heroicall virtues For the clearer evincement whereof I shall collect some testimonies to witnesse the truth of what is suggested in this particular And in the first place I shall cire the famous Paulus Gualdus who wrote the life of Pinellus and of whom mention was lately made He after he had lamented the death of that worthy man and said That Nature was sparing in her production of such personages and that they had need to live Met huselahs age who should look for another Pinellus viz. such an one whose study might restore the studies of Humanity to their splendour whose riches might be laid out in collecting the most renowned books and whose Dignity might be a Patronage to learned Men at last he adds Verily if our Age shall produce such another sure I am it cannot be any save Nicolas Fabricius a French-man of Aix in Provence a most renowned young Gentleman who at Rome and Padua when he was but a youth in comparison did so earnesty and eagerly embrace Pinellus and his studies that he seemed to us and all learned men delighted with these studies a very Miracle This was indeed an excellent Prediction But let us consider likewise the Wish of Erycius Puteanus then as we said before Professor of Eloquence and Chronologie at Millain He writing to Peireskius O the wound quoth he Which we have received by the death of Pinellus That never to be forgotten man is gone away satisfied with honour and renown and secure of his own fame But he hath left us in Griefe and want and the muses in mourning weeds Who shall stand up in his stead and take sorrow from us and Sack-cloath from the muses Not only Learning but Wealth also is requisite for such a work Who will be the Man Does mymind deceive me or are you the man called to this work to be what Pinellus was I wish it I vow it and so God save thee thou hopefull young man And here peradventure it will not be unpleasing to insert the answer of Peireskius which was in these words You tear my soul in pieces with grief while you rip up that wound which is made in my mind by the Death of that incomparable man 'T is not without cause you double your mournfull and sorrowfull words you justly bewaile our hard hap and cause enough you have while you invite us all to mourn and exclaime Who will take grief from us and Sackcloath from the Muses But in the Conclusion you make us laugh when as if you would prophesie you add that I shall be what Pinellus was and seriously wish the same as if it were a thing possible Which is all one as if when an huge Fir-Tree is Cutt down you should wish that some low shrub might aequal the Strength Tallnesse thereof But your love to me forced this vow and wish from you when you were thinking of some other thing for which I suppose you never imagined you should he called in question And in case I wishing and vowing the same thing to you should say with the Poet TUNUNC ERIS ALTER AB ILLO THOU SHALT TO HIM SUCCEED these I am sure who thoroughly know you will say that I am no vain Prophet for in this case there is need of your help and not of mine A witty and neat answer verily how beit he takes no notice of that which was most truly said by Putean that to undergo such a ask there was also need of Wealth as well as Learning There were likewise other very elegant Letters which passed betwixt them one of which is printed in the second Century of the Epistles of Putean wherein about the beginning of the next year which was 1602. he after a most becoming way complaines that he was termed Deorum Genus one of the immortall Race of the Deities There were I say other Letters written but I have collected what is usefull to my present purpose by which it is easy to undentand how fitly Janus Gruterus in the Preface to his great Volume of Inscriptions did joyne together by way of Commendation Erycius Puteanus and N'colaus Fabricius calling them Young men who excell all others Whouse to haunt the Muses sacred Springs And drink dry Aganippes Waterings Moreover that great Volumne was in the Presse when Pinellus departed this life and Peireskius supplied such things as were to be inserted thereinto not only out of the Treasuries of Pinellus but also from what he had observed and written-out at Rome Venice and other Places as appears by that which is so frequently read at the bottome of the Inscriptions On t of the Papers of Nicolaus Fabricius I come now to Marcus Velserus at whose request Gruterus obtained those Papers He was almost equall to Pinellus and his singular friend flourishing at Augsburg where he was one of the two that Governed the City Though I hold my tongue his own writings and all Learned men having had experience of his munificent and most ready Assistance do sufficiently speake how brave a man he was and how great a soule he had Velserus therefore in Letters which he wrote to Peireskius did testifie that he so highly valued him and his friendship that there was nothing that Pinellus lest behind him which he had rather inherit yea and he also not only acknowledging him to be the heir of the Virtues of Pinellus but conjecturing that he should be likewise the successor of his own he began to love him as if he had been his Son not ceasing so long as he lived by frequency of Letters to restifie his affection In this one thing he dealt hardly with him constantly refusing to let him have his Picture which Resolution he held towards all others that most passionately desired the same 1602. Yet Peireskius caused him as he had done some others to be drawn when he knew not of it hiring a Painter to stand in a secret place where he might see his Countenance And so he obtained what Occotold him it was in vain to hope for when he received this answer from Velserus Cato major was desirous that Posterity should enquire why no Statue had been erected for him contrarily it lies me in hand I suppose to take heed least any hereafter should wonder if not disdaine and ask what Ambition it was that made me creep into the Society of those famous men whose Images or Pictures Fabricius pretends to Collect. I forbear to tell how excellently our Peireskius ansvvered that passage of his for writing back to Occo Cato quoth he said both wittily and discreetly that he had rather posterity should enquire why he had no Statue then why a statue was erected in Memorie of him yet he never that I ever read of refused to suffer himself to be painted or figured out in a Statue witnesse those many Figures of him which go up and down even at this day And therefore neither ought Velserus the true Picture of Cato to refuse the same to which end I
