vnto his youngest brother the Duchie of Burgundy for an inheritance hauing giuen him therewithall Margret the sole daughter and heire of Flaunders to his wife After the said battell of Mountleherie one told him that his enemie the County of Charolois did passe the night following in the place where the battell was foughten No maruel quoth the king if he remaine and lodge in the fields seeing he hath neither Towne nor Castle to retire vnto He was wont to say That where pride rideth afore shame and dishonour do follow after He being on a day at Masse in a church of Chanons he was told that one of the Chanons was that day departed whereupon casting his eye aside and perceiuing a simple Priest which lay sleeping in a Chappel therby adioyning he said I do giue this Prebend to that fellow that lyeth there because he shall say hereafter that his wealth and good fortune came vnto him sleeping THe Capitaine Maran making his repaire to the Court of this king Levvis with purpose to aduertise him of the exploits which he had done at Cambray he wore about his necke a rich collar or chaine of gold which as the reportweâ—t had bene made of the reliques of the church of Cambray And as a certaine Gentleman standing by was readie to handle the said collar the King said vnto the Gentleman Beware and take good heede sir how you touch that chaine for I can tell you it is a holy thing By this saying he taxed the Captaine with sacriledge wherevvith souldiers should not be tainted because in sacking of any place all holy things are to be spared THe Archbishop of Tours talking familiarly with him of the great troubles which he had at the beginning of his raigne against the Princes of Fraunce he said vnto him If I had not caused my selfe to be feared and shewed my self both of courage and experience I might well haue bene put in the last chapter of Boccace his booke where he intreateth of vnhappie and vnfortunate Princes HAuing heard it reported how Nicholas Raulin the Chauncelor of the duke of Burgundie a man of excessiue wealth riches had founded at Beaune in Burgundy a goodly Hospital that did excell both for the statelinesse of the building and for the sumptuousnesse of the mouables wherewith it was furnished he said There is great reason that the Chancelour of Burgundie which in his life time hath made many a man poore ' should at his latter end make an Hospitall where to nourish and lodge them THe said king Levvis being vnwilling that his sonne Charles the eighth should apply his mind to learning he said That the time which was spent in studie ought to be employed rather in the care of gouerning the kingdome and common-wealth and that he which should betake himselfe to studie and learning by the vse thereof would become â—imerous and lesse hardie to vndertake great affaires because in taking example of others out of histories he would not dare to enterprize any action of importance the execution whereof might be doubtfull and vncertaine He was wont to say That he which knew not how to dissemble was altogether vnskilfull how to rule and gouerne One of the Pages of his chamber hauing taken a louse from off his garment he said This sheweth that I am a man as others are One comming to tell him that the Genowaies had a disposition to yeeld themselues vnder his protection he answered They shall not long remaine vnder me for I bequeath theÌ„ to the Diuell The said king Lewis being determined to send an Ambassador to the Venetians he conferred with his Councell whom he might choose as most fit and proper to dispatch that seruice A certaine Nobleman naming one vnto him that was his near kinsman and whom he was willing to aduaunce the King demaunded of him what kind of man he was The Nobleman answered Sir he is Bishop of such a place Abbot of such a Monasterie Lord of such a Seignorie and so curiously discouered al his qualities and Seignories The King alluding to the briefe maner of writing then vsed said There where are so many titles is litle learning or none at all A Certaine great personage hauing told him how he was alwaies troubled with the Gowte whilest he hued at ease with good and daintie fare and rich clothing and that afterwards when he began to accustome himselfe to trauell and take paines to fare grosly to go coursly clad that then the gowte began to leaue him the King said and I for my part will neuer from hencefoorth weare other clothes then of cloth for that the gowt doth sooner take hold of silke then of wooll He had a saying That there was not any thing whatsoeuer but he cold find it both in his kingdome yea and in his house saue onely one thing And being demaunded by a great Lord what thing that was he answered It was truth For I remember said he that my late Lord and father was wont to say That in his time truth was sicke but I think that now it is staâ—ke dead and that she neuer had any ghostly father to coÌ„fesse her at her death A certaine Nobleman demaunded of him how much the kingdom of Fraunce was worth in a yeare he answered My Realme is a medow which I cut both euery yeare and as often as I