The saiynges of SOCRATES.

OUt of the mouthe of 1 SOCRATES it came,God is to be folowed as nere as we maye. the goddes to bee of al the best and moste blissed: and that euery manne the nerer that he draweth to the fa­cions and representaciō of thesame goddes, the better he is and the more heauenlyke. If ye saye one God, as he saied goddes (for there is but one God) nothyng maye be spoken more Christianelyke.

It was also a saiyng of his, that 2 nothynge ought to bee desired of god in mennes praiers,What sorte oure payers ought to be. but vndre this fourme, & with these wourdes (suche thynges as bee good for vs) wythout any ferther addicion. Where as the moste parte of menne dooe aske in their praiers, one a wyfe w^t a good dourie, an other asketh ryches, this manne honours, that manne rewle, some long lyfe, as it were prescribyng & appoynting to God what he shuld dooe. [Page] But God of hym self before we aske, do­eth best knowe what is good and expedi­ent for vs, and what is not.

3 His mynde was, that sacrifice should bee dooen to y^e goddes with as smal charges as myght bee,Sacrifice to God ought not to bee o­uer sumptu­ [...]us. for that the goddes, as thei haue no neede of the gooddes of mortal mē so thei haue more regarde to y^e her­tes of those y^t offre sacrifice, then to their riches: otherwyse, forasmuche as commenly the wurste disposed persones haue moste aboundaūce of worldly gooddes, y^e worlde wer at an eiuil poynte, if god wer better pleased w^t the sacrifice of y^e naugh­tie persones thē of y^e good. And to y^t ende he vsed greatly to allow this verse y^t foloeth of the greke poete. Eche mā to his power in any wise. [...]. Unto the goddes to dooe sacrifice. This saiyng toucheth vs Christian menne also, which dooe bestowe co [...]t and charge out of all measure in adournyng temples, and in executyng high feastes & [...]uneralles, where as wee should much [Page 3] better content and please God, yf that, that is aboue good housbādlyke clenly­nes, we would bestowe in almes vppon our Christian brethrē, beeyng in extreme nede. Sembleable measure he taught to [...]ee vsed also in receiuyng and intretei­nyng of geastes and straungers when thei resorte to vs, euer hauyng in his mouthe the verse aboue written: Eche man to his power. &c.

Whē it was told hym by a frende 4 of his, that agaynst the receiuyng of certain geastes into his hous, he had sclendrely prepaired for theim:Sclendre fare is to much for eiuill geastes. If thei be honeste menne (ꝙ he) it wylbee enoughe: yf not, a greate deale to muche.

One lesson of his was, that mēne 5 should abstein frō meates whiche might prouoke a manne to eate hauyng no appetite nor beeyng houngrie,Uertue & temperate diet to bee vsed. & also frō that drynke whiche myght tempte a manne to drynke, not beeyng thyrstie. For meate & drynke we ought not to vse, but as the the necessite of the bodye requireth.6

Socrates saied,Houngre is y^• best sauce in the worlde for meate. the best sauce in the [Page] world for meates is to be hoūgrye. Because thesame bothe sweeteth all thynges, and also is a thyng of no cost ne charge, and by this meanes dyd he for his part euermore eate and drynke with pleasure & delite, for he dyd neither the one, nor the other, but whē he was houn­grye and thirstie.

7 Yea and to endure houngre and thirst,The [...]st and appetite must bee refreined. he had purposely exercised & enured hym self. For after swette or greate heate taken in the wrast­leyng place (wher thei vsed to wra­stle and walke for the exercise of theyr bodyes) wher as others wold nedes haue drynke by and by in al y^e hast: Socrates would neuer drynke of the firste cuppe. And beeyng de­maunded wherfore he dyd so, that I maye not accustome my selfe, ꝙ he, to foloe my sensuall appetites, lustes and desyres.In takynge meates and drynkes, rea­son is to bee fol [...]ed & not the appetite. For somety­mes though a manne bee thyrstie, yet is it a noysome and daungerous thyng to drynke. And in this case whē reason ad­uiseth to forbeare, & the appetite pric­keth to take drynke, a manne ought ra­ther [Page 4] to foloe reason.

He saied that suche as had well 8 broken theim selfes to vertuous liuyng and [...]ēperate diete dyd per­ceiue & take of y^e same,Inordinate liuyng, is much more peynful thē vertuous liuyng. both muche more pleasure and lesse peines thē suche as with all high cure and di­ligence dyd on euery side make prouision to haue all thynges of plea­sure.The inconueniencies ensu­yng of inordinate sensualytee. Because the pleasures of inor­dinate l [...]uers, besydes the tormentes of their owne naughtye conscience, besi­des infamie and pouertee, dooe brede of­tymes euen in the veraye bodye more greefe, then delectacion. And contra­riewise, what thynges been moste honest thesame weaxen also moste pleas [...]ūt, yf a man haue been accustomed vnto theim.

He saied y^t it was a foule shame 9 yf a manne wylfully beeyng as a bonde seruaunt to pleasures of the bodye,To bee as a bond seruaūt to the pleasu­res of y^e body made himselfe suche an one as no manne would by his good wyll haue to his seruaunt at home in his hous. And in suche persons he saied that there was nomaner hope of recouerie, excepte y^t others [Page] would praye to the goddes for thē that (for asmuche as thei wer vtterly determyned to bee bond seruaū ­tes) their fortune might be, to gea [...] good and honest maisters. For his opinion was, that no persones dooe liue in a more fylthy or beastely, and in a more wreched or miserable state of bon­dage, then suche as bothe in mynde & bo­dye, been captiue to naughtee pleasures.

10 Socrates beeyng demaunded for what cause he would not beare some publique office in gouernyng the comē weale sens that he could singlare good skyll howe to admi­nistre thesame:To dooe bn̄fite to a whole multitude. answered, that per­sone to dooe muche better seruice in a cytee whiche dyd make a great noūbre of menne apte & mete to bee rewlers in a comē weale, then hym that could well gouerne thesame in his owne person onely. The selfe same answere dyd Nicolaus Leonice­nus make vnto me in the cytee of Farrar [...], Nicolaus Leonicenus a physician in Italie. whē I saied: that I meruailled why hym self dyd not practise Physike, of whiche [Page 5] facultee he was a doctour and a publique reader: I auayll muche more, saieth he in that I teache al the other phisiciās.Williā war­ [...]am arche bisshope of Canterbury. Nor a muche vnlyke aunswere dyd Wylliam late archebishop of Cāterbury the synguler Mecaenas was a noble man in Rome and a gret mā wyth Augu­stus Caesar & so great a faunurer, pro­mouter, and setter fourthe of Virgil, Horace & suche other learned menne, that e­uersens his tyme, al those y^t dooe notably promote helpe or fauour stu­dentes or learned menne, are of his [...] me called Mecaenates. Mecaenas of al my studies geue vnto me stiffely refusynge to take a benefice of his collacion and saiyng: with what face maye I take to my vse and profyte the money of those persones, to whom (as beeyng a manne ignoraunt of their lan­guage) I can neither make sermons, nor dooe good in rebukynge of their misbe­haueour, nor in geuyng theim coūforte: nor yet in duely executynge any parte of the office of a good shephearde or curate As though ye dooe not more good, ꝙ he, in that by youre bookes whiche ye haue made & set forth ye dooe enstruct & teache al pastours and curates, then if ye should bestowe all your tyme and seruice vppon one sole parishe of the coūtree. I knowleged y^t it was on his partie veray frēdely spokē, but yet he did not perswade me, ne bryng me in mynde to take the benefice.

Beeyng asked, by what meanes a manne might atteigne an honest 11 name and fame:Honest name & fame how it is to bee per­chaced and acquired. If he earnestly apply hymselfe, ꝙ Socrates, to bee suche a manne in deede, as he desireth to [Page] bee accoumpted and estemed. Yf a manne would fayn bee reputed a good player on the recordres, it is necessarie that he perfourme and dooe suche feates as he seeth dooen of theim, who been al­lowed for perfecte good players on that instrumente. As he that hath veray s [...]len­dre sight in ministrynge physike, is not therfore a phisyciā, because he is sent for to take cure of pacientes, & hath by the cō men voyce of menne the name of a physi­cian: so is not he by and by a good gouernoure in a comen weale, or a good offy­cer, that is by the voyce of the people so bruted, excepte he knowe also the ryght facion and wayes to re [...]le the cytie, and to kepe it in good ordre.

12 He saied, that it was a thyng muche against all reason,The Arte of gouernyng a­cōmen weale. wher as no manne setteth vp any handyecrafte or occupacion without his greate shame and reproche whiche hath not learned thesame afore, & where no manne wyll put to ma­kyng a nest of boxes or a cupbourd full of almeries of Ioyners werke to one that neuer was a werkeman in that mysterie: that to publique [Page 6] offices suche persones should be admitted as haue neuer geuē studie to those disciplynes without whiche no manne maye bee hable accor­dyngly to execute a publique office And wher as euery bodye without excepcion would crye: fye on hym, that would take vpon hym to sitte and holde the stie [...]ne in a shyppe, hauyng none experience in y^e feate of marinershyp, Socrates saied, that thei were muche more to bee cryed out vpon, whiche tooke in hāde the regyment and gouernaunce of a comen weale, beeyng vnexperte of y^e part of Philosophie whiche geueth preceptes and rewles howe to or­dre a cytee or a commen weale. Neither dyd Socrates suppose y^t per­son worthie to bee called a craftie beguiler of menne which of some foolysh body (persuaded therunto) dyd receiue & take either money or some pece of plate which he were not hable to repaye, but muche rather those persones he pronounced woorthie to be accoūpted deceytfull bob­bers [Page] of menne, whiche by fraude & guil [...] dyd make eche manne beleue y^t they were hable menne to take vpō them the rewle and gouernaunce of the whole worlde, where as in deede they are but vilaines and slaues nothyng worthie to be had in estimacion. This saiyng muche nerer toucheth christian princes, officers and Bishoppes, then y^e gentyles or infideles.

13 He was woont to saye, that there is no possession or treasure more precious thē a true and an assured good frēde,A true frēde is an high treasure. nor of any other thyng in the worlde besides, to bee found more good, profyte orels pleasure. And therfore, he saied, that many persones dooe arsee versee,Thei dooe ar­s [...]e versee that take y^e losse of money moore greuously thē the losse of a frende. in that thei take the losse of a lytle money more greuously at the hert, then the losse of a frende, and in that thei crye out and saye thei haue cast a­waye and lost a good turne beeyng so bestowed that they haue not as good again for it, whereas by the­same thei haue perhappes purcha­ced a frende more to bee set by then any gaynes of money in y^e worlde.

[Page 7]As we dooe not put images to 14 makyng but onely to suche werke­menne of whō wee see some noum­bre of images welfauouredly and mynionly made afore. So should wee take no persones vnto oure frendship,What mane [...] ꝑsones ough [...] to be receiued into frēdship. but such as wee perfect­ly knowe to haue tryed theimselfes feithful and seruiceable frendes to others aforetymes.

Of a certain manne somewhat 15 sharpely beatyng a bonde seruaūt of his owne, Socrates asked wherfore he was so vengeable eagre, marie (ꝙ the other) because this knaue, wheras he is the greattest gluttō & rauener of meates that maye bee, yet is he the moste idle lubber aliue and whereas he is the moste couet­ous feloe in the worlde, yet is he the moste slowethful that is possible to bee.Many menne punyshe in o­thers thesame thynges in whiche thei [...] selfes are of­fenders. Then saied Socrates, haue ye ne­uer yet vnto this daye cast well in your mynde, whether of bothe [Page] hath more nede of coylynge, ye, or or your seruaūt.? Would God, y^t euerie bodye whensoeuer thei rebuke & punishe in other persones thesame thing that thei perdone in theimselfes, (or if not thesame a much wurse thyng) would saye to theimselfes that Socrates saied to that manne.

16 To a certain persone whiche in in deede would veraye faine haue gon from home to the Olympia, were certaine games of rennyng & wra­stleing, which Hercul [...]s did firs [...] ordein in th [...] honour of Iuppiter to bee celebrate & kepte [...]uerye fifth yeare, in a certain place called Olym­pia, situate & lying in y^e coū tree of Achaia, betwene y^e twoo townes Elis, and Pi­sa, in whiche Olympia Iuppiter had a tē ­ple and was therefore cal­led Iuppiter Olimpicus or Olympius. Olympia, with the tediousnes of trauaillyng so ferre aiourney, vtterly discoura­ged, thus saied Socrates: wheras bee­yng here at home thou walkest too and fro, ofteseasons in maner all y^• whole daye, aswell afore dyner, as before supper: yf thou stretch y^e walkynges that thou vsest at home, & laye theim on lēgth by the space of fiue or sixe dayes together y^u shalt easyly reache to Olympia. This high witted manne dyd euidently shewe that thyng that maketh vs false herted in takyng peines and laboures, to be ra­ther our imaginaciō and conceipte, then the veray laboures in deede. If any [Page 8] daunger, losse or trauaill must bee sustei­ned about any honest maters, wee fynd excuses, wee will none of it, it standeth clene against our stomakes, whereas in maters not woorth a blewe point (for I will not saye in thynges vnhonest) wee will spare for no cost: Thus some per­sones beeyng inuited and exhorted to falle to the studie of lettres, make their excuse that thei bee sickely,To take pein or trauaill in honest maters eche man fyndeth excuses. that the [...] can not slepe ne take their naturall reste in y^e nightes, that bookes are veray charge­able: and yet in the meane tyme, thei will playe al the whole night through at dyce thei will with bollyng and drynkyng geat the feure, the goute, the hydropsie, and a pair of blered iyes:Diseases of late banquet­tyng & whore­hauntyng. they will with whoorehaūtyng catche the paulsey, or y^e great pockes, otherwise called y^e frenche pockes.

An other certain manne cōplai­nynge 17 that he was euen doggue werie, and clene tiered with goyng a long iourney, Socrates asked, whe­ther his boye hadde been hable e­nough to keepe foote with hym all the waye? he saied, yea. Went he leere (ꝙ Socrates) orels charged with the charge of any burdē? he carryed [Page] a good preatie packe on his necke [...] saied the manne. And what? doeth the boye finde any faute that he is werie, ꝙ Socrates? Whē the feloe had saied, naye, & art thou not ashamed (saied Socrates) of suche nicenes, y^t gooyng on y^e waye emptie & voide of any burden, thou shouldest bee werie, sens that he hauyng caried a fardelle cōplaineth not of werines.Nicenes and tendrenes maketh men vn­apte to la­bour. Socrates declared the seruaunt in this behalfe to bee in muche better case then the maister, that for asmuche as he was better e [...]ured with labouryng, he feeled lesse gref [...] of his laboure.

18 It was his cōmen guise, to tel folkes, thesame that in other places is called, eatyng, or feastyng, to bee called in greke emonges the Athe­niens, [...], by the whiche wourde he saied y^t we wer putte in remem­breaunce that meate ought to bee taken with suche measure and so­brietee,Repastes measurably to bee taken. as neither the bodye, nor the mynde might bee ouercharged. Al­ludyng [Page 9] (I suppose) to this, that the Greke woorde, [...], souneth in englishe to bee carryed, wherof is deriued a nowne, [...] in englishe a carre. Albeit, [...] is greke also for meate, and therunto is added this syllable, [...], that vpon the bodie might not bee laied a more heauie burden then it wer well hable to a­waye withal. For this sillable, [...], in composicion of greke vocables beto­keneth a certain facilitee & cōmodious­nes annexed to the thyng. Thē [...] is to bee not ouer full gorged, but to bee refreshed with a light repaste, suche as the bodie maye easyly and without in­commoditee awaye withall, taken by translacion of the easie ladynge or bur­den of a carte.

He saied that vpon suche chil­dren 19 especially,The better of birthe that a childe is, the better ought his bryngyng vp to bee. ought to bee besto­wed vertuous educaciō, and good bryngyng vp, as wer best of birth and came of the moste honeste pa­rentage. For in suche is comenly seen (saied he) thesame thyng that [Page] is seen in horses, emong whō, such as been coltishe or ful of courage, and of kyndely towardnes, if thei bee broken in season, & wel taught euē while thei bee veray yoūg col­tes, thei growe to bee pure bonie o­nes, and applyable to dooe what­soeuer a manne wil put theim vn­to: if otherwise, thei weaxe ski [...]tishe past maisteryng, and good for no purpose. And therefore it chaun­ceth, that in maner all excellente goodly wittes be marred through defaulte of [...]kylle in their teachers and bryngers vp,Excellente goodly wit­tes marred by e [...]vil maisters. who euen at the first dashe, of quicke horses makē veray dulle asses, because thei cā no skylle how to maister, haulte couraged stomakes, & suche hertes as will not bee brought vnder, ne bee made vila [...]es.

20 Many a tyme and ofte did he saye that persone to dooe lyke one without all shame, whiche, wher [Page 10] as he made hys oxen euery daye fewer & fewer, yet required in any wise to bee accoūpted a good cow­heard: but yet a thyng muche more stādyng against reason, if a manne would desire to be reputed a good gouernour in a commē weale, whē he dayly diminisheth the noumbre of his people. These woordes he spake aferre of against Critias & Chari­cles, Critias and Charicles, were twoo of the thirtie ty­rannes in A­thenes. which had put to death many of the cytizens, neither was thesame vnknowē vnto theim. For Critias manaced & thre­tened hym, that onelesse he chaumbreed his toūgue in season, ther should ere lōg bee one oxe the fewer for hym. And what he thretened in woordes, he perfourmed in dede. For by y^e meanes of Critias was Socrates put to death.

He had chosen out of the olde 21 autours certain verses whiche he vsed veraye often tymes for pro­uerbes, emong whiche this verse of Hesiodus was one:

By this verse he did counsail young folkes not onely from idlenes, but also from all vnprofitable or vn [...]ruyteful ac­cions.Unfruitefull dooynges bee as eiuill as idlenes. For Socrates rekened theim also in the noumbre of idle persones, whiche spent all their tyme in dy [...]yng, in reuel­lyng or banquettynge, and in whoore­hountyng.

22 Also this verse of homere as she­wen bothe Gellius and Laertius:

That is.

By this verse he did not onely call backe suche as would geue eare to hym, from buisie medleyng with other mēnes maters,To bee ouer­full of medle­yng in euery bodyes ma­ters. but also from al kyndes of lear­nyng beeyng not necessarie to bee had: (as from the exa [...]te knowlage of Astro­logie, or of geometrie, or of natural cau­ses, or of thynges supernaturall,) to the knowlage of moral philosophie,What good­nes ensueth of the know­lage of moral philosophie. the per­fecte intelligence wherof do [...]eth make, that we maye throughly knowe our sel­fes, and that we maye gouerne and con­ueigh [Page 11] aswell our owne priuate maters, as also the publyque affaires of the cō ­men weale accordyngly, & to good pur­pose.

To y^• same purpose serueth this 23 saiyng also, whiche is fathered on Socrates, and is of great autoritee what is aboue our reache, we haue naught to do withall.Whatso is a­boue our re­ache we haue naught to do withall. For thus was he woonte to aunswere menne, woondreyng why he would euermore bee reasonyng of maners and of good behaueour, but neuer of the sterres nor of thynges gendred aboue in the aier, or of any Suche na­turall effectes as bee dooen nigh vnto the sterres, or as ye (would saye) aboue the reache of mānes familiare knowlage, are called in greke, [...], as for example: the generation of mystes, haille, rain, sn [...]we, lygh­tenyng, shootynge of sterres, openyng of the aier, blasyng ster­res, heggues that are seen in the feldes by nyght like f [...]erbran­des, or torches, with such other thynges. Of the natural causes producyng, and generacion of whiche thynges Aristoteles, writeth fower bookes and entitleeth theim [...]. But Socrates would neuer take vpon him, to determyn suche thynges as wer aboue the coumpace of mannes familiar hand­leynge.impressions there chauncyng.

When a certain feloe had of a 24 lasciuiousnes or malapertenes ge­uen [Page] him a spurne on the shynne, as he was gooyng on his waye in the strete: to suche as wondreed that he could pacientely suffre it, why, what should I dooe (ꝙ he?) when thei counsailled hym to take the lawe on the feloe: A gentle ieste (saied Socrates:Paciently spoken.) If an Asse had geuē me a strype with his heele, would ye haue saied to me, take the lawe on hym? He thought no di [...]ference to bee betwene an Asse, and a manne be­hauyng hym selfe like a brute beaste,Betwene a beaste and a manne of brutishe condici­ons there is no diference. and [...]ndewed with no vertue or honest quali­tee, and to seme a thyng muche against al reason, not to suffre at a mannes hāde, y^t ye could fynd in your herte to abyde of a brute beastes dooyng.

25 A certain persone beeyng of him bidden good speede, saied to hym again neither buff ne baff. Neither was Socrates therwith any thyng discontēted. But his frendes mer­uaillyng therat, & fumyug at the lewde facion of the feloe, he saied [Page 12] as foloeth. If one should passe by vs that had some wurse disease in his bodie thē we, none of vs would for that respecte bee angrye wyth hym,The patience of Socrates, & angre well refreined. why then should I bee di­spleased with this feloe, that hath a more cancarde stomake then I haue?

Euripides came and brought vnto 26 Socrate [...] a booke of Heraclitus his wri­tyng and makyng,Heraclitus was a philo­sophi [...]r, but he wrote so obscure and derke a style y^t sca [...]ely any man was ha­ble to vnder­stande hym, wherefore he was named: [...] Heraclitus the derke. whiche booke perused, Eurip [...]des asked, what he thought of it. By Iuppiter (saied So­crates) that, that I haue been hable to vnderstand me thynketh to bee ioyly good stuffe, and of like good­nes I suppose to be the residue al­so, whiche I haue not vnderstand. But we haue neede of some young Marlian to expoune the meanyng of it. He [...]yd in this saiyng (not without a shar [...]e taunte and poynaunte checke) note the obscure and derke style whiche the saied writer with great stu­die & laboure purposely sought to haue: [Page] wherof in deede he had this name geuen vnto hym [...], that is: Heraclitus the derke. Of y^e prouerbe Delius na [...]a­tor in y^e greke prouerbe was called a cun­nyng swymmer that could kepe hym selfe styll aboue water without perill of drounyng. And Socrates applyed that to the readers of Heraclitus bookes, meanyng that excepte they wer veray cunnyng they should soone bee drouned and choked, that is to saye: confused and sette at a staye with readyng thesame. Delius na [...]ator (for whom is here putte Merlian) I haue spo­ken at large in my werke of Greke & La­tin prouerbes entitleed Chiliades.

27 When Alcibiades had by the waye of free gift offreed him a fair large platte of grounde,Alcibiades was a young gentleman in Athenes, whose lyfe Plutarchus wryteth at large. to buylde hym­selfe an hous vpon, what? (ꝙ Socra­tes) if I hadde neede of a paire of shooes, wouldest thou come & geue me a pece of leather, whereof to make my selfe a paire of shooes? And in case thou shouldest so dooe, wer not I woorthie to bee laughed to skorne if I toke it? By this si­militude he re [...]used y^e gift whiche should stand hym in no seruice.A gyfte that wyll dooe no profite is to bee refused.

28 In walkyng vp and downe in y^e mercate place as he vewed on eche [Page 13] syde the aboundaunce of wares y^t wer there to bee sold, he vsed thus to saye to himself, how many thyn­ges haue I no neede of.The fru­galitee o [...] Socrates But o­thers bee sore vexed at their hertes, thus thynkyng: howe many thynges dooe I lacke. Socrates was of his owne behalfe ioyeous and gladde, that liuyng accor­dyng to nature, and accustomed to the vse of fewe thynges, he neither was de­sirous to haue, nor yet did lacke, cloth of golde, of purple, precious stones, iue­raye, ares [...]e hangynges, and the other de­lices of ryche menne, whiche he veraye many tymes saied to be thynges more apte and fitte for disguisynges in stage playes, then for any seruyce, vse or occu­piyng to the life of manne necessarie. To whiche menyng he vsed these iambyque verses of a certain greke poete whatsoe­uer he was.

That is

He saied that manne to be moste 29 [Page] like vnto the Goddes, whiche fee­led lacke of fewest thynges, sens that the Goddes feele lacke of no maner thyng at all. But the cō ­men people thynketh nexte cousyns or feloes to God hymself to be ryche menne, whose del [...]ces nothyng is hable to satis­fie. For of those is sa [...]ed in one of the co­medies of Terence, howe ye lead your life in all ease and pleasure.What perso­nes liuē in all ease and plea­sure. And that dooeth Homerus attrybute vnto the Goddes whom in many places he calleth [...], [...]iuyng in all ease and pleasure. And he liueth in all e [...]se and pleasure, y^t with a veraye litle is throughly conten­ted and satisfied.

30 It was another saiyng of his, y^t whoso eateth drye breade with pleasure thesame nedeth no meate to it.Frugalitee. And to whō no maner drynke co­meth amysse, thesame requireth none other cuppe but suche as is readie in the waye.Houngre and thirst, the best sauce for all meates. For hoūgre & thirste is for all thynges the beste sauce in the worlde.

31 He saied y^t it was a readie thyng [Page 14] for euerye manne if he had any no­table good thynges of his owne, to name what it was, wheras it was a veraye hard thyng to name what true frendes he had,No possessiō so good as to haue a tru [...] frende [...] and yet no possession to bee more dere a [...]d preci­ous or harder to come by, then a true frende. In this saiyng, he checked y^e preposterous and ouerth wart iudgement that the commen sorte of people haue of thynges, as the whiche pas­seth lest of that thyng, whiche ought to bee sette by moste of all. A bodye thyn­keth hymselfe well emended in his sub­staunce and ryches, to whom hath hap­pened some good goubbe of money, and maketh a great whynyng, if he haue had any losse of thesame.The preposterous iudge­mēt of the cō ­men people in estemyng thi [...] ges. But he that hath gotten a good frende, thynketh hymself in no more happie state, then he was a­fore, nor maketh any mournefull chere when he hath lost a frende.

Unto Euclides beeyng veraye stu­dious 32 of contencious conclusions and cauillacions of subtile reaso­nyng he saied: Euclides ye maye per­case matche with ^☞sophistes, but [Page] with men ye cannot haue to dooe. Signifiyng that Sophistrie dooeth no helpe,He that wyll lyue emonge menne muste frame hym­self to the fa­cions of men. vse ne seruice to dooynges in publique affaires or bearyng offices in a commen weale. Whiche publique of­fices whoso is a suiter to haue, it beho­ueth thesame not to playe hieke skorner with insolubles, & with idle knackes of sophisticacions, but rather to frame and facion hymself to the maners and condi­cions of menne, and to bee of suche sort [...] as other menne bee.

33 He saied that science and cun­nyng is the onely good thynge of the worlde:Science and cunnyng is y^e onelye good thynge of the worlde, & ig­noraunce the onelye eiuill thyng. and contrariewyse ig­noraunce the onely eiuill thynge. For whatsoeuer persones dooe commytte any vniuste thynge, thesame of­fendē in this behalfe, that thei bee igno­raūt [Page 15] what is to bee dooen toward euerie partie eche in his degree. And such as be māful hardye, for none other thyng bee manfull hardye, but in that thei knowe those thynges woorthie to [...]ee sued for, and to be desired, whiche the multitude demeth woorthie to bee abhorred. And suche as be intemperaūt, that is: foloers of their naughtie [...]ppetites and lustes, dooe in this pointe erre, that thei thynke those thynges to bee sweete and honest, whiche are nothyng so. Therfore the highest good thyng in the worlde, saied Socrates, to [...]ee the science or perfecte knowlage of thynges to be desired with her [...]e and mynde, and of thynges to bee refused or auoided.

To a certain manne saiyng that 34 Antisthenes the philosophier came of a mother that was of the countree of Thrace, and so by the waye of re­uilyng or despyte, laiynge to the charge of thesame Antisthenes tha [...] he was a moungreell, and had to his father a citezen of Athenes, but to his mother a woman of a barba­rous or saluage countree: what? (ꝙ Socrates) trowest thou that it had [Page] been possible for suche a ioyly man as Antisthenes to bee born of a father and a mother beyng both of the [...]m Atheniens? Noty [...]g the moste cor­rupte maners of the Atheniens, The corrupte maners of the cytee of Athenes in Socrates his tyme. that much rather of a Thraciā or o [...] Scythiā [...]ight issue an honeste or weldisposed manne, then of an Athenien: and of all the ho­nestee that Antisthenes had, he thought he might thanke his mother.

35 He saied that of al possessions in the worlde,Tyme of va­caciō wel spēt is an especiall good posses­sion. vacaunt tyme of lea­sure is one of the veraye best. But by vacaunt tyme of leasure, he me­ned not slouggyng, loyteryng or slouth­full idlenes, but to bee quiete frō trou­bleous ruffleynges, and coumbreous buisynesse of the worlde, and from the affectionate appetites pertour [...]yng and corruptynge the tranquillytee of the mynde.

36 Of all the saiynges of his, there is none so muche taken vp,The humili­tee of Socra­tes. as that he saied, that he knewe nothyng, sanyng onely this, that he knewe no thyng. For he enquiered of euerie thyng as though he w [...]re in doubte: not [Page 16] y^• in deede he had no certain knowlage of any thyng, but by this dryenesse, he did declare his owne modestie & softnes, and reproued the arrogancie of others, who professed and openly tooke vpon theim that thei were [...]gnoraunte of no­thyng,The arrogancie of Sophi­stes. whereas in deede thei knewe no­thyng at al. Certain Sophistes did opē ­ly take vpon the [...]m, that thei would at the first [...]ight make aunswere to all ma­ner maters that should bee laied afore theim or putte to theim: the presumptu­ous ignoraunce of suche persones dyd Socrates ofte tymes blanke and confoūd. And for this veray thyng and none els (as himself tooke and expouned the ma­ter) was be by the voice or testimonie of the God Appollo [...]udged a perfecte wyse manne, because that al [...]eit he had igno­raūce of al thynges like as other menne hadde: yet in this behalfe he was aboue theim, that he knowlaged his ignor [...]ūce wher as the residue wer vnknowyng of this thyng also, y^t thei perfectly knewe nothyng.

Laertius ascrybeth to hym this 37 saiyng also:Laertius is a [...]r [...]ke autour that wryteth the liues of al the auncient philosophers to haue well begoōne is a thyng halfe dooen. For he saied: y^t he [...]ad euē now alreadie finished [Page] half his werke, who had ones entreed [...] begonne. For some ther bee, that in lyn­greyng and driuyng foorth and consul­tyng, spenden out all their life, The sai­yng is halfe a verse of the greke poete Hesiodus:

38 These persones, that bought thynges,As grene gee­ce strawberi­es, cheries, peason, quadlinges, damase­ [...]es, wynes [...] &c made rype by arte, ere thei wer full in season, at high prices, he saied to bee in despaire, leste thei should not lyue vntyll the same might bee through rype. Excepte it bee for suche a respecte a great foly it is,Folyshe haste and nedelesse. to bye suche thynges bothe with more charge, & also the thyn­ges beeyng not yet come to theyr good­nes: but beeyng wurse then shortly after thei would bee, whereas within a whyle after thei maye haue thesame thyn [...] both for lesse money and twyse as go [...]. Thus dyd he by all wayes possible [...]ll backe vnto a sobreindgemēt the desire­full appetites and lustes of menne, bee­yng voyde of reason.

39 At a certain tyme when Euripides was in suche wise treatyng of ver­tue, that he brought in these woor­des.

As though vertue might by no meanes possible bee found out. Up stood Socrates, saiyng: that it was a madde thyng, whereas we thynke it laboure well bestowed for our slaue, lackey or page, (if he bee not founde at the first seekynge) still to make ferther enquierye vntyll he bee found out: to iudge vertue vnwoorthie any suche diligente serchyng, y^t thesame maye at lēgth bee founde outUertue, tho­ugh it come not at y^e first, yet by diligēt seekyng at lē ­gth, it maye bee fon̄d out. if it come not to a manne at the first assaiyng.

Beeyng asked of a certain yoūg 40 māne, whether of these twoo thyn­ges he thought be [...]ter for hym, to marrye a wife, or not to marrye:To marrye or not to mar­rye, both iues bryng repen­taunce. whether of bothe thou dooe (saied he) it will turne the to sorowe.

Signifiyng aswell to liue out of wedlocke, as to liue in matrimonie, to haue disquietynges & vexacions ānexed [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] vnto it, the whiche vexacions vtterly to endure, it was necessarie to prepare th [...] mynd afore. To liuing a single lif is an­nexed solitarynes or lacke of coumpaig­nie,The in com­moditees of liuyng out of wedlocke. lacke of issue, vtter decaiyng and wearyng out of the name, a straunger to enherite your gooddes & possessions after your deceasse. With matrimonie cōmeth [...]arefulnes without ende,The in com­moditees of liuyng, in ma­trimonie. cōtynuall querelyng and complaynyng, to bee cast in the teethe and to haue dayly in your dishe the dourie that your wif brought with hir, the soure browbendyng of your wiffes kinsfolkes, the tatteleyng toungue of your wiffes moother, lyers in a wayte to make the cuckolde, the doutbful ende or prouf and vncertaintee what your children shall come to, with other in­commoditees and displeasures innume­rable. And therefore in this case, there is noo suche choosyng, as is betwene good and eiuil, but suche, as is betwene ligh­ter, and more greuous incommoditees.

41 One of his frendes, complay­nyng and findyng faulte that in Athenes the prices of all thynges was veray high for wyne that was called Chium should stand a manne in xx. s. an hogeshed,Vinum Chiū of the Isle Chios where it was made. purple silke [Page 18] or crymasyn,Hemina was the half mea­sure of Sextarius, whiche Sextarius was the sixth part of agalō so tha [...] Sextarius was lesse thē our quart and Hemina lesse then our pynte, at lest­wise if y^e galō measur emōg y^e Atheniense in olde tyme wer equall with the galon measure y^t we vse now. woold cost after the rate of three poundes the yeard: a pynt of honey xx.d. He toke him by y^e hande & lede hym into his boul­tyng house, saiyng, of this maye ye haue a pynte for an half penie, therfore is corne nothyng deere but cheape ynough. Frō thens ledyng hym to his storehous of oliues, of this (saieth he) ye maye haue a quarte for twoo brasse pens. And therfore not all thynges in y^e citee bee deerely sold.

He that is contented with a litle,Where none excesse is vsed al thynges are good cheape. and satisfied with thynges necessarie, is as good as a clarke of the mercate to make al thynges good cheape for his own vse and occupiyng.

Archelaus kyng y^t had called Socrates 42 to his seruice,Archelaus kyng of Ma­cedonie. promisyng vnto him many gaye thynges. Socrates made aunswere,Socrates re­fused to take giftes whiche he was not hable to recō ­pense. that he would not come to hym, of whom he should receiue any benefites, sēs that he was not hable to gyue hym as good again. [Page] This saiyng dooeth Seneca improue,Seneca was a greate māne in Roome, & a noble philosophier, schoole maister vnto the Emperour Nero, by whom he was putte to death, after y^t he had writē many excellēt goodly bokes of moral phi­losophie. for y^t a philosophier (saieth he) persua­dyng the contēpte of golde and siluer, geueth a greater gifte, then if he should ge­ue golde and siluer.

43 On a certain tyme when he was come home again from the mer­cate place, he saied emong his frendes: I would haue bought a robe, if I had had money. He craued nothyng, but did onely after a maidenly sorte geue a bywoorde of his greate pe­nurie. Anon emong y^e frendes of Socrates was muche high suite, of whiche of their giftes Socrates should haue this cloke.Socrates could lacke nothyng emong h [...]s scolares. And He y^t geueth a thyng after y^t it is asked, geueth it ouer late.yet who so euer gaue it after that woorde spoken (as Seneca wryteth) ga­ue it ouer late.

44 To a certain persone complay­nyng, that gooyng into straunge coūtrees for learnyng and knowe­lage,Unfruitefull beeyng from home in stra­unge coūtres. had nothyng auailled hym: Not without cause (ꝙ Socrates) hath that chaunced vnto the: For thou wer in straūge places still That is: v­syng y^e same faciōs which thou diddest at home. accoū ­paign [...]ed with thyself. Many folkes, [Page 19] thynke prudence to bee gathered by rouyng into ferre countrees, wheras Horatius cryeth out saiyng.

The coumpaignie and conuersacion of wise and perfecte good menne,A māne maye come home from beyond y^e sea, as wyse and as well learned as he went foorth, except he seeke to vse the coum­paignie of wise and lear­ned menne. bredeth knowelage and experiēce of the worlde, not the mountaines and the seaes.

When he had caught a good 45 cuffe on the eare of a felowe in the strete, The paciēce of Socrates.he aunswered nothyng els but that menne had no knowelage at what seasons thei should come abrode with their salettes on their heddes. A thyng muche like to this dooeth Laertius father vpon Diogenes.

He saied y^t he woondreed, where 46 the cunnyng makers of images in stone or metalle, did with all their possible studie and diligēce, the vt­termust of their power, that a stone might bee in figure and shape euē [Page] veraye like vnto a liuely creature, that thei did not sembleably pro­uide, that theim selfes might not bothe appere, and also bee in veray deede like vnto stones insensate. In deede, some writers there bee of this opinion, that Socrates, before he di­uerted to spende his tyme in philosophie was a werker of imagerie in stone.Socrates a maker of sto­ne images, a­fore he went to the studie of philoso­phie. And that is the cause why he dooeth make the moost parte of all his similitudes by images of Maceons werke.

47 He exhorted young spryngalles, euer now & then earnestly to vewe and behold theimselfes in a glasse:Young fol­kes, to vewe theim selfes in a glasse. to the ende, that if thei wer beauti­full and of good feacture of bodye thei should beware to commytte nothyng vncomely for thesame: if otherwise, that the defaultes of y^e bodie might with exercise or fur­niture of the witte, & with honestee of maners & behaueor be redubbed.The defaul­tes of y^e bodye must with honestee of ma­ners, bee re­dubbed. So duely did that gaye manne (of al maner thynges) prōptely take occasiō to auise and exhorte al persones to the ear­nes [...] appliyng of vertue.

[Page 20]He had sodainly called twoo or 48 three welthie riche menne to sup­per with him: and his wife Xantippe takyng great care for the mater because the prouision was veraye sclēdre.Xantippe, was Socra­tes his wif y^• curstest quēne that euer wetted cloute. Take no discoūforte (saied he) for if thei be menne of an hous­bādlyke or thriuyng sorte,Honest gea­stes, taken all maner fare in good parte. The fourthe apothegmata afore of So­crates & this is in a maner all one. and any thyng sobre of diet, thei will take it in good parte: if otherwyse, we ought not to haue any regarde of any of theim all. Bothe the one parte and y^• other of this sentence might iustely shake of from vs all the curious and chargeable pompeousnes and desire to excede, in receiuyng geastes to dyner or supper.

He saied, y^e many persones dooe 49 liue purposely euē to eat & drynke:Some perso­nes liue one­ly to bee glut­tons. and that he contrariewise, did eate and drynke, to the ende that he might preserue his lif. For that he vsed these thynges, not for sēsualitee of y^e bodye,Feede onely to maintein life. but for y^• necessitee of nature. This sentēce did the poete thus expresse in one of his satires woorde for woorde.

50 Those persones whiche would geue credence vnto the vnlearned and vnexperte multitude of the people, Socrates affermed to dooe euen like, as if a māne refusyng one pece of money of fowre grotes, would not take it in paymente, and yet a great noumbre of like refuse peces cast in an heape together, he would allow for curraunt & receiue theim in paymente. Whom ye would not trust by hymself alone,He that is not to bee trusted by hymselfe, is not to bee trusted in a multitude, of suche like as he is. is not one whitte better to bee trusted in a great rable of suche lyke feloes as hymself is: for it for­ceth not how great a noumbre thei bee, but how graue and substanciall. A coun­terfaicte peece of coyne, bee it euen in neuer so great an heape, is a countrefaicte peice. This maketh against the estemyng of witnesses by the multitude of theim and against the iudgementes of the com­men people beeyng vnlearned.

51 When AEschines was after­ward a greke oratour, & at cōtinuall strif with Demo­sthenes. His saiynges fo­loe in thissa­me werke. AEschines sued to bee one [Page 21] of the noumbre of Socrates his disci­ples and scholares, and did shame­fastly laye pouertee for his excuse, saiyng that it was a great greef vnto hym, where the other frendes of Socrates, beeyng welthie, gaue vnto hym many great gyftes, that he had nothyng for to geue, except his owne self:The gētle to­wardnesse of Socrates ī receiuyng scho­lares. dooest thou not vnder­stand (ꝙ Socrates again) how great a presente thou hast brought and geuen me, except percase thou este­mest thyself at a lowe price?The office of a good schole maister. Ther­fore I shall dooe my dilygence y^t I maye restore the home again to thyself a better manne then I receiued the. Other Sophistes wheras thei taught nothyng but mere tri [...]les, yet thei would receiue ne take not a scholare without a great fee. But Socrates toke this poore māne, euē with as good a wil as the great riche gentlemenne.

When a certain persone tolde 52 hym newes, saiyng the Atheniens haue iudged the to death:Death, cōmē to all ꝑsones though to so­me one waye to some an o­ther. euen so [Page] hath nature dooen theim, ꝙ he a­gain. Menyng, that it is no veray great shrewd turne, if a bodye bee vio­lentely put to death, assured naturally to bee dedde ere longe after, although no manne shoulde slea hym. Albeit certain writers ascriben this saiyng to the phi­losophier Anaxagoras.

53 Unto his wif, after the women­nes facion waillyng, and saiyng:Better to dye an innocente then an offen­der. ah my sweete housbāde, thou shalt dye nothyng guiltee, and without any offence dooyng: what, wif (sai­eth he) haddest thou rather that I should dye an offender? The de­ath of good menne,The death of good mēne, is not to bee wa­illed. euen for this pointe is not to bee wailled, that thei bee put to execucion without deseruyng:A muche mo­re miserable thing, to haue deserued pu­nishemēt, thē to haue suf­fred. but thei been double woorthie to bee wailled for, whiche suffre death for hayneous offen­ses, but yet of the two, a muche more mi­serable thyng it is, to haue deserued pu­nishement, then to haue suffreed.

54 Thesame daye y^• Socrates should drynke the In Athenes the faciō was, that persones condē ­ned to death should drink [...] tēpreed with wyne y^• iuice of Hemlocke whiche is so extreme colde that whē the heate of the wyne dooeth sodainly con­ueigh it to y^• herte, it is ve­raye poison & death remedi­lesse. For ym­mediatly shal the extreme partes of the bodye (as the handes & fete) weaxe colde, and so by lytle & lytle the colde draweth to the herte, & as soone as it streketh to the herte, there is no remedie, but death out of hande. Albeeit, if one drynke thesame iuice first by it selfe alone not tempreed with wyne, there is remedie enough. For if one drynke a good draught of wyne after it, the heate of the wyne shall ouercome the colde of the herbe and dryue it from the herte and so saue the lif.poison, one This Apollodorus was of Athenes a poete that wrote comedies, there was another Apollodorus of thesame citee a teacher of grammer, ther wer also foure moo of thesame name, but of other countrees. Apollodo­rus (for to coumforte hym by suche meanes as he could) came and [Page 22] brought vnto hym a riche robe of a great valoure, y^t he might haue it on his backe at his diyng houre. But he refusyng the gifte, what (saieth he) this robe of myne owne here, whiche hath been honest e­nough for me in my life tyme, woll it not bee euen lyke honest for me after I bee departed oute of the worlde? Utterly damnyng the pom­peous faciō of some people, with woon­drefull high studie, makyng prouision a­fore hande, that thei maye bee carryed to their buiryall, and that thei maye bee laied in their graues with all worship possible.

To one bryngyng hym woorde,55 that a certain feloe did speake ei­uill [Page] of hym:Unwrathfully spoken. and gaue hym a ve­ray eiuil reporte. Marie (ꝙ Socrates) he hath not learned to speake well. Imputyng his toungsore, not vnto maliciousnesse: but vnto the defaulte of right knowelage. Neither did he iudge to pertein to hym, what suche persones talked on hym, as dooe speake of a cācardnesse of stomake,They y^t geue vs eiuil report not of a iud­gement but of a cācardnesse of herte, are to bee cōtem­ned. and not of a iudgemēte.

When Antisthenes a philosophier 56 of the secte of the Ciniques, Of y^e secte of the Ciniques in thesame place. did weare vpon his backe a robe with a great hole or rupture in it, & by turnyng thesame rupture outward, did pur­posely shewe it, that euerye bodye might looke vpon it: through the rente of thy cloke (ꝙ Socrates) I see thy peignted sheathe and vainglo­riousnesse: Feately notyng that vainglorie of poore garmentes & coure clothyng, is muche more shamefull & ab­homynable then of gorgeous apparell or galaunt araye. And would god there wer not emong vs Christian menne many Anthistenes,Pryde maye aswell be in sacklo [...]has in riche araye. whiche vnder a rustie, a course, & a sluttyshe vesture hyden more pryde and ostentacion, then the riche [Page 23] gentlemenne haue in their veluettes and fyne silkes This was verified in Englād also vntill the deiuil had his Mounkes, Freeres, Nunnes, and other cloystreers again.The cloystres were full of pryde, ambici­on and vain glorie.

To a certain persone woon­dreyng 57 that he was not greuously moued in displeasure against one by whō he was shamefully railled at, and reuiled.Unwrathfully spoken. He railleth not on me (ꝙ Socrates) for the thynges that he speaketh are not in me, nor ta­ke any hold on me. But the moste parte of people is euen for this veray cause the more tes [...]ie & fumyshe, if aught bee spoken against one hauyng not deserued thesame. Good menne when thei bee eiuil spoken of, are glad of their own behalfes, that thei bee clere of those my­schiefes, whiche are putte vpon theim and laied vnto their charge,Good menne reioyce y^t thei bee clere of suche mischiefes as bee put vpon theim. nor dooe ta­ke it to bee spoken against theim: no not a whitte more, then if a feloe beyng de­ceiued in his yie sight, should call Plato by the name of Socrates, and should call Socrates all that naught wer, & speake all thee mischief possible against Socra­tes: that feloe railleth not on Plato, but on hym whō he supposeth that Plato is.

The olde comedie vsed cōmenly 58 [Page] to make iestyng & scoffyng at the citezens by name.And because there came muc [...]e strif & debate therof a decree was made that no māne should bee named to hys reproche and that was called y^e newe comedie. The plain open speakyng of whō, where many did feare, Socrates saied, to bee expedient that a manne should weetyngly & willyngly come in the presence or waye of theim. For if thei speake any thyng againste vs (saieth he) woorthie to bee rebuked, beeyng told of it we shall emend it, and so thei maye in dede dooe vs good: but if thei shall spowte raillyng, slaunderous or reprochefull woor­des against, vs & no truth in theim it nothyng toucheth vs.Raillyng a­gainst vs, w^t ­out truth no­thynge tou­cheth vs.

59 Socrates after that he had within doores forborne his wif Xantippe a great whyle scoldyng, and at y^• last beeyng werie, had sette hym down without the strete doore, she bee­yng muche the more incensed, by reason of hir housbandes quiet­nesse and stilnesse, powred downe a pisse bolle vpon hym out of a wyn­doore [Page 24] and all berayed hym. But vpon suche persones as passed by laughyng & hauyng a good sporte at it, Socrates also for his part,The pacience of Socrates. laughed again as fast as y^e best, saiyng:Meryly spo­kē & pacient­ly withall. Naye, I thought veraye wel in my mynde, and dyd easelye prophe­cie, that after so great a thoundre would come a rayne.

To Alcibiades greatly wondreyng 60 that he could take so contynual pa­ciēce with Xantippe in his hous,The patience of Socrates [...] bee­yng suche an vnreasonable scol­dyng brathel: I haue (saied he) now a long season been so well enured with suche maner geare, that I am therewith noo more offended, then if I should heare the squekynge of a wheele y^t draweth vp water out of a welle.The scoldyng of brathels is no more to bee passed on, thē the squekyng of welle whe­les. For that maner sque­kyng, suche persones maye veray ciuil abyde, as haue not been accustomed vn­to it,Custome ea­seth the tedi­ousnes of in­commodit [...]e [...] and he that dayly heareth thesame, maye so well awaye with it, that to his knowelage he heareth it not.

[Page] 61 To thesame Alcibiades saiyng a muche like thing, why, euen your self (ꝙ Socrates) dooe ye not paciently suffre at home in your hous y^e cac­klyng of hennes when thei make a clockyng? yes, I leat theim alone (saied Alcibiades) but my hennes laye me egges, & bryng me forthe che­kyns. And my sweete spowse Xantip­pe (ꝙ Socrates) bryngeth me foorth children.Wiues must bee suffreed for bryngyng foorthe chyl­dren.

62 Some there bee that suppose So­crates to haue kepte in his hous two wiues at ones Myrtho and Xantippe. Socrates had two wi­ues at ones Myrtho and Xantippe. Therefore to a certain manne gre­atly meruaillyng to what vse he kepte two women at ones (espe­cially beeyng scoldyng quennes, e­uer chidyng & braullyng) and did not beate or driue theim out of his doores, thus he saied: these women dooe teache me at home within the hous, y^e pacience & suffraūce which I must vse whē I am abrode forth [Page 25] of doores. Beeyng exercised afore and well broken with the facions of these twoo, I shalbee the better and more gentle to liue or to deale withal, for y^e coumpaignie of other menne. The demaunder of this que­stion Aulus Gellius maketh Alcibiades.Aulus Gelli­us, a Latin writer of ele­gancies for y^e Latin tongue and of other many preatie rehersalles & dyscussynges of diuers thynges.

When Xantippe had pulled awaye hir housbandes cope frō his backe euen in the open strete, and his fa­miliar 63 coumpaigniōs gaue hym a by warnyng to auēge suche a nau­ghtie touche or pranke with his tenne cōmaūdemēntes:Merely spo­ken and paci­ently withal. gayly saied (ꝙ he) yea Marie, that while she & I bee towzyng and topleyng toge­ther, ye maye crye to vs, one, now go to Socrates, an other hold thyne owne Xantippe. For w^t suche maner woordes dooen the lookers on chere & hertē twoo parties matched & sette to­gether by the eares. But this wise māne thought better to shewe of hymself an exaumple of paciente suffreaunce, then to shewe a gase or sight for folkes to laugh at, in stryuyng or cōtendyng w^t his wife.

[Page] 64 To one demaūdyng why he had and kepte in his hows the saied Xantippe, The gētlenes and pacience of Socrates. beeyng a woman of suche condicions and facions, as no man might well awaye withall or abide he saied: that menne ought in like manier to liue with crabbed & testi [...] wiues, as thei that exercise & prac­tise theimselfes to the feate of bee­yng good horsemenne,Crabbed wi­ues bee cōpa­red to rough stieryng hor­ses. gette horses of feerse stieryng natures and of rough cōdiciōs: whiche if thei haue ones throughly maistreed & made to the bridle, and bee hable at all assayes to abyde: thei shall haue al other horses as gentle and easie to rewle as thei can desire. And sem­blably he y^t hath learned to beare with y^e faciōs of a crabbed and te­stie wife, shall w^t muche more ease bee hable to coūpaignye with al o­thers,He that [...]an abyde a curst wife, nedeth not to feare what coum­paignie he li­ueth in. of what sorte so euer thei be.

65 When Lysias had rehersed and read ouer vnto Socrates an oracion,Lysias was an oratour in Athenes & a frende of Socrates, and a māne (as sai­eth Quintili­anꝰ) of swete and pleasaūt eloquence. [Page 26] whiche he had made for Socrates to pronounce in the defence of hym self before the iudges: It is a ioy­ly and an elegaunt oracion, saied he, but it is nothyng conueniēt nor comely for Socrates. For it was more fitte to bee made of some manne of lawe,Not all ma­ner oracions wyl seru [...] fo [...] almaner per­sones. in pleadyng a courte matter or a case in lawe, then to bee pronounced by a philosophier, and namely by suche a philosophier as Socrates. Again to the same Lysias demaūdyng, for what cause if he iudged the oracion to bee good, he thought it to [...]e inconuenient for hym. Why (saied Socra.) is it not a thyng possyble, y^t a garmēt, or a shooe may bee galaūtly made & well facioned, & yet thesame not bee mete for some bodies wearyng. This self same historie dooeth Ualerius Maximus re­porte after a more churlishe sorte, & more vnlike to y^• maners of Socrates. For he reporteth Socrates, in this wise to haue made answer vnto Lysias: Awaye with thissame I beseche y^• hertyly. For yf I could by any meanes bee brought to pro­noūce this oraciō frō the begynnynge to the endyng, euē in y^e ferthest & vttermust [Page] wyldernesse of the barbarous coūtree of Scythia, then would I graunt & yelde 66 my selfe well woorthie to suffre death.

Boldenesse & trust on a mā ­nes weel dooyng, & on an vpright con­science.When thei that sate in iudge­ment vpon Socrates could not agree emong theimselfes what punishe­mente Socrates was worthie to suffre Socrates euen of hymselfe sodainly brake out and saied: for the thyn­ges that I haue dooen, I my selfe iudge and geue sentēce, that I am worthie to haue my fyndyng allo­wed and assigned for terme of life, out of y^e chaūbre of the cytee, in the [...] Prytanis in greke, was y^e same officer y^t w [...] cal presi­dente of the counsaill, and chief or hed of all y^e rewiers Which office he that had in Athenes, had assigned vnto hym, out of y^• [...]ofers & chambre of the cy­te [...], an hono­rable, and a greate liuyng in the Pryta­ne [...], that is to say: in y^• chief place of the tou [...]e or castel of the cytee, wher y^e saied hed counsail­lour had his lodgeyng and dwellyng pla­ce. That if it chaunced any māne to dooe vnto the citee some singular and incomparable benefite, then had he a lordes liuyng, or an ho­norable porcion to liue on, assigned out of the chaumbre of the cite [...], and was allowed with the presidente of the counsaill, du­rynge his life, and this was the highest honoure that might bee emong the Grekes. And this did So [...]rates clayme, as one that with good enstr [...]ccion, and bryngyng vp of youth in vertue and good maners, and in right moral philosophie, had dooen as high benefite to the commen weale, as did the chief counsaillours of the citee, and that he therby had deserued as good and as bene­ficial [...] a liuyng as the best of theim all. Pritanei. For y^t honour was woont to bee shewed and dooen to suche menne as had dooen some especyal gaye benefite, to the commen weale. Marcus Tullius in the first booke, entitled Marcus Tullius writeth twoo volumes entitleed in Latin, De oratore, that is of a perfecte oratour, which werke hymselfe [...]ekeneth the best that euer he made.of a perfect oratour, reherseth this historie. There was (saieth he) in Athenes, when any persone was vpon arainment con­demned (if it wer not by the lawe a pe­naltee of death) as ye woulde saye a sette fine, and an ordynarie forfeiete of mo­ney at the arbitrimente, pleasure, and di­screcion of the iudges, whē the partie a­rained, or defend aunte was ones yelded [Page 27] into the handes of the iudges: he was as­ked what fyne he would cōfesse hymselfe veray wel to haue deserued to paye. Whiche thyng when Socrates was asked, he answered, that he had well deserued, to be auaunced with veray high honoures & rewardes, and to haue contynuall fyn­dyng for terme of life, of the charges of y^e citee, frely allowed vnto hym, whiche honoure and preemynēce was estemed and accoumpted the highest that coulde bee emong y^• Grekes. With whose answere the iudges were so sette on fyer with an­gre, that thei cōdemned to death y^e moste innocente persone of the worlde.

Socrates mette full butte with Xe­nophon, 67 in a narrowe backe lane, where he could not stert from hym. [Page] when he espyed hym to be a young strieplyng of rare towardnesse, & like to proue so well as fewe did, he helde out his staffe, & charged hym that he should not a foote ferther. As soone as he stode styll, Socrates asked of hym,The autori­tee of Socra­tes, in maters of philoso­phie. where soondrie wa­res were made and sold, that mēne did commenly occupie, when Xeno­phon had therunto readyly & quickely shaped an aunswer: Socrates eft­sons demaunded, in what place of the citee, menne wer made good, honest and vertuous,Fewe ꝑsones know or take heede, where vertue is to bee learned. when the young manne had aunswered, that he was of that mater ignoraunte: Then come with me (ꝙ Socrates) that thou mayest learne. Frō y^t tyme forthward begonne Xenophō to bee disciple and scholare vnto Socrates.Howe Xeno­phon became scholare vnto Socrates. It is a thynge contrarie to all good reason, to haue knowelage, where thou mayest bee serued of a welfauoured & clenly garmēt or of a fair cuppe, and to bee ignoraunt, wher thou mayest purchace the good furniture of the mynde and soule,The furni­ture of the mynde, That is vertue and cunnyng.

[Page 28]On a certain tyme as he was 68 walkyng before his dore a greate pace, euē tyl the gooyng awaye of the daye light, when one of the fol­kes that passed by, had saied: what meane ye Socrates, by thus dooyng? I procure my selfe some cates for my supper (ꝙ he) menyng of houn­gre, whiche he prouoked with cha­fyng vp and downe Marcus Tullius dooeth set it out with these woordes: That I maye suppe the better, I dooe with walkyng procure houngre,One of y^• be [...] dishes at a supꝑ is houn­gre. for my chief cates and viandrie.

His saiyng was, that sweete sa­uours 69 and sweete oyles,Sweete sa­uours and oy­les been more meete for wo­mēne then for menne. wer to bee leat alone for womenne, and as for in yoūg menne no sweete saueoure to haue a better smell, then the oyle whiche thei occupied in exercisyng their bodyes at y^e prouyng of mai­steries, or at werke. For with oyle of bau [...]ne or of spike, a slaue and a gen­tlemanne, haue both of theim by and by one maner sauour [...] The swete sauours, meete for menne.

[Page] 70 Beeyng asked wherof it was moste comely for aged menne to smelle:Of what sa­uour it is co­mely for aged men to smelle. of honeste and vertuous disposicion (ꝙ he) then beeyng eft­sons asked, where poumādres ther of wer to bee sold:Xenophon e­mong other bookes wri­teth one whi­che he entitle­eth [...]. that is the banquet. he rehersed this verse of the greke poete Theognis.

Diuerse sentences of this sorte, Xe­nophon beapeth together in his bāquet.

71 When a certain riche māne had sent his sonne beeyng a propre ladde vnto Socrates, for to examyn & trye his towardenesse, and the tu­tour that had been the brynger vp of thesame frō his childhood, had saied in this wise: the father of this ladde hath sent hym vnto you So­crates, that ye should haue a sight of hym: by and by saied Socrates to the child: speake some what then, good soonne, that I maye see the. Si­gnifiyng that the disposicion of a māne [Page 29] dooeth not shewe so clere in his face or visage as in his talkyng,A mānes tal­kyng dooeth more clerelye shewe his condicions then doeth his face. for this is the moste sure & true glasse of the herte and mynde, and fewest tymes liyng.

He saied that y^e woman kynde, if 72 thesame bee diligently enstructed & taught, is no lesse apte then mēne are,The woman sexe is no lesse apte to learne al maner thynges then men are. to take aswell allmaner disci­plines or facultees of learnyng, as also allmaner vertues morall, yea euē fortitude & hardinesse, whiche as though it should proprely ap­pertin onely to menne & not to wo­men, is called by the greke vocable [...], [...]. in englisshe, manhood,Manhood. or mannely hardynesse. This did he gather by the sight of a maiden that was a dauncer & a tumbleer, who beeyng brought in where coumpaignie sate at a table, did with woondreous sleight and conueighaunce cast vp and receiue again one after another, twelf trendles or rowndelles, the space of the heigth, and the measures of footyng the daunce soo tempreed and proporcioned, that she ne­uer myssed. And thesame maiden where the lookers on quaked & trembled for fe­are, daunced without any feare at all e­mong [Page] sweardes and kniues, beeyng as shar [...] as any thyng.

73 As Socrates beyng biddē to a sup­per by one Agatho was gooyng w^t tricke voided shooes on his fee [...]e [...] Agatho was a young gen­tlemannne of Athenes of excellente beau­tie & fauour. and perfumed wyth sweete sa­uours, and that contrarie to his accustomed vsage: when he was asked of a frend of his that mette hym on the waye, why he was mo­re nette and piked at that season, thē he had vsed to bee aforetymes? he saied meryly in this wise: that to suche a mynion feloe as Agatho is, I maye goe trymme nette & wel beseen. Where in deede there was no manne aliue, that had lesse mynde or phansie to suche thynges.

74 Thesame daye y^t Socrates should drynke the poison, when he after y^e strykyng of, of his shacles or fet­tres, had feled greate pleasure of clawyng where it itched, he saied to his frendes: how woondrefully is it of nature ordeined, y^t these twoo [Page 30] thinges dooe by course foloe either other, pleasure, & greef:Pleasure and pein, by cour­se folowen ei­ther other. for excepte peine & greef had preceded or gone afore, I should not now haue fee­led this pleasure.

Of the vnder gailloure deliue­ryng 75 vnto hym y^• iuice of hemlocke in a cuppe,The poison y^t Socrates should dye of he called a medicine. he demaunded, how that medeicine was to bee taken? foras­muche as y^e same officer was well practised and could good skille in that science. Alludyng to the sicke folkes,Alludyng to y^• sicke folkes, that is: vsyng suche wordes & termes, as if the gaillour had beē a phi­sician, and he a sicke manne and the gail­lours paciēte. who dooe learne of the phisiciās when and how it is best to receiue a me­dicinable drynke that thei haue made. And when the seruannte had aunswered, that he must vp with it all at a draught if he could, and that after it he must walke vp and down so long vntil he feled suche weakenesse and feblenesse that he should drawe his legges after hym, & that after this he must lye hym down in his bedde vpright vpon his backe, & then y^• drynke would wercke his woonte effecte: So­crates enquiered, whether he might not leefully poure out some parte therof in the waye of sacrificyng & takyng assaye to the Goddes, because in merie dyners, [Page] suppers & banquettes it was the guise and facion (a litle quantitee of the wyne poured out) to sacrifice thesame in the waye of assaye to some God by name (which was called in greke [...],In feastes & dynners, the guise was to powre out a lytle of the drynke in the waye of sacrifice, & takyng assay to some one of y^e god­des. and in latin, Libare) The officer aūswered, y^• he had tempreed so muche and no more as was requisite for the purpose, me­nyng by those woordes, that ther was none therof spare to bee poured out. Thē saied Socrates, well, yet is it bothe leefull, and alsoo requisite to beseche the Goddes that this my passyng out of this worlde maye bee happie and fortu­nate [...]

76 When the vnder officier of the preson had vncouered hym & laied hym naked, because he was now alreadie cold at y^e herte. And should therupō dye ymmediately: Crito (ꝙ Socrates) we bee now endebted to y^• God Aesculapius of a cocke,Aesculapius the soonne of Appollo, the first inuētour and practiser of Physicke. Whom for y^e science the antiquitee, honored as a God and suche as recouered frō any discease dyd sacrifice vnto Aesculapius a liue cocke. But y^e poetes dooe fable that he was slain, with lightenyng of Iuppiter, because he had wyth his cunnyng of Physike restored Hippolytus again to life. whiche duely to pa­ye, in no wise bee ye negligente. Euen as though he had vpon the ta­kyng of a medicinable drynke, perfectely recoured again all his helthe. For ^‡ Cri­to had afore dooen all that euer he might possible dooe, y^t Socrates should make [Page 31] meanes to saue his life. And in Socrates there was so rooted a certain veine of honest merynes, euē naturally geuē hym in his cradle, y^t he could iest and speake me­ryly euen at the houre of death, for these are reported to haue been the last woor­des that euer he spake.

