by the Tribunes The tenour of their othe was after this sorte that they would neuer departe one from another nor breake their aray in the field vnlesse it were either to recouer their weapon or to strike the enemie or to saue a citizen And our Knightes saith Helinandus march forth into the warres as it were to a wedding for at Feastes they talke of Armes and in the tentes they speake of feastes The arte of warrefare saith Valerius in the second booke and first chapter beeinge earnestly followed brought the whole Empire of Italy in subiection to the Romanes And gat them the souerainity of many cities puisant kings and most valient kingdomes That same opened vnto them the bosome of the sea and broke vp the streights and passedges ouer the Alpes and Mount Taurus and deliuered them into their handes And Clearchus Captaine of the Lacedemonians saith the same acthour was wont to say often beating it into the souldiours eares that souldiours shoulde stande more in feare of their Captayne then of their enemies Chap. 7. Of Squyres VEgetius in the first booke and fourth chapter saith that the things which ar learned in childhoode are not learned very spéedely but they ar retained very perfectly And moreouer the nimblenes whiche beelongeth to a Souldiour as in leapinge and runninge is oftentimes to bee exercised that the body waxe not vnweldye with age For it is Swiftnes and nimblenes which are gotten with daylye exercise that make a good souldiour For vnto him that is so trayned vp it shal be no feare to encounter with any enemy but rather a pleasure And agayne in the same woorke and thirde chapter hee sayth thus I doubte not saith hée that anye man can bée of another opinion but that the common husbandman is fittest for the warres that can abide to toyle in the sunne and open ayre careth not for the shadowe knoweth not the baynes nor hothouse is ignorante of delicacies plaine meaninge contente with a litle able to abide all paynes to beare armour to ditche or cast a trench and of custome to carye greate burdeins not fearinge the Sunne or the Dust Wherfore meeseemeth wee must for the most parte take all our force out of the countrey for mee thinkes hee must needes care lesse for death that neuer felt anye pleasure or sweetenesse in his life and therfore such are to bee trayned vp in the warres Likewise in the first booke and first chapter wee sée saith hee that the people of Rome conquered al the world be none other meanes then by exercise of the minde by disciplyne of the fielde and dayly practise of Chiualrye whereby they rose to that greatnes And when wee choose newe souldiours wee must choose nimble men and furnishe them with daylye practise for the knowledge of the order of the warres maketh a man bould to fight For no man wil bee a fearde to do that which hee knoweth that hee hath learned to do perfectlye And when they come to the battayll the small bande that is well trayned is most like to haue the victorye The rude and vnskilfull multitude lieth alwayes open vnto slaughter And Frontinus in the fourth booke second chapter writeth thus Alexander Kinge of Macedonia saith hee with a fewe souldiours well trayned which his father Phillip left behinde him setting vpon the whole worlde slew innumerable armies of his enemies Chap. 8. Of warriours AS the noble Philosopher Aristotle writeth in the seventh of his Politickes many cities haue flourished by makinge warre but when they had once obtained the soueraintye through peace they fell to decay as iron gathereth rust with lyinge still Valerius in the second booke and sixt chapter writeth that Laelius Atticus Dentatus was an hundreth and twentie times in batteill vnto which hée alwaies went with sutch courage of minde and force of body that hée séemed euer to presume of the victory The same aucthour also reporteth that there was one which cut of the fingers of his left hand bicause hée woulde not goo into the Italian warre Then by the decrée of the Senate his goodes were openly solde and him selfe cast into perpetuall prison enforcinge him to yéelde vp that ghost most lothsomly in cheines which hee refused valiently to venture in the fielde Frontinus in the first booke and ninth chapter reporteth that one Seruius béeinge a younge man and present in the batteill which kinge Tarquinius faught against the Sabines perceiuinge those that were about the Standards to fight very slowly snatched away one of the Standards and thrue it amongst the middes of the enemies To recouer which the Romans fought so sharply that they obtained both standard and victory Hée telleth moreouer of Macillius which was Consul and at the warre which the Romans made against the Samnites who perceiuinge the souldiours fleeing out of the batteill towardes their tentes bent the force of his owne band which hee led against them swearing that hee would fight against good Citizens if they would not fight against their enemies and by that meanes brought them all again into the batteill Chap. 9. Of Philosophers and Oratours ARchitarentinus in the sixt booke writeth that when on a time Aristippus the Socration Philosopher being throwē into the sea by shipwrack was cast a lande at the shoare of Rodes and found there certain Geometricall figures and demonstracions drawne in the sandes hee cried aloud ioyfully vnto his Mates let vs bée of good cheere Mates quod hee for I see heere the foote steppes of men And foorthwith hee entred into the citie of Rhods where disputing in their scholes with professours of Philosophy hee was rewarded with many costly gyftes wherwith hee not onely appayrelled himselfe but also al that were with him and bore their charges sufficiently for meat and drinke And when his Mates being willing to returne into their owne cuntrey demaunded of him what seruice hee would commaunde them home tell my cuntrey men quod hée that I wish they should prepare sutch possessions and inheritances for their children as if they chāced to escape shipwrack might escape with them and not be taken awaye neither by violence of conquest neither by change of fortune nor by any other aduersitie Behold héere a Philosophicall and holsome document moouing men more to the study of learning and wisdome then to heaping vp of Monye In the olde time when cities weare in peace sayth Eustacius vpon the first booke of the Ethickes the noblemen and politick gouerners prouided of the common charge for sutch as were studentes in Philosophy that they should bee voide of all cares and troubles and onely applye themselues vnto contemplacion Hermes surnamed Trismegistus in his second booke of Constellacions reporteth that Politinus the Philosopher béeing as it were made vnto all ornamentes of vertue to the intent hee might expresse that which he taught by his owne example and not by any others and to a void all the insultes of Fortune
