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►$♦♦*«?■ 4> ^♦♦$#^<H>«£ $»<$>•$><&♦ 
 
 COMMON- 
 
 ^ WEALTH 
 
 ♦ OF 
 
 ^ VTOPIA: 
 
 ♦&►, Containing a Learned and 
 
 pkatent Diicouric of the b.fl: 
 
 y?j^ 0/ a fublite Wealth, a& it 
 
 is found in the Government 
 
 of the new lie called 
 
 Vtofta. 
 
 WRITTEN ' 
 
 2>> the right Honourable P 
 SirTHOMAs Moore, 
 
 Lord Cbancellonr of 
 England. 
 
 LONDON, 
 
 Printed by B. Alfey & T.Ftwcet, and 
 
 are to be fold by Will She ares , at his 
 
 ihop in Bedford- jlrtet in Cwen-gitdeo 
 
 ncerc the New Exchange. 
 
 1639. 
 
DUKE UNIVERSITY 
 
 LIBRARY 
 
 The Glenn Negley Collection 
 of Utopian Literature 
 

 t>L 
 
 *Ǥ tllii f $ 
 
 TO THE HON ble . 
 
 defcended Gentleman, • 
 
 Crbsac&b Moore* 
 
 o£iM$re fUccs in Nortb- 
 Mimes 9 in the County of 
 Hertford, Ei'quire; 
 Next in Bloud to Sir Thomas 
 Moob £, L. Chancellor of Eng- 
 land, and Heir* to the ancient 
 Family of thcCRESACRBs.fome- 
 nme Lord of the Mannar of 
 Bamborougb, in the County 
 of Torf(e 3 in the time 
 of Edward ihz 
 firft. 
 
 S IRj 
 
 i-fo^v found you Jo 
 Noble in the firft De- 
 dication jhat IJbeuld 
 much derogate from 
 your true Worthy and wrong my 
 ftlfe to make choife of a new Pa- 
 A tron 
 
The EpiftlcDcdicatorie. 
 
 tronfor the fecond [exactly done 
 with applaufe \ wherein though 
 1 pre fume y jet per fume , t'tvill 
 bee no jinne to multiply my ob- 
 ligation. 7 our name, and nature, 
 claimes,*nd deferves it*tis jour 
 due and my duty , and were 1 
 able to exprejfe more MsoRB 
 . fhould have it , for 1 muft al- 
 wayes acknowledge your good- 
 neffe in whatfoever quality for 
 tnne fhaB beftow me. SIR, f 
 k^ow you are wife. In a word f 
 *m y reaHy what I anu. 
 
 Your worftups ever to 
 be commanded. 
 
 Ber; Lsdlfep* 
 
Tnp 
 
 FIRST BOGKE 
 
 of the Communication of 
 
 Raphael Hythloday, 
 
 concerning the beft State 
 
 */* Com mom- 
 Wealth. 
 
 H E mod victori- 
 ous King of £*£- 
 land, Henry the 
 eight of that name, 
 in all royall ver- 
 mes, a Prince moil peercklftphad 
 of iate in ControverTic with 
 CharieIj the right high and 
 mighty King of Ctjtilc, weigh- 
 tie flutters, and ©I great impor- 
 tance*. For the deforcement and 
 finall determination \vhcrcor,the 
 
 B Kines 
 
 , £— 
 
Ctithbert 
 TunfttJL 
 
 The Common- wtalth 
 
 Kings Maieftie fent mc.Ambaf- 
 fadour into Plunders, ioyncd in 
 Commillion with C v tnbisRt 
 Tvnstall, a man doubtleilc 
 out ofcomparifon,and whom the 
 Kings Maieftie of late , to the 
 great reioycing of all men, did \\ 
 preferre to the Office of Mailer of 
 the Rolles. 
 
 But of this mans praifes I will 
 fay nothing, not becaufe I doe 
 feare that fmall credence fhallbe 
 given to the teftimony that com- 
 meth out of a friends mouth : but 
 becaufe his vertue and learning 
 be greater, and.of more excellen- 
 ce, then that I am able to praife 
 them : and alio in all places fo 
 famous and fo perfectly well 
 knownc, that they need not, nor 
 ■ought not of me to be praifed, 
 unieile I would fcem to ihew $nd 
 fct forfh the brightnetfe of the 
 Sunne with a Candle, as the Prc- 
 verb faith. There met us at Bru- 
 ges ( for thus it was before agre- 
 ed) they whom their Prince had 
 
 for 
 
Cf V T O P I A. 
 
 ' . ■■ - - 
 
 for that matter appointed Com- 
 miffioners : excellent men all. 
 The chiefe and head of them was 
 the Margrave ( as they call him) 
 of Bruges , a right honourable 
 man : but the wiieil and the bell 
 fpoken of them was George 
 Te m s i s e, Provoll of C<iJfe/fe/ 9 
 a man, not only by learning, but 
 alfo by nature of linguler elo- 
 quence ^ and in the lawes pro- 
 foundly learned : but in rcalb- 
 ning and debating of matters, 
 what by his naturall wit,and what 
 by daily exercife , furely he had 
 fewfellowes. After that we had 
 once or twiie met, and vpon ccr- 
 taine points or articles could not 
 fully and throughly agree, they 
 for a certaine Ipacc tookc their 
 lcaue of vs,and departed toBrux- 
 elts^ there to know their Princes 
 plcajfurc. I in the meanc time 
 : ( for fo my bufmellc lay ) went 
 | straight thence to Antwerp?. 
 I While I was there abiding , of- 
 ' tcntimes among other ,but which / 
 B 2 to 
 
 L 
 
7heComm§*wcdttb 
 
 to me was more welcome then a- 
 ny other,did viiit me one Peter 
 G'l lbs, a Citizen of Antwerpe y 
 a man there in his Countrey of 
 honeft reputation, and alfo pre- 
 ferred to high promotions^ wor- 
 thy truly of the higheft. For it is 
 hard to fay, whether the young 
 man be in learning jor in lion city 
 more excellent. 1 For he is both of 
 w r onderfull vcrtnous conditions, 
 and alfo Angularly well learned, 
 and towards all forts of people 
 exceeding gentle : But towards 
 his friends lb kind-hearted, fo lo- 
 ving, fo faithful], io trufty, and 
 of lb earneft affection, that it 
 were very hard in any pkee to 
 find a man , that with him in all 
 points of iaricndlhip may be com- ! 
 pared. No man can be more low- 
 ly or courteous -, no man vfeth 
 leife fimulation, or diflimulation, 
 m no man is more prudent iim- 
 plicity. Belides this, he is in his 
 talke and communication fo mer- 
 ry and pleafant , yea, and that 
 
 with- 
 
Of V T O V I A. 
 
 «■ ■» ■ ' _— — — . in ■ 
 
 without furmc, that through his 
 gentle entertainment , and his 
 iwcete and delegable communi- 
 cation, in me was greatly abated 
 and dumniihed the fervent defire 
 that I had to fee my natiuc 
 Country, my wife and my chil- 
 dren,whom then I did much long 
 and covet to fee : becaufe that ar 
 that time I had beenc more theiv 
 foure moneths from them. Vpon 
 a certaine day when 1 had heard 
 the Divine Service in our Ladies 
 Church , which is the Lireft, 
 the molt gorgious iind curious 
 Church of building in all the 
 City,and alfo moft frequented of 
 people, and the Service being- 
 done, was ready to goe home to 
 my lodging , I chanced to efpy 
 this fbrefaid Peter, talking 
 with a Capcaine, ftranger, a man 
 well ftricken in age, with a black 
 vSunne-burned face, a long beard, 
 andacloake caft homely about 
 his moulders, whom by his fa- 
 vour and apparcll forthwith 1 
 B 3 jud- 
 
I 
 
 iht C»mmmivt*ltb 
 
 ■ ■ ^— — »i i n i ■ i n «— m 
 
 I judged to be a Marriner. But 
 the faid Pe ter feeing me, came 
 unto me and faluted me. And as 
 I was about to anfwer him : fee 
 you this man, faith he (and there- 
 with he pointed to the man, that 
 I f aw him talking with before ) 
 I was minded (quoth he) to bring 
 him ftraight home to you. He 
 fhould haue beenc very welcome 
 tome 5 faid I, for your fake. Nay 
 (quoth he ) for his owne fake, if 
 you knew him : for there is no 
 man this day living, that can tell 
 you of fo many ftrange andvn- 
 knownc peoples, and Countries, 
 as this man can. And I know 
 well that you be very defirous to 
 hearc of fuch newes. Then I con- 
 jectured not farre amiife ( quoth 
 I) for even at the firft fight , I 
 jvdged him to be a Marriner.Nay 
 (quoth he) there ye were great- 
 ly deceived : he hath fayled in- 
 deed , not as the Mariner Pali- 
 «*r* 5 but a* the expert & prudent 
 Prince Vl y s s e s : Yea, rather 
 
 as 
 
o/Vtopia. 
 
 a-s the ancient and Sage Philofo- 
 pher Plato. For this fame Ra- 
 phael Hj/thloday (for this is his 
 name ) he is very well learned in 
 the Latinc tongue : but profound 
 and excellent in the Gteeke lan- 
 guage. Wherein he ever bellow- 
 ed more itiidy then in the Latine, 
 becaufe he had given himjelfo 
 wholly to the ftucTy of Phil Mo- 
 phy. VVhereo£he knew that there ! 
 is nothing* ccrraine in Latine, ! 
 that is tour.y purpofe , iuving a 1 
 few o£ Scnccaes , and Cicerocs\ 
 doing?. His patrimonieth.it he j 
 was borne unto,he left to his bre- 
 thren ( for he is a Portugal! 
 borne ) and for the dciirc he had 
 to fee,, and know the farre Coun- 
 tries of the world,he joyned him- 
 felfe in company with Atnericke 
 Vefytscc • and in the three lahV 
 voyages of thofe foure that be 
 now in print, and abroad in eve- 
 ry mans hands jhe continued ftill 
 in his company, laving that in 
 the laft voyage he came not home 
 B»4 a gaine 
 
 Rdphitl 
 Htibloday, 
 
g , iht Common wealth 
 
 againe with him. For he made 
 
 fuch meanes and ihifr, what by 
 
 intreatance, and what by import 
 
 tuneiuitc, that he got licence of 
 
 jM Mailer Amerkke ( though it 
 
 were fore againtt his will ) to be 
 
 one of the twenty foure , winch 
 
 in the end of the latt voyage were 
 
 left in the Country, of Gnlickr* 
 
 He was therefore left behind fcr 
 
 his mind- fake, as one that tooke 
 
 more thought and care for tra- 
 
 veiling, then dying *, having cu- 
 
 floirubly in his mouth diefo i ay- 
 
 ings - He that bath no grave, is 
 
 coycredwiththe ikle i and^ The 
 
 rpaj toheaven>oyt of all pUces y is 
 
 of like length and difi a nee. .Which 
 
 fantalie of his, ( if God had not 
 
 beene his better rriend ) he had 
 
 furely bought full dcere.But after 
 
 the departure of- matter Fefpuce, 
 
 when he had travelled through 
 
 and about many Countries with 
 
 Hue of his companions Guhki- 
 
 ans 3 at the latt by mervailous 
 
 chance he arrived in Taprokane^ 
 
 from 
 
</Vt 
 
 oPU 
 
 from whence he went to Ca/i- 
 quity where he chanced to finde 
 certains of his Country Ships, 
 wherein he returned againe into 
 his Country, nothing lelfe then 
 looked for. All this when Piter 
 had told me, I thanked him for 
 his gentle kmdnelle : that he had 
 vouchiafed to bring me to the 
 fpcechofthat man, whole com- 
 munication, he thought iliould 
 be to mc pleafant,and acceptable. 
 And therewith I turned me to 
 Raphael : And when we had hal- 
 Ccd each other, and had fpoke 
 thefe commune w r ords, that he 
 cuitomably fpoke at the firft 
 meeting , and acquaintance of 
 Grangers? *Wc went thence to my 
 houfe , and there in my Garden, 
 vpon a bench covered with 
 grccne turves,we fate downe tal- 
 king together. There he told us, 
 how that after the departing of 
 Fe/pucr^ he and his fcllowes that 
 tarried behind in GnUckf, began 
 by little and little, through faire 
 B 5 and 
 
10 
 
 The Comw$nw*ltb 
 
 II I m il il ■ m i — — » — » — 
 
 and gentle fpeech, towinnethc 
 love and favour of the people of 
 that Country 5 infomuch, that 
 within fliort ipace,they did dwell 
 among them, not onely harme- 
 lelTe, but alio occupying with 
 j them familiarly. He told vs alfo, 
 that they were in high reputation 
 and favour with a certaine great 
 man (whofe name and Countrey 
 is now quite out of my remem- 
 brance ) which of his meere libe- 
 rality, did bearc the coils and 
 charges cf him and his fme com- 
 panions . And befides that, gaue 
 them a trufty guide to conduct 
 vthem in their journey (which by 
 water was in Boats , rmd by land 
 in Wagons ) and to bring them 
 to other Pi in ces with very friend- 
 ly commendations. 
 
 Thus after many dayes jour- 
 nies,he faid,they found Townes, 
 -anct Cities, and Weale publiques, . 
 ! full of peo pi c, governed by good 
 aiad wholibme £awes : for under ; 
 die line Equinoctial], and. on 
 
 both 
 
of Vr 
 
 O P I A. 
 
 II 
 
 both fides of the fame,as farre as 
 tlie vSunne doth extend his courfe, 
 lyeth ( cjuoth he ) great and wide 
 Deiarts , and Wilderneiles, par- 
 ched, burned, and dried vp with 
 contiauall and intolierable heate. 
 All things be hideous, terrible, 
 loathfome, and unpleaiaut to be- 
 hold : All things out of raihion 
 and comelineile, i nhabited with 
 wildc Beafts, and Serpents $ or at 
 the leaft-wife,with people, that 
 be no lefTe favage, wild,and noy- 
 fome, then the very Beafts them- 
 felues be, But a little farther be- 
 yond thar,all things begin by lit- 
 tle and little to waxe plealant, 
 The Ayre foft, temperate, and 
 gentle : the ground covered with 
 greene grail e : lellc wildneflc in 
 the Beaits. At the laft ihall yee 
 come to people , Cities and 
 Townes, wherein is continuali 
 entercourfe and occupying of 
 merchandize and chntfare, not 
 onely among themielues, and 
 with their Borderers; but alio 
 
 with 
 
11 
 
 7 be Common-Width 
 
 Skips of 
 fiwgefa- 
 
 
 with Merchants of farre Coun- 
 try cs, both by land and water. 
 There I had occaiiun (laid he) to 
 goe to many Countries on euery. 
 iide. For there was no ftiip ready 
 to any voyage or journey , but I 
 and my fellowes were into it ve- 
 ry gladly received.The mips that 
 they found firit.,w ere made plain, 
 flat,, and broad in the bottome 
 trough-wife. The fayles were 
 made of great rulhes, or of wick- 
 ers, and m fome.pl aces of leather. 
 Afterward they found Ships with 
 ridged kyles, and fayles of Can- 
 vaile: yea,and inert ly after, ha- 
 ving all things like ours. The 
 fliip-men alio were expert and 
 cunning, both in the Sea, and in 
 the weather. But he faid, that he 
 found great favour aftdfriendihip 
 among them, for teaching them 
 the feate. and ufe of the Load- 
 ftone. Which to them b:f ore that 
 time was vnknowne. . And there- 
 fore they were wont to be very 
 timcrous and fear efull vpon the 
 
 Sea : 
 
efWt o pi a. 
 
 Sea : Nor to venture vpon it, .but 
 onely in the Summer tune. But 
 now they haue inch a confidence 
 in that Scone, that they fearc not 
 itorniy Winter : in ib doing, far- 
 ther horn care then danger. I n (b 
 much, that it is greatly to be 
 doiibted,ieait that thing,through 
 their owne foolilli hardinelle, 
 (hall turne them to evili and 
 harmc,which at the firft was fup- 
 pofed ihouldbe to them good 
 and commodious. But what he 
 told vs that he few in every 
 Country where he came, it were 
 very long to declare. Neither is it 
 my purpofc at this time to make 
 rehearf ill thereof. But peradveiv 
 ture in another place will I fpeak 
 of it : chiefly fuch things as mall 
 be profitable to be kuowne : as in 
 fpeciall be thofe decrees and ordi- 
 nances,that he marked to be well 
 and wittily provided and enacted 
 among fuch peoples, as doe liue 
 together in a civill policie, and 
 good order. . For of fuch things 
 
 did 
 
 13 
 
*4 
 
 The Common wealth 
 
 did we bufily enquire, and de- 
 mand of him, and he likewife ve- 
 ry willingly told vs of the fame. 
 But as for Monilers, becaufe they 
 be no newes,of them we were no- 
 thing inquilitiue : For nothing 
 is more eaiie to be found, then be 
 barking ScilUes^ ravening Cele- 
 *es 9 and Lefirigoncs^ devourcrs 
 ofpeople,andfuchhke great and 
 incredible monftefs. But to find 
 Citizens ruled by good 2nd whol- 
 iome La we s, that is an exceeding 
 rare,ck hard thing. But as he mar- 
 ked-many fond and fooliih Lawes 
 in thofe new-found Lands \ fo he 
 rehearfed divers acts and confli- 
 
 tit 
 
 tutions, wnerby thefe our Cities, 
 Nations, Countries, and King- 
 domes , may take example to a- 
 mend their faults,enormities and 
 errour s. Whereof m another place 
 (as I faid) I will intrear. Now at 
 this time I am determined to re- 
 hearfe oncly that he told vs of 
 the Manners, Cuftomcs, Lawes, 
 and Ordinances of xw&Xjt avians* 
 
 But 
 
i/Vtopu. 
 
 *'f ■ " — ■ ' ' " 
 
 But firft I willrcfpeit our former 
 communication by the uccalion, 
 and ( _ as I. might lay) the drift 
 whereof he was brought into the 
 mention of the Weale Publique: 
 For when Raphael had very pru- 
 dently touched divers things 
 that be amiife, fome here, and 
 fome there 3 Yea, very many on 
 both parts 5 and agame had fpo- 
 ken o? fitch wife Liwcs, and pru- 
 dent Decrees, as be eltabhihed 
 andufed, both here among vs, 
 and alfo among them 5 as a man 
 fo perfect , and expert in the 
 Lawes,and Cuftomes of every fe- 
 verall Country ? as though into 
 what place foever he came gheft- 
 wife, there he had led all his life : 
 then P s T E R much mar vailing, 
 at the man 5 Surely Milter Ra- 
 phael (quoth he) I wonder great- 
 ly^ why you get you not into 
 fome Kings Court : For I am 
 fure, there is no Prince living, 
 that would not be very glad of 
 you>as a man not only able high- 
 ly- 
 
x £ [ jhtCQmmonwtdth 
 
 ly to delight him with your pro- 
 found learning, and this your 
 knowledge or Countries, and 
 peoples,but alfo meet to initrucT: 
 him with examples, and helpe 
 him with counfell. And thus do- 
 ing, you ill all bring your felfe in 
 a very good cafe,, and alio be of 
 ability to hclpe all your friends 
 and kinsfolke.As concerning my 
 friends and kinsfolke (quoth he) 
 I paife not greatly for diem : For 
 I thinke I hauc iufficientiy done 
 my part towards them already. 
 For thefe things, that other men 
 doe not depart from, vntill they 
 be old and iicke $ yea,which they 
 be then very loath to leaue,when 
 they can no longer keepc, thofe 
 very fame things did I being not 
 onely lufty, and in good health, 
 but alfo in the flo wre of my 
 youth, devide among my friends 
 and kinsfolkes. Which I thinke 
 with this my liberality ought to 
 hold them contented, and not to 
 require nor to looke that beftdes 
 
 this, 
 
efVroviA. 
 
 this, I Ihould for their fakes giue 
 my felfe in bondage unto Kings. 
 Nay,God forbid that (quoth te- 
 ter ) it is not my mind that you 
 Ihould be in bondage to Kings, 
 but as a retainer to them at your 
 pleafure. Which furely I think e 
 is the nigheft way that ^oucan 
 devifo how to bellow your time 
 fruitfully, not onely for the pri- 
 vate commodity of your friends, 
 and for the generall profite of all 
 fores of pcople,but alio for the ad- 
 vancement of your lelfe to a 
 much wealthier ltate and conditi- 
 on,then you be now in. To a 
 wealthier condition ( quoth Ra- 
 phael ) by that meanes, thar my 
 mind ftandcth cleane .gaiiiitr. 
 Now I liue at liberty after mine 
 owne mind and pleafure, which 
 I thinke very few of thefc great 
 States, and Peeres ofRealmes can 
 fay. Yea, and'there be enou gh of 
 them that fue for great mens 
 friendfliips: and therefore thinke 
 it no great hurc,if they haue not 
 
 me. 
 
l8 ( J be Common wealth 
 
 me, nor third or fourth fucho- 
 therasl am. Well, 1 perceme 
 plainly friend Raphael (quoth 1 ) 
 that you be deiirous neither of 
 riches,nor of power. And truly I 
 haucin no lelVe reverence and c- 
 {hmation a man of your mind, 
 then any of them all that be fo 
 high in power and authority : 
 But you (h all doe as it becom- 
 methyou 3 yea,and according to 
 this wifedomr, to this high and 
 free courage or yours, if you can 
 find in your heart, fo to appoint 
 and difpofe your felfe, that you 
 may apply your wit and dili- 
 gence to the profite of the VVeale 
 publique,though it be fomewhat 
 to your ownc painc and hinde- 
 ranee. And this (hall you never 
 fo well, doc, nor with fo great 
 profit performe, as if you be of 
 fbme great Princes counfell, and 
 put into his head ( as I doubt not 
 but you will) honeft opinions, 
 and vertuous perfwafions : For 
 from the Prince,as from a perpe- 
 
 tuall 
 
Of V T O ? I A. 
 
 mail well-ipring, commeth a- 
 mong the people tlie floud of all 
 that js good or evill. But in you 
 is (6 perreft learning, that with- 
 out any experience, and againc, 
 Co great experience that without 
 any learning you may well be 
 any Kings Counfellour. You be 
 twife deceived Matter %JMort 
 ( quoth he) firft in mee, and a- 
 gainein the thing it felfe : For 
 neither is in me the ability that 
 you force vpon me,and if it were 
 never fo much,yet in difquieting 
 mincowne quietnetre I (hould 
 nothing further the Weak pub- 
 like. For firft of all,the moft part 
 of all Princes haue more delight 
 in warlike matters, and feates of 
 Chivalry (the knowledge where- 
 of I neither haue nor defire) then 
 in the good feates of peace : and 
 imploy much more ftudy , how 
 by right or by wrong to enlarge 
 chcir Dominions, then how well 
 and peaceable to rule, and go- 
 verne that they haue already, ! 
 
 More- I 
 
ao 
 
 L3 
 
 T^r Cemmm tteslth 
 
 Moreover j they that be Counfel- 
 lours to King$,every one of them 
 either is of himfelfe fo wife in- 
 deed that he needeth not, or elfe 
 he thinketh himfelfe fo wife,that 
 he will not alow another mans 
 counfell, faving that they doe 
 fliamcfully,and flatteringly, giue 
 affent to the fond and fooli lh lay- 
 ings of certaine great men : 
 whole favours, beeaufethey be 
 in high authority w r ith their 
 Prince, by aifentation and flatte- 
 ry they labour toobtame. And 
 verily it is naturally given to all 
 men to efteeme their owne i\\-. 
 ventions belt. : So both the Ra- 
 ven and the Ape thinke their 
 owne young ones faireft. Then 
 if a man- m inch a company, 
 where fomc difdaine and haue 
 defpight at other mens invetions, 
 and (oine count their owne bed; 
 if among fuch men (I fay) a man 
 ihould bring forth any thing, 
 that he hath reade done in times 
 pall, or that he hath feene done 
 
 in 
 
ef V T O P l A. 
 
 21 
 
 in other places ; there the hea- 
 rers, fare as though the whole 
 j exiltimation or their wifedome 
 were in jeopardy to be over- 
 throw ne,and that ever after they 
 fliould be counted for very de- 
 fart s, unlelle they could in other 
 me ns inventions picke out mat- 
 ter to reprehend, and find a-fault 
 at. If all other poore hclpesfaile : 
 then this is their extreame refuge. 
 Thefe things (fay they) pleaied 
 our forefathers and anccftors : 
 would God we could be fo wife 
 as they were : and as though they 
 had wittily concluded the mat- 
 ter, and with this anfwere flop- 
 ped every mans mouth, they fit 
 downc a game. As who fhould 
 fry, it were a very dangerous 
 matter, if a man in any point 
 fhould bee found wifer then 
 his fore-fathers were. And yet be 
 we contentto {iirfer the belt and 
 wittieft of their Decrees to lye 
 unexecuted : but if in any thing 
 a better order might haue beene 
 
 taken 
 
22 
 
 PtrtUK 
 judgement. 
 
 J he Cammon^ultb 
 
 CardinaS 
 Morton 
 
 taken,then by them was,there we 
 take fart hold, finding there ma- 
 ny faults. Many times haue I 
 chanced vpon fuch proud, lewd., 
 over-thwart , and way-ward 
 judgements ; yea (and once in 
 England: I pray you Sir (quoth 
 I) haueyoubeene in our Coun- 
 try I Yea forfooth (quoth he)and 
 there I tarried for thefpaceof 
 foureorfiue moneths together, 
 not long after the Infurreftion, 
 the Wefterne Engliih men made 
 againft their King, which by 
 their owne miferable and pitifull 
 ilaughter, was fuppreiTed and en- 
 ded In the meane feafon, I was 
 much bound and beholding to 
 the right reverend Father , 1 ohn 
 Morton , Arch-bifhop and 
 Cardinall of Canterhurie y ^.r\d at 
 that time alfo Lord Chancellour 
 of EngUr.d^ a man^Maiter Peter 
 ( for Mailer Mo ere knoweth al- 
 ready that I will fay ) not more 
 honourable for his authority, 
 then for his prudence and vertue. 
 
 He 
 
j ef\r op i a. 
 
 • iic was of a mcanc ftaturc , and 
 though ltricken in age, yet bare 
 he his body upright. 
 
 In his face did fliinefueh an 
 amiable reverence , as was plca- 
 fant to behold. Gentle in com- 
 munication,yet carneit,and fage. 
 He had great delight many times 
 with rough fpeech to his iuiters, 
 toproue, but "without harme, 
 what prompt wit, and what bold 
 fpirit were in every man. In the 
 which as in avertuc much a- 
 greeingwith his nature, fo that 
 therewith were not joyncd im 
 pudency, he tooke great delecta- 
 tion. And the fame.perfon ^s apt 
 and meet to hauean admini illa- 
 tion in the Weale publikc,he did 
 lovingly imbracc. In his fpeech 
 he was nnc, eloquent andpithic. 
 In the Law, he had profound 
 knowledge 3 in wit, he was in- 
 comparable ; and m memory, 
 \vo.:derfull exccllent.Thcfe qua* 
 lities, which in him were by na* 
 rure ungulct,hc by learning and 
 
 ufc 
 
The Ctmmin-wcAltb 
 
 ufc had made perfect. The King 
 put much trull in his counfcll, 
 the Wcale publikc alio in a man- 
 ner leaned unto him,when I was 
 there : For even in the chicfe of 
 his youth hee was taken from 
 Schoole into the Court,and there 
 palled all his time in much trou- 
 ble and buiineife, being continu- 
 ally tumbled and toiled in the 
 waves of divers misfortunes and 
 adverfitics. And fo by many and 
 great dangers, he learned the ex- 
 perience of the world, which fo 
 being learned , cannot eafily be 
 forgotten. It chanced on a ccr- 
 taine day, when I fate at his Ta- 
 ble, there was alfo a certaine lay 
 man, cunning in the Lawes of 
 your Realme : Who, I cannot 
 tell, whereof taking occafio;:, be- 
 gan diligently and carneltly to 
 praife that ilrait and rigorous ju- 
 llice, which at that time was 
 there executed upon Felonies ; 
 who as he faid, were for the moll 
 part twenty hanged together up- 
 on 
 
n/ Vtopia. 
 
 25 
 
 «MMWM 
 
 on one gallowcs. And/eeing fo 
 few efcaped punifhmcut, he laid 
 he could not choofc, but greatly 
 wonder and marvaile, how and 
 by what evill luck it ihould To 
 come to palfe, that Thccves ne- 
 vcrtheleilc w r ere in every place fo 
 rife and fo ranck. Nay/iir quoth 
 I ( for I durit, boldly fpcakc my 
 mind, before the Cardinall) mer- 
 vaile nothing hereat : for this 
 punilhment of Theevcs paifeth 
 the limits of I uit ice, and is alio 
 very hurtfull to the Weak pub- 
 like : For it is too extrcame and 
 cruella puniihmentfor thcft,and 
 yet not lufriciciit to refrainc and 
 with-hold men from theft : for 
 iimplc theft is not fo grear an ot- 
 feiice, that it ought to be pu- 
 niflicd with death •, neither there 
 is any punilhment fo horrible, 
 that it can kcepe them from dea- 
 ling, which have none other 
 crartjW hereby to </ct their living. 
 Therefore 1 a this point, rot \ 
 only, but alio the molt part o J 
 C 
 
 Of Lsrces 
 not modi 
 accerdi 
 to (quit j. 
 
By i»ba$ 
 
 meanes 
 
 tber might 
 
 befwer 
 
 tbeoues 
 
 end ttb- 
 
 birs. 
 
 jh$ Common wealth 
 
 world be like cvill Schoolema- 
 ftcrsj which bee readier to beat, 
 then to teach their fchollers. For 
 great and horrible punifhments 
 be appointed for Thecves,whcre- 
 as much rather, provifion fhould 
 have bin made, that there were 
 fomemcancs,wherby they might 
 get their living, fo that no man 
 lhould be driven to this cxtreame 
 neceffitie $ firft to ft.eale,and then 
 to dye. Yes (cjuoth he) this mat- 
 ter is well enough provided for 
 already. There be Handy-crafts, 
 there is Husbandry to get their 
 living,if they would not willing- 
 ly be naught. Nay, quoth I>you 
 (hall not fcape fo : for firit of all, 
 I will fpeake nothing cf them, 
 that come home out of the warrcs 
 maimed and lame, as not long a- 
 goeout of Black-bcAtb field, and 
 a little before that, out of the 
 warres in France : fuch I fayyas 
 put their lives in jeopt rdy for the 
 Weale publiques > or the Kings 
 fake, and by reafon of weakneiie 
 
 and 
 
Of V T O P I A. 
 
 — ^— — — — | - Tl r »■ __u__ 
 
 and lameneifebee not able to o<> 
 cupic their old crafts, and be too 
 aged to learne new : of them I 
 will fpeake nothing , forafmuch 
 as YVarres have chejr ordinary re- 
 courfe. 
 
 But let us confider thofe tilings 
 that chance daily before our eyes. 
 Firft, there is a great number of 
 Gentlemen, which cannot bee 
 content to live idle themfelves, 
 like Dorrers, of that which other 
 have laboured for : their Tenants 
 I meane, whom they poll and 
 fliave to the quicke, by railing 
 their Rents (tor this oncly point 
 of frugalitie doe they ufe, men 
 elfe through their laviili and pro- 
 digall fpending, able to bring 
 themfelves to very beggery)thefe 
 Gentlemen, I fay, doe not oncly 
 live in idleueire themfelves, but 
 alfo carry about with them at 
 their tailes,a great flock or traine 
 of idle and loytering Serving- 
 men, which never learned any 
 craftjwherby to get their livings. 
 C 2 Thefc 
 
 *7 
 
 the. umber 
 oftheeuts. 
 
 Landlords 
 bytbt neaj 
 checi{edfor 
 Rent tm* 
 
 Of idle 
 Serving- 
 men come 
 tbetucs* 
 
28 
 
 The Cmmw-wultb 
 
 Thefe men as foone as their Ma- 
 tter is dead,or be lick themfelyes, 
 be incontinent thruft out of 
 doores : For Gentlemen had ra- 
 ther keepe idle peribns, then lick 
 men, and many times the dead 
 mans Heire is not able to main- 
 taine fo great a Houfe, and keepe 
 fo many Serving-men as his Fa- 
 ther did. Then in the meane fea- 
 fon, they that be thus deftitute of 
 fervice, ey ther llarve for hm < ger, 
 or manfully play the Thceves: 
 For what would you have them 
 to doe ? When they have wan- 
 dred abroad fo long, untiil they 
 haveworne threed-bare their ap- 
 parell, and alfo app;ired their 
 health -, then Gentlemen,becaufe 
 of their pale and iickly faces,and 
 patched coatesywill not take them 
 into fervice. And Husbandmen 
 dare not let them a work : know- 
 ing well enough, that hee is no- 
 thing meet to doe true and faith - 
 full fervice to a Poore man with 
 .a Spade and Mattocke for fmall 
 
 wages 
 
Pf V T O P I A. 
 
 wages and hard fare, which be- 
 ing daintily and tenderly pain- 
 pered up in idlcncifc and plea- 
 sure, was wont with a Sword 
 and a Buckler by his iidc, to jet 
 through the itreet with a brag- 
 ging looke, and to chinke him- 
 fclfe too good to bee any mans 
 mate. Nay by Saint *JMary fir 
 (quoth the Lawyer) not To : For 
 this kinde of men mult we make 
 moil of 5 for in them as men of 
 ftouter itomacks, bolder fpirits, 
 and manlier courages, then Hm- 
 dicrafts-men and Plough* men I 
 be,doth confiit the whole power, | 
 ftrength,and puilfance of our ar- 
 my, when wee muft fight in bat- 
 taile. Forfooth fir, as well you 
 might fay ( quoth I ) that for 
 Warres fake you mud chcrilh 
 Theeves *• For furely you (hall 
 never lacke theeves, whiles you 
 have them. No nor Theeves be 
 not the moft falfe and faint-hear- 
 ted Souldiers, norfouldiers bee 
 not the cowardlieft theeves : fo 
 C 3 well 
 
 *9 
 
 Betwtne 
 
 fouldioart 
 and tb ecus 
 fmll di- 
 verftty. 
 
3° 
 
 J ht Comm$n wcttth 
 
 well thefe two Crafts agree to- 
 gether. But this fault, though it 
 be much vfed among you , yet is 
 it not peculiar to you oncly 3 but 
 comon alio almoit. to allNanons. 
 Yet France bciides this is trou- 
 bled and infected with a much 
 forer plague. The whole Realmc 
 is filled and belicged with hired 
 Soldiere in peace tunc (if that be 
 peace) which be brought in un- 
 der the fame colour and pretence, 
 that hath perfwaded you to keepe 
 thclc idle Serving, men. For thci'c 
 wife- fooles, and very arch-doles, 
 thought the wealth of the whole 
 Countrey herein to confift, if 
 there were ever in a rcadincile a 
 ffrong and a furc Garrifon,fpeci- 
 ally of old prafti fed Soldiers ; for 
 they put no truft at all in men 
 ui exercifed. And therefore they 
 muil be forced to feeke for wane, 
 to the end they may ever have 
 pracliied Soldiers, and cunning 
 man-flayers, leaft that ( as it is 
 pretily faid of «SV#/) their hands 
 and their minds through idle- 
 
Of V T O P I A. 
 
 m > • ■ ■ - — ■ ■ ■ 
 
 nctre or lackc of exercifc, fliould 
 waxe dull. 
 
 But how pernitious and pc- 
 (lilcnt a thing it is, to niaintame 
 fuch Bcaits, the Frenchmen, by 
 their owne harmes hauc learned, 
 -and die examples of the Ro- 
 manes, Carthaginians, Syrians, 
 and of many otjier Countries doe 
 manifestly declare : For not one- 
 ly the Empire, but alio the field* 
 and Cities of all thefc, by divers 
 occalions hauc becne overrun- 
 ncd and deftroyed of their owne 
 armies, beforehand ha i in a rea- 
 dinelle. Now how unneceifaiy a 
 thing this is » hereby it may ap- 
 pears '• thit the Frcnch^ouldi- 
 ours, which from their youth 
 haue beene practifed and inured 
 in feates of armes,doe not cracke 
 or advance themfclues to haue , 
 very often got the vppex hand 
 and maibry cf your new-made 
 and unpractifed fouldiours. But 
 in this point 1 will not vfemany 
 words , leaffc perchance I may 
 C 4 fecme 
 
 31 
 
 Wb*t in- 
 convenien- 
 ces com. 
 metb by 
 
 continuall 
 Garrifons 
 of foMi- 
 °urs . 
 
5* 
 
 iheCommw wealth 
 
 feeme to flatter you.No,nor thofe 
 fame handy-craft men of yours 
 in Cities , nor yet the rude and 
 vplandiih plough-men of the 
 Country, are not fuppofed to be 
 greatly afraid of your Gende- 
 mens idle fervingmen, unleife it 
 be fuch as be not of body or fea- 
 ture correfpondent to their 
 ftrenpth and courage 5 or elie 
 whole bold ftomackes bedifcou- 
 ragod through poverty. Thus 
 yon HJiy fee , that it is not to be 
 reared leaft they ihotild be effc- 
 minatcdjif they were brought vp 
 in good crafts and labourfome 
 woikes, whereby to get their li- 
 vings, whofe ftout and fturdy 
 bodies ( for Gentlemen vouch- 
 safe to corrupt and fpill none 
 but picked and chofen men ) 
 now either by reafon of reft and 
 idlenelle be brought toweake- 
 j nerTe '• or elfe by too eafie and 
 j womanly exercifes be made fee- 
 J ble, and unable to endure hard- 
 neile. Trulv, howfoevcr the cafe 
 ! ftan- 
 
p/Vtopia. 
 
 flandeth, this me chinkech is no- 
 thing availeable to the Weale 
 publike, for warre fake, which 
 you never haue , but when you 
 will your felucs , to keepe and 
 maintainc an vnnumerable flock 
 of that fort of men, that befo 
 j troublelbme 6c noyous in peace, 
 I whereof you ought to haue a 
 thoufand times more regard,thcn 
 of warre. But yet this is not one- 
 ly the neceiiary caufe of ftea- 
 hng. There is another, which as 
 I fuppofe,is proper and peculiar 
 to you Enghfhmen alone. What 
 is that , cjuoth the Cardinall ? 
 forfooth my Lord(cjuoth I)your 
 j ihcepe, that were wont to befo 
 i rneeke and tame , and fo fmali 
 ! eaters ; now, as I hcare fay, be 
 become fo gfeat devourers, and 
 I fo wild, that they eat vp, and 
 j fwallow downe the very men 
 j thcmfelues. They confume, de- 
 ftroy, and devoure whole fields, 
 houfes, and Cities : Forlooke 
 1 in what parts of the Realme doth 
 C c grow 
 
 ?? 
 
 Englifh 
 Sbccpt de- 
 vottrtrs of 
 
34 
 
 ihe Common-wealth 
 
 grow the fineft , and therefore 
 dcareft Wooll, there noble men, 
 and gentle'nlen,yca, and certaine 
 Abbots,holy men no douHc, not 
 contenting thcmfelues with the 
 yearely revenues # and profits, 
 that were wont to grow to their 
 fore-fathers and predeccllburs of 
 their lands , nor being content 
 that they liue in reft and plea- 
 sure, nothing profiting 5 yea , 
 muchnoying the Weale pub- 
 hke,leaue no ground for tillage: 
 they indole all into pafturcs 5 
 they throw downe houfes 5 they 
 plucke downe townes, and leaue 
 nothing (landing, but onely the 
 Church to be madea (heephoufe. . 
 And as though you loft no 
 fmall quantity of ground byfor- 
 refts, chafes, lands, and parkes, 
 thofe good holy, men turne all 
 dwelling places and all glebe 
 land into defolation,and wiider- 
 ncjflfe. 
 
 Therefore, that one covetous 
 and unfatiable Cormorant, and 
 
 very 
 
fifVr o p I a. 
 
 35 
 
 very plague of his natiue Coun- sheep-su- 
 try, may compare about and in- ! fieri de- 
 clofc many thoufands Akers of l c V er * °f 
 ground together within one pale * W **°«V* 
 or hedge, the husbandmen be 
 thruft out of their owne, or ellc 
 either by covinc and fraud, or 
 violent oppreflion they be put 
 befides it, or by wrongs and in- 
 juries they be fo weaned, that 
 they be compelled to fell all : by 
 one meanes therefore or by other 
 either by hooke or by crooke , 
 they mult needs depart away, 
 poore,(illie,wretchcdibules,men, 
 women,husbands, wiucs, father- 
 lelTc children, widdowes, wofuU 
 mothers with their young babes, 
 and the whole houfliold fmall 
 in fubftance, and much in num- 
 ber, as husbandry rcquireth ma- 
 ny hands. 
 
 Away they trudge, I fay, out 
 of their knowne and accuflo- 
 med houfes , finding no place 
 to reft in. All their houfliold- 
 fturre,which is very little worth, 
 I th<> ^ 
 
3? 
 
 The Common wealth 
 
 The decay 
 of hush j« . 
 dry cru- 
 ftth beg- 
 geryjvbich 
 if the ««- 
 tbfr of va- 
 gabonds & 
 tbeeves. 
 
 The caafe 
 
 ofd&aitb 
 
 ofxtftaaU- 
 
 W^oat in- 
 
 ionvem- 
 
 metb if 
 dearth of 
 
 though it might well abide the 
 fale: yet being fuddainly thruil 
 out, they be conftrained to fell it 
 for a thing of naught. And 
 when they haue wandered a- 
 broadtill that be fpent,what can 
 they then doe but iteale^and then 
 juftly pardy be hanged , or elfe 
 gee about a begging. And yet 
 then alio they be caftinto Prifon 
 as Vagabonds^ becaufe they goc 
 about and wotkc not : whom no 
 man will fct a worke, though 
 they never lb willingly proffer 
 themfelues thereto.For oneShep- 
 hcard or Heardman is enough to 
 eat vp that ground with cattell, 
 to the occupying whereof,about 
 husbandry , many hands were 
 rcquifite. And this is alfo the 
 caufe why victuals be now in 
 many places dearer. Yea befides 
 this the price of wooll is fo-rifen,, 
 that poore folkes, which were 
 wontto worke it , and make 
 cloath thereof, be now able to 
 buy none at all. And by this 
 memes very many be forced tq 
 
o/Vtqpia. 
 forfake workc, and to giuc them- 
 felues to ldlenelfe. 
 
