NATURAL and Moral Questions and Answers. Intermingled with many pretty and pleasant Riddles, and dark sentences, Written by A. P. With a manner of ordering the body for health through every month of the year, and for dieting it for a seven-night after blood-letting. Written in Latin verse by joachimus Camerarius.  
LONDON, Printed by Adam Islip. 1598.   

Natural and Moral Questions and Answers.  

WHy hath Nature not given a sting to the king of the Bees, and hath furnished all other Bees therewith?  
Answ. To teach Princes that nothing becometh their dignity less than tyranny, and that their only defence should consist in the strength and force of their subjects.   

Quest. What is that which oweth most, payeth least, and of all evils is the worst?  
Answ. Ingratitude, for that monster receiveth good turns and payeth vengeance.   

Quest. What thing in this life is not accompanied with fear?  
Ans. A good conscience.   

Quest. What are pleasures?  
Ans. Enemies to chastity, leaders to poverty, the daughters of dishonesty, and baits of extreme misery.   

Quest. What thing is begotten of a mother and anon the mother is begotten by it again?  
Answ. Ice turning to water.   

Quest. What is man?  
Ans. An example of imbecility, the spoil of time, an image of inconstancy, a captive of calamity, a prisoner to pains, a servant to covetousness, and finally a food of worms.   

Quest. When is fortune most to be feared?  
Answ. When she most flatters.   

Quest. What thing is old ere it be hatched?  
Answ. A secret grudge and malice long conceived ere it be put in execution.   

Quest. Who believe more other men's words then their own eyesight?  
Answ. Women, for they give more credit to them that feignedly call them beautiful, then to their looking glass that doth gainsay it.   

Quest. What is beauty?  
Answ. A gift of small continuance.   

Quest. What good thing breeds loathsomeness?  
Answ. Plenty.   

Quest. What water is in the sight of God most precious, and in the taste of men most unsaverous?  
Answ. The unfeigned tears of a penitent sinner.   

Quest. What is it that groweth with the head downward, and with the root upward?  
Answ. An isesickle.   

Quest. What is that which most delighteth and most deceiveth a woman?  
Answ. A man's dissimulation, which hath such a sweet passage through his tongue as it delighteth as the Siren songs, and turns to as deceitful a conclusion as the Crockadiles tears.   

Quest. Wherein is covetousness only commendable?  
Answ. In sparing and not ill spending his time.   

Quest. What is it that chiefly sustaineth labour?  
Answ. Hope of rest.   

Quest. Who deny their own request?  
Answ. They that demand things impossible.   

Quest. Who is most like unto a mad man?  
Answ. A drunkard.   

Quest. What is that which woundeth the heart, and is worshipped of the eye?  
Answ. Beauty?   

Quest. How ought clemency to be moderated?  
Answ. So that it breedeth not our overthrow.   

Quest. What is sobriety?  
Answ. The father of good counsel.   

Quest. Wherein is a woman most constant?  
Answ. In her inconstancy.   

Quest. Of what three things repent himself Cato done in his life time?  
Answ. To have overslipped a day and not to have increased his knowledge, To have gone by sea, where he might have gone by land: and thirdly, To have committed his secrets to a woman.   

Quest. Why ought we not to disclose our secrets unto women?  
Answ. Because they cannot keep their own.   

Quest. Why are there so many that live discontented in wedlock?  
Answ. Because their first love was grounded upon lust, or else in making of their rash choice they had more regard to the woman's dowry then to her conditions, or else the woman respected more the man's purse then his parsonage, or more his body then his good or ill qualities.   

Quest. Why was Diogenes called a dog?  
Answ. Because he did bite indifferently both his foes & his friends, but his friends to their good and amendment, and his enemies to their shame and confusion.   

Quest. What men are very dangerous in a Commonwealth?  
Answ. Those that affect novelties?   

Quest. What three things are the life and death of life?  
Answ. Baths, wine and women, for as the use of them is restitution, so is the abuse of them life and healths destruction.   

Quest. What is stronger than death?  
Answ. Fame and renown, and therefore a certain Philosopher did call fame the daughter of immortality.   

Quest. What is the reason that Wine mingled with water provoketh vomit?  
Answ. Because watered Wine hurts the stomach, and weakeneth the retaining virtue or strength of the Wine, whereas pure Wine doth strengthen and comfort it.   

Quest. Why do old folks neese with great difficulty?  
Answ. Because of the weakness of their nature, and the narrowness of their passages.   

Quest. Why is man more subject to diseases and infirmities than any other creature?  
Answ. By reason of his intemperancy, and therefore Schola Salerni saith, Esse cupis sanus, sit tibi parca manus. That is, if thou wilt live in health, have a niggerly hand, Idest. Use temperance of diet.   

Quest. Why do Physicians say that it is dangerous to let a fat man blood?  
Answ. Because those that are fat have lesser veins, and are more hidden and appear not so much, moreover they have but little blood.   

Quest. What is the reason that the Camelian changeth so oftentimes his colour?  
Answ. By reason of his great fear, and because he maketh much of his blood.   

Quest. Why do men use to lay lime at the foot of a Cherrietree?  
Answ. To have ripe Cherries before their season.   

Quest. What man is worthily called bold and courageous?  
Answ. He that loves his life, and yet fears not death.   

Quest. What is the reason that some die for very joy, and some by too much sadness?  
Answ. Great joy doth cool too much the inward and vital parts of the body, and sorrow and sadness doth even choke them.   

Quest. Why hath nature made the lungs of all creatures spongeous, or full of holes, like unto a sponge?  
Answ. To the end it might receive the air the better to cool the heart, and drive away from it all such vapours as are hurtful unto it.   

Quest. Why is our heart placed in the midst of the body?  
Answ. To quicken equally all the members thereof, even as the sun giveth light equally to all things being in the midst of the heavens.   

Quest. Why were judges in times past painted without hands?  
Answ. To signify thereby that justice ought not to be corrupted with bribes.   

Quest. What is a sign of a good judge?  
Answ. If he departeth from his office with more gain of good fame then riches.   

Quest. In what sort should a man seek profit of the Commonwealth?  
Answ. As at a fire, which if one sitteth too near unto, doth scorch himself, and being too far off it, sustaineth cold.   

Quest. What thing maketh a good Soldier?  
Answ. Discipline.   

Quest. What causeth despair in a soldier?  
Answ. Beggary.   

Quest. What is the chiefest stratagem in war?  
Answ. Ripe deliberation, and present execution.   

Quest. What is the chiefest policy in peace?  
Answ. To fear civil discord and to prevent it, and by foresight to resist foreign invasion.   

Quest. Who are only to be called resolute soldiers?  
Answ. Those that are determined either to die, or else to obtain the victory.   

Quest. What is a chief fault in war?  
Answ. Fear of death.   

Quest. How did antiquity represent unto us the issue of good things?  
Answ. They made an image holding in the right hand a cup, and in the left hand an ear of corn with a sprig of Poppy, signifying thereby that he easily is brought asleep, that is contented with the fruits of the earth.   

Quest. What service is most in request, and being performed, is least considered and most hated?  
Answ. Treason.   

Quest. What time is most desired, and obtained is most accused?  
Answ. Age.   

Quest. What men are chiefly deceived?  
Answ. Those that look for two contrary things at one time, namely for pleasure and the reward of virtue.   

Quest. What is that in the morning goeth upon four legs, at noon upon two, and in the evening upon three legs?  
Answ. Man, for in his infancy he creepeth upon hands and feet, in his youth he goeth strait without any help or stay, and in his age useth beside his legs the aid of a staff to support his body.   

Quest. What thing is in the day time as round as a hoop, and at night long as a  
Answ. A girdle about a man or woman's body.   

Quest. How many ways is violence chiefly committed?  
Answ. Two ways, either by deceit or by force: the one is the practice of the Fox, and the other of the Lion, and both of them are most far from humanity.   

Quest. Why is virtue had in so small account?  
Answ. Because she is plain and cannot dissemble.   

Quest. Why doth virtue reject all gloss?  
Answ. Because truth needs no shadows?   

Quest. What men are most ingrateful to themselves, and least hurtful to other men.  
Answ. Those that are covetous and envious, for as these pine away at other men's welfare and prosperity, so the other endanger their souls to leave rich, & perhaps unthankful heirs behind them.   

Quest. Why is heaven said to have a low gate?  
Answ. Because those that shall enter into it must first stoop low and learn humility.   

Quest. Why did Antiquity in their church's place a cross upon the entrance of the choir?  
Answ. Because the body of the church did represent the church militant upon earth, and the choir the church triumphant in heaven, to teach us hereby that no man would come from the one into the other unless he did suffer first crosses and persecutions?   

Quest. What is a friend?  
Answ. Another self-same.   

Quest. What is commonly the end of a dissolute life?  
Answ. A desperate death.   

Quest. What is a chief sign of a Prince's clemency, and a token of his great courage and magnanimity?  
Answ. To despise the whisperings of unthankful men, and patiently to suffer the rage of envy.   

Quest. Which are the chiefest ornaments of women?  
Answ. Shamefastness.   

Quest. How might a fool resemble a wise man?  
Answ. In hiding of his folly by silence.   

Quest. What three things do men most covet?  
Answ. Riches, Pleasure, and honour. Riches be the nurses of sin and iniquity. Pleasures the guides to calamity. And Honour the pomp of worldly vanities.   

Quest. Why are pleasures so much to be abandoned?  
Answ. Because their first entering is counterfeit and deceitful, and their departure is grief and repentance.   

Quest. What thing in this world is always without rest?  
Answ. A guilty conscience.   

Quest. What is it that men most do hunt after, and oftentimes proveth most deceitful?  
Answ. women's favour.   

Quest. What is it that women most fear, & yet of it do most desire the occasion?  
Answ. To be with child they most desire, and fear most the hour of their delivery.   

Quest. What do children most hate, and yet is most profitable unto them?  
Answ. Correction.   

Quest. What is lesser than a Mouse, and hath more windows than a house?  
Answ. A thimble.   

Quest. What vice is most likest to the apples of Tantalus?  
Answ. Hypocrisy, For as the Apples of Tantalus seemed in sight most beautiful, and yet proved but shadows: so this vice although it beareth a glorious show of perfection, yet is nothing else but a mere and a deceitful illusion.   

Quest. Why is it amongst men now adays so much practised?  
Answ. Because it is the highest degree of dissembling, and therefore is accounted a sure step to promotion.   

Quest. What men transform themselves into angels of light, and are nothing but devils incarnate?  
Answ. Hypocrites.   

Quest. What men promise themselves many vain things?  
Answ. Courtiers, and such as live in continual hope.   

Quest. What thing in the latter minute of his age waxeth young again?  
Answ. The Moon.   

Quest. Who is the mother of all mankind?  
Answ. The earth, even by the Oracle of Apollo: for this Oracle being demanded by certain Princes that were in controversy for the kingdom of Egypt, who should succeed the late King deceased; answered, that he should not only be installed King of the kingdom of Egypt, that first should kiss his mother, but should likewise become monarch of all Asia. This answer being reported by the Priest unto the Princes that were then attending without upon the Oracle; Darius having heard it, stepped suddenly from his horse and kissed the ground, saying that the earth was the mother of all mankind. The princes that could not deny it made and created him King, who afterward conquered all Asia, and became quiet monarch of many kingdoms.   

Quest. What is it that taketh least pleasure in company?  
Answ. Pride, for it hateth his betters, envieth his equals, and despiseth his inferiors.   

Quest. What is it that being alive is altogether dumb, and being dead, yieldeth a most sweet harmony?  
Answ. A Lute, or any kind of instrument made of wood.   

Quest. Which is the best remedy for things that are not to be recovered?  
Answ. Oblivion or forgetfulness.   

Quest. What is chief to be commended in a warrior?  
Answ. To be in fight terrible, and in conquest mild.   

Quest. What surfeit is most dangerous and least avoided?  
Answ. The surfeit of sin.   

Quest. Who kill their mother ere they be borne, in the revenge of their father that begot them?  
Answ. Vipers, for as the male and female engender by the mouth, so the dam being kindled with lust in the art of Venery, bites of the males head, and the young ones ere they be borne gnaw their mother's belly open to come forth, and so do kill her.   

Quest. What is it that soonest waxeth old?  
Answ. A benefit, for nothing is sooner forgotten then a good turn, and nothing longer remembered than an injury.   

Quest. What are Usurers?  
Answ. The Horseleeches and Caterpillars of the Commonwealth.   

Quest. What is the least and yet the profitablest thing in a Garden?  
Answ. A Bee.   

Quest. What wind bloweth no way to profit, and is noisome to all the neighbours?  
Answ. The foisting of a dog, the smell whereof is noisome to all the company that are near it.   

Quest. Upon what men are alms deeds worst bestowed?  
Answ. Upon blind men, for they would be glad to see him hanged that relieves them. I would not that any man should interpret them in earnest, which is only written in a merriment, and that for this they should withdraw their charity from such poor men.   