And looke with what diligence they went into the warres with thesame they tilled their fieldes And ordred their land with as mutch care as they did their Camps Many times captaynes yea and whole Senates haue bin fet out of the cuntrey And now bondslaues till thesame ground and damned handes and proscribed countnances Valerius in the seuenth booke and tenth chapter telleth of Valerius Coruinus how hée béeing an hundred yéere olde and in good strength of bodye left beehind him not onely a wished example of dealing in Publique functions but also in tilling the land and all maner husbandrie And Noble Cicero in the fifte of his offices saith that among all trades wherby a man may liue ther is none to bee preferred beefore husbandrye nothing sweeter or more plentifull nor fitter for a gentleman Chap. 16. Of Handicraftes men ARistotle in his booke intitled secrets of secrets sheweth of the wonderfull operation of the influence of the Planets in the natures of men and other things by that which hapned vnto a childe the sunne of the kinge of India For when the childe his sunne was growne to some yeeres the king would haue had him brought vp in learninge for which intent hee sent him throughout all India and other Prouinces adiacent very honourably accompanied as it was beesittinge for the sunne of sutch a Prince But the fathers diligence profited him nothing at all for why the childes disposition could not bée brought vnto anye other thing but to bée an handicrafts man Wherwith the kinge beeinge mutch troubled in his minde sent for all the wise men of his Realme to come vnto him and when hee had told them that the cause why hée sent for them was to knowe their opinions concerninge his sun They answered him that hée should applye him to that wher to he was most inclined and so hée did In the same place also hee telleth of a certen weauer that had a sunne whose natiuity foreshewed that hée should bee a greate wise man full of graue counsell and in fauour with Princes And when his father would haue instructed him in his own art of weauing hee could not learne it Then did hee whip him and beat him and gaue him vp vnto his owne will and the bâ—y ioyninge himselfe vnto learned men obtayned knowledge and vnderstanding of the heauenly motions and of the gouerment of Princes and at length was made one of the kinges Counsellers Macrobius telleth in the seconde of his Saturnalia that when Augustus returned from the Acticane victory amonge those that went to gratulate his returne ther was one which caried a Chough whome he had taught to say God saue thee Caesar our Empe. vanquisher of Antonius being likewise saluted by a Parrat hee willed y they should both bebought And wondring at the same in a Pie commaunded that to bee bought also Which thing a poore Cobler béeholding taught a Crowe to speake in the same maner And béeing ouercharged with cost and séeing that his birde would not answere was woont to say often all my labour is lost all my labour is lost But at length when the birde had perfectly learned the salutacion hée offred her vnto the Emperour who answered that hée had already enow sutch Birdes at home which saluted him after that sort Then the Crowe by chaunce remeÌ„bring the other speach which his Maister mistrustinge his docility had often times vttred béegan to speake aloude before the Emperour saying I haue lost my labour I haue lost my labour wherat Caesar laughed and commaunded him to bée bought likewise Chap. 17. Of Ritch men AEMilius Probatus in his booke of Captaines of forrein Nacions telleth a storie of the Princes sunne of Athens how meruelous liberall hée was who hauinge fermes and grainges in many places of the cuntrey hee neuer put anye kéepers ouer his corne or frutes but suffred euery man to take what hée list his seruants followed him with monie to giue away if any lacked immeadiatly lest hée shoulde séeme to deney it by deferring it If hee saw anye man ill apperrelled hée woould giue him his owne clothes from his backe Hee alwayes prepared great plenty of meat that those whom hée found vnbidden in the stréets he mighte haue them all home vnto his house which hee did euery day and missed not His credite his helpe his goods neuer was failinge to any that had neede He encritched many and buried many poore folke of his owne cost Cecilius Balbus of the Philosophers toies reporteth that Agathocles kinge of Sicilia said that a man ought to vse plate of gold as hée would cuppes of clay for it is far more better to shine in good maners then in ritches He vsed at his meales to dine and suppe in earthen vessels and on a time when one demaunded of him the cause hée answered in this sort Of Sicil though I now bee Kinge a Potter was my sier Whoso to ritch and high estate shalt happen to aspire Arising eft from base degree vse fortune reuerently And call to minde what was thy state beefore thou rose so by And therfore this kinge considering the basenes of his parentage was content to féede in earthen vessel as other poore men are Valerius in his third booke and fift chapter reporteth that Marcus Curius at what time the Ambassadours of the Samnites came to speake with him bid that they should come into him wher they founde him sittinge vpon an euell fauoured fourme very homely Who merueiling at his pouerty and deliuering vnto him a great summe of Mony which they desiered him to accepte and to vse it at his néede and pleasure hée refused it willing them to tell the Samnites that Mar. Curius had rather rule ouer ritch men then be ritch himself And remember this quod hee that I can neyther bee ouercome in batteill nor corrupted with monie The same aucthour likewise telleth of Frabricius who was greater then any man in all the City in honour and aucthoritye and match with the poorest in wealth and reuenue who also sent backe vnto the Samnites many great giftes in whose tuition and charge they were Hee was ritch without mony and kept a great family for why it made him ritch not to possesse mutch but to desier sufficient Chap. 18. Of Poore men FRontinus in his fourth booke first chapter telleth how that Scipio after the hee had atchiued notable exploits in Spaine writeth that according vnto a law made by Seleucus against adultrie his sunne who was apprehended in the same should haue lost both his eies And when the whole City for the honour and duty which they bare to the father deured that the punishment might bee remitted long time refusing to bée intreated but at length relenting at the peoples sute first putting out one of his owne eies and next one of his sunnes notwithstanding fulfilled the whole punishment deuiding himselfe as it were beetwéene a mercifull father and a iust
when he was comming away taking leaue he rouÌ„ded the maister of the house in the eare saying I knew not before that we two were so familiar and coÌ„ming also on a time vnto Pompeius house some that were there before sayd that he came to late Naye not so sayd Cicero for I see nothing preuided Lykewyse seeing Lentulus his sonne in lawe a man of small stature going with a long sword by his syde who quod Cicero hath tyed my sonne in lawe to a sword The same beholding the counterfayte of his brother Quintus Cicero set forth very large and in a great portrayture and Quintus him selfe being a man but of a verye small sâ—antling halfe my brother sayde hee is byggeâ— then the whole After the victorye which Caesar obtayned Cicero being demaunded how he was so deceyued in taking part answered thus his gyrting deceyued mee testing at the maner of Caesar who was woont to let his gowne trayle downe after him going somewhat wantonly â—ffâ—minatly in apparell In so much that Sylla foreseeing what might haplye insue sayde on a tyme vnto Pompeius take heede of that vngyrted boye Laberius passing by Cicero and faking a place to syt on I woulde gyue you part of my place then quod Cicero but that I syt in a narrow rowme thereby both disâ—ayning him iestyng also at the new Senate the number whereof Caesar had augmented beside ryght and order Howbeit he caryed it away not sâ—otree for Laberius answerered him home agayne saying It is maruayle that you syt so narrowlye which vse to syt on two