THis at first may seem a paradox ; but upon a deliberate consideration it will easily unriddle it self : For if you look upon a King ( in the first place ) as he is but a man , he is a Pilgrim , and no more . He begins his journey in his cradle , and travels every year from sorrow unto sorrow . The pleasures and pomp that courts him are but momentary , like a flash of lightning , that is rather the subject of his memory then his eye : But the troubles and the dangers are perpetual , and lie as heavy upon his heart as the Crown upon his head . This was not unaptly resembled by the Tyrant , who ( his friend affecting the crown ) did invite him to a Banquet , where there was nothing wanting either for abundance , or magnificence ; the Sea and Earth were examined for their rarest provisione to satisfie his palate , and on the Cupboard India did appear in all her treasures ; This indéed did promise a welcome above the invitation ; but behold , over his head a sword hung upon one hair , and by its ponderous burthen carrying a certain Death in its point , did threaten a sudden destruction to him , so that the edge of his appetite being taken off , and the Banquet ended , there needed no man to say so much as , Much good d'it you , to him .

And yet for all this , I know not by what secret temptation of Ambition it comes about , that the Crown is the onely object of all great Spirits , not considering what cares hang round about the ring ols of it . This was that which made the great Turkish Emperour , seeing a shepheard sitting on a hill , and making melody to himself , as he marched with his puissant Army against Tamberlane , O happy shepheard ( said he ) who hath neither any remarkable Town , nor any Army to lose .

Agreable to this , is what at least the Poets enform us of Henry the fourth of England , who lying on his Death-bed , and sending for the Crown , his Son came to visit him , and beholding the Crown on the pillow , and his Father so fast asléep that not the least motion of breath could be discovered to come from him to vex the lightest feather on the pillow , he took the Crown away , conceiving his Father to be dead . Not long after his Father did awake , and missing the Crown , demanded where it was , and who was so bold as to take it away ? It being answered , That his Son had it , to whom it was due by the right of succession , his Son came in , to whom his Father said , That if he knew with what travel both of mind and body , and with what danger of both it was purchased , he would never be so hastie to take it away , but kéep far from it , as from the center of all sorrow and affliction .

And if the whole life of man is but a Pilgrimage , the life of Kings is the greatest pilgrimage of al , A pilgrimage it is both of the mind and of the body , to which they are most subject , who have the most and the greatest Kingdoms . Their life is a perpetual vexation , whether you look upon them as greedy to possesse the Kingdomes of others , or solicitous to defend their own . No sooner one trouble is ended but another begins , occasioned either by covetousnesse or ambition , or by jealousies extrinsick or Domestick ; sometimes they fear the over-growing power of their neighbouring Princes ; somtimes they do lie in wait to intrap them ; sometimes they fear the conspiracies of their own servants ; sometimes of their own children ; for you are to understand that in this nature , the condition of Princes is of all most miserable . How many Kings may I number up who have been all deprived of their lives by the unnatural conspiracy of their own children ! Justin makes mention of an Emperour of Persia , who by divers Concubines had fifty sons , who all held in a conspiracy with the eldest to take away the fathers life , for no other cause but that they conceived he lived a little too long , and they were resolved to depend no longer upon expectation .

And it appears to me a great wonder that the spirits of men should be so much blinded and that Princes should be so misguided by the Prince of the ayr , that although they are assured within themselves , and may be convinced by a thousand examples , that a revenge not to be avoided , doth attend such desperate contrivers , yet no age almost hath béen without a President of such horrible Parricides . Irenus King of the Molossi , having conspired with some of the Nobility , who were most near unto his father , did not long after by poison take away his fathers life , and being himself invested with the Crown , although he injoyed a long time a happy and quiet life , yet he was tormented in his conscience within him , and having lost the love of his subjects , he at last lost his own life , his people having made war against him , and being taken by them he was beheaded in the same place , in which he conspired his fathers death .

The Histories can afford us a thousand examples of the same nature , but Herodotus makes mention of Enanthus a Prince , as unblemished in his conversation as innocence it self ; who passing through a world of afflictions which like waves came rowling upon him , one on the neck of the other , was first banished , and afterwards put to death by his subjects , and dying , confessed that it was the first hour of his happinesse , being to passe from a Labyrinth of sorrows and perplexity into an everlasting Elizium of Peace and Rest .

