The gentlemans monitor, or, A sober inspection into the vertues, vices, and ordinary means of the rise and decay of men and families with the authors apology and application to the nobles and gentry of England seasonable for these times / by Edw. Waterhous[e] ...

SECT. II.

That the Iewes, Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, and all Nations, had their Nobles and Nobility, and did honour to them according to their vertue, power and riches.

THis being modestly premised, (for I disclaim all Dictatorian peremptori∣ness, and write with submission to the judgments of those that fear God and follow vertue) It may not be from my purpose to insinuate, that there never was any Time or Nation in which there was not the footstep, if not the full por∣traicture of Nobility and distinction. The Jewes, whom I see no reason to disbe∣lieve

the first people,* 1.1 had it by appoint∣ment from God, the chief of their Fami∣lies were Priests and Princes to them, be∣fore their Judges & Kings, whom separa∣ted from the vulgar they called 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 No∣ble; so is the reddition of the word Exod. 24. 11. and upon the Nobles of Israel he laid not his hand, & 41 Isai. 9. I have called thee from the chief men or Nobles of the Earth. Of these Nobles the Jewes by their Language made divers sorts, chiefly 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Heroiques, those that descended from brave ancestors men of blood, Viri candoris, 10 Eccles. 17. Blessed art thou O Land whose King is 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the son of Nobles; so 4. Neh. 19. 5. c. v. 7. 34 Isa. 12. And then they had others they cal∣led 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Men of great riches and e∣state. For 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 aurum from 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 includere imported men, whose Gold was their fence and confidence; whence proba∣bly that passage, 2 Hab. 6. of lading himself with thick Clay;* 1.2 both these, for birth and riches besides others, were by the Jewes called Noble: After, the Egyp∣tians, who termed themselves the chiefest of mortals, had great regard to worth both in men the Meriters, and in their posterities, renowned for, and privi∣ledged by reason of them; they had

their Kings and their Seconds in the Throne, their purple Robes and their Insignia's of distinction, which were badges of mens preheminence, either for power or wealth, which moderately, and which conscience to the publique, administred, caused them to be accoun∣ted Men above men, that is, Heroiques or Pettit-Gods. Thus Diodorus Siculus writes, Nobility both in the Powery and Magnificent part of it, was for some Thou∣sand years arbitrated by the Gods and by Godlike Kings, who did not only steer government to their own purpose of sub∣jecting* 1.3 the persons of their people, and taking to themselves their estates and la∣bours, but according to the patrial Laws in∣dulged their security as Shepherds and their enriching as Fathers, leaving their own posterity such fortunes as they for them gathered by thrist and common consent of the people, which revenues, added to their wel-descended Fame, made them in the Moralists sence Noble;* 1.4 For Nobility (saith he) is nothing else but an∣cient Wealth, and ancient Worship, that is, Descent from ancestors, wealthy and worshipfull. In process, when Egypts glory withered, and the Greeks upon their stumps fixed their own increment,

the learning of Egypt transmigrated with their fortune to Greece, where the Court Cards of request being, all the civill and learned order of declining Egypt,* 1.5 became prey to the Grecian trumps which ruffed and deported every excel∣lency that quondamly they triumphed in; and thereby Nobility became at∣tributed in Greek Authors to every thing rare and excellent;* 1.6 Birth of ver∣tuous parents is called Nobility, Trees of a good kind 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 by a 1.7 Philo, andb 1.8 Euripides 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.

The Noble born, have from their blood a hope, That they shall rule in Princedom's Horoscope.

And so again,

〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, &c. Those that are brave and just in mind, Daring in deed, of nature kind, For Nobles are by God design'd.

And that the Trojans had Nobility amongst them, is plain from that of the Poet,* 1.9 who mentioning valiant and divine men, terms them Trojugenas.

—Iubet à Precone vocare Istas Trojugenas—

Yea, in that* 1.10 Alexander was wont to glo∣ry of his descent from Hercules and Achil∣les, as did the Macedonian Kings after him, which Silius alludes to in those Verses;

Hic gente egregius veterisque ab origine regni, Aeacid•••••• sceptris, proavoque tumebat Achille. This Gallant swollen was with boast to come From Hercules, Achilles, Seirs to whom They were, whose deeds gave them a glorious Tomb, So pregnant of renown's his Morning Womb.

