followers said wee must now be of good comfort for when Caius is offended with us God shall work against him for us Leo Bizantius when he was sent Ambassadour to Athens entring into the Assemblie to pacifie a long sedition continuing amongst them provoked laughter to the people for that he appeared so fat in body being furnished with a great paunch or belly but he nothing moved therewith yet knowing the occasion of thâ—…r jeasting cryed Why doe you laugh to see me thus grosse Assure your selves I have a wife farre fatter than my selfe and yet being such and so monsterous a little bed can hold us being quiet together but being at square and variance the whole house is too little and so went on by this occasion with his Oration inducing the people to concord and quiet Philostratus Ambassadours being dispatched to Pirrhus did come to redeem certain prisoners amongst the which Legates was Caius Fabritius whose fame and name was had in great estimation amongst the Romans being a vertuous man in peace and a noble Souldiour in warre but yet very poor which Cineas declared unto the King Whereupon Pirrhus did privately use him very courteously contending with him to take reward of gold at his hands not for any evill cause but as he said as a pledge of friendship and good entertainment the which Fabritius refusing silence was made thereof for that time The next day to the end he might fear Fabritius who never before had seen an Elephant Pirrhus commanded the great beast as they were in talking to be brought and set behind a skreen which was so done then a sign being given the skreen was removed and the Elephant lifting up his nostrill did hang it over the head of Fabritius sounding up a sharp and terrible noyse whereat Fabritius by little and little turning back said to Pirrhus neither thy gold yesterday nor thy beast to day can move me After at supper when talk was had of the Greeks and of the Philosophers Cineas fell to naming of the Epicures reciting what they thought of the Gods and of the Common-wealth how they placed their chiefest felicitie in pleasure how they avoyded the government of the State as troublesome and hurtfull to good life and how the gods were removed from rewarding from anger and from care of to and over us leading an idle life flowing with all pleasure To whom yet thus speaking Fabritius cryed out O God be these Precepts pleasant to Pirrhus and the Samnites whilest they make warre with us Upon the which Pirrhus marvelling at the mind and gravitie of the man did more earnestly studie by breaking off the wars to joyne friendship with the Romans privately inviting Fabritius if the Peace were performed to remain and live with him offering that he should enjoy the chiefest place amongst his friends and Nobles To whom Fabritius is said to have answered in his eare It will not be for thy profit O King for those that do now worship and follow thee if they had made tryall of me would wish me king to thee With which Pirrhus was no whit offended nor took it with a Tyrannicall mind but did declare to Fabritius friends the noble disposition of the man To whose only credit hee did commit the Captives with this condition that if the Senate did deny Peace after their friends saluted and the Saturnals celebrated to the Gods they should be sent back to him again who in like sort the Festivals ended according to the condition were returned to Pirrhus of whom as many as remained at home the Senate put to execution Plutar in Pirrho Two Legates saith Poggius being sent from the Councell of Constance to Petrus Deluna the false Pope did amongst other bitter chidings and hard speeches which they used together upon the right and title of Pontificialitie after that the Pope had said of himselfe this is the Arke of Noah meaning that all the power of the Apostolique See remained with him answer there were many beasts in the Ark of Noah expressing therby that there were many vices in him the Pope and many wicked men in the Church When Sfortia the great being feared with the weapons and awaites of Paulus Ursinus had departed from Rome and placed his Companie in Algido there came to him from the Pope a Legate the Cardinall of St. Angell being of the familie of Columna and was well received into the Citie To which Cardinall amongst many speeches when he had said Shall Sfortia fear a Beare alluding to Ursinus for Ursus in Latine is a Bear in English When hee shall be in most safetie under a Pillar meaning himselfe discended of Columna which in English signifies a Pillar Sfortia suddenly answered Shall not I seem mad unto thee O Father if whilst in vain I crave aide of a dumb and deaf Pillar that great beast fierce with tooth and â—…ayle making hast oftentimes with the pace of a lively man shall not seem fearfull unto me not unpleasantly noting the absence of the Columnians who were far off and lively depainting the wit of Ursinus with his present strength which was at hand And so my good Lord I knit up this matter with many Ambassadours examples wherein is shewed their wit their government their wise answers their gravitie