The ideal of a gentleman, or, A mirror for gentlefolks : a portrayal in literature from the earliest times / by A. Smythe-Palmer.
- Abram Smythe Palmer
- Date:
- [1908]
Licence: In copyright
Credit: The ideal of a gentleman, or, A mirror for gentlefolks : a portrayal in literature from the earliest times / by A. Smythe-Palmer. Source: Wellcome Collection.
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![this reason it seemeth that Nobilitie, the more ancient it is, the more commendable, chiefly if the first of such families were aduanced for veitue. Which nobilitie is that where- of Aristotle meaneth, saying, “ Nobilitas est majorum quae- dam Claritas honorabilis progenitorum.” Likevdse, Boetius de Cons. (lib. hi, 6) saith, Nobilitas est quaedam laus pro- veniens de merito parentum.” ’—1602, Segar, Honor, p. 227. [Sir T. Elyot, The Gouvernour (ed. Croft), vol 2, p. 38.] Euery gentille man or gentil woman owithe for to haue gret ioye to lerne and for to be blamed of euery vice. Eor who so is a gentille nature desirithe naturaly gentilnesse and thinges vertuous, and louithe hym that counsailithe and techithe hym for his beter ; but a cherlous [churlish] condicion is alle contrarie, for he desirithe nother [neither] vertu ne cuning, and he lackithe and hatithe hym that saithe hym trouthe or counsailithe hym to worshipe [honour]. 1372, Knight of La Tour-Landry, p. 160. In whom is trauthe, pettee [pity], fredome and hardynesse. He is a man inheryte to gentylmene. Of^thisse virtues iiij. who lakkyth iij.. He aught never gentylmane called to be. Reliquics Antiques, Yo\.i,y>. 252. The Promptorium Parvulorum (about 1440) distinguishes into separate articles :— Gentyl, of awncetrye, Ingenuus, Genty], and curteyse, Comis ; and makes a similar distinction between. Gentry, of norture and maners, Comitas, Gentry, of awncetrye, Ingenuitas fp. 190). But for ye speken of swich [such] gentillesse. As is descended out of old richesse, That therfore sholden ye be gentilmen, Swich arrogance is not worth an hen. Loke who that is most vertuous alway, Privee and apert [openly], and most eutendeth ay To do the gentil dedes that he can. And tak him for the grettest gentil man*](https://iiif.wellcomecollection.org/image/b29008529_0048.jp2/full/800%2C/0/default.jpg)