In as much, I say, as these things are in Authors of credit, we are to be conclu∣ded, that Nobility was in account with the Greeks; nor else would the holy Text have used the word 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 and 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, as it doth, Luke 19. v. 12. 1 Cor. 1. 26. Acts 17. 11. If this Nobility, which those places allude to, had not been in reputation in the world, and that in its several Vertigo's and traverses of power and Empire: For when the Romans su∣perseded the Greeks (Men and States ha∣ving their hot and cold sits) with the Conquests and Colonies of the Romans,

the Grecian usages,* 1.11 laws, and opinions, eat themselves into the Roman greatness, and became, by common approbation, Roman; and then Rome swells with the bulk of Patricians and Senators, and groans under the overgrown weight of Triumphers and Coronetted persons; and it not only allows Citizens to write their names upon their Bucklers, or to charge on them some honourable de∣vice, by reason of which they put a great value upon them,* 1.12 and would not cow∣ardly lose them to their enemies, but while they could, carry them, as their Badges of Honour, and at last dedicate them to their Gods, and to the memory of their Progenitors: I say, Rome did not only allow her Citizens this mark of cla∣rescency, but animated them to every Instance of Heroickness. Now no Porch is without its Frontispiece; no corner in its Room of State without a Monument of Nobility,* 1.13 in some Obe∣lisques and Pyramids, in others Triumphal Arches; here a Mar∣ble Pourtraicture, there a goodly Statue, or Pillar; eve∣ry where some Trophy, or Fe∣scue, to Honour manlily ac∣ceded to: Yea, though they

most set by their first instituted Orders, and reckoned the Descendants from them the Virtuoso's primarum gentium; yet had they admissions into, and enlarge∣ments of Honour, to reward brave Acti∣ons in obscure Men: Which made Sene∣ca, no small Courtier, nor yet a man of a refuse birth, to encourage real Virtue thus, No man is more noble then another, unless he have a nobler soul, and be apter to virtuous Atchieve∣ments;* 1.14 those that are full of the Antiquities of their Progeni∣tors, and make an endless Nar∣rative of them, adorning their Portals with their Effigiesses, are by them more noted then noble; there is one common Parent of all Men: This World, whether Men come first or last, are valued, or not, is not much by a wise Man to be stood upon: Despise no Man, saith he, that which only is valuable is nobility of mind, which expects the best praise, and makes them that have it worthy of it. Thus he: And hereupon he proceeds to de∣fend Cleanthes, Chrysippus, and Zeno, though in condition beneath Magistrates, and so not enrolled in the publick Char∣ters of Benefactors to the Government,

proving that they, in the institution of men in moral Philosophy,* 1.15 and Rules of Virtue, were as useful as men of great Estates and Courage,* 1.16 to support the power of the Commonwealth, were, though then the Romans did prize Virtue and Wisdom in men of the first head, and thought highly of Coruncanus, Car∣vilius, Cato, Marius, Fulvius, Asinius Pollio,* 1.17 who all were of no Families, but names of Honour and Nobilitation to themselves, yet did they not wholly ex∣clude the race of Worthies, though de∣generated from conspicuity reflecting on them from their Ancestors, who beget∣ting Children in nature and body, not al∣wayes in nobility of soul, like themselves, they caution'd not to be wholly ca∣sheired Esteem: Not thus is Seneca to be misunderstood; but his meaning, in what is praealledged, is, That if meer de∣scent from a virtuous stock, and antece∣dent Patricians, and personal virtue in an upstart, must be weighed each against the other, as two separate and abstracted things, not resolvable into one person; then he, as a Roman, and Man of reason, had rather chuse virtue without blood, then blood without virtue: For as Pha∣laris wrote to Antiochus, Virtue is the true

and only Nobility,* 1.18 other things are referra∣ble to fortune. To which Philo suffra∣gates, Truth and Iudgment, quoth he, considers not Nobility only from the race of blood, but from justice and courage of action. For when the rattle and noise of descent and blood is drowned in the ca∣sualties and confusions of worldly insta∣bility,* 1.19 Virtue susteins it self in every con∣dition, and is welcome to another, when ••it is banished from, or unhappy in, its own Country. Whence is discovered the vani∣ty of too much resting on Blood and Ho∣nour, which is only considerable in con∣junction with Wealth, which hath wings, and may with them fly away, and then the Nobility of an ignoble soul'd man leaves him helpless, and remarkable for nothing but misery. Where then Names and Titles are concurrent with Virtue, and the Mind is a strenuous second to the Names pretension, there can be no attri∣bution too luxuriant almost for such an Emeriter,* 1.20 who turns the little cottage he is in, into a Theater of Majesty, and reduces the grandeur of a Heaven into the uncouth angle of his resi∣dence. For such Phaenixes, whose lati∣tudes of love, and intentness of general

