of that citie Whiche neuer the lesse was restored againe by the Emperour Domitian who euery where and in all countries made diligent searche for bookes causing with the same that famous library in Grece to be trasported and brought from thēce vnto Rome whence it is euident that al Ptolomies librarie was not there consumed as we before saide it to bee with fier for that some parte of it was now cōueighed to Rome Farther Paulus Orosius geueth vs to thincke that it throwly in deede was not brunt and consumed when he saith that there were burned only four hundred thousand for that the number of bookes there as we reade in others was no lesse then seuen hundred thousande so that wee may conclude thre hundred thousand to be saued how be it diuers histories passe this in such sorte as if none had been reserued from the rage of the fier But to retourne to the library of Rome the saide Paulus Orosius saieth that in the daies of the Emperour Commodus this saide library was once againe burned and that Gordian as the others to repaire it gathered againe fiftie two thousande volumes whiche all as some reporte were geuen hym by the testamēt of Seranus Samoniquus whose thei first were as hath Iulius Capitolinus Besides these were many others both noble and riche libraries gathered by our elders as well priuate and meane menne as greate Lordes and Princes The firste library that euer was knowen among the Christians was that as recordeth Esidorus of Panphilius the Martir whose life is at large writtē by Eusebius in whose studie after his death were founde thirtie thousande diuers volumes One common vsage or custome was ordinary in the olde age to weete that they had in their secret Cabinetes or Studies the perfect Image and purtraite of all suche as had in anie sorte excelled in learnyng Plinie writeth that Marcus Varro beyng yet then liuyng merited for hys rare vertue and knowledge in good letters that hys Image shoulde haue place in the library of Asinius Polion Cicero wrote to Fabian that hee shoulde prouide hym of some purtraites the better to adorne and beautifie hys study Plinie the yonger writing to Iulius Seuerus saieth that Ere Seuerus a man verie well lettered would order in his studie among other his purtraites the Images of Cornelius and Titus Arius Of these thinges finde wee euerie where sufficient and good proofe whose libraries as also those of other learned men and greate Princes whiche after in successe and processe of tyme followed were destroied and defaced by the Gothee and Vandales vntill now that in our tyme by the greate bounty of God infinite are founde both studious and learned that haue gathered together houge heapes of bookes though not in deede the tenth parte of these aboue remembred by our ancestours And assuredly a greate nōber of those whiche from their tyme vntill now haue been carefully preserued founde neuer the lesse ill written lesse perfect and incorrected in suche sorte that had it not been for the grerte paines of certaine worthy personages hardlie had they euer been brought to any kinde of perfection ¶ Of the amitie and enmitie of sundrie thinges issuyng by priuie hidden and secrete proprieties Chap. 4. THe aunciente philosopher Heraclitus as also others some after hym helde and maintained in their disputations this opinion that eche thyng had his firste cause or beginnyng by concorde and discorde by peace and enmitie whiche is in all thynges of what kinde soeuer whence also issued the generation and corruption of them on whiche poinct of Philosophie I lesse mynde here to dwell of parte for that it is bothe intricate and difficill of parte also for that the reader in my phantasie shall thence reape as little fruicte as he shall conceiue pleasure Notwithstādyng we shall some what saie of the secrete loue and hatered whiche naturally is in many thynges whiche whence or how it cometh no manne directly knoweth and is therefore assuredly no lesse straunge then marueilous As first of all the enmitie betwixte the Dogge and the Catte betwixte Oile and Pitche the Harte and the Serpente with many suche others whiche in suche sorte malice and enuie eche the other this secrete rancor of no parte proceading from th'elementes for the difference or contrarietie in thynges mixte or compounde is to all men aperte and euident as wee sée The water first disaccordeth as of nature contrary with the fire for that the fire is hotte and drie but the water contrary these elementeseche to other opposite and repugnaunte The water and the yearth accorde well together but in this respect onely that thei bothe bee colde in the other that one beyng moiste that other drie eche here leaueth the other as his auncient enemie Betwixt the fire and the yearth there is a conformitie to wéete in that thei bothe be drie a contrarietie againe euen betwene theim bothe dwelleth the fire hoate that other colde So that as these elementes of parte agrée together so also disagrée thei of parte as is euidente All thynges then what so euer are caused of these elementes must be subiecte of necessitieto these contrary qualities whiche bee in these elementes whence thei mixte are and compounded Wherfore that thyng in whiche ruleth moste some elementarie qualitie boroweth his name of the saied qualitie and so wée saie it to bée either hoate colde moiste or drie some in more high degrée then others accordyng to the predominant force in any these elementes And this these bodies contrary either to other are the onely and sole causes of contrary effectes so that whence this discrepante or different nature in thynges is is now manifeste and nedeth no farther explication But this other enmitie that proceadeth not from any the elementes but rather from some hidden proprietie or secrete influence to find the true cause and occasion thereof would aske more earneste studie and longer contremplation The Dogge and Catte as is aboue saied eche hateth other neither knowe we the cause why Other creatures also sée wée that mutually are affectioned either to other neither issueth this their loue from any the elementes whereof thei are composed The Asse eateth Fenell gyante or otherwise Sagapene whiche in Latine maie also be called ferula and findeth it bothe good and toothsome whiche to all other beastes of Horse kinde is a very starcke and plain poison The Fox ioieth and liketh of the Serpent whiche neuer the lesse enuieth all other beastes what so euer Neither is this lesse to be meruailed emong men then also emong any other creatures for that man neither knowyng why ne yet for what cause eftsones at the firste sighte when he shall méete an other neuer hauyng before or seen or knowen hym will notwithstandyng disdaine and hate hym and immediatly findyng againe the second no lesse straunge to hym then the first will well conceiue of hym loue and like hym and that whiche more is sometyme will bothe honour and reuerence hym yea though he
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
so manie Duckettes of Golde as there were verses in a greate booke whiche he then had digested of the nature and proprietie of all kinde of fishes Themperour GratiaÌ„ oduertised that Ausonius the poete wrote a verse with no lesse good grace then assured facilitie called him to the honor of a consull immediatly then which none was greater sauing that of The'mperour DomiciaÌ„ also though he were otherwise accursed and impius inricht with greate rewardes the Poete Eustachius whom in the daie of his natiuitie euen in his most pompous and curious solemnitie he did to sitte at his owne proper table croâ—…yng hym with baie or lawrell where with poetes in those daies were principally honoured Seleyus Vasa a Poete lirique was imbrased of the Emperour Vespasian with curtuous and frendly wordes euery where intertained and in fine receaued of hym no lesse rewardes then the other aforesaide Arrian for his history compiled by hym in Greke of the famous oxploites of the renoumed Alexander as also that hee was otherwise well lettered was ordained Consull of Rome by Adrian Antoninus Nether were these men onely this honoured liuyng but in like sorte also after their death by the posteritie as is manifest in that Ptolome kyng of Egypt did to be erected both an Image and Temple nolesse sumptuous to Homer thaÌ„ to any other his goddes what so euer In Mantua also long after his death was erected an other to the poete Virgil. That excellent Horace though we lesse assure our serues of hys greate substaunce and wealth yet was he aduaunced to greate officies by Octauian the Emperour Here colde I remember you many other examples seruyng to thys purpose but I leaue to be tedious Now if any wil obiecte here that the fage Seneca was cruelly doen to death by the wretched Nero I answere he was a tyranne and did it therefore besides reason and that he liuyng was in Rome of greate worshippe and substaunce It is a true and auncient prouerbe honours make the learned and nourishe the sciences So finde we that in the daies of these Kynges and Emperours when they so fauoured the studious and lettered greate store was eche where founde of men wise and learned as when Octauian liued Claudius and Adrian Vespasian Antoninus Alexander and others And to speake of others that liued in these our daies as of the Emperonr Sigismonde Robert Kyng of Sicilia Nicholas the fifte Bishoppe of Rome Alphonsus and Mathias kinges of Naples Hungarie these also of the house of Medecis in Florence the slower of which house liueth this daie crouned in France followyng