 For after that fo much ground 
 was luclofcd for pafture, an infi- 
 nite multitude ofiheepe died of 
 the rot , fuch vengeance God 
 tooke of their inordinate and un- 
 fatiable covetoufneife , fending 
 among the ihecpe that peftife- 
 rous murrein, which much more 
 /uftly fhould haue fallen on the 
 /h eep-mafters own e heads . And 
 though the number cf (hecpein- 
 creafc never fo fail, yet the price 
 falleth not one mite, becaufe 
 there be fo few fellers : For they 
 be-almoft all come into a few rich 
 mens hands, whom no need for- 
 ceth to fell before they luft, and 
 they lull not before they, may 
 fell as deare they luft. Now 
 the fame caufe bringeth in like 
 dearth of the dearth' o£the other 
 kinds of Cattell,yea, and that fo 
 much the more, becaufe that af- 
 ter Farmes plucked downe, and 
 husbandry decayed , there is no 
 man that palfeth for the breeding 
 
 of 
 
 37 
 
 fbt cauje 
 of dearth 
 oflVoolL 
 
 Hearth ef 
 tatttlU 
 
 with the 
 
 ccufc tkit- 
 
 -» — I 
 
7>eafti cf 
 wiffuals id 
 the decay 
 ef beufe* 
 
 whereof 
 enfiietb 
 
 and theft. 
 
 ibt C§mm$» wealth 
 
 of young {lore : for thefe rich 
 men bring not vp the young 
 ones of great cattell as they doe 
 lambes. 
 
 But firft they buy them abroad 
 very cheape,and afterward when 
 they be fatted in their paftures? 
 they fell them againe exceeding 
 deare. And therefore ( as I fup- 
 pofe ) the whole incommodity 
 hereof is not yet felt : for yet 
 they make dearth onely in thofc 
 places ? where they fell. But when 
 they ihall fetch them away from 
 thence where they be bred fafter 
 then they can be bought vp : 
 then {hall there alio be felt great 
 dearth, ftore beginning there to 
 faile 5 where the ware is bought. 
 Thus the unreafonable cove- 
 toufneife of a- few hath turned 
 that thing to the vtter undoing 
 of your Ilandjin the which thing , 
 the chief e felicity of your Realme 
 did confift ; For this great dearth 
 of victuals caufech men to keepe 
 as little .houf es, and as fmali hof- 
 
 pitality 
 
*/Vt 
 
 O P I A, 
 
 pitality as they poflible may, and 
 to put away their fervants : whi- 
 ther/, I pray you, but a begging $ 
 or elfe ( which thefe gentle 
 blouds, and ftout ftomacks) will 
 fooner fet their minds unto Hea- 
 ling ? Now to amend the matter , 
 to this wretched beggery, and 
 mifcrablc poverty, is joyncd great 
 wantonnelle, importunate fuper- 
 fluity,andexcciliue riot : For not 
 onely gentlemens fervants, but 
 alfo handy craft men 5 yea, and 
 almoft the Ploughmen of the 
 Country, with all other forts of 
 people, vfc much ftrange and 
 proud new-fangles in their ap- 
 parell, and too much prodigall 
 riot, and fumptuous fare at their 
 table. 
 
 Now Baudes,queanes, whores, 
 harlots , ilrumpets , brothcl- 
 houfes, ftewes 5 and yet another 
 ftewes, wine-tauerns, ale-houfes, 
 and tipling houfes,with fo many 
 naughty, lewd, and unlawfull 
 games 5 as dice, Cardes, tables, 
 
 tennis, 
 
 39 
 
 Exgefe in 
 apfanll 
 a*d diet, 4 
 maintai- 
 
 ntrtfbcg- 
 £try and 
 theft. 
 
 BattJcs, 
 Whores, 
 
 vine-ta- 
 vernes, 
 ale-bett- 
 fety and 
 unlawfull 
 games, be 
 very we- 
 thers of 
 thecues. 
 
40 
 
 TbtQQmm* wealth 
 
 tcnnis,boule?,coytej; doe not all 
 thefe ibid the haunters of them 
 ftraighta Healing , when their 
 money is gone t Caft out thefe 
 pern iciou s abhominations jmake 
 a law, that they which, plucked 
 downe fannes, and townes of 
 husbandry^hall reedifie them, or 
 elfe yeeld, and vprender the pof- 
 fefFion thereof to fuch,as will goe 
 to the coft of building them a- 
 new. 
 
 Suffer not thefe rich men to 
 buy vpali, to lngrolfe, andfore- 
 ftall r and with their monopoly 
 to keepe the market alone as 
 pleafe theirj. Let not fo many be 
 brought vp in ldleneffe.* let huf- 
 handty and tillage be reftored 5 
 let Cloth- working be renued, 
 that there may be honeft labours 
 for this idle fort to palfe their 
 timein profitably, which hither- 
 to either poverty hath caur 
 fed to be theeues, or elfe now be . 
 either vagabonds, or idleSer- 
 vingmen, and ikoitly will be 
 
 theeues, 
 
*/Vt 
 
 O P I A 
 
 theeues. DoubtleiTe, unletfe you 
 find a remedy for thefc enormi- 
 ties, you Hull in vaine advance 
 youriclues of executing juftice 
 vponfcllons : For thisjuitoceis 
 more bcautifull in appearance, 
 and more flourifhing to the 
 ihcw, then cither Juft or profita- 
 ble : For by fufFering your y outh 
 wantonly, and vicioufly to be 
 brought vp, and to be infected, 
 even from their tender age , by 
 little and little with vice : then a 
 Gods name to be puni(hed,when 
 they commit the fame faults at 
 ter being come to mans ftare, 
 which from their youth they 
 were ever like to doe. In this 
 p oint , I prayyouy what~ot Her 
 ou * then make 
 
 trung_ 
 tfieeues 
 
 oe 
 
 - cnpunifly them ? 
 r^owasl was thus fpeakmg, the 
 Lawyer began to make himfclfe 
 ready to anfwer, and was deter- 
 mined with himfelfe, to vfe the 
 common faihion, and trade of 
 difputers,. which be more dila> 
 gent 
 
 _ 4 JL 
 
 The cor- 
 rupt edu- 
 cation of 
 
 youth, a 
 
 mother of 
 thtevtrj* 
 
 
 ■■— .,. , -~z*m*. 
 
42 I The Cemmw wealth 
 
 He is teto- 
 tbtlyputto 
 plena that 
 
 is too full 
 ofwords* 
 
 gent in rehearfing , then anfwe- 
 rmg, as thinking the memory 
 worthy of the cmere praife. In- 
 deed Sir ( quoth he ) you haue 
 laid well , being but a itranger, 
 and one that might rather heare 
 fomething of theie matters, then 
 haue any exatt or perfect know- 
 ledge of the fame,as I will incon- 
 tinent by open proofe make ma- 
 nifeft and plaine. For firit, I will 
 rehearfc in order all that you 
 hauefaid : then I will declare 
 w r hcrin yoube deceived, through 
 lacke or knowledge , in all our 
 famions,manner$,and cultomes : 
 and laft of all,I will anfwer your 
 arguments, and confute them e- 
 very one. Firit. therefore, I will 
 begin where I promifed. Foure 
 things you Teemed to me. Hold 
 your peace,quoththe Cardinall i 
 for it appeareth that you will 
 make no fhort anfwer , which 
 make fuch a beginning : Where- 
 fore at this time , youfhalinot 
 take the paines to make your an- 
 fwer, 
 
j/Vtop I a. 
 
 fwcr, but iceepe it to your next 
 meeting, which I would be right 
 glad, that it might be to morrow 
 next, unletfe either you, or Ma- 
 iler Raphael hauc earneit let. But 
 now Mailer Raphael , I would 
 very gladly heare of you, why 
 you thinkc theft not worthy to 
 be puniilied with death, or what 
 other puniihment you can devifc 
 more expedient to the Weak 
 publike ? for I am fure that you 
 are not of that mind , that you 
 would haue theft efcape unpuni- 
 (hed.For if now the extreamepu- 
 nilhment of death cannot caufe 
 themtoleaue ftealing, then if 
 ruffians and robbers mould be 
 fure of their liucs,what violence, 
 what fearc, were able to hold 
 their hands from robbing-,which 
 would take the mittigacion of 
 the puni(hment,as a very provo • 
 cation to the mifchicfe I Surely 
 my Lord) I thinke it not right 
 nor juftice, that the lo4fe of mo- 
 ney mould caufe the lolfe of 
 
 mans 
 
 4? 
 
 That theft 
 
 flight Kit 
 
 tobepu- 
 nijbedbj 
 4catb % 
 
44 
 
 Straight 
 L*»bs «Qt 
 
 allowable- 
 
 ihe Common- m alt h 
 
 mans life : For mine opinion is, 
 that all the goods in the world 
 are not able to countervaile 
 mans life. 
 
 But if they would thus fay ; 
 that the breaking of luihce, and 
 the tranfgreflion of lawes isre- 
 compenced with this p^ni (ri- 
 me t,and not theloile of the mo- 
 ney, then why na^y not this ex- 
 treame and rigorous juftice well 
 be called plaine injury ? For fo 
 cruell governance, fo ilraight 
 rules, andunmercifull lawes be 
 not allowable, that ifafmall of- 
 fence be committed , by and by 
 the fword ffyould be drawne : 
 Nor fo ftoicali ordinances are to 
 be borne withall,as to count all 
 offences of fuch equality ,that the 
 killing of a man , or the taking 
 of his money from him were 
 both a matter, and the one, no 
 more heinous offence then theo- 
 tlier i-betweene the which two if 
 wehaue any refpeft to equity,uo 
 limilitude or equality confifteth. 
 
 God 
 
#f Vt 
 
 O P I A 
 
 45 
 
 God commanded vs that wc 
 
 lliali not kill. And be we then fo Tbat «*« 
 
 haity to kill a man for taking a l ™ ou & b * 
 
 prejudice 
 
 all toGods 
 
 little money ? And if a man 
 would undcritand killing by this 
 commandement or God , to be 
 forbidden after no larger wife, 
 then mans confutations define 
 killing to be lawfull 5 then why 
 may it not hkcwifcby mans con- 
 stitutions be determined after 
 what fort whoredome, fornicati- 
 on,and perjury may be lawfull ? 
 For whereas by the pcrmiflion 
 of God, no man neither hath 
 power to kill neither himfelfe, 
 nor ye: any other man : then if a 
 law made by the confent of men, 
 concerning ilaughter of men, 
 ought to be of fuch lbcngth , 
 forcc,and vcrcue,that they which 
 contrary to the cominandement 
 of God haue killed thofc, whom 
 this conilitunon of man com- 
 manded to be killed, be clcaue 
 quit 6c exempt out of the bonds 
 & danger of Gods comandcmeixtf 
 
 Ihall 
 
 law. 
 
44 
 
 the ft in 
 
 the old 
 law net 
 
 punijbed 
 by death* 
 
 The Cmm$n-wc*lth 
 
 (hall it not then by this reafon 
 follow, that the power of Gods 
 commandement lliall extend no 
 further, then mans law doth de- 
 fine,and permit I And fo fhall it 
 come to paife, that in like man- 
 ner , mans conftitutions in all 
 things fhall determine how farre 
 the obfervation of all Gods com- 
 mandements lliall extend. To be 
 fhony M fifes Law, though it 
 were ungentle andiharpe, as a 
 law that was given to bondmen , 
 yea , and them very obftinate, 
 ftubborne,and ftiffe-nccked : yet 
 it punifhed theft by the purfe, 
 and not with death. And let vs 
 not thmke that God in the new 
 law of clemency and mercy gli- 
 der the which he ruleth vs with 
 fatheily gentlenclle ? as his deare 
 children hath given vs greater 
 fcopc and licence to the execu- 
 tion of cruelty, one vpon ano- 
 ther. Now you haue heard the 
 reafon s , wherebY I am perfwa- 
 ded, that this puni/hment is un- 
 law full 
 
#/v 
 
 T O P I A. 
 
 lawfull. Furthermore, I -thinke 
 that there is no body that know- 
 ethnot, how unreafonable, yea, 
 how pernicious a thing it is to 
 the Weak publike, that a theefe 
 and an homicide or murchcrer 
 Ihould fuffer equall and like pu- 
 niiliment : For the theefe feeing 
 that man, that is condemned for 
 theft in no leife jeopardy , nor 
 judged to no leife punilhment, 
 then him that ij convicl; ofman- 
 ilaughter • through this cogita- 
 tion onely he is ltrongly and 
 forciBIy pro voked^and i n a^man- 
 neT^Trm^r ainecT to kTll^ im » 
 vvri^m^Tlie ^he would haue jhut 
 robbed : For the murder being 
 onceTIonc. hc k inlellcfeare ^and 
 i n more hope jth at the deed ilial l 
 not be bewra yed or known c,fce- 
 lrig thTpartyis now dead , and 
 rid out of the way, which onely 
 might haue vttcrcd and difclo- 
 fed ic. 
 
 But if he chance to be taken 
 and difciied* yet he is in no 
 
 more 
 
 Wh*t in 
 conveni- 
 ence enfu- 
 ttb of p»t 
 nijbing 
 theft with 
 death, 
 
 Punijbing 
 •f theft b/ 
 death can- 
 fetb theft 
 to be a 
 murtbeHr, 
 
 
48 
 
 Whutlcne. 
 fafffuKifb 
 ment may 
 
 be dtvifed 
 for Theft. 
 
 Hew the 
 Romans 
 prnifhed 
 theft. 
 
 iht Cimtnen-wt&ltb 
 
 more danger and jcopardie, then 
 if he had committed but iingle 
 fellony* Therefore, while we goe 
 about with fuch cruelty to make 
 theeues afraid, we provoke them 
 to kill good men.Now as touch- 
 ing this queftion, what puniih- 
 ment w r ere more commodious 
 and better : that truly in my 
 judgement is eafier to be found 
 i then what puniihment might be 
 worfe.For why fliould we doubt 
 that to be a good and a profita- 
 ble way for the pimifhment of 
 orTendors,which we know did in 
 times palt lb long pleafe the 
 Romanes, men in the admin 1- 
 ftrationofa Weak publike molt 
 expert, politique and cunning ? 
 Such as among them were con- 
 vict of great and hey nous trci- 
 pailes,them they condemne into 
 ftone quarries, and into mines to 
 digge mettali,there to be kept in 
 chames all the dayes of their life. 
 But as concerning this matter, 
 I allow the ordinance of nation 
 
 lb' 
 
»/Vtop i a, 
 
 ■ ■ ■ ■ » . f* * ■> 
 
 fo well as that which 1 faw, 
 whiles I travelled abroad about 
 the world, vfed in Pcrfia among 
 the people that commonly be 
 called the Polylcrites : whole 
 land is both large and < mple,and 
 alfo well and wittily governed 3 
 and the people in all conditions 
 free, and ruled by their ownc 
 lawes, faving that they pay a 
 yearely tribute to the great King 
 of Perjia. 
 
 But becanfe they be farre from 
 the Sea, compailed and incloled, 
 a 1 moll round about with high 
 mountaincs, and doe content 
 themfclues with the fruits of their 
 ownelandjVvhich is of itielfe ve- 
 ry fcrtill and fruitfull : for this 
 caufe neither they goe to other 
 Countries , nor other come to 
 them. And according to the old 
 culloine of the Land, they delirc 
 not to enlarge the bounds of 
 their Dominions : and thofe that 
 they luuc, by rcaiou of the high 
 hills be e.-lily defended : and the 
 D tribute ! 
 
 4* 
 
 A worthy 
 and com- 
 mendable 
 punijbmet 
 of theevet 
 in the 
 IVeale 
 pubkkf of 
 tht Poli' 
 hrltcs in 
 Per{u, 
 
5° 
 
 The Common width 
 
 A privy 
 nip for 
 them thit 
 doe otber- 
 
 wife. 
 
 1UK 
 
 T beeves 
 wndevtned 
 to he cata 
 *non iito- 
 rtrtt 
 
 tribute which they pay to their 
 chief c Lord and King , fetteth 
 them quit and free from war- 
 fare. Thus thcirlife is commodi- 
 ous rather then gallant, and may 
 better be called happy or weal- 
 thy, then notable and famous : 
 For they be not knowne,afmuch 
 as by name, I fuppofe laving 
 onely to their next neighbours 
 and borders. They that in this 
 Land be attainted and con vie t 
 ofFellony, make reft itution of 
 that which they ltole,to die right 
 owner : and not ( as they doe in 
 otheiTands) tcTthe King •* whom 
 they thinke to haue no more 
 right to the thccfe-ltollen thing, 
 then the rhcefe hi m"felfe_ jhath. 
 ButlFtKc thing be loit or made 
 away, then the value of it is paid 
 of the goods of fuch offenders, 
 which elfe remaineth all whole 
 to their wiues,and children. And 
 they thcinlelucs_bej^odejuined[to 
 be comon labourers, and un! ih 
 the theft be very hainous , they 
 
 te 
 
o/Vtopia. 
 
 be neither locked in pnfon, nor 
 fettered in gyues,but be vnited 
 and goc at large, labouring in 
 the common workes. They that 
 refufc labour, or goe llovvly or 
 llacketo their worke, be not on- 
 ly eyed in chaines, but alio pric- 
 ked forward with lhipes,But be- 
 ing diligent about their workc, 
 they liue without checkc or re- 
 buke. Every night they be c J- 
 led in by name , and be locked 
 in their chambers. Bciide tlr.ir 
 daily labour,their lile is nothing 
 hard or incommodious 5 their 
 fare 13 indifferent good, borne at 
 the charges of the Weak pub- 
 like -, becaufc they be common 
 fervants to the Common-wealth. 
 But their charges m all places 
 of the land is not borne alike. 
 For in fome parts that which is 
 ! beifowed vpon them is gathered 
 ofalmcs. And though that way 
 be vucertaine ^ yet the people be 
 (o full of mercy and pitty, chat 
 none is found more profitable or 
 D 1 plen- 
 
5» 
 
 Servivg- 
 
 The Cornmonwultb 
 
 plentifull.In fome places certaine 
 Ladies be appointed hereunto: 
 of the revenues whereof they be 
 maintained. And in fome places 
 every man giveth a certaine tri- 
 bute for the fame vfe and pur- 
 pofe. 
 
 Again* in iome part of the 
 land there Servingmen (forfo be 
 thefe damned peri ons called) doe 
 not common worke, but as eve- 
 ry private man necdeth labours, 
 fo he commeth into the market- 
 place, and there hireth fome of 
 them for meat and drinke, and a 
 certaine limited wages by the 
 day, fomewhat cheaper then he 
 ihouldhirea free -man. It u alio 
 lawfull for them to chaftice the 
 11 oath of thefe fervingmen with 
 ilnpes. By this mcanes they ne- 
 ver lacke worke, and bef ides the 
 gaining of their meat and drink, 
 every one of them bringeth dai- 
 ly fomething into the common 
 Treafury. All and every one of 
 them be apparelled in one co- 
 lour 
 
 — / 
 
»/Vt 
 
 O P I A. 
 
 2 5 
 
 lour. Their heads be not poled or 
 lhaven, but rounded a little a- 
 boue die cares. And the tip of the 
 one care is cut off. Every one of 
 them may take meate anddrinke 
 of their friends, and alfo a coat of 
 their ovvnc colour : but to re- 
 ceiue money is death , afvveil to 
 the givcr,as to the receiver. And 
 no lelle jeopardy it is for a free- 
 man to receme money of a fer- 
 vmgman , for any manner cf 
 cauic: and hkcwifefor fcrvinp- 
 men to touch weapons. The fer- 
 vingmen of every i overall (lucre 
 bedillinftand knowne fromo- 
 ther,by their feverall anddiftincl: 
 badges *• which to caft aw<iy is 
 death : as it is alfo to be feene out 
 of the precintt of their owne 
 ihiere • or to talke with a fer- 
 vingman or another (hi ere. And 
 1 it is no lelle danger to them, for 
 to intend to runne aw^y, then to 
 doc it indeed. Yea, andtocon- 
 cealcfuchan enterprife inafor- 
 ringman, it is death ; in a free 
 D 3 man, 
 
 jtn evilZ 
 inttvt f- 
 
 flemtd as 
 tbc deed. 
 
54 ( The Common wealth 
 
 i 
 
 The right 
 end and 
 ivtezt of 
 pinij'b- 
 
 Mi7it. 
 
 man, feruitude. Of the contrary 
 parr, to him that opened* and vt- 
 tercthfuch counfels, be decreed 
 large gifts : to a Freeman, a great 
 iammc of money ; to a Serving- 
 man frcedome : and to them both 
 forgivenelle and pardon of that 
 1 they were of counftllin that pre- 
 tence. So that it can never be fo 
 eood for them to goc forward in 
 their cvill purpofc, as by repen- 
 tance to turne backe. This is the 
 Law and order in this behalfe, as 
 I haue {hewed you : Wherein 
 what humanity is vfed,how farre 
 it is from cracky, and how com- 
 modious it is , you doe plainly 
 percciue. For as much as the end 
 of their wrath and puniiliment 
 intendeth nothing elfe , but the 
 deflruclion of vices, and faving 
 of men : with fo Vfiitg, and orde- 
 ring them ; thatthey cannot chufe 
 but be good 5 and what harme 
 foever they did before, in the re- 
 fidue of their life , to make a- 
 inends for the fame. 
 
 More- 
 
of V 
 
 TOPI 
 
 >5 
 
 Moreover it is To little feared, 
 that they ihould tunic a game to 
 their vicious conditions, that 
 way-faring men will tor their 
 fafeguard choofe them to their 
 guides before any other, in every 
 ihicrecharf i:g and taking new: 
 For if they would commit rob- 
 bery, they hiue norhing about 
 them meetc for that purpofe. 
 They may touch no weapons : 
 money fo^nd about thc;n,(Lottld 
 betray the robbery. They ihould 
 be no fooncr taken (vith the 
 manner, but 'forthwith they 
 ihould be puniihed. Neither cai 
 they hatieany hope at all to leap.: 
 away by flying : For how ihould 
 a rjian, that in no part of his ap- 
 parell is like other men, fly 2 
 privily and vnknowne,vnletre he 
 would runnc away naked ? How- 
 beit, fo alfo flying, he ihould be 
 defcriedby the rounding of his 
 headend his eare-marke. But it is 
 a thing to be doubted, that they 
 will lay their heads together ,and 
 D 4 con- 
 
The Common- wealth 
 
 confpire againft the Weak pub- 
 like. >Jo,no, I warrant you : For 
 tiie Servingmcn of one Jfhierea- 
 lone, could never hope to Bring 
 to patle fuch an cnterprife 3 with- 
 out folyciting,enniing, and allu- 
 ring the Scrvmgmen cfmanyo- 
 therfhicres to take their parts. 
 Winch thing is to them [o impof- 
 iible, that they may not as much 
 as fpeake or talke together, or fa- 
 lute one another. No, it is not to 
 be thought that they would make 
 their ownc Countrymen and 
 companions of their counfell in 
 inch a matter, which they know 
 wellfliould be jeopardy to the 
 concealor thereof,and great com- 
 modity and goodneile to the o- 
 pener and detector of the fame. 
 Whereas on the other part, there 
 is none of them all hopeleffe or 
 in defpaire to recover againe his 
 former eftatc of freedome, by 
 humble obedience,by patient fuf- 
 fering, and by giving good to- 
 kens and likelihood of himfelfcj 
 
 that 
 
*/Vt 
 
 O PI A. 
 
 that he will ever after that , line 
 like a true, and an honeft man. 
 
 For every yeare divers of them 
 be reftored to their freedome, 
 through the commendation of 
 patience. When 1 had thus fpo- 
 ken, faying moreover, that I 
 could fee no caufe wfoy this order 
 might not be had in England, 
 with much more profit, then the 
 Iulticc with the Lawyer fa high- 
 ly praifed,Nay,quoth the Lawyer I 
 this could never be Co fhblinied f 
 in EngUnd , but that it muft j 
 needs bring the Wcale pubhke 1 
 into great jeopardy and hazard, j 
 And as he was thus faying, lie ( 
 (baked his head, and made awry 
 mouth, and fo he held his peace. 
 And all that were prcfent, with 
 oneallent agreed to his faying. 
 Well , quoth the Cardinall , 
 yet it were hard to judge with • 
 out a proofe , whether this or- 
 der would doe well here or no. 
 But when the fentence of .-death 
 is given,if then the King fliould 
 D--? com- 
 
58 
 
 
 r4>akrJs 
 
 The wa- 
 vering 
 
 | menrt of 
 fisttenrs 4 
 
 J hi Common xvulth 
 
 command execution to be. refer- 
 red and fpared,and would prove 
 this order and fafhkm, taking a- 
 way the privikdge or Sanctua- 
 ries : it ehen the proofe (hould 
 declare the thing to be good and 
 profitablc,tben h were well done 
 that ir were ftabhihed I Elfe then 
 condemned and repnved pcHbns 
 may as well be put to death afctt 
 this proofe , as when they were 
 irritcaft. Neither any jeopardy 
 can M the meane fpace grow 
 hereof. Yea>> and me thinketh 
 that thefe Vagabonds may very 
 well be ordered after the lame 
 faihion, againft whom we have 
 hitherto made io many lawes, 
 I and fo little prevailed, When the 
 Gardinall had thus faid, then 
 every man ^aue great praife to 
 my fay in gs, which a little before 
 they hid diiiillowed. But molt 
 of all was cilcemed that which 
 was fpoken ofVagabonds, be- 
 caufeit was the Cardiir.ls addi- 
 rion. 1 canno: tell whether it 
 
 were 
 
pfV 
 
 T O P I A. 
 
 59 
 
 were beft to reheat fe the com- 
 muni cation that followed $ for it 
 was not very fad. But yet you 
 lhallhearc it, for there was noc- 
 vill in it, and partly it pertained 
 to the matter before-laid. There 
 chanced to Hand by a ccrtainc 
 jeaiting Paralite,or fcoffer,which 
 would feeme to referable and 
 countcrfeit,the foole* But he did 
 infuchwilc couuterfet, that he 
 was alinoll the very lame indeed 
 that he laboured to prcfenc : he 
 fo lludied with words and jay- 
 ings,brought forth fo out of time 
 and place , to make fport and 
 more laughter, that hehimfelfe 
 was ortner laughed at, -then his 
 jcaits were. Yet thefoohfh fellow 
 | brought out now and then 
 Inch indifferent and reafona- 
 ble ftutfe , that he made the 
 Proverbe true, which/ faith : 
 He that Ihooteth oft , at the 
 laft (lull hit the maike : So 
 . that when one of the company 
 Uid,. that through my commu- 
 
 ri cation 
 
to 
 
 lhtC$mmon vfultb 
 
 : 
 
 imixttnt 
 perfws 
 tad icg- 
 tens. 
 
 nication,a good order was found 
 for Thccucs, and that the Cardi- 
 nall alio had well provided for 
 Vagabonds, Co that onely remai- 
 ned feme good proviiion to be 
 made for them that through fick- 
 nelle and age were fallen into 
 poverty, and were become Co 
 impotent and vnweldy,that they 
 were not able to worke for their 
 living. Turn ( quoth he ) let 
 mcalonc with them : yon Ihall 
 fee me. doc well enough with 
 them. For I had rather then a- 
 nygood, that this kind of peo- 
 ple were driven fomewherc out 
 of my fight , they haue fo fore 
 troubled me many times and oft 
 when they haue with their la- 
 mentable t cares begged money 
 of me : and yet they could never 
 to my mind Co tune their long, 
 tliat thereby they ever got of me 
 one farthing. For evermore the 
 one of thefc chanced : either that 
 I would not, or clfe that 1 could 
 noCjbe^ftulie I had it not.TherfQre 
 
 now 
 
of V 
 
 r o ? i a. 
 
 now they be waxed wife:For whc 
 they fee me goe by, becaufe they 
 will not leeic theur labour, they 
 let me paifc,and fay not one word 
 to me.So they looke for nothing 
 of me,no in good foothjno more, 
 then if I were a Prieft,or a Monk. 
 But I will make a Law, that all 
 thefc beggers ihallbedirtributed, 
 and beitowed into houfe of re- 
 ligion. The men (hall be made 
 Lay brcthren,a$ they call them $ 
 and the women, Nunnes. Hcre- 
 at the Cardinal! fmilcd, and al- 
 lowed it in jeaft, yea, and all the 
 reiidue in good earneft. 
 
 But a certame Fry ar, graduate 
 in divinity, tooke fuch pleafure 
 and delight in this jeafts of 
 Pnelts and Monkes, that he alfo 
 ( being elle a man of gnfly and 
 iterne gravity)began menly and 
 wantonly- to jeft and taunt. Nay, 
 (quoth he)you fliall not be fo rid 
 and difpatched of beggers,unlcire 
 you make fomc provifion alfo 
 for vs Fryars. 
 
 Why 
 
 61 
 
 ji temmon 
 proverh 
 Among 
 Beggers. 
 
 A merry 
 tally be- 
 tweet, e a 
 Fryar *nd 
 tFtole. 
 
61 
 
 The Common-wealth 
 
 Why> quoth the leo-iler, that is 
 done already, far my Lord hinj- 
 fclrc let a very good o:xer tor 
 you, when he deaced, that Va- 
 ^boiids iiiOLbld he tape ibaight 
 andfet to woi'k.e : k>t yoa be the 
 greateit and veneit Vagabonds 
 that be.This >eait alio when they 
 law the Caidinal! i.ot dii prone 
 it, every man tooke it gladly, la- 
 ving oncly the Fryar : Tor he 
 i( and that no mervailc ) being 
 thus*touchcd on the cjiucke, and 
 hit on the gaule/o fretted, lb fu- 
 med, and chared at it, and was in 
 inch a rage,that he could not rc- 
 frame hnnfelfc rrorn eluding, 
 fcolding,railing,and revi hng.He 
 called the fellow Ribbald,"vil- 
 lamc, javell, backbiter, (laundc- 
 rer, and the child or perdition : 
 citing therewith terrible threat- 
 niugi out of holy Scripture, 
 Then the j calling 1'corTcr began 
 to play thelcorrer indeed, and ve- 
 rily he "was gxxiat that ; for he 
 could play a part m that play, no 
 maa better.- ..Patic.it yo.ir felre, 
 
o/V 
 
 T O P I A 
 
 63 
 
 good Mailer Fry ar ( quoth he ) 
 and be not angry \ for Scripture 
 faith : In your patience you lhall 
 fauc your foules.Then the Fryar 
 (for I will rehearfe his ownc ve- Talfieqaa- 
 ry words : )No gallowes wretch, lifted ac- 
 I am not angry (quoth he) or at i fording to 
 theleahVwife,I doe not finnc: for , ^J'jgl 
 the Pfalinift faith, Be you angry .fak, 
 and linne not. Then the Cardi- 
 nall fpake gently to the Fryar, 
 and defired him to quiet him-' 
 felfe.No my Lord ( quoth he ) I 
 fpc.\k not but of a good zealc as I 
 ought $ for holy men had a good 
 zeale : Wherefore it is faid ; The 
 zeale of thy houfe hath eaten me. 
 And it is fung in $ Church : The 
 fcorncrs of Hch^etu^ whiles he 
 went vp into the houfe of God, 
 felt the zeale of the bald , as per- 
 adventure this fcorning vil- 
 lains Ribbauld (hall feele. You 
 doe it ( quoth the Cardinall ) 
 perchance of a good minde 
 &fld affection : but me thin- 
 kcth you fhould doe^.Ican- 
 
6 4 
 
 jbt Cmnme* wealth 
 
 not tell whether more holily, 
 ccrces more wifely, it you would 
 ivoc let your wit to a toolcs wit, 
 and with a foole take in hand a 
 rboliih contention. No foriboth 
 my Lord ( quoth he) I mould 
 not doc more wifely : for So- 
 lomon the wife faith : Anfwcr 
 a foole according to his folly, 
 hkc as I «ioc now, and doc mew 
 him the pit that he fh all fall in- 
 to, if he take not heed : For if 
 many fcorners of Helizew , 
 which was but one bald man, 
 felt the zeale of the bald, how 
 much more (hall one (corner or 
 many Fryars fecle,among whom 
 be many bald men ? And wee 
 haue alio the Popes Bulswvhcrc- 
 by all thit mocke and fcorne vs 
 be excommunicated , Aifpended 
 and accurfed.The Cardinall ice- 
 ing no end would be made, fent ' 
 away the I caller by a privy beck 
 and turned the communication 
 to another matter. Shortly after, 
 when he was rifen frcm the ta- 
 ble* he went to hearc his fuitors, 
 
Of V T O P I A. 
 
 — ■ — ■*- ■■ mm m m ■ ■ .■» — mw— — j — ■ p tfMMHMM* 
 
 and fo difmiifed vs.Lookc Matter 
 Moore ^ with how long and tedi- 
 ous a tale I haue kept you,which 
 furcly I would haue bcene ailia- 
 mcd to haue donc,but that you fo 
 earneftly dcliredme,anddid after 
 fiich a fort giuc eare vnto it, as 
 though you would not that any 
 par cell of that communication 
 Ihould be left out. Which though 
 I haue doMe fomewhat briehy, 
 yet could I not choofc but re- 
 hear fe it, for the Judgement of 
 them, which when they had im- 
 proved and difallowed myfay- 
 ings,yet incontinent hearing the 
 Cardinall allow them, did them- 
 felves aifo approve the fame : fo 
 impudently flattering him, tliat 
 they were nothing aihamed to 
 admit, yea, almolt in good ear- 
 ned, his jcaftures and fooliih in- 
 ventions : becaufcthat hehimfelf 
 by fmiling at thcm,did feemc not 
 to difprovc them. So that hereby 
 you may right-well pcrcciuc how 
 little the courtiers would regard 
 
 and 
 
 65 
 
66 
 
 qbcComm9n nctlth 
 
 and eitcemc mc and my fayings. 
 1 cnfurc you, Miller Raphael, 
 quoth I, I tookegreat delectati- 
 on in hearing you : all things 
 that you faid , were fpokcri fp 
 wittily and fo plcafantly. Ana 
 me thought mc felfc to be in the 
 meanc time, not onely at home 
 m my Country ,but alfo through 
 the pfeafant remembrance cf the 
 Cardinal!, in whole houfe I was 
 brought up of a Child, to wax a 
 child againe. And friend 'Rxpha- 
 ef y though I did bearc very great 
 love towards you before, y a fee- 
 ing you doe fo eairncftly favour 
 this man, you will not beleevc 
 how much my love towards you 
 is now incrcafed. But yet,all this 
 notwithstanding , I can by lid 
 meanes change my mind, but 
 that I mult needs beleevc , that 
 you, if you be difpofed, and can 
 find in your heart to follow fome 
 Princes Court, mall with your 
 good counfcls greatly helpc and 
 further the Common-wealth. 
 
 Where- 
 
df V T O P I A. 
 
 Wherefore there is nothing more 
 appertaining to your duty, that 
 is to fay, to the duty of a good 
 man. For whereas your l'lato 
 judgcth that weale-pubhkes (lull 
 by this ineanes attainc perfect fe- 
 licity, cither if Philosophers be 
 Kings,orelfe if Kings give them- 
 felves to the ftudy of Philofo- 
 phy 3 how farre I pray you,(hall 
 Common-wealths then be from 
 this felicitie, if Philofophers will 
 vouchfafe to inftrucl Kings with 
 their good counfell ? They be 
 not lb unkind (quoth. he) but 
 they would gladly doe it>ye%ma- 
 ny have done it already in books 
 that they have put for ih,if Kings 
 and Princes would be willing 
 and ready to follow good coun- 
 fell. But PUt$ doubtletfc did 
 well fo re-fee junlclfe Kings them- 
 felves would apply their mindes 
 to the ftudy of Philofophy, that 
 elfe they would never thorowly 
 allow the counfell of philofo- 
 phers, being themfelvcs before 
 
 even 
 
 6y 
 
68 
 
 The Comm§n wealth 
 
 TbcFtfrb 
 men privi- 
 ly he CQun- 
 failed from 
 tbe defire 
 tfltaly. 
 
 cuen from their tender age infec- 
 ted, and corrupt with peruerfe 
 and euill opinions, Which thing 
 Plato himielfe prooued true in 
 k\ngDyonife y \i i fhould propofe 
 to any King wholfome decrees, 
 doing my endevour to pluck out 
 of his mind the pernicious origi- 
 nall caufes of vice and naughti- 
 nelle,thinke you not thatlfhould 
 forthwith either be driven away, 
 or elfe made a Jaughing ftocke I 
 Well, fuppofelwere with the 
 French Kmg.and there fitting w 
 his Counfell, whiles in that moft 
 fecrec confukanon,theKing him- 
 felfe there being prefent in his 
 ownc psrfon , they beat their 
 braines, and icarch the very bot- 
 tomes of their wits jto difcuife by 
 what craft and meancs the King 
 may Hill kecpe MilUine , and 
 draw to him againe fugitiue 
 Naptesimd then how to conquer 
 the Venetians , and how to 
 bring vnder hisjurifdi&ion all 
 ltaht 5 then how to winne the 
 
 Dominion 
 
9f Vt O P I A. 
 
 Dominion off landers ,Br*b ant , 
 and all Burgundy • with divers 
 other Lands, whole Kmgdomes 
 hcehach long agoe in mind and 
 purpofe invaded. Hcere, whiles 
 one counfailcth to conclude a 
 League of Peace with the Ventti- 
 ans . folong to endure, as Hi all 
 be thought mcete and expedient 
 for their purpofe , and to make 
 them alfo of their Councell • yea 
 and belides that , to give them 
 part of the prey, Which after- 
 ward, when they have brought 
 their purpofe about , after their 
 |&wne mirides, they may require 
 and claime again I Another thin* 
 keth bell to hyre the Germans : 
 Another, would have the favour 
 of the Swit<,'rs wonnc with mo- 
 ney : Anothers advice, is to ap- 
 pcafe the puilfant power of the 
 Emperors Mi/eitie with Gold, as 
 with a moil pleafant and accepta- 
 ble facrifice : Whiles another gi- 
 veth counfell to make peace with 
 the King o£Awigon& to reftore 
 
 unto 
 
 69 
 
 Lame, 
 tyights. 
 
The Common-wealth 
 
 unto him his owne Kingdome of 
 Navarre $ as a full allurancc of 
 of peace : Another commeth in 
 with his five egges, and advifeth 
 to hooke in the King of C*fttU 9 
 with fome hope of affinitie, or 
 allyance ; and to bring to their 
 part ccrtainc Peeresorhis Court, 
 for great Penfions. 
 
 Whiles they all ftay at the 
 ■chief eft doubt of all, what to doe 
 in themeane time with England $ 
 and yet agree all in this, to make 
 with the EngUfh-vten^ and with 
 moft fure and ftrong bonds to 
 binde that weake and feeble 
 ■fricnd.fliip, fo that they muft be 
 called friends, and had iiifufpi- 
 rion as enemies. And that there- 
 fore the Scots muft be had in a 
 readineife, as it were in a Han- 
 ding, ready at all occaiions (in 
 cafe the En^li!h-mcn fhould ftir 
 never fo little) incontinent tofet 
 upon them. And moreovcr,pri- 
 vily and fecretly (for ©penly it 
 may not be done, by the Truce 
 
 that 
 
ofV 
 
 T O P I A. 
 
 : that is taken 5 ) pivily therefore, 
 . I fay, to make much of fome 
 | Pecre oi England, that is bani- 
 Ihed his Countrey, winch muft 
 I rhyme Title to the Crowne or 
 j the Realme,aud affirme himfelfc 
 i jjuft Inheritor thereof : that by 
 i this fubtilc meanes they may 
 , hold to them the Kingpin whom 
 j elfe they have but fmall truft and 
 affiance. 
 
 Here, I fay, where (o great 
 and high matters be m conjunc- 
 tion* where io many noble and 
 wire men coanfaile their King 
 oncly to W.irre : here if I, iilly 
 man, mould rife up, and will 
 them to tm ne over the Leafc, 
 and Icarne a new LeiIon,faying ; 
 Tint my eoimlaile is not to 
 meddle with Ita'ic, but to tarry 
 itill at home ; and that the King- 
 dome of France alone is al noil 
 greater, then that it may well be 
 governed of one man [o that 
 the Ki ig jliould not need to 
 ftudy how to get more '- And 
 
 then 
 
7* 
 
 The Ccmmen Wdhh 
 
 j* notable 
 
 tbyto be 
 fotiovcd. 
 
 then ihould propofe unto them 
 the Decrees of the People that be 
 called the Aclotrienj, which be 
 f cituatc over-againit, the Hand of 
 Vtopia, on the South-eair. iide. 
 Thefe Achcriens once made 
 Example, I warre, in their Kings quarrel J, 
 'for to get him another King- 
 dome which hce laid clayme un- 
 to, and advanced himfclfe rjght 
 Inheritor to the Crownc therc- 
 of,by the Title of an old alliance. 
 At the hit, when they had got- 
 ten it, and faw that they had e- 
 ven as much vexation and trou- 
 ble in keeping it, as they had in 
 getting it 3 and that either their 
 new conquered Subjects by fun- 
 dry occaiions were making dai ly 
 Fnlurrections to rebell againit 
 them, or elfc that other Coun- 
 tries were continually with di- 
 vers Inrodcs and forraines inva- 
 ding them 3 fo that they were e- 
 ver Fighting, either for them, or 
 againit them ? and never could 
 breake up their Campcs : Seeing 
 
 them- 
 
of Vt op I A. 
 
 felucs in the mcane fcafon, pilled 
 and impoveriihed, their money 
 carrycd out; of the Realmej their 
 owne men killed , to maintaine 
 the glory of another Nation : 
 when they had no Warrc, peace 
 nothing better then war re , by 
 realon that their people in wane 
 had fo injured themfclues to 
 corrupt and wicked manners, 
 that they had taken a delight and 
 pleafure in robbing and iteming} 
 that through ira;u.aughtcr, they 
 had gathered boidnelic to mil -. 
 chiere 5 that their Lawes were 
 had in coutempt,and nothing fet 
 by or regarded 5 that their King 
 being troubled with the charge 
 and governance of two King- 
 domes, could nor, nor was not 
 able perfectly to difcharge his 
 office toward; them both : leeiug; 
 again e , that all thefc evils and 
 troubles were cndlctle, at the lait 
 laid their heads together, and 
 like faithfull and loving fub- 
 jefts gaue to their Km g free 
 E cnoife 
 
The Cemmw-rvcdth 
 
 choife and liberty, to keepc ftili 
 the one ofthefc two Kingdomes, 
 whether he would 5 ^Hedging, 
 that he was not able to keepe 
 both, and that they were more 
 then might well be governed 
 ofhalfea King, for as much as 
 no man would be content to take 
 him for his Mu letter , that kee- 
 peth another mans Mules beiides 
 his.So ■ this good Prince was con- 
 {trained to be content with his 
 old Kingdome, and to giue over 
 the new to one of his friends, 
 who (hortly after was violently 
 driven out. 
 
