water and earth of Amyntas the King Amyntas received them with liberall hospitalities and yielding himselfe to Darius at the length through the request of the Persians according to their custome he brought certain Concubines in to the Banquet to the Persians whom when the Persians had handled and kissed Alexander the Son of Amyntas taking the same in disdain sent his Father to bed after the which when free libertie was given to the Persians to have carnall company with which of these women every one would choose Alexander sent forth those young dames to wash and clense themselves for more delicacie to content the Persians and forthwith brought in neat young men unbearded clad in the same apparell and privily weaponed with daggers with whom as soon as the Persians began to dallie in amorous sort they drawing forth their weapons killed the Persians which slaughter Alexander did redeem partly for a great summe of money and partly by giving his Sister Gygia in marriage to Bubirus the Persian who was one of the Inquisitors of the murther Herod li 4. Thirtie Legates of the Cratonians comming to the Siberites were all killed and unburied cast before the walls of the Citie to be devoured of wild beasts which deed was the beginning of all those evils to them which the Oracle did before signifie For all their noble men a few dayes being between did seem to see the same monstrous act in the same manner for they beheld Iuno comming into the Market-place spewing forth her choler In whose Chappell also burst forth a fountain of blood and yet with all this did not their arrogancie cease untill they were wholly destroyed by the Cratonians Athen. li 12. cap. 6. Which Historie Heraclides Ponticus in libro de Iustitia although in substance of matter all one yet in forme and names doth seem otherwise to repeat King David sent Legates to Hanno the Son of Nalia the King of the Ammonites to comfort him of the death of his Father with whom David had joyned friendship and they had promised it should be confirmed But Hanno taking the Legates as Spies shaved halfe of their beards and curtayling their garments by the buttocks did after in that manner send them away With which injurie David being offended willed the Legates to remain at Hiercunt untill their haire was again grown And sending Ioab with an Armie against the Ammonites hee grievously afflicted them and the Syrians comming in their aide with bitter slaughter wherewith the Syrians being further molested there were to the number of 40000 Horsemen killed at Helam by David himselfe and the rest after were made tributarie 2 Reg. cap. 10. The Arabians having overcome Herod the King of the Jewes by subtiltie and Iuda being miserably shaken with an earthquake killed the Legates of the Jewes requiring Peace but not long after they being again grieved by Herod with most bitter slaughter and in the enâ—… subdued received worthy punishment for their wicked act Certain persons of the Families of Tatius Sabinus after the manner of theeves and robbers entring the fields of the Laurentines drove the beasts from thence and spoiled many people whom they met Whereupon Romulus judging the guiltie worthy to be punished sent Legates unto Tatius with whom the favour of his people did more prevaile than the Law of the Countries insomuch that he did not only deny the request of the Messengers but as they were departing permitted them to be violated of his people which punishment of the offendor Tatius procured to himself who a little while after comming to Lavinius to the solemn Feast there holden was by privie conspiracie in an assault made upon him miserablie slain by the kindred of them who before were violated of the Tatians Theatrum Vit. human vol. 14. li. 5. The Corinthians being under the government of Philip raised dissention against him and bore themselves so proudly against the Romans that certain Corinthians did presume to cast urine and other filth upon the Roman Ambassadour passing by the houses of the street for which fact and other like offences they received revengement out of hand for a great Armie being sent thither Corinth was made Levell with the ground by Lucius Muminius Achaius and the rest of the Dominions even to the parts of Macedonia fell to the Roman government Strabo li 8. The Legate of the King of Persia sent to Aquisgrave to Charles the Great being very hardly received of the Frenchmen complained tâ—…Charles that the authority of Legates was greateâ—… amongst the Persians thaâ—… the French upon whicâ—… to pacifie the Persiaâ—… King to redeem such injurie as to revenge thâ—… fact Charles removeâ—… all the Magistrates anâ—… Captains of every Province through which they came reduced them to aâ—… private estate losing theiâ—… office Amerced also thâ—… Bishops in a great massâ—… of money and provided that the Legates with alâ—… care dutie and pietie should be conveyed to their Countries And yet deeming this not sufficient he presented the King of Persia with horses Spanish Mules and costly garments of the German fashion and noble doggs to hunt which Germanie bringeth forth excelling in swiftnesse and cruelty