226. Bion was sailing, and there fell out a great tempest; and the mariners that were wicked and dissolute fellows, called upon the gods; but Bion said to them, peace, let them not know you are here.

227. The Turks made an expedition into Persia; and because of the strait jaws of the mountains of Armenia, the bashaw consulted which way they should get in. One that heard the debate said, here's much ado how you shall get in; but I hear no body take care how you should get

out.

228. Philip king of Macedon maintained arguments with a musician in points of his art, somewhat peremptorily; but the musician said to him, God forbid, sir, your fortune were so hard, that you should know these things better than myself.

229. Antalcidas, when an Athenian said to him, ye Spartans are unlearned; said again, true, for we have learned no evil nor vice of you.

230. Pace, the bitter fool, was not suffered to come at queen Elizabeth, because of his bitter humour. Yet at one time, some persuaded the queen that he should come to her; undertaking for him, that he should keep within compass: so he was brought to her, and the queen said; come on Pace; now we shall hear of our faults. Saith

Pace; I do not use to talk of that that all the town talks of.

231. Bishop Latimer said in a sermon at court, that he heard great speech that the king was poor; and many ways were propounded to make him rich for his part he had thought of one way, which was, that they should help the king to some good office, for all his officers were rich,

232. After the defeat of Cyrus the younger, Falinus was sent by the king to the Grecians, (who had for their part rather victory than otherwise) to command them to yield their arms; which when it was denied, Falinus said to Clearchus; well then, the king lets you know, that if you remove from the place where you are now encamped, it is war: if you stay, it is truce. What shall I say you will do? Clearchus answered, it pleaseth us, as it pleaseth the king. How is that? saith Falinus. Saith Clearchus, if we remove, war; if we stay, truce: and so would not disclose his purpose.

233. Mendozo that was vice-roy of Peru, was wont to say, that the government of Peru was the best place that the king of Spain gave, save that it was somewhat too near Madrid.

234. When Vespasian passed from Jewry, to take upon him the empire, he went by Alexandria, where remained two famous philosophers, Apollonius and Euphrates. The emperor heard the

discourse, touching matter of state, in the presence of many. And when he was weary of them, he brake off, and in a secret derision, finding their discourses but speculative, and not to be put in practice, said; Oh that I might govern wise men, and wise men govern me.

235. Nero was went to say of his master Seneca, that his style was like mortar without lime.

236. Augustus Cæsar, out of great indignation against his two daughters, and Posthumes Agrippa, his grand-child; whereof the two first were infamous, and the last otherwise unworthy; would say, that they were not his seed, but some imposthumes that had broken from him.

237. A seaman coming before the judges of the admiralty for admittance into an office of a ship bound for the Indies, was by one of the judges much slighted, as an insufficient person for that office he sought to obtain; the judge telling him, that he believed he could not say the points of his compass. The seaman answered; that he could say them, under favour, better than he could say his Paternoster. The judge replied; that he would wager twenty shillings with him upon that. The seaman taking him up, it came to trial: and the seaman began, and said all the points of his compass very exactly; the judge likewise said his Paternoster: and when he had finished it, he re

quired the wager according to agreement; because the seaman was to say his compass better than he his Paternoster, which he had not performed. Nay, I pray sir, hold, (quoth the seaman) the wager is not finished; for I have but half done: and so he immediately said his compass backward very exactly; which the judge failing of in his Paternoster, the seaman carried away the prize.

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

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

240. Thales said; That life and death were all one. One that was present ask'd him; Why do not you die then? Thales said again; Because they are all one.

241. An Egyptian priest having conference with Solon, said to him; You Grecians are ever children; you have no knowledge of antiquity, nor antiquity of knowledge.

242. Sir Fulke Grevil had much and private access to queen Elizabeth, which he used honourably, and did many men good: yet he would say merrily of himself; That he was like Robin Goodfellow; for when the maids spilt the milk-pans, or kept any racket, they would lay it upon Robin: so what tales, the ladies, about the queen, told her, or other bad offices that they did, they would put it upon him.

The

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

244. Henry Noel would say; That courtiers were like fasting days; they were next the holy days, but in themselves, they were the most meagre days of the week.

245. Cato said; The best way, to keep good acts in memory, was to refresh them with new.

246. Aristippus said; He took money of his friends, not so much to use it himself, as to teach them how to bestow their money.

247. A strumpet said to Aristippus; that she was with child by him; he answered; You know that no more, than if you went through a hedge of thorns, you could say, this thorn prick'd me.

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