_The great curtesie of the Kyng of Marocco, (a Citty in
Barbarie) toward a poore Fisherman, one of his subiects, that
had lodged the Kyng, being strayed from his Company in
hunting._
For somutch as the more than beastly cruelty recounted in the
former Hystory, doth yelde some sowre taste to the minds of
those that be curteous, gentle and well conditioned by nature,
and as the Stomacke of him that dayly vseth one kinde of meate,
be it neuer so delycate and daynty, doth at length lothe, and
disdayne the same, and vtterly refuseth it: I now chaunge the
Diet, leauing murders, slaughters, despayres, and tragicall
accidents, and turne my stile to a more pleasaunt thing, that
may so well serue for instruction of the noble to follow vertue,
as that which I haue already written, may rise to their profit,
warely to take heede they fal not into sutch deformed and filthy
faults, as the name and prayse of man be defaced, and his
reputation decayed: if then the contraries be knowne by that
which is of diuers natures, the villany of great cruelty shalbe
conuerted into the gentlenesse of milde curtesie, and rigor
shalbe condempned, when with sweetenesse and generosity, the
noble shall assaye to wyn the heart, seruice, and affected
deuotion of the basest sorte: So the greatnesse and nobility of
man placed in dignity, and who hath puissaunce ouer other,
consisteth not to shew himselfe hard, and terrible, for that is
the manner of Tyraunts, bicause he that is feared, is
consequently hated, euyll beloued, and in the ende forsaken, of
the whole World, which hath bene the cause that in times past
Prynces aspiring to great Conquests, haue made their way more
easie by gentlenesse and Curtesie, than by fury of armes,
stablishing the foundations of their dominions more firme and
durable by those meanes, than they which by rigor and cruelty
haue sacked townes, ouerthrowne Cities, depopulated Prouinces,
and fatted Landes with the bodies of those, whose liues they
haue depriued by dent of sword, sith the gouernement and
authority ouer other, caryeth greater subiection, than
puissance. Wherefore Antigonus, one of the successors of great
Alexander (that made all the Earth to tremble vppon the recitall
of hys name) seeing that hys Sonne behaued himselfe arrogantly,
and wythout modesty to one of hys Subiects, reproued and checked
hym, and amongs many wordes of chastisement and admonition, sayd
vnto him: "Knowest thou not my Sonne, that the estate of a Kyng
is a noble and honourable seruitude?" Royall wordes (in deede)
and meete for Kyng: For albeit that eche man doth reuerence to a
Kyng, and that he be honoured, and obeyed of all, yet is hee for
all that, the Seruaunt, and publike Mynister, who ought no lesse
to defend hys Subiect, than the Subiect to do him honour and
Homage. And the more the Prynce doth humble himselfe, the
greater increase hath his glory, and the more wonderfull he is
to euery Wyght. What aduaunced the Glory of Iulius Cæsar, who
first depressed the Senatorie State of gouernment at Rome? Where
his Victoryes atchieued ouer the Galles and Britons, and
afterwardes ouer Rome it selfe, when he had vanquished Pompee?
All those serued his tourne, but his greatest fame rose of his
Clemency and Curtesie: By the whych Vertues hee shewed himselfe
to be gentle, and fauorable euen to those, whom hee knewe not to
loue him, otherwise than if hee had beene their mortall Enimy.
