histories, fables, or quicke and wise sentences, comprehending good doctrine or counsailes; wherby one of these commodities may happen, either that they which do eate or drinke, hauyng those wisedomes euer in sighte, shall happen with the meate to receiue some of them, or by purposinge them at the table, may sussitate some disputation or reasonynge; wherby some parte of tyme shall be saued, whiche els by superfluouse eatyng and drinkyng wolde be idely consumed.

CHAPTER IV.

What very nobilitie is, and wherof it toke firste that denomination. NOWE it is to be feared that where maiestie approcheth to excesse, and the mynde is obsessed with inordinate glorie, lest pride, of al vices most horrible, shuld sodainely entre and take prisoner the harte of a gentilman called to autoritie. Wherfore in as moche as that pestilence corruptethe all sences, and makethe them incurable by any persuation or doctrine, therfore suche persones from their adolescencie (which is the age nexte to the state of man) oughte to be persuaded and taughte the true knowlege of very nobilitie in fourme folowing or like.b

• So Clicthoue, a celebrated Flemish theologian, one of the most distinguished controversialists of the 16th century, and one of the first who wrote against Luther, in a tract entitled De ver& Nobilitate, published in 1520, says: At quoniam generis nobilitas plerosque inflatos opinione sui reddit, fastidiososque, ac aliorum contemptores, extirpandum est in primis animo id superbiæ virus, et facilis in omnes æquabilitas studiosius ei, qui veræ nobilitatis titulo vult insigniri, comparanda.'-Cap. 12. If the reader compares this tract with The Governour, he will hardly fail to notice a certain similarity in the treatment of the same subject, which makes it probable that the author of the latter was acquainted with Clicthoue's opusculum.

▷ Erasmus warns his Prince that there are three kinds of nobility, but only one of supreme importance: Principem summa decet nobilitas. Esto; verum cum tria sint nobilitatis genera, unum quod ex virtute rectèque factis nascitur, proximum quod ex honestissimarum disciplinarum cognitione proficiscitur, tertium quod natalium picturis et majorum stemmatis æstimatur, aut opibus: cogita quàm non

Fyrst, that in the begynnyng, whan priuate possessions and dignitie were gyuen by the consent of the people, who than had all thinge in commune, and equalitie in degree and condition, undoubtedly they gaue the one and the other to him at whose vertue they meruailed, and by whose labour and industrie they received a commune benefite, as of a commune father that with equall affection loued them. And that promptitude or redinesse in employinge that benefite was than named in englisshe gentilnesse, as it was in latine benignitas," and in other tonges after a semblable signification, and the persones were called gentilmen, more for the remembraunce of their conveniat Principem infimo genere nobilitatis intumescere, quod sic infimum est ut nullum omnino sit, nisi et ipsum à virtute fuerit profectum: summum illud negligere, quod ita summum est, ut solum optimo jure possit haberi.'-Instit. Prin. Christ. p. 24.

с

• Patrizi had pointed this out: 'Regna quidem priscis seculis non posteris eorum qui regnabant tradebantur, sed eis tamen qui per virtutem plurimum de hominum vitâ merebantur.'-De Regno et Reg. Instit. lib. viii. tit. 6. And Erasmus also in very similar language, as follows, 'Primitus reges non ob aliud constituti sunt populi consensu, quàm ob eximiam virtutem, quam heroicam vocant, velut divinæ proximam et humanâ majorem.-Inst. Prin. Christ. p. 51.

This is one of the five qualities the possession of which Erasmus considers necessary for a Prince, in order to secure the affections of his people: 'Benevolentia multitudinis conciliatur his moribus, ut dicam in genere, qui plurimum absint à tyrannide clementiâ, comitate, æquitate, civilitate, benignitate. Benignitas exstimulat ad officium, præsertim si conspexerint iis esse præmium apud Principem, qui de Republicâ bene mereantur.'-Instit. Prin. Christ. p. 93. Selden traces the etymology of the word gentleman to the Gothic nations of the fifth century, and sees a proof of it in the exemptions and privileges of the German nobility in his own day, as if that continuing freedome were also a perpetuall character of the origination of the name Gentil in this sense fixed on them; which also together with Gentilezza or the like, by reason of the dignitie of them that were stiled by it, and the faire manners which both in armes and peace they affected, or at least pretended, hath denoted, and to this day doth, we see in these tongues mansuetus, comis, liberalis, perhumanus, and such more epithets and their abstracts as may expresse a noble spirit.'-Titles of Honor, p. 864, ed. 1631.

