HIS LORDSHIP'S PREFACE. JULIUS CESAR did write a collection of apophthegms, as appears in an epistle of Cicero; so did Macrobius, a consular man. I need say no more for the worth of a writing of that nature. It is pity Casar's book is lost: for I imagine they were collected with judgment and choice; whereas that of Plutarch and Stobæus, and much more the modern ones, draw much of the dregs. Certainly they are of excellent use. They are mucrones verborum, pointed speeches. The words of the wise are as goads, saith Solomon. Cicero prettily calleth them salinas, salt pits, that you may extract salt out of, and sprinkle it where you will. They serve to be interlaced in continued speech. They serve to be recited upon occasion of themselves. They serve if you take out the kernel of them, and make them your own. I have, for my recreation amongst more serious studies, collected some few of them*: therein fanning the old; not omitting any, because they are vulgar, for many vulgar ones are excellent good; nor for the meanness of the person, but because they are dull and fat; and adding many new, that otherwise would have died. * This collection his lordship made out of his memory, without turning any book. Rawley. A COLLECTION OF APOPHTHEGMS NEW AND OLD. 1. QUEEN Elizabeth, the morrow of her coronation, it being the custom to release prisoners at the inauguration of a prince, went to the chapel; and in the great chamber, one of her courtiers, who was well known to her, either out of his own motion, or by the instigation of a wiser man, presented her with a petition; and before a great number of courtiers, besought her with a loud voice, "That now this good time, "there might be four or five principal prisoners more "released: those were the four evangelists and the "apostle St. Paul, who had been long shut up in an "unknown tongue, as it were in prison; so as they "could not converse with the common people.” The Queen answered very gravely, "That it was best "first to inquire of them, Whether they would be "released or no." . 2. Queen Ann Bullen, at the time when she was led to be beheaded in the Tower, called one of the king's privy chamber to her, and said unto him, "Commend me to the king, and tell him, that he "hath been ever constant in his course of advancing 66 me; from a private gentlewoman he made me a "marchioness; and from a marchioness a queen; "and now, that he hath left no higher degree of "earthly honour, he intends to crown my innocency "with the glory of martyrdom." 3. His majesty James the first, king of Great Britain, having made unto his parliament an excellent and large declaration, concluded thus; "I have now given you a clear mirrour of my mind; use it there 66 "fore like a mirrour, and take heed how you let it 86 fall, or how you soil it with your breath.” 4. A great officer in France was in danger to have lost his place; but his wife, by her suit and means making, made his peace; whereupon a pleasant fellow said, "That he had been crushed, but that he "saved himself upon his horns." 66 5. His majesty said to his parliament at another time, finding there were some causeless jealousies sown amongst them; " That the king and his people, "whereof the parliament is the representative body, "were as husband and wife; and therefore that of all other things jealousy was between them most "pernicious." 6. His majesty, when he thought his council might note in him some variety in businesses, though indeed he remained constant, would say, "That the sun many times shineth watery; but it is not the sun which "causeth it, but some cloud rising betwixt us and "the sun and when that is scattered, the sun is as "it was, and comes to his former brightness." 7. His majesty, in his answer to the book of the cardinal of Evereux, who had in a grave argument of divinity sprinkled many witty ornaments of poesy and humanity, saith; "That these flowers were like blue, and yellow, and red flowers in the corn, which "make a pleasant shew to those that look on, but "they hurt the corn." 8. Sir Edward Coke being vehement against the two provincial councils of Wales, and the north, said to the king; "There was nothing there but a kind ❝ of confusion and hotch-potch of justice: one while they were a star-chamber; another while a king's"bench; another, a common-pleas; another, a com"mission of oyer and terminer." His majesty answered; "Why, Sir Edward Coke, they be like "houses in progress, where I have not, nor can have, "such distinct rooms of state, as I have here at Whitehall, or at Hampton-court." 66 9. The commissioners of the treasury moved the king, for the relief of his estate, to disafforest some forests of his, explaining themselves of such forests as lay out of the way, not near any of the king's houses, nor in the course of his progress; whereof he should never have use nor pleasure." Why," saith the king, "do you think that Solomon had use and pleasure "of all his three hundred concubines ?" 10. His majesty, when the committees of both houses of parliament presented unto him the instrument of union of England and Scotland, was merry with them; and amongst other pleasant speeches, shewed unto them the laird of Lawreston, a Scotchman, who was the tallest and greatest man that was to be seen, and said, "Well, now we are all one, yet none of you will say, but here is one Scotchman greater than any Englishman;" which was an ambiguous speech; but it was thought he meant it of himself. 66 66 11. His majesty would say to the lords of his council, when they sat upon any great matter, and came from council in to him, "Well, you have sat, "but what have you hatched? 12. When the archduke did raise his siege from the Grave, the then secretary came to queen Elizabeth. The queen, having first intelligence thereof, said to the secretary, "Wot you what? The archduke has risen from the Grave." He answered, "What, with❝out the trumpet of the archangel?" The queen replied, "Yes, without the sound of trumpet." 13. Queen Elizabeth was importuned much by my lord of Essex, to supply divers great offices that had been long void; the queen answered nothing to the matter; but rose up on the sudden, and said; "I am sure my office will not be long void." And yet at that time there was much speech of troubles, and divisions about the crown, to be after her decease; but they all vanished; and king James came in, in a profound peace. 14. The council did make remonstrance unto queen Elizabeth of the continual conspiracies against her life; and namely, that a man was lately taken, who stood ready in a very dangerous and suspicious man |