their magnanimitie policie favour and many other excellent things required in an Ambassadour Of which former examples I shall not need to make any Comment or application to your Lordship who by nature have a ready wit to conceive by experience a sound judgement to understand and by studie a heaped knowledge to judge both my intent in writing them their commendations in speaking them and my friend commoditie in reading them And so to other matter concerning Legats to be confirmed by collected examples found in antient and learned Writers CRAP. 3. Ambassadours that dyed in their Embassie AS you have before heard what good things have been commended in Legates and Ambassadours how they have been rewarded honoured esteemed preferred what privileges what entertainment and how many other good things have been belonging unto them So since there is nothing certain in this world nothing happy on every side but that every commoditie brings its discommoditie these men with all these good matters are subject to as many evils misfortunes losses and hinderances as they seem to be adorned with many excellencies And therefore having already spoken of the first part I will come to the later part of this Proposition and lay before your eyes their misfortunes how some have died by the way some have been slain some maymed some blinded and some many other wayes misused as the malice of the doer or the will of the Commander gave in charge for the same And therefore first to Ambassadours that have been slain and dyed in their Embassie The Athenians sent Demades the Orator as Legate to Antipater for that Demades seemed very expert in the Macedonian affaires to require of Antipater that as at the beginning he
his Musick to draw trees stones mountaines and wilde beasts after him for that by his sweet words he reduced the savage people to civility the want of which utterance gave Moses occasion to excuse himselfe before God that he was unapt by reason of his stammering which he got his mouth being burnt by eating hot coals when he was brought up in Pharaohs house where being then but a boy hee threw down the Crown from Pharaohs head whereby the Divines prophesied that hee should destroy the King of Egypt to bee Gods Ambassadour to the Egyptians for the deliverie of the people of Israel Wherefore to him God chose Aaron as his Assistant by his Eloquence to supply Moses his default and to utter whatsoever Moses should give him in command Such an eloquent person was also Carneades Cyramus whose eloquence was so great that hee could easily in any matter by the strength of his speech draw any man to his opinion And therefore he Prince of the Academians with Diogenes the Stoick and Critolaus the Peripatetick being sent Ambassadours to Rome from the Athenians brought his Legatship in doubt amongst the Romans Marcus Cato saying in the Senate that they should beware of that man who by his eloquence and skill of utterance could obtain whatsoever he would desire Volater Lib. 4. Cap. 2. Anthropo of whom in like sort Quintilian doth report that in the hearing of Cato the Censor at Rome he did with no lesse force the day following argue against Justice than hee had the day before defended it His singular eloquence being also remembred by Gellius and Crinitus Not unlike to whom was Cyneas Thessalus the hearer of Demosthenes and Legate of Pirrhus who when he was sent to any City to require Surrender thereof would use this saying of Euripides That neat and sweet words could doe as much as threatning swords of whom Pirrhus was wont to say that hee had subdued more Cities by the Orations of Cyneas than by the hands of his Army whom as Plutarch saith the King had in great estimation using his help in his chiefest affaires With no less commendation did Scopelianus the Sophist obtain the request of his Embassie for whereas Domitian the Emperour had made Proclamation that no Vines should be growing in Asia because the plenty thereof by drunkennesse might seem to move Sedition Scopelianus being sent to Rome did by his eloquence not only bring so to passe that they might lawfully plant Vines but also further obtained that he should be Fyned that would abstain from the setting and planting of the same In which number of Eloquent Ambassadours may take his place Eustaâ—…hius Capadox the Successor of Aedesius in his Country who was of such profound Eloquence being the Disciple of Iambions the Chaldean as being sent to Supinus King of Persia did there so inchaunt the King by his speeches that casting away his Tyara which was a kind of Crown or Imperiall Cap foulded with linnen the King would have changed his garment for the cloke of Eustachius which the Courtiers did forbid saying that he was a Magician and wrote by a course of Witcherie as teacheth Eunapius And so concluding this matter your Lordship may easily gather hereby how requisite it is for an Ambassadour to be eloquent in Speech in delivering his Message But to what use shall all this serve if he have not joyned with these estimation and credit and that he be of good account in his Countrie before he be