scatteryngly a loofe and farre of followed hym Whiche thyng Elanicus perceiuyng and thinkyng that occasion was then well offered not giuyng the signe betwixt them appoincted lifted vp his handes to the heauēs and with a loude voice said what longer abide you ye valiaunte and couragious Why shewe you not your prowes in the middle here of your Citée Then Cilon immediately draweth out his sworde and slue one of theim that in haste was come to waite on the tyranne out of the palace And on the other side Aristotimes seyng bothe Trasibolus and Lampidus assailyng hym and supposyng to escape theim fled to the Temple of Iupiter where he was slaine by the multitude pursuyug hym and his bodie drawen out thence in the sight of all men libertie beyng proclaimed throughout the whole Citee The multitude in heapes incontinently then assēbled but fewe yet came to see or behold that lothsome carrion before these women were deliuered whiche hastenyng to that place ioiously honoured them that by the death of the tyrāne had deliuered their countrie In the meane tyme the people running in hast to the palace where the Queene aduertised of the death of her housebande dreadyng muche that whiche in déede insued lockte her self vp in her closet secretly where she strangeled herself without the helpyng hande of any Now had this tyranne twoo very faire doughters bothe of ripe yeres and readie to bee married whiche vnderstādyng of the faule of their father withdrewe theimselues in all haste aparte into their cabinette whence thei incontinentely were drawen out by force of the people and diuers readie violently and without more to haue slaine theim Megestena with the reste of the imprisoned women skilfully appeased that their ragyng furie hesechyng theim to abstaine from the yonge gentle women consideryng the tyranne though other wise fell and cruell had neuer yet thei all beyng his prisoners imbrued hymself in the bloud of any one of thē At the request thē of these dames eche weight was sone appeased whiche after cōsultation resolued on this poinct that with their owne handes thei should doe themselues to dye chusyng what death so euer was to theim beste likyng Then were thei bothe shutte into a chamber togither the elder neither in gesture nor in woorde shewyng any kinde of sorrowe tooke from her waste her girdle fastenyng it to a poaste and beyng readie therein to dye exhorted her sister with manly courage to doe also the semblable but the yongest then taking her sister by the hande besought her moste humblie that she might dye first to whom the other aunswered euen as since our cradles hauyng still liued and continued togither I neuer yet denied you any your demaunde so am I contented to accorde you againe this your laste and fatall sute whiche is that I liue vntill you bee dedde although of all others this assuredly will goe nighest me to see thee myne owne sister to bee strangled here before me Now tooke then the youngest in hande her girdle whiche with trēblyng fingers moste pitifully she knotted the other aduisyng her well to fasten it aboute her necke that she more quickly and more easily might paie the tribute due vnto nature ▪ which she sone after her fare well giuen to her sister dolefullie accomplished When she now was this paste and gone the other stretched foorthe her bodie in moste reuerent maner possible semblablie coueryng it as appertaineth to the dedde After which she tourneth about to Megestena moste humblie intreatyng her that after her death she would not permitte her bodie to lie naked on the yearth whiche her requeste being easily graunted she tourning strangleth herself in the same girdle of her sister ¶ Why and for what causes men rarely aspire to the assured perfection of thynges in this life Chapt. 9. FIue principall thynges are there that distourne manne from the ripe and mature cognition of thynges in this life whiche if he well knewe he then might repute himself for perfecte and wise The firste is the ignorauncie or not knowyng of his ende to wette his not knowyng to what ende he is borne For assuredly if he well knewe it he would no thyng lesse pain hym self to attaine there vnto then he presently doeth to aspire to pompe and honour in whiche appetite rulyng hym his onely felicitie semeth to consiste But in this case I maie compare manne to a kynges soonne in his infancie of whom if you will aske whiche he loueth better the succession of a kyngdome or els an aple or a cherie whiche presently you shall offer hym it maie not bee doubted but he will refuse to bee kyng to plaie with or tast of the aple or cherie and that for that tofore he percase thereof hath tasted So fareth it with manne who if he be demaunded whiche he moste affecteth or riches or learnyng he at firste will desire to be maister of money ignoraunt and lesse wetyng that the learned onely and he alone is riche and father that it also is necessarie that the sage still order and gouerne his countrie and that also without knowledge honour is not honoured but rather becometh a note of ignominie and slaūder and that greate wealthe also without good letters is the true pathe to senslis brutalitie the roote of presumption and accomplishemente of rusticitie but the wise sufficeth to directe hymself and others posseste of these threasures that neuer maie faile hym But this all happeneth vnto manne for not knowyng to what ende he is borne The second is the immoderate vse of pleasures of the minde as well as also of the bodie whiche bothe annoye and droune no lesse the exteriour motions to vertue then the interiour also and these of the spirite So that manne so folded in the filthe of this worlde maie well bee resembled to the doughter of a Prince faire and beautifull to whom also appertained after her father the kyngdome but for hauyng committed fornication with a bond man deformed and odious is depriued thereof to her eternall infamie The thirde issueth of the euill disposition in mānes bodie whence manne of learnyng and good letters for the moste parte is incapable and this some tymes is caused by the place of his birthe whence he taketh to be of an imperfecte and impure complexion as in certaine countries in the East where as in partes of Africa men are borne so senslis and bestiall by meane of the extremitie of heate in these soiles that thei liue as brute beastes incapable of reason and on the other side in the coūtries Septentrionall or Northe in other some places by extreame coldnes are menne borne so wilde and sauage that some of them refuse not to feede on mannes fleshe suche are the Gothes and Ostrogothes with others And these people maie be compared to an Egle in whose foote there is fastened a stone of some waight whiche letteth her there to flie where by nature she desireth to wete aboue the cloudes in the supreme and higheste region of the aire
somewhat before his deathe confessed for that he knew the inhabitantes of Hierusalem woulde reioyce of his chaunge and to the intente it otherwise might succéede to the people then they at that time assuredly supposed he of accursed and detestable pretence to the intent they al in that day should mourne and lamente determined to cause to be donne that horrible murther The tyrannie also of Abimelech Sonne of Gedeon the Greate was no lesse straunge and marueilous for the intente he onely might raigne alone he trayterously slewe thrée scoare of his Brethren whose mercilesse hande none escaped but onely Ionathas which by the onely permission of God fledde to the intent the Traytour might neuer liue without suspition or feare of reuenge And yet here againe is it doubtfull to saye whether the treachery that he vsed towardes the Sichimites were more tollerable then this or not on whom for that they had chaste him out of their Citie into which afterwardes reentering by force in the night reuenged him selfe by the vniuersall slaughter of them all for he committed to the swoorde all them that he there founde Man Wooman yonge and olde and certaine suche as for there safetie ranne into the Churches he foorthwith inuironned with greate heapes of woode whiche as soone as it had taken fire the heate and smooke thereof was sutche so intollerable that the prysoners that thought to haue liued in assured Sanctuarye were scortcht eche one and wasted there miserably to powder this after he had then distroyed the whole Towne with ploughe he turned in despite the soyle coueringe it with Salte in stéede of other grayne A. Regulus by the people of Carthage was in manner semblable intreated who beynge there prysoner vpon his promisse of gainecome was sente vnto the Romaines to conclude a peace or at the least to practise the permutation of Captiues but beinge returned lesse answearing their expectation not by constrainte but for performance of his promisse was shutte vp into a greate pype or tunne thicke sette with sharpe nayles pearsinge on euery side so that he coulde on no side either leane or arrest him selfe in whiche sorte they did him cruelly to die All Tirannes are ordinarily of nature cruell but who so of them is blouddy is more execrable then the others Phalaris Kinge of Sicilia a most wretched tyranne who although he executed sundrie without cause or reason yet in truthe and iustly to consider of him he was in harte and affection then in déede more cruell This manquayler had a Bull of Brasse whiche one Perillus had skilfully wrought him in which when he had inclosed whom he minded to torment hauinge vnder the sayde Bull a greate and hoate fire the poore patient gaue foorth thence his sorowfull Notes as though it had benne the bellowinge of an Oxe whiche he did to this intente onely that by the lamentable shrikes vnder a Bulles voyce vttered he mighte in no wise be moued to pitie or compassion One thinge did he while he liued honestly for the first that euer he tormented in this his Brassy Bull was Perillus him selfe the authour thereof Straunge was the vnnaturall and vnreuerent Crueltie practised by Tullia doughter to Tarquine Kinge of the Romaines which to inioye the Crowne caused her Father before his time to be murthered which him selfe would haue geuen her had shée neuer so litle tarried and that whiche is more