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 to get to wealth and preferment in Court it is a more happie thing for a man to receiue of his Prince benefits exceeding farre beyond his desert then that his desert and seruice should be greater then the recompence wherby his Prince should remaine indebted as it were bound vnto him For I quoth he do more naturally loue those that are beholding vnto me theÌ„ those to whoÌ„ I am beholding AFter the enterview between him and Edward the fourth king of England at Piquâ—nie where a peace was accorded between them for nine yeares as he returned he said to som of his familiars I like not very well of the company of the king of EnglaÌ„d on this side the seas but being beyoÌ„d the sea at home in his owne country I can well loue him as my brother and my good friend Hauing caused a goodly Tombe or Sepulture to be made in the castle of Locâ—es for the faire ladie Agnes the loue of his late fatherâ— within a while after the Chanons of the church did desire him that the Tombe might be remoued out of the heart of the Church and set in a side Isle or chappell he answered Your request is neither iust nor reasonable neither will I suffer her Sepulture whom my father loued so affectionately to be violated for it should be against all law and equitie He being to make his entrie into Hesdin whilst execution was in doing vpon certaine of the principall Gouernours and Burgesses of Arras his enemies which were some two and twentie in number and eighteen of them being executed he caused the execution to cease and demaunding if M. Oudard de Bussi were beheaded or not and answer being made that he was and that al the bodies of the parties beheaded were buried he commaunded the head of the said de Bussi to be againe digged vp caused a high pole of wood to be set vp in the middest of the market place vpon the which he caused the head of the dead partie to be placed couered with a Cap of scarlet furred with Miniuere as of one that had bene a Councellour of the Parliament He held him in very great reputation because he had bene a most prudent wise man and of sound iudgement in graue and waightie affaires And he would once haue giuen the said Nobleman the office of Councellor in the Parliament of Paris but the said Bussi being not willing to accept of it in his life time he did him this honour after his death A certaine person was a suter to him for an Office which was void in the towne where he dwelt which the king refused to graunt vnto him insomuch as the partie was out of all hope to obtaine it howbeit he humbly thanked the king so departed King Lewis iudging the man to be of no meane spirit and surmizing that he had not well vnderstood what he had said vnto him caused him to be called backe againe and asked him if he had conceiued aright of his answer the partie said Yea sir. Why what said I vnto thee quoth the king You denyed me my sute said he Why didst thou thanke me then replyed the king Because Sir quoth he you did me a greater pleasure theÌ„ you thought of in giuing me my dispatch so speedily without causing me to loose my time in comming after you vpon vaine and idle hopes The King holding himselfe highly satisfied and taking great contentment by this answer granted him the Office and caused his Patent to be made immediatly An Apotheg of Monsieur Bresay to king Lewis the eleuenth THe same King being to ride on hunting mounted on a very little horse Monsieur Peter de Bresay Seneshall of Normandie who accompanied him asked him where he had gotten that so goodly and so stout a horse How meane you that quoth the King seeing he is so weakeanâ—d so litle Me thinkes said de Bresay he must needes be very strong because he caryeth you with all your counsell He taxed the king in that he would manie times beleeue no other counsel theÌ„ his ovvne being vvise in his ovvne conceipt vvhich sometimes he repented The counsell of the said Monsieur de Bresaie to the said King THe Embassadours of the king of England hauing on a time deliuered their charge to king Levvis he demaunded of Monsieur de Bresay his opinion what thing he might bestow vpon the Ambassadours which might not cost him much who answered him Sir you were best to present them with your Musitians for they cost you much and are chargeable vnto you they do you litle or no seruice neither do you take any great pleasure in them The death of the said Seigneur de Bresay IN the battell foughten betweene Levvis the eleuenth and the Countie de Charolois neare mount Leherie the said King as his custome was to speake hastily said vnto Seignor de Bresay that he had no great trust nor affiance in him for that iourney Sir answered de Bresay because you shall well see that I am your loyall and faithfull seruant giue me your coat Armour that I may weare it for you know your enemies aime at nothing more then the destruction of your person and it may happen to saue your life Whereupon the king and he exchaunged both Armes and En signes And the Burgonians supposing that de Bresay