The arte of rhetorique for the vse of all suche as are studious of eloquence, sette forth in English, by Thomas Wilson.

¶Of Diuision.

AFter our tale is told, and the hearers haue wel lear∣ned what wee meane, the nexte is to reporte wherein the aduersarie and wee, cannot agree, and what it is wherin we do agree. And then to part out suche prin∣cipall poinctes whereof we purpose fully to debate, and laie theim out to be knowen: that the hearers may plainely see, what we wil say, and perceiue at a worde, the substaunce of our meanyng. Now Tullie would not haue a deuision to be made, of, or aboue thre partes at the most, nor yet lesse than thre neither, if nede so require. for if we haue thre chief groū∣des wherupon to rest, appliyng al our argumentes therūto we shal bothe haue matter enough to speake of, the hearers shal with ease vnderstād our meanyng, & the whole Oratiō shal sone be it at an end. Notwithstandyng this lesson must not so curiouslie be kepte, as though it were synne to make

the diuision of fower, or fyue partes, but it was spoken for this ende that the diuision shoulde be made of as fewe as may be possible, that menne may the better carie it away and the reporter with more ease maie remember what he hath to saie. Nowe in praisyng, or dispraisyng, in perswa∣dyng, or disswadyng, diuisions muste also be vsed. As if one woulde enueighe against those women that will not geue their owne chidren sucke, he might vse this deuision. Where as women commonly put their children furthe to nursyng, I will first proue that it is bothe against the lawe of nature and also against Goddes holie wil: Againe I wil showe that it is harmefull bothe for the childes bodie, and also for his witte, lastly, I wil proue that the mother selfe falleth into muche sickenesse thereby.

First, nature geueth milke to the woman for none other ende, but that she shoulde bestowe it vpon her childe. And we see beastes feede there youngones, and why shoulde not women? GOD also commaundeth all women to bryng vp their children.

Againe, the childrens bodies shalbe so affected, as the milke is whiche they receyue. Nowe, if the Nurse be of an euil complexion, or haue some hidde disease, the childe suc∣kyng of her brest muste needes take parte with her. And if that be true whiche the learned doe saie, that the tempera∣ture of the mynde folowes the constitucion of the bodie, needes must it be that if the Nurse be of a naughtie nature, the childe muste take thereafter. But be it, the Nurse be of a good complexion, of an honest behauiour (whereas con∣trary wyse Maydens that haue made a scape are common∣ly called to bee Nurses) yet can it not bee but that the mo∣thers mylke shoulde be muche more naturall for the childe, than the mylke of a straunger.

As by experience, let a man be long vsed to one kynde of drynke, if the same man chaunge his ayre, and his drynke, he is lyke to mislyke it. Lastely for the mothers, howe are they troubled with sore brestes besydes other diseases that happen throughe plentie of mylke▪ the whiche Phisi∣cians can tell, and women full ofte haue felte. Lykewyse in

speakyng of fastyng, I might vse this diuision. Firste, 〈…〉〈…〉 godly to fast, because the spirite is more free and ap••er for a∣ny good worke. Again it is wholesome, because thereby euill humours are waisted, and many diseases either clerely put awaie, or muche abated of their tira••nie. Lastly it is profita∣ble, because men spende lesse money, the lesse bankequetyng that thei vse. Therfore, if men loue either to be wise, godly, healthfull, or wealthy, let thē vse fastyng, & forbeare excesse.

Now vpon a diuision, there might also be made a subdiui∣sion, as where I saie, it is godly to fast, I might diuide go••∣linesse, into the hearyng of Goddes worde, into pra••yng ••••∣uoutly, and charitable dealyng with all the worlde.

Again, speakyng of healthe, I mighte saie that the whole body, is not onely more Iustie with moderate fastyng, but al so more apte for al assaies. The learned man studieth better when he fasteth, then when he is full. The coūsailor heareth causes with lesse pain beyng emptie, then he shalbe able af∣ter a full gorge.

Again, whereas the fiue senses, bryng vs to the knowleg•• of many thynges: the more apte that euery one is, the mo••e pleasure thei bryng euer with thē. The iyes se more clerely, the eares heare more quickely, the tōgue rouleth more roūd∣ly, and tasteth thinges better, and the nose smelleth euill sa∣uours the soner.

Philosophie is diuided into the knowlege of thynges na∣turall, thynges morall, and into that arte, whiche by reason findeth out the truthe, commonly called Logique. Nowe of these three partes of Philosophie, I might make other thre subdiuisions, and largely set them out. But these maie suf∣fice for this tyme.

Notes

• Diuision of thre partes at the most.
• ••vomen re∣buked that nurse not their owne children.
• 〈…〉〈…〉