in times past or els it is the custome of all ages to complaine Qu. What is anger Ans A short madnesse or els the beginning of foolishnesse Qu. What is vertue Ans A sweet harmony of nature to the found and time wherof al good men giue an eare vnto Qu. What difference is there between wisdome and a ready wit Ans The wise man giueth good counsell and the witty man presently conceiues and iudges of it Qu. What priuiledge haue braue and couragious knights aboue other men Ans Not to be subiect nor to be daunted by fortune Qu. What shadoweth nay darkeneth the great vertues in Philip and Alexander the Great his sonne Ans Drunkennesse Qu. What is Wine immoderately taken Ans The blood of the earth turned to poyson Qu. What is Wine moderately taken Ans A whetstone to memory Qu. Why did the Aegyptians ordaine that commoniesters and plaiers should beare no witnesse in any cause Ans Because such kind of people are commonly giuen to wickednesse and for a trifle ready to do a mischiefe Qu. What is nobilitie without vertue Ans A bladder puft vp with pride and violence Qu. Which are the vertues that doe conduct vs to heauen Ans Faith hope charity pietie religion and godlinesse Qu. Which is the poyson of friendship Ans Flattery Qu. What kind of ignorance is most dangerous Ans Not to know God and then not to know himselfe Qu. Wherefore is vertue so amiable Ans Because shee is alwaies conformable to reason Qu. What warre is lawfull Ans That which is conducted to obtaine peace Qu. Wherefore is the first counsel of a woman which she giueth without thinking on it far better then that which she hath studied vpon Ans Euen as all vnreasonable creatures are by instinct of nature driuen to their actions so a woman although she be ill yet the intelligence which nature hath giuen her which will not bee deceiued nor abuse any body compels her by the first motion to good But if she gets leasure to vse her owne nature all that shee shall doe will be naught Qu. Wherefore are women commonly more couetous then men Ans Because they know they should bee no body without riches Qu. Wherefore are those that haue great heads more giuen to sleepe then those that haue little heads Ans The greater the thing is the more vapors it doth containe and humiditie doth cause sleepe Qu. Why are lentiles and cabages so ill for the eie sight Ans By reason of the melancholike blood which they engender Qu. What is the cause that many die with too much ioy Ans Because the vitall spirits abandon the heart Qu. Wherefore ought we not to fast long Ans By reason that by too much fasting a masse of ill humours is ingendred and prouoke vomit Qu. What is the cause that we haue better stomackes to our meate when the wind is at the North then at other times Ans By reason of his coldnes which knits together and holds within vs the natural heat of our bodies Qu. What is the reason that Vineger is very wholesome to those that are cholericke is of contrary operation to those that are melancholicke Ans Because it asswageth choler by his coldnesse and dries vp melancholie Qu. What is the reason that in tract of time Wine becommeth more whote Ans Because the aquosity thereof euaporeth and vanisheth away Qu. What is the cause that some wines sower so lightly Ans Because that in the time of Vintage the grape was full of superfluous humors Qu. Why dooth the wild Bore vse to pisse before he runnes away Ans To vnlade him of the burden of his water for to runne the swifter Qu. When is it nothing discommendable to exceed the meane Ans When it is vsed to exercise and driue drowsinesse out of sluggards Qu. What husbāds do not loue their wiues Ans Those that loue their bodies their goods and not their mindes and good conditions Qu. What is chiefly to bee regarded in a witnesse Ans His honesty as in a Lawier eloquence and good vtterance Qu. Why can yoong men hardly keepe a meane Ans By reason of the natural heat abounding in them Qu. How might a foole seeme and bee accounted wise Ans If he goes braue in attire and speakes little Qu. What is the reason that some haue hard and some haue soft heare Ans The greatnesse and smalnesse of the Pores is cause of it for soft hear cōmeth by reason of the smalnesse of them and hard heare for the contrarie And therefore women haue commonly softer hear thē men because their naturall cold doth restrain and close the Pores Qu. What is the reason that Garlicke and Onyons doe bud although they are not in the earth Ans Because of their great abundance of moistnesse and heat Qu. Why is a dead body heauier then that which hath life within Ans A body aliue is full of ayre and fire which doe hold it vpright for their nature is alwaies to mount vpwards and a dead body is nothing but a lumpe of earth whose nature is heauie and alwaies tending downewards Qu. What dooth preuent an occasion of murmuring Ans Equalitie Qu. Why doe vices shaddow themselues vnder the colour of vertues Ans Because if they should come in their own shape but few would giue them entertainement Qu. Why ought Parents to bee very curious in seeking of good tutors and masters for to instruct their children Ans Because as their Parents are the fathers of their bodies so the maisters are the fathers of their soules and as childrē doe imitate the nature of those