2.8. Of Caſtelles and holdes. Cap. 8.

Of Caſtelles and holdes. Cap. 8.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 THere haue béene in tymes paſt great ſtore of Caſtelles and places of defence within the realme of Englande, of which ſome were buylded by the Brytons, many by the Romaynes, Saxons, and Danes, but moſt of all by the Barons of the realme, in & about the tyme of king Stephen, who licen|ſed eache of them to buylde ſo many as they would vpon their owne demeaſnes, hoping therby that they would haue employed their EEBO page image 83 vſe to his aduauntage and commoditie, but finally when he ſawe that they were rather fortified againſt hymſelfe in the ende, then vſed in his defence, [...]ry the [...] alſo [...]. he repented all to la [...]e of his inconſiderate dealing, ſith now there was no remedie but by force for to ſubdue them. After his deceaſe king Henry the ſeconde came no ſooner to the crowne, but he called to minde the inconuenience which his pre|deſſour had ſuffred and he himſelfe might in time ſuſtaine by thoſe fortifications. There|fore one of the firſt things he dyd was an at|tempt to race and deface the moſt parte of theſe holdes. Certes he thought it better to hazarde the méeting of the enimie nowe and then in the playne field, then to liue in perpe|tuall feare of thoſe houſes, and the rebellion of his Lordes vpon euery light occaſion con|ceyued, who then were full ſo ſtrong as he, if not more ſtrong, and that made them the re|dier to withſtande & gaineſay many of thoſe procéedinges, which he and his ſucceſſours from time to tyme intended. Hereupon ther|fore he cauſed more then aleauen hundred of their caſtelles to be raced and ouerthrowne, whereby the power of his nobilitie was not a litle reſtrained. Sithence that time alſo not a few of thoſe which remained, haue decayed of themſelues: ſo that at this preſent, there are very few or no caſtels at all maintayned within England, ſauing only vpõ the coaſts and marches of the countrie for the better kéeping backe of the forrein enemie, when|ſoeuer he ſhall attempt to enter and annoye vs.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 The moſte prouident Prince that euer reigned in this lande for the fortificatiõ ther|of agaynſt all outwarde enemies, was the late Prince of famous memory king Henry the eyght: ſith beſide that he repaired moſt of ſuch as were alreadie ſtanding, he buylded ſundrie out of the grounde. For hauing ſha|ken of the more then ſeruile yoke of the Po|piſh tyrannie, and eſpying that the Empe|rour was offended for hys dyuorce from Quéene Catherine his aunt: and therto that the Frenche king had coupled the Dolphin his ſonne with the Popes nece: and maryed his daughter to the king of Scottes, (where|by he had cauſe more iuſtly to ſuſpect then ſafely to truſt any one of the all as Lambert ſaith) he determined to ſtand vpon his owne defence, [...] theſe [...]es the [...] of [...]rfolke [...]e wea [...] as [...]ye ap| [...]re by [...]burne [...] [...]e and [...]er pla [...] of the [...]e. and therefore with no ſmall ſpéede, and like charge, he buylded ſundrie Blocke|houſes, Caſtelles, and Platformes vpon dy|uers frontiers of his realme, but chiefely the eaſt and ſoutheaſt partes of England, wher|by no doubt he dyd very much qualifie the conceyued grudges of his aduerſaries and vtterly put of their haſty purpoſe of [...]. And thuſmuch briefly for my purpoſe at this preſent. For I néede not to make any [...] diſcourſe of caſtels, ſith it is not the nature of a good Engliſhman to regarde to be caged vp in a c [...]pe, & hedged in with ſtone walles, but rather to méete wyth hys enemie in the playne field [...] at handſtrokes, where he may trauaiſe his grounde, chooſe his plot, and vſe the benefite of ſunne ſhine, winde & wether, to his beſt aduauntage and commoditie. As for thoſe tales that go of B [...]ſton caſtell, how it ſhall ſaue all England on a day, & likewiſe the brag of a rebellious Barron in olde time that ſayde in contempt (of king Henry the thirde, as I geſſe)

If I were in my Castell of Bungey

Vpon the water of Waueney,

I woulde not ſet a button by the king of Cockney.

I repute them but as toyes, the firſt méere vaine, the ſeconde fo [...]dly vttered if any ſuch thing were ſayde, as many other wordes are and haue béene ſpoken of lyke holdes, (as Wallingforde. &c.) but nowe growen out of memorie, and with ſmall loſſe not hearde of among the common ſort.

