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complained of him. Whereupon being convented and apposed upon that speech, he said; His meaning was, that if he lost his benefice, he would practise physic; and then he thought he should kill an hundred men in time.

36. (61.) Michael Angelo, the famous painter, painting in the Pope's chapel the portraiture of hell and damned souls, made one of the damned souls so like a Cardinal that was his enemy, as everybody at first sight knew it: Whereupon the Cardinal complained to Pope Clement, desiring it might be defaced; Who said to him, Why, you know very well, I have power to deliver a soul out of purgatory, but not out of hell.2

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† 37. There was a philosopher about Tiberius, that looking into the nature of Caius, said of him; That he was mire mingled with blood.

38. (209.) Alcibiades came to Pericles, and stayed a while ere he was admitted. When he came in, Pericles civilly excused it, and said; I was studying how to give my account. But Alcibiades said to him; If you will be ruled by me, study rather how to give no account.

39. (133.) Cicero was at dinner, where there was an ancient lady that spake of her years, and said; She was but forty years old. One that sat by Cicero rounded him in the ear, and said; She talks of forty years old, and she is far more, out of question. Cicero answered him again; I must believe her, for I have heard her say so any time these ten years.

40. (68.) Pope Adrian the sixth was talking with the Duke of Sesa; That Pasquil gave great scandal, and that he would have him thrown into the river. But Sesa answered; Do it not (holy father) for then he will turn frog; and whereas now he chants but by day, he will then chant both by day and night.3

41. (134.) There was a soldier that vaunted before Julius Cæsar of hurts he had received in his face. Julius Cæsar knowing him to be but a coward, told him; You were best take heed, next time you run away, how you look back.

†42. There was a Bishop that was somewhat a delicate person, and bathed twice a day. A friend of his said to him; My lord, why do you bathe twice a day? The Bishop answered; Because I cannot conveniently bathe thrice.

43. (210.) Mendoza that was vice-roy of Peru, was wont

1 humbly praying. R.

s Melch. I. 1 5. See Melchior (Floresta española, de apoteghmas ó sentencias, &c., 1614), I. 1. 3.

to say; That the government of Peru was the best place that the King of Spain gave, save that it was somewhat too near Madrid.

†44. Secretary Bourn's son kept a gentleman's wife in Shropshire, who lived from her husband with him. When he was weary of her, he caused her husband to be dealt with to take her home, and offered him five hundred pounds for reparation. The gentleman went to Sir Henry Sidney, to take his advice upon this offer; telling him; That his wife promised now a new life; and, to tell him truth, five hundred pounds would come well with him; and besides, that sometimes he wanted a woman in his bed. By my troth, (said Sir Henry Sidney) take her home, and take the money; and then whereas other cuckolds wear their horns plain, you may wear yours gilt.

45. (69.) There was a gentleman in Italy that wrate to a great friend of his, upon his advancement' to be Cardinal; That he was very glad of his advancement, for the Cardinal's own sake; but he was sorry that himself had lost so good a friend.2

†46. When Rabelais lay on his death-bed, and they gave him the extreme unction, a familiar friend of his came to him afterwards, and asked him; How he did? Rabelais answered; Even going my journey, they have greased my boots already.

47. (70.) There was a King of Hungary took a Bishop in battle, and kept him prisoner. Whereupon the Pope writ a monitory to him, for that he had broken the privilege of Holy Church, and taken his son. The King sent an embassage to him, and sent withal the armour wherein the Bishop was taken, and this only in writing, Vide num hæc sit vestis filii tui.3

48. (135.) There was a suitor to Vespasian, who, to lay his suit fairer, said; It was for his brother; whereas indeed it was for a piece of money. Some about Vespasian, to cross him, told the Emperor, That the party his servant spake for was not his brother; but that it was upon a bargain. Vespasian sent for the party interessed, and asked him; Whether his mean was his brother or no? He durst not tell untruth to the Emperor, and confessed; That he was not his brother. Whereupon the Emperor said, This do, fetch me the money, and you shall have your suit dispatched. Which he did. The courtier, which was the

I whom the Pope had newly advanced.

R.

4

a good friend. R. Melchior (I. 2. 1.) gives this as written to Cardinal Ximenes on his being made archbishop of Toledo.

• Know now whether this be thy son's coat? (Added in R.)

his mean employed by him. R.

mean, solicited Vespasian soon after about his suit. Why, (saith Vespasian,) I gave it last day to a brother of mine.

49. (211.) When Vespasian passed from Jewry to take upon him the empire, he went by Alexandria, where remained two famous philosophers, Apollonius and Euphrates. The Emperor heard them discourse touching matter of state, in the presence of many. And when he was weary of them, he brake off, and in a secret derision, finding their discourses but speculative, and not to be put in practice, said; O that I might govern wise men, and wise men govern me.

50. (212.) Cardinal Ximenes, upon a muster which was taken against the Moors, was spoken to by a servant of his to stand a little out of the smoke of the harquebuss; but he said again; That that was his incense.1

51. (136.) Vespasian asked of Apollonius, what was the cause of Nero's ruin? who answered; Nero could tune the harp well; but in government he did always wind up the strings too high, or let them down too low.

