held for sage and wise persons who could modestly endure any reasonable iest or mocquerie And that those who were prompt in pretie iests and meriments were to be reputed men of a good spirit The ansvver vvhich Barba the vvidovv of Sigismond made to those that persvvaded her to continue a vvidovv AFter that the Emperour Sigismond was deceased the Ladie Barba his widow was perswaded by one to liue still a widowe in imitation of the example of the Turtle which after the death of the male doth keepe continuall chastitie Whereunto she made this answer If so be thou wilt counsel me to follow the conditions of the birdes of the aire which are destitute of reason why doest not thou as well tell me of the Doue and the Sparrow A sentence of the Emperour Rodulph the first ROdulph Emperor who first translated the Empire of Almaine into the house of Austria as he was deuising with his familiar friends vpon that matter how the same had bene effected It is no maruell said he if they be accompted fooles that know not how to raigne for there is not any man liuing that iudgeth himselfe to be a foole A Sentence of the Emperour Albert. THe Emperour Albert was wont to say That the delight of hunting was an exercise fit for a man but dauncing and leaping did appertaine to women And howbeit he could temper himselfe to abstaine from all other pleasures yet he could not restraine himselfe from the exercise of hunting The Fable of the Emperour Fredâ—ricke the third propounded to the Embassadour of kâ—ng Levvis the eleuenth CHarles duke of Burgundy hauing planted his siege before the city of Nuce which was succoured by the Emperour Fredericke the third and the Almaines King Levvis the eleuenth of France who sought nothing more then the ruine of the said Duke of Burgundie sent his Embassadour to the Emperour Fredericke to practise and perswade with him to seize and confiscate into his owne hands all those lands and Seignories which the Duke of Burgundie held of the Empire and that he for his part wold do the like for the countries of Flanders Artois Burgundie and others dependants of the Crowne of Fraunce The Emperour vpon this motion made the Ambassadour this answer Neare vnto a certaine citie in Almain did once haunt a most cruell and daÌ„gerous Beare which did many mischiefes and displeasures to the inhabitants adioyning Now it happened that three merrie companions as they were drinking in a Tauerne hauing litle mony to pay their shot they agreed with their host to make sale of the Beares skinne and to pay him out of the money and for the performance thereof they prepared themselues presently to go and take him The bargaine being made and the dinner ended they put theÌ„selues in quest of the beast and approching to the Caue where he was lodged the Beare issued out vpon them so fiercely that being surprised with a sudden feare one of them fled away backe towards the towne another saued himselfe by climing of a tree and the third being ouertaken by the Beare fell downe vnder him as dead And the Beare without doing him any other hurt did often put his mouth to the eares of the poore fellow who all the while held his wind and abstained from breathing for the nature of the Beare is not to touch or to offend any dead bodie Now the Beare being gone the man got vp and went his way also after which he that was aloft in the tree came downe and hauing ouertaken his companion demanded of hm what it was that the Beare told him in his eare marrie quoth the fellow he bad me that I should neuer after vse to sell a Beares skin till the beast were dead By this fable the Emperor payed the Embassadour with an answer as if he should haue said Let vs first be sure to take the Duke and then afterwards let vs make partition of his dominioÌ„s Graue sentences and answers of the Emperour Fredericke THe Emperour Fredericke being demaunded whom he accompted his greatest friends He answered Those men which feare me lesse then God Being likewise asked what he thought was the best thing which could happen to a man he answered A happie and good departure out of this mortall life If the end of a mans life be not good and in the feare of God all the rest is little worth He said That those Princes which are giuen to be cruell and too rigorous haue great cause to feare death For with the same iudgement they haue adiudged others in their life themselues are like to be adiudged after their death The same Fredericke hauing subdued the Guntians a people in Hungarie he said We haue now done a great deed it remaines yet that we do another deede more great that is That we vanquish our selues by refraining from auarice and from the desire of reuenge This Emperour Fredericke did bring vp in his Court euen from an infant Ladislaus the sonne of the king of Hungâ—rie and of Boheme and there were mâ—ny which perswaded and counselled him to â—â—ke away the child and to put him to deaâ—h because in processe of time his life might cause him great hurt and hinderance and by his death he might succeede him in his Realmes and riches To whom the Emperour made this answer I perceiue then that you had rather haue me a rich King then a iust Prince and a pitifull But for my part I had rather haue an honourable report and good renowme then all the riches and treasures of the world A sentence of Martian MArtian