VVorkes of armorie deuyded into three bookes, entituled, the concordes of armorie, the armorie of honor, and of coates and creastes, collected and gathered by Iohn Bossewell Gentleman.

¶Sentences concerning generositie, col∣lected out of sundrye Aucthors, and firste cer∣tayne verses, made by G. Chaucer, teaching what is gentlenes, or who is worthy to bee called gentle.

¶The firste stocke father of gentlenes, What man desireth gentle for to bee Must folowe hys trace, and all hys wittes dres Vertue to loue, and vices for to flee: For vnto vertue belongeth dignitie, And not the reuers safely daire I deme, All weare he mytre, crowne, or diademe.

Thys firste stocke was ful of righteousnes. True of his worde, sobre, piteous, and free, Cleane of his ghoste, and loued busines Againste the vice of slouthe in honestie: And but his heire loue vertue as did he, He is not gentle though he riche seme, All weare he mytre, crowne, or diademe.

Vices maye well bee heyre to olde ryches, But there may no man, as men maye well see Bequethe his heire his vertues nobles That is appropried vnto no degree But to the firste father in maiestie That maketh his heires them that is Queme All weare he mitre, crowne, or diademe.

Non census, nec clarum nomen auorum, Sed probitas magnos,* 1.1 ingenium{que} facit.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ouid. 1. de Ponto.