Geoffrey Gates (MP)

Geoffrey Gates (c. 1550 – after 1586) was an English Puritan MP for various Cornish constituencies. Quotes thumb|Let those malignant spirits confess the renowned value of our nation in the old time and grant...that we are the sons of those our fathers, whose strength and courage in martial acitivity neither Scots, French, nor Spaniards were able to resist...The old English valiancy is not so extinguished in the English nation through long security and corrupt idleness, but it is soon stirred up to a double force when it hath acquainted itself with the exercise in the field. If any tongues more malicious, then discreet, will disable our martialists, and defame our souldiours, and then make a false conclusion, against the profession it selfe: let those malignant spirites confesse the renowmed value of our nation in the olde time, and grant (in spight of their beards) that we are the sonnes of those our Fathers, whose strength and courage in martiall actiuitie, neither Scots, French, nor Spanyards, were able to resist...And as all Souldiers of worthinesse and knowledge are to bee highly estéemed and mainteined, so are the gentlemen, and worthie people of our nation that haue pursued the defensory warres in the lowe Countrie, specially to be praised: for they haue approued that the olde English valiancy is not so extinguished in the English nation through long securitie, and corrupt idlenesse, but it is soone stirred vp to a double force, when it hath a while acquainted it selfe with the exercise of the fielde. If any tongues more malicious than discreet will disable our martialists, and defame our soldiers, and then make a false conclusion against the profession itself: let those malignant spirits confess the renowned value of our nation in the old time, and grant (in spite of their beards) that we are the sons of those our fathers, whose strength and courage in martial activity neither Scots, French, nor Spaniards were able to resist...And as all soldiers of worthiness and knowledge are to be highly esteemed and maintained, so are the gentlemen and worthy people of our nation that have pursued the defensory wars in the Low Country specially to be praised: for they have approved that the old English valiancy is not so extinguished in the English nation through long security and corrupt idleness, but it is soon stirred up to a double force when it hath a while acquainted itself with the exercise of the field. The Defence of Militarie Profession (1579) pp. 57–58 External links Geoffrey Gates (British MP) Category:Members of the Parliament of England Category:Non-fiction authors from England Category:People from Suffolk