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
vnto his youngest brother the Duchie of Burgundy for an inheritance hauing giuen him therewithall Margret the sole daughter and heire of Flaunders to his wife After the said battell of Mountleherie one told him that his enemie the County of Charolois did passe the night following in the place where the battell was foughten No maruel quoth the king if he remaine and lodge in the fields seeing he hath neither Towne nor Castle to retire vnto He was wont to say That where pride rideth afore shame and dishonour do follow after He being on a day at Masse in a church of Chanons he was told that one of the Chanons was that day departed whereupon casting his eye aside and perceiuing a simple Priest which lay sleeping in a Chappel therby adioyning he said I do giue this Prebend to that fellow that lyeth there because he shall say hereafter that his wealth and good fortune came vnto him sleeping THe Capitaine Maran making his repaire to the Court of this king Levvis with purpose to aduertise him of the exploits which he had done at Cambray he wore about his necke a rich collar or chaine of gold which as the reportweâ—t had bene made of the reliques of the church of Cambray And as a certaine Gentleman standing by was readie to handle the said collar the King said vnto the Gentleman Beware and take good heede sir how you touch that chaine for I can tell you it is a holy thing By this saying he taxed the Captaine with sacriledge wherevvith souldiers should not be tainted because in sacking of any place all holy things are to be spared THe Archbishop of Tours talking familiarly with him of the great troubles which he had at the beginning of his raigne against the Princes of Fraunce he said vnto him If I had not caused my selfe to be feared and shewed my self both of courage and experience I might well haue bene put in the last chapter of Boccace his booke where he intreateth of vnhappie and vnfortunate Princes HAuing heard it reported how Nicholas Raulin the Chauncelor of the duke of Burgundie a man of excessiue wealth riches had founded at Beaune in Burgundy a goodly Hospital that did excell both for the statelinesse of the building and for the sumptuousnesse of the mouables wherewith it was furnished he said There is great reason that the Chancelour of Burgundie which in his life time hath made many a man poore ' should at his latter end make an Hospitall where to nourish and lodge them THe said king Levvis being vnwilling that his sonne Charles the eighth should apply his mind to learning he said That the time which was spent in studie ought to be employed rather in the care of gouerning the kingdome and common-wealth and that he which should betake himselfe to studie and learning by the vse thereof would become â—imerous and lesse hardie to vndertake great affaires because in taking example of others out of histories he would not dare to enterprize any action of importance the execution whereof might be doubtfull and vncertaine He was wont to say That he which knew not how to dissemble was altogether vnskilfull how to rule and gouerne One of the Pages of his chamber hauing taken a louse from off his garment he said This sheweth that I am a man as others are One comming to tell him that the Genowaies had a disposition to yeeld themselues vnder his protection he answered They shall not long remaine vnder me for I bequeath theÌ„ to the Diuell The said king Lewis being determined to send an Ambassador to the Venetians he conferred with his Councell whom he might choose as most fit and proper to dispatch that seruice A certaine Nobleman naming one vnto him that was his near kinsman and whom he was willing to aduaunce the King demaunded of him what kind of man he was The Nobleman answered Sir he is Bishop of such a place Abbot of such a Monasterie Lord of such a Seignorie and so curiously discouered al his qualities and Seignories The King alluding to the briefe maner of writing then vsed said There where are so many titles is litle learning or none at all A Certaine great personage hauing told him how he was alwaies troubled with the Gowte whilest he hued at ease with good and daintie fare and rich clothing and that afterwards when he began to accustome himselfe to trauell and take paines to fare grosly to go coursly clad that then the gowte began to leaue him the King said and I for my part will neuer from hencefoorth weare other clothes then of cloth for that the gowt doth sooner take hold of silke then of wooll He had a saying That there was not any thing whatsoeuer but he cold find it both in his kingdome yea and in his house saue onely one thing And being demaunded by a great Lord what thing that was he answered It was truth For I remember