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                          ☞ [. . .] ☜

 

                             ¶ THE

                    BOKE .. NAMED

                  THE   GOVERNOVR

                    deuiſed by ſir Tho-

                     mas Elyot, Knight.

                          {ornament}

 

 

 

 

 

 

                     ¶  Imprinted      at

                     London , by Thomas

                         East.  1580.

                            {ornament}

 

                          ☞ [. . .] ☜

           ¶ The  Proheme  of  Syr

      Thomas Elyot knighte ,  vnto the moſt

         noble and victorious Prince , kyng Henry

            the eight, by the grace of God, king of

              England . France and Ireland,de=

               fender of the faith . and in earth

                  of the Chirch of England

                       ando alſo of Irelande

                          ſupreme head.

I                           Late conſideringe moſte

                            excellent prince,and mine

                            onely redoubted ſouereign

                            Lorde,my duetye,that  I

                            owe to my natural coun=

                            treye , with my faith alſo

                            of Allegeaunce and Oth,

wher-with I  am double bound vnto your

Maieſtie. More-ouer the accoumpt that  I

haue to render for that one little talent de=

lyuered to me, to employ  ( as I suppose) to

the increaſe of vertue, I am as ( God iudge me)

violently ſtirred to diuulgat or ſet forth

ſome parte of my ſtudie,truſting there-by to

acquite me of my duties to God, your high=

nes. & this my country . Wherfore taking

comfort and boldneſſe, partly of your graces

moſt beneuolent inclination toward the vni=

uerſall weale of your ſubiectes ,  partely in=

flamed with zeale ,  I haue now enterpriſed

                       The Proheme.

to deſcribe in our vulgar tongue,the form of

a iuste publike weale,which matter I haue

gathered, as wel of the ſayinges of moſt no=

ble authors ( Grekes & Latines) as by mine

owne experience : I beyng continually trai=

ned in ſome daylye affayres of the publike

weale of this your moſt noble realm, almoſte

from my childhod.Which attemptate is not

of prſsumption to teach any perſon,  I my

ſelf hauing moſt nede of teaching: But only

to the intent that menne ,  which will be ſtu=

dious about the weale publike  ,  may finde

the thing there to expedient,compendiouſlye

written. And for as much, as this preſente

booke treateth of the education of them, that

here after may be deemed worthy to be go=

uernours of the publike weale vnder your

highneſſe , ( which Plato affirmeth to bee

the firſt and chiefe parte of a publike weale:

Salomon ſaying alſo ,  where gouernours

be not  ,  the people ſhall fal into ruine. )  I

therfore haue named it the Gouernour, and

doe nowe dedicate it vnto your highneſſe,

as the firſt fruites of my study : verily tru=

sting that your moſte excellent wiſdome will

there-in eſteeme my loyall hart & diligent en=

deuour,by the example of Artaxerxes,the no

ble king of Persia,who reiected nat the poore

husbandman,which offred to him his hom=

lye hands full of cleane water,but moſt gra=

ciously receyued it with thankes, esteeming

the preſente not after the value ,  but rather

                       The Proheme.

the will of the giuer . Semblably King A

lexander reteyned with him the Poete Che-

rilus honourably, for writing his Hiſtorye,

although that the Poet was but of a smal e=

ſtimation,which that prince did not for lacke

of iudgement he being of  excellent lerning

as diſciple to Aristotle ,but to the intent that

his liberalytie employed on Cherilus, ſhould

animate or giue courage to others much bet=

ter learned,to contend with him in a ſembla=

ble enterpriſe.And if moſt vertuous prince.

I may perceive your highness to be here=

with pleaſed, I ſhall ſoone after ( God giuing

me quyetneſſe ) preſent your grace,with the

reſidue of my ſtudye and labours, where-in

your highnes ſhall well perceiue.that  I no=

thing eſteeme ſo muche in this world,as your

royall eſtate( my moſt deere ſouereigne lord.

and the publyke weale of my country ) pro=

teſting vnto your excellent Maiestie  ,  that

wher I commend herein any one vertue,or

diſprayſe any one vyce, I meane the gene=

rall diſcription of the one and the other,with

out any other particular mening to  the re=

proche of any one perſonne  :  to the whiche

proteſtation, I am now dryuen through the

malygnitie of this preſent time, all diſpoſed

to malycious detraction. Wherfore I moste

humbly beſeech your highnes,to dayne to be

patrone and defendour of this lyttle worke,

agaynste the aſſaultes of malygne enterpre=

tours : whiche fayle not to rente and deface

                       The Table of

the renoume of writers,they themſelues be=

inge in nothing to the publike weale profita=

ble :  which is by no man ſooner perceyued,

than by your highnes, beeing both in wiſe=

dome,and very nobilitie equall to the moſt

excellent princes, whom I beſeche God ye

maye ſurmount in longe lyfe and perfect fely=

citie. Amen.

 

                      The ſecond Booke.

              The true deſcription of amitie or

                        friendeſhip.  Cap. 11.

 

I haue already treated of Beneuolence,and

Beneficence generally. But foraſmuch as

friendship,called in Latin, Amicitia, compre=

hendeth both thoſe vertues more ſpecially, 𝕰

in an higher degree,and is now ſo infrequēt

or ſtraunge amonge mortall mē by the tyran=

ny of couetouſneſſe or ambition, which haue

long reigned,and yet doe , that amitie maye

now vnneth be knowen,or founde through

oute the world,by them that ſeeke for hir as

diligently as a mayden wold ſeeke for a ſmal

ſiluer pinne,in a great chamber ſtrawed with

white rushes.

    I wil therfore borow ſo much of the gentle

reader,though he be nigh wery of this long

matter,baraine of eloquence and pleaſant ſē=

tence,and declare ſome-what by the way of

verye 𝕰 true friēdſhip: which perchance may

be an allectiue to good men to ſeeke for their

ſemblable, on whome they maye practiſe A=

mitie. For as Tully ſaithe, Nothing is

                       The Gouernour.

more to be loued, or to bee ioyned togyther,

than ſimilytude of good maners or vertues:

wher in be the ſame or ſemblable ſtudies,the

ſame willes or deſires : in them it hapneth,

that one in an other as much delyteth as in

himselfe. But now lette vsinsearche, what

frendship or amitie is.

    Aristotle saith: Frendeshyp is a vertue, or

ioyneth with vertue.  Which is affirmed by

Tully , ſaying: Frendeshyppe can not be with=

out vertue, neither but in good men onely.

Who be good men, he after declareth, to bee

those persons, which ſo do beare thē selues,

and in ſuche wise doe lyue,that their faythe,

ſuretie,equalitie and lyberalitie bee suffice=

ently proued. Neither that there is in them

any couetouſneſſe , wilfulneſſe or foole-har=

dineſſe,and that in them is gerat ſtabilitie or

conſtance,them ſuppoſe I ,as they be taken,

to be called good men,which doe followe, as

much as men may , Nature the chiefe cap=

taine or guyde of mans life. More-ouer,the

same Tully defineth friendship in this man=

er,ſayinge. It is none other thinge, but a per=

fect conſent of al thinges appertaining as

wel to god as to man,with Beneuolence and

Charitie.  And that he knoweth nothing gi=

uen of God,except ſapience to man more cō=

modious.  Which definition is excellent and

very true. For in God and all thing that cō=

meth of God, nothing is of more greater e=

ſtimation,than Loue,called in Latin, Amor,

                      The ſecond Booke.

whereof Amicitia commeth, named in En=

glyshe Friendshippe or amitie:the which ta=

ken awaye frome the life of man , no house

shall abide ſtandyng,no fielde ſhall be in cul=

ture.And that is lyghtly perceyued, if a man

doe remember what commeth of diſſention &

discorde:fynally he ſeemeth to take the Sun

from the worlde that taketh friendship from

mans lfe.

