MEMORABLE CONCEITS OF DIVERS NOble and famous personages of Christendome of this our moderne time LONDON Printed for Iames Shaw 1602. TO THE TOWARDLY YOVNG Gentleman Maister Walter Rawleigh sonne and heire apparant to the honourable Sir Walter Ravvleigh Knight Lord VVarden of the Stanneries Captaine of her Maiesties Guard Lieutenant of the Countie of Cornevvell and Gouernour of the Isle of Iarsey SIr hauing a great desire by some meanes to signifie my affection vnto you I thought I could not better do it nor find a more readie meane thereunto then by preferring and dedicating this little Pamphlet vnto you the which containing most rare and excellent examples of wise and wittie sayings and notable instructions to vertue and vertuous actions I suppose cannot more fitly be presented then vnto you in whose young yeares doth alreadie appeare a most towardly inclination and hopefull expectation both of wit and vertue such as your riper yeares I doubt not will bring to an excellency of perfection To the furtherance wherof albeit this smal Treatise shall perhaps be able to adde little accesse in regard of the plentiful helpes wherewith you are alreadie furnished to that effect yet it may be that both the pleasure and the profite thereof may in some sort proue worthie both of your labour in reading and perusing of it and of my affection in offering it vnto you Not doubting therefore but it shall be accepted as pleasingly as I haue presented it willingly most humbly I take my leaue Your Worships euer to be commaunded I. S. The names of the Popes Emperours Kings Lords and others mentioned in this Booke A ABbot of Baigne 20 Adrian Pope 21 Albert Emperour 32 Alexander Seuerus Emperour 38 Alexander the third Pope 1. 2 Alexander the fift Pope 11 Alexander the sixt Pope 215 Alfonsus ksng of Naples 104. vnto 119 Anna Queene of Fraunce 92 Anthony Panormitane 112. 132 Anthony du Prat Chancelor of France 196. Anthony Agnello and his interpretation 204. Apothegme of an Englishman 186 Archbishop of Collaine 18 Attila king of the Gothes 51 Aulilie 46 Ayme duke of Sauoy 144 B BAiazet the great Turke 125 Barba widow to Sigismond the Emperour 31 Bartholomew of Aluian 156 Battels at Guingate and Fornoue 161 Bayard Captaine 163 Bertrand Guesclin Constable of Fraunce 152. Benedict the twelfth Pope 103 Bishop elect of Senlis 162 Bishop of Seruia 213 By-word of three Nations 199 Blanch Dutchesse of Orleance 70 Borso duke of Ferrara 143 Boniface the eight Pope 6. 7. 8 C CAesar Borgias duke of Vrbin 146 Calixt Pope 11 Cardinall Cossa 10 Charles Martell 119 Charles the Great Emperour 23 Charles the bald Emperour 25 Charles the fift Emperour 41. 220 Charles the sixt king of France 75 Charles the eight king of France 90. 91 Charles duke of Burgundy 199 Chabanes great maister of Fraunce 227 Chiniton or Kniton king of England 203. Clement the fourth Pope 5 Clement the seuenth Pope 179 Clouis king of Fraunce 45 Clotair the first king of Fraunce 51 Columna Ascanius 158 Columna Prosper 158 Conrade king of Naples 130 Constantine Ducas Emperour 42 D DAnt the Italian Poet. 165 Duke of Millaines cooke 184 Dutchesse 218 Dutchesse of Burbon 217 E EArle of Arminacke 272 Earle of Lazaran 126 Earle of Nassaw 215 Earle of Petillan 142 Edward king of England 67. 68. 71. 72 Elenor Countesse of Foix. 173 Elizabeth of Bâ—heme 188 Emanuell king of Portugal 21 Embassadours of Sicily 128 Embassadours of Venice 192 Englishmens oath 75 F FErdinand king of Naples 132 Flemings mocke 103 Foole to king Alphonsus 202 Foole to the duke of Austrich 189 Foole to the Marquesse of Guast 221 Foole to the duke of Millain 233 Foâ—ques the fifth Earle of Aniow 134. 135. Frauncis the first king of Fraunce 101. 102. Frauncis Phaebus king of Nauarre 174 Francis of Burbon Earle of Anguien 220 Fredericke the Emperour 178 Fredericke the first Emperour 23 Fredericke the second Emperour 3 Fredericke the third Emperour 32. 35 Fredericke Marquesse of Mantua 208 French Gentleman 180 French Gentlemen 165 French Knights 162 G GEin Ottoman a Turke 207 Gentleman of Genoa 160 Gordian the younger Emperour 38 Godfrey of Bollogne 125 Gonnor Dutchesse of Normandie 187 Great Captaine 206. 207 Gregorie Pope 9 H HEnry the first Emperour 42 Henry of Lancaster king of England 73. Hire a French Captaine 155 I IAmes of Genouillay Lord of Assier 192. Iohn king of Fraunce 71 Iohn duke of Brittaine 137 Iohn Galeas duke of Millain 138. 150 Iohn of Ionuille 181 Iohn de Maingre Marshall of Fraunce 147. Iohn of Saintré 148 Iohn Gonzaga 209 Iohn of Menu a Poet. 225 Ierome an Italian 140 Innocent the fourth Pope 3 Innocent the eighth Pope 14 Iouian Pontanus 174 Iulius the second Pope 14. 15 Iulius Cardinall of S. Angell 17 K KAtherine Queene of England â—00 King of England 231 L LAdie of Heluin 183 Lamorabaquin king of Tartaria 126 Lewis king of Fraunce 58 Lewis the grosse king of Fraunce 56. 57. Lewis the 4. king of France 61. 62. 63. Lewis the 11. king of Fraunce 76. vnto 87. and 182. 227. Lewis the 12. king of Fraunce 92. vnto 100. Lewis sonne to king Philip. 169 Lewis duke of Orleance 73 Lewis Sforza 213 Lord Sforza 197. 198 Lord of Trimouille 216 M MAreschals Antrehan and Cleremont 166 Margaret Dolphinesse of France 229 Marcus Barbaricus duke of Venice 143. Martian the Emperour 37 Maurice Earle of Aniow 135 Maximilian the Emperour 38. 39 Medices Cosme 212 Medices Lawrence 211 Miles bishop of Chartres 19. 20 N NArses 151 O OTho de Varis 17 Otho the third Emperour 37 P PAnormitans 5 Parmesan 223 Peter of Bresay Seneschall of Normandy 88. 89 Peter Earle of Sauoy 148 Philip the first king of Fraunce 53 Philip Augustus king of France 60. 170 Philip the faire king of Fraunce 65 Philip of Valois king of Fraunce 66. 70 Philip duke of Burgundy 142 Philip the hardie duke of Burgundy 137 Philip of Villars great Master of Râ—â—odes 144 Philip of Moruiller President 200 Philip Lantgraue of Hessen 179 Pius the second Pope his sentences 12 Prochetta Archbishop of Genes 6. R RAimier king of Arragon 124 Raphael a painter of Vrbin 210 Rene king of Sicily 131 Robert king of Sicily 177 Roboald duke of Frize 44 Rodericke Gonthier 141 Rodolph the Emperour 31 Roger king of Naples 122 S SAladine king of Asia 123 Sanctius brother to the king of Spain 175. Septimius Seuerus Emperour 37 Sico Chauncellor of Millaine 213 Sigismond Emperour 27. 29. Souldier of Nauarre 166. Soliman the great Turke 121. 145 Sophia the Empresse 191. T TAlbot an English captaine 156. 185 Theodosian Emperour 191 Theodosius Emperour 25. 26 Thierry captaine 47. 48 Thomas Caraffa Earle of Mathalon 146 Tiberius Constantine Emperour 43 Tiphamy wife to Bertrand Guesclin 167 V VAquery President of Paris 230 Venetians and their opinion 186 Vladislaus king of Hungary 129 Vrban the fifth Pope 170 VV VVAlaque Dracocles 129 VVilliam duke of Normandy 54. 55.