said he that my late Lord and father was wont to say That in his time truth was sicke but I think that now it is staâ—ke dead and that she neuer had any ghostly father to coÌ„fesse her at her death A certaine Nobleman demaunded of him how much the kingdom of Fraunce was worth in a yeare he answered My Realme is a medow which I cut both euery yeare and as often as I list A certaine meane person of base condition following the Court of king Lewis and yet not knowing the king when he saw him it happened that one day the king aduising him asked him what he gained by following the Court. The fellow answered I gaine as much as the king for both he and I liue of God his bountie and at our departure out of this world he shal haue no more with him then I shall The King esteeming well of the speech of the man made him one of the Pages of his chamber The life of men is different but the end of all is common and alike BEing told that a certaine great personage had a goodly Library and a great number of faire bookes he said Then may he well be resembled to a man that is crooke backed who caryeth his great bosse behind him at his backe and neuer seeth it By this saying he taxed the partie both of curiositie and ignorance VVHensoeuer he had neede or occasion to employ any maÌ„ in his affaires he would gaine them to do it with rewards and store of gold For he was wont to say that when a man fighteth with siluer lances he commonly caryeth away the victoria HE vsed to say That many times too great seruices done to Princes did cause the losse of them that did the seruice for that most commonly they are recompenced with great ingratitude Howbeit that it might happen by the default of the parties themselues who in regard of their great seruice do vse their good fortune with ouermuch arrogancie both towards their Lords and towards their friends and equals He said moreouer
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
engrauen in the pomell of his sword and he was wont to say whensoeuer he set his seale to any letters of Edict Ordinances or Commissions See this is the sword that shall maintaine my Ordinances which shall make warre against those who shall contradict mine Edicts It is not a matter of so great importance to establish and make good lavves decrees as it is to cause them to be kept and obserued Of the sentence vvhich the Emperour Fredericke gaue against the Citizens of Milan THe Emperour Fredericke Barbarossa making war in Italy compelled them of Milan to yeeld themselues in subiection to the Empire The Empresse his wife desirous to be seene of the Citizens entred into the Citie in great pompe and magnificence supposing that she had bene there in good securitie But the Milanois being ill affectioned to the Emperour and bearing a grudge against him in their hearts in regard he had subdued them they tooke the Empresse and set her vpon a Mule with her face towards the taile the which they made her hold betweene her hands in steed of a bâ—idle and being so mounted they caused her to ride out at another gate of the Citie then that where she made her entrie The Emperour highly incensed and that iustly with this outrage did besiege their Citie and pressed them so hard that he constrained them to yeeld vnto him bodie and goods with this condition that they which would saue their liues should take or catch with their teeth certaine figges hanging betweene the genitals of a mad kicking Mule Many of them preferred death before a shamefull life the residue that were more desirous of life then carefull of their honour accepted performed the conditioÌ„ And hereof is sprong that Prouerbe vsed in mocquerie amongst the Italians when putting one finger betweene two others they say see here is a figge for thee The common saying is A dull Asse must haue a sharpe spurre a rebellious people must haue a reuengefull Prince The threats of Charles the bald THe Empire being in controuersie betweene king Charles the bald and his Nephewes the children of Loys kings of Germany he sent a message vnto them to let them vnderstand that he would bring such huge numbers of men at armes ouer the Rhine as their horses shold drink that riuer so drie that they should be able to passe it and not wet their feete Of Theodosius the Emperour and his Decree THe Emperour Theodosius being highly incensed with the Thessalonians for that they had slaine one of his knights within the Theater He was determined to haue put all the inhabitants of Thessalonica to the sword but being disswaded from the act after he had wel bethought himselfe he repented him of his determination And thereupon he made a law that from thencefoorth when any sentence of death or other punishment should be giuen or pronounced vpon any offender either by the