whole face thereof so suddenly changed so that the wals which because of the Funeral being hung all with black did testifie sorrow were presently being hung a fresh with red because of the aproach of the Guest made to expresse the greatest chearfulnesse possible Moreover as soon as he was saluted by Parliament and all the other orders of the City the Tables were so furnished that a more magnificent provision could not be imagined Eight dineing rooms were served at one and the same time without any confusion and the high courage of Peireskius was to be admired whose Providence was not disturbed by the sadnesse following his Fathers death When all was taken away the Legat desired also to view his Study and to passe over some sweet houres in familiar discourse and in viewing the rarities This Viasius harpt upon in his Panegyric to Urbanus Octavus in these verses among the rest So did we see him in his way from France 1625. Unto Peiresk his noble House advance That House renown'd for Vertue and the Praise Of ancient Gentrie and the Muses Baies Where all that 's left of Athens and old Rome Inshrined lies as in a sacred Tombe When at his departure he brought him on his way he was forced to go to Riants where upon pretence of his Fathers Death the Tenants began to make some stir where composing things as well as he could and the contrariety of the wind holding the Legat still at the Port of Tolon he went to him again thither and presented him with a couple of Goats with long ears hanging down so low that if their heads be a little bowed down they touch the ground The Cardinal having finished this legation soon after began another For he went Legate into Spain but by force of weather he was divers times stayed upon the Coasts of Provence But his chief stop was at the Tower of Buquia which stands at the ingress of the Martigian Coast or the Sea Colony so that Peireskius could hear of him and come to him Which was doubtlesse a great solace to the Legat for besides his most delightful company some daies enjoyed Books were also brought him with the reading whereof the tediousness of the time was abated Among the rest there were certain observations touching the ebbing and flowing of the Seas which Peireskius had not long before caused to be collected by Antonius Natalis a Physician of Provence who dwelt in Bretagne which because they exceedingly pleased the Legat he promised to do his endeavour 1626 to procure more of them Also he further promised him That he would acquaint him with whatever he met with temarkable in that Legation and particularly that he would procure which Peireskius chiefly desired the Epitaphs to be written out and Pictures to be taken of the Earls of Barcellone especially of Alphonsus sirnamed the Chast Moreover Peireskius returned home troubled with an exceeding great Rheum besides pains in his Kidneys and other disorders contracted by reason of his Fathers sickness which would not let him sleep a nights nor suffer him to rest so much as in his Bed Amongst other refreshments books were not the least for he received divers from sundry his friends some of which made mention of him as one for example called Glossarium Archaeologicum containing an Exposition of Barbarous Latine words whose Author was Sir Henry Spelman of England who in the Preface to his Work If I should speak of persons quoth he beyond the Seas I was in no small measure incited from France by the most noble Nicolaus Fabricius Peireskius his Majesties Counsellour in the Parliament of Aix Hieronymus Bignonus c. Where you must observe that Bignonus and those other persons whom he there mentions were set on by Peireskius to sollicite Spelman to set out his Book Also the notes of Pignorius upon the Book of Vincentius Cartarus of the Images of the Gods also his symbolical Epistles in the 29 whereof Pignorius recites to Peireskius an Epistle of Marsilius Ficinus touching the occasion of the friendship between him and Bembus both born on one and the same day out of a Book which was in the study of Pinellus which you and I quoth he knew in its flourishing condition Also he was very inquisitive after divers Monuments of Antiquity which he would have brought to Aix A principal was a Marble Tomb of most elegant fabrick which being dug up near Brignolle he sent a Cart on purpose and twenty industrious chosen men to fetch the same This Monument verily he esteemed so highly of that when afterwards Rubens was to go into Spain he could not tell what better Argument to use to intice him thither then to tell him of the sight thereof and when he observed therein some Images which either through Age or bad usage were defaced he would needs have from Rome a Model in plaister of another in which he had observed the like figures that after the example thereof he might cause them to be repaired Also he was comforted by one Barbleus of Colen an industrious young man and skilled in Physick who made him paper spheres of all sorts that is to say according to the Hypotheses of Ptolomy Copernicus Ticho and others Nor must I forget how he was exceedingly refreshed with the exceeding courteous society of Jacobus Lorinus a Jesuite who had commented upon