Quest. Why do most men delight more in flesh then in fish, & why it is more wholesomer unto the body?  
Answ. Because it strengtheneth more and is of sounder nourishment, or else because it agrees better with the substance of our bodies.   

Quest. What is the Law?  
Answ. A net.   

Quest. What are the Lawyers?  
Answ. Burdars.   

Quest. What are the Clients?  
Answ. Birds.   

Quest. What is the Court where the Law is pleaded.  
Answ. The place where the nets are spread to take the simple and silly birds.   

Quest. Whereby doth a woman's love resemble the shadow of our bodies?  
Answ. Even as our shadow if we run towards it doth fleet away from us, and if we run from it doth follow us: so the love of a woman, if we fond pursue it, will disdain us, but if we set light by it or seem to run from it, will most earnestly desire us.   

Quest. What is a chief stratagem in war?  
Answ. Expedition, and not to overslip occasion.   

Quest. Why did the Ancients find fault with Zeuxis liberality?  
Answ. Because he gave & bestowed gifts to receive double again.   

Quest. What is the cause of greatest devotion & the greatest replenisher of hell?  
Answ. Ignorance, which maketh men to worship stones and dishonour God.   

Quest. What is the greatest friend to men at liberty, and the most enemy to such as are condemned?  
Answ. Hope, which encourageth men at liberty to attempt great matters, & maketh such as are condemned unprepared for death.   

Quest. What seasoneth and sweeteneth the bitterness of war.  
Answ. Hope of victory.   

Quest. Why is favour bought with money, most uncertain?  
Answ. Because by discontinuance of giving it breeds inward grudging, and by the ceasing of liberality, it bursteth out into open hatred.   

Quest. Wherein is an envious man like unto iron?  
Answ. Even as iron is consumed with his own rust, so an envious man pines away by his own folly.   

Quest. What is least to be respected in an Oration?  
Answ. Glozing words, for as in coin the bravery of the stamp is little or nothing regarded but only the weight and the substance: even so it is no matter how eloquent the Oration be, but how grave and profitable.   

Quest. What is an History?  
Answ. A testimony of time, a light of verity, the maintenance of memory, the schoolmistress of life, and the messenger of antiquity.   

Quest. What is the hardest thing to be learned?  
Answ. To learn to know himself.   

Quest. How might one eschew envy?  
Answ. By living abject and miserable.   

Quest. What is Idleness?  
Answ. The Father of Lechery, and the highway to poverty.   

Quest. What are riches?  
Answ. Diogenes called them the vomit of fortune.   

Quest. What doth cast from it a greater heat than fire?  
Answ. Beauty, which setteth not only on fire those that touch it, but also those that a far off do behold it.   

Quest. What is death?  
Answ. The end of travels, and the beginning of life.   

Quest. What is the duty of a wise man?  
Answ. To mistrust the ignorant, and to know how to skirmish with adversity.   

Quest. Who is sometimes a mother and sometimes a stepdame?  
Answ. Fortune.   

Quest. What are the most precious ornaments of a City?  
Answ. The virtues of the Citizens.   

Quest. What maketh men constant against all human affections?  
Answ. A good disposition of the mind.   

Quest. Why are laws said to be like unto spider's webs?  
Answ. Because they catch small flies, but wasps and bees fly through them.   

Quest. What is the reason that for to see the better we are wont to shut one eye?  
Answ. Because the other might be aided with the sense of the eye which is shut and closed.   

Quest. What is the cause of hydropsy?  
Answ. The great cold of the liver.   

Quest. Why do those that have the yellow yandars find honey to be bitter in taste?  
Answ. By reason of the great colour wherewith their tongue and the palait of their mouth is infected:   

Quest. Why do musk, millions, & cucumbers, provoke urine?  
Answ. By reason of their great humidity.   

Quest. What is the cause that old men and women dote?  
Answ. By reason of the great coldness which is in them.   

Quest. whereout doth it proceed that men become pale when they are seized with fear?  
Answ. Because the blood retires to the vital parts of the body.   

Quest. Why hath a Scorpion his poison in the tail?  
Answ. Because the poison is his excrement.   

Quest. Why did Hypocrates permit those to drink wine that had a burning ague?  
Answ. It was for to help digestion, and to strengthen the parties.   

Quest. Why are the extremities of the body more subject to cold then the other parts thereof?  
Answ. Because they are not so  or so well knit together, and are farther removed from the heart.   

Quest. Why do Pullet's (their throats being cut) survive after it longer than men?  
Answ. Chickens and Pullet's have smaller sinews and veins, and therefore life cannot so soon leave them.   

Quest. Why are men more taller than women?  
Answ. By reason of their natural heat.   

Quest. Why do women make water stooping, and men to the contrary?  
Answ. Because their bladder stands higher than men's doth.   

Quest. Why have men more teeth than women?  
Answ. Because they abound more in blood and heat.   

Quest. What is the reason that when maidens breasts begin to grow, they begin to change their voice?  
Answ. Because then the Organs of the voice are wider and lesser closed.   

Quest. Why are twins not so strong as others be?  
Answ. Because the seed which should have served to one, is parted into two.   

Quest. Why do eager things provoke appetite?  
Answ. Because they dry up the humours, and consequently close the stomach faster up, which doth cause appetite.   

Quest. Why do Lettuce provoke sleep?  
Answ. Because they engender gross humours?   

Quest. Why is ivy always green?  
Answ. Because the heat of it is tempered with humidity and viscosity.   

Quest. Why have Birds no teeth?  
Answ. Because the substance which teeth do grow of, doth turn into their bills.   

Quest. When is vice past all hope of remedy?  
Answ. When it is grown into a custom.   

Quest. Why do matters well executed, please but few men?  
Answ. Because most men are rather guided by affection then by reason.   

Quest. What is idleness?  
Answ. A nurse of lasciviousness and the wellspring of all vices.   

Quest. What thing metamorphoseth a man into a beast?  
Answ. Lust.   

Quest. Which is the highest degree of uncharitie?  
Answ. To make of him a laughing stock beside, who by our means hath been afflicted.   

Quest. Which is the chiefest felicity?  
Answ. To be released of a wicked woman.   

Quest. What men are least to be trusted?  
Answ. Those that have been disloyal to their own country.   

Quest. What thing spends most prodigally that which covetousness hath most wickedly scraped together?  
Answ. Ambition.   

Quest. What is a chief comfort to the conquered, or to those that are overcome?  
Answ. Hope of revenge.   

Quest. What is the life of Courtiers?  
Answ. A continual hope.   

Quest. By what honest means may poor men increase their stock?  
Answ. By sparing.   

Quest. Why did the Lacedæmonians sacrifice a Cock when they had obtained victory against their enemies by main force: and an Ox when they had overthrown them by subtlety, surprise, orintelligence?  
Answ. Because they preferred Prudence and wit before force or bodily strength, and therefore a certain captain of Grecia was wont to say, If a lion's skin cannot prevail, add unto it the skin of a fox, meaning thereby; if force cannot, use policy.   

Quest. Which are the fruits of pleasure?  
Answ. Grief and repentance.   

Quest. Which is the first step to adversity?  
Answ. The highest degree of prosperity.   

Quest. Why doth men neese sooner being in the sun then being near the fire?  
Answ. Because the heat of the sun doth only dissolve the humour, and consumes it not: but the fire doth both dissolve and consume it.   

Quest. Why do the eyes of Cats & wolves shine in the night and not by day?  
Answ. Because the greater light doth darken the lesser.   

Quest. Why is the white of an Egg of so hard a digestion?  
Answ. By reason of the great coldness of it.   

Quest. Why doth Borage laid in wine rejoice those that do eat it?  
Answ. Because it doth increase blood, and strengtheneth the heart.   

Quest. Why did Nature make rather the brain cold then hot?  
Answ. To temper and moderate the heat of the heart, to the end it might serve it in stead of a cooler.   

Quest. What passion is that which tormenteth a man most and hath least power to overcome?  
Answ. A woman's inconstancy, which grieveth a man, and cannot be overcome by women themselves.   

Quest. How ought we to use prosperity?  
Answ. Not to trust unto it, for we ought to use the gifts of fortune for our necessity, and not to rely upon them.   

Quest. What is pleasure?  
Answ. A bait to take men as hooks and nets do fishes.   

Quest. What poison ought Princes to avoid chief?  
Answ. The poison of flattery.   

Que. What is the reason that the bottom of a Kettell being full of boiling water & hanging over the fire, is cold notwithstanding?  
Answ. By reason of the hot vapours which continually do mount upwards, wherewith the higher parts being warmed, the bottom remains cool for the continuance of the water that is upon it.   

Quest. Why do those that oftentimes weep piss seldom?  
Answ. Because the humidity taking his passage by the eyes doth ease so much the more the other parts and members of the body.   

Quest. Why did Nature ordain sneezing?  
Answ. To purge the superfluities of the brain, like as the lungs are purged with coughing.   

Quest. What maketh pleasures most savourous?  
Answ. A rare and seldom use of them.   

Quest. What is it that consumes his mother that bore him, eats his nurse that feeds him, and then dies, leaving all them blind that saw him?  
Answ. The flame of a Candle.   

Quest. What men if cause do move them, do soon forswear themselves?  
Answ. Those that are wont lightly to swear without a cause.   

Quest. Which is the only physic in misery?  
Answ. Patience.   

Quest. Whereby doth a man please a woman best, and yet displease himself most.  
Answ. In giving her her will.   

Quest. What is best to be done for a rich man falling sick?  
Answ. Not to make his Physician his heir.   

Quest. What is Love?  
Answ. An idle body's pastime or business.   

Quest. How might one avoid love?  
Answ. By eschewing idleness.   

Quest. How ought we to use love?  
Answ. As a fool to sport, or a minstrel to make us merry.   

Quest. Who are the best creatures upon earth.  
Answ. Women next unto men and Bees.   

Quest. Who is rich?  
Answ. He that is contented.   

Quest. How might one learn to be content?  
Answ. To unlearn to covet.   

Quest. What men do least fear death?  
Answ. Those that feel least comfort in this world.   

Quest. What ought we chief to learn in prosperity?  
Answ. How we might best endure adversity.   

Quest. Wherein is the life of man like unto iron?  
Answ. Even as iron if it be used doth wear away, and if it be not used doth consume with rust: so our life if it be never so well exercised doth decrease by time, if not, yet doth it waste away with idleness.   

Quest. What is the immoderate use of too much liberty?  
Answ. An occasion oftentimes of bondage and slavery.   

Quest. What men are most unthankful?  
Answ. Those that can tell how to receive a benefit, and not how to requite it, or else those that deny the receipt of it, but chief those that have forgotten it.   

Qu. What shadow is most deceitful?  
Ans. Hypocrisy.   

Qu. Which is the chiefest revenue for one that hath no lands?  
Ans. Sparing.   

Qu. When is clemency most hurtful?  
Ans. When rebels are most obstinate.   

Qu. What thing is most dangerous, least avoided, and most desired?  
Ans. The pleasures of this world.   

Qu. What soil bears both the best and the worst fruit?  
Ans. The womb of a woman.   

Qu. What ought a servant chief to practise to obtain his masters favour?  
Ans. Diligence, continuance, and secrecy.   

Qu. Where is silence most to be practised?  
Ans. In matters of secrecy, and amongst pots and Cans.   

Qu. How or what are the gifts of fortune?  
Ans. Such as are the minds of those that possess them, a help & comfort to them that can use them, and a ruin and overthrow to them that know not how to use them.   

Qu. What men are most unfortunate in adversity?  
Ans. Those that never learned to be crossed in prosperity.   

Qu. What feeds a doubtful life, or him that is by law condemned to die?  
Ans. Hope of pardon.   

Qu. Why were it better to be among Ravens, then to live among flatterers?  
Ans. Because Ravens pray not upon men but when they are dead, but flatterers devour them even when they are alive.   

Qu. What bitings are most sorest and most grievous?  
Ans. The bitings of necessity.   

Qu. What men ought chief to be without faults?  
Ans. Those that are always most ready to espy faults in others.   

Qu. What is it to lend money upon usury?  
Ans. To kill a man.   

Qu. Why did Solon establish no law against Parricides?  
Ans. Because he thought that such an enormity could not be committed by a child, and therefore (because he should not seem rather to remember men of such a wickedness then to forbid it) would in no wise appoint any punishment for it.   

Qu. What maintains a Commonwealth?  
Ans. Reward and punishment.   

Qu. How should parents take the death of their children?  
Ans. As Anaxagoras and a lady of Lacena did: for news being brought to the one, of his sons departure out of this life: answered the messengers, That he knew long since that he had begotten a mortal man. And this lady whose constancy deserveth no less praise & commendation, having heard that her son was slain in the battle, said to those that first brought her the tidings hereof: To that end have I brought him to the world, that there should not be wanting one that should doubt and refuse to spend his life and blood in the defence of his country.   

