■ 
 
 I 
 
 M 
 
 I 
 
f-^A 
 
 
 
■^IF/: 
 
 Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 in 2010 with funding from 
 Duke University Libraries 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/utopia1893more 
 
'(^1^4^ 
 
 
 ,-a^ 
 
 ^^, 
 
 „/^' 
 
 / 
 
 ^ 
 
 Sf^ 
 

uTiopmjpmKXCTzej^ by sir 
 
 mOMHS MORe. 
 
foreword bv ^lUiam JVIorris^^ 
 
 HLpf) Robinson*3 trans- 
 lation of JVIorc^s Qtopia 
 would not need any forc/ 
 word if it were to be looked 
 upon merely as a beautiful 
 booh embodying the curi- 
 ous fancies of a great writer & thinker of 
 the period of the Renaissance* ]S^o doubt 
 till within the last few years it has been 
 considered by the moderns as nothing 
 more serious than a charming literary 
 exercise, spiced with the interest given 
 to it by the allusions to the history of 
 the time, and by our knowledge of the 
 career of its authorj^But the change of 
 ideas concerning '*the best state of a 
 publique weale,^' which, I will venture to 
 say, is the great event of the end of this 
 century, has thrown a fresh light upon 
 the book ; so that now to some it seems 
 not so much a regret for days which 
 might have been, as (in its essence) a 
 prediction of a state of society which 
 will be* In short this work of the scholar 
 and Catholic, of the man who resisted 
 what has seemed to most the progres/ 
 
sivc movement of bis own time, has in 
 our days become a Socialist tract fami/ 
 liar to tbe meetings and debating rooms 
 of tbe political party wbicb was but late/ 
 ly like ^^tbe cloud as bigas a man^s band/* 
 Doubtless tbe Cltopiaisanecessary part 
 of a Socialises library; yet it seems to 
 me tbat its value as a book for tbe study 
 of sociology is ratber bistoric tban pro- 
 pbetic,^ tbat we Socialists sbould look 
 upon it as a link between tbe surviving 
 Communism of tbe jviiddle Hges (be- 
 com e bopeless in JMore' s tim e, & doom ed 
 to be soon wbolly effaced by tbe advanc- 
 ing wave of Commercial Bureaucracy), 
 and tbe bopef ul <& practical progressive 
 movementof to/day. In fact! tbinkJMore 
 must be looked upon ratberas tbe last of 
 tbe old tban tbe first of tbe new, 
 J^ Hpart from wbat was yet alive in bim 
 of mediaeval Communist tradition, tbe 
 spirit of association, wbicb amongst 
 otber tbings produced tbe Gilds, and 
 wbicb was strong in tbe ]VIedia:val Ca- 
 tbolic Cburcb itself, otber influences 
 were at work tomake bim takeupbispa/ 
 rable against tbe nevo spirit of bis Tiqz* 
 iv 
 
TThc action of the period of transition 
 from JMcdia^val to Commercial Society 
 with all its brutalities, was before bis 
 eyes ; and tbougb be was not alone in bis 
 time in condemning tbe injustice and 
 cruelty of tbe revolution wbicb destroy- 
 ed tbe peasant life of england,^ turned 
 it into a grazing farm for tbe moneyed 
 gentry; creating witbalat one strohe tbe 
 propertyless wage/earner, and tbe mas- 
 terless vagrant (bodie'' pauper'') yet be 
 saw deeperintoits root/causes tban any 
 otber man of bis own day, and left us 
 little to add to bis views on tbis point 
 exceptareasonablebopetbattbose^'cau/ 
 ses^'will yield to a better form of society 
 before long. 
 
 Moreover tbe spirit of tbe Renaissance, 
 itself tbe intellectual side of tbe very 
 movement wbicb be strove against, was 
 strong in bim, and doubtless belped to 
 create bis Cltopia, by means of tbe con- 
 trast wbicb it put before bis eyes of tbe 
 ideal free nations of tbe ancients, & tbe 
 sordid welter of tbe struggle for power 
 in tbe days of dying feudalism, of wbicb 
 be bimself was a witness* ^bis Renais- 
 
 V 
 
sancc enthusiasm has supplanted in bCm 
 the chivalry feeling of the age just pass- 
 ing away, 'Co him war is no longer a de- 
 light of the well born, but rather an ugly 
 necessity, to be carried on, if so it must 
 be, by ugly means, hunting and hawk- 
 ing are no longer the choice pleasures of 
 Knight & Lady, but are jeered at by him 
 as foolish and unreasonable pieces of 
 butchery: his pleasures are in the main 
 thereasonable ones of learning&music. 
 dith all this, his imaginations of the 
 past he must needs read into his ideal 
 vision, together with his own experiences 
 of his time & people, ]Vot only are there 
 bondslaves and a hing,& priests almost 
 adored, and cruel punishments for the 
 breach of the marriage contract, in that 
 happyisland,but there is throughoutan 
 atmosphere of asceticism, which has a 
 curiously blended savour of Cato the 
 Censor and a mediaeval monk, 
 ^On the subject of war; on capital 
 punishment; the responsibility to the 
 publicof kingsandotherofRcial person/ 
 ages, & such-like matters JMore speaks 
 words that would not be out of place in 
 vj 
 
the mouth of an eighteenth century ja- 
 cobin ; & at ftrst sight this seems rather 
 to show sym pa thy with what is now m ere 
 Cdhigism, than with Communism; but 
 it must be remembered that opinions 
 which have become (in words) the mere 
 commonplace of ordinary bourgeois po/ 
 liticians, were then looked on as pieces 
 of startlingly new & advanced thought, 
 and do not put him on the same plane 
 with the mere radical of the last genera- 
 tion. 
 
 In JMore then, are met together the man 
 instinctively sympathetic with theCom/ 
 munistic side of JMedia^val society; the 
 protester against the ugly brutality of 
 the earliest period of Commercialism; 
 the enthusiast of the Renaissance, ever 
 looking toward his idealisedancient so- 
 ciety as the type and exam pie of all really 
 intelligent human life; the man tinged 
 with the asceticism at once of the classi- 
 cal philosopher and of the monk ; an as- 
 ceticism indeed which he puts forward 
 not so much as a duty, but rather as a 
 kind of stem adornment of life. 
 These are we may say, the moods of the 
 man who created Otopia for us ; ^ all are 
 
 vij 
 
tempered and harmonised by a sensitive 
 clearness&delicatebeautyofstyle,wbicb 
 make tbe book a living work of art. 
 But lastly we Socialists cannot forget 
 tbat tbese qualities and excellencies meet 
 to produce a steady expression of tbe 
 longing for a society of equality of con- 
 dition ; a society in wbicb tbe individual 
 man can scarcely conceive of bis exist- 
 ence apart from tbe Commonwealth of 
 wbicb be forms a portion, TTbis, wbicb is 
 tbeessenceofbisbook,is tbe essence al/ 
 so of tbe struggle in wbicb we are en gag/ 
 edXbougbdoubtlessitwastbepressure 
 of circumstances in bis own days tbat 
 made JMore wbat be was, yet tbat pres- 
 sure forced bim to give us, not a vision 
 of tbe triumph of tbe new/born capital- 
 istic society, tbe element in wbicb lived 
 tbe new learning & tbe new freedom of 
 thought of his epoch ; but a picture (bis 
 own indeed, not ours) of the real ]S^ew 
 Birth which many men before him bad 
 desired; and which now indeed we may 
 well hope is drawing near to realization, 
 thougbaftersuchalongseriesof events 
 which at tbe time of their happening 
 seemed to nullify bis hopes com pletely, 
 viij 
 
H frutcf uU plcasaunt, and wittic 
 worhc, of the bcstc state of a pub/ 
 liquc weak, & of the newe yle, call/ 
 ed Gtopia : written in Latin e, by 
 tberigbt wortbie and famous Syr 
 Trbomas JMore hn vgbt, and trans/ 
 lated in to Bn glis ne by Rapbe Ro/ 
 bynson.sometimefelloweofCor/ 
 pus Cbristi College in Oxford, & 
 nowe by bim at tbis seconde cdu 
 tion newlie perused and corrected, 
 and also witb divers notes in tbe 
 margent augmented^^^^^ 
 lmprintedatLondon,byHbrabam 
 QIele,dwellinge in pauls cburcb- 
 yarde,at tbe signe of tbe Lambe* 
 
The translator to the gentle reader^^ 
 ROCl sbalte understandc 
 gentle reader that tbougbe 
 this workeof Qtopiain eng/ 
 lisb, come now tbe seconde 
 tyme f urtb in print, yetwas 
 it never my minde nor in- 
 tente, tbat it sboulde ever bave bene im- 
 printed at all, as wbo for no sucb purpose 
 toke upon meat tbe firste tbe translation 
 tbereof : but did it onelye at tbe request 
 of a frende, for bis owne private use, 
 upon bope tbat bewolde bave kept it se- 
 crete to bym self alone, Olbom tbougb t 
 knew to be a man in dede, botb very wit- 
 tie, & also skilful, yet was I certen, tbat 
 in tbe knowledge of tbe latin tonge, be 
 was not so well sene, as to be bable to 
 judge of tbe finenes or coursenes of my 
 translation. Cdberf ore X wente tbe more 
 sleigbtlye tbrougb witb it, propound- 
 ynge to my selfe therein, ratber to please 
 mysaydefrendesjudgemente,tbenmyne 
 owne. r^o tbe mean esse of whose learn - 
 inge X tbougb te it my part to submit and 
 attemper my stile. Ligbtlie therefore X 
 over ran tbe whole woorke, & in shorte 
 
 xj 
 
tymCf with more bast then good spcdc, 
 X brought it to an cndc* But as the la- 
 tin provcrbc sayctb: The bastyc bitcbe 
 bringetb furtb blind wbclpcs. forwbcn 
 tbis mv workc was finisbcd, tbc rudcncs 
 tbcrof sbcwcd it to be done in poste 
 baste^ r>ow be it, rude and base tbougb 
 it were, vet fortune so ruled tbe matter 
 tbat to imprintingeitcame,&tbat partly 
 against my wylU Rowebeit not beinge 
 bable in tbis bebalf e to resist tbe pittbie 
 persuasions of my frendes, & perceav- 
 ing tberforenoneotber remedy, but tbat 
 furtb it sboulde: 1 comforted myself e 
 for tbe tyme, only witb tbis notablesay- 
 ingof TTerence. 
 
 Ita vita est bominum, quasi quum ludas 
 tesseris. 
 
 Si illud, quod est maxume opus iactu 
 n on cadi t: 
 
 Xllud, quod cecidit forte* id arte ut 
 corrigas* 
 
 In wbicb verses tbe poete lihenetb or 
 comparetb tbe life of man toa diceplai- 
 yng or a game at tbe tables: meanyngc 
 tberin, if tbat cbaunce rise not wbicbc 
 is most for tbe plaiers advauntage, tbat 
 xij 
 
then the cbauncc wbicbe fortune ha the 
 sen thought so connyngly to be playecl,as 
 may be to tbe plaier least dammage* By 
 tbe wbicb wortby similitude surely tbe 
 wittie poete gevetb us to understande, 
 tbat tbougb in any of our actes and do- 
 ynges, (as it of te cbauncetb) we bappen 
 to faileand misseof our good pretensed 
 purpose, so tbat tbe successe & our in- 
 tent prove tbinges f arre odde : yet so we 
 ougbtwitbwittiecircumspectiontoban- 
 dle tbe matter, tbat no evy II or incommo/ 
 ditie, as farre f urtb as may be, and as in 
 us lietb, do tberof ensue* Hccording to 
 tbe wbicbe counsell, tbougb X am in dede 
 in comparison of an experte gamester ^ 
 a conning player, but a very e bungler, yet 
 bave X in tbis by cbaunce tbat on my side 
 unwares batb fallen, so, X suppose, be- 
 baved myself, tbat, as doubtles it migbt 
 bave bene of me mucb more conningly 
 bandied, badlforetbougbt so mucb, or 
 doubted any sucb sequele at tbe begin- 
 ninge of my plaie: so X am suer it bad 
 bene mucb worse tben it is, if I bad not 
 in tbe ende lohed somwbat earnestlye to 
 my game, for tbougb tbis worNe came 
 
 xiij 
 
not from mc so fine, so pcrf cctc, and so 
 exact, that at first, as surely for my smale 
 lerning,itsbouldbavedone,yflbacltben 
 ment tbe publisbing tberof in print: yet 
 X trust Xbave now in tbisseconde edition 
 taken about it sucb paines, tbat verye 
 f ewe great faultes & notable errours are 
 in it to be founde. ]S^ow tberfore, most 
 gentle reader, tbe meanesse of tbis sim- 
 ple translation, and tbe faultes tbat be 
 tberin (as 1 f eare mucbe tbere be some) 
 1 doubt not, but tbou wilt, in just con- 
 sideration of tbe premisses, gentlyeand 
 favourablye winke at tbem. So doynge 
 tbou sbalt minister unto me good cause 
 to tbinke my labour and paynes berein 
 not altogetbers bestowed in vaine» Vale. 
 
 XIV 
 
Thomas JMore to peter Giles, send 
 tb gretynge^^ 
 
 H]V[ almoste ashamed, rigbte 
 ^welbelovedpeter6iles,tosend 
 unto you tbis bokeof tbe Clto- 
 pian commen wealtb, welniegb 
 after a yeres space, wbicbe 1 am 
 sure you looked for witbin a monetb 
 and a balfe* Hnd no marveiU for you 
 knewewellynougb,tbatlwasalreadye 
 disbourdened of all tbe laboure and 
 studye belongynge to tbe invention 
 in tbis worke, and tbatlbad no nede 
 at alto trouble my braines about tbe 
 disposition or conveiaunce of tbe 
 matter: & tberfore bad berein notbing 
 els to do, but only to rebearse tbose 
 tbinges, wbicbe you and X togetbers 
 bard maister Rapbael tel and declare^ 
 Cdberefore tbere was no cause xvby X 
 sbuld study to set fortb tbe matter, 
 witb eloquence: for asmucbas bis talke 
 couldnotbefaneandeloquent,beynge, 
 firste, not studied for, butsuddein & 
 un premeditate, & tben, as you know, 
 of a man better sen e in tbe Greke Ian - ' 
 guagetben in tbe latin tonge* Hnd my 
 
 ^^ 
 
The writT"9'C^tbcnicgbcritsboulclapprocbc 
 
 Spistlc to bis bomcly plaine, and simple spccbc, 
 60 mucbc tbe nicgbcr sbuld it go to tbc 
 XTructb lo' tructb : wbicb is tbc onclyc markc wbcr- 
 vctb Sim/ unto X do and ougbt to dircctc all my 
 plicitic « travail and study berin j^X grauntcand 
 puyncs confcssc, frcndc peter, myselfc dis- 
 cbargedof somucbelaboure, bavingeall 
 tbese tbinges ready done to my bande, 
 tbatalmoostetberewasnotbingeleftfor 
 me to do* Slles, eitber tbe invention or 
 tbe disposition of tbis matter, mygbte 
 bave required of a vpitte,neitberbase,nei/ 
 tberatallunleamed, botbsometimeand 
 leasure, and also some studie* But if it 
 were requisite and necessarie tbat tbe 
 matter sboulde also bave bene wrytten 
 eloquentlie,and not alone truelye: of a 
 sueretie tbat tbynge coulde 1 bave per- 
 fourmed by no tyme nor studye^But 
 now seynge all tbese cares, stayes, and 
 lettes were tahen awaye, wbcrin dies so 
 mucbe laboure and studye sboulde bave 
 bene employed, and tbat tbereremayned 
 no otber tbynge forme to do, but onelye 
 to write playnelie tbe matter as t bard 
 it spohen : tbat in deede was a tbynge 
 
 2 
 
ligbtc and casyc to be done* F>owbcit to Tbe 
 tbc dispatcbyngc of tbys so lytic busy/ Spistlc 
 ncsse, my other cares and troubles did 
 leave almost lesse then no Icasurc* -.. 
 
 m^es I doo daycUe bestowe rlZlouvfl 
 my time aboute lawe matters : ^usines 
 some to pleade,sometobeare, ^,^^1 Icttcs 
 some as an arbitratoure with myne a- 
 warde to determine, some as an umpier 
 or a judge, with my sentence finally e to 
 discusse* Whiles 1 go oneway to see and 
 visite my frende: an other waye about 
 myne owne privat affaires J^ Whiles X 
 spendealmostalthedayabrodeemonges 
 other, and the residue at home among 
 mine owne:X leave to my self, Xmeane to 
 my booke, no time* for when lam come 
 home, t muste commen with my wife, 
 chatte with my children, and talke wyth 
 my servauntes* Hll the whiche thinges X 
 reckenandaccompteamongebusinesse, 
 forasmuche as they muste of necessitie 
 be done : and done must they nedes be, 
 onelesse a man wyll be straunger in his 
 owne house ji^ Hnd in anye wyse a man 
 muste so fashyon and order hys condi- 
 tions, and so appoint and dispose him 
 b2 3 
 
The sclfc, that be bemerie, jocunde, andplea- 
 
 Spistle 8auntamongetbem,wbomeytbernature 
 batbe provided, or cbaunce batb made, 
 or be bim selfe batb cbosen to be tbe fe- 
 lowes and companions of bys life : so 
 tbat witb to mucbe gentle bebavioure & 
 familiaritie be do notmarre tbem,andbv 
 to mucbe sufFeraunce of bis servauntes, 
 make tbem bis maysters. 
 
 /]VIO]V(36 tbese tbynges now re- 
 hearsed, stealetb away e tbe daye, 
 tbemonetb, tbe yeare* Qlben do! 
 write tben ?Hndall tbis wbile bavel spo/ 
 ken no worde of slepe, neytber yet of 
 JMeateand meate,wbicbemongagreatnumberdotb 
 elepegreat ^c^ast no lesse tyme tben doetb slepe, 
 wasters of ^vberein almoste balfe tbe life tyme of 
 time ^^^ crepetbawaye* Itbereforedo wynne 
 
 and get onelye tbat tyme wbicbe X steale 
 from slepe and meate* 
 
 .RICRB tyme, because It is very 
 
 litle, and yet somwbat it is, 
 
 tberfore bavelonesat tbe laste, 
 
 tbougbeitbelongefirst,finisbedCltopia, 
 
 and bave sent it to you, frende peter, 
 
 to reade and peruse: to tbe intente tbat 
 
 yf anye tbynge bave escaped me, you 
 
 4 
 
might put mc in rcmcmbraunccof it. for The 
 tbougbc in this bcbalfc I do not grcatlyc Bpistlc 
 mistrustc my sclfc (wbicbc wouldc God 
 X were somwbat in wit and leaminge, as 
 Xam not all of tbe worste and dullest 
 memorye) yet bave 1 not so great truste 
 & confidence in it, tbat I tbinkenotbinge 
 coulde fall out of my mynde. 
 S^f^ORlobn Clement, my boye, wbo 7obn Cle 
 hj^ljas you know was tbere presente ment 
 EIS^ witb us, wbome X suffer to be a- 
 waye frome no talke, wberein maye be 
 any profyteorgoodnes (for outeof tbis 
 yonge bladed and new sbotte up corne, 
 wbicb batbe already e begon to spring up 
 botb in Latin &Grekelearnyng,tlokefor 
 plentif ull increase at lengtb of goodly 
 rype grayne) be, X saye, batbe brougbte 
 me into a greate doubte^for wberas 
 r)ytblodaye(onelessemymemoryefayle 
 me) sayde tbat tbe bridge of Hmaurote, 
 wbycbe goetbe over tbe river of Hnyder, 
 is f yve bundretb paseis, tbat is to saye, 
 balf amyle in lengtbe: my 7obn sayetb 
 tbat two bundred of tbosepaseismuste 
 be plucked away, for tbat tbe ryver con- 
 teynetb tbere not above tbree bundretb 
 
 5 
 
The pasci3 in brcadtbe, 1 prayc you bartclyc 
 
 Gpistlc call the matter to yourc rcmcmbrauncc 
 
 j^f oryf you agree wytbbym^Ialsowyll 
 
 saye as you saye, and confesse myself c 
 
 deceaved. But if you cannot remember 
 
 tbe tbing, tben surelye twy II write as I 
 
 bave done, and as myne owne rem em - 
 
 braunce servetb me, for as X wyll take 
 
 good bede, tbat tbere be in my booke 
 
 notbingfalse^soyftberebeanyetbynge 
 
 Hdiversitie doubtef ull, X vpyll ratber tell a lye, tben 
 
 betwene make a lie : by cause X bad ratber be good, 
 
 ["^^i"? t ^^^^ wilie^f>owebeit tbys matter maye 
 
 Ima a lie ^^^^^^^ ^^ remedied, y f you wy II take tbe 
 
 ^ paynes to aske tbe question of Rapbael 
 
 bimselfeby woordeof moutbe, if be be 
 
 nowe witb you, or elles by youre letters. 
 
 J^ ^bicbe you muste nedes do for an- 
 
 otber doubte also tbatbatbe cbaunced, 
 
 tbrougbe wbose fau IteX cannot tel : wbe/ 
 
 tber tbrougbe mine, or yours, or Rapb- 
 
 In vpbat aels. for neytber we remembred to en- 
 
 parteof quireofbim,norbetotelus,inwbatpart 
 
 tbeworlde ^f tbe newe world CXtopia is situateXbe 
 
 stand^etb "^^^^^^ tbinge, I bad ratber bave spent 
 
 it is un- "^ small somme of money, tben tbat it 
 
 knowen sbouldtbus bave escaped us: as well for 
 
 6 
 
that 1 am ashamed to be ignoraunt in TTbe 
 what sea that y lande standetb, wberof X Spistle 
 write so long a treatise, as also because 
 tbere be witb us certen men, & especial- 
 lie one vertuousandgodlvman,&apro- 
 fessour of divinitie, wbo is excedynge Uis 
 desierous to go unto CItopia : not for a tbougbte 
 vayne <& curious desyre to see newes, but of some 
 to tbe intente be may f urtber & increase f ^^^ ^^t^ 
 oure religion, wbicb is tbere alreadye ^s unfam/ 
 luckelye begonne j^ Hnd tbat be maye tbcLTe^^ 
 tbe better accomplysbe and perfourme mous vi/ 
 tbis bys good intente, be is mynded to care of 
 procure tbat be may e be sente tbetber by Croydon 
 tbebiegbe Bysboppe: yea, and tbat be in Surrey 
 bimselfe may bemadeBisboppeof Qto- 
 pia,beyngenotbynge scrupulous berein, 
 tbatbemusteobteynetbysBysbopricke 
 witb suete» for be countetb tbat a godly H godly 
 suete, wbicb procedetb not of tbe desire suete 
 ofbonoureorlucre,butonelieof agodlie 
 zeale* 
 
 ;neRf ORe Imoste earnestly 
 desire you, frende peter, to 
 talke witb Ry tblodaye, yf you 
 can, face to face, or els to wryte youre 
 letters to bym, andso to woorke in tbys 
 
 7 
 
The 
 
 epistle 
 
 unky^ndc 
 judge- 
 men tC8 of 
 men 
 
 matter, that in tbi3 my booke there may e 
 neytber anye tbinge be founde wbycbe 
 is untrue,ney tber any tbinge be lacking, 
 wbicbeistrue.Hndltbynkeverelyeitsbal 
 be well done, tbat you sbewe unto bim 
 tbe booke it selfe. for yf X bave myssed 
 or fay led in any e poyn te, or if any e fau Ite 
 bave escapedme,noman can so well cor/ 
 recte and amende it, as be can : and yet 
 tbat can be not do, oneles be peruse and 
 reade over my booke written ♦ JMoreover, 
 by tbis meanes sball you perceave, wbe/ 
 tber be be wellwyllynge S. content tbat 
 I sboulde undertake to put tbis woorke 
 in writyng. forif bebemyndedtopub- 
 lysbe and put fortb bis owne laboures 
 and travayles bimselfe, percbaunce be 
 woulde be lotbe, and so woulde X also, 
 tbat in publisbynge tbe Cltopiane weale 
 publique,Isbouldepreventbim, &take 
 frome bim tbe flower and grace of tbe 
 noveltie of tbis bis bistorie^ 
 w^^O^Beit:, to saye tbe verye 
 llPI» treutb, lam not yet fullye deter/ 
 iM^^ mined witb my selfe, wbetber X 
 
 will put f urtb my booke or no* for tbe 
 natures of men be so divers, tbe pban ta/ 
 8 
 
sicsof somcso waywardc, tbcirmyndcs TZbc 
 80 unkyndc, tbcir judgcmcntcs so cor- Bpistlc 
 ruptc, that tbcy which Icadc a mcric and 
 a jocoundc lyfc, folowyngc thcyrowne 
 scnsuall pleasures and carnall lustes, 
 maye seme to be in a muche better state 
 or case, then they that vexe and unquiete 
 themselves with caresand studie for the 
 puttingeforthe&publishyngeofsome 
 thynge that maye be either prof eit or 
 pleasureto others :whiche others never/ 
 theles will disdainfully, scornefuUy, & 
 unkindly accepte the same. tTbemoost 
 part of al be unlearned. Hnd a greate 
 number bathe learning in contempts 
 "Che rude and barbarous alloweth noth- 
 ing but that which is verie barbarous in 
 dede J^ Xf it be one that hath a litle 
 smacke of learnynge, he rejecteth, as 
 homely geare and commen ware, what- 
 soeverisnotstufFedfullofoldemought/ 
 eaten termes, and that be worne out of 
 usej^Somethere be that have pleasure 
 onelye in olde rustic antiquities : and 
 some onelie in their owne doynges. One 
 is so sowre, so crabbed, and so unplea- 
 saunte,thathecanawayewithnomyrthe 
 
 9 
 
T^bc nor sportc^Hn other is so narrowc bc/ 
 
 Bpistlc twcnc tbc sbuldcrs, tbat bc can bcarc no 
 jcstcs nor tauntcs J^ Some scli poorc 
 soulcs bcsoafcardc tbatatcvcryc snap/ 
 pisbcwoordc tbcir nose sball be bitten 
 of, tbat tbey stande in no lesse drede of 
 cverye quiche and sbarpc woorde, tban 
 be tbat is bitten of a madde dogge fear- 
 etb water J^ Some be so mutable and 
 waverynge, tbat every boure tbey be in a 
 newe mynde, sayinge one tbinge syt- 
 tinge, & an otber tbynge standynge J^ 
 Hn otber sorte syttetb upon tbcir alc- 
 bencbeis, & tbere amonge tbcir cuppes 
 tbey geve judgement of tbc wittes of 
 writers, and witb greateautboritie tbey 
 condempne, even as pleasetb tbem, ev- 
 ery e writer accordy n ge to bis wri tin ge, in 
 moste spitef uU maner mockynge, low- 
 tinge, and fiowtinge tbem ; beyng tbem 
 selves in tbe meane season sauffe, & as 
 sayetb tbe proverbe, oute of all daunger 
 of gonnesbottej^for wby, tbey be so 
 smugge and smotbe, tbat tbey bave not 
 somucbasonebearreofanbonesteman, 
 wberby one may take bolde of tbem* 
 
 lO 
 
RGRe be moreover some sours/ TIbe 
 kynde & ungentle, tbat tbougbe Bpistle 
 tbey take great pleasure, and de/ 
 lectation in tbe xvorke, yet for all tbat, 
 tbey can notf ynde in tbeir bertes to love 
 tbe autbor tberof , nor to aforde bCm a 
 goodwoorde: beyngemucblikeuncour/ 
 teous,untbankfull,<§icbourlisbgestes; 
 wbicbe wben tbey bave vpitb good and H fttte si- 
 dam tie meates wellfylled tbeire bellyes, militude 
 departebome,gevvngnotbankestotbe 
 feastemakenGoyourwayesnow^make 
 a costly e feaste at youre owne cbarges, 
 for gestes so dayn tiemou tbed,so divers 
 in taste, & besides tbat of sounkynde^ 
 untbankfull natures* But nevertbeless 
 (frende peter) doo, X pray you, witb 
 Ritbloday, as I willed you before j^Hnd 
 as for tbis matter, X sball be at my liber- 
 tie, afterwardes to take newe advise - 
 ment*Rowbeit,seeyngXbave taken great 
 paynes & laboure in writyng tbe matter, 
 if it may stande witb bis mynde & plea- 
 sure, I wyll as toucbyng tbe edition or 
 publisbyng of tbe booke, followe tbe 
 counsell ^ advise of my frendes, & spe/ 
 ciallye yours* 
 
 11 
 
The TTbus fare you well right bertely beloved 
 
 Gpistle frende peter, witb your gentle 
 
 wife : & love me as you have 
 
 ever done, for Hove you 
 
 better tben ever 
 
 Idyd. 
 
 12 
 
tion of Raphael f)ytbloclay, concern- 
 vng the best state of a commenwelth, 
 
 RSmoste vict- 
 orious Atrium/ 
 pbantKyngof 
 Snglancle,Ren/ 
 ryetbeevgbtof 
 tbat name, in al 
 roial vertues a 
 princemostpe/ 
 relesse, badde 
 of late in con- 
 troversie witb Cbarles, tberigbt bigbe 
 andmigbtyeKyngof Castell,weigbty 
 matters & of great importaunce* for 
 tbe debatement & final determination 
 wberof, tbe hinges JMajesty sent me 
 Hmbassadour into f launders, joyned 
 in commission witb Cutbbert JZunS' 
 tall, a man doutlesse out of compari- 
 son, and wbom tbe KvngesjMajestie of 
 late,totbegreatrejoysvngeofallmen, 
 dyd preferre to tbeoflice of Maister of 
 tbe Rolles* 
 
 Crc of tbis mannes prayses X 
 wvllsayenotbvng,not bicause 
 X doo feare tbat small credence 
 
 
M 
 
 The first sbalbc gcvcn to the tcstimonyc that 
 booNcof comctb out of a frcndcs moutbc: but 
 Cltopia bicausc bis vcrtuc & Icmyng be greater 
 and of more excellency tben tbat X am 
 able to praise tbem : and also in all places 
 sofamousand so perfectly well knowne, 
 tbattbeyneedenot^norougbtenotofme 
 to bee praysed, unlesse twouldeseeme 
 to sbew and set f urtb tbe brigbtnes of 
 tbe Sonne witb a candell,as tbeproverbe 
 saietb. 
 ^ jr)BRS mette us at Bruges (for 
 }Wi ^^^Q ^t was before agreed) tbei 
 wbom tbeir prince badde for tbat 
 matter appoynted commissioners : ex- 
 cellentmenalUTbecbiefeandtbebeadof 
 tbeym was tbe JVIaregrave (as tbei call 
 bim) of Bruges, a rigbt bonorable man : 
 but tbe wisest and tbe best spoken of 
 tbem was George Temsice, provost of 
 Casselses, a man, not only by lernyng, 
 butalso by nature,of singular eloquence, 
 and in tbelawes profoundly learned: but 
 in reasonynge, b. debatyngof matters, 
 wbat by bis naturall witte, and wbat by 
 daily exercise, surely be badde few f el- 
 lowes, Hf ter tbat we bad once or twise 
 J4 
 
mcttc, & upon ccrtaync povntcs or arti- T^bc first 
 clcs couldc not fully & throughly agree, bookeof 
 they foracertaynespace toohe their leave Utopia 
 of us, and departed toBruxelle, there to 
 know their princes pleasure* 
 
 tj^ the meane time (for so my bu- 
 sines laye)wente streighte thence 
 toHntwerpe^^hilesXwas therea- 
 bidyn ge, often tym es amonge other, bu t 
 whichetomewasmore welcome then an/ 
 nycother, dydvisitemeone peter Giles, peter 
 a citisen of Hntwerpe, a man there in his Gyles 
 countrey of honest reputation, and also 
 preferred to high promotions, worthy 
 truly of thehyghest; for it is hard to say, 
 whether the yong man be in learnyng, or 
 in honestye more excellent* J^ for he is 
 bothe of wonderf ull vertuous conditi- 
 ons, and also singularly wel learned,and 
 towardes all sortes of people excedyng 
 gentyll: but towardes his frendes so 
 kyndeherted,solovyng, sofaithfuU, so 
 trusty e, and of so earnest affection, that 
 it were verye harde in any place to fynde 
 a man that with him in all poyntes of 
 frendshippemaye be compared* ]Vo man 
 can bemore lowlyeor courteous. JSToman 
 
 15 
 
TTbc first usctbtcsscsimulation or dissimulation 
 boohcof in no man is more prudent simpUcitie. 
 Cltopia Besides this, be is in bis talNe & comm u/ 
 nication so merye & pleasaunte, yea, & 
 tbat witboute barme, tbat tbrougbe bis 
 gentyll intertaynemente, and bis sweete 
 ^ delectable communication, in me was 
 greatly abated and diminisbed tbe fer- 
 vente desyre tbat I bad to see my native 
 countrey,mywyfe&mycbyldren,wbom 
 tben X dyd mucbe longe & covete to see, 
 because tbatattbattimeXbadbeenmore 
 tben iiii, monetbes from tbem, 
 
 pOJSf a certayne daye, wben I 
 
 badde berde tbe divine service in 
 
 our Ladies Cburcbe,wbicb is tbe 
 
 fayrest, tbe most gorgeous and curious 
 
 cburcbe of buyldyng in all tbe citie, and 
 
 also most frequented of people,and tbe 
 
 service beynge doone, was readye to go 
 
 bome to my lodgynge, X cbaunced to es/ 
 
 pye tbis f oresayde peter talkynge witb 
 
 a certayne straunger,aman well stricken 
 
 in age, witb a blacke sonneburned face, a 
 
 longe bearde, and a cloke cast bomly a- 
 
 bout bis sboulders, wbome, by bis fa- 
 
 voure & apparell, furtbwitb t judged to 
 
 16 
 
 m 
 
bccamarincr* But tbcsaydc peter scyng X^be first 
 me, came unto me, and saluted me« Hnd booke of 
 as i was aboute to answere bim : see you Cltopia 
 tbis man ? saytb be, (and tberewitb be 
 poynted to tbe man tbat X sawe bym 
 talkynge witb before) I was mynded, 
 quod be, to brynge bim straygbtebome 
 to you J^ f)e sbould bave ben very wel- 
 come to me, say dX, for your sake^J^ay, 
 quod be, for bisownesake,if youknewe 
 bim : for tbereisno man tbys day livyng, 
 tbat can tell you of so many straunge & 
 unknowen peoples and countreyes, as 
 tbis man can* Hnd 1 know wel tbat you 
 be very desirous to beareof sucbe newes 
 ^TZbcn X conjectured not f arre a misse, 
 quod Xf for even at tbe first sygbt, X 
 judged bim to be a mariner j^ JSfaye, 
 quod be, tbere ye were greatly deceyved: 
 be batb sailed in dede,notas tbe mariner 
 palinure, butas tbeexperteand prudent 
 princeCllisses:yea,ratberastbeauncient 
 and sage pbilosopber plato; for tbis 
 same Rapbaell Rytblodaye (for tbis is RapbaeU 
 bis name) is verywelllernedintbeJvatine f>itblo- 
 tongue, butprofounde^ excellent in tbe daye 
 <3reke language; wberin be ever bestow- 
 ci 17 
 
The first cd more studyc then in the Jvatme, by- 
 boohc of causcbcbadgcvcnbimsclfcwbolytotbc 
 CItopia study of pbilosopby: wbcrof be knew 
 tbat tber is notbyng extante in Latin e, 
 tbatistoanypurposetSavyngeafeweof 
 Senecaes & Ciceroes dooynges. f>is pa/ 
 trimonye tbat be was borne unto, be lef te 
 to bis bretbem (for be is a portugall 
 borne) & for tbe desire tbat be bad to see 
 and hnowe tbe farre countreyes of tbe 
 worlde, be joyned bimselfe in company 
 witb Hmerihe Vespuce, & in tbe iii* last 
 voyages of tbose iiii* tbat be nowe in 
 printe, & abrode in every mannes ban des, 
 be continued styll in bis company, sav- 
 yng tbat in tbe last voyage be came not 
 bomeagaynewitbbim,forbemadesucbe 
 meanes and sbift, wbat by intretaunce, 
 & wbat by importune sute, tbat be gotte 
 licence of mayster Hmericke (tbougb it 
 were sore against bis wyll) to be one of 
 tbe xxiiii* wbicbe in tbe ende of tbe last 
 voyage were left in tbe countrey of 6u- 
 like* j0 Re was tberefore lefte bebyndc 
 for bys mynde sake, as one tbat tooke 
 more tbougb te and care for travailyng, 
 tben dyenge: bavyng customably in bis 
 18 
 
mouth these saiyngcs: Re that hathe no The first 
 grave, iscovereclwiththeskye:and,t3he booke of 
 way to heaven out of all places is of like Utopia 
 length and distaunce* ^hCch fantasy of 
 his (if God hadnot ben his better frende) 
 hehadsurelyboughtfulldeare»Butafter 
 the departynge of JMayster Vespuce, 
 when he had travailed thorough and 
 aboute many countreyes with v» of his 
 companions, (3ulikianes, at the last, by 
 merveylous chaunce he arrived in TTapro/ 
 bane, from whence he went to Caliquit, 
 where he chaunced to f ynde certayne of 
 hys countreye shippes, wherein he re- 
 tourned agayne into his countreye, no- 
 thynge lesse then looked f or, 
 
 LJ^ this when peter hadde 
 tolde me, X thanked him for 
 
 jj hisgentlekindnessethathe 
 had vouchsafed to brynge 
 
 { me to the speache of that 
 Iman, whose communica- 
 tion hethoughte shoulde be to me plea- 
 saunte and acceptable, Hnd therewith X 
 tourned me to Raphael* Hnd when wee 
 hadde haylsed eche other: & had spoken 
 these commune woordes that bee cus- 
 C2 19 
 
Tbcfirot tomablyc spoken at the first meting and 
 
 booNeof acquaintaunce of straungers, we went 
 
 Utopia tbence to my bouse, and therein my gar- 
 
 daine, upon a bencb covered witb green 
 
 torves, we satte down e talhyn g together* 
 
 gneae be tolde us, bow tbat after 
 
 tbe departing of Vespuce, be and 
 
 bis f ellowes tbat taried bebynde in 
 
 Gulicke, began by litle & Utle, tbrougbe 
 
 fayre and gentle speacbe, to wynne tbe 
 
 love and favoure of tbe people of tbat 
 
 countreye, insomucbe tbatwitbin sborte 
 
 space, tbey dyd dwell amonges tbem, 
 
 not only barmlesse, but also occupiyng 
 
 witb tbem verye familiarly* Re tolde us 
 
 also, tbat tbey were in bigb reputation & 
 
 favour witb a certayne great man (whose 
 
 name and countreye is nowe quite out 
 
 of my remembraunce) which of bis mere 
 
 Uberalitie dyd beare the costes & charges 
 
 of him and his fyve companions* Hnd 
 
 besides that, gave theim a trusty e guyde 
 
 to conductethem in their journey (which 
 
 by water was in botes, and by land in 
 
 wagons) and to brynge theim to other 
 
 princes with verye f rendlye commenda/ 
 
 tions jgF TTbus after manye dayes jour- 
 
 20 
 
ncys, be sayd, they foundc towncs, and The first 
 cities, and weale publiques, full of peo/ boohc of 
 pie, governed by good^ bolsome lawes. Utopia 
 for under tbe line equinoctiall, and on 
 botbe sydes of tbe same, as f arre as tbe 
 Sonne dotb extende bis course, lyetb, 
 quod be, great and wyde desertes and 
 wildernesses, parcbed, burned, & dryed 
 upwitbcontinuallandintoUerablebeate^ 
 Hll tbyngesbee bideous, terrible, lotbe/ 
 some, and unpleasaunt to bebolde; all 
 tbynges out of f assyon & comelinesse, 
 inhabited witbewylde beastes, and ser/ 
 pen tes, or at tbe leastewyse,witb people 
 tbat be no lesse savage, wylde,and noy/ 
 some, tben tbe verye beastes tbeim- 
 selves be ^ But a litle fartber beyonde 
 tbat, all tbynges beginne by litle ^ ly tie 
 to waxepleasaunte^^beayre sof te, tem/ 
 perate,andgentle*xrbe grounde covered 
 witb grene grasse* Less wildnessein tbe 
 beastes jj^Ht tbe last sball ye come a/ 
 gayne to people, cities & townes,wbere/ 
 in is continuall entercourse&occupiyng 
 of mercbaundise and cbafFare, not only 
 among tbemselvesand witb tbeire bor- 
 derers, but also witb mercbauntes of 
 
 21 
 
The first 
 boohcof 
 Utopia 
 
 Sbippcs 
 
 of 
 etraungc 
 fassions 
 
 The lode 
 stone 
 
 farrc countreycs, botbc by landc and 
 watcri^ There X bad occasion, sayd be, 
 to go to many countreyes on every syde; 
 for tbere was no sbippe ready to any 
 voyage or journey, but I & my f ellowes 
 were into it very gladly receyved, Tbe 
 sbippes tbat tbei foundefirst, weremade 
 playn, flatte, and broade in tbe botome, 
 trougb wise* Tbe sayles were made of 
 great russbes, or of wickers, & in some 
 places of letben Hf terwarde tbei f ounde 
 sbippes witb ridged Nyeles, and sayles 
 of canvasse, yea, and sbortly after bav- 
 yngalltbyngeslyheouresXbesbipmen 
 also very experte and cunnynge, botbe in 
 tbe sea and in tbe wetber^But be saide 
 tbatbefoundegreatefavoureandfrend/ 
 sbip amonge tbem for teacbynge tbem 
 tbe feate and use of tbe lode stone, 
 wbicbe to tbem before tbat time was un/ 
 hnowne^Hnd tberf ore tbey were wonte 
 to be verye timerous and f earf ull upon 
 tbe sea: nor to venter upon it, but only 
 in tbe somer time. But nowe tbey bave 
 sucbe a confidence in tbat stone, tbat 
 tbey f earenot stormy winter: in so doo/ 
 ynge, fartber from care tben daunger; in 
 
 ^"> 
 
80 mucbe, that it is greatly to be doubt/ Tbe first 
 ed, lest tbat tbyng, tbrougbe tbeir owne booke of 
 f olisb bardinesse, sball toume tbem to Utopia 
 evyll and barmet wbicb at tbe first was 
 supposed sboulde be to tbem good and 
 commodious. 
 [c!R5??C^^^^ wbat be tolde us tbat be 
 '^ sawe in everye countreye 
 wbere be came, it were very 
 longe to declare, neitber it 
 is my purpose at tbis time 
 tomakerebersalltberof^ 
 Butperadventureinanotberplacelwyll 
 speahe of it, cbiefly sucbe tbynges as 
 sball be profitable too bee knowen, as in 
 speciall be tbose decrees ^ordinaunces, 
 tbat be marked to be well & wittely pro- 
 vided & enacted amonge sucbe peoples 
 as do live togetber in a civile policye and 
 good ordre^f or of sucbe tbynges dyd 
 wee buselye enquire, and demaunde of 
 bim, and be likewise very willingly tolde 
 us of tbe same* But as for monsters, by/ 
 cause tbey be no newes, of tbem we were 
 notbyng inquisitive j^ for notbyng is 
 more easye to bee founde, tbcn bee bark/ 
 ynge Scyllaes, ravenyng Celenes, and 
 
 23 
 
The first JvCStrigoncs, dcvourcrs of people, and 
 boohe of sucbc iyUc great & incredible monsters. 
 Cltopia Buttofynde citisens ruled by good and 
 bolsome lawes, that is an exceding rare 
 and barde tbyng. Butas bemarhedmany 
 fonde and folissbe lawes in tbosenewe 
 founde landes, so be rebersed divers 
 actes and constitutions, wbereby tbese 
 oure cities, nations, countreis, & hyng- 
 domes may take example to am endetbeir 
 faultes, enormitiesanderrours. ^berof 
 in anotber place, as X sayde, X will in trete 
 ^]Vow at tbis time 1 am determined to 
 reberse onely tbatbetolde us of tbema- 
 ners, customes, lawes and ordinaunces 
 of tbe Cltopians. But first X wy II repete 
 oure former communication by tbocca/ 
 sion, and (as X migbt saye) tbe drifte, 
 tvberof be was brougbt into tbe men- 
 tion of tbatxvealepublique. 
 