the steppes and vertues of his elders but especially of that good kyng Frauncis in whose tyme France so florished in learnyng that it iustly might haue béen saied an other Grece or Athens That lernyng is necessarie as well vnto Princes as also to all Capitaines that liue at any tymes in armes Chap. 8. I Mighte here remember many auncient histories besides the true and assured proofes that Princes in times paste were for the moste parte learned as that they also knewe that nothynge for fitte or good gouernemente was more necessarie then to taste or sauour in any sorte of good letters But for as much as these thinges are euident plaine and well knowen I will not dwell long or staie here much on theim We reade not withstandyng that Philippe Kyng of Madonie seyng Alexander to bee borne to hym Aristotle then in Athens he sent hym a letter to thys purpose notable recited by Plutarche and A. Gellius in whiche he yeldeth his humble thankes vnto the gods not so muche for that he hadde a sonne then borne as for that he was borne in the daies of Aristotle wheÌ„ce it is euen in these fewe euident howe muche this good prince affected and desired that his sonne should be fostered in all kinde of litrature to th' intent he might be suche a prince and capitaine as was his fathers desire he should and as he after proued whom as sone as he was of age fit for studie hée gaue hym as is saide Aristotle for maister whom presentlie he inrichte with greate and large salaries reedifiing also for the loue of this his sonne a houge and waist citie which he to fore had raced where he did to be builte for hym also a schole more sumptuous and gaie then earst had else béen sien Antigonus also king some tymes of Macedonie well knowyng how necessarie learnyng was for gouernmente tickled with the renoume of the famous Zeno a Philosopher moste excellent prince of the Stoikes desired beyoÌ„d measure to haue him at home with hym whiche thyng he straighte attempted by letters and ambassadours whiche letters Diogenes Laercius in this sorte remembreth Antigonus kyng to Zeno Philosopher gretyng I knowe well that in riches in the giftes of Fortune and in suche others like thynges of reputatioÌ„ I farre excell and passe thée euery waie how be it I gladly also confesse that thou again exceadest me in the true felicltie in the studies of the artes the sciences and Philosophie Wherefore my desire is that thou shouldest suggeourne here with me whiche thyng I beseche thée graunte and accorde me to the ende that I maie vse this thy desired coÌ„panie whiche doyng be thou assured that thou shalte not onely rule and maister me but also shalt order all others the Macedonians for who so well instructeth and ordereth well the Prince schooleth with bountie and vertue all his subiectes and that this is true wee commonly dooe sée that suche as is the kyng suche also are his vassaules and suche as is the capitaine suche continually are founde and séen to bee his souldiers These letters receiued by this venerable Philosopher he sorrowed that he could not by meanes of his greate age aunswere the expectation of this vertuous and good prince but sent hym of parte to contente hym with all twoo of his wiseste and beste learned scholers by whose industrie he profited bothe in vertue and learnyng Aristotle in like sorte whose auditour Alexander was for the space of fiue full yeres profited him his scholer in suche sort that he afterward proued a moste excellente and wise prince suche in deede and so perfecte as none was founde to hym comparable throughout the whole worlde Beyng in the middle of his armie he neuer would leaue or abandon his studie but with his sworde did to bee saied vnder his beddes heade Homers Iliades and other bookes whiche he vsually carried So that as appereth he made equall accoÌ„pte as well I meane of the studie of Philosophie and good letters as also of the conqueste of greate kyngdomes and countries And farther saieth Plutarche A. Gellius and Themistocles that he beyng busied aboute the conqueste of Asia was aduertised that Aristotle had published certaine bookes of naturall Philosophie the same in déede whiche he had painfully tofore redde to hym by meanes whereof he wrote to hym in effecte as followeth In very truthe Aristotle thou haste not
this opinion accordyng with that whiche is redde in the scriptures where as it is saied that God made twoo excellent lightes the one to lende comforte and brightnes to the daie the other and the lesse to shine in the night But in that instant it self when the Sunne first appered he gaue light on the sodaine to the one halfe of the worlde so that in that halfe it presently was daie the other beyng darck and couered with the shadowe of the yearth How bee it it semeth reasonable that on that other moitie of the earth cladde as is saied with the night and darknes the Moone there should doe her charge and office in illightnyng it so as thei bothe were created at one and the same instant so thei bothe also might execute their office at one instante the one giuyng light and solace to the daie the other not obscuryng or darkenyng the night euenso and in suche sorte as hath in deede the texte for then was verified that parte of scripture the whole worlde through lightened bothe on the one side and the other And contrarywise if the Moone then had been founde in coniuction then this common light could not haue chaunsed vntil fiftene daies after and farther three or fower daies muste also firste haue paste before her light could haue béen seen or perceiued any where and the same should haue been a verie small light also as that whiche we see when she fower or fiue daies is of age Wherefore these two in conclusion assuredly gaue light to the whole worlde at one instante in the heginnyng And againe I saie the Moone then beyng in opposition with the Sunne of necessitie had her beyng then in the contrary signe in Libra which thing thus staÌ„dyng she executed that daie the effectes of the Sunne visityng euery parte of the worlde in that one daies course whiche to haue doen had been then impossible hadde she been plaste in any other parte of the Zodiake by meanes whereof this opinion hath more plaine and more euident shewe of truthe though Iulius Firmicus gladly would inferre that this Planette in her firste creation founde her firste place in the fiftenth of Cancer where in deede she hath her greatest dignities of whiche opinion is also Macrobius in his firste booke de somnio Scipionis As concernyng the other Planettes it should bee more difficill for me to vtter herein a truthe then in any respecte profitable to hym that would faine knowe it for which cause I leaue to dwell here on in many How bee it Iulius Firmicus in his seconde booke alleaged hardeneth hym self to assigne them their places in whiche at the firste euery of them was as Saturnê° in Capricorno Iupiter in Sagitario Marsin Scorpione Venus in Libra Mercurius in Virgine whiche are the signes in whiche thei haue greateste force and dignitie signes appoincted to these Planettes sor their houses Of whiche mynde herein is also Elpacus as well remembreth Ioannes Agricanus in his summarie intituled Agricane Macrobius also in his booke aboue alleaged De somnio Scipionis accordeth plainly with Iulius Firmicus who lotteth to them the same signes aboue remembred although others some haue supposed the contrary and that thei all in that instante were in coniunction with the Sunne whiche opinion the Mouncke walterus in his treatise of the ages of the worlde affirmeth that the aunciente Indiens helde for most assured But in truthe I suppose that god so plaste and ordered these starres eche one in his place distaunte and seuered from other not méetyng in any coniunction with the Sunne to the intent that euery of them in that firste daie might with his glitteryng beames giue light vnto the yearth whiche had béen impossible for them to haue dooen if thei had béen in coniunctioÌ„ with the SuÌ„ne for that being nigh vnto hym within the space I meane of certaine degrées he so couereth and drouneth their little light that thei or hardly or not at all might haue béen séen from the yearth But how or in what sorte so euer it were beyng created and framed accordyng to the will and pleasure of GOD it sufficeth saieth Saincte Augustine that thei were by hym in any sorte perfected and framed That men maie take example of Birdes Wormes and other creatures to liue a iust and a vertuous life Chap. 16. AS we haue aboue by occasion some thing spokeÌ„ of these creatures though to some other intent and purpose so nowe shall wee breflie and in fewe speake how their example maie bee profitable to mans bodie no lesse then to his vnderstandyng and minde For assuredly who so diligently and attentiuely will consider as well the nature as the properties also of beastes he thence shall not onelie take good instructions of life for the better preseruation and maintenauÌ„ce of the bodie but lessons also to frame and perfect his maners Whence is it that manne liueth not in peace with his neighbour seyng the ametie and concorde of beastes together how they accompanie and ioigne in one in euery kinde defending theim selues to their vtterest from the force of any other How is it that man shameth not to liue a trifelyng and an idle loyterer consideryng howe painfully and busely the poore Ante toileth in the somer gathering her prouision and store for the winter What subiectes are thei that doe not true seruice and honour to their Prince