A Treatyce Of Moral Philosophy: The Fyfth Booke Entituled Of Pollecie And Gouernaunce Of Common Weales. Poem by William Baldwin

These verses folowinge. though thy power stretche bothe farre and large Claudian.

though thy power stretche bothe farre and large,
through Inde the riche set at the worlds ende,
and mede with arabic, be bothe vnder thy charge,
and also Seres, that silke to vs doth sende,
If seare thee trouble, and small thinges thee offend
Corrupt desire thine heart hath once embraced
Thou art in bondage, thyne honoure is defaced.
thou shalt be deemed then worthy for to reigne
VVhen of thy selfe thou winnest the maistrie.
euill custome bringeth vertue in disdeigne.
licence superfluous perswadeth muche folly.
in to much pleasure set not felicitie
if lust or anger doth thy mynd assayle.
subdue occasion, and thou shalt soone preuaile.
VVhat thou maist do, delight not for to know
but rather what thing will become thee best
embrace thou vertue, and keepe thy courage lowe.
and thinke, that alway measure is a feaste.
loue well thy people, care also for the least.
and when thou studiest for thy commoditie
make them all partners of thy felicitie.
be not muche moued with singuler appetite,
except it profit vnto thy subiectes all.
at thyne example the people will delight.
be it vice or vertue with thee they ryse or fall.
no lawes auaile, men tourne as doth a ball.
for where the ruler in liuing is not stable
both law and counsayle is tournd into a fable.

The summe of all. A king which in earth is euen the same

A king which in earth is euen the same
that god is in heauen (of kinges king eternal)
should first feare god, and busily him frame
himselfe to rule, and then his realme gouerne,
by lawe, by loue, by iustice and by right,
cherishing the good, and punishing the stubberne
the lengthening of this reigne & doubling of his might.

The summe of all. Counsaile is a thing so nedefull and holy

Counsaile is a thing so nedefull and holy
that without it no worke may prosper well
wherefore it behoueth him that hateth his folly
nought to beginne without he take counsaile.
which who so vseth, shall neuer him repent
of time or trauale that he therin hath spent.

The summe of all. Lawes be the rules of iustice and equitie

Lawes be the rules of iustice and equitie
VVhereby we vnderstand, our charge and duetie.
to liue with due order in peace and amitie:
as god and nature our heartes hath bound,
and that praise also may worthyly redound
to such as make lawes thorough wisedome and vertue
auctorising ministers both faythfull and true.

The summe of all. the vertue of iustice, both precious & incoparable

the vertue of iustice, both precious & incoparable
Should be fast fixed in the heartes of all gouernours.
without whiche vertue, nothing may be commendable
before god, the king, and the higher powers.
or otherwise relife to base inferiours,
for the wicked and vniust ma, that hath iustice to kepe.
to defraud the poore righteous, full closely doth crepe.

The summe of all. Iudges, to whome aucthoritie is geuen

Iudges, to whome aucthoritie is geuen
from their liege lord, & most deare soueraigne
to rule rightly his lawes, they should be driuen
by wisedome and learning oh iefly to refrayne,
from couetise that hath truthe in disdaine.
for iudges that shoulde ease, and asswage many griefes,
are sometime thoccasion of greater mischiefes.

he that at ones instance an other wil defame.

he that at ones instance an other wil defame. Hermes
wyl also at an others, to the last do the same:
for none are so daungerous and doubtful to trust,
as those that are rediest to obey euery lust.

The summe of all. obedience is a vertue, that god derely loueth

obedience is a vertue, that god derely loueth,
which mightely doth extole, the glory of his name.
and to the effect of gods loue, it directly looketh,
as the philosopher full worthely, writeth the same.
gods holy loue and obedience, excludeth all shame,
obey the kinge, thy parents all lawes & authoritie
then doubtles shalt thou leade thy lyfe most quietly.

Pueritia virtutibus imbuenda
Euripides Pueritia virtutibus imbuenda,
Institutiones prime, in primis diuturne.

what thing a man in tender age hath most in vre,
The same to death alwaies to keepe he shal be sure,
therfore in age who greatly longeth good fruit to mow
in youth he must applye himselfe good seede to sowe.

Horas
as long as a tunne or a vessell may last,
of the first licour it kepeth the taste:
and youth being seasoned in vertuous labour,
will euer after therof kepe the sauour.

The summe of all. Parentes and maisters, that hath charge ouer youth

Parentes and maisters, that hath charge ouer youth,
ought frendly regarde theire office and duetie:
and bring vp theire children in gods holy truthe
by worde and exaumple, both honest and godly,
Rebuke, chastice, and instruct them gently
for as they shall order themselues hereafter,
it shall be imputed to theire teacher.

The summe of all. He that gladly seeketh the company of a wife

He that gladly seeketh the company of a wife
ought onely to winne her by vertuous disposicion
to embrace her for her vertue, and to leade a quiet life,
refusing her riches with her whorishe condicion.
weomen be commonly of most tender affeccion,
and better it is with a serpent to be in company
then with a wicked woman to liue vnquietly.