the Psalms who when he first returned from Rome came to him at Avenion and bestowed upon him a treatise of Bellarmines written with his own hand Finally to divert himself he read at that time a Book termed Arelatense Pontificium made by Petrus Saxius a Canon of Arles But he took it very ill that he I know not out of what respect did affect to set up the Rights of our Kings and did not only not oppose what might justly be opposed but went about unjustly to weaken the same wherefore he rested not till by a decree of Parliament the Book was prehibited Peireskius was now a little better when after divers Letters both from the Cardinal Legate and Putean the Knight and others dated at Madrid he was informed that the Cardinal was to return and would passe through Marseilles in the beginning of September Thither therefore he went though not perfectly recovered and expected the Cardinals arrival certain dayes But he lost his labour because he having a good wind sailed by and stayed only a little while at Tolon whence he sent some of the rarest things he brought with him out of Spain to Aix and excused himself Which when Peireskins received he returned thanks by Letters in some of which he carefully recommended Christophorus Puteanus a Carthusian whose learning and innocent conditions did sufficiently testifie that he was Brother to the Puteans of Paris I stand not to relate how well the Cardinal took the said Recommendation for Putean himself wrote that he was unable to express what good will and civility he had found Only I think it more pertinent to say
Historians out of which divers deficiencies in noble Authours might be made up It is not to be believed how small a thing he valued two hundred pounds Tours which he gave for this Book were it only that he conjectured it was the Emperours own individual Book which he had for his own use because of the shape of the Letters and their elegancy the neatness of the binding and rare Verses prefixed in prayse thereof Also he obtained that which he had long sought for viz. certain Councels of the Christian Bishops after the recovery of the Holy Land for he had long bin perswaded that there was some Copy or other of them to be had in those parts He had indeed formerly caused some of them to be written out of the Vatican Library About the same time he wrote unto all parts to assist Holstenius who was labouring about the edition of a Noble pack of ancient Geographers He chiefly wanted a Description of Thracian Bosphorus made by Diony sius Byzantius which Petrus Gyllius made use of but only in Latine and imperfect in describing the said Bosphorus And because he thought it likely that the Greek Text might be found among the Books of the Cardinal of Armenia of whose Family Gyllius was therefore Peireskius so wrought that the Bishop of Ruten searcht all the Library over and at last sent him a Catalogue thereof to assure him that there was no such Book there to be found You may be sure he spared not to send Letters to the Popes Nuncio's to the Kings Embassadors to all the learned men he knew amongst whom verily I must not forbear to name that same rare Bishop of Tolouse Carolus Monchalius out of whose wealthy Storehouse so many rare Manuscripts were brought that he might at least be assured there was no such Book to be found And it is doubtless scarce credible that it is any where extant since it has escaped the so great Sagacity of that man For the same Holstenius said not without cause in a Letter to him For it has not yet bin my hap to see any mortal Man surmounting you in the knowledge of Antiquity or that could match you in the diligence and felicity of your Researches While he was thus busied he received a Book from the above-named Johannes Jacobus Chiffletius Physician in ordinary to the Infanta Isabella touching the Iccian Port from which Julius Caesar set sail for Brittain And he easily dissented from that Opinion which held Callis to be the Port aforesaid however he wished that rare man would make a more diligent search all that Coast over and though he had acutely proved that Mardike was the port yet that he should consider whether that name were applyable to a Port extant in these dayes of ours And the farther Port we read of seems not to be interpreted the inferior Port so as to mean the inferior Coast which is under Audomaropolis and is parceld out by pools of standing water but rather the Western so as to signifie one that is nearer and from whence the passage into Brittain is shorter But nothing was more delightful to him then to read withall that in the Audomaropolitan Lake there are floating Islands which bear both Men and Beasts and whereupon Alder-Trees and Willowes do pleasantly flourish Wherefore he was desirous two years after when I was to travel that way that I should take a curious view thereof and report the business to him which I did and sent him a branch which I pluckt off from a tall Willow which swum about with the ground it grew upon He was also sollicitous about that time touching the observation of that Article by which the Council of Trent condemned clandestine Marriages nor did he cease till he had perswaded certain scrupulous Ecclesiastick Judges that it was not only ratified by the Kings Authority in Parliament but also by special Decrees of the Metropolitan Synods of this Province I forbear to mention with what ardency he did sollicite Aleander that he would seriously set himself to describe that Earth-quake with which Aqulia was shaken from the last day save one of July and with which the Arch Bishoprick of San-severinas was reported to be swallowed up in the Moneth of September Other things I passe over only I must needs relate his rare modesty which made him change the Epistle of a Book dedicated to him That Book contained some spiritual Treatises of Saint Diadochus Nilus and Hesychius which Aleander Fichetus