Qu. Wherein did Cyreneus and Theodorus courage and magnanimity most chiefly shine and appear?  
Ans. In his resolute answer to king Lysimachus when he did threaten him with death, for then boldly speaking to the Tyrant, Bid him to fear his Courtiers with these bugs, for Theodorus is indifferent (quoth he) whether he rots under or above the ground.   

Qu. Who may be said to suffer water continually to be drawn out of his spring, and yet for it hath nothing the less himself?  
Ans. He that giveth good counsel to them that demand it, or he that bestoweth a benefit upon another without any hindrance to himself.   

Qu. Which may be called a double injury?  
Ans. To be defrauded of deserved praises, and pursued with undeserved reproaches.   

Qu. By what means shall one become rich quickly?  
Ans. In being poor of desire: and therefore Seneca said, If you have respect wherewith nature is sufficed you shall never be poor, but if you look unto that which opinion craveth you shall never be rich.   

Qu. What men may be said to live only and longest?  
Ans. Those that live only and longest in ease and quiet: And therefore Adrian a most puissant Emperor, who by great travel and intercession obtained licence in the end of his days to dwell in a little village of his, where he lived seven years in great rest and quiet, dying, left an apparent token and testimony, that the life led in honour and dignity was not the true life, for he caused words to be graved on his tomb, Here lieth the wight whose age is of many years, but he lived but only seven.   

Qu. What child is the only heir of a wise and worthy Parent?  
Ans. He that inheriteth and is heir unto all his father's virtues.   

Qu. What is marriage.  
Ans. A Paradise on earth if her laws be observed, but a hell in the house if her statutes be broken.   

Qu. How many chief powers are there of the soul?  
Ans. Three, Intendment, Will, and Memory.   

Qu. What three deserts of the body stop the passage of these three powers of the soul?  
Ans. Ignorance of that which is good, Covetousness of that which is evil, Infirmity and languor of the body.   

Qu. What are the remedies against these three evils and defects?  
Ans. Wisdom, Virtue, & Necessity; which to chase these three evils are thus ordered: Wisdom against ignorance: Virtue against covetousness & vice: Necessity against infirmity.   

Qu. What is it that of men is least esteemed, and of God most honoured?  
Ans. Chastity, which is precious before God, and a laughing stock before men.   

Qu. What is ignorance?  
Ans. A grave which burieth life.   

Qu. What four things have continual residence in a Noble mind?  
Ans. Courage to repel the encroaching enemy: a heart to consider a loyal friend: a hand to reward the gifts of the simple: and clemency to accept & pardon a well meaning mind.   

Qu. How many kinds of Sages be there?  
Ans. Three. The sage wise man, the sage fool, and the sage herb.   

Qu. Wherein is a flatterer like unto a hawk?  
Ans. Because as a Hawk will not come to an empty fist, so a flatterer to an empty purse.   

Qu. Which is the first step of love?  
Ans. The loss of liberty.   

Qu. Who after their death, live in the life of their children?  
Ans. Such parents as have brought up their children, as they may choose the good and forsake the evil.   

Qu. Who is alone a worthy and a valiant man?  
Ans. He who never doth bow his shoulders at the burden of misfortunes, nor he who never panted at his chance.   

Qu. What answered Gorgias being demanded, what manner of diet he used that he lived so long?  
Ans. That he never did eat any thing for pleasure or wantonness.   

Qu. Why did Zenocrates (assigning all the parts of the day to some business) appoint likewise to silence his due part?  
Ans. Because he might then privately discuss with himself what manner he ought to keep in speaking.   

Qu. What did never speak well of any man?  
Ans. Evil will.   

Qu. Wherein did Artemisia declare her great chastity towards her husband deceased?  
Ans. In her entire love towards him, for when her husband Mausolus King of Caria was dead, she caused his heart to be dried in a vessel of gold into powder, and by a little and little drank it all up saying, Their two hearts should never departed asunder: & that she thought there might be no worthier sepulchre made for it but her own body. Notwithstanding she made for his body such a sepulchre, that for the excellent workmanship, beauty and costliness thereof, it was taken for one of the marvels of the world: & for the notable fame of it, all sumptuous and great sepulchres were afterwards called Mansalca.   

Qu. Which is the best haven to him that is penitent?  
Ans. Confession of his faults, and change of counsel.   

Qu. How might a man become master over himself?  
Ans. In amending that in himself which he rebuketh in another body.   

Qu. Wherefore made nature man naked & without weapons to defend himself?  
Ans. Nature having bestowed wisdom upon man, hath given him means enough to arm himself at his own pleasure, as well against the cold and heat of the air, as against the blows of his enemy.   

Qu. Why are judges and Lawyers more honoured of those that go to law, than Physicians are of their patients?  
Ans. Because the gain of the cause doth depend of the judge and advocates: but giving of health to the patiented lieth not in the hands of the Physician, but in God only.   

Qu. Why doth a Swan being near his death sing more sweeter than at any other time?  
Ans. Nature hath taught this to the bird, to teach us the good which we receive by death, which serveth us for a doom or passage to everlasting life.   

Qu. Why do men seek to avoid poverty?  
Ans. Because it causeth them oftentimes to decline from the right way of virtue.   

Qu. Why do men drink water, which notwithstanding doth not nourish?  
Ans. Water doth spend the digestion of the meat through all parts of the body.   

Qu. Why are those that are drunk, cold?  
Ans. By reason of the Wine taken immoderately, which quencheth and overwhelmeth the natural heat of the body.   

Quest. Why do Physicians not minister medicines when the sickness or disease is at the chiefest?  
Ans. Because they should not oppress or hinder nature.   

Qu. What is the cause that children who are moist by nature are not bald notwithstanding?  
Ans. Because their humidity is intermingled with a temperate heat.   

Qu. Why doth Rue being planted under a fig tree grow the better, and receiveth more nourishment?  
Ans. Because it draws unto itself the sweetness of the fig tree, or else the fig tree sucks away from the Rue a part of his bitterness, and so being somewhat sweetened it groweth the better.   

Qu. What is the reason why teeth do come again, and not any other bones of the body?  
Ans. All other bones are made and engendered of a natural humour and moistness in the mother's womb: but the teeth are engendered by a nourishing humour, which daily doth increase.   

Qu. What is the reason that when we see others to yawn, we are provoked to do the like?  
Ans. This proceedeth to my judgement by the virtue of our imagination.   

Qu. What did move nature to give us ears?  
Ans. Because thereby men might judge of the difference of sounds and voices. Through the ears likewise is purged the colour which is in the brains, as through the nose is the phlegm.   

Qu. Of what stuff are women's tongues made of?  
Ans. Of an aspen leaf, for they never leave wagging.   

Qu. What is most praised and least practised?  
Ans. Honesty, or else the virtue of liberality.   

Qu. Which is the first step to wisdom?  
Ans. To know himself, and the second to fear God.   

Qu. What is the Magistrate?  
Ans. The mouth of the Law.   

Qu. What is honour?  
Ans. The reward of virtue.   

Qu. What is the property of folly?  
Ans. To see other men's faults and to forget her own.   

Qu. Which is the only sauce of meat?  
Ans. Hunger, as thirst is of drink.   

Qu. What is shamefastness?  
Ans. The tincture and die of virtue.   

Qu. Which is the chiefest pleasure in this world?  
Ans. Liberty.   

Qu. In contracting of marriage what ought first to be regarded?  
Ans. Virtue and not riches: and therefore Themistocles a worthy Duke of Grecia being asked why he had rather to bestow his daughter upon a poor and an honest man, then upon a rich man ill conditioned: I (said he) had rather a man without money, than money wanting a man.   

Qu. How might one best learn to discern a knave?  
Ans. In comparing him by an honest man.   

Qu. What ought a wise man to practise?  
Ans. How to accommodate himself to the time.   

Qu. What is a chief cause of our own overthrow?  
Ans. self-love.   

Qu. Whom chiefly hurteth poverty?  
Ans. Him that cannot carry it patiently.   

Qu. Which is the sauce of labour?  
Ans. Rest.   

Qu. Who lives most safely?  
Ans. He that doth not discover his own secrets.   

Qu. What is the state of a rich churl, or of a covetous man?  
Ans. A continual torment, & by extreme desire of gain, accompanied with a fear to lose that which he hath gotten.   

Qu. What thing gets friends?  
Ans. Prosperity, but adversity tries them.   

Qu. Why ought we in requiting of a good turn, imitate the earth?  
Ans. Because it gives more than it receiveth.   

Qu. Why ought we not to blame, nor likewise to praise ourselves?  
Ans. Because the one is a sign of folly, and the other a token of inconstancy.   

Qu. What are riches?  
Ans. Nets to entrap men, and thorns to pierce the heart.   

Qu. Which is the surest guard of a Prince?  
Ans. The love of his subjects.   

Qu. What two things do chief bridle and encourage men?  
Ans. Reward and punishment.   

Qu. Why have wise men always hated anger?  
Ans. Because it is a spice and kind of folly.   

Qu. Wherein is war better than peace?  
Ans. War stirreth up the minds of men to virtue, and peace draws them to idleness and lasciviousness.   

Qu. Why do old men die almost without pain?  
Ans. By reason that all their senses are debilitated and weakened.   

Qu. Why doth sorrow and grief make men to look old before their time?  
Ans. Because they dry up the moistness of the body, and age is nothing but a kind of dryness.   

Qu. Why must Wheaten bread chief be salted and leavened?  
Ans. Because that Wheat by nature is sopping and very, and salt doth dry the great of it, and the leaven makes it more lighter.   

Qu. Why are fat things not subject so soon to corruption?  
Ans. Because they participate so much of the air and the fire.   

Qu. Why is a Diamond not so soon burned by thy fire as any other precious stone?  
Ans. By reason of his solidity.   

Qu. Why doth oil swim above any kind of liquor?  
Ans. Because of his fatness, and all fat things do much participate of the air.   

Qu. What is the reason that some men are more able to endure longer than other?  
Ans. Because some of them are more choleric and some more phlegmatic.   

Qu. What is the reason that when we are a hungered, our spitting is more salter than otherwise?  
Ans. Because hunger increaseth choler, which easily becometh bitter by reason of his sharpness.   

Qu. Why are women commonly more fatter than men?  
Ans. Because they are more colder of complexion, and do less exercise.   

Qu. What is the cause that the milk of pale or white women is not so wholesome as that of them that are brown?  
Ans. Black women are more whoter of nature, and therefore by consequent their milk is better digested.   

Qu. Of what conditions is man?  
Ans. Of all conditions of fowls & beasts that God hath created. Bold as a lion, sportful as an ape, dumb as a fish, prating as a parrot, filthy as aswine, neat as a swan, swift as a heart, slow as a snail, proud as a peacock, gentle as a lamb, chaste as a turtle, loyal as a horse, fearful as a hare, ignorant as an ass, subtle as a serpent, angry as a wasp, and lecherous as a Moonky.   

Qu. Of what metal are women's tongues made of?  
Ans. Of Virgil's brazen flail, which struck both friends and foes.   

Qu. What difference is there between a scold and a harlot?  
Ans. As there is between the Viper and the Crockadile, for the scold with outrage destroyeth her husband, & the harlot with dissembling love.   

Qu. What is that which is coldest clad in freeze, and warmest attired in precious stones?  
Ans. Pride, which hath no grace but in bravery.   

Qu. What is life without literature?  
Ans. A man's grave, or an image of death.   

Qu. What wicked mother hath brought forth a good child the only prop & stay of all governments?  
Ans. Ill manners have brought forth good laws, to the establishment of virtue, and the subversion of vice.   

Qu. What ought we to think of the time which we have here?  
Ans. That we have little enough & lose much.   

Qu. Where ought marriage not to be enforced?  
Ans. Where love cannot be compelled.   

Qu. Which are the titles and epithets of the sun?  
Ans. To be parent of the day, governor of the world, a quickener of the body, the eye of the firmament, the heart of nature, the king of the stars, and the visible son of God.   

Qu. Which are the wings of time?  
Ans. Time past, present, and to come.   

Qu. Which are the teeth wherewith time consumes all things?  
Ans. The night, the day, life and death.   

Qu. What is the cause that in our age there are not so many excellent men, as there were in times past?  
Ans. By reason of nature which daily decreaseth, or because virtue is not so much esteemed of now adays as it was in times past, or else it is the custom of all ages to complain.   

Qu. What is anger?  
Ans. A short madness, or else the beginning of foolishness.   

Qu. What is virtue?  
Ans. A sweet harmony of nature, to the found and time whereof all good men give an ear unto.   

Qu. What difference is there between wisdom and a ready wit?  
Ans. The wise man giveth good counsel, and the witty man presently conceives and judges of it.   

Qu. What privilege have brave and courageous knights above other men?  
Ans. Not to be subject nor to be daunted by fortune.   

Qu. What shadoweth nay darkeneth the great virtues in Philip, and Alexander the Great, his son?  
Ans. Drunkenness.   

Qu. What is Wine immoderately taken?  
Ans. The blood of the earth turned to poison.   