His Successors as Augustus, Vespasianus, Titus, Marcus Aurelius,
and Flauius were worthily noted for clemency: Notwithstanding I
see not one drawe neere to the great Courage, and Gentlenesse,
ioyned wyth the singuler Curtesie of Dom Roderigo Viuario the
Spanyarde Surnamed Cid, towarde Kyng Pietro of Aragon that
hindred his expedityon agaynst the Mores at Grenadoe. For hauing
vanquyshed the sayde King, and taken hym in Battell, not onely
remitted the reuenge of his wrong, but also suffered hym to go
wythout raunsome, and tooke not from him so mutch as one Forte,
esteemyng it to bee a better exploite to winne sutch a King with
curtesie, than beare the name of cruell in putting him to Death,
or seasing vpon his land. But bicause acknowledging of the
poore, and enriching the smal, is commendable in a Prynce, than
when he sheweth himselfe gentle to his lyke, I haue collected
this discourse and facte of Kynge Mansor of Marocco, whose
Chyldren (by subtile and fained religion) Cherif succeded, the
Sonne of whom at this day inioyeth the kingdomes of Su, Marocco,
and the most part of the isles confinynge vpon Æthiopia. This
history was told by an Italian called Nicholoso Baciadonne,
who vppon this accydent was in Affrica, and in trafike of
Marchandyse in the Land of Oran, situated vppon the coast of the
South seas, and where the Geneuois and Spanyards vse great
entercourse, bicause the countrey is faire, wel peopled, and
wher the inhabitants (although the soyle be barbarous) lyue
indifferent ciuilly, vsing great curtesie to Straungers, and
largely departing their goodes to the poore, towards whom they
be so earnestly bente, and louing, as for theyr Lyberality and
pytiful almesse, they shame vs Christians. They meinteine a
grest numbre of Hospitalles, to receiue and intertaine the poore
and neady, wherein they shew themselues more deuout than they
that be bounde by the law of Iesus Christe, to vse Charity
towardes theyr brethren, with more curtesie and greater
myldnesse. These Oraniens delight also to record in wryting the
successe of thinges that chaunce in their time and carefully
reserue the same in Memorie, whych was the cause that hauyng
registred in theyr Chronicles, (wrytten in Arabie letters, as
the most part of those Countreyes do vse) this present history,
they imparted the same to the Geneuois marchants of whom the
Italian author confesseth to haue receyued the copie. The cause
why the Geneuois marchant was so diligent to make the enquirie,
was by reason of a City of that prouince, builte through the
chaunce of thys Historye, and which was called in theyr Tongue,
Cæsar Elcabir, so mutch to say as, A great Pallace. And bycause
I am assured, that curteous Myndes will delyght in deedes of
Curtesie, I haue amonges other the Nouelles of Bandello, chosen
by Francois de Belleforest and my self, discoursed thys, albeit
the matter be not of great importance. For greater thynges and
more notorious curtesies haue bene done by our own Kinges and
Prynces. As that of Henry the eight a Prynce of notable memorye
in hys Progresse into the North the XXXIII. yeare of
his raigne, when he dysdayned not a pore Miller's house being
stragled from his trayne, busily pursuing the Hart, and ther
vnknowne of the Miller, was welcomed with homely cheare, as hys
mealy house was able for the time to minister, and afterwardes
for acknowledging his willing Mynde, recompenced him wyth
daynties of the Courte, and a Pryncely rewarde. Of Edwarde the
thyrde, whose royall Nature was not displeased pleasauntly to
vse a Waifaring Tanner, when deuyded from his Company, he mette
hym by the way not far from Tomworth in Staffordshire, and by
cheapening of his welfare steede (for stedinesse sure and able
to carry him so farre as the stable dore) grewe to a price, and
for exchaunge the Tanner craued fiue shillings to boote betwene
the Kings and his. And when the King satisfied with disport,
desired to shew himself by sounding his warning blaste,
assembled all hys Traine, and to the great amaze of the poore
Tanner, (when he was guarded with that Troupe) he well guerdoned
his good Pastime and familiar dealing, with the order of
Knighthoode and reasonable reuenue for the maintenaunce of the
same. The lyke Examples our Chronicles, memory, and reporte
plentifully doe auouche and witnesse. But what? this Hystory is
the more rare and worthy of notyng, for respect of the People
and Countrey, where seldome or neuer Curtesie haunteth or
findeth harborough, and where Nature doth bryng forth greater
store of monsters, than thinges worthy of praise. This great
King Mansor then was not onely the Temporall Lord of the
Countrey of Oran and Marocco, but also (as is saide of Prete
Iean,) Byshop of his Law and the Mahomet Priest, as he is at
thys Day that raighneth in Feze, Sus, and Marocco. Now thys
