Thomas Starkey

Thomas Starkey (c. 1498–1538) was an English political theorist, humanist, and royal servant. Quotes A Dialogue between Reginald Pole and Thomas Lupset (c. 1529–'32) Edited by Kathleen M. Burton (London: Chatto & Windus, 1948) For this body hath his parts, which resemble also the parts of the body of man, of which the most general to our purpose be these: the heart, head, hands and feet. The heart thereof is the king, prince and ruler of the state, whethersoever it be one or many, according to the governance of the commonalty and politic state. For some be governed by a prince alone, some by a counsel of certain wise men, and some by the whole people togidder, as hereafter, when occasion requireth, more plainly I will show. But now to our purpose. He or they which have authority upon the whole state right well may be resembled to the heart. For like as all wit, reason and sense, feeling, life and all other natural power springeth out of the heart, so from the princes and rulers of the state cometh all laws, order and policy, all justice, virtue and honesty, to the rest of this politic body. To the head, with the eyes, years and other senses therein, resembled may be right well the under-officers by princes appointed, forasmuch as they should ever observe and diligently wait for the weal of the rest of this body. To the hands are resembled both craftsmen and warriors which defend the rest of the body from injury of enemies outward, and work and make things necessary to the same. To the feet, the ploughmen and tillers of the ground, because they by their labour sustain and support the rest of the body. Ch. 2, p. 57 And even like as a ship then is well governed when both the master and ruler of the stern is wise and expert and ever hath before his eyes, as a mark to look unto, the haven or place of his arrive, and every man also in the ship doth his office and duty appointed to him, by the reason whereof, consequently, the ship arriveth at the haven purposed and intended, so a country, city or town then is well governed, ordered and ruled when the heads or rulers thereof be virtuous and wise, ever having before their eyes, as a mark to shoot at, the wealth of their subjects, every one of them also doing their office and duty to them appointed and determed. Ch. 2, p. 63 For when all these parts thus coupled togidder exercise with diligence their office and duty, as, the ploughmen and labourers of the ground diligently till the same, for the getting of food and necessary sustenance to the rest of the body, and craftsmen work all things meet for maintenance of the same, yea, and they heads and rulers by just policy maintain the state stablished in the country, ever looking to the profit of they whole body, then that common weal must needs flourish; then that country must needs be in the most prosperous state. Ch. 2, p. 64 [Note: stern = steering] External links Category:Theologians from England Category:Humanists Category:Non-fiction authors from England Category:University of Oxford alumni Category:1490s births Category:1538 deaths