2.9. Of Pallaces belonging to the prince, and court of Englande. Cap. 9.

Of Pallaces belonging to the prince, and court of Englande. Cap. 9.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 IT lyeth not in me to ſet downe exactly the number and names of the palaces, belong|ing to the Prince, nor to make any deſcrip|tion of hir Graces Court, ſith my callyng is and hath béene ſuch, as that I haue ſcareely preſumed to péepe in at hir gates, much leſſe then haue I aduentured to ſerch out & know the eſtate of thoſe houſes, and what magnifi|cent behauiour is to to ſéene wythin them. Yet thus much will I ſaye generallye of all the houſes and honours appertaining vnto hir grace, that they are buylded, eyther of ſquare ſtone or bricke, or elſe of both, & ther|vnto although their capacity and hugeneſſe be not ſo monſtrous, as the lyke of dyuer [...] Forren Princes, are to be ſéene in y^e maine, yet are they ſo curious, nete, and commodi|ous as any of them, both for conueighaunce of offices and lodginges, and excellencye of ſcituation, which is not the leaſt thing to bée conſidered of. Thoſe that were buylded be|fore the tyme of King Henry the eyght, re|taine to theſe daies the ſhew & Image of the auncient kinde of workmanſhip vſed in this lande, but ſuch as he erected doe repreſent a|nother maner of paterne, which as they are ſuppoſed to excell all the reſt that he founde ſtanding in thys Realme, ſo they are & ſhal|be EEBO page image 93 be a perpetuall preſident, vnto thoſe that doe come after, to followe in their workes, and buyldinges of importaunce. Certes Maſon|ry did neuer better flouriſh in England then in hys tyme, and albeit that in theſe dayes there be manye goodly houſes erected in the ſundry quarters of thys Iſland, yet they are rather curious to the eye, then ſubſtaunciall for continuaunce, where as ſuch as hée did ſet vp excel in both, and therefore may iuſt|ly be preferred aboue al the reſt. The names of thoſe which come now to my rẽmebrance, are theſe.White hall. Firſt of al White hall at the weſt ende of London (which is taken for the moſt large and principall of all the reſt) was be|gun by Cardinall wolſey, and enlarged and finiſhed by king Henry y^e eyght. Néere vnto y^t is.S. Iames S. Iames, ſometime a Nonry, builded likewiſe by the ſame prince. Hir grace hath alſo Otelande, Aſheridge, Hatfelde, Haue|ring,Oteland. Aſheridge. Hatfelde. Enuelde. Richemõd. Hampton. Woodſtocke Enuéeld, Richemond, Hampton court, (begonne ſometime by Cardinall Wolſey, and finiſhed by hir Father) and therevnto Woodſtocke, erected by king Henry the ſeconde, in which the Quéenes maieſty de|lighteth greatly to ſoiourne, notwythſtan|ding that in time paſt it was the place of hir captiuity, when it pleaſed God to try hir by affliction and calamity.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 2 3 Windſor.For ſtrength Windleſor or Winſore, is ſuppoſed to be the chiefe, a caſtell buylded in tyme paſt by king Arthur, as it is thought, & repayred by Edwarde the third, who erec|ted alſo a notable Colledge there. After him diuers of his ſucceſſours, haue beſtowed ex|céeding charges vpon the ſame, which not|withſtanding are farre ſurmounted, by the Quéenes maieſty nowe lyuing, who hath appointed huge ſommes of money to be em|ployed vpon the ornature, and alteration of the mould, according to the fourme of buyl|ding vſed in our dayes. Such alſo hath béene the eſtimatiõ of this place, that diuers kings haue not onely béene enterred there but alſo made it the chiefe houſe of aſſemblye, and creation of the Knightes, of the honoura|ble order of the Garter, then the which there is nothing in this lande, more magnificent and ſtately.Gréene|wiche. Gréenewiche was firſt buylded, by Humfrey Duke of Gloceſter, vpon the Thames ſide 4. miles eaſt from London, in y^e tyme of Henry the ſixt, & called Pleſance. Afterwards it was gretly inlarged by king Edwarde the fourth, garnyſhed by king Henry the ſeauenth, and finallye made per|fite by king Henry the eyght, the onely phe|nir of his time, for fine and cutious maſon|rye.Dartforde. Not farre from this is Dartforde, and not much diſtaunt alſo from the ſouth ſide of that ſayd ſtreame, ſometime a Nonnery, but now a very cõmodious Pallace, wherevnto it was alſo cõuerted by king Henry y^e eight El [...]ham as I take it, was buylded by king Henry y^e third if not before. [...] There are be [...] theſe moreouer dyuers other, but what ſhal I néede to take vpon me to repeate all, & tell what houſes the Quéenes maieſtie hath, ſith all is hirs, and when it pleaſeth hir in the ſõ|mer ſeaſon, to recreate hir ſelfe abroade, and viewe the eſtate of the countrey, euery no|ble mans houſe is hir Pallace, where ſh [...] continueth d [...]ring pleaſure, and till ſhée re|turne againe to ſome of hir owne, in which ſhe remaineth ſo long as pleaſeth hir.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 The court of England which neceſſarily is holden alwayes where the Prince lyeth, [...] is in theſe dayes one of the moſt renowmed and magnificent courtes, that are to be found in Europe. For whether you regard the ryche and infinite furniture of houſholde, order of Officers, or the interteinement of ſuch ſtrã|gers as dailye reſorte vnto the ſame, you ſhall not finde many equall thervnto, much leſſe one excelling it, in any maner of wiſe. I myght here if I woulde (or had ſufficient diſ|poſition of matter conceyued of the ſame) make a large diſcourſe, of the honourable ports of ſuch graue councellours, and noble perſonages, as giue their dailye attendance vpon the Quéenes maieſty there. I could in lyke ſorte ſet forth a ſingular commendati [...] of the vertuous beautie, or beautiful vertues of ſuch Ladies and Gentlewomen, as waite vpon hir perſon, betwéene whoſe amiable counntenaunces and coſtlineſſe of attyre, there ſéemeth to be ſuch a daily conflict and contention, as that it is verye difficulte for me to geſſe, wheter of the twaine, ſhal beare away the preheminence. [...] This farder is not to be omitted to the ſingular commendation of both ſorts & ſexes of our Courtyers here in Englande, that there are verye fewe of them, which haue not the vſe and ſkyll of ſundry ſpeaches, beſide an excellent vaine of wryting, before time not regarded. Truely it is a rare thing with vs nowe, to here of a courtier which hath but his own language, & to ſay how many Gentlewomen & Ladies there are that beſide ſound knowledge of the Gréeke & Latin tongues, are therto no leſſe ſkilful in y^e Spaniſh Italian & French, or in ſome one of them, it reſteth not in me: ſith I am perſwaded, that as the noble men, & gen|tlemen, doe ſurmount in this behalf, ſo theſe come very litle or nothyng at all behind thẽ, for their parts, which induſtry go [...] continue.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 Beſide theſe thinges I coulde in like ſorte ſet downe the wayes and meanes whereby EEBO page image 84 our auncient Ladies of the Court doe ſhun & auoyde ydleneſſe, ſome of them exercyſing their fingers with the néedle, other in caule|worke, diuers in ſpinning of ſilke, ſome in continuall reading either of the holye ſcrip|tures, or hyſtories of our owne, or forren na|tions about vs, whileſt the yonger ſort in y^e meane time, applie their Lutes, Citharnes, prickeſong, and all kindes of Muſick, which they vſe only for recreation and ſolace ſake, when they haue leyſure, and are frée from attendaunce vpon the Quéenes maieſtye, or ſuch as they belong vnto.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 I myght finally deſcribe the large allow|ances in offices, and yerely lyueries, & ther|vnto the great plentie of Golde and Syluer Plate, the ſeuerall péeces whereof, are cõ|monlye ſo great and maſſye, and the quan|ty therof ſo abundantly ſeruing all the houſ|holde, that if Midas were nowe liuing and once againe put to his choiſe, I thinke hée coulde aſke no more, or rather not halfe ſo much, as is there to be ſeene and vſed. But I paſſe ouer to make ſuch néedeleſſe diſcour|ſes, reſoluing my ſelfe, that euen in this alſo the excéeding mercy and louing kindeneſſe of God doth woonderfullye appeare towardes vs, in that he hath ſo largely indued vs with theſe his ſo ample benefites.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 In ſome great Princes Courtes, it is a worlde to ſée what lewde behauiour is vſed among dyuers of thoſe that reſorte vnto the ſame, & what whoredõe, ſwearing, rybaldry atheiſme, dicing, carding, carowſing, drun|kenneſſe, Glotony, quareling, and ſuch lyke inconueniences, doe daily take holde, and ſometimes euen among thoſe, in whoſe e|ſtates ſuch behauiour is leaſt conuenient: all which inormities, are eyther vtterly ex|pelled out of the Court of Englande, or elſe ſo quallified by the diligent endeuour of the chiefe officers of hir graces houſholde, that ſeldome are any of theſe thinges apparantly ſéene there, with out due reprehenſion, & ſuch ſeuere correction, as belongeth to thoſe treſ|paſſes. Finally to auoyde ydleneſſe, and pre|uent ſundrye tranſgreſſions, otherwiſe like|lye to be commytted and done, ſuch order is taken, that euerye offyce hath eyther a Byble, or the bookes of the Actes and mo|numentes of the Church of Englande, or both, beſide ſome hyſtoryes and Chronicles lying therin, for the exerciſe of ſuch as come into the ſame: whereby the ſtraunger that entereth into the Court of Englande vpon the ſodeine, ſhall rather imagine himſelfe to come into ſome publicke ſchoole of y^e vniuer|ſities, where many giue eare to one that rea|deth vnto thẽ, then into a Princes Pallace, if you conferre this with thoſe of other nati|ons. Would to god al honorable perſonages woulde take example of hir Graces Godly dealing in this behalfe, and ſhewe their con|formitie, vnto theſe hir ſo good beginninges: which if they woulde, then ſhoulde manye grieuous enormities (where with GOD is highelye diſpleaſed) be cut of and reſtreined, which nowe doe reigne excéedingly, in moſt Noble and Gentlemens houſes, wherof they ſée no paterne within hir Graces gates.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 The firme peace alſo that is mainteyned within a certaine compaſſe of the Princes Pallace, is ſuch, as is nothing inferiour to that we ſée daily practized in the beſt gouer|ned holds, & fortreſſes. And ſuch is the ſeuere puniſhment of thoſe that ſtrike, wythin the limites prohibited, that without all hope of mercy, benefite of clergie, or ſanctuary, they are ſure to looſe their ryght handes, at a ſtroke, and that in very ſolemne maner, the fourme whereof I will ſet downe, and then make an ende of this Chapter, to deale with other matters.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 At ſuch time therefore as the party tranſ|greſſing is conuicted by a ſufficent enqueſt impanelled for the ſame purpoſe, and the tyme come of thexecution of the ſentence, the Sergeaunt of the kings woodyarde pro|uydeth a ſquare blocke, which he bringeth to ſome appointed place, & therwith al a great béetle, ſtaple, and cordes, wherwith to faſten the hande of the offendor, vnto the ſayde blocke, vntill the whole circumſtance of his execution be perfourmed. The Yoman of the Scullary lykewyſe for the tyme beyng doth prouide a great fire of coales harde by the blocke, wherein the ſearing yrons are to be made readie againſt the chiefe Surgeon to the Prince or his Deputie ſhall occupie the ſame. Vpon him alſo [...]oth the ſergeaunt or chief farrour attend with thoſe yrons, whoſe office is to deliuer them to the ſayd Surgeõ when he ſhalbe readie by ſearing to vſe the ſame. The grome of the Salary for the time beyng or hys Deputie is furthermore ap|pointed to be readie with vineger and colde water, and not to depart from the place vn|till the ari [...]e of the offender be [...]ounde vp & fully dreſſed. And as theſe thinges are thus prouided ſo y^e Sergeaunt Surgeon is bound from time to time to be readie to execute his charge, and ſeare the ſtump, when the hande is taken from it. The ſergeaunt of the ſellar is at hande alſo with a cup of red wine, and likewyſe the chiefe officer of the pantry with Manchet bread to giue vnto the ſayde partie, after the execution done, and the ſtomp ſea|red, as the ſergeaunt of the Ewery is with EEBO page image 94 clothes, wherein to winde and wrap vp the the arme, the yoman of the pultrie with a cocke to lay vnto it, the yoman of the Chaũ|drie with ſeared clothes, and finally the mai|ſter cooke or his Deputie with a ſharpe dreſ|ſing knyfe, which he delyuereth at the place of execution to the Sargeaunt of the Lar|der, who doth holde it vpright in hys hande, vntill thexecution be performed, by the pub|licke Officer appointed therevnto. And this is the maner of puniſhment ordayned for thoſe that ſtryke within the Princes pallace, or limites of the ſame. The lyke priuilege is almoſt giuen to churches and churchyardes, although in maner of puniſhment great dif|ference doe appeare. For he that bralleth or quarrelleth in eyther of them, is by and by ſuſpended ab ingreſſu eccleſiae, vntil he be ab|ſolued, as he is alſo that ſtriketh wyth y^e fiſt, or layeth violent handes vpon any whome ſo euer. But yf he happen to ſmite wyth ſtaffe, dagger, or any maner of weapon, and the ſame be ſufficiently founde by the Verdict of twelue men at his arrainement, beſide ex|communication, he is ſure to loſe one of hys eares wythout all hope of recouerye. But if he be ſuch a one as hath béene twyſe con|demned and executed, whereby he hath now none eares, then is he marked with an hote yron vpon the chéeke, & by the letter F, which is ſeared into his fleſh, he is frõ thencefoorth noted as a common barratour, & fray ma|ker, and thereunto remayneth excommuni|cate, till by repentaunce he deſerue to be ab|ſolued.