Prynce aboue all other pleasure, loued the game of Hunting. And
he so mutch delighted in that passetime, as sometime he would
cause his Tentes in the myd of the desertes to be erected, to
lye there all Nyght, to the end, that the next day he might
renew his game, and defraud his men of idlenesse, and the Wild
beasts of rest. And this manner of Life he vsed still, after he
had done Iustice and hearkened the complaintes for which his
Subiectes came to disclose thereby theyr griefes. Wherein also
he toke so great pleasure, as some of our magistrates do seeke
their profite, whereof they be so squeymishe, as they be
desirous to satisfy the place whereunto they be called, and
render all men their righte due vnto them. For wyth theyr
Bribery and Sacred Golden Hunger, Kings and Prynces in these
dayes be ill serued, the people wronged, and the wycked out of
feare. There is none offence almost how villanous so euer it be,
but is washed in the Water of Bribery, and clensed in the holly
drop, wherewith the Poets faine Iupiter to corrupt the daughter
of Acrifius fast closed within the brasen Toure. And who is able
to resist that, which hath subdued the highest powers? Now
returne we from our wanderings: This greate Kynge Mansor on a
day assembled his People to hunt in the marish and fenny
Countrey, that in elder age was not farre of from the City of
Alela, which the Portugalles holde at this present, to make the
way more free into the Isles of Molucca, of the most part wherof
their King is Lord. As he was attentife in folowing a Beare, and
his pastime at the best, the Elements began to darke and a great
tempest rose, such as with the storme and violent Winde,
scattered the trayne far of from the King, who not knowing what
way to take, nor into what place he might retire, to auoid the
tempest, the greatest that he felt in al his life, would with a
good wil haue ben accompanied as the Troiane Æneas was, when
being in like pastime and fear he was constrayned to enter into
a Caue wyth his Queene Dido, where he perfourmed the Ioyes of
hys vnhappy Maryage. But Mansor beeynge without Companye, and
wythout any Caue at Hande, wandered alonges the Champayne so
carefull of hys Lyfe for feare of Wylde Beastes, whych flocke
together in those desertes as the Courtiers were pensiue, for
that they knew not whether theyr Prynce was gone. And that which
chiefly grieued Mansor was hys being alone without guide: And
for all he was well mounted, he durst passe no further for fear
of drownyng, and to be destroyed amiddes those Marshes, whereof
all the Countrey was very ful. On the one side he was fryghted
with Thunderclaps, which rumbled in the ayre very thicke and
terryble: On the other side the lightning continually flashed on
his face, the roring of the Beastes apalled him, the ignoraunce
of the way so astonned him, as he was affraide to fall into the
running Brokes, which the outragious raignes had caused to swell
and ryse. It is not to be doubted, that orisons and prayers vnto
hys greate prophet Mahomet were forgotten, and doubtfull it is
whether he were more deuout when he went on Pilgrimage to the
Idolatrous Temple of Mosqua. Hee complayned of ill lucke,
accusing Fortune, but chiefly hys owne folly, for giuing
himselfe so mutch to hunting, for the desire whereof, hee was
thus straggled into vnknowen Countreyes. Sometimes he raued and
vomytted his Gall agaynst his Gentlemen and houshold seruaunts,
and threatned death vnto his guarde. But afterwards, when reason
ouershadowed his sense, he saw that the tyme, and not their
neglygence or little care caused that disgrace. He thoughte that
his Prophet had poured downe that tempest for some Notable
sinne, and had brought him into such and so dangerous extremity
for his faults. For which cause he lifted vp his Eyes, and made
a thousand Mahomet mowes, and Apish mocks (according to theyr
manner.) And as he fixed his eyes aloft vp to the heauens,
a flash of lightning glaunced on his Face so violently, as it
made him to holde downe his head, lyke a lyttle Chyld reproued
of his maister. But he was further daunted and amazed, when he
saw the night approche, which with the darkenes of his cloudy
Mantell, stayed hys pace from going any further, and brought him
into such perplexitye, as willingly he would haue forsaken both
his hunting and company of his Seruants to be quit of that
Daunger. But God carefull of good Myndes (with what law so euer
they be trayned vp,) and who maketh the Sunne to shine vpon the
iust and and vniuste, prepared a meanes for his sauegarde, as
you shal heare. The Affricane King beyng in his traunce, and
naked of all hope, necessity (which is the clearest loking
glasse that may be found,) made him diligently to loke about,
whether he could see any persone by whome he might attayne some
securitie. And as he thus bent himselfe to discry all the partes