sent For if he be not both he and his Embassie shall be despised and neglected As well appeareth in this one Historie done in our time And because I will not in this point be tedious unto â—…our Honour I will only â—…hew you here omitting â—…hich I could cite conâ—…erning the same one Hiâ—…torie thereof for a small â—…hing can give light to a â—…ise man and your Lordâ—…hip by this one example â—…hall learne that others â—…ave told in many Which History is thus When in the year of our Lord as telleth Paulus â—…ovius Charles the fifth â—…he Emperour by Confeâ—…eracie made with Cleâ—…ent the seventh Bishop ofâ—…ome against the Florenâ—…ines attempting to reduce â—…hose of the house of Medices into their Countrie did with continuall Siege oppresse the City of Florence such was the obstinacie of the Citizens favouring the popular government that great cruelty was shewed to them who did freely and truly say that Peace was to bee embraced But at the length by Philip Meliores an honest young man in the Common-wealth preaching often to the Senate and perswading to embrace Peace the Fathers decreed that Ambassadours should be dispatched to the Pope yet such was the malignity of the hinderers that not they whom the waightiness â—…f the cause did require â—…ut men otherwise of small â—…redit and common Citizens were sent forth Of whom one Aloysius Sodeâ—…inus who had not done aâ—…y thing worthy any grave â—…ffaires in ordering any matter other than that hee was called a good house-keeper was one and anoâ—…her was Anderolus Niâ—…olinus rather a continuall and diligent Merchant than a Senator and the third was Robertus Bonâ—…ius whom by reason of his late neer allyance with Thomas Soderyne who still laboured against this Peace made the Embassiâ—… to be the more suspected These men when they were arrived at Bononia the Pope for that they were not of sufficient honour and for that sufficiencie of industrie sinceritie of mind and faith was not found in them did so contemn them that hee greatly laughed to see that in place of worthy Senators they had out of Florence sent Merchants and those not of the best sort And that which did most sound in derogation of their Legation was for that the Ministers of the Customes in Bononia had found in their Coffers for Merchandize sake great store of gold thred to make and weave cloth-of-gold the which they then brought to avoyd further charge of carriage for the same which foolish subtilty in so grave a matter wrapped about with the filthinesse of gain was the more to be jested at Because when they had delivered their Message they had brought no further authoritie to confirm the Peace Wherefore Clement and Caesar also scorning them and stomacking the covetousnesse and unskill of the Merchants did so upbraid them that their pertinacie seemed next unto madnesse and they with open shame rejected were sent home c. Thus far Iovius translated in English In which is to be seen that the basenesse foolishnesse Covetousnesse and want of experience was the cause that these Ambassadours were not only disdained and their Petition rejected but that the poor Florentines were stil oppressed with the said warre And thus much hitherto that an Ambassadour should be learned eloquent and of good calling Now for the other matters as that they must be wise and expert c. you shall find plentifull examples thereof under the title of Ambassadours praised for the wise dispatch and worthy doing
of Theudolinda created King of the Lumbards when he had raigned nine years bequeathed the kingdom to Bertanus and Godopertus his Sons The kingdome being divided Bertanus placed his Imperiall seat at Milan and Godopertus at Ticinum after dissention sprang between the two brothers Godopertus sent to Grinidaldus Duke of Beneventa a Legate Garipaldus Captain or Duke of Taureventinus to request speedy aide against his brother in recompence whereof he promised his kinswoman in marriage contrary to which thing the traiterous Legate did perswade Grinidaldusâ—…o possesse the kingdome of Lâ—…mbardie having now apt time therefore the brothers being at warres within themselves Wherupon Grinivalde with a chosen Companie went to Ticinum where being honourablie received because of his marriage as was thought into the Kings Palace did kill Godopertus and enjoyed the kingdom Bertarius which was at Milan hearing thereof for fear fled into Panonia or Hungarie to Cacanus King of the Araries a people of Panonia leaving behind Rodolinda his wife and Camipertus his Son whom Grinivaldus sent to Benevenventa not long after which Domus Gariopaldus the Legate was in the Temple killed by the Servant of Godopertus who feared not to be murdered for the revenge of his Masters injurie Bonsinius li 8. Deca 1. Edgarus King of England by sicknesse losing the Queen his wife Elfreda on whom he had gotten Edward his Sonne at what time Fame had blown abroad that Horgerius Duke of Cornwall had a fair Daughter named Alfreda he sent Ethelwold his familiar companion as his Ambassadour to see the beauty of the Maid and with his words and in his name to demand her in