Here begynneth the booke whiche is called the body of polycye And it speketh of vertues and of good maners, and the sayd boke is deuyded in thre partyes. The fyrst party is adressed to prynces. The seconde to knyghtes and nobles: and the thyrde to the vnyuersal people. The fyrst chapytre speketh of the dyscrypcyon of the body of polycye.

[illustration]

¶ Here begynneth the firste chaptre the whiche speketh of the discrypcion of the body of polycye. Capitulo. Primo.

IF it be possyble that of vyce myght growe ver tue / it wyll please me well in this partye to be passyoned as a woma•••• lyke as many men h•••• den oppynyon that nature of woman can 〈◊〉〈◊〉 kepe vnder scylence the abundance of hyr〈…〉〈…〉 rage: Now come hardely & shewe out by many clere ryue〈…〉〈…〉 and crystall sprynges / and by the vnst auchable countaynes of my courage / whiche can nat hyde for to cast out the desyres of vertue: O vertue a thynge noble and deyfyed how dare I be so bolde & auaunte my selfe to speke of the whiche I know right well that myne vnderstandyng cannat quyckely com∣prehendene vnderstande clerely ne declare: But out thyng re comforteth me and gyueth me hardynes that I vnderstande the so benygne / that thou wyll nat be dylplcasyd thoughe I speke of the nat oonly in thy moste subtyll thynges / but only in such thyng{is} as may be comprehende in my conceyt•••• wher fore I shall make a remembraunce of the in ••dyfyeng of good vertues: And firste for to speke of the lernynge and rule for to lyue after our betters: That is to know after the prynces of the whiche thynge I beseche most lowly theyr hygh mageste that they take no disdeyne of so symplea wyt as myne is / and that so symple a creature dare take vpon for to speke of y^e rule of so hygh estate / but that it wolde please them to with holde y^e techynge of y^e Phylosopher whiche sayth / haue no disdeygne of the lytclnesse / though thou be neuer so great / and specyally on hym that speketh good wordes: And so hereafter I truste to speke meanly by the grace of god of the ordre of lyuynge of noble prynces & knyght{is} / and in the thyrde parte of all other people / the whiche thre gendres of estate ought to be in polyce

and after the symylytude of one body that is quycke after the sentence of the honourable man that is named Pl••tarque / whiche in a pystell that he sente to Trai••n̄ the Emperour as an open thynge to a body y^t hath lyfe / of the whiche the prynce or the prynces holden the hygher place of the hed / for as moche as they shuld and ought to be soueraynes / and of them shuld come the synguler establysshynges in lyke wyse as out of the vnderstandynge of men spryngen and comen the foreyne wet kes that the membres accheuen▪ The knyghtes & the nobles holden the place of y^e handes & the armes▪ For lyke as the ar∣mes of a man ben stronge to meyteyne laboure and payne / so they ought to haue the charge to defende the right of y^e prynce and the comen wele▪ And they also ben comparyd to the han∣des / for lyke as the handes put away the thynges that noyen suche wyse they shuld put away all thynges that ben euyll & vnprofytable▪ The thyrde maner of the people ben lykenyd to the bely / to the fete / and to the legges. For lyke as the body re∣ceyueth in hym all thynge that comforte the hed and the mem bres / in lyke wyse the excercyse of prync•• and nobles ought re∣tourne to the comen wele lyke as it shall be more playnely de∣claryd hereafter▪ And lyke as the legges and feete bere vp the weyght of a mannes body in lyke wyse the laboures susteyne all other estates.

¶ Here after it speketh of vertuous felycyte. Ca. ii.

••Hen now we haue for to treate of vertue and profyte of the order of lyuynge of y^e thre estates by y^t which sayd vertuo / The lyfe of man ought to be receyued in all manere of werkes / without whiche no man may attayne to honour / for it is the ryght degree to worshyp as valere sayth / And yet he sayth more that worshyp is the moste plentuous nor y••••••ynge

of vertu / And to this purpose Arystotyll sayth / that to honour longeth dewe renerence in wytnessing of vertue / y^t is to know that worshyp ought nat to be gyuen to none but to them y^• be vertuous▪ For he sayth nat y^t it shuld be gyuen to y^e myghty folkes / ne to the ryche. but to them that be vertuous▪ For after his oppynyon the good men shuld be worshypped alway / For there is no thyng so moche desyred in noble hertes as is wor∣shyp / lyke as he sayth hym selfe in his booke of Ethiques in y^e fourth boke / that myght & ryches be nat desyred but only for worshyp▪ Then it is trewe that to kyng{is} and great prync•• syn gulerly belongeth worshyp / & so by consequent vertue▪ Now we must distynge y^e partyes that we vnderstande for vertue / For seynt Austen sayth in his booke of the Cyte of god in the xx. chapter / whiche declareth in this maner▪ And sayth y^e Phy losophers say y^t vertue is y^e ende of good & euyll of mā kynde▪ That is to say y^t y^e felycite of man kynde is for to be vertuous Nowe it is so than / that in felyeyte there ought to be great dy lectacion / or elles it were no felyeyte▪ And of this ioy & felyeyte the auncyent Phylosophers made paynt a fygure of an yma ge vnder this fourme / it was made in y^e lykenes of a fayre & an amyable quene syttyng in a ryall cheyre vpon y^e erth. And about her were y^e .iiii. vertuous lokyng in her vysage as who sayth for to obey her cōmaūdemēt{is} / & for to obey & obserue her•• Then she cōmaūded to prudence y^t she shuld enquere dylygēt ly how she myght reygne lōge / & to be ••heele & in sewre estate▪ Then she cōmaūded to Iust yee y^t she shuld do all thyng y^t she ought & kepe y^e lawes to y^e entent y^t the peas were kept / After that she cōmaūded to strength y^t if any sorowe came to her bo dy / that she shuld modre it in resystynge & vertuous thought Then she cōmaunded to attempetaunce that she shulde take wyne & meete & other delectable thyng{is} so attemprely y^t what thynge y^t she toke it shuld be by reason & nat to her anoyaūce••

And ••oby this present wrytyng a man may vnderstāde that for to be vertuous is none other thyng but to haue in hym self all maner thyng{is} that may drawe a man to wele / and to with drawe all thynges that sow••eth to euyll and to vyces: Then it is necessary for gouernaunce of the polycy publyke that the hed be hole / that is to saye vertuous: For and the hed be sycke all the body shall feele it. Nowe we wyll begynne to tell of the medycyne for the hed / that is to knowe of the kynge or of the prynces: And lyke as our werke begynneth at y^e hed. we wyll take the firste hed of the age: that is to say the chyldhode of the prynce whiche is norysshed vnder the rule of his frendes:

¶ Here after is declaryd how a man shuld norysshe the chyldren of prynces at theyr begynnynge. ••a. .iii.

HOr bycause it is cōmaunded vs expressely for to loue god: therfore we muste firste introduce the sone of the prynce at the begynnynge of his vnderstandynge / lytell and lytell for to serue god with smale and lyght ••risons after the wytte of the chylde: For tho thynges that ben accustomed in chyldhod▪ it is ryght harde to be lefte: And for men shuld vn∣derstande y^• suche thynge is agreable to god the psalme sayth that in the mowthe of infauntes and sowkers / our lorde hath made his laude / that is to saye he is agreable therto: And so furthermore as he wareth in age he shuld be taught letters & seruyes suche wyse as our lord may be preysed lyke as it is ac customed •••• Fraunce to t••che the yonge prync{is} better than in other places for to here masse euery day & say theyr matyns / Also there must be purueyed for hym a mayster that must be wyse and redy and more in good maners than in seyence / for nat withstandyng that somtyme the chyldren of prynces were taught by y^e Phylosophers as it is wryten of Philyp kyng of

Macedoyne fader to the great Alysaunder▪ whiche worte 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Arystotyll that he was glad that he had a sone borne. But y•• he had gretter ioy that he was borne ī his tyme to that ente•• •• that he myght teche hym and enforme hym / whiche happyd for to falle so afterwarde. For Arystotyll was mayster to the great Alysaunder. Neuerthelesse for as moche now in this ty∣me as the prync, be nat so couetouse now a dayes to be lernyd in the seyens / whiche and it pleasyd god. I wolde that it were vsed now as it was want to be. Wherfore me semeth that it is beste to gette them a mayster that is a good man and a discre t•• bothe in wysdome & in nurture and louyng to god / though so ••e that he be nat moste excellent or subt yll Phylosophre. Ne uerthelesse it were more lowable and a man coude fynde suche ••••e so parfyte that were a noble clerke / And of suche men: he prynces shuld enquere dylygently / for the good condycyons & maners that the childe seeth in the mayster▪ and the wyse wor ••••s and countenaunce of hym. is to the childe as a doctryne & ••mperoure. Also y^• mayst c••ought to m••••teyne hym by gret ••••••dence in that offyce. For natwithstandyng that natur•• of 〈…〉〈…〉ren maye nat be brought to lernynge but oonly by drede 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the sone of a prynce behoueth to be brought in by other m•• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for to make hym dre•••• than by gret betynge / for in to har •••• ••o••ec••yon of a childe that is brought vp in delytes myght ••••••me many incouenyent▪ also whan he vnderstandeth som∣〈…〉〈…〉at of the state of lordshyp by the worshyp that men do vn∣〈…〉〈…〉maye under the maner of suche corre••••yon conspyre a∣〈…〉〈…〉his mayster great indignacion / whiche may be great 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉 ler••••nge and to the peryll of his mayster. And als•••••• the helthe •••• the childe whiche is softely and dely∣〈…〉〈…〉▪ ¶ But what ought the wyse man for to doo 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 vse before hym suche ensample as is shewde by 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉 it is accustomed that aboute the chil

〈◊〉〈◊〉 of prynces ben norysshed / other yonge chyldren that ben 〈◊〉〈◊〉 sones whiche ben his dyscyples / he ought to be shar∣pe to theym when they mysse take them selfe / in suche case as the sone of the prynce hathe offended in / and ought to beete theym couenably. ••ut more to chast yse them by sharpe coun∣tenaunce than by great betynges. And in semblable wyse he muste vse suche manae••s to the sone of the prynce if he wyll nat correcte hym selfe. And at somtyme he muste lette hym fe∣le his rodde. And so by suche meanes he shall make hym sha∣••efast of suche thynges as he both amysse and right ferefull and obeysant. And also the wyse mayster ought to kepe hym selfe y^• he shewe hym nat to famys••a••e / or to pry••e for his dys∣cypie shall drede hym the laste ••••id that the chylde also ••e hym nat play to nyce playes / nor lawghe at nofoly nor foly she wor des mor be nat to moche acqueynted / but lyke as he were hal∣fe mayster ouer euery man. And his countenaunce ought to ••e great fayre and stedfast / And his clothynge ought to be clene and honourable / and also byfore his dyscyple he ought nat to speke no vayne wordes / but profytable and of good en∣samples. Yet nat for that he shulde nat at all tymes make a sharpe vysage nor sharpe wordes / but he ought to drawe the chylde vnto hym with amyable and swete wordes when that he with holdeth well that he lerneth / or ellys and he doo any other goodly thynge / And also the mayster ought to do hym somtyme pleasure with some maner of thynges th•••• is plea∣saunt for chyldren. And for to tell hym other whyle some good chyldrens tale of some tryfull for to make hym lawghe. And all for bycause that he shulde loue his ••oo••e as well in maner as his owne dysportes / Also the mayster ought to sette a co•• petent houre and a certayne rewle / and a certayne sp••ce of ty∣me in which the chylde shulde conty••e•••• in his ••••••••. And af ter that gyue hym space to playe byfore his dy•••••••• / 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ••••

ought to be rewlyd that he ete nat to swete & delycate meetes / nor drynke to stronge and myghty wynes whiche causeth oft tymes great corrupeyons or ellys sykenesses. And when the chylde cometh to his grāmer / Thenne the mayster muste be∣gynne to vse more subtyll wordes in his doctryne / lyke as he feleth the vnderstandyng of the chylde / and that he be able to conceyue them. And sol ytell and lytell / and more and morely ••ewyse as the nowryce encreaseth the fedynge of the chylde after his we••ynge / so I suppose verely that the prynce wyll that his sone be lernyd in letture soo ferre / as that he myght vnderstande the rewles of grāmer and to vnderstande latyne whiche and it pleased god / I wolde that it were so by a gene∣rall custome of all prynces that ben nowe / and be for to come. For I suppose that moche profyte shuld growe that of to them and to theyr subiectes. In so moche that it shulde cause the peo ple to m••rea••e in goodnes and great vertue. And the prynces chyldren shulde be taughte so ferre in letture / as that they myght vnderstande theyr logyke / and so to contynewe there in▪ lyke as the noble and wyse prynce y^• duke of Orlyans that nowe leueth / at the Iustaunce of the right honourable wyse and vertu••use duches my lady his wyfe. whiche as she that is the preyser and worshypper of kunnynge and vnderstan∣dynge is dylygent lyke a prudent moder to instructe her chyl dren to wysdome in lecture and kunnynge.

¶ And ouer all this the wyse mayster before sayd whenne the vnderstandynge of the chylde begynneth to encrease and to haue greatter knowlege. Thenne he ought to lerne hym and fo••de hym with wyser d••ceryne / and namely in good maners by good ensamples or ellys to make hym reede in bookes of ••esons / and he shulde make hym to vnderstande to knowe / and dyscer••e the good from the euyll / and teche hym and she∣we hym the waye for to shewe good maners and vertue. lyke

as the worthy prynces and well renowmed haue done before tyme as his predecessours and other noble prynces. And to she we hym all the great goodnesse that foloweth a good man. And in cōtrary wyse to them that ben euyl or vycious / and if he se hym in any wyse enclyned to the subtylte of kunnynge. he ought to shewe hym pleasaunt reasons to that entent that he shulde vnderstande the great felycyte that is in kunnyng / and open hym the wayes of Phylosophy. That is to know for to make hym fele and vnderstande it. And so for to haue such a mayster at his begynnynge the sone of the prynce if he con∣tynewe in suche doctryne when he cometh to his age. he shall come to great excellence of vertue and to great renowne.

¶ Here after it sheweth to what maner of men ought to be gyuen the gouernaunce of the children of prynces. Capitulo. iiii.

WHan the sone of the prynce is somwhat growen vp / Then he ought to be departyd from the woman that haue norys••hed hym / And put hym to the warde pryn cypally of one of his auncyent knyghtes that is of great au∣ctoryte. And it muste be well vnderstande that he be a wyse knyght ••rewe manly and of good lyuynge. And with hym other unlyke wyse▪ Thenne this knyght ought dilygently to ••ake good heede to the maners of the childe as moche or more then to the kepynge of his body▪ He oughte to be dylygent▪ al∣so for to make hym ryse at a competent houre for to here his masse to saye his matens with fayre and well assewryd coun tenaūce speke fayre to y^• people ••al••we them benygnely yelde euery man y^• doth hym worshyp lyke as longeth to his estate.

••nd the same knyght shuld shewe hym o••te tymes what lon∣geth to the honour and worshyp of knyghthodo / and shuld tel ••ym of the worshypfull dedes that y^• worthy men haue done before tyme▪ Also he shuld let hym know which ben good men ••nd better men and best men of his faders howse / And on the tother parte whiche that ought moste to be worshypped▪ Also he muste shewe hym what is the maner of batayle & the wor∣shyp in armes how men fyghten▪ how mē assaylen. how men defende them / and for what quarelles men shuld do armes & fyght▪ what har••es is best moste stronge and moste sewre••or the most easy▪ and he shuld tell hym the causes why▪ And how a man shuld haue dyuers a••mures / after the case requyreth of the batayle or of the armes that he shall do / howe men dyd somtyme / and how men do now and how he shulde preyse the good and worshypfull men and to drawe them towarde hym loue them and worshyp them▪ And all suche goodly thyng{is} he shuld do▪ And that knyght ought to take good hede y^• aboute the prynces sone there be nouther great man ••e small / vse no dyshonest tales / nor that they induce hym nat to no foly▪ Also he ought to take good hede that the chyldren which ben about hym be well nory••shed and well manered to that entent that they brynge hym nat for to do lewdely nor folys••hely / And if y^• prynces sone do amysse / he shuld correcte hym saying in this wyse that it accordeth nat to the state of a prynce for to do so▪ And if he wyll nat amende hym selfe / it shall be to his great shame / for a prynce without honour is nothyng worthe▪ And if he wyll nat be gouerned otherwyse that he wyll leue hym & go ••ro hym / and thus he shuld say to hym oft tymes▪ And vn∣der this fourme they shuld be gouerned if they wolde attayne to worshyp in tyme to come / And this affermeth valere in his boke whiche speketh how y^• auncyent wyse men induced theyr chyldren to good maners▪ And for to take vpō them y^• hardnes

of great empryses of worshyp and manhode▪ For they shewed them the great worthynes and dedes of good knyghtes. And shewed them also other good ensamples seyinge how that no man myght come to the degre of worshyp but by vertue▪ And at meete tymes made synge gestes of the worthy men that we re past out of the world / and of y^• worshypfull dedes of theyr pre decessours / to that entent that the wyll of yonge folkes shulde be the more couraged / And thus sayth valere that y^e olde aun cyent men taught thus theyr chyldren▪ And then were scoles kept of the worthynes of knyghthode and of good maners / of the whiche scoles he sayth come out the ••esares / and the no∣ble lygnes renomed in prowesse & manhode▪ So it is no doute that by good ensamples and by wyse steringes / ofte tymes to here & se in chyldhode may be the cause that a man shall come to excellence in all vertues: And semblably by euyll doctryne / they may be brought in to y^• way of pardycyon▪ For ••uerroys sayth in the seconde boke of ••hyseques / that a man may get hym a seconde nature▪ that is to knowe by longe custome of good or euyll▪ And therfore the frendes to theyr power oughte to kepe theyr chyldren from euyll customes takynge in theyr youthe▪ For as Orose sayth the erthen pot wyll kepe longe y^• swete taste of that lycoure that it is firste occupyed with. And for this cause they of Grece•• that gouerned them somtyme by great knowynge & malyce. payned them selfe in suche wyse y^• these people y^• they hated shuld take dylectacyon ineuyll custo mes / & by such meanes foūde wayes to be venged vpon them

¶ The exhortacyons that men shulde make to the chyldren of prynces. Capitulo. v.

••••so the sone of y^e prynce he beyng in chyldhode ought to be at somtymes brought in to couns••yle where that

the wyse men ben assembled that determyne the nedes of the lande / and y^• causes that fallen therin▪ And the ordre to gouer ne well the polycye to that entent that from his chyldhode he shulde be desyrous to here and speke of the gouenaunce of the lordshyp whiche he is borne vnto / and that he is eyre of▪ so that he may at all tymes lerne to speke and to answere▪ of all suche thynges as belongeth vnto hym / And the knyghtes and the wyse men shulde say vnto hym that he shulde take good hede of that he hereth theym speke in counceyle / and that he bere it well awaye in his mynde▪ ¶ Furthermore they that haue hym in gouernaunce ought to make byfore hym▪ all maner of straunge thynges of dyuers countrees▪ And of the customes of men of werre. of batayles. And of the gouernaūce of dyuers places. of dyuers armes▪ Also of the feete of clergy / of the pope and of the churche▪ And the cōmaundementes to be shewed vnto hym by doctoures of Theologye▪ ¶ And all that a man ought to byleue as a good crysten man: Also he shulde here Sermons & collacions of clerkes at somtymes▪ And at som∣tyme to here speke of y^• comōs. of marchaūt{is}. of labourers how they leue and cheuys••he them selfe. of ryche men / & poore men. And also of all maner thynges to that entent that in his vn∣derstandyng he be nat ygnoraūt of no maner thyng y^• ought to be vertuously knowen▪ ¶ For the Phylosopher sayth that man is nat wyse y^• hath nat vnderstandyng in all maner thy ges: ¶ And also it is ryght well done y^• his body be put in ex∣cercyse of some maner of labour & trauayle▪ as in playng at y^e ••ame or at the baase or other lyke playes / so that it be nat ouer moche. but mesurably to that entent▪ that he war nat to wery nor ••o heuy / nor gowrdy by to moch rest / nor y^• it cause nat the superf••ue humours for to gadre in hym / semblably it shuld be tolde hym of the poore & nedy people & shewe them hym / & tell hym that he ought to haue pyte and compassyon vpon them.