Emperour of Constantinople would neuer enterprize any warres except it were vpon great necessitie saying That whatsoeuer Prince would liue in peace and quietnesse he ought not in any case to entertaine warres The title of Otho the third OTho the third of that name Emperour of Almaine was of so great a spirite as he was commonly called The wonder of the world The praise of Septimius Seuerus SEptimius Seuerus Emperour of Rome was a Prince so well beloued and ruled so well and commendably that the Senate said of him That it had bene good either that he had neuer bene borne or that he might neuer dye A sentence of Alexander Seuerus ALexander Seuerus the Romaine Emperour whensoeuer he appointed any one to be punished opeÌ„ly he caused the common Cryer with a loud voice to pronounce this sentence Do not that to another which thou wouldest not haue done to thee And the same sentence did he cause to be engrauen in his Pallace in the publique Edifices A sentence of Gordian GOrdian the younger Emperour of Rome had a saying somtimes That the Emperour of all other men is most miserable because commonly the truth is concealed from him The answer of Maximilian to one that would be made a Gentleman THe Emperor Maximilian being at Bologna a citizen of that Citie exceeding rich and wealthie but of base parentage presented himself before the Emperour saying May it please
greatest victorie which I euer obtained was against the diuel at such time as I was baptized in the church of Poissi And therefore the greatest honour which I would haue done me is that men should cal me Levvis of Poissi Of the same Levvis A Certaine priuate friend of his did blame him for that in writing his priuate and familiar letters he did not entitle himselfe king of Fraunce but Loys of Poissi To whom he said I am like the king which meÌ„ chuse with the Beane at Twelfetide who commonly doth obserue the feast of his royaltie in the euening His meaning vvas that the Crovvne vvhich he expected vvas the kingdom of heauen and by the euening he meant the end of this mortall life The desire that Saint Levvis had to cut off all blasphemies out of his kingdome KIng Levvis hauing caused one who had blasphemed the name of God to be marked in the lippes with a hote burning iron and hearing that some of his subiects did murmure at it he said openly in the hearing of a great multitude I wold to God that I my selfe were so marked with a hote iron on my lippes on the condition that there were no oathes nor blasphemies vsed within my realme Whensoeuer he began to speake or to do any thing and especially when he was set in Councell the first thing he vsed to do was to blesse himselâ—e with the signe of the Crosse in calling vpon the name of God For his saying was that his mother had so taught him euen from his infancie Of the instructions vvhich the king Saint Levvis of Fraunce gaue vnto his sonne Philip. MY sonne the first lesson which I giue thee is To loue God with all thy hart with all thy streÌ„gth and with all thy soule Offend not God in any case Suffer any torments rather then sin Take patiently whatsoeuer aduersitie God shall send thee and thanke God for it acknowledging that thou hast deserued it Confesse thy selfe often to some good man a Minister of the church Be diligeÌ„t to heare the deuine Seruice song in the Church of God Obserue carefully the good customes of thy kingdome but take away such as are euill Raise not any Taxes or Tallages vpon thy subiects but vpon great necessitie Entertaine those into thy seruice who feare God loue iustice and hate couetousnesse Desire not that thy Iudges should giue iudgement for thee in any cause against thy subiects farther then reason and truth will iustifie Preserue the cities and townes of thy kingdome in their franchises and liberties wherein thy predecessours before thee haue maintained them Giue the Benefices and Offices of thy kingdom to good men and such as are capable of them Moue not warre against any Christian and if any offence be committed thou oughtest to pardon it being required In places of iustice and iudgment see thou prouide such as are good men and godly Make diligent enquirie of thy houshold seruants whether they be addicted to couetousnesse or to prodigalitie Be thou such a one in thy life and conuersation as men may take good example by thee For as the head is such commonly are the members Take good heede that the expences of thy house be moderate and in measure And the blessing of God be alwaies with thee A notable saying of Philip the faire king of Fraunce PHilip le bel king of Fraunce hauing a certaine quarrell against Pope Boniface the eight wherof hath bene before spoken and being vrged by some to take reuenge of the Bishop of Palmers who was the principall procurer and perswader of the contentioÌ„ between theÌ„ he made theÌ„ this answere That it was a greater glorie for any Prince of courage and magnanimitie to pardon those of whom he might easily take reuenge then to execute reuenge vpon them Of king Philip de Valois vvho confirmed the lavv Salique by the Scriptures CHarles le bel king of Faunce being deceased without heire male Edvvard the third king of England intitled himselfe King and inheritour of Fraunce in the right of his mother Isabel sister to the said king Charles Philip de Valois being the