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
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
that when he came into the field he would haue a speciall care to his owne safetie to whom he answered that as touching that matter she should do well to counsel others so to do but for his part he held it the part of a captaine commaunder to haue a speciall regard to the safetie of his citizens 4 The campe of the Numantines in Spaine hauing of a long time vsed to be victorious against all the captaines that came against them with the Romane forces seeing afterwards that Scipio came as General against them by whom they were defeated and slaughtered the Senatours of Numantia did exclaime against their people and souldiers reproching them for that they had so shamefully betaken themselues to flight vnto whom a certaine Numantine souldier said in this manner My Lords I would you shold vnderstand that in the campe of the Romanes there are still the same beastes that were there before but they haue not the same shepheard 5 Cecilius Metâ—llus a Roman hauing pitched his campe against the Almaines in a very drie place where his people were much pained with thirst and want of water the riuer running close by the rampart of his enemies in a diâ—contented humour pointing with his finger to the valley beneath his campe which was full of water he shewed the same vnto his souldiers and said vnto them There my maisters you may haue water enough and drinke your fils if you list paine your selues to take it 6 Lauinius a Romane hauing taken the citie of Corinth did not carry away any riches or treasure to his owne house and albeit all Italy were enriched with the pillage of that city yet was he in such pouertie and necessitie as the Senate of Rome did marrie his daughter at the common charge of the citie 7 Quintus Fabius Minutius being aduised by his sonne to seize vpon a certaine place as a thing which he might do with the losse of a very few men he said vnto him Wilt thou be one of those few 8 Scipio the African being accused by one that he was alwaies fighting and in the field answered It is true for my mother bred me from the cradle to be a captaine and a soldier 9 Marcus Iiuius being exhorted by some to pursue without ceassing the campe of Hasdarubal which he had defeated and put to flight answered Let them alone let some of theÌ„ liue that they may carrie to our enemies the newes of our victorie 10 Chabius a captaine of Athens said that those captaines knew well how to commaund who could discerne and know the plots and purposes of their enemies 11 Lamacus a Lacedemonian reprehending a certaine captaine for a fault which he had committed and he telling him that he would not commit the like ouersight againe Lamacus answered that in warre it was not fit for any to erre twice because in the first special regard ought to be had that no fault be committed 12 Antigonus king of Macedony being demaunded in what manner he ought to asâ—aile his enemies he answered Either by pollicie and cunning or by force either openly or secretly 13 The king Pirrhus said vnto one to whom he had giuen a commission to leauie souldiers do thou make choise of them which be great and I will make them stout and valiant 14 Tiberius Scaurus a Captaine of the Romanes being certified how his sonne was put to flight by the Tarentines commaunded him that during his life he should neuer presume to come into his presence in somuch as the young man being surprised with shame and ignominie died for very griefe Of diuerse and prompt Answers CHAP. 43. 1 PHilip the father of Alexander hauing the ankle of his foote broken and his Phisition daily demaunding monie of him he said vnto him Go too take as much monie as thou wilt for thou hast the key in thy owne keeping 2 The same king Philip being once laid to sleepe about noone-time the Greekes that came to speak with him did murmure in being made to attend him to whom Parmenio said Maruell not if Philip be now a sleepe for he many times waketh when you sleepe 3 Alexander the Great being to make a sore iourney against Darius a certaine souldier came vnto him in a great heate and told him that he had heard diuers of his souldiers say that they wold not allow any of their part of the pray or bootie vnto the king who smiling thereat answered presently Thou tellest me good newes and that which I take for a signe of good fortune for now I see that my souldiers haue resolued rather to vanquish their enemies then to flye away 4 The Athenians hauing receiued an answer from the Oracle warning them that there was one man in Athens who was contrary and opposite to the wils and opinions of all the rest and wishing them to search out by some meanes or other who it shold be