But to give you an instance what miserable Pilgrims Princes are , you may behold Nebuchadnezzar who from the height of glory was by divine vengeance metamorphosed into a beast , and wandring from field to field in a worse condition then a Pilgrim , he fed on the grasse of the field for seven years together , and was wet with the dew of heaven , and at the last returning to himself , he acknowledged the divine power , and the divine Iustice , which taught him to understand in what a frail condition he stood and how uncertain is life , and the glory of mortality like the Lilly in the field , which appears in the morning in all its beauty , and more richly apparelled then Solomon in all his glory , and before the evening it is gathered and fades away , & is seen no more .

Therefore Philip the father of Alexander the great , revolving with himself what a pilgrimage this life is , and especially the life of a King , which as it is more full of state then the life of others , so it is also more full of danger , commanded his Page every morning to come unto him , and to pronounce a loud , O Philip remember that thou art mortal , which though his son seemed to forget , and therefore would be estéemed immortal , and have divine honours done unto him , yet whosoever shall take the pains to behold him aright in the height of all his victories , he shall find that his life was the greatest pilgrimage , nay I may say the arrantest slavery that was in the world : for what did he do , but became onely a slave to his own ambition to inslave the world and to make it stoop to his yoak . A plundring Pilgrim he was , and under the pretence of glory and of conquest , he enjoyed no rest either by day or by night , but travelled from place to place , uncertain in the morning in what field to take up his lodgings the night following , or where he should dine the next day , but as if he would try providence , as well as victory , he did put all things to the adventure ; and indeed it was providence that did protect him , for into how many dangers did he rashly run , from which he was miraculously preserved , and by a rare happinesse , made his rashnesse alwaies to be the increase of his glory . I shall on this subject speak something of him , which Curtius never thought on , which is , that when he took a poor Pyrat prisoner ; he asked him , how he durst be so insolent as to commit such robberies on the seas . The Pyrat nothing dismaied , made answer , he did it with the same confidence as Alexander himself , who went up and down plundering and destroying the world . And when Fate had put a period to his life and Empire , it is observable how this invincible spirit became heavy and timerous , which on purpose in this place I do insert , because many who have delivered his atchievements to memory have left it out and it may more plainly appear what momentary things great Princes are , when that power doth forsake them which doth lead them to their high undertakings . Alexander being come to Babylon , he put off his cloaths one evening to anoint himself , to make his body more nimble in some exercises in the field with his companions , in which hee much delighted . The sport beeing ended , as hee returned to put on his cloaths , the young Nobles who were with him beheld a man who sate in the Kings seat , and had put on his royall habiliments , and the Diadem on his head . They amazed at it , demanded who he was ; the man would make no answer at all , at last being threatned that he should indure the greatest torments if he would not confesse what he was , he at last spake in Greek , that he was a poor fellow , who being unjustly condemned to death , was delivered from it by the God Seraphis , who seated him in that place , and commanded him to put on the royal habiliments . The wonder increasing that there being so many of the guard and of the Kings associates , in the field and in and about the Pavillion , and not any of them should either discover the man either coming into the Pavillion , or putting on the cloaths . Alexander was so possessed with horrour at the strangenesse of the spectacle , that he became as a dead man , and for the thrée days following was so mute and stpid , that he appeared as another creature , he would neither speak to any , nor return any answer being spoken unto , till he went unto the house of Thessalus Medius , where he drank the fatal poison , and being carried afterwards to his own chamber , he lamented with himself the condition of man , and more precisely of Princes , who in the height of all their lustre , like the sun at noon , were suddenly eclipsed by ungrateful clouds ; howsoever it is worth your observance , that even in his death desiring to traduce the world with a false belief of his immortality , he desired Roxane who was present with him , and at that time great with child by him , that she would give way that some who were most faithfull to her , and to himself , might take his body ( he finding an impossibility of recovery , and death apparently to grew upon him ) and throw it into the River of Euphrates , that the army and the world might conceive , that invisibly he was advanced from mortality , and translated into the number of the Gods , which when Roxane by no means would give way unto , affirming that the power which protected him from so many dangers , would preserve him still , he was passionate against her , that in pretence of love she should deny him immortality and dying in the flower of his youth , he acknowledged how momentary and uncertain at the best is the condition of Princes .