of the Countrey, he saw not far of from him, the glimpse of a
light which glimmered out at a little Window, whereunto he
addressed himselfe, and perceiued that it was a simple Cabane
situate in the middest of the Fennes, to which he approached for
his succor and defense in the time of that tempest. He reioysed
as you may think, and whither his heart lept for ioy, I leaue
for them to iudge which haue assayed like daungers, how be it I
dare beleue, that the saylers on the seas feele no greater ioy
when they arriue to harborough, than the king of Marocco dyd:
or when after a Tempest, or other peril, they discrye vppon the
prowe of their shyppe, the bryghtnesse of some clyffe, or other
land. And thys king hauing felt the tempest of Wind, raine,
haile, lyghtenyng, and Thunder claps, compassed round aboute
with Marshes and violent streames of little Riuers that ran
along his way, thought he had found Paradise by chauncing vpon
that rusticall lodge. Now that Cotage was the refuge place of a
pore Fisher man, who lived and susteined his Wife and children
with Eeles which he toke alongs the ditches of those deepe and
huge Marshes. Mansor when he was arrived at the dore of that
great pallace couered and thacked with Reede, called to them
wythin, who at the first would make no answer to the Prynce that
taried there comming at the Gate. Then he knocked againe, and
with louder voyce than before, which caused this fisher man,
thinkynge that he had bene some rippier (to whom he was wont to
sell hys ware, or else some straunger strayed out of his way,)
spedily went out, and seeinge the Kinge well mounted and richlye
clothed, and albeit he tooke him not to be his soueraigne LORD,
yet he thought he was some one of his Courtly Gentlemen.
Wherefore hee sayde: "What Fortune hath dryuen you (sir) into
these so deserte and solytarye Places, and sutch as I maruell
that you were not drowned a hundred tymes, in these streames,
and bogges whereof this Marrish and fenny Countrey are full?"
"It is the great God" (aunswered Mansor) "which hath had some
care of me, and will not suffer me to perysh without doynge
greater good turnes and better deedes than hitherto I haue don."
The King's comming thither, seemed to Prognosticate that whych
after chaunced, and that God poured downe the Tempest for the
Wealth of the Fisher man, and commodity of the Country. And the
straying of the Kyng was a thyng appoynted to make voyde those
Marshes, and to purge and clense the Countrey: Semblable
chaunces haue happened to other Prynces, as to Constantine the
great, besides his City called New Rome, when he caused certayne
Marshes and Ditches to be filled vp and dryed, to build a fayre
and sumptuous Temple, in the Honor and Memory of the blessed
Virgin that brought forth the Sauior of the World. "But tel me
good man" (replyed Mansor) {"}canst thou not shew me the way to
the Court, and whether the King is gone, for gladly (if it were
possible) would I ride thither." "Verily" (sayd the Fisher Man)
"it will be almost day before ye can come there, the same beinge
ten leagues from hence.{"} "Forsomutch as thou knowest the way"
(aunswered Mansor) "doe me so great pleasure to brynge me
thither, and be assured that besides the good turne, for which I
shall be bound vnto thee, I will curteously content thee for thy
paynes." "Sir" (sayd the poore man) "you seeme to be an honest
Gentleman, wherfore I pray you to lyght, and to tarry heere this
Night, for that it is so late, and the way to the City very
euyll and combersome for you to passe." "No, no," (sayd the
King) "if it be possible, I must repayre to the place whither
the King is gone, wherefore doe so mutch for me as to bee my
guide, and thou shalt see whether I be vnthankfull to them that
imploy their paynes for mee." "If Kyng Mansor" (sayd the Fisher
man) "were heere hymselfe in Person and made the lyke request,
I would not be so very a foole, nor so presumptuous, (at this
time of the Nyght) to take vppon me without Daunger to bryng hym
to his Palace." "Wherefore?" (sayed the Kyng) "Wherefore? (quod
you), bicause the Marshes bee so daungerous, as in the Day tyme,
if one know not wel the way, the Horse, (be hee neuer so stronge
and Lusty,) may chaunce to sticke fast, and tarry behynd for
gage. And I would be sorry if the King were heere, that he
should fall into Peryl, or suffer any anoyance and therewythall
would deeme my selfe vnhappy if I did let hym to incur sutch
euyll or incombrance." Mansor that delighted in the
communication of this good man, and desirous to know the cause
that moued him to speak with sutch affection, said vnto him:
"And why carest thou for the Life, health, or preseruation of
the Kynge? What hast thou to doe wyth him that wouldest be so
sorry for hys state, and carefull of his safety." "Ho, ho," said
the good man, "doe you say that I am carefull for my Prince?