consideryng the true loue and obedience of the litle Bée towardes her soueraigne Why take not these publike weales whiche haue no Prince but liue in coÌ„mon example to liue quietly with out grudge or mutinie of the foresaide litle antes whiche dwell together in greate multitudes with good order doyng iustice eche one to the other And Princes on the other side why also aduise they theim not with what lenitie and curtesie they ought still to vse their subiectes especially when thei behold the Kyng of the Bées for no cause to greue or offende any of the others Greate Personages and noble men maie learne an example of humility by the Camell whiche then stoopeth and kneleth when he shall be charged The good and loyall husbande may learne to schole himself in the rules of chastitie by birdes by the Turtell I meane and by the Doue whiche both the male as well as also the female for none other cause then death what so euer seuer or disioigne hauing once acquainted theim selues together Farther it is also written of the Turtle that hauyng once loast by anie occasion her mate that she neuer after chuseth or lotteth to her any other Saincte Ambrose counseleth all vertuous widowes to imitate this example of continencie in the Turtle And here in most beastes excéede vs in perfection among whom as sone as the femal hath once conceaued she neuer séeketh or desireth againe the male in long tyme after They also serue vs for examples in temperancie for commonly thei wil eate no more then nature asketh ne sléepe they more then necessitie requireth To defende maintaine and well
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
more woorthy of commendation then this that he punisshed with deathe all those that any where were founde vnbusied or that walkte vp and downe idlely for their pastime and pleasure Howe the Gentiles were affected towardes all those that perseuered in any vertuous actions is euidente for that to this purpose especially and aboue all others they had in Adoration thrée Idolles or Goddesses the first hight Strenua whiche is to saie Dexteritie the seconde Agenoria whiche signifieth Virilitie the thirde Stimula whiche soundeth as mutche as a Spurre of honour or Vertue in sutche sorte reuerenced they incessant trauaile that they erected these thrée Idolles in the name of them to be reuerenced for euer But wée will not arrest our selues on the opinion of the Gentiles but will descende to the authoritie of the Scriptures whiche no lesse bindeth vs to the aboue remembered then it chargeth vs to abstayne from thinges that be prophaned Salomon in his Prouerbes emonge many other places where he sharply argueth idlenesse in one to this ende vttereth these woordes He that in Winter ceaseth from labour shal receiue for his portion indigent beggerie S. Paule a Doctour emonge the Gentiles neuer ioyed so mutche for any thinge as for that he at no time was founde a Treuante or Loyterer extollinge aboue al thinges paineful Laboure In this sorte writeth he to the Thessalonians admonishinge them in al thinges to imitate him for neuer was he founde idle emonge them ne at any time did he eate not hauinge firste deserued it he toyled daie and nighte not to annoye but by al meanes to profite them And againe Who so laboureth not neither muste he eate as is commaunded To the Corinthians in manner semblable he writeth remembringe them for their better instruction of his restlesse Payne and incessant Trauaile which the same he also doothe in many other places Imploye wée then hereafter our time in vertuous exercises auoiding to the vttermoste of our power the contrary whence neuer issueth any thinge that is commendable Neither geue wée this our commaundement with sutch extreame vigor as thoughe wée woulde haue no time exempted to eate drinke sléepe honestly repose vs for these thinges are necessarie as also moderate recreation at times is likewise commendable For this cause Cicero so mutch extolleth Scipio in that he saide that he neuer was lesse idle then when in déede he was idle And further addeth Cicero that this sayinge of his was moste assuredly and doubtlesse notable for that thereby he gaue others to vnderstande that when he idly had arested him from his studies he then notwithstanding had in minde the whole course of his affayres and that then and at suche times of them he earnestly and with aduice consulted with him selfe Seneca the Morall Poete affirmeth that Idlenesse without somme practise of studie or good Letters is to man a very perfecte Graue or Sepulchre and that those that studie Wisedome are they that féele and enioye the true Idlenesse Plutarche writeth that the Wise man spendeth his time in the onely exercise of vertue and Learninge Let Man then aduise him howe he spende his time whiche passeth without staye and is altogeather vncertaine for that he muste yéelde a straite accoumpte thereof yea and of eche woorde that shal passe him rashely Cato though he were a Panym yet coulde he thus muche saie that all greate and hawtie personages were as well bounde to yéelde an accoumpte of their time without profite spente as to receiue iuste guerdon for that they well had imployed For conclusion in suche honest exercises shoulde wée passe our fewe dayes that wée mighte reape the fruite thereof in the Kingedome of God whiche is prouided for those that are called into the Vineyarde to Laboure it where they shall receiue the dette to them belonginge To this pourpose sutche fittinge woordes vseth S. Iohn Blessed are those that die in the Lorde for that their Spirites repose them nowe in quiet from all Labour but theire Woorkes and theire trauailes sutche as they were shall folowe them Whiche authoritie well proueth that paine onely and trauaile is the Marchandice of this worlde whiche is bought solde and deliuered into Heauen as S. Paule him selfe not vnfitly remembreth wheras he saith that eche man shal receiue his Salery or payment according to that he hath trauailed in this worlde ¶ Howe detestable a matter Crueltie is with somme examples seruinge to that pourpose Chap. 14. AMonge all other vices repugnant to mans Nature whiche also yéelde men moste abominable Monsterous Crueltie is assuredly the chiefe and principall for as mutche as Man a Creature moste Honorable framed to the Image and similitude of God borne to vse courtesie compassion by Crueltie is transformed into a brute beaste terrible furious of nature accursed and enimie to God who is the sole soueraigne Clemencie Aristotle saithe that Crueltie fiercenesse inhumanitie are vices incident to some sauage wilde beaste Seneca in his seconde Booke of Clemencie termeth it the execrable felony of the Soule whence he concludeth it opposite and contrary to the vertue of compassion and humilitie Crueltie is capitall enimie of Iustice and of reason and mutche worse is this vice then eyther pryde or malice for that wrothe or malice séemeth to procéede of somme certaine displeasure as when wée beholde any one that either annoyeth or wrongeth an other but emonge sutche as in their Crueltie outrage wée finde many that euen laughinge and withoute any suspition of crime onely of pure malice and disdaine miserably doo to die murther the innocent So is it then a capitall enimie to Iustice whiche permitteth not any fautlesse to smarte of vndeserued paine as it on the other side also chargeth with moderate and measurable correction the fautie or culpable without respecte of person Seneca in his Booke of manners saithe That commonly wée terme those mercilesse tormentors that in correction of vices holde no kinde of measure what title then to those menne shall wée iustly attribute that by straunge deuised meanes soyle them in Innocent and harmelesse bloudde Examples of sutche Monsters wée reade infinite emonge whome wée finde Herode Kinge of the Iewes which raigned in the birthe of our Sauiour Christe Who after the deathe of so many innocentes thinkinge emong them also to haue slaine him who then was newly for mans redemption borne would yet make more ample and more ful shew of his tyrannie not onely in the time of his wretched life but also in the instant and moment of his death so that him selfe perceiuinge his death to approche caused to be assembled al the chiefe of Hierusalem whom as soone as they at his commaundment appeared he caused without staye to be safely imprysoned geuinge charge to his Sister that in the same pointe of time that he shoulde make chaunge of life shée also should doo to die all the foresaide Elders whiche to doo shée fayled God workinge to the contrary Whiche thinges he did as him selfe
