he fell on weeping and being demaunded the cause why he wept he answered Because his father got so many Countreys that he doubted lest he would leaue none for him to conquer Cleane contrarie said he doth my son Alexander for seeing me to loose he is afraid lest I will lose so much as I will leaue little or nothing for him to lose A quippe giuen by one Raphaell an Italian Painter to tvvo Cardinals THe excellent and famous painter Raphael of Vrbin being very inward with two Cardinals they to see what he would say vnto them in his presence found fault with a certaine table or picture of his making wherein S. Peter and S. Paule were painted saying That the visage of those two images were too red whereunto he quickly made answer My lords thinke not much that they looke so red for I haue painted thē as they now are in heauen and this rednesse in their faces commeth of pure shame which they haue to see the Church so ill gouerned by such men as you are A prudent counsell of Laurence de Medicis SEigneur Lavvrence de Medicis not knowing how to restraine the excessiue liberalitie of his sonne Cosmus de Medicis who vsed to giue vnmeasurable summes both of gold and siluer to his fauorites and not willing to haue either his sonne noted of prodigalitie nor himselfe of auarice yet being withall more vnwilling to tell him of it because he would not discontent him he deuised a very subtill and honest pollicie how to effect his desire which was this He commaunded his pursebearer that when his sonne did demaund any money of him that he should not deny him any but should giue it him whatsoeuer he desired yet with this conditiō that Seigneur Cosmus himselfe should count and tell out the money which he desired Within a while the sonne came to the pursebearer demanded 8000. duckets which he meant to giue for a present to some great personage the pursebearer said vnto him that he wold gladly deliuer him the summe he desired vpon condition that himselfe would count it out according as he had in charge giuen him from his Lord and maister Seigneur Laurence Cosmus accepting the offer fell to telling of his duckets but he had not counted the two thousand of them but he began to bewearie because he thought too much time lost from his accustomed pleasures insomuch as in the midst of his count he left all and fell into consideration with himselfe that the summe was too great to giue away and so determined from thencefoorth to be no more so prodigall A counsell of Cosmus de Medicis A Certaine man had obtained an office neare vnto Florence by the meanes and mediation of Cosmus de Medicis of whome he demaunded his aduice what meanes he might vse in his office for the good managing of his affaires Seigneur Cosmus answered him Cloth thy selfe with scarlet and speake little The man that speaketh litle cannot be conuinced of folly and a goodly habite were it on a beast vvill get him reputation but a vvise man wil soone find a difference A speech of a Pope THe Bishop of Seruia desirous to sound the Popes mind touching a sute which he would gladly haue graunted him said vnto him Holy Father it is a common speech ouer all Rome and in your pallace that your Holinesse hath made me Gouernour of the citie whereunto the Pope answered Let them say what they list they are some leud fellowes that talke so But do not you beleeue it to be so for you shall find it nothing lesse The death of the Chauncelor of Millain LEvvis Sforce being in the castell of Millain and perceiuing that the army of the French king Levvis the twelfth was comming to besiege him demaunded of Maister Sico his Chauncellour what he thought the best meane to gard and defend his castell against the French he answered L'amor de gli huomini The loue of the people The duke storming very exceedingly at his speech and knowing that the Chancellour was well beloued of the Millanois entred into a suspition of him that he had a purpose to depriue him of his principalitie And to set his mind at quiet from this conceipt he caused the Chauncellour to be beheaded on a high scaffold in an open and publike place The Chauncelor before his death complaining of the crueltie of the said Levvis said these words Ameil cappo á te il stato which is as if he would say Thou causest me to lose my head but others will make thee lose thy Seigneurie and state which was in the end well verified for within a small time after hauing lost the Duchie and castell of Millaine he was led prisoner into Fraunce where he died in great miserie The loue of the subiects is the most firme pillar for any Prince to leane vnto for vvhere hatred raigneth a Prince hath no assurance Also many men at their death do foreshevv things to come and that oftentimes by the iust iudgement of the deuine vengeance