that haue begotten them so out of their maisters maners as out of a nurses brest they sucke their vertues and vices their good and ill conditions Qu. What is it that in louing too much turneth to mortall hatred Ans Ielousie Qu. Who murdereth the liuing the same of the dead Ans A Slanderer Qu. Wherin is our enemy commonly better vnto vs then our friend Ans Because our enemy speares not to tel vs our faults which friends seeke for the most part to hide from vs. Qu. What is as seldome found as the Phenix of Arabia Ans A trusty friend Qu. What is it that Kings cannot conquer Ans Mens affections Qu. In what place is flattery a Iewell Ans Where dissembling swaies the scepter Qu. What ought wee in this life most to remember and least to feare Ans The houre of death Qu. What is mans life Ans A thing more brickell then glasse more lighter then the smoke and swifter then the wind Qu. What garment is the best Ans That which couers malice Qu. What are dice Ans Fortunes whelpes which consume a mans wealth and empaire his patience Qu. What are womens vowes Ans Words written in the wind Qu. What are their promisses Ans Carracters figured in the ayre and figures grauen in the snow Qu. What is a beautifull strumpet Ans An Adamant that drawes a Panther
To that end haue I brought him to the world that there should not bee wanting one that should doubt and refuse to spend his life and blood in the defence of his countrey Qu. Wherein did Cyreneus and Theodorus courage and magnanimity most chieflie shine and appeare Ans In his resolute answer to king Lysimachus when hee did threaten him with death for then boldly speaking to the Tyrant Bid him to feare his Courtiers with these bugs for Theodorus is indifferent quoth he whether he rots vnder or aboue the ground Qu. Who may be said to suffer water continually to bee drawne out of his spring and yet for it hath nothing the lesse himselfe Ans He that giueth good counsel to them that demand it or hee that bestoweth a benefite vpon another without any hinderance to himselfe Qu. Which may be called a double iniury Ans To be defrauded of deserued praises and pursued with vndeserued reproches Qu. By what meanes shal one become rich quickly Ans In being poore of desire and therefore Seneca said If you haue respect wherwith nature is sufficed you shall neuer be poore but if you looke vnto that which opinion craueth you shall neuer be rich Qu. What men may be said to liue onely and longest Ans Those that liue onely and longest in ease and quiet And therefore Adrian a most puissant Emperour who by great trauell and intercession obtained license in the end of his daies to dwell in a little village of his where he liued seuē yeares in great rest and quiet dying left an aparant token and testimony that the life led in honor and dignity was not the true life for he caused words to be graued on his tombe Here lieth the wight whose age is of many yeares but hee liued but only seuen Qu. What child is the only heire of a wise and worthy Parent Ans Hee that inheriteth and is heire vnto all his fathers vertues Qu. What is marriage Ans A Paradise on earth if her lawes bee obserued but a hell in the house if her statutes be broken Qu. How many chiefe powers are there of the soule Ans Three Intendment Will and Memory Qu. What three deserts of the body stop the passage of these three powers of the soule Ans Ignorance of that which is good Couetousnesse of that which is euill Infirmity and langor of the body Qu. What are the remedies against these three euils and defects Ans Wisdome Vertue Necessity which to chase these three euils are thus ordered Wisdome against ignorance Vertue against couetousnesse vice Necessity against infirmity Qu. What is it that of men is least esteemed and of God most honoured Ans Chastity which is precious before God and a laughing stocke before men Qu. What is ignorance Ans A graue which burieth life Qu. What foure things haue continuall residence in a Noble mind Ans Courage to repell the incroching enemy a heart to consider a loyall friend a hand to reward the gifts of the simple and clemency to accept pardon a well meaning mind Qu. How many kinds of Sages be there Ans Three The sage wise man the sage foole and the sage hearbe Qu. Wherin is a flatterer like vnto a hauke Ans Because as a Hauke will not come to an empty fist so a flatterer to an emptie purse Qu. Which is the first step of loue Ans The losse of libertie Qu. Who after their death liue in the life of their children Ans Such parents as haue brought vp their children as they may chuse the good and forsake the euill Qu. Who is alone a worthy and a valiant man Ans He who neuer dooth bow his shoulders at the burden of misfortunes nor he who neuer panted at his chance Qu. What answered Gorgias being demanded what manner of diet he vsed that he liued so long Ans That hee neuer did eat any thing for pleasure or wantonnesse Qu. Why did Zenocrates assigning all the parts of the day to some busines appoint likewise to silence his due part Ans Because he might then priuately discusse with himself what maner he ought to keepe in speaking Qu. What did neuer speak wel of any man Ans Euill will Qu. Wherein did Artemisia declare her great chastitie towards her husband deceased Ans In her