curious and more absolute then at any tyme heretofore in what age so euer Concernyng which matter Quintilian giueth some rules not lesse worthie to bee obserued as also the learned Erasmus in his booke of good and perfect pronunciation But of this kinde of hande writyng will I onely speake by the sole meanes of whiche as hath the said Erasmus certaine blinde menne haue learned orderly to write Thei did to bee made a table of Porphire of bone or otherwise of mettall in whiche was ingraued euery the letters as a. b. c. c. then tooke thei in hande some small and pretie instrumente at the poincte very fine sharpe and subtile suche and so well fined that with ease thei might drawe it through euery the aboue saied letters their handes at first by some other wel directed whiche thyng by long practise thei shall in the ende conceiue hauyng the true forme of eche letter in minde folowyng it still with continuall vse and industrie by little and little shall in the ende growe so perfecte that afterward thei shall bee able to frame them on any other matter where though thei some tymes faile yet commonly and for the moste parte thei shal doe it well And thus in fine thei maie write in paper by iuste order and proportion what so euer either offereth it self to the minde or phantasie Of the first Libraries that euer were in the worlde and how the men of that tyme vsed to haue the Images or purtraites of the learned in theim Chap. 3. IT is to be thought that the firste bookes and libraries that euer were in the worlde were in the beginnyng among the Hebrues for as it is euideÌ„t that letters were there first knowen and the perfect vse of theim so is it to be supposed that they also had some care to kéepe and preserue that which they at any time had committed to writing That whiche is as well verified by the aucthoritie of Iosephus here after alleaged as also by that wee reade in holy write Isidorus reporteth that after the Chaldians hadde burned the library of the Hebrues with all and euerie their bookes of the lawe the Hebrues being retourned backe againe into Hierusalem the prophet Esdras illumined by the holy ghoste remedied this harme writyng againe these bookes and reducing theim into the number of twentie two which was the precise number of the letters of their Alphabet Whence it is manifest that after Moyses had written the Hebrues incontinently framed to theim selues a library for the better conseruation of the saied bookes of their lawe as well these I meane that wee presently haue of the olde Testament as also the others of which we before remembred among whiche was the booke of Enoch alleaged or sited by sainct Iude the Apostle in his Epistle aboue specified the boke of the warres of our sauiour wherof mentioÌ„ is in the twenty and one chapiter of the booke of Numbers the booke also of the true seruauntes of God vouchte in the seconde booke and firste Chapiter of the kinges the booke of Samuel the prophet remembred in the last Chapiter of Paralipomenon the booke of Nathan the Prophet with many others which all séemed to haue bien brunt or other wise consumed So that it appeareth euidently that the Iewes had their libraries and that those of the Gentiles were after theÌ„ and later The Gréekes report that the firste that euer ordained any publike library was Pisistratus tyranne of Athens whiche after was augmented and inricht by the Athenians whither when as Xerxes after warde came he remoued the library thence into Persia where it was diligently and carefully preserued vntill longe tyme after that Seleucus named Nicanor gatte them thence and brough theim backe againe to Athens These thinges are reported of Aulus Gellius and Isidorus whiche both affirme that this library grewe daily after this to be verie riche of all bookes of what sort so euer How be it the library of Alexandria in Egypte whiche king Ptolomiâ— by his onely meanes framed was assuredly the moste excellenst of all others in the world for that there in was founde all the olde Testament the other scriptures also of the seuentie two interpreters with infinite others famous and learned workes Pâ—inie not withstandyng againe reporteth that the kynge Eumenes in contempte of Ptolomie did an other to be erected in the Citie of Pergama A. Gellius and Am. Mercellinus writte that in the library at Alexandria in Egypte were at one tyme seuen hundren thousande bokes Seneca in like sort on the number accordeth with theim whiche althogh it might seme almoste incredible yet who so hath redde of the sumptuous larges and excessiue profutioÌ„ of the kinges of Egypte as well about sepulchers Piramides temples as also other common buildyngs and shippes with infinite suche others of inestimable price some parte of the whiche Budeus in his annotations on the pandectes verie well remembereth vs and Lazarus of Baif in hys booke intituled ars naualis reporteth that this librarie séemed nothing to hym impossible From euery parte and corner of the worlde bookes were daily brought to the better furnishyng of this library written also in all tongues what so euer then knowen of which none had any charge but suche as were beste learned Some for the poetes some for histories others some also for the others of other faculties and sciences whiche all were wasted and consumed with fier by the impacable fury of the Soldiours of Caesar whiche euen thether followed and pursued the great and mighty Pompe ouerrunning also at that same tyme the force of Ptolomie brother to Cleopatra Concerning that other so riche of bookes and so famous by the paine and labour of Eumenes in Pargama Plutarche in the life of Marcus Antonius saieth that he thether had gathered two hundred thousand volumes euery one from other of sundrie and diuers matters As touchyng the library in Grece Strabo affirmeth that Aristotle was the first that euer gathered or brought together any bookes in Athens where in he lesse accordeth with other historiogriphers whiche attribute the commendation of that so honest a dimerite onely to Pisistratus whiche was as is euident many yeres before Aristotle wherefore we muste in this place vnderstande that Strabo mente his wordes of a meane and priuate personage and not of king or prince as was in effecte Pisistratus Howbeit very likely it is that Aristotle herein was aided by the busie paine of Alexander After all these an other was erected in Rome both publike and common by Asinius Pelion But the first that euer brought greate store of boakes thether was Paulus Emilius after the conqueste of Perseus And after hym againe L. Lucullus which he brought among other thinges as a praie out of Pontus Iulius Caesar againe with like care inrichte thys library committyng it to the charge or kéepyuge of M. Varro whiche afterwardes with some others in Rome was brunte destroyed by meanes of the often sackyng and subuersion