BVt before I proceed to give you examples of it , I shall exhibit to you , that the pleasures and the splendours which commonly attends the Court , and do cast such a false shew of Glory on it , are but as so many flatterers , who would perswade to things which are not & onely leave a dazle on the eye , the easier to delude and betray the underastnding . It is vertue only that maketh Princes glorious . I will first give you a general survey of the vertues and vices of Princes , by which in the pilgrimage of this life , some have attained to the heighth of honour , and others have sunk into the lowest infamy . And first , to deface the vice of Avarice , I will in this place shew you the vertue of Liberality ; to put the churlish covetous out of countenance , I will extol the liberal , which in taking is shamefaced , in giving joyfull : For a measure in taking and in giving , is the true nature of liberality ; Neither can he that taketh all things though he give much , be named liberal in nothing .

Agesilaus King of the Lacedemonians , so observed the laws and rules of Lycurgus , that he was wont to say unto the Citizens of Sparta , that gifts are more dangerous sometime to be received , then hurtfull to be refused . Which Phocion , the whole glory of Athens , at what time Alexander the Great had sent him great gifts , wealthy presents , jewels , and treasures from Persia , did shew a true example thereof of in refusing the same , saying I will not learn to take , lest I forget to give . The like answered Zenocrates the Philosopher to the self same Alexander , when that he did send great sums of gold and silver for love and affection unto Zenocrares , he said he wanted neither gold nor silver : Which when it was told unto Alexander , he said ; Hath Zenocrates no friends then that want money ? Alexander hath more friends then either the substance of Darius , or the wealth of Persia can suffice : A Question is here to be demanded , Whether of them both was more liberal , the Prince in giving , or the Philosopher in refusing ? When certain Embassadours of the Samnites came to Rome , and being at Fabritius house , they perceiving the liberality of Fabritius to be such , as it were pity wealth should want to so noble a Gentleman , at their return from Rome unto their Countrey , not forgetting the free dealing of Fabritius at Rome , these Embassadours minding to gratifie Fabritius with the gold of the Samnites , sent gifts and presents to him unto Rome , for their noble entertainment ; which were refused with an answer , that Fabritius had rather rule and govern them that were ruled by gold , then to be subject unto gold ; alledging the answer of M. Curius to the Embassadors of Macedonia , offering large gifts and treasure after the like sort , That to possess much is no wealth , but covetousness ; to desire nothing , and to give is perfect wealth and liberality : A sound proof of two liberal Gentlemen .