stooles at one tyme thereby reproching Cicerces lyghtnesse Therefore for as much as these and such lyke iestes do prouoke laughter and delyte in them that heare them I haue purposed to fyll this fowrth part with the lyke according to sundrye estates of persons drawing them forth of allowable aucthorityes and dysposing them in a conuenient order and begynning eftsones with the greatest personages Chap. 4. Of Emperours and their merie iestes MAcrobius wryteth that Augustus the Emperour was delyted in iesting hauing alwayes respect of his honour and honestie And many maruayled more at the iestes and quippes which he bare then those which he gaue On a tyme when he saw a grauer grauing a tombe for his father In deede quod Augustus this is the true reuerensing and culture of the fathers sepulcher When he heard that king Herode among the chiâ—dren which were but two monethes old whome he slew for Christes sake had also kylled his owne sonne sayd that he had rather be Herodes hogge then his sonne There came vnto Rome a certaine young Gentleman very lyke vnto Augustus whome wheÌ„ the Emperour had seene be demauÌ„ded of him if his mother had somtime béen at Rome or not No quod the Gentleman but my father hat béene often When Augustus had written certaine inuectiues against Pillio but I wyll hold my peace quod Pillio for it is a shrewd matter to write against him that can banish mee Then one as he was passing by sayd there goeth a tyrant Augustus turned about aunswered if I were one thou wouldest not dare to say so One nyght as he lay in a vyllage in the couÌ„trey an Oule troubled him so with hyr crying that he could not sleepe But when one of the souldiors going forth had taken the Oule he commended his industrie commaunded that he should haâ—e a thousand pence giuen him for a reward Which the souldiour mistyking of sayd he had rather that she shoâ—ld liue so let hyr flie Who wyll not maruaile how this saucie souldiour could escape so well hauing offended an Emperor Lucan the Poet reporteth that when â—â—â— that was inferiour vnto Iulius Caesar euertâ— warâ—ed him in certeyne matters he auâ—sweared him saying No stare whereto thou canst aspyre Can make thee wothie Caesars yâ—e There is a storye tolde of a certayne Necromancer who had a noble man to his Scholler that promysed him many great gyftes and bountifull rewardes Whome the maister meaning to trye what he woulde doe in deede wrought so by his art that he seemed vnto him selfe that he was elected Emperour And hauing thus obtayned much lande and lyuing as hée â—hought his mayster desired him to bestowe some parte thereof vppon him Why quoth his Schollar I knowe thée not Then sayd the maister I am hee that hat hath gyuen you all these rytches and nowe I wyll take them awaye agayne and there withall caused the vision to surcease and then hée found him selfe to be in case as hée was before Thus many men promise many goodlye matters which they neuer meane to perfourme Fredericke the Emperour lying in siege before the Cittye of Millâ—yn determyned if hée myght take it to slay man woman and chylde Then aunswered the Erle of Subandia saying that his Maiestye had yet a greater conquest then that in hand which he must also obtaine What is that quoth the Emperor truely sayde the Erle your owne wyll and courage of mynde Which saying the Emperour hauing wel dygested within him selfe altered his determination graunted them al theyr liues Chap. 5. Of Kinges and their sundrye merye iestes THe noble Seneca in his booke which he wrote of anger sheweth that â—ing Antiochus hearing certaine of his subiects euyl reporting of him rayling against him in a place where there was nothing but a curtaine drawne betweene them that spake and him that harde hée gentlie reprooued theyr follie as it had béene some other man saying vnto them depart from heâ—ce least the king heare you Valerius in the seuenth booke thyrd Chapter Writeth that king Alexander being warned by an Oracle that whomsoeuer he met when he walked forth of the Gate he should coÌ„maund him to bée slaine seeing a dryuer of Asses coÌ„ming a farre of wylled immediatly that he should bée kylled Then the poore Asse dryuer asking the cause why hee should bee put to death nothauing â—ffeÌ„ded they answered that it was the coÌ„maundement of the Oracle Then quod the Asse driuer If it be so O kyng then hath this lot fallen vpon another not on mée for the Asse which I draue before me met with you first Then kyng being delighted with this subtyll answeare and seeing howe he was reuoked from his errour saued the man commaunded the Asse to be slaine When the people of Athens would haue yeelded diuine honors vnto Alexander beware quod Demades that whyles ye keepe heauen ye loose not â—he earth A certayne poore varlet meeting with Philip the king desyred him to geue him somewhat for that he was of hâ—s kynred Which way saide the kyng Marie quod the varlet by our great grandfather Adam Thou sayest true quod the king and commaunded that his men shoulde geue him a peny Which when the varlet disdayned at saying that it was no princely reward The kyng answeared that yf he should geue so muche vnto euery one that is as néere of kyn vnto him as he
he shoulde leaue nothyng for hym selfe Kyng Antiochus shewyng his mighty excellently furnished armie vnto Hanibal asked him yf he thought not that it was sufficient for the Romanes Yes surely quod he vnlesse they be to couetous Pleasauntly iesting at the kinges saying who asked him touching the number and strength of his armie and he answered of the spoyle Philip kyng of Fraunce hauyng certayne poore priestes with him at his table at dynner perceiued one that sate farthest of at the boardes end conueying an whole Capon into his pocket When dinner was ended the king called him aside and enquired of him secretly what he studyed who answeared Diuinitie Why sayd the kyng is it not written in the Scriptures that you sâ—ould not be carefull for meate against to morowe yea sayd the Priest and therefore because I would put away all carefulnesse I haue done this thyng Chap. 6. Of princes and their merie iestes IN the second booke and seconde Chapter of the before alleâ—ged aucthour Valerius there is set downe an hisâ—orie of a young gentleman who burnyng in the loue of Philisâ—iatus dâ—ughter which was Prince and Tyraunt of Athens and meâ—ting with her by chaunce kissed her openly in the sâ—reete For which â—â—ct his wife the queene dealt earnestly with him to cause the youÌ„g gentleman to be put to death To whom hée answeared if wée kyl them that loue vs what shal we do vnto them that bate vs Frontinus in the fourth booke of his stratagemes sayeth that it behooueth a Prince to be sage and auncient in behauiour meaning that he ought to followe graue and moderate counsell Againe Valerius in the first booke and thyrde chapter writeth that when Dionisius Prince of Syracuse hauing sacked the temple of Proserpina at Locris passed the seaâ— with a merry winde and a prosperous course he laughed vnto his frendes saying sée what an happie iourney the immortall gods haue geuen to a theefe and a stealer of holy things The same king taking from the Image of Jupiter a golden coate of a great weight and putting him on another of cloth said that the golden coate was to heauie for summer and to colde for winter and the wollen indifferent for both the seasons Likewise he tooke away the golden platters and crownes which the Images held foorth in their handes saying that it was a folly to refuse