Historians out of which divers deficiencies in noble Authours might be made up It is not to be believed how small a thing he valued two hundred pounds Tours which he gave for this Book were it only that he conjectured it was the Emperours own individual Book which he had for his own use because of the shape of the Letters and their elegancy the neatness of the binding and rare Verses prefixed in prayse thereof Also he obtained that which he had long sought for viz. certain Councels of the Christian Bishops after the recovery of the Holy Land for he had long bin perswaded that there was some Copy or other of them to be had in those parts He had indeed formerly caused some of them to be written out of the Vatican Library About the same time he wrote unto all parts to assist Holstenius who was labouring about the edition of a Noble pack of ancient Geographers He chiefly wanted a Description of Thracian Bosphorus made by Diony sius Byzantius which Petrus Gyllius made use of but only in Latine and imperfect in describing the said Bosphorus And because he thought it likely that the Greek Text might be found among the Books of the Cardinal of Armenia of whose Family Gyllius was therefore Peireskius so wrought that the Bishop of Ruten searcht all the Library over and at last sent him a Catalogue thereof to assure him that there was no such Book there to be found You may be sure he spared not to send Letters to the Popes Nuncio's to the Kings Embassadors to all the learned men he knew amongst whom verily I must not forbear to name that same rare Bishop of Tolouse Carolus Monchalius out of whose wealthy Storehouse so many rare Manuscripts were brought that he might at least be assured there was no such Book to be found And it is doubtless scarce credible that it is any where extant since it has escaped the so great Sagacity of that man For the same Holstenius said not without cause in a Letter to him For it has not yet bin my hap to see any mortal Man surmounting you in the knowledge of Antiquity or that could match you in the diligence and felicity of your Researches While he was thus busied he received a Book from the above-named Johannes Jacobus Chiffletius Physician in ordinary to the Infanta Isabella touching the Iccian Port from which Julius Caesar set sail for Brittain And he easily dissented from that Opinion which held Callis to be the Port aforesaid however he wished that rare man would make a more diligent search all that Coast over and though he had acutely proved that Mardike was the port yet that he should consider whether that name were applyable to a Port extant in these dayes of ours And the farther Port we read of seems not to be interpreted the inferior Port so as to mean the inferior Coast which is under Audomaropolis and is parceld out by pools of standing water but rather the Western so as to signifie one that is nearer and from whence the passage into Brittain is shorter But nothing was more delightful to him then to read withall that in the Audomaropolitan Lake there are floating Islands which bear both Men and Beasts and whereupon Alder-Trees and Willowes do pleasantly flourish Wherefore he was desirous two years after when I was to travel that way that I should take a curious view thereof and report the business to him which I did and sent him a branch which I pluckt off from a tall Willow which swum about with the ground it grew upon He was also sollicitous about that time touching the observation of that Article by which the Council of Trent condemned clandestine Marriages nor did he cease till he had perswaded certain scrupulous Ecclesiastick Judges that it was not only ratified by the Kings Authority in Parliament but also by special Decrees of the Metropolitan Synods of this Province I forbear to mention with what ardency he did sollicite Aleander that he would seriously set himself to describe that Earth-quake with which Aqulia was shaken from the last day save one of July and with which the Arch Bishoprick of San-severinas was reported to be swallowed up in the Moneth of September Other things I passe over only I must needs relate his rare modesty which made him change the Epistle of a Book dedicated to him That Book contained some spiritual Treatises of Saint Diadochus Nilus and Hesychius which Aleander Fichetus a very learned Jesnite printing at Lewis would needs dedicate to him Now he usurped the Booksellers name and thought he had used no Hyperbole in commending Peireskius whose vertue he sufficiently saw when he professed Phylosophy at Aix and was a publick preacher there But Peireskius himself would not bear it but being to send some Copies to Rome as there was no new thing which he did omit to send he caused that Epistle to be laid aside and another to be printed and prefixed to the Books he sent In the Epistle which he would have omitted were these passages Your Table your House your Study are a Starry firmament of all wits wherein the Heavenly Constellations the Stars of all Learning and learned men do briefly shine so that all things therein are not guilt with Gold or Silver but shine as Stars the Desks are filled with Stars where the Books stand like Constellations and your self sitting in the midst and embracing all give light to all add grace to all bestow life as it were and eternity upon all so that to you all well-writ Books through the world as the sacred fires of good minds do strive to mount as to their Heaven to receive light from you and shine again upon you c. This Epistle brings into my mind how the year following when he had received one of those Books termed Coelum Christianum begun by Joannes Bayerns and