He taught that the beautie of y^e 77 myndes is muche more to bee fa­uored, then of the bodyes,The beautee of myndes, is more to bee loued then the beautee of the bodyes. and that thesame pleasure whiche a welfa­uored face when it is looked on dooeth engendre in vs, is to bee translated and remoued to the be­autie of the mynde ferre excedyng the other in fairenesse, albeeit liyng hyden from the bodyly yie. But to haue a sight therof, philosophical yies to bee requisite and necessarie. He noted the greke vocable [...] to bee of significacion indifferēte to kis­syng or louyng, of whiche twoo thynges the former perteineth to theim that dooe [Page] carnally loue the bodye, the other t [...] suche as dooe verteously loue the mynd.

78 Unto Crito after a veray earnest facion counsaillyng and auisyng hym, that if he for his own parte passed not on his life, yet at lest wyse he should preserue thesame, and contynue in his former good state & condicion, for the respecte of his children beeyng euen then but litle babes, and for his frendes sa­kes whiche had all their staye in hym. As for my children (saied he) God, who gaue theim vnto me, shal take care.Socrates dy­ed in perfec [...]e securytee. And as for frendes, when I departe from hens I shall fynde either like vnto you,An holy kynd of dying, in a gentile or heathen manne. or elles better then ye bee, and yet I shall not long bee defrauded of the coū ­paignie of yourselfes neither, for­asmuche as ye are like shortely to come to dwelle euē in the self same 79 place, that I now goo vnto.

Those persones, whiche dooe [Page 32] beare carnall loue onely to the bo­dye, Socrates affermed to bee muche like vnto physicians that bee euer need [...]e,Honest & ver­tuous loue. and that still dooe calle on their pacientes ymportunely cra­uyng one thyng or other. And a­gain those that bee honest frendes, rather thē carnal louers, to bee like vnto persones possessyng & hauyng lande of their own,The differēce betwene a carnal louer & an honest frende. whiche thei contynually studied and laboured to make better and better. A carnall louer seketh to satisfie and to fulfill his beastly or bodyly pleasure. A true & ho­nest frend hauyng none yie nor respecte to his own persone, thynketh hymself so muche the richer, how much the more honest & vertuous he maketh his frende to bee.

Sittyng at the table at meate in 80 Xenophon his house, euerye one of y^e geastes beeyng bidden to tell in what occupacion and crafte, or in what good propertie or feacte that he could dooe, he liked hymself best when the course & turne to speake [Page] came vnto Socrates, he saied in the waye of iestyng,Lenociniū. the best thyng that he could bragge or crake of, to bee lenocinium, Ue [...]iue prin­cipally aboue all thynges purchaceth to manne bene­uolēce & loue. whiche souneth in en­glishe enticyng & alluryng, of such sorte as is vsed in houses of baw­derie. But the menyng of Socrates was, that he taught true and syncere vertue, whiche dooeth specially aboue all other thynges commende and sette out y^• hauer: and the whiche aswell priuately as in y^• open face of y^e worlde dooeth purchace vnto manne beneuolence and loue.

81 A feloe hauyng sight in physio­gnomie (who professed and openly tooke vpon hym by the complexion and pleeight of the bodye,The arte and profession of physiognomiers. and by y^e proporcion & settyng, or coumpace of the face or visage, to bee hable vnfallibly and without myssyng to fynd out & iudge the naturall dis­posicion of any manne,) when he had well vewed Socrates, gaue plaine sentence, that he was a low­tishe feloe, a dulle blockehed, besi­des [Page 33] that also muche geuen to the wanton loue of women,Of what na­ture & dispo­siciō Socra­tes had been, if he had not geuē hymself to y^e studie of phylosophie. foule stey­ned with the filthie concupiscēce & desire of boyes, a greate boller of wyne, and a vicious foloer of all naughtie appetites and lustes of y^e bodye. And whē the fr [...]ndes of So­crates, beeyng brought in a hygh fume, thretened the feloe, & would haue been vpon hym, Socrates kepte theim backe, saiyng: he hath not lyed one whytte,Philosophie altreeth, and clene chaun­geth nature. I should haue been suche an one in all pointes in veraye deede, if I had not cōmyt­ted myself vnto philosophie to bee gouerned, & kepte in better staye.

When Aristippus, the disciple of 82 Socrates, Aristippus first of all the schoolares of Socrates, set vp teachynge of phyloso­phie for mo­ney. had of his gaynes, of set­tynge vp the teachynge philoso­phie for money (whiche thyng he first of all the scholares of Socrates, did sette vp and begoonne to dooe) had sent twentie poundes vnto his maister: Socrates sent y^e money backe [Page] again vnto hym forthwith, alle­gyng, y^t his familiare good aun­gell would in no wyse suffre hym, to take it. For Socrates [...]a [...]ed, that he had a familiare ghoste,The famyli­are ghoste or aūgel of So­crates, called in greke [...], in La­tin, Genius. or aungell pe­culiare and propre to hymselfe, of whom he was by a priuie token forbydden, if he attempted, or went about to dooe any vnhonest thyng. Uerayly, that familiare good aungell, I suppose, was reason.Socrates al­lowed not y^t an [...] manne [...]h [...]uld take money for teachyng ver­tue, and este­med money so gotten to bee sacrilege. And in y^e meane tyme vnto Arist [...]ppus he dyd after a gentle sorte signifie hymselfe not to alowe, n [...] to thynke wel dooen, that he kepte a schoole of morall phylo­sophie for money, and therfore thesame gifte of his, as a thyng gotten by plaine sacrilege he vtterly refused, and would none of it.

83 One Euthydemus returnyng and comyng awaye from the wrastle­yng place,Euthydemus one of the fa­miliare fren­des of Socra­tes in Athe­nes, & a phylosophier. Socrates, whē he had mette with hym by chaunce, brought home to supper with hym. And as the [...] two wer studiously disputyng and treactyng of many thynges, Xantippe beeyng therwith veraye angrye, arose vp from the table, and [Page 34] spake many byttur woordes of cō ­tumelye & despite against hir hous­bande,The cancard­nesse of Xan­tippe. with whiche woordes, for­asmuch as he was nothyng moued at last she typed y^e table ouer & ouer and floung downe all that euer was vpon it. But when Euthydemus beeyng therwithall veray sore mo­ued, arose and begonne to departe, why,The pa [...]ience of Socrates. what harme haue ye (ꝙ Socra­tes?) Did not euen this selfe same thyng chaunce at your owne hous the last daye, that a henne moun­tyng, cast downe all thynges that were on the table? yet did we your geastes then, not one whitte fume at the mater.

When in the comedie of Aristo­phanes 84 entitleed, the cloudes,Soc [...]ates [...]ore railled at by name, in y^• co­medie of Ari­stophanes en­titleed, y^e cloudes, or, my­stes. he was with many and bittur woordes of raillyng and defamacion, as ye would saye torn, and mangleed in peces: and one of the coumpaignie standyng by, saied, dooeth not this [Page] go to your herte Socrates?The pacience of Socrat [...]s. By Iuppiter saieth he again, it greueth my sto­make nothyng at al, if I bee snap­ped at, and bytten with merie tauntes at the staige where entreludes are plaied, no more then if it were at a great dyner or banquet, where wer many geastes.The custome of diuerse places [...] to haue iesters & s [...]of­fe [...]s [...]solem­ne feastes. This custome and vsage, euen yet styl endureth [...]mong [...]ertain of the Germaines, (yea and in Englande also) that in feastes of greate re­sorte, there is brought in for the no [...]es some iestyng feloe, that maye scoff and iest vpon the geastes, as they sitten at the table, with the which iestyng to bee stie­red to angre, is accoūpted a thyng much cōtrarie to all courtesie or good maner.

85 He vsed oftē to saye, y^t he whiche moueth his bodye to and fro, with leapyng and dauncyng, hath neede to haue an hous of large roume, but who so exerciseth hymself with syngyng or talkyng to thesame, ei­ther standyng, or syttyng, or lea­nyng, any place whatsoeuer it is to bee sufficiente, and wide or large [Page 35] enough. By this saiyng he did al­lowe moderate exercitacions of the bo­dye, especially after meate taken:Moderate ex­ercitacions of the bodye allowed by Socrates, & the contrarye disallowed. and e [...] ­ercises any thyng buisie or full of stie­ryng [...]e disallowed.

Unto Socrates, somewhat sharpe­ly 86 and roughly chidyng one of his familiare frendes, at the table, as thei sate at meate, Plato saied: Had it not been better, to haue told hym these thynges aparte out of coum­paignie? To whō Socrates saied a­gain:Meryly spo­ken, and nip­pyngly with­all. And should not ye also haue doone better, if ye had told me this aparte out of coūpaignie betwene you and me? He meryly and shar­pely withal taunted Plato [...] as y^• whiche in rebukyng hym did committe the ve­raye selfe same faulte, that he rebuked.In rebukyng another, to cō mitte theselfe same faulte, y^t one rebuketh.

Socrates as he sate emong coum­paignie 87 at a table, espiyng a yoūg manne somewhat gredyly eatyng the fleashe, and euer emōg depyng or soppyng his breade in the pot­tage or broth: Maisters, all y^t sitte [Page] at this table (ꝙ Socrates) whiche of you vseth his breade in steade of his meate, and meate in stede of his brea [...]e? Immoderate and gredie eatyng, rebuked by Soc [...]ates. A disputacion hereupon a­risynge emong the coumpaignie: (For, it is not I, ꝙ one, and it is not I, ꝙ an other, [...] the young manne perceiued y^e mater, & blushed as rede as fyer, & begoonne more leasurely & mode­rately to feede & eate of the meate.

88 Beeyng asked whiche was the chief vertue of young menne:The chief vertue of young menne, not to eagerly to at­tempte any thyng. that thei dooe not (saieth he) ouer fer­uently or angrely attempte, assaye, or entreprise any thyng. For the feruen [...]n [...]e of tha [...] age beeyng as hotte as [...]oles, will not suffre theim to kepe a meane [...] Terence a latin po [...]te, a writer of co­medies, [...] in the first comedie, entitleed Andria. Simo hauyng espied, that his sonne Pamphilus, had fallen in loue with a single woman, na­med Glyceri [...], talketh of the mater, with his late seruaunt So­sia, and in processe of communicacion, where Simo would haue Pamphilus, not to ferre to procede in wantō loue of paramou­ [...]es, no by saynt Marie, saieth Sosia, for this I thynke in the life of manne to be as good a thyng as can bee, that he attempte not, ne entreprise any thyng ouermuche. To this thyng had Terence anyie an [...] respecte in the young manne P [...]mphilus

[Page 36]Letters or writyng (whiche the 89 moste parte of folkes supposeth to haue been first deuised and founde out, for helpynge y^e memorie) Socra­tes saied to bee veraye hurtefull to the memorie.Whether let­tres or wri­tyng dooe hel­pe the memo­rie, or [...]ls ra­ther hurte the same. For in olde tyme, mēne (if thei had heard any thyng woorthie to bee knowen) thei wrote and gra­ued thesame, not in bookes, but in y^e hert and mynde. And the memorie by this cō ­firmed and made stedfast,The exercise of y^e memorie [...] thei kepte in their remēbraunce whatsoeuer thei wer willyng, and what euerye man perfectly knewe, he had alwayes readie with him at his fyngers endes. Afterward, the vse of writyng beeyng ones foūd out,After y^e feacte of writyng ones foūd out mēne trusted more to their bookes, then to their me­mories. while menne put all their affiaunce and truste in bookes, thei wer nothyng like earnest to enprinte in their mynde, such thynges as thei had learned. By that meanes it came to passe, that the exercyse of memo­rie neglected and nothyng passed on, the knowelage of thynges was nothyng so quicke nor freshe as it had been, and eche manne knewe still lesse and lesse.So muche [...] no more doeth euerie of vs knowe, as we haue suerlye enprinted in our memorie [...] For so muche and no more doeth euery of vs knowe, as we haue fast enprinted, & dooe kepe in our memorie.

When the tyme of his diyng 90 [Page] drewe fast vpō hym, beeyng asked of Crito, how his mynde was to bee buiried:The solle passet [...] out of this worlde more swy [...]tly then any byrd [...]lyeth. o my frendes (ꝙ he) a gre­ate deale of labour haue I spent in vain. For vnto Crito your frende & myn I haue not yet persuaded, y^t I shal more swiftely then any byrde flye from hens, & not leaue behind me here any parte or porcion of me. Yet neuerthelesse Crito, if y^u shalt be hable to ouertake me, or if y^u shalt in any place come by me or geat me buirie me euē how so euer to y^e shal seme best: but beleue me, not one of you al shal ouertake me, when I shalbee departed frō hens.The solle is y^e mā [...], and the bo [...]ye the ta­bernacle of y^e solle. So­crates mened the solle to bee the manne, & the bodye to bee nothyng els but the instrumēte or tabernacle of the solle,To take care howe to bee bu [...]ried is fo­lysh [...]. & therfore those person [...]s to dooe like fooles y^t take care or thought how to bee buiried.

91 Thesame Socrates was woonte to saye that death is like to sound sle­pyng.Death is like vnto soūd slepyng, or to beeyng in a stra­unge coūtree. And of this, we cal in englishe a soūd slepe, a dedde slepe [...] orels to a longe pyl­grymage, [Page 37] y^t is to saye, long beeyng in a straūge countree, frō whens at length to returne home again.That y^e solle shal at length returne again into y^e bodye, not onely shal bee at the ge­nerall resur­reccion accor­dyng to our beleef, but also was the opiniō of Socrates, of Plato, and of their disciples albeeit after another sorte. Ueray sound slepyng taketh away for the tyme all operacion of the bodily senses, & the solle beeyng departed away from the bodye, shall at length returne again into his tabernacle, that is to saie 92 into thesame bodye.

Thesame vsed also many tymes to saie, that if the vniuersall cala­mitees of all menne should bee ga­thered all in an heape to gether,If the vniuersal calamitees of al men wer in an heape e­gually to bee distributed, eche manne would rather take his own again, then e­guall porcion with all his feloes. & ymmediately to eche manne seue­rally by hymself should bee distri­buted eguall porcions out of the­same heape, it would come to passe, y^t eche manne would rather choose to receiue his owne former calami­tees again, then eguall porcion w^t his feloes out of the cōmune heape. This maketh against the commune maners and guise of mēne, who grutche & repine at the state & cōdicion of others, and whyne contynually at their owne.93

He learned to plaie on the harpe [Page] after y^• he was well striken in age, and that, emong childrē. And vnto suche persones as meruailled at thesame as a thyng veray vncon­ueniēte and foolyshe, he saied, that it was no shame nor folyshe thyng for a mā to learne those thynges of whiche he wer ignoraūt.It is no sha­me for a man to learne that he knoweth not, of what age soeuer he bee For it is turned to no mānes rebuke to procure & geat such thynges, as he hath need of, if thei bee wātyng, neither in this behalf is to be regarded a mānes age, but his need.

94 He saied that to make a good be­gynnyng,To haue ma­de a good be­gynnyng, is no small por­cion of the werke do [...]. is not a litle, but nexte cousin to a litle, orels thus, to make a good begynnyng, is not a litle, but a litle more. The greke woor­des renne thus, [...], whiche he y^• transla­ted Laertius out of greke into latin, hath inter [...]reted in this sense: that to make a good begynnyng, is not a small mater, but a veray greate thyng. Albeeit the woordes of Socrates dooe expresse an other sense in maner contrarie. But he meneth (if I bee not deceiued) that, to make a good begynnyng, is not a litle [Page 38] mater in veray deede, but to bee litle este­med, orels to make a good begynnyng, not to bee a litle, but to bee nexte doore [...]y a litle, or nexte cousyn to a litle. For men ought to begynne thynges fair & so­ltely & to procede by litle & litle,The more hast y^e wurst speede. because that suche persones as dooe make moste hast in y^• begynnyng haue cōmunely (ac­cordyng to our englishe prouerbe) wurst speede toward y^• endyng. So that he al­ludeth vnto the poete Hesiodus, who biddeth, that we shal adde a litle to a litle. The quickenes and pith of the saiy [...]g resteth in the greke vocables [...], and [...], No nor yet in englishe neither. Albeit I thynke the saiyng of Socrates to haue this sense and menyng, that to haue made a good begynnyng or entreaūce, is not a lytle but a lytle more, or a degree ferther then a lytle. That is to saye: as good a forth deale, and auauntage towardes the ende of the werke, as if a good porciō of thesame wer already finyshed. For accordyng to our englishe prouerbe, a thyng well begoonne, is more then halfe dooen. For who so hath ones made a good be­gynnyng of his werke, shall easily bryng thesame to suche ende, and to such passe and effecte as he would dooe. As for alludyng vnto Hesiodus (as Erasmus here taketh it.) I suppose Socra­tes mened nothyng so, at lest wise, in this presente saiyng. For in Hesiodus is no suche worde as [...]. Whiche Erasmus interpreteth, Iuxta pusillum, besydes a lytle, and [...], is an aduerbe signifiyng, Ferè poenè, y^t is in englishe: almoste, or welnigh, so that the saiyng of Socrates maye purporte this sense, and bee thus interpreted, to bee ones entreed, is not a li [...]le begoonne, but the whole mater welnigh dooen. and thesame cānot wel [...]ee ex­pressed in latin.

[Page] 95 It was also a lessō of his teachyng y^t geometrie ought to be studied vntil a bodye be sufficiētly hable both to receiue or take, [...]. What geometrie Socrates would to bee studied & la­boured. and also to geue out or deliuer grounde by measure. I suppose he mened, y^t menne ought not to purchace, but landes & possessions moderate, whiche it might well stand w^t a bodies ease and commoditee, bothe to receiue of his auncestours, and also to leaue to his heires. For ouer greate pos­sessions of landes, as thei bee not purchaced ne gotten without muche a dooe, so thei come to the heires hādes not peacea­bly nor without gret trauerse. The quic­kenes and pith of the saiyng cōsisteth in the greke woorde [...],Ouer greate possessiōs are incōmodious bothe to the owner and to his heire. whiche in significaconn is indifferente to the arte of geometrie, and to meters of landes or grounde in a felde. Yea, and also in the greke woorde [...], that is, by measure. For he would mennes purchaces not to extend beyōd the coumpace of sufficiencie,Purchace of landes ought to bee mode­rate. but to consist within y^e boundes of mediocritee. Whereby he reproued y^• vnsaciable desire of menne to haue possessions infinite. Albeeit, this saiyng cannot well bee ex­pressed to haue any grace in y^• englyshe toungue.

96 To a certain persone takyng greuously that he was clene out of [Page 39] regarde and estymacion at what tyme the thirtie tyrannes had in­uaded and vsurped y^e gouernaūce of the communeweale:In Athenes y^• comenweale was gouer­ned by the co+̄men [...], til y^• in So [...]rates ty­me, thirtie ty­rannes vsur­ped and toke vpon theim, the regimente whiche tyrannes wer afterward destro­yed by the po­licie of one Thrasibulus Of the noumbre of those tyraūtes wer Critias and Charicl [...]e, of whō is made menciō a­fo [...]e in the twētieth sai­yng of So­crates. why, hast thou dooen any thyng (ꝙ Socrates) y^t greueth thy consciēce or repēteth y^e? Menyng, that it is not to bee taken in y^• euill parte, if a manne bee despised or made an abiecte by vnhonest & naughty disposed feloes: and that no persone ought for any suche cause to myslike hymself: but if [...]e haue dooen some faulte trespa [...]e, or offense wherfore he should iustely encurre the displeasure & indig­nacion bothe of hymself, and of other honest menne. For to bee myslyked of e [...]uill persones, is a pointe of high praise and commendacion.

When hym semed that one sai [...]d 97 vnto hym in his sleepe, this verse of the greke poete Homerus

he saied vnto Aeschines, Socrates knewe & saied that he should dye, three da­yes before by a vision and voice y^t he had in his slepe. this daye thr [...]e dayes shall I bee a dedde manne. Interpretyng & expounyng [Page] the verse of Homerus for an annswer o [...] declaracion of Goddes wille and plea­sure, and the thyng came euen so to passe. Phthia a citee in the countree of Thessalia the region of A­chilles. Phthia was a citie in y^• regiō of Thes­salia, y^• cōtree of Achilles, was the soonne of Peleus kyng of Thessalia, and of Thetis doughter of Chiron, the moste puissaunt and valiaunt warrice that was emong all the kynges of the Grekes, at the battaill of Troie. Achilles. And the fren [...]des of Socrates did what thei could to persuade vnto hym, that he sh [...]uld flee into Thessalia, because he had there ma­ny good frendes.

98 It was also one of his saiynges that menne wer boundē to bee obe­dient to the lawes of y^e citee or coū ­tree: and wiues to the maners and facions of their housbandes that thei liue in coumpaignie withall. The rewle to liue by, and to bee or­dreed by for the wif,The rewle to liue by for y^• wife, is hyr housbande, if he bee obedi­ent to the la­we [...] publique is the housbande [...] whiche wif liueth well and vprightly, if hir housbande, bee obediēte to the lawes publique of the Realme.

99 He gaue warnyng, that naughtie pleasures of the bodye,He that ha­steth towarde vertue muste anoyde the naughtie pleasures of the bodye, as he would y^• mō ­stres of y^e sea. ought none other wise then the Mermaides of the sea called Sirenes, to bee passed [Page 40] by and eschewed of any persone y^• maketh haste in his waye toward vertue, as though after a long iourney had gotten at last a sight of his countree. He alluded vnto the fable of Ulysses, who stopped his ea­res with waxe, and by that meanes in sailling, passed awaye by the m [...]nstres of the sea called Sirenes (in englishe mermaides / whē he had after his returne frō Troie [...]nes espied the smoke of his countree Itacha mouniyng into the aier out of the chymneyes.The po [...]tes fables saien y^• Sirenes, wer these three, Parthenope, Lygia, & L [...] ­cosia, dough­ters of the floodde A [...]he­lous, and of Calliope one of the nyne Muses, and that thei had their abydyng in a certain Is [...]e betwene Italie and Sicilie, and by the swet [...]nes of their syngyng, the [...] allured passengers on the sea, and when the [...] had theim, slewe theim. Wherfore U [...]ysses returnyng frō Troye, to Ithaca his countree, stopped the eares of all his coumpaig [...]e with waxe, a [...]d caused hymselfe to bee fast bound to the m [...]st of the shippe, and so escaped from the Sirenes, as Homerus wri­te [...]h. And the Sirenes for angre and sorowe that thei wer so de­spised, [...]umbleed hedlong into the sea and do styll remain there.

When he heard the dialogue of 100 Plato entitleed Lysides, Socrates of an hūblenesse of mind wold not knowlage the la [...]des & praises that Plato attri­buted vnto hym. readē, oh lord in heauē (saieth he) how many lyes the young manne forgeth on me. B [...]t [...]er for tha [...] of his [...]umilitee and lowelynes he would not knowelege the laudes and prayses whiche Plato did at­tribute vnto hym, orels because he feig­ned [Page] many thynges on Socrates in tha [...] dial [...]gue.

101 Unto Aeschines, who was sore op­pressed w^t pouertee, [...] Howe an ei­uill housbāde maye borowe money of him selfe to gette afor [...]hande. Magnum uectigall per­simonia. he vsed to geue warnynge and auise, that he the said Aeschines should borowe or take vsurie of his ownself, & moreouer shewed the wayes how, that was, by abatyng of his sumptuous fare at his table. Accordyng to the pro­uerbe: good housbandrye and sparyng in an hous, is a great penie rent of yerely reuenues.Good hous­bandrye is a great [...] y [...]rely reu [...]n [...]e to an householder. The moste readie waye to en­crease a mannes richesse, is to abate of his [...]harges. And (as our englishe prouer­be saieth) hous keepyng is a priue theef.

Beeyng asked concernyng Archelaus 102 the soonne of Perdicca, Archelaus y^e sonne of Perdicca. who at y^• season was estemed a veray va­liaunt and hardie manne, whether he iudged hym to bee in perfecte blisse, or not: I cannot tell (saieth he) I neuer had communicacion w^t hym. And to the other partie then saiyng, after that sorte or maner ye maye aswell doubte of the kyng [Page 41] of the persians whether he bee in y^e state of perfecte felicitee, or not: yea what els (ꝙ Socrates) forasmuche as I knowe not how well learned he is, or how good and how honest he is. Socra [...]es measured the blisse­fulnes of a māne by the veray true good qualitees & vertues of the mynde.The state of blissefulnesse of a man con­sisteth in the vertues of y^• mynde & not in worldlye thynges. This doeth Cicero reporte and cite in the fifth booke of the Tusculane questions, out of the dialogue of Plato entitleed Gorgias.

THE SAIYNGES OF ARISTIPPVS.

NExte after the maister I thynke moste congruente to sette his own scolare, y^t was bothe in age and tyme first and in autoritee chief of all the others [...] that is, Aristippus:Aristippus a phylosophier of an excellēte witte and of singular dex­teritee: y^• first and chiefe of of all t [...]e di­sciples of Socrates. Who taught phylosophie for money, as is a­foresaid. The disciples and foloers of A­ristippus wer called after his tyme, Cy­renaici, be­cause he came to Athens out of y^• coūtree. then whom, emong all the philosophiers, there hath not been any one eith [...]r of a more apte or readie and prompte witte in conueighaunce or ca­styng of thynges, and more agrea­ble to all maner states, sortes or faci­ons of liuyng, orels in his saiynges more meriecōceipted, within the boun­des of honestee, or more pleasaunt. Al­beeit [Page] he seemeth not to haue shewed that holynesse of maners, and behauour in li­uyng whiche all menne dooe honour and highly esteme in Socrates.

1 Betwene Aristippus and Diogenes y^e Cynike, there was muche good cockyng,Betwene Aristippus & Diogenes was muche good cockyng and emulacion. & striuyng, whether of theim should wynne the spurres, & beare the belle, because thei wer of twoo sondrye and in maner contrarie se­ctes, trades, or professions of li­uyng. Diogenes called Aristippus the kynges hounde, because he was a dayly waiter, and gaue cōtynuall attendaunce in the Courte of Di­onysius the Tyranne of Sicilie. A­gainst whom Aristippus on the other syde vsed to saye:Aristippꝰ one of the courte with Diony­sius the Ty­ranne of Si­cilie. If Diogenes could behaue hymself to bee familiare w^t kynges and dayly about theim, he should not neede to eate rawe or grene herbes. Then Diogenes again countreyng,The countre­yng of Ari­stippus and Diogenes. saied: If Aristippus had learned to bee contēted with rawe herbes, he should not neede to bee [Page 42] the kynges hounde.

When he had on a tyme com­maunded 2 a per [...]rige to bee bought, whiche he might not geat vnder y^e price of fyftie drachmes y^t is xvi. s. viii. d. sterlyng,A Drachme was about y^e value of a [...]ro [...]e s [...]er­lyng or some­what more. or there about, vnto a certain persone detestyng & cry­ing abominacion on suche riotous superfluitee or prodigal excesse in a philophier: why euē thou thyself (ꝙ Aristippus) if y^e price of a per [...]rige wer an halfpenie, wouldest not thou bye of theim? when he had aunswe­red, yes: And euen as muche & no more doe I sette by a merke & fo­wertie pens (saied Aristippus) as thou dooest by thy halfpenie.Aristippus de­spised golde [...] siluer. The­same thing that the o [...]her iudged to bee an ab [...]minable pointe of riot, excesse, & prodigalitee:Who so is driuen frō by­yng, by reasō of the hyghe price, setteth not litle by y^• thyng, but setteth [...]uch by the money. the philosophier turned an other waye, to the la [...]de and prayse of despisyng money. For who so is by rea­son of the costlinesse or high price feared & driuē awaye frō biyng, thesame dooeth not sette litle by the meate, but setteth muche by y^e money. But to the estimaciō [Page] of the philosophier, no whitte more i [...] valour wer fiftie drachmes, then to the other feloe an halfpenie.A right philo­sophier despi­seth money. Then [...] Ar [...]st [...]p­pus beeyng in the desirefulnesse of that cates, nothyng wurse then y^• other feloe, in y^• contēpte of money, was ferre better.

3 When Dionysius had brought foorthe before hym, three beautiful young damyselles of light conuer­sacion, biddyng hym to choose one, whiche soeuer he would of the three: Aristippus laied hāde on theim all, & tooke theim to hym, saiyng:When Eris, y^e goddesse of of strife & cō ­tencion, had trilled along y^e table (wher al the goddes­ses were at a banquette as­sembleeed) a goldē aple w^t this poysee written or en­gr [...]ued about it. Bee this geuen to the fairest. Iuno, Pallas, and Uenus, all th [...]e claymed to haue the said aple. After muche striuyng in pre­sence and coumpaignie of all the goddes. In fine, Iuppiter sent Mercurius with thesame three goddesses and the aple, vn­to Pari [...] the soonne of Priamus, then kynge of Troie, who adiudged the aple vnto Uenus, whiche Uenus promysed hym in rewarde, that he should haue the fairest ladie that was on the earth of all mortall creatures, and that was Helena, the wife of Menelaus, then kyng of Lacedeamon, whom the saied Paris stole from hir housbande, & conueighed to Troie And for hir begoonne the battaill of Troie, wherof ensued not onely the vtter destruccion, extermynacion, and death of hym & of all his blood, but also the subuersion and desolacion of the noble citee of Troie, whiche the Grekes burned, not leauyng so muche as one hous standyng. that Paris of Troie had found it a thyng not a litle to his peine, y^t of three ladies, he gaue preemynence to one, before the other twain. And so be brought theim all three vnto the courte gates, and there tooke his leue of theim & suffreed theim to de­parte, no lesse gē [...]le, quicke and read [...]e in abandonyng, then he had been afore in embracyng

[Page 43] Strato, or after other writers, Pla­to, 4 saied to Aristippus:To Aristippꝰ onely was geuen this gifte to bee bothe a galaūt court­yer, and also a sage philo­sophier. vnto thee onely is this gifte geuen, to weare bothe the shorte or cutted cape of a ga­laūte & ruffleyng courtyer, (whiche was called Chlamys) & also the syde robe or rope of homely and course cloth, suche as the beggerye philo­sophiers & none els vsen to weare. Thesame thyng did the poete Hora­tius note when he saied.

In the courte of Dionysius he would daunce in purple and crymasyn silkes or veluettes, & sometymes he would weare a course pilche, mātle, or cope down to y^e foote, but yet euermore hauyng in mynde what, when, and how, best became him, & [Page] to dooe neither of these thynges other wise then might stand with honestee, co­melinesse and good facion.

5 Beeyng all berayed in the fa­ce with the spettyng of Dionysius, Aristippꝰ toke paciētly to be spetten vpon so y^t he might w [...]nne Dio­nysius to the studie of phy­losophie. he tooke it veraye paciētly, & to theim that fumed at y^t spitefull touche, thus he saied. The fisher menne to take a litle gougeon dooe abyde to bee all embrued with y^e foule salte water of the sea: and should not I, to take a great whale bee contēted to bee sprincleed with a litle spettle of ones mouth? By the name of a whale, notyng the kyng, whom he d [...]d all that in hym laye, with his pacience to allure vnto y^• studie of philosophie.No smal vti­litee groweth to cōmēwea­les, by the sa­pience of learned princes. And in deede no small vtilitee & benefite it is, that groweth to comenweales by the sa­pience and high knowlage of learned princes.

6 Beeyng asked what fruite he had receiued of the studie of philoso­phie:The fruite of philosophie is that a manne shall speake plainly as ly­ [...]th ī his hert. Marie (ꝙ he) that I can to all persones whatsoeuer thei bee talke boldely, frankly, and plainly as [Page 44] lyeth in my mynde. For neither did he feare menne of power and auto­ritee,Aristippus feared no manne nor disdeig­ned any per­sone. nor disdeigne inferiour persones of lowe degree, forasmuche as he had a mynde free and clere voide, aswel from hope, as from feare, he was no mannes dogbolte, ne in any mānes bondage, nor held vp y^• yea & naye of any persone con­trarie to y^t he thought in his own herte.

When certain persones did by y^e 7 waye of reproche cast in his teeth that he liued gentlemanlike and passyng deintyly,Aristippus lo­ued gaye ap­parell & good fare. beeyng one that professed philosophie:Whether in gaye clothyng and in dentie fare bee any vice. If that wer a vice (saieth he) it should in no wise bee dooen in y^e solemne feastes of the Goddes. For in thesame so­lemnitees mēne vsen of a coustome bothe to bee gayly & trymmely apparelled, and also to haue the moste deyntie fare y^t can bee gotten or dressed. And forasmuche as the Goddes been earnest enemies to all vices, thei would not bee appeaced, but rather sti [...]red to wrathe & angre by su­che maner royaltee, if thesame conteined any spiece of synne or viciousnesse. Thus in deede he auoided & clene defeacted the cōtumelious checke, but he did not shewe what was best.

[Page] 8 Unto Dionysius demaundyng of hym,Phylosophi­ers wold liue wel, though there wer no lawes. what high thyng was in the philosophiers more then in other menne, he saied: that if all lawes wer anulled & fordooen, yet would wee liue still after one maner rate. The moste parte of people is barred from offendyng,To a physo­phier, [...]eason is a lawe. onely by prestripcions of lawes, but a philosophier accoūpteth and vseth reason in stede of lawes: not dooyng that is vpright & honest, because the lawe hath so commaunded, nor re­freining fro deedes of myschief, because the lawe hath forbidden thesame: but for that he knoweth the one to bee of it self vpright & honest, and the other of it self to bee abhominable.

9 Aristippus and Plato bothe of theim wer awaiters in y^e court with Dionysius. Plato & Ari­stippuz bothe wer in courte with Diony­sius. But Aristippus absteined not frō the pleasures of the courte when thei came in his waye. Plato euen in the middes of all superfluitees & excesse of y^e court [...] endeuoured to keepe a sobre t [...]ade in all behalfes. Therefore when Plato checked and rebuked Aristippus for that he was [Page 45] so sweete mouthed, and drouned in the voluptuousnesse of high fare, he asked of Plato, what he thought of Dionysius, whether he semed to bee an honest manne, or not, when he had aunswered, y^t he seemed to bee honest: And yet he (ꝙ Aristippus) li­ueth much more delycately then I dooe. Therefore nothyng leatteth, but that a māne bothe maye liue takyng his parte of good fare, and also liue well and vertuously.There is no­thyng to y^e cō trarie, but y^t a manne maye liue, takyng parte of good fare, and yet liue vertu­ously.

Unto Dionysius demaundyng how 10 it chaunced, that the philosophiers did frette and weare the threshhol­des of riche mennes houses, & not contrariewise,Why phylo­sophiers haūt ryche mennes houses & not cōtrariewise. he saied: because the phylosophiers dooe knowe what thei wante, and the riche menne knowe not. The philosophiers dooe knowe that without money, there is no liuyng,Without money there is no liuyng. and therefore thei drawe to suche persones as been hable to geue theim, that thei haue neede of. That if y^e riche menne, did like well vnderstand & perceiue, that thei lacke and neede wise­dome, [Page] thei would muche more haunt and trede the dores of the philosophiers hou­ses. For more miserable is the pouertee of the mynde and solle, then of the bodye [...] More miserable is the po­uertee of the mynde thē of the bodye. And so muche the more pieteously beg­gered, and with extremitee of neede op­pressed are the riche mēne: that thei dooe not vnderstand, of how precious and how necessarie a thyng thei bee destitute.

11 Beeyng asked in what pointe y^e learned diffreed frō the vnlearned:What diffe­rence there is betwene the learned & the vnlearned. in thesame pointe (saieth he) that horses well broken, dooe diffre frō the vnbroken.As [...]n vnbro­ken horse is vnapt to dooe any seruice, so thei that bee leed by affec­cions, are vn­meete for all coūpaignies & sortes of li­uyng. As an horse not yet broken, is by reason of ignoraunce what he should dooe, and of skittishenesse, no­thyng apte, but all vntoward for any vse or seruice to bee putte vnto: so he that is forceably rewled or violently leed with affeccions, that is to saye: with the cor­rupt mocions and sodain pangues or passions of the mynde (whiche pan­gues and affecciōs or passions, nothyng but onely phylosophie, maistreeth and subdueth) is vnapte and vnmeet [...] for all coumpaignies and facions or sortes of liuyng.

12 When he resorted on a tyme to a paramoures hous of his, he percei­ued [Page 46] one of the young menne y^t wer there presente, to blushe as read as fyer, as though it was a foule sha­me for a phylosophi [...]r to sette his foote in to any hous where bawde­rie wer kepte: to hym Aristippus tur­ned, and saied: youngmanne, to en­tre into suche a place as this, is no shame at al, but not to bee hable to go out again, in deede that is a foule shame. He mened that it is but a veniall and a pardonable mater, if a manne dooe moderately vse the coum­paignie of women, not offendyng y^e lawe B [...]t to bee a thyng woorthie no perdone or forgeuenesse, if one bee as a bondeser­uaunt vnder the contynuall yoke of fyl­thie pleasures of the bodye. This saiyng might in that worlde bee wel taken, whē no temporall lawe, nor ciuile ordynaūce did forbidde mēne to coumpaignie w^t harlottes: but now besyde y^e wyttynes of makyng a readye e [...]cuse of his synne,That excuse of synne, that maye seeme to serue a Gen­tile, maye not serue a Chri­stian man. there is in it nothyng worthie laude or prayse. And it was the saiyng of a corrupte Gentile, to whom the lawe of God was no parte of his profession, and not of a Christian manne.

To a certain persone that had 13 [Page] propouned an harde reedle, & was veraye earnest to haue hym soyle thesame, he saied:Meryly spo­ken. what thou foo­lyshe feloe, wouldest thou haue me to looce that thyng, which euē bee­yng fast bounden setteth vs all werke enough to dooe? He foūd a merye toye i [...] the ambiguite, of y^e word loocynge, for y^e greke woorde, [...], and latin woorde, soluere, (whiche souneth in englyshe to looce, or to vnbynde) is indifferente to soylyng a doubtefull questiō, and to loocyng a māne or a beast, that is fast bounden. And in deede it wer a foo­lyshe pranke, to vnbynde & looce a madde manne, or a perillous beaste, whiche bee­yng looced would dooe the more scathe and myschief.

14 It was a saiyng of his, y^e muche better it is to bee a begger,Better it is to bee a begger then a manne without lear­nyng. then to bee a manne without learnyng, for that the one wanteth onely money, and the other lacketh all pointes to a manne belongyng. He [...]s neuerthelesse a manne that hath no money, but he is no manne, that hath nomaner knowlage nor learnyng. And yet he th [...]t [Page 47] wanteth money, beggeth of suche per­sones as he meeteth wit [...]all, but he that lacketh wisedome,Such ꝑsones a [...] [...]ack [...] w [...]sedom will not seeke it. is nothyng buisie in askyng any manne to haue it on hym.

When he had many despiteou [...] 15 woordes geuen hym of a certain feloe, he wēt his wayes, [...]istippꝰ bee­yn [...] [...]ailled at wēt his waye and gaue not a woorde a­gain to au [...] ­swere. & aūswered not so much as one worde: but whē the railler, the faster that he w [...]nt awaye came still y^e faster after hym saiyng: why rennest thou awaye? Marie (saieth he) because thou hast power to speake railyng woordes, & I to choose whether I will heare theim or not.To geue [...]l [...] ­ce to a railler. He did wh [...]th a [...]e­raye curs [...]e ta [...]n [...]e, checke & re [...]uke the shameles fa [...]iō of the feloe, whiche wheras hymself tooke vpō hym free libertee & autoritee to speake al that euer naught was, would not graunte to an other at lestwise so muche l [...]bertee, as to cōueigh hymself out of presence, and to leaue he­aryng eiuill. For this voice, why rennest thou awaye? was, as it had been of a manne laiyng to ones charge, and ma­kyng a querele for some iniurie or shre­wed turne dooen vnto hym.

A certain persone of rancour,16 [Page] malice, & greate hatered speakyng against philosophiers the wurst woordes that he had in his bealy [...] Philosophi­ers bauntē y^e houses of ry­che m [...]nn [...], as physicians dooen y^e hou­ses of sicke folkes. emong other thynges saied also, y^t he might espye and see theim euer­more awaytyng, & as it wer laiyng siege at riche mennes gates. To whom Aristippus saied: And the phy­sicians to, bee contynuall resorters to the houses of sicke folkes, & yet is there no manne y^t would rather choose to bee the sickemanne, then to bee the physician.Sapience is diffined to bee y^• knowelage of thynges ꝑ­teining to god and m [...] ̄ne, or of th [...]nges diuine & world­ly, which thei that had [...]ot­ten wer called Sapientes, y^• is [...] mē of ꝑfect knowelage, vertue, & ho­nestee. For of right knowe­lage cōsequētly ensueth honestee of life. He did fy­nely and su [...]tilly turne the checke to a contrarie purpose. The p [...]ilosophiers make muche preachyng of felicitee and perfecte blisse, whiche thei dooe wholly reserue & auouche to belong to a manne of perfecte s [...]pience onely, and to none other, and yet thei bee dayly and hourely conuersaunte in riche mennes houses, prollyng for somewhat at their handes, wherby the feloe g [...]thered that the ryche menne are in a more blissefull state, then the philosophiers. But Aristippus inter­preted & declared the philosophiers chiefly for this entente and purpose to bee cō ­tynuall resorters vnto richemenne [...] be­cause [Page 48] thesame beeyng through superflui­tee or excesse, and through delicious pleasures more foolyshe,Riche menne are through excesse & deli­cious pleasu­res, more foolyshe & more corrupte then any others. and more corrupte then any other liuyng creatures, had more neede of the preceptes and holsome lessons of sapience then any other perso­nes. And a philosophier is the physician of myndes and solles diseased.A philosophi­er is the phisician of myn­des diseased. And to conclude more nere the state of blisse it is to bee the physician, then to bee the sicke manne: ergo &c.

On a tyme when he was in a 17 shippe sayllyng towardes the Citie of Corinthus, and a tempeste beeyng sodenly arysen, made theim eue­rye mynnte of an houre to looke when the shippe should synke & bee drowned,Aristippꝰ bee­yng in ieoperdie of death feared & wea­xed pale. Aristippus weaxed wanne of colour & pale as ashes for feare. One of y^e passyngers a grosse carle & souldyarlike feloe, & one y^t loued no philosophiers, espiyng and markyng thesame, as soone as the tem­peste was laied again, begoonne proudely to cocke & crowe, saiyng: why dooe ye philosophiers, whiche are euer preachyng and teachyng [Page] that death is not to bee feared, yet neuerthelesse loke with pale faces by reason of feare in tyme of perill & ieoperdie, and we beeyng menne vnlearned are in no feare at all? Aristippus aūswered:A great diffe­rēce be [...]wene the solle of a phylosophier and of a ver­lette. Marie because thou and I dooe carke & feare for a solle or life of vnegual valour. Aulus Gellius addeth this to it, I feare perishyng of the life of Aristippus, and thou fearest not leesyng the life of a knaue: whiche woordes yet for all that bee more full of galle,We feare not harme taking of thynges of small valour. then to bee conue­niente for Aristippus, whose vrbanitee & merieconceipted woordes are not of so poynaunte a sorte. We feare not the har­metakyng of thynges of veray small va­lour, wherof cometh the latin prouerbe, Hydria in foribus. Hydria in foribus. A stene or a canne in the more, is a prouerbe, by whi­che Aristote­les and other auncient wri­ters, vsed to signifie a thyng so vile & of so small valoure y^• no māne would attempte to purloyne or stele, or if any did, there wer no greate losse in it, forasmuche as an other of like sorte might bee euery where gotten for an halfe peny or lesse mo­ney. And because it was a thyng of so small price, if an yearthen potte stoode in a bodyes doore, no theef or false knaue would stoope to take it vp, nor set his mynde to conueigh it awaye. But ouches & perles w^t other like thynges, dooen such feloes stu­die how to come by. As for a pitchaer euery bodye may without any feare of stealyng sette (if hym please) in the open strete. So writeth Plutarchus, that the bryers whiche by theim selfes wil catche and take holde on eche bodyes gowne, euery manne neg­lecteth and passeth by, but vynes and oliues no manne but desy­reth and wil seeke for. Seneca also in his epistles writeth in this maner. Many persones dooe passe by thynges that lyen open, but for thynges lyyng hidden in secrete corners, thei will make narrowe serche. Thynges curiously and suerly sealed, or faste locked vp, dooe saye to a theef, come steale me. It seemeth not woorthie takyng vp from the grounde, whatsoeuer lyeth abrode And thynges lyyng open a breaker of houses will not foyle his handes withall: but to breake into secrete corners, is sette all his mynde and desire. A stene or a canne in the doore. For this respecte Aristippus found a merie toye, that the other feloe chaunged not colour: not forthat he was of a better stomake & courage, or of more hardinesse in tyme of perill, but because forasmuche as he was a feloe of no price, but a villain and a rascall, and had a mynde or solle clere voide of all vertue, it should haue been a small losse or none at all, if he had turned vp his heles and [Page 49] perished. A manne of profoūde learnyng & highly endued with sapience, perisheth not, but to the sore losse & dāmage of the commenweale.

To a certain persone makyng 18 his vaunte, that he had veray good sight in soondrie facultees or disci­plines, (as though he had learned, all that might bee learned,) Ari­stippus saied: like as, not those per­ [...]ones that eaten moste meate, and [Page] dooe by good digestion voide the­same again, bee in better helthe of bodye, then suche as take that is sufficiēte and no more: euen so, not thei that haue had moste varietee of readyng,Uarietee of learnyng and readyng dy­uerse bookes maketh not a learned man. but suche as haue read thynges profitable are to bee ac­coumpted good studentes, & menne of learnyng. He gaue a vengeable checke to tho [...]e persones, who with troubleous or inordin [...]te and vnmeasurable readyng porre th [...]ir throtes and bealies thrastyng full, and dooe not conueigh vnto the botome of the mynde or herte suche thynges as thei read to liue ther after, but dooe onely laye it vp & couche it in the memorie. by reason wherof in y^e ende, thei bee neither any thyng encreased or [...]ert [...]ered in cunnyng, nor yet any thyng emended or bettered in their liuyng.

19 A certain oratour had in a courte of iustice made a plea in the defēse of Aristippus beeyng there personally arayned, & preuailled in the mater of trauerse. An [...] when thesame oratour, as auauncyng his arte of [Page 50] rhetorike aboue philosophie, saied what good hath Socrates dooen the o Aristippus?Phylosophie is of more ex­cellent digni­tee then rhe­torike. This profite haue I gotten by Socrates (saied he again) that the oracion, whiche thou hast made in my defense and commen­dacion hath been true. The ora­tour had defended hym as beeyng a right honest manne, and innocēte in the mater that was laied to his charge. And, that euer he was a manne of suche sorte, as he was by the oratour reported for, had been the acte of onely Socrates whose scholare he was in philosophie. It is no parte of an oratours playe, to make that a manne bee of perfecte honestee and vertue, but that he maye appere to the iud­ges to bee suche an one, although in ve­ray deede he bee not so. Then a thyng of muche more excellēcie it is, that the philosophier dooeth perfourme, then that the oratour can dooe.

His doughter, beeyng named 20 Areta, Areta the do­ughter of A­ristippus. he brought vp and enstructed with holsome doctrine & preceptes of vertue, accustomyng hir in all cases to refuse and renounce what [Page] soeuer passed the boundes of me­diocritee.Measure is in al thynges a treasure. Because in euery thyng measure is chief, and principall, and in a woman it is a pointe of moste high ver­tue to rewle the sensuall lustes and ap­petites.The chief vertue in a wo­man.

21 To a certain persone demaun­dyng in what behalf his sonne should at length bee the better,What auaū ­tage children geattē by go­yng to schole. if he should bestowe the labour and cost to sette hym to schoole: though nothyng els (said he) yet at lest wise at Maye games and open sightes there shall not one stone sette his taile vpon an other. In olde tyme the places,The faciō of stage plaies in olde tyme. where open sightes and shewes of games wher exhibited, wer made circlewise round about with set­tles or benches of marble, staier wise one aboue an other, on whiche y^e people sate and beheld the games and sightes.A ꝑsone voide of learnyng & sufficient vt­tr [...]aunce, dif­freth nothing from a stone. And a stone [...] thei commēly called. Euen as we also dooe) a feloe y^t had neither learnyng nor good vttreaunce of toungue.

22 A certain manne was in hande with Aristippus, to take his sonne to schoole to hym, but when the phi­losophier [Page 51] required in rewarde for his peines of teachynge, fiue hun­dred drachmes (whiche was aboue the summe of eight poundes sterlyng.) The o­ther partie beeynge clene discou­raged with the greatnesse of the pryce, saied: for lesse money or bet­ter cheape then so, myght I bye a bondeman, that should dooe me tall and hable seruice: But here now (ꝙ Aristippus) thou shalt haue twain.The peines of teachyng is woorthie great wages. His menyng was, that with thesame summe of money whiche was to bee paied for one bondeman, he should purchace bothe a philosophier y^t should stand hym in good steede, and also a sōne obediente to his father.Moste parte of mēne geue moore wages to their horse kepers, then to the good bryngers vp of their chil­dren in lear­nyng and vertue. He did feactely checke the iudgemente of the commē people, who in no behalf are greater haines and niggardes of their purse, then in prouidyng to haue their children well and vertuously brought vp in learnyng and maners, and dooe bestowe more coste on kepyng or dressyng their horses, then on the good guydyng and ordreyng of their sonnes and doughters.

Beeyng reproued for y^t he was 23 [Page] a taker of money of his frendes,Why Aristippus tooke money of riche folkes. he saied, y^t he dyd not take any suche money to the entente and purpose, to conuerte it to his owne vse and commoditee, but that thei might learne vpon what thynges money ought to bee bestowed.The due and right vse of money. For the moste parte of riche folkes casteth away their money, either vpon horses, or on buisie and sumptuous buildynges, orels other ryottous wayes: wheras it ought to bee geuen in almes to good and honest menne, if thesame bee in neede. Yea and a manne maye an other waye also vnder­stād & applye this saiyng. Aristippus [...]id not spend any money, but on thinges for his liuyng necessarie,Aristippꝰ did not spend money, but vpon thynges necessarie. and therfore he tooke rewardes of richemen, to declare plainly vnto the same the right waye to applye it to good vses, and that could he not dooe, onelesse thei had found vnto his handes wherewithall to dooe it: as he that hath an earnest desire to learne the feacte of writyng, fyndeth and deli­uereth papyre, penne & ynke to the partie that shall teache hym.

24 To a feloe laiyng vnto hym in y^e waye of reproche, that in a cause [Page 52] to his owne persone apperteinyng he had with money hyered y^e helpe of an oratour to pleade for hym at the barre, he saied: why, that is not so greate a woondre, for when I would haue any supper dressed too, I hyer a cooke. The other parties mynde was, that it should appere y^e ora­tour to bee of more excellēcie or dignitee then y^e philosophier,A philosophi­er to bee of more excellen­cie and digni­tee, then an oratour. for this pointe, be­cause y^e philosophier gaue money to haue his helpe, & he turned it clene cōtrarie [...] notyfiyng hym to bee y^e inferiour & of lesse dignitee, y^t is hyered. For the office of an oratour, or a manne of lawe [...] is of a more basse sorte, thē to become a philosophier.

He was on a tyme bidden this & that to talke out of his bookes of 25 philosophie. And when Dionysius woondreous earnestly and instaū ­tely required hym therūto, beeyng at that tyme veray eiuill willyng & loth to medle, he saied: It is a fond & a mad thyng, if ye desire me some what to saye in philosophie, and yet yourselfe will teache me & ap­pointe [Page] when my moste oportunitee & occasiō is to speake. He mened that one of the chief pointes to a philo­sophier belongyng, is euē this, to knowe what tymes it is moste meete to speake, and when not to speake.The philoso­phier self, best knoweth whē to speake and when not. But he that ma­keth requeste to heare any one thyng or other out of philosophie, declareth that he would learne philosophie of the phi­losophier. On the other side again, he y^t would constreigne a manne to speake whether he bee disposed or no, sem [...]leth & pretendeth to bee maister or superiour in learnyng to the philosophier self, in y^t he taketh vpō hym to haue better knowelage of the due and cōueniente tyme whē to speake, then the veray philosophier indede. The kyng beeyng for this an­swere of Aristippus in an high fume cōmaūded hym to sitte in y^e lowest place of al, at the table. Aristippus in this case nothyng discōtēted, saied in this maner: Sir kyng it is your pleasure (I perceiue) to nobilitate this place & to make it honorable.Not the lowe place maketh the manne of lesse dignitee, but of y^e worthynesse of y^e persone much honoure gro­weth to the place. Signifiyng not y^e place to make the mā of lesse dignitee, but of y^e worthynes & honestee of the persone much honoure to redounde and growe vnto the place.

[Page 53]A certain feloe standyng highly 26 well in his own conceipte for his cunnyng in swymmyng, Aristippus could not abyde. And arte thou not ashamed, saieth he, with [...]uche a saucy and presumpteous braggue to boste thyself of those thynges whiche been naturall propreties of the dolphin fishes?It is a folishe thyng for a māne to boste hymselfe of suche feactes as other thynges cā of their naturall pro­pretee do bet­ter then he. It had been more preatie and feacte, if he had saied, of frogues. It is comely for a manne to glorie and braggue of suche thynges, as bee naturall for a manne onely to dooe. And nothyng is more aggreable with y^e nature of māne, then to excelle in reason, wisedome, and discretion. There is no manne so expert a swymmer, but that in this feacte & qualitee he is ferre passed & ouercomed of the dolphin fishes.The dolphin fishes haue a propretee to swymme aboue the water, and the [...] are delited in the melodious armonye of all musicall instrumentes. They beare notable loue towardes manne, in so muche that diuerse of theim haue caried children about, & ouer the sea dayly of course & custome, as wee read in Cicero, in Plynius, in Aulus Gellius, & in other writers [...]

Beeyng asked in what thyng a 27 manne of perfecte sapiēce diffreed from a man voide of all learnyng & knowelage. Send one of either [Page] sorte naked, saieth he, vnto menne vnknowen, and thou shalt see. He signified, that a manne indewed with sapience, carryeth aboute w^t hym wherwith to cōmend hym self and to bee welcome vnto all maner persones in the worlde. If therefore ye should send a learned manne, and a persone vnlear­ned, either of theim as naked as euer thei wer born, in to a straūge conntree, where neither of theim bothe haue any acqua­intaunce:What diffe­rence [...]here is betwene a learned manne & a p [...]rsone vn­learned. the sapiente manne vttreynge & shewyng forth y^e treasures of his high knowelage and cunnynge, should anone fynd and geat bothe money and frendes, the other not hauyng a raggue to hang about hym, should bee skorned & laughed at, as a Iacke of bethleem, & should har­d [...]y escape to perishe and dye for hoūgre.

28 To a feloe makyng his boste y^t he could drynke muche, and yet not bee drunken:Boste of drinkyng, is vain what great wondre is it thou talkest of, saied Aristippus, sens that euery mule and horse dooeth thesame?

29 A certain persone laied vnto the charge of Aristippus as a vice, that he kepte coumpaignie with a commē [Page 54] stroumpette. Whome he confuted with an induccion, suche as Socrates commenly vsed, in maner as folo­eth: Goo to, tel me this, dooest thou thynke it to make any mater, whe­ther a bodye take an hous, whiche many haue inhabited, orels an hous, whiche nomanne hath afore dwelled in? Whē he had saied that it made no mater: What saied Ari­stippus, doeth it any thyng force whe­ther one bee a passinger and dooe saill in a shippe that hath carryed a greate noūbre aforetymes, orels in a shippe y^t hath carryed none? Whē he had saied naye to that also: what mater of force is it then, ꝙ he, whe­ther a manne haue to dooe with a womā, that hath bestowed hirselfe on many soondrie persones afore, orels vpon none at all. This sai­yng also might bee (as a thyng meryly spoken) accepted emong theim, in whose opinion simple fornicacion was not re­kened for a synne.

[Page] 30 When he was taken vp and re­proched of a feloe, because that bee­yng the disciple of Socrates, he was (contrarie to the vsage of Socrates) a taker of money for his teachyng of philosophie:Why Aristippus was a taker of money for teachynge phylosophie, more th [...]n Socrates was. I dooe that (ꝙ he) not without good cause why. For vnto my maister Socrates a greate noūbre of riche and welthie frēdes did send bothe wheate and wyne, of the whiche, his maner was to reserue a small porcion for his ne­cessarie occupiynge, and the re­sidue to sende backe again. In deede he hadde to his stewardes, the greateste gentlemenne of all the Atheniens, and I haue none other stewarde, but myne owne boundseruaunte Eutychides whom I boughte with my money.Eutychides y^e seruaunte of Aristippus. He notified that he did sette euen as litle by money as did Socrates, but that Socrates had frēdes of more bountee. By this coloure might some persones excuse theimselfes euen now of dayes [Page 55] professyng outwardly in woordes exce­dyng greate contempte of golde and siluer, wheras thei haue right good store of money lyyng in the handes and custo­die of their frendes,The excuse of some ꝑsones that in woor­des professen contempte of money, & yet haue money enough lyyng in store in the hādes of their frendes. that forenyers, they had bounteous stewardes and pro­ctours for all their necessarie store of foode and viandrie, but that nowe thei should make full many an hungry mele, if thei had not a good summe of money in one place or other laied vp in store.

The reporte goeth that Aristippus 31 was a customer of one Lais a veray notable mysliuyng woman.Aristippus a customer of Lais the har­lotte. Lais was a stroumpette dwellynge in Corinthe, vnto whō for hir excellent beautie resorted many riche louers, out of al parties of the countree of Grece, but no man had his pleasur on hir except he gaue hir owne as­kyng whiche was euermo­re a greate For whiche mater wheras he had a ve­raye eiuil name abrode emong all y^e people, to a feloe obiectyng vnto hym y^t beeyng a philosophier he was at the becke & cōmaundemēte of Lais. Naye marie (ꝙ he) Lais is at my commaundemente, and not I at the commaundemente of Lais. Signifying that it was no mater of dishonestee, nowe and then to take plea­sure: whiche at that season was thought lawef [...]ll, but to bee as a bondeman, and to bee wholly geuen therunto, woorthie [Page] to bee reke [...]ed in the noumbre of thyn­ges skamefull and abomynable.

32 At an other season, to a feloe lai­yng to his rebuke, that he was ouer deintie of his mouthe and dyete, he did with this reason geue a stoppyng oystre. Couldest not thyself [...]ꝙ he [...] fynd in thy herte to buye of y^• same kynd of meates or dishes y^t I dooe [...] if thou mightest haue theim for a dandypratte? And when he, y^t would needes shewe hymself to bee a despiser of al delicates, had ther­unto aunswered, yes: Then dooe not I, saied Aristippus, so earnestely mynde or tēdre sensualitee, as thou dooest auarice. For he would fain haue vsed as delicate fare as Aristippus, I [...] it would haue come of free cost, or for a veray litle money.Man [...] y^• [...] th [...] con­temp [...] of de­l [...]t [...] would fa [...] of y^• best [...]f th [...]i mig [...]t of f [...] cos [...] or for a litle mo­ney. In thesame wise dooen certain nacions laye vnto the Germains quaffyng,The Germa­in [...] are noted of much drynkyng [...] and the Engl [...]shemen of muche ea­tyng. & to the englishe menne gourmaundyng & eatyng while y^• bealye will hold, wheras there bee no gre [...]ter raueners or gluttons in the worl [...]e, then theimselfes, if at any tyme suche chaunce dooe fall, that thei maye of free cost eate [Page 56] [...]nd drynke their fille.Couetousnes ofte tymes be guileth y^• bea­lye. Then more coue­tous are those nacions, & not more tēpe­rat [...] or sobre of diete. Ueray muche like vnto this [...] it is: that I shewed of the per­trige afore, in the secoūde saiyng of this­same Aristippus.

The receiuer generall and trea­sourer 33 vnto Dionysi [...]s, named Simus, Simus y^• re­ceiuer general and treasou­rer to Dio [...]y­sius. a Phrygian born, shewed vnto Aristip­pus his mainour place, beeyng in euery corner veray neat and clene, yea euen the veraye floore couered & checkerwise set, throughout with square pauyng stones of greate price. Aristippus, when he had well looked about and vewed euery thynge, voided the spetle of his mouth euen full in the bearde of Si­mus:Aristippꝰ s [...]e [...] ted on the ei­uill fauoured face of Simꝰ [...] and to thesame Simus highly fu­ming at the mater, he excused hym­self by this colour, y^t he could espye no place ne thyng in al the whole hous more meete to receiue the fil­thye dreiuill or spattreyng of the mouth. Notyng thereby, [...]hat in y^• [Page] whole hous there was nothyng more lothsome to behold, or more vnclene, thē the face of that barbarous feloe,The face ought to bee the most clene of al the par­tes of the bo­dye. wheras that parte of a manne ought to bee moste clene of all. Albeit this saiyng is more like to bee of some Cynike, thē of Aristip­pus, how so euer it is fathered on hym.

34 Beeyng on a tyme delited with a notable sweete smelle, that was about a delicate feloe, thus he saied now a mischief on y^e hertes of these naughtie & wretched mutton moungres that haue brought suche a singulare good thyng as this, in slaū ­dre and infamie. Menyng, that a great noumbre of thynges of theim­selfes good,Many good thyn [...]es be reie [...]ed through the faulte of lewd p [...]rsons vsyng y^• same naughtely. bee abandoned and reiected from honest mennes occupiyng, through the faulte of other lewde persones who putte the same thynges to eiuill vses.

35 Beeyng asked the question, how Socrates ended his life:Aristippꝰ wi­shed to dye no wurse th [...]n Socrates had dooen. euen so as I woulde wishe to dooe, saieth he. Menyng that suche diyng is rather to [...]ee wished for, thē any kynde of life in this transitorie worlde. Neither was it possible for hym in fewer woordes to de­scribe a more blissed maner of diyng. The [Page 57] pith of y^• saiyng consisteth in this pointe that the philosophier aūswered an other thyng, then the demaunder looked for. The one asked his question of the kynde of death,It forceth not what kynd of death we hau [...] so we dye verteously. that is, whether he had dyed of some sickenes, of a sweard, by poison, or by breakyng his necke by reasō of some fal frō an high place: the other thynkyng that mater to bee of small force, aunswe­red that he had made a blissed,Socrates made a blis­sed ende. a perfecte, and [...] [...]ertuous ende.

Poliaenus y^e sophiste beeyng entreed 36 into the hous of Aristippus, Polyaenus a Sophiste. when he espyed there, women gorgeously apparelled, & a feast of high proui­sion and furniture, begonne to re­proue suche greate excesse in a phi­losophier. Aristippus makyng as though he had not marked that chy [...]yng, within a whyle said vnto hym: maye ye fynd in your herte to take peines at dyner here with vs for this ones? when the other had aunswered that he could bee con­tented so to dooe with all his herte:Many y^• re­proue dentye fare & delica­tes, can well fynd in their hertes to take parte of the same. why fynd ye faulte at it then, ꝙ he? for ye seeme not to reproue y^e table [Page] for the dentie fare, but for the cost [...] For if the feaste had for this pointe mysliked hym, that it was ouer delicate, he would haue refused to bee one of the geastes.To allow the fare, & to bee offended with the cost of the same, argueth not a man so­bre of diete, but lothe to spend money [...] And as for the ordeinaunce to al­lowe, and with the charges of thesame to bee offended or discontented, semeth to bee a pointe, not of one that abhorreth excesse of meate and drynke, but of a nig­garde, & of one that is lothe to spend any money.

37 It is vneth beleueable that Biō reporteth of hym,Aristippus a despyser of golde and sil­uer. whē his seruaūte bearyng money of his, as he tra­uailled in a iourney, was ouerchar­ged with the heauie burden of the­same, he saied: cast awaye the ouer­plus, and carrye that thou mayest with thyn ease.