entire loue towards him for when her husband Mansolus King of Caria was dead shee caused his heart to bee dried in a vessell of gold into pouder and by a little and little drank it all vp saying Their two hearts should neuer depart asunder that she thought there might be no worthier sepulchre made for it but her owne body Notwithstanding shee made for his body such a sepulchre that for the excellent workemanship beautie and costlinesse therof it was taken for one of the meruailes of the world for the notable fame of it all sumptuous and great sepulchres were afterwards called Mansalca Qu. Which is the best hauen to him that is penitent Ans Confession of his faults and change of counsell Qu. How might a man become maister ouer himselfe Ans In amending that in himselfe which he rebuketh in another body Qu. Wherefore made nature man naked without weapons to defend himselfe Ans Nature hauing bestowed wisedome vpon man hath giuen him means inough to arme himselfe at his owne pleasure as well against the cold and heat of the air as against the blowes of his enemy Qu. Why are Iudges and Lawyers more honoured of those that goe to law then Phisitions are of their patients Ans Because the gaine of the cause doth depend of the Iudge and aduocates but giuing of health to the patient lieth not in the hands of the Phisition but in God only Qu. Why doth a Swanne being neere his death sing more sweeter then at any other time Ans Nature hath taught this to the bird to teach vs the good which wee receiue by death which serueth vs for a doom or passage to euerlasting life Qu. Why do men seeke to auoid pouerty Ans Because it causeth them oftentimes to decline from the right way of vertue Qu. Why doe men drinke water which notwithstanding doth not nourish Ans Water dooth spend the digestion of the meat through all parts of the body Qu. Why are those that are drunke cold Ans By reason of the Wine taken immoderately which quencheth and ouerwhelmeth the natural heat of the body Quest Why doe Phisitions not minister medicines when the sicknesse or disease is at the cheefest Ans Because they should not oppresse or hinder nature Qu. What is the cause that children who are moist by nature are not bald notwithstanding Ans Because their humidity is intermingled with a temperate heat Qu. Why doth Rue being planted vnder a figge tree grow the better and receiueth more nourishment Ans Because it draws vnto itself the sweetnes of the figge tree or els the figge tree suckes away from the Rue a part of his bitternesse and so being somwhat sweetned
that with her painted skin doth allure men and he that surfets with it drinketh deadly poyson and so doth perish Qu. What are womens lookes Ans Kalends that can determine no certaintie Qu. Of what nature and condition is a woman Ans Of the nature of quicksiluer for as this mettal wheresoeuer it meeteth with gold it mingleth with it so womē they chiefly respect in a man his wealth and alwaies will they prise gold for beautie or for any other internall or externall felicitie Qu. Which are the two only means to win womens fauour Ans Sweet words and high praises Qu. What men are in one of the highest degrees of miserie An. Those that are wise by their own woes and those can make a right anatomy of misery by their owne distresse Qu. What is a bad woman Ans A painted continent of flattery of deceit of inconstancy and the very guide that leads men vnto the pernicious labyrinth of endlesse misery Qu. What are womens curtesies Ans Sharpe showers Qu. Who slew the fourth part of the world Ans Cain slaying his brother Abel Qu. What flower is in sight most beautifull in smell most sauerous and in operation most deadly Ans The pleasures of this world Qu. What is man Ans The image of Christ Qu. What is a woman Ans The similitude of man and a cabinet of much good and euill Qu. What is a yong man Ans A burning candle soone perceiued and quickly quenched Qu. What is more swifter then the wind Ans A mans thought Qu. What is mote swifter then the thought of a man Ans Time for it tarrieth for nothing Qu. What is seldome seene and neuer preuented Ans Destinie Qu. Which is the chiefest touchstone to try a mans friend and his owne patience Ans Aduersitie Qu. What vices did darken Marcus Antonius his great liberalitie and patience in aduersitie Ans Dicing drunkennesse gluttony and too much familiarity with his domestike seruants Qu. What are the effects of Poetry Ans Spurres and enticements to vertue Qu. Why did the Romans forbid the drinking of Wine to women Ans Because it doth prouoke them to lust and doth altogether extinguish reason in them Qu. What ought a seruant chiefly to practise for to gaine his maisters fauour Ans Diligence continuance and secresie Qu. Who killeth a man friendly Ans A flatterer Qu. What soile beares both the best and the worst fruit Ans The wombe of a woman Qu. Why are Angels painted with wings Ans To signifie their quicknesse Qu. What might men doe to be beleeued Ans Wet their tongues on their hearts Qu. What difference is there betweene loue and friendship Ans As much as there is betweene beauty and vertue substance and shadowes for when aduersities flow then loue dooth ebbe but friendship standeth alwaies fast in euery storme and tempest Qu. What pleasure