dedicate by Virgill the sonne of Pollio to Iulius Caesar concerning the commet which appeared after his death Behold the starre of Dioneus Caesar the star wherin the corns reioice their fils And whereby eke the Grapes do take their die on shadie hils Donec totum impleat orbem Till he replenish the whole world The increase of the moone in the daies of the most famous king Henry the second king of France was most strange and prodigious In the holy scriptures the moone many times doth signifie the Church wherto may be added the consent of Paulus Aemilius in the histonie of Pope Calixtus the second whose name before was Guido the sonne of William Earle of the Heduans or Burgundians who the day before his pontificall creation saw in a vision a Starre carried by a childe from the side of the Moone Furthermore the Moone is alwaies subâ—ect to alteration 〈◊〉 both increaseth and decreaseth at certcine houres and times In like maner may wee see the Church of God militant and neuer continuing in one and the same state but one while mainteined and defended of Christian Princes an other-while tyrannized put to flight and sent in funder with factions of heretiques whereby it commeth to passe that it is neuer free from vexation and trouble in this life Wherto notwithstanding the Maiestie of God the King himselfe and his sonne Iesus Christ haue promised certeine helpe and defence vntill it being gathered vnder one God one King and one law the most louing vnitie immensitie of the whole flocke acknowledging one onely pastor may appeare Immensi tremor Oceani The trembling feare of the Ocean Sea Lodouicus the eleuenth King of France when he was about to institute the order of Saint Michaell as they call it in the yeare of our Lord 1469. for a Cognizance or Simbole he ensigned them with a golden chaine lineked togither with cockle-stones and double knots with circles of gold in the midst whereof was a knob or mushrome as it were a promontorie with the golden image of Saint Michael hanging downe vppon their brestes Which last he did being prouoked thereto by the example of king Charles the seuenth his father who vsed the same image for his ensign in wars taking the beginning of his manguration at Rothomage Which custome was begun afterwardes confirmed amongst many kings through a notable miracle or vision as they superstitiously dreame of S. Michael appearing in the battell by the bridge of the citie of Orleance who expulsed droue away the English men and set the Citie free from their siege The chaine therefore is a type or figure of this order a signe of vertue concord and of a perpetuall league or couenant of amitie and friendship to be continued amongst them also a cognizance or badge of those that deserued well and of the victorie obteined By the gold he would haue to be vnderstood magnanimitie prowesse and honours By the cockles their mutuall equalitie or common condition of fortune imitating herein the order of the Romane Senators who vsed to weare cockles vpon their sleeues by the tying of them togither with a double knot he would represent the indissoluble couenant made betwixt him and the rest and that with no friuolous signification Last of all by the image he would shuld be declared the victorie and triumph which Michaell had ouer the diuell whom he ouercame The reason of which signe doth greatly appertaine as well to the regiment and maiestie of a kingdome as also to strike feare and terrour into the enemy And how many he thought good to be admitted into the societie of this order he himselfe declared to wit 36. as it were patrones of the kingdome amongst whome he would be counted the first or chiefest And therefore the same time that he ordeined this order to be celebrate he named fifteene lordes whom for honours sake and prerogatiue of their names it is not conuenient to omit with silence The first therefore were these Charles Duke of Guienne Iohn Duke of Burbon and Auergne Lewis of Luxenburg Earle of Saint Paul and Constable of France Andrew Lauallius lord of Loheac Marshall of France Iohn Earle Sanserre lord of Bueile Lewis Beaumont lord of Forest and Plessis Lewis Destouteuille lord of Torcy Lewis Lauall lord of Chastillon Lewis bastard of Burbon Earle Rosillon Admirall of France Anthonie Chaban Earle of Dammartin chief Steward to the King Iohn bastard of Armignia Earle of Comingies Marshall of France gouernour of Dolphine George Trimoille lord of Craon Gilbert Chaban lord of Curton Seneshall