Henry Peacham (1638) The Valley of Varietie, Chapter XXI, pp. 168-171.
CHAP. XXI.
The marveilous simplicitie of a Monke, fetched out of his Monasterie, to bee Crowned a King.
THE Arragonians, who inhabite betweene the River Iberus, & the kingdome of Valentia in Spaine, who derive their name from the most ancient Citie Tarracona, built by Cn: Publius, Scipio's Brother, in the second Punicke Warre, chose one Tarrensis, a Noble man for their King; who being possessed of his Regall Authoritie, and Dignitie, began to abuse his government, and to grow proud and insolent: so incurring the hatred of his people, hee was soone after by them deprived of his kingdome. Now being cast out of his Throne, when they could meet with none whom they thought worthy and able to take the charge of the Crowne and government upon him, by the Popes Authoritie, they tooke out of a Monasterie, one Ranimiro, a Monke, (a Bastard sonne of Sanchio Maior's) and made him King of Arragon and Osea, as Collenutius will have it; but (Roderigues Sanchio calleth it Osca) crowned in the yeare One thousand and seventeene.
This Monke, not accustomed to the Warres, or Militarie Affayres (as it seemed) when hee was to set forward in an Expedition against the Moores, he was by his Nobles set upon a goodly great horse in his complete Armes, giving him his Shield in his left hand, and his Lance in his right; then they gave him the Bridle; which when hee considered, and utterly ignorant how hee should use or carry them, hee told them in these wordes, That both his hands were full, and desired them, that hee might take the Bridle in his mouth, which gaping wide hee did: at which words all the Nobilitie fell on a laughter. But shortly after, having left off his Monasticall simplicitie, calling many of his Nobles unto him, hee caused them to bee beheaded, adding this wittie, though bitter Sarcasme: Non sa ben la Volpegia, con quien trompegia: The Fox knowes not with whom hee playes.
This page is by James Eason.