agayne in her to be noted her Fathers bodye layde forthe deade on the grounde shée aduaunced her selfe in her coche incontinently paste foorth ouer it at al not appalled although the Horses that drewe her trembled at that sighte and would haue chosen some other waie to haue paste it the Cocheman also that draue them féeling somme pricke of conscience would in like manner haue chosen some other pathe to the intent the Kinge beinge dead might not be so shamefully dismembred brused but so much stil pleased shée in her cruell affection that euen that whiche the insensible beastes of pitie would haue refused in despite shée brake them of that their choyse will forcinge them to passe ouer the martyred body of her Father The Scithians a people in warre very furious and valiante are in sundrie Histories taxed of Crueltie But emonge other sortes this one geueth ful cause of marueile They would kill greate beastes as Oxen or Horses in whose bellies they inclosed sutche as they meante to execute whom they caused in sutch sorte so faste to be bounde that they neuer coulde moue or by any meanes comme thence where continually they gaue them as nature asketh somme thinge to eate to the intents that they lyuinge thus might rotte and corrupte with the stinking carrion of the beaste theire Graue or Sepulchre and to aggrauate the matter that they might be also consumed lyuinge by the wormes that of custome growe still in sutche lothesome as were these and putrified carrions Wée reade agayne of Maximianus Emperour of Rome who also practised so horrible a Cruelty as hardly might enter into the harte of man He bounde men lyuinge to sutche as were deade which he caused to be leaft straitly in this sorte coupled vntill the deade had infected and impoysoned the liuinge The very semblable to this recordeth Virgil of Maxentius Agayne wée finde of the straunge tyrannies practised by Alexander Fereas who buried men quicke linckte face to face and grapled fast as before togeather Others somme he woulde apparell in the skinne of a Woulfe or other Sauage and Wilde beaste whom after he had in beste manner so attyred caused to be carried out into the middle of somme fielde where he bayted them with Mastyues vntill they were miserably dismembred and eaten I knowe not whether any man maie heare to speake of the accursed bouchery practised by Astiages Kinge of the Medes againste Arpalus one of his greatest States and approued friende in necessitie This Astiages by occasion of a Dreame which here to recoumpte shoulde be longe and tedious gaue to Arpalus in secrete commission spéedely to dispatche and murther a yonge Sonne of his who moued with compassion beholdinge the poore infante whiche afterwarde had to name Cyrus the Greate as also that he feared the Moother of the yonge Prince woulde in no wise accomplish that commaundement of Astiages but on the other side dissemblinge it did his carefull paine safely to foster him Longe after the Tyrante aduertised that his childe yet then lyued without semblant of displeasure called vnto him Arpalus whom in consideration of his clemencie vsed towardes the little Cyrus priuily did to be slaine a yonge Sonne of his callinge the daye folowinge the Father to him to dinner whome emonge other meates he fedde with the bodye of his owne childe of whiche Feaste the vnhappy Father had no kinde of misliking as one that knewe nothinge whereof he had eaten Astiages not yet contente with this insupportable Tyranny procéedeth yet further with an vnhearde crueltie for in stéede of the
constitution of bodye as men takinge either theire beginninge or béeinge of a matter most pure and simple vntill sutch time as by the chaunge of Ages whose propertie is to alter and to impayre al thinges the state of Man beganne to weaken yéeldinge his daies in number fewer then before Againe in that Age one thinge to them was very helpinge and profitable the whiche same to vs is very noysome and contrary whiche was the greate temperancy vsed in Drinkinge as well in quantitie as in qualitie also with the small chaunge and varietie of Meates for neither had they so many sortes or sundrie dishes as wée ne knewe they any or newe or dainty inuentions To eate Fleashe what it was before the generall Floudde was vnto Man altogeather vnknowen Further some hold for common most assured opinion that bothe Fruites and Hearbes without all comparison were in those daies of farre greater efficacie and vertue then any founde any where in this our latter Age for that they then sprange out of a new and fyned soyle and not of sutche as nowe it is worne wasted weryed and consumed For the Generall Inundation tooke from it his woorthe or fatnesse leauinge it in respecte infertile and barren restinge salte and vnsauery by the rage of the Sea whiche many wéekes flowed ouer it These reasons then are good and eche of them sufficient to conclude that it neither was so straung or marueilous but rather a thinge most agréeant vnto nature that men then lyued longer then in these daies presently Farther it maie be saide that whiche wée for an assured truthe holde that Adam well knewe the vertues of all Hearbes Plantes and Stoanes whiche also his Successours of him in sutche sorte learned that to the like perfection after them neuer any attained This then was graunted them of somme parte for the preseruation of their healthe for the continuance and protraction of their daies in this worlde who to expel the causes of diseases if any grewe on them only vsed to minister Simples abhorring our venemous compoundes of this Age whiche in place to purge and purifie mans bodye weaken and dispatche for the moste parte the poore patiente Againe in these aboue remembred firste yéeres both the life and healthe of man was propte and sustained by the course of the Heauens with the influence of the Starres and Planettes then farre more beneficiall then they presently nowe are for that then there neither had paste so many Aspectes Coniunctions Eclipses with other infinite Impression Celestiall whence nowe procéede so many chaunges variations alterations on the Earth and emonge the Elementes also in those daies principal occasion of healthe and continuance contrarye nowe in this our Age of all sickenesse and deathe But aboue all that that wée haue here alleaged or by reason haue any waye proued I nowe mainteine the many yéeres of these our Firste Fathers to haue procéeded of the only and inspeakeable prouidence of God whose Maiestye would their continuance shoulde be sutch and so longe and that these aboue remembred causes ayded mutually one the other to the only intente that of twoo persons might then increase many that the Earthe might be inhabited and mankinde increased Also farther consideringe that for as mutche as Man after the fludde liued not so longe as before God licensed that they should enter into the Arke and there saue them selues more Men and Woomen then him selfe in the beginning and at the first had Created to the only ende that the world might the sooner be inhabited S. Augustine of this matter writinge some thinge reporteth that our Forefathers hadde not only in health and many daies aduantage of vs but also in huge and greate statures of body as is euident remembred by many their boanes as well found in their Sepulchres and Graues as also at times vnder great Mountaines and Hilles in sutche sorte that some assuredly hold that thei were the boanes of such as liued before the Inundation The same S. Augustine affirmeth that being at Vtica a towne in Aphrike beholding there the boanes of a dead mans bodie amonge others founde there some of his Iawes so great and weighty that they well would haue poised an hundred of these in our Age. Notwithstanding though yet our life be short yet maie wée not for iuste cause any where complaine for that if wée abuse it in contempt of the Diuine Maiestie a rare benefite receiue we that thei to vs be so shortned for wée will now no longer acknowledge our God and yet if wée would as becometh vs in all feare to serue him a time sufficient hath he to that purpose lente vs for that the bountie of our Sauiour is so great and ready that he receiueth for Attonement sufficiente mans bowinge harte and humble spirite ¶ That the opinion of those that supposed the yeeres of the former Ages paste to haue benne more short then these of our time is false As also whiche was the firste Cittie of the worlde and finally that our Forefathers had more Children then these that are remembered to vs in the Scriptures Chap. 2. FOr that it appeared vnto some that the space of nine hundred yéeres in our firste Fathers séemed a thing altogether impossible lesse able to cōprise or receiue these aboue remembred reasons by vs alleaged the only and sole causes of that so longe a life And where as they durste not to denie the foresaide number of yéeres so plainely and openly specified and geuen vs out of holy Write they affirme that the yéeres of the first age were farre more shorter then these of our time so that the aduantage of longe life whiche is vnto them attributed so farre aboue vs is not so greate as it hathe benne supposed Somme others emonge them would also assure vs that one of our yéeres containeth tenne of that age past Also many others haue saide that eche course of the Moone yéelded vnto them one whole full and compleate yéere whiche it pleased them to tearme Annus Lunaris Others some also dreamed that thrée of our Monethes gaue to them a yéere so that this accoumptinge foure of theire yéeres lendeth vs iuste one and no more For that in this sorte as wel the Chaldeans as also the Arcadians parted theire yéeres as remembreth Lactantius M. Varro a moste learned Romaine in others many besides this matter was of the opinion that these Anni Lunares were to be numbred from the Coniunction of the Moone vntil the newe Moone againe whiche maie be the space of xxix dayes and certaine odde houres Pline in like māner reckeneth it fabulous that any in the first Age shoulde liue so many dayes affirminge that the Inhabitauntes of Arcadia so numbred theire yéeres as wée aboue haue remembred by the space onely of thrée Monethes without more There is also emonge vs Christians a certaine Booke of the Ages of the worlde written by Eliconiensis where he also séemeth to be of the saide minde and aduice