Prince or by any inferiour Iudge his Lieutenant the execution of the iudgement for three daies after should be deferred to the intent there might be place left on the one part for repentance and on the other for mercie The act of Theodosius for the repressing of his Choler WHensoeuer his choler grew to be enflamed he would suddenly withdraw himselfe out of company and being alone would pronounce ouer all the letters of the Alphabet ech after other with great leasure to the intent that in meane time his wrath and anger might wax cold and be asswaged He that cannot subdue his choler by nature must do it by art and cunning Of the Emperour Sigismond and a Page of his chamber THe Emperour Sigismond and one of the Pages of his chambet passing ouer a certaine riuer at a foord on horseback when they were in the middest of the the riuer the Emperours horse stood still and began to stale which the Page seeing he said vnto the Emperour Most sacred Prince your horse is ill taught and resembleth you very well The Emperour answered neuer a word but rodeâ— on towards his lodging where being come and in pulling off his bootes he demaunded of his Page why he had likened his horse vnto him Because quoth the Page the riuer had no need of any water yet your horse in pissing there did adde water vnto water so do you For you giue wealth and riches to theÌ„ which haue plenty but to such as haue none you giue not any It is now a long time that I haue bene in your seruice and yet did I neuer tast of your liberality The next morning the Emperour tooke two little iron Coffers both of a greatnesse like weight the one of them being full of duckets and the other of lead putting them vpon a table he said vnto his Page here be two Coffers make thy choise of the two which thou shalt like best and take it for thy wages and recompence of thy seruice The Page chusing that which was full of lead the Emperour said Now open it and see what is within it which he did and found it to be but lead Then said the Emperour now thou knowest thy fortune the fault was none of mine that thy choise was no better and that thou wert not made rich for thou â—ast refused thy good fortune when it was offered thee Some are poore through their ovvne default because vvhen occasion is offered to enrich themselues they kâ—ovv not hovv to take their time and to lay hold of it Diuerse notable sentences of the same Sigismond THe said Emperor being demanded what kind of man he esteemed most fitte and worthie to be a king such a one quoth he as neither glorieth in his good fortunes nor is daunted with aduersitie When one complained vnto him that the citie of Constance in Almaine had not free vse of their liberties and franchises he answered If they had not great libertie in the towne of CoÌ„stance thou which art one of that citie wouldest not speake vnto me so liberally for franknesse of speech is a signe of libertie He said also That as God would be both loued and feared so should Kings and Princes be for there can hardly be any true loue where there is no feare There be three degrees of persons who ought to be both loued honoured Frst God aboue all and in all places Secondly Kings and Princes in their kingdomes and estates And lastly parents and maisters in their priuate families The same Prince hearing one to praise him to his face beyond all measure more then he well liked of and to resemble him to God he stroke him on the cheeke and the partie saying vnto him Wherefore doth your Maiestie strike me He answered Wherefore doest thou bite me He had an ordinarie saying That kings should be exceeding happie in this world if all proud persons were chased out of their Courts and that they were followed and attended with none but such as were courteous and mercifull He said also that those were to be
your sacred Maiestie to make and create me a Gentleman For I haue wealth sufficient to maintaine the state and degree of a Gentleman The Emperor answered him I can make thee much more rich theÌ„ thou art but it is not in my power to make thee noble For that is an honour which thou must purchase by thy owne proper vertue An answer of Maximilian to one that demaunded an almes of him A Certaine poore man very ill appointed entred into the Pallace of the Emperour and required that he might haue accesse to his Maiestie to speake with him which being denyed him he continued notwithstanding so to importune the Vshers that the Emperour willed the poore man to be brought vnto him to whom he said Most sacred Emperour you and I are brothers borne of one Father Adam and of one Mother Eue and you see my pouertie may it therefore please your Excellencie to enlarge my estate and to bestow some wealth vpon me as ech brother is bound to do one for another The Emperour