 Furthermore, if I mould de- 
 clare vnto them, that all this bu- 
 11 e prepai'ance to warrc, whereby 
 fomany Nations for his fake 
 (hould be brought into a trouble- 
 fome hurly-burly, when all his 
 Coffers were emptied, his Trea- 
 fures wafted, and his people de- 
 ftroycd,(!ihould at the length 
 through forne mif chance , , be in 
 vame, and to none effect : ( o.nd 
 
 that 
 
^/Vtopi a. 
 
 that therefore it were belt for 
 him to content hiinfelfe with his 
 owne Kingdome of France, as 
 his foie-fatkers and prcdeceilors 
 did -before him 5 to make much of 
 it, to enrich it j and to make it as 
 flouriihingas he could 5 tc en- 
 devour himfelfe to loue his fub- 
 jeets,and cgaine to be beloved of 
 tJiem f5 willingly ;o hue with 
 thcm,peaceauiy to govcrne them, 
 and with other Ringdomes not 
 to meddle, feeing that which he 
 hath al read y is even enough for 
 him, yea, and more then he can 
 wellturnc him to. 
 
 This mine advice, Mailer 
 Me ore ,how thmkc you, would it 
 not be hardly taken ? So God 
 hclpc me, not very thankfully, 
 ( quoth I. ) Well let vs proceed 
 then (quoth he. ) Suppoic that 
 
 fome 
 
 King 
 
 and his Councell 
 
 were together , whetting their 
 wits, and deviling \\hat]ubtil(C 
 craft they might invent^to enrich 
 the King with gjrcag Treasures of 
 E 2 ' Monv. 
 
7 6 
 
 Enhancing 
 and ewbu- 
 
 f*g*f 
 
 Ccunterftt 
 Wants. 
 
 The re- 
 
 vetvirg of 
 
 eldLawss. 
 
 Tie Comn**-x9ultb 
 
 — — — — «— i 1 1 i ■ i n 1. 1 i »>— 
 
 Money, 
 
 Firit, one coun faileth to raifc 
 and enhance the valuation of 
 Money, when the King mufl pay 
 any 5 and againe, to call downe 
 the value of Coyne to leilethen 
 it is worth,when hemuft receiue 
 or gather any : For thus, great 
 fummes fliall be paid with a lit- 
 tle money ; and where little is 
 due, much fh'all be received. 
 
 Another counfailerh to faine 
 Warre : that when under this 
 colour and pretence the King 
 hath gathered great abundance 
 of money, he may, when it lhall 
 pleafe him,make peace with great 
 iblemnity, and holy ceremonies, 
 to blind flie eyes ofthepoorc 
 Cornmunalty^s taking pitty and 
 compaffion forfooth vpon mans 
 blond, like a loving and a mera- 
 full Prince. 
 
 Another putteth the King 
 in remembrance cf ccrtainc 
 old and moath-eaten Lawcs ? 
 that of long time have not 
 
 beene 
 
$f V t o ? i a* 77 
 
 bccnc put in execution , which 
 bccauie no man can remember 
 that they were made, every nun 
 hath tranfgrelVcd. The fines of 
 thcie Lawes he counfaileth the 
 King to require: for there is no 
 way fo profitable, nor more ho- 
 nourable, as that which hath a 
 (hew and colour of Iuftice. 
 
 Another advifeth him to for- 
 bid many thing? vndcr great Per Heffftitt 
 naltie* and Fines, fpecially fuch 
 things as is for the peoples pro- 
 fit not to be vfedjoc afcerward,to 
 
 difpence for money with them 
 
 which by this prohibition fuftain 
 
 lotfe and dammage : For by this r 
 
 mcam,the favor of the people is 
 
 won, & profit rifcth two wayes'- 
 
 firft, by taking forfeits of them, 
 
 whom covetoulhelle of gayncs 
 
 hath broughr in danger of this 
 
 Statute; and alfo by felling Pri- 
 vileges and Licences : which sellfag &/ 
 
 the better that the Prince is Litmus. 
 
 forfooth, the dearer hefeiieth 
 
 them, as one that is loath to 
 
 E Z grant 
 
7 8 I Tb* Cowmm-wulth 
 
 grant ro any private perfon any 
 thing that is againft the profit of 
 his People 5 and therefore may 
 fetnorie, but at an exceeding 
 deare price. 
 
 Another giveth the king coun- 
 fel to endangervnto hisGrace the 
 Iudges of the Realmc , that he 
 may have them ever on his iidc 5 
 and that they may in every mat- 
 ter depute and reafon for the 
 Kings right. Yea,and further to 
 call them into his Pailace, and to 
 require them, there to argue and 
 difcuile his matters -in his owne 
 prefence : So there ihall be no 
 matter of his fo openly wrong 
 and unjuit, wherein one or other 
 of them, either becaufe lie will 
 have fomething to alledge and 
 object ; or that he is ailiamcd to 
 fay that which is faid already 5 or 
 elie to pickc a thanke with his 
 Prince, will not finde fomc hole 
 open to (ct a fnare faj where- 
 with to take the contrary part 
 in a trip. 
 
 Thus 
 
ofVr 
 
 O P I A, 
 
 Thus whiles the Iudgcs can- 
 not agree amongft themfelves, 
 reafoning and arguing of that 
 which is plainc enough, 6c brin- 
 ging the manifeft. truth in doubt : 
 •in the mcanc feafon, the King 
 may take a fit occahon to un- 
 deritand the Law as (hall moil 
 make for his advantage, whercun- 
 to all other for ihame,or for fcare 
 will agree. Then the Iudgcs may 
 bee bold to pronounce on the 
 Ki ngs iid'e : for hee that gi . 
 fentence for the Kins, cannot be 
 without a good excufe *. For it 
 mail be mf hcient for him to have 
 equity on his.- part ^ or the bare 
 words of the 'Law, a wry then 
 and wrefted understanding or the 
 fame (or elfe, which with good 
 and juit, Iudges is of greater force 
 then all lawes be) the Kings in- 
 difputable Prerogative. To con- 
 clude, all the Counfcllers agree 
 and confent together with the 
 rich Crajfus^Th^t no abundance 
 of gold can be fafheient for a 
 E 4 Prince, 
 
 79 
 
 The fay- 
 ing of rich 
 
So 
 
 The Common wealth 
 
 Prince, which mutt keepcand 
 maintaine an Army: furthermore 
 that a King, though he would, 
 can doe nothing vn/uitly. 
 
 Fcr all that men havc,yea,alib 
 the men thcmielvesbc all his. 
 And that every man hath fo 
 much of his owne,as the Kings 
 gcnrlcneire hath not taken from 
 mm. And that it ihall be molt for 
 the Kings advantage, that his 
 fubjccls have very hctle or no- 
 thing iiuhc:rpoireiiion,as whole 
 Uieguard doth herein coniift, 
 that his people doe not waxe 
 wanton and wealthy through j 
 riches and liberty ,becaufe where ' 
 theic things bc,there men be nor 
 wont patiently to obey hard, vn- 
 juft, and vnlawfull commande- 
 ments. Whereas on the other 
 parr,necd and poverty doth hold 
 downe and keepe vnder flout 
 courages, and maketh them pa- 
 tient perforce , taking from 
 them bold and rebelbng fto- 
 mackes. 
 
 Here 
 
Of V T 9 P I A. 
 
 Here againc if I fliould rife 
 vp, and boldly affirmc, that all 
 theiccounfels be to the King dis- 
 honour and reproach, whole ho- 
 nour and fafety is more and ra- 
 ther Supported and vpholdcn by 
 the wealth and riches of his pco- 
 ple,thcn by his owne Treafures ? 
 and if I mould declare that the 
 .communal ty choofeth their king 
 for their owne fake, and not for 
 his fake : to the intent , that 
 through Jus labour and ftudy 
 they might all live wealthy, fafe 
 from wrongs and injuries : and 
 that therefore the King ought to 
 take more care for the wealth 
 of his people, then for his owne 
 wealthjcvcn as the office and du- 
 ty of a (hepheard is in that he is 
 a iliephcard, to feed his fheepe 
 rather then himfelfe. For as i 
 touching this , that they thinke 
 the defence and maintenance qr 
 peace to confift in poverty of 
 the pcopkjthe thing it felf Jhevv - 
 j eth that they be £trre out of the 
 
 8l 
 
 W3 1 
 
82 
 
 poverty 
 the mother 
 efdekrte, 
 and decay , 
 of Realms. 
 
 7 be Common wukh 
 
 — — — ■ ■ » * — — — — . . t i , 
 
 wa'v :■ For where (li all a man find 
 more wrangling, quarrelling, 
 "brawling -and chiding, then a- 
 "fnong Beggers ? Who bee more 
 defnous or new mutations and 
 alterationsithen they that be not 
 Content with the prcfent itatc of 
 that life ? Or finally, who be bol- 
 der 'ftomacked to bring all in a 
 hurly-burly (thereby trufting to 
 get" (bine wind-fall ) then they 
 that have now nothing toleefe? 
 And if any King were lb finally 
 regarded, & fo lightly efteemed; 
 yea, fo bc-hated of his Subjects, 
 that other wayes hee could not 
 keepe them in awe, but onely by 
 open wrongs,by polling and (ha- 
 ving, and by bringing theni to 
 beggerie 3 finely, it were better 
 for him toforfake his Kingdome 
 then to hold it by that nieanes : 
 whereby though the mme of a 
 King be kept, yt the M ./city is 
 loll : For it is agaimt the Jfgnity 
 of a King to have rule over Meg- 
 gers , but rather over rich and 
 
 weal- 
 
wealthy men. Of" this mind was 
 the hardy and couragious Fa~ 
 brice, when he faid ; that He had 
 rather be * Ruler ofrith men*, 
 then be rich himfelfe. 
 
 And verily, one man to live in 
 pleaiurc and wealth , wliiles all 
 all other wcepe and imart 
 for Jt, that is the part, not of a 
 King, but a /aylour.To be ihort, 
 as he is a fooliih Phyikian, that 
 cannot cure his patients difeafc, 
 vnleile he call him in another 
 iickneife ; fo he that cannot a- 
 mend the liucs or" his fubje^ls, 
 but by taking from them the 
 wealth and commodity of life : 
 he muft needs grant , that he 
 knoweth not the wealth andcom- 
 modity of life ; he mult needs 
 grant, that he knoweth not the 
 reatc how to gouernc: men, gutj 
 let him rather amend, his owne 
 life,renounce vnhorvcftpleafiir^^ 
 and forfake pride : for theft be 
 thechiefc vices that caufe him tp 
 runne m the contempt or 
 
 faying of 
 Fabrics. 
 
 , i- ' 
 
A ftrarg$ 
 andsctzbfo 
 law of the 
 
 7 be Ctmmon we Alt b 
 
 of his people. Let him liueofhis 
 ovvne, hurcing no man : Lee him 
 do coftnot aboue his power: Let 
 him reitraine wickedneire : Let 
 him prevent viccs,and take away, 
 the occafions of often ccs by well- 
 ordering his fubjec"ts, and not by 
 fuffering wickednes to encreafe, 
 afterward to be punilhed : Let 
 him not be too haftie in calling 
 againe hwes which a cuftome 
 hath abrogated 5 efpecially fuch as 
 have been long forgotten,and ne- 
 ver lacked nor needed. And let 
 him neuer under the cloake and , 
 pretence of tranfgreillon , cake 
 fuch fines and forfeits, as no 
 Judge will fuffer a private perfoa 
 to takers unjwft and full of guile. 
 Here if I Oiould bring forth be- 
 fore them the Law of the Mac*. 
 riexs, which be not farrediftant 
 from VtoptAjwhok King^thcday 
 of his Coronation is bound (by 
 a folemneChth, that he (nail ne- 
 ver at any time have in his Trea- 
 firce above a thoufand pound of 
 
 Gold 
 
tfVr o p i a 
 
 Gold or Silver. They fay, that a 
 very good King , which tooke 
 farre more care tor the wealth and 
 commodity of his Countne,then 
 for the enriching of himfelfe, 
 made this law to be a Hop and 
 barre to kings from heaping and 
 whording vp fo much money as 
 might impoverish their people : 
 For he fore-fa w that this fum of 
 rrcafure would furftce to fupport 
 the king in battaile againit hi? 
 owne people, if they (hould 
 chance to rebel!: & alfo to main- 
 taine his warres againft the in- 
 vafions of his forramc enemies. 
 Againe, he perceived the fame 
 flocke of money to be too little 
 and . vnfufficient to encourage 
 and enable him wrongfully to 
 take away other -mens goods : 
 which was f chiefe caufe why $ 
 law was made. Another caufe was 
 this. He thought $ by this provi- 
 fion hi i people lliould not lack 
 mony, wherewith to maintairie 
 their daily occupying 6c chaffer. 
 
 And 
 
86 
 
 iht C&p*mon~weaith 
 
 And feeing the -King could riot 
 choofe but lay out ana beftow all 
 that came in aboue the preicript 
 fumme or his ltocke, he thought 
 he would feeke nooccaiions to 
 doe his mbjefts injury. Such a 
 King fli all be feared ot evill men 
 and loved of good men. Thefe, 
 and fuch other informations, if 
 I Ihould vfe among men wholly 
 inclined and given to the contra- 
 ry part, how deafe eares thinkc 
 you (hall I hauc ? Deafe hearers 
 doubtleile ( quoth I. ) And in 
 good faith no mervaile. And to 
 be plaine with you, truly I can- 
 not allow that fuch communica- 
 tion fli all be.vfed, or fuch coun- 
 fell given , as youbefureihall 
 never be regarded nor received : 
 For how can ft> ftrange informa- 
 tions be profitable, or how can 
 they be beaten into their. heads, 
 whofe minds be already prevent- 
 'ed,with elcane contrary perfwa- 
 fions I This Schoole Philofophy 
 is not- un pled ant among friends 
 
 in 
 
#/ VT O P I A. 
 
 in familiar communication, but 
 in the counfels of Kings, where 
 great matters be debated and rea- 
 lonedwith great authority^hefe 
 things hauc no place. - 
 
 That is it which I meant(cjuoth 
 he ) when I faid Philofophy had 
 no place among Kings. Indeed 
 (quoth 1 ) thisSehoolc philofo- 
 phy hath not: which thmketh 
 all things meet for every place. 
 But there is another Philofophy 
 more civil 1, which knoweth, as 
 ye would fay , her owne ftage* 
 and thereafter ordering and be- 
 having her felfe in the play that 
 (he haih in hand-play eth her part 
 accordingly with comelineife, 
 vttering nothing out of due or- 
 der and raihion. And this is the 
 Philofophy that you muft vfe. 
 Or elfe whiles a Comodyof 
 PUutas is playing 5 and the 
 vild. bond-men- fcoifing and tri- 
 fling among themfclues, if you 
 fhould ftidderily come vpon the 
 Strgc in a Philofophers app:i-/ih 
 
 Jl- 
 
 S<hcolc 
 phihfopbj 
 in the c$n- 
 fultatims 
 of Princes 
 bath no 
 place. 
 
 jdfne and 
 ft fimli- 
 
 tude. 
 
88 
 
 A dttmvtc 
 
 Tie Common wtdth 
 
 and rchearfe out of OftavU the 
 place, wherein SenecA difputcth 
 with T^tra : had it no: beene 
 better for you to haue played the 
 dumme peribn, their by rehear- 
 ting that, which fcrved neither 
 for the time nor place to have 
 made fuch a tragicall Comedy 
 or gallimalfry : tor by bringing 
 in other ftutVe that nothing ap- 
 pertaineth to the matter, you 
 mult needs marre & prevent the 
 play that is in hand, though the 
 ituffethat you bring be much 
 better. What part focveryou have 
 taken vpon you,play that as well 
 as you can and make the belt of 
 it : And' doe not therefore di- 
 fturbe and bring out of order the 
 whole matter, Txcaufe that ano- 
 ther ,which is merrier and better 
 commeth to your remembrance. 
 So the cafe ilandeth in a Com- 
 mon-wealth :. and fo it is m the 
 confultations of Kings and Prin- 
 ces. If evill opinions and naughty 
 pcrfwafions cannot be vtterly & 
 ,-' quite 
 
tfVr 
 
 O P I A 
 
 quite plucked out of their hearts* 
 if you cannot even as you wo«ld 
 remedy vices, which vie and cu- 
 ftome hath co firmed: yet for this 
 caufe you mull not lcaue and for- 
 fake the Common-wealth : you 
 muft not forfake the Ship in a 
 tempeit, becaufc you cannot rule 
 and keepedownc the winds. No 
 nor you muft not labour to driue 
 into their heads new and ftrangc 
 informations, which you know 
 wellihall be noching regarded 
 with them that be of cleane con- 
 trary minds. But you muft with a 
 crafty wile & fubtile train ftudy 
 and endevour your felfe,a$ much 
 as in you lieth,to handle the mat- 
 ter wittily and handfomly for the 
 purpofc,and that which you can- 
 not turne to good, fo to order it 
 that it be not very bad : For it is 
 not poflible for all things to be 
 well,vnlelTe all men were good : 
 which I think will not be yet 
 thefc good many y cares. By this 
 meanes ( quoth he ) nothing 
 clfe will be brought to palTcjbut 
 
 89 
 
 1 1 
 
£0 
 
 7 be Common wealth 
 
 tie Vto* 
 fiarifvcale 
 
 but whiles I goc- about to reme- 
 dy the madncife of others , I 
 (hould be even as mad as they : 
 For if I ihould fpeake things that 
 be truc,I muft needs fpeake fuch 
 things '• but as for to fpeake falfe 
 things, whether that be a Pinlo- 
 fophers part or no I cannot .tell, 
 truly it is not ray part. Howbeit , 
 this communication of mine 
 though per adventure it may 
 fceme vnpleafant to them, yet ] 
 :ot I fee why it ill ould- feemj ; j 
 itr&nge^or foolilhlv .ngled .;! 
 
 If fo be that I ihould fp:ake< 
 thofe things thuPiA'fo fai- 
 neth in his Weak pubhke,or that , 
 the Utopians doe- m theirs, thefc 
 things though they were (as they 
 be indeed) bectcr,yet they might 
 fee me fpoken out of place. For 
 as much r.s here amon git vs,evc- 
 ry man hath Ins pollemons ieve- 
 vail to himfelfc , and there all 
 things be; in -common. 
 
 Butwh.it was in my commu- 
 nication contained , that might 
 
 not 
 
<?/\y T O P I A. $\ 
 
 not) and ought not in any place 
 to be fpoken } Saving that to 
 them which hauc throughly de- 
 creed and determined w kh them- 
 felves to runne headlong on the 
 contrary way,it cannot be accept 
 tabic and plcaiant, becaufe ircal* 
 lcth them backc , and iheweth 
 them the jeopardies : Verily if 
 all things that evill and vinous 
 manners have caul cd to feeme 
 vneonvenient 6c naught inould 
 berehifed, as things viuneec and 
 feproachfull j then we mult a- 
 mong Chriiban people winke at 
 the molt part oJ ill Jiofe things 
 which Chrii 1 gntv$,andib 
 ftraightly forbad them to be 
 wmcked n,that thofe things alfo 
 wiii, h he whifpered in theearcs 
 of his Diicipics, he commanded 
 to be proclaimed in open houies. 
 And yet the molt part of them is 
 more diffident from the manners 
 of the world now a dayes , then 
 my communication was. But 
 Preachers filly and wily men 
 ^' ' following 
 
91 
 
 The Cemmen wealth 
 
 following your counfell ( as I 
 fuppofc ) becaufe they faw men 
 evill-wiiling to frame their man- 
 ners to Chnits rule , they have 
 wrefted and wried his doctrine, 
 and hkc a rule of lead have appli- 
 ed it to mens manners ; that by 
 fome meanes at thcleaftway, 
 they might agree together .Whcr- 
 by I cannot lee what good they 
 have done : but that men may 
 more fickryer be evill. And I tru- 
 ly mould prcvaile even as little 
 in Kings coanfels : For either I 
 mult fay orherwayes then they 
 fay, and then I were as good to 
 fay nothing , or elfc I muft fay 
 the fame chat they fay, and ( as 
 Miti§ faith in Terence) helpe to 
 further their madnclTe. For that 
 crafty will and fubtill traine of 
 yours,I cannot perceiue to what 
 purpofe it fervcth , wherewith 
 you would have me to ftudy and 
 endevourmy felfe, if all things 
 cannot be made good,yet to han- 
 dle them wittily and hanfomely 
 for the purpofe that as far forth 
 
^Vtoma. 
 
 I as is poliiblc,they may not be ve- 
 | ry cvill. For there is no place to 
 I diiremblc in , nor to worke in. 
 I Naughty counfels muft be open- 
 ly allowed,and very peftilcnt de- 
 crees muft be approved. 
 He (hall be counted worfe then 
 afpy, yea, almoll as ev ill as a 
 Trakour, that with a faint-heart 
 doth praife cvill and noifomc de- 
 crees. Moreover, a man can have 
 no occaiion ro doe good ^ chan- 
 cing into the company or' them, 
 which willlooner pervert a good 
 man then be made good them- 
 felves: through whole evill com- 
 pany he (hal be marred, or elfe if 
 he remain good <$c innocent, yet 
 the wickednefle and folly of o- 
 thers ih all be imputed tohim,and 
 laid in his neck. So that it is im- 
 pofliblc with that crafty wile, 
 and fubtill traine to turne any 
 thing to better. VVherefore P/*- 
 toby a goodly fimilitude decla- 
 rcth, why wife men rtfrainc to 
 meddle in the Cominon-weaklr. 
 For whea they fee the people 
 
 (warmc 
 
 n 
 
9+ 
 
 The Cmm$n wealth 
 
 fwarme into the ftrectes, and dai- 
 ly wet to the ^kin with raine,and 
 yet cannot perfwade them to goe 
 out of the raine, and to take their 
 houfe,knowing well, that if they 
 mould goe out to thean , they 
 fhould nothing prevaile, nor 
 winnc ought by it 3 but with them 
 be wet alio in the rainey they cioe 
 keepe themf elves within their 
 houfes, being content that they 
 be fafe themfelves , feeing they 
 cannot remedy the folly of the 
 people. How be it doubtleile 
 Mailer Moore ( to fpeake truly 
 as my mind giveth me ) where 
 poifellions be private,wherc mo- 
 ney bearcth all the ftroake, it is 
 hard and almofl impoffible that 
 there the Weak publike may 
 /ultly be governed, and proipc- 
 roufly fiounlh ; vnlelle you 
 thinke thus: That I u face is there 
 executed, where all things come 
 into the hands of cvill men 3 or 
 that profperity there fiourilheth, 
 where all is divided among a 
 
 few: 
 
<?/Vt o p i a. 9,5 
 
 few : which few nevertheletfc 
 doe not lcade their Hues very 
 wealthily, and the relidue live 
 miferably , wretchedly, and beg- 
 geily. 
 
 Wherefore, when I confider 
 with my felfe, and weigh in my 
 mind , the wife and godly ordi- 
 nances of. the Vtopians $ among 
 whom, with very few lawes ail 
 things be i'o well and wealthy 
 ordered, that vcrtue is had in a 
 price and cilinr.tion, and yet all 
 things being there conr.T}on,eve- 
 ry man hath abundance ot every 
 thing. Againo, on the other part, 
 when I compare with them fo 
 many Nations ever making new 
 lawc >, yet noneof theai.aS well 
 and iurficicntly furniihed with 
 1 lawes : where' every man called) 
 that he hath gotten, his owne 
 proper and private goods, where 
 lb maryy newtewes &te}y.-,{ntofcj 
 be not fujficient lor every man 
 to enjpy.,derend, and know from 
 ^aiother n)4i 5 t&#$hk& hccal- 
 
 lcth 
 
9$ 
 
 Phtomil- 
 
 UdaH 
 things in 4 
 Common- 
 vetlik to 
 bt common* 
 
 The Commn-w&lth 
 
 leth his owns *. which thing the 
 infinite controverfies in the law, 
 daily rifing, never to be ended, 
 plainly declare to be true. Thefe 
 things ( I fay ) when I confider 
 with my felre, I hold well with 
 P/dt^znd doe nothing mervaile 
 that he would make no lawes 
 for them , that refufed thofe 
 lawes, whereby all men (hould 
 have and enjoy cquall por- 
 tions of wealths and commodi- 
 ties. 
 
 For the wife man did eafily 
 fore-fee, this to be the one and 
 onely way to the wealth of a 
 communalty, if equality of all 
 things ihould be brought in and 
 ftabhihed. Which I thinke is not 
 poflible to be obferved, where e- : 
 very mans goods be proper and 
 peculiar to himfelfc : For where 
 every man under certame titles 
 and pretences draweth , and 
 pluckethto himfelfc as much as 
 he can 5 fo that a few divide a- 
 mong thcmfelves all the whole 
 ______ riches, 
 
c/Vtoha. 
 
 riches, be there never To much a- 
 bundance and iforc, there to the 
 relidue is left lacke and pover- 
 ty- 
 And for the moft part it chan- 
 
 ccth, that this latter fort is more 
 worthy to enjoy that iiate of 
 wealth, then the other be : be- 
 caufe the rich men be covetous 
 crafty,and vnprofitable. On the 
 other part,the poore be lowly, 
 fimple,and by their daily labour, 
 more profitable to the common- 
 wealtn,then to themfelues.Thus 
 1 do fully perfwade my felfe, 
 that no cquall and juft diftnbu- 
 tion of things can be made, nor 
 that perfect wealth (hall ever be 
 among men,vnleiTc this proprie- 
 ty be exiled and baniihed. But fo 
 long as it ihall continue , fo 
 long fli all remainc among 
 the mort and beft part of men, 
 the heauy and inevitable bur- 
 then of poverty and wretched- 
 netfe. Which, as 1 grant that it 
 may be foinewhat eafed , fo 
 F 1 
 
 91 
 
^g The Commw-wealtfj 
 
 I vttcrly deny that it can whol- 
 ly to be taken away-: For if there- 
 were a Statute made, that no 
 man fhould haue in his ftocke 
 aboue a prefcript and appointed 
 fiimmc of money : if it were 
 by certame Lawes decreed, that 
 neither the King Ihould bee of 
 too great power, neither the Peo- 
 ple too haughty and wealthy ; 
 and that Offices ihould not by 
 inordinate fute, or by bribes and 
 guifts : that they {hould nei- 
 ther bee bought nor fold ; nor 
 that it mould be ncedfull for the 
 Officers , to be at any coil or 
 charge in their Offices • For 1 o 
 occafion is given to them by 
 fraud and ravine to gather up 
 their money againe - 7 and by rea- 
 fon of puifts and bribe?, the Of- 
 fices be given to rich men, which 
 fhould r thcr have beer.c execu- 
 ted of Wife men : By fuch lawes 
 I fay, like as Sicke bodies that be 
 dcfperate and paft cure, be wont 
 with continua.ll gcod cherilhing 
 
 to 
 
^/Vtopi a. 
 
 99 
 
 to be kept and botched up for a 
 time : io thefe evils alio may 
 be lightned and mitigated. But 
 that they may be perfectly cu- 
 red, brought to a good and up- 
 right Hate, it is not to be ho- 
 ped forj whiles every man is Ma- 
 lter or his ownc to himielfe. 
 Yea, and whiles you goe about 
 to doc your cure or one part, you 
 mall make bigger the fore or an- 
 other part, lb the helpe of one 
 caufeth anothers harmc : foraf- 
 much, as nothing can be given 
 to any one unleife it be taken 
 from another. 
 
 But I am of a contrary opini- 
 on ( quoth I ) for me thmketh 
 that men (hall never there live 
 wealthy , where all things bee 
 common : For how can there 
 be abundance of goods,or of any 
 thing, where every man with- 
 draweth his hand from labour? 
 Whom the regard of his owne 
 games driveth not to worke, but 
 the hope that he hath in oth:r 
 F 2 mens 
 
no 
 
 7ht Common \-maitk 
 
 _! 
 
 mens travailes makcth him 
 iloathfull. 
 
 Then when they be pricked 
 with poverty, and yet no man 
 can by any law or right defend 
 that for his owne,which he hath 
 gotten with the labor of his own 
 hands,fhall not there of neceifity 
 be continuall f edition arid blood- 
 (hcd 2 Specially the authority 
 and reverence of Magiftrates,be- 
 ing taken away, which , what 
 place it may have with' fuch men 
 among whom is no difference,'! 
 cannot devife/ I marvaile not 
 ( epoch he ) that you beof this 
 opinion. For you conceiuc in 
 your mind either none at all, or 
 clfc a very falfe Image and iimi- 
 litudcof this thing. But if you 
 had becne with me in Vtopis> 9 
 and had prciently fecne their fa- 
 fhions and lawes 5 as I did,which 
 lived there fiue yeares,an/d more, 
 & wold never haue come thence, 
 but onely to make that new land 
 
 known e 
 
^Vtopu. 
 
 knowne hccrc : Then doubt- 
 leile you would grant , that 
 you never faw people well or- 
 dered, but onely there. Surely 
 ( quofh Milter Peter ) it 
 J hall be hard for you to make 
 me beleeve, that there is bet- 
 ter order in that New Land , 
 tlien is here in the Countries 
 that we know. For good wits 
 be as well here as there : and I 
 thinks' our Common-wealths 
 be ancicnter then theirs ; 
 wherein long vfe and expe- 
 rience hath found out many 
 things commodious for mans 
 life ; befides that many things 
 here among . vs have beene 
 found by chance , which no 
 wit could ever have devifed. 
 As- touching the ancieutnelfc 
 ( cjuoth he ) of Common- 
 wealths, then, you might better 
 judge lr'you had read theHifto- 
 rics , and Chronicles of that 
 land, which, if wc may bcleeue, 
 F 3 Cities 
 
7 be Comm9n*m&lth 
 
 Cities were there , before men 
 were heere. 
 
 Now what thiug focver hi- 
 therto by wit hath beene deviled, 
 or found by chance, that might 
 be as well there as heere. But I 
 thinke verily, though it were fo 
 that we did pallc them in wit : 
 yet in iludy,m trauell , and in 
 labourlbme endevour, they farre 
 palfe vs : For ( as their Chroni- 
 cles teftifie ) before .our arrivall 
 there they never heard any thing 
 of vs^hom they call the Vitr*. 
 eqpiinoUiMUi : laving that once 
 about isooyeares agoe, a cer- 
 tains 6/iip was loft by the I le of 
 Vtsfia^ which was driven thi- 
 ther by tempeft. Certaine i?<7- 
 mans and Egyptians were caft on 
 Land. Which after that never 
 went thence. 
 
 Marke now what profit they 
 tookfe of this one occafion 
 through diligence and earncft 
 trauaile. There was no craft nor 
 fcience within the Empire of 
 
 Rome 
 
of V T O P I A. 
 
 Rome whereof any profit could 
 rife, but they cither learned it of 
 thefe ittangers, or clfe of them, 
 taking occaiion to fearch for it, 
 found it out. So great profit was 
 it to them that ever any went 
 thither, from hence. But if any 
 like chance before this hath 
 brought any man from thence 
 hither, that is as quite out of re- 
 membrance, as this alio per- 
 chance in time to come ihall be 
 forgotten, that ever I was there. 
 Ana tike as they quickly, almoU 
 at the firft meeting, made thcir 
 
 owne , whatfoever is anion 
 
 gus 
 
 wealthily devifcd : So Ifuppofe 
 it would be long before we fliould 
 receive any thing, that among 
 them is better inftitiited then a- 
 mong us. 
 
 And this I fuppofe is the chiefe 
 caufe why their common-wealths 
 be wifelyer governed , and doe 
 flourifli in more wealth then 
 ours, though wee neither in wit 
 nor riches be their inferiours. 
 F 4 There- 
 
104 
 
 ?bt Conme* xv tilth 
 
 Therefore gentle Mafter Raph*- 
 'I (quoth 1 ) I pray you and be- 
 ieech you defenbe vnto us the 
 Hand. And ftudy not to bee 
 ftort : but declare largely in or- 
 der their Grounds, their Rivers, 
 their Cities, their People, their 
 Manners, their Ordinances,their 
 Lawes , and to bee fhort , all 
 things that you {hall thinke us 
 deiirous roknow. And you mail 
 thinke us defirous to know what- 
 foever we know not yet. 
 
 There is nothing (quoth hce) 
 that I will doe gladher. For all 
 thefe things J have fre(h in 
 nunde : Bur the matter requi- 
 red leifurc. Let us goe in there- 
 fore ( quoth I ) to dinner , and 
 afterward wee will bellow the 
 tune at our pleafure. Contest 
 (quoth hce) be it. So wee went 
 in and dined. i 
 
 When dinner was done , we 
 came into the fame place againe, 
 and fate us downe upon the fame 
 
 bench 
 
 commanding our fer- 
 vants 
 
»/v 
 
 TOMA. 
 
 vants that no man fliould trou- 
 ble us. Then I and Maftor Pe- 
 ter Gt/csjdcih'cd Mailer Raphael 
 to performe his promife. 
 
 Hee therefore feeing us defi- 
 
 rous and willing to hearken to 
 
 hun, when he had fate ftill and 
 
 p^.ufed a little while, muling 
 
 and lr w thi< iking hiinfelfe) 
 
 thus he began to 
 
 fpcakc. 
 
 The end of the fir ft Booke. 
 
 IOJ 
 
 
 F 5 
 
 j '.-Mi.'ju.'. i' -jim.i. jmmr 
 
i - . — . -T r 
 
 THE 
 Second Booke 
 
 of the Communication of 
 
 Raphae-lHythloday, 
 
 concerning the heft State 
 
 ■of a Common- 
 
 WEALTH. 
 
 IO7 
 
 Containing the D efcriptitru of 
 Vto P 1 A, vp'ttk. a large dec Um 
 ration of the politike govern*- 
 ment^and *fa& the good Lawes 
 And Orders of the fame Hand. 
 
 He Hand of Vto- 
 ?iA,containcthin 
 bredth in the mid- 
 dle part of it (for 
 thereitisbroadeft) 
 200 miles. VVhich bredth conti- 
 nueth through the molt part of 
 the Land, faving that by littlcit 
 cometh in, and waxcth narrower 
 
 to- 
 
 Thefgbt 
 andjujbi- 
 on tfthe 
 new ihnd 
 VtPpU. 
 
io8 
 
 iht C$mmo» wealth 
 
 towards both the ends: which fet- 
 ching about, a circuit or coinpaflc 
 of 5 oo miles,doe faftiion $ whole 
 Hand like to the newMoone. 
 between thefe two corners the Sea 
 runeth in,dividing them a funder 
 by the diftance of 1 1 miles or 
 thcreaboutSjSc there furmountech 
 into a large Sea > which by rea- 
 fon that the Land on every iide 
 copailcth it about, and (heltreth 
 it from the winds, is not rough, 
 nor mounteth not with great 
 waves,but almoftfloweth quietly 
 not much vnlike a great ftandihg 
 poole : and maketh well-nigh all 
 the f pace withia the belly of the 
 Land in mancr of a haven: and to 
 the great comodity of the inhabi- 
 tants, receiveth in Ships towards 
 every part of the land. The fore- 
 fronts or frontiers of the two cor- 
 ners,what with bords and (helves 
 and what with rockes, be.j'eopar- 
 dous and dangerous. In the mid- 
 dle diftance between the n both, 
 ltaudeth up above the water a . 
 ^:xat Ko&y which therefore it is 
 
•f V TO PI A. 
 
 is- nothing perilous bccaufe it is in 
 fight.Vpon the top of this rock is 
 a faire and ftrong tower builded, 
 which they hold with a garnfon 
 or men. Other rockes there be ly- 
 ing hid under the water, which 
 jhcrfore be dangerous. The chan- 
 nels be knowne onely to them- 
 felves. And therefore it feldome 
 chanceth that any Stranger un- 
 leire he be guided by an Vtop**, 
 can come into this haven. Info- 
 much that they themfelves could 
 fcarcely enter without jeopardy, 
 but that their way is directed and 
 ruled by certaine Land-markes 
 Handing on the fhore.By turning 
 tranilating., and removing die 
 markes into other places , they 
 may deftioy their enemies navies, 
 be they never lb many. The our- 
 fidc or utter circuit of the land, is 
 alfo full of havens, but the lan- 
 ding is fo furely-fcnced, what by 
 nature, & what by workman/hip 
 of mens hands, that a few defen- 
 ders may drive back many armies 
 
 ti'Qvv- J 
 
 109 
 
 A place 
 nttturaHy 
 
 feaced&et* 
 dab one 
 Gantfon. 
 
 A pnl:til{i 
 dtvife in 
 tbt chan- 
 ging Und- 
 
 marhjs. 
 
no 
 
 The ]Und 
 of Otoph, 
 fo named 
 
 offing 
 
 The Cemwon-walth 
 
 Howbeit as they fay, and as the 
 faihioii of the place itfelfedpth . 
 partly fliew,it was not ever com- 
 pared about with the Sea. But 
 King Vt o P v s , whofe name,as 
 conquerour, the Hand beareth : 
 For before this time it was called 
 A&raxx ) which alio brought 
 the rude and wild people to that 
 excellent perfection in all good 
 faihkms, humanity, and civill 
 gentleneife, wherein they now 
 goe beyend all the people m the 
 world : even at his arriving and 
 entering vpon the land, forth- 
 with obtaining the victory, cau- 
 fed fifteene miles fp&ce of vplan- 
 difli ground, where the vSea had 
 no paifage, to be cut and digged 
 vp. And fo wrought the vSea 
 round about the Land. He let to 
 this worke: not onely t'heinha- • 
 bitants of this Hand ( becaufe 
 they mould nottbinke kdoRcin 
 contumely and defpight) but al- 
 io all his owne fouldiour?. 
 Thus tlu worke being divided 
 
 into 
 
$f Vt O P I A. 
 
 Ill 
 
 into fo great a number or worke- 
 men,was with exceeding marvai- 
 lous fpeed difpatched. lnfomuch 
 that the borderers which at the 
 iirft began to mocke, and to jeft 
 as the vaine entcrpnfe, then tur- 
 ned their deriiion to mervaile at 
 theTuccetfe, and to feare. There 
 be in the Hand fifty foure large 
 and faire Cities, or lhiere towns, 
 agreeing altogether in one 
 tongue,m like manners,initituti- 
 ons,and lawes,thcy be all fet and 
 fituate alike , and in all points 
 faihioned alike, as farre forth as 
 the place or plot fuffercth. 
 
 Of thefe Cities, jhey that be 
 nigheft together be twenty foure 
 miles afunden Againe, there is 
 none of them diftamj from the 
 next, abouc one dayes journey a 
 foot. There come yearely to A- 
 mdHftepviX. of every City, three 
 old men wife and well experien* 
 ced, thereto intr«ateanddebate ? 
 of the common matters of the 
 J Land, For this City ( beeaufe it 
 
 ftan- 
 
 Many 
 
 hzds mdgt 
 
 light 
 
 Citks in 
 
 Vtopi*. 
 
 Similuudt 
 
 eg'ifetb 
 
 concord. 
 
 A mew 
 dift&nce 
 betvtent 
 City *ud 
 City, 
 
112 
 
 The Common wc&Uh 
 
 Tbtdiflri- 
 
 button of 
 Lands. But 
 this now a 
 date sis the 
 ground of 
 all mif~ 
 thigfe. 
 
 Husbandry 
 &* tillage, 
 •bit ft y and 
 principally 
 regarded 
 and ad- 
 vasstd. 
 
 ftandeth juft in the midit. of the 
 Iland,and is therefore moil meet 
 for the Ambailadours of all 
 pares of the Realme) is taken for 
 the chiefe and head Citty. The 
 precincts and bounds of the 
 Snieres, be fo eommodioully ap- 
 pointed out^and fet forth for the 
 Citics,that none of them alt hath 
 of any fide leffe then twenty 
 miles of ground, and of fome 
 ' fide alfo much more, as of that 
 part where the Cities be of fur- 
 ther diftancc a f under. None of 
 the Cities delire to enlarge the 
 bounds and limitsjof rhcttUiires. 
 For they count themfelves. ra- 
 ther the goodhusbands/hen 'the 
 owners of th«ir lands.They have 
 in the Countrey in all parts of 
 theibierc, houfes or farmes biiil- 
 ded , well* appointed and furni- 
 flied with all forts of inftru- 
 ments and tooles belonging to 
 Husbandry. Thefe houfes be 
 inhabited oftKe Citizens, which 
 come thithei;to dwell by courfe. 
 
 No 
 
Of V T O V I A> 
 
 No houfhold or Farmc in the 
 Countrey hath fewer then iifty 
 perlbns men and women, be- 
 lides two bondmen, which be 
 all vnder the rule and order of 
 the good man,and the good wife 
 ofthehouie , being both very 
 fagc, difcreet 5 and ancient pcr- 
 fons. And every thirty Farmes 
 or families have one head ruler, 
 which is called a ? hilar ch^ feeing 
 as it were a- head BaylirYe, Out 
 of every one of theft families or 
 farmes, commeth every yeare 
 into the City twenty pcrfons, 
 which have continued two 
 yeares before in the Countrey. 
 In their place Co many frefh be 
 fent thither out of the City,who, 
 of them that have becne there a 
 yeare already, and be therefore 
 expert and cunning in husban- 
 dry , mail be instructed and 
 taught. And they the next yeare 
 (hall teach other. 
 
