The fyrste boke of the communycacion of Raphaell hythlodaye concernynge the best state of a commen wealthe

THe moste vyctoryous and tryumphante Kynge of Englande Henry the ight of that name in all royal vertues Prince moste peerlesse, hadde of late in contra[…]ersie with the right hyghe a[…]d myghtie king of Castell weightye matters a[…]d of greate importaunce, for the debatement & final determinatiō wherof y• kinges Maiest. sēt me Ambassadour into flaū ders ioined in cōmissiō wt cuthebert Tū stall a man doubteles owte of comparison, and whom the kinges maiestie of late to the greate reioysyng of all men did preferre to y• office of maister of y• Rolles: but of thys mans prayses I will saye nothynge, not bycause I do feare that small credence shalbe geuen to the testymo[…]y that commyth owt of a frindes mouthe: but bicause hys vertue and lernyng be greater and of more excellencye, than that I am able to prayse them: and also in all places so famous, and so perfectlye well knowne, that they nede not nor ought not of me to be praysed, onles I wolde seme to shew and set furth the brightenes of the sonne wyth a candell, as the Prouerbe sayth. There met vs at Bruges (for thus yt was before agreed) they whome theire prince hadde for that matter appoynted commyssyoners, excellente men all. The chiefe and the head of thē was the Marcgraue (as they cal him) of Bruges, a right honorable man: but the wisest and the best spoken of them was George Temsice pro[…]oste of Casselles, a man not onlye by lernyng but also by nature of singuler eloquence, and in the lawes profoundelye le[…]ned: but in reasonynge, and debatynge of matters what by his naturall witte, & what by daylye exercise, suerlye he hadde fewe fellowes. After that we hadde ones o[…] twise mette, and vpon certeyne poyntes or artycles could not fully and throughlye agre: they for a certeyne space toke their leaue of vs, & departed to Bruxelle there to knowe theire princes pleasure. I in the meane tyme (for so my busynes laye) wente streyghte thens to Antwerpe. Whyles I was there abydinge often tymes amonge other, but whyche to me was more welcome then annye other▪ dyd vysite me o[…]e Peter Gyles a Citisien of Antwerpe, a man there in hys contr[…]y of ho[…]est reputatyon, and also preferred to hyghe promotyons, worthye truelye of the highest. For it is harde to saye whether the yong man be in lerny[…]ge or in honestye more excellent. For he is bothe of wonderfull vertuous condytyons, and also singulerlye well[…]lerned, and towardes all sortes of people excedynge gentyl. But towardes hys fryndes so kynde harted so louynge, so faythfull / so trustye, and of so earneste affectyon, that yt were verye harde in any place to fynd a man, that wyth hym in all poyntes of frendshyppe maye be compared. No man can be more lowlye or courteys. Noman vsithe lesse symulatyon or dyssymulatyon, in no man ys more prudente symplycytye. Besydes this he is in his talke and commu[…]ycatyon so merye and pleasaunte, Yea and that wythout harme that throughe hys gentyll intertaynement and hys swete and delectable communycatyon in me was greatlye abated and dymynyshed the feruent desyre that I hadde to see my natyue contreye, my wyffe and my chyldren, whome then I dyd muche longe and co […]ett to see, bicause that at that tyme I hadde byn more then.iiij. monythes frō them. Vpon a certeyne daye as I was herynge the deuyne seruyce in our ladies churche, whyche is the fayrest the moste gorgious and curyous churche of buyldynge in all the cytye and also moste frequented of people, and when the deuyne was done, was readye to goo home to my lodgyng, I chaunced to espie thys forsayde Peter talkynge wyth a certeyne straunger a man well stryken in age wyth a blake sonne burned face, a longe bearde and a cloke caste homely aboute hys shoulders, whom by hys fauour & apparrel forthwythe I iudged to be a maryner. But whē thys Peter sawe me, he cummythe to me and saluteth me. And as I was abowte to answere hym: see you thys man sayeth he (and therwyth he poynted to the man that I sawe hym talkynge wyth before) I was mynded quod he to brynge hym streyghte home to you. He should haue be[…]e verye welcome to me sayd I for your sake. Naye (quod he) for hys owne sake if you knewe hym, for there ys no man this daye lyuynge that can tell you of so manye strange and vnknowne peoples and co[…]treis as this man can. And I know well that you be verye desyrous to heare of suche newes. Than I coniectured not farre a mysse (quod I) for euē at the fyrste syghte I iudged hym to be a maryner. Naye (quod he) there ye were greatlye deceaued: he hayth sayled indede not as the maryner Palynure but as the experte and prudent prince Vlisses: Yea rather as the auncyent and sage Philosopher Plato. For thys same Raphaell Hythlodaye (for thys ys hys name) is verye will lerned in the Latyne tonge: but profounde and excellent in the greke tonge: Wherein he euer bestowed more studye than in the lattyne, because he had geuen hym selfe holye to the studye of Phylosphy. Wherof he knowe that there ys nothynge extante in the lattyne tonge that is to an[…]y purpose, sauynge a few of Senecaes & Ciceroes doinges. His patrymonye that he was borne vnto he lefte to his bretherne (for he is a Portugalle borne) and for the de[…]yre that he hadde to see and k[…]owe the farre contreys of the worlde he ioyned him selfe […] companye wyth Amerike vespuce, and in the.iij. laste voyages of thoes iiij. that be nowe in prynte and abrode in euerye mans handes he contynued styll in hys companye, sauynge that in te laste voyage he came not home again wyth hym. For he made suche meanes and shyfte what by intreataunce and what by importune sute, y• he gotte ly […]ence of mayster Amerycke (thoughe it were sore agaynst his will) to be one of the.xxiiij. whyche in the ende of the last voyage were lette in the contrye of Gulike. He was therfore lefte behynde for hys mi[…]des sake, as one that toke more thoughte and care for trauaylyng, then dyinge: hauynge customablye in hys mouthe theis sayi[…]ges. He that hathe no graue ys couered wyth the skie, and The way to heauen owte of all places is of like lenghth and distance. Which fātasye of his (if God had not bene his betterfrende) he hadde suerlye bought full deere. But after the departynge of Mayster […]espuce, when he hadde trauayled thoroughe and abowte manye contreis with v. of his companyo[…]s Gulykyans, at the laste by maruelous chaunce he arryued in Taprobane, frō whens he wente to Calyquit, where he chaunced to fynde certeyne of hys contrey shyppes, wherin he retorned again into hys countreye, nothynge lesse thē lokyd for. All thys when Peter hadde tolde me: I thankyd hym for his gentyll kyndnes that he hadde vouchesaufed to brynge me to the speche of that man, whose commu[…]ication he thought sholde be to me pleasaunte and acceptable. And there wyth I turned me to Raphaell and when we hadde haylsede thone thother and hadde spoken thies comē wordes, that be customably spoken at the fyrste metynge and acquentaunce of straungers we wente thens to my house and there in my gardeyne vpon a benche coueryd wyth grene tor […]es we satte downe talking togethers. There he tolde vs howe that after the departynge of vespuce, he and hys fellowes that tarryed behynde in Gulyke beganne by lytle and lytle thoroughe he fayre and gentle speche to winne the loue and fauour of the people of that contreye in so muche that within shorte space, theye dydde dwell amonges them not onlye harmelese, but also occupyed wyth them verye famylyerly. He tolde vs also that they were in hyghe reputatyon and fauoure wyth a certeyne greate man (whose name and contreye ys nowe quyte owte of my remēbraunce) which of hys mere lyberalytye dyd beare the costes and charges of hym and hys fyue companions. And besydes that gaue them a trustye g[…]yde to conducte them in theyre iorney (whyche by water was in botys and by lande in wagains) and to bring them to other princes witheverye frindlye commendatyons. Thus after manye dayes iourneis, he sayd they foūd townys and cytyes, and weale publyques full of people gouerned by good and holsom lawes. For vnder the lyne equynoctyall and of bothe sydes of the same as farre as the sonne doth extend hys course, lyeth (quod he) greate and wyde desertes and wyldernesses parched burned and d[…]yed vppe with continuall & intollerable heate. All thynges be hydeous terryble lothesome and vnpleasaunte to be holde: all thynges owte of fasshyon and comylynes inhabyted wyth wylde beastes and serpentes, or at the leaste wyse wyth people that be no lesse sauage wylde and noysome, then the verye beastes them selfes be. But a lytle farther beyonde that all thynges begyn by lytle and lytle to waxe pleasaunte. The ayre softe temperate and gentle. The groūd couered wyth grene grasse. Lesse wildnes […] the beastes. At the laste shall ye come again to people cities, & townes wherin is contynuall entercourse and occupyinge of marchandyse and chaffare not onelye amonge them selfes and wyth theyre borderers, […]ut also wyth marchau[…]tes of farre contreys bothe by lande and water. Ther I had occasion (sayde he) to go to man yecontreys of euery syde. For there was no shyppe reddye to anye voyage or iorney, but I and my fellowes were into it verye gladlye receauyde. The shyppes that they founde fyrste were made playne flatte and broade in the botome troughewyse. The sayles were made of greate russhes or of wyckers, and in some places of lether. Afterwarde they founde shyppes wyth rydged kyeles: and sayles of canuas, yea and shortelye after hauynge all thynges lyke owers. The shyppemen also verye experte and connynge both in the sea and in the wether. But he sayde that he founde greate fauour and fryndeshyppe amonge them for teachynge them the feate and vse of the lode stone. Whych to them before that tyme was vnknowne. And therefore they were wonte to be verye tymerous and fearefull vpon the sea. Nor to venter vpon it, but onlye in the somer time. But nowe they haue such a confidence in that stone, that they feare not stormy wynter, in so doynge ferther frome care then ieopardye. I[…] so muche that it is greatlye to be doubtyd, leste that thynge thoroughe theyre owne folyshe hardynes shall tourne them to euyll and harme, whyche at the fyrste was supposyde shoulde be to them good and commodyous. But what he tolde vs that he sawe, in euerye contrey wheare he came, it were verye longe to declare. Nother it is my purpose at this time to make rehersall therof. But peraduenture in an other place, I wyll speake of