Antiquity He did much more commend that work of the Rudolphin Tables which was then published by Kepler For seeing they were collected out of the most accurate observations of the new Atlantis of Ticho Brahe he judged rightly that by their meanes a more exact knowledge of the celestial motions might be had then by any others And therefore because that work was many years exposed therefore he maturely collected divâ—â—s observations by which they might be examined And in a special manner he intreated the Assistance of those excellent men Petrus Franciscus Tondutus San-legerius a Lawyer of Avenion and Jacobus Valesius Scotus General Treasurer in Dauphine both of them excellently skilled in all Mathematical Arts but especially in Astronomy Also he was assisted by both of them to amend divers faults of the Presse 1628. and because the latter signified that he had instructed Eleazar Feronceus an industrious Gardner of Herbs and a very ingenious man to observe the celestial Bodies therefore Peireskius laboured to get from him in particular some observations I passe over how he would needs also have and keep by him some observations of mine before I left Paris wherefore I sent him my Tables and among the rest my observations of that late Eclipse of the Moon whose chief appearances being observed at Aix did shew that the middle thereof was in the same year the 20. of January at nine a Clock and three fifths Now he sent it to Paris Rome Florence Padua Lovain and other places that if haply the like observation had bin made the difference of the interceding Meridians might be calculated For he was alwayes desirous to see Geography reformed about which he then wrote to Petrus Bertius exhorting him that together with the Edition of Eusebius he would hasten the sacred Geography which he had promised Not to speak how he delt with him to perswade him that he would set out a Map of the World according to the various descriptions of Dionysius Strabo Plinie Ptolemaeus and others That I may add somewhat touching observations he exceedingly desired that some Interpreter might be found out who could explain the Figures and Characters which were evidently to be seen upon a fragment of Brick-work which was not long before dug up at Babylon and sent to him for he conjectured it was some of that Brick-work upon which Plinie tells us from Epigenes that the Babylonians wrote the Observations which they made of the Stars for seven hundred and twenty years Upon which occasion he was much taken to consider that it should come into the mind of certain good men doubtless to ingrave an Inscription upon a stone at the Gate of the Chappel which stands overlooking a Rock at Druentia near Mirebel of which he was informed by a friend of his Joannes Gallaupius Castuellius who was Heire of his Fathers Vertues and Auditor of his Majesties Accounts For the said Inscription contains nothing else but a memorial of that Eclipse of the Sun which happened upon the third of the Nones of June in the year 239. of which he had formerly notice out of certain Registers and namely of our Church in which also there is mention of another seen in the year 1415. on Friday being the 7th of June an hour after Sun-rise of so great darkness that the Stars might most clearly be seen He had heard a little before of the death of Jacobus Allealmus the Mathematician for which he was exceeding sorrowful fearing the losse of certain works both of his own and of Franciscus Vieta the most renowned Geometrician Even as not long after hearing of the death of Fontaneus he feared the losse of many rarities and Manuscripts amongst which he was wont to commend a Book of Alciats de Rebus Mediolanensibus written with his own hand And it was his desire that rare and good Manuscripts if they were not quickly printed should be kept rather in publick then private Libraries because by that means they would be lesse subject to miscarriage But he desired withall that there were some men that should take care to bring to light by printing such as had lain too long in obscurity in the Libraries for which cause when he wrote to Cardinal Barborine he was very earnest with him beseeching him that out of the great good will he bore to learning he would cause the Vatican Printery to be set on work again that so many rare Greek Manuscripts might come abroad into the World And this he was occasioned to do by the generous design of Michael Jayus a Citizen of Paris who set up a Printery in which there was already begun an Edition of the Bible which would be more compleat then that which is called Plantains and the King of Spains Bible and because at Rome Holstenius was willing to take pains in the business Also he had heard of a dissertation which I had long since with Merindolus touching the passage of Chyle into the Liver For I found a way by the Porus cholidochus so called the Veins of the Mesentery being obstructed Having therefore writ him word that there was a Book published by Gasper Asellius Anatomist at Ticinum wherein he shewed how he had discovered certain milky veins in the Mesentery besides the commonly noted red ones which probably carried the Chylus he speedily got divers of the Books which he sent up and down to Physicians which were his friends experimenting in Dogs Sheep Oxen and most kind of Animals besides that which Asellius had written touching his rare invention Also when I had given him notice that Dr. William Harvey an English Physitian had set out an excellent Book of the passage of the blood out of the Veins into the Arteries and back out of the Arteries into the Veins by secret Anastomoses and that among other Arguments he confirmed the same by the valves of the Veins touching which he had heard somewhat from Aquapendens and whose Inventer he was wont to say was Father Paul Sarpi of Venice he would thereupon needs both have the Book and search out those valves and know other things as those winding passages in the Septum of the heart which Harvey denied but I made appear unto him In like manner being told of the many-pointed tongues of flies which might be plainly seen by an Augmenting-glasse he made many experiments in Insects of like nature and especially in Bees that he might thereby give occasion to Rigaltius to mend and illustrate Pliny his Chapter of Bees Likewise when Grotius had signified that there was a many headed Insect which bred in pieces of Wood fallen into the Sea he did not only look into all Authours which had written of any such thing but he enquired of all Fishers and other curious persons inhabiting upon the Sea-Coast and prevailed so far at last that he found out if not the same thing yet a Fish with seven heads and bodies as it were in the middle of unequal length implanted round about into a certain
in other places the first was Mr. William Camden who has merited so much of his Country Britannia with whom falling once into a discourse of the Antiquity of the British Language to which the Language of Bretagne in France does belong after he had asked him about many words used in severall Countries of France he demanded among the rest what Arelate or Arles and Tolo or Tolon might signifie to which Camden answered that Arelate in the Brittish tongue did signifie a City standing on moist or marish ground and that Tolon signified an Harpe peradventure by reason of a neighbouring Promontory called Citharistes or Harpers Hill He learned also of Camden other such like Interpretations by which he was brought almost to be of the mind of Strabo Tacitus and other who write that the French-men and the Britaines had at first but one and the same Language The next was Sr. Robert Cotton eminent amongst the honestly curious fort of men Also Jacobus Collius and his Father in Law Matthias Lobellus the Kings Herbalist both whom he was desirous to oblige Also Albericus Gentilis Sr. Henry Savill Johannes Nordenus and many more Nor must I passe over the then Learned young Man John Barclay whom how much he affected shall be shewn hereafter But he was wont to greive that he was not acquainted neither with Dr. Gilbert who wrote the Book touching the Nature of the Load-stone nor with Thomas Lydiate a a famous Mathematician I shall not here recount the many Libraries wherein he observed such books as were most rare nor the studies which he saw and out of which he procured all precious rarities he could But above all others he made great account of a precious stone which cost an hundred and fifty pounds Tours by reason that Aetio was graven thereupon with a Phrygian Tiara or Turbant upon his head being supposed to be the father of Andromache the wife of Hector I shall only tell you how that because he would depart sooner than was hoped he left a great misse of himself both in the Family of the Embassadour and among his learned friends who making afterwards sundry times mention of him it shall suffice here to extract a saying of the foresaid Camden in his description of Britain where speaking of certain coins belonging to this matter in hand he sayes Such as these were never dug up any where else that ever I heard of till of late the most noble Nicolas Faber Petriscius excellently skilled and most acute in judging of ancient Coins shewed me some of the same kind which were found in France And he had stayed indeed somewhat longer in England but because he had promised to be absent but three moneths therefore a moneth after he went into Holland which from the first he was resolved to take a full view of though he kept his intent secret When he was to depart a company of young Gentlemen would needs bear him company who came from France with Boderius But they were taken up with the exercise of Arms and other studies whereas he proceeded to make it his chief businesse to find out learned men And in the first place he saluted such as he understood to be most renowned at Middleburg Dort Roterdam Delft and the Hague but this he did only in passing and cursorily because his chief care was to visit Scaliger whole abode was at Leiden His resolution was to speak with him first under the notion of a stranger wherefore he changed his name and presented him with a Letter commendatory as written by Peireskius When Scaliger had read it he embraced him exceeding courteously for Peireskius his sake After much discourse divers books being occasionally brought forth Peireskius desired to write a few sines out of one of them whereupon having given him pen ink and paper and reading unto him that which he desired to write out he had no sooner writ a line or two but Scaliger knew his hand whereupon he fell to embrace him in most amiable manner complaining how he had beguiled him And falling afterwards into a most delicious discourse of divers matters Scaliger among other things declared that he intended to make a second Edition of Eusebius for the first Edition did not altogether please him and of his Fathers Commentary upon Aristotle de Animalibus but that afterwards neverthelesse he was intended to return into France and to lay his bones by the bones of his Father Julius And when Peireskius replied That he would not then die in a false beleef that is a Protestant Scaliger wept but gave him no answer Peireskius having expounded to him divers coins and especially shekels he bestowed upon him though against his will a rare Semi-shekel whose interpretation he admired above all the rest He also gave him again by way of requital many things which was most delightfull to him he gave him the desired and expected draught of the sepulchres of the Scaligers with the verses written upon the said sepulchres which he brought along with him to that end For he had received the said draught but the March before from Verona nor could he get it before though he writ often about it because Nichezola had been sundry times sick and because Sylvius Donius who first began the work died while he was about it One thing there was about which Peireskius would fain have asked Scaliger but he never durst do it lest he should trouble him that was his book touching the Quadrature of a Circle which he had printed twelve yeers ago and which was presently by Franciscus Vieta and Adrianus Romanus aud afterwards by Christofer Clavius the best Geometrician among the Jesuites and other learned and expert Mathematicians convicted to be erroneous For he had been forewarned that if he should harp upon that string it would stir his choler And as concerning his pedigree he would not make shew of the least doubt whether he were indeed descended from the Princes of Verona whose stock he said did end in him yet with a little more freedom and as desirous to know how he should answer others he laid before him what was objected by Scioppius Guillandinus and others After Scaliger his care was to visit Carolus Clusius who being over fourscore yeers old began to be troubled with the gout as also Scaliger had begun to be troubled therewith a few months before He found him taking care that the figure of the Fungus Coralloïdes or Corall-fashioned-Mushromp which he had sent him out of Provence with almost an innumerable company of other kinds of Plants Roots and Seeds might be printed in the second Appendix to his History of Outlandish Plants And he seasonably advertized him touching some Indian Plants in the description whereof he had erred and some which he had never heard of before producing withall the descriptions of them according to the Fruits shewed him at Paris by Vespasianus Robinus After Clusius he visited the chief Lights of the University and particularly
contracted friendship with Bonaventura Vulcanius who was then busied about the Edition of Procopius with Dominicus Baudius who besides his skill in History was an elegant Poet and with some others But he was wont to grieve because Heinsius was then absent from Leiden whom he heard Scaliger more than once commend He went afterwards to Amsterdam where he could hardly be satisfied with questioning about and viewing so many excellent rarities which are brought out of both the Indies to that famous Mart. He went to Enchuysen to see the closet of rarities of Bernardus Paludanus where he could have spent his whole life with content In his return staying a while at the Hague he would not depart till he became acquainted with Hugo Grotius who though a young man was adorned with mature learning of all sorts Also he stept aside to Scheveling to make triall of the carriage and swiftnesse of a waggon which some yeers before was made with such Art that it would run swiftly with sails upon the land as a ship does in the sea For he had heard how Grave Maurice after the victory at Nieuport for triall sake got up into it with Don Francisco Mendoza taken in the fight and within two hours was carried to Putten which vvas fourteen miles from Scheveling He therefore vvould needs try the same and vvas vvont to tell us hovv he vvas amazed vvhen being driven by a very strong gale of vvind yet he perceived it not for he vvent as quick as the vvind and vvhen he savv hovv they flevv over the ditches he met vvith and skimmed along upon the surface onely of standing vvaters vvhich vvere frequently in the vvay hovv men vvhich ran before seemed to run backvvards and hovv places vvhich seemed an huge vvay off vvere passed by almost in a moment and some other such like passages At Delft he was pleasantly entertained by Abrahamus Gorlaeus whom it was his hap to find taking care to have certain Greek Coins engraven some of which he had sent him from Paris having formerly given him to the quantity of a thousand which he had brought with him out of Italy For Gorlaeus was endeavouring to supply such Coins as were wanting which he had promised in his Dactyliotheca or Treasury of Rings and Seals a book so called therefore he committed the copy which was shortly to be printed to Peireskius that he according to his candor might weigh the same and blot out what he did not like and he faithfully followed his corrections especially in somewhat which he had writ touching Trajan And here he was wont to relate a thing worth observation viz. How Gorlaeus though unacquainted with the Latine tongue yet understood all Latine books concerning Coins after the same manner as Forcatulus understood all Mathematicall books so effectuall is obstinate labour springing from a most vehement defire of knowing any thing He saw also at Delft a Nun yet remaining alive ever since the Hollanders had apostatized from the Romane Catholike Religion having formerly seen at Utrecht a Canon a kind of Friar permitted to live according to his first profession And whereas he admired not only all the monuments of Antiquity which were remaining at Utrecht but also whatever the Domination of the Dukes of Burgundy lest remaining so did he most of all admire and exceedingly commend the Hollanders because they refrained from demolishing the Temples preserving the Quires untoucht with the Scutcheons of the Knights of the Golden Fleece annexed thereunto which were institured in the dayes of Philip sirnamed the Good But he intended to return thōrow Brabant Flanders and the rest of the Belgick Provinces having first obtained a sase conduct or passe from the Hollanders and the Arch-Duke And first of all he came to Antwerp about the end of July where he contracted friendship with Andreas Schottus and Carolus Scribanius learned men of the Society of Jesus also with Aubertus Miraeus Dean of the Church and excellently skilled in the Belgick and Ecclesiasticall Histories and with Nicolaus Roccoxius a man exceedingly delighted with the study of Antiquities and with Henricus Sedulius Authour of the life of St. Elziarius Afterwards when he came from Mechlin to Lovain nothing so much grieved him as the death of Justus Lipsius that same excellent Light and Load-star of all good literature extinguished a few moneths before For he hoped quickly to have obliged him as well as he had done Scaliger by all kind of civilities and services He grieved likewise that Adrianus Romanus that famous Mathematician was not there at that time whom he exceedingly longed to reconcile to Scaliger After he had seen the Academy and the learned men which were therein he would needs go to the house of a certain Physicians widow to see a couple of Hares with horns which were said to have been brought from Norwey And because he found one of them dead he would buy what ever it cost him both the horns thereof and the pictures of both of them At Brussels he became acquasnted with Carolus Bromanius Count of Brovey and some others but he was most of all taken with the samous Painter Venceslaus Cobergus who had then in hand a rare quadripartite work of the Architecture painting and writing of the Ancients of the images of the Gods of the Coins or rather Medals or brazen pieces from Julius Caesar to Galienus Moreover he was wont to tell of divers discourses he had with him concerning the severall parts thereof but especially the last because of the opinion of Cobergus that these Medals could not be money his chief argument being because the stamp which was upon them would ask the workman two moneths to make it so that seeing there could not above two hundred be coined by the same stamp the price of the work would have amounted far above the value of the money Touching this discourse I onely remember that Peireskius made answer that they used the labour of their servants which cost them nothing and Cobergeus replied that this was done when it was forbidden to servants not onely to paint any thing but to learn the Art of Painting When he was about to depart from Brussels he wrote a very learned Epistle to Sir Robert Cotton and sent him also the prints of divers moneys and namely one of Commodus by reason of the unusuall orthography of the word Brittania with a doublet and singlen Then he salnted at Gaunt Laurentius Deebrotius whom he knevv in Italy At the Isles Florentius Nallaeus a learned Canon Authour of the Liturgick Antiquities At Tornay Dionysius Willerius a Canon and Chancellour and Hieronymus Winghemius also a Canon the one a rare Antiquary the other exceedingly addicted to the knowledge of rare Plants At Doway William Richardotus the son of John the President with whom he kept sriendship ever since his being in Italy and Andreas Hojus Greek Prosessour whom I have heard relate with what delight he was present at the most sweet discourses of Peireskius and
foot broad between the shoulders and five foot deep upon the chest That the scull was observed to be five foot long and ten foot in compasse Which prodigious spectacle being viewed an whole day together the rest of the bones turned to ashes there remaining onely those which were carried to Paris and seen by every body viz. a part of the lower jaw-bone two Vertebra's of the back-bone some pieces of a rib shoulder-blade and thigh-bone the other thigh-bone the shank an huckle-bone an heel besides some fragments which were not sent to Paris as namely of a thigh-bone and likewise two teeth Moreover it was reported that there were sound about fifty pieces of silver Coin with the picture of Marius upon them and on the other side the letters MA being the beginning of his name from whence they would needs have it concluded that Theutobachus the Teutonick King being vanquished by Marius was buried there a man of so tall a stature that Authors report him to have been higher than the trophies which were carried as tokens of victory and that he was wont to leap over sour or five yea six horses Moreover as Peireskius questioned the truth of the report so he considered with himself what might give occasion to such a fable especially after he had read over a book which Nicolaus Habigotus a Chirurgeon of Paris had written thereof He questioned not but that such bones were found in that place and he granted that they might be the bones of some more ancient Gyant but he could never be perswaded that they were his bones whose they were reported to be For in the first place neither Theutobochus nor his Subjects used the Latine tongue so that they should make a Latine Inscription upon any tomb which they would erect nor would the Romans in case according to the kindnesse they used towards their enemies they had built the tomb have made it of bricks for a plaistered work it was not which was not then in use for Sepulchres but of marble or at least of some other stone whereon they might engrave a memoriall both of their victory and of the kindnesse expressed to their enemies also they would have chosen an high or at least a stony place and not on so sandy and infirm as that was lest it should easily come to be overwhelmed or overturned Also he wondered that the stone with its Inscription was neither kept nor shewed which ought to have been sent to Paris with the bones and that the Sepulchre was not left untouched or at least some remarkable Reliques thereof as the Lord of the place who was curious to spread the report of the Gyants bones could not but desire It increased his suspition in that the dimensions of the scull were said to be taken it being found whole and yet that it should turn to dust so soon whiles other bones remained firm For the hatchers of this fabulous story seemed to fear lest by diligent inspection thereof and comparing the same with some dead mans scull the truth might have been more easily found out As for the Coins he said Those letters did not signifie Marius whose former name Caius would not have been omitted nor would the name Marius have been set down to halfs but entire after the Romane manner but that it signified rather MAssilia Marseiles which was then a Republike and to which as a Graecian City that fashion of Coin was proper and not to the Romanes And because not long ago nor â—ar from that place many such pieces had been found and he had received some from the renowned Frerius of whom we spake before for that cause he suspected whether or no the places as well as the times had not been feigned And whereas Theutobochus is recorded in story to have been taller then the Trophies that argues him to have been ten or twelve foot high according to our Vulgar feet for such was the height of the Trophies which were carried in Triumphs reckoning in the height of those that carried them and the length of their Armes lifted up and such the Stature of the Heroes was reported to have been viz. halse as high again as the ordinary Stature of Men but not 25. foot Nor is that which is written of his leaping over or bestriding four or six Horses so to be understood as if he had stretched his thighes so wide as to bestride them all at once but because it was his custome to passe from one Horse to another that is to change his Horses often because he soon wearied them with his Heavinesse Which may be gathered in that Florus who recorded that passage tells us that he was wont to mount upon four or six Horses whereas when he fled he had hardly an Horse to carry him intimating that he had not such a Multitude of Horses with him as his custome was to have for his own use Finally he discoursed many things both touching the place of the Victorie touching the Triumph a Part or Pageant whereof was Theutobochus and of some other things whereby the Credit of the foresaid Report was weakened He obtained also in his latter years some fragments of these kind of Bones but by looking upon them he was more confirmed in his opinion supposing at last that these great Bones which we often admire at when Sepulchers are digged up to be Elephants Bones as if the Lords of those Beasts had prized them or peradventure intended to abuse Posterity by their so carefull burying of them Also he was of opinion that Bones are sometimes shewed which have been dug out of Sands or other Places where they had been casually overwhelmed with Earth since it is hard to find a man deserving credit who has seen those Sepulchers so built with his own eyes only we credit such us sell them shew them or pâ—oâ—esse that they found or digged them up Which made him often wish that some man that could neither deceive nor be deceived would saile into Sicilie and make Inquisition about those Bones of Gyants which are said to be dug up not far from Palermo especially the Sculls For he hoped that such a man would use that ingenious Speech of Suetonius That at Capreae there are great Bones of vast Beasts which are said to be the Bones of Gyants But enough and too much of this Subject 1614. The year following proved a cruell year by reason of the death of divers of his renowned friends For he understood by Letters which Gualdus sent him being dated in April that Contarenus the Procurator was dead at Venice Lalius Pasealinus at Rome and Nichezola at Verona Also he heard afterwards that the most excellent Velserus died at Augsburg on the 24. day of June and soon after Casaubon died in England Yea and he also himself in a Letter which he wrote in the Moneth of May to Natalitius Benedictus makes mention of the Duke of Arschotan as dead In another Letter he makes mention of the death