Avent li 4. Annalium Boiorum And thus hitherto of the tragicall murthers following the injuries offered to Ambassadours which hath been the overthrow of many States and Conquest of many Countries For no greater villany can be offered to any absent than to misuse his present Deputie representing the Majestie of his King and Master CHAP. 9. Ambassadours evilly rewarded at their return into their Countries AMongst the other mischiefs that hang over the heads of Ambassadours besides their charge death by the way misusing in their Legation and bloody warrs that follow thereon This also is not the least evill that accompanieth them That at his return into his Countrie when he hopeth for great reward honourable title glorious receiving by the people and credit with his Prince in recompence of his toyled body his great expences his endangered life that hee is not only deceived therein but in place thereof receiveth either imprisonment the Princes displeasure losse of life confiscation of goods discredit in his Countrie disdain of his equalls rebuke of his Superiours and evill report of his Inferiours if in dispatch of his Legation the event falleth not to his Princes mind and his Countries benefit And yet hee doing asmuch as wit by nature will give him leave and judgement by experience hath taught him is rather in my opinion to be pardoned for the overthwart successe than to be punished for those defaults which himselfe cannot remedie God having dealt no more liberally with him in imparting great wit learning or experience unto him For in truth if his Legation be not well performed the lack is rather to be imputed to the Prince that would not make better choyce than to the subject that of force must obey or else runne into further inconveniencie of his King whose displeasure saith Solomon is
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
inticement of his Speech courtesie which plainly seemed to represent a kingly Majestie did so bind him unto him that of a bitter enemy he made him a dear friend to his Country in such sort that he which made the warre by the malice of this Laurence to the Florentines did also leave off the same by the words of the same person Brutus hist. Flor. li 7. When Clement the seventh Bishop of Rome and Charles the Fifth the Emperour had met at Bononia about divers affaires Francis Alvares the Legate of Divide commonly called Presto Iohn was King of the Abissine Aethiopians which doe possesse the middle part of Affrica being come to Bononia by the conduct of the Ambassadours of Iohn King of Portugal did in the Senate in the name of his King promise faith and obedience ◅to Clement Bishop of Rome in the year of our Lord 1533. in the moneth of Pebruary And so with these examples I conclude this title of such persons as have been commended for the wise dispatch of their Embassie After which I mean with like examples more plentifully to utter many wise Answers given and made by and to the Legates of other Provinces in which their wit and learning was notably declared CHAP. 5. Apophthegmes or wise and pleasant Answers given and made by and to Ambassadours DArius the King entring into Scythia was driven to great need and povertie Whereupon the Scythians sent Legates unto him with presents which were a Bird a Mouse a Frog and five Arrowes which Darius interpreted after his mind that thereby they did yield themselves and the Countrey By the Mouse understanding the Land by the Frog the Waters by the Bird their Horses and by the Arrows their Bodyes But Gobrias did conjecture that these presents did speak to contrary effect That unlesse the Persians did flie away as Birds hide themselves in the Earth like Mise leap into the water like Frogs they should be killed with those Arrows Polycartidas an Orator being sent with others to certain Dukes when it was demanded of them Whether their cōming was private or publick answered That if they obtained the effect of their Message they came publickly if not privately which Speech did singularly manifest his good mind to his Countrie For if his Legation succeeded to his mind he would give the glory to his Countrie if otherwise hee would not have the reproch of repulse to pertain to the Common-wealth The Lacedemonians sending but one Legate to King Demetrius he greatly stomacked the same asking if one man were enough to come to him Whereunto the Legate answered yea Sir wee deem it sufficient to send but one body to one man which words also Agis the Sonne of Achidanus used being sent to Philip of Macedon when certain Lacons a people of Greece inhabiting Sparta went Ambassadours to the Tyrant Lygdanus who often deferred conference with them excusing himselfe that hee was somewhat sickly they willed the Messengers to return answer That they gently came to talk and not boysterously to wrestle with the King Ismenias the Theban and Pilopidas who was Victor in Leustrica being sent Messengers to King Artaxerxes when they should have worshipped the King Ismenias as it seemed refused to doe it yet for that he would not by disobedience utter any folly he wisely excused it for being commanded to honour