Part 5

Wee must not boast of those good things that be in us, nor set them to light: for in y^e one, wee doe upbraide men their faults: In the other, wee scorne to muche their vertues. But it behoveth every man to speake his owne praise, as litle as hee may. And if occasion drive him unto it: it shalbe good, modestly to speake the truethe, as I have told you before.

And therefore, they that desire to doe men a pleasure: must needes leave one faulte, y^t is to common with all men: they must not shewe them selves so afraide and fearefull to speake their mindes, when a man dothe aske their advise. For, it is a deadly paine to here them, & specialy if they be men, in y^e Judgement of y^e world, of good understanding and wisedome. What a fetching about is this, ere they come to y^e mater? Sir I beseche you pardon mee, if I doe not say well. I will speake like a gros man as I am: & grosly according to my pore skil. And Sir, I am sure you will but mocke me for it. But yet, to obey you: & they drawe their words forth so long, & put them selves to suche paine: y^t, while these ceremonies be a doing, y^e hardest question y^t is, might have bin determined with fewer words and shorter time: bycause they cannot get out of these protestations, when they bee in.

They bee also very tedious to men, and their conversation & maners are very troublesome: whoe shewe too base and abject a minde in their doings. And where the chefest and highest place, is apparantly due unto them: they will ever creepe downe to the lowest. And it is a spitefull buisines to thrust them up: For they will straite jogge backe againe, like a resty Jade, or a Nagge that startleth a side at his shadowe. So that, there is muche a dooe w^t them, when wee meete at a doore. For they will not (for all you can dooe) in any case enter before you, but so traverse their ground, go backe, and so fray and defend with their armes and their handes: that at every thirde steppe, a man must be ready to wage battell with them: and thus they breake of, all solace and pleasure, and otherwhile, the buisines they meete aboute.

And therfore, Ceremonies, which wee name, as you heare, by a straunge terme, as lacking a worde of our owne, bycause our elders, having no knowledge of those superstitious fashions, coulde not well give them a proper name. Ceremonies, I saye, (in my Judgement,) differ not much from lies & dreames, for their own very vainesse it selfe. So that wee may couple and joine them together in this our treatise, sithe occasion serves so fitt to speake of them here. As a good man hath often shewed me: those solemnities that church men doe use at their Altars, and in their divine service bothe to God and his holy things, are properly called Ceremonies: but after, men did begin, to reverence eche other with curious entertainements, more then were convenient, and would be called masters and Lords, amongest them selves, yealding bending, and bowing their bodies, in token of reverence one to another, uncovering their heads, using highe titles and Styles of honour, and kissing their hands as if they were hollye things: some body, by like considering all these things well, and finding these newe founde curious follies without any name: thought good to Christen and call them Ceremonies, but sure in a jest as I take it: as to be mery and make good cheare, we terme it in sport, a triumph: which custome, no doubt, tooke not his being at us, but elles where, as barbarous & straunge: and not long since, from whence I knowe not, transported into Italie: whose deedes being wretched, and effects base and vile, hath gotten encrease and honor, in vaine woords alone, and superfluous titles.

Ceremonies then, if we consider well their intents that use them: are but vaine shewes of honour and reverence, towardes him to whome they be doone: framed of semblance and wordes touching their titles and courtious offers. I say vaine: In that we honour men to their face, whome we reverence not in deede, but otherwhile contemne. And nevertheles, because we may not go against custome, wee give them these titles: The most honorable Lord suche a one: the Noble Lord suche a one. And so otherwhile wee offer them our humble service: whome wee could better unserve then serve, & commaund then doe them any duety.

Then not Lesinges alone, but also Treacheries and Treasons, shalbe called Ceremonies. But because these wordes and these titles above rehersed, have lost their strength: and waste, (as a man may say of Iron) their temper, w^t such continuall occupying of it as it we doe use: we must not so precisely way them as other words, nor so strictly construe the meaning of them. And, that this is true, that which allwayes happens to all men, dothe shewe it plaine inoughe. For if wee meete with a man, we never sawe before: with whome, uppon some occasion, it behoves us to talke: without examining wel his worthines, most commonly, that wee may not offend in to litle, we give him to much, and call him Gentleman, and otherwhile Sir, althoughe he be but some Souter or Barbar, or other suche stuffe: and all bycause he is appareled neate, somewhat gentleman like.