2.10. Of the maner of Buylding and furniture of our houſes. Cap. 10.

Of the maner of Buylding and furniture of our houſes. Cap. 10.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 THe greateſt parte of our buylding in the cities and good townes of Englande conſiſteth onely of timber, for as yet fewe of the houſes of the comminalty (except here & there in the weſt country townes) are made of ſtone, although they may in my opinion in diuers other places be builded ſo good cheape of the one as of the other. In olde tyme the houſes of the Brytons were ſlitely ſet vppe with a few poſtes and many radles, the like whereof almoſt is to be ſéene in the fenny countries vnto this day, where for lacke of wood they are inforced to continue this aun|cient maner of buylding. It is not in vayne therefore in ſpeaking of buylding to make a diſtinction betweene the playne and wooddye countrie, for as in theſe, our houſes are com|monly ſtrong & wel timbered, ſo that in many places, there are not aboue 6. or nine ynches betwéene ſtudde and ſtudde, ſo in the open & champaine ſoyles they are inforced for want of ſtuffe to vſe no ſtuddes at all, but only ray|ſines, groundſelles, tranſomes, and vpright principalles, with here and there an ouer|thwart poſt in their walles, whereunto they faſten their Splintes or radles, and then caſt it all ouer wyth clay to kéepe out the winde, which otherwyſe woulde anoy them. In like ſort as euery country houſe is thus apparel|led on the out ſide, ſo is it inwardly deuided into ſundrie rowmes aboue and beneth, and where plentie of wood is, they couer thẽ with tyles, otherwyſe with ſtraw, ſedge, or réede, except ſome quarry of ſlate be neare hande, from whence they haue for theyr money, ſo much as may ſuffice them. The clay where|with our houſes are empanelled is eyther white, redde, or blewe, and of theſe the firſt doth participate very much with the nature of our chalke, the ſeconde is called lome, but the thirde eftſoones changeth coulour ſo ſoo [...]e as it is wrought, notwithſtanding that it looke blew when it is throwne out of the pit. Of chalke alſo we haue our excellent whyte lime made in moſt places, wherewith we ſtricke ouer our clay workes & ſtone walles, in Cities, good Townes, riche fermers, and gentlemens houſes: otherwyſe in ſtéede of chalke (where it wanteth for it is ſo ſcant that in ſome places it is ſolde by the pounde) they are compelled to burne a certaine kind of redde ſtone, as in Wales, and elſe where other ſtones, as I haue ſéene by experience. Within their doores alſo ſuch as are of abili|tie doe oft make their flowers, and parget of fine Alabaſter burned, which they cal plaſter of Paris, whereof in ſome places we haue great plentie, & that very profitable agaynſt the rage of fire. In plaſtering likewiſe of our fayreſt houſes ouer our heades, we vſe to lay firſt a Laire or two of white m [...]rter tempe|red with heire vpon Lathes, which are nay|led one by an other, (or ſometimes vpõ rede or wickers more daungerous for fyre and made faſt here and there with ſappelathes for falling downe) and finallye couer all with the aforeſayde plaſter, which beſide the delectable whiteneſſe of the ſtuffe it ſelfe, is layed on ſo euen and ſmouthly as nothing in my iudgement can be done with more exact|neſſe. This alſo hath bene cõmon in england, contrarie to the cuſtomes of all other Na|tions, and yet to be ſéene (for example in moſt ſtréetes of London) that many of our grea|teſt houſes haue outwardly béene very ſim|ple and plaine to ſight, which inwardly haue béene able to receyue a Duke with his whole trayne and lodge them at their eaſe. Hereby moreouer it is come to paſſe, that the frontes EEBO page image 85 of our ſtréetes haue not béene ſo vniforme & orderly buylded as thoſe of forrain cities, where to ſaye truth, the vtterſide of theyr manſions and dwellings, haue oft more coſt beſtowed vpon them, then all the reaſt of the houſe, which are often very ſimple and vn|eaſie within, as experience doth confirme. Of olde tyme our country houſes in ſtéede of glaſſe dyd vſe much lattis and that made ey|ther of wicker or fine riftes of oke in cheker|wyſe. I reade alſo that ſome of the better ſorte in and before the tymes of the Saxons did make panels of horne in ſtéede of glaſſe, and fixe them in woodden calmes, but as horne is quite layde downe in euery place, ſo our lattiſes are alſo growne into leſſe vſe, bycauſe glaſſe is come to be ſo plentifull, & within a very little ſo good cheape as the o|ther. Heretofore alſo the houſes of our prin|ces and noble men were often glaſed wyth Beril, (an example wherof is yet to be ſéene in Sudley caſtell) & in diuers other places, with fine chriſtall, but this eſpecially in the time of y^e Romaines, wherof alſo ſome frag|mentes haue béene taken vp in olde ruines. But nowe theſe are not in vſe, ſo that onely the cleareſt glaſſe is moſt eſtéemed for we haue diuers ſortes ſome brought out of Bur|gundie, ſome out of Normandy, much out of Flaunders, beſide that which is made in Englande ſo good as the beſt, and eache one that may, will haue it for his building. More|ouer the manſion houſes of our country tow|nes & villages, (which in champaine groũde ſtande altogither by ſtréetes, and ioyning one to an other, but in woodelande ſoyles diſperſed here and there, eache one vpon the ſeuerall groundes of their owners) are buil|ded in ſuche ſort generally, as that they haue neither dairy, ſtable, nor bruehouſe, annexed vnto them vnder the ſame rooſe (as in many places beyonde the ſea) but all ſeparate from the firſt, and one of them from an other. And yet for all this, they are not ſo farre diſtant in ſunder, but that the goodman lying in his bed may lightly heare what is done in eache of them with eaſe, and call quickly vnto his meney if any daunger ſhoulde attache hym. The auncient maners & houſes of our gen|tlemen are yet & for the moſt part of ſtrong tymber. Howbeit ſuch as be lately buylded, are commõly either of bricke or harde ſtone, their rowmes large and ſtately and houſes of office farder diſtaunt frõ their lodginges. Thoſe of the Nobility are likewiſe wrought with bricke and hard ſtone as prouiſion may beſt be made: but ſo magnificent and ſtately as the baſeſt houſe of a Barren doth often match with ſome honours of princes in olde tyme, ſo that if euer curious buylding dyd floriſh in Englande, it is in theſe our dayes, wherein our worckemen excell, and are in maner comparable in ſkill with olde Vitru|nius, and Serlo. The furniture of our houſes alſo excéedeth, and is growne in maner euen to paſſing delicacie: & herein I do not ſpeake of the Nobilitie and gentrie onely, but euen of the loweſt ſorte that haue any thing at all to take to. Certes in Noble mens houſes it is not rare to ſée abundance of Arras, riche hangings of Tapiſtry, ſiluer veſſell, and ſo much other plate, as may furniſh ſũdrie cup|bordes to the ſumme oftẽtimes of a thouſand or two thouſande pounde at the leaſt: wher|by the value of this and the reaſt of their ſtuffe doth grow to be ineſtimable. Likewiſe in the houſes of Knightes, Gentlemẽ, Mar|chauntmen, and ſome other wealthie Citi|zens, it is not geſon to beholde generallye their great prouiſion of Tapiſtrie, Turkye worke, Pewter, Braſſe, fine linen, and ther|to coſtly cupbords of plate woorth fiue or ſixe hundred pounde, to be demed by eſtimation. But as herein all theſe ſortes doe farre ex|céede their elders, and predeceſſours, ſo in time paſt, the coſtly furniture ſtayed there, whereas now it is deſcended yet lower, euen vnto the inferiour Artificers and moſt Fer|mers, who haue learned alſo to garniſh their cubbordes with plate, their beddes with ta|piſtrie, and ſilke hanginges, and their tables with fine naperie, whereby the wealth of our countrie doth infinitely appeare. Neyther do I ſpeake this in reproch of any man God is my Iudge, but to ſhew that I doe reioyce ra|ther to ſée how God hath bleſſed vs with hys good giftes, and to behold how that in a time wherein all thinges are growen to moſt ex|ceſſiue prices, we do yet finde the meanes to obtayne and atchieue ſuch furniture as here|tofore hath béene vnpoſſible.Thrée thinges greatly amended in Eng|lande. There are olde men yet dwelling in the village where I re|mayne, which haue noted thrée things to be marueylouſly altered in Englande within their ſound remembraunce. One is the mul|titude of chimnies lately erected,Chimnies wheras in their yoong dayes there were not aboue twoo or thrée if ſo many in moſt vplandiſh townes of the realme, (the religious houſes, & man|nour places, of their Lordes alwayes excep|ted, & peraduenture ſome great perſonages) but eache one made his fire againſt a rere|doſſe, in the hall where he dined and dreſſed his meate. The ſecond is y^e great amende|ment of lodginge,Hardlodg|ing. for ſayde they our fathers & we our ſelues haue lyen full oft vpon ſtraw pallettes couered onely with a ſhéete vnder couerlettes made of dagſwain or hopharlots EEBO page image 95 (I vſe their owne termes) and a good round logge vnder their heades in ſteade of a boul|ſter. If it were ſo that our fathers or y^e good man of the houſe, had a matteres or flockbed, and thereto a ſacke of chafe to reſt hys heade vpon, he thought himſelfe to be as well lod|ged as the Lorde of the towne, ſo well were they contented. Pillowes ſayde they were thought méete onely for women in childebed. As for ſeruants if they had any ſhéete aboue them, it was well, for ſeldome had they any vnder their bodies, to kéepe them from the pricking ſtrawes, that ranne oft thorow the canuas, and raced their hardened hides.

