he vvould faine come foorth she her selfe liuing in pittifull extreamity and painfully gasping for life vvhich her seruants perceauing opened the wound a little more and tooke the Infant out causing him to be nourished the which prospered so vvel that he aftervvards cam to attaine the royall Diademe and raigned many yeeres And not much before our time a Gentleman called Diego Osorio of the house of Astorgo vvas borne in the selfe same manner but they tooke so little heede in cutting of his mothers belly that they gaue him a slash on the legge of which hee remained euer after lame and liued manie yeeres AN. Children to be borne toothed is a thing so common that we haue seene it often amongst the Auncients as Pliny and Soline writeth were Papinus Carbo and Marcus Curius Dentatus I can giue good testimony heereof my selfe as an eye witnes of some that haue been borne with teeth and that with those before vvhereby we may the better beleeue the antiquity LV. Some Greeke Authors write that Pirrhus King of the Epirotes in steede of teeth was borne with a hard massie bone onely one aboue and another beneath And Herodotus vvriteth that in Persia there vvas a whole linage that had the like Caelius Rodiginus in the beginning of his fourth booke de antiquis lectionibus bringeth for author Io. Mochius vvhich affirmeth that Hercules had three rowes of teeth which is passing strange but no doubt there haue happened many miraculous things in the vvorld vvhich for want of vvriters haue not come to our knowledge and if we could see those things which happen in other Countries we should not so much vvonder at these of which we novv speake neither neede we goe farre to seeke them for wee shall finde enough euen in our Europe and Countries heere abouts BER I will tell you vvhat I saw in a Towne of Italy called Prato seauen or eight miles off from Florence a child new borne vvhose face was couered with a very thick beard about the length of ones hand white and fine as the finest threeds of flaxe that might be spunne which when he came to be two moneths old began to fall off as it had peeld avvay through some infirmity after which time I neuer savv him more neither knovv I what became of him LV. And I once savv a little vvench which was borne with a long thick haire vpon the chine of her backe and so sharpe as if they had beene the brisles of a vvild Boare so that shee must continually euer after keepe it cut short or othervvise it hurt her vvhen shee cloathed her selfe AN. These are things vvherein Nature seemeth not farre to exceede her accustomed order Let vs therefore come to thē that are more strange and of greater admiration Pliny writeth that there was a woman called Alcippa deliuered of an Elephant and another of a Serpent besides he writeth that he saw himselfe a Centaure brought to the Emperour Claudius in hony to keepe him from putrefaction which was brought forth by a woman of Thessalia Besides these there are manie other such like thinges reported by vvise and graue Authors that such as neuer heard of them before vvould be astonished at theyr strangenes LVD And thinke you that this age and time of ours yeeldeth not as many strange and vvonderfull things as the antiquitie did Yes vndoubtedly doth it vvere vve so carefull to registre and to commit them to memory as they were I will tell you one of the which I am a witnesse my selfe of a woman that hauing had a very hard trauaile in the which she was often at the poynt of death at last was deliuered of a child and withall of a beast whose fashion was lyke vnto a Firret which came foorth with his clawes vpon the childes brest and his feete entangled within the childs legges both one and the other died in few houres BER Wee see and heare daily of many things like vnto these and besides we haue seene women in steede of chyldren bring forth onelie lumpes of flesh which the Phisitions call Moles I haue seene my selfe one of the which a woman was deliuered of the fashion of a great Goose-neck at one end it had the signe of a head vnperfectly fashioned and the woman told me that when it came into the world it moued and that therfore they had sprinkled water vpon it vsing the words of Baptisme In engendring of these things Nature seemeth to shewe herselfe weake and faint and perchance the defect heereof might be in the Father or mother the imperfection of whose seed was not able to engender a creature of more perfection AN. Your opinion herein is not without some reason but withall vnderstande that there may bee aswell therein supersluitie which corrupting it selfe in steede of engendring a child engendreth these other creatures which you haue rehearsed as the Elephant the Centaure and the rest but the likeliest is that they are engendred of corrupted humors that are in the womans body vvhich in time wold be the cause of her death in steed of which Nature worketh that vvhich Aristotle saith in his Booke De communi animalium gressu that Nature forceth her alwaies of things possible to doe the best and vvhen she can create any thing of these corrupted humors whereby she may preserue lyfe shee procureth to doe it as a thing naturall LU. The one and the other may wel be true but yet in my iudgement there is another reason likelier then eyther of them both which is that all these thinges or the most part of them proceede of the womans imagination at the time of her conception For as Algazar an auncient Philosopher of great authority affirmeth The earnest imagination hath not onely force and power to imprint diuers effects in him which imagineth but also may worke effect in the things imagined for so intentiuely may a man imagine that it rayneth that though the wether were faire it may become clowdy raine indeed and that the stones before him are bread so great may be the vehemency of his imagination that they may turne into bread BE. I beleeue the miracle which Christ made in turning water into wine but not these miraculous imaginations of Algazar which truly in mine opinion are most ridiculous AN. In exteriour things I neuer sawe any of these miracles yet Aristotle vvriteth in his ninth Booke De animalibus that the Henne fighting with the Cocke and ouercomming him conceaueth thereof such pride that shee lyfteth vp her crest and tayle imagining that shee is a Cocke and seeking to tread the other Hennes vvith the very imagination whereof she cōmeth to haue spurres But leauing thys let vs come to Auicenna for in thys matter we cannot goe out of Doctors and Philosophers whose opinion in his seconde Booke is that the imagination of the minde is able to work so mightie a change in naturall things that it hapneth oftentimes
These were indued both with strength and courage and through the vse thereof the one and the other accomplished great and worthy enterprises leauing behind them a fame glorious and euerlasting but there haue beene and as yet are sundry of rare and excellent strength which they haue employed and doe employ so ill that there is no memory nor reckoning made of them There was one not long since in Galicia called the Marshall Pero Pardo de Riba de Neyra who bearing great grudge to a certaine Bishop and finding no meanes to accomplish his reuengefull despite was contented to yeeld to the request of certaine that went betweene to make them friends at such time as they should meete together for the consummation of their attonement the Marshall went to embrace him but his embracing was in such sort that he wrung his guts out and crusht all his ribs to peeces leauing him dead betweene his armes LU. Hercules did no more when hee fought with Antheus whom he vanquished in the same manner though this act be so villainous especially hauing giuen security that it deserueth not to be spoken of There are besides at this day many trewants peasants and labourers of such accomplisht strength that if they employed it in worthy works they would winne thereby great estimation BER It is not sufficient to haue courage with this strength but they must be also fortunate for else they are soone dispatcht with a blow of a Canon yea and though it be but of a Harquebuz it is enough to abate the strongest man liuing and therefore they had rather liue in assurance dishonourable and obscure then with such ieopardy to seeke glory and fame But let vs returne to those that haue no thirst least we forget it It is a common thing that there are diuers men which bide fiue or sixe dayes without drinking especially if the victuals they eate be colde and moyst I knew a woman that made but a pastime to abstaine from drink eight or tenne dayes and I heard say that there should be a man in Medina del Campo I remember not well from whence he was that stayed vsually thirty or fourty dayes without drinking a drop and longer if it were in the fruite season for with eating thereof hee moystned so his stomacke that hee made no reckoning of drinke It vvas tolde mee for a truth that there was in Salamancha a Chanon of the same Church vvhich vvent to Toledo and returned being out xx dayes in all which time till he returned to his owne house hee neuer dranke any droppe of water or wine or any other liquor But that which Pontanus writeth in his booke of Celaestiall thinges causeth mee to wonder a great deale more of a man that in all his life time neuer drank at all which Ladislaus King of Naples hearing made hym perforce drinke a little vvater vvhich caused him to feele extreame payne and torment in his stomack I haue been told also by many persons worthy of credite that there is in Marsile neere to the Citty of Lyons at this present a man lyuing which is wont to continue three or foure monthes vvithout drinking without receauing thereby any discommoditie in his health or otherwise AN. There are many strange things reported about thys matter the cause wherof we will leaue to Phisitions who giue sufficient reasons whereby we may vnderstand how possible thys is which seemeth so farre to exceede the ordinary course of Nature BER If wee leaue thys purpose let vs returne to our former of strength for I was deceaued in thinking that the greater part thereof consisted in bignes of body members AN. If we should follow this rule we should oftentimes deceaue our selues for we finde many great men of little and slender force and manie little men of great and mightie puissance the cause whereof is that Nature scattereth and separateth more her vertue in great bodies then in lesser in which beeing more vnited and compacted it maketh them strong and vigorous and so saith Virgil. In a little body oftentimes the greatest vertue raignes LVD But we must not alwaies alowe this rule for true for we haue read and heard of many Giants whose wonderfull forces were equall with the largenes of theyr bodies BER For my part I thinke that thys matter of Gyants be for the most part feigned and though there haue beene great men yet were they neuer so huge as they are described for euerie one addeth that as he thinketh good Solinus writeth that it is by many Authors agreed that no man can passe the length of seuen foote of which measure it is saide that Hercules was Yet in the time of Aug. Caesar saith he there liued tvvo men Pusion and Secundila of which either of them had x. feete or more in length and theyr bones are in the Ossary of the Salustians and afterwards in the time of the Emperor Claudius they brought out of Arabia a man called Gauara nine foote and nine inches long but in a thousande yeeres before Augustus had not beene seene the like shape of men neither since the time of Claudius for in this our time who is it that is not borne lesse then his Father AN. If you mark it wel in the same chapter in which Solinus handleth this matter he sayth that the bones of Orestes were found in Tegoea which being measured were 7. cubits long which are more then 4. yardes according to the common opinion and yet this is no great disformity in respect of that which followeth Besides saith he it is written by the Antiquitie and confirmed by true witnesses that in the warres of Crete vpon an irruption of waters breaking vp the earth with the violent impesuositie thereof at the retreate thereof amongst many openings of the earth they found in one monument a mans body 33. cubites long Among the rest that went to see this spectacle so strange was Lucius Flacus the Legate and Metellus who beholding that with theyr eyes which otherwise they vvoulde not haue beleeued remained as men amazed Pliny also saith that a hill of Crete breaking there was founde the body of a man 45. cubits long the which some said was of Orion and others of Ocius And though the greatnes of these 2. bodyes be such that it seeme incredible yet farre greater is that of Antheus the which Anthoniê° Sabellicê° in his Aeneads saith was found in the citty of Tegaena at such time as Sartorius remained there Captain generall of the Romaine Army whose Sepulchre being opened and his bones measured the length of his carkas was found to be 70 cubits to confirme the possibility of this he addeth presently that a certaine host of his a man of good credit told him that being in Crete meaning to cut downe a certaine tree to make therewith the mast of a ship that selfe tree by chance was turned vp by the roote vnder the which was found a mans
and sometimes from low base estate enthroning them in kingdoms as for example King Gygas and almost in our very time Tamberlaine the great and deiecting others that were great and mighty yea Kinges and Monarches into extreame calamitie miserie infinite examples whereof may be seene in the Booke called The fall of Princes and manie others full of such tragicall disastres And it is manifest that this proceedeth from the constellations vnder which they are borne and the operations with which they worke because many Mathematitians and Astronomers knowing the day howre and moment wherin a man is borne vse to giue their iudgement and censure what shall betide vnto him so borne according to the Signes and Planets which then dominate in their force and vigure And many of them doe fore-tell so trulie manie wonderfull thinges that it seemeth scarcely possible to any man but God to knowe them which seemeth to proceede through the will of God whom it hath pleased to place that vertue in those Planets wherby the future successe might be knowne of those persons that are borne vnder thē And though I could here alleadge many examples of Emperours Kings and Princes whose successes to come vvere foretold them by Astronomers truly as indeed they hapned yet omitting them because they are so cōmonly known I will tell you one of Pope Marcellus who came to be high Bishop whose Father liuing in a place called Marca de Ancona where he was also borne beeing a great Astronomer at the birth of his sonne casting presently his natiuitie sayde openly that he had a sonne borne that day which should in time to come be high Bishop but yet in such sort as though he were not which came afterwards to be verified for after he was elected in the Consistorie by the Cardinals hee dyed within twentie daies not beeing able to publish or determine any thing by reason of his short gouernment I knewe also a man in Italie called the Astronomer of Chary who whatsoeuer he foretold the same proued in successe commonlie to be true so that he was held for a Prophet truth it is that hee was also skilfull in Palmestrie and Phisiognomie and thereby strangely foretold many things that were to come and perticulerly he warned a speciall friend of mine to looke wel vnto himselfe in the xxviij yeere of his age in which he should be in danger to receaue a wounde whereby his life shoulde stand in great hazard which fell out so iustly as might be for in that yeere he receaued a wound of a Launce in his bodie whereof he dyed A certaine Souldiour also one day importunating him to tell his fortune declaring vnto him the day and howre wherein he was borne and withall shewing him the palme of his hand and because he excused himselfe growing into choller and vrging him with threatnings to satisfie his demaund he told him that he was loth to bring him so ill newes but seeing you will needs haue it quoth he giue me but one crowne and I will be bound to finde you meate and drinke as long as you liue The Souldiour going away laughing and iesting at him seeing presently two of his fellowes fighting went betweene to part them and was by one of them thrust quite through the body so that he fell downe dead in the place AN. I cannot choose but confesse vnto you that many Astronomers hit often right in their coniectures but not so that they can assuredly affirme those thinges which they foretell of force and necessity to fall out there being so many causes and reasons to