The Nobles, Prefatory letter
❀TO THE RYGHTE honourable and worſhhipfull of the Inner Temple.
WHAT OTHERS, with long perſwaſiōs, ſometime all in vaine, Nature and Arte, the wareſt guides aſſay to learne: that at this prefēt, the rather to enforce in me, they hauehave coupled to their authorities, vnauoydable neceſſitie. Namely, to cauſe me, what I meane to maintain or excuſe, firſt to propoſe. For, what eyther for neceſſitie could I, or without breache of the comely courſe of nature & order ſhuld I, in my preface preferre before the title? Yet again, what weaker? what more impugned? I ſay not of the captious carpers, but euen the patrones of whom iuſtlieſt it awaited ſuccour? Whiche notwithſtandinge, rather I ſay as fearinge what I doubte, then foreiudginge my hope. For ſith the wiſe euen with exāple teache, it may perhaps be argument enoughe of refuſall that hitherto they accepted none. And whereto chooſeth he them (ſaye ſome) whome none tofore?
Hopeth he to reache, what neuer any erſt? Whom as eaſye is to aunſwere, theyr not accepting, riſeth of want of profferynge. For whom ſuccourles hauehave they diſmiſſed? Whom reiected? Who remayneth paterne of theyr rigour or crueltye? Patrones not onelye of the learned, but all afflicted good. Yet my guylt, (if ought) I confeſſe leſſe colourable, for wythout Preſydente, late at leaſt, I ventred the vnattempted meane. But, if lyke reaſon forde like lawe, ſith ſundrie Pamphlets ſoughte and founde ſuccour, in ladyes lappes, in lordes armes, in the Queenes boſome: well maye a Templer hope, to rooſt in the Temple, vnderunder the rooffe of your honoures and worſhyppes names.
Which notwithſtandinge, I clayme not of curteſye, but bothe I proue it my parte to proffer it, and vnſeemely and vnſittyng to your honoures, to ſpurne it. For the fyrſt, three reaſons proffer to acquite me. The fyrſte, is the conſideration of the bounden dutye, whereby I am indetted to thys Noble houſe. Which, as I want the wyſhed meanes to expreſſe: ſo neuer the hart to continue. Reſt it ye my lordes, to vnlads by proofe youre affection. Nor yet by vnladinge (as the ſwollen hearte by the weepynge eye) to aſſwage the paſſion. Suffiſe me, the offer of this myte of fame, to the teaſing of greater. To like ende runne, though by farre diſtant meanes, the creapyng Ante, the rampyng, Lyon. As ready and preſt am I, by halinge in my one wheaten graine, to ſignifye my engraffed pietye: as your honours by conferryng whole reekes Onelye craue I, my deuoyre be no fraude to me. That what I meane ſimply, ye incerprete not preſumptuouſly. The nexte of no leſſe efficacye, iſſueth from your honoures and worſhyppes. Whoſe honourable ſtate, as it earneth the prayſe, ſo of dutye claymeth the patronage of your honour. Whom thus linkd and knyt in one, as a corporacion or felowſhippe, iuſte cauſe inhibiteth me to terme: ſo as weighty reſpect, enforceth to adiudge the moſt honourable ſocietie, and ciuile bodie of Gentlemen. For wherewith hath that highe Ioue (to whome worthelye is aſcribed the honoure, of fyrſt aſſembling and vniting ſondred multitudes) honoured other ſtates: not eſpecially aboue the reſte priuileging this? Famous for all prefermē tes bothe of fortune and vertue, but chiefely, for Cōcord, Continuaūce, & Gentrie. For, what ſurer or faſter league of amitie, then the wrythen band with greene and tender hartes, whych dried with elde, rather bowe then bend? Or what for continuance more laſtinge or immortall, then the exempt from death? Whych, if a corporacion be, may theſe the maynteyners and preſeruers of all ſocietyes, not be? But of gentrye what neede I ſpeake? where the whole realme vaū teth her ſtoare. Some Noble vaunis of their whole houſe. Some vauntours of their Noble houſe. Some glorious for both. None moath or caterpiller of his parents prayſes.
Where, if eche ſeuerally ye deny a cō plete gentleman: certes the whole in louelove but one, euē in Momus iudgemēt, ſhal mate, I ſay not the Courtier, but euen this our chriſtian Noble. Eche one ſo ſeeming to ſupplie others wāt as with one voice, thus ſatiſfie they the Courtyer, demaūding what wā tes they beſt beare: euen thoſe, wherof our feeres are cloyed with ſtoare.
