MEMORABLE CONCEITS OF DIVERS NOble and famous personages of Christendome of this our moderne time LONDON Printed for Iames Shaw 1602. TO THE TOWARDLY YOVNG Gentleman Maister Walter Rawleigh sonne and heire apparant to the honourable Sir Walter Ravvleigh Knight Lord VVarden of the Stanneries Captaine of her Maiesties Guard Lieutenant of the Countie of Cornevvell and Gouernour of the Isle of Iarsey SIr hauing a great desire by some meanes to signifie my affection vnto you I thought I could not better do it nor find a more readie meane thereunto then by preferring and dedicating this little Pamphlet vnto you the which containing most rare and excellent examples of wise and wittie sayings and notable instructions to vertue and vertuous actions I suppose cannot more fitly be presented then vnto you in whose young yeares doth alreadie appeare a most towardly inclination and hopefull expectation both of wit and vertue such as your riper yeares I doubt not will bring to an excellency of perfection To the furtherance wherof albeit this smal Treatise shall perhaps be able to adde little accesse in regard of the plentiful helpes wherewith you are alreadie furnished to that effect yet it may be that both the pleasure and the profite thereof may in some sort proue worthie both of your labour in reading and perusing of it and of my affection in offering it vnto you Not doubting therefore but it shall be accepted as pleasingly as I haue presented it willingly most humbly I take my leaue Your Worships euer to be commaunded I. S. The names of the Popes Emperours Kings Lords and others mentioned in this Booke A ABbot of Baigne 20 Adrian Pope 21 Albert Emperour 32 Alexander Seuerus Emperour 38 Alexander the third Pope 1. 2 Alexander the fift Pope 11 Alexander the sixt Pope 215 Alfonsus ksng of Naples 104. vnto 119 Anna Queene of Fraunce 92 Anthony Panormitane 112. 132 Anthony du Prat Chancelor of France 196. Anthony Agnello and his interpretation 204. Apothegme of an Englishman 186 Archbishop of Collaine 18 Attila king of the Gothes 51 Aulilie 46 Ayme duke of Sauoy 144 B BAiazet the great Turke 125 Barba widow to Sigismond the Emperour 31 Bartholomew of Aluian 156 Battels at Guingate and Fornoue 161 Bayard Captaine 163 Bertrand Guesclin Constable of Fraunce 152. Benedict the twelfth Pope 103 Bishop elect of Senlis 162 Bishop of Seruia 213 By-word of three Nations 199 Blanch Dutchesse of Orleance 70 Borso duke of Ferrara 143 Boniface the eight Pope 6. 7. 8 C CAesar Borgias duke of Vrbin 146 Calixt Pope 11 Cardinall Cossa 10 Charles Martell 119 Charles the Great Emperour 23 Charles the bald Emperour 25 Charles the fift Emperour 41. 220 Charles the sixt king of France 75 Charles the eight king of France 90. 91 Charles duke of Burgundy 199 Chabanes great maister of Fraunce 227 Chiniton or Kniton king of England 203. Clement the fourth Pope 5 Clement the seuenth Pope 179 Clouis king of Fraunce 45 Clotair the first king of Fraunce 51 Columna Ascanius 158 Columna Prosper 158 Conrade king of Naples 130 Constantine Ducas Emperour 42 D DAnt the Italian Poet. 165 Duke of Millaines cooke 184 Dutchesse 218 Dutchesse of Burbon 217 E EArle of Arminacke 272 Earle of Lazaran 126 Earle of Nassaw 215 Earle of Petillan 142 Edward king of England 67. 68. 71. 