their giftes whiche they offer vs of whom wée require all kinde of good thinges S. Austeâ— in his woorke de Ciuitate Dei writeth of Fabius the destroyer of the citie of Tarentum that when his secretarie demaunded of hym what shoulde be done with the images and pictures of the gods whiche were many and armed as though they were goyng to the warres declaryng his incontinencie he spake gestingly saying let vs leaue vnto the Tarentines their angrie gods Chap. 7. Of Earles and their meerie iestes IN bookes of histories I finde it written that when certayne Jewes came vnto the Earle of Subaâ—dia desyring hym that they might dwel within his dominions he forbid them saying that they had not yet made peace concernyng the vniust death of their Lorde and therefore how durst they be so bould as to come into his land A certayne religious man required of the Earle of Bellimount for Gods sake to geue some tymber out of his Forest towarde the making of seates in his Churche Then sayd a knight that was present My Lorde wyll consyder of the matter Nay quod the Earle God forbid that I shoulde take any deliveraunce on this matter since he asketh for Gods sake of whom I haue receiued all that I haue and therefore let him take whatsoeuer he néedeth for the seruice of god A certaine souldier desired an Earle his lord and master to ayd and helpe him to bring vp his daughters whiche were tenne in number Which request one of the Earles seruantes a churlishe fellow and very ritch hearyng excused his lorde and sayde that he had not where withall Yeas sayd the Earle I haue thee and I geue thee vnto him and thou shalt geue him an hundred pound to redeeme thy libertie and so he dyd When the Earle of Bellimount was hardly besieged in a Castle by the Infidels and determined to goe foorth with a fewe and to fight for the fayth of Christe agaynst an infinite multitude one of his souldiers said that it was daungerous for a fewe to encounter with so great an host then quod the Earle I would to God that as many as beleeue not in God were here with them and so by reason of his strong fayth be obtained ouer them a glorious victorie Cap. 8. Of knightes or souldiers and their merie iestes NOwe must we geue to vnderstand that whatsoeuer is here written of knightes is likewyse to be applyed vnto the name of souldiers for that the latin woord Miles is indifferent to them both so that what so is sayd of one may be applyed to the other But to come to the matter I finde it written in histories that there was a certayne noble knight which gloryed that he was of kinne vnto nine kinges whereof hauyng named sixe he could not deuise the other three Then a iester standing by sayd vnto hym Syr I knowe well the other three O well sayd freend quod the knight I pray thee tell me which they be Mary quod the iester the three kinges of Collein A knight which made a feast would haue the priest to washe first you doo well sayd the priest to make vs washe first and sit downe last Yea answeared the knight me thinkes wee doo best for of al other you ought to be fyrst cleane and last drunke A certayne knight which was ryding to a turneament chaunced to méete with a Priest by the way and returnyng from the turneament brought home a broken legge with him And perceiuing that the Priest came not to see him demaunded the cause of him who answeared I was afrayd that you had béen angry with mee because I met with you before you broke your legge for it was counted ill lucke to méete with a Priest if a man were going foorth to warre or to turneament Nay sayd the knyght it was good lucke for me for yf I had not met with you perhaps I had broken my necke Two knightes fought a combat for lyfe whiche should slay the other and when the one had ouerthrowen the other the conquerour standyng vpon him sayd vnto those that stoode by some body take pitie vpon hym And when he had often called vnto them and no man would entreaâ—e for his lyfe then quod this gentle knight I my selfe wyl take compassion vppon hym so he let hym ryse and they shooâ—e handes and departed both togeather ouer the seas There was a knight which meâ—te with the Prior of his Parishe cumming home very drunke from the Chapter which was held in the Abbey wherof he was of whom he asked what
could not absolue him vnlesse he would make restitution Then said the Vsurer do the Scriptures and learned men say so Yea quoth the Priest But I will see first whether they say true or not sayd the Vsurer for yet I will not make restitution therfore in Gods name you may depart An Vsurer which was sundrie times mooued to make restitution notwithstandyng could not be therto perswaded Falling sicke and waxyng weake to the death he sent for a Priest and desired to haue the Rites of the Churche The Priest denied him vnlesse he would restore the goods ill gotten which the Vsurer refused to do When the Priest was departed he waxed weaker and weaker and was euen at the poynt of death and the Priest was sent for in all hast to commend his soule vnto God but hee could not bee founde Then quoth the Vsurer I my selfe commende my Soule vnto all the Diuels of Hell and so died But when hée was dead his friendes besought the Priest that he would burie the body in the Holly procession pathe which hée denied to do Now the Priest had an Asse which serued him for none other purpose but to carry his bookes to the Churche and knew none other way but that Wherfore the Vsurers friendes desired the Priest to shew thē so mutch curtesy as to let them lay the Corse vpon the Asses backe and looke whether soeuer hee carried it there to bury it supposing that hée would go directly to the Churche or home to the Priestes-house bicause hée knew none other way The Priest was contented and the body was layd vpon the Asses backe and hée went forwarde neuer turnyng to the righthand nor to the left vntil he came vnto the Gallowes and cast him downe there vnder the gallowes and there was buried amonge his fathers Chap. 14. Certayne mery iests of rude Husbandmen of the Countrey WHen kyng Liberius of whom Macrobius writeth in the third booke of the Saturnalia was lately aduanced from the plow tayle vnto great riches hée called certein Philosophers vnto his table mocking at their oftē controuersies quiddities in Philosophie desired them to resolue him certein questions Namely why of white and blacke beanes grounde together there riseth Meale of one couler Wherat Aricides disdaynynge then answer thou mée this question sayde hee why if a man whip with a Lash made of white and blacke thonges the strippes looke all alike whiche they make A younge delicate Cocknie of the Citie was married vnto a ritche Fermour of the Countrey And alwayes against hée should come home to dinner or supper from his woorke she prepared him some fine litle deintie dish in a potenger wherwith he was mutch discontented And once she dressed him a capō for his supper wherat he was much more offended then before This prety parnel seing that she could not please him went and complayned to her mother of the matter who asked of her what she gaue him to eate who answered this and that and recited as before is written Then sayd hir mother thou art mutch deceiued but henceforwarde set béefore him a great bowle full of Beanes and Peason with browne Bread for hée is a labourynge man and must bée grosely fead Now when the daughter had followed her mothers aduise he laughed and was mery and sayd that he laughed at the Capon which shée dressed for him the day before but truer it is that