From ye alſo proceedeth this, that emonges ye, and of ye they are, whoe fynding me deaffe at then chaunting reaſons, wherwith long they ſought to charme me, to conceiue of my ſelfe more then either I ought or mought: at laſte, with their vndeniable frendſhipps ſo preſſd me, as violently they yoaked me to the charge, that thus ladeth & cruſheth me. No otherwyſe withholding, and lingering, then the enforced to leaue his loued home, permitteth the directing of his dumpiſhe coarſe, to his vnwelcom guydes: him ſelfe, withe his twyned neck and twinned mynde, altogether ententife on the place he parteth fro. Whoſe Choyſe, had it light ſo luckelie as it ought nor needed I at this preſent to pleade my pardon, nor they be acceſſaryes, yf not principalls, in my vnwillyng crymes. Whoſe requeſts, as I vouch not to preiudice ye, ſo mencion I, to make my blames more excuſable, for theyr importunitye. Who emplied in this title, are partners bothe of the prayſe and infamye, to the venter whereof, they puſhed forth me.
So recompenced with as maſſye charge, that bequeathd them, which ſole I confeſſe my ſelfe vnable to welde. Ioyne hereto, that onelye the Queenes hyghenes, deſerued at firſt to ſurname it. Knowynge therefore, by tranſlation it muſt fall (whych yet onelyonly ſo much I wiſhd, as our tonge yeldeth to thother) howſoeuer therin I am maiſter of my wiſhe throughe willingnes, at leaſt I meant to prouide, it ſhoulde ſtoope but one ſteppe in authoriſing. Which howe it leſſe may, then by ye: certes I ſee not.
Whom, as ſeuered, ſome exceede: ſo ioynt, next her maieſtye none. The thirde and laſte, concerneth the cauſe it ſelfe. Which though nowe ſtoared with patrones, claymeth yet none ſo ryghtlye as ye. Firſt, for it is yours, as heritage by your aunceſtoures, as purchaſe by your owne proweſſe.
Next, for it is peſtred with counterfaytes. Whom but ye diſcouer, and puniſhe for intruſion, needes muſt they argue ye of baſenes. For two ſo contrary ympes neuer bred Nobility Thirdlye, for if ye retaine it not, and thother it ſelfe abhorrre, and obſcure it can not lye: (for it coueyteth the ſtatelyeſt Towers & Sunnye mountes) needes muſt that lampe of your Gentrie quenche, that Moone of your honoure wane, that Sonne of your glorie clipſe. And by reiecryng, eyther condemueth other. Wherof, whether is moſt preiudicial, who ſeeeth not? Of ſuch importaūce your example is, as Socrates wel termed ye, yt cities leuel. Howe crookedly the & all amiſſe ſhal the meaner ſorte iudge of that, whiche though plainely ye condemne not, yet in withdrawing your maintenance, litle alowe? Whō ſhal we ſeeke to ſhielde it, if ye betraye it? The deuines? They priſe no perſons nor looke to ſtates but ſowles. The commens? They hauehave declared theyr affection by ofte impugninge it. The Prince? Her feare I to prouoke, by de baſing that erſt ſo honourd her.
Whoſe elder protection, diſchargeth not, but authoriſeth ye, to defēd whō your princeſſe hath receiued to patronage. Theſe therfore thus remoued, ſith we maye well deſpaire, to fynde your progenie heires to that ye neuer left theym: who but ye onelye reſte, to father orphane honour? And thus heare ye right honourable, the three cauſes. Which, as they charged me to geue it ye, ſo I hope, diſcharge me of preſumption in proferyng it. The next, hath for a great part, relaciō to the already prooued. For if it behoue me to proſer it ye, ſith this relyenge neceſſitie hath a vent, probable it is my conſtraint of profering, emplieth your neceſſitie of taking. Hereto therfore collaterallye ſerueth, what hath bene ſayde. But with more force to moue ye, & not neglect any part of my promiſſe: ſomewhat meane I to ſaye, whye ye ought take it. With open mouth loe curteſy, the refuge, roade, & ſuccour of al afflicted, the patroneſſe of hartye though meaneſt preſentes: fearing ſtayne in ye in this, crieth ye maye not ſpurne ſo humble, ſo iuſt, ſo heartye proffer. Nowe hyeth ſhe to vouche her olde forworne preſidētes, of that Nobleſt prince, that diſdaind not the proffered rape. And Artaxerxes who ſo much priſed, yt heaued vp hā des of his well wiſhinge Subiecte, though but filled with water: as he boughte the licour wc golde. And thothers apple gift, as he plainelye pronounced him one of that ſorte, whoſe bigge hart, were able to ſwel a Coat to a kingdome. Acknowledginge the minde that ſugreth eueryevery preſent, to counteruaile the moſt precious iewel She ſayeth, the gifte is but ye hartes huſke onelye the hearte the preſented kernell. And moſt precious preſent is it, that ſo noble gifte honoureth.