dombe shall speake and laude his name freely and againe somwhat before with fiue loaues and twoo fishes he shall fede fiue thousande menne in the deserte and that whiche shall remaine shall also refreashe the hungerie nede of others The seconde by report was borne in Libya of whom mention is made by Euripides in his Prologue of Lamia The thirde hight Themis and was surnamed Delphica for that she was borne in the Citée Delphos of whom remembreth Chrysippus in his booke of Diuination Vnto this woman the Romaines erected an Image whiche was as recordeth Plinie before the destruction of Troie so that Homere in his workes hath sundrie and diuers of her vearses as is euident Diodorus Siculus saith that this was Daphne the doughter of Tiresias whoÌ„ when the Grekes had subdued Thebes thei sent her foorthe immediately and without staie to Delphos where she after became a prophetesse in the Oracle of Apollo so that she thence as he supposeth and not otherwise gatte the name of Delphica The fowerth had to name Cumea or Italienna and not Cumana Amaltea she was borne in Cimeria a toune of Campania adioinyng vnto Cumae whose prophesies are written as well by Neuyus in his bookes Punici as also by Pison in his annalies and briefly remembred by Lactantius by Virgil also in his Eglogue this beginning Scicilides musae The first was that famous Erythrea whiche by the especiall grace of God so plainly prophesied of the greateste misteries of our religion wherefore as hath Lactantius the Gentiles in the ages paste supposyng it impossible that a virgine should heare a childe as also other thynges supernaturall whiche thei in like sorte wrote remembred as well by old Poetes as also in aunciente histories accompted of these vearses none otherwise theÌ„ of light vain and fonde matters Apolodorus writeth of this Sibyll that she fore saied to the Grekes that thei assuredly should sacke and ouer runne Troie whence moste suppose she was before the destruction thereof How be it Eusebius contrariwise thinketh that she liued in the tyme of Romulus Strabo againe in the daies of Alexander Of this Erythrea were these woordes recited by Eusebius whiche in order translated sounde in Englishe this muche Iesus Christe the soonne of God and Sauiour Whiche was in deede no lesse straunge then meruailous Others also wrote she whiche Sainct Augustine gathereth in his eightenth De ciuitate dei which dooen by hym into Latine maie in our tongue saie this muche The yearth shall sweate an assured signe of iudgemente from heauen shall come a kyng whiche shal be kyng continually but cladde in mannes fleshe to the intente he maie iudge the worlde so shall the incredulous see aswell as shall the faithfull and with their iyes shall boholde God hymself aduaunced in the middle of his angelles and in the ende of this worlde the soules of men shall appeare with their owne proper bodies whiche all hym self shall iudge presente then in persone at whiche tyme the yearth shall bee brused and disordered Menne shall then destroie bothe Images and Idolles their iuels eke and treasures shall thei not accompte of he shall goe doune into helle and breake vp the infernall gates then to the iuste shall ioye and peace bee lotted and fire shall tormente still the reprobate and impious All secretes shall in this daie bee discouered euery man shall knowe the thoughtes of an other God then shall laie open the hartes and consciences of all fleshe there shall bee weepyng and gnashyng of teethe the Sunne and the Starres in that daie shall bee darkened the heauens them selues shall breake and the Moone shall lose her lighte the mountaines shall fall doune and the valies shall lie euen with the swellyng hilles nothyng in the whole worlde shall higher bee then other bothe mountaines and valaies shall be reduced into plaines eche thyng hauyng in that daie his endyng the yearth shall be skorchte vp and brought then to pouder bothe riuers and sprynges shall in that daie burne and with that fire also the yearth it self the sea and the aire shall be consumed a trumpette then from heauen moste terriblie shall sounde at which voice the yearth incontinentely shall open discoueryng the obscure and disordered face of helle the paines eke and the smartes of the damned soules therein By this Sibyll these and many others were written at large in vearse plainly declaryng Christe hym selfe incarnate with the resurrection of the dedde and the finall iudgemente But these thynges before thei came to passe in déede of fewe might or could in any wise bee vnderstode reputed for meare follie of the Panimes and the Gentiles Notwithstandyng Erithrea well knowyng what was to come lefte not this muche to saie in like sorte of her self vaine shall thei accoumpte me a light and liyng dame But when these thynges shall bee accomplished then shall thei remember me againe not as a detyng or as a senslis wight but as a true southsaier or prophetisse of the higheste From this Sibyl Erithrea the Romaines at tymes receiued many vearses whiche Fenestella with silence passeth not in his fiftene Forces saiyng that by ordinaunce of the Senate thei sente Ambassadours vnto her onely to haue if it so might please her of her prophesies whiche froÌ„ her brought backe papers in greate number whiche were bothe carefully and curiously reserued in the Capitoll emongste others some whiche thei also had receiued before This womaÌ„ was of Erithrea a toune of Ionyum in the Prouince of the lesse Asia adioinyng vnto Caria whiche I would the reader should certainlie vnderstande for that many other tounes are also of this name as one in Libia an other in Boecia the third in Locris the fowerth in Cyprus but to assure vs that she was of this Erithrea in IonyuÌ„ Strabo maie onely in this place suffice The sixt Sibyll was of PhytoÌ„ a toune in the Isle of Samos inuironed with the sea Egeum borderyng on Thrace or as others some suppose in that other Isle of Samos coÌ„passed with the saied sea right against Ephesus for which cause she had to name Silia Samia of which remembreth Eâ—atosthenes The seuenth was Cumana otherwise Amaltea how bee it some others gaue her to name Demophila Suidas termeth her Hierophila neuer the lesse Cumana was she called for that she bothe dwelt and prophesied in the toune of Cumas in Italie not farre of from Baias Of this woman writeth Dyonisius Halicarnasleus Solinus Aulus Gellius Seruius she brought to be sold to Tarquine the proude kyng of the Romaines nine bookes though Suidas otherwise suppose that it was to Tarquimus Priscus for whiche she demaunded three hundred Crounes or other peeces of golde suche as might be or was in Rome at that tyme moste currante but for that the kyng thought her therein vnreasonable he refused vtterly these her offered marchaundises by meanes whereof incontinently she did three of theim in his presence to be burned not leauyng therefore to aske
Aegyptians they entered the fielde onely with Pikes and Iauelins and after that by litle and litle it came within fewe dayes to sutche passe and ende that menne were prouided of sutche straunge kindes of Armes and Armoures that it was rare to beholde the one still to kill and murther the other Of the inuentours of these thinges wée finde diuerse opinions The Poetes in their Fables attribute the inuention of these Weapons vnto Mars Pline reporteth that the Etoliens were the first that euer bare Launce in fielde and addeth also that the Lacedemonians firste founde the Pertisan the Sworde for defence also the Headpéece But Herodotus saith that the Aegyptians firste framed the Tergotte and Sallette As also Midas of Misena the Coate of Maale and the Breaste plate and finally one of Etolia the firste Darte that was vsed It is saide that Pantasilia Quéene of the Ammasones firste fought in fielde with Gleaue or Halbarte And Scythus Sonne of Iupiter firste founde how to vse the Darte or Arrowe but others somme thinke the contrarie attributinge it to Persea And Diodorus not alone asscribeth it to Apollo The inhabitantes of the Iles Baleares called nowe in our time Maiorque and Minorque as hath Vigetius in his Booke of the Arte of Warre were they that firste founde to caste Stoanes with the Slinge So that men accordinge to the time their affayres and varietie of inuention haue searchte and founde out sundrie sortes of Weapons And this hath it chaunced in my phantasie eftsoones that in one and the same time in places farre distant the same kinde of weapons haue benne framed by diuerse not one at all wetinge of others deuise or