of others : so God doth prouide by right iudgement
that they haue leaue in the ende to beare both the losse and
shame therof them selues.
Thus ye see how the Pope was both the brewer and
brocher and also bringer of ill lucke to both these Princes, and
as it came wel to passe dranke well of it him selfe both with
expences of great treasures, and with the losse of many lyues
and specially of two noble gentlemen, the Prince of Macedonia
and // Seign. Giouan Baptista di Monte his owne nephew : but
the Popes care was neither of money nor men, so that he might
set the two Princes surely together. And therfore was not
onely content (as a man might say) to hasard Parma on the
meyne chauce : but to make the two Princes better sporte &
fresher game, set also cue then Mirandula on a bye chaunce
that mischief enough might come together.
When the Princes were well in and the one so lusty with
good lucke that hee had no lust to leaue, aud
the other so chafed with leesyng, that still he
would venture. Besides their playing in sporte
r r» r» i **• i t r 11 Miradula.
for the rope at Parma and Mirandula, they fell
138 A discours and affaires
to it a good them selues in Piemout, Loraigne, Flounders and
Picardy, the French kyng robbyng by Sea and spoyling by
land, with calling in the Turke, and sturryng vp all Princes
and states that had any occasion to beare any grudge to the
Emperour. Of all their neighbours onely our noble kyng,
and the wise senate of Venize would be lookers on.
And when the Pope saw they were so hote at it as he well
knew as the one would not start in so great good lucke : so ye
other could not leaue by so much shame of losse. And
although it did him good to see them cope so lustely together :
neuertheles he thought it scarce his surety that they should play
so nere his elbow so earnestly, least if they fell to farre out and
the one should winne to much of the other, then he per-
aduenture would compell at length the Pope him selfe which
bega the play to kepe him sport afterward for that that he had
in Italy. And therfore very craftely he gat them to play in an
The Po- other place, and tooke vp the game for Parma
pes prac- and Mirandula taking truce with Fraunce for
certaine yeares, and bad them make what sport
they would farther of in Loraigne & Picardy. And that there
should lacke neither iniurie nor spite in the Popes doynges, whe
the Emperour saw that whether hee would or no, the Pope
would needes fall in with Fraunce, then he desired the Pope
that such bastilians and fortes of fence as were made about
Mirandula when it was besieged might either be deliuered to
hys mens handes or els defaced that the Frenchmen might not
haue them, which request was very reasonable seyng the
Emperour had bene at all the charge in makyng of them : But
they were neither deliuered nor defaced, nor left indifferet, but
so put into the French mens handes, that Mirandula now is
made very strong to the French faction by Emperours money
and the Popes falsehode.
This fact was very wrongfull of the Pope for the deede :
but more spitefull for the tyme : for euen when Duke Maurice
had wonne Augusta, euen then the Pope gaue vp the siege of
Mirandula and fell in with Fraunce that care enough might
come vppon the Emperour together both out of Germany, and
out of Italy at once. And cue this day .25. June .1553. when
I was writyng this place, commeth newes to Bruxells, that the
Pope hath of new played with the Emperour more foule play
of the state of Germanic. 139
at Siena, then he dyd before at Mirandula : For whe the
Emperour had bene at passing charges in kepyng a great host,
for the recouery of Siena from December last vnto June : the
Pope would needes become stickler in that matter betwene the
Emperour, the French kyng and Siena promising such conditions
to all, as neither of the Princes should lose honour and yet
Siena should haue had liberties. The Emperour good man yet
agayne trustyng him who so spightfully had deceaued hym
before dismissed hys hoste, which done Siena was left still in
the French mes hades : who therby haue such oportunitie to
fortifie it, as ye Emperor is not like by force to recouer it.
Piramus Secretary to ye Emperor told this tale to Syr Phillip
Hobby & the Byshop of Westminster openly at ye table : which
Piramus is a Papist for his life : & beyng asked how he could
excuse the Popes vnkyndnes agaynst his master ye Emperour :
Hee aunswered smilyng lulius tercius is a knaue but ye Pope is
an honest ma, which saying is como in this court. And
although they wil vnderstad both ye spight of ye pope, & ye
shame of their master, yet are they cotent stil to speake of ye
pope though he neuertheles still do ill to ye Emperour.
And thus to returne to my purpose how the Pope set the
two Princes together, & shift his owne necke a while out of
the halter, leauyng most vnfrendly the Emperour when he was
farthest behynd hand : and how Oflauio for feare of Gonzaga,
and vnkyndnes of the Emperour fell with all hys famely to be
French, I haue briefly passed over for the bast I haue to come
to the matters of Germany.
11 The Prince of S a /erne.
THe Emperour beyng thus set vpon by the Turke and
Fraunce with open warre, and troubled by the house of
Fernesia with so soddeyne breaches, and most of all encombred
with the feare of the sturres in Germany which secretly were
then in workyng : the Prince of Salerne also declared hym selfe
an open enemy.
This Prince in this court is much beloued for his getlenes
and openly praysed for his wisedome, & greatly lamented for
his fortune, who before tyme hath done so good and faythfull
140 A discours and affaires
seruice to the Emperour : that I haue heard some in this Court
say, which loue the Emperour well and serue him in good place,
that their master hath done the Prince so much wrong, as he
could do no lesse then he dyd : who being so vniustly hadled by
his enemies, the Viceroy of Naples, and so vnkyndly dealt
with all by hys master ye Emperour, was driuen by necessitie
to seeke an vnlawfull shift.
The Viceroy Don Pietro de Toledo vncle to ye Duke of
Alua, & father in law to ye duke of Florece vsed him selfe with
much cruelty ouer ye people of Naples by exactions of money
without measure, by Inquisition of mens doyngs without
order, & not onely of mens doynges, but also of mes outward
lookyngs, & inward thinkynges, vsing the least suspicion for
a sufficiet witnes to spoyle & to kill who soeuer he lysted.
Me that had sutes vnto him, had as leue bene away with the
losse of their right, as haue come to his presence to abyde his
lokes & tauts : And (as I heard a wise getlema of Italy say) he
gaue audiece in such tyme & place, as he may easlyer in this
Court speake with Monsieur a" Arras then he could in Naples
with the Viceroyes Porter. And commoly he would not
heare them whilest an hundred suters should come at once, and
then the Porter let them in by one and by one euen as he
fauoured not as the matter required, commaudyng theni to be
short or els they should come short in the next tyme. And so
mens sutes were pulled fro comon law to priuate will, & were
heard not in place open to lustice but in priuate Parlors shit vp
to all that came not in by fauour or money. And therfore
iudgements were allotted not as law appointed, but as the Vice-
roy listed. This fault {Cicero sayth) vndyd Casar who drew
the commo law into his own house, & so in hauing other mes
goods lost all mes hartes and not long after his owne lyfe : for
euen those that dyd helpe him plucke down Pompey^ dyd after
kill him for pulling downe the lawes : So we see that Princes
not in gatheryng much money, nor in bearing ouer great
swinge but in keping of frendes & good lawes lyue most merely
& raigne most surely. But such as gape alwayes for other
mens goods comoly neuer enioy ye fruite of their owne : for
they neuer cease to win by wrog till at length they leese by
right goodes lyfe & all. And therfore it is notable y1 Dion, in
Plato writeth to Dionisius ye tyraut, how Euripides in euery
of the state of Germanie. 141
tragedy bringeth for some great vice one or other great Prince
to ruine & yet not one doth coplaine thus :
Out out alas alas, I dye for lacke of goodes.
But euery one singeth this song :
Out out alas alas, I dye for lacke of frendes.
For a Prince that will take mes goods when he listeth
without order shall want mens hartes whe he needeth wlout
pitie : but in hauyng their hartes he shall neuer lacke their
goodes, as the good kyng Clrus sayd to the rich kyng Crtesus.
And to haue the peoples hartes the next way is to be gentle to
euery one, iust to all and liberall to many and especially to such
as either by excellency of wit or good will in true seruice do
well deserue it. Also to set his chiefest ioy not in priuate
pleasure like Sardanapalus, but in commo wealth as we haue
example of Titus Vespasianus : and to thinke his treasure
greatest, not when his coffers be fullest as Croesus dyd, but when
his subiectes be richest as Cyrus dyd & that through hys wise-
dome and care as all prayse worthy princes haue euer hetherto
done. And what will the people reder agayn to such a Prince?
A small subsidy, with a great grudge ? no, but their whole hartes
to loue him : their whole goodes to ayde hym : theyr handes
ready to defende hym, and theyr lyues as ready to dye for hym
when soeuer he shall haue neede. A Prince that thus doth
lyue and thus is loued at home may be enuyed with much
prayse, and hated with smal hurte of any power abroad.
And therfore haue I heard wisemen discommend the
gouernement in Fraunce in makyng theyr people almost slaues,
and from thence a comon saying of some in SyrTohn
England, that would haue the people neither witty Gates
nor wealthy when wit is the meare gift of G O D : wish-
So that to wish men lesse wit that haue it, is to count God
scarse wise that gaue it. And wealth of the people as Scripture
sayth : is the glory of a Prince, and surety of hys raigne.
But suspition in all gouerning breedeth such sayinges, when
wrong doth beare such swynge, as ill conscience doth alwayes
wish that men should lacke either wit to perceaue or habilitie
to amende what soeuer is done amisse. But God send such
Achitophels better ende then their counsels doth deserue which
142 A disc ours and affaires
would seme wise by other mens folly, and would be rich by
other mens pouertie.
To returne to the Viceroy of Naples the common opinion
of those in this Court which haue priuate cause to say wel on
him do speake it boldly and openly, that he was such a one as
neuer could content his couetousnes with money, nor neuer
satisfie his crueltie with bloud : And so by this foule meane
many gentleme in Naples haue lost some theyr Hues but moe
theyr liuynges, and almost all theyr libertie. And there be at
this day as men say here that know it a good sort of thousandes
Neapolitans, named Foriensuti, who beyng spoyled at home by
violence, robbe other abroad for neede, which comber so the
passage betwixt Rome and Naples, as no man departeth
commonly from Rome without company which commeth to
Naples without robbyng.
The whole body of the kyngdome of Naples was so dis-
tempered inwardly with this misorder, with a litle outward
occasion it would easely haue burst forth into a foule sore.
A lesse matter then the rauishyng of Lucrece, A meaner ayde
then the helpe of Brutus, was thought sufficient to haue stirred
vp this inward grudge to open reuenge. But see how God
prouided for the Emperour and the quyet of that kingdome :
For God in takyng away one Spanyard hath made Naples now
more strong, then if the Emperour had set xx. thousand of the
best in Spayne there : for euen this last Lent .1553. Don Pietro
di Toledo dyed at Florence by whose goyng away mens hartes in
Naples be so come agayne to the Emperour, as he shall now
haue lesse neede either to care for the fyne fetches of Fraunce,
or to feare the great power of the Turke. A gentleman of this
Court a true seruaunt to the Emperour sayd merely in a company
where I was, that his master the Emperour had won more in
Naples by the death of the Viceroy, then he had lost in
Lorraigne by the forgyng of Metz.
But to my purpose not many yeares agoe diuers in Naples
made their coplaint to the Prince of Salerne of their griefes,
who was thought would be most willyng for his good nature,
and best able for his authoritie to seeke some remedie for them
by way of intercessio to the Emperour.
The Prince beyng here at Bruxeh humbly besought hys
Maiestie to pitie the miserie of hys poore subiectes : who by
of the state of Germanic . 143
this sute gat of the Emperour for hys cliantes, wordes without
hope : and of the Viceroy for him selfe hatred without ende.
The Prince yet alwayes bare hym selfe so wisely, that he could
not without some sturre be thrust downe openly : and ridyng
on his iourney he was once shot with a dagge secretly.
Thus he seyng no ende of displeasure in the Viceroy no
hope of remedy in the Emperour, when he saw the Turks on
the Sea, the French kyng in the field, Duke Maurice and the
Marches vp, and a good part of Italy either risen, or ready to
rise, thinkyng the tyme come of theyr most hope for helpe by
the Princes, and of least feare of punishment by the Emperour,
came forth to play his part also amongest the rest : who whe
flying first to the French kyng and after by hys counsell as it is
sayd to the Turke, is compelled to venture vppon many hard
fortunes. And what succes he shall haue either of helpe in
Fraunce or comfort of the Turke^ or mercy of the Emperour
I can not yet write. But this last winter he hath lyen in the
He of CiO) and now I heare say this sommer he is on the Sea
with 63. Gallyes of the Turkes at his commaundement, what
enterprice he will make, or what successe he shall haue when
we shall heare of the matter, I trust I shal either by some
priuate letter from hence or by present talke at home fully
satisfie you therin.
^ Albert Marches of Bradenburge.
ALbert Marches of Bradenburge in the begynnyng of his
sturre .1552. wrote a booke and set it Print wherin he
declared the causes of hys fallyng from the Marches
Emperour wittely alledgyng common misery as a Albertes
iust pretence of hys priuate enterprise makyng booke and
other mens hurtes, his remedy to heale his own [heroftC
sores and common wronges hys way to reuenge
priuate displeasures : shewyng liberty to be lost, and Religion to
be defaced, in all Germany^ lamentyng the long captiuitie of the
two great Princes : and all the dispossessyng of hys father in
law Duke Otto Henrick : sore enueyng against the pride of the
Spanyardes and the authoritie of straungers, which had now in
their handes the scale of the Impiere, and in theyr gore an(j
swynge the doyng of all thynges, and at their iust com-
comaundement all such mens voyces as were to be playntes.
144 ^ discours and affaires
called the Imperiall Dietes : copellyng the Germane* in their
owne countrey to vse straunge toungs for their priuate sutes,
wherin they could say nothyng at all, or nothyng to the
purpose : vsing Camera Imperialis at Spires for a common key
to open all mens coffers when they listed and these were the
chiefest points in Marches booke.
The Marches also sore enueyed agaynst Luice de Aulla for
The booke writyng> an(^ agaynst the Emperour for suffring
of Luice de such a booke as Luice de Auila wrote : wherein
Auila. the honor of Germany and the Princes therof &
by name Marches Albert, who was in ye first warres on the
Emperours side, was so defamed to all the world : yea the
Marches was so throughly chafed with this boke, y* when
I was in the Emperours court he offred ye combat with Luice de
Auila, which the Emperour for good wil and wise respectes
would in no case admit.
Not onely the Marches but also the Princes at the Diet of
Passan this last yeare made a common complaint of this booke.
I knew also the good old Prince Frederick Pahgraue of y6
Rhene in September last when the Emperour lay at Landaw
beside Spires, goyng with his great army to Afetz, complayned
to the Emperour hym selfe and to his counsell of a certaine
spightfull place in that booke against him : The good prince
told me this tale him selfe at hys house in Heldibirge whe
I caried vnto him kyng Edwardes letters, the Lord Ambassadour
him selfe beyng sicke at Spires.
And wise men say that the Duke of Bauiere, also is euill
~, , , contented for that which is written in that booke
of Bauiere agaynst his father when he deserued of the
vnkyndly Imperials, to haue bene rewarded rather with
handled. prayse and thankes then with any vnkynde note
of blame and dishonour : of whom the Emperour in his warres
agaynst the Lansgraue and the Duke of Saxonie receiued such
kindnes, as no Prince in Germany for all respectes in yl case
was able to affourde hym : as first he had his whole countrey of
Bauiere for a sure footyng place, to begyn the warre in : and
had also both men and vittaile of hym what he would, and at
legth should haue had that countrey his onely refuge, if that in
warre he had come to any vnderdele as he was like enough to
haue done. But it was Gods secret will and pleasure to haue
of the state of Germanie. 145
the matter then go as it did : And for that cause men say Duke
Albert of Earner e that now is that hath maryed the Emperours
niece, was more straunge this last yeare to the Emperour, when
he was driuen to that extremitie to flye away on the night from
Inspurge and was more familiar with duke Maurice, and more
frendly to the Princes confederate then els peraduenture he
would haue done.
And here a writer may learne, of Princes affaires a good
lesson to beware of parcialitie either in flattery, or spight : For
although thereby a man may please his owne Prince presently
yet he may perchaunce as much hurt hym in the end as Luis de
Aulla dyd hurt ye Emperour his master in writyng of this
booke. In deede this booke was not ye chiefest cause of this
sturre in Germany : but sure I am that many Princes in
Germany were sore agreeued wl it, as the Emperour wated both
theyr hartes & their handes whe he stode in most nede of
frendes : lust reprehension of all vices as folie, vniust dealyng,
cowardice, and vicious liuyng, must be frely and franckly vsed,
yet so with that moderate discression as no purposed malice or
bet hatred, may seeme to be the breeder of any false reproch.
Which humor of writyng followeth so full, in Paulus louius
bookes, and that by that Judgement of his owne frendes, as
I haue heard wise and well learned men say : that his whole
study and purpose is spent on these pointes, to deface the
Emperour, to flatter Fraunce, to spite England, to belye
Germany, to prayse the Turke, to keepe vp the Pope, to pull
downe Christ and Christes Religion, as much as lyeth in him.
But to my purpose agayne.
The matters before of me briefly rehearsed, were at large
declared in Marches Albertes booke : yet that you may know
what secret workyng went before this playne writyng and open
doyng, and because the Marches part hath bene so notable in
all this pastime, I will by more particular circumstaunces lead
you to this generall complaintes.
There be at this day fiue Marchesses of Bradenburge :
loachimus Elector, lohanes-his brother who for Ciuile seruice is
Imperiall with might and mayne, & yet in Religion a Christian
Prince with hart toung & honesty of lyfe : Doctour Christopher
Monte, both a learned and wise man, our kynges Maiestie
seruaunt and his Agent in the affaires of Germany hath told me
146 A discours and affaires
diuers tymes, that this Marches lohn and the Duke of Swaburg,
be two of the worthiest Princes in all the Empier either in
considering wisely, or executing courageously any great affaire.
The thyrd is Marches George who dwelleth in Franconia not
farre from Noremberg. The fourth Marches Albert the elder
the mighty Duke of Frusta hable for his power
Frusta to c°Pe w^h any Prince, and xv. yeares together
he dyd stoutly withstand in continual! warre the
strength of the kyng of Pole. He hath so fully banished Papistry
and so surely established the doctrine of the Gospell in Prusia, as
no where hetherto in Germany is more diligently done, he loueth
learnyng and honoreth learned men, and therfore .an. 1544. he
founded a new Vniuersitie in Prusia called Mons Regius
bryngyng thether with plentyfull thynges excellent learned men
in all tounges and sciences. He is vncle to this notable
Marches Albert, and lackyng children hath made him his heyre,
and hath already inuestured hym in the Dukedome of Prusia.
The fift is Marches Albert of whom 1 purpose to write on :
whose father was Cassimirus descended from the kynges of Pole,
and for his noblenes agaynst the Turke called Achilles Ger-
manicus : and therfore might very well engender such a hoate
Pirrhus. Marches Albert in hys young yeares as I haue heard
wise men say, was rude in hys maners, nor did not shew any
token of towardnes likely to attempt any such affaires as in
deede he hath done. It might be either for the lacke of
learnyng and good bringyng vp (a great and common fault in
great Princes of Germany} or els for his bashfull nature in
youth, which propertie Xenophon wittely fayned to
be in Cyrus at like yeares iudgyng bashfulnes in
Kvpu. J J r •
youth to be a great token of vertue in age.
Marches Albert is now at this day about xxxi. yeares old :
of a good stature, neither very high, nor very low, thicke
without grosenes : rather wel boned for strength, then ouerloded
with flesh : his face fayre, bewtifull, brode, sterne, and manly :
somewhat resemblyng my Lord Marches of Northt. when he
was of the same yeares, his eyes great and rowlyng, makyng his
countenance cherefull when he talketh : and yet whe he geueth
eare to other he kepeth both a sadde looke without signe of
suspicion, and also a well set eye without token of malice :
And this behauiour I marked well in hym when I dyned in his
of the state of Germanie. 1 47
company at the siege of Metz, in the County lohn of Nassaus
tent, his voyce is great and his wordes not many, more ready to
here other then to talke him selfe. And when he talketh he so
frameth hys toung to agree with hart, as speakyng and
meanyng seemeth to be alwayes at one in hym, and herein he
may be well called the sonne of Achilles whom Homer wittely
doth fayne to haue such a free open nature : whose saying in
Greeke is excellent, but beyng turned in the wrong side into
English, it shall lesse delight you yet thus much it signifieth :
Who either in earnest or in sport,
doth frame hym selfe after such sort :
This thyng to thine ke and that to tell,
my hart abhorreth as gate to hell.
Homer, meanyng hereby that a Prince of noble courage
should haue his hart, his looke, hys toung, and his handes so
alwayes agreeyng together in thinkyng, pretendyng, and
speakyng, and doyng, as no one of these foure should at any
tyme be at iarre with an other, which agreeyng together in
their right tune, do make a pleasaunt melody in all mens eares
both sweetest and loudest, called in English (honor) and most
fitly in Greeke Tt/iM?, the price and prayse of vertue.
And though the Marches be free to say what he thinketh,
yet he is both secret in purposyng & close in workyng what
soeuer hee goeth about. Now very skillfull to do harme to
others, and as ware to keepe hurte from hym selfe, yet first bet
vnto it with his own rod : for in ye former warres of Germany
being on ye Emperours side he fell into the handes of Duke
lohn Fridericke of Saxony, which chauce he is charged sore
withall by Luice de Auila and that with so spightfull and open
a mouth, as moued the Marches to offer hym the combat as
I sayd before. He is now most courageous in hardest ad-
uentures, most cherefull in present ieoperdy, and most paynefull
in greatest labours : hauyng no souldier vnder him, that can
better away with heate and cold or longer suffer hunger and
thrist then he him selfe. His apparell is souldier like, better
knowen by his fearce doynges then by his gay goyng : His
souldiours feare him for his stoutnes, and loue him for his
liberalitie : which winneth to him authoritie fit for a stout
Captaine, and worketh in them obediece due to good souldiours.
K 2
148 A disc ours and affaires
This last yeare a litle before hys agreement w* the Em-
perour hys souldiours for lacke of money & meate fell to
mutenyng and then fell the Marches fastest to hangyng, not
hidyng him selfe for feare, but coming abroad with courage, did
protest that neither the proudest should make misorder without
punishmet nor yet the prodest should lacke as long as either he
had peny in hys purse or loafe of bread in his tent. And after
this sort of outward behauiour and inward condition in Marches
Albert, as I haue marked his person my selfe and as I haue
learned hys doynges by such as by experience knew them well
& for theyr honesty would reporte them right and now how
he fell fro the Emperour I wil as briefly declare.
The Marches serued the Emperour as I said before in the
former warres in Germany agaynst the Lansgraue and the Duke
of Saxony, where he lost some honour and spent much money.
The Emperour shortly after came downe hether to Bruxels
hauyng the Marches in his company, who lookyng for a great
recompece of hys costes, and receiuyng litle, and seyng his
honor not onely defaced in the field presently when he was
taken prisoner, but also defamed for euer by writing cofirmed
by the Emperours priuiledge to grow abroad in the world began
to take the matter so vnkindly, that he left comming to the
Court, and kept his owne house : rising euery day very early :
and writing all the forenoone very diligently yet what he did no
man knew : so that his absence breed a talke in the Court, and
his soddein and secret study wrought a wonderfull gelousy of his
doynges in the Emperours head : for he knew the Marches to
haue courage enough to attept matters ouer great : and therfore
sent Mosieur Granduill vnto the Marches house as of hym
selfe to grope out his doynges, who declared vnto the Marches
y6 Emperours great goodwil towards hym, shewyng that his
Maiestie was purposed to make him a great personage, & to
begyn withall had in mynde to geue hym a goodly and profitable
office in all his Mintes.
The Marches aunswered roundly and plainly to the first,
that the Emperour could not make him greater then he was,
beyng Marches of Bradenburge : And as for ye office in the
Minte, he said smiling, he vsed not oft to tell his owne money,
& therefore he thought not to make the accept of others &
so made nothing of the Emperours offer : onely hee desired
of the state of Germanic. 149
Grandeuill that the Emperour would geue him leaue to go home
to his owne, which he obtained : And at his departure ye
Emperour gaue him a patent of 4000. crownes by ye yeare :
But ye Marches was not well foure miles out of Bruxels, when
he sent the patent by post to ye Emperour agayne saying : his
Maiestie might better bestow it on some that had more neede
of it. And in deede the Marches is as loth to receiue of his
frendes by beneuolence, as he is ready to take fro hys enemies
by violece which commeth somewhat of to stout a courage.
Thus the Marches came home not best contented as it may
well appeare : nor saw not the Emperour after till he met hym
at the siege of Metz. Casmirus his father and the Marches hym
selfe were great spenders and deepe detters: the one for his
stoutnes in warre, the other for his lustines in youth. And
therefore became quicke borrowers & slow payers, which thyng
brought the Marches into such trouble as hee had with the City
of Noremberge with his neighbours the Bishop of Herbipolis and
with his Godfather the Byshop of Pamberge.
The Marches was no sooner come home, but these Byshops
spying their tyme, when he had left the Emperours Court, and
had quite lost or much lessened his frendship there, bega to
trouble him with new suites for old debtes in Camera Imperial!,
at Spires, where the Marches because hee lacked either fauour
in the Court, or experience in young yeares, or good matter on
his side, was alwayes wrong to the worst, and to stufFe vp his
stomach with more matter of vnkindnes against the Emperour,
it is sayd that letters from the greatest in the Emperours Court
were neuer lackyng at Spires to helpe forward processe agaynst
the Marches.
Shortly after this tyme bega the siege of Madenburg where
Duke Maurice by the Emperour was appoynted generall.
The Marches either weery of leesyng at home by sutes, or
desirous to winne abroad by warre, or els purposing to practise
some way to reuenge his displeasures made him ready to serue
against Madenburg with 500. horse. And in the begynnyng
of the spryng of the yeare .1551. he set forward and in his way
went to visite Ernestus his cosin Duke of Saxony brother to lohn
Fridericke the prisoner with the Emperour. The selfe same
time Lazarus Swendy was sent from the Emperour as Com-
missary to duke Ernestus with earnest commaundement that the
150 A disc ours and affaires
Duke and all his, should receiue the doctrine of the Interim.
And that I may accomplish my purpose, which is to paynt out
as cruelly as I can, by writyng, the very Image of such persons
as haue played any notable part in these affaires : and so you
beyng absent shall with some more pleasure read their doynges.
This Lazarus Swendy is a tall and a comely
^aza™s personage, and beyng brought vp in learnyng
vnder Oecolampadius at Basile makyng (as it was
told me by an honest man that was throughly acquainted with
hym there) more accompt of his tall stature, the of any bewty of
the mynde, began to be wery of learnyng, and became desirous
to beare some bragge in the world : and so made a souldiour,
mard a scholer, & because he would make a lusty chaunge from
the feare of God and knowledge of Christs doctrine, he fell to
be a peruerse and bloudy Papist : euer at hand in any cruell
execution agaynst the poore Protestantes as commonly all such
do which so wittingly shake of Christ, and his Gospell : such
a Commissary you may be sure would cruelly enough execute
his office.
Duke Ernestus told the Commissary that he his landes and
lyfe were at his Maiesties commaundement, his Maiestie knew
how quietly he bare him selfe alwayes, & therfore his trust was
as he willingly serued the Emperour with true obedience : so he
might as freely serue God with right conscience : for he would
rather leaue hys landes and goodes and all to the Emperour,
and go beg with his wife & children, then they would forsake
the way of the Gospell which God hath commaunded them to
follow.
And marke how euidently God dyd declare both how much
such a Comission sent out abroad in Germany agaynst him and
hys word dyd displease him : and also how much the prayers
and sighyng hartes of iust men do in tyme preuayle with hym :
for as a man of much honesty & great knowledge in all the
matters of Germany did tell me, assoone as this Commissio was
once abroad, the practises in Germany began to styrre, yet not
so openly as the Emperour might haue iust cause to withstand
them, nor so couertly but he had occasion enough to mistrust
them : and thereby he both lacked helpe for open remedy, and
wanted no displeasure for inward grief.
Duke Ernestus^ Marches Albert, and Lazarus Swendy sate at
of the state of Germanie. 1 5 1
supper togethers : & as they were talkyng of ye Interim, the
Marches sodden ly brast out into a fury saying : what deuill ?
will ye Emperour neuer leaue striuyng with God in defacyng
true Religio and tossyng the world in debarryng all mes
liberties ? addyng, that he was a Prince vnkynd to euery man,
and kept touch with no ma, that could forget all mens merites,
& would deceiue whom soeuer he promised.
The Duke liked not this hoate talke in hys house and at
his table, but sayd : Cosin you speake but merely, and not as
you thincke, adding much the prayse of the Emperours
gentlenes shewed to many, and of his promise kept withall.
Well (quoth the Marches) if he had bene either kynde where
men haue deserued or would haue performed that hee promised :
neither should I at this tyme accuse hym, nor you haue sit here
in this place to defende hym, for he promised to geue me this
house with all the landes that thereto belongeth : but ye be
affrayd Cosin (quoth ye Marches) lest this talke be to loud, and
so heard to farre of : when in deede if the Commissarie here,
be so honest a man as I take him, and so true to his master as
he should be, he will not fayle to say what he hath heard, and
on the same codition Commissary I bryng thee good lucke, and
drancke of vnto hym a great glasse of wine. Lazarus
Swendyes talke then sounded getly and quietly, for he was sore
affrayed of the Marches. But he was no soner at home with
the Emperour, but word was sent straight to Duke Maurice
that the Marches who was as the come to Madenburg if he
would needes serue there, should serue without wages.
Ye may be sure the Marches was chafed a new with this
newes who already had lost a great sort of hys men and now
must leese hys whole labour thether, and all his wages there,
besides the losse of hys honour in takyng such shame of hys
enemies, & receiuyng such vnkyndnes of the Emperour.
The Marches was not so greeued but Duke Maurice was as
well contented with this commaundement : for euen then was
Duke Maurice Secretary practisyng by Baron Hadeckes aduise
with the French kyng for the sturre which dyd follow : and
therfore was glad when he saw the Marches might be made hys
so easely whiche came very soone to passe : so that the
Marches for the same purpose in the ende of the same yeare
went into Fraunce secretly, and was there with Shertly as
152 A ducours and affaires
a commo Launce Knight, and named hymselfe Captaine Paul,
lest the Emperour spials should get out hys doynges : where by
the aduise of Shertly hee practised with the French kyng for the
warres which followed after. This matter was told vnto me by
lohn Mecardus one of the chief Preachers in Augusta, who
beyng banished the Empiere, when and how ye shall heare
after was fayne to flye, and was with Shertly the same yeare in
Fraunce.
The Marches came out of Fraunce in the begynnyng of the
yeare .1552. and out of hand gathered vp men, but his purpose
was not knowne, yet the Emperour mistrusted the matter, beyng
at Insburg, sent DoR. Hasius one of hys counsell, to know
what cause he had to make such sturre. This Doft. Hasius
was once an earnest protestat, and wrote a booke on that side,
& was one of the Pahgraues priuy counsell : But for hope to
clime higher, he was very ready to be entised by ye Emperour
to forsake first his master & then God : By who the Emperour
knew much of all ye Princes Protestants purposes, for he was
commonly one whom they had vsed in all their Dietes and
priuate practises : which thing caused the Emperour to seeke to
haue hym : that by his head he might the easelyer ouerthrow
the Protestantes, & with them God and hys word in all
Germany.
This man is very lyke M. Parrie her graces cofferer in
head, face, legges and bellye. What auswere Hasius had I can
not tell, but sure I am the Marches then both wrote his booke
of complayntes agaynst the Emperour, and set it out in Printe.
And also came forward with banner displayed, and tooke
Dillyng upon Danuby the Cardinall of Augustus towne, which
Cardinall with a few Priestes fled in post to the Emperour at
Inspurg, where he found so cold cheare, and so litle comfort,
that forthwith in all hast, he posted to Rome.
Horsemen and footemen in great companies still gathered to
the Marches : and in the ende of March he marched forward
to Augusta, where he, Duke Maurice, the young Lansgraue, the
duke of Mechelburg, George, and Albert, with William Duke of
Brunswycke, and other Princes confederate met together and
besieged that Citie, Where I will leaue the Marches till I haue
brought Duke Maurice and hys doinges to the same time, and
to the same place.
of the state of Germanic. 153
f Duke Maurice.
NOt many yeares agoe whole Saxony was chiefly vnder two
Princes : the one duke lohn Fredericks borne Elector,
who yet liueth, defender of Luther, a noble setter out, and as
true a follower of Christ and his Gospell : The other hys
kynsman Duke George who is dead, Knight of the order of the
Golden Fleece, a great ma of the Emperour, a mayntainer of
Cocleus, and a notable piller of Papistry.
Duke lohn Fredericke is now 50. yeares of age, so byg of
personage as a very strong horse is scarse able to Iohn Fre
beare hym & yet is he a great deale bygger in all dericke
kynde of vertues, in wisedome, Justice, liberalitie, Duke of
stoutnes, temperancy in hym self, and humanitie Saxon.
towardes others, in all affaires, and either fortunes vsing a singular
trouth and stedfastnes : so that Luice de Auila^ and the Secretary
of Ferrare who wrote the story of the first warres in Germany,
and professe to be his ernest enemies both for matters of state
and also of Religion, were so compelled by his worthynes to
say the truth as though theyr onely purpose had bene to write
his prayse. He was fiue yeares prisoner in this Court, where
he wan such loue of all men, as the Spanyardes now say : they
would as gladly fight to set hym vp agayne as euer they dyd to
pull hym downe : For they see that he is wise in all his doynges,
iust in all hys dealynges, lowly to the meanest, princely with
the biggest, and excellyng gentle to all, whom no aduersitie
could euer moue, nor pollicy at any tyme entice to shrincke
from God and his word. And here I must needes commend
the Secretary of Ferrare, who beyng a Papist, and writyng the
history of the late, warres in Germany^ doth not kepe backe
a goodly testimony of Duke Frederickes constancy toward God
and hys Religion.
When the Emperour had taken the Duke prisoner he came
shortly after before the Citie of Witemberg : and beyng aduised
by some bloudy cousellours that Duke Frederickes death should,
by the terrour of it turne all the Protestantes from theyr
Religion, caused a write to be made for the Duke to be executed
the next mornyng vppon a solemne scaffold in the sight of his
wife, children, and the whole Citie of Wittemberg.
This write signed with the Emperours own hand was sent
154 ^ discours and affaires
ouer night to the Duke, who whe the write came vnto hym
was in hys tent playing at Chesse with his Cosin and fellow
prisoner the Lansgraue of Lithenberg, and readyng it aduisedly
ouer layd it downe quietly beside and made no countenance at
all at ye matter, but sayd Cosin take good heede to your game,
and returnyng to his play as quietly as though he had receiued
some priuate letter of no great importance dyd geue the
Lansgraue a trim mate.
The Emperour (I doubt not) chiefly moued by God :
secondly of his great wisedome and naturall clemency, when
he vnderstode his merueilous constancie chaunged his purpose
and reuoked the write, and euer after gaue him more honour,
and shewed him more humanitie then any Prince that euer
I haue read of haue hetherto done to his prisoner.
He is also such a louer of learnyng as his Librarie furnished
with bookes of all tounges and scieces, passeth all other
Libraries which are yet gathered in Christendome : For my
frend leronimus Wolfius who translated Demosthenes out of Greeke
into La tine, who had sene the Freeh kings Library at Augusta,
hath told me that though in six monethes he was not able onely
to write out the titles of the bookes in the Fuggers Library, yet
was it not so byg as Duke Fredericks was which he saw in
Saxony. I thinke he vnderstandeth no straunge toung saue
somewhat the Latin and a litle the French : And yet it is
merueilous that my frend Johannes Sturmius doth report by
writyng, what he heard Phillip Melanblbon at a tyme say of this
noble Duke : that he thought the Duke did priuately read &
write more euery day the did both he and D. Aurifaber which
two were counted in all mens iudgementes to be the greatest
readers and writers in all the Vniuersitie of Wtttemberg.
And as hee doth thus read with such diligence, euen so he
can report with such a memory what soeuer he doth read, and
namely histories, as at his table on euery new occasion he is
accustomed to recite some new story which hee doth with such
pleasure and vtterance as men be content to leaue their meat to
heare him talke : and yet hee hym selfe is not disdaynfull to
heare the meanest nor will ouerwhart any mans reason. He
talketh without tauntyng, and is mery without scoffyng,
deludyng no man for sport, nor nippyng no man for spight.
Two kindes of men as his Preachers did tell me at l^ilacho
of the state of Germanic. 155
he will neuer log suffer to be in his house : the one a commo
mocker, who for his pride thincketh so wel of his owne wit as
his most delight is to make other me fooles, and where God of
his prouidence hath geuen small wit he for his sport wil make it
none, and rather then he should leese his pleasure, he would an
other should leese his wit : as 1 heare say was once done in
England, and that by the sufferaunce of such as I am sorry for
the good wil I beare them to heare such a report : the other a
priuy whisperer a pickthacke a tale teller medling so with other
mes matters, as he findeth no leysure to looke to his owne : one
such in a great house is able to turne and tosse the quietnes of
all. Such two kinde of men sayth the Duke besides the present
troubling of others neuer or seldome come to good end them
selues. He loueth not also bold and thicke skinned faces,
wherein the meanyng of the hart doth neuer appeare. Nor
such hid talke as lyeth in wayte for other mens wittes. But
would, yl wordes should be so framed with the toung, as they
be alwayes ment in the hart.
And therfore the Duke him selfe thincketh nothyng which
he dare not speake, nor speaketh nothyng whiche
hee will not do. Yet hauyng thoughtes grounded tur"
vppon wisedome, his talke is alwayes so accom-
panied with discression and his deedes so attende vppon true deal-
yng, as he neither biteth with wordes, nor wringeth with deedes,
except impudency follow the fault, which Xenophon wittely calleth
the farthest point in al doyng, and then he vseth to speake home
as he did to a Spanyard this last yeare at Villacho, who beyng of
the Dukes garde, when he was prisoner, and now preasyng to
sit at his table when he was at libertie, Because many nobles of
ye Court came that day to dine with the duke, The gentleman
Husher gently desired the Spanyard to spare his rowme for that
day for a great personage : But hee countenancyng a braue
Spanish bragge, sayd, Seignor ye know me well enough, and so
sat him downe.
The Duke heard him, and preuentyng hys mans aunswere
sayd : In deede you be to well knowen, by the same toke the
last tyme you were here you tooke a gobblet away with you, &
therfore when you haue dyned you may go without farewell,
and haue leaue to come agayne when ye be sent for. In the
meane while an honest man may occupy your place. But in
156 A dlscours and affaires
remembryng so good a Prince I haue gone to farre from my
matter : And yet the remembraunce of him is neuer out of
place, whose worthynes is neuer to be forgotten.
Duke George of Saxony a litle before he dyed hauyng no
child did disinherite Duke Henry his brother by his last wil
because he was a Protestant, and gaue away his whole in-
heritaunce to Ferdinando kyng of Romaines.
But Duke lohn Fredericke by force of armes set and kept
his Cosin Duke Henry in his right : And he dying soone after
left behynd hym two sonnes Duke Maurice and Duke Augustus,
who likewise in their youth were defended in theyr right by
the wisedome and force of Duke lohn Fredericke. Duke
Maurice was brought vp in Duke lohn Fredericke^ house as if
hee had bene hys owne sonne and maryed the Lansgraues
daughter.
After it came to passe that the Emperour attempted to
establish Papistry in Germany with the sword, agaynst which
purpose the Lansgraue and duke lohn Fredericke armed them
selues not to resist the Emperour as the Papistes say, but to
kepe Gods Religion vp, if any by violence would pull it downe,
refusing neuer, but requiryng alwayes to referre them and theyr
doctrine to a lawfull and free generall Councell where truth in
Religion might be fully tryed in the hearyng of euen and
* Ev tffois *equall Judges and that by the touchstone of Gods
xal Vrfou, Canonicall Scriptures.
wordes al- i^ , •** • • i_ \ r i •
wayes vsed L/ulce Maurice in the begynnyng or his warre
in Thuci- was suspected neither of the Lansgraue nor of
dMes in Duke Fredericke beyng sonne in law to the one
cSmoiTom- and nighe kinsman to the other and agreeyng in
trouersies. Religio with both. Yea he was not onely not
suspected, but as I heard skilful me say he was ready with
his counsell & promised his ayde to helpe forward ye enterprice,
or els Hance Fredericke beyng a Prince of such wisedome would
not haue left at home behind hym an enemy of such a force.
Francisco Duke Maurice Agent with the Emperour was
asked, I beyng by at Augusta, how he could excuse his masters
vnkindnes towards lohn Fredericke who had bene such a father
vnto him. He graunted that Duke Fredericke had bene great
frend vnto him, and might haue a greater if he had would, and
the lesse strife had followed then did. And troth it is (sayd he)
of the state of Germanie. 1 57
as Duke Fredericke kept my master in his right, so afterward he
put him from part of his right, when in his yong yeares hee
chopped and chaunged landes with him when he listed : which
thing my master comming to mans state much misliked, and
oft complaynyng could neuer obtayne remedy therein.
Kyndnes should rather haue kyndly encreased, so vnkyndly
haue decayed specially when the one was trusted withall, and
the other of such yeares, as he had neither wit to perceiue nor
power to amend if any iniurie were offred vnto hym. Troth
also it is that my master was brought vp in Duke Fredericks
house : but he hath more cause to coplaine on them that
brought him thether, then to thanke such as brought him vp
there, where he had alwayes plentie of drinke and as much
scant of good teachyng to come to such vertue and learnyng as
dyd belong to a Prince of his state.
Now whether this talke was altogether true, or, an ill
excuse was made to couer a foule fact I can not tell : but sure
I am Francisco sayd thus. 1 haue heard wise men say that it is
not lyke, that for such a priuate strife Duke Maurice would
haue so forsaken not onely his frend and kinsman, but also his
father in law or would for the losse a litle, or rather for the
chauge of a peece haue so hassarded his whole estate, which
was once in the first warre all gone saue Lypsia^ and one other
towne, beside the losse of loue in whole Germany and his good
name amongest all Protestantes, in the middest of whom all hys
liuinges do lye.
Well surely there was some great cause that could sturre vp
so great a strife, and that was as wise men and
i -11 T>V i */r -j Why Duke
wel willyng on Duke Maurice side in myne Maurice
opinion haue truly Judged, the foule vice of am- left hys
bition. ?ear,est
r\ T j u u u ^.u ^u • frendes and
O Lord how many worthy men hath this one fell in with
vice beareft from good common weales, which for the Empe-
all other respectes were most vn worthy of that r.our'. .
11 iv /r i c u Ambition,
end they came vnto. My hart weepes for those
noble men of England, whose valiantnes in warre, whose wise-
dome in peace this Realme shall want and wayle and wish and
wish for in tyme to come, which of late by this onely vice haue
bene taken from vs. Examples, lesse for our grief and as fit
for this purpose be plenty enough in other states.
158 A discours and affaires
Ouer many experiences do teach vs, though a Prince be
wise stout liberall gentle mercyfull and excellently learned,
though he deserue all the prayse, that vertue nature and fortune
ca affourd him, yea that wit it selfe can wish for as we read that
noble lulius Ctesar had, and that by the testimony of those that
loued him not, neuertheles if these two foule verses of
Euripides.