yt, chyefelye suche thy[…]ges as shalbe profytable to be knowne, as in specyall be thoese decrees and ordinaunces that he marked to be well and wyselye pro […]yded and e[…]acted amonge suche peoples as do lyue to gethere in a cyuyle pollycye and good ordre. For of suche thynges dyd we busilie enquyre, and demaunde of hym, and he lyke wise verye wyllynglye tolde vs of the same, But as for mōsters, because they be no newes, of them we were nothynge inquysitine. For nothynge is more easye to be founde, then bebarking Scyllaes, rauenyng Celenes, & Lestrygo[…]es deuowerers of people, and suche lyke greate and vncredyble monsters, but to fynde cytyzyns ruled by good and holsome lawes, that ys an excedynge rare and harde thynge. But as he markyd manye fonde and folyshe lawes in thoose newe founde landes, so he rehersyde manye actes and constytutyons wherby thies our cytyes, nations, contreys and Kyngdomes maye take ensample to amende theyre faultes enormytyes and errors, wherof in another place as I sayde I wyll intreate. Now at thys tyme I am determyned to reherse onlye that he tolde vs of the maners customes, lawes, and ordinaunces of the vtopians. But fyrste I wyll repete our former communycatyon by thoccasyon, and as I myghte saye the dryfte wherof he was browghte into the mentyon of that weale publyque. For when Raphaell hadde verye prudently touched dyuers thynges that be amysse sume here and sume there, yea verye manye of bothe partes, and agayne hadde spoken of suche wyse and prudent lawes and decrees as be establyshed and vsyde bothe here amonge vs and also there emonge them, as a man so connynge and experte in the lawes and customes of euery seueral coū treye, as though into what place so euer he came geaste wyse, there he had lede al his life: then Peter much meruellyng at y• man: Surely mayster Raphaell (quod he) I wondere greatlye whie you gette you not into some Kinges courte, for I am sewre there is no prynce lyuynge that wolde not be very gladde of yowe: as a man not onlye able hyghelye to delyte hym wyth youre profounde lernynge, and thys youre knowledge of contreis and peoples, but also are meat to instructe him with examples and helpe hym wyth counsell. And thus doynge yowe shal bring yowre selfe in a verye good case, and also be in habylytye to helpe all youre fri[…]des and kyn[…]folke. As concernyng my fryndes and kyn[…]folke (quod he) I passe not greatly for them. For I think I haue suffycyentlye done my parte towardes them all readye. For thies thinges that other men doo not depart frō vntyll they be olde and sicke, yea which they be the[…] verye lothe to leaue when they can no lenger kepe, those verye same thynges dyd I beynge not o[…]lye lustye, & in good helth, but also in y• flowere of my youthe, deuyde among my fryndes and kyn[…]folkes which I think wyth thys my liberalytye owghte to holde them contentyd and not to requyre nor to looke that be[…]ydes thys I shoulde for theyre fakes gyue my selfe in bondage to kynges. Naye god forbedde (quod peter) it is not my mynd y• you shoulde be in bondage to kynges, but as a retaynoure to them at youre pleasure whyche sewrelye I thynke ys the nygheste waye that you can deuyse howe to bestowe youre tyme frutefullye, not onlye for the pryuate commoditye of your fryndes and for the general proffytte of all sortes of people, but also for the auauncemente of your selfe to a muche welthier state and condytyon then you be nowe in, To a welthyer condition (quod Raphael) by that meanes that my my[…]de standethe cleane agaynst? Nowe I […]y[…]e at lybertye after myn owne mynde a[…]d pleasure, whiche I thynke verye fewe of thes greate states and peeres of realmes cansaye. Yea and there be ynowe of them that sike for greate mens frindeshippes▪ and therfore thynke it no great hurte, if they haue not me nor.ij. or.iij. suche other as I am. Well I perceyue plainlye frind Raphaell (quod I) that yowe be desierous nother of riches, nor of powre. And truly I haue in no lesse reuerēce and estimatyon a man that is of your mind, then an[…]y of them al that be so high in po[…]r and aucthoritie. But you shall doo as it becommith yow, yea and accordinge to this wisedome and thys highe and free co[…]raghe of youres, yf yowe can fynde in youre harte so to appoynte & dyspose your selfe that you maie apply your wytte and delygence to the proffyt of the weale publyque, though it be […]ume what to youre owne payne and hyndraunce. And thys shall yow […]euer so well doo, nor wyth so greate proffitte perfourme, as yf yowe be of sum great prynces councell, and put in his heade (as I doubte not but you wyll) honeste opynyons, and vertuous persuasyons. For from the pry[…]ce, as from a perpetuall well sprynge cummythe amonge the people the floode of all that is good or euell. But in yowe is so perfitte ler […]ynge that wythowte anye experience and agayne so greate experyence that wythoute anye lernynge yowe maye well be anny kinges councellour. You be twyse deceaued maister More (quod he) fyrste in me, and agayne in the thing it selfe. For nother is in me that habilitye that yowe force vpon me, and yf it were neuer so muche, yet in dysquieting myne owne quietnes I should nothing further the weale publique, for fyrst of all the moste parte of all princes haue more delyte in warlike matters and feates of che[…]alrie (the knowlege wherof I nother haue nor desire) than in the good feates of peace, and employe muche more study howe by right or by wrong to enlarge their dominions, thā howe well and peaceablie to rule and gouerne that they haue all redie. More ouer they that be counsellours to kinges, euery one of them eyther is of him selfe so wyse in dede that he nede not orelles he thinketh him self so wise, that he will not allowe an other mans coū cell: sauing that they do shamefully and flatteringly geue assent to the fond and f[…]lishe sayinges of certeyn greate men. Whose fauours, bicause they be in high aucthoritie with their prince, by assentacion and flattering they labor to opteyne, And verily it is naturally geuen to all men to esteame their owne inuentyons best. So both the rauen and the apethincke their owne yongo[…]es fayrest. Than if a man in such a company, where some disdayne and haue despite at other mens in[…]entions, and some cownte their owne best, if among suche men I saye a man shoulde bringe furth any thinge: that he hayth redde done in tymes paste, or that he hathe sene done in other places, there the hearers fare as thoughe the hole existimacion of theyr wisdome were in ieopardy to be ouerthrowē, and that euer after they should be counted for very diserdes, onles they colde in other mens inuentions pycke out matter to reprehende and find […]wt at. If all other pore helpes faile: then this is their extreame refuge. Thies thinges (say they) pleased oure forefathers and auncetours: wolde god wee coulde be so wise as they were: and as though they had wittely concluded the matter, and with this answere stoppid euery mans mouthe, they sitt downe agayn. As who should saye it were a very daungerous matter, if a man in any pointe should be founde wiser then his forefathers were. And yet be we contēt to suffer the best and wittiest of their decrees to lye vnexecuted: but it in any thinge a better ordre mighte haue bene taken, than by them was, theare we take faste holde and finde many fawtes. Many times haue I chaunced vpon suche prowde lewde ouerthwarte and waywarde Iudgementes, yea and o […]es in Englande. I praye yow Syre (quod I) haue yow bene in owr cōtrey? yea forsothe (quod he) and their I tarried for the space of.iiij. or.v. monythes together, not longe after the insurreccion, that the westerne Englishe men made agaynst their kynge, whych by their owne myserable and pitefull slaughter was suppressed and endyd. In the meane season I was much bounde and beholden to the righte reuerende father Ihon Morton Archebishop and cardenall of Canterburye and at that tyme also Lorde chauncellour of Englād a man maister Peter (for maister More knoweth all reddy that I wyll saye) not more honorable for his aucthority, thē for his prudence & vertue. He was of a meane stature & streken in age though, yet bare he his body vpryght. In his face did shine such an amiable reuerence as was pleasaunte to beholde. Gentell in cōmunycatyon yet earneste and sage. He had greate delyte manye tymes wyth roughe speche to hys […]ewters to proue, but wythowte harme, what prompte wytte, and what bolde sprite were in euery man. In the which as in a vertue much agreinge with his nature, so that therewyth were not ioyn[…]d impudency, he toke greate delectatyon. And the same person as apte and mete to haue an admin[…]stratyon in the weale publique he dyd louingly enbrace. In hys speche he was […]yne eloquent and pythye. In the lawe he had profounde knowledge, in witte he was incomparable, aud in memory wo[…]derfull excellent. Thies qualytyes whych in hym were by nature synguler, he by learnynge and vse had made perfytte. The […]ynge putt muche truste in hys councell the weale publyque also in a maner leaued vnto hym when I was there. For e[…]en in the chiefe of hys youth he was takē from schole into the Courte, and there passyd all hys tyme in muche trouble and busynes, & was contynually troubled and tossed with dyuers mysfortunes and aduersytyes. And so by many and greate daungers he lerned thee xperience of the wordle, whyche so beynge learned can not easely be forgotten. It chaunced on a certayne daye when I sate at hys table, there was also a certayne laye man cū nynge in the lawes of yowre Realme. Whyche, I can not tel wherof takyng occasyon, began dyligently and busily to prayse that strayte and rygorous iustice, which at that tyme was there executed vpon fello[…]es, who as he sayde were for the moste part.xx. hanged together vpon one gallowes. And seyng so fewe escapyd punyshement he sayd he coulde not chewse but greatly wonder and maruell, howe and by what euill […]n[…]ke it should so cum to passe that theues neuertheles were in euery place so ryffe and ranke. Naye Syr quod I (for I durst boldely speake my mind before the Cardynall) maruell nothing herat, for thys punyshement of theues passeth of the lymytes Iustyce, and is also very hurtefull to the weale publyque. For it is to extreame and crewell a punishement for thefte, a[…]d yet not sufficient to refrayne men from theft. For simple thefte is not so greate an offence, that it owght to be punished w[…]th death. Nother there is any punishmente so horrible that it can kepe them from stealynge whych haue no other crafte wherby to