alter and change that which the signes and Planets doe seeme to portend the first is the will of God as being the first cause of all things who as he created and made the starres with that vertue and influence so can he by his only will change and alter the same when it pleaseth him Also all the starres are not knowne nor the vertues which they haue so that it may well be that the vertue of the one doth hinder make lesse or cause an alteration in the effect of the other and so an Astronomer may come to be deceaued in his calculations as vvas the selfe same Astronomer of Chary which you speake of when he fore-told that Florence being besieged with an Army imperiall with the forces of Pope Clement should be put to sackage and spoile of the Souldiours This Prophecie of his had like to haue cost him his life if hee had not made the better shift with his heeles for the Souldiours by composition that the Towne made finding themselues deluded made frusttate deceaued of their prophecied booty would haue slaine him if he had not with all possible diligence made away Besides if this were so there must of necessity follow a great inconuenience and such as is not to be aunswered for if when so euer any one is borne vnder such a constellation that of force the good or euill thereby portended must happen vnto him the selfe same then by consequence must needs happen to all those which are borne in that instant vnder the same signe and Planet for according to the multitude of the people which is in the worlde there is no houre nor moment in which there are not many borne together of which some come to be Princes and some to be Rogues When Augustus Caesar was borne it was vnpossible but that there were others also borne in the very same poynt and moment which for all that came not to be Emperours and to gouerne the whole worlde in so flourishing a peace as he did yea and perchaunce some of them went afterwards begging from dore to dore And thinke you that Alexander the great had no companions at his birth Yes without doubt had he though they had no part of his good Fortune and prosperity This matter is handled very copiously by S. Austine in his fifth booke De ciuitate Dei aunswering the Mathematitians and Astronomers which say that the constellations and influences are momentary whereby it should ensue that euery part and member of the body should haue a particuler constellation because the whole body together cannot be born in one moment nor in many moments to be short therefore they are many times deceaued that giue such great credite to the abusiue coniectures of Astronomy spending their whole time about the speculation and fore-knowledge of future things pertaining not onely to the birth of men fore-shewing their fortunes and successes but also to those of plagues earth-quakes deluges tempests droughts and such like things that are to happen BER If I vnderstand you well your meaning is that the influence of the Planets worketh not in men with any necessity or constraint but onely as it were planting in them an inclination to follow the vertue of their operations which may with great facility be euited in such thinges as are within the vse of free will and Lybre arbitrement In
before they heard any newes of his comming yet vniting themselues so well as time permitted them with the ayde of theyr neighbours arming themselues with bowes and arrowes and flying fighting and retiring with incredible swiftnes through the Snowes they disconfited the King and chased him away who in his dayes was accounted a puissant Prince and had triumphed of many warlike Nations Comming out of these Prouinces of Byarmya there is presently another which hee calleth Fynlande of which a great part was according to the Author before named in times past subiect to the King of Norway This Land though very colde yet is in some parts laboured and yeeldeth fruites of all sorts vnto the enhabitants who are in proportion of body mighty and strong and in fight agaynst theyr Enemies of great valour and courage Though the ayre be cold yet it is pure and well tempered in so much that their fishes cutte vp onely and laide in the ayre doe endure many dayes without corrupting In Sommer it rayneth with them very sildome or neuer theyr day is so long that it continueth from the Kalendes of Aprill till the sixth of the Ides of September which is more then fiue moneths and the night againe as much the darknes of which is neuer so great but that you may well see to reade a Letter in the same it is distant from the Aequinoctiall in threescore degrees There are no starres seene from the beginning of May till the beginning of August but onely the Moone which goeth wheeling round about a little aboue the earth resembling a great Oake burning and casting out beames of fire with a brightnesse somewhat dimme and troubled in such sort that it causeth great admiration and astonishment to those that neuer sawe it before and which is more hee sayeth that shee giueth them so light the most part of theyr night though it continue so long and as for that little time in vvhich shee hideth herselfe the brightnesse of the starres is so radyant that they haue lyttle misse of the Moone vvhich starre-light at such time as the Moone shyneth forsaketh them whose brightnesse is the cause that they appeare not though I cannot but beleeue that they appeare alwayes somewhat though not so cleerely at one time as at an other seeing in these our Countries we see them shine neere the Moone though she be at full yea and sometimes at mid-day we see starres very neere the Sunne LV. It is likely that it should be as you say in Byarmya and those other vnknown Countries which are vnder the Pole or neere there abouts and it may be inferred also that the dayes goe encreasing and decreasing till they come to the full length of a halfe yeere for being in this part of fiue moneths they are in some places more and some lesse and seeing it is enhabitable as you say where it endureth fiue moneths it cannot but be better where it is of foure and better then that of three and so consequently of two and one whereby there is no doubt to be made but that the whole Land is enhabitable AN. I told you before that generally the whole Land is enhabited vnlesse it be in some places through some particuler cause and secrete ordinance of Nature As touching the Moone and the manner in which she lightneth those Regions I haue not seene any Author that handleth the same but onely Olaus Magnus though by good reason it seemeth that where the Sunne turneth about the heauens in course and compasse so different from that which hee doth with vs the Moone should doe the like in such sort as wee haue sayde BER By all likelihoode there are many secrete and wonderfull thinges of the nature of this Land hidden from vs as the Eclipse of the Sunne and the Moone which must needes be otherwise then it is heere with vs and therefore the Astronomers should doe well to sift out the verity thereof and to make vs vnderstand the same and withall the reckoning of the moneths and yeeres the computation of which it is likely also that they vse in another sort AN. As for their yeeres the difficulty is small seeing one day and one night doe make a full yeere and as for the deuision of their seasons their day is Sommer and the night is their Winter the moneths perchaunce they deuide according to their own fashion and the effects of their heauen but heerein the Authors giue vs no notice neither maketh it much matter whether we know it or no. LU. That which I wonder most at is how this people can tolerate and endure the bitter and extreame colde of that Clymat the effect of which here with vs though it be not so vehement as that of theirs we see daily before our eyes bringeth many men to theyr end and therefore wee take heede of taking colde as of the most dangerous thing that may be AN. You say true it hapneth so heere indeede oftentimes but you must consider that the force of nature is great which where she createth those things that are most full of difficulty there also createth and ordaineth she remedies and defences against thē as you may before haue vnderstood by the words of Iohn Zyglere but I will giue you another reason then the which in my iudgement nothing can be more euident and plaine which is that to all things the same is proper and naturall in which they are bred and brought vp As for example a man who from his child-hood is accustomed to eate some things that are venomous afterwards though he eate them in great quantitie they hurt him not at all and of this I haue seene the experience my selfe in the like sort a man brought vp in the cold the greater he waxeth the lesse he feeleth the inconuenience thereof so that it commeth in time to be naturall vnto him euen as to the fish to liue in water the Salamander to nourish himselfe in the fire and the Camelion to maintaine himselfe onely by ayre And euen as a Moore of Guyney should hardly fashion his body to endure the colde of these Northeren Landes so likewise one of these men brought into a hote Country would finde as great difficultie in enduring the heat Besides this Nature hath framed the mē of these Regions more sturdie and strong and against the rigour of the weather ordained them warme Caues vnder the earth to harbour themselues in They haue wilde beastes in great quantitie whom they kill of whose skinnes they make them garments turning the hairie side inward Their woods and Forrests are many and great so that in euery place they haue store of fuell to make great fires in fine they vvant no defensiuenes against the cold which is so far from annoying them that they liue in better health many more yeeres then we doe for their ayres are delicate pure preserue them from diseases making theyr complexions more robust and strong lesse apt to griefes
aches and infirmities then ours LV. You haue sufficiently answered me therfore goe on I pray you with that you were about to say of those Prouinces when I interrupted you AN. There remaineth little to be said but that betvveene Byarmia and Fynland in declyning towards the South there is another prouince which they call Escrifinia of which the Authors giue no ample and perticuler notice onely they say that the people of this Land is more nimble and expert in going ouer the Snow and Ise then anie other Nation in which they vse certaine artificiall staues with which they swing to fro without any danger so that there is no valley howe deepe so euer fild with Snowe nor mountaine so high and difficill but they runne ouer the same euen at such time as the snow is deepest and highest and this they doe in the pursute of wilde beasts whom they chase ouer the mountaines and sometimes for victories sake in striuing among themselues and laying wagers who can doe best and runne with greatest nymblenes and celeritie It is of no great moment to know the manner of these staues which they vse both because it is difficile to vnderstand and the knowledge thereof would stand vs in small steed hauing heere no vse of them BER If any man be able to discouer those peoples of the superior Byarmia me thinks these should be they seeing they are so nimble expert in passing the snowes wherby they might ouercome the difficultie of the mountaines so enter into that Countrey which is generally esteemed so happy and where the people liue so long without any necessitie to trauaile for theyr liuing hauing all things so abundantlie prouided them by Nature In truth I should receaue great pleasure to vnderstande assuredly the particularities of thys Lande and also howe farre it is distant from the Sea and if it be on all sides enuironed with those high mountaines cold Countries it being in the midst of them contayning so many prouinces Regions of excellent temprature vnder a climat constellation making so great a difference betweene them and the others as touching this world to make thē so blessed and happy as the ancients affirme and the moderns denie not AN. This land hath many more prouinces then these whose names I nowe remember not of which there are some though seated in the region of the cold yet enioying through some particuler influences an especiall puritie of ayre temperature of wether But seeing till this day wee haue not attayned to the knowledge of any more content your selues with that which is alreadie sayde LU. I stande considering with my selfe the great and lothsome tediousnesse that mee thinks those Countrymen should sustaine through the wearisom length of their nights which in my opinion were alone sufficient to make them wearie of their liues AN. Did you neuer heare the olde Prouerbe that Custome is another nature euen so the length of the nights is a thing so vsuall vnto those of this Country that they passe them ouer without any griefe or tediousnes at all While theyr day endureth they sowe and gather in their fruites of which the most part the earth plentifullie affordeth them without labour A great part of that season they spende in chasing of wilde Beastes whose fleshe they powder with salt and preserue as wee doe and their fish in like sort or else they dry the same in the ayre as I said before neither are their nights such or so darke but that they may hunt and fish in them Against cold they haue as I said deepe Caues great store of wood and warme furres in great plentie when light fayleth them they haue Oyle of Fishes and fatte of Beastes of which they make Lampes and Candles and withall they haue a kinde of wood contayning in it a sort of Rozen which beeing cleft in splinters they doe vse in steed of Candles and besides this as I haue sayd before the nights are during the time of theyr continuance so light that they may see to doe their busines affayres in them for the Moone and perticuler starres shine in those Regions and the Sunne leaueth alwayes behind him a glimmering or kind of light in so much that Encisus speaking of these Landes in his Cosmographie sayeth that there is in them a Mountaine or Clyffe so high that hovve lowe soeuer the Sunne discende vvhen hee goeth from them to the Pole Antartick the toppe thereof alwayes retayneth a light and brightnesse with vvhich through the exceeding height thereof it participateth LVD This hill must be higher then either that of Atlas Athos or Olympus so they say also that in the I le of Zeylan there is another called Adams hill whose height communicateth with heauen the opinion of the inhabitants is that Adam liued there after he was cast out of Paradise AN. All may be possible but let vs returne thether whence we came I say therfore that seeing Nature hath endued this people with the vse of reason assure your selfe that they want not manner and meanes to seeke out such things as are necessarie for the sustentation and maintenaunce of their liues yea perchance with greater subtiltie and industry then we thinke for neither want they discretion to deuide their times to eate drinke and sleepe at an howre to minister iustice and to maintaine their Lawes and to make their alliances confederations for seeing they haue warres and dissentions one with another it is to be thought that either partie will seeke to founde theyr cause vpon reason procure to haue Chiefes and Leaders to whō they obey and if that which the Auncients say be false that they shoulde be Gentiles and that theyr cheefest God whom they adore should be Apollo then it is likely that they lyue by the Law of Nature for in this time of ours there is not any knowne part in the world out of which this adoration of auncient Gods is not banished at least that manner of adoring them which the old Gentiles obserued I am sorrie that Olaus Magnus declared not this matter more particulerlie seeing he could not chuse but haue knowledge thereof confessing in one Chapter which he made of the colde of those Regions that he himselfe had entred so farre within thē that he founde him-selfe within 86. degrees of the very North-pole LVD I know not howe this may be seeing you say that he speaketh not of the Prouinces of Byarmia of his own knowledge of sight which according to the reckoning you sayde the Cosmographers make of the degrees in reaching within 80. degrees of the Pole are there where the vvhole yeere containeth but one onely day and one onelie night AN. You haue reason to doubt for I cannot throughlie conceaue it my selfe but that which seemeth vnto me is that either he reckoneth the degrees after another sort or else that there is error in the Letter But howsoeuer it be it coulde not