a very learned Jesnite printing at Lewis would needs dedicate to him Now he usurped the Booksellers name and thought he had used no Hyperbole in commending Peireskius whose vertue he sufficiently saw when he professed Phylosophy at Aix and was a publick preacher there But Peireskius himself would not bear it but being to send some Copies to Rome as there was no new thing which he did omit to send he caused that Epistle to be laid aside and another to be printed and prefixed to the Books he sent In the Epistle which he would have omitted were these passages Your Table your House your Study are a Starry firmament of all wits wherein the Heavenly Constellations the Stars of all Learning and learned men do briefly shine so that all things therein are not guilt with Gold or Silver but shine as Stars the Desks are filled with Stars where the Books stand like Constellations and your self sitting in the midst and embracing all give light to all add grace to all bestow life as it were and eternity upon all so that to you all well-writ Books through the world as the sacred fires of good minds do strive to mount as to their Heaven to receive light from you and shine again upon you c. This Epistle brings into my mind how the year following when he had received one of those Books termed Coelum Christianum begun by Joannes Bayerns and finished by Julius Schillerius Peireskius commended indeed their piety in giving to the Planets instead of the usual names those of Adam Moses and the Patriarchs and giving to the twelve signes the names of the Apostles and to other Constellations the names of other Saints or holy things besides figures newly invented and new Verses made of them but he liked not the design of perverting all the knowledge of the Heavenly Bodies which from all Antiquity is sprinkled up and down in all kinds of Books Howbeit he was not seriously afraid lest therefore Astronomers would change all the names of the Stars because they might easily see they should get no advantage but much disturbance thereby He added that those ancient Figurations of the Stars though profane were no hinderance to Christian piety and himself had long agoe observed these Images which had bin painted upon the vaulted roof of the Church at Vercellis a thousand two hundred years agoe Finally he wished the same industrious hand which had engraven these new ones had expressed those at Vertillis commendable for their great
to undertake the work Which when he could not have granted he desired him at least to lend the same to Kircherus who was both present and at Rome and being skilled in the Tongue already might set upon the work But he conceived great hopes of obtaining out of the East both Coptic and other rare Books when he received a Copy of the Epistle of St. Clement to the Corinthians which was newly published in print being lately brought from Aegypt and Constantinople to England and when about the very same time that very good man Aegidius Lochiensis a Capucine returned out of Aegypt where he studied the Oriental Languages seven whole years together For he being received with great exultation by Peireskins from whom he had had no small assistance in that Countrey he told him of rare Books which were extant in divers Covents and Monasteries And memorable it is how he saw a Library of eight thousand Volumes many of which bore the marks of the Antonian Age. And because among other things he said he saw Mazhapha Einock or the Prophecie of Enoch foretelling such things as should happen at the end of the World a Book never seen in Europe but was there written in the Character and Language of the Aethiopians or Abyssines who had preserved the same therefore Peireskius was so inflamed with a desire to purchase the same at any rate that sparing for no cost he at length obtained it Moreover the good man aforesaid having accidentally made mention of a great fire which happened in Semus a Mountain of Aethiopia at the same time that the fire happened at Pesuvius in Italy thereupon he discoursed largely touching Channels under ground by which not onely waters but fires also might passe from place to place and consequently Vesuvius might communicate the fire to Aetna Aetna to Syria Syria to Arabia foelix Arabia foelix to the Countrey bordering upon the red Sea in which stands the Mountain Semus aforesaid whether a long row of arched Rocks do make the Channel or whether the fire it self breaking in at the chinks do make it self way and create channels pitching the same so with a bituminous suffumigation that it keeps out the Seawater which goes over it And that fires under ground do make themselves way may be known by the Mountain Puteolus in the time of Pope Paul the third and others at other times made by the eruption of fire And that the foresaid Incrustation or pitching is sometimes broken away so that water may enter in we have a signe in that when Vesuvius was on fire the shore of Naples was somewhat parched the Monntain in the mean while vomiting forth such waters as it had drunk in by the chinks but burning through the admixture of combustible matter In like manner he afterward interpreted that same fiery Torrent which flowed from off Mount Aetna one whole year together running down extream hot two or three miles long and five hundred paces or half a mile broad the Liquor being a mixture of Sulphur Salt Lead Iron and Earth The year ending he was greatly delighted to detain at his House for certain dayes the famous Poet Santamantius who returned from Rome with the Duke of Crequy And though he were wonderfully delighted with his sporting wit and the recitation of his most beautiful Poems yet he took the greatest pleasure to hear him tell of the rare things which had bin observed partly by himself and partly by his Brother in their Journies to India and other Countries He told among other things how his