A Treatyce Of Moral Philosophy: The Syxth Booke Entituled Of Morall And Naturall Vvertues. Poem by William Baldwin

The summe of all. all goodnes is geuen vs from god aboue

all goodnes is geuen vs from god aboue,
th'auctour of vertue, grace, and good gouernaunce:
VVhose loue and liuely lyght, should euer moue
mankinde his good lyfe, his glorie to aduaunce.
the goodnes of god as of longe continuance.
and those that be wise men and learned will say,
nothing is good that maybe taken away.

The summe of all. friendship which is thagreement of mindes

friendship which is thagreement of mindes
In truth and loue, is the chiefest vertue:
of morall vertues, that in the world man findes.
wherefore in the world, to lyue who so mindes,
ought friendship to get, and got to ensue:
by loue (not by luore, that true friendship blindes.)
knit with an hart, where rancoure neuer grewe,
which knot, estates, equally so byndes,
that to dissolue, in vayne may fortune sue,
though malice helpe, whiche .ii. all glorye griendes.
so strong is friendship, as no stormy windes,
haue might to moue, nor feare force to subdue,
where all these pointes be setled in their kindes.

The summe of all. Gentlenes and affabilitie are, ii. worthy vertues

Gentlenes and affabilitie are, ii. worthy vertues
that most happely purchaseth friendship and fauour.
yea euen princes and rulers that these vertues do vse.
causeth subiectes to obey them, & giue the due honour.
hate crueltie, be lowly, and of gentle behauour,
for as pryde slayeth loue, & engendreth al wickednes:
so loue liuely florisheth, by the meanes of gentlenes.

The summe of all. liberalltie is acertaine measure
liberalltie is acertaine measure,
that springeth of fauour, friendship, and amitye,
in geuing, or receiuing, landes and treasure.
after a mans substaunce or habilitie.
but chiefly in comforting the poore needye.
for that is liberalitie in very deede,
to helpe the poore miserable in time of neede.

The summe of all The greatest treasure without comparison

The greatest treasure without comparison
for mans felicitte, here in this life
aboue golde and siluer: is witte and discrecion.
to temper the ioyfull, and comfort the pensife
or otherwise to enstruct man, in pease or strife
witte also is encreaced by often reading
and like the fruitles tree, is witte without learning.

By ordring the tong is a triall most true Socrates.

By ordring the tong is a triall most true,
to knowe if a man his lustes can subdue.
For he that cannot rule his tong as him list,
hath much lesse power other lustes to resist.


Faire spech in presence

Faire spech in presence,
with good reporte in absence,
and maners in felowship
obtaineth great frendship.

The summe of all. Both speach and silence are excellent vertues

Both speach and silence are excellent vertues
vsed in time and place conuenient,
of which the best and easiest to abuse
is speach, for which men oftentimes repent.
So do they not because they be silent:
yet be not dumme, nor geue the tong to least
but speake thou well, or here and holde thy peace.


The summe of all. without the feare of god, no man can be lust

without the feare of god, no man can be lust,
nor yet rightly rule his corrupted nature:
Feare strongly mortifieth all filthy lust,
feare findeth entraunce, into a life most pure,
which feare vppon loue dependeth all sure.
or elles feare without loue encreaseth hatred.
and whome men doth feare, they wishe were perishes.

The summe of all. Sorow is a griefe for things done & past

Sorow is a griefe for things done & past,
which by painfull sighes appeareth from the heart.
sorow secretly worketh mans lyfe to wast
sorow and sicknes together taketh part.
sorow must be thought on when felt is no smart
and as after a calme, tempests doth folow:
so after quietnes there foloweth sorow.

The summe of all. in geuing these things must be considered

in geuing these things must be considered,
what thing, to whom, where & wherefore it should be,
first the good and needie ought to be remembred.
and thei or els god againe shall requite thee,
but se thou be mindfull of thine habilitie.
then, if to giue thou shalt be disposed,
giue not to receiue, lest thou be deceiued.