world are their vertuous deeds The reuenge which a king of Arragon tooke of some of his Nobles that derided him RAymire the second of that name king of Arragon a very simple man being determined to make warres vpon the Moores his Barons caused him to be armed and mounted on horsebacke and put a shield in his left hand and a launce in his right hand and offering to put the reines of his bridle in his hand likewise Let be quoth the king and giue me theÌ„ to hold in my mouth for my hands are full enough alreadie At which speech his Barons fel a laughing with open mouth and making a iest of it demeaned themselues very vnseemely without any kind of reuerence But the king Raymire perceiuing their mocquerie got eleuen of the most noble and chiefest of his Barons to come into the towne of Osey where he caused them to loose their heades without saying any other words then these La renardaille Nesçait de qui elle se raille The humilitie of Godfrey of Buillon VVHen the duke Godfrey of Buillon was chosen king of Ierusalem by the Christian Princes and the Diademe being presented vnto him he refused it saying It is not fit nor conuenient for any Prince Christian to weare a Crowne of gold sithence Iesus Christ the King of kings did weare one made but of thornes The ansvver of the great Turke to the Ambassadours of Hungarie BAiazet the sonne of Amurath Emperour of the Turkes being with a great armie in Bulgaria which is a part of Hungarie the king Sigismond sent his Ambassadours vnto him to pray him that he would not molest his countrie and Dominions wherein he had no right nor interest Baiazet for answer to this Ambassade caused all the armed forces of that Prouince to be assembled together into a great hall where hauing made the Ambassadours of the king of Hungarie to be called he said vnto them pointing to those forces with his finger Behold said he the reason and the right by which I haue do hold the possession of Bulgarie Right and equitie haue no place in the Court of a Tyrant The ansvver of the Count de Lazaran to the Ambassadours of the Turke NO lesse notable was that answer which the County de Lazaran made vnto the Ambassadours of Lamorabaquin or Baiazet the Amira or king of the Turkes who purposing to inuade the realme of Hungary with a mightie armie sent his messengers to the Count de Lazaran with a mule laden with Rice and demaunded to haue passage through his countrey into Hungarie The Ambassadours proceeding on their Commission found the County in his castell called the Archforme and according to their charge did demand passage for their Lord and his armie and that he should become his vassall and subiect otherwise that their Lord Baiazet would bring into the countrey of the Count more men of warre then there were graines of Rice in the sackes wherewith their mule waâ— laden and in so saying they powred out the graine in the middest of the castell yard The Count receiued heard their message very courteously and the third day after being disposed to giue them their answer coÌ„maunded to be brought into his Castle court a great number of powltry which for three daies together had bene shut vp without any meat giueÌ„ vnto them the which in lesse then a quarter of an houre did eate vp all the Rice which had bene there powred out Whereupon he said vnto the Ambassadours Now go tell your Lord that true it is he hath a great number of armed souldiers howbeit he cannot bring so many into the field but they shall be either slaine or vanquished as you haue seene these grains of Rice deuoured by my pullen And according to his hope the Count had the victorie A vvorthy Sentence of the Ambassadors of Sicilia CErtaine Ambassadours of Sicilia deliuering that which they had in charge to Iames the eleuenth king of Arragon he shewed them that they ought to yeeld their obedience to the Church and to Charles king of Naples his father in law whereupon one of the Ambassadours said vnto him Sir we reade in many histories that peoples haue bene defeated by their Princes and we haue seene the proof thereof in our time but that subiects haue bin destroied by their kings we haue neuer yet seen or hard it spokeÌ„ Of the death of Vladislaus king of Hungarie VLadislaus king of Hungary and of Poland whome the French named Launcelot leauying a puissant armie against Amurath great Seigneur of the Turkes was disswaded from it by many Barons of his realm and other his allies Amongst whom one Dracocles a Valachian did disswade him from that enterprise But in the end seeing that his aduice took no effect he yeelded that his sonne should go in his company with two thousand horse and at their departure he gaue vnto the king Vladislaus and to his sonne two very swift and light horses saying Because I foresee that the losse is like to fall on your side in this warre which you enterprise I haue giuen you these two horses by whose swiftnesse of foote you may saue your selues and serue you of them in your necessitie for I feare me that you shall haue great need of them And accordingly it fell out for in a set battell foughten betweene Vladislaus the Turks in the yeare 1444. as Dracocles had foretold the king there lost his life Of the tvvo verses vvhich Conrad king of Naples caused to be vvritten vpon a horse of brasse COnrad the sonne of Fredericke hauing taken the towne of Naples by composition in the yeare 1253. caused the wals fortresses and principall houses of the citie to be ruinated and going into the great church within the middle whereof was a horse of brasse without a bridle which had bene kept there of a long time for the antiquitie of it he caused a bridle to be put vpon him and on the reines thereof were written these two verses Hactenus â—ffrenis Domini nunâ— paret habenis Rex domat hunc aequus parthenopensis equum That is to say This horse till now vnbridled now is made To beare the reines which on his necke are laid His lord the rightfull king of Naples towne Did tame this horse and bring his courage downe The saying of Rene king of Sicilia REne king of Sicilie said oftentimes vnto the Princes and Ambassadors of diuerse places that came to visit him I loue the countrey life aboue all others because it is the best manner and the surest course of liuing and the most free from earthly ambition This King loued husbandry exceedingly and vvas the first that caused to be brought into Fraunce out of straunge countries vvhite Peacockes red Partriges vvhite blacke and red Conies Betony and roses of Prouence He was a good Prince a perfect Musitian and composed sundry bookes in verse and in proes amongst the vvhich are that of the conquest of Gentle mercie and that of
being abashed they soone withdrew themselues froÌ„ his presence Of the shame which Aulilia did vnto her sonne Thierrie whereby she was a cause of his victorie THierry being Generall for the Emperour Zenon in Italy and hauing bene defeated by Odoâ—cer king of the Herules fled towards Rauenna On the way being met by his mother Aulilia and she perswading him to returne againe to the field and to renue the battell and seeing him to make a difficultie so to do She said vnto him my sonne beleeue me and assure thyself thou hast neither castle nor fortres where thou canst be safe except I take vp my clothes and suffer thee to returne againe into my belly from whence thou hadst thy first being Thierry being both ashamed and enflamed at this speech of his mother reassembled his armie returned to the place of battell and finding his enemies in disorder by reason of their first victorie he charged in vpon them and defeated them Fevv vvords vvell spoken and vvell taken cause great matters be put in execution Of the good counsell which a Gentleman gaue vnto the same Thierry Lieutenant to Zenon the Emperour vnder the couerture of a Fable by meanes whereof Thiâ—â—â—y made himselfe king of Italy THierry was accused vnto the Emperour Zenon by some enuious persons that he affected the Empire whereupon the Emperour sent for him home to Constantinople there held him prisoner till such time as being put to his triall he purged him selfe Within a while after he was againe accused for the same matter being commaunded by the Emperour to make his repaire vnto him who was purposed to put him to death he sent a messenger to the Emperours Court vnto one Tolomee his great friend and familiar to vnderstand his opinion if he held it good for him to come to the Court or not Tolomee in regard of his oath made vnto the Emperour durst not reueale the secret of the Emperours purpose vnto the messenger of Thierry but appointing him to attend the Emperor at dinner time he streightly charged him to marke well what he should heare him there say to the intent he might rehearse the same vnto his maister that sent him The next day the Emperour sitting at his table and keeping open state Tolomee who was one of his nearest fauorities deuising with him of many things as they were at meate let fall this fable of set purpose The Lion quoth he being chosen king by the other beasts they all came to do him reuerence the Hart which is a goodly beast approching to salute him with the rest and bending himselfe before him the Lion tooke him by the hornes purposing to deuoure him but the Hart drew away his head with that strength and force as he escaped and saued himselfe The Reinard seeing the Lion to frown to grow in a great rage because the Hart had escaped him did promise the Lion to cause the Hart to come backe againe And vpon the matter he did so flatter the Hart with so many sweet and sugred words that he drew him backe againe to the Lion to whom he doing reuerence as before the Lion seized vpon his horns and the other beasts falling also vpon him so as he was soone deuoured The Reinard pulling out his heart did secretly eate it Each of the beasts sought very earnestly for his heart to make a present of it to the king but the same not being to be found the blame was laid vpon the Renard with great threats and stripes Alas quoth the Reinard I am wrongfully punished for the Hart had no hart at all for if he had had any he would neuer haue returned to be slain and deuoured This tale being marked and vnderstood by the messenger he returned to Thieâ—â—y to whom he recited what he had heard whereby he was aduertized not to returne any more to the Emperour and within a while after he made himselfe king of Italy A sentence of king Attila and his titles ATtila king of the Gothes was wont to say That the griefe which he had conceiued in loosing of riches was greater then al the pleasure that he euer took in possessing of them Amongst many other titles which he esteemed excellent he chiefly bore this to be called The feare of the world and the scourge of God The words of Clotarius king