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
letters of Moyses and that thei afterwarde imperted of their knowledge to the Phenicians whence after againe Cadmus past with them into Grece Artabanus noteth that this Mercurie whiche all agrée on to haue made the first profession of letters in Egipte was Moyses himself called of the Egiptians Mercurie Philon an Hebrue a man of greate aucthoritie saieth that the inuention of letters was yet againe more auncient who saieth that Adā was the first authour of theim in deede thei either were inuented by Adam or by his children or by them at the leaste of the first age before the generall fludde or inundation preserued by Noe and his successours euen vntill the tyme of Abraham and from hym againe vntil Moyses And thus is the iudgement or opinion of Sainct Augustine Whiche is verified by the aucthoritie of Iosephus saiyng that the nephewes of Adam sones of Seth aduaunced or erected two sumptuous pillers the one of stone the other of claie in whiche they wrote or ingraned all the sciences affirmyng that himselfe sawe one of theim in Syria We finde also that S. Iude the Appostle alleageth in a certaine Epistle of his the booke of Enoch whiche also liued before the fludde So that wee must not doubt but that Adam and his children whiche were so wise whiche also had experience of so many thinges were also they that firste founde out the vse of letters and that Noe which afterward was both lettered and learned carefully preserued theim in his Arke with hym howe be it after that in the confusion of tongues whiche happened at the erection of the Tower of Babilon it may be that the greatest parte of the worlde loste then and there the knowledge of the saied letters again which onely remained in the family of Heber of or from whom afterwarde descended the Hebrues who as wee fore saide neuer loste their firste and aunciente tongue Which as it is true so Sainct Augustine reporteth it in his booke aboue alleaged Eusebius also in his first booke of his preparation Euangelicall as also the greater part of the learned of our tyme Wherefore as well Philon as also these others whiche supposed Moyses to haue been the first father of letters were there in all to geather deceaued for that it is euident that these bookes and histories that were written by Moyses were not as they déeme the firste of all others ne yet before the auncient studie of Philosophie the sadde and sage saiynges also of the Grekes as proueth Sainct Augustine sufficiently in the same place Iosephus against the grammariā Apion Eusebius also and Iustinus martirs I conclude then that letters were first and before Moyses for that we finde it recorded that Moyses hymselfe learned the artes and sciences of the Egiptians which I well knowe not how he colde haue accomplished if they before had hadde no feelyng in letters although in déede it be manifest that they hadde certaine signes called literae hierogliphicae by meanes of whiche as is aboue saide euery of theym sufficientlye and well vnderstoode the other From Adam then drawe wee the originall of letters as also that Abraham was after skilled of theim in Siria whence it cometh that Plinie hath varied in his opinion whiche wée haue in fewe now to fore remembred It nedeth nothing in this place to searche the beginnyng or cause of the vsuall frame or proportion of our characters for that eche man maie facion theim as is to hym best seemyng as we daily see euery man alter at his pleasure adding signes some tymes in steede or place of letters as affirmeth S. Hierome in the prologue of his boke of lawes that when Esdras the greate scribe and doctour of the lawe newe wrote or drewe it out in to some better fourme hee founde there straunge and newe characters of letters whiche the Iewes after vsed euen in the tyme of sainct Hierome as they also doe euen at this presente daie whiche Hebrue letters haue a priuate proprietie incident to no other letters of any countrie or nation for the voice or name of euerie of theim geueth signification of some one thing or other The firste called Aleph signifieth discipline the seconde Beth signifieth a house Gymel an other letter fillyng vp or abundance Daleth tables or bookes the others also signifie and denote other thinges whiche all I leaue as also to be tedious Who so here in is curious and desireth to knowe more may reade Eusebius in his firste booke de preparatione Euangelica Where on our elders wrote before the inuention of Paper and with what kinde of instrument how Paper and Parchement were firste founde out Who first inuented the maner or skille of Printyng as also what inestimable profite thence riseth and in fine by what meane a blinde man maie write Chap. 2. SOme what haue we after a sorte spoken in the former chapiter of the inuention of letters it resteth nowe that we also searche on what matter our elders or first fathers wrote and although directly we shall not be able here of to discourse ne yet where on thei wrote before the general inundation in the first age for the matter is both doubtfull difficill to wéete whether thei had letters then in very déede ye or not though we haue past it as proued by the aucthoritie of Iosephus as also aided to that purpose with some other profe or reasons Notwithstanding according to the opinion of al men the first writers had no kinde or maner of Paper but wrote continually on the leaues of the Date tree whence came that worde of leaues of bookes vsed at this daie After this thei wrote againe on the rindes of trées but especially on those that most easely were drawen or taken from the trée as the Elme the Ashe the palme or Burche trée from which thei tooke the innermost rinde that I meane betwixte the cruste and the trée of whiche subtilly and finely polished thei framed and facioned all their bokes artificially conioigning and fastnyng theim together And for as muche as in that time these rindes were called by the latin men libri hence haue bokes held from the time to name this word libri though thei this day far differ in the matter as is euidēt Now after this againe an other waie was foūd to write in plates of leade very thinne and perfectly fined of whiche some curious and priuate persones made aswell pillers as also bookes in which thei regestred all publike and common actes Besides this they yet founde an other waie to write to wéete on Liuen cloth fined and polished with certaine coloures Here also is and in this place to bée noted that they then wrote not as wee nowe do with pennes but with Reades whiche in latine may bee called Calami which also some vse euen yet in this daie An other kind of Paper was yet founde againe whiche was made as it were of certaine little trées called as wee finde by the name of Papers which in