Papyrius of one of the most Honorablest families in Rome This Childe at night beinge returned home his Mother first by intreatie in flatteryng sorte desired him to learne her what matters were debated that daie in the Senate consideringe their longe abode besides the woonted manner To whom the boye answeared that he might not well disclose it consideringe it was prohibited thereof to speake any thinge Shée this mutche vnderstandinge as is the common woonte and vsage of Woomen waxte then mutche more earnest thereof to féele some thinge in sutche sorte that neither by faire woordes nor flattery able to gette any thinge woulde with threates and roddes finally force him to answeare her lesse honest hasty importunitie Whose malice to auoide this wise and wilye Boye aduising him wel of this pretie guile saide that this deferrent was amongest them that daie carefully handled whither as well for the state Publike as also for the augmentation and more spéedy increase of Mankinde it mighte be more conducible to the whole Empire of Rome that one Man shoulde haue twoo Wiues or contrary that one Wooman should be geuen to twoo Husbandes which bothe partes failed not of most earnest assured Factours who the nerte day saithe he will conclude on some final resolute determination The which thinge thus ones vnderstoode by the Moother to whiche shée lightly added bothe faithe and credite moued therewith something perplexed aduertiseth other Ladies Dames of these newes to the ende they might lette and distourne that deuise of geuing twoo woomen as wiues to one man furtheringe the other parte to the vttermost of their mighte to enritche eche Dame with twoo Husbandes at the least On the morninge folowing a great number of the Romaine Matrones were in flockes assembled at the Gates of the Senate effectuously and in many woordes requitinge theire Lordes not to passe on any so vniuste a Decrée as to geue to one man in Marriage twoo wiues but rather to goe forewarde without staye to the contrary The Senatours lesse wetinge to what pourpose this tended amazed in entrance one after the other into the Senate demaunded eche of other whence mighte procéede this so rare and shamelesse inciuilitie altogeather vnable thereof to yéelde any cause or reason But in the ende the yonge boye the little Papyrius did them out of payne layinge before them what had chaunced him the night passed with his Moother and howe that for feare of her thunderinge threates and greate woordes was forced for his discharge in this pretie sorte to deceiue and beguile her The matter thus then vnderstoode by the whole House they highly commended the secrete constancie in the childe Concluding notwithstandinge that thencefoorthe no Father shoulde bringe with him his childe into that place besides the younge Papyrius whiche onely after entered to the intente that by these meanes no secretes shoulde out of that House or Place be reuealed By the practise of this childe againe maie the Elders of our Age what to doo in their affayres be very well aduertised consideringe that if a Priuate Secrete be not to be disclosed mutche lesse then a Common and Publique Secrete principally emonge the Aged and men of assured Iudgemente M. Brutus and Cassius with the others all their accomplices whiche had conspired the deathe of Iulius Caesar supposinge it for the state Publique no lesse expediente then it also was necessary for the maintenaunce of their Libertie hauing laide their plotte and deuised the manner howe to putte these thinges in perfecte execution would notwithstandinge thereof imparte nothing with Cicero one of their especial and moste assured friendes who also aboue others moste effectually desired the abolition of that tyrannie not for any diffidence or mistrust they had in him but for that he onely was reputed a simple and badde Secretorie A thinge assuredly woorthy of admyration consideringe howe many they were that conspired his Ruine in howe priuie manner and howe longe they concealed it and that from theire approued and beste beloued friende Fuluius sommetime reuealed a greate Secrete to his wife whiche not longe before he had receiued of the Emperour Octauian which after discouered by his saide wife notis therof came immediatly to the Prince who for his ouer mutch lightnesse in maner most sharpe rebuked him tauntingely By meanes whereof he entred into desperation determining to doo presente force on him selfe but firste charginge his wife with the greate wronge that shée hadde donne him who saide that he no reason nor iuste cause had at all to grieue with her consideringe the many dayes that they had lyued togeather he yet had not felte her fickle complexion or otherwise knowing it that so londely would abuse his owne knowledge therein reposinge his trust and affiance in her Wherefore thoughe her Husbande were the cause of this errour yet determined shée to suffer the firste paine due therefore and with the same laid violente handes on her selfe after whose deathe poore Fuluius did the same It is readde in the Life of the Emperour Nero that his deathe beinge conspired on a time in Rome a thinge moste expediente as well for the Romaines as also for all others his rare cruelties considered hée to whom it belonged by couenaunte to doo the déede mette by happe a certaine Prisoner whiche by ordinaunce of the tyrannie was then on passage to place of Execution and consideringe with him selfe that the wicked peruerse nature of the Emperour was suche that none whome he apprehended at any time escaped deathe and therefore the Prisoner whiche sorrowfully lamented mighte no waye escape his bloudy and mercilesse hande drewe somethinge nighe him not remembringe that his affayres demaunded secrete dealinge Praye to God saithe he that it maie please him to preserue thée vntil to morrowe for if thou doo passe this day vnto an ende I will assure thée that Nero shall not doo thée to die Whiche thinge vnderstoode by that miserable Prisoner who incontinently suspected that whiche in déede was séeking the only meanes to saue his owne life declared the matter foorthewith to the Emperoure aduisinge him to take good héede to him selfe By occasion whereof Nero immediately apprehended him that had comforted him in sutche sorte the aboue remembred Prisoner and by chaunge of tormentes forced him to confesse the Coniuration By reason whereof him selfe was cruelly executed theire Determination made frustrate and voide Pline recoumpteth the plaine contrarye of Anaxarchus who beinge apprehended for the semblable matter curragiously bitte of his tongue with countenaunce vnappalled to the intente that he neuer would disclose therewith any Secrete spittinge it manfully into the face of the Tyrante The Athenians curiously framed a certaine Image of Iette in the honour of a common wooman who hight Lyonna in memory of her excellente constancie for that shée so wel and so secretly had kepte bothe silence and consell in a certaine conspiracie whiche Image was framed without any tongue the better to geue foorthe
laste Seruis or Dishes of pleasance he caused in large Chargers solemnely to be serued in the heade féete and handes of the yonge Martyred childe vnto the good Father to the onely intente he should not be vnwéetinge that he then had banqueted and eaten of his owne Sonne Marius and Silla twoo capitall enimies on bothe sides so raged in execrable Tyrannye that thei contended as appeareth who might surmount and surpasse the other in villanye Silla bouchered in one daye foure Legions of Souldiers The Prenestines also a people of Italye crauinge with teares his fauoure and grace for that they had receiued the Capitaine Marius coulde notwithstandinge by no meanes escape his cruell hande For generally without excertion he murthered them all and gaue their bodyes for a praye to the Crowes and Rauens to féede on The semblable did also Marius his Companion in bouchery The Emperour Tiberius Successour to Octauian surpassed I trowe all others in his time who after his fainte clemencie in the entraunce of his Raygne passed no daye in whiche he spilte not the bloude of somme Innocentes Besides he diuised sutche a mercilesse policie as tofore hadde neuer benne in any place hearde of he inhibited that vnder payne of deathe none shoulde be so hardye to deplore lamente or make any shewe of mournefull semblant at the deathe of those that it shoulde please him any waye for any cause to execute A Crueltie straunge and suche as hathe not benne knowen for I déeme there can be no greater paine then to inhibite the poore harte that it vnloade and discharge not it self of his dolours by alarmes teares Also when he did to die any yonge maydens he firste committed them to his Tormentours to be deflowred of them to the intent that with their death they togeather shoulde lose their honour and Chastitie He so much was pleased in spillinge of bloude that vnderstandinge one had staine him selfe whom he before had Sentenced to death of pourpose to escape his mercilesse and cruell hande sighed with hawtie voice in lamentable manner sayinge Oh howe vnhappely hathe this Crows escaped mée by whiche name it pleased him to note the Condemned For you muste vnderstande that he in sutch sorte tormented the poore patient before he would suffer him by any meanes to die that they supposed presente deathe to be to them bothe a gaine and a grace Straunge were it to write what inuentions he vsed newe tormentes in Execution Sommetime he forced the Condemned excessiuely to drinke and immediately woulde cause the Cundittes of their Vrine so straitly to be bounde that they by no meanes possible mighte ease them selues that waye and so woulde he suffer them in excessiue paine to languishe till deathe shoulde take order for chaunge of theire life And further for his sale and onely pleasure he caused other somme to be throwne into the Sea from an excéedinge highe Cliffe or Rockys banke in the I le of Capraire adioyninge vnto Naples and for because that after that sorte to die in the Sea was as he thoughte a deathe too gentle he caused certaine