Brother saw in the greater Java certain Live-wights of a middle nature between Men and Apes Which because many could not believe Peireskius told what he had heard chiefly from Africa For Natalis the Physician before mentioned had acquainted him that there are in Guiney Apes with long gray combed Beards almost venerable who stalk an Aldermans pace and take themselves to be very wise those that are the greatest of all and which they tearme Barris have most judgement they will learn any thing at once shewing being cloathed they presently go upon their hind legs play cunningly upon the Flute Cittern and such other Instruments for it is counted nothing for them to sweep the house turn the spit beat in the Morter and do other works like Houshold Servants finally their femals have their Courses and the males exceedingly desire the company of Women But Arcosius who of late years dedicated divers Books to him as Memoriale Principum Commentarii politici Relatiode Africa related in certain Letters what had happened to one of Ferrara when he was in a Country of Marmarica called Angela For he hapned one day upon a Negro who hunted with Dogs certain wild men as it seemed One of which being taken and killed he blamed the Negro for being so cruel to his own kind To which he answered you are deceived for this is no man but a Beast very like a man For he lives only upon Grasse and has guts and entrals like a Sheep which that you may believe you shall see wich your eyes whereupon he opened his belly The day following he went to hunting again and caught a male and a female The female had Dugs a foot long in all other things very like a Woman saving that she had her entrals full of grasse and herbs and like those of a Sheep Both their Bodies were hairy all over but the hair was short and soft enough These relations of Africa invite me to annex the Commerce which Peireskius setled the following year upon this occasion One Vermellius of Monpellier at first a Jeweller had given himself to be a Souldier and having spent what he had he returned to his former Art and having got together divers Jewels he set sail in a Ship of Marseilles for Aegypt and the next opportunity to the innermost part of Aethiopia When he had brought his Jewels and all his precious Commodities thither he was taken notice of by the Queen of the Abyssines who was delighted with Europaean Ornaments and growing famous at Court he was not unknown to the King It happened in the mean while that the King waged warre against an enemy of his Crown who raised an Army of fifty thousand men Whereupon Vermellius having gained some familiarity with the King defired his leave to train for a small time 8. thousand Souldiers promising that with so small a Company he would overthrow that great Army of his enemies The King supposing him to be couragious and industrious consented and he both chose and so exercised those men which were allowed him after the method of Holland which was unknown in those parts that in conclusion he most happily defeated those great forces Returning victorious he was made General of all the forces of the Kingdom and wrote to his friends at Marseilles to send him certain Books especially of the Art military also certain Images and painted Tables and such like things Which when Peireskius heard of
Crete and Cyprus and between Cyprus and Alexandria all those doubts may easily be resolved For let us suppose Malta to be under that Meridian under which it lies and let us imagine Crete to be five degrees more Eastward then it is but yet under the same parallel it is a clear case that the right course from Malta to the place intended is to leave Crete on the left hand or Northward and that therefore Navigators that they may not erre must follow the more Northern wind which is indeed the true wind though believed to be different from that which being a false one is yet accounted to be true Contrariwise let us suppose Creta to be in the same Meridian in which it is Malta to be 5. degrees more westward than it is keeping stil the same parallel it is likewise clear that the right wind or course from Crete to the place supposed is to leave Malta again upon the left hand or to the South and therefore that they may not sail false they must follow another wind which is indeed the true one but is accounted a fourth from the true And the same is to be said of the distance between Crete and Cyprus and as far as to Alexandria yet so that the error of the distance being doubled they must now use half a wind The matter being therefore apparent Peireskius called together a company of Seafaring men and so expounded the Problem that they were amazed and being questioned about the particular distances they freely granted that of two thousand seven hundred miles commonly reckoned between Marseilles and Alexandria at least five hundred might be abated But I shall let these things passe and propound a testimony or two which were given to his rare affection to learning and learned men And in the first place Kircherus setting forth at Rome his Prodromus Coptus writes that among those which sollicited the Edition Peireskius does justly challenge the first place as who by an armed intreaty had forced him to set upon the work In the next place Mersennus dedicating to him his 4. Books of Musick does thus bespeak him This mâ—st musical Book ought not to come into the World without the honour of your name For although my Harmonia Gallica will shortly accost you more largely accoutred if setting publick affaires awhile aside you shall please to lend afavourable eare thereto I thought sit neverthelesse that this Synopsis should be premised and that all mortal men should be admonished that there is none of the learned who has had experience of your singular Benevolence but admires and adores those vertues wherewith you are perpetually attended and that not only