of Câ—â—cone Charles lord of Crussol Seneschal of Poicton Taneguius of Castell gouernor of the prouinces of Rossillon and Sardinia Vltus aâ—o 〈◊〉 He hath reuenged his 〈…〉 quarrell by the example of Tâ—o Lewis the 12. King of France as Duke of Orleance by discent and earle of Blofie gaue the Porcupine in his ensigne with which simbole togither with the image of a Wolfe the auncient Citie of Blofie was wont to blaze their ensignes This is to be seene grauen in many stones and walls Plinie Which beast nature hath so studiously furnished with weapons that she may resist al those that withstand her especially dogges against whom she throweth her prickes like violent arrowes The interpretation of which portraiture the stately houses of a certaine noble citizen in that citie doe declare at the entrance whereof vnder the Porcupine these verses are found ingrauen in stone These Dartes are peace to humble men but warre to proud indeed For why both life and death also from our woundes do proceed Non sine causa Not without cause The iust and vpright ad ministration of iustice with the due punishment of the wicked is a thing so necessarie to kingdomes people and Countries that if they should bee taken away the companies and societies of men would soone fall to decaie and bee destroyed Wherefore Rulers and Magistrates may righthe chalenge the sworde to themselues with publike and priuate honours as warranted by the word of God that they may bee not onclie a helpe and a comfort to the godlie and meeke but also a feare and terrour to the wicked Therefore is the moste wholesome dectrine of the Apostle Saint Paule to bee imbraced Rom. 13. Wilt not thouâ— saith hee feare the powers Doe well then and thou shalt haue praise thereby for hee is the minister of God for thy good But iâ— thou doest euill feare for hee carrieth not the sworde for naught for hee is the minister of God to reuenge in wrath to him that doth euill Therefore bee ye subiect of necessitie not onelie for feare of anger but also for conscience sake For this cause therefore doe ye paâ—e tribuâ—e they are the nâ—inisters of God sâ—â—uing for that purpose Giue therefore to all men that which is due tribute to whom tribute belongeth feare to whom feare apperteineth and honour to whom honour belongeth Plus oultre Hee conceiueth hope to proceed further Charles the fift
of Acrense from siege and remouing all feare both of danger and tyranny he brought great ioy and libertie to the Rhodians Therefore he caused himselfe to be named the first in the catelogue of Knights constituting foureteene moe all which he dignified with the same chaine of gold The names of them that he knighted were these The said Earle Vert. Amé Earle of Geneua Antonie Lord of Belauieu Hugh Challon Lord of Arlay Amé of Geneua Iohn of Vienne admiral of France William of Grandzon William of Chalamon Rowland Veyssy of Burbon Stephen the bastard son of Baume Iasper of Monmeur Barlus of Foras Thennard of Menthon Amé Bonnard Richard Musard an Englishman Non inferiora secutus Following no meane things Margaret Queene of Nauarre vsed a most solemne signe namely the marigold whose colour resembleth so neere the colour of the sonne as almost nothing more For what way so euer the sunne goeth it followeth it it opeâ—eth and shutteth it selfe at the rising and falling of the sunne according to his ascending or descending This godly Queene chose this kind of simbole that she might euidently expresse how that she referred all her cogitations affections vowes words deedes to almightie God onely wise and euerlasting as one that meditated vpon heauenly things with all her heart Antè ferit quam flamma micet The flint is sent before to yeeld fire Philip duke of Burgundie vsed this ensigâ—â— of a flint stone striking fire which signifie the difficultie of warres amongst Kings anâ— Princes whereby it commeth to passe ofteâ— times that the one is consumed ouerthrown and vanquished of the other whereupon foâ—loweth calamitie great losses and a heape dangers on euerie side Pretium non vile laborum He reaped no small reward of his labors In the yeare after the birth of Christ 1429. Paul Aemil. the companie of the order of the knights of the Garter began by the same Philip duke of Burgundy hauing purchased a most maiesticall name by the donation of the golden fleece After this he chose foure and twentie noble men of tried fidelitie to be of the number of this honorable societie adorning them with a