accordyng to their perfection were able in what quantitie so euer iustlie to value theim This Zeuxis with suche perfection depainted Penelope that hymself therein besides others had most perfect likyng by meanes whereof he subscribed these fewe wordes commended of all menne more easie shal it be to all suche as shall beholde this vnkindlie to enuie it then with filed hande learnedlie to follow it He besides these did manie other thinges so perfecte so absolute and in suche sort estimed that Plinie reporteth that euen vntill his tyme there was reserued of his doyng a draught of Helena in Rome as also some other thinges moste curiously depainted and yet was there as hath Eusebius from the tyme of his death till Plinie afterward was and did these thinges to wryting by iuste accompte fiue hundred and eight yeres The Agrigentines became suters vnto hym to frame theÌ„ some skilfull purtratie whiche they might offer vnto their Goddesse Iuno but he to theim accorded nothing before by his commaundemente thei had presented vnto hym a greate number of naked maides of rare and comelie beautie out of whiche he chose fiue whiche among the reste he déemed to be fairest and best feutered who takyng from euerie of these that whiche in theim best liked hym he finished this excellent and this fore desired peece Of Parrasus his competitor straunge matters also finde we Strabo writeth that among sundry other thinges he fashioned in the Iâ—le of Rhodes a Satyre standing fast by a certaine Columne or Piller on the highest part of whiche he had depainted a Partridge but although this Columne and Satyre were absolutely doen yet this Partridge so farre surpaste theim in perfection that in the iudgement of all men she séemed to haue life so that without regarde of thother parte of the table eche man was amased at the excellencie of the birde whose perfection in déede was suche and so absolute that thei placing before the saied table certeine tame Partridges as presentlie we may in cages verie easelie kepe theim began to call and offered to flie to hym being as is aboue saied onely painted By meane whereof Parrasus besought the Magistrates of Rhodes that he might with their licence deface and remoue hym considering it stained the beautie of the other partes of the table whiche were assuredlie most famous and excellent Plinie also writeth of him matters straunge and merueilous affirming that some of his woorkes were also fonnde in Rome And farther addeth that amonge others sundrie his perfections he had a subtill or secrete kinde of practise besides his open and séemely proportions whereby he gaue men plainlie to vnderstande the nature or conditions of what soeuer he depainted as is written he did in the Idoll of the Atheniens which in such order and maner he handled that besides the rare beautie and excellencie of the subiecte eche man might sée the ordenaunces maners and customes of the Atheniens who as he was assuredly a prince in that his arte so was he in all other thinges of a moste sharpe and fined witte neither in drawyng his lines or proportions was he bolder then he was pleasaunt with all men merie and well disposed Whence he ofte tymes would saie that paintyng had well schooled hym in the perfecte loare and vsage of wisedome and knowledge But beyng entered into the consideration of this matter it shall not bee besides the purpose some thyng to speake in fewe of Apelles Prince and maister of all other Painters as also som what of Protogines singuler also and excellent in this arte Of that excellent Painter Apelles as also of Protogenes an other in his tyme Chap. 7. THat of one and of the saied subiecte we haue here presently written twoo chapiters is though for some others yet chiefly for twoo causes the one for that the lengthe and continued prorsis wearieth commonlie whatsoeuer the reader whiche some times before thei come to the ende forgette what thei redde at the first or beginnyng the other for the dignitie of hym of whom our penne shall speake here presently well deserueth or meriteth his chapiter a parte to the intent it maie the better bee considered of the readers This then is Apelles in the skill of Paintyng the onely Phenix and mercour of all others He had to maister one Panphilus verie excellent in his science who neuer tooke scholer by the yere for lesse price then for one whole talente Attique valuyng by our accompte sixe hundred croâ—nes sterlyng In the tyme of this Apelles Protogines also liued in this arte moste famous suche bothe and so perfecte in their profession that hardly men knewe whiche merited higheste commendation By meane whereof Apelles aduertised of his excellencie determined on a time to go to visite him and happely in fewe daies arriuyng at Rhodes where at that tyme Protogines dwelt dissimulyng that he was driueÌ„ thither by aduerse winde and weather and entering at the gates or house of Protogines founde hym not whom he sought then presently at home and hauyng demaunded where he might be of an olde woman that kept the house tooke leaue to depart about other his affaires but this olde woman saied whom shall I saie you are that haue sought here Protogines Apelles straight takyng in hand a pinselle whiche he there founde tournyng to her saied thou shalt saie to Protogines that he that drewe this line here would gladly haue spoken with hym and in vttryng these wordes framed there so curious a line so straighte so well proportioned that it wel argued what he was that with learned hande had drawen it Now after this Protogines immediatly retournyng aduertised of all thinges as is afore saied who after he had aduised hym selfe of this skilfull line said that besides Apelles no man that liued could dooe it and so incontinently taketh in hande an other pinselle and with a contrary coloure vpon Apelles his line draweth then the seconde so fine and so well fashioned that besides hym self none could by common iudgement doe it commaunding forthwith his woman that if he by happe retourned that she should shewe him that line as also farther learne hym that Protogines had doen it whom he so muche desired Apelles then retournyng the other beyng for the the old woman as she receiued in commaundement of her maister presenteth forthwith to him this second line to consider of Where at as all amased at the greate aduantage that Protogines had gained tooke in hande againe the second time the pinselle and sondereth in the middle Protogines his line againe whiche hardly might be seen so small it was subtile but with the third colour Apelles notwithstandyng in suche extreme perfection parteth bothe the others that for the fowerth he leaueth no kinde of place in the worlde Protogines then retournyng and seyng what had chaunced confeste the truthe Apelles to bee in deede his better and runneth all aboute with painfull care to seke hym to the onely intente he might doe hym conuenient
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
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
triall whereof who so putteth oile into a pitchie vessell shall sée that the Pitche will sone consume the Oile Oile againe disagréeth with water as dooeth also in like sorte Lime but Oile and Lime liue in perpetual league and amitie The Olife hath a secrete hidden force against the vnchast lecherer suche in déede and so straunge that as it is written if a woman lesse chaste attempt to plāt hym she shall languishe and die of it the trée also withereth The Colewort hardly groweth beyng sowen nigh to Maioram Salte water waxeth swéete mixte with Wheaton flower in suche sorte that within twoo howers afterward a man maie easily drinke thereof Wee might in this place loade the reader with infinite suche examples of fatall and mortall enmitie as well emōg thynges hauyng life as also others insensible whiche al to tarrie were long and tedious as on the other side also wee might speake of many thynges that secretly occord well by the priuie instincte of nature as of the Pecocke and the Pigion the Turtle and the Popingaie the Thrushe and the Crane Aristotle reporteth a straunge example of amitie betwixte a certaine kinde of Sparowes and the Crocodile he saieth that this houge beaste openeth his mouthe to th' intent this little birde should come in there at to beake trimme and make cleane his téethe to purge his gummes and ease him euery where and in fine addeth that this Sparrowe feedeth and pleaseth in that lothsome filthe he there gathereth It is also saied that the Fore loueth well the Crowe the Dawe also the Henne of India and in fine the Larke an other birde called the Ioncke The Foxe is neuer indomaged by any kinde of Snake the Pigion ioieth in the presence of the Turtle the Partridge also with her beloued the Wooddoue The fishe in Latine called Talpa marina is aboue all others fauoured and beloued of the Whale whiche as witnesseth Plinie rolleth carefully before her aduisyng her where to shoune the whirlyng gulfes and déepe holes Beholde now the meruailous woorkes and secrete force of nature through the prouidence of GOD moued by the influence of the Starres and Planettes whiche all wee finde sufficiently and well aucthorised by Plinie Aristoile Albertus Magnus Elian Marbodeus the Poete in his bookes of the nature and proprietie of stones with many others bothe auncient and late writers as well of the nature of beastes as of other thynges By what meanes both amitie and enmitie procede from the heauenly and celestiall influence and why a man hateth or loueth another Chap. 5. AS we haue aboue saied concerning the secrette and priuie force of nature so are there certaine Starres and Planettes whiche haue more perticuler dominion on some thinges then on some others forcyng by their priuate influence some assured proprieties whiche neither are caused bee of any elimentarie qualities how be it we neither yet may properly saie that there is any hostilitie or discorde betwixt the starres or fignes in heauen Notwithstandyng the auncient philosophers and Astrologians consideryng the sundrie and contrarie effectes of the influēces caused by the Starres and Planettes in these our yearthly corruptible and inferiour bodies by their onely motions and irradiations haue attributed vnto theim for iust cause diuers qualities as well of ametie as enmitie together whereof we finde most aperte and plaine demonstration as well in Guido Bonatus as Schonerus and infinite others Mars and Venus are enimies