that it was giuen vnto him by king Edvvard the Confessour he required diuerse great Princes of Fraunce and elsewhere to aide him in that enterprize both with meÌ„ and mony Amongst others he prayed the Earle of Flaunders whose sister he had marryed to aide him in that exploit The Earle demaunded of him what part he should haue in the kingdome of England if the duke should conquer itâ— The duke answered him That he would send him worâ— thereof in writing After which the Duke being now readie to depart out of Normandie vpon his intended voyage he caused a faire peece of white parchment without any writing within it to be folded and closed vp in forme of a letter vpon the which for an inscription he caused to be written these two verses sending them in way of a scoffe to the Earle of Flaunders Beaufrere d'Angleterre aurez Ce que cy dedans trouuerez Faire brother of England your portioÌ„ shall bee That which here within written you shall see Another conceipt of VVilliam the Conquerour at his landing in England VVHen the same Duke had passed the seas to the conquest of England the first fortune that befell him in his landing was that in leaping out of his shippe he fell flat vpon the sands and the first part of his bodie that touched the ground were his hands The which accident some of his people interpreting to be a signe of ill fortune â—ush quoth he out aloud assure your selues my maisters that this is the seizin anâ—d possession of this kingdome which God hath giuen me and it is his wil that I shal take it with both my hands because by the aide both of him and you I make no doubt but to conquer it And his successe was answerable to his hope for he came to be king and left the Crowne of England to his posterity Of king Lâ—vvis the grosse and Baldvvin Earle of Mons. KIng Lewis the grosse hâ—auing appointed the duke VVilliam of Normandie to be Earle of Flaunders Baldvvin Earle of Mons in Heynault pretending right thereunto said vnto the King That he had wrong done him for that the Earledome did appertaine vnto him He demaunded with great instance to haue the combat graunted him against those that should dare to auerre the contrarie The king said vnto him It is against me theÌ„ that you must haue the combat for the Seignorie which you claime and striue for is mine owne proper right and inheritance He that contendeth against his Lord and maister must needes haue the worst of the quarrell A braue speech of king Levvis the grosse THe same king of Fraunce taking part with Hely Earle of Maine against Henry king of England in a certaine battell fought between theÌ„ found himselfe farre seuered froÌ„ his people A certain English knight seeing him and being in hope to make himselfe rich by taking the king prisoner he laid hold vpon the reines of the kings horse with inteÌ„t to stay him and began to cry with a loud voice The King is taken The king being valiant and of a noble courage at one blow with his sword ouerthrew the knight dead to the ground seeing him fall he said It is not one man alone that in Chesse play can giue the king the mate Of an inuention found by king Levvis to punish the Earle of Vermandois LEvvis king of Fraunce the sonne of king Charles the simple desiring to be reuenged for the death of his said father who dyed in the castle of Peronne being there imprisoned by Hâ—bert the Earle of Vermandois his subiect And being at Laudun with a great assembly of the Lords and Nobles of Fraunce whom he had reconciled vnto him he vsed a fine deuice to bring about his purpose for he had caused one to be attired like an Englishman who being well instructed in that which he had to do came iâ—post to the Court and required to be instantly admitted to the presence of the kings Councell for the deliuerie of certaine letters to the king froÌ„ the king of England The partie being entred into the Councell chamber presented the letters to the king which himselfe had before caused to be written And as the Secretarie read them to the King with a soft and low voyce the King began to smile wherof the Princes and Lords there present demaunded the occasion Now I see well quoth the King that the English are not a people of any great wisedome for our cousin Harmant king of England hath written me here that there is in his countrey a labouring man who hauing inuited his maister to his house to dine with him caused him to be slaine he hath sent to demaund your counsell my maisters what punishment this fellow hath deserued Thibaut Earle of Bloys was the first that gaue his sentence saying That albeit the man was worthie of many grieuous torments yet the most ignominious and shameful death that he could adiudge him was that he ought to be hanged and strangled on a Gibbet To this sentence all the rest of the Lords there present did consent and the County Hebert of Vermandois also who had no sooner ended his speech but he was apprehended by the kings Officers there prouided in a readinesse And the King said vnto him Hebert thou art this wicked labourer which hast caused thy Lord and maister the king Charles my father to be put to death now therefore receiue the punishment which thou hast iustly deserued and which thou hast denounced against thy self This said Hebert was hanged on a Gibbet vpon the toppe of a mountaine nere Lodun which at this day is commonly called mount Hebert Of the wine which Philip Augustus king of Fraunce presented to the Barons and Captaines of his army PHilip Augustus king of France coÌ„ducting his armie against the Emperour Otho in the yeare 1214. being by necessitie constrained to ioyne battell with him he tooke a great cup or bowle of gold which he caused to be filled with wine sops of bread After turning himself to the Princes and great Lords of Fraunce which were with him he said vnto them My friends and companions in Armes you which are resolued to liue and dye with me this day take ech of you one of these lops of bread dipt in wine and eate the same as I haue done before you He had no sooner spoken the word but the cup was emptie in an instant And immediatly the battell being ioyned he gained the victorie at Bouines where the Emperour was put to flight and the Earle of Flanders with diuerse other great Lords remained prisoners The titles vvhich the king Saint Levvis of Fraunce gaue himselfe THe king S. Levvis being demanded by certain of his Lords with what title he would chuse to be honoured in imitation of the old Romane Emperors and of other forrain kings the kings of France his predecessors who for some notable acts or victories had purchased vnto theÌ„selues diuerse titles of honours he answered the
of the Ceremonies at the dubbing of a new Knight is to tye on a paire of gilt spurres Of tvvo Latine verses made by king Philip de valois against king Edvvard BEcause king Edvvard was supposed contrarie to his faith and allegiance to haue inuaded the realme of Fraunce king Philip to taxe him with it made these two verses Anglicus Angelus est cui nunquam credere fas est Dum tibi dicit aue tanquaÌ„ ab hoste caue Howbeit some say that this was Pope Alexander the third at such time as the English went to Rome to excuse and purge themselues to the Pope of the death of Saint Thomas of Canterburie whome they had caused to be slaine The bold speech of Blaunch the daughter of king Charles the faire THe same king Philip on a time speaking very bitterly to the Ladie Blaunch Duchesse of Orleance daughter of king Charles the faire touching the succession of the realm of Fraunce she said vnto him very liberally and boldly Sir if I had had a paire of stones you durst not haue vsed those wordes which you haue now vttered but you had smarted for it Meaning that if she had bene a man as she vvas a vvoman she should haue bene king of Fraunce The speech of king Iohn of Fraunce to the Prince of VVales vvhen he vvas taken at the batell of Poytiers IOhn king of Fraunce being prisoner in the battell of Poytiers to the Prince of VVales was conducted to the English campe where his supper was prepared for him at the which the Prince serued him with his head vncouered The king prayed him diuerse times to sit downe with him but the Prince excused himselfe saying that it did not beseeme the vassal to sit nere his Lord. The king said vnto him my purpose was to haue bestowed a supper on you this night but the fortune of warre would that you should giue it me The cautelous answer of king Edward to king Iohn IN the time of truce accorded betweene Iohn king of Fraunce and Edward king of England the English men for a summe of money got by composition the castle and towne of Guines to be rendred vnto theÌ„ whereof king Iohn being aggrieued complained to the king of England and told him that he had brokeÌ„ the truce contrary to the compact betweene them whereunto king Edward made this answer I haue not quoth he broken the truce for there was not any article contained in the Treatie betweene vs that did prohibite or defend vs from traffiquing together or to debarre vs or our subiects from the trade of merchandize each with other The commendations which Edvvard king of England gaue to Charles the fifth king of Fraunce THe same king Edvvard hauing taken the seas with a fleete of ships wherein were foure thousand launces and eleuen thousand Archers with intent to go and raise the siege of the French before Tours in Aquitaine he had the wind so contrarie that he could not proceede nor prosecute his intended voyage into Fraunce wherefore returning much discontented into England he vsed these or such like words of king Charles the fifth There was neuer yet said he any king in Fraunce who vsed lesse to beare Armes then this Prince and that without once stirring out of his chamber but onely by sending and writing of letters did so much trouble his enemies or my selfe either as he hath done The Cartels which Henry king of England and the duke of Orleance sent to each other LEwis duke of Orleance sonne to king Charles the fifth after that the truce was accorded betweene the French king Charles the sixth and Henry of Lancaster king of England the said Duke being young of yeres and desirous of glory contrarie to the alliance which was made with the said king of England sent vnto him a Cartell of Armes with a chalenge of combate betweene them two and a hundreth Knights on ech partie who for the loue of their Ladies should trye their valour and prowesse each against other and that they which did best should haue the honour of the victorie Vnto which Cartell the king of England made this answer We are not determined to breake the truce much lesse will we violate or disanull the league of amitie and alliance made betweene vs neither do we meane to admit any equalitie betweene our royall Maiestie and your Lordship Howbeit seeing you are disposed to combat I can be content to accept and make it good man to man to the intent we may auoid effusion of bloud and not either for our Ladies or for vaine glorie but onely for the honour increase and preseruation of our Realmes Countries Territories and Dominions The true valour and magnanimitie of men is not to hazard their persons and liues but onely for the good of their countrey or for their honour or for the safetie of their liues The Oath vsed to be taken by the English men to their King at their going to the warres FRoissard reporteth that when the English in former times came into Fraunce to make warres they had this custome that the Captaines putting their hands into the handes of the king of England did solemnly sweare to obserue inuiolably these two things The one was that to no man liuing but to amongst themselues they would neuer reueale the secrets of their voyage and enterprize And the second that they wold neuer make nor consent to any treatie or accord with their eneâ—â—â—es without the priuitie and good liking of the King and his Councell The choise of king Charles the sixth CHarles the fifth on a time hauing shewed vnto his son afterwards called Charles the sixth a Crowne of gold richly set with precious stones and a helmet of steele faire gilt demaunded of him which of these two he would most willingly haue if he were put to make his choise His answer was that he would rather chuse the Helmet then the Crowne The like affection did he bewray at his new comming to the Crowne of Fraunce For when the Officers of his house shewed him the rich treasures and precious moueables of his father lately deceased and did afterwards bring him to the sight of the goodly Armories wherein were all sorts of Armes swords Corcelets Headpeeces and other furnitures fit for the warres he said all aloft Of the two quoth he I had rather haue these Armes then the riches which my father hath left me The Sayings and Sentences of king Lewis the eleuenth KIng Lewis the eleuenth after the battell of Mountleherry against the Count of Charolois bethinking himselfe of the Duchie of Burgundie and how the same was aliened in fee from the Crowne of Fraunce to the auncestours of the said Count of Charolois Dukes of Burgundie descended of a younger sonne of the bloud royall of Fraunce he brake into these speeches Men say quoth he that Charles the fifth was called Charles the sage but they had little reason to tearme him so for it was but a foolish part to giue