get their liuing. Therefore in this poynte, not yow only, but also the moste part of the wordle be lyke euyll scholemasters whych be ready are to beate then to teache their scholers. For great and horryble punyshemētes be appoynted for theues, whereas muche rather prouysyon should haue bene made, that there were some meanes wherby they might gett theyr lyuynge, so that no man should be dreuen to thys extreame necessitie, fyrst to steale, & then to dye. Yes (quod he) this matter is well ynoughe prouyded for all ready. There be hādy craftes there is husbandry to gett their liuinge by if they wolde not wyllingely be nowgh[…]. Nay (quod I) you shall not skape so, for fyrste of all I wyll speake nothynge of them that come home owte of warre may mede and lame, as not longe ago owte of blacke heath filde, and a lityll before that owt of the warres in Fraū ce: suche (I say) as put their lyues in ieopardy for the weale publiques or the kinges sake, and by the reason of weakenes and […]amenes be not able to occ[…] py their olde craftes, and be to aged to lerne newe: of them I wyll speake nothinge, because warre lyke the tyde ebbeth and floweth. But let vs consydere those thinges that chaūce dayly before our eyes. Fyrste there is a great numbre of gentilmen, which can not be content to lyue ydle them selfes like dorres of that whiche other haue laboryd for: their tenauntes I meane, whō they polle and shaue to y• quycke by reysing their rentes (for this only poynte of frugalitye do they vse, men els thoroughe their lauasse and prodigall spendynge able to bringe them selfes to very beggery) thies gentilmen (I say) do not only liue in ydilnes them selfes, but also carry about with them at their tayles a greate flocke or trayne of ydell and loytrynge seruynge men, whyche neuer learned any crafte wherby to get their liuinges. Thies men as sone as theyr maister is dead, or be sicke them selfes, be incontinent thruste owte of doores. For gē […]lemen had rather kepe ydil perso[…]es then sycke men, and many times the d[…]ad mans heyr is not able to mainteyne so great a howse, and kepe so many seruinge men as his father dydde. Then in the m[…]ane season they that be thus destytute of seruice, other starue for honger, or manfully playe the theaues. For what wolde yow haue them to do? When they haue wandred abrode so lo[…]ge vntyll they haue worne threde bare their apparell and also appayred their health, then gentlemen because of their pale and sicke faces and patched co[…]es wyll not take them into seruyce. And husbandmen dare not sett them a worke: Knowyng well ynough that he is nothynge mete to doo trewe and faythfull seruice to a poore man wyth a spade and a mattoke for small wages and harde fare, whyche beynge dey[…]ely and tenderly pampered vp in ydilnes and pleasure, was wont with a sworde and a buckeler by hys syde to iette through the strete with a bragging looke and to thynke hym selfe to good to be any mans mate. Naye by saynt Marie se[…] (quod the lawier) not so, for this kinde of men muste we make most of. For in them as men of stowter stomackes, bolder spyrytes, and manlyer currages then handy craftes men and plowe men be, doth consyste the hole powre strengthe and puisaunce of oure hoste when we muste fight in battaill. Forsothe ser aswel yowe myghte saye (quod I) that for warres sake you must cheryshe theues. For sewerly yow shal neuer lacke theues whyles yowe haue thē. No nor theues be not the most false and faynt harted soldiers, nor souldiours be not the cowardl[…]ste theues: so well thees.ij. craftes agree together. But this fawte, though it be muche vsed among yow, yet is it not peculiar to yow only, but commen also almost to all natyons. Yet Fraunce besydes thys is troubled and infected wyth a muche sorer plage. The hole realme is fylled and besieged wyth hierede soldiours in peace tyme, yf that be peace, whyche be brought in vnder the same coloure and pretence, that haith persuaded yow to kype thies ydell seruynge men. For thies wisefooles and very archedoltes thought the wealth of the hole contrey herin to con[…]ist, yf there were euer in a readynes a stronge and a sewer garrisō, specyallye of olde practysed soldyours, for they put no truste at all in men vnexercysed. And therfore they must be fayne to seke for warre to thende they maye euer haue practysed souldyours and cunnynge mansleers: leaste that (as it is pretilie sayde of Sal[…]ste) their ha[…]des and their myndes thoroughe ydylnes or lacke of exercyse […]houlde waxe dull▪ But howe pernycyous and pestylente a thynge it is to maynteyne suche beastes, the Frenche men by there owne harmes haue learned, and the examples of the Romaynes, Carthaginie[…]s, Siriens and of many other contreys do manyfestly declare. For not only the empire, but also the fieldys a[…]d cityes of all thies, by di […]ers occasyons haue bene ouerrūned and destroyed of their owne armies before hand had in a reddines. Now how vnnecessary a thynge thys is hereby it maye appere: that the Frenche souldiours whyche from their youthe haue by[…]e practysed a[…]d vrede in feates of armes doo not cracke nor auaunce thē selfes to haue verye often gotte the vpperhande and masterye of your newe made and vnpractysed soldiours. But in thys poynte I wyll not vse manye wordes leaste perchaunce I maye seme to flatter yow. No nor those same hā dy craft men of yours in cities, nor yet the rude & vplandishe ploughemen of the cōtrey, are not supposed to be greatly affraid of your gentilmens ydill seruing men, onles it be suche as be not of body or stature correspondent to theyr strenghte and currage, orels whose bolde stomackes be dyscourraged thoroughe pouertye. Thus yowe maye see, that yt ys not to be feared leaste they shoulde be effe[…]y[…]atede they yf were broughte vppe in good craftes a[…]d laborsome wourkes, whereby to gett theyre lyuynge, whose stowte and sturdye bodyes (for gentlemen vouchesauffe to corrupte and spill none but picked and chosen men) nowe other by reason of r[…]st and ydil […]es be brought to weakenes, orels by to easy and womanlye exercises be made feble and vnable to endure hardenes. Trewly howe soeuer the case stondeth, thys me thinketh is nothyng a veyleable to the weale publique, for warre sacke, whyche yowe neuer haue, but when yow wyll your selfes, to kepe and mainteyn an vnnumerable flocke of that sort of men, that be so troblesome and noyous in peace, wherof yow owght to haue a thowsande times more regard thē of warre▪ But yet this is not onlye the necessary cause of stealing. There is an other which as I suppose is proper and peculiare to yow Englishe men alone. What is that, quod the Cardenall▪ forsoth (quod I) your shepe that were wōt to be so myke and tame, and so smal eaters, now, as I heare saie, be become so greate deuowerers and so wylde, that they eate vp and swallow downthe very men them selfes. They consume destroy and deuoure hole fieldes howses and cities. For looke in what partes of the realme doth growe the fynyst, and therfore dearist woll, there noble men, and gentlemen: yea and certeyn Abbottes, holy men god wote, not contenting them selfes with the yearely reuennues and profyttes that were wont to grow to theyr fore[…]athers and predecessours of their landes, […]or beynge content that they liue in rest and pleasure nothyng profytyng ye muche noyinge the weale publiqu[…]: leaue no grounde […]or ryllage: they enclose all in pastures: they throw downe houses: they plucke downe townes, and lea[…]e nothing stondynge but only the churche to make of it a shepehowse. And as thoughe yow loste no small quantity of grounde by forestes chases laundes and parkes, those good holy men turne all dwellinges places and all glebelande into desolation and wildernes. Therfore that one couetous and vnsatiable […]ormaraunte and verye plage of his natyue contrey may compasse abowte and inclose many thousād acres of grounde to gether within one pale orhedge, the husbandmen be thrust owte of their owne, orels other by co […]eyne or fraude, or by vyolent oppression they be put besydes it, or by wronges and iniuries they be so weried that they be compelled to sell all: by one meanes therfore or by other, other by howke or crooke they must nedes departe awaye, pore, sylie, wretched soules men, women, husbandes, wyues fatherles chyldren, widdowes, wofull mothers with their yonge babes, and their hole housholde smal in substaū ce, and muche in nombre, as husbandrie requireth many handes. Awaye they trudge I say out of their knowen and accustomed howses, fyndyng no places to rest in. All their housholde stuffe, whiche is verye lytle worth, though it myght well abyde the sale: yet beyng sodeynelye thrust out, they be constrayned to sell it for a thyng of nought. And when they haue wanderynge about so[…]e spent that, what can they els do but steale, and then iustelye God wo[…]e behanged, or els go about a beggyng? And yet then also they be cast in prison as vagaboundes, because they go about and worke not: whom no mā will set a worke, though they neuer so willingly offer them selfes therto. For one shepherde or heard man is ynough to eate vp that grounde with cattel, to the occupying wherof about husbandrye many handes were requysyte. And this is also the cause that victualles be nowe in many places dearer. Yea besydes this y• pryce of wolle is so rysen that poore folkes, whiche were wont to worke it and make cloth of it, be nowe able to bye none at all. And by thys meanes verye manye be fayne to forsake worke, & to gyue them selfes to ydelnes. For after that so muche grounde was inclosed for pasture, an infinite multitude of shepe died of the rotte, suche vengeaunce God toke of their inordinate and vnsaciable couetousnes, sendyng amonge the shepe that pestiferous morreyn, which much more iustely should ha[…]efallen on the shepemasters owne heades. And though y• nūbre of shepe increase neuer so fast, yet the pryce falleth not one myte, because there be so fewe sellers. For they be almoste all cōmen into a fewe riche mens handes, whome no neade driueth to sell before they lust, and they luste not before they may sell as deare as they lust. Now the same cause bryngeth in licke dearth of the other kindes of cattell, yea and that so much the more, bycause that after farmes pluckyd downe, and husbandry decayed, ther is no man that passyth for the breadyng of yonge stoore. For thees ryche men bry[…]ge not vp the yonge ones of greate cattell as they do lā […]es. But first they bye them abrode very chepe, and afterward when they be fattede in their pastures they sell