Compare 1587 edition: 1 The thirde thinge they tell of,Furniture of houſ|hold. is the ex|change of tréene platters into pewter, and woodẽ ſpoones into ſiluer or tin. For ſo cõmon were al ſorts of tréene veſſelles in old time, y^e a man ſhould hardly find four peces of pew|ter (of which one was peraduenture a ſalte) in a good Farmers houſe, and yet for al this frugaltie (if it may ſo be iuſtly called) they were ſcarſe able to lyue and paye their ren|tes,This was in the time of generall ydleneſſe. at their dayes without ſelling of a cow, or a horſe, or more, although they payde but foure pounds at the vttermoſt by the yeare. Such alſo was their pouerty, that if a Fer|mour or huſbundman had béene at the ale|houſe, a thing greatly vſed in thoſe dayes, amongſt ſixe or ſeauen of hys neyghbours, and there in a brauery to ſhewe what ſtore he had, did daſt downe his purſe, and therein a noble or ſixe ſhillings in ſiluer vnto them, it was very likely that all the reſt could not lay downe ſo much againſt it: wheras in my tyme although peraduenture foure pounde of olde rent be improued to fourty or fiftye pound, yet will the farmer thinke his gaines very ſmall toward the middeſt of his terme, if he haue not ſixe or ſeauen yeres rent lying by him, therewith to purchaſe a newe leaſe, beſide a faire garniſhe of pewter on his cow|borde, thrée or foure feather beddes, ſo many couerlettes and carpettes of Tapiſtry, a ſil|uer ſalte, a bowle for wine (if not an whole neaſt) and a duſſen of ſpoones, to furniſhe vp the ſute. Thys alſo he taketh to bée his owne cleare, for what ſtocke of money ſoe|uer he gathereth in all his yeares, it is often ſéene, that the landlorde will take ſuch order with him for the ſame, when he renueth his leaſe (which is commoly eight or ten yeares before it be expyred, ſith it is nowe growen almoſt to a cuſtome, that if he come not to his his lorde ſo long before, another ſhall ſtep in for a reuerſion, & ſo defeate him out right) that it ſhall neuer trouble him more then the heare of his bearde, when the barber hath waſhed and ſhauen it from his chinne.

3.14. Of castels and holds. Chap. 14.

Of castels and holds. Chap. 14.

_IT hath béene of long time a question in controuersie, and not yet determined, whether holds and castels néere cities or anie where in the hart of common-wealths, are more profitable or hurtfull for the benefit of the countrie? Ne|uertheles it séemeth by our owne experience that we here in England suppose them altogither vnnéedfull. This also is apparant by the testimonie of sundrie writers, that they haue béene the ruine of manie a noble citie. Of old Salisburie I speake not, of An|warpe I saie nothing more than of sundrie other, whereof some also in my time neuer cease to incroch vpon the liberties of the cities adioining, thereby to hinder them what and wherin they may. For my part I neuer read of anie castell that did good vnto the ci|tie abutting theron, but onelie the capitoll of Rome: and yet but once good vnto the same, in respect of the nine times whereby it brought it into danger of vt|ter ruine and confusion. Aristotle vtterlie denieth that anie castle at all can be profitable to a common wealth well gouerned. Timotheus of Corinthum af|firmeth, that a castle in a common wealth is but a bréeder of tyrants. Pyrhus king of Epire being recei|ued also on a time into Athens, among other courte|sies shewed vnto him, they led him also into their ca|stell of Pallas, who at his departure gaue them great thanks for the fréendlie intertainment; but with this item, that they should let so few kings come into the same as they might, least (saith he) they teach you to repent too late of your great gentle|nesse. Caietanus in his common-wealth hath final|lie no liking of them, as appéereth in his eight booke of that most excellent treatise. But what haue I to deale whether they be profitable or not, sith my pur|pose is rather to shew what plentie we haue of them, which I will performe so far as shall be néedfull?