the mortification of vaine pleasure vvhich I haue read A conceited speech spoken to king Ferdinand THe king Ferdinand of Naples was very malecontent and could not endure to see men walke together two or three in a company or to talke together of their priuate affaires A certaine Courtier seeing the King in this passion to currie fauour with him said vnto him Sir you ought to shunne and take away this vsage that is so troublesome vnto you or else to make your benefite of it and in my aduice it were good that you imposed a tribute vpon them that vse to walke in this maner vp and downe for it would yeeld you a greater reuenue then the customes which you leauie vpon the merchandizes of all your Realme and Dominions Of a pretie quippe giuen by Anthony of Panorâ—e to a certaine Knight THe king Alphponsus of whome we haue before spoken beeing aboue all things well affected to the exercise of hunting did very earnestly enquire of Anthony of Panorme what Gentlemen of Naples were the greatest louers of that game of venerie and whether any of them had written of the nature of dogges and hounds Why sir quoth the Panormitan how is it that you demaund of me this question Haue you not a person in your company euery day which hath conuersed with this kind of creatures for these forty yeares together and night by night hath lien by a brach he I trow is sufficiently able to write of the nature of hounds and the manner how to keepe and cherish them Now the partie of whoÌ„ the Panormitan spake was a certaine Knight who was in very good grace and fauour in Court which made the king immediatly to fall on laughing knowing that the said Panormitan vnder the name of a brach did meane the Gentlemans wife because she was a woman that did vse to be very loud and clamoursom in her speech and was the most subiect to furiousnesse and outragious passions of any woman liuing A contentious and quarelsome wife is an incurable disease The letters of the Earle of Aniovv to the king of Fraunce LEvvis king of France the sonne of king Charles the simple being in the church of S. Martin of Tours at diuine seruice diuerse of his Gentlemen young Courtiers shewed him how Fovvkes the good Earle of Aniovv was set amongst the singing men and did sing with them for the which they mocked and contemned him Whereof the Countie being informed he sent letters vnto the king wherein was nothing written saue these words only To the king of Fraunce the Earle of Aniovv sendeth greeting Sir knovv you that a King vnlearned is but an asse crovvned The counsell of the Earle of Aniovv to his brother at the time of his death MAurice Erle of Aniou at the time of his decease giuing some instructions to his brother Fouques Nerra that succeeded him in his Earledome said vnto him My brother I pray remember how in all my life time I haue laboured to get me friends knowing that this is great riches and that the house which hath many friends ought not to be reputed poore nor destitute And therefore I aduise thee in any case to hold them deare vnto thee who haue heretofore bene faithfull and trustie vnto vs. A friend hath no greater treasure then a true friend in time of necessitie A Christian Act of the Earle of Aniou FOuques the fifth of that name earle of Aniou hauing gained the victorie in a battell foughten against Henrie king of England neare the towne of Sees where the Angeuins and Manceaux tooke a great number of prisoners whom they bound enchained together and lodged in an Abbey church neare the campe On a morning early the Count being disposed to go heare a Masse in the same church and being not able to enter into it for the multitude of prisoners there enchained he was very much discontented at it and turning him to his men at armes he said My companions and friends what haue you done Do you not know that the church is the house of God and of prayer and haue you turned it into a prison Do you not feare the wrath of God in that you execute crueltie in his temple You ought to know that the church is our mother and we are her children this place is a Sanctuarie and a place of priuiledge but you haue made it a place of seruitude This said he caused the prisoners to be vnbound hauing made them to eate drink he set theÌ„ at liberty without paying of any ransom The same Earle on a time said that to support or cherish the wicked was to do iniurie to the good A Sentence of the duke of Brittaine IOhn duke of Brittaine the fifth of that name being willing to make a mariage betweene his sonne the Lord Frauncis and the Ladie Izabel daughter to the Scottish king the young Prince Francis enquired what kind of Ladie that Izabel was to whoÌ„ answer was made that she was a very goodly Gentlewoman wise and discreet and one that was likely to haue faire issue of her bodie sauing that she had some impediment in her speech Then is she such a one as I desire quoth the Duke For I hold a woman wise enough that knoweth how to put a difference between the wastcote and shirt of her husband The haughtie courage of the duke of Burgundie PHilip the hardie duke of Burgundie was wont to say That kingdomes Lordships and Dominions did of right appertaine vnto theÌ„ that could by conquest get and purchase them he got the name of hardie because at a certaine banquet he leaped ouer the table onely to haue the chiefest place next to the person of king Charles the sixth he had both the courage and the speech of Alexander the Great An act of Galeace duke of Millain GAleace duke of Millain was giuen to vnderstand that there was a certaine Aduocate in that citie so subtill and cunning that he could prolong sutes in law and so draw theÌ„ out in length as he would make theÌ„ almost endlesse whensoeuer he listed to vndertake to do it either for loue or for money The Duke willing to make proofe thereof enquired of the chiefe steward of his house if there were not some debt due and owing by him to those that were to serue him with prouisions for his house In the end it appeared that there was owing to a certain Baker an hundred pounds in whose name he caused himselfe to be summoned and a day to be set downe for his appearance before the Senate to answer for the paiment of this debt vnto the said Baker In the meane time he sent to this Aduocate and demaunded his counsell how he might make delaies and not be enforced to make paiment of this money The Aduocate promised him to find the means and to deuise such sleights as the Baker should not finger a peny for one yeare at least or not for two yeares if he listed The action being
Alphonsus ALphonsus king of Naples had in his Court a foole or iester who did vse to put downe in a booke or paire of writing tables all the follies at least those which he thought such of all the Lords Gentlemen and others of his time which he knew to frequent the Court. It happened that the king Alphonsus hauing a Moore in his house sent him into the LeuaÌ„t with ten thousand duckets there to buy him horses the foole set downe in his booke this act of the king as a tricke of folly A few daies after the king Alphonsus called to his foole to see his booke hauing not seene it of a good time before In reading within it in the end thereof he found the historie of himselfe and his Moore and the 10000. duckets which he had deliuered him whereat the king being offended and growing into choler demaunded of the foole wherefore he had put him in his booke Because quoth the foole you did a very foolish act in giuing your money to a straunger whome you are like to see no more But how if he come backe againe said the king and bring the horses with him where is my folly then Marrie replyed the foole whensoeuer he commeth againe I will then blot your name out of my booke and will put in his in stead of yours for then I shall hold him the more foole of the two The magnificence of a king of England CHiniton or Chinite king of England who raigned about the yeare of Christ 1025. was of so haughtie and so great a mind that he caused a royal throne to be prepared and erected for him neare the sea side and seeing the tide to beat with the waues against his seat he spake out aloud vnto the sea Thou art my subiect and the land whereon I am set is mine and therefore I forbid thee to rise against my land or to wet the bodie and apparell of thy Lord and maister the sea notwithstanding holding on his course in flowing came to wet his feete which he seeing presently gaue backe and said Now may all men know that all humane power is but meere vanitie and no mortall man is worthy to beare the name of a king but he only to whose commaund the heauens the earth and the sea by a perpetuall decree are subiect and obedient A pleasant conceipt of an Italian Gentleman vpon the interpretation of the names of two Popes AFter the death of Pope Alexander the sixt Nicholas the fifth being created Pope certain Italian Gentlemen walking in the Popes hall deuised together of the death of the one and the creation of the other and of the conditions of theÌ„ both Amongst them was maister Antonio Agnello who with a good grace said vnto the rest of the company My maisters you need not much to trouble your selues in giuing your iudgements of the two Popes for I beleeue that these two inscriptions will easily resolue vs of our doubts and so saying he cast his eye vpon one of the two portals of the hall and standing still shewed them with his finger this inscription Alexander PP VI. which signifieth Alexander Pope the sixth of that name See said he what this inscription doth import Is it not as much as to say that Alexander was made Pope by force Let vs see now if we can vnderstand any thing touching the new Pope then turning himselfe as if it had bene at aduentures to the other portall he shewed them this inscription N. PP V. which signifieth Nicholas Pope the fifth O Lord God quoth he see here is ill newes Nihil Papa valet that in English is The Pope is nothing woorth An honourable act of an Italian Lord. AN Italian Nobleman surnamed the grand Captaine being set at his table and seeing two Gentlemen who had serued very valiantly in the warres to stand below in his hall because the seates at the table were all filled he immediatly arose and caused all the rest of his guests to make place for these two saying Make place I pray for these two Gentlemen to dine for if they had not bene in our company elsewhere we should not haue had at this time whereof to eate Of a mocke which he gaue to another Gentleman THe same Captaine seeing a Gentleman of his own come before him in good order and richly armed after the battell of Serignolle and when all things were safe and in quiet he said vnto his company We neede not now feare any storme for Saint Hermes hath appeared vnto vs. By this quippe he taxed the Gentleman to be of small valour for comming to the field after al daunger of fight was past for the common opinion is that Saint Hermes doth vse to appeare at sea to the Mariners after that the furie of a tempest at sea is gone past A speech of the same Captaine to a Gentleman touching himselfe DIego Garsia Spanish Gentleman counselled the grand Captaine Gonsaluo to withdraw himselfe from a place of great daunger where the Artillerie of the enemie did play vpoÌ„ them O quoth he seeing that God hath not put any feare in thy courage do not thou seeke to put any in mine Of the brother of the great Turke GEin Ottoman brother vnto the great Turke being prisoner at Rome and seeing the Gentlemen of Italy to iust aâ—d tilt together he said That that manner of turney in his opinion seemed too much to be done in sport and too little to be done in earnest It happened on a time that one in the presence of this Turke highly commended the young king Ferdinand of Naples in regard he was a man of excellent agility and actiue of his person for running vaulting leaping and other corporall exercises of that kind whereof he tooke occasioÌ„ to say That in his countrey those were the exercises of slaues and that the young Gentlemen and Noblemen did learne to practise bountie and liberalitie and that by such vertues they made themselues the more commendable Liberalitie is a vertue whereby Princes do purchase and entertaine the loue both of their subiects and of strangers A pleasant quip giuen to a Gentleman by the Marquesse of Mantua THe Marquesse Frederick of Mantua sitting at the table in companie of many Gentlemen one of them after he had eaten vp all the broth tooke his porenger with that little that remained and threw it on the ground saying withall as it were by way of excuse my Lord I pray pardon me whereupon the Marquesse suddenly answered Demand pardoÌ„ of the swine for if there be any harm done it is to them and not to me A comparison made by Iohn Gonzaga THe lord Iohn de Gonzaga playing and loosing his money at dice saw that his sonne Alexander did grieue at his losse whereupon he said vnto some Gentlemen there present It is written of Alexander the Great that when he heard of a victorie gotten by his father Philip king of Macedon and of a realme which he had conquered
beasts of the field iudging them to be void of vnderstanding The French men he termed winepissers Wherupon it happened that once a certaine Norman one of his tasters merily said vnto him Holy Father then are you a right Frenchman Wherfore said the Pope Because quoth he you are the greatest winepisser of all others if all the FreÌ„ch of the world were together The speech of Pope Iulius the second touching his deuise in warres THis Pope was a man that delighted greatly in warres the which he did ordinarily nourish mainetaine betweene many Princes and in especiall against the king of Fraunce On a time some of his court said vnto him Holy Father many great personages do thinke it straunge that you shold be so desirous to entertain warres considering the dignities of that calling wherein God hath placed you which ought to be an estate of peace and quietnesse and seeing God hath committed vnto you the keyes by which you should shut vp the way to discord and open it to peace and amitie but you do quite contrarie Whereunto the Pope gaue them this answer They which vsed those speeches vnto you say they know not what Haue you not heard how S. Peter and S. Paul were companions and had but one Church betweene them My predecessours vsed â—aint Peters key and now will I helpe my selfe with S. Pauls sword One of the parties replyed vnto him You know holy Father that our Lord said vnto Saint Peter Put vp thy sword into thy sheath The Pope answered true but that was after Saint Peter had first striken with the sword This shâ—vvâ—th that the said Pope vvas altogether a martialist Of a Cardinall that had his vvhole delight in siudâ—e Oâ—to de Varis seeing Iulian the Cardinall of S. Angel who was President in the Councel of Basil to spend most of his time in the reading of ancient bookes he said vnto him Sir why do you liue so solitarie and spend your time amongst the dead of former ages Come I pray and passe your daies with vs that are aliue The Cardinal answered you mistake the matter cleane contrarie For these Auncients do now liue by their learning and rare knowledge wheras you liue not but be as dead men both in your name and in your works and passe away your life time