Qu. What is Wine moderately taken?  
Ans. A whetstone to memory.   

Qu. Why did the Egyptians ordain that commoniesters and players should bear no witness in any cause?  
Ans. Because such kind of people are commonly given to wickedness, and for a trifle ready to do a mischief.   

Qu. What is nobility without virtue?  
Ans. A bladder puffed up with pride and violence.   

Qu. Which are the virtues that do conduct us to heaven?  
Ans. Faith, hope, charity, piety, religion, and godliness.   

Qu. Which is the poison of friendship?  
Ans. Flattery.   

Qu. What kind of ignorance is most dangerous?  
Ans. Not to know God, and then not to know himself.   

Qu. Wherefore is virtue so amiable?  
Ans. Because she is always conformable to reason.   

Qu. What war is lawful?  
Ans. That which is conducted to obtain peace.   

Qu. Wherefore is the first counsel of a woman which she giveth without thinking on it, far better than that which she hath studied upon?  
Ans. Even as all unreasonable creatures are by instinct of nature driven to their actions: so a woman although she be ill, yet the intelligence which nature hath given her, which will not be deceived, nor abuse any body, compels her by the first motion to good: But if she gets leisure to use her own nature, all that she shall do will be nought.   

Qu. Wherefore are women commonly more covetous than men?  
Ans. Because they know they should be no body without riches.   

Qu. Wherefore are those that have great heads more given to sleep then those that have little heads?  
Ans. The greater the thing is the more vapours it doth contain, and humidity doth cause sleep.   

Qu. Why are lentils and cabbages so ill for the eye sight?  
Ans. By reason of the melancholic blood which they engender.   

Qu. What is the cause that many die with too much joy?  
Ans. Because the vital spirits abandon the heart.   

Qu. Wherefore ought we not to fast long?  
Ans. By reason that by too much fasting a mass of ill humours is engendered, and provoke vomit.   

Qu. What is the cause that we have better stomachs to our meat when the wind is at the North, then at other times?  
Ans. By reason of his coldness which knits together and holds within us the natural heat of our bodies.   

Qu. What is the reason that Vinegar is very wholesome to those that are choleric, & is of contrary operation to those that are melancholic?  
Ans. Because it assuageth choler by his coldness, and dries up melancholy.   

Qu. What is the reason that in tract of time Wine becometh more hot?  
Ans. Because the aquosity thereof evaporeth and vanisheth away.   

Qu. What is the cause that some wines sour so lightly?  
Ans. Because that in the time of Vintage the grape was full of superfluous humours.   

Qu. Why doth the wild Boar use to piss before he runs away?  
Ans. To unlade him of the burden of his water for to run the swifter.   

Qu. When is it nothing discommendable to exceed the mean?  
Ans. When it is used to exercise and drive drowsiness out of sluggards.   

Qu. What husbands do not love their wives?  
Ans. Those that love their bodies & their goods, and not their minds and good conditions.   

Qu. What is chief to be regarded in a witness?  
Ans. His honesty, as in a Lawyer eloquence and good utterance.   

Qu. Why can young men hardly keep a mean?  
Ans. By reason of the natural heat abounding in them.   

Qu. How might a fool seem and be accounted wise?  
Ans. If he goes brave in attire and speaks little.   

Qu. What is the reason that some have hard and some have soft hear?  
Ans. The greatness and smallness of the Pores is cause of it, for soft hear cometh by reason of the smallness of them, and hard hear for the contrary. And therefore women have commonly softer hear them men, because their natural cold doth restrain and close the Pores.   

Qu. What is the reason that Garlic and Onions do bud although they are not in the earth?  
Ans. Because of their great abundance of moistness and heat.   

Qu. Why is a dead body heavier than that which hath life within?  
Ans. A body alive is full of air and fire which do hold it upright, for their nature is always to mount upwards, and a dead body is nothing but a lump of earth, whose nature is heavy and always tending downwards.   

Qu. What doth prevent an occasion of murmuring?  
Ans. Equality.   

Qu. Why do vices shadow themselves under the colour of virtues?  
Ans. Because if they should come in their own shape, but few would give them entertainment.   

Qu. Why ought Parents to be very curious in seeking of good tutors and masters for to instruct their children?  
Ans. Because as their Parents are the fathers of their bodies, so the masters are the fathers of their souls: and as children do imitate the nature of those that have begotten them; so out of their masters manners as out of a nurse's breast, they suck their virtues and vices, their good and ill conditions.   

Qu. What is it that in loving too much turneth to mortal hatred?  
Ans. jealousy.   

Qu. Who murdereth the living & the same of the dead?  
Ans. A Slanderer.   

Qu. Wherein is our enemy commonly better unto us than our friend?  
Ans. Because our enemy spears not to tell us our faults, which friends seek for the most part to hide from us.   

Qu. What is as seldom found as the Phoenix of Arabia?  
Ans. A trusty friend.   

Qu. What is it that Kings cannot conquer?  
Ans. men's affections.   

Qu. In what place is flattery a jewel?  
Ans. Where dissembling sways the sceptre.   

Qu. What ought we in this life most to remember, and least to fear?  
Ans. The hour of death.   

Qu. What is man's life?  
Ans. A thing more brickell than glass, more lighter than the smoke, and swifter than the wind.   

Qu. What garment is the best?  
Ans. That which covers malice.   

Qu. What are dice?  
Ans. Fortune's whelps, which consume a man's wealth, and impair his patience.   

Qu. What are women's vows?  
Ans. Words written in the wind.   

Qu. What are their promises?  
Ans. Characters figured in the air, and figures graven in the snow.   

Qu. What is a beautiful strumpet?  
Ans. An Adamant that draws, & a Panther that with her painted skin doth allure men, and he that surfeits with it, drinketh deadly poison and so doth perish.   

Qu. What are women's looks?  
Ans. Kalends, that can determine no certainty.   

Qu. Of what nature and condition is a woman?  
Ans. Of the nature of quicksilver, for as this metal wheresoever it meeteth with gold it mingleth with it: so women they chief respect in a man his wealth, and always will they prize gold for beauty or for any other internal or external felicity.   

Qu. Which are the two only means to win women's favour?  
Ans. Sweet words and high praises.   

Qu. What men are in one of the highest degrees of misery?  
An. Those that are wise by their own woes, and those can make a right anatomy of misery by their own distress.   

Qu. What is a bad woman?  
Ans. A painted continent of flattery, of deceit, of inconstancy, and the very guide that leads men unto the pernicious labyrinth of endless misery.   

Qu. What are women's courtesies?  
Ans. Sharp showers.   

Qu. Who slew the fourth part of the world?  
Ans. Cain slaying his brother Abel.   

Qu. What flower is in sight most beautiful, in smell most savourous, and in operation most deadly?  
Ans. The pleasures of this world.   

Qu. What is man?  
Ans. The image of Christ.   

Qu. What is a woman?  
Ans. The similitude of man, and a cabinet of much good and evil.   

Qu. What is a young man?  
Ans. A burning candle soon perceived and quickly quenched.   

Qu. What is more swifter than the wind?  
Ans. A man's thought.   

Qu. What is more swifter than the thought of a man?  
Ans. Time, for it tarrieth for nothing.   

Qu. What is seldom seen and never prevented?  
Ans. Destiny.   

Qu. Which is the chiefest touchstone to try a man's friend and his own patience?  
Ans. Adversity.   

Qu. What vices did darken Marcus Antonius his great liberality and patience in adversity?  
Ans. Dicing, drunkenness, gluttony, and too much familiarity with his domestic servants.   

Qu. What are the effects of Poetry?  
Ans. Spurs and enticements to virtue.   

Qu. Why did the Romans forbidden the drinking of Wine to women?  
Ans. Because it doth provoke them to lust, and doth altogether extinguish reason in them.   

Qu. What ought a servant chief to practise for to gain his masters favour?  
Ans. Diligence, continuance and secrecy.   

Qu. Who killeth a man friendly?  
Ans. A flatterer.   

Qu. What soil bears both the best and the worst fruit?  
Ans. The womb of a woman.   

Qu. Why are Angels painted with wings?  
Ans. To signify their quickness.   

Qu. What might men do to be believed?  
Ans. Wet their tongues on their hearts.   

Qu. What difference is there between love and friendship?  
Ans. As much as there is between beauty and virtue, substance and shadows, for when adversities flow then love doth ebb, but friendship standeth always fast in every storm and tempest.   

Qu. What pleasure is chief bought with repentance?  
Ans. The love of a strumpet.   

Qu. What are the discommodities attending upon travelers?  
Ans. To be forced to fit their humour to every place and person, to bear many men's braves or feel the force of their weapon, to be oft in danger of thieves, many times of wild beasts, and ever of flatterers.   

Qu. Why did the Chaldees when they would set forth the picture of a Gentleman, describe him with his hands always open?  
Ans. To signify that liberality was the only imprease of a Gentleman, and that to give was always heroical: and therefore Titus Emperor of Rome was wont to say: Give, if thou wilt be worthy the world's Monarchy.   

Qu. What things are most welcome, most sweet, and best liked of?  
Ans. Inexpected chances, losses recovered, and things seldom seen.   

Qu. Whereunto may flatterers be compared?  
Ans. To trencher flies, that attend more upon a man for hope of gain then for any perfit love. To doves that flock chief where the house is fairest. To empty vessels that have loud sounds, and have nothing within but wind. To painted sheaths that have rusty blades. To glorious flowers that have no smell: because they pretend much friendship, and contain nothing but superficial flattery.   

Qu. What is Love?  
Ans. A passion full of Martyrdom, Misery, Grief and Discontent, having pleasures but tempered with pains, & a short delight mixed with a long repentance.   

Qu. What is beauty?  
Ans. A fading flower, to day fit for the eye, and to morrow withered and to be cast into the grave.   

Qu. Why did the ancients in old time past mislike of those that wished and desired to be most happy and fortunate?  
Ans. Because that too much fortune breedeth forgetfulness, a contempt of God and of all godliness.   

Qu. For what cause were women being met at Rome in the streets by any of their kindred, kissed by them?  
Ans. For to know if they had drunken wine, for it was forbidden unto them to drink any, as it appeareth by one Egnatius that slew his wife, because she had drunk a cup of wine.   

Qu. What was the reason that king Agesilaus would never suffer his picture to be drawn or shadowed?  
Ans. Because his only intent was to leave after him his deeds to serve in steed of his picture, and so rather to represent the perfections of the mind, than the external lineaments of the body.   

Qu. What are open praises?  
Ans. Secret flatteries.   

Qu. Which are the three chiefest virtues of a soldier?  
Ans. Prudence, Fortitude, and Liberality.   

Qu. What is Wisdom?  
Ans. A divine influence infused into the minds of men, which keepeth them from committing that whereunto they are forced by sensual appetite.   

Qu. Why is virtue placed by equal proportion between two vices?  
Ans. Because that the mean which is kept between two extremes, is that laudable action which by no other name can be termed but by the title of Virtue.   

Qu. What maketh men in earth famous, in their graves glorious, and in the heavens immortal?  
Ans. Virtue.   

Qu. What is prodigality?  
Ans. A fire of the mind, which is so impatient in heat, as it ceaseth not while any matter combustible is present to burn necessary things to dust and cinders.   

Qu. Who is only to be accounted a valiant man?  
Ans. He that without any furious or rash resolution feareth not to hazard himself in the greatest perils whatsoever, for the welfare of his country.   

Qu. What is the greatest prejudice that may happen unto a Commonwealth?  
Ans. To be governed by an unwise prince.    

❧ divers pretty Riddles with dark sentences.  


Question.  
judge of me by perfect skill,  
My youth restored by casting bill.   

Solution.  
An Eagle.    


Question.  
When I am old I cast my skin,  
Whereby I do come young again.   

Solution.  
A Snail.    


Question.  
What judge on the earth did give,  
The greatest sentence when he did live.   

Solution.  
Pilate when he pronounced sentence of condemnation against Christ jesus.    


Question.  
White I am and black withal,  
I have eyes and yet am blind,  
Gain and loss not without brawl  
I do procure, as you shall find.   

Solution.  
Dice.    


Question.  
I wound the heart and please the eye,  
Tell me what I am by and by.   

Solution.  
Beauty.    


Question.  
I am within as white as snow,  
Without as green as herbs that grow,  
I am higher than a house,  
And yet lesser than a mouse.   

Solution.  
A Walnut hanging on the tree.    


Question.  
A maid there was that married a man,  
By whom were many children gotten,  
Yet all them died and went away,  
Before their mother was begotten.   

Solution.  
It was Eve and her children who all died ere she was begotten, for she was neither borne nor begotten, but created.    


Question.  
What mother a child doth beget  
And she of it is gotten again,  
Which although strange it seems to be,  
Yet it is true I tell thee plain.   

Solution.  
Water turning to Ice, and IIse again turning to water.    


Question.  
'tis black without and black within,  
And hath four corners as I win.   

Solution.  
A dry Turf.    