A saying of Pope Alexander the sixth VVHen king Charles the eighth passed into Italy towards the realme of Naples which he conquered in a very short time Pope Alexander the sixth who then liued said The French men are come into this countrey with their spurres made of wood and with chalke in their hands as though they came like Friers to marke out their lodgings without any further labour or trauell By this speech he noted with what ease facilitie the French atchieued the conquest of the kingdome of Naples The ansvver of the Countie of Nansot THe Earle of Nansot Lieutenant for the Emperour Charles the fifth hauing besieged the towne of Peronne which held for the French the Queene of Hungarie sister to the Emperour and Regent of that countrie for him sent letters vnto the said Earle the contents whereof were That she was ashamed and much maruelled how he could spend so long time before Peronne which was but esteemed but in manner of a douecote whereunto he returned this answer that true it was the towne was but a little douecote but yet the pigoens which were within it were strong and not easie to be taken A small place the stronger it is the more difficult it is to be gotten and it is more easie to be defended vvhen the defendants are vvell appointed and furnished for resistance Of the Lord of Trimouille KIng Frauncis the first ordinarily did vse to go to Masse in his Chappell but the lord of Trimouille would euer go to the publick church that was next adioyning and being on a time demaunded why he went not to heare Masse in the Chappell with the king he answered I will go thither where my great maister is An act of the Duchesse of Burbon THe report is that the Duchesse of Burbon had in her house a certain damosell who through loue suffered her selfe to be gotten with child for which fault she being sharpely reprehended to purge her selfe she said
your sacred Maiestie to make and create me a Gentleman For I haue wealth sufficient to maintaine the state and degree of a Gentleman The Emperor answered him I can make thee much more rich theÌ„ thou art but it is not in my power to make thee noble For that is an honour which thou must purchase by thy owne proper vertue An answer of Maximilian to one that demaunded an almes of him A Certaine poore man very ill appointed entred into the Pallace of the Emperour and required that he might haue accesse to his Maiestie to speake with him which being denyed him he continued notwithstanding so to importune the Vshers that the Emperour willed the poore man to be brought vnto him to whom he said Most sacred Emperour you and I are brothers borne of one Father Adam and of one Mother Eue and you see my pouertie may it therefore please your Excellencie to enlarge my estate and to bestow some wealth vpon me as ech brother is bound to do one for another The Emperour noting the rashnesse and follie of this fellow caused a small peece of money to be giuen him where at the poore man making shew but of small contentment because he found his hope frustrate in regard of that great liberalitie which he expected The Emperour said vnto him me thinkes thou sholdest hold thy self contented with that which I haue giuen thee For true it is as thou saidest we are all brothers and if all the rest of our brethren would giue thee as much as I haue done thou wouldest be much more rich and a greater Lord then I am The wish of the same Maximilian AS he was one day deuising with his familiar friends and discoursing of Empires Realmes and Seignories If it were possible for a man to be God and my selfe were so hauing two sonnes I would desire that the eldest might be God after me that the second might be king of Fraunce Of the act of the Emperour Charles the fifth when he was to make a voyage into Barbarie CHarles the fifth Emperor of that name being in a readinesse to depart vpon his first voyage into Barbarie to the kingdome of Thunis against Barbarossa and desirous to prouide a Generall for the armie and finding none whom he held sufficient he tooke the image of the Crucifixe and in a generall assembly of his whole armie liâ—ting the same as high as he could said Our Lord â—esus Christ shall be Chieftaâ—e Captaine Generall of this enterprize being so glorious so holy and so honourable A notable sentence of Constantine the Emperour COnstantine Ducas the son of Andronicus Emperour of Constantinople was not in any sort himselfe learned and yet he did so exceedingly loue both learning and men of knowledge that he was wont to say I hold it farre better to be made noble and excellent by learning then by the possession of the Empire A speech of the Emperour Henry touching his contentment THe Emperour Henry the first of that name of the house of Saxonie before that