Of the traning vp of yong gentlemen. Of priuate and publike education, with their generall goods and illes. That there is no better way for gentlemen to be trained by in any respect then the common is being well appointed. Of rich-mens children which be no gentlemen. Of nobilitie in generall. Of gentlemanlie exercises. What it is to be a nobleman, or a gentleman. That infirmities in noble houses be not to be triumphed ouer. The causes and groundes of nobilitie. Why so many desire to be gentlemen. That gentlemen ought to professe learning and liberall sciences for many good and honorable effectes. Of trauelling into forraine countries: with all the braunches allowance and disallowance thereof: and that it were to be wished, that gentlemen would professe, to make sciences liberall in vse, which are liberall in name. Of the trayning vp of a yong prince.
Inthe last title I did declare at large, how yong maidens in ech degree were to be auaunced in learning, which me thought was verie incident to my purpose, bycause they be counter-braunches to vs in the kinde of mortall and reasonable creatures, and also for that in eche degree of life, they be still our mates, and sometime our mistresses, through the benefit of law, and honorablenes of birth. Now considering they ioyne allway with vs in number and nearenes, and sometime exceede vs in dignitie and calling: as they communicate with vs in all qualities, and all honours euen vp to the scepter, so why ought they not in any wise but be made communicantes with vs in education and traine, to performe that part well, which they are to play, for either equalitie with vs, or soueraintie aboue vs? Here now ensueth another title of meruelous importaunce, for the kinde of people, whereof I am to entreat: bycause their state is still in the superlatiue, and the greatest executions be theirs by degree, though sometime they leese them by their owne default, and set them ouer to such, as nature maketh noble by ingenerate vertues. I meane the trayning vp of yonggentlemenin euery degree and to what so euer ascent, bycause euen the crowne and kingdome is their height, though it come to the female, when their side faileth. Forgentlemenwill commonly be exempt from the common,as in title, so also in traine, refrayning the publike, though they hold of the male, and preferring the priuate, to be liker to maidens, whose education is most priuate, bycause of their kinde, and therefore not misliked: whereas yong gentlemen should be publike, bycause of their vse. And for not being such, they beare some blame, as therein contrarying both all the best ordered common weales, and all the most excellent and the learnedest writers, which bring vp euen the best princes allway with great company.
But seeing they wilbe priuate, and I take vpon me not to leap ouer any, which light within my compasse, and chiefly yong gentlemen, whose ordinarie greatnes is to gouerne our state, and to be publike pillers for the prince to leane on, and the people to staie by: their priuate choice commaundes me a priuate consideration, which in yong gentlewymen needed not any handling, bycause it beseemeth them to be taught in priuate: ingentlemenit needeth, the case being doubtfull, whether priuate trayning be their best or no. And though this argument succede yong maidens in order of methode, I hope yong gentlemen will not be offended neither with me for the placing, seeing the other sex is in possesssion of prerogatiue, nor with them for being so placed, which haue wone the best place.
Of priuate education.
Priuate.
Education.
This question for the bringing vp of yong gentlemen offereth the deciding of an other ordinarie controuersie, betwenepublikeeducation andpriuate, which verie name in nature is enemy to publike, as inclosure is to common, and swelling to much ouerlayeth the common, not onely ineducation, where it both corrupteth by planting a to priuate habit, and is corrupted it selfe by a degenerate forme, but also in most thinges else. Yet do I not deny both personall properties and priuate realities, which law doth allow in priuate possessions, euen there, where friendship makes thinges to be most common by participation. I will therefore speake a litle of thispriuatetraine, before I passe to theeducationofgentlemen. What doe these two wordes import,priuate education?Priuateis that, which hath respect in all circumstances to some one of choice: aspublikein all circumstances regardeth euery one alike.Educationis the bringing vp of one, not to liue alone, but amongest others, (bycause companie is our naturall cognisaunce) whereby he shall be best ableto execute those doings in life, which the state of his calling shall employ him vnto, whetherpublikeabrode, orpriuateat home, according vnto the direction of his countrie, whereunto he is borne, and oweth his whole seruice. All the functions here be publike and regard euery one, euen where the thinges do seeme to be most priuate, bycause the maine direction remaineth in the publike, and the priuate must be squared, as it will best ioyne with that: and yet we restraineeducationtopriuate, all whose circumstaunces be singular to one. As if he that were brought vp alone, should also euer liue alone, as if one should say, I will haue you to deale with all, but neuer to see all: your end shalbepublike, your meane shalbepriuate, that is to say, such a meane as hath no minde to bring you to that end, which you seeme to pretend: Bycause naturallypriuateis sworne enemy topublikein all euentes, as it doth appeare whenpriuategaine vndoeth the common, thoughpublikestill pretend friendship to all that ispriuatein distributiue effects, as it is plainely seene when thepublikecare doth helpe echpriuate, and by cherishing the singuler maintaineth the generall, whereas the priuate letteth the publike drowne, so it selfe may flete aboue. For in deed they march mostwhat from seuerall groundes to seuerall issues by most seuerall and least sutable meanes, the one in nature a rowmypallacefull of most varietie to content the minde, the other a closeprison, tedious to be tied to, where the sense is shackled: the one in her kinde, alibertie, a broadefeild, an openaire, the other in the contrarie kinde, apinfold, acage, acloister: Neither do I take these tearmes to make a fit diuision, where the end is stillcommonand the abusepriuate. For how caneducationbepriuate? it abuseth the name as it abuseth the thing. If they will sayeducationis either good or ill, and vse the naturall name, then methinke the disembling which is shadowed in the tearmepriuatewould soone appeare: though there can be no worse name thenpriuate, sauing where the publike doth appoint it, which in education it will not, thereby to foster her owne foe: though in possessions it do, to haue subsidies to sustaine, and paiements to maintaine her great common charge.