 [OR wben Rapbael bad very 
 prudentlye toucbed divers 
 tbynges tbat be amisse, 
 some bere & some tbere, 
 yea, very many on botbe 
 partes, ^ againe bad spo- 
 ken of sucbe wise lawes and prudente 
 24 
 
decrees as be estabUsbed & used, botbe Tbe first 
 here amonge us, and also tbere amonge booke of 
 tbeym, as a man so perf ecte and experte Utopia 
 in tbe lawes & custom es of every severall 
 countrey* as tbougb into wbat place so- 
 ever be came geastwise, tbere be bad ledde 
 al bis life: tben peter mucbemervailynge 
 attbeman:SurelymaisterRapbael,quod 
 be, Ixvondre greatly xQby you getteyou 
 not into some hinges courte; for t am 
 sure, tbere is no prince livyng, tbat wold 
 not be very glad of you, as aman not only 
 bable bigbly to delite bim witb your pro/ 
 founde learnyng, ^ tbis your hnowlege 
 of countreis and peoples, but also mete 
 to instructe bim witb examples, & belpe 
 bim witb counsel^ Hnd tbus doyng, you 
 sball bryng yourself e in a verye good 
 case, and also be of babilitie to belpe all 
 your frendes and kinsfolke* 
 ^^^S concernyng my f rendes & kyns- 
 ^^1 folke, quodbe, tpasse not greatly 
 MBM for tbem, for X tbinke X bave suffi- 
 ciently doone my parte towardes tbem 
 already^ for tbese tbynges, tbat otber 
 men doo not departe from until tbey be 
 olde and sycke, yea, wbicbe tbey be tben 
 
 23 
 
TTbc first veryc lotbc to leave when tbey canne no 
 booheof longer heepe, tbose very same tbynges 
 Cltopia dycl I, beyng not only lustye and in 
 good beltb, but also in tbe floure of my 
 youtb, divide among my frendes and 
 kynsfolkes* CHbicb X tbynke witb tbis 
 my liberalitie ougbte to bolde tbem con/ 
 tented, and not to require nor to loke 
 tbat besydes tbis, X sboulde for tbeir 
 sakes geve my self e in bondage unto 
 kinges J^ ]Vay, God f orbyd tbat, quod 
 peter, it is notte my mynde tbat you 
 sboulde be in bondage to kynges, but 
 as aretainour to tbem at your pleasure; 
 wbicbe surely X tbinke is tbe nigbest 
 waye tbat you can devise bowe to be- 
 stovpeyourtimefrutefully, notonlyefor 
 tbe private commoditie of your frendes 
 and for tbe generall profite of all sortes 
 of people, but also for tbadvaun cement 
 of your self to a mucb weltbier state 
 and condition tben you be nowe in, TZo a 
 weltbier condition, quod Rapbael, by 
 tbat meanes tbat my mynde standetb 
 cleane agaynst? ]Vow X lyve at libertie 
 after myne owne mynde and pleasure, 
 wbicbe X tbynke very f ewe of tbese great 
 26 
 
states and picrcs of rcalmcs can saye. Xlbe first 
 Yea, and there beynowof tbem that sue boohe of 
 for great mens frendesbippes : & tber/ Utopia 
 fore tbinhe it no great burte, if tbeybave 
 not me, nor iii, or iiii. sucbe otber as 1 
 am» 
 
 [SJ^LrfX perceive playnlyfrende 
 Rapbael, quod X, tbat you be 
 desirous neitber of ricbesse, 
 norof powenHndtrulylbaveinnolesse 
 reverence and estimation a man of your 
 mynde, tben any e of tbeim all tbat bee so 
 bigb in power ^ autboritie*Butyou sball 
 dooasitbecometbyou:yea,andaccord- 
 yng to tbis wisdom e, to tbis bigb & free 
 courage of yours, if you can finde in your 
 berte so to appoynt and dispose your 
 selfe, tbat you maiapplye your witte and 
 diligence to tbe profiteof tbeweale pub- 
 lique, tbougbe it be somewbat to youre 
 owne payne and byndraunce^Hnd tbis 
 sball you never so wel doe, nor wytb so 
 greate proffitte perfourme, asyf you be 
 of some greate princes counsel, and put 
 into bis bcade (as X doubte not but you 
 wyl) boneste opinions, & vertuous per- 
 suasions; for from tbe prince, as from 
 
 27 
 
The first a perpetual wel sprynge, commethe a- 
 booheof mongetbe people the ftoodeofaltbat is 
 Cltopia good or evell jS?But in you is so perfitte 
 lernynge^tbatwytbouteanyeexperience, 
 ^agayne so greate experience, tbatwytb 
 ou teanye lemynge, you maye well be any 
 Ninges counsellourj^ You be twyse de- 
 ceaved maister jviore, quod be, f yrste in 
 me, and agayne in tbe tbinge it self e^ 
 f or neitber is in me tbe babilitye tbatyou 
 force uponme,&yf it werneversomucb, 
 yet in disquieting myneownequietnesi 
 sbould notbing f urtber tbe weale pub- 
 liquej^ for first of all, tbe moste parte 
 of all princes bave more delyte in warlike 
 matters & feates of cbivalrie (tbe know/ 
 lege wberof I neitber bave nor desire) 
 tban in tbe good feates of peace: and em- 
 ploye mucbe more study, bow by rigbt 
 or by wrong to enlarge tbeir dominions, 
 tban bowe wel and peaceablie to rule & 
 governetbattbeybavealredie.JMoreover, 
 tbey tbat be counsellours to kinges, ev- 
 ery one of tbem ey tber is of bim selfe so 
 wise in dede, tbat benedetb not, or elles 
 be tbinketb bimself so wise, tbat be wil 
 notallowean otber mans counsel, saving 
 28 
 
tbattbcydo shamcfuUvandfbttcringlv Tbcftrst 
 gcvc assent to tbcfondand folisbe say- bookc of 
 ingcs of ccrtcyn great men, wbose fa- Cltopia 
 vours, bicause tbey be in bigb autboritie 
 witb tbeir prince, by assentation & flat- 
 terie tbey labour to obteyne* Hnd verily 
 it is naturally geven to all men to esteme 
 tbeir owne inventions best^ So botb tbe 
 Raven and tbe Hpe tbinche tbeir owne 
 yonge ones fairestXban if aman in sucb 
 acompany,wberesome disdayne & bave 
 despite at otber mens inventions, and 
 some counte tbeir owne best, if among 
 sucbemenne,lsay,aman sbould bringe 
 f urtbany tbinge tbat bebatbreddedone 
 in tymes paste, ortbatbebatbsenedone 
 in otber places ; tbere tbe bearers fare as 
 tbougb tbe wbole existimation of tbeir 
 wisdom e were in jeoperdye to be over- 
 tbrowen,and tbat ever aftertbei sboulde 
 be counted for very ediserdes,unlestbey 
 could in otber mens inventions pycke 
 out m atter to reprebend, ^find fault at^ -. - 
 B|^f all otber poore belpes fayle, ^T?^' 
 ^Ig^ tben tbisis tbeirextreame refuge* 
 fe=^ T^bese tbinges, say tbey, pleased 
 our foref atbers and auncestours : wolde 
 
 29 
 
'Cbc first God wc couldc be so wise as tbei were: 
 
 booNe of ^ as tbougb tbei bad wittelv concluded 
 
 Qtopia ^[^Q matter & witb tbis answere stopped 
 
 every mans moutb, tbei sitte downe a- 
 
 gain e ; as wbo sbou Id sai, It were a very 
 
 daungerous matter, if a man in any 
 
 pointe sbould be founde wiser tben bis 
 
 forefatbers were* Hnd yet bee we content 
 
 to suffre tbe best and wittiest of tbeir 
 
 decrees to lye unexecuted: but if in any 
 
 tbing a better ordre migbt bave ben ta/ 
 
 ken, tben by tbem was, tbere we take fast 
 
 bold, findyng tberin many faultes* J^ 
 
 Parcial JVIanyetymes bavelcbaunceduponsucb 
 
 ludge- proude, leude, overtbwarte, and way- 
 
 mentes warde judgementes, yea, & once in Bng/ 
 
 land* t prai you Syr, quod I, bave you 
 
 ben in our countrey ? Y^^ f orsotb, quod 
 
 be, and tbere 1 taried for tbe space of 
 
 liii* or V. monetbes togetber, not longe 
 
 after tbe insurrection tbat tbe Western e 
 
 Gnglisb men made agaynst tbeir Nyng, 
 
 wbicb by tbeir owne miserable & pitiful 
 
 slaugbter was suppressed & ended* In 
 
 tbe meane season I was mucbe bounde 
 
 Cardinall and beboldynge to tbe rigbte reverende 
 
 Morton fatber, 7bon JMorton, Hrcbebisbop and 
 
 30 
 
Cardinal of CantcrburVt & at that time 'Che first 
 also lordc Cbanccllourc of Gnglandc: a booke of 
 man JMaystcr peter (for JMayster JMore Utopia 
 knowetb already tbat X wyll saye) not 
 more honorable for bis autboritie, tben 
 for bis prudence and vertue* f>e was of a 
 meane stature, and tbougb stricken in 
 age, yet bare be bisbodyeuprigbt^tn bis 
 facedid sbincsucb an amiable reverence, 
 as was pleasaunte to bebolde, gentill in 
 communication, yet earnest and sage* 
 Re bad great delite manye times witb 
 rougbe speacbe to bis sewters, to prove, 
 butwitboutebarme,wbatpromptewitte, 
 andwbat boldespiritewerein every man ♦ 
 tntbewbicb,asinavertuemucbagreinge 
 witb bis nature, so tbat tberewitb were 
 not joyned im pudency, be toke great de/ 
 lectatyon ; and tbe same person, as apte 
 and mete to bave an administratyon in 
 tbe weale publique, be dyd lovingly em/ 
 brace. In bis specbe be was fyne, elo- 
 quent, and pyttbye* In tbe lawe be bad 
 prof ounde knowledge, in witte be was 
 imcomparable, and in memory wonder- 
 ful excellente. XTbese qualityes, wbicbin 
 bym were by nature singu lar, be by learn/ 
 
 31 
 
The first yngc and use bad made perfecte J^ The 
 boohe of hynge put mucbe truste in bis counsel, 
 Cltopia tbewealepublyquealso in amaner leaned 
 unto bym, wben 1 was tbere; for even in 
 tbecbiefeofbisvoutbbexvas taken from 
 scbole in to tbe courte, and tbere passed 
 alibis tymeinmucbtroubleandbusines, 
 beyng continually tumbled & tossed in 
 tbe waves of dyvers misfortunes and 
 adversities, Hnd so by many and grete 
 daungers be lemed tbe experienceof tbe 
 worlde, wbicbe so beinge leamed,can not 
 easely be forgotten, 
 g^ig fltr cbaunced on a certayne daye, 
 ^|&; wben I sate at bis table, tbere was 
 '^^''^^also acertayne layeman cunnynge 
 
 in tbe lawes of youre Realm e, wbo, t can 
 not tell wberof takynge occasion, began 
 diligently and earnestly to prayse tbat 
 stray te & rygorous justice, wbicb at tbat 
 tyme was tbere executed upon fellones, 
 wbo, as be sayde, were for tbe moste 
 part XX, banged togetber upon one gal/ 
 lowes ; and seyng so f ewe escaped pun/ 
 ysbement,be sayde be coulde not cbuse 
 but greatly wonder and marvel, bowe 
 and by wbat evil luche it sbold so come 
 
 32 
 
to passe, that tbcves ncvcrtbclcs were TTbe first 
 
 in every place so ryff e and so rancke J^ booke of 
 
 T^aye syr, quod X (for I durst boldely Utopia 
 
 speake my minde before tbe Cardinal), 
 
 marvel notbinge bereat; fortbis pun- ^T/f!^!^ 
 
 ysbment of tbeves passetb tbe limites "ccordincr 
 
 of justice, and is also very burtef ull to ^^ equitie 
 
 tbe weale publique; for it is to extreame 
 
 and cruel a punishment for tbef te, & yet 
 
 not sufficient to refrayne and withhold 
 
 men from theftej^ for simple thefte is 
 
 not so great an offense that it owght to 
 
 be punished with death; neither ther is 
 
 any punishment so horrible, that it can 
 
 kepe them f rome stealynge, whiche have 
 
 no other craft wherby to get their living, 
 
 Therforein this poynte, not you onlye, 
 
 butalsotbemostpartoftbeworld,belike 
 
 evyll scbolemaisters, which be ready er to 
 
 beate then to teache their scbolers. for 
 
 great and horrible punishmentes be ap- By what 
 
 pointed for tbeves, wheras much rather meanes 
 
 provision should have ben made, that ther might 
 
 there were some meanes whereby they ^y^^^%, 
 
 vc\yqhx get their livyng, so that no man Jobbers 
 
 sbouldebedryven to this extreme neces/ 
 
 sitie, firste to steale, and then to dye J^ 
 
 dl 33 
 
TbcftrBt 
 bookcof 
 Cltopia 
 
 Idlcncssc 
 tbcmotbcr 
 of tbcvcs 
 
 Jvandlordcs 
 by tbc wai 
 cbcckcd for 
 Rcnt-rai8- 
 
 Yc9, quod be, tbis matter is xvcl ynougb 
 provided for already; tbere be bandy 
 craftes, tbere is busbandrye to gette 
 tbeir livynge by, if tbey would not wil- 
 lingly be nougbt. 
 
 |HY^ quod I, you sball not 
 shape so : for ftrst of all, X 
 Iwyll speake notbynge of 
 tbem tbat come borne oute 
 of tbe warres, maymedand 
 llame, as not long a go oute 
 of Blacke beatb fielde, and a litell before 
 tbat,outof tbewarresinfraunce:sucbe, 
 Isaye, as put tbeir lives in jeoperdye for 
 tbe weale publiques or tbe kynges sake, 
 and by reason of weaken esse and lame- 
 nesse be not bable to occupye tbeir olde 
 craf tes, and be to aged to lerne new: of 
 tbem 1 wyll speake notbing, forasmucb 
 as warresbave tbeir ordinarierecourse^ 
 But let us considre tbose tbinges tbat 
 cbaunce daily before our eyes* first tbere 
 isagreatnumbreofgentlemenwbicbcan 
 not be content to live idle tbemselfes, 
 lyke dorres, of tbat wbicbe otber bave 
 laboured for : tbeir tenauntes 1 meane, 
 wbom tbey polleand sbave to tbequicke, 
 34 
 
bv rcisyng tbcir rentes (for this onlye TThe first 
 poynteof frugalitieclotbeyuse,men els bookeof 
 tbrougbtbeirlavasse^prodigaUspend/ Cltopia 
 ynge, bable to brynge tbeymselfes to 
 verye beggerye) tbese gentlemen, 1 say, 
 donot only live in idlenesse tbemselfes, Qf j^i^ 
 but also carrye about witb tbem at tbeir servyng 
 tailes, a great flocke or traine of idle and men come 
 loyterynge servyngmen, wbicb never tbeves 
 learned any craft wberby to gette tbeir 
 livynges J^ TTbese men as sone as tbeir 
 mayster is dead, or be sicke tbemself es, 
 be incontinent tbrust out of dores* for 
 gentlemen badde ratber keepe idle per- 
 sones, tben sicke men, and many times 
 tbe deadmans beyre is not bable to main/ 
 teine so great a bouse, and kepesomany 
 serving men as bis fatber dyd» Xlben in 
 tbe meane season tbey tbat be tbus des/ 
 titu te of service, eitber starve for bon ger, 
 ormanfullyeplaye tbe tbeves; forwbat 
 would you bave tbem to do? ^ben tbey 
 bavewandredabrodesolonge,untyltbey 
 bave wome tbrede bare tbeir apparell, ^ 
 alsoappairedtbeirbeltb, tben gentlemen 
 because of tbeir pale and sickely faces, 
 & patcbed cotes, will not take tbem into 
 ^2 35 
 
'Cbc first 
 bookc of 
 Utopia 
 
 Bctwcnc 
 soldiers 
 & tbcvcs 
 smaldi- 
 vcrsitie 
 
 scrviccj^Hnd husbandmen darenotset 
 tbem a worke; knowynge wel ynougbe 
 tbat be is notbing mete to doe trewe and 
 faytbf ul service to a poore man wytb a 
 spade and a mattoke for small wages & 
 bard fare, wbycbe beynge deyntely and 
 tenderly pampered up in ydilnes & plea/ 
 sure, was wont witb a sworde & a buckler 
 by bys syde to jette tbrougb tbe strete 
 witb a bragginge loke, & to tbynke bim 
 selfe to good to be anye mans mate J^ 
 ]Vaye by saynt JVIary, sir, quod tbe lawier, 
 not so; for tbis kinde of men muste we 
 make moste of; for in tbem as men of 
 stowter stomackes, bolder spirites, and 
 manlyer courages tben bandycraftes 
 men and plowemen bcdotbconsistetbe 
 wbole powre, strength, and puissaunce 
 of ourearmy, wben we must figbtin bat/ 
 tayle^f orsotbe sir, as wellyou mygbte 
 saye, quod X, tbat for warres sake you 
 muste cberysbe tbeves, for suerly you 
 shall never lacke tbeves wbyles you have 
 tbem J^ ]Vo nor tbeves be not tbe most 
 fal8eandfayntbartedsoldiers,nor80ul/ 
 diours benottbecowardleste tbeves: so 
 wel thees ii, craf tes agree together. 
 
 36 
 
IXZ this faultc, though it be much Che first 
 used amongc you, yet is it not bookcof 
 peculiar toyou only, but commen Utopia 
 also almoste to all nations* Yet f raunce, 
 besides this,is troubled^infectedwith 
 a much sorer plage* Che whole royalme 
 is f ylled and besieged with hiered soul- 
 diours in peace tyme,(yf that bee peace,) 
 whyche be brought in under the same 
 colour & pretense that hath persuaded 
 you to kepe these ydellservynge men^ 
 for thieswysefooles^ very earchedoltes 
 thought the wealthe of the whole coun- 
 trey herein to consist,if there were ever in 
 a redinesse a stronge & a sure garrison, 
 specially of old practised souldiours, 
 for they put no trust at all in men unex- 
 ercised. Hnd therfore they must be for- 
 ced to seke for warre, to the ende thei mai 
 everhavepractisedsouldiers, and cunn- 
 yngmansleiers,lest that (as it is pretely 
 sayde of Salust) their handes and their 
 mindes through idlenes or lacke of exer/ 
 cise, shoulde waxedul.But howe pemi- 
 tious and pestilent a thyngit is to main/ 
 tayne suche beastes, the frenche men, 
 by their ownc harmes have learned, and 
 
 ^7 
 
t:bc first 
 boohcof 
 Utopia 
 
 Cdbat in- 
 conveni- 
 ences Co- 
 meth by 
 continuall 
 garisons 
 ofsoul- 
 diours 
 
 tbe examples of tbe Romaynes, Cartba/ 
 giniens,Syriens,&ofmanyeotbercoun/ 
 trey es doo manifestly declare^f or not 
 onlye tbe empire, but also tbe fieldes & 
 cities of all tbese, by divers occasions 
 bavc been oven'unned and destroyed of 
 tbeir owne armies, before bande bad in a 
 redinesse ji^]Vow bow unnecessary a 
 tbinge tbis is, bereby it maye appeare: 
 tbat tbe f rencbe sou Idiours, wbicb from 
 tbeir youtb bave ben practised & inured 
 in f eates of armes, do not cracke nor ad/ 
 vaunce themselves to bave very often 
 gotte tbe upper band & maistry of your 
 new made and unpractised souldiours. 
 But in tbis poyntelwyll not use many 
 woordes, leste percbaunce I may seeme 
 to flatter you. ]S[o, nor those same handy 
 craf te men of yours in cities, nor yet tbe 
 rude & uplandisb plowmen of tbe coun/ 
 treye, are not supposed to be greatly 
 affrayde of your gentlemens idle ser- 
 vyngmen,unlesse it be suche as be not 
 of body orstaturecorrespondentto tbeir 
 strength and courage,or els whose bolde 
 stomakes be discouraged throughe po- 
 vertie^T^busyou may see, tbat it is not 
 
 38 
 
to be feared lest tbey should be efFemi- TTbe first 
 nated if tbei were brought up in good Bookeof 
 craf tes and laboursome woorkes> wber/ Cltopia 
 bv to gette their livynges, whose stoute 
 & s turdy e body es (for gen tlem en vouch/ 
 safe to corrupte & spill none but picked 
 and chosenmen)noweither by reason of 
 rest and idlenesse be brought to weake- 
 nesse: or els by to easy and womanly ex- 
 ercises bemade f eble and unhable to en- 
 dure hardnesse j^T^ruly howe so ever 
 the case standeth, thys me thinketh is 
 nothing avayleable to the wealepublique 
 for warre sake, which you never have but 
 when you wyl your self es, to keepe and 
 mainteyn an innumerable fliocke of that 
 sort of men, that be so troublesome and 
 noyous in peace; wherof you ought to 
 have a thowsand times more regarde, 
 then of warre. 
 
 iClXT yet this is not only the neces- 
 sary cause of stealing. Inhere isan 
 other, whych,asIsuppose, is pro- 
 per^ pecu liar to you Gnglishm en alon e. 
 Slhat is that, quod the Cardinal 7 f or- 
 soth my lorde, quod I, your shepe that 
 were wont to be so meke and tame, and 
 
 39 
 
T:bc first 
 booNcof 
 Cltopw 
 
 Gnglisb 
 sbcpc dc- 
 pourcrs 
 of men 
 
 Sbcpc 
 maistcrs 
 decay era 
 of bus- 
 ban dry c 
 
 so smal caters, now, as X bearc saye, be 
 become so great devowcrers & so wylde, 
 tbat tbey cate up, & swallow downe, tbc 
 very men tbcm sclfesj^XTbcy consume, 
 destroye, & devoure wbole ficldcs, bow/ 
 ses, and cities, for looke, in wbat partes 
 of tbc realm edotbgrowe tbc fynest,and 
 tberfore dearest woll, tbere noble men, 
 and gentlemen, yea & certeynHbbottes, 
 boly men nodoubt,not contenting tbcm 
 sclfcs witb tbc yearely revenues and pro/ 
 fytes tbat were wont to grow to tbeyr 
 f orefatbers and predecessours of tbeir 
 Ian des, nor beynge con tent tbat tbey live 
 in rest and pleasure, notbinge profiting, 
 yea, mucb noyinge tbc weale publique: 
 leave no grounde for tillage, tbei inclose 
 al into pastures : tbei tbrow doune bou- 
 ses: tbey plucke downe townes, & leave 
 notbingstandyngcbutonlytbecburcbe 
 to be made a sbepebowse J^ Hnd as 
 tbougbe you loste no small quantity of 
 grounde by forestes, cbases, laundes, & 
 parses, tbose good boly men turne all 
 dwellinge places and all glebeland into 
 desolation and wildemes^'Cberf ore tbat 
 on covetous & unsatiable cormaraunte, 
 40 
 
&vcrv plage of bis natyvc con trey, may c TTbeftrst 
 compasse aboute ^ inclose many tbou- booke of 
 sand akers of grounde to getber witbin Cltopia 
 one pale or bedge, tbe busbandmen be 
 tbrust owte of tbeir owne, or els eitber 
 by coveyne and f raude, or by violent op/ 
 pression, tbey be put besydes it, or by 
 wronges and injuries tbei be so weried, 
 tbat tbey be compelled to sell all: by one 
 meanes tberfore or by other, either by 
 hooke or crooke, they muste needes 
 departe awaye, poore, selye, wretched 
 soules, men, women, husbands, wives, 
 fatherlesse children, widowes, wofull 
 mothers, with their yonge babes, & their 
 whole household, smal in substance, ^ 
 muche in numbre, as busbandrye req- 
 uireth manyehandes; awaye tbei trudge, 
 t say, out of their knowen and accusto- The de- 
 med houses, f yndynge no place to reste caye of 
 in^Hll their housholdestuffe, which is husbandry 
 very litle woorthe ; thoughe itmyght well causeth 
 abide the sale, yet beeynge sodainely ^^^rv» 
 thruste out, they be constrayned to sell ^e mother 
 it for a thing of noughts Hnd when they of vaga- 
 havewanderedabrodetyll tbat be spent, boundes & 
 what can they then els doo but steale, & theves 
 
 4J 
 
TTbc first then justly, pardy, be banged, or els go 
 boohe of about a beggyng.Hnd yet tben also tbey 
 Cltopia j)e caste in prison as vagaboundes, be- 
 cause tbey go aboute&workenot:wbom 
 nomanwylsetaworke,tbougbtbeinev/ 
 er so willyngly profre tbemselves tber/ 
 to j^ for one sbepbearde or beardman 
 isynougbe to eate up tbat grounde witb 
 cattel, to tbe occupiyng wberof aboute 
 busbandrye manye bandes were requi- 
 XTbecause site* Hnd tbis is also tbe cause wby vic- 
 of deartb tualles be now in many places dearer, j^ 
 of VIC- Yea, besides tbis, tbe price of wolle is so 
 tuaies rysen tbat poore f olkes,wbicb were wont 
 toworkeit,&makeclotbtberof,benowe 
 bable to bye none at all jj? Hnd by tbys 
 ^batin- meanes verye manye be forced to for- 
 conveni- sake worhe, and to geve tbem selves to 
 encecom- idelnesse J^ for after tbat so mucb 
 metb of grounde was inclosed for pasture, an in/ 
 deartb of f^^^xz multitude of sbepe dyed of tbe 
 woue rotte, sucbe vengeaunce God toke of 
 
 tbeir inordinate & unsaciable covetous/ 
 nes, sendinge amonge tbe sbepe tbat 
 pestiferous morrein, wbicbe mucb more 
 justelysbouldebave fallen on tbe sbepe/ 
 masters owne beades* Hnd tbougb tbe 
 42 
 
number of 8bcpc increase never so faste, XTbe first 
 yet tbe price faUetb not one myte, be- booNe of 
 cause there be so f ewe sellers* for they Utopia 
 be almooste all com en into a f ewe ricbe —. 
 menneshandeStWhomenoneadeforcetb ^fd^rth^ 
 to sell before they lust, and they luste of wol 
 not before they may esellasdeareas they 
 lusteji^JVow the same cause bringeth in Dearth of 
 liNe dearth of the other kindesofcattell, cattelwith 
 yea, and that so much the more, bicause the cause 
 that after fermes plucked downe, and therof 
 husbandry decaied, there is no man that 
 passethe for the breadynge of younge 
 stoore* for these riche men brynge not 
 up theyonge ones ofgreatecattelas they 
 do lambes J^ But ftrst they bie them 
 abrode verie chepe, and afterward when 
 they be fatted in their pastures, they sell 
 th em agay n e excedy n ge dear e* Hn dt h ere/ 
 fore, as I suppose, the whole incommo/ 
 ditie hereof is not yet f elte ; for yet they 
 make dearth onely in those places, where 
 they sell j0 But when they shall f etche 
 them away from thence wheare they be 
 bredde faster than they can be broughte 
 up, then shall there also be felte greate 
 dearth, stoore beginning there to faile, 
 where the ware is boughte. 
 
 43 
 
Tbcftrst ^^^''^^^ ^^^ unreasonable covet - 
 
 booNcof M^ju ousnesofafew^batbturnedtbat 
 
 CItopia ^^^ tbing to tbe utter undoing of 
 
 ^ f your ylande* in tbe wbicbe tbynge tbe 
 
 '^? 1 o cbeifefelicitieofyourrealme did consist 
 
 S tbe de- ^ ^^^ ^^^^ greate deartb of victualles 
 
 cav of causetb men to kepe as litle bouses, and 
 
 bouse hep/ ^^ smale bospitalitie as tbey possible 
 
 ing; wber/ maye, andtoputaway tbeirservauntes: 
 
 of ensuetb wbetber, X pray you, but a beggynge ? Or 
 
 beggery & elles (wbycbe tbese gentell bloudes and 
 
 tbef te stoute stomackes wyll sooner set tbeir 
 
 myndes unto) a stealing? j^ JS^owe to a- 
 
 mende tbe matter, to tbis wretcbed beg- 
 
 gerye and miserable povertie, is joyned 
 
 greate wantonnes, importunate super- 
 
 Sxcesse in fiuitie, & excessive riotej^ for not only 
 
 apparent gentle mennesservauntes, but also ban/ 
 
 dietamain- dicraf emen: yea&almooste tbeplougb/ 
 
 teiner of rnen of tbe countrey, witbalotbersortes 
 
 thi^ft^^^ of people, use mucbestraunge&proude 
 
 therte newefanglenes in tbeir apparell, and to 
 
 mucbe prodigall riotte and sumptuous 
 
 Baudes fareattbeirtable»]Vowebawdes,queines, 
 
 wbores, wboores, barlottes, strumpettes, bro- 
 
 winetavemes,alebou3e3, & unlawfull games be very 
 motbers of tbeves. 
 
 44 
 
tbdbouscs, stcvQCS, and yet an other XlbcHrst 
 stewes, wynetavernes,ale bouses, & tip/ booke of 
 Unge bouses, witb so manye nougbtie, Utopia 
 lewde, and unlawful! games, as dyce, 
 cardes, tables, tennis, boules, coytes; do 
 not all tbese sende tbe baun ters of tbem 
 streygbte a stealynge, wben tbeyrmon- 
 ey is gone? Caste oute tbese pernicyous 
 abbominations, make a lawe tbat tbey 
 wbicb plucked downe f ermes, & townes 
 of busbandrie, sbalreedifte tbem, or els 
 yeldeand uprender tbe possession tber/ 
 of tosucbeaswilgo to tbe costof buyld/ 
 ing tbem anewej^Suff ernot tbese ricbe Ricb men 
 men to bie up al, to ingrosse, and for- ingross- 
 stalle, and witb tbeir monopolie to kepe ^^^^ ^^^^' 
 tbe market alone as please tbem. Letnot stallers 
 80 many be brought up in idelnes, let 
 husbandry and tillage be restored, let 
 clotbeworkinge be renewed, tbat tber 
 may be honest labours for this idell sort 
 to passe tbeir tyme in profitably e,wbicbe 
 bitberto either povertie bath caused to 
 be theves, or elles nowe be either vaga/ 
 bondes, or idel servingmen, and shorte/ 
 lyewilbetbeves* 
 
 45 
 
The first 
 boohcof 
 Cltopia 
 
 Hbc cor- 
 ruptccdu/ 
 cation of 
 Voutba 
 mother of 
 tbcvcry 
 
 OClBT:LeS onlcs you findc a 
 remedy for tbese enormities, 
 you sballinvaineadvaunceyour 
 selves of executing justice upon fellons; 
 for tbis justice is more beautiful in ap- 
 peraunce, and more florisbynge to tbe 
 sbewe, tben eitber juste or profitable j^ 
 for by suffring your youtbe wantonlie 
 and viciously to be brought up, and to be 
 infected, even from etbeyr tender age, by 
 litle & litle witb vice : tben a goddes nam e 
 to be punished, when they commit the 
 same faultes after being come tomans 
 state, which from their youtbe they were 
 ever like to do : In this pointe, 1 praye 
 you,whatotherthing do you, then make 
 theves, and then punish them ? 
 j^^Od as X was thus speakinge, the 
 M|m]K lawier began to make hym selfc 
 1^^ readie to an s were, and was deter- 
 mined with him selfe to use the common 
 fashion and trade of disputers, whiche 
 be more diligent in rehersinge then an- 
 swering, as thinking the memorie wor- 
 thy of the chief praise J^ In dede sir, 
 quod he, you have said wel, being but a 
 straunger, and one that myghte rather 
 46 
 
hcarc some thing of these matters, then 'Che first 
 haveany exacteor perf ecte knowledge of boohe of 
 the same, as X wil incontinent by open Utopia 
 proffe make manifest and plaine j^for 
 firste X will reherse in order all that you 
 have sayde : then I wyll declare wherein 
 you be deceased through lacke of know/ 
 ledge, in all oure fashions, maners, and 
 custom es : and last of all I will aunswere 
 y oure argum en tes,& confute them every 
 one j^ f irste therefore X wyll begynne 
 where 1 promysed* f oure thynges you 
 semedtome,r)oldeyourepeace,quodthe 
 Cardinall: foritappeareththat you will Reiswor/ 
 make no shorte aunswere, which make thelie put 
 suche a beginnynge, J^ therefore at to silence 
 this time you shall not take the paynes E f5 1^ ^^ 
 to make your aunswere, but keep it to J^^iS^^q 
 yourenextemeatynge,whicheXwouldebe 
 righte glad that it might be even to mor/ 
 rowe next, onles either you or mayster 
 Raphaelhaveany earnest let^Butnowe 
 mayster Raphael, Iwouldeveryegladlye 
 heare of you, why you thinke thefte not 
 worthye to be punished with deathe, or 
 whatother punishemente you can devise 
 more expedient to the wealepublique; for 
 
 47 
 
t:bc first 
 booNeof 
 ectopia 
 
 That 
 tbcftc 
 ougbt 
 not to be 
 punisbcd 
 by deatb 
 
 Straitc 
 lawcs not 
 allowable 
 
 lam sure you are not of tbat mincle,tbat 
 you woulde bave tbefte escape unpun- 
 isbed* for yf nowe tbe extreme punisbe/ 
 mente of deatbe can not cause tbem to 
 leavestealingctbenyfruffians&robbers 
 sbouldebesuerof tbeirlyves; wbatvio- 
 lence^wbat feare were bable to bolde tbeir 
 bandes from robbings wbicbe woulde 
 tahetbemitigationoftbepunisbemente, 
 as a verye provocation to tbe miscbiefe ? 
 ^^QeRLYBmylorde,quodX,Xtbinke 
 ^»]itnotrygbtnorjusticettbattbelos/ 
 ^^Sseof money sbouldcausetbelosse 
 of mans life* formyneopinionis,tbatall 
 tbe goodes in tbe worlde are not bable to 
 countervaylemanslife^Butiftbey would 
 tbussaye: tbat tbe breahynge of justice, 
 and tbe transgression of tbe lawes is re/ 
 compensedwitbtbispunisbment,&not 
 tbe losse of tbe money, tben wby maye 
 not tbis extremeandrigorous justice wel 
 be called plaine injurie ? for so cruel gov/ 
 emaunce, so streite rules, and unmercy/ 
 f ullawes be not allowable, tbat if a small 
 offense be committed, by & by tbe sword 
 sbould be drawen : ]Vor so stoical ordi- 
 naunces are to be borne witball, as to 
 48 
 
countcaloifcnscs of 8ucbccqualitic,tbat XTbc first 
 the killing of a man, or the takyngof bis bookc of 
 money from bim were botb a matter, and Utopia 
 tbeonenomorebeinous offense tbentbe 
 otber: betwene tbe wbycbe two, yf we 
 bave any e respecte toequitie, no simili- 
 tude or equalitie consistetb^ God com- 
 maundetb us tbat we sball not kill; and 
 be we tben so bastie to kill a man for 
 takinge a litle money ?ji^Hnd if any man 
 would understande killing by tbis com/ 
 maundement of God, to be forbidden 
 after no larger wise tben mans constitu/ "Cbat 
 tions define killynge to be lawfull, tben mans law 
 wby maye it not lykewyse by mans con- ougbtnot 
 stitutionsbedeterminedafterwbatsort [uHfcial^^' 
 wbordome, fornication, and perjuriemay [^^ q-ods 
 be lawfull?j^forwbereasby tbepermis/ i^^v 
 sionofGodnomanbatb power to kilnei/ 
 tberbimself,noryetanyeotberman:tben 
 yf a lawe made by tbe consent of men, 
 conceminge slaugbter of men ougbteto 
 beof sucbe strengtbe, force, and vertue, 
 tbat tbey wbicb contrarie to tbe com- 
 maundement of God bave killed tbose, 
 wbom tbis constitution of man com- 
 maunded to be killed, be cleane quite & 
 ei 49 
 
The first 
 bookcof 
 Qtopia 
 
 t:heftcin 
 tbcoldc 
 lawcnot 
 punished 
 by death 
 
 mhat 
 inconven/ 
 ienceen/ 
 sueth of 
 punish- 
 Vnge theft 
 with death 
 
 exempte oute of the bondes & daunger 
 of Gods commaundement: shall it not 
 then bv this reason folow, that the pow/ 
 er of Gods commaundemente shall ex- 
 tende no further then mans lawe doeth 
 deftne & permitte?Hnd so shall it come 
 to passe, that in lik e man er man s cons ti/ 
 tutionsinalthinges shal determine how 
 farre the observation of all Gods com- 
 maundementes shall cxtcndc* jff Tlo be 
 shorte JMoyses law, though it were un- 
 gentle & sharpe,as a law that was geven 
 to bondmen, yea, & them very obstinate, 
 8tubbome,^styfnecked,vetitpunished 
 thef te by the purse, and not wy th death. 
 Hnd let us not thinke that God in the 
 newe law of clemencie and mercy e, under 
 thewhicheherulethuswithfatherliegen- 
 tlenes, as his deare children, hath geven 
 us greater scoupe & licence to the execu- 
 tion of cruelte,oneuponanother*T^owye 
 have heard the reasons whereby X am 
 persuaded that this pun ishem en t is un - 
 lawful^furthermoreX thinke ther is no 
 body that knoweth not, how unreason- 
 able,yea,howepemitiousathingeitisto 
 the weale publike, that a thefe and an 
 50 
 
bomicidc or murderer, should suffer The first 
 equaU & likepunisbment* for the tbefe booke of 
 seynge tbat man is condempned for <^topia 
 tbef te in no lesse jeoperdie, nor judged 
 to no (esse punisbment, tben bim tbatis 
 convicteof manslaughter: tbrougbetbis ^J^^^P^^^ 
 cogitation onely e be is strongly and for- ^ f^ ^ 
 ciblye provoked, and in a maner con- Q^fu ^be^"" 
 streinedtokill bim wbome els be woulde tbefe to be a 
 bave but robbed* for tbe murder beynge murtberer 
 ones done, be is in lesse feare, and in 
 more boope tbat tbe deede sball not be 
 bewrayed or knowen, seynge tbe partye 
 is nowe deade, &rydde oute of tbe waye, 
 wbicbonelyemigbte bave uttered & dis- 
 closed it. But if be cbaunce to be taken 
 anddiscrived:yetbeisinnomoredaun- 
 ger and jeopardie, tben if be bad com- 
 mitted but single f ellony e jKS? 'Cberfore 
 wbileswegoaboutwitbsucbecrueltieto 
 make tbeves af erd, we provoke tbem to 
 kil good men. 
 
 j^^^OCd as toucbinge tbis question, ?^!]^^ ^T^l 
 Prt|ft3i|wbat punisbemente were more IJ!!!?""^® 
 yii^ commodious & better: tbat true/ be devTs^c^ 
 lye in my judgemente is easier to be for tbef t 
 founde, tben wbat punisbment might 
 C2 51 
 
X:bc first 
 booNcof 
 CItopia 
 
 f>owc the 
 Romayns 
 punished 
 tbcftc 
 
 H worthy 
 and com - 
 mcndablc 
 punish- 
 ment of 
 theves in 
 the vpeale 
 publique 
 ofthepov 
 lylerites 
 in Persia 
 
 be wurse. for why should we doubt that 
 to be a good & a profy table waye for the 
 punishemente of offendours, whiche we 
 knowe did in tymes paste so longe please 
 theRomaines,men in the administration 
 of awealepubliquemoosteexperte^poli- 
 tique^and cunnynge? Suche as amonge 
 them were convicte of great and heynous 
 trespaces, them they condempned into 
 stone quarries,and into mienes to digge 
 mettalle, there to be hepte in cheynes all 
 the dayes of their life»Butasconcemyng 
 this matter, X allow the ordinaunce of no 
 nation sowel as thatwhichlsawe, whiles 
 X travailed abroade aboute the worlde, 
 used in Persia amonge the people that 
 commenly be called the polylerites j^ 
 <nhose land is both large and ample, & 
 also well and wittelye governed: and the 
 people in all conditions free & ruled by 
 their owne lawes, savinge that they paye 
 a yearelye tribute to the great kinge of 
 Persia* But bicause they be farre from 
 the sea, compassed & inclosed almoste 
 rounde aboute with hyghe mountaines, 
 fidocontentthemselveswiththefruitcs 
 of their owne lande, whiche is of it self e 
 52 
 
vcryc fertile and frutf uU: for this cause t:be first 
 neither tbey go to other countreis, nor booheof 
 other come to them, Hnd accord>?nge to Utopia 
 the olde custome of the land, they desire 
 not to enlarge the boundes of their do- 
 minions : & those that tbey have, by rea- 
 son of the bighe hilles be easely defend/ 
 ed: and the tribute whiche they paye to 
 their chief e lordand hinge, setteth them 
 quite and free from warfare* 'Chus their 
 life is commodious rather than gallante, 
 & may better be called happie, or welthy, 
 then notable or famous: for they be not 
 Nnowen as much as by name, 1 suppose, 
 saving only to theyr next neighbours & 
 borderes, 
 
 F^GY that in this lande be attein- 
 ted and convict of felony, make re- 
 B stitution of that which they stole, 
 to the righte owner: and not (as they do H privie 
 in other landes) to the Ninge: whome nippefor 
 they thinke to have nomore righte to the Jr^^ ^^ 
 thiefestolen thinge, then the thief e him ^(L^ ^^" 
 self e bathe* But if the thing be loste or ^ 
 made away, then the value of it is paide 
 of the gooddes of such offenders, which 
 els remaineth all whole to their wives & 
 
 53 
 
X!^bc first children. Hnd tbcy tbcm selves be con- 
 
 booNc of dempned to be common laborers, & one/ 
 
 Cltopia ics tbe tbef te be verie beinous, tbey be 
 
 neytber locked in prison, nor fettered in 
 
 ebeves gives, but be untied <& go at large, labor- 
 
 ned tobe' *"^ *" ^^^ common worNes J^ XTbey that 
 
 commen ^^^"se labour, or go slowly & slacklye to 
 
 labourers theirworke,benotonelvetiedincbeynes, 
 
 but also pricked forward with stripes. 
 
 Butbeingediligenteaboutetbeyrworke 
 
 theylivewithoutcheckeorrebuke.Bvery 
 
 night they be called in by name: and be 
 
 locked in theyr chambers. Beside their 
 
 dayly labour, their life is nothing hard or 
 
 incommodious. ITheir fare is indifferent 
 
 good, borne at the charges of the weale 
 
 publike, bicause they be commen ser- 
 
 vauntes to the commen wealth. Buttheir 
 
 charges in all places of the lande is not 
 
 borne alike jff for in some partes, that 
 
 which is bestowed upon them is gathered 
 
 of almes. Hnd thoughe that waye be un/ 
 
 certein,yet the people be so f ul of mercy 
 
 and pitie, that none is found more profit 
 
 table or plen tif u U. In som e places certein 
 
 landes be appointed hereunto : of the 
 
 revenewes wherof they be mainteinedj^ 
 
 54 
 
Hnd in some places everve man gcvcth Cbe first 
 a ccrtcin tribute for the same use and booheof 
 purposej^Hgaine in some partes of tbe Wopia 
 land tbese serving men (for so be these Serving 
 dampned persons called) dono common men 
 worke, but as everye private man nedetb 
 laborours, so be commetb into tbe mar/ 
 kette place, and tbere bieretbe some of 
 tbem for meateanddrinke, & a certeine 
 limitted waiges by tbe daye, sumwbat 
 cbeper tben be sboulde bire a free man. 
 It is also lawefull for tbem to cbastice 
 tbe sloutbe of tbese servinge men witb 
 stripes. By tbis meanes tbey never lacke 
 worke, and besides tbe gayninge of tbeir 
 meate and drink e, every e one of tbem 
 bringetbdailie some tbinginto tbe com/ 
 mon treasourie j^ Hll and every one of 
 tbem be apparailed in one coloure. "Cbeir 
 beades be not polled or sbaven, but 
 rounded a ly tie above tbe eares. Hnd tbe 
 typpe of tbe one eare is cut of j^ Svery 
 one of tbem may e take meate and drinke 
 of tbeir frendes, and also a coateof tbeir 
 oxvne coUoure: but to receive money is 
 deatbe,as well to tbe gever, as to tbe re- 
 ceivoure, and no lesse jeoperdie it is for a 
 
 55 
 
x:bc first freeman to receive moncycof a scrvyngc 
 
 booNe of manne for anye maner of cause : & lyke- 
 
 Cltopia wise for servingemen to toucbe weapons 
 
 j^V,bc servinge men of everye severall 
 
 sbire be distincte^ knowen frome otber 
 
 by tbeir severall and distincte badges : 
 
 vpbicbe to caste away e is deatb : as it is al/ 
 
 so tobeseneouteoftbeprecincteof tbeir 
 
 ownesbire,ortotalkewitbaservingeman 
 
 Hn evell of anotber sbyre J^ Hnd it is no lesse 
 
 intent es- claunger to tbem, for to intende torunne 
 
 ^h^d^d ^ away e, tben to do it in dede. Yea & to con/ 
 
 tbeaeae c^^iQucbeanenterpries^inaservingeman 
 
 it is deatbe,in a freeman servitude»Of tbc 
 
 contrarie parte, to bim tbatopenetb & ut/ 
 
 teretb sucbe counselles, be decreed large 
 
 gif tes : to a free man a great som e of mo/ 
 
 ney, to a serving man freedom e : and to 
 
 tbem botbe f orgevenes & pardone of tbat 
 
 tbey were of counsell in tbat pretence; so 
 
 tbat it can never be so good for tbem to 
 
 go forewarde in tbeir evy U purpose, as by 
 
 1-u - ut repentauncetotoumebacke* 
 
 intent of W^ft^^*^^^^^^ ^^ ^ *^^^^ sbewedyou^ 
 punisbe- S^^^^berein,wbatbumanitieisused, 
 ment bowe farrc it is frome crueltie,and bowe 
 
 56 
 
commodyous it is, you do playncly c per/ The first 
 
 ccavc : for asmucbe as the cndc of tbcir bookc of 
 
 wrath & punysbcmcntc intcndctbnotb/ Utopia 
 
 yngc cUes, but tbc destruction of vices, 
 
 and savynge of menne: xvitb so usynge, 
 
 ^ ordering tbem, tbat tbey can not cbuse 
 
 but be good, & wbat barme so ever tbey 
 
 did before, in tbe residewe of tbeyr life 
 
 to make a mendes for tbe samejj^JMore/ 
 
 over it is so litle feared, tbat tbey sboulde 
 
 tourneagainetotbeirviciousconditions, 
 
 tbat way efaringem en wyll for tbeir save/ 
 
 garde cbuse tbem to tbeyr guy des before 
 
 any otber, in every sbeire cbaungingand 
 
 taking new, for if tbey would committe 
 
 robbery,tbeybavenotbingeaboutetbem 
 
 m eate for tbat purpose, 'Cbey may toucb 
 
 no weapons: money foundeaboute tbem 
 
 sboulde betraie tbe robbery, J^ 'Cbey 
 
 sboulde be no sooner taken witb tbe 
 
 maner, but furtbwitb tbey sboulde be 
 
 punisbed,]Veitber tbey can baveany bope 
 
 at all to skape awaye by fiienge, f or bowe 
 
 sbouldaman,tbatinnoparteof bisap- 
 
 parell is like otber men, flye prevelie and 
 
 unknowen,onelesbewoulderunneawaye 
 
 naked ? Jff Rowebeit so also flyinge be 
 
 57 
 
JZbc first sbouldc be discrivcd by tbcroundyngof 
 bookc of bis bcadc, and bis care marke ^ But it 
 Cltopia 18 a tbinge to be doubted, tbat tbey will 
 layetbeyrbeddestogetber, and conspire 
 againste tbe wcalepublique^ ]Vo no 1 
 warrante you* for tbe serving men of 
 one sbeire alone, coulde never boope to 
 bringe to passe sucbe an enterprise, 
 witbout soUicitinge, entysinge, & allur/ 
 ynge tbe servinge men of manye otber 
 sbieres to take tbeir partes ^ Cdbicbe 
 tbinge is to tbem so impossible, tbat 
 tbey maye notasmucb as speake or talke 
 togetbers, or salute one an otber j^JS^o, 
 it is not to be tbougbte tbat tbeywoulde 
 make tbeyr owne countreymen and com/ 
 panionsof tbeircounsellinsucbeamat/ 
 ter, wbicbe tbey knowe well sbould be 
 jeopardie to tbe concelour tberof, and 
 great commoditie and goodnes to tbe 
 opener&detectouroftbesame«^bereas 
 on tbe otber parte, tbereis none of tbem 
 allbopelesorindispairetorecoveragaine 
 bis form er estate of f redom e, by bum ble 
 obedience, by paciente suffringe,and by 
 gevinggood tokens and likelyboodeof 
 bimselfe,tbatbewylleveraftertbat,lyve 
 58 
 
like a trewc & an honest man ; for everye Xlbe ftrst 
 yeare divers of tbem be restored to tbeir booke of 
 freedom e tbrougbe tbe commendation Cltopia 
 of tbeir patience* 
 
 r>H]S^ X bad tbus spoken, say- 
 inge moreover tbat I coulde see 
 no cause wby tbis ordre migbt 
 not be bad in Gnglande,witbmucbemore 
 prof y te tben tbe justice wbicbe tbe law/ 
 yer so beigbly praysed: ]^aye, quod tbe 
 lawier, tbis coulde never be so stablysb/ 
 ed in Snglande, but tbat it must nedes 
 bringe tbe weale publike into great jeo/ 
 perdie and basarde* Hnd as be was tbus 
 sayinge, besbaked bis beade, and made 
 a wrie moutbe, and so be belde bis peace. 
 Hnd all tbat were tbere present,witb one 
 assent agreed to bis sayinge^Cdell, 
 quod tbe Cardinally yet it were barde to 
 judge witboute a proflPe, wbetber tbis 
 order would do wel bere or no* But wben 
 tbesentenceofdeatbisgeven,if tbantbe 
 kinge sboulde commaunde execution to 
 be deif erred and spared, & would prove 
 tbis order and fassion : takinge awaye 
 tbe priviliges of all saintuaries: if tben 
 tbe prof e sboulde declare tbe tbinge to 
 
 59 
 
The first 
 bookcof 
 Utopia 
 
 Taga- 
 bondcs 
 
 The waver- 
 ing judge- 
 men tcs of 
 flatterers 
 
 be good and profitable, than it were wel 
 don e that it were stablisbed : els the con/ 
 dempned & reprived persons may as wel 
 and as justly be put to deatb after tbis 
 prof e, as wben tbey were first cast* J^ei- 
 tberany jeoperdie can in tbemeane space 
 growe berof ♦ ^ca, and me tbynketb tbat 
 tbese vagaboundes may very wel be or- 
 dered after tbe same fashion, against 
 wbom we have hitherto made so manye 
 lawes, and so litle prevailedj^CClhen the 
 Cardinall had thus saide, than every man 
 gave greate praise tomy say inges,whiche 
 a litle before they had disallowed. But 
 moost of al was estemed that which was 
 spohen of vagaboundes, bicause it was 
 the Cardinalles owne addition. 
 