••nd that he do them good for the loue of god / whiche shall 〈…〉〈…〉 a meane for to gette hym paradyse▪ And also that he haue py〈…〉〈…〉 vp on poore gentylwomen and orphalynes and socoure them in theyr nedes for the loue of god and gentylnesse▪ And to a〈…〉〈…〉 poore women and men to his power▪ And gentylly here they〈…〉〈…〉 requestes / and they shuld enduce hym also to be benygne an〈…〉〈…〉 humble and trew / and tell hym and she we hym that nat with standynge though he / by the grace of god be chosen to so gret estate. yet he is as mortall as another / and shal here nothyng with hym out of this worlde / but the good dedes and y^• euyll that he hathe done in this worlde▪ And for as moche as he is gretter than another man / he shall yelde the gr••tter accompt•• Also he ought nat to be proude nor feers in corage thoughe so be that men do hym great re••erences and worshyppes / but ought to yelde all y^• graces to god / and shuld knowe the great gyftes that he receyueth of our lorde / And all suche good en∣samples & mocyons wolde he shewed to y^• sone of the prynce / yet nat withstandynge this he muste be suffred at somtymes for to playe and take his dysportes lyke as it is rehersed here tofore▪ And alwayes amonge it shuld nat be forgoten to st••r•• hym to good vertues and maners.

¶ ••ere it telleth what the yonge prynce ought to do when he begynneth to gouerne. Capitulo. vi▪

WHen the sone of the prynce is ful growen and come to his age and to the tyme of receyuyng his lordshyp & so s••sed in his herytage by successyon / be it of Realme or other lordshyp / Then lyke as after the flowres of trees she weth the fruyte / In lyke wyse shuld appere and ••e shewed in hym the perfeccyon of vertue / after the ensample of Charles the fyfte the wyse kynge of Fraunce / whiche helde well the

wayes of vertue▪ For after that he was cr••wned / nat withstā dynge that it was in the flowre of his youthe / there was ne∣uer persone that euer cowde take hym with any thynge of dis honeste nor that he neuer occupyed tyme / but in all vertues & cōmendable thynges ••lyke as I haue wryten of hym byfore this tyme in the boke that speketh of his artes and dedes and of his good maners▪ And in thre thyng the vertues of a pryn ce ought to be shewed without whiche he may nat getene ha ue the crowne of his good name nor of his renowne and by cō sequent of worshyp. The firste is / and the moste pryncypall lo ue god and drede hym / and serue hym without feynyng▪ And rather to serue hym with good dedes / than be to longe lyinge in his orysons / Another is this▪ he ought to loue syngulerly the encrese of his Realme and of his people▪ And in that poynt he ought to set his studye rather than vpon his synguler pro∣fyte▪ The thirde is that soueraygnely he ought to loue Iusty ce and kepe it▪ and holde it without brekyng / And he shuld do equyte to all people / and by obseruynge of these thre poyntes▪ he shall be crowned with glory bothe in heuen & in erth▪ Now from hensforth we wyll contynewe in our mater as in y^• firste partye whiche speketh of the heed / That is to wyt of the pryn ce or of prynces and we wyll founde vs vpon these thre poyn∣tes / And for to speke of y^• firste poynte whiche is for to loue god out of the whiche we shuld drawe many braunches of vertue that hangeth there vpon / & all to our purpose / And after this in lyke wyse for to speke of the tother tweyne.

¶ Of the sadde auyse that is couenable for a yonge prynce for to haue▪ Capitulo. vii.

THe good prynce that loueth god / wyl be frede to do any thynge what someuer it he ayenst the reuerence and

cōmaundement of god / and wyll payne hym self to knowe all thynges that hym ought to do / And all suche thyng•• as hym ought nat to do / And by the lernynge of this he shall perceyue and knowe his fragylyte & that he is a man mortall. subiecte to shorte lyfe passyoned with mortall thynges. Naturell and ••••eell as another man without any dyfference / excepte the goodes of fortune / But when he shall studye the lawe of god to be wel enfourmed therin lyke as a good cristen man ought to be / he wyl auyse hym self well vpon y^• perell of these goodes for hurtynge of his scule. That is to wete if he vse them nat well he is loste / And that he dothe by the great lordshyp that he occupyeth / is nat ellys but an offyce transytory / and of ly∣tell durynge and that he muste nedes leue it in shorte tyme. That is to knowe by waye of deth / whiche is derke and a fere full passage / and the counte that he muste yelde byfore that Iuge that no thynge is hyd fro▪ whiche wyll rewarde euery man after his deseruynge. ••han if the prynce remembre this 〈…〉〈…〉he shal fynde mater ynought for to preyse but lytell these worldly worshyppes and goodes. whiche ben so full of peryll and solyt••ll whyle durynge / All suche thoughtes and remem braunces▪ euery good prynce ought to haue in his herte / whi∣che shall cause to defende hym selfe agaynst the great arrey∣synge of Pryde and mysknowynge his persone / But yet for all this ••••then that our lorde hath chosen them to the offyce of l••••••shyp / they ought to meynteyne it by worldly wysdome & discre••syon morall ••••en may he thynke that he shall rewle and gouerne the lawe lyke a prynce with good and vertuous maners. And also he muste be dylygent in all thynges that longeth to the comen wele of his Realme and to kepe them in peas to his power. And also he shulde vse so dyscretely his ho∣noures & magnyficienc•• that be•• gyuen to hym / in suche wyse that his herte be nat empeched nor arreysed on heyght ayenst

his god. This good prynce as goddes vycary in erthe muste take hede with a great herte to y^e wele of the Churche to that entent that his creature ought to be seruyd dewely as ferre as his reason maye gyue hym. And if there fall any dyscorde by the Instygacyon of the deuyll our ennemye he ought to ma∣ke peas what laboure that euer he take therfore. And that he take good hede also to the promocyons of his mynysters that they make noo request for none of his seruauntes / nor none other thoughe he loue hym neuer so well / in lasse than he vn∣derstande that he be a clerke / A good man and able to serue god in that prebende that he desyres. And of this he ought to enquere dylygently. or that he gyue it / or ellys he chargeth greatly his conscyence / and is cause of theyr dampnacion that ben promoted by hym to theyr benefyces / and be nat able thet to as it is founde in the decrees. But nowe a dayes / there is no suche rewle kepte / and that is great pyte. For god knoweth if that suffycyaūce of clergye / or a good man & of Iuste lyfe be nowe a dayes the causes of the promocyons of clerkes / Cer∣teynly nay. but oft tymes they ben gyuen by meanes of flate∣rynge / by adulacyon. and other wyckednesse. and by the pray∣ers of lordes. ¶ And so it apperyth by the ruyne of the shyppe with what wynde it is smyten. For the false couetyse is the ••••cheson of theyr promocyons. ¶ And this causeth theym to fall in great and horryble erroure and so blynded in the Chur che / that it is meruayle withoute goddes mercy that euer it maye be in reste and peas. for the fowle Symony and other inconuenyentes that falle ther to / Alas and as our lorde Ihe∣su criste sayth in the Euangelye spekynge to the Pharysees. The quene of Saba that came out of ferre countrees for to vnderstande the wysedome of Salamon. shall condempne you / that haue with you more than Salamon. and wyll nat knowe it. So in lyke wyse the paynems whiche kepte theyr

lawe 〈…〉〈…〉yme dylygently and without trespasse in great re∣uerence obseruynge all theyr cerymonyes▪ natwithstandyng that they were false and reproued of god may be in reprefe to cristen men / whiche obserue nat & kepe nat theyr lawes that ben so holy▪ Is it nat wryten of these auncyent paynems that they had so great deuocyon to theyr Idoles and goddes / that they were so dylygent and curyous in all thynges / that all maner ordynaunces and stablysshynges that they made we∣re wele kepte: And also the prcestes that dyd the sacryfyces shuld be men of feyre and honest lyfe. And if they were foūde in the contrarye / they were punysshed right egerly▪ And they were so streytly taken hede vpon that they wolde nat suffre them to fayle of theyr seruyce / nor in no wyse to be vycyous / And as valere sayth that was right well shewed at Rome as it is declared in the firste chaptre of his booke / how it happed vpon a tyme that the chaplet fyll downe of one of the preest•• he des whiche dyd the obseruaunces of theyr sacryfyce / whiche chapelet was a propre rayment that they vsed at that tyme▪ lyke as we myght say a mytre And for bycause he was so ne clygent that his chapelet felle so fro hym at the tyme of theyr seruyce / they thught he was nat worthy to kepe that off yee / & so they deposed hym: And in lyke wyse they dyd by a virgyne that was yelden in to a temple of one of theyr goddesses whi∣che was called Uest a ••nd for bycause that this virgyn that was as men myght say a Nunne was neclygēt to: ake hede of a lampe that shulde at no tyme be lefte vn••••ght / and for by cause that oones it was nat attended with oyle it happed to be quenched / she was to greueusly punysshed therfore and depo∣sed of her offyce. And many other ensamples I cowde shewe you of theyr sadde rewles that were kept amonge them and I had any leyser / But nowe a dayes amonge vs here there ben many of our pontyfy••alles and preestes in whiche is seen

openly great plente of horryble diffaut / And there is nopryn ce ne none other man that wyll ones repreue them of theyr de∣fautes / but suche there be that excuse them selfe or they be ac∣cused and say they be men & none aungelles / And that it is y^• nature of man for to synnes Alas suche ben no men for the bo∣dy of man is but a lytell vessell / whiche may be fylled with a lytell thynge but they be very deuylles & swolowers of helle For lyke as the moutne of hell may neuer be satisfyed nor fyl∣led / though it receyue neuer so moche. no more may theyr desy res be fulf••ylled no staūchyd for y^e great coueryse y^t is in them & the great delyt•• for whiche cause all euyll thyng is comon to them & the wordes of valere may well be veryfyed in them / that sayth / what maner thyng is y^• may it aunche the insa••ya ble man from couetyse / So than y^• good paynce ought to take hede to al these thyng / ••••r though so be that the correccion of people of the churche lyeth nat alloonly in hym noo lōgeth nat to hym / yet wher is y^• prelate be he neuer so gre••••e other p••••est in clerke y^• durst with say or murmur ayenst y^e prynce▪ though he rebuke of his hyghnes the vyces & synnes of suche people / And ouer this y^• good prynce ought to take good hede that the temple and the howse of god be nat pollutyd n•• fowlyd by dy uers synnes done there in / lyke as our cristen men do now•• a dayes / as Marchaunt and other estat / whiche haue no sha me to holde theyr Pariymentes of theyr wo••••dly maters and god knoweth they make many false contractes▪ And yet our lorde Ihesu criste spake to such folkes in the gospell. When he sayd / wyll ye make of y^• temple of my fader which is an howse of prayer / a house o•• a ca••e of th••u••s or a place of erthly thing yet more ouer to our damp••acpon / The ordre y^• the payne••s 〈…〉〈…〉 as valere ••••cordeth vnto y^• same purpose of y^• 〈◊〉〈◊〉 that the Romaynes had to they: goddes / speketh of 〈…〉〈…〉 that is to know of two du•• & prync•• of Rome

whiche were with a great hooste in straunge lande / but for by cause oonly that they hylde the counsayle of theyr ordynaunce in the temple. The senatoures of Rome, that is to say y^e great counseyle of the soueraygnes deposed them of theyr offyces / nat withstandynge that they were passynge worthy and wor shypfull men / And in lyke wyse they dyd by another prynce y^• was called Fabius maximus whiche was a•• o••de famous knyght in armes / and was deposed from y^e hyghest offyce of prynce that was in 〈…〉〈…〉 me / that is to say of y^e offyce that was called dictatour▪ for from all otther prynces men myght after theyr ordynaunce•• & statute appele to the hyght estate of the di∣ctatour. And further than that▪ there myght no man appele / and he was deposed for no thyng ellys / but for bycause that he h••ro•• certayne questyons in the temple of dyuers thynges / & in lyke wyse / they deposed ••ayns ••••myns from his ryalte•• whiche was right a great cheuetayne of men of armes / But alas nowe a dayes they be nat deposed that make theyr Par∣lymentes and assembles in the churche / but maketh the chur∣che as fowle stables for horses.

¶ Of the obseruaunces and the lawe that a good prynce ought to holde. Capitulo. viii.

••••e good prynce y^• leueth god ought to haue y^e great cō maū••ement / in his mynde / and how the hyghe name of god ought nat to be taken in veyne / And therfore he shulde make a crye / in all his lande by the which he shuld diffende on payne of great punyssyon / that no maner of man shuld custo∣mably swertue forsake his creatour▪ Alas / it were great nede now a dayes / in Fraunce that such a crye were made▪ For this horroure is so great and vnyuersall amonge the people of the inreuerence of theyr creature / that vi••••eth there 〈…〉〈…〉

other langage be it in game or ernest but swere horribly at the affirmacion of euery worde by the tormentes of our lordes pas syon / whiche is our redemptour / and Reyne and forsake god / I byleue that the paynems in olde tyme had ben full lothe for to haue sworne so by theyr Idoles and goddes. All suche ma∣ner thynges the good prynce ought to defende. For it is con∣trary and reprouable to the Relygyon of all cristenmen. And it may be cause to gette goddes wrothe and the subuersion of ••eames and coūtrees / where that it reygneth / as it is contey∣ned in dyuers prophecyes / And thus euery good prynce that lo ueth god ought to kepe and obserue dylygently y^• lawe dyuy∣ne and the holy establysshyngs in these thyng and ••t all other that ben worshypfull and deuoute whiche I leue to declare at this tyme for lacke of leyser and shortnes of tyme. And for by cause also that moche spekynge of this mater noyeth some fol kes▪ whiche deyneth nat to obserue and kepe these thynges a∣fore rehersed. ••ut the good prynce that kepeth this / the good lorde aboue wyll dyffende hym and kepe hym & encreate hym in vertue both of body and soule. And why shuld nat he haue the tayth in that almyghty and iuste lorde. when y^• paynems had a truste and an hope that by theyr goddes they were rele∣••yd and greatly set vp as it apperyth by that / that valere re∣cōmendeth of y^e Cyte of Rome in so moch as they had so great wyll to the seruyce of theyr goddes. And sayth thus▪ ou〈…〉〈…〉 hath sette asyde all maner thynges for the seruyce of the god∣des. And also these thynges oonly that kept the worshyp and the soueraygne mageste / ••hat is to say of y^e Emperours / for they had a very byleue that in wynnyng of these worshyppes to theyr goddes they gate the rewle and gouernaunce of all y^e worlde / And therfore y^e Emperoures of our cyte and all other generally haue nat be wery nor neclygēt to serue trewelyth it ••••ddes / So this suffyceth at this tyme as for the fyrste poynt

•••• our firste party / whiche speketh how that y^• vertue of pryn∣ces ought to be firste foūded and shewed in that / that he shuld serue and brede god.

¶Howe that a good prynce ought to be ressemblyd to a good shepeherde▪ Capitulo. ix.

••Nwe we haue towched in y^• firste poynte▪ where vpon the bounte of the prynce ought to be pryncypally foun ••ed. And here after we muste speke of the seconde poynte / that is to knowe that the good prynce ought to loue ▪ yngulery the comon wele / and the encreace therof more than of his owne▪ after the doctryne of Arystotyle▪whiche is declared in his bo ••e of polytykes / that sayth that tyrānye is when a prynce get∣teth more goodes for his owne profyte / then for the comon wele And that is also agaynst the lordshyp Royall for he ought to be more dylygent to encreace the wele of his comons than his owne wele▪ Nowe it muste be deuyled in what maner he may ••lande and shewe this loue▪ The good prynce that loueth his lande muste kepe his people dylygently after the ensample of a good Shepeherde / whiche kepyth well his shepe and ma∣keth good watche by great dilygence for to defende them from the wolfe and other euyll beestes / and that they be clenly kept and in helthe to that entent. that they may encerace and fru∣tyfye and yelde theyr wolle hoole and sounde▪ and made fatte by the e••the by y^• whiche they be norysshed and kept / So that the shepeherde maye be well payde of the fleces gadred in sea∣son▪ But the great ryche shepeherde that gyueth great good to kepe his shepe / for bycause he maye nat kepe all his flokes hym selfe purueyeth hym of helpe good & couenable / & taketh with hym good dylygent. and wyse seruant / whiche he kno∣weth w••ll that they ben trewe and loue his profyte / Then he

ordeyneth that these men shulde be well garnysshed of good and myghty houndes well colered with yron. which houndes ben wel wont to chase the wolfes out of y^• feldes / and at nyght they leue them vntyed to kepe the shepe / to that entent that the theues come nat preuely for to stele them / but that anone they be redy to ronne vpon them / And in the day tyme they tye them to theyr gyrdelles aboute them whyle y^• shepe pasturen peasybly in the feldes▪ But and it happen that the sayde ser∣uauntes here any noyse of wolues or any other euyll beestes cōmynge out of the woodes or from the mountaynes / Than anone they let lo••ose theyr houndes and let theym ronne and comforte them strongly and for to gyue them the more hardy∣nes / they ronne after theyr hoūdes with good staues well py∣ked with yron agaynst the wolues or other euyll beestes / and if it happen that any of the shepe go out of the flocke / the good houndes whiche ben well wonte therto ronneth after and fe cheth hym i agayne without doynge hym any harme. And by these meanes the wyse seruauntes diffende them & kepe them so well that they yelde a good accounte to the soueraygne she peherde whiche taketh right good heede to theyr rewle•• In lyke wyse to our purpose / is the good prynce. Whiche is alway besy and dylygent for the saufgarde & y^• dyffence of his coun∣tre and of his people ▪to the whiche saufgarde and diffence is nat possyble that his owne persone may be in euery place whe re charges lyeth in▪ Therfore he shuld puruey to gette hym good helpe as well for the feete of knyghthode as other wayes That is to knowe of worthy cheueteynes y^• he knoweth for good & trewe & such as loueth hym tenderly▪ as Counstable / marchall Amyrall▪ & other men▪ to y^• which he gyueth charge vnto / to make prouysyon of good men of armes well vsed and lerned in the werre / whiche he byndeth them by theyr othe to be aboute hym▪ and departe nat without his leue but be redy

alwayes to do his cōmaundement. to that entent / if it be nede that they be redy for to go agaynst theyr enemyes ▪so that the countrey be nat dyffowled nor the people robbyd ne slayne.

