be beheaded in the Tower, called one of the King's privy chamber to her, and said to him; Commend me to the King, and tell him he is1 constant in his course of advancing me. From a private gentlewoman he made me a marquisse2; and from a marquisse a queen; and now he had left no higher degree of earthly honour, he hath made me a martyr.1 10. (207.) Bishop Latimer said, in a sermon at court; That he heard great speech that the King was poor and many ways were propounded to make him rich: For his part he had thought of one way, which was, that they should help the King to some good office, for all his officers were rich. 5 11. (122.) Cæsar Borgia, after long division between him and the Lords of Romagna, fell to accord with them. In this accord there was an article, that he should not call them at any time all together in person: The meaning was, that knowing his dangerous nature, if he meant them treason, some one mought be free to revenge the rest. Nevertheless he did with such art and fair usage win their confidence, that he brought them all together to counsel at Sinigalia; where he murthered them all. This act, when it was related unto Pope Alexander his father by a Cardinal, as a thing happy, but very perfidious, the Pope said; It was they that had broke their covenant first, in coming all together. 12. (54.) Pope Julius the third, when he was made Pope, gave his hat unto a youth, a favourite of his, with great scandal. Whereupon at one time a Cardinal, that mought be free with him, said modestly to him: What did your Holiness see in that young man, to make him Cardinal? Julius answered, What did you see in me, to make me Pope? 13. (55.) The same Julius, upon like occasion of speech, why he should bear so great affection to the same young man, would say; That he had found by astrology that it was the youth's destiny to be a great prelate; which was impossible, except himself were Pope; And therefore that he did raise him, as the driver on of his own fortune. 1 hath been ever. R. 3 now that he hath left. R. 2 marchioness. R. he intends to crown my innocency with the glory of martyrdom. R. he mought [q mought not?] have opportunity to oppress them altogether at once. R. 6 he used such fine art and fair carriage that he won their confidence to meet altogether in counsel at Cinigalia. R. 14. (56.) Sir Thomas Moore had only daughters at the first; and his wife did ever pray for a boy. At last he had a boy; which after, at man's years, proved simple.' Sir Thomas said to his wife; Thou prayedst so long for a boy, that he will be a boy as long as he lives. 15. (58.) Sir Thomas Moore, the day2 he was beheaded, had a barber sent to him, because his hair was long, which was thought would make him more commiserable3 with the people. The barber came to him and asked him, Whether he would be pleased to be trimmed? In good faith, honest fellow, (said Sir Thomas,) the King and I have a suit for my head, and till the title be cleared I will do no cost upon it. 16. (59.) Stephen Gardiner, Bishop of Winchester, a great champion of the Papists', was wont to say of the Protestants, who ground upon the Scripture, That they were like posts, that bring truth in their letters, and lies in their mouths. 17. (125.) The Lacedæmonians were besieged by the Athenians in the Fort of Peile; which was won, and some slain and some taken. There was one said to one of them that was taken, by way of scorn, Were not they brave men that lost their lives at the Fort of Peile? He answered, Certainly a Persian arrow is much to be set by, if it can choose out a brave man. arms. 18. (208.) After the defeat of Cyrus the younger, Falinus was sent by the King to the Grecians, (who had for their part rather victory than otherwise,) to command them to yield their Which when it was denied, Falinus said to Clearchus ; Well then, the King lets you know, that if you remove from the place where you are are now encamped, it is war: if you stay, it is truce. What shall I say you will do? Clearchus answered, It pleaseth us as it pleaseth the King. How is that? saith Falinus. Saith Clearchus, If we remove, war: if we stay, truce. And so would not disclose his purpose. 