other of a man that forgets the liberty of himselfe But on the other side if Vrbanity and outward Elegancy of Behaviour be intended too much they passe into a deformed counterfeit Affectation Quid enim deformius quam scenam in vitam transferre To Act a mans life But though they fall not by insensible degrees into that vitious extreme yet too much time is consumed in these small matters and the mind by studying them is too much depress'd and broken And therefore as Tutors and Preceptors use to advise young Students in Universities too much addicted to keep company by saying Amicos esse fures temporis so certainly this same continuall intention of the minde upon the comelinesse of Behaviour is a great theefe to more solemne Meditations Againe such as are so exactly accomplisht in Vrbanitie and seeme as it were form'd by nature for this quality alone are commonly of such a disposition as please themselves in this one habit onely and seldome aspire to higher and more solide virtues whereas on the contrary those that are conscious to themselves of a Defect this way seek Comelinesse by Reputation for where Reputation is almost every thing becommeth but where that is not it must be supplied by Puntoes Complement Againe there is no greater or more frequent impediment of Action than an overcurious observance of Decency of that other ceremony attending on it which is a too scrupulous Election of time opportunities for Solomon saith excellently Eccles 11. qui observat ventū non seminat qui considerat nubes nunquā metet We must make opportunity oftner then finde it To conclude this comely grace of Behaviour is as it were the Garment of the Minde and therefore must have the conditions of a Garment for first it ought to be such as is in fashion againe it ought not to be too curious or costly than it ought to be so shaped as to set forth any good making of the mind and to supply and hide any deformity lastly and above all it ought not to be too strait or so to restraine the spirit as to represse and hinder the motion thereof in businesse But this part of Civile knowledge touching Conversation hath bin indeed elegantly handled nor can it any way be reported as Deficient CAP. II. I. The Partition of the Doctrine of Negociation into the knowledge of dispersed Occasions II. And into the Knowledge of the Advancement of life § Examples of the knowledge of Scatter'd Occasions from some of Solomons Parables § Precepts touching the Advancement of fortune THe knowledge touching Negotiation we will divide into a knowledge concerning Scatter'd Occasions and the Knowledge concerning the Advancement of Life whereof the one comprehends all the variety of Businesse and is as it were the Secretary of a Practique course of life the other onely selects and suggests such observations as appertaine to the advancing of a Mans proper fortune which may be to every man as intimate and reserved Table-Books and Memorials of their Affaires § But before we descend to the Particular kinds wee will speak something by way of Preface in generall touching the The knowledge of Negociation The knowledge of Negociation no man hath handled hetherto according to the dignity of the Subject to the great derogation of Learning the Professors of Learning for frō this root springeth that note of Dullnesse which hath defamed the Learned which is That there is no great concurrence betweene Learning and Practique wisdome For if a man observe it well of the three wisdomes which we have set downe to pertaine to Civile life that of Conversation is by learned men for the most part despised as a servile thing and an enimie to Meditation As for that wisdome concerning Government Learned men acquit themselves well when they are called to the manage of Civile Affaires in state but that is a Promotion which happeneth to few Concerning the WISDOME OF BUSINESSE whereof we now speak wherein mans life is most conversant there be no Books at all written of it except a handfull of two of some few Civile Advertisements that have no proportion to the magnitude of this Subject For if there were Books extant of this Argument as of other I doubt not but Learned men with meane experience would farre excell men of long experience without Learning and out-shoot them as they say in their own Bowe Neither is there any cause why we should feare least the Matter of this Knowledge should be so various that it could not fall under Precepts for it is much narrower than the Science of Government which notwithstanding we see is exactly labour'd and subdued Of this kinde of Wisdome it seemes there have bin some Professors amongst the Romans in their best and wisest times Cicero For Cicero reports that it was in use a litle before his time for Senators that had the the name and opinion for wise and experienced men the Coruncanii Curii Laelii and others to walke at certaine houres in the Forum where they might give accesse and audience to the Citizens and might be consulted withall not onely touching point of Law but of al sorts of Businesse as of the Marriage of a Daughter or of the bringing up of a Sonne or of a Purchase of a Bargaine of an Accusation Defence and every other occasion incident to mans life By this it plainly appeares that there is a Wisdome of giving Counsil and Advise even in Private Businesse arising out of an universall in sight into the Affaires of the World which is used indeed upon particular Causes but is gathered by generall observation of Causes of like nature For so we see in the Book which Q. Cicero writeth unto his Brother De Petitione Consulatus being the onely Booke of Particular Businesse Q. Cicero de Petitione Consul that I know written by the Ancients althoe it concerned specially an Action then on foot yet it containes in it many Politique Axiomes which prescribe not only temporarie use but a perpetual direction in the case of Popular Elections And in this kinde nothing is extant which may any way be compar'd with those Aphorismes which Solomon the King set forth of whom the Scriptures testifie That his Heart was as the Sands of the Sea 1. Reg. IV. For as the Sands of the Sea do incompasse al the utmost bounds of the world so his wisedome comprehended all matters as well humane as divine In these Aphorismes you shall cleerely discover beside those precepts which are more divine many most excellent Civile precepts and advertisements springing out of the profound secrets of wisdome and flowing over into a large field of variety Now because we report as DEFICIENT the Doctrine touching dispersed occasions which is a first portion of the knowledge of Businesse we will after our manner stay a while upon it and propound an example thereof taken out of those Aphorismes or Parables of Solomon Neither is there in our judgement
both parties had a just cause yet he thus bespeaks them both Exod. II. You are Brethren why strive you Wherefore if these things be well observed it will be found a matter of great moment and use to define what and of what latitude those points are which discorporate men from the body of the Church and cast them out and quite casseere them from the communion and fellowship of the faithfull And if any think that this hath bin done now long agoe let him seriously consider with what syncerity and moderation the same hath bin perform'd In the mean space it is very likely that he that makes mention of Peace shall bear away that answer Jehu gave to the Messengers Is it PEACE Iehu I Reg. IX What hast thou to doe with PEACE turne and follow me Peace is not the matter that many seek after but Parties and sideing Notwithstanding we thought good to set downe amongst DEFICIENTS as a wholsome and profitable work a Treatise touching THE DEGREES OF UNITY IN THE CITTY OF GOD. ✿ VTRES COELESTES sive Emanationes Scripturarum III Seeing the Parts of sacred Scripture touching the Information of Theology are such and so great let us specially consider the Interpretation thereof nor doe we here speak of the Authority of interpretateing them which is establisht by the consent of the Church but of the manner of Interpreting This is of two sorts Methodicall and Solute or at large for this divine water which infinitely excells that of Iacobs well is drawn forth and deliver'd much after the same manner as Naturall waters use to be out of wells for these at the first draught are either receiv'd into Cisternes and so may be convayed and diriv'd by many Pipes for publique and private use or is powred forth immediatly in Buckets and vessells to be us'd out of hand as occasion requires § Now this former Methodicall manner hath at length brought forth unto us Scholasticall Theologie whereby Divinity hath bin collected into an Art as into a Cisterne and the streames of Axioms and Positions distributed from thence into all parts § But in solute Manner of Interpreting two extreams intervene the one presupposeth such a perfection in Scriptures as that all Philosophie ought to be fetcht and diriv'd from those sacred fountains as if all other Philosophy were an unhallowed and Heathenish thing This distemperature hath prevaild especially in the Schoole of Paracelsus and some others the source and spring whereof flowed from the Rabbins and Cabalists But these men have not attain'd their purpose nor doe they give honour as they pretend to Scriptures but rather embase and distaine them For to seeke a materiate Heaven and Earth in the word of God whereof it is said Heaven and Earth shall passe Mat. XXIV but my word shall not passe is indeed to pursue Temporarie things amongst eternall for as to seek Divinity in Philosophy is as if you would seek the living amongst the Dead so on the other side to seek Philosophy in Divinity is all one as to seek the Dead amongst the living § The other manner of Jnterpreting which we set downe as an excesse seems at first sight sober and chast yet notwithstanding it both dishonoureth Scriptures and is a great prejudice and detriment to the Church and it is to speak in a word when Divinely inspir'd Scriptures are expounded after the same manner that humane writings are For it must be remembred that there are two points known to God the Author of Scripture which mans nature