THE SPANISH MANDEuile of Miracles OR The Garden of curious Flowers VVherin are handled sundry points of Humanity Philosophy Diuinitie and Geography beautified with many strange and pleasant Histories First written in Spanish by Anthonio De Torquemeda and out of that tongue translated into English It was dedicated by the Author to the Right honourable and reuerent Prelate Don Diego Sarmento de soto Maior Bishop of Astorga c. It is deuided into sixe Treatises composed in manner of a Dialogue as in the next page shall appeare AT LONDON Printed by I. R. for Edmund Matts and are to be solde at his shop at the signe of the hand and Plow in Fleet-streete 1600. A Table of the Contents of the sixe Treatises contayned in this Booke IN the first are contained many thinges woorthy of admiration which Nature hath wrought and daily worketh in men contrarie to her common and ordinary course of operation with other curiosities strange and delightfull The second containeth certaine properties vertues of Springs Riuers and Lakes with some opinions touching terrestriall Paradise and the foure Riuers that issue out from thence Withall in what parts of the world our Christian beleefe is professed The third entreateth of Uisions Fancies Spirits Ghosts Hags Enchaunters Witches and Familiars With diuers strange matters which haue happened delightfull and not lesse necessarie to be knowne The fourth discourseth what Fortune Chaunce is wherin they differ what lucke felicitie happines and destenie is and what the influence of the heauenly Bodyes import whether they are the causes or no of diuers mischances that happen in the world touching besides many other learned and curious poynts The fifth is a description of the Septentrionall Countries which are neere and vnder the North-pole and of the lengthning and shortning of the dayes and nights till they come to be sixe monthes long apeece and of the different rising and setting of the Sunne frō that it is heere with vs with other things pleasant and woorthy to be knowne The sixth containeth sundry wonderfull things that are in the Septentrionall Regions worthy of admiration To the Right Honorable Sir Thomas Sackuile Knight Baron of Buckhurst Lorde high Treasurer of Englande Lieuetenaunt of her Highnes within the County of Suffex most worthy Chauncelor of the Uniuersitie of Oxenford Knight of the noble order of the Garter and one of her Maiesties most honourable priuie Counsell LIfting mine eyes vp from out the low humble valley of my obscure fortunes vp to that bright shining eminent hill of Honour on which the fauour of her Maiesty the noblenes of your birth your many excellent vertues haue seated you I cannot Right honorable and my most singuler good Lord but lay a sharpe and rigorous censure vpon my own presumption that being though bounde to this flourishing Kingdome for my education yet a stranger borne and to your Lordship meerely vnknowne haue thus boldly aduentured to presse into your presence and to craue your honourable patronage to a worke whereof howe soeuer it deserue I cannot to my selfe challenge any prayse It was the first labour of a worthie Gentleman of your Lordships Countrey of Sussex one that doth much loue and honour you who did it for his exercise in the Spanish tongue and keeping it by him many yeeres as iudging it vtterly vnwoorthy of his owne name did lately bestowe the same vpon me with expresse charge howsoeuer I should dispose thereof to conceale all mention of him wherin I should haue doone both him and my selfe too much wrong in obeying him him in depriuing him of his deserued prayse for so worthy a worke my selfe in arrogating vnto me the glory of this discourse to the well handling of which in such exquisite manner as he hath done it I know my owne forces altogether weake and insufficient VVith all humblenes therefore I beseech your Lordshippe to vouchsafe your noble name for a protection of this my bold endeuour and with your accustomed gentlenes to pardon this rash attempt proceeding whollie from an infinite and vehement desire I haue to doe you all possible honour and seruice that the poorenes of my capacity or fortune can stretch vnto I beseech the Almightie to blesse your Lordship and my honorable good Lady with all your noble familie with all happinesse honor and length of life that you may long remaine a strong and happy piller of this glorious Common-wealth vnder the blessed gouernment of her most sacred Maiesty whom God long preserue London this 23. of Aprill 1600. Your Lordships most humble and deuoted Ferdinando Valker To the right VVorshipfull my vvorthy and esteemed Friende Lewes Lewkenor Esquire one of the honorable band of her Maiesties Gentlemen Pensioners in ordinarie THE famous Architect of Greece weary of his constrained abode in the Court of the Crotish tyrant finding all other endeuours vaine for his escape composed at length with singuler excellence of Arte two payre of artificiall winges made with borrowed feathers of sundry sorts which when he had cunning lie ioyned together vvith waxe hee fastened one payre of them to his owne body and another to his sonnes and so bequeating both himselfe and his sonne to the ayre began to take his flight but the audacious courage of the youth presuming to approach neere vnto the glorious rayes of the Sunne the waxe melted his feathers dissolued and he by his memorable fall and folly gaue name to the Seas wherin he perrished The case is mine and I cannot worthy Maister Lewkenor but with a great fordooming of my selfe attende the like or a greater downefall For hauing long striued beyond my forces to creepe out of the lothsome Caue of ingratitude wherein I haue so long lyen obscured and knowing all my owne abilities too weake to carry me thence I haue at length with these feathers which I haue borrowed frō you endeuoured to make my flight But I feare me much that my ill composition of them and my too much aduenturous presuming to flie with them being not myne owne shall no sooner appeare before the brightnesse of such a iudgement as yours but that all my tackling wil faile and my selfe be vnrelieuably throwne downe into the incurable gulfe of confusion ignorance and disgrace Onely my chiefest hope and comfort is that your gentle and alwayes best construing disposition to which onely I appeale will not entertaine the hardest conceite of thys my bolde and strange attempt Receaue therefore gentle Maister Lewkenor this poore Treatise hauing so many long yeeres lien obscured among your wast papers and lately by your cruell sentence condemned to the fire now with a milder conceit vnder your protection For though you thinke it vnworthy of the worlds view as beeing the fruite and exercise of your youngest yeeres yet I assure you it hath passed the censure of graue and learned iudgements and receiued excellent allowance thorough whose encouragements I haue presumed to giue it life and no longer to depriue the
remedy for a disease so vneurable as this is accounted to be LU. Seeing we are in thys discourse of byrthes it were not amisse that we knewe in what space a woman may beare child so that the same may liue and be accounted lawful AN. This matter hath been handled by many authors which giue vs light herein The Lawiers say that in the 7 month taking therof some dayes away and in the tenth month likewise the birth may be called lawfull as one of their digests beginning septimo mense and diuers other declareth and Iustinianus in his Autentick of restitutions The Philosophers and Phisitions debate thereof more at large Pliny sayeth that the child borne in the eighth moneth may liue which is directly against the experience we haue and the opinion we generally hold thereof for we see that those children doe not liue which are borne in the seauenth moneth vnlesse they are borne iust at the time complet hee holdeth besides that the birth of eleuen moneths is lawfull and so hee sayeth that the mother of Suillius Rufus was deliuered of him at the end of eleuen moneths Other Philosophers haue held opinion that a woman may goe with child till the thirteenth moneth but to rehearse all their opinions were neuer to make an end he that seeketh to be satisfied heerein may reade Aristotle Aulus Gellius and many more Authors Phisitions which intreate copiously thereof it is sufficient for vs that wee haue said so much in a matter which we haue so sildome occasion to know or vnderstand BER This matter in truth is fitter for Phisitions to discourse of then for vs but in the meane time I would faine know what these Hermophrodites are vvhich I heard Signior Ludouico euen now say were so common to the Aegiptian women LV. This matter is so common that there is scarsely any one ignorant but that there are often children borne with two natures the one of a man the other of a woman though diuers times the one of so slender force and weake that it serueth not for other then to shewe what Nature can doe when she pleaseth but some there are though rare which are as fully puissant in the one nature as in the other of the first sort I knew a married woman my selfe which it was well knowne had also the nature of a man but without any force or effect though in her countenance and iesture there appeared a kind of manlines of the other sort also there are diuers and amongst the rest there was one in Burgos who beeing commaunded to choose whether nature she would exercise the vse of the other being forbidden her vpon paine of death made choise of that of the feminine sort but afterwards being accused that she secretly vsed the other vnder colour therof committed great abhomination she was found guilty and burned AN. I haue heard that there was another the like burned in Seuilia for the selfe same cause but in these parts we hold it for a great wonder that men should haue the nature of vvomen or women of men Yet Pliny alleadgeth the Philosopher Califanes which was with Alexander Magnus in his conquest of the Indies who sayth that amongst the Nasamans there is a people called Androgini who are al Hermophrodites and vse in their embracements without any difference as wel the one nature as the other But we would scarcely beleeue this being so vnlikely were it not confirmed by Aristotle which saith that these Androgins haue the right teate like a man the left with which they nourish their babes like a vvoman BER This matter seemeth vnto me very nevv strange neither doe I remember that euer I heard the like but there are so many things in the vvorld aboue our capacity that I hold it not impossible especially being affirmed for true with the authority of so graue authors though me thinks this Country must needes be very farre from those which are now of late discouered in India LV. I cannot choose but merualie much hereat and I beleeue that it is some influence or constellation or else the property of the Country it selfe which ingendreth the people in such sort as we see other Countries bring forth people of diuers complexions qualities conditions But now seeing we haue so long discoursed of births as wel cōmon natural as vnnatural rare it were not amisse if we said somwhat of such as are prodigious monstrous so far beyond that wonted order and rule of Nature which she is accustomed to obserue AN. It is true that there hath been seene diuers births admirable monstrous which either proceed frō the wil and permission of God in whose hands all things are or els throgh some causes and reasons to vs not reuealed though many of them by coniectures tokens com afterwards to be discouered which though they perfectly cōclude not the demonstration of the true cause yet giue they vs a great liklihood apparance to gesse thereat It is a thing naturall to all children to giue a turn in their mothers belly to come into the world with the head forwards yet this generall rule oftentimes faileth some come forth thwartlong some with their body double neither of the which can liue their body is so crusht and broken the mothers also of such are in exceeding danger Others come to be borne with their feet forward which is also passing dangerous as well for the mother as the child vnlesse they chaunce to come foorth with their armes hanging down close by their sides vvhich if they hold vpward or croswise they crush them or put them out of ioynt so that fevve such liue Of these cam the linage of Agrippas in Rome which is as much to say as Aegrè parti brought forth in paine and cōmonly those that are so borne are held to be vnlucky of short life Some say that Nero was so borne of his mother Agrippina who though he seemed in obtaining the Empire to be fortunate yet in losing it so soon with a death so infamous his end proued him vnfortunate miserable It happeneth also sometimes that the mothers die and that the children by opening their sides are taken out aliue come to liue doe vvell Of these was Scipio Affrican which was therfore the first that was called Caesar another Romaine Gentleman called Manlius as Pliny vvriteth in his seauenth booke BER It is a matter so true notorious that there is no dout to be made therof which we read in the chronicles of Spaine of the birth of Don Sanches Garcia king of Nauarre vvhose mother Donna Ursaca being at a place called Baruban to take her pleasure in the fields vvas by certaine Mores which of a sodaine came thither to spoile and make booty thrust into the body vvith a speare in such sort that the babe vvith which she went great appeared out of the wound as though
Tartaria with so little mouthes that they cannot eate but maintaine their liues with sucking in onely the substance and iuice of flesh and fruites There is another kind of men with dogs faces and Oxe feete which containe all their speech vnder two wordes onely with the which the one vnderstandeth the other There are others whom they call Phanaces whose eares are so great that they couer therewith their vvhole bodies they are so strong that vvith one pull they teare whole trees vp by the roots vsing them in their fight with exceeding agillity There are others with one eye only and that in their forehead their eares like dogs and their haire standing stiffe vp an end Others they describe with diuers and monstrous formes which if I should rehearse all I should neuer make an end yet by the way I will tell you what I haue reade in one of Ptolomes tables of Tartaria maior There is in it sayth he a Country now called Georgia fast by the kingdome of Ergonil in the which there are fiue sorts of people some blacke as Ethiopians some white like vs some hauing tailes like Peacocks some of very little and low stature with two heads and others whose face and teeth are in maner of horse iawes And if this be true it is a wonderfull thing that there should be in one Land such diuersities of men BER Doe these Authors set all these monsters together in one part of the earth or in diuers parts AN. In this point they differ farre the one from the other Pliny and Strabo agree with the story written by the Philosopher Onosecritus which was in India with Alexander the great and writeth all these monsters to be there Solinus sayeth that the Arimaspes being a people with one eie are in Scithia fast by the Riphaean mountaines Others hold that the most part of these monsters are in the solitary deserts of Affrica and the rest are in the mountaines of Atlas others sayde that the Cyclops Gyants of exceeding hugenes with one onely eye and that in the midst of their forehead were to be seene in Sicillia LU. Yet it may be that they are as well in one place as in another yet Strabo entreating of them in conclusion accounteth them but fables and fained matters and Sinforianus Campegius a man singulerly learned in a Chapter which hee writeth of monsters proueth by naturall reasons that there can be none such and if there be any that they are no men but brute beasts like vnto men Pomponius Mela is of the same opinion saying that the Satyres haue nothing else of man then the likenesse AN. I will neyther beleeue all nor condemne all which is written but as touching the Satyres me thinkes Pomponius Mela hath small reason for wee must rather beleeue Saint Hierome who in the life of Saint Paule the first Hermite which worke is allowed by our Church witnesseth that they are men and creatures reasonable Their shape is according to the description of diuers Authors like vnto men differing onely in some points as in hauing hornes on their heads their noses and forepart of their mouthes like to dogges snowts and their feete like to those of Goates Many affirme that they haue seene them in the deserts of Aegipt The Gentiles in diuers places adored them for Gods and Pan the God of Sheepheards was alwayes painted in the likenes of a Satyre Many haue written of these Satyres and it is held for a matter certaine and vndoubted AN. Sabellicus in his Aeneads sayeth that there are of them in the mountaine Atlas which runne on foure feet and