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The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries

R >> Richard Hakluyt >> The Principal Navigations, Voyages, Traffiques and Discoveries




Cæterum etsi ilium prolixiore responsione non dignemur: tamen propter
alios, qui hodie hanc rem partim mirantur, partim haud leuiter nostræ genti
obijciunt, pauca hoc loco addenda videbantur.

Primùm igitur totam hanc gentem bipartitò secabimus: In mendicos, et hos
qui et se et cum alijs etiam mendicos alunt. Mendicorum, et eorum qui ad
hos proximè accedunt, omnia cibaria recensere aut examinare haud facile
est, nec quod illos edere, aut edisse, extrema aliquando coegit necessitas,
reliquæ genti cibariorum genera aut numerum præscribere fas est. Nam et de
suffocatis quidem non comedendis legem habemus inter canones, quorum
seruantissima videri voluit antiquitas.

Deinde etiam tempora distinguemus, vt nihil minim sit grassante annonæ
sæuitia, multa à multis ad explendam famem adhiberi aut adhibita fuisse,
quæ alias vix canes pascant. Vt nuperrimè de Parisiensibus accepimus, Anno
1590, arctissima Henrici 4. Nauarræi obsidione pressis, et famem
Saguntinam, vt P. Lindebergius loquitur, perpessis; eos non modò equinam,
sed morticinam quoque carnem ex mortuorum ossibus in mortario contusis
farinæ pugillo vno aut altero misto, confectam, in suas dapes conuertisse,
et de alijs quoque populis notum est, qui simili vrgente inopia, etiam
murium, felium et canum esu victi tarint. Sic etiam Islandis aliquando vsu
venit (quanquam a canina, munum et felium, vt et humana carne hactenus,
nobis quantum constat, abstinuerint) licet non ab hoste obsessis: Nam cùm
ad victum necessaria ex terra marique petant, et ab extraneis nihil
commeatus, aut parum admodum aquehatur, quoties terræ, marisque munera DEVS
præcluserit, horrendam annonæ caritatem ingruere et ingruisse, et dira fame
vexare incolas, necesse est. Vnde fit, vt illos qui in diem viuere soliti
fuerint, nec præcedentium annorum superantes commeatus habuerint, extrema
tentasse, quoties egestas vrserit, credibile. Cæterum, vtrum hæc res
publico et perpetuo opprobrio magis apud Islandos, quàm alias nationes,
occasionem meritò præbere debeat, candidis et bonis animis iudi candum
relinquo.

Porrò quod de gentis nostræ proprijs et consuetis alimentis multi obijcere
solent, potissimum de carne, piscibus, butyro, absque sale inueteratis,
Item de lacticinijs, frumenti inopia, potu aquæ, &c. et reliquis: id nos in
plurimis Islandiæ locis (nam sunt multi quoque nostratium, qui Danorum et
Germanorum more, quantum quidem castis et temperatis animis ad
mediocritatem sufficere debet, licet magna condimentorum varietate, vt et
ipsis Pharmacopolijs, destituimur, mensam instruere et frugaliter viuere
sustineant) ita se habere haud multis refragabimur, videlicet prædicta
victus genera, passim sine salis condimento vsitata esse. Et insuper
addemus, hæc ipsa cibaria, quæ extranei quidam vel nominare horrent, ipsos
tamen extraneos apud nos, non sine voluptate, manducare solitos. [Sidenote:
Ratio conseruandos cibos sine sale.] Nam etsi frumenti aut farris penè
nihil vulgò habeamus, nec sal, gulæ irritamentum, ad cibaria condienda,
omnibus suppetit: docuit tamen Deus opt. max. etiam nostros homines
rationem tractandi et conseruandi, quæ ad vitam sustentandam spectant, vt
appareat, Deum in alendis Islandis non esse ad panem vel salem alligatum.
Quòd verò sua omnia extranei iucundiora et salubriora clamant; negamus
tamen satis causæ esse, cur nostra nobis exprobrent: Nec nos DEVM gulæ
nostræ debitorem reputamus; quin potius toto pectore gratias agimus, quod
sine opiparis illis delicijs et lautitijs, quæ tam iucundæ et salubres
putantur, etiam nostræ gentis hominibus, annos et ætatem bonam, tum
valetudinem etiam firmissimam, robur ac vires validas (quæ omnia statimus
boni et conuenientis alimenti, [Greek: kai tes euchrasias] esse indicia)
concedere dignetur, cum ingenio etiam non prorsus tam crasso ac sterili,
quàm huic nostro aëri et alimentis assignare Philosophi videntur, quod re
libentius, quàm verbis multi fortasse nostratium comprobare poterant.

