The jewel of joyThe iewel of ioye

Euse. So far as I perceive, they ¹err greatly, that boast of the kind red, & esteem them selves the more ⟨image 55⟩worthy because they come of wor they parents, although they them selves be never so great drunkards, gluttons, diceplayers, Whoremongers, swearers, fighters, thieves, ruffians, pickers of quarrels, riotous persons. &c. For little doeth it profit a man to descend of a noble house, if he him self be of base and vile manners and lead a life defiled with wickedness, yea it rather bringeth unto him ignobility than nobility. Well is it said of our golden mouthed doctor, the nobility ²and goodness of our kinsfolk availeth nothing, except we our selves be good. For what doeth noble generation profit him, whom, his manners do defile? Or what doeth vile generation hurt him, whom good manners do garnish and adorn? Certes he showeth him self void of all ⟨image 56⟩goodness, that glorieth in his parents To glory upon the nobility of other, saith Petrarch, is a boasting even to be laughed at. And such as have nothing but the badges, cognisances and arms of their Ancestors to set out their nobility with all, they differ not much from Aesop's crow, which decked him self with other birds feathers, he him self being altogether black & unami able.

Euse. So far as I perceiue, they ¹erre greatly, that bost of the kind red, & esteme thē selues the more ⟨image 55⟩worthy because they come of wor they parentes, although they thē selues be neuer so greate dronckardes, glotones, diceplayers, Whoremongers, swerers, fightters, theues, ruffians, pickers of quarels, riotous persons. &c. For litle doeth it profite a man to des cend of a noble house, if he hym selfe be of base and vile maners and leade a life defiled with wyckednes, yea it rather bringeth vnto hym ignobilitie than nobilitie. Well is it sayde of our golden mouthed doctor, the nobilite