déede were none other then a sorte or kinde of bull rushes ordinarely growing in marshes adionyng to the riuer of Nile Of which sorte some others are founde in Siria nigh to the floodde Euphrates as recordeth Plinie hauyng the name as the others of papers little thinne leaues or skinnes haue they betwixt the rinde and the inner parts whiche finely taken or drawen out with the poincte of an Néelde trimde afterwarde with a certaine glue or paste made with meale tempered with boyled water and vineagar was in the ende made a good and perfect paper to write drawe or doo anything theron and by how muche the nigher you drewe the skinnes from the inwarde parte of this Rushe or Reede by so muche was it both better and more fine and so accordyng to the goodnesse or difference of theim thei also had diuers and different names Who so desireth here in more let hym reade Plinie And for as muche as this Réede Rushe or little trée was called paper the name is thence deriued of that paper vsed by vs this daie whiche is made of small péeces or shreedes of linnen clothe throwly wasted and worne to nothing Varro affirmeth that the first inuentiō to make paper of these little trées or rushes was in the tyme of Alexander the greate euen then when Alexandria was by hym firste founded How be it Plinie proueth it to bée more auncient by certaine bookes which Terence did to be digde out of the grounde whiche before had been Numa Pompilius his bookes kinge of Rome founde in the same Tombe where he was buried whose leaues were of the saide rushe whiche we aboue remembred And although Liuie haue otherwise written of this Toumbe affirming that there were two founde by L. Patilius yet be we of the minde that Numa was long before Alexander With Liuie here in accorde both Lactātius and Plutarche in the life of Numa Plinies opinion notwithstandyng is of most menne approued Some write that this worde Charta tooke his originall or denomination of a certaine Toune nigh vnto Tyre called Carta whence Dido altering the name called it afterwarde Carthage Our elders also wrote in tables weaxt thinne and well fined framyng there letters with sharpe and small punchions which theim selues then termed by the name of stiles Whence it cometh that wee nowe vsually saie that who so well inditeth writeth a good stile borrowyng the name of the instrumente that they then wrote with Also before the innention of paper where on we presently write the aunciente custome was all other fore vsed meanes seposed to write continuallie on Parchment onely made of shepe skinnes of whiche remembreth vs well Herodotus whose inuention Varro attributeth to the inhabitauntes of Pergama whose king then was Eumenes whence in latin it is called at this daie pergamenum in englishe parchement And wher as in latine it is also called Membrana it taketh as maie he thought the name of the inuentour Neuerthelesse in my iudgement men wrote on these skines longe before that tyme remembred by Varro specified in like sorte afterward by Plinie for that Iosephus writeth that the bookes of the Hebrues and sundrie others which were manie yeres before Eumenes were also writtē on these skinnes as aboue saied As also when he reciteth that Eleasar Prince of the Préestes sente the bookes of holie scripture vnto Ptolomie with the seuētie interpreters to the intent they for hym should translate theim from the hebrue into greke affirmyng that Ptolomie bothe straungely was amased and meruailed at the subtle ioyning of these skinnes or parchmentes together Whēce it is aperte that what so euer was written in any sort in parchmente was of longer and greater continuance then if it had béen doen in these rindes or leaues though in déede thei both were of more antiquitie then the first By meanes whereof this vse of Parchemente neither hath neither will bee at anye tyme againe leafte and since that paper againe whiche we daily now vse is so easie to make and in suche abundaunce that it both helpeth and profiteth all kinde of studentes But aboue all other thinges without cōparison we must confesse that the skill of printyng by the onely meanes of whiche suche heapes of bookes come of all sortes to our handes is amonge all other inuentions that ether be or earste haue been in what sorte so euer to be preferred whiche as is written was first of al inuented by an Almaine inhabitant of Magonce and hight Ihon Faust though Polidore otherwise surname hym Petra by whose accompt the first printyng of bookes was there in the yere of our redemption a thousand fower hundred fiftie and thrée And shortly afterwarde an other Almaine by name Cōradus practised this arte firste of all in Italie Howe be it Volateranus writeth that thei were twoo and both brothers which past thence into Italy beginnyng to printe in Rome in the yere of oure Lorde a thousande fower hundred sixtie and fiue The first bookes that were imprinted were sainct Augustines de ciuitate dei and the diuine institutions of Lactantius Firmianus After thys grewe there manie excellente personages as well in Germanie and Fraunce as also in Italie which besides their arte or skill in printyng were also perfectly and passyng well learned as Baldus Manucius Badus Colineus and