next heire male opposed himself against the title of king Edvvard and obtained the kingdome by colour of the law Salique which excludeth women from the Crowne of France and as the common saying of the French is suffereth it not to fall to the distaffe And amongst many authorities cited for the iustification of that law he alleadged for one these words of the holy Scripture Consider the Lilies of the field hovv they do grovv and do neither labour nor spinne Of the Latin verses vvhich king Edvvard and king Philip de Valois sent each to other AFter that king Edvvard of England had quartered the Armes of Fraunce with those of England had ioyned the three flowers Deluce in a field Azure with the three Lions Or in a field of Gules the report goeth that he sent to king Philip dâ— Valois these foure verses which howsoeuer they might be thought of in that age at this day are held but barbarous vz. Rex sum regnorum bina ratione duoruÌ„ AngloruÌ„ râ—gno sum rex ego iure paterno Matriâ— iure quidem FrancoruÌ„ nuncupor idem Hinc est armorum variatio facta meoruÌ„ TO these verses of king Edward king Philip replyed in other sixe as good stuffe as the former Praedo regnorum qui diceris essâ—duorum FrancoruÌ„ regno priuaberis atque paterno Matris vbique nullumius proles non habet vllum Iure mariti carens alia mulier est prior illa Succendunt mares huic regno non mulieres Hinc est armorum variatio stultatuoruÌ„ The ansvver of king Edvvard the third to those that required him to send aide to his sonne the black Prince at the battell of Cressie THe same Edvvard king of England in the field foughten betweene the armie of England and the French power vnder Philip de Valois at the battell of Cressie in Ponthieu where the French had a notable ouerthrow being told by an English knight that his sonne the Prince of VVales who had the conduct of the maine battell of the English and the Noblemen which were there with him were very fiercely assailed by the French and did desire his Maiestie to come to their succour with the Reareward whereof the king himselfe had the leading The king demaunded of the knight saying Is my sonne dead or hurt or striken down No Sir said the knight but he is hardly bestead Returne then quoth the king to them that sent you hither and tell them That my pleasure is they send no more to me for any aide as long as my sonne is liuing but let him alone this day win his spurres For if God so will my meaning is that the honour of this day shall be his This message did so encourage the English that they caryed away the victorie By vvinning of his spurres he meant he should get him the honour of a hardie Knight because one
my selfe to be a king and not a Merchant 7 Many men feare their renowne but few or none feare their conscience 8 I haue learned to be afraid of that renowne which is dishonest and shamefull 9 Of all humane things that are voluble and subiect to inconstancie there is none more vnstable then renowne and glorie 10 Diogenes the Philosopher said That nobilitie and glory were a couerture for malice 11 When as Appius Claudius the Competitour of Scipio African did commend himselfe for that he could salute all the Romaines by their names Scipio said vnto him my care hath alwaies bene to be knowne of all men rather then to know any man Of a short life and sickely CHAP. 26. 1 ARistotle being demaunded what man was answered he is the example of sickenesse the pray of time the scorne and play of fortune the image of ruine the ballance of enuie and calamitie and for the rest he is nothing but fleame and choler 2 Simonides the Poet being demaunded how long he had liued answered A very little time but many yeares 3 The Philosopher Zenon said That there is nothing whereof we are so poore as of time The life of man is but short but art to heale the maladies and diseases of the bodie is longer and much more then man can attaine vnto 4 Socrates said thae he thought the gods in regarding beholding our vaine studies and desires could not but laugh continually 5 All our life is vncertaine without coniecture as that which goeth on wandring without any faith or coÌ„stancie and with vaine hopes in idle words it feedeth the thoughts and cogitations of men No man knoweth what will happeÌ„ in time to come howbeit God gouerneth all mortall men in the middest of all perils and daungers and many times on the contrary he bloweth vpon vs a strong wind or tempest of aduersitie 6 Albeit this life be full of troubles and miseries neuerthelesse it is greedily desired of all men 7 Life is good if a man liue vertuously but it is euill if it be accompanied with wickednesse 8 In the Isle of Taprobana it is said that men liue without griefe 9 If thou knowest how to vse thy life well it will be of long continuance 10 Oh how late is that houre for a man then to begin to liue well when he must of necessitie dye and depart out of this life 11 The life of man is fraile and short 12 That life is pleasant which is led in honestie 13 A quiet and peaceable life ought to be preferred before all other things 14 A mans care and studie ought to be how he may passe his life time in ioy and contentment 15 Without ioy and loue this life of ours is bitter and vncomfortable 16 The torments of this life are of diuerse sorts 17 A short life cutteth a man off from long hopes 18 Not he which liueth long but he that liueth iustly and vertuously is worthie to be honoured and commended notwithstanding that he liue but a short and small time Of Pouertie despised CHAP. 27. 