Question.  
Oedipus that whilom hast resolved a greater doubt,  
Unfold this Riddle unto me which now I shall put out.  
When I did live then was I dumb, & yield no harmony,  
But being dead I do afford most pleasant melody.   

Solution.  
Any musical instrument that is made of wood.    


Question.  
Yet once again I mean to prove thy skill but in a jest,  
Which if thou dost resolve to me thou setst my mind at rest:  
Whether was man created first before the beard, or else  
The beard before the man, that show, and thou shalt win the bells.   

Solution.  
All creatures created were before man in their kind,  
And so was eke the bearded goat as we in books do find.    


Question.  
In at the window when I look  
(Beat not your brain long about this)  
Then in the house about I go,  
Now tell me quickly what it is.   

Solution.  
The shining of the sun.    


Question.  
She set her back against the wall  
And took up petticoat smock and all,  
There came a young man with a gin,  
And put it in a handful in.   

Solution.  
A shoemaker put a new pair of shoes on a woman's foot.    


Question.  
There dwell four sisters near this town,  
In favour like and like in gown  
When they run for a prize to win  
All at once they do begin  
One runs as fast as doth the other  
Yet cannot overtake each other.   

Solution.  
The four wings of a Windmill.    


Question.  
When it through the wood doth go  
It toucheth every twig below.   

Solution.  
It is the Snow.    


Question.  
When it doth go through the wood,  
It toucheth never a twig forsooth.   

Solution.  
A penny in a man's purse.    


Question.  
I lay in bed and woe I was,  
So did my wife but worse she was,  
She bid me rise and put it in,  
And thus we were both well again.   

Solution.  
A man with his wife lying in bed together heard some thieves about their house, whereupon both being afeared, the good wife prayed her husband to rise and spar the door.    


Question.  
What is it that most nooses hath,  
Within the house made of a plate.   

Solution.  
The hangers where the pothooks hangs upon.    


Question.  
I am foul to be looked unto,  
Yet many seek me for to win,  
Not for my beauty nor my skin,  
But for my wealth and force to know:  
Hard is my meat whereby I live,  
Yet I bring men to dainty fare,  
If I were not, then ale knights should  
To sing this song not be so bold,  
Nutmegs, Ginger, Cinnamon and Cloves,  
They gave us this jolly red nose,  
The fourth parts of the earth I show  
The time and hours as they do go.  
As needful am I to mankind,  
As any thing that they can find.  
Many do take me for their guide,  
Who otherwise should run aside.   

Solution.  
It is the loadstone, for without it no Pilot were able to guide a ship in the Ocean seas.    


Question.  
I am a chief strength of the land  
When upon four pillars I stand  
And if these four should fail indeed  
Then should I find two more at need,  
Four lights I have to be my guide,  
And the fist shall not stand aside,  
For 'tis more brighter than the sun,  
And doth remain when life is done,  
And though one corpses two heads doth wear,  
No monster yet is it I swear.  
Unknit this knot, and tell to me,  
At leisure sir what I might be.   

Solution.  
A horseman being a horseback, who hath four eyes with those of his horse: and first is his reasonable soul, whereby he is chief guided nor is not subject unto death.    


Question.  
Six Hares did run within a plain,  
whom hounds had started out the nest:  
Hill up, hill down, they ran amain  
till they were weary, and then did rest.  
They caught them once and scaped again  
more eager went they then before.  
And took more pains then (as I win)  
to bare away the game and more.  
The hounds and hunters all were one,  
each liked his game and took his prey  
But when the sport was past and done  
they left the Hares, and came away.   

Solution.  
It is a match at bowls played in a bowling alley.    


Question.  
Ten men's length, and ten men's strength, and ten men cannot rayre it.   

Solution.  
A cable or rope which ten men cannot break by force.    


Question.  
Aman I was, man I am  
But yet as tame as any lamb.  
Though I am blind the way I show,  
Which all men that see me must go.  
And to put your mind out of doubt,  
Eight legs I have that bear about  
My burden, more than any hath  
Unless he be in my estate.  
In time therefore do learn of me,  
As I before have done of thee.  
If he had known that brought our woe  
Ventured had not upon his foe,  
But for his fault we subject be  
To this estate where you see me,  
I am that which you least desire,  
But yet that you should most require,  
Guess what I am good fit, therefore  
Before you do knock at my door.   

Solution.  
It is a dead man and those four that do carry him to his grave, with Adam our first parent who brought death into the world.    


Question.  
It swallows raw flesh stones and all  
And in the midst it hath a tongue,  
Which never spoke ill of old or young.   

Solution.  
It is a Hawk that takes his stones for to cast.    


Question.  
Over a hole two stones there lie,  
Stiff it went in, limber comes our,  
Beloved it is of women all  
And of our neighbours here about.   

Solution.  
It is corn that comes of the mill.    


Question.  
Sharp are my clothes as any pin,  
be not rash therefore me to win.  
But bring me naked to thy mill,  
and then with me thy mind fulfil.  
And though sweet thou findest me to be,  
yet surfeit not sir upon me.  
But for a change use me somewhile,  
so shalt thou not thy love beguile.   

Solution.  
It is a chestnut, and by the mill is meant the mouth.    


Question.  
In open field I cannot lie,  
And yet I may rest quietly,  
Within a box of ivory.   

Solution.  
It is a feather in a windy day.    


Question.  
Stiff standing, ruff hanging  
Between a maid's legs  
In a frosty morning.   

Solution.  
It is a distaff.    


Question.  
I am as little as any nit,  
And serves the king at every bit.   

Solution.  
Salt.    


Question.  
Who wears his end about his middle  
Once in his time, tell me this Riddle.   

Solution.  
A thief whose arms are tied with the halter wherewith he shall be executed.    


Question.  
My flesh and skin is red,  
But white is all my heart,  
Where round about a wall is set,  
Beaten with every dart.   

Solution.  
It is a Cherry and a cherristone.    


Question.  
Yonder is it, and here I have it.   

Solution.  
A man's breath, or any other living creatures.    


Question.  
What wight is he that many doth feed  
And yet himself doth die for need   

Solution.  
A preacher instructing others, and doth quite contrary to his own doctrine, and by these means starveth his soul.    


Question.  
Tell me sir whom I might be,  
a father I had, but mother none,  
Yet many a mother have had of me,  
who all to earth with me are gone.   

Solution.  
Our first parent Eve who had no mother, and no other father than God almighty.    


Question.  
What is most likest to a horse  
(Besides a Mare he means)  
That feedeth upon hay and grass,  
Upon Pease, upon Beans.   

Solution.  
A Gelding.    


Question.  
My husband gives two gowns to me  
of sundry colours every year,  
green is the one, which I do wear  
So long till it be all threadbare,  
White is the other as the Swan,  
of many pieces up and down,  
Yet like to that few workmen can  
devise to make another gown.  
The wiser sort (wherein they dote)  
do call me fool upon a toy,  
But yet of me they take a note  
That death is passed when I do joy.   

Solution.  
It is a Mulberry tree, green in the Summer, and white with Snow in the Winter, who in Latin is called Morus, which signifies in Greek a fool. This tree is of this nature, that it will not cast any buds before all other trees have, whereby we certainly know when she gins to bud that the cold and Winter is altogether past for that present season.    


Question.  
A ship there drives upon the tide,  
that sails do bear, she hath no masts,  
But one oar she hath of each side,  
her sails the snow in whiteness pass.  
In her front wears too lanterns bright  
but when she is upon point to fall  
Then lend an ear, for great delight  
of music she affords to all.   

Solution.  
It is a Swan, who being near her death sings most sweetly, as authors do record.    


Question.  
God speed wife, and good speed dame,  
Shall I put my rough rombello in your rough hame,  
Put him in, and clap to the gate  
For new shaven it was of late.   

Solution.  
A horse put into a new mown meadow.    


Question.  
Round I am, yet cannot rest,  
When I am spited of the best.   

Solution.  
A Tennis ball when two good players play together.    


Question.  
What man is he of wit so base  
That wears both his eyes in a case  
For fear of hurting them it is,  
And I do find it not amiss.   

Solution.  
It is he that cannot well see without spectacles, and doth carry them about him in a case for fear of breaking them.    


Question.  
My prey I seek the fields and woods about  
& have more teeth than beast within the land,  
And whensoever my grave I have found out,  
then safe I bring it to my masters hand,  
Upon my back the dear he lays  
and there doth kill one, sometime more,  
He shuts me up and goes his ways,  
Better contented then before.   

Solution.  
It is a comb and a louse killed upon the back of it.    


Question.  
A tree there is that boughs doth bear  
in number five as I do know,  
Of equal length they never were,  
and on their tops do horns grow,  
Yet they are tied about with gold  
except the longest without doubt,  
Which for use sake might be controlled,  
if it with gold were hooped about.   

Solution.  
It is one's hand & his fingers that are full of golden rings, the middlemost excepted, because a ring doth not fit that finger.    


Question.  
I was Not, I am Not, and shall Not be,  
yet I do walk as men may see,  
I run and speak to get a fee  
though I am not in my degree.   

Solution.  
It is a man whose surname was master Not.    


Question.  
Deaf I am and cannot hear,  
and when I work I feel no pain,  
Some do curse me, some speak me fair  
though well they know it is in vain.   

Solution.  
Dice and dicers.    


Question.  
What bloody Tyrant was that wight,  
That with a murdering blow  
The fourth part of the earth did slay:  
Which thou canst tell I trow.   

Solution.  
Cain in slaying of his brother Abel.    


Question.  
In what place of the earth  
doth the sky seem to be  
No larger than a yard or twain,  
which I pray tell to me.   

Solution.  
In the bottom of a well.    


Question.  
A thing that I take that I lose,  
yet nothing to my woe,  
And that I take not, that I keep,  
yet would it feign forego.   

Solution.  
He that is lousy, all those lice which he takes throws them away, and those that he cannot take keeps them still, and yet would feign be rid of them.    


Question.  
What thing is only upon this earth not subject unto fear,  
Nor doth not weigh the threatenings of Tyrants, pin or hair?   

Solution.  
A good conscience.    


Question.  
What doth with his root upwards grow,  
And downwards with his head doth show.   

Solution.  
An isesickle.    


Question.  
What is lesser than a Mouse,  
And hath more windows than a house.   

Solution.  
A spider in the midst of his web, or else a thymbell.    


Question.  
Belly to belly  
Hand upon back,  
I put a raw morsel  
In a gaping gap.   

Solution.  
A mother or nurse that gives suck unto her child.    


Question.  
I do walk yet do not go,  
I do drink yet no thirst slake,  
I do eat yet do not feed,  
I do work yet no work make.   

Solution.  
It is a man that dreams, who in his dream seems to do all these things, yet in deed doth none of them.    


Question.  
As bitter as gall,  
As sweet as milk,  
As high as a hale, and hard withal.   

Solution.  
A Walnut upon the tree.    


Question.  
I am nor fish, nor flesh, nor voice,  
Yet when I am borne I make a noise.   

Solution.  
A fart, or else the thunder.    


Question.  
When we by the way do go,  
Upon our shoulders we bear our way  
If we were not then many should be  
Wet to the skin in a rainy day.   

Solution.  
Masons, Tilers, and men of such like occupation, carrying ladders upon their shoulders to build and tile houses.    


Question.  
M. and I. did make great moan,  
When C. upon C. was left alone.   

Solution.  
Mary and john made great moan,  
When Christ upon the cross was left alone.    


Question.  
When I to the wood do go,  
Then my head homewards I do show.   

Solution.  
An axe.    


Question.  
In me and in my shining light.   

Solution.  
It is a burning candle.    


Question.  
In the last minute of mine age  
I do wax young again,  
And have so still continued,  
since world did first begin.   

Solution.  
It is the Moon.    


Question.  
I do owe most yet nothing do I pay,  
Evil I am, and the worst I say.   

Solution.  
Ingratitude, which monster receiveth good turns and payeth vengeance.    


Question.  
What men are those that backwards gain,  
Their small living, not without pain.   

Solution.  
Gardeners and Rope-makers.    


Question.  
Old I am ere I am borne  
And when I am hatched, take heed of me,  
Or else thou mayest soon be forlorn  
If thou dost nothing look to thee.   

Solution.  
The grudge of a secret enemy long conceived in mind ere it is put in execution.    


Question.  
What is it that God commanded to be done,  
was not done, and yet God was well pleased.   

Solution.  
The sacrificing of Isaac.    


Question.  
My belly to thy side I lay,  
And the hole is a sporting when we play.   

Solution.  
It is a Bagpipe.    


Question.  
Hitty pity within the wall,  
And hitty pity without the wall,  
If you touch hitty pity (my joy)  
Hitty pity will bite the boy.   

Solution.  
It is a nettle.    


Question.  
Clink clancke under a bank,  
Ten above four and near the flank.   

Solution.  
A maid milking of a Cow.    


Question.  
Trip trap in a gap,  
As many feet as a hundred sheep.   

Solution.  
It is the hail when it falls.    


