FINIS.

The [s]econd Tome

of the Palace of Plea[s]ure,

*conteyning store of goodly Hi[s]tories,*

Tragicall matters, and other Mo-

*rall argument, very re-*

_qui[s]ite for delighte_

*and profit.*

_Cho[s]en and selected out of_

_diuers good and commen-

dable Authors:_

By William Painter, Clerke of the

Ordinance and Armarie.

ANNO.1567.

Imprinted at London, in

Pater Noster Rowe, by Henry

Bynneman, for Nicholas

England.

_To the Right Worshipful Sir George Howard Knight, Maister of the

Quene's Maiestie's Armarye._

Every science hauing his peculier commodity, and conducinge to

the trauayler and dilligent searcher, a due deserued benefyte

(besydes the exercise and shunninge the pestilent monster

Idlenes) discloseth the miraculous effect of the Diuinity, and

the excellency of his Creature: who breathing life into that

sencelesse worke, framed within the mould of humayn Conception,

forceth in him by nature and timely institution such capacitye

of Science, as not onelye by that knowledge hee glorifyeth his

Creator, but also besydes himselfe, helpeth and doth good to

other. For profe whereof the Science of that surpassing and

delightsome pasture of Theologie, is profitable to teache,

argue, reproue, and instruct, that by pacience and consolation,

we may conceiue hope of Eternitye. The knowledge of Philosophie

cureth the Mynde, auoydeth childish care, expelleth feare, and

shunneth fond desyres. O Philosophye, the guide of life,

(exclameth Tullie) the inquisitor of Vertue and expeller of

vice. Rethorike (affirmeth he) causeth vs to learne that we know

not and that we know to teach to other: by the same we exhort,

with that we perswade, with that we comfort the afflicted, by it

we encourage the astonned, and appease the outragious. Musike,

easeth the troubled mynde, lenifyeth sorrowe, comforteth the

heauye harted, and erecteth a contemplatyon of heauenlye

thinges. Astronomye, reuealeth the nature of the Starres and

Planets, presageth dayes and times for the helpe and

maintenaunce of life. Poesie teacheth amendment of manners,

directeth what things be mete for imitation, and with what

detriment wantonnes anoyeth the bodye of man. By meanes of it

(Sainct Augustine saith,) he learned many good lessons to

profite himselfe and do good to other. To be short euery science

is so necessary, as the same taken away, reason is depriued and

the Life of Man (of due order and gouernment) defrauded. Thinke

(sayth a Greke Oratour) the knowledge of many thinges to bee

more precious and excellent, then a Chest heaped vp with

abundance of money: for the one quickly fayleth, and the other

for euer lasteth. For Scientia (affirmeth hee) is the onelye

immortall storehouse of all possessions. Amonges which troupe of

Sciences, the knowledge and search of Histories deserueth a

place in the chefest rank, and is for example of humaine

affayres, a Christal light to shew the pathes of our Auncestors.

The same displaieth the counsels, aduises, pollicies, actes,

successe, and endes of Kinges, Princes and great men, with the

order and discription of time and place. And like a liuely image

representeth before our eies the beginning, end and

circumstaunce of ech attempt. The same (like a Mistresse of our

life) by probable examples stirreth vp our sluggish mindes, to

aspyre the eternal glorie of praise and fame, and terrifyeth the

desperate and aduenturous, from enterprise of things vnseemely.