those Books but all others ought justly to be dedicated to you Embrace therefore these Instruments of the Mases tuned to sound the prayses of gallant men and contained in these sollowing Books with those Hands which with admirable liberality are open to all men c. Moreover as concerning his Gallica Harmonia he dedicated to him certain Treatises of Consonancies and Dissonancies of the kinds of Modes and of Musical composition or setting professing that they were due to him because his bountiful hand had brought them out of darkness who was wont with so great munificence to oblige all Europe that all learned and good men consess that there is no mortal man alive to whom learning and learned men are more indebted Then he reckons up divers things which â—ccording to every mans Genius he never ceases either to produce out of his own study or to seek in the most remote Countries of the World receiving all men with so much humanity and Beneficence that all which he possesses seems to be no lesse common to all learned men then the Air and Water are to all Live wights And therefore he sticks not to say that all men would applaud this dedication of his whereby Testimony is given to Posterity that there was a man in this Age whom all these ought to imitate that would be like God who is perpetually doing good I passe over that mention which Petrus Lasena of Naples made of him in his Cleombrotus or Philosophical discourse touching such as die by drowning in the water yet must I not passe over the grief wherewith Peireskius was affected when he understood that the rare man aforesaid died in Autumn before the Edition of his Book was finished When the Winter was begun he went to Areles that he might meet upon the Borders of Provence the renowned Joseph Bernetius who being President of the Parliament at Burdeaux was chosen Prince or chief Praesident of Aix after that Lainaeus had surrendred the said Magistracy For he had known him ever since the time that he executed the Office of Kings-Attorney in the grand Councel with great applause so that he did exceedingly love and reverence him for his Vertue Upon which occasion he saw at Salon Joannes Jaubertus Barraltius Arch Bishop of Arles the rare Honour of Praelates whose Learning Candor Piety and Prudence he could never sufficiently commend And because at the same time he received Letters from the truly good learned and renowned Antâ—â—ius Gâ—dellus whereby he signified that he was shortly to come to the Bishoprick of Grass whereof he was ordained Bishop he said that Provence would be happy that should be illustrated with so many rare Ecclesiastical Lights A mortal year followed being 1637. 1637. at which time he was exceedingly delighted with entertaining and cherishing that rare man Jacobus Ferrerius of Agin a Physician who being of the retinue of the Cardinal of Lions returning from Rome and Lions brought him many things which he had desired Among the rest there was a model of the Farnesian Congius of which we spake before Also there was plenty of a kind of wood dug up out of the ground which was lately found out at Aqua-Sparta Not but that Peireskius had before some Pieces of that kind of wood but he desired to speak with an Eye-witness which had seen the place out of which it was dig'd And he was indeed informed of that which he desired to know viz. how that there were only certain pieces as it were of the Trunk of a Tree but no appearance of any boughs knots or roots which seemed to argue that those parcels of wood were bred in that shape and were not of the common sort of wood which is many times buried in the Earth and there turns to stone Finally there was a Copy of a Greek Inscription touching the Labours of Hercules which before that time he could never see nor obtain the Marble lying concealed in the Farnesian Palace At the same time he was very much pleased with a Marble which was given him by Arnaldus the Propraetor of Forcalquier which was dug up at Regium upon which there was an Inscription containing a vow paid to Aesculapius viz. a brazen picture of Sleep a Golden chaine with two little Dragons of the weight of one scruple a Silver Dagger weighing
which he could long for and would of purpose intermingle discourses of pleasant meats it happened upon a time that Varius did occasionally intimate that the Trouts which are caught in the lake of Geneva were not unpleasant in taste He therefore closely marking the same by his great diligence procured a fair Trout taken in the foresaid lake and put into paste to be presented him from some other friend which Varius neverthelesse by the expedition judged to be one of Peireskius his adventures In like manner he endeavoured to provoke his appetite by presenting him with a dish made of the Tongues of certain Birds called Phoenicopteri though it was in the winter at which time only those kind of Sea-birds are taken in the Moores of Arles Those tongues were not much lesse then Kids-tongues and yet because they seemed sweeter in the eating Varius would not say nor could divine what they were till Peireskius brought forth that verse of Martiall Dat mihi Penna rubens Nomen sed Lingua gulosis Nostra sapit My name I have from my red-feather'd Coat My Tongue 's a Bit to p'ease a Glutton's Throat Then he asked him How the flesh of those Birds tasted To which he answered that he wondred why Apicius in Pliny and the Emperours Caligula and Vitellius in Suetonius and Heliogabalus in Lampridius and some others had accounted it for such a dainty dish for it was of an unpleasant or at least of no exquisite taste like that of all other water foule and smelt of fish and therefore the Inhabitants of Provence did for the most part throw the flesh of those Birds away making use only of the Skin and Feathers to cover the flesh of other Birds when they are to be served in at pompous Feasts THE LIFE OF PEIRESKIUS