of Fraunce at the time of his death CLotarius the first of that name king of Fraunce at the time of his death fell into these speeches saying often Vuach Auach How great is this King of heauen that thus killeth and causeth to dye the most great and mightie Kings and Princes of the world To men that are too much in loue with the world the tast of death is very bitter The sentence of Pope Zacharie concerning the electing of the King of Fraunce PEpin Maister of the Pallace of the king of Fraunce sent his Ambassadours to Pope Zacharie to haue his aduice whom he held to be most worthie to be King either him who for the profite and common good of the Realme did expose himselfe to all turmoile and trauell or him that liuing in idlenesse and slouth had no care or regard of the Common-wealth neither to augment it nor to defend it The Pope returned him in writing this answer That he was the fittest person to raigne and to be entitled King which tooke vpon him the charge and managing of the publique affaires both for the defence of the Realme and for the maintaining of iustice The French being informed of this answer deposed their king Childericke and thrusting him into a Monasterie elected Pepin king of Fraunce in his stead The pleasant message of Philip king of France to VVilliam duke of Normandy and king of England with his answer PHilip the first of that name kâ—ng of Fraunce being resolued to make warre against VVilliam the baâ—stard Duke of Normandie that conquered England who had lien long sicke of a great swelling in his belly sent him word That he neuer before heard of any woman in Normandie that lay so long in childbed as he had done and that if he might vnderstaÌ„d the time of his vprisâ—ng he would prouide him of lights against his Churching The Duke returned him this answer That he would not faile to let him vnderstand of his vprising and that he meant to come in person into Fraunce where himselfe would cause a solemne Masse to be song at his Churching and that for lights he would prouide a thousand Torches without waxe whose sâ—aues shold be of wood and a thousand launces tipt with steel to giue fire to those torcheâ— By the Torches without waxe and of wood he meant houses tovvnes villages vvhich he vvould set on fire and by the launces he meant men at armes Of the letters of promise which the same William Duke of Normandie sent vnto the Earle of Flanders THe same VVilliam Duke of Normandie hauing a determinatioÌ„ to make a conquest of England as being his right in
become senslesse to whom the King answered It were a very vncourteous and inhumane act to take away from him his substance and meanes of liuing from whome fortune hath alre adie taken his vnderstanding He said that those men seemed vnto him meerely senslesse and void of vnderstanding who would seeke to haue againe their wiues which had bene fled and seuered from them He said that it were a very good thing if men would so ballance their wils and affections as they might stand indifferent betweene loue and feare to the intent that when our loue should constraine vs to exceed our feare might cause vs to retire and to draw to the contrarie HEaring certaine labourers talking together and telling how they had made apples which by their nature were very sowre by industrie and diligence to become very sweete and pleasant he said So ought we to do that our people citizens and subiects being rude peruerse and euill minded by our labor and paines may be transformed and chaunged into wise prudent and good men He was wont to say that the greatest argument which he had obserued to proue the immortalitie of the soule was That when we see our bodies to decay and weare away and to approch neare to death and that when all our members beginne to faile vs euen then the powers and vertues of the soule do increase and as it were grow stronger and more puissant in vnderstanding vertue and wisedome Being one day hearing of Masse and the church in great daunger of falling by reason of a sudden earthquake the people there present began to fly out of the church and the Priest made hast to be gone with the foremost But the king Alphonsus stopping him made him stay and make an end of his Masse Afterwards being demaunded why in a time of so great daunger and common feare he did not offer to shunne and abandon the place he answered in great grauitie with this sentence of Salomon out of Ecclesiastes Corda regum in manu Dei sunt The harts of Kings are in the handes of God HE had a saying that beauty most commonly was a significant signe and a token of a good and gentle conuersation as the flower is a signe of the fruit Hearing one tell how Titus the Romane Emperour was accustomed to say That in what day soeuer he had not giuen some one gift or another he had lost that day Alphonsus said That he thanked God because he in that respect had neuer lost one day in all his life He tooke so great pleasure delight in studying and in reading of Diuinitie that he would many times glorie how he had read ouer the old and new Testament fourteene times together with the gloses and Commentaries He was wont oftentimes to say That he had not any better Councellours then the dead By the dead he meant his bookes and he caried for his Ensigne and deuice a booke open He was a great louer of antiquities and of the auncient mettals and monies of Princes saying That in the viewing and beholding of them he seemed to grow the more inflamed with the loue of vertue and of glorie Of the magnanimitie of Charles Martell as it is â—ritten of him in his Epitaph CHarles Martell Maior of the Pallace of the Crowne and kingdome of Fraunce which some say is the Office of Constable did make foure kings in Fraunce each successiuely after other to wit Childericke called Daniel Clotarius the fourth Theodorike the second and Childericke the third This last Childericke offered vnto the said Charles Martell the Realme and Crowne of Fraunce and prayed him to take vpon him both the name and the Diademe which he refused saying That it was more glorious to raigne and commaund ouer kings then to be a king And in his Epitaph is written this sentence Ille Brabantinus dux primus in orbe triumphat Malleus in mundo specialis Christicolarum Dux Dominiâ—sque Ducum Regum quo'que Rex fore spernit Non vult regnare sed regibus mperatâ— ipse He was surnamed Martell for the the exceeding great strength of his arme in memorie of the victories which he obtained in diuerse battels The iudgement of Sultan Soliman the great Scigneur or Emperour of Turkes IN the citie of Constantinople a certaine Christian desired to borrow of a lew the some of fiue hundred duckets The lew lent them vnto him with condition that for the vse of the money lent he should at the end of tearme giue him two ounces of his flesh cut off in some one of the meÌ„bers of his bodie The day of payment being come the Christian repayed the fiue hundred duckets to the lew but refused to giue him any part of his flesh The lew not willing to loose his interest conuented the Christian before the Grand Seigneur who hauing heard the demaund of the one and the answer of the other and iudging of the matter according to equitie commaunded a Razor to be brought and to be giuen to the Iew to whome he said Because thou shalt know that iustice is done thee take there and cut off of the flesh of this Christian the two ounces which thou demandest but take heed thou cut neither more nor lesse for if thou doe thou shalt surely dye The Iewe holding that to be a thing impossible durst not aduenture but acquitted the Christian of his interest Of a writing which the king of Naples caused to be engrauen vpon his svvord ROger the second of that name king of Naples held warres for a long time with the Popes of Rome by reason of those Lands and Territories which he pretended to be his by conquest And he had discomfited also the king of Thunis in a battell at sea Of the which victories he did so glorie and triumph that he caused to be engrauen on the blade of his sword this verse Apulus Calaber Siculus mihi seruit Afer The sacrilegious vaunt of a King of England VVIlliam Rufus king of EnglaÌ„d hauing pilled the Churches and Monasteries of his Realme and taking away their Chalices other Reliques of gold and siluer which he found in them vsed these words The bread of God is very delicate pleasant to eate and it causeth Princes to make good cheare The Testament of Saladin SAladin king of Asia of Syria and of Egypt shewed at his death how well he knew the life of man to be most miserable For he commaunded that after his decease the shirt which he vsed to weare shold be caryed vpon the top of a lance throughout all his Campe in the open sight of all his Nobles Captaines souldiers and that the party which shold carie it should cry with a loud voice Behold how Saladin the great Conquerour and Commander of Asia of all those great riches and conquests which he hath purchased doth carry nothing with him saue this onely peece of linnen The chiefest thing wherein men can iustly triumph at their departure out of this
reiected by the mistresse fell to lasciuiousnesse with her maides 11 Know you that there are two kinds of follie the one is called frenzie and furie the other is truely named ignorance grosse simplicitie 12 Straungers and pilgrimes do often go astray out of their way so the ill instructed and men of grosse vnderstanding do go wandering in the way be it neuer so plaine 13 Euen as corrupt wine is not desired in banquets so the rude and ignorant person is not receiued in any good company Of the knowledge of a mans selfe CHAP. 13. 