a confused and indigested Masse or heap yet was he never long in seeking any thing in so great an heap provided that none medled with ms Rarities Books or Papers but himself and that rome body else being commanded to ferch this or that had not put them out of order For to say nothing of his Books which were all titled and distributed into certain Classes and proper places as much as might be and which he could describe to Simeon Corberanus an ingenious Joyner by any the least circumstance even where they were not methodically digested he was wont so to digest and bind up into bundles with paper or some other covering all other things that with his own hand he would write litles upon every bundle intimating whatsoever was therein contained And whereas he was accustomed in a peculiar manner to bind up into bundles such Letters as he received according to the variety of Perfons Places or Times he first writ upon each who wrote the same from whence what year moneth and day and subjoyned a brief Index of the chief matters which in reading he had marked with a line drawn under them for by this meanes he was holpen both to answer the same more distinctly and speedily as also to finde the same if at any time he went to seek any thing in his Letters And if any new matters were contained in his Letters which others desired to be acquainted with he did not promiscuously shew them but caused them so to be written out that he first enclosed within certain bars or lines what he would have omitted in the transcription cutting off such names of men things and business as he desired to conceal also changing and sweerening the phrase that no offence might be taken And as he was wont to keep carefully such Letters as were sent him by others so did he cause his Scribes to write Copies of such as he himself wrote which he kept by themselves according to the variety or condition of the Countries or Persons to whom fie sent them And being sometime demanded why he did so he answered Not because he thought his Letters worth keeping but because it concerned him many times to see what long since or lately he had written or not written least he might inculcate the same thing after the same manner and so become tedious or might omit that which he was uncertain whether he had written or no or least such things which he had sought out and digested with great care might slip out of his memory or he might want wherewith to convince such as should deny that he had informed them of this or that or finally least in case his Letters should come to misearry he must be forced to take pains to compose new ones As for the reading of Books he had truly in his latter yeares little time to bestow therein For he was wholly in a manner taken up with writing of Letters and when he did run over any Books he did it chiefly that he might collect somewhat from them to put into his Letters And whensoever he gave himself to reading he was not wont cursorily to slip or run over the difficult places but he kept a slow pace and was wont to stop when he met with any difficulty To which end he alwayes had his pen at hand with which he drew a line under obscure places and whatever he thought worthy of observation For he said that he was thereby put in mind vvhen he toook the Book in hand again to consider afresh the difficult passages to inculcate and imprint upon his mind such things as vvere most observable and readily to finde what vvas most for his turn He vvas not therefore of their mind vvho having gotten fair Books are afraid to blot them vvith such lines or marginal notes for he esteemed those Books most highly into which he could insert most notes and therefore he commonly caused all his Books when they were in Quires to be washed over with Alum-water and when he foresaw their Margents would not be large enough he caused white paper to be bound between the printed leaves Also he was wont when he received any observations from his friends either to write them into his Books with his own hands or to cause his said friends or some others to write them in In like manner if he had received by gift or had bought Books which had belonged to learned men he esteemed them â— so much the more highly by how much the fuller they were of such things as they had inserted with their own hand-writing And he was exceeding desirous to get into his Hands Books of the Authours own hand-writing especially such as had not bin printed when ever he could procure them of the Authours or their Heires which he would cause to be printed or if the Authours were unwilling he would at least have them written out for his own use And for this very cause he had alwayes Scribes in readiness amongst which I must not forger to name his most faithful and laborious Scribe Franciscus Parrotus that whether in the vulgar Languages or in Larine Greek Arabick or Turkish or any other Language he would have any thing transcribed he might not fail to have it done to his mind For he could never endure that the least invention or observation of any man should be lost being alwayes in hopes that either himself or some other would be advantaged thereby And it is requisite that I acquaint you that as he was careful of all other studies so was he not unmindful of that which concerned his own Office For conceiving that every man who by the condition of his birth or his own free Election was destined to some kind of publick life ought chiefly to bend his mind to that which his Office and Designation required and that asterward he might divert to other studies at his pleasure Therefore he himself though he followed indeed other studies yet did he not therefore cease to exercise himself in that Art wherein he was most studied and whereof he made Profession For he studied the Lawes after the liberal method of Cujaeins which tends to illustrate the said Lawes from the Fountains themselves and fundamental Maxims of Equity and Right rather then from the rivulets of the Doctors or Lawyers And this it was that chiefly made him affect the study of Antiquity because it gave him great light therein and besides a Manuscript of the Pandects which he had he sought after the Manuscripts also of other Books because some places in the printed Books had need to receive light from them And upon this occasion truly I remember how doubting upon a time and the Florentine Pandects could not perfectly satisfie him what the Interpretation should be of that Law called Neratius concerning possession kept or lost only by the mind he wrote to Rome that out of an old Manuscript of Cardinal Barberino's the Text of that Law with the Marginal Interpretations might
intimated So for the most part the Moon marked on did signifie an unity not only because she alone does enlighten the night with rare splendor but because from the word Luna L being taken there remains una which signifies one So upon some was marked that side of the Astragalus or Cock-all which being cast uppermost makes one and upon others that side was only understood the opposite being expressed called Senio Sice or Six The like things he declared in the other parts of the As or pound weight as when in the Semissis or half pound was marked an ear of Corn because the ancients alluded to the words Semiuis Semissis but thus much may suffice to have hinted to shew how he by his study industrious sagacious examination of these things could interpret matters which no Books could shew which therefore did so much the more aflonish the hearers For it was otherwise a lesse wonder though many were justly delighted therewith that he could as well eloquently discourse of vessels and measures as he could by producing the vessels and measures of the Ancients make clear demonstration of what he said And verily as oft as any Vessel Coin or Statue or any other extraordinary thing was presented to him he was alwaies wont as soon as he could so to weigh and consider the same that before he laid it up or restored it to the owner he would perfectly know all that might be known or conjectured touching the same For he consulted with his Books compared it with like things and called to mind what ever he had observed that might give light thereunto and by all posble Art he enquired into the capacity weight or shape thereof and asked the opinion of all learned men in all parts of the world and collected all his own conjectures which he could by any reason make good and in brief he would not let it passe till he knew as much thereof as it was possible for any mortal man to know And when he had arrived so far then either he inserted all he knew into a Book of the same or like matter or he wrote it in a sheet of paper to be put into his commentaries or he took occasion to write a Letter one or more wherein he explained the fruit of his labours in that subject It is therefore no wonder seeing all his life long he used this diligence that nothing could be propounded which like another Oedipus he did not presently explain and unfold The same course he took touching the wonderful things of Nature of which seeing all along we have made frequent mention it is needless to make any further specification in this place It may suffice to say that no man made more observations or procured more to be made to the end that at last some Notions of natural things more sound and pure than the vulgarly received might be collected for which cause he admired the Genius and approved the design of the great Chancellour of England Sir Francis Bacon often grieving that he never had the happinesse to speak with him being then alive when he was at and came last from Paris He was verily displeased with that Doctrine of Nature which is commonly taught in the Schools as being too obscure and imaginary built more upon tricks of Wit than experiments of Nature He was therefore wont to frown and look with a very discontented countenance when he met with such Writers of natural Philosophy which did contend more with subtilty than solidity and though he commended the acuteness of their wits yet he grieved that it was worn out rather about words and trivial distinctions than employed in penetrating into the nature of the things themselves whose very surface was still unknown And if they were very stifly opinionated and addicted either to the Aristotelean or any other Sect he would leave them to their own wisdom and never conrest with them about any thing but if they were such which for Love of Truth would lay aside prejudice had rather gently to hear then stubbornly contradict then would he pour forth such discourses as they could not but receive with pleasure and applause For although they did not altogether allow some of his opinions yet were they wonderfully affected while he did evermore confirm his opinions either by the observations of such things as though vulgar were not sufficiently marked or by the relation of his own or other mens experiments of which he had alwaies plenty to produce so continually curious was he to note down and collect the same or by producing the things themselves about which the question was for he was furnished with an infinite quantity of rare Minerals Stones Plants Animals such as for any price or by any Art he could obtain and keep By the Premises may be gathered that he was not pleased with those Logical and Metaphysical niceties which are no waies prositable and serve to maintain bawling and contentious disputes For though he was delighted to hear a thing acutely concluded yet he grieved that the Subject matter was but a trifle So was he also many times troubled when he heard men discourse of sublime things which fall not under sense For that the mind of man could ascend so high as to Ideas and separate substances that he accounted a thing to be admired and commended but to dream so many things concerning them and to go about to prove the same by such weak Reasons and Analogies that was a thing which he did not approve but pittie For he was grieved that excellent wits should passe over unknown and unhandled such things as we see with our eyes and feel with our fingers and busie themselves about such matters as they cannot reach no not so much as by a probable conjecture Yea and he was wont to say that he was not without fear that the Doctors did presume too far when with such confidence they disputed so many things touching God and matters Divine besides what the Christian Faith teaches us to believe For all the Decrees of Faith he said must be accounted indubitable but what they discourse over and above cannot be but doubtful and seeing what is maintained by one is contradicted by many the Majesty of sacred divinity is thereby violated For which cause he could indeed bear with those unprofitable publick disputes in matters Logical Physical Medicinal and such like but he could not with patience endure the boldness of such as would take upon them to prove that there is no God that God is unjust impotent improvident miserable and the like for though they said they did it to illustrate the truth yet he thought it was a thing undecent and that no Prince or discreet man could take it well that such things should be controverted concerning himself especially when there was no need of such disputes He could better bear that manners should be called in Question and controverted provided the Statutes of Religion and Laws of
with his brother at Brinonia where the Court of Subsidies and Accounts were then kept because the pestisence was at Aix he desired that he might be instructed in the San-Maximitan Colledge which had the repute to flourish in the studies of learning Nor is it a thing to be past over in silence how he perswaded his father 1588. to commit his brother being younger to his care that he might oversee his young studies 1589. nor must it be forgotten how he was from this time forward in stead both of a father and a master to his brother and how his brother did reverence him both as a paret and master A yeer being passed over and the plague beginning at Sanmaximinus they were called to Belgenser and a yeer after from thence to Aix where their uncle then abode Afterwards when the civil wars grew hot upon the death of Henry the third 1590. they were sent to Avenion where they studied five whole yeers in the Jesuites Colledge And Peireskius was wont to relate that he was much indebted to Antonius Colombatius and Andreas Valladerius whom he heard they being the chief Professors of Humanity For he said they were wont to abate him somewhat in other studies that he might surely addict himself to the reading of Histories not neglecting in the mean while the studie of poetrie and of the Greek tongue For those Learned men rejoyced that there was not so much need to guide his Course as to shew him the way a far off for which they deserve Commendations in that they would not burthen his Noble brest with that servitude which makes many altogether hate the studies of Humanity and polite literature or too much to accustome themselves to mean matters Also he was wont to tell how mightily he was encouraged when they also publikely commended him because he had the whole History of Justin and the Metamorphosis of Ovid at his fingers ends and could never make an end of consulting with Books whereby he might come to know all the particular circumstances of every matter For which cause he was a verse unto all plaies and shews that he might give himself wholly to the reading and transcribing of all particularities Wherein I conceive he over did for the mind must be unbent by fits nor must a man study presently after meat which because the Overseer of his studies were not sufficiently carefull of hence it came that he was pained oftentimes in his stomack and in his head He had well high finished the 15. year of his Age 1595. when he returned to Aix where he studied Philosophie an whole year His Uncle was desirous that he should Learn in the mean while to handle Armes ride the Horse and exercise his limbs with dancing But because these exercises robbed him of other more pleasing houres he performed them indded to please his Uncle but no longer then his Masters were by that taught him for he would never practise by himself so much better did he account it to be alwaies reading writing or hearing some point of Learning About this time there was brought to his Uncle a peice of Golden Coine of Arcadius which was found at Belgenser He presently desired to have it and when he had read the Letters about it and had set down the Emperors name whose Coine it was he brought it presently to his Uncle again who to gratifie him gave him not only two other peices of ancient Coine but also Books by which he might be further instructed in the knowledge of such Antiquities And from this time forwards his most curious mind began to burn like fire in a wood for he began eagerly to seek out and collect all the ancient Coines which he could come by being eagerly bent to read and Interpret their Inscriptions upon which occasion also he began to seek out all kind of Inscriptions whether belonging to Sepulchers or others and studiously to observe them Then he was sent with his Brother to Turney 1596. that he might there go through a Course of Philosophie as they were wont to call it his Brother being as yet taken up with Humanitie And being in a special maner inflamed with the study of the Mathematicks he eagerly drunke in that Cosmographie which was there taught assuring himselfe that History without it and Chronologie was altogether in the dark and unintelligible And therefore after the use of the Sphere he Learnt the use of the Astrolabe writeing divers Letters to a workman and expostulating the matter with him because he had long since promised to make him an Astrolabe but had been negligent in the performance of his promise In that mean season he abated nothing in his studies of Antiquity upon which account he was dearly affected by Petrus Royerus one of the professors nor in his studies of Humanitie in generall in which he was as it were his Brothers Master and Instructer But to do all this he was fain to sit up late in the night at his study Hence it was that partly by reason of the naturall weaknesse of his Constitution partly by his continuall labours and late watchings he encreased the weaknesse of his stomach formerly contracted which made him use a powder which in his Letters to his Father he called his Digessive powder And because I have mentioned his Letters it is seasonable to observe that from this time forward he was accurate in his style writing his Letters over and over againe in severall papers which it has been my hap to view by which it is appatent that he used no phrases which were luxuriaot or undigested For he evermore expressed what he intended with common words yet not without that Elegancy and civilitie with which in testifying his good will observance and gratitude in excusing commending congratulating and such like passages he was admirable For to instance writing to his mother in Law upon occasion of certain Tokens received from her he thus expressed himself Foelices videmur ô mater quód beneficiis tuis cumulamur sed infoelices tamen quando sic illis obrisimur ut agnoscendo impares simus That is I account my self happy dear mother in the frequent expressions of your love yet am I therein unhappie that their multitude is such that I cannot sufficiently acknowledge or requite them And while he wrote thus he returned the best Tokens he was able for even in those younger years he could not endure to be overcome with kindnesse as far as his ability would give him leave Sutable hereunto writing to a freind equall to himself in years and even then hating ingratitude I would lay violent hands upon my self saies he if I might be justly accused of the least neglect of my duty to my freinds From the same gratefull inclination it was that he commended the care of his Instructers that they might by that meanes receive from his Father and Uncle far larger Gratuities then had been promised To come again to his studies