¶ It is nat to vnderstande that the men of armes them selfe shuld diffowle and pyle the countrey lyke as they do in Fraū ce now a dayes. wherfore as in other coūtrees they durste nat do so▪ which is a great myschefe & an ouerthwarte ordynaun ce▪ that they that ben stablysshed and ordeyned for the defence of the people. They them self pyle them & robbe them full cru∣elly / suche there ben that without kyllynge or settynge theyr howses a fyre y^• enemyes myght do no more to them. This is nat the ryghtfull meanes of werre whiche ought to be Iuste and without extorcion / But the men of werre and the prynces that sende them to werre / so on the people ben in great peryll y^• the wrath of god fall nat vpon them & greuously to punysshe them. For it is no doute that the cursynge of the people / ryght fully gyuen by suffrynge of to great oppressynge / may cause before god many euyll auentures for to fall▪ lyke as we fynde ensample in holy wryt & in many other places. For euery man ought to know well that god is ••ust and rightfull / And this great faute cometh but of euyll ordynaunce. For and the men of werre were well payde▪ men myght charge theym in payne of deth that they shuld take no manes good vnpayde for / And by suche meanes men shuld fynde vytayles & all other thyn∣ges ynoughe▪ that were necessary and great chepe ynoughe & pleute / me thynke it is a great meruayle▪ how the people may lyue vnder this ordynaunce▪ and of the pyte of theyr lyfe there is no compassion. Now the holy goost fader of the poore people haue mercy on them and byset them. ••ow to y^• purpose afore∣sayd▪ if a shepeherde had an hoūde that wolde ronne vpon his shepe▪ anone he wold gyue hym a great stroke with his staffe Then it is nat syttynge for a good prynce that loueth god &

his people / to suffre his people to be robbed & pyled / & lyke as the houndes lye vnbounden in y^e nyght to kepe the shepe from theues in lyke wyse the cheueteynes ought to set watche and espyes vpon the Frounteres and to sende ferre aboute them to that entent / that the coūtrey and the people be nat stolen vpon the nyght with theues / nor by no maner of cautele. And also that they may vnderstande the couyne of theyr enemyes: yet there longeth another offyce to the men of armes. and that is this / lyke as the good hounde getteth agayne the shepe that is gone out from the flocke / in suche wyse ought they to bryn¦ge in y^e poore comons if they wold erre or fall in euyll wyll of rebellyon outher by manaces or ellys y^t they take good heede of them. And for bycause that it myght dysplease / and be meruayle to some men / that a man shulde lyken y^e offyce of armes to the nature of an hounde Certaynly the hounde hath many propretees. whiche a good man of armes ought to take heede of / and he lyke vnto ••or the hounde loueth his mayster mer∣uaylously well / and is full trewe vnto hym / And in lyke wyse it is necessarye to the good man of armes dyspose hym selfe to the dyffence of his mayster for to dye therfore / And when he is cōmytted to haue the kepynge of any place / He hereth clere∣ly and watcheth anone / and maketh hym redy for to god vpon the euyll doers and robbers / but they wyll nat byte the fren∣des of his mayster / but smelleth them naturally / nor his ney¦ghboures / nor theym that ben of the howseholde whiche he is norysshed in ••••ut to his power he wyll kepe them / Also an hoū¦de is right hardy and feyghteth with great vertue. Also he is of great vnderstandynge and of great knowlege / and ryght louynge to hym that sheweth hym loue / And all these condy∣cyons the good man of armes ought to haue.

¶ yet of the same.

BUt for to come agayne to our firste purpose lyke as it is sayde of the good Shepeherde whiche taketh good hede that his shepe be kept clene and ••helth. The good prynce may nat at all tymes put the hole rewle vnto his mynysters But he hym selfe lyke a man that is benygne / ought to here them in all causes as ferre as he may. And he shuld nat doute nor dispreyse t〈…〉〈…〉tuous supplycacions of his people / but he ought benygnely to condissende to theyr requestes / after mer¦cy and Iustyce. Also he ought to take hede that they be nat diffowled nor eten by false off yeers and mynysters / And for to speke clerely of this purpose / a man must haue great leyser and space and it myght happen so that if a man wolde say the trouth of many thynges. it shuld displese dyuers folkes / But withouten doute it is great pyte / that suche trouthe shuld be hydde and kepte close for any feer or fauoure of any persone / And to this purpose Seneke speketh well. in the. vi. boke of benefyces in the. xxi. chaptre / I wyll shewe the he sayth. Wher¦in they be disceyued that be lyft vp to great estate / And what lacketh to them that men wene haue all? No thyng ellys / but they can nat fynde no man that wyll tell theym trouthe. And this sentence is trewe. For the seruauntes that ben aboute y^e prynces say nat well of them, but oonly for theyr owne syngu∣ler profytes. wherfore they entende no thynge but to flatery & speke to the plesaunce of lordes. And so by theyr teyre langage they blynde theyr soueraygnes. Therfore it is wryten in the thirde booke of Polycratyque in the. xii. chaptre. that the fla∣terer is enemy to all vertues / & that he is fastened as a nayle in the mannes ••ye that he is aqueynted with. And to the pur∣pose of these offycers: that is to knowe of the euyll and except the good without moche spekynge of theyr dedes I wyll nat make to longe processe therof. But wolde god that y^e prynces knewe them well & vnderstode theyr dedes and what people

they haue aboute theym for mynystracyon of theyr thynges▪ And me thynketh there is nothynge that is so fowle ne so cor rupte as is the conscyens of some of them in all peruercytes / but there ben many that can by grete malyce / hyde subtelly theyr vyces vnder fayned symulacyon / and vnder a fayre co∣loure▪ But and it so be that they can not hyde y^e experyence of theyr dedes / and of theyr wordes / i whiche as fayre as they se∣me / there is no trouthe in theym / nor wyl not she we outwarde the open peruersyte to them that falleth in theyr daungers / & in theyr hōdes▪ Nor also it can not come to y^• knowlege of theyr lordes. And also no man dare tell them for fere that the lorde wolde be dyspleased with them that telleth hym y^• trouthe / for lordes nowe a dayes wyll not here euyll spoken of theyr men / for there is a comon worde that renneth nowe in the countree for to say▪ ••y lorde hath a ryght good condycyon with hym for he loueth no man that wyll tell hym an euyll tale of his ser uaunte▪ Alas it were a good guyse for the lordes for to here & vnderstonde y^e rule of theyr seruauntes. But and it happened that ony man for Enuye accused another as it maye happen some tyme to fall / than when the lorde had well enquyred the trouth and fyndeth his accusacyon false / then he ought to pu nysshe hym and put hym out of his house as a false lyer / & an ••nuyous man▪ And by this meane / theyr fol••es ••••lde d••ede for to do or say euyll▪ and it sholde sease moche ang•••• trouble that is done. But the lorde sholde haue wyll that euery of his subiectes sholde do theyr offyces in peas whiche god hath cal∣led them to▪ The nobles▪ lyke as they ought to do. The clargy attende theyr scyence & to theyr deuyne ser u yer▪ The marchaū tes to theyr marchaundyses. The men of crafte to theyr occu∣pacyon. The labourers to theyr laboure: And ••••eu••ry man in his degre to lyue with good polycy without doynge on y••r ••••••yon nor dyshonest charge to that 〈…〉〈…〉 y^• they maye lyue

couenably vnder hym / and that they maye loue hym as they ought to loue a good prynce. ••nd y^t he may haue of them y^• re∣uenes y^t ought reasonably to be gadered in his coūtre w^tout to grete oppressynge of his poore comyns / lyke as Ualere sayth. That the Emperoure ••beryus answered ones to theym / y^• sayd to hym / why he set no gretter subsydy on his people for he myght well do it / he answered and sayd / it longeth quod he to a shepeherde to shere his shepe at one season in the yere / but not to flee hym nor teere his skynne / in suche wyse that the blo de come after.

¶ The loue that the good prynce ought to haue to his sub∣iectes. Capitulo. x.

THere we must se a lytell of the ryght of the prynce after the lawes. That is to were yf the good prynce may set ony new imposycyon or subsydy vpon his people aboue his de meynes for ony cause in y^e worlde. And me semeth y^t the lawes gyueth lycence ynoughe and graunteth that the prynce maye do it in some case. Notwithstandynge it sholde be done as syl∣dome as it myght. And for to knowe for what cause it sholde be done / it is to vnderstande / for the defence of his londe ayenst his enemyes / if so be that he be assayled by the warre / for y^e whi che he must holde men of warre vnder wages for the defence of the londe. Also for maryenge of his chyldren / or for getynge them out of pryson / yf they be in that case. ••nd for these causes specyally he may set a subsydy vpon his subiectes without of fendynge of the lawe. But yet it ought to be done with grete compassyon & dyscrecyon for y^• leest charge of the people y^• my∣ght be. ••nd that he take noo more than is necessary for the sa∣me cause that he sette it for. ••nd in this case / the ryche ought

to supporte the poore. And not that the ryche to be excused nor exempte / Lyke as it is nowe a dayes / and that the poore folke be so moche more charged / for ••dare saye who so euer be dys∣pleased ther with / that is a grete meruayle sauynge theyr re∣uerence y^t the grete and ryche offycers of the kynge or of other prynces whiche haue theyr grete estate and power of y^e kynge and of the lordes / and that maye well bere the charges / that they sholde be excepte. And the poore men that haue nothynge of the kynge / he bounde to paye. And howe may this be by rea son / yf I haue gyuen a grete good to one of my seruauntes for to maynteyne his lyfe honourably / and it happened that a ne∣de fell vnto me / ought not he to helpe me soner in my dystresse than he that had neuer nothynge of melyt is a straunge custo me nowe a dayes that is vsed in this royalme / In the teate of tayles or imposycyons whiche ben sette•• for the poore men pay and the ryche go free. But who that wolde do well sholde bre∣ke this and make it to be borne euenly. Not that some of y^e gre te men paye and some not. Nor of suche thynges wolde aryse enuytees. For it sholde seme a maner of a bondage and a dys∣praysynge to them that pay it. But and it were brought that euery man sholde paye / then sholde there be noo reproche / yet notwithstandynge I holde not with that / that they that folo∣we the warre for the defence of the londe / but that they sholde be exempte And this that I saye for the poore people / compas∣syon hath moued me for the grete wepynges and syghynges that cometh bytterly frome theyr hartes. ••or some of theym there be that whan they shall make theyr payment of this mo∣ney whiche they be sette vnto / they must fast and fare euyll af∣terwarde / the poore man and all his housholde / and fayne for to sell theyr bedde and theyr other thynges as good as for nou ght. ¶ A wolde god that the kynge and the noble prynces of fraunce were well enfourmed of this greate myschyefe.

For then I wolde not doubte / for the grete noblesse that is in theyr blode / they wolde not suffre this grete hardenes and so∣rowe amonge the people▪ But it happeneth often tymes that there ben suche that he receyuours of this y^• is gadered / whi∣che ben grete fatte and ryche / and wheder that all this good y^• is gadered come to the profyte for that y^• it is gadered for / god knoweth / and so knoweth other men▪ And without fayle yf su che goodes be gadered for to be employed in superfl••yte / & for other causes than for pure necessyte lyke as I haue sayd befo∣re / it is grete synne to them that sette it / and a greuous hurte ¶ And nowe to the purpose that hath ben sayd here tofore of the noble Romaynes whiche were paynymes & mysbyleuers yet they gouerned them so well / that it ought to be ensample to vs / as Ualere sayth / for he telleth y^• the lawe of Rome was suche•• That all maner of goodes y^• were gadered for y^• warre sholde not be employed / but onely to the vse of that same / that it was ordeyned to (and in no wyse to be dyspended vpon super fluyte of estate / for superfluyte of wynes & meetes taken mo∣re than is necessary causeth the body more to desyre rest / than the trauayle of the warre▪ ¶ Nowe I wylleue at this tyme to speke ony more of this purpose / Notwithstondynge I coulde say moche more / but for bycause that the sentence of suche ma ters please not the euyl mynystres whiche ben made ryche by this meanes / and wyll also blame me therfores I maye saye to them without boost lyke as ••ryppydes that was a grete •••••• t•• sayd vnto them of Athenes / whiche prayed hym y^• he wold•• put out a sentence of a tragedy y^• he had mades Tragedy val•• re sayth it is a maner of a dyte that blameth thynges that bē euylldone in ordre of polycy of the comontye or of prynces / and sayd he made not his dytyes to blame ne to be blamed / but to that entente that it sholde enduce & styre men to good lyuynge And yet Ualere sayth more of y^• same poete▪ that he wolde not

put hymselfe suche wyse vnder / that he wolde obey the senten ce of the people / and leue his owne sentence. And vpon this Ua lere sayth / for certayne sayth he / feaute is to be alowed that is drawne and cometh out or reason. And sayth also that he that hath so grete reason maye Iuge the trouthe of his owne w••r ke / so that it be not done with pryde ne boost / but in susteynyn ge the meryte of his thynge whiche he vnderstondeth is wor∣shypfull and lowable / For he saythe / whopray••eth another y^• he seeth vertuous / desyreth to haue hymselfe praysed / for bo∣the cometh of one case and of one lyke wysdome.

¶ Ensample of auncyent deedes to the purpose afore sayd. Capitulo. xi.

••••r to make conclusyon of that is sayd before. That is to wete that the good prynce sholde loue more the wele of his people than his owne propre / and that he sh••lde not set▪ •• moche by the goodes that be gadered for his synguler profyte we wyll yet call the Romaynes to our ensample and it be ••he wordes of Ualere. The ryght worthy Romayne prynces say∣th he had theyr hertes somoche in the loue of the comon wel•• / and sette solytel by theyr owne / that for very nede they myght not mary theyr owne doughters / but of the propre dyspen••es of y^• comons / for they spared not somoche that they had wher∣of to gyue them so largely as accorded for theyr euate: And •••• lyke wyse when they were paste out of this worlde theyr d••••∣tes and theyr absequyes of the grettest of them▪ as of the wor thy Fabrycyus / and also of Scypys Auffryquant / whiche were passynge famous men▪ And also of other solemp••e con∣queroures / and other prynces of Rome whiche hadde rule of the comons goodes payde them / to the whiche all the comons were well as••ented / for the meryte and contemplacyon ••. the

grete honoures and worshyppes that they had done vnto the cyte before tyme. For the worshypfull men themselfe hadde no thynge to make acounte of / but onely of theyr grete and solem ••ne actes whiche they dyde in theyr dayes. F••r thoughe so we re that they were not ryche of the goodes of fortune / yet were they ryche of the ryght grete and noble honoures whiche they had deserued before tyme. ••herfore it semeth and true it is / y^• the moost worthy be not at all tymes moost tyche nor best for∣tuned to rychesse / but fortune helpeth them by another maner whiche is more worshypfull / when she helpeth them for to gete souerayne renowne and worshyp / for notwithandynge the ••o uerte of these worthy couqueroures and noble men / ••et were they dyctatoures or consules that is as men myght saye ••m peroures / or the moost souerayne prynces whiche receyued y^• tryumphe gloryously dyuers tymes / whiche was a meruay ••o••s grete worshyp that the ••omaynes dyde to theyr pryn∣ces or soueraynes / whan they had wonne grete vyctoryes / as it shall be declared here after what thynge the tryumphe shol de be. For in those dayes vertue was theyr rychesse. And at Ro me the courage of men and women was ryght vygorous / & who that was moost vertuous moost had of dygnyte / for mē loked not after at that tyme what euery man was worthe in rychesse / but howe moche he was worthe in goodnes and cun nynge / he was moost auctorysed that surmounted in vertues wherfore Ualere sayd these fayre wordes. Suche thynges re consyleth and Ioyneth the affynyte of lordes / suche thynges haue power within and without. For by this ordynaunce eue ry man entended for the profyte of the comon welthe / and not for his owne synguler welthe / seynge that the prynces hadde leuer be poore in a ryche empyre thā to be ryche and plenteous in a poore countre. And therfore suche guerdon was graunted to them y^• the noblemen were soceured by y^• goodes of the co∣mons.

And syth we be entred in the purpose of these noble Ro∣mayne prynces howe y^• theyr noble vertues myght & ought to because of ensample and myrroure to all good prynces & wor shypfull men / yet Ualere sayth. ••e wyll speke of another wor shypfull consule / whiche was called Marcus ••urynus / whi che was a grete conqueroure / & gate many grete lordshyppes to the Romaynes. But on a tyme when he was at seege befo∣re the cyte of ••amary / the spyes of y^• same cyte reported how•• this Marcus sate but in ryght poore estate at the seege / but of men of armes he hadde ynowe / Neuerthelesse of vessell / of ry∣chesse / ••ne of vytayle he had no plente. Than anone they of the cyte sente messen ••ers to hym with grete gyftes for they sup∣posed to ouercome hym with y^• / and the answere of hym Uale re putteth in wrytynge for declaracyon of his grete constaun ce & worthynes / & sayth Marcus ••urynus whiche was a cle re morroure by the holy rule of attemperaunce & polysshed in vertues / wolde y^• the messengeres of Samary sholde se what meete y^• he ete / & howe he sate vpon a fourme before y^• fyre and was serued with lytell meases in treene dysshes / yet notwith∣stondynge y^• he refused the gyftes whiche were grete sommes of golde & syluer & of ryche vessell. And he answered them and sayd / y^• he loued better to be mayster ouer ryches / thā ryches sholde be mayster ouer hym / than hym semed y^• he was may∣ster ouer ryches / in as moche as he refused it. But & he had re ceyued & taken •••• he thought hymselfe that he had ben ouerco me. And remembre you ryght quod he / that Marcus wyll not be ouercome w^t no gyftes / nor by batayle yf he maye. ¶ This Marcus ••uryus was so worthy a man that he dyscomfyted the kynge Pyrrus whiche came to the rescowes of the Cyte of Tarente aye••st the Romaynes / and the sayd ••yrrus had in his armye. xxiiii. thousande men on fot•• / and. xxvi. thousande then on horse backe / of the whiche was slayne. xxx. thousande.

and there was taken. xiii. thousandes And Pyrrus hymselfe fledde in to Italy▪ The fyrste yere of his warres the Romay nes wanne moche good / but the worthy prynce wolde neuer en ryche hymselfe / but gaue the good and parted it amonge his knyghtes and his men of warre excepte that that he sente to•• Rome / there to be kepte for treasoure of the cyte / & as for hym∣selfe / the worshyp suffysed hym / and wolde that other had the profyte and the wynnynge. •• Also amonge other prynces Ua lere commendeth the grete vertue of a worthy consule called Fabrycyus / whiche I haue spoken of heretofore / whiche sem∣blably was of so grete vertue that notwithstandynge he had no rychesse of fortune / yet he refused tyght grete & notable gyf tes y^• the sayd kynge Pyrrus sente hym / hopynge y^• he sholde ouercome hym therby. And it was y^• same Fabrycyus of whi∣che men speke of the grete worshyp and lawde that the kynge Pyrrus his aduersary sayd of hym / whiche was a worshyp∣full and a fayre worde when he sayd▪ that the Sone sholde ra ther lese his lyght than Fabrycyus his trouthe / for the physy∣cyan of Pyrrus came to Fabrycyus and sayd vnto hym / that and he wolde quyte hym well his laboure▪ he wolde enpoyson his mayster. But this worshypful man answered / that suche maner of conquerynge the Romaynes vsed not. And so toke y^• physycyan & sente hym to kynge Pyrrus / for the whiche boun te and vertue of his trouthe he loued hym so wel that he sente vnto hym / & sayd / that he wolde for his sake make peas with the Romaynes / and wolde neuer greue them more / with that that they wolde suffre hym to haue in peas that londe that he had conquered of the Romaynes▪ But to that peas thys wor shypfull man wolde not consente in lasse than / Pyrrus wolde departe frome all the demeynes of the foresayd Romaynes. Then dyde this Pyrrus all his power for to drawe Fabrycy∣us vpon his partye / and be with holde with hym / and when

he sawe y^• he myght in no wyse gete hym the praysed so moche his vertue y^• he sayd he wolde neuer fyght ayenst hȳ in a felde & yet were y^• batayles redy / but he wēte his way vnto tarente ¶ And yet Ualere speketh more of this Fabrycyus & sayth y^• there was tolde in his presence how there was a Phylosopher i Athenes that sewe a seede vpon a maner of leuynge / in suche wyse that he sayd / that men sholde do nothynge but onely for theyr delyte / and for theyr bodely ease / and this worthy man dispraysed moche this doctryne / and helde it for a folysshe and a dyshonourable conceyte / and sayd / that all maner of delytes and they were not labourous in vertue ought to be dyspray∣sed / not onely of the body / but as well of the soule▪ But they y^• haue the good vertues and delyte in them / ben to commende▪ And his sentence was true as Ualere sayth as it appered opē ly / for the cyte of Athenes that was wonte to be gouerned by the laboure and study of wysdome and vertue / as soone as it was wrapped in delytes and lustes / lost his lordshyp / also the cyte of Rome as longe as it haūted y^• vertuous exercyse ouer∣came and gate and surmounted all other lordshyppes / & how that Athenes lost his vertue hereafter ye shall knowe / yet to our purpose of the good prynce whiche loued the comon wele of his loude: ¶ There was a kynge in Athenes that was cal∣led Epamymydas whiche was a man of meruayious grete vertue and helde his enemyes gretely vnder hym / and at the laste as he was in a batayle he happed to be smyten thrughe y^• body with a spere / and when that he sholde dye / he had so grete Ioy that he had ouercome his enemyes that his deth greued hym not: Then he sayd to them that were aboute hym / nowe hath the goddes gyuen me suche grace / that I may se my cy∣te of ••hebes the chyefe cyte of 〈…〉〈…〉ce: And the grete and coura gyous cyte of Lacedemone••is put vnder by our worthynes in ••rmes / & I dye not without ayre / for I leue you. ii. doughters

whiche I haue begoten. And this he mente by two grete ••y∣tees whiche he had conquered. For he had no hayre of his body but he vnderstode y^• by the conquest of these two cytees / his na me sholde be alwayes had in memory / lyke as by the chyldren the fader. This Epamymydes loued Iust yee meruaylously well. The lordshyppes that he gate / he gate them not for hym∣selfe / but for the encreace of his londe / for he was so lytell coue∣tous vpon good / that when he was deed / men coulde not fyn∣de wherof to do his obsequyes. And also he was as lytell a bo∣ster / as he was a couetous man. And he bare his estate so tem perately that nother of these poyntes was shewed in hym / bu•• they shewed by hym. This is to say that his vertue surmoun ted al other / she wynge outwarde. And the reason that he had in his lyfe / he lost it not at his dethe as Ualere sayth. For when he was brought home to his lodgynge as good as halfe deed / and his spyryte was comen a lytell to hym agayne / he asked of the•••• that were aboute hym / whether his enemyes after y^• he was felled toke his shelde fro hym or naye. And whan he herde that they had it not / he was pas••ynge Ioyfull / and ma∣de it to be brought vnto hym. And whan he had it / with a ma∣ner of myrthe he kylled it. And asked of the maner of the vycto ry. And whan it was tolde hym / he sayd y^• all thynges wente well. And anone he passyd out of this worlde / by the whiche d•• the / the men of Athenes whiche often tymes hadde proued his force and vertue / became ydell and were in teste / and were oc∣cupyed but with vanytees. For whiche cause they felle in too myschyefe and dystruccyon.

