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THe nature & condition of man, wher∣in he is lesse than god almyghty, and excellynge not withstanding al other creatures in erth, is called humanitie: whi∣che is a generall name to those vertues, in whom semeth to be a mutuall concorde and loue, in the nature of man. And al thoughe there be many of the sayde vertues, yet ••e
there thre pryncipall, by whom humanitie is chiefely compact, Beneuolence, Bene∣ficence, and Liberalitie, which maketh vp the saide principall vertue called Benigni∣tie or gentylnes.
¶ Beneuolence, if it doo extende to a hole countreye or citie, is proprely called cha∣rite, * 1.1 and some tyme zele: and if it concerne one person, than is it called Beneuolence. And if it be very feruēt and to one singuler person, than maye it be named loue or ami∣tie. * 1.2 Of that vertuous disposition procedeth an acte, wherby some thynge is complyed, whiche is profitable and good to hym that receyueth it. And that vertue, if it be in o∣peration, or (as I mought saye) endeuour, is called than Beneficence: and the dede (vulgarly named a good tourne) maye be called a benefytte. If it be in money, or o∣ther thynge that hath substaunce, it is than * 1.3 called Liberalitie, whiche is not alwaye a vertue as Beneficence is: for in wel doinge (whiche is the ryght interpretation of Be∣neficence) can be no vice included. But Li∣beralitie, * 1.4 thoughe it procede of a free and gentyll harte, wyllynge to do some thynge thankeful, yet may it trāsgresse the bondes of vertue, eyther in excessyue rewardes, or expences, orels employenge treasour, pro∣motion, or other substaunce on {per}ersons vn∣worthy,
or on thynges inconuenient, and of small importaunce. Al be it some thynke suche maner of erogation not to be worthy the name of Liberalitie.
¶ Aristotle defineth a liberal man, whiche * 1.5 doth erogate, accordinge to the rate of his substance, and as oportunitie hapneth. He sayth also in the same place, that Liberaly∣tie is not in the multitude or quātite of that which is gyuen, but in the habite or facion, of the gyuer. For he gyueth accordynge to his habilitie. Neither Tulli approueth it to be Liberalitie, wherin is any myxture of auarice or rapine: for it is not properly Li∣beralitie, to exacte iniustely, or by violence or crafte to take goodes frō particuler per sons, and distribute them in a multitude: or to take frō many iniustly, and enriche ther∣with on personne or fewe. For as the same autour sayth, the last precept concernynge benefytes or rewardes is, to take good hede, that he contende not agaynst equitie, ne that he vpholde none iniurie.
¶ Nowe wyll I procede seriously and in a due forme to speke more pticulerly of these thre vertues. Not withstanding there is su∣che affinitie betwene beneficence and libe∣ralitie, beinge alwayes a vertue, that they tende to one cōclusion or purpose, that is to say, with a free & glad wyll to gyue to a no∣ther
that thynge, which he before lacked.
Charitie.
Beneuo∣lence. Loue. Amitie.
Liberalite
Seneca de benef.
A liberal man. Ethic. 2.