finished by Julius Schillerius Peireskius commended indeed their piety in giving to the Planets instead of the usual names those of Adam Moses and the Patriarchs and giving to the twelve signes the names of the Apostles and to other Constellations the names of other Saints or holy things besides figures newly invented and new Verses made of them but he liked not the design of perverting all the knowledge of the Heavenly Bodies which from all Antiquity is sprinkled up and down in all kinds of Books Howbeit he was not seriously afraid lest therefore Astronomers would change all the names of the Stars because they might easily see they should get no advantage but much disturbance thereby He added that those ancient Figurations of the Stars though profane were no hinderance to Christian piety and himself had long agoe observed these Images which had bin painted upon the vaulted roof of the Church at Vercellis a thousand two hundred years agoe Finally he wished the same industrious hand which had engraven these new ones had expressed those at Vertillis commendable for their great
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
me give them no other answer then that some of the work remained yet to finish And he answered smiling that it was requisite to spred a rumour abroad that the History of Provence was near finished for by that meanes many desirous to have themselves or Ancestors mentioned therein would hasten of their own accord to contribute some ancient Monuments which otherwise they would not communicate though they were intreated to do it Moreover he was in hopes that he might at last withdraw to Beaugensier and peruse that mighty Masse of Ratities which he had there piled up and having rightly digested all might exiract somewhat which might be so molded as to become worthy to see the Light howbeit he doubted both his own Health and the obtaining of that happy leasure by reason of many businesses comming in one upon the neck of another especially calling to minde how it fared with him at his late retirement where he did not so much as open his Desk where the foresaid History was lockt up though his Brother Valavesius who caused it to be conveighed thither did sollicire him thereunto offering himself to be his Assistant and Scribe Wherefore fearing that it would fall out as it did and desiring that all should not be lost he took the course above specified namely to take or seek occasions of writing Letters into which he inserted the principal matters And therefore I may well say there are many of his Letters which being replenished with Learning may be accounted so many Books and do every way deserve to be published in Print Many of these there are in which he so discourses of Antiquities and the wonders of Nature that who ever shall read them will be instructed For he was alwayes very willing to communicate what rarities he had in that kind to good men and friends because he alwayes loved learned men who would be edified thereby and assisted in the Composure of divers works For he judged that it was all one whether he or others published the same provided they were such things as the reading whereof might be judged profitable He hoped moreover and professed that when they were inserted into other mens works they would become so much the more profitable by how much they should prove more illustrious by passing through such learned hands For he did not for any other end search our and suggest them then that they might provoke excellent wits to invent somewhat better forasmuch as he himself was unable to produce a ripe and elegant birth or to form and fashion and lick the same as it were over but was happy enough if he might by any means play the Midwives part in helping into the World the Labours of other Men. It was therefore his custom even unasked so to assist any man that was writing a Book that there was nothing which he would not afford him either out of his own observations or his Treasury of Rarities or the Rarities of other men which he would procure of purpose or out of Manuscripts which if he had not himself he would take pains to procure them out of any Libraries where ever they were to be had Nor was there any man fit to write upon any subject whom he would not sollicite thereunto and remove all Impediments if any were and contribute Money Books or what ever else he stood in need of But to speak yet further concerning his Letters there are very many moral ones which are exceeding well worth the Printing in which he comforts exhorts disswades and the like with wonderful elegancy and efficacy but he is no where in my opinion more eloquent then where he advises learned men to abstain from reviling and bitter girds to honour Antiquity and not to dissent therefrom without some testification of Reverence not to receive or give out uncertain things for certain rather to produce somewhat of their own then to confute other men not to imitate such men as being to take a Journey stand to throw out of the way all the stones they meet with or who intending to gather a Nose-gay of Roses do first of all cut all the prickles from the Rose-bush to excuse connive at and mitigate the faults of others when they meet therewith and think with themselves what man will be thought to deserve prayse if none may be praysed but he that is without fault to take it gratefully rather that they have broken the Ice and have at least endeavoured to make a very rough way smooth to acknowledge that nothing is at the first perfect and that no man would produce his endeavours into the eye of the World unless he hoped for some favour rather then reprehension to remember that