A booke called the Foundacion of Rhetorike Part 4

The knotte of mariage promised, betwene Henrie Erle of Richemonde, and Elizabeth doughter to kyng Edward the fowerth: caused diuerse n.o.bles to aide and a.s.sociate this erle, fledde out of this lande with all power, to the attainmente of the kyngdome by his wife. At Nottyngham newes came to kyng Richard, that the Erle of Richmonde, with a small co[m]- paignie of n.o.bles and other, was arriued in Wales, forthe- with exploratours and spies were sent, who shewed the Erle [Sidenote: Lichefelde.

Leicester.]

to be encamped, at the toune of Litchfield, forthwith all pre- paracion of warre, was set forthe to Leicester on euery side, the n.o.bles and commons shranke from kyng Richarde, his [Sidenote: Bosworthe[.]]

power more and more weakened. By a village called Bos- worthe, in a greate plaine, meete for twoo battailes: by Lei- cester this field was pitched, wherin king Richard manfully fightyng hande to hande, with the Erle of Richmonde, was [Sidenote: Kyng Ri- chard killed in Bosworth fielde.]

slaine, his bodie caried shamefullie, to the toune of Leicester naked, without honor, as he deserued, trussed on a horse, be- hinde a Purseuaunte of Armes, like a hogge or a Calfe, his hedde and his armes hangyng on the one side, and his legges on the other side: caried through mire and durte, to the graie Friers churche, to all men a spectacle, and oprobrie of tiran- nie this was the cruell tirauntes ende.

-- A narracion historicall, of the commyng of Iulius Cesar into Britaine.

[Sidenote: The tyme.

The persone.]

WHen Iulius Cesar had ended his mightie and huge battailes, about the flood Rhene, he marched into the regio[n] of Fraunce: at thesame time repairing with a freshe mult.i.tude, his Legio[n]s, but the chief cause of his warre [Fol. xiiij.v]

in Fraunce was, that of long time, he was moued in minde, [Sidenote: The cause.

The fame and glorie of Britaine.]

to see this n.o.ble Islande of Britain, whose fame for n.o.bilitee was knowen and bruted, not onelie in Rome, but also in the vttermoste la[n]des. Iulius Cesar was wroth with the[m], because in his warre sturred in Fraunce, the fearce Britaines aided the Fenche men, and did mightilie encounter battaill with the Romaines: whose prowes and valiaunt fight, slaked the proude and loftie stomackes of the Romaines, and droue the[m]

[Sidenote: The prowes of Iulius Cesar.]

to diuerse hasardes of battaill. But Cesar as a n.o.ble warrier preferryng n.o.bilitee, and worthinesse of fame, before money or cowardly quietnes: ceased not to enter on y^e fearce Britai- nes, and thereto prepared his s.h.i.+ppes, the Winter tyme fo- lowyng, that a.s.sone as oportunitee of the yere serued, to pa.s.se [Sidenote: The maner how.

Cesars com- municacion with the mar[-]

chauntes, as concernyng the lande of Britaine.]

with all power against them. In the meane tyme, Cesar in- quired of the Marchauntes, who with marchaundise had ac- cesse to the Islande: as concernyng the qua[n]t.i.tee and bignes of it, the fas.h.i.+on and maner of the people, their lawes, their or- der, and kinde of gouernmente. As these thynges were in all poinctes, vnknowen to Cesar, so also the Marchau[n]tes knewe [Sidenote: The ware & politike go- uernement of y^e Britaines.

Aliaunce in tyme traite- rous.]

no more tha[n] the places bordring on the sea side. For, the Bri- taines fearing the traiterous and dissembled hartes of aliau[n]- ces, politikelie repelled them: for, no straunger was suffered to enter from his s.h.i.+ppe, on the lande, but their marchaun- dice were sold at the sea side. All nacions sought to this land, the felicitee of it was so greate, whereupon the Grekes kno- wyng and tastyng the commoditee of this Islande, called it by [Sidenote: Britain som- tyme called of the Grekes...o...b..on, not Albion.]

a Greke name _Olbion_, whiche signifieth a happie and fortu- nate countrie, though of some called _Albion_, tyme chaunged the firste letter, as at this daie, London is called for the toune of kyng Lud. Cesar thereupon before he would marche with [Sidenote: Caius Uo- lusenus, Em[-]

ba.s.sadour to Britaine.]

his armie, to the people of Britain, he sent Caius Uolusenus a n.o.ble man of Rome, a valiaunte and hardie Capitaine, as Emba.s.sadour to the Britaines, who as he thoughte by his Emba.s.sage, should knowe the fas.h.i.+on of the Island, the ma- ner of the people, their gouernemente. But as it seemeth, the [Fol. xv.r]

Emba.s.sadour was not welcome. For, he durste not enter fro[m]

his s.h.i.+p, to dooe his maisters Emba.s.sage, Cesar knewe no- [Sidenote: Comas A- trebas, seco[n]de Emba.s.sador from Cesar.]

thing by him. Yet Cesar was not so contented, but sent an o- ther Emba.s.sadour, a man of more power, stomack, and more hardie, Comas Atrebas by name, who would enter as an Emba.s.sadour, to accomplish the will & expectacion of Cesar, Comas Atrebas was so welcome, that the Britains cast him in prison: Emba.s.sages was not common emong theim, nor the curteous vsage of Emba.s.sadours knowen. Al these thin- ges, made Cesar more wrothe, to a.s.saie the vncourtous Bris[-]

[Sidenote: Ca.s.sibelane king of Lon- don, at the a- riue of Cesar[.]