according to the nature of bruite beastes The life of the spirit consisteth in conteÌ„plation of learned vvritings vvhich are the true Monuments Reliques and testimonies of such as haue forâ—gone vs in vertue and knovvledge Of the Archbishop of Colaine and a countrey pesant A Certaine old man a poore laborer of the countrey seeing the Archbishop of Coiaine to ride throgh the fields armed and accompanied with armed forces fell out of a loud laughing whereupon being demanded wherefore he laughed he answered Because he wondered that S. Peter Christs Vicar in the Church being exceeding poore had left his successors so rich and wealthie and that their traines should be more furnished with men at armes then with Church men The Archbishop desirous that the fellow should haue better knowledge of him in his place dignitie told him that he was not onely an Archbishop but a Duke also and that as a Duke he rode so accompanied with a traine of men at armes Howbeit when he was in his Church then he was attended on as an Archbishop Sir said the labourer I pray tell me when my Lord the Duke shall be with the Diuell what shall then become of the Archbishop Tvvo heads vpon one bodie is a thing monstrous in nature Of the Bishop of Chartres and the French King Levvis the eleuenth KIng Levvis the eleuenth seeing on a time Miles Bishop of Chartres mounted vpoÌ„ a Mule with trappings of veluet and his bridle richly gilded told him that the Bishops of elder ages were content to ride on an Asse and with a simple collar O quoth the Bishop that was when Kings were shepheards and did keep sheepe The King replyed I speake not of the Bishops of the old Testament but of those vnder the new The Bishop answered I but that was when Kings were great giuers of almes and did vse to set poore Lazers with them at their tables and to wash the feet of the poore Of the same Bishop and certaine Priests vvhich he met THe same Bishop encountring with two or three Priests passing through the fields said vnto them God saue you my maisters and Clerkes the Priests answered we are not Clerkes sir we are Priestes The Bishop replyed then God saue you my maisters and Priestes no Clerkes A conceipted speech of the Abbot of Baigne KIng Lâ—vvis the eleuenth demanded of the Abbot of Baigne to haue his Abbey for some small recompence but the Abbot being wily said vnto the King Sir I haue spent almost forty yeares in learning the two first letters of the Alphabet A. B. and I shall neede as long time to learne the two next letters C. D. By the equiuocation of these foure letters in alluding A. B. to the vvord Abbey and C. D. to the Latin vvord cede vvhich signifieth to yeeld vp his meaning vvas that as he had bene fortie yeares ere he attained to the dignitie of an Abbot so he vvould vvillingly keepe it other fortie yeares cre he vvould yeeld it vp A saying of Pope Adrian the fifth POpe Adrian being demaunded what was the greatest plague which he would wish to his enemie and not wish him dead He answered The greatest mischiefe I would wish him is that he were Pope because I hold that to be a maruellous affliction and vexation of spirit All kind of authoritie vvherein a man hath a care and conscience to do his dutie should be rather refused for the charge then desired for hope of gaine The Absolution of the king of Portugal EManuel king of Portugal withheld from a Bishop of his kingdome the reuenues of his bishoprick whereof the Bishop complained to the Pope who in fauour of the Bishop sent a Legate to the King to cause him to make restitution or to excommunicate him The Legate vpon the matter hauing denounced sentence of excommunication and being on his way to returne the King enraged at the censure mounted on horsebacke to follow the Legate and hauing ouertaken him he drew out his sword and threatned to kill him vnlesse he would absolue him which the Legate hauing done the King retired to his Court and the Legate went on to Rome where being come and hauing made report vnto the Pope of the successe of his iourney the Pope reproued him very sharpely for yeelding to absolue the king The Legate answered most holy Father if you had bene in daunger of your life as I was you would haue giuen the king absolution double and treble Feare of death may make a man sometimes do do that vvhich he ought not vvithout regard both of honour and dutie Of Charles the Great and his Edicts THe Emperour Charlemaine did vse to weare his seale of armes
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
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
Anne his wife she said Gods will be done For my part I doubt not but I shall be as great as I was before She promised herselfe in her hopes to be twise Queene of Fraunce and so she vvas for she vvas aftervvards maried to king Levvis the tvvelfth A notable sentence of king Levvis the tvvelfth AFter that Levvis duke of Orleance had attained to the Crowne of Fraunce some of his familiars did perswade him to take vengeance vpon them of Orleance who had shut the gates of their citie against him at such time as king Charles the eighth made warre vpon him and compelled him to flie into Britaine But the said Levvis the twelfth of that name made them this worthy answer It appertaineth not any thing to the king of Fraunce to reuenge the iniuries done to the duke of Orleance Other vvorthie speeches of the same King THe said Prince making warre in Italie for the recouerie of the Duchie of Millaine it was told him that his enemies had taken Agnadel that he wold come thither too late to lodge in it Whereunto he answered with an hautie courage Then wil I lodge vpon their bellies or els they shall lodge vpon mine Another came vnto him saying Sir take heed to yourselfe that the great Ordinance do not annoy you He answered There was neuer rightfull king of Fraunce slaine with a shot of a canon therefore whosoeuer is afraid let him come behind me Another time the said king lying in Campe and a certaine souldier a man at armes which stoode neare him being slaine with a Canon shot some of the standers by shewing him vnto the king he said laughing He is but a little cold in his hands His speech to certaine souldiers vvith the ansvver that they made him THe said king Levvis being determined to leauie a certaine companie of footemen gaue commandement that choise should be made of the strongest and most able and actiue men that could be found The day appointed for the muster of thē being come there was presented vnto him a goodly company of lustie fellowes who hauing bene trayned vp in the warres and carying diuerse skarres and wounds vpon them did appeare to be old souldiers whose markes did testifie that they had not lien idle nor vnemployed The king seeing them so hacked and hewed in their bodies said vnto their leaders Indeed these be good souldiers but it seemeth they haue bene more willing to take then to giue and those men which gaue them these markes in their faces and elsewhere seemed to be farre more expert in deedes of Armes then these were The souldiers hearing the king to giue this cēsure of them presently made him this answer Sir sauing our due reuerence to your Maiestie they were not better men nor more valiant then we for if they hurt and wounded vs we slue them for their labours A braue speech which he gaue to a boaster A Certaine Gentleman was very importunate vpon king Lewis the twelfth to haue some reward and recompence for the losses and dammages which he had sustained in the warres he shewed him the wounds which he had receiued in his visage The king seeing him so rash and audacious and being disposed to paye him home for his braue vaunting ostentation said vnto him Take heed thou turne not back thy face another time when thou art flying from thy enemie His opinion of the Venetians BEing resolued to make warre vpon the Venetians one of his nobles would haue disswaded him from it telling him That he could not do it without great perill to the French and that the Venetians were a most prudent and sage people Be it so quoth the king yet we will set so many fooles vpon them who shall so beard them to their teeth as they shall not know which way to turne themselues CErtaine Embassadours of Greece being come to the French Court to demaund succours of king Levvis against the great Turke and promising on their part to do their best indeuours to chase the Turkes out of such places as they had possessed the king reposing little trust in this strange Nation excused himself touching their request and taxing the nature of the Greekes he alleadged this verse of the old Grammarian Alexander de ville Dieu Barbara Graeca genus retinent quod habere solebant A pleasant speech vvhich he spake to the Lords of the Parliament HAuing giuen a certaine office of a Counsellour of the Parliament to one that was none of the wisest the Court would not admit him into their societie but sent two Counsellours of the Parliament chamber to the king to let him know the insufficiencie of the man The king hauing heard them condemne the partie of ignorance demaunded of thē this question How many be there of you in your Court Sir said they there be an hundred And how is it quoth the King that you being so many wise men together cannot make one to become wise Another merie conceipt of the same King CErtaine Gentlemen of his Court wondering at the vnmeasurable stature of a Courtier whome euery man reputed in manner of a Giant the king taxing the honestie of his parents said No maruell if he be so exceeding great for his mother took great paines to make him and perhaps he had many fathers Of a certaine Fable recited by him BEing in familiar discourse with the Ladies he said vnto them In the beginning nature gaue hornes aswell to the Hinds as to the Harts but the Hinds growing proud to see thēselues haue so goodly heads they began to rebell against the Harts wherewith nature being displeased and willing to represse their arrogancie and pride and reduce them to the subiection of the males she depriued them of their hornes so that neuer afterwards they wore any By this fable he gaue the Ladies to vnderstand that it vvas their dutie to be obedient to their husbands BEing one day in talk with Francis Duke of Angolesme his son in law who expected the Crown of France as of right after his decease it was to come vnto him he told him this parable A certaine father quoth he trauelling with his sonne on the way held on their course to come vnto a good towne the sonne being very wearie by reason of the length of the way yet perceiuing a farre off the turrets and wals of the towne very chearefully said vnto his father Father me thinkes I am now somwhat fresh for we are euen at the towne alreadie After these words they went on so long that it was full night notwithstanding ere they got to the towne where being readie to enter the father said vnto his sonne From hencefoorth sonne neuer say I am at the towne till thou hast gotten past the gates His speech of beneficed persons HE was wont to say That the Asses had a better world then the horses for the horses said he do runne post towards Rome to get those Benefices whereof many asses are possessed An Apotheg
world are their vertuous deeds The reuenge which a king of Arragon tooke of some of his Nobles that derided him RAymire the second of that name king of Arragon a very simple man being determined to make warres vpon the Moores his Barons caused him to be armed and mounted on horsebacke and put a shield in his left hand and a launce in his right hand and offering to put the reines of his bridle in his hand likewise Let be quoth the king and giue me theÌ„ to hold in my mouth for my hands are full enough alreadie At which speech his Barons fel a laughing with open mouth and making a iest of it demeaned themselues very vnseemely without any kind of reuerence But the king Raymire perceiuing their mocquerie got eleuen of the most noble and chiefest of his Barons to come into the towne of Osey where he caused them to loose their heades without saying any other words then these La renardaille Nesçait de qui elle se raille The humilitie of Godfrey of Buillon VVHen the duke Godfrey of Buillon was chosen king of Ierusalem by the Christian Princes and the Diademe being presented vnto him he refused it saying It is not fit nor conuenient for any Prince Christian to weare a Crowne of gold sithence Iesus Christ the King of kings did weare one made but of thornes The ansvver of the great Turke to the Ambassadours of Hungarie BAiazet the sonne of Amurath Emperour of the Turkes being with a great armie in Bulgaria which is a part of Hungarie the king Sigismond sent his Ambassadours vnto him to pray him that he would not molest his countrie and Dominions wherein he had no right nor interest Baiazet for answer to this Ambassade caused all the armed forces of that Prouince to be assembled together into a great hall where hauing made the Ambassadours of the king of Hungarie to be called he said vnto them pointing to those forces with his finger Behold said he the reason and the right by which I haue do hold the possession of Bulgarie Right and equitie haue no place in the Court of a Tyrant The ansvver of the Count de Lazaran to the Ambassadours of the Turke NO lesse notable was that answer which the County de Lazaran made vnto the Ambassadours of Lamorabaquin or Baiazet the Amira or king of the Turkes who purposing to inuade the realme of Hungary with a mightie armie sent his messengers to the Count de Lazaran with a mule laden with Rice and demaunded to haue passage through his countrey into Hungarie The Ambassadours proceeding on their Commission found the County in his castell called the Archforme and according to their charge did demand passage for their Lord and his armie and that he should become his vassall and subiect otherwise that their Lord Baiazet would bring into the countrey of the Count more men of warre then there were graines of Rice in the sackes wherewith their mule waâ— laden and in so saying they powred out the graine in the middest of the castell yard The Count receiued heard their message very courteously and the third day after being disposed to giue them their answer coÌ„maunded to be brought into his Castle court a great number