ny that wayted vpon the king. Al the Barons and Gentlemen
highly commended and praysed the Hauke, affirminge that a better
was not in the worlde, attributing vnto the same sutch prayse,
as they thought meete. The king for all the acclamations and
shoutes of the troupe, spake not a worde, but stoode musing with
himselfe, and did neyther prayse nor blame the Hauke. It was
very late in the eueninge, when the Faucon killed the Egle, and
therefore the kinge commaunded ech man to depart to the Citty.
The next day the king caused a Goldsmith to make an exceeding
fayre crowne of golde, apt and meete for the Falcon's head.
Afterwards when he saw time conuenient, he ordayned that in the
market place of the Citty, a Pearche should be erected, and
adorned with Tapestry, Arras, and other costly furnitures, sutch
as Prynces Palaces are bedecked withall. Thither with sound of
Trumpets hee caused the Faucon to be conueyed, where the kinge
commaunded one of his noble men to place the Crowne vpon his
head, for price of the excellent pray atchieued vpon the Egle.
Then he caused the hangman or common executioner of the Citty,
to take the Crowne from the Faucon's head, and with the
trenchant sword to cut it of. Vppon these contrary effectes the
beholders of this sight were amazed, and began diuersly to talk
thereof. The king which at a window stoode to behold this fact,
caused silence to be kept, and so opened his princely voice, as
he was wel heard speaking these words: "There ought (good
people) none of you all to Murmur and grudge at the present fact
executed upon the Faucon, bycause the same is done vppon good
reason and iust cause as by processe of my discourse you shall
well perceiue. I am persuaded that it is the office and duety of
euery magnanimous prince, to know the valor and difference
betweene vertue and vice, that all vertuous actes and worthy
attempts may be honoured, and the contrary chastised and
punished, otherwise he is not worthy of the name of a Kyng and
Prynce, but of a cruel and trayterous Tyrant: for as the prince
beareth the title by principality and chiefe, so ought his life
chiefly to excell other, whom he gouerneth and ruleth. The bare
title and dignity is not sufficient, if his conditions and
moderation be not to that supreme state equiualent. Full well I
knew and did consider to be in this dead Faucon a certayne
generosity and stoutnesse of minde, ioyned wyth a certayne
fierce actiuity and nimblenesse, for wh