their studies and behaviour though the modestie and discretion of them both but especially of Peireskius was such that it was rather a point of Honour then any matter of necessity to appoint them a Tutor Wherefore Paulus Gudanes Fonvivius a Gentlem an of Berne who was returned from his Travailes in Italie Poland Germanie and other Countries and had seen the severall Humors of many Nations and their Cities and whom the Chancellour Bellevre had resolved to send with his own Son he was chosen to be their Tutour With him therefore they departed about the beginning of September and Peireskius chose rather to set out at the Haven of Cannes then any where else both that he might visit an ancient Monastery situate not far off in the Island Lerius as also that he might view in passing the ancient Monuments of Freius When they were come to Geniia and had sufficiently viewed those magnificent Palaces they were yet to saile by Porto-Venere and L'Ericy but Peiresk us would go the rest of the way by Land both because he was sick at Sea and because he intended curiously to view some things which he had in his mind For he had made himself by his own Industry a Iournall Book and was resolved not so to travaile right on from City to City but if he heard of any thing worthy observation here or there he would turn out of his rode and go thither if he had a mind to it For which cause he never of his own accord joyned himself in Company with any Strangers and when others joyned themselves to him he would use some civill excuse to intimate before hand that they must shortly part Company And these digressions of his at the very beginning had like to cost him dear for turning out of his way to see the Mines of Massa one of the Baudity or Robbers so called had so took upon him to be his guide that unlesse shee had been timely discovered he would have brought him where he should have had his throat cur Having staid a while at Luca he desired to view a rare Closet of Curiosities which was at Pisa but he could not do it before he had visited Liburnum and returned thither again And I remember among other things which he was wont to tell us he saw there how he wondered most at a sprig of Corall which grew upon a dead mans skull which I therefore observe because this was none of the least reasons which moved him to go and see men fish for Corall of which we shall speak hereafter in its place Briefly to passe over other places he went from thence thorow Florence Bononia Ferraria and when he had staid a few dayes at Venice he finally settled his abode at Padua He had been there hardly a few moneths when his vertue began to be renowned thorow the whole University For though he and his brother were frequent hearers and visiters of the Professours of Law and namely of Jacobus Gallus Bartholomaeus Silvatcius Joachimus Scainus and Ottonellus Piscalcius yet did he visit all the other learned men of the University and quickly brought them into an admiration of him Among the rest Thomas Segetus the very same whom Lipsius had commended in the third Century of his Epistles did so testifie his good will and respects unto him that he put down this by way of preface and title GENIO GALLIAE NARBONENSIS INGENIO ET MATURAE IMMATURO AEVO NICOLAI FABRICII VIRTUTI SACRUM PRID. NATAL CHRISTI M.D.IC. that is To the Genius of Provence in France to the wit and in unripe yeers ripe vertue of Nicolaus Fabricius I consecrate this testimoniall And that rare man Erycius Puteanus not only praised by Lypsius and afterward his Successour in the University but now already ordained to be both the Kings Chronologer and chief Professour of Oratory at Millain made use of this following Inscription CUI GRATIAE ADOLESCENTIAM ORNANT ERUDITIO JUVENTAM PRUDENTIA SENECTAM IS ADULESCENS VOLUPTATEM AMICIS CREAT JUVENIS HONOREM PATRIAE SENEX UTRUMQUE SIBI TU VERO NICOLAE FABRICI CUNCTA SIMUL AMICIS PATRIAE TIBI IN SPE AETATIS ET FLOREM JUVENTAE ET FRUCTUM SENECTAE PROFESSUS PATAVII ∞ DC KAL FEBR. That is He whose youth is adorned by the Graces his mature age with learning and his old age with wisdom is a Pleasure to his frieuds in his youth an Honour to his Countrey in his riper yeers and both to himself in his old age But as for thee O Nicolas Fabricius Thou art all at once to thy Friends thy Countrey and thy Self for in thy hopefull yeers thou discoverest at once both the blossoms of youth and the fruits of old age 1600. Padna the Kalends of February 1600. And these are the testimoniall Inscriptions which among many others I thought good to relate And as he drew the eyes and attentions of all men so was he best known and most dear to the renowned Johannes Vincentins Pinellus who being by originall and blood from Genoa and born at Naples made choice of that city wherein quietly to passe his dayes giving himself wholly to promote good Arts and ingenuous Literature For he had provided a most complearly furnisht Library and a Store-house of all most exquisite rarities and curiosities so that he furnished all the learned men of that age both far and near with such books or other things as they stood in need of He being most skilfull in all curious things did stir up all men to study and kept open house to entertain the discourses and acquaintance of learned men both Italians and other Countrey-men Lipsius and Scaliger and Thuanus and Casaubon and Pithaeus have given testimony of his worth and who not among the learned He therefore being such a man fell presently in love with the Genius of Peireskius as being so very like his own So that he did both admire and reverence vertue and learning grown up and almost come to maturity in a Youth There are many Letters yet to be seen whereby he testified the greatest familiarity possible one while asking his advice in many particulars about coins the places where matters mentioned in stories had been acted touching the answers which he was to return to the demands of Ursinus Velserus and others otherwhiles giving him thanks for his interpretations of hard matters places in anthors for sending him books patterns of rarities copies of manuscripts and other things sometimes by way of requitall sending him such books rarities inscriptions letters as he had received lately from Rome or other parts otherwhiles inviting him to know discourse behold passe his judgement and the like all which to particularize would be redious not to speak of the Letters which to the number of sourty he wrote to him when he was at Venice Florence or Rome all very familiar and full of testifications of the greatest good will imaginable Now Peireskius was wont to go once a quarter to Venice both to receive moneys to
pray you entreat him that he may not refuse and give not ever I again beseech you untill you have perswaded him After Velserus Josephus Justus Scaliger must follow that renowned Person more famously known then to need my Commendation He I say must follow to make it appear how freely and cheerfully Peireskius devoted himself to him and other Learned Men. For he truly exceedingly applauded his own good fortune that such a friend had succeeded into the Place of Pinellus That you may understand the occasion it was thus Scaliger had writ to Pinellus to procure him certain Hebrew Books also certain Coines of the Scaligers that had been Princes and sent with all certain things of his own and fathers wriring which they had written with their own individuall hands also both their Pictures as he had desired him Carolus Clusius wrote at the same time and sent one of his Books of the History of rare Plants and the Picture of Lobelius which was desired not to speake of the Letters which Scaliger sent to Carolus Leberoneus Bishop of Valence who dwelt then at Padua They came to Padua when not only Pinellus was dead but Caesar also the Duke of Atheruntium was gone out of the City who was Pinellus his Brothers Son And because he had left Order with Gualdus that if any Letters came to his Uncle he should receive them send them to him to Naples therefore Gualdus received all and before he sent them did make Peireskius therewith acquainted Whereupon Peireskius set pen to paper and wrote back to Scaliger acquainting him with the death both of Pinellus and the Bishop and assuring him that what he had sent would be thankfully accepted by the soresaid Caesar he took upon himself the Care of procuring those Hebrew Books and Coines which he had desired Pinellus to get for him promising that he would at least by the first opportunity send him some which he had already offering also to communicate some other things in his Custody tending to the Illustration of the familie of Scaligers which because he had in Veneration he added that he could not let those Pictures of him and his Father go before he had procured Copies of them He wrote in like manner to Clusius and it cannot be expressed how much they professed themselves obliged to so generous a disposition and such singular Humanity Which occasioned this speech of Scaliger in a Letter to Velserus which is inserted into the third Book in which I received quoth he those Coines of the Familie of Scaligers together with yours and our friend Fabricius his Letters for which I give you thanks I have not yet received those Hebrew Books which he sent me out of Italie because they are among the goods of Raphelengius which are not yet arrived As soon as I shall receive them I will both write to him to give him thankes and you shall be sure to hear again from me Now this Letter was written on the fourth of the Ides of May. And to acquaint you with some others to whom he cheerfully lent his assistance In the first place what ever Pinellus had taken in hand in favour of Learned men he endeavoured with all his might to accomplish and bring the same to perfection For he left no stone unturned nothing unessaied that he might effect what Pinellus had promised to Prosper Alpinus a very famous Physitian about the gayning of a Treatife touching a third Sect of Methodicall Physitians And whereas we should speake of those whom after the example of Pinellus he assisted one may serve instead of all viz. the foresaid Pignorius who interpreting the Table of Isis that is to say a famous Brazen table full of Aegyptiun Hieroglyphicks which being a Relick of Petrus Bembus the Cardinall was at that time kept as a rarity in the Library of the Duke of Mantua gives thankes in the first place to Velserus but then adds and to Nicolas Frabricius Lord of Chalasium a young Gentleman most illustrious by the Splendor of his family and and his own profound Learning who has not only bountifully communicated most rare reliques of Antiquitie wherewith he is most richly furnished for the use of my self and other students but has been very careful that we might have the use of the Rarities of othermen By his Industrie it is that not only at Venice I have upon all occasious had accesse to the rare Coines and prccious stones of the most illustrious Fridericus Contarenus Procurator of St. Marke and of Johannes Mocenicus but also at Rome I was admitted to the rich Treasurie of that gallant man Laelius Pascalinus out of which I was furnished with Coines Gemms Seales all rare From the said Fabricius I must acknowledge to have received all which I publish to the world out of the precious Treasuries of Natalitius Benedictus from which these Augmentations of ours have received both strength and spirit For all which we have produced to Illustrate the History of Epiphanius Irenaeus and the other Fathers touching their cudgelling of the ancient Sectaries came from thence These things I have set down at large because they confirme much of what has been said before And I shall add as touching Pignorius how when he wrote his book of the Antiquities of Padua Peireskius procured for him of Johannes Vincentius Porta that which he afterward did commit to writing as also Philippus Tomasinus touching an arm of Titus Livius viz. how the Citizens of Padua took an arm from among the bones of Titus Livius which they kept and bestowed it upon that renowned Patron of learning Alphousus King of Arragon he most earnestly by Antonius Panormita his Embassadour desiring the same in the yeer of Christ 1451. And when no body knew what was become of this arm Peireskius took occasion to send certain tokens to Porta as it were in recompence of the Effigies of a certain marble wherein was expressed the ancient manner of putting Souldiers sub jugum under the yoke or Gallows and withall earnestly desired him to write him word what he could by his great sagacity discover touching the said arm Who returned him by way of answer that neither King Alphonsus being prevented by death nor yet Panormita could accomplish the buriall of the said arm according as they desired but his successour being Secretary of State had placed it under a marble stone without the Oratory with this Inscription Here lies the arm of Titus Livius the Historiographer which was in times past procured by Antonius Panormita and many yeers after buried in this place by Johannes Jovianus Pontanus Neverthelesse this marble had not been seen for many yeers last past by reason of a Chappell built thereupon by a Covent of I know not what Friers Moreover as Peireskius was bountifull towards Pignorius so was he likewise to Ulysses Aldrovandus that same famous writer of the History of all kind of living Creatures who had of him many Coines especially Asiatick towards the Illustration of
he would have gone thither about businesse would not let him go pretending that his Brother was shortly to depart For there was a businesse then in agitation before the Kings Councell about the paiment of certain Scots or Taxes which those of Rians pretended to be due from Reginald by reason of certain Lands which he had But Varius took the businesse upon himself to procure that he should rather be sent and indeed perswaded his Uncle that he was over tender and that it was an injurie rather then kindnesse to hinder one of so rare a towardlinesse from the Consummation of his Virtue Wherefore his Uncle because he reverenced Varius giving his consent as for his Father he never openly denied him any thing Peireskius accompanied Varius in the beginning of August 1605. But it is incredible to relate how soon he became famous at Paris by the Commendation partly of his own Virtue and partly of his friend Varius The first Man that he longed to see was the Renowned Augustus Thuanus as well to give him thanks for his exceeding Civility and lindnesse as to receive any thing that might have been sent him from Scaliger And himself was wont to say that it cannot be expressed how joyfully he entertained him For he admitted him presently both into the Kings and his own private Library shewed him whatsoever records he kept up under lock and key to assist him in the Composing of his History opened his very heart and Bowels to him brimfull of wonderfull sincerity He then informed him of many things which he inquired after concerning the Learned men of Italie and because he wanted some particulars to furnish the commendatorie Testimonialls of the said Learned men he promised to procure what he desired by Letters from his friends When he visited him the second time presently Isaac Casaubon was sent for who had the Charge of the Kings Librarie under Thuanus He at the very first meeting was so affected that it is hard to say whether he admired or loved him more For the truth is he received so many things and learnt so much of him that he could not sorbear to speak thereof both publikely and in his private and samiliar Epistles For in the first place printing his Notes upon the Epistle of Gregorie Nyssen to Eustathia Ambròsia and Basilissa he made mention of a piece of brasse money of the Coine of Rogerius King of Sicilie which quoth he among many others with Inscriptions in Arabick and divers Images of severall Princes the most Learned Fabricius Peireskius a Senator of Aix did shew me Moreover when Peireskius discovered to him the Errors which are in Ursinus and Goltzius who giving more heed to Jacobus Strada then the ancient Coines had corrupted divers of the Sirnames of certain Emperors reckoned among the thirty Tyrants under Gallienus and namely of Marcus Piawonius Victorinus Lucius Aelianus whom they made falsly to the Marcus Aurelius Victorinus and Spurius Servilins Lollianus contrary to what appears upon the Coines which he let him see Casaubon gave him very great thankes saying moreover I beseâ—ch you by our newly begun and yet most ancient friendship if possibly you can that you will communicate to me what you have of that kind Doubtlesse that way which you have undertaken to clear up the dark passages of Antiquity is the most sure and only way I eagerly expect what the great Scaliger will observe touching these kind of Antiquities but I foresee there will be place for your gleanings after his Harvest For it was an happie thing that you should meet with these Coines which have given you light in such dark paessages But that I may not be tedious I shall only add what he wrote unto him a year or two after in these words I beseech God to grant all health and happinesse to so great a Patron of the Muses And I beg of you that as you have already judged me worthy of your favour so you will proceed to assure me of the same and be intreated to go on as you have begun of your own accord I do already find that I am much indebted to you and doubt not but I shall be farther obliged hereafter if you shall meet with any opportunity to assist me in my studies I know not whether you have heard that the most Serene Duke of Urbin has sent me that Copie of Polybius which you told me of and therefore I am chiefly beholden to you for that kindnesse c. Casaubon is a man well known and renowned among the Learned so that by him you may judge of the rest For what need I speake of Fronto Ducaeus Papyrius Massonus and some others to whom he carried commendations from Velserus Of Nicolaus Faber Jacobus Bongarsius Scaevola and the San-marthani Brethren Franciseus Pithaeus Peters own Brother 〈◊〉 almost an innumerable company of 〈◊〉 with whom he grew then familiarly acâ—uaâ—ited It is better to tell you that there was no famous Library which he ransackt not but especially and besides the fore-recited that of San-Victoria in which he told us that he saw besides many other things one which he most regarded viz. All the Acts of the Maid of Orleance with an Apologie for her and her Picture of all which a great Book was written by the Command of a certain Abbot who lived at the same time Also he talked of many things which he had seen in the studies of private Persons as namely of Johannes Jacobus Memmius Rociacus a man illustrious as well for his generous disposition and proper Virtue as the worthy familie he descended from and his hopefull issue who is yet living in an happy old Age Prince of the Counts of the Consistorie Also of Renatus Poterius Bishop of Bellovacum or Beauvois of whom he reported that he was honourable for histase Learning Likewise of Panlus Patavinus whose thousand Manuscript Books he commended yet made more account of his Chamber of Rarities And though he saw it exceedingly well surnished yet would he of his own accord needs augment the same with the Coines of divers Kings both of the first and second Family For he gave him some in which the names of the Kings were read as for example of Clotarius Crowned with a Crown of jewells after the manner of Constantime who instead of a Crown of Laurell used one of Jewells and some with the names of such Counts under wh◠〈◊〉 â—ny was coined as of Filarius of Rhemes 〈…〉 In scription Remus fit In like manner 〈◊〉 â—mended the Rarities and Books of Franciscus Olivarius Fontanaeus And Bagarrius being now keeper of the Kings Jewell-House of rarities it was no more then reason that he should see all that there was to beseen Moreover he approved of the designe of transferring all the store of Rarities of Franciscus Pererius Gentleman of Aix excellently furnished with most rare Curiosities into the Kings Store-house for he confessed there were yet many things wanting that it might be esteemed worthy the name
but they were only on the hollow and under parts of the stones but not upon those which lay most open to the skies Soon after he received out of Italy and sent to Thuanus the commendatory Elogies of certain men as of Hierenymus Columna Gabriel Faernus Cruceius and such like of whom he intended to make mention in his History Scaliger had sometime intreated him that he would renew his commerce which he had established in the East by the Agencie of Peter Ostagerius who was in times past his Host at Marseilles for the buying up of Samaritan Aegyptian and Arabick books grieving that for the space of fifteen yeers which he had spent in Holland he had not heard a word of the Samaritan Pentateuch which Ostagerius had promised to endeavour to procure for him Peireskius therefore having indeed formerly endeavoured somewhat in that businesse did now bestir himself more earnestly giving order that the foresaid book among many others should be bought in Aegypt and conveyed to him But the ship in which it was coming was pillaged by Pirats and the book could not be recovered but was utterly lost And so was Scaliger deprived of that most desired book nor did he ever receive the answer which he had so much expected which came happily to the hands of Peireskius after his death For Scaliger had written to the Samaritans of Aegypt and to their chief Priest Eleazar who dwelt in a City called Sichem asking them divers questions about the observation of the Sabbath and other Fessivals about the Messiah and how they named him and in conclusion he desired of them a copy of their Pentateuch or five books of Moses They answered him in two Letters but because they fell into the hands of Genebrardus and others they were detained till such time as Scaliger being dead Peireskius both obtained them and caused them lately to be turned into Latine by the exceedingly learned Johannes Morinus Also about this time he re-assumed his care of calling Pacius to professe at Aix and which is more of procuring that he might not any longer persist in an un-orthodox Religion but very many things did intervene which did again frustrate his manifold cares and endeavours His brother Valavesius was at that time in Paris about the businesse of Rians and because he should have some moneths vacation from his businesse therefore Peireskius intreated him that at least for his sake he would go see England and the Low-Countries and salute his friends there presenting such tokens as he should send them and procuring certain rarities for him Also he exceedingly intreated him that he would go to Aquisgranum that he might there disigently view what ever monuments were remaining of Charles the Great write out the Inscriptions and cause all the Pictures to be copied which he should meet with in Ecclesiasticall Books Glasse-windows Copes or Vestments Stones or any other things not neglecting to get the Platform of places and ornaments the Copies of Charters and the Prints of Seals prece or pretio for money or fair words He added that it so repented him when he was in Holland that he went not to Aquisgrane that were it not that he confided in his brother he was resolved on purpose and for no other intent to make another voyage thither Moreover his brother did all which he desired of him to the full with wonderfull care diligence and fidelity himself in the mean time after the beginning of the yeer went to Monpellier about the self same businesse for the Marquisse of Oreson had sued Brisack for making sale of the whole Jurisdiction of Rians He returned about the middle of the Spring 1609. being tormented with a most inexpressible tooth-ach and not long after his Father fell into a most dangerous disease himself also being taken with a fever which was very lasting and when it went away left him so weak that he was hardly well recovered by Autumn And here I must record what he himself related often When he had no appetite but loathed all meat so that he wasted away Jacobus Fontanus a famous Physician and his kinsman asked him if there were nothing which he had a mind to eat He said there was but he was very well assured that it would not be allowed him Whereupon he was urgent to know what it was He told him Musk-melons the Physician replied Take heart and be of good cheer for I do not onely permit but advise yea and charge you to eat of them but eat them at the beginning of your meal without bread and drink a little pure wine before and after which advice he followed and did well upon it so that all his life time after he did in this manner eat Musk-melons without any prejudice When he was recovered he divers wayes assisted divers learned men as Johannes Taxilis who was writing somewhat touching the new star which appeared in the great Conjunction aforesaid Gasparus Bricius a Parish-Priest in the same City a good industrious man and observant of the Celestial Bodies Johannes Baptista Hansenius whom he grew acquainted with at Rome in the learned family of Cardinall Baronius and who by his procurement was chief Rector of the School at Aix three yeers together And these with other learned men he obliged while he was yet in a weak condition of body his disease being onely abated not perfectly cured which was in much measure caused and lengthened by the losse of three excellent friends who died in Holland The first of which was Scaliger who had newly begun his Commentary of Hebrew moneys when he was taken with a dropsie through distemper of his liver which the fourth or fifth moneth after on the 21 of January brought him to his end The second was Clusius who through weaknesse of nature rather than the gout which had newly seized him died on the fourth of April His Posthumus works were set forth by his Executour Franciscus Raphelengius wherein Peireskius was frequently metioned as in this following passage for example There was brought out of Ginny into France an ear of corn not unlike the former the picture where of was sent to Clusius from Aix in Provence by the most noble honorable Nicolaus Fabricius Lord of Peiresk And afterwards The following picture of the Gum Tragant-tree was sent from Aix in Provence by the most magnificent and noble Gentleman Nicolaus Fabricius Lord of Peiresk Councellour to his Majesty of France in the Parliament of Aix with Letters to the most renowned Clusius And again Here may be added an Epistle of the most learned Mr. Doctor Fontane which was sent to us from Aix by the most magnificent and most prudent Gentleman Nicolaus Fabricius Lord of Peiresk in the Letter which he wrote to the most famous Clusius which though it came to us after the death of the renowned Clusius aforesaid yet we conceive it worthy to be inserted in this Supplement Moreover mention was made in that Epistle of a certain rare