1 KIng Philip the father of Alexander the Great hauing vanquished the Athenians at Choeâ—onca albeit he knew himselfe to be proud enough by reason of this great victorie which he had gotten yet following reason he committed no insolencie against the people whom he had conquered but considering well with himselfe what was the force of felicitie and how difficult a thing it is for a man to temper and moderate himselfe in so glorious a victory he aduised himselfe that it was needfull and accordingly he tooke order that one of the Pages of his chamber for his aduerticement should euery morning rehearse vnto him this sentence and say O Philip remember that thou art a man 2 Heraclitus the Philosopher euen in his younger yeares was held for a very sage and wise man onely for that he confessed of himselfe that he knew he knew nothing 3 Demon the Philosopher being demaunded when and at what time he first began to be a Philosopher he answered When I began first to know my selfe 4 One demaunded of Theocritus for what occasion he made no workes he answered Because I cannot make such as I would therefore such as I can and am able to do I will not 5 It is affirmed by many that this sentence Know thy selfe was the Prouerbe of the Philosopher Chilo which thing he said was verie difficult 6 Socrates knowing that Alcibiades a goodly faire young man did grow proud by reason of the great riches and liuings which he possessed he led him into a secret place of the citie where he shewed him a table wherein was painted a Mappe of the world and willed him to see if he could there find the region of Athens their natiue countrey And when Alcibiades had shewed it him Socrates then said vnto him See now if thou canst find there the place where thy lands and possessions do lye Alcibiades said I cannot see that they are here painted at all Whereupon Socrates presently replyed what reason then hast thou to grow proud by reason of those lands which do not appeare in any part of the whole earth 7 Seeing thou art borne a mortall man thou oughtest to haue remembrance of the commoÌ„ fortune and if thou hadst bene borne a king yet thou oughtest to vnderstand that thou art mortall 8 Things that are vaine and emptie are easily blowne vp with the wind and fooles are soone puffed vp with pride 9 They that can talke well and according to reason and cannot theÌ„selues hearken vnto it may be resembled vnto harpes which yeeld a most pleasant sound and harmonie vnto others but perceiue no part thereof themselues 10 Many men are defenders of their owne faults and sharpe accusers of the offences of other men 11 Whensoeuer we are disposed to mocke another let vs first looke into our selues and consider if we be inclined to the same vices for our selfeloue doth hide many offences in vs. Of friendship and friends CHAP. 14. 1 OF all other things that wisdom hath inuented for men to liue well and happily there is none greater nor more goodly or pleasant then friendship 2 He is to be reputed iust which maketh no reckening of his owne losse and hinderance to the intent he may keepe his friend 3 That friendship that hath an end was neuer to be accompted true friendship 4 No man is friend vnto a tyrant but either for hope or for feare 5 Friendship betweene men of equalitie is commonly stable and amongst such there is neuer experience made of their forces 6 One friend ought not to be intreated by another when they demaund any thing each of other 7 This is true friendship when both will one and the same thing and both do not will one and the same thing 8 Friends are esteemed to be the onely refuge in pouertie and in all other calamities 9 Perfect amitie is betweene good men and such as are like in vertue 10 Friendship is an honest vnion of a perpetuall good will 11 Friendship is a kind of equalitie and semblance of persons and the fruite of friends is to loue 12 A new friend is not to be iudged or tried in time of feasting or banquetting 13 He committeth a great ouersight that thinketh to recommend himselfe vnto his friends 14 A friend ought to be embraced euen to the death 15 It is a shame for any man to abandon and not to aide and succor his friend 16 Euery man knoweth that he cannot be held a friend to honest and good-men who liueth so foolishly as to make himselfe pleasing and acceptable vnto wicked men 17 It is better to haue a good friend then great wealth and multitude of riches 18 Friends ought to aide help each other with many good deedes and benefites to the intent their friendship may grow more firm and greater Of Liberalitie and Magnificence CHAP. 15. 1 THis cannot be said perfect liberalitie when a man giueth more vpon occasion of vaine glorie then for true compassion and pitie 2 Liberalitie ought alwaies to be forward and hastie for this is the proper and true dutie of him that giueth willingly to giue promptly and readily and whosoeuer releeueth another in deferring him from day to day he cannot be said to giue liberally and with a good heart 3 Artaxerxes king of Persia was wont to say that it was much more befitting and seemely for the royall maiestie of a Prince to giue vnto others then to receiue of others 4 King Philip the father of Alexander hauing conceiued great grief for the death of Hipparchus a man of Nigrepont and one telling him that he died not but in good time and of full age Philip answered truly he died too too soone and so much the more too soone because he had neuer receiued of me any kind of bountie worthie of my good loue affection towards him 5 Perillus one of the friends of Alexander demaunded of him a certaine summe of money to marrie a daughter which he had to whome Alexander caused immediatly to be deliuered aboue fiftie talents which was a very great summe Then said Perillus vnto him My Lord ten talents will suffice but Alexander answered It is enough for thee to receiue ten talents but it is not enough for me to giue so little 6 Alexander the Great hauing charged his Chamberlaine to deliuer to the Philosopher Anaxarcus so much money as he would demaund of him Sir said the Chamberlaine he
beasts of the field iudging them to be void of vnderstanding The French men he termed winepissers Wherupon it happened that once a certaine Norman one of his tasters merily said vnto him Holy Father then are you a right Frenchman Wherfore said the Pope Because quoth he you are the greatest winepisser of all others if all the FreÌ„ch of the world were together The speech of Pope Iulius the second touching his deuise in warres THis Pope was a man that delighted greatly in warres the which he did ordinarily nourish mainetaine betweene many Princes and in especiall against the king of Fraunce On a time some of his court said vnto him Holy Father many great personages do thinke it straunge that you shold be so desirous to entertain warres considering the dignities of that calling wherein God hath placed you which ought to be an estate of peace and quietnesse and seeing God hath committed vnto you the keyes by which you should shut vp the way to discord and open it to peace and amitie but you do quite contrarie Whereunto the Pope gaue them this answer They which vsed those speeches vnto you say they know not what Haue you not heard how S. Peter and S. Paul were companions and had but one Church betweene them My predecessours vsed â—aint Peters key and now will I helpe my selfe with S. Pauls sword One of the parties replyed vnto him You know holy Father that our Lord said vnto Saint Peter Put vp thy sword into thy sheath The Pope answered true but that was after Saint Peter had first striken with the sword This shâ—vvâ—th that the said Pope vvas altogether a martialist Of a Cardinall that had his vvhole delight in siudâ—e Oâ—to de Varis seeing Iulian the Cardinall of S. Angel who was President in the Councel of Basil to spend most of his time in the reading of ancient bookes he said vnto him Sir why do you liue so solitarie and spend your time amongst the dead of former ages Come I pray and passe your daies with vs that are aliue The Cardinal answered you mistake the matter cleane contrarie For these Auncients do now liue by their learning and rare knowledge wheras you liue not but be as dead men both in your name and in your works and passe away your life time according to the nature of bruite beastes The life of the spirit consisteth in conteÌ„plation of learned vvritings vvhich are the true Monuments Reliques and testimonies of such as haue forâ—gone vs in vertue and knovvledge Of the Archbishop of Colaine and a countrey pesant A Certaine old man a poore laborer of the countrey seeing the Archbishop of Coiaine to ride throgh the fields armed and accompanied with armed forces fell out of a loud laughing whereupon being demanded wherefore he laughed he answered Because he wondered that S. Peter Christs Vicar in the Church being exceeding poore had left his successors so rich and wealthie and that their traines should be more furnished with men at armes then with Church men The Archbishop desirous that the fellow should haue better knowledge of him in his place dignitie told him that he was not onely an Archbishop but a Duke also and that as a Duke he rode so accompanied with a traine of men at armes Howbeit when he was in his Church then he was attended on as an Archbishop Sir said the labourer I pray tell me when my Lord the Duke shall be with the Diuell what shall then become of the Archbishop Tvvo heads vpon one bodie is a thing monstrous in nature Of the Bishop of Chartres and the French King Levvis the eleuenth KIng Levvis the eleuenth seeing on a time Miles Bishop of Chartres mounted vpoÌ„ a Mule with trappings of veluet and his bridle richly gilded told him that the Bishops of elder ages were content to ride on an Asse and with a simple collar O quoth the Bishop that was when Kings were shepheards and did keep sheepe The King replyed I speake not of the Bishops of the old Testament but of those vnder the new The Bishop answered I but that was when Kings were great giuers of almes and did vse to set poore Lazers with them at their tables and to wash the feet of the poore Of the same Bishop and certaine Priests vvhich he met THe same Bishop encountring with two or three Priests passing through the fields said vnto them God saue you my maisters and Clerkes the Priests answered we are not Clerkes sir we are Priestes The Bishop replyed then God saue you my maisters and Priestes no Clerkes A conceipted speech of the Abbot of Baigne KIng Lâ—vvis the eleuenth demanded of the Abbot of Baigne to haue his Abbey for some small recompence but the Abbot being wily said vnto the King Sir I haue spent almost forty yeares in learning the two first letters of the Alphabet A. B. and I shall neede as long time to learne the two next letters C. D. By the equiuocation of these foure letters in alluding A. B. to the vvord Abbey and C. D. to the Latin vvord cede vvhich signifieth to yeeld vp his meaning vvas that as he had bene fortie yeares ere he attained to the dignitie of an Abbot so he vvould vvillingly keepe it other fortie yeares cre he vvould yeeld it vp A saying of Pope Adrian the fifth POpe Adrian being demaunded what was the greatest plague which he would wish to his enemie and not wish him dead He answered The greatest mischiefe I would wish him is that he were Pope because I hold that to be a maruellous affliction and vexation of spirit All kind of authoritie vvherein a man hath a care and conscience to do his dutie should be rather refused for the charge then desired for hope of gaine The Absolution of the king of Portugal EManuel king of Portugal withheld from a Bishop of his kingdome the reuenues of his bishoprick whereof the Bishop complained to the Pope who in fauour of the Bishop sent a Legate to the King to cause him to make restitution or to excommunicate him The Legate vpon the matter hauing denounced sentence of excommunication and being on his way to returne the King enraged at the censure mounted on horsebacke to follow the Legate and hauing ouertaken him he drew out his sword and threatned to kill him vnlesse he would absolue him which the Legate hauing done the King retired to his Court and the Legate went on to Rome where being come and hauing made report vnto the Pope of the successe of his iourney the Pope reproued him very sharpely for yeelding to absolue the king The Legate answered most holy Father if you had bene in daunger of your life as I was you would haue giuen the king absolution double and treble Feare of death may make a man sometimes do do that vvhich he ought not vvithout regard both of honour and dutie Of Charles the Great and his Edicts THe Emperour Charlemaine did vse to weare his seale of armes