38 Trauaillyng by sea on a certain tyme, after that he had due know­lage that y^e shippe belonged to py­rates & rouers on the sea, he laied abrode his golde,Aristippꝰ caste his golde into the sea. and begoonne to tell it, & anon after soodainly leat it fall ouer boorde into the sea for the nons, & then gaue a great sigh, [Page 58] sembleyng that it had fallen out of his hande vnaw [...]res, and muche against his wille. By this ingen or sub [...]e deuise [...]e found meanes to saue his own life, when the mater and occasiō why to kill hym or to trye maisteries w^t hym for his money was ones takē awaye from y^e pirates. Some writers there bee, that reporten hym to haue spoken these woordes also.Better y^• mo­ney bee caste awaye by a manne, then a manne to bee cast away fo [...] moneys sake. Better it is that all this geare bee cast awaye by Aristip­pus, then Aristippus to perishe and to bee cast awaye for this geares sake.

Unto Dionysius demaūdyng why 39 Aristippus was come into Sicilie forsakyng Socrates, Why Aristippus left So­crates & went into Sicilie. he aūswered: Ma­rie to y^e ende that of suche thynges as I haue, I maye geue you parte, & of suche thynges as I haue not, to take parte with you. There been that reporten hym in this wise to haue aunswered. When I wanted sapience I resorted vnto Socrates, & now because I want money, I am come to your grace.

Aristippus vnto Plato chydyng with 40 [Page] hym for y^t he had bought a greate deale of fishe for one dyner,Aristippꝰ chidden of Plato for biyng di­uerse cates at ones, what he aūswered. he aun­swered, that he had bought it all for an halfpenie. And when Plato had thus saied: of that price euen I myself could haue foūd in my herte to haue bought it: ye see then o Plato, ꝙ Aristippus, Plato loued money, better then Aristip­pus loued good fare. In the .ii. in y^e vii. and in y^e xxxii. saiyn­ges of Aristippus. that, not I am gredie to to haue plentee and varietee of sondrie cates, but yourself to beare greate loue to money. Ce [...]tain saiynges muche like vnto this been a fore recited.

41 Thesame manne in the citie of Aegina, was a good­lye cytee ad­iacente vnto Pelopōnesus not ferre frō the hauens mouth, called Pyraeus, & it stode euen di­rectly against the coūtree of Attica, & ther­fore was of a certain Athe­niens called Lippitudo Atticae. y^t is the bleryng of Attica. For the goodlynes of Aegina dyd muche dis­grace y^e beau­tie of Attica, and did, as ye woulde saye: drowne it. Some geue y^e name of Ae­gina to the whole Isle. Aegina at the solemne feastes of Neptunus Iuppiter and Pluto, were three brethren and soonnes of Saturnus gotten vpon Ops the sister and wife of thesame Saturnus. They so diuided the regions, that Iuppiter should haue vnder his dominion, the high countrees, Pluto the lower countrees, and Neptunus the Isles and the seaes. Wherof the poetes haue feigned Iuppiter to bee the God of heauen, Pluto of helle, and Neptune of the waters. In honoure of Neptunus were yerely celebrate in the Isle or towne of Aegina, certain solemnitees, whiche wer called Neptunalia, of Neptunus his name, and by another name Sa­latia of Salum, the sea. Neptunus, had to dooe with ^‡ Phryne a mysliuyng woman there. And when a feloe had cast hym in y^e nose y^t he gaue so large money to suche a naughtie drabbe, who sticked not to leat beggerie Diogenes the Cynike to haue parte of hir bodie: Aristip­pus in this maner aunswered: I geue hir money and many other [Page 59] gaye good thynges, to haue my pleasure on hir for myn own parte, and not to thentēte, that nomanne els should. This is left in writyng of y^e said Phryne, y^t although she was a passyng fair womā, yet was she as cōmen as the carte waye, on who soeuer came, without preferryng or choyce of this manne, or that manne, whether thei wer riche, or poore, shewyng [...]ir self disdainfull and coye to wardes no persone, come who would. To this had y^e poete Hora­tius respecte in thus saiyng.

[Page] 42 Diogenes in this maner rebuked Aristippus for hauyng to dooe with Phryne:Aristippus re­buked of Diogenes, for ke­pynge coum­paignie with Phryne the harlotte [...] o Aristippus, thou arte a great medleer with this woman, beeyng a stewed stroumpette, and therfore either playe the doggue as I dooe, or els leaue suche facions, as thou dooest vse. Aristippus by inducciō in this wise shifted him of. Diogenes seemeth it vnto the a thyng to bee ab­horred, that a man should dwell in an hous, which others aforetymes haue inhabited? when he had saied no: what (saieth Aristippus) is it sha­me to saill in a shippe, that hath a­foretymes carryed a greate noum­bre moo? when that also he had de­nyed to stand against reason: why then dooest thou suppose it to bee vnreasonable, ꝙ he, to ioyne with a woman, of whom a greate noum­bre [Page 60] of persones haue tofore had their pleasure This is aboue men­cioned, sauyng that Athenaeus dooeth in this maner and fourme tell the tale.Afore in the xxii. saiyng. Athenaeus, a greke histori­ographier.

When he had lost a woondre full 43 pleasaunt Mainour place with all the appurtenaunces, vnto a certain persone earnestly lamentyng the­same his pietous chaunce, he saied:Aristippus a man of good possessions [...] landes. what, dooest thou not knowe well enough, y^u haste but one litle poore hous with a small piece of lande to it, and that I haue yet three whole lordshippes leafte? when the other partie had theretoo graunted, he saied: why dooe we not then rather lamente thy case? Menyng y^t it had been an vnwise parte of hym rather to take sorowe for y^t that he had lost,When a man hath lost any parte of his substaūce, he shoulde take coumforte of that, that is leafte. thē ioye & coumforte of that that was leafte.

To one that by the waye of op­posyng 44 hym asked this question, art thou euery where? I leese no freite money then, ꝙ he, or I spend no freite money in waste if I bee in [Page] euery place. Aristippus w^t a mock [...] alone wiped awaye the sophistical que­stion, whether one & thesame bodye maye at one tyme bee in diuerse or soundrie places at ones.Whether one and thesame bodye may be in sondrie places at ones. When he aunswered, that so beeyng, there was no perill of leesyng his freite money or of spendyng freite money in waste. For he leeseth his freite money, who, when he hath paied his mo­ney, is not carryed thither as his desire is It maye, by leauyng out the negaciō, bee taken in this se [...]se also. Then haue I in my dayes lost some freite money, or then haue I spent in waste and haue lost muche good money geuen hereto fore for freite or [...]ote hyere.

As though he should haue saied: if one bo­dye maye bee in moo places then one at ones [...] I haue many a tyme in my dayes paied money in vain, and haue like a foole spent money in waste, to bee carryed ouer sea in a shippe from one place to an other, forasmuche as I was there alreadie before I came.

The menyng and sense of the woordes of Ari [...]tippus in so saiyng, (as I vnder the correccion of Erasmus take it [...] was: I leese no freite money thē &c. I caste waye no freite money then &c. that is, I spend no freite money then &c. For he leseth his money that spendeth, when he hath nomaner neede nor occasion to spend it. And he that is al­readye in euery place where he would bee, nedeth not to spende money to bee carryed thither. As if he should haue saied to the feloe: If one bodye maye bee in all places at ones, thou mayest bee as­sured, [Page 61] I would not bee so madde as to geue freite money, when I wer disposed to take shippyng & to go ouersea from one place to an other.

Beeyng confounded and made blanke in a disputaciō of a certain 45 feloe y^t was sauce & presumpteous,Aristippꝰ was nothyng gre­ued to take a blanke in di­sputacion. but thesame a furious rageyng fe­loe, of no more wit [...]e then a beaste: whē he sawe hym hoppe & fette his gambaudes for ioye, and swellyng in pride by reason of that victorie. In dede, ꝙ he, I goo awaye con­founded, but yet like to sleepe this night more sweetely and soundely,Unwrathful­ly spoken. then thyself, that hast putte me to this blanke.

Helicon of the toune of ^☞ Cysicus 46 a philosophier in Plato his tyme had prognosticate y^e eclipse of y^e soonne:Helicon Cyzi­cenus a philosophier of A­thenes excel­lyng in all the mathematical sciencies, in thesame tyme when Plato was. who, after that it had chaunced ac­cordyng to his prognostication, had of Dionysius a talente of siluer in rewarde. Then saied Aristippus to y^e reste of the philosophiers: I also [Page] haue a right woondreous thyng y^t I could prophecie. Thei hartely desiryng hym thesame to vttre: I prophecie (ꝙ he) that Plato and Dio­nysius wil ere many dayes to an ende breake a strawe betwene theim.Dionysiꝰ of­fended wyth Plato, longe ere he would shewe it out­wardly. For he had alreadie perceiued y^e kyng now a good while to keepe his mynde se­crete, and to dissemble his angre and displeasure conceiued against Plato.^‡

47 He saied, this in the maners and facions of menne to bee the wurst thyng that was possible to bee,Frēdes ought to bee tryed ere thei bee re­ceiued into famyliarites. that in publique sales thei dooe nar­rowely serche pottes and pannes ere thei wil bye theim, and wil not serche and examyn the life of suche [Page 53] persones as thei matche to theim­selfes in frendship, and entiere fa­miliaritee. And yet a muche higher vtilitee and profit redoundeth to a māne of feithfull frēdes, then of pottes or pan­nes: and a muche greater losse and disa­uanntage excepte he choose of the right sorte,A great disa­uaū [...]age yf a manne choose not his fren­des o [...] the best sorte. suche as should bee.

When Dionysius at a bāquette had 48 cōmannded that all the coumpai­gnie should addresse theimselfes to maske etche man in purple. And purple in those dayes was for the wea­ryng of none but kynges & princes,Purple in old tyme was for the wearynge of none, but kynges and princes. wher now it is cōmunely taken vp with euery sowter & cobler. Plato refused to dooe it,Plato refu­sed to daunce in purple at y^e request of Dionysius. recityng for his purpose these me [...]re verses out of some tragedie.

But Aristippus made no courtesie at the mater,Aristipppꝰ re­fused not to daūce in pur­ple at the bid­dyng of Dionysius. but beeyng dressed in [Page] purple, and readie to goo to daun­cyng, he pronounced these verses without any studie soodainly.

49 As he was makyng suite and in­tercession on a tyme to Dionisius in the behalfe and fauour of a frende of his, & the kyng would not heare his suite and peticion, Aristippus fal­lyng down flatte on the grounde before hym, begoonne to embrace and kisse the kynges feete, and by y^t meanes at last obteined his pur­pose & requeste. And when certain persones reproued thesame facte of his, as more vile & more hūble then was comly for a philosophier I am not in y^e blame, ꝙ he, but Dionisius, Wittyly spo­ken. Dionysiꝰ had his eares in his feete. whiche hath his eares standyng in [Page 63] his feete.Aristippus a man of a pas­synge readye witte, aswell to dooe as to excuse any thyng. A witte like prōpte & rea­dye at all assayes, aswell to dooe, as also to excuse any thyng whatsoeuer it wer.

In the countree of Asia he was attached by Artaphernes the high ca­pitain, or leuetenaūt general there,50 vnder y^e kyng of the Persians. Artaphernes leuetenaūt generall in Asia vnder y^• kyng of the Persi­ans. And at thesame present season, whē one de­maūded of hym, whether euē there also his old accustomed stoutenesse of herte failled him no more then it had been wont to do.Aristippus a­rested in Asia by Artapher­nes. Folyshe dawe ꝙ he, as though I haue at any time in al my life beē, of a better courage or stomake,Aristip. stood in drede of no māne lyuyng. then euē at this present houre, y^t I must speke to Artaphernes. Uerayly this thynge by the benefite of philosophie was roted in hym, that he stood in drede of no manne liuynge, but would bee frāke and free with euerie persone to saye his mynde.

Those persones, who beeyng 51 furnished with the liberall studies of humanitee and of the toungues, did slouthfully neglecte the studie of philosophie morall,Suche as beeyng furnished with other disciplines, do neglect moral phylosophie, are lyke the woers of Penelope. he likened to [Page] the wooers of Penelope the doughter not of Icarꝰ, but of Icari­us, & the wife of Ulysses: who durynge the absence of hir housband tenne yeares, b [...]yng awaye at the battaill of Troie, and other tēne ye­r [...]s wandre­ynge o [...] the [...]eats, ere he coulde g [...]atte home into his coūtre [...] of I­thara, kepte hirself chaste and true wife vnto thesame Ulysses. And where she had moste ymportune, and thesame contynuall suite made vnto hir, by many ioyly ruflleyng wooers, to haue hir in mariage, she droue theim of all by this colour, that she had [...] lou [...]e of lynē cloth in weauyng, whiche beeyng ones finyshed she would geue vnto hir wooers a determynate and a fynall aū ­swere. Then vsed she this policie, to vnweaue in the night as muche werke, as she had made vp in the daye before. By reason wherof diuerse of the gentlemenne that wooed hir, beeyng with their long suite weryed and tyered, fell in hande to haue wanton conuersacion with Melanthon & Polydora hir handmaydens, as vttrely despairyng that euer thei should achiue to the obtei­nyng of Penelope hirselfe. Penelope. For t [...]ei entreed loue with Melāthon & with Polydora beeyng hir handmaidens, and conceiued hope sooner to obtein all the worlde besides, then mariage of the ladie hir self. His menyng was, that y^• liberal sciencies been, as it wer, the handmaidēs of morall philosophie, whiche morall philosophie is with the f [...]rst of all to bee putte in vre, and for whose respecte and cause all the other disciplines ^✚are le­arned. A muche like thyng Aristo ^* also is reported to haue saied of Ulysses, who when he was descended to hell the said Aristo aftermeth that he talked familia­rely with all the other solles there for the moste parte, sauyng that he could not so muche as ones come to the sight of the queene hirself.

[Page 55]To one demaūdyng what thyn­ges 52 wer moste requisite & necessarie to bee learned of young folkes,What thyn­ges are moste requisite to bee learned of young folkes. he saied: thesame y^t maye dooe theim best seruice when thei shalbee at y^e ful mannes state. This saiyng is ascribed to others also besides Aristip­pus. The principall best thynges are euē at y^• first begynnyng to bee learned,The princi­pal best thyn­ges, are euen with the first to bee learned. nei­ther the tendre and vnbroken youngth, whiche is of it self moste apte to learne,Younge age moste apte to learne. is to bee forepossessed with thynges su­perfluous.

After that Aristippus had gathered 53 together greate gooddes and sub­staunce [Page] of money,Aristippꝰ ga­thered toge­ther much ri­chesse. and Socrates ha­uyng conceiued greate meruaill therof, saied: howe hast y^u come by so much richesse? howe haue ye co­me by so litle, ꝙ he again? For he t [...]ought it a thyng no lesse wo [...]hie admiracion, that Socrates beeyng [...] p [...]i­losophier of so greate estimacion, [...] ha­uyng suche greate frendes, should bee poore, thē that hymself should bee riche.

54 To a certain commen woman saiyng: I am with childe by you Aristippus:Wittyly and [...]eatly spoken that can ye not for a [...]uer­tie knowe (ꝙ he again) any more then gooyng on thornes standyng as thicke as is possible one by an other, ye maye truly auouche this thorne it is, that hath pricked me.

55 A certain persone openly bla­myng hym, y^t he did in suche wyse exile, cast of, and leat renne at all auentures his soonne,Aristippꝰ cast of his sonne, and leat hym renne at ro­ners. as if the­same had neuer been begotten by hym, he saied: dooe we not cast a­waye from vs, as ferre as wee can, [Page 65] bothe flegme and spettle, & also lyce, with other vermyn bredyng of our owne bodyes, as thynges. seru [...]ng to no good vse ne purpose? He mened theim not woorthie to bee accoumpted for a mannes soonnes,Menne maye iustely refuse those sonnes, in whiche is no grace at al. that had noothyng els wherwith to shewe theimselfs woorthie the fauour of their parētes, but onely that thei wer of theim begotten and brought into this worlde. So the olde manne in the comedie saieth.

When Dionysius had geuen in re­warde,56 vnto Aristippus money, & vnto Plato bookes, Aristippus beeyng chec­ked of a certain persone, as one whose mynde was more on his halfpenie, then Plato had sette his:Dionysius gaue in re­ward, to Aristip [...]us mo­ney, & to Plato bookes. what mater maketh that, ꝙ he, I had neede of money, & Plato of bookes. Menyng, that neither of theim bothe was blame worthie to take y^e thyng whi­che might best serue his purpose: for of a likelyhood Dionysius had put either of theim [Page] to the choise, whether thei would haue money, or bookes.

57 Beeyng asked for what cause Dionysius did in such wise cal hym foole and all to naught,Dionysius would ca [...]l Aristippus foole, & all to naught. for the ve [...]aye same cause (ꝙ he) that other folkes dooen. Menyng the plaine & franke speakyng of a philosophier to bee [...]oum­breous and hatefull to all persones,The playne speakyng of a philosophi­er, no m [...] ̄ can well allow. and therefore no meruaill to [...]ee, if the kyng might [...]iuill abyde it: all vndre one toge­ther intimatyng the kynges iudgemente nothyng to di [...]fre from the iudgemente of the grosse multitude, forthat fortune dooeth not conferre the endewemente or gifte of sa [...]ience.Sapience is not geuen by fortune.

58 He asked of Dionysius at a tyme by the waye of peticion a talente. And when the kyng hauyng gottē an occasion to cōfound hym by his owne woordes, & to cast hym in his owne turne, saied: diddest not thou openly afferm [...], and saye that a philosophier is neuer in penurie of ex­treme neede?A philosophi­er is neuer in extreme penu­rie. well, geue me the ta­lente (ꝙ he) & then wee shall after­ward reason of that mater, when he [Page 66] had receiued y^e money: And was it not well and truely saied of me, ꝙ he, that a philosophier is neuer in ex [...]emitee of neede? That per­sone is not in extreme penurie,He is not in penurie, who at al tymes of neede is assu­red where to haue enough. who at all tymes of neede is assured where to re­ceiue, and to haue enough.

Unto Dionysius recityng out of a 59 tragedie of Sophocles, these twoo litle verses.

Aristippus aūswered onely a syllable or twaine of the later verse corre­cted in this maner.

Signifiyng none to bee free and out of bondage in deede, excepte whose [...]eraye mynde & herte, philosophie hath [Page] deliuered discharged & made free bothe from hope & feare, for to bee a free manne outright, it is not enough, to haue been born in freedom [...],True libertee perteineth to y^e mynde more then to birth. or out of seruitude & bondage. Some writers ascriben this saiyng vnto Plato.

60 When betwene Aristippus & A [...]schi­nes, A breache of loue betwene Aristippus & Aeschines. had befallen a litle distaunce & breache of loue, and a certain feloe had saied, where is now that your greate high frendship become? It slepeth, ꝙ he, but I shal awaken it and raise it vp again. Herupon Aristippus by reason of this seasonable,A small vari­aunce dooeth commenly, by reason of si­lēce growe to a scabbe of o­pen [...]mitee. or oportune [...]d plain speakyng of the said feloe, wi [...] a tryce ended all y^e strife and made all well again. To thentente that the sore might not by reason of silēce growe to an open scabbe, (as moste cōmenly it dooeth) he of his owne voluntarie wille came vnto Aeschines, and saied in this maner: Shall not wee twoo, euen now out of hande bee at one again as good frendes as euer wee wer, and ceasse thus to playe y^e children? orels shall [Page 67] wee rather tarye vntil we shall mi­nistre to iestyng knaues mater to prate and iangle of vs twain on y^e ale benche? To whom when Aeschi­nes had made aūswer, that he would w^t all his herte bee reconciled & full agreed. Then, yet remembre, (ꝙ Ari­stippus, Aristippꝰ bee­yng the elder manne, offre­ed first to bee agreed with Aeschines.) that I beeyng the elder and the more aunciente persone of the twain, haue come and sought on y^e first. Then said Aeschines: of a veray truthe thou art a greate dele more perfecte honest manne then I am, for of me begoonne all this our fallyng out, and of the to haue a per­fecte atonemente. By this meanes thei wer reconciled of newe, and as good loue and frēdship betwene theim as euer there had been tofore.

At a certain season saillyng in y^e 61 coumpaignie of three or fower of his own countreemenne or neigh­bours, he was cast on lāde by ship­pewracke.Aristippꝰ sail­lyng to Rho­dus, was cast on lande by shipwracke. And when he had on the sandes espyed the priente of ma­thematicall [Page] figures of geometrie drawen in y^e sande: All is well mai­sters, ꝙ he, I haue espyed the step­pes and signes of menne. And beeyng entreed the citee there nexte by, he neuer leafte serchyng vntill he found out what p [...]rsones wer there studious of disciplines:Aristippus after [...] mette w [...] learned [...] in a [...] coū ­ [...] was high [...] [...]ll entre­ [...]d both he [...] [...]ll his coū ­paignie for his sake. and after that he was ones mette with thesame, thei did with all hu­manitee possible entretein not onely hym for his own persone, but also the others that came with hym, yea and besydes y^•, g [...]ue theim money enough in their pur­ses for their costes & charges, vntil thei should returne thither again in their waye homeward. After certain dayes when the others that had come at the first w^t Aristippus addressed theim selfes to returne into their countree & asked of hym, whether he would any message to bee dooen at home to his neighbours & countremēne, he saied: Nothyng but that thei applye theimselfes to acquire & pur­chace such maner rychesse,True and ve­ [...] r [...]ches of the mynde. as maye not perishe & bee lost by shipwracke but maye geat to lande with their [Page 68] owner. The self same mater dooeth Uitr [...]uius reporte in y^e sixth volume of Carpētrie or deuisyng, Uitruuiꝰ writeth in Latin volumes of carpentrie, or deuisyng of buildynges. saiyng more ouer that Aristippus at that season came to the citee of Rhodus.

When Socratesspake fore against 62 suche persones as wer perfumed w^t sweete sauours, & Charondas, or (as some writers holdē opinion) Phaedon demaunded what feloe it was, so perfumed with sweete oyles and sauours, Aristippus saied, euen I it is miserable and wretched creature y^t I am, and a more miser then I, the kyng of the persians. But marke, saieth he, that lyke as he is in this behalf nothyng superiour to any other liuyng creature, so is he not a iote better then any other manne. His menyng was,A man by e [...] ­ternall good­des, is not made better. that manne by e [...] ­ternal or outwarde gooddes is made not a whitte the better. Bothe an horse all be smered w^t oyle of baulme or spyke, should haue the self same sauour, that should a kyng: and a sely poore [...]egger beeyng anoynted or perfumed with y^e lyke kynde [Page] of oyle or sauour, smelleth euen as well as dooeth y^• highest prelate of theim all.

THE SAIYNGES OF DIOGE­NES Cynici, wer philoso­phiers of the secte of Anti­sthenes & Diogenes & were called, Cynici either of the place Cinosarg [...], wher Antisthen [...]s kepte his schole, or­els of y^• greke [...]otable [...] doggues. Be­cause thei wer euer moste importunely barkyng and raillynge against the vices of menne, orels bec [...]use ī wordes of rebaudrie and shamelesse speakynge, thei did with their foule mouthes represente the curryshenesse of doggues. THE CYNIKE [...]

THe ordre (as I suppose) shall appere to hang veray well together, if nexte af­ter the holynesse of Socra­tes, by saiynges of mirth vttreed, and after y^• merie plainnesse of Aristippus, wee make men­cion & rehersall of Diogenes was scholar vnto Antisthenes. And thei twoo wer the [...]irst and principall autours of the secte of the Cynikes, and therfore was he called Cynicus. Whose life doeth Diogenes La [...]rtius write and largely prosecute. Diogenes of Sinopa, [...]o, long) was a citee in Pontus orels veraye nigh to it. Bui [...]ded by the Milesians, a florent citee, and of great power, in whiche wer many goodly houses and mansiō places of royall buildyng, with schooles, mercate steedes, walkyng places and gorgeous temples. And in this citee wer borne Timotheus Pa­trion, Diphilus a writer of comedies, and Diogenes Cynicus, who was therof called Sinopensis or Sinopa [...]us. Si­nope, who in allmanerfolde grace of his saiynges, ferre passed & excelled y^• others. howbeeit, all these three philosophiers though in deede for vnlike & in maner cō ­trarie qualitees, yet neuerthelesse dooe I iudge one euē as highly as an other to be estemed & had in honour: so y^• although thei wer of veraye vnlike facions, yet maye ye well saye that thei were in de­gree, feloes like one with an other [...]

[Page 69]First of all hauyng departed out 1 of his owne coūtree, & placed hym­self in Athenes, he resorted to the phi­losophier Antisthenes, Diogenes would needes bee schoolare vnto Antisthenes. to bee his di­sciple: by whom although he was ofte tymes putte backe and shifted of [...] (for Antisthenes would take no scholares) yet would he not ceasse stil to bee an hanger on about hym:Antisthenes would haue no schola­res. in so muche that when Antisthenes on a tyme offreed to geue hym a strype with a staffe, he willyngly putte out his hedde vnder the staffe, sai­yng: Stryke if thou bee so dispo­sed, yet shalt thou not fynd any staffe so harde, wherewith to beate me awaye from y^e, as long as thou shalt speake that maye concerne maters of learnyng. A notable exaumple of sapience with whole herte & mynde [...] feruently desired and zeled.Diogenes had a woondrefull lo [...]e and zele to sapience.

Whē he by chaūce sawe a mous 2 [Page] rennyng and whippyng about frō place to place in a certain greene with in y^e citee of Athenes called Me­garicū, whiche mous neither sought any hole, nor was afeard with the stieryng of folkes, nor had any lust to eate meate: A ioyly gaye exaum­ple of libertee, saied Diogenes. And euen forthwithall, renouncyng and for­sakyng the worlde, he begoonne to take vp his dwellyng in a tubbe.Wherof Diogenes toke occasi [...]n to take vp his dwel [...] place in a [...].

3 To menne woondreyng that he had neuer a litle house or corner of his owne,, where he might quietly [...]ate his meate:Why Diogenes had no house of his owne to [...]a [...]e & [...]ynke in he shewed with pointyng of his fynger the galerie or walkyng place that was called [...]ouis porticus, and saied, that the peo­ple of Athenes had builded to his vse a royall mansion place where to dyne and suppe,Iouis portieꝰ Iuppit [...] his [...] galerie [...] Iuppiter his walke, a pl [...]ce in Athe­nes and to take his repaste. The thyng that was pub­lique, he enterpreted to bee made and or­deined for hym also particularely.A thyng pub­liq [...]e is [...] for y^e vse o [...] euery p [...]rtic [...]lare ꝑsone also seuerally Nei­ther could he wishe or desire a fresher or a more galaunte parloure to eate in.

[Page 70]The schoole of Euclides, (for that 4 thesame Euclides seemed to teache in deede wittie conclusions,Euclides was in y^e later dayes of Plato who wrote muche of con­clusiōs in geometrie, which w [...]rke wee haue yet in greeke and lati [...]. but yet nothyng to y^e furtheraūce or helpe of vertuous liuyng,) he called not [...], a schoole as y^e vsuall woorde was in deede, but by a nicke name [...], whiche souneth in englyshe cholere, angre & trouble,Diogenes nickenamed the scholes of Euclides, and of Plato. contrarie to y^• significaciō of y^e right woorde [...], whiche souneth quiete vaca­cion. Sembleably, the scholastical exercitacion and cōferryng of Plato called in greeke [...], [...], [...], [...], Diogenes by deprauyng and corruptyng the woorde called [...], [...], y^t is, mys­pendyng of muche good labour & tyme, because that Plato beeyng se­questred & exempted from the prac­tike liuyng emong menne abrode in y^e worlde, did spend all his dayes & tyme in disputaciōs of woordes, wher as Diogenes liuyng emonges y^e thickest of the worlde abrode, had [Page] more mynde and affection to liue philosophically,Diogenes set his m [...]de more to liue after phylosophie, then to di­spute therof. that is, accordyng to perfecte vertue, then onely in woordes to dispute & reason therof.

5 The games called Dionysiaca, whiche wer with greate charges & muche pompe celebrated & holden at the citie of Athenes in the honour of Bacchus [...] after the fei­gnyng of the po [...]tes [...] was [...]uppiter his [...]e, bego [...] ­ [...]n vpon Se­mele the doughter of Cadmus, who beeyng slain with lighte­nyng, Iuppiter tooke the childe, and sowed it within his thighe and so kepte it, vntill it was of maturitee to bee born, and then was he borne out of the thighe of Iuppiter. He is called the God of wyne, because he first found out the vse of wyne, he is called in greke [...], and therof is deriued Dionysia. And of Dio­nys [...] is denominated Dionysiaca certamina, whiche the Latin m [...]nne callen of Bacchus Bacchanalia, the rites of Bacchus, whiche in the moste parte of the citees of Grece wer kepte euery third yeare. Bacchus, he called the greate woondrementes and gazynges of fooles. For that in thesame was nothyng dooen, but all to gether foolyshe and worthie skorne.

6 The oratours & aduocates (who wer had in high price and estima­cion in Athenes,) he called the cōmen droudges & pages of euery Iacke [Page 71] and Iille, for that thei wer of force cōstreigned to speake all that euer thei didde, to please menne, & euen like bonde slaues to flatre y^e beastly foolyshe rable of y^e people. And the assemblees of y^e people swarmyng about thesame oratours, he called the pymples or litle wheales of glorie.Frequente assemblees of y^• people gathe­ryng about y^• oratours been y^• pymples of glorie. The greeke woorde that he vsed, was [...], that is, litle pym­ples or pushes, suche as of cholere and [...]alse fleagme budden out in the noses and faces of many persones, and are cal­led the saphyres & rubies of the tauerne. Menyng thereby (as I suppose) that like as suche pushes in the visages of menne, are angrye thynges & greeffull, and also finall discoumforte to the parties, that thesame maye not for shame shewe their faces, but hyden theimselfes, and re­frein to come in coumpaignie: so the frequēte as­semblees of people, swarmyng about oratoures, dooe fynally purchace & conciliate vnto thesame muche enuie, displeasure, hatered, trouble and vexacion, ensuyng of the glorie that thei haue in the begynnyng. As chaunced to Demosthenes, and to A [...]s [...]hines in Athenes, and to Cicero in Roome.

Diogenes as often as in the life of 7 menne he considereed and thought vpō the gouernours of citees, phy­sicians, [Page] & philosophiers, affermed no liuyng thyng to bee more sapi­ente then manne.Nothyng more sapiente th [...]n manne. Thesame Diogenes consideryng in his mynde expou­ners of dreames, reeders what shall folo [...] this dreame or y^t, south­saiers, & others of like sorte, orels suche persones as wer wholy sub­i [...]cte to glorie & richesse: auouched, y^t to his seemyng there was nothyng more folyshe, thē manne. [...] manne. Notifi­yng the witte of māne to bee applyable & apte to all goodnesse, if it bee exercised & e [...]ured therwithall,The wi [...]te of manne, ap [...]e to all good [...]nesse if it bee s [...]te therto. but if it fall frō his right kyn [...] to vice, then to bee many de­grees wurse then y^e dummebrute [...]eastes.

8 He vsed customably to saie, y^t in our life wee should oftener prouid [...], that is, a talker then an halter. The g [...]eke woorde, [...] signifiet [...] in latin sermonem, [...] in englyshe communicacion or talkyng. And y^e greke vocable, [...], [...] is in latin, laqueus, in en­glyshe an halter or a streng, [...]uch as a bo­dye maye by y^e necke bee hanged withall. Whiche he spake, for that such persones as are werie of their liues, & are in suche [Page 72] despaire, y^t thei would [...]ain bee out of the world, dooe many of theim by & by hang & strāgle theimselfes,What thyng desperate persones should dooe. wheras thei ought rather to haue recourse to good cōmuni­cacion y^t might recoūforte their spirites and bryng theim a gain frō despaire. For to y^• herte beeyng in heauynes & vtter discōforte: y^e best phisiciā is good & holsome cō [...]unicaciō. Neither shall the sense bee out of square, [...]fye take y^e greke vocable [...] (as in an other significaciō it maye w [...]l be takē) for reason. And then y^e sense shalbee, y^t men ought rather in tymes of displea­sur [...]s [...] misauc̄tures, to staye theimselfes by rea­son, [...] to vse their discreciō & wisdome,In tymes of mysfortu [...]e is wisedome and discreciō most to bee vsed. in takyng my [...]chaūces paciently as menne should dooe, then vpō trifleyng occasiōs to falle in despaire, and so wilfullye to cast awaye theimselfes, as many haue dooen. Albeeit takyng [...], for talkynge, I thynke, Diogenes mened, y^t mē ought so to prouide, that their woordes & cōmunicacion at al ty­mes bee vertuous and fruitefull, aswel to y^e hea­ter as to the speaker,Mēne ought to haue no cō municacion, but suche, as maye be fruitfull and [...]difi­yng, aswell to the hearer, as to y^e speaker. and not of suche sorte as y^e speaker maye afterwarde haue cause to repente and wishe within his beallye again. As Seneca noteth the improuidencie and vnaduisednesse of many persones, whiche often tymes (as he spea­keth it in Latin) Emittunt uoces per iugulū re­dituras, as, that is, leatten escape wordes, that must afterwarde come backe again by their own thro­tes,No manne ought to leat escape woor­des, whiche muste after­warde come home againe by y^e throt [...] and cost theim their neckes. So that Dioge­nes would no mennes cōmunicacion to bee suche as might afterwarde bee found hangyng maters and redounde to their owne confusiō, but rather [Page] to bee fruitefull and vertuous. For onely suche woordes and none other,No woordes been worthie the name of talkyng, but suche as been fruitefull. been woorthie the ap­pellaciō, or name of communicaciō and talkyng, of whiche redoundeth aswell to the hearer, as to the speaker some fruite, profite, & edifiyng: and for whiche bothe parties maye bee the better, and not haue cause afterwarde to be shrewe theimsel­fes. And suche as vsen naughtie and pernicious bableyng,Suche as vsē ꝑnicious wordes are cōmē ­ly autours of th [...]ir own cō ­fusion. dooen often tymes procure their owne harmes, and been autours and werkers of their owne confusion.

When Diogenes at a feaste of high 9 fare sawe Plato not ones to putte his hande to any of the dentie dishes but to feede onely vpon a fewe oli­ues, he saied: what is befallen mo­ste sapiente father,Plato a man of sob [...]e diete. that wheras to come to suche maner fare as this, ye made ones a viage in to Sicilie, ye dooe here now abstein from readie prouisiō of meates purposely dres­sed for you.Syracuse the hed citee of al Sicilie, y^t no­blenesse & ri­chesse, of whi­che Tullie dooeth at lar­ [...]e describe in the accions a­ [...]ainst Uerres To this saied Plato a­gain, yet iwys, o Diogenes, euen in Si­cilie also I was satisfied with suche meate for the moste parte as this that I eate now: why then needed you to saill vnto the Citee of Sy­racuse, saied Diogenes? wer there no [Page 73] oliues at that seasō growyng w^tin the coūtree of Attica? This saiyng some writers ascriben to Aristippus.

Diogenes on a tyme, as he was 10 eatyng figgues, mette with Plato, and offreyng to hym a fewe of his figgues, saied: ye maye take some parte with me, if ye bee disposed. And when Plato had taken some, & eaten theim, Diogenes saied: [...]. ye maye take some parte, with me, were my woordes, and not to raumpe theim vp on that facion. This mery ie­s [...]yng woorde maye bee applyed to a seri­ous matter, that is to weete, to bee spo­ken on suche persones, as abusen y^e gen­tle permission and suffreaunce of their prince, of their scholemaister, or of their parentes, to the attemptyng or dooyng of thynges vnlawfull. As (for exaūple,) if one beeyng aduertised, y^t it is a thyng not vnprofitable to take a taste, & to haue a litle sight in logique, dooe bestowe all the dayes of his life on that studie. The saiyng is, in suche wise recited by Laer­tius, that one maye doubte whether of y^e twoo did offre the figgues to the other.

[Page] 11 Plato in deede was a frugall man and a great sparer or housbād,Plato a spa­ryng mann [...], but a louer of clenlynesse. but yet one y^t loued to haue all thynges picked net, and clene. And cōtrariewise, Diogenes a veraye sloouen,Diogenes a veray sloouē. and one that cared for no clenlynesse. Therefore trampleyng with his durty fete vpō Plato his fyne piloes & other beddyng,Diogenes trā pleed w^t his durtie feere vpon Plato his p [...]loe and beddyng. to certain y^• fami­liare frendes of Dionysius beeyng there in coumpaignie, whom Plato had desired to dyner, he said, I dooe now trede the ambicion of Plato vn­der my feete Plato anone aunswered thus, yet in how greate pride swel­lest thyself o Diogenes, The ambiciō and pride of Diogenes. while thou thynkest thyself to trede another mannes pride vnder thy feete. The selfe same thynge is by other writers more pleasauntly repor­ted. To Diogenes, saiyng: I trede the pryde of Plato vnder my feete: So thou dooest in deede, (ꝙ Plato) but it is with another kynde of pride, as [Page 74] great as myne. For euen thesame was a pointe of pride,To make bost of contēnyng pride, is an high point of pride and am­bicion. that he made so greate boste and vaunte of contemnyng clenlynesse. And those persones y^t dooe glorie & braggue of their niggy she sloo­uenry, & simplenesse of their habite, been of their appetite, and in their hertes, no lesse ambicious, then suche as setten out theimselfes in gorgeous apparel, albeeit of an other sorte, and in an other kynde.More disho­nestee is in seekyng prease [...] by countrefe­acted vertue. And a greate deele more dishonestee is there in that ambicion whiche seeketh laude and prease of the false colour and cloke of vertue coūtrefeacted. Yet Sociō ascribeth this saiyng, not to Diogenes, but vnto Plato the Cynike.

Diogenes had desired of Plato a litle 12 courtesie of wyne,What than­kes Dioge­nes rēdred vnto Plato, for geuynge hym wyne and fyggues more thē he asked. & eftsons to haue also a fewe figgues. Plato sent hym a whole stene or pitcher full. To whom y^e Cynike rendreed thankes in this maner: when it is demaun­ded of the, how many is twoo and twoo, thou aunswerest, twentie: so neither dooest thou geue thynges accordyng to a bodyes askyng, ne makest a directe aunswer to suche questiōs as are demaunded of the. [Page] He noted Plato,Diogenes noted Plato of vnmesurable verbosite [...], & so did Aris [...]o­t [...]l [...]s also. The eloquēce of Plato is of all writers e­st [...]ed, to bee suche, that if Iupp [...]t should sp [...]ake Greke h [...] would v [...]e the [...] of [...]. as a manne out of measure ta [...]katif, whiche selfsame thyng did Aristoteles also note in his wry­tynges. Notwithstandyng Aristotle his notyng, whiche proceded of enuie, Plato is of all the Greekes estemed to be of so wyttie inu [...]ncion in his wrytyng [...]s and of so greate varietee, shift, eloquence and good vttreaunce in speakyng, that thesame Gr [...]kes pronounced, that in case Iup­piter should or would speake Greke [...] he woulde speake with Plato his toungue and phrase. And no lesse digni [...]ee & [...]l [...]encie is to the same Pla­to attributed by Cicero, Quintilianus, and all o­ther latin writers also, beeyng of any iudgement.

To one demaundyng in what 13 parte of all the coūtree of Grece he had seen good menne: Menne (ꝙ he) nowhere: but in the citie of La­cedaemon, I sawe good laddes.The m [...]ste corrupte and vi­cio [...]s maners of all y^e coun­tree of Grece thr [...]ughoute, in the tyme of Diogenes. Notyng the moste corrupt and vi­cious maners of all grece throughout, in so muche that euen emong the lacedemo­nians [...] a nacion lest corrupted of all o­thers [...] o [...]ely in the children remained the aunciente integritee and vncorrupcion. And all vnder one he signified that in the residue of the countree of Grece, not so mu [...]he as the children neither wer good, honest, or vertuous. And this thyng mo­reouer did he notifie, the menne to bee muche more vicious, then y^e boyes, wher­as [Page 75] as of congruence the children ought by theim to bee trained and nousleed in ver­tuous disposicion,Childrē ought of congruēce to bee trained & framed to vertuous di­sposicion. and framed to an ho­nest trade of liuyng.

When Diogenes on a certain tyme treactyng, and makyng a decla­racion 14 of an earnest and saige ma­ter of philosophie, had not one hea­rer that would geue diligente eare vnto hym,How Dioge­nes rebuked the people, for that thei wer readie to har­ken vnto ma­ters of light­nesse, & slacke to geue eare to maters of grauitee. he begoonne to syng suche an other foolyshe song, (as Robyn hood, in barnesdale stood &c.) & sem­bleed as though he would daunce withall. And when a veraye greate multitude of people had now ga­thered together, & swarmed about hym, he tooke theim all vp for stumbleyng, because that to thynges foolyshe and seruyng to no good purpose, thei came rennyng by whole flockes, & as merye as pyes, where as to serious maters, & the­same muche auailable vnto good liuyng, thei neither would resorte or approche, nor diligently geue [Page] [...]are. Ueraye like vnto this it is, y^• some writers ascriben to Demosthenes, of t [...]e So it was, that Demosthenes on a tyme beeyng hotte in ma­kyng an oracion to the Atheniens: the people were soodainly in suche a greate rore emong theimselfes, that thei gaue no eare to Demosthenes, but rather troubleed hym in his tale. Wher­upon he saied, that he had twoo or three woordes to saie vnto theim, requiryng theim to hold their noyse, & to geue good eare what he would saie. Immediately was made silence, and De­mosthenes in this wyse begoonne. A certain young manne had hyered an Asse from Athenes, to the towne of Megara. And bothe the parties wēt together in coūpaignie. And beeyng somer season, about noone the sonne weaxed so feruente hotte, that for to couer theimselfes from the sonne, either partie would needes hyde hymselfe vnder the shadoe of the Asse. But thei fell at va­riaunce about it, and either partie would needes putte of the o­ther. The one saied, that he had sette out the Asse to hyere, but not the shadoe, the other on his partie auouched, that forasmuche as he had hyered the Asse, he had best right and title for the tyme duryng, to the shadoe of the Asse to. And ymmediately after thus much of the tale told, Demosthenes came downe frō the pulpite or scaffolde. The people wer so fain to heare the reste of the tale, that thei caught Demosthenes by the gowne & held hym backe, nor would at no hande suffre hym to departe, but required hym in any wyse, to make an ende of his tale. Then saied Demosthe­nes vnto theim: Why are ye so desirous and fain to lysten a tale of the shadoe of an Asse, and haue no will ne mynde at all to her­ken me speakyng of maters weightie, serious, and touchyng the commen weale? shadoe of an asse.

15 He rebuked menne, for that thei exercised and practised theimselfes with fettyng gambaudes & with sembleable toies,Menne wylle put theimsel­fes to peines for the atteig­nyng of all thynges, sa­uyng vertue [...] honestee. to thende that thei [Page 76] might at length bee exercised and cunnyng therin, & not one of theim all would putte hym self to any peine, that thei might in fyne proue weldisposed, and honest menne.

From no sorte of menne in the 16 worlde did he refrein or chaumbre the tauntyng of his toungue.Diogenes sp [...] red tauntyng no manne ly­uyng. Diogenes checked the grammari­ans. He saied that he greatly woondreed at the Grāma­tici, wer those y^t spent their studie in hu­manitee, and whō wee call schoolemai­sters. Grammarians, that thei did w^t suche earnest studie make deepe inquisicion of the harde auentures of Vlysses, & knewe nothyng of their owne myschaunces. The gram­marians in olde tyme spēt moste of their studie and were moste famyliare in the Rhapsodies are, that wee call thynges patched toge­ther, as the werkes of Homerus wer. For Homerus hymself was blynde, and made vo­luntarie, and soong ex tempore, that is without studie. And after his death Aristarchus gathered all his makynges together, and compiled theim into two werkes, the one entitleed Ilias whiche is of the battaill and destruccion of Troie, & the other Odyssea, of the wandreyng of Ulysses, ere he could geat home to Ithaca, after that Troie was burned. And because those werkes were cōpiled by patches, thei wer called, rhapsodiae, as ye would saie patches or [...]loutes boched together. rhapsodies of Homerus. And he in his wercke entitleed Odyssea maketh men­cion and rehersall of diuerse the wan­dreynges of Ulysses on theseaes & about soondrie countrees ere he could geat home to Ithaca after the burnyng of Troie.

[Page] 17 With the Musicians also he found faulte,How Dio­genes found faulte with y^e Musicians. for that about their harpes and other musicall instru­mentes, thei would bestowe greate labour and diligence to sette the strynges in right tune, & had ma­ners gerryng quite and clene out of all good accorde or frame.

18 How Dioge­nes reproued y^e professours of the Mathematical disci­plines.He reproued also the professours of the Mathemati [...], war the professours & [...]udē [...]s of geometrie, Musike, Arithmetike and Astrologie. For [...] wer called sciēcies Mathematicall, because that where thei ar [...] learned by clene intelligence of the witte, yet thei procede of [...] and sure principles and conclusions, that thei maye bee [...]re c [...]t [...]inly and perfectely perceiued and proued, then Lo­gike, Rhetorike and Philosophie, or any other suche.Mathematicall sciencies, for y^t thei wer alwayes gazyng and staryng vpō the soonne, the moone, and the sterres, and yet could not see what thynges laye before their feete.

19 At the oratours also he had a sai­yng, for y^t thei wer buisie enough [Page 77] to speake thynges standyng with right and iustice,How Dioge­nes reproued the oratours. but to putte the­same in execuciō, and to dooe there­a [...]ter, thei wer veraye slacke.

The couetous persones he rat­leed 20 & shooke vp,How Dioge­nes ratleed & shooke vp co­uetous perso­nes. for y^t in woordes thei dispreased money, wheras in their hertes thei loued thesame of life. For this speciall propretee the couetous persones haue,None dooe in wordes more crye out on a­uarice, then y^e couetous ꝑson [...]s. that none aliue dooe in woordes more defye and deteste auarice, then theimselfes dooe.

The cōmen people also he tooke 21 vp for stumbleyng, because thei praised & commended good menne principally vpon this grounde and title,Howe Diog­nes checked y^• commen peo­ple. for that thei wer despisers of money, & yet in y^e while, thei would neuer the more foloe the steppes of thesame good menne whom thei moste highly commended: but ra­ther foloed those persones that had the grummelle sede & mucke of the worlde, whom in woordes thei did greatly dispraise.

[Page] 22 He neuer lynned rahatyng of those persones that offreed sacri­fice for to haue good helth of bodye & euen in the veraye sacrifice doo­yng,How Dioge­nes rahated suche ꝑsones as did sacri­fice to haue bodyly heith. (in y^t thei were vnmeasurable raueners, and gourmaunders, and would not leaue eatyng while the bealy would hold) thei did al toge­ther against the good helthe of the bodye.Diogenes ha­ted gluttons.

23 He saied, that he meruailled at y^e seruauntes,What faulte Diogenes fo­und w^t bonde seruauntes. that when thei sawe their maisters deuoure meate be­yond all reason or measure, thei tooke not awaye the meate from theim, allegeyng that to bee y^e waye to preserue their maisters in helthe. And for bond seruauntes, or slaues is it more conueniente then for ho­nest mēne, to bee euer maunchyng,It is not for honest menne to bee euer ra­ [...]e [...]yng. and fillyng the gutte.

24 Thus ferre hath it been mencioned and rehersed, what persones, for what causes the said Diogenes rebuked, and found faulte withall. Now lysten what [Page 78] sorte of menne he praised. He allowed theim that wer towarde wiuyng, & yet wiued not:What perso­nes Dioge­nes allowed & praised. y^t wer in a readynesse to saille on the sea, and yet tooke no shippe: that wer about to geue chil­dren their fyndyng, and yet found none at all: that adressed theimsel­fes to entre dooynges in the com­men weale, and yet entreed not in deede: that had prepaired and fra­med theimselfes to bee in courte, & to liue in householde w^t high states or menne of greate power, and yet came not therto. Signifiyng, that best it was from all the said thynges vt­trely to abstein, and therefore those per­sones to seeme wise, whiche hauyng had [...]arnest mocion or prouocacion to any of thesame, had in season chaunged their myndes, for that when menne are ones alreadie entreed in suche maters, it is not in their owne power or free libertee to altre that thei haue aduisedly resolued vpō,When a man hath ones en­treed any gre­ate mater, it is not in his owne power, to goo backe againe, or to chaunge his purpose. although it repente theim of y^• trade or waye y^t thei haue chosen. Whoso hath ones marryed a wife, is not now from thensforthe all together his owne māne: [Page] but in maner half maisterfast:The state of maryed men, of saillers on the sea, and of officers in a cōmen weale. whos [...] hath auentured to committe hymself to the sea, must of force stand in the grace of the wyndes whither to bee cōueighed or carryed: whoso hath ones stepped foorth, and sette in foote to take charge of a commen weale, & to haue dooynges in publique affaires, must remedylesse serue To serue y^• staige, is a prouerbe takē out of y^e latin Scenae serui­re, by whi­che is signifi­ed [...] to dooe as the tyme wil suffre, and as the presente case requireth, so eche persone to a [...]l [...]e hymselfe. Cicero wrytyng vnto Brutus, saieth to h [...]m: Tibi nunc populo & scenae, ut dicitur, seruiendam est. Nam in te non solum exercitus tui, sed omnium ciuium, [...]c poenè gentium coniecti sunt oculi. that is, Thou must nowe of ne­ces [...]e serue the people, and the staige (as saieth the prouerbe) For on the are directely and wholly cast the yien, not onely of thyn owne armie, but also of all the Citizens of Roome, yea and in maner of all nacions in the worlde too. So that the prouerbe maye vera [...]e congruently bee spoken of suche persones, as haue takē in hande some high office or charge in a commen weale, orels the conueighaunce and e [...]ecucion of some veraye noble acte or mater to bee dooen in the face of the worlde [...] whiche thei must of force, either to their high honour, praise, glorie, & renoume go through withall and finyshe, orels with the greate infamie, shame, and re­proche, quail and laye all in the dust, because of the expectacion of menne in suche a case. the staige, and goo through with the parte that he hath taken in hande to playe: yea and though his herte would neuer so faine, yet is it as muche as his life is woorthe, from a publique of­fice of gouernyng a commenweale, to retiere vnto a priuate state and condicion of liuyng.

[Page 79] Diogenes hath the name to bee the 25 autour and first brynger vp of this ridle also: that menne ought not to putte forth their handes to their frendes w^t their fyngers fast clyn­ched together. Betokenyng that it is not enough if wee shewe ourselfes lowly, gentle, & familiare to our frēdes,Howe wee ought to be­haue our sel­fes to our frendes. but that to thesame courtesy of behaue­our, we ought, also to couple liberalitee and bountee for a coumpaignion. Who­so dooen gently and courteously han­dle and entreacte their frendes, are saied proprely in greeke [...], [...]. that is, to take by the right hande, and courte­ously and louyngly to entretein.

At what tyme Diogenes beeyng ta­ken 26 presoner in the Isle of Crete, whiche is now called Candie, was brought forth to bee sold, vnto the [...]ryer demaūdyng wherin his chief feacte or cunnyng did stand,By what ty­tle Diogenes would bee cō ­mended to the byers, when he shoulde bee sold. and by what title he should commend hym to the byers, Marie, (ꝙ he) saye y^t thou hast a feloe to make money of that hath y^e right knowelage how [Page] to rewle menne of freedome,Xeniades a Corinthian bought Dio­genes to his bondeman. one Xeniades a Corinthian hauyng muche meruaill at y^e straūgnesse of y^e crye, approched vnto Diogenes, & demaunded whether he had perfecte skylle to dooe y^t he professed & tooke vpō hym. And whē by the cōmunicaciō of y^e philosophier he perceiued hym to bee a man bothe of high wisedō, and also of profounde learnyng, he bought hym, and had hym home w^t hym to his hous, & committed his children to hym for to bee taught,Xeniades cō ­mitted his sō ­nes to y^e guy­dyng and tea­ [...]hyng of Diogenes. whiche children Diogenes tooke vnto his cure, and thesame right gentle­manlike trained bothe in learnyng and maners. And first & foremoste, he taught theim y^e liberal sciencies,What thyn­ges Dioge­nes taught y^e sonnes of Xe­ [...]iades. and shortly after he taught theim y^e feacte of ryding an horse, he taught theim to bend a bowe and to shoote in it, to whurle with a slyng, and to picke or cast a darte. In the wrast­leyng place, he would not suffre [Page 80] that their tutour (which had y^e cure of their bodyes and health) should exercise theim w^t peinfull labours after the maner of menne of fense,What exer­cise of bodye Diogenes permitted to his young schoo­lares. but so ferre and so muche as might bee auaillable to y^e roddynesse of colour, & for good helthe of y^e bodye. He found the meanes y^t thei should learn by hearte & memorie al y^t euer good was out of y^e poetes,Diogenes his maner of tea­chyng poetes and other au­toures. & other writers. In cōsideracion y^t we haue true knowlage & perfecte intelli­gēce,We haue perfecte knowe­lage of no more then is engrauen in our memorie. onely of suche thynges as wee haue suerly enprinted & engrauen in our memorie. At fewe wordes, y^e summe, y^e effect & pith of al doctrine he drewe out for theim,Diogenes drewe out the sūme of all disciplines for his scholares. cōpiled to­gether by abrigemēte, to the ende y^t bothe thei might in shorter tyme haue a through sight in it, and also the more substancyally for euer cō ­tein it in their memorie.Howe Diogenes trained y^e soonnes of Xeniades in their maners. Thesame children he broke & taught how to awayte on their parentes at home [Page] in their hous,Childrēs diet composed or assigned by Diogenes. and to bee weel plea­sed with light meate, and suche as was easye to bee gotten, and to bee contented with water to their drynke: and where others kepte their longe lockes well trymmed and decked, for an ornamente, and for the better settyng forth of their­fauour and beautie, Diogenes com­maunded these children to haue their heddes polled. And if at any tyme suche occasion chaunced, that thei must goo foorth of doores, he brought theim foorth vnkembed, & vnpiked, without cotes, barefoote and bareleggued, and not a woord with theim. Ouer and besides this, he did breake theim in the feacte of huntyng, in this behalf folowyng the guyse and custome of the Lace­demonians.The Lacede­moniās broke and exercised their children and youth in huntyng. By reason of these thynges it came to passe, that Diogenes had muche reuerente attendaunce dooen to hym by the saied children, and that he was for their sakes highly estemed [Page 81] and accepted with their father Xeniades. Other writers tellen the tale, that the cryer by the biddyng of Diogenes did in this maner speake his woordes. Is there any manne that is willyng or mynded to bye a maister?

When he sate hym downe in the 27 sale tyme, he was forbidden to sitte on his taille, & was charged to stād vpon his feete, for this entente (I suppose,) that the cheapman might the more easyly vieue & trye what he bought. Tushe, (ꝙ Diogenes) what mater maketh that, sens that fishes after what facion so euer thei lyen, bee bought vp. Notyng y^e folyshenesse of the commen people, whiche goo­yng about to bye a bondmā, wylbee wise and well aware that no faulte of the bo­dye maye escape vnespied,The habite of the mynde is best percei­ued by a mā ­nes talkyng. & will not w^t like prouision & caucion serche and trye what state & case y^e mynde is in. And as for y^e habite of y^e mynde is moste euidētly perceiued by a mannes communicaciō & talkyng. And not by sittyng or standyng.

He saied that it seemed to hym a 28 meruaillous mater, that whereas [Page] menne would not bye a potte or a potteled,The ou [...] ­sight of ma­ny persones in bying of menne. but well tryed with knoc­kyng on it, orels by y^e tyncklyng & soune therof: in bying a manne thei could bee contented and satisfied with onely lookyng on hym with their yie. Signifiyng that a manne is by nothyng in y^e worlde better know­en, then by his communicaciō.A māne is by no thyng bet­ter knowen then by his cō municacion. Therfore like as thei that goo about to bye an yearthen potte, or vessell for an orkyn, dooe knocke vpon it with their knuccle, & by the soune that it geueth dooe soone disterne whether it bee whole, of suche claye or metalle as it should bee, & seaso­ned in y^e keil, or not: so before y^t thei bye a manne with poundes moo then one or twoo, meete it wer to prouoke the partie to speake, & to tell one tale or other, and by his talkyng to fynd out what maner feloe he is. To y^e selfsame purpose apper­teineth y^e saiyng nexte afore. A fyshe is dumme and cannot speake, neither maketh it any force how thesame lyeth on the stalle, forasmuche as nomanne cane make therof any thyng but a fyshe. Sēbleably it is no mater ne difference at all, of what ha­bite [Page 82] pl [...]ight, or complexion of bodye ye bye a māne, if ye bye hym, neuer hearyng hym speake.

Unto Xeniades by whom he was 29 bought, he saied: Sir, ye must re­medylesse bee obediente to me, and rewled by me, allthough beeyng now your bondeseruaunte, in con­sideracion that whoso hath to his bondeseruaunte a shipmaister,The maister ought to bee auised by his seruaunte, if he bee wyse. or a physician, is of force driuen to bee rewled by thesame, if he bee dispo­sed to haue any commoditee or pro­fitable seruice of hym.

The reporte goeth, that in the 30 hous of thissame Xeniades he conty­nued and liued vntill he was a ve­raye aged manne, and was there buiryed of his owne scholares. And beeyng asked by Xeniades how his desire was to bee buiryed,How Dioge­nes desired to bee buiried. groue­lyng ꝙ he, with my face toward y^e groūde And to thesame Xeniades de­maūdyng the cause why, he saied: for, ere long tyme to an ende, it [Page] will come to passe, y^t those thynges whiche now lyen downward shal­bee turned vpward. Alludyng herunto, that at that presente season, y^• Macedonians had gotten the ouer hande vpon the Atheniens, and had achiued to the empier of all Grece, and of, in ma­ner vilaines or slaues, thei wer become veraye haulte, and frō veraye basse, thei wer mounted to high domynion.The Macedonians conquered all Grece, and helde the domynion of thesame, in y^• tyme of Dio­genes. That if all thynges should so bee turned vp side down, it should saunce faill come to passe that his dedde carkesse also should ere many dayes after bee turned from ly­yng grouuleyng, to liyng with the face vpward. Percase his menyng was this, to bee no mater to bee passed on, after what maner of liyng or facion the dedde bodye bee putte in y^• graue, about whiche mater, greate was the supersticion of the moste part of people,The maner of buiriyng ī olde tyme. for thei wer carried to their buiriall w^t their feete liyng forth towarde y^• towne gate, thei wer burned in maner of stādyng vpright, and at this daye y^e Iewes (as I heare saye) are putte in their graues as if it wer standyng on their f [...]ete, at lest wise y^• Christians euery one of theim without excepcion are laied in their graues w^t their faces vpward.The Iewes are buiryed, as it wer stā ­dyng on their feete, and the Christians w^t their faces vpward.

31 Standyng on a tyme in the open [Page 81] mercate place, he cryed w^t a loude voice. Approche ye mēne, approche ye mē, as though he had had some earnest mater to saye vnto the peo­ple. And when thei had gathered veraye thicke about hym, and he for all y^t, ceassed not but still cryed: approche ye mēne, certain of theim takyng greate indignacion at the mater, aunswered: loe, here wee bee, saye thy mynde. Then Diogenes dry­uyng theim awaye w^t a staf, saied: I bade menne to approche, and not dounge hylles or draffesackes. He thought not the name of a manne to bee a congruente or a right name for suche persones, as liued not accordyng to reason, but were leden and rewled by sensual mocions,Thei that li­uen not accordyng to rea­son, but are leden by sen­suall affectes and passions, are not wor­thie to bee called menne. and pangues, after the maner of swyne and other brute beastes.

Alexander Magnus when he was at 32 the citee of ^* Corinthus, wente vnto Diogenes sittyng in his tubbe,Alexander talked familiar­ly many thynges w^t Dio­genes sittyng in his tubbe. & tal­ked familiarely with hym many thynges: from whom after that he [Page] was departed, to his familiar [...] frēdes takyng high disdeigne and indignacion, that beeyng a kyng, he had dooen so muche honoure to suche a doggue as Diogenes, Howe highly Ale [...]āder Magnus estemed the philoso­phicall mynde of Diogenes. who would not vouchesalue so muche as ones to aryse vp from his taille to dooe his duetie of humble obey­saunce to so greate a prince, he sayed: wel, yet for al that, wer I not Alexander, I would with all my hert bee Diogenes. So meruaillous highly did he esteme,Nothynge more like to a kyngdō, then a true philo­phical mynde. that same the mynd and herte of thesame Diogenes consti­tute and beeyng in moste perfecte free­dome, and ferre surmountyng the coum­pace or reache of al worldly, or trāsitorie thynges: that he iudged nothyng to bee more like to a kyngdome or empier [...] The principall and chief felicitee of kynges,The prīcipall and chief feli­citee of kyn­ges. What highe cōmoditees redoundeth of philosophie. is, that thei owgh seruice or homage to no yearthly creature, but whatsoeuer thyng standeth with their wille and ple­asure, thei dooe and beraye easyly bryng to effecte: & secoundaryly, that thei feele wante of nothyng yearthly: and all this dooeth philosophie more substancyally & more assuredly perfourme to a manne, [Page 84] then dooeth any empier vnto kynges. Al­beeit to bee Alexander,To bee Ale­xander, Ale­xāder thought to bee more, then to bee a kyng. Alexander dee­med in his opinion to bee a somewhat higher and greater poynte, then to bee a kyng.

He auouched y^• suche folkes as 33 wanted their hearyng or lacked their sight, ought not for that re­specte to bee called feble & maymed persones,What folkes Diogenes thought worthie to bee called feble and maymed per­sones. but suche as had no scryp hangyng by their syde. He da­lyed w^t the affinitee or likenesse of twoo greeke vocables, the one, [...], [...], and the other, [...]. [...]. For [...], of the grecians is called, a maymed persone, a creple, or one that hath lost the vse of some membre or lymme of his bodye, and [...], he y^t is without a scryppe, suche as y^e poore that asken almes frō doore to doore haue hangyng by their syde. Notifiyng in myne opiniō,A man voide of phyloso­phie is ferre vnmete for al good occupa­cions. a manne to be ferre [Page] vnmeete for all good occupacions to be [...] dooen in this life, that is voide of philo­sophie.The Cynikes had no proui­sion of vitailles, but in their scryppe. For the scryppe was for al proui­siō and store of vitailles that the Cyni­kes had [...]

34 Hauyng on a tyme entreed a place wher a coūpaignie of young ruffleers wer banquettyng & ma­kyng good chere, w^t his polle sho­ren pate, he was not onely nothyng courteously welcomed and entreteined, but also sent awaye with as many strypes of whyppyng and scourgeyng as his backe could be­are, on which persones in this wyse he auenged hymself. The names of the yoūgmenne by whom he had been scourged,How Dioge­nes auenged hymselfe [...] on certain yoūgmenne, y^t had whipped and scourged him he regestred in a piece of paper, and so walked vp & down with his cope wyde open. The markes or scrattes of the stripes declared as plainly as if he had spoken it with his toūgue, how he had been hand­leed, and the white paper vttreed theim y^t had dooen the dede. By this meanes he publyshed the vngētle yoūg feloes, to bee chidden and rahated of all the worlde.

[Page 85]Because he was a Cynike, he 35 was called doggue, and this kynde or secte of liuyng was of many per­sones highly praised,Uertue is preased of many, but no māne will fo­loe it. but yet no māne would foloe thesame. Wher­upon he vsed ofte tymes to saye, y^t he was the hounde of many that praised hym, but yet that neuer a one of his praisers had the herte to goo on huntyng with the hounde that was so muche praised.

A certain feloe makyng vaunte 36 and boste of hymself, and saiyng: I wynne euer y^e victorie of menne in the games called Pythia, wer games & playes, yerely celebrated, & holden in the honour of A­pollo, for Py­thon was a great serpent by the cōmaū demente and becke of Iu­no (as y^e poe­tes dooe fable) sette vpon A­pollo to de­ [...]r [...]ye hym, when he was an infaunte, but Apollo euen in his tendre infancie, with his bowe and aroes slewe the serpente Python, and therof was su [...] named Pythius, and therof cometh Pythia. Of these games is [...]fore mencioned. Pythia, No, it is I (ꝙ Diogenes) that wynne the vic­torie of menne, and thou, of slaues. Ones again he dalyed with the affi­nitee and likenesse of the greke woordes, that is betwene [...], menne, and [...], bonde slaues. And bondesla­ues did he cal, whatsoeuer persones wer as subiecte and geuen vnto sensuall lustes, and desires. And these cupiditees by philosophie to ouercome, is a more honest and ioyly thyng, then in the games [Page] called Pythia to ouercome menne.