some on two feet like men either sort passing swiftly Pliny affirmeth that there are of them in India in certaine mountaines called Subsolani whom not accounting men hee termeth to be most dangerous and harmfull beasts Ouid in his Metamorphosis sayeth that the Satyre is a beast like vnto a man onely that hee hath hornes on his head and feete like a Goate But if it be so that they are men capable of reason I wonder that we haue no greater knowledge of them AN. Heerein is no great cause of wonder because the deformity of their figure maketh them so vvild that it taketh from them the greatest part of the vse of reason so that they flie the conuersation of men euen as other bruite beastes doe but amongst them selues they conuerse and vnderstand one another well enough for all those which vvrite of the mountaine Atlas say that there are in the tops therof many nights heard great noyses and soundes as it were of Tabers and Flutes and other winde instruments vvhich they hold for a certaine to be doone by the Satyres in their meetings for as soone as the day comes you heare no more yet some will say that the Satyres are not the cause thereof but another secrete of Nature of the vvhich we will hereafter in his more conuenient and proper place discourse LU. Before we passe any farther let vs first vnderstand what difference there is between Satyres Faunes Egipanes for Virgill in the beginning of his Georgiques inuoketh as well the one as the other and sundry other Authors vsing these seuerall names doe seeme to put a difference betweene them AN. I will ansvvere you herein with Calepin which saith that Faunes were held amongst the Greeks for the selfe same which Satyrs among the Latines that they both are one thing Probus and Seruius saith that they are called Fauni à fando because they prophesied as Pan did amongst the Sheepheards And Seruius vvriteth that Egipans Satyrs and Faunes are all one Nicolaus Leonicus in his second booke de vana historia vvriteth of another sort of Satyrs much differing in shape from these before rehearsed he alledgeth an Author called Pausanias vvhose authority he followeth in his whole worke who sayeth that he heard Eufemius a man of great estimation and credite affirme that sayling towardes Spaine the ship in which they went through a great tempest and storme beeing driuen with a violent vvesterne wind to runne along the Ocean Seas brought them at last vpon the coast of certain Ilands which seemed to be vninhabited wher they had no sooner landed to take in fresh vvater but there appeared certaine vvild men of a fierce cruel resemblance all couered vvith haire somwhat reddish resembling in each other part men but onely that they had long tailes full of brisled haires like vnto horses These monsters discouering the Marriners ioyned them selues in a great troupe squadron together making an ilfauoured noyse like the barking or rather howling of doggs and at last of a sodaine set vpon them with such a fury and vehemence that they draue them backe to their ship forcing them to leaue behind them one of their vvomen which was also landed vpon whom they savv from their ship those brutish men or rather barbarous monsters vse all sort of fleshly abhomination and filthy lust
they may hope of them in time to come for if they sit fast without feare they nourish them with great care and diligence as of a noble inclination and deseruing to be cherished but if theyr courage faile or that they shew any demonstration of feare they send them to be brought vp in some barren places farre from them selues AN. I doe not so affirme these things for true that I thinke it deadly sinne not to beleeue them mary they are written by a man so graue and which in the rest of his works vsed such sincerity that truly me thinkes wee should doo him great wrong in not beleeuing him LV. I know not what to say that there should be no more notice in the world of a Country so fruitfull and a people so blessed especially seeing the Portugals haue sayled and discouered all the Coast of Aethiopia and India euen to the very Sunne rising where they haue found so many and so diuers Ilands that it should be almost vnpossible for any such Country to remaine vndiscouered AN. Meruaile not at this for the Portugals as you say haue not stirred out of the Coast of Affrica and India the farthest that they went being to the Iles of Molucco whence such store of spice commeth as for Taprobana Zamorra and Zeilan they are all adioyning Ilands neere to those Coasts but they neuer nauigated into the Ocean foure continuall moneths as these others did LV. You are deceaued heerein for in only Magellans voyage they sailed farther then euer any other Nation did and if there had beene any such miraculous people in the world they should then haue had knowledge of them as well as Pigafeta had of the Pigmees for they did not onely as you know discouer the Sea of Sur passing a Sea where in fiue or sixe moneths they neuer saw any land but also on the other side sailed within few degrees of the Southpole And besides this the 4000. Ilands which they discouered in the Archpelago towards the Sunne rising the most part of which are peopled and according to somes opinion are thought to be on the other side of the earth in none of which any such blessed people haue been found as you speake of AN. Though all this be as you say yet the world is so great and there is in it so much to be discouered that perchaunce they are in those parts which we know not thinges so strange and monstrous that if we saw them would make vs wonder a great deale more and giue vs occasion to bee lesse astonished at the others in respect of which peraduenture we should account these very possible and one day hauing more time we may discourse more particulerly of this matter BER I take this worde of yours for a debt marry I would now aske you which you holde for the greatest wonder in that people eyther their tongue so strangelie deuided that they speake differently and with diuers persons seuerall matters at one time or else in steede of bones to haue onely sinewes doubling their members euery way AN. The first I neuer heard of nor of any the like and therefore of the two I hold it for the stranger but the likelihoode of the second is authorised for true by many vvriters and chiefely by Varro who writeth that in Rome there was a Fencer called Tritamio of such exceeding strength that being bound hand and foot he wrestled with very strong men whom onely with pushing his body from one side to another he gaue such a blow that if he touched them they were in danger of their lyues the like force had a Sonne of his who was a man at Armes vnder Pompey the which without Arms went to fight with his enemy Armed whom taking by one finger he made him yeeld and brought him prisoner to the Campe. It is sayde that these two had not onely their sinewes at length like vnto other men but also thwart and croswise ouer all their whole body whence proceeded this their so miraculous strength There are many incredible thinges reported of the forces and strength of Milo which though they were without doubt supernaturall and miraculous yet were they in the ende the cause of his most miserable and disastrous death for putting his hands into the cleft of a great tree thinking to rent and split it forcibly thorough the same of a suddaine turned backe and closed with such violence catching entrapping and crushing his handes so miserably that beeing not able to pull them foorth and beeing farre from helpe and in a desolate place hee was there forced pittifully to finish his life and vnfortunate strength together cutting vp his body they found that the pipes of his armes and legs were doubled LU. Though the strength of Milo were so famous and renowned as you say yet were there in his time as diuers Authors make mention that exceeded him farre Elian writeth that there was one called Tritormo helde in such admiration for his strength that Milo thinking thereby the greatnesse of his fame to bee diminished and obscured sought him out and challenged him but at such time as they were to enter into combate Tritormo taking vppe a mighty peece of a Rocke so huge that it seemed vnpossible that anie humaine force should mooue it cast it from him three or foure times with such exceeding force and then lifting it vppe on his shoulders carried it so farre that Milo amazed at the strangenesse thereof cryed out O Iupiter and is it possible that thou hast brought an other Hercules into the vvorlde But whether this mans pipe bones were double or single no man knoweth BER I haue heard of some whose bones were whole sounde and massiue vvithout any marrowe in them as diuers vvrite of Ligdamus the Syracusan and that the same is the cause of greater force ANTHONIO I neuer savve any such but Pliny vvryteth thereof in these vvordes vvee vnderstande sayeth hee that there are certayne menne vvhose bones are massiue and firme vvithin in vvhome this one thing is to bee marked that they neyther suffer thyrste nor may at any time sweate As for thirste wee see it voluntarilie suppressed of diuers for there was a Romaine Gentleman called Iulio Uiator who beeing in his youth sicke of a certayne corruption betvveene the fleshe and the skinne was forbidden to drinke by the Phisitians vsing him selfe to which abstinance a vvhile hee kept it in his age without euer drinking any thing at all LUDOUICO This is a matter not to bee lette slippe but in the meane time lette vs returne to that of strength I saye therefore that the forces of Sampsonne were such that if the holy Scripture made not mention of them no manne would beleeue them so that wee maye also giue credite to that which is written of Hercules Theseus and other strong menne that haue beene in the vvorlde whose Histories are so common that it were to no purpose to rehearse them heere AN.
if they were then no greater then they now are the greatnes of his stature was not so out of proportion and wonderfull and if the bodies of Antheus Oryon had thē been measured they would not haue been so many of their cubits as they were of theirs that measured them I beleeue that they would nowe be more the cause hereof is that as the world waxeth old so al things draw to be lesser for euen as earth that hath not ben laboured yeeldeth greater fruite at the beginning and in more aboundance then after when it becōmeth weary and tired with continuall trauaile bringing forth euen so the vvorld through wearines and long course of generation ceaseth to breed men of so large and puissant statures as it wonted AN. Although in part of this your argument you seeme to haue some reason yet you are deceaued if you hold this for a generall rule without exception for this age of ours is not without Gyants and those very great truth it is that in times past there were of thē in many parts and now in very few those for the most part in Lands nere to the North South pole for it seemeth that Nature enclineth to create this greater men in cold Countries But seeing this is a matter which cannot be handled without falling into discourse of those Countries towards the Septentrion matter of no lesse admiration let vs leaue it till we meete another time to the ende wee may haue where-with to entertaine good conuersation LU. There are also people of great stature which liue in hote Countries towards the Aequinoctiall for as Crates Pergamenus writeth there is a people among the Aethiopians called Sirboti whose common stature is eight cubites and more in height and what thinke you May not these men well be called Gyants AN. This onely Author maketh relation thereof and though we haue notice of all the Nations of Aethiopians we haue neuer seene nor heard of any such great people amongst them but wee notoriously knowe that there are of them in the colde Regions and such as are commonly helde to bee vninhabitable which at farther leasure I will cause you thoroughly to vnderstand LV. If you thinke that I will forgette this your promise you are deceaued for I holde well in memory all such matters as we doo nowe leaue in suspence but nowe seeing you will haue it so let vs passe on and giue mee to vnderstand vvhether liue longest these great or little men for it agreeth with reason that the one greatnes should be conformable to the other AN. The long life of man consisteth neyther in littlenes nor greatnes but in being wel complexioned hauing good humors not apt to receaue corruption besides a mild reposed life good victuals sobriety in eating drinking many other particuler things which Phisitions prescribe doe help much there-vnto but the chiefest of all is the good quality condition of the country as wel for some particuler constellation as for the temperature purenes of the ayre breeding the victuals in perfection without rawe and flimy humors this I take to be the cause why some Nations liue so long Aelianicus sayth that in the Prouince of Aetolia the men liue 200. some 300. yeres and Pliny sayth that there is a people in India called Cimi who liue ordinarily 140 yeeres Onosecritus also writeth that in a certaine part of India where at noone dayes there is no shadow at all the men are of height 5. cubits and two hand breadths that they liue 130. yeres without waxing old but die euen as it were in their middle age There is another Nation of people of a Prouince called Pandora whose life endureth v. or 300. yeres in their youth their haire is hoary and gray in their elder age turning to be blacke Though these liues be long yet we may giue credite there-vnto for the causes which I haue said chiefely for the purenes of the aire which cōserueth health as wel in humane bodies thēselues as in the fruits victuals which grow there with lesse coruption more perfection vertue thē in other parts 〈◊〉 glueth testimony heereof speaking of the Iland Lemnos and the Citty Mirina the which hath in opposite the mountaine Atos in Macedonia which is so high that being thence in distance 6000. paces it couereth this Citty with his shadow on the top wherof moueth no aire at al but pure in so much that the ashes which there remaine moues not frō one yere to another on the height of this hil was builded a City called Acroton the enhabitants of which liued twice so long as those that dwelt beneath BE. If this Citty were so wholsom the people of so long life wherfore cam it to be dispeopled for saken by reason me thinks it should be as full of people as it were able to hold AN. One cōmodity alone suffiseth not to the life of man for what auaileth long life if men liue continually in penury and want of thinges necessary For in so great a height Spring they could haue none neither could they gather water into Cesternes because it was higher then the Region where the clouds are congealed which could by no means moue themselues wanting wind as they must needs want there for howe can there be any where the ashes lye without mouing so that this other commodities for their sustenance were to be prouided with such paine difficulty and vnease that forsaking this place they chose rather with more ease though shorter life to commodate themselues elsewhere for this selfe same cause is the mountaine of Olympus vninhabited in whose top also it is affirmed the ayre to be so pure that there bloweth no wind at all The like also I beleeue to be of the mountaine Pariardes which is in Armenia where after the flood the Arke of Noe remained But all this is to no other ende then that you should vnderstand the reason how mans life is to be conserned more in some places then in others and euen so I thinke it to be in the Prouinces which we haue rehearsed that also which the selfe Solinus sayeth of the Aethiopians whom they call Macrobians who are on the other side of the Iland Meroe and liue ordinarily 150. yeeres and many reach to 200. And Gaudencius Merula writeth that he hath found Authors which affirme that in the selfe same Iland Meroe the people neuer die of any sicknes liuing so long till very age consume them But leauing this generality of liues let vs come to entreate of some particulers without alleadging the liues of those holy Fathers out of the old Testament before and after the flood of 800. and 900. yeeres a peece which we firmely beleeue through faith and because the holy Church affirmeth it so that wee know it to be true and indubitable neither is that a small argument