practise Wherefore the lesse to annoye the Reader I leaue to geather more variable opinions whiche well might serue here not impertinent to our pourpose as to recoumpte in like sorte who were the inuentours of so many straunge instrumentes and deuises of Warre to shake and ouerthrowe greate Walles and Fortresses Eusebius affirmeth that Moyses was inuentour of these huge and straunge Engins Plutarche addeth that Archilas Tarentinus and Eudoxus were the firste that reduced this Arte to a perfection and that thei deuised sundrie instrumentes to weaken walles and great houses The Beliers as hathe also Pline founde the vse of the Swoorde at the siege of Troye but as Vitruuius reporteth it rather was at the siege of Athens The Scorpion wherewith they vsed to throwe huge and greate Stoanes as againe hath Pline was firste deuised by the inhabitantes of Crete and Syria The Phoenicians firste aduantaged them selues with the sharpe and pearsinge Rebute but these al were trifles of little weight and importaunce farre surpassed in crueltie by the inuention of Shotte in diuerse sortes and Artillerie The first inuention of whiche somme attribute vnto an Almayne whose name wée finde nowhere as vnwoorthy of memorye As reporte Blondus and R. Volateranus the first that vsed shotte to theire behoofe and profite were the Venetians againste the Inhabitantes of Genua in the yéere of our Lorde a thousande thrée hundred and foure scoare Howbeit in my iudgement this inuention was yet more Auncient for that wée Reade in the Cronicle of Alphonsus the eleuenth Kinge by iuste accompte of Castille who at the Conqueste of the Citie Algazare found while he besieged the Towne in the yéere of our redemption a thousand thrée hundred fortie and thrée that the Moores from within threw out among the enimies certaine thunders through longe Morters or Troughes of yron and this was almost fortie yéeres before that that Blondus recordeth Againe before that it is reported by the saide Alphonsus whiche semblably conquered Toletum in Spayne that one Petrus Bishop of Logio writeth that in a certaine Battayle donne on the Sea betwixt the Kinge of Tunnye and Morus Kinge of Sibilia whose faction Alphonsus fauoured that the Tunnigeniens threwe on their enemies certaine Bōbardes or Tunnes of fire whiche by all likelihoode might be déemed Artillerie although it were not in sutche perfection as now and that was foure hundred yéeres before and more ¶ For what cause Man goeth vpright as also why fastinge then when he hath Eaten he euermore is founde more weighty and poysant and why in conclusion he poyseth more dead then liuinge with others sutche not impleasant Accidents Chap. 7. OF the Composition of man sundry are the considerations of whiche Lactantius Firmianus a parte as also somme others haue written large wery volumes in whiche one thinge amonge others many requireth somme exact particuler examination Which is that it hath pleased God to frame al Creatures Man onely excepted with the heade hanginge and stoupinge forewarde their eies still fixte or for the moste parte on the Earthe and not only brute Beastes but al Plantes and Bodyes vegetable As is séene in trées whiche haue their heades or rootes faste lockte or hidde in the earthe the bowes or braunches mounting into the ayre on highe But Man he hathe created with eies bente towardes Heauen his body straighte and righte his face aduaunst on highe Goddes woorkes still to contēplate consider And althoughe for this matter it mighte suffice to alleage the onely prouidence of God yet séemeth it to sauour of somme Mysterie or Secrete and therefore woorthy of somme further consideration Our Disposition then moste assuredly learneth vs yea by moste plaine and euidente signe that wée are not created and framed for the Earthe to haue in admyration thinges base and transitorie but to be busied in things on highe heauenly Of whiche with Man no other Creature maye communicate vnwoorthy and incapable of sutche and so great benefites Man only for them euen from the firste ordeined God hathe created all creatures with heade hanginge and bente still to the grounde to shewe that he to Man hathe geuen ouer them all kinde of Rule and Authoritie to order them Whiche thinge is well noted of Lactantius Firmianus who saithe That God hauinge determined to create Man for Heauen al other Creatures vnreasonable onely for the Earthe he made Man a creature capable of aduice righte and straighte naturally ordeined and instituted to Celestial Contemplation to the intente he onely mighte reuerence him that he mighte honour the place of his firste springe and beginninge that he mighte acknowledge the Countrie that he is borne to shapinge other Creatures bowinge and stoopinge as hauinge no parte or participation of Heauen Aristotle who had of the true faithe no féelinge saithe That onely Man emonge other Creatures marcheth vprighte for that him selfe and his Countrye are not Terreane but Celestiall And further That the office of Diuine mindes is to vnderstande and perceiue in which function neither shoulde Man haue knowen how skilfully to haue ordered him selfe had he bene of a lumpishe heauye or vnfittinge shape for that the weightie masse and huge lumpe of the bodye yéeldeth the memorie and recordation with other partes of the Soule insensible S. Thomas who leafte no matter vntouched or
letters of Moyses and that thei afterwarde imperted of their knowledge to the Phenicians whence after againe Cadmus past with them into Grece Artabanus noteth that this Mercurie whiche all agrée on to haue made the first profession of letters in Egipte was Moyses himself called of the Egiptians Mercurie Philon an Hebrue a man of greate aucthoritie saieth that the inuention of letters was yet againe more auncient who saieth that Adā was the first authour of theim in deede thei either were inuented by Adam or by his children or by them at the leaste of the first age before the generall fludde or inundation preserued by Noe and his successours euen vntill the tyme of Abraham and from hym againe vntil Moyses And thus is the iudgement or opinion of Sainct Augustine Whiche is verified by the aucthoritie of Iosephus saiyng that the nephewes of Adam sones of Seth aduaunced or erected two sumptuous pillers the one of stone the other of claie in whiche they wrote or ingraned all the sciences affirmyng that himselfe sawe one of theim in Syria We finde also that S. Iude the Appostle alleageth in a certaine Epistle of his the booke of Enoch whiche also liued before the fludde So that wee must not doubt but that Adam and his children whiche were so wise whiche also had experience of so many thinges were also they that firste founde out the vse of letters and that Noe which afterward was both lettered and learned carefully preserued theim in his Arke with hym howe be it after that in the confusion of tongues whiche happened at the erection of the Tower of Babilon it may be that the greatest parte of the worlde loste then and there the knowledge of the saied letters again which onely remained in the family of Heber of or from whom afterwarde descended the Hebrues who as wee fore saide neuer loste their firste and aunciente tongue Which as it is true so Sainct Augustine reporteth it in his booke aboue alleaged Eusebius also in his first booke of his preparation Euangelicall as also the greater part of the learned of our tyme Wherefore as well Philon as also these others whiche supposed Moyses to haue been the first father of letters were there in all to geather deceaued for that it is euident that these bookes and histories that were written by Moyses were not as they déeme the firste of all others ne yet before the