held for sage and wise persons who could modestly endure any reasonable iest or mocquerie And that those who were prompt in pretie iests and meriments were to be reputed men of a good spirit The ansvver vvhich Barba the vvidovv of Sigismond made to those that persvvaded her to continue a vvidovv AFter that the Emperour Sigismond was deceased the Ladie Barba his widow was perswaded by one to liue still a widowe in imitation of the example of the Turtle which after the death of the male doth keepe continuall chastitie Whereunto she made this answer If so be thou wilt counsel me to follow the conditions of the birdes of the aire which are destitute of reason why doest not thou as well tell me of the Doue and the Sparrow A sentence of the Emperour Rodulph the first ROdulph Emperor who first translated the Empire of Almaine into the house of Austria as he was deuising with his familiar friends vpon that matter how the same had bene effected It is no maruell said he if they be accompted fooles that know not how to raigne for there is not any man liuing that iudgeth himselfe to be a foole A Sentence of the Emperour Albert. THe Emperour Albert was wont to say That the delight of hunting was an exercise fit for a man but dauncing and leaping did appertaine to women And howbeit he could temper himselfe to abstaine from all other pleasures yet he could not restraine himselfe from the exercise of hunting The Fable of the Emperour Fredâ—ricke the third propounded to the Embassadour of kâ—ng Levvis the eleuenth CHarles duke of Burgundy hauing planted his siege before the city of Nuce which was succoured by the Emperour Fredericke the third and the Almaines King Levvis the eleuenth of France who sought nothing more then the ruine of the said Duke of Burgundie sent his Embassadour to the Emperour Fredericke to practise and perswade with him to seize and confiscate into his owne hands all those lands and Seignories which the Duke of Burgundie held of the Empire and that he for his part wold do the like for the countries of Flanders Artois Burgundie and others dependants of the Crowne of Fraunce The Emperour vpon this motion made the Ambassadour this answer Neare vnto a certaine citie in Almain did once haunt a most cruell and daÌ„gerous Beare which did many mischiefes and displeasures to the inhabitants adioyning Now it happened that three merrie companions as they were drinking in a Tauerne hauing litle mony to pay their shot they agreed with their host to make sale of the Beares skinne and to pay him out of the money and for the performance thereof they prepared themselues presently to go and take him The bargaine being made and the dinner ended they put theÌ„selues in quest of the beast and approching to the Caue where he was lodged the Beare issued out vpon them so fiercely that being surprised with a sudden feare one of them fled away backe towards the towne another saued himselfe by climing of a tree and the third being ouertaken by the Beare fell downe vnder him as dead And the Beare without doing him any other hurt did often put his mouth to the eares of the poore fellow who all the while held his wind and abstained from breathing for the nature of the Beare is not to touch or to offend any dead bodie Now the Beare being gone the man got vp and went his way also after which he that was aloft in the tree came downe and hauing ouertaken his companion demanded of hm what it was that the Beare told him in his eare marrie quoth the fellow he bad me that I should neuer after vse to sell a Beares skin till the beast were dead By this fable the Emperor payed the Embassadour with an answer as if he should haue said Let vs first be sure to take the Duke and then afterwards let vs make partition of his dominioÌ„s Graue sentences and answers of the Emperour Fredericke THe Emperour Fredericke being demaunded whom he accompted his greatest friends He answered Those men which feare me lesse then God Being likewise asked what he thought was the best thing which could happen to a man he answered A happie and good departure out of this mortall life If the end of a mans life be not good and in the feare of God all the rest is little worth He said That those Princes which are giuen to be cruell and too rigorous haue great cause to feare death For with the same iudgement they haue adiudged others in their life themselues are like to be adiudged after their death The same Fredericke hauing subdued the Guntians a people in Hungarie he said We haue now done a great deed it remaines yet that we do another deede more great that is That we vanquish our selues by refraining from auarice and from the desire of reuenge This Emperour Fredericke did bring vp in his Court euen from an infant Ladislaus the sonne of the king of Hungâ—rie and of Boheme and there were mâ—ny which perswaded and counselled him to â—â—ke away the child and to put him to deaâ—h because in processe of time his life might cause him great hurt and hinderance and by his death he might succeede him in his Realmes and riches To whom the Emperour made this answer I perceiue then that you had rather haue me a rich King then a iust Prince and a pitifull But for my part I had rather haue an honourable report and good renowme then all the riches and treasures of the world A sentence of Martian MArtian Emperour of Constantinople would neuer enterprize any warres except it were vpon great necessitie saying That whatsoeuer Prince would liue in peace and quietnesse he ought not in any case to entertaine warres The title of Otho the third OTho the third of that name Emperour of Almaine was of so great a spirite as he was commonly called The wonder of the world The praise of Septimius Seuerus SEptimius Seuerus Emperour of Rome was a Prince so well beloued and ruled so well and commendably that the Senate said of him That it had bene good either that he had neuer bene borne or that he might neuer dye A sentence of Alexander Seuerus ALexander Seuerus the Romaine Emperour whensoeuer he appointed any one to be punished opeÌ„ly he caused the common Cryer with a loud voice to pronounce this sentence Do not that to another which thou wouldest not haue done to thee And the same sentence did he cause to be engrauen in his Pallace in the publique Edifices A sentence of Gordian GOrdian the younger Emperour of Rome had a saying somtimes That the Emperour of all other men is most miserable because commonly the truth is concealed from him The answer of Maximilian to one that would be made a Gentleman THe Emperor Maximilian being at Bologna a citizen of that Citie exceeding rich and wealthie but of base parentage presented himself before the Emperour saying May it please
your sacred Maiestie to make and create me a Gentleman For I haue wealth sufficient to maintaine the state and degree of a Gentleman The Emperor answered him I can make thee much more rich theÌ„ thou art but it is not in my power to make thee noble For that is an honour which thou must purchase by thy owne proper vertue An answer of Maximilian to one that demaunded an almes of him A Certaine poore man very ill appointed entred into the Pallace of the Emperour and required that he might haue accesse to his Maiestie to speake with him which being denyed him he continued notwithstanding so to importune the Vshers that the Emperour willed the poore man to be brought vnto him to whom he said Most sacred Emperour you and I are brothers borne of one Father Adam and of one Mother Eue and you see my pouertie may it therefore please your Excellencie to enlarge my estate and to bestow some wealth vpon me as ech brother is bound to do one for another The Emperour noting the rashnesse and follie of this fellow caused a small peece of money to be giuen him where at the poore man making shew but of small contentment because he found his hope frustrate in regard of that great liberalitie which he expected The Emperour said vnto him me thinkes thou sholdest hold thy self contented with that which I haue giuen thee For true it is as thou saidest we are all brothers and if all the rest of our brethren would giue thee as much as I haue done thou wouldest be much more rich and a greater Lord then I am The wish of the same Maximilian AS he was one day deuising with his familiar friends and discoursing of Empires Realmes and Seignories If it were possible for a man to be God and my selfe were so hauing two sonnes I would desire that the eldest might be God after me that the second might be king of Fraunce Of the act of the Emperour Charles the fifth when he was to make a voyage into Barbarie CHarles the fifth Emperor of that name being in a readinesse to depart vpon his first voyage into Barbarie to the kingdome of Thunis against Barbarossa and desirous to prouide a Generall for the armie and finding none whom he held sufficient he tooke the image of the Crucifixe and in a generall assembly of his whole armie liâ—ting the same as high as he could said Our Lord â—esus Christ shall be Chieftaâ—e Captaine Generall of this enterprize being so glorious so holy and so honourable A notable sentence of Constantine the Emperour COnstantine Ducas the son of Andronicus Emperour of Constantinople was not in any sort himselfe learned and yet he did so exceedingly loue both learning and men of knowledge that he was wont to say I hold it farre better to be made noble and excellent by learning then by the possession of the Empire A speech of the Emperour Henry touching his contentment THe Emperour Henry the first of that name of the house of Saxonie before that he came to be crowned in Italy or to receiue the ceremonious Titles of the Empire Howbeit that the Pope had offered him the Imperiall Crowne and Diademe and to annoint him Emperour yet he neither accepted nor refused it saying vnto his people It sufficeth me that by the gâ—ace of God and you I haue the name of Emperour None of my predecessors