them agayne excedyng deare. And therfor (as I suppose) the hole incommoditie herof is not yet felte. For yet they make dearth only in those places where they sell. But when they shall fetche them awaye from thens wheare they be bredde faster then they can be brought vp: then shall there also be felte great dearth when stoore begynnyth to fayle their, whear the ware ys bought. Thus the vnreasonable couetousnes of a fewe hath turned y• thyng to the vtter vndoyng of your Ilande in the whiche thyng the chiefe felicitie of your realme dyd cōsist. For this great dearth of victualles causeth euery mā to kepe as lytle houses and as small hospitalitie as he possible maye. And to put awaye their seruauntes: whether I praye you but a beggynge: or els whiche thies gentle blood is and stoute stomakes, wyll soner set theyr myndes vnto a stealinge? Nowe to amende the matters to this wretched beggerye, and myserable pouertie is ioyned great wantonnes, imp[…]rtunate superfluytie, and excessiue ryote. For not only gently mens seruauntes, but also handy craft men: yea and almoste the ploughemen of the countrey, with all other sortes of people, vse muche straunge and prowde newe fanglenes in their apparrell, and to muche prodigal riotte and sumptuous fare at their table. Nowe bawdes, qweynes, hoores, harlottes, strumpettes, brothelhouses, stewes, and yet an other stewes, wine tauernes, ale houses, and […]ipling houses, with so many noughty lewde and vnlawfull games, as dice, cardes, tables, tennyes, bolles, coytes, do not al thys sende the haūters of the[…] streyght a stealynge when theyr money is gone. Caste out thies per[…]ycious abomynacyons, make a lawe that they why[…]he plucked downe fermes and townes of husbandrye, shall buylde them vp agayne, or els y[…]lde and vprender the possessyon of them to suche as wyll goo to the coste of buyldynge them anewe. Suffer not thies ryche men to bye vp all, to ingrosse and forstalle, and with theyr monopolye to kepe the market alone as please them. Let not so manye be brought vp in ydelnes, lett husbandrye and tyllage be restored agayne, let clothe workynge be renewed, that there maye be honest labours for thys ydell sorte to passe theyre tyme in profytablye, whyche hytherto other pouertye hathe caused to be theues, or elles nowe be other vagabondes, or ydell seruynge men, and shortelye wylbe theues. Dowteles oneles yowe fynde a remedye for thyes enormytyes, yowe shalbe in vayne auaunce your selfes of executinge iustice vpon felloues. For this iustice is more beautyfull then iuste or profytable. For by sufferynge your youthe wantonlye a[…]d viciouslye to be brought vp, and to be infected euen from theyr tender age by lytle and lytle wyth vyce: than a goddes name to be punyshed, when they commytte the same faultes after they be commen to mannes state, whiche frome ther youthe they were euer lyke to doo: In thys pointe I praye yowe what other thynge doo yowe, then make theues, and then punyshe them? Nowe as I was thus speakynge, the […]awier beganne to make hym selfe readye to aunswere, and was determyned wyth hym selfe to vse the common fassyon and trade of disputers, whyche be more dylygent in rehersynge, then aunswerynge, as thynking the memorye worthye of the chiefe prayse. I[…] dede syr (quod he) yow haue sayd well beinge but a straunger, a[…]d one that myght rather here somme thynge of thyes matters, then haue anye exacte or perfecte knowledge of thesame, as I will incontinent by open proffe make manifest and playn. For firste I wyll reherse in ordre all that you haue sayde: then I wyll declare in what thynge yowe be deceaued, through lacke of knowledge, in all our fassions, maners and customes: and laste of all I wyll aunswere to your argumentes, and confute them euery one. Fyrste therfore I wyll begynne where I promysed. Foure thynges yowe semed to me: hold your peace (quod the Cardynall) for by lyke yowe wyll make no shorte aunswere, whiche make such a begynning, wherfore at thys tyme yowe shall not take the paynes to make youre aunswere, but kepe it to youre nexte meatynge, whiche I would be ryght gladde that it myght be euen to morrowe nexte (onles other yowe or mayster Raphaell haue any earnest lette). But now maister Raphaell, I woulde very gladly heare of yow, whie yow thynke thefte not worthy to be punished with death: or what other punyshment you can deuyse more expedient to the weale publique. For I am sewer yowe are not of that mynde, that yowe woulde haue thefte escape vnpunyshed. For if now the extreme punishment of death cannot cause them to leaue stealynge, then if ruffians & rubbers shoulde be sewer of their lyues, what violence, what feare were able to holde their handes frō robbynge, whiche would take the mitigacion of the punishment, as a verye peruocation to the mischiefe? Suerly my lorde (quod I) I thynke it no right nor iustice that y• losse of money should cause the losse of mans lyfe. For myne opinion is that all the goodes in the worlde are not able to counteruayle mans lyfe. But if they wold thus say: that the breaking of iustice, & the transgression of the lawes is recompensed with this punishmēt, and not the losse of the money, then why maye not thys extreame iustice wel be called extreme iniurie? For neither […]o cruel gouernaū ce, so streyte rules, and vnmercyfull lawes be allowable, that if a small offence be commytted, by and by the sworde shoulde be drawen: Nor so stoycall ordinaunces are to be borne wythall, as to counte all offences of suche equalitie, that the kyllynge of a man, or the takynge of hys money from hym were bothe a matter, a[…]d the one no more heynous offence then the other: betwene the whyche two, yf we haue annye respecte to equitie, no symylytude or equalytie consysteth. God commaundeth vs that we shall not kyll. And be we then so hastie to kyll a man for takynge a lytle money? And yf annye man woulde vnderstande kyllynge by this commaundement of GOD to bee forbydden after no larger wyse then mans constitucio[…]s defyneth kyllynge to be lawfull, then whye maye it not lykewyse by mannes constitutions be determyned after what sorte hooredome, fornication, and periurye maye be lawfull? For where as by the permission of GOD no man hathe power to kyll nother hym selfe, nor yet annye other man: then yf a lawe made by the consente of men concernynge slaughter of men: oughte to be of suche strengthe force and vertue, that they whyche contrarye to the commaundement of GOD haue kylled those, whome thys constitucion of man commaunded to be kylled, be cleane quyte and […]xempte owte of the bondes and daunger of Goddes commaundemente: shall it not then by thys reason followe that the powre of Goddes commaundement shall extende no further, then mannes lawe dothe defyne, and permytte? And so shall it come to passe, that in lyke manner mans constitucions in al thynges shal determyne howe farre the obseruation of all Goddes commaundementes shall extende. To be shorte Moyses lawe, thoughe it were vngentle and sharpe, as a lawe that was gyuen to bondmen, yea and them verye obstinate, stubborne, and styf necked: yet it punnyshed thefte b[…] the purse, and not wyth deathe. And let vs not thynke that GOD in the newe lawe of clemencie and mercie, vnder the whiche he ruleth vs with fatherlie gentlenesse, as his dere chyldrē hath geuen vs greater scoupe & license to execute crueltie, one vpon an other. Now ye haue hard the reasons whereby, I am perswaded that this punishmēt is vnlawful. Furthermore I thinke there is no body that knoweth not, how vnresonable, yea how pernitious a thynge it is to y• weale publique, that a thefe & a homicide or morderer, shuld suffer equall and lyke punyshmēt. For the thefe seing that man, that is condempned for thefte in no lesse ieoperdie, nor iudged to no lesse punishment, then hym that is conuict of māslaughter: through thys cogitacion onlye he is stronglye and forcybly prouoked, and in a maner cōstreyned to kyl him, whom els he would haue but robbed. For the murder ones done he is in lesse care, and in more hope that the dede shall not be bewrayed or knowen, seynge the partye is nowe deade and rydde out of the waye, whyche onely myght haue vttered & disclosed it. But if he chaūce to be takē & discriued: yet he is in no more daunger and ieopardie then yf he had commytted but single fello[…]ye. Therfore whyles we goo about wyth suche crueltye to make theues aferd, we prouoke thē to kyll good men. Now as touchyng this question, what punysshemente were more commodyous and better: that trulye in my iudgement is easyer to be founde, then what punysshement were wurse. For whie should we dowt that to be a good and a profytable waye for the punysshemente of offendours, whyche we knowe dydde in tymes paste so longe please the Romaynes, men in thadmynystratyon of a weale publyque moste experte polytyque and cunnyng? Such as amonge them weare conuycte of great and heynous trespaces, thē they condempned into ston quarris, and in to myenes to dygge mettalle, there to be kepte in cheynes all the dayes of theyr lyfe. But as concernyng this matter, I allow the ordenaunce of no nation so well as that I sawe (whyles I trauayled a brode abowt the wordle) vsed in Persia amonge the people that commenlye be called the polylerytes. Whose la[…]de is bo[…]he large and ample, and also well and wyttelye gouerned: and the people in all conditiōs free and ruled by their owne lawes, sauing that they paye a verely tribute to the great king of Persia But bicause they be farre from the sea, compassed & closed in almoste rounde abowte wyth hygh mountaynes, and do content thē selfes wyth the frutes of theyr owne lande, whyche is of yt selfe verye fertyle and frutefull: for thys […]ause […]other they goo to other cow[…]ireys, nor other comme to them And accordynge to the olde custome of the lande, they desyre not to enlarge the bowndes of theyre domynyons: and those that they haue by reaso[…] of the hyghe hylles be easelye defended: and the trybute whyche they paye to the myghtye Kynge settethe them quyete and free from warfare. Thus theyre lyffe ys commodyous rather then gallawnte, and maye better be callede happ[…]e: or lucky[…], then notable or famous. For they be not knowne asmuche, as by name, I suppose, sauynge onlye to theyr nexte neyghbours and borderours. They that in thys lande be attay[…]tede and conuycte of felonye make restitutyon of that they stoole to the ryghte owner: and not (as they doo in other landes) to the Kynge: whome they thynke to haue no more ryghte to the thefe stolen thynge than the thieffe him selfe