Romance and Minstrelsy, an Essay, 177 | Sylvester's Joshua, Miracle of the Peace,
Romances and legendary tales and ballads,

Rutland House, Davenant's entertainment Tower of perfection, 67

Portrait of James Shirley, xi

John Skelton, 389

TO THE
THE

NOBILI

TY AND ALL OTHER IN
OFFICE, GOD GRAUNT THE IN-
crease of wisedome, with all thinges neces-
sary for preseruation of theyr estates.
Amen.

AMONGSTE the wise (right Honorable) whose sentences (for
the moste parte) tende either to teache the attayning of vertue
or eschuing of vice, Plotinus that wonderfull and excellent Plotinus.
Philosopher hath these wordes: The property of Temper
aunce is to couet nothing which may be repented: not to
excede the bands of measure, & to kepe Desire vnder the
yoke of Reason. Whiche saying if it were so well knowen,
as it is nedefull; so well embraced, as is' wished; or so
surely fixed in minde, as it is printed in his workes: then
certis many Christians might by the instruction of an Ethnicke
Philosopher, shun great and daungerous perils. For to
couet without consideration, to passe the measure of his degree,
and to let will run at randon, is the only destruction of
all estates. Else howe were it possible, so many learned,
polliticke, wise, renoumed, valiaunt, and victorious personages,
might euer haue come to such vtter decay? For example, wee
haue Alexander the Great, Caesar, Pompey, Cyrus, Hannibal, Quintus
&c. All which (by desier of glorye) felte the reward of theire
immoderate and insatiable lustes: for if Alexander had beene
content with Macedonie, or not beene pufte vp with pride after
his triumphes, hee had neuer beene so miserably poysoned. If
Cæsar and Pompey had beene satisfied with theire victories, and
2 Will you that I rehearse. ib.

Hee. edit. 1575.

Curtius.

Liuius.

had not fell to ciuill discention, the one had not beene slaine in the senate with daggers, nor the other abroade, by their Iustinus frendes procurement. If Cyrus had beene pleased with all lib. 1. Persia, and Media, and not thirsted for bloud, hee had neuer Plutar com to so infortunate a fall. So if Hanniball had not so much chus. delited in glorye of warfare, his coutrey had neyther fell in Polibius. ruine, nor hee bene miserably forced to poyson himselfe. But you will say, desire of fame, glorye, renowne, and immortalitie (to which all men well nighe by nature are inclined, especially those which excell or haue any singuler gift of fortune or the body) moued them to such daungerous, great, and hardy enter prises, which must needes be confessed as an infallible veritie: and therefore I suerly deeme those Princes aboue specified (cosidering their fortunes, fame, and exploytes) had neuer come to suche ende, but for wante of temperance. And now' sithe there are three other Cardinall vertues which are requisite in him that should bee in authoritye: that is to saye, Prudence, lustice, and Fortitude, which so wonderfully adorne and beautifie all estates (If Temperaunce bee with them adioyned, that they moue the very enemies with admiration to prayse them) some peraduenture (as affection leades) will commende one, some another: as Aristotle the Prince of Philosophers names Prudence, the mother of vertues, but Cicero defines her the knowledge of things which ought to bee desired and followed, and also of them which ought to bee fled and eschewed; yet you shall finde that for want of Temperaunce, some which were couted very wise fell into wonderfull reproche and infamy. But3 Iustice that incomparable vertue, (as the auncient Ciuilians define her) is a perpetuall and constant will

Arist.

Prudence.

3 Of. ib.

4 Of. ib.

5 Which must I needs be confesse. ib. Veritie: [but for so much as the above named virtue by Plotinus his judgement hath such excellent properties it is so fit in a Magistrate, that] I surely &c. ib.

7 Facts estates fortunes, ib.
1 And. ib.

8 Yet, ib.

9 Yea and though. ib.

2 Those whiche were counted the wisest that ever were. ib.
2 Yea and though. ib.

+ Bc. ib.