cannot comprehend that is The secrets of the Heart and the succession of times Wherefore seeing the Precepts and Dictates of Scriptures were written and directed to the Heart and Thoughts of men and comprehend the vicissitudes of all Ages with an eternall and certain fore-sight of all Heresies Contradictions differing and mutable estates of the Church as well in generall as of the Elect in speciall they are to be interpreted according to the Latitude and the proper sense of the place and respectively toward that present occasion whereupon the words were utter'd or in precise congruity from the Context of the precedent and subsequent words or in contemplation of the principall scope of the place but so as we conceive them to comprehend not only totally or collectively but distributively even in clauses and in every word infinite springs and streams of Doctrine to water every part of the Church and the spirits of the Faithfull For it hath bin excellently observed that the Answers of our Saviour to many of the questions which were propounded to him seem not to the purpose but as it were impertinent to the state of the question demanded The Reasons hereof are two the one that being he knew the thoughts of those that propounded the Questions not from their words as we men use to doe but immediatly and of himselfe he made answer to their thoughts not to their words The other Reason is that he spak not only to them that were then present but to us also who now live and to men of every Age and place to whom the Gospell should be preacht which sense in many places of Scripture must take place § These thus briefely toucht and fore-tasted come we now to that Treatise which we report as Deficient There are found indeed amongst Theologicall writings too many books of Controversies an infinite masse of that Divinity which we call Positive as Common-places Particular Treatises Cases of Conscience Sermons Homilies and many Prolix Commentaries upon the Books of Scripture but the Forme of writing Deficient is this namely a succinct and sound Collection and that with judgement of Annotations and observations upon particular Texts of Scripture not dilateing into common-places or chaseing after Controversies or reduceing them into method of Art but which be altogither scatterd and Naturall a thing indeed now and then exprest in more learned Sermons which for most part vanish but which as yet is not collected into Books that should be transmitted to Posterity Certainly as wines which at first pressing run gently yeeld a more pleasant tast than those where the wine-presse is hard wrought because those somewhat relish of the stone and skinne of the Grape so those observations are most wholsome and sweet which flow from Scriptures gently exprest and naturally expounded and are not wrested or drawn aside to common-places or Controversies such a Treatise we will name The Emanations of Scripture § Thus have we made as it were a small Globe of the Jntellectuall world as faithfully as we could togither with a designation and description of those parts which I find not constantly occupate or not well converted by the Industry and labours of men In which work if I have any where receded from the opinion of the Ancients I desire that Posterity would so judge of my intentions as that this was done with a mind of further Progression and Proficience in melius and not out of a humour
of wild-foule there is no property but the right is past over with the possession Contra Incontinence is one of Circes worst transformations An unchast liver hath utterly lost a reverence to himselfe which is the bridle of all vice They that with Paris make beauty their wish loose as he did Wisdome and Honour Alexander fell upon no popular truth when he said that sleep and lust were the earnests of Death CRUELTY XVIII Pro. No virtue is so often guilty as clemency Cruelty if it proceed from revenge it is justice if from Perill it is wisdome He that shewes mercy to his enimy denies it to himselfe Phlebotomy is not more necessary in the Body Naturall than it is in the body Politique Contra. He that delights in blood is either a wild beast or a Fury Cruelty to a Good man seems to be but a Fable and some Tragicall fiction VAIN-GLORY XIX Pro. He that seeks his own praise withall seeks the profit of others He that is so reserv'd as to regard nothing that is forraine it may be suspected that he will account publique affaires forraine impertinencies Such Dispositions as have a commixture of Levity in them more easily undertake a Publique charge Contra. Vaine-glorious persons are alwaies factious Lyars Inconstant over-doing Thraso is Gnathoes prey Jt is a shame for a Lover to make suit to the hand-maid but Praise is virtues hand-maid JUSTICE XX. Pro. Kingdomes and States are only the Appendices of Iustice for if Justice otherwise could be executed there would be no need of them It is the effect of Iustice that man is to man a God and not a Wolfe Though Justice can not extirpate vice yet it represseth it from doing hurt Contra. If this be to be just not to doe to another what you would not have done to your selfe then is mercy Iustice Jf we must give every one his due then surely pardon to Humanity What tell you me of equity when to a wise man all things are unequall Doe but consider what the conditiō of the guilty was in the Roman state and then say justice is not for the Re-publique The common Iustice of states is as a Philosopher in Court that is it makes only for a reverentiall respect of such as bear Rule FORTITUDE XXI Pro. Nothing but feare is terrible There is nothing solid in pleasure nor assur'd in virtue where fear disquiets He that confronts dangers with open eyes that he may receive the charge marketh how to avoid the same All other virtues free us from the Dominion of vice only Fortitude from the Dominion of Fortune Contra. That 's a goodly virtue to be willing to dye so you may be sure to kill That 's a goodly virtue sure which even drunkennesse may induce He that is prodigall of his own life will not spare the life of an other Fortitude is a virtue of the Jron Age. TEMPERANCE XXII Pro. To Abstaine to Sustaine are virtues proceeding commonly from the same habit Vniformities concords and Measures of motions are things celestiall and the characters of Eternity Temperance as wholsome coldes concenterate and strengthen the forces of the Mind Too exquisite and wandring senses had need of Narcotiques and so likewise wandring affections Contra. I like not these negative virtues for they argue Innocence not Merit That mind languisheth which is not sometimes spirited by excesse I like those virtues which induce the vivacity of Action and not the dulnesse of Passion When you set downe the equall tempers of the mind you set downe but few nam pauperis est numerare pecus These Stoicismes not to use that so you may not desire not to desire that so you may not feare are the resolutions of pusillanimous and distrustfull natures CONSTANCY XXIII Pro. Constancy is the foundation of virtue He is a miserable man that hath no perception of his future state what it shall or may be Seeing mans judgement is so weak as that he cannot be constant to things let him at least be true to himselfe and to his own designes Constancy gives reputation even to vice If to the Inconstancy of fortune we adde also the inconstancy of mind in what mazes of darknesse doe we live Fortune is like Proteus if you persist she returnes to her true shape Contra. Constancy like a sullen-selfe-will'd Porteresse drives away many fruitfull informations There is good reason that Constancy should patiently endure crosses for commonly she causeth them The shortest folly is the best MAGNANIMITY XXIV Pro. When once the mind hath propounded to it selfe honourable ends then not only virtues but even the divine powers are ready to second Virtues springing from Habit or precept are vulgar but from the end heroicall Contra. Magnanimity is a virtue Poeticall KNOWLEDGE CONTEMPLATION XXV Pro. That delight only is according to Nature whereof there is no satiety The sweetest prospect is that which looks into the errors of others in the vale below How pleasing and profitable a thing is it to have the orbs of the mind concentrique with the orbs of the World All depraved affections are false valuations but goodnesse and Truth are ever the same Contra. A contemplative life is a specious sloth To think well is litle better then to dreame well The divine providence regards the world thou thy country Aright Politique procreates Contemplations LEARNING XXVI Pro. Jf there were Books written of the smallest matters there would hardly be any use of experience Reading is a converse with the wise Action for the most part a commerce with fooles Those sciences are not to be reputed altogether unprofitable that are of no use if they sharpen the wits and marshall our conceptions Contra Jn Schooles men learne to believe What Art did yet ever teach the seasonable use of Art To be wise from Precept and from experience are two contrary habits so as he that is accustomed to the one is inept for the other There is many times a vain use of Art least there should be no use This commonly is the humor of all Schollers that they are wont to acknowledge all they know but not to learne what they know not PROMPTITUDE XXVII Pro. That is not seasonable wisdome which is not quick and nimble He that quickly erres quickly reformes his error He that is wise upon deliberation and not upon present occasion performes no great matter Contra That wisdome is not farre fetcht nor deeply grounded which is ready at hand Wisdome as a vestment that is lightest which is readiest Age doth not ripen their wisdome whose Counsils deliberation doth not ripen What is suddenly invented suddenly vanisheth soon ripe soon rotten Silence in matters of Secrecy XXVIII Pro. From a silent man nothing is conceal'd for all is there safely laid up He that easily talkes what he knowes will also talke what he knowes not Mysteries are due to secrecies Contra. Alteration of Customes placeth the mind in the darke and makes men goe invisible Secrecy is the virtue of a confessor
