mitigate the pronounced
sentence, eyther in al, or in part, and to diminish the payne,
or clearely to assoyle the party: whereby it euidently appeared,
that the Counsellers Sentence once determined, was very iustice,
and the kynge's wyll if he pardoned, was meere grace and mercy.
The kyng was constrayned by the statutes of his kyngdome to
disclose vnto his Counsell the cause of his displeasure, which
particularly he recited: the Counsellers when they heard the
reasons of the kynge, sent for Ariobarzanes, of whom by due
examination they gathered, that in diuers causes he had prouoked
the kynge's dyspleasure. Afterwards the Lords of the Counsell,
vpon the proposed question began to argue, by inuestigation and
search whereof, in the ende they iudged Ariobarzanes worthy to
loose hys head: for that he would not onely compare, but also go
about to ouertoppe him in thinges vndecent, and to shewe
himselfe discontented with the mariage of his daughter, and
vnthankfull of the benefites so curteously bestowed vpon him.
A custome was obserued amonge the Persians, that in euery acte
or enterprise, wherein the seruaunt endeuored to surpasse and
vanquish his lord and maister (albeit the attempt were
commendable and prayseworthy) for respect of want of duety, or
contempt to the royall maiesty, he should lose his best ioynt:
and for better confirmation of their iudgement, the Counsellers
alleaged a certayne diffinitiue sentence, regestred in their
Chronicles, whilom done by the kyngs of Persia. The cause was
this: one of the kyngs of that Region disposed to disporte with
certayne of his noble men abrode in the Fields, went a Hauking,
and with a Faucon to fly at diuers game. Within a while they
sprang a Hearon, and the Kynge commaunded that one of the
faulcons which was a notable swift and soaring Hauke, should be
cast of to the Hearon: which done, the hearon began to mount and
the faucon speedely pursued, and as the Hauke after many batings
and intercourses, was about to seaze vpon the hearon, he espied
an Egle: the stoute Hauke seeing the Egle, gaue ouer the
fearfull Hearon, and with swift flight flewe towardes the hardy
Egle, and fiercely attempted to seaze vpon her: but the Egle
very stoutly defended her selfe, that the Hauke was forced to
let goe hir holde. In the ende the good Hauke, with her sharpe
talendes, agayne seazed vpon the Egle's neck, and wyth her beake
strake her starke dead, wherewithall she fel downe amid the
compa