tediousnesse of the matter and indigestion in the method doe will mee with speed remembring Solomons divine Speech That in multiloquio non deest peccatum to draw to my journeys end left my weary hand and my tyred Pen thinking to reach to a further place doe break their wind and cast their Master into the myre whose end is then farre worse than his hastie beginning And thus to the last title CRAP. 12. Of Persons sent divers times in Embassie AS the end for every thing maketh the same happy or evill as the Proverb is Bonus exitus omnia probat so of a good beginning by grace continued for vertue attempted with order executed by good mindes performed of necessitie there must ensue a good end no lesse worthy such a beginning For as the good life is cause of a good and quiet death So the milde and godly death declare the former good life of the Person And therefore since my beginning by intent was good the continuance for matter not unprofitable for order not altogether confused and for the commoditie that may ensue not to bee rejected since this benefit commeth thereby that although it bee not worthy the reading of your honour and although it bring no great learning to others yet to mee who travell my wit and hand my studie and pen therewith it bringeth advantage I hope a good end and conclusion of matter will follow For as the beginning of this Treatise was in the commendation of the wise learned and worthy Ambassadours So with like end in praise of them and their travell I will finish this simple Treatise And for that there is nothing can beautifie their person increase their honour augment their substance win love of their Countrie gain credit amongst strangers favour of their Prince and friendship amongst all men than oftentimes to supply the place of so weightie and honourable a charge Therefore I will say somewhat of divers persons who divers times to divers Princes and in divers matters have won singular commendations therefore committing all other matters to silence which I could speak of them and their office Since these Messengers of Princes to Princes had their first originall from the Angellicall Order of Archangells who are made the Ambassadours of God to great Personages in great matters either of Revelation of the successe of Kingdomes as Gabriel was to Daniel or of opening some rare and strange thing as hee was also to the Virgin of the Conception of the Saviour of our Souls and Redeemer of us from our Sinnes For this is certain that there is no order or government in this world as well Ecclesiasticall as Temporall but it is had from the pattern of the Celestiall Hierarchie Since God Created the world and appointed the government thereof according to the Architype chiefe pattern or Ideall forme of the same conceived in the divine mind and ordered in the Celestiall Hierarchy But enough of this and perchance to some cavelling heads who as yet have not tasted the sweet kernell of the hard Nut too much to bee discovered And so once again to my Ambassadours which divers times have enjoyed that Function whereof I although I might produce many good and present examples both of our own Countrie in our own remembrance and living in our present dayes As of your Lordship of whom for modesty I will forbear to speak who have now twice been Ambassadour And of Master Doctor Nicholas Wootton who being Counsellour to four Princes was also divers times Ambassadour of Sir Iohn Mason likewise and many other our Countrie-men yet I will only here powre out of the small store of my Collections such as in times past in forraign Nations have enjoyed such high and honourable title Caius Lelius Ambassadour to Africa going into Spain was Governour in the expugnation of New Carthage as Livie witnesseth who also being sent Ambassadour from Scipio to Syphaces for conclusion of friendship did lead with him certain Tribunes expert in the feats of Arms under the form of Servants to the intent to descrie the manner of the Countrie as writeth Frontinus in which Legation hee wisely wrought that Syphaces became friend to the Romans Volat. li 16. Urb. Com. Aegidius Carilla was sent from Innocent the sixth high Bishop to conclude the matters of Italy who being by birth a Spaniard of the Nation of Carilla was so singular wise in the despatch of his affaires in the absence of the Bishop that he pacified the State of the Church at that time miserably vexed with many and great tumults which man also of Urban the sixth being again sent into Italy brought under the obedience of Count Barnabas molesting the quiet of the Bishop who likewise before of Urban the Fifth was sent Legate into Italy Volat. li 22. Anthropo Quintus Cicero the brother of Marcus Tullis Cicero the Legate of Caesar in France was the chiefe in 14. Embassies Volat. 