some salt and brackish and others of so many different tastes properties that it is vnpossible to reckon theÌ„ There are many Authors which write of theyr different vertues and conditions some of the which are recited by Pedro Mexias in a chapter of his booke entituled The Forrest of Collections which seeing you may there finde at large when it shall please you to peruse him I will spend no time in rehearsing LVD You say he collected some whereby I imagine there are other some by him vnremembred of which you shoulde doe vs great fauour to giue vs notice and vnderstanding AN. I am perswaded that he left them out not for vvant of remembrance or knowledge of them but onelie that hee wrote those which he accounted the principallest of greatest wonder For what greater or more incredible strangenes may there be then that of the Fountaine of Epirus into the which putting a Torch or a candle lighted it quencheth and extinguisheth the flame thereof and putting it in dead it kindeleth and enflameth the same and that which he writeth of other Riuers Lakes which burned the hands of those that had falsly sworne beeing put into them and others that filled them ful ofleprosie and of the Fountaine Elusidis which in sounding a Flute or other musicall instrument beginneth to swel buble vp in such quantity as though it would flow oouer the which in ceasing the sound appeaseth it selfe againe sinketh setleth it selfe into a quiet estate as it was before There are so many like vnto these written reported that to go about to rehearse theÌ„ all would be an endlesse work I will only therfore recite some of theÌ„ recited by Pliny in his second booke cap. 103. som other mentioned by other authors of great authority grauity and credit which I imagine you haue not heard neither are they in the collections of the beforesayd Author remembred First therfore to begin how strange miraculous is that of Iacobs Well in Sichar where Sychen the son of Emor died by signes and tokens of which the inhabitants knowe in what sort the Riuer Nilus shall ouerflowe that ensuing yere for it hapneth yerely once at which time they faile not with all diligence to obserue the tokens thereof especially how high the water riseth wherby they assuredly know in what sort the Nile shall rise and how far he shall ouerflowe that yere by which obseruation they know if the yere shal be scarse barrein or plentiful abundant according to which they make their prouisions fetching from other parts thinges necessary for their sustenaunce if there be any apparance of dearth Of the Lake which Pedro Mexias sayth is in Ethiopia in the which those that bathe themselues come forth as it were annoynted and besmeared with Oyle Pomponius Mela Solinus make mencion whom hee alleageth for authors saying that the water thereof is so subtile delicate and and pure that a feather falling therein goeth straight without any let downe into the bottome which is no small cause to wonder at that being in shew greasie and full of grossenesse the effect thereof should bee so aboue reason contrary The selfe same property writeth Gaudencius Merula of a Lake which is in India called Silias into the which casting the lightest thing that may be it sinketh presently to the bottom The which according to the Philosophers opinion proceedeth of the great purity and thinnesse which is very neere to be conuerted into ayre There are also in a vally of Iury as wryteth Iosephus in his booke of the captiuity of the Iewes alleaged by Nicholaê° Leonicê° neer a place called Macherunte a great number of Springs of the which some are sweet of a most pleasing tast and others vnsauory and bitter in extremity being all wreathed as it were mingled one with another Not far from thence there is a Caue into the which there issue out of a Rocke two fountaines so neere together that they seeme to be both but one and yet are in their effects most different contrary for the one is extreame colde and the other hote so that between theÌ„ both they make there a lake of most singuler temprature healing those that bathe themselues therein of diuers infirmities And seeing it coÌ„meth to passe to count the wonderful things of this vally though we digresse a little from the order of our discourse concerning the property of waters I will tell you what the same Authour writeth of the property of an herbe which there is found called Baharas taking his name of that part of the valley where it groweth It hath the colour of a bright shining flame by the glistering discouered far of by night but the neerer you approche vnto it the more it loseth of his brightnes which when you come to take it vanisheth leauing deluded deceaued the handes of those that seeke it Neither can it be found vnlesse you first cast vpon it the vrine of a woman that hath her flowers beeing corrupted and poured downe all at once vpon it which beeing done it discouereth it selfe presently to the viewe of those that seeke it who die at the very instant vnlesse they haue a peece of the roote of the same herbe gathered before bounde to theyr arme hauing which they remaine secure may gather it without any perrill or danger But they haue also another manner of gathering the same which they hold for the surer which is thus He that goeth in search thereof finding it pareth the ground close rounde about away and bringing with him a dogge bindeth him with a corde fast to the roote therof at whose departure the dogge striuing to follow him pulleth it vp by the roote falling presently downe dead in the place by his death giuing securitie to his Maister to take vp the roote without any danger at all and to carry it away to apply it to such vse as pleaseth him The vertue therof is so great that it healeth men possessed of deuils besides many and diuers other infirmities for which it is a remedy most excellent So that some will say that the vertue of this hearbe was not vnknowne to Salomon by the excellencie and force whereof hee expelled euill spirits and cured infinite diseases which was an occasion to make his wisedome be held in greater admiration that others learned this of him after his death working therewith many meruailous and admirable things exceeding the rules of Nature but thys is Apocryphus and not written by any Authour of credite LV. God ordained not this hearbe with such difficultie to be found and gathered without enduing it also with some especiall and particuler vertue which as sayth Hermes he hath in such sort imparted to herbes plants stones that if we had the knowledge and vse of them we should so cure all infirmities and diseases that wee should seeme to be in a manner immortall AN.
stopping their eares fast close with pelets of wax taking some few victuals with thē put themselues onward in their enterprize not without exceeding wearines trauel insomuch that the one fainting by the way was forced to bide behind The other two with chereful labor vertuous alacrity ouercōming all difficulties cam at last with much ado vnto the top of the mountain wher they found a great Plain without any trees in the midst a lake the water of which was obscure black as inke boiling bubling vp as though all the fire in the world had been flaming vnder it making a noise so terible thundring that though they had stopped their eares with all possible care diligence yet the intollerable roring noise thereof wrought such a humming and giddines in their heads that they were constrained with all possible hast to returne without bringing any certaine relation then this which you haue heard BE. Such a matter as this cannot be without great mistery for put case that there were vnderneath some mine of Sulphur or brimstone sufficient through the heat of the fiery matter therein to make the water seeth vp and boile yet could not the same cause a noyse so tempestuous horrible as you said the same is and besides me thinks this continuall boiling should in time consume the water and so the Lake by consequence become dry LU. Perchaunce there may be some Spring or Fountaine there neere which feedeth the Lake with as much warer as the fire consumeth by which meanes it can neuer be voyde or empty AN. Let vs leaue these secrets of Nature to him onely which hath made them for though we through some causes represented in our vnderstanding would seeke to yeeld reasons thereof yet when we thinke to hit the white we shall finde our selues far wide returning therefore to our former matter of Springs Waters me thinks it were not reason that speaking of things so farre off we should ouer-slip these which we haue heere at home in our owne Country hauing in this our Spaine two Fountaines whose effects are not a little to be admired at the one of which is in a Caue called de la Iudia by the Bridge of Talayuelas neere the Castle of Garcimunios which though I my selfe haue not seene yet I haue been thereof so certified that I assuredly know it to be true It yeeldeth a vvater which in falling congealeth and becommeth hard in manner of a stone which hardnes it alwayes after retaineth without dissoluing in such sort that they apply it to theyr buildinges BER It were neede of great Philosophy to know the mistery of this that vvater should in such sort harden that it should neuer afterwards dissolue the contrary reason whereof we see in great heapes of Ice which how hard so cuer they be yet change of weather maketh them to dissolue and melt LV. This is because the heat vndoeth that which is done by the cold as in snow haile ice which seeing it worketh not the like effect in these stones we may thereby gather that not the cold but som other secret to vs hidden vnknown is the cause of this obduration hardnes I haue heard with great credite affirmed that there is also neere the towne called Uilla Nueua del obyspo a Fountaine in which during sixe moneths of the yeare from such time as the sunne entreth into the signe of Lybra which beginneth about the midst of September called the Equinoctiall of the Autumne till the middest of March there is no one drop of water and all the other halfe yeare there runneth a most cleere abundant streame and thys is euery yere ordinary Of thys Fountaine maketh mention also Lucius Marineus Siculus Sinforianus Campegius wryteth of another in Sauoy which breedeth by miraculous operation stones of exceeding vertue BER If this be true then am I deceaued for I neuer thought that stones could be bred but that they were as the bones of the earth alwayes of one bignes neyther decreasing nor increasing for otherwise if stones should grow in time they would come to be of such quantitie and greatnes that they would be in diuer parts very combersome AN. And doubt you of this Assure your selfe that stones waxe and diminish according to the qualitie of which they are the place where they are and the property nature and condition of the earth where they are founde Though those which wee here call peble stones remaine alwayes in one greatnes or els grow so little and so slowly that it can in many yeeres hardly be perceaued yet all those stones which are any thing sandie contracting drawing the earth about them conuert the same into theyr owne nature hardning it in such sort that in short space a little stone becōmeth to be exceeding great yea and in such sort that sometimes we see things of different nature and kinde enclosed shut vp within them still retaining their owne substance and essence which if you desire better to vnderstand behold but the stone in the Earle Don Alonsos garden which hee hath caused to be placed there as a thing meruailous to be viewed of al men which though it be hard and sound hath in the midst therof a great bone seeming to be the shinbone of some beast which the same stone embraced by all likelihood lying neere it on the ground and continually growing came at last to compasse it rounde about which beeing afterwards carued by a Mason was found lying in the very bosome midst therof and that thys should be a very perfect bone there is no doubt to be made thereof for I my selfe haue made most sufficient proofe and try all of the same BER I haue also viewed it very narrowly and am of your opinion AN. Turning to our discourse of Fountaines I am perswaded that there are many of rare and great vertues vtterly to vs vnknowne and sometimes it hapneth that the vertue of the water worketh through the ayde of some other thing ioyntly together matters verie admirable as that which Alexander writeth in his booke De diebus genialibus that in those partes of England vvhich bende toward the West when any shyps are broken and the ribbes or planches of them remaine a while in the water that with the continuall moystnes they engender bring forth certaine Puscles like Mushromps which within fevve dayes seeme to be aliue and to haue motion and by little and little grow gather feathers That part wherewith they are fast to the rotten tymber is like vnto a water-foules bill which comming lose of it selfe thys miraculous foule beginneth to heaue it selfe vp and by little and little in short space of time to flie and mount into the ayre Pope Pius whose name was Aeneas Siluius rehearseth this in another sort saying that in Scotland vpon the bankes of a Riuer there growe certaine Trees whose leaues falling into the water and putrifying
feele anguish and payne And if you be desirous to see many particularities and the seuerall opinions of diuers learned Authors read Caelius Rodiginus in his second Booke De Antiquis Lectionibus where hee discourseth copiously thereof But now for not digressing frō the principall let vs come to that which they call Phantasma the vvhich hath his beginning in the fantasie which is a vertue in Man called by an other name Imaginatiue and because thys vertue beeing mooued worketh in such sort that it causeth in it selfe the thinges feigned and imagined to seem present though in truth they are not Wee say also that the thinges which vanish away so soone as we haue seene them are fantasies seeming to vs that wee deceaue our selues and that we sawe them not but that they were onely represented in our fansie But thys is in such sort that sometimes we trulie see them indeed and other times our imagination fansie so present them to our view that they deceaue vs and wee vnderstand not whether they were things seene or imagined and therefore as I thinke comes it that wee call the thinges which we really see Visions and others which are fantasticated and represented in the fantasie Fancies vvhether of which this was that hapned in Fuentes de Ropell I know not but sure I am that it was as true as strange neither is the place so farre distant beeing onely two miles hence but that you may by infinite witnesses be thorowly resolued of the veritie thereof There lyued about 30. yeeres since a Gentleman of good account called Anthonio Costilla who of the vvhich I my selfe can giue good witnesse was one of the valiantest hardiest men of all the Country for I haue beene present at some broyles byckerings of his in which I haue seen him acquite himselfe with incredible courage and valour Insomuch that beeing somewhat haughtie and suffering no man to ouercrowe him he had many enemies thereabouts which caused him wheresoeuer he went to goe alwayes well prouided so that one day riding from his owne house to a place called Uilla Nueua hauing vnder him a good Ginet and a strong Launce in his hand when he had doone his businesse the night cōming on and the same very darke he lept a horse back and put himselfe on his way homeward comming to the end of the Village where stoode a Chappell in the forepart or portall of which there was a lettice window within the same a Lampe burning thinking that it shoulde not be wel done to passe any further without saying his prayers hee drewe neere vnto the same saying his deuotions a horseback where whiles hee so remained looking into the Chappell hee savve three visions like Ghostes issue out of the middest thereof seeming to come out from vnder the ground to touch the height of the roufe with their heads As he had beheld them awhile the haire of his head began to stand an end so that being somewhat affrighted he turned his horse bridle and rode away but he had no sooner lyfted vp his eyes when hee sawe the three visions going together a little space before him seeming as it were to beare him company so that commending himselfe to God blessing him selfe many times he turned his horse spurring him from one side to another but wheresoeuer hee turned they were alwaies before his eyes vvhereupon seeing that he coulde not be rid of them putting spurres to his horse he ranne at them as hard as he could with his Launce but it seemed that the visions went and mooued themselues according to the same compasse wherein hee guided his horse for if he went they went if he ranne they ranne if he stood still they stood still alwaies keeping one euen distance from him so that hee was perforce constrained to haue them in his company till hee came to his owne house before which there was a great court or yard opening the gate of which after hee was