Verily I loue him a hundred tymes better than I do my selfe, my
Wife or children whych God hath sent me: and what sir, do not
you loue our Prince?" "Yes that I doe" (replyed the Kyng,) "for
I haue better cause than thou, for that I am many times in his
company, and liue vpon his charge and am entertayned with his
wages. But what nedest thou to care for hym? Thou knowest him
not, hee neuer did thee anye good turne or pleasure: nor yet
thou nedest not hope henceforth to haue any pleasure at his
hands." "What?" (said the Fisher man) "must a Prince be loued
for gaine and good turnes, rather than for hys Iustice and
curtesie? I see wel that amongs you maister Courtiers, the
benefits of kings be more regarded, and their gifts better liked
than their vertue and nobility, which maketh them wonderful vnto
vs: and ye do more esteme the gold, honor and estates that they
bestow vpon you, than their health and sauegard, which are the
more to be considered, for that the King is our head, and GOD
hath made him sutch one to kepe vs in Peace, and to be carefull
of our states. Pardon me if I speake so boldly in your
presence." The kyng (which toke singular delight in this
Countrey Philosopher,) answered him: "I am not offended bicause
thy words approche so neare the troth: but tel me what benefit
hast thou receiued of that King Mansor, of whome thou makest
sutch accompt and louest so wel? For I cannot thinke that euer
he dyd thee good, or shewed thee pleasure, by reason of thy
pouerty, and the little Furnyture within thy house in respect of
that which they possesse whome hee loueth and fauoreth, and vnto
whome he sheweth so great familyaritye and Benefite." "Doe tell
me sir" (replyed the good man) "for so mutch as you so greatly
regard the fauoures which Subiects receiue at theyr Prynces
handes, as in deede they ought to doe, What greater goodnesse,
richesse, or Benefite ought I to hope for, or can receyue of my
King (being sutch one as I am,) but the profite and vtility that
all we whych be his vassalles do apprehend from day to day in
the Iustyce that he rendereth to euery Wyghte, by not suffering
the puissant and Rich to suppresse and ouertread the feeble and
weake, and him that is deuoid of Fortune's goods, that
indifferency be maintayned by the Officers, to whom he
committeth the gouernement of his Prouinces, and the care which
he hath that his people be not deuoured by exactions, and
intolerable tributes. I do esteeme more his goodnesse, clemency
and Loue, that he beareth to his subiects, than I doe all your
delycates and ease in following the Court. I most humbly honor
and reuerence my king in that he being farre from vs, doeth
neuerthelesse so vse his gouernment as we feele his presence
like the Image of God, for the peace and vnion wherein we
through him do lyue and enioy, without disturbaunce, that lytle
whych GOD and Fortune haue gyuen vs. Who (if not the king) is he
that doeth preserue vs, and defend vs from the incursions and
pillages of those Theues and Pirates of Arabie, which inuade and
make warre with their neighbours? and there is no friend they
haue but they would displease if the King wysely did not forbyd
and preuent their villanies. That great Lord which kepeth his
Court at Constantinople and maketh himself to be adored of his
people like a God, brideleth not so mutch the Arabians, as our
king doth, vnder the Protection and sauegard of whome, I that am
a poore Fisher man, do ioy my pouerty in peace, and without fear
of theeues do norish my litle family, applying my selfe to the
fishing of Eeles that be in these ditches and fenny places,
which I carry to the market townes, and sell for the sustenance
and feeding of my wife and children, and esteeme my self right
happy, that returning to my cabane, and homely lodge at my
pleasure, in whatsoeuer place I do abide, bicause (albeit far of
from Neighboures,) by the benefite and dilygence of my Prince,
none staye my iourney, or offendeth me by any meanes, whych is
the cause (sayd he lifting vp his hands and eyes aloft,) that I
pray vnto God and his great Prophet Mahomet, that it may please