thousand parts and observed that our Provence Palme or Span which is the 8th part of a Can or Rod does contain only seven hundred sixty and three of those parts but the old Roman foot containes nine hundred and six of the said parts the English foot nine hundred thirty three that of Holland 966 that of Lions and Grenoble a thousand fifty and two and that of Florence one thousand eight hundred and two But of this enough and too much I return now to Peireskius who soon after in the year 1610. went again to Mon-pellier And having effected his businesse according to his hearts desire he returned in the beginning of May at which time he happened to dream a dream 1610. which as often as he related to me which was divers times he would alwayes premise that if another should have related it unto him he could not have beleeved it There was in his company Jacobus Rainerius a Citizen of Aix who was wont to lodge in the same chamber with him and their lodging was at the white Inn between Monpellier and Nismes Now Peireskius was in a dream and talked to himself obscurely of I know not what strange businesse whereupon Rainerius awaked him asking him what was the matter To whom he replied Alas and well away what a sweet and pleasant dream have you robbed me of I dreamt I was at Nismes and that the Goldsmith offered to sell me a golden piece of Julius Caesars coin for four Cardecues and I was just ready to give him the money that I might have the piece whereas by your unseasonable waking of me the Goldsmith vanished out of my sight and the piece of coin out of my hands Soon after not thinking of the dream he went to Nismes and while dinner was making ready he walkt about the Town Now it happened wonderfully that he hit upon a Goldsmith and asking him if had any rarities he answered that he had a Julius Caesar in gold He asked him what he would take for it he said Four Cardecues Whereupon he presently gave him the money took his Julius Caesar and so was his dream wonderfully and most happily fulfilled Wonderfully I say for he might easily think upon Nismes whither he was to go the following day he might well dream of that piece of Coin of Julius Caesar which waking he had often desired and that he might meet with it in that City wherein there were so many reliques of Romane Antiquity and he might dream of a Goldsmith for to men of that trade such pieces are commonly brought by them which dig them up he might dream of an indifferent price such as Goldsmiths rather than Antiquaries are wont to set upon such commodities he might have thought of four Cardecues with which as a moderate price a Goldsmith might be content Finally a Goldsmith and at Nismes might have such a piece at such a price but that all these should concur and that the event should answer to the dream is altogether wonderfull Yet Peireskius was not the man that would conclude that this dream did therefore proceed from any preternaturall cause if such dreams had often happened he might peradventure have thought so but knowing the sport which Fortune is wont to make he reckoned this accident onely among those rare cases which are wont to amaze the vulgar such as they likewise relate of Eudemus the familiar acquaintance of Aristotle at Pherae and of the two Arcadians at Megara and some other such like howbeit the truth of all such like Histories rests wholly upon the credit of the Relatours Afterwards Peireskius stayed certain dayes at Arles that besides many other observations elsewhere he might curiously search into certain rare monuments at the monastery of Mon-majour And when returning from thence he came neer to Salon a Post met him from the Arch-Bishop to acquaint him speedily with the unheard of and lamentable death of King Henry Being wonderfully daunted he made haste neverthelesse to comfort Varius who was already acquainted with the thing and was beginning to endeavour by sending Messengers and Letters to preserve the Inhabitants of Provence in their obedience Moreover it is not to be forgotten how at the very beginning of the yeer and before Peireskius departed from Mon-pellier there was brought him out of Spain an Almanack or yeerly Prognostication made by Hieronymus Ollerius of Barcellona and the November foregoing printed at Valence in which the lamentable accident aforesaid was clearly foretold For he had so set down the circumstances of his nativity and certain principall things which had happened concerning him that no other King save Henry the Great could be thereby intended Which when he had shewed to Varius and acquainted Josephus Galterius Prior and the Lord of Valetta therewith a man excellently skilled in all the Mathematicall Arts but especially in Astronomy though no great heed were to be given to Astrologicall Predictions yet it seemed a matter not to be sleighted as concerning the life of so worthy a Prince Whereupon Varius presently sent the book to the King I shall not stand to relate how that great and truly generous Prince commending the care of Varius did contemn and sleight the Prognostication but because the event proved it to be true and Ollerius himself afterwards writing a Prognostication for the following yeer did wonderfully boast thereof therefore I must needs say that which at least may make it doubtfull whether it was from the stars or some other hints rather that he conjectured the said event For as for the vanity of Astrologie it is needlesse for me to speak any thing in this place especially seeing the nativities calculated 3 yeers since did prognosticate no ill till four yeers more were past Nor am I one of those that are in the least suspicious that the prophet had some traffick with evil spirits which might reveal and presage the same onely I say it is possible he was acquainted with the plot by which so an abominable and not to be named Parricide was committed Sure I am it could not be perfectly concealed neither in Spain nor in Italy for even the Kings Embassadours and namely the most excellent Johannes Bochartus Lord of Champigny then Agent at Venice had already pre-advertized his Majesty thereof And it was sufficiently proved that all the Sea-faring men of Marseilles who for two moneths before came from Spain brought word that there was a report spred abroad in Spain that the King of France either was already or should be killed by a sword or knife Also Peireskius related and writ to Malherbius that which may fitly be here inserted viz. How on the Saturday three dayes after that the kings death was published there passed thorow Aix a most illustrious Venetian of the family of the Priuli who had been Agent for the Commonwealth at Paris and was then going to be Agent at Madrid who when he went to visit Varius told him among other things how journeying thorow Millain
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
went the Inscription HONC OINO PLOIRUME COSENTIONT R. DUONORO OPTUMO FUISE VIRO LUCIOM SCIPIONE FILIOS BARBATI CONSOL CENSOR AIDILIS HIC FUET A. HEC CEPIT CORSICA ALERIAQUE URBE DEDET TEMPE TATIBUS AIDE MERETO And therefore because the explication of Sirmondus did most of all please him who proved that this Inscription was made in the 494th year after the building of Rome and consequently but a year later than the Dailâ—iâ—â— Inscription or that of the Columna Rostrata hitherto accounted to be the most ancient both for the Orthography Phrase and matter contained therefore thus he conceived it ought to be read HUNC UNUM PLUR IMI CONSENTIUNT ROMAE BONORUM OPTIMUM FUISSE VIRUM LUCIUM SCIPIONEM FILIUS BARBATI CONSUL CENSOR AEDILIS HIC FUIT HIC CEPIT CORSICAM ALERIAMQUE URBEM DEDIT TEMPESTATIBUS AEDEM MERITO Which may be thus Englished Very many good men at Rome do judge that this Lucius Scipio was a singlar and most excellent man He was the son of Barbatus Consul Censor Aedilis he took Corsica he built a chappell to †Honouring them as Deities because they spared him at Sea Tempests not without cause Peireskius approved this interpretation and therefore caused it to be printed concealing the name of Sirmondus because he of his modestie would not take the commendation to himself But the truth is Peireskius did not conceal his name when sending copies thereof up and down he wrote Letters to his friends Hence it was that Selden mentioned him in that same learned work of his De DIS Syris where he sayes this Inscription was communicated to him by Sir Robert Cotton who had it out of France from Nicolaus Fabricius Petriscius a man most renowned for nobility and learning Also the lately mentioned Aleander who when it was reprinted at Rome made an addition answered the objections that had been made against it And whereas among other things it seemed strange that no mention was made of that Triumph which Scipio made Aleander answered Verily that same quick-sighted Gentleman who is no lesse a lover of learned men than of learning it self Nicolaus Fabricius Lord of Peiresk does with good reason suspect that there wants another Inscription of Scipio which was counterpane to this of ours For the Sepulchers of the ancients were of great Bulke and it is no absurdity to think that as this Inscription was on the one side so that there was another Marble on the other side on which the Triumph Age Day of death c. were ingraven With these and such like matters did Peireskius busie himself when in the Moneth of November the Seal was taken from Varius and that most renowned Gentleman restored to the Liberty of a private Life But Peireskius who regarded not so much the glory of his Place as the eminency of his Virtues would never forsake him thinking it an unworthy baseness if he that had stood by him in his Prosperity should withdraw himself in his adverse fortune Howbeit he was wont to testifie concerning Varius that he accounted it no unhappy and ominous but a most happy accident as by which alone he was in a capacity of attaining the Tranquillity which he so much desired Wherefore he restored the Seal with great Alacrity and returning from the Court he would needs sup more liberally than ordinary with Malherbius and Peireskius as one that now had no businesse to disturbe him and retiring himself he led a most quiet and most sweet life conversing with his Books his friends and learned men About this time the Businesse about Riantium was removed from Paris to Tolouse 1617. and his Brother Valavesius about the Beginning of the following year went into that City And although his presence was likewise desired at Tolouse which as was thought would have much advanced the Businesse yet could he never be induced for any Danger never so great of the miscarriage of that Suit to leave Varius Yet you must not Imagine that for all this he left his care of the cause of Learning For he sent an almost innumerable Company of Books to Learned men in all parts partly of his own accord partly being requested by them as into Italy to Pignorius and Aleander and to Scipio Cobellutius then newly honoured with a red Hat and the title of Cardinall of Saint Susanna and to whom not long after the Custodie of the Vatican Library was given as a favour And into England to Cambden and Selden and others who had seriously intreated him that he would not envie the Learned Nation of Men his Learned notes upon the ancient Coines and his Observations upon that part of France which is called Gallia Narbonensis Into Holland he sent as to others so chiefly to Thomas Erpenius the renowned professor of Arabic and he sent with his Books and Letters certain Arabick Coines that he might lend his Assistance in their Interpretation which he had not yet sufficiently understood I forbear to mention how he received likewise back again many things which he desired as from Aleander a modell of the Farnesian Congius or old Galon-measure with Letters signifying that he had examined the Water of Tiber Fountain water and other waters and after manifold comparisons of the one with the other he could find no difference at all in their weight From Nicolas Alemannus a year before the Vatican-Library Keeper he received a Catalogue of the Poets of Provence From Andreas Bruggiotus a Supplement to his Index of the Grek Manuscripts which were kept in the foresaid Library From Pignorius a Breviarie of the Life of that famous Ludovicus Cornarus with the time of his Death who by his sobrietie had procured himself so long a life and such a lustie old Age for he wrote that he was buried at Padua the day after the Nones of May in the year 1566. From Facobus Colius a Book with his excuse for naming him only Nobilissimus Gallus without any further Illustration From Sanderus Elogies from Johannes Meursius divers of his works from Willerius Genealogies from Whinghemius Botanick Rarities and from others other things Also about this time he began to procure Notes upon the Calendar of Constantine which 17 years after Aegidius Bucherus did totally insert into his Commentaries of the Canon of Paschalis Victorianus viz. from the 236. page to the 288. And the truth is I question not how those papers were gotten and by whom imparted to that same rarely good and Learned Man only I desire the Reader to take notice that they were not transcribed save from that same very rare Book which belonged to Peireskius and is at this very day preserved in his Library Now he wrote largely thereabout both to Aleander and to most other Learned men who exceedingly desired the publication thereof for they esteemed it as a mighty treasure to correct the Annals and to rectifie all Chronologie both sacreed and profane For examples sake we may observe therein the Consulship of Probus and
Pius Mutius of Genoa certifying that there were yet remaining some reliques of Pinellus his Library For he wrote that he had found Fifty two Orations of Themistius which were saved out of his Library and had never been printed no not among those which were published two years since by Dionysius Petavius a man so Learned that I question whether the Society of Jesus has any that exceeds him He presently brought that piece of Themistius to him and when he found him studying about that huge work d. Doctrina Temporum which he printed a few years after he took occasion to speake many things in favour of Scaliger his quondam friend About the same time he took a curious view of the Treasury of the Chappell of Sancta Capella And among the rare and precious commodities contained therein he discovered an inestimable Jewell viz. an orientall Agat or Arabian Sardonyx a foot long according to the Parisian or Foot roiall wherein were ingraven with wonderfull Art five and twenty figure or pictures all exceeding white in a black Sea interdistinguished with a certain dark and obscure yellowishnesse It was adorned round about with Christian figure and inscriptions by a certain Greek Emperor so that when Baldwin had pawned it to D. Ludowick and at last it came into the hands of King Charles the fifth of that name and was thought to contain some sacred history it was brought into that treasury as a Religious Oblation But Peireskius when he viewed it and regarded the condition of the pictures he was satisfied that it represented rather a profane Story and as far as he could gather by conjectures he believed it was a representation of the Apotheosis or Deifying of the Emperour Augustus being dead Johannes Tristanus Santamantius a rare Antiquary did lately cause it to be printed with his Commentaries being cut in Copper And he professes that he had first knowledge thereof from Peireskius whom he calls a man of very rare and exquisite Learning so as to exceed all the commendation that he could give renowned through all Europe He writes afterward how that he first saw this rare monument of Antiquity in the company of Peireskius and began to conjecture what it might represent But because in processe of time he differed from the opinion of Peireskius and it has been my hap sundry times to hear Peireskius discourse the businesse therefore it will not be I hope unpleasing if I shall touch some principall differences of their Interpretations in this place for their sakes who shall endeavour to examine the matter having the Achat it self or its modell or the foresaid Book That figure therefore which Santamancius interprets to be Jupiter with Aeneas following him Peireskius judged to be Augustus by the help of the Goddesle Roma lift up to Heaven and he whom the other would have to be Augustus he Interpreted to be Marcellus the Lover of Horses whom the Fates only shewed the world Rome intimating that she delivered the Empire of the world which he refused over to Tiberius that stood next beneath him And truly if you attentively consider the Achat as far as the Copies do represent the same you will acknowledge the Countenance of a Youth rather then of an old Man In like manner him beneath Marcellus whom Peireskius took to be Drusus the Son of Tiberius with his hand stretched out towards Jupiter as begging the Kingdom after his Father Santamantius takes to be Numerius Atticus contemplating with his eyes lifted up and avouching that Augustus was caught up into Heaven And shee that sits by Drusus whom Peireskius took to be his wife Livilla Santamantius supposes may be Julia the Daughter of Augustus who was banished and him that was at the right hand of Jupiter he believed to be Drusus the Brother of Tiberius whom Peireskius supposed to be rather Julius Caesar Touching Germanicus Agrippina and Caligula they differ'd not nor touching Tiberius neither save that Peireskius said that the Imperiall Robe compassed with Serpents was Jupiters Target and the Lance without an head he called a Long Scepter So he took her to be Antonia the Mother of Germanicus whom Santamantius took to be Livia contrariwise he took her to be Livia whom Santamantius supposed to be Antonia But thus much may suffice to have spoken of this subject by the way But Peireskius was so overjoyed by finding so rare a Curiositie that he did not only invite Santamantius and all other men in Paris to see it but he wrote also Letters thereof into England Germany Italy and all France over But he wrote thereof in a speciall manner to Petrus Paulus Rubeus of Antwerpe that most renowned Painter and lover of all Antiquities but especially of Achats in which he was very skillfull who came in a moment to see it set it forth in lively colours And Peireskius got a gallant picture of it which he kept as a Jewell besides divers Impressions thereof in Brimstone Plaister of Paris Paper which he printed with the Achat it self Moreover by a great Providence he got the Impression of another rare Agat in Brimstone which was kept in the Emperours own Jewell-house It was an Agat somewhat lesse then the former which Philip the Fair left as a Legacie to the Nuns of Poissy he having had it of the Knights of Jerusalem who had got it in Palestine and being stollen away in the civill wars it was by certain Merchants carried into Germany and sold to the Emperor Rudolphus Secundus for twelve thousand Crownes Now the Impression thereof had been taken and preserved and I know not by what hap fell into the hands of Peireskius Nor did he only get the Impression but the true picture thereof likewise wrought long-since by the Hand of that famous Painter Nicolas whose rare workmanship is seen in the Gallery at Fountain Bleau I passe over how he Interpreted the Figures thereon so as to conceive they represented the Apotheosis or Deifying of Augustus while he was Living For as we read in Josephus that Herod made a Colossus or huge Image of Caesar resembling Jupiter Olympius in forme and Magnitude and another like a Roman resembling Argive Juno so it seems that in these figures Augustus is represented in the habit of Jupiter Olympius together with the Goddesse Roma in the habit of Argive Juno and in one place Jupiter and Juno are represented leaving their place and giving way also the Signe of Scorpio drawing his Clawes together to make roome for the new God and such like Moreover he was afterward troubled with a most vexatious disease in his Eyes But that I may proceed to shew you how many Designes he drove notwithstanding these Interruptions of diseases he caused most elegant pictures to be cut in Copper to illustrate a Book written by Rex Renatus Erle of Provence concerning †Tiltings Turnaments which was to be printed and that after he had obtained from Johannes Jacobus Chiffletius Vesuntinus a famous Physitian another Book of
Tornaments Andreas Favinus mentions this care of his in his Book of the Theater of Honour and in his third Book of the Orders of Knight-hood Also he reassumed his care of the Constantinian Kalender aforesaid about which he therefore wrote to Schilderus a Canon of Cameracum from whom he had received it also to Franciscus Carandelet us Dean of the same Church who was exceeding curious in all good things He took care about divers things which were kept in the study of the Duke of Arschot and Rubeus aforesaid in which point he was satisfied by Johannes Gaspar Gevartius a famous and if ever any a true Schollar with whom he had already contracted no sleight friendship at Paris Moreover he communicated all his rarer Coins with Rambervillerius who dwelt at Vic and Rambervillerius did reciprocally communicate such as he had to him At the very beginning of the Spring 1621. the year following he lay sick more than a moneth so that he could neither accompany Varius who was again to go with the King nor perform those many great offices of freindship which he had intended to Hugo Grotius then newly come into France for he prized him so highly that he was wont to say that France had gained him in the stead of Scaliger I shall not mention how afterward when Grotius set himself to write the History of his own times Peireskius did furnish him with divers monuments publike and private which he had by him also with very many which he had procured out of Italy namely from Antonius Querengus a learned and famous man to whom many things had been sent out of France because he was writing the Acts of Alexander Farnese Duke of Parma About that time there passed thorow Paris the foresaid Vicelegatus à Balneo who was sent the Popes Nuncio into Flanders who being desirous to see all things in the City which were remarkable Peireskius was recovered in a seasonable time to lead him up and down to learned men to studies to all rare works and with great alacrity though but one to persorm such offices as were hardly to be expected from many together And this was in the moneth of July August followed the saddest moneth that ever he knew For therein died †Mr. du Vair Varius and it extreamly troubled him that during his eight dayes sicknesse he could not be with him to perfom all the last duties of a friend Now that great man died at Tonins in Agennois at the siege of Clerac on the third day of the moneth to the great grief of all France But how Peireskius was peculiarly afflicted with this accident it is needlesse for me to relate For his disposition by this time sufficiently known with the vehement love he bare towards him and his continual observances do speak enough though I be slent All that wrote verses of the death of Varius did not without cause dedicate their said veses to Peireskius among the rest Hugo Grotius was one who thus bespeaks him Though thou who wast the comfort of his cares By which he steer'd the State-affairs of France Do'st more than all lament with dolefull tears His fate as if it were thy proper chance Brave Peiresk who deserv'st a better lot All France is envious at this thy grief And since his Countrey and the World a shot Must pay she will not have thee mourn in chief Also Petrus Bertius who among other passages thus exprest himself But O Peiresk since God will have it so Why do we sadly mourn Let 's set a bound Unto our griefs for we must also go When Fates do call though now both well and sound To let passe others I shall onely say That whereas Peireskius was very carefull that Varius might have all the honour which was due to his Dignities and Virtues he did it as being one of the three which were the Overseers of his last Will having had a Legacie consisting chiefly of Gothick Coins and because he could not sufficiently restifie the affection he bare to his deceasd friend This hard chance was attended by another which he bare likewise very mournfully For Barclay died at Rome just then almost when Varius died in the Camp so that Peireskius heard of his buriall when he expected from him a consolatory Letter and an Epitaph Just about the same time it happened that Peireskius urged him to finish his Argenis wherefore among other things it grieved him that Barclay had not finisht that Work according to his own Mind It was some comfort to him that he had first gotten a most elegant pourtraicture of Barclay to which he would needs have an Eingie subscribed ont of the rich vein of Grotius which also he sent to Debonerus Nor were these accidents enough but there soon followed the death of another which he took most passionately It was the death of Henry of Lorreigne Duke of Mayenne who was slain at Mount-Alban the sixth day of September His love to Peireskius was vehement and full of candor which made him take upon himself of his own accord to protect the Abbey of Guistres in Guyenne and to preserve the Lands and Inhabitants during that war When tidings of his death were brought Peireskius was troubled with a pain in his kidneyes and the Strangury which lasted eight dayes about the beginning whereof he was not able to behold that Prodigie which caused great admiration being seen not onely in the Camp but at Paris also and all France over viz. a Remarkable Brightnesse which in the night following the Twelfth day was seen in the Northern part of the Skie all over so that for many hours together it represented the clearest Sun-rise This was wonderfull the Moon not shining but it was more wonderfull to see a vapour which was shed abroad in the same quarter distinguished as it were into whitish obscure pillars set in rows being exactly perpendicular to the Horizon and moving very slowly from the East unto the West Finally it was a miracle to see a little after as it were certain Pyramids or Spires arising from the white appearances reaching to the top of the Skie very white out of which there shot vapours very thin and exceeding white as swift as lightening This I mention because Peireskius was glad that we observed the same whereby he was assured that it was nothing but a sport of Nature which many interpreted to be some military preparation or the Idea of a Battell The truth is some affirmed that they saw Armies in Battell-aray and Horse and Foot marching and how at last they saw the fight and bullets flying out of the guns T is wonder they said not that they heard the sound of Trumpets and the cries of the Souldiers seeing the same credulous humane frailty was cause of those other figments T is truly credible that if not all yet very many such tales related in Histories have proceeded from the same Original and deserve no greater credit But to return
