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fitions in truth, other then antique works, and monſtrous bodies, patched and hudled-yp
together of divers members, without any certaine or well ordered figure, having neither or-
der, dependence, or proportion, but cauall and framed by chaunce?

*Definit in p[er]ſem multuer forma[mi] superiuæ.*

A woman faire for parts ſuperior,

Endes in a fifth for parts inferior.

Hor.art.pnc.4.

Touching this ſecond point I go as farre as my Painter, but for the other and better part I am farre behinde for my ſufficiency reacheth not to farre, as that I dare vndertake, a rich, poſſuſed, and according to true skill, and arte-like table. I have advifed my ſelfe to borrow one of Steven de la Boitie, who with this kinde of worke ſhall honour all the world. It is difeourſe he entitled, Voluntary Servitude, but thate who have not knowen him, have ſince very properly rebrapized the fame. The Againsi one. In his firſt youth he wriſt, by way of ſel very, in honour of liberty againſt Tyrants. It hath long ſince beene diſperſed amongſt men faire, in honour of liberty againſt Tyrants. It hath long ſince beene diſperſed amongſt men faire, in honour of liberty againſt Tyrants. It is full of witneſe, in and containseth as much learning as may beryet doth it differ much from the beſt he can do. And in the age I knew him-in, he would have vnder-gone my defiſe, to ſet my fant families downe in writing, we ſhould doubtleſſe ſee many rare things, and which would very neere approach the honour of antiquity: for especially touching that parte of natures giſts, I know none may be compared to him. But it was not long of him, that ever this Treatize, came to man ſiewe, and I believe he never fawe it ſince it firſt ſefped his handses : with certaine other notes concerning the edict of Iauarie, famous by reaſon of our intelleſt warres, which haply may in other places finde their deſerved præſe. It is all I could ever recover of his ſtiques (whome when death feized, he by his laſt will and reſtament, left with ſo kinder remembrance, heire and executor of his librarie and writings) beſides the little booke, I ſince caufed to be published: To which his pamphlet I am particularly moſt bounden, for ſo ſtand as it was the inſtrumentall meane of our firſt acquaintance. For, it was ſhewed me long time before I fawe him; and gave me the firſt knowledge of his name, addreſſing, and this norſiſing that vnſpotted friendſhip, which we (ſo long as it pleafed God) have ſo firſcely ſo entire and inviolably maintained betweene vs, that truly a man shall not commonly heare of the like; and amongſt our moderne men no ſigne of any ſuch is ſeene. So many parts are required to the ereſing of ſuch a one, that it may be counted a wonder, if ſortune once three ages contraſt the like. There is nothing to which Nature hath more addreſſed vs than to ſocieſe. And Arisſore laſt, that perſeil Law givers have had more regard for a[n]e of friend ſippe then of inſiſce. And the verſoft drift of it's perſection is this. For generally, all thate amities which are forſог and nouriſhed by voluptuouſes profit, publike or private needle, are thereby ſo much the leſſe faire and generous, and ſo much the leſſe true amities, in that they intermeddle other cauſes, ſcope, and ſruite with friendſhip, then it ſelfe alone. Nor doth the ſoure, ancient kindes of natural ſtend ſhips; Naturall, ſocial, [b]oſtable, and venerean, either particularly or conjointly beſeeme the fame. That from children to parents may rather be termed reſpect: Friendſhip is nouriſhed by communication, which by reſon of the over-great diſparite cannot be found in them, and would haply offend the duties of nature: for neither all the ſecre thoughts of parents can be communicated vnto children, left it might engender an vnbeſeeming familiaritie betweene them, nor the admiſtentions and corrections (which are the chieſe offices of friendſhip) could be exerſed from children to parents. There have nations beene found, where, by cultome, children killed their parents, and others, which parents flew their children, thereby to avoide the hindrance of enter-bearing one another in after-times: for naturally one dependeth from the ruine of another. There have Philofophers beene found diſdaining this natural diſtinction, wittelle Arisſippus, who being vrged with the affeſſion he ought his children, as proceeding from his lynes, began to ſpeake and ſpitting, That al[so] that exerſition proceeded from him and that al[so] we engendred wormes and lice. And that other man, whom Plutarke would have perſwaded to agree with his brother, anſwered, I care not a ſtrawe the more for him, though he came out of the fame wome I did. Verily the name of Brother is a glorious name, and ful of loving kindness, and therefore did he and I terme one another (wore mother) : but this commixture, dividenſe, and ſharing of goods, this joyning wealth to wealth, and that the riches of one ſhall be the povertie of another, doth exceedingly diſtemper and diſtraſt all brotherly alianſe,