Compare 1577 edition: 1 There haue béene in times past great store of ca|stels & places of defense within the realme of Eng|land, of which some were builded by the Britons, ma|nie by the Romans, Saxons, and Danes, but most of all by the barons of the realme, in & about the time of king Stephan, who licenced each of them to build so manie as them listed vpon their owne demeasnes, hoping thereby that they would haue imploied their vse to his aduantage and commoditie But finallie when he saw that they were rather fortified against himselfe in the end, than vsed in his defense, he re|pented all too late of his inconsiderate dealing, sith now there was no remedie but by force for to sub|due them. After his decease king Henrie the second came no sooner to the crowne, but he called to mind the inconuenience which his predecessour had suffe|red, and he himselfe might in time sustaine by those fortifications. Therefore one of the first things he did was an attempt to race and deface the most part of these holds. Certes he thought it better to hazard the méeting of the enimie now and then in the plaine field, than to liue in perpetuall feare of those houses, and the rebellion of his lords vpon euerie light occa|sion conceiued, who then were full so strong as he, if not more strong; and that made them the readier to withstand and gainesaie manie of those procéedings, which he and his successours from time to time in|tended. Herevpon therefore he caused more than ele|uen hundred of their said castels to be raced and o|uerthrowne, whereby the power of his nobilitie was not a little restreined. Since that time also, not a few of those which remained, haue decaied, partlie by the commandement of Henrie the third, and partlie of themselues, or by conuersion of them into the dwelling houses of noble men, their martiall fronts being remooued: so that at this present, there are verie few or no castels at all mainteined within England, sauing onelie vpon the coasts and mar|ches of the countrie for the better kéeping backe of the forren enimie, when soeuer he shall attempt to enter and annoie vs.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 The most prouident prince that euer reigned in this land, for the fortification thereof against all out|ward enimies, was the late prince of famous me|morie king Henrie the eight, who beside that he re|pared most of such as were alreadie standing, buil|ded sundrie out of the ground. For hauing shaken off the more than seruile yoke of popish tyrannie, and espieng that the emperour was offended for his di|uorce from quéene Catharine his aunt, and thereto vnderstanding that the French king had coupled the Dolphin his sonne with the popes neece, and maried his daughter to the king of Scots (whereby he had cause more iustlie to suspect than safelie to trust anis one of them all as Lambert saith) he determined to stand vpon his owne defense, and therefore with no small spéed, and like charge, he builded sundrie blocke|houses, castels, and platformes vpon diuerse fron|tiers of his realme, but chieflie the east and southeast parts of England, whereby (no doubt) he did verie much qualifie the conceiued grudges of his aduersa|ries, and vtterlie put off their hastie purpose of inua|sion. But would to God he had cast his eie toward Harwich, and the coasts of Norffolke and Suffolke, where nothing as yet is doone! albeit there be none so fit and likelie places for the enimie to enter vpon, as in those parts, where, at a full sea they may touch vp|on the shore and come to land without resistance. And thus much brieflie for my purpose at this present. For I néed not to make anie long discourse of ca|stels, EEBO page image 195 sith it is not the nature of a good Englishman to regard to be caged vp as in a coope, and hedged in with stone wals, but rather to meet with his enimie in the plaine field at handstrokes, where he may tra|uaise his ground, choose his plot, and vse the benefit of sunne shine, wind and weather, to his best aduan|tage & commoditie. Isocrates also saith that towres, walles,The best keepers of kingdomes. bulworkes, soldiers, and plentie of armour, are not the best kéepers of kingdomes; but freends, loue of subiects, & obedience vnto martiall discipline, which they want that shew themselues either cruell or couetous toward their people. As for those tales that go of Beston castell, how it shall saue all Eng|land on a daie, and likewise the brag of a rebellious baron in old time named Hugh Bigot, that said in contempt of king Henrie the third, and about the fiftith yeare of his reigne:

If I were in my castell of Bungeie,

Vpon the water of Waueneie,

I wold not set a button by the king of Cockneie,

I repute them but as toies, the first méere vaine, the second fondlie vttered if anie such thing were said, as manie other words are and haue béene spo|ken of like holds (as Wallingford, &c:) but now growen out of memorie, and with small losse not heard of among the common sort. Certes the castell of Bungeie was ouerthrowen by the aforesaid prince, the same yeare that he ouerthrew the walles and castell of Leircester, also the castels of Treske and Malesar, apperteining to Roger Mowbraie, and that of Fremlingham belonging likewise to Hugh Bigot, wherof in the chronologie following you may read at large. I might here in like sort take occasi|on to speake of sundrie strong places where camps of men haue lien, and of which we haue great plentie here in England in the plaine fields: but I passe o|uer to talke of any such néedlesse discourses.The wan|dles in time past were cal|led windles. This ne|uerthelesse concerning two of them is not to be o|mitted, to wit, that the one néere vnto Cambridge now Gogmagogs hill, was called Windleburie be|fore time, as I read of late in an old pamphlet. And to saie the truth I haue often heard them named Winterburie hilles, which difference may easilie grow by corruption of the former word: the place likewise is verie large and strong. The second is to be séene in the edge of Shropshire about two miles from Colme, betwéene two riuers, the Clun or Co|lunus, and the Tewie otherwise named Themis, wherevnto there is no accesse but at one place. The Welshmen call it Cair Carador, and they are of the opinion, that Caractatus king of the Sillures was ouercome there by Ostorius, at such time as he fled to Cartimanda quéene of the Brigants for succour, who betraied him to the Romans, as you may sée in Tacitus.

