greatest victorie which I euer obtained was against the diuel at such time as I was baptized in the church of Poissi And therefore the greatest honour which I would haue done me is that men should cal me Levvis of Poissi Of the same Levvis A Certaine priuate friend of his did blame him for that in writing his priuate and familiar letters he did not entitle himselfe king of Fraunce but Loys of Poissi To whom he said I am like the king which meÌ„ chuse with the Beane at Twelfetide who commonly doth obserue the feast of his royaltie in the euening His meaning vvas that the Crovvne vvhich he expected vvas the kingdom of heauen and by the euening he meant the end of this mortall life The desire that Saint Levvis had to cut off all blasphemies out of his kingdome KIng Levvis hauing caused one who had blasphemed the name of God to be marked in the lippes with a hote burning iron and hearing that some of his subiects did murmure at it he said openly in the hearing of a great multitude I wold to God that I my selfe were so marked with a hote iron on my lippes on the condition that there were no oathes nor blasphemies vsed within my realme Whensoeuer he began to speake or to do any thing and especially when he was set in Councell the first thing he vsed to do was to blesse himselâ—e with the signe of the Crosse in calling vpon the name of God For his saying was that his mother had so taught him euen from his infancie Of the instructions vvhich the king Saint Levvis of Fraunce gaue vnto his sonne Philip. MY sonne the first lesson which I giue thee is To loue God with all thy hart with all thy streÌ„gth and with all thy soule Offend not God in any case Suffer any torments rather then sin Take patiently whatsoeuer aduersitie God shall send thee and thanke God for it acknowledging that thou hast deserued it Confesse thy selfe often to some good man a Minister of the church Be diligeÌ„t to heare the deuine Seruice song in the Church of God Obserue carefully the good customes of thy kingdome but take away such as are euill Raise not any Taxes or Tallages vpon thy subiects but vpon great necessitie Entertaine those into thy seruice who feare God loue iustice and hate couetousnesse Desire not that thy Iudges should giue iudgement for thee in any cause against thy subiects farther then reason and truth will iustifie Preserue the cities and townes of thy kingdome in their franchises and liberties wherein thy predecessours before thee haue maintained them Giue the Benefices and Offices of thy kingdom to good men and such as are capable of them Moue not warre against any Christian and if any offence be committed thou oughtest to pardon it being required In places of iustice and iudgment see thou prouide such as are good men and godly Make diligent enquirie of thy houshold seruants whether they be addicted to couetousnesse or to prodigalitie Be thou such a one in thy life and conuersation as men may take good example by thee For as the head is such commonly are the members Take good heede that the expences of thy house be moderate and in measure And the blessing of God be alwaies with thee A notable saying of Philip the faire king of Fraunce PHilip le bel king of Fraunce hauing a certaine quarrell against Pope Boniface the eight wherof hath bene before spoken and being vrged by some to take reuenge of the Bishop of Palmers who was the principall procurer and perswader of the contentioÌ„ between theÌ„ he made theÌ„ this answere That it was a greater glorie for any Prince of courage and magnanimitie to pardon those of whom he might easily take reuenge then to execute reuenge vpon them Of king Philip de Valois vvho confirmed the lavv Salique by the Scriptures CHarles le bel king of Faunce being deceased without heire male Edvvard the third king of England intitled himselfe King and inheritour of Fraunce in the right of his mother Isabel sister to the said king Charles Philip de Valois being the next heire male opposed himself against the title of king Edvvard and obtained the kingdome by colour of the law Salique which excludeth women from the Crowne of France and as the common saying of the French is suffereth it not to fall to the distaffe And amongst many authorities cited for the iustification of that law he alleadged for one these words of the holy Scripture Consider the Lilies of the field hovv they do grovv and do neither labour nor spinne Of the Latin verses vvhich king Edvvard and king Philip de Valois sent each to other AFter that king Edvvard of England had quartered the Armes of Fraunce with those of England had ioyned the three flowers Deluce in a field Azure with the three Lions Or in a field of Gules the report goeth that he sent to king Philip dâ— Valois these foure verses which howsoeuer they might be thought of in that age at this day are held but barbarous vz. Rex sum regnorum bina ratione duoruÌ„ AngloruÌ„ râ—gno sum rex ego iure paterno Matriâ— iure quidem FrancoruÌ„ nuncupor idem Hinc est armorum variatio facta