 CHfi not tell whether it were 
 
 
 W]^ best to reherse the communica- 
 ^^^-^^ tion that f olowed, for it was not 
 
 very sad. But yet you shall heare it, for 
 there was no evil in it, and partly e it par- 
 teined to the matter before saide. Xlhere 
 chaunced to stand by a certein jesting 
 parasite, or scoffer, which wold seme to 
 resemble and counterfeit the foole. But 
 he did in such wise counterfeit, that he 
 60 
 
was almost the very same in dedc that tTbe first 
 be labored to represent: be so studied bookeof 
 witb wordes & sayinges brougbt f urtb Cltopia 
 so out of time and place, to make sporte 
 and move laugbter, tbatbebimself ewas 
 of tener laugbed at tben bis jestes were* 
 YcttbefooUsbefellowe brougbt outnow 
 and tben sucb indifferent andreasonable 
 stuflPe, tbat be made tbe proverbe true, 
 wbicb saietb: f>e tbat sbotetb oft, at tbe 
 last sbal bit tbe mark J^ So tbat wben 
 one of tbe company say d, tbat tbrougbe 
 my communication a good order was 
 foundefortbe\>es,andtbattbeCardinal 
 also bad wel provided forvagaboundes, 
 so tbat only remained some good provi/ Sick,aged, 
 sion to be made for tbem tbat tbrougb impotent ' 
 sicknes and agewere fallen into povertie, persons & 
 and were become so impotent and un- beggers 
 weldie, tbat tbey were not bable to work e 
 for tbeir livinge: TTusbe, quod be, letme 
 alone witb tbem : you sball se me do well 
 ynougb witb tbem, for X bad ratber tben 
 any good, tbat tbis kinde of people were 
 driven sumwber oute of my sigbt, tbey 
 bave so sore troubled me manye times 
 and of te, wben tbey bave wytb tbeir la/ 
 
 61 
 
rbc first 
 bookcof 
 Cltopia 
 
 H commcn 
 provcrbc 
 am on gc 
 bcggcrs 
 
 Hmcry 
 talkc bc- 
 twcnca 
 frcrcanda 
 foolc 
 
 mcntablc tcarcs bcggcdmoncy of mc: & 
 yet tbcy couldc never to my mynde so 
 tune tbeir songe, tbat tbereby tbey ever 
 gotof meonefartbingej^forevermore 
 tbe one of tbese two cbaunced: eitber 
 tbat 1 would not, or els tbat 1 could not, 
 bicause 1 bad it not. X^berf ore now tbey 
 be waxed wise, f or wben tbey see me go 
 by, bicause tbey will not leese tbeyr la- 
 bour, tbey let me passe and saye not one 
 wordetome.Sotbeylokefornotbingeof 
 me, no in good sotbe, no more tben yf 
 I were a priest or a monke. But X will 
 make a lawe, tbat all tbese beggers sball 
 be distributed, & bestowed into bouses 
 of religion J^ t^be men sbalbe made lay e 
 bretbren, as tbey call tbem, & tbe women 
 nunnes jff Rereat tbe Cardinal smiled, 
 &alloweditinjest,yea&alltberesiduein 
 good earnest. But a certeine freare, gra/ 
 duate in divinitie, toke sucbe pleasure & 
 deliteintbisjesteofpriestes&monkes, 
 tbat be also beynge ellesaman of grislie 
 and Sterne gravitie, began merilie and 
 wantonlye to jeste and taunt JP ]S^aye, 
 quod be, you sball not so be ridde and 
 dispatcbedof beggers, onelesyoumake 
 
 62 
 
some provision also for us f rears. ^Odby, The first 
 quod the jester, that isdonealreadie, for booke of 
 mv lord bim self e set a verye good order Utopia 
 for you, wben be decreed tbat vaga- 
 boundes sbould be heptstraite,&set to 
 worke : for you be tbe greatest & veriest 
 vagaboundes tbat be J^ Tlbis jest also, 
 wben tbey sawe tbe Cardinall not dis- 
 prove it, every man tok e it gladly, savyng 
 onelyetbefrear. for be (and tbat nomar/ 
 veile)beyngetbustoucbedontbequicke, 
 and bit on tbegaule, so fret, so fumed, ^ 
 cbaf ed at it, & was in sucb a rage, tbat be 
 couldnotrefrain bimselfefrom cbidinge, 
 skolding, railing, and reviling* F)e called 
 tbe fellow ribbalde, villaine, javel, back- 
 biter, sclaunderer,and tbe cbilde of per- 
 dition :citingetberwitb terrible threaten/ 
 inges out of bolie scripture ^XTben tbe 
 jestynge scoifer beganne to playe tbe 
 scoffer in dede, & verely be was good at 
 tbat, for be could play a part in tbat play, 
 noman better, patient youre self e good 
 maister f reare, quod be, & be not angrie, 
 forscripturesaietb:in youre patienceyou 
 sballsave your soules^t^ben tbe f reare 
 (forXwillrebearsebisownverywoordes) 
 
 63 
 
The first JVo gallous wrctcbc, X am not angric, 
 booNc of quod be, or at tbc Icastc wigc, 1 do not 
 CXtopia sinnc: for tbc psalmistc saitb, be you 
 angrie, and sinnenot j^Tben tbe Cardi/ 
 nf ^d^ ^"^' "^^ spaNe gently to tbe f reare, 6 desired 
 rordino"to ^^"^toquietebimselfe* J^omy lord^quod 
 tbe person ^^^ ^ ^P^^*^ "^^ but of a good zeale as I 
 tbat speak/ ougbte:forbolyemen bad a good zeale. 
 etb SIberefore it is sayd: tbe zeale of tby 
 
 bouse batb eaten me* Hnd it is songe in 
 tbe cburcb, T^be skomers of f)elizeus, 
 wbilesbewentupintotbebouseofGod, 
 felte tbe zeale of tbe bald; as peradven- 
 ture tbis skomingvillaine ribaulde sball 
 f eele JP You do it, quod tbe Cardinally 
 percbaunce of a good mynde and affec- 
 tion: but me tbinketb you sbould do, I 
 can not tell wbetber more bolilie, certes 
 more wisely, yf you wouldenotsetyoure 
 witte to a f ooles witte, and witb a f oole 
 take in bande a f oolisbe contention J$P 
 J^o f orsoetb my lorde,quod be,Isbou Ide 
 not do more wyselye* for Salomon tbe 
 wyse saietb : Hnswere a fooleaccordinge 
 to bis foly e, like as X do nowe, & do sbew 
 bim tbe pit tbat be sball fall into, yf be 
 take not bede* for if many skomers of 
 64 
 
F)cUzcu3, wbicbc was but one bald man, XTbcftrst 
 f cite tbe zeale of tbe balde, bow mucbe booke of 
 more sball one shorn er of many f rears Cltopia 
 feele, amonge wbom be manye balde 
 men?Hndwebavealsotbepopesbulles, 
 wbereby all tbat mocke andskome us be 
 excommunicate, suspended, & acursed 
 J^ TTbe cardinal, seing tbat none ende 
 would be made, sentawaCe tbe jester by 
 a prevy becke,and turned tbe communu 
 cation to an otber matter* Sbortly after, 
 wben be was risen from tbe table, be went 
 to beare bissueters, & so dismissed us* 
 pOKB maister JVIore wytb 
 bow longe & tedious a tale I 
 bavekeptyou,wbicbesurely 
 Hwouldebavebeneasbamed 
 to bave done, but tbat you 
 so earnestly desired me, & 
 did after sucb a sorte geve eare unto it, 
 as tbougb you would not tbat any parcel 
 of tbat communication sbould be left 
 out*?Ilbicbe,tbougbeIbave done sum- 
 wbat brief ely, yet could I not cbuse but 
 rebearse it, for tbejudgemente of tbem, 
 wbicbewben tbey bad improved and dis/ 
 allowed my sayinges, yet incontinent 
 fi 65 
 
The first hcaryngctbcCardinaUaUowctbcmtdyd 
 boohcof themselves also approve the same: so 
 Cltopia impudentlyflattering bim, that they wer 
 nothing ashamed to admitte, yea al- 
 moste in good earnest, his jesters folish 
 inventions : bicause that he him self e by 
 smilingattbem didsemenottodisprove 
 them* So that herby you may right wel 
 perceave how litle the courtiers woulde 
 regarde and esteme me 6 my sayinges* 
 |B]^SCIRe you maister Ra- 
 phael, quod I, X tohe greate 
 delectacion in hearing you; 
 iall thinges that you saide 
 Iwere spoken so wittilyeand 
 ' so pleasauntly, jH^ Hnd me 
 thoughtmeselfetobeinthemeanetime, 
 notonelyeat home in my countrei, butaU 
 so through the pleasauntremembraunce 
 of the Cardinal, in whose house 1 was 
 broughte up of a childe, to waxe a child 
 again e^Hndfrend Raphael, though I did 
 beare very e greate love towardes you be- 
 fore, yet seynge you do so earnestlye 
 favoure this man, you wyll not beleve 
 howe muche my love towardes you is 
 noweincreased^Butyet, all this notwith/ 
 66 
 
standings I can bynomeancs cbaungc The first 
 my mind, but tbat X must ncdes bclevc, bookc of 
 tbat you, if you be disposed, and can Utopia 
 fynde in youre bearte to followe some 
 princes courte, sball witb your good 
 counselles greatlye belpe & further tbe 
 commen wealtbe* ^berfore tbere is no- 
 tbyngemoreapperteining to youredew- 
 ty, tbat is to say e, to tbe dewtie of a good 
 man« for wbere as your plato judgetb 
 tbatwealepubliquessballbytbismeanes 
 atteyne perf ecte f elicitie, eytber if pbi- 
 losopbers be kynges, or elles yf kynges 
 geve tbemselves to tbe studie of pbilo- 
 sopbie, bow farre 1 praye you, sball 
 commen wealtbes tben be frome tbys 
 f elicitie, yf pbilosopbers wyll voucbe- 
 sauf e toenstruct kinges witb tbeirgood 
 counsell? 
 
 'RSYbenotsounkindcquodbe, 
 but tbey woulde gladlye do it, 
 'yea, manye bave done it alreadye 
 in bookes tbat tbey bave put f urtbe, if 
 kynges and princes would be willynge 
 and readye to f olowe good counselL But 
 plato doubtlesse dyd well foresee, one/ 
 lesse kynges tbemselves wouldeapplye 
 f2 67 
 
Tbcftrst 
 booNcof 
 CXtopu 
 
 The 
 
 frcncbc- 
 mcn privi- 
 lic be coun- 
 seled from 
 the desire 
 ofXtalie 
 
 their mindes to the studye of pbiloso- 
 pbie, that eUes tbey woulde never tbo- 
 rougblye aUowe tbe counsellof pbiloso/ 
 pbers, beynge tbemselves before even 
 from tbeir tender age, infected and cor- 
 rupt witb perverse and evill opinions, 
 ^bicbe tbynge plato bymselfe proved 
 treweinkingeOionyse.Iflsbouldepro/ 
 pose to any hyng wbolsome decrees, do/ 
 ynge my endevoure to plucke out of bys 
 mynde tbe pernicious originall causes of 
 viceandnougbtines, tbinhe you not tbat 
 Isboulde furtbewitb eitber be driven a- 
 waye,oreUesmadealaugbyngstocke?^ 
 Cdell, suppose X were witb tbe f rencbe 
 kynge, & tbere syttinge in bis counsel!, 
 wbiles in tbat mooste secrete consulta- 
 tion, tbe kynge bim self e tbere beynge 
 presente in bys owne personne,tbey beate 
 tbeir braynes, and sercbe tbe verye bot- 
 tomes of tbeir wittes,to discusse by wbat 
 crafte and meanes tbe kynge maye styl 
 kepe JMyllayne, and drawe to bim againe 
 fugitive J^aples, and tben bowe to con- 
 quere tbe Venetians, and bowe to bringe 
 under bis jurisdiction all Italic, tben 
 bowe to win tbe dominion of f launders, 
 68 
 
Bmban t, and of all Burgundie ; with di- t:bc first 
 vers other landes^ whose kingdomes he hoohe of 
 hath longe ago in mind and purpose in- Utopia 
 vadedji^Rere,whilesone counselleth to 
 conclude a legue of peace with the Ve- 
 netians, so longe to endure as shall be 
 thought mete & expedient for their pur- 
 pose, ^ to make them also of their coun- 
 sell, yea, and besides that to geve them 
 partofthe pray, whicheafterwarde, when 
 they have brought theyr purpose about 
 after their owne myndes, they maye re- 
 quire ^claymeagaine.Hn other think eth 
 best to hiere the Germaynes* Hn other j;,aunce 
 wou Ide have the f avoure of the S wy chers knigh tes 
 wonne with money* Hn others advyse is 
 to appease the puissaunte power of the 
 emperouresmajestiewythgolde,aswith 
 a moste pleasaunte, and acceptable sa- 
 crifice* Cdhiles an other gyveth counsell 
 to make peace wyth the kynge of Hrra- 
 gone, and to restoore unto him hys owne 
 kyngedome of JS^avarra, as a full assur- 
 aunceof peace* Hnothercommeth in with 
 his five egges, andadviseth to hooke in 
 the kynge of Castell with some hope of 
 alfinitie or allyaunce, & to bringe to their 
 
 69 
 
t^bc first parte ccrtcinc piccrs of bis courtc for 
 boohc of grcatc pensions* dbiles tbey all staye at 
 Cltopia tbe cbief este dou bte of all, wbat to do in 
 tbe meane time witb Snglande; and yet 
 agree all in tbis, to make peace witb tbe 
 Gnglisbmen, andwitbmooste suerand 
 stronge bandes to bynde tbat weake and 
 f eable f rendesbippe, so tbat tbey muste 
 becalledfrendes^^baddeinsuspicionas 
 enemy es* Hnd tbat tberfore tbe Skottes 
 muste be badde in a readines, as it were 
 in a standynge, readie at all occasions, in 
 aunters tbe Bnglisbmen sboulde sturre 
 never so lytle, incontinent to set upon 
 tbem* Hnd moreover previlie & secretly e 
 (for openlie it maye not be done by tbe 
 truce tbat is taken) privelie tberefore X 
 sayCt to make mucbe of some piere of 
 Gnglande, tbat is bannisbed bys coun- 
 trey, wbicbe muste cleime title to tbe 
 crowneoftberealme,&affirmebymselfe 
 juste inberytoure tbereof, tbat by tbis 
 subtill meanes tbey maye bolde to tbem 
 tbe kinge, in wbome elles tbey bave but 
 small truste and affiaunce* 
 
 70 
 
^^6RS X save where so great and t:he first 
 beygbe matters be in consulta- booheof 
 
 J^ tion, wbere so manye noble and Utopia 
 
 vQysc mennecounsell tbeyr kynge onelie 
 to warre, bere^yf Xselie man sboulderise 
 vp and will tbem to tourne over tbe leaf e, 
 & learneanewe lesson, sayinge tbat my 
 counsell is not to medle witb Italy, but 
 to tarye styll at borne, ^ tbat tbe kynge- 
 domeoffrauncealoneisalmoostegreat/ 
 cr tben tbat it maye well be governed of 
 one man : so tbat tbe Nynge sboulde not 
 nede to study e bowe to gette more; and 
 tben sboulde propose unto tbem tbe de- 
 crees of tbe people tbat be called tbe 
 Hcboriens, wbicbe be situate over a- H notable 
 gaynste tbe Ilande of Qtopia on tbe example, 
 soutbeaste side* TTbese Hcboriens ones ^^^ wor- 
 madewarre in tbeir kingesquarrell forto ^^J ^^ ^^ 
 gette bim anotber kingdome, wbicbe be '^^"^"^^^ 
 laide claim eun to, andavauncedbymselfe 
 ry gbte inberitoure to tbe crown e thereof, 
 by tbe tytle of an olde aliaunce* Ht tbe 
 last wben tbey bad gotten it, and sawe 
 tbat tbey badde even as mucbe vexation 
 and trouble in kepynge it, as tbey bad in 
 gettynge it, and tbat either tbeir newe 
 
 71 
 
TTbc first conquered subjectes by sundrye occa- 
 booNeof sions were makynge daylye insurrec- 
 utopia tions torebeUagainste tbem, or els that 
 otbercountreis were continuaUie with di/ 
 versinrodesandforragyngesinvadynge 
 tbem ; so tbat tbey were ever figbting 
 eitber for tbem, or agaynste tbem, and 
 never coulde breake up tbeyr cam pes. 
 Seynge tbem selves fn tbemeane season 
 pylled & impoverisbed: tbeir money ca- 
 rted out of tbe realme: tbeir own men 
 killed tomaintainetbe glorye of an otber 
 nation : wben tbey bad no warre, peace 
 notbynge better tben warre, by reason 
 tbat tbeir people in war bad so inured 
 tbemselves to corrupte and wicked ma- 
 ners, tbat tbey bad taken a delite & plea- 
 sureinrobbinge&stealing:tbattbrougb 
 manslaugbter tbey bad gatbered bold- 
 nes to miscbiefe: tbat tbeir lawes were 
 bad in contempte, and notbing set by or 
 regarded: tbat tbeir king beynge trou- 
 bled witb tbe cbarge and governaunceof 
 two kingdomes, could not nor was not 
 bable perf ectlie to discbarge bis office 
 towardes tbem botb: seingagaine tbat 
 all tbese evelles & troubles were endles: 
 72 
 
at the lastc laydc their bcadcs together, The ftrst 
 and like faithf uU and lovinge subjectes boohe of 
 gave to their kynge free choise & Ubertie Utopia 
 to kepe styll the one of these two king- 
 domes, whether he would: alleginge that 
 he was not hable to kepe both, and that 
 they weremo then mightwell be governed 
 of half e a king: forasmuche as no man 
 woulde be content to take him for his 
 mulettour, that kepeth an other mans 
 moyles besides his. So this good prince 
 was constreyned to be content with his 
 olde kyngedome,&to geve over then ewe 
 to one of his frendes^who shortelye af- 
 ter was violentlie driven out J^ further/ 
 more ifXshoulde declare unto them, that 
 all this busie preparaunce to warre, wher- 
 by so many nations for his sake should 
 bebroughte into a troublesome hurlei- 
 burley,when all his coffers were emptied, 
 his treasures wasted, and his people de- 
 stroied, should at the length through 
 some mischance bein vaineand to none 
 effect: and that therfore it were best for 
 him to content him self e with his owne 
 kingedomeof fraunce,ashis forfathers 
 and predecessours did before him: to 
 
 73 
 
The first 
 bookcof 
 Cltopia 
 
 Gnbaun- 
 cyngcand 
 imbasyng 
 of coyncs 
 
 Countcr- 
 
 faytc 
 
 warrcs 
 
 makcmucbof it, tocnricb it, & tomakc it 
 asftourissbingasbecould^tocndcvourc 
 bim self c to love bis subjectes, & againe 
 to be beloved of tbem, willingly to live 
 witb tbem, peaceably to govern e tbem, 
 andwitbotber kyngdomesnot tomedle, 
 seinge tbat wbicbe be batb all reddy is 
 even ynougbeforbim, yeaandmoretben 
 becanwelturnebymto:tbismyneadvyse 
 maister JMore, bow tbinke you it would 
 be bardeand taken ?j^So(3od belpeme, 
 not very tbankef ully, quod !♦ 
 
 [SJv let us procede tben, quod 
 be. Suppose tbat some kyng 
 and bis counsel were together 
 wbettinge tbeir wittes &devisinge wbat 
 subtell craf te tbey mygbt invente to en- 
 rycbe tbe kinge witb greate treasures of 
 money, first one counselletb to rayse & 
 cnbaunce tbe valuation of money wben 
 tbe kinge must payeanye:andagayne to 
 calle downe tbe value of coyne to lesse 
 tben it is wortbe, wben be muste receive 
 or gather any. for thus great sommes 
 sbalbe payde wyth a lytyl money, and 
 where lytle is duemucbesbalbereceaved. 
 Hn other counselletb to faynewarre, tbat 
 
 74 
 
when under this coloureand pretence the t:be first 
 hyngbatb gathered greateaboundaunce booke of 
 of money, bemaye,wben it shall please vitopia 
 bim, make peace with greate solempnitie 
 and holye ceremonies, to blinde the eyes 
 of the poore communaltie, as taking pitie 
 and compassion forsothe upon mans 
 bloude,lykealoving&amercifullprince. 
 Hn other putteth the kynge in remem- oberenew/ 
 braunce of certeine olde & mougbteaten ing of olde 
 lawes, that of longe tyme have not bene l^wes 
 put in execution, whych because no man 
 can rem em bre that they were made, everie 
 man hath transgressed* XThe fynes of 
 these lawes he counselleth the kynge to 
 require: for there is no waye so proffit- 
 able, nor more honorable, as the whyche 
 bathe a shewe and coloure of justice* Hn 
 other advyseth him to f orbidde manye ^^- 
 tbingesundergreatepenaltiesand fines, strayntes 
 specially suche thin ges as is for the peo- 
 ples profit not be used, and af terwarde 
 to dispence for money with them whyche 
 by this prohibition substeyne losseand 
 dammage* for by this meanes the favour 
 of the people is wonne,andproffiteriseth 
 two way es* first by takinge f orfaytesof 
 
 75 
 
of licences 
 
 TTbeftrst tbemwbomecovetousnesofgavnesbatb 
 booke of brougbt in daunger of tbis statute, and 
 Cltopia also by sellinge privileges and licences, 
 wbycbe tbe better tbat tbe prince is f or- 
 ?i i!^i!l?^« sotbe, tbe deerer be selletb tbem : as one 
 tbat is lotbe to graunte to any private 
 persone, anye tbinge tbat is againste tbe 
 proflite of bis people. Hnd tberefore 
 maye sel none but at an exceding dere 
 pry ce* Hn otber givetb tbe kynge counsel 
 toendaunger unto bis grace tbe judges 
 of tbe realm e, tbat be maye bave tbem 
 ever on bis side, and tbat tbey maye in 
 everyematterdesputeandreasonfortbe 
 kynges rigbt. ^ca & f urtber to call tbem 
 into bis palace and to require tbem tbere 
 to argue and discusse bis matters in bis 
 ownepresence.Sotberesbalbenomatter 
 of bis so openlye wronge and unjuste, 
 wberein one or otber of tbem, eitber be- 
 cause be wy I bave sumtbinge to allege & 
 obj ecte,or tbat be is asbam ed to say e tbat 
 wbicbe is sayde alreadye, or els to pike 
 a tbanke witb bis prince, will not fynde 
 some bole open to set a snare in, vpbere- 
 witbtotaketbecontrarieparteinatrippe. 
 X^bus vpbiles tbe judges cannot agree a- 
 76 
 
mongcs them sclfcs, rcasonmge and XTbcftrst 
 arguing of that which is plaync enough, hoohe of 
 and bringinge the manifest trewthe in <^topia 
 dowte; in the meane season the kinge 
 maye take a fyt occasion to understand 
 the lawe as shal moste make for his ad- 
 vauntage, ^hereunto al other, for shame 
 or for feare, wil agree* 'Chen the judges 
 may be bolde to pronounce on the kyn ges 
 side* for he that geveth sentence for the 
 king, cannot be without a good excuse* 
 for it shalbe sufficient for him to have 
 equitie on his part, or the bare wordes of 
 the lawe, or a wrythen & wrested under- 
 standinge of the same, or els, whiche 
 with good and just judges is of greater 
 force then all lawes be, the kynges indis- 
 putable prerogative. Co conclude, al the Che saiyng 
 counsellours agre and consent together of riche 
 with the ryche Crassus, thatnoabund- Crassus 
 ance of gold can besufficient foraprince, 
 whichmustekepe&maynteyneanarmie: 
 furthermore, that a kynge, thoughe he 
 would, can do nothinge unjustlye* for 
 all that all men have, yea also the men 
 them selfes, be all his; and that every 
 man hath so much of his owne, as the 
 
 77 
 
TTbc first kytigca gcntilncs bath not taken from 
 bookcof bym. Hnd tbat it sbalbc mostc for tbc 
 Cltopia hinges advantage, tbat bis subjectes 
 bave very lytleor notbinge in tbeir pos- 
 session,as\v>bosesavegarciedotbeberein 
 consiste, tbat bis people doe not waxe 
 wanton and wealtbie tbrougb ricbes and 
 libertie, because wbere tbese tbinges be, 
 tberemenbenot won te patiently to obeye 
 barde, unjuste, and unlawefuU com- 
 maundementes* ^bere as on tbe otber 
 part, neade & povertie dotb bolde downe 
 and hepe under stowte courages, & mak- 
 etbtbempatientperforce,takyngefrom 
 tbem bolde and rebellynge stomakesj^ 
 f)ereagayneifXsboulderyseup,& bolde/ 
 lye affirme tbat all tbese counselles be to 
 tbe kinge disbonoure & reprocbe, wbose 
 bonoure and saf etye is more and ratber 
 supported and upbolden by tbe wealtb 
 and rycbes of bis people, tben by bys 
 owne treasures: and if X sbould declare 
 tbat tbecomminaltiecbuesetb tbeir king 
 for tbeir owne sake, and not for bis sake: 
 to tbe intent, tbat tbrougb bis laboure 
 and studie tbey migbt al live wealtbily, 
 saufFe from wronges and injuries: and 
 78 
 
that tbcrforc the hyngc ought to take The first 
 more care for the wealtbe of bis people, booke of 
 tben for bis own ewealtbe, even astbeof/ Utopia 
 fice & dewtieof a sbepebearde is, in tbat 
 beisasbepbercle,tofeeclebissbeperatb/ 
 er tban bimself e» 
 
 OR as towcbinge tbis, tbat tbev 
 t tbinhe tbe defence and maynten- povertye 
 
 aunce of peace to consiste in tbe tbemotber 
 povertie of tbe people, tbe tbing it self e of debate 
 sbewetb tbat tbey be farre out of tbe ^decaiof 
 wave* for wbere sbal a man finde more ^^^^^^Q 
 wrangling, quarelling, brawling, and 
 cbiding, tben among beggers?j^?Hbo 
 be more desierous of newe mutations & 
 alterations, tben tbey tbat be not con- 
 tent witb tbe present state of tbeir lyf e ? 
 Or finallye wbo be bolder stomal ed to 
 bringeallinaburlieburlve(tberbytrust- 
 inge to get some windfall) tben tbey tbat 
 have nowe notbinge to leese ? 
 ^p]^D y f any kyng were so smally re- 
 ^l|garded,and so ligbtly esteemed, 
 
 yea so bebated of bis subjectes, 
 tbat otber wayes be could not kepe tbem 
 in awe, but onlye by open wronges, by 
 poUinge and sbavinge, and by bringinge 
 
 79 
 
The first tbcm to bcggcric, scwcrly it were better 
 
 booNe of for bim to forsahe bis kingedome, tben 
 
 CItopia to bolde it by tbis meanes: wbereby, 
 
 tbougb tbe name of a hing be kepte, yet 
 
 tbemajestieis lost.foritisagainste tbe 
 
 dignitieofakynge to bave rule over beg- 
 
 gers, but ratber over rycbe and weltbie 
 
 H wortby men^Of tbis mynde was tbe bardieand 
 
 saiing of couragius f abrice, wben be sayde, tbat 
 
 fabrice be bad ratber bearulerofricbe men, tben 
 
 be rycbe bimself e« Hnd verelye, one man 
 
 to live in pleasure and wealth wby les all 
 
 otber wepe and smarte for it, tbat is tbe 
 
 parte, not of a kynge, but of a jaylerj^ 
 
 To besborte, as be is a folysbe pbisition 
 
 tbat cannot cure bis patientes disease 
 
 onles be caste bim in an otber syckenes, 
 
 80 be tbat cannot amend tbe lives of bis 
 
 subjectes, but by taking from tbem tbe 
 
 wealtbe & commoditie of lyf e, be muste 
 
 nedes graunte tbat be knowetbnot tbe 
 
 feate bow to govern e men* But let bim 
 
 ratber amende bis owne lyfe, renounce 
 
 unbonest pleasures, and forsake pride. 
 
 for tbese be tbe cbiefe vices tbat cause 
 
 bym torunne in tbe contempteorbatred 
 
 of bis people* Let bim lyue of bys owne, 
 
 80 
 
burtingc no man* J^ct bim doc cost not TTbc first 
 above bis power* J^ct bim rcstrcync wyck/ bookc of 
 cdncs. L^ct bim prcvcntc vices, and tahe Utopia 
 awaye tbe occasions of off cnscs by wcU 
 ordcryngc bys subjcctcs, & not by suf- 
 fcryngcwickcdncstoincrcase,aftcrward 
 to be puny sbed* J^et bym not be to bastie 
 in caliynge agayne lawes, wbycbe a cus- 
 tom e batbe abrogated: specially sucbe 
 as bave bene longe forgotten, and never 
 lacked nor neaded* Hnd let bym never 
 under tbe cloke and pretence of trans- 
 gression take sucbe fynes & forfaytes, 
 as no judge wy II suff re a private persone 
 to take, as unjuste and f ul of gile* 
 j^^GRS if 1 sbould brynge f ortb be- Hstraunge 
 g^^A fore tbem tbe lawe of tbe Maca- ^notable 
 5iSsS riens, wbicb be not farre distaunt lawe of tbe 
 from dtopia: wbose kynge tbe daye of N^cariens 
 bys coronation is bounde by a solempne 
 otbe, tbat be sball never at anye time 
 bave in bys treasure above a tbousandc 
 pounde of golde or sylver* Xlbey saye a 
 verye good kynge, wbicbe toke more care 
 for tbe wealtbe and commoditye of bis 
 countrey, tben for tbenricbing of bim 
 self e,made tbis lawe, to be a stop & a barre 
 g 81 
 
X!befir8t to hinges from heaping & hording up so 
 booNeof muche money as might impoveryshe 
 Cltopia their people* for he forsawe that this 
 som of treasure woulde suffice to sup- 
 porte the kynge in battaile against his 
 owne people, if they shoulde chaunce to 
 rebell; and also to maintein his warres 
 againste the invasions of his forreyn 
 enemies. Hgaine he perceived the same 
 stocke of money to be to litle &unsuffi- 
 cient to encourage & enhable him wrong/ 
 f ullye to take away other mens goodes: 
 why che was the chief e cause whie the lawe 
 was made. Hn other cause was this. Re 
 thought that by this provision, his peo- 
 ple shoulde not lacke money wherewith 
 tomayneteynetheirdaylyoccupiengand 
 chaff ayre. Hnd seynge the kynge could 
 not chewse but laye out and bestowe al 
 that came in above the prescript some of 
 his stocke, he thought he wouldesekeno 
 occasions to doe his subjectes injurie. 
 Sucheakyngeshalbefearedof evelmen, 
 and loved of good men. XThese, & suche 
 other informations, yf X shoulde use a- 
 mong men wholye inclined and geven to 
 the contrarye part, how deaffe hearers 
 thinke you should X have ? 
 82 
 
eHf f e bearers clouteles,quocH, TTbe first 
 & in good faith no marveyle^Hnd bookeof 
 tobeplainewitbyou,truelyeIcan Utopia 
 not allowe tbat sucbe communication 
 sbalbeused, or sucbe counsell geven, as 
 you be suere sball never be regarded nor 
 receaved* for bowe can so straunge in for/ 
 mations be profitable, or bow cantbev be 
 beaten in to tbeirbeaddes^wbosemyndes 
 be allredye prevented with cleane con- 
 trarye persuasions? T^bis scbole pbil- Scbolepbi- 
 osopbie is not unpleasaunte amonge |9^^P^^^ }" 
 frendes in familiare communication, but tationq of 
 in tbe counsellesof Ninges,wberegreate ponces 
 matters be debated and reasoned with bath no 
 greate autboritye, tbese tbinges have no place 
 place* 
 
 ^^^r>HT: is it wbicbe X mente, quod 
 M^^ be, wben X sayde pbilosopbye 
 2^^^ badde no place amonge hinges. 
 Xn dede, quod I, tbis scbole pbilosopbie 
 batbnot,wbicbtbinhetballtbingesmete 
 for every place^Bu t there is an other pbil/ 
 osophye more civile, whyche Nnoweth, 
 as yewolde say, her own e stage, & there/ 
 after orderynge&behavingehereselfe in 
 the playe that she bathe in hande, play- 
 g2 83 
 
Tlbc first ctbc bcr parte accordingclyc with com- 
 boohc of {ycncSf uttcringc notbingc outc of dcwc 
 Cltopia ordrc & fassyon ♦ Hnd this is the pbiloso/ 
 R fi d P^y^ ^^^^ ^^" mustc use* Or cls^wbylcs 
 afittcsi- ^ commodyeof plautus is p lay in gc, and 
 militudc ^^^ ^^^^ bondcmcn skoffyngc & tryff cl- 
 ingcamongctbcmsclfcs^yfyousbouldc 
 sodcnlyc come upon tbe stage in a pbil- 
 osopbers apparrell, and reberse oute of 
 Octavia tbe place wberein Seneca dis- 
 H dumme putetbwitbj^ero: bad it not bene better 
 plaier f^^ ^^^ ^^ have played tbe domme per- 
 sons tben by rebersynge tbat wbycb 
 served neitber for tbe tyme nor place, to 
 bavemadesucbeatragycall comedye or 
 gallymalfreye? f orby bryngyngein otb/ 
 er stufFe tbat notbingapperteynetbe to 
 tbe presente matter, you must nedes 
 marre & pervert tbe play tbat is in band, 
 tbougbe tbe stufFe tbat you bringe be 
 mucbebetter^^bat part soever you bave 
 taken upon you, playe tbat as wel as you 
 can and mahe tbe best of it: and doe not 
 tberefore disturbe and brynge out of 
 ordre tbe wbole matter, bycause tbat an 
 otber,wbycbe ismeryerand better, cum/ 
 metbe to yourremembraunce^Sotbe 
 84 
 
case standetb in a common wcaltbc, and TTbc first 
 so it is in the consultations of kyngcs bookcof 
 & prynccs, Yf cvel opinions & nougbty Utopia 
 persuasions can not be utterly andquyte 
 pluchedoutoftbeirbartes,ifyoucannot 
 even as you wolde remedy vices wbicb 
 use and custom e batb confirm ed,yet for 
 tbis cause you muste not leave and for- 
 sake tbe common wealtbe: you muste 
 not forsaketbesbippe in atempeste, be/ 
 cause you can not rule & kepe downe tbe 
 wyndes»]Vo,nor you mustenot laboure to 
 dryve into tbeir beades newe & straunge 
 informations, wbycbe you knowe wel 
 sbalbe notbinge regarded wytb tbem 
 tbat be of clean e contrary m in desj^But 
 you must witba crafty wile and a subtell 
 trayne studye & endevoure youre self e, 
 asmucbeas in you lyetbe, to bandletbe 
 matter wy ttelye & bandesomely e for tbe 
 purpose, and tbat wbycbe you can not 
 turne to good, so to order it tbat it be 
 not verye badde. for it is not possible 
 for al tbinges to be well, onles all men 
 were good ; wbycbltbinke wil not be yet 
 tbies good many y eares* 
 
 85 
 
The first j^^T this mcancs, quod be, nothing 
 
 booNc of ^^^ dies wyl be brought to passe, but 
 
 Cltopia ^^Sk whyles that X goe aboute to reme- 
 
 dyethemadnes of others, X shoulde be 
 
 even as madde as they JP for if X wolde 
 
 speahe thinges that be trewe, X muste 
 
 neades speake suche thinges: but as for 
 
 to speake false thinges, whether that 
 
 be a philosophers parte or no, X can not 
 
 tel; truelye it is not my partjig?f)owebeit 
 
 this communication of mine, thoughe 
 
 peradventure it maye seme unplesaunte 
 
 to them, yet can X not see why it shoulde 
 
 seme straunge, or folishely newfangled. 
 
 j^If so be that X should speake those 
 
 thinges thatplatofaynethein his weale 
 
 publique, or that the Qtopians doe in 
 
 TThe Oto- theires, these thinges thoughe they were 
 
 .pianweale (^q ^hey be in dede) better, yet they 
 
 pubuque ^nygbtc seme spoken oute of place.f or/ 
 
 asmucheashereamongesus,everyeman 
 
 hathe his possessions severall to him 
 
 self e, and there all thinges be common* 
 
 ^^^Cl'C what was in my communica- 
 
 fi^m ^^^" conteyned, that mighte not, 
 
 ^^Sl and oughte not in anye place to be 
 
 spoken ? Savynge that to them whyche 
 
 86 
 
have through lye decreed and determined 'Che ftrst 
 with themself es to runne hedlonges the booke of 
 contrary waye, it can not be acceptable Cltopia 
 and plesaunt, because it caUeth them 
 backe,andsheweth them the jeopardies 
 j^ Verilye yf all thynges that evel and 
 vitiouse maners have caused to seme in/ 
 conveniente and noughte, should be re/ 
 fused, as thinges unmete and reproche- 
 f ull, then we must among christen peo- 
 ple wynke at the moste parte of al those 
 thinges, whych Christ taught us, and 
 so streitly forbad them to be winked at, 
 that those thinges also whiche he whis- 
 pered in the eares of his disciples he 
 commaunded to be proclaimed in open 
 houses* Hnd yetthe most parte of them 
 ismoredissidentfromthemanersofthe 
 world nowe a dayes, then my communi- 
 cation was^But preachers, slie & wilie 
 men,followyngeyourecounsel(asIsup/ 
 pose) bicause they saw men evelwilling 
 to frame theyr manners to Chris tes rule, 
 they have wrested & wriede his doctry ne, 
 and like a rule of leade have applyed it to 
 mennes manners: that by somemeanes 
 at the leaste waye, they myght agree to- 
 
 87 
 
Tbefirst gctbcr. OTbcrcbyl cannot sec what good 
 bookcof tbcybavc done: but tbat men mayc more 
 dtopia sicUcriyc be evelL Hnd 1 truclyc sboulde 
 prevaile even as Utle in hinges counscUcs. 
 for eitber Xmuste saye otberwayes tbcn 
 tbev save & tbcn X were as good to saye 
 notbinge, or els 1 muste saye tbe same 
 tbat tbey saye, and (as JMitio saietb in 
 XTerence) bclpc to furtber tbeirmadncs. 
 for tbat crafty e wyle, and subtil traine 
 of yours, X can not perceave to wbat pur/ 
 pose it servetb, wberewitb you wolde 
 bave me to study & endevoure my self e, 
 yf alltbingescan not be made good, yet 
 to bandle tbem wittily and bandsomely 
 for tbe purpose, tbat as farre f ortb as 
 is possible, tbey may not be very evel J^ 
 for tbere is no place to dissemble in, nor 
 towinckein,]S^ougbtyecounsellesmuste 
 be open lye allowed & very e pestilent de- 
 crees muste be approved J^ Re sbalbe 
 counted worse tben a spye, yea almoste 
 as evel as a traytour, tbat witb a faynte 
 bartedotbprayseevelandnoyesomede/ 
 crees* JVIoreover a man canne bave no oc/ 
 casion to doe good, cbaunsinge into tbe 
 companye of tbem wbycb wyl soncr per/ 
 88 
 
vcrtc a good man, then be made good The first 
 tbem selfes: through whose evel com- bookeof 
 panv he shalbe marred, or els if he re- Utopia 
 mayne good ^ innocent, yet the wiched- 
 nes and f oUye of others shalbe imputed 
 to hym, and layde in his neche* So that 
 it is impossible with that craf tye wyele, 
 and subtel trayne to turneanye thinge to 
 better, 
 
 [RBRef OReplato by agood/ 
 lye similitude, declareth why 
 
 wise men refrain e to medle in 
 the common wealthe, for when they see 
 the people swarme into the stretes, and 
 daily wet to the skinne with rayne, ^ yet 
 can not persuade them to goe out of the 
 rayne, & to take their houses, knowynge 
 wel, that if they should goe out to them, 
 theyshouldnothingeprevayle,norwynne 
 ought by it, but with them be wette also 
 in theraine,they dokepe them selfes with/ 
 in their houses, being content that they 
 be saffe them selves, seinge they cannot 
 remedye the f ollye of the people* 
 ^|^^0<KIS be it, doubtlesse maister 
 ll^jK More (to speke truelye as my 
 pjg^g^ myndegevethme)whereposses/ 
 
 89 
 
Tlbc first sions be private, where monev bearetbe 
 boohe of all the stroke, it is bardeandalmosteim/ 
 Cltopia possible, that there the weale publique 
 maye justelyebe governed, and prosper/ 
 ouslyefiorvshe* Onlesyou thinke thus: 
 that justyce is there executed, where all 
 thingescomeintothehandesofevellmen, 
 or that prosperitye there florysshethe, 
 where all is divided amonge a fewe: 
 whychefewe neverthelesse doe not leade 
 theire lives very wealthely, and the resy/ 
 dewe lyvemyserablye, wretchedlye, and 
 beggerlye. 
 
 neaefORewhenlconsyder 
 
 with my self e and weye in my 
 
 ^mynde,thewyse&godlyeordi/ 
 
 naunces of the Cltopians,amon ge whome 
 
 with verye few lawes al thinges be sowel 
 
 & wealthelye ordered, that vertue is had 
 
 in pryceand estimation, & yet all thinges 
 
 beinge there common, everye man hath 
 
 aboundaunceof everye thingej^Hgaine 
 
 on the other part, when I compare with 
 
 them so manye nations ever makinge 
 
 newe lawes,yetnone of them all well &suf/ 
 
 ficientlye furnysshed with lawes: where 
 
 everye man calleth that he hathe gotten, 
 
 90 
 
 i 
 
his owne proper and private goodes, The first 
 where so many newe lawes daylye made booke of 
 be not sufficiente for everye man to en- Utopia 
 joye, defend, and knowe from an other 
 mans that whych he calleth his owne: 
 which thinge the infinite controversies in 
 the lawe,daylyerysynge,nevertobeend/ piato 
 ed, playnly declare to be trewe^ T^hese wyUed al 
 thinges, X say, when X consider with me thinges in 
 self e,Xholdewel with plato,anddoeno/ acommen 
 thinge marveille that he woulde make no ^^^^th to 
 lawes for them that refused those lawes ^^ commen 
 whereby all m en shou Ide have and en joy e 
 equall portions of welthes and commo- 
 dities»f or the wise man did easely fore- 
 see this to bee the one and onlye waye to 
 the wealthe of a communaltye,yf equali/ 
 tye of all thinges should be broughte in 
 and stablyshed; whychel thinke is not 
 possible to be observed where everye 
 mans gooddes be proper and peculiare 
 to him self e. for where every eman under 
 certeyne ty ties & pretences draweth and 
 plucketh to himself e as much as he can, 
 so that a fewedevideamong them selfes 
 all the whole riches, be there never so 
 muche abundaunce and stoore, there to 
 
 9> 
 
B 
 
 The first the rcsidcwc is Icf tc lackc, and povcrtyc. 
 booNc of Hnd for the mostc parte it cbauncctb, 
 Cltopia that this latter sorte is more wortbye to 
 enjoye tbat state of wealtb, tben tbe 
 otberbe: because tberycbemen be covet/ 
 ous, craftye, and un profitable j^ On tbe 
 otber parte tbe poore be lowly, simple, 
 andbytbeiredaylyelabouremoreprofit/ 
 able to tbe common weltbe tben to tbem/ 
 selfes, 
 
 'f>ClS X doe f ullye persuade me 
 self e, tbat no equall ^ juste dis/ 
 tribu tion of tbinges can bemade, 
 nor tbat perfecte wealtbe sball ever be 
 among men, onles tbis propriety be ex/ 
 iled and bannisbed. But so longas it sbal 
 continew, so long sball remaine among 
 tbe most and best part of men tbe bevy, 
 and inevitable burden of poverty and 
 wretcbednes, Cdbicbe, as X graunte tbat 
 it maye be sumwbat eased, so 1 utterly 
 denye tbat it can wboly be taken away, 
 for if tbere were a statute made, tbat no 
 man sbould possesse above a certeine 
 measure of grounde, and tbat no man 
 sboulde bave in bis stocke above a pre- 
 scripte and appointed some of money: 
 92 
 
if it were by certein lawes decreed, that T:be first 
 neither the kinge sbouldebeof togreate booke of 
 power, neither the people to baute and Utopia 
 wealthy,^ tbat offices sbouldenotbeob/ 
 teined by inordinate suite, or by brybes 
 and gyf tes: that they sbouldeneitber be 
 bought nor sold, nor that it shoulde be 
 nedef ul for the officers to be at any cost 
 or charge in their offices : for so occasion 
 is geven to theym by f raude and ravin to 
 gather up their money againe, & by rea- 
 son of gif tes and bribes the offices be 
 geven to rich men, which shoulde rather 
 have bene executed of wise men : by such 
 lawes 1 say, like as sicke bodies that be 
 desperat ^ past cure, be wont with com 
 tinual good cherissing to be kept and 
 botched up for a time: so these evels also 
 might be lightened and mitigated^ But 
 that thei may be perfectly cured, and 
 brought to a good and upryght state, it 
 is not to be hoped for, whiles every man 
 is maister of his owne to himself e* Yea 
 and whyles you goe aboute to doe youre 
 cureof one parte, you shallmakebygger 
 the sore of an other parte, so the healpe 
 of one causeth anothers harme: foras- 
 
 93 
 
TTbc first mucbcasnotbingccan bcgcvcntoannyc 
 boohc of onCf ontes it b e taken from an otben 
 Utopia HTcS^^^P^'^^ClX: I am of a contrary opin/ 
 
 ion, quod I, for me tbink/ 
 etb tbat men sbal never 
 tberelivewealtbelye,wbere 
 all tbinges becommen, for 
 bowe can tbere be abund- 
 aunce of gooddes or of anytbing, wbere 
 every man witbdrawetb bis bande from 
 labour? Cdbome tbe regarde of bis owne 
 gainesdrivetbnottoworke,buttbebope 
 tbat be batb in otbermens travayles ma# 
 ketb bim slowtbf ulL'Cben wben tbey be 
 pricked witb poverty e, and yet no man 
 can by any laweorrigbt defend tbat for 
 bis owne wbicb be batbe gotten witb 
 tbe laboure of bis owne bandes, sbal not 
 tbere of necessitie be continual sedition 
 and blodesbed? Specially e tbe autbori- 
 tye and reverence of magistrates beinge 
 taken awaye, wbicbe, wbat place it maye 
 bavewitb sucbmen amongewbomeisno 
 difference, I cannot devise. 
 
 94 
 
JMHRVeiv not, quod be, t:be first 
 tbatyoubcof this opinion boohcof 
 for you conceavc in yourc Utopia 
 "oj^ mindc citbcr none at al, or 
 ^)3 els a verve false image and 
 i=s^ similitudeof tbistbing^ 
 But yf you bad bene witb me in Qtopia, 
 & bad presentelye senetbeirefassbions 
 and lawes, as X dyd, wbycbe lived tbere 
 V, y eares, and moore, & wolde never bave 
 commen tbence, but onlye to make tbat 
 new lande hnowen bere, tben doubtles 
 you wolde graunt, tbat you never sawe 
 people wel ordered, but onlye tbere* 
 ^^CIReJvYt quod maister peter, it 
 sbalbe barde for you to make me 
 beleve, tbat tbere is better order 
 in tbat newe lande tben is bere in tbese 
 countryes, tbat wee knowe ^ for good 
 wittesbeaswelbereas tbere: &ttbinke 
 our commen weltbes beauncienter tban 
 tbeires : wberein long use and experience 
 batb found out many tbinges commodi/ 
 ous for mannes lyfe, besides tbat many e 
 tbinges beare among us bave bene found 
 by cbaunce,\v>bicbenowytte coulde ever 
 bave devysed. 
 
 95 
 

 Til 
 
 ^# 
 
 < 
 
 X:bc first rj^^-tSc-^jS toucbingc the auncicnt- 
 booNc of ^^^<Sk lU^^s, quod be, of common 
 Utopia rifSi^SaSlSrMwcaltbcs, tban you migbt 
 
 better judge, if you bad red 
 tbe bistories & cronicles of 
 tbat land, wbicb if we may 
 beleve, cities were tbere, before men were 
 bere^ J^owe wbat tbinge soever betberto 
 by witte batb bene deuised, or found by 
 cbaunce, tbat mygbt be as wel tbere as 
 bere* But! tbinke verily, tbougb it were 
 so tbat we did passe tbem in witte : yet 
 in study, in travaile, and in laboursome 
 endevoure tbey farre passe us, for (as 
 tbeire cbronicles testifte) before our arri/ 
 valtbere,tbeyneverbardany tbingof us, 
 wbome tbey cal tbe ultraequinoctialles: 
 saving tbat onesaboutJM^CCyearesago, 
 a certeine sbyppe was lost by tbe He of 
 Utopia wbicbe was driven tbetber by term 
 pest, Certeine Romaines & Bgyptians 
 were castonlande,<HIbycbeafter tbat ne/ 
 verwentetbence,]VI^l*^^cnowwbatprofite 
 tbey tooke of tbis one occasion tbrougb 
 delygenceand earneste travaile jij^Xi^bere 
 was no craf te nor scyence witbin tbe irrn 
 pire of Rome wberof any proffite could 
 96 
 
rise, but they cither lemed it of these The first 
 straungerSt or els of them taking occa- booke of 
 sion to searche for it, founde it oute* So Utopia 
 greate profRte was it to them that ever 
 anye wente thyther from hence JP But 
 yf annye like chaunce before this hath 
 brought anye man from thence hether, 
 that is as quyte out of remembraunce, 
 as this also perchaunce in time to come 
 shalbe forgotten, that ever X was there* 
 Hnd likeas they quickelye, almosteat the 
 first meting, made theire owne, what so/ 
 ever is amonge us wealthely e devised : so 
 1 suppose it wolde be long before we 
 wolde receave anythinge that amonge 
 them is betterinstituted then amonge us 
 j^HndthisIsupposeisthechiefe cause 
 whie theire common wealthes be wyse- 
 lyer governed, and doe flowrish in more 
 wealthe then ours, though we neither in 
 wytte nor riches be their inferiours* 
 
 neRefORegentleJMaisterRa/ 
 
 phael,quodI,Iprayeyouandbe/ 
 
 seche you, describe unto us the 
 
 tlande* Hnd study not to be shorte: but 
 
 declare largely in order, their groundes, 
 
 their rivers, their cities, theire people, 
 
 h 97 
 
The first tbcirc manners, tbcir ordinaunccs, their 
 
 boohe of lawes,ancltobesbortaltbingestbatvou 
 
 Utopia Qi^^x tbinNe us desierous to hnowe. Hnd 
 
 you sbal tbinke us desierous to know 
 
 wbat soever we knowe not yet. 
 
 RBRS is notbing, quod be, tbat 
 X wil doe gladlier JP for all tbese 
 tbingesX bave fresbe in mind. But 
 tbe matter requiretb leasure jff Let us 
 go in tberf ore, quod X, to dinner, after- 
 ward we wil bestowe tbe time at our plea/ 
 sure. Content, quod be, be it. 
 
 Owewentin&dyned.^ben 
 
 dinner was done, we came 
 
 into tbe same place again , 
 
 & sate us downe upon tbe 
 
 same bencbe, commaund- 
 
 ingoureservauntestbatno 
 
 mansbouldtroubleus.'CbenX&JVIaister 
 
 peter Giles desieredJMaisterRapbael to 
 
 performe bis promise. r>e therefore se- 
 
 ing us desirous and willing to barken to 
 
 him, when he had sit stil and paused a 
 
 litle while, musinge & betbinkinge him/ 
 
 self e, thus he began to speake. 
 
 r:hc end of the firstc boke. 
 
 98 
 
t3he8CConclebokcoftbecomtnunication 
 of Raphael Ry tblodaye, conccmvng the 
 best state of a common wealtbe; con- 
 ^^^^^teyninge the description of Cltopia^witb 
 ^^^a large declaration of the politike gov- 
 ernement, and of all the good lawes and 
 -vdc-~ :^f the same Xland^z^i'^ 
 
 f>e Hand of Oto/ 
 
 pia, conteynetbe 
 
 in breadtbe in tbe 
 
 middelparteof it 
 
 (fortbereitisbro/ 
 
 dest) CC*miles. 
 