marriage if her beauty did answer the report Ethelwold when he had seen the beautie of the Maid unmindfull of the Kings commandement did earnestly desire to have her for Wife who returning to the King said That she was not such a person as was convenient to be espoused to the King but a little after perceiving by this device that the Kings mind was changed from her love he began with little and little to work with the King to obtain license that hee might take her by his consent the which the King having now despised her beauty did easily grant Afterwards the rumour of the beauty of Alfreda did more and more increase which moved the King desirous to see her to take occasion to visit the Town of Ethelwold as hee went in hunting Ethelwold when hee understood that the King would come thither discovering the whole matter to his wife prayed her for the safetie of them both that she would attyre her selfe more carelesly and shew her selfe lesse beautifull than shee was accustomed to the young and lusty King But the woman forgetting matrimoniall love and the Children born to Ethelwold as richly attyred as she could came forth to meet the King where casting off all shame she gave the occasion of her Husbands destruction for he was after slain and the King shortly married her of whom he begat many Children Than which deed nothing did more blemish the fame of that worthy King Edgar as well for that hee had taken away the Husband as for that he had espoused the unchast Wife Polydor li 6. Ranulphus li 6. cap. 11. Will'mus Malmes li 2. cap. 46. Francis Sabarella the Cardinall whose writings are highly commended and allowed being holden in great authoritie amongst the Civill Lawyers sent Ambassadour by Iohn the 23. Bishop of Rome unto the Councel of Constance to excuse his fact and keep him in the Popedome was author and occasion of the Popes utter overthrow in hope that himselfe afterwards by the consent of the Councell should have supplied the place of Pope Iohn But being prevented by death he at one time did satisfie both his Tyrannicall ambition and unchristian treacherie Garmibertus li. 5. de vitis Pontificum And so with one Historie more delivered in Latine as Guicchardine hath written it I will set end to these trayterous and unfaithfull Ambassadours The which matter I have purposely delivered in Latine as the course of the style leadeth word for word and as the Author writ the same for that not reading the Historie in any other place I could not so fitly set it forth as mee thinks both such a matter and the Authors meaning doth require And yet loth to leave out a thing done in our remembrance I thought best rather so to doe than utterly to defraud your Lordship therof The matter is this Constans fuit multorum opinio Albertum Pium Carpensem Galliae Regis Lodovici duodecimi apud Iulium 2. Papam de controversia inter Pontificem Ferariae Ducem Alfonsum Atestinum salinis Cerine Comactii â—…rta componenda Legatum legationis munere non bona fide functum ut Pontificem Ferariensium Ducem contetaret operam dedisse Ad idque ardentissimo desiderio in quo ad mortem usque permansit impulsum ut Alfonsus Ferariensi principatu spoliaretur Quum Hercules Alfonsi pater ante paucos annos à Gilberto Pio dimidiam Carpensem ditionem accepisset eique Saxuli castellum cum nonnullis aliis oppidis permutationem dedisset Albertus ne tandem ut saepe necesse eum minus potentem potentioris vicini cupiditate cedere ei alteram partem quae ad se spectaret concedere cogeretur metuebat Guicchard li 2. With which Latine Historie concluding and uttering what I have read concerning such unfaithfull Legates who without better government may be drawn into Treason one of the most wicked evills which by their own occasion and folly they may rashly fall into I will finish up the enlarging of this proposition concerning trayterous Ambassadours with their manner of treacherie And take upon me briefly in like order with like manner of examples to treat of one other mischiefe that followeth such Ambassadours For as there is no Body but hath its shadow no Corn but hath its chaffe no Wine but hath its lees nor any man that at all times in all places in all matters and to all persons doth shew himselfe alike perfect wise So since these Legates hereafter may as before time they have by words by writings by deeds by gestures shew some folly in them though otherwise perhaps not to bee discommended I will now discourse of foolish Ambassadours to give light to others and to save them out of such condemned actions CHAP. 11. Of the foolish sayings and doings of Ambassadours NOtwithstanding that it often happeneth to be counted a point of wisdome to dissemble and to utter great folly yet in a Legate in a matter of gravitie in the benefit of a Countrie in the cause of a King to shew either folly in the tongue rashnesse in the hand lightness in the gesture clownishness in action or want of good government in ordering himselfe is not simply a fault in the Agent which yet is not to bee allowed but also it stretcheth further and ministreth occasion to condemn the Master or Prince