place of Iudgements enrolled besides these either let there be no other Authentiques at all or spareing entertain'd APHORISME LXXVIII Nothing so much imports Certainty of Lawes of which we now discourse as that Authentique writings be confined within moderate bounds and that the excessive multitude of Authors and Doctors of the Lawes whereby the mind and sentence of Lawes are distracted the Iudge confounded proceedings are made immortall and the Advocate himselfe despairing to read over and conquer so many Books betakes himselfe to Abridgements be discarded Jt may be some good glosse and some few of Classique writers or rather some small parcell of few writers may be received for Authentiques Yet of the rest some use may be made in Libraries where Iudges or Advocates may as occasion is offered read their Discourses but in causes to be pleaded let them not be permitted to be brought and alleaged in the Court nor grow up into autority OF AUXILIARY BOOKS APHORISME LXXIX LEt not the knowledge and practise of Law be destituted but rather well provided of Auxiliary Books They are in generall sixe sorts Institutes of the signification of words of the Rules of Law Ancient Records Abridgements Formes of Pleading APHORISME LXXX Young Students and Novices are to be enterd by Institutes that they may the more profoundly and orderly draw and take in the knowledge and Difficulties of the Lawes Compose these Institutes after a cleere and perspicuous manner Jn these elementary books runne over the whole Private Law not passing by some Titles and dwelling too long upon others but briefly touching something in all that so coming to read through the whole body of Lawes nothing may be presented altogither strange but what hath bin tasted and preconceiv'd by some slight notion Touch not the Publique Law in Institutes but let that be deduced from the Fountaines of themselves APHORISME LXXXI Compile a Commentary upon the Termes of Law Be not too curious and tedious in the explication thereof and of rendring their sense for the scope here is not exactly to seeke out the Definition of words but such explications only as may cleere the passage to the reading of the Books of Law Digest not this Treatise by the letters of the Alphabet leave that to some Index but let such words as import the same thing be sorted togither that in the comprehension of the sense one may administer help unto the other APHORISME LXXXII A sound and well-labour'd Treatise of the Diverse Rules of Law conduceth if anything doth to the Certainty of Lawes A worke worthy the Penne of the greatest wits and wisest Jurists Nor doe we approve what is extant in this kind And not only noted and common Rules are to be collected but also others more subtile and abstruse which may be abstracted out of the Harmony of Lawes and Iudged Cases such as are sometimes found in the best Rubriques and these are the generall Dictates of Reason and the Ballast as it were of Law APHORISME LXXXIII But all Decrees and Placits of Law must not be taken for Rules as is wont to be absurdly enough for if this should be admitted then so many Lawes so many Rules for a Law is nothing else then a commanding Rule But accept those for Rules which cleave to the very Forme of Iustice from whence for most part the same Rules are commonly found through the Civile Lawes of Different States unlesse perhaps they vary for the reference to the Formes of Publique Goverments APHORISME LXXXIV After the Rule is delivered in a briefe and substantiall comprehension of words let there be for explication annext examples and most cleere and luculent Decisions of Cases Distinctions and exceptions for limitations Points concurrent in sense for Amplification of the same Rule APHORISME LXXXV It is well given in Precept that a Law should not be drawne from Rules but the Rule from the Law in force Neither is a Proofe to be taken from the words of a Rule as if it were a Text of Law for a Rule as the sea-mans needle doth the Poles indicates only not Determines Law APHORISME LXXXVI Besides the Body of Law it will availe also to survay the Antiquities or ancient Records of Lawes whose Autority thoe it be vanisht yet their Reverence remaines still And let the writings and Iudgements concerning Lawes be received for the Antiquities of Laws which in time preceded the Body of Lawes whether they were publisht or not for these must not be Lost. Therefore out of these Records select what ever is most usefull for there will be found much vaine and frivolous matter in them and digest them into one volume Lest old fables as Trebonianus calls them be mixt with the Lawes themselves APHORISME LXXXVII And it much imports the Practique part of Lawes that the whole Law be Digested into Places and Titles whereto a man may have as occasion shall be given a sodaine recourse as to a furnisht Promptuary for present practise These Books of Abridgements both reduce into Order what was dispersed and abreviate what was diffused and Prolixe in Law But caution must be taken that these Breviaries make not men prompt for the Practique part and slothfull for the knowledge it selfe for their proper use and office is this that by them the Law may bee tilled over againe and not throughly learned And these Summaries must by all meanes be collected with great diligence faith and judgement lest they commit Fellony against the Law APHORISME LXXXVIII Make a Collection of the diverse Formes of Pleading in evekinde for this conduceth much to the Practique Part and Certainly these Formes doe discover the Oracles and secret Mysteries of Lawes for there are many things which lye hidden in Lawes But in Formes of Pleading they are better and more largely displayed like the Fist to the Palme OF RESPONSES AND RESOLVTIONS OF DOVBTS APHORISME LXXXIX SOme Course must be taken for the Cutting off and satisfying Particular Doubts which emerge from time to time for it is a hard case that they which desire to secure themselves from error should finde no guide to the way but that present Businesses should be hazarded and there should bee no meanes to know the Law before the matter be dispatcht APHORISME XC That the Resolutions of the Wise given to Clients touching point of Law whether by Advocates or Professors should be of such authority that it may not be lawfull for the Judge to depart from their opinion we cannot approve Let Law be derived from sworne Iudges APHORISME XCI To Feele and sound Iudgements by fained Causes and Persons that by this meanes men might find out what the Course and proceeding of Law will be we approve not for it dishonoureth the Majesty of Lawes and is to be accounted a kind of prevarication or double dealing and it is a foule sight to see places of Iudicature to borrow any thing from the stage APHORISME XCII Wherefore let as well the Decrees as the answers and Counsils proceed
to the Generation of Sciences This our Author hath perform'd to admiration and in this gone beyond all Antiquity yet upon their grounds wherein he can never be out-gone unlesse followed by Posterity The Ancients indeed were men of most profound speculations but in the delivery of themselves somewhat involv'd as appears by Plotinus Proclus Trismegistus and others and many of Platoes Schoole writ Dialogue-wise which is no doctrinal way As for Aristotle his precepts touching method if any such book was written they are perisht saving where he scatters such rules here and there which should have been silenced and are not so well followed by himselfe And for the Methods of the Modernes Ramus and others by the improvement of German writers impair'd they knit the limmes of knowledge to soone have bedwarfed Sciences and are become an Art as learned Hooker expresses it which teaches the way of speedy discourse and restrains the mind of man that it may not waxe over-wise The Excellency therefore of our Authors Partitions induced me to these delineations for their use only who have not the leasure or patience to observe it according to the merit that by this Anatomy the junctures and arteries as it were of this great body might more visibly appeare An other objection is touching the Allegations in the Margin contrary to the solemne custome of Antiquity and the most of graver Authors For this I had these reasons It pleased our Author thoe he was himselfe a living fountain of knowledge and had a wealthy stock of his own yet to tast of other waters and to borrow from Antiquity and to acknowledge such borrowings He thus nameing his Authors I thought fit to note them And as he was a man of a most elevated phansie and choice conceptions so was he in the selection of his Authors and the passages he pleas'd to make use of and it is worth the labour to know with whom such great wits use to converse to point to the Mines where they digge their Ore and to the shadowes where they repose at noone And as his selection of Authors was very choice so was his application of their sayings very curious and in a strain beyond the vulgar reach Places out of Sacred Scriptures are so explicated so applied as you may search all the Commenters that are extant and not finde the like expositions as you shall finde in him As for humane Authors he betters his borrowings from them teaching the allegations out of them a sense above the meaning of him that lent it him and which he repaies too with double interest for what he borrowed These considerations invited me to Marginall Citations These Reasons set apart I cannot approve this weake ambition and doe not without censure read Moderne Authors prostitute to humane allegations as if the Truth they deliver were to be tried by voices or having lost its primitive Innocence must be cover'd with these fig-leaves or as if the Authors themselves were afraid that it should make an escape out of their text if it were not beset in the Margin with Authorities as with a watch The last exception is touching the Prefaces and other Introductions prefix'd this worke that make the Gates and Entries so wide as they seem to invite the Citty to run away This is thus answer'd Jt must be remembred that this worke in the Designe was very spacious and is in the performance of what is done so ample that when the second and third