 This order is vfed for feare that 
 cither fcarcenelle of victuals, 
 
 or 
 
 M* 
 
ii4 
 
 The duties 
 9/taen 
 of kusb. in- 
 dry. 
 
 S 
 
 A firanee 
 fjfhion in 
 batching 
 and bring • 
 ting vp of 
 Pallet*. 
 
 The Common- wealth 
 
 or fome other like incommodity 
 lliould chance, through lacks of 
 knowledge : if they iLould "be al- 
 together new,and fredi, and vn- 
 expert in husbandry. This man- 
 ner and faihion, ofyearely chan- 
 ging and renewing the occupi- 
 ers of husbandry, though: it- be 
 folemne and cuilomably vfed,to 
 thinke that no man mail be cDhv 
 ftrained againft . his will to con- 
 tinue long in that hard and iharp 
 kind of hire 5 yet many of them 
 have fucli a pleaf lire and dclipht 
 m husbandry, that they obiaTne 
 a longer fpace of year.es. Thcfe 
 hu$bandaien,plough and till the 
 ground, and breed vp catcel!,ind 
 provide and make ready wood, 
 which they carry to the City ei- 
 ther by land or water, as they 
 moft conveniently. They bring 
 vp a £rcat' multitude of pullein, 
 I : by a mervailous pplii- 
 a : . for the hens -doe not .fit vpon 
 the egges ; but by keeping them 
 in a certaine equal 1 heat they 
 
 brine 
 
ef Vt o p I a. 
 
 bring life into them , and hatch 
 them. The chickens, as foone as 
 they become out of the fhell/ol- 
 low men and women m fteadof 
 the hennes. They brinp vp very 
 few horfes • nor none, but very 
 fierce ones : and that for none o- 
 ther vfe or purpofe,bur onely to 
 exercife their youth in riding, 
 and ; fcarcs of Annes : For Oxen 
 be put to all the labor of plough- 
 ing and drawing : which they 
 grant noz to be Co good as hor- 
 i'cs ac a iljdden brunt, and (as we 
 fay) at a dead lift 3 but yet they 
 hold an opinion, that Oxen will 
 abide and fuffer much more la- 
 bour,paine and hardinefc then 
 Horfes will. And they thinke 
 that Oxen be not in danger and 
 fub/ecl: unto fo many difeafes, 
 and that they be kept and main- 
 tained with much lclfe colt and 
 charge : and finally, that they be 
 good for meat, when they be 
 pad labour. They fow corne on- 
 ly for bread. For their driake is 
 
 either 
 
 u? 
 
 The vfe. 
 of Hovfes 
 the vft 
 of Oxen, 
 
116 
 
 Bread tmd 
 dri»\e. 
 
 Th&Commw wealth 
 
 ji greti 
 
 discretion 
 in farting 
 efCorne. 
 
 either Wine made of grapes , or 
 clfe of apples,or Pearcs, or elie it 
 is cleare water : and many times 
 Meath made of honey, or Licou- 
 reife fodde in water 5 for thereof 
 they haue great itore. And though 
 they know certainly ( for they 
 know it perfectly indeed ) how 
 much victuals the City with the 
 Whole Country or Shire round 
 about it doth fpend : yec they 
 fow much more corne,and breed 
 vp much ;nore catreli, then fer- 
 vethfor their owns vie, parting 
 the overplus among their borde- 
 rers. Whatsoever neceil'ary things 
 be lacking in th: Countrcy, all 
 luch ffcufte they fetch oat of the 
 City : where without any ex- 
 change, they cafily obtaine it of 
 the M igiftraces of the City. For 
 every moneth many of them 
 goe into the City on the Ho- 
 liday. When their harvoft day 
 draweth neare, , and is at . hand, 
 then the P hilar -ches, which be 
 the head Officers and Bnlirres of 
 
 husban- 
 
*f Vt O P 1 A. 
 
 il(5 
 
 husbandry , fend word to the 
 Magiflrates of the Cicy what 
 number of harveft men is need- 
 full to be fent to them out of the 
 City. The whiph company of 
 harvelt men being ready at the ! btlft 
 day appointed , almoit in one ' 1 uie k.b 
 faire day difpatchcth all thenar- | d jjt gub " 
 veft worke. 
 
 Of the Cities, d»d nfimelj 
 Amauroce. 
 
 Matwll 
 
 td. 
 
 A 
 
 Sfor the 
 
 knoweth 
 
 Cities , whofo 
 one of them , 
 knoweth them all : they be all 
 fo like one to another , as 
 tarre forth as the nature of the 
 place permitteth. I will defcribe 
 to you one or other of them, for 
 it skilletrh not greatly whittubut 
 which rather then Kmaurete ? 
 Of them all, this is the wor- 
 thieit, and of mo ft dignity. 
 
 For 
 
n8 
 
 The de- 
 fer ipt id of 
 ^maurote 
 the cbiefe 
 City in 
 Vtopia. 
 
 The du 
 fcriptiia 
 of Anyder. 
 
 The very 
 li{t in 
 England 
 in the Ri- 
 
 1 ft 9-f 
 
 Thame:. 
 
 The Common wealth 
 
 For the rcfidue knowledge it for 
 the head City , becaufe there is 
 the Counfell houfe. Not to me 
 anyof them all is better beloved, 
 as wherein I lived flue whole 
 yeares together : the City of A- 
 manrote itandcth vpon the fide 
 of a low hill , in faihion almolt. 
 foure fquare. For the breadth of 
 it beginneth a little beneath the 
 top of the hill, and ftill continu- 
 eth by the fpace of two miles, 
 vntill it come to the River of 
 Anyder. The length of it, which 
 lyeth by the rivers iidc, is fome- 
 what more.Ttae River of Anyder 
 rifeth foure and twenty miles a- 
 bove Amaurote out of a little 
 Spring. But being increafed by 
 other linall Rivers and Brookes 
 that runne into it, and among o- 
 ther, two fomewrrat big ones $ 
 before the City it ishalfe a mile 
 beoad, and further broader. And 
 forty mile* beyond the City it 
 falleth into the Ocean Sea. By a]} 
 thai fpace that lieth between e 
 
 the 
 
o/Vtopia, 
 
 the Sea and the City , and cer- 
 tainc miles alfo above the City 
 the water cbbeth and hWcth 
 fixe hourcs together with a fwifr 
 Tide. When the Sea fiowcth in, 
 for the length of thirty miles, it 
 filleth all the A'njder with fait 
 water, and drivcth back thefreih 
 water of rhe River. And fome- 
 what further, it changcth the 
 i wcetneiVc ofthe frefh water with 
 the laltnclfc. But a little beyond 
 that,th c River waxcth fwcet,and 
 runneth fore-by die City frefh 
 and pleaiant. And when the Sea 
 cbbeth) and gocth baeke againe, 
 thefrcdi water followethit , al- 
 moft even to the very fall ofthe 
 Sea. There goeth a Bridge over 
 the Rive a imde not of piles or 
 of timber, but of Hone workc, 
 with gorgious and iiibfb.ntiall 
 Arches, at that part ofthe Citty 
 that is f art licit from the ?ca : to 
 the intent that Miips may pailc 
 along fore-by all the frie ofthe 
 City without kt.T-hey haue alio 
 
 •■ another 
 
 Herein al- 
 
 | fo dotb 
 London a. 
 grce nub 
 Amxixtte. 
 
120 
 
 The v/e of 
 frejb »j- 
 ter. 
 
 The C*mm$n we tit b 
 
 another River which indeed is 
 not very great. But it runneth 
 gently and pleafantly - For it 
 ni eth even out of the fame hill 
 that the City itandethvpon,and 
 runneth downc a (lope through 
 the middeft of the City into«*tf- 
 nyder* 
 
 And bccaufe it rifeth a little 
 Without the City, the Amauriti- 
 a*s have incloled the head 
 fpring of it, with itrong fences, 
 and Bulwarkes,aud To have joy- 
 ned it to the City. This is done 
 to the intent that the water 
 ihould not be ftopped, nor tur- 
 ned awayjOr poyloued,if their e- 
 nemies ihould chance to come 
 vpon them.From thence the wa- 
 ter is derived and conveyed 
 downe in channels of brickc di- 
 vers waycs, into the lower parts 
 of the Citie. Where that cannot 
 be done, by reafon that the place 
 will not fuffer it, there they ga- 
 ther the raine water in great ci- 
 lterncs,wliich doth them as good 
 
 fervice. 
 
c/Vtopia. 
 
 121 
 
 fcrvice.Thc City is compared a- 
 bout with a high and thickc 
 itouc wall full of turrets and 
 bulwarkes. A dry ditch, but 
 deep and broad, and over-grown 
 with bufhes, briers, and thornes, 
 goeth about three iide.s or quar- 
 ters of the City. To the fourth 
 fide the nuer it felfc ferveth as a 
 ditch. The ftrcets be appointed 
 and let forth very commodious, 
 and handfome , both for cariage 
 and alio againit the windes. The 
 houfes be oi hire and gorgious 
 building, and on the if reetc fide 
 they Hand joyncd together in 
 a long row through the whole 
 itrecte , without any partition 
 or feperation. The ifreetes 
 be twenty foote broad. On 
 the backe fide ot the houfes 
 through the whole lengih of 
 the itreet , lye large Gardens 
 inclofed round about with chc 
 bc'rke part oi the ftr : te ■ . E 
 houfe h th . , . 
 
 totheftreei 
 
 The de- 
 fer, ceof the 
 
 Streetty 
 
 Buildings 
 
 andfiou/cs 
 
 To every 
 UtvtU; ■■* 
 
 PWfe l£4T 
 
 pin-place 
 ttdjvjninp. 
 
12 2 
 
 The Common wealth 
 
 Thisgeare. 
 fmeUttb of 
 platobis 
 
 communis 
 
 on the backOde intothf ( I ien- 
 Thcfedoores bcJfikz&t with two 
 leaves, nev r lockal nor bolted, 
 fo eafie to be opened, that they 
 will follow the leaft drawing of 
 a finger , and ihut againe alone. 
 VVIk) fo will, may goe in, for 
 there is nothing within the hou- 
 fes that is private, or any mans 
 owne. And every tenth yeare 
 they change their Hon fes by let. 
 They let great ftore by their 
 Gardens. 
 
 In them they have Vine-yards, 
 all manner of Fruit, Hearbcs,and 
 Flowers, fo plcafant, fo well fur- 
 nifhed, and fo finely kept, that I 
 never law thing more fruitfully 
 nor better trimmed in any place. 
 Their ftudy and diligence here- 
 in eommeth nor oncly of plea- 
 furc, but alio of a certaine llrife 
 and contention that is bc:wecne 
 ftreet and ftreet, concerning the 
 trimming, husbanding, andrur- 
 nifiiing of their Gardens : every 
 man for his ownejpart. And ve- 
 rily 
 
Of V T O P I A . 
 
 — I ... .111 » , II ■— ■ ll» U 
 
 • 
 
 rily you iliall not lightly find in 
 all the Citty any thing, that is 
 more commodious, either for the 
 profit of theCitizens,or for plea- 
 lure. And therefore k may feemc 
 that the firit. founder of the City 
 minded noching fo much, a$ 
 thefc Gardens. For they fay that 
 King Vtofus himiilre, even at 
 the run; beginning, appointed 
 and d^ew forth, the plat-forme of 
 the City intothij faihion and 
 figure that it hath now, but the 
 gallant garni(hing,and die beau- 
 tiful! fetting forth of it, where- 
 unto he law that one mans: age 
 would not fuffice, that he left to 
 his pollcrity. For their Chroni- 
 cles which they keepe written 
 with all diligent circumfpeclion, 
 containing the Hiitory of 1 760 
 yeares, even from the firft con- 
 cjiiell of the Hand, record and 
 witneiie that the houfes in the 
 beginning were very low, and 
 like homely cottages or poore 
 ftieph .rd houfes, made at all 
 G adven- 
 
 "3 
 
124 
 
 J he Comwon-rvetttb 
 
 GUfeJ or 
 Mvaftd 
 
 mr,doives. 
 
 
 adventures of every rude peece of 
 timber, that came firfl to hand, 
 with mud walls,& ridged roofes, 
 trr.tchcd over with' itraw. But 
 now the houfes be curiouily buil- 
 ded after a porgious and gallant 
 fort, with three ltorics one over 
 another. The out-iides off walls 
 be made either of hard fiint,or of 
 Philter, or elfe of brick, and the 
 inner- fides be well ltrengthened 
 with timberwork. The roofes be 
 plain and flat,covercd with a cer- 
 tainekind of Plalter,that is of no 
 coft,and yet fo tempered that no 
 fire can hurt or pcriih it,& ; with- 
 ftandcth the violence of the wea- 
 ther better then any lead. They 
 keepc the wind out of their win- 
 do wes with ghiTc, for it is there 
 much vfed, and fdme herealfo 
 with finelirmcfi cloaca dipped in. 
 oyle cr amber, and that foi' tvvo 
 commodities : For by this meafrrs 
 more light commeth in, and the 
 wind is better kept out. 
 
 of 
 
Cf V T O P I A» 
 
 Of the MAgiftrates. 
 
 EVery thirty . Families or 
 Farmcs, chooic them yearc- 
 ly au Officer, which in their old 
 language is called the Sjpbo- 
 'grarityXwcX byancwe" name, the 
 Phil arch. Every tenne Sifho r 
 grants, with ail ;hcir thirty fa- 
 milies bevnderan Oificer,which 
 was once c. lied the Trdnwarr^ 
 now the chiefs i hiiarch. More- 
 over as concerning the election 
 of the Pii;'.ce r JiUic Stpjwgjfknts 
 which be m number two hun- 
 dred, firft be fworrietochoofe 
 him, whom they thinke molt 
 mecte and expedient. Then by 
 a fecrct election , they name 
 Prince one of thofe foure whom 
 the people before named vnto 
 them. For out of the foufe quar- 
 ters of the City there be foure 
 chofcn ? out of every quarter i , to 
 G 3 ftand 
 
 U5 
 
 A Tnni- 
 
 herein the 
 
 Vtopi.in 
 
 Ungue, 
 
 pgntfiztba 
 
 bead er 
 
 cbiefe 
 
 Pcere. A 
 
 mervilous 
 
 ftra»g€%~ 
 
 Jbion in 
 
 choojinp 
 
 Magi- 
 
 /hates. 
 
126 
 
 Tytnzny in 
 a wtllot- 
 dercd 
 
 iil$ vtter- 
 h to be »b- 
 boned. 
 
 Suites a*d 
 contio^tr, 
 fes be- 
 tween par- 
 ty (y par ■ 
 ty forth- 
 with to be 
 enJrd, 
 •vehick r <nw 
 a ffayes of 
 a fet pur- 
 pofe be vn- 
 te-ifon&bly 
 del&cd* 
 
 The Corhmen-wetlth 
 
 ftand for the election : which be 
 put vp to the Counfeli. The 
 Princes Office contmueth all his 
 life time , vnleife he be depofed 
 or put downc for iufpjtion of 
 tyranny. They chcfoTe the Truni- 
 bores yearely, but lightly they 
 change them not. All the other 
 Officers be but for one ycare. 
 The Trambores every third day, 
 and fonietiinesj ir need-be, oftner 
 come ifito the Counfeli houfe 
 with the Prince. Their counfeli. 
 is concerning the Common- 
 wealth. If there be any contro- 
 veriies among the commoners, 
 which be very few,they difpatch 
 and end them by and by. They 
 take ever two Siphogrants to 
 them in counfeli, and every day 
 a new couple. And it is provided, 
 that nothing touching the com- 
 ix loivwe' alth (hall be confirmed 
 and ratified,vnleile it haue beene 
 rcafoned of and debated, three 
 dayes in the counfeli before it 
 be decreed. It is death to haiie 
 
 . any 
 
^/Vtopia, 
 
 any confutation, for the com- 
 mon- weakh out of the counfell ? 
 or the place of the common 
 election. This ftatute, they lay, 
 wis made to the intent, that the 
 Prince and Traniborcs, might 
 not eafily conipire together to 
 oppreile the people by tyranny, 
 and to change the Hate of the 
 Weale-publikc. Therefore mat- 
 ters of great weight and impor- 
 tance be brought to the election 
 houfe of the SiphogrAtoC>, wilier^ 
 open the matter to then r imilics. 
 And afterward, when truy haue 
 cohfnlted among thciiifelaes, 
 they OiCvV their devife of .the 
 counfell. Sometime the matter 
 is brought before the counfell 
 of the whole Hand. Furthermore 
 this cuftome alfo the counfell 
 vfeth , to difputc or realon of 
 no matter the lame day that it 
 is firlt propofed or put forth, but 
 to deferre it to the next iitting 
 of the counfell : Bccaufe that no 
 mm when he hath raihly there 
 G 4 fpoken 
 
 J27 
 
 Jgtinft 
 kjfty and 
 
 ctetter 
 
 A cufiome 
 worthy f<y 
 he v fed in 
 tbi/c daiet 
 in our C tun 
 eels and 
 Parli-- 
 ments. 
 
ijS 
 
 7 he Cewmon-wefilth 
 
 fpokcn chr.c commerh to his 
 tongues cndjfliall then aftcrv\ 
 rather ftudy for reafons where- 
 with to defend and niaincainehis 
 firft fooliih fentegce,then for the 
 commodity of the Common- 
 wealth : as one rather willing 
 the harmc or hinderarce of the 
 Weak publike, then any lolfc or 
 diminution or his o\yne eftima- 
 tion; And as one that would be 
 afhamed ( which is a very fo" lifh 
 fliatne ) to be counted any thing 
 at the nrft oveHcene in the mat- 
 ter. Who at the firft ought to 
 have fpoken rather wifely, then 
 hafti!y,orraihly. 
 
 Of 
 
Of V T O P I A . 
 
 129 
 
 
 Of Sciences, Crafts y and 
 Occupations, 
 
 HVsbandry is a Science com- 
 mon to them all nigene- 
 -rall,both men and womcn^wher- 
 .in they be all expert and cun- 
 ning. In this they be all lnitriicl;- 
 ed even from their youth : partly 
 in their Schoolcs with traditions 
 and precepts, and partly in the 
 Country nigh the City,brought 
 vp as ic were in playing, not on- 
 ly beholding the vie or it,but by | 
 occasion of exerciiing their bo- \ 
 dies pratYifing it alio. -Befides, I 
 hu vbauiry, winch ( as I Gid ) is 
 o;n'r;o.uo the a allytvery oncof 
 them letrueth one or ocher fevc- 
 rall and f 3 meular fciencc,as his 
 owne prober crafc. Thu is moil 
 comop.lv I th:r Cloith- working, 
 in woll t/r. ilaxcjor rVUfohary , c '* 
 the Smiths craft, or the Car- 
 penters fciencc : For chore is 
 
 none 
 
 Husbandry 
 
 or tillage 
 
 > 
 
 praftifeel 
 of all e- 
 
 ftiitdy 
 
 which now 
 admits u 
 rcjeQvnto 
 a few of 
 
 tbeb/fiA 
 
 fat.sciea* 
 ees er oc- 
 cupations 
 ftoald be 
 iemvJfor 
 xeceffities 
 filic^and 
 net for the 
 maifite- 
 n met ofti ' 
 otous ex- 
 icffcand 
 wantnn 
 pleafuie. 
 
i?o 
 
 J SimHitmh 
 
 ia appl- 
 ied. 
 
 
 N*> Citi- 
 zen "with- 
 out a fci- 
 cntz. 
 
 The Commw-malth 
 
 none other occupation that any 
 "number to fpeake of doth vie 
 there 
 
 For their garments, which 
 throughout all the Hand be of 
 one fain ion, (Caving that there is 
 a difference berwecne the mans 
 garment and the womans, be- 
 tweene the married and the vn- 
 marncd ) and this one continu- 
 eth for evermore vn changed, 
 feemely and comely to the eyemo 
 lcr to the moving and welding | 
 of the body, alfo fit- both for 
 winter and fummer : as for thefe 
 garments ( I fay ) every family 
 makcth their owne.But of the o- 
 ther forefaid crafts every man 
 learnethone. And notoncly the 
 men but alio the .women. But the. 
 womcn,as the weaker fort 7 be pur 
 to the ealier crafts : *8 to worke 
 wooll and flaxc.The more labor* 
 fome fciences be committed to- 
 the men . For the molt part,every 
 man id brought vp in hi i , fathers 
 crafe For iuoft com nonlv they 
 
 be 
 
cfV 
 
 T O V 1 A. 
 
 1 3 1; 
 
 To'wBtt 
 
 occupation 
 every ens 
 is nut ur al- 
 ly inclined 
 that let 
 bimlcarnc 
 
 be naturally thereto bent and'in- 
 clincct. But if a mans mn:d Hand 
 to any other ? he is by adoption 
 put into a family of that occupa- 
 tion, which he doth naoft fanta- 
 iie. Whom not onely his father, ! 
 but alfo the Magiitrate doc dili- 
 gently looke to^that he be put to 
 a difcrect and an honefc hou- 
 fholder. Yea, and if any pciion, 
 when he hath learned one craft, 
 be defirous to learne alfo ano- 
 ther, he is likewifefiitfercdand 
 perniitted.When he hath learned 
 both, he occupicth whether he 
 will : vnlelfe the City hath more 
 need of the one, then the other, 
 The chief e and almoif, the onely 
 office ( f die $jpho<rx#Mts is, to 
 fee and take heed, that r.o njatv 
 lit idle : but that every one ap- 
 ply his owne craft with earner!: 
 diligence. And yet for all that, I l&t per- 
 not to be wearied from carely in 
 the naormn£*tQ€! hue in the eve 
 
 fens to be 
 
 oft be 
 
 eo't 
 
 nmg,with continuail woikc-like j ,.y 
 labouring »n& toyliiug Beafts. ' pttbliq 
 I Per I 
 
13* 
 
 A im 'era- 
 tio» in the 
 labour end 
 toyle of ar- 
 tificers. 
 
 ihe dmmon- wc tit b 
 
 For this is worfe then the mifc- 
 rable and wretched condition of 
 bondmen. 
 
 Which,nevertheleiTe is almofl 
 
 every where the life of workmen 
 
 and artificers, faving in Vtopia. 
 
 For they dividing the day and 
 
 the night into twenty foure juit 
 
 houres, appoint and alii gue only 
 
 6 of thole hours toworke, before 
 
 noone vpon the which they goe 
 
 llrait to dinner, and after dinner, 
 
 when they have reftcd a houres, 
 
 then they workc three houres, 
 
 and vpon that they goc to fup. 
 
 per. About eight of the clocks m 
 
 the evening (counting one of .the 
 
 clock e the hrll houre After 
 
 noone) they goe to bed : eight 
 
 houres they give to ileepe. 
 
 All the voidc time , that is 
 
 betweene the houres of worke, 
 
 flecpe j and meate, that they 
 
 be fuffered to bellow every man 
 
 as he likedi bell- hiixifclfe. Not 
 
 to the intent. that they ihould 
 
 lmfpcnd this time in not , or 
 
 floath- 
 
o/Vtopi a . 
 
 floathfulneife, but being then li- 
 cenfcd from the labour of their 
 ovvne occupations> to bellow the 
 time well & thriftily vpon fome 
 other Science , as (liall pleafe 
 them : For it is a folemne cu- 
 ftome there , to have Lectures 
 daily early in the morning, 
 whereto be prelent 5 thcy only be 
 conllraincd,that be namely, cho- 
 fen and appointed to learning. 
 Howbcit a great multitude of.e- 
 vcry fort of people,both men and 
 women goe to heare Lectures, 
 fomc one and fome another,as e- 
 very mans nature is inclined. Yet 
 tliis notwithitandingjif any man 
 
 I had rather bellow this time vpon 
 his ownc occupation, a$ it chan- 
 
 | ceth in many, (whole minds rife 
 
 : not in the contemplation of any 
 Science liberal!) he is nor letted 
 
 i nor prohibited, but is alibprai- 
 fed and commended , as profi- 
 
 ! table to the Common-wealth; 
 
 ! After Supper ,. they bellow 
 one houre in play : in Summer, 
 
 t in 
 
 I op 
 
 The fiudf. 
 efgood li- 
 terature . 
 
 Pitying 
 after fuft 
 per. 
 
154 
 
 Playet of 
 gwzsdfo 
 profitable. 
 
 The Commonwealth 
 
 Bat tmr* a 
 daksdice- 
 play is the 
 pafiime of 
 Princes. 
 
 in their Gardens :.in Winter, in 
 their common Hall , where they 
 dine and Tup. There they exer- 
 cife themielves in Muiicke, or 
 eiie in honeft and wholfome 
 communication. Dice-play, and 
 fuch other fooliih and pernicious 
 games, they know not. But they 
 vie two games, not much vnlikc 
 the Cheife. The one is the bat- 
 taile of numbers, wherein one 
 number ftealerh away another. 
 The other is where vices fight 
 with vertues, as ltwereinbat- 
 taile array,, or a fet Field. In the 
 which game is very properly 
 flic wed, both the ft rife and dii- 
 cord, that the vices have among 
 themfelves, and againe their vni- 
 tyand concord againil vertues. 
 And alfo what vices be repug- 
 nant to what vcrtues : with what 
 power and ilrcngth they silaile 
 them openly : by what wiles and 
 fubttlry they alfault them fecrct- 
 ly ; wi:h whit helpe and ayd the 
 vermes rej/t, and overcome the 
 
 puitla nee 
 
tfVr 
 
 O P I A. 
 
 the puiifance of the vices : by 
 what craft they fruifrate their 
 pin poles : and finally by what 
 Height ormeanes the one getteth 
 the victory. But hereleait yon be 
 deceived , one thing yomnult 
 looke more narrowly vpon. For 
 feeing they bellow but iixe 
 hourcs in worke, perchance you 
 may thinke that the lacke of 
 fome necell'ary things hereof 
 mayeufuc. But this is nothing 
 {o; For that fmall tune is nor 
 onely enough,but alio too much 
 for the itore and abundance of 
 allthings,that be requiiitc,cither 
 for the neceflity, or commodity 
 of life.The which ihing you alfo 
 ill all percciue^ if you weigh and P^ 
 confider with your i elves how 
 great a part of the people in o- 
 ther Countries hvech idle. Firii 
 almoftall women, which be the 
 halfe of the whole number : or 
 elfe if the women be fomewhere 
 occupyed,there moil commonly 
 m their if ead the men be idle, 
 
 Be- 
 
 U5 
 
 The ki*fo 
 o] forts of 
 idle peo- 
 
 IVomen. 
 
112 
 
 Prices 
 and religi- 
 ous men. 
 Rich men 
 and landed 
 men. 
 
 Serving- 
 men, stur- 
 dy and va- 
 liant beg- 
 gars. 
 
 The Common wealth 
 
 Won ier- 
 
 fulltsittt* 
 
 lyfpelien. 
 
 Beiidcs this* How great and how 
 
 idle a company is there of 
 
 Pncih,and religious jiicn,as they 
 
 call them I put thereto all rich 
 
 men, ipecially all landed men, 
 
 which commonly be called Gen- 
 
 tlemcn,and noblemen. Take into 
 
 this number alio their fervants : 
 
 I. meanc all tint tfocke of itout 
 
 bragging. ruflibucklers. Ioync to 
 
 tlum alio llurdy and valiant 
 
 beggers, cloaking their idle life 
 
 vnder the colour or ioaie difeafe 
 
 or licknellc. 
 
 And truly you dial I find them 
 much fewer then you thought., 
 by whole labour all thefe things 
 are wrought , that in mens af- 
 faires are now daily -vied and fre- 
 quented. Now coniider with 
 yourfelfe, ofthefefew that doe 
 work e, how few be occupyed, m 
 neceilary worker For where mo- 
 ney bcarcth all the Cvtfing# there 
 many vame and fi|jietfiuid$isl 
 occupations mult needs be vied 
 to icrve ouely for- riotous, fuper- 
 tiuity 
 
Of V T O P I A , 
 
 fruity , andvnhoneft pleafure: 
 for the fame multitude that now 
 is occupyed in worke, if they 
 were divided into (6 few occupa- 
 tion, as the necellary vfe or na- 
 ture required^ in fo great plenty 
 of things as then of ncceflity 
 would enTue, doubtleilc the pri- 
 ces would be too little for the 
 artificers to maintaine their li- 
 vings. 
 Bur if all thefe,that be now bull- 
 ed about unprofitable occupati- 
 ons, with all the whole fiocfe of 
 the that live ldlcly & iioathfully, 
 which confume and wait every 
 one of them more of thefe things 
 that come by other mens labour, 
 then two of the workmen tbem- 
 1 elves doe: if all thefe (I fay) were 
 fet to profitable occupations : 
 you cafily perceive how little 
 time would be enough, yea, 
 and too much to ftore vs with 
 all things that may be rcquifite 
 either for nece Firy or commo- 
 dity , yea or for pleafure , 
 
 fo 
 
 137 
 
x 3 8 
 
 The Common wealth 
 
 Nvtafi 
 
 much as 
 he Migi- 
 
 firataliiie 
 id.cly. 
 
 fo thar the Line picture be true 
 and natuiail. And this in V'opia 
 the thing it fdfe niaketh mani- 
 left and plainer For there in all 
 the City with the whole Coun- 
 try y or Shire ad/oymng to it, 
 fcarcely fine hundred peri on s of 
 all the whole number or men 
 and women, that be neither too 
 old nor too weake to worke, be 
 licenced and discharged rro m la- 
 bour. Among them be the Syphc- 
 grdntt ( who though they be by 
 the lawes exempt and privileged 
 from labour ) yet rhey exempt 
 not themfelves : to the intent, 
 they may the rather by their ex- 
 ample to provoke others to 
 worke. 
 
 The fame vocation from la- 
 bour doe they alfo enjoy , to 
 who n the people perfwaded by 
 the com nendation of the Priefts, 
 and fecrct election of the Sypho- 
 
 tr 9 have given a perpetuall 
 
 nee, b'om labour to learning. 
 
 But it any one of them prove 
 
 nor 
 
ef V T O P I A. 
 
 not according to the expectation 
 and hope of him conceived, he is 
 forthwith plucked backetothe 
 company of artificers. And con- 
 trail wife, and often it chanceth 
 that a handicrafts man doth Co 
 earnestly beftow his vacant and 
 (pare houres in learning , and 
 through diligence Co profiteth 
 therein, that he is taken from his 
 handy occupation,and promoted 
 to the company of the learned. 
 Out of tins order of the learned 
 be chofen AmbairadoursjPriefts, 
 Ttanibores , and finally the 
 prince himfelfe. Whom they in 
 their old tongue call Bar^anes, 
 and by a newer name, Attamus. 
 
 The refidue of the people b*- 
 tng neither idle, nor yet occupy » 
 ed about vnprofitable cxercifcs, 
 it may be eaiily fudged in how 
 few houres how much good 
 worke by them may be done and 
 difpatched, towards thole thiigs 
 that I have fpoken off. This 
 commodity they have alio above 
 
 other, 
 
 l 39 
 
 Only lear- 
 ned men 
 ctllel to 
 
140 
 
 Hots to a- 
 idi iexcef- 
 five coj'i in 
 building. 
 
 The Common weattb 
 
 other, that in the moil part of 
 necellary occupations they need 
 not fo much worke, as other na- 
 tions doe.Forfirft.of all the buil- 
 ding or repairing of houfesaf- 
 keth every where fo many mens 
 continuall labour , becaufe that 
 the vnthrifty heire iiirfereth the 
 hbufe : that hi> father builded, in 
 continuance of time^to fall in de- 
 cay. So that which he might haue 
 vpholden with little coit,hisfuc_ 
 ceifor is conftraired to build 
 it agiiiii a new , to his great 
 chuge. Yea many tin es alio the 
 houfe that flood onemm 1:1 much 
 money: and another is of fo nice 
 and ib -delicate a mind, that he 
 fetteth nothing by it. And it being 
 negle&edySahercfore ihortly fal- 
 ling into mine, he buildeth vp a- 
 nother in another place with no 
 leifc colt and charge. 
 
 But among the. Vtoyian^ 
 where all things be fet in good 
 order , and the Common- 
 
 : chin a poodftav , it fel- 
 
 doAic chanceth, that they choofe 
 
I 4 I 
 
 */Vtoma, 
 
 a new plot to build an houfe vp- 
 on. And they doc not cncly find 
 fpeedy and quickc remedies for 
 prcient faults : but alfo pre- 
 vent them that be like to tall. 
 And by this meanes their houfcs 
 continue and kit very long with 
 little labour and fmall reparati- 
 ons,inibmuch that thefe kind of 
 workemen fometimes have al- 
 taoit nothing to doe. Bit that 
 they be commanded to hew tim- 
 ber at hom^ and 'toTquarc and 
 tnmmc vp Hones, to the intent 
 that if any-worke chance, it may 
 the fpccdilicr rife. >'ow Sir, in 
 their appareil-,nflikc('. pray you) 
 how tew workemen they need. j tbargtin 
 Full of all, wlnles they be at apparcll* 
 worke, they be covered homely 
 with leather, Or skins,' that will 
 la$ leaven yeare>.Wnen they go 
 forth abroad,they curt vpon them 
 a clo.ike, which hideth the other 
 homely apparel I. Thefe cloakes 
 throughout the whole I- 
 land , be all cf o.ie colour , 
 
 and 
 
 Hcn>t9 
 'ej/en the 
 
142 
 
 J be Commw-wukh 
 
 and that is the naturall colour of 
 the wooll.They therefore doe not 
 onely fpend much wollen cloth, 
 then is fpent in other Coun- 
 tries, but alfo the fame Handed? 
 them in much leile coft. But lm- 
 nen cloath is made witk Idle la- 
 bour, and is therefore had more 
 in vfe. But in linnen cloath only 
 whiteneife 5 in wollen, onely 
 clenlineife is regarded. As for the 
 fmaluetlc or rjnenelfe of the 
 thred^hat is nothing palled for. 
 And this is the caufe wherefore 
 in other places foure or flue 
 cloath gownes of divers colours j 
 and as many iillft coatcs be not; 
 enough for one man. Yea, and if 
 he be of the dilicate and nice 
 fortjtenne be too few : where as 
 there one garment vyill fcrve a 
 man moll: commonly, two years; 
 For why ftiould he defire more \ 
 feeing ir he had them, he Anode! 
 not be the better h*pt or cove- 
 red from cold, neither in his ap- 
 parell <<ny whit the comlier. 
 
 Where- 
 
 11 
 
c/Vtoph, 143 
 
 Whercfore/eeing they be all ex- 
 era fed in profitable occupations, 
 and that few Artificiers in the 
 fame crafts be fuftiaent : this is 
 the caufe that plenty or all things 
 being among them , they doc 
 fometimes bring forth an innu- 
 merable company or people to a- 
 mend the high- wayci, it any be 
 broken. Many times alio, when 
 they have no iuch worke to be 
 occupyed about, an open procla- 
 mation is made, that they ihall 
 bellow jfevver homes in worke: 
 For the Magistrates d^c not ex- 
 ercifc their Citizens againit. their 
 Wills in vimce*dfull labours. For 
 why, in the mititution of the 
 Weale publike, this end is oncly 
 and clneiiy pretended and min- 
 ded, that what time may poflibly 
 be fpared from the neccilary oc- 
 cupations and tfaires oi the 
 Goimnon- wealth , all chat the 
 Citizens mould withdraw from 
 the bodily fa vice to the free li- 
 berty of the mind andgarninV 
 
 ing 
 
144 
 
 The Ccmw$n wealth 
 
 ing of the fame. For herein they 
 fuppofc the felicity of this life to 
 confift. 
 
 Of their living and mutx- 
 allconverjktion to- 
 gether, 
 
 BUt now will I declare how 
 the Citizens vfe themfclves 
 one to another : what fami- 
 liar occupying and errtertain- 
 ment,there is among the people, 
 and what fafhion they vie in the 
 diitribution of every ihing.Firft, 
 the City coniiileth or families, 
 the families molt commonly be 
 made of kinreds.For the women 
 when they be married at a law- 
 hill age, they goe into their hul- 
 bands houfes. 
 
 But the male Children, with 
 all the whole male oif-lprmg 
 continue ftill in their owne fa- 
 mily, and be governed of the cl- 
 deltand auci en ceil father,^. Icile 
 
 he 
 
o f V T O P I A. 
 
 he dote tor age.ro r rhcn the next 
 to him in age , is placed in his 
 roome. But to the intent the pre- 
 icnpc number ef the citizens 
 mould neither decreafcj nor a- 
 boue mcafure incrcafe, it is or- 
 dained that no family, which in 
 every City be lixe thoufand \\\ 
 the whole, bciides them of the 
 Countrcy, ihall at once haue 
 fewer children of the age of lour- 
 teene yeares or thereabout, then 
 ten, or more then fixtcene ; for 
 of children under this age , no 
 number can be prefenbed or ap- 
 pointed.This meafure or nuipber 
 is ealily obferved and kept , by 
 putting them that in fuller fa- 
 milies be above the number in- 
 to families of f mailer mere fe. 
 But if chance fye that in the 
 whole Catty, the (tore incrcafe 
 ibove the juit number, where- 
 with they rill vp the lacke of 
 other Cities. Bu ^^o be that the 
 multitude throughout th ' ' )le 
 Hand, pallc and ex eed .he due 
 number , then ' ; ' choofe 
 H <% ' 
 
 M5 
 
 The rum. 
 ler ofci. 
 
H 5 
 
 The Common- wealth 
 
 ■■ «— ^-^ • 
 
 out of every City certaine Citi- 
 zens, and build up a Towne un- 
 der their owne lawes in the next 
 Land where the inhabitants have 
 much wafte and unoccupied 
 ground , receiving alfo of the 
 Jame Countrey people to them, 
 if they will Joyne and dwell with 
 them. They thus joyning and 
 dwelling together doe ealily a- 
 gree in one faflnon of livmg,and 
 that to the great wealth of both 
 the peoples : For they fo bring 
 the matter about by their Lawes, 
 that the ground which before 
 was neither good nor profitable 
 for the one nor for the other, is 
 now fufficient and fruitfull e- 
 nough for them both. But if the 
 inhabitants of the land, will not 
 dwell with them to be ordered by 
 their lawe\s, then they drive them 
 ! out of thofe bounds which they 
 ! have limited and appointed out 
 I for then :i elves. 
 
 And if they refill and rebell. 
 I then they make warre again it 
 
 them. 
 
f/V T O P I A. 
 
 — ■ !■ Hi* ■ I. 
 
 them. For they count this the 
 molt jufc caufe of warre , when 
 any people holdcth a piece of 
 ground voyd and vacant to no 
 good nor profitable ufe, keeping 
 other from the ufe and poileilion 
 or it, which notwkhttanding by 
 the law of Nature ought thereof 
 to be nourished and relieved. Ir 
 any chance doe lo much dimi- 
 nifli the number of any of their 
 Cities, chat ic cannot bee filled 
 upagaine, without the dimini- 
 shing of the jull number of the 
 other Cities ( which they lay 
 chanced but twice fince the be- 
 ginning of the Land, through a 
 great peltilcnr plague) then they 
 fulfill and make up the number 
 with Citizens fetched oat of their 
 owne forraignc Townes, for chey 
 had rather iuffer their forraignc 
 townes to decay and pcrifh, then 
 any City of their owne Hand to 
 be diminiihed. But now againe 
 to the convcrfation of the Citi- 
 zens among themlclves. 
 
 H * The 
 
148 ! The Common-mdtb 
 
 SO might 
 
 •stewell be 
 
 difcharged 
 
 aid taftd 
 
 oftbeidle 
 
 company 
 
 offerving- 
 
 The elded ( as I faid ) ru- 
 leth the family. Thewiues be 
 Mimilcrs to their husbands, the 
 children to their parents, and to 
 be fliort the younger to their el- 
 ders. Every City is divided into 
 foure equall parts or quarters. In 
 the midit. of every quarter, there 
 is a market place of all manner 
 of things. Thither the vvorkes 
 of every family be brought into 
 certame houfes. And every kind 
 of thing is laid vp fever dl in 
 barnes or ftore houfes. From 
 hence the father of every family 
 or every houfl; older fetcheth 
 whatsoever he and his have need 
 off, and carrieth it away with 
 him without money ywithout ex- 
 change , without any gage, 
 pawnc, or pledge. For why 
 ihould any thing be denied unto 
 him ? feeing there is abundance 
 of all things,and that it is not to 
 be feared , ieaft any man will 
 askc more then he necdeth. For 
 why ihould ir bj thought that 
 
 that 
 
Pf V T O f I A. 
 
 that man would aske more then 
 enough, which is fure never to 
 lacke I Cercainly in all kinds of 
 living creatures, either feare of 
 lacke doth caufe covetoufneile 
 and ravine,or in man onely pride 
 which count eth it a glorious 
 thing ro patlc and exccll other in 
 the fuperrluous and vuneo- 
 itentation of things. The which 
 kind of vice among the / tofians 
 can have no place. Next to the 
 market places that I fpc.ke on 1 , 
 ftand meat markets : whether he 
 brought not onely all forts of 
 hearbes, and the fruits of trees, 
 with bread , but alfo £ lh , and all 
 manner of foure-footcd Beafts, 
 and wild Fowle that be mans 
 meate. But firft the filthi- 
 neife and ordure thereof , is 
 clean e waflied away in the run- 
 ning River without the City in 
 places appointed meete for the 
 fame purpofc. From thence 
 the Beads be brought in kil- 
 led, and cleanc waihed by the 
 H 3 hands 
 
 The saufe 
 ofcoue- 
 i^rtfneffe 
 av<i i extor- 
 tion. 
 
150 
 
 Cftbe 
 fl&ughter 
 of Beafts, 
 we b<ive 
 learned 
 mnnjl.tvgh 
 ter. 
 