The Third Book 1612. THe following year he went again to Paris for Valavesius had sent for him thither at what time he supposed the Businesse of Riantium would come to a finall hearing And it is so fell out that while he tarried by the way the Judgment was passed in the mean time of which he was iuformed by Letters which he received as he was upon his journey but because he undertook the same not so much for the Businesse sake as out of desire to see his friends therefore he would not return but proceeding more couragiously on his way he came to Paris just when his Brother was to have departed But his good Destinie kept him still in the City for he fell into a disease which held him with such vehemencie an whole Moneth together that unlesse his most dear Brother had come and stood by him he could hardly have recovered out of the same And though he recovered his former health in the moneth of June yet would he not depart without his Brother who deserred his departure till November His pretence was that the late Judgment touching the Businesse of Rians was not altogether decretory or finall for to understand the ancient Law of Provence sometime was interposed to hear what the Assembly of the States would say Whereupon because such an Assembly could not be gathered without the Duke of Guise who was Vice-roy and he could not till then leave the Court therefore Peireskius resolved not to retun till then It is needlesse here to recount with how much joy and how great esteem of his Virtue he was entertained by Thuanus Campinius Rociacus Faber and other of his friends and rare men whom we spake of before and such as had already knowledge of him either by Face or Frame It is needlesse to reckon up the kind offices whereby he obliged very many Learned men not only such as were in the City as besides the forenamed Johannes Savato Carolus Labbeus and others but also in other Places as in the other Cities of France in Italie England and the Low-Countries And whereas he was alwaies busied in the Advancement of Liberall Arts his care in the observation of the Heavenly Bodies was of all others most remarkable and his Discourses which he had thereof with Mathematicians and other Learned Men. Whence it came to passe that no man was better acquainted with the new Phaenomena no man laboured with greater ardency and constancie to know the same So that it was accounted almost a miracle that being distracted with so many other Cares he could gaine so exact a knowledge of these kind of things For he declared many things not only touching the Phaenomena themselves but also about the making and use of the Telescope or Prospective for for which purpose he was wont for the most part to carry some with him both to observe the fabrick of the Instrument and the way to use the same And when he took paines about the Medicean Planets he observed somewhat which will not prove ungrateful to such as are pleased with these studies Viz. He observed that Jupiter passed beyond the Lions Heart to the North on the 30. day of June a little before evening and that Venus being horned went yet more to the North between the evening aforesaid and the Evening of the first of July next following in which likewise shee passed a little beyond a Conjunction with Jupiter whereas even the Moon at that time being the most Northern of all stood very near conjoined to the self same Lions heart aforesaid In like manner he observed two Eclipses one of the Moon and another of the Sun And as for that of the Moon which happened the 14. of May he had noted in his Papers that the Clouds hindered him from observing any thing save that the Eclipse was begun and encreased near to the fourth part of the Diameter when the Town Clocks did variously strike nine and it was by his own watch nine and half an hour over and that it vvas augumented almost to the Semi-diameter vvhen by the Tovvn Clocks it vvas half an hour past nine and by his ovvn Watch ten But he vvrote somevvhat more exquisitely about the Suns Eclipse which happened the thirtieth day of the same moneth viz. hovv he observed that the Sun vvas become like the Moon when shee is near half dark vvhen it vvas nine a clock in the morning by the Town-clocks and a third part of an hour over Afterwards at half an hour after ten and somewhat more he saw the Eclipse encreased but at eleven of the clock it began to decrease and was reduced to the centre of the Sun A little after there was scarce a digit over Finally when it was twelve a clock wanting the sixth part of an hour the Eclipse ceased Which I set down that you may see that there was no diligence at the least wanting in him And he wished asterward that he had observed all things more exquisitely yet he thought there was enough done whereby he might with extream delight compare his observation with one made at Rome of the Moons Eclipse which Johannes Remus Quietanus a famous Physician and Mathematician had
made and with two touching both Eclipses made at Hasnia by the renowned Christianus Severinus Longomontanus who was the Affistant of Ticho Brahe About this time there came forth a book in the Italian Tongue intitled Squinitius wherein the Venetian Liberty was examined from the very foundations of the Republike Which book because it seemed to contain rare skill in the History of the Empire and the Gothish Kings therefore it was presently beleeved as many at this day think that Peireskius was Author thereof But the truth is I can bear him witnesse that he never intended such a thing but contrarily he alwayes so reverenced the Majesty of the Republike and his friends which he had therein that he was rather enclined to do any service thereunto than to act any thing in cisgrace thereof Nor do I enquire whether the Author of this book was Antonius Albizius that noble Florentine who had two yeers before set out the Pedegrees of Christian Princes