This exercise of _Rhetorike_ doeth contain in it al strength
of arte, as who should saie, all partes of _Rhetorike_, maie co-
piouslie be handled in this parte, called confutacion, so am-
ple a matter Tullie doeth note this parte to be.
¶ The theme or proposicion of this Oracion.
[Fol. xxv.r]
It is not like to be true, that is said of the battaill of Troie.
¶ The reprehension of the auc-
thor, and of all Poetes.
NOt without a cause, the vanities of Poetes are
to bee reproued, and their forged inuencions to
bee reiected: in whose writynges, so manifestlie
are set forthe as a truthe, and Chronicled to the
posteritie of ages and times, soche forged mat-
[Sidenote: The vanities
of Poetes.]
ters of their Poeticall and vain wittes. Who hath not heard
of their monsterous lies against God, thei inuentyng a gene-
alogie of many Goddes procreated, where as there is but
one God. This vanitie also thei haue set forthe, in their mo-
numentes and woorkes. How a conspiracie was sometyme
emong the Goddes and Goddes, to binde the great God Iu-
piter. How impudentlie doe thei set forthe the Goddes, to bee
louers of women, and their adulterous luste: and how thei
haue transformed theim selues, into diuers shapes of beastes
and foules, to followe after beastly luste. The malice and en-
uie of the Goddes, one to an other: The feigne also the heaue[n]
to haue one God, the sea an other, helle an other, whiche are
mere vanities, and false imaginacio[n]s of their Poeticall wit-
tes. The like forged inuencion haue thei wrote, of the migh-
[Sidenote: The battaill
of Troie .x.
yeres for a
herlotte.]
tie and terrible battaill bruted of Troie, for a beautifull har-
lot susteined ten yeres. In the whiche, not onely men and no-
ble péeres, gaue the combate of battaile, but the Goddes toke
partes against Goddes, and men wounded Goddes: as their
[Sidenote: The vain in-
uention of
Poetes.]
lies exceade all nomber, because thei bee infinite, so also thei
passe all truthe, reason, and iudgemente. These fewe exam-
ples of their vanities and lies, doe shewe the feigned ground
and aucthoritie of the reste. Accordyng to the folie and super-
sticiousnes of those tymes, thei inuented and forged folie vp-
pon folie, lye vpon lye, as in the battaill of Troie, thei aggra-
uate the dolour of the battaill, by pitifull and lamentable in-
[Sidenote: Plato reie-
cteth Poetes
from the com[-]
mon wealth.]
uencion. As for the Poetes them selues, Plato in his booke,
made vpon the administracion of a common wealth, maketh
[Fol. xxv.v]
theim in the nomber of those, whiche are to bee banished out
of all common wealthes.
¶ The exposicion.
HOmere dooeth saie, and many other Poetes, that
the warres of the Grecians against the Troians,
was for beautifull Helena, and continued tenne
yeres. The Goddes and Goddis toke partes, and
all the people of Grece, aided Menelaus, and the kyng Aga-
memnon, to bryng home again Helena, neclecting their own
countrie, their wife and chidre[n], for one woma[n]. The Grekes
inuentyng a huge and mightie horse made of Firre trée, and
couered with brasse, as huge as a mou[n]tain, out of the whiche
the Grecians by treason issuyng, brought Troie to ruine.
¶ The obscuritie of the matter.
IT semeth a matter of folie, that so many people, so
mightie nacions should bee bewitched, to raise so
mightie a armie, hassardyng their liues, leauyng
their countrie, their wiues, their children, for one
[Sidenote: Helena.]
woman: Be it so, that Helena passed all creatures, and that
Nature with beautie had indued her with all vertue, and sin-
gularitie: yet the Grecians would not be so foolishe, that vni-
uersallie thei would seke to caste doune their owne wealthe,
and moche more the common wealthe of Grece, and kyng-
dome to stande in perill. Neither is it to be thought, the Gre-
cians, sekyng to aduau[n]ce the beautie of Helena: would leaue
[Sidenote: The cause of
the forged in-
uencion.]
their owne state. But it is like, the wittes of Poetes did im-
magine so forged a Chronicle, that the posteritie of ages fol-
lowyng, should rather wounder at their forged inuencion,
then to beleue any soche warre truly mencioned. There was
no soche cause, seyng that the kyngdome of Grece, fell by no
title of succession to Helena, for them to moue warre, for, the
bringyng backe of that beutifull harlotte Helena. Neither in
Helena was there vertue, or honestie of life, to moue and ex-
asperate the Grecians, to spende so greate treasures, to raise
[Fol. xxvj.r]
[Sidenote: No commen-
dacion in vp-
holdyng and
maintainyng
of harlottes.]