hath. But if the thynge be loste or made awaye, then the value of yt is paide of the goodes of such offēdours, whyche elles remayneth all hole to theire wyffes and chyldrene. And they them […]elfes be condempned to be common laborers: and onles the thefte be verye heynous, they be nother locked in pryson, nor fettered in gyues, but be vntyed and goo at large, laborynge in the cōmon workes. They that refuse labour, or goo s[…]owly & s[…]acly to th[…]re woorke, be not only tied in cheynes, but also pricked forward with stripes. They that be diligent about their woork[…] liue without checke or rebuke. Euery nyghte they be called in by name: and be locked in theyr chambers. Besyde their dayly labour their lyffe is nothyng harde or incommodyous. Their fare is indyfferent good, borne at the chardges of the weale publyque, bycause they be commen seruauntes to the commen wealth. But their charges in all places of the land is not borne a lyke. For in some partes that is bestowed vpon them is gathered of almes. And though that waye be vncerteyn, yet the people be so full of mercye and pytie, that none is fownde more profytable or plentyfull. In some places certey[…] landis be appoynted here vnto: of the reuenewes wherof they befownde. And in some places euery mā geuyth a certeyne trybute for the same vse and purpose. Agayne in some partes of the lande thies seruyng men (for so be thies damned p[…]rsons called) do no common worke, but as euery priuate man nedeth laborours, so he cometh into the markette place, and there hiereth some of them for meate and drynke, and a certeyne limityd wayges by the daye, sumwhaat cheper then he shoulde hire a free man. It is also lawfull for them to chastyce the slowth of thies seruynge men wyth stryppes. By thys meanes they neuer lacke woorke, and besydes their meate and dryncke euery one of them bryngeth dayly sum thynge into the common treasoury. All and euery one of them be apparrayled in one colour. Their heddys be not polled or shauen, but rownded a lytle aboue the ee[…]es. And the typpe of the one eare is cut of. Euery one of them may take meat and drincke of their frindes, & also a cote of their owne collour: but to receyue monye is deathe, as well to the geuer, as to the receyuour. And no lesse ieopardie it is for a free man to receyue moneye of a seruynge man for any manner of cause: and lykewyse for seruynge men to touche weapons. The seruyng mē of euery seuerall shyere be dystyncte and knowen from other by their seuerall and dystyncte badges: whyche to caste away is death: as it is also to be seene owte of the precy[…]cte of their owne sheire, or to talke wyth a seruynge man of another shyere. An[…] it is no lesse daunger to them for to in te[…]de to runne awaye, then to do yt in dede. Yea and to concele suche an enterpryes in a seruynge man yt is deathe, in a free man seruytude. Of the contrarye parte, to hym that openeth & v[…]ereth suche cownselles be decreyde large giftes▪ to a free man a great somme of moneye, to a seruynge man freedome: and to them bothe forgeuynes and pardone of that they were of councell in that pretence. So that yt can neuer be so good for them to goo forwarde in theyre euyll purpose, as by repentaunce to turne backe. Thys is the l[…]we a[…]d ordre in thys behalfe, as I haue shewed yow. Wherin what humanytye is vsede, howe farre yt is frome crueltye, and howe commodyous yt is, yow doo playnlye perceue: For asmuche as the ende of their wrath and punyshemente intendeth nothyng elles, but the distruc[…]yon of vyces, and sauynge of men: wyth so vsynge and orderynge them, that theye can not chuse but be good, and what harme so euer theye dyd before, in the […]eresydewe of theyre lyffe to make amendys for the same. Moreouer […]t is so lytle feared, that they shoulde torne agayne to theyre vycyous condy[…]yons, that wayefarynge men wyll for theyre sauegarde chuse them to theyre guydes before annye other, in euerye shepre chaungynge and takynge newe. For yf they wolde commytte robberye, theye haue nothynge abowte them meate for that purpose. They maye towch[…] no weapons: moneye fownde abowte them shoulde betraye the robberye. They shoulde be no soner taken wyth the maner, but furthwyth they shoulde be punysshed. Nother theye can haue annye hoope at all to skape awaye by flyenge. For howe shoulde a man, that in no parte of hys apparrell is lyke other men, flye preuely[…] and vnknowen, oneles he wolde runne awaye naked? Howe be yt so also flyinge he shoulde be dyscryued by hys rounding and his […]are ma[…]ke: But yt is a thynge to be dowted, that they will lay their heddes togither, and conspire agaynst the weale publyque. No no I warraunte you. For the seruyng men of one shere alone could neuer hoope to brynge to passe suche an enterpryse, wythowte sollycytynge, entysynge, and allurynge the seruynge men of many other shyeres to take their partes. Whych thynge is to them so impossyble, that they may not asmuche as speake or talke togethers, or salute one an other. No it is not to be thought that they wold make their owne countrey men and companyons of their cownsell in such a matter, whych they knowe well shoulde be ieopardye to the concelour therof, and greate commodytye and goodnes to the openner of the same: where as on the other parte, ther is none of them al hoopeles or in dyspayre to recouer agayne hys freedome, by humble obedience, by pacyent suffrynge, and by geauyng good tokens and lyklyhode of hymself, that he wyll euer after that, liue lyke a trewe and an honeste man. For euery yeare dyuers be restoryd agayne to their freedome: throughe the commendatyon of their patiēce. Whā I had thus spoken, saynge moreouer that I coulde see no cause whie this ordre might not be had in England with much more proffyte, then the Iustyce which y• lawier so highly praised: Naye (quod the lawier) this could neuer be so stablished in England, but that it must neades bringe the weale publique into great ieopardie and hasarde. And as he was thus saying he shaked his heade, & made a wrie mouth, & so hel[…] his peace. And all that were ther presēt, with one assent agreid to his saying. Well (quod the Cardinallpunc; yet it were hard to iudge withowte a proffe whether this order wold doo well here or no▪ But when y• sentence of d[…]athe is geuen, if than the king should cōmaunde e[…]ecution to be differry[…] and spared, & wold proue this order and fassion: taking away the priuileges of all saintuaries: if thē y• proffe wold declare the thing to be good & profitable, thā it were well done that it were stablisshed: Els the cōdempned & repriued parsōs may aswell & as iustly be put to death after this proffe, as when they were first cast. Nother any ieoperdye can in the meane space growe hereof. Yea & me thinketh that thies vagaboūdes may very well be ordered after the same fassion, against whome we haue hitherto made so many lawes, & so litle preuailed. Whē the Cardinal had thus said, than euery man gaue greate praise to my sayinges, which a litle before they had disallowed. But most of all was estemed that which was spokē of vagaboundes, bicause it was the cardinalles owne addition. I can not tell whether it were best to reherse the communicatiō y• followed, for it was not very sad. But yet you shal here it: for ther was no euell in it, & partly it parteined to the matter before said. Ther chaūsed to stond by a certein iesting parasite, or scoffer, which wold seme to resemble & cownterfeit y• […]oole. But he did in such wise counterfeyt, that he was almost y• very same in de[…]d that he labored to represēt: he so studied with wordes & saynges brought furth so out of time & place to make sporte and moue laughter, y• he himself was oftener laughed at thē his iestes were. Yet the foolish fellow brought out now and then such indifferent and reasonable stuffe, that he made the prouerbe trew, which sayeth he y• shoteth oft at y• last shal hit y• marke. So y• whē one of y• cōpany said y• thorough my communicatiō a good ordr[…] was foūd for theues, & y• the Cardinall also had wel prouided for vagaboūdes, so y• only remained some good prouisiō to be made for thē y• through siknes & age were fallē into pouerty, & were become so impotente and v[…]weldye, that they were not able to woorke for their liuing: Tush (quod he) let me alon with them: you shall see me do well ynough with them. For I had rather then anye good that this kind of people were dreuen sum[…]hether out of my sighte, they haue so sore troubled me many times & oft, whē they haue with their lamētable […]eares begged money of me: and yet thei could neuer to mimind so tune theire sōg, that therby they euer got of me me one farthynge. For euer more the one of thies two chaunced: eyther that I wolde not, or elles that I could not, bicause I had it not. Therefore nowe they be waxed wyse: when they see me goo bye, bycause they wyll not leese theyr laboure they lette me go and saye not one worde to me. So they looke for nothing of me, no in good sothe no more thē if I were a priest▪ But I will make a law, that all thies beggers shalbe distribute, and bestowed into hou[…]es of religion. The men shalbe made laye bretherne, as they call thē, and the women nūnes. Here at the Cardenall […]miled, & allowed it […], yea and all the residue in good earnest. But a certeyne treare graduate in diuinitie to[…]e such pleasur and delite in this ieste of prie[…]tes and mōkes, that he also, bei[…]ge elles a man of grislye and sterue grauitye, beganne merilye and wantonlye to ieste and taunt. Nay (quod he) you shal not so be ridde & dispatched of beggers, oneles you make some prouisiō also for vs frears. Whie (quod the iester) that is doon a[…]lredy: for mi lord him selfe set a very go[…]d ordre for yow, when he decreed y• vagaboūdes should be kept strayt, and set to worke▪ for you be the great[…]st and […]eriest vagaboūdes that be. This iest also whē they saw the Cardinal not disproue it, euery man tooke it gladly, sauing only the Frear. For he (aud that no marueil) whē he was thus towchyd one the quicke, & hit on the gawl so fret so fumed & chafi[…] at it, and was in such a rage, y• he could not refrayn himselfe frō chiding skolding, railing & reuiling. He called the fellow ribbald, villay[…], i[…] nell, backbiter, s[…]laūderer, & the sō […]e of perditiō: citing therwith terrible threatening out of holy scriptur. Thē y• ie[…]ting skoffer begā to play y•, scoffer indede, & verily he was good at y•, for he could play apart in y• play no mā better. Patiēt iour self good maister Freare (quod he) & be not angry, for scriptur saith: in your patiēce you shal saue your sowles. Then the Freare (for I wil rehearse his oune very woordes) No gailous, wretche▪ I a[…] not angry (quod he) or at the leaste wise, I do not synne: for the psalmiste saith-be yo[…] angry and sinne not. Thē the Cardinal spake gently to the Freare, and desiered him to quyete hymself. No my lord (quod he) I speake not but of a good zeal as I ought: for holly mē had a good zeale. Wherfor it is said: y• zeale of thy house hath eatē me. A[…]d it is sōg in the church. The skorners of Helizeus, whiles he wēt vp into y• house of god felt the zeale of the bald, as peraduētur this skorning villain ribauld shal feel. You do it (quod y• cardinall) perchaūce of a good mind & affection: but me thinketh you should do, I cā not tel whether more holily, certes more wisely, if you wold not set your wit to a fooles witte, and with a foole take in hād a foolish contention. No forsoeth my lorde (quod he) I should not doo more wiselye. For Salomon the wise sayeth: Answer a foole according to his folishnes, like as I do now, & do shew him y• pit y• he shall fall into, if he take not hede. For if many skorners of Helizeus, which was but one bald mā, felt y• zeal of the balde, howe much more shall one skorner of many frears feele, amonge whom be many bald mē? And we haue also the popes bulles, wherby all that mock & skorne vs be excōmunicate, suspēded a[…]d acursed, The cardinal seing that none end wold be made sent away the iester by a preuy beck, & turned the cōmunicatiō to an other matter. Sho[…]tly after whē he was risen from the table, he went to heare his sueters, and so dimissed vs. Loke mayster More with how long & tedious a tale I haue kept you, which suerly I wolde haue bene ashamed to haue done, but that you so earnestly desiered me, & did after suche a sort geue eare vnto hit, as though you wolde not that any parcell of that communication should be left out. Which though I haue doone sumwhat briefely, yet coulde I not chuse but rehearse it, for the iudgement of thē, which whē they had improued and disallowed my sayinges, yet incontinent hearinge the Cardinall allowe them, dyd themselfes also approue y• same: so impu[…]ē […] ly flattering him, y• they were nothinge ashamed to admit, yea almost in good earnest, his iesters folish inuentions: bicause that he him selfe by smylynge at them did seme not to disproue thē. So that hereby you may right well perceaue how litle y• courtiers wold regard & esteme me & my sayinges. I ensure you maister Raphael (quod I) I toke great delectation in hearing you: all thinges that yow sayde were spoken so wittily and so pleasaūtly. And me thought my self to be in the meane time not only at home in my coūtrey, but also throughe the pleasaunt remēbraunce of the Cardinall in whose housse I was brought vp of a child, to waxe a childe agayne. And frēd Raphaell, though I did beare verye greate loue towardes you before, yet seynge yow do so earnestly fauour thys man, yow wyll not beleue howe muche my loue towardes yow is nowe increased. But yet, all this notwithstanding, I can by no meanes chaunge my mind, but that I must needys beleue y• you, if you be disposed, and can find in youre harte to followe some prynces courte, shall with your good cownselles greatly healpe & further the commē wealthe. Wherefore there is nothynge more apperteynynge to your dewty, y• is to say to y• dewty of a good mā. For where as youre Plato Iudgethe that weale publyques shall by this mea[…]es attayne perfecte felicitie, other if phylosophers be kynges, or els if kynges giue them se[…]fes to the study of Philosophie, how farre I praye yowe, shall commen wealthes then be from thys felicitie, if phylosophers wyll vouchesaufe to instructe kynges wt their good counsell? They be not so vnkind (quod he) but they would gladlye do it, yea manye haue done it all readie in bookes that they haue putfurth, i[…] kynges and princes would be wyllyng & readie to […]olowe good counsell. But Plato doubteles dyd well forsee, oneles kynges themselfes would applye their myndes to the studye of philosophie, that elles they would neuer thoroughlye allowe the counsell of philosophers, beyng themselfes before euen from their tēder age infectyd, and corrupt with peruerse, and euyll opiniōs. Whiche thynge Plato hymselfe prouyd trewe in kynge Dionise. If I should propose to any kynge holsome decrees, doinge my endeuour to pluck out of hys mynde the pernitious originall causes of vice and noughtenes, thynke you not that I shoulde furth[…] with other be dryuen awaye, or elles made a la[…]ghy[…]ge stocke? Goo to suppose that I were with the Frenche kynge, and there syttynge in hys counsell whyles that in that moste secrete consultation, the kyng hym self there beynge present in hys owne p[…]son[…] they beat their braynes, and serche the verye bottomes of theyr wyttes to discusse by what crafte and meanes the kyng maye styll kepe Myllayne, and drawe to hym agayne […]ugatyue Naples. And then howe to conquere the Venetians, and howe to bryng vnder his Iurisdiction all Italye, then howe to wynne the dominion of Fla[…] ̄ ders, Brabant, and of all Burgundie: with dyuers other landes, whole kyngdomes he hath longe a goo in mynde and purpose inuaded. Here whyles o[…]e counselleth to conclude a leage of peace with the Venetians, whiche s[…]al so lōge endure, as shalbe thought […] and expedient for theire purpose, and to make them also of their coūsell, yea and besydes that to gyue them parte of the praye, whyche afterwarde, when they haue brought they[…] purpose abowte after theyr owne myndes they maye requyre and claym agayne. An other thynketh beste to hyere the Germaneynes. An other woulde haue the fauoure of the Swychers wonne with money. An others aduyse is to appease the puyssaunte powre of the emperours maiestie with golde, as with a moste pleasaunt, and accep[…]able sacrifice. Whyles an other gyueth counsell to make peace wyth the kynge of Arragone, and to restore vnto hym hys owne kyngdome of Nauarra as a full assuraunce of peace. An other cummeth in wyth hys.v. egges, and aduyseth to howke in the kynge of Castell with somme hope of affynytie or allyaunce, and to brynge to theyr parte certeyne peers of hys courte for greate pensions. Whyles they all staye at the chyefeste dowte of all, what to doo, in the meane tyme with England: and yet agree al in this to make peace wt the englishmē, & with moste suere and strong bondes to bind that weake and feable frendshyppe, so that they must be called frendes, and hadde in suspicion as enemies: And that therfore the skottes must be hadde in a reddines, as it were in a standing, reddie at all occasions, in au[…]ters the Englyshe men should sturre neuer so litle, inco[…]tinēt to set vpon them. And moreouer preui[…]ie and secretly, for opē ly it maye not be doone by the truce that is taken, pr[…]elye therfore I faye to make muche of some peere of Englande, that is bannyshed his countrey, whiche must cleyme title to the crown of the realme, and affirme hym selfe iuste inheritoure therof, that by thys subtyll meanes they maye holde to them the kynge, in whom elles they haue but small truste and affiaunce. Here I saye, where so greate and high matters be in consultation, where so manye noble and wyse men counsell their kyng only to warre, here if I sely man should ryse vp and wylle them to t[…]rne ouer the leafe, and learne a newe lesson, sayng that my counsell is not to medle with Italy, but to tarrye styll at home, and that the kyngdome of fraunce alone is all moste greater, then that it maye well[…] be gouerned of one man: so that the kyng shoulde not […]ede to studye howe to gett more: And then shoulde propose vnto them the decrees of the people that be called the Achoriens, whiche be situate ouer agaynst the Ilande of Vtopia on the sowthealte syde. Thies Achorien[…] ones made warre in their kinges qua[…] […]el for to gette him an other kyngdom, whiche he layde clayne vnto, & auaunced hymself righte inheritoure to th[…] crowne therof, by the title of an olde aliaunce. At the last whē they had gotten it, an sawe that they hadde euen as muche vexation and trouble in keping it, as they had in gettyng it, and that other there newe conquered subiectes by sondrye occasions were makynge dayly insurrections to rebell agaynste them, or els that other countreys were contynually with diuers inrodes and forraginges inuadinge them: so that they were euer fyghtinge other for thē, or agaynste them, and neuer coulde breke vp▪ their campes: Seynge them selfes in the meane season pylled and impoueryshed: their money carryed owt of the Realme; theyr owne me[…] ky[…]led to mayntayne the glory of an other nation▪ whē they had no warre, peace nothynge better then warre, by reason that their people in warre had […]red themselfes to corrupte and wycked maners: that they hadde taken a delycte & pleasure in robby[…]ge and stealyng that through manslaughter they had gathered boldenes to mischiefe: that their lawes were hadde in contemp[…]e, and nothynge set by or regarded: that their kynge beynge troubled with the chardge and gouernaū ce of two kingdomes, coulde not nor was not able perfectly to discharge his office towardes them bothe: seynge agayne that all thies euelles and troubles were endeles: at the last laid there heades together, and lyke faithful and louinge subiectes gaue to their kynge free choyse and libertie to kepe still the […]ne of this.ij. kingdomes, whether he would: allegyng that he was not able to kepe both, & that they were mo the[…] might wel be gouerned of half a king: for asmuche as no man would be content to take hym for his mulettour y• kepeth an other mans moyles besides his. So this good prince was co[…]streyned to be content with his olde kyngdome, & to gyue ouer the newe to o[…] of his frendes. Whiche shortelie after was violētlie dreuē out. Furthermore if I should declare vnto them, that all this busy preparaunce to warre, wherby so many nations for hys sake shuld be brought into a troublesom hurley-burley when all hys coffe[…]s were emptied, his treasures wasted and his people destroyed, should at the length through som mischaūce be in vai[…]e & to none effect: & that therfore it were best for him to cōtent him selfe wt his owne kingdom of fraūce, as his forfathers & predecessours did before him: to make much of it, to enriche it, & to make it as flourisshing as he could, to endeuoure hīself to loue his subiects, & again to be beloued of thē, willingly to liue wt thē peaceably to gouerne them, and with other kyngdomes not to medle, seinge