Phocion suddenly said I only am the man who do not take pleasure in any thing which the common people either doth or saith 5 Cicero being demaunded by Metellus who was his father answered Whosoeuer should aske thee this question it would be hard for thee to answer it by reason of thy mother This he said because he knew that the mother of Metellus was held a woman scarce honest 6 Agâ—sides king of the Lacedemonions hearing a certaine Oratour extolling a very small matter euen to the heauens said This man is no good shoomaker for he would put a great shooe on a little foote 7 Cleomenâ—s the Lacedemonian hearing a certaine Logitian discoursing of force and prowesse fell out into a loud laughter to whome the Sâ—phister said O Cleomenes doest thou which art a king laugh because I discourse offorce Cleomenes answered My friend so would I do if I did heare a swallow speake of force and strength but if an Eagle did speake thereof I should thinke well thereof 8 Andâ—oclidas of Sparta being blamed by an Athenian which said vnto him you Lacedemonians are ignorant of letters answered Then are we of all others the onâ—ly men who haue not learned any euill of you 9 Archidamus the sonne of Agâ—silaus hauing receiued a very arrogant letter from king Philip returned him in writing this answer Before that we come to get the victory of thee I would wish thee if thou wilt to measure thy owne shadow for I do not thinke that thou wilt find it now to be greater then it hath bin heretofore 10 Eudamidas the sonne of Archidamus seeing Xenocrates now growne old disputing with one of his familiars demanded of him who that man was whereunto answer being made that he was one of the most wise and sagest men that knew how to search out vertue he replyed And when trow you will he vse vertue that now at these yeares is but seeking and searching for it 11 Pausanias after he was sent into exile giuing great commendations of the Lacedemonians a stranger said vnto him Why art not
greatest victorie which I euer obtained was against the diuel at such time as I was baptized in the church of Poissi And therefore the greatest honour which I would haue done me is that men should cal me Levvis of Poissi Of the same Levvis A Certaine priuate friend of his did blame him for that in writing his priuate and familiar letters he did not entitle himselfe king of Fraunce but Loys of Poissi To whom he said I am like the king which meÌ„ chuse with the Beane at Twelfetide who commonly doth obserue the feast of his royaltie in the euening His meaning vvas that the Crovvne vvhich he expected vvas the kingdom of heauen and by the euening he meant the end of this mortall life The desire that Saint Levvis had to cut off all blasphemies out of his kingdome KIng Levvis hauing caused one who had blasphemed the name of God to be marked in the lippes with a hote burning iron and hearing that some of his subiects did murmure at it he said openly in the hearing of a great multitude I wold to God that I my selfe were so marked with a hote iron on my lippes on the condition that there were no oathes nor blasphemies vsed within my realme Whensoeuer he began to speake or to do any thing and especially when he was set in Councell the first thing he vsed to do was to blesse himselâ—e with the signe of the Crosse in calling vpon the name of God For his saying was that his mother had so taught him euen from his infancie Of the instructions vvhich the king Saint Levvis of Fraunce gaue vnto his sonne Philip. MY sonne the first lesson which I giue thee is To loue God with all thy hart with all thy streÌ„gth and with all thy soule Offend not God in any case Suffer any torments rather then sin Take patiently whatsoeuer aduersitie God shall send thee and thanke God for it acknowledging that thou hast deserued it Confesse thy selfe often to some good man a Minister of the church Be diligeÌ„t to heare the deuine Seruice song in the Church of God Obserue carefully the good customes of thy kingdome but take away such as are euill Raise not any Taxes or Tallages vpon thy subiects but vpon great necessitie Entertaine those into thy seruice who feare God loue iustice and hate couetousnesse Desire not that thy Iudges should giue iudgement for thee in any cause against thy subiects farther then reason and truth will iustifie Preserue the cities and townes of thy kingdome in their franchises and liberties wherein thy predecessours before thee haue maintained them Giue the Benefices and Offices of thy kingdom to good men and such as are capable of them Moue not warre against any Christian and if any offence be committed thou oughtest to pardon it being required In places of iustice and iudgment see thou prouide such as are good men and godly Make diligent