Of wisdome three bookes written in French by Peter Charro[n] Doctr of Lawe in Paris. Translated by Samson Lennard

CHAP. XIX.

Of Fortitude or Valour in generall.

VAlour, (for this vertue is more properlie so called than fortitude) is a right and strong resolution, an equall, and * 1.1 vniforme stay ednes of the mind against all dangerous, diffi∣cult, and dolorous accidents: in such sort, that difficultie and danger is the obiect and matter wherein it is exercised: to be breefe, it is all that which humane weaknes feareth, Timendo∣rum contemptrix, quae terribilia, & sub iugum libertatem nostram * 1.2 mittentia, despicit, prouocat, frangit.

Of all the vertues in greatest estimation and honor, this is most renowned, who for the prerogatiue thereof is simplie * 1.3 called a vertue. That is the more difficult, the more glorious, which produceth the greatest, famous, and most excellent effects; it conteineth magnanimitie, patience, constancie, an inuincible resolution, heroicall vertues, whereupon many haue sought the inconueniences that belong thereunto, with greedinesse to attaine so honorable imployment. This ver∣tue is an impregnable bulwarke, a compleat armour to in∣counter all accidents, Munimentum imbecillitatis humanae in∣expugnabile: quod qui circundedit sibi, securus in hac vitae obsidi∣one * 1.4 per durat.

But because many do mistake, and in place of the only true vertue conceiue the false and bastardlie valours, I will in de∣claring * 1.5 more at large the nature and definition thereof, expell those popular errours that are heere intruded. We will note then in this vertue foure conditions; the first is generallie and

indifferentlie against all sorts of difficulties & dangers: where∣fore they are deceiued that thinke there is no other valour than the militarie, which only they esteeme, because it may be it is most renowned and glorious, and carieth greatest re∣putation * 1.6 and honor, which is the tongue and trumpet of im∣mortalitie; for to say truth, there is more fame and glorie therein than paine and danger. Now this is but a small part and a little raye or light of the true, entire, perfect, and vni∣uersall, whereby a man is one and the same, in companie, in bed with his griefes, as in the field, as little fearing death in his house, as in the armie. This militarie valour is pure and naturall in beasts, with whom it is as well in females as in males; in men it is often artificiall, gotten by feare and the apprehension of captiuitie, of death, of griefe, of pouertie; of which things beasts haue no feare. Humane valour is a wise cowardlinesse, a feare accompanied with foregsiht to auoid one euill by another; choler is the temper, and file thereof; beasts haue it simplie. In men also it is attained by vse, insti∣tution, example, custome, and it is found in base and slauish minds: of a seruant or slaue, or a factour, or fellow trained vp in merchandise, is made a good and valiant souldier, and of∣ten without any tincture or instinct of vertue and true philo∣sophicall valour.

The second condition, it presupposeth knowledge as well of the difficultie, paine, and danger, which there is in the acti∣on * 1.7 that is presented, as of the beautie, honestie, iustice, and du∣tie required in the enterprise or support thereof. Wherefore they are deceiued that make valour an inconsiderate temeri∣tie, or a senselesse brutish stupiditie: Non est inconsulta teme∣ritas, nec periculorum amor, nec formidabilium appetitio, diligen∣tissima * 1.8 in tutela sui fortitudo est: & eadem patientissima eorum quibus falsa species malorum est. Vertue cannot be without knowledge and apprehension, a man cannot trulie contemne the danger which he knoweth not; if a man will also acknow∣ledge this vertue in beasts. And indeed they that ordinarilie attempt without any foresight or knowledge, when they come to the point of execution the sent is their best intelli∣gence.

The third condition; this is a resolution and stayednes of [ 5]

the mind grounded vpon the dutie, and the honestie, and * 1.9 iustice of the enterprise; which resolution neuer slacketh, whatsoeuer hapneth, vntill he haue valiantlie ended the en∣terprise, or his life. Many offend against this condition, first and more grossely they that seeke this vertue in the body, and in the power and strength of the limmes. Now valour is not a qualitie of the bodie, but of the mind; a setled strength, not of the armes and legs, but of the courage. The estimation and valure of a man consisteth in his heart and will: heere lieth his true honor: and the only aduantage and the true victorie ouer his enemie, is to terrifie him, and to arme himselfe against his constancie and vertue: all other helps are strange and bo∣rowed: strength of armes and legs is the qualitie of a porter: to make an enemie to stoope, to dazell his eies at the light of the sunne, is an accident of fortune. He whose courage faileth not for any feare of death, quelleth not in his constancie and resolution: and though he fall, is not vanquished of his ad∣uersarie, who perhaps may in effect be but a base fellow, but of fortune: and therefore he is to accuse his owne vnhappi∣nesse, and not his negligence. The most valiant are oftentimes the most vnfortunate. Moreouer they are deceiued, which disquiet themselues, and make account of those vaine Thra∣sonicall brags of such swaggering Braggadochios, who by their loftielooks, and braue words, would win credit of those that are valiant and hardie, if a man would do them so much fauour to beleeue them.