and auncestours hauing euer had the honour to attaine thereunto The Charitie of the Emperour Tiberius THe Emperour Tiberius Constantine a Thracian borne being reprehended by his wife Sophia Augusta because he distributed in great abundance to the poore all the treasures which she and her first husband Iustin had gathered together in many yeares he answered her My trust is in God that our treasure shall be neuer a whit the lesse for being distributed to the releefe of the poore and the redeeming of captiues and prisoners For in so doing we gather that great treasure whereof our Lord Iesus Christ spake in the sixt chapter of Saint Mathevv his Gospell saying Lay vp for your selues treasures in heauen where neither mothes nor wormes can corrupt theÌ„ nor theeues can do you any dammage by stealing them The saying of the same Tiberius at the time of his deaeh to his son in law THe same Tiberius perceiuing the time of his death to approch by the connsell and aduice of the Empresse Sophia pronounced for his successour to the Empire Mauritius one borne in Cappadocia and giuing vnto him in mariage his daughter with the Imperiall vestures and ornaments he said Here I deliuer vnto thee both my Empire and this maiden for thy wife wishing thee to serue thee of her so as may be for thy good and benefite and that aboue all things thou remember to maintaine equitie and iustice The fairest flower of a Princes Crowne is iustice by which Kings do raigne Of a duke of Freeze vvhich vvould not be baptized ROboald duke of Freezeland at the preaching of VValâ—â—â—n Archbishop of Sens had determined to haue bene baptized to which end being stripped out of his garments as he stood naked and had put one foot into the water he bethought himselfe and asked the standers by what was become of his parents and friends deceased wheâ—her they were in Paradise or in hel Answer was made him that doubtlesse they were all damned in hell and that not any of them was in Paradise because they were not Christians At this speech he suddenly drew backe his foote and contrarie to the expectation of all the assembly said aloft That he would not be baptized but that he would goe after his death where he knew he should find most of his friends And the same day he dyed suddenly The revvard vvhich Clouis king of Fraunce gaue to those vvhich had betrayed their maister CLouis the first Christian king of Fraunce hauing warres with Richer duke of Cambray a man of very bad conditions and lewd life the Barrons of the said Duke promised the King that if he would come and deliuer battell to their Lord they would betake themselues to flight leaue their Lord to be taken prisoner The king Clouis for the effecting of this enterprize sent vnto the traitors a number of Corcelets of Copper very richly guilt And the plot being executed according to the agreement Richer was taken and put to death After which the traitors being aggrieued that the presents which the King had sent them were of so small valure They complained vnto him saying that they were but badly recompenced to whome the king answered not without discretioÌ„ Do you not konw how sufficiently I haue rewarded you in giuing you your liues In your own iudgements thinke with what torments they deserue to be punished which haue betrayed their Lord and maister Wherefore hold it for no small benefite and fauour that I suffer you to liue and get you hence speedily if you be not wearie of your liues Where at the traitors
that it was giuen vnto him by king Edvvard the Confessour he required diuerse great Princes of Fraunce and elsewhere to aide him in that enterprize both with meÌ„ and mony Amongst others he prayed the Earle of Flaunders whose sister he had marryed to aide him in that exploit The Earle demaunded of him what part he should haue in the kingdome of England if the duke should conquer itâ— The duke answered him That he would send him worâ— thereof in writing After which the Duke being now readie to depart out of Normandie vpon his intended voyage he caused a faire peece of white parchment without any writing within it to be folded and closed vp in forme of a letter vpon the which for an inscription he caused to be written these two verses sending them in way of a scoffe to the Earle of Flaunders Beaufrere d'Angleterre aurez Ce que cy dedans trouuerez Faire brother of England your portioÌ„ shall bee That which here within written you shall see Another conceipt of VVilliam the Conquerour at his landing in England VVHen the same Duke had passed the seas to the conquest of England the first fortune that befell him in his landing was that in leaping out of his shippe he fell flat vpon the sands and the first part of his bodie that touched the ground were his hands The which accident some of his people interpreting to be a signe of ill fortune â—ush quoth he out aloud assure your selues my maisters that this is the seizin anâ—d possession of this kingdome which God hath giuen me and it is his wil that I shal take it with both my hands because by the aide both of him and you I make no doubt but to conquer it And his successe was answerable to his hope for he came to be king and left the Crowne of England to his posterity Of king Lâ—vvis the grosse and Baldvvin Earle of Mons. KIng Lewis the grosse hâ—auing appointed the duke VVilliam of Normandie to be Earle of Flaunders Baldvvin Earle of Mons in Heynault pretending right thereunto said vnto the King That he had wrong done him for that the Earledome did appertaine vnto him He demaunded with great instance to haue the combat graunted him against those that should dare to auerre the contrarie The king said vnto him It is against me theÌ„ that you must haue the combat for the Seignorie which you claime and striue for is mine owne proper right and inheritance He that contendeth against his Lord and maister must needes haue the worst of the quarrell A braue speech of king Levvis the grosse THe same king of Fraunce taking part with Hely Earle of Maine against Henry king of England in a certaine battell fought between theÌ„ found himselfe farre seuered froÌ„ his people A certain English knight seeing him and being in hope to make himselfe rich by taking the king prisoner he laid hold vpon the reines of the kings horse with inteÌ„t to stay him and began to cry with a loud voice The King is taken The king being valiant and of a noble courage at one blow with his sword ouerthrew the knight dead to the ground seeing him fall he said It is not one man alone that in Chesse play can giue the king the mate Of an inuention found by king Levvis to punish the Earle of Vermandois LEvvis king of Fraunce the sonne of king Charles the simple desiring to be reuenged for the death of his said father who dyed in the castle of Peronne being there imprisoned by Hâ—bert the Earle of Vermandois his subiect And being at Laudun with a great assembly of the Lords and Nobles of Fraunce whom he had reconciled vnto him he vsed a fine deuice to bring about his purpose for he had caused one to be attired like an Englishman who being well instructed in that which he had to do came iâ—post to the Court and required to be instantly admitted to the presence of the kings Councell for the deliuerie of certaine letters to the king froÌ„ the king of England The partie being entred into the Councell chamber presented the letters to the king which himselfe had before caused to be written And as the Secretarie read them to the King with a soft and low voyce the King began to smile wherof the Princes and Lords there present demaunded the occasion Now I see well quoth the King that the English are not a people of any great wisedome for our cousin Harmant king of England hath written me here that there is in his countrey a labouring man who hauing inuited his maister to his house to dine with him caused him to be slaine he hath sent to demaund your counsell my maisters what punishment this fellow hath deserued Thibaut Earle of Bloys was the first that gaue his sentence saying That albeit the man was worthie of many grieuous torments yet the most ignominious and shameful death that he could adiudge him was that he ought to be hanged and strangled on a Gibbet To this sentence all the rest of the Lords there present did consent and the County Hebert of Vermandois also who had no sooner ended his speech but he was apprehended by the kings Officers there prouided in a readinesse And the King said vnto him Hebert thou art this wicked labourer which hast caused thy Lord and maister the king Charles my father to be put to death now therefore receiue the punishment which thou hast iustly deserued and which thou hast denounced against thy self This said Hebert was hanged on a Gibbet vpon the toppe of a mountaine nere Lodun which at this day is commonly called mount Hebert Of the wine which Philip Augustus king of Fraunce presented to the Barons and Captaines of his army PHilip Augustus king of France coÌ„ducting his armie against the Emperour Otho in the yeare 1214. being by necessitie constrained to ioyne battell with him he tooke a great cup or bowle of gold which he caused to be filled with wine sops of bread After turning himself to the Princes and great Lords of Fraunce which were with him he said vnto them My friends and companions in Armes you which are resolued to liue and dye with me this day take ech of you one of these lops of bread dipt in wine and eate the same as I haue done before you He had no sooner spoken the word but the cup was emptie in an instant And immediatly the battell being ioyned he gained the victorie at Bouines where the Emperour was put to flight and the Earle of Flanders with diuerse other great Lords remained prisoners The titles vvhich the king Saint Levvis of Fraunce gaue himselfe THe king S. Levvis being demanded by certain of his Lords with what title he would chuse to be honoured in imitation of the old Romane Emperors and of other forrain kings the kings of France his predecessors who for some notable acts or victories had purchased vnto theÌ„selues diuerse titles of honours he answered the