he came to be crowned in Italy or to receiue the ceremonious Titles of the Empire Howbeit that the Pope had offered him the Imperiall Crowne and Diademe and to annoint him Emperour yet he neither accepted nor refused it saying vnto his people It sufficeth me that by the gâ—ace of God and you I haue the name of Emperour None of my predecessors and auncestours hauing euer had the honour to attaine thereunto The Charitie of the Emperour Tiberius THe Emperour Tiberius Constantine a Thracian borne being reprehended by his wife Sophia Augusta because he distributed in great abundance to the poore all the treasures which she and her first husband Iustin had gathered together in many yeares he answered her My trust is in God that our treasure shall be neuer a whit the lesse for being distributed to the releefe of the poore and the redeeming of captiues and prisoners For in so doing we gather that great treasure whereof our Lord Iesus Christ spake in the sixt chapter of Saint Mathevv his Gospell saying Lay vp for your selues treasures in heauen where neither mothes nor wormes can corrupt theÌ„ nor theeues can do you any dammage by stealing them The saying of the same Tiberius at the time of his deaeh to his son in law THe same Tiberius perceiuing the time of his death to approch by the connsell and aduice of the Empresse Sophia pronounced for his successour to the Empire Mauritius one borne in Cappadocia and giuing vnto him in mariage his daughter with the Imperiall vestures and ornaments he said Here I deliuer vnto thee both my Empire and this maiden for thy wife wishing thee to serue thee of her so as may be for thy good and benefite and that aboue all things thou remember to maintaine equitie and iustice The fairest flower of a Princes Crowne is iustice by which Kings do raigne Of a duke of Freeze vvhich vvould not be baptized ROboald duke of Freezeland at the preaching of VValâ—â—â—n Archbishop of Sens had determined to haue bene baptized to which end being stripped out of his garments as he stood naked and had put one foot into the water he bethought himselfe and asked the standers by what was become of his parents and friends deceased wheâ—her they were in Paradise or in hel Answer was made him that doubtlesse they were all damned in hell and that not any of them was in Paradise because they were not Christians At this speech he suddenly drew backe his foote and contrarie to the expectation of all the assembly said aloft That he would not be baptized but that he would goe after his death where he knew he should find most of his friends And the same day he dyed suddenly The revvard vvhich Clouis king of Fraunce gaue to those vvhich had betrayed their maister CLouis the first Christian king of Fraunce hauing warres with Richer duke of Cambray a man of very bad conditions and lewd life the Barrons of the said Duke promised the King that if he would come and deliuer battell to their Lord they would betake themselues to flight leaue their Lord to be taken prisoner The king Clouis for the effecting of this enterprize sent vnto the traitors a number of Corcelets of Copper very richly guilt And the plot being executed according to the agreement Richer was taken and put to death After which the traitors being aggrieued that the presents which the King had sent them were of so small valure They complained vnto him saying that they were but badly recompenced to whome the king answered not without discretioÌ„ Do you not konw how sufficiently I haue rewarded you in giuing you your liues In your own iudgements thinke with what torments they deserue to be punished which haue betrayed their Lord and maister Wherefore hold it for no small benefite and fauour that I suffer you to liue and get you hence speedily if you be not wearie of your liues Where at the traitors
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
vnto his youngest brother the Duchie of Burgundy for an inheritance hauing giuen him therewithall Margret the sole daughter and heire of Flaunders to his wife After the said battell of Mountleherie one told him that his enemie the County of Charolois did passe the night following in the place where the battell was foughten No maruel quoth the king if he remaine and lodge in the fields seeing he hath neither Towne nor Castle to retire vnto He was wont to say That where pride rideth afore shame and dishonour do follow after He being on a day at Masse in a church of Chanons he was told that one of the Chanons was that day departed whereupon casting his eye aside and perceiuing a simple Priest which lay sleeping in a Chappel therby adioyning he said I do giue this Prebend to that fellow that lyeth there because he shall say hereafter that his wealth and good fortune came vnto