lighted of his horse as he entred he found the same visions before him and in this manner came hee to the doore of a lodging where his wife was at which knocking and beeing let in the visions vanished away but hee remained so dismayed and changed in his colour that his wife thinking hee had receaued some wounde or mishap by his enemies often asked him the cause of this his deadly countenaunce alteration and seeing that he would not reueale the same vnto her she sent for a friende of his that dwelt thereby a man of good qualitie and of singuler learning and integritie of life who presently comming and finding him in that perplexity importuned him vvith such instance that at last he recounted vnto him the particularity of each thing that had hapned He being a very discrete man making no exterior shewe of vvonder or amazement bad him be of good courage and shake off that dismaiment with many other comfortable perswasions causing him to goe to supper and from thence brought him to his bedde in which leauing him layd with light burning by him he vvent forth because he would haue him take his rest and sleep but hee was scarcely gone out of his chamber when Anthonio Costilla began with a loud skrietch to cry out for help wherevpon he with the rest entring into the chamber and demaunding the cause of this outcry he told them that hee was no sooner left alone but that the three visions came to him againe and made him blind with throwing dust vpon his eyes which they had scraped out of the ground which in trueth thed found it to be so from that time forward therefore they neuer left him vnaccompanied but all profited nothing for the seauenth day without hauing had Ague or any other accident he departed out of this world LV. If there were present heere any Phisition hee would not leaue to affirme and maintaine that this proceeded of some melancholly humor ruling in him with such force that he seemed really to behold that which was represented in his fantasie BER The same also may wel be for many times it seemeth that we see things which in deed we doe not being deceaued through the force of our imagination and perchance this of those visions may be the like who being once represented in the imagination of fancie had force to work those effects and the humor which caused the same encreasing through amazement and feare might at last procure death yet for all this I will not leaue to beleeue but that these visions were some Spirits who taking those bodies of ayre earth water or fire or mingling for that effect any of those Elements together came to put so great amazement in this man that the same was cause of his death AN. In all things which by certaine knowledge cannot be throughly approoued there neuer want diuers and contrary opinions so that in this diuersity of iudgements I would rather impute it to the worke of Spirits then to any
thereupon forthwith went vp to the toppe of a high Bridge that crost ouer the same Riuer whence after he had stript himselfe naked he threwe himselfe downe headlong into the vvater the Riuer running in that place verie swift and dangerous where swimming vp and downe in the maine streame he called vpon Tapia by dding him according to his promise doe as much as he had doone who disdayning to seeme eyther of lesse cunning or courage then the other went likewise vp to the top of the Bridge and threvve himselfe downe in the very same place in which the other had so doone before him till which time still remaining fast a sleepe his feete were no sooner in the vvater but hee avvaked presentlie where finding himselfe plunging in midst of the rough streame though he were in a wonderfull feare and amazement yet as well as hee could and with all the possible speede he might he skambled foorth earnestly calling vpon the companion that came thether with him thinking assuredlie that there was a man swimming with him indeed but hauing passed with great difficultie the danger of the stream after long calling and looking about him when hee coulde neyther see nor heare any man make aunswere hee beganne to mistrust that thys matter proceeded by the craftie illusion and deceit of the deuil who as he truly thought endeuoured by that subtile practise and enticement to destroy in his sleep both his body and soule VVherupon recommending him selfe by hartie prayer vnto almightie GOD and going vp againe to that place of the Bridge where hee and his compapanion as he imagined had left their clothes when he found no more then his owne throughly confirming himselfe in the mistrust before conceaued he returned homewardes to his owne house with very great astonishment meeting by the way diuers of his seruaunts who missing him in his chamber and finding the doore of the house vnbolted went seeking him vp and downe to vvhō hee recited from poynt to point all that happened vnto him from which time forward hee vvas lesse troubled with such passions contayning himselfe alwayes in such heedfull sort that the deuill could neuer haue power to deceaue him againe BER Truly this man was in great danger of eternall destruction but GOD is so kind and mercifull that he alwaies succoureth and assisteth all those that in time of necessity and danger recommend themselues with a deuout hart vnto him And therefore truly we had need looke well and carefullie to our selues seeing wee haue so cautelous and craftie and aduersarie continually dressing so manie grinnes trappes to entangle vs and alwaies busie in laying baites and allurements ready to deceaue vs. But seeing it is now very late and the pleasantnes of our discoursing hath made vs passe ouer the time without scarcely thinking of the same I am of opinion that we should doe well to referre this our conuersation and meeting till another time for the satisfaction of some doubts which as yet remaine if it shall please Signior Anthonio to agree thereunto AN. No man better contented there-with then my selfe appoynt therefore what time you thinke good and I will not faile to be ready LU. Let vs then I pray you deferre the same no longer then till to morrowe morning BER I giue you my hand vpon the same AN. And I also giue mine The end of the third Discourse The fourth Discourse in which is contayned what Chaunce Fortune Destenie is and the difference betweene them withall what lucke felicity and happines doth signifie with their contraries and what the influences of the heauenly bodies import and whether they are the causes of diuers mischaunces that happen in the world touching besides manie other learned and curious poynts * Interlocutores ANTHONIO LVDOVICO BERNARDO LV. I Could neuer haue wished to haue come in a better time then now seeing I finde the company together which I so much desired especially in this place and Garden of Signior Bernardos which containeth so great a variety of pleasant Plants Flowers Hearbs and other things worthy of admiration that though we goe not this day out into the fields we may find heere sufficient to recreate and delight our selues AN. I was saying the same euen as you entred and in truth the contemplation of so rare a diuersity of many beautifull things placed in so due and excellent order within so small a plot and compasse of ground may leade vs to the contemplation of him which is the giuer of all beauty and stirre in vs a zeale and desire to be thankfull for his gifts BER The greatest excellencie of my Garden is this commendation which it hath pleased you to giue it otherwise hauing in it no particuler matter woorthy of such praise for I am altogether vncurious hauing onely endeuoured to place in it hearbs necessary and wholsome and flowers that haue some pleasing freshnes gaynesse of colour wherwith to recreate the sight amongst which somtimes when I am solitary I vse to solace my selfe in entertaining time which to the ende that at this present we may the more commodiously passe ouer Let vs sitte downe in this seate vnder this Arke of Iassemin whose shadow will keepe vs from being encombred with the Sunne for though the weather be temperate yet it is good to auoide inconueniences AN. It pleaseth me well to follow your aduise for though the heate generally be comfortable vnto the body of man yet the excesse thereof causeth great infirmities and diseases as daily experience teacheth vs. LU. Seeing wee are nowe so at leasure I pray you let vs knowe what the matter was betweene you and the Lycentiat Sorya this morning in comming out of the Church I would gladly haue drawne neere to haue heard your difference but I was deteined in talke by a Gentleman of my acquaintance about a matter of som importance If it be true which I haue heard say the Licentiat presumeth much and vnderstandeth little AN. He should loose nothing thereby if he did vnderstand somewhat more then he doth yet in his owne conceite he imagineth that he knoweth more then all the world besides though truly he made little shew thereof in the matter of which wee reasoned to day concerning Fortune and Chaunce I beleeue he had newly read the Chapter that Pedro Mexias maketh thereof in his Forrest of Collections for he could say it all by roate hee was so obstinate in affirming that there was no Fortune but onely God that hee would neyther heare reason nor speake reason nor vnderstand any thing that was sayd vnto him BER This is a matter that I haue long desired to vnderstand for in all discourses almost at euery word wee heare Fortune Chaunce good Lucke ill Lucke Hap Mishap and Desteny named and when I sette my selfe to thinke what the effect of these wordes meaneth I conceaue it not but the farther I wade therein the farther I finde my selfe in confusion AN. The vnderstanding of these wordes is
somewhat difficill yet not so much as you make it for they were not inuented without cause or without contayning vnder them a signification which oftentimes is manifested vnto vs by the effect and sequell of such aduentures and chaunces as doe happen vnto vs. LU. It were not amisse in my opinion seeing wee haue happened on a matter so subtile and disputable if we endeuoured to vnderstand what might be sayde as concerning it for wee cannot passe the conuersation of this euening in a matter more pleasant or more necessary to be knowne then this and therefore sir you cannot excuse your selfe to take the paines to satisfie vs in this of which we are so ignorant and contayneth therein so many doubts AN. Though in respect of my small vnderstanding I might iustly excuse my selfe yet I will not refuse to satisfie you in this or any thing else whereto my knowledge and capacity extendeth on condition that you will not binde me any farther or expect more at my handes If I shall erre in any thing lette it remaine onely amongst our selues as in our former conuersations it hath doone for this matter being so farre from my profession I feare mee I shall not bee able to say all that vvere necessarie and behoouefull for the good vnderstanding thereof BER Greater should bee our error in leauing to reape the fruite of your learned conuersation and therefore without losing any more time I pray you deferre it no farther AN. Well to obey you then I will begin according to the common order with the definition of Fortune which Aristotle writing in his second booke De Phisicis Cap. 6. sayeth in this sort It is a thing manifest that Fortune is an accidentall cause in those things which for some purpose are done to some end Vppon the woordes of this Definition all the Phylosophers that haue vvrytten Glosses vppon Aristotle doe spende much time and many reasons vvith great alterations and argumentes the vvhich differing one from an other I vvill forbeare to recite least vvith the rehearsall of them I shoulde confounde your vnderstanding and beginne an endlesse matter I vvill therefore onely say that vvhich in my opinion I iudge fittest for the purpose and most materiall to satisfie your desire for your better vnderstanding I vvill therefore beginne vvith that vvhich in Humanitie is helde and vvritten as concerning Fortune and then vvhat in Phylosophie is thought thereof and lastlie vvhat vvee that are Christians ought to thinke and esteeme in true Diuinitie in deede Touching the first of the Gentiles as they erred the groslyest that might be without all reason and sence in all things concerning their Gods so without any foundation or ground faigned they Fortune to be a Goddesse dominating and hauing power ouer all things as writeth Boetius in his first booke of Consolation so that as well in Rome as in other places they builded and dedicated vnto her temples in which she was worshipped and adored of the which and of the founders of them many Authors make mention as Titus Liuius Pliny Dionisius Halycarnaseus Plutarch and Seneca The Praenestins a people of Italy held and adored her for the chiefest Goddesse and Protectresse of their Common-wealth but omitting this as not making much to the purpose I will tell you the diuers sorts and manners where-with they figured her forth in their temples Some paynted her like a franticke vvoman standing with both her feete vppon a rounde ball others with great wings and no feete giuing thereby to vnderstand that shee neuer stoode firme others fashioned her with a head touching the cloudes and a Scepter in her hand as though shee vniuersally gouerned all things in the world Others sette in her hand Cornucopia or the horne of aboundance shewing thereby that from her we receaue all both our good and euil Some made her of glasse because it is a mettall so easily crazed and broken but the most vsuall manner of painting her was with a wheele in her hand continually turning the same vp downe her eyes being blindfolded and mufled wherby it might appeare that hee which was in the height of all prosperity with one turne of the wheele might easily come vnder and be cast downe and likewise those vnderneath and of base estate might easily be mounted vp into higher degree Others thought it good to picture her like a man and therefore made vnto him a particuler temple Diuers also paynted her sayling by Sea vpon the backe of a great fish carrying the one end of a sayle puffed with a full winde in her hand and the other vnder her feet deciphering as it were thereby the fickle and dangerous estate of Saylers seafarers and hence as I take it proceedeth that common phrase of speech that when any man hath passed great tempest and danger by sea we say Corrio fortuna as though Fortune had medled with the matter Besides these they deuised and figured her forth in many other shapes with a thousand rediculous toyes and imaginations the cause of which diuersitie of formes attributed vnto her was because shee vvas a thing onely imagined and not knowne in the world as vvas Ceres Pallas Venus Diana and their other Goddesses so that they described her by gesse imagination according to the conceits inuentions of their own fancies some of which were passing grosse ridiculous and absurd LU. I haue not seene any picture of Fortune that pleaseth mee better then that in a table of your inuention where you paynt her vvith the wheele of which you spake in her hand holding her eyes betweene open and shut with a most strange and vncertaine aspect placing vnder her feete Iustice and Reason wearied and oppressed in poore ragged and contemptible habites lamenting in sorrowful gesture the iniury they receaue in being held in such captiuity slauery on the one side of Fortune standeth Pleasure and on the other Freewill both beeing pompously attired with rich and beautifull ornaments each of them holding in her hand a sharpe Arming-sworde seeming with angry gesture to threaten them some great mischiefe if they ceased not their complaints I leaue the other particularities thereof but it appeareth well that her effects are better knowne vnto you then they were to diuers of those Auncients AN. That liberty which they had in their imagination may I also haue to describe her properties and conditions seeing she obserueth neither Reason nor Iustice in her actions but oppresseth and banisheth them in a manner out of the world gouerning herselfe by her owne will pleasure without order or agreement as Tully writeth in his booke of Diuination There is nothing sayth he so contrary to Reason Constancie as Fortune and therefore the Ancients termed her by so sundry Names calling her blind franticke variable vnconstant cruell changeable traytresse opiniatre without iudgement besides infinite other foule Epithetes and ignominious names alwaies accusing and condemning her as vvicked light inconstant mutable