chaine of gold wherein was the flint stone burning thoroughout the whole chain and the golden fleece hanging before the breast imitating herein as may be supposed the marinal expedition of Iason into Colchos by diligent obseruation as it were of his vertue and godlines whereof he was said to be so desirous that he deserued the name of good and the praise of an excellent wit the order wherof his Epitaph which also sheweth the inuention of the golden fleece doth declare in these words I to thintent the church might be both safe and sure likewise From tyrants rage inuented haue the goodly golden fleese There were admitted into the number or societie of these knights next after the Duke himselfe William of Vienna Lord of saint George Renatus Pottius Lord of Roch. Lord Remblai Lord of Montague Roland Huquerquius Antonie Virgius Earle of Dammartine Dauid Brimeus Lord of Lignie Hugo Launoy Lord of Santes Iohn Earle of Cominie Antonie Thoulongeon marshall of Burgundie Peter Luxenburg Earle of Conuersan Iohn Trimoille Lord of Ionuelle Iohn Luxenburg Lord of Beaureuoir Gilbert Launoy Lord of Villeruall Iohn Villiers Lord of Isleadam Antonic Lord of Croy and Renty Florimundus Brimeus Lord of Massincourt Robert Lord of Mamines Iames Brimeu Lord of Grignie Baldwin Launey Lord of Molembaesius Peter Baufremontanus Lord of Chargny Philip Lord of Teruant Iohn Crequius Iohn Croy Lord of Tours on Marne Flammescit vterque Both of them do burne Two Lawrell boughes rubbed hard togither if we shal credite what Plinie hath recorded yeeld fire forth by long and continuall chaâ—â—ing Manie are of opinion also that the bone of a Lion do the same So likewise most certaine it is that no little danger falleth our when mightie men meete togither that the old prouerbe may be verified which saith Dura duris non quadrare in plowing or tilling of the ground hard things agree not togither The description of this sinibole or figure appertaineth to the crosse of saint Andrew as they terme it and the house of Burgundie were wont to vse the same in their martiall ensignes when they marched forward and were now come to encounter with their enimies albeit in euery point they admitted not the like signification Sara à chi tocca Whom it happeneth vnto The ire of a Prince is ful of present danger as a man may learne by the example of an earthen pot being now burning on the fire which if it should chance to fall it is vnpossible but that it should do some great harme to the standers by This portraiture or figure did Iohn duke of Burbon vse as by obseruation we may see in most places of his countrey of Burbon of Elentheropola or of a village that the frenchmen inhabited called Beauiolois Nil pennased vsus The fethers are of no force but vse If you marke well the monstrous bird called an Ostrich S. Georg. you see how with great preparation and ostentation of her feathers she endeuours to take a great flight and yet for al that is not an inch higher from the ground when shee hath done all that shee can The verie like propertie the hypocrites haue which outwardly make a gay glistering shew of a zealous holines of religion but let them once lay away their dissembling and then search them thorowly and you shall finde them euen stone cold within all the oftentation that they made outwardly to be lies Humentia siccis Moist things and drie agree not togither The Ensigne that Galeaz vicechanceler the second Duke of Millan was wont to vse may be verified of those which according to the prouerbe are said to carrie fire in the one hand and water in the other It was a burning firebrand or a staffe hardned in the fire with two vessels ful of water aboue and beneath It may haue also an other signification if we more deepely waigh it namely that the passions of a mans minde are by Gods goodnesse extinguished by the direction of reason Moreouer by it the same dukes magnanimitie is signified for he in a foughten combat most renowmedly vanquished a Dutch Lord that at that time bore no smal countenance who was the first man that vsed the same embleme or picture and chalenged this his Ensigne to himselfe for a monument of victorie and for a token of triumph that he got ouer his enimie who then was put to the worst Sola viteit in illo She onely liued in him The goddesse called Diana Pictaniensis a noble woman of verie great godlines and the most famous Dutchesse of the citie of Valentia conceiued a verie constant hope touching the resurrection of the dead which commeth by death in our remouing into an other life who also by consideration of the saints in heauen oftentimes comforted her selfe Therefore it is most like that by this picture