    Since friendship can not be bee in good

men, ne may not be without vertue,we may

bee aſſured,that thereof none euill may pro=

ceede,or therwith any euill thing may par=

ticipate.Wherfore in as much as it maye bee

but in a fewe perſones,( good men beinge in

a ſmall number. )And alſo it is rare and ſel=

dome,as all vertues bee communely, I  wyll

declare,after the opinyon of Phyloſophers,

and partely by commune experience, who a=

monge good men bee of nature moſte apt to

friendſhip.

    Betweene all men that be good,cannot al=

way bee Amytie: but it alſo requireth,that

they be of ſemblable  or muche like manners

or ſtudy,and ſpecyally of manners. For gra-

uitie and affabilitie, bee euerye of them lau=

dable qualities. So bee Seueritie and Pla=

cabilitie .  Also Magnificence and liberalite

be noble vertues:And yet Frugalitie which

is a ſobreneſſe or moderation in liuinge ,  is

and that for good cauſe of all wyse men ex=

tolled : yet where theſe vertues and qualy=

                       The Gouernour.

ties be ſeperately in ſundry perſonnes aſſem=

ebled,may wellebee perfect concord,but frend=

ſhip is there ſeldome or neuer.For yt whiche

the one for a vertue imbraceth  ,  the other con=

temneth,or at the leaſt  neglecteth.  Where=

fore it ſeemeth,that it,wherein the one dely=

teth, is repougnaant to  the  others Nature:

And where is any repougnauncye , may bee

none Amitie , ſince friendſhippe is an entire

conſent of wylles and deſyres . Therfore it

is ſeldome ſeene,that frendeship is between

these perſones: A man ſturdy,  of opynyon

inflexible,and of ſowre countenance & ſpech:

with him that is tractable , and with rea=

ſon perſwaded , and of ſweete couuntenaunce

and entertaynement. Alſo betweene hym,

whiche is eleuate in authoritie, and an other

of a verye baſe  estate or degree : yea and if

they bee bothe in an equall dygnitie, if they

be deſyrous to clymbe , as they doe ascende,

ſo friendſhyppe for the more parte decayeth.

For as Tully ſaythe in his firſt booke of Of=

fices : What thyng ſo euer it be,in the which

many cannot excelle, or haue therein ſuperio=

ritie, there in oftentimes is ſuche a conten=

tion, that it is a thinge of all other moſt dif=

ficile, to kepe among them good or virtuous

company: that is as muche to ſay, as to re=

tayne among them frendſhippe and Amitie.

And it is oftētimes ſene,that dyuers,which

before they came in authoritie,  were of good

and vertuous condicions,being in their pro=

                      The ſecond Booke.

ſperitie were vtterly chaunged, and deſpising

their olde friendes,ſet all their ſtudy and ple=

ſure on their newe acquaintaunce .  Wherein

men ſhall perceiue to be a  wonderfull blind=

nes or ( as I might ſay ) a madneſſe, if they

note diligentely all that I ſhall here-after writ

of friendſhip . But nowe to reſorte to ſpeake

of them,in whom frienſhip is moſt frequent

and they alſo ther-to be moſt aptely diſpoſed.

    Undoubtedly it be ſpecially they,which be

wyse,and of nature enclyned to Beneficence,

Liberalitie,and Conſtancye .  For by wiſe=

dome is marked and ſubſtancially decerned

the words,actes, and demeanure of all men,

betweene whome happeneth to be any enter=

courſe or familiaritie ,  whereby is engendred

a fauour or diſpoſition of loue . Beneficence,

that is to say ,  mutually putting to their stu=

dye and helpe in neceſſary affayres , induceth

loue.  They that be lyberall,doe with-holde

or hide  nothynge from  them,  whome they

loue,wherby loue encreaſeth.  And in them

that be conſtant is neuer miſtruſt or ſuſpi=

tion ,  nor any ſurmiſe or euill reporte can

wythdrawe them from their affection. And

hereby friendshippe is made perpetuall  and

stable .  But if ſymilitude of ſtudye or lear=

ninge bee  ioyned vnto the ſaide vertues,

friendshyp muche rather happeneth,and the

mutuall enteruewe and conuerſation is much

more pleaſaunt , ſpecially if the ſtudies haue

in them any  delectable affection or motion:

                       The Gouernour.

For where they be to ſerious,or  full of con=

tention friendſhippe is oftentimes aſſaulted,

whereby it is often in perill .   Where the

ſtudy is elegant , and the matter illecebrous,

that is to ſay, ſwete to the reder:  the courſe

wher of is rather gentill perſwaſiō and quicke

reasonings,  than ouer ſubtyll argumente or

litigious controuerſies : there alſo it happe=

neth,that the ſtudents doe delite one in a no=

ther , and be without enuy or malicious con=

tention.

    Nowe let vs try out, what is that friend=

ſhyp,that we ſuppoſe to be in good men, Ue=

rily it is a bleſſed and ſtable cōnection of sun=

dry wylles,makynge of two perſons one  , in

hauyng and ſuffryng.And therefore a friende

is proprely named of Philoſophers ,  the o=

ther I. For that in theym is but one mynde

and one poſſeſſion:and that,whiche more is,

a man more reioyceth at his friends good for

tune, than at his owne.

    Horeſtes and   Pylades  being wonderfull

like in all features,were taken together,and

preſented vnto a Tyranne ,  who deadly ha=

ted Horeſtes .  But whan hee behelde them

bothe,and woulde haue ſlayne Horeſtes one=

ly,hee coulde not decerne the one from the o=

ther:  And alſo Pylades to delyuer his frind,

affirmed that hee was Oreſtes:  on the other

parte Oreſtes,to ſaue Pylades, denyed , and

ſaide,that hee was Oreſtes ( as the trouthe

was. ) Thus a long tyme they together con=

                      The ſecond Booke.

tendinge the one to dye for the other ,at the

laſt ſo relented the fierce and cruell hearte of

the tyran,that woundering at their meruay=

lous friendſhyp,he ſuffered them freely to de=

parte,without doing to them any damage.

    Pitheas and Damon,  two Pythagoryens,

that is  to saye,   Studentes of Pythagoras

learninge, being ioyned together in a perfecte

friendſhyp: for that one of them was accuſed

to haue coonſpired agaynſt Dioniſe Kinge of

Sicile,they were bothe takeen and brought

to the king, who immediatly gaue ſentence,

that he that was accuſed, ſhoulde bee put to

deathe. But he deſired the king, that ere hee

dyed, hee moughte retourne home,to ſet his

houſeholde in order  ,  and to dyſtrybute hys

goodes. Whereat the kinge laughynge, de=

maunded of him ſkornefully , what pledge he

wold leaue him,to come again.At the which

wordes,his companion ſtept forth and ſaide,

that he woulde remaine there as a pledge for

his friend,that in caſe he came not againe,at

the day to him appointed,he wyllinglye would lose

his heade. Whyche  condytion the tyranne

receiued.The younge man,that ſhould haue

dyed, was ſuffered  to  departe home to hys

houſe,where he dyd ſet all thinge in order,and

diſpoſed his goodes wiſely. The day appoint=

ted for his retourne was commen , the tyme

muche paſſed.  Wherfore the kyng called for

hym that was pledge.   Who came forth me=

rily,without ſemblaunte of drede , offryng to

                       The Gouernour.

abyde the ſentence of the tyranne and wyth=

out grudgynge,to dye for the ſauinge the lyfe

of his friende .  But as the officer of iuſtice

hadde cloſed his eyen with a kerchiefe,  and

had drawen his ſwerde , to haue ſtryken off

his hede,his felowe came running & crying,

that the daye of hys appointment was not

yet paſte:  Wherfore he desyred the miniſter

of iustice to loſe his fellowe,   and to prepare

to doe execution on hym  ,  that hadde giuen

the occaſion.  Wher eat the tyranne being al

abaſhed,commaunded bothe to bee broughte

to his preſence ,  and whan hee had ynough

wondred at their noble heartes,and theyr cō=

ſtance in very friendſhyp,he offeryng to them

great rewardes, deſired them to receiue him

into their company,and ſo doing them much

honour,did set them at lybertie.

