¶ Of their countree.
N Grece Demosthenes, the famous Oratour of A-
thenes was borne, whose Countrée or Citee, lacketh
no cōmendacion: either for the nobilitée of the lande,
or glorie of the people. What nacion vnder the Sunne, hath
not heard of that mightie Monarchie of Grece: of their migh-
tie citees, and pollitike gouernaunce. What famous Poetes
how many noble Philosophers and Oratours, hath Grece
brede. What science and arte, hath not flowne from Grece,
so that for the worthinesse of it, it maie bee called the mother
of all learnyng. Roome also, in whom Tullie was brought
vp, maie contende in all nobilitée, whose power and puisant
glorie, by nobilitée of actes, rose to that mightie hed. In bothe
soche excellencie is founde, as that no nacion might better
contende, of their singularitée and honour of countrée, then
Grece and Rome: yet first from the Grekes, the light of Phi-
losophie, and the aboundant knowledge of all artes, sprange
to the Romaines, from the Grecians. The Godlie Lawes,
wherewith the Romaine Empire was decorated and gouer-
ned, was brought from the Grecians. If the citee maie bee a
honour and glorie, to these twoo Oratours, or their Citees a
singuler commendacion, there wanteth in bothe, neither ho-
nour, or nobilitée.
¶ Of their auncestours, and parentes.
Othe Demosthenes and Tullie were borne, of ve-
rie meane parentes and auncestours: yet thei tho-
rowe their learnyng and vertues, became famous,
ascendyng to all nobilitée. Of their vertues and
learnyng, not of their auncestours, nobilitée rose to them.
¶ Of the educacion.
HE singuler vertues of theim bothe, appered euen
in their tender youth: wherupon thei being brought
vp, in all godlie learnyng and noble Sciences, thei
became moste noble Oratours, and by their copious Elo-
quence, counsaile, and wisedom, aspired to nobilitée & honor.