 ^bicb bredtbe con 
 
 tinuetbtbrougbe 
 
 tbemosteparteof 
 
 tbe lande, saving 
 
 tbat bv litle & litle it commetb in,& wax- 
 
 etb narrower towardes botb tbe endes, 
 
 Cdbicb fetching about a circuite or com- 
 
 passe of V»C» miles,do fassion tbe wbole 
 
 ilandliketotbenewmone*Betwenetbese 
 
 two comers tbe searunnetb in, dividing 
 
 tbem a sonder by tbe distaunce of ximiles 
 
 or there aboutes, & there surmountethe 
 
 intoalargeandwydesea, which by reason 
 
 tbat tbe land on every side compassethe 
 
 b2 99 
 
 XThe 
 seconde 
 bookeof 
 Cltopia 
 
 T^besite 
 ^ fashion 
 of tbe 
 newey- 
 lande Cl- 
 topia 
 
TThc 
 sccondc 
 booNcof 
 Cltopia 
 
 H place 
 
 naturally 
 
 fcnccdnc/ 
 
 dctbcbut 
 
 one garri/ 
 
 son 
 
 itabout,&sbiltrctbitfronitbewindc9,i9 
 not rougbcnor moun tctb not witb great 
 waves, but almost flowctb quietlye, not 
 mucbe unlike a greate standinge powle : 
 andmaketb welniegbe all tbe space witb/ 
 in tbe bellye of tbe lande in maner of a 
 baven : and to tbe great commoditie of 
 tbe inbabitauntes receavetb in sbyppes 
 towardes every e parte of tbe lande* TTbe 
 forefrontes or frontiers of tbe ii comers, 
 wbat witb f ordes and sbelves, and wbat 
 witbrockes,beveryejeoperdous&daun/ 
 gerous. In tbe middle distaunce betwene 
 tbem botbe standetb up above tbe water 
 a great rock e,wbicb tberfore is notbing 
 perillous, by cause it is in sigbt^Clpon tbe 
 top of tbis rocke is a faire and a strong 
 tower builded, wbicb tbey bolde witb a 
 garrison of men* Otber rockes tbere be 
 lyinge bidde under tbe water,wbicb tber/ 
 fore be daungerous* ^be cbannelles be 
 knowen onely to tbemselfes, & tberfore 
 it seldome cbauncetb tbatanye straun- 
 ger, oneles be be guided by an Cltopian, 
 can come into tbis baven, in so mucbe 
 tbat tbey tbemselfes could skasely en tre 
 witboute jeoperdie,but tbat tbeire way is 
 
 lOO 
 
directed & ruled by certain e Ian de marhes The 
 standing on the shore j^ But tuminge, ^^^^J^^% 
 translatinge, & removinge tbies markes ^^«? ^^ 
 into otber places, tbey maye destroye ^^<^P*^ 
 tbeire enemies navies, be they never so j^pQiitiaue 
 manyXheoutsideoruttercircuiteof the Revise in 
 land is also f ul of havens, but the land- the chaun- 
 ing is so suerly fenced,what by nature, & ging of 
 what by worhemanshyp of mans hand, land 
 that a few defenders maye dryve backe markes 
 many armies* Rowbeit as they saye, and 
 as the f assion of the place it selfe dothe 
 partely shewe, it was not ever compassed 
 about with the sea* But kyng Cltopus, TThetlande 
 whose name as conquerour the Iland of Cltopia 
 beareth(for before his tyme it was called so named 
 Hbraxa) which also broughte the rude & ^ ^^^"9^ 
 wild people to that excellent perfection in ^topus 
 al good fassions, humanity e, & civile gen/ 
 tilnes, wherin they nowe goe beyond al 
 the people of the world: even at his firste 
 arrivinge and enteringe upon the lande, 
 f urthwith obteynyngethe victory, caus/ 
 edxvmylesspaceofuplandyshegrounde 
 where the sea had no passage, to be cut 
 and dygged up, and so brought the sea 
 rounde aboute the lande* Re set to this 
 
 lOl 
 
sccondc 
 
 bookcof 
 
 Cltopia 
 
 JManv 
 bandes 
 make ligbt 
 worhc 
 
 Cities in 
 Cltopia 
 
 Similitude 
 
 causctbe 
 
 Concorde 
 
 Hmeanc 
 distaunce 
 betwene 
 citie and 
 citie 
 
 worke, not only tbe inbabitauntes of tbe 
 Xlande(becausetbevsbouldnottbinkeit 
 done in contumelye & despyte) but also 
 all bis owne soldiours* Tbus tbe worke 
 beyng divided into so greate a numbre 
 of work em en, was witb excedinge mar- 
 velous spede dyspatcbed; in so mucbe 
 tbat tbe borderers, wbicbe at tbe firste 
 began to mocke, & to jeste at tbis vaine 
 enterprise, tben turned tbeire derision 
 to marveyle at tbe successe, and to feare. 
 Reae be in tbeXUnde liiii 
 large &faire cities,orsbiere 
 townes,agreyngalltogetb/ 
 erinonetonge,inlykeman/ 
 ers, institucions, & lawes* 
 J XTbev t>e all set and situate 
 alyke,andinalpoyntesfasbionedalyke, 
 as farf ortbeas tbe place or plotte suffer/ 
 ctbe. 
 
 \f these cities, tbey tbat be nigb- 
 est togetber be xxiiii my les ason/ 
 der, Hgaine tbere is none of tbem 
 distaunte from tbe nexte above one day es 
 jomeye a fote^XTbere com yearly to Hm- 
 auroteoutof every cy tie iiioldemen,wyse 
 and well experienced, tbere to entreate & 
 102 
 
debate of the common matters of the t^be 
 lande* for tbis citie (because it standetb seconde 
 juste in tbe middes of the Xlande, and is booke of 
 therefore moste mete for the ambassa- Utopia 
 doursofallpartesoftberealme) is taken 
 for tbe chief e and heade citye* the pre- 
 cinctes and boundes of the shieres be so 
 commodiouslye appointed oute, & set -Chedistri/ 
 f ourthe for the cities, that none of them bution of 
 all bathe of anye syde lesse then xx my les landes 
 of grounde, & of some syde also muche 
 more, as of that part where the cities be j^^x this 
 of farther distaunce asonder. ]Vone of nowadaies 
 the cities desire to enlarge the boundes & is the 
 limites of theire shieres; fortheycounte grounde 
 them self es rather tbe good husbandes of all mis- 
 then the owners of theire landes* chcife 
 
 RSY bave in the countrey, in all rwqu^o 
 partes of tbe shiere, houses or drie ^til- 
 fermes builded, wel appointed lagechefiye 
 and fumyshed with allsortesof instru- and princi/ 
 mentes & tooles belongynge to husban/ pally re- 
 drye* Xlhese houses be inhabited of the garded& 
 citezens, whyche come thether to dwelle advaunced 
 by course. |4ohowsholde or ferme in the 
 countrey hath fewer then xl person es, 
 men and women, besydes two bondmen, 
 
 103 
 
The 
 sccondc 
 booNcof 
 Cltopia 
 
 whvcbcbcallundcrtbcrulc&ordcroftbe 
 good man <& tbc good wyfc of tbc bouse, 
 bcingc botbc vcryc sage, discrete, & aun/ 
 cientepersones.Hnd every xxxfermes or 
 families bave one beade ruler, wbycbe is 
 called a pbilarcbe, beingas it were a bead 
 baylyflPe^Outof every one of tbesefami/ 
 lies or f ermes commetb everye yeare in- 
 to tbe citie xx person es wbicbe bave con - 
 tinewed ij yeres before in tbe countreye. 
 In tbeire place so manye f resbe be sent 
 tbetber oute of tbe citie, wboe, of tbem 
 tbat baue bene tbere a yeare all readye, & 
 be tberef ore expert and conninge in bus/ 
 bandry, sbalbe instructed and taugbte, 
 & tbey tbe nexte yeare sball teacbe otber. 
 Xlbis order is used for feare tbat eitber 
 sNarsenes of victualles,or some otber like 
 incommoditiesbouldcbaunce,tbrougbe 
 lacke of knowledge ; yf tbey sbould be 
 altogetber newe, and fresbe, and unex- 
 perte in busbandrie* 
 ^^f^XS maner and fassion of yearelye 
 cbaunginge and renewinge tbe oc- 
 ^ cupiers of busbandrye, tbougb it 
 be solempne & customablye used, to the 
 intent tbat no man sball be constrayned 
 104 
 
againstc bis wil to contyncwe longc in The 
 that bardc and sbarpc kyndc of iyfc, yet scconde 
 manye of tbcm bavc sucbc a pleasure & ^^"^^ ^^ 
 delyte in busbandrye, tbat tbey obteyne ^*^opia 
 a longer space of yearesXbesebusband/ TTbe due- 
 men ploweandtiltbeground,&breedeup tiesofmen 
 cattel, & provide and make ready woode, of busban/ 
 wbycbe tbey carrye to tbe citie eitber by "^^^ 
 lande, or by water, as tbey maye moste 
 convenyently^Ti^bey bryngeup agreate 
 multitude of puUeyne, & tbat by a mer- 
 vaylouse policye* for tbe bennes dooe Hstraunge 
 not sytte upon tbe egges : but by keep- fassion in 
 y nge tbeym in a certay ne eq uall beate, tbey batcbin ge 
 bryngelyfeintotbem,andbatcbetbeym, ^bringing 
 T:becbykens,assoneastbeybecomeoute "Pof pul- 
 of tbe sbel, follow men & women in steade ^^^"^ 
 of tbe bennes J^ TTbey brynge up verye ^be use of 
 f ewe borses : nor none but very f earce ^>orses 
 ones : and tbat for none otber use or pur/ 
 pose, butonly e to exercyse tbeire youtbe 
 in rydynge and feates of armes ; for oxen ^be use of 
 be put to all tbe laboure of plowyng and oxen 
 drawinge: wbicbe tbey graunte to be not 
 so good as borses at a sodeyne brunte, 
 and (as we saye) at a deade lif te, but yet 
 tbey bolde opinion, tbat oxen wil abide & 
 
 105 
 
scconde 
 
 boohcof 
 
 Cltopia 
 
 Bread and 
 drink 
 
 H great 
 discretion 
 in sowing 
 of come 
 
 8uffremucbemorelaboure,pavne&bard/ 
 nes, tben horses wil. Hnd they tbinhe tbat 
 oxen be not in daunger and subject unto 
 somany diseases, and tbat tbey be hepte 
 andmainteinedvpitbmucbele8seco8te& 
 cbarge : and finallye tbat tbey be good for 
 meate, wben tbey be past laboure^X^bey 
 sowe come onelye for breade. for tbeir 
 drin k e is eytberwyne made of grapes, or 
 els of apples, or peares, or els it is cleare 
 water. Hndmany times meatbe, made of 
 honey or licouresse sodde in water, for 
 thereof they have great store* Hnd though 
 they knowe certeynlie (for they knowe it 
 perfectly in dede)howemuchevitailes the 
 citie wyth the whole countreye or shiere 
 rounde aboute it doeth spende, yet they 
 sowe muche more come, and bryed up 
 muchemore cattell,then serveth for their 
 owne use, partyngethe over plus among 
 their borderers J^ Cdhat soever neces- 
 sarie thinges be lacking in the countrey, 
 allsuchestuffetheyfetchoutof the citie: 
 where without any exchaunge they ease- 
 lye obteyne it of the magistrates of the 
 citie* for every moneth manie of them 
 go into the citie on the holy daye* ^hen 
 106 
 
tbcyr harvest day drawctb neare, and is 
 at bandc, then the pbilarcbcs, which be 
 the head officers & bailifes of busband- 
 rie, sende word to the magistrates of the 
 citiewbatnumbreof barvestmenisnede/ 
 f u U to be sente to them oute of the citie ; 
 the whiche companye of harvest men 
 beynge readye at the daye appoynted, 
 almost in one fayre daye dispacbeth all 
 the harvest woorhe. 
 
 rhe 
 seconde 
 booNeof 
 Cltopia 
 
 JMutual 
 
 helpe 
 
 quickely 
 
 dispatch- 
 
 eth 
 
 Of the cities & namely of Hmaurote^ 
 
 S for their cities, 
 
 who so hnoweth 
 one of them know/ 
 eth them all: they 
 be al so like one 
 to an other, as far/ 
 f urthe as the na/ 
 ture of the place 
 permitteth. t will 
 describe therefore 
 to you one or other of them, for it skil- 
 leth not greatly which : but which rather 
 then Hmaurote? Of them all, this is the 
 worthiest and of most dignitie ; for the 
 
 107 
 
sccondc 
 
 bookcof 
 
 Qtopia 
 
 The des- 
 cription of 
 Hmaurotc 
 the cbicfc 
 citic in Cl- 
 topia 
 
 t:bc des- 
 cription of 
 tbe river of 
 Hnyder 
 
 resideu knowledge it for tbe bead citie, 
 because tbere is tbe counsell bouse* JS^or 
 to me anye of tbem all is better beloued, 
 as wberin 1 lived five wbole yeares to- 
 getber. 
 
 R6 citie of Hmaurote stand 
 etb upon tbe side of a lowe 
 bill in fas by on almost foure 
 square* for tbe breadtb of 
 it beginnetb a litle benetb 
 tbe toppeof tbe bill, Estill 
 continuetbbytbespaceoftwomiles,un/ 
 till it come to tbe ryver of Hnyder, ^be 
 lengtb of it,wbicb lietb by tbe ry vers sy de, 
 is sumwbat more. 'Cbe river of Hnyder 
 risetb four & twentiemyles aboveHmau/ 
 rotcoutofa litle springe. But beynge in/ 
 creased by otber smale rivers & broukes 
 tbatrunneintoit,andamongeotber,two 
 sumwbat bygge ons, before tbe citie it is 
 balf e a mile broade, and f artber broader. 
 Hnd f ortie my les beyonde tbe citie it f al- 
 letb into tbe ocean sea. By all tbat space 
 tbat lietbe betwene tbe sea and tbe citie, 
 and certen my les also above tbe citie, tbe 
 water ebbetb and fiowetb sixe boures to/ 
 getber witb a swift tide. Slban tbe sea 
 108 
 
fiowctb in, for the length of tbirticmilcs XTbe 
 it fiUctb all tbc Hnydcr witb saltc water, seconde 
 and drivetb backe tbe f resbe water of tbe ^^^^. ^" 
 ryver. Hnd sumwbat f urtber it cbaung- ^^<^P^^ 
 etb tbe swetenes of tbe f resbe water witb j^^^ ^^^|^ 
 saltne8,Butalitlebeyondetbat,tberiver ^j^^ („ ^^^ 
 waxetb swete, &runnetb foreby tbe citie gland in 
 f resbe and pleasaunt^ Hnd wben tbe sea tbe river of 
 ebbetb,^ goetb backe again e, tbe f resbe Xlbamys 
 water f olowetb it almooste even to tbe 
 verie fal into tbe sea J? Tber goetb a , 
 bridge over tbe river madenot of piles or D^^f JJV^ 
 of timber, but of stonewarke witb gor- ^^n aore"' 
 gious ^ substancial arcbes at tbat part ^^^^ jj^. 
 of tbe citie tbat is farthest from tbe sea: aurote 
 to tbe intent tbat sbippes maye passe a/ 
 longe forbie all tbe side of tbe citie witb/ 
 out let J^ 'Cbey bave also an other river 
 which in dede is n ot verie great ; but it rum 
 neth gentely & pleasauntly* for it riseth 
 even oute of tbe same bill tbat the citie 
 standeth upon, & runneth downe a slope 
 through the middes of tbe citie into Hn y/ 
 denHndbecauseitrisetbalitlewitboute 
 tbe citie, the Hmaurotians have inclos- 
 ed tbe bead springe of it with stronge 
 fences and bulwarkes, & so have joyned 
 
 109 
 
-Cbc 
 sccondc 
 bookcof 
 Qtopia 
 
 T^bcuscof 
 f rcsbc wa- 
 ter 
 
 tibc de- 
 fence of 
 towne 
 walles 
 
 Stretes 
 
 Build- 
 
 ingesand 
 
 bouses 
 
 It to tbe citie. TTbis is done to tbe intente 
 tbat tbe water sboulde not be stopped 
 nor turned away, or poysoned, if tbeir 
 enemies sbould cbaunce to come upon 
 tbem, from tbence tbe water is derived 
 and conveied downe in cannels of bricke 
 divers wayes into tbe lower partes of tbe 
 citie* Qlbere tbat cannot be done, by rea- 
 son tbat tbe place wyll not suffer it,tbere 
 tbey gatber tbe raine water in great cis- 
 temes,wbicbe doetb tbem as good ser- 
 vice* 
 
 |f)B citie is compassed aboute witb 
 a beigbe and tbicke stone walle full 
 of turrettes and bulwarhes. H drie 
 dicbe, but deape, and brode, and over- 
 growen witb busbes, briers, & tbomes, 
 goetb aboute tbre sides or quarters of 
 tbe city* Co tbe f ourtb side, tbe river it 
 selfe servetb for a ditcbe* 
 
 MRS stretes be appointed and set 
 f urtb very commodious <& band/ 
 some, botb for carriage, and also 
 againste tbe windes*Cbe bouses be of 
 faire and gorgious building, and on tbe 
 strete side tbey stande joyned togetber 
 in a long rowe tbrougb tbe wbole streate, 
 no 
 
witbou t any partition or separation Xbc The 
 strctcs be twcntic footc brodc* On tbe scconde 
 backc side of tbe bouses tbrougb tbe bookeof 
 wbolelengtb of tbe streete,lye large gar/ ^^^P^^ 
 dens inclosed rounde aboute wytb tbe '^^ every 
 bache part of tbe streetes* Gverye bouse dwelling 
 batbe two doores, one into tbe streete, bouse a 
 & a posteme doore on tbe backsyde into garden 
 tbe garden* 'Cbese doores be made witb platte ad- 
 two leaves, never locked nor bolted, so joynynge 
 easie to be opened, tbat tbey wil f ollowe 
 tbe least drawingofafynger, and sbutte 
 againe alone, ^boso will, may go in, for tibis geere 
 tbere is notbinge witbin tbe bouses tbat ^^^^^^^^^ 
 is private, or an ie mans owne. Hnd every of plato 
 tentb yeare tbey cbaunge tbeir bouses Il^f-J^fJJl" 
 by lot. munine 
 
 r>eY set great store by tbeir gar- 
 deins.tn tbem tbey bave vineyardes, 
 'd all maner of f ruite, berbes, ^ flow- 
 res, so pleasaunt, so well f umisbed, and -*-- 
 sofynely kepte, tbatlnever sawetbynge rnoditieof 
 more fruteful,nor better trimmed in any e gardens is 
 place. "Cbeir studie and deligence berein commend/ 
 commetbnotonely of pleasure, but also ed also of 
 of a certen strife and contention tbat is Vergile 
 betwene strete & strete, concerning tbe 
 
 in 
 
TTbc trimming,busbanding,andfumissbing 
 
 sccondc of tbcirgardcns;cvcrycmanforbisovpne 
 bookcof parte. HndvcrclycyousbaUnotligbtclvc 
 Cltopia findc in all tbc citie anyc tbingc, tbat is 
 more commodious, eytberfortbeprofite 
 of tbe citizens, or for pleasure ; and tber/ 
 fore it maye seme tbat tbe first founder 
 of tbe citie mynded notbing somucb, as 
 tbese gardens* for tbey saye tbat Ninge 
 Qtopus bim selfe, even at tbe first begin/ 
 ning,appointed&drewefurtbtbeplatte 
 f ourme of tbe citie into tbis fasbion and 
 figure tbat it batb nowe, but tbe gallant 
 gamisbinge,and tbe beautifull settinge 
 furtb of it,wberunto be sawe tbat one 
 mannes age would not suffice; tbat be 
 left to bis posterities for tbeir cronicles, 
 wbicbe tbey kepe written witb all deli- 
 gente circumspection, conteinynge tbe 
 bistorie of ]M* viu C* lx*y eares, even from 
 tbe firs te conquest of tbe Xlande,recorde 
 and witnesse tbat tbe bouses in tbe be- 
 ginning were very low, and like bomely 
 cotages or poore sbeppardbouses,made 
 at all adventures of everye rude pece of 
 tymber, tbat came firste to bande, witb 
 mudde walles, & ridged rooffes, tbatcb- 
 
 112 
 
cd over with strawc* But nowc the bouses TTbe 
 be curiouslye buylded after a gorgious seconde 
 & gallantesorte^witbtbreestoryesone ^oheof 
 over anotberXbe outsides of tbe walles ^^^P*^ 
 be made eitber of barde flyn te, or of plas/ 
 ter, or els of bricke, and tbe inner sydes 
 be well strengthened witb tymber work* 
 Tberooffes be plaine & fbt, covered with 
 a certen kinde of plaster that is of no 
 coste, and yet so tempered that no fyre 
 can hurt or perishe it, and withstandeth 
 theviolence of thewetber betterthen any 
 leade^'Cbey kepe tbe winde oute of their Glased or 
 windoweswithglasse,forit is ther much canvased 
 used, and somhere also with fine linnen windowes 
 cloth dipped in oy le or am bre, & that for 
 two commodities; for by thys meanes 
 more lighte commeth in, and the winde 
 is better kepte oute« 
 
 113 
 
TTbc Of fbcm^icrmtratcfi '^ 1^ 
 
 iccondc kV^^>^fe^,,j^r*?^VJ ^^^^^ tbirtic fa/ 
 boohcof 'S^yJl^SfewTBl"^^^^^^ ^^ fcrmcs, 
 Utopia l^ i^^JOTE^^ fiScbucsc tbcm ycrcly 
 
 an officer, wbicb in 
 
 tbciroldc language 
 
 is called tbe Sypbo/ 
 
 graunte,& bvanew/ 
 
 cr name tbe pbilar/ 
 
 cbe* every ten Sy- 
 
 pbograuntes, witb 
 
 al tbeir tbirtie families be under an officer 
 
 wbicb was ones called tbel^raniborcnowe 
 
 tbe cbief e pbilarcbe. Moreover as con - 
 
 ceminge tbe election of tbe prince^all tbe 
 
 Sypbograuntes,wbicbbeinnumber2oo, 
 
 first be sworne to cbuese bim wbom tbey 
 
 tbinke mooste mete & expedients Tben 
 
 by a secrete election, tbey name prince 
 
 one of tbose iiij, wbom e tbe people before 
 
 named unto tbem* for oute of tbe iiij. 
 
 quarters of tbe citie tbere be iiij* cbosen, 
 
 oute of every quarter one, to stande for 
 
 tbe election ; wbicbe be put up to tbe coum 
 
 sell J^ 'Cbe princes office continuetb all 
 
 bislifetyme,onelesbebedeposedorput 
 
 downe for suspition of tirannie. Tbey 
 
 awelordered wcale pubtiquc uttcrlie to be abboncd 
 
 114 
 
 H trani- 
 bore in tbe 
 tltopiane 
 tonge sig- 
 nifietba 
 bead or 
 cbief peere 
 
 H mar- 
 velous 
 straunge 
 fas s ion in 
 cbusinge 
 magis- 
 trates 
 
 'Cyranny in 
 
cbucsc the Tran (bores yearly, but ligbt- The 
 lie tbey cbaunge tbem not* Hll tbe otber seconde 
 officers be but for one yeare>'CbeT!^rani- booke of 
 bores everyetbyrdedaye, and sum times, ^t<^P*^ 
 yf nede be, oftener, come into tbe coun- 
 sell bouse witb tbe prince* 
 
 l^^f^BXR counsell is concerninge tbe Sutesand 
 1^ common wealtbe* Xf tbere be anye «^il5u^^^^' 
 ^^ controversies amonge tbe com- tweneoar- 
 moners,wbicbe be verye fewe, tbey dis- tie&partie 
 patcb & ende tbem by and by^^bey tahe f urtbwitb 
 ever ij* Sipbograuntes to tbem in coun- to be ended 
 sel, and everi dai a new coupeU Hnd it is wbicb now 
 provided, tbat notbinge toucbinge tbe adaiesof a 
 common wealtbe sbalbe confirmed and setpur- 
 ratifted^onlesse it bave bene reasoned of posebeun/ 
 and debated tbre daies in tbe counsell, ^J^itfJ^t 
 beforeit be decreed* uciaieu 
 
 jf^^n is deatbe to bave anye consulta- Hgainst 
 SIr/ tion for tbe common wealtbe oute "^stieand 
 ^SJ of tbe counsell, or tbe place of tbe l^fjl^^^' 
 common election*T:bisstatute,tbey saye, statutes 
 was made to tbe entent tbat tbe prince 
 ^XTraniboresmigbt not easily e conspire 
 togetber to oppresse tbe people by ty- 
 rannic, and to cbaunge tbe state of tbe 
 wealepubliN^I^berforematters of great 
 12 115 
 
The 
 sccondc 
 booNcof 
 Cltopu 
 
 H cu9tomc 
 wortbye to 
 be used 
 tbesedaies 
 incur coun> 
 sels & par- 
 Uamcntes 
 
 weigbt and importance be broughte to 
 tbe election bouseof tbeSipbograuntes, 
 wbicb open tbe matter to tbeir families ; 
 & af terwarde, wben tbey bave consulted 
 amonge tbemselves, tbey sbew tbeir de- 
 vise to tbe counselL Somtime tbe mat- 
 ter is brougbt before tbe counsel of tbe 
 wbolellande* 
 
 'aRTTReRJVIORe tbis custome 
 also tbe counsel usetb, to dis- 
 pute or reason of no matter tbe 
 same daye tbat it is firste proposed or 
 put f urtbe, but to defferre it to tbe nexte 
 syttingeoftbecounselU Because tbatno 
 man wben be batb rasbely tbere spoken 
 tbat commetb to bis tonges ende, sball 
 tben af terwarde ratber studye for rea- 
 sons wberwitb to def ende 6 mainteine 
 bis first folisb sentence, tban for tbe com/ 
 moditie of tbe common wealtb; as onera/ 
 tber willing tbe barme or binderaunce of 
 tbewealepubliketbenany losseordimi/ 
 nution of bis owne existimation ; and as 
 one tbat would be asbamed (wbicb is a 
 verie f olisbe sbame) to be counted anye 
 tbingattbefirste oversene in tbematter, 
 wbo at tbe firstougbt to bave spohen ra/ 
 tber wyselye, tben bastely, or rasblye. 
 116 
 
Of Sciences, Craf tes & Ocupations^ 
 
 aSBHJVORie is 
 a science common 
 to them all in gen/ 
 erall, botbe men 
 & women, wherein 
 tbev be all experte 
 and cunning. In 
 tbistbeybeallins/ 
 true ted even from 
 tbeiryoutb: parte/ 
 lie in tbeir scboles with traditions & pre/ 
 ceptes, and partlie in tbe countrey nigbe 
 tbe citie, brought up as it were in play- 
 inge, not onely beholding the use of it, 
 but by occasion of exercisin g their bodies 
 practising it also. Besides husbandrie, 
 whiche (as X saide) is common to them 
 all, everye one of them learneth one or 
 other several & particular science, as his 
 owne proper craf te. TThat is most com- 
 m only either clothwork in g in wol or fliaxe, 
 or masonrie, or the smithes craft, or the 
 carpenters science, for there is none oth/ 
 er occupation that any number to speake 
 of doth use there. 
 
 x:he 
 seconde 
 bookeof 
 Cltopia 
 
 f^usban- 
 drie or til- 
 lage prac- 
 tised of all 
 estates, 
 which now 
 a day es is 
 reject unto 
 afeweofthe 
 basest sort 
 
 Sciences or 
 occupations 
 should be 
 learned for 
 necessities 
 sake, <& not 
 for the 
 may n ten - 
 aunce of ri- 
 otous ex- 
 cesse and 
 wanton 
 pleasure 
 
 U7 
 
sccondc 
 
 boohcof 
 
 Cltopia 
 
 Similitude 
 in apparcU 
 
 ]^o citizcin 
 without a 
 science 
 
 To what oc/ 
 cupation 
 everyone is 
 naturaUie 
 inclined 
 that let bim 
 learn e 
 
 ORtbeirgarmente8,wbicbtbrougb 
 oute all tbe Xlande be of one f asb/ 
 ion (savynge tbat tbere is a differ/ 
 ence betwene tbe mans garmente and tbe 
 womans, betwene tbe maried and tbe un/ 
 maried), & tbis one continuetb for ever- 
 moreuncbaunged^semelyandcomelieto 
 tbe eye, no lette to tbe movynge & weld- 
 ynge of tbe bodye, also f ytte botbe for 
 wynter and summer : as for tbese gar- 
 men tes (t say e) every familie maN e tb tbeir 
 owne; but of tbe otber foresaide craf tes 
 every e man learn etb one* Hnd not onely 
 tbe men, but also tbe women. But tbe 
 women, as tbe weaher sort, be put to tbe 
 easyer craf tes ; as to worke wolle^ flaxe. 
 Tbe more laborsome sciences be com- 
 mitted to tbe men* for tbe mooste part 
 every man is brougbte up in bis fathers 
 craf te, for moste commonlye tbey be na/ 
 turallietbertobente and inclined* But yf 
 a mans minde stande to anye otber, be is 
 by adoption put into a familye of tbat 
 occupation wbicb be dotb most fantasy* 
 SIbomenot onely bis father, but also tbe 
 magistratesdodiligentlyloketo,tbatbe 
 be put to a discrete and an honest house/ 
 ii8 
 
bolder* Yca^ ^^^ if anyc person, when be TTbe 
 batb learned one craf te, be desierous to seconde 
 learne also anotber, be is likewyse suf - booNe of 
 fred&permitted.^ben bebatbeleamed Utopia 
 botbe,beoccupietbwbetberbewyll,one/ 
 lessetbecitiebavemoreneade of tbe one, 
 tben of tbe otberXbe cbiefe&almooste 
 tbe onelye off yce of tbe Sypbograuntes Xdel per- 
 is,toseeandtakebede,tbatnomannesit sones to be 
 idle, but tbateverye one applyebysowne driven out 
 craft witb earnest diligence; and yet for of tbe weale 
 all tbat, not to be wearied from earlie in publique 
 tbe mominge, to late in tbe evenninge, 
 witb con tin uall work e, like labouringe^ 
 toylinge beastes* 
 
 'OR tbis is worse tben tbe miser- 
 able and wretcbed condition of 
 S^i^ bondemen^^bicbenevertbelesis 
 almooste everyewbere tbe lyfe of worke/ 
 men and artificers, saving in dtopia* for 
 tbev,dividyngetbedaye&tbenvgbtein/ t, ^ 
 to xxiiij* juste boures, appoin te & assigne h^^^^ tffe 
 onelye sixe of tbose boures to woorkc uboureand 
 before noone, upon tbe wbicbe tbey go toyle of ar- 
 streigbte to diner: and after diner, wben tiftcers 
 tbey bave rested two boures, tben tbey 
 worke iii. boures, and upon tbat tbey go 
 
 119 
 
TTbc 
 sccondc 
 boohcof 
 Cltopia 
 
 tTbcstudic 
 of good lit- 
 erature 
 
 to supper, Hbout eygbtc of tbe cloke in 
 tbe cveninge (countingone of tbe cloche 
 at tbefirste boure after noone) tbey go to 
 bedde : eygbt boures tbey geve to slepe. 
 Hll tbe voide time, tbat is betwene tbe 
 boures of worke, slepe, and meate, tbat 
 tbey be suffered to bestowe, every man 
 as be liNetb best bim selfe. JS^ot to tbin- 
 tent tbat tbey sbold mispend tbis time 
 inrioteorsloutbfulnes, butbeyngetben 
 licensed from tbe laboure of tbeir owne 
 occupations, to bestow tbe time well and 
 tbriftelye upon some otber science, as 
 sball please tbem, 
 
 lORitisasolempnecustometbere, 
 I to bave lectures day lye, early in tbe 
 moming,wbere to be presente tbey 
 onely be constrained tbat benamelyecbo^ 
 sen ^appoynted to learninge^Rowbeita 
 greatemultitudeof every sort of people, 
 botb men & women go to beare lectures, 
 some one and some an otber, as every e 
 mansnatureisinclined,Yct,tbisnotwitb/ 
 standing, if any man bad ratber bestowe 
 tbis time upon bis owne occupation (as 
 itcbauncetbinmanye,wbosemindesrise 
 not in tbe contemplation of any science 
 120 
 
Ubcrall) be is not letted, nor prohibited, 
 but is also praysed and commended, as 
 profitable to the common wealtbe. 
 
 if t^BR supper tbey bestow one 
 houre in playe : in summer in 
 their gardens : in winter in their 
 comm en halles : where they din e ^ suppe. 
 'Chere they exercise themselves in mu- 
 6iNe,orelsin honest andwholsome com/ 
 munication« Dice/playe, and suche other 
 folishe and pernicious games they Nnow 
 not; but they use ij»gamesnot much un/ 
 like the chesse. XThe one is the battell of 
 numbers, wherein one numbre stealethe 
 awaye another, TThe other is wherin vices 
 fyghte with vertues, as it were in battel 
 array, or a set f y Id, In the which game is 
 very e properly e shewed, bothe the striffe 
 & discorde that vices have am on ge them/ 
 selfes, and agayne theire unitye and con/ 
 cordeagainstevertues;&also what vices 
 berepugnaunttowhat vertues: with what 
 powre and strength they assaile them o- 
 penlye: by what wieles and subtelty they 
 assau Ite them secretelye: with what helpe 
 & aide the vertues resiste, and overcome 
 the puissaunce of the vices : by what craft 
 
 121 
 
 Che 
 seconde 
 bookeof 
 Cltopia 
 
 playing af- 
 ter supper 
 
 But now a- 
 daies dice- 
 play is the 
 pastime of 
 princes 
 
 p laics or 
 games also 
 profitable 
 
XZbc 
 sccondc 
 bookcof 
 Utopia 
 
 ^bckyndcs 
 and sortes 
 ofvdcl 
 people 
 
 <JClomen 
 
 priestes & 
 religious 
 men, Ricbc 
 men & land/ 
 edmen 
 
 tbev frustrate tbeir purposes : andfinal- 
 ly by wbatsleigbt or meanes tbe oneget- 
 tetbtbevictory, 
 
 CIXT beret least you be deceaved, 
 one tbinge you muste loohe more 
 narrowly upon, for seinge tbey 
 bestowe but vu boures in woorhe, per- 
 cbaunceyou maye tbinke tbat tbe lackeof 
 some necessarye tbinges bereof maye 
 ensewe,Buttbisisnotbingeso. fortbat 
 smal time is not only enougb but also to 
 mucbe for tbe stoore and abundaunce of 
 all tbinges, tbat be requisite, eitber for 
 tbe necessitie, or commoditie of lifeXbe 
 wbicb tbinge you also sball perceave, if 
 you weye and consider witb your selfes 
 bow great a parte of tbe people in otb - 
 er contreis lyvetb ydle, first, almost all 
 women,wbycbe be tbe balfe of tbe wbole 
 numbre : or els if tbe women be some- 
 wbere occupied, tbere most common lye 
 in tbeir steade tbe men be ydle, Besydes 
 tbis, bow greate, & bow ydle a companye 
 is tbere of preystes, & relygious men, as 
 tbey cal tbem ? put tbereto al rycbe men, 
 specially e all landed men, wbicb comon- 
 lye be called gentilmen, and noble men : 
 
 122 
 
tahc into this numbrc also tbcirc scr- The 
 vauntcs : Imcane all that flocNc of stoutc sccondc 
 braggingrussbcbucklers*7oynctotbcm bookcof 
 also sturdy & valiauntc bcggcrs^clokingc ^^^P^^ 
 tbcir idle iyfc under tbe coloure of some ^ 
 disease or sickenes, and trulye you sbal ^g^^" 
 findtbem mucb fewer tbenyou tbougbt, 
 by wbose labour al tbese tbinges are sturdy and 
 wrougbt, tbat in mens affaires are now valiaunt 
 daylye used and frequented* ]Vowe con- beggers 
 sy der witb youre selfe, of tbese fewe tbat 
 doe woorke, bow fewe be occupied, in ne- 
 cessary ewoorkes, for wberemoney bear/ ^onderfuU 
 etb all tbe swinge, tbere many vayne and "^^^^w^ 
 superfluous occupations must nedes be ^^ 
 used,to serve only for ryotoussuperfiu/ 
 ite,andunbonestpleasure» for tbe same 
 multitude tbat nowis occupied in woork, 
 if tbey were devided into so fewe occupa/ 
 tions as tbe necessarye use of nature re/ 
 quyretb : in so greate plenty e of tbinges 
 as tben of necessity woulde ensue, doubt/ 
 les tbe prices wolde be to ly tie for tbearti/ 
 f ycers to maynteyne tbeirelivinges* But 
 yfalltbesetbatbenowebusiedaboutun/ 
 profatableoccupations,witballtbewbole 
 flockeoftbemtbatlyveydellye&sloutb/ 
 
 123 
 
sccondc 
 
 BooNcof 
 
 Cltopia 
 
 J>(otas- 
 mucbcas 
 the magi- 
 strates live 
 idelly 
 
 fullye, wbycbc consume & waste, every c 
 one of tbem, more of tbese tbinges tbat 
 come by otber mens labouretbenij,oftbe 
 workemen tbemselfes doo : yf all tbese, 
 Xsaye,were sette to profitable occupa- 
 tions you easelye perceave bowe lytle 
 tyme would be enougbe,yea,&tomucbe, 
 tostoore us witball tbinges tbatmaye be 
 requisite eitberfornecessitie,or for com/ 
 moditye,yeaor for pleasure, so tbat tbe 
 same pleasure be trewe and natural. 
 
 ^]VD tbis in Cltopia tbe tbingeitselfe 
 maketbe manif este & playne. for 
 tbereinalltbe city e,witb tbe wbole 
 contreyeorsbiereadjoyningtoit, scase/ 
 lye 500 persons of al tbe wbole numbre 
 of men ^ women, tbat be neitber to olde 
 nor to weake to worke, be licensed & dis/ 
 cbarged from laboure J^ Hmonge tbem 
 be tbe Sipbograuntes (wboe tbougbe 
 tbey be by tbe lawes exempte and privi- 
 leged from labour) yet tbey exempte not 
 tbemselfes; to tbe intent tbey may tbe 
 ratber by tbeir example provoke otber 
 to worke^'Cbe same vacation from la- 
 bour do tbey also en joy e, to wbome tbe 
 people,persuaded by tbe commendation 
 124 
 
of the pricstes, & secrete election of the The 
 Siphograuntes, have geven a perpetual seconde 
 licence from laboure to learninge* But if booke of 
 any one of tbem prove not accordinge to ^^^P*^ 
 the expectation and boope of bim con- 
 ceaved, be is f ortbwitb plucked backe to 
 tbe company of artificers. Hnd contrary e 
 wise, often it cbauncetb tbat a bandi- 
 craftes man dotb so earnestly bestowe 
 bis vacaunte and spare boures in learn- 
 ings & tbrougbe diligence so profy tetb 
 tberin, tbat be is taken from bis bandy 
 occupation, and promoted to tbe com - 
 pany of tbe leamed^Oute of tbis ordre 
 of tbe learned be cbosen ambassadours, qi^^i^^ 
 priestes, tranibores, ^ftnallye tbe prince learnedmen 
 bimselfe;wbometbeyintbeireoldetonge called to of/ 
 calBarzanes,& by anewername,Hdam- fices 
 usXbe residewe of tbe people beingnei/ 
 tber ydle, nor yet occupied about unpro/ 
 fttable exercises, it may be easely judg- 
 ed in bow f ewe boures bow mucbe good 
 woorke by tbem may be doone and dis- 
 patcbed, towardes tbose tbinges tbat I 
 bave spoken of. 
 
 125 
 
^^^ ^^^^^^^ commodity tbcy have also 
 
 sccondc IfflCTil ♦^t>ovc otbcr,tbat in the most part 
 
 boohc of t^i»/ of ncccssaryc occupations, tbcy 
 
 Cltopia ncadc not so mucb work, as otbcr na- 
 
 Dow to a- t^owQ doc* for first of all, tbc buildingc 
 
 vovd execs- ^^ rcpayringc of bouses asketb everye 
 
 sive cost in wbere so manye mens continual labour, 
 
 building bicausetbattbeuntbriftybeiresufferetb 
 
 tbc bouses tbat bis fatber buylded, in 
 
 contyneuaunce of tyme to fall in decay; 
 
 so tbat wbicb be mygbte bave upbolden 
 
 wytb lytic coste,byssuccessoure is con/ 
 
 streyned to buylde it agayne a newe, to 
 
 bis great cbarge^Y^^t manyetymesalso, 
 
 tbe bowse tbat stoode one man inmucbe 
 
 moneye, anotber is of so nyce and soo 
 
 delycate a mynde, tbat be settetbe no- 
 
 tbinge by it; & it beynge neglected, and 
 
 tberef ore sbortelye fallynge into ruyne, 
 
 be buyldetbe uppe anotber in an otber 
 
 place witb no lesse coste & cbardge* But 
 
 amonge tbe Cltopians,wbere all tbinges 
 
 be sett in a good ordre, and tbe common 
 
 wealtbe in a good staye, it very seldom 
 
 cbauncetb,tbattbeycbeuseaneweplotte 
 
 to buyld an bouse upon, Hnd tbey doo 
 
 not only finde spedy & quicke remedies 
 
 126 
 
for present faultes : but also prevente TTbc 
 tbem that beliketo fall; &bytbismeanes seconde 
 tbeirbousescontmewe&lastevery longe^ ^^^^^ <^^ 
 witb litle labour and smal reparations ; ^^^P^^ 
 in so mucb tbat tbis hind of woorkmen 
 somtimes bave almost notbinge to doo# 
 But tbat tbey be commaunded to bewe 
 timbre at bom e, and to square & trimme 
 up stones, to tbe intente tbat if anye 
 woorke cbaunce,it may tbe spedelier rise* 
 ^^O^ Syr, in tbeire apparell^marke, p^^ ^^. 
 rtPJlI 1 praye you, bowe few woorhmen ^?f^^^i„ 
 M^ tbey neade- fyrste of al, wbyles apparel 
 tbey be at woorke, tbey be covered bome/ 
 ly witb leatber or skinnes, tbat will last 
 viu yeares. ^ben tbey go f urtbe abrode 
 tbey caste upon tbem a cloke, wbycb by/ 
 detb tbe otber bomelye appareL ^bese 
 clookes tbrougb out tbe wbole Hand be 
 all of one coloure, and tbat is tbe natural 
 coloure of tbe wuL T^bey tberefore do 
 not only spend mucb lesse wullen clotbe 
 tben is spente in otber contreis, but also 
 tbe same standetb tbem in mucbe lesse 
 coste* But lynen clotbe is made witb lesse 
 laboure, and is tberefore badde more in 
 use J? But in lynen clotb onlye wbyte- 
 
 127 
 
The ncsscin wuUcn only clcnlyncs is regard/ 
 
 ecconde cd, Hs for the smalncssc or fincncssc of 
 booke of the tbrcde, that is no tbingc passed f on 
 Utopia j^Yid tbis is tbe cause xvberfore in otber 
 
 places iiii* or v. clotbe gownes of dyvers 
 coloures, and as manye silke cootes be 
 not enougbe for one man.Y^a, and yf be 
 be of tbe delicate and nyse sorte x* be to 
 f ewe : wbereas tbere, one garmente wyl 
 serveamanmoostecommenlyeij.yeares. 
 for wbie sboulde be desyre moo ? seinge 
 y f be bad tbem, be sbould not be tbe bet/ 
 ter bapte or covered from colde, neitber 
 in bis apparel anye wbitte tbe comlyen 
 Qlberef ore, seinge tbey be all exercysed 
 in profitable occupations, and tbat fewe 
 artificers in tbe same craftes be suflici- 
 ente, tbis is tbe cause tbat plentye of all 
 tbinges beinge among tbem, tbey doo 
 sometymes bringe fortbean innumerable 
 companye of people to amend tbe bygbe 
 wayes,yf anye be broken ^ JVIany times 
 also, wben tbey bave no sucbe woorke to 
 be occupied aboute, an open proclama- 
 tion is made, tbat tbey sball bes towe few/ 
 cr boures in woorke, for tbe magistrates 
 doe not exercise tbeire citizens againste 
 128 
 
tbcire willcsin unncadcfull labourcs^f or ^bc 
 wbie in tbc institution of tbatwcalcpub/ scconde 
 liquc, tbi8 endcis onelye and cbicfcly pre/ ^^•^^ ^^ 
 tcndcdandmyndcd,tbatwbattimcmayc ^^^P^^ 
 possibly be spared from tbe necessary e 
 occupacions andaffayresof tbe commen 
 wealtb^Utbattbecitizeinssbouldewitb/ 
 drawe from tbe bodely service to tbe free 
 Ubertye of tbe minde, and garnissbinge 
 of tbe same* for bereintbey suppose tbe 
 felicitye of tbis liffe to consiste* 
 
 Of tbeire J^ivinge andJMutual Conversa- 
 tion tc^gc^thcr^^ 
 
 dTnowewiUde/ 
 Clare bow tbe ci- 
 tizens use tbem- 
 selfes one to- 
 wardes anotber: 
 wbat familiar oc/ 
 cupieng&enter- 
 teynement tbere 
 is amonge tbe 
 people, and wbat 
 fassion tbey use in tbe distribution of 
 every tbing. 
 
 129 
 
sccondc 
 bookc of 
 Utopia 
 
 T^benum- 
 brc of citi- 
 zens 
 
 ^IRSTTe tbc city consistctb of 
 families, tbe families most com/ 
 monlvebemadeof kinredes* for 
 tbe women, wben tbey be maryed at a 
 lawef ull age, tbev goo into tbeire bus- 
 bandes bouses* But tbe male cbildren, 
 witb al tbe wbole male of springe con- 
 tin ewe still in tbeir owne family and be 
 governed of tbe eldest and auncientest 
 fatber, onles be dote for age: for tben 
 tbe next to bim in age, is placed in bis 
 rowmej^But to tbintent tbe prescript 
 number of tbe citezens sboulde neitber 
 decrease, nor above measure increase, it 
 isordeinedtbatnofamiliewbicbinevery 
 citiebe vi* tbousandin tbewbole,besvdes 
 tbem of tbe contrey, sball at ones bave 
 fewer cbildren of tbe age of xiiij. yeares 
 or tbereabout tben x* ormo tben xvu; for 
 of cbildren under tbisagenonumbre can 
 be prescribed orappointedj^XTbis mea- 
 sure or numbre is easely observed and 
 hept, by putting tbem tbat in fuller fa- 
 milies be above tbe number into families 
 ofsmallerincrease«Butifcbauncebetbat 
 in tbe wbole citie tbe stoore en crease a- 
 bove tbe just number, tberewitb tbey fil 
 no 
 
up the lackc of other cities* But if so be The 
 tbattbemultitudetbrougboutthewhole seconde 
 Xlande passe & excede tbe dewe number, booke of 
 tben tbev cbuese out of every cCtie cer- ^^opi^ 
 tein citezens, and build up a toxvne under 
 tbeir owne lawes in tbe next land wbere 
 tbe inbabitauntes bave mucbe waste and 
 unoccupied ground, receaving also of 
 tbe samecoun trey people to tbem,if tbev 
 will ioyne & dwel witb tbem* XTbev tbus 
 joyning^ dwelling together do easelye 
 agre in one fassion of living, and tbat to 
 tbe great wealth of both the peoples^ 
 for they so bringe the matter about by 
 theire lawes, tbat the ground which be- 
 fore was neither good nor profitable for 
 tbe one nor for the other, is nowe sufli- 
 ciente& fruteful enoughe for them both* 
 But if tbe inbabitauntes of that lande 
 wyl not dwell witb them tobeordered by 
 their lawes, tben they dryve them out of 
 those boundes which they have limited 
 and apoin ted out for them selves j^Hnd 
 if they resiste and rebel, then they make 
 warre agaynst them* 
 
 lOR they counte this the moste 
 juste cause of warre, when anye 
 Ipeopleholdetheapieceof grounde 
 
 k2 131 
 
The 
 sccondc 
 boohcof 
 Cltopia 
 
 So might 
 wc well be 
 discharged 
 and eased 
 of theydle 
 company of 
 servyng- 
 men 
 
 voydeandvacauntto no good nor pro- 
 fitable use, kepyng other from the use 
 and possession of it, whiche notwith- 
 standyng by the lawe of nature ought 
 thereof to be nouryshed and relieved, 
 ^f anye chauncedosomuchedimin/ 
 ishe the number of any of theire 
 cities, that it cannot be fylled up 
 agayne, without thediminishynge of the 
 justnumbreof the other cyties (whiche 
 they say chaunced but twyse synce the 
 beginnyngofthelandethrougheagreate 
 pestilente plage) then they fulfyll and 
 make up thenumbre with cy tezens fetch/ 
 cd out of theire owne forreyne townes, 
 fortheyhadrathersuffertheireforreyne 
 townes to decaye and peryshe, then any 
 cytie of theire owne Ilande to be dimin- 
 ished. 
 
 QTnoweagaynetothecon/ 
 versation of the cytezens 
 amonge themselfes. The 
 eldeste, as X sayde, rulethe 
 the family e. The wyfes bee 
 ministers to theire hus- 
 bandes, the children to theire parentes, 
 and to bee shorte, the yonger to theire 
 
 132 
 
cldcrs^Gvcryc cytic is dcvidcdintofourc 'Cbc 
 cquall partes or quarters. In tbemyddes seconde 
 of every quarter there isamarhet placeof boohe of 
 aUmaneroftbingesXbetbertbeworkes ^t:opia 
 of every f amilie be brought into certeyne 
 bouses, & every e Nyndeof tbing is layde 
 up severall in bernes or store bouses* 
 from bence tbe f atberof everye f amilye, 
 or every bousbolder f etcbetbe whatso- 
 ever beand bis have neade of, and carietb 
 it away with him without money, with- 
 out exchaun ge, withou t any gage, pawn e, 
 or pledge* for why sboulde any tbing be 
 denyed unto him ? seynge there is abun- 
 daunce of all thinges, and that it is not 
 to bee feared, leste anye man wyll aske 
 more then be neadeth* f or whie should it 
 be thougbte that that man woulde aske 
 more then anough, which is sewer never 
 tolacke? 
 
 )eRt:eYN^I-Y in all kyndes of The cause 
 lyvinge creatures either f eare of ofcoveteus 
 lacke dothe cause covetousnes & ^ extortion 
 ravyne,or in man only pry de,wbicb count/ 
 eth it a glorious tbinge to passe and excel 
 other in tbe superfluous and vayne os- 
 tentation of thinges. 'Chewbyche kynde 
 
 133 
 
The 
 sccondc 
 bookc of 
 Cltopia 
 
 Of the 
 slaughter 
 of bcastes 
 wchavclcar 
 ncd man- 
 slaughter 
 
 fylth& or- 
 dure bring 
 the infect- 
 ion of pes- 
 tilence into 
 cvties 
 
 of vice amonge the Cltopians can have no 
 place. 
 
 jexre to the market places that 
 X spake of, stande meate mar- 
 kettes: whether be brought not 
 only all sortes of herbes, and the f ruites 
 of trees, with breade, but also ftshe, and 
 all maner of iiii* footed beastes, & wilde 
 foule that be mans meate j^ But first 
 the f ylthynes and ordure therof is dene 
 washedawayein therenningeryverwith/ 
 out the cytie, in places appoynted mete 
 for the same purpose, from thence the 
 beastes be brought in kylled, and cleane 
 wasshed by the handes of theire bonde- 
 m en, for they permitte not their f rie cite- 
 zens to accustome them selfes to the 
 killingofbeastes,through the use where/ 
 of they thinke clemencye, the genteleste 
 affection of oure nature, by lytle & lytle 
 todecaye& peryshe. ]Veither they suffer 
 anye thinge that is fylthye, lothesom, or 
 unclenlye, to be broughte into the cy tie, 
 least the ayre by the stenche therof in- 
 fected and corrupte, shou Ide cause pes- 
 tilente diseases. 
 
 134 
 
lORBOVeR cvcryc strctc bath X:bc 
 ccrtcyne great large balles sett seconde 
 ,^ in equal dtstaunce one from an- booke of 
 
 otber, everye one knowen by a severall ^^^P^ 
 name* In tbese balles dwell tbe Sypbo- 
 grauntes, Hnd to everye oneof tbe same 
 balles beapoyn ted xxx»families,oneitber 
 side XV. Xl^be stewardes of everye balle at 
 a certayne boure come in to tbe meate 
 markettes, wbere tbey receyve meate ac- 
 cordinge to tbe number of tbeir balles. 
 
