Aurea Legenda, or Apothegms, sentences, and sayings of many wise and learned men, useful for all sorts of persons Collected out of many authors by Sa. Clark, sometimes pastor in B.F.

Choice Examples, Apothegms, and Sayings of very Wise men.

CArdinal Wolsey providing as magni∣ficently for his Installation into his Arch-Bishoprick of York, as a King should do for his Coronation, improv∣ed thereby King Henry 8th's jealousie to his ruin. For in the midst of his Solem∣nities, he was arrested by the King's order, whose Wrath was the Messenger of Death, and a while after breathed forth his Soul in these Words: If I had served the God of Heaven as faithfully as I did my Master on Earth, he had not forsaken me in my Old Age as the other hath done. State Worthies, p. 19.

Plenty without Pomp, is Penury to Pride, which Kings may make humbled, God only humble; He being able to take away the Fire, the Lust within; the o∣ther only to withdraw the Fuel, the State without, p. 21.

Men die unpittied, that Live feared.

How many a Man had ended better if he had not begun so well. It's the Em∣phasis

of misery, to be too soon happy. Prosperity growing up with Experience, makes a Man in a firm settlement, inured to all events. I will always suspect the smooth Waters for deepness. In my worst Estate I will hope; In my best I will fear; in all, I will be Circumspect, and still.

Queen Elizabeth being to employ a famous Ambassage into France, made choice of two of the noblest Peers in her Realm, equal in Rank, equal in Vertue: but the one excused it by a defect in his hearing, and the other by his ignorance, and want of the French Language: To which the Queen smilingly replyed: That it was a miserable Estate, when her speaking Peers were Deaf, and her hearing Peers were Dumb.

We should be very cautious in menti∣oning the Name of God in small matters, according to that of the Poet,

Nec Deus intersit nisi dignus vindice Nodus Inciderit.—Name not God but in matters of great moment.

The Philosopher's division of men into three Ranks is observable. Some (said

he) are such as know good, and are wil∣ling to teach it unto others; These are like Gods among men. Others, tho they know not good, yet are willing to learn: These are like Men among Beasts: Others know not good, and despise such as should teach them: These are as Beasts among men.

Those are the most miserable among Men, who running their Head into a Bush of Confident ignorance, suppose that none see their Weakness, because they are not willing to take notice of it them∣selves.

Integrity out-lasts Power, and Plain∣ness survives Policy. An honest Heart keeps the Head on the Shoulders. A no∣ble and cleer Vertue is lasting.

A. B B. Cranmer used to say (as Victo∣rinus) There is a time to say nothing: There is a time to say something: But never a time to say all things.

Some of Sr. Thomas Moor's Apothegms were these. He is not always merry that Laugheth. The world is undone by looking on things at a distance. To aim at Honour here, is to set up a Coat of Arms over a Pri∣son Gate. If I would employ my Goods well I may be contented to lase them; if ill, I should

be glad. He that is Covetous when he is Old, is as a Thief that steals when he is go∣ing to the Gallows. Bags of Gold to us when Saints, will be but as Bags of Pebble-stones when Men. The greatest Punishment in the World were to have our Wishes. Pusillanimi∣ty is a great Temptation. Affliction undoes many; Pleasures most. We go to Hell with more Pains than we might go to Heaven with. Who would not send his Alms to Heaven? Who would not send his Estate whither he is to be banished?

Archer (King James his Jester) made him sensible of the danger the Prince was in, in Spain, by telling him that he came to change Caps with him. Why so? (said the King;) because thou hast sent the Prince into Spain from whence he is never like to return. But (said the King) what wilt thou say, when thou seest him return back again? Marry (said he) I will take off the Fools Cap, which I now put upon thy Head for sending him thi∣ther, and put it upon the King of Spain's Head, for letting him return.

Sr. Thomas Wiat told King Henry 8th, that he found out a Living of an Hundred pounds in the year, more than enough, and pray'd him to bestow it upon him:

Why? (said the King) we have none such in England. Yes (said Sr. Thomas) the Provost-ship of Eaton, where a Man hath his Dyet, his Lodging, his Horse-meat, his Servants Wages, his Riding-charges, and a 100 Pound Per annum besides.