And though in communities of kinde which naturally is deuided into spieces,natureengraffepriuatedifferences for distinction sake, asreasonin man to part him from a beast, yet that difference remaineth one still, bycause there isnone better: which countenaunce of best cannot here be pretended, bycause ineducation priuateis the worst. Thispriuaterenting in sunder of persons, for a pretended besteducation, which must passe on togither aftereducationis verie daungerous in all daies, for many priuate pushes, while euery parent can serue his owne humour, be it neuer so distempered: by the secrecie of his owne house, not to be discouered: by the choyce of his teacher, which will be ready to follow, if he forgoe not in folley: by the obedience of his child, which must learne as he is led, or else be beaten for not learning: which must obey as he is bid, or else lease his parent blessing. Inpublickeschooles this swaruing in affection from thepublickechoice in no case can be. The master is in eye, what he saith is in eare: the doctrine is examined: the childe is not alone, and there must he learne that which is laid vnto him in the hearing of all and censure of all. Whatsoeuer inconueniences do grow incommonschooles, (as where the dealers be men, how can there be but maimes?) yet thepriuateis much worse, and hatcheth moe odde ills. Naturally it is not built vpon vnitie, brad by disunion, to seeme to see more then the common man doth, to seeme to preuent that bypriuatewit, which the common doth incurre by vnaduised follie: to seeme to gaine more in secrecie, then the common giues in ciuilitie. By cloistering from the common it will seeme to keepe a countenaunce farre aboue the common, euen from the first cradle. Wherby it becomes thepuffervp topridein the recluse, and thedirectiontodisdaine, by dreaming still of bettership: the enemie to vnitie, betwene the vnequall: the ouerwayning of ones selfe, not compared with others, the disiointing of agreement, where the higher contemneth his inferiour with skorne, and the lower doth stomacke his superiour with spite: the one gathering snuffe, the other grudge.
This kinde of traine which soweth the corne of dissension by difference, where the haruest of consent is the harbour of common loue, the indissoluble chaine of countriemens comfort, may very well be bettered, and much better be forborne, bycause by the way it tempereth still the poyson of a creeping spite. And certainly the nature of the thing doth tend this way, though chaunging bytimes to better choice, or the common check, which will not be controwled, do many and often times interrupt the course. And though the child in proces proue better, and shew himselfe curteous,contrarie to my note, and the verie nature of priuate education, thanke naturall goodnesse or experience seene abroad, not the kinde of education, which in her owne sternnesse alloweth no such curtesie, though the childe see it in his parentes, and finde it in his bookes. And somtimes also it maketh him to shepish bashfull, when he comes to the light: as being vnacquainted with resort: though generally he be somwhat to childish bold, by noting nothing, but that which he breedes of himselfe in his solitarie traine, where he is best himselfe, and hath none to controwle him, no not his maister himselfe, but vnder confession, how so euer the title of maister do pretend authoritie and the name of scholer, make shew of obedience in priuate cloistring. I neede not saie all, but in this short manner, I seeke to giue occasion for them to see all, which desire to sift more, both for the matter of their learning, and the manner of their liuing.