they also themselves are men and apt to be mistaken and should by that meanes merit pardon if they showed themselves gentle to others with other such like things all which were here too long to relate There are also other Epistles in which he commends begs excuses congratulates expostulates and the like with so much decency and grace as can be desired he was so naturally apt to observe Decorum invent Reasons and stir affection I forbear to tell you how he very seldom wrote in Latine but used principally the French Tongue or the Italian the sweetness whereof and all its charming Elegancies he expressed not only in his Letters but also when he discoursed with Italians by word of mouth And such a Man as you have seen declared was Peireskius I return now to the time in which as I said before he fell into a mortal sickness But I must first tell you that a few moneths before there was a common report at Rome that he was dead which was brought from thence to Paris whereupon Valavesius who was then in that City sent unto his Brother a Congratulatory Letter full of good wishes for the continuance of his life and health Nor must I passe over in silence how Peireskius himself four dayes before he was taken sick did relate unto us this following Dream I thought quoth he that I was at Masse in the Chappel of the Palace and that the Roof of the Chappel fell down and overwhelmed my self with other Eenators and the Priest And when at the first crack the Priest being affrighted would have left his Sacrifice Why art thou affraid Friend quoth I seeing thou hast God so near at hand Howbeit I do not relate this as one that would seem desirous to rake up wonders as many fables are wont to be related upon such occasions but that I may not be thought to make so much haste to the end of my story as to omit any thing which may seem extraordinary Now I call such like stories as this which are commonly related Fables because if they be not altogether false yet are they drawn in by the head and shoulders upon some sleight occasion and happen rather by meer chance then any intention of Nature who cares no more for a wise man then a
discourse of almost all things both learnedly and subtilely And again which I was first induced to do by peculiar reasons of my own who have bin long in your debt and do earnestly desire and long above measure to give you all tokens possible of the Reverence and respect I bear towards you And in the next place the Example of my most excellent and eminent Patron Johahnes Franciscus Cardinalis à Balneo who as at other times he conversed so willingly and delightfully with you as with no learned man more even so now he remits nothing of his ancient good will but loves and honours you exceedingly though absent I omit that passage who have long since obliged me by the incredible Allurements of your Love and Beneficence and many more Having brought the Cardinal to Tolon and not leaving him till he was under sail he returned to Beaugensier For sometime he was busied about the Marriage which Claudius his Brothers Sonne endeavoured to procure in the County of Avenion He gave therefore his consent that he should take from thence to wife a noble Damosell called Margaretta Alresia bestowing upon him the Barony of Rantium and granting him his Senatorian Dignity only upon condition that the whole function should remain unto himself for the space of three years Easter was at hand when a remarkable Palsie seazed upon the whole right side of his Body For he was sitting without his door at the entrance of the Garden and rested his whole body as hap was upon his right thigh when of a sudden he felt his said thigh not a little stupified Endeavouring to rise he could not without the help of his Servant nor go by reason of the like nummedness of his thigh and soot Presently the Disease seazed upon his Arm so that he could not write It crept also into his Tongue so that he could only make a noyse but was not able to articulate his words Also a ringing followed in his eare which went not away till the other parts were freed from the Palsie Now he was freed just a week after he was first taken upon the occasion of chearfulness and admiration For Letters being brought him from Thuanus containing an excuse why he came not by Beaugensier he was much rejoyced and a while after some body singing curiously an Hymne of the Loves of the Lilly and the Rose he was so taken with the sweetness of the Song and the elegancy of some strain or other that like the Son of Croesus desiring to utter some words and particularly these How excellent is this he forth-with uttered them and at that very moment his Limbs were all freed from the Palsie Moreover he afterwards resolved to send Minutius again to hunt for Books in the Oriental Languages being chiefly animated by the practite of that renowned man Jacobus Golius whom the States of Holland in regard of his rare skill in Arabick and the Mathematicks caused to succeed in the Room of two samous prosessors of the University viz. Thomas Erpenius of whom we spake before and Willebrordus Snellius whom Kepler justly esteemed to be the most subtil Mathematician in the World For Golius in the name and at the charge of the States having twice gone into the East had scraped together and brought to the University such a Treasure of Books that having seen the Catalogue of them which I receiving from Golius and at the request of many causing it to be printed did send to him he was suddenly inflamed with a defire to send again into the East it being his aim as far as his private purse would hold out to furnish France with the like Books Now he procured that Minutius