bee a bondslaue and such a one mee thinkes may with reason say that his Destenie placed him in that seruitude and bondage because hee came not there-vnto by his owne will neyther could hee by any meanes auoy de the same but would by any meanes seeke and procure his freedome if there were anie possibility thereof AN. This obiection may many wayes be aunswered the one is that it was no Accident or Chaunce that happened to this man to serue as a bondslaue because hee was begotten and borne in seruitude and besides there is no impossibility of recouering his liberty for euery day wee see happen sondry newe occasions whereby a slaue may be manumitted and sette free if then it be possible it followeth that there is no forcible Desteny if you will say that it was an accident in his Auncestors to fall into bondage to the end that this man should be borne a slaue I aunswere that it was in their choise and free-will because they might haue gone some whether else and haue refrained that place in which they stood in danger hazard to be made Captiues so that he cannot lay the fault vpon his Destenie but vpon those that might haue remedied the same and did not LU. You leaue me not well satisfied heerein for if I loose perforce my liberty neyther euer was it neyther now is it in my hand to remedy the same neyther am I hee that was any way the occasion thereof I may well say it vvas my Destenie and consequently vvith reason complayne of the same considering that it vvas not in my povver to auoy de it ANT. All that vvhich is not vnpossible may bee sayde auoy dable and if at anie tyme while one remaineth in bondage occasions may happen to recouer his freedome he can by no meanes say that his Destenie forcibly with-holdeth his liberty for though he want it against his will yet hee wanteth it not with impossibility of euer hauing it if he vse such meanes and industry as is requisite for the obtaining thereof For example we see daily manie slaues runne from their Maisters and set themselues at liberty not onely heere with vs but also such as are in captiuitie vnder the Mores and Turkes and if the enterprize which any such one vndertaketh for his liberty succeede not according to his intent it is because hee procured it not in such as was requisite or because it pleased not God to permit his deliuerie for his sinnes and demerrites or some other cause to vs hidden and vnknowne BER Thinke not that you haue here made an end for the principall poynt as yet remaineth If you remember you said that many of the Auncients held opinion that the causes of Desteny working with such necessity proceeded from the second superior caelestiall causes as the influence of the Planets and starres I pray you therefore make vs to vnderstand what is the force of the constellations and in what sort theyr influence worketh as well in vs as in other things for the cōmon opinion is that all things on the earth are gouerned maintained by the Caelestiall bodies whence it commeth that the Astronomers by calculating Natiuities casting figures and other obseruations come to foreknowe and vnderstand many thinges not onely concerning men but also tempests earth-quakes plagues inundations and other such like future calamities AN. It is a thing notorious that the starres haue their influences but not in such sort as the common opinion maintaineth first therfore you must vnderstand that their influence hath no power or force to worke any operation in the soules of men but onely in their bodies the reason whereof is that the soules are farre more noble and of more excellent perfection then the planets and starres so that the constellations being vnto them inferiour in beeing and substance are vnable to worke in them any effect at all That the soules are more noble then the caelestiall bodies S. Thomas proueth in this sort in his Booke against the Gentiles So much more noble saith hee is euery effect as it is neerer in likenes to the cause whence it proceedeth so our soules being liker vnto God then the caelestiall bodies are in beeing Spirits as is the first cause which is God must needs be more excellent then they so that they can haue no influence vnto them nor domination ouer thē the soules remaining alwaies free For though Dionisius sayd that God hath so disposed the whole order of the Vniuerse that all inferior thinges beneath should be gouerned by those that are superior and aboue yet he presently addeth and those that are lesse noble by those that are more noble and though by this reason the soules remaine free yet the bodies doe not so because they are lesse noble then the Sunne the Moone the other heauenly lights and so are subiect to their influences working in them diuers and contrary inclinations some good and some euill which they that seeke to excuse theyr vices and vvicked life call Destenies as though it were not in their power to flie and auoyde them through the libertie of free-will For if we say that Mars doth praedominate in men that are strong and valiant we see that many borne vnder his Planet are timorous and of small courage All those which are borne vnder Venus are not luxurious nor all vnder Iupiter Kings great Princes nor all vnder Mercurie cautelous and craftie neither are all those which are borne vnder the signe of Piscis fishermen and so forth of all the other Signes and Planets in manner that theyr effects are not of force and necessitie but only causing an inclination to those things the which by many wayes and meanes may be disturned altered auoyded chiefely by the disposition and will of the first cause which is God who addeth altereth taketh away at his pleasure the force vigor and influence of those Planets and starres restraining theyr vertue and force or els mouing directing and lightning our minds not to follow those naturall inclinations if they tend to euill and sinister effects The Angels deuils also may doe the same as beeing creatures more noble then the soule the one moouing to good and the other to euill for oftentimes our good Angell is the cause that we refraine those vices to which by the constellation of those heauenly bodies we are inclined and that we follow for our soules profit such waies as are vertuous and good and that wee auoyde those dangers which these influences doe threaten vnto vs. These also may a man of himselfe beware and eschew by discretion and reason for as saith Ptolomie The wise prudent man shall gouerne the starres LVD I confesse all this which you haue said to be true but yet besides the inclinations appetites of men the starres and Planets worke also in another manner as in aduauncing some men and abating others making some prosperous and rich yea
the rest they may sometimes fall out according as by the vertue and property of the signes and planets may be coniectured and iudged yea and sometimes also otherwise because it may please the first cause which imparted vnto them that vertue to change or alter their property or that there may be diuers other causes in the way which may hinder the effect of their influence AN. You haue in few wordes briefly knit vp the very pith and substance of the whole BER Well then let vs leaue this and come to Palmestrers which are they that tell Fortunes by seeing the lines of the inside of the hand whose diuinations they say prooue oftentimes true I would faine therefore know what credite we may giue them AN. I haue great suspition of those who confidently affirme their diuinations by Palmestry that they deale also in Negromancy that the deuill being farre craftier and subtiler then man and through his long experience and by certaine coniectures being able to knowe certaine thinges that are to come doth reueale vnto them the most part of those things for otherwise by the lines of the hand onely it were not possible to diuine so right though somtimes also the things simply thereby coniectured may proue true neyther can the Phisiognomers affirme that the same must needs be true which by their Science appeareth likely to happen For Aristotle which wrote a booke of Phisiognomy entreating of all the signes marks by which the conditions of men may be knowne sayeth that they are but casuall and by Chaunce As for those that seeing the Phisiognomy of a man doe iudge that he must come to be rich or that his end must be the Gallowes or that hee must be drowned and such like such must thinke that they be deceaued and ought therefore to reserue the successes of all thinges to the will of God whereby they may couer their error and remaine excused if the sequell fall otherwise out then they coniectured it should LU. This matter seemeth sufficiently debated of onely out of the former discourse resulteth one doubt which mee thinks were against reason that it should remaine so smothered vp and that is of the speech of Signior Anthonios where he sayd that of the influence of the signes planets and starres are engendered pestilences and new diseases inundations destroying vvhole Countries long drinesse vvhich causeth dearths infirmities scarsity of corne fruit with diuers other the like AN. This is a question in which the Astronomers and Philosophers doe disagree eyther holding of them their seuerall opinions For the Astronomers in community doe hold and affirme that all this which you haue said proceedeth from the constellations and that through their causes these domages do happen vnto men all the other euils also with the which we are afflicted alleadging for the proofe thereof the authority of Ptolome in his Centiloquium The man sayth he that is skilfull in the Science of Astronomy may fore see and auoide many euils to happen according to that which the starres doe shew portend and also they alleadge Gallen in his third book of Iudiciall daies whose words are these Let vs saith hee imagine that a man is borne the good Planets being in Aries and the euill in Taurus there is no doubt to be made but all thinges shall goe prosperously with this man while the Moone shall be in Aries Cancer Libra or Capricornus but when she shall possesse any signe in Quadrat aspect or in Diameter to the signe of Taurus he shall be molested with many troubles and vexations and hee goeth farther and sayth that this man shall begin to be perplexed with many infirmities when so euer the Moone shall be in the signes of Taurus Leo Scorpio or Aquarius and contrarily shall enioy perfect good health while the Moone shall be in the signes of Aries Libra Cancer or Capricornus They recite besides another authority of Auicenna in his fourth booke where he saith the configuration of the caelestiall bodies to be sometimes the cause of pestilentiall infirmities as when Saturne and Mars are in coniunction And so doth Gentil exemplifie it alleaging the selfe same place but what should I trouble my selfe in reciting their authorities when finally there is no Astronomer or Phisition which holdeth not the same but the Philosophers as I haue said maintaine a contrary opinion affirming that no domage or euil can proceede from the Planets signes or starres into the inferiour bodies and so diuine Plato in his Epynomide I surely thinke saith he the starres and all the caelestiall bodies to be a kinde of diuine creatures of a very beautifull body and constituted with a soule most perfect and blessed and to these creatures as farre as I vnderstand must be attributed one of these two things eyther that they and their motions are eternall and without any domageable preiudice or if not yet at the least that their life is so long that it is not necessary for them to haue any longer These are the words of Plato by the which is vnderstood that if the Caelestiall bodies haue no euill in them as beeing diuine pure cleane and sempiternall without any preiudiciall domage and free from all corruption and euill they can then by no means be causers of those domages euils which happen in the world to the inferior bodies Going on farther in the same booke This is sayth he the nature of the stars in sight most beautiful goodly in their moouings obseruing a most magnificent order imparting to inferiour creatures such things as are profitable for them By these authorities they inferre that seeing the starres are of such excellencie and that from them are imparted to creatures things profitable and wholesome they can by no meanes be the occasion of harme or mischiefe theyr nature office which they continuallie vse being contrarie thereunto But farther the same Author goeth on declaring the same more plainly Finally saith hee of all these thinges we may inferre this as a true and conclusiue opinion that it were vnpossible for the heauen the Planets the starres and the caelestiall bodies which appeare therein vnlesse they had a soule or vnlesse they dyd it through God by some exquisite reason to be able to reuolue the yeeres monthes dayes beeing the cause of all our good and so being of our good they cannot be of our euill And this explaneth Calcidiê° vpon the same Plato in his Tymaeus by these words Either sayth he all the starres are diuine and good without doing any euill or some of theÌ„ onely are euill and domageable But howe can this agree or howe can it be said that in a place so holy and so full of all bounty and goodnes there can be any euill And the starres beeing replenished with caelestiall wisedome euilnes and malice proceeding of the contrary which is folly howe can wee then terme the starres to be malicious or causers of any euill
vnlesse we shold say that which is not lawfull that they are at one time good and at another time euill and that they cannot mixtly be the cause both of good and euill the which is not to be thought or beleeued that all the starres haue not one selfe caelestiall substance none of them separating themselues from theyr owne nature so that all the starres beeing good they may be the cause of good but not of euill BE. These authorities me thinks conclude not throughlie the purpose of their intention for there are manie thinges that can cause both good and euill and therefore the caelestiall bodies also may doe the same AN. This is when there is in any thing both good euill working effects according to the nature thereof but there is no euill in the heauens not in any thing therein contained for according to Aristotle in his seconde Booke De Coelo the motion thereof is life to all things in the ninth of his Metaphisickes also he affirmeth that in those things which are sempiternall there can be found no euill error or corruption And Auerroes entreating of this matter vseth these wordes It is a thing manifest saith he that in those things which are Eternall and whose essence is without beginning there can be no euill error or corruption the which cannot be in any thing but where euill is and heereby may be knowne the impossibilitie of prouing that which the Astronomers say that there are some of them luckie and others vnluckie this only may be knowne of them that there are som better then others By these words we may vnderstand that the starres are all good but not in equalitie neither haue they all equall vertue goodnes and as in them there is no euill at all so can they not be the cause of any harme at all neither can wee say that their influences cause any contagious or pestilentiall infirmities so thinketh Mercurius Trismegistus in his Asclepius Where the heauen saith he is that which engendreth and if the office thereof be to engender it cannot be to corrupt Proclus in his booke De Anima holdeth the same The Heauens saith hee founded with a harmony in reason containe all worldly thinges putting them in perfection accomodating them and benefiting them which being so how then can they damnifie destroy or corrupt them Auerroes also alleadgeth another reason by the testimonie of Plato who sayth That euill is found in those things which haue no order nor agreement and all diuine thinges are framed and constituted in most excellent order whereby it followeth that the starres and other caelestiall bodies haue no euill in them and hauing none in them they cannot worke or cause any This opinion followeth Iamblicus in his Booke De Misterijs Egiptiorum and Plotinus in his tenth Booke where he demaundeth if the stars be the causes of any thing iesting and scoffing at the Astronomers who affirme that the Planets with their motions are not onely the causes of riches and pouertie but also of vertue vices health and diseases that in diuers times they worke vpon men diuers operations And finally he will by no meanes permit that there are any euill starres or that they can be sometimes good and somtimes euill which opinion is also maintained by Auerroes in his 3. booke of Heauen Where whosoeuer sayth hee beleeueth that Mars or any other planet or starre howsoeuer set in coniunction or opposition can hurt or doe domage he beleeueth that which is contrary to all Philosophy Marcilius Ficinus in his Comentaries