Page:MS V.b.104 076v.png

vile, as we have somme stones be precious and more estemed then
the reste. And emongest precious stones there is difference
as somme be more or lesse oriente or bright, some be Saphires
somme diamondes of better or worse cullour, and as such as be of
cullour most cleere and orient are more estemed then the others.
So emonge Creatures liuinge we see the faulcon more estemed
then the kite, the tame goate more then the wilde, the herbe
more then the feilde grasse. And as in all kindes of naturall
things we perceive a certeine difference in estimacion, howe
much more ought there be emonge men? whence god hath gene:
rallie geven his grace, yet to somme more & to others lesse.
And as we see one stone for the virtue & brightnes desired
much more then the other of less bewtie, so emonge mortall
men, no doubte he is to be estemed most noble, that from a
noble ffather descendeth, beinge also of good nature mixed
wth virtue, and he that descendeth of base Parents is like
vnto the Rocke diamonde wch ingendreth vile & vnsightlie
diamonds, where others bringe foorth most perfecte stones
and good, wch reason because manie doe not consider, they thinke
there is no nobilitie of nature. ffor of somme one Race we
see all become men of virtue, stronge, valiaunt, & enclined na:
turallie to virtue and honnor. Off somme other though
we perceave the whole number dispozed to industrie, yet
all for proffit & vice. Nobilitie in deede is a certeine instinct
and inclination of a man towards virtuous things, for God des:
pizeth vices and tendreth all to well doinge, therfore I saye
that nobilitie is a virtue, and a noble man ought to have the
cardinall virtues, and cheiflie the virtue of fortitude, to
wthstand & repulse all vices, and suffer aduersitie. It is called
a virtue because it is the soule of the minde, and vanquisheth
vices liuinge directlie Tullio saith, they ought to be called
virtuous wch can conquere their owne affections being assailed
by manie vices. Therfore men of nobilitie ought to be of virtue
approued and experienced in commendable liffe otherwise
they are reputed vnnoble infamous and to be driven owte of the
presence of everie good & virtuous Prince as the lawe civil
ordeyneth. Noble men ought also to use the virtue of Iustice
Tullio saith, Iustice includeth religion, godlines, favour, re:
venge, duetie, & truth. Macrobious de Somnio Scipionis
writeth that Iustice ought to conteine in it seaven virtues of
integritie, wch be, Innocencye, affabilitie, concorde, love, religion