hée reioysed bicause his belly was full There was a woman which could neuer make Breade that would please her husbande On a time strippyng her selfe naked and wasshyng her selfe cleane all her body ouer shée made Dough and moulded it vpon a stoole and when she was wearie shée forgat herself and sat downe vpon the stoole and the Dough cleaued to her Buttockes Anon shée arose and sought for it and her husband asked her what shée looked for and she sayd for the lofe which I haue made for thine own tooth Mary quoth hée it sticketh to thy buttocks and then the cleanly huswife remembred hir self An honeste stronge woman of the Cuntreye when her husband came home from woorke out of the fieldes hauing one of his eies so grieuouslye hurte that he could not see with it would needes blesse her husbands other eie that it might not bée infected by that which was sore And so while both his eies were stopped her sweet hart whom she had hid vp in a corner slipt out of the doores the husband not seinge him chap. 15. Of mery Iestes of the Iewes A Certein Jewe fell into a ditch vpon a Saterday which is the Jewish Sabboth at what time ther came a Christian by and would haue helpen him foorth but hee would not sayinge that he must not violate the Sabbath day The next day the Christian passed by again and the Jewe called vnto him desiring him to helpe him foorth But hee answered this day is Sunday and now I may not breake my Sabbath and so the wretch remained there A good fellow in Merseborow in an euening stole away a poore widows Cow brought her in the night vnto a Jewe to whom hee pawned her for fiue shillinges and the same night he stole her away agayne from that Jewe and pawned her vnto another Jewe for so mutch mony and againe the same night he stole her from him and pawned hir vnto the third Jewe for the like some Then deuising with himselfe how the widowe might come by her Cow agayne he stole her likewise from the thirde Jewe and brought her home in the morning betimes by the horns And meting with the widowes mayd that was goinge to the brooke to washe clothes he chid her saying that if he had not ben the cow had bin lost for euer Thus the knaue serued his owne necessity for mony deceiued the greedy Jewes and restored the widow her cow Chap. 16. Of mery Iestes of Theeues A Theif wandring in the woodes by chaunce met with a Priest and said vnto him that he would fain be shreuen For said hee there passed to day a Priest by this way and I tooke his Horse from him and therfore I praye you inioyne me penance Then quod the Priest giue me fiue shillings to say masse for thine offence and the theif told him out ten shillings into his hande sayinge take here fiue shillings for the Priests horse whiche I tooke away this day and bicause you make so good a market I giue you fiue more for the Horse wheron you ride and so hée tooke away his horse also Ther was a theif which had stollē a poore mans goose who complayned therof vnto the Priest of the Parishe desiringe him to speake to the people therof out of the pulpit the next Sunday When Sunday was come and the Priest in the pulpit hee bid all the people sit down and when they answered that they were all seat nay said the Priest for hee is not yet set that stole the pooremans
Table I wyll say sumwhat out of the auntient Records of our Elders beginning with the most woorthy Personagies Chap. 1. ¶ Of Emperours ANd first to speake of Emperours how that some of that excellent calling haue bin very frugale sparing at their Boord as Suetonius in the third Booke of the liues of the. 12. Emperours writeth of Iulius Caesar saying that he dranke verie litle Wine whiche thinge his enemies could not deney and was indifferent about the residue of his diet Vpon a time when at the Table the good man of the house where hee supped had set before him olde preserued Oyle that was ranke stale in the steede of new and swéete when other in company refused it he only eate it greedely for that he would not séeme to reproue him that had inuited him to supper either of litle good manner or couetousnes The same Aucthour also saith of Augustus that hée was a man of small feeding and drunke but very litle wine for hee vsed not to drink therof aboue thrise at a meale Neither vsed hee commonly to drink Wine but when he was drie hee woulde dip a sop of bread in faire colde water or eate the slices of a Cucumber or of a gréene mellow Apple whose tast were tart or sumwhat like vnto wine In the Ieastes of the Romanes it is written that the Emperour Augustus was a very small féeder For he would eate common bread and litle fishes or cruddes made of Cowmilke which he would wringe in his hand or gréene Figges which he lyked well and these thinges would he eate in euery place and when so euer his Appetite serued Helinandus in his Booke of the institutions of Princes saith that Iulius Caeser committed his Baker to prison because hee gaue him better bread at his Table then he gaue to the residew of his Souldiours Suetonius also in his worke beefore alledged writeth of the Emperour Tiberius that at his first comming to the Empire he was very frugall and moderate but afterward hee grue so glouttenous and geuen to the bellie that in stéede of Tiberius hee was called Biberius for Claudius Caldius for Nero Mero that is to say one ouer much giuen to wine And vpoÌ„ a time spending two whole daies and nightes with Pomponius Flacchus Piso for a rewarde he gaue vnto the one the gouerment of the Prouince of Syria and to the other the Lieuetenantship of the same He lyked better of one that presented him with a Musshrom and a kinde of Birde called Ficedula then if it had bin a greater matter It is also written of the Emperour Vitellius by Egesippus in his fourth Booke of the destruction of Iherusalem When hee knew there was secret wait layd for him in the meane time he gaue himself to feasting and garmandize bicause he would not lose the famous ignominie of the shame that hung ouer him Hee was drawne from the banket hee was contemptuously insulted vpon and slaine in the midst of the Citie at one time together both sheading his bloud and vomyting his surfeat who if hée had liued any longer would haue deuoured the treasure of the Romane Empire in riot and banketinge To conclude hée had reigned but eight Moneths and fiue daies and yet Rome was able no longer to serue his bellye Ghap. 2. Of Kinges FRrontinus in his fourth booke and third chapter of warlike Pollicies reporteth how that Alexander king of Macedonia was vsed to eate of sutch bread as hée founde while hée traueiled vpon the waye Also in the fourth booke and vii chapter hee writeth in this manner Alexander kinge of Macedonia traueilinge by great iourneies through the desertes of Affrica both hée and all his armye beinge greatly athirst a souldiour offred him a draught of water in a Sallet which in presence of them all hee powred on the ground deseruing more prayse by that example then if hee had drunke it Helinandus in the place beefore recited telleth how that Piso desiering Romulus to supper and perceiuing how litle wine he had drunke at that meale O Romulus if euery man woulde do as thou doost wine would be better cheape Nay quod hée it would bee dearer if euerye man might drinke what hee would Valerius Max. in his fift booke and sixte chapter writeth that kinge Alexander vpon a time beeing repulsed from some purpose by a tempest in the winter beeholding an ould Macedonian souldiour quaking and béenummed with could and himselfe sitting in his