The same is a passing picture of verity, and an absolute paterne

framinge the matter greatter nor lesse then it is. And because I

am not ignorant what Encomia innumerable Authors in time past,

and wryters of our tyme do attribute vnto that science, and with

what titles the Prince of them all decketh the praise of

Historicall knowledge, I only refer the worthines to the

practisers, and the syngularitye of Histories trauel and

delight, to ech willing minde that imploye their leasure and

tyme therin. And I for my parte do confesse (that by reading of

Histories) I fynd the saying which Tullie aduoucheth of Publius

Scipio to bee true: that he was neuer lesse idle, then when he

was idle, and neuer lesse alone, then when he was alone, meaning

therby, that when he was at best leisure, he was neuer idle, nor

when he was alone vnoccupied. For when labor resteth him selfe

in me, and leisure refresheth other affaires nothing delights

more that vacant tyme, than readinge of Histories in such vulgar

speache, wherein my small knowledge taketh repast. And for that

my priuat reading might not delyte and pleasure me alone, to

auoid the nature of that cankred churle and foe of humain

companye, Timon of Athens, that liued but for him selfe, I haue

(after my skill) culled some floures and fruites from that

pleasaunt store of those my readinges to impart for vniversal

gayne and benefite, chosynge rather hereby to followe the

liberalitye of Cimon a gentleman of that Cittye, who knowynge

hymselfe to bee borne to profite other and for the enriching of

his Couutry, not only atchiued maruailous matters for

furtherance of Comon wealth, but lefte his Gardens and Orchards

open for all men to participate the Fruictes of his pleasure and

trauell. Wherby so wel as I can I follow the tract and practice

of other, by whose meanes, so manifold sciences in our known

toung and translation of Histories be frequent and rife amonge

vs. Al which be done after our commodity, pleasure, solace,

preseruation and comfort, and without the which we cannot long

be sustayned in this miserable lyfe, but shal become not much

vnlyke the barbarous, ne discrepant from the sauage sorte. The

inuestigatours and bringers to light, wherof direct their eyes

and meaning to none other end but for the benefyte of vs and our

posteritye, and that our faces be not taynted with the blushing

coloure to se the passing diligence of other Countryes by

curious imbelishinge of their states with the troublous trauaile

of their brayne, and laboursom course of penne. Who altogeather

imploi those paynes, that no Science lurke in Corner, that no

Knowledge be shut vp in cloysters, that no History remaine vnder

the maske and vnknowne attyre of other tongues. Among which crew

(I say) I craue an inferiour place and haue vndertaken the

vnfolding of sundry Histories from the couerture of foren

language for none other purpose and intent but to vniuersal

benefyte. Part whereof, two yeares past (almost) were made

commune in a former boke, now succedeth a second, furnished

withlike ornaments that the other was. The first (by duties

chalenge) was addressed to the right honorable the Earle of

Warwik, for respect of his honour, and my calling. This the

second by lyke band, your worship may iustly clayme as a iust

tribute now this moneth of Nouember, payable. Or if your

curtesye would not deale so roughly with youre bounden

creditoure, yet for duty sake I must acquite and content that

which hath so long ben due. The same I offer now not with such

vsury and gayne as your beneuolence and syngular bounty, by long

forbearing hath deserued, but with such affected will and desyre

of recompence, as any man alyue can owe to so rare a friend.

Your worship I haue chosen for the firste person of this boke,

and the protector of the same (the matter moste specially therin

comprised, treating of courtly fashions and maners, and of the

customes of loue's gallantise, and the good or yll successe

therof,) because you be an auncient Courtier, and one of the

eldest Trayne, and such as hath bene imployed by sundry our

Princes, in their affayres of greatest wayght and importance,

and for that your selfe in your lustiest tyme (euer bred and

brought vp in Court,) haue not ben vnacquainted with those

occurrants. If I shoulde stand particularlye to touch the

originall of your noble Auncestry, the succession of that

renowmed line, their fidelity for graue aduise and counsel, your

honowrable education, the mariage of a mighty kyng with one of

your sisters, the valiant exploites of your parents againste the

Frenche and Scottes, the worthye seruice of your selfe in

fielde, wherby you deseruedly wanne the order of Knighthode, the

trust which her maiestie reposeth in you, by disposing vnder

your charge the store of her Armure, and your worthy preferment

to be Maister of her Armary generall. If I should make recitall

of your careful industry and painful trauel sustayned, for

aunswearing her Maiestye's expectation, your noble cherishing of

the skilful in that science, your good aduancemente of the best

to supply the vacant romes, your refusall of the vnworthy: and

finally of your modest and curteous dealings in that office,

I feare lacke of ability (and not of matter) would want grace

and order by further circumstaunce to adde sufficient prayse:

yea although my selfe do say nothinge, (but reserue the same in

silence to auoyd suspecte of adulation) the very armure and

their furnitures do speake, vniuersal testimony doth wonder, and

the Readines of the same for tyme of seruice doth aduouch. Which

care of things continually resting in your breast, hath atchyued

such a tymely diligence, and successe, as when her Maiestye's

aduersary shal be readye to molest, she shal be prest (by God's

assistance) to defend and march. But not to hold your worship

long by length of preamble, or to discourse what I might further

saye, either in fauour of this boke, or commendation of youre

selfe, I meane (for this instant) to leaue the one to general

iudgment, and the other to the particular sentence of ech of

your acquaintance. Humblye making this onlye sute that my good

wil may supplye the imperfection of myne abilitye. And so with

my harty prayer for your preseruation to him that is the auctor

of life and health, I take my leaue.

From my pore house besides the Tower of London,

the iiij. of Nouember,

1567.

Your most bounden

WILLIAM PAINTER.