 Filth and 
 ordure 
 l> ir~g tbe 
 injeftionsf 
 PcftiUnce 
 into. Cities 
 
 The Comrnw- wealth 
 
 hands of their Bondmen : for 
 they permit not their free Citi- 
 zens to accuftome themfelves to 
 the killing of beaits, through the 
 ufe whereof they thinke, clemen- 
 cie the gen tl ell affection of our 
 nature by little and little, to de- 
 cay and peri ill. Neither they fuf- 
 fer any tiring that is filthy,loath- 
 fome,or uncleanly ,to be brought 
 into the City \ left the ayre by 
 ftench thereof infected and cor- 
 rupt 5 fhould caufe Pcftilent dif- 
 eafbn Moreover, every vStfeet 
 hath certaine great large hals fet 
 in equall diftance one from ano- 
 ther ? every one knowne by a fe- 
 verdl name. In thei'e hal s dwell 
 the Syphogrants. And to every 
 one of the fame halles,be appoin- 
 ted thirty families, on either 
 iide fifteene. The ftewards of 
 every hall , at a certaine home 
 come into the meat markets , 
 where they receiue meate ac- 
 cording to the number of their 
 hals. 
 
 But 
 
efYroviA. 
 
 But firft and chiefely of all, 
 rcfpelt is had to the ficke, 
 that be cured in the hofpitals. 
 Form the circuit or the Oity, a 
 little without the walls,they have 
 fourc Hofpitals, fobig, fo wide, 
 (6 ample, and lb large, that they 
 may ice me foure little Townes, 
 which were devifed of that big- 
 neile, partly to the intent the fick i 
 be they never fo many in num- 
 ber, fhould not lye too throng 
 or itrait, and therefore uncauly, j 
 andincommoiioully : and part- j 
 ly that they which were taken 1 
 and holden with contagious dil- j 
 eafes, fuch as be wont by infefti- j 
 on to ci'ccpc from one to ano j 
 ther, might be laid a fare from i 
 the company or the lcliduc. 
 
 Thele Hofpitals befo well ap- : 
 pointed, and with all things ne- 
 ceiTary to health fofiirniflicd>and j 
 moreover fo diligent attendance 
 through the eontinuall prefence 
 of cunning Phyfitians is given, 
 chat though no man Be lent thi~ I 
 H.4 t ! ici 
 
 '5* 
 
 Care t dMi- 
 gevce and 
 attendance 
 itbout the 
 
1 5 2 
 
 ' 
 
 The Comfcon-wadth 
 
 thcr againfthis will,yet notwith- 
 standing there is no licke peifon 
 in all the City, that had not ra- 
 ther lye there then at home at 
 his cwnc ho. fe. When the lie- 
 ward of the licke hath received 
 fiich iheates as the Phyfitians 
 haue prefer i bed, then the bell is 
 equally divided among the halls 
 according to ths company of e- 
 very one, laving there is had a 
 refpe& to the Ptmcc,the Bifhop, 
 the Trani bores, and to Ambaila- 
 dours and all Grangers, if there 
 be any, which be very few and 
 feldome.But they alio when they 
 be N there, have certaine feverall 
 Boufes appointed and prepared 
 for them. To thefe halls at the 
 fct homes of dinner and fuppcr, 
 commeth all the whole Sypho - 
 grsntie or Ward , warned by 
 the noifc of a brazen Trum- 
 pet : except fuch as be licke in 
 the Hofpitals , orclfe in their 
 ownc houfes. 
 
 How- 
 
//Vtopia. 
 
 Howbeit , no man is pro- 
 hibited 01 forbid , or after uie 
 halls be ferVed to fetch home 
 ineatc out of the Market to his 
 owiie ho'.jfe > for they know that 
 no man will doe it without a 
 caufe reasonable. For though no 
 man be prohibited to dine at 
 home, yet no man doth it wil- 
 lingly I becauft it is counted a 
 ■poiiit of finall honeity. And alfo 
 it wei e ,a folly to take the paine 
 to drelfc a bad dinner at home, 
 when they may be welcome to 
 good and fine fare ib nigh hand 
 at the hall. 
 
 In this hall, all vile fcrvice, 
 and all ftavcry , with all la- 
 bourfome toyle , and drudgery, 
 and bale buiineiic , is done by 
 bondmen. But the women of c- 
 very family by courfe have the 
 office and charge of cookery for 
 Teething and dr effing the meate, 
 and ordering all things thereto 
 belonging. They fit at three ta- 
 bles or more , according to the 
 H 5 num.- 
 
 153 
 
 Cveryixan 
 is at bii li* 
 bc*tf, fo 
 that »o« 
 thing it 
 done by 
 eompulfd. 
 
 fpeme* 
 bQibdreJfc 
 andferie 
 the raejt. 
 
154 
 
 1 he Comma-wealth 
 
 Narfes, 
 
 number of their company. The 
 men lit vpon the Bench next the 
 wall , and the women againil 
 them on the other fide of the ta- 
 bleland if any fudden evill fhould 
 chance to them, as many times ! 
 happeneth to women with child, 
 they may rile without trouble or 
 difturbance of any body, and 
 goe thence into the nurfery.The 
 Nurfes fit feverall alone with 
 their young iuckhng>, in a cer- 
 tain^ parlour appoinced and de- 
 puted to the fame purpofe,never 
 .without fire and cleane water, 
 nor yet without cradles , that 
 when they will they may lay 
 downe the young Infants,and at 
 their pleafure take them out of 
 their fwathing- cloathes^and hold 
 them to the fire,and refreih them 
 with play, Every mother is nurfc 
 to her ovvne child, vnlelfe either 
 death, or fi:knelfe be the let. 
 When that chancech,the wiues cf 
 the Srjhs grants quickly provide 
 a Nmfc. And that is not hard to 
 J be 
 
 -r 
 
of\ r 
 
 TO M A, 
 
 bo-done. For they that can doe 
 ic^ . proffer themfelves to no l'er- 
 yice Jo gladly as to that. Becaufe 
 that there this kind of pecce is 
 much praiied : and the child that 
 is nounj]}cd,evcr after,taketh his 
 nmfe lor his owne naturall mo- 
 ther. Alio among the nudes, fit 
 all the children that be under the 
 age of hue yeares. All the other 
 children of both kinds, as well 
 boyes as gh'les, that be under the 
 age- of marriage, doe either fervc 
 at the tables,or elie if they be too 
 young thereto, yet they lland by 
 with marvailous filence. That 
 which is given to them from the 
 table they eate, and other feverall 
 dinner time they have none.The 
 Sjpbogrant and his wife lit in 
 the midlt of the high Table, for 
 as much as that is counted the 
 honourable!! pLice, and becaufe 
 from thence all the whole com- 
 pany is in their light. For that 
 I table ftandtfh over cliwirt thw- 
 vcr cud of the Hall. To them be 
 ' pvned 
 
 155 
 
 No king 
 footer yro- 
 voh^etb 
 men to we S 
 4ci»g then 
 ptaife end 
 cowmen* 
 d»tien. 
 
 The ela 
 cation of 
 
 long chil 
 dnn. 
 
15*5 
 
 1 ht C$mmon± wealth 
 
 Tbt young 
 mixcJ 
 with their 
 ciders* 
 
 01 J me* 
 
 regarded 
 en el rev S- 
 
 Joyried two of the ancienteit and 
 eldelt. For at every table they lit 
 foure at a metre. But if there be a 
 Church Handing in thatSypho- 
 granty, or Ward, then the Prieft. 
 and his wire iitteth with the Sy- 
 phogrant,as chiefs in the compa- 
 ny. On both fides of them lit 
 young men, and next unto them 
 againe , old men. And thus 
 throughout all the houfe, equall 
 of age be let together, and yet be 
 mixt and matched withunequall 
 ages. 
 
 This tliey fay, Was ordeined, 
 to the intent that rhe fage gra- 
 vity and reverence of the elders 
 ihould keepe the yongers from 
 wanton licence of words and be- 
 haviour. For as much as nothing 
 can be fo fecretly fpoken or done 
 at the table ,. but either 'they 
 that lit on the one Tide or on 
 the other , muft needs perceive 
 : it. The difhes b" not fet <k>wne 
 j in order from the fait place, 
 i but all the old men ( whofe pk- 
 
 ces 
 
*/Vt 
 
 O P I A 
 
 ces be marked with Tome fpeciall 
 token to be knowne ) be hrif 
 ferved of their meate , and then 
 the reiidue equally. The old 
 men,divide their dainties as they 
 thinke beft to the younger on 
 each fide of them. Thus the el- 
 ders be not defrauded of their 
 due honour? and nevertheleile e- 
 quall commodity commeth to 
 every one. They begin every 
 dinner and fupper of readinp 
 fomthingthat peitaineth to good 
 manners and vertue. But it is 
 Ihort, becaufe no man fkaU be 
 grieved therewith. Hereof the el- 
 ders take occafion of honclf com- 
 munication, but neither fad nor 
 unpleafant. Howbeit they doe 
 not fpend all the whole dinner 
 time themfelves, with long and 
 tedious talke , but they gladly 
 heare alfo the young men : 
 yea , and purpofcly provoke 
 them to talke , to the intent 
 that they may have aproofeof 
 every mans wit , and toward- 
 
 netTe 
 
 157 
 
 fbis nvw 
 ad lies is 
 
 ebferved 
 in our V- 
 tiverfity. 
 
 Talk? at 
 Table, 
 
/ i$8 
 
 The Common-malt h 
 
 This is 
 repugnant 
 to the opi- 
 nion of our 
 pbyftti- 
 ans-Ma- 
 ficfe at the 
 Table. 
 
 Pltifure 
 
 without 
 
 barme, 
 
 dablg. 
 
 nelfe, or difpolition to vci cue, 
 which commonly in the liberty 
 of fealtiug, dodi ihew andvtter 
 it felfe. Their dinners be very 
 ihort: but their f uppers be tome- 
 what longer , becaule that after 
 dinner rolloweth labour, after 
 {upper, (leepe and naturall reft, 
 which they thinke to be of more 
 ltrength and erhcacy to whol- 
 [oiiiq and heakhfull digcftion, 
 No f upper is palled without Mu- 
 iicke. Nor their banquets want 
 no conceits, nor junkets. They 
 burne fweet gummes and 1 pices 
 or perfumes, and pleafant fmels, 
 and fprinckle about /weet oint- 
 ments and waters, yea, they have 
 nothing undone that maketh for 
 the chcrilhing of the company, 
 For they be much enclined to 
 this opinion r to thinke no kind 
 of pleifure forbidden, whereof 
 comrmth no harm:. Thus there- 
 fore, and after this {ore they live 
 together in the City, but in the 
 Countrjy they that dwell alone 
 ' farre 
 
efV 
 
 T O P I A. 
 
 159 
 
 fane from any neighbours, doe 
 dine at home in their own c ho 11- 
 j fes : For no family there lackcth 
 any viftuals^asfrom whom com- 
 raeth all that the Citizens eat 
 and hue by. 
 
 Of their jour nying er travelling 
 abroad, whig stivers other mat- 
 tcrs cunningly re* foxed, 
 and wittily dif~ 
 cuffed. 
 
 BVt if any be defirous to< vi-. 
 ike either their friends dwel- 
 ling in another City, or to fee 
 the place it felfc, they eafily ob- 
 taine licence of the Syphogrants 
 and Tr ami '•ores, v alette there be 
 fome profitable let. No man go- 
 I eth out alone but a company is 
 fent forth togither with their 
 Princes letters, who doe teftifie 
 that they have licence to go that 
 journey, and prelcribeth alio the 
 day of their returns 
 
 T.hcv 
 
l6o 
 
 The Cemmen wealth 
 
 They haue a Waine given 
 them , with a common bond- 
 man , , which driveth the oxen, 
 and taketh charge of them* Bat 
 vnleire they haue Women in 
 their Company , they fend 
 home the wame againe, as an 
 impediment and let. And though 
 they carry nothing forth with 
 them , yet in all their journey 
 they hcke nothing. For where- 
 leever they come y they be at 
 home. If they tary in a place 
 longer then one day, then there 
 every one of them falieth to his 
 owne occupation, and be very 
 gently entertained of the worke- 
 men and companies of the lame 
 crafts. If any man of his owne 
 head and without leaue,walke 
 out of his precinft and bounds, 
 take without the Princes letters, 
 he is brought againe for a fugi- 
 tive, or a run- away with great 
 fhame and rebuke, and .'is-fliarply 
 pumfhed. If he be taken in that 
 fault againe, heis puni/hed with 
 bondage, If -.stay be deiirous tGk 
 
Of V T O P I A . 
 
 \6l 
 
 walkc abroad into the fields, or 
 into the Countrey that bclon- 
 gcth to the fame City that hee 
 dwellethin, obtaining the good 
 will of his Father, and the con- 
 fent Jt his Wire, he is not prohi- 
 bited. But into what part of the 
 Countrey focver he commeth, he 
 hath no meat given him untill 
 he have wrought out his fore- 
 noon cs task , or difpatchcd fo 
 much workc, as there is wont 
 to be wrought before fupper. 
 Observing this law and conditi- 
 on, he may goc whither he will 
 within the bounds of his owne 
 City. For hee (hall be no leife 
 profitable to the City, then if he 
 were within it. Now you fee 
 how little liberty they have to 
 loyter : how they can haue no 
 cloake or prcrence to Idlenelle. 
 There be neither wine tauerns, 
 nor alehoufes , nor ltewes , nor 
 any occalion of vice or wicked- 
 nelfe , no lurking corners , no 
 places of wicked counfailes 
 
 or 
 
 Oholy 
 common- 
 weal tb 
 and of 
 Cbri[iians 
 to be foU 
 lowed, 
 
l6i 
 
 7 he Cemmm- wealth 
 
 Equality 
 is the 
 caufe tbtt 
 every mm 
 bath e- 
 nougb. 
 
 ar vnlawf ull affemblies, but they 
 be in the prefent fighr,and vnder 
 the eyes of every man.So that of 
 neceliity they mult either apply 
 their accultomed labours, or elic 
 recreate themlelves withhonell 
 and laudable paftimes. 
 
 This fa Hi ion and trade of life,, 
 being vfed anion g the people, it 
 cannot be chofen, but that they 
 muft of neeeffity have itore and 
 plenty of all things. And feeing 
 they be all thereof partners e- 
 qually ># therefore can no man 
 there be poorc or needy. In the 
 counfell of Amaurote^ whether 
 as I faid , every City fendeth 
 three men a peece ycarely, -tlben 
 as it is perfectly knowne of what 
 things there is in every place 
 plenty, and againe what things 
 befcantin any place, inconti- 
 nent the lacke of the one, is per- 
 formed and filled vp with the 
 abundance o£ the other.. And 
 this they doe freely without any 
 benefit, talking nothing againe 
 
 or 
 
Of Vt O P I A. 
 
 of them, to whom rhc things is 
 given, but thofe Cities that have 
 given of their if ore to any other 
 City, that lacketh , requiring 
 nothing againe of the fame City, 
 doe take iuch things as they lack 
 of another City , to the which 
 they gaue nothing. So the whole 
 Hand is as it were one fami- 
 ly or houfliold. But when 
 they have made fufficient pro- 
 vilion of ftore for themfolves 
 ( which they thinke not done, 
 vntill they haue provided for 
 two yeares following,becaufe of 
 the vncertainty of the next years 
 proofe ) then of thofe things, 
 whereof they have abundance, 
 they carry forth into other 
 Countries great plenty : as 
 Grayne, honey, wooll, rlaxe, 
 wood , madder , purple died 
 felles, waxe, tallow, leather, and 
 living Beafts. And the fcaventh 
 part of all theie things they giue 
 franckly and freely to the poore 
 of that Country. The refidue 
 
 they 
 
 \6^ 
 
 A common 
 •wealth i s 
 norbitg 
 el/e but a 
 gcatbou- 
 Jbold. 
 
104 
 
 7 fa Cowmen wealth 
 
 In all 
 things and 
 about all 
 things , to 
 the com- 
 munity 
 they haue 
 an eye . 
 
 they fell at a reafonable and 
 meane price. By this meanes 
 of tratLque or marchandife, 
 they bring into their owne 
 countrey $ not oneiy great plen- 
 ty of gold and filver, but alfo 
 all fuch things as they hcke 
 at home , which is almoft no- 
 thing but Iron. And by reafon 
 they haue long vfed this trade, 
 now they haue more abundance 
 of theic things , then any man 
 will beleeue. 
 
 Now therefore they care not 
 whether they fell for ready mo- 
 ney, or elfeupon trull • to be 
 paid at a day , and to have the 
 molt part in debts. But in (6 
 doing they never follow the cre- 
 dence of private men : but the 
 ailurance or warrantife ,.of the 
 whole City, by inftruments and 
 writings made in that behalfe 
 accordingly. When the day of 
 payment is come and expired, 
 the City gather eth up the debt of 
 the private debtors,and putteth -it 
 
 into 
 
fifYr © ? I a. 
 
 165 
 
 into the common boxe, and {o 
 long hath the ufe and profit or it, 
 unuii the Vtopians their credi- 
 tors demand it. The molt pare 
 of it, they never askc. For 
 that thing which js to them is 
 no prorit to take it from other, 
 to whom it is profitable , they 
 think it no right nor conference. 
 But if the cafe fo Hand, that they 
 mult lend part of that money to 
 another people,then they require 
 their debt : or when they have 
 want. For the which purpofc 
 oncly, they keepe at home all the 
 Real-are which they have, to be 
 holpen and fuccourcd by it ei- 
 ther in extreame jeopardies, or 
 in fuddaine clangers. But clpe- 
 ciaily and chicny to hire there- 
 with, and that for unreafonable 
 great wages, iir:r,.gc Soldiers. 
 For they had rathe* put Stran- 
 gers in jeopardy , then their 
 owne Conn try -n.en . k: .ow- 
 ing that tor money enough^cheir, 
 enemies themfelves many limes 
 
 may 
 
 By "what 
 poltcy mo- 
 ney m$y be 
 in lefe $- 
 ftimation . 
 It is better 
 either 
 •with «*. 
 rtey er by 
 policy to 
 avoid 
 "vanctbtn 
 yvitb 
 
 much loffe 
 ofmaus 
 blood to 
 
1 66 
 
 fine wit. 
 
 The Common-wealth 
 
 may be bought and fold, or elfe 
 through treafon be fet together 
 by the ear es, among themi elves. 
 For this caufe theykeepe anin- 
 eftimable treafure. But yet not 
 as a treafure : But fo they haue 
 it, and vfe it, as in good faith I 
 arte afhamed to {hew : fearing 
 that mywordes (hall not bee be- 
 leeved. And this I haue more 
 caufe to feare , for that I know 
 how difficulty and hardly I my 
 felfe would haue beleeved ano- 
 ther man telling the fame. if I had 
 not preiendy f eene it with mine 
 eyes. 
 
 for it muft needes be,that how 
 far a thing is dilfonant and difa- 
 greeins^ from the guife & trade 
 of the hearers, fo farrefhall it be 
 out of their beleefe. Howbeit, a 
 wife and indifferent efteemerof 
 things, will not greatly meruaile 
 perchance, feeing all their other 
 lawes and cuftomes doc fo much 
 differ from ours, if the vfe alfo of 
 gold and filver among them be 
 
 applyed; 
 
Of V T O P I A. 
 
 applied , rather to their cwne 
 falhions, then to ours. Imeane 
 in that they occupy not money 
 themfclves, butkeepe it for that 
 chance, which as it may happen, 
 fo it may be, that it (hall never 
 come to palfe. In the mean time, 
 gold and iilver, whereof money 
 is made, they doefo vie, as none 
 of them doth more erteeme it, ' 
 then the Very nature of the thi ag 
 defer vcth. 
 
 And then who doth not plain- 
 ly fce,how fane ic is vnder Iron: 
 as without the which men can 
 no belter hue then without lire 
 and water. Where.: s to gold and 
 filver, nature hath given nc Vie, 
 that we may not well lacke.'if 
 that the folly of men had nutlet 
 it in higher cltamatioa for the 
 rarenelle lake. But or the contra- 
 ry part, nature as a moil tender 
 afiQ touing mother, hath placed 
 thebiit arid ncccllaryThirgs o- 
 pen abroad : as the ayre, the wa- 
 ter, and the earth it j clfe. And 
 
 hath 
 
 167 
 
 Goldworfe 
 thenyron 
 as touch- 
 ing the *e~ 
 cejjary v/e 
 thereof. 
 
168 
 
 The Common-wealth 
 
 hath remooved and hid farthcft 
 from vs vainc and vnprori table 
 things. Therefore ifthefemet- 
 tals, among them mould be fait 
 locked vp in fome Tower, it 
 might be fufpected , that the 
 Prince and the Coanfell( as the 
 people is ever foolifhly imagi- 
 ning) intended by fome fubtilty 
 to deceiue the Commons, and to 
 take fome profit of it to them- 
 felves.Furthermore if they mould 
 make thereof plate, and fuch o- 
 ther finely & cunningly wrought 
 ltutfe, if at any time they ihould 
 have occafion to breakek , and 
 melt itagaine, therewith to pay 
 their iouldiours wages, they fee 
 and perceive very well,that men 
 would be loth to part from thofe 
 things, that they once began to 
 have plcafure and delight in. To 
 | remedy all this they have found 
 out a means, we as it is apreable 
 to all their other lawes and cu- 
 ftomes, fo it is from ours, where 
 gold is fo much fet by, and fo di- 
 ligently 
 
^/"Vtopi a. 
 
 igcncly kept, very farrc difcri- 
 pant and repugnant : and there- 
 tore uncrcdible D but only to them 
 that be wile. For whereas they 
 eate and drinkc m earthen and 
 glaile v r eileis,which indeed be cu- 
 noiiily and properly made, and 
 yet be of very i'mallj value : of 
 gold and iilvci^they make cham- 
 ber-pots, and other vcilels that 
 ferve tor moll vile vles,not only 
 in their common hals,but m eve- 
 ry mans private houlc. Further- 
 more of the fame . mcttals they 
 make great chaincs, fetters, and 
 gyues , wherein they tie their 
 bond-men. 
 
 Finally jwhofoever for any of- 
 fence be infamed, by their cares, 
 hang rings of gold *. vpon their 
 fingers they weare rings or gold_.: 
 and about their necke chames of 
 gold:ck in conehiilon their heads 
 be tied with gold. Thus by all 
 meanes poliible they procure to 
 have gold and lilver among 
 them in reproach and infamic. 
 I And 
 
 169 
 
 O wonder- 
 full con- 
 tumely of 
 gold. 
 
 Gold the 
 repro»cb- 
 full bijge 
 of iv famed 
 pcrfons. 
 
*7 ( 
 
 The Common wealth 
 
 Gemma 
 
 and preci- 
 ous /tones , 
 tojes far 
 yorg chil- 
 dren to 
 play vc'ith- 
 aU. 
 
 And thefe mettals, which other 
 Nations doe as gnevoufly and 
 forrowfully foregoe, as in a man- 
 ner their owne lives : if they 
 Ihould altogether at once be ta- 
 ken from the Vtopians^wo man 
 there would thinke that he had 
 loft the worth of one farthing. 
 They gather alio pearles by the 
 fea iide,and Diamonds and Car- 
 buncles upon certaine Rockes, 
 and yet they feeke not for them: 
 but by chance finding them, 
 they cut and poliih them. And 
 therewith they deck their young 
 Infants. Which like as in the 
 flrft yeares of their childe hood, 
 they make much, and be fond 
 and proud o* 7 fuch ornaments, 
 Co when they be a little more 
 growne in yeares and difcretion, 
 perceiue that none but children 
 doe wcare fuch toyes and trifles : 
 they lay them away even of 
 their owne (hamefaftueilc, with- 
 out any bidding of their pa- 
 rents :cven as our child rer^wlien 
 
 they 
 
$f V T O P I A. 
 
 they waxe biggc, doc caft away 
 nuttcs > brouches, and puppets. 
 Therefore thefe lawes aiidcu- 
 ftomes, which be fo far different 
 from all other nations, how di- 
 vers fantafics alfo and minds 
 they doe caufe , did [ never fo 
 plainly perceiue in the Ambaila- 
 aours of the Anemelians. 
 
 Thefe Ambailadours came to 
 tstimanrotc^ whiles I was there. 
 And becaufe they came tom- 
 treate of great and weighty niat- 
 ters, thole three Citizens a piece 
 out of every City ? w r ere come 
 thither before them. But all the 
 Ambailadours of the next Coun- 
 tries , which had beene there 
 before, and knew the fa fh ions 
 and manners oF the Vtcfian^ 
 among whom they perceived 
 no honour given to fmnptis- 
 oas Apparell, (ilkes to be con- I 
 te lined, gold alio to be inra- , 
 med and rcproacbhiil,wcre wont I 
 to come thither m very homely 
 and iimplc array. But the Anc- ; 
 1 2 mo Hans '■ 
 
 w 
 
 A very 
 pletofant 
 
17 
 
 The CQmmm wealth 
 
 mniir - s becaufe they dwell farre 
 thence , and had very little ac- 
 quaintance with them , hearing 
 that they were all apparelled a- 
 lik'e , and that very rudely and 
 homely ? thinking them not to 
 have the things which they did 
 not weare : being therefore more 
 proud, then wife, determined in 
 the gsrgioufneile of their appa- 
 rell to prefent very Gods , and 
 with the bright finning and gli- 
 ttering of their gay cloathingto 
 dazell the eyes of the filly poore 
 Vtcyians* 
 
 So there came in foure Ambaf- 
 fadours with one hundred fer- 
 vants, all apparelled in change- 
 able colours : the moll of them in 
 filkes : the Ambaifadours them- 
 f elves (for at heme it* their owiie 
 Country they were noblemen) 
 in cloath of gold , with great 
 chiines of gold, with gold hang- 
 ing at their eares,with gold rings 
 vpon their fingers,with brouches 
 and aglets of gold vpo their caps, I 
 
 which j 
 
$f V T O P I A . 
 
 which gliite red full of pearles 
 and precious ltones : to be ihort 
 trimmed and adorned with all 
 thofe things-, which among the 
 Vtoymns were either the puniih- 
 ment of bondmen , or the re- 
 proach of inf amed pcrfons , or 
 clfe trifles tor young children to 
 play withall. Therefore it would 
 have done a man good at his 
 heart, to have feene how proudly 
 they dil played their Peacocks 
 feathers , how much they made 
 of their painted ihcathes , and 
 how loftily they fet forth and 
 advanced themfelves, when they 
 compared their gallant apparell, 
 with the poore raiment of the 
 VtopUns.. For all the people 
 were fw armed forth into the 
 ftreets. 
 
 And on the other fide, it w r as 
 no lelfe pleafure* to coniidct how 
 much they were deceived, and 
 how farre they milled of their 
 purpofe being contrary wayes 
 taken, then they thought they, 
 I 3 fliould 
 
J 74 
 
 nitty 
 
 The Commw tpeslth 
 
 ihould have beene. For fo the 
 eyes of all the Vtoput»s y except" 
 very few, which had beenein o- 
 ther Countries, for fomere.-Io- 
 nable caufe, all that gorgioni- 
 neife of apparell, feemed i name- 
 full and rcproachfull. I nfomuch 
 that they molt, reverently faluted 
 the vileft and moil abject of 
 them for Lords : judged them 
 by their wealing or Golden 
 chaines to be Bondmen. Yea yon 
 ihould have fine Children alio, 
 that had call away their Pearles 
 and precious ftones, when they 
 faw the like flicking upon the 
 Ambaifadors caps : digge and 
 pufti their mothers under the 
 lidcs/aying thus to them. Looke 
 mother how great a lubber doth 
 yet weare pearles and precious 
 ltrnes, as though he were a little 
 child againe. 
 
 But the Mother, yea, and that 
 alio in good earner!: : Peace 
 ibnne, faith fliee: I thinke he 
 he feme of the Ambail'adours 
 
 fooler 
 
^/Vtopia. 
 
 fooles. Some found fault at their 
 Golden chaynes, as to no ufe nor 
 pur pole 3 being fo inull and 
 weakc, that a bondman might I 
 eafily brcake them, and agame ' 
 fo wide and large , that when it i 
 pleafed him, he might caft them | 
 off, and runne away at liberty 
 whither he would. 
 
 But when the Ambailadours 
 had been there a day or two, and I 
 faw fo great abundance of Gold I 
 fo lightiy eitccmed, yea m no I 
 leile reproach, then it was with i 
 them iu honour : and b.chdes > 
 that, more gold in the Clianuu j 
 and gyves oi one rugitive bond- 
 man, then all the coilly orna- 
 ments of them three was worth : 
 they began to abate their cou- 
 rage, and for very ill ame laid a • 
 way all that gorgious array, | 
 whereof they were fo proud. And ' 
 fpecially when they had talked , 
 familiarly with the Vtopians % I 
 and had learned all their falhions ! 
 and opinions. For they marveil ! 
 I 4 tha' | 
 
 *75 
 
Ij6 
 
 The Common wealth 
 
 7>oubtfuH 
 he calktb 
 it,e : t)& 
 in confide- 
 nt: on and 
 refpeft of 
 couvtetfet 
 ft cms , or 
 e'febecal' 
 letb donbt- 
 jail evtry 
 little 
 wsttb. 
 
 j A true fay* 
 
 i in% an J a 
 
 that any men be fo foolifh, as to 
 have delight and pleafure m the 
 doubtful! glittering of a little tri- * 
 fling (tone, which may behold a- 
 ny of the ttarres 3 or elfe the funne 
 ltfelfe. 
 
 Or that any man is fo madias 
 to count- himfelfe the nobler for 
 the fmaller or finer thred of wool) 
 which felfe-iame wooI(be it now 
 never fo fine fpunnc threed ) a 
 ihecpe did once weare : and yet 
 was (he all that time no other 
 thing then a ihecpe. They mcr- 
 vaile alfo that gold,which of the 
 owne namre,is a thing fo unpro- 
 fitable, is now among all people 
 in Jo high ettimation , that man 
 himfelfe, by whom yea and for 
 the vfe of whom it is fo much fet 
 by, is in lmich leile ettimation, 
 the/i the gold it fclfe. Infomuch 
 that a lumpiih block-head churle, 
 and which hath no more wit 
 then in Alfe, yea and as full of 
 ■naughcinelle , as of folly, fliall 
 have neverthelelle many wife 
 
 and 
 
Of V T O P I A 
 
 and good men in fubjeftion and 
 bondage, oncly for this, becaufe 
 lie bath a great heape of gold. 
 
 Which ifit ihould be taken 
 from him by any fortune, or by 
 lome fubtill wile and cautle of 
 the Law, ( which no letle then 
 fortune doth both raife vpthe 
 lo vv,and pi u eke down the hi gh) 
 and be given to tire molt vile 
 flave and abject drivell of all his 
 houfliold , then fhortly after he 
 flial I poe into the fcrviceofhis 
 krvant, as an augmentation, or 
 overplus bdide his money. 
 
 But they much more mer- 
 vaile at and dctcft the madncife 
 of them , which to thole rich 
 men , in whofc debt and dan- 
 ger they be not , doc give al- 
 moft. divine honours, for none 
 other confideration , but becaufe 
 they be rich : and yet knowing 
 them to be fuch niggilli penny- 
 fathers , that they be fure as 
 long as they livc,not the worth cf 
 I 5 one 
 
 177 
 
 morC&itu 
 in the beds 
 of the V- 
 topiam 9 
 then of 
 the am- 
 men fort 
 ofChri/H- 
 
7 be Cmmen-wealth 
 
 one farthing of that hcape of 
 •Gold,1hall come to them. Theie 
 and Luch like opinions have they 
 conceived, partly by education, 
 being brought vp m that Com- 
 mon-wealth , whole lawes and 
 cuftomes be farre different from 
 thofe kinds of folly ,and partly by 
 good literature and learning.For 
 though there be not many in e- 
 very City, which be exempt and 
 ! dii charged of ail other labours, 
 ] and appointed onely to learn ing 3 
 that is to fay : fuch in whom c- 
 ven from their very child-hood 
 they have perceived a finguler 
 towardncilcja fine wit ? and amind 
 apt to good learni ng : y et all in 
 their child-hood be mftrucled in 
 learning. And the better part of 
 the people,both men and women 
 throughout all their whole life, 
 doe bellow ill learning thofe 
 fpare houres, which we (aid they 
 have vacant from bodily la- 
 bours. They be taught lear- 
 ning in their own natiue tongue.- 
 
 For 
 
*/Vt 
 
 O P I A 
 
 For it is both copious in words, 
 and alfo pleafant to thceare : 
 and for the vtccrance of a mans 
 mind very peftfecfc and fure. 
 The moil part of all that fide of 
 the world , vieth the fame lan- 
 guage , faving that among the 
 Utopians it is finclt and pureff, 
 and according to the diveriity of 
 the Countries , it is diverfly al- 
 tered. Of all tlicic Fhylofophers 5 
 whofe names be here famous in 
 this part of the world to vs 
 knowne , before our comming 
 thither , not as much as the 
 irame of any or them was come 
 among them. And yet in Mu- 
 iiquc , Logique , Arythme- 
 tique, and Geometric, they have 
 round out in a manner all that 
 our ancient Philofophers have 
 taught. Rat as they in all things 
 be almoft cquall to our old and 
 ancient Clarkes ; fo our new Lo- 
 gicians in fubtill inventions. 
 Have farrc patfed ^nd gone be- 
 yond then. 
 
 For 
 
 179 
 
 Tbefitt> 
 
 diticmatg 
 the Vtrpi- 
 
 40 S. 
 
 Mvfique, 
 
 Logique, 
 jituhmz- 
 tique^Ge- 
 onetrie. 
 
i 180 
 
 \: 
 
 this. 
 
 place it 
 feemetb to 
 be a nip- 
 
 Afironcwy 
 
 Jet among 
 
 Cbrifthns 
 tbts eeere 
 * bCbly 
 ctfeemeHn 
 fhzfe dries 
 
 ibi Commonwealth \ 
 
 - »— — * 
 
 For thev have not deviled one 
 of all thofe rules, of-reltriftions, 
 amplifications, very wittily in- 
 vented in the fmall Logicals, 
 which hecre our Children in c- 
 very place doe learne. Further- 
 more, they were never yet able 
 to finde out the fecond inventi- 
 ons : Infomuch that none- of 
 them could ever fee man him- 
 felfe in common , as they call 
 him,though he be (as you know) 
 bigger then ever was any Giant, 
 yea, and pointed to of us even 
 with our finger. But they be in 
 the courfe or the Starrcs, and the 
 movings of the heavenly ipheares 
 very expert and cunning. They 
 have alio wittily excogitated and . 
 deviled Inftruments o£ divers 
 faihions : wherein is exactly 
 comprehended and contained the 
 movings and fcituations or the 
 Sunnc, the Moone, and of all the 
 other Srarrcs, which appeare in- 
 their Horizon. But as for the 
 amities and diifentions of. the 
 
 PI i- 
 
p/Vt 
 
 O P I A. 
 
 181 
 
 Planets, and all that deceitfull 
 divination of the Starres , they 
 never as much as dreamed there- 
 of. Raines, windes , and other 
 courfesot tcmpclts, they know 
 before by certaine tokens, which 
 they have learned by long uie 
 and obfcrvation. Butofthccau- 
 
 I fes of all thefe things, and of the 
 Ebbing and Rowing, and fak- 
 neile of the Sea, and finally of. 
 the originall beginning, and na- 
 ture or heaven and of the world, 
 they hold partly the fame opini- 
 ons that our old Philolpphers 
 
 _ hold, and partly as our Philo- 
 sophers vary among themfelves, 
 fo they alfo, whiles they bring 
 new reafons of things, doe difa- 
 greefrom all them, and yet a- 
 mong themfelves in all points 
 they doc not accord. . 
 
 In that Philofophy, which 
 which intreateth of manners and 
 vertuc,theiv reafons and opinions 
 zgree with ours* They drfpute of 
 the good qualires of theSoulc* 
 
 of 
 
 pbthfo- 
 pby is a 
 fyiorf ledge 
 mop un- 
 certaine. 
 
 Moral phi 
 lofopbie. 
 
 — \ 
 
182 
 
 The end: 
 
 ofgood 
 
 The Uto- 
 pian* b&id 
 opinio* 
 tbat fM- 
 city c™" 
 fiftetb l * 
 boneft 
 pie. t far z. 
 
 The tbe&- 
 logie of 
 tbeVts- 
 pi MS. 
 
 7 be Common- we tlth 
 
 of the body, and of fortune. And 
 whether the name of goodneile 
 may be applied to all thefe, or 
 onely to the endowments and 
 guifts or the fonle. They reafon 
 of vertue and pleafure. But the 
 chiefs and pnncipail cjuevhon is 
 m what thing belt one or more 
 the felicity oi man confilleth. 
 But in this point they fceme al- 
 moft too much given and incli- 
 ned to the opinion of them, 
 which defend pleafure, w herein 
 they determine either all .or the 
 chiefeft pare of mans felicity to 
 rcll. And ( which is more to be 
 m.uvailed at ) the defence of this 
 fo dainty and delicate an opinion 
 they fetch even from their graue, 
 fha-rpe, bitter, and rigorous reli- 
 gion. For they never difpute of 
 felicity or bleiledneffe, but they 
 Joyne unto the reafons of Philo- 
 fophy certainc principles taken 
 out of religion : without the 
 \vhich,to the investigation of 
 true felici :y, th *y thinke reafon 
 
 of 
 
e/V 
 
 T O P I A. 
 
 i*3 
 
 of it fclfe wcakc and unperfect. 
 Thofe principles be thefe and 
 fuch like. That the fouh is im- 
 mortal!. : and by the bountifull 
 goodileile of GOD ordained to 
 felicity. That to our vermes and 
 ' good deeds, rewards be appoint- 
 ed after this life., and to our evill 
 deeds punifh men ts. Though 
 thefe be pertaining to religion, 
 yet they thinjceit meet that they 
 ih on Id be bele^ved and granted 
 by proves of reafon. But it thefe 
 principles were condemned and 
 difanulled, then without any de- 
 lay, they pronounce no man to 
 be (o foolilh , which would not 
 doc all his diligence and cndevor 
 to obtains pleafuve be it right or 
 wrong^only avoiding this incon- 
 venience, that the leile pleafure 
 [hoiild not be a let or hinderancc 
 to the bigger : or that he labou- 
 red not for that pleafure, which 
 would brin g after it difpleafurc^ 
 griefe,and forrow. 
 
 For they judge it estrcame 
 
 mad- 
 
 Theim* 
 
 mottjlity 
 
 oftbe 
 
 foule, 
 
 whereof 
 
 thefe dates 
 
 certaine 
 
 chtiftians 
 
 be doubts 
 
 full. 
 
J s every 
 pktfurc 
 ought to be 
 im braced, 
 fogri^fe is 
 not to be 
 purfued 
 butforver- 
 tatsja^c. 
 
 7 be Common wealth 
 
 In this de- 
 finition sf 
 vertue 
 they agree 
 with the 
 -Stoychns. 
 
 The workf 
 andejfeft 
 of reafon 
 in mm. 
 
 madneiie to follow (harpe and 
 pjinhili vemie,aiid not onely to 
 baaaift] the pleafure of life, but 
 alio willingly to furFer gnefe, 
 without any hope or profit there- 
 of enfuing. For wlut profit can 
 there be, if a man, when he hath 
 palled over all his life unplea- 
 iantly, that is to fay, miferably, 
 lliall have no reward after his 
 death I Bat now- fir, they thinke 
 not felicity to reft in all plealure, 
 but onely m that plealure that 
 is good and honcft,, and that 
 hereto, as to perfect, blcifedneile 
 our nature is allured and drawne 
 even of vertue , whereto onely 
 they that be of the contrary opi- 
 nion doe attribute felicity. For 
 they define vertue to be.lrfe or- 
 dered according to Nature, and 
 that we be hereunto ordained of. 
 God. And that he doth follow 
 the courfc of nature, which in 
 defiring and refilling things is 
 ruled by reafon. Furthermore, 
 the reafon do:h chiefly and prin 
 cipally kindle in men the love 
 
fif V T O P I A. 
 
 and veneration of the divine Ma- 
 jefty. Of whofc goodnelle tt^is 
 that we be, and that wee be m 
 poffibiinv to attaine felicity. 
 And that fecondanly it both Ihr- 
 reth and provokcth us to lead 
 our life out of care in ioy and 
 mirth -, and alfo moveth us to 
 helpc and further all other in rc- 
 fpeft of the ibciety of nature to 
 obtainc and enjoy the fame. For 
 there was never man (o earneft 
 and painfull a follower or vertue 
 and hater ofpleafure, that would 
 fo enjoyne your labours, wat- 
 chings , and failings , but hce 
 would alfo exhort you to eafe, 
 lighten, relieve to your power, 
 the lacke and miiery of others, 
 praifing the fame as a deed or hu- 
 manity and pittv. Then if it be a 
 point of humanity, for man to 
 bring health and comfort to man, 
 andlWrany (which is a vertue 
 mod: peculiarly belonging to 
 man)to mitigate and aOwagc the 
 aricfc of others, and by taking 
 **• from 
 
 18s 
 
1 85 
 
 The Comm&n wealth 
 
 But now a 
 daies fame 
 there he 
 that wil- 
 lingly pro- 
 cure unto 
 themfelues 
 p line full 
 griefe.as 
 though 
 therein 
 reftt.dfome 
 high poht 
 of religion 
 whereas 
 rather the 
 religioujlj 
 difpofed 
 per fon t if 
 they hap- 
 pen to him 
 either by 
 chance or 
 elfe t>yna 
 turall ne- 
 eejjlty 
 ought pa- 
 
 from them the foiTow and hea- 
 vinelle of life to reitore them to 
 joy, that is to lay to pkafure : 
 which may it not then be laid, 
 that nature doth provoke every 
 man to doc the fame to ffcmfelfe j) 
 For a joyfull lif e ,that is to iky, a 
 pleaiant life is either evill : and 
 if Jt befo , then tho u (houldeft 
 notonel^helpe no man thereto, 
 but rather as much as in thee ly- 
 eth,withdraw all men from it,as 
 noyfomeand hurcfull, or elfe if 
 thou not oncly muft, but alfo of 
 duty art bound to procure it to I 
 others ? why not chiefly to thy i 
 felfe ? To whom thou art bound ' 
 to mew as much favour and gen- | 
 tlenetfe as to other. For when [! 
 nature biddeth thee to be good 
 and gentle to other , (lie com- 
 manded! thee not to be cruell 
 and ungentle to thy felfe. There- 
 fore even very nature (fay they ) , 
 prefcribeth v s to a joyfull hfe s 
 that is to fay, pleafureas the end i 
 of all our operations. And they j 
 
 de6ne I 
 
ef Vt ot i a. 
 