of powltry which for three daies together had bene shut vp without any meat giueÌ„ vnto them the which in lesse then a quarter of an houre did eate vp all the Rice which had bene there powred out Whereupon he said vnto the Ambassadours Now go tell your Lord that true it is he hath a great number of armed souldiers howbeit he cannot bring so many into the field but they shall be either slaine or vanquished as you haue seene these grains of Rice deuoured by my pullen And according to his hope the Count had the victorie A vvorthy Sentence of the Ambassadors of Sicilia CErtaine Ambassadours of Sicilia deliuering that which they had in charge to Iames the eleuenth king of Arragon he shewed them that they ought to yeeld their obedience to the Church and to Charles king of Naples his father in law whereupon one of the Ambassadours said vnto him Sir we reade in many histories that peoples haue bene defeated by their Princes and we haue seene the proof thereof in our time but that subiects haue bin destroied by their kings we haue neuer yet seen or hard it spokeÌ„ Of the death of Vladislaus king of Hungarie VLadislaus king of Hungary and of Poland whome the French named Launcelot leauying a puissant armie against Amurath great Seigneur of the Turkes was disswaded from it by many Barons of his realm and other his allies Amongst whom one Dracocles a Valachian did disswade him from that enterprise But in the end seeing that his aduice took no effect he yeelded that his sonne should go in his company with two thousand horse and at their departure he gaue vnto the king Vladislaus and to his sonne two very swift and light horses saying Because I foresee that the losse is like to fall on your side in this warre which you enterprise I haue giuen you these two horses by whose swiftnesse of foote you may saue your selues and serue you of them in your necessitie for I feare me that you shall haue great need of them And accordingly it fell out for in a set battell foughten betweene Vladislaus the Turks in the yeare 1444. as Dracocles had foretold the king there lost his life Of the tvvo verses vvhich Conrad king of Naples caused to be vvritten vpon a horse of brasse COnrad the sonne of Fredericke hauing taken the towne of Naples by composition in the yeare 1253. caused the wals fortresses and principall houses of the citie to be ruinated and going into the great church within the middle whereof was a horse of brasse without a bridle which had bene kept there of a long time for the antiquitie of it he caused a bridle to be put vpon him and on the reines thereof were written these two verses Hactenus â—ffrenis Domini nunâ— paret habenis Rex domat hunc aequus parthenopensis equum That is to say This horse till now vnbridled now is made To beare the reines which on his necke are laid His lord the rightfull king of Naples towne Did tame this horse and bring his courage downe The saying of Rene king of Sicilia REne king of Sicilie said oftentimes vnto the Princes and Ambassadors of diuerse places that came to visit him I loue the countrey life aboue all others because it is the best manner and the surest course of liuing and the most free from earthly ambition This King loued husbandry exceedingly and vvas the first that caused to be brought into Fraunce out of straunge countries vvhite Peacockes red Partriges vvhite blacke and red Conies Betony and roses of Prouence He was a good Prince a perfect Musitian and composed sundry bookes in verse and in proes amongst the vvhich are that of the conquest of Gentle mercie and that of
that countrieâ— who did him great reuerence and he rendred them the like Huguenin de Tolligney a French gentleman which did then accompany him caused him to stay and said vnto him My lord who are these two dames to whom you haue done this great reuerence I know not said the Marshall Huguenin replye'd Why sir they be common women The Marshall answered wel I know not what they be neither skils it for I had leifer do reuerence to tenne common women then to faile of saluting any one that is honest A French Prouerbe IN the historie of Bertrand du Guesclin it is recorded that in the raigne of Charles the fifth when the said Bouciqualt was Marshall of Fraunce there liued then also a famous renowned knight called Iohn de Saintré of which two persons the French in their commendation made these verses Of much more worth in an assault Is Saintré then is Bouciqualt But much better in a treatie Is Boâ—â—iqualt then is Saintré An Act of the Earle of Sauoy PEter Earle of Sauoy being to go before the Emperour Otho the fourth to do him homage for his landes which he held of the Empire went apparelled with a certaine robe the one halfe whereof was of steele in fashion of an armour gilded in such sort that on the right side he was most richly apparelled and on his left side he was armed in this manner attired did he demaund the inuestiture of his lands of the Emperour who hauing graunted it vnto him and the Earle being retired and repairing to the Chauncellour to haue his dispatch shewed him the auncient Euidence and letters Patents graunted to his Predecessours wherby he held his landes The Chauncellour then demaunded of him if he had the like for the territories of Chablais Oste and Vaux well knowing that he lately had gotten those lands by conquest Whereupon the Earle setting his haÌ„d on his sword drawing it naked out of the scabbard shewed it vnto the Chancellour and said that he had no other Euidence for those lands but his sword and by that he held them After which the Emperour demaunded of him why he ware such a garment with the one halfe of cloth of gold and the other halfe of steele The Earle answered that he ware the cloth of gold on his right side to do honour to his Maiestie and for my attire on the left side it signifieth quoth he that if any man deale sinisterly and ill with me or offer me any iniurie I am readie to defend me and to fight for my right enent to the death How the duke of Millain serued an Astrologer A Certaine Astrologer which tooke vpon him to foreshew things to come and the good and ill fortune of men regarding the countenance of Iohn Galeace duke of Millain said vnto him Sir dispose of your affaires betimes for you cannot liue long How knowest thou that sard the duke Marry sir quoth he hauing obserued the starres that are the gouernors of your life I find that they do threaten you death in your flourishing age Well quoth the Duke and for thy selfe how long shalt thou liue Sir said the Astrologer my Planet promiseth me long life To the end therefore said the Duke that thou shalt neuer more haue affiance in thy Planet thou shalt dye presently contrarie to thy opinioÌ„ and all the Planets of heauen shall not saue thy life And he had no sooner spoken it but he perfourmed it for he commaunded him instantly to be hanged which was accordingly executed The message sent from Narses to Sophia the Empresse of Constantinople NArses the Eunuch a most excellent Chieftaine who was Lieutenant Generall for the Emperours Iustinian and Iustin of their warres in Italy was sent for by the Empresse Sophia the wife of Iustin a most stout and proud Ladie and commaunded to returne from Italy Naples where he was Gouernour and to come to Constantinople to the Court letting him to vnderstand that she meant to employ him in another manner of seruice then the warres and fitter for his estate namely to spin and weaue wool with her women and maidens To the which message Narses returned this answer that he would weaue such a webbe as neither she nor her husband whom she ruled as she listed should be able euer to vntwine And he did no lesse theÌ„ he promised for he secretly sent for Alboin king of the Lombards out of Hungarie being his very great friend and set him in possession of Italy so as both he and his successours enioyed it for a long time after A vvoman of insolent and proud cariage and haughtie in speech is the cause of notable mischiefes The magnanimity of BertraÌ„d du Guesclin THis Bertrand du Guesclin was no lesse famous renowned for his magnanimitie courage then was Narses the Graecian For before that he was Constable of Fraunce he held the part of Henry king of Spaine against king Peter the brother of the said Henry And in a battell foughten at Nadres between the two brothers Henry was put to flight and Bertrand was takeÌ„ prisoner by the black prince of VVales who followed the party of king Peter who led him prisoner to Burdeaux hauing held him there a time he was willing to deliuer him and to acquit pay his debts on coÌ„dition that the said Bertrand should neuer beare armes against him the said Prince against the king of EnglaÌ„d his father nor against king Peter of Castill nor their allies But Bertrand refusing to yeeld to those conditions was notwithstanding put to his raunsome such as himselfe would nominate and set downe Bertrand howbeit that he was alleadged himself to be but a poore knight yet hoping on his good fortunes offered the Prince an 100000. double Florins of gold The Prince supposing that he mocked him quitted him for the quarter part but Bertrand standing on his honour would not yeeld to pay lesse then sixtie thousand saying That he would be well able to pay it The Prince accepting his offer Bertrand spake out aloud before all the Lords and Nobles there present now may Henry of Castill well vaunt himselfe and boldly say That he shall dy king of Spaine for I doubt not but to set the Crowne on his head and he shall yeeld me the one moitie of my raunsome and king Charles of France shall furnish me with the other moitie Such was the haughtie courage of this valiant Chieftaine who afterwards accomplished and acquitted himselfe of that his promise The same Pertrand being afterwards Constable of Fraunce vnder Charles the fifth left a custome in Fraunce which he brought vp in his time That whatsoeuer Gentleman had committed any forfeit against the reputation and honour of his estate if he did afterwards happen to be in company at any banquet the meate which was set before him should be cut in peeces A hardy speech vttered by Hire a French Captaine to king Charles the seuenth THe Hire a French Captaine being sent from the armie
to the king of Fraunce Charles the seuenth to shew him in what estate the affairs of the warres then stoode and that for default of victuals money and other necessaries the French had lost certaine townes battels to the English The king willing to entertain the Captaine in good familiar sort shewed him all his delicate preparations of his pleasures and delights the sports the Ladies and the banquets wherewith he recreated himselfe and withall demaunded of him how he liked them The Hire very freely and liberally answered him saying Sir I neuer in my life saw Prince that lost his patrimonie more pleasantly then you do That man is to be reputed mad senselesse that vvill sit playing vvhilest his house is a burning A prompt and readie ansvver of an English Captaine the Lord Talbot TAlbot an English Captaine hauing besieged the citie of Orleance in the time of king Charles the seuenth the citizens fell to practise with the duke of Burgundie to yeeld themselues vnder his obeissance whereupon the Duke wrote to the said lord Talbot wishing him to leaue the siege and the rather for that his long abode before that place might be a great dammage and preiudice vnto him The lord Talbot suspecting the practise then in hand would not coÌ„sent to the Dukes motion but sent him this answer I do not meane to beat the bush and that another shall haue the birds This speech in some histories is attributed to the duke of Bedford RegeÌ„t of France vnder Henry the 6. king of England The ansvver of Bartholomâ—w Aluiano to king Levvis the tvvelfth BArthelmâ—w Aluiano a Captaine of the Venetians and Generall of their armie at the battell of Agnadell was there taken prisoner by the French and presented to king Lewis the twelfth who demanding of him vpon what ground or reason he bore armes against him the said Barthelmevv made this answer Sir I haue vndertaken the warre against you for two speciall reasons The first is for discharge of my dutie to my countrie The second is for that hauing to deale against so great and puissant a Prince as you are if I had obtained the victorie my renowne and fame had bene eternall and being vanquished I shall haue neuer the lesse honour and reputation with them of my countrey when they shall enter into due consideration of your greatnesse and excellencie for the hardinesse couragious boldnesse which I had to resist against you shall turne to my glorie and honour Men of haughtie courage do not attempt other then great actions the issue vvhereof cannot but turne to their honour A tyrannicall Sentence of Prospero Colonna PRospero Colonna being Colonel of the Italian men at armes which were within Millain a citizen of Millain came to complaine vnto him of the exactions and pillaging of his soldiers vnto whom he said Millain is like vnto a bird from which if one pull away the feathers she bringeth foorth others much more faire and beautifull The ansvver of an Italian to Ascanio Colonna AScanio Colonna hauing many goodly liuings and possessions in Romania arriued in a certaine towne of his own where all the chief men came vnto him to salute him to do him reuerence onely one citizen excepted who being very rich yet no Gentleman had one only son an honest faire conditioned young man who being singularly endued with all the gifts and graces wherewith nature cold enrich him was not inferiour but rather excelled all others there inhabiting Seigneur Ascanieo inuited that same citizen to supper at the end whereof he demaunded of him to haue his sonne to serue him promising to preferre him and aduaunce him highly The citizen said vnto him no sir I will not that he shall serue you for I remember me of an old Prouerbe which withholdeth me from condescending hereunto What Prouerbe is that said Seigneur Ascanio The citizen answered Hearken sir and I will repeate it vnto you Male è chi gli serue Peggio è chi gli disserue Beato è chi non gli conosse That is to say Ill is he that serueth Worse is he that cannot please But happy is he that knoweth neither An excellent comparison made by a