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the Seven, and some other wise men that were at the banquet, to deliver every one of them some sentence or parable, that he mought report to his King the wisdom of Græcia. Which they did. Only one was silent. Which the embassador perceiving, said to him; Sir, let it not displease you, why do not you say somewhat that I may report? He answered, Report to your lord, that there are of the Grecians that can hold their peace.

† 210. One of the Romans said to his friend; What think you of such an one as was taken with the manner in adultery? The other answered; Marry, I think he was slow at dispatch.

†211. Lycurgus would say of divers of the heroes of the heathen; That he wondered that men should mourn upon their days for them as mortal men, and yet sacrifice to them as gods.

212. (93.) A Papist being opposed by a Protestant, that they had no Scripture for images, answered; Yes; for you read that the people laid their sick in the streets, that the shadow of Saint Peter mought come upon them; and that a shadow was an image; and the obscurest of images.1

† 213. There is an ecclesiastical writer of the Papists, to prove antiquity of confession in the form that it now is, doth note, that in very ancient times, even in the primitive times, amongst other foul slanders spread against the Christians, one was; That they did adore the genitories of their priests. Which (he saith) grew from the posture of the confessant and the priest in confession: which is, that the confessant kneels down, before the priest sitting in a raised chair above him.

†214. Epaminondas, when his great friend and colleague in war was suitor to him to pardon an offender, denied him. Afterwards, when a concubine of his made the same suit, he granted it to her; which when Pelopidas seemed to take unkindly, he said; Such suits are to be granted to whores, but not to personages of worth.

215. (178.) The Lacedæmonians had in custom to speak very short. Which, being in empire2, they mought do at pleasure. But after their defeat at Leuctra, in an assembly of the Grecians, they made a long invective against Epaminondas; who stood up, and said no more but this; I am glad we have taught you to speak long.

†216. Fabricius, in conference with Pyrrhus, was tempted to

1 of all images. R.

2 being an empire. R.

revolt to him; Pyrrhus telling him, that he should be partner of his fortunes, and second person to him. But Fabricius answered, in a scorn, to such a motion; Sir, that would not be good for yourself: for if the Epirotes once knew me, they will rather desire to be governed by me than by you.

217. (179.) Fabius Maximus being resolved to draw the war in length, still waited upon Hannibal's progress to curb him; and for that purpose he encamped upon the high grounds. But Terentius his colleague fought with Hannibal, and was in great peril of overthrow. But then Fabius came down' the high grounds, and got the day: Whereupon Hannibal said; That he did ever think that that same cloud that hanged upon the hills, would at one time or other give a tempest.

218. (246.) There was a cowardly Spanish soldier, that in a defeat the Moors gave, ran away with the foremost. Afterwards, when the army generally fled, this soldier was missing. Whereupon it was said by some, that he was slain. No sure, (saith one) he is alive; for the Moors eat no hare's flesh.2

219. (180.) Hanno the Carthaginian was sent commissioner by the state, after the second Carthaginian war, to Rome, to supplicate for peace, and in the end obtained it. Yet one of the sharper senators said; You have often broken with us the peaces whereunto you have been sworn; I pray, by what Gods will you swear? Hanno answered; By the same Gods that have punished the former perjury so severely.

† 220. Thales being asked when a man should marry, said; Young men not yet, old men not at all.

†221. Thales said; That life and death were all one. One that was present asked him; Why do not you die then? Thales said again; Because they are all one.

222. (181.) Cæsar after first he had possessed Rome, Pompey being fled, offered to enter the sacred treasury, to take the moneys that were there stored. Metellus, tribune of the people, did forbid him. And when Metellus was violent in it, and would not desist, Cæsar turned to him, and said; Presume no further, or I will lay you dead. And when Metellus was with those words somewhat astonished, Cæsar added; Young man, it had been easier for me to do this than to speak it.

† 223. An Ægyptian priest having conference with Solon,

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3 R. omits to Rome."

2 Melch. II. 3. 21.

4 when he had first. R.

said to him; You Grecians are ever children; you have no knowledge of antiquity, nor antiquity of knowledge.

224. (14.) The counsel did make remonstrance unto Queen Elizabeth of the continual conspiracies against her life; and namely of a late one: and shewed her a rapier, taken from a conspirator, that had a false chape, being of brown paper, but gilt over, as it could not be known from a chape of metal; which was devised to the end that without drawing the rapier mought give a stab; and upon this occasion advised her1 that she should go less abroad to take the air, weakly accompanied, as she used. But the Queen answered; That she had rather be dead, than put in custody.

225. (194.) Chilon would say, That gold was tried with the touchstone, and men with gold.

226. (101.) Zelim was the first of the Ottomans that did shave his beard, whereas his predecessors wore it long. One of his Basha's asked him; Why he altered the custom of his predecessors? He answered; Because you Basha's shall not lead me by the beard, as you did them.

† 227. Diogenes was one day in the market-place, with a candle in his hand; and being asked; What he sought? he said; He sought a man.