that Putean held a most brotherly correspondence with Peireskius for no kindness ever lay in his power which he did not do for him Here I must nor forget how about the same time he recommended Josephus Maria Suaresius of Avenion a very learned young man who was by that means received into the Family of the Cardinal Nor must I forget Lucas Holstenius the Darling of learned men an Hamburger who was also not long after admitted into the said family 1627 after that his Vertue had bin made known to Peireskius by the commendations of the Puteans and to the Cardinal by the commendations of Peireskius when he was at Paris Both of them verily did afterward testifie their thankfulness and by frequent learned Letters did merit that favour as for Peireskius he let slip no occasion where by he might do either of them any good In the Winter he was again vexed with Rheumatick defluxions and pains in his Kidneys yet did he not cease to write divers Letters but principally to the Puteans by whose help he was wont to brag that he saw nigh at hand all that was done in the World as by the help of the Prospective Glasse he saw things ordinarily out of sight in the Heavens Among other things he shewed the Reason why the Taxes anciently set upon men came in process of time to be so diminished For seeing quoth he our fore-fathers and Ancestors expressed the rates of the said taxes by Florens coine so called which vvere then of Gold and vvere of greater value then the Solati it is come to passe that because Florens vvere then valued at twelve silver shillings or Spur-royals a Tax of a Floren is now satisfied with twelve shillings whereas nevertheless these of ours have so far degenerated from the ancient ones that six of ours amount not to the value of one of those We may now say eight and shortly ten so that they who would lay Taxes which shall not lessen in process of time must learn not to express them by pounds Tours or any other kind of vulgar money but they must estimate them by Corn or some other yearly increase of the Earth and compel them to pay accordingly For seeing the fruitfulness or barrenness of the same grounds is much one and the same at all times the price of the fruits of the Earth must needs keep much at one and the same But the usual value of money does not in like manner continue but continually decreases as has bin formerly declared Moreover 1627. Valavesius did in the mean time return from Paris and the business of Rians after so many years invincible suits was finished by arbitration The year 1627. was beginning when taking breath after the cares of such like businesses he resolved the next Vacation to take a view of whole Provence to gather Inscriptions partly such as he had not and partly such as had bin ill or unfaithfully taken and that to gratifie the foresaid Donius who having an huge Volume of Inscriptions such as were not in Gruterus ready for the Presse he was desirous to interweave those of Provence which Peireskius should collect And he had not indeed leasure to perform what he intended yet nevertheless he left not to sollicite Donius to put out his work hoping that in the mean while there would be a fardle of Provincian to joyn to the same for he liked better that they should be put all together at the end of the Book as the Spanish ones were in Gruters Volume than that they should be confusedly interposed here and there as was usual in others Moreover he began upon this occasion to treat with Donius not only touching Inscriptions but he being really a man variously and plentifully learned touching his Onomasticon his Musical work his Convivales touching Hetrusian moneys certain Justinian Coines of the ancient kind of Weapons and many such like things He treated also about the same time with Nicolaüs Rigaltius his Majesties Library-keeper famous for his very rare learning touching the Exposition of those Riddles of Virgil concerning certain Lands in which there grew Flowers with the names of Kings written upon them and Lands where the Heavens appeared but three ells wide And when by way of answer he received touching the former certain rare observations touching Flowers strangely variegated in their colours and touching the latter that interpretation which is usually given concerning a Well he called to minde among other things how that a Well was dug at Rians out of which a very small quantity of Heaven must needs be seen when as in the day-time at the bottom thereof a man might see the Stars the eyes being plunged as it were by the depth into the darkness of night and the sight of the eye by dilatation as is wont to happen in a dark place receiving plentiful species or representations even of the smallest things There was then newly come to be Arch-Bishop of Aix Alphonsus Plesseus Richelius a Praelate of remarkable learning and rare piety taken from among the Carthusians and Peireskius perceiving that he exceedingly loved him he used all diligence in the continual testification of his Respects and Service thereby to approve himself worthy of his Love When he went to visit Marseilles he bore him company and by that means he there saluted Gabriel Albaspiuaeus Bishop of Orleance who was then retired thither was studying about a work which was afterwards printed of the mystery of the Eucharist In which he made frequent mention of Books communicated by Peireskius calling him The Love and delight of Learning and the Ornament of Provence Afterwards also he strongly assisted the Arch-Bishop in the setling of a publick Post who carrying Packets of Letters every week by Post-horses to Lyons and bringing the like from thence might hold also a weekly entercourse with the Parisians And he had indeed long desired such a thing and more then once endeavoured the same as a thing of publick advantage and grateful to his friends but none before him had sufficiently animated the Arch-Bishop nor could the Parliament of Provence be ever perswaded to allow the charges Great was the joy occasioned hereby as of all learned men who desired to receive frequent letters from Peireskius so especially of the Puteans who by this means could both frequently and easily send him what ever newly ptinted Books or other novelties and he also could send them with like facility what ever he obtained out of Italy Africa and the whole East For from this time forward he kept a more frequent correspondence then ordinary with the Consuls and Merchants resident in all the Eastern parts that by their means he might procure Greek Hebrew and Arabick Books with others written in the oriental Languages Whereupon he soon obtained some as namely from Cyprus an excellent Book Peri Aretes cai Cacias about Virtue and Vice of Constantinus Porphyrogeneta containing collections out of Polybius Diodorus Nicolaus Damascenus and other
the water running from East to West and making an hollow way where the Mediterranean Sea now is many Valleys were so opened that the Rocks and Mountains kept the same Situation from East to West of which kind are not only the chief in this Province but the Pyrenaean and Appennine Hills the Rhetian Alps in Europa Taurus in Asia Atlas in Africa and the most of our Hills are broken and divided towards the Sea And that the Alps which border upon the Sea and some lesser Mountains and Valleys have a contrary Situation might proceed from some particular Deflux of water after the same manner as we observe after the overflowing of Rivers the water which runs over the Banks does plow up the congested mud and make ditches and consequently swelling Banks which are Situate athwart the Rivers course But of this Argument enough and too much Also he was wont to hold learned discourses touching that Gyantly body dug up at Tunis of an almost immense magnitude as Thomas Arcosius a man doubtlesse of various learning did signifie from those parts For he wrote that the Scull would contain eight mellerolles of Provence that is to say a Paris Bushel and an eighth part A monstrous size questionlesse and therefore Peireskius advised Arcosius to view all things with his own eyes and to weigh every thing scrupulously Telling him that the grinding Tooth which he had sent him might be either the Tooth of a very great Elephant or of some kind of Whale Moreover he rejoyced much both at the return of Minutius and for the finding of a certain Tripod For he returning with good successe from Aegypt brought many Books with him especially written in the Coptick that is to say the ancient Language and Character of Aegypt besides others which he had sent with the Samaritan Books aforesaid He brought also two Mumies viz. dead Bodies embalmed after the most ancient and costly manner one of which was very large entire rare and as by ornaments might be collected the Body of some Prince He brought also some Coins amongst the which he highly esteemed two Tetra dragmes the one Attick the other Tyrian and a piece of Coin of Hugo King of Hierusalem and Cyprus As for the Tripod it was dug up at Freius and because it was not much above a Foot high Peireskius conceived that it was one of those vetive Tripods placed in the Temples and made in fashion of that principal one on which Phoebus standing and drawing the Spirit from the cave beneath did rave and was thought to utter Oracles By occasion whereof he afterwards wrote divers Letters to Paris Rome and other places to provoke the learned to discourse of certain unknown mysteries of the Tripod The middle hole of its threesided Basis is triangular of circular lines the extremities whereof suhain certain Anticks which bear up the Bowl but so that they meerly touch one another and fall asunder with the least motion So that he conceived when that Spirit did move it self all Tripods must needs fall some concussion of the parts being made Also he argued that the Cortina was not that vessel for the Pithonesse did not ascend so high but another Hemisphere of a scaly kind of surface in imitation of the skin of the Serpent Pithon killd by Apollo with which the foresaid hole was immediatly covered so that the Priest had the Cortine beneath and the Bowl hanging over Now he took pains only to expresse and to approve by conjectures what might be meant by that curvi-lineal Triangle Wherefore there was no learned man with whom he did not consult thereabouts himself in the mean time both touching that and other parts pouring forth such streams of Learning that all men without controversie allowed him the Bayes Let us near Holstein in the name of all the rest For those things quoth he which you have written of this subject in a good long discourse to Father Putean you should in vain expect from me or any other Antiquary so far have you prevented and outgone all our care and diligence I passe over how to gain a fuller knowledge in this matter he sought to get divers Tripods especially out of Italy whereupon Menetrius sent him some besides an exquisite description and delineation of others which he could not obtain About the beginning of the following year 1631. the troubles did still continue when the Prince of Condee coming into Provence did at length compose the same In the beginning of the Spring the Cardinal having finished both his Legacies and received at Paris the purple Cap he returned to Rome and taking his journey through Provence he would needs see his old friend at Beaugensier And among other things it was very delightful to him to behold the toresaid Mumie and to hear Peireskius discourle of it and other kinds of embalming Meanwhile a Question arising Whether Aegyptians also were wont to pat a Passe-penny in the mouth of the dead he thought good to open the coverings and see if they could find any Wherefore as soon as he had unwrapped the Head he sought diligently but could not see any naulum or Passâ—â—nny in the mouth When he was about to depart Peireskius was bold to intreat him and encrease the weight of his carriage for he was to send to Holstenus twenty Greek manuscripts of the Interpreters of Plato and Aristotle which he had bought out of the Study of Pacius for two hundred Crowns and long since resolved to send them The Cardinal was willing and out of his love to Learning and learned Men â—he took upon him the care of seeing them convaied And here it must not be forgotten how he took along with him at that time Gabriel Naudaeus a Parisian of great renown among the Learned and by his Books already published well known and dear to Peireskius Wherefore Peireskius took greatdelight both to embrace and speak with the man and to congratulate his Patron in that he had chose such a man to assist in his Studies And truly he tessified more then once how much he was delighted with his company not knowing whether he should more admire the candor and gentleness of his mind or his unexhaustible learning and knowledge of all kind of Books But how much Naudaeus did honour Peireskius and how largely he then tasted of his beneficence he did asterwards testifie both in private Letters and in his publick dedicatory Epistle prefixed to his Medico-philological Question VVhether it be more wholsome to study in the morning or in the evening For therein calling him The Maecenas of all learned men and fearing the Fortune of that ancient Maecenas he yowes to write a Panegyrick of his praises and why in the mean time he Dedicated this Work to him The Cause he saies is the admiration of your Vertue and the indignation which long since I conceived within my self that it was not celebrated by the Pens of all leanred men to whom neverthelesse it daily affords matter to
Parliament of Aix The one of those Books has three Columns and consisls of three Languages each Language holding a distinct Column c. Whereupon Peireskius perceived that he was hereby pulled as it were by the Eare and put in mind of his engagement wherefore waiting only for a safe and convenient opportunity to send them he would trust them with none but Dionysius Guilleminus a man of singular Courtesie and that had lived in his Family from a boy so that he was formerly at Romollae and now also at Beaugensier his Bailie He sent him indeed to his Abbey in Aquitanie but he ordered him before hand to go out of his way and carry the Books to Paris I stand not to recount how great thanks Morinus returned for the said Books and how he magnified him with prayses only I shall tell you that he had then translated and sent him back the Samaritan Epistles which were long since written to Scaliger as we told you before THE LIFE OF PEIRESKIUS The Fifth Book HAving spent three years at Beaugensier he returned to Aix in the Month of September Helîas Lainaeus Marguerius was now come to Town whom the King after the death of Oppidaeus had made chief President of the Parliament and because Peireskius well knew his integrity joyned with great skill in the Lawes therefore out of Reverence to his dignity and vertue he would not go to his own house before he had saluted him Therefore his Nephew being obliged according to custome to visite all the Senators he went with him to the house of every one and commended him to them with great alacrity Neverthelesse it happened through his labour in that particular he fell into a pain in his Kidnies having loosened a store which four or five daies after he happily voided As soon as ever he was recovered he fell to his Senatorian employments having reserved as we said before to himself the function of his office for the space of three years which he did verily not out of vanity or desire of gain but that he might not want occasion to exercise his beneficence especially towards learned and religious persons and others well-deserving being accusiomed to maintain their Rights and take upon himself their Patronage Moreover he was recreated by certain Books which Minutius sent him out of the East with divers Coins especially the Basilidians also certain bulbous Plants and other such like things Among the rest there was one Volume which might well be so called à Volvende being rouled up smallest in bulk but by him most highly prized being found in a Box at the feet of a certain Mumie It was all written with Hieroglyphick Letters consisting of the true Papyrus or ancient Paper so called and might well be above two thousand years old At another time afterwards he received great store of Greek Books viz. as many as two large Chests could hold but he was not so happy in this purchase in regard of the integrity subject matter of the same Books For excepting an Arabian Bible written in the Arabick Persian and Chalde Tongues with the Commentaries of Rabbi Solomon all the rest were either very ordinary Books or very imperfect But this happened the year following at what time he was very busie in measuring and comparing divers ancient measures which as was before hinted he had at home For besides the knowledge of all kind of measures which was to him most delightful he hoped he should be able at length by comparing very many of them to reconcile many places in Authors touching measures which contradict one another as where Columella makes a Cochlear to be the fourth part of a Cyathus and Fannius makes it the twenty fourth whereas the same Fannius and Pliny will have the Cyathus to weigh ten drams Marcellus and others twelve and other such like places which he was minded to explain not only by conjectures but with the very weights and measures themselves For which cause he endeavoured to get all the ancient Vessels that he could any waies hear of to be measured But he conceived greatest reckoning was to be made of the more precious ones made of silver or other costly materials because the Ancients were wont in them to affect certain kinds of measures also that by that means they might be more acceptable either as being ordained for sacrifices or that being kept in Temples for most of them were consecrated gifts they might there the longer remain as Standards or authentick models of Measures He was therefore desirous that Guilleminus should abide divers Moneths at Paris to measure such precious Vessels which were kept at St. Dennis and in the chief Closets of Rarities in that City But he had especial proof of the humanity of Rociaeus who did not only procure him the capacity and patterns of Vessels but sent him one Vessel it self which he compelled him to accept whereupon Peireskius wrote him a Letter most full of gratitude and profound Learning wherewith he explained at large the meaning of the most exquisite sculpture and ornaments thereof In like manner because Jacobus Gaffarellus a man renowned for his skill in Hebrew and other endowments did reside at Venice 1633. he took care that he should measure those precious Vessels which being brought from Cyprus and Constantinople were kept in the Treasury of St. Mark and the illustrious Magnifico Valletanus Knight of St. Mark interceded with the Senate at the request of Peireskius and procured a Licence to that intent So he dealt with Naudaeus to procure him those at Ravenna and with Suaresius touching that great Smaragdine Charger which is at Genua and by the Genuenses called Scela and with Menetrius touching many which he knew were kept at Rome Nor must I in this place forget how he had a Crystal Cochlear sent him for a token by the generous Lady Foelix Zacchia Rondenina learned above her Sex and Letters withall of her husband Alexander Rondeninus wherewith that most renowned Heroina did very elegantly testifie how much she prized the Virtue of Peneskius And it seemed a strange thing that about the same time Carolus Tabaretius Cadafalcius Prosenescal of Digne sent him a larger Cochlear with three hund-ed peices of Mony coined in the Daies of Gallienus which were found therewith To come to other matters it was Spring when as Petrus Seguierius the illustrious President was made Keeper of the Kings Seal whereupon Peireskius did both congratulate his new Honour and received Letters from him wherein that great Personage did testifie that no Letters were more welcome to him then from Peireskius being both his Kinsman and one exceedingly praised for his Virtue and Knowledge At the same time his Brother Valavesius was chosen by the King Viguier of Marseilles to which City he went For that Magistrate begins his office every year in the Kalends of May and continues the whole year chief President of the Municipial Court Mean while I was with him when he would needs invite
Athanasius Kircherus a very learned Jesuite then residing at Avenion He was reported to be exceeding skilful in the Mysteries of Hieroglyphicks wherefore he both sent him divers Books to help him and a Copy of the Table of Isis formerly described And because he had by him a rare Manuscript being Rabbi Barachias Abenephius an Arabian Author who was reported to have set down the manner of interpreting the Hieroglyphicks therefore he entreated him that at his coming he would bring with him both the said Book and some example of Interpretation with his own notes Which when he had done it cannot be expressed with what ardency he encouraged him to finish the work which he had begun and to hasten the printing thereof He was afterward called to Rome to succed in the place of that renowned Mathematician Christopherus Scheinerus whom the Emperor desired to have near himself Now Peireskius dealt earnestly not only with Mutius Vitellescus Generall of the Jesuites order but also with Cardinall Barberinus that they would encourage him to procure him leasure for the speedy putting forth of the work aforesaid He invited also at the same time Solomon Azubius a Rabbin of Carpentras not inferiour to the ancient Rabbins in learning He brought with him certain Astronomical Tables which he had by him composed at Tarascon by a certain Jew three hundred years ago and calculated to the Longitude and Latitude of that Place And because he knew what pains the foresaid Schickardus took for the reparation of Astronomy and Geography therefore he procured Azubius to write a Copy of the aforesaid Tables in Hebrew which he intended to send to Schickardus Now he sent it afterwards and the Interpretation of Azubius with it and some Arabick pieces which he knew would delight him by that excellent pains which he had taken about the History of Tarichus touching the Kings of Persia Moreover because his answer to the Letter sent him about the Planet Mercury did shew that he had neither seen that very ancient work of Aristarchus Samius touching the bignes of the Sun Moon nor certainly knew whether it were extant in the world therefore seeing he had acquainted him that the Book was yet extant in Greek in the Kings Library and that a Translation thereof in Latine with the Commentaries of Fredericus Commandinus had been printed in Italy therefore I say he both procured a Copy of the Greek Original and left no stone unturned until by the help of Naudaeus he found out and obtained a Latine Copy likewise which he bound up both in one bundle together with divers observations touching the motions of the Stars all which Schickardus received when he did not expect no nor think of such a thing He did the like to Hortensius aforesaid for knowing that he desired a Copy of the Dialogues of Galilaeus that he might compare what he had wrote touching the smallnesse of the Stars with what himself had wrote upon the same Subject by occasion of the small appearance of Mercury therefore he sent presently to get one of those Books and sent it of his own accord to Hortensius who suspected no such thing The like also he did to another I know not whom for understanding from him that he exceedingly desired a Copy of the Alcoran he presently got one at Grenoble by the assistance of Philippus Lagneus a good and learned man and true lover of Scholars that he might send it to the man who had not so much as asked any such thing of him The like also he did to Gaspar Bachetus Meziriacus who after he had published Diophantus and other excellent works was couragiously endeavouring to amend the French Translation of Plutarch and to illustrate his Castigations with notes For he having signified that he had never seen the Life of Homer in Greek written by Plutarch as soon as Peireskius heard it he presently endeavoured to get the said Life written out of a Greek Book which he remembred he he had seen in the Kings Library and when it was almost written out hearing that it was printed by Henry Stephen and put before his volume of Heroical Poets he presently sent to buy the said Volume which with Scaliger's Eusebius which he also wanted and Homer's Iliads newly gained out of the East with some notes of Porphyrius and other things unlooked for he sent to Bacchetus Moreover he caused to be exscribed out of the Library of Augsburge certain works of St. Cyril which the learned Joannes Aubertus stood in need of to compleat the Edition of that sacred Author for which cause also he procured divers Libraries in Spain and Sicilie to be searched especially the Vatican Library out of which he gained some things which to the end that Holstenius might the more willingly peruse and correct he procured by way of requital that Aubertus in like manner at Paris should look over and correct certain Greek Astronomers which being desired by Holstenius Peireskius had procured to be transcribed out of the Library of the most excellent Arch-bishop of Tolouse Also when Duchesnius seriously set himself to publish such Authors as had written the Historie and affairs of France Peireskius procured sor him besides many other Books both Petrus Bibliothecarius so called whom he procured by the sagacity diligence and felicity of Naudaeus and also the Chronologica fragment a Abbatiae sublucensis which to procure he implored the authority of Cardinal Barberine and the Assistance of Buccardus Divers others also there were who at his request commanded many Books to be exscribed One was Henricus Memmius that same renowned Prelate who excelling the gentility of his Parentage by the nobility of his mind was wonderful sollicitous to advance Learning and learned men according to the custome of his family Also the Earl of Marchaevilla was one from whom he received a Book touching the various sects of Mahumetans and to whom he wrote what kind of Sculptures Achats Coines and such like were to be sought for out of the East The aforesaid Felix Zacchia was also one from whom he obtained certain Monuments of the Families of Genna Also Julius Pallavicinus himself of Genua from whom he received a whole volume of the said Families besides other things which he sought to procure of Petrus Maria Boerus with whom he held perpetual entercourse others there were of whom he sought to gain the Antiquities of Hadria Pisa and other renowned Cities but to name them all would be tedious Nor must it be forgotten in this place how that having sormerly took care that the Coptic tongue might be induced and propagated all Europe over and Salmasius and Petitus had already much profited in that Language by a few Books he had furnished them with he added more volumes in the same Tongue and was very careful that Petrus Valleus might lend him that Vocabulary which he had brought out of the East that he might procure it to be interpreted and printed by Salmasius who was ready