Parts shall be added as added they will be the Porches and Ingresses in the judgement of any good Architect are proportionable enough And if our Authors rule hold that every faire Fabrique should have three Courts a greene Court a second Court more garnisht and a third to make a square with the Front then have you here this Epistle as the mean Court Iudgements upon this Author living and dead as the middle Court and the Authors own excellent Preface to confront with the work it selfe Now I should say something touching Translation and as it is mine The very Action is somewhat obnoxious to censure being of the nature of those the failing whereof may disgrace more than the carrying of it through credit the undertaker But besides the conscience of the deed done for other ends I could not have the Author now dead and alive mihi nec injuriis nec beneficiis notus and that to be a Translator is more than to be an Author some such as there be and that it is no such mean office to bear a light before a Lord Chancellor of England I should excuse it were the example mine so writes learned Savil so eloquent Sandys so Malvezzi's Noble Interpreter with whom conferred I am lesse than a shadow So many able and eminent names of France and Italy and other Nations So the Ancients of former ages and of all Arguments But if any be so solemne so severe and of such primitive tasts they can away with no waters which come not from the spring-head nor endure to drink of Tiber that passes through Thames They may give over here if they so please and proceed no farther This interpretation was not meant for such fastidious palates and yet it may be for as distinguishing as theirs are Now if this very action be thus liable to exception much more must my performance be Certainly books by Translation commonly take wind in the effusion and for strength fall short of their Originals as reflexed beams are weaker than direct but then it must be understood of Originals truly so For if a Writer deliver himselfe out of his Native language J see not why a Translator rendring him in it may not come neare him and in this case the Author himselfe is the Interpreter being he translates his own thoughts which originally speak his mother tongue Yet for all this Errors I know there are and some lapses which require a Connivence and a Reader hath this advantage that he may stay upon one period as long as an Jnterpreter did on one page besides his peculiar Genius to some studied passages Some Errors passing but a transient eye upon what is done J see already and could note them but I would not willingly gratify some kind of Readers so farre They that are Iuditious and ingenious too for J would have no Readers that have not these two ingredients in their compositions thoe sometimes I name but one which I would then should be predominant will in their judgements find them and in their mercy pardon them As for Sophists and Satyrists a degenerate Race of men that sit upon the lives and learning of all that write who resolv'd to doe nothing themselves may with more security censure others and them too who as Learned DON deciphers them forbid not bookes but men damning what ever such a name hath or shall write they are things below the merit of my indignation objects of Scorne which a litle slighted and not inflamed by opposition or countenanced to
pass'd over in silence that this dedicating of Colledges and Societies only to the use of Professory Learning hath not only bin an enemy to the growth of Sciences but hath redounded likewise to the prejudice of States and Governments For hence it commonly falls out that Princes when they would make choice of Ministers fit for the Affaires of State finde about them such a marveilous solitude of able men because there is no education Collegiate design'd to this end where such as are fram'd and fitted by nature thereto might give themselves chiefly to Histories Moderne Languages Books and discourses of Policy that so they might come more able and better furnisht to service of State § And because Founders of Colledges doe Plant and Founders of Lecturers doe water it followeth now in order to speak of the Defects which are in publique Lectures the smallnesse of stipends especially with us assigned to Readers of Arts or of Professions For it doth much import to the Progression and Proficiency of Sciences that Readers in every kinde be chosen out of the ablest and most sufficient men as those that are ordained not for transitory use but for to maintaine and propagate the seeds of Sciences for future Ages This cannot be except the Rewards and Conditions be appointed such as may sufficiently content the most eminent man in that Art so as he can be willing to spend his whole Age in that function and never desire to Practise Wherefore that Sciences may flourish Davids Military Law should be observed 1 Sam. 30. That those that staied with the Carriage should have equall parts with those that were in the Action else will the Carriages be ill attended So Readers in Sciences are as it were Protectors and Guardians of the Provision of Learning whence the Action and services of Sciences may be furnish't Wherefore it is reason that the Salaryes of Speculative men should be equall to the gaines of Active men otherwise if allowances to Fathers of Sciences be not in a competent degree ample and condigne it will come to passe Virg. Geor. 3. Vt Patrem invalidi referent jejunia Nati § Now I will note another Defect wherein some Alchymist should be called unto for help for this Sect of Men advise Students to sell their Bookes and to build Fornaces to quit Minerva and the Muses as Barren Virgins and to apply themselves to Vulcane Yet certainly it must be confest that unto the depth of Contemplation and the fruit of Operative studies in many Sciences especially Naturall Philosophy and Physique Bookes are not the only subsidiary Jnstruments wherein the Munificence of men hath not bin altogether wanting for we see Spheres Globes Astrolabes Maps and the like have bin provided and with industry invented as Helps to Astronomy and Cosmography as well as Bookes We see likewise some places dedicated to the study of Physique to have Gardens for the inspection and observation of simples of all sorts and to be auctorized the use of Dead Bodies for Anatomy-Lectures But those doe respect but a few things in the generality set it down for Truth That there can hardly be made any maine Proficience in the disclosing of the secrets of Nature unlesse there be liberall Allowance for Experiments whether of Vulcan or of Daedalus J mean of Fornace or of Engine or any other kind And therefore as Secretaries and Spialls of State are allowed to bring in Bills for their diligence in the inquiry and discovery of New Occurrences and Secrets in Forraigne Estates so you must allow Jntelligencers and Spialls of Nature their Bills of Expences else you shall never be advertised of many things most worthy to be known For if Alexander made such a liberall Assignation of Treasure unto Aristotle for Hunters Fowlers Fishers and the like that he might compile a History of living Creatures certainly much more is their merit who wander not in wild forrests of Nature but make themselves a way through the Labyrinths of Arts. § Another Defect to be observed by us indeed of great import is A neglect in those which are Governours in Vniversities of Consultation and in Princes and superior Persons of visitation to this end that it may with all diligence be considered and consulted of whether the Readings Disputations and other Scholasticall exercises anciently instituted will be good to continue or rather to antiquate and substitute others more effectuall For amongst Your Majesties most wise maxims I find this That in all usages and Praesidents IACOBUS R. the times be considered wherein they first began which if they were weak or ignorant it derogateth from the Authority of the usage and leaves it for suspect Therefore in as much as the usages and orders of Universities were for most part derived from times more obscure and unlearned than our own it is the more reason that they be re-examined In this kind I will give an instance or two for examples sake in things that seem most obvious and familiar Jt is an usuall practice but in my opinion somewhat preposterous that Schollars in the Vniversities are two early entred in Logique and Rhetorique Arts indeed fitter for Graduats than Children and Novices For these two if the matter be well weighed are in the number of the gravest Sciences being the Arts of Arts the one for Judgement the other for Ornament So likewise they contain Rules and Directions either for the Disposition or Illustration of any subject or materiall Circumstance thereof and therefore for mindes empty and unfraught with matter which have not as yet gathered that which Cicero calls Silva and Supellex that is stuffe and variety of things to begin with those Arts as if one would learn to weigh of measure or paint the wind doth work but this effect that the virtue and strength of these Arts which are great and Universall are almost made contemptible and have degenerated either into Childish Sophistry or ridiculous Affectation or at least have bin embased in their reputation And farther the untimely and unripe accession to these Arts hath drawn on by necessary consequence a watery and superficiary delivery and handling thereof as is fitted indeed to the capacities of Children Another instance which I will set downe as an Error now grown inveterate long agoe in the Universities and it is this That in Scholasticall exercises there useth to be a divorse very prejudicious between Invention and Memory for there the most of their speeches are either altogether premeditate so as they are uttered in the very precise forme of words they were conceived in and nothing left to invention or meerely extemporall so as very litle is left to Memory Whereas in Life and Action there is very litle use of either of these apart but rather of their intermixture that is of notes or memorialls and of extemporall speech So as by this course exercises are not accommodate to practice nor the Jmage answereth to the Life And it is ever a true rule