Frobenius verie diligent and painefull in correction of the lettre with infinite others whose names to be shorte I leaue of to remember By meanes wherof many bookes in maner lost and hidded were at laste published to the inspekable profite commoditie of man whiche was in déede the chife cause of so many learned men as this daie are euerie where to be founde throughout all Christendome whiche before both seldome and with greate paine attained to this absolute knowledge and perfection in learnyng But admit here that it were not the first and principal cause yet am I of that minde that it assuredly is the greatest cause for that with lesse paine wee peruse nowe suche as are perfectly corrected findyng the others euerie where full of faultes blottes and errours committed for the most parte either by the lesse skil or little care of the writer but if any one were founde perhaps emong the others faultles neither was he to be had or to bée perused of all men so that good letters then florished not as thei now and this daie doe vniuersally euery where How be it since licence first was graunted by Princes to Printe all bookes fabulous wanton and fruitles farre better had it béen in this respect doubtles that the waie to printe had neuer béen to man yet or knowne or vnfolded For it destroieth and withdraweth from vertue the good minde principally of youth whiche noseled in these follies lesse affecteth or desireth the studie of better lessōs Leauing then to speak more of the commodities of printyng descende we to the next the practise of hand writing which also in my iudgement is this daie more perfecte more
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
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
force or puissuance of infinite their capitaines affectioned also to studie and to learnyng aswell remembreth Robartus Valturinus in his hooke of the stratagemmes of warre ¶ Of a straunge medicine where with Faustine the wife of M. Aurelius was cured languishing and consumyng with infinite and extreame passions of vnchaste and disloiall loue as also of some thynges remediyng the saied passions Chapt. 9. THat that affection or prison of the minde whiche ordinarily wée terme by the name of loue is a passion so vehement and of so greate force wee nede onely to consulte but with those that haue felt it with those I meane whose examples are notorious honorable greate and stately personages whiche so farre herein suffered theimselues to bee caried awaie that some of theim haue languished and died of that follie Iulius Capitolinus amōg many other examples remembreth that which chaunced to Faustine doughter to Antonius wife to the Emperour M. Aurelius whiche became inamored of a certaine sworde plaier or fensor in such sorte that for the only desire that she had to vse his companie wasted and consumed death euen at hande with herre Whiche thing vnderstoode as also the cause thereof by Aurelius he assembled greate numbers incōtinently as well of Phisicians as also of Astronomers with theim to consulte if it were possible for some remedy Amonge whom in fine this was the conclusion that the Fensor secretly should bee doen to die of whose bloodde a good draught was presented vnto Faustine so couertly that she nether knewe whence it was or what with this determination that immediatly after she had receaued it the Emperour should acquaint hymselfe in wonted maner with her This remedy as it séemeth very straunge and meruailous so cleane did it alter her fonde and foolishe phantasie in suche manner that she neuer after at any tyme remembred him and as it is in the saide historie recorded at that tyme he begate on her Antonius Comodus whiche after proued so cruel and bluddy that he more resembled the aboue saide sworde plaier whose blooodde the mother drancke at the tyme of her conception then the Emperour whose soonne he was by meanes wherof also the fore saide Comodus would euer more bee conuersante and in companie with Fensors whiche also witneseth Eutropius in the life of this Commodus The Phisicians of Grece as also of Arabia accompte this disease or torment of loue among th 'others the moste daungerous infirmities of mans bodie prouidyng sundry salues remedies therefore for it Cadmus the Milesian as reciteth Suydas hath written one whole boke of the only remedies to chase remoue loue Ouide also hath well saide in his bookes de remedio amoris And among other healpes whiche the Phisicians haue prescribed against this franticke maladie one is that vnto those troubled with these passions greate weaghty matters and affaires of importaunce be offered suche as equally concerne both their profite and their honour to the intent that the minde busied aboute these matters may alienate and straunge it self from the imagination that offendeth they also geue in rule that suche shoulde abstaine from all wanton toies of ether daintie or dalliyng damsels Plinie saith that against this passion it shal be good to take that duste or powdre whereon a Mule hath in any place waltered or soiled her selfe sprinckling or casting the same on the amorous or as Cardanus wil in his booke of subtilties to rubbe hym with the sweate of a Mule heate and well chafete The Phisicians also learne vs how we shall know the partie on whom the amorous is at any tyme inamored and the same rule is it by whiche Erasistratus Phisician to the king Seleucus vnderstoode of the disordinate loue of Antiochus towardes his mother in law the Quéene Stratonica For being extreame sicke and in meruailous daunger hauing chosen rather to die then in any wise to vtter the cause of his tormentes proceadyng of loue onely whiche he bare to his fathers wife who then enteryng in to the chamber when the Phisician felte the pulse of his vnhappie patient whiche so vehemently on the soden moued a◠the comming of the Quéene that Erasistratus forthwith perceiued that he on her was inamored and she the onely and sole cause of his grief By meane where of he did his busie paine