should go in company with Marchevilla who depatted towards Constantinople in the moneth of July And he would likewise have had Holstenius and Buccardus and other learned men to have gone with them who being countenanced by the Patronage and Authority of the Kings Agent should have searched the Libraries in Mount Atho and other places but they though willing to undergo the journey could not so soon fit themselves He got only one more to go viz. the forenamed Gallaupius who nevertheless stay'd not long at Constantinople but went to Mount Libanus and so setled himself amongst the Maronites that he abides with them to this day After the departure of Marchevilla he was told that there was an Elephant come to Tolon which he caused to be brought to Beaugensier that he might examine some things about which four years since he had wrote to the Puteans when the Beast was carried to Paris It was now brought out of Italy being the same which a year before was shewed at Rome and I wonder what made the owner thereof tell Peireskius that he was 14 years old when as at Rome the year before he gave him out to be but eleven years old as by the Picture thereof dedicated to the Knight Gualdus and the description thereof made by Bottifangus may be seen Moreover Peireskius two whole dayes together what with asking Questions what by making experiments learned so many things that he accounted himself satisfied Among other things when he had tryed him with all kinds of meats especially commanding to give him sweet things which he loved best so that the Elephant began to know him and to fawn upon him he grew so confident as his Keeper doing the same first to put his hand into his mouth and feel how many teeth he had Now he found on either hand two in each jaw that is to say just 8. in all and not only foure as Plinie will have it Nor did he only feel his teeth but by the Governours assistance he applyed wax thereto that he might cause both their form and magnitude to be represented By which means he became clearly satisfied that the foresaid grinding tooth sent out of Africa by Arcosius was the tooth of an Elephant and not of a Gyant nor did he any longer admire why so few of the Teeth of the Gyant Theutobochus aforesaid were shewn Moreover He would needs have the Elephant painted in a threefold posture but especially lying that the joynts might the better be seen which are between his foot and his Leg and between his Leg and thigh to convince that Error which through the Authority of Strabo and some others had gotten foot that an Elephant could not bend his Legs with other fables built thereupon And he was wont when he spake of these things to add that the ancients could not but know that an Elephant had joynts seeing in certain Medals they had pourtrayed an Elephant dansing upon the Ropes which would require a rare not only mobility but flexibility of his thighes Again he did not only cause the measures of all his parts to be taken but also seeing the Beast was afterwards to be carryed to Aix he gave order to his Brother and two industrious men Johannes Lumbardus and Josephus Suchetus that they should cause him to be
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
the Countrey were not medled with For he conceived that the Laws were most highly to be esteemed which might be wished indeed as good as possible deserving neverthelesse â—eneration whatever they be Forasmuch as in the obsetvation thereof consisted the safety of the Common-wealth so that such as are not very just may be more useful for publick good than juster provided they be religiously observed And therefore he did not dislike those men who being thus affected did contemplate the Laws and Customs of sundry Nations and compare them with our own For by this means he conceived an ingenuous man might lay aside that prejudice which makes the vulgar sort of men account the Customs of their own Countrey to be the Law of Nature and that nothing is well done which is not sutable to their waies and manners For when all things considered he shall see that other Nations have their Reasons to justifie their Manners and Customes and that every Nation dislikes the Customes of another then is he in a capacity to elevate his mind above the vnlgar condition and though he defend his own Countrey manners yet to be indifferently enclined towards all men and to become like Socrates a Citizen not of one Country only but of the whole World to admire nothing in humane affaires and in a word to have his mind so tempered as to enjoy the greatest tranquillity possible and consequently the greatest good And for this very cause he did not only out of Books and printed narrations inquire into the variety of mens manners which by himself alone or with some friends he examined but with all diligence possible he enquired of such as came from far Countries what notable thing they had observed concerning the manners of the people of those parts exhorting all his friends that took journies into forreign parts to observe the same And by this meanes he was so well acquainted with the ancient and late manners of all Nations that it was almost impossible to relate any new thing unto him so that he seemed to have bin born or at least to have conversed in all Countries so that consequently to that goodness wherewith he was naturally enclined to all men he added such a kind of humanity as made him embrace men of all conditions as if they were his Brothers being ready to do good to all and hurt no body For he indeed hated those abominable vices of Impiety Cruelty Malice Perfidiousness and the rest but distinguishing humane nature from the pravity thereof