Marriners and others with Pikes and sharpe weapons in Boates to stande directly vnderneathe the saide Rocke whiche receiued and bloudely martyred the miserable patientes before they might enioye the benefite of the Water Nowe after the shameful deathe of this incarnate Deuill such in déede as him selfe had wel deserued Caius Caligula succéeded in the Empire who either was equall or rather surpassed his Predecessours in all kinde of monsterous accursed tyrannies He on a time with greate affection wished that all the Inhabitauntes of Rome had togeather but one heade to the intent that at one blowe he might strike it of He strangly complained of the infelicitie of his time for that there chaunced not during his Raigne any Famine Plague Generall Inundations Subuersions and Diuastations of Countries with many sutche other dreadfull and miserable calamities Of a certaine man he demaunded bannished by Tiberius howe he liued or what he did duringe his Exile who in perfecte flattery answeared that he incessantly had praied to God to call hence Tiberius to the ende that he mighte succéede him without staye in the Empyre Whiche thinge considered of by this monsterous Traytour and doubtinge leaste so many thousandes whiche he had exiled shoulde in like manner pray to God for his deathe sente foorthewith into all partes to call them home againe whom immediately after their spéedie returne he commaunded to be executed without respect of any He straitly charged all his Tormentours that they by litle and litle shoulde tormente the afflicted Innocentes so that by small paines they might beginne to die protractinge their death as longe as was possible for he would he saide that they felte howe their life failed in them He also saide that others eftsoones of his complexion saide The people wishe me ill for that they feare mée After this Caligula succéeded Nero in execrable malice not at all his inferiour For proufe whereof he practised sutch a mercilesse tyrannie as wel in it comprised all other petie Treacheries For without any regarde to thinges holy or prophane to the Maiestrate what so euer he were or priuate Subiecte he caused the Citie of Rome to be sette on fire inhibitinge all men vnder paine of deathe by any meanes what so euer to quenche or asswage it neuer woulde he that any man shoulde saue any parte of his goodes So continued this fire wastinge and consuminge the Cittie seuen dayes fully seuen nightes to the ende him selfe out of a highe Tower not farre of beholdinge it reioysinge at this dolorous and mournefull spectacle He with villanous hande murthered his owne proper Moother He also did to die the Husbandes of Octauiana and Sabina bothe whiche he marryed but soone after beraughte them in manner semblable of theire liues Assuredly this was he that beyonde all others raged moste in crueltie for he was the firste that persecuted the Christians and in his time was the first greatest Persecution of the Church He made open she we of his surpassinge crueltie of his vnmeasurable and furious brutalitie for hearinge on a time a Greeke verse in effecte thus mutche signifiynge Woulde God the Heauen and Earthe the Sea and what so is After my deathe mighte cease and ende as eke all hope of blisse But I farre otherwise would that it chaunced by my life time saide he I coulde well be contented to take mine examples from barbarous Princes not touchinge any more the Emperours of Rome but the Successours againe of the aboue remembred in life and manners so outragious and execrable force mée to dwell stil emonge them rippinge and vnfoldinge their tragicall insolencie of Domitianus Vitellius Commodus Maximianus and others theire semblables I speake at all nothinge But of Diocletian whose manners so vnsauerye and bestiall furie Eusebius in his Ecclesiasticall Histories reciteth Sommething muste I speake before I passe him vtterly to the intente that all blasphemers
enimie Capitall to Rome and hidinge him selfe in an infectious sinke of mans ordure woulde there haue slayne him selfe but his forces fayled him in the execution of that so meritorious a déede whence he vsed in that exployte the healpinge hande of an other so in wrestinge and mowinge with his euill fauoured mouthe gaue foorthe his Spirite to the whole Senate of Diuels Diocletian in manner semblable depriued of the Empyre died of poyson by his owne handes ministred Domician beinge by Stephanus Saturnus Maximus others in seuen sundry places déepely wounded departed hence to Nero to raygne with him for euer Tullia of whom wée haue somethinge aboue remembered banished from Rome died no lesse a begger then a wretche most miserable Astiages graundfather to Cyrus whom he commaunded Arpalus priuely to murther to whome for that he had not executed his commaundement he gaue to be eaten in banquette his owne Sonne was deposed by Gods iuste iudgement by the very same Cyrus Herode also with others infinite whom all to remember here woulde be longe and tedious died a death to the others not dissemblable Lette those therefore that rule and gouerne the world in any wise leaue to be blouddy cruell leaninge on the staffe of compassion and clemencie to the intent they maye liue assured of the hartes of their vassaules for the beste assurance of his state that the Prince may haue is to be beloued of his people and Subiectes ¶ Of a straunge case whiche at twoo diuerse times chaunced after one and the same sorte vnto twoo Romayne Knightes of Honorable Families Chap. 16. THe chiefe and principall that conspired the death of Iulius Caesar as Plutarche at large with others recordeth were Brutus and Cassius whiche bothe with all their adherentes were after exiled declared for open enimies to the Romaines by Octauian Lepidus Marcus Antonius who commaunded as they pleased throughout the whole Citie Of the faction of Brutus and Cassius was Marcus Varro one emonge all the others of moste fame honour who beinge in the fielde with the other coniurates were discomfited by Octauian and Marcus Antonius who the better to saue if he might his life and to be reputed for none other then a common Souldier chaunged foorthwith incontinently his apparell thrustinge him selfe into the heape or company of Captiues and so without more adoo was solde for vile price emonge the others vnto a certaine Romayne who hight Barbulas who within very fewe dayes perceiuinge well his honest demeanoure dealinge supposed him to be as truthe was a Romayne although in very déede he knew him not for sutche a one On a time therefore he with drewe him aparte earnestly intreatings him to learne him what he was promisinge that if he would disclose vnto him what he hight of what House or Familie he would assuredly purchase him grace with M. Antonius and Octauian but M. Varro would for nothing vtter him self so that in fine Barbulas farre otherwise then he firste déemed concluded with him selfe that he was no Romayne Within fewe daies nowe Octauian and M. Antonius returned them to Rome as also Barbulas with his late bought Seruant who perchance notwithstandinge was better Gentleman then his Maister It chaunced him there shortly after his arriuall wayting at the Senate doore Barbulas his Lorde about his affayres within to be knowen of a certaine Romaine who incontinently aduertised Barbulas thereof whiche without any semblant that he knew any thinge or without any woorde paste thereof vnto him wrought so with Octauian whiche then ruled in Rome that he easily obtained him grace and pardon by meane whereof foorthwith he frankly infranchised him and brought him to Octauian who courteously receiued him from that time foorth helde him in the number of his friendes After this nowe Octauian and M. Antonius fell out in sutche sorte that Barbulas leaned to Antonius whome Octauian in fielde ouerranne and discomfited Barbulas then dreadinge the wrothe of Octauian vsed for his safetie the aboue remembred policie practised by Varro that is to wéete he did on him the coate of a poore Souldier M. Varro then for that he longe before had not séene him as also for that he had chaunged his apparel emong other Captiues unknowen bought him for a bondeman But after shorte time remembringe him againe he so practised with Octauian that he obtained him pardon doinge him to be frée possest of woonted libertie So that eche of them repayinge the dutie of courtesie to other leaue vs example sufficient of the lesse staide assurance of greate states in this life with admonition to all of what degrée they so be that they neuer leaue to feare the fall no not then when they highest shall sitte in Fortunes Chayre as also on the other side neuer to dispaire when the same Fortune shall laye them vnder her angry and disdainefull foote ¶ Of the distinction of the Age of Man accordinge to the opinion of moste Astrologians Chap. 17. BY the common diuision of Astrologians as well Arabies Caldees Greekes and Latines as also by the particuler opinion of Proclus Ptolomie and Al. Rasellus the life of Man is deuided in seuen Ages ouer euery one of which ruleth and gouerneth one of the seuen Planetes The firste therefore is called Infancie which continueth the space of foure yéeres onely during which time the Moone hath principal masterie on Man for that the qualities of this Age fitly answeare to the influence of that Planete for our bodies then are moyste delicate tender féeble and flexible rightly agreing with the qualities of the Moone For in this time for smal cause man easily is altered with none or very litle toile he waxeth streight werie his body groweth and increaseth almost sensibly to be perceyued And this generally nowe chaunceth to all of this Age principally and chiefly by the influence of the Moone yet notwithstandinge not equally but more to somme then vnto some others for as mutche as some other dissidente qualities by the influence of the Heauens and aspecte of the Planetes in mans Natiuitie or time of Birthe cause some secrete and priuie alteration in all menne as they fauourably or with lesse fauour beholde eche the other The seconde Age continueth fully tenne yéeres and endeth in the fourtenth of our life whiche Age the Latines call Pueritia the ende of Infancie and beginninge of Adolescencie In this parte chiefly ruleth an other Planete Mercurie whose place of arrest is in the second Spheare He easily altereth and chaungeth his countenaunce for in aspecte with the good he also is good as with the naughty he turneth and becometh nought Duringe this Age nature composeth her selfe to the qualities of this Planete for now yonge children make their firste shewe of their inclination and witte be it either in readinge writinge singinge or the like they are also then very tractable and docill in their deuises notwithstandinge light vnstayde inconstante and vnstable The thirde Age containeth eight yéeres