that whiche he hath all reddy is […] […]nough for hym, yea and more then he can well turne hym to: thys my[…]e aduyse maister More how thy[…]ke you it would be harde and taken▪ So God helpe me not very thankefully (quod I). Wel let vs pro[…]ede then (quod he). Suppose that some kyng and his counsell were together whettinge their wit […]es a[…]d deuisinge what subtell crafte they myght inuēte to enryche the king with greate treasures of money. First one councelleth to rayse and enhaunce the va[…]acion of money when the […]ing must paye any: and agayne to calle downe the value of coy[…]e, to less thē it is worthe, when he muste receiue or gather any. For th[…]s great sommes shalbe payde with a ly[…]yll money, and where lytle is due muche shalbe receaued. An other counselleth to fay[…]e warre, that when vnder this coloure & pretence the kyng hath gathered great aboundaunce of money, he maye whē it shall please hym make peace wyth great solempnitie and holye ceremonies to blynde the eyes of the poore communaltie, as taking pitie and compassion God wote vpon mans bloude lyke a louing and a mercifull prince. An other putteth the kyng in remembraunce of certeyn olde and moughteeaten lawes, that of long tyme haue not bene put in execution, whiche because no man can remembre that they were made, euerie man hath transgressed. The fynes of thies lawes he coū selleth the kynge to require: for there is no waye so proffytable, nor more honorable, as the whiche hath a shewe and coloure of iustice. An other aduyseth hym to forbidde manye thynges vnder great penalties and fines, specially suche thynges as is for the peoples profit not be vsed, and afterward to dispence for money with thē, which by this prohibicion susteyne losse and dammage. For by this meanes the fauour of the people is wonne, and proffite riseth two wayes. First by takyng forfaytes of them whom couetousnes of gaynes hath brought in daunger of thys statute, and also by sellynge preuyleges and licences, whiche the better that the prynce is forsothe, the deerer he selleth them: as one that is lothe to graunte to any pryuate persone any thyng that is agaynste the proffyt of hys people. And therfore maye sell none but at an exceding dere pryce. An other giueth the kynge counsell to endaunger vnto hys grace the iudges of the Reyalme, that he maye haue them euer on hys syde, whyche muste in euerye matter despute and reason for the kynges rygth. And they muste be called into the kynges palace, & be desired to argue & discusse his matters in his owne presence. So there shalbe no matter of his so openlye wronge and vniuste, wherin one or other of them, other because he wy[…]l haue sumthyng to allege & obiecte, or y• he is ashamed to saye that whiche is sayde already, or els to pike a thanke with his prince, wyll not fynde som hole open to set a s[…]are in, wherewith to take the contrarie parte in a trippe. Thus whiles the iudges cannot agree amonges themselfes, reasoning & arguing of y• which is playne enough, & bringing the manifest trewthe in dowte: in the meane season y• kyng may take a fyt occasion to vnderstād the lawe as shal most make for his aduaūtage, wher vnto al other for shame or for feare wil agree. Then the Iudges maye be bolde to pronoūce of the kynges side. For he that geueth sentēce for the kyng cānot be without a good excuse. For it shalbe sufficient for hym to haue equitie of his part, or the bar[…] wordes of the lawe, or a wrythen and wr[…]sted vnderstandynge of the same, or els whiche with good and iust Iudges is of greater force then all lawes be, the kynges indisputable prerogatiue. To conclude, al the counsellours agre and consent together with the riche Crassus, that no abundāce of gold can be sufficiēt for a prince, which muste kepe and maynteyne an armie: furthermore that a kynge, thoughe he would, can do nothynge vniustly. For all that all men haue, yea also the men thē selfes be all his. And that euery mā hath somuch of his owne as y• kynges gentilnes hath not taken from hym.

And that it shalbe moste for y• kynges aduauntage that his subiectes haue very lytle or nothing in their possession, as whose sauegarde dothe herein consiste, that his people do not waxe wanton and wealthie through riches and libertie, because where thies thinges be, there me[…] be not wonte patientlye to obeye harde vniuste and vnlawfull commaundementes. Where as on the other part neade & pouertie doth holde downe and kepe vnder stowte courages, and maketh them patiēt perforce, takyng from them bolde and rebellynge stomakes. Here agayne if I should ryse vp, and boldelye affirme that all thies counselles be to the kyng dishonoure and reproche, whoes honoure and […]auitie is more and rather supported and vpholden by the wealth and ryches of his people, then by hys owne treasures, and if I shuld declare that the cōminaltie chueseth their king for their owne sake & not for his sake: for this intent that through his labour and studie they might al li[…]e wealthily sauffe from wronges and iniuries: and that therfore the kynge ought to take more care for the wealthe of his people, then for his owne wealthe, euen as the office and dewtie of a shephearde is, in that he is a shepherd, to feade his shepe rather then hymself. For as towchynge this, that they thinke the defence and mayntenaunce of peace to consiste in the pouertie of the people, the thyng it self sheweth that they be farre owt of the way. For where shall a mā finde more wrāgling quarelling brawling and chiding, then amōg beggers? Who be more disierous of newe mutations and alterations, then they that be not content with the present state of their lyfe? Or finally who be bolder stomaked to brynge all in hurlie burlie (therby trustyng to get sum wyndfall) then they that haue nowe nothing to leese? And if so be that there were any kyng, that were so smallye regarded, or so behated of his subiectes, that other wayes he coulde not kepe thē in awe, but onlie by opē wronges, by pollinge and shauinge, and by brynging[…] them to beggerie, sewerly it were better for hym to fors[…]ke hys kyngdome, then to holde it by this meanes: whereby though the name of a kyng be kept, yet the maiestie is lost. For it is against the dignitie of a kynge to haue rule ouer beggers, but rather ouer ryche and welthie men. Of thys mynde was the hardie & couragius Fabrice, when he sayde that he had rather be a ruler of ryche men then be ryche hymselfe. And verelye one man to lyue in pleasure and wealth, whyles all other wepe and smarte for it, that is the parte not of a kynge but of a iayler. To be shorte as he is a folyshe phisition that cannot cure his patientes disease onles he caste hym in an other syckenes, so he that cannot amēd the liues of his subiectes, but be taking from them the wealth and cōmoditie of lyfe, he must nedes graunte that he knoweth not the feate how to gouerne f[…]e men. But let hym rather a mende hys owne lyfe, renounce vnhonest pleasures, and forsake pride. For thies be the chiefe vices that cause hym to runne in the contempt or hatered of his people. Let him lyue of hys owne, hurtinge no man. Let him do coste not aboue his power. Let hym restreyne wyckednes. Let hym preuente vices, and take a waye the occasions of offences be well orderyng hys subiectes, and not by sufferyng wickednes to increase afterward to be punyshed. Let hym not be to hastie in callynge agayne lawes, whiche a custome hathe abrogated: speciallye suche as haue bene long forgotten and neuer lacked nor neaded. And let hym neuer vnder the cloke and pretence of transgression take suche fynes and forfaytes, as no Iudge wyll suffre a priuate persone to take, as vniuste & ful of gile. Here if I should brynge furth before them the lawe of the Macariens, whiche be not farre distaūt from Vtopia: whose kynge the daye of hys coronacion is bounde by a solempne Othe, that he shall neuer at anye tyme haue in hys treasure aboue a thousande pounde of golde or syluer. They saye a verye good kynge, whiche toke more care for the wealthe & cōmoditie of hys countrey, then for thenrychinge of himself, made this lawe to be a stop and a barre to kynges for heaping and hording vp so muche money as might impoueryshe their people. For he forsawe that this som of treasure woulde suffice to supporte the kynge in battail against his owne people, if they shuld chaunce to rebell: and also to maintein his warres against the inuasions of hys forreyn enemies. Againe he perceiued thesame stocke of money to be to litle and vnsufficient to encourage and able hym wrong fullye to take a waye other mens goodes, whyche was the chiefe cause whie the lawe was made. An other cause was this. He thought that by thys prouisiō his people shuld not lacke money, wherewith to maynteyne their dayly occupieng and chaffayre. And seynge the kynge coulde not chewse but laye owt & bestowe all that came in aboue the prescript some of his stocke, he thought he woulde seke no occasions to doo hys subiectes iniurie. Suche a kynge shalbe feared of euell men, and loued of good men. Thies and suche other informatyo[…]s yf I shoulde vse emonge men holy encliued and geuen to the contrarye part, how deaffe hearers thyncke you should I haue? Deaffe hearers douteles (quod I) And in good faith no marueyle. And to speake as I thynke, truelye I can not a lowe that such communicatyon shall be vsed, or suche cownsell geuen, as you be suere shall neuer be regarded nor receaued. For how can so straunge informations be profitable, or how can they be beatē into their headdes, whose myndes be all reddye preuented with cleane contrarye persuasyons? Thys schole philosophie is not vnpleasaunte emonge fryndes in famylier communication, but in the counselles of kynges, where greate matters be debated and reasoned wyth great aucthorytye, thies thynges haue no place. That is yt whyche I mente (q[…]d he) when I said phylosophye hadde no place amonge kinges. In dede (quod I) this schole philosophie hath not: whiche thinketh all thinges mete for euery place. But ther is an other philosophye more cyuyle, whyche knoweth as ye wolde saye her […]wne stage, and thereafter orderynge and behauynge herselfe in the play[…] that she hathe in hande, playethe her parte accordynglye wyth co[…]lynes, vtterynge nothynge owte of dewe ordre and fassyon. And thys ys the phylosophye that yowe muste vse. O […]els whyles a commodye of Plau[…]us is playinge, and the vyle bondemen skoffynge and tryffelynge amonge themselfes, yf yowe shoulde sodenlye come vpon the stage in a philosophers apparrell, and reherse owte of Octauia the place