in exercises that all as neere as may be should represent those things which in common course of life use to be practised otherwise they will pervert the motions and faculties of the mind and not prepare them The truth whereof is plainly discovered when Schollars come to the Practice of their Professions or other Actions of Civile life which when they set into this defect whereof we speak is soon found out by themselves but sooner by others But this part touching the amendment of the Jnstitutions of the Vniversities I will conclude with the clause of Caesars letter to Oppius Cic. Epist Ad Att. lib. IX Hoc quēadmodum fieri possit nonnulla mihi in mentem veniunt multa reperiri possunt de iis rebus rogo vos ut cogitationem suscipiatis § Another Defect which I note ascendes a litle higher than the precedent For as the progression of Learning consisteth much in the wise Government and Institution of Vniversities in particular so it would be more advanced if the Vniversities in generall dispersed through all Europe were united in a neerer conjunction and correspondence by mutuall Jntelligence For there are as we see many Orders and Societies which though they be divided under severall Soveraignties spacious Territories yet they doe contract and maintaine a Society and a kind of Fraternity one with another in so much that they have their Provincialls and Generalls to whom all the rest yeeld obedience And surely as nature creates Brother-hoods in Families and Arts Mechanicall contract Brother-hoods in Communalties the Anointment of God super-induceth a brother-hood in Kings and Bishops Vowes and Canonicall rules unite a Brotherhood in Orders in like manner there cannot but intervene a Noble and Generous Fraternity between men by Learning and Illuminations reflecting upon that relation which is attributed to God who himselfe is called The Father of Illuminations or Lights Iac. 1. § Lastly this I find fault with which I somewhat toucht upon before that there hath not bin or very rarely bin any publique designation of able men who might write or make inquiry of such parts of Learning as have not bin hitherto sufficiently laboured and subdued Vnto which point it will be very available if there were erected a kind of visitation of Learning and a Cense or Estimate taken what parts of Learning are rich and well improved what poore and destitute For the opinion of Plenty is amongst the Causes of want and the multitude of Bookes makes a shew rather of superfluity than penury Which surcharge neverthelesse if a man would make a right judgement is not remedied by suppressing or extinguishing books heretofore written but by publishing good new bookes which may be of such a right kind That Exod. 7. as the Serpent of Moses may devoure the Serpents of the Enchanters § The Remedies of these defects now enumerate except the last and of the last also in respect of the Active part thereof which is the Designation of writers are opera Basilica towards which the endeavours and industry of a private man are commonly but as an Image in a crosse way which may point at the way but cannot goe it But the speculative part which pertaineth to the examination of knowledges namely what is Deficient in every particular Science is open to the industry of a private man Wherefore my Designement is to attempt a generall and faithfull perambulation and visitation of Learning specially with a diligent and exact enquiry what parts thereof lye fresh and wast and are not yet improved and converted to use by the industry of men to the end that such a plot made and recorded to memory may minister light both to publique Designations and the voluntary labours of private endeavours Wherein neverthelesse my purpose is at this time to note only Omissions and Deficiencies and not to make redargution of Errors and Oversights For it is one thing to set forth what ground lieth unmanur'd and another thing to correct ill husbandry in that which is manured § In the undertaking and handling of which worke I am not ignorant what a businesse I move and what a difficult province I sustaine and also how unequall my abilities are unto my will yet I have a good hope that if my extreme love to Learning carrry me too farre I may obtaine the excuse of affection for that it is not granted to man To love and to be wise I know well that I must leave the same liberty of judgement to others that I use my selfe and in truth I shall be indifferently glad to accept from others as to impart that duty of humanity Cic. Offic. 1 ex Ennio Nam qui erranti comiter monstrant viam c. I doe fore-see likewise that many of those things which I shall enter and register as Omissions and Deficients will incurre diverse censures as that some parts of this enterprise were done long-agoe and now are extant others that they tast of curiosity and promise no great fruit others that they are too difficult and impossible to be compassed by humane industries For the two first let the particulars speak for themselves For the last touching impossibility I determine thus All those things are to be held possible and performeable which may be accomplisht by some person though not by every one and which may be done by the united labours of many though not by any one apart and which may be effected in a succession of ages though not in the same age and in briefe which may be finisht by the publique care and charge though not by the ability and industry of particular persons If notwithstanding there be any man who would rather take to himselfe that of Solomon Prov. 22. Dicit Piger Leo est in via than that of Virgil Aen. 5. Possunt quia posse videntur It is enough to me if my labours may be estimed as votes and the better sort of wishes for as it asketh some knowledge to demand a question not impertinent so it requireth some sense to make a wish not absurd CAP. I. I. An universall Partition of Humane Learning into § History II. Poetry III. Philosophy § This Partition is taken from the triplicity of Intellective Faculties Memory Imagination Reason § The same Partition is appropriate to Divine Learning I. THat is the truest Partition of humane Learning which hath reference to the three Faculties of Mans soule which is the seat of Learning History is referred to Memory Poesy to the Imagination Philosophy to Reason By Poesy in this place we understand nothing else but feigned History or Fables As for Verse that is only a stile of expression and pertaines to the Art of Elocution of which in due place § History is properly of Individualls circumscribed within time and place for although Naturall History seeme to be conversant about universall Natures yet this so falls out because of the promiscuous similitude in things Naturall comprehended under one kind
apt and able or inept and inable for diverse disciplines the Occurrences of time Adverse or Propitious to Learning the zeales and mixtures of Religions the Discountenances and favours of Lawes and lastly the eminent virtues and sway of Persons of note for the promoteing of Learning and the like But our advise is that all these points be so handled that time be not wasted in praise and censure of particulars after the manner of Critiques but that things be plainly and historically related and our own judgements very sparingly interposed § As for the manner of compileing such a History we doe especially admonish thus much that the Matter and Provision thereof be drawn not only from Histories and Critiques but also that through every century of years or lesser Intervalls by a continued sequence of time deduced from the highest antiquity the best Bookes written within those distinguisht spaces of time be consulted with that from a tast and observation of the argument stile and method thereof and not a through perusall for that were an infinite work the learned spirit of that age as by a kind of charme may be awakt and rais'd up from the dead § As touching the use of this Work it is design'd to this end not that the Honour and State of Learning usher'd in by so many Images and Ghosts of the Learned should be celebrated or that for the earnest affection we bear to Learning we desire even to a curiosity to enquire and know and to conserve whatsoever to the state of Learning may any way appertaine but chiefly for a more serious and grave purpose It is in few words this For that such a Narration as we have described in our opinion may much conferre to the wisdome and judgement of Learned men in the use and administration of Learning and that the passions and perturbations the vices and virtues as well about Intellectuall matters as Civile may be observed and the best Presidents for practise may be deduced therefrom For it is not Saint Austines nor Saint Ambrose workes as we suppose that will make so wise a Bishop or a Divine as Ecclesiasticall story throughly read and observed which without question may befall Learned men from the History of Learning For whatsoever is not munited and sustained by Examples and Records is exposed to imprudency and ruine Thus much of the History of Learning CAP. V. Of the Dignity § And Difficulty of Civile History CIvile History properly so called comes now to be handled The Dignity and Authority whereof is very eminent among secular writings For upon the credit of this History the examples of our Ancestors the vicissitudes of Affaires the grounds of Civile Prudence and the Name and Fame of men depend § But the Difficulty is as great as the Dignity for to draw back the mind in writing to the contemplation of matters long agoe passed and thus as it were to make it aged to search out with diligence and to deliver with faith and freedome and with the life and height of expression to represent unto the eyes the changes of times the characters of Persons the incertainties of Counsils the Conveyances of Actions as of waters the subtileties of Pretentions the secrets of State is a taske of great paines and judgement especially seeing Ancient reports are subject to incertainty Moderne liable to danger Wherefore the errors are many which attend Civile History whilest some write poore and popular Relations the very reproach of History others