Ca.s.sibelane a worthie Prince.]

taines. In those daies Ca.s.sibelan was kyng of London, this Ca.s.sibelan was a prince of high wisedom, of manly stomacke and valiaunt in fight: and for power and valiauntnesse, was chosen of the Britaines, chief gouernour and kyng. Dissen- cion and cruell warre was emong the[m], through the diuersitie of diuers kinges in the lande. The Troinouau[n]tes enuied the [Sidenote: Imanue[n]cius[.]]

state of Ca.s.sibelan, bicause Immanuencius, who was kyng of London, before Ca.s.sibelan, was put to death, by the coun- sail of Ca.s.sibelan. The sonne of Immanuencius, hearing of the commyng of Cesar, did flie traiterouslie to Cesar: The Troinouauntes fauoured Immanue[n]cius part, & thereupon [Sidenote: The Troy- nouauntes by treason let in Cesar.]

promised, as moste vile traitours to their countrie, an ente- ryng to Cesar, seruice and homage, who through a self will, and priuate fauour of one, sought the ruine of their countrie, and in the ende, their own destruccion. But Ca.s.sibelan gaue many ouerthrowes to Cesar, and so mightelie encountred with hym, so inuincible was the parte of Ca.s.sibelane: but by treason of the Troinouauntes, not by manhod of Cesars po- wer, enteryng was giuen. What house can stande, where- [Sidenote: Treason a confusion to the mightiest dominions.]

in discord broile? What small power, is not able to enter the mightiest dominions or regions: to ouercome the strongeste fortresse, treason open the gate, treason giuyng pa.s.sage. Al- though Cesar by treason entered, so Cesar writeth. Yet the fame of Cesar was more commended, for his enterprise into Britain, and victorie: then of all his Conquest, either against [Fol. xv.v]

[Sidenote: A sente[n]ce gra[-]

uen of Bri- taine, in the commendaci- on of Cesar.]

Pompey, or with any other nacion. For in a Piller at Rome this sentence was engrauen: Of all the dominions, Citees, and Regions, subdued by Cesar, his warre atte[m]pted against the fearce Britaines, pa.s.seth all other. After this sort Cesar entred our Islande of Britaine by treason.

-- A narracion iudiciall, out of Theusidides, vpon the facte of Themistocles.

THe Athenians brought vnder the thraldome of the Lacedemonians, soughte meanes to growe mightie, and to pull them from the yoke, vnder the Lacedemonians. Lacedemonia was a citee enuironed with walles. Athenes at thesame tyme without walles: whereby their state was more feeble, and power weakened. Themistocles a n.o.ble Sage, and a worthie pere of Athens: gaue the Athenia[n]s counsaile to wall their citee stro[n]gly, and so forthwith to be lordes and rulers by them selues, after their owne facion gouerning. In finis.h.i.+ng this enterprise, in all poinctes, policie, and wittie conuei- aunce wanted not. The Lacedemonians harde of the pur- pose of the Athenians, & sent Emba.s.sadours, to knowe their doynges, and so to hinder them. Themistocles gaue counsaill to the Athenians, to kepe in safe custodie, the Emba.s.sadours of Lacedemonia, vntill soche tyme, as he from the Embas- sage was retourned fro[m] Lacedemonia. The Lacedemonians hearyng of the commyng of Themistocles, thought little of the walle buildyng at Athens. Themistocles was long loo- ked for of the[m], because Themistocles lingered in his Embas- sage, that or the matter were throughly knowen: the walle of Athens should be builded. The slowe commyng of The- mistocles, was blamed of the Lacedemonians: but Themi- stocles excused hymself, partly infirmitie of bodie, lettyng his commyng, and the expectacion of other, accompaignied with hym in this Emba.s.sage. The walle ended, necessitie not artificiall workemans.h.i.+p finis.h.i.+ng it, with al hast it was ended: then Themistocles entered the Senate of Lacedemo- [Fol. xvj.r]

nia, and saied: the walle whom ye sought to let, is builded at Athens, ye Lacedemonians, that wee maie be more strong.

Then the Lacedemonians could saie nothyng to it, though thei enuied the Athenians state, the walle was builded, and leste thei should shewe violence or crueltie on Themistocles, their Emba.s.sabours were at Athens in custodie, whereby Themistocles came safe from his Emba.s.sage, and the Athe- nians made strong by their walle: this was politikely dooen of Themistocles.

-- A narracion Poeticall vpon a Rose.