in good ordre to aduertise the kyng here of whiche matter how he handled would be long here to write and the historie besides is well knowen and common which thing as soone as it was once knowen to the father seing the daunger be presently was in if no remedie were then prouided contented hym selfe though it farre was beside the intention of the sonne whiche rather did wishe or chuse any shameful death then by the detriment of his father to purchase hym health to forgoe and leaue the Quéene geuyng her for wife to his tormented soonne And here also to speake the trueth both the age and beautie of this dame as also the mariage whiche after followed was muche more comformabie in the sonne thê in the father By meanes wherof Antiochus liued many yeres afterwarde in greate ioye wealth with his dearelibeloued Stratonica The history is very pretie written by Plutarche in the life of Demetrius whence it is that in suche cases Phisicians geue in commaundement to féele the pulce of the passionate partie rehearsing and remembryng the names of many and among theim the partie also beloued whose name when so euer it shall in anie sorte be vttered the pulce of the amorous will then more busily skippe or daunce then at any other tyme and this easely may you finde still the partie so beloued By many other signes it also is euident either when one loueth as also where or whom whiche I leaue to speake of as sufficientlie knowen to all men Who first did sette or plante the Vine who also did first to drike water in wine to whom also and how the Romaines firste af all forbadde the vse of wine with some other thinges concernyng this purpose Chap. 10. OF all kinde of fruictes whiche the yearth produceth these I vnderstande where of wee make lycors none is so profitable in mine aduice as is the Vine so that he be moderatlie and with discretion vsed For whiche cause onely Anacrases saide that the Vine geueth or presenteth vnto vs thrée grapes the first of pleasure the seconde of dronkennesse the thirde of teares mournyng and sorrowe in suche sorte that who so passeth the first grape to wete a litle wine moderatly and seldome in takyng it receaueth greate shame and domage Our prophane authors that neuer were acquainted with or euer hearde of the scriptures deuise and imagen sundry inuentors of wine Diodorus Siculus in his fourthe boke attributeth as well the inuention of wine as also that he first founde to plante or sette the Vine to Denis the soonne of Iupiter called otherwise Bacchus and pater liber so termed for the liberty and force of wine For whiche cause
thence with him his cowe and his Mare Then alighteth the Duke from his horse and goeth vp on the stone where hauyng a sworde naked in his hande brandishyng it tourneth to euery parte of the stone promisyng to minister true and indifferent iustice to all men This dooen one bringeth hym water to drinke out of a poore labourers or housebandmannes cappe whereof hauyng tasted he descendeth incontinently thereby makyng shewe that he vtterly condemneth th' use of wine Then taketh he his horse again and with hym all his companie passyng thence to some Churche where thei heare Masse after whiche he dispoileth hym self of his ragde and ill fauoured robes puttyng on hym apparell of Princely estate and honour then dineth he and his nobilitie in moste sumptuous maner after whiche he retourneth to the saied stone againe hearyng the complaintes and greifes of all men doyng them iustice without percialitie And these are the Ceremonies obserued in the creation of this Duke An other custome haue thei in the punishyng of thefte whiche is no lesse cruell then in truthe vniuste especially to be vsed emoÌ„g christian men for hauing any small suspition or surmise in this case against any man thei doe hym immediately to death without any farther triall and the third daie after thei examine the witnesses al suche as can in that case giue euidence as diligently and as straitely as thei can possibly so as if that in th' ende he in déede be thereof founde culpable then hangeth he on the gibbotte vntill he rotte of by peeces but contrary wise if thei finde him innocente then take thei hym thence honouryng hym with glorious and with solemne obsequies with many praiers also almose for his soules health And as those of Carinthia dealte this straightly with their Thieues so also some other Countries haue dooen their paine to foster theim as the Egiptians of whom A. Gel. concernyng this matter writeth Also the Lacedemoniens whiche permitted their children to robbe and steale euery where to the intent thei might bee the more hardie and apte there to in warre How bee it Draco that gaue lawes to the Atheniens ordeined that all kinde of theft what so euer should be punished with none other paine then death by meanes whereof Solon after saied that he had written that his lawe with blood whiche he mitigated doyng it to be more easie and fauourable That maner whiche nowe is ordinarily eche where vsed to hang or to strangle thieues on the gibbotte was first ordained â—y the Emperour Frederike the thirde as writeth that famous and excellent L. Viues in the seuenth booke of his disciplines ¶ In what parte of the Zodiacke the Sunne and the Moone as also the other Planettes were in the creation of the worlde and when the first were made of the beginnyng also of yeres and tymes Chapt. 