 I $■ 
 
 define vertue to be life ordered 
 according to the prefcript of na- 
 ture. But in that,that nature doth 
 allure and provoke men one to 
 hclpe another to live merrily 
 (which furcly (he dtfth not with- 
 out a g^od caufe : for no man is 
 fane above the lot of mans ftatc, 
 or condition, that nature doth 
 carke and care for him onely, 
 which equally favoureth all,that 
 he comprehended vnder the 
 communion of one fliape, forme 
 and fafiiion) verily (he comman- 
 deth them to vfe diligent circum- 
 fpecl:ion,that thou doe not feeke 
 for thine ownecommoditie5,that 
 thou procure others incom modi- 
 ties. Wherefore their opinion is, 
 that not onely covenants and 
 bargaincs made among private 
 men, ought to be well and faith- 
 fully rbllowed,obferved 5 and kept 
 but alfo common lawes , which 
 either a good Prince hath juftly 
 publifhed, or elfe the people nei- 
 ther opprelTed with tyranmenei- 
 
 thcr 
 
 to 
 
 tiently 
 receive 
 and lujfer 
 them. 
 
 Bir^ahes 
 
x8g 
 
 The Common wealth 
 
 ther deceived by fraud and guile? 
 
 I hath by their common conient 
 conlhtuted and ratified, concer- 
 ning the petition of the commo- 
 dity of life, that is to fay,the mat- 
 ter of pi eaiure. 
 
 Thefe lawes not offended, it 
 is wifdome , that thou looke to 
 thine owne wealth. And doe the 
 fame for the common wealth is 
 no kite then thy duty , if thou 
 
 ; beareft any reverent love, or any 
 naturall zcale and aifeftion to 
 thy natiue Country. But to goe 
 about to let another man of his 
 pleafure, whiles thou pro cur eft 
 thine owne, that is open wrong. 
 Contrariwife: „ to with-draw 
 
 I ibmething from thy felfe to 
 giue to other , that is a point 
 
 J of humanity , and gentlcneilc : 
 which never takcth away fo 
 much commodity, as it bnngeth 
 agume. For it is recompenced 
 with the return e of benefits* and 
 the conicience of the good deed, 
 with the remembrance of the 
 
 thank- 
 
efVr © p i a. 
 
 thankf till love and benevolence 
 of them, to whom thou halt done 
 it, doth bring more pleafure to 
 thy mind, then that which thou 
 halt with-holden from thy lelfe 
 -could have brought to thy body. 
 Finally (which to a godly difpo- 
 fedanda religious mindiseaiie 
 to be perfwaded ) God recom- 
 penfeth the girt of a ihortand 
 fmall pleafure with great and e- 
 verlufting/oy. 
 
 Therefore the matter diligent- 
 ly weighed ,and coiilidercd, thus 
 they thinke, that all our actions, 
 and in them the vermes them- 
 felvcs., be referred at the hit to 
 pie •fine, as their end and felici- 
 ty, pleafure they call every 
 motion , and urate of the bo- 
 dy or mind , wherein man hath 
 .naturally delegation. Appetite 
 •chcyjoyncto nature , and that 
 not without a good caufe. For 
 like as,not onely the fcufes, but 
 alio right reafdn covctcth what- 
 focver is naturally pleai'mt, fo 
 
 that 
 
 % 9 I 
 
 The mutu- 
 al recourfe 
 offend, 
 vejfe. 
 
 the defi- 
 nition of 
 pleafure. 
 
ipo 
 
 Falfe and 
 counterfeit 
 f>lcajyie.$. 
 
 The Ctmmen-rvcalth 
 
 that it may be gotten without 
 wrongor injury , not letting or 
 debarring a greater plcafure,nor 
 cauling painfull labour, cvenfo 
 thofe things chat men, by vaine 
 imagination doe faine agamft na- 
 ture to be pleaiant (as though 
 it lay m their power to change 
 the things,as they doe the names 
 of things) all iuch pleafures they 
 beleeve to be of lb imall helpe 
 and furtherance to felicity, that 
 they count them a great let and 
 hinderance.Becaufethat in whom 
 they have once taken place, all 
 his mind they poifeile with a 
 falfe opinion of pleafure. So that 
 there is no place lert for true and 
 naturall delectations. 
 
 For there be many things, 
 which of their owne nature con- 
 taine no pleafantneire : yea the 
 molt part of them much, griefe 
 and forrow. And yet through the 
 perverfeand malicious flickering 
 inticements of lewd and honelt 
 deiires, be taken not onely for 
 
 fpeciall 
 
o/V 
 
 T O P I A. 
 
 fpeciall and fo vcraigne plcafurcs, 
 but alio be counted among the 
 chiefs caufesof life. In this coun- 
 terfeit kind of pleafure^they put 
 them that I fpake of before. 
 Which che better gownes they 
 have on , the better men they 
 tlnuke thcmfelves. In the which 
 thing, they doe tvvife erre. For 
 they be no lelle deceived., in that 
 they thinke their govvne the bet- 
 ter then they be , in that they 
 thinke themi elves the better. 
 
 For ii you coaiiderthe profi- 
 table ule of the garment, why 
 Ihouid wooll of a finer ipunne 
 threeci, be thought better, then 
 the. wooll of a com fe ipunne 
 
 threed i Yet they, as fcboufih the 
 ... , * ' \j 
 
 one did paile the other by nature, 
 and not by their millaking, ad- 
 vance theiiifelve c ,and thinke the 
 price of their ownepe.fons ther- 
 i>y greatly mercafed. And there- 
 fore die honor,which in a comfe 
 pownc they durft not hive lec - 
 Kei for, they requirc,as it were of 
 
 duty, 
 
 IPX 
 
 The errour 
 o'tbevt 
 that «- 
 
 fieerne 
 
 themfeluei 
 the more 
 for appa- 
 rels fa{c. 
 
 I 
 
192 
 
 Feolijb 
 honour. 
 
 The Common-wealth 
 
 duty, for their finer gowncs fake! 
 And if they be palled without 
 reverence, they take it difplea- 
 fantly and difdainfully. And a- 
 gainejis it not alike madnelle to 
 rake a pride in vaine and un- 
 profitable honours ? For what 
 naturall or true pleafure doeft 
 thou take of another mans bare 
 head, or bowed knees $ Will this 
 eafe the paine or thy knees, or re- 
 medy the phrenfie of thy head? 
 In this image of counterfeit plea- 
 fure, they be of marvailous mad- 
 neife, which for the opinion of 
 Nobility, rejoyee much in their 
 ovvne conceit. Becaufe it was 
 their fortune to come oiiuch an- 
 cestors, whole itocke of long 
 time had bcene counted rich (ror 
 iiow nobility is nothing elfe) 
 fpecially rich in lands. And 
 though their Anceitors left them 
 not one foot of land, cv elfe they 
 themfelves have pilled it againft 
 the walls, yet they thinke them- 
 felvcs not the lclic noble there- 
 fore 
 
pfVr op i a . 
 
 fore of one haire. In this number 
 alfo they count them tluttake 
 pleaiarcauddebght (us 1 faid)in 
 gemmes and. precious itones^ and 
 thinke diemielues almoft gods,if 
 they chance to get an excellent 
 one ipecially. or ciiat kind w c ;- in 
 that time oi- their own Countrey- 
 menus had in lnphelt citimation. 
 For one kind or ilouc keepeth 
 not his puce ftiil in all coun- 
 tries, and at all tunes. Nor they 
 buy them not, but taken, 
 or the, gold, and . fea% noiov Jo '. 
 nutha*-., unrill they haueinadq ■■ 
 the. feller to fwearc, -that lied- | 
 will,, Warrant and allure f it to; 
 be a true /lone . and no coun- 
 ter ixu geuniic. p Such care they 
 tukjS .-leail a counteite'C. ftflflfl 
 jho.ild .deccme then* eyes j .i 
 jlfcad of a right ilone. But 
 why iliquldeit thou nor take e- 
 ven as^much.ple/.uue in behoU 
 ding a counterfeit lione, which 
 :hmceyecaia|]otdifa'rnc rr-om a 
 rigjit ilone I Ojty ihoald both 
 K lw 
 
 IP? 
 
 p led fur e 
 inprevioits 
 //ones m>ji 
 joolij'U. 
 
 The rpini- 
 
 cie <7 
 
 pcrp'edrth 
 aagmcr.t 
 and dimi- 
 nijb the 
 price aW 
 cfjim.ition 
 Gjprcciouf 
 
194 
 
 Risers of 
 Ireafurc. 
 
 The Common-wealth 
 
 . ^w 
 
 be of like value -to thee, even as 
 to the blind man. 
 
 What fhall I fay of them, that 
 keepe fuperfluous riches, to take 
 delectation onely in the behol- 
 ding, and not in the vie or oc- 
 cupying thereof? Dee they take 
 true pleafiire, or elle be they 
 deceived with falfe pleafure ? 
 Or of them that be in a contra- 
 ry vice, hiding the gold which 
 they (hall neither occuupy, nor 
 per ad venture never fee him 
 more : And whiles they take 
 care lcaft they (hail lecfe , doe 
 leeie it indcede. For what is k 
 elfe , when they hide it in 
 the ground taking it boch from 
 their owne vfe, and perchance 
 from all other mens alio,-? And 
 yet thou, when thou haft hid 
 thy treafure, as one out or all 
 care, hopeit. for joy. The which 
 treafure, if it ' lliould chance 
 to bee ftollen, and thomgno- 
 rant of the theft , fliouldeft dye 
 renney cares after : all that ten 
 yeafes thou liucdil aher th.y mo- . 
 
^/Vtopia. 
 
 /?) 
 
 money was ftolleii , what mat- 
 ter was it to thee, whether it had 
 beenc taken away or clfe fare as 
 thou lefteit it 2 Truly both 
 wayes like profit came to thee. 
 To chefe io roohin pleailires they 
 joyne Dicers, whole madnctic 
 thcy know by heare-f ay, and not 
 by ufe.Hunters aifo,&: Hawker?. 
 For what pleafure is there (lay 
 they) in calling the Dice upo.i a 2>ice-fhf 
 table. Which thou halt done lb 
 oftcn,that if there were any plea- 
 lure in it 5 yet the oft ufe miphc 
 make thee weary thereof ? Or 
 what delight can there be, and 
 not rather difplcafure in hearing Hunting 
 the barking ck howling of dogs ? **d Hun.. 
 Or what greater pleafure is there k lr >&> 
 to be felt, \\he l a Dog follow- 
 eth an Hare, then when a Dog 
 folbwcth a doggc I For one 
 thing is done in both, thitis to 
 fay, running, if thon had plea- 
 fure therein. B r i '^ooe of 
 11 aught. ..:ii'Jon 
 ''^n^o . C es jic Bealt 
 
 K 2 
 
 d'?rh 
 
Jp6" 
 
 The Cowmen rvead/j 
 
 p*i t of 
 
 but co y 
 amomg the 
 VtOpiavij 
 
 yit this i 5 
 von? in the 
 exercife of 
 mofl noble 
 men. 
 
 dothpleafe thec : thou flioul- 
 deft rather be moved with piety 
 to lee a iilly innocent Hare 
 murdered or a dogge : the 
 j wcake of the ftronger, the feari- 
 ; full of the fierce^ the innocent 
 of the cruell and unir.ercihill. 
 Therefore all this cxircife ot 
 hunting, as a thing unworthy to 
 be vied of Freemen,the Jftofiuns 
 have rejected to their butchers, 
 to the which craft (as we j iid be- 
 fore ) they appoint their bond- 
 men. For they count i uniting 
 the lowest, the vileft, and mott 
 abject part of butchery, and the 
 other parts of it,more profitable, 
 and mdre hondt , as bringing 
 muclurore commodity, in that 
 they kill Beafts lonely for necef- 
 lity. 
 
 Whereas the hunter feeketh 
 nothing but pleafure ol the filly 
 ancUvofull beafts (laughter and 
 ujurder. The which plea- 
 fitrc v\ beholding death , 
 they thinke doth life in the 
 
 very 
 
Of V T O P I A. 
 
 197 
 
 very Beafts , either of a crueli 
 affection or mind , or elfe to 
 be changed in continuance of 
 time into cruelty, by longvfeof 
 To crueli a pleafure. Thcfe there- 
 fore and all fuch like , which be 
 innumerable, though the com- 
 mon fort of peopie doth take 
 them lor pleasures, yet they fee- 
 ing there isnonaturall plcaiant- 
 neiiein them, doc plainly de- 
 termine them to haue no affinity 
 with true and right pie. lure. For 
 as touching that they doe com- 
 monly moue the {'a\cc with de- 
 lectation (which feemethto be a 
 worke of pleaf ure) this doth no- 
 thing, dnmnilh their opinion. 
 For not the nature of the thing 
 but their perverfe and lewd cu- 
 ftome is the caufe hereof. Which 
 caufeth them to accept bitter or 
 lower things for fweet things. E- 
 ven as women vrith child in their 
 viciat and corrupt tail, thinke 
 pitch and tallow fweeter then ho- 
 ney. Howbeit no mans judge 
 « 
 
 K ; 
 
 inent 
 
i<?8 
 
 The l(ind- 
 neffctf 
 
 truepUit- 
 
 The Common-wealth 
 
 ment depraved and corrupt, cy- 
 ther-by iicknelle, or by cuftome, 
 can change the nature of plea- 
 fure 9 more then it can doe the 
 nature of other things. They 
 make divers ktnds of plcafures. 
 For (bine they attribute to the 
 Soule, and fo:ne to the body. To 
 the joule they give intelligence, 
 and that delication , that coni- 
 meth of the contemplation of 
 truth. 
 
 Hereunto is joyned the plea- 
 fant remembrance of the good 
 life part. The pleafure of the bo- 
 dy they divide into two parts. 
 The firlt is, when delegation is 
 feniible felt and perccived,which 
 many times chanceth by the re- 
 nwng and refreihing of thofe 
 parts, which our naturall heate 
 dryeth up. This commcth by 
 meate and drinke. And iome- 
 times whiles thofe things be ex- 
 pulfed^and voyded, whereof is in 
 tlic body over great abundance. 
 This pleafure is felt, when we 
 
 doe 
 
Of V T O P I A. 
 
 199 
 
 doe our naturall cafcmcnt , or 
 when we be doing the act or ge- 
 
 i neration, or when rhe itching of 
 any part is eafed with rubbing or 
 fcratching. Sometimes pleaiure 
 rifcth exhibiting to any mem- 
 ber nothing that it deiireth, nor 
 
 | taking from it anypaine that it 
 feeleth, which neverrhclctlc tick- 
 lerh and moveth our fences with 
 a certaine fecret efficicie , but 
 with a mamfell motion turncth 
 them to it. As is tint which 
 comincrh of M ilickj. Tha ic- 
 cond part of bodily plcafure they • Bo Hfy 
 fay, is that which coniiiteth and 
 reffceth in the quiet and upright 
 ft ate of the body. And that tru- 
 ly is every mans ownc proper 
 health, intermingled and diilur- 
 bed with no gnefe. For this, if 
 they be not letted nor afiaulted 
 with no gricfe, is delectable of it 
 felfe, though it be moved with 
 no external! or outward pleafurc. 
 For though it be not fo plaine 
 and manireft to the fence, as the 
 K.4 gH ec ^ 
 
2O0 
 
 7 he Common wealth 
 
 greedy luftof eating & drinking 
 yet neveitheleile , many take it 
 for the chiefeii pleafure. All the 
 Vtofians grant it to be a right 
 fo veraig'ne pleaiure, and as you 
 would fay the. foundation and 
 ground or all pleaf ureses which 
 even alone is able to make the 
 Rate and condition of life delec- 
 table and pleafant. And it being 
 oncetakea away^there is no place 
 hit for any pleafbse. For to be 
 without gricfeuot havingheakb, 
 that they call unfenfibility, and 
 not pleaiure, 
 
 The Vt&pians have long agoc 
 rejected and condemned the opi- 
 nion of them, which faid, that 
 iledfait and quiet health,(for this 
 cmeilion alio hath beene dili- 
 gently debated among them ) 
 ought not therefore to be coun- 
 ted a pleafure,becaufe they fay it 
 fot be prefently and fo n iibly 
 perceived and felt by fomc out- 
 ward motion. But of the contra- 
 ry rifow they agree almolt 
 
 all 
 
ofV 
 
 TOPU 
 
 201 
 
 all in this^ that health is a molt 
 fovcraigne pleafure. For feeing 
 that in lickntlfe ( fay they ) is 
 -gnefc, which is a mortall enemy 
 to pleafurc,even as ficknelle is to 
 health,why mould not then plea- 
 lure be in the cjuietnes of health ? 
 For they fay it maketh nothing 
 to this matter, whether you fay 
 that ficknelle is a grief e, or that 
 in iickneife is griere for all com- 
 meth to one purpofe. 
 
 For whether health be a 
 pleafure it felfe , or a nccef- 
 fary caufe of pleafure , as fire 
 rs or heat «, truly both wayes it 
 followcth j that they cannot be 
 without pleafure, that be in per- 
 fect health. Furthermore whiles 
 w r e eate ( (ay they ) then health, 
 which be^an to be appaired,figh- 
 teth by the liclpe of rood a- 
 gainil hunger. In the which 
 fight, whiles health by little and 
 little gettcth the vpper handj 
 that fame proceeding, and (as we 
 1 would fay ) that onvvarcTnSlfeito 
 
 the 
 
202 
 
 7}tkfid- 
 iions. Tht 
 / lea funs 
 
 r.f the 
 
 The Cemmen-wulth 
 
 the wonted ftrength, miniftreth 
 that pleafure, whereby we be fo 
 refrclhed. Health therefore, which 
 in the conflict, is joyfull, ihall 
 it not be merry , when it hath 
 gotten the victory \ But as foone 
 as it hath recovered the prilti- 
 nate itrength, which thing only 
 in all the light it coveted, (hail 
 it incontinent be aitonied ? Nor 
 Ihall it not know nor imbrace the 
 owne wealth and goodneife? For 
 where it is faid,health cannot be 
 felt, this they thinke is nothing 
 true.For what man walking, fay 
 they , feeleth not himfelr'c in 
 health, . but he that is not ? Is 
 there any man fo polleiled with 
 ftonifti infallibility, or with le- 
 thargie,that is to fay,thc fleeping 
 ficknelfe, that he will not grant 
 health to be acceptable to him, 
 and delectable ? But what other 
 things is delectation, then that 
 which by another name is called 
 pleafure a They imbra-e chiefly 
 the pleafures of the mind. For 
 
 th"m 
 
ef V t o p i a; 20 J 
 
 them :hcy count the chiefeft and 
 moil pnr;ipall of all.Thc jcincic 
 pair of them they thinke doth 
 come of the exeraf e of vertue, I 
 and conscience of good life. Of 
 thefe pleafui'es that the body mi- 
 riiftrahj they give the prehemi- 
 nence to health. For the delight 
 of eating and drinking , and 
 whatever hath any like plea- 
 fantnellc, they determine to be 
 fures much to bedciired, but 
 no otherwayes then for healths 
 fake. For iuch things of their 
 Owne proper nature be not fo 
 pleafant , but in that they refill 
 iickneife privily Healing on : 
 Therefore jhkc as it is a wiiemans 
 part, rather to avoid ikkneflc, 
 then to wilVi for medicines, and 
 rather to drive away and put to 
 flight careful I giiefes , then to 
 call for comfort : io it is much 
 better not to need this kind of 
 pleafure,thcn thereby to be eafed 
 of the contrary grit ft:. The 
 I which kind of pic. hue , if any 
 ■ man i 
 
204 
 
 kt Cemmm mdtb 
 
 man take for his felicity , that 
 man mutt needs grant,that then 
 he {hall be in molt felicity, if he 
 live th it life , which is lead in 
 continual I hunger, thirit , itch- 
 ing,eating, drinking, fcratchmg, 
 and rubbing. The which lkc y 
 how not onely foule and unlro- 
 neuV, but alio how miferab'e-and 
 wretched it is, who tferceiveth 
 not l Thele doubtleile be the 
 bafeit plealurcsof all, as impure 
 
 | and un perfect. For they never 
 come but accompanied with 
 their contrary gricres. As with 
 the pleafure of eating, is joyned 
 hunger ,and that after no very c- 
 quallibrt.Forof thefe two, 1K0 
 griefo is both themore vehement 
 and alfo of longer continuance. 
 For it begmncth before the plea- 
 fure, and endeth nor untill the 
 pleafure die vvic-h it. YVhereforc 
 fuch pleafo'es they dunks net 
 ■greatly to be fee by, but m that 
 they be*ncceilary. Howbeir they 
 
 I 'live delight *alib irfcthefev and 
 
 thank- 
 
^/Vtqpia. 
 
 i8x 
 
 thankfully knowledge the ten- 
 der love ot mother r\ature,which 
 with molt pleafanr delectation 
 allureth her children to that, to 
 the necellary vie whereof , they 
 mult horn time to time continu- 
 ally be forced and driven. For 
 how wretched and miferable 
 mould our life be, if thefe daily 
 gnefps of hunger andthirit could 
 not be driven away , but with 
 bitter potions, and fowre medi- 
 cines , as the other diicaies be, 
 wlierewith we be ieldomer trou- 
 bled? But beauty/treugch, nim- 
 blenetle , thefe as peculiar and 
 pleaiaiit gifts of nature , -they 
 make much off. But thole plea- 
 fures that be receiued by the 
 ear js, the eyes, and the nofe , 
 which nature willeth to be pro- 
 per and peculiar to man ( for no 
 ether living creature doth behold 
 the faireneife &the beauty of the 
 world, or is moved with any re- 
 fpccl of favor j^but only for $ di-r 
 verfity of;ncats,ncither.percevcth ! 
 
 the? 
 
 The gift! 
 
 of nature. 
 
206 
 
 The C&mmen-wealtb 
 
 the concordant & difcordant di- 
 itances o£ founds and tunes) 
 )thefe plcafures. 1 lay, they -ac- 
 cept and allow as certaine plea- 
 ianc rejoycings of life. But in all 
 thing, rhiscautell they vfe, th.it 
 a leile pleafure hinder not a big- 
 ger, and that the pleafure be no 
 caufe of dil pleafure, which they 
 t h inke to follow of necelli ty , if 
 the pleafure be unhoneff.But yet 
 to defpife the cornel mcife of beau- 
 ty, to wait the bodily ftrength, 
 to turne nfmbleheffe unto lioa- 
 thifhneife : to confume'and make 
 feeble the body with failing : 
 to doe injury to health , and to 
 reject the pleafant motions of 
 nature , . unlcife a man neglect 
 thefc commodities , whiles he 
 doth with a fervent* zeale pro- 
 cure the wealth of others, or the 
 co.nmon profit , ror the which 
 pleafure forborne, . he is in hope 
 of a greater pleafure at Gods 
 hand : elfe for a vaine iliadow of 
 vertue,for tlu wealth and profit 
 
 of 
 
efV 
 
 T O P I A. 
 
 of no man,to punifli himfelfe,or 
 to the intent he may be able cou- 
 ragioufly to fuffer adveriity, 
 which perchance ihall never 
 come to him : this to doe, they 
 thinke it a point ofextreame 
 madnciTej and a token of a man 
 cruelly minded towards him- 
 felfe,and unkind towards nature, 
 as one fo difdaining to be in her 
 danger, that he rcnounceth and 
 rcfuieth all her benefits, This is 
 their fentence and opinion of 
 vertue and plealure, And they 
 beleevc that by mans reafon 
 none can be found truer then 
 this , unlelfc any godlier be m- 
 fpired into man from heaven. 
 Wherein whether they beleeve 
 well or no,neither the time doth 
 fuffer us to difcuile, neither it is 
 now necetfary* For we have ta- 
 ken vpon vs to fhew and declare 
 their lores and ordinancies, and 
 not to defend them. But this 
 thing I beleeve venly, howfoe- 
 ver thefe decrees be, that there is 
 
 in 
 
 207 
 
 MAt\ethit 
 well* 
 
2o3 
 
 The we'tb 
 anidt- 
 fcriftion 
 of the V- 
 topians* 
 
 The Common wealth 
 
 in no place of the world, neither 
 a more excellent people, neither 
 a more fio unfiling Common- 
 wealth. They be light and quicke 
 of body ? full of activity and nim- 
 bleneile, and of more ftVeiigth 
 then a man would judge them 
 by their ftacure, which for al that 
 is not too low. And though their 
 jbylebenot very fruitful 1 , nor 
 their ayre very wholeibme, yer 
 againit the ayre they fo defend 
 them with temperate di?t, and lb 
 order and husband their ground 
 with diligent travaile, tlutin no, 
 Countrey is greater lncreafe and j 
 plenty of Cornea nd Cattle, nor 
 mens bodies of longer life , and 
 fubjecf or apt to fewer difeafes. 
 There therefore a man may fee 
 well , and diligently exploited 
 and furnilhed, not onely thole 
 things which husbandmen. doe 
 commonly in other Countries, 
 as by. craft and cunning to re- 
 medy the barren neile of the 
 ground, bat oJ.!b a whole Wood 
 
 by, 
 
of M 
 
 T O P I A. 
 
 by the hands of the people 
 plucked vp by the roocesmonc 
 place, and iec againe in another 
 place. Wherein was had regard 
 and conlideration, not of plenty,, 
 but of commodious carnage, that 
 wood and timber might be n™i- 
 er to the Sea, or the Rivers, or 
 the Cities. For it is leile labour 
 and buiinelfe to carry graine 
 fence by land then wood. The 
 people be gentle, merry, qmcke 
 and fine wicted, delighting in 
 quictneiie, and when need re- 
 quired^ able to abide andfuf- 
 rer much bodily labour. EUe 
 they be not greatly delirous and 
 fond oi it : but in the excrcife 
 and Andy of the mind they be 
 never weary. When they had 
 heard me fpeakeof the-Grecke 
 literature or learning ( fqr m 
 Latine there was nothing that 
 I. thought they would greatly 
 allow,bclidcs Hiftories and Po- 
 ets ) they made wonderful! ear- 
 ned: and importunate lute unto 
 
 me 
 
210 
 
 7 he common ntsUb 
 
 ntjjcto 
 Beirut gin 
 f be f'topi- 
 
 Bit now 
 m*ft bloc^ 
 beaded 
 Ajft, be 
 ftt to tear- 
 ningydnd 
 taojt prog- 
 ram wits 
 corrupt 
 withpkd- 
 firit* 
 
 \ me that I would teach and in- 
 \ ftruct tbejn in that tongue and 
 J learning. I began therefore to 
 read unto then vat tne fo'ft trit W> 
 more becauic 1 would not fectue 
 tojjefufe the labour, then that 1 
 I hoped that they would any 
 thing profit therein. But when I 
 i had go K forward a little, I per- 
 ceived incontinent by their dili- 
 gence,th,t my labour li.ouldnot 
 be bellowed in vainc. For they 
 began & eaiily to faihion their 
 letters, io pi iinly to pronounce 
 the words, io quickly to le~ in e 
 by heart , and lb iniclytore- 
 hcarfe the fame, that I mcrvaile 
 atit/avmg that the molt part of 
 them were fine, and chofen wits, 
 andof ripe age,picked out of the 
 company of the learned men, 
 which not onely of their ovvnc 
 free and voluntary will, but alfo 
 by the commandement of the 
 Couucell, nndcrtooketo learne 
 this language. Therefore in lefle \ 
 then three yeaes fpacc, there 
 
 was > 
 
«/ V T OP I A. 
 
 was nothing in the Grceke 
 tongue that they lacked. They 
 were able to read good Authors 
 without any flay , if the booke 
 were not falfe.Tlus kind of lear- 
 nings I fuppofe, they tookefo 
 much the fooner, becaufe , it is 
 fomewhat alhant to them : For 
 I thmke that this Nation tooke 
 their beginning of the Greekcs, 
 becaufe their fpecch , which in 
 ail other points is not much un- 
 like the Perlian tongue, keeping 
 divers iigncs and token of the 
 Greeke language in the names 
 of their Cities, and of thek Ma- 
 gistrate*. They have of me ( for 
 when I was determined to enter 
 into my fourth voyage,! caff, in- 
 to the Ship in the ilead of mer- 
 chandife a prety fardle of bookes, 
 becaufe I intended to come a- 
 gaine rather never,then fhordy ) 
 they have 3 ! fay or me, the mod 
 part of PUtoes workes, more of 
 iriftotle r s alfo Tbeophriftw of 
 plants,biit in divers places (which 
 
 I 
 
212 
 
 iht Common maith 
 
 I am fory for ) vnpcrfecl\ For 
 whiles they were a Smp-boord, 
 a Marmolet chanced vpon -the 
 booke , as it was negligently 
 laid by, "which wantonly pay- 
 ing therewith, plucked out cer- 
 taine leaves and tore them in 
 peeces. Of them that have writ- 
 ten the Grammer,they have only 
 La (carts. For Tbeodriu 1 car- 
 ried not with me , nor never a 
 Dictionafie,but Hcjicbius , and 
 D t yfc or idef. They fa great ftore 
 by Pint \n rhea bookes. And they 
 be delighted with Lucuwes 
 merry conceits and j calls. Of 
 the poets they have Arijhpba. 
 n.fSj .ll/rncr^ Euripides , and 
 Sophocles m. Aldus {mall print. 
 Of the Historians they have 
 Tbucidides , Herodotus , and 
 Herodian. Alio my companion 
 T rictus Apinatus carried with 
 him Phyficke bookes , certaine 
 I mall workes of Hipp, crates, and 
 Gi ilens % Alter otecbne.Thc which 
 book: they have in great eftiira- 
 
 tion : 
 
$f Vtopu, 
 
 tio i : For tho -, g h there be alnaol L 
 no natio under heat^n that hath 
 1 etfc i eed of Phy f ] eke then they, 
 yet this not with liar, ding, Phy- 
 iicke is no where in greater ho- 
 nour. Beeaufe they count the 
 knowledge of it among the god- 
 lieityind moil profitable parts of 
 Plulofophie. For whiles they 
 by the helpc of this Philoibphy 
 fearch out the iecflet myftcries of 
 tiamre,they thmke themfclves to 
 receiue thereby r.ot onely won- 
 derful great pie .iurc,bur alfo to 
 obtaine great thanks and favour 
 of die Author and maker thereof. 
 Whom they thinke according to 
 the fa (h ion of other Artiflccrs,to 
 have fefc forth the marvailous 
 and gorgious frame of the world 
 for man-with great affection, in- 
 tentiuely to behold. Whom 
 onely he hath made o( wit, and 
 capacity to confidcr and un- 
 derstand the excellency of 
 ib great : a. worke. And there- 
 fore he beared i ( fay they ) 
 
 more 
 
 nj 
 
 highly te. 
 girded. 
 
 The con 
 tcmplitton 
 of nat'Mt. 
 
214 
 
 The Comrmn-wedth 
 
 more good will and love to the 
 curious and diligent beholder, 
 and viewer of hi* workc and 
 marveiloui at the fame, chen he 
 doth to him, which like a very 
 bruit Beait. without wir and re a- 
 fon, or as one without ienie or 
 mooving, hath norcgird to fo 
 great and fo wondciiial a fpec- 
 taclc. The wits therefore of the 
 Vtofians inured and exercifed in 
 learningjbe marvailous quicke m 
 the invention of featSjhelpmg a- 
 ny thing to the advantage and 
 wealth of hfe.Howbeit two feats 
 they may thanke vs for. That is, 
 thefcience ol Imprinting, and 
 the craft ef making Paper. And 
 yet not oncly v$, out chiefly and 
 principally themi elves. For when 
 we (hewed to them A I Aw his 
 print in bookes of paper, 6c told 
 them of the iturre w hereof paper 
 is made,and or the feat of graving 
 letters,(pe king fonewhat more, 
 then we could plaineiy de- 
 clare ( lot there was none of 
 
 that 
 
0f V T O P I A. 
 
 211 
 
 that knew perfectly eyther the 
 ; one or the other) they forthwith 
 very wittily conjectured the 
 thing. And whereas before,they 
 wrote onely in skins, in barkcs 
 of Trees, and in reede$,now they 
 have attempted to make Paper, 
 and to imprint Letters. And 
 thouph at the firit it proved not 
 all or the belt, yet by often Allay- 
 ing the fame, they fliortly got 
 the feate of both. And have Co 
 brought the matter about, that 
 if they had copies or Greekc au- 
 thors,they could lack no Bookes. 
 But now they have no more,then 
 I rehearicd before, faving that 
 by printing cf booker, they have 
 multiplied and in created the lame 
 into many thoufands of Copies. 
 Wholbever commcth thither to 
 
 being 
 
 , or tn 
 and long journeying, welt expe 
 nenccd and feenc in the know- 
 ledge or many Countries (for the 
 which caule wee were very wel- 
 come 
 
 fee the Land 5 being excellent in 
 HHy gift of wit, or through much 
 
21(5 
 
 
 7 be Common wealth 
 
 come to them) bi a they receive 
 and entsrtaine wondrous gently 
 and lovingly. For they haw ue- 
 hght to heare what is ao.ie in e- 
 very. Luna , Huwbeit vex y rew 
 Marchant men come tin then 
 
 Far what liiould they bring 
 thither, vnleile it were yron, or 
 elie Gold and diver, which they 
 had rather carry home agame ? 
 Alfoiuch things as are to be car- 
 ried out or their land^they thiuke 
 it more wil edome to carry that 
 gcere forth themfelues, then that 
 other (hould come thither to 
 retch it, to the intent thev may 
 the better know the out lands 
 on every lide or them, andkeepe 
 inure the reate and knowledge 
 or"railing. 
 
 . 
 
 Of 
 
of Vt 
 
 O P I A. 
 
 217 
 
 Of Bond-men^ Sichg perftns, 
 }Vedl§ckp y And divers 
 other matters. 
 
 T 
 
 Hey neicher make Bondmen \ 
 of prifoners taken in Bat- j 
 tailc, unlcifc it be in battaile 
 that they fought themfelvesmor , 
 of bondmens children • nor to be j 
 fliort, of any fueh as they can 
 get out of forraigne Countries, 
 though he were yet there a bond- 
 man. But eyther iuch,as among 
 themfelves for hey nous offences 
 be pun iflicd bondage , or clfe 
 juch, as in the Cities of other 
 Lands for great trcfpallcs be 06- 
 demned to death. And of this fort 
 of bondmen they have moil More. 
 For many of them they bring 
 home fomctimes , paying very 
 little for them , vca moil: com- 
 monly getting them for gramer- 
 cy. Theie forts of bondmen they 
 keep not only in centum ill work 
 and labour, but alfo in bands, i 
 1, But ] 
 
 A m irvzi 
 Uus equity 
 ef this na- 
 tion. 
 
 t 
 
ii 8 
 
 I f<72 
 
 be 
 
 The Common- wealth 
 
 But their ownc men they handle 
 hardefr,whom they judge more 
 defperate, rndro haue deferred 
 greater punifhmcnt , becaufe 
 they being (o godly brought 
 vp to vertue in ib excellent a 
 common wealth, could not tor 
 all that be refrained from mif- 
 doing. Another kind of bond- 
 men they haue , when a vile 
 drudge being a poore laborer in 
 another Couutrey, doth choofe 
 or his owne free will to be a 
 bondman among them. Thefe 
 they intrcat and order honellly, 
 and entertame almolt as gently, 
 as their ownc free citizens^ a ving 
 that they put them to a little 
 more labour, as thereto accufto- 
 med. If . any { uch, bee difpo fed 
 Co depart thence (which feldorrj e 
 is fecne) they neither hold hima- 
 gainlt his will, neither [end him a 
 way with empty hands.Thefickc 
 (as I fai<J) chcy lee to with great 
 affection, and let nothing ;.t all J 
 p aile,cccenung cithcrPhiiickc or 
 
 good 
 
$fVr op i a . 
 
 good diet, whereby they may be 
 reitored againe to their health. 
 Such as be ficke of incur eable 
 difeafes,they comfort with fitting 
 by them, and to be ihort,withall 
 manner of hclpes that may be. 
 But if the difeaie bee not one- 
 ly vncureable , but alio full of 
 continuall paine and anguifli the 
 thePncftsand the Magistrates 
 exhort the man, feeing hec is not 
 able to doe any duty of life and 
 by overliving ; his owne death 
 is noyibme and irkefome to ochcr 
 and gneuous to himfelfe:that he 
 will determine with himfclfe no 
 longer to cheriih that peitilcnt 
 and painfull diieafe. And feeing 
 bis life is to him but a torment, 
 that he will not be vn willing 
 to dyjbutxathcr take a good hope 
 to him , and either difpatch 
 himfclfe out of that painen-ll 
 life, as out of a prifbn 5 ora rackc 
 of torment , or elfe i utter him 
 felfe willingly to berklck out oi 
 it by other. And in fo doin g, they > 
 L 2 tell 
 
 119 
 
 Voluntary 
 de-tb. 
 
220 
 
 Of Wzd- 
 
 i 
 
 iht Common wealth 
 
 tell him he (hall doe wifely, fee- 
 ing by 1 lis death he (hall loofe 
 
 no commodity, but end his paine. 
 And becauie m that ait he Hi all 
 follow the counfcl of the Pricifs, 
 that is to lay, or the Interpre- 
 ters or' Gods will and plcaiurc, 
 they tiicw him that he lhall coc 
 like a godly and a vcrtuous man. 
 They that be thus peifwaded, 
 finiih their lives willingly, ci- 
 ther with hunger, or cliedye in 
 their lleepe without any feeling 
 of death. But they caufe none 
 fuch to dye againlt, his will, nor 
 they vfe no leile diligence and at- 
 tendance about him : beleeuing 
 this to be an honourable death. 
 Elfe he that kilieth himfelfe be- 
 fore that the Priclts & the Coun- 
 iell hauc allowed thecaufc of his 
 death,him as vnworthy either to 
 be buried, or with fire to be con- 
 fumcd,they call vn buried into 
 fotnc ltinkmg marriih. Tlic 
 v\ Hiian is not married before ihc I 
 be ejphteene v cares old. 
 
 Tlw 
 
fifVr op i a • 
 
 The man is foure yeares el-j 
 der before he marry. Ifeyther 
 the man or the woman be proucd 
 to haue actually offended before 
 their manage, with another, 
 the party that (o hath trefpailed, 
 isiharpely punilhcd. And both t 
 the offender^ be forbidden ever 
 after in all their- life to marry : 
 vnltile the fault be forgiven 
 by the Princes 'pardon. Both 
 the good man and good wife 
 of the houfe, .where t hi t crfe nee 
 was committed, as bei:ig ilae.ke 
 and negligent in looking to their 
 charge, be in danger of great 
 reproach, and infamy. That of- 
 fence is" fo lharpely pumiked, 
 becaufe they perceiue that vn- 
 lcife they be diligently .kept 
 from the liberty of this vice, 
 few will joync together in the 
 lone of marriage, wherein all 
 the life mull be led with one, 
 and alio all the erie'csanddil- 
 plcafurcs coming therewith pati- ' 
 ently betaken and born.Further- 
 L 3 more 
 
222 
 
 The Common-wealth 
 
 more in chooiing wiucs and hus- 
 bands,chey obferueearnellly ai\d 
 ilraighfly a cuilomc, which Tee- 
 med co us very fond audfoohih. 
 For a Tad and lion ell patron 
 iheweth the woman be /ho M.ud 
 or widd^w, naked to the wooer. 
 And hkewifc a iagc and difcrcet 
 man, exhibiteth die wooer naked 
 to the woman. At this cuhV>m.c 
 we laughed, ai?d difallowed ic as 
 loohili. But they on the other 
 part doc greatly wonder at the 
 tolly of all ojier Nations, which 
 m buying a Colt, whereas a lit- 
 tle money is in hazard, be fe cha- 
 ry and circumlpecl, that though 
 he be almoll all bare, yet they 
 will not buy him,imlcilethelad- 
 dk and all the barneile be taken 
 eff, leail under thofe coverings 
 be hid Tome gall or fore. And 
 yet in chufmg a Wife , which 
 ill all be either pleafure or dif- 
 pleafure to them all their life af- 
 ter, they be (6 rechlcfle, that all 
 the refidue of the womans body 
 ■ being 
 
Of V T O P I fi. 
 
 a. ■ <-•■ ■.■■. " - « « ' 
 
 being eovercd with cloathes,thcy 
 eftecme her fcarcely by one hand 
 breadth ( fcr they can fee no 
 more but her face ) and fo to 
 joyne her to them not without 
 great jeopardy of evill agreeing 
 together, if any thing in her bo- 
 dy afterward mould chance to of- 
 fend, and miflikc them. 
 
 For all men be not fo wife, 
 as to have refpeft to the vertu- 
 ous condition of the party. And 
 the endowments ol the body, 
 cauie the vermes o^ the mind 
 more to be efteemed and rcg ar- 
 ded : yea, even the marriages 
 of wife men. Verily fo foule de- 
 formity may be hid under thofe 
 coverings, that it may quite a- 
 lienate and take away the mans <, 
 mind fro n his wife , when it 
 (hall not belawfull for their bo- 
 dies to be feparate againe. It 
 fuch deformity happea by any 
 chance after the Marriage is 
 confummate and rmilhed, well, 
 therein no remedy but patience. 
 L 4 Every 
 
224 
 
 The Common mtltb 
 
 
 7)'vcr/e- 
 meet.' 
 