   Undoubtedly that frendſhyp,which doth

depend either on profit, or els on pleſure,

if the habilitie of the perſon, whyche mought

    bee profitable,doe faile or diminiſhe,or

     the disposition of the perſon, whiche

           shulde be pleasant,doe change

             or appayre,the  feruentneſſe

                  of loue ceſſeth , and

                      than  is  there

                         no friend=

                              ſhyp.

                      The ſecond Booke.

  ℂ The wonderfull hiſtory of Titus and Gi-

     ſippus,and whereby is fully declared the

        figure of perfect amitie.    Cap.12.

 

B  ut now in the middes of my labour as it

    were to pauſe and take breth, and alſo to

recreate the readers,which fatigate with lōg

precepts,deſire varietie of matter ,  or ſome

new pleaſant fable of hiſtorie. I will reherſe

a right goodly example of friendſhip,whiche

example ſtudiouſly red,  ſhall miniſter to the

readers ſinguler pleaſure,and alſo incredible

comfort to practiſe amitie.

   There was in the citie of Rome a noble

ſenator, named Fuluius , who ſent his ſonne

called Titus,beinge a  chylde,to the Citie of

Athens in Greece ( which was the fountayne

of al manner of doctrine )ther to learne good

letters: and cauſed him  to bee hoſted wyth a

worſhipfull man  of that citie,  called Chre-

mes.  This Chremes happened to have alſo

a ſonne named Giſippus,who not onely was

equall to the ſaid young Titus in years, but

alſo in ſtature,proportiō of body,fauour,and

colour of viſage, countenaunce and ſpeache.

The two childrē were ſo lyke, that with-out

muche difficultie it coulde not be decerned of

their proper  parentes  ,  whiche was Titus

from Giſippus ,  or Giſippus  from  Titus.

Theſe two young gentlemen, as they ſemed

to be one in from & perſonage,ſo ſhortly after

acquaintance ,  the ſame nature wrought  in

                       The Gouernour.

their heartes ſuch a mutual affection,yt their

wills and appetites daily more and more ſo

cōfederated them ſelves , that it ſemed none

other,when their names were declared , but

that they had onely changed their places,

iſſuing( as I mought ſay )out of the one bo=

dy,& entering into the other.They together,

and at one time went to  their learning & ſtu=

dy,at one time, to their meales and refectiō,

they delyted both in one doctrine , and pro=

fyted equally therein,fynally, they together

increaſed in doctrine,that within a fewe ye=

res,fewe within Athens might bee compa=

red unto them . At the laſte dyed Chremes,

whiche was not onely to his ſonne, but alſo

to Titus cauſe of much ſorrowe & heuineſſe.

Giſippus,by the goodes of his father ,  was

knowen to be a man of great ſubſtānce:wher=

tore there were offred to him great and ritch

mariages. And he thā being of rype yeres, &

of an hable and goodly perſonage.his frēds,

kynne,and alies,exhorted him busilie to take

a wife ,  to the intent hee might encreaſe hys

lignage and progenye. But the young man,

hauing his heart alredy wedded to his frend

Titus , and his mynde fixed to the ſtudye of

philoſophy,fearing that mariage ſhoulde bee

the occaſion to ſeuer him both from the one

and the other , refuſed of longe tyme to bee

perſwaded, untyll at the laſte,partlye by the

importunate callynge one of his kynſmen,

partelye by the conſente and aduice of hys

                      The ſecond Booke.

deere friend Titus,therto by other deſired, he

aſſented to marye ſuch a one as ſhoulde lyke

him.What ſhal neede any words?his friends

found a young gentlewoman,which in equa=

lytie of yeres,vertuous conditions, nobilitie

of bloud,beautie, and ſufficient riches, they

thought was for ſuch a young man apte and

conuenient.And when they & hir friends u=

pon the couenants of mariage wer through=

ly accorded, they counſayled Giſippus to re=

paire unto the mayden, and to beholde howe

hir perſon contented him : And he ſo doing,

founde hir in euery forme and condition, ac=

cording to his expectation & appetite, wher-

at he much reioyced,and became of hir amo=

rous,inſomuch as many and oftentimes lea=

uing Titus at his ſtudie, hee ſecretly repay=

red unto hir.  Notwithſtanding the feruent

loue that hee had to his freend Titus, at the

laſt ſurmounted ſhamefastneſſe.Wherfore he

diſcloſed to him his ſecret iourneyes,& what

delectation he toke in beholding the excelent

beautie of hir whom he intended to mary, &

how with hir good manners & ſweete enter=

teinment,ſhee had conſtrained him to bee hir

louer .  And on a time,hee hauing with him

his friend Titus,went to his lady,of whome

he was receiued moſt ioyouſly.

    But Titus foorth-with as hee behelde ſo

heauenly a perſonage, adorned with beautie

inexplicable, in whole vyſage was a moſt a=

miable countenaunce,mixt with maydenlye

                       The Gouernour.

ſhame-faſtnes,and the rare and ſober words

and wel couched,which iſſued out of hir pre=

tie mouth. Titus was there-at abaſhed, and

had the heart through pearced with the firie

darte of blynde Cupide,of the which wound

the anguiſh was ſo exceeding and vehement,

that neither the ſtudy of Philoſophy,neither

the remembraunce of his deere friend Giſip-

pus,who ſo much loued & truſted him,coulde

any thing withdraw him from that vnkinde

appetite,but that of force he muſt loue inor=

dinately that Lady, whom his ſayde friende

had determined to marye.Albeit with incre=

dibble paines he kept his thoughts ſecret vn=

til that he and Giſip pus,were retourned vn=

to their lodgings.  Then the miſerable Ti-

tus, with-drawing him as it wer to his ſtu=

dye, all tormented and oppreſſed with  loue,

threw him-ſelfe on a bed,and there rebuking

his owne moſt deſpiteful vnkindenes,which

by the ſodeine fight of a maiden,hee had con=

ſpired againſt his moſt dere friend Giſippus,

againſt al humanitie & reſon, curſed his fate

or conſtellation, & wiſhed that hee had neuer

comen to Athens.And ther-with he ſent out

from the bottome of his heart deepe and cold

ſighs,in ſuch plenty,that it lacked but little

that his heart was not riuen in peeces.  In

dolour & anguiſh toſſed he him-ſelf by a cer=

tein ſpace,but to no man would  hee diſcouer

it.But at the laſt, the paine became ſo intol=

lerable,that would be or no, he was ſo infor=

                      The ſecond Booke.

ced,to keepe his bed,being for lacke of ſleepe

and other naturall ſuſtenaunce , brought in

ſuch feblenes,that his legs might not ſuſtein

his body:Giſippus miſſing his deere friende

Titus,was much abaſhed,  and hearing that

he lay ſicke in his bed,  had foorth-with his

heart perced with heauines,& with al ſpeede

came to him,where he laye. And beholding

the roſiall colour,which was wont to  bee in

his vyſage,tourned into ſallowe,the reſidue

pale,his ruddy lyps wan,& his eyen leady &

hollow, might vnneth keepe  him-ſelfe from

weeping:but to the intent he would not diſ=

comfort his friend Titus,diſſimuled  his he=

uineſſe,& with a comfortable countenaunce de=

maunded of Titus ,   what was the  cauſe of

his diſeaſe,blaming him of vnkindnes, that

he ſo longe had ſuſteined it, with-out giuing

him knowledge,that he might for him haue

prouided ſome remedye, if anye might haue

ben gotten,though it were with the  diſpen=

ding of all his ſubſtance. With which words

the mortall ſighes renued in Titus , and the

ſalt teares burſt out of his eyen in ſuche ha=

boundaunce,as it had ben a lande floud run=

ning downe of a mountaine after a ſtorme.