good,* 1.21 puts them upon self neglect, in con∣science to the general, more precious to, and valued by, them: The wisdom of Nations ought not only to decree pub∣lick gratitudes, but to invite others by their acceptation to be free spirited: For they deserve best to be trusted and re∣lyed on, who (as Seneca says) were single hearted, and unended, who did not abe•• factions to admit themselves into request and wealth, but retained in turmoils that just sobriety, rather to be ruined in their private fortnnes, then to sacrifice the common peace to their ambitious and ma∣lignant acremonies: So he.

As therefore the wisdom of Ages, and Governments, have given great vertue its due Guerdon, so have they quicken∣ed the faint and languishing hopes of it, by signal favours collated on them, whom by them they, as it were, bribed and be∣spake to become and abide excellent.

Thus Constantine's Brother,* 1.22 and Ana∣ballianus (though men of no great de∣degree in virtue) were for their very al∣lyance to Constantine Nobilissimated; so the Emperor created his Son Iulian 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and thus all Powers have done, to ingage their Relations and At∣tendants to follow Majesty in such mani∣festations

of it as are expected from their respective conditions, and opportunities: For surely, if Nobility, and whatever is couchable under it, and understood by it, be worth desiring and obtaining, 'tis chiefly for the subsidy it yields to Virtue, and the addition it makes to Men and Things, which thereby are advanced to a Sphere superiour to their common na∣tural influence and operation, as Macri∣nus notably noted to the Roman Senate,* 1.23 When he so smartly traduced the Idol of Nobility abstracted from Virtue, as that it appeared the vapour and bladder of a tu∣morous nothing, and the blazing semblance of an insignificant non ens.

From all which it appears, That No∣bility and distinction amongst men has been ever in observance, but chiefly when compeer to vertue; the associa∣tion with which, though it was not ever in an express of notability, yet in a truth of being, and in some degree or other of sutable appearance, which verifies that golden saying of Demosthenes,* 1.24 He that is born vertuous is truly born Noble: And since pure Nobility may well be compared to a River issuing out of four principall Wels, all which rise from the compass of one Hill; the Wells are Prudence, Fortitude, Iustice,

Temperance:* 1.25 the Hill whence they spring is the fear of God and true Religion; as a learned Prelate of our Church long since observed. Happy is that man whom the graces of a regenerated and subdu∣ed soul to God, dignifies and declares Noble,* 1.26 though he be in other regards straightned and reduced to be the ob∣ject of a generous pitty, or of what's more usual, degenerous scorn.

Not only men then, but even Families have been happy enjoyers of Nobilitati∣on. For though the immediate ray of ho∣nour be darted upon the face of the first actor, and that for his action couragi∣ously and with wisdom performed; yet are the reflexions of it considerable ad∣vantages to all his family and relations, yea to his servants, who were chiefly* 1.27 signified in the old Oscan word Famul, the lodge or lie of servants. Nor did the Family extend then to Wives, Children, Nephews or Libertines, but onely to the drudging or least free part of their do∣mestiques. Though times and conquests have enfranchised words as well as men, so that at this day Family extends it self to the utmost line of consanguinity, which the great Master of reason as well as eloquence, Tully,* 1.28 fully sets forth, when

he tells us, that even Nature hath so ex∣patiated charity in man,* 1.29 that he does not only accept them for his Family, who are descendants from his body; or in a direct discent come from one common and nu∣merical ancestor, or are by marriage affi∣anced to him, but also by the frankness and latitude of that vertue, friends though more remote in blood are adopted into the fruits and kindness of it. But this is a large sense of Families, and would require a vast force of Fancy and pains to man the lines and outworks of its circumvalla∣tion. That only notion of Families which is commonly understood to be branches from one stock, is that which is the family I treat of.