regall seate by a good fier euen with those handes wherewith hee was woont to bestowe liberall rewardes hee tooke the ould man that was crooked and doubled with colde and set him in his owne place What merueill was it then if it were pleasant vnto them to serue so many yeeres vnder that captaine which esteemed more of the goodhealth of a common souldiour then hee did of his own dignitye In the same place it is also writen that Pyrrhus the king sayd that certen Tarentines had talked of him very broade and vndutifull language at a banket Then demaunded hee of one of the companye whether they had any sutch talke or not yea truly said hée wée had so indéede and vnles our wine had fayled vs these had bin but trifles in respect of that we would haue spoken So pleasant an excuse of their rioting so frank confession of the truthe turned the Kinges wrath into laughter By vsing of which clemency he obtayned this mutch that his Subiectes the Tarentines thanked him when they were sober and praied for him when they were drunken Chap. 3. Of Princes PLutrach of the institutions of Princes citeth the aucthoritie of Plato which saith thus when Potentates oppresse their subiects it is like as if the head of a body should swell to sutch hugines that the other parts were able scarcely or not at all to beare it but with great paine Likewise when the hier powers do hate and persecute the subiectes it is lyke as if the tutor should pursue his pupil to slay him with the sword which he gaue him to defend him against others Helâ—nandus in his booke of the institution of Princes saith that a Prince should do as the Phisition doth which neuer geueth extreme medicines but when he séeth that gentle pocions will neuer recouer the Pacients health Vnto which purpose said Lucius very well that it behoued a Prince to be an old man in manners to follow ripe and wise counsell and to imitate the order of good Phisitions which sumtime cure by filllnge that which is emptie in spare bodies sumtime by emptyinge that which aboundeth to much in full bodies aswaging the greife many times with hot burning irons often with fomentacions and sumtime otherwise vnto which intent hee setteth downe these verses To punish let a Prince be slow and quick to giue reward And let it greeue him when he is constrained to be hard Aristotle in the
third of the Politickes writeth thus whoso would haue wit and vnderstanding to gouerne saith he it semeth he would haue God and the lawes to gouerne but whoso will haue a man of himself without these to gouerne putteth a very sauedge beast in aucthoritie For when rage and lust beare sway then good men go to wrack so that vnderstanding without affection is as good as a written law Likewise Vegetius in his first booke and first chapter of the art of war it is decent for a Prince saith he that no man know mo things nor better things then he for his knowledge may profit all his subiectes and for that cause Princes ought to applie themselues to the study of wisdome Chap. 4 Of the Gentile Byshops VAlerius in his fift Booke and fift chapter writeth of Horatius Puluillus who being Bysshop and as hee was after the guise at those daies consecrating a great Church vnto Iupiter while he was pronouncing the solemne woordes holding the post in his hand woord was brought vnto him that his sunne was dead hee neither plucked his hande from the post neither changed his countinaunce from the publique religion to his priuat sorow because he would not séeme at that present to sustaine rather the person of a Father then of a Bysshop In the same place likewise he writeth of Xenophon who being offring a very solemne sacrifice it was tolde him that his eldest sunne was slaine Then did he only put of the crowne from his head demaunding of the messenger in what sort he was slaine And vnderstanding that he was killed fightinge very valiently he put the crowne vpon his head againe shewing that he tooke more ioy of his valiencie then he did greif of his vntimely death S. Ierome in the second booke against Iouinian writeth that Zenon that Stoick reporteth of the liues of the auntient priests of Egipt how that setting all worldly care and busines apart they alwaies remained in the Church searching the hid natures of things obseruing the motions of the stars They neuer companied with their wiues nor any woman nor neuer saw their children nor kinsfolks after the once they betooke theÌ„selues to diuine seruice They abstained froÌ„ eating flesh drinking wine chefly to auoid the motion to the flesh which coÌ„meth by those meats the drink They did seldome eate bread but they vsed oyle both to driue away lothsomnes and to take away the roughnes of their throats What shall I speake of foules séeing they eschewed egs and milke as fleash wherof they sayde the one was liquid fleash and the other bloud the coulour onely being chaunged They laide a footstoole vnder their heades in stéede of a pillow and fasted two or thrée daies togeather And Aristotle in the seauenth of his Politickes the Priests saith hée haue charge of althings appertaining to the God and to sée that houses bee kept vp tight in repairacions and those which bee fallen downe may be builded vp agayne and that others be appointed vnto their purposes and for this cause they bee had in reuerence Sum of these Bishops are termed by one man Princes by an other Kinges sum call them Potestates Prouosts and Maisters Sée then if the Priestes and Bysshops of the Gentiles were so religious continent and holie what ought our Christian Bisshops to be Chap. 4. Of noble Personages TVllie in his booke of olde age writeth that when a certen man in reproche saide vnto Themistocles that hee had no honour of himselfe but that all his estimacion came vnto him by reason of his cuntrey surely saide Themistocles if I were Seresius I should bee but a verlet and if thou were an Athenian thou wouldest neuer haue bin of any estimacion Cecilâ—us Balbus of the toyes of Philosophers writeth that when one a time one being borne of the race of a Senatour and at that present mutch imbased obiected to Epaminundas the vilâ—nes of his birth I am glad quoth he that I am rysen of my selfe and thou art fallen of thy selfe and wee both together are honour and dishonour Salust in the Oracion of Marius against Iugurth when one 〈◊〉 â—ery mutch in his owne conceit in respect of his owne 〈◊〉 and therfore reproched Marius basenesse although saith hâ—â— we haue one nature common vnto vs all that eueâ—â—◠〈◊〉 maâ— if he can be most valient and most noble yet if there â—â— anâ— man that despice-me let them do that which is a agréeable to their manners since the exercise of vertuous exploites is the verie beginning of mine honour They enuye at mine honour let them also enuie at my paines and mine innocency and my traueiles and my daungers for by these haue I woon it Now sée I beséech you how vniust they bée they wyll not suffer me to get that by mine owne vertue which they boast in themselues to haue bin gotten by another And because I haue no images and my Nobility is new and now first risen in my selfe which better it is to get first then to dishonour it being once gotten before As for mee in my iudgment there can no mans talke hurt mée For if they speake ill of mée my béehauiour shal declare their report to bée false The Speare and Shield Ensigne Barbed Armour for the Courser with other rewards of the Fielde and scarres in the fore parte of my body these are my Images this is my Nobilitie not left vnto me by inheritance