noting the rashnesse and follie of this fellow caused a small peece of money to be giuen him where at the poore man making shew but of small contentment because he found his hope frustrate in regard of that great liberalitie which he expected The Emperour said vnto him me thinkes thou sholdest hold thy self contented with that which I haue giuen thee For true it is as thou saidest we are all brothers and if all the rest of our brethren would giue thee as much as I haue done thou wouldest be much more rich and a greater Lord then I am The wish of the same Maximilian AS he was one day deuising with his familiar friends and discoursing of Empires Realmes and Seignories If it were possible for a man to be God and my selfe were so hauing two sonnes I would desire that the eldest might be God after me that the second might be king of Fraunce Of the act of the Emperour Charles the fifth when he was to make a voyage into Barbarie CHarles the fifth Emperor of that name being in a readinesse to depart vpon his first voyage into Barbarie to the kingdome of Thunis against Barbarossa and desirous to prouide a Generall for the armie and finding none whom he held sufficient he tooke the image of the Crucifixe and in a generall assembly of his whole armie liâ—ting the same as high as he could said Our Lord â—esus Christ shall be Chieftaâ—e Captaine Generall of this enterprize being so glorious so holy and so honourable A notable sentence of Constantine the Emperour COnstantine Ducas the son of Andronicus Emperour of Constantinople was not in any sort himselfe learned and yet he did so exceedingly loue both learning and men of knowledge that he was wont to say I hold it farre better to be made noble and excellent by learning then by the possession of the Empire A speech of the Emperour Henry touching his contentment THe Emperour Henry the first of that name of the house of Saxonie before that he came to be crowned in Italy or to receiue the ceremonious Titles of the Empire Howbeit that the Pope had offered him the Imperiall Crowne and Diademe and to annoint him Emperour yet he neither accepted nor refused it saying vnto his people It sufficeth me that by the gâ—ace of God and you I haue the name of Emperour None of my predecessors and auncestours hauing euer had the honour to attaine thereunto The Charitie of the Emperour Tiberius THe Emperour Tiberius Constantine a Thracian borne being reprehended by his wife Sophia Augusta because he distributed in great abundance to the poore all the treasures which she and her first husband Iustin had gathered together in many yeares he answered her My trust is in God that our treasure shall be neuer a whit the lesse for being distributed to the releefe of the poore and the redeeming of captiues and prisoners For in so doing we gather that great treasure whereof our Lord Iesus Christ spake in the sixt chapter of Saint Mathevv his Gospell saying Lay vp for your selues treasures in heauen where neither mothes nor wormes can corrupt theÌ„ nor theeues can do you any dammage by stealing them The saying of the same Tiberius at the time of his deaeh to his son in law THe same Tiberius perceiuing the time of his death to approch by the connsell and aduice of the Empresse Sophia pronounced for his successour to the Empire Mauritius one borne in Cappadocia and giuing vnto him in mariage his daughter with the Imperiall vestures and ornaments he said Here I deliuer vnto thee both my Empire and this maiden for thy wife wishing thee to serue thee of her so as may be for thy good and benefite and that aboue all things thou remember to maintaine equitie and iustice The fairest flower of a Princes Crowne is iustice by which Kings do raigne Of a duke of Freeze vvhich vvould not be baptized ROboald duke of Freezeland at the preaching of VValâ—â—â—n Archbishop of Sens had determined to haue bene baptized to which end being stripped out of his garments as he stood naked and had put one foot into the water he bethought himselfe and asked the standers by what was become of his parents and friends deceased wheâ—her they were in Paradise or in hel Answer was made him that doubtlesse they were all damned in hell and that not any of them was in Paradise because they were not Christians At this speech he suddenly drew backe his foote and contrarie to the expectation of all the assembly said aloft That he would not be baptized but that he would goe after his death where he knew he should find most of his friends And the same day he dyed suddenly The revvard vvhich Clouis king of Fraunce gaue to those vvhich had betrayed their maister CLouis the first Christian king of Fraunce hauing warres with Richer duke of Cambray a man of very bad conditions and lewd life the Barrons of the said Duke