to Saturne Iupiter also and Mercurie malice eche th' other the Sūne and the Moone with all other Planettes liue in leage perpetuall and amitie with Iupiter Mars onely excepted generall ennimie to theim all Venus alone exemted Iupiter and Venus with like loue imbrace the Sunne whose cōtraries are Mars Mercurie and the Moone Venus fauoureth all th 'others and is sole ennimie to Sarurne So is there then betwixt these whiche to be shorte I passe ouer bothe amitie and enmitie as is aboue saied The case then thus standyng those thynges that are subiecte as gouerned by any one Planette muste by inclination naturall either lone or disdaine what so els is subiect to any other bée it either Planet signe or constellation accordyng to the conformitie or diuersitie of nature whiche shall bee betwixte these starres whiche rule and raigne ouer thē and then is this enmitie of greatest force and efficacie Whē that betwixt the natures qualities of these Planets vnto which thei bée in any respecte subiecte bée of moste repugnant and contrary nature as on th' other side that mutuall amitie shall so muche be the strōger as the conformitie of these celestiall bodies shall bée either nigher or greater And this supernall force or cōstellation no lesse extendeth it self to man then it also doeth to euery other creature How bée it man beyng of more frée and aduised determination although he of parte féele this repugnancie or inclination yet by grace is he able to withstande and resiste it where as other creatures voide of reason not vsyng this priuilege are ordered and carried euery where accordyng to their naturall inclination executyng to their vttereste what so séemeth to theim agreable thesame also is incident to hearbes and to plantes Concernyng the mutuall loue or affection betwixte men Astronomers affirme and emong thē their Prince Ptolomie that those that in their natiuitie shall haue one and the same signe for their ascendente shall like and loue very friendly togither as also semblably those that haue bothe the Sunne and the Moone in any one signe togither And againe thei adde that to thesaid purpose it sufficeth to haue one also and the same Planette dominatour in their birthe or natiuitie for it naturally prouoketh loue and conformitie of nature or if one Planet to bothe be not perhappes lorde it yet sufficeth that the two be frendes themselues togither or that the one beholde the other with good and fauourable asspecte whiche easily is séen the figures of bothe natiuities erected Greate helpe also groweth to this conformitie if their haue some parte of Fortune in the same signe or house togither and that the house or signe in which the Moone shall bée in the natiuitie of the one shall haue a fauourable asspecte in the birthe of the other for as thei more or lesse shall accord in these conditions so shall the affections of the parties increase or els diminish Whēce it is that twoo menne hauyng to doe one and the same thyng the third without his desertes or cause what soeuer is affectionate and leaueth as sworne friend to that one and on the other side wisheth harme and sinister Fortune to that other without any annoye or offence on that side committed whiche might happen to twoo suche whose ascendentes were of repugnante qualities and of a contrary triplicitie the lordes also of their natiuities of nature opposite and enemies as the Sunne and Moone in opposition in signes of diuers natures and that these Planettes in the birthe of the firste bee in vnfortunate asspectes
learned audience and that by the greate affection whiche I had to the consideration of my cause whiche in suche sorte altered me before all the senators that I lesse able was to ende my matter there beganne though before I had wel thought there on and well disposed it in order Now that the memorie maie bee aided and preserued by arte can of no man what soeuer for any cause bee doubted of whiche and whose remedie many a learned hande hath curiously written As Solinus and Quintilian bothe at large and in many Seneca also in the place aboue alleaged where he reporteth this arte memoratiue to be so facill and easie that in fewe daies all men maie bee well skilled therein It is also written that Cineas the ambassadour of the renoumed Pirrhus practised this arte to help and aide his memorie Plinie and Quintilian write that Simonides firste founde this meane to preserue the memorie although the saied Plinie affirme that Metrodorus reduced it afterwarde to perfection who also by that arte meruailously fortified and confirmed his owne memorie Cicero in his boke de oratore Quintilian also and Valerius in his miracles reporteth that Simonides on a tyme inuited with sundrie others to a greate bankette the house where thei feasted sodainly fel doune by meanes wherof no one escaped that death Simonides excepted who euen in that instante rose and went forthe called by some one he neuer yet knewe who by whiche happe at that tyme he there saued his life And the histories recorde that when the deade bodies were drawen out whiche were many all inuited geastes to that so infortunate a dinner Simonides declared where and in what order euery of theim were plaste and satte at the table euen then and in that instante when the house so fell on theim The examples that might bee alleaged in this place to this purpose are many but it sufficeth vs to arreste on that whiche is saied One other thyng also riseth here to be noted whiche is that the Philosophers and principally Aristotle finde a scruple or difference betwixte the memorie and recordation for that memorie saie thei maie be as well in beastes as in man although not in so perfecte and in so absolute a sorte and maner but recordation to man onely and to hym alone is proper whiche is to recorde with discourse studiyng on thinges as in cases of contemplation descendyng from the generall to the partes and perticulers not omittyng the circumstances bothe of tyme and persones and that all with due consideration and aduise for beastes voide of reason remember also the place where thei at any tyme haue hardly been intreated the Horse shunneth to dwell where he hath been harmed and in like sorte all others more or lesse in their degrées But as wee haue saied recordation then in man is muche more absolute and perfect assisted with sounde aduise and intelligence orderly passyng from matter to matter So that accordyng to the opinion of Aristotle that manne that hath a moste sharpe and fined witte is also of better recordatiō then an other though some other perhaps exceade hym in the perfection of memorie for that to recorde well is a certain maner of inuestigation whiche forceth the memorie as it were slepyng to awake to call to minde and to remember any thyng what soeuer wherefore the moste quicke and beste fined wittes soneste conceiue thynges and committe them to memorie and memorie by recordation maketh of them again at all times faithfull restitution The Grekes emong others many the vanities of their Goddes adored or reuerenced a Goddesse of memorie in suche sorte that this force or power of the minde hath euermore béen hadde in greate reuerence and estimation Wherefore to conclude man stādeth highly bounde vnto God for this so heauenly and excellent a benefite and ought studiously to indeuour to maintaine and preserue it Marcilius Ficinus in his boke de triplici vita giueth sundrie instructions and preceptes to this purpose In what honour and reputation Philosophers Poetes and all others in what arte or science soeuer they were learned liued with Emperours Kynges and Princes in tymes past Chap. 7. TRulie and for iuste cause maie we not complaine of the want of learned men in euerie arte and science but on th' other side I see good letters to mourne that they nowe bee not so well estimed and thought of ne yet so well recompensed of princes in this age as the well lettered in tymes paste were by Emproures Kinges and other noble personages in those daies And to speake the truth whither in déede thei haue so good reason to plaine them I will passe it nowe in fewe and in place of disputation wil only remīber here some fewe histories or examples of auncient princes and sundrie Monarkes which so fostored and fauoured the studious learned that entring into comparison of their vertuous demerites with these others that liue now in these our vnhappie daies it may be euidēt to all men what cause thei haue in truth to sorrowe and to complaine Firste to beginne with that most excellent and most victorious Pompe of whom we reade that when he subdued and vanquished Mithridates with others many victories and aduentures of armes beyng entered Athens with all his spoyles triumphantly the Ensignes and Standers of his ennimies borne before him as was thā the maner of the Consulles and Romaine Capitaines was aduertised that the Philosopher Possidonius laie presently then sicke and diseased in his bedde who desirous to visite hym woulde not onely honour hym with hys personall presence but approchyng nigh vnto his house commaunded that hys foresaide imperiall Ensignes should also be carried into the philosophers Chamber with him for that in his aduice all Kinges and Emperours ought true duetie and reuerence to learning and vertue This then and in this manner bowed he to this poore manne that woulde haue refused to haue stoopt to any Prince then liuynge Denis the tyrante Kyng of Siracusa hauyng wounde by intreatie the diuine Plato to come and visite hym and vnderstandyng that he was on the waie comyng issued in meruailous pompe of purpose to méete hym whom he receaued into his owne coache drawen with white horses with most greate and solemne triumphe that was to be deuised possible for the marueilous reputation in those daies due to the learned Alexander determinyng to sacke and destroie the toune of Thebes commaunded first that no man should touche in any wise the house of the Poete Pindarus In what honour Virgil liued and reputation with Octauian is euident to all men through out the whole worlde whom the people of Rome healde in suche admiration that as Plinie in his seuenth booke amplie recordeth when hee entered into the Theatre to pronoūce some his verses al the multitude roase to him doyng hym no lesse reuerence then they did to the Emperour and that which more is Silius Italicus a famous Poete a Spaniarde borne hadde his daie of natiuitie of