19. (126.) Clodius was acquit by a corrupt jury, that had palpably taken shares of money. Before they gave up their verdict, they prayed of the Senate a guard, that they might do their consciences freely; for Clodius was a very seditious young nobleman. Whereupon all the world gave him for condemned. But acquitted he was. Catulus, the next day, seeing 1 but simple. R. the Popish religion. R. 2 on the day that. R. 8 commiserated. R. Port. R. Phyle? or Pylus ? some of them that had acquitted him together, said to them ; What made you to ask of us a guard? Were you afraid your money should have been taken from you? 20. (127.) At the same judgment, Cicero gave in evidence upon oath and the jury (which consisted of fifty-seven) passed against his evidence. One day in the Senate, Cicero and Clodius being in altercation, Clodius upbraided him and said: The jury gave you no credit. Cicero answered, Five-and-twenty gave me credit: but there were two-and-thirty that gave you no credit, for they had their money aforehand. 21. (80.) Many men, especially such as affect gravity, have a manner after other men's speech to shake their heads. Sir Lionel Cranfield would say1, That it was as men shake a bottle, to see if there were any wit in their head or no. †22. Sir Thomas Moore (who was a man in all his lifetime that had an excellent vein in jesting) at the very instant of his death, having a pretty long beard, after his head was upon the block, lift it up again, and gently drew his beard aside, and said, This hath not offended the King. 23. (60.) Sir Thomas Moore had sent him by a suitor in the chancery two silver flagons. When they were presented by the gentleman's servant, he said to one of his men; Have him to the cellar, and let him have of my best wine. And turning to the servant, said, Tell thy master, friend, if he like it, let him not spare it. 24. (129.) Diogenes, having seen that the kingdom of Macedon, which before was contemptible and low, began to come aloft, when he died, was asked; How he would be buried? He answered, With my face downward; for within a while the world will be turned upside down, and then I shall lie right. 25. (130.) Cato the elder was wont to say, That the Romans were like sheep: A man were better drive a flock of them, than one of them. 26. (201.) Themistocles in his lower fortune was in love with a young gentleman who scorned him. When he grew to his greatness, which was soon after, he sought to him: but Themistocles said; We are both grown wise, but too late. 27. Demonax the philosopher, when he died, was asked touching his burial. He answered, Never take care for burying me, for stink will bury me. He that asked him, said again: A great officer of this land would say. R. Why, would you have your body left to dogs and ravens to feed upon? Demonax answered, Why, what great hurt is it, if having sought to do good, when I lived, to men, my body do some good to beasts, when I am dead. 28. Jack Roberts was desired by his tailor, when the reckoning grew somewhat high, to have a bill of his hand. Roberts said; I am content, but you must let no man know it. When the tailor brought him the bill, he tore it, as in choler, and said to him; You use me not well; you promised me nobody should know it, and here you have put in, Be it known unto all men by these presents. 29. (131.) When Lycurgus was to reform and alter the state of Sparta, in the consultation one advised that it should be reduced to an absolute popular equality. But Lycurgus said to him: Sir, begin it in your own house. †30. Phocion the Athenian, (a man of great severity, and no ways flexible to the will of the people,) one day when he spake to the people, in one part of his speech was applauded: Whereupon he turned to one of his friends, and asked; What have I said amiss? † 31. Sir Walter Ralegh was wont to say of the ladies of Queen Elizabeth's privy-chamber and bed-chamber; That they were like witches; they could do hurt, but they could do no good. 32. (122.) Bion, that was an atheist, was shewed in a portcity, in a temple of Neptune, many tables or pictures of such as had in tempests made their vows to Neptune, and were saved from shipwrack: and was asked; How say you now, do you not acknowledge the power of the Gods? But he said; Yes, but where are they painted that have been drowned after their vows? 1 33. (202.) Bias was sailing, and there fell out a great tempest, and the mariners, that were wicked and dissolute fellows, called upon the Gods; But Bias' said to them; Peace, let them not know ye are here. † 34. Bion was wont to say; That Socrates, of all the lovers of Alcibiades, only held him by the ears. † 35. There was a minister deprived for inconformity, who said to some of his friends; That if they deprived him, it should cost an hundred men's lives. The party understood it as if, being a turbulent fellow, he would have moved sedition, and 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 † 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.) Merdoza that was vice-roy of Peru, was wont I humbly praying. R. s Melch. I. 1. 5. See Melchior (Floresta española, de apoteghmas ó sentencias, &c., 1614), I. 1. 3. |