Do right a/way and wrong refraine,
Except onely for rule and raigne.
If these verses say I do not onely sound well in his eare, but
sincke deepe also in his hart, surely there is neither kindred,
frendship, law, othe, obedience, countrey, God, nor his owne
life, but he will hassard to leese all rather then to pursue this
foule vice : For Polynices, for whom this verse was first made in
Greeke, did fill not onely his owne countrey full of dead
carcasses, but also whole Greece full of weepyng widdowes.
And C&sar for whom the same verse was turned into Latin did
not onely turne vpside down the goodliest common wealth that
euer GOD suffred to stand vpon the earth : but also tossed
the whole world with battayle and slaughter euen almost from
the sunne setting vnto the sunne rising. And did not stop to
bryng souldiours to do mischief further then any man now dare
Journey by land either for pleasure or profile.
But see the fruite and end which this vngodly great growing
bringeth men vnto : Both these Princes were slaine the one by
his brother the other by his owne sonne, of whom in life,
nature & benefites would they should haue taken most cofort of.
But men that loue to clime to hye haue alwayes least feare, and
therefore by reason fall most soddenly and also fardest downe :
yea the very bowghes that helped hym vp will now whip
him in fallyng downe : For who so in climyng trusteth when
he is goyng vp any bough at all ouer much, though hee seeme
to tread neuer so surely vppon it yet if he once begyn to slyp
the same selfe bough is reddiest to beat him that seemed before
surest to beare him. Examples hereof be seen dayly and
forgotten hereby.
An other mischief chaunceth commonly to these high
climers : that they will heare no man so gladly as such which
are euer hartenyng them to clime still. If wise and good men
of the state of Germanie. 159
durst speake more freely then they do : great men should do
both others and them selues lesse harme the they are wont to
do. He hateth him selfe and hasteth his owne hurt that is
content to heare none so gladly as either a foole or a flatterer.
A wonderfull follie in a great man him selfe and some peace of
miseri* in a whole common wealth, where fooles chiefly, and
flatterers may speake freely what they will and wise men and
good men shal commonly be shent, if they speake what they
should.
And how commeth this to passe ? it is the very plague of
God for great. mens sinnes, and the plaine high way to their
iust punishment. And when God suffreth them so willingly
to graunt freedome to follie and so gladly to geue hearyng to
flattery : But see when the great man is gone and hath playd
his part, fooles and flatterers be stil vpon the stage. Such liue
in all worldes, such laugh in all miseries : such Daui and Getce,
haue alwayes the longest partes : and go out who shal they tary
in place still. I know also many a good mitio, which haue
played long partes whom I pray God kepe long still vpon the
stage. And I trust no man will be miscontent with my generall
saying except conscience do pricke him of his owne priuate ill
doyng.
There be common wealthes where freedome in speakyng
truth hath kept great me from boldnes in doyng ill : for free
and frendly aduise is the trimmest glasse that any great man
can vse to spye his owne fault in : which taken away they
runne commonly so farre in foule doyng, as some neuer stay
till they passe all remedy saue onely to late repentaunce. And
as I would haue no flattery but wish for freedome : So in no
wise do I commend ouermuch boldnes, or any kind of rayling.
But that libertie in speakyng should be so mingled with good
will and discretion, as no great person should be vnhonorably
spoken vpo, or any meane man touched out of order either for
sport or spite : as some vnquiet heades neuer contented with
any state are euer procuryng either secretly with raylyng billes,
or openly with tauntyng songes, or els some scoffing common
play.
An other kynd of to bold talkers surpasse all these selly
rumors, who are called, and so will be, commo discoursers of all
Princes affaires. These make a great accompt of them selues
160 A disc ours and affaires
*x/
and will be commonly formost in any prease, and Justly with
out blushing shoulder backe others : These will seeme to see
further needes, in any secret affayre then the best and wisest
cousellor a Prince hath. These be the open flatterers and
priuy mislikers of all good counsellors doynges. And one
common note, the most part of this brotherhode of discoursers
commoly cary with them where they be bold to speake : to like
better Tullies Offices, then S. Paules Epistles : and a tale in
Bocace, then a story of the Bible.
And therfore for any Religion earnest setters forth of
present tyme : with consciences confirmed with Machiauelles
doctrine to thincke say and do what soeuer may serue best for
profite or pleasure. But as concernyng flatterers and raylers to
say mine opinion whether I like worse, surely as I haue read
few men to haue bene hurt with bitter poysons : so haue
I heard of as few great men to haue bene greatly harmed with
sharpe talke : but are so ware therin, that commonly they wil
complaine of theyr hurt before they feele harme. And flattery
agayne is so sweete, that it pleaseth best, when it hurteth most,
and therfore is alwayes to be feared : because it alwayes de-
lighteth, but in lookyng aside to these hye climers, I haue
gone out of the way, of mine owne matter.
To returne to Duke Maurice, he saw that Duke Frederickes
fallyng might be his rising, and perchaunce was moued with
some old iniuries, but beyng of young yeares and of nature full
of desire and courage he was a trimme pray for old practises
to be easely caryed away with fayre new promises sounding
altogether to honor and profite, and so he forsoke his father and
his frend, and became wholy the Emperours till hee had brought
both them into prison. Duke Fredericke was taken in the field
and so became the Emperours iust prisoner. Yet as long as the
Lansgraue was abroad, the Emperour thought his purpose neuer
atchieued, and therefore practised a new with duke Maurice to
get him also into his hads.
Duke Maurice with loachim Elector of Bradenburge became
meanes betwixt the Lansgraue and the Emperour. Conditions
both of mercy from the one, and of amendes from the other
were drawen out. Maurice and the Marches bound fhem
selues sureties to the Lasgraues children, for their fathers safe
returne : for amongest the rest of coditions this was one of the
of the state of Germanic. 1 6 1
chiefest, that he should come in no prison. And so at Hala in
Saxony, he came boldly to the Emperours presence, who
receiued him not very cherefully, nor gaue him not his hand
which in Germany is the very token of an assured recon-
siliation.
The Duke of Alua made the Lansgraue a supper, and called
also thether Duke Maurice, and the Marches of Bradeburg
where they had great chere : but after supper it was told Duke
Maurice and the Marches, that they might depart for the
Lansgraue must lodge there that night.
On the morrow, they reasoned of the matter wholly to this
purpose that the Emperours promises not the Lansgraues person
ought to be kept. Aunswere was made that the Emperour
went no further then conditions led him which were that he
should not be kept in euerlastyng prison : and they agayne
replyed he ought to be kept in no prison. When I was at
Villacho in Carinthia I asked Duke Frederickes Preacher what
were the very wordes in Dutch, wherby the Lansgraue agaynst
his lookyng was kept in prison. He sayd the fallacion was very
pretty and notable and tooke his penne and wrote in my booke
the very wordes wherin the very controuersie stode, duke
Maurice sayd it was.
Nicht in einig gefengknes .i. Not in any prison.
The Imperials sayd no, but thus.
Nicht in ewig gefengknes .i. Not in euerlastyng prison. And
how soone einig, may be turned into ewig, not with scrape of
knife, but with the least dash of a pen so that it shall neuer be
perceiued, a man that will proue, may easely see.
Moreouer Luice d'Auila in his booke doth reioyce that the
Lansgraue did so deceaue hym selfe with his owne conditions in
makyng of which as d'Auila saith, he was wont to esteeme his
own wit aboue all other mens. Well, how so euer it came to
passe the Lansgraue was kept in prison. And from that houre
Duke Maurice fell from the Emperour thinckyng hym selfe
most vnkyndly hadled, that he by whose meanes chiefly the
Emperour had won such honor in Saxony, must now be rewarded
with shame in all Germany, and be called a traytor to GOD,
and hys countrey, his father, and his frend. And though he
was greeued inwardly at the hart, yet he bare all thynges
quietly in coutenance purposing though he had lost will yet
1 62 A discours and affaires
•A/
would he not leese his profile, and so hiding his hurt presently,
whilest some fitter time should discouer some better remedy,
he went with the Emperour to Augusta, where accordyng to
hys promise he was made Elector. Yet the same night after
hys solemne creation, two verses set vppon his gate might more
greue him, then all that honour could delight hym, which were
these.
Seu Dux, seu Princeps, seu nunc dicaris Eleftor.
Mauricij Patrits prodltor ipse tut.
After that he had gotten that he looked for, he gat him
home into his countrey : from whence afterward the Emperour
with no pollicie could euer bryng hym, he alwayes alledgyng,
the feare that he had of some sturre by Duke Frederickes
children.
Hetherto the Germaines much mislyked the doynges of Duke
Maurice. But after that he had felt him selfe so vnkyndly
abused as for his good seruice to be made the betrayer of his
father, he tooke such matters in hand & brought them so to
passe, as he recouered the loue of his countrey and purchased
such hate of his enemyes, as the Spanyardes tooke their dis-
pleasure from all other, and bestowed wholly vppon the Duke
Maurice : and yet he bare him selfe with such wit, and courage
agaynst them, as they had alwayes cause to feare hym and neuer
occasion to contemne hym : Yea if he had liued he would
sooner men thinke haue driuen all Spanyardes out of Germany,
then they should haue hurt hym in Saxony, for he had ioyned
vnto him such strength, and there was in him such pollicie, as
they durst neuer haue come vppon him with power, nor neuer
should haue gone beyond hym with wit. He had so displeased
the Emperour as he knew wel neither his lades : nor his life
could make amendes whe x. poundes of Benefites which he
was able to do, could not way with one ounce of displeasure
that he had already done : and therefore neuer after sought to
seeke his loue which he knew could neuer be gotten : but gaue
him selfe wholy to set vp Maximilia, who beyng him selfe of
great power, and of all other most beloued for his worthynes in
all Germany, and now vsing the head and hand of duke Maurice
and his frendes, and hauyng the helpe of as many as hated the
Spanyardes, that is to say almost all Protestantes and Papistes to
of the state of Germanic. 163
in Germany, he should easely haue obtained what soeuer he had
gone about. But that bonde is now broken : for euen this day
when I was writyng this place, came word to this Court, that
Marches Albert, and Duke Maurice had fought, where the
Marches had lost the field, and Duke Maurice had lost his life :
which whole battaile because it is notable, I would here at
length describe, but that I should wander to farre from my
purposed matter : and therfore I in an other place, or els some
other with better oportunitie shall at large report the matter.
Ye see the cause why and the time whe Duke Maurice fell
from the Emperour. And because he was so notable a Prince,
I will describe also the maner how he preceded in all these
doyngs, as I learned amongest them that did not greatly loue
him. And because it were small gayne to flatter him that is
gone, and great shame to lye vppon him that is dead, for
pleasyng any that be alyue, I so will report on hym as his
doynges since my commyng to this Court haue deserued.
He was now of the age of xxxij. yeares well faced in
countenance complection fauour and beard not much vnlike to
—Syr Raffe Sadler but some deale higher, and well and strong
made to beare any labour and payne. He was once (men say)
geuen to drinckyng, but now he had cleane left it, contented
with small diet and litle sleepe in this last yeares, and therefore
had a wakyng and workyng head : and became so witty and
secret, so hardy and ware, so skillfull of wayes, both to do
harme to others, and keepe hurt from him selfe, as he neuer
tooke enterprise in hand wherein he put not his aduersary
al wayes to the worse. And to let other matter of Germany
passe, euen this last yeare within the compasse of eight
monethes he professed him selfe open enemy agaynst foure the
greatest powers that I know vpon earth. The Turke, the
Pope, the Emperour, & the French king, & ob- Tfa
tained his purpose and wan prayse agaynst the all Turke.
foure : For he in person and pollicie & courage dis-
patched the Turkes purpose and power this last yeare in Hungary.
The Councell at Trent which the Pope & the Emperour
went so about to establish he onely brought to
rr ,. . . J , The Pope,
none effect : first by open protestatio agaynst that
Councell, and after by his commyng with his army to Insburge,
he brought such feare to the Bishops there gathered, that they
L 2
164 A discours and affaires
ran euery one farre away fro thence, with such speed as they
neuer durst hetherto speake of meeting there agayne. And
The Em- how he delt with y6 Emperour, both in forcyng
perour. him to flye from Insburge, and compellyng him to
such a peace at Passo, my whole Diarium shall at full instruct
you.
And of all other he serued the Freeh kyng best, who fayre
pretendyng the deliuery of the ij. Princes captiues,
French kyng. . , ' & . 7 r T> i- • « I-L • •
and the mamtenaunce of Religion & libertie in
Germany, purposed in very deede nothyng els, but ye destruction
of the Emperor, & the house of Austria : for what cared he for
religion abroad, who at home not onely followeth none him
selfe priuately in his life, but also persecuteth the trouth in
others openly with the sword. But I do him wrong to say he
followeth none, who could for his purpose be cotent at one
time to embrace all : & for to do hurt enough to the Emperor
would become at once by solemne league, Protestat, Papish,
Turkish, & deuillish. But such Princes that cary nothyng els
but the name of bearing vp Gods word, deserue the same
prayse and 'he same end that that Prince dyd, who semed so
ready to beare vp ye Arke of the Lord, & yet otherwise
pursued Gods true Prophetes & his word.
Agayne how much the French kyng cared for the libertie of
Germany he well declared in stealyng away so vnhonorably from
the Empire the Citie of Metz. But he thinckyng to abuse
Duke Maurice for his ambitious purpose, in very deede & in
the end Duke Maurice vsed him as he should : for first he made
him pay well for y« whole warres in Germany as it is sayd
.200000. crownes a moneth : And after when the French kyng
fell to catching of Cities, duke Maurice tendryng ye state of his
countrey brake of with hym, and began to parle wl the good
kyng of Romanes at Luiz, which thyng whe the Freeh kyng
heard came within ij. miles of the Rhene, he straight way hyed
more hastly & with more disorder, for all his great hast, out of
Germany, as they say that were there, then the Emperour being
sicke without company and pressed by his enemy dyd go from
Insburg.
And see how nobly Duke Maurice did which for y6 loue of
his coutrey, durst fell from the Freeh kyng before he atchieued
any thyng agaynst the Emperour. And rather the Germany
of the state of Germanic. 165
should leese her Cities so by the French king, he had leuer
hassard, both the leesing of his enterprice, & also the leauyng
of hys father in law still in prison with the Emperour. But
as he had wit to take money piety of the French kyng : so had
he wit also to furnish him selfe so fro home as he durst first
fall out with the French kyng, & durst also after to set vpo the
Emperour till he had brought his honest purpose to passe. For
there is not almost any in this Court but they will say duke
Maurice did honestly in deliuering his father by strong hand,
which before left no fayre meane vnproued to do that humbly
by entreaty, which after, was copelled to bryng to passe stoutly
by force. And I pray you first marke well what he did and
then iudge truly if any thing was done that he ought not to
do.
For first he him selfe with ye Marches of Bradenburge most
humbly by priuate sute laboured for the Lansgraues deliuery
offring to the Emperour, princely offers, and not to be refused :
as a huge summe of money : a fayre quantitie of great
ordinaunce, certaine holdes of his, some to be
defaced, some geue to ye Emperour : and also Maurice
personall pledges of great houses for hys good offer for the
haberaunce all the residue of his life. Las^raues
After whe this sute was not regarded they
againe procured all ye Princes & states of Germany beyng at ye
Diet at Augusta .an. 1548. to be huble intercessors for him,
offring ye selfe same coditions rehearsed before addyng this more
to become sureties them selues in any bande to his Maiestie for
his due obedience for tyme to come.
Thirdly by the Prince of Spayne Duke Maurice neuer left
to entreat ye Emperour, yea he was so carefull of ye matter,
that his Ambassadors followed the Prince euen to his shipping
at Genoa : who had spoke ofte presently before, & wrote
earnestly fro thence to his father for ye Lansgraues deliuery, &
it would not be. And wise me may say it was not ye wisest
deede that euer ye Emperor did, to deny ye prince this sute :
for if ye Prince had bene made ye deliuerer of ye ij. princes out
of captiuity, he had won therby such fauor in all Germany, as
wkmt all doubt he had bene made coadiutor wl the k. of
Romaines his vncle, And afterward ye Emperor. Which thing
was lustly denyed to ye Emperor by the Electors, though he
1 66 A disc ours and affaires
laboured in yl matter so sore as he neuer dyd in any other
before.
Fourthly this last yeare a litle before the open warres duke
Maurice procured once agayne, not onely all ye Princes and
free Estates of Germany, but also the kyng of Romaines Ferdi-
nand, Maximilian his sonne king of Boeme, the kyng of Pole,
the kyng of Demarke the king of Sweden, to send also their
Ambassadors for this suite, so that at once xxiiij. Ambassadours
came before the Emperour together at Insburge. To whom
whe the Emperour had geuen very fayre wordes in effect
cocernyng a double meanyng aunswere, & that was this : That
it did him good to see so noble an Ambassage at once. And
therfore so many Princes should well vnderstand yl he would
make a good accompt of their sute. Neuertheles because duke
Maurice was the chiefest partie herein he would with speede
send for him, and vse his head for the better endyng of this
matter. But Duke Maurice seyng that all these Ambassadors
wet home without him, and that the matter was referred to his
present talke who was neuer heard in the matter before, he
wisely met with this double meaning aunswere of the Empe-
rours with a double meanyng replica agayne : for he promised
the Emperour to come, and at last in deede came so hastly and
so hotely as the Emperour could not abide the heat of his
breath : For when duke Maurice saw that all humble sutes, all
quiet meanes were spent in vayne, & had to beare him iust
witnes therin all ye Princes of Germany: First with close
pollicie, after open power both wittely and stoutly, he atchieued
more by force then he required by suite : For the Emperour
was glad to condiscend (which surely in an extreme aduersitie
was done like a wise Prince) without money, without artillery,
without defacyng of holdes, wlout receiuyng of pledges, to send
the Lansgraue home, honorably accopanied with (at the Empe-
rors charges) the nobilitie of Brabant & Flounders,
This last day I dined with the Ambassadour of Venice in
copany of many wise heades, where duke Maurice was greatly
praysed of some for his wit : of other for ye execution of his
purposes. Well sayth a lusty Italian Priest, I can not much
prayse his wit, which might haue had the Emperour in his
handes & would not. Loe such be these Machiauels heades,
who thincke no ma to haue so much wit as he should, except
of the state of Germanie. 1 67
he do more mischief then he neede. But Duke Maurice
purposing to do no harme to the Emperour, but good to his
father in law, obtainyng ye one pursued not the other. Yea I
know it to be most true whe we fled from Insburg so hastly,
Duke Maurice sent a post to ye good kyng of Romanes, & bad
him will the Emperor to make no such speede for he purposed
not to hurt his person : but to helpe his frend, whereupon the
Diet at Passo immediatly folowed.
I comend rather the iudgement of lohn Baptist Gascaldo, the
Emperours man and ye kyng of Romanes generall f0%n Bap-
m Hungary, who is not wont to say better, or tist Gas-
loue any ma more then he should specially Ger- caM°-
maines, & namely Protestantes. And yet this last winter he
wrote to the Emperour that he had marked Duke Maurice well
in all his doynges agaynst the Turke, and of all men that euer
he had sene, he had a head to forecast the best with pollicie and
wit, and a hart to set vppon it with courage and speed, & also
a discressio to stay most wisely vpon the very pricke of
aduauntage.
Marches Marignan told some in this Court foure yeares
ago that Duke Maurice should become the greatest enemy to
the Emperour that euer the Emperour had : which thing he
iudged (I beleue) not of any troublesome nature which he saw
in Duke Maurice, but of the great wronges that were done to
Duke Maurice, knowyng that he had both wit to perceiue them
quietly and also a courage not to beare them ouer long.
Some other in this court that loued not duke Maurice, &
hauyng no hurt to do him by power, went about to say him
some for spight & therfore wrote these two spightfull verses
agaynst him.
lugurtham Maurus prodit Mauricius vltra,
Henricum, Patruum, Socerum, cum Ceesare, Gallum.
He that gaue me this verse added thereunto this his iudge-
ment, well (sayth he) he that could finde in his hart to betray
his frend Duke Henry of Erum-wicke, his nigh kinsman Duke
Frederlcke, his father in law the Lansgraue, his soueraigne Lord
the Emperour, his confederate the French kyng, breakyng all
bondes of frendshyp, nature, law, obediece, and othe, shall
1 68 A disc ours and affaires
«-*y
besides all these, deceaue all men if at length he do not deceaue
hym selfe. This verse and this sentence, the one made of
spight, the other spoken of displeasure be here commended as
men be affectioned. For my part as I can not accuse him for
all : so will I not excuse him for part. And yet since I came
to this Court I should do him wrong if I did not
Duke Mau- Cofesse that which as wise heades as be in this
ill- r
Court haue mdged on him, euen those that for
countrey & Religion were not his frendes, that is, to haue
shewed him selfe in all these afFayres betwixt the Emperour and
him : first, humble in intreatyng, diligent in pursuyng, witty in
purposing, secret in workyng, fearce to foresee by open warre,
ready to parle for common peace, wise in choyse of conditions,
and iust in performyng of couenaunts.
And I know he offended the Emperour beyond all remedy
of amedes : So would I be loth to see as I haue once sene, his
Maiestie fall so agayne into any enemyes handes : leste perad-
uenture lesse gentlenes would be found in him then was found
in Duke Maurice, who when he was most able to hurt, was
most ready to hold hys had and that agaynst such an enemy, as
he knew well would neuer loue him, and should alwayes be of
most power to reuenge. If Duke Maurice had had a Machi-
auels head or a cowardes hart, he would haue worne a bloudyer
sword the he did, which he neuer drew out in all these sturres,
but once at ye Cluce & yl was to saue ye Emperors me.
Hetherto I haue followed the order of persons which hath
caused me somewhat to misorder both tyme & matter, yet where
diuers great affaires come together, a man shall write confusedly
for the matter, & vnpleasantly for ye reader, if he vse not such
an apt kinde of partitio as ye matter will best affourde, which
thyng {Plato sayth) who ca not do, knoweth not how to write.
Herein Herodotus deserueth in myne opinion a great deale more
prayse then Thucidides, although he wrote of a matter more
confused for places, time, and persons, then the other did.
In this point also Appianus Alexandrinus is very com-
mendable, and not by chaunce but by skil doth follow this order,
declaryng in his Prologue iust causes why he should do so.
Our writers in later tyme, both in Latin & other tounges
commonly confound to many matters together, and so write well
of no one. But see master Astley I thincking to be in some
of the state of Germame. 169
present talke with you, after our old wont do seeme to forget
both my selfe and my purpose.
For the rest that is behind I will vse a grose & homely kind
of talke with you : for I will now as it were cary you, out of
England with me, & will lead you the same way that I went
euen to the Emperours Court beyng at Augusta .an. 1550.
And I will let you see in what case it stode, and what thyngs
were in doyng when we came first thether. After I wil cary
you and that a pace, because the chiefest matters be throughly
touched in this my former booke, through the greatest affaires of
ij. yeares in this Court. Yet in order till we haue brought
Duke Maurice (as I promised you) to ioyne with Marches
Albert in besiegyng Augusta. And the because priuy practises
brast out into open sturres I might better marke thynges dayly
then I could before. And so we will depart with the Emperour
from Insburg, and see dayly what chaunces were wrought
by feare and hope in this Court till hys Maiestie left
the siege of Metz, and came downe hether to Bruxels :
where then all things were shut vp into secret practises
till lastly of all, they brake forth into new mis-
chiefes, betwixt the Emperour and Fraunce
in Picardy, & also betwixt Duke Maurice,
and the Marches in hyghe Germany
which thynges I trust some other
shall marke and describe a great
deale better then I am
hable to doe.
FINIS.
THE
SCHOLEMASTER
Or plaine and perfite way of tea-
chyng children^ to understand, write, and
speake, the Latin tong, but specially purposed
for the priuate brynging vp of youth in lentle-
men and Noble mens houses, and commodious
also for all such, as haue forgot the Latin
tonge, and would, by themselues, with-
out a Scholemaster, in short tyme,
and with small paines, recouer a
sufficient habilitie, to vnder-
stand, write, and
speake Latin.
II By Roger Ascham.
11 An. 1570.
LONDON.
Printed by lohn Daye, dwelling
ouer Aldersgate.
fl Cum Gratia & Priuilegio Regime Maiestatis,
per Decennium.
fl" To the honorable Sir William
Cecill Knight, principall Secretarie to
the Queries most excellent Maiestie.
SOndry and reasonable be the causes why learned men haue vsed
to offer and dedicate such workes as they put abrade, to some
such personage as they thinke fittest, either in respeft of abilitie of
defense, or skill for iugement, or priuate regard of kindenesse and
dutie. Euery one of those considerations, Syr, moue me of right to
offer this my late husbands M. Aschams worke vnto you. For
well remembryng how much all good learnyng oweth vnto you for
defense therof, as the Vniuersitie of Cambrige, of which my said
late husband was a member, haue in chasing you their worthy
Chaunceller acknowledged, and how happily you haue spent your
time in such studies & caried the vse therof to the right ende, to
the good seruice of the Quenes Maiestie and your contrey to all our
benefites, thyrdly how much my sayd husband was many wayes
bound vnto you, and how gladly and comfortably he vsed in hys lyfe
to recognise and report your goodnesse toward hym, leauyng with me
then hys poore widow and a great sort of orphanes a good comfort in
the hope of your good continuance, which I haue truly found to me
and myne, and therfore do duely and dayly pray for you and
yours : I could not finde any man for whose name this booke was
more agreable for hope [of] protection, more mete for submission to
judgement, nor more due for respeff of worthynesse of your part and
thankefulnesse of my husbandes and myne. Good I trust it shall do,
as I am put in great hope by many very well learned that can well
iudge therof. Mete therefore I compt it that such good as my
husband was able to doe and leaue to the common weale, it should
1 74 Preface.
be receiued vnder your name, and that the world should owe thanke
therof to you, to whom my husband the authour of it was for good
receyued of you, most dutiefully bounden. And so besechyng you, to
take on you the defense of this booke, to auaunce the good that may
come of it by your allowance and furtherance to publike vse and
benefite, and to accept the thankefull recognition of me and my poore
children, trustyng of the continuance of your good me-
morie of M. Ascham and his, and dayly commen-
dyng the prosperous estate of you and yours to
God whom you serue and whoes you
are, I rest to trouble you.
Your humble Margaret
Ascham.
A Preface to the
Reader.
WHen the great plage was at London, the yeare 1563.
the Quenes Maiestie Queene Elizabeth, lay at her
Castle of Windsore: Where, vpon the 10. day of December,
it fortuned, that in Sir William Cicells chamber, hir Highnesse
Principall Secretarie, there dined togither these personages,
M. Secretarie him selfe, Syr William Peter, Syr J. Mason,
D. Wotton, Syr Richard Sackuille Treasurer of the Exchecker,
Syr Walter Mildmaye Chauncellor of the Exchecker, M.
Haddon Master of Requestes, M. John Astely Master of the
lewell house, M. Bernard Hampton, M. Nicasius, and y.
Of which number, the most part were of hir Maiesties most
honourable priuie Counsell, and the reast seruing hir in verie
good place. I was glad than, and do reioice yet to remember,
that my chance was so happie, to be there that day, in the
companie of so manie wise & good men togither, as hardly
than could haue beene piked out againe, out of all England
beside.
M. Secretarie hath this accustomed maner, though his head
be neuer so full of most weightie affaires of the Realme, yet, at
diner time he doth seeme to lay them alwaies aside: and findeth
euer fitte occasion to taulke pleasantlie of other matters,
but most gladlie of some matter of learning: wherein, he will
curteslie heare the minde of the meanest at his Table.
Not long after our sitting doune, I haue strange newes
brought me, sayth M. Secretarie, this morning, that diuerse
Scholers of Eaton, be runne awaie from the
Schole, for feare of beating. Whereupon, M.
Secretarie tooke occasion, to wishe, that some
176 A Preface to the Reader.
more discretion were in many Scholemasters, in vsing correction,
than commonlie there is. Who many times, punishe rather,
the weakenes of natu re, than the fault of the Scholer . Whereby,
many Scholers, that might else proue well, be driuen to hate
learning, before they knowe, what learning meaneth: and so,
are made willing to forsake their booke, and be glad to be put
to any other kinde of liuing.
M. Peter, as one somewhat seuere of nature, said plainlie,
that the Rodde onelie, was the sworde, that must
keepe, the Schole in obedience, and the Scholer
M. Wotton. in good order. M. Wotton, a man milde of nature,
with soft voice, and fewe wordes, inclined to M. Secretaries
judgement, and said, in mine opinion, the Schole-
house should be in deede, as it is called by name,
the house of playe and pleasure, and not of feare
Plato de and bondage : and as I do remember, so saith
ReP- 7- Socrates in one place of Plato. And therefore,
if a Rodde carie the feare of a Sworde, it is no maruell, if those
that be fearefull of nature, chose rather to forsake the Plaie,
than to stand alwaies within the feare of a Sworde in a fonde
mans handling. M. Mason* after his maner, was
M. Mason. . to. , , , . , .. ' .
vene mene with both parties, pleasantlie playing,
both, with the shrewde touches of many courste boyes, and with
the small discretion of many leude Scholemasters. M. Haddon
was fullie of M. Peters opinion, and said, that
M. Haddon. , , 0 , , ' .
the best bcholemaster or our time, was the
greatest beater, and named the Person. Though, quoth I, it
. was his good fortune, to send from his Schole,
The Author of , °17- . . . r , , c , , . '
this booke. vnto tne * niuersitie, one or the best ocholers in
deede of all our time, yet wise men do thinke,
that that came so to passe, rather, by the great towardnes of the
Scholer, than by the great beating of the Master: and whether
this be true or no, you your selfe are best witnes. I said
somewhat farder in the matter, how, and whie, yong children,
were soner allured by loue, than driuen by beating, to atteyne
good learning: wherein I was the bolder to say my minde,
bicause M. Secretarie curteslie prouoked me thereunto: or else,
in such a companie, and namelie in his praesence, my wonte is,
to be more willing, to vse mine eares, than to occupie my
tonge.
A Preface to the Reader. 177
Syr Walter Mildmaye, M. Astley, and the rest, said verie
litle: onelie Syr Rich. Sackuill, said nothing at all. After dinner
I went vp to read with the Queenes Maiestie. We red than
togither in the Greke tongue, as I well remember, Demost.
that noble Oration of Demosthenes against JEschines, ^pl ira-
for his false dealing in his Ambassage to king PairPe<rp-
Philip of Macedonie. Syr Rich. Sackuile came vp sone after: and
finding me in hir Maiesties priuie chamber, he gyr ^
tooke me by the hand, & carying me to a Sackuiles
windoe, said, M. Ascham^ I would not for a good communi-
deale of monie, haue bene, this daie, absent from the' Author
diner. Where, though I said nothing, yet I gaue of this
as good eare, and do consider as well the taulke, booke.
that passed, as any one did there. M. Secretarie said very
wisely, and most truely, that many yong wittes be driuen to
hate learninge, before they know what learninge is. I can be
food witnes to this my selfe : For a fond Scholemaster, before
was fullie fourtene yeare olde, draue me so, with feare of
beating, from all loue of learninge, as nowe, when I know, what
difference it is, to haue learninge, and to haue litle, or none at
all, I feele it my greatest greife, and finde it my greatest hurte,
that euer came to me, that it was my so ill chance, to light
vpon so lewde a Scholemaster. But seing it is but in vain, to
lament thiriges paste, and also wisdome to looke to thinges to
cum, surely, God willinge, if God lend me life, I will make
this my mishap, some occasion of good hap, to litle Robert
Sackuile my sonnes sonne. For whose bringinge vp, I would
gladlie, if it so please you, vse speciallie your good aduice. I
heare saie, you haue a sonne, moch of his age : we wil deale thus
togither. Point you out a Scholemaster, who by your order,
shall teache my sonne and yours, and for all the rest, I will
prouide, yea though they three do cost me a couple of hundred
poundes by yeare: and beside, you shall finde me as fast a
Frend to you and yours, as perchance any you haue. Which
promise, the worthie lentleman surelie kept with me, vntill his
dying daye.
We had than farther taulke togither, of bringing vp of
children : of the nature, of quicke, and hard wittes: /fhecheife*
of the right choice of a good witte : of Feare, and (pointes of
loue in teachinge children. We passed from
178 A Preface to the Reader.
children and came to yonge men, namely, lentlemen: we
taulked of their to moch libertie, to Hue as they lust : of their
letting louse to sone, to ouer moch experience of ill, contrarie to
the good order of many good olde common welthes of the
Persians and Grekes : of witte gathered, and good fortune
gotten, by some, onely by experience, without learning. And
lastlie, he required of me verie earnestlie, to shewe, what I
thought of the common goinge of Englishe men into Italic.
But, sayth he, bicause this place, and this tyme, will not suffer
so long taulke, as these good matters require, therefore^ pray
you, at my request, and at your leysure, put in some orcler of
writing, the cheife pointes of this our taulke, concerning the
right order of teachjnge^qd^ honestie of liuing, for the good
bringing vp of chiloren 3c yong men.] And surelie, beside
contentinge me, you shall both please and profit verie many
others. I made some excuse by lacke of habilitie, and weakenes
of bodie: well, sayth he, I am not now to learne, what you can
do. Our deare frende, good M. Goodricke^ whose Judgement I
could well beleue, did once for all, satisfye me fullie therein.
Againe, I heard you say, not long agoe, that you may thanke
Syr John Cheke, for all the learninge you haue : And I know
verie well my selfe, that you did teach the Quene. And
therefore seing God did so blesse you, to make you the Scholer
of the best Master, and also the Scholemaster of the best
Scholer, that euer were in our tyme, surelie, you should please
God, benefite your countrie, & honest your owne name, if you
would take the paines, to impart to others, what you learned
of soch a Master, and how ye taught such a scholer. And, in
vttering the stuffe ye receiued of the one, in declaring the
order ye tooke with the other, ye shall neuer lacke, neither
matter, nor maner, what to write, nor how to write in this
kinde of Argument.
I beginning some farther excuse, sodeinlie was called to
cum to the Queene. The night following, I slept litle, my
head was so full of this our former taulke, and I so mindefull,
somewhat to satisfie the honest request of so deare a frend,
1 thought to praepare some litle treatise for a New yeares gift
that Christmas. But, as it chanceth to busie builders, so, in
building thys my poore Scholehouse (the rather bicause the forme
of it is somewhat new, and differing from others) the worke
A Preface to the Reader. 179
rose dailie higher and wider, than I thought it would at the
beginninge.
And though it appeare now, and be in verie deede, but a
small cotage, poore for the stuffe, and rude for the workemanship,
yet in going forward, I found the site so good, as I was lothe to
giue it ouer, but the making so costlie, outreaching my habilitie,
as many tymes I wished, that some one of those three, my deare
frendes, with full pursses, Syr Tho. Smithe, M.
Haddon, or M. Watson, had had the doing of it. M_.\jfadd'd.
Yet, neuerthelesse, I my selfe, spending gladlie ( Watson.
that litle, that I gatte at home by good Syr lohn Syr 7.
Cheke, and that that I borrowed abroad of my j sttimrius.
frend Sturmius, beside somewhat that was left me Plato.
in Reuersion by my olde Masters, Plato, Aristotle, Aristotle.
and Cicero, I haue at last patched it vp, as I could,
and as you see. If the matter be meane, and meanly handled,
I pray you beare, both with me, and it: for neuer worke went
vp in worse wether, with mo lettes and stoppes, than this poore
Scholehouse of mine. Westminster Hall can beare some
witnesse, beside moch weakenes of bodie, but more trouble of
minde, by some such sores, as greue me to toche them my
selfe, and therefore I purpose not to open them to others.
And, in middes of outward iniuries, and inward cares, to
encrease them withall, good Syr Rich. Sackuile
dieth, that worthie lentleman: That earnest sackuill
fauorer and furtherer of Gods true Religion:
That faithfull Seruit<5r to his Prince and Countrie: A louer of
learning, & all learned men : Wise in all doinges : Curtesse to
all persons : shewing spite to none : doing good to many : and as
I well found, to me so fast a frend, as I neuer lost the like
before. Whan he was gone, my hart was dead. There was
not one, that woare a blacke gowne for him, who caried k
heuier hart for him, than I. Whan he was gone, I cast this
booke awaie : I could not looke vpon it, but with weping eyes,
in remembring him, who was the onelie setter on, to do it, and
would haue bene, not onelie a glad commender of it, but also
a sure and certaine comfort, to me and mine, for it. Almost
two yeares togither, this booke lay scattered, and neglected,
and had bene quite giuen ouer of me, if the goodnesse of one
had not giuen me some life and spirite againe. God, the
M 2
180 A Preface to the Reader.
mouer of goodnesse, prosper alwaies him & his, as he hath
many times comforted me and mine, and, I trust to God, shall
comfort more and more. Of whom, most iustlie I may saie,
and verie oft, and alwaies gladlie, I am wont to say, that
sweete verse of Sophocles, spoken by Oedipus to worthie Theseus.
Soph. m »^w [jap] a^oo Sia ae, KOVK a\\ov fipor&v.
Thys hope hath helped me to end this booke: which, if he
allowe, I shall thinke my labours well imployed, and shall not
moch aesteme the misliking of any others. And I trust, he
shall thinke the better of it, bicause he shall finde the best part
thereof, to cum out of his Schole, whom he, of all men loued
and liked best.
Yet some men, frendly enough of nature, but of small
iudgement in learninge, do thinke, I take to moch paines, and
Plato in spend to moch time, in settinge forth these
initio childrens affaires. But those good men were
w •ydf1|ffTi neuer brought vp in Socrates Schole, who saith
irepi &TOV plainlie, that no man goeth about a more godlie
Oeiortpov purpose, than he that is mindfull of the good
av BovXet- bringing vp, both of hys owne, and other mens
(WTO, 1> children.
irepi vat- Therfore, I trust, good and wise men, will
rfiv afrroO thinke well of this my doing. And of other, that
ical TUV ' thinke otherwise, I will thinke my selfe, they are
oticelwv. but men, to be pardoned for their follie, and
pitied for their ignoraunce.
In writing this booke, I haue had earnest respedte to three
speciall pointes, trothe of Religion, honestie in Huing, right order
in learning. In which three waies, I praie God, my poore
children may diligently waulke : for whose sake, as nature
moued, and reason required, and necessitie also somewhat
compelled, I was the willinger to taice these paines.
For, seing at my death, I am not like to icaue them any
great store of liuing, therefore in my life time, I thought good
to bequeath vnto the, in this litle booke, as in my Will and
Testament, the right waie to good learning: which if they
followe, with the feare of God, they shall verie well cum to
sufficiencie of liuinge.
I wishe also, with all my hart, that yong M. Rob. Sackuilley
A Preface to the Reader. 181
may take that fructe of this labor, that his worthie Grauntfather
purposed he should haue done : And if any other do take, either
proffet, or pleasure hereby, they haue cause to thanke M.
Robert Sackuille, for whom speciallie this my Scholemaster was
prouided.
And one thing I would haue the Reader consider in
readinge this booke, that bicause, no Scholemaster hath charge
of any childe, before he enter into hys Schole, therefore I
leauing all former care, of their good bringing vp, to wise and
good Parentes, as a matter not belonging to the Scholemaster,
I do appoynt thys my Scholemaster, than, and there to begin,
where his office and charge beginneth. Which charge lasteth
not long, but vntill the Scholer be made hable to go to the
Vniuersitie, to precede in Logike, Rhetoricke, and other kindes
of learning.
Yet if my Scholemaster, for loue he beareth to hys
Scholer, shall teach hym somewhat for hys furtherance,
and better Judgement in learning, that may serue
him seuen yeare after in the Vniuersitie, he
doth hys Scholer no more wrong, nor de-
serueth no worse name therby, than he
doth in London, who sellinge silke
or cloth vnto his frend, doth
giue hym better measure,
than either hys pro-
mise or bargaine
was.
Farewell in Christ.
The first boo\e for the youth.
AFter the childe hath learned perfitlie the eight partes of
speach, let him then learne the right ioyning togither of
substantiues with adiectiues, the nowne with the verbe, the
relatiue with the antecedent. And in learninge farther hys
Syntaxis, by mine aduice, he shall not vse the common order
in common scholes, for making of latines : wherby, the childe
commonlie learneth, first, an euill choice of wordes,
(and right choice of wordes, saith Ctesar, is the
foundation of eloquence) than, a wrong placing
of wordes : and lastlie, an ill framing of the sentence, with
a peruerse Judgement, both of wordes and sentences. These
Maki of faultes, taking once roote in yougthe, be neuer, or
Lattines hardlie, pluckt away in age. Moreouer, there is
marreth no one thing, that hath more, either dulled the
wittes, or taken awaye the will of children from
learning, then the care they haue, to satisfie their masters, in
making of latines.
For, the scholer, is commonlie beat for the making, whe
the master were more worthie to be beat for the mending, or
rather, marring of the same : The master many times, being
as ignorant as the childe, what to saie properlie and fitlie to the
matter.
Two scholemasters haue set forth in print, either of them
Herman. a booke, of soch kinde of latines, Horman and
Whitting- Whittington,
ton- A childe shall learne of the better of them,
that, which an other daie, if he be wise, and cum to Judgement,
he must be faine to vnlearne againe.
The first boo ke for the youth. 183
There is a waie, touched in the first booke of Cicero
De Oratore, which, wiselie brought into scholes,
truely taught, and costantly vsed, would not
onely take wholly away this butcherlie feare in making of
latines, but would also, with ease and pleasure, and in short
time, as I know by good experience, worke a true choice and
placing of wordes, a right ordering of sentences, an easie
vnderstandyng of the tonge, a readines to speake, a facultie to
write, a true iudgement, both of his owne, and other mens
doinges, what tonge so euer he doth vse.
The waie is this. After the three Concordances learned,
as I touched before, let the master read vnto hym the Epistles
of Cifero, gathered togither and chosen out by Sturmius, for
the capacitie of children.
First, let him teach the childe, cherefullie and plainlie, the
cause, and matter of the letter : then, let him
construe it into Englishe, so oft, as the childe may
easilie carie awaie the vnderstanding of it :
Lastlie, parse it ouer perfitlie. This done thus, let the childe,
by and by, both construe and parse it ouer againe : so, that it
may appeare, that the childe douteth in nothing, that his
master taught him before. After this, the childe must take
a paper booke, and sitting in some place, where no man shall
prompe him, by him self, let him translate into Englishe his
former lesson. Then shewing it to his master,
let the master take from him his latin booke, and Twc? pf~
i i i i -i j Per bokes.
pausing an houre, at the least, than let the childe
translate his owne Englishe into latin againe, in an other paper
booke. When the childe bringeth it, turned into latin, the
master must compare it with Tullies booke, and laie them both
togither : and where the childe doth well, either in chosing, or
true placing of Tullies wordes, let the master children
praise him, and saie here ye do well. For I learne by
assure you, there is no such whetstone, to pray86-
sharpen a good witte and encourage a will to learninge, as is
praise.