Gâ—ntleman of Genua LEwis Sforce being determined to exact a great summe of money by compulsion vpon the citie of Genes sent an Ambassadour thither to negotiate this businesse who being inuited by a chiefe personage of the Citie to dine with him and walking into the garden of that citizen his house there they two fell into communication of that matter the Gentleman Geneuois seeing the herbe Basell said vnto the Ambassadour My lord Ambassadour stroke your hand along vpon and after smell vnto it which he did and confessed that the sauour of it was most sweete and odoriferous My Lord quoth the Geneuois againe straine the herbe in your hand and then smell to it which he did likewise and said that it yeelded a very bad and lothsome sent WherupoÌ„ the Geneuois said vnto him My lord if the duke Lewis wil gently stroke the hand of his puissance ouer this citie without any violent dealing he shall find it to yeeld a good sauor very obedient vnto him but if he come to oppresse it to force it by compulsion surely it will yeeld but a sharpe and ill tast by disobedience and rebellion The admonition of certaine French Captaines giuen to their souldiers IN the battell of Fornoue giuen by the potestates of Italy to king Charles the eight at his returne from the conquest of Naples the French Knights passing by the rankes of the battels as they were doing their deuoit in the thickest presse of their enemies and fearing lest the couetousnesse of the souldiers might make the French loose the victorie they cryed vnto their souldiers Remember the battell of Guinegare This was a battell foughten in the time of king Levvis the eleuenth against Maximilian king of the Romanes the which the French lost by giuing themselues to the pillage Of a French Knight vvhich taxed the Normans RAault the Dane who was afterwards the first duke of Normandy comming into Fraunce with a great armie there was sent against him Robert Earle of Aniou Marshall of Fraunce who demaunded of one Hastingue a Dane likewise being then Countie de Chartres whether he thought best to giue battell vnto Raault or not and what was his aduice therein Hastingue for some reasons disswaded him But a certaine noble Knight which caried the Banner of Fraunce perswaded the Marshall to the contrary saying My Lord did you euer see a wolfe seize vpon a wolfe or one foxe make war against another foxe Inferring hereby that they were both of one nation and that therefore it was very vnlikely that the one would hurt the other THe Elect of Senlis encouraging the French men at armes against the Flemings in the battell of Bouines vnder the king Philip Augustus amongst other words said It is not the part of any noble and valiant Knight to make the
bodie of another Knight to serue him for his shield and rampart The Sayings of Captaine Baiard FRauncis de Stritigen a Colonell vnder the Emperour Charles the fift hauing besieged Mezieres within the which was Captaine Bayard for Frauncis the first of that name king of Fraunce summoned him by a Herald to yeeld himselfe and the place whereof he had the gouernment Wherunto Bayard made this answer The Baiard of Fraunce feareth not the Roussin of Almaine This conceipt vvas vpon the allusion to his name vvhich vvas so famous and renowned that the Spaniards had this saying of him In Fraunce are many Graybeards but there are but fevv Bayards A Gentleman demanded of Monsieur Bayard What goods and possessions a Gentleman ought to leaue vnto his children he answered Marry that which needeth not feare any stormes nor tēpests nor force of man nor humane iustice and that is wisedome and vertue And it behooueth the father to haue like care of his children as a Gardiner hath of his garden that is to be carefull in trimming of it to see it well sowed wel planted with good seedes and plants Another demaunded of him what difference there was betweene the learned and the ignorant As much quoth he as is betweene a Phisition and his patient He said that the greatest honour and Seignorie which any Nobleman could possibly haue was to be familiar and conuersant with men that are vertuous and the greatest euill which could possibly betide to any great person was to be accompanied with those for his familiar friends who were ignorant and vicious for said he there cannot be a greater plague or pestilence then when audaciousnesse and puissance is accompanied with ignorance A certaine Gentleman on a time said vnto him Sir I see euery where great store of riches and worldly goods but I see not that prudence wisedome which you haue so highly commended That is no maruell answered Bayard for you haue the earthly eyes of the bodie with which you see earthly things but you haue not the eyes of the spirit and vnderstanding wherewith to discerne and consider wisedome and prudence A dangerous iest of a soldier of Nauarre IN the yeare 1916. at such time as the French and Venetians had laid siege before Bressia which the Spaniards held for the Emperor after that the souldiers of both parts had vsed each against other sundry taunts and reprochfull arrogant speeches a certaine souldier a Nauarrois to the intent he might in some sort represse the vaunting speeches of the Spaniards in giuing them occasion to suspect the mines wrought vnder the groūd against thē he vsed this speech vnto thē My friends you that are so full of your mocks within the town take good heed and looke well to yourselues to preuent the harme that may betide you lest that when the henne hath done scraping digging the ground with her feete you repent you that you did not dreame of it It is a good threatning that giueth a man good admonition Of the two Marshals of Fraunce Monsieur de Antrehan and Monsieur de Cleremount THe Prince of VVales surnamed the Blacke Prince hauing made sundrie offers vnto Iohn the French king before the battell of Poytiers the king assembled his Councell to haue their aduice The lord de Antrehan one of the Marshals did counsell the king to accept the offers of the Prince and not to hazard the battell and to aduenture the certaine for the vncertaine The lord of Cleremount the other Marshall reproching the Marshall de Antrehan and obiecting that his counsell proceeded of feare and cowardice because he durst not be at the battell De Antrehan being very highly offended and esteeming himselfe much wronged in his honor and reputation said vnto him with a stout courage Cleremount to the intent thou maist know that it is no cowardly feare that made me speake as I haue done I would thou shouldest well know that the arrest of my launce shall be more forward in the battell then thou shalt be with the point of thine And the battell being foughten the French lost the field and king Iohn was taken prisoner The speech of Dame Tiphaine to her husband Bertrand du Guesclin AFter that the Lord Bertrand du Guesclin was espoused vnto the Ladie Tiphanie who was issued of a noble and great familie he discontinued for a time the vse and exercise of armes which he had bene accustomed to follow for the which his new espoused wise greatly blamed him saying my sweete friend and loue before that we were maried you were wont to follow the warres and many faire exploits haue bene atchieued by your prowesse in such sort as many haue thought that by you the realme of Fraunce would be recouered out of the hands of the English Surely it cannot stand with the nature of a true gentleman that an ouer exceeding affection to a new wife should make you loose the honour which you haue formerly obtained and sir for my part I who ought to be honoured by your meanes shall esteeme my selfe much disgraced if you surcease from following this course which you haue so well begunne and I shall beare you the lesse loue affection for it because you ought not to leaue and forgo the honour and reputation of chiualrie and the art militarie which euery man hath attributed vnto you The persvvasions of any honourable Ladie haue great force and may preuaile much vvith a generous and haughtie courage to make it enterprize high and great actions as these of this Ladie had vvith this Knight sir Bertrand vvho aftervvards became high Constable of Fraunce An honorable opinion of Levvi◠the son of King Philip of Fraunce LEvvis the sonne of king Philip the first of that name who was afterwards surnamed Levvis le gros making warre against certaine Noblemen of Fraunce that had rebelled against his father and hauing besieged a certaine castell his men at armes would needes leaue him and depart by reason of the vnseasonablenes ill disposition of the time insomuch as he was not able either by prayers or menaces to retain thē wherefore being thus abandoned forsaken of his forces he was constrained to retire and raise his siege saying oftentimes repeating it that it was better by farre for a man to dy a cruell death prouided it were honest honorable rather thē to prolong his life with shame dishonor A courteous and gentle answer of king Philip Augustus CErtaine Councellours and Courtiers shewed vnto the French king Philip surnamed Augustus that the Cleargie of Fraunce did vsurp the authoritie and royall iurisdictions appertaining to the Crowne whereby his princely dignitie and prerogatiue was greatly iniured and endammaged and wished him therefore to cut off their authoritie so vsurped whereunto he wisely aunswered I do easily beleeue that what you say is true howbeit calling to mind the benefits wherewith God hath blessed me I had rather suffer and endure losse and dammage in my rights
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
go vnto the Empresse and to say this vnto her from him I had leifer haue a wife that is barren then one that is subiect to drinking of wine The Empresse returned to the messenger this answer During my life I shall euer be obedient to the wil and commaundement of my Lord husband neuerthelesse if the Emperour should commaund me to vse wine I had rather dye then therein obey him A Sentence of Pope Clement the seuenth POpe Clement the seuenth speaking of the retaining of Princes in peace and amitie for the quiet and tranquilitie of the ChristiaÌ„ common-weale vsed to say that it was a daungerous and most perillous thing to be in amitie with some particulars onely but to entertaine it with diuerse it was well befitting and beseeming the dutie and dignitie of the Papall See which ought to declare it selfe the common father and wel willer of all in generall The allusion of the Lantgraue of Hesse THe Lantgraue Philip of Hesse making warres against the king Ferdinand brother to the Emperour Charles the fifth for the restoring of Vtrich duke of VVittenberg to his right being entred into the country and and territories of the said Duchy there he encountred with his enemies whom he rudely put to the repulse And as he made his infanterie to march on he demaunded of the aduaunteourrers where they had left their enemies Answer was made him that they were at Loffen Well said my good souldiers quoth he I take this your answer for a prognostication of our victorie at hand seeing it seemeth to bring vs tidings that our enemies are in flying Loffen in Dutch signifieth flight vvhich made the Lantgraue by the allusion of the vvord to take it for a presage of their flight A pleasant conceipt of a French Gentleman COmmunication being moued in the presence of the lord Claude Duke of Guizâ— touching a certaine battell giuen by Frauncis the French king against the Emperour Charles the fifth the duke of Guize began to vse some speech vnto a French Gentleman who had bene seene in the armie gorgiously attired and well armed at all points and exceedingly well mounted howbeit that he was not seene in the battell By my faith Sir answered the Gentleman I was there and I can bring good proofe thereof yea in such a place as you durst not haue bene seene The duke tooke this speech very ill and supposed himselfe highly touched and therfore grew greatly offended with the answer but the Gentleman laughing very pleasantly appeased him in saying vnto him My Lord I was with the baggage where I am sure your Lordship would not haue vouchsafed to haue stayed as I did Sometimes a man that hath lost his honour by his deedes may recouer the same againe by gracing it vvith good speeches An Apothegme of the Seneshall of Campaigne IOhn lord of Ionuille hauing giuen counsel vnto the aforesaid French king Saint Levvis not to return back into Fraunce till he had ended his warres in the holy land was iniured by som of the great lords Nobles neare about the Kings person who desired to depart from thence in somuch as they called him Colt which at that time was held a word of great disgrace amongst the pesants of Frâ—unce but he very gently replyed vnto them I had rather be a kicking Colt then a wincing Iade His meaning vvas that a young Colt might helpe both himselfe and his master out of dannger but an old horse endangereth both himself his rider The fidelitie of the French king Saint Levvis AFter that the Saracens had bene paid the summe of two hundred thousand pounds for the raunsome of the Earle of Poitiers brother to the king Saint Lewis who had bene taken prisoner by them in the holy land Monsieur Philip de Monâ—fort made report to the king that the Saracens were misreckened in their receipt of tenne thousand Franks wherupon the king presently made him sweare and to giue his faith that he should see them paid which he did accordingly and the king wold not depart out of harbour nor set saile to sea where he was readie embarked for his returne till the said summe of ten thousand Frankes were deliuered them The speech of the Lady of Heluin A Councell being held within the citie of Gaunt for the mariage of the Ladie Mary Princesse of Burgundie the daughter of duke Charles which dyed before Nancie with the Prince Dolphin of Fraunce sonne of king Lewis the eleuenth who was afterwards called Charles the eighth of that name king of Fraunce who was then very young in yeares the ladie of Heluin chiefe Lady of Honour to the Princesse said We haue need of a man and not of an infant or child for my mistresse is a woman sufficient to beare such a child as our countrey hath great need of This vvord to beare a child hath tvvo interpretations either to be married to a man of prudence and vvisedome or that by the mariage there may issue a child of a good and vertuous disposition according to that sentence of Salomon The land is in weake estate of which a child is Prince that is a child in vnderstanding A pleasant conceipt of the Duke of Millain his Cooke THe duke of Millain being besieged in a Castell by the Florentinâ—s one day as he sate at dinner he could not away but fell in mislike with the tast of all his meate set before him insomuch as he checked his Cooke and was very angry with him But the Cooke readâ—e enough to iustifie free himself from blame after many excuses made said vnto the Duke My lord your me at is well enough dressed but the Florentines haue put your mouth out of tast To that man vvhich in vvarres is timerous all things proue tedious and troublesome The persvvasion of the Lord Talbot to his sonne THe French vnder king Charles the seuenth hauing laid siege before the town of Chastillon which was possessed by the English in the yeare 1453. the Lord Talbot then Lieutenant General for the king of England in Aquitaine issued out of Burdeaux to raise the siege of the French Battell being ioyned between them and the losse likely to fall to the English the lord Talbot said vnto his son Son I would wish thee to prouide for thy safetie and to reserue thy self to some other time as for me it will be for my honour to die here after so many victories by me obtained in times past but if thou shouldest miscarie in this fight litle honour wold it be vnto thee who by sauing thy selfe now maist augment it in time to come in reseruing thy selfe for more haughtie enterprises and for the benefit of Enland thy natiue countrie This was a speech well beseeming a true and noble Gentleman and one that was a louer of his conntrey how beit his sonne would not yeeld vnto that motion but both father and sonne there lost their liues An Apothegme of a certaine Englishman THe English being chased