When such ruled Rome , then the Romans excelled all the world , bountifull and free and most beneficial unto all , and covetous unto none When L. Lucullus house was a common hospital to all the poor Gréeks that travelled from Athens Sparta , and Thebes , yea , from al Gree●e unto Rome , then Rome was liberal . When Pomponius Atucus did send unto Cicero being banished , two hundred thousand Sesterces , unto Volumnius and Brutus as much , then Rome was beneficial When the Senators restored Faucula and Oppia , two poor women of Campania , not onely unto their ancient liberty , but doubled their wealth and riches , for their true meaning and service to the Romanes , the one praying and sacrificing for their good success , the other toyling and travelling about the souldiers business at the siege of Capua , where Fulinus was Captain , then Rome was mercifull . Liberality in noble persons is most commended , for in liberal giving ; and beneficial doings , are Princes compared unto Gods . Fabius Maximus having certain of his souldiers taken by Hannibal in the wars of Carthage , did send unto the Senators of Rome for money to redeem the Roman souldiers from Hannibal , according unto Martial law , but being denied of his suit , he commanded his son straight to go to Rome , to sell all the lands and livings that he then possest about the City of Rome , and to bring him money . The money being brought , he paid Hannibal , redéemed his souldiers brought them frée to Rome upon his own charge , and being blamed of the Senators that he sould his land , he answered , that he had rather want patrimony in his Country , then love towards his Countreymen ; he had rather be without living in Rome , then to want the good will of tho poor souldiers . Alphonsus the great King of Arragon was wont to rejoyce more in one little sentence that Titus Vespatianus would often say , then of all that he had read all the days of his life : This Emperours golden sentence was , That day to be unhappy in the which he neither gave or granted any thing to some man , saying , That no man ought to depart from a Prince sad . Ho judged time lost , when no body fared the better by him , and thought no man should depart without some benefits done , or gifts given to some , or others Liberality doth purchase to the Prince , faith and love ; to the Nobleman , service and homage ; unto all men , benefits and good turns . Wherefore Alexander the Great , not so desirous to take , as willing to give , was wont to say to any that demanded where his treasures , wealth and substance that he got in the wars were kept , by poynting with his singer to his friends , it is hidden , saith he , in the hearts of my subjects . What can be more commended in a subject towards his Prince , then faith and truth ? What may be more praised in a Prince towards his subjects then liberality and lenity ? The liberality of the poor is good will . A poor Scholler sometime of Gréece , being in Rome , thought good to salute Caesar the Emperour comming from the Capitol toward his pallace in a few Gréek verses , thinking thereby his penury should be somewhat looked upon by Caesar : But Caesar surnamed Augustus , answered the Scholler in writing again the like Gréek verses , which when it was delivered to the poor Gréek , he delighted much in the reading , commended highly the verses , and approached unto Caesar where he was in his Chariot , opened his purse , and gave unto the Emperour four single halfpence , saying , Hold , not according to thy dignity & calling , but according to my ability and poverty I give this reward . Certainly the poor Scholler was more commended for his small gift to the Emperour then the Emperour himself was praised for his liberality unto all the people in Rome . The poor Poet Antilochus was as liberal to his power for his verses made unto King Lisauder , as Lisander was in his calling to give him his hat full of silver . Simple Sinae●es was as liberal in offering a handfull of water of the river Cydnus unto the great King Artaxerxes of Persia for want of better ability , as Artaxerxes was princely in gifts , and beneficial unto Sinaetus , in rewarding liberally the liberality of Sinaetes , with Phiala aurea cum mille Daricis . Chaerilus had no better present for a proof of his liberality toward Alexander the Great , then to shew his good will unto him in writing , whereby he shewed himself more willing then able , which being accepted , he was liberally rewarded , for every several verse a piece of gold . What greater gift can any man give , then that which proceedeth from the heart ? Of all treasure , saith Aristotle , the mind of a man ought most to be esteemed ; the Mite of the poor woman offered to Christ was no less made of , and estéemed then the Gold , Myrrhe , and Frankincense of the great Sages of the world . For the gift maketh not the giver liberal , but the giver maketh the gift liberal . Wherefore a poor Student of Paris going home to his country Scillia , and being urged through penury , wanting money , to go to a great learned mans house ( as though he might go to some of the Bishops of England ) tarrying there a long while without either meat or drink , perceiving the house to be gorgeous , fair and brave with●ut , and full of hunger , thirst and cold within , he wrote with a coal on the wall a sentence of Cicero , Non domo Dominus , sed domus Domino honest and ●est . As though he might say , fair buildings want more liberal dwellings , then liberal Lords fair houses , for the house is praised by the man , and not the man by the house .