That beholding Glſippus,and being alſo re=

ſolued into teares,moſt heartely deſired  him,

and ( as I might ſay ) coniured him, for the

feruent and entire loue that had ben,and yet

was betweene them,that he woild no longer

hide from him his griefe,and that there was

                       The Gouernour.

nothing to him ſo  deere  and  precious ( al=

though it were his owne lyfe ) that mought

reſtore Titus to health, but that hee ſhoulde

gladly,and with-out grutching employe it,

with which words, obteſtations and teares

of Giſippus, Titus conſtrayned,  all bluſhing

& aſhamed,holding down his head, brought

foorth  with great  difficultie his words in

this wiſe.

    My deere and moſt  louing friende,with=

draw your friēdly offers,cease of your cour=

teſie,refraine your teares and regreetinges,

take rather your knife ,  and ſlaye mee here

where I lye,or other wiſe take vengeaunce

on me,moſt miſerable and falſe traytour un=

to you,and of all other moſt worthy to suſſer

moſt ſhamefull death.For where as God of

nature,lyke as hee hath  giuen to vs ſimily=

tude in all the parts of  our body,  ſo hath he

conioyned our willes, ſtudyes and appetites

together in one ,  ſo that betweene men was

neuer lyke concord and loue,as I ſuppoſe.

And nowe notwithſtanding,  onely with the

Looke of a woman,thoſe bonds of loue be diſ=

ſolued, reaſon oppreſſed,friendſhip is exclu=

ded,ther auayleth no wwiſedome,no doctrine,

no fidelitie or truſt : yea,  your truſt  is the

cauſe that I haueconſpired againſt you this

treaſon.Alas Giſippus,what enuious ſpirite

mooued you to bringe mee to hir ,  whome

ye haue choſen to be your wife,where I re=

ceiued this poyſō? I ſay Giſippus,wher was

                      The ſecond Booke.

then your wiſedome,that ye remembred not

the fragilytie of our common Nature? what

neede you  to call mee for a witneſſe of your

priuate delyghts? Wy woulde ye haue mee

ſee that , which you your ſelfe coulde not be=

hold with-out rauiſhing of minde and carnal

appetite? Alas,why forgotte yee , that our

minds and appetites were  euer one ?  and

that alſo what ſo ye liked was euer to me in

lyke degree pleaſaunt.What will ye more?

Giſippus I ſay, your truſt is the cauſe that

I am intrapped. The rayes or beames iſſu=

ing from  the eyen of hir,whom ye haue cho=

ſen,with the remembraunce of hir incompa=

rable vertues,hath thrilled through-out the

middes of my hart,and in ſuch wiſe burneth

it, that aboue allthings I deſire to bee out

of this wretched and moſt  vnkinde lyfe,

which is not worthy the company of ſo no=

ble and louing a friend as ye be.  And there-

with Titus concluded his confeſſion, with ſo

profound & bitter a ſigh,receiued with teares,

that it ſeemed that al his body ſhould be diſ=

ſolued and relented into ſalt droppes.

     But Giſippus,as he were ther-with no=

Thing aſtonyed or diſcontented ,  with an aſ=

ſured countenaunce,and merye regarde, im=

bracing Titus, & kiſſing him, aunſwered in

this wiſe :   Why Titus, is this your onely

ſickeneſſe and grief that ye ſo vncourteouſly

haue ſo longe concealed  ,  and with muche

                       The Gouernour.

more vnkindeneſſe kepte from mee,than yee

haue conceiued  it?  I knowledge my follye

wher-with ye haue with good right imbrai=

ded me,  that in ſhewing to you hir whom I

loued, I remembred not the common eſtate

of our nature,neither the agreablenes,or( as

I might ſaye ) the vnitie of our two appe=

tites. Surely that default can be by no rea=

ſon excuſed, wherefore it is only I,that haue

offended.For who may by right prooue that

yee haue treſpaſſed  ,  that by the ineuitable

ſtroake of Cupidesdarte, are thus bitterlye

wounded?  Thinke ye me ſuch a foole or ig=

norant perſon, that I knowe not the power

of Venus  ,  where ſhee lyſteth to ſhewe hir

importable vyolence? Haue not ye well reſi=

ſted againſt ſuch a goddeſſe,that for my ſake

haue ſtriuen with hir almoſt to the death?

What more loyaltie or trouth can I require

Of you? Am I of that virtue, that I maye

reſiſt againſt celeſtiall influence,precordinate

by prouidence diuine? If I ſo thought what

were my wittes?  Where were my ſtudye ſo

long time ſpent in noble Philoſophy?I con=

feſſe to you Titus, I  loue that mayden as

much as any wiſe man might poſſible : and

tooke in hir company more delight and plea=

ſure than of all the treaſure and lands, that

my father left me,which ye know was right

aboundant. But nowe I perceiue that the

affection of loue toward hir ſurmounteth in

you aboue meaſure,what ſhall I thinke it of

                      The ſecond Booke.

a wanton luſte ,  or ſodayne appetite in you,

whome I haue  euer knowen of graue and

ſad diſpoſition,inclyned always to honeſt doc=

trine, flying all vaine dalyance and diſhoneſt

paſtyme? Shall I imagine to be in you any

malice or fraude, ſince from the tender tyme

of our childehoode , I haue alwaye found in

you,my ſweet friēd Titus,ſuch a conformitie

with all my manners,appetites,and deſires,

that neuer was ſeene betweene vs any man=

ner of contencion? Maye God forbidde, that

in the  friendſhippe of Giſippus and Titus,

ſhould happen any ſuſpition : or that any fā=

taſie ſhould pearce my heade, where-by that

honourable loue betweene vs,ſhould bee the

mauntenaunce of a crumme periſhed . Nay,

nay Titus,it is as I haue ſayd,the only pro=

vidence of GOD: ſhe was by him from the

beginning prepared to be your Lady & wife.

For ſuche feruent loue entreth not into the

heart of a wiſe man and vertuous, but by a

diuine diſpoſition :  Where-at if  I ſhoulde

be diſcontented or grudge, I  ſhould not on=

ly be vniuſt to you , with-holding that from

you, which is vndoubtedlye yours,but alſo

obſtinate and repugnaunt againſt the deter=

mination of God,which ſhall neuer be foun=

den in Giſippus.

    Therfore gentle friend Titus, diſmay you

not at the chance of loue , but receiue it ioy=

ouſly with mee,that am  with you nothynge

dyſcontented  ,  but mervayllous gladde,

                       The Gouernour.