all menne so solemnized that they more carefully did with more reuerence and deuotion prepare to adorne to blisse and sanctifie that daie then they did any others that hadde any care to solemnize or beutifie his owne birth The giftes also that were presented vnto Virgil as well by Octauian Mecaenas and others were sutche and so riche as reporteth Seruius that he in shorte tyme was found to be worth no lesse then six thousande Sesterces in redie mony whiche with vs mounte to twoo hundred and fiftie thousande frenche Crounes he hadde in Rome a sumptuous and an honorable palais by meanes wherof â—uuinal in his seuenth Satyre accompted him for one of the richeste in that tyme On a daie this Poete in the presence of OctauiaÌ„ Liuia his wife mother to Marcellus vtteryng certeÌ„ verses of his AEneidos and drawyng to the ende where he with suche an excellent grace and comely maiestie had also some thinge saide of the aboue remembred Marcellus whiche lately before hadde then yelded to nature in suche sorte that the poore passionate and sorrowfull mother beganne to faint falling into an extasie not hearing the ende or last of his verses But after warde reuiued commyng againe to her selfe coÌ„maunded that for euery verse that she then had loast that ten Sesterces shoulde bee numbered forthwith vnto Virgil who after that she fainted pronounced by accompte iuste one and twentie for whiche all he receaued as was her commaundemente a rewarde mountyng to the value of fiue thousand Duckettes It is written that the people of Siracusa had certen Athenians prisoners which by hart had learned some verses out of the Greke poete Euripides which at tymes thei applied in talke as occasioÌ„ best serued theim by meanes wherof onely in th' onour of that Poete they infranchiste theim deliuered theim and sent theim home into their countrie Scipio Africanus carried euermore in warre with hym duryng his life the Image or purtraite of the learned Ennius and diyng ordained that it should be fastned on his tombe or sepulchre Silius Italicus a worthy poet was by meanes of Domician thrée tymes Consull in Rome which Mercial recordeth in an Epigramme thus beginnyng Augusto pia thura but what what honour the princes of our tyme haue dooen either to Polician Pontanus to Sannazar and suche others I neuer yet any where hearde any thing at all And againe to speake of others that liue yet presently as Ronsarde in France Belay and others Poetes lauriate and learned men of worthy memorie But some will saie they yet liue and therefore may be aduaunced of litle tyme and fewe yeres though of great wisedome and readyng whiche all might bee compared to these whiche longe since were of rare wisedome and grauitie Mithridates also to speake againe of our elders had Plato for his learnyng in suche admiration that desirous to haue his purtraite or Image caused eche wher to be sought one Silan to doe it for that for his excellencie he surpassed all others for in those daies it was accompted a singuler honour to haue in places publike the true purtraites of the learned neither was it lawfull to haue any of these tables or paintynges but of suche as had dooen some vertuous exploytes by their wisedome and learnyng commended to the posteritie For whiche cause the Athenians hadde the Image of Demosthenes with a subscription of suche and so muche honour as neuer to fore had been graunted to any it was thus of hym writen that if the puisance of Demosthenes hadde been suche as was his wisedome the Kyng of Macedonie had then neuer entered into Grece Iosephus the Iewe being brought to Rome prisoner and captiue amoÌ„g th 'others of Hierusalem had notwithstanding for that he had writen of the antiquitie of the Iewes hys Image erected among the others of Rome The Athenians straungely againe rauished with the singuler excellencie of Phalericus auditour and disciple of Theophrastus did his Image to be placed in thirtie partes of their Citie Now then if these men were in this sort honoured it can not be gainsaide but that they also receaued salaries equiualent to these their honors For as Athenes writeth in his ninth booke de Sinosophistis Aristotle for his booke de animalibus receaued of Alexander eight hundred talentes whiche might value of our monie four hundred and fower score thousande frenche Crounes or there aboute which also is verified by Plinie in his eight booke who reporteth that Alexander so muche desired to haue this woorke finished and ended that he sent many thousandes through out al Grece and Asia with his expresse letters and commaundementes that thei should as well be obaied as instructed in what so euer they sought concerning the vse nature manner and custome of beastes foules fishes and suche others to the intent they might be skilled in euerie their naturall proprieties and qualities to the intent they thereof might aduertise Aristotle If Homere the onely Phaenix of all the Greke Poetes had happelie liued in the daies of Alexander it is to be presumed that he would haue doen hym no lesse honour then to Aristotle for that on a tyme a certen little Cheaste beyng presented to him in whiche Darius had euer kepte his riche and sweete ointementes saied verie gladde that his hap was then to haue it that he woulde kéepe and preserue there in a farre more precious Oile and with the same coucheth Homeres bookes with in it with whiche he daily busied hymself continually readyng theim The Emperour Traian for his learning onely so muche honoured the philosopher Dion that when hee to recreate hymsef woulde passe in to the fieldes he did hym to be plaste by him in his owne proper Coache and so would enter with hym in to Rome in moste triumphant maner In these warres which the'mperour Octauian had in Egypt against M. Antonius heesaied that he had leafte to sacke and spoile Alexandria for the only honour and renoume of Alexander that builte it and of parte also of the Philosopher Arrias The saide Emperour also ordained Cornelius Gallus Tribune of the people only for that he was so excellente a Poete Snetonius in the life of Vespasian sheweth what rewardes in the olde tyme were lotted to the learned For though saieth he that this Emperour were noted of auarice yet fauoured hee notwithstandynge learned exercises and the lettered and gaue to euery the maisters or readers of the sciences suche annuall stipendes and grosse summes of monie that reducyng theim in to our monie accordyng to the computation of Beroaldus and Budeus eche receiued yerely twoo thousande and fiue hundred Ducketes By the testimonie of Plinie in his seuenth booke writyng of Isocrates a Greke Oratour is euident in what sorte learnyng was reuerenced for saieth he this Isocrates hauing spoken opeuly for a certain man in recompence forth with receaued twentie talentes mountyng to the summe of twelue thousande frenche Crounes It is also redde that the Emperour Antonius soonne to Seuerus gaue to Appian
dooen well in makyng common these bookes of Philosophie by thee composed sor how in thine owne iudgement maie I now surpasse others if this now whiche thou some tymes didste teache me by thy meanes become common and well knowen vnto all men Knowe assuredly that I more affecte to ercell others in learning then in any the riches or kingdomes of the worlde Whiche thing as sone as it was ones vnderstoode of Aristotle he aunswered that his bookes whiche he then had printed were so intricate obscure and difficill that it was impossible for any man to profit by theim if hymself did not firste of all expounde and interprete them Pirrhus an excellente capitaine and kyng of the Epirotes whiche long liued in armes at deâ—â—aunce with the Romaines who also at tymes discomfited and vanquishte theim not onely busied hymself in the often readyng of the Sciences but also published certaine bookes of whiche some were written of the policies or preceptes of warre That whiche alsoin our tyme hath doen that worthie personage Gulielmus de Bellai seigniour of Langei What shall we also write of Iulius Caesar the firste Emperour and beste capitaine that euer ledde souldiar he no lesse profited in the studie of letters then of armes who firste was a studente before he would be a souldiar and after as occasion or tyme mighte serue hym would visite the schooles or Vniuersities of Poetes and marchyng still or trauaillyng would write or reade some thyng On a tyme beyng at Alexandria in Egipte the better to saue hym self beyng in mernailous daunger skilled in swimmyng committed hym self to the water through whiche he carried in one hande the bookes whiche he had written giuyng others to vnderstande that he no lesse