¶ Here after foloweth the cause why Ualere is so grete ly aledged in this boke. Capitulo. xii.

FOr bycause of the noble boke y^• the grete Ua∣lere made of the worthy dedes of Romaynes gyueth me mater to proue by ensample y^e clene entencyon whiche I laboure in / as it is shew∣ed here tofore / in gyuynge cause to styre coura ges to vertue and good lyuynge / as wel to prynces / knyghtes and nobles as the comon people. I aledge hym more than ony other auctoure. For the same Ualere sayth / that vertue moue∣th a man more to desyre honoure and worthynes / and to here good ensamples / than dothe y^• symple and feble wordes. And this wytnesseth ••••ystotle in y^•. x. boke of Ethyques. And ther fore in she wynge the style of that noble auctoure Ualere for to encreace the courages of them y^• lyst to here the werkes of ver tuous doctryne / by the whiche men gete very worshyp. I am moued to shewe here dyuers ensamples of thynges that ben fallen to dyuers worthy men in tymes passed / for theyr deser∣tes sette in mynde in the same boke / whiche gyueth grete plea saunce to y^• noble courages of them y^• sholde here it / in trustyn ge therby to gete grete worshyppes. For which honoures / ver tue is to be desyred. For we se that honoure belongeth to all so∣lempne and excellente thynges / as in cunnynge and vertue. And for as moche as I call these Romayne prynces worthy cō∣querours & other y^• may be lyke thē / thoughe they be no pryn ces / nor may not be / for as moche as they haue not so grete lō∣des and rychesse. Neuertheles after the style of Ualere▪ It ys shewed that the Romaynes reputed the gretnesse of worshyp∣pes & worthynes in vertue / and not in goodes / he calleth them not onely prynces / but calleth them in his boke Emperoures / lyke as it appereth in dyuers chapytres / as of Scipre / Affry∣can / the grete Pompee / ••ylla / and other / and yet were they neuer ••••peroures made.

O•• y^• lyberalyte in prynces & exāple of y^• Romaynes. Ca. xiii.

Athen we wyl contyne we our matter by approba cyons of ensamples longynge to the samelyer to a vertuous good prynce vpon the seconde poynte of the thre thynges whi∣che ben necessary to hym / y^• is to wete y^• he sholde loue y^• comon wele▪ The good prynce whiche y^• loueth the vnyuersal goodes from his ••he ought to haue lyberalyte / for it is to hym a thynge passynge necessary / & by the hauynge of that he shall be profy∣ted in terryble wyse▪ That is to knowe for the welth of his sou le / yf it be dysc••etely done. ¶ Secondely to his grete honoure and renowne▪ ¶ Thyrdely in that y^• he shall drawe to hym as well the courage of his owne people as of staungers / for it is no doubte that there is nothynge that profyteth more a pryn∣ce thā lyberalyte with dyscrecyon▪ O howe moche dyde it ones profyte to y^• Romaynes whā the legates of them of Cartage were come to Rome for to bye agayne theyr prysoners whiche were taken in the batayles & warres amonge them▪ For y^• Ro maynes gaue al y^• prysoners agayne frely to y^• legates y^• were sente for them / without payenge of on y raunsome / whiche we •••• ryght worthypfull men in theyr floures▪ And also of grete au••to: yte to the nombre of a thousande seuen hundreth & foure and fourty / wherfore Ualere magnefyeth gretely this lybera lyte in thre thynges and sayth: O lorde god sayth he ••how mer uaylous a lyberalyte was it / that they wolde let go frome thē so many grete enemyes / and l••ue so grete goodes as they my ••ht haue had for them / I suppose quod he that y^• legates that came for them had grete meruayle of theyr grete largesse / then he sayd▪ O the grete magnyfycence of Romaynes / egall to y^• benygnyte of goddes For that dede was more plenteuous thā your enemyes coulde haue desyred / wherfore it is no doubte y^• for bycause of theyr grete lyberalyte the Romaynes gatema∣ny lordshyppes and dom ynacyons as many or mo than they gate by force of armes. For many straunge countrees seynge

theyr grete fredome and worshypfull custome yelded them to the Romaynes / not trust ynge to be made as seruauntes / but to be made more free. And Ualere wytnesseth the same / sayen∣ge that the Empyre of Rome that is to saye / the lordshyp was not so gretely encreaced by the strengthe of theyr bodyes / as it was by the myght of theyr courages ••nd yet in more pray∣synge of lyberalyte whiche ought to be in prynces / and also of theyr mekenes / Ualere sayth worde by worde lyke as Ifynde in his boke that for theyr beaute & substaunce / there may not be gyuen to lyberalyte a more couenable cōpany thā humany ••e and mekenes / for they deserue one maner of laude / for lybe∣ralyte is shewed to them that ben poore and nedy / and huma∣nyte sheweth hymselfe to them that be in sykenes / and in pry∣son / or in mysease of theyr body. ••••kenes showeth hymselfe to them that ben fallen in myserye / in daunger / and peryll of theyr bodyes / or of theyr goodes / & ouer suche as he hath lorde shyp and power to punysshe and to forgyue whiche myleryes for to pardon and as••wage the grete greues that they be unbe vnder the grace of the prynce / wherfore euery good prynce is bounde yf he wyl vse ony goodnes to heele his poore subiectes with grete compassyon / by the vertuous meanes aboue sayd / kepynge alwayes the ordre of Iust yee / not to rygorously / and specyally in suche thynges as be not contrary to nature. And thoughe so be sayth Ualere that thou knowe not whiche of all these vertues is moost to be alowed / yet it semeth y^• it is moost souerayne that hath taken his name of the godhede / & that he sayth is lyberalyte / whiche is as a vertu deuyne / & streteheth to euery mā / for by that vertue men gete them moost frendes▪ And for bycause it lyeth more in y^• puyssaunce of prynces than of other men for to be lyberall▪ ••nd also that frendes and well wyllers is to theym a thynge passynge necessary / wherfore he sayth it is to th••m couenable onely for y^• encreasynge of theyr

glory ••yke as it is wryten in ••olycratyque / in y^• thyrde boke of the same in the .xiiii. chapytre of ••ytus y^• ••mpereure / whi che by his lyberalyte ••ourged the vyce of ••uaryce that was in his fader in suche maner that he was called of all men / the loue and delytes of all mennes lygnage. And ••ullyus sayth in the seconde booke of offyces. ••here maye be no gretter vy∣ce in a prynce / or in hym that gouerneth the comon welthe then ••uetyse / But for bycause that we saye soo moche that euery good prynce ought to be lyberall / It is necessary for to showe in what maner / and in what thynges he ought to be lyberall where vpon Senecke declareth in the seconde booke of beny∣••yces / and sayth. The prynce or he that wyll gyue / ought too vnderstonde and knowe the puyssaunce and the auctoryte of hymselfe that ys the gyuer. And also the state of hym that he wyl gyue vnto. To that entente that he sholde not gyue a less•• gyfte than were accordynge to his honoure. Nor all so a gret∣ter gyfte than were necessary to hym / that sholde receyue it. And the prynce / or the gyuer ought to consyder to whome and why he gyueth that gyfte. For there is a dyfference in gyuyn ge to a man that hathe deserued it / from a man that the pryn •••• lyst to gyue by his fredome and courteysye. For and a man haue deserued it / the prynce ought well to se that the gyfte be ••uche that he be not blamed in no nygardyse / nor in no cayty∣••en••sse / and yet it must be done moche vpon the largesse after •••• the man hathe deserued it. But when the gyfte ys gyuen without meryte or deseruynge / thoughe so be that it longe to a prynce / or other myghty persones to gyue grete gyftes as lon geth to theyr estate / yet maye they gyue lytell small gyftes to the poore and nedy persones. ••nd this lyberalyte ought to be moderate by dede of dyscrecyon. As ••ullyus hathe sayd her•• before. ••or lette vs suppose that the prynce or ony other be ly∣berall and in wyll for to gyue / yet ought be to be well aduysed

howe he maye contynewe in vertue. ••ot onely as they y^• gyue theyr goodes folely / and departeth yt without ony ordre. For the lyberalyte of theyr gyftes / ought to be of theyr owne goo∣des / and not of other mennes. For as saynt Ambrose saythe in the fyrste boke of offyces. That maye be called noolyberalyte sayth he. whan a man gyueth to one and taketh from another ••or there maye nothynge belyberall but it be Auste. And also for as moche as it is sayd / that lyberalyte is a vertue deuyne / whiche longeth to euery good prynce.

¶ And trewely yt longeth to euery good prynce soueraynely to guerdon euery man that hathe done hym good / and shew∣ed hym loue / and he ought not to take hede of the ••eblenesse of the persone yf he haue done hym good se••uyce / ••ut to the gret nesse of his estate / whiche maye ryght well rewarde hym for hys good dede. ••yke as yt ys wryten of kynge ••ary o•• ••••t se•• ••ot y^• same kynge Dary y^• y^• grete Alyxandre dyscomfyted but he that entred in to the lordelhyppe by a cawtelous meane that he made hys horse to ney / for bycause that the Prynces hadde made suche an ordynaunce. For when they myght not accorde amonge theymselfe / whiche sholde be heyre vnto the kynge and to gouerne the royalme. ••hen they made an ordy∣naunce y^• they sholde go forthe togyder erely in y^• mournynge before the temple. And whose horse y^• neyed fyrst sholde be cho∣sen for kynge / & this ••ary the nyght before made lede his hor se with a mare in to the place where the assemble sholde be on••y morowe / & there the horse lepte the mare / & on the morowe wh•• the horse came agayne in to the same place / anone he beganne to ney. And soo this ••••rye was chosen kynge of ••••rse. That same ••arye beynge in hys lytell fortune / a man that was cal led ••hylomytes gaue hym without ony askynge a mantell with hys good wyll▪ ••••t withstandynge that he was a ry∣ght grete negarde. The whiche mantell pleased meruaylous

gretely to Dary: Then it happened afterwarde whan Dary was kynge he forgate not the grete courteysy y^• Phyl••mytes had done to hym / but gaue hym the cyte and all the yle of Sa∣mos. whiche was a plenteuous and a good yle / in the whiche the phylosopher Pyctogoras was borne. But this kynge Da ry ••xtemed not the pryce of the mantell that was gyuen hym but onely the lyberalyte of the gyuer / and the puys••aunce also of hymselfe y^• myght goodly rewarde hym for his kyndnes.

¶ Also Mytrydates the passynge ryche kynge / whiche rey∣gned ouer. xii. countrees shewed grete lyberalyte & guerdon ••o one of his knyghtes / whiche was named L••on yeus for the getynge hym out of pryson from the handes of his enemyes / whiche had taken hym before in batayle / gaue for hym grete noumbre of prysoners. For he loued better for to encreace his enemyes than men sholde thynke that he wolde not rewarde his men that had worshypfully deserued it.

¶ Of the humayne pyte in a prynce. Capitulo. xiiii.

W•• haue spoken ynoughe of lyberalyte in y^• good pryn ce. And nowe we must speke of other vertues longyn ge to the same by lyke meryte and lawde / that is t•• wete of humanyte & mekenes▪ whiche ben necessary to be kno wen with euery good prynce / and for to proue y^• it is so / we shal shew it by exsāyle. And fyrst of y^• grete humanyte y^• y^• worthy Romayne prynce Lucyus Emylyus Publyus shewed vn∣to the kynge Par••es whā he had dyscomfyted hym in playne batayle / so vyctoryou••ly that he was taken and ledde towar▪ Lucyus▪ But when he vnderstode the bryngynge of this kyn ge Parses? The worshypful man Lucyus wente ayenst hym And when he met hym / he wolde in no wyse suffre hym to kn•• le before hym but toke hym benygnely by the hande and toke

hym with hym arme in arme / and comforted hym & worshyp∣ped hym / and made hym to sytte with hym at his borde and in his counsayle. Notwithstandynge y^• kynge Parses was full lothe therto / and wolde not by his wyll haue taken soo moche vpon hym▪ But neuerthelesse this worthy Lucyus entreated hym as he had ben his owne brother? A what noble vertue is it in a prynce / or in ony worthy man of armes to be pyteous & humayne to theym that they haue ouercomen and dyscomfy∣ted / as we may haue ensample of E••tor of Troye of whom mē saye / there was neuer ••yon more fy••rse / ne more cruell in ba∣tayll than he was? But anone as he had ouercome his enemy∣es and meked them to hym / in yeldynge & cryenge hym mer∣cy▪ ••here was neuer lambe more meke nor debonayre than he was / for he wolde entreate them as gentylly as they had ben his bretherne / by the whiche he was soo gretely profyted that for his deboneyrete dyuers people came and yelded them vnto hym: And so this condycyon euery good prynce and worshyp∣full man ought to haue? But not as the lordes and other men of armes doo nowe a dayes / when they conquere londes and fortresses Eytees and other places / as soone as they be entred in them / it semeth as they were dogges that were famysshed for hongre / and without ony pyte of mordres and horryble oc∣cysyons of crysten people / dyshonouryn••e the women and put all to ruyne▪ Alas what hartes haue these people to do so cruel∣ly to theyr owne lykenes / whiche is ayenst nature and ayenst the lawe of god / whether they be not aferde that the fyers de∣uylles of hell wyll ••auysshe them in to the cyte infernall / For it is no doubte but they shall come therto at the laste ende? And certaynly suche people ought rather to bere the fygure and the chere of an horryble serpente / than humayne and pyteous che∣re / for vnder the lykenes of man they bere the grete f••lony and cruelte of a wode beest▪ But Marcus Marcellus whiche was

a prynce of Romaynes and of greate auctoryte dyde not ••oo. / For when he by his greate manhode hadde wonne the cyte of Syracuse whiche was a noble and a stronge ••yte / when he was goten vp to the hyghest toppe of the castell for to se the for tune of the cyte / and hadde consyderacyon of the grete st••••••g the that it was of / and howe it hadde ben gouerned before ty∣me with many worthy kynges / and how it was wonte for to haue grete power bothe by see & by londe / & how it was wonte fulfylled with grete sorowe and mys•••• yefe / he had suche pyte vpon the desolacyon of his enemyes / that he wepte for sorowe.

¶ ••et ayenst them that ben so cruell and so ••••naturall ayenst theyr prysoners for bycause of ••ouetyse / and for to constrayne them to paye gretter raunsomes than they maye gete whiche is grete horroure to se or here the grete tourmentes that som•• that ben cruell and borryble men done to theyr prysoners / for ••arasynes maye doo no worse then they doo. ••ut and suche handgemen dye on good deth•• / me semeth that god and natu∣re do••he theym wronge / Neuerthelesse I doubte not but that they shall be sore punysshed therfore / for god is Iuste. A lord•• god / so dyde not that noble and worthy prynce Pomp••e whi∣che was an excellente man of armes / for he conquered almoost all the partyes of the ory••ute. But amonge all other when he had subdued the kynge ••••gram of ••rmonye / and taken. xl. thousande of his men / and kynge ••ygram was brought be∣fore hym also / whiche toke of his crowne and sette it downe a•• the ••eete of this noble Pomp••e / and thought too haue ••n•••••••• downe before hym ••••pynge full tenderly. This noble Pom∣p••e wolde not suffre hym but comforted hym with al his pow er and at the laste sette hym agayne in his estate / vnder the obeysaunce of y^• ••••maynes / for hym thought it was as grete worshyp for to make kynges / as for to put theym downe / and vnmake theym.