ſince it is my happe to finde for you ſuch a

Lady,with whome ye  ſhall lyve in felycitie,

and receiue fruite to the honour and comfort

of all your lygnage.Here I renounce to you

cleerely all my title and intereſt,that I now

haue or might haue in the faire mayden. Cal

to your priſtinate courage, waſh cleane your

viſage and eyen thus bewepte, and abandon

all heauineſſe,the day appointed for our ma=

riage approcheth : let vs conſult how with-

out difficultie ye may wholy attain your de=

ſires.Take heede,this mine aduiſe,ye know

wel,that we two be ſo lyke,that being apart,

and in one apparayle few men do know  vs.

Alſo ye do remēber that the cuſtome is,that

notwithſtanding anye ceremonie done at the

time of the Spouſialles  ,  the marriage not=

withſtandinge is not confirmed ,  vntill at

night,that the huſband putteth a ring on the

finger of his wife,and vnloſeth hir girdell.

Therefore  I my ſelfe will bee preſent with

my friends,and performe all the partes of a

bryde. And ye ſhall abide in a place ſecrete,

where I ſhal appoint you vntill it be night.

And then ſhall ye quickely conuey your ſelfe

into the maydens chamber,and for the ſimi=

lytude of our perſonages  , and of our appa=

rayle, ye ſhall not bee eſpyed of the women,

which haue with none of vs anye acquayn=

taunce,and ſhortly get you to bed,and putte

your owne ring on the maydens finger, and

                      The ſecond Booke.

vndoe hir gyrdel of virginitie , and do all o=

ther thing that ſhall be to your pleaſure. Be

nowe of good cheere Titus, and comforte

your ſelfe  with good refections and ſolace,

that this wanne and pale coloure,and your

chekes meygre and leane,be not the cauſe of

your diſcouering, I knowe well,that ye ha=

uing your purpoſe,  I ſhall bee in obloquye

and deryſion of all men ,  and ſo  hated of all

my kynred,that they ſhall ſeke occaſion to ex

pulſe me out of this citie,thinking me to bee

a notable reproche to all my family. But let

God therein worke, I force not what peyne

that I abide,ſo that yee my friende Tytus

may be ſafe,  and pleaſantlye enioye your de=

ſires,to the encreaſing of your felicitie.

    With   theſe words   Tytus beganne to

moue , as it were out of a dreame,and doub=

ting,whether he hearde Giſippus ſpeake , or

els ſawe but a vision ,  laye ſtyll as a man

abaſhed.But when hee beheld  the  teares,

trickelynge downe by the face of  Gyſippus,

he then recomforted him, and thanking him

for his incomparable kindneſſe,  refuſed the

benefite that hee offred, ſaying : that it were

better that a hundred ſuche vnkynde wret=

ches,as he was ſhoulde peryſhe, than ſo no=

ble a man,as was Giſippus,ſhoulde ſuſteyne

reproche or domage. But Giſippus efteſoo=

nes comforted Titus, and there-with ſware

and proteſted, that with free and glad wyll

hee woulde that this thing ſhuld be in forme

                       The Gouernour.

aforeſaid accompliſhed,and therwith imbra=

ced and ſweetelye kiſſed Titus. Who percei=

uynge the matter ſure,and not feigned, as a

man not ſicke,but onely awaked out of hys

ſleepe ,ſet him ſelfe vp in his bed :the quicke

bloud ſomewhat reſorted vnto his visage, &

after a little good meates and drinkes taken,

he was ſhortly and in a fewe dayes reſtored

into his olde facion and figure  .   To make

the tale ſhort: The day of maryage was co=

men. Giſippus , accompanied with his alies

and friendes,came to the houſe of the damo=

ſell,where they honourably and ioyouſly

ſeated .  And betweene him and the mayden

was a ſweete entertainmēt,which to behold,

all that were preſent,   tooke much pleaſure

and comfort,praiſyng the beautye, goodly=

neſſe, virtue,  and curteſie ,  whiche in thys

couple wer excellent aboue al other that they

had euer ſeene .  What ſhall I ſay more?the

couenaunts were read and ſealed, the dower

appointed  , and all other bargeines conclu=

ded,and the friends of either part toke their

leaue & departed:the bryde with a fewe wo=

men( as was the cuſtome ) brought into hir

chamber:thā as it was before agreed , Titus

conueyde himſelfe , after Giſippus returned

to hys houſe,or perchance to the chamber ap

pointed for Titus,  nothinge ſorowfull ,  al=

though that he hartely loued the mayden,but

with a glad hearte and countenance,that hee

had ſo recouered his friend from death ,  and

                      The ſecond Booke.

ſo well brought him to the effecte of hys de=

ſyre. Nowe is Titus in bedde with the may=

den,not knowen of hir,  nor  of anye other,

but for Gyſippus.And firſt  hee ſweetely de=

mauded hir,if that ſhe loued him ,and day=

ned to take him for hir huſbande , forſakyng

all other. Whiche ſhe alſo bluſhinge with an

eye halfe laughing , halfe mourning( as in

point to departe from hir  maydenheade,but

ſuppoſyng it to bee Giſippus  that aſked hir )

affirmed.And than he  eftſoones aſked hir,

if ſhe in ratifying that promiſe , woulde re=

ceiue hys ringe , whyche  hee had there alre=

dy:whereto ſhe conſenting,putteth the ryng

on hir finger, & vnloſeth her gyrdell .  What

thing els he dyd they two onely knewe of it.

Of one thinge I  am  ſure that nyght was

to Titus more comfortable ,  than euer was

the longeſt day of the yere:yea, & I ſuppose

a whole yere of days.The morow is comen,

Giſippus,  thinkinge it expedient  ,  that the

Trouthe ſhould be diſcouered,aſſembled al the

Nobilitie of the citie at his owne houſe,wher

alſo by thappointement was Titus ,  who a=

monge them hadde  theſe words, that doe

folowe.

    My friendes Athenienſes,there is at this

Tyme ſhewed amonge you an example ,  al=

moſte incredible,of the dyuyne power of ho=

nourable loue,to the perpetuall renoume and

commendation of this noble citie of  Athens,

wherof he ought to take excellent  comforte,

                       The Gouernour.

and therefore giue due thanks to God,if there

remaine amonge you anye token of the aun=

cient wyſedome of  your moſte noble proge=

nitours. For what more praiſe may be giuen

to people,than beneuolence,faithfulneſſe and

conſtance? without whom all countreys and

cities,be brought vnto deſolation and  ruine,

like as by them they become proſperous,and

in moſte high felicitie .   What ſhall I longe

tarye you in coniectinge myne entente and

meaning : yee all knowe,  from whence I

came vnto this citie, that of aduenture I

founde  in the houſe of Chremes ,  his ſonne

Giſippus, of mine owne age , and  in euerye

thing ſo  like to me , that neither his father,

nor anye other man coulde diſcerne of vs the

one from the other,but by our owne inſigne=

ment or ſhewing : in ſo much as there were

put about our neckes laces of ſundry colours

to declare our perſonages  .   What mutuall

agreement and loue haue ben always betwene

vs during the eyght yeares , that wee haue

ben together , ye all be witneſſes , that haue

bene beholders and wonderers of oure moſte

ſwete conuerſation and conſente of appety=

tes, whein was neuer any diſcord or vary=

ance .  And as or my parte, after the deceſſe

of  my father,  not withſtandynge that there

was diſcended and happened vnto me greate

poſſeſſions,fayre houſes , with abundaunces

of ritches :  alſo I beinge called home by the

deſyrous and  importunate letters of myne

                      The ſecond Booke.