And certainly there is nothing has been more the care of wise and gene∣rous men to raise and confirm in honour and reputation then their Name and Family. That is, not onely their chil∣dren and their off-spring, but their re∣lations collateral, whom by lawes of na∣ture and nations they accounted se∣cond heirs; which appears not onely in the qualities men of great minds en∣deavour to attain, and by them to be notable and requested, but from the suitable improvements that they exer∣cise

the conspicuity of their parts about. For as they do invigilate themselves that their amorous or rash follys doe not precipitate their after preferment: so having well married do they caution the wel-breeding of their children, that fitted they may be for imployments and favours of respect and augmentation. Thus of old we read that the Patriarchs as they chose for themselves Wives wor∣thy their piety and love, so did they to their sons present Wives, and them married, placed in courses of life labo∣rious and supportive; upon which foun∣dation they laid all the superstructure of their after happiness and thrift. This after ages imitated them in, & while they saw themselves more then ordinarily mortall in their issues, they either ha∣ving none, or such as concluded in their sex the nominal perpetuity of them, they made provision for their con∣tinuity by assumption of Nephews and Kinsmen, or by adoption of daughters children,* 1.30 which I best like, into their name; and so investing them with what fortune and honour they had in their power: so great a zeal to the prosperity of blood, name and relations is there in a generous man, that as their glory is

his delight, so their dislustre is his tor∣ment. Hence has it been ever the study of brave men to promote their kindred, and to resent their disobligements as unkindnesses done to themselves. Nor is there any more sure sign of a Noble soul, then this of endeavouring to know and improve the prosperity of his line and kindred, yea, and of his friends too; for I preferre constant and prudent friends above relations that are loose and uncapable; and truly I am decla∣redly of the opinion, that Greatness or Riches is not desirable by any Heroique, further then it capacitates the have to serve God,* 1.31 and his Prince, officiates to the publique, and is a hook to draw into and a hedge to secure worthy friends and relations in the fellowship and afflu∣ence of it; For although the other per∣quisites of it, as place, plenty, p••mp of life, respect with men, be tempting and taking motives to its pursuit, and obtain∣ment, yet the prospect that it gives into the knowledge of men and things, and the encouragement and reward it pri∣viledges a man to give to what is excel∣lent and useful, though perhaps clouded and spiritless, is the Royallest incentive to af••ect and accept it; I like the charity

that begins at home, and since I account every one of my Family and Friendship that is vertuous and valuable in any No∣ble accomplishment, they shall be the objects of my respect and neerest to my kindness who are neerest of kin to the souls nobility, and who have in them the most of intellectual Majesty & practical Divinity. But I return to a mans fami∣ly, which surely must be dear to him, upon the reason of interest, as it is his temporary conservatory, and that in the Lunary motions whereof he sees the ••bbs and flows of his own fame. For though he is but a termer for life in his person, and has but a contingent estate in that, yet in the continuity of his de∣scendants he has a comparative fee, and an estate, as I may so say, of temporary eternity; at least the lease he has is such as it may last many hundred years: which wise men contemplating, if issue of them∣selves fail by corporal defects, or anti∣cipation of vice, vow, or what is paral∣lel to them, provide substitutions to their memory, though they purchase them at rates transcending the ordinary values of reason. This makes them ven∣ture on those designes of hazzard, and labours of death, that none would cope

with but those that had a motion of mind above mortals,* 1.32 as Seneca sayes, and whose eares could hear no discouragement though death were the Messenger to disswade them; and though they saw the pit of their se∣pulchre opened before them, and ready to receive them: for then they most sweetly modulate the notes of greatness, when they strayne their accounts beyond and above the Elah of ordinary attainment, and assay the supern greatness by the projects of a more then mortall action, which they medi∣tate and are generously transported to pro∣duce.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Councl. Ber••roni in Politia Iu∣d••ica.
• * 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 &c. Iosephus 〈◊〉〈◊〉 fratres apu•• ••hilonem p. 61. lib. de ••••seph.
• * 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Lib. 1. p. 41.
• * 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Plut••rchus lib. cont. Nobilita∣••em.
• * 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Herodianus lib. 5.
• * 1.6

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Ari∣stot. 3 Politic.
• a 1.7

  Lib. de Nob.
• b 1.8

  Euryp. in Heraclide.
• * 1.9

  Iuvenalis apud Lucium in Comme••tar. ad Virgilium. p. 903. Cerda in lib. 3. Aeneid. v. 3••9.
• * 1.10

  Alexanerd M. cum fuerat 17. jure n••••••er∣ni sanguini•• Achille aucto∣re, Paterni Her∣cule gloriatus est, Vel. Pater∣culus lib. 1. p. 14. edit. Lipsi••.
• * 1.11

  Inde prodiit jus Imaginum quas nobiles ab armo∣rum laude pa∣rarint Familiae 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Et nomina mili∣tum clypeis a∣scripta. Forreri∣us in leg. 195. Vegetius lib. 2. c. 28. de re Mi∣citari.
• * 1.12