 <XZ first & cbiefiie of all, respect is Care, dili- 
 bad to tbe sycke, tbat be cured in gcnce and 
 Si tbe bospitalles. for in tbecircuite t^J^^r^u^^ 
 of tbe citie, a litle witbout tbe walles, gjcke 
 tbey bave iiii. bospitalles, so bigge, so 
 wyde, so ample, and so large, tbat tbey 
 may seme iiii* litle town es,wbicb were de/ 
 vised of tbat bignes, par tely to tbin tent, 
 tbe sycke, be tbey never so many in num/ 
 bre, sbuld not lye to tbronge or stray te, 
 and tberfore uneasely, and incommodi- 
 ously: and partely tbat tbey wbicb were 
 taken and bolden witb contagious dis- 
 eases, sucbeas be wonte by infection to 
 crepe from one to an otber, mygbt be 
 layde apart farre from tbe company of 
 
 135 
 
The the residue* These bospitalles be so wel 
 
 seconde appointed, and with altbinges necessary 
 bookeof to bealtb so furnisbed, and more over, 
 Utopia sodiligentattendauncetbrougbtbecon/ 
 
 tinual presence of cunning pbisitians is 
 geven, tbat tbougb no man be sent tbe- 
 tber against bis will, yet notwitbstand- 
 inge tbere is no sicke persone in al tbe 
 citie, tbat bad not ratber lye tbere, tben 
 at bome in bis owne bouse. CHben tbe 
 stewardeof tbe sicke batb received sucbc 
 meates as tbe pbisitians bave prescribed, 
 tben tbe beste is equalise devided among 
 tbe balles, according to tbe company of 
 every one, saving tbat tbere is bad a re- 
 specttotbeprince,tbebysbop,tbetrani/ 
 bours, & to am bassadours ^ all s traun - 
 gers, if tbere be any, wbicb be very fewe 
 and seldomeji^But tbey also wben tbey 
 be tbere, bave certeyne severall bouses 
 apointed & prepared for tbem.Totbese 
 balles at tbe set bouresof dinner & sup- 
 percommetballtbewboleSipbograuntie 
 orwarde,warnedbytbenoyseofabrasen 
 trumpet: except sucbe as be sicke in tbe 
 bospitalles, or els in tbeir owne bouses 
 ^r>owbeit no man is prohibited or for- 
 
 136 
 
bid, after the ballcs be served, to fetch The 
 borne meateoutoftbemarket to bis own seconde 
 bouse, for tbey knowe tbat no man wyl bookeof 
 doe It witbout a cause reasonable* for ^^<^P^ 
 tbougbe no man be probibited to dyne fz^^^^^ 
 at bome, yet no man dotb it willyngly ; Jl^VbisUb- 
 because it is counted a pointe of smal ^^^^^ so tbat 
 bonestie. Hnd also it were a follye to notbingis 
 take tbe payne to dresse a badde diner done by 
 at bome, wben tbey may be welcome to compulsion 
 good & f yne fare so neigbe bande at tbe 
 balL 
 
 ]V tbis ball, al vile service, all Slav- 
 ics ery, & drudgerie, witb all labour- 
 some toyle, and base busines is 
 done by bondemen. But tbe women of CClomen 
 every family by course bave tbe office & botbe 
 cbarge of cookerieforsetbingeanddres/ dresse and 
 singe tbe meate, & orderinge all tbinges ^^^^^ ^"^ 
 tberto belongyng j^X:bey sit at tbree ^^^^^ 
 tables or moe, accordinge to tbe numbre 
 of tbeir company* Xlbe men sitte upon 
 tbe bencb next tbe wall, and tbe women 
 againste tbem on tbe otber side of tbe 
 table, tbat yf anye sodeyne evyll sbould 
 cbaunce to tbem, as many tymes bap- 
 penetb to women witb cbylde, tbey maye 
 
 137 
 
x:bc 
 
 sccondc 
 boohc of 
 Utopia 
 
 JNourccis 
 
 ]^otbing 
 sonerpro- 
 voNctb men 
 to wcl do- 
 yngtbcn 
 praise and 
 commend- 
 ation 
 
 XTbe educa- 
 tion of 
 yongecbil- 
 dren 
 
 risewytboute trouble or disturbaunce of 
 any e bodie, & go tbence into tbe n urcerie. 
 F^S nurceis sitte severaU alone 
 witb tbeyr younge suckelinges 
 in a certain e parloure appointed 
 and deputed to tbe same purpose, never 
 witboute fire and cleane water, nor yet 
 witbou t cradels, tbat wben tbey wy II tbey 
 maye laye downe tbe younge infantes, S. 
 at tbeyr pleasure take tbem oute of tbeir 
 swatbynge clotbes,& bolde tbem to tbe 
 fire, & ref resbe tbem witb play e^Gvery 
 motber is nource to ber owne cbilde,onle3 
 citber deatb, or sycknes be tbe let^^ben 
 tbat cbauncetb, tbe wives of tbe Sypbo- 
 grauntes quyckelye provyde a nource» 
 Hnd tbat is not barde to be done; for tbey 
 tbat can doo it, profer tbemselves to no 
 servicesogladlyeastotbat^Becausetbat 
 tbere tbys Ninde of pitie ismucbe prays/ 
 cd : and tbe cby Ide tbat is nourisbed, ever 
 after taketb bis nource for bis owne na- 
 turall motber jfiFHlso amonge tbe nour- 
 ceis, sytte all tbe cbildren tbat be under 
 tbe age of v.yeares. Hll tbe otber cbyl- 
 dren of botbe kyndes, aswell boyes as 
 girles, tbat be under tbe age of mary- 
 
 138 
 
age, do cytbcv serve at the tables,or els if XLbc 
 tbevbetovongetberto,yettbevstanclby seconde 
 witb marvailous silence J^ XTbat wbicbe ^ohe of 
 is geven to tbem from tbe table tbey eate, ^^^P^^ 
 and otber several dynner tyme tbey bave 
 none»tIbeSipbograunte& bis wife sitte 
 in tbe myddes of tbe bigb table, f oras- 
 mucb as tbat is counted tbe bonorablest 
 place,& because from tbenceall tbe wbole 
 companie is in tbeir sigbt* for tbat table 
 standetb overtbwarte tbe over ende of 
 tbe balL XZo tbem be joyned two of tbe 
 auncientest & eldest* for at everye table 
 tbey sit four at a meesse* But yf tbere be 
 acburcbstandingintbatSypbograuntie 
 or warde, tben tbe priest and bis wife sit/ 
 tetb witb tbe Sipbograunt, as cbief e in 
 tbe company ♦On botbsydesof tbemsit TTbeyong 
 yonge men, and nexte unto tbem againe rnixed witb 
 olde men j^ Hnd tbus tbrougb out all tbeir elders 
 tbe bouse, equall of age be sette togetb/ 
 er, and yet be mixt and matcbed witb un- 
 equal agesXbis, tbey say, was ordeyned, 
 to tbe intent tbat tbe sage gravitie and 
 reverence of tbe elders sbould kepe tbe 
 yongers from wanton licence of wordes 
 and bebavioure. f orasmucb asnotbynge 
 
 139 
 
sccondc 
 
 bookcof 
 
 Cltopia 
 
 Oleic men 
 regarded & 
 reverenced 
 
 This now a 
 daics 18 ob - 
 served in 
 ourc univer/ 
 etttcd 
 
 tTalkcattbc 
 table 
 
 can be so secretlye spoken or done at the 
 table, but either tbev that sit on the one 
 side or on the other muste nedes per- 
 ceave it j^TThe dishes be not set down 
 in order from the first place but all the 
 olde men (whose places be marked with 
 some speciall token to be knowen) befirst 
 served of their meate, & then the residue 
 equally^The olde men devide their dein- 
 ties, as they think best, to the yonger on 
 echesydeof them, 
 
 P)CIS the elders be not de- 
 frauded of their dewe hon- 
 ours and neverthelesse e- 
 quall commoditie commeth 
 to every oneXhey begin ev/ 
 erye dinner & supper of re/ 
 dinge sumthing that perteneth to good 
 maners&vertue^But it is shorte, because 
 no man shalbe greved therwith. Rereof 
 thelders take occasion of honest com- 
 munication, but neither sadde nor un- 
 pleasaunt^Rowbeittheydonotspende 
 all the whole dinertime themselves with 
 longe and tedious talkes : but they glad/ 
 ly heare also the yonge men : yea, ^ pur- 
 posely e provoke them to talke, to then- 
 140 
 
tent that tbcy may have a profc of every The 
 mans wit, and towardnes, or disposition seconde 
 to vertue, which commonlie in the liber- bookeof 
 tie of feasting doth shew & utter it self* ^^^P^^ 
 'Cheirdinersbeverieshort:buttheirsup/ ^i^jgfg 
 pers besumwhat longer, because that af/ repugnaunt 
 ter dyner foloweth laboure, after supper (^ the opin/ 
 8lepe& natural res te,whiche they thinke ion of our 
 to be of more strength and efficacie to phisitions 
 wholsome and healthf ull digestion J^ 
 ]^o supper is passed without musicke* JVI^sick at 
 l^or their bankettes lacke no conceytes the table 
 norjonketesXheyburneswetegummes 
 and spices or perfumes, and pleasaunt 
 8melles,&sprinckleaboutesweteoynte/ 
 mentes & waters,yea, they leave nothing 
 undone that maketh for the cheringe of 
 the companye* for they be muche enclin/ 
 ed to this opinion : to thinke no kinde of 
 pleasure forbydden, whereof commeth pleasure 
 no harme* XThus therf ore and after this without 
 sort they live togethersin the citie,but in ^V^ "^^ 
 the countrey they that dwell alone, farre ^endable 
 from any neighboures, do dyne& suppe 
 at home in their owne houses, for no fa- 
 milie there lacketh any kinde of victual/ 
 les, as from whom commeth all that the 
 citezens eate and lyve by, 
 
 141 
 
T^bc Of tbcir joumcvngor travavUngabrodc, 
 
 scconcic with divers other matters cunninglycrca/ 
 booNe of 6onecl,and wyttilve discussed^^ 
 ^^^P»^ L ^■M_iiLHii.w...iJ i ^ at: if any be desier- 
 
 ous to visite either 
 theyr frendes dwel/ 
 ling in an other citie, 
 or to see the place 
 itselfe: they ease- 
 lie obteyne licence of 
 their Siphograuntes 
 an dTTrani bores, on/ 
 lesse there be some 
 profitable let* JS^oman goeth out alone, 
 but a companie is sente f urth together 
 with their princes letters, which do testi/ 
 fte that thev have licence to go that jour- 
 ney, and prescribeth also the day of their 
 retoume J^ T^hey have a wageyn geven 
 them, with a common bondman, which 
 driveth the oxen, and taNeth charge of 
 them. But onles they have women in their 
 companie, they sende home the wageyn 
 againe, as an impediment & a let ^ Hnd 
 thoughe they carye nothynge f urth with 
 them,yet in all their jomey they lach no- 
 thing, for whersoever they come, they be 
 at home. 
 142 
 
f tbcv tary in a place longer then The 
 
 ^Ig; one daye, than there every one of seconde 
 s^^ them falleth to his owne occupa- bookeof 
 tion, and be very gentUly enterteined of ^t:opia 
 the work em en & companies of the same 
 craf tes j^ If any man of his owne heade 
 &withoutleave,walkeoutof his precinct 
 and boundes, taken without the princes 
 letters, he is broughte again e for a fugi- 
 tive or a runaway with great shame and 
 rebuke, and is sharpely punished* If he 
 be taken in that fault againe, he is pun- 
 ished with bondage* If any e be desirous 
 to walke abrode into the f eldes, or into 
 the countrey that belongeth to the same 
 citie that he dwelleth in, obteininge the 
 good wil of his father, and the consente 
 of his wife, he is not prohibited* But in- 
 to what part of the con trei soever he com/ 
 meth,hehath no meat geven him until he 
 have wrought out his forenones taske, 
 or dispatched so muche worke, as there 
 is wont to be wrought before supper.Ob/ 
 serving this law and condition, he may 
 go whether he wil within the boundes of 
 his own citie* for he shalbe no les profit- 
 able to the citie, then if he were within it* 
 
 143 
 
sccondc 
 
 booNcof 
 
 Utopia 
 
 O holy com/ 
 mon wealth, 
 & of Chris- 
 tians to be 
 folowed 
 
 Squalitie is 
 the cause 
 that euery 
 man hath 
 enoughe 
 
 JS^ow you se how litle liberte they have to 
 loiter : howe they can have no clok e or pre/ 
 tence to ydlenes^Tbere be neither wine- 
 tavernes, nor ale houses, nor stewes, nor 
 anye occasion of vice or wichednes, no 
 lurkinge comers, no places of wycked 
 counsels or unlawfuU assembles. But 
 they be in the present sighte, and un - 
 der the eies of every man. So that of ne- 
 cessitie they must either apply their ac- 
 customed labours, or els recreate them- 
 selves with honest^ laudable pastimes. 
 SJRIS fashion and trade of 
 lifCt being used amonge the 
 people, it cannot be chosen, 
 but that they muste of ne- 
 cessitie have store & plen- 
 tie of all thinges. Hnd se- 
 yngthey be alltherof parteners equallie, 
 therefore can no man there be poore or 
 nedie^tn the counsell of Hmaurot,whe/ 
 ther, as I said, every citie sendeth three 
 men a pece yearly, assone as it is perfect/ 
 ly knowen of what thinges there is in ev/ 
 ery place plentie, & againe, what thinges 
 be skant in any place : incontinent the 
 lacke of the one is perfourmed and fill- 
 144 
 
cd up with the aboundauncc of the otb- TTbc 
 CY. Hnd this they do f rely without anyc sccondc 
 bcncfitCt taking notbing againc of tbcm, bookc of 
 to wbom tbattbingcs is given; but those ^^^P*^ 
 cities that have geven of their store to 
 any other citie that lacketh, requiring no/ 
 thing againe of that same citie, do take 
 suche thinges as they lacke of an other 
 citie, to the which they gave nothinge. 
 ^^^O the whole ylande is as it were H common 
 ^^^ one familie, or housholde^ But wealthe is 
 l^^^when they have made sufficient "j?^^!"^ 
 provisionofstoreforthemselves (which iIL5?4.v!5^^ 
 they thinke not done until they have pro/ ^^^ 
 videdfortwoyeresfolowinge,becauseof 
 theuncertentieof thenextyearesprofFe) 
 then of those thinges wherof they have 
 abundaunce, they carie f urth into other 
 countreis great plentie: as grayne, hon- t^he traf- 
 nie, wulle, flaxe, woode, madder, purple ^Quc^mar/ 
 died f elles, waxe, tallowe, lether, and ly v/ ^y^JiV 
 inge beastes* Hnd the seventh parte of nLns 
 all these thynges they geve franckelye *^ 
 and frelie to the pore of that countrey* 
 TThe residewe they sell at a reasonable & 
 meane price* By this trade of traffiqueor 
 marchaundise, they bring into their own 
 1 1 145 
 
XThc contrcy, not only great plenty of golde 
 
 seconde and silver, but also all sucbe tbynges as 
 booheof tbey lacNe at borne, wbicbe is almoste 
 Cltopia notbinge but iron. Hnd by reason tbey 
 
 bave longe used tbis trade, nowe tbey 
 bavemoreaboundaunceoftbesetbinges 
 tben any e man wy II beleve.]Vowe tberfore 
 tbeycare not wbetber tbey sell for ready e 
 money, or els upon truste to be payed at 
 a daye, and to bave tbe mooste parte in 
 Xnall debtes j^But in so doynge tbey never 
 
 tbingesand foiiowe tbe credence of privat men: but 
 th^^^^q to ^^^ assuraunce or warrauntise of tbe 
 tbeinfom- ^^^^^ ^^^^^^ by instrumentes&writinges 
 munitie tbei "^^^^ ^" ^^^^ bebalf e accordingly, ^ben 
 bave an eye ^^^ ^vc of paiement is come & expired, 
 tbe citie gatberetb up tbe debte of tbe 
 private debtoures, & puttetb it into tbe 
 common boxe, and so longe batbe tbe 
 use and profite of it, untill tbe Qtopi- 
 ^ . ans, tbeir creditours, demaunde it. XTbe 
 
 DolUcie mo/ "^^^^^^ parte of it tbey never aske. for 
 ney may be tbattbyngewbicbeis to tbem noprofite, 
 in lesse es- ^^ ^^^^ ^^ from otber, to wbom it is pro- 
 timation fttable: tbey tbinkeit no rigbte nor con- 
 science. But if tbe case so stand, tbat 
 tbey must lende part of tbat money to 
 146 
 
an other people, then tbey require tbeyr TZbc 
 debte: or when tbey bave warre. for tbe seconde 
 wbicbepurposeonelyetbeykepeatbome ^oheof 
 all tbe treasure wbicb tbey bave, to be ^^^P*^ 
 bolpen and socoured by it eitber in ex- 
 treame jeopardy es, or in suddeine daun/ ^ ^^ better 
 gers» But especiallye & cbief elie to biere ^^^"^ ^^^*^ 
 tberewitb,& tbat for unreasonable greate oolUcTeTo 
 wayges, straunge soldiours, for tbey ^^oyde 
 badderatberputstraungersin jeopardie, ^arre, tben 
 tben tbeyr owne countreyemen : know- witb mucbe 
 yngetbat f ormoney ynougbe, tbeirene- losse of 
 myes themselves many times may be mans bloud 
 bougbte & solde, or elles tbrougbe trea- ^^ figbt 
 son be sette togetbers by tbe eares a- 
 mongetbemselvesj^fortbis cause tbey 
 kepean inestimable treasure*Butyetnot 
 as a treasure : but so tbey bave it, ^ use it, 
 as in good fay tbelam as bam ed to sbewe: 
 f earinge tbat my woordes sball not be 
 beleved. Hnd tbis 1 bave more cause to O fyne 
 feare, for tbatlknowe bowe difficultlie ^ytte 
 and bardelye X meselfe would bave be- 
 levedan other man tellinge the same, if 
 X badde not presentlye sene it with mine 
 owneeyes* 
 
 1 2 147 
 
sccondc 
 
 bookcof 
 
 Cltopia 
 
 Goldc 
 worse then 
 yron as 
 toucbyngc 
 tbcncccs- 
 sarie use 
 tbcrof 
 
 ORitmustcncadcs bctbat 
 bowc f arrc a tbyngc is dis/ 
 sonaunt and disagrcing 
 from tbe guise & trade of 
 tbe bearers, so farresball it 
 beoutoftbeirbelefe^Rowe/ 
 beit, a wise and indifferent estimer of 
 tbynges, will not greatlye marveill per- 
 cbaunce,seyngealltbevrotberlawesand 
 custom es do so mucbe differre from 
 oures, vf tbe use alsoof gold and sylver 
 amonge tbem be applied, ratber to tbeir 
 owne fasbyons, tban to oures, X meane 
 in tbat tbey occupie not money tbem- 
 selves, but Nepe it for tbat cbaunce, 
 wbicbe as it may bappen, so it maye be, 
 tbat it sball never come to passe, 
 ^ag^ JS" tbe meane time golde & sylver, 
 ^^ wbereof money is made, tbey do 
 i^a^so use, as none of tbem doetbe 
 
 more esteme it, tben tbe verye nature of 
 tbetbingdeservetb,Hndtbenwbodoetb 
 not playnelye se bowe farre it is under 
 iron: as without tbe wbicbe men can no 
 better lyve tben witbout flere and water, 
 OTbereas to golde and silver nature batb 
 geven no use, tbat we may not well lacke: 
 148 
 
if that the f oUyc of men haddc not scttc Tlbc 
 it in higher estimation for the rarenesse seconde 
 sake* But of the contrarie parte, nature hooke of 
 as a mooste tender and lovynge mother, ^t<^P*^ 
 hathe placed the beste & mooste neces- 
 sarie thinges open abroade:astheayere, 
 the water, and the yearth it self e. Hnd 
 hathe removed and hyd farthest from 
 us vayne and unprofitable thinges j^ 
 therefore if these metalles amonge 
 them shoulde be faste locked up in some 
 tower, it might be suspected, that the 
 prince and the counsell (as the people is 
 ever foolishelieymagininge) in tended by 
 some subtiltie to deceave the commons, 
 and to take some proftte of it to them- 
 selves* furthermore, if they shold make 
 therof plate, and such other finelie and 
 cunninglie wroughte stuffe: if at anye 
 tim e they shou Id have occasion to break e 
 it, and melte it againe, therewith to paye 
 their souldiers wages, they see and per- 
 ceaveveryewell,thatmenwouldebelothe 
 to parte from those thinges, that they 
 ones begonne to have pleasure and de- 
 lite in* 
 
 149 
 
The 
 sccondc 
 bookc of 
 Cltopia 
 
 O wondcr- 
 fuUcontu- 
 mcUcof 
 goldc 
 
 ©oleic the 
 rcprocbful 
 badge of in i 
 famed per/ 
 sons 
 
 [i^^O rcmedie all tbis tbey bave f ounde 
 W^poute a meanest wbicbe, as itisagre- 
 t^^ able toall tbeir otber lawes and cus- 
 tom es, so it is from ours,wbere golde is 
 so mucb set by and so diligently hept, 
 very farrediscripant & repugnaunt; and 
 tberfore uncredible, but onelye to tbem 
 tbat be wise* for wbere as tbey eate and 
 drinke in cartben and glasse vesselles, 
 wbicbe in dede be curiouslye & properlic 
 madCt and yet be of very smal value : of 
 golde and sylver tbey make commonly 
 cbaumber pottes, and otber vesselles^ 
 tbat serve for moste vile uses, not one- 
 ly in tbeir common balles, but in every 
 mans private bouse ^furtbermore, of 
 tbe same mettalles tbey make greate 
 cbaines, fetters, and gieves wberin tbey 
 tie tbeir bondmen j^finally^wbosoever 
 for anye offense be in famed, by tbeir 
 cares ban gerynges of golde: upon tbeir 
 fyngers tbey weareryngesof golde, and 
 aboute tbeir neckes cbaines of golde: & 
 in conclusion tbeir beades betiedaboute 
 witb gold J^ tibus by aim canes possi- 
 ble tbei procure to bave gold and silver 
 among tbem in reprocbe & infamie^Hnd 
 150 
 
these metalles, which other nations do Che 
 as grevously &sorowef uUveforgo,asin seconde 
 amanner theirowne lives : if they should ^^*^? ^^ 
 altogethers at ones be taken from the ^^^P^^ 
 Cltopians, no man there would thinNe 
 that he had lost the worth of one far- 
 thin g, 
 
 RBY gather also pearles by the 
 sea side, and diamondes and car/ 
 ' buncles upon certen rockes,^ y et 
 they seke not for them: but by chaunce 
 finding them, they cut and polish them, 
 Hnd therwith thei deck their yonge in- Gemmes 
 f auntes^mhiche like as in the first yeres « Precious 
 of their childhod, they make muche and ^1^^!%^ 
 be f onde^ proude of such omamentes, yoncrechild/ 
 so when they be a litle more growen in ^cn to playe 
 yeares& discretion, perceiving thatnone withall 
 but children do weare such toies and tri/ 
 f els : they lay them awaye even of their 
 owne sham efasten esse, wythoute anye 
 byddynge of their parentes: even as 
 oure chyldren, when they waxe bygge, 
 doo caste awaye nuttes, brouches, and 
 puppettes j^Cherf ore these lawes and 
 customes, whiche be so farre difl'erente 
 from al other nations, howe divers f an- 
 
 151 
 
The 
 sccondc 
 boohcof 
 Cltopia 
 
 H very pica/ 
 saunt talc 
 
 tasics also and myndcs tbcy doo cause, 
 dyddc t ncucr so playnclic pcrccavc, as 
 in the Hmbassadours of the HncmoU- 
 ans* 
 
 'ReSB Hmbassadourcs came to 
 Hmaurotc wbilcs X was tbcrc. 
 Hnd because tbey came to en- 
 treate of great and weigbtie matters, 
 tbose three citizens a pece oute of everie 
 citic were com en tbetber before them JP 
 But all the Hmbassadours of the nexte 
 countreis, whiche had bene there before, 
 and knewe the fashions and maners of 
 the Qtopians, amonge whom e they per- 
 ceaved no honoure geven to sumptuous 
 apparell, silkes to be contemned, golde 
 also to be in famed and reprochf ul, were 
 wont to come thether in verie homely e & 
 simple araie^ But the Hnemolianes, be- 
 cause they dwell farre thence, and had 
 very litle aquaintaunce with them : hear- 
 inge that they were all apparelled a like, 
 and that verie rudely & homely: think- 
 inge them not to have the thinges whiche 
 they did not weare : being therf ore more 
 proude, then wise: determyned in the 
 gorgiousnes of their apparel to repre- 
 152 
 
Qcntc vcrye goddcs, & wytb the brigbte 'Che 
 sbyningc and glistcryngc of tbcir gay scconde 
 clotbing to dascU tbc eyes of tbc silic bookcof 
 poorc Cltopians j^ So tbcrc came in iii* ^^^P*^ 
 Hmbassadours witb c* scrvauntes all 
 apparelled in cbaungeable colours: tbe 
 mosteof tbem in silhes: tbe Hmbassa- 
 dours tbemself es (for at bome in tbeir 
 owne countrev tbey were noble men) in 
 clotbof gold,witb great cbeines of gold, 
 witb golde banginge at tbeir eares, with 
 gold ringes upon tbeir fingers, witb 
 broucbes ^ aglettes of gold upon tbeir 
 cappes, wbicb glistered ful of peerles 
 and pretious stones: to be sbort, trim- 
 med & adoumed witb al tbose tbinges, 
 wbicb among tbe Cltopians were eitber 
 tbe punisbement of bondmen, or tbe re/ 
 procbeof infamed persones,or elles tru 
 fels for yonge cbildren to playe witbaL 
 'Cbereforeitwoldebavedoneamangood 
 at bis barte tobave sene bowe proudelye 
 tbev displeyed tbeire pecoches f etbers, 
 bowe mucbe tbey made of tbeire paynt- 
 ed sbeatbes, and bowe lof tely tbey set 
 fortb andadvaunced tbem selfes, wben 
 tbey compared tbeir gallaunte apparrell 
 
 153 
 
XTbc with thcpoorcravmcntof tbcCltopians. 
 
 sccondc for al the people were swarmed forth in/ 
 
 booke of to the stretes. Hnd on the other side it 
 
 Utopia -^^3 i^Q lesse pleasure to consider howe 
 
 muchetheyweredeceaved,andhowfarre 
 
 they missedof their purpose, beingcon/ 
 
 trary way es tah en then they thought they 
 
 should have bene. 
 
 ?0R to the eyes of all the Cltopi- 
 ans, excepte very f ewe, which had 
 Isi^ bene in other coun treys for some 
 resonable cause, al that gorgeousnes of 
 apparrelsemedshamefuUandreproche/ 
 f uL In so muche that they most rever- 
 ently saluted the vilest and most abject 
 of them for lordes : passing over the 
 Hmbassadoures them self es without 
 any honour: judging them by their wear/ 
 fng of golden cheynes to be bondmen 
 J^ Y^a you shoulde have sene children 
 also, that had caste away their peerles & 
 pretious stones,when they sawe the lihe 
 sticking upon the Hmbassadours cap- 
 pes: digge & pushe theire mothers un- 
 O wittie der the sides, sainge thus to them. J^oke 
 head mother how greatalubbordotheyet were 
 
 peerlesand precious stoones, as though 
 
 154 
 
he were a ICtel child stCL But the mother, 'Che 
 
 yea and that also in good earnest: peace seconde 
 
 sone, saith she: I thinke he be some hooheof 
 
 of the Hmbassadours fooles jg^Some ^^^P^^ 
 
 founde faulte at theire golden cheines, 
 
 as to no use nor purpose, being so smal 
 
 & weahe, thata bondeman might easely 
 
 breaNe them, and agayne so wyde and 
 
 large, that when it pleased him, hemyght 
 
 cast them of, & runne awaye at liberty e, 
 
 whether he woulde^But when the Hm- 
 
 bassadoures hadde bene therea dayeor 
 
 it & sawe so greate abundaunce of gold 
 
 so lyghtely esteimed, yea in no lesse re- 
 
 proche, then it was with them in honour: 
 
 & besides that, more golde in the cheines 
 
 & gieves of one fugitive bondman, then 
 
 all the costelye omamentes of them iiu 
 
 was worth: they beganne to abate their 
 
 courage, and for very shame laydeaway 
 
 al that gorgyouse arraye, whereof theye 
 
 were so proud* Hnd specyally when they 
 
 had talked familiarly e with the Cltopians, 
 
 and had learned al theire fassions and 
 
 opinions* 
 
 155 
 
Cbc 
 sccondc 
 booNcof 
 Cltopia 
 
 Doubtcful 
 be callctb 
 it, citbcr in 
 considera- 
 tion and re - 
 specte of 
 counterfeite 
 stones, or 
 ellesbecall/ 
 etb doubte/ 
 f ul very lit- 
 telwortbe 
 
 Htruesaing 
 andavpittie 
 
 OR tbey marveyle tbat any men 
 be so f olysbe, as to bave delite & 
 pleasure in tbedoubtefu I glister/ 
 inge of a lytil tryff elynge stone, wbicb 
 maye bebolde annye of tbe starres, or 
 ellestbe Sonne it selfe* Or tbat anyeman 
 is so madde, as to count bim selfe tbe 
 nobler for tbe smaller or f yner tbrede of 
 wolle, wbicb selfe same wol (be it now in 
 never so fyne a sponne tbrede) a sbepe 
 did ones weare: and yet was sbe all tbat 
 time no otber tbing tben a sbepe J^ 
 XTbey marveile also tbat golde, wbycb 
 of tbe owne nature is a tbinge so unpro- 
 fy table, is nowe amongeall people in so 
 bygbe estimation, tbat man bim selfe, 
 by wbome, yea & for tbe use of wbome, 
 it is so mucb set by, is in mucbe lesse 
 estimation, tben tbe golde it selfe. In so 
 mucbe tbat a lumpysbe blockebedded 
 cburle, and wbycbe batbe no more wy tte 
 tben an asse, yea and as f ul of nougbty/ 
 nes as of follye, sball bave nevertbeles 
 manyewyse andgoodmen in subjectyon 
 and bondage, only for tbis, by cause be 
 batb a greate beape of golde, ^bycbe y f 
 it sboulde be taken from bym by anye 
 156 
 
fortune, or by some subtyll wylc & cau- The 
 tclcof the lawc, (which nolcssc then for/ seconde 
 tune clothe bothe raise up the lowe, and toohc of 
 plucke downe the highe) and be geven to ^^'^P^ 
 the most vile slave and abject dryvellof 
 all his housholde, then shortely after he 
 shal goo into the service of his servaunt 
 as an augmentation or overplus beside 
 his money jj^But they muche more mar/ Rowemuche 
 veil at and detest the madnes of them, more witte 
 whyche to those riche men, in whose is in the 
 debte and daunger they be not, do give heades of 
 almost divine honoures, for none other ^^^ ^^^^"^i^ 
 consideration, but bicause they be riche: f/?^^^ " 
 and yet knowing them to bee suche Qorteof"^" 
 nigeshe penny fathers, that they be sure christianes 
 as longe as they live, not the worthe of 
 onefarthinge of that heape of goldshall 
 come to them ♦ 
 
 MRBSS and such like opinions 
 have they conceaved, partely by 
 education, beinge brought up in 
 that common wealth, whose lawes and 
 custom es be farre different from these 
 kindes of folly, & partely by good litte- 
 rature and learn in gjS? for though there 
 be not many in every citie, which be ex- 
 
 »57 
 
The 
 sccondc 
 bookcof 
 Cltopia 
 
 Tbcstudics 
 & literature 
 amongetbe 
 Cltopianes 
 
 cmpte and discharged of all other la- 
 boures,and appointed only to learning, 
 that is to saye: suche in whome even 
 from theire very childhode they have 
 perceaved a singular towardnes, a fyne 
 witte,andamindeapte to good learning: 
 yet all in their childhode beinstructe in 
 learninge J^ Hnd the better parte of the 
 people, bothe men and women throughe 
 outeall their whole lyffe doo bestowein 
 learninge those spare houres, which we 
 sayde they have vacante from bodelye 
 laboures, they be taughte learninge in 
 theire owne natyve tong, for it is bothe 
 copious in woordes, and also pleasaunte 
 to the eare: and for the utteraunce of a 
 mans minde very perf ecte and sure. 
 3RB mooste parte of all that syde of 
 theworldeuseth the same Ian gage, 
 savinge that amonge the Qtopians 
 it is fyneste and pureste, & accordinge 
 to the dyversytye of the contreys it is 
 dy versly e alterede. 
 
 zf all these philosophers, whose 
 names be heare famous in this 
 parteoftheworldetoushnowen, 
 before oure cummynge thether, not as- 
 158 
 
mucbcas the fame of annycof tbctn was XTbc 
 cumcn amongc tbcm* Hnd yet in JVIusikc, scconde 
 J^ogike, Hrytbmctyke, and Geometric ^^"^^ ^* 
 tbcy bavc foundc outc in a manner, all ^^^P^^ 
 tbat cure auncient pbilosopbers bave jviusike 
 tawgbte* But as tbey in all tbinges be Logihe 
 almoste equal to oure olde auncyente Hritbeme- 
 clerhes, so oure newe logiciens, in sub- tike 
 tyl inventions bave f arre passed & gone Geometrie 
 beyonde tbem J^ for tbey bave not de- 
 vysed one of all tbose rules of restric- fjf ^£^ 
 
 tions, amplifications and suppositions, NeTniooincr 
 verye wittelye invented in tbe small lo- taunte 
 gicalles, wbycbe beare oure cbildren in 
 every place do leame*f urtberemoretbey 
 were never yet bable to f ynde out tbe se/ 
 conde intentions: insomucbe tbat none 
 of tbcm all coulde ever see man bimselfe 
 in commen, as tbey cal bim, tbougbe be 
 be (as you knowe) bygger tben ever was 
 annye gyaunte, yea and poynted to of 
 us even wy tb our f ynger ^ But tbey be Hstronomie 
 in tbe course of tbe starres, & tbe mov- 
 ynges of tbe beavenly spberes verye ex- 
 pert and cunnynge. Tbey bave also wit- 
 tely excogitated ^divisedinstrumentes 
 of divers fassions: wberin is exactly 
 
 159 
 
The comprcbcndcdand contcvncd tbcmov- 
 
 sccondc yngcs and situations of the sonnc, the 
 booNc of monCt and of al the other starrcs, which 
 Utopia appcrcinthcirchorizonj^Butasforthe 
 
 Vrf imonfT<> ^^^^^^ ^ disscntions of the pianettes, 
 christians ^"^ ^^^ ^^^^ deceytef ul divination by the 
 tbisgeereis ^^^^^^^* ^^^y "cver asmucb as dreamed 
 higbli es- therof, Raynes,windes, & other courses 
 temed tbies of tempestes they knowe before by cer- 
 daies teine tokens, which they have learned by 
 
 Naturall longuse&observatioaButof the causes 
 pbilosophie ^^ ^^ these thinges and of the ebbinge, 
 is a know- flowinge, ^ saltenes of the sea, and final/ 
 ledge most lye of the original begynnynge & nature 
 uncertein of heaven and of the worlde, they holde 
 partelyethesameopinionsthatoureolde 
 philosophers hold, & partely , as our phi/ 
 losophers varye among themselfes, so 
 they also, whiles they bringe newe rea- 
 sons of thinges, do disagree from all 
 them, and yet among themselfes in all 
 JMoral phi- poyntes they doe not accorde^ln that 
 losophic part of pbilosophie, which intreateth of 
 manners and vertue, tbeire reasons and 
 The order opinions agree with ours* 'Chey dispute 
 of good of the good quality es of the sowle,of the 
 thinges body, and of fortune* Hnd whether the 
 160 
 
name of goodncs mayc be applied to all TTbc 
 these, or onlye to the endowmentes and seconde 
 gif tes of the soule, booUc of 
 
 ^^^'RSY reason of vertue and plea- ^^<^P^^ 
 M^H sure* But the chiefe and princi- XThe endes 
 t^^^ pall question (s, in what thinge, of good 
 be it one or moe, the felicity e of man con/ thinges 
 sistethe. But in this poynte they seme al/ -.. atot>^ 
 mooste tomuche geven and enclyned to ^nes holoe' 
 the opinion of them which defende plea/ opinion 
 sure, wherein they determine either all or that felycy- 
 the chiefyste parte of mans felicitye to tie consist- 
 reste* Hnd (whyche is more to bee mar- cthe inhon- 
 veledat) thedefense of this soo deyntye estpleasure 
 and delicate an opinion, they fetche even 
 from theire grave, sharpe, bytter,and ry/ —. , . 
 gorous religion, for they never dispute oiesof Sbi- 
 of felicity or blessednes, but they joyne {osophve 
 unto the reasons of philosophye cer- grounded 
 teyne principles taken oute of religion : upon reli- 
 wy thou te the whyche, to the investiga- gion 
 tion of trewe felicitye, they thynke rea- 
 son of it selfe weake and unperfecte, 
 r^^nOSS principles be these & such tChetheolo/ 
 B^ lyke^'Chat the soule is immortal: gieof the 
 ^^ &by thebountifulgoodnesof God CItopianes 
 ordeined to felicitie^I^hat to our vertues 
 m 161 
 
The 
 sccondc 
 bookc of 
 Cltopia 
 
 XTbcimmor/ 
 taliticoftbc 
 soulcwbcr/ 
 of these 
 dayes cer- 
 teine Chris/ 
 tianes be in 
 doubte 
 
 Hs every 
 pleasure 
 ought not 
 tobeim- 
 braced, so 
 grefeisnot 
 tobepursu/ 
 cd but for 
 vertuessaNe 
 
 and good deades,rewardes be appointed 
 after this life, & to our evel deades pun- 
 ishmentesj^XThough these be perteyn- 
 ing to religion, yet they thinche it mete 
 that they shoulde be beleved^ graunted 
 by prof es of reason. But yf these prin- 
 ciples were condempned and dysanuUed, 
 then without anyedelaye they pronounce 
 nomantobesofolish,whichewouldenot 
 do all his diligence and endevoure to ob- 
 teynepleasurebyryghtorwronge,onlye 
 avoydynge this inconvenience, that the 
 lesse pleasure should not be a let or hin- 
 deraunce to the bigger : or that he labour/ 
 cd not for that pleasure, whiche would 
 bringe after it displeasure, greefe, and 
 sorrow, for they judge it extreame mad- 
 nes to folowe sharp and peinf ul vertue, 
 and not on ly to bannishe the pleasure of 
 life, but also willingly to suffer griefe, 
 without anye hope of profRt thereof en- 
 suinge, for what profKt can there be, if a 
 man,whenhehathpassedoverallhislyfe 
 unpleasauntly,thatistosay,miserablye, 
 shall havenorewarde after his death Pj^ 
 But nowe syr, they thinke not felicitie to 
 resteinallpleasure,butonlyinthatplea/ 
 162 
 
sure that IS good and boncstc, and that The 
 hereto, as to perf et blessednes our na- seconde 
 ture is allured & drawen even of vertue, booke of 
 whereto on lye they that be of the con- Utopia 
 trary opinion do attribute felicitie* for In this de- 
 they define vertue to be life ordered ac- finition of 
 cording to nature,^ that we be here unto vertue they 
 ordeined of god. Hnd that he dothe f ol- agrewith 
 lowe the course of nature, which in de- ^"^Stoici- 
 sieringandref usingethinges isruled by ^"^ 
 reason J^ furthermore that reason doth ^|^^ worke 
 chief ely & principallye kendle in men the ^x\<X effecte 
 love and veneration of the devine majes- of reason 
 tie* Of whose goodnes it is that we be, & in man 
 that we be in possibilitie to attayne f e - 
 licite J^ Hnd that secondarely it bothe 
 stirrethe and provoketh us to leade out 
 lyfe oute of care in joy and mirth, ^ also 
 moveth us to helpe and further all oth- 
 er in respecte of the societe of nature to 
 obteine and enjoye the same^f or there 
 was never man so earnest and painef ul a 
 follower of vertue and hater of pleasure, 
 that woldsoinjoyneyou laboures,watch- 
 inges, and fastinges, but he would also 
 exhort you to ease, lighten, ^ relieve, to 
 your powre, the lack & misery of others, 
 m 2 163 
 
TTbc prayGing the same as a dcdc of bumani- 
 
 sccondc tic, and pitic* TIbcn if it be a poyntc of 
 booNcof bumanitie for man to bring bcaltb and 
 Cltopu comf ortc to man, & specialise (wbicb is 
 
 avertue moste peculiarlye belonging to 
 man) to mitigate and assuage tbe greif e 
 of otbers,and by taking from tbem tbe 
 sorowe and bevynes of lyfe, to restore 
 tbem to joye, tbat is to say e to pleasure : 
 vpbie maye it not tben be sayd, tbat na- 
 ture dotb provoke every e man to doo tbe 
 sametobimselfe? 
 
 OR a joyf ull lyfe, tbat is to say, a 
 pleasaunt lyfe is eitber evel: andif 
 it be so, tben tbou sbouldest not 
 onlye belpe no man tberto, but ratber, 
 as m ucb as in tbe lietb, witbdrawe all men 
 f rome it, as noysome& burtef ul,or els if 
 f uiigriefesT ^^^" "^^ ^"^V mayste, but also of dewty 
 as tbougbe* ^^^ bound to procure it to otbers,wby not 
 tberin rest- cbiefely to tby selfe ? TTo wbome tbou art 
 ed some bound to sbew asmucb favoure and gen/ 
 
 biegbe telnes as to otber, for wben nature bid- 
 
 pointeof re/ cletb tbe to be good and gentle to otber 
 ligion,wbere/ 
 
 asratbertbereligiously disposed person,yf tbey bap- 
 pen to bim eitber by cbaunceor elles by naturall neces- 
 sities ougbt pacientlye to receaveand suffer tbem. 
 164 
 
 Butnowea 
 daiessomc 
 tber bee tbat 
 wyllinglyc 
 procure 
 unto tbem - 
 selves paine 
 
she commaundctb the not to be crucU TTbc 
 6 ungentle to tby selfe* TTberefore even seconde 
 very nature, saye tbey, prescribetb to us booke of 
 a joyful lyfe, tbat is to say, pleasure as Utopia 
 tbe ende of all oure operations J^ Hnd 
 tbey define vertue to be lyfe ordered ac- 
 cordyngetotbeprescripteof nature^But 
 in tbat, tbat nature dotbe allure and pro/ 
 voke men one to bealpe anotber to lyve 
 merily (wbicb suerly sbe dotb not witb- 
 out a good cause: for no man is so farre 
 above tbe lotte of mans state or condi- 
 tion, tbat nature dotbe carke and care for 
 bym on lye, wbicbe equally e favouretbe 
 all tbat be com preben ded un der tbe com / 
 munion ofone sbape forme and fassion) 
 verely sbe commaundetb tbe to use dili- 
 gent circumspection,tbat tbou donot so 
 seke for tbine owne commodities, tbat 
 tbou procure otbers incommodities* 
 ^^j^ReRefORetbeire opinion is, Bargaynes 
 ^^Ir! tbat not only covenauntes and andJvawes 
 ^^=^ bargaynes made amonge pri- 
 vatemen ougbt to be well and f ay tbef ul/ 
 lye fulfilled, observed, and kepte, but al- 
 so commen lawes, wbicb eitber a good 
 prince batbe justly publysbed, or els tbe 
 
 165 
 
T^bc people neither oppressed with tyrannye, 
 
 seconde neither deceaved by f raude & gyell, hath 
 booheof by tbeire common consent constituted 
 Utopia ^ ratified, conceminge the particion of 
 
 the commodities of lyfe, that is to say, 
 the matter of pleasure. TThese lawes not 
 offended, it is wysdome, that thou looke 
 to thine own wealthe.Hnd to doe the same 
 for the common wealth is no lesse then 
 thy duetie, if thou bearest any reverent 
 love, or any naturall zeale & affection to 
 thy native countreye* But to go about to 
 let an other man of his pleasure, whiles 
 thou procurest thine owne, that is open 
 wrong J^ Contrary wyse to withdrawe 
 somethinge from thy selfe to geve to 
 other, that is a pointe of humanitie and 
 gentilnes: whiche never takethawaye so 
 muche commoditie, as it bringethe a- 
 The mutual gayne* for it is recompensed with the re- 
 recourse of tourne of benefy tes; & the conscience of 
 kindnes the good dede,with the remembraunce 
 of the thankef ull love and benevolence 
 of them to whom thou hast done it, doth 
 brynge more pleasure to thy mynde, then 
 that whiche thou hast withholden from 
 thy selfe coulde have brought to thy bo/ 
 166 
 
dye J^ f inallyc (which to a godlv dis- TThc 
 posed and a religious mind is easy to be seconde 
 persuaded) God recompenseth the gifte ^oke of 
 of a short and smal pleasure with great ^^<^P^^ 
 and everlastinge joy eXherfore the mat/ 
 ter diligently weyede & con sidered, thus 
 they thinke, that all our actions, and in 
 them the vertues themselfes be referred 
 at the last to pleasure, as their ende and 
 felicitie* 
 
 iLeHSaae they call every mo- X:he defini- 
 tion and state of the bodie or ^^|^" <^^ 
 mynde, wherin man hath natur- Pl^^Q^^^ 
 ally delectation js^Hppetite they joyne 
 to nature, and that not without a good 
 cause* for like as, not only the senses, 
 but also right reason coveteth whatso- 
 ever is naturally pleasaunt, for that it 
 may be gotten without wrong or injurie, 
 not letting or debarring a greater plea- 
 sure,norcausingpainfullabour,evenso 
 thosethingesthatmenbyvaineymagin/ 
 ation do fayne against nature to be plea- f^lseand 
 saunt (as though it laye in their power ^f^}^\l 
 to chaunge the thinges, as they do the Qures^ 
 names of thinges) al suche pleasures 
 they beleve to be of so small helpe and 
 
 167 
 
sccondc 
 
 bookcof 
 
 Cltopia 
 
 XTbc ctTOur 
 of tbcm 
 tbatxstcmc 
 tbemsclfes 
 tbe more for 
 apparcUcs 
 
 8aRC 
 
 f urtbcrauncc to f clicitic, tbat tbcy coun tc 
 tbcm a great let & binderaunce* Because 
 tbatinwbom tbeybave ones taken place, 
 all bis mynde tbey possesse witb a false 
 opinion of pleasure* So tbat tbere is no 
 place left for true and naturall delecta- 
 tions.f or tbere bemanytbinges,wbicbof 
 tbeirownenatureconteynenoplesaunt- 
 nes : yea tbe moste parte of tbem mucbe 
 griefe & sorrowe, Hnd yet tbrougbe tbe 
 perverse & malicyous flickeringe intice- 
 m en tes of lewde and un bon este desy reSt 
 be taken not only for speciall and sover- 
 eigne pleasures, but also be counted a- 
 monge tbe cbiefe causes of lif ej^Xn tbis 
 counterfeat kinde of pleasure tbey put 
 tbem tbat X spake of before; wbicbe 
 tbe better gownes tbey bave on, tbe bet- 
 ter men tbey tbinke tbem self es* In tbe 
 wbicb tbing tbey dootwyseerre* for tbey 
 be no lesse deceaved in tbat tbey tbinke 
 tbeire gowne tbe better, tban tbey be, in 
 tbat tbey tbinke tbemselfes tbe better* 
 J^for if you consider tbe profitable use 
 of tbe garmente, wbye sbould wulle of a 
 f yner sponne tbrede, be tbougbt better 
 tben tbewulof acourse sponne tbrede? 
 168 
 
Yet tbev,as though thconc did passe the Tlbc 
 other by nature, andnot by their mistak- seconde 
 yng, avaunce themself es, and thinke the &J? - ^ 
 price of their owne persones thereby ^^^P*^ 
 greatly encreased, j^Hnd therefore the 
 honour, which in a course gowne they 
 durstenothavelokedfor,theyrequire,as 
 it were of dew tie, for they r f y n er gown es 
 sake. Hnd if they be passed by without 
 reverence, they takeitdispleasauntly and 
 disdain fuUye* 
 ^^]VD agayne, is it not a ly ke madnes f olish 
 ^^" to take a pryde in vayne & unprofit/ honore 
 able honours ? for what naturall or 
 trewe pleasure doest thou take of an oth/ 
 er mans bare hede, or bowed knees ? ^ill 
 this ease the paine of thy knees,or rem e- 
 die the phrensie of thy hede ? In this y m - 
 age of counterfeite pleasure, they be of a 
 marvelous madnesse,whiche for the o- 
 pinionofnobilitie,rejoysemuchein their 
 owne concey te* Because it was their for- '^^^jnc no- 
 tune to comeofsucheauncetoures,whose bilitie 
 stockeoflongetyme bathe bene counted 
 ryche(fornowenobilitieisnothingeelles) 
 speciallye riche in landes. Hnd though 
 their auncetours left them not one f oote 
 
 169 
 
x:bc 
 
 sccondc 
 
 bookeof 
 
 Cltopia 
 
 pleasure in 
 precious 
 stones 
 most folisb 
 
 TTbe opini- 
 on & fansie 
 of people 
 dotb aug- 
 ment and 
 diminisbe 
 tbe price & 
 estimation 
 of precious 
 stones 
 
 of lande,or els tbev tbemselves bave pys/ 
 seditagaynstetbewalleStVettbeytbinke 
 tbemselves not tbe lesse noble tberfore 
 of one bearej^ln tbis numberalsotbev 
 counte tbem tbat take pleasure & delite, 
 as X said, in gemmes & precious stones, 
 & tbynke tbemselves almooste goddes, 
 if tbeycbauncetogetteanexcellenteone, 
 specialise of tbat kyndcwbicbe in tbat 
 tyme of tbeirowne countre men is bad in 
 bygbest estimation^ for one kynde of 
 stone kepetb not bis pryce styll in all 
 countreis, and at all times. ]Vor tbey bye 
 tbem not, but taken outof tbe golde, and 
 bare: no nor so neitber, untyll tbey bave 
 made tbe seller to sweare tbat be will war/ 
 raunte & assure it to be a true stone, and 
 no counterfeit gemmej^Sucbecare tbey 
 take lesta counterfeitestone sbould de/ 
 ceave tbeir eyes in steade of a rygbte 
 stone. But wby sbouldest tbou not take 
 even asmucbe pleasure in beboldynge a 
 counterfeitestone, wbicbe tbine eye can/ 
 not discerne from arigbte stone? Tbey 
 sboulde botbe be of lyke value to tbee, 
 even as to tbe blynde man. 
 