vpon the sixth Dialogue of Lawes sayth thus One thing we must vnderstande and beleeue that all forces and mouings of the superior Bodies which discende into vs are of their owne nature alwaies causers of our good and guide vs thereunto wee must not therefore iudge that viciousnes of ill conditioned men proceedeth of Saturne or rashnes and crueltie of Mars or craft and deceit of Mercury or lasciuious wantonnes of Venus Let vs see what reason thou hast to attribute vnto Saturne that frowardnesse and vice which thy euill custome conuersation exercise or dyet hath engendred in thy body or minde or to Mars that fiercenes and crueltie which seemeth to resemble that magnanimitie and greatnes to which he is enclined or to Mercurie that subtiltie and craft called by a better name industrie or to Venus thy lasciuious loue and wantonnesse Hapneth it not often that men loose their sight yea and sometimes their liues vnder the flaming blasts of the Sunne-beames which is ordained onely for our comfort and to giue life and nourishment to things And doe wee not see diuers that in open ayre receaue the warmenesse thereof to theyr comfort who in enclosed places are with a small heate smothered sluft choaked And euen as these men through the heate of the Sun whose nature is to helpe cherrish and comfort doe receaue domage by theyr owne faulte in not vsing the same as they shoulde doe so may the successes of those which are borne vnder these planets which by their nature are al good throgh euil vicious education proue naught though the inclination of their planets be neuer so good and fauourable So that by these wordes of Marsilius the opinion of Astronomers Mathematitians and Phisitions seemeth not to be wel grounded but that how commonly held or allowed soeuer it be he holdeth it to be reprouable by many and euident arguments LU. The Philosophers are not a little beholding to you for strengthning their opinion with so many authorities effectual reasons no doubt but if this matter were put to your arbytrement they should finde of you a fauourable iudge AN. I haue not so good opinion of my selfe as to take vpō me the arbitrement of this matter though it were of lesse substance then it is especially so many wise learned men maintaining either side I haue therfore onely rehearsed touched some of their allegations on both sides leauing you in your choyse to leane vnto that opinion which liketh you best referring alwaies the iudgement therof to those that are of greater learning deeper studie and more grounded wisedome thē my selfe though it seemeth vnto me to be a matter scarcelie determinable considering the varietie of effectuall reasons that may be alleaged of either side LVD For all this I account you halfe partiall and therefore I pray you aunswere mee to one obiection which might be of the Astronomers side opposed the which is thus We see that there are diuers venomous and hurtfull hearbes and manie other Wormes Vermins and Serpents so contagious that they are thorough theyr poysons and infections noisome vnto men yea and often causers of their death And seeing that all inferiour bodies are ruled receauing their forces and vertues from the influence of the heauenly and superior bodies it then seemeth that they should be cause of the domage which is wrought by the
must haue the same encrease and decrease for the selfe same cause and reason as is of the other side and if the same goe lengthning on inwards it must be greater then it hath seemed vnto vs. AN. Whether this land extend it selfe on the other side of the North forward or whether the Sea be straight at hande I cannot resolue you for there is not any Author that writeth it neither do I thinke is there any that knoweth it the cause wherof as I said is that in passing by the coast of the West beyond the Iles of Thule the coldes are so bitterly sharpe that no ship dareth to aduenture farder by reason of the huge floting Rockes and flakes of Ise vvhich encomber that Sea threatning eminent danger and vnauoydable destruction to those that attempt to saile thereinto Of the other side of the East giuing a turne about to the very same North is discouered so far as the Prouince of Aganagora which is the last of all the knowne Countries on that side the Gulfe being past which is called Mare magnum for by land they say it is not to be trauailed by reason of the great Deserts the earth in many places full of Quagmyres with many other inconueniences which Nature seemeth to haue there ordained Some say that earthly Paradise standeth there and that therefore no earthly man in the world hath knowledge thereof but of this we haue before sufficiently entreated with the opinions of those that haue written thereupon Some there are also who write that in this Lande are certaine great mountains amongst the which are enclosed many peoples of India from which they haue no issue nor meanes at all to come out but I rather beleeue this to be a fiction because I find the same confirmed by no graue allowed Authour But howsoeuer it be beyond this Countrey called Aganagora is much vnknowne and vndiscouered Land neyther by sea thence Northward hath there been any nauigation or discouery of which also the extreame cold and the sea cōtinually frozen and choked vp with heapes of Ise may be the cause the feare of which hath hindred men from attempting the discouery therof onely that which we may hereby vnderstand is that there is a most great quantity of Land from the coast which goeth by the west turneth towards the North and that which compasseth about the East and turneth likewise to the North of which till this time there is not anie man that can giue direct notice in midst of all which is that which we intreated of which is vnder the North whose daie and night is reparted into a yeere BER I knowe not in vvhat sort the moderne Geographers doe measure or compasse the world but I know that they say that the whole Rotundity of all the Land and water in the worlde containeth not aboue sixe thousand leagues of which are discouered 4350. reckoning from the Hauen of Hygueras in the Occident or West Indies to Gatigara where the Prouince of Aganagora is cōtayned which is in the Orient so that there are yet to discouer 1650. leagues in discouering of which the ende and vtmost boundes of the Indies shoulde be knowne as well as that of this part of the earth which we inhabite AN. To those that will measure the world in this maner may be answered as a Boy in Seuilla to those that would deuide the conquest thereof between the King of Castile and the King of Portugale who in mockage of theyr folly puld downe his breeches and shewing them his buttocks badde them draw the line there along if they would needes deuide the world in the midst by measure as for those which mesure in such sort the worlde they take but the length of the earth fetching their way by the midst of the Equinoctiall and so the Astronomers and Cosmographers may goe neere the mark reckoning by degrees and giuing to euery degree 16. leagues a halfe a minute of way as they do but though they discouer this yet they can hardly come to discouer the many parts nookes that are of one side and another of the world being so wide that in one corner thereof may lye hydden many thousands of miles and Countries which beeing seene known wold perchance seem to be some new world so lieth this part of which I speake on the coast of the Sea quite without notice or knowledge BER Some will say that the shippe called Victoria which is yet as a thing of admiration in the Bay of Seuilia went round about the world in the voyage which she made of fourteen thousand leagues AN. Though she did compasse the world round about in one part yet it is not said that she compast the same about in all parts which are so many that to thinke onely of them is sufficient to amaze a mans vnderstanding Amongst the rest we neuer heard that the Coast from the West to the East by the way of the North or at least the greater part thereof hath beene compassed about as yet by any ship neither haue we knowledge of any thing at all neither by Sea nor Land nauigating from thence forward LV. If you reade Pomponius Mela in his Chapter of Scithia where he discourseth of this matter you shall finde that he bringeth the authority of Cornelius Nepos alleadging for witnesse Quintus Metellus whom he had heard say that when he was Proconsull of the Gaules the King of Swethland gaue him certaine Indians of whom demanding which way they came into those Countries they aunswered that through the terrible force of a great tempest they were so furiously driuen from the streame of the Indian Sea that after long attending nothing else thē to be swallowed vp of the waues they came at last violently to bee striken into a Riuer on the Coast of Germany which being true then they made that nauigation by those partes which you say are vndiscouered from the West to the East by the way of the North whereby it is to be thought that the Sea is not so frozen as they say but that it is nauigable AN. Truth it is that Mela saith so though it be doubted whether the Indians came this way or no and Mela himselfe in the ende of the Chapter turneth to say that all the same Septentrionall side is hardened with Ice and therefore vninhabitable and desert but as I haue said all this is not directly proued and confirmed by sound experience exact knowledge seeing we know not howe farre the Land extendeth it selfe on the other side of the North without comming to the Sea and if we would seeke to sift this secrete out and aspire to the knowledge of that which might be found in nauigating that Sea fetching a compasse about the world from North to North God knoweth what Lands would be found and discouered BER The likeliest to beleeue in this matter in my iudgement is that the same
The wonderfull puissance of the deuill The power of the deuill restrained by God A strange chance that happened to a Boy in the Citty of Astorga A verie strange thing that happened in Benauides The miserable end of a swearer The fourth kind of Spirits The fifth kind of Spirits These are causers of earthquakes The sixth kinde of Spirits The opinion of S. Basile touching the bodies of Spirits Both the Angels and deuils are pure Spirits The generall opinion of the holy Doctors coÌ„cerning the substance of Spirits The Spirits when it is necessary fashion vnto themselues bodies of fire ayre or earth c. What PhaÌ„tasma is A strange vision that hapned to Gentleman in Fuentes de Ropell A notable straÌ„ge thing that happened in Bolonia to one Iohn Vasques de Ayola a Spaniard A notable strange chance that hapned to a Gentleman in Spayne in a Monastery of Nunnes Another very strange history written by Alexander de Alexandro Another most straÌ„ge history written by Alexander de Alexandro The answer of S. Andrew to a question proposed to him by the deuill A strange History of Don Anthonio de la Cueua Incubi Succubi The deuils malice is such that he wil not stick to commit any abhomination so that he may cause men to commit it with him Marcus a Greacian that had great familiaritie with deuils An erronious opinion of Lactantius Firmianus A wonderful history of a mayden that was enamoured of the deuill An other strange history of a mayden deceaued by the deuill Negromancie Naturall Magique Abel the Sonne of Adam made a book of the vertues of the Planets The vse of natural Magique is lawfull The Magitians do couenant and agree with the deuill Some deuils higher in authoritie then others A pretty tale of Sprights that were seene in Beneuenta Another pretty tale of a Spright Trasgoâ—y Duendes de Casa Hobgoblins and Robin Goodfelows A Hobgoblin in the Citty of Salamanca A Story of a Studient and a Hobgobline in Beneuenta Another story of a Hobgobline in Beneuenta A false and ridiculous opinion that many hold touching those that are possessed Psellius opinion of the cause why the deuils desire to enter into mens bodies Enchaunters Witches The deuill sometimes entreth into the body of beastes A story of a student that rode between Guadalupe and Granada in one night Another notable chance that hapned to two men on their way to Granada Sorcerers Hags A notable chance that happened to a learned man in Spaine Fryer Alonso de Castra his opinion touching Sorcerers Hags Lamia Striges Wee call these skriech Owles Two maner of wayes by which the Sorcerers are present in generall assemblies with the deuill A strange story of a Sorceresse Another story of a Sorceresse written in Malleê° Maleficarum a booke contayning nothing but things exceeding wel verified and of vndoubted truth Another history of a Sorceresse recited by Paulus Grillandus The names of certaine old famous Sorcerers Negromancers The deuill in the ende always bringeth his ministers to shame and confusion Particuler vertue of men called Ophrogens A pretty kind of curing a man that was bitten by a mad dogge There is a Sect of men in Spain called Saludadores who heale by such like ceremonies those that are bitten by mad dogs I haue seene of them my selfe The cause why the deuill suggesteth euill thoughts to vs in our sleepe A strange chance that hapned to a Gentleman in his sleepe The deuill is alwayes lying in wait to deceaue vs. Aristotles definition of Fortune The grosnes of the Gentiles about their Gods Sundry maners and formes in which the Gentiles figured and paynted Fortune The phrase Corrio Fortuna is not so proper in English and therefore I set it in Spanish Temples dedicated to aduerse Fortune There is great difference betweene Chaunce Fortune The definition of Chaunce more general then that of Fortune Claudius despairing to liue of a sodain made Emperour Caligula murdered as he went to see certaine pastimes Beastes haue no vnderstanding but are onely guided by a distinct of Nature A Beare that playd vpon a Flute The fiercenes of the dogs of Albania The strange affection of a dog of K. Lysimachus The loue of a Romaine gentlemans dog to his dead maister Cardanê° also maketh meÌ„tion of thy dog in his booke de perfect is animalibus Fernandus Gonzala Ouiedê° sayth that this dog was called Bezerillus A strange story of the Earle of Beneuentaâ— dogge The gouernment of the Bees The prouidence of the Ants. The vigilance or the Cranes Reason and vnderstanding vnseparably conioyned and vaited together The cause why some beasts haue greater instinct then others * Dycha Desdycha * Ventura Disuentura * 〈◊〉 Desdichade Bonauentuâ—ado Malauenturado Some words of the Author omitted which treate of the Etimologie of Dycha Desdycha Ventura Disuentura and Disgracia deriuing them from the Latine which doe nothing agree with our English phrase In thinges spirituall interiour there can be no Fortune What wee ought in true Religion to thinke of Fortune There is no other Fortune then the will and prouidence of God What thing Desteny is The Stoyicks opinion of Desteny The opinion of Chrisippus The opinion of Seneca A story of one that said it was his desteny to be a Hangman An argument to proue that there is Destenie The obiection aunswered All that is not vnpossible may be auoided How the operation influence of the starres is to be vnderstoode Our soules farre more noble then the caelestiall bodies Out bodies lesse noble theÌ„ the Planets therfore subiect to their influence The influence of the planets worketh not â—â— force necessity but theyr effects may many vvayes bee altered and changed Our good Angel preserueth vs oftentimes from many mischiefes Astronomers sometimes foretell future things Pope Marcellê° Father said at the houre of his sonnes birth that he was borne to be Pope The Astronomer of Charie Many causes and reasons to alter that which the signes and Planets doe seeme to portend The Chyromancers or Palmestrers doe often meddle their Science with Negromancie The opinion of the Astronomers touching the operation of the Planets Opinion of the Philosophers The opinion of Plato Calcidius An obiection An aunswer to the obiection Auerroes Opinion of Merc. Trismegistus Auerroes Iamblicus Plotinê° scoffeth at the Astronomers Auerroes Opinion of Marsilius Ficinus The Astronomers opinion reprouable by many arguments Obiection The iuyce of Hemlocke giuen to drinke to those that were condeÌ„ned to die The iuyce of Mandragora is mortiferous The vertue of Hemlock The vertues of Mandragora No herbe so venomous but it is some-way vertuous profitable The Viper yeeldeth remedy against many diseases A Leaper strangely cured Pestilentiall diseases are caused through the corruptions putrifactions of the earth The heauen is deuided into fiue Zones and the earth into as many The opinion of Ouid. Macrobiê° Virgil and the rest of the ancients erred touching the enhabited parts of the