Exemplarum filius, et p[ro]ludium

alianſe,

The first Booke.

alianſe, and lovely conjunction : If brothers ſhould conduct the progreſſe of their ad-
vancement and thriſt in one fame path and courſe, they muſt neceſſarily oftentimes hinder
and croſſe one another. Moreover, the correfpondencie and relation that begetſeth theſe
true and mutually-perfect amities, why ſhall it be found in theſe? The father and the ſonne
may very-well be of a ſarre-differing complexion, and ſo may brothers : He is my ſonne, he
is my kinfman; but he may be a ſoole, a bad, or a peeviſh-minded man. And then accor-
ding as they are friendſhips, which the law and dutie of nature doth command-vſ, ſo much
the leſſe of our owne voluntarie choice and libertie is there required vnto it: And our ge-
nine libertie hath no production more properly hir owne, then that of affeſſion and ami-
tie. Sure I am, that concerning the fame I have affaied all that might be, having had the beſt
and moſt indulgent father that ever was, even vnto his extreameſt age, and who from father
to ſonne was deſended of a famous houſe, and touching this rare ſeene vertue of brotherly
concord very exemplare :

— & ſpſ

Notus in fratres anima paterni,

To his brothers knowe ſo kinde,

As to beare a fathers minde.

To compare the affeſſion toward women vnto it, although it proceede from our owne
free choſe, a man cannot, nor may-it be placed in this ranke: Hir fire, I conſeſſe it

— neque enim eſt de a[n]eficia noſtri

Ou dulcem curis miſet amaritiem.

(Nor is that Goddeſſe ignorant of me,

Who be ſitter (ſweeters with my cares mixed be)

to be more active, more fervent, and more ſharpe, But it is a rafſt and waving fire, wa-
ving and diſeſe: the fire of an ague ſubject to fits and flints, and that hath but ſlender
hold-faſt of vs. In true friendſhip, it is a generall & vniverſal heat, and equally tempered, a
conſant and fetted heat, all pleafure and ſmoothes, that hath no pricking or ſlinging in it,
which the more it is in luſtfull love, the more is it-but a ranging and mad deſire in following
that which flies-vs,

Come ſegue la lepre il cacciatore

Al freddo, al caldo, alla montagna, al lito,

Ne piu l'efima poi che preſa vede,

E/o dietro a chi ſugge affretta il piede.

Ev'n as the huntman doth the hare purſue,

In cold, in heate, on mountains, on the ſhore,

But cares no more, when he hir tan[te]e eſpies,

Speeding his pace, only at that which flies.