enquirie of thy houshold seruants whether they be addicted to couetousnesse or to prodigalitie Be thou such a one in thy life and conuersation as men may take good example by thee For as the head is such commonly are the members Take good heede that the expences of thy house be moderate and in measure And the blessing of God be alwaies with thee A notable saying of Philip the faire king of Fraunce PHilip le bel king of Fraunce hauing a certaine quarrell against Pope Boniface the eight wherof hath bene before spoken and being vrged by some to take reuenge of the Bishop of Palmers who was the principall procurer and perswader of the contentioÌ„ between theÌ„ he made theÌ„ this answere That it was a greater glorie for any Prince of courage and magnanimitie to pardon those of whom he might easily take reuenge then to execute reuenge vpon them Of king Philip de Valois vvho confirmed the lavv Salique by the Scriptures CHarles le bel king of Faunce being deceased without heire male Edvvard the third king of England intitled himselfe King and inheritour of Fraunce in the right of his mother Isabel sister to the said king Charles Philip de Valois being the next heire male opposed himself against the title of king Edvvard and obtained the kingdome by colour of the law Salique which excludeth women from the Crowne of France and as the common saying of the French is suffereth it not to fall to the distaffe And amongst many authorities cited for the iustification of that law he alleadged for one these words of the holy Scripture Consider the Lilies of the field hovv they do grovv and do neither labour nor spinne Of the Latin verses vvhich king Edvvard and king Philip de Valois sent each to other AFter that king Edvvard of England had quartered the Armes of Fraunce with those of England had ioyned the three flowers Deluce in a field Azure with the three Lions Or in a field of Gules the report goeth that he sent to king Philip dâ— Valois these foure verses which howsoeuer they might be thought of in that age at this day are held but barbarous vz. Rex sum regnorum bina ratione duoruÌ„ AngloruÌ„ râ—gno sum rex ego iure paterno Matriâ— iure quidem FrancoruÌ„ nuncupor idem Hinc est armorum variatio facta meoruÌ„ TO these verses of king Edward king Philip replyed in other sixe as good stuffe as the former Praedo regnorum qui diceris essâ—duorum FrancoruÌ„ regno priuaberis atque paterno Matris vbique nullumius proles non habet vllum Iure mariti carens alia mulier est prior illa Succendunt mares huic regno non mulieres Hinc est armorum variatio stultatuoruÌ„ The ansvver of king Edvvard the third to those that required him to send aide to his sonne the black Prince at the battell of Cressie THe same Edvvard king of England in the field foughten betweene the armie of England and the French power vnder Philip de Valois at the battell of Cressie in Ponthieu where the French had a notable ouerthrow being told by an English knight that his sonne the Prince of VVales who had the conduct of the maine battell of the English and the Noblemen which were there with him were very fiercely assailed by the French and did desire his Maiestie to come to their succour with the Reareward whereof the king himselfe had the leading The king demaunded of the knight saying Is my sonne dead or hurt or striken down No Sir said the knight but he is hardly bestead Returne then quoth the king to them that sent you hither and tell them That my pleasure is they send no more to me for any aide as long as my sonne is liuing but let him alone this day win his spurres For if God so will my meaning is that the honour of this day shall be his This message did so encourage the English that they caryed away the victorie By vvinning of his spurres he meant he should get him the honour of a hardie Knight because one
of the said king A Motion being made vnto him on a time to marie the Ladiâ— Claude his daughter to some straunge Prince he answered No quoth he I will neuer make any other alliance then with the Cats and Mice of my owne kingdome A Princely speech of king Frauncis KIng Frauncis the first of that name to one that demaunded pardon for another man that had vsed ill speeches of his Maiestie said Let him for whome thou art a suter learne to speake little and I will learne to pardon much A speech of the same king touching Religion IN an Oration which he made on a time at Paris in the presence of his Princes and Nobles against the Heretickes with intent to purge his realme of them amongst other words he vsed this speech If I knew that my arme were infected with that contagion I would cut it off separate it from my bodie and cast it into the fire The opinion vvhich he had of Noblemen HE was wont to say that it much