as some were of opinion or which is more likely the renowned Marcus Velserus of whom we have frequently spoken by reason of his excellent learning and singular propensity to the House of Austria I shall onely say that some have unjustly suspected that Gualdus and Pignorius did either assist in the writing thereof or communicated their notes for him to digest for they were more ingenuous and greater lovers of their Countrey than to be stained with such impiety But to be sure Peireskius never dreamt of such a thing Moreover being about to depart from Paris and taking leave of his friends he undertook among other things to send to Mericus Vicus at the beginning of Winter a pair of Phoenicopteri or Red-wings birds so called For he had a great desire to bring up some of those birds not onely for their Scarlet-coloured wings which makes our Countrey-men call them the Flaming Birds nor the longnesse of their thighs and neck which made Juvenal term this bird Phoenico-pterus ingens but chiefly becanse of the manner of their diet with which Peireskius related some of them had been kept by Varius For he related how they did eat their meat rather in the night than in the day which meat was commonly made of bread moistened with water how they could discern the approach of cold weather and would come to the fire so as sometimes to burn their feet and when one foot pained them they would go upon their other foot and use their bill in stead of the burnt foot how they slept standing upright upon one foot with the other drawn up to their brest amongst their feathers that a little sleep served their turn and such like At his departure he was most exceedingly grieved for the death of his most loving friend Nicolas Faber who not onely many dayes before had commended to the King that rare man Thomas Billonus when he did present his most laborious and admirably happy Anagrams In his journey he was vexed with great difficulty of urine After he was returned nothing so much grieved him 1613. as an injury which one of the Senatours had done unto Varius both before the Nativity and at the beginning of the new yeer wherefore he never was from him all that while save eight dayes during which he was troubled with a grievous disease about the end of April His brother in the mean while returned to Paris and he sent divers tokens to his friends by him Also he sent many things into Italy to Pascalinus Benedictus and others with whom he discoursed about divers Subjects and of whom he likewise desired some things for his friends Among whom was Casaubon as also Henricus Polanus the Mint-Master who desired him to procure for him out of Italy divers books hard to be found as also ancient weights or at least the comparison which had been made between them and those of Paris Another while writing to Paris he made it his chief businesse to commend Hannibal Fabrotus a famous Lawyer rarely adorned with the knowledge of polite Literature both to Thuanus and to other of his friends who had already heard of his learning As for what concerns other learned men Sirmondus setting out not long after Notes upon Sidonius Apollinaris did relate a Constitution which Cusanus took to have been made by Constantine the Great and Scaliger judged that it was made by Constantine the Tyrant but Peireskius shewed out of a * Civil Law book so called Code of Arles that it was rather made by the Emperours Honorius and Theodosius being written to Agricola President of the Gallick Provinces touching the holding of an Assembly of the seven Provinces once every yeer at Arles Moreover Jacobus Fontanus dedicating to him his Commentaries upon the Aphorisms of Hippocrates hath these words in his Epistle Dedicatory The pains that I have taken in composing this book I desire may passe into the world shielded with your patronage who gloriously shining with the abundance of all Virtues and Sciences will chase away the evil speeches of all censorious Detractours and cause that this work which is usefull for Physicians may be delightfull also seeing your repute is so great not onely with them but with all others that are addicted to the studies of learning that they cannot challenge to themselves any virtue without the knowledge of your testification and acceptance thereof There was also at the same time a book set out and dedicated to him by the foresaid Taxillus containing his judgement of that new star which was seen nine yeers agone But Peireskius could neither approve of his designe nor of his judgement because he contrary to better Authours which even Peireskius had furnisht him with did argue that the foresaid star was below the Moon and no higher than the upmost region of the air For he could not endure that men should seek out subtilties to establish the old opinions of the Schools contrary to evident demonstrations and observations as if that time could teach nothing and that experiments were not to be preserred before dark and cloudy reasonings For which cause at the same time he very much commended the candid ingenuity of Pacius whose judgement being demanded concerning those spots in the Sun which were now discovered by the Prospective-Glasse he desired time to consider of it professing that he was confounded and judging that from new Observations new Hypotheses ought to be framed About the same time there was a great rumor spread abroad touching the bones of certain Gyants which being found in Dauphine the King commanded that they should be sent to him for the report went that there was found in a certain feigned place not far from the stream which runs between Rhodanus and Isara a sepulchâ—e made of Bricks thirty foot long twelve foot broad and eight foot high with a stone upon it wherein was this Inscription THEUTOBOCHUS REX Also that when the sepulchre was opened there appeared the Skeleton of a man twenty five foot and an half long ten