alyes and friendes, whych be of the moſt no=

ble of all the ſenatours, offered the auaunce=

ment to the hygheſt dignities in the publyke

weale, I will not remēber  the lamentations

of my moſt natural mother,expreſſed in hir

tender letters, al be ſprent and blotted wyth

abundance of teares,wherin ſhe accuſeth me

of vnkyndeſſe, for  my  long tarrying, and

ſpecially nowe in hir moſt diſcomforte. But

all this could not remoue me the breadth of

my nayle frō my deare friend Giſippus.And

but by force could not I,nor yet may be dra=

wen from his ſwete company,but if he ther=

to wyll conſente. I  choſinge rather  to lyue

with him as his companyon and fellow,yee,

and as hys ſeruaunte rather then to bee con=

ſull of Rome.Thus my kindness hath bē wel

acquitted( or as I mought ſye ) redoubled,

delyuering me from the deathe,yea from  the

moſt cruell and peynfull death of all other. I

perceiue ye wonder here-at noble Athenien-

ſes, and no meruayle .  For what perſonne

shoulde bee ſo  hardye,to attempte any ſuche

thing againſt me being a Romaynes , and of

the noble bloude of the Romaynes? Or who

shoulde be thought ſo malicious, to ſlea me,

who ( as all ye be my iudges ) neuer treſpaſ=

ſed againſt any perſon within this city.Nay

nay my friēds I haue none of you all therin

ſuſpected, I perceiue you deſire and harken

to know,what he was,that preſumed to doe

ſo cruell & great an enterpriſe. It was loue

                       The Gouernour.

noble Athenienses , the same loue, whish as

your poetes doe remember, dyd wounde the

more parte of all the Gods, that yee doe ho=

nor , that conſtrained Iupiter to tranſforme

him ſelfe in a ſwan, a bull, and dyuers other

lykeneſſes:the ſame  loue that cauſed  Hercu-

les, the vanquiſher and deſtroyer  of Mon=

ſters and Giants, to ſpynne on a rocke,ſit=

tyng amonge maydens in a womans appa=

rayle: the ſame loue that cauſed to aſſemble

al the noble princes of Aſia  and Greece in the

fields of Troy: the ſame loue I ſay,against

whose aſſaultes maye be found no defence or

reſiſtaunce , hath ſodainly and vnware ſtry=

ken mevnto the harte, with ſuch vehemence

and mighte ,  that I had in ſhorte ſpace died

with moſte feruent tormentes , had not the

incomparable friendſhip of  Giſippus holpen

me. I ſee, you would fayne know,who ſhe

is that I loued.  I will no lenger delay you

noble Athenienſes: It is Sophronia,the la=

die,whom Giſippus had choſen to haue to his

wife, and whome hee moſte entirelye loued.

But whan his moſte gentle harte perceyuedt

that my loue  was in a much higher degree

than his toward that lady,and that it proce=

ded neyther of wantoneſſe, neyther of long

conuerſation, nor of any other corrupt deſire

or fantaſie,  but in an inſtante , by the onely

looke, and with ſuch feruence , that immedi=

atly I was ſo cruciate,that I deſired,and in

al that I mought prouoke death to take me.

                      The ſecond Booke.

He by his wiſedome ſoone  perceyued , ( as I

doubt not but that ye do ) that it was the ve=

ry prouiſion of God, yt ſhe ſhuld be my wife,

and not his: wher-to he giuing place,& more

eſteeming true friendſhyp, then the loue of a

woman,where unto hee was induced by hys

frends & not by violence of Cupid cōſtrained

as I am,  hath willingly graunted to me the

intereſt that  he had in the damoſel. And it is

I Titus , that haue verelye wedded hir ,  I

haue put the ryng on hir finger , I haue vn=

done the girdle of ſhamefaſtnes:what wil ye

more, I haue lyen with her ,  and confirmed

the matrimony,and made hir a wife.

    At theſe words all  they that were preſent

began to murmure ,and to caſt a diſdaynous

and greeuous looke vpon Giſippus  .  Than

ſpake agayne Titus.

    Leaue your grudginges  and  menacing

countenaunce , towarde Giſippus ,  hee hath

done to you all honour , and no neede of re=

proche. I tell you he hath accomplyſhed al

the partes of a friende :  that loue ,  whiche

was moſte certaine,hath he continued.

He knewe , hee might finde in Greece an o=

ther mayden, and fayre and as ryche as this

that he had choſen,and one perchaunce , that

he mought loue better.But ſuch a frend( as

I was )hauing reſpect to our ſimilitude,the

longe approued concorde,alſo mine eſtate and

condition,hee was ſure to finde neuer  none.

Alſo the damoſell ſuffereth no  diſpergement

                       The Gouernour.

in hir bloude, or hinderance  in hir maryage,

but is much rather aduaunced ( no diſprayſe

to my deare friend Giſippus ) . Alſo conſider

noble Athenienſes,that I toke hir not my fa=

ther lyuing,whan ye mought haue ſuſpected

that as well hir riches as hir beautie,ſhould

haue thereto allured me: but ſoone after my

fathers deceaſe,whan  I farre  exceeded hir

in poſſeſſions and ſubſance,  when the moſte

notable men of Rome  and of  Italye,deſired

myne alyaunce,ye haue therefore all cauſe to

reioyce  and thanke Giſippus, and not to bee

angry,and alſo to extoll his wonderfull kind=

nes toward me,whereby he hath wonne mee

and all my bloude,ſuche friendes to you and

your citie,that ye may be aſſured , to bee by

vs defended againſt all the worlde: whiche

being conſidered ,  Giſippus hath well deſer=

ued a ſtatue or image of golde, to bee ſet on a

pyller ,in the myddes of your citie,for an ho=

norable monument, in the remembraunce  of

our incomparable friendſhip,and of the good

that thereby may come to your citie. But if

this perſwaſion cannot ſatiſfie you, but that

yee wyll imagine any thinge to the damage of

my deere friend Giſippus,after my departing

I make mine auowe vnto God, creator of

al thing,that as I ſhal haue knowledge ther

of, I ſhall forth-with reſort hither,with the

inuinſible power of the Romaynes ,  and re=

uenge hym in ſuche wiſe againſt his enimies

that al Grece ſhal ſpeake of it to their perpe=

                      The ſecond Booke.

tuall diſhonour,ſhame,and reproch.

    And  there-with Titus and Giſippus roſe,

but the other for feare of  Titus diſſembled

their malice,making ſemblaunt,as they had

bene with all thing contented.

    Sonone after,  Titus being ſent for by the

authoritie of the Senate & people of Rome,

prepared to depart out of Athens,and would

fayne haue had Giſippus to haue gone  with

him,offering to deuide with him all his ſub=

staunce and fortune. But Giſippus,conſide=

ring how neceſſary his counſyle ſhould bee

to the citie of Athens woulde not depart out

of his country. Notwithſtanding that aboue

all earthly things, hee moſt deſired the com=

pany of Titus: which abode alſo,for the ſayd

conſideration, Titus approued.

    Titus with his Lady is departed towards

the citie of Rome.  Where at their coming,

they were of the Mother of Titus, his kinſ=

men,& of all the Senate and people ioyouſly

receiued.And ther lyued Titus with his La=

dy in ioye inexplicable,and had by hir mayne

faire children:and for his wiſdome and lear=

ning was ſo highly eſteemed,that there was

no dignitie or honourable Office with-in the

citie,that hee had not with much fauour and

praiſe atchieued and occupied.

    But now let vs reſorte to Giſippus,  who

immediately  vpon the departing of Titus,

was ſo maligned at  ,  as well by his owne

kinſman,as by the friends of the Lady,that

                       The Gouernour.

he,to their ſeeming ſhamefullye abandoned,

leuing hir to Titus,that they ſpared not dai=

ly to vexe him with all kindes of reproache,

that they could deuiſe or imagine : and firſte

they excluded him out of their counſaile,and

prohibited from him all honeſt company.