Fair houses and wealth do hardly make men liberal ; it is said that fair things are coupled with pride , and wealth joined with covetousnesse . In the beginning , all men were liberal , untill private wealth began to practise with money , covetousnesse was not known for as money did increase , fo covetousnesse grew . In Rome saith Pliny money was not seen four hundred years and more , after the building of Rome . Then was Rome true and beneficial bp reason of liberality , which after waxed wealthy and false , by means of covetousnesse . That City was most famous chiefly for her liberality , wherein Rome excelled all the world ; if the death of Princes , of Noble men , yea , of all men can sufficiently bear witnesse of their lives , considering vertue and fame shall prove that by death , which life hardly may utter ( for no man is well known during life . ) The death of Epaminondas that most renowned Prince of Thebes , and Conquerour of all Gréece , was a sure and a certain shew of his liberal life . The last day of P. Aemilius , who triumphed in life time over the proud Macedonians and Liguriant , was a true token of his frank and frée dealing in life . In life manner we may say of Maenemus Agrippa , and Scipio Affricanus , the one victor ove● the Samnites , the other triumpher over Carthage and Numantia , whose renowned lives , made their deaths famous : whose worthy deaths , do revive their noble lives . Their beneficial dealing and liberality , was well known by their deaths : so liberally they lived , that their friends found no money hidden , no gold kept , no treasure preserved , no wealth at all , though divers time by victory and triumphs , by conquest and fortune they psssessed Kingdomes and countries in the time of life . The greatest Prince in his time Cyrus , the first King that brought the Monarchy unto Persia , slain by Tomyris , had on his grave being buried in Scithia , in no gorgeous Temple , nor sumptuous Tomb , but in an open field , this Epitaph Here heth Cyrus the great King of Persia , contented now with seven foot , who could not be satisfied sometime with seven Kingdomes : what Caesar , King , or Prince soever thou art , spare this place unto Cyrus . And when Alexander the great , passing with his army unto Scithia and India , had read this Epitaph , and perceiving the slippery estate of Princes , the uncertainty of life , and mutability of fortune , he much doubted the state of his own life : howbeit , at that voyage he forgot by means of Mars , the Epitagh of King Cyrus , untill he returned from India , from his wars into Babylon , where he married Statira King Darius daughter , whom before he conquered : where such liberality was shewed , such magnificency done , such gifts given such banquets kept that Alexander upon his own charges married the most part of the Nobles of Macedonia , unto the Ladies of Persia , the feasts during five days amounted to the sum of thrée and twenty thousand Talents , every Talent valued at fourscore pounds , he repeating oft the Epitaph of Cyrus , would suffer none , though divers Princes were present , to be at any charges but himself , onely saying that which fortune giveth unto Alexander , the same will Alexander give unto his friends , for Cyrus grave is appointed unto Alexander : in this Alexander passed all Princes , in taking all , and giving all : private faults may not deprave open vertues , every man hath a fault . Alexander was known to be a drunkard ; Julius Caesar was noted to be ambitious ; Antiochus the the great King of Syria blamed for lechery . Alcibiades of pride ; P●rrhus of incredulity ; Hannibal of falshood ; Dionifius of tyranny . I may number up infinite Princes , who for one vice may not be forgotten for their divers vertues : Vertue must not be hidden for that vice is manifest . Phrine a Courtisan sometime of Gréece , though for her slanderous life , worthy reprehension , yet for her liberality she ought well to be remembred , for after Alexander the great had subdued that famous City of Thebes , and made the walls thereof even with the ground : she offered to re-edifie the same upon this condition , that upon every gate of the City this sentence shall be set . This City Alexander the great threw down , and this City Phrine the Courtisan builded up again . The like I have read of Queen Rhodope , sometime a Courtisan , and a lewd woman , who made up the brave and sumptuous work , called the Pyramides in Egypt , where she used such liberalliry , such a vast expence of money , that for her noblenesse she was well worthy to be commended , though for vitious living she was otherwise to be blamed . Men and women were desirous then to be liberal : Then Princes were as liberal and beneficial with such lenity and humanity unto the poor , as they grew afterward to be hard and covetous with severity and cruelnesse . Therefore Anaxilaus a liberal Prince , was often wont to say , that the chiefest commendations and noblest vertues which could be in a Prince , were , not to be overcome in beneficial doings . Attalus King of Assa , languishing in sicknesse , and ready to dy , bequeathed his Kingdome and Scepter of Asia , unto the noble Romans by testament , fully and freely to bestow it on whom they would , for that they were so liberal and beneficial sometime towards him , whilest yet fortune favoured him not .