As foone as it creepeth into the termes of friendſhip, that is to ſay, in the agreement of
wills, it lauiuſeth and vaniſeth away: enjoying dooth loofe-it, as having a corporall end,
and ſubject to faciety. On the other ſide, friendſhip is enjoyed according as it is deſired, it
is neither bredde, nor nouriſhed, nor encreaſeth but in jovifance, as being ſpirituall, and the
mind being refined by vſe and cultome. Under this chieſe amitie, theſe fading affeſſions
have ſometimes found place in me, left I ſhould ſpeake of him, who in his verſes ſpeakes but
too much of-it. So are theſe two paſſions entred into mee in knowledge one of another, but
in comparifon never: the firſt flying a high, and keeping a prowde pitch, diſdainfully behol-
ding the other to paffe hir points farre vnder-it. Concerning marriage, beſides that it is a co-
venant which have nothing free but the entrance, the continuance being forced and con-
ſ trained, depending eſſe where then from our will, and a match ordinarily concluded to other
ends: A thouſand ſtrange knots are therein commonly to be vnknit, able to breake the web,
& trouble the whole courſe of a lively affeſſion; whereas in friendſhip, there is no commerce
or buſines depending on the fame, but it ſelfe. Seeing (to ſpeake truely) that the ordinary ſuſi-
nſiency of women, cannot anſwer this conference and communication, the nuer of this ſacred
bond: nor ſeeme their mindeſs strong enough to endure the pulling of a knot ſo hard, ſo faſt,
and durable. And truly, if without that, ſuch a genuine and voluntarie acquaintance might
be contracted, where not only mindeſs had this entire jovifance, but alſo bodies, a ſhare of
the alianſe, and where man might wholly be engaged : It is certaine, that friendſhip would

thereby

Hor.lib.3.ad.2.

6.

91.

ne faru

id muſiun.

Euphuist

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nage, and to agitate a vulgar and disordered multitude; and is an implement employed, but about distempered andficke mindes, as phyfieke is about crazed bodies. And thofe where either the vulgar, the ignorant, or the generalitie have had all power,as that of *Rhodes*,thofe of *Athens*, and that of *Rome*, and where things have ever beene in continuallifturbance & vproare,thither have Orators and the profeflours of that Art flocked. And verily, if it bee well looked into, you ſhall finde very few men in thofe common-wealths, that withouthelpe of eloquence have attained to any worthy eftimation and credite: *Pompey, Caſar, Crassius, Lucullus, Lentulus, Metellus*, have thence taken their greateſt ſlay and furtherance, whereby they have ascended vnto that height and greatneſſe of authoritie, wherevinto they at laſt attained,and againſt the opinion of better times have more prevailed with words,than with armes. For, *L. Voluminous ſpeaking publikely in favour of the eſſion, which ſome had made of Quintus Fabius, and Publius Decius, to be Conſülles; faith thus; They are men borne vnto warre,of high ſpirites, of great performance,and able to effect any thing, but rude,ſimple, and vnarted in the combate of talking, mindes truely Conſulare. They only are good Pretors, to doe iſtice in the Cittie, (faith he) that are ſubtile, cautelous, well ſpoken, wily, and lippe-wiſe.* Eloquence hath chiefely flourifhed in *Rome* when the common-wealths affaires have beene in worſt eſtate, and that the devouring Tempeſt of civil broyles, and inteftine warres did moſt agitate and turmoyle them. Even as a rancke,free and vntamed foyle, beareth the ranckeft and ſtrongeſt weeds,whereby it ſeemeth that thofe common-weales,which depend of an abſolute Monarch,have leſſe neede of it then others: For, that fooliſhneſſe and facilitie,which is found in the common multitude,& which doth ſubjeſt the fame, to be managed, perſwaſed,and led by the eares, by the ſweet alluring and ſenſe-entrancing found of this harmony, without duely weighing,knowing,or considering the trueth of things by the force of reaſon. This facility and eafy-yeelding, I ſay, is not ſo eafily found in one only ruler,and it is more eaſie to warrant him from the impreſſion of this poyſon, by good inſtitution and found counſell. There was never ſeene any notable or farre-renowned Orator to come out of *Macedon or Persia*. What I have ſpoken of-it, hath beene vpon the ſubjeſt of an Italian, whom I have latelie entertained into my ſervice. Who during the life of the whilom cardinall *Caraffa* ſerved him in the place of ſteward of his houſe. Enquiring of his charge, and particular quality, he tolde mee, a long,formall, and eloquent diſcourse of the ſcience or skill of epicurifme and gluttonie,with ſuch an Oratory-gravitie,and Magiftrale countenaunce, as if he had diſcourſed of ſome high-myſterious point of divinitie, wherein he hath very methodically deſcifred and diſtinguifhed ſundry differences of appetites: First of that which a man hath faſting,then of that men have after the firſt, the ſeconſd, and third ſervice. The ſeverall means how ſometimes to pleafe-it ſimply, and other times to ſharpen and provoke the fame; the policy and rare invention of his ſawces: First,in general terms, than particularizing the qualities and ſeverall operations of the ingredients, and their effects: The differences of falades according to their diſtinet ſeafons,which muſt be ſerved-in warme,and which cold: The manner how to drefſe, how to adorne, and embellifh them, to make them more pleafing to the fight. After that,he entred into a large and farre-fetched-narration, touching the true order, and due methode of ſervice, full of goodly and important considerations.