the mortification of vaine pleasure vvhich I haue read A conceited speech spoken to king Ferdinand THe king Ferdinand of Naples was very malecontent and could not endure to see men walke together two or three in a company or to talke together of their priuate affaires A certaine Courtier seeing the King in this passion to currie fauour with him said vnto him Sir you ought to shunne and take away this vsage that is so troublesome vnto you or else to make your benefite of it and in my aduice it were good that you imposed a tribute vpon them that vse to walke in this maner vp and downe for it would yeeld you a greater reuenue then the customes which you leauie vpon the merchandizes of all your Realme and Dominions Of a pretie quippe giuen by Anthony of Panorâ—e to a certaine Knight THe king Alphponsus of whome we haue before spoken beeing aboue all things well affected to the exercise of hunting did very earnestly enquire of Anthony of Panorme what Gentlemen of Naples were the greatest louers of that game of venerie and whether any of them had written of the nature of dogges and hounds Why sir quoth the Panormitan how is it that you demaund of me this question Haue you not a person in your company euery day which hath conuersed with this kind of creatures for these forty yeares together and night by night hath lien by a brach he I trow is sufficiently able to write of the nature of hounds and the manner how to keepe and cherish them Now the partie of whoÌ„ the Panormitan spake was a certaine Knight who was in very good grace and fauour in Court which made the king immediatly to fall on laughing knowing that the said Panormitan vnder the name of a brach did meane the Gentlemans wife because she was a woman that did vse to be very loud and clamoursom in her speech and was the most subiect to furiousnesse and outragious passions of any woman liuing A contentious and quarelsome wife is an incurable disease The letters of the Earle of Aniovv to the king of Fraunce LEvvis king of France the sonne of king Charles the simple being in the church of S. Martin of Tours at diuine seruice diuerse of his Gentlemen young Courtiers shewed him how Fovvkes the good Earle of Aniovv was set amongst the singing men and did sing with them for the which they mocked and contemned him Whereof the Countie being informed he sent letters vnto the king wherein was nothing written saue these words only To the king of Fraunce the Earle of Aniovv sendeth greeting Sir knovv you that a King vnlearned is but an asse crovvned The counsell of the Earle of Aniovv to his brother at the time of his death MAurice Erle of Aniou at the time of his decease giuing some instructions to his brother Fouques Nerra that succeeded him in his Earledome said vnto him My brother I pray remember how in all my life time I haue laboured to get me friends knowing that this is great riches and that the house which hath many friends ought not to be reputed poore nor destitute And therefore I aduise thee in any case to hold them deare vnto thee who haue heretofore bene faithfull and trustie vnto vs. A friend hath no greater treasure then a true friend in time of necessitie A Christian Act of the Earle of Aniou FOuques the fifth of that name earle of Aniou hauing gained the victorie in a battell foughten against Henrie king of England neare the towne of Sees where the Angeuins and Manceaux tooke a great number of prisoners whom they bound enchained together and lodged in an Abbey church neare the campe On a morning early the Count being disposed to go heare a Masse in the same church and being not able to enter into it for the multitude of prisoners there enchained he was very much discontented at it and turning him to his men at armes he said My companions and friends what haue you done Do you not know that the church is the house of God and of prayer and haue you turned it into a prison Do you not feare the wrath of God in that you execute crueltie in his temple You ought to know that the church is our mother and we are her children this place is a Sanctuarie and a place of priuiledge but you haue made it a place of seruitude This said he caused the prisoners to be vnbound hauing made them to eate drink he set theÌ„ at liberty without paying of any ransom The same Earle on a time said that to support or cherish the wicked was to do iniurie to the good A Sentence of the duke of Brittaine IOhn duke of Brittaine the fifth of that name being willing to make a mariage betweene his sonne the Lord Frauncis and the Ladie Izabel daughter to the Scottish king the young Prince Francis enquired what kind of Ladie that Izabel was to whoÌ„ answer was made that she was a very goodly Gentlewoman wise and discreet and one that was likely to haue faire issue of her bodie sauing that she had some impediment in her speech Then is she such a one as I desire quoth the Duke For I hold a woman wise enough that knoweth how to put a difference between the wastcote and shirt of her husband The haughtie courage of the duke of Burgundie PHilip the hardie duke of Burgundie was wont to say That kingdomes Lordships and Dominions did of right appertaine vnto theÌ„ that could by conquest get and purchase them he got the name of hardie because at a certaine banquet he leaped ouer the table onely to haue the chiefest place next to the person of king Charles the sixth he had both the courage and the speech of Alexander the Great An act of Galeace duke of Millain GAleace duke of Millain was giuen to vnderstand that there was a certaine Aduocate in that citie so subtill and cunning that he could prolong sutes in law and so draw theÌ„ out in length as he would make theÌ„ almost endlesse whensoeuer he listed to vndertake to do it either for loue or for money The Duke willing to make proofe thereof enquired of the chiefe steward of his house if there were not some debt due and owing by him to those that were to serue him with prouisions for his house In the end it appeared that there was owing to a certain Baker an hundred pounds in whose name he caused himselfe to be summoned and a day to be set downe for his appearance before the Senate to answer for the paiment of this debt vnto the said Baker In the meane time he sent to this Aduocate and demaunded his counsell how he might make delaies and not be enforced to make paiment of this money The Aduocate promised him to find the means and to deuise such sleights as the Baker should not finger a peny for one yeare at least or not for two yeares if he listed The action being
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
Alphonsus ALphonsus king of Naples had in his Court a foole or iester who did vse to put downe in a booke or paire of writing tables all the follies at least those which he thought such of all the Lords Gentlemen and others of his time which he knew to frequent the Court. It happened that the king Alphonsus hauing a Moore in his house sent him into the LeuaÌ„t with ten thousand duckets there to buy him horses the foole set downe in his booke this act of the king as a tricke of folly A few daies after the king Alphonsus called to his foole to see his booke hauing not seene it of a good time before In reading within it in the end thereof he found the historie of himselfe and his Moore and the 10000. duckets which he had deliuered him whereat the king being offended and growing into choler demaunded of the foole wherefore he had put him in his booke Because quoth the foole you did a very foolish act in giuing your money to a straunger whome you are like to see no more But how if he come backe againe said the king and bring the horses with him where is my folly then Marrie replyed the foole whensoeuer he commeth againe I will then blot your name out of my booke and will put in his in stead of yours for then I shall hold him the more foole of the two The magnificence of a king of England CHiniton or Chinite king of England who raigned about the yeare of Christ 1025. was of so haughtie and so great a mind that he caused a royal throne to be prepared and erected for him neare the sea side and seeing the tide to beat with the waues against his seat he spake out aloud vnto the sea Thou art my subiect and the land whereon I am set is mine and therefore I forbid thee to rise against my land or to wet the bodie and apparell of thy Lord and maister the sea notwithstanding holding on his course in flowing came to wet his feete which he seeing presently gaue backe and said Now may all men know that all humane power is but meere vanitie and no mortall man is worthy to beare the name of a king but he only to whose commaund the heauens the earth and the sea by a perpetuall decree are subiect and obedient A pleasant conceipt of an Italian Gentleman vpon the interpretation of the names of two Popes AFter the death of Pope Alexander the sixt Nicholas the fifth being created Pope certain Italian Gentlemen walking in the Popes hall deuised together of the death of the one and the creation of the other and of the conditions of theÌ„ both Amongst them was maister Antonio Agnello who with a good grace said vnto the rest of the company My maisters you need not much to trouble your selues in giuing your iudgements of the two Popes for I beleeue that these two inscriptions will easily resolue vs of our doubts and so saying he cast his eye vpon one of the two portals of the hall and standing still shewed them with his finger this inscription Alexander PP VI. which signifieth Alexander Pope the sixth of that name See said he what this inscription doth import Is it not as much as to say that Alexander was made Pope by force Let vs see now if we can vnderstand any thing touching the new Pope then turning himselfe as if it had bene at aduentures to the other portall he shewed them this inscription N. PP V. which signifieth Nicholas Pope the fifth O Lord God quoth he see here is ill newes Nihil Papa valet that in English is The Pope is nothing woorth An honourable act of an Italian Lord. AN Italian Nobleman surnamed the grand Captaine being set at his table and seeing two Gentlemen who had serued very valiantly in the warres to stand below in his hall because the seates at the table were all filled he immediatly arose and caused all the rest of his guests to make place for these two saying Make place I pray for these two Gentlemen to dine for if they had not bene in our company elsewhere we should not haue had at this time whereof to eate Of a mocke which he gaue to another Gentleman THe same Captaine seeing a Gentleman of his own come before him in good order and richly armed after the battell of Serignolle and when all things were safe and in quiet he said vnto his company We neede not now feare any storme for Saint Hermes hath appeared vnto vs. By this quippe he taxed the Gentleman to be of small valour for comming to the field after al daunger of fight was past for the common opinion is that Saint Hermes doth vse to appeare at sea to the Mariners after that the furie of a tempest at sea is gone past A speech of the same Captaine to a Gentleman touching himselfe DIego Garsia Spanish Gentleman counselled the grand Captaine Gonsaluo to withdraw himselfe from a place of great daunger where the Artillerie of the enemie did play vpoÌ„ them O quoth he seeing that God hath not put any feare in thy courage do not thou seeke to put any in mine Of the brother of