him sleeping THe Capitaine Maran making his repaire to the Court of this king Levvis with purpose to aduertise him of the exploits which he had done at Cambray he wore about his necke a rich collar or chaine of gold which as the reportweâ—t had bene made of the reliques of the church of Cambray And as a certaine Gentleman standing by was readie to handle the said collar the King said vnto the Gentleman Beware and take good heede sir how you touch that chaine for I can tell you it is a holy thing By this saying he taxed the Captaine with sacriledge wherevvith souldiers should not be tainted because in sacking of any place all holy things are to be spared THe Archbishop of Tours talking familiarly with him of the great troubles which he had at the beginning of his raigne against the Princes of Fraunce he said vnto him If I had not caused my selfe to be feared and shewed my self both of courage and experience I might well haue bene put in the last chapter of Boccace his booke where he intreateth of vnhappie and vnfortunate Princes HAuing heard it reported how Nicholas Raulin the Chauncelor of the duke of Burgundie a man of excessiue wealth riches had founded at Beaune in Burgundy a goodly Hospital that did excell both for the statelinesse of the building and for the sumptuousnesse of the mouables wherewith it was furnished he said There is great reason that the Chancelour of Burgundie which in his life time hath made many a man poore ' should at his latter end make an Hospitall where to nourish and lodge them THe said king Levvis being vnwilling that his sonne Charles the eighth should apply his mind to learning he said That the time which was spent in studie ought to be employed rather in the care of gouerning the kingdome and common-wealth and that he which should betake himselfe to studie and learning by the vse thereof would become â—imerous and lesse hardie to vndertake great affaires because in taking example of others out of histories he would not dare to enterprize any action of importance the execution whereof might be doubtfull and vncertaine He was wont to say That he which knew not how to dissemble was altogether vnskilfull how to rule and gouerne One of the Pages of his chamber hauing taken a louse from off his garment he said This sheweth that I am a man as others are One comming to tell him that the Genowaies had a disposition to yeeld themselues vnder his protection he answered They shall not long remaine vnder me for I bequeath theÌ„ to the Diuell The said king Lewis being determined to send an Ambassador to the Venetians he conferred with his Councell whom he might choose as most fit and proper to dispatch that seruice A certaine Nobleman naming one vnto him that was his near kinsman and whom he was willing to aduaunce the King demaunded of him what kind of man he was The Nobleman answered Sir he is Bishop of such a place Abbot of such a Monasterie Lord of such a Seignorie and so curiously discouered al his qualities and Seignories The King alluding to the briefe maner of writing then vsed said There where are so many titles is litle learning or none at all A Certaine great personage hauing told him how he was alwaies troubled with the Gowte whilest he hued at ease with good and daintie fare and rich clothing and that afterwards when he began to accustome himselfe to trauell and take paines to fare grosly to go coursly clad that then the gowte began to leaue him the King said and I for my part will neuer from hencefoorth weare other clothes then of cloth for that the gowt doth sooner take hold of silke then of wooll He had a saying That there was not any thing whatsoeuer but he cold find it both in his kingdome yea and in his house saue onely one thing And being demaunded by a great Lord what thing that was he answered It was truth For I remember said he that my late Lord and father was wont to say That in his time truth was sicke but I think that now it is staâ—ke dead and that she neuer had any ghostly father to coÌ„fesse her at her death A certaine Nobleman demaunded of him how much the kingdom of Fraunce was worth in a yeare he answered My Realme is a medow which I cut both euery yeare and as often as I list A certaine meane person of base condition following the Court of king Lewis and yet not knowing the king when he saw him it happened that one day the king aduising him asked him what he gained by following the Court. The fellow answered I gaine as much as the king for both he and I liue of God his bountie and at our departure out of this world he shal haue no more with him then I shall The King esteeming well of the speech of the man made him one of the Pages of his chamber The life of men is different but the end of all is common and alike BEing