The application of certain histories concerning ambassadours and their functions, by Francis Thynn, Esquire. Taken out of Sir Robert Cottons library.:

CHAP. 11. Of the foolish sayings, and doings of Ambassadours.

NOtwithstanding that it often happeneth to be counted a point of wisdome to dissemble, and to utter great folly, yet in a Legate, in a matter of gravitie, in the benefit of a Countrie, in the cause of a King, to shew either folly in the tongue, rash∣nesse

in the hand, light∣ness in the gesture, clow∣nishness in action, or want of good government in ordering himselfe, is not simply a fault in the A∣gent, which yet is not to bee allowed, but also it stretcheth further, and ministreth occasion to condemn the Master, or Prince, for want of judge∣ment, that either hee had not people out of whom, or else had not in him to discern to whom he might have better committed such a waighty charge, a thing not to be imagined of the head, and Gover∣nour of the Common∣wealth,

and kingdome; Wherefore as you have before on the one side wise Ambassadours, ho∣noured and commended for their singular and quick wits in answering, for their worthy, and pru∣dent dispatch of their Embassie in action. So on the other side you shall now see, That they who doe not advisedly consi∣der the place wherein, the person to whom, the mat∣ter whereof they are to use their speech, doe not only fall into many grosse errors, which hurt them∣selves, in jurie their Coun∣tries, and shame their

Princes; But that they al∣so thereby become a note, and blot of Ignominie to be left behind them in their utter condemnation, and the heavy reproch of their posteritie, as is pro∣ved by these persons fol∣lowing, vouched for that intent, whose children al∣though they might be condemned, as discended from Ambassadours, yet it is reprochfull to have the folly, and evill of their Ancestors to be spightful∣ly objected unto them. And so to the matter. The people of Florence sent an Orator or Ambas∣sadour to Jane Queen of

Naples (of life inconti∣nent, and such a person as hanged her Husband, a gallant young Prince, out of her Chamber window, for that he could not the night before content her immoderate, and insatia∣ble leacherie) called Fran∣cis, a certain Lawyer by profession, but better lear∣ned in wearing the appa∣rell of a Civillian, than deeply seen in the judge∣ment of Justinian; And yet more unlearned in∣deed then he appeared in shew. This man being called into the Queens presence to performe his charge; when he had ut∣tered

with some good care the effects of his Le∣gation, was the next day commanded to return to the Court to hear his an∣swer: (In the mean time having intelligence, that the Queen loved proper men, not disdaining such persons as were of excel∣lent beauty) but when ac∣cording to commande∣ment he was returned to Court, there after many things spoken this way, and that way, about his Embassie unto the Queen, at length more impudent than wise, more glorious than seemly, brake with the Queen, and said, that

he had farre more secret matters to impart unto her. Whereupon the gen∣tle Queen desirous to sa∣tisfie his Legation in all convenient order, and deeming the matters of great importance should be revealed unto her self, courteously called him in∣to a more secret place, where the fool, besides all order, and civilitie, much flattering himselfe in the excellencie of his beautie, demanded of her societie in the act of Venus. At which the wise Queen no∣thing abashed, nor altered into any sudden passion, beholding the counte∣nance

of the man, did on∣ly smiling ask whether the Florentines had given him the same in commissi∣on also, and telling him that he were best to have authority therefore, with∣out further anger willed him to depart home. Pog∣gius in facetiis.

Ariston the Tyrant of Athens, (besieged and subdued by L. Sylla, and being in great povertie, and want of all things) did send two Legates, or Messengers into the Camp to Sylla (but they with the minds of Ty∣rants, and not with an humble, or gentle stile ap∣plied

to the present for∣tune beginning with the praise of Theseus, and Eu∣molisuenta, together with the memorie of things done against the Medes, and other Nations by the Athenians, did glorious∣ly, and foolishly execute their Legation, by which they did not only not mitigate the mind of the enemy, but made him far more offended than hee was before, saying that they were a people most happy, and therefore meete to carry back such praises again, for hee was sent to Athens by the Ci∣ty of Rome, not to be in∣structed

in learning, but utterly to overthrow the taken City of Athens, which he did after per∣forme. Sab. li. 9. en. 6. ex Plut. Sylla.

The Perusines sending Orators to Urbaim Bishop of Rome, (afflicted with sicknesse) one of them without respect of the griefe of the Pope, used a long, and tedious Ora∣tion. The other who grieved at the folly of the first Speaker, then being to mend all, fell into a far more offence to move an∣ger in the Bishop, saying, That it was given them in charge, that except they

were answered forthwith, they should repeat the same Oration again. At whose folly the Bishop smiling, cōmanded them to be quickly dispatched. Poggius in facetiis.

Franciscus Codelmerius a Cardinall, being with a Navy sent Legate against the Turks, subduing Hel∣lespont, by his folly, and ignorance, suffered the Turks to passe out of that streight, and gave no war∣ning to the Christians, wherein he might, and did seem to be author (by his stupiditie) of that me∣morable, and lamentable slaughter of the Christi∣ans

at Varua. Garimber∣tus, li. 6. De vitis Ponti∣ficum.

In the wars which were kept between Pope Gre∣gorie the Eleventh, and the Florentines, a Legate of the Racavatenses being sent to Florence, gave them thanks for the liber∣ties restored, inveighing with many despightfull words against the Bishop, and the Princes of the Ci∣ty, & the Ministers of the Bishop, having no respect to Radolphus, Lord of the Camerines, who was then Potimansis or chiefe Go∣vernour of Florence, for the Bishop. Whereupon

Radolphus demanded of the Ambassadour of what facultie or Art he was, to whom he answered, a Do∣ctor of the Civill Law, then he asked how long he had applied that stu∣die, the Legate said, more than ten years. O reply∣ed Radolphus, very glad would I have been, that you had bestowed a yeare thereof to learn discreti∣on, and wisdome, judge∣ing him a simple foole, that in his presence being one of the number, would so lavishly bluster out such heavie words against the Princes and Rulers. Poggius.

The Venetians dispat∣ched two young Legates to Frederick the third Emperour, who being highly offended with their young yeares, forbade them to approach his pre∣sence, yet at the length they obtained this favour, that they were privatly, and without the order of the Custome of Ambas∣sadours (which openly should deliver their Mes∣sage) brought to the Em∣perour, at what time, be∣yond all humanitie, or wisdome, out of the mat∣ter propounded, they said that if all wisdome and learning rested in a beard,

and in white haires, the Senate of Venice had in place of them, to send to the Emperour two faire Barbara Goates, with which proud answer, they confirmed the suspition this Emperour conceived of their folly. Aegidius Cororetus de dictis, & fa∣ctis memor.

And here winding up the Clue of my raw thred, spun, and woven to make the mournfull garment for unfit Ambassadours to wear, that is, to cloth them with reproch to po∣steritie, for that they were foolish, Traytors, proud, disdainfull, unfit for so

honourable a place, I will only now adde to this matter one title more, be∣ing a badge of their office, and so set end to this un∣orderly discourse of mat∣ters belonging to Ambas∣sadours, for both short∣nesse of time, and tedi∣ousnesse of the matter, and indigestion in the me∣thod, doe will mee with speed (remembring Solo∣mons divine Speech, That in multiloquio non deest peccatum) to draw to my journeys end, lest my weary hand, and my ty∣red Pen, thinking to reach to a further place, doe

break their wind, and cast their Master into the myre, whose end is then farre worse than his hastie beginning. And thus to the last title.