grieued him that the GentlemeÌ„ of his Realm did not giue themselues to the studie and exercise of letters to the intent he might prouide them of the dignities and Offices appertaining to the long robe For he was perswaded that that kind of men did do him the best seruice and that they ought to be lesse enclined to dishonest actions then men of meane parentage and base condition An excellent Apothegme of the same king THere being a purpose of a treatie of peace betweene the Emperour Charles the fifth and the said king Frauncis and being euen vpon the point to conclude it he said It is not possible that we can long continue in peace and amitie because the Emperour cannot abide any equall or companion and I can lesse endure to haue any man to my maister Of Pope Benedict the twelfth and his Epitaph POpe Benedict the twelfth was one that loued peace and vsed to say that he would neuer vse the sword against any person because it was not belonging to his place and calling He made many good decrees and constitutions and amongst others prohibited religious persons to go to Rome to sue for Benefices notwithstanding after his death whether it were right or wrong or vpon hatred some made this Epitaph of him Hic silus est Nero laicis mors Vipera clero Deuius á vero cupa repleta mero Which is to say Here lyeth a Nero to the laity a cruel tyrant to the Cleargy a viper To truth a mortall enemy and a notable wine bibber A mocke of the Flemmings to king Philip. IN the yeare a thousand three hundred twenty and eight the king Philip de Valois in the quarrell and behalfe of the Earle of Flaâ—ders gaue battell to the Flemings at Mount Cassell where were slaine of the said Flemings 19800. who before the conflict seeing the mightie Armie and puissance of the king very arrogantly caused the picture of a great cocke to be painted vpon a great peece of cloth about the which was written this Distichon VVhen this cocke shall happen to crovv The king shall here enter and not before I trovv But this mocke cost them deare for they sustained a bitter ouerthrow that same day Princely sayings and sentences of Alphonsus king of Naples ALphonsus surnamed the couragious the 17. king of Aragon and king of both Sicilies hearing it reported how one of the kings of Spain was wont to say that it was not decent nor conuenient for a Prince or great personage to be learned he said This speech was not the speech of a man but of an Asse crowned One day as he sate at supper a certaine old man being a suter vnto him for some thing which importuned him exceedingly beyond all measure to haue his petition graunted him in somuch as the king could not eate his meat quietly so troublesome was this fellow vnto him Whereupo he brake into these speeches Assuredly I see that the state and conditioÌ„ of Asses is better then this of Princes for their maisters do allow theÌ„ time and leasure to eate but kings cannot obtaine so much of their subiects A certaine knight being imprisoned for debt who for a long time had bene a prodigall and great spender and had liued voluptuously vpon the goods of diuerse Merchants and others to whom he was become indebted some of the friends of the said knight became instant suppliants to the king that he wold not permit the knight to be charged for the paiment of his debts To whoÌ„ the king answered Seeing this knight hath not consumed himselfe nor runne into debt for my seruice nor for the good and benefite of his country nor for his owne friends and kinseflkes but hath spent and wasted all his wealth for the pleasure of his owne bodie it is good reason that he suffer the punishment of his prodigality in his body Being one day reproued for his too too much clemency and because he many times pardoned those which had bene most hainous offenders his answer was That he did desire to stand readie prepared whensoeuer it should please God to call him to yeeld an accompt of those sheepe which were coÌ„mitted to his charge and that when they should be demaunded of him he might render them vp safe and sound He had also an vsual saying That by executing of Iustice he got the loue of good men and by his clemencie he purchased the liking euen of the wicked To some which at another time playned of his ouer great clemency and humanitie he said That they should consider and looke vpon the gouernment of Lions and of Beares and that then they should soone see that Clemencie was a qualitie proper to man but crueltie was proper to brute beasts He was wont likewise to say That he who knew not how to rule himself tomaister his own affections was neither fit nor worthie to command ouer others He said that flatterers were like to wolues for as the wolues by tickling scratching the Asses do come to eate and deuoure