The fevench Bookc of 



more for tofadsfie his filthie luftjthan for any efpeciall feeautie to be ieet) in die faid Ptezon, G 

 But hec rook the vantage of the time, and went cleere away^wkbthisimpious villanie;for at 

 what time as hec bought him , thecitie was in perplcxitic and ibrrbw, and no man for thinking 

 of greater affaires and troubles ^ had any leifure tofindfauk Ojifaya v'yord in reproofs, of fuch 

 enorniities. 



DOubtlefleit is, andpaft allqueftion^ that of all nations under the flinne;, the Romanes 

 excel! and arc the onely men for all kind of vertucs : but to determine A^ho was the bap- H 

 pieft man in all the worldjit is above thereach of humane witjeonfidering thatfome take 

 contentment and repofe felicitie in this thingjOthers in that ^^nd every one meafureth it accoi- 

 dingto his feverall fancie and affection :but tofay a truth and judge anghtindced^ layingalida: 

 all the glofing flatteries of Fortunej.and without eourtingbejj to? determine tliis point jThere is 

 not a man to be counted happie in this world. Rightwellit isofour {ide^and Fortune dealeth 

 in exceeding favour with us, if wemay not juftly be called unbappie : forj fet cafe there be no o- 

 ther miferie and calamitie befidesjyet furely aman is ever in ieare leaft Fortune will frown upon 

 him and doe him a fhrewd turne one time or another. : and admit this feare once , there can be- 

 no found happincfle and contentrnf nc in the mind.. What fhoiild I fay moreover to this^ That 

 there is not a man, at all times wife and in his perfed wits? Would God that this were taken of I 

 moft men for a poets word only, and not a true laid faw indeed. But fuch is the vanitie and follie 

 of pooremortallmen,that they flatter themfelveSj and are vcrie wictie to deceive themfelves, 

 making their accounts and reckonings of good and evill fortune, like to theThraciansj who by 

 certaine white and blackeftones which they cafiintoacertaineveflell,andrherelaidup,forthe 

 better proofe and trial! of every daies fortune ; and at their laft day and time of death they fall to 

 parting thele ilones.one from another and telling them aparr ; and according to the number of 

 the white and the blacke, give judgement and pronounce of ech ones fortunc.But what fay they 

 to thiS) that many times it falleth out that the day marked witha white ftone for a good day,had 

 init the beginning and overture offomc grcat^mirfqrtiine a^d calamitiepHow many a man hath 

 fecmcd to tall into fortunes lap, and entred upon gre^t empires and dominions, which in the K 

 end turned to their afflictions and miferies ? How many have wee feene overthrowne, punifhcd 

 excrcamely, and brought to utter ruine, even by theipeanes pf their ownc good parts and com- 

 mendable gifts ? Cercesthefc be good things and great favours, if a man coiild make full ac- 

 count to enjoy them but one houre with contentment.But thus verily ftands thecafeyand this is 

 the ordinarie courfqof this wodd ; one day is the judge of another,and the day oFdeath judgeth 

 and determineth all : and therefore there is no truft in them, neither; may wee afTure our ielves of 

 any.Tofay nothingofthis. That our goodfortunes are not inniimber iequalhoourbad; and 

 fay there were as many of the one a&theother,ls there anyone joy and mirth to be weighed in 

 true ballance againft the leaft gdefeand forrow that coinmeth?Foolifh and fottifh men that wee _ 

 are with al! our curioficie I for we reckon our dayes by tale and number, whereas we ibouldpon- *^ 

 derandpeifcthem by weight. 



p§j Oftfje higbefi tt^e and fitch offelkkki 



L Amftdoz jLacedi^monian iadie, istheoncly woman that ever was knownc, to have beea 

 the daughter ^o^ king, a kings wife, and motjbEr of a king,. Alio Vhtrmct was knownc 

 : lone to bcthe.daughter,fifter, and mother to them that wan the vi(3:orie and carried away 

 the bjeftprize at the Qlyn^pian games. In one houfe and raceof the C»r/>w^ there v\erc knowne 

 to h^ve been three^cxcellent oratoursonei after anpphcr jby defcentfrom the father to the fonne. M 

 ^hc onply familic and line of the Tabij aifourded three P^efidents of. the Senate in courfe, one 

 imniediatly undcr another, to mty M^Fabm 4mJb^jm,ihti2i^^QisP tbc fonne^ 



and .^/^#^/^^ <?//^^(^ the nephew^ 



