The Wise and Ingenious Companion, French and English;: or, A Collection of the Wit of the Illustrious Persons, Both Ancient and Modern
The ingenious Thoughts, noble Sentiments, Jests and witty Reparties of the MODERNS. With some pleasant STORIES, ENGLISH and FRENCH.
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HEnry the Eighth King of England, being at odds with Francis I. King of France, resolv’d to send him an Ambassadour with a very haughty and threatning Message, and to that purpose made choice of Bishop Bonner, in whom he reposed great Confidence. The Bishop told him, that his Life would be in great danger, if he should offer such Language to so high-spirited a King as Francis the First. Be not afraid, said Henry VIII. for should the French King put you to Death, I would take off many a Head of those French Men that are here in my Power: I believe so, answer’d the Bishop, but of all those Heads, added he with smile, none would fit my Shoulders so well as this, pointing to his own. This witty answer pleased the King, and made him reform the Instructions of his Ambassador.
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HEnry VIII. Roy d’Angleterre, ayant des demelez avec François I. Roy de France, resolut de lui envoyer un Ambassadeur, & de le charger de plusieurs paroles fieres & menaçantes, & choisit pour cét employ l’Evêque Bonner, en qui il avoit beaucoup de confiance; cét Eveque lui representa que sa vie seroit en grand danger, s’il tenoit de pareils discours à un Roy aussi fier qu’ètoit le Roy François Premier: Ne craignez rien lui dit Henry VIII. Si le Roy de France vous faisoit mourir, je ferois abbatre bien de têtes à quantité de François, qui sont ici en ma puissance; je le crois, répondit l’Eveque, Mais de toutes ces têtes, ajoûta t-il en riant, il n’y en a pas une qui vint si bien sur mes Epaules que celle-cy, en lui montrant la sienne. Cette reponse agréable pût au Roy, & l’obligea à reformer l’instruction de son Ambassadeur.