But if the childe misse, either in forgetting a worde, or in
chaunging a good with a worse, or misordering the sentence,
I would not haue the master, either froune, or chide with him,
if the childe haue done his diligence, and vsed no trewandship
1 84 *The first booke teachyng
therein. For I know by good experience, that a childe shall
take more profit of two fautes, ientlie warned of,
tnen °* ^oure tninges5 rightly hitt. For than, the
master shall haue good occasion to saie vnto him.
N. Tullie would haue vsed such a worde, not this : Tullie
would haue placed this word here, not there : would haue vsed
this case, this number, this person, this degree, this gender : he
would haue vsed this moode, this tens, this simple, rather than
this compound : this aduerbe here, not there : he would haue
ended the sentence with this verbe, not with that nowne or
participle, etc.
In these fewe lines, I haue wrapped vp, the most tedious
part of Grammer : and also the ground of almost all the Rewles,
that are so busilie taught by the Master, and so hardlie learned
by the Scholer, in all common Scholes : which after this sort,
the master shall teach without all error, and the scholer shall
learne without great paine : the master being led by so sure
a guide, and the scholer being brought into so plaine and easie
a waie. And therefore, we do not contemne Rewles, but we
gladlie teach Rewles : and teach them, more plainlie, sensiblie,
and orderlie, than they be commonlie taught in common
Scholes. For whan the Master shall compare Tullies booke
with his Scholers translation, let the Master, at the first,
lead and teach his Scholer, to ioyne the Rewles of his Grammer
booke, with the examples of his present lesson, vntill the
Scholer, by him selfe, be hable to fetch out of his Grammer,
euerie Rewle, for euerie Example : So, as the Grammer booke
be euer in the Scholers hand, and also vsed of him, as a
Dictionarie, for euerie present vse. This is a liuely and perfite
waie of teaching of Rewles : where the common waie, vsed in
common Scholes, to read the Grammer alone by it selfe, is
tedious for the Master, hard for the Scholer, colde and vn-
cumfortable for them bothe.
Let your Scholer be neuer afraide, to aske you any dout,
but vse discretlie the best allurements ye can, to encorage him
to the same : lest, his ouermoch fearinge of you, driue him
to seeke some misorderlie shifte : as, to seeke to be helped
by some other booke, or to be prompted by some other
Scholer, and so goe aboute to begile you moch, and him selfe
more.
the brynging vp of youth. 185
With this waie, of good vnderstanding the mater, plaine
construinge, diligent parsinge, dailie translatinge, cherefull
admonishinge, and heedefull amendinge of faultes : neuer
leauinge behinde iuste praise for well doinge, I would haue the
Scholer brought vp withall, till he had red, & translated ouer ye
first booke of Epistles chosen out by Sturmius, with a good
peece of a Comedie of Terence also.
All this while, by mine aduise, the childe shall vse to speake
no latine : For, as Cicero saith in like mater, with like wordes,
loquendo^ male loqui discunt. And, that excellent Lat;n
learned man, G. Budceus, in his Greeke Com- speakyng.
mentaries, sore complaineth, that whan he began G. Budaus.
to learne the latin tonge, vse of speaking latin at the table, and
elsewhere, vnaduisedlie, did bring him to soch an euill choice of
wordes, to soch a crooked framing of sentences, that no one
thing did hurt or hinder him more, all the daies of his life
afterward, both for redinesse in speaking, and also good Judge-
ment in writinge.
In very deede, if childre were brought vp, in soch a house,
or soch a Schole, where the latin tonge were properlie and
perfitlie spoken, as Tib. and Ca. Graccl were brought vp, in
their mother Cornelias house, surelie, than the dailie vse of
speaking, were the best and readiest waie, to learne the latin
tong. But, now, commonlie, in the best Scholes in England,
for wordes, right choice is smallie regarded, true proprietie
whollie neglected, confusion is brought in, barbariousnesse is
bred vp so in yong wittes, as afterward they be, not onelie
marde for speaking, but also corrupted in iudgement : as with
moch adoe, or neuer at all, they be brought to right frame
againe.
Yet all men couet to haue their children speake latin : and
so do I verie earnestlie too. We bothe, haue one purpose : we
agree in desire, we wish one end : but we differ somewhat in
order and waie, that leadeth rightlie to that end. Other would
haue them speake at all aduentures : and, so they be speakinge,
to speake, the Master careth not, the Scholer knoweth not,
what. This is, to seeme, and not to bee : except it be, to be
bolde without shame, rashe without skill, full of wordes without
witte. I wish to haue them speake sp, as it may well appeare,
that the braine doth gouerne the tonge, and that reason leadeth
i86
The first booke teachyng
Plato.
Horat.
forth the taulke. Socrates doctrine is true in Plato, and well
marked, and truely vttered by Horace in Arte
Poetica, that, where so euer knowledge doth accom-
panie the witte, there best vtterance doth alwaies
awaite vpon the tonge : For, goodvnderstanding must first be bred
M , . in the childe, which, being nurished with skill, and
tyng bree- vse of writing (as I will teach more largelie
deth ready hereafter) is the onelie waie to bring him to
speakyng. Judgement and readinesse in speakinge : and that
in farre shorter time (if he followe constantlie the trade of this
litle lesson) than he shall do, by common teachinge of the
comon scholes in England.
But, to go forward, as you perceiue, your scholer to goe
better and better on awaie, first, with vnderstanding his lesson
more quicklie, with parsing more readelie, with translating
more spedelie and perfitlie then he was wonte, after, giue him
longer lessons to translate : and withall, begin to teach him,
Th secod ^oth 'n nownesi & verbes, what is Proprium, and
degree and what is Translation, what Synonymum, what
order in Diuersum, which be Contraria, and which be
teachyng. mos(. notabie phases in all his lefture.
As:
(Rex Sepultus est
\ magnified.
I Cum illo prlncipe,
Proprium.
Translation. -| Sepulta est & gloria
\ et Salus Reipublicte.
Synonyma.
Diuersa.
Contrarla.
Phrases.
( Ensis, Gladius.
\ Laudare, pr a die are.
( Diligere, Amare.
\ Calere, Exardescere.
( Inlmicus^ Hostis.
Acer bum & lufluosum
helium.
Dulcls & Iceta
Pax.
( Dare verba.
\ abjicere obedientiam.
the brynging vp of youth. 187
Your scholer then, must haue the third paper booke : in
the which, after he hath done his double transla-
tion, let him write, after this sort foure of these
forenamed sixe, diligentlie marked out of euerie
lesson.
Propria.
Translata.
Quatuor.
Synonyma.
Diuersa.
Contraria.
Phrases.
Or else, three, or two, if there be no moe : and if there be
none of these at all in some lecture, yet not omitte the order,
but write these.
Diuersa nulla.
Contraria nulla. etc.
This diligent translating, ioyned with this heedefull
marking, in the foresaid Epistles, and afterwarde in some
plaine Oration of Tw///V, as, pro lege Manil : pro Archia Poeta^
or in those three ad C. Ctes : shall worke soch a right choise of
wordes, so streight a framing of sentences, soch a true Judge-
ment, both to write skilfullie, and speake wittlelie, as wise men
shall both praise, and maruell at.
If your scholer do misse sometimes, in marking rightlie
these foresaid sixe thinges, chide not hastelie : for that shall,
both dull his witte, and discorage his diligence :
but monish him gentelie : which shall make
him, both willing to amende, and glad to go
forward in loue and hope of learning.
I haue now wished, twise or thrise, this gentle nature,
to be in a Scholemaster : And, that I haue done so, neither by
chance, nor without some reason, I will now
declare at large, why, in mine opinion, loue is
fitter then feare, ientlenes better than beating, to
bring vp a childe rightlie in learninge.
With the common vse of teaching and beating in common
scholes of England, I will not greatlie contend :
which if I did, it were but a small grammaticall scholes"
controuersie, neither belonging to heresie nor
1 8 8 The first booke teachyng
treason, nor greatly touching God nor the Prince : although in
very deede, in the end, the good or ill bringing vp of children,
doth as much serue to the good or ill seruice, of God, our
Prince, and our whole countrie, as any one thing doth beside.
I do gladlie agree with all good Scholemasters in these
pointes : to haue children brought to good perfitnes in learning :
to all honestie in maners : to haue all fautes rightlie amended :
to haue euerie vice seuerelie corrected : but for the order and
waie that leadeth rightlie to these pointes, we somewhat differ.
Sharpe ^or commonlie, many scholemasters, some, as
Schole- I haue seen, moe, as I haue heard tell, be of so
masters. crooked a nature, as, when they meete with a
hard witted scholer, they rather breake him, than bowe him,
rather marre him, then mend him. For whan the scholemaster
is angrie with some other matter, then will he sonest faul to
beate his scholer : and though he him selfe should be punished
for his folie, yet must he beate some scholer for his pleasure :
though there be no cause for him to do so, nor yet fault in the
scholer to deserue so. These ye will say, be fond scholemasters,
and fewe they be, that be found to be soch. They be fond in
deede, but surelie ouermany soch be found euerie where. But
this will I say, that euen the wisest of your great
beaters, do as oft punishe nature, as they do
punished. . r . '
correcte faultes. Yea, many times, the better
nature, is sorer punished : For, if one, by quicknes of witte,
take his lesson readelie, an other, by hardnes of witte, taketh it
not so speedelie : the first is alwaies commended, the other is
commonlie punished : whan a wise scholemaster, should rather
discretelie consider the right disposition of both their natures,
and not so moch wey what either of them is able to do now,
Ouicke as wnat either of them is likelie to do hereafter,
wittes for For this I know, not onelie by reading of bookes
learnyng. Jn my studie, but also by experience of life,
abrode in the world, that those, which be commonlie the
wisest, the best learned, and best men also, when they be olde,
were neuer commonlie the quickest of witte, when they were
yonge. The causes why, amongest other, which be many, that
moue me thus to thinke, be these fewe, which I will recken.
Quicke wittes commonlie, be apte to take, vnapte to keepe :
soone hote and desirous of this and that : as colde and sone
the brynging vp of youth. 189
wery of the same againe : more quicke to enter spedelie, than
hable to pearse farre : euen like ouer sharpe tooles, whose edges
be verie soone turned. Soch wittes delite them selues in easie
and pleasant studies, and neuer passe farre, forward in hie and
hard sciences. And therfore the quickest wittes commonlie
may proue the best Poetes, but not the wisest Orators : readie
of tonge to speake boldlie, not deepe of iudgement, Q . ,
either for good counsell or wise writing. Also, wittes, for
for maners and life, quicke wittes commonlie, be, maners &
in desire, newfangle, in purpose, vnconstant, light lyfe<
to promise any thing, readie to forget euery thing: both benefite
and iniurie: and therby neither fast to frend, nor fearefull to foe:
inquisitiue of euery trifle, not secret in greatest affaires : bolde,
with any person : busie, in euery matter : sothing, soch as be
present : nipping any that is absent : of nature also, alwaies,
flattering their betters, enuying their equals, despising their
inferiors : and, by quicknes of witte, verie quicke and readie, to
like none so well as them selues.
Moreouer commonlie, men, very quicke of witte, be also,
verie light of conditions : and thereby, very readie of disposition,
to be caried ouer quicklie, by any light cumpanie, to any riot
and vnthriftines when they be yonge : and therfore seldome,
either honest of life, or riche in liuing, when they be olde.
For, quicke in witte, and light in maners, be, either seldome
troubled, or verie sone wery, in carying a verie heuie purse.
Quicke wittes also be, in most part of all their doinges, ouer-
quicke, hastie, rashe, headie, and brainsicke. These two last
wordes, Headie, and Brainsicke, be fitte and proper wordes,
rising naturallie of the matter, and tearmed aptlie by the
condition, of ouer moch quickenes of witte. In yougthe also
they be, readie scoffers, priuie mockers, and euer ouer light and
mery. In aige, sone testie, very waspishe, and alwaies ouer
miserable : and yet fewe of them cum to any great aige, by
reason of their misordered life when they were yong: but
a great deale fewer of them cum to shewe any great counten-
ance, or beare any great authoritie abrode in the world, but
either Hue obscurelie, men know not how, or dye obscurelie,
me marke not whan. They be like trees, that shewe forth,
faire blossoms & broad leaues in spring time, but bring out
small and not long lasting fruite in haruest time : and that
190 The first booke teachyng
onelie soch, as fall, and rotte, before they be ripe, and so, neuer,
or seldome, cum to any good at all. For this ye shall finde
most true by experience, that amongest a number of quicke
wittes in youthe, fewe be found, in the end, either verie
fortunate for them selues, or verie profitable to serue the common
wealth, but decay and vanish, men know not which way :
except a very fewe, to whom peraduenture blood and happie
parentage, may perchance purchace a long standing vpon the
stage. The which felicitie, because it commeth by others
procuring, not by their owne deseruinge, and stand by other
mens feete, and not by their own, what owtward brag so euer
is borne by them, is in deed, of it selfe, and in wise mens eyes,
of no great estimation.
Some wittes, moderate enough by nature, be many tymes
Som sci- marde by ouer moch studie and vse of some
ences hurt sciences, namelie, Musicke, Arithmetick, and
and mar' Geometric. Thies sciences, as they sharpen mens
mens ma- wittes ouer moch, so they change mens maners
ners. ouer SOre, if they be not moderatlie mingled, &
wiselie applied to som good vse of life. Marke all Mathe-
Mathe- maticall heades, which be onely and wholy bent
maticall to those sciences, how solitarie they be theselues,
how vnfit to liue with others, & how vnapte to
serue in the world. This is not onelie knowen now by common
experience, but vttered long before by wise mens Judgement
and sentence. Galene saith, moch Musick marreth
p " mens maners : and Plato hath a notable place of
the same thing in his bookes de Rep. well marked
also, and excellence translated by Tull'ie himself. Of this
matter, I wrote once more at large, xx. yeare a go, in my booke
of shoting : now I thought but to touch it, to proue, that ouer
moch quicknes of witte, either giuen by nature, or sharpened by
studie, doth not commonlie bring forth, eyther greatest learning,
best maners, or happiest life in the end.
Contrariewise, a witte in youth, that is not ouer dulle,
heauie, knottie and lumpishe, but hard, rough, and
Hard wits „. t cr- 77- • i_ u \-
in learning, though somwhat staffishe, as Tullte wisheth ottum,
quietum, non languidum : and negotium cum labore,
non cum periculo, such a witte I say, if it be, at the first well
handled by the mother, and rightlie smothed and wrought as it
the brynglng vp of youth. 191
should, not ouerwhartlie, and against the wood, by the schole-
master, both for learning, and hole course of liuing, proueth
alwaies the best. In woode and stone, not the softest, but
hardest, be alwaies aptest, for portrature, both fairest for pleasure,
and most durable for proffit. Hard wittes be hard to receiue,
but sure to keepe : painefull without werinesse, hedefull without
wauering, constant without newfanglenes : bearing heauie
thinges, thoughe not lightlie, yet willinglie : entring hard
thinges, though not easelie, yet depelie, and so cum to that
perfitnes of learning in the ende, that quicke wittes, seeme in
hope, but do not in deede, or else verie seldome, Hard wits
euer attaine vnto. Also, for maners and life, hard in maners
wittes commonlie, ar hardlie caried, either to and We'
desire euerie new thing, or else to meruell at euery strange
thinge : and therfore they be carefull and diligent in their own
matters, not curious and busey in other mens affaires : and so,
they becum wise them selues, and also ar counted honest by
others. They be graue, stedfast, silent of tong, secret of hart.
Not hastie in making, but constant in keping any promise.
Not rashe in vttering, but ware in considering euery matter :
and therby, not quicke in speaking, but deepe of Judgement,
whether they write, or giue counsell in all waightie affaires.
And theis be the me, that becum in the end, both most happie
for themselues, and alwaise best estemed abrode in the world.
I haue bene longer in describing, the nature, the good or ill
successe, of the quicke and hard witte, than perchance som will
thinke, this place and matter doth require. But The best
my purpose was hereby, plainlie to vtter, what wittes dri-
iniurie is offered to all learninge, & to the common lel'myn^
welthe also, first, by the fond father in chosing, to other li-
but chieflie by the lewd scholemaster in beating uyng-
and driuing away the best natures from learning. A childe
that is still, silent, constant, and somwhat hard of witte, is
either neuer chosen by the father to be made a scholer, or else,
when he commeth to the schole, he is smally regarded, little
looked vnto, he lacketh teaching, he lacketh coraging, he lacketh
all thinges, onelie he neuer lacketh beating, nor any word, that
may moue him to hate learninge, nor any deed that may driue
him from learning, to any other kinde of liuing.
And when this sadde natured, and hard witted child, is bette
192 The first booke teachyng
from his booke, and becummeth after eyther student of
the common lawe, or page in the Court, or
prouebest seruingman, or bound prentice to a merchant,
in euery or to som handiecrafte, he proueth in the ende,
kynde of wiser, happier and many tymes honester too, than
many of theis quick wittes do, by their ^arninge.
Learning is, both hindred and iniured to, by the ill choice
of them, that send yong scholers to the vniuersities. Of whom
must nedes cum all oure Diuines, Lawyers, and Physicions.
Thies yong scholers be chosen commonlie, as yong apples be
Th ill chosen by children, in a faire garden about S.
choice of lames tyde: a childe will chose a sweeting, because it
wittes for j$ presentlie faire and pleasant, and refuse a Runnet,
because it is than grene, hard, and sowre, whan the
one, if it be eaten, doth breed, both wormes and ill humors :
the other if it stand his tyme, be ordered and kepte as it should, is
holsom of it self, andhelpeth to the good disgestion of other meates :
Sweetinges, will receyue wormes, rotte, and dye on the tree, and
neuer or seldom cum to the gathering for good and lasting store.
For verie greafe of harte I will not applie the similitude :
but hereby, is plainlie seen, how learning is robbed of hir best
wittes, first by the greate beating, and after by the ill chosing
of scholers, to go to the vniuersities. Whereof cummeth
partelie, that lewde and spitefull prouerbe, sounding to the
greate hurte of learning, and shame of learned men, that, the
greatest Clerkes be not the wisest men.
And though I, in all this discourse, seem plainlie to prefer,
hard and roughe wittes, before quicke and light wittes, both for
learnyng and maners, yet am I not ignorant that som quicknes
of witte, is a singuler gifte of God, and so most rare emonges
men, and namelie such a witte, as is quicke without lightnes,
sharpe without brittlenes, desirous of good thinges without
newfanglenes, diliget in painfull thinges without werisomnes,
and constant in good will to do all thinges well, as I know was
in Syr lobn Cheke, and is in som, that yet Hue, in whome all
theis faire qualities of witte ar fullie mette togither.
But it is notable and trewe, that Socrates saith in Plato to
his frende Crito. That, that number of men is
Critone fewest, which far excede, either in good or ill, in
wisdom or folie, but the meane betwixt both, be
the brynging vp of youth.
'93
Verie
good, or
verie ill
men, be
fewest in
number.
the greatest number : which he proueth trewe in diuerse other
thinges : as in greyhoundes, emonges which fewe
are found, exceding greate, or exceding litle,
exceding swift, or exceding slowe : And therfore,
I speaking of quick and hard wittes, I ment, the
common number of quicke and hard wittes,
emonges the which, for the most parte, the hard
witte, proueth manie times, the better learned, wiser and
honester man : and therfore, do I the more lament, that soch
wittes commonlie be either kepte from learning, by fond fathers,
or bet from learning by lewde scholemasters.
And speaking thus moche of the wittes of children for
learning, the opportunitie of the place, and good-
nes of the matter might require to haue here
declared the most speciall notes of a good witte for
learning in a childe, after the maner and custume
of a good hbrsman, who is skilfull, to know, and
hable to tell others, how by certein sure signes, a
man may choise a coke, that is like to proue an
other day, excellent for the saddle. And it is
pitie, that commonlie, more care is had, yea and
that emonges verie wise men, to finde out rather a cunnynge
man for their horse, than a cunnyng man for their
children. They say nay in worde, but they do so
in deede. For, to the one, they will gladlie giue
a stipend of 200. Crounes by yeare, and loth
to offer to the other, 200. shillinges. God, that
sitteth in heauen laugheth their choice to skorne,
and rewardeth their liberalitie as it should : for he suffereth
them, to haue, tame, and well ordered horse, but
wilde and vnfortunate Children : and therfore in
the ende they finde more pleasure in their horse,
than comforte in their children.
But concerning the trewe notes of the best wittes for
learning in a childe, I will reporte, not myne own opinion, but
the very iudgement of him, that was counted the best teacher
and wisest man that learning maketh mention of,
and that is Socrates in Plato, who expresseth
orderlie thies seuen plaine notes to choise a good
witte in a child for learninge.
Horsemen
be wiser in
knowledge
of a good
Colte, than
scholema-
sters be, in
knowledge
of a good
witte.
A good Ri-
der better
rewarded
tha a good
Schole-
master.
Horse well
broken,
children ill
taught.
Plato in 7.
de Rep.
1 94 The first booke teachyng
good witte.
And bicause I write English, and to Englishemen, I will
plainlie declare in Englishe both, what thies wordes of Plato
meane, and how aptlie they be linked, and how orderlie they
folow one an other.
Is he, that is apte by goodnes of witte, and appliable by
readines of will, to learning, hauing all other
qualities of the minde and partes of the bodie,
that must an other day serue learning, not trobled,
magled, and halfed, but sounde, whole, full, & hable to do their
office : as, a tone, not stamering, or ouer hardlie
The long. . . > i 6 j i i P j j •
drawing forth wordes, but plaine, and redie to
The voice. deliuer the meaning of the minde : a voice, not
softe, weake, piping, womannishe, but audible,
Face. stronge, and manlike : a countenance, not werishe
Stature. and crabbed, but faire and cumlie : a personage,
not wretched and deformed, but taule and goodlie :
for surelie, a cumlie countenance, with a goodlie
stature, geueth credit to learning, and authoritie
with a cum- to the person : otherwise commonlie, either, open
lie perso- contempte, or priuie disfauour doth hurte, or
hinder, both person and learning. And, euen as
a faire stone requireth to be sette in the finest gold, with the
best workmanshyp, or else it leseth moch of the Grace and
price, euen so, excellencye in learning, and namely I)iuinitie,
ioyned with a cumlie personage, is a meruelous lewell in the
world. And how can a cumlie bodie be better employed,*
than to serue the fairest exercise of Goddes greatest gifte,
and that is learning. But commonlie, the fairest bodies,
ar bestowed on the foulest purposes. I would it were not so :
and with examples herein I will not medle : yet I wishe, that
the brynglng vp of youth. 195
those shold, both mynde it, & medle with it, which haue most
occasion to looke to it, as good and wise fathers shold do, and
greatest authoritie to amend it, as good & wise magistrates
ought to do : And yet I will not let, openlie to lament the
vnfortunate case of learning herein.
For, if a father haue foure sonnes, three faire and well
formed both mynde and bodie, the fourth,
wretched, lame, and deformed, his choice shalbe, creatures
to put the worst to learning, as one good enoughe commonlie
to becum a scholer. I haue spent the most parte set to lear~
of my life in the Vniuersitie, and therfore I can nyng'
beare good witnes that many fathers commonlie do thus: wherof,
I haue hard many wise, learned, and as good men as euer I knew,
make great, and oft complainte : a good horseman will choise
no soch colte, neither for his own, nor yet for his masters sadle.
And thus moch of the first note.
Good of memorie, a speciall parte of the first note
and a mere benefite of nature : yet it is so ,.
r * . n, 11- Memorie.
necessane ror learning, as Flato maketh it a
separate and perfite note of it selfe, and that so principall a note,
as without it, all other giftes of nature do small seruice to
learning. Afrattius* that olde Latine Poete maketh . . _ .
,, &. J ' r, . j • j Aul. Gel.
Memorie the mother or learning and wisedome,
saying thus.
Vsus me genuit, Mater peperlt memoria, and though it be the
mere gifte of nature, yet is memorie well preserued by vse, and
moch encreased by order, as our scholer must Three sure
learne an other day in the Vniuersitie : but in signes of a
a childe, a good memorie is well known, by three g°°<i me-
properties : that is, if it be, quicke in receyuing,
sure in keping, and redie in deliuering forthe againe.
3
Giuen to loue learning: for though a child haue all the
giftes of nature at wishe, and perfection of memorie at wil, yet
if he haue not a speciall loue to learning, he shall neuer attaine
to moch learning. And therfore Isocrates, one of the noblest
N 2
196 The first booke teachyng
scholemasters, that is in memorie of learning, who taught
Kinges and Princes, as Halicarnassteus writeth, and out of
whose schole, as Tullie saith, came forth, mo noble Capitanes,
mo wise Councelors, than did out of Epeius horse at Troie.
This I socrates, I say, did cause to be writte, at the entrie of his
schole, in golden letters, this golden sentence, e'ai/ 779 <f)i\ofj,a6r)<?,
e<rrj 7roXiyia#?79 which excellentlie said in Greeke, is thus rudelie
in Englishe, if thou louest learning, thou shalt attayne to moch
learning.
Is he, that hath a lust to labor, and a will to take paines.
For, if a childe haue all the benefites of nature, with perfection
of memorie, loue, like, & praise learning neuer so moch, yet
if he be not of him selfe painfull, he shall neuer attayne vnto it.
And yet where loue is present, labor is seldom absent, and
namelie in studie of learning, and matters of the mynde: and
therfore did hocrates rightlie iudge, that if his scholer were
<f>t\ofjia0rj<t he cared for no more. Aristotle^ variing from
hocrates in priuate affaires of life, but agreing with hocrates in
common iudgement of learning, for loue and labor in learning,
is of the same opinio, vttered in these wordes, in his Rhetorike
ad Theodeflen. Libertie kindleth loue: Loue
Theod ^ refuseth no labor: and labor obteyneth what so
euer it seeketh. And yet neuerthelesse, Goodnes
of nature may do little good : Perfection of memorieT may
serue to small vse: All loue may be employed in vayne: Any
labor may be sone graualed, if a man trust alwaies to his own
singuler witte, and will not be glad somtyme to heare, take
aduise, and learne of an other : And therfore doth Socrates
very notablie adde the fifte note.
5.
He, that is glad to heare and learne of an other. For
otherwise, he shall sticke with great troble, where he might
go easelie forwarde : and also catche hardlie a verie litle by his
owne toyle, whan he might gather quicklie a good deale, by an
nothers mans teaching. But now there be some, that haue
great loue to learning, good lust to labor, be willing to learne of
others, yet, either of a fonde shamefastnes, or else of a proud
the brynging vf> of youth. 197
folie, they dare not, or will not, go to learne of an nother: And
therfore doth Socrates wiselie adde the sixte note of a good witte
in a childe for learning, and that is.
6.
He, that is naturallie bold to aske any question, desirous to
searche out any doute, not ashamed to learne of the meanest,
not affraide to go to the greatest, vntill he be perfitelie taught,
and fullie satisfiede. The seuenth and last poynte is.
7.
He, that loueth to be praised for well doing, at his father,
or masters hand. A childe of this nature, will earnestlie loue
learnyng, gladlie labor for learning, willinglie learne of other,
boldlie aske any doute. And thus, by Socrates Judgement, a
good father, and a wise scholemaster, shold chose a childe to
make a scholer of, that hath by nature, the foresayd perfite
qualities, and cumlie furniture, both of mynde and bodie: hath
memorie, quicke to receyue, sure to keape, and readie to deliuer:
hath loue to learning: hath lust to labor: hath desire to learne
of others: hath boldnes to aske any questio : hath mynde holie
bent, to wynne praise by well doing.
The two firste poyntes be special! benefites of nature :
which neuerthelesse, be well preserued, and moch encreased by
good order. But as for the flue laste, loue, labor, gladnes to
learne of others, boldnes to aske doutes, and will to wynne
praise, be wonne and maintened by the onelie wisedome and
discretio of the scholemaster. Which fiue poyntes, whether a
scholemaster shall worke soner in a childe, by fearefull beating,
or curtese handling, you that be wise, iudge.
Yet some men, wise in deede, but in this matter, more by
seueritie of nature, tha any wisdome at all, do laugh at vs, when
we thus wishe and reason, that yong children should rather be
allured to learning by ientilnes and loue, than compelled to
learning, by beating and feare : They say, our reasons serue
onelie to breede forth talke, and passe a waie tyme, but we
neuer saw good scholemaster do so, nor neuer red of wise man
that thought so.
Yes forsothe: as wise as they be, either in other mens
opinion, or in their owne conceite, I will bring the contrarie
198 The first booke teachyng
Judgement of him, who, they them selues shall confesse, was as
wise as they are, or else they may be iustlie thought to haue
small witte at all : and that is Socrates, whose Judgement in
Plato is plainlie this in these wordes: which,
Plato m 7. bicause they be verie notable, I will recite them
de ReP- , >£\ >a \ * -x /
in his owne tong, ovoev //.acfy/ia fiera oouXaa?
%pr) ftavOdveiv: oi pev yap rov crai^aTO? TTOVOL ftia jrovov/Mevot,
%eipov ovSev TO <7w/Aa aTrepyd^ovrat, ; ^v^y Be, fiiaiov ovSev
ep/jiovov /j,d0r)fjui: in Englishe thus, No learning ought to be
learned with bondage: For, bodelie labors, wrought by compul-
sion, hurt not the bodie: but any learning learned by copulsion,
tarieth not log in the mynde : And why ? For what soeuer the
mynde doth learne vnwillinglie with feare, the same it doth
quicklie forget without care. And lest proude wittes, that loue
not to be contraryed, but haue lust to wrangle or trifle away
troth, will say, that Socrates meaneth not this of childrens
teaching, but of som other higher learnyng, heare, what
Socrates in the same place doth more plainlie say: fj,r) TOLVVV
ftla, u> apccrre, TOU9 TTaiSo.? fv rot? fiadijfjiaa'tv, aX,Xa
7rat£cH'Ta? T/>e</>e, that is to say, and therfore, my deare frend,
bring not vp your children in learning by compulsion and feare,
but by playing and pleasure. And you, that do read Plato, as
The right 7e shold, do well perceiue, that these be no
readyng of Questions asked by Socrates, as doutes, but they
Plato- be Sentences, first affirmed by Socrates, as mere
trothes, and after, giuen forth by Socrates, as right Rules, most
necessarie to be marked, and fitte to be folowed of all them,
that would haue children taughte, as they should. And in this
counsell, Judgement, and authoritie of Socrates I will repose
my selfe, vntill I meete with a man of the contrarie mynde,
whom I may iustlie take to be wiser, than I thinke Socrates
was. Fonde scholemasters, neither can vnder-
tlemen ^e stand, nor will folow this good counsell of Socrates,
wiselier but wise ryders, in their office, can and will do
taught to _ both : which is the onelie cause, that comonly,
mon'ry^ ° tne 7ong ientlemen of England, go so vnwillinglie
ders, than to schole, and run so fast to the stable : For in
to learne, verie deede fond scholemasters, by feare, do
Schole1-1 beate into the, the hatred of learning, and wise
masters. riders, by ientle allurements, do breed vp in
the brynging vp of youth. 199
them, the loue of riding. They finde feare, & bondage in
scholes, They feele libertie and freedome in stables: which
causeth them, vtterlie to abhore the one, and most gladlie to
haunt the other. And I do not write this, that in exhorting to
the one, I would dissuade yong ientlemen from the other: yea
I am sorie, with all my harte, that they be giuen no more to
riding, then they be: For, of all outward qualities,
• j c • • i • c L • ff Ryding.
to ride raire, is most cumelie for him selre, most
necessarie for his contrey, and the greater he is in blood, the
greater is his praise, the more he doth excede all other therein.
It was one of the three excellent praises, amongest the noble
ientlemen the old Percians, Alwaise to say troth, to ride faire,
and shote well : and so it was engrauen vpon Darius tumbe, as
Strabo beareth witnesse. Strabo. 15.
Darius the king, lieth buried here,
Who in riding and shoting had neuer peare.
But, to our purpose, yong men, by any meanes, leesing the
loue of learning, whan by tyme they cum to their owne rule,
they carie commonlie, from the schole with them, a perpetual!
hatred of their master, and a continuall contempt of learning.
If ten Ientlemen be asked, why they forget so sone in Court,
that which they were learning so long in schole, eight of them,
or let me be blamed, will laie the fault on their ill handling, by
their scholemasters.
Cuspinian doth report, that, that noble Emperor Maxi-
milian, would lament verie oft, his misfortune herein.
Yet, some will say, that children of nature, loue pastime,
and mislike learning: bicause, in their kinde, the Pastime.
one is easie and pleasant, the other hard and
werisom: which is an opinion not so trewe, as earnyng-
some men weene: For, the matter lieth not so much in the
disposition of them that be yong, as in the order & maner of
bringing vp, by them that be old, nor yet in the differece of
learnyng and pastime. For, beate a child, if he daunce not well,
& cherish him, though he learne not well, ye shall haue him,
vnwilling to go to daunce, & glad to go to his booke. Knocke
him alwaies, when he draweth his shaft ill, and fauor him
againe, though he faut at his booke, ye shall haue hym verie
loth to be in the field, and verie willing to be in the schole.
2OO The first booke teachyng
Yea, I saie more, and not of my selfe, but by the iudgemet of
those, from whom few wisemen will gladlie dissent, that if euer
the nature of man be giuen at any tyme, more than other, to
receiue goodnes, it is, in innocencie of yong yeares, before, that
experience of euill, haue taken roote in hym. For, the pure
cleane witte of a sweete yong babe, is like the newest wax,
most hable to receiue the best and fayrest printing: and like a
new bright siluer dishe neuer occupied, to receiue and kepe
cleane, anie good thyng that is put into it.
And thus, will in children, wiselie wrought withall, maie
easelie be won to be verie well willing to
learne. And witte in childre, by nature,
namelie memorie, the onelie keie and keper of
Will.
Witte. J
\ in Children.
all learning, is readiest to receiue, and surest to kepe anie maner
of thing, that is learned in yougth: This, lewde and learned, by
common experiece, know to be most trewe. For we remember
nothyng so well when we be olde, as those things which we
learned when we were yong: And this is not straunge, but
Yog yeares common in all natures workes. Euery man sees,
aptestfor (as I sayd before) new wax is best for printyng:
learnyng. new cia{C5 fittest for working : new shorne woll,
aptest for sone and surest dying : new fresh flesh, for good and
durable salting. And this similitude is not rude, nor borowed
of the larder house, but out of his scholehouse, of whom, the
wisest of England, neede not be ashamed to learne. Yong
Graftes grow not onelie sonest, but also fairest, and bring alwayes
forth the best and sweetest frute : yong whelpes learne easelie
to carie : yong Popingeis learne quicklie to speake : And so, to
be short, if in all other thinges, though they lacke reason, sens,
and life, the similitude of youth is fittest to all goodnesse,
surelie nature, in mankinde, is most beneficiall and effectuall in
this behalfe.
Therfore, if to the goodnes of nature, be ioyned the
wisedome of the teacher, in leading yong wittes into a right and
plaine waie of learnyng, surelie, children, kept vp in Gods feare,
and gouerned by his grace, maie most easelie be brought well to
serue God and contrey both by vertue and wisedome.
But if will, and witte, by farder age, be once allured fro
innocencie, delited in vaine sightes, filed with foull taulke,
crooked with wilfulnesse, hardned with stubburnesse, and let
the brynging vp of youth. 201
louse to disobedience, surelie it is hard with ientlenesse, but
vnpossible with seuere crueltie, to call them backe to good
frame againe. For, where the one, perchance maie bend it,
the other shall surelie breake it: and so in stead of some hope,
leaue an assured desperation, and shamelesse con-
tempt of all goodnesse, the fardest pointe in all ^paj' Cy
mischief, as Xenophon doth most trewlie and most
wittelie marke.
Therfore, to loue or to hate, to like or contemne, to plie
this waie or that waie to good or to bad, ye shall haue as ye vse
a child in his youth.
And one example, whether loue or feare doth worke more
in a child, for vertue and learning, I will gladlie report: which
maie be hard with some pleasure, and folowed with more profit.
Before I went into Germanie, I came to Brodegate in Leceter-
shire, to take my leaue of that noble Ladie lane
Grey^ to whom I was exceding moch beholdinge.
Hir parentes, the Duke and Duches, with all the
houshould, Gentlemen and Gentlewomen, were huntinge in the
Parke: I founde her, in her Chamber, readinge Phtedon Platonis
in Greeke, and that with as moch delite, as som ientleman wold
read a merie cale in Eocase. After salutation, and dewtie done,
with som other taulke, I asked hir, whie she wold leese soch
pastime in the Parke ? smiling she answered me : I wisse, all
their sporte in the Parke is but a shadoe to that pleasure, that I
find in Plato: Alas good folke, they neuer felt, what trewe
pleasure ment. And howe came you Madame, quoth I, to this
deepe knowledge of pleasure, and what did chieflie allure you
vnto it: seinge, not many women, but verie fewe men haue
atteined thereunto. I will tell you, quoth she, and tell you
a troth, which perchance ye will meruell at. One of the
greatest benefites, that euer God gaue me, is, that he sent me
so sharpe and seuere Parentes, and so ientle a scholemaster.
For whe I am in presence either of father or mother, whether
I speake, kepe silence, sit, stand, or go, eate, drinke, be merie,
or sad, be sowyng, plaiyng, dauncing, or doing anie thing els,
I must do it, as it were, in soch weight, mesure, and number,
euen so perfitelie, as God made the world, or else I am so
sharplie taunted, so cruellie threatened, yea presentlie some
tymes, with pinches, nippes, and bobbes, and other waies, which
2O2 The Jirst booke teachyng
I will not name, for the honor I beare them, so without
measure misordered, that I thinke my selfe in hell, till tyme
cum, that I must go to M. Elmer, who teacheth me so ientlie,
so pleasantlie, with soch faire allurementes to learning, that I
thinke all the tyme nothing, whiles I am with him. And
when I am called from him, I fall on weeping, because, what
soeuer I do els, but learning, is ful of grief, trouble, feare, and
whole misliking vnto me: And thus my booke, hath bene so
moch my pleasure, & bringeth dayly to me more pleasure &
more, that in respect of it, all other pleasures, in very deede, be
but trifles and troubles vnto me. I remember this talke gladly,
both bicause it is so worthy of memorie, & bicause also, it was
the last talke that euer I had, and the last tyme, that euer I
saw that noble and worthie Ladie.
I could be ouer long, both in shewinge iust causes, and in
recitinge trewe examples, why learning shold be taught, rather
by loue than feare. He that wold see a perfite discourse of it,
Sturmius ^et n'm reac^ tnat learned treatese, which my frende
de Inst. loan. Sturmius wrote de institutione Principis, to
Princ. the Duke of Cleues.
The godlie counsels of Salomon and lesus the sonne of
Qui par- Sirach, for sharpe kepinge in, and bridleinge of
cit virgse, youth, are ment rather, for fatherlie correction,
odit filiu. then masterlie beating, rather for maners, than for
learninge: for other places, than for scholes. For God forbid,
but all euill touches, wantonnes, lyinge, pickinge, slouthe, will,
stubburnnesse, and disobedience, shold be with sharpe chastise-
met, daily cut away.
This discipline was well knowen, and diligentlie vsed,
among the Grecians, and old Romanes, as doth appeare in
Aristophanes, Isocrates, and Plato, and also in the Comedies of
Plautus: where we see that children were vnder the rule of
three persones: Pr<eceptore, Peedagogo, Parente: the scholemaster
i. Schole- taught him learnyng with all ientlenes : the
master. Gouernour corrected his maners, with moch
i. Gouer- sharpenesse : The father, held the sterne of his
nour. whole obedience : And so, he that vsed to teache,
did not commolie vse to beate, but remitted that
ouer to an other mans charge. But what shall we saie, whan
now in our dayes, the scholemaster is vsed, both for Preceptor
the brynging vp of youth. 203
in learnyng, and Ptedagogus in maners. Surelie, I wold he
shold not cofound their offices, but discretelie vse the dewtie
of both so, that neither ill touches shold be left vnpunished, nor
ientlesse in teaching anie wise omitted. And he shall well do
both, if wiselie he do appointe diuersitie of tyme, & separate
place, for either purpose : vsing alwaise soch discrete modera-
tion, as the scholehouse should be counted a
sanctuarie against feare: and verie well learning, a T~[
common perdon for ill doing, if the fault, of it
selfe be not ouer heinous.
And thus the children, kept vp in Gods feare, and preserued
by his grace, finding paine in ill doing, and pleasure in well
studiyng, shold easelie be brought to honestie of life, and
perfitenes of learning, the onelie marke, that good and wise
fathers do wishe and labour, that their children, shold most
buselie, and carefullie shot at.
There is an other discommoditie, besides crueltie in schole-
masters in beating away the loue of learning from
childre, which hindreth learning and vertue, and Enland
good bringing vp of youth, and namelie yong brought vp
ientlemen, verie moch in England. This fault with to
is cleane contrary to the first. I wished before, bertie
to haue loue of learning bred vp in children :
I wishe as moch now, to haue yong men brought vp in good
order of liuing, and in some more seuere discipline, the
commonlie they be. We haue lacke in England of soch good
order, as the old noble Persians so carefullie vsed:
whose children, to the age of xxi. yeare, were Cyr'iPed
brought vp in learnyng, and exercises of labor,
and that in soch place, where they should, neither see that was
vncumlie, nor heare that was vnhonest. Yea, a yong ientlema
was neuer free, to go where he would, and do what he liste him
self, but vnder the kepe, and by the counsell, of some graue
gouernour, vntill he was, either maryed, or cald to beare some
office in the common wealth.
And see the great obedience, that was vsed in old tyme to
fathers and gouernours. No sonne, were he neuer so old of
yeares, neuer so great of birth, though he were a kynges sonne,
might not mary, but by his father and mothers also consent.
Cyrus the great, after he had conquered Babylon^ and subdewed
204 The Jirst booke teachyng
Riche king Crcesus with whole Asia minor, cummyng tryumph-
antlie home, his vncle Cyaxeris offered him his daughter to
wife. Cyrus thanked his vncle, and praised the maide, but for
manage he answered him with thies wise and sweete wordes, as
they be vttered by Xenophon* to KvaEdpn, TO
Xen. 8. Cy- / > - \ \ »* j s ~
rifted T6 'Veit'0<» €Traiv(o, Kdi rrjv Traiba, recu owpa'
(3ov\o/j,ai 8e, €(j)tj, (Tvv rfj TOV Trarpos yixapy
KOI [-777] r^9 fiqrpos ravrd aoi <Tvvaiv€<rai, &c., that is to say :
Vncle Cyaxeris, I commend the stocke, I like the maide, and
I allow well the dowrie, but (sayth he) by the counsel! and
consent of my father and mother, I will determine farther of
thies matters.
Strong Samson also in Scripture saw a maide that liked him,
but he spake not to hir, but went home to his father, and his
mother, and desired both father and mother to make the
manage for him. Doth this modestie, doth this obedience,
that was in great kyng Cyrus, and stoute Samson, remaine in
our yongmen at this daie ? no surelie : For we liue not
longer after them by tyme, than we liue farre different from
them by good order. Our tyme is so farre from that old
discipline and obedience, as now, not onelie yong ientlemen, but
euen verie girles dare without all feare, though not without
open shame, where they list, and how they list, marie them
selues in spite of father, mother, God, good order, and all.