72 Elenor Countesse of Foix. 173 Elizabeth of Bâ—heme 188 Emanuell king of Portugal 21 Embassadours of Sicily 128 Embassadours of Venice 192 Englishmens oath 75 F FErdinand king of Naples 132 Flemings mocke 103 Foole to king Alphonsus 202 Foole to the duke of Austrich 189 Foole to the Marquesse of Guast 221 Foole to the duke of Millain 233 Foâ—ques the fifth Earle of Aniow 134. 135. Frauncis the first king of Fraunce 101. 102. Frauncis Phaebus king of Nauarre 174 Francis of Burbon Earle of Anguien 220 Fredericke the Emperour 178 Fredericke the first Emperour 23 Fredericke the second Emperour 3 Fredericke the third Emperour 32. 35 Fredericke Marquesse of Mantua 208 French Gentleman 180 French Gentlemen 165 French Knights 162 G GEin Ottoman a Turke 207 Gentleman of Genoa 160 Gordian the younger Emperour 38 Godfrey of Bollogne 125 Gonnor Dutchesse of Normandie 187 Great Captaine 206. 207 Gregorie Pope 9 H HEnry the first Emperour 42 Henry of Lancaster king of England 73. Hire a French Captaine 155 I IAmes of Genouillay Lord of Assier 192. Iohn king of Fraunce 71 Iohn duke of Brittaine 137 Iohn Galeas duke of Millain 138. 150 Iohn of Ionuille 181 Iohn de Maingre Marshall of Fraunce 147. Iohn of Saintré 148 Iohn Gonzaga 209 Iohn of Menu a Poet. 225 Ierome an Italian 140 Innocent the fourth Pope 3 Innocent the eighth Pope 14 Iouian Pontanus 174 Iulius the second Pope 14. 15 Iulius Cardinall of S. Angell 17 K KAtherine Queene of England â—00 King of England 231 L LAdie of Heluin 183 Lamorabaquin king of Tartaria 126 Lewis king of Fraunce 58 Lewis the grosse king of Fraunce 56. 57. Lewis the 4. king of France 61. 62. 63. Lewis the 11. king of Fraunce 76. vnto 87. and 182. 227. Lewis the 12. king of Fraunce 92. vnto 100. Lewis sonne to king Philip. 169 Lewis duke of Orleance 73 Lewis Sforza 213 Lord Sforza 197. 198 Lord of Trimouille 216 M MAreschals Antrehan and Cleremont 166 Margaret Dolphinesse of France 229 Marcus Barbaricus duke of Venice 143. Martian the Emperour 37 Maurice Earle of Aniow 135 Maximilian the Emperour 38. 39 Medices Cosme 212 Medices Lawrence 211 Miles bishop of Chartres 19. 20 N NArses 151 O OTho de Varis 17 Otho the third Emperour 37 P PAnormitans 5 Parmesan 223 Peter of Bresay Seneschall of Normandy 88. 89 Peter Earle of Sauoy 148 Philip the first king of Fraunce 53 Philip Augustus king of France 60. 170 Philip the faire king of Fraunce 65 Philip of Valois king of Fraunce 66. 70 Philip duke of Burgundy 142 Philip the hardie duke of Burgundy 137 Philip of Villars great Master of Râ—â—odes 144 Philip of Moruiller President 200 Philip Lantgraue of Hessen 179 Pius the second Pope his sentences 12 Prochetta Archbishop of Genes 6. R RAimier king of Arragon 124 Raphael a painter of Vrbin 210 Rene king of Sicily 131 Robert king of Sicily 177 Roboald duke of Frize 44 Rodericke Gonthier 141 Rodolph the Emperour 31 Roger king of Naples 122 S SAladine king of Asia 123 Sanctius brother to the king of Spain 175. Septimius Seuerus Emperour 37 Sico Chauncellor of Millaine 213 Sigismond Emperour 27. 29. Souldier of Nauarre 166. Soliman the great Turke 121. 145 Sophia the Empresse 191. T TAlbot an English captaine 156. 185 Theodosian Emperour 191 Theodosius Emperour 25. 26 Thierry captaine 47. 48 Thomas Caraffa Earle of Mathalon 146 Tiberius Constantine Emperour 43 Tiphamy wife to Bertrand Guesclin 167 V VAquery President of Paris 230 Venetians and their opinion 186 Vladislaus king of Hungary 129 Vrban the fifth Pope 170 VV VVAlaque Dracocles 129 VVilliam duke of Normandy 54. 55.