15. AS saieth the Philosopher man naturally is curious to searche to knowe thynges and there to bendeth he his full force and indeuour lesse contentyng him self with these thinges whiche onely concerne hym but farther he toileth with meruailous presumption to haue some feelyng of thynges impossible or at leaste very difficill Neither hath this his labour been all together in vaine though it some times haue also failed of the desired ende for that by incessante contemplation and continuall studie sunderie thynges haue been founde out whiche semed bothe supernaturall and impossible as the motions of the heauens the true course bothe of starres and Planetes their influences and forces with others the like and semblable emong whiche is also comprised that whiche I now muste speake of to wete in what tyme of the yere and in what daie the worlde firste beganne or to speake it better when or at what season God firste created the worlde where tyme â—â—irste began and the yere to be accompted in what place the Sunne was when he first began his course the Moon also with the other Planettes Aristotle as with hym many other Philosophers paste these scruples accoumptyng neuer on them not tasting at all or sauouring of our faith demyng that the worlde had béen in deede eternall neuer to haue begun or neuer to haue endyng but these others that were not ignoraunt of these thynges knowyng by iuste accompte when the worlde firste did begin are deuided into twoo sundrie and coÌ„tray opinions Some emong theim saied that in that verie instante when the worlde first was created the Sunne was precisely in the firste degree of Aries whiche was aequinoctium Vernale whiche happened at that tyme in the eleuenth of march But others again contrary that the world had his beginnyng the Sunne beyng founde directly in the first of Libra whiche tyme wee call aequinoctium Autumnale and commonly chaunseth in the thirtenth or fowertenth of September And of this opinion were certaine EgiptieÌ„s Arabies and Grekes as recordeth Linconiensis in a certain treatise of his dedicated to Pope Clement and Vincentius in his mirrour historiall Those that rested on this opinion for their proofe vsed this reason whiche howe weake it is and what smalle shewe of trothe it hath shall bee here after in place conueniente saied For saie thei all fruites on the yearth were ripe now and in their perfection the yearth of verie necessitie was then also moste perfecte alledgyng for their proofe these woordes out of Deuteronomie God in the beginnyng made al thinges absolute and perfecte Others some againe affirme that then was the firste beginnyng bothe of tymes and yeres when the daie was of moste howers and at his longeste whiche is at the entrie of the Sunne into Cancer aboute the eleuenth or twelueth of Iune Iulius Firmicus an aucthour aunciente and of greate aucthoritie in Astronomie saieth in the beginnyng of his thirde booke that in the firste creation of the worlde the Sonne was in the fiftenth degrée of Leo in whiche signe he hath his greateste dignitie or honour especially for that it is termed the house of the Sunne and in this sorte discourseth he of the other Planetes But the moste reasonable opinion of all others and moste agreanâ—e assuredly vnto the truthe is that when bothe the worlde and the heauens were first made the Sunne was then founde in the first pointe of Aries whiche mighte bee in the Monethe of Marche the Somer then beginnyng to come and growe on Whiche assertion besides other likelihoodes that we also shall remember is also confirmed by the moste parte of auncient writers as well Christians as also HeatheÌ„s emong whiche we finde Sainct Hierome Ambrose and Basill with others whiche all togither accorde that the firste beginnyng was as is aboue saied in aequinoctio veris And although it might appeare that there was yet some little difference betwixte them for that some will that this woorke was wrought in Marche but some a little after in the Monethe of Aprill Yet here on thei well agree that it was in the Spring as also in the Equinoxe whiche presently is in Marche for
as is saied the Equinoxe is not euer firme For Christ hymself died the .xxv. daie of Marche and at that time was the daie euen with the night and now this equation is but about the eleuēth of Marche whence it well maie be presumed that in the beginnyng it was in Aprill For whiche cause some accompted Aprill for the first monethe other some March yet thei all wil saie that then this frame was wrought when that the Sunne firste entered into the signe of Aries and that then is this Equinoxe whiche well is proued by the scriptures where it is saied that in the Monethe Nisan whiche with vs is Marche the yere began to haue his first daie of accompte Vincent also in the beginnyng of his mirrour historiall saieth that the aunciēt Hebrues beganne their yere in the Monethe of Marche for that then was the Equinoxe saieth he whence and from whiche tyme the worlde tooke his beginning Certain Gentiles also defende and maintain with like care this opinion as Elpaco in his treatise written of Astrologie where he saieth that the Chaldeans excellente Astronomers supposed that the firste daie in whiche the worlde was created the Sunne entered into the first degree of Aries whiche opinion is maintained of most part of Astronomers as well aunciente as newe and late writers When then the Sunne was founde in that poincte then also was the beginnyng of the yere then also the firste daie for before that was none other neither can it bee denied but that the firste daie that was made was also the firste daie in the accoumpt of yeres for that before it was neither tyme or yeres For whiche cause onely this signe of Aries is of all the others reckened the first and foremoste And who so will iudge and diuine of thynges to come he erecteth his figures calculatyng continually from that fore saied poincte or beginnyng of the worlde And farther it is plain by an euident coniecture that God when he first created the wide wast worlde that he then also plaste the Sunne as is saied in Aries as maie well be gathered of that whiche is fore saied in the chapiter of the daie and tyme in whiche our sauiour suffered to wete that this Planete was in that place in the creatiō that he also was in at the regeneration whē Christ hymself suffered his death and his passion which happened as is there saied in this Equinoxe so often to fore remembred It also semeth credible that it therfore was so for that those that haue any felyng in the sphere or otherwise in Astronomie shall well perceiue that the Sunne beyng entered into