[Sidenote: What is it to be a nobleman or a gentleman?]
What is it to be a _nobleman_ or a _gentleman_? and what force do those termes of _nobilitie_ and _gentilitie_ infer to be in those persons, whereunto they are proper? All the people which be in our countrie be either _gentlemen_ or of the _commonalty_. The common is deuided into _marchauntes_ and _manuaries_ generally, what partition soeuer is the subdiuident. _Marchandize_ containeth vnder it all those which liue any way by buying or selling: _Manuarie_ those whose handyworke is their ware, and labour their liuing. Their distinction is by wealth: for some of them be called rich men, which haue enough and more, some poore men, which haue no more then enough: some beggers which haue lesse then enough: There be also three kindes in _gentilitie_, the _gentlemen_, which be the _creame_ of the common: the _noblemen_, which be the _flowre_ of _gentilitie_, and the _prince_ which is the _primate_ and _pearle_ of _nobilitie_. Their difference is in _authoritie_, the _prince_ most, the _nobleman_ next, the _gentleman_ vnder both. And as in the baser degree, the _begger_ is beneth all for want of both abilitie to do with, and vertue to deserue with: so the _prince_ being opposite to him, as the meere best, to the pure worst, is of most abilitie to do good, and of most vertue to deserue best. The limiting of either sort to their owne lystes, will bewray either an vsurping intruder vpon superioritie, or a base degenerat to inferioritie, either being rauished with the others dealinges, and neither deseruing the degree that he is in. To be vertuous or vicious to be rich or poore, be no peculiar badges to either sort, but common to both, for both a gentleman, and a common man may be vertuous or vicious, both of them may be either rich or poore: landed or vnlanded, which is either the hauing or wanting of the most statarie substance: Examples neede not in familiar knowledge. And as the gentleman in any degree must haue forreine abilitie for the better executing of his lawfull authoritie: so there be some vertues which seeme to be wedded properly to that side: As great wisedom in great affaires: great valiancy in great attemptes: great iustice in great executions and all thinges excellent, in a great and excellent degree of people. The same vertues but in a meaner degree in respect of the subiect, whereon they be employed: in respect of the persons, which are to employ: in respect of circumstance, wherefore they are employed: and all thinges meaner be reserued for the common: of whom I will speake no more now, bycause this title is not for them, though they become the keepers of vertues and learning, when nobilitie becomes degenerate. Hereby it is euident that the tearme of nobilitie amongst vs, is restrained to one order, which I named the flowre of gentilitie: and that the gentlemen be in degree next vnto them. Whereof where either beginneth, none can dout, which can call him a nobleman that is aboue a knight. So that whosoeuer shall vse the tearme of gentilitie, speaking of the whole order opposite to the common, doth vse the ground whence all the rest doth spring, bycause a gentleman in nature of his degree is before a nobleman, though not in the height: as nobilitie employeth the flowre of the gentlemen, which name is taken of the primacie and excellencie of the oddes, and where it is vsed in discourse it comprehendeth all aboue the common. When the _Romaine_ speaketh of the gentleman in generall, nobilitie is his terme, being in that state opposite to the common, wherein they acknowledged no prince, when that opposition was made. For _generosus_ which is our common tearme signifieth the inward valure, not the outward note, and reacheth to any actiue liuing creature though without reason, wherein there doth appeare any praisworthy valiance or courage in that kinde more then ordinarie, as in _Alexanders_ horse and _Porus_ his dog. Therefore whether I vse the terme of nobilitie hereafter or of gentilitie, the matter is all one, both the names signifying the whole order, though not one of ground, _nobilitie_ being the flower and _gentilitie_ the roote. The account wherof how great it is, we may verie well perceaue by that opinion, which the nobilitie it selfe hath vsually of it. For _truth_ being the priuate protest of a gentleman, _honour_ of a noble man, _fayth_ of a Prince, yet generally they do all ioine in this. _As they be true gentlemen._ Such a reputacion hath the name reserued euen from his originall.