Lewis the Eleventh, afterwards King of France, in fear of his Father Charles the Seventh, retired into Burgundy, where he contracted a Familiarity with one Conon a Peasant. Succeeding his Father in the Kingdom, Conon took his Journey to Paris, to present the King with some Turneps, which he had observ’d him to eat heartily of, when he sometimes came weary from Hunting; in the way, Hunger constrain’d him to eat them all up, save only one of an unusual bigness. The King delighted with the Simplicity of the Man, commanded him a Thousand Crowns, and the Turnep, wrapt up in a piece of Silk, to be reserved amongst his Treasures. A greedy Courtier had observ’d this, and having already devour’d a greater Sum, bought a very handsom Horse, and made a present of him to the King, who cheerfully accepted the Gift, and gave order that the Turnep should be given him; when unwrapt, and that it was seen what it was, the Courtier complained he was deluded: No, said the King, there’s no delusion, thou hast that which cost me a thousand Crowns for a Horse that is scarce worth a Hundred.
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Louis onzieme, qui fut ensuite Roy de France, se retira en Bourgogne, pour éviter le colere de son Pere Charles VII, & là il contracta familiarité avec un Païsan nomme Conon. Aprés qu’il eut succedé au Royaume de son pere, Conon se mit en Chemin pour Paris, afin d’y faire present au Roy de quelques Navets, parce qu’il avoit observé que le Roy avoit quelquefois pris grand plaisir à en manger, lors qu’il revenoit fatigué de la chasse. Pendant son voyage la faim l’obligea de manger tous ses Navets, à la reserve d’un seul d’une grosseur extraordinaire. Le Roy prit plaisir à la simplicité de cét Homme, & lui fit donner mille écus; & commanda qu’on conservât ce Navet parmi ses Tresors, aprés l’avoir envelopé dans un morceau de Taffetas. Un Courtisan affamé avoit observé tout ceci, & ayant déja devoré une plus grande somme, il acheta un fort beau Cheval, & en fit present au Roy lequel reçeut ce present avec joye, & lui fit donner le Navet. Aprés que le Courtisan l’eût developé, & qu’il eût veu ce que c’ètoit, il se plaignit de ce qu’il avoit été trompé; Il n’y a point de tromperie, dit le Roy, puis que tu as ce qui m’a couté mille écus, pour un Cheval qui à peine en vaut-il cent.
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Alphonsus King of Spain, said to those who told him that his Cloaths were so plain that they did not distinguish him from his Subjects: I had much rather be distinguished from my Subjects by my Honour and Virtue, than by my Crown and Purple,
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Alphonse Roy d’Espagne dit à ceux qui lui remontroient que la simplicité de ses Habits le confondoit avec ses sujets: J’aime bien mieux que ma Gloire & ma Vertu me distinguent de mes sujets, que le Diademe & la Pourpre.
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The Hungarians, who had conspired against Sigismundus, being entred into his Palace with design to either to seize or kill him, the Emperour perceiv’d them and ran to them with a Dagger in his Hand: Which of you, said he to them, will be so insolent as to abuse me? What have I done that deserves Death? If any one designs to strike me, let him come forward, I’ll defend my self. These bold and resolute Words frighted the Conspirators to that degree, that they run away at that very instant.
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