37 To a certain persone auisyng hym, that beeyng now a manne strikē in age, he should repose hymself and rest from labours, what, (ꝙ he) if I wer rennyng in a race: whether wer it conuenient, beeyng now ap­proched nigh to the gole, and to the ende of the race, to slacke my course and pace of rennyng, orels rather to streigne and enforce thesame? His iudgement was right and true, that the studie of vertue is so muche the more earnestly to bee pursued, as the lesse tyme to liue dooeth remain:The lesse time that a manne hath to liue, the more ear­nestly is y^e studie of vertue to bee proce­ded in. in considera­ciō, that it wer a foule shame in a mānes later dayes to be discōforted, or to haue a cold herte in ꝓsecutyng an honest trade.

38 Beeyng on a tyme inuited & bid­den to supper, he saied plainly that he would not come. And to y^e partie demaundyng y^e cause why, he aun­swered: Because I had not my thā ­kes [Page 86] yesterdaye for my comyng thy­ther. The moste parte of menne re­quireth to haue thankes,A philosophi­er deserueth high thākes, that beeynge desired he wil vouchesalue to bee a geast at an other mannes table as it were for some great benefite, if thei haue had a bodye at dyner or supper w^t theim. But Diogenes (although beeyng a poore manne) demed great thākes to bee duely owyng vnto hym, y^t he would vouchsalue & not refuse to make one at a mannes table, for y^t he came nowhither without bearyng his porciō of the shot for his repaste,A philosophi­er, wheresoe­uer he cometh paieth well for his repast if he talke in philosophie. but did w^t cōmunicaciō of philosophie muche more dentyly feede y^e myndes aswell of y^e partie y^t made the feast, as also of y^e other geastes, then thesame maker of the dyner fedde the body with good viandrie.

He tooke on a tyme Demosthenes 39 beeyng at that season but a young strepleyng, euen with the maner dynyng in a comen tauerne,How Dioge­nes rebuked Demosthenes conueighyng hymselfe pre­uylye ferther into a tauern when he was foūd there at dyner in an outer roume. and when the same Demosthenes hauyng espyed Diogenes conueighed hymself awaye into an inner roume of the hous, so muche the ferther in (ꝙ he) shalt thou bee in the tauerne. Signifiyng that he was like much y^e more for that to bee a talkyng stoke to al the geastes in the coumpaignie, that not [Page] onely he haunted suche a place, but also had conueighed hymself priuely out of sight, as though he had been found in some mater or deede of myschief. For y^t was a thyng more to bee talked of, then that he was makyng good chere there. Other writers tellen, that this was spo­ken to a certain yoūg māne, not namyng what he was, but thesame might bee euē Demosthenes too. As for the sense is the more plain and opē, that wee take or vn­derstand,The more se­ [...]te y^t a man [...] [...]an ciuill [...] y^e more v [...]rayly is he in it. that y^e young manne was putte in remembreaunce that he should auoid not ferther in to suche a place, but clene out of doores. For the ferther in that he hidde hymself secrete out of sight with in the tauerne, the more truely he was in the tauerne.

40 To certain straungers beeyng veraye desirous and fain to haue a sight of that ioyly feloe Demosthe­nes that had euerywhere so great a name,How Dioge­nes shewed Demosthenes vnto certaine straūgers, beeyng [...]esirous to set hym. Diogenes stretchyng out his middle fynger, and pointyng with it, sayed: Thissame is that ioyly fe­loe Demosthenes the oratour of the A­theniens. The fore fynger nexte vnto the thumbe is called in latin, index, Index. as if [Page 87] ye should saye in englyshe, the pointyng fynger, or the shewyng fynger, because y^t stretchyng forth thesame fynger on lēgth wee vse to shewe this, or that. And the middlemust fynger was emong menne of olde tyme rekened slaūdreous, for a cause at this present not to bee rehersed. And Demosthenes had in euery mānes mouth an ciuill reporte, of mysliuyng and abu­syng his bodye. Whiche thyng Diogenes notifiyng, had more phansie to pointe to wardes hym with the middle fynger, thē with the fore fynger, as other folkes vsed to dooe.

A piece of breade had fallen frō 41 a feloe,Folish sham [...] to no purp [...]se. who lefte thesame liyng on the grounde, for that he was asha­med to take it vp again. Diogenes myndyng to refourme the foly of the partie, putte a corde about the necke of a potte, & trailled it after hym on the grounde along the Ceramicus, Ceramicus, was a place ī Athenes, ser­uyng for th [...] buiryall of theim y^t ha [...] been slain i [...] battaill. dooyng thesame thyng in a potte, whiche the other feloe was eiuill ashamed to dooe in a piece of breade.

Where he semed to many folkes 42 [Page] tootoo muche and tooto earnest [...] philosophier, he aūswered,How Dioge­nes aunswe­red theim, to whome he se­med tooto earnest a philosophier. he y^t the [...] in foloed the maner of the maister chauntres that sette the kaye, or take the first parte of a song to be­gynne it in a quiere, who of a cu­stome & vsage, dooen somewhat ex­cede y^e right tune y^t thei should take to the ende that y^e others maye take y^e due time, that thei ought to dooe. For what excedeth or passeth the meane, although it bee vicions, (For al vertues sayen the morall philosophiers) dooen consiste in the meane betwene to vices,All vertues dooe consiste in the meane, betwene two vices [...] as, for ex­exaumple liberalitee betwene nygardship and prodigalitee, true religion betwene supersticion & contempte.) Yet thesame much auailleth to stiere vp, & to quicken the slouggardie of others. Sem­bleably the robe or cope, and the tubbe of Dioge­nes, did not without their greate reproche vp­braide to the riche and welthie folkes their nycy­tee and their delices.

43 It was one of his saiynges, that no small noumbre of menne are in a deeper kynde of madnesse,Many are in a deeper kynd of madnesse, then if thei should pointe with one fyn­ger in stede of an other. then the errour of myspoyntyng with the fynger extended vnto. For if a bodye should still stretche out the mid­dlemust fynger to pointe therw^• in stede [Page 88] of the forefynger, he shoulde echewhere bee accoumpted as one out of his witte if one, putte forth the forefynger to that vse, he is thought sadde and well auised. But many a thousand folkes there been, whiche dooe much more greuously playe the madde menne in serious maters, then if thei should putte out one fynger in stede of an other, and yet suche persones are not emong the people commenly ta­ken for mysauised. As euen at this pre­sent day [...], the parentes dooe in their chil­dren chastice for a greuous offēse,The foly of some parētes in chasticyng their childrē. if thei vse the liefte hande in stede of the right hande, but thei dooe not sembleably cha­stice theim, when thei choose and take thynges abhomynable, in stede of honest.

He taunted y^e foly & madnesse of 44 men in this pointe also, y^e thynges precious,The preposte­rous estyma­cion of y^e peo­ple in bying & sellyng of thynges. thei bought & solde for li­tle or nothyng, & thynges nothyng woorth at veray high prices,Images and porteratures of menne we [...] in olde tyme bought at high prices. for he saied: y^t the porture of a mā in brasse or stone, should bee bought vp with three thousād ^*pieces of coyn, wher as a pecke of mele was to bee sold for two brasse pēs. And yet ther nedeth no such image or porture for any neces­sarie [Page] vse of mannes life, without meale there is no possibilitee of mainteinyng y^• life. It had therefore been conueniente that meale should bee sette at a muche hi­gher price then images of stone or brasse. The philosophier estemed the prices of thynges by the naturall vse or necessarie o [...]cupiyng of thesame,Wyse menne [...]en y^e prices of thyn­ges, by the naturall vse of thesame. the peuyshe multi­tude of y^e people estemeth it by their foo­lyshe persuasion.

45 Thesame tale that a litle afore we recited of Xeniades, certain wri­ters tellen in this maner, where as it was Diogenes y^t was bought, yet as though himself had bought Xe­niades, he saied vnto thesame: See y^t thou bee obediente to my cōmaū ­demētes. And when the other saied again in greke,The maister owght to bee rewled by the seruaūte bee­yng a philosophier. [...], as ye would saye, that wer euen the riuer to renne vp the hylle, betokenyng the mater to goo clene arsee versee, if the seruaunte should cōmaunde the maister: why, ꝙ Diogenes, if [Page 89] thou beeyng in some greate sicke­nesse or maladie haddest bought a physiciā,tranquillitee of manne. wouldest y^u not bee rewled by him prescribyng, thy diet? woul­dest y^u saie to hym, [...], y^e ri­uer renneth vp y^e hylle? If y^• mai­ster beeyng eiuil diseased in his body, bee glad & faine to obeye y^• seruaunt hauyng good sight and practise in phisike, much more dooeth it become one y^t is sore sicke in y^• mynde or solle, to bee obediēte to his seruaunte, beeyng profoundly experte in philosophie.Philosophie healeth all the dis [...]ases of y^• mynde. For what y^• facultee or arte of physike perfourmeth to the body, the­same dooeth philosophie accoumplyshe to the mynde or solle. The one healeth the feure, the other healeth the corrupte and naughtie appetites. And how muche the mynde or solle is of more dignitee then the bodye,How muche y^e solle is bet­ter then y^• bo­dye, so muche the more gre­uous are the diseases of y^• solle then of the bodye. so muche the more gre­uous & dedly are the diseases of the solle, then of the bodye. Laertius saieth more ouer, that Diogenes, when he was asked of the cryer, by what title he would bee sette out in woordes, and he had aun­swered that he could skylle to rewle and to ordre men of freedome,Diogenes would needes bee solde to one that had neede of a maister. Assone as he had espyed a certain māne passyng by, trymmely decked and araied, he [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] saied to thesame cryer, sell me to thissame feloe here, for he hath neede of a maister.

46 To one makyng suite to be recei­ued of Diogenes vnto his secte & discipline of philosophie, after y^• admis­siō of y^e feloe, for to proue & trye the same, Diogenes deliuered vnto hym a gāmoūd of bakō to carye ī y^e strete, & cōmaūded him to come after him The partie castyng awaye by reasō of shame, y^e thyng y^t he bare in his hāde, stole priuely frō hym & con­ueighed hym quyte away. Within fewe dayes after Diogenes by chaūce meetyng w^t hym, laughed & sayed, thy frēdship & myne, a poore gam­moūde of bakon hath set at twain. Dooyng to meete, y^t he was no meete or apte disciple for philosophie, y^t could not cōtemne & shake of folishe shame.Foly [...]h shame [...]o no purpose For it is not a thyng vnhonest for one to car­rye a gāmōde of bakō in his hāde,To shrynke awaye frō vertue, is a foule shame. but to shrynke awaye frō honestee & vertue is a thyng shamefull & abomynable. Diocles telleth theselfsame mater, some what v [...] riyng from y^• wordes aboue, mencioned. [Page 90] When a certain persone makyng suite to bee a disciple of Diogenes, had saied vnto hym, Maister Diogenes cōmaunde me to dooe some ser­uice: To thesame receiued into his seruice, he deliuered a lūpe of chese to carrye, & whē y^e yoūg mā for sha­mefastnesse, refused to beare y^e said piece of chese. A lytle piece of chese (ꝙ Diogenes) hath clene dashed the amitee & frendship of vs twoo.

When he had espyed on a tyme a 47 lad drynkyng out of y^e palme of his hāde, he saied:Nature hath prouided for euery body al necessarie furniture of housholde stuf. This lad is in frugalitee a degree aboue me, y^t dooe car­ry about me superfluous furniture of houshold, & forthwith toke out of his scryppe a litle treē tākard or dishe y^t he vsed for his cup to drynk on, & y^esame cast awaye frō hym, saiyng: I knewe not, y^t nature had in this behalf also made ꝓuisiō for vs Whē he had seen an other boye, for asmuch as his treē saucer was bro­kē, to take vp Lēticula, is a poultz, cal­led chittes, which (becau­se we here in Englāde haue not in vse to [...]ate) I trans­late peasen. peasen out of y^e potte [Page] w^t a crust of breade made holowe for that purpose, he cast awaye frō hym his treen potagedishe too, as a thyng superfluo [...]s.The frugali­tee of Dio­genes, maye shame our su­perfluitees & excesses. I can bee veraye well contēted that these thynges bee thought worthie skorne and derisiō, so that wee graunte this excedyng great exaumple of simplicitee and plainnesse, to make veraye well to this purpose, that wee maye bee ashamed of our superflui­tees, & excesses, that are vsed echewhere emong vs at these dayes.

48 That to a manne sapiente, no­thyng is wantyng, he concluded by this syllogisme:A syllogisme, is a perfecte argumente of logike, in whiche, two thynges or moo, first putte, & thesame graū ted, the conclusiō dooeth in­euitably foloe of necessitee. The Goddes are lordes of all thynges, and haue all thynges in their possession: the sa­piente menne and the Goddes are mutuall frendes, either to y^e others, and all maner thynges that one frende hath, is commen or readie for the other also, Ergo the sapiente menne are lordes of all thynges, & haue all thynges in their possessiō.How Dioge­nes concluded that a manne sapiente hath all thynges in his possessiō. But by the selfsame syllogisme he might haue been shaken of, when he desi­red [Page 91] any thyng: why dooest thou craue, sens thou hast all thynges already in thy possession?

When he had espyed a woman 49 liyng prostrate before the Goddes,How Dioge­nes rebuked a woman ly­yng vncome­ly prostrate a­fore the God­des. hir bodye so boughed down, that behind hir, some partes of thesame appered out, whiche is not comely, ne honest to bee made bare to y^e yies of mē: he wēt vnto hir, saiyng, art y^u not a feard thou womā, lest y^• some God standyng behind thy backe (for all places and thynges of the worlde are replenyshed with the presence of God) thou demeane thy self vncomely? He is reported to haue consecrated to Aesculapius a tor­mētour,Diogenes cō ­secrated to Aesculapius, agyaūt with a clubbe in his hande. who should come rennyng and all to trample, and crushe such persones as would falle down pro­strate vpon their faces before Aescul [...]pius. By this colour and false pre­tense causyng folkes vtterly to renounce and abandon supersticion, whiche haue a beleef that the Goddes will not heare theim, excepte thei make much doukyng, [Page] stoopyng, beckyng, and prostraciōs vnto thesame with vncomely gesture of their bodye.

50 He vsed veraye often in y^• waye of iestyng to saye, that the tragicall malediccions and cursses hadde mette with hym,Tragicall ex­cecraciōs met with Dioge­ [...]es. for that he was (accordyng to the fourme of suche maner execraciōs) [...], destitute of an house to putte his hedde in, [...], abandoned frō dwellyng in any citie, [...], as a manne bany­shed out of his countree, [...], cō ­streigned to begge his breade, [...], driuen to wandre about from place to place as a vagabounde, & [...],Ch [...]liades a noble and a right clerkely werke, made by Erasmus in whiche he hath gathe­red certain thousādes of greke & latin prouerbes. not sure on the one daye, where to haue his dyner the nexte daye foloyng. This he saied, allu­dyng to some place of one or other of the tragedies. Of the execracions and curses of ^☞ Oedipus I haue spoken at large in my werke of greke and latin prouerbes whiche is entitleed, Chiliades.

51 Ferthermore, he is reported to haue vsed this saiyng also, that to matche against fortune,How Dioge­nes matched fortune, lawe & affeccions. he sette al­wayes the confidence or stoutnesse of courage:Whereby is purchaced & mainteined y^• against y^e lawe, he sette nature: against affeccions, mociōs, [Page 93] or wilfull pangues of y^e mynde, re­ason. For y^t by these three thynges is purchaced and mainteined the tran­quillitee of menne. Against the bloustre­yng stormes & rages of fortune, a strong herte, beeyng voide of all maner feare, is to a sapiente māne a sure buckler and de­fense: in stede of a lawe, the wise manne foloeth nature, to the whiche nature if y^e lawe bee repugnaūte, he despiseth y^e lawe And w^t reason he caulmeth, asswageth, and kepeth down, the troubleous assaul­tes of desires and affeccions inordinate.

When Alexander Magnus came to 52 see Diogenes, he chaunced to fynd hym in the place that was called, Craneum, Craneū [...]e lōg was a place of e [...]ercise in the Citie of Corinthus. sittyng in his tubbe, and patchyng together with glewe or paste y^e toren leaues of his bookes. And after that the kyng hauyng familiarly talked many thynges with hym, addressed hymself to de­parte, and saied: Bethynke thyself Diogenes, How Dioge­nes vsed the kyng, Alexander the great inuityng hym to aske of him what gifte he would. what thou wouldest moste faine aske of me, for what soeuer thou shalt desire or wyshe, y^u shalt [Page] assuredly haue, well (ꝙ Diogenes) of other thynges we shall talke anon at leasure, in the meane tyme stand aside frō me a litle out of the waye, when y^e kyng had gone backe frō hym, supposyng that y^e other was mynded to cōsyder w^t himself what he might best aske: to thesame of a preaty while speakyng not a word, he repeted his former woordes & ones again saied: aske what thyng thy mynde and wille is Diogenes. Marie euē this same was my wille and desire to haue, ꝙ he again, for before, thou diddest keepe awaye from me the sonne, beeyng moste requisite and necessarie for this busynesse or occupacion that I am a­bout now. Other writers tellen, that he sa [...]ed thus: Do not make sha­doe betwene the sonne and me. For that he was disposed to sonne hym selfe.

53 This also is recorded in writyng, [Page 94] that Alexander spake vnto hym after this sort: I am come hither Diogenes to succour and to relieue thee, be­cause I see thee to bee in greate pe­nurie and neede of many thynges. To whom Diogenes aunswered thus again.Diogenes a­uouched hym selfe to bee ri­cher then Ale­xander the great. Whether of vs twoo is in more penurie, I, y^t besides my scryp and my cope, dooe mysse, ne desire nothyng at all, orels thou, whiche not beeyng contented with the in­heritaūce of thy fathers kyngdom dooest putte thyself in auenture,The in [...]acia­ble mynde of Alexander, to haue empier. & hasarde of so many perilles and daungers, to enlarge the limites of thyn empier, in so muche, that vneth all the whole worlde se­meth hable to satisfie thy coue­tous desire?

On a certain tyme when Diogenes 54 had bene readyng of a lecture a veraye great whyle together, was at last come so ferre that he sawe a voide page of a leafe: Bee of good [Page] coumforte maisters, ꝙ he, I haue espyed lande. Makyng resemble­aunce to a coumpaignie of mēne beeyng weried with long saillyng, who are well refreshed in their hertes, when the porte or hauen aferre of appereth vnto theim.

Uain sophisticacions, are rather to bee skorned, then to bee soyled.To one by sophistical insolubles concludyng and prouyng, that Diogenes had hornes, feelyng & hand­leyng his forehedde & his temples. In feith, ꝙ Diogenes, but I see, ne feele none. He thought better to laugh suche a peuishe trifleyng argumēt to skorne, then to soyle it.

When Zenon readyng a lecture in the schooles, laboured with moste subtile and moste craftie reasons to proue that neither was there, ne possibly myght bee, any mouynge, (In whiche mouynge dependeth a greate porcion of the veritees, concluded in naturall phylosophie.) Diogenes arysyng vp out of his place,How Dioge­nes confuted zenon, labou­ryng to proue that mouyng is a thyng vnpossible. begoonne to walke vp and downe. Zeno maruaillynge thereat, saied: why, what dooest [Page 95] thou nowe, Diogenes? Marie (ꝙ he) I falsifie and confute thy blynde reasons. Rebukyng all vnder one, the vaine braggue and osten­tacion that zenon made of his witte.

A certain sophiste, willyng in the 57 presence of Diogenes, How Dioge­nes mocked a Sophiste, ar­guyng him to bee no māne. to shewe the quickenesse of his witte, made a so­phisticall argumente vnto hym, in maner & fourme as foloeth. That I am, thou art not: when Diogenes had therunto graunted: And I am a māne, ꝙ the other, ergo, thou art not a manne. Then saied Diogenes:Euery ꝑfecte syllogysme, hath three partes or mēbres as, that I am thou arte not, the maior: but I am a māne, the minor: er­go, thou art not a manne, the conclusiō. Leat the first membre of thy syllo­gysme begynne of me, and the con­clusion of thyne argumente shall assuredly bee right and true. He would not vouchesalue to discusse what defaulte & errour was in the argumente, but thought better to geue a mocke to the feloe y^t stood so highly in his owne con­ceipte for the respecte of suche trifleyng bagg [...]age. If his minor had been this, thou art a manne, then after Diogene [...] his sentence, the conclusion had been [Page] good, for it had foloed that the Sophis [...]e was no manne.

58 To one for the ostentaciō of his witte,How Dioge­nes mocked a feloe y^t made muche pratleyng in astro­nomie. Aboue in the xxiii. saiyng of Socrates. buisyly pratleyng and ma­kyng many gaye good morowes, of the skye, and the ste [...]res: I praye you good sir, ꝙ Diogenes, how long seus, came ye downe from heauen? In this he represented Socrates, whose saiyng was, suche thynges as are aboue our reache, to bee no parte of our playe to medle withall.

59 A certain Ennuch, Ennuchus, is a ge [...]de [...] man. beeyng in sore infamie and slaundre of vicious and vnthriftie liuyng, had writen vpon the doore of his hous, no eiuill thyng motte there entre here. Diogenes thesame inscripcion espiyng, saied: y^e owner of the hous for his owne parte, what waye dooeth he vse to goo in? The Ennuch had sette vp y^e title as a poysee, or a woorde of good lucke, that no mysauēture might light on the hous, and thesame did Dio­genes wrest and transferre to the vices of the mynde,The vices of y^• mynde one­ly, are in deede [...]uil thynges. wiche onely are in veraye deede eiuill thynges.

[Page 96] Diogenes hauyng gotten perfume,60 rubbed & enoynted his feete ther­with,Diogenes en­oynted his feete with perfume, where others, enoynten their hed­des. contrarie to the cōmen vsage of al other folkes. And to suche persones as made a greate woondre­yng therat, he saied: Thus I dooe because that perfume beeyng pou­red vpon the hedde, reketh out into the aier: but from the feete it ascen­deth vp to the nastrelles. Sem­bleably did an other persone dissallow and dispraise the commen vsage, by whi­che menne sette garlandes of sweete her­bes and floures vpon their heddes,Mēne should weare sweete floures in their bosome [...] rather then in their cappe. whe­ras it is more conueniente to putte the­same benethe the nastrelles, forthat the [...]apour and aier of the redolente sauour dooeth not of his propretee so muche de­scende & soke downwarde [...] as it dooeth mounte and ascende vpwarde.

The preestes, or mynisters (of 61 suche diuine rites, sacres and my­steries, as in the gentilitee of that tyme wer vsed in Athenes,) would haue persuaded Diogenes, and haue brought hym in mynde, to take or­dres, [Page] and to bee a mynistre of the temple emong theim,How Dioge­nes replyed to y^• Atheniens, auysyng hym to bee a preste or a minister of their holy rites. allegeyng, y^• suche as in their life tyme had been within holy ordres, had highest preemynence, emong the dedde. To the whiche aduertisemēte, Dio­genes thus replyed. That is a mad rekenyng, saieth he, as euer I heard, if the valiaunte Capitaines Agesilaus & Epaminondas, Agesila [...]s, a noble & a vi­ctorious kyng of y^• Lacede­monians, and Epaminon­das a right valiaunte ca­pitain of the Thebanes. because thei wer neuer prestes, bee lyyng in y^• backehous diche, and Patetion that theefe, with all y^e rable of other like spittle vilaines, for this onely re­specte that thei been within ordres, shall sitte in God almightie his owne lappe. It was a sore che [...]ke geuen to the facions of the prestes, who for their emloumente, lucre, & auantage, did flater, and with faire promyses feede the supersticion of the blynde and igno­raunte people, bryngyng thesame in full beleef that takyng ordres,The blisse of heauen is not conferred for the respect, of this ordre, or that, but for good liuyng. or professyng religion, should conferre eternall blisse after this presente life, where as thesame felicitee is ordeined and prepaired onely [Page 97] [...]or those, y^• by godly and noble dooynges haue deserued it, whether thei be men of the churche & within holy ordres, or not.

At his first entreyng into his 62 philosophicall profession or trade, when he in his tubbe eatyng drye & musty breade, all solitarie with­out the coumpaignie of any crea­ture, hearde all the whole citee whoughtyng and shoughtyng euerywhere with ioye and solace, (for it was a fest daye of high solemni­tee and pastyme) he feeled in his herte no small tediousnesse, and a good preaty while it rāne so in his hedde, that he was more then half mynded,How Dioge­nes beeynge more thē hal [...] mynded to geue ouer the philosophical trade y^t he had entreed into, was staied. to geue ouer the trade of liuyng, which he was entreed into. But when at last, he sawe myce come crepyng about his tubbe, and eatyng vp the crummes of breade, he saied to hymself, why art thou out of conceipte with thyself Diogenes? thou art a greate estate [Page] out right, and kepest a royall porte, loe, thou kepest a table for smelfea­stes too, that are gladde, to seeke their dyner with the.

63 To Plato for y^• respecte of his slo­uenrie & beggerlynesse of liuyng, callyng hym curre & doggue: Yea marie (ꝙ Diogenes) ye saie soothe [...] Diogenes tooke in good parte to bee [...]alled doggue. for I am come rennyng home a­gain to theim that sold me awaye. For it is y^• guise & maner of doggues if thei bee sold, to renne home again to their olde maisters. He was nothyng of­fended with the opprobrious woorde, but rather to his owne purpose interpreted thesame. In sallyng towardes Aegi­na he was before his arriual, taken prie­soner of certain pirates, and so brought into y^• Isle of Crete,Crete, is the same Isle, y^t wee call Can­di [...], of which wee haue no­ted in another place. & there sold. Those pirates (I thynke,) wer Corinthians, or Atheniens, or at lestwyse Aeginetes.

64 When certain persones had de­maunded on hym as he was com­myng homeward frō y^• hotte baine hous, whether there wer at y^esame, many menne, no verayly, saied he [...] [Page 98] And beeyng eftsons asked whether there wer at the said stewe muche presse of folke, yea by y^e rood is ther, ꝙ he. Notifiyng, that to bee called a manne, is a fitte name but for a fewe.The appella­cion of a man is fitte, but for fewe.

This also goeth in a tale, albeit 65 vneth beleuable. Plato had thus diffined a manne:This diffin [...] ­cion of a man Aristotle also in his logike dooeth im­proue. A manne is a liue­thyng with twoo feete, hauyng no fethers. And when the scholares of Plato had made signes and tokens of well allowyng thesame diffini­cion, Diogenes brought foorth into the schole,How Dioge­nes improued the diffiniciō of a manne, whiche Pla­to gaue. a cocke pulled naked out of al his fethers both great & smal, saiyng: loe, here is Plato his manne. Wherupō it was added to the diffi­nicion, hauyng brode nailles, for that no byrdes ha [...]e any suche.

To one demaundyng at what 66 houre best wer, for a manne to goo to his dyner:At what hour it is best for a man to dyne. If he bee ryche, ꝙ Diogenes when his pleasure is, if poore, when he maye.

Beeyng at Megara, when he 67 [Page] sawe the rammes goo with thei [...] wulle on their backes vnshorne for takyng harme of the bitturnesse of colde,Megara was [...] toune in the coūtree of At­tica, not ferre from the citee of Athenes. and their young childrē goo clene naked without any clothes at all, he saied: It is muche better to bee the ramme, then to bee the soonne of a Megarian. It is writen of the Megarians, that thei wer woondrefull rechelesse in nouryshyng & keepyng [...]p their children.The Megarians were re­chelesse in ke­pyng their children.

68 A feloe carriyng a long loggue in the strete, gaue Diogenes a good rappe w^t the one ende of it, for lacke of takyng heede, & incontinēte (as the guyse is in suche case) saied: Beware: why, (ꝙ Diogenes) dooest thou entend to geue me an other rappe yet? Other writers do thus tel it. Whē the feloe saied:It is ouerlate to bidde be­ware, when y^• hurt is dooen already. beeware, Diogenes rapped his staffe on the pate of the other feloe, and after the stroke alreadye surely sette on and past, saied as thesame had doen afore to [Page 99] hym, beware. Geuyng vnto the­same taunte pour taunte, or one for an other. For, beware, should haue been saied before the harme dooyng, and not after.

Diogenes on a tyme, bearyng in 69 his hande a lighted candle, walked vp and downe the mercate stede, in a veraye bright and clere daye, like one that sought a thyng loste.A manne is a rare thyng to bee founde, though he bee sought with a candle. And diuerse persones askyng, what he did: Marie I seeke a manne, ꝙ he. Notyng the publique maners of the citee scace honest enough for any per­sone, bearyng the name of a manne.

When he had on a tyme been so 70 souced with water, that he had ne­uer a drye threde about hym, and stood droppyng on euery syde and parte of his bodye, diuerse perso­nes standyng about hym (as com­menly in suche case thei will) tooke muche pitie on the poore solle, as one that had been serued a veraye vngoodly touche, and vsed or hād­leed [Page] out of all good facion. To whiche persones, if ye bee wyllyng saieth Plato, (for he also emong o­thers was happyly at y^esame tyme presente) to take pietie and compassion vpon Diogenes, departe hens and gette you from hym. No­tyng in hym beeyng a philosophier de­sirefuln [...]e of glorie.Priue ambi­cion & desire of glorie in Diogenes. Forasmuche as therefore to bee vnto y^• by standers suche a woondreyng and gazyng stocke was to Diogenes greate pleasure and delec­tacion: he was rather happie and fortu­nate, thē to bee pietied, but if he had been wetted frō toppe to toe, no mā standyng by to see it, then had he been miserable in veraye deede.

71 To one that gaue hym a good, cuffe on the eare,The patience and modera­ [...]aciō of Dio­genes. in good south (ꝙ he) I had no suche knowelage ne warnyng to goe with a salette on my hedde. And that was all that euer he did to bee auenged on the partie that had strieken hym.

72 But he did not with sembleable pacience forbeare one Midias, How Dioge­nes requited one Midias geuyng hym a blowe on y^• eare. who after a good whistersnefet, truely [Page 84] paied on his eare, had saied: There bee three thousande brasse pens now readie assigned and laied out for thee in the eschecquier: in the waye of mockage, biddyng muche good dooe it hym, for that he was assured to recouer of Midias so much money for a forfaicte,The penaltee or forfaicte [...] for geuyng a blowe in th [...] olde tyme a [...] Athenes. if he would take y^e lawe for the blowe geuyng. But Diogenes y^e nexte daye foloyng tooke abrode thongue, suche as y^e champions vsed of neates leather sette with studdes and bosses, and thesame wel fauouredly bestowed about y^e ribbes and pate of Midias, he saied euen in the veraye same wyse, as the other had dooen afore to hym: there bee three thousande brasse pens now readie assigned & laied out for thee in y^• eschecquier. Aulus Gellius telleth of a feloe whiche had a goo [...] sporte to geue menne buf­fettes with his hande, and ymmediately after, would commaunde to bee told out in readie money y^• summe of y^• forfaicte, [Page] out of a purse, whiche he had cōtynually carryed about w^t hym for that purpose. But Diogenes plainly declared, not all menne to bee of that pacience, that thei can bee satisfied, and hold theim con­tented with the penaltee of the sette forfaicte.

73 The philosophiers had in this behalf, a veray eiuill name abrode, that either thei beleued not any goddes to bee, orels thei did con­temne thesame. This thyng Lysias half signifiyng,How Dioge­nes aunswe­red Lysias, demaundyng whether he beleued any goddes to bee. asked Diogenes, whe­ther he beleued that there wer any Goddes. To whom Diogenes, aun­swered. How maye it stand with reason that I should not beleue,Lysias was an oratour in Athenes whō for his excea­dyng sweete­nesse, Quintilian praiseth [...] yes: sens I am fully persuaded y^t thyself art a feloe of the Goddes abandoned and accursed? This saiyng some writers dooen attribute to Theodorus. He made none aunswer to y^• question, but reuersed the woordes to the parties self, that had in the waye of de­spite [...]utte the question to hym.

74 Espiyng a feloe for the obser­uaunce of religion, washyng hym [Page 101] selfe with riuer water, (for by this rite did menne of olde tyme vse to purifie and clense theimselfes, if thei beleued any offense on their partie against the Goddes to haue been cōmitted) miserable creature, saied Diogenes, How Dioge­nes eluded a feloe spryncleyng water v­pon hymselfe for pourge­yng his synne when thou hast erred in any pointe of grāmer, thou art not assoyled by castyng water vpō thyselfe: then muche lesse shal sem­bleable spryncleyng of water ridde or deliuer thee from synfulnesse of liuyng. He did veraye well note the supersticion of folkes, in that thei bele­ued the spottes and staynyng of the solle to bee pourged and scoured awaye,The supersti­cion of folkes in old tyme. with the sensible, grosse or carnall elemente of bodyly water, excepte thei had also cutte awaye the inordynate lustes and desires of the herte.

He did woonderous highly re­buke 75 those persones,Diogenes r [...] ­buked those ꝑsones, who blamed for­tune, when their maters went awrye. who, if any of their maters framed not, but went awrye, would blame and wyte for­tune therefore (as in deede y^e moste [Page] parte of menne vsen to dooe, and Diogenes auouched the parties sel­fes muche more woorthie to bee shent, whose guise and facion was, with all earnest requeste & instaūce to craue at the handes of ladie for­tune, not suche thynges as in ve­raye deede wer substanciall good, but suche as in their owne phansie and opinion seemed good. For if menne would permitte or leaue to the arbitrimente, wille and pleasure of the Goddes, to send suche thynges,If god might bee lea [...] alone he would sēd to māne that were best for hym. as the­same dooe iudge to bee best and moste ex­pediente, thei would send it. Now, foras­mucheas menne receiuen accordyng to their own moste agre & ymportune suites they dooen like feloes hauyng no shame in theim, to laye vnto y^e Goddes y^• faulte of quaillyng and mysprouyng.

76 The supersticion of suche per­sones as would bee frayed with dreames, in this maner did he de­ride and skorne, what thynges ye dooe whyle ye are awakyng, saieth he, that care ye not for, and what [Page 102] thynges ye dreame whyle ye are slepynge, ye dooe carefully serche out. For to the felicitee, or miserie of a ma [...]ne, it maketh not so greate force what cometh to thesame in his slepe,The supersti­tion of many folkes about their dreames as what he dooeth awakyng, while one is awakyng if he perpetrate any vnhonest or synneful acte, it wer requisite to feare the wrathe of Godde, and y^e wofull ende to ensue therof, and not if menne see this or that, in their slepe.

At the Olympia, the cryer thus 77 proclamyng, Doxippus hath woonne the maisterie of menne, Diogenes corrected hym, saying: no, Doxippus of slaues or vilaines,The bōdeser­uauntes of glorie. The philoso­phier onely hath victori [...] of menne. and I of mēne. Signifiyng, theim that proued mai­steries at the saied olympia and other like games, not to bee menne, but bonde­seruauntes of glorie, onely the philoso­phier and none els hath the ouer hande of menne: like vnto this, is one other of his saiynges aboue mencioned.

When Philippus had an armie in the countree of Cherronea, This Philip­pꝰ was kyng of the Mace­donians, & fa­ther of Alexā ­d [...]r y^• greate. there to 78 make warre, thither came Diogenes, and beeyng taken by y^e soldyers, [Page] he was brought vnto the kyng, who, when he sawe Diogenes a per­sone vnknowen, cryed out in a greate furie, A spye, a spye. To whom Diogenes replyed, saiyng: yea, euen a veraye spye in deede. For hither am I come to vieue y^e brain­siknesse of thee,How Dioge­nes aunswe­red Philippꝰ, chalengeynge hym for a spye. who, not beeyng cō tented with y^e kyngdome of the Macedonians, for to geate other mennes kyngdomes into thy hādes, dooest cast thyself in greate perill & daun­ger of leesyng bothe thyn owne kyngdome, and also thy life. The kyng meruaillyng, at the franke plainnesse of the māne, discharged thesame, and sette hym at large, biddyng hym goo where he would at his free libertee.^*

79 Alexander the kyng of the Macedo­nians [Page 103] had sent letters vnto Antipater by a certain persone named Athlias, Diogenes at thesame houre beeyng happyly in place. Who, accordyng to his Cynicall guyse, saied: Athlius from Athlius by Athlias to Athlius. It was nothyng but a toye, in da­liyng, with the affinitee and similitude of woordes. For the name of the messa­ger was. [...], with [...], and [...] in greke souneth one beyng in myserable state or condicion, & sore vexed or beaten with manyfolde trauailles, peines and troubles. For whiche respecte the figh­tyng menne, or the champiōs & maisters offense, had their name deriued out of y^e ­same vocable, and wer called bothe in greke and latin Athletae. Athletae. Princes whi­che for ambi­ciō of honour rewle and do­minion are in contynuall strife, bee in miserable state, and full of wooe. The menyng of the philosophier was, that princes for the ambicion of honour, rewle and do­mynion, beeyng in contynuall strife and hurlee burlee, are in veraye deede perso­nes full of miserie and wooe: and euen in like miserable state of wrechednesse to bee all those that are readie, prest, & wil­lyng seruauntes, aiders or furtheres of the appetites and desires of thesame. So then true it was, that Alexander for the carefull and troubleous life that he leed woor­thyly [Page] called Athlius, that is miserable, wrote and sent lettres by Athlias, beeyng no lesse worthie the appellacion of Athlius then his maister, vnto Antipater as muche woorthie to bee called Athli­us as any of the other twoo, in that he was at all tyme [...] bounde to obey [...] and serue Alexander.

Beeyng spoken to, and inuited 80 to come vnto Alexander, he refused so to dooe.Diogenes re­fused to go to Alexander. But to Perdicca the high Capitain, or graund Maister vn­der thesame Alexander thretenyng to take his life from hym,Perdicca, [...]raūd mai­ster vnder A­lexander. excepte he would come. In feith, saied Dio­genes, then shal ye dooe a noble and a valiaunte acte. For aswell the litle wourme which (both in greke & latin) is called Cantharis as also the blacke spyder called Phalangium, is hable at all tymes to dooe as­muche. Cantharis, Cantharis. is a litle litle vermyn, not muche vnlike in facion to the beetle or the hornet, but hauyng in it starke poyson. Phalangium, Phalangiū. is the spy­der of the moste venemous sorte, neither did he sti [...]ke or feare, on his partie again to threten Perdicca, that he should liue happyly, though he liued without his [Page 104] [...]o [...]mpaignie, notifiyng theim to bee in a [...]eraye wreched case or state, that liued with Perdicca.

He affermed the Goddes to bee 81 gentle and soone entreated to geue life vnto menne, but thesame life to bee a thyng vnknowen to suche persones as seeke to haue of these marchepaines or wafers w^t other like iunkerie,The life of manne stan­deth not in carnall plea­sures nor i [...] sensualitee. and their sweete per­fumes or poumaundres, and other sembleable delices. For those persones who haue all the pleasure of the saied thynges beleuen theimselfes to liue, where as onely wisedome and per­fecte vertue dooeth assure y^e veraye true life in deede replenyshed with tranquilli­tee and pleasaunte sweetenesse.Onely ꝑfecte vertue geueth to manne ve­raye true life in deede. Where­fore not the Goddes are to bee putte in faulte, but manne, who of his owne mere [...]olye dooeth earnestly craue of the saied Goddes, not life, but sensuall pleasures of the fleshe.The prepo [...]erous praiers of carnal per­sone [...].

Espiyng a delicate and nyce fe­loe,82 to haue his shooes putte on & buccleed by his seruaunte. Naye [Page] in feith, ꝙ he, thou lackest yet one pointe or degree of perfecte blisse, whiche is, that thesame feloe there wype thy taille too. And y^t should soone bee, if thy hande or fyngers wer cutte of. It seemed to Dioge­nes a thyng as muche contrarie to rea­son to abuse the page his seruice in doo­yng on his maisters shooes,Diogenes thought it a [...]hyng vnna­tural, y^t y^e ser­uaunt should [...]ul on y^e mai­ [...]ers shooes. in case the maister bee strong and lusty enough to helpe hymself therin, as if he should after commyng from the [...]akes putte his ser­uaūte to the office of wypyng his taille. Albeeit, [...]t maye bee also vnderstanded of wypyng the nose. To an ethnike philosophier, it seemed nycitee, beyōd the course of nature, y^t an ethnike or gentile should haue his shooes dooē on by his seruaūte. And yet I knewe a Christian manne, bee­yng a preeste, yea and a diuine, who al­though he had all his lymmes perfecte, & none of his membres maymed or lame, yet euer when he should goo to the stoole, would call seruauntes, moo then one, for to vntye his pointes: & also, when he came frō thens, to trusse thesame again. Whiche thyng when I sawe, thus did I thynke with myself. Now would Christe that Diogenes wer here presente, to be­hold this geare.

[Page 105]When he sawe a feloe gooyng 83 to prieson y^t had embessed and con­ueighed awaye a cuppe of golde out of the treasourie or chaumbre of the citee. (And so it chaunced y^t he was lede to prieson by the offi­cers of the citee whiche thei called in greke ^☞ [...]:) See, see, ꝙ Diogenes, the graunde theues leden the petie theef to warde.The graunde theues ledē y^e petie theef to preison, saie [...] Diogenes. Would God thissame woorde might not bee w^t ­out a lye saied of some publique officers of Christentee, by whom sometymes is tr [...]ssed vp, & hanged on y^e galoes a poore sely solle, that hath percase pielfed away tenne grotes, where theimselfes by great pielage, brybrie, or extorciō, yea and for a fair touche, by deceiuyng & beguylyng their prince, or the commen weale, dooe growe dayly and encrease in welthe and richesse, nomanne saiyng blacke is their [...]yen.

[Page] 84 Beholdyng a ladde hurleyng stones at a gibette, well dooen, ꝙ Diogenes, thou wilt surely hitte the marke: Signifiyng that a daye would come when the partie should su­rely bee hanged.

[Page 106]When a sorte of young strieple­ynges 85 standyng about Diogenes had cryed vpon hym, doggue, doggue, doggue, and ymmediatly beeyng afrayed, had begoonne to renne awaye, and beeyng asked why thei ranne awaye, had saied, lest thou shouldest byte vs, bee of good chere my soonnes, ꝙ he, a doggue eateth no Beetes is an herbe called in greke [...] in latin Beta, of whose ex­cedyng weryshenesse and vnsauerynesse, euen of olde antiquitee dawecockes, lowtes, cockescombes & blockehedded fooles, wer in a prouerbiall speakyng, saied: betizare, to bee as weerishe and as vnsauerie as beetes. Plautus in his comedie entitleed Tru­culentus, saieth: Blitea est meretrix, it is a pea [...]yshe whoore, and as we saie in englyshe as wise as a gooce, or as wise as hir mothers apern streng. So a feloe that hath in hym no witte, no quickenesse, but is euen as one hauyng neither life ne solle, lab [...]rius calleth bliteam belluam, a beaste made of beetes. And in Menandez also (as citeth Erasmus in y^e prouerbe, betizare,) the housbandes reuile their wiues, callyng theim, bliteas, of so small shifte or helpe, that thei wer as good to haue wiues of beetes, for whiche we saie in our englyshe prouerbe, wiues of cloutes. And because all effeminate persones dooē in fine growe to sembleable sotyshenesse and dotage, as if thei wer not mai­sters of their owne witte, but as persones rapt into an other worlde, Diogenes tooke occasion of comparyng and resemble­yng y^e boyes (in whom was no likelyhood ne sparke of good towardnesse, but rather of al vngraciousnesse) to the weryshe a [...]d vnsauerie beetes. beetes. Couertly & by a priue nippe, vpraidyng the [...]m of ma­ners effeminate, wanton, and foolyshe.

[Page] 86 To a feloe that tooke hymself for no small foole, because he ietted about the stretes w^t a lyons skynne on his backe, Diogenes saied. Thou feloe,How Dioge­nes skorned a feloe, y^t beeing but a sheepe, [...]ettyng vp & down in a Lyons skynne. wilt thou neuer leaue put­tyng the mantell or gaberdyne of manhood and prowesse to shame? He thought it a ful vncomely thyng, that a persone effeminate (and suche a sheepe y^t durst not shewe his face emong menne, but was more like to crepe in to a benche hole, then to dooe any manly acte,) would vsurpe the wearyng of the wede of Hercules was y^e sonne of Iuppiter, gotten in the cit [...]e of The­ [...]s vpō quene Alcumena the wife of Amphitruo, while he was from home in battaill. Hercules was a manne of singular manhood and pro­wesse, and did in hys tyme .xii. notable valiaūte actes of whiche one was, that he slewe a feerse Lyon in the forest of Nemea, & wor [...] the skynne of thesame as a thyng woonne by strong hand & in that wede or habite he is sette out in all imagerie or pictu­res of hangynges or peinted clothes. Hercules. The selfsame maye bee saied to those persones y^t with mon­streous disguysyng of their vesture pro­fessen holinesse, their maner of liuyng beeyng nothyng aūswerable to thesame.

87 When certain coumpaignie had greate communicacion of Callisthe­nes y^e philosphier,Diogenes thought not theim moste blissed that li­ [...]ed in kynges courtes. that he was hap­pye, [Page 107] fortunate, and euen in heauen, forthat he was in the courte of kyng Alexander w^t muche high fare and preparacion entreteined, No Marie, ꝙ Diogenes, he is in wreched case, and in miserable condicion, forthat he must bee fain to take his dyner and his supper when pleaseth Alexander. Menyng, no­thyng to bee in y^e state of perfecte blisse, if libertee bee awaye.Nothyng i [...] in the state of perfecte blisse if libertee bee awaye. This is Callisthe­nes the disciple of Aristotle, whom A­lexander at last did cast in prieson,Callisthenes the disciple of Aristotle at length cast in prieson by A­lexander. where he perished and dyed. Some writers for Callisthenes, dooe putte Aristotle hym self, of whose singular good fortune and happe, when coumpaignie made muche talkyng, for that he liued familiarly w^t a kynges soonne: yea, ꝙ Diogenes, Ari­stotle dineth at suche houre as pleaseth Alexander, and Diogenes, when pleaseth Diogenes.

If Diogenes, at any tyme stood in 88 greate neede of money, he would take it of his frendes. But to suche persones as with many checkyng woordes did (as ye would saie [Page] bayte hym, for that contrarie to the dignitee and honestee of a phi­losophier, he would after y^• maner of beggers aske and craue. No, ꝙ he, [...]. repetere, A philoso­phier dooeth not begge, but requireth his owne duetie. I dooe not aske their almes, but I require my duetie. For the latin woorde, repetere, is vsed in his pro­pre significacion, when we demaunde or require to haue rendreed or redeliuered vnto vs any thyng, whiche either by the waye of loue, orels by leauyng it in the custodie or kepyng of an other persone is out of our owne hādes. And one frende geuyng to an other that is in necessitee, dooeth not geue a free gifte, but rēdreeth or paieth home again that he owghed by true debte. For whosoeuer in suche a case dooeth kepe or restreigne his money, the­same dooeth wrongfully detein & with­hold y^t is none of his owne propre good­des,Who so re­streigneth & kepeth from his frende in tyme of necessitee, w^t hol­deth that is none of his owne. but due to an other bodye.

When a certain young manne 89 beeyng kembed, piked, and decked all of the myniō tricke, had moued & putte foorth a fonde or peuyshe question to Diogenes: certes, ꝙ he, I will make you no aunswer to your [Page 108] question, till by takyng vp or doo­yng abrode your clothes, ye shall haue shewed, whether ye bee a manne, or a woman. By his ap­parell and araye nothyng fitte ne comely for a manne [...] Ouercutious apparell, ar­gueth wantonesse and ny­citee. he noted y^• effeminate wan­tonesse and nycitee of the partie.

To an other young manne fe­actely and trickely representyng at the baines, a certain lastiuious playe, whiche to exhibite y^e grekes callen, [...], was a foolysh game y^• louers had, and vsed to playe at dy­ners, suppers & other ban­quettes, by y^e bobleyng that the drynke made, whiche remained in the cuppe after thei had dronkē, for y^e drynke y^t was left, they would cast vp on high, and by the clockyng, plashyng, or, soune that it gaue in the falle, thei would take a significaciō whether their louers wer true to them or not. And therof [...], to playe that kynde of play [...]. [...]: Sirrha, yoūg manne, (ꝙ Diogenes,) the better ye dooe, y^e wurse it is. Utterly dissal­lowyng & condemnyng the feacte which of it self was vnhonest and naught, of whiche sorte is also playing at dyce, wherin the more cunnyng werkemanne that euery persone is, the wurse manne is he and the lesse honest.

As it fortuned Diogenes to bee 91 presente, and to make one emong y^e [Page] moo at a dyner, the coumpaigni [...] callyng hym doggue,How Dioge­nes serued a certain coum­paignie that cast bones to hym, as if he had been a doggue. cast bones to hym in derision, in consideracion that thesame is a thyng customa­bly vsed to bee dooen to doggues. But he in departyng from y^e coumpaignie, pissed vpon euery of the geastes y^t sate at the table behinde at their backes, signifiyng thesame also to bee, one other propretee be­longyng to doggues.

92 The oratours & other persones dooyng all thynges for glorie & re­noume, Diogenes called by a woorde that might bee taken in a double sense, [...], thris double menne. [...], Oratou [...]s and other persones dooyng al thynges for glorie Dio­genes called thris double menne. For as the commen sorte of people denyeth that persone to bee a man that is neither learned nor yet of gentle condicions, so did the philosophier call hym a miser, that had no qualitee aboue the cōmen rate of manne. For accordyng to y^e saiyng of Homere: No liuyng crea­ture is more miserable then manne.Manne of all creatures mo­ [...]e miser. And therfore, thris double menne, Diogenes called thris double misers, as the whiche [Page 109] bestowed & applyed al their studies vpon a thyng of moste vanitee in the worlde, & wer as bonde seruauntes or pages to the multitude of the grosse people, beeyng a beaste of many heddes.The people, a beaste of ma­ny heddes.

A certain riche manne hauyng 93 nomaner knowelage ne learnyng at all, & yet gooyng in gorgeous & gallaūt apparel, he called in greke, [...], that is:Riche per­sones voide of learnyng Diogenes called sheepe w^t golden flyces. a sheepe with a golden flyce. For in the poetes it is found written, that Suche a sheepe was in Colchos whose flyce Iason by the helpe of Medea the kynges doughter fet awaye, slea­yng the bulles & dragon, that kepte it. suche maner shepe haue been. And those persones, who wer sely poore solles, and had no more store of witte then thei must needes occupie, were euē then and yet styll are in all toun­gues, and places by a commen prouerbe: called sheepes heddes, or sheepe.

Passyng by the hous of a certain 94 prodigall and ryottous persone, where it was writen vpō the doore this hous is to bee sold, if any man will bye it. Yea by my feith, ꝙ Dio­genes, I espyed veraye wel, and pro­phecied ī my mynde,Ryot and ꝓ­digalitee, causeth menne to spue vp whol houses. that by reason of thyne vnmeasurable gourmaū ­dyng [Page] and surfaictyng, thou woul­dest at laste spue vp some house. For he had alreadye consumed and deuoured his hous, before he offreed the­same to sale, by settyng that inscripcion vpon the doore. So that it might more truely bee called a spuyng, then a vendi­cion or sale.

95 To a yoūg feloe, fyndyng greate faulte, that he was eiuill coūbreed and troubleed of many persones, nor could bee in reste for theim: Marie, and ceasse thyselfe also, ꝙ he, openly to shewe tokens of bee­yng out of quiete. Signifiynge the saucy and buisye medleyng of suche persones as will neuer ceasse dooyng mē shrewd turnes and displeasures,The best way to ceasse the molestacions of buisy me­dleyng feloes is to dissem­ble that wee bee greued w^t theim. by no yearthly thynge better to bee quieted or ended, then if the partie that is harmed or wrōged dissemble his greef. For suche persones as dooe haggue and baye at a bodye, purposely to bryng hym clene out of quiete, & to vexe hym at y^e botome of y^• hert rote, wil ceasse & leaue of in case thei see y^• partie to bee nothyng moued with their doyng. Albeit I haue half a geasse y^• greke wordes cōprehēd another priue [Page 110] or couered sense. For whē the young feloe cōplained, & found hymselfe greued, y^t a sorte of buisie medleers would not leat hym alone, ne suf­fre hym to bee in reste, Diogenes thus aunswered in greke: [...]. That is, yea and ceasse thou also to carrye about with thee, the tokens of a person wanton and ef­feminate. For suche persones neuer lacke trouble or vexacion, but euery bodye will haue a saiyng at theim, accordyng to the latin prouerbe, Malū uel mus audet rodere. That is, an eiuill persone euē y^e veraye mous dareth to snappe at.An eiuill per­sone euen the veraye mous dareth to snappe at. And coumpaignie is bothe greuous and odious to those that are vnhonest, or malefactours, as witnesseth Christe in the Gospell, saiyng. Menne loued derknesse more then light, because their dee­des wer eiuill. For euery one that eiuill dooeth hateth the lighte,Euery one y^t eiuill dooeth hateth y^e light Ioh. iii. neither cometh to the lighte, lest his deedes should bee reproued.

A mynstrell that was a player 96 on the harpe,Why Dioge­nes commen­deth an har­per, whom all others dis­praised. beeyng of no cūnyng in the worlde, and therewithall a great gorrebealyed chuff, yea and besides that, dispraised of all per­sones [Page] that heard hym, for y^e wurste that euer twanged, onely Diogenes, did commende and praise. And to theim that woondreed wherfore he should so dooe: I allowe hym and gan hym thanke, saied Diogenes, that beeyng suche an one, he hath had more mynde and wille to sette hymselfe on werke, and to bee occupied with his harpe, then to take a standyng by the high wayes syde for a pourse or a bougette. Si­gnifiyng that the feloe beeyng of bodye valiaunt and stourdye, and grosse or rude of witte, was by all similitude of out­warde tokens, more apte to haue been a robber on the high waye, then to bee an handleer of any musicall instrumente. The grace of the saiyng, dependeth of y^e place of rhetorike,The place of rhetorike ab inexpectato. ab inexpectato, that is grounded vpon a thyng y^t a body would leste thynke on. For who would haue loo­ked for suche an aunswer of Diogenes?

97 An other harper, who, as oftē as he plaied on his instrumente, was forsaken and left alone in place of [Page 111] all his audience: Diogenes, How Dioge­nes saluted an harper y^• droue awaye his audience as often as he plaied o [...] soong. when he mette hym in the strete, saluted in this maner. God ye saue and see goodman cocke. And where the fe­loe beeyng offended with y^e straūgenesse of that salutacion, saied: why goodman cocke? Marie, ꝙ he, be­cause that with thy crowyng thou reasest euery body y^t heareth the. He deuised to fynd a iestyng toye of y^e ambiguitee or indifferencie of y^e greke voice, [...]. For he is proprely sa­ied in greke, [...]. [...] [...] both that reaseth a bodye out of his slepe, as the cockes vsen to dooe, when thei crowe with an eiuill grace, & also y^t reaseth one sittyng on his taill, to arise out of his place, as this harper euermore vsed to dooe.

When a great noumbre of peo­ple 98 stood gazyng and staryng vpō a certain young striepleyng of ex­cellente good fauour and beautie, Diogenes stoopynge downe veraye lowe, gathered into his lappe as fast as he could, the poultz called [Page] Lupines. This kynde of poultz, called lupinus, we haue not in englande groweyng. And the yies of all the fol­kes turned to behold that sight, he auouched, that he meruailled: why thei would leaue the young māne, to looke on hym. Notyng in that by worde, their intemperancie and wan­ton disposicion.

99 To a feloe that was exceadyng supersticious, and sore subiecte to the terrours of buggues, and spry­tes, or goblyns, that walken by night and in places solitarie, and yet manaced to slea Diogenes, How Dioge­nes mocked a supersticious feloe, y^t was afrayed of [...]prites, thre­tenyng [...]o slea hym. saiyng vnto hym, I will at one stroke all to crushe thy hedde to powther: In feith ꝙ he again, if thou so dooe, I shalbee ready at thyn elbowe to playe the parte of hobgoblyn or collepixie, & make thee for feare to weene the deiuill is at thy polle.

Signifiyng y^t he was hable to make the [...]other partie afrayed, euen beeyng dedde, of whom he was so contemned & sette at naught beeyng aliue. And yet thissame foolyshe mynde & fansie, euen at [Page 112] this veraye presēt daye possesseth no smal noūbre, who although thei be fierse & ful of cockyng against liues men, yet are the same moste feare full creatures y^t possible may be of solles walking (as thei cal it [...])The supersti­cious feare & ymaginacion of many fol­kes, that sol­les walken.

Beeyng desired and praied, by one Hegesias was a philo­sophier Cy­renaique, y^t is to saye, of E­picure his sect a manne of so greate elo­quēce (as Ua­lerius Maxi­mus writeth) that he did so liuely declare and sette out all the eiuils of this pre­sente life, that the pieteous & lamētable re­presentacion of thesa [...]e ei­uils, through his woordes, depely engra­ued & enprien­ted in the her­tes of menne, veraye m [...]ny ꝑ [...]ones tooke occasion to hate [...]his pre­sen [...] life, and had a [...] ear­n [...]st de [...]reful­nesse willyngl [...] to ridde theimselfes out of the worlde. And therefore he was b [...] [...]he commaundemente of kyng Ptolomeus forbidden any more to speake of any suche mater. Hegesias, to lend hym the vse of 100 three or fower bookes: Thou art a madde feloe Hegesias, ꝙ he, (y^t where in choosyng figgues thou wilt not take figgues peinted or countre­feacted, but veraye true and right figgues in deede) thou canst fynd in thy herte, (y^e veraye true actual exercise and practise of philosophie neglected), to renne to the philoso­phie scribleed or peinted in paper. In this saiyng he noted those per­sones, who all their whole life through, dooe nothyng but reade the bookes and werkes of philosophiers cōteinyng pre­ceptes or rewles of vertuous liuyng, wheras vertue is more effectually lerned by practisyng or puttyng thesame in vre, then by readyng. The greke vocable [...], whiche Diogenes vsed, is a voice indifferente to writyng and to peintyng. [Page] And therefore vertue sette foorthe in bookes, is vertue muche like, in maner as if it wer peinted on a cloth or table. And in dede against all reason it is, in choosyng figgues to bee curious and precise to take none but of the best and in vertue to bee nothyng so.

101 To a certain persone in y^e waye of reproche obiectyng vnto hym that he was a manne banyshed his countree: Thou sely creature, saied he, for this veraye cause did I at y^e first become a philosophier. Ei­ther forthat banyshemente had enforced and driuen Diogenes to entre the studie of philosophie,Why Dioge­nes first be­came to bee a philosophier. orels because he had pur­posely learned philosophie, to the ende that he might bee hable with a paciente & contentefull mynde, to endure banyshe­mente, and other sembleable chaunces.

102 Unto an other feloe saiyng to hym in despite, Naye, the Sinopians haue condemned thee with bany­shyng the,How Dioge­nes aunswe­red one, y^e cast in his teeth y^t the Sinopi­ans had ba­nyshed hym. neuer to come more in y^t countree, & I theim, ꝙ he, to abyde [Page 113] & neuer to come thens. Signi­fiyng hymselfe, in y^t he was biddē to goo seeke hym a dwellyng place in an other countree, to bee no pointe in wurse state or cōdiciō, thē those persones, which re­mained sti [...] wellyng in their owne coū ­tree, not hable paciētly to suffre banysh­mēt if it should chaūce. For egual miserie it is, to make abode in a place by enforce­mente and compulsion,To bee exiled frō a place by compulsion, & to abyde in a place by com­pulsion is e­guall miserie. & to be banyshed or eriled from a place by enforcemente and compulsion. A philosophier, who in differently taketh euery grounde & euery lande vnder the cope of heauē (whiche so euer it bee) for his owne natiue countree,A philosophi­er indifferent­ly reputeth al places vnder y^e cope of hea­uen, to bee his natiue coun­tree. if he bee cōmaunded to departe any whēs by bany [...]hement, is a manne exiled out of some one particulare citee or naciō one­ly. But he that cannot liue in another place besides his owne countree, where he was born and breden, is a manne ba­nyshed out of regions almoste innumerable. As touchyng Diogenes,Why Dioge­nes was ba­nyshed out of his owne coū tree. in deede he was banyshed his countree for countre­feactyng or coynyng of money, as menne thynke. And born he was a Sinopian. This presente historie Plutarchus in y^• his treactise, entitleed of banyshmēte, re­porteth in maner & fourme here ensuyng. The Sinopians haue by their decree, banyshed the out of Pontus and Euxinus, are taken all for one. And it is parte of the sea from Bo­sphorus of Thrace, vnto y^• greate Ma­ryce of Scy­thia called Meotis. It is also abrode [...] wyde regi­on marchyng roūd about y^• [...]oostes of the­same sea, en­coumpacyng many ꝓ­ [...]incies, as Colchos, Armenia, & Cappadocia. And in Cap­ [...]docia (beyng a deserte and barē) coūtree stood Sinopa the Citee in whiche Dio­genes was born. Pontus for euer [Page] Yea, but I condemne them in this pein, ꝙ he again, that thei remain still enclosed and pend vp within Pontus, and the ferthermust stran­des of al Euxinus, neuer to come out from thens. Diogenes had chaūged his countree, but thesame for the better. The Sinopians wer more like folkes ba­nyshed or exiled, in that thei wer remedi­lesse, appoynted and assigned, to cōtynue al their liues in suche an incommodious, vnfruitefull, & baren region, as Sinopa.

103 Those persones, that wer com­mē dooers, in prouyng maisteries at the games of Olympia, wer called in greke [...]. Of which sorte when Diogenes had by chaunce foūd one kepyng shepe. O Moun sire Capitain, saied he, with howe greate celeritee and speede haue ye conueighed and gotten yourselfe from Olympia to Nemea. Nemea, is a region of the coūtree of ar­cadia, situate and liyng be­twene twoo citees the one Cleone, & the other Clito­rium, in th [...] whiche Clito­rium (as wit­nesseth Oui­dius) was a welle or fountain of whiche whosoeuer did drynke could not afterward awaye with drynkyng wyne. In the wodde or foreste of this Nemea did Hercules kill the hougie greate lyō whose skynne he woore on his backe for his weede. And in the honour of the said Hercules, did the people of Argo [...] euen there celebrate and keepe solemne games, which wer named Nemea of the place in whiche thei wer holden and kept, in like maner as is afore saied of Olympia. Findyng a mery toye in the affinitee or similitude of y^• greke vocables. For [...] in greke, are certain games of prouyng maisteries so called, of the place where thesame wer [Page 114] celebrated and holden, euen as olympia, afore mencioned. And the greke verbe [...], souneth in latin, pasco, in englyshe, to keepe or feede catalles in the pastures, and [...], is in latin, pascu [...], in englyshe, pastures or leasues.

Beeyng asked wherefore the 104 champions or fightyng mēne cal­led Athletae, had no sense ne feelyng: Marie, ꝙ he, because thei haue been brought vp altogether with porke and beef, and suche other grosse feedyng. For that sorte of menne are fedde vp with the grosse kyn­des of meates,Grosse mea­tes maken y^• bodye strong, but the witte dulle. whiche in deede conferren to y^• bodye hard brawne, & clene strength but as for the witte, it maketh as grosse and dulle, as cā bee thought. But to this presente mery saiyng, the ambiguitee or doubtefulnesse of the vocable, & nothyng els, gaue place, and was occasion of it. [Page] For as with the grekes, [...], and with the latin mē, sentire, so in englyshe, to haue a feelyng, belongeth aswel to the mynde as to the bodye.To haue a feelyng in a matter. But the demaun­der of the question, asked what was the cause, wherefore the saied champions, lackyng (as ye would saie) bodyly sense and feelyng, were neuer offended ne gre­ued with strypes or strokes. And Dioge­nes had more phansy to note the brutyshe grossenesse and dumpyng of the mynde. For wee saie commenly in englyshe, that wee feele a mannes mynde, when wee vnderstand his entent or menyng, and contrarie wyse, when the­same is to vs veraye derke, and harde to bee per­ceiued, wee dooe commenly vse to saie, I cannot feele his mynde, or, I haue nomaner feelyng in the matter. &c.

