their praise or commendation To profite neuerthelesse generally was my desire but chiefly the lesse learned with this present Foreste whiche for good cause me thought I so might name or title for that beyng a collection of diuers and sundrie matters is as a Foreste well furnished with many trees birdes and beastes of different and contrary natures And if ought herein maie please thee or profite thee in any thyng accepte it thanckfully other price thou paiest none and giue by thy good example occasion to the studious and learned in good letters to take in hande or attempte with like good will some other thyng to thyne onely profite furtheraunce and commoditie Assuryng thy self that none in any sorte do better deserue of their countrie that none in any exploite dooe toyle or trauaile longer that none swincke or sweate with like paine and anguishe that none in like sorte hassarde or aduenture their credite that none desire lesse stipende or salarie for their trauaile that none in fine are worse in this age recompensed Shewe thy self therefore gratefull bee thankefull to the aucthour enter into his Foreste disportyng thee therein some laune some range perchaunce maie please thy indifferent mynde some walke or some thyng els maie lende thee contentation nothyng I trust shall greue or annoye thee hedgde therein And as for me this onely in recompence I craue that thou fauourablie wilte accepte and iudge of these my paines whiche if I maie perceiue I will not leaue to greue me to doe thee greater pleasure Fare thou well and suche lette bee thy censure as is towardes thee my meanyng Suche faultes as haue paste in Printyng as thei in deede bee many and euery where aboundante so of thy courtesie excuse vs whether thei bee but letters whole woordes or otherwise and as the sense shall leade thee so amende what so thou findeste or lackyng or superfluous assuryng thy self that it somtymes paste vs in more perfecte wise then thou in these receiuest them Giudica de gli altri come vorreste di te sigiudicasse ¶ An aduertismente written by the translatour to his booke GOe hence thou little booke goe shewe thy self aboute Goe roome abrode and vewe eche place goe seke some harbour out Goe vp and doūne I saie no tyme dooe thou mispende Goe seke the learned and serue thou theim on them dooe thou attende Bee gladde and ioyous then when thei thee in hande shall take And when thei thee dooe open then to reade thee for my sake Beake then and bowe thee lowe stoope doune with all thy might Lette then thy painfull seruice make thee gracious in their sight And feare not euery wieght his force that straight will bende With censure harde thee to oppresse of follie to condemne But thinke then with thy self reuenge none looke thou seke That suche with ease more soner will comptroll then dooe the like And feare not though againe thy papers faultes doe fill In Printyng whiche escaped haue and paste againste our will Correctours hadste thou fewe and Printers ofte doe misse The sence and meanyng easily the reader yet maie gesse Ne dread though straunger thou and geaste vnknowen shalte runne Though Frenche somtyme and Thofcane eke from forraine lande doeste come In suche eftsones the beste and learned crewe dooe like And theim eche where some thyng to learne with carefull iye dooe seke And yet no straunger greate though newe come to this laude Sithe that in Englishe hahite thou in Englande now dooest stande Greate thynges doe promise none ne make thou shewe of muche Emong the meaner sorte goe on contente thee to bee suche For thei that soare a loafte and ouer looke the reste That matters greate doe promise and compare them with the beste Of tymes dooe proue but fooles and shoote wide from the marke Thei promise more then thei doe paie thei paie not halfe their parte Therefore bee thou contente where so thou happe to come To promise leaste what so thou paie this is of all the somme That I to thee in charge before the worlde giue That I still would thou shouldste obserue whileste ought of thee doeth liue Farewell I canne no more thy fathers blessyng haue Bee mindfull of his preceptes and thine honour looke thou saue And sithe thou neuer shalte to hym retourne againe Woorke thou hym good if that thou canste for he thee peude with paine ⧠The First parte of the Collection of Histories ¶ Why in the firste Age men liued longer then in this our Age present Chap. 1. WHo so euer is studious in Holy Write ought in manner of necessitie to knowe that in the Firste Age and before that for Sinne the general Fludde ouerranne the whole Worlde Mans life was then longer then it is nowe presently For euidente is it that Adam lyued nine hundred and thirtie yéeres Sethe nine hundred and twelue Caine nine hundred and tenne And so afterwardes descending from the one vnto the other who so lyued leaste lyued seuen hundred yéeres And in theise our dayes fewe reache to eightie or nintie which who so at any time passeth rare is his hap very strange and marueilous in sutche sorte that wée lyue not the tenthe parte of theire time The Learned therefore as well Diuines as naturall Philosophers whiche haue hereof carefully discoursed findinge the same Nature whiche hathe géeuen vs cause of Béeinge to be the very same with that of theise forepassed Ages and that these our Forefathers here lyued so longe naturally and not by Myracle féeling them selues not a litle herewith trobled beganne curiously herein to searche the causes or reasons The whiche thinge as well vnto M. Varro as also vnto infinite others in the woorkes of Nature appeared so difficill that they supposed the yéeres of the former Ages past not to haue bene sutch as are these of our time Which opiniō is open folly an errour too too great and altogeather inexcusable as wée shall make euidente in the Chapter folowing hauinge here first remembred the aduice of certaine graue wise learned Authours When therefore I reade the iudgemente of others and in fine thence descende vnto mine owne opinion the principal reason mée thinketh why we in this time liue not as longe as did others in the firste and Olde Age is that our Forefathers had not then any the causes whiche in vs newe ingender diuers maladies and diseases whence necessarily ensue Stoopinge Age Deathe Here muste wée also consider that our firste Parentes Adam and Eue were created and framed by the very hande of God without any other aide or meane whence it is to be presumed that he perfected them with complexion moste excellent with a true Sympathia and proportion of humours the cause of theire continued healthe in these their many yéeres By meanes wherof their Children issuinge of Parentes of suche perfecte constitution as also theire Ofspringe risinge to them againe whiche naturally lyued so longe and many daies muste resemble theire Elders in like perfection and
their raigne of whom the firste had to name Acre A litle after this was Ioseph solde to the Egyptians in suche sorte as hath the Historie as also how his Father his brethren their children wente also into Aegypt where such Israelites as descended of them liued as accompteth Beda foure hundred thirty yéeres with whom accordeth S. Augustine in his booke De ciuitate Dei. Duringe this Age Hercules of Libya came into Spayne where he raigned ▪ after him Iuer Brigus Taga Beto Gerian others of whom Berosus with other good authors remembereth vs In this time was also firste founded the Cittie of Siuile which is accompted for one among the others of moste antiquitie in the worlde as well recordeth Berosus with others First this Citie had to name Ispalis of Ispal the sonne or Nephewe of Hercules who long raigned or ruled there who also as some say layde the first foundations thereof or buylte it although Isidorus affirme that it was named Ispalis for that it was seated in a place watry or in a marish where they were compelled for better assuraunce of their foundation to beate into the grounde great stakes beames or trées which how so euer it was this Cittie of Ispalis was after called Spayne as writeth Trogus Pompeius Iustine and others And after this agayne Iulius Caesar called it Siuile inriching and amplyfiing it in such large sort and manner that it after was the seate there or resting place of the Romaynes beyng also before that very noble and honorable But to returne to our purpose after this agayne was Moyses borne vnder whose conducte the Hebrewes came out of Aegypte in whiche time also liued Iob the iuste And after this came that general Inundation on Thessalie when great Kingdomes grew then in diuers Landes Contryes In Aethiopia then first raigned Ethiopus in Sicilia Siculus in Boecia Boecius So that Countryes then receiued their denomination of Princes as of Sardus Sardina also the first King or Prince there In these dayes flourished the famous Troye then also was Iason busied in conqueringe the Fliece of Goulde whence in like manner procéedeth the knowen Historie of Medea Nowe were the Amazones of greater power then in any other time and now began the Kingdome of the Latines in Italie About this time Paris also rauished Helena the onely cause of the longe warre and destruction of Troye of the comming of Aeneas into Italie as also of other things innumerable which in few may not bée spaken Then ended this thirde Age and the fourth began euen in the beginning of the raigne of Dauid seconde Kinge of the Hebrewes whiche continued vntill the transmigration of the Iewes into Babylon foure hundred foure score and fiue yéeres but Beda rekeneth fewer foure hundred seuentie and foure onely This Age might well bée termed the lustie Age of the world during which infinite matters happened whereof all Histories are full Now that good King Dauid obtayned sundry victories as well agaynst the Philistians as also agaynst the Ammonites reuenging him self for the iniurie done to his Ambassadours he did also to die the Capitayne of the Assyrians After him in that place succéeded the wise King Salomon who buylte that ritch famous Temple of Hierusalem after whose death the Kingdome was deuided Ieroboam succéeding in ten families Roboam his sonne in twoo After this the Empyre of the Assyrians whiche then had continued twelue hundred yéeres by the death of Sardonapalus was vtterly subuerted he was one of the richest greatest Monarches in the world who not withstanding by Arbactus slayne the Empyre came into the handes or possession of the Medes About this time the Princes of Macedonie began to frame their Empyre as the Greekes in manner semblable now vsed to accompte their yéeres by Olympiades which were certaine feastes and practises of agilitie whiche they continually vsed euery fiue yéeres with Prises appointed for such as beste deserued them Dido now builte the renoumed Citie of Carthage as Rome also by Romulus Remus then began where the Romaine Kinges continually aboade arested them In this time the greate Citie of Bizance waxed mightie and honorable whiche afterwardes loste her name and was called Constantinople After this wearye warres grew in most places and inpacable dissensions with alteration and chaunge of great Segnories and Empires Whereof the Histories of that Age are each where full and abundant In the ende of this Age Nabuchodonosor King of the Medes and of Babilon besieged Hierusalem which he sackte and subuerted as also the Temple whence he brought the people of Iudea prysoners with him thence is that that we now remember the transmigration of Babylon When or at whiche time began the fifte Age of the Worlde which continued vntill the Byrth Natiuitie of our Sauiour and redéemer Iesus Christe both God and Man fiue hundred foure scoare and nine yéeres by common accompte of all men In these dayes were many valiaunt and puissante Princes riche and politike common Weales and Contryes in such sorte that it greate maruaile is to reade consider the straunge and miserable subuertions immutations and chaunge of estates the rare raysing and gathering of huge Armies and troupes of men such were they so terrible and so common withall that better it is thereof nothing to speake then to speake in few Not long after this began that famous Monarchie of the Persians whiche aswell by meane of other victories that Cyrus echewhere obtained as also that he vanquished and subdued Cresus Kinge of Lidia waxed of all others moste riche and renowmed notwithstandinge Cyrus after he had raigned fully thirty yéeres was him selfe discomfited and beheaded by Tameris Quéene of Scithia Three scoare and tenne yéeres of this Age accomplished the Hebrewes were deliuered out of bondage and captiuitie and the Temple was reedified by Salomon at Hierusalem The Romaines now altered their state of gouernment they deposed their Kinges choase to them Consuls of whiche the firste was L. Brutus and after him L. Colatinus In Greece nowe florished good Letters and Chiualry so that thence issued no lesse famous Philosophers then Capitaynes excellent Thither came Xerxes to haue Conquered it with a multitude incredible but was forced to retire againe with equall shame and detriment After this began Philippe his raigne in Macedonie whiche subdued Greece the Mother of Learning Chiualrie whiche in that time fostered Demosthenes Themistocles Epaminondas Agesilaus Zeno Plato Aristotle with many sutche others Philippe deade his Sonne Alexandre dwelte not still in Greece but wente thence into Asia which in shorte time he conquered subuertinge the Empire of Persia and by meanes of the victorie obtained againste Darius he remained euer afterwarde the onely Emperour and sole Monarke of all the whole worlde But after his death diuision was made to his Capitaynes of all and euery his Segneuries by meane whereof mutch enmitie and discorde grewe and thence also
theim the name of Pillours triumphant builte of Marble workyng in theim in moste curious manner possible euery their battailes and victories to their perpetuall renoume and honour a shewe of whiche is yet this daie to be seen in Rome Whiche thinges thei firste did followyng the Trophees of the Grekes whiche also were doen in suche sorte as followeth In the very same place where any Capitaine obtained the victory against his ennimy he did to be set vp there a greate and houge tree cuttyng from the same all his armes or boughes fastnyng to the stocke the armure of the vanquished to his perpetuall honour and renoume and this called thei a Trophe of that Greke word Tropi whiche may signifie conuertion flight or retraite for that in that place the ennimy was put to flight and this with these Trophes the Romaines first acquainted theimselues for as Salust writeth Pompe on a time hauyng vaÌ„quished the Spaniardes plaste his trophes on the toppes of the mouÌ„taines Pirenei whiche vsage by tracte of tyme grewe after into suche estimation that thei made them of stone wronght artificially How bee it this thyng semeth to bee of more antiquitie and that other nations also before the Grekes vsed it for it is redde in the fiftenth Chapiter of the firste booke of the Kynges that Saul hauing vanquished Agag King of the Amalachites came after to mounte Carmell where he erected an arche triumphall in the onely remembrance and memorie of his victories To conclude the honour of a triumphe was suche and so estimed that no one other was so much desired in Rome so that their Capitaines refused no paine no perill or daunger howe greate or what soeuer so that in fine thei might attaine to that inestimable honour Besides these Capitaines that thus triumphed became merueilous riche by the spoiles of the conquered to theim also were geuen great presentes by their freÌ„des which I onely to this purpose in this place would remember that princes might hence learne how to recompense and reward their capitaines and other soldiars what so euer accordyng to their desertes for commonly in these daies the daintie coward and nise Carpette man is more largely considered of then those that imploie both their gooddes and their liues in the seruice of the Prince and defence of their countrie ¶ What names the Romaine capitaines gained by their victories Chapt. 18. THe capitaines of Rome were yet besides their triumphes in an other lort honoured to wete by names and surnames giuen them of the people and prouinces whiche thei had conquered and subdued whiche assuredly was no small recompeÌ„ce for their worthy demerits Somtimes thei also gat additioÌ„s to their names for their onely prowes or courage in armes wheÌ„ce sundrie families in Rome grewe moste famous and honorable First we maie speake of the thre Metelli of which the one as hath Saluste besides him others for hauyng vanquished the kyng Iugurthe and conquered his countrie and all the territories of Numidia was called Numidicus The other Quintus Metellus for his victorie obtained againste the kyng of Macedonie was surnamed Macedonicus and the laste Creticus for that he subdued the Isle of Crete Before these were Marcius Coriolanus and Sergius Fidenatus of which the first gatte that name for that he subdued to the Romaines the citie Corialis the seconde for that he brought Tributorie Fidena in Italie And finally an other Metellus was there named Balearicus for that he subdued to the Romaine Empire the Isles Baleares whiche other wise haue this daie to name Maiorque and Minorque with the others adioynyng to theim Lucius Numius was surnamed Acaicus for that he conquered Acaia and Corinthe Brutus also for that he subdued the Gaules receiued in recompence the name of Gaulois The twoo Scipioes brothers were also honoured with the names of twoo sundrie nations by them vanquished and subdued the one Africanus the other Asiaticus for that he bothe conquered Antioche and Asia and was the firste that euer brought any Romaine ensiegne into Asia After this the other Scipio sonne to Paulus Aemelius of whose triumph aboue some thyng is saied and nephewe by adoption vnto the greate Scipio was also as th' other surnamed Africanus for that he bothe assailed and woÌ„ne the riche and famous citie of Carthage He also receiued for like guerdon the name of Numantinus or NumaÌ„ticus whiche was to hym no lesse honour then the other for hauyng sackte Numantia in Spaine It is also readde that Emperours themselues ioied in the names of tounes and places by them conquered vysyng thesame euer more in their letters Patentes and other instrumentes as did Seuerus and after hym his successours as for the conqueste of Arabia Parthia Armenia Germania and others the one named himself Arabicus an other Parthicus an other againe Armenicus Germanicus and Asiaticus eche honouryng hymself with his victories obtained For other causes also that Romaines at times gained like names of honor as Marcus Manlius who for that he defended the Capitoll from the violente force of the Frenche men gained the name of Capitolinus The familie of the Toroquates receiued firste that name for that oâ—â— of them toke by force from the necke of his enemie a chaine or coller in Latin torques Q. Fabius the greate who for his delaies and daliaunce vsed with Hannibal deliueryng by the same meanes also his countrie was surnamed afterwardes Cunctator For this cause he also was called the Targette of Rome whiche turned hym to great aduantage and honor Marcus Marcellus which liued also at thesame time for his valiaunte prowes and courage and continuance in stelâ—e still againste his enemie was in fine called the knife or sworde of Hanniball That excellente capitaine Silas though he were cruel was not withstaÌ„dyng for his happie victories surnamed Fortunate Pompe for his so many so honourable and so reâ—…ed victories was through the worlde called Pompe the greate then whiche name I knowe not what might bee more roiall or magnificent And thus were those names giuen to those vertuous capitaines in suche sorte that their generalles and conductours of armies were also termed by the names of Emperours whiche this daie of all others is the supreme and higheste dignitie so that thei were either Pretors Consuls or Proconsuls and that also had subdued his enemie in some famous battaille had also destroied and wasted his whole countrie slaine and murthered greate heapes of his subiectes and finally by the losse of twoo thousande of his owne to haue slaine tenne thousande of the contrary at the leaste for other wise he gained not the name of an emperour This happie name gate Iulius Caesar the father of Iulius Caesar for his victorie whiche he obtained againste the Samnites and Lucans in the daies and tyme of Silas Pompe was also called Emperour for his fortunate victorie in Africa against Domician Cicero assigned Proconsul in that warre againste the Parthians was by his soldiours for his happie successe continually called Emperour Iulius Caesar