† 52. Mr. Bromley, Solicitor, giving in evidence for a deed which was impeached to be fraudulent, was urged by the counsel on the other side with this presumption; that in two former suits, when title was made, that deed was passed over in silence, and some other conveyance stood upon. Mr. Justice Catyline taking in with that side, asked the Solicitor, I pray thee, Mr. Solicitor, let me ask you a familiar question; I have two geldings in my stable, and I have divers times business of importance, and still I send forth one of my geldings, and not the other; would you not think I set him aside for a jade? No, my Lord, (saith Bromley,) I would think you spared him for your own saddle.

53. (45.) Alonso Cartilio was informed by his steward of the greatness of his expence, being such as he could not hold out with. The Bishop asked him; Wherein it chiefly rose? His steward told him; In the multitude of his servants. The Bishop bad him make a note of those that were necessary, and those that mought be put off. Which he did. And the Bishop taking occasion to read it before most of his servants, said to his steward; Well, let these remain because I need them; and these other also because they need me.

1 Melch. I. 2. 5. where however the occasion is said to have been not the taking a muster against the Moors, but the going to see an altar erected at Madrid, "fuera de la puerta de Moros," and being saluted by the harquebusseers.

2 spared. R. This is told in Melchior I. 3. 2.

54. (19.) Queen Elizabeth was wont to say, upon the Commission of Sales; That the commissioners used her like strawberry wives, that laid two or three great strawberries at the mouth of their pot, and all the rest were little ones; so they made her two or three good prices of the first particulars, but fell straightways.

55. (20.) Queen Elizabeth was wont to say of her instructions to great officers; That they were like to garments, strait at the first putting on, but did by and by wear loose enough.

56. (46.) Mr. Marbury the preacher would say; that God was fain to do with wicked men, as men do with frisking jades in a pasture, that cannot take them up, till they get them at a gate. So wicked men will not be taken up till the hour of death.

†57. Thales, as he looked upon the stars, fell into the water; Whereupon it was after said; That if he had looked into the water he might have seen the stars; but looking up to the stars he could not see the water.

58. (22.) The book of deposing Richard' the second, and the coming in of Henry the fourth, supposed to be written by Dr. Hayward, who was committed to the Tower for it, had much incensed queen Elizabeth. And she asked Mr. Bacon, being then of her learned counsel; Whether there were no treason contained in it? Mr. Bacon intending to do him a pleasure, and to take off the Queen's bitterness with a jest2, answered; No, madam, for treason I cannot deliver opinion that there is any, but very much felony. The Queen, apprehending it gladly, asked; How, and wherein? Mr. Bacon answered; Because he had stolen many of his sentences and conceits out of Cornelius Tacitus.

59. (199.) Mr. Popham 3, when he was Speaker, and the Lower House had sat long, and done in effect nothing; coming one day to Queen Elizabeth, she said to him; Now, Mr. Speaker, what hath passed in the Lower House ?5 He answered, If it please your Majesty, seven weeks.

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60. (47.) Pope Xystus the fifth, who was a poor man's son, and his father's house ill thatched, so that the sun came in in many places, would sport with his ignobility, and say; He was nato di casa illustre: son of an illustrious house.

61. (48.) When the King of Spain conquered Portugal, he

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gave special charge to his lieutenant that the soldiers should not spoil, lest he should alienate the hearts of the people. The army also suffered much scarcity of victual. Whereupon the Spanish soldiers would afterwards say; That they had won the King a kingdom, as the kingdom of heaven useth to be won; by fasting and abstaining from that that is another man's.

62. (108.) Cicero married his daughter to Dolabella, that held Cæsar's party: Pompey had married Julia, that was Cæsar's daughter. After, when Cæsar and Pompey took arms one against the other, and Pompey had passed the seas, and Cæsar possessed Italy, Cicero stayed somewhat long in Italy, but at last sailed over to join with Pompey; who when he came unto him, Pompey said; You are welcome; but where left you your son-in-law? Cicero answered; With your father-in-law.

63. (213.) Nero was wont to say of his master Seneca; That his stile was like mortar of sand without lime.

64. (240.) Sir Henry Wotton used to say, That critics are like brushers of noblemen's clothes.

65. (23.) Queen Elizabeth, being to resolve upon a great officer, and being by some, that canvassed for others, put in some doubt of that person whom she meant to advance, called for Mr. Bacon, and told him; She was like one with a lanthorn seeking a man; and seemed unsatisfied in the choice she had of men for that place. Mr Bacon answered her; That he had heard that in old time there was usually painted on the church walls the Day of Doom, and God sitting in judgement, and St. Michael by him with a pair of balance'; and the soul and the good deeds in the one balance, and the faults and the evil deeds in the other; and the soul's balance went up far too light: Then was our Lady painted with a great pair of beads, casting them into the light balance, to make up the weight2: so (he said) place and authority, which were in her hands to give, were like our lady's beads, which though men, through divers imperfections, were too light before, yet when they were cast in, made weight competent. 66. (128.) Mr. Savill was asked by my lord of Essex hist opinion touching poets; who answered my lord; He thought them the best writers, next to those that write prose.

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†67. Mr. Mason of Trinity college sent his pupil to an

1 balances. R.

3 Sir Henry Savill. That he thought.

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2 and brought down the scale. R.

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6 writ. R.

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