auncient studie of Philosophie the sadde and sage saiynges also of the Grekes as proueth Sainct Augustine sufficiently in the same place Iosephus against the grammariā Apion Eusebius also and Iustinus martirs I conclude then that letters were first and before Moyses for that we finde it recorded that Moyses hymselfe learned the artes and sciences of the Egiptians which I well knowe not how he colde haue accomplished if they before had hadde no feelyng in letters although in déede it be manifest that they hadde certaine signes called literae hierogliphicae by meanes of whiche as is aboue saide euery of theym sufficientlye and well vnderstoode the other From Adam then drawe wee the originall of letters as also that Abraham was after skilled of theim in Siria whence it cometh that Plinie hath varied in his opinion whiche wée haue in fewe now to fore remembred It nedeth nothing in this place to searche the beginnyng or cause of the vsuall frame or proportion of our characters for that eche man maie facion theim as is to hym best seemyng as we daily see euery man alter at his pleasure adding signes some tymes in steede or place of letters as affirmeth S. Hierome in the prologue of his boke of lawes that when Esdras the greate scribe and doctour of the lawe newe wrote or drewe it out in to some better fourme hee founde there straunge and newe characters of letters whiche the Iewes after vsed euen in the tyme of sainct Hierome as they also doe euen at this presente daie whiche Hebrue letters haue a priuate proprietie incident to no other letters of any countrie or nation for the voice or name of euerie of theim geueth signification of some one thing or other The firste called Aleph signifieth discipline the seconde Beth signifieth a house Gymel an other letter fillyng vp or abundance Daleth tables or bookes the others also signifie and denote other thinges whiche all I leaue as also to be tedious Who so here in is curious and desireth to knowe more may reade Eusebius in his firste booke de preparatione Euangelica Where on our elders wrote before the inuention of Paper and with what kinde of instrument how Paper and Parchement were firste founde out Who first inuented the maner or skille of Printyng as also what inestimable profite thence riseth and in fine by what meane a blinde man maie write Chap. 2. SOme what haue we after a sorte spoken in the former chapiter of the inuention of letters it resteth nowe that we also searche on what matter our elders or first fathers wrote and although directly we shall not be able here of to discourse ne yet where on thei wrote before the general inundation in the first age for the matter is both doubtfull difficill to wéete whether thei had letters then in very déede ye or not though we haue past it as proued by the aucthoritie of Iosephus as also aided to that purpose with some other profe or reasons Notwithstanding according to the opinion of al men the first writers had no kinde or maner of Paper but wrote continually on the leaues of the Date tree whence came that worde of leaues of bookes vsed at this daie After this thei wrote againe on the rindes of trées but especially on those that most easely were drawen or taken from the trée as the Elme the Ashe the palme or Burche trée from which thei tooke the innermost rinde that I meane betwixte the cruste and the trée of whiche subtilly and finely polished thei framed and facioned all their bokes artificially conioigning and fastnyng theim together And for as muche as in that time these rindes were called by the latin men libri hence haue bokes held from the time to name this word libri though thei this day far differ in the matter as is euidēt Now after this againe an other waie was foūd to write in plates of leade very thinne and perfectly fined of whiche some curious and priuate persones made aswell pillers as also bookes in which thei regestred all publike and common actes Besides this they yet founde an other waie to write to wéete on Liuen cloth fined and polished with certaine coloures Here also is and in this place to bée noted that they then wrote not as wee nowe do with pennes but with Reades whiche in latine may bee called Calami which also some vse euen yet in this daie An other kind of Paper was yet founde againe whiche was made as it were of certaine little trées called as wee finde by the name of Papers which in
déede were none other then a sorte or kinde of bull rushes ordinarely growing in marshes adionyng to the riuer of Nile Of which sorte some others are founde in Siria nigh to the floodde Euphrates as recordeth Plinie hauyng the name as the others of papers little thinne leaues or skinnes haue they betwixt the rinde and the inner parts whiche finely taken or drawen out with the poincte of an Néelde trimde afterwarde with a certaine glue or paste made with meale tempered with boyled water and vineagar was in the ende made a good and perfect paper to write drawe or doo anything theron and by how muche the nigher you drewe the skinnes from the inwarde parte of this Rushe or Reede by so muche was it both better and more fine and so accordyng to the goodnesse or difference of theim thei also had diuers and different names Who so desireth here in more let hym reade Plinie And for as muche as this Réede Rushe or little trée was called paper the name is thence deriued of that paper vsed by vs this daie whiche is made of small péeces or shreedes of linnen clothe throwly wasted and worne to nothing Varro affirmeth that the first inuentiō to make paper of these little trées or rushes was in the tyme of Alexander the greate euen then when Alexandria was by hym firste founded How be it Plinie proueth it to bée more auncient by certaine bookes which Terence did to be digde out of the grounde whiche before had been Numa Pompilius his bookes kinge of Rome founde in the same Tombe where he was buried whose leaues were of the saide rushe whiche we aboue remembred And although Liuie haue otherwise written of this Toumbe affirming that there were two founde by L. Patilius yet be we of the minde that Numa was long before Alexander With Liuie here in accorde both Lactātius and Plutarche in the life of Numa Plinies opinion notwithstandyng is of most menne approued Some write that this worde Charta tooke his originall or denomination of a certaine Toune nigh vnto Tyre called Carta whence Dido altering the name called it afterwarde Carthage Our elders also wrote in tables weaxt thinne and well fined framyng there letters with sharpe and small punchions which theim selues then termed by the name of stiles Whence it cometh that wee nowe vsually saie that who so well inditeth writeth a good stile borrowyng the name of the instrumente that they then wrote with Also before the innention of paper where on we presently write the aunciente custome was all other fore vsed meanes seposed to write continuallie on Parchment onely made of shepe skinnes of whiche remembreth vs well Herodotus whose inuention Varro attributeth to the inhabitauntes of Pergama whose king then was Eumenes whence in latin it is called at this daie pergamenum in englishe parchement And wher as in latine it is also called Membrana it taketh as maie he thought the name of the inuentour Neuerthelesse in my iudgement men wrote on these skines longe before that tyme remembred by Varro specified in like sorte afterward by Plinie for that Iosephus writeth that the bookes of the Hebrues and sundrie others which were manie yeres before Eumenes were also writtē on these skinnes as aboue saied As also when he reciteth that Eleasar Prince of the Préestes sente the bookes of holie scripture vnto Ptolomie with the seuētie interpreters