And in the conclusion, let me again remember you, that the trick of twisting your interest pretendedly with Princes, and making them believe that those that you would have to be afflicted, or expelled, are more against Monarchy and Loyalty than you are, though it be an old device, and of great success, hath ever been hateful to sober men, when the falsehood hath appeared, and will but make your blot the fouler. There were ⟨p. 232⟩two great Philosophers in France, in the time of King Francis the first, Castellanus and Bicot. Bicot was a most profound interpreter of Aristotle, and saith Hornius, hath got the immortal fame of Scaligers testimony (Hist. Phil. l. 6. p. 314.) And indeed Scaligers words are very high in his praise, Exercit. 307. n. 15. Pag. 904. and smart against his adversaries: Haec quidem risui sunt atque contemptui nostris Lucianis atque Diagoris Culinariis, sed non neglecta sunt a maximo Philosopho Guilielmo Bicotio, qui quidem pene solus hoc summum jus hodie tuetur in reconciliâ Philosophiâ. But Castellanus hated Bicot because he was a Peripatetic. The King being a great lover of learned men, heard Castellanus often; and when some Courtiers extolled Bicot, and desired the King to hear him, Castellanus in wrath and cunning together saith, What do you praise an Aristotelian? And that you may know, O King, what men these Aristotelians are, they affirm that Aristocracy is better than Monarchy. Which knocked the nail on the head, and the King would not hear Bicot, but Castellanus. Melanchthon hath recorded the whole Story, and Hornius after him. These devices may do the feat for a while, and serve for a shift against not only Aristotle's Philosophy, but more necessary Truths; but at the long running they will be out of breath, and flattery and calumny will stink.
And in the conclusion, let me again remember you, that the trick of twisting your interest pretendedly with Princes, and making them believe that those that you would have to be afflicted, or expelled, are more against Monarchy and Loyalty than you are, though it be an old device, and of great success, hath ever been hateful to sober men, when the falshood hath appeared, and will but make your blot the fouler. There were ⟨p. 232⟩two great Philosophers in France, in the time of King Francis the first, Castellanus and Bicot. Bicot was a most profound interpreter of Aristotle, and saith Hornius, hath got the immortal fame of Scaligers testimony (Hist. Phil. l. 6. p. 314.) And indeed Scaligers words are very high in his praise, Exercit. 307. n. 15. Pag. 904. and smart against his adversaries: Haec quidem risui sunt atque contemptui nostris Lucianis atque Diagoris Culinariis, sed non neglecta sunt a maximo Philosopho Guilielmo Bicotio, qui quidem pene solus hoc summum jus hodie tuetur in reconciliâ Philosophiâ. But Castellanus hated Bicot because he was a Peripatetick. The King being a great lover of learned men, heard Castellanus often; and when some Courtiers extolled Bicot, and desired the King to hear him, Castellanus in wrath and cunning together saith, VVhat do you praise an Aristotelian? And that you may know, O King, what men these Aristotelians are, they affirm that Aristocracy is better than Monarchy. Which knockt the nail on the head, and the King would not hear Bicot, but Castellanus. Melancthon hath recorded the whole Story, and Hornius after him. These devices may do the feat for a while, and serve for a shift against not only Aristotles Philosophy, but more necessary Truths; but at the long running they will be out of breath, and flattery and calumny will stink.