And as men in times past, were wont to have under the Privilege of the Pope & Emperour, peculiar & distinct titles of honour, which might not be untouched, without doing wrong to the privileged men: nor againe attributed & geven without a scorne, to them that were no such privileged persones: So at this daye, wee must more freely use those titles, and the other significations of honour, like to those titles: bycause Custome the mightiest Lorde, hathe largely therewith, privileged men of our time.

This use and custome, then so faire and gallant without, is altogether vaine within, and consisteth in semblance without effect, & in wordes without meaning. But this notwithstanding, it is not lawful for us to chaunge it: but rather, bycause it is not our fault, but the fault of our time, wee are bounde to followe it: but yet wee must discretely doe it.

So that wee are to noate, that Ceremonies are used, either for a Profit, or for a Vanitie, or for a Duetie. And every lie that is told for a mans private profit: is a deceite, a sinne, and a dishonest parte: for, in what so ever it bee, A man can never honestly lie.

And this is a common fault with flatterers, that counterfet them selves to be our friendes, and apply them selves ever to our desiers, what soever they be: not bycause wee would have it so, but to the ende wee should doe them some pleasure, for it. And this is not to please us, but to deceive us. And albeit this kind of fault be, peradventure, by reason of custome sufferable: yet notwithstanding bycause of it selfe, it is fowle and hurtefull, it ill becomes a gentle man to doe it. For it is no honestie to seeke a pleasure by the hurt of another. And if lies and false flatteries, may bee termed Ceremonies (as I have saide before:) so oft, as we use them for respect of our gain & profit: so oft wee doe hazard our good name and credite: so that this consideration alone, might move us well to leave all Ceremonies, and use them no more.

It resteth now that I speake of those y^t bee done of Dutie, and of those that be done of a Vainesse. As touching y^e first, We must not leave them undone in any wise. For he that faileth to doe them, dothe not onely displease, but doth a wrong to him, to whome they be due. And many times it chaunceth y^e men come to daggers drawing, even for this occasion alone, that one man hath not done the other, that worship and honour uppon the way, that he ought. For to saye a trueth The power of custome is great & of much force, (as I said) and would be taken for a lawe, in these cases. And that is the cause we say: You: to every one, that is not a man of very base calling, and in suche kinde of speach wee yealde such a one, no maner of courtesie of our owne. But if wee say: Thou: to suche a one, then wee disgrace him and offer him outrage and wronge: and by suche speach, seeme to make no better reconing of him, then of a knave and a clowne.

And although the times past, and other countries, have used other maners: let us yet, keepe ourselves to our owne: And let not us dispute the matter, which is the better of twaine. For wee must observe, not those, that we Judge in our owne conceits to be good: but suche, as be currant by custome, & used in our owne time: as lawes, which we be bound to keepe, thoughe they be not all of the best, till suche time, as the magistrates, the Prince, or they that have power to amend them, have chaunged them to better.

So that It behoves us, hedefully to marke the doings and speache, wherewith daily practise and custome, wonteth to receave, salute, & name in our owne country, all sortes and kinds of people, and in all our familiar communication with men, let us use the same. And notwithstanding the Admerall (as peradventure the maner of his time was suche) in his talke with Peter the King of Aragon, did many times: Thou him: Let us yet saye to our King: Your majestie: and your highnes: aswell in speache as in writing. And if they have followed the use of their time: then let not us breake the fashions of ours. And these doe I call Duetifull Ceremonies, bycause they proceede not, as we would, or of our owne free willes: but are laide uppon us by the Lawes: I meane, Common custome.

And in suche things, as carry no evill meaning in them, but rather some face of courtesie: reason would and commaundeth, we shoulde rather observe common Custome, then dispute and lay the lawe for them.

And albeit, to kisse in shewe of reverence, of very right appertaineth to the reliques of Saints and there holy matters: yet if it bee the maner of your country, at parting, to say: Signori, Io vi bascio la mano. Or: Io son vostro servidore: Or els: vostro schiavo in catena: you must not disdaine it, more then other. But, In farewelles and writings, you must salute and take leave, not as reason, but as custome will have you: and not as men wont in times past, or should doe: but as men use at this day: for it is a chorlishe maner to say: What greate gentleman is he I pray you, that I must master him: Or: is he becom master parson, that I must kisse his hands? for he that is wont to be (Sird) and likewise (Sirreth) other: may thinke you disdaine him, and use some outrage unto him, when you call him to his face, by his bare name, and give him no addition.