Ni nos (vt inquit ille) paupertas inuidia deprimeret.

Sed hic vulgi iudicium, vt in alijs sæpè, etiam eos qui sapere volunt (iam
omnes bonos et cordatos excipio) nimis apertè decipit: Videlicet hoc ipso,
quòd omnia, quæ illorum vsus non admittit, aut quæ non viderunt, aut
experti sunt antea, continuò damnent. Veluti, si quis, qui mare nunquam
vidit, mare mediterraneum esse aliquod, non possit adduci vt credat: Sic
illi sensu suæ experientiæ omnia metiuntur, vt nihil sit bonum, nihil
conductibile, nisi quo illi soli viuunt: At profectò nos, eò dementiæ non
processimus, vt eos qui locustis vescuntur, quod tum de alijs, tum Æthiopiæ
quibusdam populis, ideo (autore Diodoro) Acridophagis appellatis, et Indiæ,
gente, cui Mandrorum nomen Clytharcus et Magestanes dederunt, teste
Agatarchide, didicimus; aut ranis, aut cancris mannis, aut squillis gibbis,
quæ res hodiè nota est, vulgi propterea ludibrijs exponere præsumamus, a
quibus tamen edulijs, in totum nostra consuetudo abhorret.

The same in English.

THE FIFTEENTH SECTION.

[Sidenote: The ninth reproch.] Wee will heere rehearse the ninth reproch,
which that slanderous hogge hath drawen from the maner of liuing, and
specially from the meat and drinke of the Islanders, and that not in one or
a few wordes, but in a large inuectiue: namely, that they eate olde and
vnsauoury meates, and that, without the vse of bread. Also that they eate
diuers kinds of fishes which are vnknowen to strangers: and that they
mingle water and whey together for drinke. All which this venemous
pasquill, with eloquent railing and wittie slaunder hath set out at the
full.

And albeit we doe scarse vouchsafe to stand longer about answering of him,
yet in regard of others, who at this day partly woonder at the matter, and
partly obiect it to our nation, we thought good to adde some few things in
this place.

First therefore we will diuide this our nation into two parts: into
beggers, and those that susteine both themselues, and amongst others,
beggers also. As touching all kinds of meats wherewith beggers and other
poore men satisfie their hunger, it is no easie matter to rehearse and
examine them; neither, because extreame necessity hath at some times
compelled them to eate this or that, therefore it is meet to prescribe
certeine kindes and number of meats to the rest of the nation. For we haue
also a law among the canons apostolicall, which forbiddeth to eat things
strangled: in the obseruing of which canons, antiquity hath seemed to be
very deuout.