list A certaine meane person of base condition following the Court of king Lewis and yet not knowing the king when he saw him it happened that one day the king aduising him asked him what he gained by following the Court. The fellow answered I gaine as much as the king for both he and I liue of God his bountie and at our departure out of this world he shal haue no more with him then I shall The King esteeming well of the speech of the man made him one of the Pages of his chamber The life of men is different but the end of all is common and alike BEing told that a certaine great personage had a goodly Library and a great number of faire bookes he said Then may he well be resembled to a man that is crooke backed who caryeth his great bosse behind him at his backe and neuer seeth it By this saying he taxed the partie both of curiositie and ignorance VVHensoeuer he had neede or occasion to employ any maÌ„ in his affaires he would gaine them to do it with rewards and store of gold For he was wont to say that when a man fighteth with siluer lances he commonly caryeth away the victoria HE vsed to say That many times too great seruices done to Princes did cause the losse of them that did the seruice for that most commonly they are recompenced with great ingratitude Howbeit that it might happen by the default of the parties themselues who in regard of their great seruice do vse their good fortune with ouermuch arrogancie both towards their Lords and towards their friends and equals He said moreouer
theÌ„ to commence sute or to bring processe against the seruitours of God his Church whereof may arise and grow any offence and scandall A saying of Pope Vrban the fifth KIng Charles the fifth being desirous to ridde his countrey and kingdome of Fraunce of those men at armes both English and French which after the treatie of peace accorded betweene those two nations did ouerrunne and spoile the countrey of Fraunce the lord Bertrand du Guesclin obtained leaue of the king to leade them into the realme of Granada against the Saracens And by reason of the pilferies and robberies which these men at armes had committed the Pope Vrban the fifth had excommunicated them Bertrand du Guesclin hauing assembled them together and being chosen Generall of these forces to passe with them into Spaine marched away with them by the way of Auignon where the Pope Vrban the fifth was then resident who sent a Cardinall vnto them to know what was their demaund to the which Cardinall Bertrand answered Sir I pray tell his Holinesse that these men of warre do demaund pardon absolution both from the gilt and the punishment of their sinnes which they haue committed and for the which they haue incurred the sentence of excommunication and besides they do require two thousand Florins of gold to maintaine them and to defray their charges in their voyage vndertaken for the aduancement of the Christian faith The Cardinall making report vnto the Pope of his message his answer was this This is very straunge and a maruellous matter that this people should demaund absolution and money and our custome is to giue absolution and to take money The opinion of the Earle of Arminacke THe Nobles and Barons of Guien being assembled in counsell to giue an answer vnto the demaunds of the Prince of VVales who was purposed to make warre in Spaine because the most part of them thought it vnlawfull and an enterprise of small reason and were desirous to be resolued amongst themselues of the truth of the matter The Earle of Arminacke spake vnto them on this manner It is not fit nor a thing appertinent to the subiect who standeth vpon the reputation of his faith and loyaltie to dispute of the rights and interests which his Prince may haue in vndertaking warre against another Prince but he ought to yeeld him his best seruice and endeuours whensoeuer he shall be required thereunto for he ought to be perswaded that his Prince in so doing doth nothing but vpon good counsell aduice neither ought he any further to be inquisitiue therinto Euery vvarre vndertaken vpon an vniust quarrell is to the dishonour rather of the Prince then of the subiect The saying of the Earle of Foix. GAston the second of that name Earle of Foix hauing taken to wife Elinor the daughter of CoÌ„minge who was much elder then himselfe certaine Nobles of that countrey being in communication with her of that mariage told her That she had taken and chosen an husband who was much younger then she to whoÌ„ she answered If I had knowne that the Earle of Foix should haue bene my husband I would not haue bene borne so soone but haue stayed for him In euery good mariage it is requisit that the parties be equal and alike in conditions age and vvealth The last words of the king of Nauarre at his death FRauncis Phoebus Earle of Foix and king of Nauarre lying vpon his death bed in the very agonie and last panges of death vsed these wordes for his last speech Regnum meum non est de hoc mundo I dâ—ò relinquo mundum non conturbemini quia vado ad patrem My kingdome is not of this world therefore I leaue the world be