this signe of Aries makyng there his reuolution by the space of one whole daie no corner is on the yearth whiche he in that daie ones leaueth or to comforte or solace with his presence whiche at no tyme chaunseth in any other poinctes of the Zodiake for that where soeuer he els bee some place is on the yeareh where the Sunne is not in that daie séen but beyng in this degree as is saied or in his opposite no parte of the worlde is there whiche in that daie ones seeth hym not And it semeth reasonable that the Sūne when he firste of all beganne his circuite that he there and in suche place should beginne where he might visite euery the partes of the whole worlde and that that rather should bee in the firste of Aries then of Libra it of parte is euidente by that whiche wee haue saied that in the daie of the death or Passion of our sauiour this Planet was in that verie same place in whiche he also hath a certain perticuler dignitie Restyng then on this poinct as on a truthe assured thei doubtles are deceiued that imagined the worlde firste beganne in the Equinoxe of September though it pleased theim to saie that then all fruites were ripe and in season whiche if we well consider is nothyng so in deede for when thei are ripe in the Northe parte of the worlde thei nothyng at all then are so in the Southe but in verie truthe and assuredlie the contrary For whiche cause I neither would leane to the opinion of those whiche saied that in this Equinoxe of Marche whiche is in the same beginnyng whiche we in deede approue was or ought to bee the entrie therefore of the worlde for that then at that tyme is the spring for that flowers also and grasse eche where then begin to come that then also all beastes acquainte them with their matche for if it be to vs as it can not be gainsaied the commyng and beginnyng of all graine and grasse it then is Winter or at the leaste Autumne to these that inhabite the Southe partes of the worlde These then maie suffice with the aucthorities aboue remembred to satisfie and contente the reasonable in this matter although the yere Romaine whiche onely now is vsed take his beginnyng of the firste daie of Ianuarie whiche thyng happened by the fonde deuotion and superstition onely whiche the Gentiles vsed towardes their God Ianus doing their yere to beginne by his name as the christians did theirs from the natiuitie of Christe although then in deede the yere had not his beginnyng The Romaines also beganne their yere in Marche as writeth M. Varro and Macrobius in his firste booke Ouide also in Fastis with many others Farther GOD shewed to vs his greate fauour and goodnes in that it pleased hym to place our firste parentes Eue and Adam in these Septentrionall partes of the worlde after their exile and detrution out of Paradise terrestriall whiche bothe entered into this worlde at the firste commyng of the Spryng findyng the yearth then greene and flowred the aire verie swete temperate and pleasaunte the better to solas and comforte them in their miserie and nakednesse whiche at none other tyme of the yere could so well haue chaunsed them But passe we this matter now as sufficiently proued and speake we of the other Planetes especially of the Moone as one emong the others of moste force and vertue whiche as some suppose in the firste daie or instaunte of her creation was placed by diuine prouidence in coniunction with the Sunne others saie that she was then at full and in direct opposition Sainct Augustine cōmenting on the fifte of Genesis remembreth bothe these remembered opinions saiyng that thei that maintaine that she then was in opposition argue that it was not reason in that her firste creation that she either should lacke or bée defectuous in any thyng The others saie that it is more credible that she in coniunction beganne there her firste daie so increasyng accordyng to our accompte in her age but to abridge this controuersie in myne opinion she at her first beyng was in plaine and perfecte oppositiō with the Sunne whiche opinion is moste receiued of the learned Augustine in the place aboue alledged and Rabanus also on the twelueth of Exodus arrest them bothe on
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
dombe shall speake and laude his name freely and againe somwhat before with fiue loaues and twoo fishes he shall fede fiue thousande menne in the deserte and that whiche shall remaine shall also refreashe the hungerie nede of others The seconde by report was borne in Libya of whom mention is made by Euripides in his Prologue of Lamia The thirde hight Themis and was surnamed Delphica for that she was borne in the Citée Delphos of whom remembreth Chrysippus in his booke of Diuination Vnto this woman the Romaines erected an Image whiche was as recordeth Plinie before the destruction of Troie so that Homere in his workes hath sundrie and diuers of her vearses as is euident Diodorus Siculus saith that this was Daphne the doughter of Tiresias whoÌ„ when the Grekes had subdued Thebes thei sent her foorthe immediately and without staie to Delphos where she after became a prophetesse in the Oracle of Apollo so that she thence as he supposeth and not otherwise gatte the name of Delphica The fowerth had to name Cumea or Italienna and not Cumana Amaltea she was borne in Cimeria a toune of Campania adioinyng vnto Cumae whose prophesies are written as well by Neuyus in his bookes Punici as also by Pison in his annalies and briefly remembred by Lactantius by Virgil also in his Eglogue this beginning Scicilides musae The first was that famous Erythrea whiche by the especiall grace of God so plainly prophesied of the greateste misteries of our religion wherefore as hath Lactantius the Gentiles in the ages paste supposyng it impossible that a virgine should heare a childe as also other thynges supernaturall whiche thei in like sorte wrote remembred as well by old Poetes as also in aunciente histories accompted of these vearses none otherwise theÌ„ of light vain and fonde