them of his comming: and speedily returning backe againe, telleth him that he hath given them notice thereof. Whatsoever belongeth to the womens Academie, as paintings, preservings, needle-workes, and such like; he discourseth of them like my Ladies woman. Of all the ghests, he first commends the wine, and alwaies sitting by his Ingle, courts him; asking him how sparingly he feeds, and how he bridles it: and taking some special dish from the Table, taketh occasion to commend it. Hee is busie and full of questions; whether this man be not cold; why hee goes so thinne; and why hee will not go better cloth'd? Then hee whispers in his Patrons eare: and, while others speak, his eye is still upon him. At the Theater, taking the cushions from the boy, he setteth them up himselfe : hee commendeth the situation and building of the house; the well tilling and husbanding of the ground. In conclusion, you shall alwayes note a flatterer to speak and doe, what he presumeth will be most pleasing and agreeable.

Of News-forging, or Rumor-spreading

FAME-SPREADING, is a devising of deeds and words at the fancy or pleasure of the Inventer. A Newes-monger is he, who meeting with his acquaintance, changing his countenance and smiling, asketh whence come you now? How go the rules now? Is there any newes stirring? and still spurring him with questions, tels him there are excellent and happy occurrents abroad. Then, before he answereth, by way of prevention asketh, have you nothing in store? why then I will feast

you with my choicest intelligence. Then hath hee at hand some cast Captaine, or cassierd Souldier, or some Fifes boy lately come from war, of whom hee hath heard some very strange stuffe, I warrant you alwaies producing such authors as no man can controle. He will tell him, hee heard that Polyspherchon and the King discomfited and overthrew his enemies, and that Cassander was taken prisoner. But if any man say unto him, Doe you beleeve this? Yes marry doe I beleeve it, replyeth he: for it is bruited all the Towne over by a generall voice. The rumor spreadeth, all generally agree in this report of the warre; and that there was an exceeding great overthrow. And this hee gathereth by the very countenance and cariage of these great men which sit at the sterne. Then he proceedeth and tels you further, That hee heard by one which came lately out of Macedonia, who was present at all which passed, that now these five days hee hath bin kept close by them. Then he falleth to terms of commiseration. Alas, good, but unfortunate Cassander! O carefull desolate man! This can misfortune doe. Cassander was a very powerfull man in his time, and of a very great commaund: but I would entreat you to keep this to your self; and yet he runneth to every one to tell them of it. I do much wonder what pleasure men shuld take in devising and dispersing those rumours. The which things, that I mention not the basnesse and deformity of a lye, turne them to many inconveniences.

For, it fals out oftentimes, that while these, Mountebanklike, draw much company about them, in the Baths and such like places, some good

NEWS-FORGING, OR RUMOR-SPREADING 5

Rogues steale away their clothes: others, sitting in a porch or gallery, while they overcome in a sea, or a land-fight, are fined for not appearance. Others, while with their words they valiantly take Cities, loose their suppers. These men lead a very miserable & wretched life. For what Gallery is there, what shop, wherein they waste not whole dayes, with the penance of those, whose eares they set on the Pillorie with their tedious unjointed tales?

POPE INNOCENT III (d. 1216)

[Liber De Contemptu Mundi. Sive De Miseria Conditionis Humanae. A Domino Innocentio Papa Tertio Compositus. Lipsiae. M.D. Xxxiiii.]

The Mirror of Mans lyfe. Plainely describing, what weake moulde we are made of: what miseries we are subject unto howe uncertaine this life is : and what shal be our ende. Englished. by H. K. [Woodcut, with the inscription, 'O Wormes Meate : O Froath O Vanitie: Why Art Thou so Insolent']. ... London, . . . 1576. 8vo. [C7", G3']

This little book was written by Pope Innocent during a compulsorily quiet interval of his brilliant career. He became Cardinal Lothair under the pontificate of his uncle Clement III, at the almost unprecedentedly early age of twenty-nine and went into retirement when his uncle was succeeded by Celestine III, a representative of a family hostile to Lothair's.

The monastic theme of the misery of human life' appealed strongly to the disillusioned young recluse. The book has no hint of the enlargement of vision to come to the writer eight years later when he himself became Pope.

The title page of Henry Kerton's translation is hardly more dismal than the text. The most cheerful pages are those in which the moralist gives a brief description of some typical figure to illustrate his theme. About twelve such sketches occur, some in the course of a chapter, others in a chapter by themselves.

A Shrewde Wife

OFTEN times she sayeth unto hir husbande, such a mans wife goeth gorgeously and finely apparelled, and is estemed and much made of by every one: but I poore wretche, all alone, am nothyng regarded amongst my neighbours:

A SHREWDE WIFE

7

I am contemned and despised of every one. She only will bee loved and praysed: she thynketh the good countenance showed unto an other, to procure hatred unto hir: and shee surmiseth the commendation of an other, to be for hir disgrace. All that she loveth, must be lyked of, and all that she hateth must be disliked: she will be mistresse, and cannot be maister: she may not abide to serve as a subject, but she must rule as a governour: shee will seeme experte in all things, and will shewe hir selfe ignorant in nothing.

A Proude Man

[HE] contemneth the companye of his olde friendes, and disdayneth the sight of hys former famyliars, and turneth hys face from his wonted acquayntaunce: his countenance is proude, his gate is glorious, his mouthe is filled with haughtye termes, his mynde is fixte uppon waightie matters. Hee is impatient of subjection, and desirous to beare rule hee is a clogge unto the cleargye, a great burthen unto his subjectes, and a heavye yoke unto his neighbour. Hee can not patiently beare any greevous thing that shall touche hym selfe, nor delaye that which hee hath conceyved in his mynde: but he is rashe, bold, boasting, arrogant, soone moved, and verye importunate.