For of eueryevery benefite, the receiuours gaine is the hearte. And the affection nameth the gyfte. Yea, of ſuche force is the geuers mynde, as though Cicero accompte the miſplaced benefyte loſſe, yet Ariſtotle aloweth this recom pēce. That were the taker vnworthy the gift is geuen to curteſie. And neuer wante giftes where wil aboundeth. For, hit is the gifte, what ſo the ſigne be. And, who ſticketh in the ſigne, not attendinge the ſigned: fareth, as who not priſinge the Nutie, ſhould ſticke in the Nutſhale. Nor is here any meane or baſe gifte offered, (which if it were, no meane prayſe of bountye were to ſtoope to it) but the honourableſt & nobleſt. Yea ſuch, as without diſcurteſy ye may not frown on. Tiberius themperour, in ſhieldinge naked, miſerable, & needye Chryſte: in warted the whole Senate. And, whē though emperor, through his whole Empire, he preuayled not to deifye him: yet in his owne oratorye, honorably enſtalled his image. Though miſſinge the maner, not yet the ſubſtance of his fayth. And wil ye betray not naked but Noble chriſt, not beggered chriſtianitye, but honourd chriſtian Nobility? I knowe, ſome meruaile why in a matter of taking, I ſo longe ſtande with the good takers of this time. And accompte it all ſuperfluous talke, ſeinge Nobilitye eche where ſo coueit & coueited: to exhorte any to vndertake, yt magnificēt, & glorious title, of tutors & gardens of it …nhoſe excellēce ſo tickled yt baſe Hero ſtratu: at Epheſus: yt otherwiſe deſpairinge ſame, to ennoble him ſelfe, wt flame he ſpent yt Nobleſt Sinagoge of yt world. And one day raſed, what hundred yeres ſaw raiſing. Thoſe wiſhe I to wite, that not Nobility generally (for the name is indifferent to Hero ſtratus merite) but chriſtiā nobleſſe, bequeath I our nobles. Whereof lately ſo reckeles their protection was, as ſcarce durſt, eyther chriſtian ſpiritual tye or cōminaltie peepe. Hereof therfore miſſe I patrones, hereof protectours, hereof ſhieldes & targes be ye. pryuate proweſſe mind, that enny ſo… reth alofte, to ſowſe theyr mountyng honor. That Nobilitie is wonne and kepte alyke. And theyr ſuſpicious ryſynges needs wemleſſe ſoundnes, whyche ſo bothe highe and low malyce, as they not onelye coneyte to plūge to theyr former meane: but euē hopeleſſe of ſpringinge, to delue in the deepe dunghill of miſery. Laſtlye thoſe happy wights, whom Fortune and the vertues ſo voucheſaued to honour, as in theyr hertes and bodies to harber: acknowledge and reuerence ſo precious ornamentes. Scorne not to communicate them with the commen Societie. whych hourded rouſt, emparted brighteſt ſhine. In fine apply theyr whole Nobleſſe, not finally to any earthly court, but that heauen lye palayce which here onelyonly by faith they ſeeke, by hope embrace. So doinge, as wont your honors after long and truſty tryall, to guerdon your loued Seruaunts, with farther preferments: ſo that Noble ſtate, whyche vnderunder your honorable prynceſſe here ye ſerue: if no other wyſe, at leaſte by reſtles interceſſion and entreatye, ſhal preferre ye to that myghtieſt Monarche, and ſtatelyeſt Courte. Wyth whom and where, no fla…tery gloſeth no ambicion loareth, no pryde blouſtereth, no wantonnes dalyeth: but in moſte aſſured, and conſtant wealefulnes, abyde the vnwythered crownes, not of ſame but kliſſe, your ſacred heades.
Loe vertue and Fortune littled in amitie.
In firſt, framinge of Nobilitie.
THe prouydence eterne that all doth guyde.
