APOPHTH. 14.

THe Marquess had a mind to tell the King (as handsomely as he could) of some of his (as he thought) faults, and thus he con∣trives his plot, against the time that his Ma∣jesty was wont to give his Lordship a visit, as commonly he us'd to do after dinner, his Lord∣ship had the book of John Gower, lying be∣fore him on the Table. The King casting his eye upon the book, told the Marquess that he had never seen it before. O said the Marquess, it is the book of books, which if your Majesty had been well vers'd in, it would have made you a King of Kings. Why so my Lord? said the King, why said the Marquess, here is set down how Aristotle brought up, and instructed A∣lexander the great in all the rudiments, and principles, belonging to a Prince, and under the persons of Alexander and Aristotle, he read the King such a lesson, that all the stan∣ders by were amazed at the boldness; and the King supposing that he had gone further Page  20 then his Text would have given him leave: asked the Marq; if he had his lesson by heart, or whether he spake out of the book: the Marquess replyed, Sir, if you could read my heart, it may be you might find it then. Or if your Majesty please to get it by heart, I will lend you my book: which latter profer, the King ac∣cep•ed of, and did borrow it; nay said the Marquess, I will lend it you upon these con∣ditions, first, that you read it, secondly, that you make use of it; but perceiving how that some of the new made Lords, fretted and bit their thumbs at certain passages in the Mar∣quesses discourse, he thought a little to please his Majesty, though he pleas'd them the men, who were so much displeased allready, pro∣testing unto his Majesty, that no man was so much for the absolute power of a King: as Aristotle, desiring the book out of the Kings hand, he told the King, that he would shew him one remarkable passage to that purpose, turning to that place that had this verse, viz.

Whereupon there were divers new made Lords, who slunk out of the roome, which the King observing, told the Marquess, my Lord at this rate you'l drive away all my Nobility, the Marquesse replyed, I protest unto your Majesty, I am as new a made Lord as any of them all, but I was never call'd knave and rogue, so much in all my life, as I have been since I received this last Honour, and why should not they bear their shares?