wherin Seneca dysputeth with Nero: had it not bene better for yowe to haue played the domme persone, then by rehersynge that, which serued nother for the tyme nor place to haue made suche a tragycall comedye or gallym alfreye? For by bryngynge in other stuffe that nothynge apperteyneth to the presente matter, yowe must nedys marre and peruert the play that ys in hande, thoughe the stuffe that yowe brynge be muche better. What parte soeuer yowe haue taken vpon yowe playe that aswell as yow[…] canne and make the beste of yt: And doo not therefore dysturbe and brynge owte of ordre the hole matter, bycause that an othere whyche is meryere and bette[…]e cummethe to yowre remembraunce. So the case stondethe in a common wealthe, and so yt ys in the consultatyons of Kynges and prynces. Yt euell opynyons and noughty persuasions can not be vtterly and quyte pluckede owte of their hartes, if you can not euen as you wold remedye vyces, whiche vse and custome hath confirmed: yet for this cause yow must not leaue and forsake the commō wealth: yow must not forsake y• shippe in a tempeste, bycause yowe can not rule and kepe downe the wyndes. No nor yow muste not laboure to dryue into their heades newe and straunge in formatyons, whyche yow knowe well shalbe nothynge regarded wyth them that be of cleane cōtrary mindes. But you must with a crafty wile & a subtell trayne studye and endeuoure your selfe asmuch as in yow lyethe to handle the matter wyttelye and handsomelye for the purpose and that whyche yowe can not turne to good, so to ordre it that it be not very badde. For it is not possible for all thynges to be well, onles all men were good. Which I thynke wil not be yet thys good many yeares. By thys meanes (quod he) nothynge elles wyll be broughte to passe, but whyles that I goo abowte to remedy the madnes of others, I should be euē as madde as they. For if I wolde speake thynges that be trewe, I muste […]eades speake suche thinges: but as for to speake false thinges, whether that be a philosophers part or no I can not tell, truely it is not my part. Howebeit thys communicatyon of myne, thoughe peraduenture it maye seme vnplesaunte to them, yett can I not see whie it should seme straū ge, or foolisshelye new fangled. If so be that I shoulde speake those thynges that Plato fayneth in hys weale publique: or that the vtopians do in theires, thies thinges thoughe they were (as they be in dede) better, yet they myghte seme spoken owt of place. For asmuch as here amonges vs, euerye man hath hys possessyons seuerall to hymselfe, & there all thinges be common. But what was in my communication conteyned, that mighte not, and oughte not in anye place to be spoken? Sauynge that to them whyche haue throughlye decreed and determined with them selfes to rome hedlonges the contrary waye it can not be acceptable and plesaunt, bicause it calleth them backe, and sheweth thē the ieopardies. Verilye yf all thynges that euell & vitiouse maners haue caused to seme inconueniente and noughte should be refused, as thinges vnmete & reprochefull, thē we must emong Christen people wyncke at the moste parte of all those thynges whyche Christe taughte vs, and so streytlye forbadde them to be wyncked at, that those thinges also whyche he whispered in the […]ares of hys dyscyples he commaunded to be proclaymed in open howses. And yet the most parte of thē is moore di[…]ident frō the maners of the worlde nowe a dayes then my communicatyon was. But preachers slye & wilie mē followynge your cownsell (as I suppose) bicause they saw men euel willing to frame theyr manners to Christes rule, they haue wrested and wriede hys doctryne, and lyke a rule of leade haue applyed yt to mennys maners: that by some meanes at the leaste waye, they myghte agree to gether. Wherby I can not see what good they haue doone: but that men may more sickerlye be euell. And I truelye shoulde preuaile euen asmuche in kinges counselles. For other I muste saye other wayes then they saye, and then I were as good to saye nothynge, or els I muste saye thesame that they saye, and (as Mitio saieth in Terence) helpe to further their madnes. For that craftye wyle and subtill traine of yours, I can not perceaue to what purpose it serueth, wherewyth yow wolde haue me to studdy & endeuoure my selfe, yf all thynges can not be made good, yet to handle them wittily and handsomely for the purpose, y• as farre furth as is possible they maye not be very euell. For there is no place to dissēble in, nor to wincke in▪ Noughtye cownselles muste be openlye allowed, and verye pestylent decrees muste be approued. He shalbe cowntede worse then a spye, yea almoste as […] uell as a trayt[…]ure, that wyth a faynte harte dothe prayse euell and noyesome decrees. Moreouer […] man canne haue no occasyon too do[…] good chauncynge into the companye of them, whyche wyll sonere make noughte a good man, they be made good themselfes: throughe whose euell companye he shalbe marred, or els yf he remayne good and innocent, yett the wyckednes and folysshene[…] of others shalbe imputed to hym, and layde in hys necke. So that yt is impossyble wyth that craftye wyele, and subtell trayne to turne a[…]ny thing to better. Wherfore Plato by a goodly simplitude declareth, whie wise men refreyn to medle in the common wealth. For when they see the people swarm in to the stretes and dailie wett to the skin wyth ray[…]e, and yett can not persuade them to goo owt of the rayne, and to take their houses: knowynge well that if they shoulde goo owte to them, they shoulde nothynge preuayle, nor wynne ought by it, but be wett also in the rain, they do kepe them selfes within their howses, beynge contente that they be saffe them selfes, seynge they can not remedye the follye of the people. Howe be it dowteles mayster Moore (to speke truelye as my mynde geueth me) where soeuer possessyons be pryuate, where […]oneye beareth all the stroke, it is hard and almoste impossyble that there the weale publyque maye iustelye be gouerned and prosperouslye floryshe: Onles you thynke thus: that Iustyce is there executed wher all thynges come into the handes of euell men, or that prosperytye their floryssheth where all is deuyded amonge a fewe: whyche fewe neuerthelesse do not leade their lyues verye wealthely, and the resydewe lyue myserablye wretchedlye and beggerlye. Wherefore when I consyder wyth my selfe and weye in my mynde the wyse and godlye ordynaunces of the Vtopyans, amonge whome wyth verye fewe lawes all thynges be so well and wealthelye ordered; that vertue ie had in pryce and estimatyon, and yet all thynges beynge ther common▪ euerye man ha[…]h abundaunce of euery thynge▪ Agaynt on the other part, when I compare wyth them so manye natyons euer makyng new lawes, yet none of them all well and suffycyentlye furnysshed wyth lawes: where euery man calleth that he hath gotten hys owne proper and pryuate goodes▪ where so many newe lawes daylye made be not suffycyente for euerye man to enioye defend and knowe from an other mans that whych he calleth his owne: which thyng the infinyte controuersies in the lawe, that daylye ryse neuer to be ended, play[…]ly declare to be trewe: Thies thynges (I say) when I consider with me selfe, I holde well with Plato, and […] no thynge marueyll that he wolde make no lawes for them that refused those lawes, wherby all men shoulde haue and enioye equall portions of wel […]hes and commodities. For the wi[…]e man dyd easely forsee, that thys is the one and onlye waye to the wealthe of amonge vs haue bene founde by chaū ce whych no wytte colde euer haue deuysed. As towchynge the auncyetnes (quod he) of common wealthes, than you might better iudge, if you had red the histories and chronicles of y• lande, which if wer may beleue, cities were there, before there were men here. Now what thinge soeuer hitherto by witte hath bene deuised, or foūd by chaūce: y• myghte be aswell there as here. But I thinke verily, though it were so that w[…] did passe them in witte: yet in studye & laboursome endeuoure they farre passe vs. For (as there Cronicles testifie) before our arriuall ther they neuer harde any thinge of vs, whome they call the vltraequinoctial[…]es: sauinge that o[…]es about. M. C. C. yeares ago, a certein […]hyppe was loste by the Ile of Vtopia whiche was driuen thither by tempest. Certeyn Romayns and Egyptyans were caste on lande. Whyche after that neuer wente thence. Marke nowe what profite they tooke of thys one occasion through delygence and earneste […]rauaile. There was no craft nor scy […]ce within the impery of Rome, wherof any proffite co[…]ld rise, but they other lerned it of thies straungers, or els of them taking occa[…]ion to searche for yt▪ fownde it owte. So great proffyte was it to them that euer annye wente thyther from hence. But yf annye lyke chaunce before thys hath brought any man from thence hether, that is as quyte out of remembraunce, as this also perchaunce in time to come shalbe forgotten that euer I was there. And like as they quickelye, almoste at the first meting, made their owne, what so euer is among vs wealthely deuysed: so I suppose it wold belonge befor we wolde receaue any thing that am[…]nge them is better instytuted then amonge vs. And thys I suppose is the chiefe cause whie theyr common wealthes be wysel[…]ere gouerned and do florysh in more wealth then ours, though wee […]other in wytte nor in ryches be ther inferiours. Therfore gētle maister Raphaell (quod I (I praye you and beseche yow descrybe vnto vs the Iland. And study […]ot to be shorte: but declare largely in order their groundes, there ryuers, their cities, theire people, theire manners, their ordenaūces, ther lawes and to be short al thinges that you shal thinke vs desierous to knowe. And you shal thinke vs desierous to k[…]owe. And you shal thinke vs defierous to know whatsoeuer we knowe not yet. There is nothing (quod he (that I will do gladlier. For all these thinges I haue freshe in mind. But y• matter requireth leasure. Let vs go in therfor (quod I) to dinner: afterward we will bestowe the time at our pleasure. Content (quod he) be it. So we went in and dyned. Whē diner was done we came into yt same place again, & sate vs downe vpon the same benche, commaunding oure seruauntes that no man should trowble vs. Then I and maister Peter Giles desiered maister Raphaell to performe his promise. He therfore seinge vs desierous & willingeto harken to him, when he had sit still and paused a litle while, musing and bethinkynge hymselfe, thus he began to speake.

The ende of the Fyrste boke.

Chapter 4 of 13