1 A Man hath no greater enemie then pouertie the poore man is fearefull in euery thing 2 Diogenes being reproched by one because of his pouertie answered him saying O wretch thou diddest neuer see any man exercise tyrannie for pouertie but many tyrants do it to get wealth and riches 3 If thou do not desire much and many things that little which thou hast will seeme much vnto thee 4 After that pouertie became once to be held in contempt and to be accounted a thing disgracious amongst men riches wealth haue euer since bene sought of men by all kind of wickednesse and mischieâ—es 5 Pouertie is content to satisfie the demaund of desire 6 There is no man liuing which is borne rich but he may well be accounted great who in the middest of his riches doth shew himselfe to be poore 7 Nature desireth and is conteÌ„ted with a very little but the fancie and opinion of man coueteth much 8 Honest pouertie is a ioyfull and pleasant thing 9 He is not poore that possesseth small wealth but he which desireth reth much Of Pouertie commended CHAP. 28. 1 ARistides Phocion and Socrates Athenians Epaminondas also and Pelopidas Thebans all of them most famous and renowned persons were very poore men and yet they were better more honest and iust men theÌ„ any other of the seuerall nations and countries where they liued 2 Diogenes being vpbraided by one that he was poore answered I neuer saw any man tormented for his pouertie but I haue seene many pâ—nished for their vices 3 To be poore by nature is no shame vnto a man but we hate to see any man made poore by any euill or vnhappie occasion 4 There is one thing onely for which pouertie ought to be beloued because that maketh shew and triall of whom thou art beloued Of Beautie CHAP. 29. 1 THere is no man be he neuer so beautifull and of an excellent spirit that can therefore boast or vaunt of himselfe for in a very short time he looseth the flower of all his pride 2 The Philosopher Diogenes did vse to call those harlots and strumpets which were faire and beautifull by the name and title of queenes because men held them in no lesse reuerence then queenes and most men were readie to do whatsoeuer they commaunded them 3 It is a most pleasant and ioyfull thing to regard and behold beautifull persons but to touch and handle them is very danngerous 4 Fire doth burne onely neare at hand but beautifull faces be they neuer so farre off do enflame and burne men 5 Beautie being naturall without art is much more pleasing and delightfull 6 Beautie is a very fraile thing and is soone diminished by time 7 That beautie is passing rare which is without any fault or defect 8 Beautie ought not to be adiudged by night 9 Beautie vnto many hath bene the cause of extreame dammage 10 Beautie onely hath this good fortune that aboue all other things it is exceeding glorious and amiable 11 Aristotle said That in one recommendation beautie had more force and valure then all the letters missiue of the world Of Audaciousnnesse or audacitie CHAP. 30. 1 FLye infamie sooner then any daunger whatsoeuer for certainly it becommeth none but cowards to be fearefull and timerous 2 Audacitie doth farre surpasse the meaâ—uâ—e of all forces 3 Aâ—â—hidaâ—us a captaine of the Lacedâ—monians seeing his sonne combate most obstinately against the Athenians said vnto him Either adde more strengrh to thy forces or leaue thy audacitie 4 Strength with prudence doth much profit and helpe any man but without it the same is very hurtfull 5 In things of great daunger hardinesse and audacitie begun with reason is highly to be commended because it is most certaine that this is the true fortitude but fiercenesse without reason is to be held no other then meere temeritie 6 It seemeth that the audacious person is arrogant and a
Diogâ—nes the Philosopher was wont to commend those young men that did promise to marie and take a wife but did neuer take any at all Of Fortune CHAP. 40. 1 APelles a painter of Athens being demaunded why he painted Fortune standing vpon her feete answered because she cannot sit 2 Denis the younger being demaunded how it could be that his father of a priuate man had attained to a tyrannicall gouernement and that he the sonne of a tyrant was expelled and chased from his rule and scepter he answered Truely my father left me his tyrannie but not his fortune 3 Philip the father of Alexanderâ— hauing in one day many good fortunes befallen him said O fortune for these so great and notable good fortunes graunt me that I may haue but one vnfortunate day 4 In all aduersities and misfortunes the most vnhappie condition of the vnfortunate is to remember that once he was happie 5 The Poet Ion said that fortune and wisedome being two diuerse and farre different things did make notwithstanding and bring foorth most like and semblable effects because both the one the other did exalt adorne and lift men vp to the highest degree of glorie 6 The goods of fortune are such as a man hath neede of reason for the vse of things and of patience in the necessitie of them 7 He which is ashamed of his fortune is worthie of all misfortune 8 As euery man can vse his happie and