Do ye know what it is for one to be acquainted with all children in his childhood, which must liue with them being men in his manhood? Is the common bringing vp being well appointed good for the common man, and not for him of more height? and doth not that deserue to be liked on in priuate, which is thoroughly tryed being showed forth in common, and sifted by the seeing? which without any great alteration, for the matter of traine will be very well content to be pent vp within priuate dores, though it mislike the cloistring, in priuating the person. Sure that common which is well cast, must needes helpe the priuate, as one of her partes and feede one child very well being a generall mother to all: but priuate be it neuer so well cast in the sternnesse of his kinde, still drawes from the publike. I count not that priuate which is executed at home for a publike vse, in respect of the place, for so all doinges be priuate, but that which will be at home, as better so. And why? for the priuate parties good. But it should seeme generally that the question is not so much for the manner of education, nor for the matter, wherin, but for the place where, as if that, which is good for all in common, should not be good for some but in priuate. I must speake it vnder pardon. The effect commendes the common: for that the common education in the middest of common mediocritie bringeth vp such wittes to such excellencie, as serue in all degrees, yea euen next to the hyest, wheraspriuate education in the middest of most wealth, if it maintaine it selfe with any more then bare mediocritie both of learning and iudgement, when it is at the hyest, let him that hath shewed more, giue charge to the chalenge. And yet some one young mans odnesse, though it be odde in deed, ouerthroweth not the question. And oftimes the report of that odnesse which we see not in effect, but heare of in speeche, falles out very lame, if the reporters iudgement be aduisedly considered, though for the authoritie and countenaunce of the man, skill giue place to boldnesse, and silence to ciuilitie: which otherwise would replie against it. There is no comparison betwene the two kindes, set affection apart. If the priuate pupill chaunce to come to speake, it falleth out mostwhat dreamingly, bycause priuitie in traine is a punishment to the tongue: and in teaching of a language to exclude companions of speeche, is to seeke to quenche thrist, and yet to close the mouth so, as no moysture can get in. If he come to write, it is leane, and nothing but skinne, and commonly bewrayes great paines in the maister, which brought forth euen so much, being quite reft of all helping circunstance, to ease his great labour, by his pupilles conference, with more companie. Which is but a small benefit to the child, that might haue had much more if his course had bene chaunged. He can but vtter that, which he heares, and he heares none but one, which one though he know all, yet can vtter but litle, bycause what one auditorie is two or three boyes for a learned man to prouoke him to vtteraunce? If he trauelled to vtter, and one of iudgement should stand behinde a couert to heare him, methinke he should heare a straunge orator straining his pipes, to perswade straunge people, and the boye if he were alone, fast a sleepe, or if he had a fellow, playing vnder the bourd, with his hand or feete, hauing one eye vpon his talking maister, and the other eye on his playing mate. If the nyneMusesandApollotheir president were painted vpon the wall, he might talke to them with out either laughing or lowring, they would serue him for places of memorie, or for hieroglyphicall partitions. If he that is taught alone misse, as he must often, hauing either none, or verie small companie to helpe his memorie, which multitude serues for in common scholes, where the hearing of many confirmes the sitter by, shall he runne to his maister? if he do that boldly, it will breede contempt inthe ende: if he do it with feare, it will dull him for not daring. And though it be verie good for the child, not to be afrayd to aske counsell of his maister in that, where he doubteth, yet if he finde easie entertainment he will doubt still, rather then do his diligence, not to haue cause to doubt. If the priuate scholer proue cunninger afterward, then I conceiue he can be by priuate education, there was some forreine helpe which auaunced him abroad, it was not his traine within being tyed to the stake, which offereth that violence to my assertion.
Why is priuate teaching so much vsed?
But what leades the priuate, and why is it so much vsed? There must needes be some reason, which alieneth the particular parente from the publike discipline, which I do graunt to very great ones, bycause the further they rise from the multitude in number, and aboue them in degree, the more priuate they grow as in person, so in traine: and the prince himselfe being one and singular must needes embrace the priuate discipline, wherin he sheweth great valure in his person, if by priuate meanes, he mount aboue the publike. And yet if euen the greatest, could haue his traine so cast, as he might haue the companie of a good choice number, wherein to see all differences of wittes, how to discerne of all, which must deale with all, were it any sacrilege?
But for the gentleman generally, which flyeth not so high, but fluttereth some litle aboue the ordinarie common, why doth he make his choice rather to be like them aboue, which still grow priuater, then to like of them below, which can grow no lower, and yet be supporters, to stay vp the whole, and liker to himselfe, then he is to the highest? To haue his child learne better maners, and more vertuous conditions? As bad at home as abroad, and brought into schooles, not bred there. To auoide confusion and multitude? His child shall marke more, and so proue the wiser: the multitude of examples being the meanes to discretion. Nay in a number, though he finde some lewd, whom to flie, he shall spie many toward, whom to follow: and withall in schooles he shall perceaue that vice is punished, and vertue praised, which where it is not, there is daunger to good manners, but not in schooles, where it is very diligently obserued, bycause in publike view, necessitie is the spurre. To keepe him in health by biding at home for feare of infection abroad? Death is within dores, and dainties athome haue destroyed more children then daunger abroad. Doth affection worke stay, and can ye not parte from your childes presence? That is to fond. And any cause else admittes controwlement, sauing onely state in princes children, and princelike personages, which are to farre aboue the common: by reason of great circunstance. And yet their circunstance were better, if they saw the common, ouer whom they command, and with due circumspectnesse could auoid all daungers, whervnto the greatest be commonly subiect, by great desires, not in themselues to haue, but in others that hope, which make the greatnesse of their gaine their colour against iustice, where they iniurie most. It is enough that is ment, though I say no more: besides that by aPersianprinciple, the seldome seing in princes, workes admiration the more, when they are to be seene.