patch up in a rash hast and unequall contexture particular Reports and briefe Memorialls others slightly runne over the heads of actions done others on the contrary pursue every triviall Circumstance nothing belonging to the summe and issue of things some out of a too partiall indulgence to their own wit take confidence to faine many things but others adde and imprint upon affaires the Image not so much of their own wit as of their affections mindfull rather of their own parts than to become Religious deponents for truth others every where interlace such Politique observations as they most fancy and seeking occasion of digression for ostentation too slightly break off the contexture of the discourse others for want of moderation and judgement over doe things by the prolixity of their speeches Haranges or other performances so as it is sufficiently manifest that in the writings of men there is not any kind more rare than a just History and in all points complete and perfect But our purpose at this present is to set down a partition of knowledge for the observation of parts omitted and not a censure of parts erroneous Now we will proceed to the Partitions of Civile History and those of diverse sorts for the particular kindes will be lesse intangled if diverse partitions be propounded than if one partition by diverse members be curiously drawn out CAP. VI. The first Partition of Civile History into § Memorialls § Antiquities § And Perfect History CIvile History is of three kinds not unfitly to be compared to the three sorts of Pictures or Images for of Pictures and Images we see some are unperfect and unfinisht others perfect and others decayed and defaced with Age. In like manner we will divide Civile History which is the Image of Actions and Times into three kindes agreeable to those of Pictures namely Memorials Perfect History and Antiquities Memorials are Histories unfinisht or the first and rough draughts of History Antiquities are Histories defaced or the Remaines of History which have casually escaped the shipwrack of Time § Memorials or Preparations to History are of two sorts whereof one may be termed Commentaries the other Registers Commentaries let downe a naked Continuance and Connexion of Actions and Events without the Causes and Pre-texts of Businesse the beginings and Motives thereof also the Counsels and Speeches and other preparations of Actions For this is the true nature of Commentaries though Caesar in modesty mixt with greatnesse did for his pleasure apply the name of Commentaries to the best History that is extant But Registers are of two sorts for either they comprehend the titles of Matter Persons in a continuation of Times such as are Calendars and Cronologies or Solennities of Acts of which kind are the Edicts of Princes the Decrees of Counsils the Proceedings of Iudgements Publique Orations Letters or Estate and the like without the Contexture or Continued thred of the Narration § Antiquities or the Remaines of Histories are as we said tanquam Tabula Naufragii when industrious and understanding persons the memory of Things being decaied and almost overwhelmed with oblivion by a constant and scrupulous diligence out of Geneologies Calendars Inscriptions Monuments Coines Proper-names and stiles Etymologies of words Proverbs Traditions Archives and Jnstruments as well publique as private Fragments of stories scattered passages of Books that concerne not History out of all these I say or some of them they recover and save somewhat from the Deluge of Time Certainly a painefull
practice may be exalted to a great degree of wonder All these and the like we make no more estimation of than we doe of the agilities and tricks of Tumblers Buffones Iuglers For they are almost all one thing seeing these abuse the Powers of the Body these the Powers of the mind and perchance they may have some strangenesse in them but litle or no worthinesse II This Art of Memory is built upon two Intentions Prenotion and Emblem we call Prenotion a Precision of endlesse investigation for when a man would recall any thing to Memory if he have no Prenotion or Preception of that he seeketh he searcheth indeed and taketh paines rounding this way and that way as in a maze of infinitie But if he have any certaine Prenotion presently that which is infinite is discharged cut off and the questing of the Memory is brought within a more narrow compasse as in the hunting of a Fallow Deere within the Parke Therefore it is evident that Method helpes the Memory for Prenotion suggesteth that it must agree with order So verses are sooner gotten by heart than Prose for if a man make a doubtfull stand at a word Prenotion prompts him that the word which agrees with the verse must be of such a Nature And this Prenotion is the first part of Artificiall Memory For in Memory Artificiall we have places digested provided before hand But we make Jmages extempore according as the present shall require But Prenotion doth admonish that the Image must be such as hath some resemblance with the Place this is that which awaketh and in some sort muniteth the Memory in the chase of what we seeke § Embleme deduceth Conceptions Jntellectuall to Images sensible and that which is sensible more forcibly strikes the Memory and is more easily imprinted than that which is Jntellectuall So we see that even the Memory of Beasts is stirr'd up by a sensible object not by an Jntellectuall So you will more easily remember the Image of a Hunts-man pursuing the Hare or of an Apothecary setting in order his Boxes or of a Pedant making a speech or of a boy reciting verses by heart or of a Iester acting upon a stage than the Notions of Invention Disposition Elocution Memory Action There are other things that pertaine to the helpe of Memory as we said even now but the Art which now is in use consists of these two Intentions now set downe To pursue the Particular Defects of Arts would be to depart from our intended Purpose Wherefore let thus much suffice for the Art of Retaining or of Custodie Now we descend in order to the fourth member of Logique which handles Tradition and Elocution THE SIXTH BOOK OF FRANCIS LO VERVLAM VICOUNT St ALBAN OF THE DIGNITY AND ADVANCEMENT OF LEARNING To the KING CAP. I. I The Partition of the Art of Tradition into the Doctrine of the Organ of Speech The Doctrine of the Method of Speech And the Doctrine of the Illustration of Speech § The Partition of the Doctrine of the Organ of Speech into the Knowledge of the Notes of things of Speaking and of Writing of which the two last constitute Grammar and the Partitions thereof §. The Partition of the Knowledge of the Notes of things into Hieroglyphiques And into Characters Reall II. A second Partition of Grammar into Literarie and Philosophicall III. An Aggregation of Poesie referring to Measure unto the Knowledge of Speech An Aggregation of the Knowledge of Cyphers to the Knowledge of Writing CERTAINLY any man may assume the liberty Excellent King if he be so humourd to jest and laugh at himselfe or his owne Projects Who then knowes whether this worke of ours be not perchance a Transcript out of an Ancient Booke found amongst the Books of that famous Library of S. Victor Liv. 2. c. 7. des faicts dicts du bon Pantag◠a Catalogue whereof M. Fra. Rabelais hath collected For there a Book is found entitled FORMICARIUM ARTIUM wee have indeed accumulated a litle heape of small Dust and laid up many Graines of Arts and Sciences therein whereto Ants may creepe and there repose a while and so betake themselves to new labours Nay the wisest of Kings sends the slothfull Prov. 6. of what ranke or qualitie soever unto the Ants and those we define to be slothfull whose only care is to live upon the maine stock but not to improve it by sowing the Ground of Sciences over againe and reaping a new Harvest I Now let us come unto the Art of Delivery or of Expressing and Transferring those things which are Invented Iudged and laid up in the Memory which by a generall name we will terme Tradition This comprehendeth in it all Arts touching Words Speeches for though Reason be as it were the Soule of Speech yet in the manner of handling Reason and Speech should be separate even as the Soule and the Body are We will divide these Traditive Sciences into three Parts into the Knowledge concerning the Organ of Speech into the Knowledge concerning the Method of Speech and into the Knowledge concerning the Illustration or Ornament of Speech § The Knowledge concerning the Organ of Speech generally receiv'd which is also called Grammer hath two Parts De Interpret the one of Speech the other of Writing For Aristotle saith well Words are the Images of Cogitations letters are the Images of words we will assigne both to Grammer But to derive the matter somewhat higher before we come to Grammer and the parts thereof now set downe we must speake of the Organ of Tradition in generall For there seemes to be other Traditive Emanations besides Words and Letters For this is certaine whatsoever may be distinguisht into differences sufficient for number to expresse the variety of Notions so those differences be perceptible to sense may be the Convoy of the Cogitations from man to man For we see Nations of different Language to trade with one the other well enough to serve their turne by Gestures Nay in the Practice of many that have bin dumbe and deafe from their birth and otherwise were ingenious we have seen strange Dialogues held between them and their friends who have learn'd their Gestures Moreover it is now generally knowne that in in China and the Provinces of the high Levant there are at this day in use certaine Reall and not Nominall Characters that is such as expresse neither Letters nor Words but Things and Notions in so much that many Countries that understand not one an others Language but consenting in such kind of Characters which are more generally receiv'd amongst them can communicate one with another by such Figures written so as every Country can read and deliver in his owne native tongue the meaning of any Book written with these Characters § Notes therefore of things ✿ DE NOTIS RERVM which without the helpe and mediation of Words signifie Things are of two sorts whereof the first sort is
