Nevves from Malta written by a gentleman of that iland, to a friend of his in Fraunce. Shewing the desperate assault and surprising of two castles of the Turkes, by the Italians forces, vpon the eight day of September last past. Translated according to the Italian copie.

¶ Pierce denyeth the calling to office, to be such as Simon hath alleaged. Cap. 8. (Book 8)

NEighbour Simon (quoth Pierce) wh••ras you maintaine your assersion by the w••orthines of the Magistrate and Officer, and doo insist thervpon, alledging that they are ••alled by God, and that for their godlines an•• vertue. The first part I greatly dout, for th••t many of them buy their offices, and pay very déerly therf••re, yea some sell their very inheritaunces for that purpose, I mean to buy offices, now did I neuer read that euer God receiued Money for an office, how be it I referre my self héer••n to my Maisters that are learned.

The next part that they are called for their V••rtue and Godlines, surely then I verily suppose some of the•• are cal∣led for the things that neuer were in them before, ••nd then were the caller deceiued, which God cannot be, e••cept you will say that God of his méere goodnes and mercy called them

for the vertues and godlynes which he meaneth to call them vnto, and in this order beginneth to woork, I meane in be∣stowing vpon thē so liberally, and by that meanes to charge them with his expectation, in respect of their great Tallent committed vnto them, which thing you séem to alledge, as no small cause and consideration of the high assessing of the fées and charges aforesaid, and that so great mercies & gra∣ces bestowed vpon them by God, and so liberall reward ap∣pointed vnto them by men: should suffise to make them god∣ly and vertuous from thence foorth: what so euer they were or had béen before. All which arguments, although they be godly and probable: yet as I said before they stand doubtful, for the olde Prouerb, Honors chaunge manners. I beléeue the godly and the learned doo dout whether it be taken in the better part, or in the wursse, for I am very sure, that many are wurse disposed, and much more vngodly in high and ho∣norable calling: then while they were in meane estate and degree.

Neighboure Pierce (quoth our Hoste) there is no rule so generall, that it admitteth not exception, albeit I dout not nor euer did, that honours chaunge manners, is and euer was meant in the better parte. For the wiseman saith. He that is vngodly in welth: how much more vngodly would he be in pouertie? The examples are many that doo prooue that honors chaunge men to the better, namely of Saule, of whome it is said that béeing called from a simple boy after his Inau∣guration: he felt him selfe suddainly chaunged, and as the book saith: he felt a new hart in him.

The like example we haue of many Kings and Prophets in the Scripture. But to come néerer, both for the time and also the place, in our English History we read of that no∣ble King H. the fifth, who in his Fathers life was of euil go∣uernment, and kept company with riotors and vnthrifts, so that there was small hope of him, but after the death of H. y^e fourth, when this yung man was placed in his kingdom: he sent for all his olde companions, who were not a little glad therof, but when they weare come into his presence: he sharply rebuked them, and giuing them small rewards, yet

better then he thought them woorthy, he forbad them during their liues to come within xij. miles of the Court, ••nd that vpon great penaltie. All these examples doo manifest••y prooue that liberall reward of vertue, and high and Honorable calling doo increase vertue in them in whome it is al••edy and causeth them in whom it is not saue only in appara••nce, yet for pure shame to imbrace it, séeing that otherwise h••t coales are heaped vpon their heads, through their shamelesse vn∣thankfulnes vnto them that haue so thorowly prouo••ed them with the greatnes of their benefits.

And therfore against all these reasons and proof••, to say that the Magistrate and Officer should priuatly C••uet and conuert so great summes of treasure: it were to shamefull and slaunderous, considered that they are the effect•• of so e∣uill causes as hath already béen shewed And consid••red also the horrible and wicked conclusion that would ensu•• therup∣on, as also hath already béen prooued.

Neighbour Simon (quoth Pierce) neuer tel me what might or dooth insue therupon: but consider the tr••eth and the matter as it is in déed. And if these great fées a••d char∣ges doo not come vnto their receiuers and takers in proper and priuate: what meane they to make so great labo••r, sute, fréendship and cost to get those offices and callings. ••nd how commeth it to passe that by the meanes of such off••ces: such as before were of small habilitie, come to purcha••e a Ba∣rons liuing, yea twaine or thrée. Shortly, that their care is greater to heare and learne where any Land or Lordship is to be solde: then for the Money whorwith to pur••hase the same.