meoruÌ„ TO these verses of king Edward king Philip replyed in other sixe as good stuffe as the former Praedo regnorum qui diceris essâ—duorum FrancoruÌ„ regno priuaberis atque paterno Matris vbique nullumius proles non habet vllum Iure mariti carens alia mulier est prior illa Succendunt mares huic regno non mulieres Hinc est armorum variatio stultatuoruÌ„ The ansvver of king Edvvard the third to those that required him to send aide to his sonne the black Prince at the battell of Cressie THe same Edvvard king of England in the field foughten betweene the armie of England and the French power vnder Philip de Valois at the battell of Cressie in Ponthieu where the French had a notable ouerthrow being told by an English knight that his sonne the Prince of VVales who had the conduct of the maine battell of the English and the Noblemen which were there with him were very fiercely assailed by the French and did desire his Maiestie to come to their succour with the Reareward whereof the king himselfe had the leading The king demaunded of the knight saying Is my sonne dead or hurt or striken down No Sir said the knight but he is hardly bestead Returne then quoth the king to them that sent you hither and tell them That my pleasure is they send no more to me for any aide as long as my sonne is liuing but let him alone this day win his spurres For if God so will my meaning is that the honour of this day shall be his This message did so encourage the English that they caryed away the victorie By vvinning of his spurres he meant he should get him the honour of a hardie Knight because one
of the 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
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
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
become senslesse to whom the King answered It were a very vncourteous and inhumane act to take away from him his substance and meanes of liuing from whome fortune hath alre adie taken his vnderstanding He said that those men seemed vnto him meerely senslesse and void of vnderstanding who would seeke to haue againe their wiues which had bene fled and seuered from them He said that it were a very good thing if men would so ballance their wils and affections as they might stand indifferent betweene loue and feare to the intent that when our loue should constraine vs to exceed our feare might cause vs to retire and to draw to the contrarie HEaring certaine labourers talking together and telling how they had made apples which by their nature were very sowre by industrie and diligence to become very sweete and pleasant he said So ought we to do that our people citizens and subiects being rude peruerse and euill minded by our labor and paines may be transformed and chaunged into wise prudent and good men He was wont to say that the greatest argument which he had obserued to proue the immortalitie of the soule was That when we see our bodies to decay and weare away and to approch neare to death and that when all our members beginne to faile vs euen then the powers and vertues of the soule do increase and as it were grow stronger and more puissant in vnderstanding vertue and wisedome Being one day hearing of Masse and the church in great daunger of falling by reason of a sudden earthquake the people there present began to fly out of the church and the Priest made hast to be gone with the foremost But the king Alphonsus stopping him made him stay and make an end of his Masse Afterwards being demaunded why in a time of so great daunger and common feare he did not offer to shunne and abandon the place he answered in great grauitie with this sentence of Salomon out of Ecclesiastes Corda regum in manu Dei sunt The harts of Kings are in the handes of God HE had a saying that beauty most commonly was a significant signe and a token of a good and gentle conuersation as the flower is a signe of the fruit Hearing one tell how Titus the Romane Emperour was accustomed to say That in what day soeuer he had not giuen some one gift or another he had lost that day Alphonsus said That he thanked God because he in that respect had neuer lost one day in all his life He tooke so great pleasure delight in studying and in reading of Diuinitie that he would many times glorie how he had read ouer the old and new Testament fourteene times together with the gloses and Commentaries He was wont oftentimes to say That he had not any better Councellours then the dead By the dead he meant his bookes and he caried for his Ensigne and deuice a booke open He was a great louer of antiquities and of the auncient mettals and monies of Princes saying That in the viewing and beholding of them he seemed to grow the more inflamed with the loue of vertue and of glorie Of the magnanimitie of Charles Martell as it is â—ritten of him in his Epitaph CHarles Martell Maior of the Pallace of the Crowne and kingdome of Fraunce which some say is the Office of Constable did make foure kings in Fraunce each successiuely after other to