¶ Of mekenesse and deboneyryte in a Prynce Capitulo. xv▪

H••re before we haue spoken of the humanyte o•• the good prynce. And nowe we wyll speke of y^• mekenes that he ought specyally to showe vn to his subiectes / in confourmynge and draw∣ynge to hym the loue of his people / for without ony doubte there is nothynge more swetter ne more fauoura∣ble to a subiecte / than for to se his prynce benygne and courtey se vnto hym / nor the prynce maye not soo well contente the her∣tes of his men and famylyeres with his good / as he maye by his mekenes and benygny••e wysely and dys••retely done / not that he sholde be soo famylyer / that men sholde sette the lesse by hym and haue hym in the lesse reuerence / but in kepynge of his honoure whiche of dewetye ought for to be showed vnto hym of his subiectes / yet ••e ought benygnely to here and vn∣derstande theyr requestes and petycyons / and answere theym with fayre and swete wordes. And for a lytell mysse dede he ta ke not ouer greate dysdayne agaynste none of theym / For the grett••r and the hygher that a towre is the lesse it semeth by the caste of a lytell stone. Also in lykewyse ye shall vnderstande of ••hylostratus that was Duke or kynge of Athenes whiche ••yde a worshyp full dede / as ye maye vnderstande here after / He hadde a trusty frende whiche he loued entyrely and he was called ••ranlypus ••oo••t happened on a tyme as they sate at theyr souper / thys ••ransypus was greately amoued with an gre / and sayd many grete Iniuryes and vy••anyes vnto Phy lost••atus hys lorde / But his noble lorde sayd neuer an angry worde agaynste hym / But prayed hym faste that he sholde not be angrye. ••or that he sholde not aryse frome hys souper with angre and wrathe. But this ••ransypus was so gretly 〈1 page duplicate〉〈1 page duplicate〉

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moued with Ire / that he spytted in his lordes vysage / but for all that / this worthy prynce wolde not be moued with angre / in his courage / but withdrewe his chyldren whiche wolde ha ue shayne this Transypus / and to auenge the hyghe mage∣ste of theyr fader. On the morowe came one vnto this worthy prynce & sayd / that Transypus was as a man out of his myn de for angre and shame of that he had done & sayd ouer euen. And lyke to slee hymselfe. For the whiche Phylostratus hadde greate pyte▪ And anone came vnto hym and cleped hym / and comforted hym / and forgaue hym / and promysed hym by hys faythe that he was & sholde be as well in his grace as he was tofore▪ yet more of the good prynce Phylostratus / he had a fay re yonge mayde to his doughter / and a yonge man that dwel∣led in the towne loued her soo moche that he was almoost deed for her sake▪ ••oo yt happened on a tyme that she wente with her moder in the towne / and the yonge man that loued her soo well mette her of fortune in the strete / and he was soo ouerco∣me with loue / that he myght not restrayne hymselfe / but so∣d••ynly wente to her and kyssed her afore all the people: The mo der of this mayde / whiche was wyfe to Phylostrate wolde ne des that this yonge man sholde be deed for that offence / and often tymes styred her lorde thereto▪ But Phylostratus an∣swered her agayne full pyteously and sayd: And we sholde ma ke theym to be slayne that doth loue vs / what shall we do•••••• theym that doth hate vs▪ And this was a worshypfull and a pyteous answere▪ ¶Also of the worthy Pompee that ys spo∣ken of here tofore / It is wryten that he was of soo greate ver∣tue and courage that he wolde n••t be lyghtely moued to angre ¶He suffered pacyentely many Iniures and wronges that were doone vnto hym by Enuyous people: For bycause that he was so curyous in Cunnynge for too encreace the comon welthe▪ ¶But for all that / he wolde neuer leue too doo well. ▪

wherfore it appereth to be true that Ualere sayth in his thyr∣de boke / in the fyrst chapytre of Sapyence / where he sayth y^t Sapyence is so lyke to force / that it semeth that it is borne of her or with her. ¶yet may ye se another ensample of y^• ryght debonayre & cheualrous kynge Pyrrus whiche we haue spo∣ken of dyuers tymes here tofore / he was a mā of grete coura∣ge / and had many vertues / he worshypped y^• good and honou∣rable persones / lyke as he shewed ofte tymes to y^• Romaynes durynge the terme of warres that was amonge them▪ So it happened vpon a tyme he dyscomfyted y^• Romaynes / yet was he neuer the more proude nor cruell ayenst them / syke as nowe a dayes yf men haue vyctory of theyr enemyes / they wexe soo proude that they can not knowe god neman / whiche is a grete foly / for a mā sholde thynke that fortune dystrybueth often ty mes after her wyll / and gyueth vyctoryes to a man at one ty∣me / and at another tyme tourneth y^e whele▪ But this Pyrrus for the worthynes that he knewe in the Romaynes wolde not leue his noblesse▪ Notwithstondynge that he had the vyctory / but wente ayenst theyr enbassadoures / whan he vnderstode y^t theyr comynge was for to desyre theyr prysoners & worshyp∣fully receyued them.

¶ yet of deboneyryte & howe fortune maye chaunge. Ca. xvi.

YEt to the purpose of the wyse / Mekenes of the prynce. And also howe fortune may chaunge in a lytel whyle we haue ensample in that that befell to the sayd kyn∣ge Pyrrus / by the whiche we may conclude for certayne / y^• by pryde a man is not enhaunced to good fortune: This kynge Pyrrus was a grete warryoure and a vyctoryous man ouer many other prynces & kynges▪ And lyke as fortune dyde hel∣pe hym for to conquere & gete royalmes & lordshyppes / in lyke

wyse she ••oyed and condyted hym for to lose them by greuous dyscomfytures / and fynally by batayle brought hym to hys laste terme / and that was the deth / for as he maynteyned the warre in many londes that he had goten / they of ••rece were so adradde and soo a ferde of hym for the greate batayles that he had made ayenst the Romaynes / and ayenst the ••artagyen∣ces that they wyste not well what for to do. So it happened y^• he wente agaynst a cyte of Grece that was called Lacedemone whiche was a cyte of grete renowne. But at that tyme it was better defended and saued from dystruccyon by women than by men / as Ualere sayth / for in defence of the same countree / there came so grete nombre of women / that of very force Pyr∣rus must nedes departe thens shamefully / and had one of his owne sones slayne / whiche caused hym to take ryght grete so rowe & heuynes / and so fortune at that tyme was not his fren de. And whan he was parted from thens / he wente before the cyte of Arges / and there he was slayne with the cast of a stone & thus ended the kynge Pyrrus / whiche had tourmented ma ny one vpon erth. ••elenus sone of ••••tygone whiche was kyn ge of ••rges made grete Ioy for the dethe of Pyrrus and ma de smyte of the hede from the body & with grete Ioy he brou∣ght it to his fader. But ••ntygone lyke a wyse prynce blamed hym for y^• he made so grete Ioye for y^• dethe of so noble a kny∣ght as he was. And for because also y^• he had no pyte / seynge •• grete ••reylte of fortune whiche is neuer stable / & forthwith he worshypped y^• hede / & toke away the couerynge of his owne h•• de whiche was couered after y^e maner of kynges of Macydo∣ne / & with grete honoure couered the hede of Pyrrus / & made take the body worshypfully out of the felde to be brought vnto hym / & forth withall he lete bury hym with grete reuerence / & made for hym worshypfull obsequyes after the vse & custome in those dayes / & as the sone of Pyrrus whiche was brought

vnto hym prysoner / made clothe hym in royal clothynge & ba∣de hym take vnto hym y^• courage of a kynge / & gaue to hym y^• asshes of his faders body in a vessel of golde & bade hym go ho me agayne to the Empyre whiche was his faders kyngdom ••••d so it semeth to me truely y^• in the sentence of this story ys well comprehended y^• varyaūce of fortune lyke as it is openly declared by Pyrrus / as for y^t grete lyberalyte / mekenes / & hu∣manyte. And also of y^e worshyp & honoure of this worthy pryn ce whiche ought gretely to be recōmended amonge other pryn∣ces afore sayd. ¶ Notwithstondynge it is wryten in lyke wy se of Hanyball the Emperour of Affryke whiche was a ryght famous & a manly knyght / & had many vyctoryous batayles ayenst the Romaynes / & other whyle he loste. But this same worthy prynce when he had wonne the vytory of ony batayle / as he dyde of many one / he wolde an one make serche the felde And all worthy prynces & knyghtes y^t were founde deed in y^• batayle / he wolde an one lete take & bury them / as well of hys enemyes as of his owne with grete honoure & worshyp / lyke as he dyde with the worthy Romayne prynce that was called ••mulus ••aulus / whiche was slayne in the batayle of ••••∣nes / where was so grete occysyon of Romaynes / that he fylled threpypes full of rynges of them that were slayne / and sente them home in to his countree / for at that tyme it was custome that all noble men sholde were rynges / and thoughe this seme a grete meruayle / it is no wonder / yet all these cronyclers and wryters of storyes recordeth the same. But yt maye well hap pen that the pypes were not so grete in those dayes as they be nowe / orelles it was some other measure that was so called at that tyme. And after this batayle he lete nobly bury the bo∣dy of the sayd ••mulus Paulus. And in lyke wyse he dyde vn to another noble Romayne prynce / ••••e whiche was called ••••yberyus Graccus the whiche was slayne also in another

batayles and wh••n he was brente toke the asshes / & gaue th•• to his knyghtes in a vessell of golde to bere home in to his ow∣ne countrees and in lyke wyse also she dyde to Marcus Mar∣cellus whiche was slayne in another batayle / for anone after y^• batayle he made cast ryche clothes vpon hym and brente hym as y^• custome was at that tyme / and set a crowne of ••auryer on his hede as for a vyctoryous prynce / for not withstandynge that he was slayne / yet had he wonne the felde vpon hanyball But yet was the noblesse and y^• courage so grete of y^• worthy prynce Hanyball y^• he worshypped as well his enemyes when they had ouercomen hym / as he wolde be worshypped whā he had ouercomen them. Wherfore Ualere sayth / that this huma nyte gaue a gretter voyce and lawde to Hanyball / ••han the byctoryes that he had wonne▪ For he sayth y^• he ouercame thē by the malyce of ••••fryke / and worshypped them by the cour∣teysy and the mekenes of Romaynes.

¶ Howe a prynce sholde not be proude thoughe fortune fa∣uoure hym neuer so moche▪ Capitulo. ▪ xvii.

••Or bycause we haue touched that no mā for no mane•• of fortune that myght fall vnto hym sholde be proude. And that it maye be exsample to euery good prynce for to kepe hym therfro / I wyll shewe you what Ualere sayth therin / he sayth thus▪ That y^• Romaynes were conquerours for bycau∣se that they were not proude when good fortune fell vnto thē / lyke as some done that ben as halfe out of theyr mynde for ioy when prosperyte falleth vnto them. ¶ But the Romaynes he sayth gate more in sparynge of them y^• were ouercomen / ••••at is to saye in the goodly demeanynge of them that were taken then by ouercomynge of them / ••nd for to vnderstāde certayn∣ly that mannes good fortune blyndeth hym soo by pryde that

he can not knowe hymselfe / nor vnderstondeth not the course of her pleye / and afterwarde casteth them downe in his horry ble pytre / It appereth amonge other ensamples by Hanyball whiche was prynce of Cartage afore sayd / For notwithston∣dynge that he had many good vertues in hym / he rose in to so grete a pryde for bycause of the vyctorye that he had vpon the Romaynes as hath ben declared here before / that he dysday∣ned for to here ony man speke to hym / but made other men spe ke with the people / whiche brought vnto hym reporte agayne And he trusted soo moche in his owne wytte and in his good fortune & felycyte / that hym semed no man coude showe hym nothynge but that he knewe it well ynoughe before / wherfore on a tyme he dyspraysed a wyse knyght of his whiche was cal led Maherball that sayd and affermed / howe he had aduysed by what maner of meane Hanyball sholde gete Rome / •• how he sholde soupe in the Capytole whiche was y^e chyefe fortresse of the Cyte / but he lyste not to here it / nor sette not therby / for hym semed that he was wyse ynoughe hymselfe / for to gete it without ony fayle / but his thought begyled hym / for he fayl∣led therof / wherfore no prynce ought not disprayse to here other mennes opynyons / and specyally of suche as ben wyse men / For there is no thynge be it neuer so subtyll / but mannes wyt maye ymagyne the meanes for to optayne it▪ But the proude man deygne not to enquyre / For as Ualere sayth / felycyte af∣ter the comon course wyll not suffre a proude man for to here y^• voyce of a meke man / thoughe it be neuer so true and profyta∣ble vnto hym / for because he hath no moderacyon of attempe∣••aunce / So was the ende of this Hanyball as it is conteyned in the Romayne storyes▪ For after that he had longe trauay∣led the Romaynes by many grete batayles / fortune tourned so moche ayenst hym that at the ende he loste all his Empyre / his men / and his goodes / and was compelled for to flee & hyde

hymselfe. But he coude fynde no prynce in y^• worlde that wol∣de receyue hym for fere of the Romaynes for whiche cause he fell in dyspayre and slewe hymselfe by v••nyme that he dranke ••nd so this Hanyball dyed wretchedly / whiche was in his ty∣me one of the manlyest prynces and best fortuned in y^• worlde as it is shewed in storyes. And therfore to our purpose / y^• wor∣des that was somtyme sayd by Salon one of the. vii. sages is veryfyed here ayenst them that weneth to fynde & haue fely∣cyte by rychesses / honoures / and delytes / saynge that no man ought to calle hymselfe vrouse as longe as he lyueth in thys worlde / for we ben subiecte to fortune vnto our last dayes / whi che is chaungeable and doubtefull / by the whiche chaunges / it happeneth often tymes that the name of felycyte is taken a maye f••o••••e many creatures.

¶ Howe the good prynce ought to loue Iustyce. Ca. xviii.

AS me semeth we haue spoken ynoughe of the matter of two of the fyrst poyntes and of the brauuches longynge to the same / Upon whi∣che the naturall prynce and not the tyraunte ought to be founde / vpon the fete of his gouer naunce lyke as we haue promysed to speke of here before. That is to were howe he ought to loue and drede god aboue all thynges. ¶ Also the seconde poynte that he shol de loue and kepe the comon welthe of his londe more than his owne propre. ¶ Nowe we must speke of the thyrde poynte whi che is / that he ought to kepe and loue Iustyce / where vpon we must fyrst se what is Iustyce / & afterwarde the maner howe the good prynce ought to kepe it / and what thynges be necessa ry for the kepynge therof. And howe the olde auncyentes that were well taught kepte it. And vpon this we wyll shewe some

ensamples to y^• purpose lyke as we haue done here tofore? Ary stotle saythe / that Iustyce is a measure that yeldeth to euery man his ryght. And yet a man might declare more vpon this worde after the dyscrypcyon of the sayd vertue / but for as mo∣che as I haue before this tyme touched this matter and spe∣cyally in the boke of dyscrypcyon / whiche is made of the wys∣dome of man. I passe the more lyghtly ouer at this tyme for by cause that I wyll declare you ensamples accordynge to oure matter. Fyrste the good prynce ought to loue Iustyce in suche wyse / that for no maner of fauoure he breke it not? For the aun cyent faders before vs loued Iustyce so well / that they wolde not spare theyr owne chyldren? Lyke as it was shewed by an▪ Emperoure whiche commaunded / that what man that bra∣ke a certayne commaundement whiche he hadde made sholde ••ose bothe his eyen / For thoughe his owne sone fell in the case he sholde not be pardoned of that same payne? So it fortuned afterwarde that his sone brake this cōmaundement / and for∣the withall he wolde haue doone this Iustyce vpon hym. But for as moche as that he sholde reygne after hym and he were made blynde of bothe eyen / yt semed to hym that he myght ne uer gouerne well his subiectes / nor the comon welthe of hys royalme▪ wherfore he founde a remedy for to satysfye his com maundement▪ ••nd also that the lybertye of his gouernaunce sholde not be all taken from hym / But that remedy was ry∣ght pyteous / for he made to put out the one eye of his sone and another of his owne▪ Thenne I saye yf they kepte rygorous Iustyce at that tyme▪ it is as moche released in the tyme that nowe ys▪ and more ouer I haue before thys spoken of euyll mynystres / wherfore I wyll as nowe passe ouer more shorte∣ly▪ ¶ But yet to the purpose of rygorous Iustyce / the worthy Romayne prynce / whiche was named AulusPostunus whi che by his wysdome & grete hardynes dyscomfyted a maner

of people that were called Uolques. But before or the batayle telle••he made crye and defende vpon payne of dothe that none were so hardy to put themselfe in prees for to fyght nor depar te out of theyr lodgynge without y^• lycence of hym. This sayd Aulus Postumus happened to go out of his hooste for certay∣ne matters that he had to do. So it fortuned that a sone of his had a knowlege where a cerayne of his enemyes were lodged and anone he toke a certayne people with hym & faught with them and dyscomfyted theym. And when his fader was come home agayne to his hooste / and herde of this thynge / an one he gaue Iugemente and sayd / that it was more harme for to sa∣ue that man fro dethe that breketh the lawes and commaun∣dementes of prynces / not withstondynge that he had the vyc∣tory of his enemyes / and also for ensample to other men / than the dyscomfyture of a fewe po••ple. And forthe withall he ma∣de ••myte of his sones heede. ¶ Nowe we wyll passe ouer of the rygorous ensamples and we wyl speke of y^• good prynce how he ought to kepe Iustyce / and what thynges be necessary vn∣to hym for the same. And fyrst he must be puruayed specyally of ryghtwyse & true counsaylers / and that they loue better y^• lyfe and worshyp of the prynce and the welthe of the comons / than theyr owne synguler profyte. But Ifeere me that there be fewe suche to fynde nowe a dayes. But and a prynce haue suche dyscrete men aboute hym / he maye well kepe the rewle of Iustyce and other partyculer matters whiche shall encrea ce and multyply hym in power / in myght and in rychesse. O where is that prynce y^• may thanke a true counsayloure suffy ••yently ynoughe / for the grete goodnes that he maye fynde in shew ynge of his counsayle yf he wyll byleue hym / It ys not shewed in the story of Romaynes that Scypyon Nasyca the wyse man whiche was of the noble lygne of these other Scy∣pyons y^• were so worthy men of armes / y^• he notwithstondyng

that he sewed not the warres as these other dyde / yet was he so wyse in counsayle and gouernaunce of the comon profyte / that he dyde as moche by his wysdome as the others dyde by theyr armes For he faught so with his wyse reasons namely ayenst some of y^• myghty men of Rome / that wolde haue put vnder the Senat / and also the comon welthe / wherfore Uale re sayth of hym that he deserned no lesse thanke of the people in his koote / then the other warryoures in theyr armes / for he kepte the cyte from any grete inconuenyentes & moche good•• nes shewed them by his meanes.

¶ what maner counsaylours a prynce sholde take. Ca. xix.

••Owe we must aduyse / amonge what people the prynce sholde chose his counsayloures / for to be well counsayled / shall it not be amonge the yon∣ge men / Nay / for they counsayled somtyme euyl the kynge Ieroboam / and so haue they done ma ny another prynce •• But he shall chose them amonge the olde wyse men / whiche ben good men / and well experte in coūsayle for they ben more redy to gyue good counsayle than the yonge And of necessyte it longeth to a good counsayloure / that he be well aduysed of the matter that he comeneth of•• or he gyue coū sayle therin / and that he gyue not to hasty credence thoughe a matter appere fayre before hym / vnto the tyme that he haue wel proued the trouthe therin / for at y^• fyrst apparens a matter maye shewe otherwyse than it is in effecte ••nd Arystotle spe∣keth of the maners of the olde auncyentes in the booke of Re∣thoryke▪ and saythe that they were not lyght of byleue / for by cause that they had ben often tymes defrauded / wherfore they wyll not lyghtly determyne a thynge in haste that is doubte∣full▪ But they wyll often tymes construe it to the worste / For

they haue sene it often tymes fall so in theyr tyme. And ther∣fore they be not redy for to gyue counsayle hastely. ¶ Also they wyll not gyue no grete truste vpon a lytell foundemente / nor vpon a lytell encheson / for they haue often tymes sene a thynge fall otherwyse than they thought / wherfore they wyll not gy∣ue hasty counsayle vpon grete empryses / without grete ad∣uyse and delyberacyon. ••nd al these thynges be comonly con trary to yonge men. And also all other naturall thynges way eth more in the olde man than in the yonge. But to say that al olde men ben wyse. Iwyll not say so / ••or Arystotle sayth that there b••n two maner of ages / one is that that foloweth after youthe / well ordeyned / and well attempred / and this age Tul∣lyus aloweth gretely in his boke of age. The other age that co meth after youthe / is that / that is vndyscrete & wauerynge & this age is subiecte to many myseryes / & is not worthy to be recōmended. And therfore Ihaue sayd that the prynces sholde chose his counsaylours of the olde wyse men. And yet to speke more of them thought so be that they haue not so grete bodely strength as haue the yonge men / yet they may haue gretter vertue & dyscrecyon in counsayle / as Ihaue sayd before / whi∣che is more nedefull & profytable then the strengthe of the bo∣dy / In as moche as it is more to be alowed & is more noble / the vertue of vnderstondynge & of dyscrecyon & knowlege / then is the strength of the body / for after the wyse werkynge of coū sayles of olde wyse men ben well susteyned & gouerned y^• roy all magestees / the ••ytees / and the polycyes / & the comon wel∣the / whiche often tymes ben cast downe by the yonge men / as Tullyus sayth / as it appereth clerely in dyuers storyes. Thē thoughe so be that age taketh awaye the. bodely strength / yet it haboundeth in wysdome and vnderstandynge whiche thyn ges ben moost to be alowed. And therfore aged men that ben sory that theyr youthe is past / it is a sygne that they be nother

wyse nor vertuous / for that man is not wyse that choseth not the more profytable thynge / and why that men dysprayse age is for nothynge elles / But that it taketh awaye the wyll and the delectacyons of the flesshe. And therfore age ought not to be blamed / but ought to be gretely thanked. For in that it taketh awaye the rote of all euylles / For after the sayenge of Archyca of ••arence that was ryght a grete phylosophre. There is no gretter pestylence gyuen to the nature of mā / then is the wyll of the body / of the whiche groweth treasons / subuersyons of cytees / and of people / and defoulynge of women / and all euyll thynges / nor there is none vnthryfty thynge but it wyll dra∣we it vnto the courage of man at some tyme / it is she that de∣stroyeth the Iugemente of reason / and putteth out the eye of mannes lyfe. And also she hath none affynyte nor communy∣cacyon with vertues / So than it is more lowable for to chose age then the dylectacyons of y^e body / whiche yonge men glad ly wyll not eschewe. Wherfore the olde men ben more noble & set lesse by contrary thynges & reproues ayenst themselfe thē the yonge men doone. As Arystotle saythe in the. viii. booke of ••thyques: And Tullyus speketh too the same purpose and saythe / that age is stronger & more couragyous thā is youthe wherfore Salon the grete wyse man of Athenes answered to the ••yrante ••ytsycratus whiche asked hym howe he durste be so bolde to answere hym soo malepertely / he answered hym and sayd / that it was by y^• force of age / and this is conteyned in the translacyon of Ualere whiche Ihaue gadered out of his bookes / somewhat goynge out of my fyrst processe that speke∣th of Iustyce / for to declare what counsayloures longeth to a good prynce.