est nec posse reor It is neither law nor can be I suppose Not whosoeuer is in bands or prison Actes 12. but he that is intangled in vices and sinne is to be iudged a bondslaue For albeit Peter the Apostle was kept in Herod his prison bound with two chaines yet by the ministerie of an Angel his chaines fell from his hands and he escaped passing thorow the iron gates which by the wil of God which by no mans deuise neither can nor ought to be impugned opened of their owne accord and gaue him passage Semine ab aethereo From the heauenly seede The same earth which swallowed vp Core Dathan Abiron with the rest of the troublers of the priesthood ministery of AaroÌ„ approued the same thing in the Leuitical tribe Numb 16. and 17. and that not without a misterie whilest that amongst the rods of the Israelites erected in the tabernacle of the Lord the second day the rod of Aaron onely budded bare fruit or Almons Ventura desuper vrbi To fall vpon the crue The miserable destruction of Ierusalem by the Romanes after the passion of Christ Ioseph Egesipp was foreshewed before by manie wonders signes especially by a firie commet appearing in forme of a sword and hanging ouer the steeple for the space of a whole yeare togither shewing as it were by this signe that the iustice of God would take punishment of the wicked nation of the Iewes by fire and blood for their great impietie and wickednesse which thing not onely came to passe but also most raging famine tormenting them there was found one who killed and cate her owne child In vtrumque paratus Readie to both The Israelites after their returne from the captiuitie of Babilon 2. Esd 4. taking in the one hand a trowell in the other a sword such were the continuall troubles of their enimies built vp the wals of Ierusalem Which thing in a misterie did represeÌ„t the ministers of the church of Christ who are bound to instruct the ignorant and to bring againe those that do erre in the faith which are very ruines in deed to fight manfully with the sword of Gods word against the enimies thereof which are vices and sinne Vindice fato Destenie being reuenger Dauid being a little child but armed with grace from aboue 2. King 17 feared not to enter combate with the great and fearefull giant Goliah neither would he put on the armor of Saul but contenting himselfe with a sling and fiue flint stones ouerthrew this monster and triumphed ouer him In like manner that we may ouercome that fearefull and dangerous enimie of mankind the diuell the onely weapons of a stable faith firme hope and constant affiance in the merites of Christs passion and death are enough Nil solidum Nothing is firme or continuall in this life At the time of the creation of the bishops of Rome when according to the custome he that is nominate Pope entreth into S. Gregories church wherein many of the Romish bishops are buried the master of the ceremonies goeth before him carrying in his hands two reedes tying to the top of the one a burning candle which flaming he putteth to the other whereto are tyed hurds or flaxe and so burneth them both saying these words three times togither Oh holy fathers so passeth the glorie of this world Vtrum lubet Whether pleaseth him Clubbes or battes compassed about with Oliue branches being a signe as wel of peace A. Gelliuâ— as of warre may be giuen to those to whom we giue the choise as well of the one as of the other Which thing our ancesters portrayed with a white wand such as Ambassadors vse to carrie that intreat for peace and a speare adioyned as the Romanes did to the Carthaginians or else with two speares the one whereof had his point tipped with steele the other blunted with a knobbe of wood on the end Agere pati fortiae To do and suffer great things C. Mutius when in steede of Porsena King of the Hetruscans who had besieged Rome Liuius lib. 2. Valerius he had slaine the kings secretarie was so angrie with himselfe that he thrust his right hand into the fire which he had made to sacrifice withall Lex exlex The law or ouâ— law Anacharsis the Philosopher compared lawes to cobwebbes Valerius the great because they troubled oppressed the little flies and such small volatiles but neuer touched the great ones Which thing we see to be too true in iudgements now adayes whilest