Du tems de la Reine _Elizabeth_, dans la chaleur des guerres entre l’_Angleterre_ & l’_Espagne_, il fut resolu qu’on entreroit dans un Traité de Paix entres ces deux couronnes; Et Pour cét effet on nomma des Commissaires de part & d’autre. Ils s’assemblerent dans une Ville du Roy de _France_, & la premiere question que l’on mit sur le Tapis fut, en quelle Langue se seroít la negotiation. Un _Espagnol_, voulant railler les Commissaires _Anglois_, proposa la langue _Françoise_ comme la plus propre, & que les _Espagnols_ entendoient fort bien, & pour ces Messieurs les _Anglois_, je crois, dit-il, qu’ils n’ignorent pas la langue des autres sujets _François_, puis que leur Reine est Reine de _France_ aussi biên que d’_Angleterre_. De bonne Foy, Messieurs, reprit le Docteur _Dale_, un des Commissaires _Anglois_, la langue _Francoise_ est trop vulgaire pour une affaire si secrette & si importante, sur tout dans une ville de _France_. Traitons plûtôt en _Hebreu_, qui est la langue de _Jerusalem_, dont vôtre Maitre est le Roy; pour moi, je suppose que vous y ètes aussi bien versez que nous le sommes dans le _François_. 139 _Poggius_ the _Florentine_ tells a merry Story condemning the Folly of such, especially mean Persons, as spend their Time and Estates in Hunting and Hawking. Mr. _A——._ Physician of _Milan_, saith he, that cured Mad-men, had a Pit of Water in his House, in which he kept his Patients, some up to the Knees, some to the Girdle, some to the Chin, as they were more or less affected. One of them, that was pretty well recover’d, stood by chance in the Door, and seeing a Gentleman ride by with a Hawk on his Fist, and his Spaniels after him, would needs know to what use all this preparation serv’d? He made answer to kill certain Fowl; the Patient demanded again, what his Fowl might be worth which he killed in a Year. He replied, nine or ten Crowns; and when he urged him further, what his Dogs, Horses, and Hawks, stood him in? He told him four Hundred Crowns; with that the Patient bid him be gone as he loved his Life and Welfare; For, said he, if our Master come and find thee here he will certainly put thee into his Pit amongst Madmen up to the very chin. 139