105 He vsed now and then to resorte to ymages of stone or brasse, or o­ther metalle, sette vp in the honour of this or that Godde, and to aske one or other boune of theim. And to suche persones as made greate woōdreyng, wherfore he so did, y^t I maye enure myself,Use assuageth greefes. ꝙ he, not to bee moued, ne to take in eiuill parte, if at any tyme, I dooe not obtein my [Page 115] requestes & peticions that I aske of menne.

After that Diogenes by extreme 106 pouertee (coarcted and driuen ther unto) had begoonne to begge for his liuyng, his accustomed guyse was, after this fourme to falle in hande with menne for their almes:The fourme of beggyng y^• Diogenes v­sed. If thou hast been a geuer of al­mes to any other person heretofore geue to me also, if to no bodye, be­gynne nowe at me. He signified that he was no lesse woorthie to haue the [...]haritee of mēne, then the residue of beg­gers, and therefore to bee mete, that who wer liberall in geuyng to eche bodye at auenture, should e [...]tende his liberalitee vnto Diogenes also: and who wer suche a niggarde or hayn, that he coulde not fynd in his herte afore that daye to de­parte with an halfepenie to any creature liuyng, for suche a feloe to bee high tyme ones in his life, to begynne to departe with somewhat to the poore.

Beeyng on a tyme asked the 107 question of a certain tyranne of [Page] what sorte of brasse metalle it was moste cōueniente y^t ymages should bee made: of the verayesame, ꝙ he, in whiche When the cit [...]e of Athe­nes was op­pressed and holdē in seruitude by thir­ty tyrannes [...] Harmodius and Aristogiton, by suche prouision as thei made did subdue and destroie y^e saied tyrannes. Wherefore, the people of Athenes agnisyng their vnestimable benefite receiued at the handes of the said Hermodius and Aristogiton, made and sette vp in their honour and perpetuall memorie, their ymages and portures in coppre, whiche ymages wer long tyme after, had in suche reuerence and honour, that Xerxes, when he had woonne Athenes, tooke from then [...] y^• said ymages, and thesame carryed in to his owne kyngdom. And after many yeres Seleucus made proui [...]ion, and found the meanes to haue thesame ymages con­ [...]eighed home again to Athenes, and to bee sette vp in their olde places. Also the Rhodians did thesame ymages (beeyng arriued at their citee in the waye homewarde) highly receiue with pro­cession, & honourably entreacte theim at the publique charges of the citee, & did place theim in the tabernacles of the Goddes, as witnesseth Valerius Maximus. Harmodius and Aristogito [...] were casten. Betokenyng, that the par [...]ie, if he wer well serued, was woor­thie to bee dispatched out of y^• waye. For the said Harmodius & Aristogiton, had been tyrann [...]quellers.

108 To one demaūdyng after what sorte Dionysius did vse,How Diony­sius y^• tyrāne vsed his fa­miliare fren­des. handle, & en­treacte his frendes that wer fami­liare about hym: like as if thei [Page 116] wer bottles, saied he, the fulle he hangeth vp, and the emptie, he ca­steth asyde in a corner. Signifi­yng, that by the said Tyrāne Dionysius the riche & welthie of his subiectes wen [...] dayly to the potte, and wer chopped vp, and suche beggery wretches as had no­thyng to leese, wer nothyng medleed withall, ne had any thyng saied vnto theim.

Hercules was in olde tyme, wur­shypped 109 vnder the name of [...],How Hercu­les was wur­shipped in olde tyme, and by what sur­names. that is: the depoulsour and driuer awaye of all eiuils: because of the valiaunte sleayng of many soondrye monstres,Hercules [...]. by hym extin­cted. He was also the soonne of Iup­piter, and by another name called, Callinicus, Hercules Callinicus. for respecte of his many­folde actes of prouesse, & noble vi­ctories that he had gotten, in sub­duyng aswell his enemies, & gy­auntes, as also other hougie mon­stres, as afore saied. And so it was, that a certain persone had writen [Page] vpon the doore of his hous, this high triumphaunte title or poysee: The soonne of Iuppiter Callinicus Her­cules, in this hous hath his habita­ciō, no eiuill thyng therefore motte there entre into this place. Diogenes by this inscripcion espiyng y^e folly of the feloe, [...], id est, post bel­lum, auxiliū. saied: when the stede is already stolē, shutte y^e stable doore, or, when I am dedde make me a caudle. Notyng y^• it was ouer late to saie, God saue y^• hous from all eiuils, nowe that suche a lewd feloe was alrea­dy entreed to dwelle in it.Aide, after y^• [...]he fel [...]e is all ready fough­ [...]en. For it had been necessarie, that the said Hercules, [...], that might saue the hous from all mysfortunes, or mysauentures, had takē vp his habitacion in thesame, before the owner self of the hous, had settleed hym selfe to dwell there, who on his owne partie and behalfe was suche a feloe as a manne should [...]ake helle for.

109 Espiyng a ryottous surfeactyng feloe in his hoste his hous, eatyng oliues towardes y^e euenyng: Sir­tha, saied he, if thou haddest made [Page 117] thy dyner with such meate as that, thou wouldeste not nowe suppe with the meate that thou dooest. Meanynge, it not to bee for any pointe of frugalitee, or sobre diete, that he had nothyng to his supper besydes a fewe oliues, but for that his stomake beeyng ouercharged, with the excessiue dēty dyner whiche he had made at noone,The best me­dicin to make one haue a good appetite to his supper, is a light dy­ner at noone. had no appetite to take any thyng at supper. For a light and a spare dyner, is the best medicine or sauce in the worlde, to make one haue a good appetite to his supper.

Full ofte and many a tyme did 110 he saie, couetousnesse of money,Where coue­cousnesse of money is, the [...] reigneth all myschief. to bee the hedde^‡ palaice, or the hedde citee of all eiuilles or mischiefes. Not veraye muche variyng frō the sentence of the wise manne Salomon,i. Timoth. vi. who saieth, that couetousnesse of money is the roote of all eiuils.

[Page] 111 Uertuous and good menne, he affermed to bee the liuely & true ymages of the Goddes.Diogenes a­uouched ho­nest and ver­tuous menne to bee y^• true ymages of y^• Goddes. Foras­muche as the Goddes, of their veraye na­ture been altogether full of all goodnesse the propretee of thesame is, to dooe good to all folkes, and to hurt no bodye. And this ymage is muche better represented in sapiente and good mēne, then in dedde ymages of stone or metalle, sens that the Goddes are thynges mere ghostly or spi­rituall, and not materiall or bodely thynges.

112 Loue he saied to bee the occupa­ciō or busynesse of idle folkes,Loue, is the occupacion of idle persones. that had nothyng els to set theim selfes on werke withall. Because this pangue or guierie of loue dooeth especi­ally aboue al others, inuade and possesse suche persones as been altogether drou­ned in idlenesse. And so cometh it to passe that whyle thei geuen theimselfes whol­ly to idlenesse, thei stumble on a thyng y^• filleth their handes as full of coūbreous busynesse, as thei are hable to awaye withall, and yet in the meane tyme, the deiuill of the one chare of good werke thei dooen.

[Page 118]To one demaūdyng, what was 113 the moste miserable thyng in this life?What thyng Diogenes re­kened y^• most miserable in this life. he made aunswere: An aged bodye in extreme pouertee. For when the sure stayes or [...]eny [...]g postes of nature dooe faill a manne, th [...]n muste the feblenesse of age bee propped, bolstreed vp, or vndersette with the succour and helpe of worldly substaūce Albeeit,He is not to bee accoum­pted poore y^• hath in youth purchaced good discipli­nes, and ho­neste frendes. that persone is not to bee rekened [...]r accoum­pted in the noūbre of poore folkes, who hath in his youth, purchaced vnto hym­self good disciplines or other craftes & honeste frendes, the moste assured & tru­stie prouision to liue by in a mannes olde dayes. That feloe is a begger in moste wretched condicion, that is endued with no good qualitee.He is in the most wreched state of beg­gerie, that is endued with no good qua­litee.

Beeyng asked, what beaste had 114 the moste perilous and hurtefull styngue:What beast [...] hath the most p [...]rilous and hurtefull styngue. If thy questiō bee of sal­uaige beastes, ꝙ Diogenes, y^e backe­byter: if of tame beastes, y^e flaterer. For the backebyter hydeth not his hate­red towardes any bodye, ne recketh who knoweth thesame: the flaterer, vnder the vi­sour or cloke of a frende, hurteth tenne ty­mes more greuously then the other.

[Page] 115 Beholdyng twoo The Cen­taures wer a people of the Countree of Thessalia, not ferre frō the moūte pe­liō. Thei wer the first that e [...]er fought on horsbacke. Whiche thei wer driuē to, for to destruie a great heard of wilde bul­les, that did muche scathe in all y^e coun­tree about. And of this (because to y^• sely people beholdyng theim a ferre of, thei appered after a monstreous facion and shape) the poetes dooe feigne that thei wer gyauntes, in the vpper parte of the body menne, and in the nether parte horses, and that Ixion begotte the first of theim on a cloude, thei are called of the latines Centauri, of the greeke woorde, [...], that is to pricke, or to spurre, because thei keeked and sette spurres thicke to the hor­ses sides, when thei galopped in chacyng the wilde bulles, but their greke name, was a woorde compoūde hippocentauri, for [...] is an horse. Centaures figh­tyng in a peinted table, of woon­dreous eiuill werkemanship, whe­ther of these twoo, saied he, is the wurse? Notyng the rudenesse and de­faulte of cunnyng in the peint [...]r, as though he stood in doubte whether of the bothe had been wurse drawen or sette out in peintyng. But the pith of the saiyng consisteth in that he vsed a woorde that maye bee taken in two soundry senses: For the greke vocable [...], i [...] englyshe, wurse, is saied aswell of one that is wurse in estymacion of value, or any other comparison, and also that hath the wurse or is putte to the wurse in fightyng.

116 Fair and smoothe speakyng, not procedyng from the botome of the [Page 118] herte, but altogether framed to please the hearer,Fair & smoo­the speakyng framed onely to please the hearer, Dio­genes called a trappe or snare of ho­ney. Diogenes customa­bly vsed to call an hony brake, or a snare of honey. Because thesame vnder the pretense of loue, embracyng a māne as though y^e speaker wer ready euen to cr [...]pe into the bosome of the hearer, cutteth the throte of thesame.

The bealy of excessiue gourmaū ­ders 117 and gluttons,The bealyes of gluttons Diogenes called y^e charyb­dis of mānes life. he called the Charybdis of mannes life, for that thesame deuoured all that euer it might geatte, and yet was neuer saciate. Charybdis & Scylla, after the feig­nyng of y^e po­etes are twoo monstres of the sea, in the way betwene Calabria and Sicilia, stan­dyng the one directly ayenst y^e other, & the same so daun­gerously, that thei destruie all the shippes that come within the reache of either of the [...]. F [...]r Charybdis thei fable to bee a monstre that swalloweth vp al thynges, and thesame shortely after spouteth vp [...]gain: but in veraye deede, it is a daungerous goulfe, makyng sore ouerfalles by reason of the meetyng of soondry streames in one pointe. And Scylla in veraye deede, is a gr [...]at at rocke in thesame streighte standyng so directly ayenst Charybdis, that e [...]cepte the shippes cutte and take course euen iustly betwene bothe, thei hardely escape drounyng. And because that Scylla aferre of, representeth to the [...] figure and shape of a christen body, and to the eare (by reas [...]n of roryng and beatyng of the waues) it representeth the ha [...] kyng of doggues, therfore the poetes haue feigned, y^t Scylla is a monstre of y^e sea. hauyng in y^e vpper parte, the shape of a mai­d [...]n and in the nether parte the likenesse of a fyshe, the bealy of a woulf, and the taille of a dolphin fyshe, as witnesseth Uirgili­us in the thirde volume of the Aeneidos. Albeeit, Homere wri­te [...] that Scylla hath sixe heddes, and twelf feete, and ba [...]ket [...] like a doggue. Charybdis swalloweth vp onely suche thynges, as are carryed by sea, & after a litle tyme, casteth vp again whatso­euer it goulped in before: but the bealyes of gullyguttes (that can naught dooe, but eate & drynke, and slepe) neither y^e aier, nor y^e lande, nor the flooddes and riuers, nor yet all the seaes are hable to suffise. yea, and rather then faill, bothe whole mainour places, and also whole lordeshippes, thei make no bones, ne sticke not, quite and clene to swallowe down the narrowe lane, and thesame to spue vp again.

[Page] 118 When certain persones made relacion to Diogenes, howe that one Didymo was attached for liyng w^t another mannes wife: If y^e wretche were well serued, ꝙ Diogenes, he should bee hanged vp euen by the same thyng, that he beareth the name of. In deede, Didymi, Didymi. is greke for a pa [...]re of mannes stones, so y^t the mynde of Diogenes was, y^t suche a synnefull Cai­tif, ought to bee hanged vp by that membres of the whiche he had his name, and by the [Page 120] whiche he hadde committed the offense and trespace.

One that laboured the studie of 119 naturall philosophie, opposed Dio­genes with this question, for what cause golde looked to the yie some­what pale and wanne of coloure?For what cause gold [...] looketh to the yie pale and wanne of c [...] ­lour. Marie, ꝙ he, because there bee so many folkes liyng in awayt for it. Suche persones, as knowe that thei haue awayte or watche layed for theim, cānot but bee a feard. And y^e propretee of any body bee­yng in greate feare, is to looke with a pale and wanne colour.

When he sawe a woman sit­tyng 120 in an horse littre, or charrette, he saied: that another maner caige then that, hadde been more meete for a beaste of that kynde.

Notyng, that suche frowarde creatures as many women are, ought rather to bee pended vp in a caige of iron. Lectica was a certain maner of seate, for noble womē, whiche I dooe here call an horselittre, because we haue no kynde of seate so nighe, or so like in facion to [...]he Lectica. Albeeit, thei wer not in olde tyme dra­wen with horses, but carryed vpon sixe menne [...] [Page] shoulders, and thei wer made with preatie latesse wyndoores and crosse barres or grates, & paines to shutte and to opē, for lookyng out at pleasure So that it shewed & represented to the iye muche what the facion or lykenesse of a caige for byr­des, or of a pende, wherein to kepe other beastes. And in suche, did the riche or welthie wo­men: yea, and also the other nycibecetours or dēty dames, cus [...]omably vse, bothe to [...]ytte for their pleasure, and also to bee carryed about the stretes for their solace and recreacion.

121 Espiyng a bondseruaunte, that was a renneawaye, or at lestwise a strayer from his maister, sittyng by a welles syde: take hede young manne, saied he, that ye sitte faste, for geattyng a falle. He did noo more but dalye with a woorde, that maye in­differentely bee taken in diuerse senses. For y^e greke verbe, [...] so [...]neth in latin Exci­dere, in englyshe to geat a falle, or to haue a falle. And he is proprely saied in greke [...], in latin excidere, in englyshe to geat a falle, bothe that falleth down into a pitte or a welle, and also that is violently toumbleed or taken out of his place. And myne opinion is, that welles in olde tyme emong the gen­tiles, had the strength of sanctuarie, and y^t it was not leeful violently or by force, to plucke [Page 121] any bodye from thesame, no more then out of the temples of the goddes, or from the ymage and porterature of the prince.

When he hadde espyed at the 122 hotte hous, a feloe that vsed to steale awaye gounes and cotes, or other garmentes (and suche an one y^e grekes callen: [...] he saied vnto hym: Syrrha, are ye come to the bath, orels to the bayte. Al­beeit, Diogenes dalyed with the affinitee of greke voices, whiche it is not possible with equall grace to expresse either in latin, or yet in our mother tongue. The greke woordes been, [...], betwene the woordes, at (lest wise in soune,) there is woondreous small difference. For of the verbe [...], is deriued a noune, [...], that is, oyntemente or enoync [...]yng, and therof Alipte, wer those to who­se cure wer cō mitted those persones to bee [...]noy [...]cted (y^t thei might haue their ioynctes nym­ble & lithye [...] that should [...]ight in the solēne games that wer cele­brate & holden in the honour of any of the goddes. He is also called a­lipta that e­noyn [...]teth woundes or sore places of the bodye to [...]ouple theim. [...], whose office was to enoynct menne, had their name. And of [...], is fourmed a diminutiue [...]: now, [...], are twoo soondry woordes, albeeit by reason of y^e figure called synalephe (whiche is, when twoo vouels concurryng together, the former leeseth his power, and soune by col­lision) [Page] it seemeth in maner no more but one diccion, for if one take awaye the synalephe, the whole woordes been [...]. That is, another litle garmente, so that the veraye right woordes y^t Diogenes spake to the feloe, were these: Are ye come to bee enoyn­cted, orels to steale another garmēt For in the baine or hotte hous, folkes were in olde tyme enoyncted, and in y^• selfe same place the pikepurses and stealers of apparell dili­gently applyed, and went about their occupa­cion: for it was the guise to washe naked, their clothes putte of, and laied asyde. Diogenes therfore gaue a quippe to the embesleer or bryber, that thesame hauyng stolen some garmēt elswhere afore, was nowe come thyther to purloyne and conueigh awaye an other. And because a goune or a cote so rechelesly cast asyde, is a good bayte for one that seeketh it: and to thentente y^• the saiyng myght haue some what the more grace, I haue thus translated it, to the bath, or els to the bayte. That if it had not been more for dischargeyng y^• duetie of a translatour, then for any greate delite or profecte to the vnlearned reader, I would haue passed ouer this apophthegine & left it clene out.

123 Whē he was on a tyme entreed into an hotte hous, that laye hor­rible filthy, sluttishe and vnclene, [Page 101] he saied in this maner: thei y^t washe in this place, where bee thei wa­shed after it? He signified that suche persones as came in thither pure and clene, wer there embrued with durte & fylthynesse, & suche as wer at any tyme washed there, to haue veraye greate neede of a secounde ryn­syng, wherwith eftsons to bee scoured, and made clene.

When he had on a tyme espyed 124 women hangyng vpon an oliue tree, and there strangleed to death with the halters: would god, saied he, that the other trees too had like fruite hangyng on theim. For Diogenes was one that loued no women in no sauce,Diogenes was [...], that is one y^• hated women to the deiuill of helle. but hated theim dedly, and for y^t cause had a greate zele and affection to see theim euery one swyngyng and tottreyng in halters,

Diogenes yieyng a certain feloe,125 How Dioge­nes saluted one that had an eiuill name for robbyng of dedde men­ne [...] toum [...]s. that had a veraye eiuill name and reporte that he should bee a spoy­ler and robber of dedde mennes toumbes & herses, salued, or, hail­led [Page] hym w^t this verse of homere.

126 Beeyng asked the question whe­ther he had any manne or woman seruaunte of his owne,Diogenes had neither māne ne womā ser­uaunte. he aunswe­red, no in good feith, not one in the world. And whē the demaūder had ferther saied, why, who shall then carrye thee to thy graue, in case it fortune thee to dye? Marie, ꝙ he, euen whosoeuer shall haue neede of my hous, for to dwell in it. Many persones are veraye supersticiously carefull, how and by what persones the [...] shalbee brought to their graues,Diogenes to­ke no thought howe or by what ꝑsones he should bee buiryed. and laied in y^e grounde: of all suchemaner thought or care was Diogenes clere voide, castyng no doub­tes, but that there should come one or other bodye, that would conueigh his dedde car­kesse [Page 123] out of doores, though it wer for no­thyng els, but to make the hous voide. Albeeit his chaunce was in fine, to bee veraye honest­ly buyried.

Beholdyng a certain young 127 spryngall, as he slepte rechelessely at all auentures, he pounched the­same with his staffe & recited the verse of Homerus here foloyng.

The grace of the saiyng consisteth in this poynte, that Diogenes feactely applyed the verse of Homere to his purpose, by saiyng [...], in stede of [...] for in Homere it is, [...]. that is,

It been the woordes, of Diomedes, in the .viii. of the Ilias, vnto vlysses: whom, when he was ren­ [...]yng awaye, Diomedes, biddeth to turne again for shame, and not to flee: lest some manne. &c.

To a feloe that was beyond all 128 reason, or out of all course euen ful [Page] and whole geuen to good chere, & all kyndes of ryotte and excesse, he applyed y^t piece of Homer his verse: [...]. That is. In feith my childe your dayes are but shorte. Signifiyng that the part [...] would with his ryottous facions kill hym selfe ere he wer halfe olde.

129 The Like as ī materiall & sensi­ble grosse thinges, wee see that the ho [...]y [...]rs haue han­gyng by them in their shop­pes purposely certain pater­nes, out of whiche thei take the facion of y^• clocke of an hose when soeuer thei must make a­ny suche: and sembleably y^e sh [...]oemakers haue alwayes ready han­gyng on a na­ [...]lle paternes of lether pur­posely reser­ued and kept whereby to shape the vp­per leathers, & also other paternes for y^• heeles of al the shooes y^t thei make: so did Plato af­ferme, y^t there bee, and eter­nally haue been, of eche natural thing certain gene­rall paternes to euery of y^e ­same kyndes seuerally be­lōgyng, whi­che paternes onely the ymaginacion and vnderstādyng of mānes rea­son, is hable to cōprehende or to cōceiue. And that out of the exa [...]m­ple or copie of those generall paternes, na­ture frō tyme to tyme hath, stil, dooeth, & contynually shall fourme and shape all singulare or particu [...]are t [...]ynges of euery seuerall kynde: so that an Idee is the appropriate [...]ourme, & peculiare likenesse of thynges in euery kynde, out of y^• whiche as beeyng a substāciall paterne e [...]ernally remanyng, are figured shaped and produced, al particular thynges in this or that kynde For exaumple and declaracion wherof, as when wee see in wa [...]e a thousande soondry emprientynges all of one likenesse, wee dooe easily and promptely conceiue, that all thesame emprientynges wer originally made and empriented with one s [...]ale, so maye we by our intelligence cōprehende that all the particulare menne in the worlde, haue been fourmed of one generall paterne of man­kynde, whiche hath in eternall substaunce remained ready for y^• purpose. And sembleably, must the ymaginacion or reason con­ceiue of an horse, of a table, of a cuppe, and of all other kyndes of naturall thynges. And this the posiciō and assercion of Plato dooeth Saincte Augustine allow and vpholde (as ye maye reade in his treactise of the lx [...]. questions) and also Eusebius in his werke de praeparatione euangelica, bothe whiche authours Ambrosius Calepinus, dooeth in his dictionarie cite for [...]esti­monie and d [...]claracion of the said Idees.Idees, that Plato deuised, & muche treacteth of, euen Aristotle laughed to skorne. And so it was, that at a certain season, when Plato made a greate long circumstaūce, about the declaryng of the Idees, and tooke muche peine with voca­bles of his owne forgeyng, to ex­presse and plainly to sette out the­same Id [...]es, a thyng feigned, and founded onely in the conceipte of ymaginaciō, hauyng in his mouth at euery secounde woorde the said forged vocables of the Idees, as for exaumple, tableitees, for the fa­cion of a table, by itself to bee con­ceiued [Page 124] in y^e imagenaciō of y^e mynde for a comen paterne as it wer laied vp, and kept in the mynde, where­by all other like tables are to bee deuised & shaped. And cuppytees, for the commen paterne whereby all drynkyng cuppes are to bee de­uised, facioned and wrought by the maker: Diogenes mockyng suche quidificall trifles, that wer all in y^e cherubyns, saied: Sir Plato, your table and your cuppe I see veraye w [...]ll, but as for your tableitee, and your cuppitee, I see none suche. Albeeit there bee euen at this present daye too, that with their sorteitees, and their eccei­tees bee in their owne conceiptes euen doc­tours of the chaire. Yet neuerthelesse Plato paied Diogenes home again wel enough, and gaue as good as he brought. It is no meruaill, saied Plato: for thou hast yies with the whiche cuppes & tables are seen, but witte and reason thou hast not [Page] with whiche are perceiued and seen the tableitees and the cuppytees.

130 To one demaundyng when best season wer to wedde a wife:Whē Dioge­nes thought moste expedi­ente for a mā ne to wedde a wife. for a young manne, ꝙ he: it is to soone, and for an olde manne ouer late. Albeeit the greke woordes by reason of a certain vicinitee, haue moste grace, [...] not yet, and [...], not at all. Geuyng a preatie watche woorde, that best were vtter­ly to abstein from matrimonie. But the de­maunder [Page 125] would veray fain haue learned, at what yeres of a mannes age, or in whiche parte of the yeare, it wer expedient for a māne to choose his make: As Aristotle dooeth by prescripciō appointe the cōuenient or rype tyme of beyng maryable, to a virgyn, y^e age of eigh­ten yeres, to a manne,The ripe time of beeyng marryable for mā & woman by y^e prescrip [...]iō of Aristotle. the age of thirtie & fiue yeres. And the Romaines thought the mone­thes of Aprile and Iune propice and good to wedde in, and the moneth of Maie vnlucky.The Romai­nes thought Aprill & Iune lucky monethes to marrye in [...] & Maie vn­lucky.

To a feloe demaundyng what 131 he woulde haue, to take a blowe or a buffette: Marie, ꝙ he, a salette. This mery ieste too, hath al his grace of the soodain aunswer that nomanne woulde haue looked for.A Mery aun­swer vnloo­ked for. For the other partie looked to heare what recompense or hyer, Diogenes would require for a blowe on the cheeke.

When he sawe a young ruffleer 132 trymmyng hymselfe after y^e moste galaunte and mynion facion:What Dio­genes said to a yoūg māne, trymmyng hymself after the galaunt [...] sorte. If that trymmyng bee for mēne, saied he, it will not bee: if for women, it should not bee. This saiyng souneth more pleasaūtly in greke, by reason of the af­finitee of the twoo voices, [...] thou fail­ [...]e [...]t of thy purpose, and [...] thou dooest [Page] plain iniurie. For it is in vaine for one māne to trymme hymselfe for an other, sens that be­twene theim cā bee no maryage: And a weked deede dooeth any young manne, if by settyng foorth of his beautie, he dooe laye abayte to be guile y^e frail sexe of womākind, wheras a wife ought to bee woonne, not w^t the lure of wantō nesse, but with honest maners & behaueour.A wise ought to bee woonne with honeste maners and behau [...]our.

133 To a certain young ladde blu­shyng, & by reason of thesame blu­shyng sore dismaied: take a good herte my soonne, ꝙ he, y^t same hewe or coloure is of vertues dyyng,Blushyng in a yoūg thyn­ges chekes is of vertues d [...]yng. or, dooeth y^e dyeuatte of vertue geue.

134 When he had heard twoo cun­nyng lawers contendyng, trauer­syng, and earnestly laiyng the lawe betwene theim selfes together,What Dio­genes saied of twoo lawers contendyng, laiyng y^• one against the other. a­bout a mater of thefte: he saied, thei wer false knaues bothe of theim, and condemned aswell the one as the other, allegeyng that the one had committed thefte, and that the other had lost nothyng. Signifi­yng that bothe of theim were well woorthie [Page 126] to bee hanged. The subtilitee of this presente saiyng consisteth in this poynte onely, whoso pieketh or priuely stealeth awaye any thyng, hath some auaūntage and gayne thereby: and the partie, from whom any suche thyng is piel [...]ed and brybed awaye, hath by thesame, disa­uauntage and losse. But in this presente case, there had a madde or fonde knacke befallen. The one partie had pielfed, or embesleed a­waye a thyng of the others, and yet the parti [...] from whom the thyng was pieked, susteined no losse ne damage, for hymself had stolen y^e ­same thyng afore, whiche his feloe brybed a­waye afterward from hym again.

To one demaūdyng what wyne 135 he best loued and liked with his good wille to drynke, marie, ꝙ he, of another mannes purse.The best wine is, y^t a bodye drynketh of an other mannes cost. Here al so the ready aunsweryng muche contrary to the expectacion of the demaunder geueth to y^e saiyng all his grace. The other partie looked for another maner aunswer, as the whiche in his question askyng, mened of the kynde of wyne.

To one that saied vnto hym: all 136 the worlde almoste dooeth mocke thee. Yea, but for all that, saied he [Page] again: I am not mocked. And this a manne would thynke to bee a thyng vnpossible, that one should strike you, and yet ye not bee striken. But Diogenes denyed that he was had in derision, either for that he was no manne woorthie why, orels for that he thought the skornyng of the fond people, no­thyng to touche hym,Diogenes thought the skornyng of the fond peo­ple, nothyng to touche hym. nor hymself to be in any pointe the wurse for thesame.

137 To another persone affermyng that it was a miserable and a wret­ched thynge to liue here in this worlde. No, saied Diogenes, to liue is no miserable, ne wretched thyng, but to lede an eiuil or a vicious life is a thyng wretched and miserable.To liue is no miserable thyng, but to lede a vicious life. The moost parte of folkes calleth it a miserable life, or a doggues life, y^t is subiecte or in presēte daūger of trauailles, of bodyly greef or peines, of sickenesse or diseases, of losse of goo­des, of exilinges and banyshementes, & many sembleable incommoditees. But the philoso­phier rekened nothyng to bee [...]iuill or misera­ble, sauyng that was lynked or coupleed with vice and dishonestee.Nothyng is eiuil, but that is coupleed w^t dishonestee & with vice.

138 Diogenes had a seruaunt, that was [Page 127] called Manes, Manes the seruaunte of Diogenes. and when this Manes had taken his heeles and renne a­waye from his maister, the frendes of Diogenes, auised hym to seeke out the renneawaye: Marie sir, ꝙ Dio­genes, The aunswer of Diogenes to his frendes auisyng hym to pursue af­ter his bonde­manne, that was renne a­waye from hym. that wer a madde thyng of all thynges, if Manes dooe alreadie wil­lyngly liue without Diogenes, and Diogenes could by no meanes liue without the coumpaignie of Manes. yet many menne pursue after their ser­uauntes in mynde and purpose, to bee auen­ged on thesame: but Diogenes had regarde to the neede of vsyng or occupiyng a seruaunte. That if any one philosophier bee of righter sorte then another, it is he, y^t nedeth fewest thynges.The best phi­losophier is he that feeleth nede of fewest thynges. And in consideracion therof, Dio­genes would not in any wise seme wurse then his bondmanne. For Manes had renne a­waye from hym, because he could lyue without his maister well enough.

On a tyme Diogenes made al his 139 dyner with Oliues onely: and tarte and other sweete meates, anone af­ter brought in place, he floung frō hym, & therwithall soūg this greke [Page] verse, out of some olde tragedie.

And also this piece of Homere his verse.

Callyng hymself a kyng, a contemner of all sensuall delices,Diogenes a contemner of all sensual de­lices. whiche delices, his wille [...] mynde was, to haue clene out of all menne [...] presence and occupiyng abandoned.

140 Diogenes was commenly abrode called doggue. And of doggues ther been diuerse [...]ortes moo then one: For there bee ha­ryers, or buckehoundes, there bee spanyels made to y^e hawke, or for takyng of foule, there bee shepeheardes curres, ther are tye doggues or mastifes for keepyng of houses,What maner a doggue Diogenes was. there been litle mynxes, or puppees that ladies keepe in their chaūbers for especiall iewelles to playe withall [...] And so, to one demaundyng what maner a doggue he, for his parte was, he feactely aunswered, and saied: when I am houngry I am a litle mynxe full of playe, and [Page 128] when my bealy is full, a mastife. For that, when he had good luste or ap­petite to eate, he would fawne vpon folkes, & speake theim faire, and when his bealy was well filled, he wouldeuermore buff, and barke, and byte agood.

Beeyng asked, whether philoso­phiers 141 wer eaters of tartes or sweet meates too?Philosophi­ers eate all­maner meates as others y^• are menne. yea, of all thynges (sai­ed Diogenes) euē like other christian bodyes. In this also, he made an vndi­recte aunswer, to the question that was asked of hym. The demaunders question was, whether it wer conuenient for philosophiers (who professen frugalitee or temperaunce) to feede of tartes and marzepaines, the meates of dē ­ty mouthed persones. Diogenes sembl [...]yng to haue no greate witte ne knowlage, [...], but to bee more then half a foole, so shaped his aunswer, as though philosophiers were no menne in deede, and yet did eate meates to the diete of manne belongyng. For euery kynde of y^e brute beastes dooe not eate allmaner thynges at auenture without excepcion. The oxe eateth heigh, the lyon woll none of it: the sheepe loue the leffes and toppes of wieloe twygges, the horses would haue otes. Some byrdes are fedde with the beries of Iuniper, some foules [Page] are deuourers of fleshe, some dooe fede altoge­ther on fyshe. And to this alluded Diogenes.

142 When Diogenes on a tyme at the table emong coumpaignie, was ea­tyng of a tarte, and one that sate in y^esame coūpaignie, saied: what art thou eatyng now Diogenes? (demyng that y^e cynike philosophier had no knowelage what maner thyng a tarte shoulde bee:) he aunswered breade, of a veraye good makyng, or breade veraye well handleed in the bakyng. Pretendyng, that he knewe not, what it was. To others it was sweete tarte, to Diogenes it was no better then breade, who did not eate it for sensuali­tee, or for to sweete his lippes, but for his ne­cessarie foode and susteinaunce.

143 To one demaūdyng why mēne wer liberall to geue almes bounte­ously to other beggers,Why menne geue almes m [...]re bounte­ously to other beggers then to philoso­phiers. and to phi­losophiers nothyng so, Marie, ꝙ he, because thei haue hope to see it sooner come to passe, that thei shal­bee lame or blynde, then that thei [Page 129] shalbee philosophiers. Suche fol­kes as taken pietee and compassion vpō per­sones visited with affliccion, (of whiche sorte are all beggers for the moste parte) dooen the same in consideracion of the state, condicion, or chaunce of this worlde, beeyng indifferente and commen to al mortal menne in this pre­sente life. So thei releue a blynde bodye, ca­styng thus in their mynde: this veraye selfe same thyng, maye in tyme to come, chaunce vnto myself: but of a philosophier, thei haue no suche cogitacion. The saiyng hath some­what the more grace, by reason of the impro­pre vsyng of the latin woorde, sperant, in en­glyshe, thei haue hope or affiaunce: for a man in processe, to become a philosophier, maye bee hoped for, b [...]t for y^e losse of the yiesight, or for haltyng like acreple, no manne vseth to hope.

Diogenes asked, whatsoeuer it 144 was, in the waye of almes of a fe­loe beeyng a nyggarde and lothe to departe with any thyng: whome when he sawe long in dooyng, and more like vtterly to saye hym naye then to geue hym aught: O thou manne saied he, I aske thee for a [Page] dynyng, not for a dyyng. To ex­presse as nere as maye bee, the affinitee of the greke vocables, [...], and [...], of the whi­che [...], is in latin cibus, in englyshe meate and [...], in latin sepultura, in englyshe, a graue. As if he should haue saied: what nedest thou to make so muche stickyng at the mater: I dooe not require the to go hang thyselfe, but one­ly to geue me as muche money as maye suffise to paie for my poore dyner. Which he spake, because the feloe made as muche stickyng, & shewed hym­selfe as lothe to departe with any money, as if Diogenes had saied vnto hym: goo thy wayes at ones, and hang thyselfe. All the mater is in daly­yng with the greke dictions.

145 To a certain persone laiyng to his charge, that he had in tyme to­fore, been a false coyner of countre feacte money, (for he was vpon suche a mater banyshed his coun­tree,In the .cii. a­pophthegme of Diogenes. as is aboue mencioned:) I cō ­fesse, saieth he, the tyme to haue been, when I was suche an one, as thou art now, but suche an one as I am at this presente, thou art ne­uer like to bee, whyle y^u shalt liue. It was a checke to those persones,Many dooe rebuke in o­t [...]rs the tre­spaces of youth and yet emende not their owne in their olde age neither. who dooe in others fynde greate faulte at the [Page 130] errours and folyes of youth, whereas the­same dooe emende and correcte their owne mysdedes, no not in their olde age neither.

To another feloe castyng hym in the nose with theself same mater 146 he defended his cryme by the pre­texte of youth, saiynge: Yea I did in my youth many thynges moo then that, whiche I dooe not now in myne age. For at y^t age I could haue pyssed quickely with out any peine, so dooe I not nowe at this daye. With a Cynical circui­cion or goyng about the bushe, he signified young age,Many menn [...] dooe many poyntes of foly in youth [...] whiche thei will not doo [...] in age. whiche dooeth easyly, and at the first assaye make water, wheras olde folkes bee muche coumbreed with a spiece of the [...]trangurie, that thei cannot pysse, but with great peine, one droppe after another. So m [...]ned Diogenes, that in his old age he could not possibly by any persuasion or meanes haue been brought to coyne false money, wherunto the foly of youth had afore brought hym, through default of mature discrecion.

Takyng a iorney on a tyme to 147 the toune of Myndus, Myndus a toune in Asia. when he sawe greate wyde gates and of gorge­ous or royall buildyng, where as [Page] the toune was but a litle preaty pyle: he saied, ye toune dwellers, or ye enhabitauntes of Myndus, shutte fast your toune gates, that your ci­tee goo not out at theim. Notyng tee toune to bee so litle, that it were possible for thesame to goo foorth at the gates.

148 Seeyng a feloe attached, that hadde by priue stelth embesleed a piece of purple sylke, he applyed to thesame, this verse of Homere.

That is,

It cannot haue y^• full grace in englyshe. But [...], in greke, and purpureus, a, um, purpureus, a um, an epithe [...]on of mor [...]. is a denominatiue of purpura: and the poetes dooen often ioyne it for an epitheton with the substan­tiue mors, death. Because that when a bodye is slain, the gore bloode that issueth out of the wounde is of purple colour. And he called it prin­cely destiney to dye in riche araye, or for preciou [...] and gaye thynges.

149 Craterus the lieutenaunte or high Capitaine with Alexander the greate [Page 131] beeyng a manne of greate welth & richesse,Craterus lieu tenaūte with Alexander the greate. had of his owne mere mo­cion inuited & hertyly praied Dioge­nes to come & dwell with hym: To whom, Diogenes made this aunswer.What Dio­genes aun­swered to Craterꝰ inuityng hym to come and dwell with hym. I can better bee contented to liue in Athenes with breade and chese, thē with Craterus at myne owne will, to haue all the deyntyes in y^e worlde. Menyng that libertee (bee it neuer so poore) is rather to bee chosen,Libertee, bee it neuer so poore, is to be preferred to al delices, where libertee is re­streigned. then all the de­lices and iunkerie, or sumptuous fare of the ryche cobbes, to bee restreigned & kept shorte of libertee.

Anaximenes a philosophi­er, the schola­re & succes­sour of Ana­ximander, & y^e maister & next p̄decessour of Anaxagoras. Anaximenes the rhetorician had a 150 panche as fatte and greate as he he was hable to lugge awaye with all, to whom Diogenes came,What Dio­genes saied to Anaximenes the rhetoriciā hauyng a gre­ate bealy. and spake in this maner: I praye you geue to vs lene craggues some bealy too: for bothe yourself therby shalbee well lighted and eased of your burden, and ye shall dooe to vs a good turne and a pleasure.

[Page] 151 As Anaximenes was on a tyme in makyng an oracion to the people, Diogenes bearyng in his hande, and holdyng out a pestle or gāmounde of bakon, made all the audience full and whole to turne awaye frō Anaximenes to gaze vpon hym. Anaxi­menes fumyng & takyng high indignaciō at y^e mater, held his peace, as a mā destitute & forsakē of his au­ditorie. Then saied Diogenes, loe, one poore halfpenie mater hath clene dashed all this earnest and solēne talke of Anaximenes. Signifiyng that all his bableyng was of light and friuelous maters, whiche made not the audience veraye attente, or willyng to geue eare vnto hym.

Certain persones obiectyng vnto 152 hym as a poincte against all good nourture, that he would goo ma­unchyng and eatyng euen in the open strete:Why Dioge­nes woulde eate as he wēt in the open strete. what meruaill, ꝙ he? hoūgre cometh on me in the strete. He made a reason, of that the logicians [Page 132] callen, relatiuè opposita. Relatiuè op­posita, or, re­latiues, in lo­gike, are two thynges so connexed, and mutually de­pendyng the one of the other, y^t thesame doe eu [...]rmore eit [...]er the other ymporte & notifie, as to beeyng a father, belongeth hauyng a childe, and to beeyng a soonne or doughter, belongeth hauyng a father. And sembleably of hoūgre & [...]a [...]yng. If houngre wer not hasty on a manne in the open strete, it myght percase, bee a mater of [...]hame to eate in y^e opē [...]trete. But by the selfsame coulour he might haue defended hymself if he did his easemente orels made water in the open strete.

There bee writers that dooe fa­ther 153 this also vpon Diogenes, How Dioge­nes taunted Plato secrete­ly, reprouyng hym for his course fare. Plato happyly fyndyng hym washyng a sorte of salade herbes, saied vnto hym roundyng in his eare. If thou wouldest haue been rewled by Dio­nysius, iwys thou shouldest not after this maner washe these herbes. Diogenes roūded Plato in the eare again, saiyng: iwys If thou wouldest haue washed herbes for thyne own dyner, thou shouldest not in this maner haue been a Ihon hold my­staf to Dionysius. Afore in the first saiyng of Aristippus. But this appereth to bee a tale forged after the likenesse or exaumple of the saiyng afore reported on Ari­stippus, [Page] As thissame in like maner, whiche I will putte now nexte of all.

154 To one saiyng, [...]ogenes no­ [...]yng passed on theim that had hym in derision. many a manne hath the in derision (o Diogenes) and theim perauenture, many an asse, ꝙ he, again. The other feloe saiyng moreouer, and thus replyyng, yea, but thei care nothyng for the asses, he aunswered, and I asmuche and not a iote more for theim that ye speake of. He attributed vnto asses the propretee of mockyng or skornyng, because thei dooe euery other whyle, by shewyng their teeth bare, as ye would saye, countrefeacte grennyng and makyng mowes with their lyppes. And besides that, when menne dooe mocke any bodye thei wagge their handes vp and down by their eares at the sydes of their hedde, and dooe coutrefeacte the facion of an asses eares. So then the asse also appe­reth by waggyng his eares vp and down, to mocke and skorne folkes, yet is there no body therwith displeased, or greued.

155 Seeyng a young striepleyng to applye the studie of philosophie, well dooen, ꝙ he, the harkeners of [Page 133] carnall beautie, thou callest awaye to y^e beautie and goodlynesse of the mynde and solle. Menyng, that the partie, in y^t he laboured to garnyshe & adourne his mynde with vertues or good qualitees,Who labou­reth to adour­ne [...]he mynde w^t good qua­litees, and ho­neste discipli­n [...]s, shalbee assured of muche y^• bet­ter frendes. & with honest disciplines, should fynally, attei­gne, to bee assured of better frēdes, by a great waye. For there is nothyng more goodly or beautyful then sapience, nothyng then vertue more amiable.

The custome & vsage of menne 156 in olde tyme was, suche persones as had been saued from greate pe­rilles, or mysauentures, to hang vp in the temples Donaries, that is to saye: giftes, presentes, or oblaci­ons, as agnisyng to bee the onely benefyte of the Goddes, y^t thei had been preserued and saued harme­lesse. Therfore, whē to Diogenes, ha­uyng taken a iourney into y^e coun­tree of Samos is an Isle in the sea called Mare Aegeum adiacente, marchyng, [...] bordreyng v­pon the coun­tree of Thra­cia, whiche afterward by reason of the commirtiō of bothe peoples was named Samothracia as witnesseth Uergilius, saiyng: Threiciam quae Samum, quae nun [...] Sa­mothraci [...] fertur. This Isle was consecra [...]e to Iun [...], who w [...]s in thesame Isle born, breden, and brought vp, and finally mareyed to Iupiter. There was also another Isle in thesame sea of thesame name foreayenst Ephesus Samothracia, wer shewed the iewelles or oblacions, that soon­drie persones hauyng been from perishyng in battaill, from dyyng [Page] by sickenesse, frō beeyng drouned and lost on the sea, or from any o­ther greate hasarde preserued, had offreed vp, yea, ꝙ Diogenes, but these would bee a muche greater noum­bre, if all those persones, whiche in like case haue not been saued, had offreed vp suche gyftes as these. He mened (myne opinion is,) those perso­nes that wer saued from mysauentures, to bee saued by veraye chaunce, and not by the benefyte or grace of y^• Goddes.Diogenes supposed menne to bee saued from mysauetures by mere chaunce, & no [...] by y^e grace or gifte of god. That in case it bee to bee ymputed to y^e Goddes, if a māne bee preserued, to thesame is it also to bee im­puted, that mo in noumbre dooe peryshe, then are escaped. There been writers y^t dooen at­tribute this present saiyng to Diagoras Me­lius,Diagoras a philosophier surnamed [...], that is [...] a mys [...]reaunt not beleuyng that there, wer any goddes, ne the same to bee of any power. a myscreaunte and a wieked despyser of the Goddes. And as for the Samothracians wer sore blynded and infected with greate su­pers [...]icion in suche maner thynges.

[Page 134]To a welfauoured yoūg spryn­gall 157 gooyng on his waye towar­des a feaste or banquette, he saied: Thou wylte come home againe wurse manne, then thou gooest foorth. So when thesame young manne returnyng homewarde a­gain from the banquette, had saied to Diogenes, I haue been at y^e feaste, and yet am returned nothyng the wurse manne therfore. Yes, ꝙ Dio­genes, [...]. and so muche the wurse, euen for that worde. Notifiyng to bee vn­possible, but y^t suche a young strepleyng must remedy [...]esse frō excessiue & vnsobre reuellyng,A yoūg māne from excessiue reuellyng re­turneth wur­se manne, thē he went thi­ther. come home lesse honest, then he went thither. And that he had of the pottes and cuppes ta­ken suche stomacke and ympudencie, as without ferther prouocacion to chatte, and choppelogike with an auncyēte philosophier, was a manifeste argumente and an euident declaracion, that his condicions, wer rather appaired then emended, besides that it was a token of small grace, to bee so blynded in folye, y^t he would not see ne know­lage his faulte.

Diogenes asked of one Euritius some 158 greate thyng whatsoeuer it was, & [Page] when thesame (as is the guyse) sa [...] ­ed naye to his requeste with these woordes: I wyll dooe it: if y^u canst persuade me therunto: If I wer hable, ꝙ Diogenes, to persuade the to dooe al thynges after myne aduise I had long ere this daye, geuen y^e coūsaill to hang thyself. In this saiyng, out take Cynical plainesse & boldnesse of speakyng,The Cynicall plainnesse of Diogenes, in speakyng his mynde. & there is no great poincte to bee maruailled at. Excepte percase he thought requisite, to reproue the fastholdyng of such nig­gardes, as will departe with nothyng to y^e poore, but with more suite and praiyng then the thyng 159 is woorth.

He had been to see the citee of Lacedemon, and beeyng from thens returned to the citee of Athenes, one asked of hym (as the maner is) whither he would,The corrupt & effemynate maners of y^e Atheniens. and fromwhens he was came. Forsouth, ꝙ he, from veraye menne to veraye women. Notyng, y^e maners of the Atheniens with sensuall pleasures & delices effemynate, wher as y^e Lacedemoniās wer hardely brought vp.

160 One asked hym as he returned [Page 135] homeward from the Olympia, whe­ther he had not seen there a greate coumpaignie, yes truely, ꝙ he, a veraye greate coumpaignie, but woondreous fewe menne.Muche coumpaignie and fewe menne. This also appereth to bee countrefeacted and for­ged by the other saiyng,Afore in the lviii. saiyng of thissame Diogenes. that is afore rehersed of the hotte hous.

Those persones, who of a ryot­tousnesse 161 did prodigally lauesse out and waste their substaūce or good­des vpon cookes,Wastefull [...] ryottous la­uessers of their gooddes to what thyng Diogenes li­kened. on reuellers, or ruffyans, or harlottes, & vpō flate­rers: he auouched to bee like vnto trees, growyng on y^e edges or brynkes of clieffes & rockes of a down right pitche, or a stiepe down falle: y^• fruites of whiche trees no māne could euer geatte a taste of, but the same wer frō tyme to tyme, deuou­red by the crowes and the rauens. Menyng on that one parte, suche per­sones as seruen onely the throte and the bea­lye, not to bee woorthie the name of menne.Thei y^• seruē onely y^• throte & y^• bealye, are not woorthie the name of menne. and on the other syde, gooddes so wast­fully spent, to bee wurse then cast awaye.

[Page] 162 The grekes, if thei wyshe to any body extreme myschief,Diogenes a­ [...]ouched to [...] more daūgerous to falle in the handes of flaterers, thē of wylde bea­stes. or shame­full death, thei dooe (by a prouer­biall speakyng, in their toungue vsed) bidde theim goo pieke theim to y^e crowes, in greke, [...]. But Diogenes of a customable woonte auouched to bee a thyng muche more daungerous to falle in the handes of [...]. To light e­mong crowes then emong flaterers. Di­ogenes allu­ded to the greke ꝓuerbe [...], hens to y^e cro­wes, and (as wee saye in englyshe) to y^e d [...]iuil [...] of hell. Erasmus in his Chiliades citeth zenodotus for his autour, that there was a certain place of execucion in Thessalia, called, the Crowes, in to y^e whiche, persones founde giltie of any cause or cryme of death, and therupon condemned, wer carryed, and cast hedlong, so to peryshe there. The originall cause why the saied place was so named, whoso is desirous to knowe, if he bee learned, maye at large reade in Erasmus vpon the prouerbe aboue cited.flaterers that will hold vp a mannes yea and naye (bee it true or false) then to lighte e­mong crowes. For the crowes dooe not pe [...]ke but the carkesses of dedde menne, the flate­rers deuoure menne euen whyle thei are aliue, [...]e thei neuer so honest, and good. The plea­sauntenesse of this saiyng (whiche in y^e greke by reason of the affinitee of the vocables hath an excedyng greate grace) both in latin & in englyshe vtterly quailleth or dyeth. For cro­wes y^e grekes callen [...], & one litle sole letter chaūged, thesame called flaterers [...]. This saiyng is ascribed to Antis [...]henes also.

[Page 136] Of Phryne it is noted afore in the xli. sai­yng of Aristippus. As tou­chyng this p­sente apoph­thegme, the moste lik [...]ly hood is, that vpon the I­mage y^t Phryne had conse­crated, was thus writen: This golden Venus hath Phrynae of­freed and geuen unto Apollo, when Diogenes read this scripture, he wrote hard at the taille of it this addicion of the inordinate liuyng of the Grekes. Phryne a naughtypacke, or a 163 woman of light conuersaciō, han­ged vp for a iewell, by the waye of oblacion in the temple of Apollo at the toune of Delphi an ymage of Venus made of clene golde. Diogenes espyynge thesame image, wrote and sette this posee or testymo­niall vpon it: Of the inordynate and ui­cious l [...]uyng of the Grekes. For it was a plaine conuincyng of the grekes, y^t thei wer tootoo muche drowned in the vice of the body that a commen [...]troumpette had gathered to­gether so muche golde, of money gotten by suche abhomynacion.

There been that ascryben to Diogenes, 164 this saiyng too. When Alex­ander y^e greate had come vnto hym, [Page] and saluted hym, Diogenes demaun­ded who he was: And when the o­ther had in this maner aunswered, I am that noble Alexander y^e kyng: Marie, ꝙ Diogenes again:Diogenes gloried as muche in his libert [...]e, as did Alexander of his kyng­dome. And I am y^t ioyly feloe Diogenes, y^e doggue. Takyng no lesse pride and glorie of his libertee, that he was at no mannes becke ne commaundemente, then Alexander did of his kyngdome, and croune Emperiall.

165 Beeyng asked, for what prankes or dooynges, it had come to his lotte to bee cōmenly called doggue of euery bodye:How it came to Diogenes his lotte to be called doggue. Marie, ꝙ he, be­cause that, on suche as geue me aught, I make muche faunyng: at suche as will nothyng departe withall, I am euer barkyng: and suche as bee naught, I byte, y^t thei smart again.

166 To Diogenes pluckyng fruite of a certain figtree, when the keper of the orcheyeard had spoken in this maner: vpon thesame tree, y^t thou [Page 137] gatherest of, a feloe not many day­es agon hanged hymselfe. Marie (ꝙ Diogenes) and I will purifie and clense it again. The other partie supposed, that Diogenes beeyng so aduertised would haue forborne y^e tree inquinate or pol­luted, in that it had borne a dedde carkesse. But Diogenes beeyng free and clere from all spiece of supersticion,Diogēes clere voide of all spiece of su­persticion. estemed the fruite to bee no poyncte the more polluted, or ympure for that respecte.

Markyng one that was a greate 167 prouer of maisteries in the games of Olympia, What Dio­genes saied whē he sawe a chalenger of Olympia set an earnest yie on a wenche. to sette an earnest yie on a commē stroumpette, in so muche that he turned his hedde backe, & behelde hir, after that she was gon past hym, he saied: loe, how a prin­cipall ramme, for the touthe of Mars hymself, is leed awaye in a bande (his necke sette clene awrye) by a damisel, that is as commen as the cartewaye. He thought it a mater of laughter for the feloe to bee a prouer of mai­steries with picked or chosen menne of price, & [Page] thesame to bee haled or drawen awaye as a priesoner without any chordes at all, by a shiten arsed gerle.

168 Well fauoured or beautyfull stroumpettes,Beautyfull stroumppetes Diogenes likened to sweete wyne tempe­red with dedly poyson. he auouched to bee like vnto bastarde or muscadyne, tēpered & mixte with dedly poyson. For that thesame caused in deede at the begynnyng, delicious pleasure & voluptee, but euē at y^e heeles of whiche pleasures, ymmedia­tely ensued endlesse doloure and wofulnesse.

169 As he was makyng his dy­ner, euen in the open strete: when a greate noumbre stoode rounde about hym for the straungenesse of the sight, and euer emong made a criyng at hym, doggue, dog­gue: Naye, ꝙ Diogenes, ye bee dog­gues rather, in that ye stand roūde about a māne beeyng at his dyner.Diogenes called theim doggues, y^• stood rounde about hym whyle he dyned. For that is one of the commen propretees that doggues haue.

170 When mencion was made of a boye in moste detestable abomy­nacion abused, Diogenes beeyng as­ked [Page 138] what countreeman the boye was: Made aunswer, by daliyng with a woord that might bee twoo maner wayes taken, and saied: he is a Tegeate. For Tegea, is a citee of Arcadia. Tegea, a citie of Arcadie. And therof is deriued a noune gen­tile Tegeates, Tegeates. a Tegeate, or a persone of Te­gea born. And the greke vocable [...], is o­therwhyle in one significacion, Lupanar, a brothel hous, or a place where bawderie is kepte. And therof the philosophier vsurped a woorde of his owne deuysyng or forgeyng, & called y^e boye a Tegeate, of [...], for respecte of the moste abomynable vice, with whiche he had been defoyled.

when he sawe a feloe now ta­kyng vpon hym to practise & mi­nistre 171 physike,How Dioge­nes mocked one that from a wrasteleer fell to bee a physician. who had afore been a commen dooer in the games of wrastleyng, but in deede, was a ve­raye slouche, and a veraye dastard he saied vnto thesame: wilt thou now by course ouerthrowe theim again, that haue heretofore ouer­throwen thee? A wrastleer is propre­ly [Page] saied, to cast or to ouerthrowe any parti [...] whom he ouercometh & putteth to the wurse. And the physiciā also ouerthroweth those per­sones,Two kyndes of castyng, o­uerhroowe­yng, or, ge­uyng a fall. whō he coucheth in bedde, or bryngeth to their long home. As for y^e menyng of Dio­genes was, y^t the partie was nowe as eiuill a physician, as he had afore been a false her­ted wrastleer. A mery ieste muche like to this­same there is in the poete Martialis, of a feloe which frō a physiciā, hauyng become a fighter in harnesse, did none other beeyng Hoploma­chus then what he had doen beyng a physiciā.

172 To a bastarde or basseborne boye, that had a commen harlotte to his mother, and was whurleyng litle stones emong the thickest of y^• people at auenture, he saied: Take heede sirrha and beware, l [...]st thou hitte thy father. For he was born of a commen naughtypacke and by reason ther­of, his father not certainly knowen.

Certain persones highly-mag­nifiyng and praisyng the bounte­ous 173 liberalitee of one that had ge­uen to Diogenes a thyng what euer it was: And why dooe ye not praise [Page 139] me to, saied he, y^t haue deserued to haue it geuē me? For to bee worthie a benefite, is more thē to haue geuē a benefite, accordyng to y^t the sentēce of Publius Mimus:To bee woor­thie a benefite is more then to haue geuen a benefite.

To one that required of Diogenes 174 restitucion of his robe or mantell,The aunswer of Diogenes to one y^t had geuen hym a mantell, and would nedes haue had it from hym a­gain. he thus made a woondreous feacte and pleasaunte aunswer. If thou gaue it me freely, I haue it: if thou diddest lend it me, I dooe stil occu­pie it. Signifiyng, y^t he was nothyng mynded to restore it home again, whether it was of free gifte, orels by the waye of lone for a tyme that he had receiued it. It is shame for a bodye to require again that he hath free­ly geuen. And it is a pointe of inhumanitee hastyly to snatche awaye, that y^e occupier hath neede of, and cannot well forbeare.

Supposititii partus, are in latin called childrē 175 that bee feigned or sembleed to haue been borne of that wombe, foorth of whiche thei neuer came (as for exaumple) if a womanne should bee deli­uered of a monstre, or of a dedde childe, and haue an other liue childe of due fourme and shape laied by hir in the place of thesame, or if a woman [Page] should bryng foorth a wenche and thesame con­ueighed away, should haue a manne childe of an other womans bearyng, laied by hir in stede of hir owne, or if a woman should countrefacte tra­uaillyng and labouryng of childe, and haue an other womans childe laied by hir, and vsed as though she had been deliuered of it hir self in veray dede,) that childe so impropreed to a wrong mother maye proprely in latin bee called partus supposititius, as ye wold saye in englyshe a childe mothered on a woman that neuer beare it, or, a chaungelyng, and suche persones are euer after called supposititii, or, suppositi. Suppositus, is also a par­ticiple of sup­ponor & sou­ [...]eth in engly­she laied vnder as a piloe is laied vnder ones hedde in the night. There is also an other latin woorde, indormire, in englyshe, to slepe vpon, or to lye vpon whyle we slepe. And it maye bee taken in twoo diuerse, and in ma­ner contrarie senses. For we are saied in latin, indormire, to lye vpon, or, to slepe vpō our good­des or treasure for safe kepyng of thesame, and we are also saied in latin, indormire, to slepe v­pon, or to lye slepyng on a thyng that we sette no greate store by, nor dooe any thyng passe on, as a matte, or a couche.Howe Dio­genes taun­ [...]ed a chaunge lyng who in skorne & deri­siō saied that Diogenes had golde sowed in the patches of his cope. And in dede Diogenes vsed his mantell in y^• night season in stede of a mattresse. And so it was, that when suche a chaungelyng as is aboue mencio­ned, had saied to Diogenes in skorne, Loe, he hath golde in his mantell, Diogenes laied the reproche veraye well in the feloes owne necke sai­yng, [Page 140] yea, & therfore supposito indormio. Menyng y^e partie to bee a chaūgelyng, & ther­fore despiceable or woorthie to bee cōtēned: wher as the woordes might in the grosse eare of the fe­loe, soune also to this sense, that Diogenes laied the mantell nightly vnder hym when he slept, for safe kepyng of suche a precious iewell.

To one demaundyng, what a­uauntage 176 he had by his philoso­phie:What auaū ­tage and fore­dele is gotten by philoso­phie. though nothyng els, saied he, yet at lestwyse this foredele I haue, y^t I am readie prepaired to almaner fortune good or badde. This saiyng hath scacely any smelle or sauour of Diogenes, although he beareth the name of it.

Beeyng asked of a feloe what 179 countreemā he was,What coun­tree man Di­ogenes affer­med hymself to bee. he aunswered [...], that is, a citizē of the worlde. Signifiyng that a philosophi­er in whatsoeuer place of the worlde he is re­syaunte or maketh his abode, liueth in his owne natiue countree. And all the worlde to bee but as one citee for manne to inhabite.

When Diogenes on a tyme asked 179 an almes,After what fourme Dio­genes asked an almes of y^e cōmen alme­ner of y^e citee. and in speakyng to the publique almener of the citee (who [Page] is in greke called [...],) he vsed none other style but this verse of Homere.

That is.

The festiuitee or myrthe and pleasaunte grace of the saiyng, in this pointe consisteth, that where he should haue saied [...], geue me your almes, or, geue me your charitee, he vsed a woorde of contrarie significacion, sai­yng: [...], despoyle out of harnesse, or turne naked out of the cloutes. By the name of He­ctor, notyng his owneself. And that persone committeth plaine robberie or spoyle, who de­nyeth an almes to any poore creature beeyng in extreme neede. And in deede, menne of this ordre been moste commenly full of brybyng embesleyng, and purloynyng.

179 Paramoures, he affermed to bee the queenes of kynges,Stroumpet­ [...]es and para­mour [...]s, Dio­g [...]nes affer­med to bee the queenes of kynges. because the same might craue of the said kyn­ges, whatsoeuer their phansie lu­sted, and bee assured to obtein their askyng. For vpō this he gaue to theim the name of queenes, not for that thesame [Page 141] wer pieres, mates, or feloes like, with the wi­ues of the kynges: but for that thei abused the kynges selfes as subiectes vnto theim at eche becke and cōmaundemēte. The kynges selfes dooe not at al seasons impetrate of the people that thei would haue by exacciō, but to a pa­ramour nothyng is denyed.To paramo [...] res nothyng is denyed. Of this sorte & trade, myne opiniō is, that the barbarous or saluaige kynges wer in olde tyme.

The Atheniens of mere adula­cion 180 or flaterie to please Alexander, made a decree, that thesame Alexan­der should bee taken and wurship­ped for Bacchus (who by another na­me was called Liber pater. How Dioge­nes mocked y^• decree made, by the Athe­niēs, that A­lexander the greate should bee taken and wurshipped for liber pater that is to saie for Bacchus.)^☞ This honour Diogenes laughyng to skor­ne, saide: And I praie you my mai­sters, make me ^* Serapis too. For in thesame degree that Bacchus was emong those that wer called ^‡Satyri, was Serapis, wurshipped of the Egyptians, in the simili­tude or likenesse of an oxe. And Diogenes thought hymselfe as truely to bee the one, as A­lexander was the other.

[Page 142]Beeyng chidden, for y^t he was 181 [Page] a gooer into places full of stynke and all vnclenelynesse, he saied: why, the soonne also dooeth crepe vnder houses of office, and yet is not therwith defoyled nor embrew [...]ed, or made durtie. His menyng was y^t the honestee of a perfecte vertuous mā, is nothyng empe [...]hed, [...]tayned or made wurse for y^e infamie of any place y^t he resorteth vnto.An honest mā is not y^• wurse for y^• infamie of any place that he resor­ [...]eh vnto.

When it fortuned hym to bee at 182 supper in a temple, and mustie or sluttyshely kept loues of breade to bee sette afore hym: he cast the lo­ues and all out of the temple, alle­geyng, that none ympure or slut­tyshe thyng ought to entre into y^e hous of God.None ym­pure thyng ought to en­tre y^e temple of God.