whom they saw in the middest of the presse had bene the king they charged furiously in vpon him and so slue him Of king Charles the eighth who gaue an answer to the Florentines in tvvo Italian verses KIng Charles the eighth being in Italie on the conquest of Naples the Florentines sent an Embassade vnto his Maiestie the king reposing no trust in them for their answere caused two Italian verses to be read vnto them which he had written vpoÌ„ a wall in great letters and were these Concortesiae fede poca Va a Fiorence vender loca Which is to say To Florence he went of his goose to make sale Without any faith or courtesie at all The argument of which two verses was this A pesant of the country neare Florence sold a goose to a braue dame of Florence onely to haue his pleasure of her which hauing had yet notwithstanding in his agreemeÌ„t he vsed so little fidelitie or courtesie to the gentlewoman as he exacted the price of his goose in the presence of her husbaâ—d so as she durst not deny but to pay him And thence had this Italian Prouerbe his originalâ— which king Charles pronounced to the Embassadours for their answer A speech of king Charles the eighth touching the keeping of his counsell VVHen the said king Charles the eighth meant to discouer any secret to any man he was wont to say vnto him If I thought that my shirt next my backe knew it I would plucke it off and burne it The speech of Queene Anne vvife to Charles the eighth CHarles the eighth being deceased and the tidings of his death being brought to Queene
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.
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
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
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
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 said king A Motion being made vnto him on a time to marie the Ladiâ— Claude his daughter to some straunge Prince he answered No quoth he I will neuer make any other alliance then with the Cats and Mice of my owne kingdome A Princely speech of king Frauncis KIng Frauncis the first of that name to one that demaunded pardon for another man that had vsed ill speeches of his Maiestie said Let him for whome thou art a suter learne to speake little and I will learne to pardon much A speech of the same king touching Religion IN an Oration which he made on a time at Paris in the presence of his Princes and Nobles against the Heretickes with intent to purge his realme of them amongst other words he vsed this speech If I knew that my arme were infected with that contagion I would cut it off separate it from my bodie and cast it into the fire The opinion vvhich he had of Noblemen HE was wont to say that it much grieued him that the GentlemeÌ„ of his Realm did not giue themselues to the studie and exercise of letters to the intent he might prouide them of the dignities and Offices appertaining to the long robe For he was perswaded that that kind of men did do him the best seruice and that they ought to be lesse enclined to dishonest actions then men of meane parentage and base condition An excellent Apothegme of the same king THere being a purpose of a treatie of peace betweene the Emperour Charles the fifth and the said king Frauncis and being euen vpon the point to conclude it he said It is not possible that we can long continue in peace and amitie because the Emperour cannot abide any equall or companion and I can lesse endure to haue any man to my maister Of Pope Benedict the twelfth and his Epitaph POpe Benedict the twelfth was one that loued peace and vsed to say that he would neuer vse the sword against any person because it was not belonging to his place and calling He made many good decrees and constitutions and amongst others prohibited religious persons to go to Rome to sue for Benefices notwithstanding after his death whether it were right or wrong or vpon hatred some made this Epitaph of him Hic silus est Nero laicis mors Vipera clero Deuius á vero cupa repleta mero Which is to say Here lyeth a Nero to the laity a cruel tyrant to the Cleargy a viper To truth a mortall enemy and a notable wine bibber A mocke of the Flemmings to king Philip. IN the yeare a thousand three hundred twenty and eight the king Philip de Valois in the quarrell and behalfe of the Earle of Flaâ—ders gaue battell to the Flemings at Mount Cassell where were slaine of the said Flemings 19800. who before the conflict seeing the mightie Armie and puissance of the king very arrogantly caused the picture of a great cocke to be painted vpon a great peece of cloth about the which was written this Distichon VVhen this cocke shall happen to crovv The king shall here enter and not before I trovv But this mocke cost them deare for they sustained a bitter ouerthrow that same day Princely sayings and sentences of Alphonsus king of Naples ALphonsus surnamed the couragious the 17. king of Aragon and king of both Sicilies hearing it reported how one of the kings of Spain was wont to say that it was not decent