Moreouer, they that attribute valour to subtiltie and craft, * 1.10 or to arte or industrie, do much more prophane it, and make it play a base and abiect part. This is to disguise things, and to place a false stone for a true. The Lacedemonians permit∣ted no Fencers nor master-Wrestlers in their cities: to the end their youth might attaine thereto by nature, and not by arte. We account it a bold and hardie thing to fight with a Lion, a Beare, a wilde Bore, which encounter a man onely according to nature: but not with Waspes, for they vse sub∣tiltie. Alexander would not contend in the Olympique games, saying, there was no equalitie: because a priuate man might ouercome, and a king be vanquished. Moreouer it is not fitting for a man of honour, to trie and aduenture his va∣lour

in a thing, wherein a base fellow instructed by rule may gaine the prise. For such victory commeth not of vertue, nor of courage, but of certaine artificiall tricks and inuenti∣ons: wherein the basest will doe that, which a valiant man knoweth not, neither should he regard to doe it. Fencing is a tricke of arte, which may be attained by base persons, and men of no account. And although infamous and ruffinlike fellowes are apt to fight or doe any thing in cities or townes, with the dexteritie of the sword; if they see an enemie, would they not runne away? Euen so is it in that, which is attained By long habit and custome, as builders, tumblers, mariners, who vndertake dangerous things, and more difficult than the most valiant, being trained and instructed therein from their youth.

Finally, they which consider not sufficiently the motiue * 1.11 and circumstance of actions, wrongly attribute to valour and vertue, that which appertaineth and belongeth to some passion or particular intent. Eor as it is not properly vertue, nor iustice to be loyall and officious towards some, which a man particularly loueth; nor temperance, to abstaine from the carnall pleasure of his sister, or of his daughter; nor libe∣ralitie towards his wife and children: so is it not true valour to aduenture himselfe to any danger, for his owne benefit and particular satisfaction. Wherefore if it be good for gaine, as spies, pioners, traitors, merchants on the sea, mercenarie souldiers; if for ambition or reputation to be esteemed and accounted valiant; as the most part of our men of warre, who say, being naturally caried thereunto, that if they thought they should lose their life, would not goe; if wearie of his life through paine and griefe, as the souldier of Antigonus, who liuing in extreame torment by the meanes of a fistula he had, was hardie to attempt all dangers, being healed auoi∣ded them; if to preuent shame, captiuitie, or any other euill; if through furie and the heat of choler: to be brief, if by passi∣on or particular consideration, as Aiax, Catiline, it is neither valour nor vertue, Sicut non martyrem poena, sic nec fortem pag∣na sed causa fecit.

The fourth condition. It ought to bee in the execution * 1.12 therof wise and discreet, whereby many false opinions are

reiected in this matter, which are not to hide themselues from those euils and in conueniences that threaten them: nei∣ther to feare lest they surprise vs, nor to flie, yea not to feele the first blowes, as the noise of thunder or shot, or the fall of some great building. Now this is to vnderstand amisse: for so that the minde remaine firme and entire in it owne place and discourse, without alteration, hee may outwardly dis∣quiet and make a stirre. He may lawfully, yea it is honora∣ble, to ouerthrow, to vndoe; and to reuenge himselfe of euils, by all meanes and honest indeauors: and where there is no remedie, to carrie himselfe with a setled resolution. Mens im∣mota manet: lachrymae voluuntur inanes. Socrates mocked those that condemned flight: What, saith he, is it cowardli∣nesse to beate and vanquish them by giuing them place? Ho∣mer commendeth in his Vlysses the skill to flie: the Lacede∣monians professors of valour in the iourney of the Plateans, retired, the better to breake and dissolue the Persian troope; which otherwise they could not doe, and ouercame them. This hath beene practised by the most warlike people. In other places the Stoickes themselues allowed to waxe pale; to tremble at the first sudden encounter, so that it proceed no farther into the minde and courage. And this is valour in grosse. There are things which are iustly to be feared and flied, as shipwracks, lightnings, and those where there is no remedie, neither place of vertue, prudence, valour.

Of fortitude or valour in particular.

TO diuide the matter and discourse of that which is heere * 1.13 to be said, this vertue is exercised and employed against all that which the world accounteth euill. Now this euill is two-fold, externall, and internall, the one proceedeth from without, it is called by diuers names, aduersitie, affliction, in∣iurie, vnhappinesse, euill and sinister accidents: The other is inward in the mind, but caused by that which is outward: These are hatefull and hurtfull passions, of feare, sadnesse, choler, and diuers others. We must speake of them both; prescribe meanes and remedies to ouercome, suppresse, and rule them. These are the arguments and counsels of our ver∣tue,

fortitude, and valour. It consisteth then heere of two parts, the one of euils or ill accidents, the other of passions, which proceed thereof. The generall aduice against all good and euill fortune hath beene declared before: we will speake heere more specially and particularly thereof.

Notes

• * 1.1

  1 The descrip∣tion of va∣lour.
• * 1.2

  Senec.
• * 1.3

  2 The praise thereof.
• * 1.4

  Senec.
• * 1.5

  3 Of imperfect or false valours.
• * 1.6

  Military valour.
• * 1.7

  4 Temeritie or stupiditie.
• * 1.8

  Seneca.
• * 1.9

  Bodily strength.
• * 1.10

  6 Arte and industrie.
• * 1.11

  7 Passion.
• * 1.12

  8 Indiscretion.
• * 1.13

  The proposi∣tion and di∣uision of this matter.