 170 
 
RHt: sbalU save of them that The 
 kcpcsupcrfiuousricbcs,totahc ^^*^^^^^ 
 -^.^ — ^ delectation only in the behold- bookeof 
 ingCt and not in tbe use or occupiynge ^^<^P*^ 
 thereof? Do tbey take trew pleasure, or Beholders 
 elles be thei deceaved with false plea- of treasure, 
 sure? Or of them that be in a contrarie riotoccu- 
 vice, hidinge the goldwhiche they shall ^l^F 
 never occupy e, nor peradventure never ^^""^ 
 se more ? Hndwhiles they take care leaste Ryders of 
 they shall leese it, do leese it in dede^ treasure 
 for what is it elles, when they hyde it in 
 theground,takynge it bothe frome their 
 owne use, ^ perchaunce frome all other jj p^etie 
 mennes also? Hnd yet thou, when thou Action and 
 haste hydde thy treasure, as one out of a wittie 
 all care, hoppest for joye* The whiche 
 treasure, yf it shoulde chaunce to bee 
 stolen, ^ thou, ignoraunt of the thef te, 
 shouldestdyetenneyeares after tall that 
 tenne y eares space that thou ly vedestaf/ 
 ter thy money was stoolen, what matter 
 was it to thee, whether it hadde bene tak/ 
 en away e or elles safe as thou lef teste it ? 
 "Crewlye bothe wayes like prof y tte came 
 to thee. 
 
 171 
 
X:be 
 sccondc 
 bookcof 
 Cltopia 
 
 Dice pUyc 
 
 Run tinge & 
 hawk in ge 
 
 F)untingtbc 
 basest parte 
 of boucbers 
 among tbe 
 Cltopians, 
 andyet tbis 
 is nowe tbe 
 exercise of 
 most noble 
 men 
 
 O tbese so foolysbe pleasures tbey 
 joyne dicers, wbose madnesse tbey 
 hnowe by bearsay, and not by use. 
 Runters also, & bawkers. f orwbat plea- 
 sure is tbere, saye tbey, in castinge tbe 
 dice upon a table, wbicb tbou bast done 
 so often, tbat if tbere wer any pleasure 
 in it, yet tbe oft use migbt make tbee 
 werietbereofPj^Orwbat deli te can tbere 
 be,&notratberdyspleasureinbearynge 
 tbe barkynge and bovvlynge of dogges ? 
 Or wbat greater pleasure is tbcre to be 
 felte, wben a dogge followetb an bare, 
 tben wben a dogge followetb a dogge? 
 for one tbinge is done in botbe, tbat is 
 to saye, runnynge, yf tbou baste plea- 
 suretberin^Butyf tbebopeofslaugb/ 
 ter, and tbe expectation of tearynge in 
 peces tbe beaste dotb please tbee: tbou 
 sbouldestratber be moved witb pitieto 
 seeaselye innocente bare murdered of a 
 dogge: tbe weake of tbe stronger, tbe 
 f earef ull of tbe f earce, tbe innocente of 
 tbe cruell and unmcrcyf ulL 
 
 f^eaefORe all tbys exercyse 
 of buntynge, as a tbynge unwor- 
 tbye to be used of free men, tbe 
 172 
 
dtopianshavcrcjcctcd to their boucbcrs^XTbc 
 to the wbicbc craf te, as we sayde before, seconde 
 tbey appointe tbeir bondemen* for tbey ^^^^? ^^ 
 counte buntyngetbe lowest, tbevyleste, ^*^^P*^ 
 andmoosteabjectepartofboucberie,and 
 tbe otber partes of it more profitable, & 
 moreboneste,asbryngyngeTnucbemore 
 commoditie, in tbat tbey kyll beastes 
 onely for necessitie ; wbere as tbe bun ter 
 seketb notbinge but pleasure of tbe see/ 
 lye ^wofull beastes slaughter and mur/ 
 der* 'Cbevpbicbe pleasure in beboldinge 
 deatbe, tbey tbinke doetbrise in tbe very 
 beastes, either of a cruel affection of 
 mind, or els to be chaunged in continu- 
 aunceof time into cruel tie, by longe use 
 of so cruell a pleasureji^XTbese therf ore 
 andallsucbelike,wbicbebeinnumerable, 
 though the common sorteof people doth 
 take them for pleasures, yet they, seing 
 there isnonaturalpleasauntnes in them, 
 do playnly determine them tobavenoaf/ 
 finitie with trew and right pleasure^f or 
 as toucbinge that tbey do commonlye 
 move the sense wy tb delectation (xvhiche 
 semeth tobeawoorkeof pleasure) this 
 doeth nothynge diminishe tbeir opini- 
 
 173 
 
Tlbc on, for not the nature of the thing, but 
 
 sccondc tbcir perverse and lewde custome is tbe 
 
 bookeof cause bereof, ^bicbe causetb tbem to 
 
 Utopia accept bitter or sowre tbynges forswete 
 
 tbyngesjj^Sven as women witb cbild in 
 
 tbeir viciate and corrupte taste, tbynke 
 
 PVtcbe ^ tallowe swetertben any boney* 
 
 Rowbeitnomannes judgemente deprav/ 
 
 cd and corrupte, eitber by syckenes, or 
 
 by custome, can cbaunge tbe nature of 
 
 pleasure, more tben it can do tbe nature 
 
 of otber tbinges, 
 
 X^be Nindes (^^f>BY make divers kindes of plea- 
 
 of trewplea/ j|^ sures j& for some tbey attribute 
 
 sures 1^^ to tbe sou le, and som e to tbe body ♦ 
 
 Tio tbe soule tbey geve intelligence, and 
 
 tbat delectation tbat commetbe of tbe 
 
 contemplation of trewtb. hereunto is 
 
 joyned tbe pleasaunte remembraunce of 
 
 i:be plea- tbe good lyf e pastej^T:be pleasure of 
 
 sures of tbe tbe body e tbey devide into i\* partes* T^be 
 
 bodye ftrst is wben delectation is sensibly felt 
 
 & perceaved* Cdbicbe many times cbaun/ 
 
 cetb by tbe renewing and refreshing of 
 
 those partes, wbicbeourenaturall beate 
 
 drieth up* t:bis commeth by meate and 
 
 drynke* Hnd sometymes wbyles those 
 
 174 
 
tb^ngcs be cxpulscd, and voydcd, wbcr/ Tbc 
 of is in tbe body over great abundaunce. ^^*'^^^- 
 x:bis pleasure is felt, wben we do our na/ ^<^«? ^^ 
 tural easement, or wben we be doyng tbe ^^^P^ 
 acte of generation, or wben tbe y tcbinge 
 of any part is eased witb rubbyng or 
 scratcbyngejj^Sometimes pleasure ris/ 
 ctb exbibitinge toanymembrenotbynge 
 tbat it desire tb, nor tahynge from it any 
 painetbat it feeletb,\vbicb nevertbelesse 
 tikletb and movetb oure senses wytb a 
 certeine secrete efTicacie, butwitb amani/ 
 fest motion tumetbe tbem to it« Hs is 
 tbat wbicbe commetb of musiche. 
 '^^^RBseconde parte of bodely plea/ ^^^^Jy 
 ra^^ sure, tbey say, is tbat wbicb con/ »^^^i^»> 
 ^^^ sistetbandrestetbin tbe quiete 
 and uprygbte state of tbe bodye* Hnd 
 tbat trcwlye is every e mannes ownepro- 
 pre bealtb enterminglcd and disturbed 
 witb no griefe^f or tbis,yf it be not let/ 
 ted nor assaultedwitb no greif, is delect/ 
 able of it selfe, tbougbe it be moved witb 
 no extemall or outwarde pleasure* for 
 tbougb it be not so plain and manyfeste 
 to tbe sense, as tbe gredye luste of eat- 
 ynge and drynkynge, yet nevertbelesse 
 
 175 
 
TZbc manyc take it for the cbicfcstc pleasure, 
 
 seconde Hll the Cltopians graunt it to be a right 
 
 booheof sovereigne pleasure, and as you woulde 
 
 Utopia Q^y^ |.|^g foundation and grounde of all 
 
 pleasures, as whiche even alone is bable 
 
 to make the state and condition of life 
 
 delectable and pleasaunt, Hnd it beyng 
 
 once taken awaye, there is no place lef te 
 
 for any pleasure, for to be without greife 
 
 not havinge health, that they call unsen/ 
 
 sibilitie,andnot pleasure. 
 
 JRB Cltopians have long a go reject/ 
 ^ ed and condempned the opinion of 
 them , whiche sayde that s tedfaste 
 and quiete healthe (for this question al- 
 so hathe bene diligently debatedamonge 
 them) oughte not therfore to be counted 
 a pleasure, bycause they saye it can not 
 be presentlye and sensiblye perceaved <& 
 felte by some outwarde motion* But of 
 the contrarie parte nowe they agree al- 
 mooste all in this, that healthe is amoost 
 soveraigne pleasure j^ for seynge that 
 in sycknesse, saye they, is greiffe,whiche 
 is a mortal enemie to pleasure, even as 
 sicknes is to health, why should not then 
 pleasure be in the quietnes of health 7 for 
 176 
 
tbcv say It mahctb nothing to this mat- r^be 
 tcr, whether you say e that sycknesse (s a seconde 
 grief COY that in sickenes is griefe,for all hooke of 
 commethe to one purpose* for whether Utopia 
 health beapleasureitselfe,oranecessary 
 cause of pleasure, as tier is of heate,true/ 
 lye bothewayes it foloweth, that they can/ 
 not be withoute pleasure, that be in per- 
 fect beltbji^ furthermore whiles we eat, 
 say they, then healthe, whiche beganne 
 to be appayred, ftghteth by the helpe of 
 foode againste hunger. In the which ftght, 
 whiles health by litle and litlegetteth the 
 upper hande, that same procedyng, and 
 (as ye would say) that onwardnes to the 
 wonte strength ministreth that pleasure, 
 wherby we be so refreshed j^ Realtb 
 therfore,whiche in the conflict is joy efu II, 
 shall it not bemery, when it hathgootten 
 the victorie ? But as soone as it bathe re- 
 covered the pristinate strength, which 
 thingonelyin all theftght it coveted, shal 
 itincontinentbeastonied?]^orshalitnot 
 know nor im brace the owne wealthe and 
 goodnes?forwhereitissaid,healthecan 
 not be felt : this, they thinke, is nothing 
 trew.forwhatmanwakyng,sayethey,feli 
 n 177 
 
The 
 eccondc 
 bookcof 
 CItopia 
 
 Delectation 
 
 XTbe plea- 
 sures of the 
 mynde 
 
 etbe not bimselfe in health : but he that 
 19 not? Is there anye man so possessed 
 with stonishe insensibilitie, or with le- 
 thargie, that is to say, the slcpingsick- 
 nes, that he will not graunt healthe to be 
 acceptable to him, and delectable ? But 
 what other thinge is delectation, than 
 that whiche by an other name is called 
 pleasure? 
 
 P)SY im brace chiefiie the plea- 
 sures of themind, for them they 
 counte the chiefist & most prin- 
 cipallofallXhechiefeparteof them they 
 thinke doth come of the exercise of ver- 
 tue,& conscience of good life^Of these 
 pleasures that the body ministreth, they 
 geve the preeminence to helth^f or the de/ 
 lite of eatinganddrinking,^ whatsoever 
 hath any like pleasauntnes, they deter- 
 myne to be pleasures muche to be desir- 
 ed, but no other wayes than for healthes 
 sake* f or suche thinges of their own pro/ 
 pernaturebenotsopleasaunt,butinthat 
 they resiste sickenesse privelie stealing 
 onXherfore like as it is a Wisemans part, 
 rather to avoid sicknes,then to wishe for 
 medicines,^ rather todriveaway&putto 
 178 
 
fiigbtcarcf uUgricfcs, then tocall for com/ The 
 fort : so it is mucbe better not to neade seconde 
 tbis hCnde of pleasure, tben tbereby to be ^<^*^? ^^ 
 cased of tbe contrarie griefeXbe wbicbe ^»^opia 
 
 hinde of pleasure, yf^^T^ ^^" ^^^^ ^^^ 
 bis felicitie,tbat man must nedes graun t, 
 tbat tben be sbalbe in most felicitie, if be 
 live tbat lif e wbicb is led in con tin uall bun/ 
 ger, tburste, itcbinge, eatinge, drynk- 
 ynge,scratcbynge,&rubbingXbewbicb 
 life bow not only f oule, & unbonest, but 
 also bowe miserable andwretcbed it is, 
 wbo percevetb not ? T^bese doubtles be 
 tbe basest pleasures ofal, as unpure and 
 unperfect* for tbey never come, but ac- 
 companied witb tbeir contrarie grief es. 
 Hs witb tbe pleasure of eating is joyned 
 bunger, and tbat after no very egal sort« 
 foroftbeseii^tbegriefeisbotbtbemore 
 vebement, and also of longer continu- 
 aunce* for it beginnetb before tbe plea- 
 sure, and endetb not until tbe pleasure 
 die witb it* Slberefore sucbe pleasures 
 tbey tbinke not greatlye to be set by, 
 but in tbat tbei be necessari J^ Rowbeit 
 tbey bave delite also in tbese, and tban k- 
 f ulli knowledge tbat tender love of mo- 
 n2 179 
 
The tbcr nature, which with most plcasaunt 
 
 sccondc delectation allureth her children to that, 
 booke of to the necessarie use wherof they must 
 CXtopia from time to time continually be forced 
 
 and driven ♦ for how wretched and mis- 
 erable should our life be, if these dailic 
 greffes of hunger and thurst coulde not 
 be driven awaye, but with bitter potions, 
 & sower m edicin es, as the other diseases 
 The gif tes ^^^ wherwith we be seldom er troubled ? 
 of nature But beutie, strengthe,nemblenes, these 
 as peculiar and pleasaunt gif tes of na- 
 ture they make much of. 
 
 ^QH those pleasures that be re- 
 ceaved by the eares, the eyes, and 
 Si the nose,whiche nature willeth to 
 be proper & peculiar to man (for no oth- 
 er livinge creature doth behold the faire- 
 nes and the bewtie of the worlde, or is 
 moved with any respecte of favours, but 
 onely for the diversitie of meates, nei- 
 ther perceaveth the concordaunte and 
 discordant distaunces of soundes and 
 tunes) these pleasures, X say, they ac- 
 cept and alowe as certen pleasaunte re- 
 joysinges of lif e. But in all thinges this 
 cautel they use, that a lesse pleasure 
 180 
 
bindcrnot a bigger, & that the pleasure Tlbc 
 be no cause of displeasure, wbicbe tbev seconde 
 tbinke tofolow of necessitie, if tbe plea/ ^<^«? ^^ 
 sure be unboneste jgFBut yet to dispise ^^<^P*^ 
 tbe com lines of bewtie, to wast tbe bod/ 
 elie strengtb, to tume nimblenes into 
 slougbisbnesse, to consume and make 
 f eble tbe bodie witb fastinge, to do in- 
 jurie to bealtbe, and to rejecte tbe plea- 
 saunte motions of nature, onles a man 
 neglecte tbese commodities, wbiles be 
 dotbe witb a fervent zeale procure tbe 
 wealtbe of otbers, or tbe commen pro- 
 ftte, for tbe wbicbe pleasure forborne, 
 be is in boope of a greater pleasure at 
 goddes bande, elles for avaine sbaddow 
 of vertue, for tbe wealtb and proftte of 
 no man, to punisbe bimself e, or to tbe 
 intente be maye be bable courragiouslie 
 to suflPer adversite: wbicbe percbaunce 
 sball never come to bim, tbis to do tbey 
 tbinke it a point of extreame madnes, 
 and a token of a man cruellye minded 
 towardes bimself e, ^ unkind towardes 
 nature, as one so disdaining to be in ber 
 daunger, tbat be renouncetb & ref usetb 
 allberbenefites* 
 
 18] 
 
The 
 scconde 
 bookcof 
 Cltopia 
 
 JMarhc this 
 
 Cbcwcalthc 
 & descrip- 
 tion of the 
 Cltopians 
 
 r>X& is tbcirscntcncc andopinion 
 of vcrtuc and pleasure* Hnd tbey 
 beleve tbat by mans reason none 
 can be found trewer tben tbis, onles any 
 godlyer be inspired in toman from beven 
 jjj? QIberin,wbetber tbey beleve well or 
 no, neitber tbe time dotb suffer us to 
 discusse, neitber it is nowe necessarie. 
 for we bave taken upon us to sbewe and 
 declare tbeir laws and ordinaunces, and 
 not to def ende tbem ^ Bu t tbis tbynge 
 1 beleve verely : bowe soever tbese decrees 
 be, tbat tbere is in no place of tbe world, 
 neytber amore excellent people, neitber 
 a more flourisbynge commen wealtb j^ 
 T^bey be lygbte and quicke of bodie, full 
 of activitie and nimblenes, and of more 
 strengtb tben a man woulde judge tbem 
 by tbeir stature, wbicb for all tbat is not 
 to lowe* Hnd tbougbe tbeyr soy le be not 
 verie frutefull, nor tbeir aier very wbol- 
 some, yet againste tbeayer tbey so de- 
 f ende tbem witb temperate diete, and so 
 order and busbande tbeir grounde witb 
 diligente travaile, tbat in no countrey is 
 greater increase, & plentye of come and 
 cattell, nor mens bodies of longer lyfe, 
 182 
 
and subject or aptc to fewer diseases. The 
 'Chere, tberfore, a man maye see well and seconde 
 diligentlie exploited and furnished, not ^okeof 
 onelye those thinges whiche husbande- ^^^P*^ 
 men do commenly in other countreis, as 
 by craft & cunninge toremedie the bar- 
 rennes of the grounde : but also a whole 
 wood by the handes of the people pluck/ 
 ed up by the rootes in one place, and set 
 againe in an other place.^herein was had 
 regard and consideration, not of plenty, 
 but of commodious carriage, that wood 
 and timber might be nigher to the sea, 
 or the rivers, or the cities* for it is lesse 
 laboure and businesse to carrie grayne 
 farre by land, than wood. 
 ^^r)S people be gentle, merie,quicNe, 
 1^^ & f yne witted, delitinge in quietnes, 
 ^^ and when nederequireth,habletoa/ 
 bide & suffer much bodelie laboure. Gls 
 they benot greatly desirous ^ fond of it : 
 but in the exercise & studie of the mind 
 they be never wery J^ <Klhen they had 'Cheutilitie 
 herd me speak of the greke literature or ^^ thegreke 
 lerning (for in latin there was nothing ^^"3*^ 
 that 1 thought they would greatly alow, 
 besides historiens ^ poetes) they made 
 
 183 
 
Cbc 
 sccondc 
 booNcof 
 CXtopia 
 
 H wondcr- 
 fuUaptncs 
 to learn in gc 
 in the Clto- 
 pians 
 
 But now 
 most block/ 
 bcdcdasscs 
 bcscttcto 
 learn ingc, 
 and most 
 pregnaunt 
 wittes cor- 
 rupt witb 
 pleasures 
 
 won derf u U earn es te & im portunate su tc 
 unto me tbat t would teacb & instructe 
 tbem in tbat tonge and leaminge.I be- 
 ganne tberfore to reade unto tbem, at 
 tbe first truelie more bicauselwould not 
 seme to refuse tbe laboure, tben tbat 1 
 booped tbat tbev would anytbing pro- 
 ftte tberein. But wben X bad gone for- 
 ward a litle, 1 perceaved in con tin en te by 
 tbeir diligence, tbat my laboure sbould 
 not be bestowed in vaine. for tbey be- 
 gan so easelie to fasbion tbeir letters, 
 so plainlie to pronounce tbe woordes, 
 so quickelie to learne by bearte, and so 
 suerlie to rebearse tbe same, tbat X mar- 
 vailed at it, savinge tbat tbe most parte 
 of tbem were fine and cbosen wittes and 
 of ripe age, piked oute of tbe companie 
 of tbe learned men, wbicbe not onelie of 
 tbeir owne free and voluntarie will, but 
 also by tbe commaundemente of tbe 
 counsell, undertoke to learne tbis Ian- 
 gage* ITberef ore in lesse tben tbre yeres 
 space tbere was notbing in tbe Greke 
 tonge tbat tbey lacked, ^bey were bable 
 toredegoodautborswitbouteaniestaye, 
 if tbe booke were not false, ^bis kynde 
 J 84 
 
of Icamingc, as X supposCt tbcy tokc so The 
 mucbe the sooner, bycause, it is sum- sccondc 
 wbat allyauntc to tbctn J^for I tbinhe bookc of 
 tbat tbis nation tookc tbcir bcginningc ^*^<^P^^ 
 of tbc Grckcs, bycausc tbcir spccbc, 
 wbicb in al otbcr poyntcs is not mucb 
 un lykc tbc Persian ton gckcpctbdyvcrs 
 signcs and tokens of tbc greke langagc 
 in tbc names of tbcir cityes, & of tbeire 
 magistrates J^ 'Cbey bave of me (for 
 wben I was detcrmyned to entre into my 
 iiii, voyage, 1 caste into tbc sbippe, in tbc 
 steade of marcbandise, a prety fardel of 
 bookes, bycause 1 intended to come a- 
 gainc ratber never tban sbortly) tbey 
 bave, X saye, of me tbc moste parte of 
 platocs workes, more of Hristotles, 
 also Xl^beopbrastus of plantes, but in 
 divers places (wbicb lam sorye for) un- 
 pcrfccte^forwbilcswcwcrcasbipbordc, 
 a marmoset cbaunced upon tbc bookc, 
 as it was negligcntlyc laydc by, wbicb 
 wantonlyc playingc tberewytb plucked 
 oute certcync leaves, and toore tbem in 
 pieces J^ Of tbem tbat bave wrytten tbc 
 grammer, tbey bave onclyc J^ascaris* for 
 tbcodorus X caricd not wytb me, nor 
 
 J85 
 
r:be never a dictionarve, but P)esicbius, and 
 
 seconde Dioscorides J^ TTbey sett greate stoore 
 booke of by plutarcbes bookcs, Hnd tbey be de- 
 Qtopia lytedwytbL^ucianesmeryconceytesand 
 
 jestes. Of tbe poetes tbey bave Hristo- 
 pbanes, Romer, Suripides, and Sopbo- 
 cles in Hldus small prynte. Of tbe his- 
 torians tbey bave Tbucidides, Herodo- 
 tus, and Rerodian J^ Hlso my compan- 
 ion, t^ricius Hpinatus, caried witb bim 
 pbisick bokes, certein smal woorkesof 
 r)ippocrates and Galenes JVIicrotecbne. 
 'Cbe wbycbe boke tbey bave in greate es/ 
 pbisike timation* for tbougbe tbere be almost 
 biegbly no nation under beaven tbat batb lesse 
 regarded nedeof pbisicketbantbey,yet tbisnot/ 
 witbstanding, pbisicke is no wbere in 
 greater bonoun Bycause tbey coun te tbe 
 knowledge of it among tbe goodlyeste, 
 and most prof ytable partes of pbilos- 
 opbie* for wbyles tbey by tbe belpe of 
 tbis pbilosopbie searcbe oute tbe se- 
 crete mysteryes of nature, tbey tbinke 
 tbemself es to receave tberby not onlye 
 wonderf ull greate pleasure, but also to 
 obteine great tbankes and favour of tbe 
 autour and maker tberof ♦ 
 186 
 
[f^OJMe tbey tbinke according XTbc 
 to tbc f assion of otber artifi- scconde 
 -^.^.^-^ ccrs,tobavc8Ctfurtbtbemar/ t^okcof 
 vclous and gorgious frame of tbc world ^*^opia 
 for man witb great affeccion intentively r^be con- 
 to bebolde* Olbom only be batb made of templacion 
 witte and capacCtie to consCdre and un- of nature 
 derstand tbe excellencie of so great a 
 woorN^Hnd tberefore be bearetb, say 
 tbey, more goodwU and love to tbe curi- 
 ous and diligent bebolder and vewer of 
 bis woork & marvelour at tbe same, tben 
 be dotb to bim, wbicb like a very brute 
 beaste witbout witte and reason, or as 
 one witbout sense or moving, batbe no 
 regarde to soo greate & so wonderfulla 
 spectacle jj^XTbe wittes tberefore of tbe 
 dtopians inurede and exercised in learn/ 
 ynge, bemarveilous quycke in tbe inven- 
 tion of feates belpinge annye tbingeto 
 tbe advantage & wealtbe of lyflPe* Rowe/ 
 beit iu feates tbeyemaye tbanke us fon 
 Tlbat is, tbe scyence of imprinting, and 
 tbe crafte of makinge paper* Hnd yet 
 not onelye us but cbief elye and princi- 
 pallye tbemself es« 
 
 187 
 
ITbc ^[^RiOR when wc sbcwcdc to tbcm Hl- 
 
 sccondc fji^kj <^"S bis print in bookcs of paper, 
 booNc of EIS^ ^ told tbcm of tbc stuff c wbcrof 
 Utopia paper is made, & of tbe f eate of graving 
 
 letters, speaking sumwbat more tben 
 we colde plain lye declare (for tbere was 
 none of ustbat Nnewe perfective eitber 
 tbe one or tbe otber) tbey furtbwitb 
 very wittely conjectured tbe tbinge J^ 
 Hnd vpbere as before tbey wrote onely in 
 skinnes, in barkes of tryes, and in rides, 
 nowetbeybave attempted tomake paper 
 and to imprint letters, Hnd tbougbe at 
 tbe first yt proved not all of tbe beste, 
 yet by often assay in ge tbe same tbey 
 sbortelye got tbe f eate of botbe, Hnd 
 bave so brougbte tbe matter aboute, 
 tbat yf tbey bad copyes of Greeke au- 
 tbores, tbey coulde lacke no bookes^ 
 Butnowe tbey bave no moore tben I re- 
 hearsed before, savinge tbat by prynt- 
 ynge of bookes tbey bave multiplyed 
 & increased tbe same into manye tbou- 
 sandes of copies, 
 
 iROSOeveRcummetbetbe/ 
 tbertoseetbelande,beingeex- 
 cellent in anye gif te of wytte, 
 
ortbroughcmuchcand longcjoumiengc The 
 XQCi cxpcricnscd and scnc in the hnowe- sccondc 
 Icdgof many countrcics (for tbcwbycbc boohcof 
 cause V9CC were very welcome to tbem) Utopia 
 bim tbey receyve & interteyne wonders 
 gentilly ^ lovingly e* for tbey bave delite 
 to beare wbat is done in every lande^ bow/ 
 beit verye fewe marcbaunte men come 
 tbetber jff for wbat sboulde tbey bring 
 tbetber,onlesit were iron, orelsgold and 
 silver, wbicbe tbey badde ratber carrye 
 bome agayne? Hlso sucb tbinges as are 
 to be caryed oute of tbeire lande, tbey 
 tbinke it more wysedome to carry tbat 
 gere f urtbe tbemself es, tben tbat otber 
 sboulde come tbetber to f etcbe it, to tben/ 
 tentetbeymayetbe better Nnowetbe out 
 landes on every syde of tbem, and kepe 
 in ure tbe feate ^ knowledge of sailinge* 
 
 189 
 
sccondc 
 
 bookcof 
 
 Cltopia 
 
 H marvel- 
 ous cquitic 
 of this na- 
 tion 
 
 Of Bondemcn, sichc persons, wedlocke, 
 and divers other matters/S^^ 
 
 F>6TttCitbermakc 
 bondemen of pris/ 
 oners taken in bat/ 
 tayle, oneles it be 
 in battaylle that 
 they fougbte them 
 selfes^norofbondi 
 mens children, nor 
 tobesbort,ofanye 
 sucbeastbeycanne 
 gette oute of forreine countries, tbougb 
 be were there a bondman. But either 
 suche as amonge tbemselfes for hein- 
 ous offences be punyshed with bond- 
 age, or elles suche as in the cities of 
 other Ian des for great trespasses be con/ 
 dempned todeathe. Hndof this sort of 
 bondemen they have mooste stoore, 
 gj^^OR manye of them they bringe 
 fcjl^fl home, sumtimes payinge very ly- 
 E^^ tleforthem,yeamoostecommon/ 
 lye gettyngethem for gramercye, These 
 sortes of bondemen they kepe not onely 
 in continualwoorke & labour, but also in 
 bandes* But their oune men they handle 
 190 
 
hardest, whom tbcy judge more deeper- The 
 ate,&tobavedeservedgreaterpunissbe/ seconde 
 mente, because tbey being so godlye bookeof 
 brougbteup tovertue in soo excelentea ^^^P^^ 
 common wealtb, could not for all tbat 
 be ref reined from misdoingjj^Hn otber 
 kinde of bondemen tbev have, when avile 
 drudge, being a poore laborer in an otber 
 country, doth chuese of his owne free 
 wylltobeabondmanamongthem^'Chese 
 they intreate and order honestly, and 
 enterteine almosteas gen tellye, as theire 
 owne free cytyzeins, savynge that they 
 put them to a lyttle more laboure, as 
 thereto accustomed* '^f annye suche be 
 disposed to departe thens, whiche sel- 
 dome is scene, they neither holde him a- 
 gainste his wyll, neither sende him away 
 with emptye handes* 
 
 gne sycke, as X sayde, they see to Of them 
 with great affection,&lettenothing that be 
 at al passe concerning either phi- sickc 
 sycke or good diete, whereby they may 
 be restored againe to their health* Such 
 as be sicke of incurable diseases they 
 comforte with sittinge by them, with 
 talkinge with them, & to be shorte, with 
 
 191 
 
sccondc 
 
 booNcof 
 
 CItopia 
 
 Voluntaryc 
 dcatbc 
 
 all mancrofbctpes that mavbejS^Butyf 
 tbc disease be not onelye uncurable, but 
 alsofullofcontynuallpavne&anguisbe: 
 tben tbe priestes and tbe magistrates 
 exbort tbe man, seinge be is not bable to 
 doo anye dewty of lyffe, and by overly v- 
 inge bisownedeatbe is noysome & irke- 
 someto otber,and grevous to bimselfe, 
 tbat bevpyl determine witb bimselfe no 
 longer to cberysbetbatpestilent&peine/ 
 fuldisease^Hnd seinge bis lyfeis to bim 
 but a tormente, tbat be wyl not bee un- 
 willinge to dye, but ratber take a good 
 bope to bim, and eitber dispatcbe bim- 
 selfe out of tbat paynefullyffe, as outof 
 a prison, or a racke of torment, or elles 
 suffer bimselfe wyllinglye to be rydde 
 oute of it by otber^Hnd in so doinge 
 tbey tell bim be sball doo wysely, seing 
 by bis deatbe be sball lise no commodi- 
 tye, but ende bis payne* Hnd bycause in 
 tbatacte be sball followe tbe counsel of 
 tbe pryestes, tbat is to saye, of tbe in- 
 terpreters of goddes wylland pleasure, 
 tbey sbewe bim tbat be sball do lyke a 
 godly and a vertuous man* Tbey tbat be 
 tbus persuaded, finysbetbeire lives will/ 
 192 
 
ynglyc, cither with hunger, or dies dye The 
 in theire sleape without anye f ealinge of seconde 
 deathe* But they causenone suche to dye ^ohc of 
 agaynste his wyll, nor they use no lesse ^^^P^^ 
 dilygence and attendaunce aboute him: 
 belevinge this to bean honorable deathe. 
 Biles he that hilleth himselfe before that 
 the pryestes & the counsel have allowed 
 the cause of his deathe, him as unworthy 
 either to be bury ed, or with fier to be con/ 
 sumed, they caste unburied into some 
 stinkinge marrish, 
 
 'f>B woman is not maried before Of wed- 
 she bexviiiyeresolde^XIheman locke 
 'is iiijyeres elder before he marye» 
 If either the man or the woman beproved 
 to have actually offended before theire 
 marriage,with an other^the party e that so 
 hathe trespaced is sharpelye punished. 
 Hnd bothe the offenders be forbidden 
 ever after in al theire lyfe to marry e: one- 
 les the faulte be forgeven by the princes 
 pardon e* But bothe the good man & the 
 goodwyfeof the house, where that of- 
 fense was committed,as beingeslache & 
 ncglyo^cnt in lokinge to theire chardge, 
 be in daunger of greate reproche and m- 
 01 193 
 
TTbc f amyc JS^ That offense is so sbarpely 
 
 seconde punysbed, bicause tbey perceave, tbat 
 
 bookc of onles tbey be diligentlye kepte from tbe 
 
 Otopia libertyeof tbis vice, f ewe wyll joyne to- 
 
 getber in tbe love of marriage, wberein 
 
 all tbe lyfe must be ledwitbone,andalso 
 
 all tbe grief es & displeasures comming 
 
 tberewitb paciently be taken and borne. 
 
 ^^aRX:ReR]VIORe in cbuesingc 
 
 RI^W wyfes&busbandestbey observe 
 
 CTS^ earnestly & stray telye a custome, 
 
 I^bougbe wl^icbe semed to us very f onde and fol- 
 
 not verie ysbe. for a sad and an bonest matrone 
 
 honestly, sbewetb tbe woman, besbemaydeorwid/ 
 
 yet not un- dowe, naked to tbewower.Hndlykewyse 
 
 wiselye a sage and discrete man exbibytetb tbe 
 
 wower naked to tbe woman. Ht tbis cus- 
 
 tomewelaugbed,&disaloweditasfool- 
 
 isbe. But tbey on tbe otber part doo 
 
 greatly e wonder at tbe f oily e of al otber 
 
 nations, wby cbe in by inge a colte, wbere/ 
 
 asalytlemoneyisinbasarde,besocbarye 
 
 and circumspecte, tbat tbougbe be beal- 
 
 mosteall bare, yet tbey wy llnot by e bym, 
 
 oneles tbe saddel and all tbe bameies be 
 
 taken of, leaste under tbose coverynges 
 
 be bydde som galle or soore. Hnd yet in 
 
 194 
 
cbuestngc a wyfc, wbycbc sbalbc citber Tbc 
 pleasure or displeasure to tbem all tbeire seconde 
 ly fe after, tbey be so recbeles, tbat al tbe t>ooNe of 
 resydewe of tbe woomans bodye beinge Utopia 
 covered witb clootbes, tbey esteme ber 
 scaselye be one bandebredetb (for tbey 
 can se no more but ber face), and so to 
 joyne ber to tbem not witbout greate 
 jeoperdye of evel agreinge togetber, yf 
 any tbing in ber body afterward sbould 
 cbaunce to offend and myslyke tbem j^ 
 for all men be not so wyse, as to bave re- 
 specte to tbe vertuous conditions of tbe 
 partie* Hnd tbe endowmentesof tbe bo- 
 dye cause tbe vertues of tbe minde more 
 to be estemed and regarded: yea even in 
 tbemariagesofwysemen^Verelysofoule 
 deformitie maye be bydde under tbose 
 coveringes, tbat it maye quite alienate & 
 take awaye tbe mans mynde from bis 
 wyfe,wben it sbalnot be lawful for tbeire 
 bodies to be separate agayne* If sucbe 
 deformitie bappen by any cbaunce after 
 tbemariage is consummate and finysb- 
 ed, wel, tbere is no remedie but patience* 
 Svery man muste take bis fortune wel a 
 wortbe. But it were wel done tbat a lawe 
 2 195 
 
The 
 sccondc 
 boohc of 
 Cltopia 
 
 Oivorcc- 
 ment 
 
 were made wbercbye all sucbe deccytcs 
 mygbte be escbewed, and advoyded be- 
 fore bande* 
 
 llVO tbis were tbey constreyned 
 more eamestlye to looke upon, 
 because tbeyonlyeoftbenations 
 in tbat parte of tbe worlde bee contente 
 everye man witb one wyf e a piece* Hnd 
 matrymoneie is tbere never broken, but 
 by deatb: excepte adulterye breake tbe 
 bonde, or els tbe intoUerable wayewarde 
 manersof eitber partye. for if eitberof 
 tbem finde tbemselfe for any sucb cause 
 greved: tbey maye by tbe license of tbe 
 counsel cbaunge and take anotber. But 
 tbe otber partie lyvetb ever after in in- 
 famye, & out of wedlocke. Rowebeit tbe 
 busbande to put away bis wife for no 
 otber faulte, but for tbat some mys- 
 bappe is fallen to ber bodye, tbis by no 
 meanes tbey wyll suffre* for tbey judge 
 it a great poynt of crueltie, tbat anye 
 body in tbeir moste nede of belpe and 
 com forte, sboulde be caste of and for- 
 saken,&tbatoldeage, wbycb botb bring/ 
 ctb sicknes witb it, and is a syckenes it 
 self e, sbould unkindly & unfaytbf ullye 
 196 
 
be delte witbalL But nowc and then it TTbc 
 cbaunsctb, wbcrc as tbc man and tbc sccondc 
 woman cannot well agree betwene tbem- ^^*^? ^^ 
 selfes, botb of tbem fyndinge otber, ^^^P^^ 
 witbwbometbevbopetolyvemorequiet/ 
 lye & merylve, tbat tbey by tbe full con- 
 senteoftbembotbebedivorsedasonder 
 and maried again to otber* But tbat not 
 witbout tbe autboritie of tbe counsell, 
 wbicbe agreetb to no divorses, before 
 tbey and tbeir wy f es bave diligently tried 
 and examyned tbe matter* Yea and tben 
 also tbey be lotbe to consent to it, by- 
 cause tbey Nnow tbis to be tbe next way 
 to break love betwene man & wyf e, to be 
 in easye bope of a newmariage^Break- 
 ers of wedlocke be puny sbed witb moos te 
 grevousbondage.Hndif botbtbeofFend- 
 ers were maried, tben tbe parties wbicbe 
 in tbat bebalf e bave sufFerede wrong, be- 
 ingedivorsed from tbeavoutrers, bema/ 
 ried togetber, if tbey wille, or els to wbom 
 tbey lust* But if eitberof tbem botb do 
 stylcontineweinlovetowardesounkinde 
 a bedfellowe, tbe use of wedlocke is not 
 to tbem forbidden, if tbe party e faulte- 
 les be disposed to f ollowe in toylinge 6 
 
 197 
 
The drudgcryc the person, which for that of^ 
 
 sccondc fence is condempned to bondage. Hnd 
 booke of very of te it chaunceth that the repent- 
 Utopia aunceof theone, & the eameste diligence 
 oftheother,dothesomovetheprincewith 
 pytie&compassion,thatherestoreththe 
 bonde person e from servitude to Ubertie 
 and fredom again. But if the same partie 
 be taken ef tsones in that faulte, there is 
 T:he decern/ nootherwaye but death^^oothertres/ 
 ing of pun/ paces no prescript punishmente is ap- 
 '^ tT/t ^th P^V^ted byanye lawe. But accordinge to 
 dismtion the heynousenes of the offense, or con- 
 of thema- trarye, so the punishemente is moder- 
 gistrates ^^^^ ^V the discretion of the counsell. 
 tlhe husbandes chastice theire wy fes : & 
 the parentes theire children, oneles they 
 have done anye so horryble an offense, 
 that the open punyshemente thereof 
 maketh muche f orthe advauncementeof 
 honestemaners. Butmostecommenlye 
 themoste heynous faultes be punyshed 
 with the incommoditie of bondage, for 
 that they suppose to be to the offenders 
 no lesse grief e, & to the common wealth 
 more profit, then yf they should hastely 
 put them to death, & so make them quite 
 198 
 
outof tbcwayc. fortbcrccummctbmorc XZbc 
 profit of tbcirc labourc, tbcn of tbcirc sccondc 
 dcatbe, and by tbcirc example tbcy fcarc bookc of 
 otbcrtbc longer from lykcoffcnscs^But ^^^P*^ 
 if tbcy bcingc tbus used, doo rcbcll and 
 hickcagainc,tbcnforsotbctbcvbC8layne 
 as desperate and wilde beastes, wbom 
 neitberprisonnorcbainecoulderestraine 
 and Nepe under j^ But tbey wbicbe take 
 tbeire bondage pacientlye, benot lef teall 
 bopeles. for after tbey bave bene broken 
 & tamed witb longe miseries, if tben tbei 
 sbewe sucb repentaunce, as tberebye it 
 maye bee perceaved tbat tbey be soryer 
 for tbeire oflPensetben for tbeirepunysbe/ 
 mente: sumtymes by tbe prynces pre- 
 rogatyve, & sumtymes by tbe voyce and 
 consent of tbe people, tbeire bondage ei/ 
 tber is mitigated, or els clean e released 
 and f orgeven j^ r>e tbat movetb to ad- Motion to 
 voutreye is in no lesse daunger and jeo- ^civoutrye 
 perdie, tben y f be badde committed ad- P""»sbed 
 voutrye in dede. for in all offenses tbey 
 counte tbe intente & pretensed purpose 
 as evel as tbe acte or dede it self ctbinh- 
 ing tbat no letteougbte to excuse bim, 
 tbat did bis beste to bave no lette» 
 
 199 
 
The [^^f^6Y ^>^vc singular dclitc and pica/ 
 
 sccondc 1^ surcinfolcs^Hndasitisagrcatcrc/ 
 
 bookcof l^^procbctodotoannycoftbcmburtc 
 
 Cltopia (^Y injury, so tbcy probibitc not to take 
 
 pleasure pleasure of foolysbnes. for tbat, tbey 
 
 of fooles tbinke, dotbemucbe good to tbe fooles. 
 
 Hnd if any man be so sadde, and steme, 
 
 tbat be cannot laugbe neitber at tbeir 
 
 wordes, nor at tbeir dedes, none of tbem 
 
 be committed to bis tuition: for feare 
 
 leastbexvouldnotintreatetbem gentilly 
 
 and favorably enougb: to wbom tbey 
 
 sbould brynge no delectation (for otber 
 
 goodnes in tbem is none) mucbe lesse 
 
 anye profRte sboulde tbey yeldc bim J^ 
 
 To mocke a man for bis deformitie, or 
 
 for tbat be lacketb anye parte or lymme 
 
 of bis bodycis counted greatedisbon- 
 
 estye and reprocbe, not to bim tbat is 
 
 mocked,butto bim tbatmocketb; wbicb 
 
 unwysely dotb imbrade anye man of 
 
 tbat as a vice, tbat was not in bis powre 
 
 to escbewe. 
 
 ^LSO,astbey counte & reken verye 
 
 little witte to be in bim tbat regard- 
 
 etb not naturall bewtie and comli- 
 
 nesse; so to belpe tbe same witb paynt- 
 
 200 
 
ingcs, is taken for avainc and a wanton TTbc 
 pride, not witboute greate infamie. for seconde 
 they knowe even by very experience, bookeof 
 tbat no comelinesseof bewtye doetbso ^^^P^^ 
 bygbelyecommende^avauncetbe wives Counter- 
 in tbe conceite of tbeir busbandes, as ^(tebewtie 
 bonest conditions and lowlines, for as 
 love is oftentimes wonnewitb bewty, so 
 it is not kept, preserved, and continued, 
 but by vertue and obedience^ 
 
 F>BY do not onely f eare tbeir peo- Sinne pun- 
 pie from doyng evil by punisb- tsbed and 
 S m en tes, but also allure tbem to ver/ vertue re- 
 tue witb rewardes of bonoure* 'Cberfore warded 
 tbey set up in tbe markette place tbe 
 ymages of notable men, and of sucb as 
 bave bene great and bountef ul benefac- 
 tors to tbe com en wealtb, for tbe perpe- 
 tual memorie of tbeir good actes:& also 
 tbat tbe glory and renowme of tbe aun- 
 cetors maye styrre & provoke tbeir pos- 
 teritietovertue* 
 ^^Stbatinordinatlyandambitious/ -cbe inordi- 
 ^1 ly desiretb promotions, is left nate desire 
 ^^ al bopeles for ever atteining any of bonours 
 
 promotion as Ion gas be livetb^XTbey lyve condemned 
 togetber lovinglye* for no magistrate is 
 
 201 
 
sccondc 
 
 bookcof 
 
 Cltopia 
 
 JVIagis- 
 
 tratcsbon 
 
 cured 
 
 f ewe lawes 
 
 eytber bawteor f earf ulL f atbers tbey be 
 called^ and lyke fatbers tbey use tbem- 
 selves* tibe citezens, as itis tbeir dewtie, 
 willy nglye exbibite unto tbem dew bon- 
 our witbout any compulsion. JS^or tbe 
 prince bimself e is not knowen from tbe 
 otber by princely apparell, or a robe of 
 state, nor by a crown or diadem e roial, or 
 cap of maintenaunce,but by a litle sbeffe 
 of com ecaried before bim.Hnd so a taper 
 ofwax is borne before tbe bisbop,wberby 
 onely be is knowen. 
 