The fowerth is the difficultie and hardnes of the sciences for though man see that in harte and minde he desire to searche the truthe and causes of haute and profounde matters yet findyng theim so labourous and harde to vnderstande he vtterly giueth ouer his firste attempte and enterprise and becometh like vnto an iye whiche to looke on the Sunne fasteneth it self closely whence issueth suche a pearsyng and extreame brightenes that it so eclipseth and troubleth the sight that it in no wise is able to looke thereon or abide it The laste and worste of all the others is a certaine affectiō whiche manne hath conceiued in his youthe especially in these thynges in whiche he hath been fostered and bredde vp with long continuaunce afterwarde in thesame for custome easily conuerteth it self into Nature by occasion whereof there groweth in manne a moste assured desire and singuler loue in these thynges where vnto he hath been vsually accustomed hatyng and disdainyng continually the contrary and in this errour the whole worlde is this daie almoste drouned For see we not the same in the yong children of the Turkes which before thei come to be of iudgemente or reason abhorre and deteste all christianitie as doeth also the iewe Againe we see that the peasaunte or countrie manne for hauyng been nourished and accustomed to the countrie dieted and appareiled grossely as is their maner flieth and refuseth the acquaintance or companie of the courtier as also of these others that liue in well ordered and ciuill citees whēce riseth this prouerbe vnhappie is that birde that was bredde in an euill vale for hauyng been fostered and still kepte in thesame she can not at any tyme depart thence and leaue it though assured to bee els where better and at more ease Neither in this case onely haue we experience here of but farther our selues hate straungers and these of an other countrie yea though we neuer liued in their companie or sawe them onely perchaunce for that we haue heard euill of theim In women also is this errour notorious to whom so muche please these thynges that thei haue accustomed which though thei be in déede lesse profitable or honest yet maie thei in no wise learne or receiue the contrary Finally this loue of vse or custome with the dislikyng of that wee knowe not is almoste generally seen in all thynges of election Wherefore we muste banishe from vs euery these impedimentes to the ende we maie knowe if it bée possible perfectly to iudge in cases of difference for in these thynges cōsisteth the absolute perfection in this worlde the pathe also is it to felicitie in the other followyng the good husbande manne that well laboureth his soile takyng from it first all thistles and euill weedes and after bestoweth in it as order asketh good seede So also the Phisition that would restore to healthe his sicke and weake patiente pourgeth hym firste of all his corrupte and superfluous humours for that in a matter euill and ill disposed a newe forme easily and at the firste is not induced We then muste indeuour by all meanes possible for mā that is reasonable and yeldeth not vnto reason but dwelleth still as wedded to his owne fonde apetite is as he that would saile on the toppe of high mountaines or builde hym houses on the restles and surgyng waues of the sea whiche bothe are lesse aduised and fruitlesse immaginations How vnlawfull a thing the cumbate is and that princes ought not in any wise to permitte it Chapt. 10. AS by the colde charetie and malice of men abuse is creapte into all thinges in the worlde so falleth it out in the cumbate or fight of twoo whiche in the beginnyng in ceirteine cases and doubtes of greate controuersie whiche otherwise could not bee determined or decided was then by greate princes when hostilitie and war first beganne to growe vpon iust consideration honorably receaued But in this our age it now is so common and so abused that euery priuate and meane Souldiour for little cause or small matter is redie to attempte the cumbate against his aduersarie And that whiche geueth me greatest cause of meruaile is to sée that Christian princes and none others admitte it to whom aboue all others it expresly is prohibited and denied and yet groweth it still to be suche and so common that if God for his greate mearcies sake extinguishe not the memorie thereof I feare me that prelates and churche men will not shame at the laste as valiaunt champions to enter the listes among others This kinde of fight is denied man firste and especially by gods worde it also is denied hym by the Ciuile and Canon lawe it is denied I saie to the partie that demaundeth it also to hym that permitteth or aucthoriseth it and in fine to all suche as would looke on or beholde it By Gods worde we proue it in this sorte to be denied Euery acte by whiche GOD may bee tempted is to a Christian expresly prohibited for it is writen thou shalte not tempte thy Lorde thy god That God is tempted by this meanes this make I it euident To make proofe of these thinges whiche by none other meanes might be brought to good ende but by the onely prouidence and iustice of God is no thinge els but to proue and tempte God as is sinne in cases of purgation wherit euermore is most plain and euident that accordyng vnto the order of nature the strongest and most valiant ouertroweth the weaker but the contrarie whiche is that the lesse able shoulde conquire the other neuer chaunseth but by miracle onely To suche then in force and courage so different enteryng the listes to fight the cumbate the victory is lookte for at hys handes that maintaineth the iuste quarell to the intent the truthe might bee thence aperte and manifest this tempte we then God willyng that he worke herein miraculously that whiche in dede he should doe if the more valiaunt were subdued by the timorus and impotente whiche were cleane contrarie to the order and lawe of nature Againe we maie in like sorte proue it by this argument when the lawe inhibiteth any thing it also inhiteth in any wise to doe that by meanes of whiche a māmaie committe the thinge inhibited sith then to vs by God him selselfe murther is nenied the cumbate is also by the same reason denied for that therby is committed homicide Or other wise againe it might bee saide in this sorte in holy wrete is forbidden euerie acte that accordeth not with charitie whiche is the sole grounde and foundation of vertue but the cumbate is an acte that accordeth not with charitie charitie beyng none other but the loue of God and our neighbour therfore the cumbate in holy write is forbidden for who so entereth the listes thirsteth as is euident the bloodde of his neighbour traiterously rebellyng and disobaiyng the diuine maiestie Finally it also is forbiden by the Canon lawe for that it followeth the rule of
constitution of bodye as men takinge either theire beginninge or béeinge of a matter most pure and simple vntill sutch time as by the chaunge of Ages whose propertie is to alter and to impayre al thinges the state of Man beganne to weaken yéeldinge his daies in number fewer then before Againe in that Age one thinge to them was very helpinge and profitable the whiche same to vs is very noysome and contrary whiche was the greate temperancy vsed in Drinkinge as well in quantitie as in qualitie also with the small chaunge and varietie of Meates for neither had they so many sortes or sundrie dishes as wée ne knewe they any or newe or dainty inuentions To eate Fleashe what it was before the generall Floudde was vnto Man altogeather vnknowen Further some hold for common most assured opinion that bothe Fruites and Hearbes without all comparison were in those daies of farre greater efficacie and vertue then any founde any where in this our latter Age for that they then sprange out of a new and fyned soyle and not of sutche as nowe it is worne wasted weryed and consumed For the Generall Inundation tooke from it his woorthe or fatnesse leauinge it in respecte infertile and barren restinge salte and vnsauery by the rage of the Sea whiche many wéekes flowed ouer it These reasons then are good and eche of them sufficient to conclude that it neither was so straung or marueilous but rather a thinge most agréeant vnto nature that men then lyued longer then in these daies presently Farther it maie be saide that whiche wée for an assured truthe holde that Adam well knewe the vertues of all Hearbes Plantes and Stoanes whiche also his Successours of him in sutche sorte learned that to the like perfection after them neuer any attained This then was graunted them of somme parte for the preseruation of their healthe for the continuance and protraction of their daies in this worlde who to expel the causes of diseases if any grewe on them only vsed to minister Simples abhorring our venemous compoundes of this Age whiche in place to purge and purifie mans bodye weaken and dispatche for the moste parte the poore patiente Againe in these aboue remembred firste yéeres both the life and healthe of man was propte and sustained by the course of the Heauens with the influence of the Starres and Planettes then farre more beneficiall then they presently nowe are for that then there neither had paste so many Aspectes Coniunctions Eclipses with other infinite Impression Celestiall whence nowe procéede so many chaunges variations alterations on the Earth and emonge the Elementes also in those daies principal occasion of healthe and continuance contrarye nowe in this our Age of all sickenesse and deathe But aboue all that that wée haue here alleaged or by reason haue any waye proued I nowe mainteine the many yéeres of these our Firste Fathers to haue procéeded of the only and inspeakeable prouidence of God whose Maiestye would their continuance shoulde be sutch and so longe and that these aboue remembred causes ayded mutually one the other to the only intente that of twoo persons might then increase many that the Earthe might be inhabited and mankinde increased Also farther consideringe that for as mutche as Man after the fludde liued not so longe as before God licensed that they should enter into the Arke and there saue them selues more Men and Woomen then him selfe in the beginning and at the first had Created to the only ende that the world might the sooner be inhabited S. Augustine of this matter writinge some thinge reporteth that our Forefathers hadde not only in health and many daies aduantage of vs but also in huge and greate statures of body as is euident remembred by many their boanes as well found in their Sepulchres and Graues as also at times vnder great Mountaines and Hilles in sutche sorte that some assuredly hold that thei were the boanes of such as liued before the Inundation The same S. Augustine affirmeth that being at Vtica a towne in Aphrike beholding there the boanes of a dead mans bodie amonge others founde there some of his Iawes so great and weighty that they well would haue poised an hundred of these in our Age. Notwithstanding though yet our life be short yet maie wée not for iuste cause any where complaine for that if wée abuse it in contempt of the Diuine Maiestie a rare benefite receiue we that thei to vs be so shortned for wée will now no longer acknowledge our God and yet if wée would as becometh vs in all feare to serue him a time sufficient hath he to that purpose lente vs for that the bountie of our Sauiour is so great and ready that he receiueth for Attonement sufficiente mans bowinge harte and humble spirite ¶ That the opinion of those that supposed the yeeres of the former Ages paste to haue benne more short then these of our time is false As also whiche was the firste Cittie of the worlde and finally that our Forefathers had more Children then these that are remembered to vs in the Scriptures Chap. 2. FOr that it appeared vnto some that the space of nine hundred yéeres in our firste Fathers séemed a thing altogether impossible lesse able to cōprise or receiue these aboue remembred reasons by vs alleaged the only and sole causes of that so longe a life And where as they durste not to denie the foresaide number of yéeres so plainely and openly specified and geuen vs out of holy Write they affirme that the yéeres of the first age were farre more shorter then these of our time so that the aduantage of longe life whiche is vnto them attributed so farre aboue vs is not so greate as it hathe benne supposed Somme others emonge them would also assure vs that one of our yéeres containeth tenne of that age past Also many others haue saide that eche course of the Moone yéelded vnto them one whole full and compleate yéere whiche it pleased them to tearme Annus Lunaris Others some also dreamed that thrée of our Monethes gaue to them a yéere so that this accoumptinge foure of theire yéeres lendeth vs iuste one and no more For that in this sorte as wel the Chaldeans as also the Arcadians parted theire yéeres as remembreth Lactantius M. Varro a moste learned Romaine in others many besides this matter was of the opinion that these Anni Lunares were to be numbred from the Coniunction of the Moone vntil the newe Moone againe whiche maie be the space of xxix dayes and certaine odde houres Pline in like māner reckeneth it fabulous that any in the first Age shoulde liue so many dayes affirminge that the Inhabitauntes of Arcadia so numbred theire yéeres as wée aboue haue remembred by the space onely of thrée Monethes without more There is also emonge vs Christians a certaine Booke of the Ages of the worlde written by Eliconiensis where he also séemeth to be of the saide minde and aduice
Papyrius of one of the most Honorablest families in Rome This Childe at night beinge returned home his Mother first by intreatie in flatteryng sorte desired him to learne her what matters were debated that daie in the Senate consideringe their longe abode besides the woonted manner To whom the boye answeared that he might not well disclose it consideringe it was prohibited thereof to speake any thinge Shée this mutche vnderstandinge as is the common woonte and vsage of Woomen waxte then mutche more earnest thereof to féele some thinge in sutche sorte that neither by faire woordes nor flattery able to gette any thinge woulde with threates and roddes finally force him to answeare her lesse honest hasty importunitie Whose malice to auoide this wise and wilye Boye aduising him wel of this pretie guile saide that this deferrent was amongest them that daie carefully handled whither as well for the state Publike as also for the augmentation and more spéedy increase of Mankinde it mighte be more conducible to the whole Empire of Rome that one Man shoulde haue twoo Wiues or contrary that one Wooman should be geuen to twoo Husbandes which bothe partes failed not of most earnest assured Factours who the nerte day saithe he will conclude on some final resolute determination The which thinge thus ones vnderstoode by the Moother to whiche shée lightly added bothe faithe and credite moued therewith something perplexed aduertiseth other Ladies Dames of these newes to the ende they might lette and distourne that deuise of geuing twoo woomen as wiues to one man furtheringe the other parte to the vttermost of their mighte to enritche eche Dame with twoo Husbandes at the least On the morninge folowing a great number of the Romaine Matrones were in flockes assembled at the Gates of the Senate effectuously and in many woordes requitinge theire Lordes not to passe on any so vniuste a Decrée as to geue to one man in Marriage twoo wiues but rather to goe forewarde without staye to the contrary The Senatours lesse wetinge to what pourpose this tended amazed in entrance one after the other into the Senate demaunded eche of other whence mighte procéede this so rare and shamelesse inciuilitie altogeather vnable thereof to yéelde any cause or reason But in the ende the yonge boye the little Papyrius did them out of payne layinge before them what had chaunced him the night passed with his Moother and howe that for feare of her thunderinge threates and greate woordes was forced for his discharge in this pretie sorte to deceiue and beguile her The matter thus then vnderstoode by the whole House they highly commended the secrete constancie in the childe Concluding notwithstandinge that thencefoorthe no Father shoulde bringe with him his childe into that place besides the younge Papyrius whiche onely after entered to the intente that by these meanes no secretes shoulde out of that House or Place be reuealed By the practise of this childe againe maie the Elders of our Age what to doo in their affayres be very well aduertised consideringe that if a Priuate Secrete be not to be disclosed mutche lesse then a Common and Publique Secrete principally emonge the Aged and men of assured Iudgemente M. Brutus and Cassius with the others all their accomplices whiche had conspired the deathe of Iulius Caesar supposinge it for the state Publique no lesse expediente then it also was necessary for the maintenaunce of their Libertie hauing laide their plotte and deuised the manner howe to putte these thinges in perfecte execution would notwithstandinge thereof imparte nothing with Cicero one of their especial and moste assured friendes who also aboue others moste effectually desired the abolition of that tyrannie not for any diffidence or mistrust they had in him but for that he onely was reputed a simple and badde Secretorie A thinge assuredly woorthy of admyration consideringe howe many they were that conspired his Ruine in howe priuie manner and howe longe they concealed it and that from theire approued and beste beloued friende Fuluius sommetime reuealed a greate Secrete to his wife whiche not longe before he had receiued of the Emperour Octauian which after discouered by his saide wife notis therof came immediatly to the Prince who for his ouer mutch lightnesse in maner most sharpe rebuked him tauntingely By meanes whereof he entred into desperation determining to doo presente force on him selfe but firste charginge his wife with the greate wronge that shée hadde donne him who saide that he no reason nor iuste cause had at all to grieue with her consideringe the many dayes that they had lyued togeather he yet had not felte her fickle complexion or otherwise knowing it that so londely would abuse his owne knowledge therein reposinge his trust and affiance in her Wherefore thoughe her Husbande were the cause of this errour yet determined shée to suffer the firste paine due therefore and with the same laid violente handes on her selfe after whose deathe poore Fuluius did the same It is readde in the Life of the Emperour Nero that his deathe beinge conspired on a time in Rome a thinge moste expediente as well for the Romaines as also for all others his rare cruelties considered hée to whom it belonged by couenaunte to doo the déede mette by happe a certaine Prisoner whiche by ordinaunce of the tyrannie was then on passage to place of Execution and consideringe with him selfe that the wicked peruerse nature of the Emperour was suche that none whome he apprehended at any time escaped deathe and therefore the Prisoner whiche sorrowfully lamented mighte no waye escape his bloudy and mercilesse hande drewe somethinge nighe him not remembringe that his affayres demaunded secrete dealinge Praye to God saithe he that it maie please him to preserue thée vntil to morrowe for if thou doo passe this day vnto an ende I will assure thée that Nero shall not doo thée to die Whiche thinge vnderstoode by that miserable Prisoner who incontinently suspected that whiche in déede was séeking the only meanes to saue his owne life declared the matter foorthewith to the Emperoure aduisinge him to take good héede to him selfe By occasion whereof Nero immediately apprehended him that had comforted him in sutche sorte the aboue remembred Prisoner and by chaunge of tormentes forced him to confesse the Coniuration By reason whereof him selfe was cruelly executed theire Determination made frustrate and voide Pline recoumpteth the plaine contrarye of Anaxarchus who beinge apprehended for the semblable matter curragiously bitte of his tongue with countenaunce vnappalled to the intente that he neuer would disclose therewith any Secrete spittinge it manfully into the face of the Tyrante The Athenians curiously framed a certaine Image of Iette in the honour of a common wooman who hight Lyonna in memory of her excellente constancie for that shée so wel and so secretly had kepte bothe silence and consell in a certaine conspiracie whiche Image was framed without any tongue the better to geue foorthe