the great Turke GEin Ottoman brother vnto the great Turke being prisoner at Rome and seeing the Gentlemen of Italy to iust aâ—d tilt together he said That that manner of turney in his opinion seemed too much to be done in sport and too little to be done in earnest It happened on a time that one in the presence of this Turke highly commended the young king Ferdinand of Naples in regard he was a man of excellent agility and actiue of his person for running vaulting leaping and other corporall exercises of that kind whereof he tooke occasioÌ„ to say That in his countrey those were the exercises of slaues and that the young Gentlemen and Noblemen did learne to practise bountie and liberalitie and that by such vertues they made themselues the more commendable Liberalitie is a vertue whereby Princes do purchase and entertaine the loue both of their subiects and of strangers A pleasant quip giuen to a Gentleman by the Marquesse of Mantua THe Marquesse Frederick of Mantua sitting at the table in companie of many Gentlemen one of them after he had eaten vp all the broth tooke his porenger with that little that remained and threw it on the ground saying withall as it were by way of excuse my Lord I pray pardon me whereupon the Marquesse suddenly answered Demand pardoÌ„ of the swine for if there be any harm done it is to them and not to me A comparison made by Iohn Gonzaga THe lord Iohn de Gonzaga playing and loosing his money at dice saw that his sonne Alexander did grieue at his losse whereupon he said vnto some Gentlemen there present It is written of Alexander the Great that when he heard of a victorie gotten by his father Philip king of Macedon and of a realme which he had conquered
a man to recite things that are another mans and to vsurpe them for his owne so it is a good thing and a token of humanitie to make their names knowne and manifest by whō a man commeth to learning and knowledge 12 Iulius Caesar was wont to forget nothing more soone and readily then the iniuries which he had receiued 13 No man can be good by the will and pleasure of another but only of his owne will and disposition 14 Titus Vespasian being crowned King of Ierusalem by the people said That he was not worthie of so great honour because it was not he that had gotten that victorie but that God had fauoured him against the Iewes 15 Octauian Augustus would neuer recommend his children to the people but onely in vsing these words vz. If they deserue well 16 There be three sorts of humanitie the first when one saluteth others courteously the second when one aideth those which are in misery and which haue lost their goods by ill fortune the third when men do frankely of their owne freewils make banquets and feast their friends and acquaintance 17 A certaine man came to tell Octauian that Aemilius Elian spake very ill of his vncle Iulius Caesar to whome Augustus answered I would wish that thou make good proofe of that which thou sayest for I will make Aemilius Elian to know that I haue a toung left me 18 Cecilius Metellus a Senatour was a great enemie to Scipio African as long as he liued howbeit when he vnderstood of the death of Scipio he grew very sorrowfull and commaunded his sonnes presently to go and helpe to carrie the corps of so worthie a personage to the sepulture vsing these or the like speeches I yeeld infinite thankes to the immortall Gods for the loue which I haue to Rome that it is thus happened that Scipio the African was not born in another nation 19 It is in our owne power to be either good or euill 20 Courtesie and faire behauiour is a meane to appease wrath 21 Humanitie amongst men is a strong bond he which breaketh it is a most wicked man and a murtherer 22 The office of humanitie is to relieue men in time of necessitie and perill 23 The soueraigne good of a man is life eternall and the soueraigne and chiefest ill of man is death euerlasting Of Good deedes and honour CHAP. 18. 1 IN doing good to good men it seemeth that this is not to giue but to receiue 2 He which receiueth any good turne especially of one that is his seruant the which he maketh any reckening of let him regard not of whō he receiueth it but what it is which he hath receiued 3 It behooueth each man to be forward to do good vnto another to haue a care also that such fauor be not concealed 4 When mortall men become benefactors they imitate the gods 5 Benefites receiued by importunate requests are little or nothing worth 6 It is no benefite to giue a mā that hath no need nor necessitie 7 To giue more honour to a man then he deserueth is to make way to fooles both to perceiue and to thinke ill 8 In my opinion it is an honourable action to accuse the wicked to defend the good 9 Honour ought to be gotten by vertue and not by deceipt for the one is the office of wicked and leude persons and the other of good and honest men 10 Conon the Athenian being sent Ambassadour by Pharnabazus to the king Artaxerxes was counselled by Chiliarchus that when he should come vnto his presence he ought to encline and prostrate himselfe before him to whome Conon answered It will not grieue me to do that honor vnto the king which thou aduisest me but I doubt lest I shall dishonour my countrey in so doing because the citie wherein I was borne is such a place as it hath vsed to rule and commaund ouer all other cities 11 It is the part and dutie of a friend to do good especially to those that stand in neede of it and that before they require and aske it because both to the one and to the other it will then be a thing both more honest and more pleasing and acceptable 12 There is no doubt but that rare vertue cannot haue too much honour and reuerence done vnto it Of Exercise and industrie CHAP. 19. 1 HE which hath begunne to purchase himselfe praise and commendation with glorie ought to take great paine and trauell to continue it for in truth slouth and negligence do vse to bring foorth at the first a kind of pleasure and delight but the end therof is grief sorrow 2 Labour and trauell by vse and custome commeth to be more easie light and lesse burthensome 3 There are many more men that grow and become good by exercise then by nature 4 Cuus king of the Persians did not loue that glorie for which he had not first endured labour and trauell and he neuer dined nor supped except he had first by some vehement labour euen wearied himselfe 5 Pithagoras said that art without exercise is nothing and that exercise without art likewise is nothing 6 Demosthenes being demanded by what means he became more excellent then others in the art of eloquence answered In consuming more oyle then wine 7 Demades the Oratour being demaunded who was his schoolemaister answered The Parliament of Athens shewing that experience is more noble and of more worth then all discipline 8 Denis the tyrant hauing entertained a Cooke out of the countrey of Laconia and supping of a certaine broath which he had prepared for him cast away from him the dish immediatly and demanded of him what should make the Laconians to delight in eating such a kind of pottage the same being so sharpe and without any pleasant tast The Cooke answered him Sir this broath hath not that kind of tast which the broth of the Laconians is accustomed to haue and that is the matter that you thinke it so vnsauorie Denis replyed why what tast then haue their broths Certes sir said the Cooke before they euer vse to sit downe to meate they vse first to exercise the body 9 Continuall exercise surmounteth the ensignements and instructions of all schoolemaisters 10 No man ought to labour to make himself eloquent by the good of another 11 Exercise is the most artificiall and best mistresse of eloquence to learne to speake well 12 Exercise in youth is a great ayde and furtherance to any man Of Wrath and anger CHAP. 20. 1 PLato said vnto a seruant of his Thou maiest thanke God for that if I had not bene angrie thou haddest surely felt the punishment of thy misdeeds 2 The Philosopher Naucrates did resemble angry men vnto a lampe which if the oyle therein be too much and ouer aboundant will yeeld little or no light or rather putteth out the flame 3 It must be of necessitie that all things which angry men do must needes be full of blindnesse
and necessitie because it is no easie matter for a man troubled with anger to haue the true vse of reason and whatsoeuer is without reason is without art It behooueth vs therefore to take reason as our guide in al our actions and to remoue wrath and anger vtterly from vs. 4 Wrath is the enemie of counsell and victorie naturally is proud 5 Wrath is commendable wheÌ„ the occasion is iust 6 Anger is an euill desire of reuenge 7 Darius king of Persia being very angry for that he was vanquished of the Athenians by fraud commaunded one of his seruants that as often as he shoâ—ld see him sit downe at meales he should vse these words vnto him Sir remember the Athenians 8 Anger is no infirmitie nor yet to be offended but for a man to perseuer in his anger that is an infirmitie 9 If a man subiect to wrath and anger haue any power of command or imperiall authoritie he will soone bring al things to destruction he will fall to bloudshedding ouerthrowing of cities murthering of people and making whole Prouinces and countries solitarie and desert 10 That man that can dispute or discourse well ought to speake without choler 11 Certainely they are much to be blamed who are not moued with anger in such things as are requisite and when necessitie and occasion requireth it 12 It is a goodly thing for a man to conquer his anger and wrathfull passions 13 There is nothing that maketh a more enclining to anger then delicate nourishment full of nicenesse and flatterie for it is an vsuall thing with prosperitie to nourish choler and wrathfulnesse 14 It is a more difficult thing said Heraclitus to striue and contend against luxuriousnesse and lasciuiousnesse then against wrath and anger Of Patience CHAP. 21. 