 ^^f)eY ^>^ve but few lawes; for to 
 ^^ people so instructeand institute, 
 '3 very fewe do suffice J^ Yea, tbis 
 
 Tbe multi- 
 tude of law/ 
 yers super- 
 fluous 
 
 tbing tbey cbief elye reprove among o- 
 tber nations, tbat innumerable bokes of 
 lawes and expositions upon tbe same be 
 not sufficient. But tbey tbink it against 
 allrigbtandjusticetbatmensbouldebe 
 bound to tbose lawes, wbicb eitber be in 
 number mo tben be bableto be read, or 
 els blinder & darker, tben tbat anye man 
 can well understande tbem j^ f urtber- 
 more tbey utterlie exclude & banisbe all 
 attomeis, proctours, & sergeauntes at 
 tbelawe: wbicbe craftelye bandell mat- 
 
 202 
 
tcrs, and subtcUy dispute of the lawcs* XTbe 
 ^ for tbcy tbinkc (t mostc mccte, tbat sccondc 
 every man sbould pleade bis own mat- bookeor 
 ter, & tel tbe same tale before tbe judge ^^^P^^ 
 tbat be wold tell to bis man of law j0 
 So sbal tbere be lesse circumstaunce of 
 wordes, and tbe truetb sball soner come 
 to ligbt, wbiles tbe judge witb a discrete 
 judgement doetb waye tbe woordes of 
 bim,wbom no lawyer batbinstructewitb 
 deceit, and wbiles be belpetb and bear- 
 etb out simple wittes against tbe false 
 and malicious circumventions of craftie 
 cbildrenXbis is barde to be observed in 
 otber countreis, in so infinite a number 
 of blinde & intricate lawes* But in dto- 
 pia every man is a cunning lawier. for, 
 as I said, tbey bave very few lawes: and 
 tbe plainer and grosser tbat anye in- 
 terpretation is, tbat tbey allowe as most 
 juste* for all lawes, saie tbey, be made Tbe intent 
 and publysbed onely to tbe intente, tbat of lawes 
 by tbem every man sboulde be put in 
 remembraunce of bis dewtie* But tbe 
 crafty e & subtill interpretation of tbem 
 (forasmucbe as few can atteyne tbere- 
 to) canne put verye f ewe in tbat rem em - 
 
 203 
 
sccondc 
 
 booNcof 
 
 Cltopia 
 
 brauncc, where as the simple, the plaine, 
 & grosse meaninge of the lawes is open 
 toeverveman, 
 
 [LJvBS as toucbinge tbe vulgare 
 sort of tbe people, wbicbe be 
 botbe mooste in number, and 
 havemostenedetoknowetbeirdewties, 
 were it not as good for tbem, tbat no 
 law were made at all, as wben it is made, 
 to bringe so blynde an interpretation 
 upon it, tbat witbout greate witte and 
 longe arguynge no man can discusse it ? 
 Ho tbe f yndynge oute wbereof neytber 
 tbe grosse judgement of tbe people can 
 attaine, neitber tbe wbole life of tbem 
 tbat be occupied in woorkinge for tbeir 
 livynges, canne suffice thereto* 
 
 gneSB vertues of tbe Cltopians 
 bave caused tbeir nextenegbboures 
 and borderers wbicbe live fre and 
 under no subjection (for tbe Cltopians 
 longe ago bave delivered manye of tbem 
 from tirannie) to take magistrates of 
 tbem, some for ayeare, & some for ftve 
 yeares space j^CQbicb wben tbe tymeof 
 tbeir office is expired, tbey bringe bome 
 againe witb bonoure and praise, & take 
 
 204 
 
new again c with tbcm into their coun- t^be 
 trey, TTbese nations bave undoubtedly e seconde 
 very well and bolsomely provided for booheof 
 tbeir common wealtbes ^ for seynge ^^^P^^ 
 tbat botbe tbe makinge and marringe of 
 tbe weale publique, doetb depende and 
 bange upon tbe maners of tbe rulers & 
 magistrates, wbat officers coulde tbey 
 more wyselye bave cbosen, tben tbose 
 wbicb can not be ledde frome bones tye 
 by bribes (for to tbem tbat sbortly after 
 sbal depart tbens into tbeir own coun- 
 trey, money sbould be unprofitable) nor 
 yet be moved eytber witb favoure or 
 malice towardes any man, as beyng 
 straungerSt and unaquainted witb tbe 
 people? Tbe wbicbe two vices of affec- 
 tion & avarice, wbere tbey take place in 
 judgementes, incontinente tbey breake 
 justice, tbe strongest & suerest bonde 
 of a common wealtb J^ TTbese peoples 
 wbicbe fetcbe tbeir officers and rulers 
 from tbem, tbe Cltopians cal tbeir f el- 
 lowes* Hnd otber to wbome tbey bave 
 bene beneftciall, tbey call tbeir f rendes, 
 
 •S touching leagues, wbicb in o- Of leagues 
 tber places betwene countrey & 
 countrey be so of te concluded, 
 
 205 
 
TTbc 
 sccondc 
 boohcof 
 Cltopia 
 
 broken, &rcncwcd,tbeyncvermakcnonc 
 witb anic nation* for to wbat purpose 
 serve leagues, say tbey ? Hs tbougbe na- 
 ture bad not set sufficient love betwene 
 man & man* Hnd wbo so regardetb not 
 nature, tbinke you tbat be will passe 
 for wordes?irbey be brougbt into tbis 
 opinion cbief elye, because tbat in tbose 
 partes of tbe worlde, leagues betwene 
 princes bewont to be kepteandobserved 
 very sklenderly J^ for bere in Suropa, 
 and especiallye in tbese partes wbere tbe 
 faitb and religion of Cbriste reignetb, 
 tbe majestic of leagues is everye wbere 
 estemed boly and inviolable: partlie 
 tbrougb tbe justice and goodnes of 
 princes, and partly at tbe reverence and 
 motion of tbe bead Bisbops* dbicb like 
 as tbey make no promisse tbemselves 
 buttbeydoveryereligiouslyeperfourme 
 tbe same, so tbey exborte all princes in 
 anywise to abide by tbeir promisses, & 
 tbem tbat refuse or denye so to do, by 
 tbeir pontificall powre and autboritie, 
 tbey compell tberetoj^Hnd surely tbey 
 tbinke well tbat it migbt seme a verye 
 reprocbef ull tbing, yf in tbe leagues of 
 206 
 
tbcm which by a pcculiarc name be called XThe 
 faithful, faith should haveno place. But seconde 
 in that newe founde parte of the world, booNe of 
 which is scaselie so farre frome us be- ^^^P^ 
 yond the line equinoctiall, as our life and 
 maners be dissident from theirs,no trust 
 nor confidence is in leagues* But the mo 
 6 holier ceremonies the league is knitte 
 up with, the soner it is broken by some 
 cavillation founde in the wordes, which 
 many times of purpose be so craf telie 
 put in and placed, that the bandes can 
 never be sosurenor sostronge, but they 
 will find some hole open to crepe out 
 at, and to breake both league and treuth 
 J^ XThe whiche craf tye dealing, yea the 
 whiche fraude & deceite, if they should 
 know it to be practised among private 
 men in their bargaines and contractes, 
 they would incontinent crie out at it 
 with an open mouth and a sower coun- 
 tenaunce, as an offense moste detest- 
 able, and worthy e to be punnyshed with 
 a shamefuU deathe: yea even very they 
 that avaunce themselves authours of 
 lykecounsellgeven toprinces, CClherfore 
 it may wel be thought, either that al jus- 
 
 207 
 
TThc ticc is but a basse and a low vertuc, and 
 
 sccondc which avalcth it self farre under the 
 booke of highe dignite of kynges : or at the least 
 Utopia wise, that there be two justices, the one 
 meete for the inf eriour sorte of the peo/ 
 pie, goynge a f ote and crepynge lowe by 
 the grounde, and bounde down on every 
 side with many bandes, bycause it shall 
 not run at rovers, 'Che other a prince- 
 lye vertue, which like as it is of much 
 hygher majestic then the other pore jus/ 
 tice, so also it is of m uche more libertie, 
 as to the which nothing is unlawf ull that 
 it lusteth after, 
 
 f)BSS maners of princes, as X 
 said, whiche be there so evell 
 Nepers of leagues, cause the 
 Cltopians, as X suppose, to make no 
 leagues at al, which perchaunce would 
 chaunge their minde if they lived here. 
 f)owbeit they thinke that thoughe lea- 
 gues be never so faithfuUye observed 
 and kepte, yet the custome of makynge 
 leagues was very evell begon, for this 
 causeth men (as though nations which 
 be seperat a sondre, by the space of a 
 litle hil or a river, were coupled together 
 208 
 
 m 
 
bv no socictic or bondc of nature) to t:bc 
 tbinkc themselves borne adversaries & seconde 
 enemies one to an other, and that it were booke of 
 lawf uU for theone toseke the death and Utopia 
 destruction of the other, if leagues were 
 not: yea, and that after the leagues be 
 accorded, frendship doth not grow and 
 encrese, but the license of robbing and 
 stealing doth styll remaine, as farf urth 
 as for lack of f orsight and advisement 
 in writing the wordes of the league, any 
 sentence or clause to the contrarie is not 
 therin sufficientlie comprehended* But 
 thev be of a contrarye opinion* TThat is, 
 that no man oughte to be counted an 
 enemye, whiche hath done no injurye* 
 Hnd that the f elowshippe of nature is 
 astrongeleague:andthatmen be better 
 and more surely knit togethers by love 
 and benevolence, then by covenauntes 
 of leagues : by hartie affection of minde, 
 then by wordes. 
 
 p I 209 
 
The 
 sccondc 
 bookcof 
 Cltopia 
 
 OfOI^rfare^/Sf 
 
 HRReorbattclas 
 a thing very beast/ 
 Iv, and yet to no 
 kinde of beastes 
 insomucbeuseas 
 toman,tbeydode/ 
 test and abborre* 
 Hnd contrarie to 
 the custome al- 
 mooste of all o- 
 tber nations, they counte nothynge so 
 muche against glorie, as glory gotten in 
 warre, Hnd therefore thoughe they do 
 daylie practise & exercise themselves in 
 the discipline of warre, and not on lie the 
 men, but also the worn en uponcertenap/ 
 poin ted daies, lest they shou Id be to seke 
 in the feate of armes,if nede should re- 
 quire, yet they never go to battell, but 
 either in the defence of their owne coun- 
 trey,ortodriveoutoftheirfrendeslande 
 the enemies that have invaded it, or by 
 their power to deliver from the yocke ^ 
 bondage of tirannye some people that 
 be therewith oppressed, Slhich thing 
 they do of meere pitie and compassion 
 210 
 
J? Rowbcit tbcy scndc bclpc to their JZbc 
 frcndcs, not ever in their defence, but seconde 
 sometymes also to requite and revenge hoohe of 
 injuries before to them done* But this ^^^P^^ 
 they do not onlesse their counsell & ad- 
 vise in the matter be asked, whiles it is 
 yetneweandfreshe^forif theylindethe 
 cause probable, and if the contrarie part 
 wil not restoore agayne suche thynges 
 as be of them justelye demaunded, then 
 they be the chief e au tours and makers of 
 the warre* Slhiche they do not onlie as 
 of te as by inrodes and invasions of sol- 
 diours praies & booties be driven away e, 
 butthenalsomuchemoremortally,when 
 their f rendes marchauntes in anie lande, 
 cither under the pretence of unjuste 
 lawes,oreUesbythewrestinge&wrongc 
 understandinge of good lawes, do sus- 
 teinean unjust accusation under the col- 
 our of justice* 
 
 ^eit:neR the batten whiche the 
 Cltopians fought for the J^ephe- 
 logetesagainsttheHlaopolitanes 
 a litle before oure time, was made for 
 any other cause, but that the JVephelo- 
 gete marchaunt men, as the Cltopians 
 
 P2 211 
 
'Cbc thought, sufFrcd wrong of thcHlaopoli/ 
 
 sccondc tancs, under the pretence of righte. But 
 booke of whether it were righte or wronge, it was 
 Cltopia <vvith so cruel and mortal warre revenged, 
 the countreis rounde about joyninge 
 their helpe and powre to the puissaunce 
 and malice of bothe parties, that moste 
 ftorishing and wealthy peoples, being 
 some of them shrewedly shaken, and 
 some of them sharpely beaten, the mis- 
 cheveswer not finished nor ended, until 
 the Hlaopolitanes, at the last were yeld- 
 ed upas bondemen into the jurisdiction 
 of the ]^ephelogetes» for the Qtopians 
 fought not this war for themselves^Hnd 
 yet the jVephelogetes before the warre, 
 when the Hlaopolitanes flourished in 
 wealth, wer nothing to be com pared with 
 them, 
 
 )0 egerlye the Cltopians prose- 
 quute the injuries done to their 
 frendes: yea, in money matters, 
 and not their owne likewise, for if they 
 by coveyne or gile be wiped beside their 
 goodes, so that no violence be done to 
 their bodies, they wreake their anger by 
 absteininge from occupieng with that 
 
 212 
 
nation, until tbcy have made satisfac- iTbc 
 tion j^]S^ot for bicausc tbey set lesse seconde 
 stoore by tbeir owne citizeins, tben by booNeof 
 tbeirfrendes:buttbattbeytaketbelosse ^^^P^^ 
 of tbeir frendes money more bevelietben 
 tbe losse of tbeir own* Bicause tbat tbeir 
 frendes marcbaunte men, forasmucbe 
 as tbat tbey leise is tbeir own private 
 goods, susteine great dammage by tbe 
 losse* But tbeir owne citizeyns leise no- 
 tbing but of tbe commen goods, and of 
 tbat wbicbe was at bome plentiful! and 
 almost superfluous, els bad it not bene 
 sent f urtb* Hberfore no man f eletb tbe 
 losse* Hnd for tbis cause tbey tbinhe it 
 to cruell an acte, to revenge tbat losse 
 witb tbe deatbe of manie, tbe incommo- 
 ditie of tbe wbicb losse no man feeletb 
 neitber in bis lyfe, nor yet in bis living* 
 Butif itcbaunce tbatany of tbeir men in 
 any otber country be maimed or killed^ 
 wbetber it be done by a commen or a pri- 
 vate counsel, knowyng ^ trying out tbe 
 truetb of tbe matter by tbeir ambassa- 
 dours,onlessetbeoffenders be rendered 
 unto tbem in recompence of tbe injurie, 
 tbey will not be appeased: but inconti- 
 
 213 
 
TZbc 
 sccondc 
 boohcof 
 Cltopia 
 
 Victoric 
 
 dcarc 
 
 bought 
 
 ncnt they proclaim cwarrc against tbcm. 
 'Cbc offcndcrsycldcd.thcy punishc citb/ 
 cr with death or with bondage. 
 r^^nSY t>c "Ot only sory, but also a- 
 M^^ sham ed to atchieve the victorie with 
 ^^bloudshed, counting it greate folie 
 to bie precious wares to dere. They re- 
 joyse S. avaunt themselves, if they van- 
 quished oppresse their enemies by craft 
 and deceite. Hnd for that act they mahe 
 a generall triumph, and as yf the matter 
 were manf ullye handeled, they set up a 
 pyller of stone in the place where they so 
 vanquished their enemies, in token of the 
 victorie* for then they glorie, then they 
 boaste, and cracke that they have plaied 
 the m en in deede, when they have so over/ 
 commen, as no other living creature but 
 onely man could: that is to saye, by the 
 mighteand puisaunceofwitj^forwitb 
 bodily strength, say they, beares, lions, 
 boores, wulfes, dogges, and other wild 
 beastes do fight. Hnd as the moste part 
 of them do passe us in strength & fierce 
 courage, so in wit and reason we be much 
 stronger then they all. TTheir chief and 
 principall purpose in warre, is to obtcine 
 214 
 
that tbyngc, wbicbc if tbcy bad before XTbe 
 obteined, tbev woulde not bave moved seconde 
 battelL But if tbat be not possible, tbey booke of 
 take so cruellvengeaunceof tbcm wbicbe Utopia 
 be in tbe faulte, tbat ever after tbey be 
 af erde to do tbe like j^t:bis is tbeir cbiefe 
 andprincipall intent, wbicbe tbey imme- 
 diatlie and first of al prosequute and set 
 forwarder But yet so, tbat tbey be more 
 circumspecte, in avoidinge and escbew- 
 ynge jeopardies, tben tbey be desierous 
 ofprayseandrenowne.t^bereforeimme/ 
 diatlye after tbat warre is ones solemne/ 
 liedenounced,tbeyprocuremanyprocla/ 
 mations signed witb tbeirownecommen 
 seale to be set up privilie at one time in 
 tbeir enemies lande, in places moste f re/ 
 quented^ln tbese proclamations tbey 
 promisse greate rewardes to bym tbat 
 will kill tbeir enemies prince, and some- 
 wbat lesse gif tes, but tbem verye greate 
 also, for everye beade of tbem, wbose 
 names be in tbe saide proclamations con/ 
 teyned* Tbey be tbosewbom tbey count 
 tbeir cbiefe adversaries, next unto tbe 
 prince. Cdbatsoever is prescribed unto 
 bim tbat killetb any of tbe proclaimed 
 
 215 
 
TTbc pcrson8,tbati8dublcdtobimtbatbring/ 
 
 sccondc ctb any e of tbcsamc to tbcm alive : yca,& 
 boohc of to tbc proclaimed persones tbemselves, 
 Utopia jf tb^y ^ii cbaunge tbeir mindes, & come 
 into tbem, taking tbeir partes, tbey pro- 
 fer tbe same greate rewardes, witb par- 
 done,&suertieof tbeir lives j^Tberfore 
 it quickelv commetb to passe tbat tbeir 
 enemies bave all otber men in suspicion, 
 andbeunfaitbfull,^mistrustingamong 
 tbemselvesonetoanotber,livingin great 
 feare,andinnolessejeopardie^foritis 
 well knowcn, tbat divers times tbe most 
 part of tbem (& speciallietbe prince bim 
 selfe) batbe bene betraied of tbem in 
 wbom tbey put tbeir moste bope & trust. 
 O tbat tbereisnomanerof act nor 
 dede tbat gif tes and rewardes do 
 not enforce men unto* Hnd in re- 
 wardes tbey kepe no measure. But re- 
 membring ^ considering into bow great 
 basarde andjeopardie tbey cal tbem, en- 
 devoure tbemselves to recompence tbe 
 greatnes of tbe daunger witb like great 
 benefites. Hnd tberefore tbey promise 
 not only wonderfulgreateabundaunceof 
 golde, but also landes of great revenues 
 216 
 
licng in most saffe places among tbcirc The 
 frcndes* Hnd tbcire promisscs tbcy per/ seconde 
 fourmefaytbf uUy witbouteannvef raude ^^^*^? ^^ 
 orcovvne. ^^^^^^^ 
 
 r)XS custome of byinge and sel- 
 lynge adversaryes among otber 
 people is disallowed, as a cruel 
 acteofabasseandacowardysbemynde. 
 But tbey in tbis bebalfe tbinke tbem- 
 selfes mucbe prayse woortby, as wbo 
 lyke wysemen by tbismeanesdispatcbe 
 greate warres witboute anny battell or 
 shyrmysbe«Y^atbeycounteitalsoadede 
 of py tye and mercy e, bicause tbat by tbe 
 deatbe of a fewe offenders tbe ly ves of a 
 greate numbre of innocentes, aswel of 
 tbeire oune m en as also of tbeire enemies, 
 be raunsomed and saved,wbicb in figbt- 
 ing sboulde bave bene sleane^f or tbey 
 doo no lesse pytye tbe basse and com- 
 mon sorte of tbeire enemies people, tben 
 tbeydootbeireowne: knowing tbat tbey 
 be driven and enforced to warre againste 
 tbeir willes by tbe f uryous madnes of 
 tbeire princes and beades. 
 
 If bynoneoftbesemeanestbemat/ 
 ter goo forwarde, as tbey woulde 
 bave it, tben tbey procure occasy/ 
 
 217 
 
TTbc onsof debate, & disscntion to bespredde 
 
 seconde amonge tbeire enemies : as by bringinge 
 booke of the princes brother, or som e of tbenoble 
 Utopia meninboopetoobtaynetbehingedome. 
 
 Yf this vpaveprevaylenot,tben they reyse 
 up the people tbat ben exte n eygbeboures 
 and borderers to tbeire enemyes,& them 
 tbey sette in tbeire neckes under the col/ 
 oure of some olde ty tie of rygbte, such 
 as kynges doo never lackeXo tbem tbey 
 promysse tbeire belpe and ayde in tbeire 
 warre j^ Hnd as for moneye tbey gyve 
 tbem abundaunce.Butof tbeire ownecy/ 
 tyzeins tbey sende to tbem fewe or none, 
 wbome tbey make so mucb of, and love 
 so intierlye, tbat tbey would not be will- 
 ing to cbaunge anye of tbem for tbeirad/ 
 versaries prince. 
 
 }UT. tbeir gold and silver, bycause 
 tbey kepe it all for tbys only pur- 
 ^ pose, tbey laye it owte frankly and 
 f rely : as wbo sbou Ide ly ve even as wealth/ 
 ely, if tbey badde bestowed it every e pen/ 
 ny e. Yea & besy des tbeire ry ches, why che 
 tbey kepe at home, thei have also an infi- 
 nite treasure abrode, by reason that (as X 
 sayde before) manye nations be in tbeir 
 218 
 
d^btcJP XTbcrcf ore tbcy bicre soldiours The 
 outc of all countrcis and scndc tbcm to sccondc 
 batta ylc, but cbcifiy of tbc Zapolctcs* bookc of 
 l^^nxS people is soomy les from ato/ ^^^^P^^ 
 1^^ pia eastewarde* XTbey be bideous, 
 ^^ savage, & f yerce, dwellynge in wild 
 woodes & bigb mountaines,wbere tbey 
 were bredde and brougbt up, XTbey be of 
 an barde nature, bable to abide and sus- 
 teine beate, colde, & labour, abborrynge 
 from all delicate deintyes, occupy en ge 
 no busbandryenortyllage of tbe ground, 
 bomelye&rudebotbinbuildingeoftbeir 
 bouses and in tbeir apparrel, geven unto 
 no goodnes, but onely to tbe breedinge 
 and bringynge up of catteLI^be mooste 
 parte of tbeire lyvinge is by buntynge & 
 stealyngeXbey be borne onely e to warre, 
 wbycbe tbey diligently e and eamestelye 
 seke f on Hnd wben tbey bave gotten it, 
 tbey be wonders glad tbereof, tlbey goo 
 f urtbe of tbeire countreye in greate com/ 
 panyes togetber, & wbo soever lachetbe 
 souldyours, tbere tbey proffer tbeire ser/ 
 vice for small wages^t^bis is onely e tbe 
 craf te tbat tbey bave to gette tbeire liv- 
 ynge by^I^bey maynteyne tbeire lyfe, by 
 
 219 
 
TTbc schingc tbcire dcatbc. for tbcm wbomc- 
 
 sccondc wy tb tbcy be in waygcs tbcy f ygbtc bard/ 
 
 bookc of elyCt fycrslyc, & faytbcf uUyc. But tbcy 
 
 Cltopia byndc tbcmselvcs for no ccrtcync tymc* 
 
 But upon tbis condition tbcy cntre into 
 
 bondcSttbattbcncxtcdayctbcywylltakc 
 
 parte witb tbe otber syde for greatter 
 
 wayges,^ tbe nexte daye after tbat, tbcy 
 
 wyUbereadyetocomebackeagaynefora 
 
 ly tie more moneyeXbere be fewe warres 
 
 tbereawaye, wberin is not a greate num- 
 
 bre of tbem in botbe partyes, 
 
 f^eaefOReitdayelyecbaunc/ 
 etbe tbat ny e Nynsefolke wbycbe 
 were biered togetber on one parte, 
 and tbere verye frendelye and familiar- 
 lye used tbemselfes one wytb anotber, 
 sbortely after beinge separate in con- 
 trary e partes, runne one againste anotb/ 
 er envyouslye and fyercelye: and forget/ 
 tinge botbe kindred and frendesbyppe, 
 tbruste tbeire swordes one in anotber, 
 Hnd tbat for none otber cause, but tbat 
 tbeybebyeredofcontraryepryncesfora 
 lytlemoneye«^bycbetbey doo so bygb/ 
 ly eregarde & esteam e, tbat tbey will ease/ 
 lye be provoked to cbaunge partes for a 
 220 
 
balfcpcnyc more waygcs by the dayc. So XTbc 
 quychclyc tbcy bavc taken a smacke in seconde 
 covetesenes* mbycbe for all tbat is to bookeof 
 tbem no proff y te* for tbat tbey gette by ^^^P^^ 
 fygbtynge, immedyatelye tbey spende 
 untbryf telye & wretcbedlye in ryotte J^ 
 XTbis people figbtetb for tbe Cltopians 
 agaynste all nations, bycause tbey geve 
 tbem greatter wayges, tben annye otb- 
 er nation wylL for tbe Cltopians lyke as 
 tbey seke good men to use wel, so tbey 
 seke tbese evell and vicious men to a- 
 buse^^bome^wben neade requiretbe, 
 witb promisses of greate rewardes tbey 
 putte fortbe into great jeopardy es» from 
 wbens tbe mooste parte of tbem never 
 cummetb againe to aske tbeir rewardes* 
 But to tbem tbat remaine alive tbey paye 
 tbat wbicb tbey promissed faitbfuUy, 
 tbat tbey maye be tbe more willinge to 
 put tbemselfes in like daunger anotber 
 time. JS^or tbe Cltopians passe not bow 
 many of tbem tbey bring to destruction, 
 for tbey beleve tbat tbey sbould doo a 
 verye good deade for all man kind^if tbey 
 could ridde out of tbe worlde all tbat 
 fowle stinking denne of tbat most wick/ 
 ed and cursed people. 
 
 221 
 
The 
 sccondc 
 bookcof 
 Cltopia 
 
 ]SXT1 unto tbics tbcy use tbc soldi/ 
 ours of tbcm for wbom they fxgbtc* 
 Hnd tbcn tbc bclpc of tbcir otbcr 
 frcndcs, Hnd lastc of all, tbcy joync to 
 tbcircounc citizens* Smongwbomctbcv 
 give toone of tried vertueandprowes tbc 
 reule,goovemaunce,& conduction of tbc 
 wbolc armyc* Cinder bim tbey appoynte 
 !)♦ otbcr, wbycbcwbylcs be is sauffe, be 
 botbe private and oute of off ycc* But yf 
 be be taken or slaync, tbc one of tbc otb/ 
 er ij\ succcdetb bym,asit were by inbery/ 
 taunce* Hnd if tbc seconde miscarrye, 
 tbcn tbc tbirde taketb bis rowme, leaste 
 tbat (as tbc cbaunce of battell is uncer- 
 tcinc^ doubtful) tbcjcopardycordcatbc 
 of tbc capitaine sbou Ide bry n gc tbc wbole 
 armye in basarde j^T^bey cbuese soldy/ 
 oursoutofeverycityctboscwbycbputtc 
 f urtbe tbemselffes wyllyngelyc j^ for 
 tbey tbruste no man fortbe into warre a/ 
 gaynste bis wylU Bycause tbey belevc, 
 yf annyeman be fearef ull ^faintc barted 
 of nature,bewyllnotonclyedoonoman/ 
 full and bardy acte bym self c, bu t also be 
 occasyon of cowardenes to bis fellowes. 
 
 222 
 
at: if annyc battcU be made a- The 
 gaynste tbeire owne countreye, seconde 
 .^^J tbentbeyputttbesecowardes(so bookeof 
 tbattbevbestrongebodved)in sbyppes ^^^^P*^ 
 amongeotberboldebartedmen^Oreiles 
 tbey dyspose tbem upon tbe walles^f rom 
 wbenstbcymayenotflyeXbus,wbatfor 
 sbame tbat tbeire enemies be at bande, 
 ^wbatforbycausetbeybewitboutbope 
 ofrunningeawaye,tbeyforgetteaUfeere* 
 Hnd manye times extreame necessity e 
 tumetbe cowardnes into prowes ^ man/ 
 lynes* 
 
 f QXTas none of tbem is tbrust fortbe 
 of bis coun trey into warre again ste 
 bis wyU,so women tbat bewyllynge 
 to accompany tbeire busbandes in times 
 of warre be not probibited or letted* Yea 
 tbey provoke and exborte tbem to it witb 
 prayses* Hnd in set f y Ide tbe wyves doo 
 stande everye one by tbeire owne bus- 
 bandes syde* Hlso every man is com pas/ 
 sednext aboute witb bis owne cbildren, 
 kinsfolkes, & aliaunce^XTbat tbey,wbom 
 nature cbiefely movetb to mutual sue- 
 coure, tbus standynge togetber, maye 
 bealpeoneanotbenXtisagreatreprocbe, 
 
 223 
 
^bc and dishonesty for the husband to come 
 
 seconde bomewitbout bis wiffe,or the wyfFe with/ 
 booke of outeber husbande, or the sonnewitbout 
 atopia j^(g father J^ Hnd therfore if the other 
 part sticke so barde by it, that the battel 
 come to their bandes, it is fought with 
 great slaughter & blodsbed, even to the 
 utter destruction of both partes^ for as 
 they make all the meanes & shyf tes that 
 maye be to kepe themselfesfrom the ne/ 
 cessitye of f ygbtinge, or that they may 
 dispatche the battell by their hiered sol/ 
 dyours : so when there is no remedy, but 
 thattheymusteneadesfaghtthemselfes, 
 then they do as corragiouslye fall to it 
 as before, wbyles they myght, they did 
 wyselye avoyde ^ refuse it» JS^or they be 
 not most fierce at the first bront* But in 
 continuaunce by litle & lytle theire fierce 
 courage en creasetb,\vith so stubbome& 
 obstynate myndes,that they wyll rather 
 dye then gyve back an ynche* 
 
 ORtbatsuertyeoflyvinge,vpbicbe 
 
 tj everye man bath at home, beinge 
 
 joyned with noo caref ull anxietye 
 
 or remembraunce how theire posteritie 
 
 shall lyve after them (for this pensif nes 
 
 224 
 
of tentynics brcakctbc & abatctb coura- X3bc 
 gious stomakcs) mahctb tbcm stowtc sccondc 
 and bardic, and disdaincful to be con- bookcof 
 qucrcd* JVIoreovcr tbcirc knowledge in ^t:opia 
 cbevalrye and feates of armes puttetb 
 tbem in a good bope* 
 
 UlS^HI^JvY tbe wbolesome and ver- 
 tuous opinions, wberin tbey were 
 brougbtupeven from tbeirecbild/ 
 bode, partely tbrougb leamynge, and 
 partelye tbrougbe tbe good ordinaunces 
 and lawes of tbeire weale publique, aug- 
 mente and encrease tbeire manf uU cour- 
 age* By reason wbereof, tbev neitber set 
 so litle store by tbeir lives tbat tbey will 
 rassbelye and unadvisedlye caste tbem 
 away : nor tbey be not so f arre in lewde & 
 fondlovetberewitb,tbattbeywillsbame/ 
 f ully e covete to kepe tbem,wben bonestie 
 biddetb leave tbem* t:be capit- 
 
 inejSf tbe battel is bottest and aneiscbiefe/ 
 in al places most fierceand f er- ^^^ ^^ ^^ 
 vent,a bendeof cbosen&picked fh^^tent^^^ 
 yongmen,wbicbe be sworneto live <& dye ^^^ battell 
 togetbers, take upon tbem to destroye rnaye tbe 
 tbeireadversariescapitaine^QIbometbey soner be 
 invade, now witb privy wieles, now by ended 
 
The open strength, Ht bim tbey strihe both 
 
 seconde nere and farre of* V>c is assayled witb a 
 
 booNeof long and a continuall assaulte, fresbe 
 
 Cltopia lYien styll commynge in tbe weried mens 
 
 places* Hnd seldome it cbauncetb (onles 
 
 be save bymself e by flying) tbat beisnot 
 
 eitber slayne, or els taken prisoner, and 
 
 yelded to bis enemies alive* 
 
 f tbey Wynne tbe f yelde, tbey per- 
 secu te not tbeire enem ies witb tbe 
 violent rageofslaugbter*f or tbey 
 badratbertaketbemalive,tbenkyltbem. 
 ]Veitber tbey do so follow tbe cbase and 
 pursute of tbeire enemies, but tbey leave 
 bebindetbemoneparteof tbeire boste in 
 battaile arraye under tbeir standardes. 
 In so mucbe tbat if al tbeir wbole armie 
 be discumf eted and overcum, saving tbe 
 rerewarde, and tbat tbey tberewitb at- 
 cbieve tbe victory, tben tbey bad ratber 
 letteal tbeir enemies scape, tben to fol- 
 lowe tbem outof array* for tbeyremem- 
 bre, it batb cbaunced unto tbemselfes 
 more tben ones: tbe wbole powre and 
 strength of tbeir boste being vanquish- 
 ed and put to flight, whiles their enemies 
 rejoysing in the victory have persecuted 
 226 
 
tbcm flying some one way and some an- TZbc 
 other, asmalle companye of tbeire men seconde 
 lying in an ambusbe, tbere redy at all oc- booke of 
 casionStbavesodainelyry sen upon tbem ^^^P^^ 
 tbus dispersedand scattered outeof ar- 
 ray e^andtbrougb presumption of safety 
 unadvisedly pursuing tbe cbase: & bave 
 incontinent cbanged tbe fortune of tbe 
 wbole battay II : and spite of tbeir tetbes, 
 wrestinge oute of tbeir bandes tbe sure 
 and undoubted victory e, being a litle be- 
 fore conquered, bave for tbeir parte con- 
 quered tbe conquerers* 
 
 X^ is bard to say wbetber tbey be 
 craftier in layinge an ambusbe, or 
 wittier in avoydinge tbe same^You 
 would tbinke tbey intende to flye, wben 
 tbeymeanenotbinglesse^Hndcontrarye 
 wyse,wben tbey go about tbat purpose, 
 you wold beleveitweretbe leaste parte of 
 tbeir tbougbt* for if tbey perceave tbem - 
 self es eitber overmatched in numbre, or 
 closed in too narrowe a place, tben tbey 
 remove tbeir campe eitber in tbe nigbt 
 season witb silence, or by some poUicie 
 tbey deceave tbeire enemies, or in tbe day 
 time tbeyretierebackesosoftelye, tbat it 
 q2 227 
 
sccondc 
 
 booheof 
 
 Cltopia 
 
 t:bcir 
 armour 
 
 13 no Icssc jcopardic to medic witb tbcm 
 wbcn tbcv gcvc backc, tbcn w>bcn tbcy 
 prccsc onj^Tbcy fence and fortifietbeir 
 campc sewcrlyc witb a dcape and a brode 
 trcncbeXbe cartb tbcrof is cast inward. 
 J^J^or tbey donot set drudgeis & slaves 
 a work e about it.It is doone by tbe bandes 
 of tbe souldiours tbem selfes. Hll tbe 
 wbole armye worketb upon it: excepte 
 tbem tbat Nepe watcbe and warde in bar- 
 neis before tbe trencbe for sodeineaven/ 
 tures. TTberefore, by tbe labour of so 
 manyca large trencbe closinge in a greate 
 compasse of grounde, is made in lesse 
 tyme tben anye man woulde beleve. 
 
 lf)BXRGarmoure or bam ey s,wbicbe 
 tbeyweare,is sure and strong to re- 
 Iceave strohes,and bandsomefor all 
 movinges and gestures of tbe bodye, 
 insomucbe tbat it is not unweldye to 
 s wy mm e in ♦ for in tbe disciplin e of tbeire 
 warefare,amongeotberfeatestbeilearne 
 to swimme in bamesj^T^beir weapons 
 be arrowes aloufe: wbycbe tbey sbote 
 botb strongely and surely, not onelye 
 fotemen, but also borsemen^Ht bande 
 strokes tbey use not swordes but poll- 
 axes, wbicbe bemortall, aswel in sbarpe- 
 228 
 
ncSf as in weygbtc, botbc for foyncs and t:be 
 downcstrokcs j^engincs forwarrc tbcy sccondc 
 dcvysc&invcntwondcrs wittclyc^^bicbe ^okc of 
 wbcn tbey be made, they Ncpc vcryc se- ^^^P^^ 
 Crete, leaste vf tbey sboulde be knowen 
 before neaderequyre, tbev sbould be but 
 laugbed at & serve to no purpose* But in 
 makyngetbem^bereuntotbeybavecbiefe 
 respecte, tbat tbey be both easy to be 
 caried, and bandsome to be moved and 
 turned about* 
 
 ^RClCe taken with tbeir enemies Of truces 
 forasbortetimetbeydosofirme/ 
 'lye and faytbfuUye keape, tbat 
 tbey wyll not breake it: no not tbougb 
 tbey be tbereunto provoked* 
 r^^ r)BY doe not waste nor destroy 
 1^^ tbeire enemies lande witb forrag- 
 1^^ inges,nor tbey burne not up tbeire 
 come* Yea, tbey save it as mucbe as may 
 be from beingoverrunne^ troden downe 
 eitberwitbmen or borses, tbinkingetbat 
 itgrowetbefortbeireowneuseandprof- 
 fttj^Xl^beyburtnoman tbat is unarmed, 
 onles be be an espiall^HU cities tbat be 
 yelded unto tbem, tbey defende* Hnd 
 sucbe as tbey wynn e by force of assau Ite, 
 
 229 
 
The tbcvncitbcrdispovlcnorsackcbuttbcm 
 
 sccondc tbat witbstodc and dyssuadcd tbc ycld- 
 bookc of yngc up of tbc same, tbcy put to dcatbc, 
 Cltopia tbcotbcrsouldtourstbevpunnvsbewttb 
 bondage* HU tbe weake multitude tbey 
 leave untoucbed. If tbey knowe tbatan- 
 nye cytezeins counselled to yealdc and 
 rendre up tbe citie, to tbem tbey gyve 
 parte of tbe condemned mens goods* 
 Tbe resydewe tbey distribute and give 
 frelye amonge tbem wbose belpe tbey 
 bad in tbe same warre. for none of tbem 
 selfes taketb anye portion of tbe praye. 
 Butwbentbebattaileislanisbed&ended, 
 tbey put tbeire f rendes to never a penny 
 coste of al tbe cbarges tbat tbey were at, 
 butlayeitupontbeireneckestbatbecon/ 
 quered. Tbem tbey burdeine witb tbe 
 wbole cbarge of tbeire expenseis, wbicbe 
 tbey demaunde of tbem partelye in mo- 
 neie to be kept for like use of battayll, ^ 
 partelye in landes of greate revenues to 
 be payde unto tbem yearelye for ever* 
 Sucbe revenues tbey bave now in manye 
 countreis. ^bicbe by litle & litlerysinge 
 of dyvers and sondry causes be increased 
 above vij* bundretbe tbousand ducates 
 by tbe y ere* 
 
 230 
 
1 
 
 r>SX:r>GR tbcy sendc forth some XTbe 
 of tbcCr cttezcinsas Ucuetcnauntcs, sccondc 
 ^^to live there sumptuously like men hooke of 
 of honoure & renowne* Hnd yet this not ^^^P^ 
 withstandinge muche moneye is saved, 
 whichcommethtothecommentreasory: 
 onles it so chaunce, that they had rather 
 trustthecoun trey with themoney»OIhich 
 many times they do so long until they 
 have nede to occupie it* Hnd it seldome 
 happeneth that thei demaund alOf these 
 landes they assigne part unto them, 
 which at their request and exhortacion 
 put them s elf es in such jeoperdies as X 
 spake of before* If anye prince stirre up 
 warreagaynstethem,intending to invade 
 theire lande, they mete hym incontinent 
 outeof theire owne borders with greate 
 powre&strengtbe*fortbeyneverlyghte/ 
 ly makewarre in their ownecountrei* ]S^or 
 they be never brought into so extreme 
 necessitieastotakehelpeoutofforreyne 
 landes into their owne Ilande. 
 
 231 
 
sccondc 
 
 booNcof 
 
 Cltopia 
 
 Of the RcHcrions in Utopia^ ^ 
 
 |f)eRB be divers 
 kindes of religion 
 not only in sond- 
 rie partes of tbe 
 jjXlande^butalsoin 
 divers places of 
 every citie* Some 
 worship for God 
 the Sonne: some, 
 i the mone: some, 
 some other of the pianettes* There be 
 that give worship to a man that was ones 
 of excellentevertueorof famous glory, 
 not only as God, but alsoas the chief est 
 and hyghest God* But the moste & the 
 wy sest parte (rejectyngeal these) beleve, 
 that there is a certayne godlie powre 
 unknowen, everlastinge, incomprehen- 
 sible, inexplicable, farre above the capa- 
 citieand retcheof mans witte, dispersed 
 throughoute all the worlde, not in big- 
 nes, but in vertue and power* F)im they 
 call the father of aU TZo him alone they 
 attribute the beginninges, the encreas- 
 inges, the procedinges, the chaunges, 
 and the cndes of all thinges*]^either they 
 
 232 
 
gcvc any divine honours to any other 'Che 
 thentohim.Ycaaltheotheralso,though seconde 
 they be in divers opinions, yet in this hooheof 
 pointe they agree all togethers with the ^^^P*^ 
 wisest sorte, in beleving that there is 
 one chief e and principall God, the maker 
 and ruler of the whole worlde: whome 
 they all common lye in their countrey 
 language call JMythra^ But in this they 
 disagree, that among some he is count- 
 ed one, and amonge some an other j^ 
 for every one of them, whatsoever that 
 is whiche he taketh for the chief god, 
 thinketh it to be the very same nature, 
 to whose only divine mighte& majestic, 
 thesummeandsoveraintieof althinges 
 by the consent of al people is attributed 
 and geven* 
 
 ^^^OmBeXC they all begyn, by litle 
 IJ^K and litle, to forsake and fall from 
 gltekm this varietie of superstitions, & 
 toagre togethers in that religion whiche 
 semethe by reason to passe ^ excell the 
 residewe j^Hnd it is not to be doubted, 
 but all the other would long agoo have 
 bene abolished, but that whatsoever un/ 
 prosperous thynge happened toanieof 
 
 233 
 
sccondc 
 
 bookcof 
 
 Cltopia 
 
 Religious 
 bouses 
 
 tbem, as be was mynded to cbaunge bis 
 religion, tbefearefulnesse of people did 
 take it, not as a tbinge comminge by 
 cbaunce, but as sente from God out of 
 beaven j^Hs tbougbe tbe God, wbose 
 bonoure be was forsakynge, woulde re- 
 venge tbatwicked purpose against bim, 
 crc after tbey bearde us speake 
 of tbe name of Cbriste, of bis 
 El doctrine, lawes, myracles, and of 
 tbe no lesse wonderful constancie of 
 so manye martyrs, wbose bloude wyl- 
 linglyesbeddebrougbteagreatnumbre 
 of nations tbrougboute all partesof tbe 
 worlde into tbeir sect : you will not be- 
 leve witb bowe gladde mindes tbey a- 
 greed unto tbe same : wbetber it were by 
 tbe secrete inspiration of God, or elles 
 for tbat tbey tbougbt it niegbest un - 
 to tbat opinion wbicb among tbem is 
 counted tbe cbiefest, Rowbeit X tbinke 
 tbis was no smale belpe & f urtberaunce 
 in tbe matter, tbat tbey barde us say, 
 tbat Cbrist instituted among bis, aC 
 tbinges commen : & tbat tbe same com- 
 munitie dotb yet remaineamongesttbe 
 rigbtest Cbristian companies. 
 
 234 
 
j^m^eRBJvY howsoever, It came to TTbe 
 Wj^j passe manv of them consented seconde 
 v^^BSJ^J togethers in our religion,^ were bookeof 
 wassbed in the holy water of baptisme ^^^P*^ 
 J^ But because among us f oure (for no 
 mo of us was left a live, two of our com - 
 panye beyng dead) tbere was no priest, 
 wbicb I am rigbt sorie for : tbey beynge 
 entered & instructed in al otber pointes 
 of our religion, lacke onely those sacra- 
 mentes, wbicbe here none but priestes 
 dominister^f)owbeittbey understand 
 and perceive tbem, and be very desierous 
 of the same^ "Yea, they reason and dis- 
 pute the matter earnestly among them- 
 selves, whether without the sending of 
 a christian bishop, one chosen out of 
 their own people may receave the ordre 
 of priesthod J^ Hnd truely they were 
 minded to chuese one* But at my depar- 
 ture from them they had chosen none, 
 'F) B Y ^Iso which do not agree to 
 Christes religion, f eare no man 
 from it, nor speake against any 
 man that hath received it j^ Saving that 
 one of our company in my presence was 
 sharpely punished* Re, as soone as he 
 
 235 
 
Cbc was baptised, began against our wiUes, 
 
 seconde witb more eameste affection tben wise- 
 booh e of dome, to reason of Cbristes religion : & 
 Utopia began to waxe so bote in bis matter, tbat 
 be did not only e pref erre our religion be/ 
 fore al otber, but also did utterly des- 
 pise and condempne all otber, calling 
 tbem propbane, & tbe f olowers of tbem 
 wiched and develisb, and tbe cbildren of 
 cverlastinge dampnation, Cdben be bad 
 tbus longe reasoned tbe matter, tbey 
 laid bolde on bim, accused bim, and con - 
 dempned bim into exile, not as a des- 
 piser of religion, but as a sedicious per- 
 son, ^ a raiser up of dissention amonge 
 tbe people* for tbis is one of tbe aun- 
 cientest lawes amonge tbem : tbat no 
 man sball be blamed for resoninge in 
 tbe maintenaunce of bis owne religion. 
 •OR hyng Qtopus, even at tbe 
 firstebeginning,bearing tbat tbe 
 ^§} inbabitauntes of tbe land wer be/ 
 fore bis coming tbetber, at continuall 
 dissention & strife amonge tbemselves 
 for tbeir religions : percey ving also tbat 
 tbis common dissention (wbiles every 
 severall secte toohe several partes in 
 
 236 
 
fighting for tbeir countrcy) was tbconly The 
 occasion of bis conquest over tbem al, seconde 
 assone as be bad gotten tbe victory: bookeof 
 firste of all be made a decree, tbat it ^^<^P*^ 
 sbould be lawf ull for everie man to fa- • 
 voure and f olow wbat religion be would, 
 and tbat be migbte do tbe best be could 
 to bring otber to bis opinion, so tbat be 
 did it peaceablie, gentelie, quietly, and 
 soberlie,witboutbastieand contentious 
 rebuking^ invebing against otber ^If 
 be could not by faire and gentle specbe 
 induce tbem unto bis opinion yet be 
 sbould use no kinde of violence, and re- 
 fraine from displeasaunteandseditious 
 woordes^ XTo bim tbat would vehement- 
 ly and f erven tlye in tbis cause striveand Seditious 
 contende, was decreed banishment or reasoners 
 bondage^ punished 
 
 RlSlawedidkyngeCltopusmake 
 not only forthemaintenaunceof 
 peace, which he saw through con/ 
 tinuall contention and mortal hatred ut/ 
 terly extinguished: but also because he 
 thought tbis decrie sbould make for the 
 f urtheraunce of religion J^ SIherof he 
 durst define and determine nothing un- 
 
 237 
 
^bc adviscdlic, as douting whether god, de- 
 
 seconde siering manif olde and diverse sortes of 
 booke of honour, would inspire sondry men with 
 Utopia sondrie kindes of religion J^ Hnd this 
 suerly be thought a very unmete and 
 f olish thing, & a point of arrogant pre- 
 sumption, to compell all other by vio- 
 lence and threateninges to agre to the 
 same that thou belcvest to be trew J^ 
 furthermore thougbe there be one reli- 
 gion, whiche alone is trew, and al other 
 vaine and superstitious, yet did he wel 
 foresee (so that the matter were handel- 
 ed with reason, & sober modestie) that 
 the trueth of the own powre would at 
 the last issue out and come to lyghte* 
 But if .contention and debate in that be- 
 halfe should continuallye be used, as 
 the woorste men be mooste obstinate 
 aud stubbourne, ^ in their evyll opin- 
 ion mooste constante: he perceaved that 
 then the beste & holy est religion wou Ide 
 be troden underf ote and destroyed by 
 most vaine supersticions, even as good 
 come is by thorn es and weedes over- 
 growen and chooNed, XTherfore all this 
 matter he lef te undiscussed and gave to 
 
 238 
 
cvcvyc man free Ubertie and cboise to TTbe 
 beleve wbat be woulde* Savinge tbat be seconde 
 earnestelveandstraitelyecbargedtbem, bookeof 
 tbatnoman sbouldeconceavesovUeand ^^^P^^ 
 baase an opinion of tbe dignitieof mans fTovileopin/ 
 nature, as to tbink tbat tbe soules do ^^^ ^^ ^^ 
 die and perisbe witb tbe bodye: or tbat conceaved 
 tbe world runnetb at alaventures, gov- 2,oI?hvna/ 
 erned by no divine providence* |.„^^ ^ 
 
 \f^X> tberf ore tbei beleve tbat af- 
 ter tbis life vices be extreamelye 
 punisbed & vertues bountifully 
 rewarded* r)ym tbat is of a contrary opin/ 
 iontbeycountenotintbenumbreofmen, 
 as one tbat batbe avaled tbe beigbe na- 
 ture of bys soule to tbe vielnes of brute 
 beastes bodies : mucbe lesse in tbe num/ 
 bre of tbeir citizeins, wbose lawes and or/ 
 denaunces^if it were not for f eare, be wold 
 notbing at al esteme J^ for you maye be 
 suer tbat be will studie eitber witb craft 
 prively to mocke^or els violently to breake 
 tbe commen lawes of bis countrey, in 
 wbom remainetb no furtber feare tben Irreligious 
 of tbelawes,nornofurtberbopetbenof people se- 
 tbe bodye J^ mberfore be tbat is tbus eluded from 
 minded is deprived of all bonours, ex- ^ll^>onours 
 
 239 
 
JZbc 
 sccondc 
 bookcof 
 Cltopia 
 
 Hvcry 
 
 straung 
 
 sayingc 
 
 Deceit and 
 
 falsbod 
 
 detested 
 
 eluded from all offices, and rejecte from 
 all common administrations in the weale 
 publique»Hndtbus be is of all sortes de/ 
 spised, as of an unprofitable, & of a base 
 &vilenature.r>owbeittbeyputbimtono 
 punisbment, because tbey be persuad- 
 ed, tbat it is in no mans power to beleve 
 wbat be list, ]Vo, nor tbey constraine bym 
 not witb tbreatninges to dissemble bis 
 minde,and sbewcountenaunce contrarie 
 to bis tbougbt, for deceit and falsbod 
 & all maners of lies, as next unto fraude, 
 tbey do mervelouslie deteste & abborre. 
 But tbey suffer bim not to dispute in bis 
 opinion, & tbat onelye amonge tbe com/ 
 men people, for els aparte amonge tbe 
 pries tes an d m en of gravitie, tbey do n o t 
 onelyesuffer,butalsoexbortebimtodis/ 
 pute and argue: boping tbat at tbe last, 
 tbat madnes will geve place to reason, 
 RGRB be also otber, and of tbem 
 no small num bre, wbicb be not for/ 
 bidden to speahe tbeyr mindes, as 
 grounding tbeir opinion upon some rea/ 
 son,beyngin tbeir livingneitber evellnor 
 viciousXbeirberesie is mucb contrarie to 
 tbe otber, for tbey beleve tbat tbe soules 
 240 
 
of brute bcas tC8 be immortaU & everlast/ r^be 
 ing. But notbynge to be compared witb seconde 
 oures in dign itie, neither or deined& pre/ book e of 
 destinate to lihe f elicitie. for al they be- Utopia 
 leve certeinly ^sewerly that mans blesse H marvelous 
 shal be so great, that they do mourne & straunge 
 lament every mans sicknes, but no mans opinion 
 death, oneles it be one whome they see pouching 
 depart from his life caref uUie,&agaynst ^^u^f^ 
 his wilL for this they take for a very e evel ^eastes 
 token, as though the soule beynge in di/ 
 spaire, and vexed in conscience, through t^o die un- 
 some privie and secret f orefeiling of the wiUyngly an 
 punishementnowathande,wereafcrdeto evel token 
 depart* Hnd they thinke he shall not be 
 welcome to God, which when he is called, 
 runneth not to him gladlye, but is draw- 
 en by force & sore against his wilU XThey 
 therfore that see this kinde of deathe, do 
 abhorre it, & them that so die, they burie 
 with sorow and silence. Hnd when they 
 have praied God to be mercifull to the 
 soule, and mercifully to pardon the infir/ ^ ^villina 
 mities therof, they cover the dead coorse ^nd a merye 
 with earth.Contrariewiseall that departe deathe not 
 merely andful of good hope, for them no to be lamen/ 
 man moumeth, but followeth the heerse ted 
 r 241 
 
t:bc 
 
 sccondc 
 boohcof 
 Cltopia 
 
 with jovfuU synging, commending the 
 soulcs to God with great affection, Hnd 
 at the last, not with mourning sorrow, 
 but witb a great reverence, tbey bourne 
 tbe bodies^Hnd in the same place tbey 
 sette up a piller of stone, witb tbe dead 
 mans titles tberin graved^^ben tbey be 
 comebometbeyrebersebisvertuousma/ 
 ners and bis good dedes. But no part of 
 bis life is so oft or gladly talk ed of, as bis 
 meri detb J^ XTbey tbinke tbat tbis re- 
 membraunce of tbe vertue and goodnes 
 of tbedead,doetbvebementlv provoked 
 enforcetbe living tovertue^Hndtbat no/ 
 tbingcan bemore pleasaunt & acceptable 
 to tbe deade; wbom tbey suppose to be 
 present among tbem,'wben tbey talke of 
 tbem, tbougb to tbe dull & feble eiesigbt 
 of mortall men tbey be invisible* 
 
 |0R it werean unconvenient tbinge, 
 tbat tbe blessed sboulde not be 
 at libertie to goo wbetber tbey 
 wou Ide* Hnd it were a poin te of greate un/ 
 kindnes in tbem to bave utterly cast a- 
 way e tbe desire of visitinge & seing tbeir 
 f rendes, to wbome tbey were in tbeir life 
 time joyned by mutuall love and amitie* 
 242 
 
^bicbc m good men, after tbeir deathe, The 
 tbey counte to be ratber increased tben seconde 
 diminCsbed. ^^^Jt^?^ 
 
 [^pReY belevetbereforetbat tbedeade ^^^P»^ 
 H^P bepresentlye conversauntamonge 
 l^^tbequicke, as bebolders and wit- 
 nesses of all tbeir wordes & deedesXber/ 
 fore tbey go more corragiously to tbeir 
 busines as bavinga trust and affiauncein 
 sucb overseers* Hnd tbis same belefe of 
 tbe present conversation of tbeir fore- 
 fatbers ^auncetours among tbem^fear- 
 ctb tbem from all secrete disbonestie* 
 
 l^SY utterly despise and mocke Sotbsayers 
 sotbsayingesand divinations of ^^^ regard- 
 tbingestocomebytbefligbteor cd or credit- 
 voices of birdes, and all otber divina- ^^ 
 tionsofvainesuperstition,wbicbeinotb/ 
 ercountreisbeingreateobservation^But JMiracles 
 tbey bigblyeesteme and worsbyppemir/ 
 acles tbat come by no bealpe of nature, 
 as woorhes & witnesses of tbe presente 
 power of 0od* Hnd sucbe tbey saye do 
 cbaunce tbere verye often ♦ Hnd some- 
 times in great and doubtef ull matters, 
 by commen intercession &prayers,tbey 
 procure & obteine tbem witb a sure bope 
 and confidence, and a stedfast belefe, 
 rz 243 
 
sccondc 1^ of nature, and tbc praysc tbcrcof 
 boohc of 1^^ commingcistoGodavcry accept/ 
 Utopia ^jjig bonoure* Yet tbere be many so earn/ 
 XTbclifecon/ ^^^^y^ ^^"^ ^"^ affcctioned to religion, 
 templative ^^^^ ^^^T passe no tbing for lerning, nor 
 geve tbeir mindes to any knowledge of 
 XTbe life tbinges* But ydelnes tbey utterly for- 
 active sahe and escbue, tbinking felicitie after 
 
 tbis life to be gotten ^obteined by busie 
 labors & good exercises* Some tberfore 
 of tbem attende upon tbe sicke, some a- 
 mendebigbwaies,clenseditcbes,repaire 
 bridges, digge turfes, gravell, & stones, 
 fel & cleave wood, bring wood, come and 
 otber tbinges into tbe cities in cartes, & 
 servenotonclyeincommenwoorkes,but 
 also in private laboures as servauntes, 
 yea, more tben bondmen j!^ for wbat so 
 ever unpleasaunt, barde, and vile worke 
 IS anye wbere, from tbe wbicbe labour, 
 lotbsomnes, and desperation dotb fray 
 otber, al tbat tbey take upon tbem will- 
 ingly & gladly,procuring quiete & rest to 
 otber, remaininge in continual woorke & 
 labourtbemselves,notembraidingeotb/ 
 ers tberewitbXbey neitber reprove otber 
 mens lives, nor glorie in tbeire owne. 
 244 
 
?f)ese men, the more serviceable 'Cbc 
 they bebavetbemselves^tbemore seconde 
 
 , - /tbey be bonoured of allmenj^ bookeof 
 
 Tet tbev be divided into two sectes.XTbe ^^^P^^ 
 oneisof tbem tbat live single and cbast, 
 absteining not onely from the companie 
 of women, but also from eating of flesbe, 
 ^someof tbem from allmaner of beastes* 
 Slbicbe,utterlyreiectingtbepleasuresof 
 this present life as burtf ull, beall wbolye 
 set upon tbe desier of tbe lyfe to come, 
 by watcbynge, and sweatynge, boopinge 
 sbortly to obtaine it, being in tbe meane 
 season merie & lustie^X^be otber secte 
 is no lesse desirous of laboure, but tbey 
 embrace matrimonye, not despisynge 
 tbe solace tberof , thinking tbat they can 
 not be discharged of their bounden du- 
 ties towardes nature, without labour and 
 toy le, nor towardes their native coun trey 
 without procreation of children. T^hey 
 abstaine from no pleasure that doeth 
 nothingehinderthem from laboureXbey 
 love the flesh of f oure footed beastes, 
 bicause they beleve that by that meate 
 they be made hardier and stronger to 
 woorhe. 
 