— *Nec minimo ſane discrimine reſſert,*

*Quo gestu lepores, & quo gallina fecetur.*

What grace we vſe, it makes ſmall diſtence, when
We carve a Hare, or eſſe breake vp a Henne.

And all that filled vp and ſtuffed with rich magnificent words,wel couched phraſes, oratory figures,and patheticall metaphores; yea, such as learned men vſe and employ in ſpeaking of the Governement of an Empire,which made me remember my man.

*Hoc salſum eſt, hoc aduſtum eſt, hoc lautum eſt parum,*

*Illud reſſe, iterum ſic memento, ſedulo,*

*Moneo que poſsum pro mea ſapientia.*

*Poſtremo tanquam in ſpeculum, in patinas, Demea,*
*In ſpicere iubeo, & moneo quid facto vſus ſit.*

This diſh is ſalt, this burnt, this not ſo fine,

That is well done, do ſo againe; Thus I

As my beſt wifedome ſerves, all things affiſe.

Sat. 5. 127

Ter..Adel.afl. 3
ſc. 4. 62.

Laſtly

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handled by *Bodine*, and agreeing with my conception. Somewhat to ayde the weakenefle
of my memory, and to affift hir great defects, for it hath often beene my chance to light vp-
on bookes, which I suppofed to be new, and never to have read, which I had notwithstan-
ding diligently read and runne-over many yeares before, and all befcribled with wy notes: I
have a while fince accuftomed my ſelfe, to note at the end of my booke (I meane fuch as I
purpofe to read but once) the time I made an end to read it, and to fet downe what cenſure
or judgement I gave of it; that ſo, it may at leaſt, at another time repreſent vnto my mind, the
aire and generall Idea, I had conceived of the Author in reading him. I will here fet downe
the Copy of ſome of mine anotations, and ſpecially what I noted vpon my *Guicciardine* a-
bout tenne yeares ſince: (For what language ſo ever my bookes ſpeake vnto me, I ſpeak vn-
to them in mine owne) He is a diligent Hiftoriographer, and from whom in my conceipt, a
man may as exaſtly learne the truth of ſuch affaires as paffed in his time, as of any other wri-
ter whatsoever : and the rather becaufe himſelfe hath bin an Aſtor of moſt parte of them,
and in very honourable place. There is no ſigne or appearance, that ever he difguſed or co-
loured any matter, either through hatred, malice, favour or vanitie; whereof the free and im-
parciall judgements he giveth of great men, and namely of thofe by whom he had bin advan-
ced or employed in his important charges, as of Pope *Clement* the feaventh, beareth vndoub-
ted teſtimonie. Concerning the partes wherewith he moſt goeth about to prevaile, which
are his digreſſions and diſcourſes, manie of them are verie excellent, and enriched with faire
ornaments, but he hath too much pleafed himſelf in them: for, endevoring to omit nothing
that might be ſpoken, having ſo full and large a ſubjeſt, and almoſt inſinit, he proveth ſome-
what languifhing, and giveth a taſte of a kinde of ſcholaſticall tedious babling. Moreover, I
have noted this, that of ſo feveral and divers armes, ſucceffes and effects he judgeth of, of ſo