them to preserue our King in health, and to gyue him so great
happe and contentation, as he is vertuous and debonaire, and
that ouer hys Ennimies (flying before him,) he may euermore be
victorious, for noryshing his people in peace, and his children
in ioy and Nobility." The King seeing that deuout affectyon of
the paisaunte, and knowyng it to be without guile or Hypocrisie,
would gladly haue discouered himself, but yet willyng to reserue
the same for better opportunity, he sayd vnto him: "Forsomutch
as thou louest the king so well, it is not impossible but those
of his house be welcome vnto thee, and that for thy Mansor's
sake, thou wilt helpe and do seruice to his Gentlemen." "Let it
suffise you" (replyed he) "that my heart is more inclined to the
King, than to the willes of those that serue him for hope of
preferment. Now being so affectionate to the king as I am,
thynke whyther hys householde Seruauntes haue power to commaund
me, and whither my willing mynde be prest to doe them good or
not. But mee thynke ye neede not to stay heere at the gate in
talke, being so wet as you be: Wherefore vouchsafe to come into
my house, which is youre owne, to take sutch simple lodging as I
haue, where I wyl entreat you, (not according to your merite)
but with the little that God and his Prophet haue departed to my
pouerty: And to morrow morning I will conduct you to the City,
euen to the royall Palace of my Prynce." "Truly" (answered the
King) "albeit necessity did not prouoke me, yet thine honesty
deserueth well other reputation than a simple Countrey man, and
I do thinke that I haue profited more in hearing thee speake
than by hearkenyng to the flattering and babbling tales of
Courting triflers, which dayly employ themselues to corrupte the
eares of Prynces." "What sir?" (sayd the Paysant) "thynke you
that thys poore Coate and simple lodging be not able to
apprehend the Preceptes of Vertue? I haue sometimes heard tell,
that the wise auoyding Cityes and Troupes of Men, haue
wythdrawne themselues into the desertes, for leysure to
contemplate heauenly thynges." "Your skyll is greate," replyed
Mansor: "Goe we then, sith you please to doe me that Curtesie as
this night to be myne hoste." So the king went into the Rustical
Lodge, where insteede of Tapistery and Turkey hangings, he sawe
the house stately hanged with fisher Nets and Cordes, and in
place of rich seeling of Noble mens houses, he beheld Canes and
Reedes whych serued both for the seeling and couering. The
Fisher man's Wife continued in the kitchen, whilest Mansor
hymself both walked and dressed his owne horse, to which horse
the Fisher man durste not once come neare for his Corage and
stately trappour, wyth one thing he was abundantly refreshed,
and that the moste needefull thing which was fire, whereof there
was no spare, no more then there was of Fishe. But the king
which had been dayntely fed, and did not well taste and lyke
that kynde of meat, demaunded if hys hunger could not be
supplyed with a lytle Flesh, for that his stomacke was anoyed
with the onely sauoure of the Eeles. The poore man, (as ye haue
somewhat perceiued by the former discourse) was a pleasaunt
fellow, and delighted rather to prouoke laughter than to prepare
more dainty meat, said vnto the king: "It is no maruell, though
our kinges do furnishe themselues with Countrey men, to serue
them in their Warres, for the delicate bringing vp and litle
force in fine Courtiers. Wee, albeit the Raine doth fal vppon
our heads, and the Winde assaile euery part of our bodies all
durtie and Wet, doe not care either for fire or Bed, wee feede
vpon any kinde of meate that is set before vs, withoute seeking
Sauce for increasing of our appetite: and we (beholde) are
nimble, healthy, lusty, and neuer sicke, nor our mouth out of
tast, where ye do feele sutch distemperaunce of stomacke, as
pity it is to see, and more ado there is to bring the same into
his right order and taste, than to ordeine and dresse a supper
for a whole armie." The king who laughed (with displayed
throte,) hearing his hoste so merily disposed, could haue been
contented to haue heard him still had not his appetite prouoked