And firſt found out a common welth to frame
For mens behooſe: foreſawe how on eche ſyde
Great miſchyeties grewe, when wel to weld the ſ…
Wife chieuetaines want, whoſe might & counce… ſa…
Should he of force, to appeaſe the peoples rage.
He had therefore dame kynd renew her would.
And faſh you ſuch a wyght in after dayes
As to his kyng and countrey proouen ſhould
A Noble ſtaye. He ſayd and kynd obeyes.
Great ſtrife betwixt old emnyes two then …ell
Vertue and hap: which better might aduaunce
This Iinp of Ione. Which ehiefely myght excel
She by deſert, or fortune els by chaunce.
Eche part her ſelfe prefers with proubeſt boaſt.
And eyther ſeekes alone to rule the roaſt.
Aſſembled all the powers here from aboue
That ſkyes contayne, the doubtful ende to ſee
Of this debate. great Ioue the ryght to proue,
The aucthour firſt, hym ſelfe eke iudge would be.
Fortune ſteppes forth, ne at the ſyght diſmayeth
Of ſuch a Iudge, ne of the Noble preace:
But boldly forth her golden giftes dyſplayeth,
Chiefe helpes in warre: and fruites of quyete peace,
Health, youthly force, and (nurſſe to foſter both)
Kynge Ditis'ſtoare, the type of honours throne
The peoples prayſe, the Dyademe eke goeth,
Next God ſhe ſayeth, by her good wyl alone.
The tylman crouned kynge that plowe lace held
Taketh Scepter at her hand. ſhee ſtrikes the ſtroake
That daunts the greater band ful oft in fyeld,
And bowes the prowdeſt necke to enmyes yoake.
The tyrant taken, and hys Citie raſed
Her feate ſhe calls, but whom ſhe lyſt vp hold,
They which in honours feate by her be placed,
By long dyſcent a worthy race vnfolde
Of Noble-bloud: ſurmountynge ſo the beſt,
As Venus ſterre in ſkye dymines all the reſt.
And here ſhe ſtayed when vertue thus replyed.
Theſe gifts (quod ſhe) are ſuche in balance weyed,
As they report that wort, and beſt hauehave tryed,
That happyeſt him they deeme, who leaſt hathe flaied
Hym ſelfe theron: and bliſſe the golden meane,
That breeds contempt of theſe as fanſyes vayne.
That meane am I, whych conſtant mynds do frame
Vndaunted to eche chaunge that chaunce may bryng
By iuſt deſert to ſcale the forte of ſaine.
In Iuſtice weights to payſe eche worldly thinge,
And eche hys owne to yeld. then to foreſee
By wyſedoms lore, what chiefeſt were to chooſe
In things of greateſt weight men learne of me:
And not to hauehave but things had wel to vſe.
No walles I boaſt to raſe, but townes to ſaue,
Whyle wars I teache to flye, or to defende
The ryghtful cauſe. great hope perdye they hauehave
That rightly ſowe, to reape lyke fruite at ende.
Great port to beare, what prayſe if vertucleſſe
Thou lyue? A Prynce to be, if retcheleſſe
He raygne? Or ſword to welld if mercyleſſe
The common ſoare he ſeeke not to redreſſe?
Theſe fruites if vertue yeld, and none but ſhe,
Let vertue raygne; and fortune ſubiect be.
She ſayd. And ſtrayght wayes whyſted all the place
To heare the Iudge geue ſentence on the Caſe.
Whoſe ſentence ſuch enſued. Sith both agreed
To further kynde in framyng ſuch a wyght,
As ſhould his Countreies cauſe in tyme of neede
Mayntaine, agaynſt the ſtroake of enmyes myght:
Theyr wills he prayſed. But eythers force aloane,
Might fayle (quod he). For vertue wanting power
Were ſoone oppreſt. And vertue where is none,
Welth workth bale as proofe ſhewes life eche houre.
But hap with vertues loare if lynked were,
Redouble ſhould your forte. Wherefore we wyll
Your wylies to ioyne quod he, and fortune there
To abyde, where wyſdome foſtreth vertues ſkyll.
This is our doome; wherto if ye aſſent,
Let crie the peace in open parlyament.
Theyr hands they geue: and wel alowe the ſame
The heauenly preace. Him ſelfe I ſawe to ſtand
Dan Aeolus amyd the houſe of fame,
Who blewe the blaſt with golden tromp in hand.