them so flatterers by their assentations leasings do aime at nothing more then to worke mischiefe vnto Princes The Ambassadours of a certaine Prouince repairing vnto him to craue his aduice to which of these two famous Chieftaines Frauncis Sforce Nicholas Picinni they shold gratifie with their friendship and amitie he answered That it behoued them both to receiue and entertaine each of them in shew of friends and yet to take good heed to either of them as to ehemies Whereas there was growne a secret hatred or dislike betweene the said king Alphonsus Cosmus de Medicis a man of principall regard and authoritie in Florence the said Cosmus notwithstanding fent vnto the king for a notable and singular present the historie of Titus Liuius with a Commentarie because he well knew that the King would take great pleasure in it The kings Phisitions being acquainted herewithall told him that he should do well not to reade
whole commonwealth and to himselfe also 18 Scipio the African for feare of the enuious very aduisedly forsooke Rome and went to dwell in a certaine village there to spend the rest of his life and to giue libertie to the enuious to breath their fill Of couetousnesse and couetous persons CHAP. 8. 1 AVarice and couetousnesse do vse to diminish and violate all offices be they of neuer so great holinesse or solemnitie 2 Auarice doth make both faith and bountie to decay 3 Auarice and couetousnesse is not the vice of gold but of man that vseth gold ill and wickedly 4 The daies of that man must needes be long that hateth and abhorreth couetousnesse 5 Many things are lacking to pouertie but to auarice all things are wanting 6 There be two things that do soone incite and prouoke a man to villanous and base gaine that is to say pouertie and couetousnesse 7 If there be any that possesseth many goods and yet leadeth his life in anguish and trouble certaine it is that he will be the most vnhappie of all men that euer were liuing or shall bee 8 Couetous persons do leade such a life as Flies who are euer trauelling and busying themselues as though they should liue for euer 9 I see many rich men that are hoorders and keepers of riches but they are not maisters of their money 10 We were borne once and it is not graunted vnto vs to be borne twice and as thou art not maister of the day to morrow so prolong not the time and liue as thou shouldest but liue to day 11 O then cursed hunger of gold what peruerse infortunate and vnhappie mischiefes doest thou bring into the mindes of mortall men 12 The studie of the couetous person is onely to gather and gaine monie which no wise man ought to desire 13 Out of the depth and bowels of the earth hath God shewed gold vnto men and they haue made it the occasion of all mischiefes and wickednesse 14 I may well say that some meÌ„ are so couetous as if they were to liue here for euer and other some are so prodigall as if they were to dye instantly 15 Man passeth away his daies with vaine cares because he knoweth not nor considereth what is the true end of hauing 16 Wicked men are as couetous of a little gaine as of a great 17 Money to many men is more deare then either faith or honestie Of Prodigalitie CHAP. 9. 1 SOme excusing the vice of prodigalitie said That in great aboundance of wealth and riches it may well be vsed to whom Zeno the Philosopher answering said Truely then ought we aswell to pardon our Cookes if for hauing store and abundance of salt they say that they haue therefore made our meates too salt 2 Diogenes the Philosopher demaunding of one that was a prodigal spender a peece of money which might be perhaps about some 150. pence he said vnto him Wherefore doest thou aske of me so great a summe whereas of others thou dost commonly begge but three small pence to whome Diogâ—nes answered Because I hope that of others I may aske again another time but of thee I thinke neuer to haue more 3 Socrates the Philosopher seeing one without all reason feasting all sorts of persons with the welth which he had Ill maist thou perish quoth he who makest thy graces which should be virgins to be strumpets noting that true bountie and liberality ought to be employed vpon occasion of merit and vertue and not confusedly 4 Crates the Philosopher was wont to say That the monies of rich prodigall men were like vnto figge-trees planted vpon the tops of high rockes and mountaines the fruites whereof no men could come to gather but the crowes and kites onely did take and deuour them So the treasures of prodigall rich men were possessed and enioyed only by bauds harlots and flatterers 5 Pouertie is the torment of a luxurious life 6 Prodigall persons do employ their money in things by which they can leaue either a very short or no memorie at all of themselues to posterities 7 No man ought to maruell at those who do spend their goods to make themselues more pleasing and agreable to the multitude and common people 8 The Emperour Nero had no other fruite of his riches and treasures but onely an excessiue charge of expences made by exceeding prodigalitie 9 Many do cast away their goods and patrimonie in giuing it without either iudgement or reason but what greater follie can there be then to studie and willingly to take care for the doing of that which thou canst not long endure and continue to do Of a lying toung and boldnes of speech CHAP. 10. 