significant of Congruitie the other ad placitum Of the former sort are Hieroglyphiques and Gestures of the later are those which we call Characters Reall The use of Hieroglyphiques is very ancient and had in a kind of Veneration especially amongst the Aegyptians one of the most Ancient Nations So that Hieroglyphiques seem to have bin a first-borne writing and elder than the Elements of Letters unlesse it may be the Letters of the Ebrews As for Gestures they are as it were Transitory Hieroglyphiques For as words pronounced vanish writings remaine so Hieroglyphiques expressed by Gestures are transient but Painted permanent As when Periander being consulted with Herodot Laert. how to preserve a Tyranny bid the Messenger stand still and he walking in a Garden topt all the highest Flowers signifying the cutting of and the keeping low of the Nobility did as well make use of a Hieroglyphique as if he had drawne the same upon Paper This in the meane is plain that Hieroglyphiques and Gestures ever have some similitude with the thing signified and are kind of Emblemes wherefore we have named them the Notes of things from Congruitie But Characters Reall have nothing of Embleme in them but are plainly dumbe and dead Figures as the Elements of Letters are and only devised ad Placitum and confirmed by Custome as by a tacite agreement And it is manifest also that there must needs be a vast number of them for writing at lest so many as there are Radicall words Wherefore this portion of Knowledge concerning the Organ of Speech which is of the Notes of Things we report as DEFICIENT And though it may seeme of no great use considering that Words writings by Letters are the most apt Organs of Tradition yet we thought good to make mention of it here as of a knowledge not to be despised For we here handle as it were the Coynes of things Intellectuall and it will not be amisse to know that as Money may be made of other matter besides Gold and Silver so there may be stamped other Notes of things besides Words and Letters II Let us proceed to Grammer this doth beare the office as it were of an Vsher to other Sciences a place not very honourable yet very necessary especially seeing that in our age Sciences are chiefly drawne from Learned Languages and not from Mother-tongues Nor is the dignity thereof to be estimed meane seeing it supplies the place of an Antidote against that Malediction of the Confusion of Tongues Surely the Industry of man striveth to restore and redintegrate himselfe in those Benedictions which by his guilt he forfeited and by all other Arts armes and strengthens himselfe against that first generall Curse of the sterility of the earth Gen. 3. and the eating of his bread in the sweat of his browes But against that second Curse which was the Confusion of Tongues he calls in the assistance of Grammer The use hereof in some Mother-tongues is indeed very small in forraine tongues more large but most ample in such tongues as have ceased to be vulgar and are perpetuated only in Books § We will divide Grammer into two sorts whereof the one is Literary the other Philosophicall The one is meerly applied to Languages that they may be more speedily learned or more correctedly and purely spoken The other in a sort doth minister Suet. in Iul. and is subservient to Philosophie In this later part which is Philosophicall ✿ GRAMMATICA PHILOSOPHANS we find that Caesar writ Books DE ANALOGIA and it is a question whether those Books handled this Philosophicall Grammer whereof we speake Our opinion is that there was not any high and subtile matter in them but only that they deliver'd Precepts of a pure and perfect speech not depraved by popular Custome nor corrupted and polluted by over-curious affectation in which kind Caesar excell'd Notwithstanding admonish't by such a worke we have conceiv'd and comprehended in our mind a kind of Grammer that may diligently enquire not the Analogie of words one with another but the Analogie between Words and Things or Reason besides that Jnterpretation of Nature which is subordinate to Logique Surely Words are the foot-steps of Reason and foot-steps doe give some indications of the Body wherefore we will give some generall description of this In Cratyl And first we doe not allow that curious inquiry which Plato an excellent man pursued touching the imposition and originall Etymology of names conceiving it as if words had not bin imposed at first ad Placitum but were significantly derived and deduced from a certaine reason and intendment Certainly an elegant and pliant speculation which might be aptly fain'd and made square to the purpose and by reason it seemeth to search the secrets of Antiquity in some kind reverend But yet sparingly mixt with truth and without fruit But without question that would be a most excellent kind of Grammer as we suppose if some man throughly instructed in many Languages as well Learned as Mother-tongues should write a Treatise of the diverse Proprieties of Languages shewing in what points every particular Language did excell and in what points it was DEFICIENT For so Tongues might be enricht and perfected by mutuall intertrafique one with another and a most faire Image of speech like the Venus of Apelles and a goodly patterne for the true expression of the inward sense of the mind might be drawne from every part which is excellent in every Language And withall no slight Conjectures but such as were well worth the observation might be taken which a man perchance would litle think touching the naturall dispositions and customes of People and Nations even from their Languages For I willingly give eare to Cicero noting that the Grecians have not a word which may expresse this Latine word De Orat. l. 2. Jneptum because saith he this vice was so familiar to the Grecians that they did not so much as acknowledge themselves guilty thereof Certainly a Censure worthy a Roman gravity And what may that inferre that the Grecians used such a Liberty in composition of words contrarywise the Romans were in this point severe Surely a man may plainly collect that the Grecians were more fit to study Arts the Romans to manage affaires of state For distinctions of Arts for most part require composition of words but matters and businesse simple words But the Ebrewes so shunne Composition that they make choice rather to straine a Metaphor too farre than to bring in a Composition Nay they use so few words and so unmingled that a man may plainly perceive by their Tongue that they were a Nazarite People and separate from other Nations And is not that worthy observation though it may serve to abate our high conceipt of our owne times that Ancient Languages were more full of Declensions Cases Conjugations Tenses and the like the moderne commonly destitute of these doe loosely deliver themselves in many expressions by Prepositions
natures without doubt hath bin most acceptible This Method doth so sprinkle drops of any Knowledge that any halfe-learned Clark may with a litle superficiary Knowledge make a glorious shew Lullius Such was the Art of Lullius such the Typocosmie drawne by many which were nothing else but a heap and masse of words of all Arts to give men countenance that those which have the termes of Art might be thought to understand the Arts themselves Which kind of Collections are like a Frippers or Brokers shop that hath ends of every thing but nothing of worth CAP. III. I The Grounds and Duty of Rhetorique II. Three Appendices of Rhetorique which appertaine only to the Preparatorie Part. The Colours of Good and Evill as well simple as Compared III. The Antitheta of things IV. Lesser Stiles or usuall Formes of Speech NOw come we to the Knowledge which concerneth the Jllustration of Speech it is that which is called Rhetorique or Art of Eloquence a Science certainly both excellent in it selfe and by Authors excellently well laboured But Eloquence if a man value things truly is without doubt inferior to Wisdome For we see how farre this leaves that behind in those words of God to Moses when he disabled himselfe for that service imposed upon him for want of this Facultie Exod. 7. There is Aaron he shall be thy Speaker thou shalt be to him as God Yet in profit and popular estime Wisdome gives place to Eloquence for so Salomon Prov. XVI Sapiens corde appelatur prudens sed dulcis eloquio majora reperiet signifying not obscurely that profoundnesse of Wisdome will help a man to fame admiration but that it is Eloquence which prevailes in businesse and active Life And as to the labouring and culture of this Art the Aemulation of Aristotle with the Rhetoricians of his time and the earnest and vehement diligence of Cicero labouring with all might to raise enoble that Art joyned with long Experience hath made them in their Books written of this Art to exceed themselves Againe the excellent examples of Eloquence in the Orations of Demosthenes and Cicero added to the subtlety and diligence of Precepts have doubled the Progression in this Art Wherefore the DEFICIENTS which we find in this Art will be rather in some Collections which may as Hand-maids attend the Art than in the Rules and the use of the Art it selfe For even then when we made mention of a Promptuarie Knowledge in Logique we engaged our selves by Promise to exhibite examples at large thereof in Rhetorique I Notwithstanding that we may stirre up and subdue the earth a litle about the Roots of this Science as our manner is to doe in the rest surely Rhetorique is sub-servient to the Imagination as Logique is to the Vnderstanding And the office and duty of Rhetorique if a man well weigh the matter is no other then to apply and commend the Dictates of Reason to the Jmagination for the better moveing of the appetite and will For we see the goverment of Reason is disquieted and assailed three waies either by Illaqueation of Sophismes which pertaines to Logique or by the deceits of words which pertaines to Rhetorique or by the violence of Passions which pertaines to Morality And as in negociation with others a man may be wrought and overcome either by cunning or by Importunity or by vehemency