him, and the time of the Night very late. Wherefore he said vnto
him: "I do agree to what you alleage, but performe I pray thee
my request, and then wee will satisfie ourselues with further
talke." "Well sir" (replied the king's Hoste,) "I see well that
a hungry Belly hath no luste to heare a merry song, whereof were
you not so egre and sharpe set, I could sing a hundred. But I
haue a lytle Kidde which as yet is not weaned, the same wil I
cause to bee made ready, for I think it cannot be better
bestowed." The supper by reason of the hoste's curtesie, was
passed forth in a thousand pleasant passetimes, whych the
Fisherman of purpose vttered to recreate hys Guest, bicause he
sawe hym to delight in those deuyses. And vppon the end of
Supper, he sayd vnto the King: "Now sir, how like you this
banket? It is not so sumptuous as those that be ordinarily made
at our Prynce's Court, yet I thynke that you shal slepe wyth no
lesse appetyte than you haue eaten with a god stomack, as
appeareth by the few Woords you have vttered in the tyme of your
repast. But whereunto booteh it to employ tyme, ordeyned for
eating, in expense of talke, whych serueth not but to passe the
tyme, and to shorten, the day? And meats ought rather to be
taken for sustentation of Nature then for prouocation or motion
of thys feeble and Transitorye Fleshe?" "Verily" (sayd the King)
"your reason is good, and I doe meane to ryse from the Table, to
passe the remnant of the Nyght in rest, therewyth to satisfie my
selfe so well as I haue wyth eatyng, and do thanke you heartily
for your good aduertysement." So the King went to Bed, and it
was not long ere hee fell a sleepe, and contynued tyll the
Mornynge. And when the Sunne dyd ryse, the Fisherman came to
wake hym, tellyng hym that it was tyme to rise, and that hee was
ready to bryng him to the Court. All this whyle the Gentlemen of
the kinge's Traine were searching round aboute the Countrey to
fynde his Maiesty, makyng Cryes and Hues, that he myghte heare
them. The kyng knowyng their voices, and the noyes they made,
went forth to meete them, and if his People were gladde when
they founde him, the Fisherman was no lesse amazed to see the
honor the Courtyers did vnto his Guest. Which the curteous king
perceiuing, sayd vnto him: "My Friend, thou seest here, that
Mansor, of whome yesternight thou madest so great accompt, and
whome thou saidst, that thou didst loue so well. Bee assured,
that for the Curtisie thou hast done him, before it bee longe,
the same shall be so well acquyted, as for euer thou shalte haue
good cause to remembre it." The good man was already vpon his
marybones beseeching the King that it would please him pardon
hys rude entertainement and his ouermutch familiarity whych hee
had vsed vnto him. But Mansor causing him to rise vp, willed hym
to depart, and sayed that within few dayes after he shoulde
heare further Newes. Now in these Fennish and marrysh groundes,
the Kyng had already builded diuers Castles and lodges for the
pleasure and solace of hunting. Wherefore he purposed there to
erect a goodly City, causing the waters to be voyded with greate
expedition, whych City he builded immediately, and compassyng
the circuite of the appoynted place, with strong Walles and depe
Ditches, he gaue many immunities and Pryuiledges to those, that
would repayre to people the same, by meanes whereof, in litle
tyme, was reduced to the state of a beautifull and wealthy City,
whych is the very same that before we sayd to be Cæsar Elcabir,
as mutch to say: "The great Palace." This goodly worke beinge
thus performed Mansor sent for his host, to whome hee sayde: "To
the end from henceforth thou mayest more honourably entertaine
Kyngs into thy House, and mayest intreate them wyth greater
sumptuositie, for the better solacyng of them wyth thy curtesy
and pleasaunt talke, beholde the City that I haue buylded, which
I doe gyue vnto thee and thyne for euer, reseruing nothyng but
an acknowledgement of good wil, to the end thou mayst know that
a Gentleman's mind nousled in villany, is discouered, when
forgetting a good turne, he incurreth the vice of Ingratitude."