1 PHiloxenus a man of great knowledge being imprisoned by Denis the tyrant of Syracusa for that he had dispraised or not commended certaine verses which he had made was on a time taken out of prison and brought before the tyrant once againe to heare and giue his iudgement of the same verses being come and hauing heard them pronounced and read he made hast to be gone away out of his presence The tyrant asking him whither he went Philoxenus answered I go againe to thy prison noting that his verses were then as worthie to be misliked as before 2 Diogenes was wont to say that some dogges did barke against their enemies with purpose to bite them but I said he do barke at my friends to the intent to purge and heale theÌ„ of their ill deedes 3 Hippocrates the Philosopher being perswaded by one to go seeke out Xerxes the king of Persia because he was a good king he answered I haue not any thing to do with so good a patron 4 Thales the Philosopher being demaunded how farre different lying was from truth answered As farre as the eyes are distant from the eares 5 Theophrastus the Oratour being growne old and gray headed and comming to Lacedemon thought to shew himselfe as if he had bene but young for he delighted to hide the whitenesse of his haires with a certain dye or painting and being there before the Iudges pleading a certaine cause wherein he was retained one Archidamus a man very free and liberall of his speech happened notwithstanding he was so disguised to know him who suddenly burst out into these words But I pray what truth can you expect in this mans speech who both within and without him doth carry nothing but lyes and counterfeitings and that not onely in his mind but euen in his gray and aged head 6 There cannot happen any greater mishap or infelicitie to free men then to be depriued of their libertie of speech 7 Diogenes being blamed by a Greeke who told him that albeit he praised and commended the Lacedemonians more then any other people yet he would not liue with them nor neare them he answered him That the Phisition which is studious of health had no reason to dwell amongst those which were healthfull 8 Zenon hauing a purpose to giue an admonition to
demaundeth a hundred talents whereunto Alexander answered He doth well and like an honest man for he knoweth that he hath a friend and such a friend that can and will gladly bestow vpon him asmuch gold as he will desire 7 King Ptolome did vse to eate and drinke very often in the house of his friends and he neuer cared for the possession of any thing more theÌ„ was for the necessitie of life and he would commonly say that it was a more princely thing to make others rich then himselfe 8 True liberalitie is to giue vnto their nearest and next friends 9 Simon a famous captaine of the AtheniaÌ„s was a man of that bountie and liberalitie that hauing many possessions and gardens in diuerse places he neuer set any to watch theÌ„ to hinder others from taking away the fruites that grew in them but suffered euery man to vse them at his pleasure 10 The Emperour Domitian refused many a faire inheritance which diuerse rich men had left bequeathed vnto him 11 I esteeme that the most royall praise and commendation that can be giuen to any man is to do good vnto others and to be liberall 12 It is a very hard and difficult matter for a rich man to be liberall because the liberall man doth not vse to be much sparie but is enclined plentifully to poure out and to depart with his riches 13 Marke Anthonie the Philosopher had nothing more in hatred detestation then couetousnesse Of Noblenesse and magnanimity CHAP. 16. 