nor conuenient for a Prince or great personage to be learned he said This speech was not the speech of a man but of an Asse crowned One day as he sate at supper a certaine old man being a suter vnto him for some thing which importuned him exceedingly beyond all measure to haue his petition graunted him in somuch as the king could not eate his meat quietly so troublesome was this fellow vnto him Whereupo he brake into these speeches Assuredly I see that the state and conditioÌ„ of Asses is better then this of Princes for their maisters do allow theÌ„ time and leasure to eate but kings cannot obtaine so much of their subiects A certaine knight being imprisoned for debt who for a long time had bene a prodigall and great spender and had liued voluptuously vpon the goods of diuerse Merchants and others to whom he was become indebted some of the friends of the said knight became instant suppliants to the king that he wold not permit the knight to be charged for the paiment of his debts To whoÌ„ the king answered Seeing this knight hath not consumed himselfe nor runne into debt for my seruice nor for the good and benefite of his country nor for his owne friends and kinseflkes but hath spent and wasted all his wealth for the pleasure of his owne bodie it is good reason that he suffer the punishment of his prodigality in his body Being one day reproued for his too too much clemency and because he many times pardoned those which had bene most hainous offenders his answer was That he did desire to stand readie prepared whensoeuer it should please God to call him to yeeld an accompt of those sheepe which were coÌ„mitted to his charge and that when they should be demaunded of him he might render them vp safe and sound He had also an vsual saying That by executing of Iustice he got the loue of good men and by his clemencie he purchased the liking euen of the wicked To some which at another time playned of his ouer great clemency and humanitie he said That they should consider and looke vpon the gouernment of Lions and of Beares and that then they should soone see that Clemencie was a qualitie proper to man but crueltie was proper to brute beasts He was wont likewise to say That he who knew not how to rule himself tomaister his own affections was neither fit nor worthie to command ouer others He said that flatterers were like to wolues for as the wolues by tickling scratching the Asses do come to eate and deuoure them so flatterers by their assentations leasings do aime at nothing more then to worke mischiefe vnto Princes The Ambassadours of a certaine Prouince repairing vnto him to craue his aduice to which of these two famous Chieftaines Frauncis Sforce Nicholas Picinni they shold gratifie with their friendship and amitie he answered That it behoued them both to receiue and entertaine each of them in shew of friends and yet to take good heed to either of them as to ehemies Whereas there was growne a secret hatred or dislike betweene the said king Alphonsus Cosmus de Medicis a man of principall regard and authoritie in Florence the said Cosmus notwithstanding fent vnto the king for a notable and singular present the historie of Titus Liuius with a Commentarie because he well knew that the King would take great pleasure in it The kings Phisitions being acquainted herewithall told him that he should do well not to reade
in that booke but to take good heed of the subtiltie of the Florentines for said they it is not good nor safe to trust an enemie and it may be that some venimous and infectious poiseâ—n is secretly hidden either in the letters or leaues of this booke which may empoison you as you are reading of it For all these disswasions the king opened the booke and hauing both read therein and turned it ouer in many leaues each after other he the said vnto his Phisitions Learne now to leaue these fooleries and know this that the spirit of a king doth not gouerne it selfe by the iudgement of priuate persons Of a merrie conceipt vttered by one to the king Alphonsus THis king Alphonsus being well knowne to be a prince that took great pleasure and delight in good speeches and wittie sayings well and aptly placed a certaine man of very meane and base estate came as a suter vnto him and said Sir do me iustice I haue a certaine creditour vnto whom my late deceased father ought a certain debt and my father left me nothing wherewith to pay him howbeit afterwards I payed this debt vnto that creditour who notwithstanding demanded it of me againe with great extremitie and I payed it him the second time he not so content still demandeth of me the same debt againe and againe in somuch as I haue many and oftentimes paid it and yet he pursueth me still for this debt as if he had not bene paid at all Now sir I haue not any more left wherewith to pay him and if your Highnesse do not helpe me to acquit me of this creditour I know not what remedie to find for this mischiefe Beleeue me quoth the king this is a most rigorous cruell creditour Who is it Sir said the poore man