as theirs is but gotten by mine owne aduentures and traueill And Iuuenall the Poet saith very well I rather had Thersites sun thou were so that thou might Like Pyrrhus beare Vulcanus Armes in midst of Martial fight Then if Achillus should beget one like Thersites foule A dastard wretch that could do naught but prattle scould skoule And Albertus vpon the first Booke of the Ethickes saith how it is read that the Emperour of Rome Dioclesian who gouerned that Empire very valiently was taken from among shéeperds And he is a right Gentleman saith Seneca that is naturally disposed vnto vertue Chap. 5. Of Knightes VAlerius Maximus in the third Booke and second Chapter writeth of a Knight that was Captayne of a band vnder Augustus and had geuen many a sharp shoure vnto Antonius and went away euermore with the better hand At length being taken by treason and brought prisoner to Alexandria Antonius asked hym what hee should do to him Then the Knight said commaunde mee to bee slaine quod hee for neyther with hope of life nor feare of death will I bee perswaded to forsake Caesar and serue thée Howbeit the more constantly hee despised his life so mutch the more easly hee obtained it For Antonius pardoned his life for his vertuous sake Frontinus in the fourth booke and first chapter of his warlike pollicies reporteth that when Flaccus and Varro were Consuls then were Knightes first dubbed and admitted vnto that order by an othe for before they were gouerned
age Iosephus in the first booke of Antiquities Let no man saith hée thinke that to be false which is written concerninge the long liuing of our forfathers in the old time For in respect of their vertues and the singular profits which they deuised for mankinde as are the Artes of Geometrie Astronomie and such like GOD inlarged the tearme of their life for else they could neuer haue come vnto that perfection in them It is read in the Cronacles that about the yéere of our Lorde a thousand an hundred twentie nine Ioānes de temporibus which liued in the time of Charles the Maine and whose Squire hée was died Papius in the beginning of his Romane historie writeth that the same Romulus which builded the Citie of Rome and called it after his owne name chose into his counsell an hundred Senatours whose aduice hee might vse in all matters whom by reason of their yéeres and for the likenes of the charge he called Fathers Chap. 13 Of Citizens ARistotle in the third booke of his Politickes defineth a Citie after this maner A Citie saith he is an vnitie of those that be like méeting together to liue in happy societie And felicitie is a certen treasure surpassing all other thinges and the very exercise of all vertues And these be the things without which there can be no Citie for why the lyfe of man requireth many necessaries The first is foode then Arts next weapons to subdue the disobedient the fourth store of mony the fift instructions in religion whom they call Priestes the sixt a company of Judges to confer togeather what is right and what not if any of these be lacking it is no perfect city And therefore there must néedes bee Husbandmen to prepare Victuales Handycrafts men Warriours ritchmen Priestes and iudges And moreouer he saith whoso hath abilytie to participate or communicate that is to geue or take counsell to rule or to bee ruled the same is a perfecte Citizen Likewise Citizens ought to agrée and not to fall out for as saith Orosius in the second Booke of his Orchmestra the most wise Citizens of Athens beinge taught by their owne harmes haue said that smal things grow greater by concord and great things are destroyed by disagréement and whatsoeuer was done well or yll in their Commonwealth their Domesticall contention at home and their continuall warringe abroade subuerted all wheerby they left to their posterytie an example of ruine with small hope of recouery but yet a most certen lesson to learne that it is good to folow that counsell in prosterytie which seemeth best vnto vs when we were in aduersitie Vitarbius in his worke of Architecture or Building writeth that the Temple of Mars was builded without the walles of the Citie because their should be no bloudy dissention among the Citizens but their force should serue them to defend their walles in time of warre Chap. 14 Of Marchantes VAlerius in his seuenth Booke and fourth chapter maketh mencion of one Claudius Centimmalus who hauinge an House standinge very high vpon the top of the hill Celius in Rome was commaunded by the Colledge of Southsayers to take downe sumwhat of the height therof for that it hindred sumdeale the perfect view of their Southsayinge But hee immediatly solde it vnto Calphurnius Lauarius Then Cato beinge a man of greate integritie condempned the seller in the law for that hée toulde not faithfully to the byer both the commodities and discommodities like to ensue of the purchase whiche hee ought to haue doone Lykewyse the same Aucthour in the fyrst Booke and second Chapter writeth how that in the Prenestine Siege it fortuned that one which cought a Mouse sould him to another for two hundred Pence sutch was the scarcytie of victuales there But it chaunced not longe after that hee whiche sould it dyed for hunger hymselfe and he that bought it escaped a liue The lyke Example is reported by Frontinus of the Casseline Siege Aristotle in the first of the Politickes writeth that vpon a time a certen man reprochfully cast Millesius in the teeth that hee was a Begger as though Phylosophie were a knowledge vnprofitable to it selfe and in no respect benificiall to the Professours thereof Then Millesius perceyuinge by the iudgement of Astronomie that the next yeare there woulde bee but verye fewe Oliues in the Winter while there was great stoare hee gaue Monye in earnest vnto the Fruiterers and Maisters of Gardeines in Miletum and Tyrus vpon a price for all their Oliues the yeare following as though hee distrusted not but that there woulde be great stoare But when the tyme came and there were indeéde but fewe and manie called for them hee soulde them all suddainlye togeather makynge what price hee lyst and by that meanes gatheryng a great summe of Monie declared thereby how easie a matter it is for Phylosophers to bee rytch when they lyst but Ritches is not the thing that they séeks for In the same place it is also set downe that in the I le of Sicil a certayne Marchaunt suddaynlye bought vp all the Iron that was there aboute or that was to bee gotten out of the Mines Afterwarde there came strainge Marchauntes vnto the Marte and no man soulde Iron but hee onely not mutch raysing the price but of euery fiue Talentes hee gayned tenne Pence reseruing vnto himself a compotent profit But Dionisius the Tyrant tooke his goodes from him and would not suffer him as a finder out of wealth which thinge was mutch against his profit to dwel any longer in siracusis For as the expositour saith vpon that place tyrants may not abide to haue their subiectes ritch Chap. 15. Of husbandmen and Husbandrie IN the commendacion of husbandry Orosius in the seuenth booke saith that in the thrée hundred fourescore and eleuen yéere after the building of the citye of Rome Quintus Cincinatus which was Distator was found in the cuntrey and taken from the plough and taking the honoure vpon him and mustering his Armye obtained a great conquest ouer his enemies And Valerius writeth that they which were sent vnto Astilius to come take the whole gouerment of the army vpon him found him in the fieldes going after the plough tayll sowing of corne Howbeit those handes whiche were worne with exercise of husbandrye established the sure welfare of the commonwealth and vanquished hugie armies of raging enemies And those handes which not longe béefore guided the yokes of the drawing Oxen held then the reignes of the triumphant charret And Plinius in the xviii booke of the historie of nature it is the saying of Marcus Curius saith hee that thesame is a naughty Citizen that cannot bee sufficed to liue with seuen acres of lande What was the cause then that they had sutch plenty Forsooth their generalles and gouerners tilled the lande with their owne handes and the grounde reioyced at a Laureat share and a triumphant ploughman