Moreouer, we will make a distinction of times also, that it may seeme no
strange accident in the time of famine, though many things are, and haue
bene vsed by a great number of men to satisfie their hunger, which at other
times are scarse meat for dogges. As very lately in the yeere 1590 we heard
concerning the citizens of Paris, being enuironed with the most streite
siege of Henrie the fourth, King of Nauarre, suffering (as Petrus
Lindebergius speaketh) the famine of Saguntum; insomuch that they did not
onely eate their horses, but also taking the flesh of dead men, and beating
their bones to powder in a morter, they mingle therewith a bandfull or two
of meale, esteeming it dainties. And it is well knowen also of other
nations who in the like vrgent necessities haue liued by eating of mise,
cats and dogs. In like maner sometimes are we Islanders constrained to doe,
not being besieged by our enemies (although hitherto we haue abstained from
mans flesh, yea, and to our knowledge, from dogs, mise, and cats) for
whereas we prouide things necessary for food out of the land and sea, and
no sustenance, or very little is brought vnto vs by strangers: so often as
God withholdeth his gifts of land and sea, then must follow and ensue a
dreadfull scarsity of victuals, whereupon the inhabitants are sometimes
vexed with grieuous famine. And therefore it is likely that they amongst vs
which vsed to liue from hand to mouth, and had not some prouision of former
yeeres remaining, haue beene driuen to great extremities, so often as need
hath enforced them thereunto. But whether this thing ought woorthily to
minister occasion to a publike and perpetuall reproch against the
Islanders, more then other nations, I referre it to the iudgement of
indifferent and honest mindes.

Moreouer, whereas diuers vse to obiect concerning the proper and accustomed
fare of our country, especially of flesh, fish, butter being long time kept
without salt, also concerning white-meats, want of corne, drinking of
water, and such like: in most places of Island (for there be many of our
countrimen also, who, after the maner of the Danes and Germans so farre
foorth as ought in a meane to suffice chast and temperate minds, although
we haue not any great variety of sauce, being destitute of Apothecaries
shops, are of ability to furnish their table, and to liue moderately) we
confesse it to be euen so: [Sidenote: Want of salt in Island.] namely that
the foresaid kind of victuals are vsed in most places without the seasoning
of salt. And I wil further adde, that the very same meats, which certaine
strangers abhorre so much as to name, yet strangers themselues, when they
are among vs do vse to eat them with delight. [Sidenote: The Islanders
meanes of preseruing their meates without salt.] For albeit for the most
part we haue no corne, nor meale, nor yet salt the prouocation of gluttony,
for the seasoning of our victuals, is common to vs all, yet notwithstanding
almighty God of his goodnesse hath taught our men also the wauy how they
should handle, and keepe in store those things which belong to the
sustentation of life, to the end it may appeare, that God in nourishing and
susteining of vs Islanders, is not tyed to bread and salt.

But whereas strangers boast that all their victuals are more pleasant and
wholesome: yet we denie that to be a sufficient reason, why they should
vpbraid vs in regard of ours: neither do we thinke God to be a debter vnto
our deinty mouthes: but rather we giue him thanks with our whole hearts,
that he vouchsafeth without this delicate and nice fare, which is esteemed
to be so pleasant and wholesome, to grant euen vnto the men of our countrey
many yeeres, and a good age as also constant health, and flourishing
strength of body; all which we account to be signes of wholesome and
conuenient nourishment and of a perfect constitution. Besides, our wits are
not altogether so grosse and barren, as the philosophers seeme to assigne
vnto this our aier, and these nourishments, which perhaps many of our
countreymen could much rather verifie in deeds then in words, if (as the
Poet sayth) enuious pouerty did not holde vs downe.

But here the iudgement of the common people, as often in other matters,
doth too plainly deceiue (I except all good and well experienced men) some
of them which would seeme to be wise, namely, that whatsoeuer their vse
doth admit, or that they haue not seene, nor had trial of beforetime, they
presently condemne. As for example, he that neuer saw the sea will not be
persuaded that there is a mediterrane sea; so doe they measure all things
by their owne experience and conceit, as though there were nothing good and
profitable, but that onely wherewith they mainteine their liues. But we are
not growen to that pitch of folly, that because we haue heard of certaine
people of Aethiopia, which are fed with locusts, being therefore called by
Diodorus, Acridophagi, and of a certaine nation of India also, whom
Clitarchus and Megasthenes haue named Mandri, as Agatarchides witnesseth,
or of others that liue vpon frogs or sea-crabs, or round shrimps, which
thing is at this day commonly knowen, that (I say) we should therefore
presume to make them a laughing stocke to the common people, because we are
not accustomed to such sustenance.