is chiefly bought with repentance Ans The loue of a strumpet Qu. What are the discommodities attending vpon trauellers Ans To bee forced to fit their humour to euery place and person to beare many mens braues or feele the force of their weapon to bee oft in danger of theeues many times of wild beastes and euer of flatterers Qu. Why did the Caldies whē they would set forth the picture of a Gentleman describe him with his hands alwaies open Ans To signifie that liberality was the only imprease of a Gentleman and that to giue was alwaies heroicall and therfore Titus Emperour of Rome was woont to say Giue if thou wilt bee worthy the worlds Monarchy Qu. What things are most welcome most sweet and best liked of Ans Inexpected chaunces losses recouered and things seldome seene Qu. Wherevnto may flatterers bee compared Ans To trencher flies that attend more vpon a man for hope of gain then for any perfite loue To doues that flock chiefly where the house is fairest To emptie vessels that haue lowd sounds and haue nothing within but wind To painted sheaths that haue rustie blades To glorious flowers that haue no smell because they pretend much friendship and containe nothing but superficiall flattery Qu. What is Loue Ans A passion full of Martyrdome Misery Griefe and Discontent hauing pleasures but tempered with paines a short delight mixed with a long repentance Qu. What is beauty Ans A fading flower to day fit for the eie and to morrow withered and to bee cast into the graue Qu. Why did the ancients in old time past mislike of those that wished and desired to be most happy and fortunate Ans Because that too much fortune breedeth forgetfulnesse a contempt of God and of all godlinesse Qu. For what cause were women being met at Rome in the streetes by any of their kindred kissed by them Ans For to know if they had drunken wine for it was forbidden vnto them to drink any as it appeareth by one Egnatius that slew his wife because she had drunk a cup of wine Qu. What was the reason that king Agesilaus would neuer suffer his picture to be drawne or shadowed Ans Because his onely intent was to leaue after him his deedes to serue in steed of his picture and so rather to represent the perfections of the mind then the external lineaments of the body Qu. What are open praises Ans Secret flatteries Qu. Which are the three chiefest vertues of a souldior Ans Prudence Fortitude and Liberalitie Qu. What is Wisdome Ans A diuine influence infused into the minds of men which keepeth them from committing that wherevnto they are forced by sensuall appetite Qu. Why is vertue placed by equal proportion betweene two vices Ans Because that the mean which is kept betweene two extreames is that laudible action which by no other name can bee tearmed but by the title of Vertue Qu. What maketh men in earth famous in their graues glorious and in the heauens immortall Ans Vertue Qu. What is prodigalitie Ans A fire of the mind which is so impatient in heat as it ceaseth not while any matter cōbustible is present to burne necessary things to dust and cinders Qu. Who is only to be accounted a valiant man Ans He that without any furious or rash resolution feareth not to hazard himself in the greatest perils whatsoeuer for the welfare of his countrey Qu. What is the greatest preiudice that may happen vnto a Commonwealth Ans To be gouerned by an vnwise prince ⧠Diuers pretty Riddles with darke sentences Question IVdge of me by perfect skill My youth restord by casting bill Solution An Eagle Question When I am old I cast my skinne Whereby I doe come yong againe Solution A Snaile Question What Iudge on the earth did giue The greatest sentence when hee did liue Solution Pilate when hee pronounced sentence of condemnation against Christ Iesus Question White I am and blacke withall I haue eies and yet am blind Gaine and losse not without brall I doe procure as you shall find Solution Dice Question I wound the heart and please
whole year or els in two if it seemed good vnto him The cause being debated and ready to bee iudged the Duke himselfe demaunded of the Lawyer if it were possible to find some further remedy to delay the payment of the said summe To whome the crafty Lawyer answered that the cause should not bee ended yet in two years O wonderfull iniustice quoth the Duke and man full of iniquitie Knowest thou not that I owe the man this mony Wilt thou against my conscience thine owne wilfully frustrate the poore of their right and of that which is due vnto them Shall a man go to law for that which he oweth Take this villaine hence said he vnto his men and let him presently be executed without further iudgement and let his body be quartered to the end that other may take example by his fall to beware of the like and that hereafter the Common-wealth be no more corrupted by him This sentence with the full consent of the Senat was presently executed The great charity of a Duke of Sauoy A Certaine Duke of Sauoy being asked by the embassadors of the king of Naples where his Gray-hounds were which he fed for the chase and moreouer that it would please him to let them haue a view of them The Duke did deferre it till the next day saying that if they would thē take the paines to come vnto him they should haue a sight thereof