so in that inward negociation which we practise within ourselves either we are undermined by the Fallacies of Arguments or sollicited and disquieted by the assiduity of impressions and observations or shaken and transported by the assault of affections Passions But yet the state of mans nature is not so unfortunate as that those Powers and Arts should have force to disturbe Reason and not to establish and advance it nay rather much more doe they conduce to this effect than to the contrary For the end of Logique is to teach a forme of Arguments to secure Reason and not to entrap it so the end of Morality is to compose the Affections that they may fight for Reason and not that they may invade it the end likewise of Rhetorique is to fill the Jmagination with observations and resemblances which may second Reason and not oppresse and betray it for these abuses of Arts come in but ex obliquo for prevention not for practise And therefore it was great injustice in Plato though springing out of a just hatred to the Rhetoricians of his time to place Rhetorique amongst Arts voluptuary In Gorg. resembling it to Cookery that did marre wholsome meats and help unwholsome by the abuse of variety of sawces and seasonings to the pleasure of the tast But be it farre away that speech should not be much more conversant in adorning that which is faire and honest than in colouring that which is foule and evill for this is every where at hand and there is no man but speaks more honestly than he can doe or think Indeed it was excellently noted by Thucydides that some such thing as this used to be objected to Cleon Lib. 3. that because he used to hold the bad side in causes he pleaded therefore he was ever inveighing against Eloquence and good speech for he knew no man could speak faire of things sordid and base but in things honest it was an easy matter to be eloquent In Menon Plato saith elegantly though the saying be now popular That virtue if she could be seene would move great love and affection but Rhetorique paints out virtue and goodnesse to the life and makes them in a sort conspicuous For seeing they can not be shewed to sense in corporall shape the next degree is by the faire attire of words to shew them to the Imagination so farre as may be in a lively representation for the custome of the Stoiques was deservedly derided by Cicero Tusc Q. lib. 2. who labour'd to thrust virtue upon men by concise and sharpe sentences and conclusions which have no sympathy with the Imagination and will Againe if the Affections themselves were brought into order and so reclaim'd from exorbitant courses as to be pliant and obedient to Reason it were true there should be no great use of Perswasions and insinuations which might give accesse to the mind but it would be enough if things were nakedly and simply proposed and proved but on the contrary the Affections make such revolts and raise up such mutinies and seditions according to that video meliora Proboque Ovid. Met. 7. Deteriora sequor That Reason would be forcibly led away into servitude and captivity if the perswasion of Eloquence did not practise and winne the Imagination from the Affections part and contract a league between Reason and Imagination against Affections For it must be noted that the Affections themselves are ever carried to a good Apparent and in this respect have somewhat common with Reason but herein they differ that the affections behold Principally Good in Present
they will not meddle with it so ought men so to procure Serenitie of minde as they destroy not Magnanimitie Thus much of Particulare Good III. Now therefore after we have spoken of Selfe-good which also we use to call Good Particular Private Individuall let us resume the Good of Communion which respecteth Society This is commonly termed by the name of Duty because the terme of Duty is more proper to a mind well fram'd and dispos'd towards others the terme of Virtue to a mind well form'd and compos'd in it selfe But this part at first sight may seeme to pertaine to Science Civile or Politique but not if it be well observed for it concernes the Regiment and Government of every man over himselfe and not over others And as in Architecture it is one thing to frame the Posts Beams and other parts of an Edifice and to prepare them for the use of building and another thing to fit and joyne the same parts togither and as in Mechanicalls the direction how to frame and make an instrument or engine is not the same with the manner of erecting moving and setting it on work So the doctrine of the conjugation of men in a Citty or Society differs from that which makes them conformed and well affected to the weale of such a Society § This Part of Duties is likewise distributed into two portions whereof the one respects the common duty of every man the other the speciall and respective Duties of every man in his profession vocation state person and place The first of these hath bin well laboured and diligently explicated by the Ancients and others as hath bin said the other we find to have bin sparsedly handled althoe not digested into an entire body of a Science which manner of dispersed kind of writing we doe not dislike howbeit in our judgement to have written of this Argument by parts were farre better For who is endewed with so much perspicacity and confidence as that he can take upon him to discourse and make a judgement skilfully and to the life of the peculiar and respective duties of every particular order condition and profession And the treatises which are not seasond with experience but are drawne only from a generall and Scholasticall notion of things are touching such matters for most part idle and fruitlesse discourses For althoe sometimes a looker on may see more then a gamester and there be a common proverbe more arrogant than sound proceeding from the censure of the vulgar touching the actions of Princes That the vale best discovereth the Hills yet it could be especially wished that none would intermeddle or engage themselves in subjects of this nature but only such as are well experienc'd and practis'd in the particular customes of men For the labours and vigilancies of speculative men Cic. Lib. 2. de Oratore in Active Matters doe seem to men of experience litle better than the discourses of Phormio of the warres seemed to Hanniball which estimed them but dreams and dotage Only there is one vice which accompanies them which write books of matters pertaining to their own profession and Art which is that they magnify and extoll them in excesse K. IAMES DORON BASIL § In which kind of Books it were a crime Piacular not to mention Honoris causa Your Majesties excellent work touching the duty of a King for this writing hath accumulated and congested within it many treasures as well open as secret of Divinity Morality and Policy with great aspersion of all other Arts and it is in my opinion one of the most sound and healthfull writings that J have read It doth not float with the heat of Invention nor freez and sleepe with the coldnesse of negligence it is not now than taken with a wheeling dizzines so to confound and loose it selfe in its order nor is it distracted and discontinued by digressions as those discourses are which by a winding expatiation fetch in and enclose matter that speaks nothing to the purpose nor is it corrupted with the cheating Arts of Rhetoricall perfumes and paintings who chuse rather to please the Reader than to satisfy the nature of the Argument But chiefly that work hath life and spirit as Body and Bulke as excellently agreeing with truth and most apt for use and action and likewise clearely exempt from that vice noted even now which if it were tolerable in any certainly it were so in KINGS and in a writing concerning Regal Majesty namely that it doth not excessively and invidiously exalt the Crowne and Dignity of Kings For Your Majesty hath not described a King of Persia or Assyria radiant and shining in extreme Pompe and Glory but really a Moses or a David Pastors of the People Neither can I ever loose out of my remembrance a Speech which Your Majesty in the sacred Spirit wherewith you are endowed to governe Your people delivered in a great cause of Iudicature which was IACOB R. dictum memorab That Kings rul'd by the Lawes of their Kingdomes as God did by the Lawes of Nature and ought as rarely to put in use that their prerogative which transcends Lawes as we see God put in use his power of working Miracles And yet notwithstanding in that other book written by Your Majesty DE LIB MONAR of a free Monarchy You give all men to understand that Your Majesty knowes and comprehends the Plenitude of the Power of Kings and the Vltimities as the Schooles speak of Regall Rights as well as the circle and bounds of their Office and Royall Duty Wherefore I have presumed to alleage that book written by Your Majesty as a prime and most eminent example of Tractates concerning speciall and Respective Duties Of which Book what I have now said I should in truth have said as much if it had bin written by any King a thousand years since Neither doth that kind of nice Decency move me whereby commonly it is prescribed not to praise in presence so those Praises exceed not measure or be attributed unseasonably or upon no occasion presented Surely Cicero in that excellent oration Pro M. Marcello studies nothing else Cicero but to exhibite a faire Table drawne by singular Art of Caesars virtues thoe that Oration was made to his face which likewise Plinius secundus did to Trajan Plin. Iun. Now let us resume our intended purpose § There belongs farther to this part touching the Respective Duties of vocations and particular Professions ✿ SATYRA SERIA sive de Interioribus rerum and other knowledge as it were Relative and Opposite unto the former concerning the Fraudes Cautels Impostures and vices of every Profession For Corruptions and Vices are opposed to Duties and Virtues Nor are these Depravations altogither silenced in many writings and Tractates but for most part these are noted only upon the By and that by way of Digression but how rather in a Satyre and Cynically after Lucians manner than seriously and gravely for