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
and make a man quite blind as Histories testifie seeing that same dull whitenesse of the Paper does so vitiate the Organ as to draw a kind of Curtain before it not presently to be removed Now he was of opinion that as the light of the Sun and its heat is imprinted upon a Bononian stone so the light and whitenesse are imprinted upon the vitreous humor and by reason of their corpulency create there a certain shaddow of themselves but he was afterwards of opinion that the shadow externally appearing was not produced from the crassitude of the light or whitenesse but feigned by a fault which may happen not only in the vitreous but also in the watery and especially in the Crystalline humor Moreover the Species or representations of objects were so doubled in his Eyes that beside the primary and clear one he saw another secondary and darkish one insinuating it self by the side of the former So in a Book lying open or one a side of Paper while he was writing he saw plainly both the white margent and the beginnings of the lines yet so that a fingers breadth on this side or in the margent he seemed to see other obscure beginning of lines Also when he looked upon a time at a Hill opposite to the setting Sun he saw a threefold appearance thereof as also looking upon a thread it would appear to him manifold which gave him the first occasion to mark the rest Moreover when he knew that I had bin long in that mind that the axels of both the Eyes do never concur nor make as the common opinion is an angle in the thing seen but do run perpetually parallel so that only one Eye is directed upon the object while the other rests viz. that Eye which naturally is best sighted for one of the Eyes as well as Hands is alwaies stronger than the other wherefore it alone sees with that kind of sight which they tearm Distinct vision though the other may see by that kind of sight they terme Confused I say when he knew thus much he exulted as having made an experiment which contradicted a parallelism For holding his Eyes otherwise immoveable only opening the one and shutting the other interchangeably he observed that the right-hand Species passed to the left and the left-hand Species to the right so that a crosse motion of lines was made which is repugnant to a parallelism Whereupon I warned him to consider that the right-hand or distincter representation did belong to his left Eye which was the stronger and the left-hand or more confused to the right Eye which was the weaker and that only one axis was directed namely from the left Eye and that the Species fell into the right not directly but obliquely and so made a crossing after which manner all things feem double when we wreath our Eyes the sight of both eyes being confused because the image falls in only obliquely but he was not perfectly satisfied yea and he was of opinion that there might arise some difference in the observation of the Coelestial Bodies if one should peep with his right Eye to direct the Instrument and another with his left nor could he be satisfied till Schickardus had warranted him the contrary in some Letters of his But now it is time to leave these matters and speak of many other things which he observed about the same time Of which the Venae Lacteae or milkie Veins in the Mesentery were a principal of which we spoke before and which now again he would needs seek in as many creatures as he could And because he knew both from Asellius the inventor and by divers dissections that he had made that they could not be discerned save in a Creature yet living panting and that therefore they could not be observed in a man whom to cut up alive were wickednesse yet did he not therefore despair but that if a few hours after a man was hanged his bowels were lookt into some appearance of these Veins might be observed Wherefore becaused a man that was condemned to be hanged before sentence was pronounced to be fed lustily and securely that there might be that in his Body which would afford white chyle at the time appointed and then an hour and a half after he was turned off he caused the Body to be brought into the Anatomical Theatre Which diligence effected that his Belly being opened the whitish Veins appeared and out of some of them being cut a milkie liquor might be gathered which truly seemed strange Moreover he was careful to observe the several originals of winds For at first he was perswaded out of Aristotle that the Winds were earthy vapours which being beaten back by the cold air fly athwart and according to the condition of some Valley or some other place from whence they issue or which they fall upon they are carried sometimes Northward otherwhiles Southward sometimes Eastward and otherwhiles Westward but he found so many difficulties in that opinion that he was fain to have recourse to the matter of those exhalations and to examine for examples sake whether or no Vitriol Sal Nitre Bitumen Sulphur and such like things when they exhale do not cause the several conditions and varieties of winds Wherefore he would have some admirable kinds of winds to be observed in their Original and the proprieties of the places having an eye also to the Minerals and other things dug out of the Earth as also the Plants growing in those places Wherefore he sent Manlianus a learned Physician to Peiresk to observe in the Mount Coyerus a Cave out of which a cold wind proceeds so much the lesse sensible by how much a man comes nearer the original thereof such as is also observed in a Clift of Mon-ventour on the North side thereof To observe likewise the Legnian Lake not far off out of which when a fume is seen to arise a Cloud is certainly made which soon after discharges it self into a most cruel tempest which is also related of Pilates Lake in Dauphine and of others among the Pyraenean Hills Finally that he might occasionally observe a fountaine at Colmars which ebbs and flowes at just distances about eight severall times in the space of an hour So he took care that Budaeus a learned man should observe the wind called Ponthia or Ponticus ventus on the West side of the Alpes Cottiae at a town called Nihons It blows from the North along the River and exceeds not a quarter of a league in breadth nor doth it go in length above half or an whole league at most save that sometimes when it is more vehement than ordinary it runs divers leagues and reaches to Rhodanus This wind is daily and when it blows makes no intermission nor fluctuation but is always of one Tenor. It arises in Winter about midnight and dures till nine or ten in the morning in Summer from break of day till eight a clock in the Spring and Autumn
him two years before how he had stuck certain seeds of the Flower of the Sun into a piece of Cork which following the course of the Sun as the flowers use to do did turn about the floating Cork and by a certain hand annexed point out the hours which were marked upon the Vessels Upon which occasion it came into his mind to pare that swiming stone which Mersennus had given him round about that being rounded like a Globe it might serve in place of Cork to make Heliotropick Sun-turning Magnetick experiments He was in hope about the beginning of the same Spring to entertain Pomponius Bellevreus being to go Embassador from the King to the Princes of Italy but his journey being shaped another way his hope of seeing him was made void as also of embracing Franciscus Vayerus à Mosha whose learning and candor he had understood both by his letters and works and by the relation of their common friends Moreover while he expected from Italy the foresaid tactick or military Books he sent to Salmasius in the mean time several draughts of Swords Daggers Hatchets or Poleaxes Haiberts and other Weapons which the ancients used of Brasse and particularly of two Helmets the one of which was sent out of the Borders of the Samnites or from Aprutium the other was found at the very Lake it self of Thrasymen with the cheek or eare peices yet remaining and hanging down on either side Nor did he send him these things only to assist him in his writings about the Roman Militia but also the Pictures and representations of divers kinds of Fibulae buttons or hasps to perfect that work which he had taken in hand touching the apparel of the Ancients upon occasion of a certain dissertation touching that same Acia mollis neidleful of soft thred which Cornelius Celsus writes must not be used too much twisted to make Surures and Clasps or Buttons to hold the lips of wounds together For Alphonsus Nunnesius and Jacobus Chiffletius famous Physicians contend that by the word Acia we must understand a neidle or some other Instrument made of metal but the learned Franciscus Rioya and Franciscus Figueroa himself also a renowned Physician said that we are to understand thereby a linnen or silken thred Now it is expected what both Salmasius will determine of this controversie as also another friend of Peireskius a Dane called Johannes Rhodius a Physician who having made choyce of Padua for his residence begins to be famous both for his other ingenuous Learning and for his excellent skill in the Art of Physick Moreover he sent a rare work touching Animals written in the Arabick Tongue by Ebembitar and brought lately out of Aegypt after another Copy procured with great labour and cost had perished by Ship-wrack He sent also another Arabian Book wherein were the Canons of the Constantinopolitan the Ephesian the Laodicean the Cesarian and the Gangrensian Councels the Canons of the Apostles and of St. Clement the constitutions of Constantinus Valentinianus Theodosius and I know not what other things besides He sent the Rituals or service-Service-Book of the Copticks as their Epistles Gospels Psalms and especially a Book containing three Liturgies of Basil of Gregory and of Cyril with an Arabick Translation He sent more but there was nothing which he more accounted of then a volume of the four Evangelists written in the Elcuphtick or Cophtick Tongue and expounded in Arabick and especially because the years were expressed in which each of the Evangelists wrote For though at first there was wanting the Praeface to Matthew where the year was to be expressed and the Praeface to John seemed to be faulty sayng that the story was written in the sixth year of the Empire of Tarsos 1634. instead of Nero and the thirtieth year after the Ascension of Christ yet as concerning the other two it made it appear that that of Luke was written by him at Antioch in the 12th year of Claudius and the 20th after the Ascension and that the other of Mark vvas vvritten in the fourth year of the same Claudius and the 12th after the Ascention Now he was of opinion that there might be some help drawn from thence to judge of the controversie touching the year of the passion of Christ and peradventure also touching his Nativity vvhich Joseph Scaliger and Seth Calvisius make to be two years before the beginning of the vulgar Account and Laurentius Suslyga Joannes Keplerus and others make it more then two years sooner Wherefore he wrote not only to Rome to see if haply the foresaid Praefaces might be supplyed and corrected but also again to Aegypt to get if possible the like volume more compleat But how would he have even leaped for joy if he had known that which we afterwards understood viz. that there is extant an Arabian Book very like the former in the Custody of the illustrious Mon-morius Master of Requests in which the Praefaces are all perfect They relate according to the Translation of the learned Hardyaeus how that the Gospel of Matthew was written in Hebrew in the first year of Claudius and the ninth year after Christs Ascention that the Gospel of Mark was written in Latine the fourth year of Claudius and the twelfth after Christs ascension that the Gospel of Luke was written in Greek the 14th of Claudius and the 22th after the Ascention 1635. and that the Gospel of John was written in Greek the 8th year of Nero and the 30. after the Ascension out of which being more consonant it is easie to see how the other are to be mended He sent also into Aegypt to certain Capucines dwelling there but especially to Agathangelus Vindocinensis besides many other Books two Tomes of the Annals of Baronius which were desired besides the whole work which he had formerly bestowed upon them also to Coelestinus à S. Liduina a bare-foot Carmelite the Brother of Golius divers Books but especially the Magnus Thesaurus Arabicus printed at Millain in foure Volumes which being sent three or four times before either to him or to others was lost being taken by Pirates It would be too long to reckon up the rest of this kind seeing that I must not passe over what he did in the mean time at home He knew the ardent desire which had long possessed me of having the several Appearances of the Moon and the varieties appearing in each of them by the Perspective-glasse painted out with lively Colours in their just proportions and scituations And for this very intent I sought for and procured of the most rare Galilaeus a Prospective or Telescope very long and exactly made and now I wanted only an industrious Painter furnished with a good Talent of patience He therefore for my sake kept not only a great part of the former year but the greatest part of this year present the rare Painter Claudius Salvatus Alvernates in his return from Rome who by my direction was to perform that taske He
for Himself Sometimes also it hapned that what he propounded to himself did not succeed according to his desires so that he lost all his labour and charges yet it comforted him that he endeavoured nothing but what was laudable and that he was able to take the like pains and be at the same cost again For which cause he ceased not to endeavour the same thing frequently as not despairing but that at last the business would come to a good issue and knowing that one time or another many vain endeavours might be recompenced with one good success and that a Fisher man ought not therefore to break his Nets in peices because sometimes he makes a draught in vain And thus did he fortifie his patience and constancy being nevertheless of his own nature somewhat testy And he was wont to say that nothing did ever so much prevail with him to rule his passion as a sight which he happened to see in an Augmenting-glasse or Microscope For having inclosed therein a Lowse and a Flea he observed that the Lowse setting himself to wrastle with the Flea was so incensed that his blood ran up and down from head to foot and from foot to head again Whence he gathered how great a Commotion of Humors and Spirits and what a disturbance of all the faculties anger must needs make and what harm that man avoids who quits that passion Novv there vvere tvvo klnds of things for vvhich he vvas chiefly moved The one of vvhich and the principal vvas injury springing from ingratitude I say injury for vvhen his kindnesses vvere only forgotten he never seemed to be moved seeming rather himself to have forgotten the benefits he had conferred But vvhen any man proved so ingrateful as to be vvithall an hurt or hinderance to him or his in the bringing about of his affaires and purposes then he vvould begin to chafe and grovv exceeding angry yea and to reproach such persons and I remember how that presently thereupon endeavouring to reclaim and compose himself he was wont to say that upon such occasions as these his Philosophy failed him The other was the negligence of his Servants and their untoward performance of what he set them about For he was soon moved if they heard not at the first word speaking and came not quickly at the first call and if they did not what was commanded at the time and manner appointed For when he was doubtful of the Ability of any one or had good reason to suspect that out of conceit of their own wit they would be apt to leave out and put in chop and change then would he distinctly by peice-meale and in order relate how he would have every thing done if then it was not done as he had ordered he could hardly contain from breaking out into complaints and chiding Whereupon turning oftentimes to me he was wont to say It seems I must needs have you for a witness of my Infirmity For he was wont to contain himself and not to give bridle to his passions save in presence of his familiar friends And this was in a manner the only passion of his mind which he could not bridle howbeit he would soon be pacified and come to himself again and as for his Servants he would many times find fault and chide only to rowse them from floathfulnesse and to render them more wary for time to come Yea and he was so inclin'd towards those whom he accounted ingrateful and injurious that he was alwaies more willing to forget than revenge an injury and there was none that acknowledg'd his fault whom he would not embrace and confer new Obligations upon And now that we are speaking of the benefits by him conferred who is there that knows not how much he was inclined to Beneficence Doubtless there was never man gave more chearfully liberally or frequently For propounding to himself to imitate God and Nature who do not lend but freely give all things it may well be said of him that he prevented mens wishes out-went their hopes and was quicker in granting than they could be in wishing For a thousand times of his own accord he offered both assistance and moneys too yea and really gave the same to such as never thought thereof And see his Policy withalâ—â— When he sent to Holstenius those Interpreters of Platâ— and Aristotle which we spake of before and which cost him two hundred gold nobles he writ him a Letter by which it seemed that he only lent him those Books but he writ a brief Letter afterwards signifying that he did freely give them him only he wrote the former Letter that he might have it to produce to satisfie such as might importune him for the said Books as if that he had only borrowed them And how often think you did he that which is related of Arcesilaus that is to say put money under the pillow of his sleeping or otherwise not-observing friend when he perceived that he stood in need thereof and yet would out of bashfulness have refused the same if it had bin offered him Verily when it was not in his power so to do and yet he could not endure to see another man blush he used the hand of a familiar friend that he might render him that was to receive his benevolence more confident Truly I can be a witness in this case for even in his last daies he gave by my hand to a certain ingenuous person whom he knew to be in want and to be ashamed to signifie so much Nor would I have you think he did it that he might have a witnesse of his liberality for when he knew the parties he meant well to were not shie to receive his benevolence he was far from seeking a third person thereby to put them to shame For then he would give it himself and not only in private where was none to behold but he would never afterwards speak thereof to his most familiar acquaintance And therefore for examples sake if I came to know of the Money he bestowed upon Campanella I had it from Campanella himself who both told it in private and publickly declared the same but not from Peireskius though both of us sojourneyed with him at that very time Wherefore if to one man he gave an hundred Nobles to another two hundred to another three it came to knowledge by other means and not by himself For indeed he was none of those odious kind of men who upbraid the good turns they have done which as he that hath received them should remember so should he which conferred them forget of which rule never was any man more observant than he For he was so far from speaking of what he had bestowed that he could never endure that others should mention the same and would blush to hear them being accustomed so to extenuate what he gave as that he denyed in a manner that he had given any thing But his carriage was quite different when he received