as well serued as it was fittinge to that pourpose An other example reade wée of those that robbed and slewe the Poete Liuicus for as they oppreste him in wide and open fieldes farre from companye and out of all sighte he espied a companye of Cranes flyinge ouer his heade to whiche with lowde voice he spake these his last woordes O Cranes yée shal be witnesses of the wronge that is here donne mée After whose deathe this matter laye yet many dayes vnknowen till on a certaine time after it chaunced a solemne Conuente of people was made in the saide place emonge whom were also presente the twoo Murtherers of Liuicus whiche hearinge as before Cranes cryinge ouer them the one aduised his felowe thereof in laughter merily supposinge in the meane time not to haue bene perceiued of any Hearken companion beholde here the true witnesses of the blonde and deathe of Liuicus It chaunced that one nighe them hearing these woordes and not wel perceiuinge what they mighte signifie suspected foorthewith that whiche in déede was aduectisinge the Maiestrates of that whiche he had hearde To conclude theise twoo Roysters were incontinentely apprehended and accordinge to equitie Iustice was donne on them whiche happened by woordes paste them without aduise or regarde For this cause a man oughte principally to be ware of that whiche he will saye before it escape him with consideration also before whome and in what place Hecates a Greeke Oratoure was on a time reproued for that sittinge at a Bankette he woulde saâ—e nothinge Whiche vnderstoode by Archimidas answeared in this sorte for him Arte thou ignorante that one that can so well speake as he knoweth not also the time to kéepe silence Infinite examples out of diuers Histories might be borrowed of Times Daungers Infamations and Deathe in whiche by too mutch talke menne eftsoones haue bene entrapped Wherefore wée shoulde be circumspecte and wise that before wée doo our mouth open to speake wée well consider of it whether it maye be to vs preiudiciall or not The greate Cato surnamed Censorius was euen from his Cradle verye sober in woordes wherof at times reproued of many as one that obserued to austere silence saide I grieue not at all to be argued of Silence for that no man shall haue occasion to reproue me of my lyuinge for then and not before wil I breake into woordes when I haue learned to speake these thinges that maye not be concealed Isocrates in his Booke written to Demonichus saith That there are twoo times conueniente to speake in the one when to speake is in déede very necessary the other when one speaketh of these thinges he well knoweth Plutarche compareth those men that talke not knowinge wherof vnto voide and emptie Vessells whiche geue foorthe a greater noyse then these that are filled Plainely instructeth vs the Philosopher Zeno that for other cause none hath Nature lente vs twoo eares one tongue but only to speake fewe in bearinge and receiuinge mutch Horace aduiseth vs farre to flye their companies which pleasure mutche in many demaundes and questions for that they commonly be captious Ianglers Suetonius recoumpteth in confirmation of that that was also reported by others that the principall cause that moued Octauian so mutche to phantasie and fauour his Minion Mecaenas was that he was very secret and not prodigal of woordes Cicero affirmeth that Cato the Oratoure neuer woulde commit to Paper any his Orations saieinge That if it euer happened him to repent him of that he had saide yet that that he had written should not aggrauate his sorrowes for that he neuer might denie the thinge that his Pen should witnesse againste him But to the ende that arguinge here the lesse aduised and runninge tongues of others I séeme not to incurre the said errour my selfe I ende with the Ppilosopher without any more concludinge that it oftentimes repenteth mée to haue spoken but to haue helde my peace that I remember neuer ¶ Of the straunge opinion of the Aegyptians touchinge the tearme or ende of Mannes Life limitinge the same by the proportion of his harte Chap. 5. THat whiche I shall saie here will séeme vnto many very straunge and newe but vnto moste men fonde and ridiculous for that it is a thinge very difficill to be proued Wherefore neither will I binde my selfe to the probation thereof althoughe the authoritie of those that séeme to approue it shoulde either yéelde it a trothe or vnto a truthe sommethinge semblable and likinge Pline and Marcus Varro writinge of the time of Mannes Life affirme that the learned Aegyptians had founde out by experience that Man according to the order of nature could not lyue aboue an hundred yéeres and that if any reachte to a further or elder age it was by somme particulare influence force of the Starres a thinge in the woorkes of Nature verye straunge and marueilous Hence grounded they their foundation vpon the harte of man in whiche by often and common Anotomyes they founde and perceiued certaine marueilous Secretes For saide they when Man was of the age of one yéere then poised his harte onely twoo of their Drammes when be was twoo yéeres olde then poised it foure and so foorthe howe many yéeres so euer he liued by proportion still grewe his harte to be of like number of Drammes In sutche sorte that beinge ones fiftie yéeres olde Mannes harte shoulde wieghe then an hundred Drammes and from thence by like proportion still he looseth of his weight eche yéere twoo Drammes euen as before he increased So that at the ende of an hundred yéeres the Harte by continuall decrease is becomme nothinge so that consequently of necessitie Man then must die if before he be not preuented by somme accidentall occasion whiche bothe can and dooth commonly in suche manner abridge our dayes that very fewe of vs liue the one halfe to experiment this matter Though to somme this matter séeme straunge yet be wée assured that the Aegyptians helde it for certaine as plainely haue leafte vs the aboue remembred Authoures Of our time also Ludouicus Celius Rodianus alleaginge in like manner to that pourpose Dioscorides who remembreth thereof sommethinge emonge other many matters to whome also commeth Petrus Crinitus in his Booke of Honest Discipline Galiotus de Nargni in his Booke of Man as also in like sorte Cornelius Agrippa I was desirous to remember here all these Authours for that the matter mighte otherwise hardly be digested Nowe remaineth it to be déemed of as to the Reader it shal be liking And nowe that wée haue taken on vs to speake of Mans Harte and of the excellencies of that one little parte to the intente wée treate not of one pointe alone it shal be expediente that wée learne as recoumpteth to vs Aristotle that Mannes Harte lyeth lodged in the leafte side of his bodye but in other Creatures is founde euermore in the middle of theire breste whiche he
and as many agayne to the Seconde whiche both togeather mounte to fourtiene The Thirde from thence reacheth to the eighte and twentie yéere The twoo nexte Ages folowinge haue eche againe seuen whiche with the others by computation geue fourtie and twoo The Sixte hathe fourtiene and endeth with fiftie and sixe and that remaineth what so euer it be he referreth it to the Seuenth Age. Solon also as the abouesaide Censorinus recordeth diuideth these Seuen into Tenne iustly sunderinge the Thirde the Sixte and the Seuenth in the middle in sutche sorte that euery of these tenne partes conteine onely seuen yéeres and no more These are the Distinctions of Ages then that wée finde emonge Philosophers sauinge that Isidorus as also somme of the abouesaide diuide them onely into Sixe Of whiche vnto the Firste he geueth seuen yéeres calleth that Age so yonge and tender Infancie The Seconde to this in time equall Puerilitie from thence vntill the ende of the eighte and twentie yéere he accoumpteth on the Thirde Age and calleth it Adolescencye a time wherein wée growe beste and reatche to perfection The Fourthe is from thence vntill the ende of the fourtie yéere whiche Age in Latin he calleth Iuuentus The Fifte to which he geueth the full space of twentie yéeres whiche with the others mounte vnto sixtie He noteth for the declininge Age or if you rather will the firste entrie into Olde Age. The remanent of Mannes life he attributeth to stoopinge Age whiche howe mutche so euer it be endeth only the laste parte Horace a moste excellent and most renowmed Poete diuideth this whole matter but into foure partes as also did as wée read Pythagoras In Pueritiam Iuuentutem Aetatem Virilem Senectutem whiche he artificially describeth in Arte Poetica with all the conditions proper and incidente to these Ages And yet according to the rules of natural Philosophie mans life is onely to be parted in thrée partes The first is that time that he hath to growe in The second while he arresteth and dwelleth at one staie The laste when he declineth and beginneth to stoope forewardes For as saith Aristotle what so is ingendred in the beginninge augmenteth and increaseth and afterwarde stayeth for a time arrestinge in his perfection but in the ende declineth and sauereth of diminution So that hence to conclude a tripartite diuision is not of the others all leaste proper or fittinge Of this opinion also were the moste parte of the Arabian Phisitions although Auicenna a man of rare learninge and of an excellent iudgement hath lotted out mans time by foure distincte Ages The first he calleth Adolescencie the ful space of thirty yéeres for that duringe that time man yet still is growinge To the seconde be geueth name of a well stayde Age or of an Age wherein bewtie in all menne perfecteth this parte continueth vntil the fiue and fortie yéere in which wée liue seased of absolute perfection Nexte followeth the thirde a secrete diminution and priuie pathe vnto olde Age whiche holdeth on fully the space of fiftiene yéeres Nowe order giueth vs in his place the laste a wery a féeble and an vnable Age sutche as men terme a Decrepite or Caduke Age. Here muste wée notwithstandyng note and consider that although it pleased him to geue vs this his quadripartite diuision yet no where forbiddeth he vs to subdeuide agayne the firste parte which coÌ„taineth as wée saide the space of thirtie yéeres lottinge the sayde parte into thrée distincte partes or seuerall Ages by this meanes accordinge him with those that before parte as is remembered the whole course of â—…ans life into sixe sundry portions But here consideringe these variable opinions I know not where moste safely to arrest my selfe neither may any man geue assured determination as wel for diuersitie of complexions and dispositions of menne as also that wée inhabite diuers Landes and Countries the consideration of our distte mattereth also somewhat as whether wée féede on meates sauery of light and easie digestion or of grosse and lesse pleasant hardly concocted by meanes whereof and of the semblable man either sooner or later altering becommeth at times differente olde and decrepite For this cause saith Galen hardly may man limite any times vnto Ages whiche well considered cause that these so dissonante and so sundry opinions séeme not all thinge so straunge and so exiled from reason Seruius Tullius Kinge of the Romaynes who as of him recordeth A. Gellius was onely still busied in betteringe the state Publike as then especially when he firste distinguished fiue sundrie or seuerall estates emonge the Romaynes of the life of man remembringe but thrée partes onely naminge the firste Puerilitie the space of seuentiene yéeres the seconde by his accompte reachte vnto the sixe and fortie yéere in whiche Age he inrolled his Soldiers as moste able and fitte then to all exploites of Chiualrie but who so longer liued those called he wise mature men of aduised Counsell This diuision for that it is vninersall is of no parte contrary or repugnant to the others includinge the lesse and perticular members makinge some shewe and certaine semblante of the woonted diuisions whiche of custome ordinarily sunder and seioyne the gréene Age from the riper and that againe from olde Age. This gréene Age I saye from the daie of our birth vntill the laste of our youthe by some computation contayneth fortie fiue yéeres not mutche more or lesse as by accompte appeareth Virgil also vseth the very same Epitheton Viridisque iuuentus whiche is to saye gréene youthe ripe and mature Age thence continueth vntill the sixtie yéere in which time who so liueth Seruius calleth them men of assured staie and aduice the residue of our life is olde and féeble Age. These thrée partes maie againe be well subdeuided to accorde and conforme the forepassed varieties whiche séeme to be so dissidente and contrary in appearance ¶ Of certaine yeeres in mans life whiche the Learned in times paste iudged aboue the others to be marueilous daungerous as also for what cause they esteemed it to be so Chap. 18. THe auncient Philosophers and Astrologians by diligent obseruation haue curiously noted certaine yéeres in mans life to be assuredly perilous which in Latine they call Annos clymactericos alludinge vnto the Gréeke woorde Clima signifiynge as somme will the staffe of a Ladder or a degrée in any thinge Whence they note that these yéeres are in sutche sorte and manner limited as are steares or steppes that aunsweare by iuste proportion in any thinge very daungerous in the whole course and tracte of mans life For as they maintained for an approued veritie the seuenth the nienth and the fouretienth daie in all kinde of sicknesse and infirmities to be then the reste continually more daungerous in case semblable also easily perceiued they that this accompte also by force of the numbers had in like sorte place in these odde yéeres throughout the whole course also and time of our
life Pythagoras Themistius Boecius and Auerrois with others many learne vs that the influences of naughtie Planetes as if I woulde saie of Saturne whiche at seuerall times ruleth and in seuerall Ages causinge greate chaunges and alterations euery seuenth yéere in sutche sorte that themselues felte the force thereof as well remember Marsilius Ficinus Censorinus and A Gellius supposinge it to be a thinge assuredly vnpossible to passe those yéeres without greate hazarde or alteration of our life estate healthe or complexion So that by this occasion the seuenth yéere the fourtiene the one and twentie the eight and twentie the fiue and thirty the twoo and fortie the niene and fortie and so foorth by order euery seuenth yéere was aboue the others mutche to be feared And farther for that they helde the number of thrée to be of greate importance or efficacie they sayde that thrée times seuen whiche mounte to twentie one was a number aboue all the reste marueilously to be suspected As mutche againe is saide of the niene and fortie yéere for that the number riseth of seuen times seuen But the moste daungerous yéere of all others is the thrée and sixtie for as twenty one riseth of thrée times seuen so sixtie thrée mounte againe of twentie one thrée times or of niene times seuen or seuen times niene whiche numbers be famous and as well knowen so feared of the wise and learned So that when they firste entred the firste daie of the saide yéere they became beyonde the woonted manner very diligent circumspect and curious to preserue their healthe and life by all practised polices taught vs either by experience nature or Phisicke attendinge from daie to daie some daungerous mutation or sudden chaunge of state whiche in déede oftentimes hapneth as well remembereth Iulius Firmicus in his bookes of Astrologie To this pourpose A. Gellius maketh mention of a certaine letter sente by the Emperoure Octauian vnto his Nephew Cassius letting him to wete what ioye he then liued in for that he had escaped the thrée and sixtie yéere and now was entered into the sixtie foure In sutch sorte that he then intended to celebrate his second Natiuitie For these causes thenour Learned Predecessours marueilously feared this aboue rehearsed yéere consideringe that it was the fatall terme assigned by nature vnto many duringe whiche time Aristotle with others renowmed and famous personages died And as I also aboue remembered the number of niene to be perilous so saide they that who so paste the sixtie and thirde yéere should not at all escape the eightie and one yéere for that that yéere riseth of nine times niene At this Age died the diuine Plato the greate and Lcarned Geographer Erastothenes Zenocrates a Platoniste and Prince of the auncient Schooles Diogenes Cinicus with others many the onely honour and bewtie of their time But these things more for experience sake and for that it séemeth vnto many a noueltie haue I writen then that any man should hereon dwell so mutche that he shoulde thinke it of necessitie and a thinge ineuitable although it otherwise be not a matter impertinent ne yet exiled from the lore of reason For as wée sée that diseases complexiōs leaue and ende at times in men and as in most kinde of Creatures téeth growe chaunge fall the voice altereth into a sounde more base or shrill the grasse also or Corne springeth at their tearmes appointed besides infinite other assured effectes operatiōs of nature which obserue their course times without alteration or chaunge so why shoulde wée not in manner semblable beleue that these abouesayde termes of time clymactericall yéeres should haue their proper force in the alteratiō of mans fortune or state of his bodie Why also thinke wée not that mans body is ordered as well by celestiall influence as by any predominant qualitie or humour that by some secrete and hidden operation though man be yet subiecte to the pleasure and will of God who as he hath framed all thinges supernaturally and miraculously yet will he notwithstandinge that his woorkes be naturall these onely excepted whiche by him were wrought contrary to the lawes of Nature by secrete meane inscrutable procéedinges and iudgement ¶ Here endeth the Firste parte of the Collection of Histories ⧠The Seconde parte of the Collection of Histories ¶ What daunger it is to murmer againste Princes as also what commendation they gayne by Clemencie Chap. 1. A Woonted sayinge it is and founde emonge the most auncient Prouerbes Princes haue handes broade and longe cares hence none other thinge at al inferringe but that Kinges and greate states can a farre of reuenge themselues on these that offend them as that they also vnderstande what so of them is spoken in place couerte or secrete For so many are there that séeke to liue in his grace and fauour that on the multitude hath rule and dominion that nothing may be kepte from him either vnknowen or hidden Whence to all men is geuen by the Learned in counsell that of the Prince wée speake in secrete nothinge for that in sutche case the Walles bothe heare and disclose againe our Treasons and Plutarche that the Birdes carry these woordes in the Ayre And farther if it be daungerous to vtter vnto Princes a truthe frankely and boldely what shall wée iudge of them that mutter againste them priuely The examples that a man might to this pourpose alleage are infinite emonge whiche bothe in the Gréeke and Latine Histories wée reade that Antigonus one of the Capitaines and successours of Alexander the greate his Campe not marchinge but arrestinge in open fielde beinge on a night a bedde in his Tente hearde certaine of his Souldiers without passe in traiterous talke against him supposinge not to haue benne vnderstoode of any but he without any farther semblante of wrothe in chaunge of voyce as if he had benne some other bespake them this softely without greate brute or noyse when yée speake any sutche woordes of the Kinge sée that yée goe farther from his Tente least he heare you An other time the saide Antigonus marchinge with his Armye in the deade of the night paste through a place very fowle and mirie his Souldiers almost forweried and tyred by meanes whereof they vttered somme distoyall woordes againste him thinkinge that he had benne farre of and behinde him but he beinge presente and vnderstandinge their treachery not knowen from an other by meanes of the darkenesse after hauinge donne his paine to helpe diuers of them out of the myre that had so liberally talkte against him saide with voice as before well counterfeited speake of the Kinge hardly what so euer you please for that he hath brought you into so watrie a soile but of me you haue good cause to thinke and saye well for that by my helpe you are nowe paste the daunger The patiencie of Phyrrus Kinge of the Epirotes meriteth no lesse to be remembered of the posteritie who when he laye in Italie