promised the King that if he would come and deliuer battell to their Lord they would betake themselues to flight leaue their Lord to be taken prisoner The king Clouis for the effecting of this enterprize sent vnto the traitors a number of Corcelets of Copper very richly guilt And the plot being executed according to the agreement Richer was taken and put to death After which the traitors being aggrieued that the presents which the King had sent them were of so small valure They complained vnto him saying that they were but badly recompenced to whome the king answered not without discretioÌ„ Do you not konw how sufficiently I haue rewarded you in giuing you your liues In your own iudgements thinke with what torments they deserue to be punished which haue betrayed their Lord and maister Wherefore hold it for no small benefite and fauour that I suffer you to liue and get you hence speedily if you be not wearie of your liues Where at the traitors
greatest victorie which I euer obtained was against the diuel at such time as I was baptized in the church of Poissi And therefore the greatest honour which I would haue done me is that men should cal me Levvis of Poissi Of the same Levvis A Certaine priuate friend of his did blame him for that in writing his priuate and familiar letters he did not entitle himselfe king of Fraunce but Loys of Poissi To whom he said I am like the king which meÌ„ chuse with the Beane at Twelfetide who commonly doth obserue the feast of his royaltie in the euening His meaning vvas that the Crovvne vvhich he expected vvas the kingdom of heauen and by the euening he meant the end of this mortall life The desire that Saint Levvis had to cut off all blasphemies out of his kingdome KIng Levvis hauing caused one who had blasphemed the name of God to be marked in the lippes with a hote burning iron and hearing that some of his subiects did murmure at it he said openly in the hearing of a great multitude I wold to God that I my selfe were so marked with a hote iron on my lippes on the condition that there were no oathes nor blasphemies vsed within my realme Whensoeuer he began to speake or to do any thing and especially when he was set in Councell the first thing he vsed to do was to blesse himselâ—e with the signe of the Crosse in calling vpon the name of God For his saying was that his mother had so taught him euen from his infancie Of the instructions vvhich the king Saint Levvis of Fraunce gaue vnto his sonne Philip. MY sonne the first lesson which I giue thee is To loue God with all thy hart with all thy streÌ„gth and with all thy soule Offend not God in any case Suffer any torments rather then sin Take patiently whatsoeuer aduersitie God shall send thee and thanke God for it acknowledging that thou hast deserued it Confesse thy selfe often to some good man a Minister of the church Be diligeÌ„t to heare the deuine Seruice song in the Church of God Obserue carefully the good customes of thy kingdome but take away such as are euill Raise not any Taxes or Tallages vpon thy subiects but vpon great necessitie Entertaine those into thy seruice who feare God loue iustice and hate couetousnesse Desire not that thy Iudges should giue iudgement for thee in any cause against thy subiects farther then reason and truth will iustifie Preserue the cities and townes of thy kingdome in their franchises and liberties wherein thy predecessours before thee haue maintained them Giue the Benefices and Offices of thy kingdom to good men and such as are capable of them Moue not warre against any Christian and if any offence be committed thou oughtest to pardon it being required In places of iustice and iudgment see thou prouide such as are good men and godly Make diligent enquirie of thy houshold seruants whether they be addicted to couetousnesse or to prodigalitie Be thou such a one in thy life and conuersation as men may take good example by thee For as the head is such commonly are the members Take good heede that the expences of thy house be moderate and in measure And the blessing of God be alwaies with thee A notable saying of Philip the faire king of Fraunce PHilip le bel king of Fraunce hauing a certaine quarrell against Pope Boniface the eight wherof hath bene before spoken and being vrged by some to take reuenge of the Bishop of Palmers who was the principall procurer and perswader of the contentioÌ„ between theÌ„ he made theÌ„ this answere That it was a greater glorie for any Prince of courage and magnanimitie to pardon those of whom he might easily take reuenge then to execute reuenge vpon them Of king Philip de Valois vvho confirmed the lavv Salique by the Scriptures CHarles le bel king of Faunce being deceased without heire male Edvvard the third king of England intitled