3.15. Of palaces belonging to the prince. Chap. 15.

Of palaces belonging to the prince. Chap. 15.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 _IT lieth not in me to set down exactlie the number & names of the palaces belonging to the prince, nor to make anie description of hir graces court, sith my calling is and hath béene such, as that I haue scarselie presumed to peepe in at hir gates, much lesse then haue I aduentured to search out and know the estate of those houses, and what magnificent behauiour is to be séene within them. Yet thus much will I saie generallie of all the houses and honours perteining to hir maiestie, that they are builded either of square stone or bricke, or else of both. And thervnto although their capacitie and hugenesse be not so monstrous, as the like of di|uerse forren princes are to be seene in the maine, and new found nations of the world: yet are they so curious, neat, and commodious as any of them, both for conueiance of offices and lodgings, and excel|lencie of situation, which is not the least thing to be considered of in building. Those that were builded before the time of king Henrie the eight, reteine to these daies the shew and image of the ancient kind of workemanship vsed in this land: but such as he erec|ted after his owne deuise (for he was nothing inferi|our in this trade to Adrian the emperour and Iu|stiman the lawgiuer)King Hen. 8. not inferior to Adrian and Iustiman. doo represent another maner of paterne, which as they are supposed to excell all the rest that he found standing in this realme, so they are and shall be a perpetuall president vnto those that doo come after, to follow in their workes and buil|dings of importance. Certes masonrie did neuer better flourish in England than in his time. And al|beit that in these daies there be manie goodlie houses erected in the sundrie quarters of this Iland; yet they are rather curious to the eie like paper worke, than substantiall for continuance: whereas such as he did set vp excell in both, and therefore may iustlie be preferred farre aboue all the rest. The names of those which come now to my remembrance, and are as yet reserued to hir maiesties onelie vse at plea|sure are these: for of such as are giuen awaie I speake not, neither of those that are vtterlie decaied, as Bainards castell in London builded in the daies of the Conquerour by a noble man called William Bainard, whose wife Inga builded the priorie of litle Donemow in the daies of Henrie the first; neither of the tower roiall there also, &c: sith I sée no cause wherefore I should remember them and manie of the like, of whose verie ruines I haue no certeine knowledge. Of such I saie therfore as I erst men|tioned, we haue first of all White hall at the west end of LondonWhite hall. (which is taken for the most large & prin|cipall of all the rest) was first a lodging of the archbi|shops of Yorke, then pulled downe, begun by cardi|nall Woolseie, and finallie inlarged and finished by king Henrie the eight. By east of this standeth Dur|ham place, sometime belonging to the bishops of Durham, but conuerted also by king Henrie the eight into a palace roiall, & lodging for the prince. Of Summerset place I speake not, yet if the first be|ginner thereof (I meane the lord Edward, the lear|ned and godlie duke of Summerset) had liued, I doubt not but it should haue beene well finished and brought to a sumptuous end: but as vntimelie death tooke him from that house & from vs all, so it prooued the staie of such proceeding as was intended about it. Wherby it commeth to passe that it standeth as he left it. Neither will I remember the Tower of Lon|don, which is rather an armorie and house of muni|tion, and therevnto a place for the safekéeping of of|fendors, than a palace roiall for a king or quéene to soiourne in. Yet in times past I find that Belline held his aboad there, and therevnto extended the site of his palace in such wise, that it stretched ouer the Broken wharfe, and came further into the citie, in so much that it approched néere to Bellines gate, & as it is thought some of the ruines of his house are yet extant, howbeit patched vp and made warehouses in that tract of ground in our times.S. Iames. S. Iames some|time a nonrie, was builded also by the same prince. Hir grace hath also Oteland,Oteland. Ashridge. Hatfield. Enuéeld. Richmond. Hampton. Woodstocke. Ashridge, Hatfield, Hauering, Enuéeld, Eltham, Langleie, Richmond builded by Henrie the fift, Hampton court (begun sometime by cardinall Woolseie, and finished by hir father) and therevnto Woodstocke, erected by king EEBO page image 196 Henrie the first, in which the quéenes maiestie de|lighteth greatlie to soiourne, notwithstanding that in time past it was the place of a parcell of hir capti|uitie, when it pleased God to trie hir by affliction and calamitie.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 For strength Windlesor or Winsor is supposed to be the chéefe, [...] a castell builded in time past by king Arthur, or before him by Aruiragus, as it is thought, and repared by Edward the third, who erected also a notable college there. After him diuerse of his suc|cessours haue bestowed exceeding charges vpon the same, which notwithstanding are farre surmounted by the quéenes maiestie now liuing, who hath ap|pointed huge summes of monie to be emploied vp|on the ornature and alteration of the mould, accor|ding to the forme of building vsed in our daies, which is more for pleasure than for either profit or safegard. Such also hath béene the estimation of this place, that diuerse kings haue not onelie béene in|terred there, but also made it the chiefe house of as|semblie, and creation of the knights of the honora|ble order of the garter, than the which there is no|thing in this land more magnificent and statelie.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Greenewich was first builded by Humfreie duke of Glocester,Gréenewich. vpon the Thames side foure miles east from London, in the time of Henrie the sixt, and cal|led Pleasance. Afterwards it was greatlie inlar|ged by king Edw. 4. garnished by king Hen. 7. and finallie made perfect by king Hen. 8. the onelie Phe|nix of his time for fine and curious masonrie.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Not farre from this is Dartford,Dartford. and not much di|stant also from the southside of the said streame, som|time a nonnerie builded by Edward the third, but now a verie commodious palace, wherevnto it was also conuerted by K. Henrie the eight.Eltham. Eltham (as I take it) was builded by king Henrie the third, if not before. There are beside these moreouer diuerse other. But what shall I néed to take vpon me to re|peat all, and tell what houses the queenes maiestie hath? sith all is hirs, and when it pleaseth hir in the summer season to recreat hir selfe abroad, and view the estate of the countrie, and heare the complaints of hir poore commons iniuried by hir vniust officers or their substitutes, euerie noble mans house is hir palace, where shée continueth during pleasure, and till shee returne againe to some of hir owne, in which she remaineth so long as pleaseth hir.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 The court of England,Of the court. which necessarilie is holden alwaies where the prince lieth, is in these daies one of the most renowmed and magnificent courts that are to be found in Europe. For whether you regard the rich and infinit furniture of household, order of officers, or the interteinement of such strangers as dailie resort vnto the same, you shall not find manie equall therevnto, much lesse one excelling it in anie maner of wise. I might here (if I would, or had suf|ficient disposition of matter conceiued of the same) make a large discourse of such honorable ports, of such graue councellors, and noble personages, as giue their dailie attendance vpon the quéenes maie|stie there. I could in like sort set foorth a singular commendation of the vertuous beautie, or beauti|full vertues of such ladies and gentlewomen as wait vpon hir person, betweene whose amiable counte|nances and costlinesse of attire, there séemeth to be such a dailie conflict and contention, as that it is ve|rie difficult for me to gesse, whether of the twaine shall beare awaie the preheminence. This further is not to be omitted, [...] to the singular commendation of both sorts and sexes of our courtiers here in Eng|land, that there are verie few of them, which haue not the vse and skill of sundrie speaches, beside an excel|lent veine of writing before time not regarded. Would to God the rest of their liues and conuersa|tions were correspondent to these gifts! for as our common courtiers (for the most part) are the best ler|ned and indued with excellent gifts, so are manie of them the worst men when they come abroad, that a|nie man shall either heare or read of. Trulie it is a rare thing with vs now, to heare of a courtier which hath but his owne language. And to saie how many gentlewomen and ladies there are, that beside sound knowledge of the Gréeke and Latine toongs, are thereto no lesse skilfull in the Spanish, Italian, and French, or in some one of them, it resteth not in me: sith I am persuaded, that as the noble men and gen|tlemen doo surmount in this behalfe, so these come verie little or nothing at all behind them for their parts, which industrie God continue, and accomplish that which otherwise is wanting!

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Beside these things I could in like sort set downe the waies and meanes, wherby our ancient ladies of the court doo shun and auoid idlenesse, some of them exercising their fingers with the needle, other in caul|worke, diuerse in spinning of silke, some in continu|all reading either of the holie scriptures, or histories of our owne or forren nations about vs, and diuerse in writing volumes of their owne, or translating of other mens into our English and Latine toong, whilest the yoongest sort in the meane time applie their lutes, citharnes, prickesong, and all kind of mu|sike, which they vse onelie for recreation sake, when they haue leisure, and are frée from attendance vpon the quéenes maiestie, or such as they belong vnto. How manie of the eldest sort also are skilfull in surgerie and distillation of waters, beside sundrie other artificiall practises perteining to the ornature and commendations of their bodies, I might (if I listed to deale further in this behalfe) easilie declare, but I passe ouer such maner of dealing, least I should séeme to glauer, and currie fauour with some of them. Neuerthelesse this I will generallie saie of them all, that as ech of them are cuning in somthing wherby they kéepe themselues occupied in the court, so there is in maner none of them, but when they be at home, can helpe to supplie the ordinarie want of the kitchen with a number of delicat dishes of their owne deuising, wherein the Portingall is their chéefe counsellor, as some of them are most commonlie with the clearke of the kitchen, who vseth (by a tricke taken vp of late) to giue in a bréefe rehearsall of such and so manie dishes as are to come in at euerie course throughout the whole seruice in the dinner or supper while: which bill some doo call a memoriall, o|ther a billet, but some a fillet, bicause such are com|monlie hanged on the file, and kept by the ladie or gentlewoman vnto some other purpose. But whi|ther am I digressed?

Compare 1577 edition: 1 I might finallie describe the large allowances in offices, and yearelie liueries, and therevnto the great plentie of gold and siluer plate, the seuerall peeces whereof are commonlie so great and massie, and the quantitie therof so abundantlie seruing all the hous|hold, that (as I suppose) Cyniras, Cresus, and Cras|sus had not the like furniture: naie if Midas were now liuing & once againe put to his choise, I thinke he could aske no more, or rather not halfe so much as is there to be seene and vsed. But I passe ouer to make such needlesse discourses, resoluing my selfe, that euen in this also, as in all the rest, the excéeding mercie and louing kindnesse of God dooth wonder|fullie appéere towards vs, in that he hath so largelie indued vs with these his so ample benefits.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 In some great princes courts beyond the seas, & which euen for that cause are likened vnto hell by diuerse learned writers that haue spent a great part of their time in them, as Henricus Cornelius Agrip|pa, one (for example) who in his epistle Ad aulicum EEBO page image 197 dam saith thus: An non in inferno es amice, qui es in au|la, vbi daemonum habitatio est, qui illic suis artibus humana licèt effigie regnant, atque vbi scelerum schola est, & anima|tum iactura ingens, ac quicquid vspiam est perfidiae ac doli, quicquid crudelitatis & inclemẽtiae, quicquid effraenatae super|biae, & rapacis auariciae, quicquid obscenae libidinis, faedissimae impudicitiae, quicquid nefandae impietatis, & morum pessimo|rum, totum illic aceruatur cumulatissimè, vbi stupra, raptus, incestus, adulteria, principum & nobilium ludi sunt, vbi fastus & tumor, ira, liuor, faedáque cupido cum socijs suis imperauit, vbi criminum omnium procellae virtutúmque om|niũ ínenarrabile naufragium, &c. In such great princes courts (I saie) it is a world to sée what lewd behaui|our is vsed among diuerse of those that resort vnto the same, and what whoredome, swearing, ribaldrie, atheisme, dicing, carding, carowsing, drunkennesse, gluttonie, quareling, and such like inconueniences doo dailie take hold, and sometimes euen among those, in whose estates the like behauiour is least conuenient (whereby their talke is verified which say that the thing increaseth and groweth in the courts of princes sauing vertue, which in such places dooth languish and dailie vade away) all which enormities are either vtterlie expelled out of the court of Eng|land, or else so qualified by the diligent endeuour of the chiefe officers of hir graces household, that sel|dome are anie of these things apparantlie séene there, without due reprehension, and such seuere cor|rection as belongeth to those trespasses. Finallie to auoid idlenesse, and preuent sundrie transgressions, otherwise likelie to be committed and doone, such or|der is taken, that euerie office hath either a bible, or the bookes of the acts and monuments of the church of England, or both, beside some histories and chroni|cles lieng therein, for the exercise of such as come in|to the same: whereby the stranger that entereth into the court of England vpon the sudden, shall rather imagine himselfe to come into some publike schoole of the vniuersities, where manie giue eare to one that readeth, than into a princes palace, if you con|ferre the same with those of other nations. Would to God all honorable personages would take exam|ple of hir graces godlie dealing in this behalfe, and shew their conformitie vnto these hir so good begin|nings! which if they would, then should manie grie|uous offenses (wherewith God is highlie displeased) be cut off and restreined, which now doo reigne excée|dinglie, in most noble and gentlemens houses, wher|of they sée no paterne within hir graces gates.