183 To a feloe, malapertly demaun­dyng, why Diogenes, [...]ens he had no­maner learnyng ne knowelage, professed and openly tooke vpon hym the name of a philosophier: he saied: If I countrefaicte a philo­sophier, or if I shewe any neere to­wardenesse, [Page 143] of a philosophier, euen that veraye pointe is to bee a phi­sophier outright.To shew nigh towardenesse of a philoso­phier, is a great porcion of beeyng a philosophier out right. Halfe notyng, philosophie to bee a thyng of so high difficultee, y^t euen to countrefeacte thesame, and to shewe any towardnesse of it, is no smal porcion of philosophie. As y^t persone hath an high pointe, and a greate fordeale, toward beeyng a kyng, that cā expertely and cunnyngly, in gesture & countenaūce represente y^e state of a kyng. So in deede, whoso coūtrefeacteth or maketh shew or countenaunce of a thyng, dooeth as muche as in hym lyeth, imitate & foloe all the facions to thesame belongyng. And by imitacion to drawe nigh to all the facions or pointes of a philosophier is a great parte of beyng a right philosophier in deede, that is to saie, of beeyng a studious and peinfull labourer to atteigne philosophie or perfecte sapience.

A certain persone brought a 184 childe vnto Diogenes, to thende that thesame childe, might take some parte of his doctrine. And so, to cō ­mend hym, that he might bee the more welcome and the better acce­pted of the philosophier, the partie [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] auouched the ladde to bee alreadie bothe with excellente witte, and with singular good maners and behaueour highly endued. At these woordes Diogenes saied: why, what neede hath he then of my helpe, if he bee alreadie suche an one? He gaue a shrewd ch [...]cke to y^e vnmeasurable prai­ser,Unmeasura­ble laude and praise Dioge­nes impro­ueed. who attributed to the ladde that thyng, for the sole atteignyng and g [...]attyng wherof, children are at all tymes sette and committed vnto the handleyng and trainyng of philoso­phiers. It had been enough to praise & exalte in the childe an honeste towardenesse, disposi­cion or aptitude,Honeste to­wardnesse or aptitude and good hope is a sufficiente praise in a childe. & good hope of well prouyng in suche thynges as should bee taught hym.

185 Those persones who talked muche of vertue,Suche perso­nes, as talked of vertue and liued not ver­tuously, Dio­genes likened to an harpe. & yet did not lede a vertuous life, he affermed to bee like vnto y^e harpe, whiche with the soune or melodie did pleasure and good to other, but itself neither perceiued, ne heard any thyng at all. This saiyng varieth not veraye muche from the saiyng of Saint Paule,1. Corin. xiii. of a tyn­kleyng cymballe.

[Page 133]On a certain daye, as the peo­ple 186 wer comyng out frō the place where sightes & playes wer exhibi­ted, he on his partie w^tal his might thrustyng & shouldreyng, against y^• throung of the people, heaued, sho­ued and laboured to geate in. And beeyng asked why he so did, he sa­ied: This am I of purpose earnestly bent al dayes of my life to dooe. Menyng, that to dooe the duetie & parte of a right philosophier,The better philosophier the more ear­nestly bent to discorde from the people. is, in all accions or thynges to bee dooen, all y^t euer maye bee to discorde and to bee of contrarie wayes frō the multitude or commen rable of the people, for because the moste parte of folkes are lede with carnall lustes and appetites,The moste parte of mēne are lede w^t carnall appetites. and not by reason or good discrecion.

Beholdyng a yoūg mā, bothe of 187 apparell & of demeanure, nothyng comely ne conueniente for one that should bee a māne:How Dioge­nes tooke vp a young māne y^t apparelled & demeaned hymself vn­mannely. Art thou not a­shamed, ꝙ he, to bee more backe frēde to thyself then the mynde or wille of nature self hath been? For [Page] she created and made the a manne and thou dooest diguyse and re­forge thyn owneself into a womā. The selfe same woordes maye bee well spoken of many an one, whom, where as na­ture hath created and made menne, theimsel­fes of their owne voluntarie inclinacion, fal­len from their propre nature and kynde, to the abusions of swyne, & other brute beastes.

188 When he sawe a certain myn­strell, settyng his instrumente in tune,How Diogenes rebuked a mynstrell of inordynate maners and behaueour. where hymself on his owne behalfe, was a lewde and vicious feloe, and of demeanure clene out of all good ordre and frame, he sa­ied: Thou feloe, art thou not asha­med of thy selfe, that thou knowest the waye howe to sette tunes in true corde vpon a piece of woodde, and canst no skylle to frame thy life by the rewle of right discrecion and reason? This apophthegme too, appeareth to haue been deuised and drawen out of some others aboue writen.

189 To a certain feloe, who, at what [Page 145] tyme Diogenes moued & auised hym to the studie of sapience, found and alleged many excuses, saiyng, I am nothyng apte to learne philo­sophie: why dooest thou liue in this worlde then (saied he again) if thou haue no regarde to lede a vertu­ous life?Diogenes thought that persone not woorthie to liue y^• woulde not, studie to liue [...]teously. For a manne dooeth not liue here to this ende, that he maye go [...]p & down loytreyng, and nothyng els [...] but that he maye learne to liue in a right trade of vertue and honestee.Philosophie geueth y^e gifte to liue verte­ou [...]ly. To liue, is the gifte of nature, [...]ut philosophie geueth the gifte to liue vertuously Nature produceth vs into this worlde apte to learne,Nature pro­duceth vs [...]pt to learne, but not all readie learned. and to take vertue, but no manne is alreadie endued with cunny [...]g at the first daye that he is born into this worlde.

To a feloe y^t despised and would 190 not knowe ne looke vpō his owne father,How Dioge­nes rebuked one that des­pised his own father. he saied: hast thou no shame to despise that persone, to whom onely and nomanne els thou art bounde to thanke euen for this ve­raye pointe, that thou setteste so muche by thy peinted sheathe? [Page] The grace of the saiyng resteth in the collacion or comparyng of twoo contraries. For these twoo thynges will in no wise ac­corde, to despise an other, and to stand well in ones owne conceipte.

191 Hearyng a young striepleyng of a veraye wel fauoured and honest face, vsyng vnhonest communica­cion, art thou not ashamed, ꝙ he, to drawe a sweorde of lead out of a an ieuorie sheathe?To drawe a sweorde of lead out of an ieuorie sheath. Ieuorie was ta­ken for a precious thyng in olde tyme, and muche sette by. And the mynde or solle of manne is couered, & (as ye would saye) hou­sed or hidden within the tabernacle or skryne of the bodye, & dooeth in a mannes cōmuni­cacion clerely appere & euidently shewe itself.The mynde dooeth clerely appere ī ones communica­cion.

When a feloe had in the waye 192 of reproche laied vnto his charge, y^t he was a drynker at commen ta­uernes:How Dioge­nes auoided a checke geuen to hym for drynkyng in a tauerne. So am I shoren at the barbers shoppe too, ꝙ he again. Si­gnifiyng, that it is no more dishonestee to drynke, then to bee rounded, or to bee shauen. And as nomanne fyndeth faulte at beeyng shauen in a barbers shoppe, because it is a [Page 146] place for that thyng purposely ordeined, so it ought not to bee thought a thyng vnhoneste, if a bodye drynke in a commen tauerne, so [...] y^t he drynke w^t measure & w^t reasone:To take e [...]cesse of drynke is euerywher abhomyna­ble. for to take excesse of drynke, in what place soeuer it bee, is a thyng shamefull and abhominable.

To one reprochefully castyng 193 in his nose that he had takē a cope or a mantell,The aunswer of Diogenes to one obiect­yng y^t he had taken a cope of Philippus of Philippus the kyng, he aunswered with a verse of Home­re in this maner.

That Homerus wrote of the beautie and fauour of the bodye,The defense of Erasmus for takyng geiftes & re­wardes of noble menne or of bishoppes. (whiche is the benefite & gifte of god,) that did Diogenes wrest to a mantel geuen hym by a kyng. Thesame verse might euen I myself also ryng in the eares of such persones, as dooe by a wrongfull querele obiecte vnto me, that I dooe now and then take of noble menne or of bishoppes suche thynges as bee geuen me for to doe me hone­stee. There is not one of theim, of whom I haue at any tyme in all my life craued any thyng, either by plain woordes, or by other meanes, but in deede suche thynges as the­same [Page] of their owne voluntarie willes & mere mocions, dooe laye in my lappe, I receiue gladly with all my herte, not so greately for rewardes to thenrichyng of my purse, as for testimonies of their beneuolence & fauour to­wardes me, especially sens their habilitees are of more welthie enduemente, then to wryng at the abatemente of so small a porcion as co­meth to my snapshare.

In the thirde booke of Homere his Ilias He­ctor, rebukyng his brother Paris, emong other woordes of reproche, saieth vnto hym in skorne & derision after this maner.

To whiche pointe, emong other thynges, Pari [...] maketh aunswer after this sorte.

Diogenes curiously and with ear­nest 194 diligence teachyng a lesson of refreinyng angre, a certain saucy or knappyshe young spryngall (as ye would saye, to take a prouf and tryall, whether the philosophier would in deede shewe & perfourme that he taught in woordes) spetted euen in the veraye face of hym. This thyng Diogenes tooke coldely and wysely,The pacyenc [...] of Diogenes saiyng, In deede I am not angry hitherto, but yet by saint Marie, I begynne to doubte whether I ought nowe of congru­ence to bee angry, or not. He mened that sharpely to punyshe suche a saucy pranke of a lewde boye had been a deede of almes, and of charitee.

Yiyng a certain persone hum­bly 195 crouchyng & knelyng to a wo­man of eiuill conuersacion of hir [Page] bodye, forto impetrate y^t he desired, he saied: what menest, thou wret­ched creature that thou art? It wer muche better for the not to obtein that thou suest for. To bee reiected and to haue a naye of a stroumpet,To bee reiec­ted of a stroū pet, is a more happie thyng then to bee ta­kē to fauour. is a more happie thyng, then to bee taken to grace & fauour. And yet many one maketh instaunt suite, to purchace their owne harme, & byen thesame full deere.

196 To a certain persone hauyng his heare perfumed with sweete oyles:Sweete sa­uoures of the bodye, dooe cause a man­nes life to stynke. Beware syrrha, ꝙ he, leste y^• sweete smellyng of thy hedde, cause thy life to stynke. The greke voca­bles that geuen al the grace to the saiyng, ar [...] [...], fragraunt odour, & [...], ranke stenche. For sweete oyles or powthers, in one that should bee a māne, plainly argueth wo­manly tendrenesse and nycitee of the life. And y^e fame of euery persone,A mannes fame is the chief odour y^• he smelleth of. Contynually to smelle of sweet odours is an eiuill sauour in a manne. is (as ye would saye) the odour y^t he smelleth of. A muche like saiyng hath the poete Martialis.

[Page 148]Betwene bondeseruauntes, and 197 their maisters beeyng vicious and eiuill persones, he auouched to bee none other pointe of difference, besydes the names, sauyng that the drudges or slaues did seruice vnto their maisters,Maisters bee­yng vicious persones and voide of gra­ce, dooe liue in wurse ser­uitude then their bounde­seruauntes. and the mai­sters vnto naughtie appetites. Signifiyng, bothe parties to bee bonde­seruauntes, and yet of bothe, the maisters to liue in more miserable state of bondage, then the slaues: in case y^e maisters bee vicious per­sones and eiuill disposed, or, voide of grace. For whoso is led by the direccion of the cor­rupt mocions or appetites of the mynde,Whoso is led w^t euery pan­gue of natu­rall mocions, hath many maisters to serue, & thesame detestable and mercylesse maisters. hath many maisters to serue, and thesame bothe detestable, and also mercilesse, and voide of all pietee.

Bondeseruauntes, namely suche as 198 bee renne awayes, are called in greke [...], whiche vocable semeth to bee compou­ned of [...], a manne, and of [...], a foote. Albeeit the grammarians de­clare another maner propri [...]tee of significaciō for thei saien theim to bee called [...] because that bondemenne are in respecte and comparison, the feete of their maisters, & these [Page] as the heddes of the seruauntes. So when a feloe, ful of vngraciousnesse and of lewde disposicion had demaun­ded of Diogenes, vpon what original cause, bonedseruūates that would renne awaye from their maisters, wer called by y^e name of [...],Why fugiti­ue bondemen are called [...], in greke. Marie, ꝙ he, because thei haue the feete of menne, and a mynde or herte of suche disposiciō as thy self hast at this presente which mouest the question. Menyng that y^e partie had the mynde or stomake, not of a manne, but of a veraye brute and saluage beaste.

199 Of one that was a prodigall & wastefull spender of all that euer he had, he asked fowertie shillyn­ges at ones, in the waye of almes. The partie meruaillyng at his earnest and ymportune crauyng, asked this questiō of Diogenes: wher as thy vse and custome is, of other menne to desire an almes of an halfpenie, vpō what occasiō dooest [Page 149] thou aske of me y^e sūme of awhole pounde or twoo? Marie, saied he a­gain, because y^• of others, I am in good hope after one almes to haue an other again at another season: but whether I shall euer haue any more almes of thee,Why Diog [...] ­nes of a pro­digall wast [...] of his good­des, asked an almes of xl. [...]. at ones. after this one tyme, or not, [...], y^• is, lyeth in goddes hande onely, or muste bee as pleaseth God. For that halfe verse of Homere, he lynked to his saiyng, to make it perfecte, because it made so directely, and was so fitte for his purpose. And ī dede a good plain maner of knowelag [...] geuyng it was & a shrewd likelyhood, to bee towarde & euen at hāde, to light on the necke of suche a wastefull consumer of his gooddes within fewe dayes to bee brought to suche ex­treme penurie, y^t he should not haue so muche as one poore halfpenie leaft to coumfort or helpe hymself withall.

Certain persones laiyng to hym 200 in reproche, that he was a commen crauer & asker of thynges at euery bodye his hande, wheras Plato bee­yng a philosophier (as he was) did [Page] not so, he saied: well, Plato is a cra­uer aswell as I,Diogenes said y^t Plato was a priue crauer and he and o­pen asker.

For that is y^e englyshe of this greke verse of Homerus.

Whiche verse Diogenes abused in an other sense then Homerus did, to signifie y^t Plato was euē as great a begger & proller as he was, sauyng that Plato did craue priuely whispreyng in mennes eares, & he apertely, makyng no counsaill of it.

201 Espiyng a feloe shootyng veraye eiuill at his marke, he sate hym down euen hard by the pricke: and to suche persones as demaunded y^e cause of his so dooyng, he saied,Meryly spo­ken, lest he should by some chaūce hitte me. Signifiyng, that the feloe was like to hitte what soeuer other thyng it wer, soo­ner then the marke: yet other lookers on, con­ueighen theimselfes aside as ferre as possible is, wyde from y^e marke, for feare of catchyng a clappe.

202 Those persones that shoote or [Page 150] cast wyde of their marke, or other wyse mysse to hitte it, are saied pro­prely in greke [...], to lese their shotte or cast, or to shoote or cast awrye.What perso­nes shoote or cast al awry. But Diogenes auouched plainly, not those persones to mysse to lese their shotte, or to hitte a­wrye, that wer wyde or shorte of their marke, but theim that dire­cted and leuelled their cares and studies towarde sensual pleasures as towarde their marke or butte. For by suche pleasures,Through sen­sualitee mēne fall in to the deepe pitte of miserie and wrechednesse. thei seeke and de­sire to haue perfecte beatitude, whereas by meanes of thesame, thei fall or tumble down into the moste deepe pitte of miserie and wo­fulnesse.

Beeyng asked the questiō, whe­ther 203 death wer an eiuill thyng: by what meanes possible should it bee eiuill, ꝙ he,How Dioge­nes argued death not to bee an eiuill thyng. sens y^t wee feele it not at y^e veraye houre whē it is come? And when it is awaye, it is eiuill or harme to no body. As lōg as a man [Page] hath perfecte sense and feelyng, he is aliue, so then death is not yet in place, that if thesame bee presente, then sense and feelyng is awaye. And eiuill is it not, that is not felt. This maner of argumentacion or rea­sonyng, certain writers ascriben to Epicu­rus. And in dede death it selfe is not eiuil, but the iourney or passage to death is pieteous & full of miserie. Of thesame iourney if we stand in feare, all y^e whole life of manne what other thyng is it, but a passage or iourney to­warde death?

204 Thei tellen that Alexander the greate, standyng at the elbowe of Diogenes, demaunded of thesame, whether he wer in any drede or feare of hym. Then saied the other again,The aūswer o [...] [...]iogenes to Ale [...]ander demaundyng wh [...]er [...]e stood in drede of hym. why, what art thou, a good thyng, or an eiuill thyng? Alexander aūswered: a good thyng. And who standeth in drede of a good thyng, ꝙ Diogenes? He plainly cōuinced that a kyng was not to bee feared, excepte he would to all the worlde denounce hymselfe to bee an eiuill or a myschieuous persone. But if that [Page 151] wer a sufficient good argumente, he might thereby haue gathered and concluded y^t God wer not to bee feared.

Erudicion or learnyng, Diogenes 205 by these woordes commended vnto all menne,How Dioge­nes commen­ded erudicion to all menne. allegeyng that thesame vnto young folkes geueth sobre­nesse, to aged persones coumforte and solace, to the poore richesse, to riche men ornamēt or beautifiyng. For because that the tendre youth, beeyng of the owne propre inclinacion readie to fall, it brydleeth and restreigneth from all inordi­nate demeanure, the incommoditees or dis­pleasures of a mannes later dayes, it easeth with honeste passetemps and recreacion, vn­to poore folkes it is sure costage to liue by (for thei that are learned, bee neuer destitute of ne­cessaries.) And the substaunce of welthie per­sones it dooeth gayly vernyshe and adourne.

The greke vocable [...], dooeth 206 indifferently betoken the balle of the yie, and a virgin or a maiden. And so it was, that one Didymo, Of the self­same Didy­mo afore in y^e cviii saiyng of this Diogenes. (who was in greate slaundre or in­famie, and had in euery bodyes [Page] mouth a veraye eiuil name of bee­yng a muttonmoungre) had in cure the yie of a certain young da­misell. To this Didymon Diogenes saied, see y^t ye bruise not your cure. For that waye, the saiyng maye haue some grace in englyshe, by reason that the woorde, cure, maye bee taken in a double sense, like as Dioge­nes dalyed w^t the ambiguitee of y^e greke woorde [...] [...].

207 Beeyng aduertised and dooen to weete by a certain persone, that awayte was laied for hym by those whom he tooke for his frendes, to thentente that he might beware therof and prouide for hymself: why, what should a manne dooe (saied he,) if in our conuersaciō we shall bee all in one maner case and takyng, bothe with our frendes, & with our foes? Wee vse to beware of our enemies, that thei maye not hurte vs, our frendes wee dooe nothyng mystrust.It is small pleasure to liue, if a māne may not trust his frendes. That if we shall haue nede, to bee as well ware of the one as of y^e other, small pleasure or coumforte it is, to liue in the worlde.

[Page 152]Beeyng asked what was the 208 principall best thyng in this pre­sente life, he saied: libertee.The best thyng in thi [...] presente life, is libertee said Diogenes. But that persone is not in veraye true libertee or freedome, who is vtterly subiecte to vices: neither maye he possibly bee a manne of per­fecte freedome,The coue­tous persone, y^• ambicious, or other wyse geuen to vic [...], cannot bee free. that standeth in greate neede of many soondrie thynges: and veraye many thynges wanteth the couetous persone, the ambicious persone, & whosoeuer is drouned in delices or sensualitee.

In scholehouses, there wer comē ­ly 209 peinted of an auncient custome, y^e Muses, as presidentes & y^e ladye maistresses of studies. Entreyng therfore into a schoole, when he sawe there many Muses, & veraye fewe scholares, he saied vnto the schoolemaister: with the goddes ye haue many scholares. Daly­yng with the phrase of greke speakyng, indif­ferente to bee taken in a double sense, for the grekes saien: [...], with the Goddes, for that that we saye in englyshe, Goddes plea­sure beeyng so, or, by the wyll and grace of God, or, and God before, or, God saiyng a­men. [Page] And sometymes y^e preposicion, [...] [...] [...]he pre­posicion of greke. [...], with signifieth a thyng ioyned with an other coū ­paignion, as in this maner of speakyng, that here foloeth with many persones I tooke thy parte. Th [...]t is to saye: I and many persones moo besides me, tooke thy parte, or held on thy syde.

210 Whatsoeuer thyng wer not of it felf [...]iuill, Dioge­nes affe [...]med not to bee ei­uill in the opē [...]trete neither.Whatsoeuer thyng wer not of it self vnhonest, he affermed not to bee vnhoneste in open presence, or, in the face of al the worlde neither. Wherupon he made a reason or argumēte in this maner & fourme. If to dyne bee not a naughtye or eiuill thyng, then to dyne abrode in the open strete is not eiuill neither, but to dyne is no pointe of naugh­tynesse, e [...]go, to dyne in the myddes of y^e strete is no eiuil thyng neither. Thus ferre y^• Cynicall syllogisme might bee re [...]sonably born withall, but who could abyde hym that after like fourme of arguyng would conclude, to ease the bodye by gooyng to stoole, or to make water, or one to coum­paignie with his wife, or a bodye to turne hymself naked out of all his clothes, is no ei­uill [Page 153] thyng, ergo, to dooe thesame in the open strete is no pointe of naughtynesse neither? Uertuous and weldisposed persones loue ho­nestee and shamefastnesse euerywhere.Uertuous & well deposed persones loue honestee and [...]amefastnes in all places.

He auouched vse and exercita­cion,211 as in outwarde accions con­cernyng the bodye:Use ī all thynges maketh maisteries. right so, euen in the accion of vertue and of the mynde, to engendre bothe a certain celeritee or spedynesse of dooyng thynges, and also facilitee or easy­nesse to thesame.

It was also a saiyng of his, y^t 212 neither is there any lawe without a citee or bodye politike, nor any citee or bodye politike without a lawe.Neither is ther any lawe without a ci [...]tee ne citee w^t ­out a lawe.

Noblenesse of birth, or dignitee 213 & other sembleable enhauncemen­tes of fortune, Diogenes affermed to bee none other thyng els but y^• clo­kes or couertes of myschief & vn­gratiousnesse.Noblenesse of birth or dignitee with other high giftes of fortune Dio­genes called the clokes of vngracious­nesse. For richemenne, wher as thei bee not one iote better then others, yet thei dooen amysse and perpetrate muche vn­happynesse, [Page] with lesse restreint of correccion or punyshemente, accordyng to that, y^e saiyng of the poete Flaccus of a riche persone:

And in deede the moste parte of the galaunt ruffleers, euen at this presente daye, thynke al that euer theimselfes dooe,Greate gen [...]le [...]ēne thy [...] [...] [...]ll well y^t the [...]mselfes dooe. to be lawfully and well dooen.

214 Whyle he was bondeseruaunte with Xeniades, his frendes wer toge­ther in communicacion for to bye his fredome, and to ridde hym out of seruitude. No, not so, ꝙ Diogenes, Diogenes willed his frē des not to re­deme hym out of seruitude. is it not to you knowen, that not the Lyons are as bondeseruaun­tes to those persones by whom thei are kept vp, but rather y^e keepers as bondeseruaūtes to attende vpō the Lyons? For a Lyon wheresoeuer he is, contynueth alwayes a Lyon. And a [Page 154] philosophier is not by his condicion of seruitude any thyng the lesse a philosoph [...]er.

When he was awaked out of 215 his mortal slepe, that is to saye, the last that euer he had before his death, and the physician demaun­ded, howe it was with hym? right well, ꝙ he, for one brother enbra­ceth the other. Alludyng vnto y^e poete Homere who feigneth [...], death & [...] slepe to bee brothers germain.Homere fe [...] ­gneth death & slepe to bee brothers ge [...] ­main. For that slepe is a certain ymage and representacion of death.

Beeyng asked, how he would 216 bee buiryed, he bidde y^t his dedde carkesse should bee cast out in the feldes without sepulture. Then saied his frendes: what, to the fou­les of the aier, & to y^e wyld beastes? No by saint Marie, ꝙ Diogenes a­gain, not so in no wise, but laie me a litle ruttocke hard beside me, wher with to beate theim awaye. The o­ther eftsons replyed, saiyng: How shal it bee possible for y^e to dooe so? [Page] for thou shalt feele nothyng. Why then, ꝙ Diogenes, Diogenes ne­glected all cu­riousnesse of sepulture. what harme shall the teryng, mangleyng, or dismembryng of the wylde beastes dooe vnto me, beeyng voide of all sense and feelyng?

217 When Plato gaue a greate laude and praise to a certain person for this poynte & behalf,Ouermuche humanitee in a philosopier Diogenes r [...] ­proued. that he was excedyng gentle and courteous to­wardes all folkes: What laude or thanke is he woorthie, saied Dioge­nes, that hauyng been so many ye­res a studente contynually occu­pied in philosophie, hath yet hi­therto geuen no bodye a corrosif? Menyng to bee the propre office of a phi­losophier,The propre office of a philosophi [...]r is to cure the vi­ces of menne. to cure the eiuill condicions or vi­ces of menne, and to bee vtterly ympossible thesame to take effecte, but by the onely mea­nes of feare & of greef: feare of reproche, and greef of the open shame and slaundre presēte.

218 Thesame Diogenes, yiyng a cer­tain feloe of a straunge countree, in the citee of Lacedaemon, curiously [Page 155] trymmyng and deckyng hymself against the solemnitee of an high feastefull daye, saied: What dooest thou? is not euery daye without excepcion high & holy to an honest manne?To a vertu­ous & well disposed per­sone euery daye is high and holy. He mened all this vniuer­uersall world to bee a temple for God conue­niente,All this vni­uersall worlde is the temple of god. in the whiche manne beeyng consti­tute and sette, ought of his bounden duetie, to behaue hymself and to liue perpetually after an honest sorte, as in the sight and face of the deitee, who presently beholdeth all thynges,God psentely beholdeth all thynges. & from whose yie nothyng is or maye bee hid­den. And to this mater he wrested y^e prouerbe [...]n whiche it is saied: that with the slouthfull and idle lubbers that loue not to dooe any werke, euery daye is holydaye.With idle ꝑ­sones it is e­uermore holy­daye.

It was his cōmen saiyng vn­to 219 young striepleynges beeyng to­wardes mannes state, Syrrha, go into the houses of harlottes,What good­nesse maye bee gotten by the consideracion of harlottes facions. that thou mayest throughly see, what vile and filthie thynges, how dere­ly thei are bought. To this mater alluded Terence, saiyng: all this geare to knowe, is helth and safegarde vnto youth.

[Page] 220 Unto the helthe and safegarde of a manne,Unto the safegarde of mēne it is nedefull to haue either feithfull fren­des orels ea­gre enemies. he saied that it was nedefull to haue, either feithfull frendes, orels eagre enemies. In consideracion, that the one geuen a bodye gentle warnyng of his faulte, and the others doen openly reproue and checke. So bothe par­teis (in deede after contrarie sortes) but yet e­gually, dooē to vs benefite and profite, whyle by thesame wee learne our faultes. This sai­yng dooeth Laertius appoynte to Antisthe­nes, and Plutarchus to Diogenes.

221 Beeyng asked by a certain per­sone, by what meanes a bodye might best be auenged of his ene­mie,How one maye best bee auenged on his enemie. he aunswered: if thou shalt from tyme to tyme approue & trye thy self a vertuous and an honeste māne. This poynte whosoeuer dooeth accomplyshe, bothe dooeth to hymselfe moste high benefite, and in the best wise possible ve­xeth and tormenteth his enemies. For if a mannes eiuill willer beholdyng his grounde well tilled and housbanded, is therewith gre­ued at the veraye herte roote, how shall it bee [Page 156] with hym, if he see thyne owneself beautified, and adourned with the substaunciall and vn­doubted Iewels of excellent vertue?

When he came to visite Antisthe­nes 222 lyyng sicke in his bedde, he spake vnto thesame in this maner. Hast thou any neede of a frende? Signifiyng, that menne should in tyme of affliccion,Mēne should in afflicion moste of all bee bolde on their frendes. moste of all bee bolde on their feithfull and trustie frendes, whiche maye ei­ther helpe theim in veraye deede, orels by ge­uyng good woordes of coumforte, ease some porcion of their greef and woe.

Unto thesame Antisthenes, at ano­ther 223 seasō, (for because it had come to his eare, that thesame Antisthenes, for loue and desire that he had to liue, did take his sickenesse some­what ympaciently) he entreed with a woodknife by his syde. And whē Antisthenes bemonyng hymself had saied vnto hym: Alas, who will di­spetche and ridde me out of these my peines?Death rid­deth a bodye out of peines. Diogenes (the hanger shewed foorth), saied: euen thissame feloe [Page] here. Naye ꝙ Antisthenes (reply­yng again) I saied,Anthistenes was loth to dye. out of my pei­nes, not out of my life.

224 Makyng a iourney vnto the ci­tee of Corinthus, he entreed y^e schoole whiche ^☞ Dionysius beeyng expul­sed and driuen out of his kyng­dome, had ther sette vp. And heard his boyes saye their lessons ve­raye naughtyly. Dionysius in the meane whyle comyng in, because he thought verayly, that Diogenes had come to coumforte hym, saied: It is gently dooen of you Diogenes, to come and see me. And loe, suche is the multabilitee and chaunge of fortune. Yea, ꝙ Diogenes again,What Dio­genes entre­yng y^e schoole of Dionysius saied vnto hym. but I meruaill, that thou art suffreed still to liue, that diddest perpetrate so muche myschief in the tyme of thy reigne. And I see, that thou art in all behalfes, euen as lewde a schoolemaister now,Dionysius as lewde a scholemaister, as he had been a kyng afore. as thou wer [Page 157] an eiuill kyng afore.

Another of the saiynges of the­same 225 Diogenes was this: Emong the other sortes of menne, to suche as liue in welthe and prosperitee, life is sweete, and death hatefull: & cōtrarie wyse, to suche as are with calamitee and mysfortune oppres­sed, life is greuous, and death to bee wished for: but vnto tyrannes bothe life and death are peinfull & coumbreous.Unto Tyrannes bothe life and death are coumbreous. For like as thei liuen more vnpleasaūtely, then those persones who dooen euery daye with all their hertes wyshe to dye, euen so dooen thei none otherwyse stand in contynuall dred and feare of death then if thei ledden the moste sweete & pleasaūt life in all the worlde.

[Page] 226 To a certain persone that she­wed hym a diall:Diogenes di­sallow [...]d geo­metrie w^t the other sciēcies Mathemati­call. In feith, ꝙ he: A gaye instrumente, to saue vs from beeyng deceiued of oure supper. Menyng the arte of geometrie, with all other the sciencies The artes or sciencies Mathe­matical are, Geome­trie, Musike, Arithmetike, [...] Astrologie. Mathematicall, to bee to veraye litle vse or purpose.

227 To another feloe makyng great vaunte of his cunnyng in musike and in playyng on instrumentes, he made aunswere with these twoo greke verses:

228 When Speusippus beeyng ympo­tente by reason of shakyng with y^e palsey, was carryed in a wagen to­warde the schoole called ^* Academia, and to Diogenes meetyng hym on the [Page 158] waye by chaunce, had saied, [...], well art thou: So art not thou, ꝙ Diogenes again, that wheras thou art in suche takyng, canst fynd in thyn herte to liue. Menyng to bee a poyncte of a true or right philosophier, of his owne mynde to preuente the tyme of death, after y^t he wer ones no longer hable to [...]iere about and to helpe hymselfe, as other menne didde in this presente life. And that thyng ^‡ Speusippus didde afterward in deede.

When he sawe a litle boye vn­manerly 229 behauyng hymself, he gaue y^e creāsier or tutour, that had the charge of bryngyng vp the [Page] same childe, a good rappe with his staffe, saiyng: why dooest thou thus teache thy pupille? Notifi­yng, y^• it is principally to bee ymputed vnto the breakers and instructours of tendre childhood at the begynnyng,It is to be ymputed vnto y^• bryngers vp, if youth ꝓue well manered or otherwyse. if youth proue well manered, or otherwyse. The reporters of the tale are Aphthonius and Prisc [...]an.

230 To a certain persone obiectyng pouertee vnto hym in reproche,How Dioge­nes aunswe­red a flagici­ous feloe, ob­iectyng pouertee vnto hym in reproche. whereas hymself was a feloe full of naughtynesse and mischief, he saied: I neuer yet sawe any manne putte to open punyshemente for his pouertee, but for knauery ma­ny one.

231 To pouertee he gaue a preaty name,Prouertee a ve [...]tue lear­ned without a teacher. callyng it, [...] a vertue that is learned by it self without a teacher. Riche folkes haue neede of many rewles, preceptes, and lessons,Riche folkes haue neede of many lessons to dooe well. that is to weete, to liue a frugall or so­bre life, to exercise their bodyes with labours, not to sette their delite or felicitee in pompe­ous or stately apparellyng and deckyng of [Page 159] the bodye, and others mo out of noumbre, all whiche thynges pouertee teacheth hir owne self without any other schoolemaister.

¶ Nexte after these three philosophiers, but thesame in this kynde, moste excellyng, we shall adde like noumbre of kynges & no mo, whiche for their saiyngees with ciuilitee and good facion replenyshed, haue a name of honour aboue all other kynges. That we maye not with to many thynges pestre and cloye the reader.

THE SAIYNGES OF PHI­LIPPVS KYNG OF MACEDONIE.

Philippus, kyng of the Macedoniās, and father of Alexander the greate first cō quered Athe­nes & brought all Gr [...]ce vn­der his subiec [...]ion. A manne of all writers muc [...] praised for his greate humanitee, courtesie and most princely gentlenesse. OF all the kynges, that emong the Grekes in auncient tyme haue reigned, in my sentence & mynde hath not been one, whom we maye with Philippus kyng of the Macedonians, & father of Alexander the greate, woorthyly cō ­pare, either in dexteritee and good conueigh­aunce of witte, orels in disporte of saiynges consistyng within the boundes of honestee and good maner.

1 This Philippus vsed many a tyme and oft to saye, that hym thought y^• Atheniens to bee much happie, who could euery yere fynde the full noumbre of tenne soondry perso­nes, whom to create their Capi­tains for bataill: where he for his parte in many yeres had found one sole Capitain for warrefare [Page 160] onely, that is to weete, Parmenio. Parmenio y^• onely Capi­tain of Phi­lippus his warres. Signifiyng, to bee a thyng litle to the be­nefite of a commen weale,Oftē to chaū ­ge Capitai­nes to bee vn­profitable to a cōmē weale. euery other whyle to chaunge the Capitaines, but to bee muche better, whom ye haue ones found a fitte or meete manne for the purpose and trustie with all, in no wyse to chaūge thesame for a newe. Ferther and besides that, to make no force how many Capitaines there bee in noumbre but how apte and meete for conueighyng a batta [...]ll, and for warrekepyng.It forceth not how many Capitaines ther bee, but how meete for kee­pyng warre.

When tydynges was brought vnto hym, y^• many soondry thyn­ges 2 had in one daye happyly and prosperously fortuned on his syde and for his behouf, (for at one & thesame tyme Tethrippo had gotten the price and chief maisterie at Olympia, and Parmenio had in battail discoumfeicted or vanquyshed the Dardanians, and his quene Olympias hadde been brought a bedde of a soonne,) liftyng vp his handes on high to heauen, he cryed wyth a lowd voice, and saied: And thou [Page] lady fortune, for so many and the­same so great good chaunces,The praier of Philippus when he had soondry good chaunces all in one day [...]. dooe me no more but some light and small shrewd turne again at an o­ther season. This manne beeyng of passyng high prudence, and moste profounde experience or knowlage in the course of the worlde, did not insolently skippe and leape, or shewe tokens of ioyfull gladnesse for his well spedyng, or for the successe of thynges, but ra­ther did suspecte and mystrust the cockeryng of fortune,The cocke­ryng of fortu­ne is to be su­spected & my­strusted. whose nature he knewe to bee, that to whom she werketh vtter confusion and ex­terminion, thesame persones she dooeth first laugh vpon & flatre with some vnquod pro­speritee of thynges. To this mater appertei­neth, that Plynius reporteth of ^*Polycrates the Tyranne of the Samians.

[Page 161]After that he had subdued all 3 the Grekes, whē certain persones [Page] moued hym and would haue had hym to kepe the citees with gary­sons, that thei might not forsake hym, or fall from hym again, he saied, I haue more wille and de­sire, long tyme to bee called good, and easie or gentle to awaye with­all, then for a fewe dayes and no longer, to bee called souerain. Menyng a reigne or empier,A reigne or empier with benefites and hertie loue holden, is perpetuall. that wer with benefites and with hertie loue holden, to bee for euer perpetual, that by power and dred onely, to bee of no long contynuaunce.

4 A certain buisie open mouthed feloe was a dayly and a commen speaker of raillyng woordes aga­inst Philippus. And so it was that his frēdes aduised hym, the­same feloe to exile & banyshe the countree. But he saied, y^t he would in no wise dooe it, & to theim greately meruaillyng why, he saied: lest that he wandreyng and rouyng a bout frō place to place shal report [Page 162] eiuill of me emōg mo persones. That he did not hang the railler vpon the galoes, was either a pointe of clemencie and mercifullnesse that he forgaue hym, or­els of magnanimitee and princely courage that he contemned hym:Philippus cō temned a fe­loe y^t vsed dayly to speake raillyng wor­des, against hym. that he would in no wise driue hym out of y^e countree, came of prudence. For the feloe beeyng in straūge places should haue been hable to dooe to hym the more vilanie.

Smicythus cōplayned to the kyng 5 vpon Nicanor, that he still with­out ende spake eiuill of the kyng. And when the frendes of Philip­pus aduised hym, that he should commaund the feloe to bee fette, and so to punyshe hym,The clemēcie and modera­cion of Phi­lippus. Philippus aū swered in this maner. Nicanor is not the wurst of all the Macedonians It is therefore our parte to see, lest wee dooe not our duetie, but bee slacke in some thyng that wee shoulde dooe hereupon, after that he had knowelage y^e same Nicanor to bee greuously oppressed with [Page] pouertee, and yet to bee neglected & nothyng looked on by the kyng, he cōmaūded some gift or reward to bee borne to hym. This dooen, whē Smicythus eftsons enfourmed y^e king, y^t Nicanor didīal coūpaignies without ende reporte muche praise & goodnesse of hym: Now then, ye see, ꝙ Philippus, y^t it lyeth in our sel­fes,It lyeth in our selfes, to bee w [...]ll or ei­uill spokē of. to haue a good report, or eiuil. An excedyng thyng it is, how ferre odde those persones are from the nature of this prince, whiche neuer thynken theim selfes to bee praised enough wheras thei do nothyng woorthie laude or praise, neither dooe thei studie w^t benefites to wynne or allure bene­uolence & hartie good wille of menne, but haue more appetite and fansie to bee dreded, then to bee loued. And wheras thei dooe of­ten tymes perpetrate thynges to beedetested and that in the open face of all the worlde, yet farewell his life for an halfpenie that presumeth or dareth so hardie in his hedde, as ones to open his lippes against theim.

6 He saied, that to those, who in ordreyng or administryng thecō ­men [Page 163] weale of the Atheniens were y^• chief ryng leders he was muche bound to ough moste hertie than­kes,Philippu [...] oughed moste hartie than­kes to y^• rew­lers of the A­theniense, for their raillyng at hym. for that by reason of their re­prochefull raillyng at hym, thei caused hym aswell in vsyng his tounge, as also in his maners and behaueour to proue muche the more honeste manne, whyle I en­deuour myselfe, ꝙ he, aswell by my woordes as by my dooynges to make and proue theim lyers. O the right philosophicall herte of this prince,The right philosophical herte of Phi­lippus. who had y^e waye, euen of his enemies also to take vtilitee and profite, neither, (as the commen sorte of menne are woont) to this sole thyng to haue an yie how to dooe scathe, and to werke some mischief to suche as railled on hym, but that hym selfe might bee emended and made lesse eiuill,How to tak [...] vtilitee & pro­fyte of a mā ­nes enemie. beeyng well admonyshed & putte in remembreaunce of hymselfe by their slaundreous reportyng.

When he had freely perdoned 7 and leat goo at their libertee the Atheniens, Of Cheronea it is aforesaid & at this Che­ro [...]ea did Philippꝰ cō ­quere & sub­due al Grece. as many as euer had [Page] been taken priesoners in batail at Cheronaea, and thei, not thynkyng that to bee enough, required also to haue restitucion of their appa­rell and all their bagguage, and did for thesame entre accions of detinue, and cōmense suite against the Macedonians, Philippus laughed, saiyng: what? dooeth it not ap­pere, the Atheniense to deme and iudge that thei haue been ouer­comed by vs, at the hucclebones? So myldely did he beeyng the conque­rour take the vnthankefullnesse of persones by hym conquered and subdued,The ciuilitee of Philippus who did not onely, not rendre thankes ne saie remercies for that thei had been leat bothe safe and sounde,The ingrati­tude of y^e Atheniens towar­des Philip­pus. and also without any peny of raunsome paiyng to escape, but also with naughty language sued the Macedonians, and laied to their charges because thesame did not also restore vnto theim bothe their apparell and also all their other ragges and bagguage. As though thei knewe not of what nature the lawe of armes was, and as though, to trye y^t mater w^t dynte of swearde [Page 164] wer nothyng els, but to trye it at the [...], is in Latin, talus, and it is the litle square hucclebone, in the ancle place of the hyndre legge in all beastes sauyng manne, & suche beastes as haue fyng [...]rs, as for exāple Apes and Mounkeyes, excepte also beastes that haue y^• houfe of y^• foote not clouen, but whole. With these hucclebones thei had a game in olde tyme, as chyldrē haue at this daye also, whiche game was in this maner. If the caster chaūced to cast that syde vpwarde, whiche is plain, it was called, canis or canicula, and it [...]oode in stede of blanke or of an ace, & that was the lest and wurst that might be cast, and y^• caster should thereby wynne no parte of the stakes, but was of force con­s [...]raigned in the waye of repele to laie down to the stake one peece of coyne, or one poynte, or one coūter, or one whatsoeuer thynges wer plaied for, and to take vp none at all. The con­trarye to this (which was the holowe syde) was called, venus or Cous, and y^t was cocke, the beste that might be cast. For it stoode for a sice, by whiche castyng, the caster should wynne & take vp from the stakes, sixe pieces of coyne, or sixe poyntes, or sixe counters. &c. and besides that, all the repeles by reason of canis found [...]leepyng. The other twoo sydes of the huccle­bone wer called, the one chius, by whiche the cas [...]er woonne & tooke vp three, and the other, senio, by whiche the caster gotte and tooke vp fower. In the hucclebones, there was no dewce, nor cinque. This was the commen game, but there wer other games, as there been varietee of games in dice playyng, whi­che dice thei called, tesseras, of their squarenesse. Albeit, tali are sometymes vsed for tesserae, and taken to signifie dice-plaiyng, as euen here also it maye bee taken.huc­clebones, whiche is a game for boyes and children.

When the canell bone of his 8 throte, or his chest bone had been [Page] brokē in battaille, & the surgeon y^t had hym in cure, was from daye to daye euer crauyng this & that, he saied: Take euen vntill y^u wilt saie hoe, for y^u hast y^e keye thyselfe. Dalyyng with a woorde that might bee in double sense taken. For y^e greke voice [...] signifieth bothe a keye, suche as a cup­borde, or a doore is opened withall, and also the canell bone, or chestbone, that knitteth together a mannes shoulder with the breste. And what thyng could there bee of more ci­uilitee,The ciuilitee of Philippus. then this y^e herte of Philippus, who had a pleasure to vse testyng woordes and to bee merye both in his dolourous greef, and also towardes his couetous surgeon, neither to bee for his most peinfull smarte any thyng the more waywarde or testye, nor with the importunitee of the incessaunte crauer any thyng displeased or offended.

9 There wer twoo brethren, of whō the ones name was in greke, Amphoteros, whiche vocable soūeth in englyshe, bothe: the name of the other Hecateros whiche by interpre­taciō souneth in englyshe, the one [Page 165] & the other. Philippus therfore espy­yng and markyng the saied Heca­teros to bee a prudente feloe, and a fitte manne to haue dooynges in thynges, and cōtrariewise Am­photeros to bee, a loutyshe persone vnmeete to haue dooynges, and a veray beast: clene turned, & coun­treframed their names, affer­myng, y^t Hecateros was Amphoteros, and Amphoteros, was to bee named Vdeteros, which souneth in englishe neither of bothe. Signifiyng the one of the brethren, that is to weete, Heca­teros, in hymselfe to comprise the vertues and good qualitees of bothe twain, and the other brother to haue in hym not so muche as one good pointe or propretee. Therfore the name of hym, that was called Ampho­teros, he chaunged to the contrarie that he should bee named Udeteros, in token y^t he was for y^e respecte of his qualitees not to be estemed worth a blew point or a good lous.

To certain persones, geuyng 10 hym counsaill, y^t he should deale [Page] with the Atheniens & handle theim after a more sharpe and rigorous sorte then he didde, he aunswered that thei didde against all reason in that thei aduised hym, both do­yng & suffreyng althynges onely for mere glorie & renoume to caste awaye the staige of thesame his glorye and renoume,Philippꝰ cal­led y^• citee of A [...]henes, the [...]taige of his glorie and re­n [...]me, that [...] to saye, the [...]l [...]c [...] [...]n whi­ [...] al y^• world [...] [...]ene & [...]old his [...]. whiche he studied and laboured to achiue. Signefyyng that he studied and went about, not how to destroye the citie of Athe­nes,A [...]henes in y^e t [...]me of Phi­lippus floury­shed with the aboundaunce of many excellente highe clerkes. but how to approue and to commend his vertues or good qualitees, vnto that right famous citie beeyng in moste flourāt state by reason of the greate aboundaūce & multitude of many excellent high clerkes & mēne of learnyng in y^e same citie reciaunte.

11 Twoo feloes beeyng lyke flagi­cious,The iudge­ment of Phi­lippus vpon twoo flagi [...]i­ous feloes ac­cusyng either other before hym. and neither barell better hearyng, accused either other, the kyng Philippus in his owne persone sittyng in iudgement vpō theim. The cause all heard, he gaue sen­tence and iudgemente, that y^e one [Page 166] should with all speede and celeri­tee auoid or flee the royalme or countree of Macedonia, & the other should pursue after him. Thus Philippus acquited neither of theim bothe, but condemned bothe the one and the other with banyshememte.12

Whē he addressed to pitche his tentes in a fair goodly groūd and was put in remēbraunce, y^t there was in y^t place no feedyng for the horsses & other catalles,The misera­ble condicion of warrefare. he saied: what maner of life is this y^t wee haue, if we must of force so liue, as may bee for y^t cōmoditee of asses?

When he had prefixed and ap­poynted 13 to take a certain castle and fortresse beeyng veraye strōg and well fēsed, and his spyes had brought woorde again, to bee a thyng out of perauentures hard to dooe, yea and (the south to saye) vtterly vnpossible: he demaunded whether it wer of suche hardnesse [Page] and dificultee, that it were not possible for an asse beeyng heauie lo­den w^t golde to haue accesse and entreaunce or passage vnto it. Signifiyng, that there is nothyng so strongly fensed, but y^t it maye with golde bee woonne.There is no [...]thyng but y^t with gold it maye be ouer comed and woonne. Whiche veraye selfe same thyng the poetes haue signified by the fable of Ahas the xii. kyng of the Argiues, had a sonne called Acri­sius, whiche Acrisius succeded his father in the kyngdome of the said Argiues, and had onely one doughter called Danae, a goodly and a passyng beautifull ladie. And so it was, that A­crisius had knowelage geuen to hym, by an oracle, or voice co­mynge from heauen, that he should be slain of his doughters soonne. Wherfore he enclosed and shutte vp the saied Dana [...] his doughter in a veraye stronge toure, and there kept hir, to thentente that she myght neuer haue soonne. At length Iupi­ter in fourme of a shoure raynyng droppes of golde gotte Danae with childe. So by Iupiter she had a soonne called Perseus [...] Whiche thyng beeyng come to light, and beeyng knowen, hir father sette bothe hir and hir infant childe en [...]lo­sed in a troughe or trounke of wood in the wilde sea. So was she carryed by auentures on the sea, vntyll she arriued in Ita­lie, and there Pilumnus the kyng, and graūdfather of Tur­nus, tooke hir to wife. And afterward Perseus beeyng ones come to mannes stature killed Medusa, and deliuered Andro­meda. And at last returnyng to Argos, he slewe y^• kyng Acrisi­us his graundfather (accordyng to the prophecie) and reigned in his stede. Danae by Iupiter defloured, but not vntill thesame god Iupiter had first transfourmed hymselfe in to golde, whereof y^e poete Hora­tius speaketh in this maner.

[Page 167]Whē those persones that wer 14 at Lasthenes found theimselfes gre­ued, and tooke highly or fumysh­ly, that certain of the traine of Phi­lippus called theim traitours, Philip­pus aūswered, y^t the Macedonians wer feloes of no fyne witte in their termes,The Mace­donians wer plain feloes [...] callynge eche thynge by it right name. but alltogether grosse, clubbyshe, and rusticall, as the whiche had not the witte to calle a spade by any other name then a spade. Alludyng to that the com­menused prouerbe of the grekes, callyng fig­gues, figgues: and a bote a bote. [...]. As for his menyng was, that thei wer traitours in veraye deede. And the fair flatte truthe, that the vplandyshe, or homely and plain clubbes of y^e countree dooen vse, nameth eche thyng by the right names.

[Page] 15 It was his guyse to aduertise his sonne Alexander after a courte­ous & familiare gētle sorte to vse hymselfe and to liue with the Macedonians, A good lesson to all young princes. and through beneuolence and hertie loue in the meane tyme purchaced abrode emonge the cō ­menaltie, to gather vnto hym mi­ghte & puissaunce, while duryng y^e tyme of an other mannes reigne it laie in hym without any his harme or hindreaunce to shewe humanitee & gentlenesse. Like a prudent and an expert manne right well perceiuyng and vnderstandyng, like as an empier by no yearthly thyng better or more fermely to bee establyshed,A kyng maye not to all per­sones w^tout excepcion she­we fauour. then by the her­tie loue and good wille of the subiectes to­wardes their prince, euen so, to bee a thyng of moste high difficultee and hardnesse for any persone that hath ones taken vpō hym the office of a kyng, & hath now alreadie in hande the gouernaunce and ordreyng of a royalme or empier, towardes all parties without excepcion, to shewe gentlenesse and fauour, not onely because the office & power [Page 168] of a kyng, lyeth in the open waye to bee en­uied, but also for that a commenweale maye not possibly bee preserued and kept in per­fecte good state, onlesse haynous transgres­sions bee restreigned and suppressed by due punyshemente and correccion.Haynous transgressiōs must of necessitee bee sup­pressed by due correcciō and punishement. For kynges must so ferre extende humanitee and fauour towardes their subiectes, as thei maye in the meane tyme accordyngly vpholde and maintein their autoritee and estate royal.Kynges must so ferre extēde fauour, y^t thei maye in the meane tyme not empeche their autori­tee and estate royall. For goodnesse and fauour, without ende or measure shewed is many a tyme and ofte the mother of contempte.

Thesame Alexander, he auised & 16 counsailled, that he should wynne and make frendes vnto hym, all suche persones bothe honeste and vnhoneste, good and badde,Kynges must vse honest persones, and a­buse the vn­honeste. as beare any rewle, stroke or autori­tee in the commenweale, and that the good menne he should vse, & the eiuill persones he should a­buse, y^t is to saye, applye to some good vse, that of theim selfes thei are not apte nor inclined vnto. The chief and highe [...]t feacte of kynges [Page] is, to reiecte no person,The chief [...]ea [...]te of kyn­ges, is to re­iecte no per­sone, but to make all per­sones profitable to the commen weale. but rather to applye the labour and seruice of all menne, to the publique vt [...]litee and profite. As almightie god beeyng the onely Monarche and prince of the whole vniuersall worlde abuseth the eiuill sprites, and the weeked menne, to the vtilitee and profite of the churche, so, princes of high wisedome and policie haue the feacte to make instrumentes aswell of the honeste persones as of the vnhoneste, not that the­imselfes been werkers of any eiuill thyng, by the helpe of the eiuill persones,Wise [...]rinces haue y^e feacte to make pro­fitable instru­mentes, as­wel of y^• [...]iuill persones, as of the good. but that by the eiuill, thei dooe punyshe the eiuill. Nerethelesse, many princes there bee, whiche contrarie to the right course, dooen abuse the good menne and vse the eiuill. In execu­tyng matiers of cruell tyrannie, thei associ­ate and ioyne vnto theim suche persones as for the opinion of holynesse are famous and of greate name, to thentent that the people should esteme all thyng that thei dooe, to bee good and godly.

17 Thesame Philippus when he laye for hostage and pledge in the citee of Thebes [...] soiourned & was lodged in the hous of one Philo a Thebane, and besydes his high entretain­mente [Page 169] in that behalfe, he receiued at y^e hādes of thesame Philo many high beneficiall pleasures. And when the said Philo would in no wyse take any rewarde or gifte of Philippus again.Neuer māne did any thyng for Philippus but that Phi­lippus did as­much for him again. Naye, (ꝙ Philippus) robbe me not now (by leauyng me behynd hande in bountifulnesse,) of that laude & praise whiche hi­therto I haue euer had, y^t, yet vn­to this presēte daye no māne hath passed me, or gon beyōd me, in do­yng mutual plesures & benefites. Oh an hert & stomakeworthie a croune emperiall. He demed it a more high and ioly thyng to haue y^e ouerhande in dooyng dee­des of boūtie, then in y^e prerogatif of power.

Whē a greate mayny hauyng 18 been taken priesoners in warre, wer in sellyng, Philippus sate at the portesale his garmēt or robe short tucked vp about hym, muche vn­comely. And so it was, y^t one of the captiues y^t was to bee solde, cryed [Page] lowd voice: Bee good and graci­ous lorde vnto me o Philippus, and graunte me perdone, for I am your frende, and my father was an olde frende of yours. And Phi­lippus demaundyng in this maner, how so good feloe, and by what meanes is this frendshippe bee­twene vs twoo come about? If I maye approche nerer to youre grace, ꝙ the partie, I shall shewe you. And beeyng herupon licen­ced and bidden so to dooe, as though he should haue told hym some secrete mater in his eare, the feloe saied: Sir, leat downe your cape a litle more about you, for after this cutted facion as it she­weth now, ye sitte woondreous eiuil fauouredly & vnsemely for a kyng. Ymmediatly saied Philippus, leat this feloe departe free. For I knew not til now, that he was to me in veraye deede a welwiller, & [Page 170] a frende. Beeyng so greate a kyng,Philippꝰ bee­yng a greate kyng, was no thyng displeased to haue faulte found at hym he was nothyng greued ne displeased, neither with the coulourable pretense, nor with the faulte fyndyng or admoniciō of a feloe that was to hym a straunger of none acquain­taunce: but did all vnder one, bothe with mutual simulacion on his partie couer and kepe secrete the colorable dooyng of the saied feloe,The benefi­cence of Phi­lippus. and also recompense that veraye siēdre poynte of kyndenesse with the greate and high rewarde of free charter and dimission when he stoode to bee sold as a bondeman.

Beeyng on a tyme, by an espe­ciall 16 frende of olde acquaintaūce, desired to a supper, in gooyng thi­therward, he tooke with hym to bee his geastes a greate mayny that he happely mette on y^e waye as he wente. But when he percei­ued y^e partie, which receiued hym into his house, to bee sore dismai­ed, for that the purueiaunce that he had made, was nothyng nere enough for so greate a coumpai­gnie, he sent a ladde aforehand a­bout to euerie of his frendes then [Page] presente, and bidde theim to kepe a corner of their stomakes for the tartes, wafrie, and ioūkettes, that wer to bee serued and to come in after the meate. Thei beeyng brought in ful beleef therof, while thei gaped for tarte & other like confecciōs, fedde litle or nothyng on the other cates, so came it to passe, that the supper was suffici­ent to serue all the coumpaignie. With this pleasaunt merie toye, he both made his frēdes beleue y^e moone to be made of a grene cheese, & also found a waye to saue the honestee of hym that made the supper.

20 Hipparchus of Euboia beeyng dece­assed, Philippus by manifest tokens declared how heauyly he tooke his death. Wherupon, to a certain persone beeyng desirous to miti­gate & asswage his doloure,Why Phi­lippus so gre­uously and so heauyly toke the death of Hipparchus an Euboian. and allegeyng in this manier: well, he is at a conueniente age and tyme departed, beeyng now allreadie [Page 171] well strikē in yeres, yea, ꝙ Philippus, for his owne parte in deede, he is at a conueniēte age departed,The liberall herte of Phi­lippus. but to meward, long afore his daye. For death hath by preuencion ta­ken hym awaye before y^t he hath receiued at my hāde any benefite woorthie and meete for the frend­ship that was betwene hym & me. It is a veraye rare thyng in princes to feele the mocions and pangues of the graces but many noble menne vsen their frendes none other wyse, but euē as thei dooen their horses. As long as thei bee hable to dooe theim seruice thei sette by theim & kepe theim when thei bee past occupiyng and dooyng any more seruise, thei ridde & dispetche their handes of thesame, and shift theim awaye. Yea and rather spoyle theim of that thei haue, then dooe theim good or helpe theim with condigne benefites or preferremente.

When he had secrete knowlage 21 brought vnto hym that Alexander his sonne found hymselfe greued for that his father was a getter of children by soondrie women, he [Page] gaue vnto Alexander an exhortaciō in this manier.The exhorta­cion of Phi­lippus to his soone Alexan­der. Well then, sens it is so y^t thou hast mo feloes besyde thyself to stande in eleccion for to haue this empier & to weare the croune after my deceasse, so ap­plye thyselfe that thou maiest at length proue an honest or ver­tuous and a weldisposed manne, that thou maiest appere to haue achiued the croune not by me, but by thyn owneselfe. This manne with right princely wisedome and experiēce endeued, did not with sweete wordes put his soonne in any cumforte, but putte the same ferther in feare, to thende that he might the more pricke hym foortheward vnto vertue, geuyng notice and intymacion that there was none other waye for hym to conceiue any hope to bee kyng after hym, excepte he shewed hymselfe a mā worthie to succede in y^e croune, neither to bee of so greate momēte to attein and geat an empier,It is not of so greate mo­mēte, to haue an empier, as to bee woor­thie to bee a kyng. as woorthyly to haue deserued to bee a kyng of a royalme.

22 He exhorted thesame Alexander that he should geue good eare & [Page 172] attend well to Aristotle, How Philippus exhorted his soonne A­lexander to y^• studie of Philosophie. to whom he had been committed to bee broken and brought vp, and that he should diligently applye hymselfe to y^e studie of philosophie, lest that thou dooe committe and perpe­trate, ꝙ he, many thynges, whiche thynges in tyme past to haue do­en, it dooeth now repente me. Right well perceiued this excellēte wise prince that no manne beeyng vntraded in philosophie is an apte and mete persone to bee a kyng.A learned kyng an vnestimable trea­sure. Neither was he ashamed to con­fesse that he had through errour dooen a­mysse in many thynges, by reason that he had not euen from his tendre babeship been nousleed in the preceptes of philosophie. For those persones, who by their ownemere pra­ctise assaiyng & experymētes, dooe learne to ordre & gouerne a royalme and to execute y^• office of a kyng, although thei haue euen frō their mothers wombe, been of neuer so excellente high witte, yet bothe ouer late, and also to the greate scathe and ympechemente of the commēweal, after long processe of yeres thei growe to bee good kynges. ButWho com­meth to y^e of­fice of a kyng armed afore­hande with y^• preceptes of philosophie, cānot lightly swerue from y^• right trade of vertue. who cometh to the administracion of a royalme, [Page] armed aforehande with the holsome prece­ptes and rewles of philosophie, if there bee in hym a mynde and herte with no spice of corrupcion entangleed, it shall vneth lye in his power to swerue from the perfecte right trade of honestee and vertue. Where been thei now, whiche yalle and rore, that lear­nyng, and the studie of philosophie is vtter­ly nothyng auailable to the gouernaunce and administracion of a commenweale?Thei are in a wrōg opiniō that supposē learnyng to bee nothyng auailable to y^• gouernaūce of a commē weale

23 He had created and autorised one of y^e frendes of Antipater to bee of the noūbre of y^e iudges.Of antipater read in his saiynges. But afterward, when it was come to his knowlage y^t the partie vsed to dye his bearde & his heare, he deposed thesame again & discharged hym of that office, allegeyng that who in the heare of his hedde was not feithfull and vpright,Who vseth deceipte and guile in small thynges, is e­iuill woorthie to bee trusted in higher and more weigh­tie maters. the same in publique dooynges semed full ei­uill woorthie to bee put in truste. He vsed deceipte, and falshood in dyyng his heare, whereby was no great auaūtage no gaine to bee gotten, muche more was it like that he would vse deceipte and falsehood in publique affaires, where guile dooeth at [Page 173] a tyme auauntage to a manne a good potte of wyne. And this ought to bee the chief care of kynges, that thei putte in authoritee per­sones vpright and void of all corrupcion to bee hedde officers in hearyng and iudgeyng of causes. And how maye that possibly bee, where the offices of sittyng in iudgemente bee sold for money, & that persone appoyn­ted and made iudge, not that passeth others in honestee and goodnesse, but that cometh first to enoyncte or greace the handes, of hym that geueth the office, or biddeth moste money for it? But with Philippus, no not the autoritee of his dere beloued frende An­tipater might weigh and dooe so muche, but that he deposed the suspected persone from the benche and ordre of the iudges.

Sittyng in iustice on y^e benche 24 he had before hym, to geue sentēce and iudgemente vpō, the cause of one Machaetes, but he was so heauie of slepe y^t he could in no wise hold vp his yies, ne geue his mynde, as he should haue dooen, to the equitee of the lawe.The equitee of y^e lawe is, that y^e lawers callen the epi­cai, whiche thei take for y^• moderacion of all s [...]uerite & rigour of y^e lawe, when iustice & lawe is ministred with fauour. Wherupon he gaue sentence and iudgemente against Machaetes. And when the­same [Page] cryyng with a loude voice, had saied, that he appealed from thesame sentēce, the kyng beeyng angrye saied again, to whō dooest thou appeale? for the woorde of appealyng (whiche is euermore from the inferiour iudge and power to an higher) vnto kynges veray odious. Thē, ꝙ Machaetes, euē to your ownself sir kyng, do I appeale, if your grace will awake, & with more earnest & tēdre attenciō of mynde, heare my cause. Immediately here vpon, the kyng arose and stood hym vp. And when he had better weighed the matter with hymself, and well perceiued, that the saied Machaetes had had wrong,How Philippus vsed one Machaetes by his sentēce wrōgfully cō demned. in dede the sentēce of iudgemēte ones geuen & alrea­die pronounced, he would not re­uoke ne breake, but the summe of money, in whiche Machaetes had beē cast & condemned, hymselfe paied out of his own purse euery fer­thyng. [Page 174] Loe, in one facte, howe many soondrye argumentes and tokens of pryn­cely vertue. He contynued not to be angry [...] wyth the feloe bothe appealynge from hys sentence, and also openly in the face of the courte layenge slepynes to hys charge: but leasurely wyth better dyligence he consyde­red the matter in hys owne mynde, beynge nowe clere voyde of all wrath and indyng­nacyon. Bee thys a poynte of ciuilitie and of pryncely moderacyon: but that nowe en­sueth, was a poynte of hyghe prudence and wysedome, that by a wyttie and polytique deuyse, the party condē ­ned, he did in such wyse delyuer and despetche of all losse & damage, that yet neuerthelesse he dyd not stayne ne putte to lacke or rebuke hys royall autoritie in geuyng sentence of indgement, the penaltie and fyne that Machaetea was caste in, he priuately sa­tysfied and payed as if hym selfe had been therein condēned.