¶ ••owe a good prynce not witstondynge y^• he be debonayre & meke ought to be dredde and doubted. ••apitulo. xx.

OF Iustyce and wherof ••••••••••ueth / it is tyght wel knowen that yt longeth to a good prynce to pu∣nysshe or cause to punysshe y^• euyll d••ers / wher fore I wyll leue spekynge of it at this tyme / for bycause that I haue touched it here before▪ And I wyll procede vpon that that longeth to the sayd good pryn∣ce after the trouthe of Iustyce / and that he sholde yelde to eue∣ry man that belongeth vnto hym after his power▪ And yf he kepe this meanes of Iustyce / he may not fayle for to do ryght in euery thynge / for yf he do thus he shall yelde to hymselfe y^• is dewe. For it is reason that he vse y^• same ryght that he wyl do to euery man. That is to knowe that he wolde be obeyed & doubted of ryght and reason as is accordynge to the mageste of a prynce. For in what lōde or place that a prynce is not doub∣ted / there maye be no good Iustyce▪ ••nd howe that it longeth to a prynce for to be doubted it appereth by the worthy man y^• was named Cleartus that was duke of Lacedemone / whiche is a grete parte of Grece where were sometyme passynge mā ly people▪ This duke whiche was a knyghtly man and a gre∣te warryoure to that entente that his people sholde drede more for to flee than to deye / sayd to theym in this wyse / that men of warre ought rather to drede theyr prynce than y^• deth of theyr enemyes. For the whiche wordes / and for the greate Iustyce that he dyde vpon them that were euyll and cowardes. They abondoned themselfe without sparynge or fere y^• they acheued many meruayllous empryses / wherfore it is no doubte but y^• y^• prynce ought to be doubted though he be neuer so mekene so gētyl / for y^• mekenes ought to be takē but as a thȳge of grace / whiche euery mā ought syngulerly to take hede of / & not to y^• ētente y^• they sholde dysprayse theyr prynce for his grete gētyl nes. And for this cause y^• olde aūeyentes paynted y^e goddes of lordshyp whiche was fygured lyke a lady & set vp ••an hyghe

royall trone / & in the one hande she helde a braunche of Olyfe and in y^e other honde she helde a naked sworde / whiche sygny∣fyed that in lordshyp ought to be benygnyte and mercy / & also Iustyce / and myght. Then the good prynce as it is sayd befo re sholde be gouerned by the olde wyse men / and yelde to euery man that is his dewe. And also he sholde wyll that these good and worshypfull men sholde be reuerenced for theyr merytes and theyr good vertues after the sentence of y^e wyse man whi∣che sayth. Aryse ayenst the balled man. For in olde tyme men were wonte to do grete reuerence to the auncyent wyse men▪ and namely they of Lacedemone whiche made many worshyp full pleyes. And this came in by the introduce you & the lawes of Lygnegus theyr honourable & wyse kynge whiche he had taught them. For he made many dyuers of them / whiche they maynteyned longe tyme after. So it happened on a tyme that an olde auncyent man wente to the Theatre of Athenes for to se the pleyes. This Theatre was a place in whiche all the yon ge men assembled in / for to proue theyr myght one ayenst ano∣ther / as in armes / or Iustes / or wrastelynges / and all suche other thynges. But none of all the other cytesyns of Athenes wolde gyue no place vnto the auncyent man for to sytte in•• So he wente so longe aboute that of auenture he came where the Embassadours of Lacedemone were set to se these pleyes whi che were come in message to Athenes goodly yonge men & lu∣sty / & when they sawe this olde man come / they rose vp a yenst hym after theyr olde custome and dyde hym reuerence and set hym in an honest place amonge theym. And whan the people sawe this they cōmended moche y^• good custome of the straun∣gers / and sayd amonge themselfe / we wote wel ynoughe that they dyde ryght / But we abode for too vnderstonde what the straungers wolde do.

¶ Howe the good prynce sholde vse the counsayle of the wyse men. Capitulo. xxi▪

WE haue sayd / howe the good prynce sholde worsh••yp the olde wyse men / and vse of theyr counsayle. ¶ And for to vse the counsayle of wyse men▪ A knyght that was Capytayne of the men of armes whose name was cal∣called Mynucyus sayd a fayre worde to this purpose / as Ua∣lere resyteth▪ For when he wolde go to yelde grace to Fabyus of that that he hadde saued hym and his hooste / he sayd vnto his knyghtes / fayre lyrdes sayth he / I haue often tymes her∣de saye / that he is the fyrste in the werke that can gyue good counsayle of suche matters as ben for to do / as the case requy∣reth. •• The seconde is he / that byleueth the good counsayle. But he that nother can counsayle / ••e vnderstonde good coun•• sayle / he is of noo maner of profyte▪ And therfore fayre lordes / we wyll sette asyde the fyrst / that is to saye / that we be not wy se ynoughe for to gyue good counsayle / for we haue noo suffy∣cyent wytte ther to / wherfore lette vs take the seconde / that is to saye▪ Lette vs obeye vnto Fabyus / whiche is ryght a wyse man▪ and of good counsayle / and soo they dyde▪ For the whiche cause and counsayle he ouercame them in batayle / for he was ryght a wyse man: ¶ And yet to the same purpose / that ys to saye / that Prynces sholde byleue and vse the counsayle of the wyse men▪ The grete Dyaletyque saythe / that euery man ou ght to byleue hym that is experte in his crafte. That ys to kno we that the good prynce ought to take counsayle of dyuers fo•• kes / after the matters that he hathe to do in / For as the gouer naunce of Iustyce / •• the dyuers thynges y^• may fall therin of suche thynges as he ought not for to take counsayle of his mē of arme•• / nor of his knyghtes. But of the Legystres and cler kes / whiche ben experte in that scyence▪ And as to the ••eete of

armes he sholde not take his counsayle of y^e clerkes. And in ly ke wyse of all other thynges. Lyke as Ualere sayth of Quin tus Scenola. That not with stondynge he was ryght a grete Legystre and a shewer of ryght / yet whan men come to aske hym counsayle of certayne customes of the offyces of Rome. / He sente theym worde that asked hym the questyons to Fur∣nes / or to Chastelanus / whiche were experte in the same custo mes. Not with stondynge paraduenture he coude as wel haue tolde yt hymselfe. But he wolde that euery man sholde entre∣mete or medle of that Scyence that he had gyuen hym vnto without more. For the whiche feete Ualere saythe / he recom∣mended more the auctoryte in that / that he wolde not take vp∣on hym other mennes offyces / then for the gretnesse of his wys dome / And this is ayenst them that wolde be aboue all other / and medle of euery thynge by E••••ye and Pryde. ¶ Nowe a good prynce sholde vse the co••msayle of wyse men / for to kepe Iustyce and doo equyte to hymselfe / and to all other. Fyrste he must take hede that these men that be commytted by hym in to offyces / be not corrupte ne defouled / nor of euyll lyuynge / And that his Iustyces be not fauourable vnto one partye me re than to another. Lyke as it hathe ben touched here tofore / And also that he spare noo more the greate than he dothe the smalle. ¶ And for bycause that comonly there is shewed mo∣re fauoure to the ryche / than vnto the poore / whiche is ayenst God and ryght / wherfore ••••••rchasus the Phylosophre lyke∣ned the lawes vnto ••oppe webbes / that the ••pydre maketh / and sayd. ••hat the ••oppe webbes toke not the greate Flyes / nor the greate Hornettes / But it taketh the lytell Flyes / and feble Butter flyes and letteth goo the grete / that often tymes breketh theym and flyeth thrughe / Soo in lyke wyse it is of the Lawes / For the grate and the myghty breketh theym of∣ten tymes and passeth thrughe theym without ony feere.

But the poore he taken and trapped: And this cometh comon ly by the false couetyse of them that sholde mynystre Iustyce And therfore the wyse man Perycle sayd / whiche was of gre te auctoryte in the cyte of Athenes & ryght vertuous. As ••ul lus wytnesseth in his boke of offyces / that it behoueth to hym he sayth that medeleth of Iustyce / not onely to haue his hon∣des and his tongue close / but also well his eyen▪ This is to•• vnderstonde that a man sholde kepe from receyuynge of gyf∣tes that corrupteth the Iugementes of man▪ Also that he ke∣pe hymselfe from ouer moche language / and frome the incon uenyence of the flesshe. For the comon people taketh hede anone to the lyfe of Iuges / and of grete people / for by them they tak•• ••nsample of theyr lyuynge.

¶ Howe the good prynce ought to take hede vpon the rewle of his offycers. Capitulo. xxii.

FOr bycause we be entred in the purpose howe the good prynce ought to be dylygent for to ta ke hede vpon the rewle of his offycers for by∣cause that in offycers may be grete pr••iudyce to the welfare of the royalme ••or of a lordshyp and by them is often tymes gyuen grete blame to prynces for theyr mysgouernaunce / and y^• prynces not knowynge of theyr rewle / we wyll somewhat holde this matter more at longe in showynge good ensamples whiche ben expedyent to our pur pose. ¶ For bycause nowe a dayes men make no grete elec••y∣on in regarde of vertues & of wysdome for as moche as they sette men in royall offyces and gyue them power of Iustyce / and to gouerne the people whiche be not able / but that they be put in by fauoure and helpe of lordes / and frendes / it were mo∣re necessary that this custome were amended / and y^• we sholde

vse the custome of Remaynes / In suche case as here after fo∣loweth / ¶ It is to knowe as Ualery resyteth in the. vii. b••ke / whiche is called Repulses by the. v. chapytre / that the Romay nes whiche gouerned soueraynly the comon welthe of theyr Cyte•• And for to accomplysshe all theyr thynges in ordre and reason / they had a maner that from yere to yere they chaūged the moost parte of theyr offycers▪ And they dyde so for bycause that they sholde take heede of theym that they dyde not amysse whyle they were therin / lest they sholde haue ben punysshed af terwarde▪ And also to that entente that they sholde not ware proude in theyr offyces / wherfore all the lordes of Rome assem bled togyder ones in the yere▪ ••hat is to knowe suche as had power to gyue the offyces / in a place that was called / the felde of ••ars. And as it was accustomed th••re came grete & ••mal for to aske offyces / suche as long••d to his faculte▪ And euery man had a propre habyte of whyte / and euery man put in the re his requestes of y^• offyce that he desyred. And for bycause y^• y^• lordes wolde ••e dysc••yued to gyue offyces to suche men as were not worthy to haue them / they had ordeyned a certayne men that were wyse and dyscrete for to enquyre of the deme•• nynge and the good lyuynge of theym that asked the offyces. And they sholde brynge in by wrytynge howe they hadde ben gouerned befor••tyme in theyr offyces / yf so were that they had ony before that tyme▪ And by this meanes they receyued su∣che men as were able▪ And they that were not able / they refu∣sed them boldly. And wolde god y^• men wolde do so now a day ••s in al countrees / for by suche meanes euery man wolde pay ne hymselfe for to do well / and for to gete hym a good name / so at that tyme after y^• excercyse of theyr vertuous workes▪ men were put in to theyr offyces / and not after the fauoure of lorde∣shyp and frendes▪ And soo by this it is shewed that for the go∣uernaunce of y^• comon welthe / certayne men ought to be chosen

and ord••y••ed in euery estate after the offyce y^• he sholde medle in / as it is shewed heretofore. That is to knowe for the f••ate of knyghthode / the men of armes and suche as longeth to that faculte. And as for the clargy studyantes in scyence specula∣tyues & in artes lyberall as well as in other / as ••••llyus say∣the. And in this the prynce ought gretely to put hymselfe in de uoyre for to worshyp and the glory of the royalme / encreaseth gretely by the haboundannce of of clarkes and of wyse men / For by theym lyke as I haue sayd byfore the prynce maye be well counsayled▪ wherfore Platon sayd lyke as ••oece telleth in his fyrste boke of consolacyon that the goodes of the comon welthe were gracyous when they were vnder the gouernaun ce of wyse men / or elles that the gouernoures of prynces wolde study in wysdome / for by theyr meanes all the comonte sholde be brought in / to obaye the lawes and y^• rewles of reason. And lyke as I haue often tymes sayd. I•• were a couenable thynge to put awaye the presumptuous men / whiche wolde be honou∣red / and be not worthy therto / for that entente that the good & worshypfull men myght be honoured and receyued in to offy ces / whiche sholde cause theym that ben presumptuous for too amende themselfe / and by suche extymacyons the good were deserued frome the badde / lyke as it was ordeyned by the stu∣dyes of cunnynge.

¶ The goodnes that falleth to a prynce for to byleue the coun sayle of wyse men. ••apitulo. xxiii.

VEt sewynge to the same matter by good proues that the good prynce ought to loue them / we wyll speke of the greate goodnesse that cometh therof. and maye come to wyse men suche as ben solem∣pne Phylosophres in speculaty••e / I•• ys wryt••n

that Athymonydes the Phylosophre kepte the ••yte of Sy∣racuse / that yt sholde not be taken by the Romaynes. ¶ And by wysdome and subtylyte he made suche instrumentes that the strokes of ••ngynes myght not noye ne hurte the ••yte / •• yet at the laste the ••yte was wonne. And whanne the Pryn∣ce of the hoost was within the towne she commaunded that no man sholdeslee that Phylosophre / but as the men of a••mes wente aboute to pylle the towne. •• knyght happened for to co me vnto the house of this Athymonydes. And there he foun∣de hym wrytynge fygures vpon the erthe / ••yke as these Geo metryens and Astronomyens doone. ••hen thys knyght as∣ked hym what he was / and he gaue hym no worde to answe∣re of his demaunde / for bycause that he was soo sore sette vp on that thynge that he made / ••aue onely that he sayd. I praye the hartely that thou trouble me not / of this thynge that I ma ke / but he forthe withall ••lewe hym. ¶ And for to speke of this Athymonydes he was a greate Mathematyey••n / ••o moche that some saythe that it was he / that founde fyrste the square or the sercle / of whiche Arystotle speketh of in his boke of pre∣dycacyons. Thoughe soo be he saythe / that it is a thynge that maye be knowne and lerned / yet not withstondynge y•• was well lerned in hys tyme / Also some sayth that thys Phyloso∣phre sawe by hys Astrologye howe he sholde dye / and tolde it before or he dyed. ¶ But when men asked hym why he wolde not departe frome that place where he sholde dye in▪ He sayde that the mouynge of the heuen helde hym ••o faste that he my∣ght not styre nor departe frome that place where he was in.

¶ wherfore yt showed that he was in the same opynyon that the Influence of Heuen dryueth a man to that / that shall fall of hym. ¶ For the whiche cause a manne maye see / that there is noone soo good / nor soo greate a clerke in the worlde / but in some thynges he maye ••••re and be dysceyued. ¶ For thys

may not be true as to the operacyon of the soule whiche maye werke at his owne lyberte and myght / for not withstondynge ony maner of inclynacyon of heuenly influence / she may chose what parte that she wyll▪ As Arystotle proueth in his boke of Ethyques▪ And in that ye maye perceyue and vnderstande y^• parfyte reason and knowlege of Arystotle▪ For Theologye de∣termyneth playnely vpon the feete of our faythe / that the wyl whiche is free / maye not be constrayned by no maner accyon▪ For and it were so synne and vyce myght be somewhat excu∣sable / for as moche as the inclynacyons of man myght be con strayned by force: But as to the body it maye be true that in some thynges man is subiecte by his byrthe in dyuers accyōs of the heuens aboue / as in the foure fyrste qualytees▪ That is to knowe / in heete / in colde / in drynes & in moysture▪ For it is not in power of man▪ but in the somer he must haue heete / and in lyke wyse of all other▪ But in that that the body is subiecte vnto the soule / That is to knowe of the lyberalyte of free wyll I saye y^• heuenly influence hath no domynacyon nor lord shyp thought so be that it may be true y^• the heuenly accyons gyue to man many inclynacyons▪ As a man may se▪ ••olyte / Acche ••y••or other naturall styrynges / yet notwithstandynge that a man maye caste vpon his heede a brydell of areste / in luche wy se that he shall withstonde the dedes of all suche inclynacyons And to proue that this maye be true saythe Tholome whiche was a grete astrologyen▪ the wyse man he sayth hathe domy∣nacyon ouer the power of the sterres ¶ And to proue that this sentence is true▪ it appereth by that y^• is wryten of Arystotle▪ that by his nature sholde haue ben an euyl condycyoned man but by his grete vertue he became a passynge wyse man and a temperat•• and well manered▪ And in this wyse he surmoū ••••d nature.