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
of the Ceremonies at the dubbing of a new Knight is to tye on a paire of gilt spurres Of tvvo Latine verses made by king Philip de valois against king Edvvard BEcause king Edvvard was supposed contrarie to his faith and allegiance to haue inuaded the realme of Fraunce king Philip to taxe him with it made these two verses Anglicus Angelus est cui nunquam credere fas est Dum tibi dicit aue tanquaÌ„ ab hoste caue Howbeit some say that this was Pope Alexander the third at such time as the English went to Rome to excuse and purge themselues to the Pope of the death of Saint Thomas of Canterburie whome they had caused to be slaine The bold speech of Blaunch the daughter of king Charles the faire THe same king Philip on a time speaking very bitterly to the Ladie Blaunch Duchesse of Orleance daughter of king Charles the faire touching the succession of the realm of Fraunce she said vnto him very liberally and boldly Sir if I had had a paire of stones you durst not haue vsed those wordes which you haue now vttered but you had smarted for it Meaning that if she had bene a man as she vvas a vvoman she should haue bene king of Fraunce The speech of king Iohn of Fraunce to the Prince of VVales vvhen he vvas taken at the batell of Poytiers IOhn king of Fraunce being prisoner in the battell of Poytiers to the Prince of VVales was conducted to the English campe where his supper was prepared for him at the which the Prince serued him with his head vncouered The king prayed him diuerse times to sit downe with him but the Prince excused himselfe saying that it did not beseeme the vassal to sit nere his Lord. The king said vnto him my purpose was to haue bestowed a supper on you this night but the fortune of warre would that you should giue it me The cautelous answer of king Edward to king Iohn IN the time of truce accorded betweene Iohn king of Fraunce and Edward king of England the English men for a summe of money got by composition the castle and towne of Guines to be rendred vnto theÌ„ whereof king Iohn being aggrieued complained to the king of England and told him that he had brokeÌ„ the truce contrary to the compact betweene them whereunto king Edward made this answer I haue not quoth he broken the truce for there was not any article contained in the Treatie betweene vs that did prohibite or defend vs from traffiquing together or to debarre vs or our subiects from the trade of merchandize each with other The commendations which Edvvard king of England gaue to Charles the fifth king of Fraunce THe same king Edvvard hauing taken the seas with a fleete of ships wherein were foure thousand launces and eleuen thousand Archers with intent to go and raise the siege of the French before Tours in Aquitaine he had the wind so contrarie that he could not proceede nor prosecute his intended voyage into Fraunce wherefore returning much discontented into England he vsed these or such like words of king Charles the fifth There was neuer yet said he any king in Fraunce who vsed lesse to beare Armes then this Prince and that without once stirring out of his chamber but onely by sending and writing of letters did so much trouble his enemies or my selfe either as he hath done The Cartels which Henry king of England and the duke of Orleance sent to each other LEwis duke of Orleance sonne to king Charles the fifth after that the truce was accorded betweene the French king Charles the sixth and Henry of Lancaster king of England the said Duke being young of yeres and desirous of glory contrarie to the alliance which was made with the said king of England sent vnto him a Cartell of Armes with a chalenge of combate betweene them two and a hundreth Knights on ech partie who for the loue of their Ladies should trye their valour and prowesse each against other and that they which did best should haue the honour of the victorie Vnto which Cartell the king of England made this answer We are not determined to breake the truce much lesse will we violate or disanull the league of amitie and alliance made betweene vs neither do we meane to admit any equalitie betweene our royall Maiestie and your Lordship Howbeit seeing you are disposed to combat I can be content to accept and make it good man to man to the intent we may auoid effusion of bloud and not either for our Ladies or for vaine glorie but onely for the honour increase and preseruation of our Realmes Countries Territories and Dominions The true valour and magnanimitie of men is not to hazard their persons and liues but onely for the good of their countrey or for their honour or for the safetie of their liues The Oath vsed to be taken by the English men to their King at their going to the warres FRoissard reporteth that when the English in former times came into Fraunce to make warres they had this custome that the Captaines putting their hands into the handes of the king of England did solemnly sweare to obserue inuiolably these two things The one was that to no man liuing but to amongst themselues they would neuer reueale the secrets of their voyage and enterprize And the second that they wold neuer make nor consent to any treatie or accord with their eneâ—â—â—es without the priuitie and good liking of the King and his Councell The choise of king Charles the sixth CHarles the fifth on a time hauing shewed vnto his son