I might speake here of the great traines and troopes of seruing men also,Traines of attendants. which attend vpon the nobilitie of England in their seuerall liueries, and with differences of cognisances on their sléeues, whereby it is knowen to whome they apperteine. I could also set downe what a goodlie sight it is to sée them muster in the court, which being filled with them dooth yéeld the contemplation of a noble va|rietie vnto the beholder, much like to the shew of the pecocks taile in the full beautie, or of some medow garnished with infinit kinds and diuersitie of plea|sant floures. But I passe ouer the rehearsall hereof to other men, who more delite in vaine amplification than I, and séeke to be more curious in these points than I professe to be.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 The discipline of firme peace also that is maintei|ned within a certeine compasse of the princes pa|lace, is such, as is nothing inferiour to that we sée dailie practised in the best gouerned holds & fortres|ses. And such is the seuere punishment of those that strike within the limits prohibited, that without all hope of mercie, benefit of clergie, or sanctuarie, they are sure to loose their right hands at a stroke, and that in verie solemne maner, the forme whereof I will set downe, and then make an end of this chapter, to deale with other matters.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 At such time therefore as the partie transgressing is conuicted by a sufficient inquest impanelled for the same purpose,Striking within the court and palace of the prince. and the time come of the execution of the sentence, the sergeant of the kings wood-yard prouideth a square blocke, which he bringeth to some appointed place, and therewithall a great beetle, sta|ple, and cords, wherewith to fasten the hand of the of|fendor vnto the said blocke, vntill the whole circum|stance of his execution be performed. The yeoman of the scullarie likewise for the time being, dooth pro|uide a great fire of coales hard by the blocke, where|in the fearing irons are to be made readie against the chiefe surgeon to the prince or his deputie shall occupie the same. Upon him also dooth the sergeant or chiefe farrour attend with those irons, whose of|fice is to deliuer them to the said surgeon when he shall be redie by searing to vse the same. The groome of the salarie for the time being or his deputie is fur|thermore appointed to be readie with vineger and cold water, and not to depart from the place vntill the arme of the offendor be bound vp and fullie dres|sed. And as these things are thus prouided, so the ser|geant surgeon is bound from time to time to be rea|die to execute his charge, and seare the stumpe, when the hand is taken from it. The sergeant of the cellar is at hand also with a cup of red wine, and likewise the chiefe officer of the pantrie with manchet bread to giue vnto the said partie after the execution doone, and the stumpe seared, as the sergeant of the ewerie is with clothes, wherein to wind and wrap vp the arme, the yeoman of the poultrie with a cocke to laie vnto it, the yeoman of the chandrie with seared cloths, and finallie the maister cooke or his deputie with a sharpe dressing knife, which he deliuereth at the place of execution to the sergeant of the larder, who dooth hold it vpright in his hand, vntill the execu|tion be performed by the publike officer appointed therevnto. And this is the maner of punishment ordeined for those that strike within the princes pa|lace, or limits of the same. Which should first haue beene executed on sir Edmund Kneuet, in the yeare 1541. But when he had made great sute to saue his right hand for the further seruice of the king in his warres, and willinglie yeelded to forgo his left, in the end the king pardoned him of both, to no small benefit of the offendor, and publication of the bounti|full nature that remained in the prince. The like pri|uilege almost is giuen to churches and churchyards, although in maner of punishment great difference doo appeere. For he that bralleth or quarelleth in either of them, is by and by suspended Abingressu ecclesiae, vn|till he be absolued: as he is also that striketh with the fist, or laieth violent hands vpon anie whome so euer. But if he happen to smite with staffe, dagger, or anie maner of weapon, & the same be sufficientlie found by the verdict of twelue men at his arrainement, beside excommunication, he is sure to loose one of his eares without all hope of release. But if he be such a one as hath beene twise condemned and execu|ted, whereby he hath now none eares, then is he mar|ked with an hot iron vpon the chéeke, and by the letter F, which is seared déepe into his slesh, he is from thencefoorth noted as a common barratour and fraie maker, and therevnto remaineth excommunicate, till by repentance he deserue to be absolued. To strike a clearke also (that is to saie) a minister, is plaine excommunication, and the offendor not to be absolued but by the prince or his especiall cõmission. Such also is the generall estate of the excõmunicate in euery respect, that he can yéeld not testimonie in a|nie matter so long as he so standeth. No bargaine or sale that he maketh is auaileable in law, neither any of his acts whatsoeuer pleadable, wherby he liueth as EEBO page image 198 an outlaw & a man altogither out of the princes pro|tection, although it be not lawfull to kill him, nor anie man otherwise outlawed, without the danger of fellonie.

3.16. Of armour and munition. Chap. 16.

Of armour and munition. Chap. 16.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 _HOw well or how stronglie our countrie hath beene fur|nished in times past with ar|mor and artillerie, it lieth not in me as of my selfe to make rehersall. Yet that it lacked both in the late time of quéen Marie, not onlie the experi|ence of mine elders, but also the talke of certeine Spaniards not yet forgotten, did leaue some mani|fest notice. Upon the first I néed not stand, for few will denie it. For the second I haue heard, that when one of the greatest péeres of Spaine espied our na|kednesse in this behalfe, and did solemnelie vtter in no obscure place, that it should be an easie matter in short time to conquer England, bicause it wanted armor, his words were then not so rashlie vttered, as they were politikelie noted. For albeit that for the present time their efficacie was dissembled, and femblance made as though he spake but merilie, yet at the verie enterance of this our gratious quéene vnto the possession of the crowne, they were so prouidentlie called to remembrance, and such spée|die reformation sought of all hands for the redresse of this inconuenience, that our countrie was sooner furnished with armour and munition, from diuerse parts of the maine (beside great plentie that was forged here at home) than our enimies could get vn|derstanding of anie such prouision to be made. By this policie also was the no small hope conceiued by Spaniards vtterlie cut off, who of open fréends being now become our secret enimies, and thereto watching a time wherein to atchieue some heauie exploit against vs and our countrie, did there vpon change their purposes, whereby England obteined rest, that otherwise might haue béene sure of sharpe and cruell wars. Thus a Spanish word vttered by one man at one time, ouerthrew or at the least wise hindered sundrie priuie practises of manie at ano|ther. In times past the chéefe force of England con|sisted in their long bowes. But now we haue in ma|ner generallie giuen ouer that kind of artillerie, and for long bowes in déed doo practise to shoot compasse for our pastime: which kind of shooting can neuer yéeld anie smart stroke, nor beat downe our eni|mies, as our countrie men were woont to doo at eue|rie time of néed. Certes the Frenchmen and Rut|ters deriding our new archerie in respect of their corslets, will not let in open skirmish, if anie leisure serue, to turne vp their tailes and crie; Shoote Eng|lish, and all bicause our strong shooting is decaied and laid in bed. But if some of our Englishmen now liued that serued king Edward the third in his warres with France, the bréech of such a varlet should haue beene nailed to his bum with one arrow, and an other fethered in his bowels, before he should haue turned about to sée who shot the first. But as our shooting is thus in manner vtterlie de|caied among vs one waie, so our countrie men wex skilfull in sundrie other points, as in shooting in small péeces, the caliuer, and handling of the pike, in the seuerall vses whereof they are become verie expert.