whom he beste loued his father or his mother who aunswered his mother where at thei meruailyng demaunded againe why for that my father said he with small regarde begatte me of parte a Thracian and soonne of á poore mother but she on the other side hath borne me of part an Athenian the sonne and heire of an excellent capitaine Concerning the beautie of women leauyng to speake of those that counsaile vs to refuse bothe the faire the foule prefarryng onely those whom mediocritie commendeth my aduise is that man chuse euermore the beste that he possible maie finde the fairest I meane and of cleareste complexion so that she bee vertuous as we before haue saied otherwise wishe I that he chuse the hardeste fauoured chaste with all and honeste rather then the faireste of leude and lighte demainure My reason is that wee should alwaies preferre the faireste if for none other yet for generation and cause of the posteritie onely to the intente our children bee suche as we would wishe of moste perfecte I meane and amiable complexion Virgil remembreth that the goddes Iuno desirous to gratifie her beloued Eodus promised to giue hym one of her faireste Nimphes to the ende she should beare hym children in beautie resemblyng her self We reade againe that Archiadamus kyng of the Athenians was condemned in a pecuniall paine for that he had married a wife of small stature his counsaille hardly chargyng hym that he mente to leaue the race roiall of little thinne wretched and impotente bodies as if thei were but halfe men To conclude therfore what so is in any place aboue remembred mine aduise is that it bee taken as counsaile and no commaundemeÌ„t which you maie execute at your pleasures without daunger or difficultie as also without all exception of persones For Matrimonie contracted with the harder fauoured is as holie as that other with the moste faireste as good with the poorest as also with the riche with the widdowe also as with the maide or virgin for that euery of them is lawfull verteous and honeste groundyng on loue whiche in greateste differentes and cases of inequalitie woorketh euer more a perfecte conformitie and vnion Of the cordiall and hartie loue that should be in maerriage with diuers examples seruyng to that purpose Chap. 4. THE mutuall loue and affection betwixt man and his wife bothe is and ought to bee for iuste cause commended for that marriage of it self is a thyng so excellent as well for respect of hym whiche firste did institute it God with the place also of that institution Paradis as also that thence procedeth th' onely propagation and continuance of mankinde with remedie sufficient against all sensuall appetites and concupiscencie of the fleshe All other amities incident in mannes life with whom or in what sorte so euer thei happen are loues improper and affections lesse perfect â–ª in respect of this so holy â–ª and diuine This is that same that ioineth bothe bodie and soule together this is that that is confirmed and sealed vnto vs by a sacred miracle neither is there any thing betwixt the married in particularitie proper for that betwixt the honest couple the body and will is one that whiche neuer happeneth in any other kinde of amitie whiche for small cause oftentymes is dissolued and broken and that also whiche worste is the moste assuredste of these affections continueth but for a tyme for gaine or aduauntage for proofe whereof wee rarely haue heard of any that without chauÌ„ge haue still helde on and neuer broken vntill death For so daintie and obnoxious to all chaunges is mannes minde that commonly we see newe friendes to remoue and dispossesse for little cause the olde but that loue holdeth still whiche is betwixte man and his wife neither maie it be sundred by any aduerse fortune by infirmitie pouertie mishappe or chaunge of beautie onely death hath power to cutte this knotte in sunder Some tymes it also liueth and continueth after death as we haue seen in certaine widdowes of whiche wee could remember infinite examples emongest whom aboue all others we maie consider of the mutuall loue or affection betwixte our first parentes Eue and Adam vnto whom the fruite of life vnder paine of death was prohibited Adam notwithstaÌ„dyng to gratifie his wife refused not to hassarde hymself by breache of that commaundemente When Paulina the wife of the sage and learned Seneca of Cordoua vnderstode that cruell Nero had doen to death her husband who by openyng all his vaines in a bathe gaue vp his spirite would not onely dye to accompanie hym by death but also did chuse to ende her smart by the said maner of tormente for more better accomplishemente whereof the did her self to bee prickte as did before her Seneca Whereof Nero with spede aduertised and knowyng that it proceded of assured loue onely caused her with greate diligence to bee saued from the daunger of death for beyng euen then on the poincte of passage he caused her vaines skilfully to be bounde carefully attendyng on her that she to her self did none other kinde of violence by meanes whereof this chaste and verteous matrone paste the reste of her life in greate paine and miserie paie coulerlesse in signe of loiall loue that she beare to her husbande In the life of the Emperours we also reade that Lucius Vitellius brother to the Emperor Vitellius beyng on a nighte in a perillous battaile his wife whiche hight Triata by the greate and inspeakable force of loue onely came thrustyng in emong the souldiars to aide and assiste Vitellius mindyng in that straite to liue or dye with hym where she then so did her painfull indeuour that she vtterly forgatte all feminine debilitie with small accompte of her life or safetie without her husbande Q. Curtius reciteth that the kyng of Aira vanquished by Alexander spoiled and depriued of a greate parte of his realme paciently bare it with a valiaunt and manly courage without any shewe of pain or anguishe but when newes was broughte hym that his wife was dedde in token that he more loued her then he did his kyngdome brake out into teares and wepte verie bitterly Ouide Iuuenal and Marcial with others affirme that the wife of kyng Adâ—…etus chose willyngly to dye to saue her sicke and diseased husbande for hauing receiued aunswere from thoracle that the kyng should liue if any of his dearest frendes would vouchsafe to dye for hym Notwithstandyng for the little credite that menne commonly giue to Poetes I had hereof saied no thyng had not saincte Hierome hymself recoumpted it Plinie the younger in a letter of his writeth that a certaine Fisher beyng sicke of an incurable disease or maladie by meanes whereof he daiely indured suche tormentes and paines as was almoste impossible for man to sustaine where at his wife moued with meruailous compassion as she that intierly and hartely loued hym seyng no hope of healthe or recouerie nor any where could finde any kinde of
accordyng to their perfection were able in what quantitie so euer iustlie to value theim This Zeuxis with suche perfection depainted Penelope that hymself therein besides others had most perfect likyng by meanes whereof he subscribed these fewe wordes commended of all menne more easie shal it be to all suche as shall beholde this vnkindlie to enuie it then with filed hande learnedlie to follow it He besides these did manie other thinges so perfecte so absolute and in suche sort estimed that Plinie reporteth that euen vntill his tyme there was reserued of his doyng a draught of Helena in Rome as also some other thinges moste curiously depainted and yet was there as hath Eusebius from the tyme of his death till Plinie afterward was and did these thinges to wryting by iuste accompte fiue hundred and eight yeres The Agrigentines became suters vnto hym to frame theÌ„ some skilfull purtratie whiche they might offer vnto their Goddesse Iuno but he to theim accorded nothing before by his commaundemente thei had presented vnto hym a greate number of naked maides of rare and comelie beautie out of whiche he chose fiue whiche among the reste he déemed to be fairest and best feutered who takyng from euerie of these that whiche in theim best liked hym he finished this excellent and this fore desired peece Of Parrasus his competitor straunge matters also finde we Strabo writeth that among sundry other thinges he fashioned in the Iâ—le of Rhodes a Satyre standing fast by a certaine Columne or Piller on the highest part of whiche he had depainted a Partridge but although this Columne and Satyre were absolutely doen yet this Partridge so farre surpaste theim in perfection that in the iudgement of all men she séemed to haue life so that without regarde of thother parte of the table eche man was amased at the excellencie of the birde whose perfection in déede was suche and so absolute that thei placing before the saied table certeine tame Partridges as presentlie we may in cages verie easelie kepe theim began to call and offered to flie to hym being as is aboue saied onely painted By meane whereof Parrasus besought the Magistrates of Rhodes that he might with their licence deface and remoue hym considering it stained the beautie of the other partes of the table whiche were assuredlie most famous and excellent Plinie also writeth of him matters straunge and merueilous affirming that some of his woorkes were also fonnde in Rome And farther addeth that amonge others sundrie his perfections he had a subtill or secrete kinde of practise besides his open and séemely proportions whereby he gaue men plainlie to vnderstande the nature or conditions of what soeuer he depainted as is written he did in the Idoll of the Atheniens which in such order and maner he handled that besides the rare beautie and excellencie of the subiecte eche man might sée the ordenaunces maners and customes of the Atheniens who as he was assuredly a prince in that his arte so was he in all other thinges of a moste sharpe and fined witte neither in drawyng his lines or proportions was he bolder then he was pleasaunt with all men merie and well disposed Whence he ofte tymes would saie that paintyng had well schooled hym in the perfecte loare and vsage of wisedome and knowledge But beyng entered into the consideration of this matter it shall not bee besides the purpose some thyng to speake in fewe of Apelles Prince and maister of all other Painters as also som what of Protogines singuler also and excellent in this arte Of that excellent Painter Apelles as also of Protogenes an other in his tyme Chap. 7. THat of one and of the saied subiecte we haue here presently written twoo chapiters is though for some others yet chiefly for twoo causes the one for that the lengthe and continued prorsis wearieth commonlie whatsoeuer the reader whiche some times before thei come to the ende forgette what thei redde at the first or beginnyng the other for the dignitie of hym of whom our penne shall speake here presently well deserueth or meriteth his chapiter a parte to the intent it maie the better bee considered of the readers This then is Apelles in the skill of Paintyng the onely Phenix and mercour of all others He had to maister one Panphilus verie excellent in his science who neuer tooke scholer by the yere for lesse price then for one whole talente Attique valuyng by our accompte sixe hundred croâ—nes sterlyng In the tyme of this Apelles Protogines also liued in this arte moste famous suche bothe and so perfecte in their profession that hardly men knewe whiche merited higheste commendation By meane whereof Apelles aduertised of his excellencie determined on a time to go to visite him and happely in fewe daies arriuyng at Rhodes where at that tyme Protogines dwelt dissimulyng that he was driueÌ„ thither by aduerse winde and weather and entering at the gates or house of Protogines founde hym not whom he sought then presently at home and hauyng demaunded where he might be of an olde woman that kept the house tooke leaue to depart about other his affaires but this olde woman saied whom shall I saie you are that haue sought here Protogines Apelles straight takyng in hand a pinselle whiche he there founde tournyng to her saied thou shalt saie to Protogines that he that drewe this line here would gladly haue spoken with hym and in vttryng these wordes framed there so curious a line so straighte so well proportioned that it wel argued what he was that with learned hande had drawen it Now after this Protogines immediatly retournyng aduertised of all thinges as is afore saied who after he had aduised hym selfe of this skilfull line said that besides Apelles no man that liued could dooe it and so incontinently taketh in hande an other pinselle and with a contrary coloure vpon Apelles his line draweth then the seconde so fine and so well fashioned that besides hym self none could by common iudgement doe it commaunding forthwith his woman that if he by happe retourned that she should shewe him that line as also farther learne hym that Protogines had doen it whom he so muche desired Apelles then retournyng the other beyng for the the old woman as she receiued in commaundement of her maister presenteth forthwith to him this second line to consider of Where at as all amased at the greate aduantage that Protogines had gained tooke in hande againe the second time the pinselle and sondereth in the middle Protogines his line againe whiche hardly might be seen so small it was subtile but with the third colour Apelles notwithstandyng in suche extreme perfection parteth bothe the others that for the fowerth he leaueth no kinde of place in the worlde Protogines then retournyng and seyng what had chaunced confeste the truthe Apelles to bee in deede his better and runneth all aboute with painfull care to seke hym to the onely intente he might doe hym conuenient
vnknowen crueltie and ingratitude of his countrie as to their perpetuall ignominie at full recordeth it Cratinus a Poete comicall and Gorgias Leontinus In maner semblable was banished Aristides the soonne of Lisimachus who for his excellencie and vertuous life was of all men for good cause surnamed the iuste notwstandyng the people both feared suspected hym continually Aboute the time then that thei should proceade in these affaires behold his straūge happe worthy of consideration there approacheth vnto hym one of the citisens whiche as he colde not write so neither knewe he at all Aristides but by fame for hys vertues onely requestyng hym to write vpon his tile or stone the name of Aristides whom he saied he woulde helpe at that tyme to banishe Wherat Aristides as altogether amased for he neuer suspected any suche matter called hym and saied frende come hether hath Aristides doen thee any displeasure Noe saied he but it greueth me to heare hym surnamed Aristides the iuste Plutarche in this sorte recordeth this matter but Paulus Emilius affirmeth that he framed hym this aunswere I knowe not Aristides but I suppose it will little profite hym that with suche diligence and in so short tyme he hath attained to that fame and honour to bee called as you heare of all men Arististes the iuste How be it Aristides at all gaue hym no aunswere but wrote as his will was his owne name in his stone By whiche meanes afterwarde vnkindly exiled neither waxte he angrie or greeued with his countrie but contrariwise moste quietly departynge in presence of the multitude and before theim all saied I praie the immortall Gods that the Athenians neuer fall into any such kinde of miserie that they shoulde haue néede of or desire Aristides againe And in déede so came it to passe that within fewe daies afterwarde they repented theym of their folly acknowledging with greate grief their faulte and errour for before these ten yeres of his exile were expired yea in the sixte yere by common consent and suffrage of the people he was called home againe to his perpetuall honour but to their ignominie the inexcusable shame after which his retourne he did sundry valiaunt and worthie exploytes beyng in person presente in that daungerous conflict on the Sea adioyning to the Isle Salamina where Xerxes was vanquished as also presente at the ouerthrowe of Mardonius So that as I firste saied thys lotte ' of exile for the most parte stil fell on the most worthie and most renoumed personages Notwithstanding though hence grewe infinite discommodities yet had it neuer the lesse a certaine shewe or countenaunce of honour or maiestie especially that it helde menne from vsurpation an tyrannie dréedyng the displeasure and authoritie of the people Plutarche writeth that the seignorie of Athens on a tyme florishyng as well in wealth as in martiall affaires and chiualry there were two great estates in honour like excelling all others Nicias th one and Alcibiades the othe which both in all thinges were verie curious and daintie like ambitious and desirous of glory pursuing eche the other with enuious emulation the time now of this Ostracismus verie fast approaching of whiche we haue aboue remembred both fearyng the imminent incōuenience peril did what in theim was to assure theimselues from the hard sentence of exile In this tyme ther also was in Athens one that had to name Hiperbolus of base condition proude notwitstanding verie seditious whiche not ignoraunt of the emulation betwixt Nicias and Alcibiades practised by all meanes to increase the same sowyng betwixte theym seedes of impacable discorde and dissention hoping by this policie to gain some reputation as also presupposing that these twoo this remainyng as he well trusted enimies the one of theim shoulde be banished by the Ostracismus followyng by meane whereof he imagined to gaine his place and honour and so consequently to be accompted one of the chéefest of the whole citie But thei both verie shortly well skilled of his practise disdainyng that he of so meane estate shoulde by this meanes become their equall secretly asswaged their yre and malice plightyng present frendshippe and amitie eche to other better likyng to cease from their rancour and malice then to abide the hassard of this present shame and infamie This doen eche of theym attempted nowe busilie together to exile by the Ostracismus the malicious infortunate and vnhappie wretche Hiperbolus Wherin they so carefullie and so wisely traueiled that they in déede accomplished that thei so then affected folding hym in that snare that he prouided had for others At which thing the whole multitude brake out into a laughter beholdyng a wretche of so vile condition in exile to be sente forth whither so many and so valiaunte a prince had past before hym But in the ende this mirth so chaunged into rancour that this custome therewith ceaste also for euer Of sundrie excellent personages whiche by the ingratitude of their Countrie haue vnkindly been banished Chap. 9. ALL histories are euerie where full of the sundrie and manifolde ingratitudes practised by the moste aunciente and most famous Cities euen against those that most honourablie haue serued and defended theim in their necessities We therefore shall remember here not many examples for that to the studious in good histories it should be lesse necessarie and superfluous The greate father of the Romaine eloquence and moste soueraigne oratour or since or before hym which from the perilous coniuration of Cateline deliuered that proude and pompous citie Rome was notwithstanding at the sute of his enimie Claudius in recompence of his desertes vnkindely banished Which his exile in Rome was so muche bewailed that twentie thousande in one daie wore mourning apparell for hym by meane wherof he was restored to his pristinate libertie called home with greate ioye to his inspekable honour Demosthenes the sole prince of all gréeke eloquence patrone and protectour of his countrie Athens was also by the Athenians in his olde age banished and yet had they had some countenance of occasion sufficiente shoulde it not haue been to haue exiled of theimselues suche a one as was he He lamented excessiuelie and be weapte his departure so that he wente thence in greate sorowe and melancolie who méetyng as he paste certaine Atheniens his heauie enemies beganne to haue some feare and to doubt theim merueilously whiche not onely did hym no kinde of outrage but contrariwise did solace and aide hym in what soeuer was to him or fittyng or necessarie Whiche thing some tyme considered well of hym as also that he was reproued for bewalynge his departure saied againe to those that did hym these curtisies Howe would you that I shoulde not beweepe this my partyng seyng my selfe banished from my natiue soyle and countrie where also mine enimies are suche and so honeste that I must thinke my self most happie and fortunate of al men if in some other place I may finde frendes as assured comfortable Metellus