A liberal Prince cannot be void of love . Antigonus was wont to answer Aristodemus , one of his Councel , who was brought up of a boy in his Kitchin , when he spake any thing against princely gifts , and found fault with Antigonus liberality , that his talk did smel of the Kitchin : A fit reprehension for such a saucie servant , who hindred Kings from doing good , and moved Princes to do evil . I would such Sycophants should be so answered by Princes , as Aristodemus was of King Antigonus . Worthy of perpetual memory was Artaxerxes for his passing liberality towards the poor souldiers that came from the Lacedemonian war with him , he made them that came on foot unto him , to go home on horseback ; he that came on horseback , he sent him home in a chariot ; and he that had a village before he came unto him , he gave him a city at his going away from him . A Prince worthy of Subjects , and a Captain most fit for Souldiers . What made Julius Caesaa to be beloved of his souldiers ? What caused Alexander to be honoured of all men ? Magnificence and liberality ; The one in the great Wars at Pharsalia , at what time he conquered Pompeius the Great , having all the treasures and substance of Pompeius brought before him , took nothing from the souldiers but Pompeius letters : The other , after he had vanquished King Darius , having a great chest full of treasure , where he found in present coyn , two hundred thousand pound , beside other inestimable treasures and jewels took nothing from his souldiers but a little book named the Illiads of Homer , wherein he delighted more to read the noble acts of the Gréeks , and the worthy feats of the Troyans , then in all the wealth of Persia . Thus liberality maintained their fame ; Thus their magnificent benefits so spread forth their noble names , that happy was he that could be a souldier unto Caesar , or to Alexander . I remember a certain King in Syracusa , named Hiero , who understanding the liberality of the Romanes , and perceiving the penury of victuals which then the Romans sustained in the wars of Tharsimenos , did send three hundred thousand bushels of wheat , and two hundred thousand of barley , with great sums of gold and silver to ease the Roman souldiers , , and fearing that his gifts would not be taken , nor his presents received , considering the nature and liberallity of the Romans , he willed the Embassadours to say that it was an homage and service of good will , sent to honour the Romans from Hiero King of Siracusa an excellent policy to practise beneficence , with manifest examples of a liberal heart . O Rome how happy hast thou been , through thy liberrlity and good will hast won the hearts of all Kingdomes and countries , Vntill Ninus time all things were common , no division of ground no hoording of mony , no covetousnesse known no greedinesse of Kingdomes , no desire of wealth : in fine , for the space of two hundred and fifty years , for the simplicity , innocency and true dealing of people , it was worthily called the golden world , and then a man could not find a covetous person , and now a man cannot find a liberal friend ; then no man knew to do evil , and now no man knoweth to do good ; then no man did take , and now no man doth give : in fine , then one for another and now all for themselves . What made Cimon a liberal Gentleman of Athens , to be so famous in Greece ? his liberality amongst nigards he onely counted liberal , and all Athens besides covetous , whereby he deserved renown and glory , amongst so many nippers of money , he onely shewed himself bountifull and liberall . What caused Flaminius to be so much spoken of amongst the Romans ? his liberal gifts amongst so many greedy takers , his open benefits , amongst their privat wealth and hidden hatred ? What moved the Agrigentines to honour so much the manly Gillias , to advance his fame to extol his name ? his liberality . Such covetousnesse then was in Athens , Rome , and Agrigentum , that then worthy were these of admiration and praise , who avoided the cankered state of avarice . Thus from the golden world , it came unto the silver world , and then to that hard mettal the iron world for the covetous people can never be satisfied . The young Partridge , by nature is ready to flee as soon as she commeth out of the shell , the wild duck to swim , the Lion to go , and man onely born ready to seeke and travel for money . Where might a man find out such a man as Ari●●ides was in all Greece now ? who was so liberal , that having all the state of Athens under his government , gave all to the poor Citizens , a little excepted which brought him unto the ground . Where should one méet with such a one as Pelopidas in all Sparta ? being blamed of his friends and counsellours , for his large gifts and liberallity , exhorting him to make much of money , considering how necessary money is to Princes : yea said Pelopidas , to such Princes as Nicomedes , a lame man both dumb & deaf . Where should a man séek in Thebes for such a man as Epaminondas ? who when he heard that he who carried his Target after him , had taken money for the dismission of certain prisoners taken in the wars , Give me ( said he ) my Target , and go you to kéep an Inne , for if you love money , you are not fit to carry Epaminondas Target : with so much honour is liberallity attended , that those Princes who have béen famous for the most fortitude haue béen famous also for the most liberallity , yet neither liberallity , nor fame , nor fortitude , can reprieve a Prince from the ingratitude of death .