and as many agayne to the Seconde whiche both togeather mounte to fourtiene The Thirde from thence reacheth to the eighte and twentie yéere The twoo nexte Ages folowinge haue eche againe seuen whiche with the others by computation geue fourtie and twoo The Sixte hathe fourtiene and endeth with fiftie and sixe and that remaineth what so euer it be he referreth it to the Seuenth Age. Solon also as the abouesaide Censorinus recordeth diuideth these Seuen into Tenne iustly sunderinge the Thirde the Sixte and the Seuenth in the middle in sutche sorte that euery of these tenne partes conteine onely seuen yéeres and no more These are the Distinctions of Ages then that wée finde emonge Philosophers sauinge that Isidorus as also somme of the abouesaide diuide them onely into Sixe Of whiche vnto the Firste he geueth seuen yéeres calleth that Age so yonge and tender Infancie The Seconde to this in time equall Puerilitie from thence vntill the ende of the eighte and twentie yéere he accoumpteth on the Thirde Age and calleth it Adolescencye a time wherein wée growe beste and reatche to perfection The Fourthe is from thence vntill the ende of the fourtie yéere whiche Age in Latin he calleth Iuuentus The Fifte to which he geueth the full space of twentie yéeres whiche with the others mounte vnto sixtie He noteth for the declininge Age or if you rather will the firste entrie into Olde Age. The remanent of Mannes life he attributeth to stoopinge Age whiche howe mutche so euer it be endeth only the laste parte Horace a moste excellent and most renowmed Poete diuideth this whole matter but into foure partes as also did as wée read Pythagoras In Pueritiam Iuuentutem Aetatem Virilem Senectutem whiche he artificially describeth in Arte Poetica with all the conditions proper and incidente to these Ages And yet according to the rules of natural Philosophie mans life is onely to be parted in thrée partes The first is that time that he hath to growe in The second while he arresteth and dwelleth at one staie The laste when he declineth and beginneth to stoope forewardes For as saith Aristotle what so is ingendred in the beginninge augmenteth and increaseth and afterwarde stayeth for a time arrestinge in his perfection but in the ende declineth and sauereth of diminution So that hence to conclude a tripartite diuision is not of the others all leaste proper or fittinge Of this opinion also were the moste parte of the Arabian Phisitions although Auicenna a man of rare learninge and of an excellent iudgement hath lotted out mans time by foure distincte Ages The first he calleth Adolescencie the ful space of thirty yéeres for that duringe that time man yet still is growinge To the seconde be geueth name of a well stayde Age or of an Age wherein bewtie in all menne perfecteth this parte continueth vntil the fiue and fortie yéere in which wée liue seased of absolute perfection Nexte followeth the thirde a secrete diminution and priuie pathe vnto olde Age whiche holdeth on fully the space of fiftiene yéeres Nowe order giueth vs in his place the laste a wery a féeble and an vnable Age sutche as men terme a Decrepite or Caduke Age. Here muste wée notwithstandyng note and consider that although it pleased him to geue vs this his quadripartite diuision yet no where forbiddeth he vs to subdeuide agayne the firste parte which coÌ„taineth as wée saide the space of thirtie yéeres lottinge the sayde parte into thrée distincte partes or seuerall Ages by this meanes accordinge him with those that before parte as is remembered the whole course of â—…ans life into sixe sundry portions But here consideringe these variable opinions I know not where moste safely to arrest my selfe neither may any man geue assured determination as wel for diuersitie of complexions and dispositions of menne as also that wée inhabite diuers Landes and Countries the consideration of our distte mattereth also somewhat as whether wée féede on meates sauery of light and easie digestion or of grosse and lesse pleasant hardly concocted by meanes whereof and of the semblable man either sooner or later altering becommeth at times differente olde and decrepite For this cause saith Galen hardly may man limite any times vnto Ages whiche well considered cause that these so dissonante and so sundry opinions séeme not all thinge so straunge and so exiled from reason Seruius Tullius Kinge of the Romaynes who as of him recordeth A. Gellius was onely still busied in betteringe the state Publike as then especially when he firste distinguished fiue sundrie or seuerall estates emonge the Romaynes of the life of man remembringe but thrée partes onely naminge the firste Puerilitie the space of seuentiene yéeres the seconde by his accompte reachte vnto the sixe and fortie yéere in whiche Age he inrolled his Soldiers as moste able and fitte then to all exploites of Chiualrie but who so longer liued those called he wise mature men of aduised Counsell This diuision for that it is vninersall is of no parte contrary or repugnant to the others includinge the lesse and perticular members makinge some shewe and certaine semblante of the woonted diuisions whiche of custome ordinarily sunder and seioyne the gréene Age from the riper and that againe from olde Age. This gréene Age I saye from the daie of our birth vntill the laste of our youthe by some computation contayneth fortie fiue yéeres not mutche more or lesse as by accompte appeareth Virgil also vseth the very same Epitheton Viridisque iuuentus whiche is to saye gréene youthe ripe and mature Age thence continueth vntill the sixtie yéere in which time who so liueth Seruius calleth them men of assured staie and aduice the residue of our life is olde and féeble Age. These thrée partes maie againe be well subdeuided to accorde and conforme the forepassed varieties whiche séeme to be so dissidente and contrary in appearance ¶ Of certaine yeeres in mans life whiche the Learned in times paste iudged aboue the others to be marueilous daungerous as also for what cause they esteemed it to be so Chap. 18. THe auncient Philosophers and Astrologians by diligent obseruation haue curiously noted certaine yéeres in mans life to be assuredly perilous which in Latine they call Annos clymactericos alludinge vnto the Gréeke woorde Clima signifiynge as somme will the staffe of a Ladder or a degrée in any thinge Whence they note that these yéeres are in sutche sorte and manner limited as are steares or steppes that aunsweare by iuste proportion in any thinge very daungerous in the whole course and tracte of mans life For as they maintained for an approued veritie the seuenth the nienth and the fouretienth daie in all kinde of sicknesse and infirmities to be then the reste continually more daungerous in case semblable also easily perceiued they that this accompte also by force of the numbers had in like sorte place in these odde yéeres throughout the whole course also and time of our
whom he beste loued his father or his mother who aunswered his mother where at thei meruailyng demaunded againe why for that my father said he with small regarde begatte me of parte a Thracian and soonne of á poore mother but she on the other side hath borne me of part an Athenian the sonne and heire of an excellent capitaine Concerning the beautie of women leauyng to speake of those that counsaile vs to refuse bothe the faire the foule prefarryng onely those whom mediocritie commendeth my aduise is that man chuse euermore the beste that he possible maie finde the fairest I meane and of cleareste complexion so that she bee vertuous as we before haue saied otherwise wishe I that he chuse the hardeste fauoured chaste with all and honeste rather then the faireste of leude and lighte demainure My reason is that wee should alwaies preferre the faireste if for none other yet for generation and cause of the posteritie onely to the intente our children bee suche as we would wishe of moste perfecte I meane and amiable complexion Virgil remembreth that the goddes Iuno desirous to gratifie her beloued Eodus promised to giue hym one of her faireste Nimphes to the ende she should beare hym children in beautie resemblyng her self We reade againe that Archiadamus kyng of the Athenians was condemned in a pecuniall paine for that he had married a wife of small stature his counsaille hardly chargyng hym that he mente to leaue the race roiall of little thinne wretched and impotente bodies as if thei were but halfe men To conclude therfore what so is in any place aboue remembred mine aduise is that it bee taken as counsaile and no commaundemeÌ„t which you maie execute at your pleasures without daunger or difficultie as also without all exception of persones For Matrimonie contracted with the harder fauoured is as holie as that other with the moste faireste as good with the poorest as also with the riche with the widdowe also as with the maide or virgin for that euery of them is lawfull verteous and honeste groundyng on loue whiche in greateste differentes and cases of inequalitie woorketh euer more a perfecte conformitie and vnion Of the cordiall and hartie loue that should be in maerriage with diuers examples seruyng to that purpose Chap. 4. THE mutuall loue and affection betwixt man and his wife bothe is and ought to bee for iuste cause commended for that marriage of it self is a thyng so excellent as well for respect of hym whiche firste did institute it God with the place also of that institution Paradis as also that thence procedeth th' onely propagation and continuance of mankinde