Question.  
Red within and red without,  
It is as ruff as a bears snout.   

Solution.  
A strawberry.    


Question.  
A wicked father did beget  
A daughter fit unto his hand.  
But such good children she did get  
That are the props of every land.   

Solution.  
The devil begot sin, and sin procured good laws which are the stays of all governments.    


Question.  
God speed fair ladies by one and by one,  
I am sent I cannot tell to whom,  
And I do bring I cannot tell what,  
I count her wise that tells me that.   

Solution.  
A lover sent to his love a messenger to put her in mind of her promise as to come unto him, and she sent back this answer unto him.  
Tell thy master in my name  
Wheen trees are turned and wells be dry  
And dead upon quick then come will I.  
Meaning at midnight, when the fire brands should be turned upwards, and the pots should be empty, and the fire raked up with the cold ashes, them she would come.    


Question.  
I went and I could not tell whether,  
I met and I wots not with whom,  
He gave me that I shall never forget,  
And yet I came a maiden home.   

Solution.  
A child that went to christening.    


Question.  
I have a smith without a hand  
He works the work that no man can  
He serves our God and doth man ease  
Without any fire in his furnace.   

Solution.  
It is a Bee that makes honey and wax.    


Question.  
Fowl is my fault that feeds me full,  
To gorge on mother's bowels still,  
I went abroad to seek my fire,  
And my wives son I do desire  
Such a one the man must be  
As is the son of wife to me.   

Solution.  
joseph went to seek Christ, when he found in the Temple Preachers amongst those of the Synagogue.    


Question.  
What is it that in the morning  
upon four legs doth go,  
And about noon it standeth fast  
upon two and no more:    


I make all blind as did delight.    


Question.  
I am called by the name of man,  
yet am as little as the mouse,  
When Winter comes I love to be  
with my red gorget near the house.   

Solution.  
A Bird called Robin red breast.    


Question.  
Although my body little is,  
yet I do please the hearers ear  
If I were tame it were not amiss,  
Then I should live in lesser fear.   

Solution.  
The Nightingale.    


Question.  
What is it that more eyes doth wear  
then forty men within the land,  
Which glister as the crystal clear,  
against the sun when they do stand.   

Solution.  
A peacocks tail.    


Question.  
When I go to the water side  
at home my heart I leave behind,  
Tell me what I am without pride,  
if it by any means you find.   

Solution.  
It is a pillowbeare.    


Question.  
My head is round, my body small,  
And I hold that, that savours all.   

Solution.  
A Salt seller and Salt.    


Question.  
Head and eye I am only,  
What I may be now tell to me.   

Solution.  
A button of copper or of any metal.    


Question.  
A Bird upon a house I saw,  
six legs it had, yet but one tail,  
Two heads beside more than a daw  
name me this Bird and win the ale.   

Solution.  
A heronshaw had taken a frog & brought it to her young ones in the nest made upon the top of a house.    


Question.  
All my body belly is  
And lesser than it my mouth is not  
I do contain that makes men mad  
What I am sir now tell me that.   

Solution.  
A malt sack full of malt wherewith strong drink is brewed.    


Question.  
My belly is bigger than all the rest  
Wherein men use to put the best,  
Broad is my foot, short is my neck,  
If ill ye use me then fear a check.   

Solution.  
A bottle of glass.    


Question.  
My coat is green and I can prate,  
Of divers things about my grate,  
In such a prison I am set  
That hath more loopholes than a net.   

Solution.  
A Parrot in a cage of wire.    


Question.  
I do assemble many wight,  
Yet I keep me out of their sight,  
And do not come once where they be,  
Yet every day they may see me.   

Solution.  
A bell touling to a sermon.    


Question.  
What mill is it that hath two wings  
which fly about without the wind  
A greasy miller looks to all things  
whiles it doth turn and doth not grind.   

Solution.  
It is a jack, and the greasy miller is the cook.     

Worthy sayings and ready answers, compiled into one book out of sundry Chronicles, by A. P.  

A very fit and fine comparison made by a Gentleman of Genua.  
Lodowicks' force willing to exact a great and an extraordinary sum of money upon the inhabitants of the city of Genua. His ambassador was bid by one of the chiefest of the city to dinner, and a little before dinner as they were walking in the garden together, and the Citizen espying the herb Basil said unto the Ambassador: Run softly my Lord with your hand over this herb, and then smell unto it, which he did, confessing it to have a most sweet and comfortable savour. Now my lord (quoth the Citizen) strain and bruise this herb in your hand and then smell unto it, which he did, affirming it to have a noisome and foul smell. Whereupon the Citizen said unto him, my lord, if the Duke Lodowick runneth softly with the hand of his power and authority over this city without either force or violence, he shall find her of a good smell and wonderful obedient, but if he doth oppose himself against her and doth strain and force her, she will yield him a sour and a hard taste and savour by disobedience and rebellion. The humanity of Princes maketh obedient and tractable Citizens.   

The answer of jovian Pontanus.  
IOuian Pontanus a very excellent Poet & Philosopher being demanded upon a time wherefore he did eat but of one dish at meals, and of that yet very soberly: answered, To the end I should have no need of the Physician.  
All Physicians affirm that the diversity of meats hindereth digestion, and breedeth diseases.   

A comparison made by a Spaniard.  
THe lord Gonsalues playing at dice and being a great loser, perceived his son Alexander to be grieved at it, whereupon he said unto certain Gentlemen there present, The Histories record that Alexander the Great being a child did weep when he heard that Philip his father had obtained the victory of a battle, and beside had conquered a kingdom all at once: And being demanded wherefore he wept, answered that he feared that his father would win so many realms and countries that he should leave him none for to conquer. And quite contrary (quoth the lord Gonsalues) is it with my son Alexander now ready to weep for my cross luck and great losses, because he feareth that I shall lose so much that I shall leave him nothing for to lose.   

A pretty quip given unto two Cardinals by a Painter.  
RAphell Urbin being a very excellent and skilful Painter, upon a time hearing two Cardinals (with whom he was very familiar) to reprove and find fault (only for to anger him) with a certain picture of S. Peter and S. Paul, which he had very artificially painted and finished, saying that the pictures faces were too high coloured and too red, without further studying gave them this answer: My lords marvel not hereat, for I have purposely so painted them as they are now in heaven, and not as they were here upon earth, for this redness cometh unto them blushing even for very shame to see the church so ill governed by such and such like as your lordships.   

The answer which the great Turk gave to the Ambassadors of the King of Hungary.  
BAiazet Emperor of the Turks, invading with a great army Bulgary a part of Hungary, The king Sigismondus sent his ambassadors unto him to desire him not to molest & trouble his subjects and country, whereunto by no law he had not any right claim or title. Bajazet to answer hereupon, caused great store of armours and other warlike instruments to be brought into a certain hall appointed for that purpose, and having sent for the King's Ambassadors, said unto them: Lo here (my lords, pointing with his finger upon the armours) the titles whereby I do claim, and am to possess the crown and kingdom of Hungary.  
Right and equity have no place in the court of a Tyrant.   

A pleasant reproving of the Marquis of Mantua.  
FRederick marquess of Mantua, as he did sit at dinner among many Gentlemen, one of them having almost made an end of his porridge, supped up the rest, and to excuse his incivility craved pardon of the company. The marquess in presence of them all gave him this ready answer, sir, ask pardon of the Swine, for unto us you have done no offence or injury.   

A worthy deed of an Italian knight.  
AN Italian knight as he was sitting at dinner, saw two Gentlemen that had always behaved themselves most valiantly in the wars and had done good service to their country, to stand as abjects of the company, because all places were taken before: whereupon he did rise, and so caused all the rest to rise with him for to make place unto these two Gentlemen, saying: Give place unto these two Gentlemen for to eat their meat, for if they had not been with us in such a fight (naming the place) we should at this time have had nothing for to eat.   

The tyrannical sentence of Prospero Colonna.  
PRospero Colonna Colonel of the Italian infantry within the Garrison of Milan, a Citizen of the town came unto him complaining against the exactions spoils and forcible robberies of his soldiers, unto whom he gave this answer: Milan is like unto a Goose, for the more he is pulled the fairer will be his feathers.   

Of Pope Sixtus the fourth and a Friar.  
POpe Sixtus the fourth having been a Friar of S. Francis order, and being advanced to the Papal dignity, was visited upon a certain time by a Friar of his Order, who had been one of his chiefest friends and familiars: the Pope willing to show him some private favour, brought him into his cabinet, wherein he had a very rich treasure, and smiling said unto the poor Friar: Now Frater, I cannot say that which S. Peter my predecessor said: Aurum nec argentum habeo, I have neither gold nor silver. It is most true (quoth the Friar) but holy Father you cannot say likewise as he said to the impotent, cripple and lame, Surgite & ambulate, Arise and walk.   

The wise saying of Charles the fift Emperor.  
News being brought unto the Emperor as he sat in counsel, that the Marquis of Guassa was with all his forces discomfited by the Frenchmen, Cardinal Grandelle his Chancellor, fearing that the affairs of the Realm should succeed the worse for it, said to the Emperor: Sacred Majesty, this ill reencountre is to be kept secret. Whereupon the Emperor answered, It is not possible to keep things close done before so many witnesses, but that which is yet to be done and attempted, is not to be revealed.  
It is very dangerous to a Realm when the enemy knoweth the secrets as soon as they are determined.   

Of the humility of Godefrey Duke of Buillon.  
WHen the Duke Godefrey of Buillon with consent of all the Christian Princes was chosen king of jerusalem, and thereupon the royal crown was offered and presented unto him, he did refuse it, saying: It is not meet for me a Christian Prince to wear a crown of gold, whereas Christ King of Kings did wear but one of thorns.   

The last will of Saladin King of Asia.  
SAladin King of Asia, Syria, and Egypt, declared upon his death bed how miserable he knew the nature and state of man to be: and therefore commanded that being dead they should cause his shirt to be carried upon a lance through all his camp, and insight of all the lords, captains, and soldiers of his army, and he that should carry it should cry with a loud voice, Saladin subduer and vanquisher of all Asia amongst all his riches which he hath gotten and conquered, carrieth nothing with him but this only linen.  
The greatest triumphs of man in parting out of this world, are the works of charity and godliness.   

The wise answers of Antonius Panormus to King Alphonsus.  
Antonius' Panormus being demanded of the King what was most necessary and requisite unto them that would live together peaceably in the state of marriage, because that most commonly as the Poet saith:  
Semper habet lites alternaque surgia lectus  
Inqua nupta jacet,  
that is,  
With quietness is seldom blest,  
The bed wherein a wife doth rest.  
Answered, that there were two things most requisite: The first, that the husband were deaf, for not to hear all the follies, scolding words, and ill reports of his wives disordered life: The second, that the wife were blind, for not to see the great enormity and excessive intemperance of her husband.   

Of King Lewis of France and a soldier.  
KIng Lewis in his wars against the Emperor being on a time in one of his battles somewhat far from any of his companies, a certain German knight thinking to make himself rich by the present opportunity, surprised the king unawares, & staying his majesties horse by the bridle, cried out with a loud voice, The king is taken. The king full of courage and magnanimity drew his courtelax, and gave the poor soldier such a blow that he fell dead upon the ground; and then said, Now you may see bold and adventurous knight that at chess the king was never taken alone.   

Of the said King and the Chancellor of Bourgony.  
THe said king Lewis having heard that the Duke of Bourgony his Chancellor, being a very rich and wealthy man, had founded and erected in his country a very sumptuous and a costly hospital aswell in building as in movables, said that it was more than reason that the Chancellor of Bourgonie (who had in his life time made many poor men) should at the end of his days build an Hospital for to lodge and to relieve them.   

The subtle answer of Edward King of England unto john King of France.  
During the truce which was between Edward King of England, and john King of France, the Englishmen by composition and a great sum of money took the castle and the town of Guines, whereupon King john complained, saying that the King of England had broken the truce of peace so solemnly confirmed by oath, and had done contrary to the contract thereof. The King of England gave him this answer, I have not (quoth he) broken the least point of the contract, for in it is never an article contained, whereby it is forbidden to traffic together, & to exercise the truce of merchandise one with another.   

Touching a benefice.  
A Certain Ecclesiastical man having but one benefice, railed and inneighed most sharply always against those that were Non residents. It came to pass by tract of time that he happened to join one benefice to another, and as he was for it reproved by some of his friends, who oftentimes had heard him speak and preach against it, and had known him always to be of a contrary opinion: gave them this answer, I crave pardon for it sirs for it was but for want of sight, for he that hath but one eye seethe not so clear as he that hath two. My benefice which I had first was but one eye wherewith I did see, but now having two eyes I perceive things more apparent than before.   