Send your priuate M. with your child to the common schoole.
Vse common scholes to the best, ioyne a tutor to your childe, letQuintilianbe your guide, all thinges will be well done, where such care is at hand, and that is much better done, which is done before witnes to encourage the childe.Comparisonsinspire vertues,hearingspreads learning: one is none and if he do something at home, what would he do with company? It is neuer settled, that wanteth an aduersarie, to quicken the spirites, to stirre courage, to finde out affections.
For the maisters valew, which is content to be cloistered, I will say nothing, entertainement makes digressions euen to that, which we like not. But if it would please the priuate parent, to send his sonne with his priuate maister to a common schoole, that might do all parties very much good. For the schole being well ordered, and appointed for matter and maner to learne, where number is pretended to cumber the maister, and to mince his labour so, as ech one can haue but some litle, though his voice be like theSunne, which at one time with one light shineth vpon all: yet the priuate scholer, by the helpe of his priuate maister in the common place hath his full applying, and the wholeSunne, if no lesse will content him. The common maister thereby will be carefull to haue the best: the priuate teacher willbe curiouse to come but to the very best: wherby both the priuate and publike scholers shall be sure to receiue the best. And if the publike maister be chosen accordingly, as allowance will allure euen the principallbest, priuate cunning will not disdaine to be one degree beneth, where he knoweth himselfe bettered. And thereby disagreement betwene the two teachers will be quite excluded which onely might be the meane to marre both my meaning andQintilianescounsell. Sure my resolution is, which if it winne no liking abroade may returne againe homeward, and be wellcome to his maister, that that which must be continued and exercised in publike, the residue of ones life, were best to be learned in publike, from the beginning of ones life. And if ye will needes be priuate, make your priuate publike, and drawe as many to your priuate maister, for your priuate sonnes sake, seeing you are able to prouide rowme, bycause that will proue to be best for your child, as shalbe able to keepe some forme of our multitude, that he may haue one companie before him to follow and learne of, an other beneth to teach and vaunt ouer, the third of his owne standing, with whom to striue for praise of forwardnes. Whereby it falleth out still, that that priuate is best, which consisteth of some chosen number for a priuate ende: and that multitude best, where choice restraines number, for the publike seruice: for in deede the common scholes be as much ouercharged with too many, as any priuate is with to few. Which how it may either be helpt, or in that confusion be better handled, I will hereafter in my priuate executions declare, seeing I haue noted the defect.
To knit vp this question therefore of priuate and publikeeducation, I do take publike to be simply the better: as being more vpon the stage, where faultes be more seene, and so sooner amended, as being the best meane both for vertue and learning, which follow in such sort, as they be first planted. Whatvertueis private?wisedometo forsee, what is good for a desert?courageto defend, where there is no assailant?temperanceto be modest, where none is to chaleng?Iusticeto do right, where none is to demaunde it? whatlearningis for alonnesse? did it not come from collection in publike dealinges, and can it shew her force in priuate affaires, which seeme affraid of the publike? Compare the best in both the kinds, there the ods wil appeare. If ye compare a priuate scholer, of a very fine capacity, and worthy the open field, so well trayned by a diligent and a discreat maister as that traine will yeald: with a blockhead brought vp under a publike teacher, not of thebest sort, or if in comparison ye march a toward priuate teacher with a weake publike maister, ye say somwhat to the persons but smallie to the thing, which inequalitieshewes the difference, ininequalitiedeceiues the doubter, and then most, when to augment his owne liking, he wil make the conference odde, to seeme to auaunce errour, where the truth is against him. And to saye all in one, the publike pestring with any reasonable consideration, though it be not the best, yet in good sooth, it farre exceedeth the priuate alonenesse, though sometime a diligent priuate teacher shew some great effect of his maine endeuour.
That the circunstance is one in gentlemen and common mens children.
But to the education ofgentlemenandgentlemanlyfellowes. What time shal I appoint them to begin to learne? Their witts be as the common, their bodies oftimes worse. The same circunstance, the same consideration for time must direct all degrees. What thing shall they learne? I know none other, neither can I appoint better, then that which I did appoint for all. The common and priuate concurre herin. Neither shall the priuate scholer go any faster on, nay perhaps not so fast, for all the helpe of his whole maister, then our boyes shall, with the bare helpe, that is in number and multitude, euery boye being either a maister for his fellow to learne by, or an example to set him on, to better him if he be negligent, to be like him, if he be diligent.