And these termes of Seignory, service, & duetye, and such other like unto these, as I have saide: have lost a greate parte of their harshnes, and (as hearbes long steepte in the water) are sweetened, and made softe and tender, by reason of muche speache in mens mouthes, and continuall use to speake them. So that we must not abhorre them, as some rude and rusticall fellowes, full of foolishe simplicitie, doe: that would faine beginne the letters we write to Kinges and Emperours after this sort, vz. If thou and thy children be in healthe it is well: I am also in healthe: saying, that suche was the beginning of the letters, the Latins did write to the magistrates of Rome. If men should live by their measure, and go backe to those fashions and maners, our first fathers did use: the worlde then by litle and litle, would come so about, that we should feede uppon acornes againe.

And in these Duetifull Ceremonies, there be also certain rules and precepts, we must observe: that wee may not bee touched w^t Vainesse and Pride. And first of all, wee must consider the country where wee doe live. For all customes be not currant a like in all countreys. And peradventure that which they use in Naples, which is a Citye replenished with gentlemen, of good houses, and Lordes of greate power, were not so fitte for Florens and Luke: Which are inhabited, for the most part, with Merchants and plaine gentlemen, without any Prince, Marques, or Barone amongest them. So that the brave and Lordelike manners of the gentlemen of Naples transported to Florence: should be but waste, and more then needes: like a tall mans gowne cast over a dwarfe: as also the manners of Florence shoulde be to pinchinge and straite, for the Noble natures and mindes of the gentlemen of Naples. And although the gentlemen of Venice use great embracings and entertainementes amongst themselves, and fawne without measure the one on the other, by reason of their offices, degrees and favours they looke to finde when they meete and assemble to choose their officers: yet for all this, it is not convenient, that the good men of Rouigo, or the Citizens of Asolo, should use the like solemnities, embraceings and entertainements one to another, haveing no such kinde of cause amongst them: Albeit all that same countrie (if I bee not deceived) is falne a litle, into these kinde of follies, as over carelesse and apt inough by nature, or rather learning those maners of Venice their Lady and Mistris: because Everie man gladly seeketh to tread the steps of his better: although there be no reason for it.

Moreover we must have a regarde to the time, to the age, and the condition of him, to whom we use these ceremonies, and likewise respect our owne calling: and with men of credite maintaine them: but w^t men of small account cut them of cleane, or at least, abridge them as muche as wee may, & rather give them a becke then a due garde: Which the courtiers in Rome can very well skill to doe.

But in some cases these Ceremonies be very combersome to a mans busines, and very tedious: as "Cover your head," sayes the Judge, y^t is busied w^t causes, and is scanted of time to dispatche them. And this fellow so full of these Ceremonies, after a number of legges and shuflinge curtesis, aunswers againe: "Sir I am very well thus." But sayes the Judge againe, "Cover your head I say." Yet this good fellow tourning twise or thrise to & fro, making lowe conges downe to the grounde w^t muche reverence and humilitie, aunswers him, still: "I beseache your worship, let me doe my duetie." This busines and trouble lasteth so long, & so muche time is trifled: that the Judge might very nere have dispatched all his busines within that space. Then, although it be every honest mans parte, and the duety of every meaner body, to honour the Judges, and men y^t be called to worship & honour: yet, where time will not beare it: it is a very troublesome thing to use it, and it must be eschewed, or measured with reason.

Neither be y^e self same Ceremonies semely for young men, respecting their Age: y^t ould men doe use together. Nor yet can it becom men of meane and base condition, to use the very same, y^t gentlemen & greate men may use one to another. And if wee marke it well, we shall find, y^t the greatest, y^e best men, & men of most valour, doe not alwayes use y^e most Ceremonies them selves, nor yet love nor looke a man should make many goodly curtsies unto them, as men that can ill spend their thoughts one matters so vaine.

Neither must handy crafts men, nor men of base condition, buisie them selves to much, in over solemne Ceremonies to greate men, and Lordes: it is not lookt for in suche. For they disdaine them, more then allowe them: because it seemes that in such, they seeke, & looke, rather for obedience and duetie, then honour. And therefore it is a foule faulte in a servaunt, to offer his master his service: for he counts it his shame, & he thinks the servant doth make a doubt, whether he is master or no; as if it were not in him to imploy him, & commaund him too. These kinde of Ceremonies would be used frankely. For, What a man dothe of duetie, is taken for a debte, and hee finds him selfe litle beholding to him that doth it. But he that dothe more then he is bound to: it seems he parteth with somewhat, and that makes men to love him, and to commende him for a liberall man. And I remember mee well, I have hearde it saide, that a worthy Graecian a greate versifier, was ever wont to saye: that He that could skill to entertaine men with a small adventure, made a greate gaine.