 245 
 
The 
 sccondc 
 boohcof 
 Cltopia 
 
 It is not all 
 one to be 
 wise and 
 good 
 
 priestcs 
 
 ^^r)B Cltopians counte this secte the 
 ^wisenbuttbeotber the holier. Cttbicb 
 Sin tbat tbev pref erre single life be- 
 
 fore matrimony, and tbat sbarp life be- 
 fore an easier life, if berein tbey ground- 
 ed upon reason tbey would mock tbcm. 
 But now f orasmucb as tbey say tbey be 
 led to it by religion, tbey bonor and wor- 
 ship tbem. Hnd these be they whom in 
 their language by a peculiar name, tbey 
 calButbrescas, the which woord by inter/ 
 pretationsignifieth to us,men of religion 
 or religious men. 
 
 'RSY ^>ave priestes of exceding 
 holines, and therefore very few. 
 for there be butxiij. in every citie, 
 accordinge to thenumber of their church/ 
 es, savyng when they go furthe to bat- 
 tell, for than vij. of them goo f urth with 
 the armie: in whose steades so manie 
 newe be made at home. But the other at 
 their retoume home again reentre every 
 oneintohisowneplace,theytbatbeabove 
 thenumbre(untillsuchetimeas they sue/ 
 cede into the places of the other at their 
 dyinge) be in the meane season continu- 
 allie in companie with the bisboppe. for 
 246 
 
be is the chief c bead of tbem al jj? tTbev TZbc 
 be cbosen of tbe people, as tbeotber ma/ seconde 
 gistrates be, by secrete voices^f or the a- booke of 
 voydinge of strif ej^Hf ter their election Utopia 
 they be consecrate of their own com- 
 panie j^TTbey be overseers of al divine 
 matters, orderers of religions, and as it 
 wer judges andmaisters of maners^Hnd 
 it is a great dishonestie and shame to be 
 rebuked or spoken to by any of them for 
 dissolute and incontinent living. 
 
 ^WC as it is their office to geve 
 good exhortations and counsel, 
 
 ^soisitthedu tie of the prince and 
 the other magistrates to correct & pun - 
 ishe offenders, saving that the priestes, 
 whomethey findexceadingvicious livers, ^xcommu/ 
 them they excommunicate from having nication 
 anyeinterestindivinematters.Hndthere 
 isalmostenopunishementamongethem 
 more feared* for they runne in very e great 
 infamie, and be inwardly tormented with 
 a secret f eare of religion, and shall not 
 longscapefreewith their bodies* f or un/ 
 lessetheybyquickerepentaunceapprove 
 the amendement of their lives to the 
 priestes, they be taken and punished of 
 the counsel, as wicked and irreligious* 
 
 247 
 
The 
 sccondc 
 boohcof 
 Utopia 
 
 Slomcn 
 pricstcs 
 
 OTf^ cbildbodc and youth is in- 
 structed ^ taught of them. J^or 
 they be not more diligente to in- 
 structe them in learning, then in vertue 
 and good maners* for they use with verie 
 great endevour and diligence to put into 
 the beades of their children, whiles they 
 be yet tender and pliaunte, good opini- 
 ons and profitable for the conservation 
 of their wealepublique.QIhich when they 
 be once rooted in children, do remayne 
 with themall their lifeafter,&be wonders 
 profitable for the defence and mainten- 
 aunceof the state of thecommenwelth. 
 ^hicheneverdecaieth but throughe vices 
 risinge of evill opinions. 
 
 3f)B pries tes, onles they be women 
 
 ^ (for that kinde is not excluded from 
 
 priesthoode, howbeit f ewe bechos- 
 
 Thcmajes- 
 tie and pre- 
 eminence of 
 priestes 
 
 en, and none but widdowes and old wo- 
 men) the men priestes, X saye, tahe to 
 theirwifes the chiefest women inall their 
 countreye^fortonoofficeamongtheClto/ 
 pians is more honour and preeminence 
 geven. In so much that if they commit 
 any offence, they be under no commen 
 judgement, but be left only to God and 
 248 
 
tbcmsclf e8» for tbci tbinkc it not lawful ITbe 
 to toucb bim witb manncs bandc, be be seconde 
 neverso vitiou8>wbicbeaf tersoslngular booke of 
 a sort was dedicate & consecrate to god ^^^P^^ 
 as a bolly off ering, Tbis manermav tbey 
 easelye observe, bicause tbey bave so 
 f ewe priestes, and do cbuse tbem witb 
 sucb circumspection, foritscasely ever 
 cbauncetb, tbat tbe moste vertuous a- 
 monge vertuous, wbicb in respect only of 
 bis vertue is avaunced to so bigb a dig- 
 nity, can fal to vice and wickednes* Hnd 
 if it sbould cbaunce in dede (asmansna/ 
 ture is mutable and f raile) yet by reason 
 tbey be so f ewe, & promoted to no migbt 
 nor powre, but only to bonoure, it were 
 not to be feared tbat anye great dam- 
 mage by tbem sbould bappen and ensue 
 to tbe commen wealtbe* 
 
 RSYbavesorare&fewepriestes, 
 least if tbe bonour werecommu- 
 'nicatedtomany,tbedignitioftbe 
 ordre, wbicb among tbem now is so bigb/ 
 ly esteemed, sbould runne in contempt. 
 Specially e bicause tbey tbincke it bard to 
 find many so good, as to bemeet for tbat 
 dignity, to tbe execution and discbarge 
 
 249 
 
The whereof it ie not sufRcien te to be endued 
 
 seconde withmeanevertues^furthermore these 
 bookeof priestes be not more estemed of their 
 Cltopia owne countrey men, then they be of f or- 
 rein ^straunge countreis^ Cdhich thinge 
 mayeherebyplainlyappere.HndXthinke 
 also that this is the cause of it*f or whiles 
 the armies be fighting together in open 
 feld,thev,alitlebeside,notfarreof,knele 
 upon their knees in their hallowed vesti- 
 mentes, holding up their handes to hea- 
 ven : praing first of all for peace, nexte 
 for victory of their owne parte, but to 
 neyther part a bluddy victory. If their 
 host gette the upper hand, they runne in 
 to themayne battayle, & restrayne their 
 ownemen from sleying & cruelly pursu- 
 inge theire vanquy shed enemies.^hy che 
 enemyes, yf they doo but see them and 
 speake to them, it is ynoughe for the 
 savegarde of theire lyves*Hnd the touch/ 
 ingof theire clothes def endeth & saveth 
 al their gooddes from ravineandspoyle. 
 XThis thinge hathe avaunced them to so 
 greate wourship & trewe majesty among 
 al nations, that manye times they have 
 as wel preserved theire own citizens from 
 250 
 
the cruel force of tbeir enemies, as thev The 
 have tbeire enemies from the furyous seconde 
 rage of tbeire owne men* for it is well bookeof 
 hnowen,tbat wben tbeire ownearmybatbe ^^^P^^ 
 reculed, & in dyspayre turned backe and 
 runneaway,tbeirennemiesfyerslye pur- 
 suing witb slaugbter & spoy le, tben tbe 
 priestes cumming betwene bave stayed 
 tbemurden & parted botbe tbe bostes* 
 So tbat peace batbbenemade&conclud/ 
 ed betwene botbe partes upon equalland 
 indifferent conditions* for tbere was ne- 
 ver any nation, so fierce, so cruell, and 
 rude, but tbey badde tbem in sucberever- 
 ence, tbat tbey counted tbeir bodyes bal- 
 loted and sanctified, and tberefore not 
 to be violentlye & unreveren tly e toucbed* 
 
 'f)BYkepebollyetbefirste& tbe TTbeobser- 
 laste daye of everye monetb and vacion of 
 yeare, divydinge tbe yeare into bolydaies 
 monetbes, wbycbe tbey measure by tbe amonge tbe 
 course of tbe moone, as tbey doo tbe ^^opians 
 yeare by tbe course of tbe sonne* XTbe 
 f yrste dayes tbey call in tbeire language 
 Cynemernes, & tbe laste TTrapemernes, 
 tbe wbycbe woordes may be interpreted, 
 primifcste&finifest,orelsinourspeacbe, 
 
 251 
 
sccondc 
 
 bookcof 
 
 Cltopta 
 
 XTbcir 
 cburcbcis 
 
 Cbiircbcis 
 of dimmc 
 ligbtanda 
 reason wby 
 
 first f caste & last f east, XTbeir cburcbes 
 beveryegorgious,&notonelveof fine& 
 curious workemansbip, but also (wbicb 
 in tbc fewenes of tbem was necessary) 
 very wide and large, and bable to receave 
 a great company of people. But tbey be 
 al sumwbat darke, r)owbeit tbat was not 
 donne tbrougb ignoraunce in buildinge, 
 but as tbey say, by tbe counsel of tbe 
 priestes, Bicause tbey tbougbt tbat over 
 mucb ligbt dotb disperse mens cogita- 
 tions, wbereas in dimme and doubtful 
 ligbte tbey be gatbered togetber, & more 
 earnestly fixed upon religion and devo- 
 tion : wbicb bicause it is not tbere of one 
 sort among all men, & yet all tbe kindes 
 and f assions of it, tbougbe tbey be son- 
 dry and manifold, agre togetber in tbe 
 bonour of tbe divine nature, as goyng 
 divers wayes to one ende: tberefore no- 
 tbing is sene nor beard in tbe cburcbes, 
 but tbat semetb to agre indefferently 
 witb tbem all. If tbere be a distinct kind 
 of sacrifice peculiar to any e several secte, 
 tbat tbey execute at bome in tbeir owne 
 bousesXbe common sacrifices beso or/ 
 dered, tbat tbey be no derogation nor 
 252 
 
prejudice toanveof the private sacrifices 
 & religions^ Therefore no ymage of an- 
 nyc god is scene in the cburcbe, totbein/ 
 tente it maye bee free for every man to 
 conceive God by tbeir religion after wbat 
 Itkenes & similitude tbey will. XTbey call 
 upon no peculiar name of God, but only 
 JMitbra, in tbe wbicb word tbey all agree 
 together in one nature of tbe divine ma- 
 jesti, whatsoever it be. JS^o prayers bee 
 usedbutsucbeaseveryemanmayebolde/ 
 lie pronounce withoute the offendinge 
 ofannysecte. 
 
 'RSYcometherforetothechurche 
 the laste day of everye moneth & 
 ^yearein theevenyngeyetfastinge, 
 there to gyve thankes to God for that 
 they have prosperously e passed over the 
 yeareormonethe,wberofthathollyedaye 
 19 the laste dayeXhenextedaye they come 
 to the church earlye in the mornyng, to 
 praye to God that they maye have good 
 fortune and successe all the newe yeare 
 or monethe whych they doo begynne of 
 that same holly e daye* 
 
 <CIZ in the holly dayes that be the 
 laste dayes of the monetbes and 
 yeares, before they come to the 
 
 253 
 
 The 
 seconde 
 bookeof 
 Cltopia 
 
 t^heconfes/ 
 sion of the 
 Cltopians 
 
The 
 sccondc 
 bookcof 
 Cltopia 
 
 Hn order for 
 places in the 
 Cburcbe 
 
 cburcbe, tbe wives fall downe prostrat 
 before tbeire busbandes feet at borne, & 
 tbe cbildren before tbe feete of tbeir pa- 
 renteSt confessinge and acknowleginge 
 tbemselfes offenders, eitber by some ac- 
 tuaUdede,or by omission of tbeir deuty, 
 and desire pardon for tbeir oifenseXbus 
 yf anye cloude of privy displeasure was 
 risen at bome, by tbis satisfaction it is 
 overblowen, tbat tbey may be presente 
 at tbe sacrifices witb pure and charitable 
 mindes, for tbey be aferd to come tbere 
 witb troubled consciences^t^berefore if 
 tbey knowe tbemselfes to beare anye ba/ 
 tred or grudge towardes anye man, tbey 
 presumenot tocometotbe sacrifices, be/ 
 fore tbey bave reconciled tbemselfes and 
 purged tbeire consciences, for f eare of 
 greate vengeaunce & punysbemente for 
 tbeir offense. 
 
 RS]^ tbey come tbetber, tbe 
 men goo into tbe rygbte syde 
 of tbe cburcbe,^ tbe women in/ 
 to tbe lef te sydeXbere tbey place tbem/ 
 selfes in sucbeordre, tbat all tbey wbycbe 
 be of tbe male kinde in every bousbold 
 sitte before tbe goodman of tbe bouse, 
 254 
 
and tbcy of the female kinde before the The 
 goodwyfe. TZhxis it is forsene that all seconde 
 their gestures & behaviours be marhed booke of 
 and observed abrode of them by whose ^1^<^P*^ 
 authority and discipline they be govern/ 
 ed at home ji^ t:his also they diligently 
 see unto, that the younger evermore be 
 coupled with his elder, lest children be/ 
 inge joyned together, they should passe 
 over that time in childish wan tonnes, 
 wherein they ought principally to con- 
 ceave a religious and devoute f eare to- 
 wardes God: which is the chieflPeand al/ 
 most the only incitation to vertu, 
 ^^r)BY killno living beast in sacrifice. Ceremonies 
 jl^^nor they thinke not that the merci/ 
 ^^ ful clemencye of God hath delitein 
 bloude and slaughter, which hath geven 
 liif e tobeastes to the intent they should 
 live* "Chey burne f ranckensence, and o- 
 ther sweet savours, & light also a greate 
 numbre of waxe candelles & tapers, not 
 supposinge this geare to be any thing 
 avaylable to the divine nature, as neither 
 the prayers of men* But this unhurtf ul 
 and harmeles kind of worship pleaseth 
 them* Hnd by thies sweet savoures and 
 
 255 
 
sccondc 
 
 bookcof 
 
 Cltopia 
 
 ligbtcs, and other such ceremonies men 
 f ecle tbemself es secretlye lifted up and 
 encouraged to devotion witb more wil- 
 lyngeand fervent bartes, 
 
 RS people wearetbe in tbe cburcbe 
 wbite apparelL Xlbe priest is clotb- 
 
 3 ed in cbaungeable colours, ^bicbe 
 in workemansbipe bee excellent, but in 
 stufFenot veryepretious. f or tbeireves- 
 timentes be neitber embraudered witb 
 gold, nor set witb precious stones. But 
 tbey be wrougbt so fynely & conninge- 
 iyc witb divers fetbers of foules, tbat 
 tbe estimation of no costely stuffe is 
 bable to countervail tbe price of tbe 
 worke j^ f urtbermore in tbese birdes 
 fetbers, and in tbe dewe ordre of tbem, 
 wbicbe is observed in tbeire setting, tbey 
 save is conteyned certaine divine mis- 
 teries.TTbe interpretation wberof know/ 
 en, wbicbe is diligentlye taugbt by tbe 
 priestes, tbey be put in remembraunce 
 of tbe bountif ull benelites of God to- 
 warde tbem : and of tbe love & bonoure 
 wbicbe of tbeire bebalf e is dewe to God : 
 an d also of tb eir deu ties on e to warde an/ 
 otber. 
 
 256 
 
Re]^ the priest first commctb ITbe 
 outof the vestry tbusapparel- seconde 
 
 led,tbeyfaUdowneincontinent bookeof 
 
 everye one reverentlye to tbe ground, Utopia 
 witb so still silence on every e part, tbat 
 tbe very fassion of tbe tbinge striN- 
 etb into tbem a certayne f eare of God, 
 as tbougb be were tbere personally pre- 
 senter ^ben tbey bave lien a litle space 
 on tbe ground, tbe priest gevetbe tbem 
 asignefor toryse* 
 
 RS]^ tbey sing prayses unto tlbeire 
 God, wbicbe tbey in term ixewitb cburcb 
 instrumentes of musicke, for musike 
 tbe moste parte of otber fassions tben 
 tbese tbat we use in tbis parte of tbe 
 worlde^Hnd like as some'of ours bee 
 mucbe sweter tben tbeirs, so some of 
 tbeirs doo farre passe ours* 
 ^^CXtl in one tbinge doubtles tbey 
 ^^ goo exceding farre beyonde us* 
 for all tbeir musike, botbe tbat 
 
 tbey playe upon instrumentes and tbat 
 tbey singe witb mannes voyce, dotbe so 
 resemble and expresse naturall affec- 
 tions, tbe sound and tune is so applied 
 and made agreable to tbe tbinge, tbat 
 s 257 
 
sccondc 
 
 bookcof 
 
 Cltopm 
 
 prayers 
 
 whether it bee a prayer, or elo a dytty 
 of gladnes, of patience, of trouble, of 
 tnoumynge, or of anger ; the fassion 
 of the melodye dothe sorepresente the 
 meaning of the thing, that it doth won- 
 derfullye move, stirre, pearce, and en- 
 fUme the hearers myndes* 
 ^x: the laste the people & the priest 
 
 together rehearse solempne pray- 
 kers in woordes, expreslye pronoun/ 
 ced so made that every man maye pri- 
 vatelye applye to hymselfe that which 
 is common lye spoken of all-in these 
 prayers, everye man recognisethe and 
 knowledgethe God to be hys maker,hys 
 govern oure, and the principal cause of 
 all other goodnes, thankynge him for 
 so many benefttes receaved at his hande. 
 But namelye that through the favoure 
 of God he hath chaunced into that pub- 
 lyqueweale, which ismoste happyeand 
 welthye,andhathe chosen that religion 
 whyche he hopeth to be moste true* In 
 the whyche thinge if he doo anye thinge 
 erre, or yf there be any other better then 
 eyther of them is, being more acceptable 
 to God, he desierethe him that he wyl 
 258 
 
of bis goodncs let bim bavc knowledge XTbe 
 tbereof , as one tbat is ready too foUowe seconde 
 wbat way soever be wyll leade bym. But booke of 
 yf tbis f ourme and fassion of acommen Utopia 
 wealtbe bee beste, & bis owne relygion 
 most true and perf ecte, tben be desyr- 
 etbe God to gyve bym a constaunte 
 stedef astnes in tbe same, & too brynge 
 all otber people to tbe same ordre of 
 lyvynge, ^ to tbe same opinion of God, 
 onles tbere bee annye tbinge tbat in tbis 
 diversitye of religions dotbe delite bis 
 unsercbeable pleasure^To be sborte,be 
 prayetb bym, tbat after bis deatbe be 
 maye come to bym. But bow soone or 
 late, tbat be dare not assygne or deter- 
 mine, Rowebeit, if it mygbt stande witb 
 bis majesties pleasure, be woulde be 
 mucbe gladder todyeapaynef ull deatbe 
 and so to goo to God, tben by longe 
 lyving in worldlye prosperitye to bee a- 
 wayefrom bim.^ban tbis prayer is said, 
 tbey f al doune to tbe ground again, and 
 a lytle after tbey ryse up and go to din- 
 nen Hnd tbe resydeweof tbe daye tbey 
 passe over in playes, and exercise of 
 cbevalrye, 
 
 S2 259 
 
XZbc i^^^^^^ ^ have declared & described 
 
 seconde fln|S3||| unto you, as truelye as X coulde, 
 
 boohe of ytv^y the fourme & ordre of that com- 
 
 Cltopia men wealth, which verely in my judgment 
 
 is not only the beste, but also that which 
 
 aloneof good right mayeclaimeand take 
 
 upon it the name of a commen wealth or 
 
 publique weale* for in other places they 
 
 speake stil of the commen wealth* But 
 
 every man procureth his owne private 
 
 gaine«f>ere,wherenothinge is private, the 
 
 commen affaires bee earn estlyeloked up/ 
 
 on* Hnd truely on both partes they have 
 
 good cause so to do as they do* 
 
 |OR in other countreys who know- 
 
 eth not that he shall sterve for 
 
 honger, onles he make some sev- 
 
 erall provision for himself e, though the 
 
 commen wealthefllorysheneversomuche 
 
 in ryches? Hnd therefore he is compelled 
 
 even of verye necessitie to have regarde 
 
 to him self e, rather then to the people, 
 
 thatistosaye,toother^Contrarywyse, 
 
 there, where all thinges be commen to 
 
 every man, it is not to be doubted that 
 
 anymanshallackeanyethingenecessary 
 
 for his private uses : so that the comm en 
 
 260 
 
store bouses and bernes be sufRcientlye tTbe 
 stored* f or tberenotbinge is distributed seconde 
 after a nyggysbc sorte, neither there is booNe of 
 anye poore man or begger* Hnd thougbe Utopia 
 no man have anye thinge, yet every e man 
 is ryche* 
 
 MOR what can be moreriche, then 
 tolyvejoyfuUyandmerely,with/ 
 out al griefe ^ pensifenes: JSfot 
 caring for his owne lyving, nor vexed or 
 troubled with his wifes im portunate com^ 
 playntes, nor dreadynge povertie to his 
 Sonne, n or sorrowyng for his dough ters 
 dowrey ? Yea, they take no care at all for 
 the lyvyng & wealthe of themselfes and 
 al theirs, of theirewyfes^theirechyldren, 
 theire nephewes, theire childrens chyld- 
 ren,andall the succession that ever shall 
 followe in theire posteritie j^Hnd yet 
 besydes this, there is no lesse provision 
 forthemthatwere ones labourers, and be 
 noweweakeand impotent, then f orthem 
 that do nowe laboure and take payne* 
 «^^€RS nowe woulde 1 sec, yf anye 
 ilp)i man dare bee so boldeas to com- 
 ^K^^ pare with this equytie, the justice 
 
 of other nations, Hmong whom, X for- 
 
 261 
 
The 
 sccondc 
 booNcof 
 Cltopia 
 
 sake God, if I can fyndc any signc or to- 
 ken of cquitic and justice* for what jus- 
 tice is this, that a rycbe goldesmy the, or 
 an usurer, or to bee sborte, any e of tbem, 
 wbicb eitber doo notbing at all, or els 
 tbatwbycbe tbey doo is sucb, tbat it is 
 not very n ecessary to tbe common wealtb, 
 sbould bave a pleasaunte and a weltbie 
 lyvinge, eitber by idlenes, or by unneces- 
 sarye busines : wben in tbe meane tyme 
 poore labourers, carters, yronsmytbes, 
 carpenters, and plowmen, by so greate 
 andcontinualtoyle,asdrawingandbear/ 
 inge beastes be skant bable to susteine, 
 andagaine,so necessary toyle, tbatwitb/ 
 out it no common wealtb were bable to 
 continewe and endure one yere, sbould 
 yet get so barde and poore a lyving, and 
 lyve so wretcbed & miserable a lyfe, tbat 
 tbestateandconditionof tbelabouringe 
 beastes maye seme mucbe better & wel- 
 tbier? for tbey benotputtosoocontinu/ 
 alllaboure,nortbeirelyvingeisnotmucbe 
 worse, yea to tbem mucbe pleasaunter, 
 takyngenotbougbteintbemeaneseason 
 for tbe tyme to come* But tbese seilye 
 poore wretcbes be presently tormented 
 262 
 
witbbarrcyne&unfrutcfuU labounHnd The 
 the rcmcmbraunce of tbcirc poorc indi- scconde 
 gent & bcggcrlyc oldc age kylletb tbem boohe of 
 up* for tbeire day ly wages is so lytle, tbat Utopia 
 itwUl not suffice for tbesamedaye^inucbe 
 lesse it yeldetb any overplus, tbat may 
 daylye be layde up for tbe relyefeof olde 
 age* 
 
 S not tbis an unjust &an unkynde 
 publyque weale, wbycbe gyvetb 
 great fees and rewardes to gentle/ 
 nien,astbeycalltbem,&togoldsmytbes, 
 and to sucbe otber, wbicbe be eitber ydle 
 persones, or els onlye flatterers, and de- 
 vysers of vayne pleasures, and of tbe 
 contrary parte maketb no gentle provi- 
 sion for poore plowmen, coliars, labor- 
 ers, carters, yronsmytbes, & carpenters: 
 witbout wbome no commen wealtb can 
 continewe? But after it batb abused tbe 
 labours of tbeire lusty and fliowrin gage, 
 at tbe laste wben tbey be oppressed witb 
 oldeage & syckenes : being nedye, poore, 
 and indigent of all tbinges, tben forget- 
 tyng tbeir so manye paynef ull watcb- 
 inges, not remem bring tbeir so manye 
 and so greate benefites, recompensetb 
 
 263 
 
sccondc 
 
 boohcof 
 
 Cltopia 
 
 & acquytctb tbcm mostc unkyndly witb 
 miserable dcatb, 
 
 ^^^J^D yet besides tbis, tbe ricbe men 
 SJ^Knot only by private fraud, but al- 
 Ml^ so by commen lawes do every day 
 pluck and snatcbe awaye from tbe poore 
 some parteof tbeir daily living* Sowbere 
 as itsemed before unjustetorecompense 
 witb unkindnes tbeir paynes tbat bave 
 bene beneficiall to tbe publique weale, 
 nowe tbey bave to tbis tbeir wrong and 
 unjuste dealinge (wbicb is yet a mucbe 
 worse pointe) geven tbe name of justice, 
 yea and tbat by force of a law* 
 
 MRGRf ORS wben I consider and 
 way in my mindalltbese commen 
 wealtbes, wbicb now adayes any 
 wberedofiorisb, so God belpeme^lcan 
 perceavenotbing but a certein conspiracy 
 of ricbe men procuringetbeireownecom/ 
 modities under tbe name and title of tbe 
 commen wealtb j^^bey invent and de- 
 vise all meanes and craf tes, ftrst bow to 
 kepesafely,witboutfeareof lesing,tbat 
 tbey bave unjustly gatbered togetber, & 
 next bow to bireand abuse tbe worke and 
 laboureof tbe poore for as litle money as 
 264 
 
may be^TTbcsc devises, when the ricbe TTbe 
 men have decreed to be kept & observed seconde 
 under coloure of the comminaltCe, that is booke of 
 to say e, also of the pore people, then tbey ^^^P*^ 
 bemadelawes* 
 
 Crc tbese most wicked and vici- 
 ous men, wben tbey bave by tbeir 
 aunsatiable covetousnes devided 
 among tbem selves al tbose tbinges, 
 wbicb woulde bave sufficed all men, yet 
 bow farre be tbey from tbe weltb and Contempte 
 f elicitie of tbe Cltopian commen wealtb* of money 
 Out of tbe wbicb, in tbat all tbe desire of 
 money witb tbe use tbereof is utterly se/ 
 eluded & banisbed, bowe greate a beape 
 of cares is cut away. f)ow great an occa- 
 sion of wickedness miscbiefe is plucked 
 up by tbe rotesj^f or wbo knowetb not, 
 tbat fraud, tbef t, ravine, brauling, qua- 
 relling, brabling, striffe, cbiding, con ten/ 
 tion, murder, treason, poisoning, wbicb 
 by daily punisbmentes are ratber re- 
 venged tben refrained, do dye wben mo/ 
 ney dietb? Hnd also tbat feare, griefe, 
 care,laboures,andwatcbinges,doperisb 
 even tbe very same moment tbat money 
 perisbetb? 
 
 265 
 
The 
 sccondc 
 bookcof 
 Cltopia 
 
 SH poverty it sclfc which only 
 serncd to lackc money, if money 
 were gone, it also would decrease 
 and vanishe away^Hnd that you may 
 perceavethismore plainly, consider with 
 your self es some barein and unfruteful 
 yeare, wherin manye thousandesof peo- 
 ple have starved for honger: I dare be 
 bolde to say, that in the end of that pen- 
 ury, so much come or grain might have 
 bene found in the rich mens hemes, if 
 they had bene searched, as being divided 
 among them whome famine and pesti- 
 lence then consumed,noman at alshould 
 have felt that plague ^ penuri. Soeasely 
 mightmen gette their living, if thatsame 
 worthye princesse, lady money, did not 
 alonestop up thewaye betwene us & our 
 lyving, which a Goddes name was very 
 excellently devised and invented, that by 
 her the way therto should be opened* 
 ^^^am sewer the ryche men perceave 
 |5^ this, nor they be not ignoraunte 
 ^eaSi how much better it were too lacke 
 noo necessarye thing, then to abunde 
 with overmuche superfiuite: to be ryd 
 oute of innumerable cares and troubles, 
 266 
 
then to be bcscCgcd and cncombrcd with XTbc 
 great rycbes* Hnd I dowtenot tbat eitber seconde 
 the respecte of every mans private com- booNeof 
 moditie, or els tbe authority of oure sa- Utopia 
 vioure Cbriste (wbicb for bis great wis- 
 dom could not but know wbatwere best, 
 and for bis inestimable goodnes could 
 not but counsel to thatwbich he knew to 
 be best) wold have brought all the worlde 
 longe agoo into the lawes of this weale H marvel- 
 publique, if itwernotthatoneonly beasts oussayinge 
 the princesse & mother of all mischief e, 
 pride, doth withstande and let itj^She pryde 
 measurethe not wealth & prosperity by 
 herownecommodities,butbythemiserie 
 and incommodities of other, she would 
 not by her good will be made a goddesse> 
 yftherewerenowretches left, over whom 
 she might like a scorneful ladie rule and 
 triumph, over whose miseries her felici- 
 ties mighte shyne, whose povertie she 
 myghtevexe,tormente,and encrease by 
 gorgiouslye settynge furthe her rich- 
 esse* ^hys hell hounde creapeth into 
 mens hartes: and plucketh them backe 
 from en tering the right pathe of life, and 
 is so depely roted in mens brestes, that 
 she can not be plucked out* 
 
 267 
 
Tlhc 
 sccondc 
 boohcof 
 dtopia 
 
 T)X& fourmc & fashion of a wcale 
 publiquc, which 1 would gladly 
 wish unto al nations : X am glad 
 yet that it hath chaunccd to the Otopi- 
 ans, which have folowed those institu- 
 tions of life, whereby they have laid such 
 foundations of their common wealth, as 
 shal continew & last not only wealthely, 
 but also as far as mans wit may judge & 
 conjecture, shall endure for ever j^ for, 
 seyng the chief e causes of ambition ancl 
 sedition, with other vices be plucked up 
 by the rootes, and abandoned at home, 
 there can be no jeopardieof domisticall 
 dissention,whiche alone hathe caste un- 
 der foote & brought to noughte the well 
 fortified and stronglie def enced wealthe 
 & riches of many cities. But forasmuch 
 as perfect Concorde remain eth, & whol- 
 some lawes be executed at home, the en- 
 vie of al forein princes be not hable to 
 shake or move the empire, though they 
 have many tymes long ago gone about 
 to do it, beyng evermore driven backe* 
 
 268 
 
^r>as when RapbacU baddc The 
 made an cndc of bis talc, sccondc 
 though many tbingcs came hoohcof 
 to my mind, which in the ^^<^P*^ 
 maners and lawes of that 
 people semed to be insti- 
 tuted and founded of no good reason, 
 not onely in the fashion of their chevalry, 
 and in their sacrifices and religions, and 
 in other of their lawes, but also, yea and 
 chiefly, in that which is the principal 
 foundation of al their ordinaunces, that 
 is to say, in the communitie of their life 
 andlivynge,withouteanyeoccupiengof 
 money, by the whiche thingeonelye,all 
 nobilitie,magnificence,wourshippe,hon/ 
 our, and majestic, the true ornamentes 
 and bonoures, as the common opinion is, 
 of a common wealth, utterly e be over- 
 tbrowen&destroied: yet because! knew 
 that be was wery of talking, and was not 
 sure whether be coulde abyde that anye 
 thynge sboulde be sayde againste hys 
 mynde: specially e rem em brynge that be 
 had reprehended this faulte in other, 
 which be aferde lest they should seme 
 not to be wise enough, onles they could 
 
 269 
 
The findsomcfaultinotbcrmcnsinvcntions: 
 
 sccondc tbcrforc X praising both tbcir institu- 
 bookc of tions and bys communication, tokc bim 
 Utopia by tbc band, & led bim into supper: say- 
 ingetbatwewouldecbueseanotbertime 
 to waye and examine tbe same matters, 
 & to talke witb bim mooreat large tberin^ 
 Cdbicbe woulde God it migbt ones com e 
 to passe jgFln tbe meane time as X can 
 notagreeand consent to all tbingestbat 
 besaide, beyngelswitboutdoubtaman 
 singularly well learned, and also in all 
 worldely e matters exactly & profoundly 
 experienced: so must X nedes con f esse 
 and graunt tbat many tbinges be in tbe 
 Cltopian weale publique, wbicbe in our 
 cities X maye ratber wisbe for, tben bope 
 aften 
 
 "CbusendetbtbeaftemoonestalkeofRa/ 
 pbael Rytblodaye concerning tbe lawes 
 andinstitutionsoftbellandeofCltopia. 
 
 270 
 
XTotbc right honourable RicromcBus- 
 lydc, provost of Hricnn, & counscUourc 
 to the catboUhe kinge Charles, peter 
 Gyles, Citizein of Hntwerpe, wisbeth 
 health and felicities ^ 
 
 inOJMHSJVIORe, 
 the singular oma/ 
 menteof tbisour 
 ^age, as you your 
 self (right hon- 
 ourable Buslide) 
 can witnesse, to 
 ^ whome he is per- 
 ^fectly wel know- 
 en, sent unto me 
 this other day the ylande of Cltopia, to 
 very few as yet knowen, but most wor- 
 thy, which as farre excelling platoes 
 commen wealthe, all people shoulde be 
 willing toknow: specially of aman most 
 eloquent sofinely set f urth, so conning/ 
 ly painted out, and so evidently subject 
 to the eye, that as oft as X reade it, me 
 thinketh that X see somwhat more, then 
 when X heard Raphael f^ythloday him- 
 selfe (for X was present at that talke 
 aswell as master JMore) uttering and 
 
 271 
 
pronouncing bis ownc woordce. Yea, 
 though the same man, accordinge to 
 bis pure eloquence, did so open and de- 
 clare the matter, that be might plainely 
 enough appeare to reporte not thinges 
 which he had learned of others onely by 
 bearesay , but which he bad with bis own 
 eyes presently sene,& throughly vewed, 
 and wherin he bad no small time bene 
 conversant and abiding: a man trulie, 
 in mine opinion, as touching the know- 
 ledge of regions, peoples, and world- 
 ly experience, muche passinge,yea, even 
 the very famous andrenowmed travailer 
 Vlysses:andin dede sucbeaone,asfor 
 the space of these viij* C« yeres past X 
 thinh nature into the worlde brought 
 not furth bis like: in comparison of 
 whome Vespuce maye be thougbte to 
 have sene nothing, 
 
 fORBOVeR, wheras we be wont 
 more effectually & pitthely to de/ 
 Clare & expresse thinges that we 
 have sene, then whiche we have but one- 
 lye bearde, there was besides that in this 
 man a certen peculiar grace and singular 
 dexteritie, to discrive & set furth a mat- 
 272 
 
tcr witbalU Yet the self c same tbingcs 
 as of tc as 1 bcbolde and consider tbem 
 drawen and painted oute witb master 
 JVIores pensiUe^lam tberwitb somoved, 
 so deleted, so infiam ed, and so rapt, tbat 
 sometime me tbinklam presently con - 
 versaunt, even in tbe ylancieof Qtopia^ 
 Hnd t promise you, X can skante beleve 
 tbat Rapbael bimselfe by al tbat five 
 yeres space tbat be was in Cltopia abid- 
 ing, saw tberesomucb, as berein master 
 JVIores description is to be sene and per/ 
 ceaved jff Cdbicbe description witb so 
 manye wonders and miraculous tbinges 
 is replenisbed, tbat X stande in great 
 doubt wberat first and cbiefiie to muse 
 or marveile : wbetber at tbe excellencie 
 of bis perfect and suer memorie, wbicb 
 could welniegb worde by woorde re- 
 bearse so manye tbinges once onely 
 beard: or elles at bis singular prudence, 
 wbo so well andwittyly marked and bare 
 away al tbe originall causes and foun- 
 taynes (to tbe vulgare people commenly 
 most unknowen) wberof botb yssuetb 
 and springetb tbemortall confusion & 
 utter decaye of a commen wealtb, & also 
 ti 273 
 
the avaunccmcnt and wealthy state of 
 tbesamemayrieseandgroweioreUcsat 
 the efficacie and pittbe of bis wordes. 
 wbicb in so fine a latin stile, witb sucbe 
 forceofeloquence,batbcoucbcd togeth- 
 er & comprised so many and divers mat- 
 ters, speciallie beinge a man continual- 
 lie encom bred witb somanye busye and 
 troublesome cares, botb publique and 
 private, as be is. 
 
 OUIBSXC all these tbinges cause 
 you litletomarvell (righte honour- 
 able Buslid) for that you are f ami/ 
 liarlyand througblyacquaintedwitb the 
 notable, yea, almost divine witte of the 
 man. 
 ^^QXr nowe to procede to other mat/ 
 ^S ters, Isuerlyknownotbingnede- 
 3 f ulorrequisitetobeadjoyned un- 
 
 to his writinges : onely a meter of iiij. 
 verses written in the Cltopian tongue, 
 whiche after master JMores departure 
 r)ytbloday by chaunce shewed me, that 
 have 1 caused to be added thereto, with 
 the Hlphabete of the same nation, and 
 have also garnished tbemargentof the 
 bohe with certen notes, for, as touch- 
 274 
 
ingc the situation of the ylandc, that is 
 to save in what part of the worlde Qto/ 
 pia standctb, the ignorauncc and lacke 
 whereof not a litle troubletb and grev- 
 etb master JVlore, in dede Rapbael left 
 not tbat unspoken of j^ Rowbeit with 
 verie f ewe wordes be ligbtly toucbed it, 
 incidentlye by tbe way passing it over, 
 asmeanyngof Uhelibod to kepe and re- 
 serve tbat to an otber place. 
 
 ]f^X> tbe same,! wot not bow, by 
 a certen evell& unluckie cbaunce 
 escaped us botbe. for wben Ra/ 
 pbael was speaking tberof, one of Mas- 
 ter JVIores servauntes came to bim, and 
 wbispered in bis eare.^bereforeXbeyng 
 tben of purpose more earnestly addict 
 to beare, one of tbe company, by reason 
 of cold taken, X tbinke, a sbippeborde, 
 cougbed out so loude, tbat be toke from 
 my bearinge certen of bis wordes. But X 
 wil never stynte, nor rest, until X bave 
 gotte tbe full & exacte knowledge here- 
 of: insomucbetbatlwillbebableperfect/ 
 ly to instructe you, not onely in tbe lon- 
 gitude or truemeridian of tbeylande,but 
 also in tbe just latitude tberof, tbat is to 
 
 t2 275 
 
say, in the sublcvation or height of the 
 pole in that region, if our f rende f)ythlo/ 
 day be in safetie & alive j^ for we heare 
 very uncerten ncwes of him* Some re- 
 porte, that he died in his jomey home- 
 warde. Some agayne afftrme, that he re- 
 tomedinto his countrey, but partly for 
 that he coulde not away with the fash- 
 ions of his countrey folh,and partly for 
 that his minde & affection was altogeth- 
 er set & fixed upon Cltopia, they say that 
 he hathe taken his voyage thetherwarde 
 agayne. 
 
 j^^^O^H as touching this, that the 
 flSj|^I| name of this yland is nowhere 
 omfMit founde amonge the olde & aun- 
 cient cosmographers,this doubte f)yth/ 
 loday himselfe verie well dissolved, for 
 why ,itis possible cnoughe,quodhe, that 
 the name, whiche it had in olde time was 
 afterwarde chaunged, or elles that they 
 never had knowledge of this iland : for- 
 asmuch as now in our time divers landes 
 be found which to the olde geograph- 
 ers were unknowen. Rowbeit, what ned- 
 eth it in this behalf e to fortifie the matter 
 with argumentes, seynge JMastcr jviore 
 276 
 
isauthorbcrofsuflacicnt^Butwbcrasbe 
 doubtctb of tbc edition or imprinting 
 of tbc bookc, in dccde bcrc in I botb com/ 
 mcndc, and also knowledge tbc mannes 
 modcstic* 
 
 S^^OCdBeiX: unto me itsemetba 
 llPlI ^^^'^^ most unwortbie to be long 
 fM^M suppressed, and most wortby to 
 go abrod into tbe bandes of men, yea, & 
 under tbe title of youre name to be pub- 
 lysbed to tbe worlde: eitber because tbe 
 singular endowmentes and qualities of 
 JMasterJVIore betonoman better knowen 
 tben toyou, or els bicausenoman is more 
 fitte andmeete tben you, witb good coun/ 
 selles to f urtber & avaunce tbe commen 
 wealtb, wberin you bave many y cares al- 
 ready continued and travailed witb great 
 glory & commendation, botbe of wise- 
 domeandknowledgc&alsoofintegritie 
 &uprigbtnesXbusOliberall supporter 
 of good learn in ge, an d fioure of tbis oure 
 tim e,X by dy ou mos te bartely well to fare* 
 Ht Hntwerpe, 1516, tbe first daye of J^o- 
 vember* 
 
 t3 277 
 
j^H meter of liij. verses in the Otopian 
 tongue, briefely toucbinge as well the 
 straunge beginning, as also tbe bappic 
 & wealtbie continuance of tbe same com/ 
 mon wealtt^'^ -'*' ♦? 
 
 TOpOS ba Boccas peula 
 cbama polta cbamaan, 
 Bargol bemaglomi Baccan 
 soma gymnosopbaon, 
 Hgrama gymnosopbon la/ 
 barem bacba bodamilomin 
 Voluala barcbin beman la lavoluala 
 drammepagloni* 
 
 ^Cdbicbe verses tbe translator, accord/ 
 inge to bis simple knowledge and meanc 
 understanding in tbe Cltopian tongue, 
 batb tbus rudely Gnglisbed^^ 
 
 |Y kinge and conquerour 
 Cltopus byname, 
 I H prince of mucb renowme 
 ! and immortall fame, 
 f>atb made me an yle tbat 
 earst noylande was, 
 ful fraigbt witb worldly weltb,witb plea/ 
 sure and solas* 
 X one of all otber witbou t pbilosopbie 
 
 278 
 
Rave shaped for man a pbilosopbicaU 
 
 citie« 
 
 Hsmynelam notbCngedaungerous to 
 
 im parte, 
 
 So better to receave I am readie witb al 
 
 my barte* 
 
 H8bortemeterofCltopia,writtenbyHiie/ 
 molius, poete laureate, ^ nepbcwe to f)y/ 
 tblodave bv bis sister ^p^tp 
 
 \S atopie cleped Hn- 
 
 tiquitie, 
 
 I Voyde of baunte & berbor/ 
 
 ougbe, 
 
 I ]Vowe am X Uhe to platoes 
 
 citie, 
 
 Qlbose fame fiietb tbe worlde tbrougbe* 
 Yea like, or ratber more likely 
 platoes platte to excelland passe, 
 for wbat platoes penne batbe platted 
 briefely 
 
 In naked wordes, as in a glasse, 
 TTbe same bave 1 perf ourmed fully, 
 UXitb lawes, witb m en, & treasure f y ttely , 
 CClberforenotCltopie,butratberrigbtely 
 ]My name is Butopie : H place of f elicitie. 
 
 279 
 
GcKirde Noviomagc of Otopia^^ 
 
 CCR pleasure please? then 
 place the here, and well the 
 rest, 
 
 JMost pleasaunt pleasures 
 tbcu sbaltefinde here. 
 Ooetb profit ease? then 
 here arrive, this yle is best* 
 for passinge prof ettes do bere appeare* 
 Doetb botbe tbee tempte, and woldest 
 tbou gripe botb gaine and pleasure ? 
 TZbis yic is f raigbt witb botb bounte- 
 ously* 
 
 ^o still tbv gredie intent, reape bere in- 
 comparable treasure 
 Botbe minde and tongue to gamisbe 
 ricbelie* 
 
 ^be bid welles and f ountaines botb of 
 vice and vertue 
 
 ^bou bast tbem bere subject unto tbine 
 eye* 
 
 Be tbankf ulnow, and tbankes wbere 
 tbankesbedue 
 
 Geve to irbomas JMore, Jvondons im- 
 mortal glory e* 
 
 280 
 
Cornelius 0rapbcv to the Rcader^^ 
 pXXL thou knowc what 
 I wonders straunge be in the 
 lande that late was founde? 
 ! ^ilte thou leame tbv life to 
 leade, by divers ways tbat 
 I godly be? 
 iHilt tbou of vertue and of vice, under- 
 stande tbe very grounde ? 
 Clilt tbou see tbis wretcbed world, bow 
 ful it is of van i tie? 
 
 'Cben read, and marhe, and beare in mind^ 
 for tby bebouf e, as tbou maie best* 
 Hll tbinges tbat in tbis present worke, 
 tbat wortbie clerke sir XTbomas More, 
 Cditb witte divine f ul learnedly, unto tbe 
 worlde batb plaine exprest, 
 In wbom J^ondon well glory maye, for 
 wisedome and for godly lore* 
 r^be printer to tbe Reader^^i;? 
 
 f)S atopian Hlpbabete, 
 good Reader, wbicbe in tbe 
 above written Spistle is 
 promised, bereunto X bave 
 I not now adjoyned, because 
 I bave not as yet tbe true 
 cbaracters or fourmes of tbe Cltopiane 
 
 281 
 
letters. Hnd no marveiU: seyng it is a 
 tongue to us mucbe straunger then the 
 Indian, the Persian, the Syrian, the Hra/ 
 biche, the Egyptian, the JVIacedonian, 
 the Sclavonian,tbe Ciprian,tbe Scy tbian 
 etc. Cdbicb tongues, tbougb tbey beno- 
 tbing so straunge among us as tbe Clto/ 
 pian is, yet tbeir cbaracters we bave not. 
 But t trust, God willing, at tbe next 
 impression bereof to perfourme tbat 
 wbicbe nowe X can not : tbat is to say e : to 
 exbibite perfectly untotbee tbe Utopian 
 Hlpbabete. In tbemeane time accept my 
 good wy I. Hnd so fare well. 
 Xmprintedat Jvondon in paulesCburcbe 
 Y^rde, at tbe sygne of tbe Ivambe, by 
 Hbrabam meale. JM.D.JvVX. 
 
 282 
 
]^fow revised bv f . S, GUis & printed again 
 byOIiUiamJVIorrisattbeKelmscott press, 
 F)ammersmitb, in tbe County of JVliddle- 
 sex* finished the 4tb day of Hugust, 1893. 
 
 Sold by Reeves & Turner, 196, Strand. 
 
I 
 
 ^