the mightie are sauoured and the poore and meaner sort taxed and seuerely handled Tutus ab igne sacer Being holy I was safe from the violence of the fire Plutarch Valerius the great Lituns being a crooked staffe whereupon the southsayers sate when they deuined of things to come which Romulus vsed insteede of an Iuorie scepter perished not in the middest of the flame at Rome but was found safe and sound in the middest of the same Parce Imperator Pardon me most noble Emperor M. Sceua a most valiant knight of Iulius Caesats Appian in that battaile which he fought against Pompey lost one of his eyes and had his body thrust thorow seuen times his shield was found also to be pearced with a hundred and twentie darts Caesar And as Caesar himselfe reporteth notwithstanding that his shield was strooke thorow 230. places Sueton. Valerius yet he kept the gate still and the entrance which he had taken vpon him to defend And whilest he went in the foreward of the battell in France and fought hand to hand with his enimies his hippe being sore hurt and his face brused with great stones his helmet and his shield broken and fallen out of his hand and his sword shiuered in diuerse peeces and being armed with a double brest plate with great holdnesse cast himselfe into the sea and by swimming thorow the waters which he had made redde with the bloud of his enimies he came to his owne men Whither when he was come as soone as he perceiued himselfe to be vnarmed which by the law of armes was forbidden he cried out to the Prince for he trusted not yet to so many dangers which he had ouercome Oh noble Emperour forgiue me I come to thee vnarmed This was the vertue and manly prowesse of Sceua wherefore for a reward he was preferred to the dignitie of a Centurion Euertit aequat It breaketh in peeces and maketh euen or smooth things that be rough William of Heâ—ant Earle of Ostreueant Frossard sonne of Albert duke Rauaâ—iâ— Earle of Haâ—auâ— Holland and Zelâ—nâ— about the yeare of our Lord 1390 carried in his frandart the picture of a harrow of golde which he shewed in the warres and host of the christians to the city of Barbarie called Aphrodisin For euen as the harrow doth breake in sunder the hard clods of the fieldes so doth a good prince with the
the midst of his youth he was slaine in the kingdome of Nauarre Vpon whose tombe was written this Epitaph Borgia Caesar sometime I was A CÄ™sar right in deede and name Either Caesar or nothing I le bring to pas both which he was then died with shame Sola facta solum Deum sequor Being a lone woman I will followe God alone Bone a most famous and noble woman of Sauoy and moother to Iohn Galeaz Duke of Milan after her husbandes deceasse caused a coine to bee made which the people there doe call a testone vppon the one side whereof was a phenixe pourtraied with these wordes Sola facta solum Deum sequor Signifieng â—â—erby that as the Phenix is alone her selfe in the world so she being made a widow by the death of her husband voweth her selfe to liue for euer with God alone Pas à pas Foote by foote Pâ—natus king of Scicilie desirous to haue it knowen that he conceiued hope to become a mightier prince thou yet hee was and to escape and ouercome all dangers and difficulties commanded his Ensigne or symbole to be pourtraied in forme of an ox carrying his cognisance vpon his necke with these words annexed Pas à pas Foote by foote shewing thereby that the oxe albeit verie slowlie doth vndertake notwithstanding manie a great and tedious iourney Ditat seruata fides Fidelitie inricheth A certaine man going about to shewe what loialtie obedience and faithfull seruice hee had performed towardes his maister whereby hee was greatlie inriched for his Ensigne pourtraied two handes embracing a certain hearb called Semper viueus wherby was signified plentie of all thinges with these wordes Ditat seruata fides that is Loialtie and truth purchaseth great riches Virescit vulnere virtus Veritie increaseth when it is oppressed A certain other man of a moâ—ne estate being persecuted of enuie through the common ignorance of men for his vertue and good deedes as almost all the godlie are and desiring to signifie that how much the more hee was persecuted so much the more he woulde publish and shew forth his vertue and godlynes pictured a mâ—n treading vnder his feete the plant of an hear be which the Apothecaries call Acerosa the Latines Rumice the Greekes Oxalida the Florentins Agrestina with this