wit Childericke called Daniel Clotarius the fourth Theodorike the second and Childericke the third This last Childericke offered vnto the said Charles Martell the Realme and Crowne of Fraunce and prayed him to take vpon him both the name and the Diademe which he refused saying That it was more glorious to raigne and commaund ouer kings then to be a king And in his Epitaph is written this sentence Ille Brabantinus dux primus in orbe triumphat Malleus in mundo specialis Christicolarum Dux Dominiâ—sque Ducum Regum quo'que Rex fore spernit Non vult regnare sed regibus mperatâ— ipse He was surnamed Martell for the the exceeding great strength of his arme in memorie of the victories which he obtained in diuerse battels The iudgement of Sultan Soliman the great Scigneur or Emperour of Turkes IN the citie of Constantinople a certaine Christian desired to borrow of a lew the some of fiue hundred duckets The lew lent them vnto him with condition that for the vse of the money lent he should at the end of tearme giue him two ounces of his flesh cut off in some one of the meÌ„bers of his bodie The day of payment being come the Christian repayed the fiue hundred duckets to the lew but refused to giue him any part of his flesh The lew not willing to loose his interest conuented the Christian before the Grand Seigneur who hauing heard the demaund of the one and the answer of the other and iudging of the matter according to equitie commaunded a Razor to be brought and to be giuen to the Iew to whome he said Because thou shalt know that iustice is done thee take there and cut off of the flesh of this Christian the two ounces which thou demandest but take heed thou cut neither more nor lesse for if thou doe thou shalt surely dye The Iewe holding that to be a thing impossible durst not aduenture but acquitted the Christian of his interest Of a writing which the king of Naples caused to be engrauen vpon his svvord ROger the second of that name king of Naples held warres for a long time with the Popes of Rome by reason of those Lands and Territories which he pretended to be his by conquest And he had discomfited also the king of Thunis in a battell at sea Of the which victories he did so glorie and triumph that he caused to be engrauen on the blade of his sword this verse Apulus Calaber Siculus mihi seruit Afer The sacrilegious vaunt of a King of England VVIlliam Rufus king of EnglaÌ„d hauing pilled the Churches and Monasteries of his Realme and taking away their Chalices other Reliques of gold and siluer which he found in them vsed these words The bread of God is very delicate pleasant to eate and it causeth Princes to make good cheare The Testament of Saladin SAladin king of Asia of Syria and of Egypt shewed at his death how well he knew the life of man to be most miserable For he commaunded that after his decease the shirt which he vsed to weare shold be caryed vpon the top of a lance throughout all his Campe in the open sight of all his Nobles Captaines souldiers and that the party which shold carie it should cry with a loud voice Behold how Saladin the great Conquerour and Commander of Asia of all those great riches and conquests which he hath purchased doth carry nothing with him saue this onely peece of linnen The chiefest thing wherein men can iustly triumph at their departure out of this
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
being abashed they soone withdrew themselues froÌ„ his presence Of the shame which Aulilia did vnto her sonne Thierrie whereby she was a cause of his victorie THierry being Generall for the Emperour Zenon in Italy and hauing bene defeated by Odoâ—cer king of the Herules fled towards Rauenna On the way being met by his mother Aulilia and she perswading him to returne againe to the field and to renue the battell and seeing him to make a difficultie so to do She said vnto him my sonne beleeue me and assure thyself thou hast neither castle nor fortres where thou canst be safe except I take vp my clothes and suffer thee to returne againe into my belly from whence thou hadst thy first being Thierry being both ashamed and enflamed at this speech of his mother reassembled his armie returned to the place of battell and finding his enemies in disorder by reason of their first victorie he charged in vpon them and defeated them Fevv vvords vvell spoken and vvell taken cause great matters be put in execution Of the good counsell which a Gentleman gaue vnto the same Thierry Lieutenant to Zenon the Emperour vnder the couerture of a Fable by meanes whereof Thiâ—â—â—y made himselfe king of Italy THierry was accused vnto the Emperour Zenon by some enuious persons that he affected the Empire whereupon the Emperour sent for him home to Constantinople there held him prisoner till such time as being put to his triall he purged him selfe Within a while after he was againe accused for the same matter being commaunded by the Emperour to make his repaire vnto him who was purposed to put him to death he sent a