The cause of this euill is, that youth is least looked vnto, when
they stand [in] most neede of good kepe and regard. It auail-
eth not, to see them well taught in yong yeares, and after wha
they cum to lust and youthfull dayes, to giue them licence to
liue as they lust them selues. For, if ye suffer the eye of a
yong lentleman, once to be entangled with vaine sightes, and
the eare to be corrupted with fond or filthie taulke, the mynde
shall quicklie fall seick, and sone vomet and cast vp, all the
holesome doctrine, that he receiued in childhoode, though he
were neuer so well brought vp before. And being ons inglutted
with vanitie, he will streight way loth all learning, and all good
counsell to the same. And the parentes for all their great cost
Great mes and charge, reape onelie in the end, the frute
sonnes of grief and care.
broueht This euill, is not common to poore men, as God
vp. will haue it, but proper to riche and great mens
the brynging vp of youth. 205
children, as they deserue it. In deede from seuen, to seuentene,
yong ientlemen commonlie be carefullie enough brought vp : But
from seuentene to seuen and twentie (the most dangerous tyme of
all a mans life, and most slipperie to stay well in) they haue
commonlie the reigne of all licens in their owne wise men
hand, and speciallie soch as do liue in the Court. fond fa-
And that which is most to be merueled at, thers-
commonlie, the wisest and also best men, be found the fondest
fathers in this behalfe. And if som good father wold seick
some remedie herein, yet the mother (if the house hold of our
Lady) had rather, yea, & will to, haue her sonne cunnyng &
bold, in making him to lyue trimlie when he is yong, than by
learning and trauell, to be able to serue his Prince and his
contrie, both wiselie in peace, and stoutelie in warre, whan he
is old.
The fault is in your selues, ye noble mens tonnes, and
therefore ye deserue the greater blame, that
commonlie, the meaner mens children, cum to messonnes
be, the wisest councellours, and greatest doers, come to
in the weightie affaires of this Realme. And great au-
why ? for God will haue it so, of his prouidence :
bicause ye will haue it no otherwise, by your negligence.
And God is a good God, & wisest in all his doinges, that
will place vertue, & displace vice, in those Nobilitie
kingdomes, where he doth gouerne. For he without
knoweth, that Nobilitie, without vertue and wisedome.
wisedome, is bloud in deede, but bloud trewelie, without bones
& sinewes : & so of it selfe, without the other, verie weeke to
beare the burden of weightie affaires.
The greatest shippe in deede commonlie carieth the greatest
burden, but yet alwayes with the greatest ieoperdie, not onelie
for the persons and goodes committed vnto it, Nobilitie
but euen for the shyppe it selfe, except it be with wise-
gouerned, with the greater wisdome. dome.
But Nobilitie, gouerned by learning and wisedome, is
in deede, most like a faire shippe,
hauyng tide and winde at will, vnder
the reule of a skilfull master : whan Nobilite with-
contrarie wise, a shippe, caried, yea
with the hiest tide & greatest winde,
Out wise-
206 The first booke teachyng
lacking a skilfull master, most commonlie, doth either, sinck it
selfe vpo sandes, or breake it selfe vpon rockes. And euen so,
how manie haue bene, either drowned in vaine
pleasure, or ouerwhelmed by stout wilfulnesse,
stoute wil- tne histories of England be able to affourde ouer
fulnes, two many examples vnto vs. Therfbre, ye great and
greatest noble mens children, if ye will haue rightrullie
enemies to , . j • • i • i_ , ...
Nobilitie. tnat Praise, and enioie surelie that place, which
your fathers haue, and elders had, and left vnto
you, ye must kepe it, as they gat it, and that is, by the onelie
waie, of vertue, wisedome, and worthinesse.
For wisedom, and vertue, there be manie faire examples in
this Court, for yong lentlemen to folow. But they be, like
faire markes in the feild, out of a mans reach, to far of, to shote
at well. The best and worthiest men, in deede, be somtimes
seen, but seldom taulked withall : A yong lentleman, may
somtime knele to their person, smallie vse their companie, for
their better instruction.
But yong lentlemen ar faine commonlie to do in the Court,
as yong Archers do in the feild : that is take soch markes, as be
111 compa- n'e tnem> although they be neuer so foule to
nie marreth shote at. I meene, they be driuen to kepe
youth, companie with the worste : and what force ill
companie hath, to corrupt good wittes, the wisest men know
best.
And not ill companie onelie, but the ill opinion also of the
most part, doth moch harme, and namelie of
iudgeth those, which shold be wise 'in the trewe de-
worst of the cyphring, of the good disposition of nature, of
best natures cumlinesse in Courtlie maners, and all right
in youth. j • r
doinges or men.
But error and phantasie, do commonlie occupie, the place
of troth and iudgement. For, if a yong ientleman, be demeure
and still of nature, they say, he is simple and lacketh witte : if
he be bashefull, and will soone blushe, they call him a babishe
and ill brought vp thyng, when Xenophon doth
r lpced preciselie note in Cyrus^ that his bashfulnes in
youth, was ye verie trewe signe of his vertue &
The Grace stoutnes after : If he be innocent and ignorant of
ill, they say, he is rude, and hath no grace, so
the brynging vp of youth. 207
vngraciouslie do som gracelesse men, misuse the faire and
godlie word GRACE.
But if ye would know, what grace they meene, go, and
looke, and learne emonges them, and ye shall see that it is :
First, to blush at nothing. And blushyng in youth, sayth
Aristotle is nothyng els, but feare to do ill : which feare beyng
once lustely fraid away from youth, the foloweth,
to dare do any mischief, to cotemne stoutly any Courte°f
goodnesse, to be busie in euery matter, to be
skilfull in euery thyng, to acknowledge no ignorance at all.
To do thus in Court, is couted of some, the chief and greatest
grace of all : and termed by the name of a
vertue, called Corage & boldnesse, whan Crassus Q"' 3> *
in Cicero teacheth the cleane contrarie, and that
most wittelie, saying thus : Audere, cum bonis
L • a -j. Boldnes
etiam rebus conmnaum, per seipsum est magnopere yea ;n a
fuglendum. Which is to say, to be bold, yea good mat-
in a good matter, is for it self, greatlie to be *er» not to.
1 , be praised.
exchewed.
Moreouer, where the swing goeth, there to follow, fawne,
flatter, laugh and lie lustelie at other mens liking. More
To face, stand formest, shoue backe : and to the Grace of
meaner man, or vnknowne in the Court, to Courte.
seeme somwhat solume, coye, big, and dangerous of looke,
taulk, and answere : To thinke well of him selfe, to be lustie
in contemning of others, to haue some trim grace in a priuie
mock. And in greater presens, to beare a braue looke : to be
warlike, though he neuer looked enimie in the face in warre :
yet som warlike signe must be vsed, either a slouinglie busking,
or an ouerstaring frounced hed, as though out of euerie heeres
toppe, should suddenlie start out a good big othe, when nede
requireth, yet praised be God, England hath at
this time, manie worthie Capitaines and good warre, best
souldiours, which be in deede, so honest of ofconditi-
behauiour, so cumlie of conditions, so milde of ons'
maners, as they may be examples of good order, to a good sort
of others, which neuer came in warre. But to retorne, where
I left : In place also, to be able to raise taulke, and make
discourse of euerie rishe : to haue a verie good . .
. . ... , r-r* , ° Falmistne.
will, to heare him selfe speake : 1 o be scene
208 The first booke teachyng
in Palmestrie, wherby to conueie to chast eares, som fond or
filthie taulke :
And, if som Smithfeild Ruffian take vp, som strange
going : som new mowing with the mouth : som wrinchyng
with the shoulder, som braue prouerbe : som fresh new othe,
that is not stale, but will rin round in the mouth : som new
disguised garment, or desperate hat, fond in facion, or gaurish
in colour, what soeuer it cost, how small soeuer his liuing be,
by what shift soeuer it be gotten, gotten must it be, and vsed
with the first, or els the grace of it, is stale and gone : som
part of this gracelesse grace, was discribed by me, in a little
rude verse long ago.
To laughe, to lie, to flatter, to face :
Foure waies in Court to win men grace.
If tbou be thrall to none of thiese,
Away good Peek goos, hens lohn Cheese :
Marke well my word, and marke their dede,
And thinke this verse part of thy Crede.
Would to God, this taulke were not trewe, and that som
mens doinges were not thus : I write not to hurte any, but to
proffit som : to accuse none, but to monish
111
Councell.
Copany.
soch, who, allured by ill counsell, and folowing
ill example, cotrarie to their good bringyng vp,
and against their owne good nature, yeld ouer-
moch to thies folies and faultes : I know many seruing men,
Seruinge °f goocl order, and well staide : And againe, I
men. heare saie, there be som seruing men do but ill
Terentius. seruice to their yong masters. Yea, rede Terence
Plautus. and Plaut. aduisedlie ouer, and ye shall finde in
those two wise writers, almost in euery commedie, no vn-
Serui cor- thriftie yong man, that is not brought there vnto,
ruptete by the sotle inticement of som lewd seruant.
iuuenum. And euen now in our dayes Get& and Dam,
Gnatos and manie bold bawdie Phormios to, be preasing in,
Multi Ge- to Prat^e on euerie stage, to medle in euerie
t<e pauci matter, whan honest Parmenos shall not be hard,
Parmeno- but beare small swing with their masters. Their
companie, their taulke, their ouer great experience
the brynging vp of youth. 209
in mischief, doth easelie corrupt the best natures, and best
brought vp wittes.
But I meruell the lesse, that thies misorders be emonges
som in the Court, for commonlie in the contrie Misorders
also euerie where, innocencie is gone : Bashful- in the coun-
nesse is banished : moch presumption in yougthe : trey*
small authoritie in aige : Reuerence is negledled : dewties be
confounded : and to be shorte, disobedience doth ouerflowe the
bankes of good order, almoste in euerie place, almoste in euerie
degree of man.
Meane men haue eies to see, and cause to lament, and
occasion to complaine of thies miseries : but other haue
authoritie to remedie them, and will do so to, whan God shall
think time fitte. For, all thies misorders, be Goddes iuste
plages, by his sufferance, brought iustelie vpon vs, for our
sinnes, which be infinite in nomber, and horrible in deede, but
namelie, for the greate abhominable sin of vn- Contempt
kindnesse : but what vnkindnesse ? euen such Of Gods
vnkindnesse as was in the lewes, in contemninge trewe Re-
Goddes voice, in shrinking fro his woorde, in 1glon-
wishing backe againe for /Egypt^ in committing aduoultrie and
hordom, not with the women, but with the doctrine of Babylon,
did bring all the plages, destructions, and Captiuities, that fell
so ofte and horriblie, vpon Israeli.
We haue cause also in England to beware of vnkindnesse,
who haue had, in so fewe yeares, the Candel of Goddes
worde, so oft lightned, so oft put out, and yet
will venture by our vnthankfulnesse in doctrine
and sinfull life, to leese againe, lighte, Candle,
Candlesticke and all.
God kepe vs in his feare, God grafte in vs the trewe
knowledge of his woorde, with a forward will to folowe it, and
so to bring forth the sweete fruites of it, & then shall he
preserue vs by his Grace, from all maner of terrible dayes.
The remedie of this, doth not stand onelie, publica
in making good common lawes for the hole Leges.
Realme, but also, (and perchance cheiflie) Domestica
in obseruing priuate discipline euerie man care- disdplina.
fullie in his own house : and namelie, if speciall Cognitio
regard be had to yougth : and that, not so moch, bom-
2 1 o The first booke teachyng
in teaching them what is good, as in keping them from that,
that is ill.
Therefore, if wise fathers, be not as well waare in weeding
from their Children ill thinges, and ill companie,
Ipwratto as tjley. were before, in graftinge in them
learninge, and prouiding for them good schole-
masters, what frute, they shall reape of all their coste & care,
common experience doth tell.
Here is the place, in yougthe is the time whan som
come ignorance is as necessarie, as moch knowledge,
ignorance, and not in matters of our dewtie towardes God,
as good as as som wilful wittes willinglie against their owne
knowledge, perniciouslie againste their owne
conscience, haue of late openlie taught. In deede S. Chryso-
storne, that noble and eloquent Doctor, in a
Fato°St sermon contra fatum, and the curious serchinge ot
natiuities, doth wiselie safe, that ignorance therein,
is better than knowledge: But to wring this sentence, to
wreste thereby out of mens handes, the knowledge of Goddes
doctrine, is without all reason, against common sence, contrarie
to the Judgement also of them, which be the discretest men, and
best learned, on their own side. I know, lulianus
luha. Apo- Apostata did so, but I neuer hard or red, that any
auncyent father of the primitiue chirch, either
thought or wrote so.
But this ignorance in yougthe, which I spake on, or rather
this simplicitie, or most trewlie, this innocencie,
is ^at, which the noble Persians^ as wise Xenophon
doth testifie, were so carefull, to breede vp their
yougth in. But Christian fathers commonlie do not so. And
I will tell you a tale, as moch to be misliked, as the Persians
example is to be folowed.
This last somer, I was in a lentlemans house : where
A childe ill a yong childe, somewhat past fower yeare olde,
brought cold in no wise frame his tonge, to saie, a litle
*?• shorte grace : and yet he could roundlie rap out,
so rrianie vgle othes, and those of the newest facion, as som
good man of fourescore yeare olde hath neuer hard named
.. p before : and that which was most detestable of
rentes. a^5 ms father and mother wold laughe at it. I
the brynging vp of youth. 2 1 1
moche doubte, what comforte, an other daie, this childe shall
bring vnto them. This Childe vsing moche the companie of
seruinge men, and geuing good eare to their taulke, did easelie
learne, which he shall hardlie forget, all daies of his life here-
after : So likewise, in the Courte, if a yong lentleman will
ventur him self into the companie of Ruffians, it is ouer greate
a ieopardie, lest, their facions, maners, thoughtes, taulke, and
deedes, will verie sone, be euer like. The confounding of
companies, breedeth confusion of good maners in compa-
both in the Courte, and euerie where else. nie-
And it maie be a great wonder, but a greater shame, to vs
Christian men, to vnderstand, what a heithen writer, Isocrates^
doth leaue in memorie of writing, concerning the
care, that the noble Citie of Athens had, to bring
vp their yougthe, in honest companie, and vertuous discipline,
whose taulke in Greke, is, to this effect, in Englishe.
" The Citie, was not more carefull, to see their Children
"well taughte, than to see their yong men well
" gouerned : which they brought to passe, not so v1 . at<
" much by common lawe, as by priuate discipline.
" For, they had more regard, that their yougthe, by good order
" shold not offend, than how, by lawe, they might be punished :
" And if offense were committed, there was, neither waie to
" hide it, neither hope of pardon for it. Good natures, were
" not so moche openlie praised as they were secretlie marked,
" and watchfullie regarded, lest they should lease the goodnes
"they had. Therefore in scholes of singing and dauncing, and
" other honest exercises, gouernours were appointed, more
" diligent to ouersee their good maners, than their masters were,
" to teach them anie learning. It was som shame to a yong
" man, to be scene in the open market : and if for businesse, he
" passed throughe it, he did it, with a meruelous modestie, and
" bashefull facion. To eate, or drinke in a Tauerne, was not
" onelie a shame, but also punishable, in a yong man. To
" contrarie, or to stand in termes with an old man, was more
" heinous, than in som place, to rebuke and scolde with his
"owne father: with manie other mo good orders, and faire
disciplines, which I referre to their reading, that haue lust
to looke vpon the description of such a worthie common
welthe.
O 2
212 'The first booke teachyng
And to know, what worthie frute, did spring of soch
Good sede worthie seade, I will tell yow the most meruell
worthie of all, and yet soch a trothe, as no man shall
frute- denie it, except such as be ignorant in knowledge
of the best stories.
Athens, by this discipline and good ordering of yougthe, did
breede vp, within the circute of that one Citie.
Athenes. • i • . /- i i i • i •
withm the compas or one hondred yeare, within
the memorie of one mans life, so manie notable Capitaines in
warre, for worthinesse, wisdome and learning, as be scarse
R matchable no not in the state of Rome, in the
compas of those seauen hondred yeares, whan it
florished moste.
And bicause, I will not onelie saie it, but also proue it, the
The noble names of them be these. Miltiades, Themistocles,
Capitaines Xantippus, Pericles, Cymon, Alcybiades, Thrasybulus,
of Athens. Conon, Iphicrates, Xenophon, Timotheus, Theopompus,
Demetrius, and diuers other mo : of which euerie one, maie
iustelie be spoken that worthie praise, which was geuen to
Scipio Africanus, who, Cicero douteth, whether he were, more
noble Capitaine in warre, or more eloquent and wise councelor
in peace. And if ye beleue not me, read dili-
ALmil. gentlie, /Emi/ius Probus in Latin, and Plutarche
Probus. in Greke, which two, had no cause either to
Plutarchus. flatter or lie vpon anie of those which I haue
recited.
And beside nobilitie in warre, for excellent and matchles
The lear- masters in all maner of learninge, in that one
ned of A- Citie, in memorie of one aige, were mo learned
men, and that in a maner altogether, than all
tyme doth remember, than all place doth affburde, than all other
tonges do conteine. And I do not meene of those Authors,
which, by iniurie of tyme, by negligence of men, by crueltie of
fier and sworde, be lost, but euen of those, which by Goddes
grace, are left yet vnto us : of which I thank God, euen my
poore studie lacketh not one. As, in Philosophic, Plato, Aris-
totle, Xenophon, Euclide and Theophrast : In eloquens and Ciuill
lawe, Demosthenes, jEschines, Lycurgus, Dinarchns, Demades,
Isocrates, Isaus, Lysias, Antisthenes, Andocides : In histories, He-
rodotus, Thucydides, Xenophon : and which we lacke, to our
the brynging vp of youth. 213
great losse, Theopompus and Eph\_orus] : In Poetrie, /Eschylus,
Sophocles, Euripides, Aristophanes, and somwhat of Menander,
Demosthenes sister sonne.
Now, let Italian, and Latin it self, Spanishe, French,
Douch, and Englishe bring forth their lerning,
and recite their Authors, Cicero onelie excepted, chfefly co'n-
and one or two moe in Latin, they be all patched teined in
cloutes and ragges, in comparison of faire wouen the Greke,
broade clothes. And trewelie, if there be any £ Lg! °
good in them, it is either lerned, borowed, or
stolne, from some one of those worthie wittes of Athens.
The remembrance of soch a common welthe, vsing soch
discipline and order for yougthe, and thereby bringing forth to
their praise, and leaning to vs for our example, such Capitaines
for warre, soch Councelors for peace, and matcheles masters,
for all kinde of learninge, is pleasant for me to recite, and not
irksum, I trust, for other to heare, except it be soch, as make
neither counte of vertue nor learninge.
And whether, there be anie soch or no, I can not well tell :
yet I heare saie, some yong lentlemen of oures, Contem-
count it their shame to be counted learned : and ners of
perchance, they count it their shame, to be learnyng.
counted honest also, for I heare saie, they medle as litle with the
one, as with the other. A meruelous case, that lentlemen
shold so be ashamed of good learning, and neuer a whit ashamed
of ill maners : soch do saie for them, that the
lentlemen of France do so: which is a lie, as of^F ranee
God will haue it. Langteus, and Bellteus that be
dead, & the noble Vidam of Chartres, that is aliue, and infinite
mo in France, which I heare tell of, proue this to be most false.
And though som, in France, which will nedes be lentlemen,
whether men will or no, and haue more ientleshipe in their hat,
than in their hed, be at deedlie feude, with both learning and
honestie, yet I beleue, if that noble Prince, king Francis the
first were aliue, they shold haue, neither place in Franciscus
his Courte, nor pension in his warres, if he had i. Nobilis.
knowledge of them. This opinion is not French,
but plaine Turckishe : from whens, some Frenche
fetche moe faultes, than this : which, I praie God, kepe out of
2 1 4 T'he first booke teachyng
England, and send also those of oures better mindes, which
bend them selues againste vertue and learninge, to the con-
tempte of God, dishonor of their contrie to the hurt of manie
others, and at length, to the greatest harme, and vtter destruction
of themselues.
Som other, hauing better nature, but lesse witte, (for ill
commonlie, haue ouer moch witte) do not vtterlie dispraise
Experience learning, but they saie, that without learning,
without common experience, knowledge of all facions, and
learnyng. haunting all companies, shall worke in yougthe,
both wisdome, and habilitie, to execute anie weightie affaire.
Surelie long experience doth proffet moch, but moste, and
almost onelie to him (if we meene honest affaires) that is dili-
gentlie before instructed with preceptes of well doinge. For
good precepts of learning, be the eyes of the minde, to looke
wiselie before a man, which waie to go right, and which not.
Learning teacheth more in one yeare than experience in
Lear twentie : And learning teacheth safelie. when
experience maketh mo miserable then wise. He
Expenece. hasardeth sore, that waxeth wise by experience.
An vnhappie Master he is, that is made cunning by manie
shippewrakes : A miserable merchant, that is neither riche or
wise, but after som bankroutes. It is costlie wisdom, that is
bought by experience. We know by experience it selfe, that it
is a meruelous paine, to finde oute but a short waie, by long
wandering. And surelie, he that wold proue wise by
experience, he maie be wittie in deede, but euen like a swift
runner, that runneth fast out of his waie, and vpon the night,
he knoweth not whither. And verilie they be fewest of
number, that be happie or wise by vnlearned experience. And
looke well vpon the former life of those fewe, whether your
example be old or yonge, who without learning haue gathered,
by long experience, a litle wisdom, and som happines : and
whan you do consider, what mischeife they haue committed,
what dangers they haue escaped (and yet xx. for one, do
perishe in the aduenture) than thinke well with your selfe,
whether ye wold, that your owne son, should cum to wisdom
and happines, by the waie of soch experience or no.
It is a notable tale, that old Syr Roger Chamloe^ sometime
the brynging vp of youth. 215
cheife Justice, wold tell of him selfe. When he was Auncient
in Inne of Courte, Certaine yong lentlemen
were brought before him, to be corrected for ~y,r &9*
P . . , r i i • -i Chamloe.
certame misorders : And one or the lustiest same :
Syr, we be yong ientlemen, and wisemen before vs, haue
prcmed all facions, and yet those haue done full well : this they
said, because it was well knowen, that Syr Roger had bene a
?ood feloe in his yougth. But he aunswered them verie wiselie.
n deede saith he, in yougthe, I was, as you ar now: and I
had twelue feloes like vnto my self, but not one of them came
to a good ende. And therfore, folow not my example in yougth,
but folow my councell in aige, if euer ye thinke to cum to this
place, or to thies yeares, that I am cum vnto, lesse ye meete
either with pouertie or Tiburn in the way.
Thus, experience of all facions in yougthe, beinge, in profe,
alwaise daungerous, in isshue, seldom lucklie, is
a waie, in deede, to ouermoch knowledge, yet
vsed commonlie of soch men, which be either caried by som
curious affection of mynde, or driuen by som hard necessitie of
life, to hasard the triall of ouer manie perilous aduentures.
Erasmus the honor of learning of all oure time, saide
wiselie that experience is the common schole- Erasmus.
house of foles, and ill men : Men, of witte and
honestie, be otherwise instructed. For there be, Experiece,
that kepe them out of fier, and yet was neuer ^^ ^f e"
burned: That beware of water, and yet was neuer Foles, and
nie drowninge : That hate harlottes, and was ill men.
neuer at the stewes: That abhorre falshode, and neuer brake
promis themselues.
But will ye see, a fit Similitude of this aduentured experience.
A Father, that doth let louse his son, to all experiences, is most
like a fond Hunter, that letteth slippe a whelpe to the hole
herde. Twentie to one, he shall fall vpon a rascall, and let
go the faire game. Men that hunt so, be either ignorant
persones, preuie stealers, or night walkers.
Learning therefore, ye wise fathers, and good bringing vp,
and not blinde & dangerous experience, is the next and readiest
waie, that must leede your Children, first, to wisdom, and than
to worthinesse, if euer ye purpose they shall cum there.
And to saie all in shorte, though I lacke Authoritie to giue
2 1 6 The jirst booke teachyng
counsell, yet I lacke not good will to wisshe, that the yougthe
How expe- in England, speciallie lentlemen, and namelie no-
rience may bilitie, shold be by good bringing vp, so grounded
pro in Judgement of learninge, so founded in loue of
honestie, as, whan they shold be called forthe to the execution
of great affaires, in seruice of their Prince and contrie, they
might be hable, to vse and to order, all experiences, were they
good were they bad, and that, according to the square, rule, and
line, of wisdom learning and vertue.
And, I do not meene, by all this my taulke, that yong
Dilieent lentlemen, should alwaies be poring on a booke,
learninge and by vsing good studies, shold lease honest
ought to be pleasure, and haunt no good pastime, I meene
JSSLT11 nothing lesse: For it is well knowne, that I both
pastimes, like and loue, and haue alwaies, and do yet still
namelie in a Vse, all exercises and pastimes, that be fitte for my
nature and habilitie. And beside naturall dispo-
sition, in iudgement also, I was neuer, either Stoick in doctrine,
or Anabaptist in Religion, to mislike a merie, pleasant, and
plaifull nature, if no outrage be committed, against lawe,
mesure, and good order.
Therefore, I wold wishe, that, beside some good time, fitlie
appointed, and constantlie kepte, to encrease by readinge, the
knowledge of the tonges and learning, yong ientlemen shold
Leamyng vse, and delite in all Courtelie exercises, and
ioyned with lentlemanlike pastimes. And good cause whie:
pastimes. por tne sejf same noble Citie of Athenes, iustlie
commended of me before, did wiselie and vpon great considera-
tion, appoint, the Muses, Apollo, and Pallas^ to be patrones of
,, learninge to their yougthe. For the Muses,
besides learning, were also Ladies of dauncinge,
Apollo. mirthe and ministrelsie: Apollo, was god of shooting,
p „ and Author of cunning playing vpo Instrumentes:
Pallas also was Laidie mistres in warres. Wher-
bie was nothing else ment, but that learninge shold be alwaise
mingled, with honest mirthe, and cumlie exercises : and that
warre also shold be gouerned by learning, and moderated by
wisdom, as did well appeare in those Capitaines of Athenes
named by me before, and also in Scipio & C<esary the two
Diamondes of Rome.
the brynging vp of youth. 217
And Pallas, was no more feared, in weering /Egida, tha she
was praised, for chosing Oliua: whereby shineth T
11 /• i • i-i ,". Learning
the glory of learning, which thus, was Gouernour rewleth
& Mistres, in the noble Citie of Atkenes, both of both warre
warre and peace. and peace.
Therefore, to ride cumlie : to run faire at the tilte or ring :
to plaie at all weapones: to shote faire in bow, or surelie in gon:
to vaut lustely : to runne : to leape : to wrestle :
to swimme: To daunce cumlie: to sing, and playe timesPthat
of instrumentes cunnyngly: to Hawke: to hunte: be fittefbr
to playe at tennes, & all pastimes generally, which Courtlie
, r. } , • , , V j • i 7 j lentleme.
be loyned with labor, vsed in open place, and on
the day light, conteining either some fitte exercise for warre, or
some pleasant pastime for peace, be not onelie cumlie and decent,
but also verie necessarie, for a Courtlie lentleman to vse.
But, of all kinde of pastimes, fitte for a lentleman, I will,
godwilling, in fitter place, more at large, declare fullie, in my
booke of the Cockpitte: which I do write, to
satisfie som, I trust, with som reason, that be itte
more curious, in marking other mens doinges, than
carefull in mendyng their owne faultes. And som also will
nedes busie them selues in merueling, and adding thereunto
vnfrendlie taulke, why I, a man of good yeares, and of no ill
place, I thanke God and my Prince, do make choise to spend
soch tyme in writyng of trifles, as the schole of shoting, the
Cockpitte, and this booke of the first Principles of Grammer,
rather, than to take some weightie matter in hand, either of
Religion, or Ciuill discipline.
Wise men I know, will well allow of my choise herein : and
as for such, who haue not witte of them selues, but must learne
of others, to iudge right of mens doynges, let them
j L ' • n TIT • L • a_T n _*: A booke of
read that wise roet Horace m his A rte Foetica, a loft titje)
who willeth wisemen to beware, of hie and loftie beareth the
Titles. For, great shippes, require costlie tack- brag of o-
i • j i c j j uergreat a
ling, and also afterward dangerous gouernment: pr0mise.
Small boates, be neither verie chargeable in
makyng, nor verie oft in great ieoperdie: and yet they cary
many tymes, as good and costlie ware, as greater vessels do.
A meane Argument, may easelie beare, the light burden of
a small faute, and haue alwaise at hand, a ready excuse for
2l8
The first booke teachyng
The right
choise, to
chose a fitte
Argument
to write
vpon.
ffor. in
Arte Poet.
Homers
wisdom in
choice of
his Argu-
ment.
ill handling: And, some praise it is, if it so chaunce, to be
better in deede, than a man dare venture to
seeme. A hye title, doth charge a man, with
the heauie burden, of to great a promise : and
therefore sayth Horace verie wittelie, that, that
Poete was a verie foole, that began hys booke,
with a goodlie verse in deede, but ouer proude
a promise.
Fortunam Priami cantabo & nob'ile helium,
And after, as wiselie.
Quanta reftius hie, qui nil molitur inepte. etc.
Meening Homer, who, within the compasse of a smal
Argument, of one harlot, and of one good wife,
did vtterso moch learning in all kinde of sciences,
as, by the iudgement of Quintilian, he deserueth
so hie a praise, that no man yet deserued to sit
in the second degree beneth him. And thus moch
out of my way, concerning my purpose in spending penne, and
paper, & tyme, vpo trifles, & namelie to aunswere some, that
haue neither witte nor learning, to do any thyng them selues,
neither will nor honestie, to say well of other.
To ioyne learnyng with cumlie exercises, Conto Baldescsr
Castiglione in his booke, Cortegiano, doth trimlie
teache : which booke, aduisedlie read, and dili-
gentlie folowed, but one yeare at home in
England, would do a yong ientleman more good,
I wisse, then three yeares trauell abrode spent in
Italic. And I meruell this booke, is no more read in the Court,
than it is, seyng it is so well translated into English by a worthie
Ientleman Syr Th. Hobbie, who was many wayes
^Hobbye we^ ^urn'sne(l wifh learnyng, and very expert in
knowledge of diuers tonges.
And beside good preceptes in bookes, in all kinde of tonges,
this Court also neuer lacked many faire examples, for yong
Examples ientlemen to folow : And surelie, one example,
better then is more valiable, both to good and ill, than xx.
preceptes. preceptes written in bookes : and so Plato, not in
one or two, but diuerse places, doth plainlie teach.
The Cor-
tegian, an
excellent
booke for a
ientleman.
D. Read-
man.
the brynging vp of youth. 219
If kyng Edward had liued a litle longer, his onely example
had breed soch a rase of worthie learned ientlemen,
as this Realme neuer yet did affourde. King Ed. 6.
And, in the second degree, two noble Primeroses of
Nobilitie, the yong Duke of Suffblke, and Lord Thg
H. Matreuers, were soch two examples to the Duke of8
Court for learnyng, as our tyme may rather wishe, Suffolke.
than looke for agayne. L. H. Mar-
At Cambrige also, in S. lohns Colledge, in treueri-
my tyme, I do know, that, not so much the good statutes, as two
Ientlemen, of worthie memorie Syr lohn Cheke,
and Doctour Readman, by their onely example
of excellency in learnyng, of godlynes in liuyng, of
diligecie in studying, of councell in exhorting, of good order in
all thyng, did breed vp, so many learned men, in
that one College of S. lohns, at one time, as I
beleue, the whole Vniuersitie of Louaine, in many
yeares, was neuer able to affourd.
Present examples of this present tyme, I list not to
touch : yet there is one example, for all the Ien-
tlemen of this Court to folow, that may well
. r , , . ... '
satishe them, or nothing will serue them, nor no
example moue them, to goodnes and learning.
It is your shame, (I speake to you all, you yong Ientlemen
of England) that one mayd should go beyond you all, in excel-
lencie of learnyng, and knowledge of diuers tonges. Pointe
forth six of the best giuen Ientlemen of this Court, and all they
together, shew not so much good will, spend not so much tyme,
bestow not so many houres, dayly orderly, & constantly, for the
increase of learning & knowledge, as doth the Queenes Maiestie
her selfe. Yea I beleue, that beside her perfit readines, in
Latin, Italian, French, & Spanish, she readeth here now at
Windsore more Greeke euery day, than some Prebendarie of
this Chirch doth read Latin in a whole weeke. And that
which is most praise worthie of all, within the walles of her
priuie chamber, she hath obteyned that excellencie of learnyng,
to vnderstand, speake, & write, both wittely with head, and
faire with hand, as scarse one or two rare wittes in both the
Vniuersities haue in many yeares reached vnto. Amongest
all the benefites yl God hath blessed me with all, next the
220 The Jirst booke teachyng
knowledge of Christes true Religion, I counte this the greatest,
that it pleased God to call me, to be one poore minister in
settyng forward these excellent giftes of learnyng in this most
excellent Prince. Whose onely example, if the rest of our
nobilitie would folow, than might England be,
pies haue" ^or learnyng and wisedome in nobilitie, a spectacle
more force, to all the world beside. But see the mishap of
then good men . The best examples haue neuer such forse
to moue to any goodnes, as the bad, vaine, light
and fond, haue to all ilnes.
And one example, though out of the compas of learning,
yet not out of the order of good maners, was notable in this
Courte, not fullie xxiiij. yeares a go, when all the actes of
Parlament, many good Proclamations, diuerse strait commaunde-
mentes, sore punishment openlie, speciall regarde priuatelie, cold
not do so moch to take away one misorder, as the example of
one big one of this Courte did, still to kepe vp the same: The
memorie whereof, doth yet remaine, in a common prouerbe of
Birching lane.
Take hede therfore, ye great ones in ye Court, yea though
Great men Xe ^e 7e greatest °f a^ ta^e hede, what ye do,
in Court, take hede how ye Hue. For as you great ones
by their vse to do, so all meane men loue to do. You be
makePor' m deed, makers or marrers, of all mens maners
marre, all within the Realme. For though God hath placed
other mens yow, to be cheife in making of lawes, to beare
greatest authoritie, to commaund all others : yet
God doth order, that all your lawes, all your authoritie, all your
commaundementes, do not halfe so moch with meane men, as
doth your example and maner of liuinge. And
Example^ fQT examp]e euen in the greatest matter, if yow
your selues do serue God gladlie and orderlie for
conscience sake, not coldlie, and somtyme for maner sake, you
carie all the Courte with yow, and the whole Realme beside,
earnestlie and orderlie to do the same. If yow do otherwise,
yow be the onelie authors, of all misorders in Religion, not
onelie to the Courte, but to all England beside. Infinite shall
be made cold in Religion by your example, that neuer were
hurt by reading of bookes.
And in meaner matters, if three or foure great ones in
the brynglng i)p of youth. 221
Courte, will nedes outrage in apparell, in huge hose, in mon-
strous hattes, in gaurishe colers, let the Prince Pro-
clame, make Lawes, order, punishe, commaunde E*amPle
• • T j j •!• iii 11 m apparell.
euene gate in London dailie to be watched, let all
good men beside do euerie where what they can, surelie the
misorder of apparell in mean men abrode, shall neuer be
amended, except the greatest in Courte will order and mend
them selues first. I know, som greate and good ones in Courte,
were authors, that honest Citizens of London, shoulde watche
at euerie gate, to take misordered persones in apparell. I know,
that honest Londoners did so : And I sawe, which I sawe than,
& reporte now with some greife, that som Courtlie men were
offended with these good men of London. And that, which
greued me most of all, I sawe the verie same tyme, for all theis
good orders, commaunded from the Courte and executed in
London, I sawe I say, cum out of London, euen Masters
vnto the presence of the Prince, a great rable of Vshers,'&
meane and light persons, in apparell, for matter, Scholers
against lawe, for making, against order, for facion, of fense-
namelie hose, so without all order, as he thought himselfe most
braue, that durst do most in breaking order and was most
monsterous in misorder. And for all the great commaunde-
mentes, that came out of the Courte, yet this bold misorder,
was winked at, and borne withall, in the Courte. I thought,
it was not well, that som great ones of the Court, durst declare
themselues offended, with good men of London, for doinge their
dewtie, & the good ones of the Courte, would not shew them-
selues offended, with ill men of London, for breaking good
order. I fownde thereby a sayinge of Socrates to be most trewe
that ill men be more hastie, than good men be forwarde, to
prosecute their purposes, euen as Christ himselfe saith, of the
Children of light and darknes.
Beside apparell, in all other thinges to, not so moch, good
lawes and strait commaundementes as the example and maner
of liuing of great men, doth carie all meane men euerie where,
to like, and loue, & do, as they do. For if but two or three
noble men in the Court, wold but beginne to Example
shoote, all yong lentlemen, the whole Court, all in shoo-
London, the whole Realme, wold straight waie tJrn8-
exercise shooting.
222 The first booke teachyng
What praise shold they wynne to themselues, what com-
moditie shold they bring to their contrey, that would thus
deserue to be pointed at : Beholde, there goeth, the author of
good order, the guide of good men. I cold say more, and yet
not ouermuch. But perchance, som will say, 1 haue stepte to
farre, out of my schole, into the common welthe, from teaching
,,r .... a yong scholer, to monishe Create and noble men:
Wntte not * T » . » ... , . .
for great yet A trust good and wise men will thinke and
me, but for iudge of me, that my minde was, not so moch,
S^A mens to be busie and bold with them, that be great
children. . . . '
now, as to gme trewe aduise to them, that may
be great hereafter. Who, if they do, as I wishe them to do,
how great so euer they be now, by blood and other mens
meanes, they shall becum a greate deale greater hereafter, by
learninge, vertue, and their owne desertes: which is trewe praise,
right worthines, and verie Nobilitie in deede. Yet, if som will
needes presse me, that I am to bold with great men, & stray to
. , _., ... farre from my matter, I will aunswere them with
Ad Philip. CD/- • j
0. raul, sine perc ontetionem, siue quocunc^ modo,
modb Christus prxdicetur, &c. euen so, whether in place, or out
of place, with my matter, or beside my matter, if I can hereby
either prouoke the good, or staye the ill, I shall thinke my
writing herein well imployed.
But, to cum downe, from greate men, and hier matters, to
my litle children, and poore scholehouse againe, I will, God
willing, go forwarde orderlie, as I purposed, to instructe
Children and yong men, both for learninge and maners.
Hitherto, I haue shewed, what harme, ouermoch feare
bringeth to children : and what hurte, ill companie, and ouer-
moch libertie breedeth in yougthe : meening thereby, that from
seauen yeare olde, to seauentene, loue is the best allurement to
learninge : from seauentene to seauen and twentie, that wise
men shold carefullie see the steppes of yougthe surelie staide by
good order, in that most slipperie tyme : and speciallie in the
Courte, a place most dangerous for yougthe to line in, without
great grace, good regarde, and diligent looking to.
Syr Richard Sackuile^ that worthy lentleman of worthy
Trauelyng memorie, as I sayd in the begynnynge, in the
into Ita- Queenes priuie Chamber at Windesore, after he
lie- had talked with me, for the right choice of a good
the brynglng vp of youth. 223
witte in a child for learnyng, and of the trewe difference betwixt
quicke and hard wittes, of alluring yong children by ientlenes
to loue learnyng, and of the speciall care that was to be had, to
keepe yong men from licencious liuyng, he was most earnest
with me, to haue me say my mynde also, what I thought,
concernyng the fansie that many yong lentlemen of England
haue to tfauell abroad, and namely to lead a long lyfe in Italic.
His request, both for his authoritie, and good will toward me,
was a sufficient commaundement vnto me, to satisfie his
pleasure, with vtteryng plainlie my opinion in that matter.
Syr quoth. I, I take goyng thither, and liuing there, for a yonge
ientleman, that doth not goe vnder the kepe and garde of such
a man, as both, by wisedome can, and authoritie dare rewle him,
to be meruelous dangerous. And whie I said so than, I will
declare at large now: which I said than priuatelie, and write
now openlie, not bicause I do contemne, either the knowledge
of strange and diuerse tonges, and namelie the
Italian tonge, which next the Greeke and Latin The Ita-
T 1-1 i i 1 11 i i lian tong.
tonge, 1 like and loue aboue all other : or else
bicause I do despise, the learning that is gotten, or the experi-
ence that is gathered in strange contries : or for any priuate
malice that beare to Italic : which contrie, and , ..
in it, namelie Rome, I haue alwayes speciallie
... i T i- j Roma,
honored : bicause, tyme was, whan Italic and
Rome, haue bene, to the greate good of vs that now Hue, the
best breeders and bringers vp, of the worthiest men, not onelie
for wise speakinge, but also for well doing, in all Ciuill affaires,
that euer was in the worlde. But now, that tyme is gone, and
though the place remayne, yet the olde and present maners, do
differ as farre, as blacke and white, as vertue and vice. Vertue
once made that contrie Mistres ouer all the worlde. Vice now
maketh that contrie slaue to them, that before, were glad to
serue it. All men seeth it : They themselues confesse it,
namelie soch, as be best and wisest amongest them. For sinne,
by lust and vanitie, hath and doth breed vp euery where,
common contept of Gods word, priuate contention in many
families, open factions in euery Citie : and so, makyng them
selues bonde, to vanitie and vice at home, they are content to
beare the yoke of seruyng straungers abroad. Italic now, is not
that Itality that it was wont to be : and therfore now, not so
224 ^2e first kooke teachyng
fitte a place, as some do counte it, for yong men to fetch either
wisedome or honestie from thence. For surelie, they will make
other but bad Scholers, that be so ill Masters to them selues.
Yet, if a ientleman will nedes trauell into Italie, he shall do
well, to looke on the life, of the wisest traueler, that euer
traueled thether, set out by the wisest writer, that euer spake
with tong, Gods doctrine onelie excepted : and that is Ulysses in
Homere. Flysses, and his trauell, I wishe our
trauelers to looke vpon. not so much to feare
Homere. . , ,
them, with the great daungers, that he many
tymes suffered, as to instruct them, with his excellent wisedome,
which he alwayes and euerywhere vsed. Yea euen those, that
be learned and wittie trauelers, when they be disposed to prayse
traueling, as a great commendacion, and the best Scripture they
haue for it, they gladlie recite the third verse of Homere, in his
first booke of Odyssea, conteinyng a great prayse of Flysses, for
the witte he gathered, & wisedome he vsed in
oo vs. a. i • i-
his traueling.
Which verse, bicause, in mine opinion, it was not made at
the first, more naturallie in Greke by Homere, nor after turned
more aptelie into Latin by Horace, than it was a good while
ago, in Cambrige, translated into English, both plainlie for the
sense, and roundlie for the verse, by one of the best Scholers,
that euer S. Johns Colledge bred, M. Watson, myne old frend,
somtime Bishop of Lincolne, therfore, for their sake, that haue
lust to see, how our English tong, in auoidyng barbarous
ryming, may as well receiue, right quantitie of sillables, and
trewe order of versifiyng (of which matter more at large here-
after) as either Greke or Latin, if a cunning man haue it in
handling, I will set forth that one verse in all three tonges, for
an Example to good wittes, that shall delite in like learned
exercise.
f^ommis.