himselfe King and inheritour of Fraunce in the right of his mother Isabel sister to the said king Charles Philip de Valois being the next heire male opposed himself against the title of king Edvvard and obtained the kingdome by colour of the law Salique which excludeth women from the Crowne of France and as the common saying of the French is suffereth it not to fall to the distaffe And amongst many authorities cited for the iustification of that law he alleadged for one these words of the holy Scripture Consider the Lilies of the field hovv they do grovv and do neither labour nor spinne Of the Latin verses vvhich king Edvvard and king Philip de Valois sent each to other AFter that king Edvvard of England had quartered the Armes of Fraunce with those of England had ioyned the three flowers Deluce in a field Azure with the three Lions Or in a field of Gules the report goeth that he sent to king Philip dâ— Valois these foure verses which howsoeuer they might be thought of in that age at this day are held but barbarous vz. Rex sum regnorum bina ratione duoruÌ„ AngloruÌ„ râ—gno sum rex ego iure paterno Matriâ— iure quidem FrancoruÌ„ nuncupor idem Hinc est armorum variatio facta meoruÌ„ TO these verses of king Edward king Philip replyed in other sixe as good stuffe as the former Praedo regnorum qui diceris essâ—duorum FrancoruÌ„ regno priuaberis atque paterno Matris vbique nullumius proles non habet vllum Iure mariti carens alia mulier est prior illa Succendunt mares huic regno non mulieres Hinc est armorum variatio stultatuoruÌ„ The ansvver of king Edvvard the third to those that required him to send aide to his sonne the black Prince at the battell of Cressie THe same Edvvard king of England in the field foughten betweene the armie of England and the French power vnder Philip de Valois at the battell of Cressie in Ponthieu where the French had a notable ouerthrow being told by an English knight that his sonne the Prince of VVales who had the conduct of the maine battell of the English and the Noblemen which were there with him were very fiercely assailed by the French and did desire his Maiestie to come to their succour with the Reareward whereof the king himselfe had the leading The king demaunded of the knight saying Is my sonne dead or hurt or striken down No Sir said the knight but he is hardly bestead Returne then quoth the king to them that sent you hither and tell them That my pleasure is they send no more to me for any aide as long as my sonne is liuing but let him alone this day win his spurres For if God so will my meaning is that the honour of this day shall be his This message did so encourage the English that they caryed away the victorie By vvinning of his spurres he meant he should get him the honour of a hardie Knight because one
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
Diogâ—nes the Philosopher was wont to commend those young men that did promise to marie and take a wife but did neuer take any at all Of Fortune CHAP. 40. 1 APelles a painter of Athens being demaunded why he painted Fortune standing vpon her feete answered because she cannot sit 2 Denis the younger being demaunded how it could be that his father of a priuate man had attained to a tyrannicall gouernement and that he the sonne of a tyrant was expelled and chased from his rule and scepter he answered Truely my father left me his tyrannie but not his fortune 3 Philip the father of Alexanderâ— hauing in one day many good fortunes befallen him said O fortune for these so great and notable good fortunes graunt me that I may haue but one vnfortunate day 4 In all aduersities and misfortunes the most vnhappie condition of the vnfortunate is to remember that once he was happie 5 The Poet Ion said that fortune and wisedome being two diuerse and farre different things did make notwithstanding and bring foorth most like and semblable effects because both the one the other did exalt adorne and lift men vp to the highest degree of glorie 6 The goods of fortune are such as a man hath neede of reason for the vse of things and of patience in the necessitie of them 7 He which is ashamed of his fortune is worthie of all misfortune 8 As euery man can vse his happie and better fortunes so is he most excellent when he can vse well his aduerse fortunes 9 Fortune is more fauourable to the vniust then to the iust as therein shewing her puissance temeritie 10 He which is held too much embraced and fauoured of fortune becommeth to be little better then a foole 11 It seldome happeneth but that fortune doth offend the greatest and most excellent vertues 12 No man ought to refuse that fortune which all others do endure 13 Fortune is a sodaine occurrence of things vnthought of and vnexpected 14 Fortune is a proud Goddesse drunken and audacious 15 All things are gouerned by the will of Fortune 16 Pompey the great said alas Fortune seeing thou doest rend and breake in sunder all things I thinke that I haue not any thing which I can esteeme as my owne 17 The same Pompey said likewise I neuer had any prosperous or happie fortune that made me proud neither did euer any aduersitie make me fearefull 18 Fortune giueth too much to many but to none that which is sufficieÌ„t Of Realmes Princes and Magistrates CHAP. 41. 