with remedie sufficient against all sensuall appetites and concupiscencie of the fleshe All other amities incident in mannes life with whom or in what sorte so euer thei happen are loues improper and affections lesse perfect â–ª in respect of this so holy â–ª and diuine This is that same that ioineth bothe bodie and soule together this is that that is confirmed and sealed vnto vs by a sacred miracle neither is there any thing betwixt the married in particularitie proper for that betwixt the honest couple the body and will is one that whiche neuer happeneth in any other kinde of amitie whiche for small cause oftentymes is dissolued and broken and that also whiche worste is the moste assuredste of these affections continueth but for a tyme for gaine or aduauntage for proofe whereof wee rarely haue heard of any that without chauÌ„ge haue still helde on and neuer broken vntill death For so daintie and obnoxious to all chaunges is mannes minde that commonly we see newe friendes to remoue and dispossesse for little cause the olde but that loue holdeth still whiche is betwixte man and his wife neither maie it be sundred by any aduerse fortune by infirmitie pouertie mishappe or chaunge of beautie onely death hath power to cutte this knotte in sunder Some tymes it also liueth and continueth after death as we haue seen in certaine widdowes of whiche wee could remember infinite examples emongest whom aboue all others we maie consider of the mutuall loue or affection betwixte our first parentes Eue and Adam vnto whom the fruite of life vnder paine of death was prohibited Adam notwithstaÌ„dyng to gratifie his wife refused not to hassarde hymself by breache of that commaundemente When Paulina the wife of the sage and learned Seneca of Cordoua vnderstode that cruell Nero had doen to death her husband who by openyng all his vaines in a bathe gaue vp his spirite would not onely dye to accompanie hym by death but also did chuse to ende her smart by the said maner of tormente for more better accomplishemente whereof the did her self to bee prickte as did before her Seneca Whereof Nero with spede aduertised and knowyng that it proceded of assured loue onely caused her with greate diligence to bee saued from the daunger of death for beyng euen then on the poincte of passage he caused her vaines skilfully to be bounde carefully attendyng on her that she to her self did none other kinde of violence by meanes whereof this chaste and verteous matrone paste the reste of her life in greate paine and miserie paie coulerlesse in signe of loiall loue that she beare to her husbande In the life of the Emperours we also reade that Lucius Vitellius brother to the Emperor Vitellius beyng on a nighte in a perillous battaile his wife whiche hight Triata by the greate and inspeakable force of loue onely came thrustyng in emong the souldiars to aide and assiste Vitellius mindyng in that straite to liue or dye with hym where she then so did her painfull indeuour that she vtterly forgatte all feminine debilitie with small accompte of her life or safetie without her husbande Q. Curtius reciteth that the kyng of Aira vanquished by Alexander spoiled and depriued of a greate parte of his realme paciently bare it with a valiaunt and manly courage without any shewe of pain or anguishe but when newes was broughte hym that his wife was dedde in token that he more loued her then he did his kyngdome brake out into teares and wepte verie bitterly Ouide Iuuenal and Marcial with others affirme that the wife of kyng Adâ—…etus chose willyngly to dye to saue her sicke and diseased husbande for hauing receiued aunswere from thoracle that the kyng should liue if any of his dearest frendes would vouchsafe to dye for hym Notwithstandyng for the little credite that menne commonly giue to Poetes I had hereof saied no thyng had not saincte Hierome hymself recoumpted it Plinie the younger in a letter of his writeth that a certaine Fisher beyng sicke of an incurable disease or maladie by meanes whereof he daiely indured suche tormentes and paines as was almoste impossible for man to sustaine where at his wife moued with meruailous compassion as she that intierly and hartely loued hym seyng no hope of healthe or recouerie nor any where could finde any kinde of
espoused and as Strabo recoumpteth when anie of theim wente to vse or haue her companie he should hange vppe at the doore or gate a certaine ring to the intent that if any other in the meane tyme should come he by the saide Ring should knowe that the place was possessed and therfore was vnlawfull at that time to enter and farther againe thei hadde this respect also that who so hardened hymself to séeke thacquaintaunce of anie woman were he not of the saide race or alied vnto the others he shoulde furthwith be dooen to die for it without longer lette or staie But it chaunced on a time a woman verie faire and of perfecte complexion was aboue the reste verie buselie sought on onlie by the alies I meane of her husebande by meane whereof and of suche busie importunitie she fastneth a Ring at her gate her selfe to the intente that who so among theim at anie tyme came thether should suppose that there was some other with in with her whiche her honest gyle stoode her in good stede certain daies the ryng still hangyng at the gate without till on a tyme all the kinsemen of the husbande méetyng together one among the reste determined to visite her who findyng the signe vppe as though there had been some mau there and rememebryng that he had left them all before together immagined that she had gotten some newe and straunge adulterer wherfore he goeth and immediatlie therof aduertised the others whiche all together with the husebande approachyng founde her contrarie to their expectation voyde of companie and alone whiche in their presence confessed the cause why she had doen it Whiche her intention considered of and founde grounded on vertue eschuyng the lesse chast acquaintance of so greate a number of riuals and further desirous to liue a more coÌ„tinent life though contrary to the brutal vsage and maner of the countrie hauyng by their assent here in some reason was rather well thought of then of anie parte discommended ¶ Of the excellencie of paintyng Chapt. 6. THere hath been bothe emong the Romaines and Grekes moste excellent men in the skill of Paintyng And although also in our age there haue béen deuers singulerly well practised and learned in this arte yet suppose I theÌ„ farre to bee inferiours to these of the olde tyme and fore passed ages consideryng what wee reade of their fined labours As for example of the twoo tables finished by Aristides a painter of his tyme renoumed and famous whiche as recordeth Plinie were boughte by Iulius Caesar for no lesse price then fower score talentes onelie to dedicate theim to the goddesse Venus And assuredlie though Caesar were a verie riche prince yet was this price excessiue and greate consideryng that the talent as well by the accompte of Budeus as also of some others curious in this matter counterpoyseth sixe hundred Frenche crounes now currant so that Caesar by this valuation paide for these two tables 48000. Crounes of good and lawfull monie It also is written by the saide Plinie that Attalus king of the lesse Asia disbursed fullie an hundred talentes whiche value by the first accompte 60000. Crounes for one onely table painted by the aboue saide Aristides We maie in this place then safelie presume that accordyng to the increase or decrease of Prices the excellencie of these sciences grewe also or deminished Brife in those daies paintyng was so muche honoured that it was reputed in number of the liberall sciences Plinie â—aieth that the Gréekes in suche sorte accompted of it that it was not lawfull for anie their seruauntes to learne it onely the soonnes of greate estates and honourable personages were permitted to exercise theimselues in this practise So grewe this skill then to be famous and worthie and not altogether assuredlie without cause for that who so therein affecteth to be excellente of necessitie muste bee learned in manie other matters Geometrie to hym is requisite to vnderstande his perspectiues also he shoulde bee learned in the other artes and scieuces with an absolute knowledge in infinite other thinges the more perfectlie to order and obserue his proportions with an assured consideration of the nature of al thinges as shal bee to the beautie of his woorke decent and necessarie throughout to bee skilled as a Poete in all thinges for that paintyng is nothing els but a deade or dumme poeste Besides this his lineamentes and proportions must be suche that the eye it selfe misse and faile therein in iudgemente as wee reade it some tymes happened to Zeuxis and Parrasus both excellent painters concerning the outwarde shewe or appearaunce of their woorke By meane whereof they accorded willingly together that euery of theym should frame the finest peece he could to th entent that who so wonde then the price by common iudgement should be reputed of the other for most perfect and absolute Zeuxis then presenteth a perfect péece a table in whiche he had with suche skill and so artificially depainted certaine bounches or clusters of Grapes to the quicke that certaine Sparrowes espiyng it and supposing they had been grapes arrested theim to beake thereon or preie as is their vsage which thing appeared merueilous and straunge in all mens iudgmente Parrasus on the other side presented eake a table on whiche with suche perfection he wrought had then a Curtaine that beyng brought to Zeuxis to iudge or to consider of nowe drouned almost in pride for that he had the poore and senlis birdes deceiued demed it to bee that which in déede it was not stretchyng forth his hand to haue withdrawen the Curtaine as though some thynge had been close hid or wrought there vnder saide with loude voice that some man should take awaie the Curtaine But afterward perueiuyng that foulie he had failed gaue sentence without more that Parrasus was his better consideryng he had deceiued hym that was maister of his science which was in déede much more then by some gylefull shewe to drawe or to delude the poore and foolishe birdde An other tyme this Zeuxis in like table also depainted a yong boye or child hauyng in his handes a dish well charged with Grapes with so much art in deede so well and finely fashioned that the birddes againe as before came fléeyng to beake thereon whereat Zeuxis as all foreraged greuing and misliking with that his owne worke saide if that with equal skill I had depainted also the boye the birddes with feare would then haue helde theÌ„ all a loofe neither would thei haue been so bold to approche so nigh the boy Plinie which recordeth these thinges affirmeth that Zeuxis was a man of greate wealth in his tyme for what soeuer he wrought he neuer solde it but for price excessiue reputyng his deuises to bee of suche excellencie that if he solde theym not at his owne pleasure he rather would giue theim then take but little for theim and farther would saie that no money if he should in deede esteme of his doynges