TTO\\(M)V 8' dvdptoTrcov i8ev aarea Kal voov eyvto,
i mores hominum multorum vidit y vrbes.
All trauellers do gladly report great prayse of flysses,
For that he knew many mens maners, and saw many Cities.
the brynging vp of youth. 225
And yet is not Ulysses commended, so much, nor so oft, in
Homere, bicause he was 7ro\vrpo7ro<f, that is,
Vlyu.
(iro\ij/jn)Tit.
Pallas from
heauen.
skilfull in many mes manners and facions, as
bicause he was TTO\V pyres, that is, wise in all
purposes, & ware in all places : which wisedome and warenes
will not serue neither a traueler, except Pallas be
alwayes at his elbow, that is Gods speciall grace
from heauen, to kepe him in Gods feare, in all
his doynges, in all his ieorneye. For, he shall not alwayes
in his absence out of England, light vpon a
ientle Alcynous^ and walke in his faire gardens
full of all harmelesse pleasures : but he shall
sometymes, fall, either into the handes of some
cruell Cyclops, or into the lappe of some wanton
and dalying Dame Calypso : and so suffer the
danger of many a deadlie Denne, not so full of
perils, to distroy the body, as, full of vayne
pleasures, to poyson the mynde. Some Siren
shall sing him a song, sweete in tune, but
sownding in the ende, to his vtter destruction.
If Scylla drowne him not, Carybdis may fortune
swalow hym. Some Circes shall make him, of
a plaine English man, a right Italian. And at
length to hell, or to some hellish place, is he likelie to go : from
whence is hard returning, although one f/ysses, and that by
Pallas ayde, and good cousell of Tiresias once .. x
escaped that horrible Den of deadly darkenes.
Therfore, if wise men will nedes send their sonnes into
Ita/ie, let them do it wiselie, vnder the kepe and garde of him,
who, by his wisedome and honestie, by his example and
authoritie, may be hable to kepe them safe and sound, in the
feare of God, in Christes trewe Religion, in good order and
honestie of liuyng : except they will haue them run headling,
into ouermany ieoperdies, as Ulysses had done many tymes, if
Pal/as had not alwayes gouerned him : if he had not vsed, to
stop his eares with waxe : to bind him selfe to 45 M>
the mast of his shyp : to feede dayly, vpon that 65. K.
swete herbe Moly with the blake roote and Moly Her-
white floore, giuen vnto hym by Mercuric, to ba>
auoide all the inchantmetes of Circes. Wherby, the Diuine
Alcynous.
65. i.
Cyclops.
68. i.
Calypso.
68. e.
Sirenes. N
Scylla. [
Caribdis.)
Circes.
6d.fi.
65. K.
226 T^he first booke teachyng
Poete Homer ment couertlie (as wise and Godly men do iudge)
that loue of honestie, and hatred of ill, which
Psfll. 3^.
Dau'id more plainly doth call the feare of God :
the onely remedie agaynst all inchantementes of sinne.
I know diuerse noble personages, and many worthie lentle-
men of England, whom all the Siren songes of Italic, could
neuer vntwyne from the maste of Gods word : nor no inchant-
ment of vanitie, ouerturne them, from the feare of God, and
loue of honestie.
But I know as many, or mo, and some, sometyme my
deare frendes, for whose sake I hate going into that coutrey the
more, who, partyng out of England feruent in the loue of
Christes doctrine, and well furnished with the feare of God,
returned out of Italic worse transformed, than euer was any in
Circes Court. I know diuerse, that went out of England, men
of innocent life, men of excellent learnyng, who returned out
of Italic, not onely with worse maners, but also with lesse
learnyng : neither so willing to liue orderly, nor yet so hable to
speake learnedlie, as they were at home, before they went
abroad. And why ? Plato, y1 wise writer, and worthy
traueler him selfe, telleth the cause why. He went into Sicilia,
a coutrey, no nigher Italy by site of place, tha Italic that is
now, is like Sicilia that was the, in all corrupt maners and
liceciousnes of life. Plato found in Sicilia, euery Citie full of
vanitie, full of factions, euen as Italic is now. And as Homere,
like a learned Poete, doth feyne, that Circes, by pleasant in-
chantmetes, did turne men into beastes, some into Swine, som
into Asses, some into Foxes, some into Wolues etc. euen so
Plat, ad Plato, like a wise Philosopher, doth plainelie
Dionys. declare, that pleasure, by licentious vanitie, that
Epist. 3. sweete and perilous poyson of all youth, doth
ingender in all those, that yeld vp themselues to her, foure
notorious properties.
"i. \ij0rjv
The fruits
of vayne
pleasure.
.4. vftpw.
The first, forgetfulnes of all good thinges learned before :
Causes tne second, dulnes to receyue either learnyng or
why men honestie euer after : the third, a mynde embracing
the brynging i)p of youth. 227
lightlie the worse opinion, and baren of discretion returne out
to make trewe difference betwixt good and ill, ? j ej.
betwixt troth, and vanitie, the fourth, a proude ned and
disdainfulnes of other good me, in all honest worse ma-
matters. Homere and Plato, haue both one nered-
meanyng, looke both to one end. For, if a ma %??er. and
i L- ir • L • • i • n i • Plato loy-
inglutte himself with vanitie, or waiter in hlthi- ned and ex-
nes like a Swyne, all learnyng, all goodnes, is pounded.
sone forgotten : Than, quicklie shall he becum A Swyne.
a dull Asse, to vnderstand either learnyng or An Asse.
honestie : and yet shall he be as sutle as a Foxe, A Foxe.
in breedyng of mischief, in bringyng in misorder,
with a busie head, a discoursing tog, and a factious harte, in
euery priuate affaire, in all matters of state, with this pretie
propertie, alwayes glad to commend the worse d^/xxn^i?,
partie, and euer ready to defend the falser Quid, et
opinio. And why ? For, where will is giue vn e'
from goodnes to vanitie, the mynde is sone caryed from right
iudgement, to any fond opinion, in Religion, in Philosophic, or
any other kynde of learning. The fourth fruite of vaine
pleasure, by Homer and Platos iudgement, is pride .
in them selues, contempt of others, the very
badge of all those that serue in Circes Court. The trewe
meenyng of both Homer and Plato, is plainlie declared in one
short sentence of the holy Prophet of God
Hieremie, crying out of the vaine & vicious life c£n
of the Israelites. This people (sayth he) be
fooles and dulhedes to all goodnes, but sotle, cunning and
bolde, in any mischiefe. &c.
The true medicine against the inchantmentes of Circes,
the vanitie of licencious pleasure, the inticementes of all sinne,
is, in Homere, the herbe Moly, with the blacke roote, and white
flooer, sower at the first, but sweete in the end: which,
Hesiodus termeth the study of vertue, hard and
irksome in the beginnyng, but in the end, easie 4^,.^.
and pleasant. And that, which is most to be
marueled at, the diuine Poete Homere sayth plainlie that this
medicine against sinne and vanitie, is not found Homerus,
out by man, but giuen and taught by God. And diuinus
for some one sake, that will haue delite to read Poeta.
P 2
228 'The first booke teachyng
that sweete and Godlie Verse, I will recite the very wordes of
Homere and also turne them into rude English metre.
Be T* opv(r<reiv
dv8pd<ri ye 0w)Toi<ri, deal 8e re irdvra Svvavrat.
In English thus.
No mortall ma, with sweat of browe, or toile of minde,
But onely God, who can do all, that herbe doth finde.
Plato also, that diuine Philosopher, hath many Godly
medicines agaynst the poyson of vayne pleasure, in many
places, but specially in his Epistles to Dionisius the tyrant of
Sici/ie : yet agaynst those, that will nedes becum
DiQt- M beastes, with seruyng of Circes, the Prophet
Psal *i Dauid, crieth most loude, Nolite fieri sicut equus et
mulus : and by and by giueth the right medi-
cine, the trewe herbe Moly, In camo & freno maxillas
eorum cons fringe, that is to say, let Gods grace be the bitte,
let Gods feare be the bridle, to stay them from runnyng head-
long into vice, and to turne them into the right way agayne.
Dauid in the second Psalme after, giueth the
same medicine, but in these plainer wordes,
Diuerte a malo, & fac bonum. But I am affraide, that ouer
many of our trauelers into Italie, do not exchewe the way to
Circes Court: but go, and ryde, and runne, and flie thether,
they make great hast to cum to her : they make great sute to
serue her : yea, I could point out some with my finger, that
neuer had gone out of England, but onelie to serue Circes, in
Italie. Vanitie and vice, and any licence to ill liuyng in
England was counted stale and rude vnto them. And so, beyng
Mules and Horses before they went, returned verie Swyne and
Asses home agayne : yet euerie where verie Foxes with suttle
and busie heades ; and where they may, verie
Pictured wolues, with cruell malicious hartes. A mer-
a knight of uelous monster, which, for filthines of liuyng, for
Circes dulnes to learning him selfe, for wilinesse in
dealing with others, for malice in hurting without
cause, should carie at once in one bodie, the belie of a Swyne,
the head of an Asse, the brayne of a Foxe, the wombe of
a wolfe. If you thinke, we iudge amisse, and write to sore
the brynging vp of youth.
229
The Ita-
lias iudge-
ment of
Englishme
brought vp
in Italic.
The Ita-
lian diffa-
meth him
selfe, to
shame the
Englishe
man.
against you, heare, what the Italian sayth of the English man,
what the master reporteth of the scholer : who
vttereth playnlie, what is taught by him, and what
learned by you, saying, Englese Italianato, e vn
dlabolo incarnato, that is to say, you remaine men
in shape and facion, but becum deuils in life
and condition. This is not, the opinion of one,
for some priuate spite, but the iudgement of all, in a common
Prouerbe, which riseth, of that learnyng, and those maners,
which you gather in Italic : a good Scholehouse
of wholesome doctrine : and worthy Masters of
commendable Scholers, where the Master had
rather diffame hym selfe for hys teachyng, than
not shame his Scholer for his learning. A good
nature of the maister, and faire conditions of the
scholers. And now chose you, you Italian English men,
whether you will be angrie with vs, for calling you monsters,
or with the Italianes, for callyng you deuils, or else with your
owne selues, that take so much paines, and go so farre, to make
your selues both. If some yet do not well vnder- An E
stand, what is an English man Italianated, I will lish man
plainlie tell him. He, that by liuing, & traueling Italiana-
in Italie, bringeth home into Englad out of Italle^
the Religion, the learning, the policie, the experiece, the maners
of Italle. That is to say, for Religion,
Papistrie or worse : for learnyng, lesse
commonly than they caried out with
them : for pollicie, a factious hart, a
discoursing head, a mynde to medle in The*(
all mens matters : for experience,
plentie of new mischieues neuer
knowne in England before : for maners,
varietie of vanities, and chaunge of
filthy lyuing. These be the inchantementes of Circes, brought
out of Italiey to marre mens maners in England : much, by
example of ill life, but more by preceptes of fonde
bookes, of late translated out of Italian into
English, sold in euery shop in London, com-
mended by honest titles the soner to corrupt
honest maners : dedicated ouer boldlie to vertuous and honor-
i Religion/
i Learn-
ing.
3 Pollicie.
^gotten in
\Italie.
4 Experi-
ence.
,5 Maners. i
Italian
bokes tras-
lated into
English.
230 The fir st booke teachyng
able personages, the easielier to begile simple and innocet wittes.
^_^ It is pitie, that those, which haue authoritie and
charge, to allow and dissalow bookes to be printed,
be no more circumspect herein, than they are. Ten Sermons
at Paules Crosse do not so moch good for mouyng me to trewe
doctrine, as one of those bookes do harme, with inticing men
to ill liuing. Yea, I say farder, those bookes, tend not so moch
to corrupt honest liuyng, as they do, to subuert trewe Religion.
Mo Papistes be made, by your mery bookes of Italic^ than by
your earnest bookes of Loualn. And bicause our great
rhisicians, do winke at the matter, and make no counte of this
sore, I, though not admitted one of their felowshyp, yet hauyng
bene many yeares a prentice to Gods trewe Religion, and trust
to continewe a poore iorney man therein all dayes of my life,
for the dewtie I owe, & loue I beare, both to trewe doctrine,
and honest liuing, though I haue no authoritie to amend the
sore my selfe, yet I will declare my good will, to discouer the
sore to others.
S. Paul saith, that sectes and ill opinions, be the workes of
. , „ the flesh, and frutes of sinne, this is spoken, no
more trewlie for the doctrine, than sensiblie for
the reason. And why ? For, ill doinges, breed ill thinkinges.
And of corrupted maners, spryng peruerted iudgementes. And
Voluntas) (Bonum. how ? there be in man two speciall
I Respicit J thinges : Mans will, mans mynde.
Mens ) (Verum. Where will inclineth to goodnes,
the mynde is bent to troth : Where will is caried from goodnes
to vanitie, the mynde is sone drawne from troth to false
opinion. And so, the readiest way to entangle the mynde with
false doctrine, is first to intice the will to wanton liuyng.
Therfore, when the busie and open Papistes abroad, could not,
by their contentious bookes, turne men in England fast enough,
from troth and right iudgement in doctrine, than the sutle and
^.^ secrete Papistes at home, procured bawdie bookes
to be translated out of the Italian tonge, whereby
ouer many yong willes and wittes allured to wantonnes, do now
boldly contemne all seuere bookes that sounde to honestie and
godlines. In our forefathers tyme, whan Papistrie, as a standyng
poole, couered and ouerflowed all England, fewe bookes were
read in our tong, sauyng certaine bookes of Cheualrie, as they
the brynging vfi of youth. 231
sayd, for pastime and pleasure, which, as some say, were made
in Monasteries, by idle Monkes, or wanton Chanons : as one
for example, Morte Arthure : the whole pleasure Morte Ar-
of which booke standeth in two speciall poyntes, thur.
in open mans slaughter, and bold bawdrye : In which booke
those be counted the noblest Knightes, that do kill most men
without any quarell, and commit fowlest aduoulteries by
sutlest shiftes : as Sir Launcelote, with the wife of king Arthure
his master: Syr Tristram with the wife of king Marke his
vncle : Syr Lamerocke with the wife of king Lote, **g**
that was his own aunte. This is good stuffe, for
wise men to laughe at, or honest men to take pleasure at. Yet
I know, when Gods Bible was banished the Court, and Morte
Arthure receiued into the Princes chamber. What toyes, the
dayly readyng of such a booke, may worke in the will of a yong
ientleman, or a yong mayde, that liueth welthelie and idlelie,
wise men can iudge, and honest me do pitie. And yet ten
Morte Arthures do not the tenth part so much harme, as one of
these bookes, made in Italie* and translated in „—„
* ^o^-~M
England. They open, not fond and common
wayes to vice, but such subtle, cunnyng, new, and diuerse
shiftes, to cary yong willes to vanitie, and yong wittes to
mischief, to teach old bawdes new schole poyntes, as the simple
head of an English man is not hable to inuent, nor neuer was
hard of in England before, yea when Papistrie ouerflowed all.
Suffer these bookes to be read, and they shall soone displace all
bookes of godly learnyng. For they, carying the will to
vanitie, and marryng good maners, shall easily .^^^^
corrupt the mynde with ill opinions, and false
iudgement in doctrine : first, to thinke ill of all trewe Religion,
and at last to thinke nothyng of God hym selfe, one speciall
pointe that is to be learned in Italie, and Italian «_..,_
bookes. And that which is most to be lamented,
and therfore more nedefull to be looked to, there be moe of
these vngratious bookes set out in Printe within these fewe
monethes, than haue bene sene in England many score yeare
before. And bicause our English men made Italians, can not
hurt, but certaine persons, and in certaine places, therfore these
Italian bookes are made English, to bryng mischief enough
232 The first booke teachyng
openly and boldly, to all states great and meane, yong and old,
euery where.
And thus yow see, how will intised to wantonnes, doth
easelie allure the mynde to false opinions: and how corrupt
maners in liuinge, breede false iudgement in doctrine: how sinne
and fleshlines, bring forth sectes and heresies: And therefore
suffer not vaine bookes to breede vanitie in mens willes, if yow
would haue Goddes trothe take roote in mens myndes.
That Italian, that first inuented the Italian Prouerbe
against our Englishe men Italianated, ment no more their
vanitie in liuing, than their lewd opinion in
lianpro- Religion. For, in calling them Deuiles, he carieth
uerbe ex- them cleane from God : and yet he carieth them
pounded. no far(jeri tnan they willinglie go themselues,
that is, where they may freely say their mindes, to the open
contempte of God and all godlines, both in liuing and doctrine.
And how? I will expresse how, not by a Fable of Homere,
nor by the Philosophic of Plato, but by a plaine troth of
Goddes word, sensiblie vttered by Dauid thus. Thies men,
abhominabiles fafti in studijs suis, thinke verily, and singe
gladlie the verse before, Dixit insipiens in Corde mo, non est
p Deus : that is to say, they geuing themselues vp to
vanitie, shakinge of the motions of Grace, driuing
from them the feare of God, and running headlong into all
sinne, first, lustelie contemne God, than scornefullie mocke his
worde, and also spitefullie hate and hurte all well willers
thereof. Than they haue in more reuerence, the triumphes of
Petrarche: than the Genesis of Moses: They make more
accounte of Tullies offices, than S. Paules epistles : of a tale in
Bocace, than a storie of the Bible. Than they counte as
Fables, the holie misteries of Christian Religion. They make
Christ and his Gospell, onelie serue Ciuill pollicie: Than
neyther Religion cummeth amisse to them: In tyme they be
Promoters of both openlie: in place againe mockers of both
priuilie, as I wrote once in a rude ryme.
Now new, now olde, now both, now neither,
To serue the worldes course, they care not with whether.
For where they dare, in cumpanie where they like, they
the brynging vp of youth. 233
boldlie laughe to scorne both protestant and Papist. They
care for no scripture: They make no coute of generall
councels : they contene the consent of the Chirch : They passe
for no Doctores: They mocke the Pope: They raile on Luther:
They allow neyther side : They like none, but onelie
themselues : The marke they shote at, the ende they looke for,
the heauen they desire, is onelie, their owne present pleasure,
and priuate proffit : whereby, they plainlie declare, of whose
schole, of what Religion they be : that is, Epicures in liuing,
and adeoi, in doctrine : this last worde, is no more vnknowne
now to plaine Englishe men, than the Person was vnknown
somtyme in England, vntill som Englishe man tooke peines, to
fetch that deuelish opinion out of Italic. Thies men, thus
Italianated abroad, can not abide our Godlie The Ita-
Italian Chirch at home : they be not of that lia Chirche
Parish, they be not of that felowshyp : they like in London-
not yl preacher: they heare not his sermons: Excepte som-
tymes for copanie, they cum thither, to heare the Italian tonge
naturally spoken, not to hear Gods doctrine trewly preached.
And yet, thies men, in matters of Diuinitie, openlie pretend
a great knowledge, and haue priuatelie to them selues, a verie
compendious vnderstanding of all, which neuertheles they will
vtter when and where they liste: And that is this: All the
misteries of Moses^ the whole lawe and Cerimonies, the
Psalmes and Prophetes, Christ and his Gospell, GOD and the
Deuill, Heauen and Hell, Faith, Conscience, Sinne, Death, and
all they shortlie wrap vp, they quickly expounde with this one
halfe verse of Horace.
Credat ludeeus Appella.
Yet though in Italic they may freely be of no Religion, as
they are in Englande in verie deede to, neuerthelesse returning
home into England they must countenance the profession of
the one or the other, howsoeuer inwardlie, they laugh to
scorne both. And though, for their priuate matters they can
follow, fawne, and flatter noble Personages, contrarie to them
in all respectes, yet commonlie they allie them- .
selues with the worst Papistes, to whom they be andhnple-
wedded, and do well agree togither in three tie agree in
proper opinions : In open contempte of Goddes three °Pini-
worde: in a secret securitie of sinne: and in
234 The first booke teachyng
a bloodie desire to haue all taken away, by sword or burning,
that be not of their faction. They that do
read, with indifferent iudgement, Pygius and
Machiaue- Macbiauel^ two indifferent Patriarches of thies
two Religions, do know full well that I say trewe.
Ye see, what manners and doctrine, our Englishe men fetch
out of Italic: For rinding no other there, they can bring no
Wise and other hither. And therefore, manie godlie and
honest tra- excellent learned Englishe men, not manie yeares
uelers. agO^ ^jj make a better choice, whan open crueltie
draue them out of this contrie, to place themselues there, where
Christes doctrine, the feare of God, punishment
Gcrmame. c . j j- • r ru u J •
of smne, and discipline or honestie, were had in
speciall regarde.
I was once in Italic my selfe: but I thanke God, my
abode there, was but ix. dayes: And yet I sawe
in that litle tyme, in one Citie, more libertie to
sinne, than euer I hard tell of in our noble Citie of London in
ix. yeare. I sawe, it was there, as free to sinne,
not onelie without all punishment, but also
without any mans marking, as it is free in the Citie of London,
to chose, without all blame, whether a man lust to weare Shoo
or pantocle. And good cause why: For being vnlike in troth
of Religion, they must nedes be vnlike in honestie of liuing.
Seruiceof ^or blessed be Christ, in our Citie of London,
God in commonlie the commandementes of God, be more
England. diligentlie taught, and the seruice of God more
reuerentlie vsed, and that daylie in many priuate mens houses,
Seruice of tnan tne7 ^e *n Itane once a weeke in their
God in I- common Chirches : where, masking Ceremonies,
to delite the eye, and vaine soundes, to please
the eare, do quite thrust out of the Chirches, all seruice of
The Lord ^o<^ m sP'rit an^ troth. Yea, the Lord Maior
Maiorof of London, being but a Ciuill officer, is corn-
London, monlie for his tyme, more diligent, in punishing
sinne, the bent enemie against God and good order, than all
The In- tne bloodie Inquisitors in Italic be in seauen yeare.
quisitors in For, their care and charge is, not to punish
sinne, not to amend manners, not to purge
doctrine, but onelie to watch and ouersee that Christes trewe
the brynging vp of youth. 235
Religion set no sure footing, where the Pope hath any
Jurisdiction. I learned, when I was at Venice, that there it is
counted good pollicie, when there be foure or flue
brethren of one familie, one, onelie to marie : & jtTpolHcfe
all the rest, to waulter, with as litle shame, in
open lecherie, as Swyne do here in the common myre. Yea,
there be as fayre houses of Religion, as great prouision, as
diligent officers, to kepe vp this misorder, as Bridewell is, and
all the Masters there, to kepe downe misorder. And therefore,
if the Pope himselfe, do not onelie graunt pardons to furder
thies wicked purposes abrode in Italic, but also (although this
present Pope, in the beginning, made som shewe of misliking
thereof) assigne both meede and merite to the maintenance of
stewes and brothelhouses at home in Rome, than let wise men
thinke Italic a safe place for holsom doctrine, and godlie
manners, and a fitte schole for yong ientlemen of England to
be brought vp in.
Our Italians bring home with them other faultes from
Italic, though not so great as this of Religion, yet a great deale
greater, tha many good men can well beare. For commonlie
they cum home, common contemners of manage
and readie persuaders of all other to the same :
not because they loue virginitie, nor yet because
they hate prettie yong virgines, but, being free in Italic, to go
whither so euer lust will cary them, they do not like, that lawe
and honestie should be soch a barre to their like libertie at
home in England. And yet they be, the greatest makers of
loue, the daylie daliers, with such pleasant wordes, with such
smilyng and secret countenances, with such signes, tokens,
wagers, purposed to be lost, before they were purposed to be
made, with bargaines of wearing colours, floures, and herbes,
to breede occasion of ofter meeting of him and her, and bolder
talking of this and that &c. And although I haue scene some,
innocent of all ill, and stayde in all honestie, that haue vsed
these thinges without all harme, without all suspicion of harme,
yet these knackes were brought first into England by them,
that learned the before in Italie in Circes Court: and how
Courtlie curtesses so euer they be counted now, yet, if the
meaning and maners of some that do vse them, were somewhat
236 The first booke teachyng
amended, it were no great hurt, neither to them selues, nor to
others.
An other propertie of this our English Italians is, to be
meruelous singular in all their matters : Singular in knowledge,
ignorant of nothyng: So singular in wisedome (in their owne
opinion) as scarse they counte the best Counsellor the Prince
hath, comparable with them : Common discoursers of all
matters: busie searchers of most secret affaires: open flatterers
of great men : priuie mislikers of good men : Faire speakers,
with smiling countenaces, and much curtessie openlie to all
men. Ready bakbiters, sore nippers, and spitefull reporters
priuilie of good men. And beyng brought vp in Italic, in some
free Citie, as all Cities be there: where a man may freelie
discourse against what he will, against whom he lust: against
any Prince, agaynst any gouernement, yea against God him
selfe, and his whole Religion : where he must be, either
Guelphe or Gibiline, either French or Spanish : and alwayes
compelled to be of some partie, of some faction, he shall neuer
be compelled to be of any Religion: And if he medle not ouer
much with Christes true Religion, he shall haue free libertie to
embrace all Religions, and becum, if he lust at once, without
any let or punishment, Jewish, Turkish, Papish, and Deuillish.
A yong lentleman, thus bred vp in this goodly schole, to
learne the next and readie way to sinne, to haue a busie head,
a factious hart, a talkatiue tonge, fed with discoursing of
factions: led to contemne God and his Religion, shall cum
home into England, but verie ill taught, either to be an honest
man him self, a quiet subiect to his rrince, or willyng to serue
God, vnder the obedience of trewe doctrine, or within the
order of honest liuing.
I know, none will be offended with this my generall
writing, but onelie such, as finde them selues giltie priuatelie
therin: who shall haue good leaue to be offended with me,
vntill they begin to amende them selues. I touch not them
that be good : and I say to litle of them that be nought. And
so, though not enough for their deseruing, yet sufficientlie for
this time, and more els when, if occasion so require.
And thus farre haue I wandred from my first purpose of
teaching a child, yet not altogether out of the way, bicause
the brynging vp of youth. 237
this whole taulke hath tended to the onelie aduauncement of
trothe in Religion, and honestie of liuing: and hath bene wholie
within the compasse of learning and good maners, the speciall
pointes belonging in the right bringyng vp of youth.
But to my matter, as I began, plainlie and simplie
with my yong Scholer, so will I not leaue him,
God willing, vntill I haue brought him a per-
fite Scholer out of the Schole, and placed
him in the Vniuersitie, to becum a fitte
student, for Logtcke and Rhetoricke:
and so after to Phisicke, Law, or
Diuinitie, as aptnes of na-
ture, aduise of frendes, and
Gods disposition shall
lead him.
'The ende of the first booke.
The second booke.
A^ter that your scholar, as I sayd before, shall cum in
deede, first, to a readie perfitnes in translating, than, to a
ripe and skilfull choice in markyng out hys sixe pointes, as,
1 . Proprium.
2. Translatum.
3. Synonymum.
4. Contrarium.
5. Diuersum.
6. Phrases.
Than take this order with him : Read dayly vnto him,
some booke of Tullie, as the third booke of
Epistles chosen out by Sturmius^ de Amicitia,
de Seneftute, or that excellent Epistle conteinyng almost the
whole first booke ad Q. fra\ some Comedie of
Terence or Plautus: but in Plautus, skilfull choice
must be vsed by the master, to traine his Scholler
to a iudgement, in cutting out perfitelie ouer old and vnproper
wordes : C<ss. Commentaries are to be read with
lul. Casar. ,, .... . ,, . , ,,
all cunositie, in specially without all exception to
be made, . either by frende or foe, is scene, the vnspotted
proprietie of the Latin tong, euen whan it was, as the Grecians
say, in aicp.f), that is, at the hiest pitch of all perfitenesse: or
some Orations of T. Liuius* such as be both longest
71 Liuius. . . .
and plainest.
These bookes, I would haue him read now, a good deale at
euery lecture : for he shall not now vse dalie translation, but
onely construe againe, and parse, where ye suspect, is any nede :
yet, let him not omitte in these bookes, his former exercise, in
Cicero.
Terentius.
Plautus,
'The ready 'way to the Latin tong. 239
marking diligently, and writyng orderlie out his six pointes.
And for translating, vse you your selfe, euery second or thyrd
day, to chose out, some Epistle ad Atticum, some notable
common place out of his Orations, or some other part of
Tulliey by your discretion, which your scholer may not know
where to hnde : and translate it you your selfe, into plaine
naturall English, and than giue it him to translate into Latin
againe : allowyng him good space and tyme to do it, both with
diligent heede, and good aduisement. Here his witte shalbe
new set on worke: his iudgement, for right choice, trewlie
tried: his memorie, for sure reteyning, better exercised, than
by learning, any thing without the booke: & here, how much
he hath proffited, shall plainly appeare. Whan he bringeth it
translated vnto you, bring you forth the place of Tullie: lay
them together : compare the one with the other : commend his
good choice, & right placing of wordes : Shew his faultes iently,
but blame them not ouer sharply : for, of such missings, ientlie
admonished of, proceedeth glad & good heed taking: of good
heed taking, springeth chiefly knowledge, which after, groweth
to perfitnesse, if this order, be diligentlie vsed by the scholer &
iently handled by the master: for here, shall all the hard
pointes of Gramer, both easely and surelie be learned vp:
which, scholers in common scholes, by making of Latines, be
groping at, with care & feare, & yet in many yeares, they
scarse can reach vnto them. I remember, whan I was yong,
in the North, they went to the Grammer schole, litle children :
they came from thence great lubbers: alwayes learning, and
litle profiting: learning without booke, euery thing, vnder-
stadyng within the booke, litle or nothing : Their whole
knowledge, by learning without the booke, was tied onely to
their tong & lips, and neuer asceded vp to the braine & head,
and therfore was sone spitte out of the mouth againe : They
were, as men, alwayes goyng, but euer out of the way: and
why ? For their whole labor, or rather great toyle without
order, was euen vaine idlenesse without proffit. In deed,
they tooke great paynes about learning: but employed small
labour in learning: Whan by this way prescribed in this
booke, being streight, plaine, & easie, the scholer is alwayes
laboring with pleasure, and euer going right on forward with
proffit: Alwayes laboring I say, for, or he haue costrued
240 The second booke teachyng
parced, twise traslated ouer by good aduisemet, marked out
his six pointes by skilfull Judgement, he shall haue necessarie
occasion, to read ouer euery lecture, a dosen tymes, at the
least. Which, bicause he shall do alwayes in order, he shall do
it alwayes with pleasure : And pleasure allureth loue : loue hath
lust to labor: labor alwayes obteineth his purpose, as most
trewly, both Aristotle in his Rhetoricke & Oedipus
Rhet. i -P^I/J i_ • ~ v> /
In Oedio Tvr m uopbocles do teach, saying, TTUV yap €KTTOVOV-
aevov aXia-tce. et cet. & this oft reading, is the
tpist. lib. 7. ...,.,. ... . _ ...
vene right folowing, or that good Counsel!, which
Plinie doth geue to his frende Fuscus, saying, Multum, non
multa. But to my purpose againe :
Whan, by this diligent and spedie reading ouer, those
forenamed good bokes of Tullie^ Terence, C&sar, and Liuie, and
by this second kinde of translating out of your English, tyme
shall breed skill, and vse shall bring perfection, than ye may
trie, if you will, your scholer, with the third kinde of translation:
although the two first wayes, by myne opinion, be, not onelie
sufficent of them selues, but also surer, both for the Masters
teaching, and scholers learnyng, than this third way is : Which
is thus. Write you in English, some letter, as it were from
him to his father, or to some other frende, naturallie, according
to the disposition of the child, or some tale, or fable, or plaine
narration, according as Aphthonius beginneth his exercises of
learning, and let him translate it into Latin againe, abiding in
soch place, where no other scholer may prompe him. But yet,
vse you your selfe soch discretion for choice therein, as the
matter may be within the compas, both for wordes and
sentences, of his former learning and reading. And now
take heede, lest your scholer do not better in some point, than
you your selfe, except ye haue bene diligentlie exercised in these
kindes of translating before :
I had once a profe hereof, tried by good experience, by
a deare frende of myne, whan I came first from Cambrige, to
serue the Queenes Maiestie, than Ladie Elizabeth, lying at
worthie Syr Ant. Denys in Cheston. John Whitneye^ a yong
ientleman, was my bedfeloe, who willyng by good nature and
prouoked by mine aduise, began to learne the Latin tong, after
the order declared in this booke. We began after Christmas :
I read vnto him Tullie de Amicitia, which he did euerie day
the ready way to the Latin tong. 241
twise translate, out of Latin into English, and out of English
into Latin agayne. About S. Laurence tyde after, to proue
how he proffited, I did chose out Torquatus taulke de Amicitia,
in the later end of the first booke de finib. bicause that place
was, the same in matter, like in wordes and- phrases, nigh to
the forme and facion of sentences, as he had learned before in
de Amicitia. I did translate it my selfe into plaine English,
and gaue it him to turne into Latin : Which he did, so choislie,
so orderlie, so without any great misse in the hardest pointes of
Grammer, that some, in seuen yeare in Grammer scholes, yea,
& some in the Vniuersities to, can not do halfe so well. This
worthie yong lentleman, to my greatest grief, to the great
lamentation of that whole house, and speciallie to that most
noble Ladie, now Queene Elizabeth her selfe, departed within
few dayes, out of this world.
And if in any cause, a man may without offence of God
speake somewhat vngodlie, surely, it was some grief vnto me,
to see him hie so hastlie to God, as he did. A Court, full of
soch yong lentlemen, were rather a Paradise than a Court vpon
earth. And though I had neuer Poeticall head, to make any
verse, in any tong, yet either loue, or sorow, or both, did wring
out of me than, certaine carefull thoughtes of my good will
towardes him, which in my murning for him, fell forth, more
by chance, than either by skill or vse, into this kinde of
misorderlie meter.
Myne owne lobn Whitney ', now farewell, now death doth parte vs
twaine,
No death, but partyngfor a while, whom life shall ioyne agayne.
Therfore my hart cease sighes and sobbes, cease sorowes seede to sow,
Wherof no gaine, but greater grief, and hurtfull care may grow.
Tet, whan I thinke vpon soch giftes of grace as God him lent,
My losse, his gaine, I must a while, with ioyfull teares lament.
Yong yeares to yelde soch frute in Court, where seede of vice is sowne,
Is sometime read, in some place seene, amogst vs seldom knowne.
His life he ledde, Christes lore to learne, with will to worke the
same :
He read to know, and knew to Hue, and liued to praise his name.
So fast to frende, so foe to few, so good to euery weight,
I may well wishe, but scarcelie hope, agayne to haue in sight.
242 The second booke teachyng
The greater ioye his life to me, his death the greater payne :
His life in Christ so surelie sety doth glad my hearte agayne :
His life so good, his death better, do mingle mirth with care,
My spirit with ioye, my flesh with grief, so deare a frend to spare.
Thus God the good, while they be good, doth take, and leaues vs ill,
That we should mend our sinful/ life, in life to tary still.
Thus, we well left, be better reft, in heauen to take his place,
That by like life, and death, at last, we may obteine like grace.
Myne owne lohn Whiteney agayne fairewell, a while thus parte in
twaine,
Whom payne doth part in earth, in heauen great ioye shall ioyne
agayne.
In this place, or I precede farder, I will now declare, by
whose authoritie I am led, and by what reason I am moued, to
thinke, that this way of duble translation out of one tong into
an other, in either onelie, or at least chiefly, to be exercised,
speciallie of youth, for the ready and sure obteining of any
tong.
There be six wayes appointed by the best learned men, for
the learning of tonges, and encreace of eloquence, as
1. Translatio linguarum.
2. Paraphrasis.
3. Metaphrasis.
4. Epitome.
5. Imitatio.
.6. Declamatio.
All theis be vsed, and commended, but in order, and for
respectes : as person, habilitie, place, and tyme shall require.
The fiue last, be fitter, for the Master, than the scholer : for
men, than for children : for the vniuersities, rather than for
Grammer scholes : yet neuerthelesse, which is, fittest in mine
opinion, for our schole, and which is, either wholie to be
refused, or partlie to be vsed for our purpose, I will, by good
authoritie, and some reason, I trust perticularlie of euerie
one, and largelie enough of them all, declare orderlie vnto you.
the ready way to the Latin tong. 243
1F Trans la fio Linguarum.
Translation, is easie in the beginning for the scholer, and
bringeth also moch learning and great Judgement to the
Master. It is most common, and most commendable of all
other exercises for youth : most common, for all your con-
structions in Grammer scholes, be nothing els but translations :
but because they be not double translations, as I do require,
they bring forth but simple and single commoditie, and bicause
also they lacke the daily vse of writing, which is the onely
thing that breedeth deepe roote, both in ye witte, for good
vnderstanding, and in ye memorie, for sure keeping of all that
is learned. Most commedable also, & that by y6 iudgemet of
all authors, which intreate of theis exercises.
Tullie in the person of L. Crassus, whom he
maketh his example of eloquence and trewe iudgement in
learning, doth, not onely praise specially, and chose this way of
translation for a yong man, but doth also discommend and
refuse his owne former wont, in exercising Paraphrasln &
Metaphrasin. Parapbrasis is, to take some eloquent Oration,
or some notable common place in Latin, and expresse it with
other wordes : Metaphrasis is, to take some notable place out of
a good Poete, and turn the same sens into meter, or into other
wordes in Prose. Crassus, or rather Tullie^ doth mislike both
these wayes, bicause the Author, either Orator or Poete, had
chosen out before, the fittest wordes and aptest composition for
that matter, and so he, in seeking other, was driuen to vse the
worse.
Quintilian also preferreth translation before all other
exercises : yet hauing a lust, to dissent, from ~ . .
_.„.,,•' . . > Quint, x.
Tullie (as he doth in very many places, if a man
read his Rhetoricke ouer aduisedlie, and that rather of an
enuious minde, than of any iust cause) doth greatlie commend
ParapbrasiSy crossing spitefullie Tullies iudgement in refusing
the same : and so do Ramus and Tal&us euen at this day in
France to. But such singularitie, in dissenting from the best
mens iudgementes, in liking onelie their owne opinions, is
moch misliked of all them, that ioyne with learning, discretion,
and wisedome. For he, that can neither like Aristotle in
Logicke and Philosophic, nor Tullie in Rhetoricke and
Q 2
244 fhe second booke teachyng
Eloquence, will, from these steppes, likelie enough presume, by
like pride, to mount hier, to the misliking of greater matters :
that is either in Religion, to haue a dissentious head, or in the
common wealth, to haue a factious hart : as I knew one
a student in Cambrige, who, for a singularitie, began first to
dissent, in the scholes, from Aristotle, and sone after became
a peruerse Arrian, against Christ and all true Religion : and
studied diligentlie Origene, Basileus, and 5. Hierome, onelie to
gleane out of their workes, the pernicious heresies of Celsus,
Eunomius, and Heluidius, whereby the Church of Christ, was so
poysoned withall.
But to leaue these hye pointes of diuinitie, surelie, in this
quiet and harmeles controuersie, for the liking, or misliking of
Paraphrasis for a yong scholer, euen as far, as Tullie goeth
beyond Quintilian, Ramus, and Talesus, in perfite Eloquence,
* Plinius euen so moch, by myne opinion, cum they
Secundus. behinde Tullie, for trew Judgement in teaching
ditnQuSinde" the Same'.
tiliano *P/inius Secundus, a wise Senator, of great
praeceptori experiece, excellence learned him selfe, a liberall
Patrone of learned men, and the purest writer, in
filise, 50000 myne opinion, of all his age, I except not
numu. Suetonius, his two scholemasters Quintilian and
Tacitus, nor yet his most excellent learned Vncle, the Elder
Plinius, doth expresse in an Epistle to his frende
' 7> Fuscus, many good wayes for order in studie :
but he beginneth with translation, and preferreth
it to all the rest : and bicause his wordes be notable, I will
recite them.
Vtile in primis, vt multi pr<scipiunt, ex Graco in Latinum, &f ex
Latino vertere in Grescum : Quo genere exercitationis, proprietas
splendor^ verborum, apta struftura sententiarum, figurarum
copia &f explicandi vis colligitur. Prceterea, imitatione optimorum,
facultas similia inueniendi paratur : & quee legentem, fefellissent,
transjerentemfugere non possunt. Intelligentia ex hoc, £ff iudicium
acquiritur.
Ye perceiue, how Plinie teacheth, that by this exercise of
double translating, is learned, easely, sensiblie, by litle and litle,
not onelie all the hard congruities of Grammer, the choice of
the ready way to the Latin tong. 245
aptest wordes, the right framing of wordes and sentences,
cumlines of figures and formes, fitte for euerie matter, and
proper for euerie tong, but that which is greater also, in marking
dayly, and folowing diligentlie thus, the steppes of the best
Autors, like inuention of Argumentes, like order in disposition,
like vtterance in Elocution, is easelie gathered vp : whereby
your scholer shall be brought not onelie to like eloquence, but
also, to all trewe vnderstanding and right iudgement, both for
writing and speaking. And where Dlonys. Halicarnassteus hath
written two excellent bookes, the one, de deleftu optimorum
verborum^ the which, I feare, is lost, the other, of the right
framing of wordes and sentences, which doth remaine yet in
Greeke, to the great proffet of all them, that trewlie studie for
eloquence, yet this waie of double translating, shall bring the
whole proffet of both these bookes to a diliget scholer, and that
easelie and pleasantlie, both for fitte choice of wordes, and apt
composition of sentences. And by theis authorities and reasons
am I moued to thinke, this waie of double translating, either
onelie or chieflie, to be fittest, for the spedy and perfit atteyning
of any tong. And for spedy atteyning, I durst venture a good
wager, if a scholer, in whom is aptnes, loue, diligence, &
constancie, would but translate, after this sorte, one litle booke
in Tullie, as de seneflute, with two Epistles, the first ad Q. fra :
the other ad lentulum, the last saue one, in the first booke, that
scholer, I say, should cum to a better knowledge in the Latin
tong, tha the most part do, that spend foure or fiue yeares, in
tossing all the rules of Grammer in common scholes. In deede
this one booke with these two Epistles, is not sufficient to
affburde all Latin wordes (which is not necessarie for a yong
scholer to know) but it is able to furnishe him fully, for all
pointes of Grammer, with the right placing ordering, & vse of
wordes in all kinde of matter. And why not ? for it is read,
that Dion. Prusstsus, that wise Philosopher, & excellet orator of
all his tyme, did cum to the great learning & vtterance that was
in him, by reading and folowing onelie two bookes, Ph<edon
Platonis, and Demosthenes most notable oration jrepl TrapaTrpeo--
f3eia<i. And a better, and nerer example herein, may be, our
most noble Queene Elizabeth^ who neuer toke yet, Greeke nor
Latin Grammer in her hand, after the first declining of a
nowne and a verbe, but onely by this double translating of
246 The second booke teachyng
Demosthenes and hocrates dailie without missing euerie forenone,
and likewise som part of Tullie euery afternone, for the space
of a yeare or two, hath atteyned to soch a perfite vnderstanding
in both the tonges, and to soch a readie vtterance of the latin,
and that wyth soch a iudgement, as they be fewe in nomber in
both the vniuersities, or els where in England, that be, in both
tonges, comparable with her Maiestie. And to conclude in
a short rowme, the commodities of double translation, surelie
the mynde by dailie marking, first, the cause and matter : than,
the wordes and phrases : next, the order and composition : after
the reason and argumentes : than the formes and figures of both
the tonges : lastelie, the measure and compas of euerie sentence,
must nedes, by litle and litle drawe vnto it the like shape of
eloquence, as the author doth vse, which is red.