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Ferne defines gentleness or gentility from a herald's point of view as follows: 'First you shall knowe how this word Gentill doth in true speech comprehend all estates and degrees of noblenesse, by the opinion of Budæus. And the greatest nobleman doth commonly use (saith he), nay rather desire, for the better and more solemne contestation of the matter, to protest in these words, that as he is a Gentleman it is thus or thus, then to stand upon the tearme of noble. But by entring

vertue and benefite, than for discrepance of astates. Also it fortuned by the prouidence of god that of those good men were ingendred good children, who beinge brought up in vertue, and perceiuinge the cause of the aduauncement of their progenitours, endeuoured them selfes by imitation of vertue, to be equall to them in honour and autoritie; by good emulation they retained stille the fauour and reuerence of people. And for the goodnesse that proceded of suche geneinto consideration what the word Gentilitas (which is called Gentrie) did amongst the auncients signifie, we shall perceiue what a great perfection both in bloud and continuance of name, in fidelitie to his countrey, in loyaltie to his Soueraigne, and in freedome of estate was alwaies to be seene in this degree of Gentrie. For Tully saith thus: "Gentiles sunt qui inter se eodem nomine sunt qui ab ingenuis oriundi sunt, quorum majorum nemo servierit, qui capite non sunt diminuti" (Topica, cap. vi.) They are Gentlemen (saith he) which within themselues and in their own family haue continued the name of their house, being sprong from an honest and famous stock, whose Auncestors were Frenchmen [sic in orig. sed quære] and which for their disloialty haue not susteined any capitall paine . . . For the protection and defence of this Gentil estate (being an excellency and noblenesse arising from the practise of vertues and conioined in one kinred or bloud) many lawes were by our aged forefathers carefully prouided..... Budæus (upon the same place also) noteth, "Gentiles fuerunt hi qui imagines sui generis proferre poterant, et erant Insignia Gentilitium quæ hodie Arma dicuntur." So then the bearing of Armes was always proper and peculiar to the estate of Gentry, as the signe and outward badge of their generous and gentill kind, differing them from churles; whereby it appeareth that no man can be properly called a Gentleman except he be a Gentleman of bloud, possessing vertue; and such a one, that is to say, a gentleman of bloud and coate-armor perfect, might only challenge the benefit and priuiledges of that law called Jus Gentilitatis.'—Blazon of Gentrie, pp. 85, 86. Selden says: 'Vulgar use now hath so altered the genuine sense of Generosus, that it frequently denotes any kind of Gentleman, either by birth or otherwise truly enjoying that name as well as Nobilis. But it was long before the constant use of Generosus was with us for the title of Gentleman in our Writs, Counts, Pledings, and such like. Till about Henry VIII. the very word Gentilman was often retained for the addition in the Latin, as we see in the Rolls of the precedent times. But then Generosus came to be constantly with us used for a Gentleman of what sort soeuer, if his Title were no greater.' — Titles of Honor, p. 858, ed. 1631.

* Patrizi says: 'Antiquiore genere qui censentur, si virtute ac moribus præstant, longè tutiùs Reipublicæ curam gerunt, quàm qui novi in Rempublicam acciti sunt. Æquum namque esse videtur, ut qui parentes, avos, majores omnes publicis functionibus honestatos habuerunt, quasi hæreditario quodam jure, Reipublicæ curam accipiant, et in eam amplificandam nervos omnes (ut dicitur) intendant.'-De Instit. Reipub. lib. vi. tit. 1, p. 264, ed. 1594.

ration the state of them was called in greke Eugenia," whiche signifiethe good kinde or lignage, but in a more briefe maner it was after called nobilitie, and the persones noble, whiche signifieth excellent, and in the analogie or signification it is more ample than gentill, for it containeth as well all that whiche is in gentilnesse, as also the honour or dignitie therefore received, whiche be so annexed the one to the other that they can nat be seperate.d

It wold be more ouer declared that where vertue ioyned with great possessions or dignitie hath longe continued in the bloode or house of a gentilman, as it were an inheritaunce, there nobilitie is mooste shewed, and these noble men be most to be honored; for as moche as continuaunce in all thinge that is good hath euer preeminence in praise and comparison. But yet shall it be necessary to aduertise those persones, that do thinke that nobilitie may in no wyse be but onely where men can auaunte them of auncient lignage, an auncient robe, or

• Aristotle says that virtue and riches are the origin of nobility. 'H yàp εὐγένειά ἐστιν ἀρχαῖος πλοῦτος καὶ ἀρετή. Pol. lib. iv. cap. viii. (vi) And in another place, Εὐγενεῖς γὰρ εἶναι δοκοῦσιν οἷς ὑπάρχει προγόνων ἀρετὴ καὶ πλοῦτος. Ibid. lib. v. cap. i.