to the intent they for hym should translate theim from the hebrue into greke affirmyng that Ptolomie bothe straungely was amased and meruailed at the subtle ioyning of these skinnes or parchmentes together Whēce it is aperte that what so euer was written in any sort in parchmente was of longer and greater continuance then if it had béen doen in these rindes or leaues though in déede thei both were of more antiquitie then the first By meanes whereof this vse of Parchemente neither hath neither will bee at anye tyme againe leafte and since that paper againe whiche we daily now vse is so easie to make and in suche abundaunce that it both helpeth and profiteth all kinde of studentes But aboue all other thinges without cōparison we must confesse that the skill of printyng by the onely meanes of whiche suche heapes of bookes come of all sortes to our handes is amonge all other inuentions that ether be or earste haue been in what sorte so euer to be preferred whiche as is written was first of al inuented by an Almaine inhabitant of Magonce and hight Ihon Faust though Polidore otherwise surname hym Petra by whose accompt the first printyng of bookes was there in the yere of our redemption a thousand fower hundred fiftie and thrée And shortly afterwarde an other Almaine by name Cōradus practised this arte firste of all in Italie Howe be it Volateranus writeth that thei were twoo and both brothers which past thence into Italy beginnyng to printe in Rome in the yere of oure Lorde a thousande fower hundred sixtie and fiue The first bookes that were imprinted were sainct Augustines de ciuitate dei and the diuine institutions of Lactantius Firmianus After thys grewe there manie excellente personages as well in Germanie and Fraunce as also in Italie which besides their arte or skill in printyng were also perfectly and passyng well learned as Baldus Manucius Badus Colineus and Frobenius verie diligent and painefull in correction of the lettre with infinite others whose names to be shorte I leaue of to remember By meanes wherof many bookes in maner lost and hidded were at laste published to the inspekable profite commoditie of man whiche was in déede the chife cause of so many learned men as this daie are euerie where to be founde throughout all Christendome whiche before both seldome and with greate paine attained to this absolute knowledge and perfection in learnyng But admit here that it were not the first and principal cause yet am I of that minde that it assuredly is the greatest cause for that with lesse paine wee peruse nowe suche as are perfectly corrected findyng the others euerie where full of faultes blottes and errours committed for the most parte either by the lesse skil or little care of the writer but if any one were founde perhaps emong the others faultles neither was he to be had or to bée perused of all men so that good letters then florished not as thei now and this daie doe vniuersally euery where How be it since licence first was graunted by Princes to Printe all bookes fabulous wanton and fruitles farre better had it béen in this respect doubtles that the waie to printe had neuer béen to man yet or knowne or vnfolded For it destroieth and withdraweth from vertue the good minde principally of youth whiche noseled in these follies lesse affecteth or desireth the studie of better lessōs Leauing then to speak more of the commodities of printyng descende we to the next the practise of hand writing which also in my iudgement is this daie more perfecte more
thei dedicated to him a Temple vnder the Capitoll in Rome where were celebrated these feastes which thei commonly called Dionisians or Bacchanalia verie lassiuious and full of impudicitie And that this inuention was truelie attributed to this Denis Virgil wel assureth it vs in his firste entree into his seconde boke of Georgikes although Marcianus Capellus affirme that he only skilled the Gréekes to make wine Others write that it was Icarus father of Erigonus whiche first found the meane to make wine in Athens where after warde beyng drounke â–ª was slaine of the people In Italie they saie that Saturne there first had wine whiche he brought from out the Isle of Candia Plutarche writeth that Arâ—us an Etruscian enrichte Fraunce with the firste Vine that euer was there But the trueth is that the first inuentor of wine was Noe as also the first that euer was droncke whiche witnes besides that whiche is redde in the ninth of Genesis Lactantius Firmianus and Iosephus whiche Noe immediatly after he issued out of the Arke planted the Vine with his owne proper handes and drinking after of the fructe therof was also first drunke in whiche that his disease sleapyng he so discouered hym self that that there betided hym which is writteÌ„ of him in Genesis After this men léeking of this kinde of licour drancke it at first pure and with out water for as recordeth Plinie one named Stasius was the first that did water into wine to qualifie it By meane whereof greate good hath followed with the preseruation of health through out the whole worlde for that wine so tempered hath his most excellent effectes Plato by Macrobius in his seconde booke recordeth that wine taken moderatly fortifieth the vnderstandyng it augmenteth the puissance force and strength it yeldeth the harte ioious it taketh from man all sorroufull and pensiue imaginations Plinie saieth that the honest and resonable vse of wine delaied increaseth the force bloâ—dde and couler in mans face the vaines saieth he are streÌ„ghtned by wine the sight sharpened the stomake comforted the appetite thence groweth Vrine also prouoked it hastneth sléepe and disturneth Vomites it purgeth melancolie and reioiseth the harte in fine profiteth in many other vses Asclepiades the Phisician hath written a whole booke of the only vertue of wine Sainct Paule writyng to Timothie counseleth hym to drinke a little wine the better to strengthen and comforte his stomake The Phisicions vse wine in many their medicines for that wine wil restoreth health increaseth bloodde it offendeth not anie melancoly humours it dissipateth and drieth â—eame it moisteneth and fitteth choller to be purged Plato introducing Socrates commendeth wine saiyng euen as rain moderate geueth increase of all hearbaege tempe steous inundations vtterly destroiyng it so wine with 〈…〉 ration reioiseth man and coumforteth his spirites but coutrariwise in abundaunce scorcheth and consumeth hym Among all other sweete and pleasing odours the smel also of wine is of the Philosophers commended for that it addeth force as is saide to the vitall spirites it is very subtill and soone penetrateth but what so euer is spoken or saide any where of wine that still is mente of wine moderatly taken and delaied The auncient Romaines forbad the vse of wine to women as well as also to children as hath Valerius writyng the customes lawes of the Romaines So that as Plime saieth that in those daies when Romulus raigned in Rome a certen Citisen slewe his wife for that she had dronke wine and although the murtherer were immediatly apprehended and taken yet the Prince with out sute would pardon that offence Thei estemed it a fault so greate and ignominious to sée a woman bouse or drinke wine that as Fabian reporteth a certaine maide hauyng stolen the kaies of a wine Seller preuely to haue dronke or tasted there of wine was by famine done to die euen by her owne parentes for that faulte For this cause men vsed to kisse women on the mouth to féele or perceiue if they had drinke of wine It is recorded that N. Domician beyng ordained some tymes a iudge in Rome depriued a woman there of her Dourie for that she hadde dronke more wine then