And thus much for double translation.
Paraphrases.
Paraphrasis, the second point, is not onelie to expresse at
large with moe wordes, but to striue and contend
(as Quintilian saith) to translate the best latin
authors, into other latin wordes, as many or thereaboutes.
This waie of exercise was vsed first by C. Crabo, and taken
vp for a while, by L. Crassus, but sone after, vpon dewe profe
thereof, rejected iustlie by Crassus and Cicero : yet allowed and
made sterling agayne by M. Quintilian : neuerthelesse, shortlie
after, by better assaye, disalowed of his owne scholer Plinius
Secundus, who termeth it rightlie thus Audax contentio. It is
a bold comparison in deede, to thinke to say better, than that is
best. Soch turning of the best into worse, is much like the
turning of good wine, out of a faire sweete flagon of siluer, into
a foule mustie bottell of ledder : or, to turne pure gold and
siluer, into foule brasse and copper.
Soch kinde of Paraphrases, in turning, chopping, and
changing, the best to worse, either in the mynte or scholes,
(though M. Erokke and Quintilian both say the contrary) is
moch misliked of the best and wisest men. I can better allow
an other kinde of Paraphrasis, to turne rude and barbarus, into
proper and eloquent : which neuerthelesse is an exercise, not
fitte for a scholer, but for a perfite master, who in plentie hath
the ready way to the Latin tong. 247
good choise, in copie hath right iudgement, and grounded skill,
as did appeare to be in Sebastian Castalio, in translating Kemppes
booke de Imitando Christo.
But to folow Quintilianus aduise for Paraphrases, were euen
to take paine, to seeke the worse and fowler way, whan the
plaine and fairer is occupied before your eyes.
The olde and best authors that euer wrote, were content
if occasion required to speake twise of one matter, not to change
the wordes, but prjrwSy that is, worde for worde to expresse it
againe. For they thought, that a matter, well expressed with
fitte wordes and apt composition, was not to be altered, but
liking it well their selues, they thought it would also be well
allowed of others.
A scholemaster (soch one as I require) knoweth that I say
trewe.
He readeth in Homer, almost in euerie booke, and speciallie
in Secundo et nono I/iados, not onelie som verses, Homerus,
but whole leaues, not to be altered with new,
but to be vttered with the old selfe same wordes. 'IX.
He knoweth, that Xenophon, writing twise of ( 9-
Agesilaus, once in his life, againe in the historic Xenopho.
of the Greekes, in one matter, kepeth alwayes the selfe same
wordes. He doth the like, speaking of Socrates, both in the
beginning of his Apologie and in the last ende of dtrofAyiffunnv-
fidrcav.
Demosthenes also in 4. Philippica, doth borow his owne
wordes vttered before in his oration de Chersoneso.
He doth the like, and that more at large, in his
orations, against Androtion and Timocrates.
In latin also, Cicero in som places, and Virgil in mo, do
repeate one matter, with the selfe same wordes. G.
Thies excellent authors, did thus, not for lacke „. .'.
of wordes, but by iudgement and skill : whatso-
euer, other, more curious, and lesse skilfull, do thinke, write,
and do.
Paraphrasis neuerthelesse hath good place in learning, but
not, by myne opinion, for any scholer, but is onelie to be left
to a perfite Master, eyther to expound openlie a good author
withall, or to compare priuatelie, for his owne exercise, how
some notable place of an excellent author, may be vttered with
248 The second booke teachyng
other fitte wordes: But if ye alter also, the composition, for,me,
and order than that is not Paraphrasis, but Imitatio^ as I will
fullie declare in fitter place.
The scholer shall winne nothing by Parapkrasis, but onelie,
if we may beleue Tullie, to choose worse wordes, to place them
out of order, to feare ouermoch the Judgement of the master, to
mislike ouermuch the hardnes of learning, and by vse, to gather
vp faultes, which hardlie will be left of againe.
The master in teaching it, shall rather encrease hys owne
labor, than his scholers proffet: for when the scholer shall bring
vnto his master a peece of Tullle or Ctesar turned into other
latin, then must the master cum to Quintilians goodlie lesson de
Emendatione, which, (as he saith) is the most profitable part of
teaching, but not in myne opinion, and namelie for youthe in
Grammer scholes. For the master nowe taketh double paynes:
first, to marke what is amisse : againe, to inuent what may be
sayd better. And here perchance, a verie good master may
easelie both deceiue himselfe, and lead his scholer into error.
It requireth greater learning, and deeper Judgement, than is
to be hoped for at any scholemasters hand : that is, to be able
alwaies learnedlie and perfitelie
Mutare quod ineptum est:
Transmutare quod peruersum est:
4 Rep/ere quod deest;
Detrahere quod obest:
\Expungere quod inane est.
And that, which requireth more skill, and deaper conside-
racion
(Premere tumentla:
\Extollere humilia:
\Astringere luxuriantia:
\Componere dissoluta.
The master may here onelie stumble, and perchance faull in
teaching, to the marring and mayning of the Scholer in learning,
whan it is a matter, of moch readyng, of great learning, and
tried iudgement, to make trewe difference betwixt
the ready way to the Latin tong. 249
(Sublime, et Tumidum:
\ Grande, et immodicum :
^ Decorum, et ineptum:
\Perfe£lum, et nimium.
Some men of our time, counted perfite Maisters of eloquence,
in their owne opinion the best, in other mens iudgements very
good, as Omphalius euerie where, Sadoletus in many places, yea
also my frende Osorius, namelie in his Epistle to the Queene &
in his whole booke de lusticia, haue so ouer reached the selues,
in making trew difference in the poyntes afore rehearsed, as
though they had bene brought vp in some schole in Asia, to
learne to decline rather then in Athens with Plato, Aristotle, and
Demosthenes, (from whence Tullie fetched his eloquence) to
vnderstand, what in euerie matter, to be spoken or written on,
is, in verie deede, Nimium, Satis, Parum, that is for to say, to
all considerations, Decorum, which, as it is the hardest point, in
all learning, so is it the fairest and onelie marke, that scholers, in
all their studie, must alwayes shote at, if they purpose an other
day to be, either sounde in Religion, or wise and discrete in any
vocation of the common wealth.
Agayne, in the lowest degree, it is no low point of learnyng
and iudgement for a Scholemaster, to make trewe difference
betwixt
iHumile iff depressum:
\ Lene & remissum :
•ISiccum iff aridum:
Exile iff macrum :
\lnaffeftatum iff negleflum.
In these poyntes, some, louing MelancJhon well, as he was
well worthie, but yet not considering well nor wiselie, how he
of nature, and all his life and studie by iudgement was wholly
spent in genere Disciplinabili, that is, in teaching, reading, and
expounding plainlie and aptlie schole matters, and therfore
imployed thereunto a fitte, sensible, and caulme kinde of
speaking and writing, some I say, with very well louyng,
but not with verie well weying Melanfthones doinges,
do frame them selues a style, cold, leane, and weake,
though the matter be neuer so warme & earnest, not moch
vnlike vnto one, that had a pleasure, in a roughe, raynie, winter
250 The second booke teachyng
day, to clothe him selfe with nothing els, but a demie, bukram
cassok, plaine without plites, and single with out lyning: which
will neither beare of winde nor wether, nor yet kepe out the
sunne, in any hote day.
Some suppose, and that by good reason, that Melanflhon
him selfe came to this low kinde of writing, by
Paraphra- vsing ouer moch Paraphrases in reading : For
sis in vse of ,° . , , . •*, • i_ • • u ^
teaching, studying therbie to make euene thing streight
hath hurt and easie, in smothing and playning all things to
much, neuer leaueth, whiles the sence it selfe be
writing. ^e^ both lowse and lasie. And some of those
Paraphrases of Melantthon be set out in Printe, as,
Pro Archia Poet a, 6f Marco Mar cello : But a scholer, by myne
opinion, is better occupied in playing or sleping, than in
spendyng time, not onelie vainlie but also harmefullie, in soch
a kinde of exercise.
If a Master woulde haue a perfite example to folow, how,
in Genere sublimi^ to auoide Nimium^ or in Medlocri, to atteyne
Satis, or in Humili, to exchew Parum^ let him read diligently
for the first, Secundam Philippicam^ for the meane,
De Natura Deorum, and for the lowest, Partitioned.
Or, if in an other tong, ye looke for like example, in like
perfection, for all those three degrees, read Pro
Demost- Ctesiphonte, Ad Leptinem, & Contra Ohmpiodorum,
nenes- i « • A i 1-1- • i »i
and, what witte, Arte, and diligence is hable to
affourde, ye shall plainely see.
For our tyme, the odde man to performe all three perfitlie,
whatsoeuer he doth, and to know the way to do them skilfullie,
loan Stur wnan so euer ne list, is, in my poore opinion,
Joannes Sturmeus.
He also councelleth all scholers to beware of Paraphrases^
except it be, from worse to better, from rude and barbarous, to
proper and pure latin, and yet no man to exercise that neyther,
except soch one, as is alreadie furnished with plentie of learning,
and grounded with stedfast iudgement before.
All theis faultes, that thus manie wise men do finde with
the exercise of Paraphrases^ in turning the best latin, into other,
as good as they can, that is, ye may be sure, into a great deale
worse, than it was, both in right choice for proprietie, and trewe
placing, for good order is committed also commonlie in all
the ready way to the Latin tong. 251
common scholes, by the scholemasters, in tossing and trebling
yong wittes (as I sayd in the beginning) with that boocherlie
feare in making of Latins.
Therefore, in place, of Latines for yong scholers, and of
Paraphrases for the masters, I wold haue double translation
specially vsed. For, in double translating a perfite peece of
Tit/St or C&sar, neyther the scholer in learning, nor ye Master
in teaching can erre. A true tochstone, a sure metwand lieth
before both their eyes. For, all right cogruitie : proprietie of
wordes: order in sentences: the right imitation, to inuent good
matter, to dispose it in good order, to confirme it with good
reason, to expresse any purpose fitlie and orderlie, is learned
thus, both easelie & perfitlie: Yea, to misse somtyme in this
kinde of translation, bringeth more proffet, than to hit right,
either in Paraphrasi or making of Latins. For though ye say
well, in a latin making, or in a Paraphasis, yet you being but
in doute, and vncertayne whether ye saie well or no, ye gather
and lay vp in memorie, no sure frute of learning thereby : But
if ye fault in translation, ye ar easelie taught, how perfitlie to
amende it, and so well warned, how after to exchew, all soch
faultes againe.
Paraphrasis therefore, by myne opinion, is not meete for
Grammer scholes : nor yet verie fitte for yong men in the
vniuersitie, vntill studie and tyme, haue bred in them, perfite
learning, and stedfast Judgement.
There is a kinde of Paraphrasis, which may be vsed, without
all hurt, to moch proffet: but it serueth onely the Greke and
not the latin, nor no other tong, as to alter linguam lonicam aut
Doricam into meram Atticam : A notable example there is left
vnto vs by a notable learned man Diony : Halicarn : who, in his
booke, Trept a-vvrdgeox;, doth translate the goodlie storie of
Candaules and Gyges in I. Herodoti, out of lonica lingua, into
Atticam. Read the place, and ye shall take, both pleasure and
proffet, in conference of it. A man, that is exercised in reading,
Thucydides, Xenophon, Plato, and Demosthenes, in vsing to turne,
like places of Herodotus, after like sorte, shold shortlie cum to
soch a knowledge, in vnderstanding, speaking, and writing the
Greeke tong, as fewe or none hath yet atteyned in England.
The like exercise out of Dorica lingua may be also vsed, if a
man take that litle booke of Plato, Tirrueus Locrus, de Animo et
252 T^he second booke teachyng
natura, which is writte Dorice, and turne it into soch Greeke,
as Plato vseth in other workes. The booke, is but two leaues :
and the labor wold be, but two weekes: but surelie the proffet,
for easie vnderstanding, and trewe writing the Greeke tonge,
wold conteruaile wyth the toile, that som men taketh, in
otherwise coldlie reading that tonge, two yeares.
And yet, for the latin tonge, and for the exercise of Para-
phrasis, in those places of latin, that can not be bettered, if some
yong man, excellent of witte, corragious in will, lustie of nature,
and desirous to contend euen with the best latin, to better it, if
he can, surelie I commend his forwardnesse, and for his better
instruction therein, I will set before him, as notable an example
of Paraphrasis, as is in Record of learning. Cicero him selfe,
doth contend, in two sondrie places, to expresse one matter,
with diuerse wordes : and that is Paraphrasis, saith Quintillian.
The matter I suppose, is taken out of Pan&tius : and therefore
being translated out of Greeke at diuers times, is vttered for his
purpose, with diuers wordes and formes: which kinde of exercise,
for perfite learned men, is verie profitable.
2. De Finib.
a. Homo enim Rationem habet a natura menti datam qua, &
causas rerum et consecutiones videt, & similitudines, transfert, &
disiuntta coniungit, iff cum pr&sentibus futura copulat, omnemg
complecJitur vita consequently statum. b. Eadema ratio facit
hominem hominum appetentem, cuma bis, natura, & sermone in vsu
congruentem : vt profettus a caritate domesticoru ac suorum, currat
longius, £3* se implied, primo Ciuiu, deinde omnium mortalium
societati : vtg nan sibi soli se natu meminerit, sed patrite, sed suis,
vt exigua pars ipsi relinquatur. c. Et quonia eadem natura
cupiditatem ingenuit homini veri inueniendi, quod facillime apparet,
cum vacui curis, etiam quid in coelo fiat, scire auemus, &c.
i. Officiorum.
a. Homo autem, qui rationis est particeps, per quam conse-
quentia cern'it, iff causas rerum videt, earumg progressus, et quasi
antecessiones non ignorat, similitudines, comparat, rebusg pr&scntibus
adiungit, atg anneftit futuras, facile totius vita cursum videt, ad
the ready way to the Latin tong. 253
eamque degendam prceparat res necessarias. b. Eademg natura vi
rationis hominem conciliat homing £3" ad Orationis^ 6f ad vitte
societatem : ingeneratfo imprimis prcscipuum quendam amorem in
eos, qui procreati sunt^ impellitg vt hominum ccetus & celebrari
inter j<?, & sibi obediri velit, oh easg causas studeat parare ea,
quee suppeditent ad cultum £3" ad vittum, nee sibi soli, sed coniugi^
liberiS) cteterisg quos charos habeat^ tuerig debeat. c. Qua cura
exsuscitat etiam animos, £5" maiores ad rem gerendam facit : impri-
misg hominis est profria veri inquisitio at ft inuestigatio : ita cum
sumus neceffarijs negocijs curisa vacuiy turn auemus aliquid videre,
audire, addiscere^ cognitionemg rerum mirabilium. &c.
The conference of these two places, conteinyng so excellent
a peece of learning, as this is, expressed by so worthy a witte,
as Tullies was, must needes bring great pleasure and proffit to
him, that maketh trew counte, of learning and honestie. But
if we had the Greke Author, the first Patterne of all, and therby
to see, how Tullies witte did worke at diuerse tymes, how, out
of one excellent Image, might be framed two other, one in face
and fauor, but somwhat differing in forme, figure, and color,
surelie, such a peece of workemanship compared with the
Paterne it selfe, would better please the ease of honest, wise,
and learned myndes, tha two of the fairest Venusses, that euer
Apelles made.
And thus moch, for all kinde of Paraphrasis, fitte or vnfit,
for Scholers or other, as I am led to thinke, not onelie, by mine
owne experience, but chiefly by the authoritie & Judgement of
those, whom I my selfe would gladliest folow, and do counsell
all myne to do the same : not contendyng with any other, that
will otherwise either thinke or do.
Metaphrasis.
This kinde of exercise is all one with Paraphrasisy saue it is
out of verse, either into prose, or into some other kinde of
meter : or els, out of prose into verse, which was
Socrates exercise and pastime (as Plato reporteth) phsedone
when he was in prison, to translate Msopes Fabules
into verse. Quintilian doth greatlie praise also this exercise:
but bicause Tullie doth disalow it in yong men, by myne
opinion, it were not well to vse it in Grammer Scholes, euen
254 'The second booke teachyng
for the selfe same causes, that be recited against Parapkrasis.
And therfore, for the vse, or misuse of it, the same is to be
thought, that is spoken of Paraphrasis before. This was
Sulpitius exercise: and he gathering vp therby, a Poeticall kinde
of talke, is iustlie named of Cicero, grandis et Tragicus Orator:
which I think is spoken, not for his praise, but for other mens
warning, to exchew the like faulte. Yet neuertheles, if our
Scholemaster for his owne instruction, is desirous, to see a
perfite example hereof, I will recite one, which I thinke, no
man is so bold, will say, that he can amend it: & that is
Chrises the Priestes Oration to the Grekes, in the
beginnyng of Homers Ilias^ turned excellentlie
into prose by Socrates him selfe, and that aduised-
lie and purposelie for other to folow : and therfore he calleth
this exercise, in the same place, fjiintjcrt^ that is, Imitatio, which
is most trew : but, in this booke, for teachyng sake, I will name
it Metaphrasis, reteinyng the word, that all teachers, in this
case, do vse.
Homerus. I.
o yap rj\0€ 0od$ e
\v<r6fifv6<; re Bvyarpa, (pepwv r' aTrepeuri aTroiva,
o-re/i/iar' e-^wv e'i> ^eptrlv etcrjfioXov 'A7r6XX<wi/o9,
ypva-ew dva o-KijTrrptp' KOL e/uVo-ero -jravras
ArpetSa 8e /xaXto-ra Sva), Kocrfjujrope \aG)v.
t re, teal aXXot eii/ci/^/AtSe? 'A^atot,
0€ol Bolev, 'OXy/LtTTta Soo/aar' e^oi/re?,
Hpiajjioio iroKiv, €i> 8 olicaft iKe<rOai,'
7ral8a 8' e/j,ol \va~ai re fyifcrjv, TCI T' aTroiva
d^O/JL€VOl At09 VIOV 6K1}(3
evd* aXXot fiev Trdvres
alSeiaOai 6" lepf/a, Kal dyXaa
aXX OVK 'ArpetSjy 'A.ya/j.efAvovi tfvSave 0v/j,q>,
aXXa /ca/cw? d<f>iet, tcparepov 8' Ijrl pvOov
/J.T) ere, yepov, tcoi\r)(riv eyo) Trapa vijval
% vvv Sr)6vvovT\ r) vcrrepov avris lovra,
pr) vv TOI, ov Xpai(Tfj,r) a-KfJTrrpov, Kal (rrefi/j-a deolo.
rrjv 8' eya) ov Xycrco, -rrpiv fitv Kal yfjpa?
evl oiK<p, ev "Apyei rtj\6di
the ready way to the Latin tong. 255
<rrov eTToi^ofievrjv, KOI epov ep£09 avnooxrav.
aXX' idi, pij fi epidi^e' cracarepos 009 tee verjai.
a>9 e^ar'- e'SSeto'ey S' o yepcov, teal erreidero /j,v8<p'
j3rj S' aicewv irapa Olva 7ro\v(f>\oicr/3oio $aXa<TO"»79,
TroXXa S' €7T€ir' aTravei/^e /«&>f r)pa8' 6 yepaios
'ATroXXtoi'i avatcrt, rov rjvKO/jios retce AT;T(U*
K\,v6L fiev, apyvporoj;' , 09 XpvGrjv d/jL^i
re £a#e?7z/, Tei'eSoto re I0t ai/acr<ret?,
, ei 7TOT6 rot yapizvT e7rt ^o^ epe^jra,
rj el ST; TTore rot /cara triova firipl' eictja
ravpwv, 77^' alyu>v, roSe poi fcpijijvov €€\8a)p'
rlveiav Aavaol e/u.a Sdtcpva aroiat f3e\ea<Ttv.
Socrates in 3. <sfe jR<?^. saith thus,
<I>pa<rG) 7<ip avev perpov,
ov yap elfj,i TroiyTitcos.
rj\6ev o Xpua-?;? T?}9 re Ovyarpos \uTpa (pepcov, fcal IKC
rwv 'A^atdov, /u.aXto-ra Se rwv ySao-iXew^: /cat ev^ero,
fj,ev row? Oeovs Sovvat, eXoi/ra? T^I/ Tpoiav, avrovs Se awQr\vait
Trjv Se Bvyarepa 01 avrta \vcrai, te^apevovs ajroiva, ical rov
6ebv alSecrOevras. Toiavra Se eiirovTos avrov, ol fj,ev aXXot,
eareftovro Kal avi'rjvovv, 6 Se 'Ayafjt,ejj,va>v rjypiaivev, e'vreX-
Xo/z.ei'09 vvv re a,7ri€vai, fcal avdis fj,rj e\0elv, fir) avru> TO T6
aKr/TTTpov, ical rd rov 6eov crre/j,para OVK eTraprceaoi. Trplv
Se \v6rjvai avrov dvyarepa, ev "Apyei €(pr) yrjpdcrew /iera ov.
dmevai Se e/ceXeve, /cat yu.^ epeOi^etv, iva o-&>9 ot/caSe e\6oi.
6 Se 7rpeo-/3uT)79 dtcoucras e'Seto'e TC /cat a-Tr^et <riyr], drcoyw-
S' e'/c ToO o~rparo7re8ov 7roXX« TW 'ATroXX&m ev^eTO,
€TTcovvfj,ia<; rov 6eov dvaKa\u>v Kal VTrofj,i/j,vr)crK(av teal
ei ri TTCBTTOTC ^ e'y vawv oltcoSo^a'ea-tv, -rj ev lepdav
€^apiar/j,evoi> Sw prjcr aero. u>v Srj %dpiv
ricrai Toi»9 A^atoi»9 ra a odfcpva Tot9 e/ceivov
To compare Homer and P/ata together, two wonders of
nature and arte for witte and eloquence, is most pleasant and
profitable, for a man of ripe iudgement. Platos turning of
Homer in this place, doth not ride a loft in Poeticall termes,
but goeth low and soft on foote, as prose and Pedestris oratio
should do. If Sulpitius had had Platos consideration, in right
256 The second booke teachyng
vsing this exercise, he had not deserued the name of Tragicus
Orator, who should rather haue studied to expresse vim Demos-
thenis, thanfurorem Poteta, how good so euer he was, whom he
did folow.
And therfore would I haue our Scholemaster wey well
together Homer and Plato, and marke diligentlie these foure
pointes, what is kept : what is added : what is left out : what
is changed, either, in choise of wordes, or forme of sentences :
which foure pointes, be the right tooles, to handle like a worke-
man, this kinde of worke : as our Scholer shall better vnder-
stand, when he hath bene a good while in the Vniuersitie :
to which tyme and place, I chiefly remitte this kinde of exercise.
And bicause I euer thought examples to be the best kinde
of teaching, I will recite a golden sentece out of that Poete,
which is next vnto Homer, not onelie in tyme, but also in
worthines : which hath bene a paterne for many worthie
wittes to follow, by this kind of Metaphrasis, but I will content
my selfe, with foure workemen, two in Greke, and two in Latin,
soch, as in both the tonges, wiser & worthier, can not be looked
for. Surelie, no stone set in gold by most cunning workeme,
is in deed, if right counte be made, more worthie the looking
on, than this golden sentence, diuerslie wrought vpon, by soch
foure excellent Masters.
Hesiodus. 2.
1. OUT09 fi€v TravdpicrTos, 09 avrw frdvra voija-y,
fypacrcrdiievo*; rd K €7reira /cat e? reXo? fjo-iv
2. eV#\o9 8' av /cdtceivos, 09 ev eiTrovn TrLdrfra
3« &? &e ice HIJT ayro? voey, /i^r' a\\ov aKOvw
ev Ovfiw /8a\\7/rat, o 8' avr dxpij'ios dvr}p.
11 Thus rudelie turned into
base English.
1. That man in wisedome passeth all,
to know the best who hath a head:
2. And meetlie wise eeke counted shall,
who yeildes him selfe to wise mens read :
3. Who hath no witte, nor none will heare,
amongest all fooles the bell may beare.
the ready way to the Latin tong. 257
Sophocles In Antigone.
1. <I>/7//-' eywye TrpeajSeveiv TTO\V,
<&vvai rbv avBpa irdvr eTrwrrip/qs 7r\ea)v :
2. Ei S' ow (<£t\et 7<ip TOUTO /A^ ravrp peTreiv\
Kat TWZ/ \eyovrcov ev Ka\ov rb pavdaveiv.
Marke the wisedome of Sophocles, in leauyng out the last
sentence, because it was not cumlie for the sonne to vse it to
his father.
1" D. Basileus in his Exhortation to youth.
M.e/j,vr}crde rov 'HcrioBov, 09 (f>r)<r(,, apicnov fiev elvat,
rov irap eavrov ra Seovra %vvopwvra. 2. 'Ecr^Xoy Be fcdicet-
vov, rbv rot?, Trap' kriprnv V7rooei%€tcriv krfo^vov. 3. rov
Be Trpbs ovBerepov eTTiTrjBeiov d-^petov elvai TT/DO? arravra.
f M. Cic. Pro A. Cluentio.
I. Sapientissimum esse dicunt eum, cui, quod opus sit, ipsi veniat in
mente : 2. Proxime accedere illum^ qui alterius bene inuentis
obtemperet. 3. In stulticia contra est : minus enim stultus est
is, cui nihil in mentem venit, quam ille, qui^ quod stulte alteri venit
in mentem comprobat.
Cicero doth not plainlie expresse the last sentence, but doth
inuent it fitlie for his purpose, to taunt the folie and simplicitie
in his aduersarie dffius, not weying wiselie, the sutle doynges
of Chrysogonus and Staienus.
f Tit. Liuius in Orat. Minutij. Lib. 22.
I. Sape ego audiui milites ; eum primum esse virum, qui ipse
consulat, quid in rem sit : 2. Secundum eum, qui bene monenti
obediat : 3. Qui, nee ipse consulere, nee alteri parere scit, eum
extremi esse ingenij.
Now, which of all these foure, Sophocles^ S. Basil, Cicero, or
Liuie, hath expressed Hesiodus best, the Judgement is as hard, as
the workemanship of euerie one is most excellent in deede. An
other example out of the Latin tong also I will recite, for the
worth ines of the workeman therof, and that is Horace, who hath
258 The second booke teachyng
so turned the begynning of Terence Eunuchus, as doth worke in
me, a pleasant admiration, as oft so euer, as I compare those
two places togither. And though euerie Master, and euerie
good Scholer to, do know the places, both in Terence and
Horace, yet I will set them heare, in one place togither, that
with more pleasure, they may be compared together.
f Terentius in Eunucho.
Quid igitur faciam ? non earn ? ne nunc quldem cum accersor
vitro ? an potius ita me comparem, non perpeti meretricum con-
tumelias ? exclusit : reuocat, redeam? non, si me obsecret. PAR-
MENO a little after. Here, qua res in seneg consi/ium neg modum
habet vllum, earn consilio regere non potes. In Amore hac omnia
insunt vitia, iniuries, suspiciones, inimicituey inducits, helium, pax
rursum. Incerta heec si tu postules ratione certa facere, nihilo plus
agas, fa si des operam, vt cum ratione insanias.
f Horatius, lib. Ser. 2. Saty. 3.
Nee nunc cum me vocet vitro,
Accedam ? an potius mediter finire dolores ?
Exclusit : reuocat, redeam ? non si obsecret. Ecce
Seruus non Paulo sapientior : 6 Here, qu<s res
Nee modum habet, neg consilium, ratione modog
Tractari non vult. In amore, hac sunt mala, helium,
Pax rursum : k&c si quis tempestatis prope ritu
Mobilia, et cteca fluitantia sorte, laboret
Reddere certa, sibi nihilo plus explicet, ac si
Insanire paret certa ratione, modbg.
This exercise may bring moch profite to ripe heads, and
stayd iudgementes : bicause, in traueling in it, the mynde must
nedes be verie attentiue, and busilie occupide, in turning and
tossing it selfe many wayes : and conferryng with great pleasure,
the varietie of worthie wittes and iudgementes togither : But
this harme may sone cum therby, and namelie to yong Scholers,
lesse, in seeking other wordes, and new forme of sentences, they
chance vpon the worse : for the which onelie cause, Cicero
thinketh this exercise not to be fit for yong men.
the ready way to the Latin tong. 259
Epitome.
This is a way of studie, belonging, rather to matter, than to
wordes : to memorie, than to vtterance : to those that be
learned alreadie, and hath small place at all amonges yong
scholers in Grammer scholes. It may proffet priuately some
learned men, but it hath hurt generalise learning it selfe, very
moch. For by it haue we lost whole Trogus, the best part of
T. Liuius, the goodlie Dictionarie of Pompeius festus, a great
deale of the Ciuill lawe, and other many notable bookes, for the
which cause, I do the more mislike this exercise, both in old
and yong.
Epitome, is good priuatelie for himselfe that doth worke it,
but ill commonlie for all other that vse other mens labor therein:
a silie poore kinde of studie, not vnlike to the doing of those
poore folke, which neyther till, nor sowe, nor reape themselues,
but gleane by stelth, vpon other mens growndes. Soch, haue
emptie barnes, for deare yeares.
Grammer scholes haue fewe Epitomes to hurt them, except
Epitheta Textoris, and such beggarlie gatheringes, as Harmon,
whittington, and other like vulgares for making of latines : yea
I do wishe, that all rules for yong scholers, were shorter than
they be. For without doute, Grammatica it selfe, is sooner and
surer learned by examples of good authors, than by the naked
rewles of Grammarians. Epitome hurteth more, in the vni-
uersities and studie of Philosophic : but most of all, in diuinitie
it selfe.
In deede bookes of common places be verie necessarie, to
induce a man, into an orderlie generall knowledge, how to
referre orderlie all that he readeth, ad certa rerum Capita, and
not wander in studie. And to that end did P. Lombardus the
master of sentences and Ph. Melantthon in our daies, write two
notable bookes of common places.
But to dwell in Epitomes and bookes of common places, and
not to binde himselfe dailie by orderlie studie, to reade with all
diligence, principallie the holyest scripture and withall, the best
Doctors, and so to learne to make trewe difference betwixt, the
authoritie of the one, and the Counsell of the other, maketh so
many seeming, and sonburnt ministers as we haue, whose
R 2
26 o T'he second booke teachyng
learning is gotten in a sommer heat, and washed away, with
a Christmas snow againe : who neuerthelesse, are lesse to be
blamed, than those blind bussardes, who in late yeares, of
wilfull maliciousnes, would neyther learne themselues, nor
could teach others, any thing at all.
Parapbrasis hath done lesse hurt to learning, than Epitome :
for no Parapbrasis, though there be many, shall neuer take
away Dauids Psalter. Erasmus Parapbrasis being neuer so
good, shall neuer banishe the new Testament. And in an
other schole, the Parapbrasis of Brocardus, or Sambucus, shal
neuer take Aristotles Rhetoricke, nor Horace de Arte Poetica, out
of learned mens handes.
But, as concerning a schole Epitome, he that wold haue an
example of it, let him read Lucian Trepl /mXXou? which is the
verie Epitome of Jsocrates oration de laudibus Helente, whereby
he may learne, at the least, this wise lesson, that a man ought
to beware, to be ouer bold, in altering an excellent mans
worke.
Neuertheles, some kinde of Epitome may be vsed, by men
of skilful iudgement, to the great proffet also of others. As if
a wise man would take Holies Cronicle, where moch good
matter is quite marde with Indenture Englishe, and first change,
strange and inkhorne tearmes into proper, and commonlie vsed
wordes : next, specially to wede out that, that is superfluous
and idle, not onelie where wordes be vainlie heaped one vpon
an other, but also where many sentences, of one meaning, be
so clowted vp together as though M. Hal! had bene, not writing
the storie of England, but varying a sentence in Hitching
schole : surelie a wise learned man, by this way of Epitome, in
cutting away wordes and sentences, and diminishing nothing at
all of the matter, shold leaue to mens vse, a storie, halfe as
moch as it was in quantitie, but twise as good as it was, both
for pleasure and also commoditie.
An other kinde of Epitome may be vsed likewise very well,
to moch proffet. Som man either by lustines of nature, or
brought by ill teaching, to a wrong iudgement, is ouer full of
words, sciences, & matter, & yet all his words be proper, apt
& well chosen : all his setences be rownd and trimlie framed :
his whole matter grownded vpon good reason, & stuffed with
full argumets, for his intent & purpose. Yet whe his talke
the ready way to the Latin tong. 261
shalbe heard, or his writing be red, of soch one, as is, either of
my two dearest frendes, M. tiaddon at home, or lohn Sturrnius
in Germanic, that Nimium in him, which fooles and vnlearned
will most commend, shall eyther of thies two, bite his lippe, or
shake his heade at it.
This fulnes as it is not to be misliked in a yong man, so in
farder aige, in greater skill, and weightier affaires, it is to be
temperated, or else discretion and iudgement shall seeme to be
wanting in him. But if his stile be still ouer rancke and lustie,
as some men being neuer so old and spent by yeares, will still
be full of youthfull conditions as was Syr F. Bryan, and euer-
more wold haue bene : soch a rancke and full writer, must vse,
if he will do wiselie the exercise of a verie good kinde of
Epitome, and do, as certaine wise men do, that be ouer fat and
fleshie : who leauing their owne full and plentifull table, go to
soiorne abrode from home for a while, at the temperate diet of
some sober man : and so by litle and litle, cut away the
grosnesse that is in them. As for an example : If Osorius
would leaue of his lustines in striuing against S. Austen, and his
ouer rancke rayling against poore Luther, and the troth of Gods
doctrine, and giue his whole studie, not to write any thing of
his owne for a while, but to traslate Demosthenes, with so straite,
fast, & temperate a style in latine, as he is in Greeke, he would
becume so perfit & pure a writer, I beleue, as hath bene fewe
or none sence Ciceroes dayes : And so, by doing himself and all
learned moch good, do others lesse harme, & Christes doctrine
lesse iniury, tha he doth : & with all, wyn vnto himselfe many
worthy frends, who agreing with him gladly, in ye loue &
liking of excellent learning, are sorie to see so worthie a witte,
so rare eloquence, wholie spent and consumed, in striuing with
God and good men.
Emonges the rest, no man doth lament him more than
I, not onelie for the excellent learning that I see in him, but
also bicause there hath passed priuatelie betwixt him and me,
sure tokens of moch good will, and frendlie opinion, the one
toward the other. And surelie the distance betwixt London and
Lysbon, should not stoppe, any kinde of frendlie dewtie, that I
could, eyther shew to him, or do to his, if the greatest matter
of all did not in certeyne pointes, separate our myndes.
And yet for my parte, both toward him, and diuerse others
262 The second booke teachyng
here at home, for like cause of excellent learning, great wisdome,
and gentle humanitie, which I haue scene in them, and felt at
their handes my selfe, where the matter of difference is mere
conscience in a quiet minde inwardlie, and not contentious
malice with spitefull rayling openlie, I can be content to followe
this rewle, in misliking some one thing, not to hate for anie
thing els.
But as for all the bloodie beastes, as that fat Boore of the
. wood : or those brauling Bulles of Basan : or any
lurking Dormus, blinde, not by nature, but by
malice, & as may be gathered of their owne testimonie, giuen
ouer to blindnes, for giuing ouer God & his word ; or soch as
be so lustie runnegates, as first, runne from God & his trew
doctrine, than, from their Lordes, Masters, & all dewtie, next,
fro them selues & out of their wittes, lastly from their Prince,
contrey, & all dew allegeace, whether they ought rather to be
pitied of good men, for their miserie, or contemned of wise
men, for their malicious folie, let good and wise men deter-
mine.
And to returne to Epitome agayne, some will iudge moch
boldnes in me, thus to iudge of Osorius style : but wise men do
know, that meane lookers on, may trewelie say, for a well made
Picture : This face had bene more cumlie, if that hie redde in
the cheeke, were somwhat more pure sanguin than it is : and
yet the stander by, can not amend it himselfe by any way.
And this is not written to the dispraise but to the great
commendation of Osorius, because Tull'ie himselfe had the same
fulnes in him : and therefore went to Rodes to cut it away : and
saith himselfe, recepi me do mum pr ope mutatus, nam quasi referuerat
iam oratio. Which was brought to passe I beleue, not onelie by
the teaching of Molo Appollonius but also by a good way of
Epitome, in binding him selfe to translate meros Atticos Oratores,
and so to bring his style, from all lowse grosnesse, to soch firme
fastnes in latin, as is in Demosthenes in Greeke. And this to be
most trew, may easelie be gathered, not onelie of L. Crassus
talke in i. de Or. but speciallie of Ciceroes owne deede in
translating Demosthenes and /Eschines orations Trepl are(j>. to that
verie ende and purpose.
And although a man growndlie learned all readie, may take
moch proftet him selfe in vsing, by Epitome^ to draw other mens
the ready way to the Latin tang. 263
workes for his owne memorie sake, into shorter rowme, as
Contents hath done verie well the whole Metamorphosis of 0«/V,
& Dauid Cythraus a great deale better, the ix. Muses of Hero-
dotus^ and Melanchthon in myne opinion, far best of all, the whole
storie of Time, not onelie to his own vse, but to other mens
proffet and hys great prayse, yet, Epitome is most necessarie of
all in a mans owne writing, as we learne of that noble Poet
Virgil/, who, if Donatus say trewe, in writing that perfite worke
of the Georgickesy vsed dailie, when he had written 40. or 50.
verses, not to cease cutting, paring, and pollishing of them, till
he had brought them to the nomber of x. or xij.
And this exercise, is not more nedefullie done in a great
worke, than wiselie done, in your common dailie writing, either
of letter, or other thing else, that is to say, to peruse diligentlie,
and see and spie wiselie, what is alwaies more than nedeth :
For, twenty to one, offend more, in writing to moch, than to
litle : euen as twentie to one, fall into sicknesse, rather by ouer
moch fulnes, than by anie lacke or emptinesse. And therefore
is he alwaies the best English Physition, that best can geue
a purgation, that is, by way of Epitome, to cut all ouer much
away. And surelie mens bodies, be not more full of ill humors,
than commonlie mens myndes (if they be yong, lustie, proude,
like and loue them selues well, as most men do) be full of fansies,
opinions, errors, and faultes, not onelie in inward inuention, but
also in all their vtterance, either by pen or taulke.
And of all other men, euen those that haue ye inuentiuest
heades, for all purposes, and roundest tonges in all matters and
places (except they learne and vse this good lesson of Epitome)
commit commonlie greater faultes, than dull, staying silent men
do. For, quicke inuentors, and faire readie speakers, being
boldned with their present habilitie to say more, and perchance
better to, at the soden for that present, than any other can do,
vse lesse helpe of diligence and studie than they ought to do :
and so haue in them commonlie, lesse learning, and weaker
Judgement, for all deepe considerations, than some duller heades,
and slower tonges haue.
And therefore, readie speakers, generallie be not the best,
playnest, and wisest writers, nor yet the deepest iudgers in
weightie affaires, bicause they do not tarry to weye and iudge
all thinges, as they should : but hauing their heades ouer full of
264 The second booke teachyng
matter, be like pennes ouer full of incke, which will soner
blotte, than make any faire letter at all. Tyme was, whan
I had experience of two Ambassadors in one place, the one of
a hote head to inuent, and of a hastie hand to write, the other,
colde and stayd in both : but what difference of their doinges
was made by wise men, is not vnknowne to some persons. The
Bishop of Winchester Steph : Gardiner had a quicke head, and
a readie tong, and yet was not the best writer in England.
Cicero in Brutus doth wiselie note the same in Serg : Galbo, and
Q. Hortentius, who were both, hote, lustie, and plaine speakers,
but colde, lowse, and rough writers : And lullie telleth the
cause why, saying, wha they spake, their tong was naturally
caried with full tyde & wynde of their witte : whan they wrote
their head was solitarie, dull, and caulme, and so their style was
blonte, and their writing colde : Quod vitiurn, sayth Cicero,
peringeniosis hominibus neft satis dottis plerumfa accidit.
And therfore all quick inuentors, & readie faire speakers,
must be carefull, that, to their goodnes of nature, they adde
also in any wise, studie, labor, leasure, learning, and Judgement,
and than they shall in deede, passe all other, as I know some do,
in whome all those qualities are fullie planted, or else if they
giue ouer moch to their witte, and ouer litle to their labor and
learning, they will sonest ouer reach in taulke, and fardest cum
behinde in writing whatsoeuer they take in hand. The methode
of Epitome is most necessarie for soch kinde of men. And thus
much concerning the vse or misuse of all kinde of Epitomes in
matters of learning.
•)!(• Imitatio.
Imitation, is a facultie to expresse liuelie and perfitelie that
example : which ye go about to folow. And of it selfe, it is
large and wide : for all the workes of nature, in a maner be
examples for arte to folow.
But to our purpose, all languages, both learned and mother
tonges, be gotten, and gotten onelie by Imitation. For as ye
vse to heare, so ye learne to speake : if ye heare no other, ye
speake not your selfe : and whome ye onelie heare, of them ye
onelie learne.
And therefore, if ye would speake as the best and wisest do,
the ready way to the Latin tong. 265
ye must be conuersant, where the best and wisest are : but if
yow be borne or brought vp in a rude contrie, ye shall not chose
but speake rudelie : the rudest man of all knoweth this to be
trewe.
Yet neuerthelesse, the rudenes of common and mother
tonges, is no bar for wise speaking. For in the rudest contrie,
and most barbarous mother language, many be found can speake
verie wiselie : but in the Greeke and latin tong, the two onelie
learned tonges, which be kept, not in common taulke, but in
priuate bookes, we finde alwayes, wisdome and eloquence, good
matter and good vtterance, neuer or seldom a sender. For all
soch Authors, as be fullest of good matter and right Judgement
in doctrine, be likewise alwayes, most proper in wordes, most
apte in sentence, most plaine and pure in vttering the same.
And contrariwise, in those two tonges, all writers, either in
Religion, or any sect of Philosophic, who so euer be founde
fonde in Judgement of matter, be commonlie found as rude in
vttering their mynde. For Stoickes, Anabaptistes, and Friers :
with Epicures, Libertines and Monkes, being most like in
learning and life, are no fonder and pernicious in their opinions,
than they be rude and barbarous in their wri tinges. They be
not wise, therefore that say, what care I for a mans wordes and
vtterance, if his matter and reasons be good. Soch men, say
so, not so moch of ignorance, as eyther of some singular pride
in themselues, or some speciall malice or other, or for some
priuate & perciall matter, either in Religion or other kinde of
learning. For good and choice meates, be no more requisite
for helthie bodies, than proper and apte wordes be for good
matters, and also plaine and sensible vtterance for the best and
depest reasons : in which two pointes standeth perfite eloquence,
one of the fairest and rarest giftes that God doth geue to man.
