The historie of Philip de Commines Knight, Lord of Argenton

About this Item

Title
The historie of Philip de Commines Knight, Lord of Argenton
Author
Commynes, Philippe de, ca. 1447-1511.
Publication
Imprinted at London :: By Ar. Hatfield, for I. Norton,
1596.
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Subject terms
France -- History -- House of Valois, 1328-1589 -- Early works to 1800.
Link to this Item
http://name.umdl.umich.edu/A19191.0001.001
Cite this Item
"The historie of Philip de Commines Knight, Lord of Argenton." In the digital collection Early English Books Online. https://name.umdl.umich.edu/A19191.0001.001. University of Michigan Library Digital Collections. Accessed May 8, 2025.

Pages

The conclusion of the Author.

YOw see heere a great number of great personages dead in short space, who trauelled so mightily, and indured so many anguishes and sor∣rowes to purchase honor and renoume, whereby they abridged their liues, yea and peraduenture charged their soules. I speake not this of the Turke, for I make account he is lodged with his predecessors; but our King and the rest, I trust, God hath taken to his mercy. Now to speake of this point as a man vnlearned, but hauing some experience: had it not been better both for these great Princes themselues and all their subiects that liued vnder them, and shall liue vnder their successors, to haue held a meane in all things, that is to say, to haue attempted fewer enterprises, to haue feared more to offend God, and perse∣cute their subiects and neighbors so many sundry waies aboue rehearsed, and to haue vsed honest pleasures and recreation? Yes sure. For by that meanes their liues should haue been prolonged, diseases should not so soone haue assailed them, their death should haue been more lamented, and lesse desired; yea, and they should haue had lesse cause to feare death. What goodlier examples can we finde to teach vs that man is but a shadowe, that our life is miserable and short, and that we are nothing, neither great nor small? For immediately after our death, all men abhorre and loath our bodies, and so soone as the soule is seuered from the body, it goeth to receiue iudgement; yea vndoubtedly at the very instant that the soule and body part, the iudgement of God is giuen according to our merits and deserts, which is the particular iudgement of God.

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