WHo so doeth maruaile at the beautee and good- ly colour of the redde Rose, he must consider the blood, that came out of Uenus the G.o.ddes foot.

The G.o.ddes Uenus, as foolishe Poetes dooe feigne, beyng the aucthour of Loue: loued Ado- nis the soonne of Cynara kyng of Cypres. But Mars called the G.o.d of battaile, loued Uenus, beyng nothyng loued of Uenus: but Mars loued Uenus as feruently, as Uenus lo- ued Adonis. Mars beyng a G.o.d, loued Uenus a G.o.ddes, but Uenus onely was inflamed with the loue of Adonis, a mor- tall man. Their loue was feruent, and exremely set on fire in bothe, but their kinde and nature were contrary, wherev- pon Mars beyng in gelousie, sought meanes to destroie, faire amiable, and beautifull Adonis, thinkyng by his death, the loue of Uenus to be slaked: Adonis and Mars fell to fighting Uenus as a louer, ranne to helpe Adonis her louer, and by chaunce she fell into a Rose bushe, and p.r.i.c.ked with it her foote, the blood then ran out of her tender foote, did colour the Rose redde: wherevpon the Rose beyng white before, is v- pon that cause chaunged into redde.

[--] _Chria._

_CHria_, this profitable exercise of _Rhetorike_, is for the porfite of it so called: it is a rehersall in fewe wordes, of any ones fact, or of the saiyng of any man, vpo[n] the [Fol. xvj.v]

whiche an oracion maie be made. As for example, Isocrates did say, that the roote of learnng was bitter, but the fruictes pleasaunt: and vpon this one sentence, you maie dilate a am- ple and great oracion, obseruyng these notes folowyng. The saiyng dooeth containe so greate matter, and minister soche plentie of argumente.

Aucthors intreatyng of this exercise, doe note three sortes to bee of theim, one of theim a _Chria verball_, that is to saie, a profitable exercise, vpon the saiyng of any man, onely con- teinyng the wordes of the aucthour, as the sentence before.

The seconde is, conteinyng the facte or deede of the per- sone: As Diogines beyng asked of Alexander the Greate, if he lacked any thyng, that he was able to giue hym, thinkyng his demau[n]de vnder his power, for Diogenes was at thesame tyme warmyng hymself in the beames of the Sunne: Dio- genes aunswered, ye take awaie that, that ye are not able to giue, meanyng that Alexander by his bodie, shadowed hym, and tooke awaie that, whiche was not in his power to giue, Alexander tourned hymself to his men, and saied, if I were not Alexander, I would be Diogenes.

The thirde is a _Chria_ mixt, bothe _verball_ and notyng the facte, as Diogenes seyng a boie wanton & dissolute, did strike his teacher with a staffe, vtteryng these woordes: why dooest thou teache thy scholer so dissolutlie.

You shall learne to make this exercise, obseruyng these notes.

Firste, you shall praise the aucthour, who wrote the sen- tence, waighing his life, if his life be vnknowen, and not easie to finde his sentence or sentences: for G.o.dlie preceptes will minister matter of praise, as if these saiynges bee recited, thei are sufficient of them selues, to praise the aucthour.

Then in the seconde place, expounde the meanyng of the aucthour in that saiyng.

Then shewe the cause, why he spake this sentence.

Then compare the matter, by a contrary.

[Fol. xvij.r]

Then frame a similitude of thesame.

Shewe the like example of some, that spake the like, or did the like.

Then gather the testimonies of more writers of thesame[.]

Then knit the conclusion.

-- An Oracion.

ISocrates did saie, that the roote of learnyng is was bit- ter, but the fruictes were pleasaunt.

-- The praise.

THis Oratour Isocrates, was an Athenian borne, [Sidenote: Lusimachus[.]]

who florished in the time of Lusimachus the chief gouernor of Athens: this Isocrates was brought vp in all excelle[n]cie of learning, with the moste fa- [Sidenote: Prodicus.

Gorgias Le- ontinus.]

mous and excellent Oratour Prodicus, Gorgias Leontinus indued him with all singularitie of learnyng and eloquence.

The eloque[n]ce of Isocrates was so famous, that Aristotle the [Sidenote: Demosthe- nes learned eloquence of Isocrates.]

chief Pholosopher, enuied his vertue & praise therin: Demo- sthenes also, who emong the Grecians chieflie excelled, lear- ned his eloquence, of the Oracions whiche Isocrates wrote, to many mightie and puisaunt princes and kinges, do shewe his wisedome, & copious eloque[n]ce, as to Demonicus the king to Nicocles, Euagoras, against Philip the king of the Mace- donia[n]s, by his wisedome and counsaill, the Senate and vni- uersal state of Athens was ruled, & the commons and multi- tude thereby in euery part florished: chieflie what counsaill, what wisedome, what learnyng might bee required, in any man of high fame and excellencie: that fame was aboundant[-]

ly in Isocrates, as in all his Oratio[n]s he is to be praised, so in this sentence, his fame importeth like commendacion.