out of Fraunce by king Charles the seuenth as certaine of them were readie to passe the sea the French in mockage demaunded of an English Captaine when they would come againe to make warre in Fraunce who answered That shall we when your sinnes do exceed ours in number It is our sinnes onely that draweth down the vvrath of God and causeth him to send vs both vvarres famine and pestilence A good opinion of the Venetians THe Venetians are very secret in their counsels and deliberations and they haue an vsuall saying That a good Councell be it neuer so secret is oftentimes disclosed The ansvver of a Duchesse of Normandie to her husband A Certaine Damosell named Gonnor which in former times had bene beloued by Richard duke of Normandie the sonne of VVilliam Long spath being afterwards maried to the said duke after the death of the Ladie Auina his first wife the daughter of Hugues the great Erle of Paris the first night after she was maried to the said duke being laid in bed with him she turned her backe towards him The duke maruelling at that manner of her behauiour said vnto her Full often haue you lien with me yet did I neuer see you thus do before Whereunto she answered True it is my sweet loue for heretofore I lay in your bed and therefore did as pleased you but now I lye in the bed that is mine as well as yours and therefore I may rest me of what side do I please The constancie of Elizabeth the daughter of the King of Boheme ELizabeth the daughter of VVenceslaus king of Boheme being conducted with great honour to the city of Spire in Germanie of purpose there to be espoused to Iohn the eldest son of the Emperour Henry the seuenth and perceiuing that the celebrating of the mariage was deferred she made so secret inquirie of the cause that in the end she knew it was prolonged in regard of a iealousie which the Emperour had conceiued that she had not kept her virginitie for the truth is she was of a most singular and incomparable beautie farre excelling all the Ladies of that age knowing therefore whereupon this delay grew she stripped her selfe out of her clothes starke naked and couering her selfe onely with a mantle of pure fine linnen which was soone and easie to be cast off in this forme she presented her selfe to the Emperour saying vnto him Sacred Prince I will now instaÌ„tly make good proof of my virginity by the view search of my bodie the examinatioÌ„ therof made by sage honest women I will neuer stir foot from hence till you be free from that suspitioÌ„ which you haue conceiued of me The Emperour astonished and afraid at her speech could not possibly remoue her from her determination by any excuse or perswasion that he could vse but he was constrained to cause her to be searched and she being found to be pure and a virgine inuiolate he caused her to be maried vnto his sonne True vertue is alwaies of that strength and fortitude as it can neuer he vanquished A reason vvisely alleadged by the foole of the duke of Austrich LVpoldus duke of Austrich making warres against the Swizzers who were in alliance with the Emperour Levvis of Bauier hauing assembled vnder the charge of certain captaines of the estate of Germany to the number of 20000. men horse foot to the end he might cause them to set forward he consulted with his Counsell by what way he might best enter into the Svvizzers countrey The Councel being resolued of the course which they meant to take the dukes foole named Kune de Stocken who was present and had heard their deliberation said vnto them in his accustomed habite and countenance of a foole I do not like of your counsell for all of you haue consulted how and by what meanes we may enter into their countrey but there is none of you that hath giuen his aduice how and in what sort we shall get away againe from thence A good entrie or beginning is not all vvithout it haue a happie ending The good conditions of the Emperour Theodosian THe Emperour Theodosian could not endure to haue any to his seruants who were proud and arrogant or of too braue and vaunting an humour much lesse could he suffer them that were shameles mutinous dissolute seditious or rash in their speech And he was wont to say that that Prince could neuer be well beloued of his people nor obeyed of his subiects as long as he did suffer any to be neare him or about him for his ordinarie seruants that were presumptuous and arrogant or if his Officers were ambitious and couetous or if his fauorites and familiars were either dishonest or imprudent double hearted or double tounged By the seruant men iudge vvhat his lord is and such a man such a maister A Sentence of the Empresse Sophia TIberius being appointed to haue the gouernement of the Roman Empire in place of the Emperor Iustin who was become sickely Sophia the wife of the said Iustin entring into speech with Tiberius who was a most bountifull Prince amongst other matters vsed this sentence in her speech vnto him It is much better and a thing more easie to be endured that a Prince should be an ill maÌ„ and a good Prince then to be an ill Prince and a good man Certaine braue speeches of the Lord of Assier IAques de Genouillay Lord of Assier called Galeot who was grand Maister of the Ordinance to king Levvis the twelfth being determined to go to Mitilen to beare armes against the Turkes vnder the commaund of Monsieur de Rauestin and disposing of his affaires against he went on his voyage he was admonished by his friends to make his wil and to ordaine his Sepulture if he should happen to be slaine in that warre to whom he gaue this answer What need I take care to trouble my selfe with thinking where I shall be buried or by whom shall I not haue trow ye Pioners enough about me who will not leaue me vnburied if I fortune to dye there His soâ—â—e taking his leaue of him to go to the battel of Serizoles against the armie of the Emperor Charles the fifth he said vnto him You cannot possibly get to be at the battell in time His sonne answered him I will ride thither post The father replyed What will you cause your horses to runne and your armour to be caried post No quoth the sonne when I my selfe shall haue gotten thither I shall easily find horse and armour Oh poore man said the Lord of Assier wilt thou go seeke thy death in post As if he had said vnto him you cannot find there such horse and armes as will be fit for thy bodie which will be the cause of thy death And indeede there he made his end A foolish speech of certaine Ambassadours of Venice THe VenetiaÌ„s sent two yong Ambassadors to the Emperour Fredericke vnto whom 〈◊〉 would not giue
audience they 〈◊〉 to know the cause vnderstood 〈◊〉 it was the custome to send on Ambassade to the Emperour men that were aged and of good yeares and not young beardlesse men such as they were Whereupon they humbly besought the Emperour that he would giue them leaue to speake a word vnto him nothing concerning their Ambassade which being granted them they said vnto the Emperour Sacred Maiestie If the Seignorie of Venice had thought that knowledge and prudence had onely had his abiding in beards they would haue sent vnto your Highnesse two Goates for Ambassadours The truth is that the speeches of an Ambassadour are of much more respect authoritie vvhen they are accompanied with aged yeares prudence and experience and these young Ambassadours did shâ—vv by their speech that the conceipt and opinion of the Emperour vvas true vvhich he had ronceiued of them A pleasaâ—â— speech of Dant the Italian Poet. THe Poet Dant demaunded of a citizen of Florence what houre it was who answered him very rudely that it was the houre in which horses go to be watered Dant suddenly replyed What doest thou here then that goest not with them Of a cause decided by a French Gentleman Two French Gentlemen discoursing of single fight and combat whether it be lawfull or not the one of them said That there was no agreement between learning and the sword the other answered We which liue in the Latine Church as Christians are bound to obserue those lawes which it ordaineth and to protect defend them with the sword which ought not to be drawne but for that cause onely The lavv of man permitteth single combate but the lavv of God prohibiteth it A sentence of the Chauncelor of Fraunce SPeech being had in the presence of Anthony de Prat Chauncelor of Fraunce touching the warre of king Frauncis for the recouerie of Millain and some affirming that it were good that Millaine were vtterly destroied and ruinated in regard of the dammage that it had brought vnto the French he answered It is very necessarie that Millaine should stand in state as it is because it serueth as a purgation to the realme of France to take away and remoue the ill humours of idle and ill disposed persons which otherwise might corrupt and destroy it This was the sentence vvhich Scipio Africanus vsed in his speech to the Romanes concerning the preseruation of Carthage from being ruinated The patience of Seigneur Sforce A Knight of Nola came to tell Seigneur Sforce how a Gentleman one Tartaglia had spoken very badly of him at a certain banquet where he had reproched him with all kind of villanie and he affirmed his report with many great oathes to the intent he might the better be beleeued The Lord Sforce said vnto him My friend thou needest not paine thy self so much to make me beleeue that which thou tellest me because that Tartaglia doth vse neuer to speak of any but euill and it is very likely that he would not make spare of his ill speech with all kind of violence licentiousnesse and libertie euen to his vttermost especially being in place fit and conuenient for such a purpose By this answer he gaue the talebearer to vnderstand that Tartaglia was not much to be regarded both in respect he vvas reputed a common backebiter and in regard of his drunkennesse whereunto he noted him to be subiect An Apotheg of the same Sforce THe said Sforce being in doubt of the ambushes forces of Paule Vrsin forsooke the citie of Rome where he was abiding and went to encampe himselfe in the forrest of Aglio The Cardinall of Saint Angâ—ll the Popes Legate went vnto him to perswade him to returne to Rome with promise and assurance of saâ—etie during his being there and amongst other speeches vsed vnto him he said Seigneur Sforce will you be afraid of a Beare being vnder the protection and assurance of a strong Colonne or pillar to defend you for then was the Pope of the house of the Colonnois which in Italian signifieth a pillar but Sforce made him this answer My lord Cardinall you might thinke me a very foole if I would rely or trust vpon the succours and defence of a deafe and dead peece of Marble and not be afraid of a great monstrous beast who being armed with terrible teeth and nailes doth walke notwithstanding as men vse to do By this allusion he shewed that the succours of the Pope were slow and long in comming and he discouered the high courage and great forces of Paul Vâ—sin his enemie The Epitaph of Charles duke of BurguÌ„dy vvho vvas slaine before Nancie in Lorain in the yeare 1477. Te piguit pacis vita taeduitq quietis Hîc iaces Charole iamque quiesce tibi Vnpleasing to thee in thy life vvas peace and quietnes But Charles here novv doest thou lye now therefore take thy rest Philip of Commines in his hostorie testifieth that this Charles duke of Burgundie was of so turbulent a spirit delighting in warres as he had neuer one houre of rest in all his life The properties of three Nations taxed A Great Lord was wont to say that three sorts of men were to be taken heede of namely A red Italian a white French man and a blacke Germaine A notable sentence of the Queene of England KAtherine of Spaine the wife of Henry the eight king of England said That she loued better a temperate and meane fortune then that which was either too easie and prosperous or too sharpe and aduerse Neuerthelesse that if she should be put to her choise which of the two last she would accept she had rather haue the aduerse then the prosperous because said she commonly they which are vnfortunate are not altogether destitute of some consolation and comfort but they which liue in prosperitie for the most part do want the true vse of vnderstanding reason and iudgement Of the President Moruillier PHilip de Moruillier President of the Parliament of Paris in the time of king Charles the 7. for some enuie and malice conceiued against him by the Councellours of the Court was greatly disliked of them insomuch as he retired himselfe to the kings Court who assoone as occasion was offered preferred him to the dignitie of chief President Within a while after being come into the Parliament there to take possession of his new place and dignitie and being set in the chiefe and principall seat he began very aptly his Oration in this manner with a place of the Scripture Lapidem queÌ„ reprobauerunt aedificantes hîc factus est in caput anguli The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone in the corner Monsieur de S. Romain at that time Procurer generall for the king answered him with another text of the Psalmist as fit as the former saying A Domino factum est istud est mirabile in oculis nostris This is the Lords doing and it is maruellous in our eyes A merrie conceipt of king