Compare 1577 edition: 1 Our armour differeth not from that of other na|tions, and therefore consisteth of corslets, almai [...]e riuets, shirts of maile, iackes quilted and couered ouer with leather, fustian, or canuas, ouer thicke plates of iron that are sowed in the same, & of which there is no towne or village that hath not hir con|uenient furniture. The said armour and munition likewise is kept in one seuerall place of euerie towne, appointed by the consent of the whole parish, where it is alwaies readie to be had and worne within an houres warning. Sometime also it is oc|cupied, when it pleaseth the magistrate either to view the able men, & take note of the well kéeping of the same, or finallie to sée those that are inrolled to exercise each one his seuerall weapon, at the charge of the townesmen of each parish according to his appointment. Certes there is almost no village so poore in England (be it neuer so small) that hath not sufficient furniture in a readinesse to set foorth thrée or foure soldiors, as one archer, one gunner, one pike, & a bilman at the least. No there is not so much wanting as their verie liueries and caps, which are least to be accounted of, if anie hast requi|red: so that if this good order may continue, it shall be vnpossible for the sudden enimie to find vs vn|prouided. As for able men for seruice, thanked be God, we are not without good store, for by the mu|sters taken 1574 and 1575, our number amounted to 1172674, and yet were they not so narrowlie ta|ken, but that a third part of this like multitude was left vnbilled and vncalled. What store of munition and armour the quéenes maiestie hath in hir store|houses, it lieth not in me to yéeld account, sith I suppose the same to be infinit. And whereas it was commonlie said after the losse of Calis, that Eng|land should neuer recouer the store of ordinance there lest and lost: that same is at this time prooued false, sith euen some of the same persons doo now confesse, that this land was neuer better furnished with these things in anie kings daies that reigned since the conquest.

The names of our greatest ordi|nance are commonlie these.

• Robinet, whose weight is two hundred pounds, and it hath one inch and a quarter within the mouth.
• Falconet weigheth fiue hundred pounds, and his widenesse is two inches within the mouth.
• Falcon hath eight hundred pounds, and two in|ches and a halfe within the mouth.
• Minion poiseth eleauen hundred pounds, and hath thrée inches and a quarter within the mouth.
• Sacre hath fiftéene hundred poundes, and is three inches and a halfe wide in the mouth.
• Demie Culuerijn weigheth three thousand pounds, and hath foure inches and a halfe within the mouth.
• Culuerijn hath foure thousand pounds, and fiue inches and an halfe within the mouth.
• Demie Canon six thousand pounds, and six in|ches and an halfe within the mouth.
• Canon seauen thousand pounds, and eight inches within the mouth.
• E. Canon eight thousand pounds, and seauen in|ches within the mouth.
• Basiliske 9000 pounds, eight inches, and thrée quarters within the mouth. By which proportions also it is easie to come by the weight of euerie shot, how manie scores it doth flée at point blanke, how much pouder is to be had to the same, & finallie how manie inches in height ech bullet ought to carrie.

EEBO page image 199

Compare 1577 edition: 1 I might here take iust occasion to speake of the princes armories. But what shall it néed? sith the whole realme is hir armorie, and therefore hir fur|niture infinit. The Turke had one gun made by one Orban a Dane, the caster of his ordinance, which could not be drawen to the siege of Constan|tinople, but by seauentie yokes of oxen, and two thousand men; he had two other there also whose shot poised aboue two talents in weight, made by the same Orban. But to procéed. As for the armories of some of the nobilitie (whereof I also haue séene a part) they are so well furnished, that within some one barons custodie I haue séene thrée score or a hundred corslets at once, beside caliuers, hand|guns, bowes, sheffes of arrowes, pikes, bils, pol|axes, flaskes, touchboxes, targets, &c: the verie sight wherof appalled my courage. What would the wea|ring of some of them doo then (trow you) if I should be inforced to vse one of them in the field? But thanked be God, our peaceable daies are such, as no man hath anie great cause to occupie them at all, but onelie taketh good leisure to haue them in a rea|dinesse, and therefore both high and lowe in Eng|land

Cymbalae pro galeis pro scutis tympana [...] pulsant.

I would write here also of our maner of going to the warres, but what hath the long blacke gowne to doo with glistering armour? what sound acquain|tance can there be betwixt Mars and the Muses? [...] or how should a man write anie thing to the pur|pose of that wherewith he is nothing acquainted? This neuerthelesse will I adde of things at home, that seldome shall you sée anie of my countriemen aboue eightéene or twentie yéeres old to go without a dagger at the least at his backe or by his side, al|though they be aged burgesses or magistrates of a|nie citie, who in appeerance are most exempt from brabling and contention. Our nobilitie weare com|monlie swords or rapiers with their daggers, as dooth euerie common seruing man also that follow|eth his lord and master. Some desperate cutters we haue in like sort, which carrie two daggers or two rapiers in a sheath alwaies about them, wherewith in euerie dronken fraie they are knowen to worke much mischiefe; their swords & daggers also are of a great length, and longer than the like vsed in anie other countrie, whereby ech one pretendeth to haue the more aduantage of his enimie. But as manie orders haue béene taken for the intollerable length of these weapons; so I sée as yet small redresse: but where the cause thereof doth rest, in sooth for my part I wote not. I might here speake of the excessiue staues which diuerse that trauell by the waie doo car|rie vpon their shoulders, whereof some are twelue or thirtéene foote long, beside the pike of twelue in|ches: but as they are commonlie suspected of ho|nest men to be theeues and robbers, or at the least|wise scarse true men which beare them; so by reason of this and the like suspicious weapons, the honest traueller is now inforced to ride with a case of dags at his sadle bow, or with some pretie short snapper, whereby he may deale with them further off in his owne defense before he come within the danger of these weapons. Finallie, no man trauelleth by the waie without his sword, or some such weapon, with vs; except the minister, who cõmonlie weareth none at all, vnlesse it be a dagger or hanger at his side. Seldome also are they or anie other waifaring men robbed without the consent of the chamberleine, tapster, or ostler where they bait & lie, who féeling at their alighting whether their capcases or budgets be of anie weight or not, by taking them downe from their sadles, or otherwise see their store in drawing of their purses, do by and by giue intimation to some one or other attendant dailie in the yard or house, or dwelling hard by vpon such matches, whether the preie be worth the following or no. If it be for their turne, then the gentleman peraduenture is asked which waie he trauelleth, and whether it please him to haue another ghest to beare him companie at supper, who rideth the same waie in the morning that he doth, or not. And thus if he admit him or be glad of his acquaintance, the cheate is halfe wrought. And often it is séene that the new ghest shall be robbed with the old, onelie to colour out the matter and kéepe him from suspicion. Some|times when they knowe which waie the passen|ger trauelleth, they will either go before and lie in wait for him, or else come galloping apace after, wherby they will be sure, if he ride not the stronger, to be fingering with his purse. And these are some of the policies of such shrews or close booted gentle|men as lie in wait for fat booties by the high waies, and which are most commonlie practised in the win|ter season about the feast of Christmas, when ser|uing men and vnthriftie gentlemen want monie to plaie at the dice and cards, lewdlie spending in such wise whatsoeuer they haue wickedlie gotten, till some of them sharplie set vpon their cheuisances, be trussed vp in a Tiburne tippet, which happeneth vnto them commonlie before they come to middle age. Wherby it appéereth that some sort of youth will off haue his swinge, although it be in a halter.

I might also intreat of our old maner of warfare vsed in and before the time of Cesar, when as the cheefe brunt of our fight was in Essedis or wagons; but this I also passe ouer, noting neuerthelesse out of Propertius, that our said wagons were gorgeous and gailie painted, which he setteth downe in these foure verses insuing, Arethusae ad Lycotam, lib. 4. eleg. 3.

Te modò viderunt iteratos Bactra per ortus,

Te modò munito Sericus hostis equo,

Hiberníque Getae, pictóque Brittannia curru,

Vstus & Eoa discolor Indus aqua.