29. Epiphanius the most holy Bishop did execute the office of many Legations for Theodericus King of the Goths and for many others who alwayes returned most happy in that every thing in those severall causes succeeded well according to his mind Ennodius in ejus vita And so concluding this Title of such persons as have divers times supplied the office of an Ambassador with the number of foure Forraigne examples thinking the same number in Arithmetick to possesse vertue As all the Divines both Latines Greeks and Hebrews aswell Cabalists as others doe fully agree and not without great reason most learnedly and Christianly do maintain against unlearned and foolish opinions of such as doe grossly judge such hidden mysteries of numbers to be superstitious contrary to Scripture which voucheth that God made the world in waight number and measure which three doe signifie Musick Arithmetique and Geometry of which number of Four I referre the Discourse to another more convenient time I will in few words set end unto this my unorderly but well meaning Discourse of Ambassadours in a short Epilogue by way of recapitulation knitting up the summe of all that which before in those Examples have been so hudled up together in hotch-poch Wherefore first it apâ—…eareth that Ambassaâ—…ours having their examâ—…le from Heaven and â—…heir originall upon earth were used in all Ages â—…n all matters amongst all men of sundrie Nations of the Jewes Gentiles Greeks Barbarians Latines and other people Secondly that he who in honour should furnish the place of such a person must be free born no bond-man stout and valiant not dastard-like or a coward that he must be learned not ignorant wise not foolish quick of wit not blockish and dull faithfull no traytor that he must be rewarded not suffered to consume his substance That hee must in his Embassie bee well intreated not abused murthered or have any villanie or injury permitted to be done unto him and that hee must be of good calling and estimation in his Countrie before hee be sent not a Crafts-man a Serving-man a common Citizen a mean Priest an Advocate or a defamed person either for Perjurie Simonie Treacherie or any other kind of evill life For if he be unfurnished with these vertues and garnished with these vices hee is not only not worthy to supply the place of Embassie in a Forraign Nation where hee shall doe his Countrie good his Prince honour and himselfe good and credit But hee rather well deserveth as a wicked and hatefull person to be banished into some other Countrie there to rid his Common-wealth of such an evill member to become opprobrious to other Nations and in all places of the world to receive due punishment for his evill deservings Thus having ended my Christmasse work done in the middest of my Christmasse plaies as may appear by the Christmasly handling thereof 〈◊〉 after Christmasse consecrate the same to your honourable acceptance not as a thing worthy your desert and judgement but as a thing that answereth my desire and good meaning The which I beseech your Lordship to accept as lovingly from mee as it is presented willingly by mee unto you with whom as soon as by leasure I might and as by learning I was able and as a body born out of time but yet thinking it better late than never I deemed it my dutie to congratulate your return with some such poor gift as the Reliques of my spoyled Librarie in the time of mine impoverishing and infortunate trouble would yield mee abilitie to bestow And thus most humbly commending me to your Honourable liking committing you to the Almighties protection dutifully take my leavâ—… this eighth of Ianuari 1578. at Longleate Yours FINIS Quintil. â—…i 2. cap. 1. â—…ellius li. 〈◊〉 cap. 14. â—…initus â—…22 cap. â—…de honest â—…scipl â—…elius â—…i 20. â—…ap 11. Paulus Iovius lib. 28. â—…ex ab â—…ex lib. 5. 〈◊〉 3. Alex. ab Alex. lâ—… 4. cap. 21. Aerodius â—…itus Liviâ—…s Dec. 4. 〈◊〉 8. â—…heatrum â—…itae huâ—…anae â—…ol 14. 〈◊〉 5. Valer. Max. li. 6 cap. 6. Livius lib. 45. Valer. Max. Plinius Ioseph li 6. cap. 17 Volater lâ—… 12. Anthrop Ignatius li 6. cap. 2. Polidor de Inven. lib. 4. M. 2. Byusomius li. 3. cap. 30. Plutarch in Lacon Brus li 2. Sap 1. Brus li 3. cap. 30. Plutarch in Artaxerxe Plutarch in Alexandro Iovius in vita mag. Sfortiae Ioseph li 15. cap. 18. Antiquiâ—…at
the Sea of Helespont Sadocus the Sonne of Sitalces But Herodotus maketh Sitalces the Son of Tereus Author of this deed by the perswasion of the Legates of Athens by chance being then in Thracia were overthrown and sent bound to Athens by Mymphiodorus Abderitas The Legates thus brought into Attica were by publique Decree slain and cast into Wells and Ditches and so the Athenians revenged the death of their people which were taken in the beginning of the warres by the Lacedemonians and were slain and cast out unburied Sabell li 7. en 3. ex Herodot. When Pacorus the King of the Parthians had taken Hierusalem contending against Hercames to bring the kingdome to Antigonus the Sonne of Aristobolus Hee perswaded Hyrcanus that he with Phalesus the eldest Son to Antipater and brother to Herod should goe in Embassie to Barzapharnez a noble man of Parthia into Galile Hyrcanus obeyed though Herod diswaded him from it and so in the end was taken by Barzapharnez and delivered to Antigonus who cut off the ears of Hyrcanus that hee should thereafter bee unapt for the high Priesthood upon the which Phasaetus knocking his head against a stone was author of his own death Ioseph li 14. cap. 24. 