And yet not being there-with ſatiſfied , fi=

nally they adiudged him vnworthy  to enioy

any poſſeſſions or goods,lefte to him by his

parents, whome hee ( as they ſuppoſed ) by

his vndiſcreete friendſhip had ſo  diſtayned.

Wherefore they deſpoyled him of all things,

and almoſt naked,expelled him ot of the ci=

tie. Thus is Giſippus late wealthy,and one

of the moſt noble menne of Athens , for his

kinde hearte , banniſhed his Countrey for

euer,and as a man diſmayed , wandring he=

ther and thether,finding non man that would

ſuccor him. At the laſt remembering in what

pleaſure his friend Titus lyued with his la=

dy,for whom he ſuffred theſe  domages,con=

cluded to go to Rome,and declare his infor=

tune to his ſaid friend Titus,what ſhal need

a long tale? in concluſion,with much payne,

colde,hunger and thirſt,he is come to the ci=

tie of Rome,and diligently enquiring for the

houſe of Titus,at the laſt he came to it: but

beholding it ſo beautifull, large, and prince=

ly,hee was aſhamed to approach nighe to it,

being in ſo ſimple eſtate and  vncladde,  but

ſtandeth by , that in caſe Titus came foorthe

out of his houſe,hee might preſent him-ſelfe

                      The ſecond Booke.

to him. He being in this thought. Titus hol=

ding his lady by the hande,  iſſued out from

his doore, and taking their Horses to ſolace

themſelues,beheld Giſippus,and beholding

his vyle apparayle, regarded him not ,  but

paſſed forth on their waye, where-with Gi-

ſippus was ſo wounded to the hearte, thin=

kinge Titus hadde  contemned his fortune,

that oppreſſed with mortal heauines,fel in a

ſownde, but being recouered  by  ſome that

ſtoode by,thinking him to be ſick, forthwith

departed,intending not to abide any longer,

but as a wilde beaſt to wander abrode in the

world.But for weariness he was conſtrained

to enter into an old barne,with-out the citie;

wher he caſting him ſelfe on the bare groūd

with weeping and dolorous crying,bewailed

his fortune:But moſt of all accuſing the in=

gratitude of Titus,for whome he ſuffered all

that miſery, the remembrance wher-off was

ſo intolerable,that he determined no longer

to lyue in that anguiſh & dolour. And there-

with drew his knife,purpoſing to haue ſlain

himſelf.But euer wiſdome( which he by the

ſtudy of philoſophy had atteyned ) withdrew

him from that deſperate acte  .  And in this

contention,betweene wiſedome and will, fa=

tigate with long iouneyes in watche , or as

God would haue it,he fel into a deepe ſleepe.

His knife( wher-with he would haue ſlayne

himſelfe)falling down by him. In the meane

time a common and notable ruffian or theefe

                       The Gouernour.

which hadde robbed and ſlayne a man : was

entred into the barne,where Giſippus laye ?

to the intent to ſoiorne there all that night.

And seeing Giſippus bewept,and his viſage

repieniſhed with ſorow, and alſo the naked

knife by him,perceyued well, that hee was a

man deſperate and ſuppriſed with heauines

of heart, was weary of his lyfe :  which the

ſayd ruffian taking for a good occaſion to eſ=

cape  , tooke the knife of  Giſippus and put=

ting it in the wound of him that was ſlaine,

put it all bloudy in the hand of Giſippus,be=

ing faſt  a ſleepe,and ſo departed.  Soone af=

ter the dead man being founde, the Officers

made diligent ſearch for the murderer:at the

laſt they entering into the barne , and finding

Giſippus on ſleepe,with the bloudye knife in

his hande,awaked him,wherewith he entred

agayne into his olde ſorrowes,complaining

his euil fortune.But when the officers laid

vnto him the death of the man,  and the  ha=

uing of the bloudye knife,there at reioyced,

thanking God, that ſuch occaſion was hap=

ned,where-by he ſhould ſuffer deathe by the

Lawes,and eſcape the violence of his owne

hands. Wherefore he denyed nothing that

was layd to his charge,deſiring the officers

to make haſt that he might be ſhortlye out of

his lyfe.Where at they meruayled.Anon re=

port came to the Senate, that a manne was

ſlayne and that a Staunger ,  and a Greeke

borne,was found in ſuch forme,as is before

                      The ſecond Booke.

mentioned. They foorth-with commaunded

him to be brought vnto their preſēce, ſitting

there at that time, Titus beng then Conſull

or in other lyke dignitie. The miſerable Gi-

ſippus,was brought to the barre,with billes

and ſtaues lyke a felon, of whome it was de=

mauded if he ſlew the man that was  foun=

den dead.He nothing denied,but in moſt ſor=

rowfull manner curſed his fortune , naming

himſelfe of all other moſt miſerable.

    At the laſt one demaunding him of what

Countrey hee was,hee confeſſed to be an A-

thenian, and there-with  he caſt his ſorrow=

full eyen vpon Titus with much indignati=

on, and burſte out into ſighes and teares a=

boundantly : that beholding Titus, and eſ=

pying by a little ſigne in his  visage, which

hee knewe,that it was his deere friende Gi=

ſippus ,  and anone conſidering that hee was

brought into diſpaire by ſome miſaduenture,

roſe out of his place where hee ſate, and fal=

lyng on his knees before the Iudges, ſayd,

that he had ſlayne the man,  for olde malice

that hee bare toward him,and that Giſippus

being a Straunger , was guylteſſe, and al

men mought perceyue that the other was a

deſperate perſon  .   Wherefore to abreuiate

his ſorrowes,hee confeſſed the  acte, where-

off he was innocent,to the intent yt he would

finiſh his ſorrowes with deathe,  wherefore

Titus deſired the Iudges to giue  ſentence

on him,according to his merities.  But Gi-

                       The Gouernour.

ſippus perceiuing his friende Titus ( contra=

ry to his expectation ) to offer himſelfe to the

death for his ſafegarde,more importunately

cryed to Senate to proceede in their iudge=

ment in him,that was the very offender.

Titus denyed , and affirmed with reaſons &

arguments,that he was the  murderer , and

not Giſippus. Thus they of long time with

aboundaunce of teares contended,  which of

them ſhoulde dye for the other,  where-at all

the Senate and people wer wonderously a=

baſhed,not knowing what it mēt.The mur=

derer in deede happened to be in the preace at

that time ,  who perceiuing the neruaylous

contencion of theſe two perſons,which were

both innocent,and that it proceeded of an in=

comparable friendſhip,was vehemēntly pro=

uoked to diſcouer  the troth .  Wherefore hee

brake through the preace , & comming before

the Senate,spake in this wiſe.

    Noble fathers, I am ſuch a perſon, whom

ye know haue bene a common barrator and

theefe by a long ſpace of yeares:ye know al=

ſo, that Titus is of a noble bloud,and is ap=

proued to be always a man of excellent virtue

and wiſedome,and neuer was malitious.

This other ſtraunger ſeemeth to bee a man

full of ſimplicitie,  and that more is ,  deſper=

rate for ſome grieuous ſorrow that hee hath

taken, as it is to you euident,I ſaye to you

fathers they both bee innocent ,  I am that

perſon, that ſlew him that is founden deade,

                      The ſecond Booke.

by the barne, and robbed him of his money.