Ye know not, what hurt ye do to learning, that care not
for wordes, but for matter, and so make a deuorse betwixt the
tong and the hart. For marke all aiges : Iboke vpon the whole
course of both the Greeke and Latin tonge, and ye shall surelie
finde, that, whan apte and good wordes began to be neglected,
and properties of those two tonges to be confounded, than also
began, ill deedes to spring : strange maners to oppresse good
orders, newe and fond opinions to striue with olde and trewe
doctrine, first in Philosophic : and after in Religion : right
266 The second booke teachyng
iudgement of all thinges to be peruerted, and so vertue with
learning is contemned, and studie left of: of ill thoughtes
cummeth peruerse Judgement : of ill deedes springeth lewde
taulke. Which fower misorders, as they mar mans life, so
destroy they good learning withall.
But behold the goodnesse of Gods prouidence for learning :
all olde authors and sectes of Philosophy, which were fondest in
opinion, and rudest in vtterance, as Stoickes and Epicures, first
contemned of wise men, and after forgotten of all men, be so
consumed by tymes, as they be now, not onelie out of vse, but
also out of memorie of man : which thing, I surelie thinke,
will shortlie chance, to the whole doctrine and all the bookes of
phantasticall Anabaptistes and Friers, and of the beastlie
Libertines and Monkes.
Againe behold on the other side, how Gods wisdome hath
wrought, that of Academici and Peripatetici, those that were
wisest in iudgement of matters, and purest in vttering their
myndes, the first and chiefest, that wrote most and best, in
either tong, as Plato and Aristotle in Greeke, Tullie in Latin, be
so either wholie, or sufficiently left vnto vs, as I neuer knew
yet scholer, that gaue himselfe to like, and loue, and folow
chieflie those three Authors but he proued, both learned, wise,
and also an honest man, if he ioyned with all the trewe doctrine
of Gods holie Bible, without the which, the other three, be but
fine edge tooles in a fole or mad mans hand.
But to returne to Imitation agayne : There be three kindes
of it in matters of learning.
The whole doctrine of Comedies and Tragedies, is a
perfite imitation, or faire liuelie painted picture of the life of
euerie degree of man. Of this Imitation writeth Plato at
large in 3. de Rep. but it doth not moch belong at this time to
our purpose.
The second kind of Imitation, is to folow for learning of
tonges and sciences, the best authors. Here riseth, emonges
proude and enuious wittes, a great controuersie, whether, one
or many are to be folowed : and if one, who is that one : Seneca,
or Cicero : Salust or Caesar, and so forth in Greeke and Latin.
The third kinde of Imitation, belongeth to the second : as
when you be determined, whether ye will folow one or mo, to
know perfitlie, and which way to folow that one : in what
the ready way to the Latin tong. 267
place : by what meane and order : by what tooles and instru-
mentes ye shall do it, by what skill and Judgement, ye shall
trewelie discerne, whether ye folow rightlie or no.
This Imltatio, is dissimills materiel similis trafiatio : and also,
similis materiel dissimilis traftatlo, as Virgill folowed Homer : but
the Argument to the one was Vlysses, to the other /Eneas.
Tullie persecuted Antonle with the same wepons of eloquence,
that Demosthenes vsed before against Philippe.
Horace foloweth Pindar, but either of them his owne
Argument and Person : as the one, Hiero king of Sicllie, the
other Augustus the Emperor : and yet both for like respectes,
that is, for their coragious stoutnes in warre, and iust gouern-
ment in peace.
One of the best examples, for right Imitation we lacke, and
that is Menander, whom our Terence, (as the matter required) in
like argument, in the same Persons, with equall eloquence, foote
by foote did folow.
Som peeces remaine, like broken lewelles, whereby men
may rightlie esteme, and iustlie lament, the losse of the
whole.
Erasmus, the ornament of learning, in our tyme, doth wish
that som man of learning and diligence, would take the like
paines in Demosthenes and Tullie, that Macrobius hath done in
Homer and Virgill, that is, to write out and ioyne together,
where the one doth imitate the other. Erasmus wishe is good,
but surelie, it is not good enough : for Macrobius gatherings for
the Mneldos out of Homer, and Eobanus Hessus more diligent
gatherings for the Bucollkes out of Theocritus, as they be not
fullie taken out of the whole heape, as they should be, but euen
as though they had not sought for them of purpose, but fownd
them scatered here and there by chance in their way, euen so,
onelie to point out, and nakedlie to ioyne togither their
sentences, with no farder declaring the maner and way, how
the one doth folow the other, were but a colde helpe, to the
encrease of learning.
But if a man would take this paine also, whan he hath layd
two places, of Homer and Plrgill, or of Demosthenes and Tullie
togither, to teach plainlie withall, after this sort.
i. Tullie reteyneth thus moch of the matter, thies
sentences, thies wordes :
268 The second booke teachyng
2. This and that he leaueth out, which he doth wittelie to
this end and purpose.
3. This he addeth here.
4. This he diminisheth there.
5. This he ordereth thus, with placing that here, not
there.
6. This he altereth and changeth, either, in propertie of
wordes, in forme of sentence, in substance of the matter, or in
one, or other conuenient circumstance of the authors present
purpose. In thies fewe rude English wordes, are wrapt vp all
the necessarie tooles and instrumentes, wherewith trewe Imita-
tion is rightlie wrought withall in any tonge. Which tooles,
I openlie confesse, be not of myne owne forging, but partlie left
vnto me by the cunningest Master, and one of the worthiest
lentlemen that euer England bred, Syr lohn Cbeke : partelie
borowed by me out of the shoppe of the dearest frende I haue
out of England, lo. St. And therefore I am the bolder to
borow of him, and here to leaue them to other, and namelie to
my Children : which tooles, if it please God, that an other day,
they may be able to vse rightlie, as I do wish and daylie pray,
they may do, I shal be more glad, than if I were able to leaue
them a great quantitie of land.
This foresaide order and doctrine of Imitation, would bring
forth more learning, and breed vp trewer Judgement, than any
other exercise that can be vsed, but not for yong beginners,
bicause they shall not be able to consider dulie therof. And
trewelie, it may be a shame to good studentes who hauing so
faire examples to follow, as Plato and Tullie, do not vse so wise
wayes in folowing them for the obteyning of wisdome and
learning, as rude ignorant Artificers do, for gayning a small
commoditie. For surelie the meanest painter vseth more witte,
better arte, greater diligence, in hys shoppe, in folowing the
Picture of any meane mans face, than commonlie the best
studentes do, euen in the vniuersitie, for the atteining of
learning it selfe.
Some ignorant, vnlearned, and idle student : or some busie
looker vpon this litle poore booke, that hath neither will to do
good him selfe, nor skill to Judge right of others, but can lustelie
contemne, by pride and ignorance, all painfull diligence and
right order in study, will perchance say, that I am to precise, to
the ready way to the Latin tong. 269
curious, in marking and piteling thus about the imitation of
others : and that the olde worthie Authors did neuer busie their
heades and wittes, in folowyng so preciselie, either the matter
what other men wrote, or els the maner how other men wrote.
They will say, it were a plaine slauerie, & iniurie to, to shakkle
and tye a good witte, and hinder the course of a mas good
nature with such bondes of seruitude, in folowyng other.
Except soch men thinke them selues wiser then Cicero for
teaching of eloquence, they must be content to turne a new
leafe.
The best booke that euer Tullie wrote, by all mens Judge-
ment, and by his owne testimonie to, in writyng wherof, he
employed most care, studie, learnyng and Judgement, is his
booke de Orat. ad Q. F. Now let vs see, what he did for the
matter, and also for the maner of writing therof. For the
whole booke consisteth in these two pointes onelie : In good
matter, and good handling of the matter. And first, for the
matter, it is whole Arhtotles, what so euer Antonie in the
second, and Crassus in the third doth teach. Trust not me,
but beleue Tullie him selfe, who writeth so, first, in that goodlie
long Epistle ad P. Lentulum, and after in diuerse places ad
Atticum. And in the verie booke it selfe, Tullie will not haue
it hidden, but both Catulus and Crassus do oft and pleasantly lay
that stelth to Antonius charge. Now, for the handling of the
matter, was Tullie so precise and curious rather to follow an
other mans Paterne, than to inuent some newe shape him selfe,
namelie in that booke, wherin he purposed, to leaue to
posteritie, the glorie of his witte ? yea forsoth, that he did.
And this is not my gessing and gathering, nor onelie performed
by Tullie in verie deed, but vttered also by Tullie in plaine
wordes : to teach other men thereby, what they should do, in
taking like matter in hand.
And that which is specially to be marked, Tullie doth vtter
plainlie his conceit and purpose therein, by the mouth of
the wisest man in all that companie : for sayth Sctsuola him
selfe, Cur non imitamur, Crasse, Socratem ilium, qui est in Phesdro
Platonis &c.
And furder to vnderstand, that Tullie did not obiter and
bichance, but purposelie and mindfullie bend him selfe to
a precise and curious Imitation of Plato, concernyng the shape
270 'The second booke teachyng
and forme of those bookes, marke I pray you, how curious
Tullie is to vtter his purpose and doyng therein, writing thus to
Atticus.
Quod in bis Oratorijs libris, quos tantopere laudas, penonam
desideras Sceeuolee, nan earn temerl dimoui : Sed fed idem, quod in
7ro\iTeia Deus ille noster P/ato, cum in Piraeum Socrates venisset ad
Cephalum locupletem & festiuum Senem, quoad primus ille sermo
haberetur, adest in disputando senex : Deinde, cum ipse quog
commodissime locutus esset^ ad rem diuina d'tc'it se velle discedere^
nea postea reuertitur. Credo Platonem vix putasse satis consonum
fore^ si hominem id estatis in tarn longo sermone diutius retinuisset :
Multo ego satius hoc mihi cauendum putaui in Sc&uola, qui £ff estate
et valetudine erat ea qua meministi^ & his honoribus^ vt vix satis
decorum videretur eum plures dies esse in Crassi Tusculano. Et erat
primi libn sermo non alienus a Sc<euolts studijs : reliqui libri
Te^voKo^iav habenty vt scis. Huic ioculatoriee disputationi senem
ilium vt noras, interesse sane nolui.
If Cicero had not opened him selfe, and declared hys owne
thought and doynges herein, men that be idle, and ignorant, and
enuious of other mens diligence and well doinges, would haue
sworne that Tullie had neuer mynded any soch thing, but that
of a precise curiositie, we fayne and forge and father soch
thinges of TuHie, as he neuer ment in deed. I write this, not
for nought : for I haue heard some both well learned, and
otherwayes verie wise, that by their lustie misliking of soch
diligence, haue drawen back the forwardnes of verie good wittes.
But euen as such men them selues, do sometymes stumble vpon
doyng well by chance and benefite of good witte, so would
I haue our scholer alwayes able to do well by order of learnyng
and right skill of Judgement.
Concernyng Imitation, many learned men haue written,
with moch diuersitie for the matter, and therfore with great
contrarietie and some stomacke amongest them selues. I
haue read as many as I could get diligentlie, and what I
thinke of euerie one of them, I will freelie say my mynde.
With which freedome I trust good men will beare, bicause
it shall tend to neither spitefull nor harmefull controuersie.
In Tullie, it is well touched, shortlie taught, not fullie
Ci( declared by Ant. in 2. de Or at : and afterward
in Orat. ad Brutum^ for the liking and misliking
the ready 'way to the Latin tong. 271
of Isocrates : and the contrarie Judgement of Tullie against
Caluus, Brutus, and Calidius, de genere dicendi Attico y Asiatico.
Dionis. Halic. irepl /u^o-eta?. I feare is lost : which
Author, next Aristotle, Plato, and Tullie, of all
Dio, Hali-
car.
other, that write of eloquence, by the Judgement
of them that be best learned, deserueth the next
prayse and place.
Quintilian writeth of it, shortly and coldlie for the matter,
yet hotelie and spitefullie enough, agaynst the .
Imitation of Tullie.
Erasmus, beyng more occupied in spying other mens faultes,
than declaryng his owne aduise, is mistaken of
many, to the great hurt of studie, for his authoritie
sake. For he writeth rightlie, rightlie vnderstanded : he and
Longolius onelie differing in this, that the one seemeth to giue
ouermoch, the other ouer litle, to him, whom they both, best
loued, and chiefly allowed of all other. '
Bitdtfus in his Commentaries roughlie and obscurelie,
after his kinde of writyng : and for the matter, ,, ,
' & . > Budaus.
caryed somwhat out or the way in ouermuch
misliking the Imitation of Tullie. ph, Me-
Phil. Melanffhon, learnedlie and trewlie. lanch.
Camerarius largely with a learned Judgement, loa. Ca-
but somewhat confusedly, and with ouer rough mer-
a stile.
Sambucus, largely, with a right iudgement but somewhat
a crooked stile. Sdbucus.
Other haue written also, as Cortesius to
Politian, and that verie well : Bembus ad Picum p »^V
a great deale better, but loan. Sturmius de ,'
XT j •»• t- t _3 j /i i- i- • loan. Stur-
Nobilitate literata, cs> de Amissa dicendi ratione, mius.
farre best of all, in myne opinion, that euer tooke
this matter in hand. For all the rest, declare chiefly this point,
whether one, or many, or all, are to be followed : but Sturmius
onelie hath most learnedlie declared, who is to be followed, what
is to be followed, and the best point of all, by what way & order,
trew Imitatio is rightlie to be exercised. And although Sturmius
herein doth farre passe all other, yet hath he not so fullie and
perfitelie done it, as I do wishe he had, and as I know he could.
For though he hath done it perfitelie for precept, yet hath he
272 The second booke teachyng
not done it perfitelie enough for example : which he did, neither
for lacke of skill, nor by negligence, but of purpose, conteted
with one or two examples, bicause he was mynded in those two
bookes, to write of it both shortlie, and also had to touch other
matters.
Barthol. Riccius Ferrariensis also hath written learnedlie,
diligentlie and verie largelie of this matter euen as hee did before
verie well de Apparatu lingua Lot. He writeth the better in
myne opinion, bicause his whole doctrine, iudgement, and
order, semeth to be borowed out of lo. Stur. bookes. He
addeth also examples, the best kinde of teaching : wherein he
doth well, but not well enough : in deede, he committeth no
faulte, but yet, deserueth small praise. He is content with the
meane, and followeth not the best : as a man, that would feede
vpon Acornes, whan he may eate, as good cheape, the finest
wheat bread. He teacheth for example, where and how, two
or three late Italian Poetes do follow Virgil: and how Virgil
him selfe in the storie of Dido, doth wholie Imitate Catullus in
the like matter of Ariadna : Wherein I like better his diligence
and order of teaching, than his iudgemet in choice of examples
for Imitation. But, if he had done thus : if he had declared
where and how, how oft and how many wayes Virgil doth folow
Homer, as for example the coming of Vlysses to Alcynous and
Calypso, with the comming of jEneas to Cartage and Dido : Like-
wise the games running, wrestling, and shoting, that Achilles
maketh in Homer, with the selfe same games, that ASneas
maketh in Virgil: The harnesse of Achilles, with the harnesse
of Mneas, and the maner of making of them both by Vulcane :
The notable combate betwixt Achilles and Hettor, with as
notable a combate betwixt ALneas and Turnus. The going
downe to hell of Vlysses in Homer, with the going downe to hell
of /Eneas in firgil: and other places infinite mo, as similitudes,
narrations, messages, discriptions of persones, places, battels,
tempestes, shipwrackes, and common places for diuerse purposes,
which be as precisely taken out of Homer, as euer did Painter in
London follow the picture of any faire personage. And whe
thies places had bene gathered together by this way of diligence
than to haue conferred them together by this order of teaching
as, diligently to marke what is kept and vsed in either author,
in wordes, in sentences, in matter : what is added : what is left
the ready way to the Latin tong. 273
out : what ordered otherwise, either preeponendo, interponendo, or
postponendo : And what is altered for any respect, in word,
phrase, sentence, figure, reason, argument, or by any way of
circumstance : If Riccius had done this, he had not onely bene
well liked, for his diligence in teaching, but also iustlie com-
mended for his right iudgement in right choice of examples for
the best Imitation.
Riccius also for Imitation of prose declareth where and how
Longolius doth folow Tullie, but as for Longolius, I would not
haue him the patern of our Imitation. In deede : in Longolius
shoppe, be proper and faire shewing colers, but as for shape,
figure, and naturall cumlines, by the iudgement of best iudging
artificers, he is rather allowed as one to be borne withall, than
especially commeded, as one chieflie to be folowed.
If Riccius had taken for his exaples, where Tullie him selfe
foloweth either Plato or Demosthenes, he had shot than at the
right marke. But to excuse Riccius, somwhat, though I can
not fullie defend him, it may be sayd, his purpose was, to teach
onelie the Latin tong, when thys way that I do wish, to ioyne
Virgil with Homer, to read Tullie with Demosthenes and Plato,
requireth a cunning and perfite Master in both the tonges. It
is my wish in deede, and that by good reason : For who so euer
will write well of any matter, must labor to expresse that, that
is perfite, and not to stay and content himselfe with the meane :
yea, I say farder, though it be not vnposible, yet it is verie rare,
and meruelous hard, to proue excellent in the Latin tong, for
him that is not also well seene in the Greeke tong. Tullie him
selfe, most excellent of nature, most diligent in labor, brought
vp from his cradle, in that place, and in that tyme, where and
whan the Latin tong most florished naturallie in euery mans
mouth, yet was not his owne tong able it selfe to make him so
cunning in his owne tong, as he was in deede : but the
knowledge and Imitation of the Greeke tong withall.
This he confesseth himselfe: this he vttereth in many places,
as those can tell best, that vse to read him most.
Therefore thou, that shotest at perfection in the Latin tong,
thinke not thy selfe wiser than Tullie was, in choice of the way,
that leadeth rightlie to the same : thinke not thy witte better
than Tullies was, as though that may serue thee that was not
sufficient for him. P'or euen as a hauke flieth not hie with one
274 ^he second booke teachyng
wing : euen so a man reacheth not to excellency with one
tong.
I haue bene a looker on in the Cokpit of learning thies
many yeares: And one Cock onelie haue I knowne, which
with one wing, euen at this day, doth passe all other, in myne
opinion, that euer I saw in any pitte in England, though they
had two winges. Yet neuerthelesse, to flie well with one
wing, to runne fast with one leg, be rather, rare Maistreis
moch to be merueled at, than sure examples safelie to be
folowed. A Bushop that now liueth, a good man, whose
iudgement in Religion I better like, than his opinion in per-
fitnes in other learning, said once vnto me: we haue no nede
now of the Greeke tong, when all thinges be translated into
Latin. But the good ma vnderstood not, that euen the best
translation, is, for mere necessitie, but an euill imped wing to
flie withall, or a heuie stompe leg of wood to go withall : soch,
the hier they flie, the sooner they falter and faill: the faster
they runne, the offer they stumble, and sorer they fall. Soch
as will nedes so flie, may flie at a Pye, and catch a Dawe : And
soch runners, as commonlie, they shoue and sholder to stand
formost, yet in the end they cum behind others & deserue
but the hopshakles, if the Masters of the game be right iudgers.
Therefore in perusing thus, so many diuerse bookes for
Imitation, it came into my head that a verie pro-
rado'lmi- fitable booke might be made de Imitatione, after
tationis. an other sort, than euer yet was attempted of that
matter, conteyning a certaine fewe fitte preceptes,
vnto the which should be gathered and applied plentie of
examples, out of the choisest authors of both the tonges.
This worke would stand, rather in good diligence, for the
gathering, and right iudgement for the apte applying of those
examples : than any great learning or vtterance at all.
The doing thereof, would be more pleasant, than painfull,
& would bring also moch proffet to all that should read it, and
great praise to him would take it in hand, with iust desert of
thankes.
Erasmus, giuyng him selfe to read ouer all Authors Greke
Erasmus an^ Latin, seemeth to haue prescribed to him
order in his selfe this order of readyng : that is, to note out
by the way, three speciall pointes: All Adagies,
the ready way to the Latin tong. 275
all similitudes, and all wittie sayinges of most notable person-
ages : And so, by one labour, he left to posteritie, three notable
bookes, & namelie two his Chiliades, Apophthegmata and Similia.
Likewise, if a good student would bend him selfe to read
diligently ouer Tullie, and with him also at , ,,/ ,
the same tyme, as diligetly Plato, & Xenopho,
with his bookes of Philosophic, Isocrates, & Cicero.
Demosthenes with his orations, & Aristotle with
Xenophon.
Isocrates.
Demosth.
his Rhetorickes: which fiue of all other, be
those, whom Tullie best loued, & specially followed : & would
marke diligetly in Tullie, where he doth exprtmere or effingere
(which be the verie propre wordes of Imitation) either, Coplam
Platonis or venustate Xenophontis, suauitatem Isocratis, or vim
Demosthenis, propriam y puram subtilitatem Aristotelis, and not
onelie write out the places diligentlie, and lay them together
orderlie, but also to conferre them with skilfull iudgement by
those few rules, which I haue expressed now twise before : if
that diligence were taken, if that order were vsed, what perfite
knowledge of both the tonges, what readie and pithie vtterance
in all matters, what right and deepe iudgement in all kinde of
learnyng would follow, is scarse credible to be beleued.
These bookes, be not many, nor long, nor rude in speach,
nor meane in matter, but next the Maiestie of Gods holie word,
most worthie for a man, the louer of learning and honestie, to
spend his life in. Yea, I haue heard worthie M. Cheke many
tymes say : I would haue a good student passe and iorney
through all Authors both Greke and Latin: but he that will
dwell in these few bookes onelie : first, in Gods holie Bible, and
than ioyne with it, Tullie in Latin, Plato, Aristotle: Xenophon:
Isocrates: and Demosthenes in Greke: must nedes proue an excel-
lent man.
Some men alreadie in our dayes, haue put to their helping
handes, to this worke of Imitation. As Peri- Perionius.
onius, Her. Stephanus in dictionario Ciceroniano, //. steph.
and P. Vittorius most praiseworthelie of all, in p. victor-
that his learned worke conteyning xxv. bookes de ««•
varia leflione: in which bookes be ioyned diligentlie together the
best Authors of both the tonges where one doth seeme to
imitate an other.
But all these, with Macrobius, Hessus, and other, be no
s 2
276 T'he second booke teachyng
more but common porters, caryers, and bringers of matter and
stuffe togither. They order nothing: They lay before you,
what is done: they do not teach you, how it is done: They
busie not them selues with forme of buildyng: They do not
declare, this stuffe is thus framed by Demosthenes, and thus and
thus by Tullie, and so likewise in Xenophon, Plato and Isocrates
and Aristotle. For ioyning Pirgil with Homer I haue suf-
ficientlie declared before.
The like diligence I would wish to be taken in Pindar and
Horace an equall match for all respectes.
Ptnaarus. T T> i- / i n- A r n
,, .. In 1 ragedies, (the goodliest Argument or a II.
fferatms. . e , ° \\ t>
and for the vse, either or a learned preacher, or a
Ciuill lentleman, more profitable than Homer, Pindar, Virgill,
and Horace: yea comparable in myne opinion, with the doctrine
Sophocles. of Aristotle, Plato, and Xenophon,} the Grecians,
Euripides. Sophocles and Euripides far ouer match our Seneca,
Seneca. in Latin, namely in olKovopiq et Decora, although
Senacaes elocutio and verse be verie commendable for his tyme.
And for the matters of Hercules, Thebes, Hippolytus, and Troie,
his Imitation is to be gathered into the same booke, and to be
tryed by the same touchstone, as is spoken before.
In histories, and namelie in Liuie, the like diligence of
Imitation, could bring excellent learning, and breede stayde
Judgement, in taking any like matter in hand.
Onely Liuie were a sufficient taske for one mans studie,
Tit. Liuius. to compare him, first with his fellow for all re-
Dwn. Hali- spectes, Dion. Halicarnassteus: who both, liued in
cam. one tyme: tooke both one historic in hande to
write: deserued both like prayse of learnyng and eloquence.
p ,.,. Than with Polybius that wise writer, whom Liuie
professeth to follow: & if he would denie it, yet
it is plaine, that the best part of the thyrd Decade in Liuie, is in
a maner translated out of the thyrd and rest of
Polibius: Lastlie with Thucydides, to whose Imita-
tion Liuie is curiouslie bent, as may well appeare by that one
Oration of those of Campania, asking aide of the
£# ^ ' Romanes agaynst the Samnites, which is wholie
taken, Sentence, Reason, Argument, and order,
Thudd i out tne Oration of Corcyra, asking like aide of
the Athenienses against them of Corinth. If some
the ready way to the Latin tong. 277
diligent student would take paynes to compare them togither, he
should easelie perceiue, that I do say trew. A booke, thus
wholie filled with examples of Imitatio, first out of Tullie,
compared with Plato, Xenophon, Isocrates, Demosthenes and
Aristotle: than out of Virgil and Horace, with Homer and
Pindar: next out of Seneca with Sophocles and Euripides: Lastlie
out of Liuie, with Thucydides, Polibius and Halicarnass<zus,
gathered with good diligence, and compared with right order,
as I haue expressed before, were an other maner of worke for
all kinde of learning, & namely for eloquence, than be those
cold gatheringes of Macrobius, Hessus, Perionius, Stephanas, and
Vittorius, which may be vsed, as I sayd before, in this case, as
porters and caryers, deseruing like prayse, as soch men do
wages ; but onely Sturmius is he, out of who, the trew suruey
and whole workemanship is speciallie to be learned.
I trust, this my writyng shall giue some good student
occasion, to take some peece in hand of this worke of Imitation.
And as I had rather haue any do it, than my Q us de
selfe, yet surelie my selfe rather tha none at all. recta imi-
And by Gods grace, if God do lend me life, with tandi ra-
health, free laysure and libertie, with good likyng
and a merie heart, I will turne the best part of my studie and
tyme, to toyle in one or other peece of this worke of Imitation.
This diligence to gather examples, to giue light and vnder-
standyng to goodpreceptes,is no new inuention,but speciallie vsed
of the best Authors and oldestwriters. For Aristotle >._..,
i • i/-/ T^- r • 11 i\i i Anstoteles.
him selfe, (as Diog. Laertius declaretn) when he
had written that goodlie booke of the Topickes, did gather out
of stories and Orators, so many examples as filled xv. bookes,
onelie to expresse the rules of his Topickes. These were the
Commentaries, that Aristotle thought fit for hys
Topickes: And therfore to speake as I thinke, I ^SS-
neuer saw yet any Commentarie vpon Aristotles ci et Lati-
Logicke, either in Greke or Latin, that euer I ni in Dia.-
lyked, bicause they be rather spent in declaryng stoteiis/'
scholepoynt rules, than in gathering fit examples
for vse and vtterance, either by pen or talke. For preceptes in
all Authors, and namelie in Aristotle, without applying vnto
them, the Imitation of examples, be hard, drie, and cold, and
therfore barrayn, vnfruitfull and vnpleasant. But Aristotle,
278 The second booke teachyng
namelie in his Toplckes and Blenches, should be, not onelie
fruitful!, but also pleasant to, if examples out of Plato, and
other good Authors, were diligentlie gathered, and aptlie
Precepta applied vnto his most perfit preceptes there,
in Aristot. And it is notable, that my frende Sturmius writeth
Exempla herein, that there is no precept in Aristotles
in Platone. Topickes, wherof plentie of examples be not
manifest in Platos workes. And I heare say, that an excellent
learned man, Tomitanus in Italie, hath expressed euerie fallacion
in Aristotle, with diuerse examples out of Plato. Would to
God, I might once see, some worthie student of Aristotle and
Plato in Cambrige, that would ioyne in one booke the preceptes
of the one, with the examples of the other. For such a labor,
were one speciall peece of that worke of Imitation, which I do
wishe were gathered together in one Volume.
Cambrige, at my first comming thither, but not at my
going away, committed this fault in reading the preceptes of
Aristotle without the examples of other Authors : But herein,
in my time thies men of worthie memorie, M. Redman,
M. Cheke, M. Smith, M. Haddon, M. Watson, put so to
their helping handes, as that vniuersitie, and all studentes there,
as long as learning shall last, shall be bounde vnto them, if that
trade in studie be trewlie folowed, which those men left behinde
them there.
By this small mention of Cambridge, I am caryed into three
imaginations: first, into a sweete remembrance of my tyme
spent there: than, into som carefull thoughts, for the greuous
alteration that folowed sone after: lastlie, into much ioy to
heare tell, of the good recouerie and earnest forwardnes in all
good learning there agayne.
To vtter theis my thoughts somwhat more largelie, were
somwhat beside my matter, yet not very farre out of the way,
bycause it shall wholy tend to the good encoragement and right
consideration of learning, which is my full purpose in writing
this litle booke : whereby also shall well appeare this sentence
to be most trewe, that onely good men, by their gouernment
& example, make happie times, in euery degree and state.
Doctor Nico. Medcalfe, that honorable father, was Master
D. Nic. °^ $• lohnes Colledge, when I came thether : A
Medcalf. man meanelie learned himselfe, but not meanely
the ready way to the Latin tong. 279
affectioned to set forward learning in others. He found
that Colledge spending scarse two hundred markes by yeare :
he left it spending a thousand markes and more. Which
he procured, not with his mony, but by his wisdome ; not
chargeablie bought by him, but liberallie geuen by others by his
meane, for the zeale & honor they bare to learning. And that
which is worthy of memorie, all thies giuers were almost
Northenmen : who being liberallie rewarded in the seruice of
their Prince, bestowed it as liberallie for the good of their
Contrie. Som men thought therefore, that D. Medcalfe was
parciall to Northrenmen, but sure I am of this, that North-
renme were parciall, in doing more good, and geuing more
lades to ye forderance of learning, than any other
contrie me, in those dayes, did : which deede ™? pajci"
' . ' i /- alitie °f
should haue bene, rather an example or goodnes, Northren
for other to folowe, than matter of malice, for any men in
C T /
to enuie, as some there were that did. Trewly, r'0iie e ^
D. Medcalfe was parciall to none : but indifferent
to all : a master for the whole, a father to euery one, in that
Colledge. There was none so poore, if he had, either wil to
goodnes, or wit to learning, that could lacke being there, or
should depart from thence for any need. I am witnes my selfe,
that mony many times was brought into yong mens studies by
strangers whom they knew not. In which doing, this worthy
Nicolaus folowed the steppes of good olde S. Nicolaus, that
learned Bishop. He was a Papist in deede, but would to God,
amonges all vs Protestats I might once see but one, that would
winne like praise, in doing like good, for the aduauncement of
learning and vertue. And yet, though he were a Papist, if any
yong man, geuen to new learning (as they termed it) went
beyond his fellowes, in witte, labor, and towardnes, euen the
same, neyther lacked, open praise to encorage him, nor priuate
exhibition to mainteyne hym, as worthy Syr /. Cheke^ if he
were aliue would beare good witnes and so can many mo.
I my selfe one of the meanest of a great number, in that
Colledge, because there appeared in me som small shew of
towardnes and diligence, lacked not his fauor to forder me in
learning.
And being a boy, new Bacheler of arte, I chanced amonges
my companions to speake against the Pope : which matter was
280 T'he second booke teachyng
than in cucry mans mouth, bycause D. Haines and D. Skippe
were cum from the Court, to debate the same matter, by
preaching and disputation in the vniuersitie. This hapned the
same tyme, when I stoode to be felow there : my taulke came
to D. Medcalfes eare: I was called before him and the Seniores:
and after greuous rebuke, and some punishment, open warning
was geuen to all the felowes, none to be so hardie to geue me
his voice at that election. And yet for all those open threates,
the good father himselfe priuilie procured, that I should euen
than be chosen felow. But, the election being done, he made
countinance of great discontentation thereat. This good mans
goodnes, and fatherlie discretion, vsed towardes me that one
day, shall neuer out of my remembrance all the dayes of my
life. And for the same cause, haue I put it here, in this small
record of learning. For next Gods prouidence, surely that day,
was by that good fathers meanes, Dies natalis^ to me, for the
whole foundation of the poore learning I haue, and of all the
furderance, that hetherto else where I haue obteyned.
This his goodnes stood not still in one or two, but flowed
aboundantlie ouer all that Colledge, and brake out also to
norishe good wittes in euery part of that vniuersitie : whereby,
at this departing thence, he left soch a companie of fellowes and
scholers in S. lohnes Colledge, as can scarse be found now in
some whole vniuersitie : which, either for diuinitie, on the one
side or other, or for Ciuill seruice to their Prince and contrie,
haue bene, and are yet to this day, notable ornaments to this
whole Realme : Yea S. lohnes did the so florish, as Trinitie
college, that Princely house now, at the first erectio, was but
Colonia dedufta out of S. Ihones^ not onelie for their Master,
fellowes, and scholers, but also, which is more, for their whole,
both order of learning, and discipline of maners : & yet to this
day, it neuer tooke Master but such as was bred vp before in
S. lohnes : doing the dewtie of a good Colonia to her Metropolis,
as the auncient Cities in Greice and some yet in Italic, at this
day, are accustomed to do.
S. lohnes stoode in this state, vntill those heuie tymes, and
that greuous change that chanced. An. 1553. whan mo perfite
scholers were dispersed from thence in one moneth, than many
Psal 80 yeares can reare vp againe. For, whan Aper de
Sylua had passed the seas, and fastned his foote
the ready way to the Latin tong. 281
againe in England, not onely the two faire groues of learning
in England were eyther cut vp, by the roote, or troden downe
to the ground and wholie went to wracke, but the yong spring
there, and euerie where else, was pitifullie nipt and ouertroden
by very beastes, and also the fairest standers of all, were rooted
vp, and cast into the fire, to the great weakning euen at this
day of Christes Chirch in England, both for Religion and
learning.
And what good could chance than to the vniuersities, whan
som of the greatest, though not of the wisest nor best learned,
nor best men neither of that side, did labor to perswade, that
ignorance was better than knowledge, which they ment, not for
the laitie onelie, but also for the greatest rable of their spiritu-
altie, what other pretense openlie so euer they made : and
therefore did som of them at Cambrige (whom I will not name
openlie,) cause hedge priestes fette oute of the contrie, to be
made fellowes in the vniuersitie : saying, in their talke priuilie,
and declaring by their deedes openlie, that he was, felow good
enough for their tyme, if he could were a gowne and a tipet
cumlie, and haue hys crowne shorne faire and roundlie, and
could turne his Portesse and pie readilie : whiche I speake not
to reproue any order either of apparell, or other dewtie, that
may be well and indifferentlie vsed, but to note the miserie of
that time, whan the benefites prouided for learning were so
fowlie misused. And what was the frute of this seade ?
Verely, Judgement in doctrine was wholy altered : order in
discipline very sore changed : the loue of good learning, began
sodenly to wax cold : the knowledge of the tonges (in spite of
some that therein had florished) was manifestly contemned :
and so, ye way of right studie purposely peruerted : the choice
of good authors of mallice confownded. Olde sophistrie (I say
not well) not olde, but that new rotten sophistrie began to
beard and sholder logicke in her owne tong : yea, I know, that
heades were cast together, and counsell deuised, that Duns, with
all the rable of barbarous questionistes, should haue dispossessed
of their place and rowmes, Aristotle, Plato, Tull'te, .. .
and Demosthenes, when good M. Redman, and plato
those two worthy starres of that vniuersitie, cicero.
M. Cheke, and M. Smith, with their scholers, had Demost.
brought to florishe as notable in Cambrige, as
282 The second booke teachyng
euer they did in Grece and in Italic : and for the doctrine of
those fowre, the fowre pillers of learning, Cambrige than geuing
place to no vniuersitie, neither in France, Spaine, Germanic,
nor Italic. Also in outward behauiour, than began simplicitie
in apparell, to be layd aside : Courtlie galantnes to be taken vp :
frugalitie in diet was priuately misliked : Towne going to good
cheare openly vsed : honest pastimes, ioyned with
labor, left of in the fieldes : vnthrifty and idle
games, haunted corners, and occupied the nightes : contention
in youth, no where for learning : factions in the elders euery
where for trifles. All which miseries at length, by Gods
prouidence, had their end 16. Nouemb. 1558. Since which
tyme, the yong spring hath shot vp so faire, as now there be in
Cambrige againe, many goodly plantes (as did well appeare at
the Queenes Maiesties late being there) which are like to grow
to mightie great timber, to the honor of learning, and great good
of their contrie, if they may stand their tyme, as the best
plantes there were wont to do : and if som old dotterell trees,
with standing ouer nie them, and dropping vpon them, do not
either hinder, or crooke their growing, wherein my feare is y6
lesse, seing so worthie a lustice of an Oyre hath the present
ouersight of that whole chace, who was himselfe somtym, in
the fairest spring that euer was there of learning, one of the
forwardest yong plantes, in all that worthy College of <S. Ihones :
who now by grace is growne to soch greatnesse, as, in the
temperate and quiet shade of his wisdome, next the prouidece
of God, and goodnes of one, in theis our daies, Re/igio for
sinceritie, liters for order and aduauncement, Respub. for happie
and quiet gouernment, haue to great rejoysing of all good men,
speciallie reposed them selues.
Now to returne to that Question, whether one, a few, many
or all, are to be folowed, my aunswere shalbe short : All, for
him that is desirous to know all : yea, the worst of all, as
Questionistes, and all the barbarous nation of scholemen, helpe
for one or other consideration : But in euerie separate kinde of
learning and studie, by it selfe, ye must follow, choiselie a few,
and chieflie some one, and that namelie in our schole of
eloquence, either for penne or talke. And as in portraicture
and paintyng wise men chose not that workman, that can onelie
make a faire hand, or a well facioned legge but soch one, as can
the ready way to the Latin tong. 283
furnish vp fullie, all the fetures of the whole body, of a man,
woman and child : and with all is able to, by good skill, to giue
to euerie one of these three, in their proper kinde, the right
forme, the trew figure, the naturall color, that is fit and dew,
to the dignitie of a man, to the bewtie of a woman, to the
sweetnes of a yong babe : euen likewise, do we seeke soch one
in our schole to folow, who is able alwayes, in all matters, to
teach plainlie, to delite pleasantlie, and to cary away by force of
wise talke, all that shall heare or read him : and is so excellent
in deed, as witte is able, or wishe can hope, to attaine vnto :
And this not onelie to serue in the Latin or Greke tong, but
also in our own English language. But yet, bicause the prouid-
ence of God hath left vnto vs in no other tong, saue onelie in
the Greke and Latin tong, the trew preceptes, and perfite
examples of eloquence, therefore must we seeke in the Authors
onelie of those two tonges, the trewe Paterne of Eloquence, if
in any other mother tongue we looke to attaine, either to perfit
vtterance of it our selues, or skilfull Judgement of it in others.
And now to know, what Author doth medle onelie with
some one peece and member of eloquence, and who doth
perfitelie make vp the whole bodie, I will declare, as I can call
to remembrance the goodlie talke, that I haue had oftentymes,
of the trew difference of Authors, with that lentleman of
worthie memorie, my dearest frend, and teacher of all the litle
poore learning I haue, Syr lohn Cheke.
The trew difference of Authors is best knowne, per diuersa
genera dicendi, that euerie one vsed. And therfore here I will
deuide genus dicendi, not into these three, Tenut, mediocre, &
grande, but as the matter of euerie Author requireth, as
'Poeticum.
. -o Historicum.
in (jenus • D;., ...
Philosophicum.
Oratorium.
These differre one from an other, in choice of wordes, in
framyng of Sentences, in handling of Argumentes, and vse of
right forme, figure, and number, proper and fitte for euerie
matter, and euerie one of these is diuerse also in it selfe, as the
first.
284 The second booke teachyng
Poeticum, in
Comicum.
Tragicum.
Eplcum.
.Melicum.
And here, who soeuer hath bene diligent to read aduisedlie
ouer, Terence, Seneca, Virgil, Horace, or els Aristophanes, Sophocles,
Homer, and Pindar, and shall diligetly marlce the difference
they vse, in proprietie of wordes, in forme of sentence, in
handlyng of their matter, he shall easelie perceiue, what is fitte
and decorum in euerie one, to the trew vse of perfite Imitation.
Whan M. Watson in S. lohns College at Cambrige wrote his
excellent Tragedie of Absalon, M. Cheke, he and I, for that part
of trew Imitation, had many pleasant talkes togither, in com-
paring the preceptes of Aristotle and Horace de Arte Poetica,
with the examples of Euripides, Sophocles, and Seneca. Few
men, in writyng of Tragedies in our dayes, haue shot at this
marke. Some in England, moe in France, Germanie, and Italie,
also haue written Tragedies in our tyme : of the which, not
one I am sure is able to abyde the trew touch of Aristotles
preceptes, and Euripides examples, saue onely two, that euer I
saw, M. Watsons Absalon, and Georgius Buckananus lephthe.
One man in Cambrige, well liked of many, but best liked of
him selfe, was many tymes bold and busie, to bryng matters
vpon stages, which he called Tragedies. In one, wherby he
looked to wynne his spurres, and whereat many ignorant felowes
fast clapped their handes, he began the Protasis with Trochteijs
Oftonarijs : which kinde of verse, as it is but seldome and rare
in Tragedies, so is it neuer vsed, saue onelie in Epitasi : whan
the Tragedie is hiest and hotest, and full of greatest troubles.
I remember ful well what M. Watson merelie sayd vnto me of
his blindnesse and boldnes in that behalfe although otherwise,
there passed much frendship betwene the. M. Watson had an
other maner care of perfection, with a feare and reuerence of
the Judgement of the best learned : Who to this day would
neuer suffer, yet his Absalon to go abroad, and that onelie,
bicause, in locis paribus, Anapestus is twise or thrise vsed in stede
of Iambus. A smal faulte, and such one, as perchance would
neuer be marked, no neither in Italie nor France. This I write,
not so much, to note the first, or praise the last, as to leaue in
the ready way to the Latin tong. 285
memorie of writing, for good example to posteritie, what
perfection, in any tyme, was, most diligentlie sought for in like
maner, in all kinde of learnyng, in that most worthie College
of S. Johns in Cambrige.
Diaria.
TT. . • . Annales.
Histoncum in • „
Lommentanos.
Justam Historiam.
For what proprietie in wordes, simplicitie in sentences,
plainnesse and light, is cumelie for these kindes, Caesar and
Liuie, for the two last, are perfite examples of Imitation : And
for the two first, the old paternes be lost, and as for some that
be present and of late tyme, they be fitter to be read once for
some pleasure, than oft to be perused, for any good Imitation of
them.
D, ., ,,. . (Sermonem, as officia Clc. et Eth. Arist.
Fhilosophicum in \ ^ . '
\L>ontentionem.
As, the Dialoges of Plato, Xenophon, and Cicero : of which
kinde of learnyng, and right Imitation therof, Carolus Sigonius
hath written of late, both learnedlie and eloquentlie : but best
of all my frende loan. Sturmius in hys Commentaries vpon
Gorgias Platonis, which booke I haue in writyng, and is not yet
set out in Print.
(Humile.
Oratorium in \ Mediocre.
I Sublime.
Examples of these three, in the Greke tong, be plentifull &
perfite, as Lycias, Isocrates, and Demosthenes', and
all three, in onelie Demosthenes, in diuerse orations tstas-
as contra Olimpiodorum, in leptinem, & pro Ctesi- n
phonte. And trew it is, that Hermogines writeth
of Demosthenes, that all formes of Eloquence be perfite in him.