matters Apolodorus writeth of this Sibyll that she fore saied to the Grekes that thei assuredly should sacke and ouer runne Troie whence moste suppose she was before the destruction thereof How be it Eusebius contrariwise thinketh that she liued in the tyme of Romulus Strabo againe in the daies of Alexander Of this Erythrea were these woordes recited by Eusebius whiche in order translated sounde in Englishe this muche Iesus Christe the soonne of God and Sauiour Whiche was in deede no lesse straunge then meruailous Others also wrote she whiche Sainct Augustine gathereth in his eightenth De ciuitate dei which dooen by hym into Latine maie in our tongue saie this muche The yearth shall sweate an assured signe of iudgemente from heauen shall come a kyng whiche shal be kyng continually but cladde in mannes fleshe to the intente he maie iudge the worlde so shall the incredulous see aswell as shall the faithfull and with their iyes shall boholde God hymself aduaunced in the middle of his angelles and in the ende of this worlde the soules of men shall appeare with their owne proper bodies whiche all hym self shall iudge presente then in persone at whiche tyme the yearth shall bee brused and disordered Menne shall then destroie bothe Images and Idolles their iuels eke and treasures shall thei not accompte of he shall goe doune into helle and breake vp the infernall gates then to the iuste shall ioye and peace bee lotted and fire shall tormente still the reprobate and impious All secretes shall in this daie bee discouered euery man shall knowe the thoughtes of an other God then shall laie open the hartes and consciences of all fleshe there shall bee weepyng and gnashyng of teethe the Sunne and the Starres in that daie shall bee darkened the heauens them selues shall breake and the Moone shall lose her lighte the mountaines shall fall doune and the valies shall lie euen with the swellyng hilles nothyng in the whole worlde shall higher bee then other bothe mountaines and valaies shall be reduced into plaines eche thyng hauyng in that daie his endyng the yearth shall be skorchte vp and brought then to pouder bothe riuers and sprynges shall in that daie burne and with that fire also the yearth it self the sea and the aire shall be consumed a trumpette then from heauen moste terriblie shall sounde at which voice the yearth incontinentely shall open discoueryng the obscure and disordered face of helle the paines eke and the smartes of the damned soules therein By this Sibyll these and many others were written at large in vearse plainly declaryng Christe hym selfe incarnate with the resurrection of the dedde and the finall iudgemente But these thynges before thei came to passe in déede of fewe might or could in any wise bee vnderstode reputed for meare follie of the Panimes and the Gentiles Notwithstandyng Erithrea well knowyng what was to come lefte not this muche to saie in like sorte of her self vaine shall thei accoumpte me a light and liyng dame But when these thynges shall bee accomplished then shall thei remember me againe not as a detyng or as a senslis wight but as a true southsaier or prophetisse of the higheste From this Sibyl Erithrea the Romaines at tymes receiued many vearses whiche Fenestella with silence passeth not in his fiftene Forces saiyng that by ordinaunce of the Senate thei sente Ambassadours vnto her onely to haue if it so might please her of her prophesies whiche froÌ„ her brought backe papers in greate number whiche were bothe carefully and curiously reserued in the Capitoll emongste others some whiche thei also had receiued before This womaÌ„ was of Erithrea a toune of Ionyum in the Prouince of the lesse Asia adioinyng vnto Caria whiche I would the reader should certainlie vnderstande for that many other tounes are also of this name as one in Libia an other in Boecia the third in Locris the fowerth in Cyprus but to assure vs that she was of this Erithrea in IonyuÌ„ Strabo maie onely in this place suffice The sixt Sibyll was of PhytoÌ„ a toune in the Isle of Samos inuironed with the sea Egeum borderyng on Thrace or as others some suppose in that other Isle of Samos coÌ„passed with the saied sea right against Ephesus for which cause she had to name Silia Samia of which remembreth Eâ—atosthenes The seuenth was Cumana otherwise Amaltea how bee it some others gaue her to name Demophila Suidas termeth her Hierophila neuer the lesse Cumana was she called for that she bothe dwelt and prophesied in the toune of Cumas in Italie not farre of from Baias Of this woman writeth Dyonisius Halicarnasleus Solinus Aulus Gellius Seruius she brought to be sold to Tarquine the proude kyng of the Romaines nine bookes though Suidas otherwise suppose that it was to Tarquimus Priscus for whiche she demaunded three hundred Crounes or other peeces of golde suche as might be or was in Rome at that tyme moste currante but for that the kyng thought her therein vnreasonable he refused vtterly these her offered marchaundises by meanes whereof incontinently she did three of theim in his presence to be burned not leauyng therefore to aske