so mightie an armie on euery side. What comme[n]dacion had
the Troians to aduaunce Helena, and with all roialnesse to
entreate her, she beyng a harlotte: the folie of the Grecians
and the Troians, is so on euery side so greate, that it can not
be thought, soche a warre truely chronicled. If violence and
power, had taken Helena from her housebande, and not her
[Sidenote: Helena follo-
wed Paris.]
owne will and luste, caught with the adulterous loue of Pa-
ris, beyng a straunger. If her moderacion of life had been so
rare, as that the like facte for her chastitie, had not been in a-
ny age or common wealthe, her vertues would haue giuen
occasion: The Princes and nobles of Grece to stomacke the
matter. The example of the facte, would with all praise and
[Sidenote: Uertuous
life, worthie
commendaci-
on in al ages.
Lucrecia.
Tarquinius
the kyng ba-
nished for ra-
uishyng Lu-
crecia, and all
of his name
banished.]
commendacion be mencioned, and celebrated to al ages. Lu-
cretia for her chastite, is perpetuallie to be aduanunced, wher-
vpon the Romaines banished Tarquinius their kyng, his
stocke and name from Rome. The rare chastite of Penelope,
is remainyng as a example herein: So many snares laied to
caste doune her vertuous loue towarde her housebande U-
lisses. But Ulisses made hauocke by murder, on these gaie
and gallante Ruffins, who in his absence sought to alienate
[Sidenote: Penelopes
chastitie.]
and withdrawe, the chaste harte of Penelope, consumyng
his substance. A greater example remaineth in no age, of the
like chastite. As for the battaile of Troie, raised for Helena,
could wise men, and the moste famous nobles of Grece: So
occupie their heddes, and in thesame, bothe to hasarde their
liues for a beautifull strumpet or harlot. The sage and wise
[Sidenote: Nestor.
Ulisses.]
Nestor, whom Agamemnon for wisedome preferred, before
the moste of the péeres of Grece, neither it Ulisses wanted at
thesame tyme, hauyng a politike and subtill hedde, to with-
drawe theim from so leude and foolishe a enterprise. Grece
[Sidenote: Grece the
lande of faire
women.]
wanted not beautifull creatures, Nature in other had besto-
wed amiable faces, personage, and comelie behauiour. For,
at those daies, Grece thei called _Achaida calligunaica_, that is,
Grece the lande of faire women. The dolorous lamentacion
of the Ladies and Matrons in Grece, would haue hindered
[Fol. xxvj.v]
soche a foolishe enterprise, seyng their owne beautie neclec-
ted, their honestie of life caste vp to perilles, one harlot of in-
[Sidenote: Uncomelie.]
numerable people followed and hunted after, in whom neither
honestie, vertue, nor chastite was harbored.
¶ Uncredible.
ALthough the folie of men is greate, and the will of
princes and gouernours beastlie and rashe, yet by
no meanes it can be so many yeres, so greate folie
to take roote in their hartes, and that the wisedom
[Sidenote: Beautie
without ver-
tue, nothyng
of valour.]
of the Grecia[n]s, should not rather caste of as naught, the beau-
tie of Helena: rather then the whole multitude, the state of
the Prince, the welfare of the subiecte, to stande in perill for
[Sidenote: Beautie a
poison, in a
adulterous
mynde.]
the beautie of one. What is beautie, when a beastlie and ad-
ulterous minde is possessed: Beautie without chastitie, har-
boreth a monsterous rabelmente of vices, a snare and baite,
[Sidenote: Beautie sone
fadeth.]
to poison other. Beautie in fewe yeres, is not onely blemi-
shed, but decaied, and wholie extinguished: it is vncredible,
that the Grecians would seeke to bryng home Helena, who
had loste the chaste loue toward her housband, beyng caught
[Sidenote: Paris Hele-
nas louer.