not you troubled for I go to the father The answer of Iouian Pontanus IOuian Pontanus an excellent Philosopher and a notable Poet being demaunded why he did eate but of one kind of meate at his meale and of that also very little and in great sobrietie he answered Because I wold not haue any need of the Phisition All Phisitions are of accordin this that diuersitie of meates do hinder the digestion and ingender sicknesses and diseases A pleasant conceipt of the brother of Sanctius brother to the king of Spaine A Solemne Councel being assembled at Rome to consult vpon the taking of armes against the Saracens who had the possession of the holy land it was of a long time there debated who should be chosen as the most worthie and sufficient to haue the conduct and commaund of the armie After many opinions it was concluded that Sanctius brother to the king of Spaine in regard of his good parts his hardinesse courage and vertues should be the chiefe and Generall of this honourable enterprise because it was well known that he was a man deuoide of couetousnesse and ambition and of excellent expedition in deedes of armes whervpon he being after this election come to Rome and repairing to the Conclaue where the Pope Cardinals and Princes of Christendome were assembled together he was immediately in the presence of them all by the decree and ordinance of the Pope amongst other articles proclaimed and declared King of Egypt vpon the which Proclamation all the people showted with a publicke crie and acclamation exceedingly reioyced He not skilled in the Latine tongue and not knowing wherat the Consistorie did make that triumphing demaunded the cause of his interpreter who hauing told him that the Pope had graunted and proclaimed him king of Egypt he said vnto his interpreter Stand vp and make here presently a Proclamation before all this people here assembled that seeing the Pope hath made me king of Egypt he therefore shall be Caliph of Babylon This was a sudden and royall liberality to recompence him with a vaine title of Pontificalitie from vvhom he had receiued the name and stile of a king vvithout a kingdome The opinion of the king of Sicilie RObert king of Sicilie being on a time in communication with that famous Italian Poet Frauncis Petrarch told him That he was more in loue with his bookes then his own Crown and that he held more deare the learning and knowledge which he had gotté in the studying of good letters then all the honours and riches of his realme This opinion vvas cleane contrarie to that of the French king Levvis the eleuenth The mind of the Emperour Fredericke vvhich he shevved towards his vvife THe Emperour Fredericke did neuer vse to drinke wine but at his meals and euen then he vsed to mingle and temper it with a great quantitie of water His wife the Empresse Leonor did likewise neuer vse to drinke any wine whilest she liued in her fathers house and being come to the imperiall dignitie the Phisitions of Almaine aduised her to vse wine if she meant to haue any children because the climate of that countrey was very cold wherof Fredericke being aduertised commaunded one of his neare and familiar friends to
thou then in Sparta he answered Because it is not the custome of Phisitions to dwel with them that be sound and healthfull but in that place where men are sicke and diseased 12 Archidamus being demaunded by one what territories the Lacedemonians possessed answered So much as they could get and purchase by the sword 13 There was one that blamed Ethecateus the Oratour who hauing one day dined with Archidamidas did not speake a word during all the time they were at meat to whom Archidamidas made this answer Thou oughtest to know that he which knoweth how to speake well knoweth also the time when to speake 14 Iphicrates the Athenian being demaunded by a certaine Oratour what place he had in the army because he thought him a man exceeding hardie and cruell Why quoth he what art thou a man at armes or a footman an archer or a light horseman he answered I am none of all these but I am he which haue learned to commaund ouer all these whom thou hast named Of Vertue CHAP. 44. 1 THe practise of vertue is seene to be euer conuersant about the affections and the actions in which consisteth much little and a meane It many times falleth out that we feare one more and another lesse that one is confident another desireth one is fierce and another is angry cholerick there is not any good either in the one sort or other and especially when it is needful and to whoÌ„ and for what occasion and how But mediocritie is the best the which of it selfe properly is the true vertue Then vertue is an habite of election which consisteth in the meane which men call mediocritie 2 I haue made search if it be possible for a man to know those things which are manifest in vertue but I could neuer yet find them 3 It appertaineth vnto the vertue of the sexe feminine to gouerne the house well and rightly and to haue the custodie and looking to domesticall matters and to be obedient to her husband 4 Force wisedome temperance