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
that a gentleman in the house had enforced and rauished her against her will The gentleman came to the presence of the Dutches to excuse himselfe whereupon the Dutchesse tooke his Rapier and put it into the damosels hand that accused him keeping the scabbard in her owne hand and then said vnto her Put the Rapier into this scabbard as she endeuoured to put it therein the Duchesse holding the scabbard to her stirred her hand vp and down so as by any means the damsel could not sheath it then the Dutches said vnto her If thou hadst done as thou seest me do with this scabbard then this mischaunce had neuer befalne thee It is impossible for a vvoman to be forced against her vvill notvvithstanding that vvhich is reported of Lucrece Another act of a Dutchesse I Haue heard the report of another act which was most excellent and worthie to be had in remembrance A great Prince of Fraunce by the counsell of some of his friends and with the Popes dispensation had caused a separation betweene him and his wife onely because she had no issue of her body which he imputed to her disabilitie and thereupon maried another wife Within a small time after this Noble man remembring himselfe of his first wife sent vnto her on a Newyeares day a most rich and precious robe by a Gentleman his familiar friend who presented it vnto the Lady the same day The Princesse receiuing the robe after long speech had with the Gentleman demaunded if it were her husband of himselfe that sent her this present and being assured by him that it came directly from her husband she presently cut it asunder separated the vpper frō the neather part and afterwards deliuering the vpper part of the garment backe vnto the Gentleman she said vnto him My friend thanke your maister from me for the loue and affection that he seemeth to continue towards me carrie him backe againe this part of his robe and tell him from me that he keepe well the vpper part and for the neather part let him not doubt but I will looke well vnto it keep it safely as long as it shall please God to lend me life By this conceipt the Princesse meant that she vvould during her life keepe her chastitie vvithout marying againe vvhich she did vvith great patience and constancie A christian saying of the Emperour Charles the fifth AFter the victorie which Charles the fifth obtained against Iohn Fredericke duke of Saxonie Elector of the Empire who was taken prisoner in a battel foughten betweene them the Emperour said all openly I cannot 〈…〉 Iulius Caesar said Veni vidi vici 〈…〉 will onely say Veni vidi 〈◊〉 Deus vicit A braue ansvver of the Countie of Anguien FRauncis of Burbon Earle of Anguien being for king Frauncis in Piemont against the armie of the Emperour Charles the fifth whereof was chiefe General the Marquesse of Guast the said Marquesse sent this message vnto the said Lord of Anguien who was very young that his beard was to little for him to haue the hardinesse to meete him in battel Whereunto the Lord of Anguien sent this answer That it was not with their beards that the French did vse to fight but that as this was the office of their swords so with the sword he came to seeke him and to offer him battell There are many affaires of great importance vvherein regard is to be had not to the age but to the prudence experience of him that hath the managing of them A sharpe and pleasant speech of a foole belonging to the Marquesse of Guast BEfore the battell foughten at Serizoles the same Marquesse of Guast assuring himselfe of the victorie gaue vnto one that was his iester afaire gilt Armour and a Iener of Spaine promising him ouer and aboue that of his owne good grace and pleasure to giue him fiue hundred duckets to the intent he should be the first that should go cary vnto his lady the Marquesse the newes of his victorie It happened as good fortune would that the French gained the iourney and the Emperours armie was defeated Amongst the Spaniards that were taken prisoners this iester of the Marquesse hapned to be one who by reason he was so well mounted armed was thought to be some great Lord or Knight being brought before the Lord of Anguien after he had a while questioned with him he knew him what he was and demaunding of him who had furnished him in that good order the iester answered My lord the Marquesse gaue me my horse and armes and should haue giuen me besides fiue hundred duckets to go and tell my ladie his wife the first tidings of his victorie but I beleeue said he that the Marquesse will gaine the money himselfe and that he is posted thither in person Of a Parmisan that by his subtilty saued himselfe from trouble A Certaine man at armes a Parmisan passing by Saluces arriued into a publike place in the middest whereof was an high columne or pillar erected vpon the which was pitched an Eagle imperiall to the which this souldier casting vp his eyes very attentiuely as if he had bene suddenly astonished he began in manner of cursing to say Oh foule mischiefe may befall him that set thee there so high Diuerse standing there by and walking vp and downe in that place acquainted the Magistrate with this speech of the Parmisan who being led before the Iustice and demaunded if he had spoken such words as were obiected against him he confessed that he had spoken them and that the occasion which moued him to say so was for that the Eagle was set ouer high For said he I beare so great reuerence and loue to the Eagle which representeth the Maiestie imperiall that if it had bene below where I might haue reached it I would not haue spared to haue embraced and kissed it By this answer turned contrarie to the intendment and expectation of them all he saued himselfe from trouble and was suffered to depart safely out of the towne Necessitie vvill sometime constraine a man to avvaken his spirits and to auoide daunger to turne his vvords in a double sense An honorable opinion of the Dolphinesse of Fraunce MArgaret daughter to the king of Scots and wife to the Dolphine of Fraunce who was afterwards king Levvis the eleuenth passing on a time through a hall where lay sleeping on a bench Alan Chartier Secretarie to king Charles the seuenth a man of singular learning and a most excellent Poet and Oratour in the French toung went to kisse his mouth in the presence of al her companie Whereupon one of those who attended her said Madame It is verie straunge that you should kisse a fellow so filthie and deformed She answered I did not kisse the man but the mouth out of which hath proceeded so many excellent conceipts graue matters and most eloquent speeches The goods of the mind are to be preferred before the beautie
of the body and many times in vessels of base stuffe are enclosed most precious liquours The subtill request of Iohn de Menu to saue himselfe from the furie of certaine Ladies QVite contrarie to the former act was that which a Queene of Fraunce with her ladies did vnto Iohn de Menu the first and principall Poet of the French nation for he hauing composed that renowned booke of The Roman of the Rose in the which he bringeth in a iealous man that speaketh all the euill that possibly can be imagined of women and their dispositions by reason thereof he incurred the indignation and displeasure of the Queene and other Ladies who determined to be reuenged of him One day therefore the Queen by the means of the other Ladies did so much that she got Iohn de Menu in her power and hauing reuiled iniuried and threatened him exceedingly for speaking ill of womenkind she commaunded her damosels to strippe him naked and to tye him to a pillar purposing that they themselues should scourge him He seeing that all the reasons and excuses which he could make could not preuaile against their rage and furie humbly intreated that before they began to execute their wrath and malice vpon him it wold please the Queene to graunt him one request which with great difficultie he obtained Well then quoth he faire Ladies seeing you haue vouchsafed me this fauour as to condescend vnto my demaund I pray you that the most arrant and notorious whore in all your company may begin to whippe me and to giue me the first stripe This said they were all confounded and amazed and left him alone at his libertie The answer of the Lord Chabanes to king Lewis the eleuenth KIng Levvis the eleuenth hauing giuen charge to Baluë Bishop of Eureux to go take and receiue the muster of the men of armes in Paris The lord of Chabanes great Maister of Fraunce requested the king to graunt him a Commission to go and reforme the Chanons of the Church of Eureux Why quoth the king that is no fit and conuenient charge for you yea but said he this is as well befitting to my estate and calling as it is for the Bishop of Eureux to haue to do with the ordering of men at armes A historie of a Radish giuen to king Lewis the eleuenth THe same king Levvis being but yet Dolphin of Fraunce did for a certaine time soiourne and remain in Burgundie for feare of his father during the which vsing to take his pleasure and recreation in hunting he did often frequent and resort to the cottage of a poore forrester named Conon as it is often seene that great Princes do sometimes take pleasure to be familiar with people of meane reckening with whome taking his repast he did vse diuerse times to eate Radishes Afterwards coming to be king this poore fellow Conon by the perswasion of his wife in hope to feele the bountie and liberalitie of the Prince came into Fraunce and brought with him of the fairest Radishes of his garden to make a present of them to his Maiestie but by constraint of hunger for want of victuals on the way he was enforced to eate them vp al saue one which was the greatest and fairest of them all Being come to the Court he was knowne by the king who sent for him to his presence and he good man verie cheerefully presented the great Radish vnto his Maiestie The king tooke it and accepted it very graciously and caused one that was neare about him to lay it vp amongst his chiefest and most precious iewels and after he made the forrester to dine well he gaue him a thousand Crownes and so dismissed him It happened not long after that a Courtier vpon a vaine hope presented the king with a very goodly horse of a most excellent making and perfection in all parts supposing that the king would recompence him for him most bountifully The king bethinking himselfe wherwith he might reward him remembred him of his Radish which being wrapped vp in white paper he gaue to the Courtier telling him that he should accept of that in good part The gentleman returning to his lodging and hoping to find some great treasure vnfolded his packet and found nothing but a Radish whereupon he went and made his complaint vnto the king thinking that he had but mistaken one thing for another but the king presently made him this answer Passion of God man I think I haue well payed for thy horse for the present which I gaue thee cost me a thousand crownes This vvas a most royall kind of liberalitie in recompensing bountifully the good affections and long trauels of a poore man vvell deseruing and to revvard the audacious according to his demerites The speech of a President of Paris to king Levvis the twelfth A Great Lord of Fraunce betaking himselfe to force of armes violently entred the prison of the Castle of Paris and tooke thence a Gentleman of his house who was held there prisoner and led him away The lord of Vacquerie chiefe and first President in the Parliament of Paris being aduertised of this case went vnto the king Levvis the twelfth vnto whome after he had done due reuerence he said Sir I wonder how you can be merrie considering the wrong that is done you and me thinkes you shold feele it Wherfore quoth the king Because sir said he your right arme is broken I vnderstand you not replyed the king your right arme sir quoth the President is your iustice which is now broken and violated and so recounted vnto him from point to point what had happened wherewith the king was highly displeased and hauing caused the Lord to be sent for to appeare before him he commaunded him to repaire his fault and made him to yeeld such satisfaction as was fit and according to reason Iustice is that vvherby Princes do raign and it is the principall force and strength to preserue a realme in good estate A iudgement of a king of England A King of England seeing two Gentlemen earnestly contending and desiring the combat each of other for the armes of their houses for both of them bore a Buls head in their shield before they entred into the lists to darreine the battell he called them both before him seuerally and in secret and said vnto them As farre as I can perceiue the onely thing that induceth you to claim the combate each of other is that the one of you cannot suffer the other to carrie the armes of his family But if I can bring it to passe shew you how the Armes of your aduersarie are farre different from yours will you be contented to surcease your quarrell and to leaue the combate Whereunto when either of them had seuerally consented the king by a Herald caused it to be proclaimed that he had found a meane to accord them and that their armes were diuerse for from hencefoorth quoth the king the one shall beare in his shield