againe the whole price for the other sixe whiche thyng the kyng disdainyng more then then at the firste began to deride her chargyng her with follie whence she again taketh others three and as the first so burned them immediatly demaunding for the remnante the whole price of the nine where at and at whose constancie the kyng then muche amased imagining that thei contained some straunge and hidden misteries bought these three at the price of all the others whiche afterwarde were laied vp and reserued in the Capitoll in meruailous honour and reuerence of all the people Plinie writeth that she had but thre in all of whiche she burned as he reporteth twoo receiuing notwithstanding for the third the value of theÌ„ all but how so euer it were it sufficeth that these bookes were had in suche greate reuerence so kepte and reserued with these of the other Sibylles For as M. Varro alleageth out of Lactantius the Romaines with incessant paine sought throughout all Grece and Italie thorowe Asia also and euery parte thereof for all bookes vearses or prophesies whatsoeuer that might or could be founde any where of these Sibylles and especially emoÌ„g the others of that excellent Erithrea for accomplishemeÌ„t whereof and more expedite gatheryng of these foresaied papers fiftene menne of honour were charged with this busines none medlyng or dealyng besides them in these matters Fenistella recordeth that wheÌ„ the Capitoll was burned the Senate sente backe againe to Erithrea humblie requestyng her to inriche them ones again with her bookes if it so â—…ight please her Whence it maie be presumed that thei had not Cumanaes verses onely but euery the prophesies of eche and al the others and that that Sibyll of whiche Virgil maketh mention in the beginnyng or entrie of his sixt of Aeneydos which then dwelt or continued in Cumas where he affirmeth that Aeneas imbarkte hym self should bee some other Cumana not this of whiche we now haue spokeÌ„ by common accompt and reckning the seuenth of that order for it hardly may be thought that Virgil knew of any Sibyll at that time when Aeneas firste entered into Italie ne yet that she liued in the daies of the fifte kyng of Rome And Seruius interpretyng thesame place saieth of necessitie it nedes muste be that she that solde these bookes should also bee called Cumana though in trothe her name were nothing so at all this woman also died in the said toune of Cumas The eight was borne within the territorie of Troie in the toune of Marmisa suche and so auncient that as Heraclides Ponticus writeth she liued in the tyme of Solon the Philosopher and of that greate and mightie Cyrus The ninthe was borne in Phrigia and Prophesied dwellyng in the toune of Ancira The tenthe hight Albunea borne at Tibur sixtene mile from Rome whens also she is called some tymes Tiburtina So these Sibylles lefte many bokes and verses in whiche thei Prophesied of sundrie thynges to come but principally of the prosperous or aduerse state of Rome so that the Romaines in euery their affaires diligently perused and with reuerence all their bookes or papers orderyng and directing them selues continually by theÌ„ And as when we would be credited and be thought to speake a truthe we vsually will saie it is written in the Gospell so also saied thei in like sort of the Sibylles suche was their affiaunce or greate truste in these women For proofe whereof Iuuenal passeth such a vearse Credite me vobis folium recitare Sibyllae whiche he so saied for that these women gaue foorthe their Prophesies written in leaues of trees as Virgil well witnesseth in his sixt of his Aeneydos Cicero with great reuerence speaketh also of them especially in his booke De diuinatione where he thus muche saith as we tofore haue saied that out of their firste greate letters of euery vearse senteeÌ„ces of weight great matters stil were drawen Among other thinges manie eche one of theim haue spoken of our faithe and of the Christian religion of the birth the life and of the death of Christe as we eftesones tofore haue also specified as among the others the Sibyll Delphica also saide A Prophete shall be borne of a woman not knowyng man and an other this he that yet is to come shall here after come he shall raigne in pouertie his greate mightie force shall he to fewe discouer out of a virgines woumbe shall he also bée borne Iosephus againe a Iewe though he were by race and eake by his profession speakyng of the tower of Babilon this much reporteth that a certaine Sibyl rememberyng when firste men spake but one language saithe that thei builte to theim a proude and haute Tower as if by the same thei should haue entered in to heauen but God sente fourth greate windes to rase to subuerte it as also diuers tongues the spring of deuision and discord among the people whence this Tower gained the fitte name of Babilon These thinges and others the semblable writen by these Sibylles haue well been recorded by Christians Iewes and Gentiles whiche the Gentiles repleate with sinne colde neuer yet vnderstande but the Christians as soone as these Prophesies came to their handes as well recorde Lactantius Firmianus Eusebius and Saincte Augustine with others gathered thence greate fruict and comforte immediatly the Panym and the Gentile neglectyng theim to their confusion Besides these were yet some others that also were called Sibylles reputed as fore shewers or fore saiers of thinges to come as Cassandra the doughter of Priamus Campusia Celofonia the doughter of Calcas Manta Thessalica the doughter of â—iresias the Thebane but all histories onely accorde on the aboue saide tenne Wherefore sleepe by nature was geuen vnto man and that to sleape to muche is bothe noisome and domageable Chap. 3. SLéepe was geuen man for his preseruation for that nothing hauing life is ther that sleapeth not Aristotle saith that al creatures hauing bloodde take their repose and sleape in whiche place he proueth by reason and by experience that fishes also at tymes as other thinges dooe sleape Sléepe is a surcessing of all the senses from trauaile whiche is or is caused by certaine euaporations and fumes rising of our meate and sustenaunce receaued mountyng from the stomake immediatly vnto the braine by whose greate coldnes these vapors warme are tempered castyng into a slumber euery the forces or senses exteriour at whiche tyme the vitall spirites retiryng to the harte leaue all the members of the bodie in a sleape vntill suche tyme againe as these saide vitall spirites whiche are the onely instrumentes by whiche the Soule bothe gouerneth and ordereth the whole bodie recouer newe force and streangth to theim againe and so these vapors or ceassyng or diminishynge maÌ„ againe awaketh or retourneth to himself more apte then to his busines then at any tyme tofore Of these occasions of sleape Aristotle is long in his booke De somno vigilia and Plutarche