Not to be hasty in the matter of Revenge. [ 1579]
IT is reported of Iames the Fourth,* 1.1 King of Scotland, that being much offended with the Earl Crawford, he vowed to pull down his house from the top to the bottom; but the Earl by his timely submission took off the edge of the Kings anger against him; Insomuch, that the King (that he might in some sort be as big as his word) went up to the top of his house, and without doing any more harm at all, threw down a little stone which was closed to the Fabrick, which is to this day kept as a Monument of the Kings favour to that Family. And thus it were to be wished,* 1.2 that Men in the height and heat of their passion would throw themselves down at the footstool of him to whom vengeance belongeth, not to be hasty in matters of Revenge, and upon every sleight occasion, or the least punctilio of honour to be ready to sheath their swords in the bowels of one ano∣ther;* 1.3 thus to do, is sawcily to seat themselves upon Gods throne, and as much as in them lyeth, to wrest the sword out of his hands; But let all such know, that the lesse any Man strives for himself, the more God is his Champion; and he that said, I seek not my own glory, addes, but there is one that seeks it and judgeth. God takes his part ever that fights not for himself.