told that a certaine great personage had a goodly Library and a great number of faire bookes he said Then may he well be resembled to a man that is crooke backed who caryeth his great bosse behind him at his backe and neuer seeth it By this saying he taxed the partie both of curiositie and ignorance VVHensoeuer he had neede or occasion to employ any maÌ„ in his affaires he would gaine them to do it with rewards and store of gold For he was wont to say that when a man fighteth with siluer lances he commonly caryeth away the victoria HE vsed to say That many times too great seruices done to Princes did cause the losse of them that did the seruice for that most commonly they are recompenced with great ingratitude Howbeit that it might happen by the default of the parties themselues who in regard of their great seruice do vse their good fortune with ouermuch arrogancie both towards their Lords and towards their friends and equals He said moreouer
theÌ„ to commence sute or to bring processe against the seruitours of God his Church whereof may arise and grow any offence and scandall A saying of Pope Vrban the fifth KIng Charles the fifth being desirous to ridde his countrey and kingdome of Fraunce of those men at armes both English and French which after the treatie of peace accorded betweene those two nations did ouerrunne and spoile the countrey of Fraunce the lord Bertrand du Guesclin obtained leaue of the king to leade them into the realme of Granada against the Saracens And by reason of the pilferies and robberies which these men at armes had committed the Pope Vrban the fifth had excommunicated them Bertrand du Guesclin hauing assembled them together and being chosen Generall of these forces to passe with them into Spaine marched away with them by the way of Auignon where the Pope Vrban the fifth was then resident who sent a Cardinall vnto them to know what was their demaund to the which Cardinall Bertrand answered Sir I pray tell his Holinesse that these men of warre do demaund pardon absolution both from the gilt and the punishment of their sinnes which they haue committed and for the which they haue incurred the sentence of excommunication and besides they do require two thousand Florins of gold to maintaine them and to defray their charges in their voyage vndertaken for the aduancement of the Christian faith The Cardinall making report vnto the Pope of his message his answer was this This is very straunge and a maruellous matter that this people should demaund absolution and money and our custome is to giue absolution and to take money The opinion of the Earle of Arminacke THe Nobles and Barons of Guien being assembled in counsell to giue an answer vnto the demaunds of the Prince of VVales who was purposed to make warre in Spaine because the most part of them thought it vnlawfull and an enterprise of small reason and were desirous to be resolued amongst themselues of the truth of the matter The Earle of Arminacke spake vnto them on this manner It is not fit nor a thing appertinent to the subiect who standeth vpon the reputation of his faith and loyaltie to dispute of the rights and interests which his Prince may haue in vndertaking warre against another Prince but he ought to yeeld him his best seruice and endeuours whensoeuer he shall be required thereunto for he ought to be perswaded that his Prince in so doing doth nothing but vpon good counsell aduice neither ought he any further to be inquisitiue therinto Euery vvarre vndertaken vpon an vniust quarrell is to the dishonour rather of the Prince then of the subiect The saying of the Earle of Foix. GAston the second of that name Earle of Foix hauing taken to wife Elinor the daughter of CoÌ„minge who was much elder then himselfe certaine Nobles of that countrey being in communication with her of that mariage told her That she had taken and chosen an husband who was much younger then she to whoÌ„ she answered If I had knowne that the Earle of Foix should haue bene my husband I would not haue bene borne so soone but haue stayed for him In euery good mariage it is requisit that the parties be equal and alike in conditions age and vvealth The last words of the king of Nauarre at his death FRauncis Phoebus Earle of Foix and king of Nauarre lying vpon his death bed in the very agonie and last panges of death vsed these wordes for his last speech Regnum meum non est de hoc mundo I dâ—ò relinquo mundum non conturbemini quia vado ad patrem My kingdome is not of this world therefore I leaue the world be not you troubled for I go to the father The answer of Iouian Pontanus IOuian Pontanus an excellent Philosopher and a notable Poet being demaunded why he did eate but of one kind of meate at his meale and of that also very