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AND with this Supreme Rule and Kingly authoritie beganne also other degrees and differences among Subiects. For Princes made election of others by the same Rule, by which themselues were chosen; vnto whom they gaue place, trust, and power. From which imployments and Offices sprung those Titles, and those degrees of Honour, which [unspec 10] haue continued from Age to Age to these dayes. But this Nobilitie, or difference* 1.1 from the Vulgar, was not in the beginning giuen to the Succession of Bloud, but to Succession of Vertue, as hereafter may bee prooued. Though at length it was suffi∣cient for those whose Parents were aduanced, to bee knowne for the Sonnes of such Fathers: and so there needed then no endeuour of well-doing at all, or any conten∣tion for them to excell, vpon whom glorie or worldly Nobilitie necessarily des∣cended. Yet hereof had Nobilitie denomination in the beginning, That such as ex∣celled others in vertue, were so called: Hinc dictus Nobilis, quasi virtute proe alijs nota∣bilis. But after such time as the deserued Honour of the Father was giuen in reward to his Posteritie, Saint Hierome iudged of the Succession in this manner: Nihil a∣liud [unspec 20] video in Nobilitate appetendum, nisi quod Nobiles quadam necessitate constringantur, ne ab antiquorum probitate degenerent; I see no other thing to bee affected in Nobilitie, then that Noblemen are by a kind of necessitie bound, not to degenerate from the vertue of their Ancesters. For if Nobilitie be Virtus & antiquae diuitiae; Vertue and ancient riches, then to excced in all those things which are extra hominem, asriches, power, glo∣rie, and the like, doe no otherwise define Nobilitie, then the word (animal) alone doth define a reasonable man. Or if honour (according to L. Viues) bee a witnesse of vertue and well-doing: and Nobilitie (after Plutarch) the continuance of vertue in a Race or Linage: then are those in whom Vertue is extinguished, but like vnto painted and printed Papers, which ignorant men worship in stead of Christ, our [unspec 30] Ladie, and other Saints: men, in whom there remaine but the dregges and vices of ancient Vertue: Flowers, and Herbes, which by change of soile and want of manu∣ring are turned to Weeds. For what is found prayse-worthy in those waters, which had their beginning out of pure Fountaines, if in all the rest of their course they runne foule, filthie, and defiled? Ex terra fertili producitur aliquando 〈◊〉〈◊〉 venenosa,* 1.2 & ex terra sterili pretiosum aurum; Out of fruitfull ground ariseth sometimes poysoning Henbane: and out of barren soile precious Gold. For as all things consist of matter and forme, so doth Charron (in his Chapter of Nobilitie) call the Race and Linage but the matter of Nobilitie: the forme (which giues life and perfect being) he maketh to be Vertue, and Qualitie, profitable to the Commonweale. For he is truly and entire∣ly [unspec 40] Noble, who maketh a singular profession of publike Vertue, seruing his Prince and Countrie, and being descended of Parents and Ancesters that haue done the like. And although that Nobilitie, which the same Authour calleth personall, (the same which our selues acquire by our Vertue and well deseruings) cannot bee ballanced with that which is both naturall by Descent, and also personall; yet if Vertue bee wanting to the naturall, then is the personall and acquired Nobilitie by many de∣grees to be preferred: For (sayth this Charron) this Honour (to wit) by Descent, may light vpon such a one, as in his owne nature is a true Villaine. There is also a third Nobilitie which hee calleth Nobilitie in Parchment, bought with Siluer or fauour: and these bee indeed but Honours of affection, which Kings with the change of [unspec 50] their fancies wish they knew well how to wipe off againe. But surely, if wee had as much sense of our degenerating in worthinesse, as we haue of vanitie in deriuing our selues of such and such Parents, wee should rather know such Nobilitie (without Vertue) to bee shame and dishonour, then Noblenesse, and glorie to vaunt thereof.