Onely this, younggentlemenmust haue some choice of peculiar matter, still appropriat vnto them, bycause they be to gouerne vnder their prince in principall places: those vertues and vertuous lessons must be still layd before them, which do appertaine to gouernement, to direct others well, and belong to obedience, to guide themselues wisely. For being in good place, and hauing good to leese, it will proue their ill, by vndiscrete attemptes to become prayes to distresse. And yet for all this, the generall matter of duetie being commonly taught, eche one may applie the generall to his owne priuate, without drawing any priuate argument into a schoole, for the priuitie not to be communicate but with those of the same calling: considering the property of that argument falleth as oft to the good of the common, whom vertue auaunceth, as thegentlemenscredit, whom negligence abaseth. What exercises shall they haue? The verie same. What maisters? The sameWhat circunstance else? All one and the same: but that for their place and time, their choice makes them priuate, though nothing the better for want of good fellowship. And if they proue so well trained, as the generall plat for all infancie doth promise, and so well exercised, as the thing is well ment them, they shall haue no cause, much to complaine of the publike, nor any matter at all why to couet to be priuate. For it is no meane stuffe, which is prouided euen for the meanest to be stored with.
These thinges gentlemen haue, and are much bound to God for them, which may make them proue excellent, if they vse them well:great abilitieto go thorough withall, where the poorer must giue ouer, eare he come to the ende:great leasureto vse libertie, where the meaner must labour:all oportunitiesat will, where the common is restrained: so that singularitie in them if it be missed, discommendes them, bycause they haue such meanes and yet misse: if it hit in the meaner, it makes their account more, bycause their meane was small, but their diligence exceeding. Whereby negligence in gentlemen is euer more blamed, bycause of great helpes, which helpe nothing: diligence in the meaner is alway more praised, bycause of great wantes, which hinder nothing: and those prefermentes, which by degree are due vnto gentlemen, thorough their negligence being by them forsaken, are bestowed vpon the meaner, whose diligent endeuour made meane to enioy them.
Riche men no gentlemen.
1. As forrichemen which being nogentlemen, but growing to wealth by what meanes soeuer, will counterfeatgentlemenin the education of their children, as if money made equalitie, and the purse were the preferrer, and no further regard: which contemne the common from whence they came, which cloister vp their youth, as boding further state: they be in the same case forabilitie, though farre behinde forgentilitie. But as they came from the common, so they might with more commendacion, continue their children in that kinde, which brought vp the parentes and made them so wealthy, and not to impatronise themselues vnto a degree to farre beyond the dounghill. For of all the meanes to make a gentleman, it is the most vile, to be made for money. Bycause all other meanes beare some signe of vertue, this onely meane is to bad a meane, either to matche with great birth, or to mate great worth. For the most parte it is miserablyscraped to the murthering of many a poore magot, while liuely cheese is lusty cheare, to spare expenses, thatIackemaye be a gentleman. If sparing were the worst, though in the worst degree, that were not the worst, nay it hath shew of witte: The rest which I tuch not, be so shamefull and so knowen to be such, and deserue so great hatred as nothing more. Besides the insolencie of the people, triumphing ouer them in their cuppes, by whom they buy their drinke: which shiftes be shamefull to the world, and hatefull to heauen: and too too filthy to be honored vpon earth with either armes by harold, or honour by any. He that will reade butAristophaneshis blindePlutusthe God of richesse, and marke the old fellowes fashions shall see his humour naturally, as that poete was not the worst resembler though he were not the best man.
For to become agentlemanis to beare the cognisance of vertue, wherto honour is companion: the vilest diuises be the readiest meanes to become most wealthy, and ought not to looke honour in the face, bycause it ioynes not with iustice, which greate wealth by the Greeke verse, οὐδεὶς ἐπλοὐτησε ταχέως, δίκαιος ὤν, is noted to refuse, and commonly dare not name the meane right, whereby it groweth great. And though witte be pretended to haue made their way, it is not denied but that witte may serue euen to the worst effectes, and to wring many a thousand to make one a gentleman. It is not witte, that carieth the praise, but the matter, wheron, and the manner how it is, or hath bene ill or well employed. Witte bestowed vpon the common good with wise demeanour, deserueth well: the same holy giuen to fill a priuate purse, by any meane, so it be secrete: by any misdemeanour, so it be not seene: deserueth no prais for that which is seen, but is to be suspected, for that which is not seene. These people by their generall trades, will make thousandes poore: and for giuing one penie to any one poore of those many thousandes will be counted charitable. They will giue a scholer some petie poore exhibition to seeme to be religious, and vnder a sclender veale of counterfeat liberalitie, hide the spoile of the ransaked pouertie. And though they do not professe the impouershing of purpose, yet their kinde of dealing doth pierce as it passeth: and a thousand pound gaines bowelles twentie thousand persons. Of these kinde of folkes I entend not to speake, bycause their state is both casuall,and belongeth to the common: and their gentilitie bastardise: and yet while I frame a gentleman, if any of them take the benefit of my aduice, gentle men must beare with me, if my precepts be vsurped on, where their state is intruded on.