¶ ••owe the olde wysemen were gouerned by Phylosophres Capitulo. xxiiii

SO to our purpose / it is to knowe that y^• good pryn ce shall be gouerned by wysemen. And also that •••• sholde not repugne ayenst the seyence of Astro logye in notable persones / but that they be called to the strayte counsayles of prynces / lykess it is proued here tofore by Athymonydes the Phylosophre whiche by longe tyme saued the Cyte of Cyracuse / frome the hondes of his enemyes. And semblably as it is shewed i many other storyes. But the good prynce ought well to be ware that he sta blysshe not hys partyculer matters by them that semeth wy∣se / and be not / For he maye be abused by suche men / as vnder y^• shadowe of cunnynge maketh themselfe wyse / and be not so in dede. And suche men often tymes be gyleth the prynces and the leye people also / by theyr cautelous dyscyplyne. But when it is so that this scyence resteth in a good man it maye gretely profyte in the kepynge of Cytees and of royalmes / and to the augmentacyon of theym▪ ¶ Notwithstondynge that dyuers men repugne agaynst suche men / and saythe that they sholde not be of the counsayle of prynces▪ For as Arystotle sayth thys worlde that is here benethe / is gouerned by the accyon of he∣uenly bodyes. And Tholome sayth that the vysages and the fygures of this worlde here benethe ben subiectes to the vysa ges / and the fyguracyons of the heuens aboue: ¶ Then and it be true that all these wrytynges speketh of / as touchynge the meruaylous thynges / that the olde phylosophres dyde in theyr tyme / without ony fayle who that myght haue many su che men aboute hym / it wolde seme that he sholde be well con̄∣••ayled. For it is not to thynke that soo many of our auctoures

that were of olde tyme wolde wryte lesynges. Neuerthelesse it is to vnderstonde that no prynce sholde take no suche phylo∣sophre that vseth the arte that is defended by the chyrche. For in that lyeth to greate peryll. And also he sholde not suffre thē ne susteyne theym in his lond••▪ for there maye fall ouer many in conuenyentes therof / For I speke of none but of suche as be parfyte ••stronomyers / whiche scyence of Astronomye thou∣ghe so be that it is ryght hyghe and passe all other in subtylte yet it is pure naturall. And without euyll arte / but for the dyf fyculte therof / that is to knowe / for the greate subtylte that is therin there ben but fewe that is substancyally founded in the sayd scyence And for that cause many men blame it / For they can not vnderstonde / nor comprehende it in theyr mynde▪ lyke as it is sayd comonly / They that ben ygnoraunte in thynges soonest wyll blame it. ¶ But for to knowe that there haue ben men parfytely experte in that scyence. Arystotle telleth in the fyrste booke of Polytykes of a Phylosophre that was named Tales / whiche on a tyme his frēdes mocked hym for bycause that he occupyed hym soo gretely in studye and was soo poore that he hadde no good. And when they hadde argued ynoughe ••yenst hym. Then the sayd Phylosophre thought that he wol de shewe theym the vertue of his Cunnynge. For he dyde soo moche with a lytell money that he hadde / that by the meanes of his scyence he gate grete good on the nexte yere folowynge. For he vnderstode by his Cunnynge that the same nexte yere ••lyues sholde take greate worthe / where vpon he employed his lytell money / for at that season they were grete chepe / and soo for a small some he bought grete quantyte of ••lyues wh•• che he solde the nexte yere folowynge as dere as he wolde.—¶ And soo by that meane he gate greate good / wherfore Ary∣stotle sayth •••••• shewed his cunnynge to his frendes / to that entente that they sholde vnderstonde that it was but a lyghte

thynge to a Ppylosophre to be ryche and he wolde / But he en∣ded not to suche matters / But onely to haue the good vnder∣stondynge of the blessyd gouernaunce of aboue.

¶ And yet to this purpose. There was another Astronomyer that was called Spyroynya / whiche by his scyence shewed be fore at Rome of the dethe of Iulyus Cezar a good whyle be∣fore or it felle / where vpon it happened that when it drewe ny∣ghe the terme and tyme whiche the sayd Spyroynya hadde sette that Iulyus Cezar sholde not passe. / The sayd Iulyus sente for Spyroynya and sayd vnto hym / wotest thou not wel quod he that the I••es of Marche ben almoost paste▪ He an∣swered hym agayne and sayd / wotest not thou well ynoughe that it is not fully paste yet. So it happened that the laste day of the thyrty dayes / Iulyus Cezar was slayne in the Capy∣tole at Rome by the meanes of Brutus and ••••ssyus / and by dyuers other Senatoures that gaue hym more than two and twenty deedly woundes. As ••rose wytnesseth in the. v. booke of storyes / whiche dethe was meruaylous and pyteous of so•• hyghe and so noble & prynce as he was to be so heuely murdred and slayne.

¶ Howe it longeth to a prynce for to be wyse and prudente in eloquence. Capitulo. xxv.

LIke as we haue sayd that it is necessary for a pryn∣ce for to be a good Iust yeere / And that in lyke wy∣se also he sholde drawe vnto hym for to be aboute his persone the wyse Phylosophres. Ryght soo it is ex∣pedyent that he hymselfe be wyse and somewhat in∣structe in Scyences / So that he haue an vnderstondynge & knowlege in theym. 〈…〉〈…〉the whiche purpose afore sayd ••••lere

recyteth and sayth / that lyke as the fryence of Astronomye is ryght profytable for the comon welthe / and specyally in batay le for the grete study of Suplycyus G••••us and the grete vn∣derstandynge that he had in all maner of letters / he saued his people from so••ayne fere. For as he ledde a grete hooste ayenst the kynge of Perce / it happened vpon a fayre nyght / the mone lost her lyght sodaynly / That is to wete / she fell in a clypse / by the whiche syght / the grete hoost that he ledde felle in a grete fere and in dyspayre that they sholde wynne the batayle.

¶ But this Suplycyus ryght wysely shewed them the cau∣se and mouynge of heuen / and assured them sertaynly seynge that it was nothynge elles but the naturall course of kynde.

In lyke wyse it is wryten in the story of Alysaundre that for suche a case his hooste was gretely abasshed and made a ma∣ner of stryuynge with hym / saynge that it was a punysshyon for the euyll dedes that he hadde doone▪ But the wyse knyght that was called Arystanus / whiche was a grete Astronomy∣••r satysfyed them by his wysdome / and sette theym in reste.

¶ And vnto this purpose there maye be wel aledged Charles the wyse kynge of Fraunce the. v. of the name whiche was so∣ueraynly gouerned by cunnynge and loued syngulerly phy∣losophres / hat occupyed the scyence of Astronomye. ¶ And he hymselfe for the grete loue that he hadde vnto that scyence / he laboured so moche that he was ryght well vnderstonden hym selfe therin. ¶ And that it sholde be couenable to a prynce that he ought to be wyse / it appereth by the sentence of Platon. And Ualere recorded the same▪ ¶ For he sayd that the worlde was gracyous at that tyme▪ that the wyse men beganne for to reyg ne / or elles when kynges begynne to were wyse.

¶ And lyke wyse as knowlege is one of the membres of scy∣ence / in lyke wyse it is syttynge to a prynce that he be experte in fayre language set by grete wysdome & ordynary reasons

••••r it is noo doubte that the wyse and fayre worde dyscretely sayd comynge out of the mouthe of a Prynce / is more praysed and gladlyer herde / than the wordes that he shewed of other men / And also it maye profyte hym gretely in dyuers causes. For there is not gladly so grete hardnesse of courage / but that fayre language shall make it softe and temperate / Lyke as it is wryten of Phylostratus / for he was so eloquent a mā / that notwithstondynge that the men of Athenes whiche were go∣uerned by wyse phylosophres / and were customed to lyue in ly berte / and without souerayne / that same by his fayre and swe te language dyde so mo•••••• / notwithstondynge that the wyse man ••alon / helde gretely with lyberte / and ayenst the opyny on of this Phylostratus / ••et by this fayre language was he made prynce and souerayne of Athenes. ••o by dyuers ensam ples to the purpose / there maye well be shewed howe that often tymes fayre eloquence helpeth gretely / ¶ But with fayre elo∣quence whiche by theyr ordre is called rethoryke▪ Ualere ioyne th therto y^• maner of mouynge of y^• body in vtteraunce of his language / & sayth / when eloquence ys condyted with a good ordre with the ordynate mouynge of the body / it pleaseth the herers / by thre maners▪ For it comforteth the courages of so∣me men / and the Eres of other men▪ And also it tendereth and maketh swete to the syght of dyuers people▪ And fyrste he say th it pleaseth the courages when by couenable mocyon of the body he that speketh representeth the thynges / and bryngeth agayne to mynde the peryllous fortunes / or the infortunes / the vertues / the vyces / the ensamples of stronge and myghty men / or elles the effecte of counsayles / by the whiche thynges / the courages be brought in / by the consentynge of the speker / Secondely the Eres of the herers ben reioysed for bycause of the grete pleasure & dylectacyon by his couenable promocyon goodly modred▪ The thyrde / it pleaseth the eyen of theym that

ben the herers in as moche as they consydre and se the goodly countenaunce and honest be hauynge of hym that speketh / soo by this meanes eloquence is honoured and worshypped. And in lyke wyse in the contrary where 〈…〉〈…〉loquence is my••••e con∣dyted / it is of lytell vertue / and full vnsauoury to the herers and for ensample of suche thynges. Ualere speketh of one that was named Quy••tus ••rcentyus / whiche sette his study as moche in goodly mouynge of his body whē he spake as he dy∣de in his fayre vtteraunce of language▪ wherfore men wyste not whether it was mor•• ••oye to them for to here hym speke / or elles to se his goodly demeanynge in his countenaunce.

Therfore Ualere sayth / the syght shall be to the wordes to the herer / or of the speker. And the wordes serueth to the syght of the herers.

¶ Howe it is a couenable thynge to a Prynce to behaue hym∣selfe goodly. Capitulo. xxvi.

WIth the fayre speche and honest mouynge of the bo∣dy it accordeth well for a prynce to haue a fayre facon de / worshypful porte / and goodly countenaunce. And also there is a thynge that pleaseth moche y^• people when they •••• a prynce kepe his estate / so that it be not done with grete pry de but in goodly wyse / for to maynteyne his estate. For it may profyte hym gretely that can condyte it naturally. ••hat is to saye by good moderacyon. ••yke as it is sayd of a wyse man / that was named ••erycles / whiche I haue spoken of here be∣fore▪ that he was of a noble faconde and goodly demeanynge. And by his wyse language he brought vnto good rewle the ••thenyenses. Notwithstodynge they were ryght troublous & of full euyll dysposycyon euen after his owne desyre. ¶ And

sethen that it falleth to the purpose for to speke of the fayre fa∣conde that longeth to a prynce / forth with the fayre porte & sad countenaunce / and goodly demeanynge of his persone / in spe∣kynge of pleasaunt and ordynate language / Lyke as we fyn∣de by ensample of auncyent straungers. Then me semeth it is ryght / that we forgete not to remembre our noble prynces of Fraunce / and namely suche as we haue sene / and seeth day¦ly with our eyen / ryght worshypfull and ryght excellent in y^e same maner of fayre faconde ••••••••e as was the moost yllustre wyse and dyscrete kynge of Fraunce Charles the fyrst of that name that hath ben spoken of heretofore / whiche without fay∣le by his grete vnderstondynge it was a grete pleasaunce to se howe goodly he coude maynteyne his estate. And also to here his goodly and eloquence language / And whether it were in counsayle or in ony other matter / he wolde declare so notably his reasons that he wolde lacke no poynte to sette his premys∣ses in fayre and dewe ordre. And wolde departe his mattere in dyuers poyntes after as the case requyred. And afterwar∣de conclude to hys entente ryght nobly / lyke as he full honou∣rably declared before the Emperoure his vncle when he was at Parys / ••here he shewed all alonge before the counsayle of the one and the other / the wronges done vnto hym by the kyn∣ge of Englonde / or he wolde begynne the warre / lyke as I ha¦ue sette all alonge / in the booke of hys actes / and of hys good maners / whiche I compyled / And it ys declared in the thyrde partye of the same booke towarde the latter ende /

¶ And of thys ryght noble eloquence of language withoute ony fayle / his ryghte excellente sonne ••••wes Duke of Orly¦aunce. ••yke as euery man knoweth / It ys a meruayllous thynge to here hym speke in counsayle / or in ony other congre∣gacyon too vnderstonde howe he wyll brynge aboute that he wyll saye by so goodly ordre / that the solempne Clerkes of the

vnyuersyte of Parys / whiche ben grete Rethorycyens when they were before hym meruaylled gretely therof. For and he purposed fyrst ony questyon / or ony thynge that he wyll speke of / he wyll fayle no maner poynte of noo waye that longeth to his termes. And ••f he gyue ony answere to ony other persone thoughe the matter were neuer so straungely purposed before hym / for dyuers conclusyons / he wolde not fayle to drawe vn to his mynde all the pryncypall poyntes & clauses of the mat∣ter: And soo to answere vpon euery artycle soo properly to the poynte / that euery man that herde hym wolde blysse hymsel∣fe for the grete meruayle that they sawe in his retentyfe wyt and also of his fayre rethoryke forth with his fayre faconde & mouynge of his persone soo well accordynge to his fayre lan∣guage. wherfore he myght be well comprysed to the olde nota¦ble auncyentes before rehersed. ¶ Also the ryght excellent du∣ke of Burgoyne Phelyp whiche was brother to kynge Char¦les aboue sayd / and vncle of the sayd ••ewes / Forth with the grete wysdome and vnderstondynge that he had was a pryn¦ce that had fayre and dyscrete language and faconde whiche was grete pleasure to here, wherfore I cōclude after myne ad¦uyse that suche fayre faconde and goodly language thoughe so be that it fall to some men by nature more thā to other whi∣ch•• ben wyse men / yet it is sygne of a good vnderstandynge & a ferme thought. And a stedfaste courage whiche longeth too euery grete prynce / and worshypfull man.

¶ Howe euery good prynce ought to be dylygent to occu¦pye hymselfe in the necessytees of his loude or Royalme. Capitulo. xxvii.

REtournynge a good to our matter as touchynge the .iiii. poynte afore rehersed. where vpon the good prynce

that sholde kepe Iustyce sholde founde hymselfe vpon in pur∣suynge of the same / we must se what thynges ben moost pro∣pre to hym for to styre hym to good lyuynge seynge all maner of vertues ben dewe vnto hym / whiche were to longe a rhynge to declare in euery poynte / ••herfore we wyll speke more gene rally in suche wyse that the good prynce ought to be occupyed hourely in vertuous werkes / Notwithstond ynge that suche folkes as haue but lytell knowlege semeth that a prynce shol∣de haue all reste and no laboure / but lyue in case / in delytes / & worshyppes / seynge that he hath mynystres ynowe to occupy all maner of off yces▪ But certaynly it is not so / For truely the re is no man that the charge lyeth so fore vpon as it dothe vp∣on the prynce. For where our lorde hath establysshed hym in y^e offyce of lordshyp / he is charged in euery poynte / yf he be wyse That is to saye he ought to haue good knowlege of the gouer∣naunce of his mynystres▪ For and there be ony faute in them / the faute shal rebounde to the prynce and to his neclygence as wel to the soule as to the body▪ ••hen for as moche as there ben many pertyculer thynges in his londe / or in his royaline / whi che ••en out of noumbre I can not se in no wyse how he may be ydell. ¶ •• howe noble a thynge is it in a prynce for to be well occupyed and flee Slewthe▪ And in lyke wyse to all maner of people ¶ And this wytnesseth the sayenge of a worshyppefull man of Rome whiche sayd that the warres of Rome profyted ••nore to the Cyte than dyde ydelnesse▪ For many worshypfull royalmes came to grete vertue by good excersyse / And by gre te rest brought in ydelnesse and myschyete▪And to the purpose that the occupacyon and the dylygence in warres ben necessa∣ry and profytable for the gouernaunce of the yonge people of the londe▪••alere sayth certaynly sayth he / to be in the laboure of the warres whiche is an horryble name / it acustometh and susteyneth and kepeth in estate the walles of our cyte of ••ome

And reste / whiche is a swete and a softe name hathe fulfylled our Cyte of many dyuers vyces. ¶ And to this purpose Iu∣styne sayth in his fyrste booke that when ••yrus the kynge of ••erce had at the last conquered them of the royalme of ••yde. whiche alwayes rebelled agaynst hym / he consydered that by no maner of meanes he coude not fynde so good a meane for to brynge them vnder / as to set them in pleasure & delytes. And by that meanes he thought to brynge them in ydelnesse & ease of theyr body / where vpon he cōmaunded them that they shol∣de vse noone armes / And commaunded also that they sholde vse al maner of playes and dysportes / whiche was couenable to playe for money. And also that they sholde vse theymselfe to marchaundyse / and all maner of suche thynges as longed not to the warre / but that they sholde sewe all maner of eases. And so these people whiche before tyme were manly and wor∣shypfull marmes wexed softe and delycate as women. And soo by del ycassy and ydelnesse they were conquered / where as before they coude not be conquered by no meanes of the warre. ¶ And to this purpose a worshypfull Romayne knyght whi∣che was named ••uyntus ••▪ tellus shewed a good reason / as Ualere sayth. For when the Cyte of Cartage was destroy ed by the Romaynes / whiche cyte and londe of Auffryke that some tyme was so cheualrous and noble had trauaylled and warred the Romaynes by longe tyme / this sayd knyght sayd before the Senatoures that wyst neuer whether the conquest of Cartage were more profytable for the welthe of Rome / than and it had not ben conquered / For that conquest toke awaye Hanyball whiche was a worthy knyght / by whose comynge in to ytaly the Romaynes put them selfe to laboure gretely in armes / & to the excersyse therof whiche before tyme were ydell and full of Slouthe / And nowe it is to doubte for as moche as they be delyuered of so egre an enemye / lest they wyl lese theyr

vertue agayne / and slepe and be ydell as they were tofore. •••••• ¶ Also Uegece sayth in the thyrde boke of the good duke / that is to knowe a good cheuetayne sholde rather desyre the tyme of warre / than the tyme of peas. For the rest causeth the kny∣ghtes & men of armes to were colde in theyr dedes / and to be ful of Slouthe. And the excercyse and trauayle in armes maketh them harde and abyle / and full of courage.

¶ Howe the good prynce ought to loue and worshyp his knyghtes and his gentylles. Capitulo. xxviii.

FOr bycause that we maye not shewe all oure matters togyder at ones / we must delay thē and telle one after another / wherfore the noble knyghtes and gentylles maye greately mer∣uayle that haue redde this booke hyderto.—Howe the good prynce sholde gouerne and rewel / lyke as I ha ue deuyded this booke in thre poyntes as is before rehersed. And that I haue not remembred the estate of knyghthode ly∣ke as thoughe I sholde do it for ygnoraūce / or elles that I had forgoten the honoure / the goodnesse / and the good loue that the good prynce ought syngulerly haue to them. But for myne ex cuse hereof sauynge theyr reuerence I saye certaynely that it was not done nother by ygnoraunce / nor by the forget ynge to showe the knowlege nor the dygnyte of theyr reputacyon / but it was onely for to kepe the conuey of my booke to that entente y^• I myght speke more worshypfully of theyr auctoryte. And for bycause also that our matter and our purpose hath condy∣•••••• vs vnto the feate of batayle / we wyll shewe howe the good prynce yf he wyll vse ryght and Iustyce / that is to knowe▪ he must yelde vnto euery man after his power / that is dewe vn∣to theym / worshyppe them / and gyue them goodly rewardes. /

•• howe ••oble a thynge ••howe worshyp••ull and howe profyta ble it is in a royalme Empyre / or londe / for to haue worthy kny ghtes / that is to say / good men of armes▪ ••e not they the gar ••e of the prynces of the londe / and of the people▪ ••nd also they be the champyons that spende theyr blode / theyr body and theyr lyfe / for the honoure of the prynce / and for the comon welthe. who maye then suffycyentely rewarde a manly knyght or a good man of armes well manered & of good condycyons / tre∣we in dede / and in courage wyse in gouernynge & dilygent in pursuynge knyghthode▪ ••las suche people be not rewarded in Fraunce after theyr deseruynge / For and they were honoured after theyr dewtye•• ••nd that there were one good knyght soo rewarded▪ it sholde cause an hōdred to be good / lyke as the wor thy Romaynes dyde sometyme / For without ony fayle the fay re and wyse customes that they of ••ome stablysshed in theyr rules caused them to be conqueroures thrughout the worlde▪ for it is no doubte forth with the e••cersyse of armes / and theyr wysdome togyder helped them gretely in theyr conquestes / & for this encheson men maye well thynke that the Romaynes were better men & more worthy then others▪ And all was for none other cause but that they coude knowe y^• good and wor∣shypfull men / and rewarde them more rychely for theyr good dedes than dyde ony other people▪ And all the parfyte study y^• they had was for to fynde the meanes to cause them for to doo well▪ And for to vnderstonde the meanes howe they worshyp∣ped the noble men. I wyll shewe you lyke as ••alere recyteth ••yrst to theyr prynces & soueraynes / & after y^• to other knygh tes & nobles. ¶ In the gloryous tyme of the ••omaynes they vsed a custome at ••ome when theyr prynces that is to vnder stonde theyr soueraynes & chyefe condytou••es of theyr grete hoostes had wonne the vyctory and conquest of a 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪ or of a countre•• y^• was straunge to be gotten / ••yke as St••••you

Lau••ryquant / which •• put in subiec••yon all Affryke and the royall cyte of Cartage / whiche was noble & worshypfull. And also the grete Pompye / whiche conquered many dyuers royal mes / Iulyus Cezar also / and many other that were notable conquerours / what tyme that they retourned agayne to Ro∣me after theyr grete vyctoryes▪ The Romaynes had stablyssh ed a certayne honoure whiche was called Tryhomph••▪ for the worshyp of theym that were prynces / and vnder that fourme they entred in to the cyte after theyr grete vyctoryes / And I so dore sayth / that it was a very dewtye for suche prynces▪ Then it is asked a questyon what maner a thynge is a Tryumphe And Ualere saythe that it was called a Tryumphe of. Try. whiche is to say thre▪ And of Ruphon. that is to say his power / For who that sholde haue the name of Tryumphe▪ he must ha ue it by meane of t••••e Iugementes / And the fyrst that sholde be Iuges in the same / sholde be the noble men of armes / whi∣che were presente at the same vyctory. For they vnderstode the dedes / wherfore they myght beste Iuge in that matter•• The seconde was / there was brought in by wrytynge to the Se•••••• toures / that is to knowe to the prynces of Rome / whiche were of the grete counsayle that gaue the Iugemente wheder they had deserned the Tryumphe or nay▪ The thyrde was the con∣sentynge of the comon people▪ And when all these Iugementes were gyuen / then there was ordeyned a passynge ryche chayre of golde nobly arayed▪ And then all the people of the Cyte shol∣de go out ayenst hym / that sholde haue y^• tryumphe euery mā rychely arayed after his faculte▪ The chayre ••••tokeneth wor∣shyp and glory. And whan they mette with hym / the prynces salued hym with grete reuerence / and all other people general ly dyde y^• same▪ And it had ben so y^• he had foughten hymselfe / they crowned hym then w^t a crowne of Palme / yf so were y^• he had wo••••e the felde / for the palme hathe pryckes in hymselfe.