magnificence are vertues with many others but vertue cannot be caught seeing then that vertue cannot be had by doctrine it is not a science 5 If vertue do faile and escheat in man which no man can deny then doth felicitie also faile in him 6 Vertue is a thing which is able to giue vs immortalitie and to make vs equall to the gods 7 Vertues are diuers Alexander was ingenious Cirus was of an excellent spirit Agesilaus excelled in teÌ„perance Themisâ—ocles in wisedome Aristides in iustice Philip in experience Pericles in the skill knowledge to gouerne a commonwealth 8 Vertue hath this qualitie that her beautie and excellencie being shewed especially towards a mans enemies she is accustomed to reioyce euen the most valiant 9 Nature cannot establish any thing so high but vertue can reach vnto it 10 To die continually for vertue is not to dye 11 Vertue it selfe ought to be honoured and not the image of vertue 12 There is no vertue in this life except it be to loue the thing that is to be beloued and to loue that is prudence and not to be moued or troubled for any matter of molestation that is fortitude nor for any matter of flatterie and delight that is temperance nor for pride that is iustice 13 Gorgias the Oratour being demaunded if the king of Persia were happie answered I know not how much vertue he hath 14 I neuer knew any man who trusting in his owne vertue did enuie the vertue of another man 15 Vertue is couragious through her owne proper riches and she careth not to be celebrated with the fauor of the common people because she hath no need of praise and commendation 16 The vertue of the mind liueth when all other things do dye and perish 17 That vertue which proceedeth out of a comely and beautifull pâ—â—son is much more amiable and purchaseth the greater grace and fauour Of Death CHAP. 45. 1 ONe saying that it was a hard difficult thing to liue Nay quoth Diogenes but it is hard to liue ill 2 If a young man do liue to old age then he commeth to lament and to plaine himselfe to the gods saying that when it is requisite his labours and troubles should cease and he liue at rest euen then is he most troubled and surcharged with affaires afterwards when death approcheth then would he liue and requesteth the Phisitions not to be carelesse of his health and welfare 3 O straunge and wonderfull minded men who would not willingly neither liue nor dye 4 I had rather liue and serue a man that is poore and beggerly and one to whome meanes of liuing are wanting then to commauud ouer all dead men 5 Death is no grieuous thing neuerthelesse it is a kind of iniurie in the end which is ful of feare terror 6 Seeing all men must needes dye I do hold that it is a happie thing to dye not late but honorably 7 The Poet Simonides said That death is the medicine of all euils incident to man 8 There is nothing better for a man then to be borne nor any thing better for him then to dye soone and quickly 9 Gorgias Leontin being neare his end and departing by little and little as it were in a sleepe or dreame was demanded by a familiar frend of his what do you To whome he answered Now doth sleepe begin to recommend me to her sister Of Felicitie CHAP. 46. 1 FElicitie is the end of all things which are to be desired Some haue said that felicitie is prosperitie of fortune and some say vertue but it is fit and conuenient that felicitie be giuen from the Gods The felicitie of the soule is an operation perfected by vertue 2 Vertue commeth of science and of vertue proceedeth the soueraigne good what can this soueraign and chiefe good be but God heauen whence our soule is deriued 3 The soueraigne good of the soule is to be like vnto God 4 This is felicitie as saith Aristotle which is not consisting in one onely art but in all the course of a perfect life 5 They are truely happie which are with truth but they which liue in vanitie cannot be happie 6 Some by too great felicitie care nothing for God at all 7 To happy men the consideration of miseries seemeth to be a very streight and difficult thing 8 To be happie is to liue well and to do well 9 No man can be happie but he that is wise and good It followeth then that wicked men are miserable and therefore not the rich man but the prudent man flyeth and shunneth miserie 10 Felicitie is deuided into fiue parts The first is to take good counsell the second is to haue the sences strong and sound to be of a good disposition of bodie the third is to be fortunate in all actions the fourth to be alwaies neare and in companie with men excellent in glorie and renowne the fifth is to abound in wealth and all other such things as serue for the necessitie of mans life 11 Happie are they that haue a good soule and that is giuen them from heauen 12 Felicitie is either by destiny or of fortune or of vertue 13 As sicke men cannot tast the sauour of any meates so cannot any man attaine to happinesse and felicitie if he embrace not vertue 14 They are not happie whom the common sort reputeth happie 15 No man in truth is happie amongst all mortall men liuing FINIS Some report this of Augustus Caesar