Herevpon suddenlie he called vnto him the kee|per of his parke,In vniust or [...]urmised charge of the [...]night a|gainst the keeper of his park [...]. with whom he fell out and quareled, bicause (as he said) he was slouthfull and careles, and did not walke in the nights about the parke, but suf|fered his game to be spoiled and his deere to be stolen, wherefore he wi [...]led him to be more vigilant and carefull of his charge: and also commanded him that if he met anie man in his circuit and walke in the night time, and would not stand nor speake vnto him, he should not spare to kill him what so euer he were. This knight, hauing laid this foundation, and minding to performe what he had purposed for the ending of his dolefull daies, did in a certeine darke night secretlie conueie himselfe out of his house, and walked alone in his parke. Then the kéeper in his night walke hearing one stirring and comming to|wards him, asked who was there? but no answer was made at all.

The kéeper killeth his maister the knight with an arrow.Then the keeper willed him to stand, which when he would not doo, the kéeper nocked his arrow and shot vnto him, and killed him; who when he perceiued that it was his maister, then he called to remembrance his maisters former commandement. And so this knight, otherwise learned and wise, being affraid to displease man, did displease God, and verie disorderlie ended his life. It is inrolled amongst the records of this citie, of a commission directed to Iohn earle of Deuonshire, & from him sent to the maior of the citie of Excester to be proclamed. The words be these: Decim [...]quarto die Aprilus, vz. in vigilia Paschae, An, 49. Hen. 6. commissio domini regis directa Iohanni comiti De|uon, missa est maiori vt proclamaretur. And likewise in an other place: Quatuor marcae sunt solutae Iohanni comiti De|uon. ex assensa maioris. Howbeit, certeine it is there was no such earle of that name, onelie there was Iohn Holland then liuing duke of Excester, where|fore something is mistaken herein.

But was this a practise (thinke you) beséeming a man of worship, Abr. Flem. learning, and iudgement, to make awaie himselfe, bicause he saw a temporall interrup|tion of his prosperitie? Suerlie how much learning so euer he had in the lawes of the land, litle at all or none (as appeareth) had he in suffering the forces of aduersitie, whom the feare of it did so terrifie, that it droue him to his end. Wise therefore is the counsell of the comedie-writer, and worthie of imitation, that a man, when he is in best case and highest degrée of welfare, should euen then meditate with himselfe how to awaie with hardnesse, with penurie, perils, losse, banishment, and other afflictions: for so shall he prepare himselfe to beare them with patience when they happen: as souldiers trained vp in militarie ex|ercises at home, are so much the forwarder for the field, & fitter to incounter their foes (with lesse dread of danger) when they come abroad to be tried: and therefore it is wiselie (& to the purpose) said of Virgil:

—superando omnis fortuna ferendo est. [...]. 5.]