SECTIO DECIMASEXTA.

[Sidenote: 10. Conuicium.] Decimo. Hospitalitatem nostris hominibus
inhumanissimus porcus obijcit. Marsupium inquit, non cirumferunt, nec
hospitiari aut conuiuari gratis pudor est. Nam si quis aliquid haberet,
quod cum alijs communicaret, id faceret sane in primis ac libenter. His
quoque annectamus, quod templa, seu sacras ædiculas domi propriæ à multis
Islandorum extructas velut pudendum quiddam commemorat: quodque eas primùm
omnium de manè oraturi petant, nec à quoquam prius interpellari patiantur.
Hæc ille velut insigne quoddam dedecus in Islandis notauit.

Scilicet, quia nihil cum Amaricino, sui:

Nec porci diuina vnquam amarunt: quod sanè metuo ne nimis verè de hoc
conuiciatore dicatur, id quod vel ex his vltimis duabus obiectionibus
constare poterit.

Verùm enimuerò cùm ipse suarum virtutum sit testis locupletissimus, nos
Lectorem eius rei cupidum ad ipsius hoc opus Poëticum remittimus, quod is
de Islandia composuit, et nos tam aliquot proximis distinctionibus
examinauimus: cuius maledicentiæ et foeditatis nos hic pro ipso puduit;
ita, vt quæ is Satyrica, at quid Satyrica? Sathanica, inquam, mordacitate
et maledicentia in nostram gentem scribere non erubuit, nos tamen referre
pigeat: Tanta eius est et tam abominanda petulantia, tam atrox calumnia.
DEVS BONE: Hoc conuiciorum plaustrum (paucissima namque attigimus: Nolui
enim laterem lauare, et stulto, vt inquit ille sapientissimus, secundum
stultitiam suam respondere, cum in ipsius Rhythmis verbum non sit quod
conuicio careat) qui viderit, nonne iudicabit pasquilli istius autorem
hominem fuisse pessimum, imò fæcem hominum, cum virtutis ac veritatis
contemptorem, sine pietate, sine humanitate?

Sed hîc meritò dubitauerim, peiusne horum conuiciorum autor de Islandis
meritus sit, an verò Typographus ille Ioachimus Leo (et quicunque sunt
alij, qui in suis editionibus, nec suum nec vrbis suæ nomen profiteri ausi
sunt) qui illa iam bis, si non sæpius Typis suis Hamburgi euulgauit.
Hoccine impunè fieri sinitis, ô senatus populusque Hamburgensis? Hanccine
statuistis gratiam deberi Islandiæ, quæ vrbi vestræ iam plurimos annos,
exportatis affatim nostratium quibusuis commodis, pecudum, pecorumque
carnibus butyro et piscium copia quotannis, penè immodica, quædam quasi
cella penuaria fuit? [Sidenote: Vrbes Angliæ commercia olim in Islandia
excercentes.] Sensere huius Insulæ commoda etiam Hollandiæ olim et Angliæ
vrbes aliquot: Præterea Danis, Bremensibus, et Lubecensibus cum Islandis
commercia diu fuerunt. Sed a nullis vnquam tale encomium, talem gratiam
reportarunt, qualis hæc est Gregoriana calumnia: In vestrâ, vestrâ inquam
vrbe, nata, edita, iterata, si non tertiata: quæ alias nationes, quibus
Islandia vix, ac ne vix quidem, nomine tenus, alioqui innotuerat, ad huius
gentis opprobrium et contemptum armauit: quam à ciue vestro acceptam
iniuriam, iam 30. annos, et plus eò, Islandia sustinet. Sed etiam, inscio
magistratu, eiusmodi multa sæpè fiunt: Neque; enim dubitamus, quin viri
boni eiusmodi scripta famosa indignè ferant, et ne edantur, diligenter
caueant: cum tales editiones pugnent cum iure naturali: Ne alteri facias,
quod tibi factum non velis: Et Cæsareo, de libellis famosis: in quo
irrogatur poena grauissima ijs, qui tales libellos componunt, scribunt,
proferunt, emi vendiue curant, aut non statim repertos discerpunt.

