six-and-twenty hundred thousand; the fourth year, three millions, and do so increase it always out of their own goodwill, that we shall be constrained to forbid them to bring us any more. This is the nature of gratitude and true thankfulFor time, which gnaws and diminishes all things else, augments and increases benefits; because a noble action of liberality, done to a man of reason, doth grow continually, by his generous thinking of it and remembering it.

ness.

"Being unwilling, therefore, any way to degenerate from the hereditary mildness and clemency of my parents, I do now forgive you, deliver you, and set you at liberty. Moreover, at your going out of the gate, you shall have every one of you three months' pay to bring you home into your houses and families, and shall have a safe convoy of six hundred cuirassiers and eight thousand foot under the conduct of Alexander, my equerry, that the peasants may not do you any injury. God be with you! I am sorry from my heart that Picrochole is not here; for I would have given him to understand that this war was undertaken against my will, and without any hope to increase either my goods or renown. But seeing he is lost, and that no man can tell where, nor how he went away, it is my will that this kingdom remain entire to his son; who, because he is too young-he not being yet full five years old-shall be brought up and

instructed by the ancient princes and learned men of the kingdom. And because a realm thus desolate may easily come to ruin, if the covetousness and avarice of those who administrate it be not curbed and restrained, I ordain that Ponocrates be viceroy over all these governors, with whatever power and authority is requisite thereto, and that he be continually with the child, until he find him able and capable to rule and govern by himself.

"Now I must tell you, that you are to understand how a too feeble and dissolute facility in pardoning evil-doers giveth them occasion to commit wickedness afterwards more readily, upon this pernicious confidence of receiving favour. I consider how Moses, the meekest man that was in his time upon the earth, did severely punish the mutinous and seditious people of Israel. I consider likewise how Julius Cæsar-who was so gracious an emperor that Cicero said of him that his fortune had nothing more excellent than that he could, and his virtue nothing better than that he would, always save and pardon every man,―he, notwithstanding all this, did in certain places most rigorously punish the authors of rebellion. After the example of these good men, it is my will and pleasure that you deliver over unto me, before you depart hence, first, the fellow Marquet, who was the prime cause and origin of this war, by his vain presumption; secondly, his fellow cake-bakers,

who were negligent in checking his folly on the spot; and lastly, all the counsellors, captains, officers, and domestics of Picrochole, who have incited. him, flattered him, and counselled him to come out of his limits thus to trouble us."

When Gargantua had finished his speech, the seditious men whom he required were delivered up unto him, except three captains, who ran away six hours before the battle, and two of the cakebakers who were slain in the fight. Gargantua did them no other hurt, but that he appointed them to pull the presses of his printing-house, which he had newly set up. Then those who died there he caused to be honourably buried in the valley of Noirettes and the field of Bruslevieille, and gave order that the wounded should be dressed and had care of in his great hospital. After this, considering the great prejudice done to the town and its inhabitants, he reimbursed them for all the losses stated by confession and upon oath; and for their better defence and security in times coming against all sudden uproars and invasions, commanded a strong citadel to be built there, with a competent garrison to maintain it. At his departure he did very graciously thank all the soldiers of the brigades that had been at this overthrow, and sent them back to their winter quarters in their several stations. and garrisons; some of the decumane legion only

excepted, whom in the field on that day he saw do some great exploit, and their captains also, whom he brought along with himself unto Grangousier.

At the sight and coming of them, the good man was so joyful that it is not possible fully to describe it. He made them a feast the most magnificent, plentiful, and delicious that ever was seen since the time of the King Ahasuerus. At the taking up of the table he distributed amongst them his whole cupboard of plate, which weighed eighteen hundred thousand and fourteen besants of gold, in great antique vessels, great pots, great basins, great cups, goblets, candlesticks, baskets, and other such plate, all of pure massy gold, besides the precious stones, enamelling, and workmanship, which by all men's estimation was more worth than the matter of the gold. Then unto every one of them out of his coffers caused he to be given the sum of twelve hundred thousand crowns ready money. And further, he gave to each of them for ever and in perpetuity, unless they should die without heirs, such castles and neighbouring lands of his as were most commodious for them. To Ponocrates he gave La Roche Clermauld; to Gymnast, Coudray; to Eudemon, Montpensier; Rivau, to Tolmere; to Ithybole, Montsoreau; to Acamas, Cande; Varenes, to Chironacte; Gravot, to Sebaste; Quinquenais, to Alexander; Ligré, to Sophrone,—and so of his other places.

THE ABBEY OF THELEMA.

There was left only the monk to provide for, whom Gargantua would have made Abbot of Seuillé, but he refused it. He would have given him the Abbey of Bourgueil, or of Sanct Florent, which was better, or both, if it pleased him; but the monk gave him a very peremptory answer, that he would never take upon him the charge nor government of monks. "For how shall I be able," said he, "to rule over others, that have not full power and command of myself? If you think I have done you, or may hereafter do you, any acceptable service, give me leave to found an abbey after my own mind and fancy." The motion pleased Gargantua very well, who thereupon offered him all the country of Thelema by the river Loire, till within two leagues of the great forest of Port-Huaut. The monk then requested Gargantua to institute his religious order contrary to all others. "First, then," said Gargantua, "you must not build a wall about your convent, for all other abbeys are strongly walled and mured about. Moreover, seeing there are certain convents in the world, whereof the custom is, if any women come in-I mean honourable and honest women-they immediately sweep the ground which they have trod upon; therefore was it ordained, that if any