Phrigia.]
with the adulterous loue of Paris, soonne to Priamus kyng
of Troie. The lande of Phrigia was a mightie Region, the
people noble, puissaunte in warre: the kyng for nobilitie of
actes famous. The Citee of Troie, wherein the kyng helde
his Scepter of gouernement, was riche, mightie, and popu-
lous: ruled and gouerned, by the wisedome and policie of fa-
mous counsailours, so that by all meanes it is vncredible,
[Sidenote: Uncomelie.]
without any possibilitie. Thei neclectyng their owne state
and kyngdo[m], so to preferre the beautie of one, that the whole
multitude of Grece thereby to perishe. It is a matter vncre-
[Sidenote: Grece the
fountain of al
learnyng.]
dible in all Grece, whiche for the fame of wisedome, is moste
celebrated emong all nacions, not one wiseman at thesame
tyme to be therein: whose cou[n]saile and politike heddes, might
ponder a better purpose. Grece, whiche was the mother and
fountaine of all artes and sciences, all Eloquence, Philoso-
phie, wisedome flowyng from theim, and yet wisedome to
[Fol. xxvij.r]
want in their breastes. Reason can not make any perswasion
that any probabilitie can rise, of any soche matter enterpri-
sed, what could the intent be of the Grecians, as concerning
[Sidenote: Menelaus
housbande to
Helena.]
Menelaus. In Menelaus there was no wisedom, to seke and
hunte after Helena, or by any meanes to possesse her, she be-
yng a harlotte, her loue alienated, her hart possessed with the
loue of an other manne: foolishlie he hopeth to possesse loue,
[Sidenote: Harlottes
loue dissem-
bled.]
that seeketh to enioye the cloked, poisoned, and dissembled
harte of a harlotte, Grece was well ridde of a harlotte, Troie
[Sidenote: Troians.]
harbouryng Helena. In the Troians it is not to be thought,
that either the kyng, or nobles, for a harlotte, would see the
the people murthered, their owne state, the king to be in dan-
[Sidenote: Grecians.]
ger of ruine. In the Grecians there was neither wisedome,
neither commendacion, to pursue with a maine hoste, with a
greate Nauie of Shippes, to bryng backe againe a harlotte,
whose enterprise rather might better bee borne, to banishe &
exile soche a beastlie disposed persone. The Troians mighte
[Sidenote: Absurditie.]
well scorne the Grecians, if that the possession of a beautifull
moste amiable, and minsyng harlotte, was of soche valour,
estimacion, and price with theim, not onely the beautie of all
other to bee reiected. But moste of all the vertuous life, and
chastitie of all their matrons and honourable Ladies, to bee
caste of as naught. Grece that had the name of all wisedome,
[Sidenote: The defence
of Helena.]
of all learnyng and singularitie, might rather worthelie bee
called, a harbouryng place of harlottes: a Stewe and vphol-
der of whoredome, and all vncleanes. Wherefore, these ab-
surdities ought to bee remoued, from the minde and cogita-
cion of all menne, that should worthelie ponder the state of
[Sidenote: Troie a king[-]
dome of whor[-]
dome.]
Grece. Troie of like sorte to bee a kyngdome and common
wealthe of all vice: whoredome in soche price with the kyng,
and people, that moste fortunate should the harlotte bee, and
the adulterour in soche a common wealthe, that for adulte-
rous loue, putteth rather all their state to hasarde and perill,
for the maintenaunce of beastlie loue, brutishe societie moste
in price with soche a nacion, chastitie, and moderaciou of life,
[Fol. xxvij.v]
abandoned and caste of.
¶ Unpossible, and not agreyng.
[Sidenote: Nature ab-
horreth the
warre of the
Grecians.]
IF wee weigh naturall affeccion, it can not bee, that
the Grecians so moche abhorring fro[m] nature, should
cast of the naturall loue of their wifes, their children
and countrie, to bryng home againe, by slaughter of infinite
people: soche an one as had left honestie, and chaste loue of
her housbande. For, what praise can redounde to the Greci-
[Sidenote: Helena.]
ans by warre, to bryng home Helena, though she of all crea-
tures was moste beautifull, beyng a harlotte: followyng the
bridell and will of an other man. Maie shame or commenda-
cion rise to the Troians, can wisedome, counsaile, or grauitie,
[Sidenote: Priamus.]
defende the adulterous luste of Priamus soonne, yea, could
Priamus so loue Helena, for Paris his sonnes sake, as that
he had rather venter the ruine and destruccion of his citée, and
the falle of his people, the murder and ruine of his children,
and wife for the beautie of one. For what is beautie, where
honestie and vertue lacketh, it is an vncomly matter, though
the Poetes so faigne it, not onely that in heauen, a contencio[n]
should fall emong the Goddises of their beautie, or that Iu-
piter of whom thei make an ignoraunt God, to chuse Paris
the kynges sonne of Troie, chief arbitratour & Iudge of that
matter, to who[m] he should giue the golde[n] Apell to her beautie,
as chief of al other, was ascribed these thynges, are vndecent
to thinke of the Goddeses, and moste of all, to thinke there is
more Goddes then one. And euen as these are vanities, and
forged imaginacions of the Goddes, so of the battaile.