1 THe same Anthonie being reproched by a fife-player that he was not borne of noble bloud made him this answer I am therefore the more worthie to be commended because the nobilitie of my lineage beginneth with me 2 Beautie or comelines of countenance and moderation of mind are two things that do principally and especially belong to noble and men of honest reputation and those two qualities haue neede also of force strength to be ioyned with them As for other delicacies and lasciuities they haue a good grace in herbes and flowers 3 Anacharâ—is the Philosopher being cast in the teeth as with a matter of ignominie or infamie That he was a Scithian or Tartarian borne answered certainely I do not liue according to the custome and fashion of the Tartarians 4 Socrates being demaunded what was nobilitie answered It is a temperance both of soule and of bodie 5 As we do not therefore iudge bread to be good because the corne grew in a faire field vnlesse the same be leauened and baked with great labour and trauell so do we not esteem any man noble albeit he be borne of a noble familie vnlesse he be noble by vertue and honest conditions 6 The man that is magnanimous and of a great spirit doth continually carrie himselfe vpright vnder any burthen be it neuer so puissant and nothing doth happen displeasing vnto him be it neuer so difficult and hard to be borne for he knoweth his owne forces and with vertue he vanquisheth fortune 7 The nobilitie of anothers bloud doth not make thee noble if thou do not purchase thy nobilitie of and by thy selfe and thy owne vertue 8 Nobilitie ought not to be measured and considered according to bloud but according to the customes vsually obserued 9 We do not say that any man is good in regard of the nobilitie of his birth but for the excellencie of his vertue 10 True nobilitie dependeth of vertue and all other things are of fortune 11 The noble and couragious hart hath this propertie to be alwaies doing of things honest and vertuous and you shall neuer see any man of an high and great spirit to delight in small and base things or in such as are dishonest 12 What auaileth it any man to be of a noble lineage and to be polluted with vices And what hurteth it a man to be issued of a poore house if he be adorned and beautified with vertuous qualities 13 True nobilitie is to relye vpon a mans owne proper vertues and not vpon those of another 14 Magnanimitie and greatnes of courage is as a certaine ornament of all vertues 15 That man onely is to be called and accounted a man of a great spirit and magnanimitie who both is and esteemeth himselfe worthie of great things and he which in his actions doth not carrie himselfe according to the power and abilitie of his dignitie is reputed a simple and a foolish person 16 There be foure sorts of nobilitie or gentrie the first is of those who are borne of good and honest parents the second is of those whose parents haue bene Princes and great personages the third is of them whose auncestors haue bene renowned and famous the fourth and most commendable of all is when a man is excellent by his owne proper vertue his owne industrie and haughtinesse of courage Of Bountie and humanitie CHAP. 17. 1 IT was said by Licurgus of Lacedemonia that victorie was gotten by riches and bountie by the perseuerance of good customes 2 Aristippus the Philosopher being demaunded what thing in this life was most worthie of admiration answered that it was man prouided alwaies that he were such a one as were good and modest 3 Scipio the Affrican obseruing the admonitions of Polibius during his whole life would neuer lightly depart or leaue any place where he came but he would first purchase himselfe some one or other for his friend 4 Alexander the Great hauing sent for a present an hundred talents to Phocion of Athens was demaunded by those which carried the siluer that seeing there was so great number of Athenians besides him why he shold giue vnto Phocion onely so great a summe of money Alexander answered because I do not hold nor iudge any other Athenian so good and iust a man as Phocion 5 Themistocles in setting to open and publike sale a certaine peece of inheritance to him that would giue most said vnto the Crier Let it be cryed that it hath good neighbours dwelling round about it 6 The Oratour Demosthenes making an Oration vnto the Senate and seeing Phocion comming a farre off said Behold the hatchet and the sharpe cutting sword of my speech commeth here at hand by which kind of speech he meant that the force of speech hath no such effect and puissance as the excellencie of good and vertuous conditions 7 They who do accustome theÌ„selues to good fashions their life commonly is well fashioned and ordered 8 It is a most assured signe and prognostication that that citie will quickely runne to ruine wherein the good are not knowne nor discerned from the wicked 9 It is requisite that the good be stirred vp to vertue by praise and rewards and the wicked by correction and punishment and they that will not be reformed ought to be driuen into exile 10 It is a thing very vnfit and inconuenient for a man to carrie goodnesse in his mouth and none at all in his heart 11 As it is a great fault and folly for
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