  De Clypeorum dedicatione lege Plinium lib. 35 p. 3.
• * 1.13

  Nobiles autem primum Patricii, dicti sunt quippe quibus primum honores iis quibus nobilitas co u∣paratur, in Republ. p••••ueru ut post autem plebeii etiam ubi pri∣mi ad Curules honores pervene∣runt Nobiles dici caep••i sunt; ne∣que enim ex genere nobilitas sed ex im••ginibus parabatur. Sigonius de nom. in Romam. p. 368.
• * 1.14

  Eadem ••mnibus principia ea∣demque origo, nemo altero no∣bilior, nisi cui rectius ingeni∣um, & artibus bonis aptius, qui Imagines in atrio exponunt, &c. Et paulo post, sive liber∣tini ante vos habentur, sive servi, sive exterarum gentiuns homines, erigite audacter a∣nimo••, & quicquid in medio sordidi jace•• transilite, expectat vos in summo Magna nobilitas ib. 3. de Benesic. c. 27.
• * 1.15

  Lib de O••io Sap. c. 31.
• * 1.16

  In cujuscunque animo virtus inesset ei pluri∣mum esse rit∣buendum. Patercul. lib. 2. p. 76.
• * 1.17

  Omnes boni sempen uobili∣ta••i ••avemus & quia utile est Reipubl. nobi∣les homines esse dignos majo. ribus suis & quia valet apud nos claro∣rum virorum memoria etiam mortuorum Cic. pro Sex••io.
• * 1.18

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Epistola ad An∣tiochum.
• * 1.19

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Philo lib. de Nobilit. p. 904.
• * 1.20

  Quid est eques Romanus aut li∣bertinus aut servus, nomina e•• ambitione aut ex injuria nata, subsilice in Coelum ex angulo licet, ex surge modo & ••e quo∣que dignum finge Deo. Senec. Fp. 31.
• * 1.21

  Sint hi reges quia majores ••orum non su∣erunt, quia pro summo imperio habuerent Iu∣s••itiam, abstinen∣tiam, quia non Rempub. sibi sed se Reipub. dicaverunt, Regnent tu quia vir bonus qui∣dam proavus eo∣rum suit qui anima supra fortunam gessit qui ini dissensio∣ne Civili quoni∣am expedieba•• Repu•• vinci quam vincere malui lib. 4. de Benef. c. 32.
• * 1.22

  Zrz••mus lib. 2. Eutrop. in bre∣viar. p. 112. & lib. 8.
• * 1.23

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Herodian lib. 5. p. 560.
• * 1.24

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉. Apud Stobaeum Serm. 217.
• * 1.25

  Bishop of Saint Davids Sermon at the entertain∣ment of the IL. of Essex, 21 Eliz. Holing∣shed p. 1263.
• * 1.26

  Foeli•• ille quem non ex∣cellentia gene∣ris sed mores virtutesque no∣bilitaverunt. Apulejus.
• * 1.27

  Aliciat ad le∣gem 40.
• * 1.28

  Arist Polit••e. lib. 1. c. 3.
• * 1.29

  Et ipsa charitas generis quae na∣ta à primo satu à procreatori∣bus na••i dili∣guntur & tota domus conjugio & st••rpe con∣jungitur serpit sensim foras cogniti••••ibus primum tum ad ••in••tatibus, deinde Ami∣citiis. lib. 5. de Fin. bon. & malorum.
• * 1.30

  Totius familiae interest ne quis ex ea vel in servitutem de. ducatur vel sla∣gitiose damno∣que dignitatis vivat. Ferrerius ad legem 195.
• * 1.31

  Quid enim ge∣nerosius quam tot literarum proceres habu∣isse majores: nam si inve••e∣ra••ae & per genus ductae divitiae nobile•• faciunt, multo magis praestan∣tior est cujus origo the sauris prudentiae locu∣plis invenitur. Alatharicus Rex senatui Rom apud Cassiod var. lib. 8. ep. 19.
• * 1.32

  Non potest grande aliquid & supra cae∣teros loqui nisi mota mens cum vulgaria & soli••a contemp∣sit ins••inctoque sacro surrexit excelsior. Tunc demum aliquid cecinit grandius ore mortali non potest sublime quiddam & in arduo posi∣tum contingere quam diu apud se est. Senec. lib. de Tranq. animi.