was for her health either necessarie or conuenable Salomon in his Prouerbes prohibeteth wine to kinges as well as also to there counsell for that in dronkennesse saieth he nothyng is kepte socrette or concealed the pore mans cause also is then not considered of or harde iudgmente at the leaste proceadeth then against hym We reade not with standyng that it was permitted to the kynges of Egypte to drinke wine but that moderatly and by appointed measures Aâ—… Râ—mulus inuited to a feast would hardly see or taste anâ— wine for 〈…〉 eth he mustâ—… I determen of a greate and weightie matter Auicenna saieth that who so geueth wine to a child to drinke heapeth one flamyng fier on an other Aristotle inhibiteth wine to be geuen Infantes as also to all Nurses that geue sucke of their bodies Plato by his lawes in hys bokes de republica though he séeme in the firste to aucthorise the drinkyng of wine yet in the seconde saieth manne must drinke little wine wel drouned in water and that also in no wise before he bee eightine yeres olde in the presence continually of olde menne vntill he be fortie to the intente that if he exceede he receaue punishment for his excesse of theim But after that age he permitteth that the quantitie be of some parte augmented to mittigate or asswage the coldnes and melancoly of those yeres How be it his minde is that a certaine measure bee prescribed theim farther he excludeth all seruauntes of what age so euer iudges also and magistrates and such as haue offices or charge in the weale publike To studentes also he geueth in counsell that they sauer not of wine and as concernyng bondmen the same order was also obserued of theim in Rome Auicenna accoumpteth Plato his lawes as good rules in Phisicke with whom also accordeth Galene in this matter Alexander Aphrodiseus in his problemes affirmeth that those that neuer drincke other licour then water haue as wel their sight as all other their senses more sharpe and fine then thei that drinke continually wine But howe to water and ordre our wine there are sundry rules and opinions Hesiodus commaundeth that to one cuppe of wine ye adde thrée of water Atheneus saieth that the auncient Greekes did fiue partes of water to be mixt commonly with twoo of wine and some tymes whiche more was thrée partes of water with one of wine which accordeth with the rule of Hesiodus And this maie here be noted that the Grekes neuer did to be poured water into their wine but wine continually in small quantitie in to their water by meane where of Theophrastus assureth vs that these twoo licours are more perfectly medled And this did our elders not onely well droune and water their wine but dranke there of
a pointe in this notwithstandyng disagreyng with the other that the Obeliscus euer was of one onely stone nether péeste or patchte in any parte or place and yet therefore little yeldyng in height to any Pyramis of whiche we reade that some were greate as any Towers of a faire and good stone curiously grauen Of whiche sorte is one yet this daie in Rome knowen by the name only of a neelde whiche by inspeakable paine and pollicie was brought out of Egypte of height no lesse merueilous then it was to bring so houge a weaght thether This Obeliscus now of Semiramis whiche Celius as is saide reckneth for the last maruaile had in height an hundred fiftie foote and in circuite nintie sixe eche side in length by equall proportion conteainyng twentie fower foote whiche as it was one whole and perfecte stone so was he also by expresse tōmaundement of Semiramis cut out of a certeine hill or mountaine in Armenia and afterwarde thence brought to the aboue remembred Babilon But who so will consider how harde it was to drawe it thence howe harde also afterwarde to erecte it might thincke in truth it was a thing almoste impossible were ti not that the antiquitie had thinges like straunge and difficill whiche euery where are leafte vs of authours worthy credite whiche assure vs also of others in like sorte perfected by other Princes of Egypte Plinie sheweth the maner how with out any hurte bruse or annoie thei first were remoued from the place where thei were made Of these Pyramides Obelisci Colossi and suche others at full discourseth the learned Polysias in the beginnyng of his booke of loue and fire ¶ What maner of women the Sibylles were how many in number and of their prophecies but especially of those that concerned Christ and his commyng Chapt. 2. THe history of the Sibylles is generally aucthorised of all menne ther learnyng and prophecies verie well knowen but perticulerly to intreate whē and what thei were whereof thei Prophecied and at what tyme that onely knoweth he that hath spente some time in old and auncient histories Wherefore my desire was some thyng of them to gather especially consideryng the meruailous gifte of Prophecie whiche God in sunderie wise bestowed at tymes on theim and principally to fore saie of the cummyng of his sonne of his life and passion with other many misteries of our belefe and faithe of whiche wee shall some thyng in this place remēber to the intente the Ethnicke Panime that will aucthorise nothyng but their owne proper writinges might no better haue to excuse hymself then the perfecte Iewe whiche affiyng in his owne neither liketh or accepteth the true faithe or religiō And this saie I for that by common admission and consente such bookes were of all the Gentiles receiued these Sibylles also credited but especially of the Romaines whiche in euery their affaires or necessities whatsoeuer had their due recourse to the Prophecies of these Sibylles conferring and consultyng of all thynges by them written But for that so many as well Grekes as Latines haue in suche sorte so fully discourste and written of theim wee shall here followe and imitate the beste not greuyng or weriyng the reader with any others Diodorus Siculus Plinius Solinus Seruius Marcianus Capellus Lactantius Firmianus Elianus Suidas Strabo Marcus Vario and Virgill also with the better parte of Poetes Sainct Augustine Eusebius Orosius with the moste parte of all good historians haue some thyng written and discourste of these Sibylles Diodorus saith that this worde Sibylla signifieth nothing els but a woman Prophetesse and one ful of god Seruius as also Lactantius in his fowerth booke of diuine institutiōs nameth them none otherwise then the counsaile of God Suidas women Prophetes The others disagree as well about the number of them as also when thei were Some nombryng more some lesse but as thereof vncertaine Marcianus Capella mindeth vs of twoo onely others some of fower as chiefly Elianus in his variable histories Marcus Varro remembreth no lesse then tenne with whom Lactantius Firmianus occordeth in his firste booke whom I haue determined in this place to followe The firste was of Persia called Samberta of whom Nicanor maketh mention the same that wrote the renoumed gestes of Alexander others write that she was of Chaldea others a Jewe borne in the toune of Noe nigh the redde sea whose father hight Berosus her mother Erimanta this woman wrote twenty fower bookes in vearses in which she disclosed straūge and wounderfull matters concernyng the commyng of Christe his miracles and his life though secretly and as shadowed not to be vnderstode of all men With whom all the other Sibylles vniformely accorde in suche sorte that Lactantius Firmianus as well in his fowerth boke as in sunderie other places leaueth vs their perticuler Prophesies of Christe And Saincte Augustine also hath lefte vs a brief or shorte summarie of some certain and principall matters whiche as well this as the others also haue Prophesied especially of the death and passion