And he that had wo••ne the felde with wysdome and strength also without gretelosynge of his people▪he sholde be crowned with a crowne of ••awryer / whiche smelleth swetely & is euer in vertue / and this was the moost propre ••••yumphe and the moost Ioyfull vyctory / For after the opynyon of ••••odore. that vyctory is not ••oyfull where y^• prynce lo••eth moch•• of his peo ple. And therfore Salust sayth / and commendeth moche these prynces that wynneth the vyctoryes without shedynge moche bloode of theyr people / so to our purpose before y^• chayre of hym that shall haue the tryumphe all the prysoneres that they had taken sholde goo before it. Amonge whiche often tymes were greate kynges / and myghty prynces / And also the greate so∣mers charged with golde and rychesse / whiche they broughte to be sayd▪ in the treasoury at ••ome. And nexte vnto the chay re wente these men that hadde borne theym moost worthely in the batayle / and hadde moost tokens of vyctorye. The tokens o•• vyctory were propre Iewelles of dyuers guyses / whiche we re gyuen to them after the dedes that they hadde doone▪ For he that hadde foughten in batayle and ouercomen his enemye. there was gyuen hym a propre Iewell / whiche was ordeyned for the noones. Also yf ony man by his manhode entred fyrste in to a castell by the meanes of a••••awte / ••y whiche the place was wonne / ••e sholde haue another maner of Iewell. ¶ Also yf a man hadde foughten in a myne honde for honde / or doone ••ny other good feate of armes / there were Iewelles or deyned for theym. And soo forthe for all other dedes of armes. ¶ And yf soo were that one hadde wonne a ••yte / there sholde be gy∣uen vnto ••ym a crowne of golde. And for other dedes of armes Som•• sholde haue ••ollers / Some ••appes / Some ••yrdel∣l•••• Some ••arters / ••ome ••••a••••lettes of golde. And soo for euery feate of armes were pr••pre Iewelles ordeyned for the no ••••s. And yf they ware theym not vpon theym / they sholde be

gretely chalenged therfore. ¶ And thus the Romaynes dyde for bycause that other sholde take ensample. And also that mē sholde knowe that they that ware theym dyde it not for noone auaunte ne for no pryde in as moche as they ware them by cō∣maundement of the soueraynes. And also the berynge of them was a greate worshyp / for euery persone by that myght se the worshyp and y^e manhode of euery man. And he that dyde best was moost worshypped ouer all where so euer he wente. But there durste no maner of man were no suche Ie well / nor no de∣uyselyke vnto the same / ••ut onely they that had wonne theym by theyr manhode. wherfore & it were plesynge to our blessyd lorde Ihesu I wolde that ••nglonde whiche is one of the no∣blest royalmes of the worlde wolde vse this custome. And the I wolde thynke that there wolde be many moo worshypfull men than there be▪ ¶ And soo those men that were moost wor thy in armes wente nexte the ••hayre. And the prynces of Ro me wente ••••en syde by theym. And the people of Rome wente all before. And the offycers nexte them after theyr estate. And after the ••hayre wente all the men of armes whiche had ben at the vyctorye. And these men were gretely worshypped and feested with the ••ytezynes of Rome. And vnder this fourm•• they wente all in to the ••yte.

¶ Howe the good prynce ought to flee Lechery. Ca. xxix.

THan lyke as it is sayd the good prynce and the very Iustycere sholde not be yd••ll nor ouer moche in dely tes. And in lyke wyse he sholde ••le ••echery. For the auctoures sayth. Idelnesse is the nourysshe of flessh ly lustes. whiche is gretely to be reproued / and spe∣cyally in prynces. ••nd it maye be cause of theyr puttynge dow ne frome theyr prospery. ••. ¶ And also yt shall sounde to theyr

grete dy••••ame / and too many other inconuenyentes / whereof we haue ensample of Sardanapallus whiche was kynge of Assyrye and lost his royalme shamfully / for suche causes▪ Al∣so a kynge of Fraunce was dryuen out of his royalme for the same. And thus men may tell of many other: ¶ Also Ualere sayth to the same purpose / y^• there was a cyte in Campaygne that was named Capne▪ whiche haboūded gretely in delytes and specyally in lustes of the flesshe / by the whiche Hanyball & all his hoost were corrupte and ••nuenymed▪ For Tytus Ly∣uyus recyteth in the thyrde booke of the thyrde decade / after y^• tyme that Hanyball had ••••heued dyuers and many grete ba tayles in Italy / he wente to kepe his wynter at Capne▪ And in suche wyse there he was wrapped in delytes and aquayn∣taunce with women and cases of his body. what with wynes and meates / and solaces / whiche was not so accustomed befo∣re tyme / nor his hooste nother / wherfore after that tyme they were neuer so egre for to suffre the grete trauayles / nor hard∣nesse as they dyde before tyme / wherfore Ualere sayth / y^• this arroure that he dyde t••ke awaye clerely the strength and the courage of his knyghtes whiche was wonte to conquere and ouercome his ••••em yes / to his grete laude and worshyp▪ For af ter the tyme that he kepte not y^• olde dyscyplyne of armes whi che he was accustomed to kepe before tyme▪ he wente all backe warde▪ So Ualere sayth that he yssued out of that Cyte / ano∣ther maner man than he was at the entrynge of the Cyte / yet Ualere sayd more that the gre•••• yersnesse and cruelte of Affry ke and Cartage whiche myght not be ouercome ne conquered by armes / was dresed and put downe by y^• meanes of delytes / by y^• whiche Hanyball and his hoost were put vnder / For whi∣che Ualere sayth▪ O what thynge may do more harme saythe he than the wyll & the delytes of y^• flessh〈…〉〈…〉y y^• whiche vertue is put out / & vyctoryes brought to nought / & as touchynge the

vycroryes of Hanyball▪ 〈…〉〈…〉ec thaketh mencyon in a pystle y^• he sente to his frende that was called Lucyll / sayenge in this wyse▪ The nourysshynge of champaygne hath made softe the dedes of Hanyball. For he conquered by armes / But he was ouercome by ••echery ••nd to this purpose y^• wordes that Ua∣lere sayth of the worthy prynce ••ppamynydes may be wel vn derstonde to y^• same entente••••••r after the dethe of y^• sayd pryn▪ ce the Athenyences began to fayle of theyr vertue and of theyr strengthe / For Wh〈…〉〈…〉 they had lost hym y^t of ten tymes brought them for the to y^• warres / and to many grete batayles▪ A none after they became ydell and slouthful / and spended not theyr good vpon men of warre nother by see nor by sonde / as they we re wonte to do▪ But they bestowed theyr goodes vpon feestes and playes / and tourned y^• worthy deedes of theyr auncytres vnto songes / and that suffysed them ynoughe to recorde & tal ke of the warres / but they wolde not occupye them themselfe / ••or whiche cause the grete renowne of ••rece fayled and was extyncte vnto the tyme of ••helyp fader to Alyxsaundre whi∣the brought them vp agayne.

¶ Howe the good prynce sholde kepe hymselfe fro angre. Capitulo. xxx.

FOr bycause Ire is a naturall thynge / & draweth hate amonge grete & puyssaūt men▪ ••nd at some tyme cau∣seth grete cruelte / it lyketh me to showe some good ensample y^• the good prynce sholde eschewe y^• same vyce as a thynge y^• syt∣teth hym full nyghe / and not accordynge to his estate▪ As Ua lere saythe of the same vyce / lyke as thoughe he spake to pryn ces in this wyse / often tymes the men / & specyally those y^• ben grete and myghty doth grete cruelte in theyr feruent angre▪ And for to gyue you a clere vnderstondynge of y^• qualytes of

these two passyons / he putteth a dyfference bytwene them and sayth / y^• ••••e & hate resemble in as moche as they be bothe vyo lent & full of trouble in courage of hym y^t is angry & hatefull / and causeth hym to desyre vengeaunce / yet he sayth there ben many dyfferences bytwene theym ••nd so saythe ••rystocle in his seconde boke of rethoryke. But it suffyseth at this tyme for to speke of. ii. of them. ••he fyrst is after y^• tyme y^• y^• angry mā is auenged vpon his angre / he is satysfyed / and wel appeased & wyll purchase no more euyll ayenst hym y^• he is venged on. But the ••nuyous man wyll y^• vttermoost dystruccyon ayenst hym that he hateth / for he can neuer be satysfyed / but euer en∣creaseth more & more in his hate. The seconde is y^• angry man wyll shewe hymselfe wrothe to hym that he is at debate with as who sayth I wyll be auenged / nor he wolde not y^• the other man had no•• harme because that he myght doo it hymselfe. Therfore the angry man sheweth his angre openly & not pry u••ly. But the hatefull man loueth better for to noye another se cretely than openly / wherfore hate is wors than Ire onely. And me thynketh also that Ire may be without hate / but hate may not be without Ire. And for bycause that suche inconuenyen∣tes styreth a mā to cruelte / there is nothynge more to be repro∣ued in a prynce than ••••e & hate / yet more for to withdrawe this vyce from the good prynce / it pleaseth me for the same purpose▪ to recyte after Ualere the daungers & myscheues of y^• same. ¶ Thoughe soo be that suche thynges haue ben accustomed / & yet is in dyuers royalmes / thanked be our lorde and the laude and glorye be gyuen to hym / our prynces of Fraunce that ben of the royall bloode ben ryght clene in suche matters. And as me semeth more clene than other that ben of lower estate of the same royalme / or of ony other nacyons / whiche is gretely to be commended in that noble bloode. ¶ For Ualere sayth certayn ly that the habyte of cruelte is horryble / all thynges that lon∣geth

therto ben full of manaces / and cruell commaundemen∣tes. And yf a man wolde styre hym to sease of his cruelte / or to holde his peas / then shall he be the more chaffed / for cruelte dre deth no payne / nor he wyll not be refrayned. Also the cruell mā wyll be doubted & dradde / & other men hateth hym naturally For he sayth that cruelte is a dysposycyon that is lykened too the conuersacyon of hatrede / vnto the whiche vyce euery man is enclyned naturally. ••s Arystotle sayth in the fyrst kooke of Politykes / that al thynge y^• is ayenst natural inclynacyon is by nature hatefull. Then I wolde that all these thynges shol de be myrroures to a prynce that he sholde eschewe the daun∣geres of theym. And semblably to all other persones. For lette vs suppose that a man be naturally enclyned to these vyces / yet and he can not be lorde and mayster ouer his courage and ouercome it / it is a sygne that he is not vertuous. And a man without vertue is not worthy for to haue worshyp.

¶ Howe it is lefull that the good prynce after his grete laboure for to take recreacyon of some dysporte. Capitulo. xxxi

TO that entente that the effecte of myne entencyon / maye be more clerely vnderstonde and that I sholde not be founde with none erroure in my present wry tynge / in that is wryten here before / y^• at all tymes y^• good prynce sholde be occupyed / semynge that by my wrytynge y^• prynce sholde be put in to an extreme charge of occupacyon / whiche is not myne entente / I saye that y^• pryn ce and semblably all other that be charged with grete and no table occupacyons / ought at some tyme sease of theyr laboure and reste in ydelnesse. ¶ And for because that Ualere speketh notably vppon thys purpose / whose wordes bene moore of

auctoryte and more worthy then myne. I wyll shewe you his sayenges whiche foloweth after. ¶ He sayth there be two ma ner of ydelnesses / of the whiche the one of theym ought to be es∣chewed at all tymes •• That is it by the whiche all vertue va∣nyssheth / and maketh foly lyfe & impotent from all good wer∣kes / and maketh a man enclyne to the lustes of the flesshe and sensualyte. And of this ydelnes ••uyde speketh in his booke y^• whiche is called the remedy of loue / sayenge in this wyse / yf y^• put awaye ydelnes frome the / the artes of the god of loue ben perysshed. The other ydelnesse as I vnderstonde / it is with∣out vyce. And it is a vertue in itselfe at some tyme / and it is at some tyme necessary for the recreacyon of noble and excellent persones / for attemperaunce and ease of theyr body / to the en∣cen••e that they sholde be the more quycke and more stronge in theyr labours afterwarde▪ For by moderate ydelnesse the na∣turall vertues ben refresshed and made the more stronge in theyr werkes▪ Wherfore Ualere sayth▪ who that hath no reste at ••o tyme maye not longe endure▪ ¶ Where vpon Ualere she wesh an ensample of Stypyon / and of one Lelyus whiche we re worthy knyghtes in theyr traueyle▪ And they were soo fa∣mylyer togyder / and so grete loue bytwene them / that lyke as they felawshypped togyder in y^• warres and in grete trauay∣les▪ in lyke wyse they wolde alway b••togyder in theyr reste / & ydelnesse / and in theyr recreacyon▪ For in certayne tymes they wolde playe togyder in honest and goodly playes / whiche was to them grete comforte after theyr laboure.

¶ Howe the good prynce whiche vnderstondeth hymselfe that he dothe his deuoyre in all vertues ought reasonably to desyre laude and glorye. Capitulo. xxxii.

••Owe it is tyme that I make an ende of the fyrst parte of my boke whiche speketh of introduccyon of prynces in vertuous lyuynge. For I myght soner stoppe a grete pytte full of derkenesse then to reherce all the good vertues that lon∣geth to a prynce. But to speke generally of all vertues / these y^• I Haue shewed here tofore ben suffyeyent ynoughe for to esche we prolyryte / as me semeth. For what prynce that foloweth y^• vertues before reherced with al ••perteyneth to thē / there my∣ght be songe suche a sōge by hy of laude & glory / lyke as was ones of y^• noble & worthy prynce Them ••stocles / for as it happe ned on a tyme there were brought before hy syngers & sayers of aūcyent geestes. So one of his knyghtes asked hym in dy•• porte / what myght he be that coude synge a songe y^• myght be agreable to hym. He answered and sayd / that man that co•• de synge truely y^• I were vertuous & that I had done at ony tyme noble & good dedes. ¶ So a prynce that is wel condycyo ned / is worthy of laude and glory / but not he that is of euyll cō dycyons & setteth not by vertue. Neuertheles he y^• feleth hym selfe worthy in vertuous & good condycyons it is no meruayle thoughe he wolde be somwhat worshypped therfore / For it is well knowen lyke as auctours recyteth / and a man may well knowe by theyr worthy dedes that the ryght excellent prynces and worthy men in tyme past were ryght couetous for to ha∣ue worshyp. And for to gete worshyp by vertue it is l••full. For it appereth naturally that euery thynge desyreth his perfec∣cyon. And as the phylosophre sayth / glory and honoure engen∣dreth reuerence / whiche is a shewynge that man is made for to haue dygnyte. And this desyre is so rooted and Ioyned with nature of man / y^• euery man is desyrous to haue it▪ But euery man wyll not do the payne for to gete it▪ And by what meanes a man ought to laboure for to gete lowes and pryse▪ The phylo sophre sayth it must be goten by vertuous operacyon / For by

none other waye there maye be no ryght glory. And thus wy•• nesseth Tullyus in the fyrst boke of offyces / for what that euer ony man saye / euery man ought to be worshypped for the cau se of vertue and good lyuynge / for honoure / laude / and glorye. of this worlde is not a suffycyent rewarde for vertuous lyuyn ge and vertuous dedes. For Arystotle sayth / y^e vertuous man may lefully delyre a rewarde for his good dedes. For bycause that by the meane of his vertues / other men maye be called to semblable goodnesses. And it is good ryght Tullyus saythe. For vnnethes there is ony man but after his grete laboures / and paynes that he hath suffred / but he wolde desyre glorye & worshyp / for a parte of his rewarde. And for bycause of the ho∣noure and glory / Arystotle sayth in the thyrde booke of ••thy∣kes where is founde and proued that the strengthes / and the grete courages of the vertuous men for theyr worshypfull de∣des were gretely worshypped / and the vycyoulnesse of the vn∣worthy men haue ben dyspraysed and blamed. ¶ But Socra tes sayd y^• they had chosen the waye to come to worshyp / whi∣che w••re suche in theyr dedes as euery mā wolde beholde hym selfe. That is to knowe for to be good / wherfore the same So∣crates amonyssheth playnely by this predycacyon y^• men shol de kepe ryght and vertue within them / then the sēblaunce or y^• aparence without good dedes / ben lyke as ypocrytes do. Soo the good prynce that wyll gete paradyse and glory / & lowes of this worlde / must loue and drede god aboue all thynges. Also he must loue the comon welthe of his londe more than his ow∣ne propre. Also he must kepe Iustyce without brekynge the sa∣me▪ and to yelde to euery man his after his power / lyke as Iu styce requyreth. And than he dothe lyke a lyberal and a meke prynce / as it is rehersed here tofore. And in doynge this wyse / he shall not gete onely the glory of this worlde and the lyfe he∣re / but he shall get•• it perpetually / for his good desertes / ••yke

as Ualere sayth of the ryght excellent prynce Iulyus Cezar / that for the merytes of his good dedes / was reputed after his dethe as a god / for the men of olde tyme whiche had not the ry ght faythe as we haue nowe / when they sawe a persone were ••t man or woman that passed another in ony soueraynte of gra ce / they had opynyon that suche excellence myght not be had / without vertue dyuyne. ••nd for bycause that the sayd Iuly∣us Cezar had with hym many excellent vertues / and amon∣ge all / he had with hym soueraynely Iustyce / and mekenesse. They sayd that suche vertues myght not be perysshed / by the passynge away of mannes lyfe / but that he was deyfyed in he∣uen for the same.

¶ Here endeth the fyrste parte of this booke.