Sr. Thomas Wiat's Jests were always confined to these Rules.

1. He never played upon a Man's un∣happiness, or Deformity: It being in∣humane so to do.

2. Nor upon his Superiors, which is Sawciness, and undutifulness.

3. Nor on serious, or holy Matters: For that's irreligious, and profane: Ap∣plying upon this occasion that of the A∣thenians, who would not suffer Pathus to play his Comedies, where Euripides repeat∣ed his Tragedies.

4. He had much Salt but no Gall: Of∣ten jesting, but never jeering.

5. He observed Times, Persons, and Circumstances: knowing when to speak, and when to hold his Peace too.

6. His apt, and handsome Reparties were rather natural than affected: Sub∣tile, and acute; Prompt and easie, yet not Careless: Never rendring himself Contemptible to please others.

7. His gift was not an insipid chang∣ing of Words, but a smart retort of Mat∣ters, which every Body was better pleas∣ed with than himself.

What is Prerogative but a great Name, when not exercised over a free People? And what is Priviledge but a fond imagination, when not secured under a a powerful King, that may keep us from being Slaves one to another by an Anar∣chy, while we strive to be free from his Tyranny.

We should not complain that we have little time, but that we spend much, ei∣ther in doing nothing, or in doing Evil, or in doing nothing to the Purpose.

Three things (said a Wise man) will settle a State. Good God-Fathers, and God-Mothers performing their Vows. Good Housholders over-looking their Families: And good School-Masters e∣ducating Youth. This last is the most useful, tho the most Contemptible Pro∣fession.

Reward (said the same Person when he was offered a sum of Money) should not empty the King's Coffers; neither should Riches be the pay of worth, which are meerly the Wages of Labour. He

that gives it, embaseth a Man; He that takes it, vilifies himself: Who is so most rewarded, is least.

Secretary Walsingham would say: Stay a little and we shall have done the sooner. Secretary Cecil would say: It shall never be said of me, that I will defer till to Mor∣row what I can do to day. Sr. Richard Mo∣rison would say: Give me this day, and take the next your self.

He that knoweth to speak well, knoweth also where he must hold his Peace, said the Old Grecian. Think an Hour before you speak, and a Day before you Promise, said one of our English Sages.

The two main Principles which Guide humane Nature (said Judg Dodderidg) are Conscience and Law: By the former we are obliged in reference to another World, by the latter in Relation to this.

When the Lord Chief Justice Fitz-James came upon the Bench, he knew no more than Melchisedech, or Levi, Fa∣ther, nor Mother, neither Friend, nor Interest. For when a Cousin of his urg∣ed for a kindness; Come to my House (said the Judg) and I will deny you nothing; Come to the King's Court, and I must do you Justice.

Plato said, That a Man's mind is the Chariot, Reason the Coach-man, Affecti∣ons the Horses, desire of Honour the Whips, both exciting to go forward, and awing to be exact: Honour, always keeping up curiously the Honoured Per∣son in an heigth of Action, that keeps an even Pace with admiration: Evenness, and Constancy being the Crown of Ver∣tue.

The Lord Gray was the first that brought a Coach into England: And Henry Fitz-Alan, Earl of Arundel, when he was Steward at King Edward the 6th's Coronation, was the first that rid in a Coach in England.

William Pawlet, Marquess of Winchester▪ was Servant to King Henry the 7th, and for Thirty years together Treasurer to King Henry the 8th, King Edward the 6th, Queen Mary, and Queen Elizabeth. Thus he served divers Soveraigns in ve∣ry mutable Times, being (as he said of himself:) no Oak, but an Osier. He had the rare happiness of setting in his full Splendour, having lived ninety seaven years, and seen a Hundred and three that descended out of his Body.

Sr. Henry Sidney's Motto was, I will

never threaten. For, to threaten an Ene∣my is to instruct him: A Superiour, is to endanger my Person: And an Inferiour, is to disparage my Conduct.