You shall then use youre Ceremonies, as the tailer shapes his garments, rather to large then to litle: but yet not so, that hee cutteth one hose large inough to make a cloke. And if thou doe use in this point, some litle gentle behaviour, to suche as be meaner then thy selfe: thou shalt be counted lowly. And if thou doe asmuche to thy betters: thou shalt bee saide a Gentleman well taught, and courtious. But hee that dothe herin to muche, and is over lavishe, shalbe blamed as vaine and light: and perhaps worse thought of too: counted a busie body, a fidging fellowe, and in wise mens sight, a flatterer: which vice, our elders have called, (if I doe not forget me) dowble diligence. And there is no faulte in the worlde, more to bee abhorred, or y^t worsse beseemes a gentleman, then this. And this is the thirde maner of Ceremonies, which simply procedeth of our owne will, and not of custome.

Let us then remember, that Ceremonies, (as I have alwayes said) were not so necessarie by nature, but a man might doe well inough without them: As for example, our countrie lived (it is not long since) in maner cleane without any. But other mens diseases have infected us, with these infirmities and many mo. So that, custome and use observed: the rest that is more, is but waste: and such a sufferable leesing, as if it be more in deede then is in use, it is not only unsufferable, but forbidden: and so uppon, the matter, a cold and unsavourie thing to noble mindes, that cannot brouse uppon shrubbes and shewes.

And you shall understand, that trusting my owne skill but little, in writing this present treatise: I thought good to consult with many, and to take the Judgement of better learned men then my selfe. And this in my reading I finde. There was a King, they call him Oedipus: being banished and driven out of his countrie (uppon what occasion I know not) he fled to King Theseus at Athens, the better to save him selfe and his life, from his enemies, that mainely pursued him. This Oedipus now comming before the presence of Theseus, by good chaunce hearing his daughter speake, (whome he knew by her voice, for he was blind and could not beholde her with his eyes) he was so presently striken with joy, that, not tarying to doe his allegeaunce and duetie to the King, he did presently embrace, & make much of his daughter before him: his fatherly affection so led him, and rulde him so. But in the end finding his fault, and better advising himselfe of his doings: he would needs excuse it to Theseus, & humbly prayd his grace to pardon his folly. The good and wise King, cut of his talke, and bad him leave his excuses, and thus saide unto him: Comfort thy selfe, Oedipus, and bee not dismayd at that thou hast done. For I will not have my life honoured with other mens woordes, but with my owne deedes. Which sentence a man should have alwayes in mind.

And albeit men be well pleased, that men doe give them worship & honour: yet when they find them selves cuningly courted, they be soone weary of it, and also disdaine it. For these glaverings, or flatteries I should say, to amend their knaveries & falsehoodes, have this fault withall: that these glavering fellowes doe plainly shewe, they count him, whome they court in this sorte, but a vaine, and arrogant bodie, an asse of grose capacitie, and so simple, y^t it should be an easie matter to baite him and take him too. And these Vaine and Curious Ceremonies, besides that they be superfluous: they beare with all a shape of flattery, so slenderly covered, that every man doth openly see them, and know them plaine: in suche sorte, that they that doe them, to the end to make a gaine, besides that ill that is in them, wherof I spake before: shewe them selves also, gentlemen ill taught, without good maner or any honest fashion.

But there is another sorte of Ceremonious people, who make it an arte and merchandise, and keepe a booke and a reconing of it. One these men (they say) they must smile, on such men they must laughe: and y^e better man shall sit in the chair, and the other uppon a lowe stoole: which superstitious Ceremonies, I beleve, were transported out of Spaine into Italie. But our country, hath geven them but colde entertainement, and as yet they have taken but slender roote here: for this precise difference of worship, and gentry, is not liked of, with us. And therefore it is but ill maner, for a man to make him selfe Judge, which is the better man.

But it is much worse for a man to make a sale of his Ceremonies and entertainments, (after y^e maner of harlots) as I have seene many gentlemen doe in the court, geving good wordes and faire countenaunces for a rewarde and recompence, of the goods and the time, their servaunts have spent in their service.

And sure they that take a pleasure to use over many Ceremonies, more then neede: shewe they doe it uppon a lustines and bravery, as men that have nothing elles in them of any valour.