† 228. Bias being asked; How a man should order his life? answered; As if a man should live long, or die quickly.

† 229. Queen Elizabeth was entertained by my Lord Burleigh at Theobalds and at her going away, my Lord obtained of the Queen to make seven knights. They were gentlemen of the country, of my Lord's friends and neighbours. They were placed in a rank, as the Queen should pass by the hall; and to win antiquity of knighthood, in order, as my Lord favoured; though indeed the more principal gentlemen were placed lowest. The Queen was told of it, and said nothing; but when she went along, she passed them all by, as far as the screen, as if she had forgot it and when she came to the screen, she seemed to take herself with the manner, and said; I had almost forgot what I promised. With that she turned back, and knighted the lowest first, and so upward. Whereupon Mr. Stanhope, of the privychamber, a while after told her: Your Majesty was too fine for

' and namely, that a man was lately taken who stood ready in a very dangerous and suspicious manner to do the deed; and they shewed her the weapon wherewith he thought to have acted it, and therefore they advised her, &c. R.

my Lord Burleigh. She answered; I have but fulfilled the Scripture; The first shall be last, and the last first.

230. (195.) Simonides being asked of Hiero; What he thought of God? asked a seven-night's time to consider of it. And at the seven-night's end he asked a fortnight's time. At the fortnight's end, a month. At which Hiero marvelling, Simonides answered; That the longer he thought on it', the more difficult he found it.

231. (248.) Anacharsis would say concerning the popular estates of Græcia; That he wondered how at Athens wise men did propose, and fools did dispose.

† 232. Solon compared the people unto the sea, and orators to the winds: For that the sea would be calm and quiet, if the winds did not trouble it.

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233. (197.) Socrates was pronounced by the oracle of Delphos to be the wisest man of Greece; which he would put from himself, ironically saying; There could be nothing in him3 to verify the oracle, except this; that he was not wise, and knew it; and others were not wise, and knew it not.

234. (238.) Cato the elder, what time many of the Romans had statua's erected in their honour, was asked by one in a kind of wonder; Why he had none? and answered; He had much rather men should ask and wonder why he had no statua, than why he had a statua.

† 235. Sir Fulke Grevill had much and private access to Queen Elizabeth, which he used honourably, and did many men good; yet he would say merrily of himself; That he was like Robin Goodfellow; For when the maids spilt the milkpans, or kept any racket, they would lay it upon Robin; So what tales the ladies about the Queen told her, or other bad offices that they did, they would put it upon him.

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236. (196.) Socrates, when there was shewed him the book of Heraclitus the Obscure, and was asked his opinion of it, answered; Those things that I understood were excellent; I imagine, so were those that I understood not; but they require a diver of Delos.

† 237. Bion asked an envious man that was very sad; What harm had befallen to him, or what good had befallen to another man?

I thought upon the matter. R. 9 in himself. R.

2 put from himself in modesty. R.

4

unto him. R.

† 238. Stilpo the philosopher, when the people flocked about him, and that one said to him; The people come wondering about you, as if it were to see some strange beast. No, (saith he) it is to see a man which Diogenes sought with his lanthorn.

239. (184.) Antisthenes being asked of one; What learning was most necessary for man's life? answered; To unlearn that which is naught.

† 240. There was a politic sermon, that had no divinity in it, was preached before the King. The King, as he came forth, said to Bishop Andrews; Call you this a sermon? The Bishop answered; And it please your majesty, by a charitable construction, it may be a sermon.

241. (103.) Bishop' Andrews was asked at the first coming over of the Bishop' of Spalato; Whether he were a Protestant or no? He answered; Truly I know not, but he is a Detestant, of divers opinions of Rome.3

242. (182.) Caius Marius was general of the Romans against the Cimbers, who came with such a sea of multitude' upon Italy. In the fight, there was a band of the Cadurcians, of a thousand, that did notable service. Whereupon, after the fight, Marius did denizen them all for citizens of Rome, though there was no law to warrant it. One of his friends did represent it unto him, that he had transgressed the law, because that privilege was not to be granted but by the people. Whereto Marius answered; That for the noise of arms he could not hear the laws.

243. (105.) Æneas Sylvius would say; That the Christian faith and law, though it had not been confirmed by miracles, yet was worthy to be received for the honesty thereof.

† 244. Henry Noel would say; That courtiers were like fastingdays; They were next the holydays, but in themselves they were the most meagre days of the week.

245. (106.) Mr. Bacon would say; That it was in business, as it is commonly in ways; that the next way is commonly the foulest, and that if a man will go the fairest way, he must go somewhat about.

246. (215.) Augustus Cæsar, out of great indignation against his two daughters, and Posthumus Agrippa, his grandchild,

The Lord Bishop.

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2

Archbishop. R.

• frequently. R.

3 but I think he is a Detestant: That was, of most of the opinions of Rome. R. ✦ such a sea of people. R. 5 present. R.

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