helde theim deare to hym them his life hauyng no lesse care to saue the one then the other and what he had profited in the studie of good learnyng his commentaries whiche he hath lefte vs sufficiently witnes And not onely Caesar but all th' other Emperours verifie the same whiche we here haue reported whiche also were for the moste parte good capitaines and gouernors who also when so euer thei were inricht with children acquainted them straight and out of hand with their bookes prouidyng them excellente maisters and learned men out of Grece Very fewe knowe what men the twoo Catoes were how valiant in Martiall exploites what graue and wise Philosophers Censorinus the greate so vowed hymself to studie that what he was and how he profited his writynges yet dooe witnes he was an worthie Oratour and well skilled in histories vniuersally learned in all studies and scieÌ„ces the Greke tongue he beganne in his olde and stoopyng age The other surnamed Vticensis though he were in deede lesse subtile and sharpe witted yet soughte he to haue with hym suche as he could finde any where the beste learned emong whom he retained the Philosopher Antipater and so gaue hym self totally vnto his studie that as Cicero reporteth in his bookes de finibus he hardely might be drawen at any tyme from his papers in suche sorte that he neuer entered into the Senate without some booke to busie hym self if he happely might haue there so muche leasure Scipio Africanus that triumphed ouer Hanniball was so inamored with the study of good learnyng that he neuer lefte to haue the Poete Ennius with hym and after all his warres and triumphant victories gaue hymself moste earnestly to continuaunce of reading Hannibal his coÌ„petitor though he were in déede of Africa had not withstandyng his bookes in his tentes continually with hym neither would he in tyme of war intermit or leaue any tyme fitte for studie but in what place so euer he came yea though some daungers were imminent yet would he retain with hym still Silan and Sasilas all bothe Lacedomoniens by meanes whereof he became right learned in the Greke We haue also tofore saied that Denis the tyranne retained with hym the diuine Plato for maister and that he also helde with hym many others well learned Who after he was banished and chast out of his countrie one in derision boldly bourdyng with hym demaunded in what stéede his Philosophie sometyme learned of Plato now stoode hym To whom he answered that it very well then serued him patieÌ„tly to supporte and indure that his aduersitie Themistocles also that excellent capitaine had in armes and in studie like and equall pleasure he continually conferred with Anaxagoras the Milesian Epaminondas with these others capitaines of Grece were all very studious and eloquente Oratours Mithridates in all his warres whiche by the space of fourtie yeres he had continually with the Romaines neuer lefte or forsooke by meanes of any the force or furie of his enemies his wonted pain or labour in studie He also as the others had sunderie Philosophers with hym Octauian Augustus assigned to hymself certaine howers in the daie for his studie neither lefte he that his wonte in the tyme of warre leadyng with hym to that purpose sundrie excellent personages as Apollodorus of Pergama the Philosopher Asperarius Asimius Polion Valerius Messala Virgil Ouide and many suche others Before this Emperour was Lucius Lucullus a moste excellent and famous capitain whiche neuer lefte or abandoned in tyme of warre his studie and in tyme of peace gaue intertainment to greet troopes of the learned Paulus Emilius that subdued the kyng Persius besides that hym self was in good letters moste excellente did his paine to the vttereste that his children should be like hym so that at his incessant and moste earnest sute he obtained in the ende Metrodorus of the Athenians a maister to instructe and bryng vp his children But to what ende name I so many here by order Pompeius Q. Fabianus the greate M. Brutus Traianus Adrianus M. Antonius were all very studious whose bookes letters and orations yet ertante witnes what the men were of what iudgement and learnyng In fine therefore if I nothyng be deceiued fewe good capitaines euer were there that were not addicted to the studie of good letters How bee it twoo there were of whose learnyng wee nothyng canne finde or reade any where to weete Caius Marius and Marcus Marcellus Marcellus neuer the lesse as some recorde loued fauoured and defended eche where the learned so that wée maie presume that he also was lettered though in deede as is saied we no suche thyng haue yet founde written and yet of parte it well appereth that he throughly was not vnlearned by his wise defence of Archimedes at the sackyng of Siracusa although in déede he yet suffered not without the greate grief and sorrowe of Marcellus Let then the capitaines of this our age saie what them beste liketh and that to be wel lettered is a thing lesse necessarie but I to them will saie and to suche as that maintaine that thei obstinatly seke to couer their foule defaulte and ignoraunce Wee reade againe that oure elders in no respecte lesse estemed the bookes of the learned then the
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
as well serued as it was fittinge to that pourpose An other example reade wée of those that robbed and slewe the Poete Liuicus for as they oppreste him in wide and open fieldes farre from companye and out of all sighte he espied a companye of Cranes flyinge ouer his heade to whiche with lowde voice he spake these his last woordes O Cranes yée shal be witnesses of the wronge that is here donne mée After whose deathe this matter laye yet many dayes vnknowen till on a certaine time after it chaunced a solemne Conuente of people was made in the saide place emonge whom were also presente the twoo Murtherers of Liuicus whiche hearinge as before Cranes cryinge ouer them the one aduised his felowe thereof in laughter merily supposinge in the meane time not to haue bene perceiued of any Hearken companion beholde here the true witnesses of the blonde and deathe of Liuicus It chaunced that one nighe them hearing these woordes and not wel perceiuinge what they mighte signifie suspected foorthewith that whiche in déede was aduectisinge the Maiestrates of that whiche he had hearde To conclude theise twoo Roysters were incontinentely apprehended and accordinge to equitie Iustice was donne on them whiche happened by woordes paste them without aduise or regarde For this cause a man oughte principally to be ware of that whiche he will saye before it escape him with consideration also before whome and in what place Hecates a Greeke Oratoure was on a time reproued for that sittinge at a Bankette he woulde saâ—e nothinge Whiche vnderstoode by Archimidas answeared in this sorte for him Arte thou ignorante that one that can so well speake as he knoweth not also the time to kéepe silence Infinite examples out of diuers Histories might be borrowed of Times Daungers Infamations and Deathe in whiche by too mutch talke menne eftsoones haue bene entrapped Wherefore wée shoulde be circumspecte and wise that before wée doo our mouth open to speake wée well consider of it whether it maye be to vs preiudiciall or not The greate Cato surnamed Censorius was euen from his Cradle verye sober in woordes wherof at times reproued of many as one that obserued to austere silence saide I grieue not at all to be argued of Silence for that no man shall haue occasion to reproue me of my lyuinge for then and not before wil I breake into woordes when I haue learned to speake these thinges that maye not be concealed Isocrates in his Booke written to Demonichus saith That there are twoo times conueniente to speake in the one when to speake is in déede very necessary the other when one speaketh of these thinges he well knoweth Plutarche compareth those men that talke not knowinge wherof vnto voide and emptie Vessells whiche geue foorthe a greater noyse then these that are filled Plainely instructeth vs the Philosopher Zeno that for other cause none hath Nature lente vs twoo eares one tongue but only to speake fewe in bearinge and receiuinge mutch Horace aduiseth vs farre to flye their companies which pleasure mutche in many demaundes and questions for that they commonly be captious Ianglers Suetonius recoumpteth in confirmation of that that was also reported by others that the principall cause that moued Octauian so mutche to phantasie and fauour his Minion Mecaenas was that he was very secret and not prodigal of woordes Cicero affirmeth that Cato the Oratoure neuer woulde commit to Paper any his Orations saieinge That if it euer happened him to repent him of that he had saide yet that that he had written should not aggrauate his sorrowes for that he neuer might denie the thinge that his Pen should witnesse againste him But to the ende that arguinge here the lesse aduised and runninge tongues of others I séeme not to incurre the said errour my selfe I ende with the Ppilosopher without any more concludinge that it oftentimes repenteth mée to haue spoken but to haue helde my peace that I remember neuer ¶ Of the straunge opinion of the Aegyptians touchinge the tearme or ende of Mannes Life limitinge the same by the proportion of his harte Chap. 5. THat whiche I shall saie here will séeme vnto many very straunge and newe but vnto moste men fonde and ridiculous for that it is a thinge very difficill to be proued Wherefore neither will I binde my