and taking the same into serious consideration he was moved with pitty that through weakness and blindness men could not continue in the way of vertue Seeing men were not sufficiently aware of the nature of their lusts and the true ends which good men should aim at For if men understood how little would content Nature they would abandon all deceit and fraud by which superfluous things are sought And if they knew but the use of Riches Humanity Honesty Moderation for want of which not only Societies but private mens lives are disturbed would not be banished the World Moreover he studied the Mathematicks with all his might because they were no wayes subject to the foresaid Disputes and they so accustomed the mind that being used to such truths as were made clear by demonstration it could not easily be deceived with the bare appearance of truth and in a word did by their evidence and certainty cause such a kind of pleasure as none could be greater more honest or more constant And the truth is he had not leasure scrupulously to study all the parts of Mathematicks yet he would know and understand the principal and more facile points of every one But he principally loved Astronomy because a Man as he was born for contemplation could not behold a greater more sublime and excellent sight then those illustrious Regions of the Heavenly Bodies And next to that he loved Geography because it and Chronology did most of all illustrate History and cause that ingenuous men and otherwise learned should not be like Children but rather possess themselves with the knowledge of the whole World and all the times and Ages thereof And next to that he loved Opticks because thereby were explained the Causes of so many things which appear to the eyes which are accounted miracles or at least would be so were it not for their familiarity and our want of consideration And therefore he was wonderfully delighted with painting which made him keep Painters procure Pictures whose excellency he knew as well as any man And he frequently averred that it repented him that he had not learnt to paint when he was young and wished that with the losse of two fingers of his left hand he could purchase that skill which his right hand wanted For though both in his own Countrey and abroad he had used the Industrious help of divers Painters yet he could not alwayes finde store of such as were skilful nor could he make so frequent use of other mens hands as his occasions required In like manner and for the same cause he loved the Arts of Carving Engraving and making Statues by which he caused ancient works to be imitated or amended So did he Architecture and the Art of making Engines for Water-works and such like Also Husbandry and in a word all kinds of Art and Industries for he kept not his mind intent upon the North pole alone or Charles his Wain but took a diligent view of the whole Heaven of Arts. It remains that I speak a word or two touching that opinion commonly spread abroad that he had composed divers Books and Treatises And the truth is it cannot be denyed but that he gave great hopes that he would publish in print the Antiquities of Provence with Observations upon Coines and other choyse Monuments of Antiquity and that he had a great desire long since to publish Commentaries concerning the Medicaean Starres and the Kalendar of Constantine that he would publish a compleat work touching weights and measures and that he had a mind to handle divers other Arguments for as there was no kind of Laudable Erudition which the vastness and curiosity of his mind did not embrace so was there nothing in a manner concerning which he had not Intentions to write Nevertheless he did nothing excepting what I told you just now he inserted into his Letters for as concerning that Book called Squitinius I have formerly said in place convenient what we are to think thereof For this excellent Man who never thought he had gotten Monuments enough touching any subject did gather all his life long great variety upon every Argument and the more he got the more he thought he wanted so that in conclusion he did not digest no nor so much as begin any thing And I remember when I was wearied by our Countrymen who would ask me if his History of Provence would shortly come forth I asked him How long he would have
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
to treasure up in his Library The first place that invited his presence was Italy in which as there are flourishing at this day most excellent and elegant wits most civil and polite manners and transcendent Laws so are there yet remaining very many reliques of the ancient fortune and those most flourishing times for Arts and Literature Having therefore viewed the Cities of Liguria and Tuscanie he came by long journeys into this City of yours as the Seat of all Divine and Humane Empire the Mansion place of Antiquity and Humanity where with his eyes and feet he diligently went over and visited the Courts Theatres Temples Bathes Arches and Caves as also the Spires Columns Statues Monuments of Brasse and Marble Coins Jewels and Books in a word all the Monuments of the ancient Magnificence and Arts more of which and more illustrious are comprehended within your walls than in all the world besides these he viewed and handled and carried what he could home with him which he partly bought at a great rate partly received by way of free gift from learned men which as they are alwaies in great aboundance at Rome so were they then especially in the dayes of those most studious and most munificent Princes of the Family of the Aldobrandini in very great number and exceeding