My purpose is to employ my paines vpon such as aregentlemenin deede, and in right iudgement of their vnbewitched countrie do serue in best place: neither will I rip vp what some write of nobilitie in generall, whether by birth or by discent: nor what other write of true nobilitie, as disclayming in that which vertue auaunceth not: nor what other write of learned nobilitie, as accounting that simply the best, where vertue and learning do beawtifie the subiect. One might talke beyond enough, and write beyond measure, that would examine what such a one saith of nobilitie in greeke, such a one in latin, such in other seuerall toungues, bycause the argument is so large, the vse of nobilitie streaching so farre, and so braue a subiect cannot chuse but minister passing braue discourses. There be so many vertues to commend it, all the brymmer in sight the clearer their subiect is: so many vices to assaile it whose disfiguring is foulest, where it falleth in the face, and must needes be sene.
All these offered occasions, to enlarge and amplyfie this so honorable an argument, I meane to forbeare, and giue onely this note vnto yong gentlemen: That if their calling had not bene of very great worth in deede, as it is of most shew in place, it could neuer haue wone so many learned workes, it could neuer haue perced so many excellent wittes, to reioyce with it in good, to mourn with it in ill, and to make the meditation of nobilitie, to be matter for them to maruell. And that therfore it doth standnobilitievpon, to maintaine that glorie in their families with prayse, which learned men in so many languages, do charge them with in precept. My friend to be carefull, that I keepe all well, and my selfe to be carelesse and consume all ill? an honest friend and an honorable care. But what am I? my auncetours to auaunce my howse to honour, my selfe to spoile it, and bring it to decaye? The auauncement vertuous, the aduauncer commendable. But what am I? agentlemanin birth and nothing else but brauerie. A sory shew which shameth, where it shapeth. It is value that giues name and note tonobilitie, it is vertue must endow it, or vice willvndoe it. The more high the more heynouse, if it fortune to faile: the more bruted the more brutish if it fatall vnder fame. Which seeing it is so, as I wish the race well, so I wish their traine were good, and if it were possible euen better then the common, but that cannot be. For the common well appointed is simply the best, and euen fittest, for them, bycause they may haue it full, where the meaner haue it maimed. Their sufficiencie is so able to wyn it with perfection, for leasure at will, for labour at ease, for want the least, for wealth the most, in all thinges absolute, in nothing vnperfit, if they faile not themselues.
But bycause I meane briefly to runne through this title of nobilitie, which concerneth the worthiest part of our state and country, whatsoeuer cauelling the enemies ofnobilitypretend, whose good education must be applied according vnto their degrees and endes, to the commoditie and honour of our state and countrie: Before that I do meddle with their traine, and shew what is most for them, and best liked in them, I will examine those pointes which by good education be best got, and being once got do beawtifie them most, which two considerations be not impertinent to my purpose, bycause I tender their education, to haue them proue best.
The method of the discourse that followeth.
My first note in nature of methode must needes be, what it is to be agentleman, or anobleman, and what force the tearmes ofnobilitieorgentriedo infer to be in the persons, to whom they are proper. Then what be the groundes and causes ofgentrieandnobilitie: both the efficient which make them, and the finall why they serue, wherein the rightnes of their being consisteth, and why there is such thronging of all people that way.
Gentlemanly exercise.
But ear I begine to deale with any of these pointes, once for all I must recommend vnto them exercise of the bodie, and chiefly such as besides their health shall best serue their calling, and place in their countrie. Whereof I haue saide, methinke, sufficiently before. And as those qualities, which I haue set out for the generall traine in their perfection being best compassed by them, may verie well beseeme a gentlemanly minde: so may the exercises without all exception: either to make an healthfull bodie, seeing our mould is all one: or to prepare them for seruice, wherein their vse is more. Isit not for agentlemanto vse the chase and hunt? doth their place reproue them if they haue skill to daunce? Is the skill in sitting of an horse no honour at home, no helpe abroad? Is the vse of their weapon with choice, for their calling, any blemish vnto them? For all these and what else beside, there is furniture for them, if they do but looke backe: and the rather for them, bycause in deede those great exercises be most proper to such persons, and not for the meaner. Wherefore I remit them to that place.
What is it to be a nobleman or a gentleman?