surnamed Numidicus in reward of his victory which he obtained against Iugurth kyng of Numidia receiued vnkinde and harde sentence of exile onely for that he woulde not accorde vnto a certeine lawe whiche some others at that tyme desired to establishe Hannibal after that he had painfully in sudry daungers well serued his countrie and although besides he was the most honourable and most renoumed Capitaine of his tyme yet might he not inioye the liberties of his countrie but banished was forste to range an vnhappie pilgrime about the world Camillus was also vniustly exiled from Rome at which time the Gaules helde it in besiege and tooke it and finally as they assaulted the capitoll it self he beyng chosen againe in his banishment Dictatour and Capitaine general of all his countrie entered flewe and discomfited theim restored the Citie deliuering theim out of prisō that before had exiled him Seruilius Halla after hauynge preserued the libertie of Rome from the ambitious oppression of Spurius Emilius Capitaine of the horse men whiche by all meanes possible affected the croune and had also doen him openly to die in fine receiued in steede of iuste guerdone through banishment to liue an exiled Romaine No coūtrie any where reade I of more bound vnto a man then was Lacedemonie vnto Licurgus especially for his lawes which he so prouidently gaue theim And although he also were of moste holy and vertuous conuersation courtuous and of a gentle spirite and nature of whom as of hym reporteth Valerius Maximus the oracle of Apollo Pithius this doubtfully aunswered that he knewe not whether he might accompte him either in the number of the gods or els of mortall men notwithstandyng he often tymes was pursued of the citisens with stones beaten and driuen by force out of their toune and in the ende hauyng pluckte one of his eyes out of his heade banishte hym also out of their lande territorie The semblabe was also doen to Solon by the Atheniens whiche also gaue them like lawes and ordinaunces as th' other whiche if they had as was his will continuallie obserued their Empire by all presumption had yet still continued Besides that he also conquered and recouered the Citie of Salamina vnto theym with the same also aduertising theym of the rebellious coniuration of Pisistratus which by vsurpation and tyrannie busily sought and affected the Croune was yet notwistandyng in his olde and stoupyng yeres with moste rigour exiled not able by any meanes at their handes to obtaine any one extreme coruer or ende hpon their frontires wheresoeuer it should please them there to make ende yet of his werie life but to cōclude inexorable thei exiled him into the Isle of Cyprus Scipio Nasica whiche was reputed for the moste vertuous and worthiest manne in Rome whiche also neither merited lesse honoure in the administration and gouernemente of the weale publike then the other Scipioes by their prowes and courage in the field he notwitstandyng after he had deliuered Rome from the malice and tyranny of the Grekes vnderstandyng of the enuie and sinister opinion that diuers Romaines had conceiued of his vertuous dimerite fainyng that he wente some where in imbasie withdrwe hymself of purpose and willingly into Pergama wherwithout malising againe his vngrate countrie ended the reste of his daies there in peace In like maner Publius Lētulus after he had with honour defended his countrie repressyng also the furious attemptes of the Gréekes was with like curtesie for his paines exiled howbeit before his departure thence into Sicelie besought the gods immortall in the presence of the multitude that they neuer woulde permitte that he retourned againe to so vnkinde as were they and so vnthankfull a people Boecius Seuerinus a man to the aboue remembred in no poincte inferiour was by Theodoricus the vsurper dishonourably expulsed onely for that he supposed he would paine hymself to restore his countrie againe to libertie For this cause also Denis that execrable tyranne exiled that most worthie Capitaine Dion of Siracusa who by his exile afterwarde became so puissant that he againe reentred and banished the tyranne depriuyng hym of that hys seignorie for euer restoryng his countrie to the pristinate and auncient libertie The verie semblable happened to Trasibulus a Capitaine Athenian which by the fatall malice of thirtie tyrauntes that then held the whole countrie in miserable subiection was also vnnaturallie and vnkindlie exiled But he notwithstanding to reuenge himself on them assembled together diuers others before expelled with whom as with the helpe also of Lisander a Lacedemonian retourned in armes against Athens and deliuered it from seruitude Publius Rutilius Consull of Rome banished by the fauorites or fauters of Silla though after desired to returne again refused saiyng I will that Rome rather take shame that she hath so vniustly exiled me then thanke her to returne again that so rageth with tyrannie Terquinins rhe proude though not without cause in déede but for his leude demainoure caste out of Rome lost his honour and royalme for the vnchaste rape doen by his soonne on Lucretia Milo Patricius an honourable Romaine somewhat susspected touchynge the death of Claudius whose cause though it were of Cicero defended was notwitstandyng exiled into Marseilla Clistines was the firste that instituted the lawe of banishment in Athens and the first that by the lawe was thence exiled Eustachius Pamphilius Bishoppe of Antioche was banished for that he reproued the schismaticall secte of the Arians in the tyme raigne of Constantine the greate Paulus Diaconus that famous historiogripher writeth that Pope Benedictus the firste was contrarie to Gods lawes and mans lawes driuen out of Rome by his ennemie the Emperour Auton The saide Auton vanquished the Emperour Beringerius with his soonne Albert and sente theim bothe into perpetuall erile Hence wee learne now that infinite greate personages haue been expelled from their countries and in Rome it was estéemed for so greate a punishment that none was thence banished before all the people had throwly consulted of the matter And assuredlye the affections that man beareth or ofte to beare to his countrie is continually such and so vehemente that wee can not exile without extreame paine and languishe For the consolation therefore of all suche as shal be banished Plutarche hath writen a singuler treatise as also Erasmus to the saide purpose a notable Epistle Seneca in like maner in his booke of consolation dedicated to Paulinus touchyng the saide subiecte discourseth verie learnedlie Of a straunge aduenture betide a certaine prisoner and how after his weary imprisonment he was in the ende made free and deliuered Chapt. 10. AS thinges straunge and miraculous should not to lightlie for any cause bee remembred so neither minde I in this place to passe or to reporte any thing not lefte vs by some other of sufficient warrant Alexander of Alexandria a man as is aboue saide well skilled in the sciences writeth this among other things as a truth most certaine There
last he had taken it It is writen of him that in all his assaultes of any castell or citie he vsually would hang out to be séen of the enimie an Enseigne white for the space of one full daie whiche signified as was then to all men well knowen that if those with in woulde in that daye yelde theim he then woulde take theim to mercie without any their losse of life or goods The seconde daie hee did to bee hanged out an other all redde lettyng theym thereby againe to vnderstande that if they then woulde yelde he onelie then woulde execute Th'officers Magistrates maisters of housholdes and gouernours pardonyng and forgeuyng all others whatsoeuer The thirde daie he euer displaied the thirde all blacke signifiynge therby that he then hadde shutte vp his gates from all compassion and clemencie in such forte that whosoeuer were in that daie taken or in anie other then folowyng shoulde assuredly die for it without any respecte either of man or woman little or greate the Citie to be sackt and burnt withall to ashes whence assuredly it can not be saide but that he was verie cruell though otherwise adorned with many rare vertues But it is to be supposed that god stirred hym vppe an instrument to chastice these princes these proude and wicked natioÌ„s For better proofe whereof Pope Pius whiche liued in his tyme or at leaste eight or tenne yeres after hym reporteth of hym saiyng that on a tyme beseigyng a strong and riche citie which neither on the first or second would yelde to him which only daies were daies of mercie as is aboue saide on the third day neuerthelesse affiyng on hope vncertaine to obtaine at his handes some mercie and pardon opened their gates sendyng forth in order towardes hym all their wemen and children in white appareled bearing eche in their handes a branche of Oliue criyng with haute voice humbly requestynge and demaundyng pardon in maner so pitifull and lamentable to beholde that besides him none other was but woulde haue accepted their solemne submission This Tamburlaine notwithstandyng that beheld theim a farre of in this order issuyng so farre then exiled from all kinde of pitie that he commaunded forthwith a certaine troope of horsemen to ouer