 Every man mull rake his fortune 
 well in worth But it were well 
 done that a law were made wher- 
 hy all fuch deceits might be ef- 
 dicwcd,and avoided before hand. 
 And this were they conftrai- 
 ned more carneltly to look* vf- 
 on,bccaufe they oncly of the na- 
 tions in that part ot the world be 
 content every irnn with one 
 wife a piece. And matrimony is 
 there never broken,bur by deJih; 
 except adultery breakcthc bond, 
 or die the mtollcrable wayward 
 manners of either party. For if 
 tytherofthem find themlclves 
 for any fuch caufe grieved, they 
 may by the licence of the Coun- 
 fell^ change and take another. 
 But the other party liveth ever 
 -fter in infamy, and out of wed- 
 fe'ekc. Howbeit the liusband to 
 put away his wife for no other 
 iault, but for chat fome miiliap is 
 fallen to her body , this bv no 
 meancs they will fuffcr I for they 
 
 judge 
 
o/Vtqpia. 
 
 judge it a great point of cruelty, 
 that any bo iy in tnejr molt need 
 of helpe and comfort, ihould be 
 call off andforlaken,and that old 
 age, which both bringetli iick- 
 nclle with iu and is a iickneile it 
 felre* moi kl unkindly^ and un- 
 faithfully be dele with all. But 
 now and then it chanceth, wher- 
 as the man and woman cannot 
 well agree betweene th'cmf elves 
 both or" them finding other jwith 
 whom they hope to live more 
 qukdy and merrily, that' they 
 : by tlie full content of them botK, 
 be divorfed afunder and married 
 again e to other. But that not 
 without the authority of the 
 Cou i cell". Which ' a greeth to 
 no divorfes ., before they and' 
 their wives have diligently 
 tryed and examined ' the mat- 
 ter. Yea, and then alfo they 
 be loath to conlent to it, be- 
 cauie they know this to be the 
 next way to preake love be- 
 tweene man' and 'wire, | to be in 
 
 eahe 
 
 225 
 
2l6 
 
 The Common wealth 
 
 eafie hope of a new marriage. 
 Breakers of wedlocke be puni- 
 flied with moll grievous bon- 
 dage. And if both the orfendors 
 were married , the a the parties 
 which in that behalfe have i litte- 
 red wrong, being divorced from 
 the adulterers, be married toge- 
 ther^ they will,or elfe to whojn 
 theyluft. But if either of them 
 both doe ftill continue in love 
 toward fo unkind a bed-fellow, 
 the vfe of wedlock is not to them 
 forbidden, ' n the party faultlelfe 
 foe difpofed to folio w in toyling 
 and drudgery, the perfon, which 
 for that offence is condemned to 
 bondage; And very oft it chau- 
 ccth, that the repentance of the 
 one, and the earn eft diligence of 
 the orher , doth fo moue the 
 Prince with pitty and compaf- 
 fion, that he reftoreth the bond 
 perfonfrom jlruitude, to liberty 
 andrreedoiric againe. B it if the 
 fame party be taken etHOSneS in 
 that fault, there is no other way 
 
 but 
 
<?/Vt 
 
 O P I A. 
 
 but death .To other trefpaffes no 
 prefcript punilhment is appoin- 
 ted by any law. But according to 
 the hainoufueilc of the offence, 
 or contrary ,1b the puniilnnent is 
 moderated by the discretion of 
 the Counccll.The husbands cha- 
 ltice their wives, and the parents 
 their children, unleile they have 
 done any lb horrible an offence, 
 that the open puniilnnent thereof 
 maketh much for the advance- 
 ment of honcll manners. 
 
 But moft commonly the 
 moft hainous faults be puniihed 
 with the incommodity of bon- 
 dage. For that they fuppofc to 
 be to the offendors no lctle griere, 
 and to the Common-wealth 
 more profit, then if they (liould 
 haftily put them to death, and fo 
 Oiake the n quite out of the way. 
 For their commeth more profit 
 of their bbour,the of their death, 
 and by their example they feare 
 other the longer from like offen- 
 ces. But' if they being thus vfed, 
 
 doe 
 
 227 
 
 The defer- 
 ring ofpu- 
 
 nijhmcttt 
 put to tbt 
 difiretion m 
 of the Ma 
 gijhates. 
 
228 
 
 
 Motion to 
 adultery 
 
 The Commw wealth 
 
 \ rebcll and kicke againe,then for- 
 (both they be (laine as defperate 
 and wild beaits, whom neither* 
 prifon nor chaine could reftraine 
 and keepe vndcr. Bur they, 
 which take their bondage patt- 
 cntly,be not leir't al hopeletle. For 
 after they haue beene broken and 
 tamed widxlong mifenes,if then 
 they ftiewfuch repentance, as 
 thereby it may be perceived that 
 they be jforier for their offence 
 then for their puniihment.;ibme- 
 times by the Princes prerogative, 
 and Co betimes by the voice or 
 clfc confent of the people, their 
 bondage either is mittigated, or 
 cleane releafed and forgiven. He 
 that mooveth to adultery is in no 
 leile danger and jeopardy, then 
 if he had committed .adultery 
 in deed. For in all offences 
 they count the intent and 
 pretenfed.pirpofe as evill, as 
 the a£l cr deed it felfe, thinking 
 that no let ought to ^ciife him, 
 that did his belt tohaUeno let. 1 
 
 The/ \ 
 
#/v 
 
 T'OMA. 
 
 They haue fin guler delight and 
 pleaiure in Fooles. And as it is 
 a great reproach to doe to any or 
 them hurt or injury, fo they pro- 
 hibite not to takeplcafure of 
 fooliihnetfe. For that they think, 
 doth much good to thefooles. 
 And if any man be Co lad and 
 Heme, that he cannot laugh 
 neither at their words , nor at 
 their deeds , none of them be 
 committed to his tuition :for feare 
 leaft he would not iutreat them 
 gently ..nd favourably enough : 
 to whom they mould bring no 
 delectation (for other goodneile 
 in them is none) much leile any 
 profit mould they yeeld him. To 
 mockea man for his deformity , 
 or that he lacketh onepaitor 
 limine of his body is counted 
 great diflionefty and reproach, 
 nottolumth-tti- nocked, but 
 to him that mocketh. Which 
 vnwifely doth imbraid any man 
 ofthatasavice , that was not in 
 his power to efchew , alfoasthey 
 
 count 
 
 22 9 
 
 pkafure 
 
 of fooles. 
 
2$Q 
 
 CWtHrfct 
 beautj. 
 
 Shine pn- 
 nifhtd and 
 verttte re. 
 
 7 be C&mmQn-pealth 
 
 couaic -and reckon very little wit 
 to be in him, that regardeth not 
 natural! beauty and comelineife*, 
 fo to helpe the fame with pain- 
 tings, is taken for a vame and 
 a wanton pride,not without great 
 infamy. For they know even by 
 very experience , that no Corne- 
 ll nelle of beauty doth fo highly 
 commend and advance the wiues 
 in the conceits of their husbands,, 
 as honeft conditions and lowli- 
 neife : For as love is oftentimes 
 wonne with beauty, [b jt is not 
 kept , prefer vtd and continued, 
 but by vertue and obedience. 
 They doc not onely feare their 
 people from doing evlll, by pu- 
 nilhments, but alio allure them 
 to vertue with rewards of ho- 
 nour. Therefore they fez vpin 
 the Market place the Images of 
 notable, men, and of fiich as have 
 beene bountirull benefactors to 
 the C3mmon-wealth , for the 
 perpetKali rnsmory of their good 
 .acts : and alio that the glory and 
 
 reuowne 
 
#/v 
 
 T O P I A. 
 
 renowne -of tn c anceftors may 
 ftirre and provoke their posteri- 
 ty to vertue. He that mordiiiatly 
 and ambitioully deiireth promo- 
 tions, is left all hopelelTe tor ever 
 attaining any promotion as long 
 asheliveth. They live together 
 lovingly : For no Magiltrateis 
 either haughty or fearerull. Fa- 
 thers they be called, and like fa- 
 thers they ufe themfelves. The 
 Citizens (as it is their duty) wil- 
 lingly exhibit unto them due ho- 
 nour without any compuliion. 
 Nor the Prince himfelre is not 
 known c from the other by 
 princely apparell , or a robe of 
 itate,nor by a crowne or diademe 
 royall, or cap of maintenance, 
 but by a little fheafeof Corne 
 tarried before him. And fo a ta- 
 per of waxe is borne before the 
 Bifhop , whereby onely he is 
 knowne. They have but few 
 lawes. For to people toinftruel: 
 aiid inftitute, very few doe fuf- 
 fice* Yea, this thing they chiefly 
 
 331 
 
 The inor- 
 dinate de- 
 fire of b$- 
 xors c9»- 
 deKQeJ. 
 
 Msgiftrats 
 honoured, i 
 
 re- 
 
 Few 
 
 Lawes* 
 
2;a 
 
 The Common wealth 
 
 The mul- 
 titude of 
 
 Lawyers 
 
 fuper- 
 
 flams* 
 
 reproue among other .actions,. 
 thaMnumerable books of laws & 
 expolkions vpon the fame be not 
 furhcient. But they think it a- 
 gainft all right. and juftice, that 
 men mould be. bound to thefe 
 laws, which either be'in number 
 moe then be able to be read, or 
 elfe blinder and darker ,then that 
 any man can well vnderiland- 
 them. Furthermore they vtterly 
 exclude and baniih all Atturnies, 
 Proctors, and Sergeants at the 
 Law, which craftily handle mat- 
 ters* and fubtilly .difputeof the 
 lawes. For they thinke it molt 
 meet,. that every man ihould 
 plead his owns, matter, and tell 
 the fame tale to the Iudge, that 
 he would tell to his man of law. 
 So fli all there bejeife circum- 
 itance of words,,Sc the truth ihall 
 fooner come to light, whiles the 
 Indge with a difcreet judgement 
 doth away the woid-s s>i him, 
 who nolawyer hatl>:inltru<St with 
 deceit, ajad whiles he beareth out 
 
if V t o r i a, 
 
 a 3* 
 
 (imple w'its againitthcfalfeand 
 malicious circumventions - or* 
 crafty children. This is hard to 
 be obfervcd in other Countries, 
 infoinfinit a number of blind 
 and intricate lawes. But in Vto~ 
 fin every man is a cunning Law- 
 yer.For as (I laid) they have very 
 tew lawes : and the plainer and 
 groiler that any interpretation 
 is: that they allow as molt juit. 
 For ail lawes (fay they) be made 
 and published only to the intent, 
 that by them every man ihall be 
 put in remembrance of his duty. 
 But the crafty and lubtill inter- 
 pretation of them ( forafmuchas 
 tew can attaine thereto) can put 
 very few in that remembrance, 
 whereas the limple , the plaine, 
 and proiTe meaning of the lawes 
 is open to every man. Elfe as 
 touching the vulgar fort of the 
 people , which; be both molt 
 in number > and have molt 
 need to know their duties , 
 were it not as good for them,that 
 
 no 
 
 TbeUtut 
 
»34 
 
 jhe Com won- wealth 
 
 no Law were made at all,as when 
 it is made to bring fo blind an 
 interpretation vpon it , chat 
 without great wit and long ar- 
 guing no man can difculle it? 
 To the finding out whcreof,nci- 
 ther the groile judgement of the 
 people can attame , neither the 
 whole life of them that be occu- 
 pyed in working for their h- 
 vingSjCan fumce thereto. Thefe 
 vertues of the Vtopians have cau- 
 fed their next neighbours and 
 .borderers , which live free and 
 under no fubje&ion ( for the V- 
 tp pians long agoe,have delivered 
 many of them from Tyrannie)to 
 m^ke Magistrates of them, fome 
 fpr a yeare ? and fome for . hue 
 ycares fpace. Which when the 
 time of their office is expired, 
 they bring home againc with 
 honour aud praife, and take new 
 againe with them into their 
 Country. 
 Thefe nations haue undoubtcd- 
 i ly very well and holfomly pro- 
 ■ vided 
 
Of Vt O* I A. 
 
 vided for their Common- 
 wealths. For feeing t,hat both the 
 making and the marring of the 
 Weak p-iblique , doth depend 
 and hang vpon the manners of 
 the Rulers and Magi ltrates, what 
 officers could they more wifely 
 . havcchofcn, then thofe which 
 cannot be lead from honefty by 
 bribes (For to the that fliortly af- 
 ter lhall depart thence into their 
 owne Country, money fliould be 
 unprofitable ) nor yet be moved 
 either with ravour, or malice to- 
 wards any man , as being ftr.an- 
 gcrs, and unacquainted with the 
 people ? The which two vices of 
 arfettion and avarice, where they 
 take place in judgements, incon- 
 tinent the) breake jurfcice , the 
 ftrongeft and fureft bond of a 
 Common-wealth. Thefe people 
 which fetch their officers and ru- 
 ler i from them, the Vtopianr call 
 their fellowes. And Other to 
 whom they have becne benefici- 
 all, they call their friends. As 
 
 touching 
 
 *35 
 
6 
 
 1 he Common- wealth 
 
 touching lcagues,which in other 
 places bciweene Country and 
 Country, bclbcrten concluded 
 broken and Renewed, they never 
 make nonewich any nation. For 
 to what purpofc ieive leagues, 
 fay they ? As though nature had 
 not let furricient love betwecne 
 man and man. And whofore- 
 gardcthnot nature, thinkcyou 
 tlr.t he will paife for words ? 
 They be brought into this opi- 
 nion chiefly , beeaufe that m 
 thofe parts or the world, leagues 
 bctweene Princes be wont to be 
 kept and obferved 1 very llender.- 
 ly.For here in Eurpp*, and cfpe- 
 cially in thefe parrs where the 
 faith and religion of Chrift 
 reigneth, the majefty.ofleagucs 
 is every where efteemedh'oly and 
 inviolable : partly through the 
 juitice and goodnelle of Princes, 
 and partly at the reverence and 
 motion of the head Bifliops . 
 Which like as they make no 
 promife themfclvcs,but tliey doe 
 
 vei 
 
 y 
 
0/ V T O PI A. 
 
 very religioufly performe the 
 fame, fo they exhort ail/' unices 
 in any wife to abide by their pro- 
 mifes,and them that refufe or de- 
 ny fo to doe, by their Pouciricall 
 power and authority, they com- 
 pel! thereto. And iurcly tlicy 
 thmke well that it mitmt feeme 
 a very reproachrull thing, if in 
 the leagues of them which by a 
 peculiar name be called faithful], 
 faith ihould have no place. But in 
 that new found part of the 
 world, which is fcarcely fofarrc 
 from vs beyond the line ccjui- 
 noctiall,as our life and. manners 
 be dillidcnt from theirs, no truit 
 nor confidence is in leagues. But 
 the more and holier ceremony 
 the league is knit vp with, the 
 fooner it is broken by fome ca- 
 villajtiOH found in the words, 
 which many times or purpofe be 
 fo craftily put in and placed,that 
 the bands can never be fofiirc 
 nor fo ilrong, but they will rind 
 lone hole open, to creepc :-ut^y: 
 
 and 
 
>l8 | 
 
 The Commonwealth 
 
 and to breakc both league and 
 truth. The which crafty dealing, 
 yea the which fraud and deceit, 
 *f they mould know it to be 
 pra&ifed among private men in 
 their bargaines arid contracts, 
 they would incontinent cry out 
 at it with an open mouth, and a 
 fowre conntenance, as an offence 
 molt deteftablc,and worthy to be 
 puniflied with a (hamefull death: 
 yea even very they that advance 
 themfeives Authors of like coun- 
 faile,is given to Princes. Where- 
 fore it may w r cll be thought , 
 either that all jufticc is but a bafe 
 and a low vertue^d which avai- 
 leth itfelfe farre under the high 
 dignity of Kings : Or, at the 
 leait-wife, that there be two Iu- 
 rtices> the one meet for the infc- 
 riour fort of the people, going a 
 foot and creeping low by the 
 ground, and bound downe on e- 
 very fide with many bands, be- 
 cause it fiiall not run at rovers. 
 The other a prinoely vertue , 
 
 which 
 
0f Vt 
 
 OPU, 
 
 239 
 
 which like as it is of much high- 
 er Majeity, then the other poore 
 juftice,fo alio it is of much more 
 liberty, as to the which nothing 
 is unlawfull that it luiteth after. 
 Theie manners of Princes ( as I 
 faici ) which be there foevill 
 keepers of leagues, caufe the V- 
 topi*nr, as I fuppofc,to make no 
 leagues at all, which perchance 
 would change their mind if they 
 lived here. Howbeit they thinkc 
 that though leagues be never lb 
 faithfully obferved and kept, yet 
 the cuftome of making leag.es 
 was very evil! begun. For this 
 caufeth men ( as though nations 
 which be feparatc a funder, by 
 the (pace ojpa little hill,or River,' 
 were coupled together by no fo- 
 ci cry or bond of nature ) to 
 thinkc themfclves borne adverfa- 
 fcics and enemies one to another, 
 and that ic were lawfull for the 
 pnetofeeke the death and dc- 
 itruclion of the other, if leagues 
 were not : yea, and that after die 
 
 leagues 
 
 K' 
 
240 
 
 The Common wealth 
 
 leagues be accorded a frjendihip 
 doth not grow and incrcafe: But 
 the licence of robbing and Hea- 
 ling doth itill remaine, asfairc 
 forth as for lacke of fore- light 
 and advifement in writing the 
 words of theleaguc,any fentence 
 or claufe to the contrary is not 
 therein futficiently comprehen- 
 ded. But they be of a contrary o- 
 pinion. Thar is, that no man 
 ought to be counted an enemy 
 which hath done no injury. And 
 that the feliowihip of nature is a 
 ftrong league , and that men be 
 better and more furely knit toge- 
 ther by love and benevolence, 
 then by covenants of leagues : by 
 hearty arlectionofrmnd,thenby 
 words 
 
 of 
 
o/Vtopia, 
 
 Of War -fare. 
 
 WArre or Battailc as a 
 thing very beaitly,and 
 yet no kind of beaih in To much 
 vfeas toman,thcy doc deteftand 
 abhorre. And contrary to the 
 cuitome alrnoft of all other na- 
 tions ? they count nothing fo 
 much againft glory, as glory got- 
 ten in vvarre. And therefore 
 though they doc daily practice 
 and cxercife themfelvcs in the 
 dilciplinc of warve, not only the 
 men, but alio the women vpon 
 certaine appointed dayes, lccft 
 they mould be to fcek in the feat 
 of amies, if need mould require, 
 yet they never go« to battaile^ 
 but cither in the defence of their 
 cvvnc Country^ or to drive out 
 of their friends Land the ene- 
 mies that have invaded it, 
 or by the power to deliver fiooi 
 the yoake and bondage or Ty- 
 rannic fome people , that be 
 M t here - 
 
14* 
 
 The Common-wealth 
 
 therewith opprelled. Which 
 thing they doe or mecre piety 
 and companion. Howbeitthcy 
 fend helpe to their friends, not 
 ever in their defence, but foine- 
 times alfo to requite and revenge 
 injuries before to them done. 
 But this they doe not vrileife 
 their counfell andadvife in the 
 matter be asked, whiles it is yet 
 new and frelh, For if they hnd 
 the caufc probable, and if r he 
 contrary part will not reftore a- 
 gaine fuch things as be of them 
 juftly demanded,then they be the 
 chiefe authors and makers of 
 the wane. Which they doe not 
 onely as oft as by mrodes and 
 invaiions #f fouldicrs preyes 
 and booties be driven, but then 
 alfo much more mortally, when 
 their friends march auts in any 
 land, ei.hcr vndcr the pretence I 
 of ynjnft lawesj or die by the 
 wrcM.ii »s ?r *d wrong vnderftan- < 
 d\rp of good lawesi doe fizftajnk i 
 an vnjiift accuiation vnder the ; 
 
 colo . 
 
ofVr 
 
 O P I A. 
 
 colour of juftice.Neithcr the bat- 
 taile which the Ftopiarts fought 
 for the Ntfhclegetes againft, the 
 Ataepolitanes a little before our 
 time, was made for any other 
 cauie, but that the Nephekgetc 
 mar chant men, as the Vtoptans 
 t.i i ght, fuffercd wrong of the 
 Aj*°p* la arts, vndcr the pretence 
 of right. But whether it were 
 right or wrong, it was with lb 
 cruell and mortall warre reven- 
 ged, the Countries round about i 
 joy nin g their helpe and power 
 to the puilfance and malice 
 of both parties, that moll flou- 
 nihing and wealthy peoples, 
 being fome of them ihrewdly 
 fli iken,and fome of them (harp- 
 ly beaten , the mifehiefes were 
 not finifhed nor ended, vntill 
 the AUGpolitans , at the lalt 
 were ycelded vp as bondmen 
 into the j:trifdic~tion of the 
 Nephf/ogctts. For the Vto- 
 flans fought not this wane for 
 themfelves. And yet the Nefhe* 
 M 2 ipfelffs 
 
 *43 
 
*44 
 
 iht Cewmm rvcdtb 
 
 hgetes before the w^rre 3 when 
 the ALioyvlitnnes flourHbed in 
 wealth, were nothing to be coin- 
 pared with them. So eagerly the 
 Vtopans profecute the injuries 
 done to their friends : yea, in 
 money matters and not their 
 owne hkew-'fe. For if they by 
 co vine or guile be wiped befide 
 their goods, fo that no violence 
 be done to their bodies,they eafe 
 theix anger by attaining from 
 occupying with thatnation,un- 
 till'thcy have made fatisf action. 
 N"ot for becaufe they fet leile 
 ftoie by their owne Citizens , 
 then by their friends : but that 
 they take the loiTe of their friends 
 money more heavily then the 
 lotfe of their owne. Becaufe that 
 their friends Merchant men, for 
 as much as that the lotleis their 
 owne private poods , fuifaine 
 great damage by the loft. But 
 their own Citizens lofe nothing 
 but of the common goods, and. 
 of that which was at home plen- 
 tiful 
 
if V T O P I A. 
 
 . ■ , . . . » »-■ .■ — 
 
 tifull and almoft iupcrfiuous,elfe 
 had it not beene fent forth. 
 Therefore no man feeleth the 
 lolfe. And for t»his caufethey 
 thinkc it too cruell an a&, to 
 revenge the loile with the death 
 of maiijthe incommodity of the 
 which loile no man feeleth nei- 
 ther in his life , nor yet id his 
 living. Bat if it chance that a- 
 ny or their men be in any other 
 Country be maimed or killed, 
 whether it be done by a common 
 or a private Gountvll, knowing 
 and trying out thetrinh of the 
 matter by their Amballadours,, 
 unleife the offenders be rende- 
 red unto them in recompence of 
 the injury, they will not bz ap- 
 peafed i but incontinent they 
 proclaime Warre againil them. 
 The offenders yeelded , tluy 
 punifh either with death , or 
 with bondage They be not 
 onely fory, but alio afhamed to 
 atchieve the victory with blood- 
 flied , counting it great folly 
 M 3 to 
 
245 
 
 Vitfory 
 
 decre 
 
 bought. 
 
 The Common-wealth 
 
 to buy precious wares too dcarc. 
 They rejoyce and avant them- 
 felves , ir they vanquifli and 
 opprelfe their enemy by craft and 
 deceit. And for that aft they 
 make a gcnerall triumph, and as 
 if the matter were manfully 
 handled, they fee vp a pillar of 
 llone in the place, where rhey fo 
 vanquished their enemies, in to- 
 ken o[ their viftory. For then 
 they glory, then they boall and 
 crack, that they hauc plaied the 
 men indeed, when they haue fo 
 overcome , as no other living 
 creature, but only man could : 
 that is to fay, by the might and 
 puilfanceof wit. For with bodily 
 ftrcngth(fay they) Bearcs,Lions, 
 Boares, wolfes, dogs, and other 
 wild bealb doe right. And 
 as the molt part ot them doe 
 paile vs in ftrength and fierce 
 courage, fo in wit & rcafon we be 
 much ftrongcr then they all. 
 Their chiefeoc principall purpofe 
 in war, is toobtainc that thing, 
 
 which 
 
Of V T O P I A. 
 
 which if they had before obtai- 
 ned, they would not hauenioo- 
 ved battaile. But if that be not 
 poilible, they take fuch cruell 
 vengeance or them which be in 
 the fault,that ever afcer they be 
 affraid to doe the like. 
 
 This is their chiefe and princi- 
 pal I intent, which they mime- 
 diatlyand firlt of all profecute, 
 and let forward. But yet fo, that 
 they be more circumi'pect. in 
 auoyding andefchewing jeopar- 
 dies, then they be delirous of 
 praifeand renowne. Therefore 
 lmmediatly after that warre is 
 once folemnly denounced, they 
 procure many Proclamations 
 iigned with their ownc com- 
 mon feale, to be fet vp privily 
 at one time in their enemies land 
 in places moft frequented. In 
 thefe proclamations they pro- 
 mile great rewards to him that 
 will kill their enemies Princc,and 
 fomewhatleiTe gifts 3 but them ve- 
 ry great alfo, lor every head ot 
 M4 them, 
 
24 s f The Common mxlth 
 
 the, whofe names be in the faid 
 proclamations contained. They 
 be thofe whom they count their 
 chicfe adverfarics, next unto the 
 Pnnce whom there is prefcribed, 
 unto mm that killeth any of the 
 proclaimed per fons, that is dou- 
 bled to him that brmgethany 
 of the fame to them alive : yea, 
 and to the proclaimed perlbns 
 themfdves, if they will change 
 their mmds,and come into them, 
 taking their parts, they proffer 
 the fame great rewards with par- 
 don and furcty of their lives. 
 Therefore it quickly commeth 
 to paife, that their enemies have 
 ail other men in fufpition,and be 
 unthankfiill, and miftrufting a> 
 inong themfelves one to another 
 living m great feare, and in no 
 Jeiic jeopardy. For it is well 
 knowne, that divers times the 
 molt part of them (and fpecially 
 the Prince himfelrc) hath beene 
 betrayed of them , in whom 
 they put their molt hope and 
 truft. 
 
tf/VroPU. 
 
 249 
 
 truft. So there is no manner of 
 aft: nor deed that gifts and re- 
 wards doe not mforce men unto. 
 And in rewards they keepeno 
 meaiure. But remembring and 
 considering into how great ha- 
 zard and jeopardy they call 
 them, endevour themfelves to 
 recompence the greatneife of the 
 danger with like great benefits. 
 And therefore they promife not 
 onely wonderfull great abun- 
 dance of gold , but alfo lands of 
 great revenues lying in moil fafe 
 places among their friends. And 
 their promiies they performe 
 faithfully without any fraud or 
 co vine. 
 
 This cuftome of buying and 
 felling adverfaries, among other 
 people is difallowed 3 as a cruel aft 
 of a bafe and a cowardim mind. 
 But they in this behalfe thinke 
 themfelves much praife wor- 
 thy , as who hkewife, men by 
 this meanes difparch gre^t 
 Warres without Battaite or 
 M ? skir- 
 
*5 
 
 The Common wealth 
 
 skirmilh. . Yea,they count it alio 
 a deed of pitty and mercy, be- 
 cauiethat by the death of a few 
 offenders , the lives of a great 
 number of Innocents, as well of 
 their owne men, as alia of their 
 enemies, be ranfomed and faved, 
 which in fighting ihould have 
 bcene flaine. For they doe no 
 lclfe pitty the bate and common 
 fort of their enemies people, then 
 they doe their owne : Knowing 
 that they be driven and forced to 
 warre againit. their wills, by the 
 furious madnelTe of their Princes 
 and heads. . if by noneofthsfe 
 rneanes the matter goe forward, 
 as. the/ would have it .then they 
 procure occalions of debate, and 
 detention to be fpread among 
 their enemies. As by bringing 
 the Princes brother, or fome oi 
 the noble men in hope to ob- 
 tain e the King. Ion:. It this way 
 prevaile not, then th:y raife vp 
 the people that be nexc neigh- 
 bours and borderers to their ene- 
 mies, , 
 
efVr o p i Ai 
 
 mies, and them they fet in their 
 necks under the colour of lb me 
 old title of right, fiich as Kings 
 doe never lacke. To them they 
 promiie djeir helpe andaydin 
 their Warrc. And as rbr money 
 they gi.ue them abundance. But 
 of their owne Citizens they fend 
 to daem few or none : whoin 
 they make fo much of, and love 
 fo mtirely, that they would not 
 be willing to change any of them 
 for their adverfaries Prince. But 
 their gold and filvcr , becaufe 
 they keepe it all for this onely 
 purpofe, they lay it out franckly 
 and -freely : as who ihoul4 live 
 evea as wealthily , if they had 
 beftowed it every penny. Yea 
 and befides their riches , which 
 they keepe at home , they have 
 alio an infinite treafure abroad^ 
 by rcafon that .( as I faid before) 
 many Nations be in their debt. 
 Therefore they hire fouldiour* 
 our of all Countries and fend 
 them to Baccaile, but chiefly of 
 
 ■ the 
 
 251 
 
The Cemmw-WAlth 
 
 the Zapolctf. This people, is 
 five hundred miles hom Vtopi* 
 Eaftward. They be hidious, ia- 
 vage,and fierce, dwelling in wild 
 Woods , and high mountames, 
 where they were bred and 
 brought vp. They be of an hard . 
 nature, able to abide and fuftaine 
 heate,cold,and labour,abhornng 
 from all dihcate dainties, occu- 
 pying no husbandry nor tillage 
 of the ground^ homely and rude 
 both in building of their houfes,, 
 and in their apparell,given unco 
 no gooinclle, but onely to the 
 breeding and bringing vp of 
 Cattle. The molt part of their 
 living is by hunting a id flea- 
 ling. They be borne onely to 
 warre , which, they diligently 
 and earneftly feek for. And when 
 they have gotten it,thcy be won- 
 drous glad thereof. They goe 
 forth of 'their Co an cry in great 
 companies together, and wliofc- 
 ever Lxketh fouldioars , there 
 they proffer their fervice for finul 
 
 wagc>. 
 
p/Vtopia. 
 
 wages. This is oncly the craft 
 that they have to get their living 
 by. They main tame their lives, 
 by fecking their death.Forthcm 
 with whom they be in wages, 
 they fight hardly , fiercely, and 
 faithfully. But they bind them-* 
 felves for no certaine time. But. 
 vpon this condition they enter 
 into bonds,that the next day they 
 will take part with the other fide 
 for greater wages, and the next 
 day after that, they will be ready 
 to come back againe for a little 
 more money .There be few warrs 
 there away , wherein is not a 
 great number of them in both 
 parties. Therefore it daily chan- 
 ceth, that nigh kinsfolke which 
 were hired together on one part, 
 and there very friendly and fa- 
 miliarly vfed themfelves one 
 with another, fliortly after being 
 feparate into contrary parts, run 
 one againhY another errvioufly 
 and fiercely t and forgetting 
 both kindred' 1 and iriendfhip 
 
 tliruft 
 
 t„ , , , — . 
 
2*4 
 
 The Cemmm-malth 
 
 thriift their {"words one in ano- 
 ther. And true for none other 
 caufe, but that they be hired ror 
 contrary Princes ror a little mo- 
 ney. Which they doe lb highly 
 regard and eit,ecme,that they will 
 eaniy be provoked to change 
 parts for a lulfe-penny more wa- 
 ges by the day. So quickly they 
 have taken aiiiiadce m cove- 
 toufneife. Which for all that, is 
 to them no profit. For that they, 
 get by Eghting , immediately 
 they fpend necdleile ? unthrikily 
 and wretchedly in ryoc. 
 
 This people fightethfor.the 
 Vtopians agaiarfc all Nfanoas^be- 
 caufe they give them greater 
 wages then any other nation 
 will. For the Vt.fans like as 
 they fecke good men tovfe wel^ 
 fo they feeke thefe cvill and vi- 
 cious me.i to- abufe. Whom, when 
 need requir:th, with promifes of 
 great rewards, they put forth in- 
 to great jeopardies from whence 
 th^ moft part di then never 
 
 commcth 
 
efVrov I a, 
 
 commcch againe to aske their re- 
 wards. But to them chat remai tii 
 alive, they pay thac which, -y 
 promifcd faithfully , that uiey 
 may be the more wiliin^ co put 
 the.nfelves in hkc danger ano- 
 ther tiine.Nor the Vtoyians parte 
 not how many of them they 
 bring to deftrudion. For they 
 beleeve that they lliould doc a 
 very good deed for all mankind, 
 if they could rid out of that world 
 all that foule ftmcking denne of 
 that moll wicked and curled 
 people. ^exc unto thefe, they vie 
 the ibuldioursof them for whom 
 they fight : and thin the helpe 
 of their other friends* And lait 
 of all, they joy ne to their owne 
 Citizens. Among whom they 
 give to one of tried vertue and 
 powers , the rule, governance 
 and conduction of the whole 
 Army. Vnder him they appoint 
 two other , which whiles he is 
 fafe, be both private and out of* 
 office, But if he be taken or 
 
 Qaine 
 
 a55 
 
 ) 
 
2J* 
 
 7 he ComwQ#-mdtb 
 
 flainc-thc one of the other fucce- 
 deth him, as it were by inheri- 
 tance. And if the fecond raifcar- 
 ry , then the third taketh his 
 roome, lealt that ( as the chance 
 of Battaile is uncertaine and 
 doubtfull) the jeopardy of death 
 of the Captaine ihould bring the 
 whole army in hazards Xhey 
 choofe fouldiours out of every, 
 City.,. thole , which put forth, 
 themlelves willingly. For they 
 thruA no man forth into warre 
 againll his will t. becaufethey 
 beleeve, if any man be fearefull 
 and faint-hearted of nature, he 
 will not onely doe nomanfull 
 and hardy aft himfelfe, but alfo 
 be occallon of coward neife to, 
 hisfellowes. But if any Battaile 
 be made againft their owne 
 Country ,then they put thefeco* 
 wards(fo that they be ftrong bo- 
 died) in Ships among other bold 
 harted men. Or elfe they difpofe 
 themypon the w.ils, fro whence 
 they may not flie.Thus what for 
 
 (lame 
 
*f V T O P I A. 
 
 iliame that their enemies beat 
 hand, and what for becauie they 
 be without hope of running a- 
 way, they forget all feare. And 
 many times extreame necellity 
 burnetii cowardnetfe into pro- 
 wefle and man lmcllc.But as none 
 of them is thruft forth ot his 
 Country into wane againft his 
 will, fo women that be willing 
 to accompany their husbands in 
 time of warre, be not prohibited 
 or letted. Yea they provoke and 
 exhort them to it witji praifes. 
 And in fct field the wives doe 
 ft and every one by their owrve 
 husbands fide. Allb every man 
 is comparted next about with his 
 owne children, kinsfolkes, and 
 alliance, That they who n na- 
 ture chiefly mooveth to mu- 
 tuall fuccour , thus fUndeth 
 together , may helpe one ano- 
 ther. It is a great reproach 
 and dilhonefty for the huf~ 
 band to come home without his 
 wife, or the wife without her 
 
 huf- 
 
 *57 
 
2^8 
 
 The Comtmn wealth 
 
 husband , or the fonnc without 
 his tuner. And therefore it* the 
 other part iheke fo hard by it, 
 tint die oattaile come to their 
 hands, icisrbught with great 
 ilaughter and blood-ihed,evento 
 the utter deifruftion of both 
 parties. For as they make all 
 the meanes and Hurts that may 
 be,to kecpe themfelves from the 
 neceiliiy of fighting, or that they 
 may diipatch the battaile by 
 their hired fouldiers , fo when 
 there is no remedy ,but that they 
 muffc needs fight themfelves>then 
 they doe as couragioully fall to 
 it, as before, whilei they might, 
 they did wifely avoid and refufe 
 it. Nor they be not moll fierce 
 at the firit brunt. But in continu- 
 ance by little and fettle their fierce 
 courage encreafeth,with fo itiib- 
 borne and obstinate minds, that 
 they will rather die then give 
 backe an 1 ich. For that furety of 
 living, which every man hath at 
 home,b:ing joyned with no care- 
 full 
 
ofVrovix. 
 
 full anxiety or remembrance 
 how their pofterity ihall live af- 
 ter them ( for this penfi vent lie 
 oftentimes breaketh and abatcth 
 couragious ltomackes ) making 
 them flout and hardy , and dii- 
 dainfull to be conquered. More- 
 over, their knowledge in chiual- 
 ry andTeates of armes, putteth 
 them in a good hope. Finally the 
 wholefome and vertuous opini- 
 ons wherein they were brought 
 vp even from their childhood, 
 partly through learning , and 
 partly through the good ordi- 
 nance and lawes of their Weals 
 pubhque, augment and encreafe 
 their marthill courage. By reafon 
 whereof, they neither let to lit- 
 tle ftore by their lives, that they 
 will ralhly and vnadvifedly calt 
 them away: nor they be not fo 
 farre in lewi and fond love 
 therewith, that they will fhaine- 
 fully covec to keepe them, when 
 honeily biddeth leave them. 
 When the battaile is hottelt, and 
 I in 
 
 259 
 
the Cap- 
 t.dne is 
 cbitfl) to 
 be puifu&l 
 to the in- 
 tent the 
 battaile 
 may tba 
 fooner be 
 ended* 
 
 The Common tvia'tb 
 
 in all places moft fierce and fer- 
 vent, a band of chofen and 
 picked yong men , which be 
 fworne to hue and dye together, 
 take vpon thern to deitroy their 
 ad vei fanes captaine. Whom they 
 invade now with pn\y wiles, 
 now by open ilrength. At him 
 they it/nke both neare and farre 
 orf.He h allailedwith a long and 
 a continuall atlault, frelh men 
 ftitl comming in the wearied 
 mens places. And ieldome it 
 chaaceth ( vnleiTe he faue him- 
 felfe by fiying ). that he is not 
 either, (lain or cite taken prifoner, 
 and yeelded to his enemies alme . 
 If they win the field, tliey perfe- 
 cute not their cnenies with the. 
 violent rage of llaughter. For 
 they had rather take them alme, 
 then kill them. Neither doe they 
 follow the chafe and purfuirof 
 their enemies, but they, leaue be- 
 hinde them one part, of their 
 hoaftin battaile aray,vnder their 
 ftandards, I nfornuch, that if all 
 
 their 
 
'/V 
 
 TOPIA 
 
 > 
 
 their whole army be difcomflted 
 and over-come , faving the re- 
 wardj and that they therewith 
 atchieuc the victory, then they 
 had rather let all their enemies 
 fcape, then to follow them out of 
 array. For they remember it hath 
 chanced vntothemf elves more 
 then once ; the whole power and 
 ftrei:gth of their hoaft being 
 vanquifhed and put to flight, 
 whiles their enemies rejoycing in 
 the victory haue pcrfecuted 
 them^ Hying fome one away and 
 fome another, a fmall company 
 of their men lying inambufh, 
 there ready at all occafions, 
 haue £ ddamely rifen vpon them 
 thus difperfed and Scattered out - 
 of array? and chrough prcfump 
 tion of fafety vnadvifcdly pur- 
 fuing the chafe and haue incon- 
 tinent chj-.ged the fortune of 
 the whole battuile, and fpite 
 of their teenies wrcfting out 
 of their hand$ the lure and 
 vndoabtcd victory, being a little 
 
 before 
 
216 
 
 7 be Commence alt h 
 
 before conquered, have for their 
 part conquered the conquerors. 
 It is hard to fay whether they be 
 craftier jr. laying an ambuih, or 
 wittier in avoiding the fame. You 
 would Jiinke they intend to file, 
 when the} i o .ane nothing lelie. 
 And c. ;■: trmwiie/when they goe 
 about thatpurpoTc, you would 
 belccve it were .the leaii part of 
 their thought. For if they per- 
 ceive iheinl "elves overmatched in 
 numbti , or clofed in too narrow 
 a place ,then they remove their 
 campc other in the night feafon 
 with fiki ce, cr by fome policy 
 [ hey deceive their enemies, or in 
 the day rime they retire backe fo 
 • ly,tliatk is no letfc jeopardy 
 to middle with them w r hen they 
 gi . e backe , then when they 
 prejle o They fence and forrific 
 their c^ " fuuly with a deepe 
 and a brc d trench. The earth 
 theieof is cafl nv-id. Nor they 
 doc not fe,t ^csiindilavesa 
 
 works about lt.lc is done by the 
 
 hands 
 
ef V T O P I A. 
 
 hands of the fouldiours them- 
 felves. Ail the whole Army 
 woiketh upon it, ^xccpt them 
 that kecpe watch and ward in 
 armor before che trench foriud- 
 dame adventures. Therefore by 
 the 1 abou i of fo many , alargj 
 trench doling in a great com- 
 pailc of ground , is mc.de iu leiFe 
 time then any man would be- 
 lceve. Then Armour or hard- 
 nclfe which dicy weare,is lure 
 and itrong to receive ftroakes, 
 and hanuiome for all moovings 
 and geilures o( die body? inib- 
 much A\ t it is notunweldvto 
 fvvimmc in. For in the dilcipline 
 of then war-fare 3 among other 
 fe^s they learne to fwimme in 
 harnclle. Their weapons be ar- 
 rowes aloofe , which they ihoot 
 both llro: .gly and furcly,uot on- 
 ly footmen , but alibhorfemen. 
 At hind ilroakes they vie not 
 {word 3 but Pollaxes , which be 
 mortal!, as well m {h^rpeJielle as 
 iaweipht, both for foynes and 
 
 downe 
 
 263 
 
 Their At* 
 mour. 
 
Of Truces 
 
 The Common- wealth 
 
 downeftroakes* Engines for war 
 they devifeand invent wondrous 
 wittily. VVhich when they be 
 made they keepe very fecret, 
 leaft if they fliould be knowne 
 before neede require, theV fliould 
 be but laughed at, and ferue to 
 no purpofe. But in making them, 
 hereunto they haue chiete re^ 
 fpeel:, that they be both eafie to 
 be carried, aed handfeme to be 
 moved, and turned about. Truce 
 taken with their enemies for a 
 iliort time, they doelbfirmely 
 and faithfully keepe, that they 
 will not breake it,no,not though 
 they be thereunto provoked. 
 They doe not waite nor dettroy 
 their enemies land with for- 
 ragings, nor they burne not 
 vp their Corne. Yea they faue 
 it as mnch as may be from being 
 overrunne and trodden downe, 
 either with men or horfes, thin- 
 king that it groweth for their 
 ovvne vfe & piofit.They hurt no 
 man that is vnarmed, vnleffe he 
 
 be 
 
f/V 
 
 TOP 14. 
 