of our Sauiour and emong others these woordes by order After this he shall bée apprehended by the handes of Infidels thei also shall beate and buffette hym aboute the face with their impure and sacrilegious handes with their mouthes accursed and blasphemous shal thei spitte on hym he shall geue theim his bodie as contented to be whipte theron he shall loue silence and vtter fewe wordes so that whence hée speaketh fewe menne at all shall knowe semblably he shall be crouned with shearpe and pearsing thornes Gaule shall thei geue hym to eate and sower Vineager to drincke See here the banket that these men shall make hym so that thou O Nation bothe ignorant and blinde shalte not knowe thy GOD here present and with thée but tyrannously shalt croune hym as is fore saide with thornes medling Gaule and vineger together a potion for hym After this the Veale of the Temple shall sundre and the midle of that daie shall be darckned as the night by the whole space of three full howres so then shall the iuste die who shall lie deade or sleape onely thrée daies and hauyng paste through Hell shall rise or reuiue neuer to die againe These woordes are suche so plaine and so euidente that thei in nothyng differ from these of the Euangelistes cōcernyng Christ our maister and Messias or otherwise from these of the holy prophetes but emōg the others principally of Esaie whiche the Churche also this daie doeth holde and shall doe euer And these Prophesies are recorded some by Lactantius Firmianus some by sainct Augustine and others some by others as by Cicero Marcus Varro and others Gentiles all deade before the birthe and natiuitee of our Sauiour as is bothe plaine and manifeste by the saied Lactantius who farther of these Sibylles addeth also this muche he shall raise the dedde the impotente and the weake by hym again shall goe the deafe shall heare the blinde sée the
againe the whole price for the other sixe whiche thyng the kyng disdainyng more then then at the firste began to deride her chargyng her with follie whence she again taketh others three and as the first so burned them immediatly demaunding for the remnante the whole price of the nine where at and at whose constancie the kyng then muche amased imagining that thei contained some straunge and hidden misteries bought these three at the price of all the others whiche afterwarde were laied vp and reserued in the Capitoll in meruailous honour and reuerence of all the people Plinie writeth that she had but thre in all of whiche she burned as he reporteth twoo receiuing notwithstanding for the third the value of theÌ„ all but how so euer it were it sufficeth that these bookes were had in suche greate reuerence so kepte and reserued with these of the other Sibylles For as M. Varro alleageth out of Lactantius the Romaines with incessant paine sought throughout all Grece and Italie thorowe Asia also and euery parte thereof for all bookes vearses or prophesies whatsoeuer that might or could be founde any where of these Sibylles and especially emoÌ„g the others of that excellent Erithrea for accomplishemeÌ„t whereof and more expedite gatheryng of these foresaied papers fiftene menne of honour were charged with this busines none medlyng or dealyng besides them in these matters Fenistella recordeth that wheÌ„ the Capitoll was burned the Senate sente backe againe to Erithrea humblie requestyng her to inriche them ones again with her bookes if it so â—…ight please her Whence it maie be presumed that thei had not Cumanaes verses onely but euery the prophesies of eche and al the others and that that Sibyll of whiche Virgil maketh mention in the beginnyng or entrie of his sixt of Aeneydos which then dwelt or continued in Cumas where he affirmeth that Aeneas imbarkte hym self should bee some other Cumana not this of whiche we now haue spokeÌ„ by common accompt and reckning the seuenth of that order for it hardly may be thought that Virgil knew of any Sibyll at that time when Aeneas firste entered into Italie ne yet that she liued in the daies of the fifte kyng of Rome And Seruius interpretyng thesame place saieth of necessitie it nedes muste be that she that solde these bookes should also bee called Cumana though in trothe her name were nothing so at all this woman also died in the said toune of Cumas The eight was borne within the territorie of Troie in the toune of Marmisa suche and so auncient that as Heraclides Ponticus writeth she liued in the tyme of Solon the Philosopher and of that greate and mightie Cyrus The ninthe was borne in Phrigia and Prophesied dwellyng in the toune of Ancira The tenthe hight Albunea borne at Tibur sixtene mile from Rome whens also she is called some tymes Tiburtina So these Sibylles lefte many bokes and verses in whiche thei Prophesied of sundrie thynges to come but principally of the prosperous or aduerse state of Rome so that the Romaines in euery their affaires diligently perused and with reuerence all their bookes or papers orderyng and directing them selues continually by theÌ„ And as when we would be credited and be thought to speake a truthe we vsually will saie it is written in the Gospell so also saied thei in like sort of the Sibylles suche was their affiaunce or greate truste in these women For proofe whereof Iuuenal passeth such a vearse Credite me vobis folium recitare Sibyllae whiche he so saied for that these women gaue foorthe their Prophesies written in leaues of trees as Virgil well witnesseth in his sixt of his Aeneydos Cicero with great reuerence speaketh also of them especially in his booke De diuinatione where he thus muche saith as we tofore haue saied that out of their firste greate letters of euery vearse senteeÌ„ces of weight great matters stil were drawen Among other thinges manie eche one of theim haue spoken of our faithe and of the Christian religion of the birth the life and of the death of Christe as we eftesones tofore haue also specified as among the others the Sibyll Delphica also saide A Prophete shall be borne of a woman not knowyng man and an other this he that yet is to come shall here after come he shall raigne in pouertie his greate mightie force shall he to fewe discouer out of a virgines woumbe shall he also bée borne Iosephus againe a Iewe though he were by race and eake by his profession speakyng of the tower of Babilon this much reporteth that a certaine Sibyl rememberyng when firste men spake but one language saithe that thei builte to theim a proude and haute Tower as if by the same thei should haue entered in to heauen but God sente fourth greate windes to rase to subuerte it as also diuers tongues the spring of deuision and discord among the people whence this Tower gained the fitte name of Babilon These thinges and others the semblable writen by these Sibylles haue well been recorded by Christians Iewes and Gentiles whiche the Gentiles repleate with sinne colde neuer yet vnderstande but the Christians as soone as these Prophesies came to their handes as well recorde Lactantius Firmianus Eusebius and Saincte Augustine with others gathered thence greate fruict and comforte immediatly the Panym and the Gentile neglectyng theim to their confusion Besides these were yet some others that also were called Sibylles reputed as fore shewers or fore saiers of thinges to come as Cassandra the doughter of Priamus Campusia Celofonia the doughter of Calcas Manta Thessalica the doughter of â—iresias the Thebane but all histories onely accorde on the aboue saide tenne Wherefore sleepe by nature was geuen vnto man and that to sleape to muche is bothe noisome and domageable Chap. 3. SLéepe was geuen man for his preseruation for that nothing hauing life is ther that sleapeth not Aristotle saith that al creatures hauing bloodde take their repose and sleape in whiche place he proueth by reason and by experience that fishes also at tymes as other thinges dooe sleape Sléepe is a surcessing of all the senses from trauaile whiche is or is caused by certaine euaporations and fumes rising of our meate and sustenaunce receaued mountyng from the stomake immediatly vnto the braine by whose greate coldnes these vapors warme are tempered castyng into a slumber euery the forces or senses exteriour at whiche tyme the vitall spirites retiryng to the harte leaue all the members of the bodie in a sleape vntill suche tyme againe as these saide vitall spirites whiche are the onely instrumentes by whiche the Soule bothe gouerneth and ordereth the whole bodie recouer newe force and streangth to theim againe and so these vapors or ceassyng or diminishynge maÌ„ againe awaketh or retourneth to himself more apte then to his busines then at any tyme tofore Of these occasions of sleape Aristotle is long in his booke De somno vigilia and Plutarche