And when I found in the barne this  ſtraū=

ger lying on ſleepe  ,  hauing by him a naked

knife: I the better to hide mine offence, did

put the knife into the woūd of the dead man,

& ſo all bloudy layd it againe by this ſtrau=

ger. This was my miſchieuous deuice to e=

ſcape your iudgement.  Where.vunto nowe I

remit mee wholy rather then this noble man

Titus,or this innocent ſtraunger,ſhould vu=

worthily dye.

    Hereat the Senate,& people toke com=

fort,and the noyſe of reioycing heartes filled

the courte.And when it was further exa=

mined,Giſippus was diſcouered, the friend=

ſhip betweene him & Titus was through-out

the citie publyſhed,extolled and magnified.

wherefore the Senate conſulted of this mat=

ter:and finally at the inſtance off Titus & the

people diſcharged the felon. Titus recogniſed

his negligence in forgetting Giſippus . And

Titus being aduertiſed of the exile of Giſip-

pus,and the deſpiteful cruelty of his kinred,

was ther-with wonderfull wrothe,& hauing

Giſippus home to his houſe(wher he was with

incredible ioy receiued of the Ladye,whome

ſome-time he ſhould haue wedded )honoura=

bly apparayled him, and there Titus offered

to him,to vſe al his goods and poſſeſſions at

his owne pleaſure  and appetite . But Gi-

ſippus , deſiring to bee agayne in his pro=

per Countrey  ,  Titus by the conſent of the

                       The Gouernour.

Senate and people aſſembled a great army,

and went with Giſippus vunto Athens,wher

he hauing delyuered to him all thoſe,whiche

were cauſers of baniſhing and deſpoyling of

his friend Giſippus, did on them ſharpe exe=

cution,and reſtoring to Giſippus, his lands

and ſubſtaunce, ſtablyſhed him in perpetuall

quietneſſe,and ſo retourned to  Rome.

    This example  in the affects of friende=

ſhippe expreſſeth (if I be not deceyued ) the

deſcription of friendſhip ,  engendred by the

ſimlilytude of age and perſonage, augmented

by the conforrmitie of manners and ſtudyes,

and confirmed by the longe continuaunce of

company.

    It woulde be remembred, that friendſhip

is betweene good men onely  ,  and is ingen=

dred of an opinion of virtue .  Than  maye

we reaſon in this forme .   A good man is ſo

named,bicauſe all that he willeth or doth, is

onely good : in good can be none euill,there=

fore nothing that a good mā willeth or doth,

can be euill. Likewiſe virtue is the  affeti=

on of a good man,which neither willeth  nor

doth any thing that is euil.And vice,is con=

trary vnto virtue, for in the opinion of  ver=

tue is neither euill nor vyce.

    And very amitie is virtue.Wherefore no=

Thing euil or vyvious may happen in friend=

ſhip.Therefore in the firſt election of friēds,

reſteth all the importaunce :   Wherefore it

                      The ſecond Booke.

woulde not be with-out a longe deliberation

and profe,  and as Ariſtotle ſaith,in as longe

tyme as by them  both,being together  con=

uerſant,a whole buſhell of ſalt mought be ea=

ten. For oftentimes with fortune ( as I late

ſaide ) is changed or at the leaſte  myniſhed

the feruentneſſe of that affection, accordyng

as the ſwete Poete Ouide affirmeth,ſayinge

in this ſentence.

 

Whiles Fortune thee fauoreth,friends thou

   haſt plentie.

The time being troublous,thou art al alone

Thou ſeeſt culuers haunt houſesmade white

  and deintie.

To the ruinous toure almoſt cometh none,

Of emotes innumerable vnethe thou fyndeſt

   one.

In empty barnes,& where faileth ſubſtance,

Hapneth no frinde,in vvhom is aſſurance.

 

    But if any happeneth in euery fortune to

be conſtant in friendſhyp, he is to be made of

aboue all thinges that may come vnto man,

and aboue any   other that bee  of bloudde or

kindred,as Tully ſaieth  .  For from kindred

may be taken Beneuolence , from friendſhyp

it can neuer be ſevered .  Wherfore Beneuo=

lence taken from kynrede ,  yet the name of

kynſeman remayneth :  take it from friend=

ſhyp ,  and the name of freindſhyp is vtterly

periſhed.

                       The Gouernour.

    But ſince this liberty of  ſpeeche is nowe

vſurped by flatterers ,  where they perceyue

that aſſentation and prayſes be abhorred: I

am therefore not well aſſured  , howe a man

nowe a dayes  ſhall knowe or  diſcerne  ſuche

admonition from fratterye , but by one onely

meanes:that is to ſay,to remember yt frend=

ſhip may not be,but betweene good men.Thē

conſider,if he that doth admoniſhe thee , bee

hym ſelfe voluptuous,ambicious,couetous,

arrogant,or diſſolute, refuſe not his admoni=

cion:but by the example of the Emperor An-

tonine,thankfully take it, and amende  ſuche

defaulte,as thou perceiueſt,doth giue occaſi-

on of obloquy, in ſuch maner as the reporter

alſo by thine example may be corrected. But

for that admonition onely , accounte him not

immediately , to bee thy friende ,  vuntill thou

haue of him a long and ſure experience. For

vndoubtedly it is wonderfull difficile,to find

a man very ambicious or couetous, to be aſ=

ſured in friendſhip .  For where findeſt thou

hym ( ſaith Tully ) that will not preferred ho=

nours,great offices,rule, authoritie, and ry=

cheſſe before frendſhip: Therefore( ſaith he)

it is very harde to  finde frendſhip  in them,

that be occupied in acquiring honour , or a=

bout the affayres of the public weale.Which

ſaying is proued by dayly experience.

For diſdayne and contempt be companions

with ambition , lyke as enuye and hatred be

alſo hir fellowes.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A.ij.<r>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

to

<A.ij.v>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the

A.iij.<r>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

the

<A.iij.v>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

118 || <P.vi.r>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

more

<118 || P.vj.v>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

where

119 || <P.vji.r>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ties,

<119 || P.vij.v >

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ſperitie

120 || <P.viij.r>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

for

<120 || P.viij.v>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ten=

121 || Q.<i.r>

 

 

 

 

 

Pitheas &

Damon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

abide

<121 || Q.i.v>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The

122 || Q.ij.<r>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

their

<122 || Q.ij.v>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

dere

125 || Q.iij.<r>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ſhame

<123 || Q.iij.v>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ced

124 || Q.iiij.<r>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

nothing

<124 || Q.iiij.v>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The’vvor-

ds of Titus

to Gisippus

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

then

127 || Q.v.<r>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The an-

ſvvere of

Gisippus.

 

 

 

more

<125 || Q.v.v>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

a

126 || <Q.vj.r>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ſince

<126 || Q.vj.v>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

vndoe

129 || <Q.vij.r>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

afore

<127 || Q.vij.v>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ſo

128 || <Q.viij.r>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The oratiō

of Titus to

the A the=

nienſes.

 

and

<128 || Q.viij.v>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

alyes

129 || R.<i.r>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

noble

<129 || R.i.v>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

He

130 || R.ij.<r>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

in

<130 || R.ij.v>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

tuall

131 || R.iij.<r>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

he

<131 || R.iij.v>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

to

132 || R.iiij.<r>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

which

<132 || R.iiij.v>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

menti=

133 || R.v.<r>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ſippus

<133 || R.v.v>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

by

134 || <R.vj.r>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Senate

<134 || R.vj.v>

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

None euill

may bee in

frendship.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

woulde

531 || <R.vij.r>

 

Ethic

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ouid.de

Pon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

But

<135 || R.vij.v>

 

Hovv to

discerne a

friend from

a flatterer.