for iust cause greued with his vnkynde countrie he promised to vtter a certaine meane how he should easely subdue and conquire all Grece but when after the king called on him for the performaunce thereof he then againe with minde wholy altered and chauÌ„ged desired rather to die then to acquite him of hys promes and so fainyng that he first would sacrifice vnto Diana drancke the bloodde of a Bull whiche he then had sacrificed whence he presently dyed as recordeth Plutarche The cause or reason that may hereof be geuen why I saie the blood of a bull droncke warme should kil is borrowed of Aristotle Plinie and Dioscorides who to geather affirme that it is for none other cause but that this bloodde so druncke straungely congealeth and hardneth incontinently yea muche more then the bloodde of any other beaste so that in quantitie once entered into the stomake it curdeth causing faintnes and suffocation and stoppeth with the same the forces of respiration and feelyng whence sodenlie of necessitie followeth also death Plinie wryteth that Colewoâ—rtes boyled in the abouesaide bloodde are verie medicinable againste an opilation this bloodde then by it selfe drouncke is pestilente and venemous but in composition mixt with other thinges is both holsome and profitable Manne to whom god hath framed all thinges subiecte hath by this beaste no lesse profite and seruice then by the others of that kynde whiche he alone ingendreth For which onely cause Columella preferreth hym before all other beastes affirmyng that to kill a Bull was in tymes paste a crime verie heinous and almost in déede capital Plinie writeth of one that was banished for that he kilde a bul The firste that tamed the Bull and laide youke on hys necke was as Diodorus reporteth one Denis or Dionisius the soonne of Iupiter and Proserpina But Plinie in his seuenth booke déemeth the contrarie affirmyng that it was an Athenian and hight Briges others some suppose that it was Triptolemus of whom Virgill in thys sorte séemeth to saie that he an infant was maister notwithstandyng and inuentour of the crooked Plough Seruius indifferentlie attributeth it as well to Orsiris as to Triptolemus I suppose that Virgill leafte thereof to discouer the name of the inuentour of a thing so profitable and necessarie for that as it maie bee presumed it was not the inuention of one sole man onely but rather the wante and lacke therof hath forced man in this case to deuise or inuente some thyng to whiche some others to perfect it haue also after added some what Trogus Pompeius recounteth that Auidis Kyng of Spaine was the firste that layde maisteryng hande on the wilde and sauage Bull the firste also that fitted theim to the yoke or Plough but in fine whosoeuer it were verie necessarie is hys seruice and profitable in mannes affaires This beast feedeth contrarie to all others for in takyng his repaste he goeth alwaies backwardes all others of what soeuer kynde marchyng still on wardes Aristotle wryteth of a certaine kind of Bulles in Frigia whose hornes are not fastened in the inner parte of their heades and in the bone but tossyng to and fro growe onely copled to the skinne by meane whereof they so turne theym at their pleasure as their eares whiche thyng Elian in like sorte plainly recordeth The first that tamed Bulles in Rome and kilde theim for mannes vse was Iulius Caesar whiche thyng Plinie recordeth largelie This beaste hath this propertie of nature or qualitie lente hym that he skilefully prognosticateth of the weather continually for when it shall raine he foresheweth it in mountyng hys snoute breathyng into the ayre or otherwise in séekyng some couerte besides his wonted manner How necessarie water is in all the vses of mannes life of the excellencie of this element and how to finde or trie the best water from the other Chap. 12. IN all the vses of mannes life no one thyng is founde more necessarie then the elemente of water for if he lacke at any tyme bread he maie with sundry kindes of meates as hearbes nourishe the bodie and if fire faile hym sunderie thynges are yet good and holsome to be eaten rawe so that man maie continue and liue of them for a tyme but without water neither can man beast or what so els is liue or continue in this worlde at all There is neither herbe neither plante of what sort so euer he be that without water giueth any kinde of increase for what so euer is without exception it needeth some tymes water Whence Thales Milesius as also Hesiodus imagined that water was the beginnyng of all thynges the moste auncient and first of the other thre elementes in vertue also and force without comparison surpassyng them for as hath Plinie and also Isidorus water moisteth and subuerteth greate mountaines it ruleth and hath dominion ouer the whole face of the yearth it quencheth fire and chaunged into vapours it also mounteth or passeth into euery the regions of the aire whence after a time again it descendeth to giue increase and multiplie all thynges vpon yearth Farther God so muche estemed this elemente aboue the reste that concludyng to regenerate man againe by Baptisme would that his safetie should growe of parte by this elemente And in the beginnyng of the worlde when he first deuided the waters he in suche estimation had it as hath the texte that he almoste nexte would place it vnderneath the heauens lesse mindyng in that place that houge heape of water that boundeth and limiteth the partes of the yearth The greatest torment that the Romaines had at any tyme prouided for the coÌ„demned was that thei were interdicted bothe from water and fire remembryng water in this place before the other for the more assertained and assured excellencie Sithe then water is so necessarie in euery the vses of mannes life here must we then coÌ„sider of waters which are the better For accomplishement whereof this maie be the firste note who so will passe through places straunge and vnknowen desirous to learne whither the waters be there holsome yea or not as also whether they bée to be caried any other where as necessitie at tymes or for causes maie require first let hym diligently with aduise consider the places adiacent about the spryng or riuer how long the inhabitantes there liue their disposition and nature Whither thei be healthie strong and valiant and of good complection their iyes not infected their legges of good proportion and able suche where so euer thei bee well witnes of the goodnes of their water but contrary if you finde them then contrary must be your iudgement But if your spring be late founde so that the fore saied experience of no parte helpe vs then will we referre you to the practises followyng Take a basme of Brasse or other vestell cleane neate and very well polished then throwe some droppes of that wateâ— there on of that water I meane of whose goodnes you would make
experimente and if after it bee dried you finde at all no kinde of stain or marke then is that water assuredly bothe good and holesome ▪ An other good proofe maie be if you please to boile of this water in the saied vessell and after it hath boiled to let it for a tyme to stande to settle and to coole then after when ye shall empte it if in the bottome you finde no kinde of slime or sande then is that water to be reputed for good and of these waters if ye make proofe of two that whiche hath least is to be accōpted without more the beste Farther if in these vessels or in the semblable you doe to bée boiled any kinde of pulse to make there with some potage or other meate as beanes pease or other of that sorte that water in whiche thei first seeth is beste You must consider also if certainly you will iudge of waters in what place or soile thei spring and rise if out of a sandie grounde cleare andneate or contrary out of a mirie soile foule and vnpure and whither there growe any Rushes or other herbes or weedes noisome and pestilente but for better suretie who so would drinke of a water vnknowen or of suche as he deemeth to bee indeede lesse good lette hym with a small fire firste of all boile hym and then after beyng colde drinke of hym in his neede Plinie writeth that the Emperour Nero so boiled his water and then coolyng it in the Snowe gloried that he was the father of suche an inuention The reason why water boiled should therefore be more conducible is for that it is not pure and simple in his owne nature but is all together mixt bothe with the earth and the aire notwithstandyng the parte windie as it easily resolueth by the fire into vapours so that other substaunce also terrestriall by the saied vertue or force of the fire whose qualitie is to trie and disioigne contrary natures descendeth to the bottome and lower partes of the vessell By whiche meanes this boiled water romaineth lesse vaporous all the windie substaunce thereof perfectly consumed it also again is more subtile and light beyng this purified from the grosse and stimie substaunce and so consequently more easie to be kepte and conserued compitently refreshyng and moistyng the bodie without any alteration or opilation at all Whence it is euidente that these deepe welles or tye pittes giue none so good and holesome waters as are the others principally for that the water more sauoureth of some slimie nature and that it is at no tyme purified by any shewe of the soonne as that also it more easily putrifieth then any other How bee it the more that you drawe out of any suche Welle the better and the more profitable becometh the water for that by continuall motion corruption lesse ingendereth and nothing better frō putrifaction preserueth any water then perpetuall and incessante agitation for ones corrupted it impoisoneth the newe waters in their springes theim selues as letted or lackyng frée course or passage but stil drawen newe commeth on more freshe still and sauerie For whiche cause the water of standing pondes and diches is of all other moste pestilente and venemous whiche for that it hardely springeth and hardely passeth thence againe putrifieth and ingendereth sunderie impoisoned matters and ofte tymes whiche worste is it corrupteth the aire whence the inhabitauntes there about are ordinarily infected Consider we also that these waters whiche flowe towardes the Southe are not so holesome as those that runne to the North for the aire in the Southe is more vaporous and moiste whiche hurteth of parte and impaireth the water but in the Northe more subtile and drie whēce the water is more light and more voide of ill mixtions For whiche cause that water is euer more beste whiche is moste cleare moste light moste subtile and moste purified for it is as we fore saied moste free from the mixtion of the other elementes and beyng set ouer the fire wareth also warme and boileth before any other Farther also a verie certaine and singuler proofe of waters is this if ye circumspectly consider whiche of them first or before the other boileth beyng bothe putre in like vessels ouer one fire with like consideration of tyme in them bothe also whiche of them in like maner firste retourneth to his naturall qualitie to bee that he firste was colde in taste and feelyng for these are assured argumentes of a most subtile and pearsing substaunce and for as much as the mixture of the yearth with any kinde of water forceth or canseth some alteration in waight it shall be good to chuse still that whiche you finde lighteste whiche easily you maie proue in this sorte and maner followyng You shall take twoo peces of linen clothe of one and the same weight puttyng one into one water and the other into the other vntill they be both throwe moistned and weete then hang theim in the ayre wher the Sunne shineth not on theim so long vntill thei both be perfectly drie rewaight theim then againe and the cloth whiche you finde to peise or drawe deepest argueth his water to bee vndoubtedly moste waightiest Other some haue vsed for their more expedition to waigh them in vesseles pure neate cleane in waight not differyng with out any farther curiositie at all Aristotle and Plinie affirme that the greatest cause of diuers qualities in waters is and riseth onelye of sundrie substaunces or maners of their soiles by the meanes of Stones Trées Mines and Mettalles through which these springes or Riuers runne and for this cause they become some hotte some colde some swéete some salte some sauerie some lesse sauerie wherefore it is a sure and an infallible rule that these waters that haue no taste smell or sauour are continually reputed for the moste holsome and beste Al suche notwithstādyng as haue hereof writen togither affirme that these springes that passe thorowe mines of gold excell without comparison by many degrées the others for proofe whereof these riuers are accompted moste worthie of all others whiche ingender and preserue gold in their fine and small sandes but because we perticulerly some thyng haue saied of the proprietie of springes and riuers we leaue here to wearie the reader with examples Now then sith some thynges haue been spoken of fountaines and flouddes it followeth that we consequently treate of rainie waters whiche of some are reputed for verie soueraigne and medicinable but of others some accompted lesse profitable or necessarie Vitruuius and Columella with certaine other Phisitians highly commende all rainie waters but these especially that are receiued cleane pure without any kinde of grosse or terrestriall substaunce for that of them selues saie thei these waters are light and voide of all mixtion caused onely of vapours which by their onely subtilitie are taken vp into the aire leauyng as maie bee supposed all impure or slimie substaunce behinde theim Some neuerthelesse saie that this water descendyng in
last he had taken it It is writen of him that in all his assaultes of any castell or citie he vsually would hang out to be séen of the enimie an Enseigne white for the space of one full daie whiche signified as was then to all men well knowen that if those with in woulde in that daye yelde theim he then woulde take theim to mercie without any their losse of life or goods The seconde daie hee did to bee hanged out an other all redde lettyng theym thereby againe to vnderstande that if they then woulde yelde he onelie then woulde execute Th'officers Magistrates maisters of housholdes and gouernours pardonyng and forgeuyng all others whatsoeuer The thirde daie he euer displaied the thirde all blacke signifiynge therby that he then hadde shutte vp his gates from all compassion and clemencie in such forte that whosoeuer were in that daie taken or in anie other then folowyng shoulde assuredly die for it without any respecte either of man or woman little or greate the Citie to be sackt and burnt withall to ashes whence assuredly it can not be saide but that he was verie cruell though otherwise adorned with many rare vertues But it is to be supposed that god stirred hym vppe an instrument to chastice these princes these proude and wicked natioÌ„s For better proofe whereof Pope Pius whiche liued in his tyme or at leaste eight or tenne yeres after hym reporteth of hym saiyng that on a tyme beseigyng a strong and riche citie which neither on the first or second would yelde to him which only daies were daies of mercie as is aboue saide on the third day neuerthelesse affiyng on hope vncertaine to obtaine at his handes some mercie and pardon opened their gates sendyng forth in order towardes hym all their wemen and children in white appareled bearing eche in their handes a branche of Oliue criyng with haute voice humbly requestynge and demaundyng pardon in maner so pitifull and lamentable to beholde that besides him none other was but woulde haue accepted their solemne submission This Tamburlaine notwithstandyng that beheld theim a farre of in this order issuyng so farre then exiled from all kinde of pitie that he commaunded forthwith a certaine troope of horsemen to ouer runne to murther and kill theym not leauyng one a liue of what condition soeuer and after sackyng the Citie resed it euen vnto the verie foundations A certaine Marchaunte of Genua was then in his campe who had often recourse to him who also vsed hym in causes familiarly and who for that this facte seemed verie bloodie and barbarous hardned hymselfe to demaunde hym the cause why he vsed theim so cruelly considering thei yelded themselues crauing grace pardon to whom he aunswered in most furious wrath and yre his face redde and firie his eyes all flamynge with burnyng spearckles as it were blasing out on euerie side Thou supposest me to be a man but thou to muche abbusest me for none other am I but the wrathe and vengeaunce of God and ruine of the worlde wherefore aduise thée well that thou neuer againe presume to bee founde in any place in my â—ight or presence if thou wilt that I chastice theâ— not accordyng to thy desert and thy proude presumption This Marchaunte with out more then sodenly retired neither after that was at any time seen in the campe of Tamburlaine Those thinges this accomplished this greate and mightie Personage hauyng conquired many countries subdued and done to deathe suudrie Kinges and Princes no where findyng any resistaunce in any parte of all Asia retourned home againe into his countrie charged with infinite heapes of Gold and treasure accoÌ„panied also with the most honourable estates of al the cuÌ„tries subdued by him which brought with theim in like maner the greatest parte also of their wealth and substaunce where he did to be builte a moste famous goodly citie and to be inhabited of those as we fore saied that he brought with hym whiche altogether no lesse honourable then riche in verie shorte tyme with the healpe of Tamburlaine framed the most beautifull and moste sumptuous Citie in the worlde whiche by the multitude of the people was also merueilously inlarged abundaunt and full of al kinde of riches But in the ende this Tamburlaine though he maintained his estate in suche aucthoritie and honour yet as a man in the ende he paieth the debte due vnto nature leauyng behinde hym twoo soonnes not such as was the father as afterwarde appeared by many plaine and euident signes for as well by their mutuall discorde eache malicing the other as also by their insufficiencie with the lacke of age and experience they were not able to kéepe and maintaine the Empire conquired by their father For the children of Baiaceth whom they yet helde as prisoner aduertised of this their discorde and dissention came into Asia with valiaunt courage and diligencie by the aide of suche people as they founde willing to assiste theim recoueryng their possessions and territories fore loste whiche in maner semblable did they other Princes whiche Tamburlaine before had also subdued So that this Empire in prosis of tyme so declined that in our age there remaineth nowe no remembraunce at all of hym ne of his posteritie or linage in what respecte soeuer How be it true it is that Baptista Ignatius a diligent searcher of auncient antiquities reporteth that he leafte twoo soonnes Princes and Protectours of all the countries subdued by hym reachyng and extendynge euen vnto the Riuer of Euphrates as al so their successors after theim euen vntill the tyme of Kinge Vsancasan againste whom the Turke Mahomet waiged some tymes bataile And the Heires of this Vsancasam as most men surmise aduaunced theimselues to the honour and name of the first Sophi wheÌ„ce now is deriued the empire of Sophi whiche liueth this daie as sworne ennimie to the Turke Whiche how soeuer it be it is to be supposed that this historie of Tamburlaine had it of anie been written woulde haue been a matter worthie both of penne and paper for that greate exploytes no doubte were happily atchiued of hym but as for me I neuer founde more then I here presently haue writen neither suppose I that any other thinge is of anye other man writen this onely excepted where on all men accorde that he neuer sawe the backe or frounyng face of fortune that he neuer was vanquished or put to slighte by any that he neuer tooke matter in hande that he brought not to the wished effect and that his corage and industrie neuer failed hym to bryng it to good ende By meanes whereof we maie for iuste cause compare hym with any other whatsoeuer though renoumed in tymes past This then that I here geue you that al haue I borrowed of Baptista Fulgotius Pope Pius Platina vppon the life of Boniface the ninth of Mathew Palmier and of Cambinus a Florentine writyng the historie and exploytes of the Turkes Of many lakes and fountaines the waters of
whiche was shortly after the passion of Christe men perceiued that these Oracles began to fainte and faile neither allegaeth he for it in his treatise any other reason but that there should be dead as he supposed some spirites whiche he spake as a man voide or lesse skilled in the faithe for that he vnderstode not that the deuilles or spirites were immortall Notwithstandyng straunge is it and worthie of consideration to sée how euidently the deuill shewed hym self to bée conquered and subdued and that after the death of our sauiour he so remained discomforted that he neuer again was able to frame in any suche sort an aunswer and that the Gentiles also not able in déede to yelde any cause or reason why had some féelyng of this default and surceassyng from his function By meane whereof Plutarche tooke on hym to write this treatise in which emong others in effecte he hath these wordes of which Eusebius maketh mention writyng to Theodorus as of a moste notable and meruailous matter I remember that I haue heard saie saieth he of Emilian the oratour a man prudente and wise and well knowen to many of you that his father on a tyme commyng by the sea towardes Italie and passyng on a night by a certaine Isle called Paraxis euen when all in the Shippe were then still and quiete thei heard a greate and dreadfull voice whiche srom the Isle called to them Ataman Ataman suche was the pilotes name of the shippe an Egiptian borne although this voice were ones and againe vnderstoode by Ataman yet was he not so hardie to frame to it an annswere vntill the third time whē he said who is there what is it that calleth me what wouldest thou haue To whō this voice again more louder thē before saied Ataman my will is that when thou passest by the goulfe which hath to name Laguna that thou there remember to crie out and certifie the said goulfe that the greate God Pan is deade Whiche vnderstoode all those that were in the shippe feared counsailyng the saied pilote to leaue vndooen his charge neither any thyng to arreste or staie at the goulfe especially if the winde would serue them to passe further but approchyng nigh the place of whiche this voice admonished hym the ship arrested and the sea waxte calme not hauyng winde to passe presently any farther by meanes whereof thei generally concluded that Atman should there dooe his legation or imbacie whiche the better to doe he mounteth vp into the poupe or hinder parte of the ship where he crieth as loude as he could possible saiyng I will that ye knowe that the greate God Pan is deade whiche woorde as sone as he ones had vttered thei heard incontinently suche terrible lamentations and cries houling and complainyng aboue that maie be saied in suche sort that the sea it self resounded these complaintes whiche continued moste dolorous and lamētable a great while by meanes whereof the Mariners though meruailously afraied hauyng the winde good againe followed their course arriuyng at Rome made rehearsal of this their aduenture Whereof the Emperour Tiberius aduertised and desirous to be certified of the truthe and none other founde to conclude as is aboue rehearsed Whence it is euident that the deuilles euery where sorowed the natiuitie of our Sauiour and redemer Christe for that he was onely their ruine and destruction For by iuste and true supputation of tyme we finde that this happened at the tyme of his Passion or perhaps some thyng before then I meane whe he banished and exiled them out of the worlde It is to be presupposed that this great God Pan accordyng to the immitation of Pan the God of Shepherdes whiche thei saied was deade was some capitaine and maister deuill whiche at that tyme loste his Empire as did also the others Besides all these Iosephus writeth that at the same tyme was heard in the temple of Hierusalem a voice though in déede ther was no liuyng creature with in whiche lamentably cried and saied thus let vs goe hence and leaue this countrie in haste as who would saie thei truely knewe that the tyme of their paine and persecution was at hande and that it drewe on faste euen by the death of hym that gaue life vnto others In the Gospell of the Nazarites it is reade that in the daie of his Passion that sumptuous gate of their Temple whiche thei neuer lefte for any coste to adorne and beautifie fell doune to the grounde and was vtterly defaced Consider now in that daie what straunge and meruailous thynges happened though the Euangelistes haue paste theim as thynges lesse worthie memorie The eclipce also of the Sunne whiche continued thrée howers the full space in deede that Christ was on the crosse was not naturall as are the others whiche by th' onely coniunction of the Sunne and Moone chaunce vs but was miraculous and contrary to the course and order of nature Suche therefore as lesse knowe how the Sunne is eclipsed must vnderstande that it onely happeneth by coniunction of the aboue saied bodies the Mooue passyng or goyng betwixt the Sunne and the yearth neuer the lesse this eclipse happened in th' opposition of these planettes the Moone then full and hundred and eightie degrées distant frō the Sūne in the vnder hemisphere then at the citée of Hierusalem for proofe whereof besides the testimonies of infinite good writers the scriptures them selues record it manifestly for certain it is that the lambe was neuer Sacrificed but in the .xiiij. of the Moone whiche Lambe was eaten by Christ and his disciples but one daie onely before his death as is commaunded in the .xij. of Exodus in Leuiticus also the xxiij And the nexte daie followyng whiche was the daie of vnleauened bread Christ the Lambe vnspotted was vnkindly crucified the Moon then of necessitie in her full and opposite to the Sunne whiche then could no more eclipse the Sunne then any other Planete It then was to conclude miraculous and contrary to the order of nature doen onely by the onmipotente and sole power of GOD whiche depriued the Sunne of light for that thrée howers space By occasion whereof that worthie personage Denis Areopagita beyng at the time presente at Athens and beholding in this sorte the Sunne to be obscured and knowyng on the other side as a learned Astrologian that this eclipse was contrary to the order of natue saied openly with a loude voice to bée heard of all menne either the frame of the worlde shall bée dissolued either the God of nature presently suffereth For whiche cause as one reporteth the sages of Athens straungely disturbed did to bee builte incontinently an aulter to the God vnknowen whether afterward saincte Paule arriuyng learned theim who was that God vnknowne and that he was Jesus Christ God and man our redemer whiche then and at that tyme suffered for our saluation by meanes whereof he conuerted greate numbers to the faithe Some neuer the lesse haue doubted