[Page] 25 The frēdes of Philippus fumyng and takyng high indignacion, for that theThe Pelo­ponnesians wer the inha­bitauntes of Peloponesus whiche was a region of Grece, in olde tyme called A­chaia & nowe Mor [...]a, liyng betwene two seas, the one called Ioniū and the other Aegeaū: and with thesame seas so enclo­sed, that it is in mani [...]r a veraye Is [...]e. It was na­med of Pe [...]lops y^e sonne of Tantalus kyng of the Phrygians. And Pelops was housbād to Hippoda­mia the doughter of Oenomaus, kyng of the saied region, on whom went a Prophecie, that wh [...]nsoeuer his doughter ma­ried, he should leese his life. Wherfore with all suche princes & knyghtes as came to sue for the mariage of Hippodamia, he (the saied Oenomaus) appoynted tornamentes for life & death with this condicion, that who so could that waye wynne his doughter should haue hir, who so wer ouercomed should suf­fre death. After many wooers thus slain and put to death came Pelops, and corrupted Myrtilus the maister of y^e chai­rettes with Oenomaus promisyng to thesame Myrtilus that in case he would bee his trende that he might haue victo [...]ie, he should lye with Hippodamia the first night. Then did Myr­tilus sette in the chairette of Oe [...]omaus, an a [...]eltree of weare by reason wherof at the first ioynyng it brake, and Pelo [...]s woonne the victorie. Wherupon Oenomaus killed hymselfe. And Pelops not onely obteyned and enioyed the ladie Hippo­damia, but also succeded Oenomaus in the kyngdome of A­chaia. And when Myrtilus required his promysse, Pelops caused hym to bee cast into the sea, whiche sea of his name was called Myrtoum. In the region of Pelopennesus wer these noble & florente citees, Argos, Micenae, Corinthus, La­cedaemon, Patrae, the mountain of Malea lyyng on the sea coste Epidanrus, and these countrees, Arcadia, and Sicyona. Peloponnesians did with hissyng mocke and skorne hym at y^e games of Olimpia, especially ha­uyng receiued many benefites at the kynges hande, and with that tale prickyng and stieryng Philippus to auenge hymselfe on theim: why ꝙ he, how will the matier then go if we dooe vnto theim any eiuill? Graciously and with woondreous ci­uilitee turned he the argumente of his fren­des to the contrarie, thus: If thei bee of suche frowarde nature and disposicion, that thei mocke and skorne those persones, who haue dooen theim benefite, thei will dooe muche more annoyaunce and harme, if a bodye therunto prouoke theim with shrewd tur­nes or dedes of myschief. A manifeste to­ken and prouf it was not onely of mo­deracion or paciente suffreaunce and of mercifulnesse, but also of a certain excel­lente high magnanimitee, a kyng to neg­lecte & sette lighte by the hissyngs, of ingrate persones.

[Page 175] Harpalus in the fauour and be­halfe 26 of Crates beeyng bothe his familiare frende and of alyaunce and sued at the lawe vpon an ac­cion of trespace for wronges and extorcion by hym dooen, made in­staunte requeste and peticion vn­to Philippus, y^t the same defendaunte might paye the damage and fyne [Page] but yet might for sauyng his ho­nestee bee quieted and dispetched of the suite and accion,The vpright­nes and in [...]e­gritee of Phil [...]ppus, in mi­nistreyng the l [...]wes and in doyng iustice. leste that beeyng in the face of the court cō ­dēned, he should haue all y^e world to raill and speake eiuill on hym. At these woordes, better it is (ꝙ Philippus) that he bee eiuill spoken of, then me to haue an eiuil name for his cause. He was tendre and fa­uourable to his frendes, & beare with theim albeeit no ferther then he lawfully might without empechemente of the existimacion and credence of a iudge.

27 When Philippus beeyng in the campe with his armie had slept a great long while together,Antipater the de [...]utie and high [...]pitain vnd [...]r Phi­lippus. beeyng at last awaked, I haue slept in safegarde saieth he, for Antipater hath in my stede watched and for borne slepe. Declaryng by y^e watche woorde, not to bee the parte of a prince,Not to bee y^• parte of a prince to t [...]ke his full reste & slepe, especially in tyme of warre. to lye in bedde, all daye, or to take his full reste and slepe, especially in tyme of warre, & yet nerethelesse, that thesame maye at a tyme without perell or daungier bee dooen, if a [Page 176] kyng haue a tru [...]tie and a peinfull deputie.A prince may bee in securi­tee that hath a trustie and a vigi [...]aunte deputie. Thus with the laude & praise of his frende, he made a good excuse in that he had ouer slept hym selfe.

At an other season eftsons it fortuned, that while Philippus in the 28 daye tyme tooke his reste & slepe, a sorte of the grekes (whiche had in a great noumbre assembleed a­boute his doore) tooke peper in y^e nose,How parme­nio excused Philippꝰ sle­pyng in the daye tyme. and spake many woordes of reproche by the kyng, for that by reason of his sluggyng thei might not at y^e first choppe bee brought to his speche: then Parmenio beeyng in presence,Parmenio was one of Philippꝰ gē ­tlemenne and a capitain & in veraye high fauour & trust with hym, & after his da­yes, with A­lexander Ma­gnus. in this manier defen­ded the kyng, and made excuse in his behalfe, saiyng: Meruaill ye not if Philippus dooe now repose hymselfe & take a nappe, for when all ye wer in your ded slepe, he watched. Signifiyng, that the gre­kes rechelessely conueighyng their affaires, Philippus broke many a slepe to prouide for their defense and safegarde.

[Page] 29 Like as hymself was mery cō ­ceipted and ful of preatie tauntes so did he muche delite in the sai­ynges of others, if thesame had any quickenesse or grace in theim. Wherfore, when he was disposed on a tyme, as he sate at his sup­per, to coumptrolle a mynstrelle plaiyng at y^t presente before hym, and talked his phansie of fyngre­yng and strykyng the strienges of the instrumente:Eu [...]ry bodie is best iudge of his owne arte and fa­cultie. God forfende sir kyng, ꝙ the mynstrelle, that ye should haue more sight and knowlage in this geare, thē I. Plea­sauntely and as might stand with good manier, did the feloe take vpon hym to iudge in his owne art and facultee, and yet nothyng offended or displeased the kyng, whom he iudged to bee of more dignitee and high estaste, then for to contend or striue with a mynstrelle about y^e twangyng of harpestrienges and lutestrienges.

Yea and y^e right sharpe or poy­naunte 30 saiynges of others (so it [Page 177] wer spoken in tyme & place opor­tune, & not toto ferre out of course he coulde take in good parte.The human [...] tee & paceinc [...] of Pilippꝰ. For when he was foule out, both with ^☞ Olympias his wife, and also with Alexander his soonne, he demaun­ded of Demaratus a Corinthian euen at that presēte tyme happyly com­yng vnto hym in ambassade,Demaratus ambassadour from Cori [...] ­the w^t Phi­lippus. what concorde, peace & vnitee the gre­kes had emong theimselfes one with another. Immediately saied Demaratus to hym again. Iwys iwys, ye dooe of likelyhood take great thought and care for the cō ­corde and tranquillitee of the gre­kes, when those that are nighest & moste dere vnto you, beare suche herte and mynde towardes you. What would a manne in this case haue looked for, but that the kyng beeyng highly displeased with y^e bolde and plain speakyng of Demaratus, should haue commaunded the same to bee had awaye out of his sight? Yet for al that, because y^e woordes of Demaratus [Page] meaned to reuoke hym [...]rom ire and wrathe, to takyng better wayes: the kyng pacified and reconciled hymselfe at the cor­repcion of the straunger, and all indignaciō and wrathe laied a parte, fell to a fulle ato­nemente with all his folkes.

[Page 178]To an olde wife beeyng a poore 31 sely solle, and cryyng and callyng vpon Philippus to haue the hearyng of her cause before hym, nor ceas­syng with this ymportune & ear­nest prayer in manier dayly to ryng in his eare,The office of kynges is to heare the complaintes and causes of all persones w^t out excepcion he at last made aunswer, that he had noo leasure. And when the olde wife had eft­sons cryed out vpon hym, saiyng [Page] why, then bee no longer kyng ne [...] ther: Philppus greatly meruaillyng at her bolde and franke speakyng did fromthensfoorthe geue eare not onely vnto her, but also to all others like. This selfesame thyng the latines dooen attribute vnto Adrian Emperour of Roome.

32 Philippus, when it was come to his eare that his soonne Alexander had in a certain place shewed him selfe to bee a cunnyng musician,Not euery arte is meete for a kyng. graciously and courtisely chidde hym for it, saiyng: Art thou not a­shamed of thyself to haue so good sight in musike? Signifiyng that other artes then musike were more meete and seemyng for a kyng.

33 Thesame Philippus hauyng on a tyme gotten a falle in the wrast­leyng place,Philippus reproued the ambicion of manne in de­s [...]ryng empier when in the arisyng again he had espied the priente & measure of his wholle bodie in the doust, he saied: Oh the foly of [Page 179] manne, how we to whō of nature a veraye small porcion of the ye­arth is due, desire to haue in our handes all the vniuersall worlde. Would god this saiyng had been well enpriented in y^e herte of his soonne, to whose ambicion and couetous desire all the wholle worlde semed but a litle angle.The ambiciō of Alexander.

Philippus chidyng his soonne Ale­xander 34 for y^t he laboured & sought with presentes and giftes to pur­chace the beneuolence and hertie loue of the Macedonians, did thus frame & sette his woordes: what (the deiuill) consideracion or meanes hath putte suche a vain hope in thy hedde, and brought the into this fooles paradise, to suppose that thei will in tyme to come bee feithfull and true vnto the,Beneuolence ought to bee purchaced by vertue & not by giftes. whom thou shalte haue corrupted and bought with money? what? dooest thou goo about to bryng to passe, that the Macedonians shall esteme y^• [Page] to bee, not their kyng, but their almoyner, or pursebearer?

35 The Atheniens had sent an am­bassade vnto Philippus. Thesame graciously receiued and heard, to thende that he would with all possible courtesie and humanitee di­misse the Ambssadours, he willed theim to speake, in what thyng he might doo to y^e Atheniens any good pleasure. Anon, Demochares taking the tale in hāde, saied: forsouth sir, if ye goo & putte your necke in an halter & hang yourselfe. This Demochares was one of y^e Ambassadours, and for his malaparte toungne called at home in his conntree in their language, Democha­res parrhesiastes, one of y^e ambassadours sent in Lega­cie frō the A­theniens vnto Philippus. The bolde­nesse y^t some ꝑsones haue, plainly & with out respecte, feare, accepti­on or sparyng of any bodye whatsoeuer he bee, to vt­ter & to speake that lyeth in their stomake yea, whether it bee to geue a checke and a rebuke to ones face, or­els any otherwise howsoeuer it bee, is called in greke [...], and ther­of whatsoeuer persone hath that propretee without feare or sparyng to saie his mynde in al thynges as he thynketh, is cal­led Parrhesiastes. And suche an one was this Demochares. [...], is in a manne the qualitee contrarie to assentacion, whiche assentaciō is the southyng of eche bodyes tale and sai­ynges, and holdyng vp theyr yea and naye. Parrhesiastes, (as ye woulde saye in eng­lyshe) Thom trouthe, or plain Sarisbuirie, The kynges frendes at suche a carlishe aunswer fumyng and takyng high indignacion Philippus appeased theim, and commaun­ded theim safe and sounde to leat goo that same ^* Thersites. Then turnyng hymselfe to the residue of the Ambassadours, he saied Goo beare woorde again home to the Athe­niens, [Page 180] muche more pride and stately pre­sumpcion to rest in the speakers of suche vngoodly woordes as these, then in theim, whiche heare the same spoken vnto theim, and suffre it to passe vnpunished. When all is dooen, these are the stomakes and hertes worthye to haue empier.

THE SAIYNGES OF ALE­XANDER THE GREATE.

IN the saiynges of Philip­pus there was nothyng [...] but whiche besides the vrbanitee and pleasaunte grace myght not also auayll to good maners & honest behaueour. Nether dooe I see, whom more con­ue [...]iently to ioyne vnto Philippus, thē his owne soonne Alexander.

2 This Alexander beeyng yet but a little boye, when his father Philippus [Page 181] executed many right high en­treprises, & many right puissaunte and noble actes of prowesse achi­ued w^t veraye prosperous happe and successe: was therwithall no­thyng wel apaied, but to his plai­feeres, and suche as wer brought vp at nourice with hym, he vsed thus to saye: my father will leaue nothyng at all for me. Thei sai­yng again: yes iwys, it is you and none other for whom he purcha­ceth and procureth all thissame. And what good maye it dooe me, ꝙ Alexander, if beeyng a lorde of greate possessions, I shall haue none affaires wherabout to bee dooyng, & to bee sette on werke?Alexander e­uen of o child was of an ambicious [...] stieryng na­ture. Euen at that age might a bodye right well espye and knowe in hym a sparke of an ambicious and actif or stieryng nature to­warde.

Thesame Alexander whereas he 2 was passyng light or nymble of [Page] bodye and veraye swifte of foote to renne,Alexander ve­raye nymble of bodye and swifte to renne. to his father willing him at the games of Olympia to renne the race emong y^e others, I would sir with all my herte, saieth he, if I should haue kynges to renne for the price or maisterie with me. In this poynte also maye ye euidently espye and knowe a manne of haulte courage and one y^t would not to any persone liuyng geue place,The haulte courage & sto­make of Ale­xander. or yeld an ynche, in the tryall of laude and dominacion. Hymself was not yet come to bee a kyng, & for all that would he not vouchesalue in prouyng maisteries to bee matched with any persones beeyng vnder the estate of kynges.Alexander in prouyng mai­steries wou [...]d not bee mat­ched but with kynges.

When a certain young womā 3 was veraye late in y^e night brou­ght vnto Alexander to bee his bed­feloe, the kyng demaunded, where she had been so long: the woman makyng aunswer, that she had taryed & awayted, vntill hir hous­bande might first bee gon to bed­de: he called his seruauntes, that [Page 182] had brought hir and gaue theim an high and a sore rebuke, saiyng conueigh this woman home a­gain, for I was not ferre from y^e poynte, nor failled but veraye litle thorough youre defaulte, to bee made an auoutreer. A passyng gaye exaumple of chastitee,A notable ex­ample of cha­stitee in Ale­xander. on the oneside in a young manne, and on the other side in a kyng (and mo [...]te of all in an ethnike.) For emong theim, simple fornicaciō was reputed for noo cryme ne synne at all. And by this historie it semeth lik [...]ly, that the maner and vsage at those dayes was, (as in Italie yet still at this presente daye it is) that mennes wiues laye aparte in a soondrie chaumbre and bedde from their housbandes,In old tyme y^e wiues laye a parte in a soōdrie chaū ­bre and bedde frō their hus­bandes. onlesse thei wer at this or that season called.

To Alexander in his childehood 4 excessiuely makyng incense and sacrifice vnto the goddes, & euery pater noster while ren̄yng to take still more and more of the frankincēse, Paedag [...]gus is he y^t hath y^• tuiciō, gouer­naunce, nour­turyng, brea­kyng & bryn­gyng vp of a childe aswell in maniers as in learnyng, whiche was in olde tyme aswel emong the Romains as the Grekes an honorable bothe name & funcciō. Nei­ther was there any noble mā nes sōne, but that he had a peculiar tu­ [...]our and go­uernour. But Alexander be­cause he was soonne to so noble a kyng, and also was of singular courage, sto­make and to­wardnes had many p [...]eda­gogues, nour­ [...]urers and schoolemai­sters, emong whom the chief preeminēce had Leonides, and to hym by espe­ciall commission apperteined the principall, cure, charge, auto­ritee and rewle ouer Alexander, partely for that he was a manne of singular grauitee, wisedome, and seueritee of ma­niers, and partely because he was of nere kynred and frēdship [...]owardes Olympias the mother of Alexāder. Nerethelesse be­cause Leonides thought the name of Paedagogue ouer basse and vile for a manne of suche dignitee as hymself was, Lysy­machus had the name of Paedagogue, and in veraye deede was he that contynually attended and tooke dayly peines in nourturyng, teachyng, and breakynge Alexander, and Leoni­des was called his tutour, gouernour, directour, and (as ye might saye) lorde Maistee. Leonides who was his gouer­nour and had chief cure & charge of his bodye and of his bryngyng [Page] vp, and at that tyme was there presente, saied: Sirrha, my childe, thē shall it bee meete for you with thus great largesse to make incēse vnto the goddes, when ye shall haue subdued the countree where this incense groweth. After long processe of tyme, when Alexander had in deede conquered thesame countree, hauyng freshe in his re­membraunce the saiyng of Leonides aboue especified, he wrote letters vnto hym with this clause: I send vnto y^{e *} certain talentes of frank­insense and of casia, to thentente y^t thou maiest not fromhensfoorth bee a niggarde towardes the goddes, sens thou art not vnknow­yng, that we are now cōquerours and lordes of y^e countree y^t produ­ceth frankincēse & swete odours.

[Page 183]When he was readie & would 5 nedes auenture battaill vpon the souldyers of Darius at the floudde Alexāder ma­kyng a v [...]age and gooynge with an ar­mie royall of thirtie fower thousande footemenne, & fiue thousād [...] horsemēne a­gainst Dariꝰ kyng of the Persians, cō ­ueighed his hoste & passed ou [...]r Helles­pontus (whiche is a narowe and veraye daungerous sea, rea­chyng from the Isle of Tenedus, vnto Propontis) & so came to Granicus a floudde in the countree of Phrygia, whiche Phrygia is a region of Asia the lesse. At Granicus because it was (as ye would saye) the gates of Asia, and for that there was none other entreaunce nee passage into Asia to come to y^e Persiās: y^• Capitains of Darius had so sette there souldyers in araye to resiste Alexāder, that there might bee no waye made but with dynte of sweorde. Wherefore, Parmenio the dere frende, the moste feithfull herted counsaillour and the moste trustie Capitain of Alexander auised hym for many conside­racions in no wise to enterprise so harde and so daungerous an auenture. Why, ꝙ Alexander again, Hellespontus would blushe for veraye shame, now that I haue alreadie passed ouer it, if I should bee afeard to wade ouer so litle a floudde as Granicus, and then after that he had encouraged his sould­yers to haue cherefull hertes, takyng with hym thirteen rayes of horsemen, hymself flounced me into the floudde, & at length in despyte & maugre the heddes of all his enemies, he gotte to the other side of thesame. Granicus, he badde the Macedonians to feede lustyly at their dyner, not sparing to fille their bealyes with such vitailles as thei had, for they should bee assured y^e morowe next folowyng to suppe of the prouisiō [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] of their enemies. A lustye courage, & an herte y^t could not faint ne bee dismayed and as touchyng the ende of the battaill beeyng in nomaner doubte, mystruste, ne feare but that the victorie should goe on his syde.

6 Parillus one of the noumbre of Alexanders familiare frendes,Parillus one of Alexanders familiare frē ­des. desi­red of Alexander some dourie of money towardes the maryage of his doughters. The kynge badde him take fiftie talentes of money. [Page 184] And when y^e other had aunswered tenne talentes to bee sufficiēt, yea, (ꝙ Alexander) soo muche is enough for y^• to take,The bountee and munifi­cence of Ale­xander. but the same is not e­nough for me to geue. Gayly & royally spoken, had not his towardnes vnto vertue been vitiated & corrupted w^t ambiciō.7

Alexander had commaunded his treasourer to deliuer vnto the philosophier Anexarchus how muche money so euer he would aske, And when y^e saied treasourer had herde the requeste, & beeyng therewith more thē half astonned, had made relacion vnto Alexander that the philosophier asked no lesse then an hundred talentes:The bountee and munifi­cence of Ale­xander. he dooeth well (ꝙ the kyng) knowyng hym­self to haue a frende, whiche is bothe hable and willyng to geue so great a summe. Here maye a manne doubte whether of these twoo thyn­ges he ought rather to maruaill at, the kynges liberalitee in geuyng, orels the vn­reasonablenes of the philosophier, in askyng [Page] excepte we lust rather to calle thesame assu­red trust and confidence that he had in the 8 kynges beneficence.

When he had seen in the citee of Miletus many and thesame right greate, and bowerly images and porturatures of suche persones as had tofore tymes woonne the victories or chief prices in the ga­mes of Olympia & of Pythia, Apollo by one other na­me was cal­led Pythius of the great dragon Py­thon, whiche dragon to his great honour glorie & reno­ [...]ne, [...]e slewe w^t his bowe & aro [...]s. And for a memori­all of y^• acte there were holden & kept in y^• honour of Apollo Pithius, certain games of iustyng, rennyn [...], wra [...]tleyng, & shoo­ [...]yng, and of the name of Apollo thei wer called Pythia. he saied: And where wer these so great gy­auntlike bodyes, when the barba­rous did besiege your citee? Nippyngly did he taunte and checkyng the foolishe ambicion of theim, who glorie and braggued of suche persones as beeyng in greatnes & strength of bodye perelesse, had gotten victorie in turnamentes, [...]ustes, wra [...]tleyng, rennyng & other sembleable games made for p [...]easure & disporte, whereas in so great pere [...]les & daūgers of y^e citee, there had been none at all, that could trye and shewe theimselfes to bee such ioyly valiaūte feloes.

9 Where Adas quene of the Carians had a great delyte and phantasie [Page 185] styl day by day,This Ades Alexander for fauour y^t he had to hir, of his owne mynde tooke for his mo­ther, & so cal­led hir, and made hir queene of the Carians. ordynarily to send vnto Alexander presentes of cates and of iunquettes or confeccions dressed and wrought wyth greate cunnynge, by the fynest deuisers pastlers & artificers of such thyn­ges, that coulde bee gotten: Alexander sayde, that himselfe had of hys owne muche better cookes & dres­sers of his viandrie,The cookes y^t Alexāder had to dresse his meate. y^t is to weete, for dyner, his iourneyeng y^e night afore, and for supper, a spare and lyght repaste at noone.^*

On a certayne season, all thyn­ges 10 beyng in a perfecte readynes to ioyne battayle and to fightyng the felde, when he was asked the questiō, whether his pleasure wer y^t any thing els shulde bee doone: [Page] Nothynge (ꝙ he) but y^e beardes of the Macedonians to bee shauen of. Parmenio woonderynge what thys saiyng should meane: why, dooest thou not knowe, sayed Alexander, y^t there is in battayll nothyng bet­ter or more apte to take holde on then a bearde?Beardes are in bat [...]ll a great [...] l [...]tte & hindreaunce. He sygnyfyed that fyghtyng in warre ought to bee within handye grypes, in which kynde of stryfe and tryyng beardes are a greate hynderaunce, for that the souldyers or menne of warre maye veray easely bee caught by the beardes and bee holden faste.

11 Darius offreed vnto Alexander these condicions,The condici­ons offred by Darius vnto Alexander. that he shoulde haue tenne thousande talentes of money, & besydes that the empier of the whole countree of Asia to be egually deuyded betwene theim twaine. When Alexander this offre refused: I would surely haue takē it, ꝙ Parmenio, if I wer Alexander. And so would I, ꝙ Alexander, if I wer Parmenio. But vnto Darius he [Page 186] made aunswer in this maner,The aunswer of Alexander concernyng y^e condiciōs of­freed to hym by Darius. that neyther the yearth might endure or abyde twoo soones, nor y^e coun­tree of Asia twoo kynges Here also myght one allow & commende his haultenesse of courage or stomake: if the saiyng did not sauour of a certain inordynate wylfull heddynes to bee lorde alone,Alexander would needes bee lorde of all the worlde a­lone. and to haue all vnder his owne subiecion.

When Alexander was like at a 12 certain toune called The battaill betwene Ale­xander & Da­rius, fough­ten at y^e toune of Arbeles. Arbeles to bee putte to the plounge of makynge or marryng & of habbe or nhabbe to wynne al, or to lese al (for he had to fight with a million of menne of armes wel appointed, and pre­paired to trye it by strokes) there came vnto him certain of his souldyers that bare towardes hym veraye good & true feithfull hertes, and complained on their feloes, that in the campe thei made a muttreyng emong theimselfes, and cō spired together, of all the preade & bootie that thei should geat, not [Page] to bryng a iote into y^e kynges pa­uilion, but to conuerte it full and whole to their owne peculiare profite and auauntage. These thyn­ges heard, Alexander smyled,How Alexan­der toke, that his souldyers had cōspired emong theimselfes to con­uerte all the booties that they shoulde geat, to their owne priuate vse. and saied: Sers, ye haue brought me good tydynges. For I heare the words of feloes minded to wynne the victorie, & not to flee. Ney­ther was he deceiued in his geasse. For vnto hym came right many an one of the souldyers, saiyng: Be of good chere sir kyng, and haue good herte, neither feare ye the greate noumbre and multitude of your enemies, thei shall not bee hable to abyde, no not so muche as the veraye smelle of vs.^*

13 The same Alexander, his armie now alreadie sette in a raye, & ap­poynted euen out of hand to fight [Page 187] the felde, whē he espyed one of the souldiers euen at the same present houre trymmyng a strop or loope to sette on his darte,A stroppe is y^• streng that is fastened in y^• middes of a darte, wherin to putte ones fynger when he picketh it. he putte out of wages, and discharged of his roume, as one lyke to do no good seruice at all, whiche then and not afore begoonne to make redie his weapens when it was alreadie high tyme to occupie thesame.It is an eiuill man of warre that wil haue his weapē vnreadie when he should oc­cupie it. This was to bee putte rather emong stratagemes then emong apophthegmes, e­uē as is also thissame, whereof I shall nowe ne [...]te after make rehersall.

Alexander was readyng a let­tre 14 sent from his mother, whiche lettre cōteined certain secrete ma­ters of coūsail, together with false crymes surmised agaynst Antipater These lettres did Hephastion after his accustomed maner reade together with the kyng.Heph [...]estion was so high­ly in fauoure with Alexan­der, y^t he called hym, a [...]ter se, the second A­lexander, and vsed hym as familiarly as his owne self hydyng from hym none of all his secre­tes. Neither did the kynge forbidde hym to reade, but after reading of the epistle, he [Page] pulled his signet rynge from his fynger, & sette it hard to y^e mouth of the said Hephaestion, warnyng the same by thus dooyng, to kepe his counsaill secrete. An example of notable truste and affiaunce hauyng in his frende, yea and also of passyng great huma­nitee, in that he would these false accusaciōs and cōplaintes to bee spred abrode, although in deede he loued At the first begynnynge, who so high in price, estymacion or trust with Alexander, as was Antipa­ter? in so muche that Plutarchus in the life of Phocion re­herseth for a thyng notable and woorthie memorie, that the­same Alexander neuer would vouchesalue to shewe to any persones so muche honoure, as in his Epistles or lettres to write vnto theim this familiare clause in the begynnyng of his let­tres, we grete you well, sauyng onely to Phocion of Athe­nes, and to Antipater, whiche twoo persones he had in espe­all high regarde and honour. And Iolas one of the soonnes of Antipater was vnto Alexander chief butler and cuppe bearer But in the later dayes Antipater lost vtterly all the fauour of Alexander, and was of thesame suspected, mystrusted & dedly hated. Antipater at that tyme no better then a doggue.

15 In the temple of^☞ Ammon, whē he was by the presidente or chief preest there, called the soone of Iu­piter: it is no meruail (saieth he) for Iupiter in deede of nature is father [Page 188] vnto al menne, but of theim he ta­keth for his veraye owne children in deede, especially al suche as are good and honest. He did after a ve­raye humble sorte expoune the Oraculum an oracle, is proprely the mynde & aun­swer of God by some di­uine interpre­ter declared, as by some Prophete, preste, or o­therwyse by manne. oracle. For the mynistre of the temple, called hym the soonne of Iupiter in the waye of flatterie, as if Alexander had been lykewise begotten of Iupiter, as Hercules was reputed and bele­ued to be the soonne of Iupiter. But Alexander confessed that Iupiter was of nature the autour & parente of all mortall menne, but yet that the same did agnise and knowelage peculiarly or proprely for his soonnes, suche persones and none other, as by vertue and noble actes drewe nighest, and were moste aunswerable to the nature of god. And that is, vnto all persones without excepcion to bee beneficiall.

[Page] 16 When his leggue was woun­ded with an aroe in battaille,What Alexā ­der said, whē he was woū ­ded with an [...]roe. and many came rennyng about hym, whiche had of a custome ofte ty­mes vsed to call hym a God, he w^t a bolde and a mery countenaunce alludyng to a verse of the Poete Homere, saied:

Mocking in veraye deede the vanitee of those flattreers, forasmuche as the thynge selfe declared hym to bee nothynge els but a mortal manne, as others wer. As for the al­lusion y^t he made, was to a place of Homere in the fifthe volume of his werke entitleed Ilias, where it is tolde howe Uenus was wounded of Diomedes.

17 Many persones highly cōmen­dyng [Page 189] and praisyng the frugalitee and spare maner of liuyng that Antipater vsed, who leed a life ve­ray homely or grosse, & farre from all delices: yea, ꝙ he, Antipater wea­reth a white mantelle outwardely but w^tin he goeth in purple euery ynche of hym. Notyng the feigned & colourable sparyng and homelynesse of the saied Antipater, wheras he was, y^t not with­standyng, in veraye deed as ambicious and stately,Antipater, though he sē ­bled to liue homely, yet in deede was ambicio [...]s [...] stately. as the best.

When he was on a daye in the 18 wynter seasō, and in sharpe colde weather, feasted by a certain frēde of his, and sawe there a litle litle herthe, & in thesame a litle preatie small fyer, he saied:How Alexan­der noted a frende of his to plaie the niggarde of his woodde. Sers, either laye on woodde, or cast in frank­incense. Half geuyng a checke vnder a colour, that the feaster or banquetter plaied as muche the niggarde of his woodde,Unseasona­ble housban­drie. as if thesame had been frankincense, wheras in suche extreme colde, euen veraye frankincēse ought not to haue been spared: and farther signifiyng y^t there was fyer sufficiēt for ma­kyng [Page] incense to the goddes, but not enough to defend and keepe awaye colde.

19 Whē he supped on a tyme at y^e hous of Antipatrides, and thesame had brought in before Alexander at y^e supper a passyng faire damysel, beeyng a mynion dooer in syng­yng, Alexander beeyng rauyshed w^t the sight of her, was soodainly striken with hotte burnyng loue. And anon demaunded of Antipatri­des, whether he for his owne parte wer not ferre in loue with the da­mysell:The continē ­cie and greate chastite of Alexander. Antipatrides plainly confes­syng, y^t yes, Alexander saied: O vn­gracious manne, wilt y^u not w^t all haste haue her away from y^e table and this coumpaignie? How ferre was th [...]t herte and mynde from defy­lyng an other mannes wedded wife, whiche stood in so greate feare of hymself, lest he should fall ouer ferre in loue with the lemā of his frende makyng hym a supper.

20 At what tyme Alexander reuersed backe again to the sea (to departe [Page 190] out of his armie,) as many of the Macedonians, as wer sickely, maimed and feble or impotēte of their lymmes, there was one persone be­wraied,Plutarchus in the life of Alexander na­meth this mā Eurylochus. that had billed hymself in the noumbre of the sickefolkes, wheras in deede he had no disease nor ympedimente at all. This manne when he was brought to the sight and presence of Alexander and beeyng examyned, did cōfesse that he had made a pretexte and sembleaunce of a disease or mala­die, for the loue of a woman called Telesi [...]pa, who was gon afore to­warde the sea, Alexander asked, to whom might bee committed the charge to commaunde the saied Telesippa to returne backe again to the armie. (supposyng that she had been bondewoman to one or other of his souldyers.) But when he had due knowelage that shee was no bondewoman, but fre born: why, (ꝙ Alexander) thē [Page] leat vs o Antigenes (for that was the feloes name,) entreacte, and by fair meanes perswade Telesippa to tar­rye still with vs. For by force or violence to compell hir therunto beeyng a free womanborne, in no wise lyeth in vs.Alexander would not enforce or com­pell any per­sone free borne. In suche sorte did he fauour the loue of a stoute and valiaunt manne of warre, whom he was desirous to kepe still in his armie, that neuerthelesse he would not y^e freeborne womā to come backe again, but if she might bee brought ī mynde so to dooe with hir owne consente and agremente.

21 When the grekes, that tooke waiges to fight against Alexander vnder the baners of his enemies, wer come vnder his power and iurisdiccion,How Alexan­der vsed the Grekes whi­che toke wai­ges of his enemies to fight against hym. as for the Atheniens he commaunded to bee laied fast in shaccles and fetters because that, wher thei might haue had waiges competente at home at y^e publique charges of their owne citee, thei had for all that become souldyers [Page 191] with his enemies. Of the Thessaliās also, he commaunded thesame, for asmuche as thei hauyng a right fertile countree of their owne, did l [...]at it lye waste without bestow­yng any tillage or housbandrie vpon it: but the ^* Thebanes he demi­sed and leat goo at their libertee, saiyng: These poore solles are by vs put out of all together, nor haue any thyng at all leaft vnto theim, nether citee to dwell in, nor lande to till. So did he moderate the punyshemente of theim all,The modera­cion of peine ministreed by Alexander vnto the Grekes y^t had highly offended hym. that those persones, who had well deserued to dye, he commaunded no more but to bee laied in irons, and the faulte of theim whiche might iustely make their excuse, that by veraye necessitee thei had been driuen to dooe as thei did he laied from theim, and tooke vpō hymself.

[Page] 22 A certain Indian taken in y^e war­res, bearyng name of a feloe pere­lesse in the feacte of shootyng, in so muche y^t by the commen reporte and bruite that went on hym, he could as oft as hym lusted shoote his aroe quite & clene euē through a ryng, Alexander commaunded to shewe a poynte of his cunnyng. And where the partie refused so to dooe, the kyng takyng there­with high displeasure and angre, commaunded that he should bee put to death. As he was in ledyng [Page 192] to the place of execucion, he saied to theim that ledde hym, that he had not of long tyme afore practi­sed his feacte of shootyng, and by reason therof to haue stand ī feare lest he should haue myssed. When woorde herof was brought backe again, and relacion made vnto Alexander, that the feloe had not of any disdeigne or frowardenesse, refused to shoote, but onely for feare of beeyng opēly shamed for euer, if he should haue failled, the kyng hauyng woundre at the na­ture of y^e feloe so desireful of glory and renoume,Glorie & re­noume is to many ꝑsones more sweete then life. both gaue vnto the same perdone of his life, and also dimissed hym bounteously rewar­ded, because he had been ī mynde and will rather to suffre death, thē to appere vnworthie the name & fame that went on hym. Here it appereth not to bee altogether a lye, that is [...]o commenly spoken in the prouerbe,Like bea­reth loue vn­to like. like [Page] beareth fauour and loue vnto like. For Alex [...]ander beeyng out of all measure desirous of renoume, loued the sembleable affeccion and appetite in other persones.

23 Taxiles one of y^e kynges of India, presētyng hymself vnto Alexander, This Taxi­les (as t [...]stifi­eth Plutar­thus in y^e life of Alexander [...] was a manne of singulare wisdome and sapien [...]e, and had vnder his gouernaūce y^e more parte of India, enui­roned with al the whole cir­cuite of y^e vniuersal coūtree of Egypte, a [...]anke groūde for pasture, & an excellente good corne countree. And of this Taxiles Alexand [...]r tooke many greate giftes and pre­sentes, and gaue to hym as many again, and last of all sente vnto hym for a gifte, a thousande talentes at ones. spake vnto hym in this maner, I ꝓuoke y^e sir kyng (saieth he) not to fightyng, nor yet to battail, but to another sorte of tryyng maistries. If y^u be inferiour to me, take some benefite at my hādes: if superiour, let me receiue some bn̄fite at thine To whō Alex. thus aūswered. Marie, euē for y^t veraye poynte ought we to striue together, whether may in dooyng benefites haue y^e ouer hāde of y^e other. And herupon. w^t al possible humanitee embracyng y^e said Tax­iles, he did not onely not depriue thesame of his domyniō, but also gaue hym more to it.

24 Whē he had herde of a certain rocke in the Indies, whiche by reasō [Page 193] of the excedyng heigthe of it is called in greke, [...], [...], a rocke in the Indies. byrdelesse, as if ye would saie, so high, that y^e byrdes maye not geat to y^e toppe of it. When Alexander had heard of this rocke, that the place self was harde to bee woonne, but the capi­tain that kept it, to bee a fearfull feloe, and to haue no more herte then a sheepe: By this tyme, ꝙ Alexander, y^e place is easie enough to bee gotten, Signifiyng, that for­tresses & municiōs doo nothing auayle at al excepte an hardie mānes body defēd & maintein thesame.Fortresses & municions do nothynge a­uaill, excepte hardie & vali­aunte mēnes bodyes, defēde and main [...]ai [...] thesame. For a castle, or any strong holde is not so sure and fafe from enemies by the fense of dyches and walles, as by va­liaunte and hardie mennes bodyes.²⁸

[Page] 25 An other certain capitain, wher he held, and kepte a rocke vnpossible to be won (as it was thought) neuerthelesse submitted and yel­ded hymselfe into the handes of Alexander. How Alexan­der vsed a ca­pitaine that gaue hymself and his holde into his han­des & mercie. But Alexander, not onely did make thesame partie lorde & gouernour of all that seignourie & countree about, but moreouer spake & saide as foloeth. I holde this manne sapiente and wise, in that he thought better, and had more phansie, to putte his trust & affiaunce in an honest and a good manne, then in a place strong and well fensed.

26 After the takynge of a certain strong holde or fortresse standyng on a rocke, when y^e frendes of Ale­xander saied, that in featesmarcial and in noble actes of prowesse he ferre surmounted Hercules:Alexander cō ­tēned Hercu­les in re [...]pecte of hymselfe. Nay, ꝙ he, I thynke y^e actes, that I haue doone sens I haue been a kynge, [Page 194] are totoo ferre oddes, to bee in the waye of cōparison conferred with the thynges whiche Hercules did in his tyme,The mynd of Alexander no f [...]aterie was enough to sa­tisfie. The other spake to flater hym, but the mynd of Alexander no flaterie was enough to satisfie.

Certain of his frendes he puny­shed by y^e purse, and putte to their fine, because he had perceiued thē, in plaiyng at dyce, not to play for pastyme,How Alexan­der vsed cer­tain of his frēdes for bee­yng ouer ear­nest in play­yng at dyce. as meete was. For ma­ny there been that bestowe & vse themselfes in this game, as if it were in the moste ear­nest mater of the worlde. For those persones dooe not playe, who dooen hasard and auenture all their substaunce at ones,The incom­moditees that come by plai­yng at dyce. yea and sometymes their soones and heyres too, too stande to the grace and direccion of the dyce At lest wyse, homely playe it is and a madde pastyme, where menne by the course of the game goo together by the eares, and many times murdre one another, or at lestwyse of [...]yght louyng frēdes, are made mutuall enemies all dayes of their life after.

Emong those, whom he reputed 28 and tooke for his principall fren­des, [Page] or chief seruaūtes about hym and most of power, he shewed him selfe to honour Graterus aboue the rest,Alexander of al his frendes and true ser­uaūtes moste honoured Craterꝰ, but moste loued Hephaestion. but aboue all others to loue Hephaestion. For Craterus (saieth he) loueth the kyng, and Hephaestion lo­ueth Alexander. This saiyng hath more grace in the greke, by reason of these twoo woordes [...] and [...].Craterus [...], Hephaestion [...]. The menyng of Alexander was, that Craterus in suche thynges as concer­ned his dignitee royall did the partes of a true faythfull frende, but Hephestion of a certain priuee affeccion to beare his hertie loue and beneuolence towardes the persone of Alexander without y^e respecte that he wa [...] a kyng. Wherfore these twoo parties, whose loue and affeccion towardes hym proceded of vnlike respectes, he did after two soondrie sortes egually rewarde, either accordyng to his demerites. So high in dignitee and autoritee wer these twoo w^t Alexander, that all the Macedonians whiche had any suite [...]o the courte, wer from tyme to [...]yme assigned to fette their aun­swer and despeche at the handes of Craterus, and all y^e Bar­barians of Hephaestion. And so highly did the kyng honoure Craterus, that when thesame Craterus was on a tyme sore sicke, Alexander did openly muche sacrifice to the Goddes for his helthe & wrote letters with his owne hande to Pausanias his physician, that he should with all diligence and attendaūc [...] possible, not onely tempre drynkes and medecines for hym, but also bee presente with hym to teache hym how thesame should [...]ee receiued.For Craterus he auaunced to high dignitees, & Hephestiō he receiued to moste entiere familiaritee about his persone

[Page 195]Unto Xenocrates y^e philosophier,29 he sent of free gifte fiftie talentes:Xenocrates refused to take money of Alexāder. which when the philosophier refused to take, allegeyng that he had no neede of money, the kyng de­maunded whether he had not so muche as any one frende neither, that had neede. For to me (saieth Alexander) vneth all the treasoures and richesse of Darius hath suffised to bestowe and to deuide emonge my frendes.The bountes of Alexander and propense mynde to geue. Whether of these twoo mēnes myndes is in this behalf more woor­thie admiraciō, I cannot yet determyne nor perfectely saie: either of the kyng so propense vnto liberalitee, or els of the philosophier, whiche sent backe again so greate a gifte by so greate a kyng of his owne mere mocion offreed

^☞Kyng Porus beeyng subdued & 30 taken by Alexander, and after the felde foughten, beeyng asked by y^e [Page] same Alexander this question, how shal I nowe handle and vse thee? Porus aunswered in this manier,Howe kynge Porus beyng taken by Ale­xander, & as­ked howe he would bee v­sed, made aū ­swer. regally: Alexander ferther demaun­dyng, and nothyng els but that? in this one word, regally (ꝙ Porus) al thynges possible are comprised Alexander hauyng admiracion as­well at the wisedome of y^e manne,The humani­tee and mode­raciō of Alexāder toward [...]yng Porus. as at his haulte courage & mag­nanimitee, cōferred vnto thesame besides his owne former royalme a domynion of muche more large & ample circuite thē y^e same which he was lorde of before. To y^e said Porus humbly submitting himself, & falling down at his feete, Alexāder would not haue shewed so muche goodnesse. Suche fauoure zele, and affeccion did y^t courageous young­man beare towarde hertes that woulde not shrynke.The affecciō of Alexander towarde her­tes y^t would not shrynke. Quintus Curtius telleth it some­what of another sorte. Porus beyng at the daye of his takyng asked the question, what waye he thought moste meete and conuenient for [Page 196] Alexander, (by whom he was now cōquered,) to take with him: suche waye (ꝙ he) as this presente daye maye put in thy mynde, in whiche thou haste by experience founde, howe soone felicitee or high estate may haue a falle, and be brought full lowe. He gaue a by warnyng vnto Alexander not to bee ouer proude of his good fortune,That kynges may vse their good fortune with modera­cion. but to vse it with moderacion bearyng well in mynde, to bee a thyng pos­sible, that lyke chaunce might befall hym, as had lyghted on Porus.

[Page] 31 When it came to his eare, that there was a certain feloe, who ceassed not speakyng y^e worste of him, yea (ꝙ he) it is a thyng to kynges peculiar, for their good desertes, to bee eiuill reported.No persones so muche as kynges for their wel doo­ynges are of some ꝑsones eiuil reported. Neuer was there any thynge more noble, or of a more right sorte, then this saiyng, albeeit the same is named on diuerse others aswell as on A­lexander.

23 Beeyng euen at deathes doore, he cast his yie on his frendes, and saied: I see a greate An epita­phie is y^e wri­tyng y^t is sette on dedde mē ­nes toumbes, or graues, in memorie, or c̄omendacion of the parties there buiried.epitaphie to­warde. As hauyng halfe a foreknowe­lage, that his actes should after his death be to his greate honour and renoume chroni­cled & set out by the eloquence of many wry­ters. [Page 197] Neyther dyd his geasse deceiue hym. For what writer almost at leste wise in ma­ters prophane is not full of the actes of Alexan­der? Albeeit the menyng of Alexander was, that he plainly perceiued to bee no waye but death [...] For ep [...]taphies are not cōmenly made, or at lest wise not set out till the parties bee deceassed. A­lexander therefore as he knewe that his actes should by writers bee spred through out all the worlde, so he perceiued the tyme of y^• same now approche and bee at hande.

At what tyme he had y^e doughters 33 of Darius prisoners with hym,Plutarchus in the life of Alexāder wri­teth largely of the singu­lare cōtinēcie and chastitee of Alexander. And as tou­chyng the doughters of Dariꝰ, he sai­eth although the wife of Dariꝰ did in beautie & fea­ [...]ure excelle & passe al other queenes (like as Darius on his partie also was [...]othe of beau­tie and tallenesse one of the goodlyest manne of y^e world) & the twoo doughters of theim in all poyntes of beautie and ma­kyng [...]guall with their parentes: yet not one of theim in all the tyme that thei wer with Alexander to haue heard come out of his mouthe so muche as one wan [...]on woorde, ne to haue seen by hym any wanton looke or token towardes any of theim: but from their first entreyng into his tentes after muche com­fortable and cherefull woordes, and right honourable entre­teinemente, thei had purposely prouided and appoynted vnto theim a priue lodgyng, wher thei might liue at their own arbi­trim [...]nte, without all maner feare of any poynte of vilanie to bee off [...]eed vnto theim, either by Alexāder, or by any other per­sone. This writeth Plutarchus of the continencie of Alexan­der, with many like thynges woorthie admiracion, namely in an ethnike or gentile, in a kyng, in so victorious a prince, yea & ymmediately v [...]on so noble a conquest, as might in a Christiā prince perchaunce bee an occasion of insolencie, & some cause of forget [...]yng hymself. he woulde bidde theim good mo­rowe, good euē, or good spede, not castyng his yie on theim, but loo­kyng downe to the grounde, and y^t but sealdome neither, standyng in fear of hymselfe to bee rauished with their excellente beautie. And emōges his familiares these wor­des folowyng were muche in his mouthe: The damyselles of Persia maken sore yies.

[Page] 34 He gaue streight charge & com­maundemente by proclamacion,Alexander gaue charge by proclama­cion not to be peinted but of Apelles, nor to bee engra­uen in metall but by Lysip­pus. y^t his physiognomie or porturature should not be drawē by any other peinter, then by Apelles the moste excellēt p [...]inter of the old tyme, and Lysippus the best statuarie. Apelles, nor engra­uen or cast in brasse or other metal by any other persone then by Ly­sippus, Beyng the twoo principall and moste exce [...]lent werkemē of that same tyme. For he iudged that same poynte also to ap­pertein to the dignitee of a prince. And w^t Cherilus the poete he was at a couenaunte, y^t thesame for euery good verse that he made, should receiue a By a Phi­lippes gildr [...]n is not mened here the coyne that is nowe curraunt in Flaundres by that ap­pellacion, but an olde coyne of fyne golde, in whiche was stri­ken the ymage of Philippus father vnto Alexander, whiche coyne Budeus valueth at tenne frenche crounes. philippes gildrē, and for euery eiuill verse a good buffet.

[Page 198]Beyng asked the question in 35 what place he had his treasoures lyyng: in y^e handes of my frendes,A mannes gooddes are no whermore safely laied vp, thē in the handes of his frendes. ꝙ he, Signifiyng y^t a mānes gooddes are nowhere more safely then so laied vp in store. For whē the case requireth, gooddes so bestowed, come again to ones handes with encreasse.

When a certain persone, that 36 had brought some message or ty­dynges, came rennyng towardes hym hoppyng for ioye, & holdyng out his hāde as ferre as he could stretche it,The zele of Alexander to­wardes Ho­mere. about to make relacion of the good successe & procedyng of his affaires: Alexander saied what greate good newes haue ye to shewe vs good sir, if ye dooe not bryng woorde, that Homere is aliue again. Signifiyng that all y^e glorie of his noble actes was like to perishe neuer after to bee spoken of, onlesse it might [Page] bee his happe to haue suche a trumpette of his laudes as ^*Homere was.

37 A certain countree to the ende that it might haue quiete & reste no more to bee vexed with the ar­mure and ordeinaūce of Alexander, What Alexā ­der aūswered to a certain citee offreyng hym parte of their lan­des, & halfe their gooddes to bee in reste and quiete. offred vnto thesame a good porci­on of their possessions, and also y^e one moytie of all y^e other gooddes that thei had. To whom Alexander thus aunswered. I am come into Asia in this mynde and purpose, not to take what liked you to geue me, but that ye should haue what liked me to leaue vnto you.

38 Alxander had in seruice one Eudemonicus [Page 199] ^☞ a philosophier,E [...]demoni­cus a philoso­phier in ser­uice with Ale­xāder, a great flaterer. Albeit, Plutarchꝰ maketh Ana­xarchus y^• so­phiste spea­ker of these woordes. but more full of flaterie then any parasite. This Eudemonicus, on a tyme whē it thoundreed veray sore, in somuch; that al the coumpaignie wer right eiuil afraied, saied vnto Alexander: the soonne of Iupiter, why dooe not yee also Alexander the soonne of Iu­piter thoūdre in this wyse? But the other not hable to abide y^e woordes of such a vile philosopher, laughed & saied: for I am not willyng to be terrible, as thou teachest me to be, which biddest me to make a supper seruice for my table w^t the heddes of dukes & kynges. Thus dooeth Athenaeus a greke histo­riographier.Athenaeus reherse it. But Plutarcus in the life of Alexander telleth it somewhat va­riyng from this.The tendre loue of Ale­xāder towar­des his lordes. What? art y^• angrye w^t me, because I am serued at my table with fishe, & not rather with the heddes of noble mēne?

[Page] 39 Alexander as he conueighed his host from place to place in y^e wynter season,The exceding humanitee of Alexander, & tendrenesse o­uer his soul­dyours. sittyng by a fyer made in y^e felde, begoonne to take vieue of his armie, as thei passed by. And whē he espyed a certain aged persone quakyng and sheureyng for colde, & seekyng to haue a place to stand in by the fyer, he commaū ded the feloe to sitte down in his chaire, saiyng:Emong the Persian [...], it was a mater of death for an [...] priuate ꝑsone to sitte in the kynges seate. If y^u haddest been born in Persis, it would cost the thy hedde to sitte in the kynges seate, but for one born in Macedonia it is not vnleefull.

40 Alexander beeyng yet but euen a young striepleyng, when he sawe his father Philippus, about to reiecte and cast awaye (as a thyng that would neuer bee brought to dooe any good seruice,) an ^* horse that was passyng fierce, and would not suffre any man to mounte or geat vp on his back: saied: Oh [Page 200] what an horse these folkes dooe marre, while through defaulte of skylle, and by reason of cowarde stomakes, thei haue not y^e wayes to handle hym. So when hymself with meruaillous policie and cunnyng, without beatyng or stry­kyng had had the handleyng of y^e said horse, at last he lept vp on his backe, and putte hym to a galop, and then clapped spurres to hym. And when he sawe his tyme, gētly turning his hedde with the bridle: assoone as he had brought the horse backe again, & had elighted down, his father moste louyngly kyssyng his cheeke, saied:Macedonia was euer [...]o litle for Ale­xander. O my dere soonne, goo serche out some other kyngdome meete for thee, for Macedonia is allreadie all to litle for thee. Full well did it geue this prudent & wise prince in his mynde tofore, that to suche an haulte courage, & excellente nature, his fathers dicion might not suffise. But this horse is an exaumple for vs, that [Page] many wittes at their first begynnyng excellente, are in processe vtterly destroyed and lost through the faulte of those that haue y^e breakyng, trainyng, and bryngyng vp of theim,Many good­ly wittes marred throughe the faulte of the instru­ctours. who for the moste parte knowe not the waye how to ordre and rewle theim, ex­cepte thei shall first haue made theim of kyndely horses, veraye sterke asses.

41 The same Alexander did conty­nually shewe great honour and reuerence vnto Aristotle, Alexāder did con [...]ynual re­uerēce to his maister Ari­stotle. to whom he had in his childehood been cō ­mitted to bee enstructed & taught, auouchyng hymself to bee no lesse beholdyng to the said Aristotle, the, thē [Page 201] to his father, for that of his father he had receiued entreaunce into this life,We are no lesse bounden to our schole­maisters, thē to our paren­tes. and of his schoolemaister to liue well.

When a rouer on the sea was 42 taken & brought before hym,How a pira [...]e be [...]yng taken aūswered A­lexander, whē he was exa­myned. and was asked vpon whose supporta­ciō he durst be so bolde to doo such myschief on the seaes, he aunswe­red at fewe woordes as foloeth: I (saieth he) because I so dooe with no more but one sely poore foyste, am called a pirate, and y^u, wheras, thou dooest thesame with a greate nauie, art called a kyng. Ale­xander meruaillyng at the fearelesse herte of the feloe, gaue hym perdone of his life.

Where he had in his owne per­sone 34 purposely made a iourney to Delphos, Delphi, or [...], a toune in the regiō of Phocis, where A­pollo had a notable good­ly temple, and gaue vnto pilgrymes that resorted thi­ther, oracles, that is to saie aunsweres, voices, & to­kens frō hea­uen of suche thynges as thei sought to knowe, whi­che we call werkyng of miracles, and thynges she­wed by r [...]u [...] ­lation. when the prophetisse there saied that she would in no wyse at y^t presente tyme desire of y^t goddes any aunswer of the mater whiche he was come for, (because it wer [Page] dayes prohibited, duryng the whiche it was not leefull, no not so muche as for the oracles neither, to speake, or to geue aunswer in any matiers,) Alexander halyng & pullyng with hym y^• said prophe­tisse parforce, ascended into y^e tem­ple. And when the prophetisse by his ymportunitee & violente com­pulsiō enforced to go whether she would or not, spake these woordes Thou art inuicible my soonne. This is euē enough of the oracle for me ꝙ Alexander. Alexander toke al to his auauntage, y^t was to his appetite and purpose. Accoumptyng and rekenyng the womānes priuate woor­des, for an aunswer of his purpose directely geuen vnto hym from the god.

44 After y^t Alexander hauing takē a viage on warrefare into Asia, The assured truste and cō ­fidence of A­lexander to prosper in all his entrepri­ses. had distributed & in maner geuē away by patentes vnto his capitaines and menne of armes all his possessions and lande: vnto Perdicca as­kyng this question, what haue ye [Page 202] now leafte to yourself sir kyng? Marie, ꝙ he again, hope. Then saied Perdicca:Perdicca one of Alexanders Capitaines. And Plutar­chus writeth that as Per­dicca did, so did a greate noumbre mo [...] to whō Ale­xāder had ge­uen and assi­gned porciō [...] of landes and possessions. And as for hope shal bee indifferente and commune for vs your soldyours, as well as for you, and so refused to take y^e lordeship or mainour, which Alexander had assigned out for hym. Shuche assured trust and confidence had thei on all handes conceiued, to make a prosperous and a luckie viage.

Thesame Alexander at y^e begyn­nyng 45 of his reigne,Alexander would in ma­ters of coum­plainte euer­more reserue one eare wholly for the par­tie defendaūt. whē he sate in iudgemente vpon causes concer­nyng life & death, he would euer­more stoppe thone eare as long as y^e accuser was tellyng his tale. And beeyng asked why he did so, y^e other eare, ꝙ he, I dooe wholly reserue & kepe for the partie defendaunte. would Christ all iudges would dooe like wyse at these dayes.

Against ^* Callisthenes in no behalf 46 framyng hymselfe to the facions [Page] and guyse of the kynges courte,Callisthenes contemnynge the faciōs of Alexanders court at lēgth grewe out of fauour, and encurred his mortall hate­red. but both in woordes and in his o­ther demeanure openly pretēding and shewyng hymselfe to myslike all y^t euer was dooen there, Alexander had ofte in his mouthe this ly­tle greke verse.

47 Beeyng about to make assaulte vpon y^e toune of ^* Nisa, for to winne it, when he perceiued his souldy­ers by reason of the deapth of the floodde whiche renneth a long by the citie,The forwardnesse of Ale­xāder in mar [...]c [...]all entrepri [...]ses. to bee clene discouraged and afeard to auenture, he stam­ped [Page 203] and sterted at it, cryyng out with a loude voice, oh the naugh­tyest feloe aliue that I am, which neuer learned to swymme, & euen with a tryce laiyng his bodie vpō his shielde or terguette in stede of a corke to staye him aboue water, he swimmed ouer the floodde first of all his owneselfe.

Makyng a iourney to Troye, & 48 there arriued, he decked and trymmed y^e ymage of Achilles with gar­landes, and saied, oh, happie arte thou Achilles, Alexāder pro­noūced Achil­les happie y^• euer he was borne. that euer thou were borne, to whom in thy lyfe tyme it fortuned to haue suche a frende,Patroclus y^• frēde of Achilles in his life tyme and Homere the [...]roū pette of his renoume after his death. & after thy deceasse, suche a troum­pette and displaier of thine actes. Speakyng of Patroclus & of Homere: of whiche the one was vnto Achilles a most faythefull and trustie frende, and the other, [Page] throughall his whole werke entitleed Ilias cōteining .xxiiii. volumes spredeth and bloweth about al the worlde his glorie & renoume nowe when he is deade and gon.^*

49 Where he was by the cōmune talkyng of many one reported to bee a god,By what ar­gumentes A­le [...]āder perceiued his mor­talitee. he saied that by twoo thynges especially, he did wel per­ceiue himself to bee a māne or creature mortal, y^t is to wete, by slepe, & by compaigniyng with women. For that these twoo thynges did princi­pally aboue all others discrye the feblenesse [Page 204] of mannes bodye. As touchyng all thynges els, he was inuīcible. For slepe is an ymage and representacion of death,Slepe an y­mage of death and the vene­reous acte a spiece of the fallyng eiuill. and the acte of venereous copulacion a plaine spiece of the fallyng eiuill. Plutarc [...] addeth hereunto that onely the infirmitee and wekenesse of man­nes nature is the brede [...] and cause of werynesse, and of carnall pleasure.

Beyng entreed into the palaice 50 of Darius, What Alexā ­der saied, whē he sawe y^• pa­laice of Da­rius so gor­geously ap­poyinted. whē he sawe a chaumbre of a greate highthe, & in thesame, the bedde of estate, y^• tables to eate on, and all other thynges after a woondreful gorgeous sorte furnished euē to y^e pointe deuise: why (ꝙ Alexander) was this to bee a kyng? Estemyng that it was vnmeete for a kyng to geue himselfe to suche maner delices.Unmete for a kyng to geue hyms [...]lfelf to delices.

Thesame Alexander, whensoeuer 51 he went vnto his bedde, he would of a custome diligently serche his robes, and al his wearyng geare,Alexander ab­horred [...]ffemi­nate delices. & saie: hath not my mother (trowe wee) putte some poynte of delicatenesse, or some superfluous thyng here aboute my clothes? So [Page] greatley did he abhorre from delices more apperteinyng to women, then to menne.

52 Beeyng brought vnto his handes a litle caskette or gardeuiaūce in whiche there was not founde emonge all y^t other rychesse of Da­rius any one iewel either more pre­cious,The precious casket, or deske, or [...]ā [...]dishe of Da­rius. orels more goodly to y^e yie. When the questiō was moued, vnto what vse it myght best bee ap­plyed, eche māne geuing, one thys auise, another that. It wylbee the best thyng in y^e world (ꝙ Alexander) wherin to kepe the Ilias of Homere. How Alexan­d [...]r estemed y^e Ilias of Ho­mere & why. Estemyng no treasure to bee more pre­cious then the saied booke. Suche was the conceipte of this kynge beeyng in his lustie youth, and wholly in all behalfes framynge hymselfe after the paterne of Achilles.

53 When Parmenio gaue thesame Alexander counsaill to set vpon his enemies by night, allegeyng that otherwyse it woulde bee a veraye great daūger, if he should openly by daye time auenture batail vpō [Page 205] so greate a multitude, (for of the roumbleyng noyse reboundynge from a ferre, as it had been the ro­ryng of the sea, thei myght conie­cture the contrarie parte to bee in maner a noūbre infinite,) he saied:The animo­sitee of Ale­ander. I came not hither to steale the victorie. Refusyng to wynne the victorie by the defense or aide of the darkenesse.

When he had read a long bible 54 writen and sent to hym from Anti­pater, Antipater surmu [...]sed false accusaciōs a­gainst Olym­pias the mo­ther of Ale­xander. in whiche lettres wer contei­ned many surmised maters & false complaintes againste his mother Olympias: It appereth (ꝙ he) to be a thyng to Antipater vnknowen, that one teare of my mothers yien,Howe muche Olympias might dooe w^t Alexander with one [...]ere of hir yies. shal at all tymes washe awaye all epi­stles that come, bee thei neuer so many.

When he had perceiued and 55 found that his sistur vsed wanton cōuersacion with a certain young māne of excellēte beautie, he tooke [Page] no displeasure there w^t, but saied, to bee a thyng reasonable, or, to be a thyng to bee borne withall, that shee also shoulde in some behalfe haue prerogatiue to take fruicion of beeing a princesse in a royalme, forasmuche as shee was a kynges doughter. Beeyng of a muche contrarie mynde to Augustus Emperour of Rome,Read of this the .vii.xlv.xlvi and .xliiii apophtheg­mes of Augu­stu [...]. who toke nothyng more greuously, thē the lasciuious­nesse of his doughter and of his doughters doughters.

65 When he had heard the philo­sophier Anaxagoras holding opiniō & mainteining in a certein lecture,The insa [...]ia­ble ambiciō & desi [...]e of em­pier that rei­gned in Ale­xander. y^t ther wer worldes out of noūbre, the reporte gooeth, y^t he fell on we­pyng. And to his frendes demaū ­dyng, whether any mischaūce had befallen him, meete to wepe for, he saied: haue I not, trowe ye, a good cause to wepe, in y^t, wheras there been worldes innumerable, I am not yet come to be ful lorde of one?

57 Philippus at the fighting of a cer­tain [Page 206] felde receiued of the Triballes a sore wounde,The Tribal­les a people nigh vnto Hungarie. by hauyng a spere thrust quite and clene through his thighe. And beeing afterwarde by the cure and helpe of hys surgeon saued,Philippu [...] wounded in fightynge a felde against y^e Triballes. and recouered from peril of death, yet he tooke heauily, that the deformitee & disfigure of hym­ping on the one legge whiche had come to hym by the saied wounde, did stil remain. To whō Alexander saied:How Alexan­der coūforted Philippus ta­kyng thought for y^t he shuld halte al dayes of his life. sir, take no discoumforte to shewe yourselfe abrode, but euer when ye sette foorth your foote to goo, haue mynde on your valiaūt manhood. And prowesse that ye shewed when ye receiued this wounde. This sai­yng is ascribed to others mo besides Ale­xander.

If at any tyme, either in fami­liare 58 communicacion, orels at the table, there had come in place any contencion about the verses of Homere, one saiyng this verse to bee [Page] best, an other, that verse, Alexan­der would euermore allow & praise this verse here ensuyng,What verse Alexander al­lowed best of all the verses of Homere. aboue all the other verses in the booke.

That is,

He would moreouer saie, that Ho­mere did in this verse bothe make honourable reporte of y^e manhood and prouesse of Agamemnon, Al [...]nder a­uouched that Homere ī col­la [...]dyng Aga­memnon pro­phecied of hym. and also prophecie of thesame to come in Alexander.

59 At what tyme Alexander hauyng passed ouer Hellespontus, Hellespōtus, the narrowe sea bet [...]eene Grece & Asia. went to see Troie, reuoluyng & castyng in his mynde the actes of aunciente princes of renoume, a certain persone promised to geue hym the harpe of Paris, Alexan [...]r ha­uyn [...] y^e harpe of Achilles, cared not for the harpe of Paris. if he had any mynde to it. No, no, (ꝙ Alexander quickely a­gain) I haue no neede at all of y^e harpe of Paris, forasmuche as I [Page 207] haue allreadie y^e harpe of Achilles. Paris the soōne of Pri­amus kynge of Troie, of whom is no­ted afore in y^• third Apoph­thegme of A­rist [...]ppus. Achilles beeyng on his owne partie a knight stoute and actiue, vsed euermore on his harpe to plaie songes of the laudes and praises of hardie menne & valiaunte, where­as Paris with his harpe did nothyng but twang fonde fansies of daliaunce and lasci­uiousnesse.