Cæterum iam tandem receptui canamus: Nosque ad te, Islandia parens
carissima, quàm nec paupertas, nec frigora, nec id genus incommoda alia,
quamdiu Chnsto hospitia cupidè et libenter exhibere non desistis, inuisam
fecient conuertamus: Vbi te primùm ad id quod modò diximus, nempè serium et
ardens studium ac amorem DEI, et diuinæ scientiæ, nobis in Christo
patefactæ, totis viribus hortamur: vt vni huic cuncta posthabeas, doctrinæ
et verbi cupiditate flagres: Sacrum ministerium et ministros, non parum
cures, non contemnas aut odio prosequeris: sed reuerearis, foueas, ames.
Contra facientes, pro impijs et profanis habeas: vt omnia ad pietatis et
honestatis præscriptum geras, in vita priuata et communi, vt huic status et
ordines Ecclesiastici et Politici, in vniversum obtemperent: In vtroque
vitæ genere ab illi amussi seu norma æqui et boni dependeas, et cæteros qui
pertinacia ac impietate ab ea deflectunt, auersens, quos æquum est poenis
condignis affici, id quod magistratur curæ futurum non diffidimus. In
pritmis verò nullos nisi spectatæ fidei et probitatis viros, quique ad
istas virtutes, reliquas huc pertinentes coniungant, ad gubernacula
admittas, qua ratione reliquis incommodis ritè occurritur Res ista enim, si
probe curetur, vt videlicet, qui munus publicum gerunt, ex bonis omnibus
optimi quique deligantur, improbi et huic rei inepti, procul inde
arceantur, subditorum conditio, longè erit optatissima: vita et mores tantò
magis laudabiles sequentur: pietas et honestas tantò erunt illustriores. At
verò si secus fiat. si Pastores Ecclesiarum suo muneri, vel vita vel
doctrina non respondeant, si ad administrationem politicam promiscuè
admittantur, quicunque eò propria leuitate, ambitione vel auaritia et
contentione honoris, ruunt: si ijdem criminum aut improbitatis, vel
suspecti vel conuicti sint, aut suspectorum et conuictorum protectores, vel
ijsdem illicite indulgentes, quis tuus quæso demum futurus est status? quæ
facies? quæ conditio? Certe longe omnium miserrima. Nec enim alio pacto
citius ad ruinam et interitum tuum appropinquabis, quàm si istis te
regendam commiseris, qui quod in ijs est, licet sint et ipsi ex tuis,
iugulum tuum, propter emolumenta priuata, et odia latentia, quotidiè petere
contendunt/ Quamobrem (ne ista pluribus agam) quanti intersit, vt hæc probè
curentur, facile, ô Patria, intelligis.

Sed dum hæc tuis auribus à me occinuntur, utinam gemitus meos altissimos,
qui sub hac ad te Apostrophe latent, Serenis simæ Regiæ Maiestatis aures
exaudiant, apud quam ego pro te ita deploro damna publica, quæ ea de causa
exoriuntur maximè, quòd patria nostra à regia sede, et conspectu, tantò
interuallo sit remota, vt multi propterea tantò sibi maiorem sumant
licentiam, et impunitatem securius promittant. Cæterum ista numini
iustissimo, quod æquis omnia oculis aspicit, committenda ducimus.