many and variable motives, alterations, and counſells, that he relateth, he never referreth any
one vnto vertue, religion or confcience : as if they were all extinguifhed and banifhed the
world : and of all actions, how glorious ſo ever in appearance they be of themselves, he doeth
ever impute the caufe of them, to ſome vicious and blame-worthie occasion, or to ſome com-
moditie and profit. It is impoffible to imagine, that amongſt ſo infinite a number of actions
whereof he judgeth, ſome one have not beene produced and compaffed by way of reaſon.
No corruption could ever poffeſſe men ſo vniverſally, but that ſome one muſt of neceſſitie
eſcape the contagion; which makes me to feare, he hath had ſome diſtaſt or blame in his paſ-
fion, and it hath haply fortuned, that he hath judged or eſteemed of others according to him-
ſelfe. In my *Philip de Comines*, there is this: In him youv ſhall finde a pleafing, ſwecte, and
gently gliding ſpeach, fraught with a purely-fincere ſimplicitie, his narration pure and vn-
affected, and wherein the Authours vnſpotted good meaning doth evidently appeare, void
of all manner of vanitie or oftentation ſpeaking of himſelfe, and free from all affection or en-
vy ſpeaking of others : his diſcourſes and perſwafions, accompanied more with a well-mea-
ning zeale, and meere verity, then with any labored and exquiſit ſufficiency, and all-through,
with gravitie and auθtority, representing a man well-borne, and brought vp in high nego-
tiations. Vpon the memories and hiftorie of Monsieur du *Bellay*: It is ever a well-pleafing
thing, to fee matters writen by thofe, that have afflaide how, and in what maner they ought to
be directed and managed : yet can it not be denied, but that in both theſe Lordes, there will
manifeſtly appeare a great declination from a free liberty of writing, which clearely ſhineth
in ancient writers of their kinde: as in the Lord of *Jonuille*, familiar vnto Saint *Lewis*, *Eginard*,
Chancellor vnto *Charlemaine*, and of more fresh memory in *Philip de Comines*. This is ra-
ther a declamation or pleading for King *Francis* againſt the Emperour *Charles* the fifth, then
an Hiftory. I will not believe, they have altered or changed any thing concerning the gene-
ralitie of matters, but rather to wreſt and turne the judgement of the events, many times a-
gainſt reaſon, to our advantage, and to omitte whatsoever they ſuppofed, to be doubtfull or
tickliſh in their maifters life : they have made profefſion of it: witneſſe the recoylings of the
Lordes of *Momorancy* and *Byron*, which therein are ſorgotten; and which is more, you
ſhall not ſo much as finde the name of the Lady of Eſtampes mentioned at all. A man may
fometimes colour, and happily hide ſecret actions, but absolutely to conceale that, which all
the world knoweth, and especially ſuch things as have drawne-on publike effects, and of
fuch conſequence, it is an inexcusable defect, or as I may ſay vnpardonable overſight. To
conclude, whoſoever deſireth to have perfect information and knowledge of King *Francis*
the