What is it to be anoblemanor agentleman? and what force do those termes ofnobilitieandgentilitieinfer to be in those persons, whereunto they are proper? All the people which be in our countrie be eithergentlemenor of thecommonalty. The common is deuided intomarchauntesandmanuariesgenerally, what partition soeuer is the subdiuident.Marchandizecontaineth vnder it all those which liue any way by buying or selling:Manuariethose whose handyworke is their ware, and labour their liuing. Their distinction is by wealth: for some of them be called rich men, which haue enough and more, some poore men, which haue no more then enough: some beggers which haue lesse then enough: There be also three kindes ingentilitie, thegentlemen, which be thecreameof the common: thenoblemen, which be theflowreofgentilitie, and theprincewhich is theprimateandpearleofnobilitie. Their difference is inauthoritie, theprincemost, thenoblemannext, thegentlemanvnder both. And as in the baser degree, thebeggeris beneth all for want of both abilitie to do with, and vertue to deserue with: so theprincebeing opposite to him, as the meere best, to the pure worst, is of most abilitie to do good, and of most vertue to deserue best. The limiting of either sort to their owne lystes, will bewray either an vsurping intruder vpon superioritie, or a base degenerat to inferioritie, either being rauished with the others dealinges, and neither deseruing the degree that he is in. To be vertuous or vicious to be rich or poore, be no peculiar badges to either sort, but common to both, for both a gentleman, and a common man may be vertuous or vicious, both of them may be either rich or poore: landed or vnlanded, which is either the hauing or wanting of the most statarie substance: Examples neede not in familiar knowledge. And as the gentleman in any degree must haue forreine abilitie for the better executing of his lawfullauthoritie: so there be some vertues which seeme to be wedded properly to that side: As great wisedom in great affaires: great valiancy in great attemptes: great iustice in great executions and all thinges excellent, in a great and excellent degree of people. The same vertues but in a meaner degree in respect of the subiect, whereon they be employed: in respect of the persons, which are to employ: in respect of circumstance, wherefore they are employed: and all thinges meaner be reserued for the common: of whom I will speake no more now, bycause this title is not for them, though they become the keepers of vertues and learning, when nobilitie becomes degenerate. Hereby it is euident that the tearme of nobilitie amongst vs, is restrained to one order, which I named the flowre of gentilitie: and that the gentlemen be in degree next vnto them. Whereof where either beginneth, none can dout, which can call him a nobleman that is aboue a knight. So that whosoeuer shall vse the tearme of gentilitie, speaking of the whole order opposite to the common, doth vse the ground whence all the rest doth spring, bycause a gentleman in nature of his degree is before a nobleman, though not in the height: as nobilitie employeth the flowre of the gentlemen, which name is taken of the primacie and excellencie of the oddes, and where it is vsed in discourse it comprehendeth all aboue the common. When theRomainespeaketh of the gentleman in generall, nobilitie is his terme, being in that state opposite to the common, wherein they acknowledged no prince, when that opposition was made. Forgenerosuswhich is our common tearme signifieth the inward valure, not the outward note, and reacheth to any actiue liuing creature though without reason, wherein there doth appeare any praisworthy valiance or courage in that kinde more then ordinarie, as inAlexandershorse andPorushis dog. Therefore whether I vse the terme of nobilitie hereafter or of gentilitie, the matter is all one, both the names signifying the whole order, though not one of ground,nobilitiebeing the flower andgentilitiethe roote. The account wherof how great it is, we may verie well perceaue by that opinion, which the nobilitie it selfe hath vsually of it. Fortruthbeing the priuate protest of a gentleman,honourof a noble man,faythof a Prince, yet generally they do all ioine in this.As they be true gentlemen.Such a reputacion hath the name reserued euen from his originall.
Now then nobilitie emplying the outward note of inward value, and gentilitie signifying the inward value of the outward note, it is verie easie to determine, what it is to be anobleman, in excellencie of vertue shewed, and what it is to be agentlemanto haue excellent vertue to shew. Whereby it appeareth that vertue is the ground to that whole race, by whether name so euer ye call it,wisedomeinpollicie,valianceinexecution,iusticeindeciding,modestieindemeanour. There shall not neede any allegations of the contraries, to grace out these vertues, which be well content with their owne gaines and desire not to glister by comparison with vices, though different colours in contarietie do commend, and thinges contrarie be knowne in the same moment. For if true nobilitie haue vertue for her ground, he that knoweth vice, can tell what it bringes forth. Whethernobilitiecome by discent or desert it maketh no matter, he that giueth the first fame to his familie, or he that deserueth such honour, or he that enlargeth his parentage by noble meanes, is the man whom I meane. He that continueth it in discent from his auncestrie by desert in his owne person hath much to thanke God for, and doth well deserue double honour among men, as bearing the true coate of right and best nobilitie, where desert for vertue is quartered with discent in blood, seeing aunciencie of linage, and deriuation of nobilitie is in such credit among vs and alwaye hath bene.
Of infirmities in nobility by discent.