senteÌ„ce Virescit vulnere virtus that is vertue how much the more it is suppressed so much the more it flourisheth and increaseth following heerein the nature of th t hear be which how much the more it is troden vpon so much the more greene it is Which simbole sometime the Lord Legat of Prat high Chancellor of France vsed Esto tienne su remedio y non yo The Hart hath his remedie but scue hath none A Hart stroke thorough with an arrow eating of a branch or leafe of Dictanus which is an hearbe growing abundantly in Candia or the Iland of Creta which being eaten of a hart his wounds are immediatly healed with this inscription Esto tienne su remedio y non yo that is the heart here hath helpe but my wounde is incurable may bee a figure or simbole of loue that can neuer be healed alluding to that verse of Ouid in his Metamorphosis wherein Phoebus bewraieth his loue towards Daphnes Wo to me that haggard loue which sets our mindes on fire Cannot be healed by hearbes or rootes nor druggie potions dire Ingenium superat vires Wit or pollicie excelleth strength Fernandus Consaluus in the last Neopolitan warres shewed himselfe not onely a noble and valiant Captaine but also verie wise and p l â—ike insomuch that hee at chieued verieth â—â—â—â—plie many great battels who was so farre from fearing least his pollicie which hee vsed shuld be espied that he gaue for his simbole a bow which was wont to bee bent with strings or cordes this apothogme beeing added thereto Ingenium superat vires Policie is of greater force then strength Qui me alit me extinguit He that nourisheth me killeth me In the exile or bannishment of the Heluetians neere Millan after the deceasse of Francis their king the Lord of Saint Valier the father of the Ladie Diana of Poitiers Dutchesse of Valentinois and gouernour ouer an hundreth noble knightes carried a standard about wherein was pictured a burning Torch turned vpside downe the wâ—xe melâ—ing and quenching the same with this sentence Qui me alit me extinguit that is he that feedeth me killeth me Which simbole was framed for a certain noble womans sake willing to insinuate hereby that as her beautie and comelines did please his minde so might it cast him into danger of his life Furor fit laesa sepiùs patientia Patience being moued is turned into anger Some men are so foolish and rash bolde or hastie as well in wordes as in deedes that they will not sticke to anoie the quietest the modest and the godliest men that be which thing falleth out now and then to their owne hurt is it did once to a young man who too vehemently pursuing a Ram was hurt of him for hiâ— labour prouing in deede that this olde Adage is true Furor fit laesa saepiùs patitientia Patience being moued is turned into furie Frons hominem praefert The face sheweth a mans disposition Those that haue writ of the secretes of nature and of the signes of phisognomie as Aristotle beareth witnes saie that the forhead doth shew euerie mans disposition or inclination Therefore a narowe slender forehad is a signe of a foolish man vncleane and like vnto swine giuen altogether to the bellie A forehead too large like an oxe is a signe of a grosse and dull wit and vnderstanding A forehead long sheweth a man to be very gentle and docile hanging downe ouer the eies effeminate and womannishnes Being round it signifieth a wicked man and vnconstant Plaine and bare a man ambicious and desirous of vaine glorie Bald to the middest a man furious and angrie Wrinckled or riueled a heauie and sleepie man Soft a man merrie gentle and pleasant Being rough and in some places full of little freckles or spots a craftie man couetous and a malicious foole Polished and as it were hued and euen a man secure or carelesse Being foure square in a reasonable quantitie a valiant man wise and honest which indices or tokens of the forehead moued me to inuent this simbole with this posie Frons hominem praefert A mans face sheweth what he is Bis dat qui tempestiuè donat He giueth twise that giueth in time There are some men so hastie so vnaduised and so vnseasonable in doing of good turnes vnto others that how little a man needeth their help so much the more readie are they to gratifie him with gifts and take great pleasure in performing the lest point of their duetie towards him and that as I suppose either for that they stand in hope afterwards of reaping some commoditie by them or else at the least to be repaid againe with the most But if they chance to