A07402:21
A civil nosegayA ciuile nosgay
A civil nosegay wherein is contained not only the office and duty of all magistrates and judges but also of of [sic] all subjects with a preface concerning the liberty of justice in this our time newly collected and gathered out of latin and so translated in to the English tongue by I.G.A ciuile nosgay wherin is contayned not onelye the offyce and dewty of all magestrates and iudges but also of of [sic] all subiectes with a preface concernynge the lyberty of iustice in this our tyme newly collected and gethered out of latyn and so translated in to the Inglyshe tonge by I.G.
printed for John goodale, 1550printed for Ihon goodale, 1550
Title page typeset from the transcription.
¶ What is fear, and what is Justyte.¶ What is feare, and what is Iustyte.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
¶ What is fear, and what is Justice.
¶ What is feare, and what is Iustyte.
Religion comprehendeth .ij. things 1the fear of God, and the trust of mercy promised for Christ whereof holly letters doth copiously teach, and Philosophy nothing, but reason among all persons doth judge, there is a wise god, a good, a righteous maker and conservator of things, and that pains be to be feared, whereby flagitious and sinful deeds be punished from above. This knowledge of the Law bringeth forth and engendereth fear, and therefore fear is called a Religious thing. Forasmuch therefore I do intend speedfully to speak of those virtues, whereof the Philosophers chiefly do dispute and which ⟨image 8⟩we use toward men, I must therefore begin at the Queen of 2virtues whose name is Justice, of whom truly Aristotle writeth on this manner. Neither Hesperus nor Lucifer is more beautiful then Justice, for she governeth all other virtues, and she is the chief bond of Civil society and generally she signifieth obedience toward all laws, and containeth in her all virtue, and when holy scripture speaketh of Justice, obedience toward all laws ought to be understand. Secondly Justice signifieth only that virtue which in Judgements & contracts giveth to every man his own Thirdly Justice in Pauls disputations signifieth imputation of Justice, or a divine acceptation, as when it is said, it is imputed to him for Justice. But of this signification ⟨image 8⟩the Philosophers do speak nothing, because divers significations contain diverse kinds, and that there be no more significations then those three, there division therefore in the beginning is to be declared.