after that againe vnder him generall of the whole armie and from thence was called to the honour of a bishoppe and in fine from thence mounted to the estate of a Consull who wagyng battaile with the Parthians triumphantly conquered them and was the first that euer apparantly and throughly quailed their courages It should also be long in this place to remember all those that issuyng from obscure race or parentage haue notwithstandyng by their excellencie in learning béen aduaūced to greate estimation and honour Virgill was the soonne of none other then a Potter yet aspired he to be called the beste Poete emong the Latines Horace in myne opinion excelled in poetrie no Prince of birthe but muche like vnto the others Eustatius and Pāpinus were the soonnes of twoo that had been bondinen but bothe manumitted Theophrastus the Philosopher had to father a badde Tailer or Bodger Menedemus also to whom for his singuler learnyng the Athenians erected a sumptuous Image was the sonne of a poore artificer Besides these we reade of infinite others whom all I passe as a thing moste assured and euidente By these examples it now thus lieth manifeste that of what estate so euer or condition manne be borne he maie if he will attaine some tyme to honor so that he walke still in the pathe of vertue whiche onely is acquired by incessaunte paine and diligencie with a finall consideration of heauen our wished citie for who so other wise dooeth if he in deede mighte possiblie conquere the whole the wide and the waste worlde what aduauntage should he haue for the same to loose the soule after this life transitorie Of the opinion that the olde Romaines and other auncient countries had of fortune and how they plast her in the number of their Gods in what forme or figure they also depainted her and finally that there is no fortune at all among the Christians attributyng the cause of all thinges vnto god Chap. 19. FOR as muche as we haue some thing writtē of the instabilitie of the world and that by sundrie examples of sundry worthy and famous personages that which euery of them attributed falsly vnto fortune reason would now that we also in this place speake some what of that whiche the Gentiles and Heathens haue immagined of this vanitie in fine concludyng as is our promis with the Christians Among others many and shamefull errors which the olde sages and wise philosophers haue built vppon mans onely and sole obseruation not feeling at all of that true and heauenly wisedome this was the chéefe and principall occasion for that not vnderstandyng the causes whence these effectes proceaded as also not why they were or who ordained theim sundrie of theim termed theim the verie workes of fortune as all soodden aduentures thinges I meane some times lesse desired or thought on neither haue thei yet staied there but fortune not beyng any other thinge then a plaine imagination voide as well of al quantitie as of substaunce or qualitie haue déemed her to bee some celestiall or diuine nature some mistris of much might and perticuler Goddesse vnto whom they attributed what so chaūsed in mans life were it without respect in thinges prosperous or aduersitie They supposed her to gouerne or to holde in hande the bridle of what so happened to vs ether fortunate or contrarie and so is this follie now growen to this point that Virgill feareth not to name her omnipotent and almightie and Cicero in his offices blustreth out in this sorte Who is he that féeleth not the arme of fortune to be right strōg and mightie of equall powre and force both in good and euell for if she vouchsafe to assiste vs with her prosperous winde then mount we on high to the toppe of our desires but if it contrarie then liue we afflicted in miserable extremitie Salust a learned and eloquent historiogripher saieth that fortune is maistris and lady ouer all thinges With theim also accordeth Iuuenal in these wordes if fortune will of a simple aduocate thou shalt be made a Consull if the same againe so please from the estate of a Consull thou shalt fall doune to that of a poore and néedy aduocat in suche sorte that they attributed all puissance vnto fortune And yet merueilous is it to sée how that beyng of this opiniō thei so commonly and vnfrendly blasphemed still against her terming her by names and Epithitons vnkinde exilyng far frō al reuerence far also from al honour Plinie saieth that through out the whole world in all places and at all houres and by all men of what degree so euer onely fortune she alone is called on she is desired she is accused she is pursued with enmitie and malice on her alone all men thinke she onely is praised she onely is blamed she onely is charged with iniuries and reproches she onely is honoured she onely estemed she onely is reputed for vncertaine and mutable of many she is accōpted blinde and instable inconstant fickle still chaungyng and variable and commonly to the lesse worthy very large fauourable The causes to her we attribute of our expenses and receptes and in all oure accomptes or like busines to be doen she holdeth still the one side and the other of our booke in such sorte that we be of condition so seruile that this monster of vs is adored for a God and so by this meane would God to be vncertaine Hetherto Plinie Our ancestours framed to her sundry kindes of Images I meane of straunge and diuers figures accordyng to the diuersitie of effectes that they imagined to be in her When they would attribute to her the cause of anie victory they depainted her in valiaunt shape fearce stoute and manly hauyng a temple perticularlie dedicated vnto mightie fortune whiche as supposeth Liuie was builte by the Consul Camillus with the praie and spoiles he gotte at the ouerthrowe of the Hetruscians where in prosis of time afterwardes it also was ordeined that her feast should there be celebrated the fiue and twenteth continually of Iune of parte for that Hasdrubal was on that daie vanquished by the Romaines as also the same daie Massinissa their frende conquired in like sort kyng Syphax of Numidia Besides this an other Temple was dedicated to her by the Romaines twoo little miles or there aboute from Rome where she was purtraied in shape like a womā for that in that same place Coriolanus comyng in armes against his countrie was wonne by the humble sute and intreatie of his mother so that in fine hee returned and perdoned the Citie whiche of purpose he came to sacke to burne and to destroie And in this shape of a woman purtraied there in an Image some accursed sprite or deuill by gile streight entered whiche often tymes thence spake reputed for an oracle The thirde temple also had thei dedicated to ill fortune at whiche tyme thei so blinded were in that their fonde deuotion that they supposed all thinges should
letters of Moyses and that thei afterwarde imperted of their knowledge to the Phenicians whence after againe Cadmus past with them into Grece Artabanus noteth that this Mercurie whiche all agrée on to haue made the first profession of letters in Egipte was Moyses himself called of the Egiptians Mercurie Philon an Hebrue a man of greate aucthoritie saieth that the inuention of letters was yet againe more auncient who saieth that Adā was the first authour of theim in deede thei either were inuented by Adam or by his children or by them at the leaste of the first age before the generall fludde or inundation preserued by Noe and his successours euen vntill the tyme of Abraham and from hym againe vntil Moyses And thus is the iudgement or opinion of Sainct Augustine Whiche is verified by the aucthoritie of Iosephus saiyng that the nephewes of Adam sones of Seth aduaunced or erected two sumptuous pillers the one of stone the other of claie in whiche they wrote or ingraned all the sciences affirmyng that himselfe sawe one of theim in Syria We finde also that S. Iude the Appostle alleageth in a certaine Epistle of his the booke of Enoch whiche also liued before the fludde So that wee must not doubt but that Adam and his children whiche were so wise whiche also had experience of so many thinges were also they that firste founde out the vse of letters and that Noe which afterward was both lettered and learned carefully preserued theim in his Arke with hym howe be it after that in the confusion of tongues whiche happened at the erection of the Tower of Babilon it may be that the greatest parte of the worlde loste then and there the knowledge of the saied letters again which onely remained in the family of Heber of or from whom afterwarde descended the Hebrues who as wee fore saide neuer loste their firste and aunciente tongue Which as it is true so Sainct Augustine reporteth it in his booke aboue alleaged Eusebius also in his first booke of his preparation Euangelicall as also the greater part of the learned of our tyme Wherefore as well Philon as also these others whiche supposed Moyses to haue been the first father of letters were there in all to geather deceaued for that it is euident that these bookes and histories that were written by Moyses were not as they déeme the firste of all others ne yet before the auncient studie of Philosophie the sadde and sage saiynges also of the Grekes as proueth Sainct Augustine sufficiently in the same place Iosephus against the grammariā Apion Eusebius also and Iustinus martirs I conclude then that letters were first and before Moyses for that we finde it recorded that Moyses hymselfe learned the artes and sciences of the Egiptians which I well knowe not how he colde haue accomplished if they before had hadde no feelyng in letters although in déede it be manifest that they hadde certaine signes called literae hierogliphicae by meanes of whiche as is aboue saide euery of theym sufficientlye and well vnderstoode the other From Adam then drawe wee the originall of letters as also that Abraham was after skilled of theim in Siria whence it cometh that Plinie hath varied in his opinion whiche wée haue in fewe now to fore remembred It nedeth nothing in this place to searche the beginnyng or cause of the vsuall frame or proportion of our characters for that eche man maie facion theim as is to hym best seemyng as we daily see euery man alter at his pleasure adding signes some tymes in steede or place of letters as affirmeth S. Hierome in the prologue of his boke of lawes that when Esdras the greate scribe and doctour of the lawe newe wrote or drewe it out in to some better fourme hee founde there straunge and newe characters of letters whiche the Iewes after vsed euen in the tyme of sainct Hierome as they also doe euen at this presente daie whiche Hebrue letters haue a priuate proprietie incident to no other letters of any countrie or nation for the voice or name of euerie of theim geueth signification of some one thing or other The firste called Aleph signifieth discipline the seconde Beth signifieth a house Gymel an other letter fillyng vp or abundance Daleth tables or bookes the others also signifie and denote other thinges whiche all I leaue as also to be tedious Who so here in is curious and desireth to knowe more may reade Eusebius in his firste booke de preparatione Euangelica Where on our elders wrote before the inuention of Paper and with what kinde of instrument how Paper and Parchement were firste founde out Who first inuented the maner or skille of Printyng as also what inestimable profite thence riseth and in fine by what meane a blinde man maie write Chap. 2. SOme what haue we after a sorte spoken in the former chapiter of the inuention of letters it resteth nowe that we also searche on what matter our elders or first fathers wrote and although directly we shall not be able here of to discourse ne yet where on thei wrote before the general inundation in the first age for the matter is both doubtfull difficill to wéete whether thei had letters then in very déede ye or not though we haue past it as proued by the aucthoritie of Iosephus as also aided to that purpose with some other profe or reasons Notwithstanding according to the opinion of al men the first writers had no kinde or maner of Paper but wrote continually on the leaues of the Date tree whence came that worde of leaues of bookes vsed at this daie After this thei wrote againe on the rindes of trées but especially on those that most easely were drawen or taken from the trée as the Elme the Ashe the palme or Burche trée from which thei tooke the innermost rinde that I meane betwixte the cruste and the trée of whiche subtilly and finely polished thei framed and facioned all their bokes artificially conioigning and fastnyng theim together And for as muche as in that time these rindes were called by the latin men libri hence haue bokes held from the time to name this word libri though thei this day far differ in the matter as is euidēt Now after this againe an other waie was foūd to write in plates of leade very thinne and perfectly fined of whiche some curious and priuate persones made aswell pillers as also bookes in which thei regestred all publike and common actes Besides this they yet founde an other waie to write to wéete on Liuen cloth fined and polished with certaine coloures Here also is and in this place to bée noted that they then wrote not as wee nowe do with pennes but with Reades whiche in latine may bee called Calami which also some vse euen yet in this daie An other kind of Paper was yet founde againe whiche was made as it were of certaine little trées called as wee finde by the name of Papers which in
learned audience and that by the greate affection whiche I had to the consideration of my cause whiche in suche sorte altered me before all the senators that I lesse able was to ende my matter there beganne though before I had wel thought there on and well disposed it in order Now that the memorie maie bee aided and preserued by arte can of no man what soeuer for any cause bee doubted of whiche and whose remedie many a learned hande hath curiously written As Solinus and Quintilian bothe at large and in many Seneca also in the place aboue alleaged where he reporteth this arte memoratiue to be so facill and easie that in fewe daies all men maie bee well skilled therein It is also written that Cineas the ambassadour of the renoumed Pirrhus practised this arte to help and aide his memorie Plinie and Quintilian write that Simonides firste founde this meane to preserue the memorie although the saied Plinie affirme that Metrodorus reduced it afterwarde to perfection who also by that arte meruailously fortified and confirmed his owne memorie Cicero in his boke de oratore Quintilian also and Valerius in his miracles reporteth that Simonides on a tyme inuited with sundrie others to a greate bankette the house where thei feasted sodainly fel doune by meanes wherof no one escaped that death Simonides excepted who euen in that instante rose and went forthe called by some one he neuer yet knewe who by whiche happe at that tyme he there saued his life And the histories recorde that when the deade bodies were drawen out whiche were many all inuited geastes to that so infortunate a dinner Simonides declared where and in what order euery of theim were plaste and satte at the table euen then and in that instante when the house so fell on theim The examples that might bee alleaged in this place to this purpose are many but it sufficeth vs to arreste on that whiche is saied One other thyng also riseth here to be noted whiche is that the Philosophers and principally Aristotle finde a scruple or difference betwixte the memorie and recordation for that memorie saie thei maie be as well in beastes as in man although not in so perfecte and in so absolute a sorte and maner but recordation to man onely and to hym alone is proper whiche is to recorde with discourse studiyng on thinges as in cases of contemplation descendyng from the generall to the partes and perticulers not omittyng the circumstances bothe of tyme and persones and that all with due consideration and aduise for beastes voide of reason remember also the place where thei at any tyme haue hardly been intreated the Horse shunneth to dwell where he hath been harmed and in like sorte all others more or lesse in their degrées But as wee haue saied recordation then in man is muche more absolute and perfect assisted with sounde aduise and intelligence orderly passyng from matter to matter So that accordyng to the opinion of Aristotle that manne that hath a moste sharpe and fined witte is also of better recordatiō then an other though some other perhaps exceade hym in the perfection of memorie for that to recorde well is a certain maner of inuestigation whiche forceth the memorie as it were slepyng to awake to call to minde and to remember any thyng what soeuer wherefore the moste quicke and beste fined wittes soneste conceiue thynges and committe them to memorie and memorie by recordation maketh of them again at all times faithfull restitution The Grekes emong others many the vanities of their Goddes adored or reuerenced a Goddesse of memorie in suche sorte that this force or power of the minde hath euermore béen hadde in greate reuerence and estimation Wherefore to conclude man stādeth highly bounde vnto God for this so heauenly and excellent a benefite and ought studiously to indeuour to maintaine and preserue it Marcilius Ficinus in his boke de triplici vita giueth sundrie instructions and preceptes to this purpose In what honour and reputation Philosophers Poetes and all others in what arte or science soeuer they were learned liued with Emperours Kynges and Princes in tymes past Chap. 7. TRulie and for iuste cause maie we not complaine of the want of learned men in euerie arte and science but on th' other side I see good letters to mourne that they nowe bee not so well estimed and thought of ne yet so well recompensed of princes in this age as the well lettered in tymes paste were by Emproures Kinges and other noble personages in those daies And to speake the truth whither in déede thei haue so good reason to plaine them I will passe it nowe in fewe and in place of disputation wil only remīber here some fewe histories or examples of auncient princes and sundrie Monarkes which so fostored and fauoured the studious learned that entring into comparison of their vertuous demerites with these others that liue now in these our vnhappie daies it may be euidēt to all men what cause thei haue in truth to sorrowe and to complaine Firste to beginne with that most excellent and most victorious Pompe of whom we reade that when he subdued and vanquished Mithridates with others many victories and aduentures of armes beyng entered Athens with all his spoyles triumphantly the Ensignes and Standers of his ennimies borne before him as was thā the maner of the Consulles and Romaine Capitaines was aduertised that the Philosopher Possidonius laie presently then sicke and diseased in his bedde who desirous to visite hym woulde not onely honour hym with hys personall presence but approchyng nigh vnto his house commaunded that hys foresaide imperiall Ensignes should also be carried into the philosophers Chamber with him for that in his aduice all Kinges and Emperours ought true duetie and reuerence to learning and vertue This then and in this manner bowed he to this poore manne that woulde haue refused to haue stoopt to any Prince then liuynge Denis the tyrante Kyng of Siracusa hauyng wounde by intreatie the diuine Plato to come and visite hym and vnderstandyng that he was on the waie comyng issued in meruailous pompe of purpose to méete hym whom he receaued into his owne coache drawen with white horses with most greate and solemne triumphe that was to be deuised possible for the marueilous reputation in those daies due to the learned Alexander determinyng to sacke and destroie the toune of Thebes commaunded first that no man should touche in any wise the house of the Poete Pindarus In what honour Virgil liued and reputation with Octauian is euident to all men through out the whole worlde whom the people of Rome healde in suche admiration that as Plinie in his seuenth booke amplie recordeth when hee entered into the Theatre to pronoūce some his verses al the multitude roase to him doyng hym no lesse reuerence then they did to the Emperour and that which more is Silius Italicus a famous Poete a Spaniarde borne hadde his daie of natiuitie of