courteous All which but especially Fulvius Ursinus and Laelius Pasqualinus most diligent and industrious collectors and admirers of the Reliques of Antiquity were drawn into admiration and friendship by the Virtues and rare Learning of young Peireskius The same expectation and favour he brought with him from Rome to Naples where he conversed with Matthaeus Capuanus Prince of the Conchani more renowned for his love of Learning and his knowledge than for the great Dignity of his Family and Fortune and with Mars Gurgustiola one of the Supreme Council and a very learned man both which had in their houses most rich Treasuries of all kind of Antiquities There also he frequented the renowned houses of Johannes Baptista Portae and Ferrans Imperatus of which the former was an eager searcher out and explainer the latter a most diligent keeper and preserver of the most abstruse works of nature And seeing Peireskius spent his study pains no lesse in these kind of things than the contemplation of Antiquity he searcht every most secret corner not only of this most large and beautiful City but also of the whole Territory of the most happy Countrey or Campania where he might behold the pleasant spectacle of Nature which there chiefly delights to work wonders contending with the ancient Magnificence and Luxury of the Greeks and Romans He diligently viewed the rest of Italy and all that part of France which is on this side the Alpes turning aside to Ravenna that he might behold those dismal Trophies of Gothish Barbarisme erected upon the ruines of the Roman Empire as also and chiefly to visit Hieronymus Rubeus an eloquent Writer as well of those Antiquities as of the Art of Physick From thence he journeyed to Padua chiefly invited by the fame of the rare learning of Vincentius Pincllus and of his Library full fraught with Books in all Tongues and Sciences which fame was so spread all Europe over that learned men who intended to collect ancient Books to furnish Libraries or to set forth their own works did come from remote parts to consult with him thereof There Peireskius abode for a season not only to insinuate himself into the House and Library but the acquaintance also of Pinellus into which he perfectly rooted himself that he might know and understand his great care to adorn Learning and learned men and all other Virtues of that most excellent man to the intent he might imitate the same and in processe of time exercise them all with most ample additions for the advancement of Learning Of which thing be then and there gave so great and undoubted hopes that Paulus Gualaus a man famous both for his own wit and learning and the intimate familiarity he had with Pinellus in those elegant Commentaries which he wrote touching the Life of the said Pinellus did affirm of Peireskius that if our Age did ever produce a man equal to Pinellus it could be no other than he who at Padua being hardly past a youth did with such ardency embrace Pinellus and his studies that he was a miracle to Gualdus himself and to other learned men Which learned men truly as many as then happily spent their daies in study at Padua especially Pinellus himself and Hieronymus Aleander and Laurentius Pignorius men excelling in accuratenesse of judgement as well as polite Literature did so approve this grave testimony given by Gualdus touching the rare towardlinesse of Peireskius and did so admire and love the same in him that every one invited him to his house with the greatest hospitality imaginable and communicated to him their greatest ratities both such as were in their own studies and in the publick Libraries and Records both at Padua and at Venice a City abounding with those and all other excellent things which they did as well when he was absent from them as when he was present which was also done by the greatest part of the other Cities of Italy and of Europe discoursing with him by Letters touching their studies fending their Books either to be printed by him or for honours sake to passe into the world under his name and patronage Thus flourishing in the favour and entertainments of most renowned and learned men when he had enriched himself with Statues Tables Coins Books and other most ancient Ornaments of Italy he proceeded in his Travails to Germany and as far as to great Britain where he gathered many Reliques of Antiquity and gained the repute and goodwill not only of men skilled in the studies of wisdom and good Arts but also of such as excelled in Painting Architecture and other curious Actifices whom Peireskius being an elegant spectator of their works did highly account of in those Countries as formerly he had done in Italy making himself acquainted with them as with all other learned men especially with Petrus Paulus Rubeus both for his knowledge of Antiquity and his skill in Painting Graving and Architecture which Arts he seems to have first of all brought out of Italy into the Low-Countries with their ancient splendor and dignity Marcus Velserus a Magistrate of Augsburge studious of the Commonwealth there and a careful advancer of Learning through all Germany John Barclay at that time famous in England for the elegance of his wit and Learning Daniel Heinsius chiefly in Holland and his most learned Master Joseph Scaliger who as soon as he heard Peireskius whom he knew only by name and hear-say reason about matters of Learning being of a piercing and sound judgement he presently knew him and declared who he was His last peregrination was to Paris whither by reason of the great aboundance of excellent Books and most learned men which he there
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