little and in great sobrietie he answered Because I wold not haue any need of the Phisition All Phisitions are of accordin this that diuersitie of meates do hinder the digestion and ingender sicknesses and diseases A pleasant conceipt of the brother of Sanctius brother to the king of Spaine A Solemne Councel being assembled at Rome to consult vpon the taking of armes against the Saracens who had the possession of the holy land it was of a long time there debated who should be chosen as the most worthie and sufficient to haue the conduct and commaund of the armie After many opinions it was concluded that Sanctius brother to the king of Spaine in regard of his good parts his hardinesse courage and vertues should be the chiefe and Generall of this honourable enterprise because it was well known that he was a man deuoide of couetousnesse and ambition and of excellent expedition in deedes of armes whervpon he being after this election come to Rome and repairing to the Conclaue where the Pope Cardinals and Princes of Christendome were assembled together he was immediately in the presence of them all by the decree and ordinance of the Pope amongst other articles proclaimed and declared King of Egypt vpon the which Proclamation all the people showted with a publicke crie and acclamation exceedingly reioyced He not skilled in the Latine tongue and not knowing wherat the Consistorie did make that triumphing demaunded the cause of his interpreter who hauing told him that the Pope had graunted and proclaimed him king of Egypt he said vnto his interpreter Stand vp and make here presently a Proclamation before all this people here assembled that seeing the Pope hath made me king of Egypt he therefore shall be Caliph of Babylon This was a sudden and royall liberality to recompence him with a vaine title of Pontificalitie from vvhom he had receiued the name and stile of a king vvithout a kingdome The opinion of the king of Sicilie RObert king of Sicilie being on a time in communication with that famous Italian Poet Frauncis Petrarch told him That he was more in loue with his bookes then his own Crown and that he held more deare the learning and knowledge which he had gotté in the studying of good letters then all the honours and riches of his realme This opinion vvas cleane contrarie to that of the French king Levvis the eleuenth The mind of the Emperour Fredericke vvhich he shevved towards his vvife THe Emperour Fredericke did neuer vse to drinke wine but at his meals and euen then he vsed to mingle and temper it with a great quantitie of water His wife the Empresse Leonor did likewise neuer vse to drinke any wine whilest she liued in her fathers house and being come to the imperiall dignitie the Phisitions of Almaine aduised her to vse wine if she meant to haue any children because the climate of that countrey was very cold wherof Fredericke being aduertised commaunded one of his neare and familiar friends to
become senslesse to whom the King answered It were a very vncourteous and inhumane act to take away from him his substance and meanes of liuing from whome fortune hath alre adie taken his vnderstanding He said that those men seemed vnto him meerely senslesse and void of vnderstanding who would seeke to haue againe their wiues which had bene fled and seuered from them He said that it were a very good thing if men would so ballance their wils and affections as they might stand indifferent betweene loue and feare to the intent that when our loue should constraine vs to exceed our feare might cause vs to retire and to draw to the contrarie HEaring certaine labourers talking together and telling how they had made apples which by their nature were very sowre by industrie and diligence to become very sweete and pleasant he said So ought we to do that our people citizens and subiects being rude peruerse and euill minded by our labor and paines may be transformed and chaunged into wise prudent and good men He was wont to say that the greatest argument which he had obserued to proue the immortalitie of the soule was That when we see our bodies to decay and weare away and to approch neare to death and that when all our members beginne to faile vs euen then the powers and vertues of the soule do increase and as it were grow stronger and more puissant in vnderstanding vertue and wisedome Being one day hearing of Masse and the church in great daunger of falling by reason of a sudden earthquake the people there present began to fly out of the church and the Priest made hast to be gone with the foremost But the king Alphonsus stopping him made him stay and make an end of his Masse Afterwards being demaunded why in a time of so great daunger and common feare he did not offer to shunne and abandon