The good man seeing so liberall an offer and present worthy of
sutch a king fell downe vppon his knees, and kyssing his foote
with al humility, sayd vnto him: "Sir if your Liberality did not
supply the imperfection of my Meryte, and perfourmed not what
wanted in me, to attayne so great estate, I would excuse my
selfe of the charge whych it pleaseth you to gyue mee, and
whereunto for lacke of trayning vp, and vse of sutch a Dignity,
I am altogether vnfit. But sith that the graces of GOD, and the
gyftes of Kynges ought neuer to bee reiected, by acceptynge thys
Benefite wyth humble thankes for the clemencye of your royall
Maiestye, I rest the Seruaunt and slaue of you and yours." The
king hearing hym speake so wisely, took hym vp, and imbraced
him, saying: "Would to God and his great Prophete, that all they
which rule Cityes, and gouerne Prouinces, had so good a Nature
as thine then I durst be bolde to say, that the People shoulde
lyue better at theyr ease, and Monarches without charge of
conscience, for the ill behauyors of theyr Officers. Lyue good
man, lyue at thine ease, maynteine thy people, obserue our
lawes, and increase the Beauty of the City, whereof from this
time forth wee doe make the possesser.{"} And truly the present
was not to bee contempned, for that the same at this day is one
of the fairest that is in Affrica, and is the Land of the blacke
People, sutch as the Spaniards call Negroes. It is very full of
Gardeins, furnished with aboundance of Spyces brought from the
Moluccas, bicause of the martes and faires ordeined there. To be
short, Mansor shewed by this gift what is the force of a gentle
heart, which can not abyde to bee vanquished in curtesie, and
lesse suffer that vnder forgetfulnesse the memorye of a receyued
good turne be lost. King Darius whilome, for a little garment,
receiued in gift by Silofon the Samien, recompenced him wyth the
gaine and royall dignity of that City, and made him soueraine
Lord thereof, and of the Isle of Samos. And what greater vertue
can illustrate the name of a noble man, than to acknowledge and
preferre them, which for Natural shame and bashfulnesse, dare
not beholde the Maiesty of their greatnesse? God sometymes with
a more curteous Eye doth loke vpon the presents of a poore man,
than the fat and rych offerings of him that is great and
wealthy? Euen so a benefite, from what hand soeuer it procedeth,
cannot chose but bryng forth the fruicts of his Liberality that
giueth the same, who by vsing largesse, feleth also the like in
him to whom it is employed. That magnificence no long time past
vsed the Seigniorie of Venice, to Francesco Dandulo, who after
he had dured the great displeasures of the Pope, in the name of
the whole City, vpon his returne to Venice, for acknowledgment
of his pacyence, and for abolishmente of that Shame, was wyth
happye and vniforme Acclamatyon of the whole state elected, and
made Prince, and Duke of that Common wealth. Worthy of prayse
truly is he, that by some pleasure bindeth another to his
curtesie: but when a Noble man acknowledgeth for a benefit, that
which a Subiect is bounde to gieue him by duty and seruice,
there the proofe of prayse carryeth no Fame at all. For which
cause I determined to display the Hystory of the barbarous King
Mansor, to the intent that our Gentlemen, noryshed and trained
vp in great ciuilytie, may assay by their mildenesse and good
education, to surmount the curtesie of that Prynce, of whom for
this time wee purpose to take our Farewell.