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no more then myne arme becommeth stronger, or my wit more xcellent, by conceiuing
fome others to be so. If to suppofe and with a nobler working then ours, might produce
the repentance of our owne, we should then repent vs of our innocent actions: for so-
much as we judge that in a more excellent nature, they had beene directed with greater
perfection and dignity; and our felues would doe the like. When I confult with my age
of my youthes proceedings, I finde that commonly, (according to my opinion) I mana-
ged them in order. This is all my refistance is able to performe. I flatter not my selfe: in
like circumftances, I should euer be the fame. It is not a spot, but a whole dye, that ftaynes
me. I acknowledge no repentance, that is superficiall, meane and cerimonious. It muft
touch me on all fides, before I can terme it repentance. It muft pinch my entrailes, and
afflict them as deeply and throughly, as God himfelfe beholdes me. When in negoti-
ating, many good fortunes haue flipt me for want of good discretion, yet did my pro-
jects make good choice, according to the occurrences prefented vnto them. Their man-
ner is euer to take the eafier and furer fide. I finde that in my former deliberations,
I proceeded, after my rules, difcreately, for the fubiectts ftafe propounded to me; and
in like occafions, would proceede a like, a hundred yeares hence. I refpect not what
now it is, but what it was, when I confulted of it. The confequence of all deffignes con-
fiftes in the reafons; occafions paffe, and matters change vnceffantlie. I have in my time runne
into some groſſe, abſurde and important errors; not for want of good aduife but of
good hap. There are ſecret and induiuinable partes in the obiects men doe handle; eſpeci-
allye in the nature of men; and mute conditions, without ſhow, and ſometimes vnknowne
of the very poſſeffors, produced and ſtried vp by ſuddaine occafions. If my wit could ney-
ther finde nor prefage them, I am not offended with it; the function thereof is contained with-
in it's owne limets. If the ſucceſſe beate me, & ſaouur the fide I reſuſed; there is no remedy;
I fall not out with my ſelfe; I accuſe my fortune, not my endeouur: that's not called repen-
tance. Phocion had giuen the Athenians ſome counſell, which was not followed; the mat-
ter, againſt his opinion, succeeding happily; How now Phocion, (quoth one) art thou plea-
ſed the matter hath thriu'd to well? yea (faide he) and I am glad of it, yet repent not
the aduife I gaue.

When any of my friends come to mee for counſell, I beſtowe it francklie and clear-
lie, not (as well nigh all the worlde doth) wavering at the hazard of the matter, where-
by the contrary of my meaning may happen, that so they may juſtly finde faulte with my
aduife: for which I care not greatly. For they ſhall doe me wrong, and it became not me
to reſuſe them that dutie. I haue no body to blame for my faultes or miſfortunes, but
my ſelfe. For in effect I ſeldome vſe the aduife of others, vnſeſſe it be for complements
ſake, and where I haue neede of inſtruction or knowledge of the ſaſt. Marrie in
things wherein nought but judgement is to bee employed; ſtrange reaſons may ſerue
to ſuſtaine, but not to divert me. I lende a favourable and courteous eare vnto them
all. But (to my remembrance) I never beleeued any but mine owne. With mee they
are but Flyes and Moathes, which diſtraſt my will. I little regarde mine owne opini-
nions, other mens I eſteeme as little: Fortune payes mee accordingly. If I take no
counſell, I give as little. I am not much ſought after for it, and leſte credited when
I give it: Neither knowe I any enterprife, cyther private or publike, that my aduife
hath directed and brought to conclusion. Even thoſe whome fortune had ſome-way
tyde therevnto, have more willinglie admitted the direction of others conceites, then
mine. As one that am as jealous of the rights of my quiet, as of thoſe of my auothe-
ritie; I would rather have it thus.

Where leaving me, they iumpe with my profession, which is, wholelie to fettle and con-
taine mee in my ſelfe. It is a pleafure vnto mee, to be diſinterested of other mens af-
fayres, and diſingaged from their contenrions. When futes or buſineſſes bee ouer-
paſt, how-ſo-ever it bee, I greeve little at them. For, the imagination that they
muſt neceſſarilye happen-ſo, puts mee out of paine: behould them in the courſe of
the Vniuerſe, and enchained in Stoycall cauſes. Your fantzie cannot by wifhe or imagi-
nation, remooue one point of them, but the whole order of things muſt reverſe both
what is paſt, and what is to come. More-over, I hate that accidentall repentance
which olde age brings with it.

He