the place he answered in great grauitie with this sentence of Salomon out of Ecclesiastes Corda regum in manu Dei sunt The harts of Kings are in the handes of God HE had a saying that beauty most commonly was a significant signe and a token of a good and gentle conuersation as the flower is a signe of the fruit Hearing one tell how Titus the Romane Emperour was accustomed to say That in what day soeuer he had not giuen some one gift or another he had lost that day Alphonsus said That he thanked God because he in that respect had neuer lost one day in all his life He tooke so great pleasure delight in studying and in reading of Diuinitie that he would many times glorie how he had read ouer the old and new Testament fourteene times together with the gloses and Commentaries He was wont oftentimes to say That he had not any better Councellours then the dead By the dead he meant his bookes and he caried for his Ensigne and deuice a booke open He was a great louer of antiquities and of the auncient mettals and monies of Princes saying That in the viewing and beholding of them he seemed to grow the more inflamed with the loue of vertue and of glorie Of the magnanimitie of Charles Martell as it is â—ritten of him in his Epitaph CHarles Martell Maior of the Pallace of the Crowne and kingdome of Fraunce which some say is the Office of Constable did make foure kings in Fraunce each successiuely after other to wit Childericke called Daniel Clotarius the fourth Theodorike the second and Childericke the third This last Childericke offered vnto the said Charles Martell the Realme and Crowne of Fraunce and prayed him to take vpon him both the name and the Diademe which he refused saying That it was more glorious to raigne and commaund ouer kings then to be a king And in his Epitaph is written this sentence Ille Brabantinus dux primus in orbe triumphat Malleus in mundo specialis Christicolarum Dux Dominiâ—sque Ducum Regum quo'que Rex fore spernit Non vult regnare sed regibus mperatâ— ipse He was surnamed Martell for the the exceeding great strength of his arme in memorie of the victories which he obtained in diuerse battels The iudgement of Sultan Soliman the great Scigneur or Emperour of Turkes IN the citie of Constantinople a certaine Christian desired to borrow of a lew the some of fiue hundred duckets The lew lent them vnto him with condition that for the vse of the money lent he should at the end of tearme giue him two ounces of his flesh cut off in some one of the meÌ„bers of his bodie The day of payment being come the Christian repayed the fiue hundred duckets to the lew but refused to giue him any part of his flesh The lew not willing to loose his interest conuented the Christian before the Grand Seigneur who hauing heard the demaund of the one and the answer of the other and iudging of the matter according to equitie commaunded a Razor to be brought and to be giuen to the Iew to whome he said Because thou shalt know that iustice is done thee take there and cut off of the flesh of this Christian the two ounces which thou demandest but take heed thou cut neither more nor lesse for if thou doe thou shalt surely dye The Iewe holding that to be a thing impossible durst not aduenture but acquitted the Christian of his interest Of a writing which the king of Naples caused to be engrauen vpon his svvord ROger the second of that name king of Naples held warres for a long time with the Popes of Rome by reason of those Lands and Territories which he pretended to be his by conquest And he had discomfited also the king of Thunis in a battell at sea Of the which victories he did so glorie and triumph that he caused to be engrauen on the blade of his sword this verse Apulus Calaber Siculus mihi seruit Afer The sacrilegious vaunt of a King of England VVIlliam Rufus king of EnglaÌ„d hauing pilled the Churches and Monasteries of his Realme and taking away their Chalices other Reliques of gold and siluer which he found in them vsed these words The bread of God is very delicate pleasant to eate and it causeth Princes to make good cheare The Testament of Saladin SAladin king of Asia of Syria and of Egypt shewed at his death how well he knew the life of man to be most miserable For he commaunded that after his decease the shirt which he vsed to weare shold be caryed vpon the top of a lance throughout all his Campe in the open sight of all his Nobles Captaines souldiers and that the party which shold carie it should cry with a loud voice Behold how Saladin the great Conquerour and Commander of Asia of all those great riches and conquests which he hath purchased doth carry nothing with him saue this onely peece of linnen The chiefest thing wherein men can iustly triumph at their departure out of this