it is my belly vnto whom I haue so often paid the debt which is due vnto him as I haue nothing more left to giue him I humbly therefore beseech your Highnesse in charitie to help and releeue me to content him Why quoth the King I my self haue euen such another like creditour as thine You say true Sir replyed the poore man but you God be thanked haue wherewithall to satisfie him and I haue not The king hearing this request and esteeming it to proceede of a quicke and good inuention caused a certaine summe of money to be deliuered vnto him An answer vvhich Alphonsus made vnto a Dreamer A Certain person in the kings presence being in talke of dreames and of their signification there was a pleasant Courtier who to trie the king told with a good grace before all the company how the night before he dreamed a dreame that the King bestowed vpon him a bagge full of duckats Whereunto the king presently answered why foole art thou so very a beast as to thinke that a Christian man ought to giue credit to dreames The same Alphonsus had a daughter called Eugenia who being maried had no children and one day it happened that she brought out of her Coffer certaine Poppets which being made very finely caryed a resemblance of excellent beautie honestie and gracious cariage whereupon Alphonsus said vnto her O my daughter how much better had it bene both for thy father thy husband and thy self also if thou haddest had children of thy bodie so wise and vertuous as they might haue represented the countenances of these l'oppets The answer of Anthony Panormitane to king Alphonsus ANthony of Panorm being demanded by the king Alphonsus what things were most requisite and necessarie to liue a ioyfull and peaceable life in the estate of mariage considering that ordinarily it is full of trobleâ—s vexations and discontentments He answered that there are two things most needfull The first that the husband be deafe not to vnderstand the follies the ill speeches and maner of his wiues behauiour The second that the wife be blind not to see all the intemperate qualities and misdemeanours of her husband A speech vvhich he vsed to one that had imbezilled his rings ON a time as he was readie to sit downe at his table being about to wash his hands he drew off his fingers certaine rings of gold which were very rich and precious and gaue them to one that came first and next to hand not much heeding who it was that tooke them The partie to whome the King deliuered them for that he did not againe demaund theÌ„ thought that he had forgotten them and therefore was easily drawn to retaine them which he did And for a long time after seeing that the matter was vnremembred he then kept them for altogether But ere the yeare was ended the king being readie another time to sit downe at the table the same man drew very neare for another booty to the king and held out his hand to take his rings of him as he had done before But the king rounding him in the eare said vnto him with a very soft voice Let it suffice thee to haue had the former for these may serue for anothers turne He said that in the flourishing estate of Rome the Romanes had caused to be built right ouer against their Senatehouse a temple which was dedicated to Iupiter depositorie wherein before their entrie into the Senate the Senatours and Councellors of Estate came to disrobe themselues of all affections of loue fauour hatred vengeance and other priuate passions and affections Seeing on a time a woman to daunce and vault very high with great shamelesnesse and immodesty he said vnto the standers by Stay awhile and you shall see Sibilla will giue foorth her Oracles noting thereby dauncing to be a kind of furie for the Sibils neuer gaue their answers but when they were surprized with furie A certaine Knight which had bene taken prisoner in the warres complained him to the king Alphonsus of his losses and misfortunes and demaunded of him many gifts which being exceeding great yet by his importunitie he obtained them After he was departed the king said vnto his familiars I was in a feare lest this importunate fellow would haue begged my wife also from me Another Courtier who had very prodigally spent many a gift which the king had bestowed on him did preffe him very vrgently to giue him a certaine peece of money to whom the king said If I should continue to be thus liberall in giuing I should sooner impouerish my selfe then enrich thee for whosoeuer giueth thee doth nothing else but powre water into a Siue Being demaunded which of his subiects he loued best Those quoth he who are more afraid for me then of me A Certaine Knight a Neapolitane named Stephen hauing many Offices and places of great charge vnder the king Alphonsus within his realme of Naples and being by meanes of an amorous potion bereft of the vse of his senses some of the Court begged his Offices of the King pretending it to be a thing very vnfit and inconuenient that such places should be administred by one that was
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