afterwards called Charles the sixth a Crowne of gold richly set with precious stones and a helmet of steele faire gilt demaunded of him which of these two he would most willingly haue if he were put to make his choise His answer was that he would rather chuse the Helmet then the Crowne The like affection did he bewray at his new comming to the Crowne of Fraunce For when the Officers of his house shewed him the rich treasures and precious moueables of his father lately deceased and did afterwards bring him to the sight of the goodly Armories wherein were all sorts of Armes swords Corcelets Headpeeces and other furnitures fit for the warres he said all aloft Of the two quoth he I had rather haue these Armes then the riches which my father hath left me The Sayings and Sentences of king Lewis the eleuenth KIng Lewis the eleuenth after the battell of Mountleherry against the Count of Charolois bethinking himselfe of the Duchie of Burgundie and how the same was aliened in fee from the Crowne of Fraunce to the auncestours of the said Count of Charolois Dukes of Burgundie descended of a younger sonne of the bloud royall of Fraunce he brake into these speeches Men say quoth he that Charles the fifth was called Charles the sage but they had little reason to tearme him so for it was but a foolish part to giue
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
that countrieâ— who did him great reuerence and he rendred them the like Huguenin de Tolligney a French gentleman which did then accompany him caused him to stay and said vnto him My lord who are these two dames to whom you haue done this great reuerence I know not said the Marshall Huguenin replye'd Why sir they be common women The Marshall answered wel I know not what they be neither skils it for I had leifer do reuerence to tenne common women then to faile of saluting any one that is honest A French Prouerbe IN the historie of Bertrand du Guesclin it is recorded that in the raigne of Charles the fifth when the said Bouciqualt was Marshall of Fraunce there liued then also a famous renowned knight called Iohn de Saintré of which two persons the French in their commendation made these verses Of much more worth in an assault Is Saintré then is Bouciqualt But much better in a treatie Is Boâ—â—iqualt then is Saintré An Act of the Earle of Sauoy PEter Earle of Sauoy being to go before the Emperour Otho the fourth to do him homage for his landes which he held of the Empire went apparelled with a certaine robe the one halfe whereof was of steele in fashion of an armour gilded in such sort that on the right side he was most richly apparelled and on his left side he was armed in this manner attired did he demaund the inuestiture of his lands of the Emperour who hauing graunted it vnto him and the Earle being retired and repairing to the Chauncellour to haue his dispatch shewed him the auncient Euidence and letters Patents graunted to his Predecessours wherby he held his landes The Chauncellour then demaunded of him if he had the like for the territories of Chablais Oste and Vaux well knowing that he lately had gotten those lands by conquest Whereupon the Earle setting his haÌ„d on his sword drawing it naked out of the scabbard shewed it vnto the Chancellour and said that he had no other Euidence for those lands but his sword and by that he held them After which the Emperour demaunded of him why he ware such a garment with the one halfe of cloth of gold and the other halfe of steele The Earle answered that he ware the cloth of gold on his right side to do honour to his Maiestie and for my attire on the left side it signifieth quoth he that if any man deale sinisterly and ill with me or offer me any iniurie I am readie to defend me and to fight for my right enent to the death How the duke of Millain serued an Astrologer A Certaine Astrologer which tooke vpon him to foreshew things to come and the good and ill fortune of men regarding the countenance of Iohn Galeace duke of Millain said vnto him Sir dispose of your affaires betimes for you cannot liue long How knowest thou that sard the duke Marry sir quoth he hauing obserued the starres that are the gouernors of your life I find that they do threaten you death in your flourishing age Well quoth the Duke and for thy selfe how long shalt thou liue Sir said the Astrologer my Planet promiseth me long life To the end therefore said the Duke that thou shalt neuer more haue affiance in thy Planet thou shalt dye presently contrarie to thy opinioÌ„ and all the Planets of heauen shall not saue thy life And he had no sooner spoken it but he perfourmed it for he commaunded him instantly to be hanged which was accordingly executed The message sent from Narses to Sophia the Empresse of Constantinople NArses the Eunuch a most excellent Chieftaine who was Lieutenant Generall for the Emperours Iustinian and Iustin of their warres in Italy was sent for by the Empresse Sophia the wife of Iustin a most stout and proud Ladie and commaunded to returne from Italy Naples where he was Gouernour and to come to Constantinople to the Court letting him to vnderstand that she meant to employ him in another manner of seruice then the warres and fitter for his estate namely to spin and weaue wool with her women and maidens To the which message Narses returned this answer that he would weaue such a webbe as neither she nor her