25. Antiquitat The Fideni being a Colonie or people sprang from Rome did revolt to Larte Tollinius King of Vrentines by which occasion Legates were dispatched to demand the cause of their new devise and Counsell which Legates by the Precept of Tolunnius were murdered of which deed there were which did absolve the King for that his Speech was misunderstood the same being uttered in a fortunate cast of the Dyce But whether by error or of purpose they were slain it was in question They that came to the Fidenians were Caius Fulcinius Lullius Tullius Sp. Nuntius c. Boscus to whom after their slaughter Images were erected at Rome Sabell li 5. en 3. The Tarentines by occasion setting upon the Roman men of warre carried away the same having killed the Captain of the Fleet with many other persons by reason whereof Legates were sent from Rome after the manner of the Citie to demand restitution of their goods whom the Tarentines adding one mischief to another did violate against the Law of Nations Afterwards being urged of the Romans by warre when they found themselves not able to encounter the Roman force and would not for their naturall pride have the warre dissolved they called Pyrrhus into Italy Sab. li 8. en 4. The Illyrians having gotten a prey upon the Borderers of Italy and robbing their Merchants being intercepted in the high Sea great complaint was thereof made to the Senate of Rome whereupon they sent two of the Cornicans a family of Rome to Teuca the Queen of the Illyrians who succeeded in the kingdome after the death of Argronus her Husband at what time she was besieging the Isle of Issa whether the Ambassadors came to whom uttering the complaint of her sellows she thus concluded saying That shee would endeavour that no injurie should be publiquely offered to the Romans but to prohibit her people that they should not privatly reap the fruit of the Seas it was not the manner of Kings neither would shee forbid it Then one of the Legates in years youngest stoutly but out of time replyed Because said hee O Teuca the Romans by custome doe publiquely revenge private injuries wee will by the assistance of the Gods endevour that whether you will or no this your kingly custome shall bee amended With which bitter answer the Queen grew so offended as that Sex is most impatient in anger that neglecting Ius Gentium she sent out certain which set upon the Ambassadours departed and killed the the younger whose death being declared the Romans raised a power gathered a Navie and made Teuca tributarie with her Dominions in the revenge of the Legates death Sab. li 9. en 4. Borifrinus li 6. Decad. 1. who calleth this Queen by the name of Teutana At the beginning of the Jewes warrs Agrippa the King of the Jewes sent Ambassadours to the seditious Jewes within Hierusalem such persons as were best known unto the Jewes which were Borceus and Phebus to move the people to lay down their Armour and be reconciled to the Romans but the seditious fearing lest the people would have gon to Agrippa killed Phebus before ever he spake and Borceus being wounded hardly escaped Ioseph li 2. cap. 24. de Bello Iudaior Iulianus Apostata so called for that he denyed the Christian faith being Emperour with unspeakable furie raging against the Christians contrarie to all Law and equitie did not at Calordan fear to murder Manuel Sabelles and Ismael because they were Christians and sent Ambassadours to him out of Persia Nicephorus li 10. cap. 11. The Catholiques remaining in the Citie of Constantinople conceiving a certain hope of the clemencie of Valence the Emperour sent 80 men of holy orders as Legates to him lying at Nichomedia The chiefe whereof were Theodorus Curbaggus and Thenedenus who with the rest together with their shipps he commanded to be burned Suidas Iohn the Scribe or Secretarie after the death of Honorius did invade the Empire and required the dignitie of the East Empire to be confirmed unto him But Theosodius casting his Legates in prison and sending Captain Asparus with his host overcame the Tyrant and Created Valentinian the Sonne of his Aunt Placidia Emperour of the West Paulus Diaconus Innocentius Bishop of Rome being ascertained of the injuries wherewith Iohn Chrysostome Bishop of Constantinople was troubled beyond all humanitie by Arcadius the Emperour dispatched certain Ambassadours whose names for brevitie I omit unto the Emperour to Constantinople who at their first arrivall into Greece were traiterously received of the Tribune suborned thereunto by Eudoxia the Empresse the wife of Arcadius who charged them with many reports and said that they came to disturb the Orientall Empire Wherefore divers of them being cast into divers prisons of the suburbs of Constantinople when they could not deliver the Letters they had unto any others than the Emperour Valerius having broken one of his thumbs did forcibly take from them their Letters and their money who after offering them 3000. peeces of gold did tempt them to follow the part of Attichus the usurped Bishop of Constantinople but they pretending that they were admonished in their sleep not to consent therto did earnestly require libertie of return whereupon being put into an old ship which leaked with many chincks they were exposed to the Sea as to their utter destruction who using very dangerous Navigation at the length hardly escaped in safetie and arrived at Lampsacum there changed their ship and returned into the West Nicephorus li 13. cap. 33. So zomenus li. 8. cap. uâ—…â—…imo Hormisda Bishop oâ—…Rome sent Aemiodius thâ—… Bishop with Fortunatus Venantius and Vitalis Leâ—… gates to Anastatius Emperour of Constantinople to reduce him from He resie
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