no other inconvenience at least of losse of Time In like manner he took it ill if any being far distant did stay till his return or for some other occasion fully to relate or transmit any thing for he would that what ever was requisite for him to know or have should be written to him at large and sent forthwith because through such kind of delayes he had bin frequently deprived of many goodly very profitable things Now he that loved him could not be too large in his Letters because he desired to have all the circumstances of the subject matter punctually set down Yea and he often complained that those that wrote did not sufficiently consider that such things as were clearly visible to them and which therefore as too well known either they little esteemed or neglected to write were to persons absent altogether unknown and would to them seem new and consequently delightful And therefore as vvhen he himself enquired into any thing or questioned another about it he would not omit to enquire into every thing which concern'd the same even so when he desired any thing to be sought into and observed by others either near at hand or far off he alwaies gave order that it should be viewed all manner of waies so that no circumstances if possible might lie hid vvhich he therefore vvas commonly accustorned exactly to set down in vvriting being vvonderfully delighted when any one of his own accord and by his own industry did attend either all or most or at least some circumstances Moreover his care was exceeding great to procure plenty and variety of Books For to say nothing of Manuscripts vvhich if ancient in case he could not procure them he would cause Copies to be written out and sometimes vvrote them out himself having by him Catalogues of the most renowned and chief Libraries in the world To pass over I say Manuscripts he bonght up printed Books at Rome Venice Paris Amsterdam Antwerp London Lions and other places and that not only after the Mart vvas over at Francfort but all the year long his friends acquainting him with and sending him such as were for his turn for which he caused mony to be paid either by the Bankers and Money-changers or by friends Also where ever any Libraries vvere to be sold by out-cry he took order to have the rarer Books bought up especially such as were of some neat Edition vvhich he had not And truly 't is incredible to tell how great a number of Books he gathered together also it is incredible how it should therefore come to passe that he lest not a most compleat Library behind him but neither of these will seem strange if a man shall consider that he sought Books not for himself alone but for any that stood in need of them He lent an innumerable company vvhich vvere never restored also he gave a world away as I hinted before of vvhich he could hardly hope ever to get the like again Which he did when learned men had occasion to use them For as for such Books as vvere commonly to be had at the Book-sellers of them he vvas wonderfully profuse and lavish For vvhich cause as often as he vvas informed of Books newly come forth he would have many of them vxhich he vvould partly keep by him and partly distribute them immediately among his friends according as he knew they would like the subject matter thereof And whether he gave them away or kept them he would be sure to have them neatly bound and covered to which end he kept an industrious Book-binder in his House who did exquisitely bind and adorn them Yea and sometimes he kept many Book-binders at once for one man was hardly ever able to bind up such store of Books as came trowling in from all parts Also it happened frequently that such Books as he borrowed being neglected by their owners and ill bound he delivered to his binder to be rectified and beautified viz. when their subject matter or rarity deserved that cost so that having received them ill-bound and ill-favoured he returned them trim and handsome And so he did by all the very old Books which he could get whether printed or Manuscripts Nor did his care only extend to such as were entire and perfect but even to the fragments of Books and Leaves half eaten And being demanded why he would be at that charge in the Book-binding he would say the Cause was inasmuch as the best Books when they fell into unlearned mens hands ill-accoutred were pittifully used he therefore endeavoured that they might be prized at least for the beauty of their binding and so escape the danger of the Tobacconist and Crocer And those which he bound for his own use he would have his Mark stampt upon them Which Mark was made up of these three Capital Greek Letters N K Φ which were so neatly interwoven that being doubted they might be read to the right hand and to the left by which initial capital Letters these three words were designed Nicolas Klaudius Phabricius As for the Room wherein his Library was kept it was indeed too small though the whole walls were filled and nests were placed likewise on the floore filled with Books Also he had Books in the Porch of his Study and likewise piled on heaps in several Chambers And truly he had frequent thoughts to build a large Gallery but so many things were then to be removed especially the Library of his Father and Ancestors in which he had laid up the greatest part of his rarities also he was alwayes so full of business that he could not accomplish what he intended but left the House just as he at first found it I omit to say that the Porch to his Study aforesaid also the Porch to the House and his Carden and other places were loaded with Marbles both such as were engraven upon and such as were formed into statues and that whereas in the old stndy he had treasured up an huge Masse of old Coines and weights especially the lighter fort and in other places weights measnres Arms Statues and innumerable other things it must needs be that all things lay as it were confused to others but to him that knew perfectly where every thing was they were orderly placed He was far from the Practise of those mentioned by Seneca who adorned with cutious gold-worh such Corinthian Vessels as the madness of a few men had rendred estimable for he neglected even those precious Boxes which he proâ—ided at first for his Coines especially after his losse by Theeves had made him more cautious so that he made cases of Ebony and such like stuffe only for things lesse subject to be stole as the Tripod aforesaid the drinking Cups and such like things Nor was it without cause that I told you how that what might seem to others consused was not so to him For though he would frequently excuse himself that all in his House was nothing but
who as he exceedingly honored Piereskius and was by him highly eueemed so did he take extraordinary pains in composing a Poem wherein he prosecutes the rare praises of his deceased friend most decently and copiously Nor will it be unworth my labour if I shall likewise select and insert the Epitaph which Rigaltius composed Valavesius made choice of to be engraven upon his Tomb. Which was as followes Here lies Expecting a Christian Resurrection Nicolaus Claudius Fabricius Lord of Pieresk Whose Sagacity Counsel Liberality Open'd the most secret Treasures of Antiquity To all the learned world of men A Man so rarely Happy That living in an Age of Quarrels All Men knew but no Man blam'd him The VIII of the Kalends of July in the year Of Christ 1637. of his own age LVII Let every good man pray for the best of Men. And verily I must not omit the Funeral Honours which were performed for him at Rome were it only because that crafty estimation of Vertue ought not to be forgotten with which those most politick men thought fit to adorn even a man born on this side the Alps. For vvhen the Pope Cardinal Barberino and other great learned men came not without extream sorrow to understand this sad Accident they thought fit to decree such Honours as might adorn a man so well deserving of the Roman and learned World He vvas chosen in his life-time though absent into the Academy which is called Academia Humoristarum which is a renowned Society of learned men who meet twice every moneth vvhere in a full Assembly one of the Academicks makes an Oration and others recire their Poëms and other vvorks vvorthy of a learned Auditory It was therefore thought fit that Peireskius should be honoured in that Assembly though contrary to the Lawes of the said Academy vvhich allow that Honour only to Princes of the same Society so that in whole forty years time only six and they Princes are recorded to have received that Honour But the fame and splendor of his rare Vertues overcame that obstacle as also the extream affection the Cardinal bore him with the generous humanity of Camillu Columna Prince of the Academy and the great admiration and respect of the Academicks by whose Votes it was carried The twelfth day therefore of the Kalends of January was appointed for the solemnity against which Seates were provided hung with mourning as also the Pulpit and an Image of Peireskius deceased set in a conspicuous place There came besides Cardinal Barberinus and his Brother Antonius the Cardinals Bentivolus Cueva Biscia Pamphilius Pallotta Brancatius Aldobrandinus Burghesius and such a multitude of other very renowned and learned men that the Hall was searce able to contain them Where the most choyle wits in all the City recited Verses in prayse of the deceased in Italian Latine and Greek and his Funeral Oration neat and eloquent was pronounced by Joannes Jacobus Buccardus who was chosen to perform that Office both for the excellency of his wit the great love he bore to his Countrey and his special Affection to the memory of the party deceased I would let down here the chief heads of the Oration but that it has bin already divers times printed with a dedication to that greatest of Cardinals and an Epistle subjoyned to the foresaid Luillerius And there was added to the Edition printed at Rome not only the foresaid Verses recited by the Academicks but also the Letter of Naudaeus forementioned and withall a rare fardle of Funeral Elegies which because they were expressed in almost all the Languages of the World for they were near upon forty Therefore they were entituled Panglossia or the Lamentations of Mankind in all Languages expressed for the Death of their Darling And because the Book was to be licensed and approved by the Master of the sacred Palace Loe how Lucas Holstenius made way and declared by this following ceninre that the Laudatory Oration of Buccardus was written eloquently and elegantly and with the same purity and Candor with which that most excellent and incomparable man alwayes lived and the Elegoes written by most renowned and most excellent man that is to say the very Teares of the Muses runnâ—â—g down in the clear and learned Humour of the â—â—man Academy at the Funerals of Peireskius â—â—ght by any meanes to be published that the memory of so great a Personage may be transmitted to all posterity seeing they set before Mens Eyes the illustrious Example of a Man born to advance all good Literature and Liberal Arts. And I have bin more large in recounting these things thus transacted at Rome because this was as it were his Apotheâ—sis or Canonization which was entertained with the whole Worlds applause For though there was no learned man who did not wish with all his heart that Peireskius might have bin longer the Recreation of Mankind which was in old times said of a Prince rather then so soon a Companion of Saints and Angels yet all were pleased that he was honoured in that Theatre of which he was while living judged most worthy And peradventure if it had bin his hap to live longer the greatest Honours might have bin conferred upon him without his seeking after but they could add nothing to his Honour vvho by the common vote of all men vvas ever counted vvorthy of the greatest which could be conferred Moreover as he vvas alwayes richer then the vvealth vvhich he contemned so was he more glorious then those Honours he scorned to seek for And therefore though he was taken away in the middle of his vvhole Age yet in respect of glory he lived very long having by his vertue attained an eternal Renown For as long as there shall remain any Lovers of good Literature they will dearly esteem his Memory whose love to learning and munificence towards learned men they shall see sprinkled in all Books We have mentioned many of them all along and have omitted more yea such as have been dedicated to him One thing I must not omit being proper fâ—r this place viz. that many Authours were resolved to dedicate their Books to him just when he died Amongst them were Campanella Licetus Hortensius Buccardus Arcosius and who not And what would have been done think you if he had attained a riper Age and longer lise Those things which he accomplished may justly be counted very many and very great but he vvas just then taken away vvhen by rare actions he began to exceed himself For he had now contrived to himself many vvayes of entercourse into all the Provinces of Europe into Asia and all the Eastern parts of the World into all Africa and the farthest bounds of Aethiopia into the two Continents of America and the unknown World it self so that he vvas now in a capacity more abundantly to unite all Mankind through the whole World by the Commerce and Correspondence of Letters and to supply all learned men with such Books and other things as
Roman Academicks I cannot passe over in silence seeing there came no Vtensils nor Ornaments of the ancient Romans to his hands of which he had very many in his house of which he left not something or other in writing but most copiously and diligently touching the Weights Measures and Tripodes of the Ancients I omit the rest of his works in other parts of Learning I shall only add his Letters and Epistles to increase the admiration Which were so many and so learned as if he had writ nothing besides he might neverthelesse have been said to have gone through the whole Encyclopaedia or perfect Orbe of all Learning and liberal Arts. For you cannot think of any rare and excellent Argument in all the Arts and Sciences of which Peireskius did not write to all learned men either asking their judgment or returning his own being asked learnedly frequently and very largely so that he seems to have filled all Cities in all Countreys with his Letters shall I say or volums rather And that you may know I speak no more than the truth in this point consider I pray you with me how many and what for Epistles he sent to this very City for examples sake There are extant an almost innumerable company written to Pope Urbanus the 8th and to Cardinal Franciscus Barberinus comprehending that knowledge of good Arts which we all admire in those two most excellent and learned Princes There are extant Letters to Caesar Baronius and to Johannes Franciscus Vidius Balneus Cardinals to Josephus Maria Suaresius a Prelate to Christophorus Puteanus and Constantinus Cajetanus all of them persons renowned for the Science of great Arts touching Religion and matters Divine as also of humane affairs and history to Cardinal Vidus Bentivolus and Augustinus Mascardus persons best seen in that Art of any not only in this City but in all Italy and touching the abstruse and hidden things of Nature to Cassianus Putealis and Petrus Vallensis both of them renowned as well for their knowledge in natural Philosophy as other great endowments There are extant Letters of his touching Humanity as they call it and the ancient Tongues of Europe Asia and Africk as also concerning the latter Languages as the Gothick Cantabrick Provincian Italian to Lucas Holstenius Gabriel Naudaeus Leo Allatius Vincentius Noguera and Fredericus Ubaldinus men excellently and perfectly skilled in the said Languages also to Cardinal Franciscus Boncompagnus Vincentius Justinianus Maria Felix Zachus and Alexander Rondaninus her husband Stephanus Gnaldus and Claudius Menetrius men most diligent in searching out and preserving the Reliques of Antiquity touching Statues Coins ancient Jewels also touching Books anciently written and Manuscripts to those rare men Cardinal Scipio Cobellutius and Nicolaus Alemannus whom Peireskius intirely loved and whose benignity in opening to him the treasures of the Vatican Library he exceedingly wanted when he was dead These men ô Academicks 〈◊〉 know to have been most excellent in all Arts which I have therefore the more willingly reckoned up as it were mustered out because all of them in a manner as well Peireskius himself having bin long since chosen into this Academy have illustrated the splendor and glory of your order and daily illustrate the same Moreover he sent the like or a greater quantity of Letters not only to other Cities in Italy especially to Padua to Licetus Rolius Argolius and Thomasmus samous men in the Arts by them professed but also to Mantua Paris Oxford Leyden Lovane Augsburge Vindobona and other renowned Cities of the new old world flourishing with famous and learned men With which Letters truly of his he linked and united in a way of learned Commerce and correspondency not only the Nations on this and the the other side of the Alpes but all other Nations also of Europe and the barbarous people to boot so that in conclusion he made common to all those Nations those good Arts and all their Instruments which for the good of all he had treasured up in his own study and mind So that we must not judge of the excellency of Peireskius his learning nor of the worth and greatness of his study by his writings and other Monuments of the Ancients which are extant in his house but we must rather conclude that there are no famous Libraries in the whole world in which some part of the Library of Peireskius is not to be found and that no Books have been set forth in this Age of ours exceeding fruitful of Writers which do not carry with them as well the Learning as Name of Peireskius Imagine with your selves O Academicks that all studious persons do make as it were one Body in the middest whereof Peireskius performs the office of that quiet part for the nutriment whereof all the other Members in their several places do all they do and whose ministry is no lesse industrious nourishing as much as it is nourished so that with an insatiable desire of reading and learning devouring all the food of study and erudition which all men every where gathered and heaped up for him he turned the same by his heat of meditation and writing into juyce and blood which in like manner he dispersed into all parts as a common nourishment of all Wits unless we should rather say that Peireskius was the Soul of that same illustrious and immortal Body which governed the whole and by his force and Divinity did preserve and augment all and every the parts thereof I said Divinity O Academicks for he who spent a great part of the short age of fifty seven years in peregrinations and the Kings Gourt another part in the Parliament of Aix where he twice a day attended his Senatorian office could nevertheless leave so many so illustrious Monuments of his love of Learning his liberality in the advancement thereof to the eternal memory of posterity more Books and Letters written with his own hand than other long-liv'd men abounding with leasure are wont to read both in Latine Italian and French he I say seems to me worthy to be accounted more than a man Moreover that this Divine soul of Peireskius being now free from the fetters of his earthly body is mounted aloft and entred into possession of that eternal and coelestial Mansion to lead there most happily among the holy Saints that life he happily liv'd amongst us you have ô Roman Academicks all the reason in the world to think to honor the same with all Honors which are wont to be conferred on the greatest Heroes For besides that he lived with the greatest integrity and innocency possible he was also a great houourer of the Romane Religion and the Ceremonies thereof wherein he persisted most constant to his very last breath He valiantly contended for the Catholick Faith so that he reduced many thereto even of those that had left that most ancient and holy Religion and obliged themselves to new and strange ones having not without hope of
years are now past friendly Reader since in the time of Pope Urban the eighth I was sent for out of France to Rome to try if I could interpret the Inscriptions of the Roman Obeliskes it being reported that I had taken upon me the Restitution of this kind of Learning out of a very ancient Arabian Manuscript the business being eagerly urged and prosecuted by that great Maecenas of learned Men Nicolaus Peireskius a Senator in the Parliament of Aix in Provence And after that Kircherus had shewed from the very words of Gassendus how he was invited by Peireskius and desired to bring with him the Arabian Manuscript writ by Rabbi Barachia Nephi teaching the way to interpret Hieroglyphicks together with some example of an Interpretarion and his own notes he observes that the Authours right name is Abenephius and then reckoning up such as had bin assidant to the work he has these words This Treasury and Shop of Antiquities did first belong to that Gentleman worthy of immortal prayse and memory Nicolaus Peireskius a most renowned Senator of Aix in Provence who out of his zeal to promote these Studies caused all his Aegyptian Rarities which he had in his Treasuries of Antiquities to be drawn out and sent to me at Rome to assist me in my Restitution of the Art of interpreting Hieroglyphicks And again in Page 451. Just against the Chain there is the figure of a sacred Cup or Chalice which the Priests used in their Sacrifices which may be known by that Hieroglyphical Representation upon a certain Aegyptian Amphora a model whereof was sent me from the Store-house of Peireskius in which the Priests being to sacrifice to their God Mophtasen or Niligenius did hold this figure in their hands as it were a certain Cup with its appropriate Liquor by which means I first came to know the signification of this Figure And again in Page 473 he propounds the same figure and makes again honourable mention of Peireskius Peireskius and Kircherus were an Example to all men by so much Expense Care and Labour advancing the common good And I could wish that such Jewels Coines Vessels Statues and other such like things as lie hid in the Closets of Antiquaries might be brought to light for the explanation of ancient Histories and the augmentation of Learning which I have small hopes to see effected in these dayes of ours in whith there are few Kirchers and never a Peineskius After Kircherus Mersennus comes to be considered whom when Peireskius knew to be writing of Universal Harmony and all kind of Musick he presently sent him the names of two Musicians which contained the six Musical notes UT RE MI FA SOL LA in them letter for letter not one over or under Of which Mersennus makes mention in his first Volume of Universal Harmony printed at Paris in the year 1636. Now their names were these F. SALVATOR MILE and F. LOVIS ALMERAT That wonderful things have bin sometimes sound out in Anagrams who can deny Witness the Sybilla Gallica in which Thomas Billonius an Advocate in the Parliament of Aix has curiously abbreviated the Life of King Lewes the thirteenth by divers Anagrams comprehended in Heroical Verses which I do not mention in this place as intending to assert the Art of Divination by names much lesse the foolish and chymerical Conceits of Robert Flud touching the same but to bring upon the Stage an Art to me well known but through the carelesness of Students not sufficiently searched into by which through the Doctrine of Combinations all the Anagrams which can possibly be made of any name may without any labour be seen at one view nor can there more be found out by any Created Being Man or Angel so that if the name consist of four Letters it will afford 24. Anagrams if of five an hundred and twenty and so of the rest ad infinitum so that of a word or speech of sixty four Letters there does arise by these Combinations the wonderful product of ninety Cyphers out of which a skilful Composer may frame as many Anagrams And so much may suffice to have said occasionally in praise of this Art But that the six musical Notes VT RE MI FA SOL LA should be contained in the names aforesaid is but a matter of chance may appear in that the said Notes setting aside the Anagrammatism are contained in the Hymne which is wont to be sung on the Nativity of St. John Baptist as you may here behold UT queant laxis REsonare fibris MIra gestorum F Amuli tuorum SO Lve polluti LAbii reatum Sancte Johannes c. To reckon up in this place the Rarities contained in the Study of Peireskius would be a work too long for an Epistle Howbeit I shall briefly touch upon such things as it was my hap to meet with here and there And the first shall be that same Greek Manuscript of Constantinus Porphyrogeneta mentioned by Gassendus peri Aretes cai Cacias of Vertue and Vice out of which Valesius gathered an whole Book and printed the same which is now kept in the ample Library of Msr. Ranchinus a Senator in Languedock also the Epistle of a certain Sultan to an ancient King of France written in Arabick Characters upon a silken Paper sprinkled with small streaks of pure gold which shine up and down which being in some sort useful for our Histories I shall cause to be printed with an Interpretation in the Mother Tongue I must not forget to tell you how I saw a Cymbal of Brasse exceeding neat which came out of the same study it was of a round shape like an Orenge hollow within and divided into two parts like two Acorn Cups out of the bottom of which arose another Cup which was fastened to the other not by the surface but only in one point where it toucht which the two first being drawn down parallel from the top and boared as it were with so many holes being never so little stirred with the hand would make a musical sound which lasted a quarter and half quarter of an houre sending forth by repercussion of the Aire a manifold Eccho Out of the same Study came that Volume of the Travels of Vincentius mentioned by Gassendus being deposited with Peireskius in his life-time which intending to print he was hindred by the foolish Discourses of Blancus touching the plain Surface of the Earth and other such like things till at last after both their Deaths it was in the year 1649 again taken in hand and printed at Paris Touching which I desire such as are curious to take notice that the true Original Copy of the said Journey of Blancianus is kept by Mr. Hardii a Senator of Paris which being compared with the printed Edition does in some things vary therefrom being likewise enlarged with Topographical Maps of the places and the lively Pictures of the several Cloathings of divers Nations And if the Book come to be