The next day as they came at the time appointed hee brought them into a great and large hall where a great number of poor people were eating and drinking at a long table Behold now quoth the Duke to the Embassadours the Gray-hounds which I feed wherewith I pretend to chase and to take next that which my Sauior hath purchased for vs all the kingdome of heauē and life euerlasting The workes of charitie are of so great force that the Scripture in euery place doth most earnestly commend them vnto vs with such an assurance of reward that a cup of cold water shall not bee giuen for Gods sake without a tenfold recompence The pleasant answere of a Gentleman A Young Gentleman whose mother was lately deceased did mourn for her and being seene vpon a certaine time in the kings court mounted a horse backe with his foot-cloth of crymson veluet the ladies other damosels of the court laughed him to scorn saying that they found it very strange to see his horse deckt with a foote-cloth of red veluet whereas he himselfe did mourne for the death of his Mother My ladies replied the Gentleman herevpon you haue herein some reason but yet ye ought to consider likewise that the mother of my horse is not yet dead as that he should mourne for her Of Cardinall Cossa that made himselfe Pope by force THe Cardinals being assembled together in the citty of Bologne vpon the election of a new Pope immediately after the decease of Pope Alexander Cardinall Baltasar Cossa bishop of the said place came also there in counsel accompanied with a great number of souldiors saying to all the Cardinals there present if they did not chuse a Pope according to his mind and liking that hee would make them all to repent it The whole assembly being astonished at these threatnings and seeing so many souldiors about the counsel house named diuers vnto him but none did like orcontent him Herevpon as they were all taken with a great feare willed him to name one himself and if he were fit for the place they said that they would accept of him Cossa herevpon called for the Papall cope for to put it vpon him whome he would haue chosen which as it was brought took it and casting it ouer his owne shoulders said Ego sum Papa The Cardinals although it was an act against custome were notwithstanding constrained to consent to this extraordinary election and called him Pope Iohn the thirteenth Ambition in all estates causeth great troubles and bringeth the ministery in great contempt Of a request presented to king Alphonsus BEcause king Alphonsus was knowne to bee a Prince delighting greatly in the hearing and saying of wordes well and readily spoken A certaine man of base degree and somwhar needy addressed himselfe to the king saying My soueraigne doe iustice vnto me and giue me the law I haue a creditour to whome my father now lately deceased did owe a debt my father left me nothing wherewith to pay him yet notwithstanding vpon his earnest sute I made shift to pay it him and hee so instantly demaunded the same againe afterward of me that I was forced to pay him the same debt againe He yet not contented herewith did molest me afterward againe for the same debt and yet at this present sues me most vehemently for it I haue left nothing wherewith I should pay him and if your grace dooth not assist me in this extremity I shall bee vndone for euer Truly quoth the king this is an vnreasonable and a most cruell creditor What is he for one My liege answered the poore man it is my belly to whome I haue payed the debt so long and so oftentimes that nothing is remained wherwith to content him any more these are therefore humbly to intreat your grace to assist me in my wants to helpe me for to giue him his due I haue such another creditor said the king your grace speaketh most true answered the poor man but God be thanked you haue alwaies ynough wherewith to pay him and not I. The King hearing this request so well inuented commanded a peece of mony to be giuen him King Lewis sayings touching those that had benefices and offices HEe was wont to say that asses had for the most part better daies and liued more at hearts ease then horses did for horses quoth he run in post to Rome for prebends and benefices whereof many asses are already prouided Of king Alphonsus THis king as hee heard vpon a time that a certaine king of Spain had said that literature was not greatly to bee required in a Prince answered That this was bellowed as an oxe and not spoken as a king and that they were not the words of a man but of a crowned asse Of the same king and one begging another mans office A Certaine officer of his hauing with an amorous potion lost his wits one of the Courtiers did beg for his office and liuing as if it were vnmeet that his place ware supplied by a mad man It were a most vngodly deed answered the king to take the substance and liuing from him whom God hath barred from all meanes to get and gather any more hereafter The last will and Testament of a Lawyer A Certaine Lawyer hauing in his life time gathered together great riches hauing no kindred to whō he might bequeath his wealth as he lay vpon his death bed disposed all his goods to bee employed in the building of an hospitall wherein no other diseased persons should bee receiued but such