husband whom she ruled as she listed should be able euer to vntwine And he did no lesse theÌ„ he promised for he secretly sent for Alboin king of the Lombards out of Hungarie being his very great friend and set him in possession of Italy so as both he and his successours enioyed it for a long time after A vvoman of insolent and proud cariage and haughtie in speech is the cause of notable mischiefes The magnanimity of BertraÌ„d du Guesclin THis Bertrand du Guesclin was no lesse famous renowned for his magnanimitie courage then was Narses the Graecian For before that he was Constable of Fraunce he held the part of Henry king of Spaine against king Peter the brother of the said Henry And in a battell foughten at Nadres between the two brothers Henry was put to flight and Bertrand was takeÌ„ prisoner by the black prince of VVales who followed the party of king Peter who led him prisoner to Burdeaux hauing held him there a time he was willing to deliuer him and to acquit pay his debts on coÌ„dition that the said Bertrand should neuer beare armes against him the said Prince against the king of EnglaÌ„d his father nor against king Peter of Castill nor their allies But Bertrand refusing to yeeld to those conditions was notwithstanding put to his raunsome such as himselfe would nominate and set downe Bertrand howbeit that he was alleadged himself to be but a poore knight yet hoping on his good fortunes offered the Prince an 100000. double Florins of gold The Prince supposing that he mocked him quitted him for the quarter part but Bertrand standing on his honour would not yeeld to pay lesse then sixtie thousand saying That he would be well able to pay it The Prince accepting his offer Bertrand spake out aloud before all the Lords and Nobles there present now may Henry of Castill well vaunt himselfe and boldly say That he shall dy king of Spaine for I doubt not but to set the Crowne on his head and he shall yeeld me the one moitie of my raunsome and king Charles of France shall furnish me with the other moitie Such was the haughtie courage of this valiant Chieftaine who afterwards accomplished and acquitted himselfe of that his promise The same Pertrand being afterwards Constable of Fraunce vnder Charles the fifth left a custome in Fraunce which he brought vp in his time That whatsoeuer Gentleman had committed any forfeit against the reputation and honour of his estate if he did afterwards happen to be in company at any banquet the meate which was set before him should be cut in peeces A hardy speech vttered by Hire a French Captaine to king Charles the seuenth THe Hire a French Captaine being sent from the armie
to the king of Fraunce Charles the seuenth to shew him in what estate the affairs of the warres then stoode and that for default of victuals money and other necessaries the French had lost certaine townes battels to the English The king willing to entertain the Captaine in good familiar sort shewed him all his delicate preparations of his pleasures and delights the sports the Ladies and the banquets wherewith he recreated himselfe and withall demaunded of him how he liked them The Hire very freely and liberally answered him saying Sir I neuer in my life saw Prince that lost his patrimonie more pleasantly then you do That man is to be reputed mad senselesse that vvill sit playing vvhilest his house is a burning A prompt and readie ansvver of an English Captaine the Lord Talbot TAlbot an English Captaine hauing besieged the citie of Orleance in the time of king Charles the seuenth the citizens fell to practise with the duke of Burgundie to yeeld themselues vnder his obeissance whereupon the Duke wrote to the said lord Talbot wishing him to leaue the siege and the rather for that his long abode before that place might be a great dammage and preiudice vnto him The lord Talbot suspecting the practise then in hand would not coÌ„sent to the Dukes motion but sent him this answer I do not meane to beat the bush and that another shall haue the birds This speech in some histories is attributed to the duke of Bedford RegeÌ„t of France vnder Henry the 6. king of England The ansvver of Bartholomâ—w Aluiano to king Levvis the tvvelfth BArthelmâ—w Aluiano a Captaine of the Venetians and Generall of their armie at the battell of Agnadell was there taken prisoner by the French and presented to king Lewis the twelfth who demanding of him vpon what ground or reason he bore armes against him the said Barthelmevv made this answer Sir I haue vndertaken the warre against you for two speciall reasons The first is for discharge of my dutie to my countrie The second is for that hauing to deale against so great and puissant a Prince as you are if I had obtained the victorie my renowne and fame had bene eternall and being vanquished I shall haue neuer the lesse honour and reputation with them of my countrey when they shall enter into due consideration of your greatnesse and excellencie for the hardinesse couragious boldnesse which I had to resist against you shall turne to my glorie and honour Men of haughtie courage do not attempt other then great actions the issue vvhereof cannot but turne to their honour A tyrannicall Sentence of Prospero Colonna PRospero Colonna being Colonel of the Italian men at armes which were within Millain a citizen of Millain came to complaine vnto him of the exactions and pillaging of