the King he let fall his Ring at his foot to the ground which he took up again with a bowed body whereby it was judged that he then worshipped the King Ambassadours being sent from a besieged Citie to Alexander Magnus then in India did humbly present themselves to him much marvelling to behold him in Armour without any kingly pomp To the eldest of which Legates whose name was Acuphis Alexander delivered a Cushion brought for himselfe which he willed Acuphis to take and sit down neer unto him whose benignitie and humanity Acuphis wondring at and commending demanded of him with what conditions hee would receive them into his friendship To whom Alexander answered With this condition That I make thee Prince of thy Country and that thou send me an hundred of the best vertuousest and chiefest men thou hast Whereunto Acuphis smiling said But I shall govern better as King if I should rather send thee an hundred of the worst than the best Aximines made Legate to the same Alexander to pacifie his anger vehemently incensed against the Lampascens Alexander as soon as hee saw him made oath thereby to cut off all occasion of hope of favour that hee would not condiscend to any of Aximines requests although he was his Master whereto answered Aximines Then I require this of thee O King that thou wilt utterly subvert the Countrie of Aximines this Master By which wise policie Alexander against his will did spare the Lampascens The Romans dispatched their Ambassadours into Bythinia to asswage a Domesticall discord between Brusia the Father and Nicomedes the Sonne which Legates were such as one had many scarres of wounds in his head another was diseased in his feet the third was but of a slender wit of whom M. Cato was wont to jest not unwisely that the same Embassie lacked both head feet and heart Sab. li 9. en 5. ex Plut. Catone Cornelius the Centurion being Legate in the Creation of the Consul Octavius shewing his Sword in the Court said this shall perform it if you will not Volat. li 23. Genuinus when he was sent into Asia to Antonius Triumvir overcome with the love of Cleopatra to move Antonius to endeavour himselfe to fall into Amitie with Octavius being called to a Banquet by Antonius and in the presence of Cleopatra being commanded to deliver his Message said not respecting the greatnesse of Antony or presence of Cleopatra the thing that I am enjoyned to tell to thee is to be intreated with a sober man and in another place than where wee now be But howsoever I may seem to my selfe as a drunken person to say a thing yet I affirm that all things shal succeed well unto thee if thou wilt let Cleopatra depart into Egypt freely thereby noting the drunkennesse of Antony and his immoderate love to Cleopatra Plut. in vita Antonii When a Sedition was raised between the Jewes and the Greeks dwelling at Alexandria three Legates of either part were chosen to be sent to Caius the Emperour Whereof Appion Prince of the Legates for the Alexandrians laied many faults upon the Jewes one of which was this that they did not prosecute the Emperour with Divine honour The chiefe one of the partie of the Jewes was Philo the brother of Alexander Alabarcha and a skilful Philosopher who preparing to plead the cause of his Nation was repulsed of Caesar and commanded to depart The Emperour scarce for anger abstaining from doing him injurie wherefore he being thus cast out with reproch amongst men fled to the assistance of God and turning to the Jewes his
death But because my intent is not in any of these matters fully to say my mind and to utter what reasons I can produce to confirme any such thing depending on the shoulders of Legates but only to warrantize my assertion with authoritie of examples Therefore leaving all other ordinarie proofes I will descend to my former course and only will with one example or two for that I mean not to be tedious and intend but to give your Lordship a taste that many other examples might be vouched thereon display sufficient authoritie in that point In which Ambassadours have been evilly rewarded at their return into their Countrie as followeth Amasis the Legate being sent of King Apris to those people that were revolted afterwards became King of the Revolters upon the which there was another Legate called Paterbenus sent to Amasis who returning without doing any good in the matter was cruelly handled of King Apris Theatrum Vol. 18. li. 4. Alexander the Son of Amyntas King of Macedonia was of Mordonius whom Xerxes had left in Greece to subdue it sent Ambassadour to the Athenians to conclude a Peace between them but he departed without bringing any thing to success whereupon he was afterwards forbidden to come to Athens and so banished the Town Herodot. li 8. In both which examples what cause was there why either Paterbenus of Apris or Alexander of the Athenians should bee so cruelly handled doing what in them lay for when the obstinacie of the other party with whom they must conferre is so much that neither reason can move eloquence perswade gentle usage make willing or threatnings fear to yield unto their Ambassie what shall the poor Legates doe