THE FIRST BOOK OF THE COMMUNICATION OF RAPHAEL

HYTHLODAY

CONCERNING the best state of a Commonwealth.

TH

HE most victorious and triumphant King of England, Henry the eighth of that name, in all royal virtues a prince most peerless, had of late in controversy with Charles, the right high and mighty King of Castile, weighty matters and of great importance: for the debatement and final determination whereof the king's Majesty sent me ambassador into Flanders joined in commission with Cuthbert Tunstall, a man doubtless out of comparison, and whom the king's Majesty of late to the great rejoicing of all men did prefer to the office of Master of the Rolls. But of this man's praise I will say nothing, not because I do fear that small credence shall be given to the testimony that cometh out of a friend's mouth, but because his virtue and learning be greater and of more

excellency, than that I am able to praise them and also in all places so famous and so perfectly well known, that they need not, nor ought not, of me to be praised unless I would seem to shew and set forth the brightness of the sun with a candle, as the proverb sayeth.

There met us at Bruges (for thus it was before agreed) they whom their Prince had for that matter appointed commissioners, excellent men all. The chief and head of them was the Margrave (as they call him) of Bruges, a right honourable man, but the wisest and the best spoken of them was George of Theimsecke, Provost of Cassel, a man not only by learning, but also by nature, of singular eloquence, and in the laws profoundly learned: but in reasoning and debating of matters, what by his natural wit and what by daily exercise, surely he had few fellows. After that we had once or twice met, and upon certain points or articles could not fully and thoroughly agree: they for a certain space took their leave of us and departed to Brussels, there to know their Prince's pleasure. I in the meantime (for so my business lay) went straight thence to Antwerp.

While I was there abiding, oftentimes among other, but which to me was more welcome than any other, did visit me one Peter Giles, a citizen of Antwerp, a

PRAISE OF PETER GILES

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man there in his country of honest reputation, and also preferred to high promotion, worthy truly of the highest. For it is hard to say whether the young man be in learning or in honesty more excellent. For he is both of wonderful virtuous conditions, and also singularly well learned, and towards all sorts of people exceeding gentle: but towards his friends so kindhearted, so loving, so faithful, so trusty, and of so earnest affection, that it were very hard in any place to find a man that with him in all points of friendship may be compared. No man can be more lowly or courteous. No man useth less simulation or dissimulation, in no man is more prudent simplicity. Besides this, he is in his talk and communication so merry and pleasant, yea and that without harm, that through his gentle entertainment and his sweet and delectable communication, in me was greatly abated and diminished the fervent desire that I had to see my native country, my wife, and my children, whom then I did much long and covet to see, because that at that time I had been more than four months from them. Upon a certain day, as I was hearing the divine service in Our Lady's Church, which is the fairest, the most gorgeous, and curious church of building in all the city, and also most frequented of people,

and the service being done was ready to go home to my lodging, I chanced to espy this foresaid Peter talking with a certain stranger, a man well stricken in age, with a black sunburnt face, a long beard, and a cloak cast homely about his shoulders, whom by his favour and apparel forthwith I judged to be a mariner. But when Peter saw me, he cometh unto me and saluteth me. And as I was about to answer him: "See you this man?" saith he (and therewith he pointed to the man that I saw him talking with before), "I was minded," quod he, "to bring him straight home to you." "He should have been very welcome to me," said I, 66 for your sake." "Nay (quod he) "for his own sake, if you knew him, for there is no man this day living that can tell you of so many strange and unknown peoples and countries as this man can. And I know well that you be very desirous to hear of such news.' "Then I conjectured not far amiss" (quod I), “for even at the first sight I judged him to be a mariner." "Nay" (quod he), "there ye were greatly deceived: he hath sailed, indeed, not as the mariner Palinurus, but as the expert and prudent prince, Ulysses-yea, rather-as the ancient and sage philosopher Plato. For this same Raphael Hythloday (for this is his name),-he is very