Selden speaks of a threefold use of this word, viz., 'that which is Theologicall or Christian, Philosophicall or from manners and vertue, and Politicall or Civill.'— Ubi supra, p. 854. To the last of which only he pays any attention, whilst it will be observed that Sir Thomas Elyot treats of the word in the secondary sense above mentioned. Selden had evidently derived his knowledge on this subject from the Civilians, and particularly the famous Bartolus, who in his commentary on the Codex, lib. xii. tit. 1, De dignitatibus, says, ' Habemus ponere tres nobilitates. Prima est nobilitas Theologica seu supernaturalis, Secunda est nobilitas naturalis, Tertia est nobilitas politica et civilis.'-Opera, tom. iv. lib. xii. Codic. tit. i. § 24, p. 118, ed. 1588, Basle.

Clicthoue says: 'Nobilitatem diffiniunt authores esse generis vel alterius rei excellentiam ac dignitatem.'-De verâ Nobilitate, cap. i. ed. 1520.

Ferne, who also gives the etymology of the word, is rather less precise in his definition, but he deduces the origin of nobility from nature herself, or the 'common creation of things,' and thinks that 'some one abounding in many outward graces and partes aboue the rest, and the fame of his worthines spread abroad caused the multitude to yeeld an especiall honor unto him, so that on such a one were the eyes of many fixed, and he, for the vertues and worthy quallities knowne to all men to be in him, was chiefely honored, and thus at the first had noblenes her beginning,

great possessions, at this daye very noble men do suppose to be moche errour and folye." Wherof there is a familiare example, whiche we beare euer with us, for the bloode in our bodies beinge in youthe warme, pure, and lustie, it is the occasion of beautie, whiche is euery where commended and loued; but if in age it be putrified, it leseth his praise. And the goutes, carbuncles, kankers, lepries, and other lyke sores and sickenesses, whiche do procede of bloode corrupted, be to all men detestable.

And this persuasion to any gentilman, in whom is apte disposition to very nobilitie, wyll be sufficient to withdrawe hym from suche vice, wherby he maye empayre his owne estimation, and the good renoume of his auncetours."

which that it is thus, the Etymologie of the word Nobilitas will sufficiently approue, which being a word of the Latines, is deriued of the verbe Nosco, to knowe, so that then the word Nobilitas signifying, in common phrase of speech, both with the Latines, and eeke with us Englishmen, a generosity of blood and degree, is in her owne nature but significant, euen as that barbarous word Noscibilitas doth, that is to say, a knowledge of a thing, and therefore saith one Vir nobilis idem est quod notus ac per omnium ora vulgatus. A Gentleman or a Nobleman is he (for I do wittingly confound these voices) which is knowne, and through the heroycall vertues of his life, talked of in euery man's mouth, and that this word Nobilis is properly the same that Notus, and doth without violence, yea, of her owne nature, tollerate this construction, it doth appeare, for so much as many reuerend authors (patrones of Latin speech) haue often in their works used the same, as Virgil, Liuie, Martiall, Ouid, Cicero, &c.'-Blazon of Gentric, p. 4, ed. 1586.

This passage very closely resembles the remarks of Erasmus upon the education of a Prince: Audiat nobilitatem, imagines, ceras, stemmata, et totam illam caduceatorum pompam, quâ procerum vulgus muliebriter intumescit, nomina esse inania, nisi quidquid est hoc nominis ab honesto fuerit profectum.'--Instit. Princ. Christ. p. 21. The argument in the text resembles Ovid's

'Si modo nec census, nec clarum nomen avorum,

Sed probitas magnos ingeniumque facit.'

Epist. ex Ponto, lib. i. 9, 39.

Patrizi says: 'Primum (ordinem) antiqua generis dignitas commendat, si à majorum virtute ac moribus non aberrat. Ab ingenuis enim parentibus orti, degeneres deterioresque facti, non modo in plebem rejiciendi sunt, verum titulis nominibusque majorum mulctandi.'-De Instit. Reipub. lib. vi. tit. 1, p. 260. And it is impossible to avoid thinking that the author must have had in his mind the scathing lines of the Roman satirist :