and if they bring not their message to effect they shall be sharply punished at their return as either faithlesse to their Masters or partiall to the enemie For mee thinks I hear some Sycophant flattering the Prince and maligning the Ambassadour either before his going for some private grudge or after his departure for his open honour in that he is advanced to his place of Legation and yet setting his own commoditie thereby doth say that if the matter come not to effect it is by the negligence of the partie Ambassadour who if hee carry not sufficient authoritie to conclude or answer all things done on the adverse part may send home for a larger Commission the which if hee doe not if thereby hee might have brought it to conclusion is to be deemed as a trayterous person to his Prince and Countrie and therefore at his return to be punished The which thing if he doe as I would not excuse it where open and not surmised negligence is found in the cause I say he is worthy therefore of double revenge at his home comming and to receive torment in place of liberalitie reproach for credit losse of life for advancement and dis-inheritance in recompence of his deserved reward And here since now I am fallen into the mention of treacherous Ambassadours it shall not be unfitting in this place to shew what persons to the shame of them and of their posteritie are registred in the everlasting Records of Trayterous Ambassadors towards their Prince and Province CHAP. 10. Trayterous Ambassadours towards their Masters and Princes AS all injuries which tend to the subversion of a Common-wealth are to bee punished because not one Citie but a Province not a part of the body but the whole body not the King alone but the subject is grieved thereby so the same wrong being injustice is not only to be avoyded by all good men as chiefe enemy to vertue but also they are to be hated and sharply punished which contrary to naturall dutie to the Prince to equity to his Countrie to good disposition towards himselfe to vertue to good men and contrary to Justice to all men in matter of trust wherin all truth is to be used do falsly and injuriously betray their Children their Parents their Friends their King their Countrie And as in all men such treason is to be abhorred so especially in Ambassadours who are the doors and gates of the Common-wealth by which Peace or Warre quiet or dissention profit or discōmoditie are brought into the same This vilde fault is most abhorred and worthy to be rewarded with death a thing which in all ages amongst all men in all places and in all matters hath been misliked hated condemned and revenged Because no greater injurie can any wayes be offered than that hee who is in credit with the life with the commoditie with the honour with the state of his Prince or Countrie with the benefit of his friend or familiar should under the colour of assured dutie and friendship overthrow such State or person as giveth such fidelity unto him But what spend I many words to confirm a thing so manifestly known to be evil I will not doe it but by example set out such wicked persons as have wrought against their own head in such a villanous sort as the blott thereof will never be wiped away which examples for he is happy that can beware by the harm of others I have set down as condemning that evill fact in them and as a warning for others to beware which may fall into the like inconveniencie if fear of God discourse of reason duty to the Prince love to his Countrie and fidelity to his friends and Allies do not restrain the evill mind of mens naturall inclination alwayes of it selfe by disposition bent to the worst and ready to yield to his basest part The examples be these Labienus the Legate of Caesar in France having performed great exploits under Caesar at the length in the Civill warres traiterously fled from Caesar to Pompey of whom doth Lucan write Dux fortis in armis Caesareis Labienus erat nunc transfuga vilis The which Historie is more to be seen at large in Volater li 16. Urban can Amasis as you heard before being the Legate of King Apris who sent him to the Egyptians revolted from him became most traiterously King of the Revolters Ibancus falling from the part of Abexius Angelus Emperour of Constantinople did defend and make strong with Castles the places adjoyning to Mount Hemo for the reconciliation of which Ibancus to become again subject the Emperour did send an Ambassadour Eunuch very familiar unto him which should revoke and renew Conditions and Covenants between them willing him also to put him in mind of the Marriage of his Neece but this wicked gelding comming to Ibancus did not only not doe any thing belonging to his Message but with his presence did rather confirme him in the continuance of his attempt when he had rashly spewed out unto him that the Greeks out of hand would invade him And therefore counselling him that leaving the champion plains he should for his and the peoples better strength and safetie commit himselfe to the mountains Nicelius li. 3. de Imperio Alex. Ariepertus the Brother
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