In Ciceroes Orations, Medium £ff sublime be most
excellentlie handled, but Humile in his Orations,
is seldome sene : yet neuerthelesse in other bookes, as in some
part of his offices, & specially in Partitionibus, he is comparable
in hoc humili & disciplinabili genere, euen with the best that euer
286 T'he second booke teachyng
wrote in Greke. But of Cicero more fullie in fitter place. And
thus, the trew difference of stiles, in euerie Author, and euerie
kinde of learnyng may easelie be knowne by this diuision.
Poeticum.
. ~, Historicum.
in (jenus \ D/ •/ , , •
Philosophicum.
^Oratorlum.
Which I thought in this place to touch onelie, not to
prosecute at large, bicause, God willyng, in the Latin tong,
I will fullie handle it, in my booke de Imitatione,
Now, to touch more particularlie, which of those Authors,
that be now most commonlie in mens handes, will sone affourd
you some peece of Eloquence, and what maner a peece of
eloquence, and what is to be liked and folowed, and what to
be misliked and eschewed in them : and how some agayne will
furnish you fully withall, rightly, and wisely considered, som-
what I will write as I haue heard Syr Ikon Cheke many tymes
say.
The Latin tong, concerning any part of purenesse of it,
from the spring, to the decay of the same, did not endure moch
longer, than is the life of a well aged man, scarse one hundred
yeares from the tyme of the last Scipio Africanus and L<eliuS) to
the Empire of Augustus. And it is notable, that Pelleius Pater-
culus writeth of TW//V, how that the perfection of eloquence did
so remayne onelie in him and in his time, as before him, were
few, which might moch delight a man, or after him any, worthy
admiration, but soch as Tullle might haue scene, and such as
might haue scene Tullle. And good cause why : for no perfec-
tion is durable. Encrease hath a time, & decay likewise, but
all perfit ripenesse remaineth but a momet: as is plainly seen
in fruits, plummes and cherries : but more sensibly in flowers,
as Roses & such like, and yet as trewlie in all greater matters.
For what naturallie, can go no hier, must naturallie yeld &
stoupe againe.
Of this short tyme of any purenesse of the Latin tong, for
the first fortie yeare of it, and all the tyme before, we haue no
peece of learning left, saue Plautus and Terence, with a litle
rude vnperfit pamflet of the elder Cato. And as for P/autus,
except the scholemaster be able to make wise and ware choice,
the ready way to the Latin tong. 287
first in proprietie of wordes, than in framing of Phrases and
sentences, and chieflie in choice of honestie of matter, your
scholer were better to play, the learne all that is in him. But
surelie, if Judgement for the tong, and direction for the maners,
be wisely ioyned with the diligent reading of Plautus, than
trewlie Plautus, for that purenesse of the Latin tong in Rome,
whan Rome did most florish in wel doing, and so thereby, in
well speaking also, is soch a plentifull storehouse, for common
eloquence, in meane matters, and all priuate mens affaires, as
the Latin tong, for that respect, hath not the like agayne.
Whan I remember the worthy tyme of Rome, wherein P/autus
did Hue, I must nedes honor the talke of that tyme, which we
see P/autus doth vse.
Terence is also a storehouse of the same tong, for an other
tyme, following soone after, & although he be not so full &
plentiful as Plautus is, for multitude of matters, & diuersitie of
wordes, yet his wordes, be chosen so purelie, placed so orderly,
and all his stuffe so neetlie packed vp, and wittely compassed in
euerie place, as, by all wise mens iudgement, he is counted the
cunninger workeman, and to haue his shop, for the rowme that
is in it, more finely appointed, and trimlier ordered, than
Plautus is.
Three thinges chiefly, both in Plautus and Terence, are to
be specially considered. The matter, the vtterance, the words,
the meter. The matter in both, is altogether within the
compasse of the meanest mens maners, and doth not stretch
to any thing of any great weight at all, but standeth chiefly in
vtteryng the thoughtes and conditions of hard fathers, foolish
mothers, vnthrifty yong men, craftie seruantes, sotle bawdes,
and wilie harlots, and so, is modi spent, in finding out fine
fetches, and packing vp pelting matters, soch as in London
commonlie cum to the hearing of the Masters of Bridewell.
Here is base stuffe for that scholer, that should becum hereafter,
either a good minister in Religion, or a Ciuill lentleman in
seruice of his Prince and contrie : except the preacher do know
soch matters to confute them, whan ignorance surelie in all soch
thinges were better for a Ciuill lentleman, than knowledge.
And thus, for matter, both Plautus and Terence, be like meane
painters, that worke by halfes, and be cunning onelie, in making
the worst part of the picture, as if one were skilfull in painting
288 The second booke teachyng
the bodie of a naked person, from the nauell downward, but
nothing else.
For word and speach, Plautus is more plentiful!, and Terence
more pure and proper : And for one respect, Terence is to be
embraced aboue all that euer wrote in hys kinde of argument :
Bicause it is well known, by good recorde of learning, and that
by Ciceroes owne witnes that some Comedies bearyng Terence
name, were written by worthy Scipio, and wise L&lius, and
namely Heauton : and Adelpbi. And therefore as oft as I reade
those Comedies, so oft doth sound in myne eare, the pure fine
talke of Rome, which was vsed by the floure of the worthiest
nobilitie that euer Rome bred. Let the wisest man, and best
learned that liueth, read aduisedlie ouer, the first scene of
Heauton, and the first scene of Adelpbi, and let him consideratlie
iudge, whether it is the talke of a seruile stranger borne, or
rather euen that milde eloquent wise speach, which Cicero in
Brutus doth so liuely expresse in L&lius. And yet neuerthelesse,
in all this good proprietie of wordes, and purenesse of phrases
which be in Terence, ye must not follow him alwayes in placing
of them, bicause for the meter sake, some wordes in him,
somtyme, be driuen awrie, which require a straighter placing in
plaine prose, if ye will forme, as I would ye should do, your
speach and writing, to that excellent perntnesse, which was
onely in Tullie, or onelie in Tullies tyme.
The meter and verse of Plautus and Terence be verie meane,
and not to be followed : which is not their reproch,
Plautus & kut the fault of the tyme, wherein they wrote, whan
Terence. no kinde of Poetrie, in the Latin tong, was brought
to perfection, as doth well appeare in the fragmentes
of Ennius, Cescilius, and others, and euidentlie in Plautus &
Terence, if thies in Latin be compared with right skil, with Homer,
Euripides, Aristophanes, and other in Greeke of like sort. Cicero
him selfe doth complaine of this vnperfitnes, but more plainly
Quintilian, saying, in Comcedia maxime claudicamus, et vix leuem
consequimur vmbram : and most earnestly of all Horace in Arte
Poetica, which he doth namely propter carmen lambicum, and
referreth all good studentes herein to the Imitation of the Greeke
tong, saying.
Exemplaria Grxca
notturna versate manu, versate diurna.
the ready way to'* the Latin tong. 289
This matter maketh me gladly remember, my sweete tyme
spent at Cambrige, and the pleasant talke which I had oft with
M. Cheke, and M. Watson, of this fault, not onely in the olde
Latin Poets, but also in our new English Rymers at this day.
They wished as Virgil and Horace were not wedded to follow
the faultes of former fathers (a shrewd mariage in greater
matters) but by right Imitation of the perfit Grecias, had
brought Poetrie to perfitnesse also in the Latin tong, that we
Englishmen likewise would acknowledge and vnderstand right-
fully our rude beggerly ryming, brought first into Italic by
Gothes and Hunnes, whan all good verses and all good learning
to, were destroyd by them : and after caryed into France and
Germanic : and at last receyued into England by men of
excellent wit in deede, but of small learning, and lesse Judge-
ment in that behalfe.
But now, when men know the difference, and haue the
examples, both of the best, and of the worst, surelie, to follow
rather the Gothes in Ryming, than the Greekes in trew versifiyng,
were euen to eate ackornes with swyne, when we may freely
eate wheate bread emonges men. In deede, Chauser, Th.
Norton, of Bristow, my L. of Surrey, M. Wiat, Th. Phaer,
and other lentlemen, in translating Ouide, Palingenius, and
Seneca, haue gonne as farre to their great praise, as the copie
they followed could cary them, but, if soch good wittes, and
forward diligence, had bene directed to follow the best examples,
and not haue bene caryed by tyme and custome, to content
themselues with that barbarous and rude Ryming, emonges
their other worthy praises, which they haue iustly deserued,
this had not bene the least, to be counted emonges men of
learning and skill, more like vnto the Grecians, than vnto the
Gothians, in handling of their verse.
In deed, our English tong, hauing in vse chiefly, wordes of
one syllable which commonly be long, doth not well receiue the
nature of Carmen Heroicum, bicause daftylus, the aptest foote
for that verse, coteining one long & two short, is seldom there-
fore found in English : and doth also rather stumble than stand
vpon Monosyllabis. Quintilian in hys learned Chapiter =z^j
de Compositione, geueth this lesson de Monosyllabis,
before me : and in the same place doth iustlie inuey against all
Ryming, that if there be any, who be angrie with me, for
290 T"he second booke teachyng
misliking of Ryming, may be angry for company to, with
Quintilian also, for the same thing : And yet Quintilian had
not so iust cause to mislike of it than, as me haue at this day.
And although Carmen Exametrum doth rather trotte and
hoble, than runne smothly in our English tong, yet I am sure,
our English tong will receiue carmen lambicum as naturallie, as
either Greke or Latin. But for ignorance, men ca not like, &
for idlenes, men will not labor, to cum to any perfitenes at all.
For, as the worthie Poetes in Athens and Rome, were more
carefull to satisfie the Judgement of one learned, than rashe in
pleasing the humor of a rude multitude, euen so if men in
England now, had the like reuerend regard to learning skill and
Judgement, and durst not presume to write, except they came
with the like learnyng, and also did vse like diligence, in
searchyng out, not onelie iust measure in euerie meter, as euerie
ignorant person may easely do, but also trew quantitie in euery
foote and sillable, as onelie the learned shalbe able to do, and as
the Grekes and Romanes were wont to do, surelie than rash
ignorant heads, which now can easely recken vp fourten sillables,
and easelie stumble on euery Ryme, either durst not, for lacke
of such learnyng : or els would not, in auoyding such labor, be
P^.-—., so busie, as euerie where they be : and shoppes in
London should not be so full of lewd and rude
rymes, as commonlie they are. But now, the ripest of tong,
be readiest to write : And many dayly in setting out bookes and
balettes make great shew of blossomes and buddes, in whom is
neither, roote of learning, nor frute of wisedome at all. Some that
make Chaucer in English and Petrarch in Italian, their Gods in
verses, and yet be not able to make trew difference, what is
a fault, and what is a iust prayse, in those two worthie wittes,
will moch mislike this my writyng. But such men be euen
like followers of Chaucer and Petrarke, as one here in England
did folow Syr Tho. More : who, being most vnlike vnto him, in
wit and learnyng, neuertheles in wearing his gowne awrye vpon
the one shoulder, as Syr Tho. More was wont to do, would
nedes be counted lyke vnto him.
This mislikyng of Ryming, beginneth not now of any
newfangle singularitie, but hath bene long misliked of many,
and that of men, of greatest learnyng, and deepest iudgemet.
And soch, that defend it, do so, either for lacke of knowledge
the ready way to the Latin tong. 291
what is best, or els of verie enuie, that any should performe that
in learning, whereunto they, as I sayd before, either for
ignorance, can not, or for idlenes will not, labor to attaine vnto.
And you that prayse this Ryming, bicause ye neither haue
reason, why to like it, nor can shew learning to defend it, yet I
will helpe you, with the authoritie of the oldest and learnedst
tyme. In Grece, whan Poetrie was euen at the hiest pitch of per-
fitnes, one Simmias Rkodius of a certaine singularitie wrote a
booke in ryming Greke verses, naming it woy, conteyning the
fable, how lupiter in likenes of a swan, gat that egge vpon Leda,
whereof came Castor, Pollux and faire Elena. This booke was
so liked, that it had few to read it, but none to folow it :
But was presentlie contemned : and sone after, both Author and
booke, so forgotten by men, and consumed by tyme, as scarse
the name of either is kept in memorie of learnyng: And the like
folie was neuer folowed of any, many hondred yeares after
vntill ye Hunnes and Gothians, and other barbarous nations, of
ignorance and rude singularitie, did reuiue the same folie agayne.
The noble Lord Th. Earle of Surrey, first of all English
men, in traslating the fourth booke of Vlrglll : The Earle of
and Gonsaluo Periz that excellent learned man, Surrey,
and Secretarie to kyng Philip of Spaine, in Gonsaluo
translating the Vlisses of Homer out of Greke into Periz.
Spanish, haue both, by good Judgement, auoyded the fault of
Ryming, yet neither of them hath fullie hite perfite and trew
versifiyng. In deede, they obserue iust number, and euen feete :
but here is the fault, that their feete : be feete without ioyntes,
that is to say, not distinct by trew quantitie of sillables: And so,
soch feete, be but numme feete : and be, cue as vnfitte for
a verse to turne and runne roundly withall, as feete of brasse or
wood be vnweeldie to go well withall. And as a foote of wood,
is a plaine shew of a manifest maime, euen so feete, in our
English versifiing, without quatitie and ioyntes, be sure signes,
that the verse is either, borne deformed, vnnaturall and lame,
and so verie vnseemlie to looke vpon, except to men that be
gogle eyed the selues.
The spying of this fault now is not the curiositie of English
eyes, but euen the good Judgement also of the best <-.
that write in these dayes in Italic : and namelie of Felice
that worthie Senese Felice Figliucci^ who, writyng Figliucd.
\
T 2
292 The second booke teachyng
vpon Aristotle; Ethickes so excellence in Italian, as neuer did yet
any one in myne opinion either in Greke or Latin, amongest
other thynges doth most earnestlie inuey agaynst the rude
ryming of verses in that tong : And whan soeuer he expresseth
Aristotle* preceptes, with any example, out of Homer or
Euripides, he translateth them, not after the Rymes of Petrarke,
but into soch kinde of perfite verse, with like feete and quantitie
of sillables, as he found them before in the Greke tonge : ex-
hortyng earnestlie all the Italian nation, to leaue of their rude
barbariousnesse in ryming, and folow diligently the excellent
Greke and Latin examples, in trew versifiyng.
And you, that be able to vnderstand no more, then ye finde
in the Italian tong : and neuer went farder than the schole of
Petrarke and Ariostus abroad, or els of Chaucer at home though
you haue pleasure to wander blindlie still in your foule wrong
way, enuie not others, that seeke, as wise men haue done before
them, the fairest and rightest way : or els, beside the iust
reproch of malice, wisemen shall trewlie iudge, that you do so,
as I haue sayd and say yet agayne vnto you, bicause, either, for
idlenes ye will not, or for ignorance ye can not, cum by no
better your selfe.
And therfore euen as Virgill and Horace deserue most
worthie prayse, that they spying the vnperfitnes in Ennius and
Plautus, by trew Imitation of Homer and Euripides, brought
Poetrie to the same perfitnes in Latin, as it was in Greke, euen
so those, that by the same way would benefite their tong
and contrey, deserue rather thankes than disprayse in that
behalfe.
And I reioyce, that euen poore England preuented Italie,
first in spying out, than in seekyng to amend this fault in
learnyng.
And here, for my pleasure I purpose a litle, by the way, to
and sporte with my Master Tully : from whom commonlie
am neuer wont to dissent. He him selfe, for this point of
learnyng, in his verses doth halt a litle by his leaue. He could
not denie it, if he were aliue, nor those defend hym now that
Tujlies loue him best. This fault I lay to his charge :
saying a- bicause once it pleased him, though somwhat
gainst Eng- merelie, yet oueruncurteslie, to rayle vpon poore
England, objecting both, extreme beggerie, and
the ready way to the Latin tong. 293
mere barbariousnes vnto it, writyng thus vnto his frend Atticus :
There is not one scruple of siluer in that whole ^.d Att.
Isle, or any one that knoweth either learnyng or Lib. iv. Ep.
letter. l6-
But now master Cicero, blessed be God, and his sonne lesu
Christ, whom you neuer knew, except it were as it pleased him
to lighten you by some shadow, as couertlie in one place ye
cofesse saying : ^eritatis tantum vmbra consectamur,
as your Master Plato did before you : blessed be
God, I say, that sixten hudred yeare after you were dead and
gone, it may trewly be sayd, that for siluer, there is more
cumlie plate, in one Citie of England, than is in foure of the
proudest Cities in all Italie, and take Rome for one of them.
And for learnyng, beside the knowledge of all learned tongs and
liberall sciences, euen your owne bookes Cicero, be as well read,
and your excellent eloquence is as well liked and loued, and as
trewlie folowed in England at this day, as it is now, or euer
was, sence your owne tyme, in any place of Italie, either at
Arpinum, where ye were borne, or els at Rome where ye were
brought vp. And a litle to brag with you Cicero, where you
your selfe, by your leaue, halted in some point of learnyng in
your owne tong, many in England at this day go streight vp,
both in trewe skill, and right doing therein.
This I write, not to reprehend Tullie, whom, aboue all
other, I like and loue best, but to excuse Terence, because in his
tyme, and a good while after, Poetrie was neuer perfited in
Latin, vntill by trew Imitation of the Grecians, it was at length
brought to perfection : And also thereby to exhorte the goodlie
wittes of England, which apte by nature, & willing by desire,
geue the selues to Poetrie, that they, rightly vnderstanding the
barbarous bringing in of Rymes, would labor, as Virgil and
Horace did in Latin, to make perfit also this point of learning,
in our English tong.
And thus much for Plautus and Terence, for matter, tong, and
meter, what is to be followed, and what to be exchewed in them.
After P/autus and Terence, no writing remayneth vntill
Tullies tyme, except a fewe short fragmentes of L. Crassus
excellent wit, here and there recited of Cicero for example sake,
whereby the louers of learnyng may the more lament the losse
of soch a worthie witte.
294 The second b°°ke teachyng
And although the Latin tong did faire blome and blossome
in L. Crassus, and M. Antonius, yet in Tullies tyme onely, and
in Tullie himselfe chieflie, was the Latin tong fullie ripe, and
growne to the hiest pitch of all perfection.
And yet in the same tyme, it began to fade and stoupe, as
Tullie him selfe, in Brutus de Claris Oratoribus, with weeping
wordes doth witnesse.
And bicause, emongs them of that tyme, there was some
difference, good reason is, that of them of that tyme, should be
made right choice also. And yet let the best Ciceronian in
Italic read Tullies familiar epistles aduisedly ouer, and I beleue
he shall finde small difference, for the Latin tong, either in
propriety of wordes or framing of the stile, betwixt Tullie, and
those that write vnto him. As ser. Sulpitius, A. Cecinna,
M. Ceelius, M. et D. Bruti, A. Pollio, L. Plancus, and diuerse
Epi Planci other: read the epistles of L. Plancus in x. Lib.
x. lib. Epist. and for an assay, that Epistle namely to the Coss.
8- and whole Senate, the eight Epistle in number,
and what could be, eyther more eloquentlie, or more wiselie
written, yea by Tullie himselfe, a man may iustly doubt. Thies
men and Tullie, liued all in one tyme, were like in authoritie,
not vnlilce in learning and studie, which might be iust causes of
this their equalitie in writing : And yet surely, they neyther
were in deed, nor yet were counted in mens opinions, equall
with Tullie in that facultie. And how is the difference hid in
his Epistles ? verelie, as the cunning of an expert Sea man, in
a faire calme fresh Ryuer, doth litle differ from the doing of
a meaner workman therein, euen so, in the short cut of a
priuate letter, where, matter is common, wordes easie, and
order not moch diuerse, small shew of difference can appeare.
But where Tullie doth set vp his saile of eloquence, in some
broad deep Argument, caried with full tyde and winde, of his
witte and learnyng, all other may rather stand and looke after
him, than hope to ouertake him, what course so euer he hold,
either in faire or foule. Foure men onely whan the Latin tong
was full ripe, be left vnto vs, who in that tyme did florish, and
did leaue to posteritie, the fruite of their witte and learning :
Farro, Salust, C&sar, and Cicero. Whan I say, these foure
onely, I am not ignorant, that euen in the same tyme, most
excellent Poetes, deseruing well of the Latin tong, as Lucretius,
the ready way to the Latin tong. 295
Cattullus, Virgill and Horace, did write: But, bicause, in this
litle booke, I purpose to teach a yong scholer, to go, not to
daunce : to speake, not to sing, whan Poetes in deed, namelie
Epici and Lyrici, as these be, are fine dauncers, and trime
singers, but Oratores and Historic! be those cumlie goers, and
faire and wise speakers, of whom I wishe my scholer to wayte
vpon first, and after in good order, & dew tyme, to be brought
forth, to the singing and dauncing schole : And for this consi-
deration, do I name these foure, to be the onelie writers of that
tyme.
f Varro.
Varro, in his bookes de lingua Latina, et Analogia as these be
left mangled and patched vnto vs, doth not enter
there in to any great depth of eloquence, but as
one caried in a small low vessell him selfe verie nie the common
shore, not much vnlike the fisher me of Rye, and Hering men
of Yarmouth. Who deserue by common mens opinion, small
commendacion, for any cunning saling at all, yet neuertheles
in those bookes of Varro good and necessarie stuffe, for that
meane kinde of Argument, be verie well and learnedlie gathered
togither.
His bookes of Husbandrie, are moch to be regarded, and
diligentlie to be read, not onelie for the proprietie,
but also for the plentie of good wordes, in all RuStica
contrey and husbandmens affaires: which can not
be had, by so good authoritie, out of any other Author, either
of so good a tyme, or of so great learnyng, as out of Varro.
And yet bicause, he was fourescore yeare old, whan he wrote
those bookes, the forme of his style there compared with Tullies
writyng, is but euen the talke of a spent old man : whose
wordes commonlie fall out of his mouth, though verie wiselie,
yet hardly and coldie, and more heauelie also, than some eares
can well beare, except onelie for age, and authorities sake. And
perchance, in a rude contrey argument, of purpose and Judge-
ment, he rather vsed, the speach of the contrey, than talke of
the Citie.
And so, for matter sake, his wordes sometyme, be somewhat
rude : and by the imitation of the elder Cato, old and out of vse :
296 The second booke teachyng
And beyng depe stept in age, by negligence some wordes do so
scape & fall from him in those bookes, as be not worth the
taking vp, by him, that is carefull to speake or
Lib- 3- write trew Latin, as that sentence in him, Romani,
in pace a rusticis alebantur, et in hello ab his tuebantur.
A good student must be therfore carefull and diligent, to read
with Judgement ouer euen those Authors, which did write in the
most perfite tyme: and let him not be affrayd to trie them,
both in proprietie of wordes, and forme of style, by the touch
stone of Cessar and Cicero, whose puritie was neuer soiled, no
not by the sentence of those, that loued them worst.
All louers of learnyng may sore lament the losse of those
Th , bookes of Varro, which he wrote in his yong and
of var- lustie yeares, with good leysure, and great learnyng
roes of all partes of Philosophic: of the goodliest argu-
mentes, perteyning both to the common wealth,
and priuate life of man, as, de Ratione studij, et educandis liberis,
which booke, is oft recited, and moch praysed, in the fragmentes
of Nonius, euen for authentic sake. He wrote most diligentlie
and largelie, also the whole historic of the state of Rome: the
mysteries of their whole Religion: their lawes, customes, and
gouernement in peace: their maners, and whole discipline in
warre: And this is not my gessing, as one in deed that neuer
saw those bookes, but euen, the verie iudgement, & playne
testimonie of Tullie him selfe, who knew & read those bookes,
in these wordes: Tu tetatem Patriot: Tu descriptions temporum:
Tu sacrorum, tu sacerdotum lura: Tu domesticam,
Quest tu bellicam disciplinam : Tu sedem Regionum, locorum,
tu omnium diuinarum humanaruma reru nomina,
genera, officia, causas aperuisti. &c.
But this great losse of Varro, is a litle recompensed by the
happy comming of Dionysius Halicarnass&us to Rome in
Augustus dayes: who getting .the possession of Parrot librarie,
out of that treasure house of learning, did leaue vnto vs some
frute of Varros witte and diligence, I meane, his goodlie bookes
de Antiquitatibus Romanorum. Varro was so estemed for his
excellent learnyng,- as Tullie him selfe had a reuerence to his
iudgement in all doutes of learnyng. And
Cic. ad Antonius Triumuir, his enemie, and of a contrarie
faction, who had power to kill and bannish whom
the ready 'way to the Latin tong. 297
he listed, whan Garros name amongest others was brought in a
schedule vnto him, to be noted to death, he tooke his penne and
wrote his warrant of sauegard with these most goodlie wordes,
Viuat Varro vir doflissimus. In later tyme, no man knew better,
nor liked and loued more Garros learnyng, than did S. Augustine,
as they do well vnderstand, that haue diligentlie read ouer his
learned bookes de Ciuitate Dei: Where he hath this most
notable sentece : Whan I see, how much Varro wrote, I
meruell much, that euer he had any leasure to read : and whan
I perceiue how many thinges he read, I meruell more, that euer
he had any leasure to write. &c.
And surelie, if Garros bookes had remained to posteritie, as
by Gods prouidence, the most part of Tullies did, than trewlie
the Latin tong might haue made good comparison with the
Greke.
Saluste.
Salust, is a wise and worthy writer : but he requireth
a learned Reader, and a right considerer of him.
My dearest frend, and best master that euer I had SAaL
or heard in learning, Syr /. Cheke, soch a man, as Syr lohn
if I should Hue to see England breed the like Chekes
againe, I feare, I should Hue ouer long, did once ancfcoim1-
giue me a lesson for Salust, which, as I shall neuer sell for rea-
forget my selfe, so is it worthy to be remembred dynS of
of all those, that would cum to perfite iudgement
of the Latin tong. He said, that Salust was not verie fitte for
yong men, to learne out of him, the puritie of the Latin tong :
because, he was not the purest *in proprietie of wordes, nor
choisest in aptnes of phrases, nor the best in framing of
sentences : and therefore 'is his writing, sayd he neyther plaine
for the matter, nor^sensible for mens vnders'tanding. ATM! what
is the cause thereof Syr, quoth I. Verilie said he, birause in
Salust writing, is more Arte than nature, and more labor than
Arte : and ip his labor also, to moch toyle, as it were, with an
vncontented care to write better than he could, a fault dommon
to very many men. And therefore h$ doth not expresse the
matter liuely and naturally with ocmmon speach as ye see
Xenophon doth in* Greeke, but it is caried and tlnuen forth
-Jk
,
298 T'he second booke teachyng
artificiallie, after to learned a sorte, as Thucydides doth in his
orations. And how cummeth it to passe, sayd I, that C&sar
and Ciceroes talke, is so natural! & plaine, and Salust writing so
artificial! and darke, whan all they three liued in one tyme ?
I will freelie tell you my fansie herein, said he : surely, C&sar
and Cicero, beside a singular prerogatiue of naturall eloquence
geuen vnto them by God, both two, by vse of life, were daylie
orators emonges the common people, and greatest councellers in
the Senate house : and therefore gaue themselues to vse soch
speach as the meanest should well vnderstand, and the wisest
best allow : folowing carefullie that good councell of Aristotle,
loquendum vt mult'i, sapiendum vt pauci. Salust was no soch man,
neyther for will to goodnes, nor skill by learning : but ill geuen
by nature, and made worse by bringing vp, spent the most part
of his yougth very misorderly in ryot and lechery. In the
company of soch, who, neuer geuing theyr mynde to honest
doyng, could neuer inure their tong to wise speaking. But at
last cummyng to better yeares, and bying witte at the dearest
hand, that is, by long experience of the hurt and shame that
commeth of mischeif, moued, by the councell of them that
were wise, and caried by the example of soch as were good,
first fell to honestie of life, and after to the loue of studie and
learning : and so became so new a man, that Ctesar being
dictator, made him Pretor in Numidia where he absent from his
contrie, and not inured with the common talke of Rome, but
shut vp in his studie, and bent wholy to reading, did write the
storie of the Romanes. And for the better accomplishing of
the same, he red Cato and Piso in Latin for gathering of matter
and troth : and Thucydides in Greeke for the order of his storie,
and furnishing of his style. Cato (as his tyme required) had
more troth for the matter, than eloquence for the style. And
so Salust, by gathering troth out of Cato, smelleth moch of the
roughnes of his style : euen as a man that eateth garlike for
helth, shall cary away with him the sauor of it also, whether he
will or not. And yet the vse of old wordes is not the greatest
cause of Salust es roughnes and darknesse : There be in Salust
Li^ 8 some old wordes in deed as patrare helium, duftare
Cap. 3. exercitum, well noted by Quintilian, and verie
De Orna- much misliked of him : and supplicium for suppli-
catio, a word smellyng of an older store, than the
the ready way to the Latin tong. 299
other two so misliked by Quint : And yet is that word also in
Varro, speaking of Oxen thus, boues ad vittimas faciunt, atg ad
Deorum supplicia : and a few old wordes mo. Read Saluste and
Tullie aduisedly together : and in wordes ye shall finde small
difference : yea Salust is more geuen to new wordes, than to
olde, though som olde writers say the contrarie : as Claritudo
for Gloria : exatte for perfefle : Facundia for eloquentia. Thies
two last wordes exafte and facundia now in euery mans mouth,
be neuer (as I do remember) vsed of Tullie, and therefore
I thinke they be not good : For surely Tullie speaking euery
where so moch of the matter of eloquence, would not so
precisely haue absteyned from the word Facundia, if it had
bene good : that is proper for the tong, & common for mens
vse. I could be long, in reciting many soch like, both olde &
new wordes in Salust : but in very dede neyther oldnes nor
newnesse of wordes maketh the greatest difference The cause why
betwixt Salust and Tullie, but first strange phrases Salust is not
made of good Latin wordes, but framed after the 1 e Tully-
Greeke tonge, which be neyther choisly borowed of them, nor
properly vsed by him : than, a hard composition and crooked
framing of his wordes and sentences, as a man would say,
English talke placed and framed outlandish like. As for
example first in phrases, nimius et animus be two vsed wordes,
yet homo nimius animi, is an vnused phrase. Vulgus, et amat, et
fieri, be as common and well known wordes as may be in the
Latin tong, yet id quod vulgo amat fieri, for solet fieri, is but
a strange and grekish kind of writing. Ingens et vires be
proper wordes, yet vir ingens virium is an vnproper kinde of
speaking and so be likewise,
(teger consilij.
-( promptissimus belli.
\territus animi.
and many soch like phrases in Salust, borowed as I sayd not
choisly out of Greeke, and vsed therefore vnproperlie in Latin.
Againe, in whole sentences, where the matter is good, the
wordes proper and plaine, yet the sense is hard and darke, and
namely in his prefaces and orations, wherein he vsed most
labor, which fault is likewise in Thucydides in Greeke, of whom
Salust hath taken the greatest part of his darkenesse. For
3 oo The second booke teackyng
Thucydides likewise wrote his storie, not at home in Grece, but
abrode in Italic, and therefore smelleth of a certaine outlandish
kinde of talke, strange to them of Athens, and diuerse from their
writing, that liued in Athens and Grece, and wrote the same
tyme that Thucydides did, as Lysias, Xenophon, Plato, and
Isocrates, the purest and playnest writers, that euer wrote in any
tong, and best examples for any man to follow whether he
write, Latin, Jtalian, French, or English. Thucydides also
semeth in his writing, not so much benefited by nature, as
holpen by Arte, and caried forth by desire, studie, labor, toyle,
and ouer great curiositie : who spent xxvii. yeares in writing his
eight bookes of his history. Salust likewise wrote out of his
contrie, and followed the faultes of Thuc. to
Halycar. moch : and boroweth of him som kinde of writing,
ad Q. which the Latin tong can not well beare, as Casus
TT"k' <k nominatiuus in diuerse places absolutb positus. as in
Hist. Thuc. , f r r , . > i . • - -
that place or lugurth, speaking de leptitanis, itaa ab
imperatore facitt quts petebant adepti, missee sunt eb cohort es ligurum
quatuor. This thing in participles, vsed so oft in Thucyd. and other
Greeke authors to, may better be borne with all, but Salust vseth
the same more strangelie and boldlie, as in thies wordes, Multis
sibi quisg imperium petentibus. I beleue, the best Grammarien in
England can scarse giue a good reule^ why quisg the nominatiue
case, without any verbe, is so thrust vp amongest^so many
oblique cases. Some man perchance will smile, ana laugh to
scorne this my writyng, and call it idle curiositie, thus to busie
my selfe in pickling about these small pointes of Grammer, not
fitte for my age, place and calling, to trifle in : I trust that man,
be he neuer so great in authoritie, neuer so wise and learned,
either, by other mens iudgement, or his owne opinion, will yet
thinke, that he is not greater in England, than Tull'ie was at
Rome, not yet wjjer, nor better learned than Tullie was him
selfe, who, at the pitch of three score yeares, in the middes of
the broyle betwixt Caesar and Pompeie, whan he knew not,
whether to send wife & children, which way to go, where to
hide him selfe, yet, in an earnest letter, amongest his earnest
Ad Att. councelles for those heuie tymes concerning both
Lib. 7. Epi- the common state of his contrey, and his owne
stola. 3. priuate great affaires he was neither vnmyndfull
nor ashamed to reason at large, and learne gladlie of Atticus,
the ready way to the Latin tong. 301
a lesse point of Grammer than these be, noted of me in Salust,
as, whether he should write, ad Pircsea, in Pireeea^ or in
Pirteeum, or Pircseum sine prcepositione : And in those heuie
tymes, he was so carefull to know this small point of Grammer,
that he addeth these wordes Si hoc mihi f^TT/yu-a perso/ueris,
magna me molestia liber aris. If Tullie^ at that age, in that
authoritie, in that care for his contrey, in that ieoperdie for him
selfe, and extreme necessitie of hys dearest frendes, beyng also
the Prince of Eloquence hym selfe, was not ashamed to descend
to these low pointes of Grammer, in his owne naturall tong,
what should scholers do, yea what should any man do, if he do
thinlce well doyng, better than ill doyng : And had rather be,
perfite than meane, sure than doutefull, to be what he should
be, in deed, not seeme what he is not, in opinion. He that
maketh perfitnes in the Latin tong his marke, must cume to it
by choice & certaine knowledge, not stumble vpon it by chance
and doubtfull ignorance : And the right steppes to reach vnto it,
be these, linked thus orderlie together, aptnes of nature, loue of
learnyng, diligence in right order, constancie with pleasant
moderation, and alwayes to learne of them that be best, and so
shall you iudge as they that be wisest. And these be those
reules, which worthie Master Cheke dyd impart vnto me con-
cernyng Sa/ust, and the right Judgement of the Latin tong.
I
II C<esar.
Ctesar for that litle of him, that is left vnto vs, is like the
halfe face of a Venus, the other part of the head beyng hidden,
the bodie and the rest of the members vnbegon, yet so
excellentlie done by Apelles, as all men may stand still to mase
and muse vpon it, and no man step forth with any hope to
performe the like.
His seuen bookes de bello Gallico, and three de hello Ciuili, be
written, so wiselie for the matter, so eloquentlie for the tong,
that neither his greatest enemies could euer finde the least note
of parcialitie in him (a meruelous wisdome of a man, namely
writyng of his owne doynges) nor yet the best iudegers of the
Latin tong, nor the most enuious lookers vpon other mes
writynges, can say any other, but all things be most perfitelie
done by him.
302 The ready way to the Latin tong.
Brutus, Caluus, and Calidius, who found fault with Tullies
fulnes in woordes and matter, and that rightlie, for Tullie did
both, confesse it, and mend it, yet in Caesar, they neither did,
nor could finde the like, or any other fault.
And therfore thus iustlie I may conclude of Ctssar, that
where, in all other, the best that euer wrote, in any tyme, or in
any tong, in Greke or Latin, I except neither Plato, Demosthenes,
nor Tullie, some fault is iustlie noted, in Caesar onelie, could
neuer yet fault be found.
Yet neuertheles, for all this perfite excellencie in
him, yet it is but in one member of eloquence, and
that but of one side neither, whan we must
looke for that example to folow, which hath
a perfite head, a whole bodie, forward
and backward, armes and
legges and all.
FINIS.
ERRATA OF THE ORIGINAL COPIES.
p. xix. 1. 13. Herhen for Hethen.
p. 81. 13 up. thinges, onelie/or thinges onelie, p. 24 1. 16. some
copies read, dealyng crafty for dealyng, crafty p. 27 1. 12 up. stode,
by for stode by, do doynge for doynge p. 30!. 17. tymes : it for
tymes it p. 33 1. 14. (and if for and (if p. 46 1. 2. some
copies read, health for welth p. 47 1. 10 up. some copies read,
Pertians/or Parthians p. 48 1. 8 up. some copies read, ill wyll for
euelwyll 1. 7 up. some copies read, open battayle for contention
p. 56 1. 2 up. doch for doth p. 57 last line, ye for yet (as in
ed. 1571) p. 6 1 1. 5 up. shouthfulnesse for slouthfulnesse p. 73
1. 3 up. \essefor leste p. 78 1. 16. that I for than I p. 80
1. 3 up. peeces to farre for peeces, to farre 1. 2 up. drawynge,
brake for drawynge brake p. 81 1. 26. boweybr A bowe (the catch-
word on the previous page is And) p. 83 1. 16. yarde. for yarde,
1. 9 up. woodes. as. for woodes, as, p. 85 1. 21. studding^br scudding
I. ii up. conclude that, for conclude, that p. 86 1. 12 up. wyde
some for wyde, some p. 89 1. 4 up. gouse, for gouse. last line,
belonging/or belonging p. 91 1. 4 up. is,/cris p. 93 1. 2. Peno-
lepeybr Penelope p. 96 1. 4 up. ought, to for ought to p. 99 1. 29.
hansomely, they^br hansomely they p. 100 11. 13, 14. shootynge, is...
shootynge but for shootynge is... shootynge, but 1. 27. man, woulde
for man woulde p. 105 1. 2. lefteybr right 1. 12. ovTidavov for
ovTibavov p. 113 1. 8 up. worsts/or worst. p. 114 1. 9. braye/or
braye, p. 115 1. 6 up. ieopardyt for ieopardye p. 116 1. 10 up.
waies.ybr waies, p. 126 1. 4. First, point for First point 1. 15 up. of
in for of 1. 3 up. or in^br in p. 128 last line, ceased, toybr ceased
to p. 130 1. 15. meaner for meanes p. 133 1. 7. Fraunce, as for
Fraunce, as p. 137 1. 12 up. Gionan for Giouan p. 139 1. n. it
for it. 1. 15. y* for ye p. 145 11. 20, 21. reproch which/or reproch.
Which 1. 9 up. doyng. Andybr doyng, and p. 146 marg. icvpir,
for nvpov. p. 147 1. 8. Geeke for Greeke p. 148 1. 6. prodest for
poorest (?) p. 152 1. 6 up. Manrice for Maurice p. 153 1. 2 up.
wife children for wife, children p. 156 1. 5. dishinherite for disinherite
1. 10 up. suspected. But for suspected, but p. 161 11. 23, 26. emig
for einig p, 165 1. 7 up. y* for y« p. 167 1. 8 up. Mauricus for
3°4
TLrrata
Maurus p. 168 1. 4. any for my 1. 17. lesse/or leste p. 178
1. 12. concerning, the for concerning the 1. 5 up. frend._for frend,
p. 1 86 1.8 up. Exarde scere for Exardescere. last line, abijcerefor abjicere
p. 1 88 1. 4 up. youge for yonge. p. 193 1. 5. I speaking for in
speaking (?) p. 195 1. 15. sadle for sadle. 1. 20. learning : for learning,
p. 199 1. 10 up. werison for werisom p. 200 1. 4 up. God, for God
p. 202 1. 7 up. withall for with all p. 204 1. i. Crxsus for Crams
p. 207 1. 1 8. greatie/or greatlie p. 213 1. i. Eph : for Ephorus (as in
ed. 1571) 1. 14 up. laie for saie p. 215 1. 2. Courte. for Courte,
p. 224 1. 13 up. sillabesybr sillables (as elsewhere) l.t 12 up. verifiyng
for versifiyng p. 228 1. 9 up. sutlie for suttle p. 231 1. 7.
aduoulteresybr aduoulteries pp. 236 1. n up and 239 1. 12 up. with in
for within p. 241 1. 7 up. sowne. for so<wne, 1. 5 up. ill for will
(as in ed. 1571) p. 243!. 2. all/or also (as in ed. 1571) 1. i2marg. de.
Or. for de Or. p. 244 marg. Epist. lib. 6, 7 li. Epist. /or Epist. lib. 7,
Epist. 9. p. 247 1. 17. Iliodos for Iliados marg. A. for 'IX. 1. 12 up.
Andration for Androtion p. 249 1. 5 up. liuyng for louyng p. 251
I. 12 up. meraui for meram 1. 10 up. vvvrd^fosfor (rvvrd^fas 1. 9 up.
Candaulus for Candaules p. 253 last line, it Grammer/cr it in Grammer
(as in ed. 1571) p. 255 1. 13. de Rep for de Rep. p. 257 1. n up.
Stalenus for Staienus p. 264 1. 16. plerunqj for plerumqj p. 267
II. 4, 5. materei for materiel (as in ed. 1571) 1. 25. Erasmus, wishe for
Erasmus wishe 1. 27. jEneados for ^Eneidos p. 268 1. 14. cunnigest
for cunningest (as in ed. 1571) p. 272 1. 19. Adrladna for Ariadna
1. ii up. Turmis for Turnus p. 273 1. 12 up. pake for place p. 276
marg. Thucid. 10. for Thucid. i. p. 280 1. 2 up. Apor for Aper
p. 282 1. 5 up. choselie for choiselie 1. 3 up. portiacture for portraic-
ture p. 283 1. 7 up. Genus, for Genus p. 284 1. 6. Aristophanus
for Aristophanes p. 285 1. 16. in Sermonem for Sermonem p. 286
1. ii. some for sone p. 287 1. 8. storehose/or storehouse 1. 8 up.
be cum /or becum p. 288 1.8. Lilius for Ltelius 1. n up. Cerilius
for Cxcilius euidentie for euidentlie p. 289 1. 7 up. dastylus
for dactylus 11. 3 and 4 up. Monasyllabis for Monosyllabis p. 290
1. 19. sillabes for sillables (pp. 291 1. 13 up, 292 1. 8) 1. 13 up.
Petrach for Petrarch p. 291 1. 7. as for at last line and marg.
Figlincci for Figliucci p. 292 marg. Enland/or England p. 294 1. 15.
Pallia for Pollio 11. 15, 16. Plaucus for Plancus marg. Plauci /or
Planci p. 295 1. 3. (whan ybr whan p. 296 1. 10. foiled for
soiled p. 298 marg. ornata for ornatu p. 299 1. 3 up. oration
for orations p. 301 1. 4 up. ludegers fcr iudegers
CAMBRIDGE: PRINTED BY j. AND c. F. CLAY, AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS.
, H. PR
t 2201
English works. .A2W7
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