selfe to the probation thereof althoughe the authoritie of those that séeme to approue it shoulde either yéelde it a trothe or vnto a truthe sommethinge semblable and likinge Pline and Marcus Varro writinge of the time of Mannes Life affirme that the learned Aegyptians had founde out by experience that Man according to the order of nature could not lyue aboue an hundred yéeres and that if any reachte to a further or elder age it was by somme particulare influence force of the Starres a thinge in the woorkes of Nature verye straunge and marueilous Hence grounded they their foundation vpon the harte of man in whiche by often and common Anotomyes they founde and perceiued certaine marueilous Secretes For saide they when Man was of the age of one yéere then poised his harte onely twoo of their Drammes when be was twoo yéeres olde then poised it foure and so foorthe howe many yéeres so euer he liued by proportion still grewe his harte to be of like number of Drammes In sutche sorte that beinge ones fiftie yéeres olde Mannes harte shoulde wieghe then an hundred Drammes and from thence by like proportion still he looseth of his weight eche yéere twoo Drammes euen as before he increased So that at the ende of an hundred yéeres the Harte by continuall decrease is becomme nothinge so that consequently of necessitie Man then must die if before he be not preuented by somme accidentall occasion whiche bothe can and dooth commonly in suche manner abridge our dayes that very fewe of vs liue the one halfe to experiment this matter Though to somme this matter séeme straunge yet be wée assured that the Aegyptians helde it for certaine as plainely haue leafte vs the aboue remembred Authoures Of our time also Ludouicus Celius Rodianus alleaginge in like manner to that pourpose Dioscorides who remembreth thereof sommethinge emonge other many matters to whome also commeth Petrus Crinitus in his Booke of Honest Discipline Galiotus de Nargni in his Booke of Man as also in like sorte Cornelius Agrippa I was desirous to remember here all these Authours for that the matter mighte otherwise hardly be digested Nowe remaineth it to be déemed of as to the Reader it shal be liking And nowe that wée haue taken on vs to speake of Mans Harte and of the excellencies of that one little parte to the intente wée treate not of one pointe alone it shal be expediente that wée learne as recoumpteth to vs Aristotle that Mannes Harte lyeth lodged in the leafte side of his bodye but in other Creatures is founde euermore in the middle of theire breste whiche he
recordeth in his firste Booke of the nature of Beastes Further emonge the Philosophers Naturall it is mainteined for an opinion Common that the first parte that commeth in Man to any fourme or proportion is the Harte the roote of al others his partes the fountaine and only springe of naturall heate as also the last member that looseth his mouinge and dyeth in him It is assuredly a moste delicate and daintye member and suâ—che as maie not be touched but Man foorthewith dyeth Pline recordeth a straunge matter which he for true affirmeth sayinge That there was one founde whiche had his Harte roughe and hearye and further that who so hathe the same is euermore valiante and curragius Whiche thinge was founde true beinge opened in Aristomenes who with his owne hande in one Battaile had slayne thrée hundred Lacedemonians who after hauinge escaped by his rare force sundrye daungers and afterwarde dyinge in his Bedde quietly was opened and his Harte founde as is abouesaide hearye Suetonius Tranquillus in the Life of Caligula as also the saide Pline togeather affirme that who so dieth donne to deathe with Poyson his Harte will at no time consume or waste with fire whiche was proued in Germanicus Father of Caligula whiche also happeneth to them that die of the Fallinge Euill Further it is euidente that the force of laughinge or Laughter it selfe resteth in the little cheastes or seates of the Harte For proufe whereof the aunciente Historians writinge of certaine Swoordeplayers in Rome auouch that these by meane of whose wouÌ„des the very thréedes or vaines of theire hartes fell out made chaunge of this life with extreame Laughter Also as this qualitie of Laughter procéedeth from the harte so Melancoly thence semblably taketh his beginninge as in like sorte all vertuous and naughty imaginations All woordes firste there ingender and beginne Many also mainteine that it is the chiefe seate and principall restinge place of the Soule Whiche seemeth to be wel confirmed by our Sauiour him selfe sayinge That wicked imaginations and naughtie thoughtes procéede directly from the hart and that that entereth at the mouthe sayleth not the man for that these be but thinges indiffereÌ„t Further Venerable Beda in his CommeÌ„taries on S. Marke remembreth the chiefe seate of the Soule not to be in the Brayne as mainteineth Plato but rather in the Harte as learneth vs our Sauiour ¶ Of the firste beginninge and springe of Warre as who were they that firste inuaded straunge Countries with the Inuentours of certaine Weapons and Armes who also first founde the vse of Artillerie Chap. 6. IT is euident that Warre discord emong men tooke their firste holde or staye on the sinne of our Forefathers as appeareth in that one of the first borne sonnes of Adam who leaft not to laie violent bloudye handes on his Brother so that loosinge euen here our Originall Iustice malice and discorde afterwarde neuer leaft their raigne emongest vs In sutche sorte that Warre and Enimitie began euen emonge the firste borne But the science of Warre or the Arte militarie it selfe with the perfect maÌ„ner to order many in Battaile against many for that the first fountaine thereof is of sinne the middle also continually and for the moste parte the ende is nothinge but crueltie bloude and miserable impietie is nowe in sutche woorthy and Honorable reputation that the Arte it selfe and the well skilled therein are farre nowe aduaunced aboue the Fautours of all other prudent and industrious exercises as moste estéemed aboue all other vertuous practises in the Worlde Diodorus Siculus with others affirme that Mars was the first that ordered and deuised the subtile polices of Warre for which causes the Poëtes termed him but fabulously the God of Battayle Cicero attributeth the Honour of this inuention to the Goddesse Pallas by meanes whereof she was named as he saithe Bellona vnto whiche opinion accorded diuerse Poëtes gaynesayinge the opinion of that firste and auncient springe of Warre whiche Iosephus in his first booke of his Antiquities euen in the first Age before the Floudde attributeth vnto Tubal the moste experte therein in his time who by his industrious and painefull practises perfected him selfe in the guiles and aduauntages of Warre Others somme suppose that it first began after the floudde so that to learne the truth it séemeth very difficill who was the very first beginner and Father of this matter Whiche how so euer it was it well appeareth that in the beginninge Warres and dissentions onely grewe amonge Princes more for Ambition desire of Honour then any where to impouerishe or spoyle one the other Iustine and Trogus Pompeius reporte that Nynus King of the Assyriens was the firste that leadde an Hoste out of his Countrie for Auarice to Conquere the Territories of an other Fabian the Pretor affirmeth well the same in the beginninge of that little parte that resteth vnto vs of his Historie to whiche also condescendeth S. Augustine This Nynus so bare him selfe in this practise of Warre that he subdued in shorte time many Citties and Countries whiche he lefte in quiet possession to his Successours whiche continued from time to time vnto his posteritie accordinge to the computation of S. Augustine Eusebius and Diodorus Siculus thirtene hundred yéeres descendinge euermore from the Father vnto the Sonne with out defaulte at any time of Heyres in right line by the number of thirtie and thrée Kinges and as some others reporte thirtie and sixe vntill in the ende it came into the gouernment of that Monster Sardonapalus in whose time this so longe continued an Empire came then into the handes and handlinge of the Medes This Nynus then as recorde these Authours was the firste Conquerer knowen in all the worlde although wée reade of certaine Warres before him but it appeareth as wée haue saide that it was not to possesse Conquere the Countries of others but for pryde onely and glory of the worlde as is written of Vessor Kinge of Egypte who paste out of his Countrie againste Tanais Prince of the Scythians which mette him and gaue him Battaile and remayned victorious who not withstandinge neuer deposed him from his Crowne or Countrie as had practised the aboue remembred Nynus Wherefore he maye be thought the first that euer gaue foorthe any Lawes of Armes grauntinge to the Conquerer all the possessions and treasures of the Conquered Touchyng their Weapons wherewith they inuaded defended putting in execution their wrouthfull angry malice and yre it is to be supposed that in the beginninge they vsed none inequalitie of Armes but as the Poete Lucretius recoumpteth they first began with the nailes and téeth and after that to acquainte them with the staffe stoanes whiche this daie yet are onely vsed of certaine barbarous Nations not yet by the malice of man hauinge drawne out of the earthe yron to doo force and oppression on their Neighbours Pline writeth that in the firste Warres of the Moores againste the