better fortunes so is he most excellent when he can vse well his aduerse fortunes 9 Fortune is more fauourable to the vniust then to the iust as therein shewing her puissance temeritie 10 He which is held too much embraced and fauoured of fortune becommeth to be little better then a foole 11 It seldome happeneth but that fortune doth offend the greatest and most excellent vertues 12 No man ought to refuse that fortune which all others do endure 13 Fortune is a sodaine occurrence of things vnthought of and vnexpected 14 Fortune is a proud Goddesse drunken and audacious 15 All things are gouerned by the will of Fortune 16 Pompey the great said alas Fortune seeing thou doest rend and breake in sunder all things I thinke that I haue not any thing which I can esteeme as my owne 17 The same Pompey said likewise I neuer had any prosperous or happie fortune that made me proud neither did euer any aduersitie make me fearefull 18 Fortune giueth too much to many but to none that which is sufficieÌ„t Of Realmes Princes and Magistrates CHAP. 41. 1 THere is none whatsoeuer aduanced or that can attaine to be a Prince without the will and permission of God 2 Principalitie and soueraigntie of coÌ„mand is giuen by fatal disposition 3 Kings are ordained and created by Iupiter 4 It is not necessarie that any should vnderstand things better then a Prince whose knowledge and learning shold be a help to al his subiects 5 A good Prince ought to carrie himselfe towards his subiects as a father amongst his children and as God doth towards the world 6 The Poet Pindarus said that a king was as it were a custome and example to all others 7 A King or Prince ought to shew himselfe terrible and seuere rather by threates and menaces then by punishments and executions 8 The vertue of a Prince is to be valiant iust seuere graue magnanimous a benefactor to many bountifull and liberall 9 A good prince is knowne by the good qualities and giftes of his mind and not by gold or rich and sumptuous apparell 10 The soueraigne and chiefe wisedome of a king is to know how to gouerne himselfe 11 The friends of a Prince ought to feele his power and puissance rather by his benefites then by iniuries and oppressions 12 The people must needes coÌ„plaine when wicked persons come to be their Princes 13 The king Anaxilaus being demaunded what thing was to be said most happie in any Realme answered Not to be ouercome by any benefites 14 Alexander complaining himselfe for that his father had left so many sonnes by diuerse women who might pretend title to his realme and kingdome king Philip his father said vnto him Labour to become an honest good man and then by thy owne deserts good behauiour and not by mine thou shalt be sure to enioy and inherit my kingdome 15 Alcamenes a Spartan being demaunded how a realme might long continue in happie estate answered When the king that raigneth ouer it shall not care for his owne priuate gaine and profite 16 In each commonwealth this aboue all things ought to be regarded and established that offices be not set to sale for gaine or rewards 17 The publike wealth is the life of a citie and where the lawes haue no force it cannot be named a weale publike 18 The Philosopher Antisthenes was demaunded why he said that hangmen had more humanitie then tyrants Because quoth he only guiltie persons and offenders are put to death by the hangman but tyrants do kill and murther the harmelesse and innocent 19 A man is then fit to rule and gouerne when he hath first learned how to gouerne 20 The Philosopher Bion said That it was needfull for a good and iust magistrate to depart and leaue his charge in the commonwealth rather with increase of honour then of wealth 21 Those Princes that punish them who do outrage and iniurie to others are the cause that others will abstaine from profering the like iniuries 22 In a certaine great and open place within Thebes were set vp the images of Iudges without hands and the chiefe Iudges with their eyes blindfolded whereby they shewed that iustice ought to be without any corruption of bribes or rewards 23 When thou shalt be placed in any publike charge or office admit not about thee leud or dishonest men for thy ministers because the euils which they commit will be imputed and attributed vnto thee 24 He which is in an office or place of commaund and maketh lawes for other men ought not to gouerne onely by might and strong-hand but by his dignitie vnderstanding and other vertues he ought to make himselfe knowne aboue other men 25 Like as the sunne which is the life of the world doth not attend nor expect that the morning should intreat it to arise in the East so the prince should not looke by praises and flatteries to do good deedes but he ought of himselfe to enlarge his hand and mind to bountifull and liberall and actions Of Captaines of warre and of their commauudements in time of battell CHAP. 42. 1 EPaminondas a Captaine of the Thebanes had neuer any mutiny amongst his souldiers 2 Agesilaus king of the Lacedemonians being demaunded what thing was needfull and necessarie to a good captaine answered Audacitie against his enemies beneuolence to his souldiers in such things as are coÌ„uenient and counsell for the managing of his affaires 3 Pelopidas a captaine of the Thebanes being to go to his armie his wife prayed him