A posie of gilloflowers eche differing from other in colour and odour, yet all sweete. By Humfrey Gifford gent.

¶The Florentines and the Citizens of Bergamaske, bring all their Doctors to a disputati∣on, and they of the citie of Bergamaske, with a prety pol∣licie confuted, and had the victorie of the Florentines.

IN times past, it happened that diuers Mer∣chants of Florentine and Bergamaske, met: who riding together (as it often chanceth) had talk and conference of diuers matters, and digressing from one thing too another, one of the Florentines sayde, Truely you of Bergamaske (as farre as I can perceiue) are dull sprited, and men of small capacity, and were it not for that litle traffique of merchandise that yée practize, for the great grosenesse and vnaptnesse that is in you, yée were good for nothing. And it comes to passe, that yée haue prosperous successe in marchandise, not for any skil that ye haue, or dexte∣ritie of witte, but for the greedines, and couetousnes of gain, that is in you. For I knowe not any that may goe beyonde you, in grosenesse and blockishnesse. Hauing thus spoken, one of the citie of Bergamaske, stept foorth and made him an∣swere, saying: And I tell thée that we of Bergamaske in all poyntes, are able to goe beyond you. And albéeit you Flo∣rentines are smoothly tounged, & bring greater delight with your fyled spéech, to the eares of the hearers, then we: neuer∣thelesse in all other thinges yée are farre inferiour vnto vs, & if yée consider it wel, there is not one amongst vs, be hee great or litle, but hath some smacke in learning; and herewith we are apt to euery couragious enterprise, which is not found in you, or if it bée, it is in very few of you.

The contention growing to bée very great, both of the one side, and the other, they of the Citie of Bergamaske not en∣tending to yéeld vnto the Florentines, nor the Florentines to them, euery one defending his owne side with great stout∣nesse, one of Bergamaske stoode vp, and saide. To what end are all these wordes? Let vs make proofe of it by déedes. Let a solemne disputation be appoynted, wherat y^e flowre of learning, and doctors may méete, and then shall it manifestly bée séene, which of vs is most excellent. Héerevnto the Florentines yéelded their consent: but this was the diffe∣rēce; whether y^e Florentines should go to Bergamaske, or they of Bergamask to Florence. After many words, it was cōclu∣ded y^• they should cast lots. And it so fel out, y^e the Florentines must go to the Cittie of Bergamaske. The day of disputa∣tion was nominated to bée in the moneth of May. The Merchantes returned to their Cities; and acquainted their Doctors, and other learned men what match they had made•• who vnderstanding the matter, were very well pleased, and made prouision for a gallant and long disputation.

They of the Towne of Bergamaske, as wise and subtill men, determined to worke so, that the Florentines should re∣maine both confuted and scorned. Wherefore all the most learned men of the Citie being assembled, as well Gram∣marians as Rhetoricians; and wel common lawieres, as Ca∣nonistes, as well Philosophers, as diuines, and Doctours and maisters of all other sortes whatsoeuer, they made choyce of the chiefest of them, and retained them in theyr Citie, that they might bée their rocke and sortresse in theyr disputation against the Florentines. The others being ap∣parelled in course and ragged apparell, against the day of the disputations, they sent forth of the Citie, towardes that parte where the Florentines must néedes come. And charge was giuen, that they should speake nothing vnto them but Latine.

These Doctors being thus attirde in clownish apparell,

and intermixt amongst them, of pollicie, they set handes vn∣to diuers exercises: some digged ditches, some caryed wood, and some did one thing, and some an other.

These Doctors of Bergamaske remayning in these exer∣cises, and seeming to bée clownes, beholde the Florentine Doctors came ryding by with great pompe, who séeing these labourers, sayde vnto them, God saue you brethren. To whome the clownes answered in latine, Benè veniant tan∣ti viri. The Florentines thinking that they iested, demaun∣ded how many miles it was to the Citie of Bergamaske: to whome the Clownes answered, decem, vel circa.

The Florentines hearing this aunswere; vnto them. O brethren, wée speake vnto you, in your mother tongue, and from whence comes it, that you aunswere vs in latine? They of Bergamaske replyed: Ne miremini, excellentissimi Domini, vnusquisque enim nostrûm, sic vt auditis loquitur, quoniam Maiores & sapientes nostri sic nos docuerunt.

Riding on their iourney a good distaunce off, they saw o∣ther clownes, which in the broad wayes clensed diches: and staying, sayde vnto them. Hoe companions, God spéede you: to whome they aunswered: Et Deus vobiscum semper sit. How farre is it to Bergamaske? saide the Florentines. The other aunswered, Exigua vobis restat via. And entring from one worde to another, they beganne at length to reason in Philosophy, and these clownes of Bergamaske framed their arguments so strongly and profoundly, that the Florentine Doctors were scarse able to aunswere them. At which all of them wondring, saide amongst themselues: How is it pos∣sible, that these clownish men, brought vp in digging of the ground, and other rusticall exercises, should bée so well in∣structed in humane sciences? Departing from them, they road towardes an inne, not farre distant from the Citie, which was fayre and large. As they came somewhat néere it, an Ostler came forth to inuite them, saying: Domini, libèt ne vobis hospitari? Hîc enim vobis erit bonum hos∣pitium.

And for that the Florentines were very weary, they alighted, and meant to ryde no farther that night. As they were mounting vp the stayres to goe to their lodging, the goodman of the Inne met them, saying: Excellentissimi Do∣mini, placétne vobis, vt praeparetur coena? híc enim sunt bona vina, oua recentia, carnes, volatilia, & alia huiusmo∣di. Heereat the Florentines were amased, and knew not what to say: for that all they, with whome they had spéech, spake latine, and pronounced no otherwise, then if they had béene brought vp in studie all the dayes of their lyfe. Shortly after a maide seruaunt, indéed•• came vnto them, which was a young woman, both wittie and learned, and craftily brought thither for the purpose, which sayde. Indigéntne dominationes vestrae re aliqua? placét vt sternentur lectuli, vt requiem capiatis? These wordes of the Maiden brought greater astonishment to the Florentines, who began to rea∣son with her, who hauing answered to many thinges excée∣dingly well, (and all in latine) they questioned with her of diuinitie, of which shée did argue so catholiquely, that there was not any y^• heard her, but gaue her singular commenda∣tion. Whiles the Maiden talked with them, there came one in, arayde like a baker, his face blackt with coales: who hea∣ring the disputation that they had with the Maiden, began to argue in her defence, and interpreted the holy scriptures so learnedly, that al the Florentine doctors affirmed amōgst themselues, that they had seldome or neuer heard his better. This d••sputation being finisht, the Florentine Doctors wēt to supper, and so to their rest. And the next day approching, they tooke counsell amongst themselues, whether it were better to goe forwards, or returne home againe. After great contention had about this matter, they resolued, that it was better to departe, thinking thus with themselues, that if the Inkéepers, labourers, hostlers, & women had such profound learning: what was to bée looked for in the Citie, where are most excellent men, which continually followe nothing els but their bookes and studie.

This determination being well considered of, without any longer tariaunce, they put it in practise. And not as much as séeing the walles of the Citie of Bergamaske, taking their horses, tooke their iourney backe againe towardes Florence. And in this maner, the Florentines were by pollicie conque∣red of thē of Bergamaske. And from thēce forwards the Citi∣zens of Bergamaske had a priuiledge from the Emperour, to passe safely through all the partes of the world, without th•• let or disturbance of any man.