1 DEmosthâ—nes said vnto one that vsed him reprochfully My friend I list not enter into this contention with thee wherein the vanquished is better then the vaâ—quisher 2 Plato being groâ—â—ely iniuried by one with most vile tearmes said vnto him Thou speakest ill because thou hast not yet learned to speake well 3 Aristippus the Philosopher being abused by a fellow with most opprobrious speeches said thus vnto him Thou art a maister of ill speaking and I of ill hearing 4 Euripides seeing two men reuiling each other with iniurious termes said He of you which abstaineth most from villanous leud speeches is to be held the most sage and wisest of the two 5 That man must needes be reputed of the greatest and best courage who can rather endure and beare out an vnhappie and miserable life then shunne and auoid it 6 Archilocus said That patience is the inuention of the Gods 7 Denis the tyrant being exiled for his tyrannie was demaunded wherein Plato his Philosophie had benefited him He answered They haue taught me quietly and with a patient spirit to beare and endure the chaunge and mutabilitie of fortune 8 That body which is accustomed to patience will neuer quit or forsake any place for any paine or trauell whatsoeuer 9 He is to be esteemed patient and valiant who is not easily drawne to be tender and delicate in the time of his prosperitie 10 The Philosopher Chilon seeing one that was very pensiue by reason of some misfortune that had befallen him and that in more vnfit vnseemely sort then was conuenient he said vnto him Assutedly if thou knewest the misfortunes of all other men thou wouldest not beare thine owne aduersitie so impatiently 11 Pittacus the Philosopher said That the office of a wise man was to take to himselfe good aduice and counsell to the end no euill might befall and happen vnto him and if it did afterwards happeÌ„ that any misfortune did betide him then to beare it couragiously and patiently 12 Socrates being in a disputatioÌ„ and hauing in the middest of his discourse heard tidings of the death of his sonne was not any thing at all therewith moued but after that his disputation was ended he then said vnto those which were with him Come on let vs now go and accompanie the corps of my sonne Sophronison to his funerals 13 Democritus said That it was a notable good thing to know how to prouide a remedie for calamitie 14 Xantippe the wife of Socrates was wont to say That albeit many chaunges and variable chaunces did daily trouble and perplexe the whole citie of Athens yet she neuer saw the countenance of her husband Socrates for any matter euer changed or troubled but that he continued still one and the selfe same man in all fortunes And indeede Socrates did so frame his mind that he alwaies bore his visage in one sort as well in aduersitie as prosperitie 15 As Xenophon was sacrificing in the citie of Mantinea there came a missenger to bring him tidings how his sonne Grillus was dead vpon the receipt of which newes he presently tooke the crowne from off his head without further interrupting of the sacrisice But the messenger hauing added this vnto his tale that his sonne died victoriously he tooke vp the crown set it againe vpon his head so went on with the finishing of his sacrifice Of the praise of riches CHAP. 22. 1 THe Poet Simonides being demaunded which of these two things he had rather choose either riches or wisedome answered I cannot tell whether but certaine it is that I see wise men euer attending about the gates of rich men 2 It is a thing most requisite necessarie for a man to haue money without which it is impossible to do or effect any thing with oportunitie or in time conuenient 3 Money amongst mortall men is as the bloud and the soule of a maÌ„ and he which hath it not is as one that walketh dead amongst the liuing 4 Onely gold and riches establisheth customes and manners maketh and giueth beautie nobilitie friendship and all other things whatsoeuer 5 Ha father speake not to me of gentrie or nobilitie for it relyeth altogether vpon wealth and riches giue me my house stored with gold and if I were left a slane I shall then soone become and be reputed noble 6 Mony is it that findeth friends and bringeth men into fauour and dignitie neare about Princes 7 Riches are the sure friends but they which are commonly reputed for friends do soone forsake him which is poore 8 Great riches are to be bestowed vpon friends 9 I see it is an ordinarie humor in women to take pleasure in riches and iewels 10 Apollonius of Thianea said vnto Denis the tyrant Thou shalt be sure to employ thy riches very well and in better sort then all other kings vse to do if thou bestow them vpon the poore and needie 11 Riches do hurt exceedingly except the possessor of them vse them well and rightly Riches dispraised coÌ„deÌ„ned CHAP. 23. 1 THe common Prouerhe is that a man shold not put a knife into a childs hand and I say that thou shouldst neither giue him knife nor yet riches 2
obserued towards God and men Of Force CHAP. 37. 1 THey are not called nor truely accounted valiant and couragious persons who do and offer iniury but they which do repell and keepe iniurie and violence from them And in truth he onely is of a valiant and constant courage who is not troubled with aduersitie 2 He ought to be esteemed the most stout and valiant who driueth away from him couetous persons as his enemies 3 He is said and held to be a valiant man who endureth and feareth the things that ought to be feared endured vpon all occasions both whence how and when it is needful and he likewise that is confident in himselfe and in his owne courage 4 Fortitude or valiantnesse is the science and knowledg◠of things which are to be held and not to be feared aswel in daunger of warres as of all other things 5 If force and valure do hazard it selfe into perils and daungers not constrained by necessitie or vpon any occasion not honest it is no longer to be reputed for valure but rashnesse and temeritie 6 Scipio the African seeing a soldier of his to shew his buckler with bragges and ostentation said vnto him My friend true it is thou hast a faire buckler but it is a more seemely and decent thing for a Romane to haue his hopes depending rather vpō his right then his left hand 7 Caius Popilius being sent by the Senate of Rome as Embassadour to Antiochus king of Syria to shew vnto him that their pleasure was he should desist frō molesting the children and orphanes of the late deceased Ptolome king of Egypt was by the said Antiochus saluted and entertained with great courtesie which notwithstanding he would scarce vouchsafe to requite with thankes but deliuering him his letters and being answered vpon the reading of them by the king that he would consult with his Counsell vpon the contents thereof Popilius hauing a white rod in his hand made therewith a round circle about the king where he stoode and said vnto him Sir I would wish you euen here as you stand to aduise your selfe and to giue me your present answer The Nobles there present with the king maruelled at that his exceeding greatnesse of courage and Antiochus himselfe immediatly answered that he would do all that the Romanes required whereupon Popilius instantly saluted him with great reuerence embraced him as the friend of the Romanes 8 Agesilaus the Lacedemonian being demaunded which of the two was the better vertue either fortitude or iustice answered That valure without iustice was of no fruit nor profit 9 Pausanias a captaine of the Lacedemonians hearing Pedaretus say Oh what a multitude of enemies do come against vs answered so many the more shal we haue the killing of 10 Agesilaus being demaunded by one why the citie of Sparta was not enuironed with wals he shewed vnto him the citizens armed said Behold these be the wals of the Lacedemonians 11 Argeleonida the mother of Brasidas a renowned captaine of the Lacedemonians being giuen to vnderstand by the Ambassadours of Greece that her sonne was slaine in battell demaunded of them if he died valiantly the Ambassadours answered that there was neuer man that died with more honour and renowne To whom she replyed O my maisters for all this do you not know that though my sonne Brasidas was a mā of great woorth yet hath our citie of Sparta a great number better and more worthie then he 12 Philip king of Macedonie being come with great furie into the territories of the Lacedemonians one said vnto him Oh what a world of miseries will the Lacedemonians be enforced to endure if they do not reconcile themselues to the good grace and fauour of king Philip Wherunto Daminda answered Thou speakest like a woman what misery can we suffer if we be not afraid of death 13 When the Ambassadours of Pirrhus being come before the Lacedemonians did menace them that if they did not frame themselues to the good liking contentation of their king they should find that his forces were greater then theirs Dercilida answered Certainely if your king be a God yet we feare him not because we neuer did him any iniurie but if he be a man assuredly he is no better then we are Of Iustice and iudgement CHAP. 38. 1 IF thou wilt iudge vprightly thou oughtest to haue a regard nor respect to nothing but to iustice onely 2 In India he which is most learned is made the minister of their sacrifices And hee demaundeth no other thing of the gods but iustice 3 As the touchstone by the touch approueth the gold not the gold the stone so the iust and vpright man which sitteth in iudgement is not corrupted with gold 4 He is not only iust which doth no iniurie nor wrong but he also who hauing power to do wrong doth shunne and auoid the occasions thereof to the intent he may not do any Againe he is not iust which receiueth small gifts but he is iust who hauing power to take great bribes doth abstaine from doing it Besides he is not iust that obserueth al things but he is iust who with an vncorrupt and free nature will rather be then seeme and appeare to be iust 5 Those men are chiefly and in the first ranke to be praised who preferre not any matter of profit before honestie and iustice 6 Science and knowledge separated from iustice and other vertues ought not to be tearmed wisedome but craft and cunning 7 God in no place nor in any manner is to be held vniust but most perfectly and absolutely iust there is nothing that more or better resembleth him then that man who amongst vs is most iust 8 The man that is iust though he be a straunger is not onely to be preferred before a free borne citizen but before those also that are of a mans owne kindred 9 There is nothing wherof can come profit or commodity by force if iustice be absent but if all were iust we should haue no need offorce 10 They onely are to be held receiued as friends vnto God to whom iustice is welcome as a friend 11 There were certaine which said vnto Antigonus king of Macedonie that all things were honest and iust vnto a king to whome he answered It is true indeede but that is to such kings as are barbarous but vnto vs those things onely are honest which are indeed honest and those onely iust which are indeed iust 12 The Poet Simonides contending against Themistocles and affirming that in a certaine controuersie he had not iudged according to right he answered him that he could not be a good Poet if he should compose his verses out of that forme and number which appertained vnto thē euen so I quoth he should not be a good citizen if I should iudge beyond the lawes 13 It is the office of a good sage Iudge to take counsel of the law of religion of faith and of equitie