¶ Uncomelie and vnprofitable.
THE daunger of many people doeth shewe, that no
soche thyng should happen, either of the Grecians
or of the Troians: for, it is a matter dissonaunt fro[m]
all truthe, that thei should so moche neclecte the
quiete state, and prosperous renoume of their kyngdome, in
all tymes and ages, since the firste constitucion of all Monar-
[Fol. xxviij.r]
chies and kyngdomes. Who euer harde soche a forged mat-
ter to be Chronicled, and set forthe. Or who can giue credite
to soche warre, to be enterprised of so small a matter: to leaue
the state of waightier thynges for one woman. All the wo-
men of that countrie to stande in perill, the slaughter of their
deare housbandes, the violent murder of their children to in-
sue. Therefore, the wilfulnesse of people and princes, are the
cause of the falle and destruccion, of many mightie kyngdo-
mes, and Empires. The fall of Grece ensued, when the chief
[Sidenote: Ambicion.
Cesar fell by
ambicion.]
citées, Athenes and Lacedemonie tooke partes, and did con-
federate diuers citees to them, to assiste theim, and aide theim
in battaile onely: ambicion and desire of glorie, moued bothe
[Sidenote: Discorde.]
the Athenians and Lacedemonians, fro[m] concorde and vnitie
by whiche meanes, the power, glory, and stre[n]gth of all king-
[Sidenote: Pompey.]
domes falleth. Ambicion was the cause that mightie Pom-
pey fell, and died violently. Cesar likewise caught with am-
bicion, not bearyng the equalitée, or superioritie of Pompei,
was tourned of violentlie fro[m] Fortunes whéele. Many prin-
ces of like sorte and kingdomes. By ambicion onely, had the
cause of their ruine. The glorie of the Assirian Monarchie
grewe moste mightie, by the ambicion of Ninus kyng of
Babilon: the ofspring of Ninus, whiche were kynges line-
allie descendyng to the firste kyngdome of the Medes, bothe
inlarged their kyngdomes, and also had the decaie of theim
by ambicion. Let the Medes also associate them selues to the[m],
from Arbactus the first kyng, vnto Astiages the laste: the be-
ginnyng and falle of the Persian Monarchie. The mightie
[Sidenote: Romulus kil[-]
led Remus
by ambicion.]
state of Grece, the seate Imperiall of Rome, by ambicio[n] first
extolled theim selues: and also by it, their glorie, scepter, and
kyngdome was translated, but the falle of Troie came not,
by ambicion, that the Grecians sought. But as the Poetes
doe faigne, the beautie of one woman so wounded their har-
tes, that the Grecians did hasarde, the perilles of their coun-
trie. The Troians so moche estemed, the beautie of Helena,
as that the state of all their kyngdome perished. It was no
[Fol. xxviij.v]
glorie nor honour to the Grecians, to resiste by armour, and
to defende the violente takyng awaie of Helena, from her
housbande: nor it was no honour, the Grecians to pursue by
armour, the takynge awaie of Helena, beyng a harlotte. So
that by no meanes it can followe, these thynges to bee true,
of the battaile of Troie.
¶ Confirmacion.
The other part, contrary to destruccion or subuersion, is
called confirmacion.
Confirmacion, hath in it so greate force of argumente, to
stablishe and vpholde the cause or proposicion: as destruccion
hath in castyng doune the sentence or proposicion.
Confirmacion is a certain oracion, whiche with a certain
reprehension of the persone or facte, by order and waie of art,
casteth doune, the contrary propounded.
As in the other parte called destruccion, those proposici-
ons are to bee subuerted, whiche are not manyfestlie true,
with all other notes before specified: so in contrariwise, this
oracion by contrary notes is declaimed by, as for example.
1. It shall behoue you first, for the entring of the oracion, to
induce a reprehension againste those, whiche haue confuted
as a truthe, that whiche you will confirme.
2. In the seconde parte, place the exposicion and meanyng
of the aucthours sentence.