The Cardinal Virtues.

ought to be fled from , or eschewed : and it is called of the Greekes , Sophia . Also it is named of Aristotle , the mother of vertues , of other Philosophers , it is called the Captain or Mastresse of vertues , of some the huswife , for so much as by her diligence she doth inuestigate and prepare places apt and conuenient , where other vertues shall execute their powers or offices . Wherefore as Salomon sayeth , Sicut in aquis resplendent vultus prospicientiwm , sic corda

homimwi manifesta sunt prudentibns : * Like as in water be shewed the visages of them that beholde it , so vnto men that be prudent , the secretes of mens harts be openl y discouered . This vertue then is so commodious to man , that it is as it were the porche of the noble palace of mans reason , whereby all other vertues shall enter , ancl haue their being . Prudence , also ( as saith Byon the philosopher ) so much excelleth other vertues , as the sight excelleth

the other senses , for the eyes beare light to all the bodie , neither is there any vertue without wisedome . f Nam qitomodo iustus reclclit eui ' q ; suum , nisipruclentia ^ commonstret cui debeatnr ? Thus ye may see the force of Prud ' ce , in rjna mest mdagatio atque inuentio veri , emsq ; virtutis hoc munus est proprinm . Vt enim quisque maxime perspicit quid in re quac [ ue verrissimum sit quique fy acutissime § " eelerime potest viclere < $ * explicare rationem , is , prudentissimus \ sapientissimus rite haberi solet . Prudence , is a vertue , that is occupied euermore in searching out the truth . Therefore ( 0 ye gentlemen ) which be

desirous to beare the noble ensignes of your ancestonrs , study with tooth and nayle to be prudent ; and when ye thinke ye haue attained the same , let it be ioyned with Iustice , for of them two ( as Tully saieth ) Iustice is of more power , ad ficlem faaiendam . % Because it , without Prudencehath sufficient aucthority

, , Pruclece without Iustice is nothing worth to get credite . For the subtiller , and the craftier a man is , so much the more is he hated , and suspected , when the opinion of his honestie is pulled away . Wherefore Iustice ioyned with vnclerstanding , shall haue as much power

as it liste , to purchase credit : Iustice without Prudence shall be of much power , Prudence without Iustice , shall be nothing worth . Thus it appeareth , that the most excellent and incomparable vertue , called Iustice , is so necessarye and expedientfor the governor of

, a publiek weale , that without it , none other vertue may be commendable , ne witt or any maner of doctrine profitable . Tully saieth , At the beginning when the multidude of

people were oppressed by them that abotided in possessions and substance , for refuge they fled to some one , which excelled in vertue & strength : who when he had defended the poore men from iniurie b y ministring equitie , retayned together , & gouerned the greater persons with the lesse , in an equall and indifferent order of Lawe . Wherefore they called that man a King , which is as much to say , as a Ruler . And as Aristotle saieth , Iustice is notonely a portion or spice of vertuebut it is entierlthe same vertue .

, y And thereof onely saieth Tully , boni viri nominantur , men be called good men : as who sayeth , without Iustice , all other qualities and vertues , cannot make a good man . _ Iustice is a vertue , gathered b y long space , giuing euerie one his owne , minding in all things , the common profit of our Countrey , whereunto man is