Reliquum est, ô patria, vt studium in te nostrum, eo quo speramus animo i.
comi et benigno, suscipias: quod quamuis minimè tale est, quale optaremus,
tamen cum VELLE SIT INSTAR OMNIVM, nolui idcirco desistere, quod pro tuo
nomine, tua dignitate, tua innocentia pugnare me satis strenuè diffiderem.
Quin potius, quicquid id est si modò quicquam est et quantulumcunque
tandem, quod ad tui patrocinium pro mea tenui parte afterre possem,
nequaquam supprimendum putaui nec enim illos laudare soleo,

Qui, quod desperent inuicti membra Glyconis,
Nodosa nolunt corpus prohibere Chiragra.

Me sanè, si hæc commentatiuncula non erit tibi aut mihi dedecori, operæ
nequaquam poenitebit. Quod si ad laudem vel aliquale patrocinium tui
aliquid faciat, operam perdidisse haud videbor. Sin verò alios alumnos,
meos conterraneos, arte et industria superiores, ad causam tuam, vel nunc,
vel in posterum suscipiendam, hoc conatu tenello excitauero, quid est cur
operæ precium non fecisse dicar? quibus scribentibus, licet mea fama in
obscuro futura est, tamen præstantia illorum, qui nomini officient meo, me
consolabor: Nam etsi famæ et nominis cura surnma esse debett maior tamen
patriæ; cuius dignitate salua et incolumni, nos quoque saluos et incolumes
reputabimus.

Scripsi Holis Hialtædalensium in Islandia, Æræ Christianæ Anno 1592. 17.
Kalendas Maias.

The same in English.

THE SIXTEENTH SECTION.

[Sidenote: The tenth reproch.] Tenthly, that vnciuill beast casteth our men
in the teeth with their good hospitality. They do not (sayth he) carry
about money with them in their purses, neither is it any shame to be
enterteined in a strange place, and to haue meat and drinke bestowed of
free cost. For if they had any thing which they might impart with others,
they would very gladly. Moreouer, he maketh mention of certeine churches or
holy chappels (as of a base thing) which many of the Islanders haue built
in their owne houses: and that first of all in the morning, they haue
recourse thither, to make their prayers, neither do they suffer any man
before they haue done their deuotion to interrupt them. These be the things
which he hath set downe as some notable disgrace vnto the Islanders. And no
maruell:

For filthy swine detest all cleanly ones,
And hogs vncleane regarde not precious stones.

Which I feare, least it may be too truely affirmed of this slanderer, as it
is manifest out of these two last obiections.

Howbeit, sithens he himselfe is a most sufficient witnesse of his owne
vertues, we will referre the reader, who is desirous to know more of him
vnto his booke of rimes against Island, which we haue now examined in our
former sections at whose railing and filthy speeches we haue bene ashamed
on his behalfe: insomuch that those things which he with satyrical,
satyrical? nay sathanicall biting and reuiling of our nation, hath not
blushed to write, are irksome for vs to repeat: so great and abominable is
his insolency and his reproches so heinous. Good God! whosoeuer shall view
this cartlode of slanders (for we haue mentioned the least part thereof,
because I was loth to lose my labour, or, as the wise man sayth, to answere
a foole according to his foolishnesse, whereas in his rimes there is not
one word without a reproch) will he not iudge the authour of this pasquill
to haue bene a most lewde man, yea the very drosse of mankinde, without
pietie, without humanitie?