The words of Pope julius as touching the exercise of wars.  
THis Pope was a man that loved wars, which purposely he nourished between kings and Princes, and as upon a time some of his friends did say unto him, Holy Father, many noblemen find it very strange to see you to maintain wars and civil broils, seeing the estate where God hath called you unto should be a place of peace and quietness, saying that you do carry the keys to that end for to shut out all discord and dissension, and to let in all brotherly unity, whereas now they accuse you to do the contrary. Hereupon he answered and said, Those that have spoken hereof unto you, know not what they say: Have ye not always heard that S. Peter and S. Paul were companions (and in very deed they had but one church) my predecessors have always used S. Peter's keys, but I will aid me with the sword of Saint Paul. One amongst them replied hereupon and said, you know holy Father that our Lord said unto S. Peter, Put up thy sword into his sheath: It is true (quoth the Pope) but it was after the blow was given.  
By these words he declared that he was Martial altogether.   

Of King Alphonsus and his jester.  
ALphonsus King of Naples, had in his court a certain jester who was wont to write in a book all such follies which in his judgement seemed worthy to be noted, which such as were courtiers did oftentimes commit. It happened that the King himself had occasion to send a Blackamoor whom he had had long about him, into the East countries with ten thousand Ducats for to buy horses. The jester according to his ordinary use did enregister this act likewise among his other writings, as if he had accounted it but a mere point of folly. Not long after the King called for his book, because it was long since his Majesty had read in it, and as he was perusing every thing, found at last the history of himself, of his Blackamoor, & of the thousand ducats in it. The king being herewith offended, asked of his jester to what end he had put this in his book, or what occasion had moved him so to do: Because, answered he, your Majesty hath not done wisely in my simple judgement to trust your money with a stranger, whom perhaps you are like to see no more. But if he returneth (quoth the king) and bringeth with him the horses, what wilt thou say then to it? Wilt thou then further accuse me of folly? When he shall be returned, answered the jester hereupon, I will blot your name out of my book, and will put in his instead of it, for than he shall prove a greater fool than your majesty.   

Of the Archbishop of Colen and a labourer.  
A Certain labourer as he saw upon a time the Archbishop of Colen riding all in arms, and accompanied with a great troop of soldiers, did heartily laugh at it. Hereupon being demanded why he did laugh, answered simply that he did laugh, marveling that S. Peter Christ's vicar being himself very poor had left his successors thus rich and wealthy, and were rather accompanied with Soldiers and Courtiers than churchmen. The Archbishop willing to instruct him better in this point, told him that he was a Duke by birth and an Archbishop by calling, and that he at that present as Duke went thus in arms and guarded with soldiers, but when he had occasion to be in the church, that then he used himself as a Bishop. My lord (quoth the labourer, I would to God then you would tell me that if the Duke's grace should happen to fall to the devils share, what should then become of my lord the Archbishop?   

The sentence of the Duke of Britain.  
IOhn the eight Duke of Britain willing to marry his son Francis unto Isabella daughter to the king of Scotland: the young Prince inquired what she was for a lady, answer was made him that she was a very fair damosel, well favoured, comely of body, and well disposed for to bear children, but that she wanted utterance. She is such a one as I desire quoth the young Duke: for I account a woman wise enough when she can make a difference between her husband's shirt and his doublet, and knoweth his bed from another man's.   

The answer which Empress Barbara late wife to Sigismundus Emperor gave to those that gave her counsel to remain a widow.  
AFter the Emperor Sigismundus decease, madame Barbara his late wife was counseled by some of her familiars to continue in that blessed estate and to remain a widow, imitating the example of the Turtledove, which after the death of her mate coupleth no more with any of her kind, but keepeth a perpetual chastity. Hereupon the Empress answered, If you counsel me to imitate and follow the conditions and nature of the birds, in whom there is no reason, why do you not as well allege unto me the example of the Pigeons and Sparrows which are birds in their kind, as well as of the Turtledove?  
Even as the Turtledove after the death of her mate doth couple no more with any other of her kind, even so the Pigeon and the Sparrow are always in love indifferently with the birds of their nature and feather.   

The ancient ceremony which was used in the creation and anointing of Kings.  
WHen any King was crowned in times past (which was commonly in that place where his predecessors were buried) the Bishop that should anoint and install him, carried before him in his left hand a small bundle of tow, and in his right hand a burning torch or waxed candle, and as he was putting the fire unto the flax, turned his face towards the king, and said unto him with a loud voice. Sic transit gloria mundi, So the pomp & glory of the world doth vanish away, which he repeated three times.  
It was for to join humility to authority.   

The answer which the Earl Lazaram gave to the Tartarian Ambassadors.  
THe king of Tartary willing to invade with a great power the kingdom of Hungary, sent his ambassadors to the court of Lazaram with a Mule laden with a sack full of corn, to demand of him free and quiet passage through his country, so to enter into the kingdom of Hungary. The ambassadors performing their commission, found the Earl upon one of his castles called Archforme: and being well informed of their charge, demanded of him free passage for their lord and his army with such due and faithful obedience as it became unto him: their lord and king was else determined to send into his territories more Soldiers than there were grains of corn within the sack that was upon the Mules back, and therewith they scattered the corn over all the court of the castle. The Earl having heard them with patience, gave them likewise a most bountiful entertainment, and appointing to give them answer the third day, caused in the mean time to be gathered a great store of Cocks, Hens, and Chickens, and to be shut up for his purpose three days without meat, which being immediately executed by his servants, at the time expired, the Duke caused all these fowls to be brought into the court of his castle in presence of the said Ambassadors, which in less than half an hour had picked up all the corn thus scattered by the Tartarians. Hereupon the said Earl said to the Ambassadors, Tell to your lord in my name, that notwithstanding the great number of his men, yet shall he nor be able to set out so many as shall suffice to overcome and conquer us, as you have seen by the similitude of my Chickens. God also gave to the Earl the victory.   

The answer which Erasmus of Rotterdam sent to king Francis.  
KIng Francis having earnestly solicited by some of his ambassadors, that worthy and renowned parsonage Erasmus of Rotterdam, that it would please him to come into France, and receive of him the best entertainment which he were able to give him: for this king did account it one of his chiefest felicities to have divers learned men about him. Erasmus sent his Majesty this answer, Learned men (my sovereign) resemble fair tapestries, which the further they stand removed from the eye, the fairer and perfecter they seem to be, but if they are viewed and regarded near by, they lose much of their former grace, beauty & perfection. And therefore (my sovereign) pardon me if I had rather to remain your humble servant in these parts where I am, in such reputation with your majesty as I am already, then nearer unto your highness in less favour and estimation.   

A most Christian act done by the Earl of Anion.  
FOokes the fift of that name Earl of Anion, as he had won a great battle against his enemies near the town of Sees, his Soldiers had taken a great number of prisoners, whom they had bound, chained, and had lodged them within the church. The Earl in the morning willing to hear service, and seeing so many prisoners within the church, wonderfully displeased with it, turned his face towards his soldiers saying unto them, My fellow-souldiors and friends, what have you done, do ye not know that the church is the house of God and a place of prayers & of liberty? And you have made it a prison, and a den of thraldom; wherein you have been very much overseen: and hereupon caused all the prisoners to be loosed and set at liberty, and having given them meat and drink sent them all away without paying any ransom.   

A Pasquil of Leo the tenth.  
PAsquil is an old pillar of stone standing in the market place of Rome, whereupon every first day of the year called New-year's day, every man fasteneth (closely notwithstanding) many scrolls, libels, and writings, in praise and dispraise of Princes & great potentates. It happened that in Pope Leos days the tenth of that name, there was set upon this pillar a white paper wherein these seven letters stood written.   

M. C. C. C. C. L. X.  
THe Pope being very desirous to understand the signification hereof, and knowing that every man would interpret them by virtue of the letters numerable, 1460, being the date of a time past already, and knowing that these letters should have some other signification and intelligence, caused a diligent inquiry to be made for to find him out that had set up this scrol, and with much ado the party being found out at last and brought before the Pope, & earnestly demanded and examined upon the interpretation of those letters, did promise to declare & expound them upon condition that his holiness would vouchsafe to pardon him and never to trouble or molest him for it. This being promised, he said unto the Pope: Holy Father, these seven letters will be thus interpreted.  Multi Cardinales Caeci, Creaverunt Caecum, Leonem, Decimum.  

A worthy act of Galatius Duke of Milan.  
IT was told to Galatius that there was in Milan a very crafty and subtle Lawyer for inventing of means to prolong causes, and to make them never ended whensoever he had undertaken to do it either for favour or else for money. The Duke desirous to try his skill, inquired of one of his stewards if there were nothing due to any that furnished his house with provision and necessaries. The books of account being perused, there was found a hundredth pounds to be due to the Baker. Hereupon the Duke caused the poor man to repair before the Senate, and addressing himself to this advocate, demanded counsel of him for delaying the payment of this money. The Lawyer promised the Duke that he would find means and law that the Baker should finger no part of that money in a whole year, or else in two, if it seemed good unto him. The cause being debated and ready to be judged, the Duke himself demanded of the Lawyer if it were possible to find some further remedy to delay the payment of the said sum. To whom the crafty Lawyer answered, that the cause should not be ended yet in two years. O wonderful injustice (quoth the Duke) and man full of iniquity? Knowest thou not that I own the man this money? Wilt thou against my conscience & thine own wilfully frustrate the poor of their right, and of that which is due unto them? Shall a man go to law for that which he oweth, Take this villain hence, said he, unto his men, and let him presently be executed without further judgement, and let his body be quartered, to the end that other may take example by his fall to beware of the like, and that hereafter the Commonwealth be no more corrupted by him. This sentence with the full consent of the Senate was presently executed.   

The great charity of a Duke of Savoy.  
A Certain Duke of Savoy being asked by the ambassadors of the king of Naples, where his Gray-hounds were which he fed for the chase, and moreover that it would please him to let them have a view of them: The Duke did defer it till the next day, saying, that if they would then take the pains to come unto him, they should have a sight thereof. The next day as they came at the time appointed, he brought them into a great and large hall, where a great number of poor people were eating and drinking at a long table. Behold now, quoth the Duke to the Ambassadors, the Gray-hounds which I feed, wherewith I pretend to chase and to take (next that which my Saviour hath purchased for us all) the kingdom of heaven and life everlasting.  
The works of charity are of so great force that the Scripture in every place doth most earnestly commend them unto us, with such an assurance of reward, that a cup of cold water shall not be given for God's sake without a tenfold recompense.   

The pleasant answer of a Gentleman.  
A Young Gentleman whose mother was lately deceased, did mourn for her, and being seen upon a certain time in the kings court mounted a horse back with his foot-cloth of crimson velvet, the ladies & other damosels of the court laughed him to scorn, saying, that they found it very strange to see his horse decked with a foot-cloth of red velvet, whereas he himself did mourn for the death of his Mother. My ladies (replied the Gentleman hereupon) you have herein some reason, but yet ye ought to consider likewise that the mother of my horse is not yet dead as that he should mourn for her.   

Of Cardinal Cossa that made himself Pope by force.  
THe Cardinals being assembled together in the city of Bologne upon the election of a new Pope immediately after the decease of Pope Alexander, Cardinal Balthasar Cossa (bishop of the said place) came also there in counsel accompanied with a great number of soldiers, saying to all the Cardinals there present, if they did not choose a Pope according to his mind and liking, that he would make them all to repent it. The whole assembly being astonished at these threatenings, and seeing so many soldiers about the counsel house, named divers unto him, but none did like orcontent him. Hereupon as they were all taken with a great fear, willed him to name one himself, and if he were fit for the place, they said that they would accept of him. Cossa hereupon called for the Papal cope for to put it upon him whom he would have chosen, which as it was brought, took it, and casting it over his own shoulders said, Ego sum Papa. The Cardinals although it was an act against custom, were notwithstanding constrained to consent to this extraordinary election, and called him Pope john the thirteenth.  
Ambition in all estates causeth great troubles, and bringeth the ministry in great contempt.   

Of a request presented to king Alphonsus.  
BEcause king Alphonsus was known to be a Prince delighting greatly in the hearing and saying of words well and readily spoken. A certain man of base degree and somwhar needy, addressed himself to the king, saying, My sovereign do justice unto me and give me the law, I have a creditor to whom my father now lately deceased did owe a debt, my father left me nothing wherewith to pay him, yet notwithstanding upon his earnest suit I made shift to pay it him, and he so instantly demanded the same again afterward of me, that I was forced to pay him the same debt again: He yet not contented herewith, did molest me afterward again for the same debt, and yet at this present sues me most vehemently for it. I have left nothing wherewith I should pay him, and if your grace doth not assist me in this extremity, I shall be undone for ever. Truly (quoth the king) this is an unreasonable and a most cruel creditor, What is he for one? My liege (answered the poor man) it is my belly, to whom I have paid the debt so long and so oftentimes, that nothing is remained wherewith to content him any more, these are therefore humbly to entreat your grace to assist me in my wants, & to help me for to give him his due. I have such another creditor (said the king:) your grace speaketh most true answered the poor man, but God be thanked you have always enough wherewith to pay him, and not I. The King hearing this request so well invented, commanded a piece of money to be given him.   