his soldiers vnto whom he said Millain is like vnto a bird from which if one pull away the feathers she bringeth foorth others much more faire and beautifull The ansvver of an Italian to Ascanio Colonna AScanio Colonna hauing many goodly liuings and possessions in Romania arriued in a certaine towne of his own where all the chief men came vnto him to salute him to do him reuerence onely one citizen excepted who being very rich yet no Gentleman had one only son an honest faire conditioned young man who being singularly endued with all the gifts and graces wherewith nature cold enrich him was not inferiour but rather excelled all others there inhabiting Seigneur Ascanieo inuited that same citizen to supper at the end whereof he demaunded of him to haue his sonne to serue him promising to preferre him and aduaunce him highly The citizen said vnto him no sir I will not that he shall serue you for I remember me of an old Prouerbe which withholdeth me from condescending hereunto What Prouerbe is that said Seigneur Ascanio The citizen answered Hearken sir and I will repeate it vnto you Male è chi gli serue Peggio è chi gli disserue Beato è chi non gli conosse That is to say Ill is he that serueth Worse is he that cannot please But happy is he that knoweth neither An excellent comparison made by a Gâ—ntleman of Genua LEwis Sforce being determined to exact a great summe of money by compulsion vpon the citie of Genes sent an Ambassadour thither to negotiate this businesse who being inuited by a chiefe personage of the Citie to dine with him and walking into the garden of that citizen his house there they two fell into communication of that matter the Gentleman Geneuois seeing the herbe Basell said vnto the Ambassadour My lord Ambassadour stroke your hand along vpon and after smell vnto it which he did and confessed that the sauour of it was most sweete and odoriferous My Lord quoth the Geneuois againe straine the herbe in your hand and then smell to it which he did likewise and said that it yeelded a very bad and lothsome sent WherupoÌ„ the Geneuois said vnto him My lord if the duke Lewis wil gently stroke the hand of his puissance ouer this citie without any violent dealing he shall find it to yeeld a good sauor very obedient vnto him but if he come to oppresse it to force it by compulsion surely it will yeeld but a sharpe and ill tast by disobedience and rebellion The admonition of certaine French Captaines giuen to their souldiers IN the battell of Fornoue giuen by the potestates of Italy to king Charles the eight at his returne from the conquest of Naples the French Knights passing by the rankes of the battels as they were doing their deuoit in the thickest presse of their enemies and fearing lest the couetousnesse of the souldiers might make the French loose the victorie they cryed vnto their souldiers Remember the battell of Guinegare This was a battell foughten in the time of king Levvis the eleuenth against Maximilian king of the Romanes the which the French lost by giuing themselues to the pillage Of a French Knight vvhich taxed the Normans RAault the Dane who was afterwards the first duke of Normandy comming into Fraunce with a great armie there was sent against him Robert Earle of Aniou Marshall of Fraunce who demaunded of one Hastingue a Dane likewise being then Countie de Chartres whether he thought best to giue battell vnto Raault or not and what was his aduice therein Hastingue for some reasons disswaded him But a certaine noble Knight which caried the Banner of Fraunce perswaded the Marshall to the contrary saying My Lord did you euer see a wolfe seize vpon a wolfe or one foxe make war against another foxe Inferring hereby that they were both of one nation and that therefore it was very vnlikely that the one would hurt the other THe Elect of Senlis encouraging the French men at armes against the Flemings in the battell of Bouines vnder the king Philip Augustus amongst other words said It is not the part of any noble and valiant Knight to make the
audience they 〈◊〉 to know the cause vnderstood 〈◊〉 it was the custome to send on Ambassade to the Emperour men that were aged and of good yeares and not young beardlesse men such as they were Whereupon they humbly besought the Emperour that he would giue them leaue to speake a word vnto him nothing concerning their Ambassade which being granted them they said vnto the Emperour Sacred Maiestie If the Seignorie of Venice had thought that knowledge and prudence had onely had his abiding in beards they would haue sent vnto your Highnesse two Goates for Ambassadours The truth is that the speeches of an Ambassadour are of much more respect authoritie vvhen they are accompanied with aged yeares prudence and experience and these young Ambassadours did shâ—vv by their speech that the conceipt and opinion of the Emperour vvas true vvhich he had ronceiued of them A pleasaâ—â— speech of Dant the Italian Poet. THe Poet Dant demaunded of a citizen of Florence what houre it was who answered him very rudely that it was the houre in which horses go to be watered Dant suddenly replyed What doest thou here then that goest not with them Of a cause decided by a French Gentleman Two French Gentlemen discoursing of single fight and combat whether it be lawfull or not the one of them said That there was no agreement between learning and the sword the other