And as it is most honorable in deede thus to aunswere auncestry in all laudable vertues, and noble qualities of a well affected minde: so the defect in sufficiencie where some of a noble succession haue not the same successe in pointes of praise and worthinesse, either naturally by simplenesse, or casually, by fortune: though it be to be moaned in respect of their place, yet it is to be excused in respect of the person. Bycause the person is, as his parentes begate him, who had not at commaundement the discent of their vertues, which made them noble, as they had the begetting of a child to enherite their landes. For if they had, their nobilitie had continued on the nobler side. But vertues and worthinesse be not tyed to the person, they be Gods meere and voluntarie giftes to bestow there, wheras he entendes that nobilitie shall either rise or continue, and not to bestow, where he meanes to abase, and bring a linage lowe. Wherefore to blame such wantes, and raile vpon nobilitie as to much degenerate, is to intrude vpon prouidence. Where we cannot make our selves, and may clearly see, that he which maketh, hath some misterie in hande, where he setts such markes.
To exhort young men to those qualities, which do make noble and gentlemen, is to haue them so excellently qualified, as they maye honest their countrey, and honour themselues. To encourage noble young gentlemen to maintaine the honour of their houses, is to wish them to apply such vertues, as both make base houses bigge in any degree, and tofore did make their families renowmed in theirs. If abilitie will attaine, and idlenesse do neglecte, the ignominie is theirs: if want of abilitie appeare to be so great, as no endeuour can preuaile, God hath set his seale and men must cease to muse, where the infirmitie is euident, and thinke that euery beginning is to haue an ende. Hereby I take it to be very plaine both what the termes of noble and gentle do meane, and what they infer to be in those parties to whom they are proper. For asgentilityargueth a courteous, ciuill, well disposed, sociable constitution of minde in a superior degree: so dothnobilitieimport all these, and much more in an higher estate nothing bastarded by great authoritie. And do not these singularities deserue helpe by good and vertuous education?
The causes and rgoundes of nobilitie.
What be the groundes and causes ofnobilitie, both theefficientwhich make it, and thefinallfor whom it serues? Concerning theefficient. Though the chiefe and soueraigne Prince, of whom for his education I will saye somwhat herafter, be the best and fairest blossom ofnobilitie, yet I will not medle any further with the meane to attaine vnto the dignitie of the crowne, then that it is either come by, by conquest, which in meaner people is called purchace, and hangeth altogether of the conquerours disposition: or else by discent, which in other conueyances continueth the same name, and in that highnesse continueth the same lawes, or altereth with consent. Neither will I speake of such, as the Prince vpon some priuate affection doth extraordinarily prefer.Alexandermay auaunceHephestiofor great good liking,Assuerus Hester, for great good loue,Ptolome Galetesfor secret vertue.61And vpon whom soeuer the Prince doth bestowany extraordinarie preferment, it is to be thought that there is in them some great singularity, wherewith their princes, which can iudge be so extraordinarily moued. Neither will I say any more then I haue said ofnobilitieby discent, which enioyeth the benefite of the predecessours vertue, if it haue no priuate stuffe: but if it haue, it doth double and treble the honour and praise of auncestrie.
But concerning other causes, that come by authoritie, which make noble and gentlemen vnder their Prince, who be therefore auaunced by their Prince, bycause they do assist him in necessarie functions of his gouernment, they be either single or compound, and depend either holy of learning: or but only for the groundes of their execution. Excellentwisedomewhich is the meane to auaunce graue and politike counsellors, is but a single cause of preferment: likewisevaliancieofcouragewhich is the meane to make a noble and a warrious captaine is but a single cause of auauncement: but wherewisedomefor counsell, doth coucurre withvaliancieofcouragein the same man, the cause is compound and the deserte doubled. The meanes of preferment, which depend vpon learning for the ground of their execution be eitherMartiallfor warre and defence abroad, orpolitike, for peace and tranquilitie at home. For the man of warre will seeme to hange most of his owne courage and experience, which without any learning or reading at all hath oftimes brought forth excellent leaders, but with those helpes to, most rare and famous generalles, as the reason is great, why he should proue an excellent man that waye with the assistance of learning which without all learning could attaine vnto so much,Sylla62the cruell in deede, though surnamed the fortunate of such, as he fauored, was a noble generall without any learning. ButCæsarwhich wondered at him for it, as a thing scant possible to do any great matter without good learning, himselfe with the helpe of learning, did farre exceede him.
Such as vse the penne most in helping for their parte, the direction of publike gouemment, or execute offices of either necessarie seruice for the state, or iusticiarie, for the common peace and quietnesse, without profession of further learning, though they haue their cheife instrument of credit from the booke, yet they are not meere dettours to the booke, bycause priuateindustrieconsiderateexperience,and stayedaduisementseeme to chalendge some interest, in their praiseworthie dealing. The other which depend wholly vpon learning be most incident to my purpose, and best beseeme the place, where the question is, how gentlemen must be trained to haue them learned.