Chartrenses of Montriou Valbonne Val St. Marie de Vrbonne de Verne Bompas LXXVII Avenion Letters of Pope Clement the 4th The Earl De Venisse LXXVIII Aurenge LXXIX Very rare Memorials for the History of France chiefly touching the troubles of the Ligue or Confederacy in general and what happened in Provence touching the same Divers curious Relations made by Mr. Peiresk in Conferences Ancient Parliaments LXXX Grotius Querengus LXXXI The third Discourse and Commentaries of Mr. Lewis de Perussiis Esquire de Coumons Knight of the Kings Order also the Continuation of the Warre and Troubles of those times from the 22th of February 1554. to the year 1581. LXXXII The Bull of the Legation of Avenion The End Courteous Reader these Books following are printed for Humphrey Moseley at the Princes Armes in Sr. Pauls Church-yard Various Histories with curious Discourses in humane Learning c. 1. HIstoricall relations of the united Provinces of Flanders by Cardinall Bentivoglio Englished by the Right Honorable Henry Earle of Monmouth Fol. 2. The History of the Warrs of Flanders written in Italian by that learned and famous Cardinal Bentivoglio Englished by the Right Honorable Henry E. of Monmouth The whole worke Illustrated with a Map of the 17. Provinces and above 20 Figures of the thiefe Personages mentioned in this History Fol. 3. The History of the Warrs of the Emperor Justinian with the Persians Goths and Vandalls written in Greek by Procopius of Caesaria in eight Bookes translated into English by Sir Henry Holcroft Knight Fol. 4. De Bello Belgico the History of the Low-Country Warrs written in Latine by Famianus Strada in English by Sir Robert Stapylton Illustrated with divers Figures Fol. 5. The use of passions written by I.F. Senalt and but into English by Henry Earle of Monmouth 8o. 6. Judicious and Select Essaies and observations by the Renowned and learned Knight Sir Walter Raleigh with his Apology for his Voyage to Guiana Fol. 7. The Compleat Horseman and Expert Farrier in two books by Thomas De Grey Esquire newly printed with additions in 4â— 1656. 8. Unheard-of curiosities concerning the Talismaticall Sculpture of the Persians The Horoscope of the Patriarchs and the judgment of the Starrs by J. Gafâ—nel Englished by Edmund Chilinead Ch. Ch. Oxon. 9. The History of the Inquisition composed by â— F. Servita the compiler of the History of the Councill of Trent in 8º traslated out of Italian 10. Biathanatos a Paradox of self-murther by Dr. Jo. Donne Dean of St. Pauls London 11. The Gentlemans Exercise or the Art of limning painting and blazoning of Coats and Armes c. by Henry Peacham Master of Arts 4o. 12. M. Howels History of Lewis the thirteenth King of France with the life of his Cardinal de Richelieu Fol. 13. Mr. Howels Epistolae Ho elianae Familiar letters Domestick and Forren in six Sections partly Historicall Politicall Philosophicall the first Volume with Additions 8o. 14. Mr. Howels new volume of Familiar letters partly Historicall Politicall Philosophicall the second Volume with many Additions 8o. 15. Mr. Howels third Volume of Additionall letters of a fresher date never before published 8o. 16. Mr. Howels Dodona's Grove or the Vocall Forest the first part in 12o. with many Additions 17. Mr. Howels Dodona's Grove or the Vocall Forest the second part in 8º never printed before 18. Mr. Howels Englands Teares for the present wars 19. Mr. Howels Fre-eminence and Pedegree of Parliament in 12o. 20. Mr. Howels Instructions and Directions for Forven Trvels in 12º with divers Additions for Travelling into Turky and the Levant parts 21. Mr. Howels Vote or a Poem Royall presented to his late Majesty in 4o. 22. Mr. Howels Angliae Suspiria lachrymae in 12o. 23. Marques Virgilio Malvezzi's Romulus and Tarquin Englished by Hen. Earl of Monmouth in 12o. 24 Marques Virgilio Malvezzi's David persecuted Englished by Ro. Ashly Gent. in 120. 25. Marques Virgilio Malvezzi of the successe and chiefe events of the Monarchy of Spain in the year 1639. of the revolt of the Catalonians from the King of Spain Englished by Rob. Gentilis Gent. in 12o. 26. Marques Virgilio Malvezzi's considerations on the lives of Alcibiades and Coriolanus Two famous Roman Commanders Englished by Rob. Gentilis 27. Policy unveiled or Maximes of State done into English by the Translator of Gusman in 4o. 28. Gracious priveleges granted by the King of Spaine to our English Merchants in 4o. 29. Englands looking in and out by Sr. Ralph Maddison Knight 4o. 30. Gratiae Ludentes jests from the University 31. The Antipathy between the French and the Spanyard an ingenious translation out of Spanish 32. Mr. Birds grounds of Grammar in 8o. 33. Mr. Bulwers Phylocophus or the Deafe and Dumb mans friend in 12o. 34. Mr. Bulwers Pathomyotomia or a Dessection of the significative Muscles of the Affections of the Mind 12o. 35. An Itinenary containing a voyage made through Italy in the years 1646 1647. illustrated with divers Figures of Antiquity never before published by John Raymond Gent. in 12o. Books in Humanity lately Printed 36. THe History of Life and Death or the prolongation of Life written by Francis Lord Verulam Viscount St. Alban in 12o. 37. The naturall and experimentall History of Winds written in Latine by Francis Lord Verulam Viscount St. Alban translated into English by an admirer of the learned Author 12o. 38. The life of the most learned Father Paul Authour of the History of the Councill of Trent translated out of Italian by a person of quality 8o. 39. Paradoxes Problems Characters by Dr. Donn Dean of St Paul's to which is added a booke of Epigrams written in Latin by the same Author translated by Iasper Main D. D. 12o. 40. Ignatius his conclave a Satyr written by Dr. Donne Deane of St. Paul's 12o. 41. A Discovery of subterraneall Treasure viz. of all manner of Mines and Minerals from the Gold to the Coale with plain directions and rules for the finding of them in all Kingdomes and Countries written by Gabriel Platt 4o. 42. Richardi Gardiner ex Aede Christi Oxon. specimen Oratorium â—o. 43. The Soveraignty of the British Seas written by that learned Knight Sir Iohn Burroughes Keeper of the Records in the Tower 12o. 44. Grammatica Burlesa or a new English Grammar made plaine and easie for Teacher and Schollar composed by Edward Burles Master of Arts. 45. Artificiall Arithmetick containing the Quintessence of the Golden Rule the true valuation of all Annaities also to find the distance at one station An Art never till now published usefull for Merchant Gunners Seamen and Surveyors by Robert Iager of Sandwich in Kent Gent. 46. Naturall and Divine Contemplations of the Passions and Faculties of the Soul of Man in three books written by Nicholas Moseley Esq 8o. Seâ—â—rall Sermons with other excellent Tracts in Divinity written by some most eminent and learned Bishops and Orthodox Divines 47. A Manuall of private Devotions Meditations for every day in the week by the right
Temple sacred Poems with the delights of the Moses upon severall occasions by Richard Crashaw of Cambridge 12o. 96. Divine Poems written by Francis Quarles 8o. 97. Clarastella with other occasionall Poems Elegies Epigrams Satyrs written by R. Heath Esq 98. Poems written by Mr. William Shakspeare 99. Arnalte Lucenda or the melancholy Knight a Poem translated by L. Laurence 4o. 100. The Odes of Casimire translated by Mr. George Hills of Newark 12o. 101. Alarum to Poets by I. L. 4o. 102. Fragmenta Poetica or Miscellanies of Poeticall Musings by Nich. Murford Gent. 12o. 103. Hymnus Tabaci Authore Raphaele Thorio 8o. 104. Hymnus Tabaci a Poem in Honour of Tobacco Heroically composed by Raphael Thorius made English by Peter Hausted Mr. of Arts Camb. 8o. 105. Olor Iscanus a Collection of some select Poems and Translations written by Mr. Henry Vaughan 106. Argalus and Parthenia by Francis Quarles 107. The Academy of Complements wherein Laâ—ies Gentlewomen Schollers and strangers may accommodate their Courtly practise with gentile Ceremonies complementall amorous high expressions and forms of speaking or writing of Letters most in fashion with Additions of many witty Poems and pleasant New songs 12o. Poems lately Printed 107. Poems and Translations the compleat works of Thomas Stanley Esq 8o. 105. Choice Poems with Comedies and Tragedies by Mr. William Cartwright late student of Ch. Ch. in Oxford and Proctor of the University The Aires and songs set by Mr. Henry Lawes servant to his late Majesty in his publick and private Musick 108. Herodian of Alexandria his Imperiall History of twenty Roman Caesars and Emperours of his time first written in Greek and now converted into an Heroick Poem by C. Stapleton 4o. 109. The Card of Courtship or the Language of love fitted to the humours of all degrees sexes and Conditions Incomparable Comedies and Tragedies written by severall Ingenious Authors 110. COmedies and Tragedies written by Francis Beaumont and John Fletcher never printed before and now published by the Authots Originals Copies contayning 34 playes and a Masque Fol. 111. The Elder Brother by Francis Beaumont and Iohn Fletcher 112. The Scornfull Lady by Francis Beaumont and Iohn Fletcher 113. The Woman Hater by Francis Beaumont and Iohn Fletcher 114. Thierry and Theodoret by Francis Beaumont and Iohn Fletcher 115. Cupids Revenge by Francis Beaumont and Iohn Fletcher 116. Monsieur Thomas by Francis Beaumont and Iohn Fletcher 117. The two Noble kinsmen by Francis Beaumont and Iohn Fletcher 118. The Country Captain and the Variety two Comedies written by a person of Honour 12o. 119. The Sophy a Tragedy writen by Mr. Iohn Denham Esq Fol. 120. Brennoralt or the discontented Collonel a Tragedy written by Sir Iohn Suckling Knight 4o. 121. The deserving Favorite by Mr. Lod. Carlel 122. Albovine King of Lombardy by Sir William Davenant 123. The Just Italian by Sir William Davenant 124. The Cruel Brother by Sir William Davenant 125. The Unfortunate Lovers by Sir William Davenant 126. Love and Honour by Sir William Davenant 127. The Sophister by Dr. Z. 128. Revenge of Bussy D Ambois George Chapman 129. Byrons Conspiracy George Chapman 130. Byrons Tragedy George Chapman 131. Contention for Honour and riches J. Shirley 132. Triumph of Peace in 4º J. Shirley 133. The Dutchess of Malfy by Iohn Webster 134. The Northern lass by Richard Broome 135. The Cid a Tragicomedy translated out of rench by Ioseph Rutter Gent. 12o. 136. The Wild Goose Chase a Comedy written Fr. Beaumont and Iohn Fletcher Fol. 137. The Widow a Comedy by Ben Iohnson Iohn â—letcher and T Middleton 138. The Changling by T Middleton and Rowley 4o. 239. Six new plaies 1. The Brothers 2. The Siâ—ters 3. The Doubtfull Heir 4. The Imposture 5. The Cardinall 6. The Court-Secret by I. Shirley 140. Five new plaies 1. A mad couple well matcht The Novella 3. The Court Begger 4. The City Wit 5. The Damoiselle by Richard Broome 141. The Tragedy of Alphonsus Emperor of Germary by George Chapman 4o. 142. Two Tragedies viz. Cleopatra Queen of Aegypt and Agrippina Empresse of Rome by Thomas May Esq Playes lately Printed 143. THe Gentleman of Venice A Tragi-Comedy by James Shirley 144. The Polititian a Tragedy by James Shirley 145. The Passionate Lovers in two parts by Mr. Lodowick Carlel 146. Mirza A Tragedy really acted in Persia with Annotations by Robert Barron Esq 147. Three new playes viz. 1 The Bashfull Lover 2 The Guardian 3 The very woman by Phillip Masâ—enger Gent. New and Excellent Romances 148. CAssandra the Fam'd Romance the whole work in five parts written in French and now Elegantly rendered into English by a person of quality Fol. 149. Ibrahim or the Illustrious Bassa an excellent new Romance the whole worke in foure parts written in French by Monsieur de Scudery and now Englished by Henry Cogan Gent. Fol. 150. Artamenes or the Grand Cyrus an excellent new Romance written by that famous wit of France Monsieur de Scudery Governour of Nostre-dame and now Englished by F.G. Esq Fol. 151. The continuation of Artamenes or the Grand Cyrus that excellent new Romance being the third and fourth parts written by that Famous wit of France Monsieur de Scudery Governour of Nostre-dame and now Englished by F. G. Esq Fol. 152. The third Volume of Artamenes or the Grand Cyrus that excellent new Romance being the fist and sixt parts written by that famous wit of France Monsieur de Scudery Governour of Nostre-dame and now Englished by F. G. Esq Fol. 153. The fourth Volume of Artamenes or the Grand Cyrus that Excellent new Romance being the seaventh and eighth parts written by that famous Wit of France Monsieur de Scudery Governour of Nostre-dame and now englished by F. G. Esq Fol. 154. The History of Polexander a Romance Englished by William Browne Gent. Fol. 155. The History of the Banished Virgin a Romance translated by I. H. Esq Fol. 156. Casandra the fam'd Romance the three first books Elegantly rendred into English by the Right Hoâ—â—â—ble the Lord George Digby 8o. 157. The History of Philoxipes and Policrite a Romance made English by an honorable person 8o. 158. The History of Don Fenise a new Romance written in Spanish by Francisco de las Coveras Englished by a Person of Honour 8o. 159. Aurora Ismenia and the Prince with Oronta the Cyprian Virgin translated by Thomas Stanley Esq 160. Cleopatra a new Romance Englished by a Gent. of the Inner Temple in 8o. 161. La Stratonica or the unfortunate Qeene a new Romance translated into English 162. Choice Novels and Amorous Tales written by â—he most refined wits of Italy newly translated into English by a person of quality in 8o. 163. Nissena a new Romance Englished by an Honorable person in 8o. 164 Dianea a new Romance written in Italian by â—io Francisco Loredano a Noble Venetian Englished â—y Sir Aston Cockaine in 80. Bookes lately printed for Humphrey Moseley 165. A German Diet or the Ballance of Europe wherein the power and
weaknesse glory and â—â—eproach Vertues and Vices Plenty and Wants Adantages and Defects Antiquity and Modernes of all â—â—â— Kingdomes and states of Christendome are Imartially poiz'd by James Howel Esq Fol. 166. Renatus des Cartes ' excellent compendium of Musick with necessary and juditious Animadversions â—erâ—upon by a person of Honour Illustrated with livers figures in 4o. 167. The Scarlet Gowne or the History of the â—â—ves of all the present Cardinals of Rome written in â—alian and Englished by Henry Cogan Gent. 80. 168. A discourse of constancy Ly Justus Lipsius faithfully Englished by R. G. sometimes of Ch. Ch. Exon. containing many sweet consolations for all that are afflicted in body or in mind 12o. 169. Le Chemin abrege or a compendious Method for the attaining of Sciences in a short time with the Statutes of the Academy of Cardinall Richelieu Englished by R. G. Gent. 170. The Academy of Eloquence containing compleat English Rhethorick with common place and formes to speake and write fluently according â—â— the present mode together with letters amorous anâ— morall by Thomas Blunt Gent. 12o. 171. The Secretary in fashion or a compendion and refined way of expression in all manner of letter with instructions how to write letters of all sorts coâ—posed in French by P. St de la Serre in 8o. 172. Curia Politiae or the Apologies of several Princes justifying to the World their most eminent â—â—ctions by the strength of Reason and the most exact rules of Policy by the acurate pen of Monsieur Scudery Governer of Nostre-dame and now Englishe with the figures of many Emperors and Kings 173. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or observations on the present manners of the English briefly anatomizing the living by the dead with an usefull detection of the Mount banks of both sexes by Richard Whitlock M.D. late fellow of all Souls Colledge in Oxon 8o. 174. Scholae Wintoniensis Phrases Latinae The Latinâ—â— Phrases of Winchester School corrected and much augmented with Poeticalls added and four Tracts 1. â—â— words not to be used by elegant Latinists 2. The disference of words like one another in sound or signification 3. Some words governing a subjunctive modâ—â— not mentioned in Lillies Grammer 4. Concerning 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for entring children upon making Themes by H. Robinson D. D. sometimes school-master of Winchester Colledge published for the commoâ—nse and benefit of Grammer schools 175. Atheismus Vapulans or a Treatise against Atheism rationally confuting the Atheists of these times by William Towers late student of Ch. Ch. Oxon. 176. De Juramenti Obligatione promissorij Praelectiones Septem Of the Obligation of Promissory Oathes seven Lectures read in the Divinity Schools at Oxford by Robert Sanderson D. D. and englished by his late Majesties appointment 8o. 177. Politick Maxims and observations written by the most learned Hugo Grotius translated for the ease and benefit of the English statesmen by H. C. S. T. B. 178. The perfect Horseman or the experienc'd secrets of Mr. Markhams fifty yeares practice shewing how a man may come to be a Generall Horse man by the knowledge of these seven Offices viz. The Breeder Ambler Keeper Farrier viz. The Feeder Rider Buyer Farrier Published with some Additions by Lancelot Thetford Practitioner in the same Art 40. yeares 179. Divine Poems written by Tho. Washborn B. D. 180. Buxtorf's Epitome of his Hebrew Grammar Englished by Iohn Davis Mr. of Arts. 181. Fasciculus Poematum Epigrammatûm Miscelaâ—eorum Authore Iohanne Donne D. D. 182. Poemata Graeca Latina à Gulielmo Cartwright C. C. Oxon. 183. The Marrow of Complements containing Amorous Epistles complementall entertainments Dialogues songs and Sonnets presentations of gifts instructions for Woers with other pleasant passages Bookes newly Printed for Humphrey Moseley 184 THe fifth Volume of Artamenes or the Grand Cyrus that excellent new Romance being the ninth and tenth Parts Written by that famous wit of France Monsieur de Scudery Governour of Nostredame and now englished by F. G. Esq 185 Elise or Innocency guilty a new Romance translated into English by John Jennings Gent. 186 Clelia an excellent new Romance written in French by the exquisite pen of Monsieur de Scudery Governour of Nostredame de la Gard. 187 Coralbo a new Romance in three Bookes written in Italian by Cavalier Gio Francesco Biondi and now faitâ—fully rendred into English 188 The Lusiad or Portugalls Historicall Poem translated into English by Richard Fanshaw Esq 189 The History of Philosophy the first Part by Tho Stanley Esq 190 The History of the Kingdome of Naples with the lives of all their Kings written by that famous Antiquary Scipio Mazzella with an Addition of what happened during the Rebellion of Massaniello and continued to this present yeare by I. H. Esq 191 Mr. Howel's fourth Volume of familiar Letters never published before 192 Manziny his most exquisite Academicall Discourses upon severall choice Subjects turned into French by that famous Wit Monsieur de Scudery and into English by an Honourable Lady 193 The English Treasury of Wit and Language digested into common places by Iohn Cotgrave Gent. 194 Lusus Serius a Philosophicall Discourse of the superiority of the Creatures by Michael Mayerus 195 The Aphorisms of Hippocrates with a short Comment on them taken out of Galen Heurnius Fuchsius c. 196 Euphrates or the waters of the East by Eugenius Philalethes 197. Hermeticall Physick or the way to preserve and restore health by Henry Nollius Chymist and Englished by Henry Vaughan Gent. 198 Dr Valentine's private Devotions in Welch 199 Mantuan's Eclegues Englished by Tho. Harvey 200 Medici Catholicon or a Catholick Medicine for the Diseases of Charity by John Collop Dr. of Physick 201 Poesis Rediviva or Poetry reviv'd by John Collop M. D. 202 The Saints Expectation and Reward A Sermon at the Funerall of Mr. Thomas Wiborow by Michael Thomas Minister of Stockden in Shropshire 203 A Sermon against Murder occasion'd by the Massacre of the Protestants in the Dukedome of Savoy by William Towers B. D. Books Printed this Terme 204. RAgguagli di Parnasso or Advertisements from Parnassus Written in Italian by that Faâ—ous Roman Trajano Bocalini and put into English by the right Honorable Henry Earle of Monmouth 205 A compleat History of the Lives and Reignes of Mary Queen of Scotland and of her Son and Successour James the Sixth King of Great Brittain France and Ireland by William Sanderson 206 The Destruction of Troy an Essay upon the second Book of Virgil's Aeneis by John Denham Esq 207 Poems viz. 1 Miscellanies 2. The Mistresse or Love-Verses 3. Pindarique Odes 4. Davideis or a sacred Poem of the Troubles of David by A. Cowley 208 God Incarnate shewing that Jesus Christ is the Only and the most high God In foure Books containing Animadversions on Dr. Lushingtous Comentary upon the Epistle to the Hebrewes by Edmund Porter ate of St. Iohn's Coll. Camb. Prebend of Norwich 209 Ducis Buckinghami in
Ream Insulam Expeditio Authore Edovardo Domino Herbert Barone de Cherbury Quam publici Juris fecit Timotheus Balduinus L. L. Doctor è Coll. Omn. Anim. apud Oxonienses Socius 210. The Siege of Antwerp written in Latine by Famianus Strada Englished by Tho. Lancaster Gent. 211 The History of Philosophy the second Part by Tho. Stanley Esq 212 Clella an excellent new Romance the second Volume Written in French by the exquisite Pen of Monsieur de Scudery Governour of Nostredame 213 Argalus and Parthenia written by Francis Quarles and â—â—ustrated with 30 Figures cut in Copper relating to the Sâ—ory 214 Practicall Arithmetick in whole Numbers Fractions and Decimals fitted to the severall uses of Gentlemen Merchants or Trades-men by Richard Rawlins Professor thereof in Greet Yarmouth These Bookes are now in the Presse 215. GLossographia or a Dictionary interpreting all such hard words whether Hebrew Greek Latin Italian Spanish French c. as are now used in our Refined English tongue Also the Teatâ—mes of Divinity Law Physick Mathematicks Heraldry Anatomy War Musick Architecture explained by Thomas Blount of the Inner Temple Bar. rester 216. Astrea A Romance written in French by Messire Honore D'Vrfe and now Translated into English 217. An Introduction into the Greek Tongue most plainly delivering the principall matters of the Grammar thereof composed for their sakes which understand not Latine and yet are desirous to have competent Knowledge in that language by Edmund Reeve B. D. Instructer of all the 〈◊〉 Tongues 218 The Rules of the Latine Grâ—â—â— construed which were omitted in the Book carred I illies Rules and the Syntaxis constrned by Edmund Recoe B. D. Instructer in all the Originall Tongues 219. Politick Discourses written in Italian by Paul Peruta Gent. of Venice Englished by the Right Honoâ—able Henry Earle of Monmouth 221. Of the Passion of the Soule and contentment of mind by Peter du Moulin the Sonne D. D. These Books I do purpose to Print very speedily 222 HEsperides or The Muses Garden stored with variery of the choisest flowers of Language and earning wherein grave and serious minds may be reâ—eshed with the sollid fruits of Philosophy History osmography intermixed with the sweets of Poetry and the ceremonious Courtier The Passionate Amongst with his admired Lady may gather Ranties Sulâ—â—able to their Fancies by Iohn Evans Gent. 223. Mosaicall Philosophy written in Latin by â—obert Fludd Esq and Dr in Physick and by himselfe afterwards translated into English 224. Disquisitions upon the Nativity of our Saviour Jesus Christ by the Honorable Sir Isaac Wake 225 The Expedition of the Duke of Backingham into â—he Isle of Ree written in Latine by the Right Honourable Edward Lord Herbert of Cherbury c. and now endred into English 226. The Life of A Satyricall Puppy Called Nim tho worrieth all those Satyrists he knowes and barkes â—â— the rest by W. D. 227. The Anatomy of Prophane Love written in â—ulian and Englished by I. S. 228. Nicholas Flammell his Exposition of his Hâ—eroâ—phicall Figures with the secret Book of Artephius â—â—d the Epistle of Iohn Pontanus concerning the Phiâ—â—sophers Stone ☞ With an Addition upon the me Subject written by Synetius that most Learned and Famous Greeian Abbot never Printed before 229. Brittain's Ida written by that Renowned Poet Edmund Spencer 230. A Discovery of the Hollanders trade of Fishing and their Circumventing us therein with the meanes how to make profit of the fishing by which the have made and yet do reap so great a benifit by Sir W. Munson Knight somtimes Vice-Admirall of England 231. Sir Charles Cornwallis his Negotiation as Leiger Ambassador for Spaine 232. A Discovery of the State of Christendom containing many secret passages and hidden Mysteries the times both past and present with Historicall and Politicall Observations thereon by a person of Honour 233. A Grammar Lecture with Elegies written bâ— Francis Beaumont Gent. 234. A Discourse touching peace with Spain and retaining the Netherlands in Protection written bâ— Sir Walter Raleigh Knight presetned to his Majesty 235. A Discourse of the Warre of Germany with the Loâ—â— Chancellor Bacon's Petition and Submission toth House of Peeres 236. Andrea Palladio his four Books of Architectuâ— treating of private Buildings Highwayes Piazz exercisâ—â—g places and Temples Translated out of Iâ—sion by H. L. Esq 237. The Distresses By Sir W. Davenant 238. The fair Favorite By Sir W. Davenant 239. Newes from Plimouth By Sir W. Davenant 240. The Seige By Sir W. Davenant 241. The Spartan Ladyes By Lodowick Caâ—lell Gent. 242. The Discrect Lover or the Fool would be a Favorite By Lodowick Caâ—lell Gent. 243. Osman the Great Turk or the Noble Servant By Lodowick Caâ—lell Gent. 244. More Dissemblers then Women By Tho. Midleto Gent. 245. Woman beware Women By Tho. Midleto Gent. 246. No Witt like a Womans By Tho. Midleto Gent. 246. No Help like a Womans By Tho. Midleto Gent.