But here I haue iust occasion to doubt whether the authour of these
reuilings hath bene the more iniurious to Islanders, or the Printer thereof
Ioachimus Leo (and whatsoeuer else they be who in their editions dare
neither professe their own name, nor the name of their Citie) which Leo
hath nowe twise, if not oftener, published the saide pamphlet at Hamburg.
Doe you suffer this to goe vnpunished, O ye counsell and commons of
Hamburg? What? [Sidenote: The commodities of Island.] Haue you determined
to gratifie Island in this sort, which these many yeeres, by reason of your
aboundant traffique with vs, and your transporting home of all our
commodities, of our beeues and muttons, and of an incredible deale of
butter and fishes, hath bene vnto your Citie in stead of a storehouse.
[Sidenote: The ancient traffique of England with Island.] In times past
also, certaine Cities of England and of Holland haue reaped the commodities
of this Isle. Moreouer, there hath bene ancient traffique of Denmarke,
Breme, and Lubeck with the Islanders. But they neuer gained by any of their
chapmen such commendations, and such thanks, as are contained in this
libell: It hath in your, in your Citie (I say) bene bred, brought foorth,
iterated, if not the thirde time published: which I hath armed other people
vnto whom the name of Island was otherwise scarce knowne, to the disdaine
and contempt of this our Nation: and this iniurie offered by a Citizen of
yours, hath Island susteined these 30. yeeres and more, and doeth as yet
susteine. But many such accidents often come to passe without the knowledge
of the magistrate, neither do we doubt but that good men are grieued at
such infamous libels, and do take diligent heed that they be not published:
for such editions are contrary to the lawe of nature: Doe not that to
another which thou wouldest not haue done vnto thy selfe: [Sidenote: Lawes
against libels.] and to the laws Emperial of infamous libels: wherein is
enioyned a most grieuous penaltie vnto those who inuent, write, ytter, or
cause such libels to be bought or sold, or do not presently vpon the
finding thereof teare them in pieces.

But now time bids vs to sound a retreat: and to returne home vnto thee,
Island (our most deare mother) whom neither pouertie, nor colde, nor any
other such inconueniences shall make ircksome vnto vs, so long as thou
ceasest not to giue heartie and willing entertainment vnto Christ: where,
first we doe earnestly exhort thee to the serious and ardent affection, and
loue of God, and of the heauenly knowledge reueiled vnto vs in Christ: that
thou wouldest preferre this before all things, being enflamed with desire
of doctrine, and of the worde: that thou wouldest not lightly esteeme,
contemne or hate the holy ministerie and ministers, but reuerence, cherish
and loue them. Accompting those that practise the contrary as wicked and
prophane: and managing all thine affaires both priuate and publique,
according to the prescript rule of pietie and honestie, that vnto this, thy
states and orders Ecclesiasticall and politique may in all things be
conformed; and so in either kinde of life relying thy selfe vpon that
leuell and line of equitie and iustice, and auoyding others, who vpon
stubbernesse and impietie swerue therefrom. That thou wouldest also inflict
iust punishments vpon offenders: All which we doubt not but the Magistrate
will haue respect vnto. But especially that thou admittest none to be
Magistrates, but men of approued fidelitie and honestie, and such as may
adioyne vnto these vertues others hereto belonging, by which meanes
inconueniences may fitly be preuented. For if this matter be well handled,
namely that they which are the best of all good men be chosen to beare
publicke authoritie, wicked and vnfit men being altogether reiected; the
condition of the subiects shalbe most prosperous: the hues and maners of
all men shal proue by so much the more commendable; godlinesse also and
honestie shal become the more glorious. But on the contrary, if pastours of
Churches be not answerable to their function, either in life or doctrine;
if all men without respect or difference be admitted to the gouernment of
the common wealth, who aspire thereunto by their owne rashnesse, ambition,
or auarice, and desire of honour, yea though they be suspected or conuicted
of crimes and dishonestie, or be protectours or vniust fauourers of such
persons as are suspected and conuicted; then what will be thy state, oh
Island? What wil be thy outward show or condition? Doubtlesse most
miserable. Neither shalt thou by any other meanes more suddenly approch to
thy ruine and destruction, then if thou committest thy selfe to the
gouernment of such men, who to the vttermost of their power, although they
be of thine owne brood, dayly seeke thine ouerthrow for their owne priuate
aduantage and secret malice. Wherefore (to be short) let these be to
aduertise my deare Countrey, how behouefull it is that the matters
aforesaid be put in practise.

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