 I 
 
 265 
 
 be an Efpyall. All Cities that be 
 yeelded unto them, they defend. 
 Andluch as they winneby force 
 of afTaulr, they neither difpoyle 
 nor facke, but them that with- 
 ftood and dilfwaded the yeelding 
 vp of the famc,they put to death, 
 the other fouldicrs they punifh 
 with bondage. All the weake 
 multitude they leave untouched 
 If they know that any Citizens 
 counfellcd to yeeld and render 
 vp the City, to them they give 
 part of the condemned mens 
 goods. The refiduc they dillri- 
 bute and give freely among 
 them, whofe helpc they had in 
 the fame warre. For none of 
 thcmielves takcth any portion 
 of the prey. But when the bat- 
 tai-le is rinilhed and ended, they 
 put their friends to never a pen- 
 ny coil: of all the charge; that 
 they were at, but lay it vpon 
 their neckes that be conquered. 
 Them they burthen with the 
 whole charge o: their expenfes) 
 
 N 
 
 wlvc.i 
 
TbeComwon- wealth 
 
 which they demand of them 
 partly in money , to be kept for 
 like vfe of battaile, and pardy in 
 lands of great . evenewes to be 
 paid unto them yearely rbr ever. 
 Such revenewes they have now 
 in many Countries. Which by 
 little and little riling of divers 
 and fundry caufes, be incrcafed 
 aboue feven hundred thoufand 
 ducates by the yeare. Thither 
 they fend forth fome of their 
 Citizens as Lieftenanes* to live 
 there fumptuoufly, like men of 
 honour and renowne. And yet 
 this notwithstanding , much 
 money is laved , which com- 
 meth to the common treafury ; 
 unleiTe it fo chance,thot they had 
 rather truft the Country with 
 the money. Which many times 
 they doe fo long , untill they 
 have need to occupy it. And it 
 feldome happeneth that they de- 
 mand all. Of thefe lands they af- 
 f gne part unto them, which at 
 their rebueit, and exhortation, 
 
 put 
 
^/Vt-op I a. 
 
 put theinf elves in fuch jeopar- 
 v of before. If any 
 
 up warreyigainlt 
 them, i .iig to invuac their 
 
 land, they *ieet him incontinent 
 out or their ownc boiderersywith 
 great power and itrength. For 
 they never lightly make warre 
 in their owne Country .Nor they 
 be never brought into (o ex- 
 treame necclfity, as to take helpc 
 out of forraine lands into their 
 owne Hand. 
 
 Of the ReligtinS in Vtopia/ 
 
 THere be divers kinds of 
 Religion, not oncly in fun- 
 dry parts of the Hand but alfo 
 in divers places of every City. 
 Some worihip for God.thc Sun : 
 fome the Moone : fome other of 
 the Planets. There be tha f : give 
 worihip to a man that was 
 N 2 once 
 
 26*7 
 
2 63 
 
 iht Common wealth 
 
 once of excellent vemie or of 
 famous glory,not only as GOD, 
 but alio as the cJhiefcil and high- 
 eft: GOD. But the moil and the 
 wifeit part (rejecting all thefe)be- 
 leeve,that there is a certaine god- 
 ly power unknowne,everlafting, 
 incomprehenhble, inexplicable, 
 farre above the capacity 6c reach 
 of mans wit, -difperfed through- 
 out all the whole world, not in 
 bigneife,but mvertucand power. 
 Him they call the father of all. 
 To him alonethey attribute the 
 beginnings, the increaiings, the 
 proceedings,! he changes,and the 
 ends of all things. Neither they 
 give any divine honours to any 
 other then to him. Yea all the o- 
 ther alio, though they be in di- 
 vers opinions, yet in this point 
 they agree all together with the 
 wifellfort , in beleeving that 
 there is one principal! GOD,the 
 maker and ruler of the whole 
 world; whsm they all commonly 
 in their Country language call 
 
 My thru 
 
Afythra ,But in this they diiagree : 
 that among fome he is counted 
 one, and among fome another. 
 For every one oF them, what foe- 
 ver that is which he taketh for 
 pie chicfeGodj thinkcth it to be 
 the very fame nature, to whole 
 only divine might and majeity 
 the fumme and foveraignty of all 
 tilings by the confent of all peo- 
 ple is attributed and given. Ho w- 
 beit they all begin by little and j 
 little to forfake and fall from this 
 variety of fuperftitions, and to a- 1 
 gree together in that religion J 
 which feemcth by rcafon to pai'fe j 
 and cxcell the refidue. And it is 
 not to be doubted, but all the o- ■ 
 ther would long agoc have been j 
 aboliihed, but that whatsoever -j 
 unprofperous thing happened to i 
 any of them,as hs was minded to j 
 change his religion, the fearcful- 1 
 nclfe of people did take it , not 
 as a thing comming by chance 
 but as lent from GOD out 
 of Heaven, As though the 
 N 3 Godj 
 
 2&<? 
 
27° 
 
 Religious 
 boujis. 
 
 The Common-wealth 
 
 the God, whofe honour he was 
 forfaking, would haue revenged 
 that wicked purpofc againft him. 
 But after they heard vs fpeakeof 
 the name ofChnit,of his doftrin, 
 lawes, myracleSj and of the no 
 leile wonderful! conihncy of ib 
 many martyrs , whole blood 
 willingly (head, brought a great 
 number of nations throughout 
 all pares of the world into c heir 
 fed : you will not beleeue with 
 how glad minds , they a- 
 grecd vnto the fame : whether it 
 were by thefecret infpiration 
 of God , or elfe for that they 
 thought it nigheft vnto that 
 opinion , which among them 
 is counted the chiefelt. How- 
 beit I thinke this was no faiall 
 hclpe and furtherance in the mat- 
 ter, that they heard vs fay, that 
 Chrift initiated among his, all 
 things common ; and that the 
 fame comunity doth yet remaine 
 amongil frighteft Chriilian co- 
 panics.Verily howfoeYer it came 
 
 to 
 
 
of Vt 
 
 O P I A, 
 
 to paife, many of them confented 
 together in our religion, and 
 were waihed in the holy water of 
 Baptifme. But becaufe among vs 
 foure (for nomoeof vs was left 
 aliue^two of our company being 
 dead) there was no Prieftjwhich 
 I am right lory for : they being 
 cntred and initrucled in all other 
 points or" our religion,lacke onc- 
 ly thole iacraments, which none 
 but Pnefts doe miniilcr. How- 
 beit they vndcrfhud & pcrcciuc 
 them,and be very deiirous oi the 
 famc.Yea they reafon and difpute 
 the matter eavneftly among 
 themfelves , whither without 
 the fending of aChriftianBiihop, 
 one chofen out of th?ir owne 
 people , mav receiue the or- 
 der ofPriefthood. And truely 
 they were minded to choofe 
 one. But at my departure thence 
 they had chofen none. 
 
 They alfo which doc not agree 
 
 to Chrilh religion, ferre no man 
 
 from it, nor fpeake againft any 
 
 N 4 man 
 
2 72 
 
 • Tfo Common- wulth 
 
 man that hath received it.Saving 
 that one of our company in my 
 gefence was iharpcly puniihed. 
 He as {oone as he was baptifed 
 
 ^gaiiagamiUur wils witli more 
 cameitartcftion, then wifedome 
 to reafon oi Chnfts Religion : 
 • vilu ^g™ to waxeio hoc in thi$ 
 • marreiylut he did not oncly pre- 
 i tare oar Reljgion before all o- 
 ) tntf, bucalibdidvcterlydeipifc 
 | ^condemneallocher, calling 
 j them proplu„e, and the foUow- 
 | crsoi chein wicked and devilim, 
 and the children of evcrlafting 
 damnation. When he had thus 
 long re^foned the matter, they 
 laid hold on him, accufed him, 
 2 id condemned him into exile, 
 not as a difpifer of religion, but 
 I as aied'cious peribn,and a rayfer 
 vp of dilfention among the peo- 
 I pie. For this is one or the and- 
 enteitlawe> among them : that 
 no man mall be blamed for rea- 
 soning in the maintenance of 
 W owne religion. For King., 
 
 Vt9fHS \ 
 
»/v 
 
 TOPI A 
 
 Vtopu* 9 even at the firft begin- 
 ning , hearing that theinhabi- 
 tant:f of the land were before his 
 comming thither, at conrinuall 
 diirention and ftrifc among them 
 1 elves for their religions : percei- 
 ving alio that this common dif- 
 fention ( whiles every feverall 
 Seel tooke feverall parts in figh- 
 ting for their Country ) was the 
 oncly occafion of his Conqucft \ 
 over them all,as foonc as he had 
 gotten the victory. Firft of all, 
 he made a decree, that it mould 
 be lawfull for every man to fa- 
 vour and follow what religion 
 he would, and that he might doc 
 the bed he could to bring other 
 to his opinion, fo that he did 
 it peaceably , gently , quietly, 
 and fobcrly , without hafty 
 and contentious rebuking and 
 inveying againffc other. If he 
 could not by feirc and gentle 
 fpeech induce them vnto his 
 opinion , yet he mould vfe 
 N 5 - no 
 
 273 
 
 U t< I— ■>■■ * i n ''■■ ! m ■ 
 
*74 
 
 ■ Sedideut 
 
 ret fine* s 
 
 J he Commw-wtdth 
 
 no kind of violence,and refraine 
 from dii'plealant and fedicious 
 words. To mm that would vehe- 
 mently and fervently iu this 
 caufe itrife and contend, was de- 
 creed, baniiliment, or bondage. 
 This law did King ytopuj make 
 not oncly for the maintenance 
 of peace, which hee faw through 
 continual contentation and mor- 
 tall hatred vtterly extinguiflied : 
 but alio becaufe he thought this 
 decree ihould make for the fur- 
 therance of religion. Whereof he 
 durft define and determine no- 
 thing vnadvifedly, as doubting 
 whither God defiring manifold 
 and divers forts of honour ,would , 
 infpire llmdry men with fun- 
 dry kinds of« religion. And 
 this furely he thought avei'y vn- 
 meet and foolifh thing 3 3c a point 
 of arrogant prcfumption,to com- 
 pell all other by violence and 
 threatnings to agrej to the fame, 
 that thou beleeveft ro be true. 
 Furthermore , though there 
 
 be 
 
*/Vto?ia* 
 
 I 275 
 
 be one religion, which a lone is 
 true, and all other vaine and fu» 
 perihtions, yet did he well fore- 
 iee(fo that the matter were hand- 
 died with reaibn and fober mo- 
 deity) that the truth of the ownc 
 power would at the kit liluc out 
 and come to light. But if conten- 
 tion and debate in that bchaltc 
 fliould continually bz vfed 5 
 as the worftinen bemortobiti- 
 nate and ltabborne, and in their 
 evill opinion inoft conftant : he 
 perceived that then the belt and 
 holier! religion would be troden 
 vnder foote and deftroyed by 
 molt vaine fuperftitions, even 
 as good cornc is by thornes and 
 weecis over-grown and choaked. 
 Therefore all this matter he 
 left vndifcuifed., and guie to 
 every man ire- liberty and 
 choice to beleeuewhat he would. 
 Saving that heearneftly and itrait 
 ly cliarged them 5 that no 
 man fliould concetuefo vile and 
 b~fc an opinion of thecfig -i.y 
 
 pinion win 
 conceived 
 oj mans 
 7v filthy 
 , n^tuic. 
 
i~j6 
 
 The Ctmmtn -wealth 
 
 of nuns nature, as to thinkc that 
 the foules doe die and periih with 
 the body : or that the world run- 
 neth at all adventures, governed 
 by no divine providence. And 
 therefore they beleeue that after 
 this life vices be cxtreamcly 
 punifhed, and vertues bounu- 
 tally rewarded. Hcthatisofa 
 contrary opmion 3 they count not 
 in the number of men, as one 
 that hath availed the high nature 
 of his foule, to the vileneife of 
 brute "beads bodies : much lelTe 
 in the number of ths Citizens, 
 whofe hwes and ordinances, if 
 it were not for fearc, he would 
 nothing at all.efte.eme. For you 
 may be fure that he .willft'udy 
 either with craft privily to 
 mocke,or elfe violently- to bre.ike 
 the common lawes of his coun- 
 trcy, in whom reaiaineth no fur- ' 
 ther feare then of the hwes, nor 
 no further hope then of the body; 
 Wherefore he that is thus 
 minded is deprived of all honors, 
 
 excluded 
 
*fV 
 
 TOflA, 
 
 excluded from all offices, and re- 
 ject from all common admini- 
 ftrations in the weale-publique, 
 And thus he is of all forts de- 
 fpifed, as of an vnprofitable, and 
 ok a bafe and vile nature. How- 
 beit, they put him to no punifli- 
 mentjbecaufe they be perfwaded, 
 that it is in no mans power to bc- 
 leeue what he lift. No, nor they 
 conftraine him not-wkh threat- 
 nings to diifcmble his mmd,and 
 Ihew countenance contrary to 
 his thought. For deceit and 
 falftiood, and all manner of lies, 
 as next vnto fraud, they doe 
 marveiloufly dejeft and abhorre. 
 But they fuff er him not to difpute 
 J in his opinion, and that onely 
 among the common people. 
 For elle apart among the Priefts 
 and men of grauity they doe 
 not onely iuffer , but alfo 
 exhort him to difpute and 
 argue hoping thit at jihe 
 lait,that.*madneLle will giue place 
 to realon. There bee alio other, 
 
 and 
 
 »77 
 
 Irreligious 
 ptoplefe- 
 cladeti 
 from all 
 honours. 
 
 A very 
 firange 
 
 fiying* 
 
 7>eceitand 
 
 faljbood 
 detected. 
 
178 
 
 A mami* 
 
 lorn 
 
 flratge $' 
 pinto* tor- 
 ching the 
 /bales of 
 brute 
 beaftS' 
 
 To die un~ 
 vHHngly 
 an evill 
 
 to^ea* 
 
 The C$mm$n>weaUh 
 
 and of them no lmall number, 
 which be not bidden to fpeake 
 their minds , as grounding 
 their opinion vpon ibme rea- 
 fon, being in their living nei- 
 ther evill nor vicious.. Their 
 herefie is much contrary to the 
 other. For they beleeue that the 
 foules ol the brute beaih be im - 
 mortall and everlafting. But no- 
 thing to be compared with o- 
 thers in dignity, neither ordained i 
 and predeitmate to like felicity. 
 For all they beleeue certainly and 
 furcly that mans blitfe iliall be 
 Co great, that they doe mourne 
 and lament euery mans fickneiFe, 
 but no mans death, vnlelfe it be 
 on whom they fee depart from 
 his life carefully, and againfthis 
 will. For this they take for 
 a very evill token, as though 
 thcfoule being in difpaire, and 
 vexed in conscience, through 
 foine privy and lecret forefceling 
 of the pumihmiiit now at hand, 
 ynre afeaidto depart. And they 
 
 thinks 
 
e/Vr o p i a. 
 
 they thinkeheihallnot be wel- 
 come to GOD, which when he 
 is called , runneth not to him 
 gladly, but is drawne by force, 
 and lore againft his will. They 
 therefore that fee this kind of 
 death, doc abhorre it, and them 
 that fo die , they bury with for- 
 row andiilence. And when they 
 haue prayed to GOD to be mer- 
 cifull to the foule, and mercifull 
 to pardon the infirmities thereof, 
 they cover the dead corle with 
 earth. Contrariwife, all that de- 
 part merily and full of good 
 hope,for then no man mourneth, 
 but followeth the hearfe with 
 joyfull (inging,commcnding the 
 foulcs to GOD with great aifec- 
 tion. And at the lair, not with 
 mourning forrow , but with a 
 great reverence they burnethe 
 bodies. And in the fame place 
 they fet vp a pillar of ftone,with 
 the dead mens titles therein gra- 
 ved. When they be come home, 
 they rehearfe his vertuous man- 
 ners 
 
 *19 
 
 A willing 
 and merry 
 death not 
 to be la- 
 mented. 
 
a8o 
 
 The Common-wtdtb 
 
 ners and his good deeds. But no 
 part of his lire i> Co oft or gladly- 
 talked of,as Ins mery death.They- 
 thinke that this remembrance of 
 the- Tertue and goodnerte of the 
 dead, doth vehemently provoke 
 and enforce the lming to vertuc. 
 And that nothing can be more 
 plcafant and acceptable to the 
 dead .Whom they fuppofe to bee 
 prefent among them, when they 
 talke of them,though to the dull 
 and feeble eye-fight of morcall 
 men they be inviiible.For it were 
 an inconvenient thing, that the 
 bleifed ihould not be at liberty 
 to goe whither they would. And 
 it were a point of great vnkind-- 
 neife in them , to haue vtterly 
 caft away the deiireof vifiting & 
 feeing their friend s,to whom they 
 were in their life time joyned by 
 mutual! loue and amity. Which 
 in good men after their death, 
 they count to be rather in- 
 creafed then diminifllcd. They 
 beleeue therefore tint the 
 
 dad 
 
o/V 
 
 T t) PJ A. 
 
 dead be prcfently converfant a- 
 mong the quicke, as beholders 
 and witneiles of all their words 
 and deeds. Therefore they goc 
 more couragioufly to their bu- 
 findfe, as hauing a trull and a 
 fiance in fuchovcriecrs.And this 
 belcefc of the prefent converfati* 
 on of their forefathers andan- 
 •ceftors among them/eareth them 
 fcoin all fecret dilhonelty. They 
 vtterly difpife andmockefouth- 
 layings and divinations of things 
 tocome,by the flight andvoyces 
 of birds, and all other diuination 
 of vaine faperitition, which in 
 other countries be in great obfer- 
 vation* But they highly efteeme 
 and worfliip miracles that come 
 by no helps ef iuturc>as workes 
 and witnefles of the prefent 
 power of GOD. And fuch they 
 fay doc chance there very often. 
 And fometimes in great and 
 do ubtfull matters , by common 
 interceflion and prayers, they 
 procure and ob.taine them with 
 
 a 
 
 28l 
 
 South' 
 fayers nH 
 regarded 
 nor ct edi- 
 ted^ Mira- 
 ties. 
 
 .*» 
 
I 
 
 The life 
 
 contcm- 
 plation. 
 
 The life 
 affive* 
 
 t 
 
 -&~r. 
 
 28a *&~^ftrfo Comm§n m&lth 
 
 a fure hope and confideuce,and a 
 itedfait bcleefc. 
 
 They thmke that the contem- 
 plation of nature, and the praife 
 thereof comming, is to GOD a 
 very acceptable honour,Yet there 
 be many fo earneilly bent and 
 affected to religion , that they 
 palle nothing ror learning, nor 
 give their minds to any know- 
 ledge of things. But ldlenclfe 
 they utterly for fake and efchew, 
 thinking felicity after this life to 
 be gotten and obtained by bniie 
 labour and good cxarcifes. Some 
 therefore of the at tend vpon the 
 ficke, fome amend high-wayes, 
 clcanfe ditches, repaire Bridges* 
 digge turfes, gravell, and itone, 
 fell and cleaue wood,bring wood 
 come, and ether things, into the 
 Cities in carts, and ferve not 
 onely in common workes,but al- 
 io in private labours,as fervants : 
 yea ? more then bondmen. For 
 whatsoever unpleafant, hard and 
 vile worke is any where/rom the 
 
 which J 
 
Of V T O P I A . 
 
 which labour,loathfomneire,and 
 defperation doth fray other, all 
 that they take upon the willing- 
 ly and gladly ^procuring reit. and 
 quiet to othcr 3 remainmg in con- 
 tinuall vtforke and labour them- 
 felves , not cmbraiding others 
 therewith.They neither reprove 
 other mens lives , nor glory in 
 their owne. Thefe men the more 
 ferviceable they behave them- 
 felves, the more they be honored 
 of all men. Yet, they be divided 
 into two feels. The one of them 
 that live (ingle and chaft, abnrai- 
 ning not only from the company 
 of women, but alfo from eating 
 cf fleQi, andfome of them from 
 all manner of beads. Which vt - 
 terly rejecting the pleafures of 
 this prefenr life as hurtfull, be 
 all wholly let vpon the defire of 
 the life to come, by watching, 
 waiting , and fweating, hoping 
 fliortly to obtainc it, being in 
 the meane feafon merry and 
 lufty. The other feci is nolctfe 
 
 defirous 
 
ag 4 
 
 It is mi 
 
 alt one td 
 be "wife 
 
 The Ccmman wealth 
 
 defirous of Labour, but they inr 
 brafc Matrimony, |notdcfpiiing 
 t heiolace thereof, thinking that 
 they canno: be difcharged of 
 their bounden duties toward na- 
 
 ture, without labour and toyle, 
 nor towards their native Coun- 
 try, without procreation of chil- 
 dren They abitaine from no' 
 pleafure that doth nothing hin- 
 der them from labour. They love 
 cheflefh of foure-footcd beafts, 
 becaufe they bcleeve that by the 
 meat they be. made hardy and 
 ltrongertoworke. The Ftopians 
 count this Seft the wifcr.but the 
 other the holyer. Which m that 
 they prtferre Tingle life before 
 matrimony, and that fliarpc life 
 before .the cafier life, if herein 
 they grounded upon reafon, 
 they would inocke them. But 
 nowforafmuch as they fay they 
 be lead to it by rchgion,thcy ho- 
 nour and worfmp them. And 
 thefc be they whom in their lan- 
 guage by a peculiar name : thcv 
 
 call 
 
*fw 
 
 T OP I A 
 
 call Bmthefc4u/\\e. which word 
 by interpretation , iignifieth to 
 vs,Men of religion, or religious 
 men. They have Pneils of excee- Priff?s. 
 ding holineffe, and therefore ve- 
 ry tew. For there be but thirteen 
 in every City according to the 
 number of their Churches, fa- 
 ving when they goe forth to 
 battaile. For then feaven of them 
 goe forth with the army : in 
 whofe iteads to many ntfw be 
 made at home. But the other at 
 their returnchome againe, reen- 
 ter every. one in his owne place: 
 they that .be above the number, 
 untill fuch time as jelley lucceed 
 into the places of the other at 
 their dyrug^bc in themeanc fea- 
 fon continually in company with 
 the Bifhop. For he is thechiefe 
 head of them all. They becho- 
 len of the people, as the other 
 Kiagiftrates be by iccret voices. 
 for the avoiding of ftrife. 
 
 Afccr their election, they -be 
 co-ni cerate of their ow n cqpan ■ . 
 
 Tiuy 
 
2%6 
 
 7ht Comm$n-wealth 
 
 Excom- 
 municate, 
 
 They be Overfeers of all divine 
 matters , order ers of' religions, 
 and as it were Judges anc Ma- 
 ilers of manners. And it is a 
 great diflioneity and iliame to 
 be rebuked or lpokcn to by any 
 cf them, ror dulolute and incon- 
 tinent living. But as it is their 
 office to give good exhortations 
 and counlell, to it is the duty of 
 the Prince and the other Magi- 
 ftrates, to correct and punifh of- 
 fenders, faving rhat the Priefts, 
 whom they find exceeding vici- 
 ous livers, them they excommu- 
 nicate from having any intereft 
 in divine matters. And thereis 
 almoff. no punimment among 
 them more feared. For they run 
 in veiy great infamy, and be in- 
 wardly tormented with a fecrct 
 feare of religion , and (h all not 
 long efcapc free with their bo- 
 dies. For unlfilc they by quicke 
 repentance approve the amend- 
 ment of their lives to thePriefts, 
 they be taken and pumfiied of 
 
 the 
 
^Vt 
 
 O P I A 
 
 :he Councell, as wicked and ir- 
 religious. Boch child hooc and 
 iputh is mitruc"tea ancUcaaghc 
 :>fthem. Nor they be hoc more 
 iihgent ro inibnet them in lear- 
 ning, then in vertue and good 
 tnanners.For they vfe with very 
 *reat endevour and diligence to 
 ?ut into the heads of their chil- 
 dren, whiles they be yet tender, 
 md ply ant, good opinions and 
 profitable for the conservation of 
 :he Weale publike. Which when 
 hey be once rooted in children 
 rloe remaine with them all their 
 life after, and be wondrous pro- 
 fitable for their defence and 
 maintenance of the ftate of the 
 Common-wealth : which never 
 decay cth but through vices ri- 
 fing of evil 1 opinions. 
 
 The Prices , unletfe they be 
 women ( for that kind is not ex- 
 cluded from PnenVhood, howbe- 
 it few be chofen and none but 
 widdowes and old women ) the 
 men Pricfts, I fay, take to their 
 
 wiues 
 
 I 2*7 
 
a88 
 
 The Commm-wtdtb 
 
 the Ma- 
 jefty and 
 prebemi- 
 t/ence sf 
 Frie/ft. 
 
 wiucs the chief eft women in all 
 their Gountrey. For to no office 
 among the Vtopitns is there 
 more honour and preherninence 
 giuen. -Infomuch that if they 
 commit any offence, they be vn- 
 der no common judgement, but 
 be left onely to GOD and 
 thcmfclvcs. For they thinke it 
 not lawfull to touch him with 
 mans handle he neuer fo vicious, 
 which after fo fmguler a fort was 
 dedicate and confecrate to GOD,' 
 as a holy offering. 
 
 This manner may they eafily 
 obferue,becaufe they haue fo few 
 Pnefts,and doe choofe them with 
 fuch circum(pec"tion. For it 
 fcarcely euer chanceth, that the 
 mod vert nous among vertuous, 
 which in refpe£t only of his vcr- 
 tueis advanced to fo high a dig- 
 nity, can fall to vice 6c wicked- 
 neile. And if it ihould chance in- 
 deed (as mans nature is mutable 
 and fraile) yet by reafon they be 
 fo fcw 5 and promoted to no might 
 
 nor pow- 
 
o/Vtopia 
 
 power, but onely to honour, it 
 were not to be feared that any 
 great dammage by them fliould 
 happen 8% eniue to the common- 
 wealth. They haue To rare and 
 few Pnefts, leaff if the honour 
 were communicated to many, 
 the dignity of the ordcr,which a- 
 mong them now is fo highly c- 
 N ftetmed,lhould run in contempt. 
 Specially becauie they thinke it 
 hard ; to iind many fo good,as to 
 ]pc meetc for that dignity, to the 
 execution and discharge wherof, 
 it IS not furHcient to be indued 
 with mcane vertucs. 
 Fiu'thcrmorc,theiePriefts be not 
 more cfteoned of their owuc 
 Countrey men, theiuhey be of 
 forrei* ne and ihange Countries. 
 Whicn thing may hereby plainly 
 appeare. And I thinke alio 
 that: this is the caule ot^ it. 
 For whiles the aririu* be 
 fighting together in open field, 
 they a fktle befide not fane off 
 Jknccle vpon their knees in their 
 O hallowed 
 
 279 
 
29° 
 
 Th§ ComnttnwcAtth 
 
 many benefits received at bis 
 h'&d. But namely that through 
 the favour of God he hath chan- 
 ced into that publikc weale, 
 which is moil happy and weal- 
 thy ,and hath chofen that religion 
 which he hopethto be moft true. 
 In the which thingif he doe any 
 thing erre , or if there be any o- 
 ther better then cither of them 
 is,being more acceptable to God, 
 he deiireth him that 1 he will of 
 his goodnes $er him have know- 
 ledge thereof^ one that is ready 
 to follow' what wayfocverhe 
 will lead him, But if this forme 
 and faihion of a Common- 
 wealth be beft, and his ovvnc re- 
 ligion moft true and pefecl:,then 
 he defireth GOD to give him a 
 conftant ftedfaftneile in the 
 fame , and to bring all other 
 people to the fame order of li- 
 ving, and to the fame opinion of 
 Goo, unkile there be any thing 
 that in thisdiverfity of Religi- 
 ons doth delight his unfearch- 
 
 ablc 
 
#/Vt 
 
 O P I A. 
 
 291 
 
 able pleafurc. To be (liorr, he 
 prayeth him that after his death 
 he may come to him. But how 
 (bone or late that he dare not af- 
 ligns nor determine. Howbcit,if 
 it might ftand with his Maje- 
 ures plcafure,he would be much 
 gladder to die a painfull death 
 and fo tc goe to GOD, then by 
 long living in worldly profpc- 
 rity to be away from him. When 
 this prayer is faid,they fall down 
 to the ground againe and a little 
 after they rife vp and goe. to din- 
 ner. And the refidue of the day 
 they paile over in playes , and 
 excrcife of chiualry. 
 
 Now 1 liaue declared and pre- 
 fenbed unto you as truely as I 
 could, the forme and order of 
 that Common-wealth, which ve- 
 rily in my judgement is not 
 oncly the beft , but alio that 
 which alone of good right may 
 claime and take vpon it the name 
 of a Common- welth or publikc 
 weal. For in other places they 
 rpeakc [ 
 
291 
 
 7 be Common wuhb 
 
 1 ■' " ■ ' • ■*■■ "u - 
 
 fpeake ftill of the Common 
 wealth. But every man procu 
 reth his ownc private gaine. 
 Here where nothing is private^ 
 the common affaires be earneft- 
 ly looked vpon. . And truly on 
 both parts they have good caufe 
 fo to doe as they doe. For in j 
 $ther Countries who knoweth 
 not that he flialLftarvefor hun- 
 ger, r fialetfe he make fonie feve- 
 rall provision for himfelfe , 
 though, the Common wealth 
 flounlh never fomuch in rich- 
 es I And therefore he is compel- 
 led even of very neceffity to haue 
 regard to himfelfe , rather then 
 to the people^ that is toiay, to o- 
 thers. 
 
 Contrariwife, .there where all 
 things be common to every 
 man 9 .it is not to be doubted that 
 any man (hall lacke any thing 
 n eceffary for h i 3 private- vfc , fo 
 that the common ttore houfes 
 and banes bef afficiently ftored. 
 •For there axhiiig is deiirijbuted 
 
 tfteri 
 
0f V 
 
 T © P I A. 
 
 2*3 
 
 after a niggilh fort, neither there 
 is any poore man or begger. 
 And though no man have any 
 thing , yet. every man is rich. 
 For what can be more rich, then 
 to live joyfull and merrily, with- 
 out all griefe and peniLveneile : 
 Not caring for his owne living, 
 nor vexed or troubled with his 
 wires importunate complaints, 
 nor dreading poverty to Ins 
 ibnne , nor ibrrowfull for his 
 daughters dowry. Yea they take 
 no care at all for the living and 
 wealth of themfelves and all 
 theirs , and their wives , their 
 children, their nephewes, their 
 children* children , and all the 
 lucceffion that ever ihall follow 
 in their pofterity* And yet be- 
 fidcs this , there is noleile pro- 
 vifion \ for them that were, once 
 labourers, and be now weake 
 and impotent , then for them 
 that doe now labour and take 
 paine. Here now would I fee, 
 
294 
 
 7 be Common xvuhh 
 
 If any man dare be fo bold as to 
 compare with the equity, the ju- 
 iticeof other Nations. Among 
 whom, I forfakeGOD, if I can 
 find any (igne or token of ecjui-v 
 ty and juihce.For what juitice is 
 this,that a rich Gold-inn th/>r an 
 Vfurer, or to be lhort, any o£ 
 them, which cither doe nothing 
 at alitor elie that which they do 
 is fuch, that it is not very neccf- 
 fary to the Common-wealth, 
 fhould have .a pleafant and a 
 wealthy living, cither by idle- - 
 neile , or by unneceffary bu(i- 
 nclle : When in the meane time 
 poore labourers, Carters, yron 
 fmiths, Carpenters, and plough- 
 men, by fo great and continuall 
 toyle , as drawing and bearing 
 hearts befcant able tofuft.une> 
 and agiin fo neccllary toyle,that 
 without it no Common- wealth 
 were able to continue and endure 
 one yeare , ihould yet get fo 
 hard and poore a living, and live 
 fo wretched and miferable a life, 
 
 tl;...t 
 
efVr op I a. 
 
 ■that the flate and condition of 
 the labouring bcaft may fecme 
 much better and wealthier i For 
 they be not put to fo continuall 
 labour , • nor their living is not 
 I much worfe : yea, to them much 
 :pleafanter, taking no thought in 
 the raeane feafon for the time to 
 come. Hut thefe filly poore wret- 
 ches be prefently tormented 
 with l^ari aine and unfruitfull la- 
 bour. And the remembrance of 
 jthcir poore indigent and beg- 
 gcrly old age killeth them vp. 
 For their daily wages is fo little, 
 tint it will not fuftice for the 
 fame day > much lelle it ycel- 
 deth any ovcr-plus,that may dai- 
 ly be laid vp for the reliefe of old ^ 
 
 age. 
 
 Is not this an unjuft , and 
 an unkind Pubhque weale , 
 which giveth great fees and 
 rewards to Gentlemen , as 
 they call them, and to Gold- 
 fmiths , and co fuch other, 
 
 which 
 
 295 
 
296 
 
 The Commn-wtalth 
 
 which be either idle perfons , or 
 clfe onely flatterers , and devi-1 
 fer s of vaine pleafures : And 
 of the contrary part , makcth 
 no gentle proviiion for poore 
 Plowmen, Colliers, Labourers, 
 Yron-frmths, and Carpenters , ; 
 without whom no Common-; 
 wealth can continue ? But af- 
 ter it hath abufed the Labourers 
 of their lufty and flo wring age, 
 at the laft when they be oppref- 
 led with old age andiickneire 
 being needy, poore, and indi- 
 gent of all things, then fo get- 
 ting -their- fo many painfull wat- 
 chings , not remerobring their 
 fo many and fo great benefits , 
 recompenceth and acquainteth 
 them moft unkindly , with re- 
 ferable death. And yet befides 
 this, the rich men not onely by 
 private fraud , but alfo by com- 
 mon lawes , doQ every day 
 plucke and fnatch away from 
 the poore , fome part of their 
 
 daily 
 
^/Vtopia. 
 
 daily living. So whereas it 
 fecmed before unjuft to repen- 
 tance with unkindncrle their 
 paines , that they have beene 
 beneficiall to the Common- 
 weak, now they have to their 
 wrong and unjult. dealing 
 ( which is yet a much worie 
 point) given the name of ju- 
 stice, yea, and that by force of 
 a Law. Therefore when- 1 con- 
 fider and weigh in my mind all 
 thefc Common-wealths, which 
 now a dayes any where do flou- 
 riih, fo GOD helpe me, I can 
 perceive nothing but a certaine 
 confpiracy of rich men proou 
 ring their owne commodities, 
 under the name and title of the 
 Common-wealth. They invent 
 and devife all meanes and crafts, 
 firit.how to kcepe fafely with- 
 out feare of looping , that they 
 haveunjuftly gathered together: 
 and next how to hire and abufe 
 the worke and labour of the 
 poore for as little money as 
 
 may 
 
 297 
 
2$>8 
 
 Contempt 
 of money. 
 
 The C&mmgn-malth 
 
 may be. Thelc devifes when the 
 rich men have decreed to be 
 kept and obferved under colour 
 of the communalry , that is to 
 lay,alib of the poore people., then 
 they be nude kw.es* But tliefe 
 molt yicious and wicked men, 
 when they have by their unfati- 
 able covetoufheile, devided a- 
 niong themfelves ail thole things 
 which would have fuiheed all 
 men, yet haw farre be they from, 
 the wealth and felicity of the 
 Utopian Common-wealth ? Out 
 of the which,in that all thedelire 
 of money with the vfe thereof is 
 vtterly fecluded and 1 baniflicd, 
 how great a heape <^f cares is cut 
 away £ How great an, occasion 
 of wickednefle and mifchiefc is 
 pulled vp. by the root? For who 
 knoweth not that fraud, theft, 
 ravine , brawling , quarrelling, 
 brabling, ftrife, chiding , con- 1 
 tention, murder, treafon, poifo- 
 ning , which by daily, punifh- 
 ments are rather. revenged then 
 
 * refrai- 
 
c/VtoPI A. 
 
 285 
 
 refrained^ doe die when money 
 dycth? And alio that fcarc,griefe, 
 care, labours, and watching, doe 
 peril]] even the very lame mo- 
 ment that money peniheth ? Yet 
 poverty it felfe,which onely Tee- 
 med to lackc money, if money 
 were gone,it alio would decreafe 
 and vaniili away. And that you 
 may perceiue this mere plainly, 
 coniider with your fclvcs fome 
 barrainc and unfruitfull yeare, 
 wherein many thaufands of peo- 
 ple have ilarved for hunger : I 
 dare be bold to fay , that in the 
 end of tlr.t penury, lb much 
 Corne or grainc might have 
 beenc found in rich mens barnes, 
 jftll^y had beene iearched, as 
 bcincr divided among them who 
 Mne and peftilence then con- 
 fumed, no man^t all iliould h;vc 
 felt diat plague and penury. So 
 caiily might men get their living 
 if that fame vvorthy Piiucedc 
 I.ady money did not alone 
 
 itop 
 
286 
 
 lo*S fay- 
 
 ing. 
 
 The Commm-m&ltb 
 
 ftoppe vpthe way betwcene vs 
 and our lining , which a 
 Gods name was very excel- 
 lently devifed and invented , 
 that by her the way thereto 
 fliouldbc opened. I am lure 
 the rich men perceive this, nor 
 they be not ignorant how much 
 better it were to lacke no ne- 
 cetlary thing, then to abound 
 with overmuch fuperfluity : to 
 be rid out of innumerable cares 
 and troubles , then to be be- 
 fieged and encombred with 
 great riches. 
 
 And I doubt not that either 
 the rcfpecT: of every mans pri- 
 vate commodity , or elfe the 
 authority of our Saviour Ckrtft 
 ( which ror his great wifedome 
 could it ot but know what were 
 belt, and ror his ineftimable 
 goodneife could not but coun- 
 iell to that which he knew to 
 the belt ) would have brought 
 all the World long agoe into 
 
 the 
 
$f V T O P I A * 
 
 — i n » ■ » ' — 
 
 the lawes of this Weale publike 
 if it were not the one onely belt, 
 the Princefie and mother of all 
 nufchiefe Pride, doth withitand 
 and let it. bhe meafureth not 
 wealth and profperity by her 
 ovvne commodities, but by the 
 mifcry and incommodittes ofo- 
 ther : fhe would not by her 
 good will be made a GoddelTe, 
 if there were no wretches left, 
 over whom (he might like a 
 icornfull Lady rule and triumph, 
 over whole mifcrics her felici- 
 ties might fhulf, whofc poverty 
 ihc might vcxe , torment and 
 increafe , by rigorouily fetting 
 forth her riches. This hel-hound 
 creepcth into mens hearts , and 
 I pullciii thcui backe from eu- 
 rriiig the npht path of life, and 
 is io de'ply rooted in mens 
 breaib, tint flic cannot be pul- 
 led out. 
 
 This forme and falhion of 
 a Weale publikcwhich I would I 
 pladlv Willi unto all Nations, | 
 
 II 
 
»88 
 
 The Commenwialtb 
 
 I am glad yet that it chanced 
 to the Vtofixns , which have 
 followed thofc inftitutions of 
 life, whereby they have laid 
 fuch foundations of their Com- 
 mon-wealth , as (hall continue 
 andlaftnot onely wealthy, but 
 alfo asfarreas mans wit may 
 judge and conjecture , ihall 
 endure for ever. For feeing the 
 chiefo caufesof Ambition and 
 1 edition, with other vices 3 be 
 plucked vp by the roots, and a- 
 bandoned at home there, can be 
 no jeopardy or demeliicall dif- 
 fention, which alone hath cart, 
 underfoot and brought to 
 naught the w el-fortified and 
 ltrongly defenced wealth and 
 riches of many Cities. But for 
 ' as much as perfect concord re- 
 maineth , and whollome lawes 
 be executed at home, the envie 
 of all forreigne Princes be not 
 able to (hake or moove the Em- 
 pire, though they have many 
 times long agoe gone about to 
 
 • doe 
 
*/ V T O P I A . 
 
 doe it, being evermore driven 
 backer 
 
 Thus when Raphai; 
 had made an end of his tale, 
 though many things came to 
 my mind , which m the man- 
 na's and lawes of that p eoplc, 
 fcemed to be inftituted and 
 founded of no good reafon, 
 but onely in the tainion of their 
 chiualry, and in their Sacrifices, 
 and Religions, and in other of 
 their Lawes • but alfo , yea and 
 chiefly , in that which is the 
 principal! foundation of all their 
 ordinances : that is to fay , in 
 the communalty of their life 
 and living, without any occu- 
 pying of money, by the which 
 thing onely all nobility , magni- 
 ficience, worflup , honour, and 
 majefty, the true ornaments and 
 honours,as the common opinion 
 is, of a Common-wealth, vtterly 
 be overthrowne and deftrOyed : 
 yet becaufe I knew that he was 
 wjeary of talking , and w r as not 
 P furc 
 
 503 
 
304 
 
 The Cemmen-weakk 
 
 fure whether he could abide that 
 any thing mould be faid againft 
 his mind : fpecially remembring 
 that he had reprehended this 
 fault in other , which be affraid 
 lcalt they ihould fceme not to 
 be wife enough , unleffe they 
 could find Tome fault in other 
 mens inventions s therefore I 
 prailing both their institutions 
 and his communication , tooke 
 him by the hand, and lead him 
 into (upper , faying that we 
 would choofe another time to 
 weigh and examine the fame 
 matters, and to talke with him 
 more at large therein. Which 
 would GOD it might once come 
 to palfe. 
 
 In the meane time, as I cannot 
 agree and confent to all things 
 that he faid , being elfe with- 
 out doubt a man fingularly well 
 learned , and alfo in all wordly 
 matter exactly and profoundly 
 experienced - fo mult I needs 
 confelTe and grant, that many 
 
 things 
 
Cf Vt Of I A 
 
 things be in the V$o}i*n Weale- 
 publique, which in our Ci- 
 ties I may rather wifh 
 for, then hope 
 
 I 305 
 
 ■ 1 » . i„ 
 
 FIV^IS. 
 
 
 P a 
 
I. A 
 
 
 
 
 * 
 
 T 
 
Ha 
 
 «3* 
 
 >N 
 
 ■+ 
 
 ft 
 
 ^5 8 
 
 ^ 
 
 
w * • 
 
 £ 
 
 ;*i'«« 
 
 %w 
 
 WW 
 
 m 
 
 !CV 
 
 ■ £*