stealing whole sheaves, to fill a barn. His chief wealth consisteth in enough, and that he can live comfortably, and leave his children the inheritance of their education.

Yet he is a grand benefactor to the commonwealth. England, in former ages, like a dainty dame, partly out of state, but more out of laziness, would not suckle the fruit of her own body, to make the best to battle and improve her own commodities, but put them out to nurse to the Netherlanders, who were well paid for their pains. In those days, the sword and the plough so took up all men's employments that clothing was wholly neglected, and scarce any other webs to be found in houses than what the spiders did make. But since, she hath seen and mended her error, making the best use of her own wool; and indeed the riches of a kingdom doth consist in driving the home commodities thereof as far as they will go, working them to their very perfection, employing more handicrafts thereby. The sheep feeds more with his fleece than his flesh, doing the one but once, but the other once a year, many families subsisting by the working thereof.

We have cause to hope, that, as we have seen the cities Dornicks and Arras brought over into England, so posterity may see all Flanders brought hither; I mean that their works shall be here imitated, and that either our land shall

be taught to bear foreign commodities, or our people taught to forbear the using of them.

I should now come to give the description of the day-laborer, (of whom we have only a dearth in a plentiful harvest,) but seeing his character is so coincident with the hired servant, it may well be spared. And now we will rise from the hand to the arm, and come to describe the soldier.

A

THE GOOD SOLDIER.

SOLDIER is one of a lawful, necessary, commendable, and honorable profession; yea, God himself may seem to be one free of the company of soldiers, in that he styleth himself "a man of war." Now, though many hate soldiers as the twigs of the rod war, where with God scourgeth wanton countries into repentance, yet is their calling so needful, that were not some soldiers we must be all soldiers, daily employed to defend our own, the world would grow so licentious.

He keepeth a clear and quiet conscience in his breast, which otherwise will gnaw out the roots of all valor; for vicious soldiers are compassed with enemies on all sides, their foes without them, and an ambush within them of fleshly

lusts, which, as St. Peter saith, "fight against the soul." None fitter to go to war than those who have made their peace with God in Christ; for such a man's soul is an impregnable fort: it cannot be scaled with ladders, for it reacheth up to heaven; nor be broken by batteries, for it is walled with brass; nor undermined by pioneers, for he is founded on a rock; nor betrayed by treason, for faith itself keeps it; nor be burnt by grenadoes, for he can quench the fiery darts of the devil; nor be forced by famine, for a good conscience is a continual feast.

He chiefly avoids those sins to which soldiers are taxed as most subject: namely, common swearing, which impaireth one's credit by degrees, and maketh all his promises not to be trusted; for he who for no profit will sin against God, for small profit will trespass against his neighbor; and drinking. When valiant Zisca, near Pilsen, in Bohemia, fought against his enemies, he commanded the women which followed his army to cast their kerchiefs and partlets on the ground, wherein their enemies, being entangled by their spurs, (for, though horsemen, they were forced to alight and fight on foot, through the roughness of the place,) were slain before they could unloose. their feet. A deep moral may be gathered hence; and women have often been the nets to

catch and ensnare the souls of many martial

men.

He counts his prince's lawful command to be his sufficient warrant to fight. In a defensive war, when his country is hostilely invaded, 't is pity but his neck should hang in suspense with his conscience that doubts to fight; in offensive war, though the case be harder, the common soldier is not to dispute, but do his prince's command. Otherwise princes, before they levy an army of soldiers, must first levy an army of casuists and confessors to satisfy each scrupulous soldier in point of right to the war; and the most cowardly will be the most conscientious to multiply doubts eternally. Besides, causes of war are so complicated and perplexed, so many things falling in the prosecution as may alter the original state thereof; and private soldiers have neither calling nor ability to dive into such mysteries. But if the conscience of a counsellor or commander-in-chief remonstrates in himself the unlawfulness of this war, he is bound humbly to represent to his prince his reasons against it.

He esteemeth all hardship easy through hopes of victory. Moneys are the sinews of war; yet if these sinews should chance to be shrunk, and pay casually fall short, he takes a fit of this convulsion patiently. He is contented, though in cold weather his hands must be their own

fire, and warm themselves with working; though he be better armed against their enemies than the weather, and his corselet wholler than his clothes; though he hath more fasts and vigils in his almanac than the Romish Church did ever enjoin: he patiently endureth drought for desire of honor, and one thirst quencheth another. In a word, though much indebted to his own back and belly, and unable to pay them, yet he hath credit himself, and confidently runs on ticket with himself, hoping the next victory will discharge all scores with advantage.

He looks at and also through his wages, at God's glory, and his country's good. He counts his pay an honorable addition, but no valuable compensation for his pains; for what proportion is there betwixt four shillings a week and adventuring his life? I cannot see how their calling can be lawful, who, for greater wages, will fight on any side against their own king and cause; yea, as false witnesses were hired against our blessed Saviour, (money will make the mouths of men plead against their Maker,) so were the giants now in the world, who, as the poets feigned, made war against God himself, and should they offer great pay, they would not want mercenary soldiers to assist them.

He attends with all readiness on the commands of his general; rendering up his own judgment in obedience to the will and pleasure