the fift booke and ninth chapter reporteth how that one Pretolius denyinge the request of a certen frinde of his why then quod his frind what néede haue I of thy frindship Nay quod Pretolius what néede haue I of thine if I must do a dishâ—â—est déede for thée Tullie in his Booke of frindship writethâ— y when Tarquinius the proud was expulsed out of his kingdome hée then vnderstoode who were his trusty frinds and who vntrusti when he could neither bée éeuen with them nor requite their benefits Seneca also in the second of one of his woorkes writeth that the philosopher Arthesius had two frindes a poore man and one that was sicke but both of them for shamefastnes sake disseÌ„bled their frindshippe Whiche thinge when the Philosopher vnderstood hée thought the hée ought to succour them with out shamefastnes and that with spéede He priuely put a bag of mony vnder one of their Pillowes the other not knowing thereof that laying aside all foolishe and vnprofitable shamefastnes his frinde might séeme rather to finde that which hée wanted then to receiue that which hée asked Chap. 26. Of Kinsfolkes VAlerius writeth in the first booke and first chapter that in the old time men were woont to make solemne feasts which they called Caristia whereat were none present but kinsfolke and alies that if chance there were any controuersie or breatch béetwéene any of them at that solemnitye in that time of making mery the matter might bée proposed and heard and frindly ended Likewise hée writeth in the eight booke that wheÌ„ Decius the Generall or Emperour for the time would haue set the imperial Diademe vpon his sun Decius head hée refused it saying I feare mee least when I am Emperour I leaue to be a sun rather let my father haue the gouernment and let it bée my dignity to be obedient vnto him Moreouer in the fift booke and fift chapter hee telleth of Cesetius â–ª who beeing commaunded by Caesar the conquerour both of all abroade and at hom to banishe his sunne for that hée had ministred some occasion of distruste that hee affected the kingdome answered him saying truly Caesar quod hee thou shalt sooner take all my sunnes from mée then I will send away one of them at thy commaundement Sée what great bouldnes this was that hée would not yéeld vnto him to whom all the world was in subiection Likewise the same aucthour in the fourth chapter writeth that on a time the Praetor deliuered a malifactour which was a woman borne of a good family vnto the Jailer to bée executed in the prison who béeing mooued with compassion towards the woman put her not to death immediatly but gaue leaue vnto her daughter to come vnto her lookinge vnto her that shee should bring her mother no foode to thintent hee might kill her by famine And when certein daies were past merueyling how she liued so long in the ende hée perceiued how the louing daughter reliued her mothers hunger with the milke of her brests which strange fact being reported to the Counsell procured the womans pardon For what will not loue duty finde out and what is so rare to be séene as the daughter to giue the mother suck A man would thinke that it were against nature vnlesse it were the first and principall lawe of nature to loue our parentes chap. 27. Of good Weemen A Good Woman ought first of all to set light by temporall goodes touching which poinct Valerius in the fourth booke and first chapter telleth the story of Cornelia which was mother vnto the Gracchi the same vpon a time receiued into her house of gestred a gentlewomaÌ„ of Campania who shewed her very beutifull Jewels and ornaments which she had in store made according to the fashion in those daies but she gaue her a quip for it For when her children came home from schoole and al these be my iewels ornaments quoth Cornelia For truly who so coueteth nothing hath althing in greater assuraunce then he that hath mutch goods in possession And since worldly goods are but casuall yet are the vertues of the minde sutch as are subiect vnto no misaduentures of Fortune Secondly she ought to ouercome all carnall desire Touching which poinct Orosius writeth in his fift Booke that when the Germanes were ouercome by Marius their weemen with a more constant courage then if they had bin the conquerours desired the Consul that he would saue their virgins liues vppon condition that they might preserue their chastyty and be reserued to minister vnto the Gods. But when they could not obtaine so much of him they dashed the braines of their yong children against the stones and hanged themselues Thirdly she ought to preserue her loyaltie the tokens of her goodwill towards her husband whereof Valerius writeth in his fourth booke and fift chapter that at what time the Spartanes kepte certen Lacedemonians in prison whom they deteined there to put them to death their wiues being wéemen of noble blood came thither and desiring to speake with their husbands before they were executed obtained licence of the Gailer to go into the Prison vnto them And when they were gone in they exchanged their apparel with their husbands and so the men departed out of the prison in their wiues atyre muffled as though they had couered their faces for grief heauines Moreouer a woman ought to geue her husband good counsell The like example as touchyng the force herof is by Seneca set foorth shewyng that when Augustus the Emperour of Rome bethought him how he might reuenge himself on one whiche sought his death the Empresse aduised him that he should follow the trade of all good Phisitions who séeyng that they can not preuayle with Medicines of the same qualitie with the disease apply the contrary Wherfore sayd she séeynge that you cannot preuayle by seueritie proue to win by gentlenes which hée did willyngly and tooke effect Chap. 28. Of wicked Women ORosius in his first booke of the woork before alleaged setteth it downe that when Ninus kyng of the Assyrians was dead his wife and Quéene Semiramis reygned in his stéede blouddely embruing the kyngdome with slaughter the space of xly yéeres The same burnyng in lust and thirstyng bloud amoÌ„g so many horrible murders and abominable whoredomes hauyng quatted her gréedy desier with so many whorish deuises and strange maners of couplyng at length hauyng conceaued a sonne by shamefull dealyng and nourishing him vp by vngodly meanes and hauing had with him incestious medling she sought to couer her priuate shame with publique wickednesse For she gaue forth in coÌ„maundement that there should be no sutch reuerence nor respect betwéene parents and children nor no discretion vsed in taking of wiues or obseruinge of matrimonie but in that point it should be lawfull for euery man and woman to take whom they lusted S. Ierome wryting against Iouinianus reporteth that the wife of Sylla was a