thei dedicated to him a Temple vnder the Capitoll in Rome where were celebrated these feastes which thei commonly called Dionisians or Bacchanalia verie lassiuious and full of impudicitie And that this inuention was truelie attributed to this Denis Virgil wel assureth it vs in his firste entree into his seconde boke of Georgikes although Marcianus Capellus affirme that he only skilled the Gréekes to make wine Others write that it was Icarus father of Erigonus whiche first found the meane to make wine in Athens where after warde beyng drounke â–ª was slaine of the people In Italie they saie that Saturne there first had wine whiche he brought from out the Isle of Candia Plutarche writeth that Arâ—us an Etruscian enrichte Fraunce with the firste Vine that euer was there But the trueth is that the first inuentor of wine was Noe as also the first that euer was droncke whiche witnes besides that whiche is redde in the ninth of Genesis Lactantius Firmianus and Iosephus whiche Noe immediatly after he issued out of the Arke planted the Vine with his owne proper handes and drinking after of the fructe therof was also first drunke in whiche that his disease sleapyng he so discouered hym self that that there betided hym which is writteÌ„ of him in Genesis After this men léeking of this kinde of licour drancke it at first pure and with out water for as recordeth Plinie one named Stasius was the first that did water into wine to qualifie it By meane whereof greate good hath followed with the preseruation of health through out the whole worlde for that wine so tempered hath his most excellent effectes Plato by Macrobius in his seconde booke recordeth that wine taken moderatly fortifieth the vnderstandyng it augmenteth the puissance force and strength it yeldeth the harte ioious it taketh from man all sorroufull and pensiue imaginations Plinie saieth that the honest and resonable vse of wine delaied increaseth the force bloâ—dde and couler in mans face the vaines saieth he are streÌ„ghtned by wine the sight sharpened the stomake comforted the appetite thence groweth Vrine also prouoked it hastneth sléepe and disturneth Vomites it purgeth melancolie and reioiseth the harte in fine profiteth in many other vses Asclepiades the Phisician hath written a whole booke of the only vertue of wine Sainct Paule writyng to Timothie counseleth hym to drinke a little wine the better to strengthen and comforte his stomake The Phisicions vse wine in many their medicines for that wine wil restoreth health increaseth bloodde it offendeth not anie melancoly humours it dissipateth and drieth â—eame it moisteneth and fitteth choller to be purged Plato introducing Socrates commendeth wine saiyng euen as rain moderate geueth increase of all hearbaege tempe steous inundations vtterly destroiyng it so wine with 〈…〉 ration reioiseth man and coumforteth his spirites but coutrariwise in abundaunce scorcheth and consumeth hym Among all other sweete and pleasing odours the smel also of wine is of the Philosophers commended for that it addeth force as is saide to the vitall spirites it is very subtill and soone penetrateth but what so euer is spoken or saide any where of wine that still is mente of wine moderatly taken and delaied The auncient Romaines forbad the vse of wine to women as well as also to children as hath Valerius writyng the customes lawes of the Romaines So that as Plime saieth that in those daies when Romulus raigned in Rome a certen Citisen slewe his wife for that she had dronke wine and although the murtherer were immediatly apprehended and taken yet the Prince with out sute would pardon that offence Thei estemed it a fault so greate and ignominious to sée a woman bouse or drinke wine that as Fabian reporteth a certaine maide hauyng stolen the kaies of a wine Seller preuely to haue dronke or tasted there of wine was by famine done to die euen by her owne parentes for that faulte For this cause men vsed to kisse women on the mouth to féele or perceiue if they had drinke of wine It is recorded that N. Domician beyng ordained some tymes a iudge in Rome depriued a woman there of her Dourie for that she hadde dronke more wine then was for her health either necessarie or conuenable Salomon in his Prouerbes prohibeteth wine to kinges as well as also to there counsell for that in dronkennesse saieth he nothyng is kepte socrette or concealed the pore mans cause also is then not considered of or harde iudgmente at the leaste proceadeth then against hym We reade not with standyng that it was permitted to the kynges of Egypte to drinke wine but that moderatly and by appointed measures Aâ—… Râ—mulus inuited to a feast would hardly see or taste anâ— wine for 〈…〉 eth he mustâ—… I determen of a greate and weightie matter Auicenna saieth that who so geueth wine to a child to drinke heapeth one flamyng fier on an other Aristotle inhibiteth wine to be geuen Infantes as also to all Nurses that geue sucke of their bodies Plato by his lawes in hys bokes de republica though he séeme in the firste to aucthorise the drinkyng of wine yet in the seconde saieth manne must drinke little wine wel drouned in water and that also in no wise before he bee eightine yeres olde in the presence continually of olde menne vntill he be fortie to the intente that if he exceede he receaue punishment for his excesse of theim But after that age he permitteth that the quantitie be of some parte augmented to mittigate or asswage the coldnes and melancoly of those yeres How be it his minde is that a certaine measure bee prescribed theim farther he excludeth all seruauntes of what age so euer iudges also and magistrates and such as haue offices or charge in the weale publike To studentes also he geueth in counsell that they sauer not of wine and as concernyng bondmen the same order was also obserued of theim in Rome Auicenna accoumpteth Plato his lawes as good rules in Phisicke with whom also accordeth Galene in this matter Alexander Aphrodiseus in his problemes affirmeth that those that neuer drincke other licour then water haue as wel their sight as all other their senses more sharpe and fine then thei that drinke continually wine But howe to water and ordre our wine there are sundry rules and opinions Hesiodus commaundeth that to one cuppe of wine ye adde thrée of water Atheneus saieth that the auncient Greekes did fiue partes of water to be mixt commonly with twoo of wine and some tymes whiche more was thrée partes of water with one of wine which accordeth with the rule of Hesiodus And this maie here be noted that the Grekes neuer did to be poured water into their wine but wine continually in small quantitie in to their water by meane where of Theophrastus assureth vs that these twoo licours are more perfectly medled And this did our elders not onely well droune and water their wine but dranke there of
also in very small quantitie Eubolus the Greke Poete bringeth in Bacchus speaking to the Elders or Sages of that age I will geue you to drinke of wine but thre times at your refection the first for health the seconde for the good smell there of the third to inforce sleape how oftē so euer you more drinke it al sauoureth of disorder and dronkennes Apuleus Paniasis the same that wrote of the diuersitie of meates is with the other of one and the same iudgement saiynge that ye may once drinke incontinently after grace the seconde cuppe moueth or quickeneth in vs Venus the thirde is cause of shame and dishonor Iulius Caesar verie sildome woulde taste or drincke of wine which thinge Suetonius reporteth by the testimony of Cato the same I meane that was ennimie vnto Caesar The excellente Demosthenes also or fewe times or neuer dranke of any wine Apollo Tianeus of whom so many thinges are so famously written as hee neuer did eate any kinde of fleashe so also did hee neuer drinke any droppe of wine And among all Christians in these daies temperancie in drinkyng is highly commended Saincte Iames the lesse neuer dranke in his life ether wine or Ale nether would he eate of any kinde of fleashe imitating there in Sainct Ihon the Baptiste The semblable finde we of Fulgentius the Bishoppe of Emerys also the soonne of Steuen kinge of Polonia Iosephus in his antiquities highly extolleth that vertuous modesty of the Esseiens whiche were one of the three sectes that were among the Iewes the Pharasies and Saduces the other two whiche as he saieth neuer dranke wine In a certen Epistle Saincte Hierome sharpely reproueth Preestes bousinge or pleasinge any thing at all in wine addyng that Sainct Paule aduiseth theim to the contrarie and farther saieth that in the old lawe these that had charge or office in the Churche neuer dranke either wine or other kinde of licour that coulde or might force theim any waie to lightnes Good potte men in these daies and gallant tasters approue their wines by these fower qualities he must be delectable in mouth to please the taste he must smell well and farre of to content their riche Noses he muste bee well coloured pure and neate to please the eye and in fine it must haue his commendation of the soile to wéete that it came from a hoate and high countrie and of this good wine they quickly can make vinegar but of the commodities or discōmodities herof I presently leaue to speake more in this place Of infinite discommodities whiche take their springe of wine immoderatly vsed as also what Phisicians they were that thought it good and medicinable some tymes to be dronke Chap. 11. THough Wine in some diseases bothe healpe and comforte nature yet thence rise so manie mischiues if it immoderatlie be taken that the discommodities thereof passe and surmoūt the commodeties in suche sort that it might séeme better wée neuer had séen or knowen it contentyng our selues with water whiche in the beginnyng was onely geuen vs of parte for that we can imagen nothing to be better of parte also that all other creatures content theim selues with the same Consider wee also that by wine sundrie haue loste the vse of their senses some their liues some also all hope of saluation and their soules And although men well knowe the greate inconueniences that betide theim by wine yet so farre of be they from any intention to eschwe it that they nothing so much séeke as continuall occasions to bouse and drinke incessantly in suche sorte that fewe houres in the daie may passe theim in whiche they kisse not the cuppe at least fiue or sixe tymes not slightly and for facions sake but with staryng eyes gladly and with right good deuotion Plinie writeth that where as many eftsones drinke nether for any néede or thirst thereto prouoking theim that wine amōg al other licours hath this nature or proprietie that with ease it will be dronke ye though you nothing nede it But afterward it handleth those accordyng to their demerites paiyng theim the paine of that sinne and excesse the vapours thereof mountyng alofte in to the braine depriuyng theim incontinentlie of the vse of eche their senses resemblyng for the tyme some dull and brutishe beaste and after thei at times by vse haue learned well to abuse theim selues this infirmitie then taketh holde and full possession of theim and ordereth theim as doeth the hungrie Catte the Mouse I meane it either killeth theim or at leaste it chargeth them with infinite discommodities and ineuitable infirmities tormentes muche worse then present death in déede as the Goute the Palsie both in handes and féete the dropsie the eies stand staring full of blooddy humors the Liuer inflamed the face full of fier and verie richely coulered the Nose ful of rubies with many other honest and pretie commodities of very good grace and much to be desired Cato saied that dronkennes was a voluntary folly Plinie saieth that it dulleth and weakeneth the memory prouoking dreames very terrible and fearful Seneca writyng to Lucullus affirmeth that it meameth and féebleth both the armes and legges prouokyng men to lasciuious thoughtes and venerie Deonisins Areopagita alleageth out of Plato drounkennes to resemble some lustie yong daunser whose thighes in the beginnyng are sore hardly able to beare hym néedyng some staffe or croache to rest or staie on she also is well skilled to alure and drawe vnto her with frēdly face reioysing her dronken Souldiars daily Sainct Paule writing to the Ephesians aduertiseth theim to flie and to forsake wine the spring and beginnyng of all vnchaste liuynge Salomon also who so drinketh wine in abundance and excesse neuer keepeth counsell or secrette what so euer Whence grewe for iuste cause this olde and auncient Prouerbe wine runneth without showes to wéete secretly priuely pleasantly hardly séen or perceiued shamefully discoueryng mans foule and vitious apetites To this purpose the Poete Eschilus also saide that as in a glasse is sien the true fewture of the body so also is sien in wine the affections of the minde Plato saieth that wine maketh plaine and euidente demonstration of the manners and conditions of all menne Hence haue wee good exāples in Noe both and in Loth for the one beyng dronke discouered his secrete partes whence he became infamous to al men and Sodome against Loth had at all no powre whom wine notwithstandyng not hardly after conquired blindyng hym to abuse his owne naturall doughter Beholde here the fructes then and forces of wine Among the lawes of Solon one of the seuen wise men or sages of Grece it was ordained that what prince so euer was founde or knowen dronke should therefore immediatly be executed to death Pitacus also decréed an other of the saied sages that who so beyng dronke committed any offence shoulde assuredly receiue double punishement there fore once for the trespas and fault by hym committed and the seconde tyme for his
as is saied the Equinoxe is not euer firme For Christ hymself died the .xxv. daie of Marche and at that time was the daie euen with the night and now this equation is but about the eleuēth of Marche whence it well maie be presumed that in the beginnyng it was in Aprill For whiche cause some accompted Aprill for the first monethe other some March yet thei all wil saie that then this frame was wrought when that the Sunne firste entered into the signe of Aries and that then is this Equinoxe whiche well is proued by the scriptures where it is saied that in the Monethe Nisan whiche with vs is Marche the yere began to haue his first daie of accompte Vincent also in the beginnyng of his mirrour historiall saieth that the aunciēt Hebrues beganne their yere in the Monethe of Marche for that then was the Equinoxe saieth he whence and from whiche tyme the worlde tooke his beginning Certain Gentiles also defende and maintain with like care this opinion as Elpaco in his treatise written of Astrologie where he saieth that the Chaldeans excellente Astronomers supposed that the firste daie in whiche the worlde was created the Sunne entered into the first degree of Aries whiche opinion is maintained of most part of Astronomers as well aunciente as newe and late writers When then the Sunne was founde in that poincte then also was the beginnyng of the yere then also the firste daie for before that was none other neither can it bee denied but that the firste daie that was made was also the firste daie in the accoumpt of yeres for that before it was neither tyme or yeres For whiche cause onely this signe of Aries is of all the others reckened the first and foremoste And who so will iudge and diuine of thynges to come he erecteth his figures calculatyng continually from that fore saied poincte or beginnyng of the worlde And farther it is plain by an euident coniecture that God when he first created the wide wast worlde that he then also plaste the Sunne as is saied in Aries as maie well be gathered of that whiche is fore saied in the chapiter of the daie and tyme in whiche our sauiour suffered to wete that this Planete was in that place in the creatiō that he also was in at the regeneration whē Christ hymself suffered his death and his passion which happened as is there saied in this Equinoxe so often to fore remembred It also semeth credible that it therfore was so for that those that haue any felyng in the sphere or otherwise in Astronomie shall well perceiue that the Sunne beyng entered into this signe of Aries makyng there his reuolution by the space of one whole daie no corner is on the yearth whiche he in that daie ones leaueth or to comforte or solace with his presence whiche at no tyme chaunseth in any other poinctes of the Zodiake for that where soeuer he els bee some place is on the yeareh where the Sunne is not in that daie séen but beyng in this degree as is saied or in his opposite no parte of the worlde is there whiche in that daie ones seeth hym not And it semeth reasonable that the Sūne when he firste of all beganne his circuite that he there and in suche place should beginne where he might visite euery the partes of the whole worlde and that that rather should bee in the firste of Aries then of Libra it of parte is euidente by that whiche wee haue saied that in the daie of the death or Passion of our sauiour this Planet was in that verie same place in whiche he also hath a certain perticuler dignitie Restyng then on this poinct as on a truthe assured thei doubtles are deceiued that imagined the worlde firste beganne in the Equinoxe of September though it pleased theim to saie that then all fruites were ripe and in season whiche if we well consider is nothyng so in deede for when thei are ripe in the Northe parte of the worlde thei nothyng at all then are so in the Southe but in verie truthe and assuredlie the contrary For whiche cause I neither would leane to the opinion of those whiche saied that in this Equinoxe of Marche whiche is in the same beginnyng whiche we in deede approue was or ought to bee the entrie therefore of the worlde for that then at that tyme is the spring for that flowers also and grasse eche where then begin to come that then also all beastes acquainte them with their matche for if it be to vs as it can not be gainsaied the commyng and beginnyng of all graine and grasse it then is Winter or at the leaste Autumne to these that inhabite the Southe partes of the worlde These then maie suffice with the aucthorities aboue remembred to satisfie and contente the reasonable in this matter although the yere Romaine whiche onely now is vsed take his beginnyng of the firste daie of Ianuarie whiche thyng happened by the fonde deuotion and superstition onely whiche the Gentiles vsed towardes their God Ianus doing their yere to beginne by his name as the christians did theirs from the natiuitie of Christe although then in deede the yere had not his beginnyng The Romaines also beganne their yere in Marche as writeth M. Varro and Macrobius in his firste booke Ouide also in Fastis with many others Farther GOD shewed to vs his greate fauour and goodnes in that it pleased hym to place our firste parentes Eue and Adam in these Septentrionall partes of the worlde after their exile and detrution out of Paradise terrestriall whiche bothe entered into this worlde at the firste commyng of the Spryng findyng the yearth then greene and flowred the aire verie swete temperate and pleasaunte the better to solas and comforte them in their miserie and nakednesse whiche at none other tyme of the yere could so well haue chaunsed them But passe we this matter now as sufficiently proued and speake we of the other Planetes especially of the Moone as one emong the others of moste force and vertue whiche as some suppose in the firste daie or instaunte of her creation was placed by diuine prouidence in coniunction with the Sunne others saie that she was then at full and in direct opposition Sainct Augustine cōmenting on the fifte of Genesis remembreth bothe these remembered opinions saiyng that thei that maintaine that she then was in opposition argue that it was not reason in that her firste creation that she either should lacke or bée defectuous in any thyng The others saie that it is more credible that she in coniunction beganne there her firste daie so increasyng accordyng to our accompte in her age but to abridge this controuersie in myne opinion she at her first beyng was in plaine and perfecte oppositiō with the Sunne whiche opinion is moste receiued of the learned Augustine in the place aboue alledged and Rabanus also on the twelueth of Exodus arrest them bothe on