King Lewis sayings touching those that had benefices and offices.  
He was wont to say that asses had for the most part better days and lived more at hearts ease then horses did, for horses (quoth he) run in post to Rome for prebends and benefices, whereof many asses are already provided.   

Of king Alphonsus.  
THis king as he heard upon a time that a certain king of Spain had said that literature was not greatly to be required in a Prince, answered, That this was bellowed as an ox, and not spoken as a king: and that they were not the words of a man, but of a crowned ass.   

Of the same king, and one begging another man's office.  
A Certain officer of his having with an amorous potion lost his wits, one of the Courtiers did beg for his office and living, as if it were unmeet that his place ware supplied by a mad man. It were a most ungodly deed (answered the king) to take the substance and living from him whom God hath barred from all means to get and gather any more hereafter.   

The last will and Testament of a Lawyer.  
A Certain Lawyer having in his life time gathered together great riches, & having no kindred to whom he might bequeath his wealth, as he lay upon his death bed, disposed all his goods to be employed in the building of an hospital, wherein no other diseased persons should be received but such as were mad and lunatic, and allowing every man a large and ample portion to their maintenance, willed that upon both the gates of the hospital this poesy should be engraved in golden letters, Of mad men I got it, to mad men I leave it.   

The counsel which Cosme de medicis gave to a certain officer.  
A Certain man as he had gotten an office not far from Florence by the mean of Cosme de medicis, demanded and asked counsel of the said Lord how he were best to behave himself in his place for to keep himself in authority. The lord Cosme gave him this answer, Apparel thyself richly, and speak little.  
He that speaketh little cannot be reproved of folly, and brave attire increaseth reputation.   

A bold answer which a captain gave to king Charles the seventh.  
A Certain Captain being sent from the camp to Charles the seventh, King of France, for to show unto him the whole estate of the Army, and that for want of victuals, money and other necessaries of war, the Frenchmen had lost some holds, towns and battles, against the Englishmen. The king willing to use some private familiarity with him, showed him all his dainty fare, delicious provisions and furniture, all his pastimes, his ladies and sumptuous banquets, and all other such like things wherein he took his chiefest recreation and felicity. And as he demanded how it did like him, the Captain boldly & without fear gave him this bold and resolute answer, My sovereign (quoth he) I never saw Prince that lost his own more pleasanter than your Majesty.  
He is very blind that sporteth when the roof of his house is on fire.   

The saying of Pope Vrban the fift of that name.  
Charles' king of France willing to void his Realm of all outlandish and foreign soldiers, who after the contract of peace did straggle and range abroad and lived upon the spoil of the poor Farmers and husbandmen: The lord Bartrand obtained a commission of the king for to lead them into the kingdom of Granada against the Turks and Sarrazins. And as Pope Vrban had excommunicated all this desperate crew of soldiers for their violence and robberies by them committed under the name and title of the Great companies, The lord Bartrand being General of the Army brought them through Auingnon where Pope Vrban was resident, who immediately here upon sent one of his Cardinals unto them for to know what was their demand. Unto whom the lord Bartrand said, Tell our Holy father that these men demand a full pardon, De culpa & poena of all their sins, and chiefly for them which they are now excommunicated for: And besides five thousand crowns for their conduct money upon this voyage and journey, which is to the establishment and enlargement of the Christian faith and religion. The Cardinal having done this message to the Pope, he gave him this answer and said: These are a strange kind of people that desire both money and absolution, whereas we are always wont to receive money for our pardons and absolutions.   

A worthy sentence of Solyman the great Turk to Villiars master of Rhodes.  
WHen Villiars grand-maister of Rhodes, was forced to yield the city and Island of Rhodes unto Sultan Solyman, and as he came to the said Prince to compound and agree with him upon the taking of his leave for his return into Christendom, the Turk spoke a word unto him answerable unto his greatness & calling. The loss of cities, principalities and kingdoms, is a thing so common amongst men, that it only might suffice to testify that we are all subject to infinite miseries.   

Of Pope Boniface.  
POpe Boniface ere he was chosen to be Pope of Rome, used a very strict kind of life, for his ordinary diet was for the most part nothing else but a crust of dry bread with a cup of cold water, and in steed of a linen cloth caused always his table to be covered with a net. And being demanded of his friends why he used so sober diet, answered, that Panis & aqua, was Vita beata. But as he was now come to the papal dignity, and as his servants were ready to serve him according to his former order, away (quoth he) unto them with this kind of diet, for know you not that Aqua & panis, est vita canis? And further, said he, seeve me with a napkin in steed of a net, for now the prey is taken. It is said of this Pope, that he entered as a Fox, reigned as a lion, and died as a dog: for by hypocrisy he came to that place, behaved himself in his government most cruelly, and at last was hanged out of a window, and so these three sayings were verified.   

King Alphonsus answer to a prodigal Gentleman.  
A Certain Gentleman having wasted and spent all his stock and patrimony upon the pleasure of his body, and moreover being greatly indebted to his creditors who did sue him by law and imprisonment for to come by their own, his friends came to the king humbly requesting his highness, that it would please him to command that the Gentleman might not be molested with imprisonment, unto whom the king made this answer 〈…〉 had spent his 〈…〉 entertain●● 〈…〉 ●●nce of hi● 〈…〉 her 〈…〉, I 〈…〉 only, it is great reason that his body also smart for it.   

An act of the Duchess of Bourbon.  
THe Duchess of Bourbon having in her court a certain weighting maid, who for love had forgotten herself, and so was gotten with child: as she was chidden and reproved for her fault, said to excuse it and to save her honesty, that a Gentleman of the house had forced and deflowered her against her will. The Gentleman hereupon being called for to appear and clear himself before the duchess, she finding him 〈…〉 should never have fallen into this inconvenience, where you are in at this present by your own fault and folly.   

Of King Francis and a Friar.  
FRancis the first of that name King of France, as he was playing at Tennis with a Friar, for whom purposely he had sent, because his Majesty knew him to be a very good and skilful player: as they had played together a pretty while, at last the Friar took a Ball with so great a dexterity and so good a nimbleness of body that it was not done without great wondering of all the beholders. The king himself seeing it, by my truth (quoth he) most bravely done of a Friar. It shall be of an Abbot (replied the Friar upon it) whensoever it shall seem good to your grace. The king being thus twice at one time surprised by a Friar, and the Abbey of Bergomoy being vacant at that present, made him for them words (so well and readily spoken) Abbot of it.   

The ready wit of a Venetian Gentleman.  
A Young Lawyer coming before the Senate of Venice for to debate a cause and matter in law, partly with fear and partly with shame, his tongue upon the sudden failed him: Many of the assistants hereupon began to laugh at him. A Gentleman there present not unprovided of a pleasant reason said unto them, Marvel not sirs, that his speech thus faileth him, for naturally (as the Philosophers say) man apperceiving a Wolf suddenly looseth his speech, and no marvel then if this young advocate seeing so many people in this place is thus suddenly taken and tongtied.   

The verses which the Emperor Frederick sent to the Pope, and the Pope's answer upon them.  FRedericke Emperor of Germany, upon his excommunication by the Pope, sent unto him these verses. 
Roma diu totubans varijs erroribus acta  
Corruet & mundi desinet esse caput.  The Pope's answer. 
Niteris incassum navem submergere Petri:  
Fluctuat, at nunquam mergitur illa ratis.  The Emperor. 
Fata volunt, stellaque docent, awimque volatus  
Quod Fredericus ego malleus orbis ero.  The Pope. 
Fata volunt, scriptura docet, peccata loquntur  
Quod tibi vita brevis, poena perrennis erit.  
The Emperor being at last reconciled again, and coming to Rome to submit himself to the Pope, as he was thither arrived and did humble himself at his feet, the Pope most arrogantly treading upon the emperors shoulders, and using these speeches unto him, Super aspidem & Basiliscum ambulabis & non inficient calceaneum pedis tui. The Emperor moved at this extreme pride, said to the Pope again, Non tibi, sed Petro. The Pope most presumptuously answered unto it again, Et mihi & Petro, and so dismissed the Emperor.   

An act of a Duke of Savoy.  
PEter Duke of Savoy as he went to the Emperor Otto the fourth, for to give him thanks for his lands which he had restored again unto him, attired himself in a coat half of male and half of tissue. The Emperor demanding him why he did wear so strange and disguised a cote of tissue and half of male, answered that he did wear the cloth of gold on his right side for to honour therewith his Majesty. And as touching my left side (quoth he) it signifieth that if any man seeketh to wrong or injury me I am ready to answer him in any place, and defend myself as long as a drop of blood shall be remaining within me.   

The answer which the Emperor Maximilian gave to him that sued unto him for to be a gentleman.  
THe Emperor Maximilian as he was at Bologne, a certain Citizen of that place being of no gentility, otherwise very rich of substance and possessions, came to the Emperor and desired his grace that it would please him for to make him a Gentleman, saying that he had wealth enough to maintain the state of it. The Emperor answered him, saying. I can make thee (my friend) far richer than thou art, but I am not able to make thee a Gentleman, for unto this degree of honour thou must attain either by thine own or else thy ancestors virtue and valiantness.    

VICTUS ET CULTUS ratio exposita quatuor in singulos menses Versibus, Per joachimum Camerarium.  

JANVARIUS.  
MEnsis amat tepido ianidocurrcre victu,  
Et refici grato saepe liquore jubet.  
Vena tibi nullos exudet secta cruores  
Sed calida fas est mergere corpus aqua.   

FEBRVARIUS.  
Februae olus, volucresque cibis odere palustres  
Esseque inertifica Febre timenda solent.  
Pharmaca tunc hauri tunc scinde in pollice venam  
Et calido multum flumine membra foue.   

MARTIUS.  
Martius humores & terrae & corporis auget,  
Tunc ratio est pari magna tuenda cibi  
Dulcia tunc prosunt acri condita sapore.  
Pharmaca non prosunt venam aperire nocet.   

APRILIS.  
Frigore vim lente revocat telluris. Aprilis,  
Tunc etiam est tenuis perque forata cutis.  
Tunc intus sunt aucta magis suntque omnia plena  
solvere se venter, vena apperire jubet.   

MAIUS.  
Omnia iam florènt iam formosissimus annus  
Jamque sibi cuncti mollius esse volunt.  
Balnea nunc cole, nunc sit pharmaca sumere cura  
Et tibi nunc misso sanguine vena fluat.   

JUNIUS.  
junius & gaudet gelidis & pascitur herbis  
Vivifico humori tunc inimica fuge.  
Laetitià & recreet tunc mentem blanda voluptas  
Affligat corpus nec medicina tuum.   

JULIUS.  
Aeris ignufluos intendit julius aestus  
Hoc brcuior somno tempore danda quies  
Balnea vitentur nec venam tangere ferro  
Nec dominae petulans accubuisse velis.   

AUGUSTUS.  
Ipse etiam Augustus somnum restringit & escas  
Et veneris cupidos gaudia ferre vetat.  
Pharmaca nemo bibat laceret neque corpora ferro  
Nec gelidas intra delicietur aquas.   

SEPTEMBER.  
Poma dat & gratos September ab arbore fructus  
Tunc etiam presso pascere lact caprae.  
Phaermaca nil prohibet tunc sumere, scindere venam,  
Nec tuus externum vitet aroma cibus.   

OCTOBER.  
Octobri offertur venatio viva, volucres:  
Vtere, nec dubites non tenuisse modum.  
Sic tamen ut ne oneres nimio praecordia victu.  
Cumque modo studeas non tenuisse modum.   

NOVEMBER.  
Esse salutaris perbibetur Mulsa Novembri  
Gingiber & dulci fissile melle natans.  
Tum neque saepe laues, veneris neque sacra frequentes,  
Ante senex tempus ne videare suum.   

DECEMBER.  
Juxta mense focum calidis utare Decembri.  
Tunc iaceant mensis gramina nulla tuis.  
Incidas capitis defensi à frigore venam,  
Cinnameoque tuus fragret odore calix.    

De ratione victus salutaris post incisam venam & emissum sanguinem ad Armatum Epigramma Anastasij.  

VEnam Armate tibi medici incidêre, timenti  
Nescio ventriculi qualia damna mali.  
Nunc quo vita modo fuso peragenda cruore  
Sitque dieta tibi qualis habenda, rogas:  
Illi morborum dicant Armate, periti  
Haec non est nostra falce metenda seges.  
Non m●ssum facis & cupio ex te audire diserti  
Atque aliquid tua quod Pieris ornet, ais.  
Accipe qua idoquidem nugas ad seria ducis,  
Quae facias octo versibus octo dies.  
Prima ●aena die sit misso sanguine parca:  
Lux abeat laetis aucta secunda modis  
Tertia sed placidae debetur tota quieti:  
Quarta & quinta sibi mollius esse volant.  
Balnea sexta petit: mox septima colligit auras  
Fertque vagos circumrura nemusque pedes.  
Octava amplexus dilectae coniugis, & quae  
Ante fuit, vitam restituisse solet.   
FINIS.