On a tyme he went to see the 60 womē of Darius his court,The women of Dariꝰ his court wer his wife, his mo­ther, and his twoo dough­ters. takyng Hephaestion w^t hym. And this Hephaes­tion (because he went at that tyme in thesame maner apparell that y^e kynge did,Hephaestion somwhat bigger made, & taller of per­sonage then Alexander. and also was of perso­nage somewhat bigger made thē he) Sygambris the mother of Darius kneled vnto,Sygambris the mother of Darius. in stede of the kyng. And when she had, by y^e noddyng and beckyng of those that stood by, well perceiued, y^t she had taken hir marke amysse, she was muche dismaied withall, and begoonne of freshe to dooe hir duetie vnto Alexander. Anon saied Alexander:Alexāder este­med Hephae­stion a secōde Alexander, accordyng to y^e ꝓuerbe, ami [...]cus alter ipse that is, twoo frēdes are one solle and one body. Mother, there is no cause why to [Page] bee dismaied. For this manne too is Alexander. Dooyng to weete, that his frende, was a secounde Alexander.

When he was come into the 61 temple of Hammon y^e ministre there,How Alexan­der comynge into y^• temple of Hammon, was saluted by the preste, or minister there. beeyng an aunciente saige father, welcomed hym w^t these woordes, All haill Plutarchus writeth cer­tain autours to aff [...]rme, y^t y^• minister welcomed hym in greke, & myn­dyng tendre­ly and gente­ly to salute w^t thys woorde [...], sonnekyn, or litle soonne, tripped a litle in his toūgue [...] by a wrong pronunciaciō in stede of [...] said [...], whiche beyng diuyded into two woordes [...], souneth, the soonne of Iupiter.my soonne, and it is not I y^t dooe call the by this name, but the god Iupiter. Then saied Ale­xander, I take it at your hāde o fa­ther, and wilbee contented from­hensforth to bee called your sonne vpon condicion, that ye graunt vnto me the empier, & domynion of all y^e whole worlde. The preste went into the priue chauncell, and (as though he had spokē w^t god,) came forth again, and aunswered that Iupiter did by assured promisse make hym a graūte of his boune y^t he asked. Thē eftsons saied Alex. Now would I fain know, if there bee yet remainyng vnpunyshed [Page 208] any of those persones which killed my father. To this the preste thus made aunswer: As many as putte their handes to the sleeyng of Phi­lippus, haue receiued condigne pu­nyshemente for their offense euery one of theim, but as for your fa­ther, no mortall creature hath po­wer to destroye, or to werke disple­sure vnto, by laiyng awayte for hym. Signifiyng y^t he was the soonne of Iupiter,Alexāder made to beleue, that he was the sonne of Iu­piter, & not of Philippus. aud not of Philippus.

Wheras Darius had sette his 62 armie royall of a Plutar­chus in y^• life of Alexander saieth, y^t Da­riꝰ had in his armie si [...]e hū ­dred thousāde fightyng men besides those which wer in his nauie on the seaes. woondreous great noumbre, in a readynesse to fight, Alexander was taken with a meruaillous dedde slepe, in so muche, that, beeyng euen in the daye tyme, he could not holde vp his hedde, nor awake. At y^e last greate perill and daunger beeyng euē at hande, his gentlemē entreyng his bedde chaumbre, made hym to a­wake.Alexāder takē with a dedde slepe euen in the daye time whē Darius la [...]e in y^• cāpe r [...]adi [...] eu [...] h [...]re to sette vpon hym, [...] he said [...]hē he was [...]akened. And when thei saied vnto [Page] hym, that thei meruailled how he could in that presente state of his affaires bee so quiete and voide of all care, as to slepe so soundely, Marie, ꝙ he Darius hath deliuered and quyte discharged me of gre­ate carefulnesse and trouble of mynde, in that he hath gathred all his puissaunce together into one place, that wee maye euen in one daye trye, whether he shall haue y^e soueraintee, orels I.

63 The Corinthians had by ambas­sadours geuen to Alexander Magnus to enioye y^e right of all their liber­tees and franchesse.The Corinthians made Alexāder free [...] of [...]. This kynde of pleasure dooyng, whē Alexander had laughed to skorne, one of the ambassadours saied: Sir, wee ne­uer yet vnto this daye made any for euer free of oure citee sauyng now your grace, and ones afore tyme Hercules. This heard, Alexan­der w^t al his herte, accepted the ho­nour [Page 209] vnto hym offreed. Whiche honour, partely the raritee made vnto hym acceptable, and partely, that he was therin ioyned with Hercules, a knight of moste high praise and renoume.

At the siege of a certain citee,64 whyle he serched for the weakest places of the walles, he was strie­kē with an aroe, but yet he would not leaue of his purpose. Within a whyle after that, the bloodde beeyng staunched, y^e anguyshe of the drye wounde encreaced more and more, and his leggue flagguyng down by y^e horses syde, by litle & litle was al aslepe, & in maner sterke stife, he beeyng of force constreig­ned to geue ouer that he had bee­goonne, and to cal for his surgeō,Alexander a­gnised and knowelaged hymself, to be a mortall mā. saied to suche as wer presente: E­uery bodye reporteth me to bee y^e soonne of Iupiter, but this wounde saieth with an open mouth, that I am a mortall manne.

[Page] 65 One Xenophantus customably v­sed by certain measures plaiyng on a flute, to sette Alexander forth­warde to battaill. And all perso­nes woundreyng y^e musike should bee of suche force and power, one emong theim saied: If Xenophantus bee suche a cū ­nyng doer, leat him plaie some measure to cal Alexander home a­gain from makyng war­res.

Meanyng that it was no veraye high poynte of cūnyng to bryng a bodye to y^t thyng, wher­unto thesame is of hym self pro­pense and of his owne propre nature inclined.

THE SAIYNGES OF AN­TIGONVS THE FIRST KYNG OF THE MA­CEDONIANS

This Antigonus was of all the successour [...] of Alexander moste puissaunt and mightie. And Plutarchus in y^e life of Demetrius saieth y^t Antigonus had by Stratonice y^e doughter of Cor­ [...]haeus twoo soonnes, of whiche the one he cal­led (of his brothers name) Demetrius, and the other (of his fathers name) Philippus. And the­same Plutarcꝰ in the life of Paulus Aemilius and els where in moo places thē one saieth that this Antigonus euen by y^e title of his birth and descente, claymed to haue the name of a kyng, & first begoonne to reigne in Asia after y^e deceasse of Alexander. Albeeit (as the said Plutarchus in the life of Demetrius testifieth) the successours of Alexander wer not euen at the first called kinges, but certain yeres after, whē Demetrius the soonne of Antigonus had on y^e sea subdued Ptolomeꝰ the kyng of Egypte and had destro­yed all his nauie, then came one Aristodenus a Milesian from Demetrius in poste, and salued Antigonus by the name of kyng. Then Antigo­nus not onely on his owne partie and behalfe vsurped the name, the honour, the estate, and y^• ornamentes and armes of a kyng, but also sent vnto his soonne Demetrius a Diademe, that is to saie, a kynges croune, together with letters, in whiche he called hym a kyng. Antigonus reigned twoo and twentie yeres, and kept in y^e tyme of his reigne many warres, & at last was slain and dyed euen in the felde.

[Page] 1 1.ANtigonus was an eagre and a sore manne in ta­kyng exaccions of mo­ney of his subiectes.How Anti­gonꝰ excused his greuous exaccions of money emōge his subiectes. Wherupon, to a certain persone saiyng, Iwys Alexander was no suche manne: A good cause why, ꝙ he again, for he rieped Asia and had all the eres, and I dooe but gather the stalkes. Menyng that Asia sometyme the rychest & welthiest coun­tree of the worlde, had been afore his tyme spoyled by Alexander,Alexāder spoyled Asia and left it as bare as Iob. and that he must bee gladde and fain to scrape together what he might bee hable to geat emong theim, ha­uyng been afore in suche wyse pilled, & lea [...]t as bare as Iob.

2 2. Beholdyng on a tyme a certain of his soldiours to plaie at y^e balle hauyng bothe their iackes & their salettes on, he was highly well pleased with the sight therof, and commaunded y^e capitaines of the­same soldyers to bee called & fette, to thentente to geue theim thāke,How Anti­gonꝰ vsed certain of his capta [...]nes which sate drinkyng whyle their soldyours ex­ercised theim selfes w^t plai­yng at y^e balle in their har­nesse. [Page 211] and to praise theim in presence of their capitaines: but when woord was brought hym, y^t the said capi­taines wer drynking and making good chere, he conferred their ca­pitainshippes vnto those actiue souldyers, whiche had plaied at y^e balle in their harnesse. All vnder one bothe punyshyng the sluggyshenesse of the capitaines, and with honour and promocion rewardyng y^e actiuitee of the soldyers.

Euery bodye meruaillyng that 3 wher in y^e begynnyng of his reigne he had been a veraye sore manne,Antigonus in y^e begynnyng of his reigne, a sore manne, but in the la­ter ende ful of al mercie and gentlenesse. now beeyng striken in age, he go­uerned his royalme with all mer­cie and gentlenesse: At the begyn­nyng, saieth he, it behoued me to haue a kyngdome, & at this daye I haue more neede of glorie and beneuolence. Menyng, that an em­pier is ofte tymes by the sweord & by rough­nesse purchaced or acquired, but thesame not reteined, or long yeres cōtinued, without the honest opinion y^t the subiectes haue of their [Page] kyng and the hertie good wille of the prince mutually toward his subiectes.

4 Thesame Antigonus vnto his soonne Philip beeyng full of questi­ons in presence of a greate noum­bre,What Anti­gonus aun­swered to his soonne beyng muche inqui­sitiue when y^• campe should remoue. Albe­it Plutarchꝰ nameth y^t it was Deme­ [...]rius y^t was so inquisitiue and saiyng: Sir, when shall wee remoue the campe? thus aun­swered: what, art thou afeard, lest thou alone of al the coumpaignie shalt not heare y^e troūpette blowe? Notynge the lacke of experience & skylle in the young manne, in that he would in the hearyng of a greate compaignie moue suche a question to his father, wheras in tyme of warre,The ententes & purposes of price [...] ought in no wyse to bee vttreed in tyme of warre. the ententes and purposes of princes ought in no wyse too be vttreed ne disclosed, but as often as the campe muste remoue, a trumpette geueth a knowelage therof to the vniuersall multitude all to gether.

5 When his soonne the said Philip beeyng a young manne, had made woondreous earneste request and suite to haue his lodgeyng ap­pointed hym at a wedooes house,How Anti­gonus disap­pointed the purpose of his soonne, see­kyng to bee lodged in an house where his loue was that had three fair & welfauoured doughters, Antigonus callyng for [Page 212] y^e knight herbynger, saied vnto y^• same: wilt y^u not see my soonne voided out of suche a streight corner? He did not discrye how y^e young man­nes herte was sette, although he knewe the­same to seeke wheron to bestowe his loue, but found an ympedemente by the narrowe roome of y^e house in which the wedooe liued with hir three doughters.

After that he had perfectely re­couered 6 of asore disease and mala­die well (saieth he) all this is no harme.Sickenesse putteth vs in remembraūce not to bee proude in hert forasmuch as we be mortal. For this syckenesse hathe geuen vs a good lesson, not to bee proude in herte, forasmuche as we bee mortall. Who had taught this heathen kyng suche a pointe of Philosophie meete and woorthie for any christian herte? his frendes lamēted & bewailled as a great [...] eiuill that he had been so sore sicke, but he en­terpreted and tooke, that to hym thereby had redounded more good then eiuill. The ma­ladie had made his bodye leane and bare of fleshe, but it endued & replenyshed his herte with sobrenesse and humilitee. It had shrew dely abated the strength of his bodye, but frō his herte it pulled awaye insolencie,Insolēci [...] one of the moste perillous di­seases in the worlde [...] that is [Page] to saie, presumpcion in takyng highly vpon hym, which is one of the most perillous diseases in the woorlde. And therefore y^e matter gooeth not all of the wurst, whē the lighter maladie either forefendeth and debarreth,It goeth not al amysse whē the lighter di­sease shifteth awaye t [...]e greater. or els expelleth and drieueth out the greater.

7 Hermodotus a poete had in his versis writen Antigonus to bee y^e soonne of Iupiter. Antigonus readyng the­same, saied:The humili­tee of Antigo­nus. To this thyng was y^e pissepotte bearer, neuer made pri­ue nor of counsaill by me. After a veraye pleasaunt sorte mockyng the flate­rie of the poete, and with no lesse humilitee agnisyng and knowlageyng the basse linage that he was come of, in comparison of bee­yng soonne to Iupiter. Lasanum is greke and latin for an yearthē pissepotte,Lasanum. or chaumbre vessell, and therof lasanophorus,Lasanopho­rus. a chaum­breer, or, a groome of the stoole so that if Anti­gonus wer the soonne of Iupiter, thesame thyng had vnto that presente houre escaped vnknowē, aswel to his groome whose day­ly office it was to geue vnto hym his vry­nall in his chaumbre, as also to hymself the said Antigonus.

8 A certain persone saiyng, that [Page 213] all thynges wer honeste and iuste or leefull for kynges to dooe: by Iupiter, saieth Antigonus and euen so thei bee for the kynges of barba­rous, wylde, and saluage nacions,How Anti­gonus aun­swered one, saiyng al thinges to bee ho­nest & leefull for kynges to dooe. but to vs y^t knowe what is what, those thynges onely are honeste,To good kynges on [...]ly such thynges are honeste & iuste as been in veray deede honeste and iuste. whiche bee honeste of theimselfes, and onely suche thynges leefull or standyng with iustice, whiche are of their nature iuste & leefull in veraye deede. He did with high grauitee dampe and putte to silence the fla­teryng woordes of the partie, by whose mynde and wille all thynges should bee per­mitted as leefull vnto kynges & gouernours For truely a kyng is not y^e rewle of honestee and of iustice, but y^e minister of theim.A kyng is not the rewle of honestee & of iustice, but y^• ministre of theim. And would God the eares of christian princes neuer heard any lyke woordes spoken, or if thei did, that thei would with sēbleable seueritee reiecte & abandon thesame. For what other thyng saiē those persones, who are alwayes harpyng on this streng, and syngyng this songe, that foloeth: what standeth with the lykyng and pleasure of a prince hath the [Page] force, strength & vertue of a lawe. And those who dooen afferme a kyng not to bee vnder bonde or subieccion of any lawes, and suche as dooen attribute & assigne vnto a kynge twoo distincte powers, the one ordinate, & the other absolute, of whiche the first maye dooe no more nor no other wyse but as the lawes and statutes of a royalme, as coue­nauntes and bargaines betwene partie and partie, and as leages and agrementes pub­lique betwene royalme and royalme dooen regnire, and the other, whatsoeuer standeth with the pleasure, appetite, and phansie of the prince.

9 Marsyas the brother of Antigonus had a mater of suite and trauerse in the lawe:What Anti­gonus saied to Marsyas his brother, besechynge y^t an accion of his might bee heard & iud­ged in a se­crete place, & not in open courte. but he besought the kyng y^t the mater might bee heard and a secrete courte purposely holden at home within his house for it. To whom Antigonus in this wyse made aunswere. If wee dooe no­thyng but accordyng to iustice, it shalbe mouche better that it bee doen in open courte, and in y^• face and hearynge of all the people. [Page 214] The naturall zele and tendre loue to­warde his owne brother could not obtein of the kynge, to haue so muche as one iote of the lawe or of the ordre of iustice releassed.The vpright iustice of An­toignus. And as for Marsyas he cloggued & bound on all sides w^t this saiyng y^t could not possible bee a voided. If thou knowe thy matier to bee naught, why dooest y^u sue, or tra­uerse y^e lawe? if y^u knowe thy cause to bee good, and the lawe to bee on thy syde: why wouldest thou auoide to haue all the world priue to it, and labourest in any wyse to haue a mater of open courte to be doen secretely in hugger mugger,It is to bee greately my­strusted, if one labour to brynge a mater of opē courte into a secrete chaū ­bre. assured ther, not to escape or auoid the sinistre mystrustyng of all the coūtree, yea, although thou shalte cast thyn aduersarie, and haue the mater rightfully to passe with the?

Where he had on a tyme in the wynter season constreigned his 10 [Page] armie and tentes to bee remoued vnto a place wher was no store ne prouision of thynges necessarie, & for that cause certain of the soldy­ers spake many naughty wordes of reproche by y^e kyng, not knowe­yng hym to bee euen at theyr pol­les, he putte abrode the louvres of the tente with a ruttocke that he had in his hande, and saied: Sirs ye shall beshrewe yourselfes, ex­cepte ye goo ferther of to speake eiuill of me. What thynge more full of mercie then this worde of pleasaunce?The lenitee & mercyfulnesse of Antigonꝰ. or what thyng more full of pleasaūce then this deede of mercie? he sembleed and made as though he tooke not indignacion or displeasure for their speakyng eiuill of hym, but for y^t thei did it so nere his nose, that thei might easely bee heard of the partie, on whom thei raylled.

11 Unto one Aristodemus (who was one of the kynges priue chambre nere and familiar about hym, but descended (as it was thought) of a [Page 215] cooke to his father) vnto this Ari­stodemus auisyng him to abate somewhat of his great charges and of his bounteous geuyng rewardes and fees, he saied.Howe Anti­gonus aun­swered one Aristodemus auisyng hym to abate of his charges & pēsions ge­uyng. Aristodemus thy woordes doo smell and sauour all of the gruell. Couertely and by a preatie colour tellyng him that [...]paring, pynchyng, and plaiyng the nygardes or haynes belonged to cookes, and not to kynges:Bountie and largesse is be­fallyng for kynges. and therefore that he the saied A [...]istodemus in suche counsail geuyng had no remembraūce ne cōsideracion with whom he was of hous­holde in high degree fauour, & acceptaciō, but of what man to his father he was descēded.

When the Atheniens, to shewe honour 12 vnto Antigonus, What Anti­gonus saied, when the A­theniens had made a bond­manne of his free citezen e­mong theim. had admitted & recorded, or enrolled a bondemā of his in the noumbre of their free citezens or burgesses, as thoughe thesame had been come of an ho­neste stocke, or had been borne out of seruitude and bōdage. It is no point of my mynde or wille (ꝙ Antigonus) y^t any citezen of Athenes shuld [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] come vnder my hādes to be scour­ged with whippes. Signifiyng to bee a thyng of their owne voluntarie doo­yng and of theyr owne hādie workyng, that he myght lawfully scourge, or beate w^t whippes one citezen of Athenes,In olde tyme it was leefull for the mai­sters to beate their bonde seruaūtes w^t [...]oddes, or to scourge them with whippes at their owne pleasures and as often and as muche as theim lu [...]ted. beeyng & remay­nyng still his bondeman: but yet in the citee of Athenes many moo then one to had well deserued to bee whipped of the kyng, for that asmuche as in theim laie thei releassed and made free another mannes bondseruaunte.

13 A certain young strieplyng, be­yng a disciple or scholare of Anaxi­menes the rhetorician, pronounced in the presence of Antigonus an ora­cion deuised and made by his maister not without great studie, and the young thyng taught afore for the nones, and purposely brought in to pronoūce it, (as though the ora­cion had been of his owne makynge, and that i [...] myght none otherwyse appere vnto the kynge) And so when Antigonus in the mid­des of geuyng audience vnto the proposicion (beeing desirous to be certified and to haue knowelage [Page 216] of whatsoeuer it was) asked a question, and the young man foorth­with had soodainly stopped in his mater nothable to ꝓcede in it, nor hauing a woord more to saie: why howe saiest thou (ꝙ the kyng) was not this also drawen & copied out for the afore in a booke? That this kyng iudged contrarie to all reason and reprocheable in one that was in maner but euen a veraye chylde, the same nowe at thys daye is accoumpted an high pointe & royall thing, that is, euē graund sequiours hauing to saie before kynges and princes, to counne by herte, and to rendre again after the ma­ner of an oracion or sermon,Bosome ser­mons & ora­cions of an o­ther manne [...] makyng. hauyng been in makyng a whole halfe yere together with sore labour & studie by some rhetorician or learned manne hiered therunto. And many times it chaunceth, that suche persones, (yea euen no bodye at all breakyng their tale) for­getten theimselfes, & fallen clene out of their mater, and maken all the presence to laughe at theim.

Hearyng one other rhetoritian 14 rolling in his peinted termes, and tellyng his tale after this curious [Page] sorte,Atigonꝰ was muche offen [...]ded w^t a the­toriciā vsyng ou [...]r [...]urious ynkehorne termes in telling his tale. [...], y^t is, the snow castyng season nowe comynge in place, hath made this climate vt­terly desolate of herbage, or hathe brought this climate to clene dis­sherbageing: why (ꝙ he) wilt thou not surceasse to deale w^t me, in thy termes, as thou dooest with y^e sim­ple innocentes of y^• comen people. The kynge was muche offended and displeased with the ouer exquisite manier of tellyng his tale, with the whiche maner cu­rious filed termes y^e rhetoriciās vsen to sette out their peinted sheathe emonge the vnex­perte or ignoraunte multitude of the people. But the same to dooe before a kyng was an abusyng of the princes pacience. In stede of these wordes, [...], the snoweca­sting season, he might haue saied, the wynter season. And these woordes,A clime is a re [...]iō or coste of a coūtree. [...], that, is hath brought this climate to clene dis [...]herbageing, smellen all of the ynke­horne, and may scacely bee wel licenced vnto a poete, muche lesse to an oratour.

15 Unto Thrasillus a Cynique askynge [Page 217] of him, in the waye of a rewarde a grote or six pence:Howe Anti­gonus defea­cted a Cynike philosophier askyng a re­ward of him. y^t is no rewarde for a kyng to geue, ꝙ he. The Cy­nique eftsons replyyng, well, then geue me a talente: Nay (ꝙ he) that is no meete rewarde for a Cynique to receiue.Of y^e valour of a drachme and a talente it is noted a­fore in the se­coūde saiyng of Aristippus and .xlii. leafe. So on both sydes he defea­ted and disapointed the ymportunitee or saucynesse of the crauer that would not be aunswered, whom he demed not worthie to haue any good dooen hym.

When he sent his soonne Deme­trius 16 ^☞ with a great nauie & with a greate puissaūce of soldyers for to deliuer the Grekes,Howe Anti­gonus exhor­ted his soōne Demetrius, when he sent hym foorthe with an ar­mie to deli­uer Grece. and to sette theim free from all yookes of ho­mage or forren subiecciō: he saied, that glorie and renoume was like a beaken enkendleed or sette on fyer from grece, as from a moun­tain with an high toppe to extend & spred lighte ouer all y^e whole vniuersall worlde. Prickyng foorth­warde y^• young manne with desire of glorie to make hym dooe the parte of a valiaunte [Page] knight, forasmuche as by so dooyng y^• bruite of that same his high praise and commenda­cion was not to be hidden or pended within y^e limites & precintes of grece, but rather to renne abrode throughout all costes and parties of the worlde, by reason of the greate fame and name that Grece had euery where allreadie.

17 The poete Antagoras he foūd on a tyme in his tente sethyng a coungre, and buisilie stieryng y^e panne w^t his owne handes: & standyng euē herd at his polle behynd hym, he saied: dooest thou suppose o An­tagoras that Homere, The famili­are iestyng be­twene y^e kyng Antigonus & the poete An­tagoras. when he wrote the actes of Agamennon, ^* did sethe [Page 218] coūgres, as thou doest nowe? To this saied Antagoras again: And thou sir kyng, dooest thou suppose y^t Agamemnon in the time of dooyng those noble actes, made suche curious serchyng as y^u dooest, if any bodye in the hoste sodde any coungres? The kyng tooke pacientely and in the good parte to bee paied home ieste for [...]este, euen as though the mater had been be­twene twoo familiare plaiefeers eguall of degree, or feloes like.

Antigonus had on a season in his 18 dreamyng, seen Mithridates repyng golden corne, and therefore laied awayte to haue thesame Mithridates by the backe, and to despeche hym out of the waye. And when he had [Page] opened this mater vnto his sonne Demetrius, he bound thesame by an oth to make no woordes at all of it. Wherefore Demetrius takyng Mithridates in compaignie with hym went walkyng vp and down on y^e sea banke,The feithful­nesse of De­metrius to­warde Mi­thridates his frend sauyng his othe vp­right, and not breakyng the commaunde­mente of An­tigonus. and with y^e nether ende of his speare wrote in y^e sande, as foloeth, Mithridates auoide the countree. Mithridates Of this Mithridates kyng of Pontus, it is written that he was a man of a mightie greate stature, stronge of bodye, of a noble courage, of excellente witte and policie, and of incredible memorie. For where he was kyng of twoo and twentie naci­ons, it is certain that vnto euerie of thesame seuerally he made lawes, and kepte courtes, and ministred iustice in their owne toungues, and that duryng the tyme of his reigne whiche con­tinued by the space of sixe and fiftie yeares, he neuer neded the helpe of any interpreter betwene hym and any of the nacions beeyng vnder his obeisaunce and subiection, but would talke with all and singulare persones of the saied nacions in their owne languages. He kept warre against the Romains many yeres. At last he was discoumfaicted by Lucius Scylla, & vt­terly ouercomed by Pompeius Magnus. And at last beeyng besieged in a certain castle by his owne soonne, he. toke poison to destroye hymselfe, but when he sawe y^t it would not worke vpon hym (for he had by the continuaunce of long and many yeres, accustomed hymselfe to take euerie daye preseruatiues and ymmediatly vpon the preseruatiues to take poison pur­posely, that if any suche chaunce fell it might not hurte hym) he called one of his trustie seruauntes to slea hym, and where as the feloe beeyng with the veraye sight of his maiester dis­maied, failled in herte [...] nor had the power to execute that deede Mithridates called hym backe again, and helped his hande to the ministerie of cuttyng his owne throte. wel perceiuyng what y^e mater ment, fledde into Pontus, and ther reigned as kyng al y^e daies of his life after. But this historie, for­asmuche as it is no apophthegme, (for an apophthegme consisteth in woordes spoken) semeth to haue been put in by some other bodye. Then by Plutarchus who compiled the treactise of apophthegmes. Albeeit woordes after suche sorte and for suche purpose writen maye haue the force, strength & place of woordes with the tounge and voice pronounced.

[Page 219]When the frendes of Antigonus 19 aduised hym, that in case he shuld wynne and take the citee of Athenes he should fēse and warde thesame with strong fortresses and sure garisons, to thende that it might no more fall to rebellion, and that he should with moste earnest cure & diligence kepe it, as the founda­mente,Athenes the foundamente of all Grece, & y^e onely poste to leane to. the staye or y^e leanyng poste of all Grece: he aunswered that he had euermore been of this mynde,The moste sure garrison of a royalme, is y^e beneuo­lence of the subiectes to­wardes their prince. [Page] that he beleued none to bee a more sure fortres or garisō of a royalme then y^e beneuolence & hertie loue of y^e subiectes towardes their prince.

20 Thesame Antigonus whē he heard reported that all the other kynges of Grece had cōspired his destruc­ciō,What Anti­gonus saied when it was shewed hym that all the o­ther kynges of Grece had conspired his exterminaciō. woundreous presumpteously aūswered, that he would with one stone & with one shoughte make theim all to take their heles and to renne euery manne his waye, euē as one should spryng a whole flighte of byrdes peckyng vp cor­ne newly sowen. but neuerthelesse in this battaill was Antigonus slain, and Deme­trius vanquyshed and putte to flight, & all their kyngdome spoyled, and parted emōg Antiochus Seleucus, & the other princes that made warre against theim, as testifieth Plutarch [...]s in the life of the saied Demetrius.

21 When Antigonus had camped in the browes or edges of felles and cliefes, and in places all vneuen & full of pittes, arisyng & hangyng in heigthe muche aboue the plain [Page 220] champian grounde,This was at the siege of Argos a no­ble citee in A­chaia. For Pyrrhus and Antigonus came thither bothe at one tyme, & bothe in mynde and purpose to wynne the ci­tee. But y^e Argiues sēdyng to either of theim ambas­sadours, and praiyng them to holde their handes, & to absteine from dooyng iniu­rie to a foren citee which neither of theim bothe had any right or title vnto, Antigonus promised to departe and gaue vnto the Argiues in hostage therof his soonne Alcyoneus. But Pyrrhus, wheras he promised to dooe thesame, yet did it not, but by night en­treed the citee vnawares and vnknowyng to the Argiue [...] tyll he was euen in the m [...]ddes of their high strete. Then wer the Argiues fain to desire Antigonus to come with aide & rescue and so he did. And there and then was Pyrrhus slain. Pyrrhus after pitchyng his tentes about Naplia, sent on the nexte morowe by an haralde of armes to bidde hym come down into y^e plain, and there to assaye and trye what he could dooe in battaill. But Antigonus made aunswer, that his manier of battreyng stood not a whitte more in the furniture of harnesse and ordeinaunce, then in the oportunitee of tymes when to fight, & that for Pyrrhus, (in case y^e same wer werye of his life) there wer wayes many enough open or readie to dispeche and ridde hym out of the worlde.

Antigonus beeyng asked the question,22 whiche of all the capitaines [Page] of his tyme he iudged to surmo­unt al others in worthinesse, Ma­rie, Pyrrhus was kyng of the Epirotes (a nacion be­twene Mace­donie & Illy­ricum, which Illyricum is nowe called S [...]auonie,) much praised of all wryters for a gentle and a courteous kyng, wittie, poli­tike, quicke in his buisynesse, auenturous & hardie, & of such a [...]ieryng nature, y^t (as Plutarchus in his life testifieth) neither hauyng gottē any victorie or cōqueste, nor yet beeyng venquy­shed or ouercomed, he could quiete hymself to bee in res [...]e and peace. And Plutarchus in the life bothe of Anniball, and also of Titus Quintius Flaminius telleth, y^t when Scipio emong many other thynges required Annibal to shewe hym euē as he thought in his mynde, whō he reputed of al that euer had been or wer then aliue to bee the moste woorthie & moste noble capi­taine of an armie, Marie (ꝙ Anniball) Alexander y^e greate I e­steme to bee chief & principall, & nexte vnto hym Pyrrhus, & my self the thirde. And of thesame Pyrrhus he saied at an other tyme, y^t if he had had the feacte to hold and kepe an empier, as­well as he could achiue and wynne it, he had had no cousyn. Al this was dooen when Pyrrhus would haue taken the citee of Argos, as is saied in the annotacion of the apophthegme nexte afore gooyng. Pyrrhus (ꝙ he again) if he might liue to bee an olde manne. He gaue not a determinate sentence y^t Pyrrhus was allreadie the veraye best, but that he was like to bee the principall best in deede, if age & contynuaunce of tyme might acquire y^e experience and perfecte knowlage of thynges.

23 Thesame Antigonus seeyng one of his soldyours,The tendre­nesse of Anti­gonꝰ towar­des his soul­dyours if thei wer sicke. beeing in all be­halfes, or, at all assaies stoute and [Page 221] valiaunt and foreward or prest to entreprise al maner hasardes or a­uētures, to bee not veraye well at ease in his bodye, demaūded what was y^e mater y^t he looked so pale & wanne of colour. Whē the partie had confessed vnto hym a priue disease lyyng within his bodye, Antigonus commaunded his physi­cians, that if it might possibly by any meanes bee dooē, thei should geue hym medicines y^t might cure hym. But the soldyer beeyng now clene ridde of his maladie, begone to weaxe eiuill willyng, slacke, and lothe to fight, and with lesse fore­wardnesse to putte hymself in any perilles or daungiers. The kyng greately meruaillyng there at, asked of hym, what was the cause of his mynde so chaunged. Then saied the soldiour: for south sir, euē you and no man els hath been the cause. For when I liued in conty­nuall [Page] angyshe and peine,Felicitee ma­keth mēne ti­morous and false herted. I had no greate feare of my life beeyng in suche case, but now, sēs by your meanes my life is become more deere vnto me, I am muche more charie, that it maye not be lost.

24 Antigonus the first vnto a certain Sophiste offreyng hym a booke conteinyng a traictise of iustice,This Anti­gonus was y^e firste kyng of that name, & there was be­sides hym an other Antigo­nus the se­counde kyng of Macedo­nie. saied: certes y^u art an vnwise man̄e whiche, where thou seest me with all ordeinaūce of warre werkyng and dooyng myschief to the citees of foreners, yet neuerthelesse wilt nedes talke to me of iustice. His meanyng was, that suche persones as either for the enlargeyng of their dominion, orels for to purchace glorie and renoume dooen make warre vpon aliene citees,Such ꝑsones as for empi­er or for glo­rie dooen in­uade foren ci­tees cannot saue y^e lawes of iustice vp­right. or forē countrees, cannot saue y^e lawes of iustice vpright.

25 Antigonus the first, when he had often tymes suffreed Bias ymportunately,With what woordes An­tigonus gaue a talent vnto Bias, of whose ymportune crauyng he coulde not bee ridde. troubleyng hym with beg­gyng this and that: at last beeyng [Page 222] ouercomed with werynesse therof, sirs (ꝙ he) deliuer vnto Bias a ta­lente, thoughe it bee perforce and agaynst my stomake. Signifiyng that Bias had not with his good herte and wille obteined that benefite, but rather had forceably and by violence extorted thesame with ymportune and endelesse crauyng.

Antigonus, when he hearde in the 26 derke night season certain of hys souldyours wyshing al y^e mischief possible vnto the kynge that had brought theim into that eiuil pece of way & into that moyre not pos­sible to wade through, or to geate out of, he came to theim that were most encoumbreed,The exceding humanitee & moste noble herte of An­tigonus, in a­uengeyng ei­uill woordes spokē by him. & when he had dispeched theim out of the moyre (the parties not knoweyng who had succoured and holpen theim so wel to passe through it: Now (ꝙ he) curse Antigonus by whose faulte ye haue fallen into this encoum­breaūce, but wyshe wel to thesame [Page] and praie for hym, that he hathe nowe recouered you againe, and brought you out of this goulfe or quauemoyre. With this sole auengement was the right noble herte of this kyng contented and satisfied.

27 The same Antigonus when the grekes wer besieged in a litle preatie pyle or castle, and thesame gre­kes vpon the affiaunce and boldenesse of the place (because it was a ve­raye strong holde of so small a thyng) settyng their enemie at naught, made mu­che and great iestyng at the defor­mitee and bleamishes of Antigonus, Antigonus lowe of sta­ture & hauyng a flatte nose. and made many mockes and skornes, nowe at his dwarfyshe lowe stature, and nowe at his noose as flatte as a cake bruised or beatē to his face:What Anti­gonus saied whē the Gre­kes whom he besieged in a castle iested & [...]ailled at him ouer the wal­les. I am glad yet (ꝙ he) and truste to haue some good chaūce & fortune by it, nowe y^t I haue ^* Si­lenus in mine armie. And after y^t he had w^t lacke of vitailles brought [Page 223] those choppeloges or greate prat­leers as lowe as dogge to y^e bowe, (as the manier is to dooe with su­che persones as are taken prieso­ners in warre,Howe menne taken prieso­ners in bat­tail wer vsed in olde tyme. that is to wete, such as may doo good seruice in warre to be appointed, sorted, and placed vnder one baner or another emong the ordynarie souldyours, and the residue to bee offreed to sale by an open crye) he saied that he woulde not dooe so with theim neither,The humani­tee of Antigonus and leni­tee towarde his enemies. sa­uyng for that it was expedient for theim to haue some maister to cor­recte & punyshe theim whiche had suche naughty toungues. This saiyng I suppose to bee all one with y^t which Plutarchus maketh mencion of, sauyng that it is otherwise tolde of Seneca.

[Page] 28 Thesame Antigonus when he had taken vp in his hande an instru­mente [Page 222] writen in greate letters of texte hande: yea marie (ꝙ he) these lettres are big enough to see euen for a blynde mannes yies.Antigonꝰ i [...] ­sted at y^e ym­pedimente of his own yies. Ie­styng at the bleamy [...]he & ympedimēte of his owne Antigonus beeyng a sin­gulare good mā of warre in his young lustie yeares, whē Philip­pus y^e father of Alexander, laie in siege of Perinthus (a noble citee of Thra­cia in the coste of Propontis now called Heraclea) had the one of his yies striken clene out with the shotte of a quarrel out of a crossebowe. And many persones approchyng vnto hym, and addressyng to plucke out the quarrell, Antigonus would not suffre theim, but leat it stricke still, neither did he plucke it out, or departe asyde or ceasse fightyng, vntill he had discoūfaicted his enemies within the walles of the citee, and putte theim to flight. yies. For he had no more but one yie to see withall. But those same woordes an other bodie should not haue spoken without ieoperdie and perill of his best ioynte, which thing euen so proued & came in vre by ^‡Theocritus y^e Chian, of whom in another place and tyme shalbee mencioned.

[Page] 29 Kyng Antigonus, when word was brought vnto hym,What Anti­gonus saied whē he heard y^t his soonne Alcyoneus was slain in battaill. that his sonne Alcyoneus was slain fighting in the felde: stood hangyng downe his hedde a preatie space musynge or studiyng w^t himself in his mynde, and within a whyle he brake out into these woordes: O my soonne Alcioneus thou haste chaunged lyfe for death, not so soone as of ryght thou shouldest haue dooen, which hast so vndiscretely assailled thine enemies & auentured vpon theim, not hauynge regarde neither of thyn owne lyfe, nor of my oftē warnynges to beware. He thought his owne sonne not woorthie to bee mourned or sorowed for,Antigonus thought hym not woorthie to bee mour­ned for, that had beē cast away through his own foly. whiche had through his owne foly myscarryed, and had been the procurer of his owne ca [...]tyng awaye. This is told of the reporte of Plutarchus.

30 Thesame Antigonus seeyng his soonne Demetrius somewhat feersly or roughly, and after a straunge sorte of lordelinesse, vsyng or han­dleyng [Page 522] his subiectes ouer whiche he had Empier & dominion, saied: Soonne art thou ignoraunt that our state of reignynge, or beeyng kynges, is a seruitude faced or set out with dignitee and woorshyp? Nothyng might possibly bee spokē with more high witte or prudence.Reigne or empier, sauyng for the digni­tee is a mutu­all seruitude. For aswell is the prince cōstreigned to serue the cōmoditee of the people, as the people to serue the turne of the prince, sauyng that the prince doeth it with a prerogatiue of dignite [...], that thynge excepted, in veraye deede it is a mutuall ser­uitude of the one partie to the other. For the prince bothe nyght and daye perpetually ca­reth for the safegarde,A prince per­pertually ca­reth for the welth of his subiectes. tranquillitee, defense, cō ­moditees, wealth, and auauncemente of his subiectes, neuer satisfied ne pleased with his owne felicitee, excepte it be al wel with his people too. ¶Nowe to the entente that we may after a sorte make soome lykely matche of Roomains with the Grekes, we shal to Alexander sette Iulius Cesar, to Philippe we shal sette Augu [...]tus, and to Antigonus we shall turne Ponpeius of Roome.

THE SAIYNGES OF AVGVSTVS CAESAR.

Octauius Augustus Cesar was the soonne of octauius by Iulius Cesars sisters doughter, whiche Iulius Cesar the first perpetuall Emperour of Rome, had before his death made a wyl by which he adopted, that is to saie, freely chose the saied Augustus to bee his sonne and heire, and executour, and successour. Augustus then beyng a younge mnane absent from Rome a scho­lare or studente in Apollonia (a goodly citee of Macedonie .vii. myles frō the sea into the lande warde, at the first inhabited by Corinthiās, pur­posely sente thither to inhabite when it was de­serte) afterwarde then Augustus beyng come to Roome, and sette in possession of suche gooddes as the saied Iulius had lefte vnto hym, and ha­uyng pourcha [...]ed the fauou [...] and beneuolence of the citezens, by reason of distributyng certain legacies of Iulius vnto the people he ioyned hym selfe in societee with Marcus Antonius, and Marcus Lepidus. And these three diuided al the whole empier of Roome betwene theim to hold by stronge hande, as it had been by a iuste and right title of enheritaunce due vnto theim. In processe Augustus and Antonius (not withstan­dyng al bondes of societee, leagasie, & allyaunce) felle out, and warred either against the other Antonius at length was driuen into Egypte, where he was receiued into the citee of Alexan­dria, and aided by Cleopatra the Queene there, (who loued hym). And there did he gore himself through the bealy with a sweorde. And Augustꝰ tooke Cleopatra, and all hir riche [...]se and iewei­les, and woonne the citee. &c.

[Page 226] WHen Rhymerales kynge 1 of y^e Thracians (who had emonge other kynges moo forsaken Antonius;Rhymirales kyng of the Thraciās, forsooke Anto­nius, & tooke y^• parte of Augustꝰ Caesar. and taken the parte of Augustus) did at a certain banquette veraye arrogantely or with many highe braggyng woordes make greate vaunte of his desertes to­wardes Caesar, What Augu­stus Caesar saied when Rhymirales made vaunte of his deser­tes towardes hym. and without ende entwytyng thesame w^t takyng his parte in warre, made muche tittle tattle nor would in no wyse lynne pratyng therof: Caesar makyng as though he marked not the repro­chefull chattyng of the saied Rhy­mirales, dranke to one other of the kynges, and saied: The treason I loue well, but the traitours I doo not cōmende. Signifiyng, no than­kes at all to bee due vnto suche persones as haue dooen a manne a good turne by com­mittyng treason on their owne partie.No thanke at all is due to theim y^t dooe an other body a pleasure, by commit [...]yng treason on their owne behalf. For though the pleasure, that thei shewen bee for the tyme acceptable, yet are the parties selfes [Page] reputed for naughty felooes, and breakers of league and feithfull promyses afore made to another.

2 When y^e inhabitauntes of Ale­xandria (the hedde citee of all Egypte) af­ter their citee entreed and takē by force of armes,The clemēcie of Augustus towardes the Alexandrines when he had woone & takē their citee. thought to haue none other grace, but vtter exter­minacion by fyer and bloudshed, Augustus gotte him vp into an high place, takyng with hym euen by y^e hande one Arius a philosophier of the same citee borne, and saied vn­to the people, that he did freely perdon the citee:For what ca [...] ses Augustus freely perdo­ned y^e citee of Alexandria. first for the greatnes and goodlinesse of the citee selfe: secondarily, for the respecte of Ale­xander the great that was the first founder, edifier, and builder of it: and finally for to dooe his frende Arius a pleasure.Arius a philosophier of A­lexandria, to whom Augu­stus for his learnyng she­wed muche honoure and frendship and familiaritee. And (as Plu­tarchus in y^• life of Mar­cus Antonius writeth) euen at this tyme besides this high pointe of honoure she­wed towarde Arius, he did at the inter­cession of thesame perdon many particular persones whiche had dooen hym muche displeasure, and had deserued not onely his displeasure but also all extremitee. It was a pointe of mercifulnesse not many tymes seen or heard of, not to riefle or spoyle a citee whiche had moste stubbernely and obstinately rebelled, but no lesse praise deserued that same his [Page 227] greate ciuilitee, that the thanke of such a be­nefite as this was, he tooke not to hymselfe, but gaue one, yea and the principall parte of the same vnto the citee selfe, another porcion he attributed vnto Alexander, whose memoriall he knewe to bee of moste high accepta­cion emong y^e Alexandrines, the thirde piece he putte ouer to Arius a burgoise of the same citee, with so high a title commendyng & [...]et­tyng foorth his frende vnto his owne coun­tremen.

When it was complained vnto 3 Augustus y^t one Erotes the solliciter of Egypte had bought a quaille which in fightyng would beate as many as came, & at no hande could bee beatē or putte to y^e wurse, and the­same quaill beeyng rosted, to ha­ue eaten vp euery morsell: he com­maunded the feloe to bee brought afore hym, and the cause well dis­cussed, ymmediately vpon the parties confessyng of y^• cause, he com­maunded [Page] y^esame to bee hanged vp on y^e toppe of a maste of a shippe.Erotes y^• sol­liciter of E­gypte putte to death by Au­gustus for ea­tyng of a quaille. Iudgeyng hym vnwoorthie to liue, who for so small a delite of his onely throte, or dentie mouth, had not spared a byrde, whiche in fightyng might many a long daye & to many a persone haue shewed plea­sure and solace, and the whiche furthermore by a certain gladde signe of good lucke to ensue betokened vnto Caesar perpetuall sucsesse and prosperyng in his warres.

4 In the countree of Sicile in the stede or place of Theodore he made Arius capitain or lieuetenaūt.Tharsus the chief citee in Cilicia, wher saincte Paule was borne. And when a certain persone putte vp vnto Caesar a supplicaciō or bille of complainte, in whiche wer writen these woordes, The pield pated Theo­dore of Tharsus was a briber and a theefe, what semeth you? The bille perused, Augustus subscribed nothyng but this onely, Mesemeth.

5 Unto Athenodorus a philosophier by y^e pretexte or excuse of olde age makyng instaunte requeste thatAthenodorus a philosophi­er in y^e tyme of Augustus. There was also an other Athenodorus a philosophi­er of Athenes of whō Plu­tarchus both in the life of Alexāder and also of Pho­cion maketh mencion. And the thirde, a werker of I­magerie in metal a Rho­dian born, of whom is mē ­cioned in the xxxiiii. and in y^e .xxxvi. boke of Plynie. [Page 228] he might haue licence to departe home again into his countree, Au­gustus graūted his desire. But whē Athenodorus had takē his leaue and all of the emperour, beeyng in mynde and wille to leaue with the same some monumēte or token of remembreaunce meete & semyng for a philosophier, this he saied more thē euer he had dooen tofore Sir emperour, at what tyme thou shalte bee angreed, neither saie, ne dooe thou any thyng, before that y^u shalt haue rekened vp by rewle one after other in thy mynde the names of the .xxiiii. lettres of the greke alphebete. Thē Caesar frēdly takyng the philosophiers hande in his, saied:What coun­saill Atheno­dorus a philo [...]sophier gaue vnto Augustꝰ against y^• fu­rious heat of sodain angre [...] yet a whyle longer haue I nede of thy coumpaignie & presence about me. And so kept hym there with hym still euen a full yere more, allegyng for his purpose, that same the prouerbe of [Page] the Grekes. Of feithfull silence, the re­wardes are daungerlesse. Of feithfull silence the re­wardes are daungerlesse. Either al­lowyng the philosophiers sentēce, for that in deede to represse and kepe in ones angre that it breaketh not out into woordes,To kepe in angre that it breke not out into woordes is a poincte of safetie. wer a thyng sure and safe from all perill of after clappes: orels meanyng, that it should haue been a good turne to the philosophier, if he had spoken no suche woorde at the later ende beeyng in purpose and readynesse to departe his waye. Albeeit, suche an holsome and especiall good lesson deserued to haue some roy­all rewarde and recompense.An holsome lesson geuyng deserueth at y^e handes of a price an high recompense

6 When he had heard saie, that Alexander beeyng twoo and thirtie yeres of age,Alexander at y^e age of .xxxii yeres hauyng woonne al­mo [...]te all the worlde, dou­ [...]ted what he shuld haue to dooe all y^e re­sidue of his [...]ife. after hauyng passed ouer not a fewe regions or coun­trees of the worlde, had putte a greate doubte what he might ha­ue to dooe all y^e residue of his life to come, Augustus meruailled muche if Alexāder had not iudged it a greater acte or werke well to gouerne an empier gotten, then to haue ac­quired or purchaced a large and ample dicion. Of good right did he [Page 229] reproue the vnsaciable ambicion of Alexan­der,How Augu­stus reproued y^e vnsaciable ambicion of Alexander. whiche had estemed none other office belongyng to a kyng, but to enlarge the pre­cincte or limites of his dominion, wheras it is a greate dele bothe a more goodly thyng and also more harde,It is bothe more goodlye and also more harde w^t good lawes & ma­niers to ad­ourne a kyngdome, then by warre to adde royalme to royalme. with right and iuste lawes, and with honest or goodly maners to beautifie a royalme that to a manne is falle is fallē then w^t dynte of sweorde to adde kyngdome to kyngdome?

Augustus had enacted and publyshed a lawe cōcernyng adulterers after what fourme of processe per­sones 7 detected of this crime shuld bee iudged,Augustꝰ Cae­sar made a lawe, y^t there should bee no adulterers, or if any suche wer found, y^t thei should be punished And it was called, Lex Iulia, and what kynde of punyshement thesame should haue, if thei wer cōuinced or found guiltie. Afterward, in a rage or furie of wrathe, he flewe on a young manne accused of hauyng to dooe with Iulia the doughter of Augustus, and all to pumleed thesame with his handes. But when the young manne had cryed out in this ma­ner, O sir emperour, ye haue made [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page] and set foorth alawe of this mater it repented the emperour so sore of his dooyng,Augustus w^t his owne hā ­des beate a young māne detected of ha­uyng to dooe w^t Iulia his doughter. that he refused to ta­ke or eate his supper that daye. The offense euen of it self was hainous and besides that, trespaced in the emperours owne doughter. What prince in suche a case could tempre his dolour & angre? Or who in suche a case could abyde the long processe of the lawes and of iudgementes? yet this so greate a prince tooke suche displeasure with hymselfe, y^t he punyshed his owne per­sone, because he had not in all poyntes been obediente vnto the lawe,Augustꝰ sore repented y^t he had in his fu­ [...] dooen con­trarie to the lawe, whiche hym self had made. whiche himself had geuen vnto others.

8 At what tyme he sent Caius his doughters soonne into the coūtree of Armenia ^* with an armie against the Parthians, What Augu­stus wyshed vnto Caius, his doughters soonne, when he sente hym into Armenia an warrefare against the Parthians. he wished of the god­des, y^t there might goo with hym, the ^☞ hertie beneuolence of mēne whiche Pompeius had, y^e auenturus courage ^‡ that was in Alexander, & the^* happie fortune y^t hymself had. What was in euery of the said three persones seuerally the chief and highest poincte [Page 230] thesame did Augustus wishe to bee in one manne alone. But as for this thyng, truely it proceded of a singulare humblenesse,The humble­nesse and mo­destie of Au­gustus. that beeyng a manne in witte, in knowlage, and in policie excellyng, he ascribed his owne noble actes vnto fortūe. And would not take theim vpon hymself.

[Page] 9 He saied that he would leaue behynd hym vnto y^e Romaines suche a successour in the Empier, as ne­uer [Page 231] consulted or tooke deliberaciō twys of one mater. Menyng by Tiberius.The readie witte and po­licie of Ti­berius. A manne of a veraie readie witte and of greate policie.

On a tyme whē his mynde was 10 to pacifie certain young gentlemē of high dignitee, and thei tooke no regarde vnto his woordes, but persisted in their querele & noyse makyng: heare me,The autorite of Augustus, euē of a yoūg manne. ye yoūg mēne (ꝙ Augus [...]ns) to whom beeyng but a young manne, olde folkes haue geuen eare. For Augustus beeyng scacely come to mannes state was putte to haue dooynges in the commenweale,The clemēci [...] of Augustus. & was of right high autoritee. With this onely sai­yng he appeaced y^e parties that wer at strife neither did he ministre any ferther punyshe­mente to thesame, for y^e troubleous rumour and noyse by theim areised and stiered vp.

When the people of Athenes se­med 11 to had trespaced against hym in a certain matier, he wrote vnto thē frō y^e citee of Aegina in this ma­ner.What Augu­stus wrote to the Atheniens hauyng tres­paced against hym. I suppose not it to bee to you [Page] vnknowen that I am angry with you. And in deede I purpose not to lye here at Aegina all this wyn­ter to come? Neither did he any thynge els speake or dooe vnto the saied Atheniens, rekenyng sufficiente to manace and threaten theim, onlesse thei would sur­ceasse so to abuse hym.

12 Whē one of the accusers of Eu­clides takyng his libertee and pleasure to tell his tale at large, and to speake euen his bealye full, at the last had gon so ferre, that he spake muche what these woordes folow­yng: If all these thynges seme not to your grace high and greate maters, cōmaunde hym to rendre vn­to me the seuenth volume of Thuci­dides: Caesar beeyng highly displea­sed w^t those woordes cōmaunded y^e saied accuser to be had to warde.The clemēcie of Augustus. But as soone as he heard that the same partie was alone remaining aliue of the of sprynge of ^* Brasidas, [Page 232] he bidde y^e same come to hym, and after a moderate or gentle correp­cion leat hym goo at his libertee.

Unto Piso substancyally buyl­dyng 13 an hous euen from the foundacion vnto the vttermost raftre­yng and reirynge of the roofe,What Augu­stus saied vn­to Piso buil­dyng a sub­stāciall hous. Au­gustus saied: O Piso, thou puttest me in good cumforte, and makest my herte glad, in that thou so makest thy buyldinges, as though Rome must euer endure and contynue to [Page] the worldes ende. He was not offē ­ded with the ouer curious furniture of ede­fiyng:Augustus en­terpreted the dooynges of menne to the better parte & not to the wurse. but y^t some other prince woulde haue suspected & mistrusted to meane some spiece ^*of tyranny, Augustus turned vnto a glad begynnyng and prophecie of the Empier of Roome longe to endure. Thus ferre hathe Plutarchus in his treactise of apophtheg­mes. The apophthegmes folowyng are for the moste parte taken of Macrobius, and out of Suetonius.

14 Augustus had writen a tragedie entitleed Aiax, The tragedie of Augustus called Aiax. and y^esame tragedie afterwarde (because it myslyked hym) he wyped out with a spoūge. So, whē one Lucius a writer of tra­gedies demaunded, what is Aiax [Page 233] did: by my feith (ꝙ Augustus woun­dreous merely again) he hath rēne hymself through with a spounge.Augustus his Aiax ranne hymselfe tho­rowe wyth a spounge. Alludyng to the argumente or mater of the entrelude, in the whiche it is conteined, y^• This Aiax was y^e sonne of Telamō & of Hesione y^e doughter of Laomedon, and was the moste valiaunte and moste woorthie knight of all the Grekes, next after Achilles. But when Achil­les was slain, Aiax required to haue his harnesse and weapen, as a manne moste apte and mete to haue the wearyng and vse of it. Ulysses also made suite for thesame, and by helpe of his eloquente toung preuailled against Aiax, and had the said har­nesse deliuered vnto hym by the iudges. For angre wherof Aiax felle madde, and in his madnesse went emong an hearde of catalle and slewe a greate noumbre of theim, weenyng to hym that he had slain Ulysses and his coūpaignie. Afterwarde beeyng come to hymselfe again, whē he considered his folyes, he killed hymselfe synkyng downe on the poincte of his owne sweorde.Aiax, as soone as he wyst what thinges he had bothe saied and dooen in the tyme of his madnesse, ranne or sounke downe vpon the poincte of his owne sweord, & kylled himself.

To a certain persone presenting 15 vnto him a supplicaciō fearefully,What Augu­stꝰ said to one fearefully puttyng vp a supplicacion vn­to hym. nowe puttyng forth his hand, and nowe pullynge it backe again, he saied: what? doest thou thynke thy selfe to geue a penie to an Elephante For litle boyes vsed to holde foorth and to geue litle pieces of coyne to an Elephante [Page] whiche pieces of coyne the same Elephante, (not without the woundreyng of the behol­ders) will in suche wyse snatche vp quickely with his longe snoute, that he wyll not hurt the childes hande. In the same wyse doo wee see children p [...]tte their hande into the ya­nyng mouthe of beares, not w^tout our feare. It was to this moste good prince a mater of greef, that he was feared.It was gre­uous to Au­gustꝰ that he was f [...]ared.

16 When one Pacinnius Taurus asked a rewarde of hym,Howe Augu­stus auoyded one Paci [...]i­us askynge a rewarde of hym beeyng not disposed to geue. allegiyng to be spred abrode by the comē voice of the people, that no smal summe of money had been geuen to hym by the emperour: well (ꝙ Caesar) yet be not thou of mynde to beleue it. By a pleasaunte woorde of ieste dooing hym to weete that he would none geue hym The other partie looked to haue it come to passe, that Cesar woulde saue his honestee, left that, (in case it should come to light and bee openly knowen the saied bruite and com­municacion of y^e people to bee nothyng true) he should bee had in derisiō. But Augustus shewed hym another remedie, whiche was, that he should suffre the people to talke their pleasure, and to saie what thei would, so that [Page 234] thei persuaded not to hym the thynge that were false.

An other persone beeyng dismis­sed 17 and putte from y^e capitainship of a compaignie of horsemen,Howe Augu­stꝰ auoided a feloe askynge a pensiō whē he was putte from the ca­pitainship of a compaignie of horsemen. was not afeard for al that to require of Agrustus a greate fee too, by this colour, allegeing himself not to aske suche waiges or pension for any lucre or gaines, but (saieth he) to y^e ende that I maye appere to haue obteined suche rewarde or recom­pense by your graces iudgement, and so maye bee verayly beleued, not to haue been put from myne office against my wil, but willyngly to haue resigned & geuen it vp: well (ꝙ Augustus) saie thou to euery bodye that thou haste receiued it, and I will not saie naye. If no­thynge els moued the crauer, but onely the feare of shame & reproche, a way was shewed by whiche he might aswell saue his honestee emong the people, as if he had in deede recei­ued the money, that he asked.

[Page] 18 A certain young manne named Herennius beeyng with many vices corrupted, the emperour had com­maunded to auoid his campe and armie. And when the partie beyng discharged of his roome, did with fallyng on his knees, and w^t most lamentable blubbering or weping in this maner beseche themperour not so to putte hym awaye: Alas sir, with what face shal I retourne into my countree? and what shall I saie vnto my father? Marie (ꝙ Augustus) saie, that I haue loste thy fauour. Because the young manne was ashamed to confesse that hymselfe had encurred the disfauour of Cesar, Cesar per­mitted hym to turne the tale in and out, and laie the wyte or blame on hymselfe the saied Augustus.

19 A certain souldyour of his ha­uyng been strieken with a stone in a viage on warrefare,Howe Augu­stus did putte to silence a souldyour of vnmeasura­bly gloriyngs of his actes & woundes re­ceiued in bat­taill. and beeyng thereby with a notable scarre of y^e [Page 235] wounde in his forehed disfygured because he bare the open marke of an honest wounde, bosted and cra­ked beyond all measure of y^e great actes y^t he had dooen. The presumptuous vaūtyng of this souldyer Augustus thus chastised after a gentle sorte: well sir, (ꝙ he) yet beware y^t ye looke backe no more in your rennyng awaye. Halfe notifiyng that it might full well bee, that the wounde, whiche he gloried and braggued of so highly, he caught not in fightyng manfully, but in fleeyng cowardely.

One Galba hauyng a bodye mis­shapen 20 with a great bunche which bossyng out made him crookebac­ked (in so muche that there went a cōmen saiyng on hym, the witte of Galba to be lodged in an eiuil dwellyng place) where this Galba plea­dyng a cause before Augustus euery other whyle saied these woordes, emend & streighten me Caesar, if ye [Page] shall see in me any thing woorthie to bee reprehended or disallowed:The feacte & mery aūswer of Augustus vnto Galba. Naye Galba (saied Augustus) I maye tell y^e what is amysse, but streigh­ten the I can not. A thyng is saied in latin corrigi, & in englyshe to bee emēded or streightened, y^t is reproued or disallowed and also that of crooked is made streight.

21 Whē a greate mainy persones arrained at ones at the pursuite & accusacion of Seuerus Cassius wer dispetched and ridde in iudgemente euery one of theim, and the carpenter with whom Augustus had coue­naunted and bargained,Augustꝰ wy­shed y^t Cassi­us Seuerus had ac [...]used his courte hous that he had pu [...]te to makyng, for then it should haue been rid [...] dis [...]etched as all those wer whom y^• said Cassius accused. for edifi­yng a courte hous where to sitte in iustice, delaied hym a long time with cōtynuall lookyng and loo­kyng when that werke should bee finyshed: full gladly would I (ꝙ Caesar,) that Cassius had accused my courte ^* house too. He found a ma­ter of testyng in a vocable of double signifi­cacion. For bothe a piece of werke is saied in [Page 236] latin, absolui, & in englyshe, to bee despetched or ridde, that is finyshed and brought to a perfecte ende, & also a persone that in a mater of iustice or lawe is quytte and deliuered. Bothe a maister carpēter riddeth his werke and also a iudge riddeth a persone aunswe­ryng before hym to the lawe at the barre.

In olde tyme greate was the 22 obseruaūce of sepulchres:In olde tyme the r [...]ligiō or obseruaunce of sepulchre [...] was greate. and that porcion of mennes groundes whiche was especially appoincted for their monumentes or graues, was not broken with any ploughe. Wherupon when one Vectius bee­yng w^t this poincte of religion no thyng afeard,What Augu­stꝰ saied, whē one Uectius brake vp his owne fathers graue with a plou [...]he. had eared vp his fathers graue, Augustus made a plea­saunte [Page] ieste of it, saiyng: yea marie this is euen in veraye deede to harroe and visite ones fathers monument. Yet ones again he dalyed w^t a worde of double significaciō. For the latin verbe, colere, in one significaciō is to honour or to wurship, and in an other significacion it is to tille or to housbande, as grounde or any other sembleable thyng is housbanded. Whiche I translate to harroe or to visite, as we saie that Christe harroed helle, and visi­ted hell when he descended downe to helle ymmediatly after his passiō, and pourged, scoured, or clensed the same of suche solles as hym pleased. And visityng is in englyshe a kynde of shewyng honour, as wee viset sicke folkes & priesoners to dooe theim honour and coumforte. It had been a double amphibologie, at lest wyse for the latin if in stede of, monumente, he had saied, memoriall, as I thynke Augustus did saie in deede. For vnto vs high & holy is the memoriall of those, whō beeyng out of this life departed, wee honour, (as y^• memoriall of all saintes and of all folkes departed in the true feith o [...] Christe.) And the monumentes of persones deceassed wee call their memorials by imitacion of the grekes, who callen the­same [...], or, [...].

23 When the bruite of Herode his [Page 237] crueltee was come to the eares of Augustus, how y^t the said Herode ^‡had commaunded to bee murdreed & slain all y^e young babes in Iewrie as many as wer not aboue y^e age of twoo yeres,It is better to bee the hog of Herode (saied Augustꝰ) then his soonne. & how that emong y^e moo Herode his owne soonne also had gon to y^e potte as well as the best: yea (ꝙ Augustus) it is muche better to bee Herode his hog, then his soonne. Herode was a Iewe. And the Iewes of a greate conscience & of a rewle dooē abstein frō eatyng of allmaner swynes fleashe. So y^t Herode would kill no swyne.

Augustus after the takyng and 24.: entreyng y^e citee of Alexandria, had [Page] graūted life to many persones for Arius y^e philosophiers sake:Of Arius & of y^e takynge of Alexādria it is noted a­fore in the .ii. apoph [...]hegme of Agustus. yet one Sostratus (a manne in deede of a ve­raye readie toungue and especiall good vttreaunce,Sostratꝰ an Alexandrine a māne of spe­ciall good vt­treaunce, but [...]eddyly ta­kyng on hym to b [...]e an Aca­demique. but yet of suche sorte, that he encurred the indignacion of Caesar, for that vndiscretely or harebrainlike he would nedes in any wyse bee reputed and takē for an Academique,) he would not heare, ne receiue to grace. But the saied Sostratus, in raggued apparell as one y^t had no ioye of the worlde and with his hore white bearde hangyng down of a greate lēgth,Of philoso­phiers Acade­miques is a­fore noted in the saiynges of Plato. begoonne to folowe Arius at the heeles whethersoeuer y^esame went hauyng euer in his mouthe this litle verse of greke,Why Augu­stus woulde not at y^e firste perdone So­stratus emōg other of y^e A­lexādrines at the intercessi­on of Arius.