chose her gouernesse to bee assisted with certeine others of their countrie whiche she courtuously as was her maner and thaÌ„ckfully accecepted painyng her self in the administration of iustice vntill all thinges were reduced in to perfect and quiet state and afterwarde geuyng vppe her office in to the handes of the Senate withdrewe her selfe in to a house of religion among Noonnes where she liued in contemplation and praier the residue of her life The ende of the fowerth and Laste Parte Li. 15. de Ciuitate Dei. Li. 2. DiuinaruÌ„ Institutionum Genesis 5. Genesis 8. Li. 15. de Ciuitate Dei. Iosephus Lib. 1. de Antiquitatibus Papyrius Nero. Lib. 7. Cap. 23. Lyonna Plancus Val. li. 6. Cap. 8. Cato Q. Curtius C. Metellus Pline Lib. 3. Cap. 5. Aristotle Liuicus Hecates Plutarche Zeno. Horace Suetonius Cicero Pline Lib. 11. Cap. 36. M. Varro Li. 10. Antiquarum LectionuÌ„ Cor. Ag. Li. 2. de Secretis Philosophiae Aristotle Pline Li. 11. Cap. 37. Aristomenes Germanicus Beda Lib. 3. de Natura Deorum Lib. 7. Cap. 16. Lib. 4. Lib. 9. de preparatione EuaÌ„gelica Arist Lib. 2. de Natura Animalium Gal. Lib. 1. de Morbis acutis Pline Lib. 2. Plutarche â–ª Pline Lib. 28 Galiot Libro suo de Homine L. Cel. Lib. 2 A. Gellius V. Maximus Genesis II. Iosephus Isidorus li. 15. of Etimologes Iosephus Isidorus S. August Orosus Genesis 7. Herodotus The firste Age. The firste cittie of the world The contrarietie of opinions concerning the first Age. The second Age. Cam. The beginning of the Assyrians The Thirde Age. Pharao in the Aegyptian tongue signifieth Kinge Ispalis The InundatioÌ„ of Thessalye The Fourthe Age. Mundi Iuuenâ—… Olympiades The Fifte Age. Tameris The Sixte Age. S. August in 15 16. 17. De Ciuitate Dei. Beda Eusebius Filon Hesiodus Turbus Q. Curtius S. Nasica â–ª Apulcus â–ª Draco Three Idolles of the Gentiles Seneca Cato Ionathas A. Regulus A Bull of Brasse Somme others haue Harpagus Octaniana and Sabina Lib. 3. De Anima Lib. 6. De Regimine sanitaus Aristotle Plato Erastothenes Zenocrates Diogenes Poncius Freneus Beda in his booke of time Eusebius in his first booke of time Ouid. in fastis Plaut in problematis Caia Cecilia Tanaquila Plinie lib. 8. Cap. 40. Leptina Messagites Britous Arabians Noble menne onely admitted to painting Zeuxis and Parrasus Strabo in his 14. booke Apelles Protogines Pamphilus Apelles his maister Campaspa a concubine of Alexanders Ostracismus Mardonius was one of Xerxes Capitaines Nicias and Alcibiades eache enuious of others honour Cicero 〈◊〉 in his â–ª 6 booke Pli. in his 28. Plutarch in the life of Themistocles Aristotle in his thirde boke de animalibus Plinie in his leuenth booke Dioscorides in his sixte boke Diodorus in his fourth and fifte booke Aristotle in his thirde boke de animalibus Plinie in his 32. boke and third chapiter A barbarus crueltie of Tamburlaine Plinie in his 5. booke and Ar. in the thirde of his Mereo Sen. in the. 3. booke of his naturall questions Pom. M. in his seconde booke Strabo in the. 6 A people in Africa whiche dwell in caues and eate the fleshe of Serpentes Lucretius in his sixt booke Laguna Iosephus in the seconde booke of his antiquities Lac. the father of Ptolomie What a Libertaine 〈…〉 Arpinum Virgill in the eight of his Eneid The Palmer is alitte worme loÌ„g and rough hauyng manie legges and in laune may bee called bruchus or campeâ— or multipeda Plinie in his seuenth boke Herodotus Diodorus Sic. S. Augustine in his eightinth booke de ciuitate dei Iosephus in his first booke of his aniquities Plinie in his thirtine boke the eleuenth and twelâ—te Chapiters Alaxandria was founded by Alex. 320. yeres before the incarnatioÌ„ of Christ Plin. in his 31. booke and ix Chapiter Iosephus in his 12. booke of antiqnities Whé and who first founde the skille of printyng A. Gel. in his sixte booke Isidorus in his sixte booke Plinie lib. 7. cap. 8. Pet. Crinitus lib. 5. cap. 3. A. Gel libr. 15. cap. 3. Plinie lib. 13. Lac. li. 2. insti diuinarum Iosep li. 1. anâ— Plinie lib. 7. cap. 5 â–ª 6. Plinie leb 2â— â–ª cap. 1. â—al lib. 2. Plinie lib. 14. Arist li. 7. pol. Iosephus lib. 8. ant All creatures saue man content theim selues with water All creatures saue man contente theÌ„ selues vvith vvater Lib. 11. nocti Atticarum Deute 32. Exodus 12. Or in the contrary poincte the firste of Libra Vranoscopos a fishe hauyng but one eye Diod. Sic. li. 6. Plinie lib. 2. A. Gellius lib. 6 cap. 6. noct At. Or it might be saied to rise of the latin word Ouo whiche is to reioice Whence also is deriued Ouatio and froÌ„ thence this Ouation Cimbria is that vvhich vve novv call Denmarke Aug. lib. 16. de ciuitate dei Iosephus li. 9. de antiquitatibus Paulus orosius lib. 2. Strabo lib. 16. Colossi vvere Images of excedyng greatnes hauyng the shape or proportion of man Plineus li. 34. cap. 7. What a Pyramis is Plinie lib. 36. cap. 12. Diod. Sic. li. 1. Strabo lib. vltimo Pomp. M. lâ—… 1. Herod lib. 2. Am. lib. 2. A. Gâ—li 10. noctium At. Plinie li. 35. cap. 5. P. Mela. li. 1 Stra. lib. 7. Strabo lib. 14. A. Gel. lib. 2. Stra. lib. 8. P. Mela. li. 2. Plinie li. 34. 36. P. Mela li. 2. Pline lib. 5. Plinie lib. 35. A. Marc. lib. 2. Plinie lib. 6. cap. 8. 9. The first Samberta Lact. li. 4. ca. 15. The second libyca The third Delphica The fowerth Cumea The first Erythrea Strabo lib. 4. The sixt Samia The seuenth Cumana The eight Hel Iespontia The ninth Phrigia The tenth Albunea or Tyburtina Ar. lib. 4. de animalibus Paul. cap. 4. primae epist. ad Thes A prouerbe among the Frenchmen Some reade Nicocreon A TABLE OF AL THE MATTERS CONTAINED IN this booke and firste of the firste parte WHy in the first age menne liued longer then in this our age present Chap. 1. fol. 1. pag. 1. That the opinion of those that supposed the yeres of the former ages paste to haue been more short then these of our tyme is false As also which was the firste Citie of the worlde and finally that oure Forefathers had more Children then these that are remembered to vs in the Scriptures Chap. 2. fol. 3. pag. 1. Of the excellencie of Secrettes and in what sorte a secrette ought to bee couered with certaine Examples seruyng to that purpose Chap. 3. fol. 5. pag. 2. Howe commendable a thing it is to talke or speake fewe Chap. 4. fol. 10. pag 1. Of the strauÌ„ge opinion of the Aegyptians touching the tearme or ende of mannes life limiting the same by the proportion of his harte Chap. 5. fol. 11. pag. 2. Of the first beginnyng and spring of Warre as who were they that firste inuaded straunge Countries with the inuentours of certaine Weapons and Armes who also first found out the vse of Artillerie cha 6. fol. 13. pa. 1. For what cause