messenger to the Emperours Court vnto one Tolomee his great friend and familiar to vnderstand his opinion if he held it good for him to come to the Court or not Tolomee in regard of his oath made vnto the Emperour durst not reueale the secret of the Emperours purpose vnto the messenger of Thierry but appointing him to attend the Emperor at dinner time he streightly charged him to marke well what he should heare him there say to the intent he might rehearse the same vnto his maister that sent him The next day the Emperour sitting at his table and keeping open state Tolomee who was one of his nearest fauorities deuising with him of many things as they were at meate let fall this fable of set purpose The Lion quoth he being chosen king by the other beasts they all came to do him reuerence the Hart which is a goodly beast approching to salute him with the rest and bending himselfe before him the Lion tooke him by the hornes purposing to deuoure him but the Hart drew away his head with that strength and force as he escaped and saued himselfe The Reinard seeing the Lion to frown to grow in a great rage because the Hart had escaped him did promise the Lion to cause the Hart to come backe againe And vpon the matter he did so flatter the Hart with so many sweet and sugred words that he drew him backe againe to the Lion to whom he doing reuerence as before the Lion seized vpon his horns and the other beasts falling also vpon him so as he was soone deuoured The Reinard pulling out his heart did secretly eate it Each of the beasts sought very earnestly for his heart to make a present of it to the king but the same not being to be found the blame was laid vpon the Renard with great threats and stripes Alas quoth the Reinard I am wrongfully punished for the Hart had no hart at all for if he had had any he would neuer haue returned to be slain and deuoured This tale being marked and vnderstood by the messenger he returned to Thieâ—â—y to whom he recited what he had heard whereby he was aduertized not to returne any more to the Emperour and within a while after he made himselfe king of Italy A sentence of king Attila and his titles ATtila king of the Gothes was wont to say That the griefe which he had conceiued in loosing of riches was greater then al the pleasure that he euer took in possessing of them Amongst many other titles which he esteemed excellent he chiefly bore this to be called The feare of the world and the scourge of God The words of Clotarius king of Fraunce at the time of his death CLotarius the first of that name king of Fraunce at the time of his death fell into these speeches saying often Vuach Auach How great is this King of heauen that thus killeth and causeth to dye the most great and mightie Kings and Princes of the world To men that are too much in loue with the world the tast of death is very bitter The sentence of Pope Zacharie concerning the electing of the King of Fraunce PEpin Maister of the Pallace of the king of Fraunce sent his Ambassadours to Pope Zacharie to haue his aduice whom he held to be most worthie to be King either him who for the profite and common good of the Realme did expose himselfe to all turmoile and trauell or him that liuing in idlenesse and slouth had no care or regard of the Common-wealth neither to augment it nor to defend it The Pope returned him in writing this answer That he was the fittest person to raigne and to be entitled King which tooke vpon him the charge and managing of the publique affaires both for the defence of the Realme and for the maintaining of iustice The French being informed of this answer deposed their king Childericke and thrusting him into a Monasterie elected Pepin king of Fraunce in his stead The pleasant message of Philip king of France to VVilliam duke of Normandy and king of England with his answer PHilip the first of that name kâ—ng of Fraunce being resolued to make warre against VVilliam the baâ—stard Duke of Normandie that conquered England who had lien long sicke of a great swelling in his belly sent him word That he neuer before heard of any woman in Normandie that lay so long in childbed as he had done and that if he might vnderstaÌ„d the time of his vprisâ—ng he would prouide him of lights against his Churching The Duke returned him this answer That he would not faile to let him vnderstand of his vprising and that he meant to come in person into Fraunce where himselfe would cause a solemne Masse to be song at his Churching and that for lights he would prouide a thousand Torches without waxe whose sâ—aues shold be of wood and a thousand launces tipt with steel to giue fire to those torcheâ— By the Torches without waxe and of wood he meant houses tovvnes villages vvhich he vvould set on fire and by the launces he meant men at armes Of the letters of promise which the same William Duke of Normandie sent vnto the Earle of Flanders THe same VVilliam Duke of Normandie hauing a determinatioÌ„ to make a conquest of England as being his right in