answered We which liue in the Latine Church as Christians are bound to obserue those lawes which it ordaineth and to protect defend them with the sword which ought not to be drawne but for that cause onely The lavv of man permitteth single combate but the lavv of God prohibiteth it A sentence of the Chauncelor of Fraunce SPeech being had in the presence of Anthony de Prat Chauncelor of Fraunce touching the warre of king Frauncis for the recouerie of Millain and some affirming that it were good that Millaine were vtterly destroied and ruinated in regard of the dammage that it had brought vnto the French he answered It is very necessarie that Millaine should stand in state as it is because it serueth as a purgation to the realme of France to take away and remoue the ill humours of idle and ill disposed persons which otherwise might corrupt and destroy it This was the sentence vvhich Scipio Africanus vsed in his speech to the Romanes concerning the preseruation of Carthage from being ruinated The patience of Seigneur Sforce A Knight of Nola came to tell Seigneur Sforce how a Gentleman one Tartaglia had spoken very badly of him at a certain banquet where he had reproched him with all kind of villanie and he affirmed his report with many great oathes to the intent he might the better be beleeued The Lord Sforce said vnto him My friend thou needest not paine thy self so much to make me beleeue that which thou tellest me because that Tartaglia doth vse neuer to speak of any but euill and it is very likely that he would not make spare of his ill speech with all kind of violence licentiousnesse and libertie euen to his vttermost especially being in place fit and conuenient for such a purpose By this answer he gaue the talebearer to vnderstand that Tartaglia was not much to be regarded both in respect he vvas reputed a common backebiter and in regard of his drunkennesse whereunto he noted him to be subiect An Apotheg of the same Sforce THe said Sforce being in doubt of the ambushes forces of Paule Vrsin forsooke the citie of Rome where he was abiding and went to encampe himselfe in the forrest of Aglio The Cardinall of Saint Angâ—ll the Popes Legate went vnto him to perswade him to returne to Rome with promise and assurance of saâ—etie during his being there and amongst other speeches vsed vnto him he said Seigneur Sforce will you be afraid of a Beare being vnder the protection and assurance of a strong Colonne or pillar to defend you for then was the Pope of the house of the Colonnois which in Italian signifieth a pillar but Sforce made him this answer My lord Cardinall you might thinke me a very foole if I would rely or trust vpon the succours and defence of a deafe and dead peece of Marble and not be afraid of a great monstrous beast who being armed with terrible teeth and nailes doth walke notwithstanding as men vse to do By this allusion he shewed that the succours of the Pope were slow and long in comming and he discouered the high courage and great forces of Paul Vâ—sin his enemie The Epitaph of Charles duke of BurguÌ„dy vvho vvas slaine before Nancie in Lorain in the yeare 1477. Te piguit pacis vita taeduitq quietis Hîc iaces Charole iamque quiesce tibi Vnpleasing to thee in thy life vvas peace and quietnes But Charles here novv doest thou lye now therefore take thy rest Philip of Commines in his hostorie testifieth that this Charles duke of Burgundie was of so turbulent a spirit delighting in warres as he had neuer one houre of rest in all his life The properties of three Nations taxed A Great Lord was wont to say that three sorts of men were to be taken heede of namely A red Italian a white French man and a blacke Germaine A notable sentence of the Queene of England KAtherine of Spaine the wife of Henry the eight king of England said That she loued better a temperate and meane fortune then that which was either too easie and prosperous or too sharpe and aduerse Neuerthelesse that if she should be put to her choise which of the two last she would accept she had rather haue the aduerse then the prosperous because said she commonly they which are vnfortunate are not altogether destitute of some consolation and comfort but they which liue in prosperitie for the most part do want the true vse of vnderstanding reason and iudgement Of the President Moruillier PHilip de Moruillier President of the Parliament of Paris in the time of king Charles the 7. for some enuie and malice conceiued against him by the Councellours of the Court was greatly disliked of them insomuch as he retired himselfe to the kings Court who assoone as occasion was offered preferred him to the dignitie of chief President Within a while after being come into the Parliament there to take possession of his new place and dignitie and being set in the chiefe and principall seat he began very aptly his Oration in this manner with a place of the Scripture Lapidem queÌ„ reprobauerunt aedificantes hîc factus est in caput anguli The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone in the corner Monsieur de S. Romain at that time Procurer generall for the king answered him with another text of the Psalmist as fit as the former saying A Domino factum est istud est mirabile in oculis nostris This is the Lords doing and it is maruellous in our eyes A merrie conceipt of king
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