HOw some men are exalted and others oppressed , Histories do record . All the Kings that ever reigned in Rome , almost from base birth and slender progeny , were advanced by fortune to sit in the royal throne , and injoy Princely Scepters . Romulus the first King and builder of Rome , born of Rhea , a Vestal Virgin , and daughter unto Amulius , was left as a prey unto beasts , forsaken of all in Rome , so hated of his own grandfather , that he found more friendship in a she Wolf , then he had at his grandfather Amulius , more kindnesse of the Wolf for his nourishment then love of his mother , though he was born of her . Notwithstanding , contrary to the expectation of Amulius , being not thought of in Rome , he was by a Woolf preserved , and by a poor Shepheard brought up to be a King of Rome . The like hapned unto Cyrus at thrée days old , when he was commanded by his grandfather King Astiages to be drowned , and delivered unto Harpagus chief officer about Astiages , by King Astiages own hand , to be killed and destroyed : yet by fortune , a Bitch ( he being left as Romulus was ) fed him and gave him milk and life when his Parents appointed death for him , and being thus brought up by a Bitch , he was the first and most renowned King that ever reigned in Persia . Even so may I alledge of Paris King Priamus son called likewise Alexander , who being commanded to be killed as soon as he was born , he was brought up by a Bear to be a famous Phrigian Prince . Thus Cyrus by fortune , found more friendship in a bitch then in his own mother : Romulus more love in a Woolf then in all Rome : Alexander more kindnesse in a Bear then in his father Priamus . What shall I say of Pelephus the son of Hercules , who was fostred by a Hart or of Camilla and Semiramis , the one brought up by a Mare , the other by birds of the air to be such famous Quéens , as the one ruled the Volscians the other the Babylonians ; How fortune appointed little Ants to féed King Midas , and Bees to féed Plato , the wealth of the one , and eloquence of the other did certifie the same : but I will declare first the extolling and advancement of simple and base men unto Princely seats . Tarquinius Priscus , a stranger born in Corinth , the son of Demaiat●s a banished Merchant from his country , became a famous King in Rome : yea so famous I say that he inlarged the confines of Italy , amplified the wealth and state of Rome , augmented the number of the Senatours , encreased the order of Knighthood , and left Rome so happy at his death , that the Citizens thereof would have travelled twice as far as Corinth , so that they might enjoy again so noble a Prince . Tullius Servius , a poor stranger , was likewise advanced unto the same place by fortune : and Tullus Hostillius a shepheard , was from féeding of beasts extolled to be the King of Rome . Thus fortune to shew her might , exalteth the poor , and oppresseth the proud . Thus from banished strangers , from simple shepheards , most famous Princes , and noble Kings have proceeded . Fortune as Seneca saith , from low birth , and base conditions , hath made Princes ; many have béen advanced from the Plough to sit in seat of Kings , as Gordius , who from the plough became a King in Phrygia : Fortune took Agathocles from his fathers shop being a Potter , and made him King in Sycilia : she brought Darius from the Stable of Cyrus to be a King in Persia : she brought Giges from a Shepheard to be the wealthiest King that ever reigned in Lydia : Justinus a swine-heard from féeding his Swine , became the mighty Emperour of Constantinople . And Carpenters likewise may brag of Telephanes , whom fortune advāced to the Kingdome of Lydia . Shall not Husbandmen extol fortune , which made Valentianus Emperour in Rome ? How much did fortune favour learning , how brought she the greatest Princes in the world to honour simple men , and caused the cruellest tyrant to esteem and reverence the same ? King Dyonisius that wicked tyrant of Sicilia , when he heard that divine and noble Phylosopher Plato was coming unto Sycilia he made certain of his Nobles to go méet him on the sea , and in a ship bravely appointed , and gorgeously apdressed with Sails of purple silk to bring him to land , where Dionisius himself did attend his coming in his golden Chariot , with four white horses trapped over with gold , and having taken him into his own Princely Chariot , he talked unto him reverently , used him honourably , and so entertained him , that if Jupiter had descended from the skie , greater honour could he not get in Creet , then Plato a poor Philosopher Aristons son of Athens obtained in Sicil. Aristotle born in Stagira a poor Phisitians son named Nichomachus , merited such fame that not onely Philip King of Macedonia , thanked God that his son Alexander was born in his time , under whose tuition Alexander five years learned Philosophy , but also Alexander the great , Conquerour of the world honoured and saluted him as his Master , unto whom he said that he was no lesse bound for his learning and vertuous education , then he was unto King Philip his father for his birth , he declared the same being in India , a country far from Greece , & in the midst of his great wars , he did write unto him of the state of India , of the successe of his journies , and the prodigious and monstrous sights that he saw in his expedition . That mighty Artaxerxes King of Persia , hearing of the fame of that learned Hypocrates , did send unto the chief Governour of Hellespent earnest letters for Hypocrates , promising him great honours , and an equality to the chief rulers of Persia , and to be a fellow and friend unto mighty Artaxerxes .