to order our houses to be merie and liberall towardes our famely and charge the Cocke well instructeth vs in this place with his example for he geueth out again of his owne mouth meate to his hennes and farther to cherishe and keepe theim leaueth not to expose hymselfe to euerie kinde of daunger The greate obligation of all children to wardes their parentes and in what sorte thei ought both to serue and succour theim the Storke most plainlie and most euidētly she weth vs whiche lodge in their neastes foster and prouide for their olde their weake and their foible parentes as thei by them were fostered and fedde in their youth Why shameth not man to fainte through feare or timiditie consideryng the Lions prowis and inuincible courage Faithe amitie with the perpetuall recordation or memory of a good turne reast or dwell cōtinually in the dogge whiche neuer forgetteh his maister whom he hath serued loueth and falloweth hym neuer leauyng to be thanckful for the breade that he hath receiued Man that would profite hymselfe by the vse of an other mannes goodes without his hurte or domage must so there in learne to ordre and beare hym selfe as doth the litle Bée whiche draweth Honie out of the flowers without offēce or annoy in any wise doen to them The order and meane that man shoulde vse for the preseruation of his health is not only geuen vs of one beast but sufficiently of many which knowe what foode may annoie or greue theim chaungyng from place to place as occasion and tyme of the yere requireth inhabityng places agreyng to their complexion and nature passyng man here in as also in all other thinges Whie refuseth manne to learne and to be instructed in these thinges of whiche he is ignorant hauyng vnderstandyng and euery his senses Whie leaueth he any thing lesse assaide or vnatempted the Elephante practiseth that which is taught hym the Dogge by paine becommeth skilfull in many thinges and the birde in fine by long watche is taught to prate or to speake Who so hireth the Nighttingale with her diuersitie of notes eake also manie other birdes like pleasaunt and sweete how is it that he lesse pleaseth in the skille of musike Why practiseth not manne to bee exquisite in all kinde of buildynges consideryng how artificially the litle Swallowe frameth to her a lodgyng with what diuersitie of matter she fortifieth and strenghneth it What better proportion is vsed in Geometrie then that whiche vseth the litle poore Spider what Astrologian diuineth better of the chaūge of weather then doth the Ante or the fishe which is called Vranoscopos as hath Galen whose eye so standeth that the euermore loketh vpwardes Why prognosticate not men and why iudge thei not of these matters How many other excellencies and perfections are in beastes of whiche menne haue some learned and daily yet do learne The firste inuention to make holes or passages through the yerth as also the firste knowledge of that place to be habitable manne receaued at the beginnyng from the Badger and the Foxe The maner and facion to twist and make silke man hath learned and receaued of the little worme whiche in latine is called commonly Seres by meanes whereof we now twist woll and other thinges After this of the Spider manne also learned to spinne thréede and of hym to make Nettes to deceaue and take birdes Of beastes also hath manne learned to swimme in the water for no one is there of them that swimmeth not but mā naturally vnapte therto by long paine some thing profiteth there in Howe we by theim are skilled in some experimētes in phisicke is els where saide as also some what of the alteration and chaunge of the weather and yet on theim féede we onely in our necessitie and hunger in suche sorte that I knowe not howe we possibly might leaue theim Of their skinne heare and wolle we frame to vs apparel from straunge countries thei bring to vs what so we haue néede of and being so necessarie force man there to seke theim They labour and turne the earth whēce we reape our breade and most parte of other fruictes so that they be the chefe staie and sustentation of mans life and althogh thei bee ouerlaboured by vs beaten and hardly vsed yet neuer leaue thei to be obedient to knowe and to followe vs In battaile oftentimes they not onely fight but die for vs and in tyme of peace they serue in euerie our vses But speake we now how thei profite the minde or the soule a matter then the other of greater weight and importance Now whence then shall man take better or more examples for vertuous life or perfection in maners thē he may from many and sundry kindes of beastes All these vertues which philosophers haue so carefully leaft vs are founded on similitudes and parables of beastes Oratours to perswade drawe from theim comparisons as also all others that haue well and eligantly written GOD hymselfe and his sainctes moste vsually in holy wréete and most commonly instructe vs by the maners and conditions of rude and brute beastes leadyng vs to perfection and integritie of life willyng manne to bée prudent as is the Serpent simple also as is the Doue meke and gentle as is the Lambe strong again and constante as is the Lion. This then by the examples of mute and dull beastes we are taught to be men resonable and spirituall We also finde many offices and estates of the Churche applied and compared to beastes accordyng to their propertie By the Oxe as hath Sainct Augustine on the seconde of Ihon are signified these that publishe and preache the sacred scriptures And accordyng to this interpretation saithe he the Prophetes and the Apostles were reputed as Oxen but suche as did labour and husebande our soules sowyng and plantyng in theim the true worde of god Saincte Paule and also Salomon in his prouerbes saieth thou shalt not mousell the mouth of the Oxe that trauaileth The holy doctours and preachers of the woorde whiche with their lawes and doctrine gouerne and defende the Churche are eftesones termed by the name of Dogges whiche Saincte Gregorie affirmeth writyng on these woordes of Iob Quorum nō dignabar patres ponere cū canibus gregis mei The same Saincte Gregorie also moueth vs to a contemplatiue life if not for other cause yet by that sole example and imitation of the goate which continually climeth vppe in to high and haute places passyng as it were there hys tyme in contemplation vtteryng to that purpose these woordes of Leuiticus out of the troope lette the Goate be offered And againe he saieth that the true preachers should imitate the Cocke groundyng on these wordes of Iob where he saieth who hath geuen intelligence to the Cocke adding that as the Cocke so preache they in the darkenes and in the shaddowe of this life the light and cōforte of the life to come wakyng vs with their admonitions and remouing vs from sleape criyng
and saiyng continually with Saincte Paule the night is paste and the daie at hande And an other saieth it is tyme that we arise and forgeate againe to sleape looke abrode ye iust and sinne not The true the holy and the immaculate Churche is semblably campared also to a Doue for as hath Salamon in Canticis O how faire and beautifull art thou O thy eyes the eyes of a very Doue Farther we sée that of fower Euangelistes thrée of theim were figured by three beastes If I woulde dwell longer in thys matter I should haue muche to doe and should parcase wearie also the reader But aboue all other examples that of our sauiour and redemour Iesus Christe is notable whiche also woulde be figured by a beaste as is euident by Sainct Ihon in his Apocalypse saiyng the Lion of the race of â—uda is victorious And Dauid in his Psalmes saieth he is raised as a LioÌ„ with many such others long to remember as S. Matthewe where he saieth O Hierusalem HierusaleÌ„ how often times would I haue gathered thy children together euen as the Henne clocketh her Chickens vnder her winges but thou wouleest not Euen so then as Christe compareth his workes to the properties of beastes so shall man doe well to receaue instructions by theim the better thence to frame and more vertuously his life And on the other side what shame and infamie is it to man to see howe beastes perfectly followe euery one their nature man the sole and onely creature that sauereth of reason so much abuseth that superexcellent gifte lente hym for he who onely should honour God most offendenth stil his maiestie far aboue al the others neglectyng and abusing his graces continually in suche sorte that some beastes there are of whom man should rather take example then of some men that liue presently among vs for more feling haue they of iustice and lesse offende they in euerie respecte then man which knoweth or should do what is his duetie And therfore saith god by the mouth of Esaie the Oxe knoweth his lorde and maister the Asse also her Cribbe or Maunger but Israel knoweth him not nether will his people vnderstande hym Why triumphes were first vsed in Rome as againe how many they were that there also triumphed what a Triumphe is and that there is twoo sortes of theim Chap. 17. MOrally to speake and after the maner of man two thinges principally moue vs to attempte greate and dangerous affaires in peace as well as also in warre The firste is renoume and honour the second none other then vtilitie and gaine The noble harte and valiaunt courage chiefly desireth and affecteth the first the minde abiecte base and vngentle gréedily hunteth for gaine and saliry Cicero in an oration of his pro Archia poeta saieth that we all are drawen with desire of commendation and who so in déede is most famous and honorable is most and aboue others stirred there with demaunding none other paiment or guerdon of his vertue then onely glory and praise of the people The same Cicero againe in an other pro Milone saieth that the true wise and valiaunt gentleman so muche toileth not at all for wage and gaine as he doeth for honour which followeth his paines Whiche thing well considered by the auncient Romaines they assuredly more sought then all other nations besides their salary to honour and extolle with all kinde of reuerence suche as had doen any notable and vertuous exploites In suche sorte that in shorte time was found in Rome more store of excellent Capitaines and prudent gouernours then in any other place through the worlde whatsoeuer by meanes wherof thei after got the vniuersall empire For which cause aswell for exaÌ„ple of this tyme present as also to content the curious in antiquities I thought it good in this place to discourse of the true order maner which the Romaines vsed in giuyng fame renoume to their capitaines victorious And for that emong al other honours the triumph was the greatest we will there begin letting the reader to vnderstande that a triuÌ„phe was a forme of entrie or welcome into Rome doen to the capitain generall with moste poÌ„pe soleÌ„nitie that was possible to be doen in any wise to man although these triuÌ„phes wer much vsed in Rome yet wer thei not the first inuentors of theÌ„ For Diodorus Siculus Plinie saie that Denis of the antiquitie called Dionis or other wise pater liber was the first that euer triuÌ„phed in the world It semeth also that the people of Carthage vsed some tymes in like sorte to triumphe for as Iustine recordeth emong other thynges that were writteÌ„ of Hasdrubal he fower tymes in his life triumphed magnifically We in maner semblable reade of the triumphes of the kinges of Egipt but principally of the kynge Sosestris How be it to speake here in truely these triumphes were neuer els where so solemnized as they were at tymes in Rome for on that daie that any Capitaine there triumphed the whole multitude ceste from euery kinde of labour as not lawfull for theim at that tyme to do any thing what so euer The inhabitantes then of euery the townes adiacent came runnyng to Rome to beholde this spectacle then was all the citie ouer the Temples the gates and the streates yea and the windowes hangde eche where with clothe of Golde and of Siluer with silkes with boughes with flowers odoriferus and with all other costly and sumptuous sightes possible which might geue any token or note of ioie The Senate the Préestes and Nobilitie of Rome with al the other citisens that were of any countinance went out into the fieldes honorably appareled to receaue hym that triumphed then entryng into Rome all clad in purple and crouned with Laurel mouÌ„ted in a coache of gold draweÌ„ with iiij white stedes All the captiues marchyng before hym attired as bond men with their heades shauen and the generall or kyng hym self that was at that tyme taken went nighest before the coache of any one other His owne Souldiars entred the Citie in good order euery of theim hauyng in his hand a Laurell Before hym also paste other Chariotes or Waggons all charged with armour taken from the ennimie with theim also past all the treasure and plate that he had gotten as well of Siluer as of Golde all the money and Iuels of what sort so euer and with the same also but a parte al giftes and presentes that he had receaued of any princes or cities frendes or assistaÌ„tes to the people of Rome Before hym also paste greate Castels Fortresses and Engines of warre most skilfully framed or facioned in woodde representyng the tounes and holdes that he had rased and in marching made shewes and countenances of battaile but especially of suche as had chaunsed theim in that voiage doone in suche sorte and so representyng the thing in deede that it made theim to tremble that attentiuely behelde it And these shewes were ordinarily
and directly vpwarde for that the naturall heate is disperste in partes abrode lesse apte or lesse able to perfecte or cause digestion for neither can the superfluities bee purged well by the mouthe ne yet by any other cundites or ordinary passages but arreste theim continually in the stomacke and in the throate whence some tymes spring vehement suffocatiōs the fallyng euill also with others many the semblable and like infirmities The wise also here learne vs that we slepe not to muche stretcht forth throughout our bedde for thence again digestion of part maie also be weakened for as hath the Philosopher whē the vertues and forces are vnited well together the operation of nature is then so muche the stronger and so liyng of parte drawne as it were togither that parte of the bodie whiche couereth nexte the stomacke ioigneth more close vnto it comfortyng and warmyng it more then it did before These rules percase maie profite the daintie the delicate and eke the weaker sorte but concernyng those that are lustie and well disposed the beste aduice I maie or any other giue them is that thei retain thesame custome that thei tofore haue vsed ¶ Of three sundrie doubtes whiche the auncient Philosophers were neuer able to resolue with the causes why Chapt. 4. THE aunciente Philosophers by the meruailous instincte of God curiously searchte out the causes of eche the workes of nature assertainyng their propositions without contradiction or repugnauncie of any others Yet neuer were thei able to resolue these three thinges of parte doubtfull and of some importance with the causes assured of their spryng and beyng The first is that thei well knewe there was giuen vnto man by nature a desire neuer to dye or departe hence neuer to fele smarte or any annoye what soeuer but continually to sugiorne with felicitie perpetuall and pleasure in this worlde neuer sauoryng of any lacke or defaulte of any thyng but yet could not attaine to that desired ende or marke And on the other side well assured that GOD and Nature neuer attempted any thyng in vaine and farther that this mannes appetite proceded onely of nature toilyng supposyng herein to finde the cause especially that this axiome in any other thing neuer failed thei folded and refolded theim selues in infinite perplexities cessyng in dispaire to lose this knotte or scruple The seconde was that thei saied that eche manne felte in hym self a certaine naturall and peruerse inclination of the fleshe and farther a sensuallitie plaine contrarie to the aboue saied desire or appetite whiche was not to dye or sauour of corruption as in this carnall motion whiche casteth man into sundrie daungers and infirmities shortnyng his tyme and his daies so muche desired The semblable also riseth of excesse in surfeting besides that others some againe desirous sodainly to mounte to greate pompe and honour hassarde themselues to winde the sporres in field where cōmōly thei fall or els returne oft times with a fearce troubled minde or in fine some mishap or infortune there betides thē an ende al cōtrary to that thei so muche affected The third is that in the order of nature the bodies inferiour are gouerned by the superiours as for example the elementes by the bodies celestiall the Orbes or Spheares of the Planettes as Philosophers will by the intelligences and they againe by the first maker or mouer of al thinges God the onely and the sole cause and prince eternal But in man alone this order is now peruerted who being of two partes to weete the soule bodie we see that the fleashe in truth both vile and abiecte rageth and rebelleth against the minde and reason and that whiche worst is draweth it to his owne frowarde will and pleasure whence the Apostle saide that he in his members felte a lawe contrarie and repugnant to the lawe of reason mouyng it to sinne and to vniust rebellion The philosophers therfore that liued before the commyng of our sauiour knew nothyng at all the occasion of this disorder but curiously sekyng some cause thereof or reason fell into sundry erronious and fonde opinions Whence Anaxagoras saide that this monstrositie or disordered rebellion began at the first in the beginnyng of the worlde whē all thinges were folded without regarde or respect in that auncient Chaos for separating this force of reason by discorde and reioynyng it againe afterwarde by concorde it ingendereth euerie thing good and perfecte in his kinde man alone excepted whose body it vniteth stoberne and disloiall with the soule onely absolute and reasonable And therfore as these twoo in this Chaos firste disagreed so euer more continue thei in discorde and in enmitie contrarie to the rule and order of all other thinges In this sorte this poore and lesse aduised philosopher attributed the faulte hereof to the diuine prouidence Others also saide that this onely happened by diuersitie of constellations vnder which man was both borne and conceaued Aristotle neuer hardned himself plainly and appertly to vnknot this presente scruple but rather he gainsaieth it himself affirmyng that mans will is naturally inclined to euill so that with greate difficultie it is or maye bee brought subiecte vnto reason And in an other place hee saieth that the felicitie whiche manne by vertue here acquireth is the absolute and perfecte gifte of God alone To conclude then vertue in the action or operation where of the felicitie of man fully consisteth must be the gifte of God and not of nature onely On the other side the Manichies desirous to yelde some reason of this peruerse and iniuste order saide that in manne were twoo soules to geather the one good of the true and perfecte substaunce of the prince of light the other impious and accursed takyng his spring of the Prince of darckenes whence this warre was this in man continued Origen saieth that before the creation or frame of the worlde all soules sinnyng against the diuine maiestie were kept and reserued in heauē for a time but afterward for their punishmente were plaste againe in bodies of harde and noughtie nature whence this rebellion in man in this sorte liueth But all these opinions both erronious and detestable are confuted by Sainct Augustine writyng against the Manichies in his booke De duab anim and in an other of his De nat boni where with longe reasons most learnedly he sheweth the cause why they neuer attained to the knowleage or felyng of this foresaide disorder which was for that they neuer had hearde or knowen any thing of the scriptures by whiche we fully are resolued in euery and all these scruples by whiche also it is euident that both these propositions are aunsweryng and consonant vnto the order of nature To weete that God and nature attempte nothyng in vaine and that it againe is conuenable that man by nature should feare and refuce to taste of death desirous to liue in continued ioie and pleasure though he yet neuer attaine thereto in any sorte ne yet therfore