1 THere is none whatsoeuer aduanced or that can attaine to be a Prince without the will and permission of God 2 Principalitie and soueraigntie of coÌ„mand is giuen by fatal disposition 3 Kings are ordained and created by Iupiter 4 It is not necessarie that any should vnderstand things better then a Prince whose knowledge and learning shold be a help to al his subiects 5 A good Prince ought to carrie himselfe towards his subiects as a father amongst his children and as God doth towards the world 6 The Poet Pindarus said that a king was as it were a custome and example to all others 7 A King or Prince ought to shew himselfe terrible and seuere rather by threates and menaces then by punishments and executions 8 The vertue of a Prince is to be valiant iust seuere graue magnanimous a benefactor to many bountifull and liberall 9 A good prince is knowne by the good qualities and giftes of his mind and not by gold or rich and sumptuous apparell 10 The soueraigne and chiefe wisedome of a king is to know how to gouerne himselfe 11 The friends of a Prince ought to feele his power and puissance rather by his benefites then by iniuries and oppressions 12 The people must needes coÌ„plaine when wicked persons come to be their Princes 13 The king Anaxilaus being demaunded what thing was to be said most happie in any Realme answered Not to be ouercome by any benefites 14 Alexander complaining himselfe for that his father had left so many sonnes by diuerse women who might pretend title to his realme and kingdome king Philip his father said vnto him Labour to become an honest good man and then by thy owne deserts good behauiour and not by mine thou shalt be sure to enioy and inherit my kingdome 15 Alcamenes a Spartan being demaunded how a realme might long continue in happie estate answered When the king that raigneth ouer it shall not care for his owne priuate gaine and profite 16 In each commonwealth this aboue all things ought to be regarded and established that offices be not set to sale for gaine or rewards 17 The publike wealth is the life of a citie and where the lawes haue no force it cannot be named a weale publike 18 The Philosopher Antisthenes was demaunded why he said that hangmen had more humanitie then tyrants Because quoth he only guiltie persons and offenders are put to death by the hangman but tyrants do kill and murther the harmelesse and innocent 19 A man is then fit to rule and gouerne when he hath first learned how to gouerne 20 The Philosopher Bion said That it was needfull for a good and iust magistrate to depart and leaue his charge in the commonwealth rather with increase of honour then of wealth 21 Those Princes that punish them who do outrage and iniurie to others are the cause that others will abstaine from profering the like iniuries 22 In a certaine great and open place within Thebes were set vp the images of Iudges without hands and the chiefe Iudges with their eyes blindfolded whereby they shewed that iustice ought to be without any corruption of bribes or rewards 23 When thou shalt be placed in any publike charge or office admit not about thee leud or dishonest men for thy ministers because the euils which they commit will be imputed and attributed vnto thee 24 He which is in an office or place of commaund and maketh lawes for other men ought not to gouerne onely by might and strong-hand but by his dignitie vnderstanding and other vertues he ought to make himselfe knowne aboue other men 25 Like as the sunne which is the life of the world doth not attend nor expect that the morning should intreat it to arise in the East so the prince should not looke by praises and flatteries to do good deedes but he ought of himselfe to enlarge his hand and mind to bountifull and liberall and actions Of Captaines of warre and of their commauudements in time of battell CHAP. 42. 1 EPaminondas a Captaine of the Thebanes had neuer any mutiny amongst his souldiers 2 Agesilaus king of the Lacedemonians being demaunded what thing was needfull and necessarie to a good captaine answered Audacitie against his enemies beneuolence to his souldiers in such things as are coÌ„uenient and counsell for the managing of his affaires 3 Pelopidas a captaine of the Thebanes being to go to his armie his wife prayed him