Whoſe voyce was this. That in eche Noble heart
Where vertue harboured were, good hap was bound
(By heauenly doome) to aduaunce eche other part.
And all the ſkyes reioyſed at the ſound.
But of this amitie the perfecte ende,
The league, and articles therof to know,
How Fortune frames with vertue lynkd her frende,
The kyngdomes guyde: this authour all doth ſhew,
Who doth deſcriue, as he that wyſelye can
The mould that makes a worthy Noble man.
V. P.
See ſhortlye here the ſumme of all
Whereto the Noble and baſe we call.
☞ Behold the touche to trye the boaſtinge preace
That baſely borne doe vaunt of Noble lyne.
Behold deſcrybed the perfect Nobleneſſe
When Noble Vertues in nobled race doe ſhyne.
Here who ſo liſt, may ſee the raſcal ſorte
Whom kinde brought forthe to bondage and to toyle:
Sondred from ſuch as vntounto Noble port
Are borne, and bred for rulers of the ſoyle.
Here are the ſteps by which the baſe aſſcend
To honours mount, and nobled name deſerue.
Here Nobles learne theyr Nobleſſe to defend.
Here yoaked is the vnnoble wyght to ſerue.
The Noble peere to feare as myghtier
And yeld hym prayſe as to hys worthyer.
Wherfore all ye that from a Noble race
Draw forth your lengthed lyne tyll theſe oure dayes:
Receiue this worke, receiue with frendly face
Your perfectinge and your perfections prayſe.
And ye that lothinge thral of elder tyme,
Though Mothers wombe vnnoble brought ye forth
By Vertues meane now coueyte hye to clyme:
This your aduauncer worke take wel in worthe.
And ye vnnoble in cradel and in tombe
Herein ſhew forth the obſequy ye owe
VntoUnto your Lords. Reade here theyr due renowne
Whoſe thralls ye are, and all that reade, beſtow
Due thanks on hym that firſt wrate ſuch a worke
And hym that nold in Latin let it lurcke.
A. B.
OnelyOnly the Soules deuyne excellence
Earneth the prayſe of perfect Nobleneſſe.
Prometheus theft cloaſd in Deucaleons babe
Searcheth through eche vaine to blaſe her gliſteringe works
In ſome it ſhynes. Oft clipſd wyth bodyes ſhade,
Vnnoble in vnnoble home it lurcks.
As Phebus rayes borow hewes of perted Aer:
So ſome it ſhade, in ſome it ſhyneth fayer.
Some quenching it with mouldy walles vnſwecte
Of danky ſhe pryſons, and dyſtayned homes.
Some ſuffering not the mountinge flames to peepe
In actions oute, reſtrayned Choake at once.
Salamandras rather nurſinge, them to ſlaye
Then wyllinge they the Soules heſts would obeye.
Theſe dumpiſh ſtoanes abyenge Prometheus thefte.
Lye chaynd in ſauage Scithia on Caucaſe hoare.
Where gredye gripe theyr gnawen minds doth freat
With tyrant talents for guilts done of yore.
Theſe neuer may to honors throne aſpyre:
Theyr coarſe with earthe cares cloggo, nere ſoaringe higher.
Some others, whom much leſſe this maſſe doth lade.
Theyr natures mounting higher by feruent heate:
Yeld them through wyt a vent to ſearche the trade
There to remount, whence them Prometheus fet.
And whyle they reſt here, maintaine them with ſkil:
Theyr onelyonly foode, where they obtayne theyr wyl.
Theſe howe to honor ſeekth the encloſed flame
And through theyr actiue partes ſendeth forthe ſuch gleames
As ſo aſtonne the ſenſe of tattlyng fame
That domine ſhe fifteth thē ſtraight to honors beams
Where ſo they ſhyne with ſtreames of theyr Soules lyght
As neuer gliſtered Phebus halfe ſo bryght.
Theſe rauenth no other fowle then flyttinge fame.
That mounteth to ſkyes theyr noble deedes erſt done
whom while ſhe prayeth, theyr bleedyng prayed name
As growing Hidra geueth ſuch ſtoare to plumme:
That all the earth and hawtye heauens reſound
The fame they got yet grouelynge on the ground.
Suche howe to be, ſuch honour howe to gayne
Our Humfrey here hys …oyle emparieth with the.
Whom yf thou laſye yet neglect the payne
To Latium hence to trauayle, there to ſee:
Embrace at home yet as he beſt deſerueth.
Whoſe lyuing fame ſhal liue whyle fame ne ſterueth.