runne to murther and kill theym not leauyng one a liue of what condition soeuer and after sackyng the Citie resed it euen vnto the verie foundations A certaine Marchaunte of Genua was then in his campe who had often recourse to him who also vsed hym in causes familiarly and who for that this facte seemed verie bloodie and barbarous hardned hymselfe to demaunde hym the cause why he vsed theim so cruelly considering thei yelded themselues crauing grace pardon to whom he aunswered in most furious wrath and yre his face redde and firie his eyes all flamynge with burnyng spearckles as it were blasing out on euerie side Thou supposest me to be a man but thou to muche abbusest me for none other am I but the wrathe and vengeaunce of God and ruine of the worlde wherefore aduise thée well that thou neuer againe presume to bee founde in any place in my â—ight or presence if thou wilt that I chastice theâ— not accordyng to thy desert and thy proude presumption This Marchaunte with out more then sodenly retired neither after that was at any time seen in the campe of Tamburlaine Those thinges this accomplished this greate and mightie Personage hauyng conquired many countries subdued and done to deathe suudrie Kinges and Princes no where findyng any resistaunce in any parte of all Asia retourned home againe into his countrie charged with infinite heapes of Gold and treasure accoÌ„panied also with the most honourable estates of al the cuÌ„tries subdued by him which brought with theim in like maner the greatest parte also of their wealth and substaunce where he did to be builte a moste famous goodly citie and to be inhabited of those as we fore saied that he brought with hym whiche altogether no lesse honourable then riche in verie shorte tyme with the healpe of Tamburlaine framed the most beautifull and moste sumptuous Citie in the worlde whiche by the multitude of the people was also merueilously inlarged abundaunt and full of al kinde of riches But in the ende this Tamburlaine though he maintained his estate in suche aucthoritie and honour yet as a man in the ende he paieth the debte due vnto nature leauyng behinde hym twoo soonnes not such as was the father as afterwarde appeared by many plaine and euident signes for as well by their mutuall discorde eache malicing the other as also by their insufficiencie with the lacke of age and experience they were not able to kéepe and maintaine the Empire conquired by their father For the children of Baiaceth whom they yet helde as prisoner aduertised of this their discorde and dissention came into Asia with valiaunt courage and diligencie by the aide of suche people as they founde willing to assiste theim recoueryng their possessions and territories fore loste whiche in maner semblable did they other Princes whiche Tamburlaine before had also subdued So that this Empire in prosis of tyme so declined that in our age there remaineth nowe no remembraunce at all of hym ne of his posteritie or linage in what respecte soeuer How be it true it is that Baptista Ignatius a diligent searcher of auncient antiquities reporteth that he leafte twoo soonnes Princes and Protectours of all the countries subdued by hym reachyng and extendynge euen vnto the Riuer of Euphrates as al so their successors after theim euen vntill the tyme of Kinge Vsancasan againste whom the Turke Mahomet waiged some tymes bataile And the Heires of this Vsancasam as most men surmise aduaunced theimselues to the honour and name of the first Sophi wheÌ„ce now is deriued the empire of Sophi whiche liueth this daie as sworne ennimie to the Turke Whiche how soeuer it be it is to be supposed that this historie of Tamburlaine had it of anie been written woulde haue been a matter worthie both of penne and paper for that greate exploytes no doubte were happily atchiued of hym but as for me I neuer founde more then I here presently haue writen neither suppose I that any other thinge is of anye other man writen this onely excepted where on all men accorde that he neuer sawe the backe or frounyng face of fortune that he neuer was vanquished or put to slighte by any that he neuer tooke matter in hande that he brought not to the wished effect and that his corage and industrie neuer failed hym to bryng it to good ende By meanes whereof we maie for iuste cause compare hym with any other whatsoeuer though renoumed in tymes past This then that I here geue you that al haue I borrowed of Baptista Fulgotius Pope Pius Platina vppon the life of Boniface the ninth of Mathew Palmier and of Cambinus a Florentine writyng the historie and exploytes of the Turkes Of many lakes and fountaines the waters of
whiche was shortly after the passion of Christe men perceiued that these Oracles began to fainte and faile neither allegaeth he for it in his treatise any other reason but that there should be dead as he supposed some spirites whiche he spake as a man voide or lesse skilled in the faithe for that he vnderstode not that the deuilles or spirites were immortall Notwithstandyng straunge is it and worthie of consideration to sée how euidently the deuill shewed hym self to bée conquered and subdued and that after the death of our sauiour he so remained discomforted that he neuer again was able to frame in any suche sort an aunswer and that the Gentiles also not able in déede to yelde any cause or reason why had some féelyng of this default and surceassyng from his function By meane whereof Plutarche tooke on hym to write this treatise in which emong others in effecte he hath these wordes of which Eusebius maketh mention writyng to Theodorus as of a moste notable and meruailous matter I remember that I haue heard saie saieth he of Emilian the oratour a man prudente and wise and well knowen to many of you that his father on a tyme commyng by the sea towardes Italie and passyng on a night by a certaine Isle called Paraxis euen when all in the Shippe were then still and quiete thei heard a greate and dreadfull voice whiche srom the Isle called to them Ataman Ataman suche was the pilotes name of the shippe an Egiptian borne although this voice were ones and againe vnderstoode by Ataman yet was he not so hardie to frame to it an annswere vntill the third time whē he said who is there what is it that calleth me what wouldest thou haue To whō this voice again more louder thē before saied Ataman my will is that when thou passest by the goulfe which hath to name Laguna that thou there remember to crie out and certifie the said goulfe that the greate God Pan is deade Whiche vnderstoode all those that were in the shippe feared counsailyng the saied pilote to leaue vndooen his charge neither any thyng to arreste or staie at the goulfe especially if the winde would serue them to passe further but approchyng nigh the place of whiche this voice admonished hym the ship arrested and the sea waxte calme not hauyng winde to passe presently any farther by meanes whereof thei generally concluded that Atman should there dooe his legation or imbacie whiche the better to doe he mounteth vp into the poupe or hinder parte of the ship where he crieth as loude as he could possible saiyng I will that ye knowe that the greate God Pan is deade whiche woorde as sone as he ones had vttered thei heard incontinently suche terrible lamentations and cries houling and complainyng aboue that maie be saied in suche sort that the sea it self resounded these complaintes whiche continued moste dolorous and lamētable a great while by meanes whereof the Mariners though meruailously afraied hauyng the winde good againe followed their course arriuyng at Rome made rehearsal of this their aduenture Whereof the Emperour Tiberius aduertised and desirous to be certified of the truthe and none other founde to conclude as is aboue rehearsed Whence it is euident that the deuilles euery where sorowed the natiuitie of our Sauiour and redemer Christe for that he was onely their ruine and destruction For by iuste and true supputation of tyme we finde that this happened at the tyme of his Passion or perhaps some thyng before then I meane whe he banished and exiled them out of the worlde It is to be presupposed that this great God Pan accordyng to the immitation of Pan the God of Shepherdes whiche thei saied was deade was some capitaine and maister deuill whiche at that tyme loste his Empire as did also the others Besides all these Iosephus writeth that at the same tyme was heard in the temple of Hierusalem a voice though in déede ther was no liuyng creature with in whiche lamentably cried and saied thus let vs goe hence and leaue this countrie in haste as who would saie thei truely knewe that the tyme of their paine and persecution was at hande and that it drewe on faste euen by the death of hym that gaue life vnto others In the Gospell of the Nazarites it is reade that in the daie of his Passion that sumptuous gate of their Temple whiche thei neuer lefte for any coste to adorne and beautifie fell doune to the grounde and was vtterly defaced Consider now in that daie what straunge and meruailous thynges happened though the Euangelistes haue paste theim as thynges lesse worthie memorie The eclipce also of the Sunne whiche continued thrée howers the full space in deede that Christ was on the crosse was not naturall as are the others whiche by th' onely coniunction of the Sunne and Moone chaunce vs but was miraculous and contrary to the course and order of nature Suche therefore as lesse knowe how the Sunne is eclipsed must vnderstande that it onely happeneth by coniunction of the aboue saied bodies the Mooue passyng or goyng betwixt the Sunne and the yearth neuer the lesse this eclipse happened in th' opposition of these planettes the Moone then full and hundred and eightie degrées distant frō the Sūne in the vnder hemisphere then at the citée of Hierusalem for proofe whereof besides the testimonies of infinite good writers the scriptures them selues record it manifestly for certain it is that the lambe was neuer Sacrificed but in the .xiiij. of the Moone whiche Lambe was eaten by Christ and his disciples but one daie onely before his death as is commaunded in the .xij. of Exodus in Leuiticus also the xxiij And the nexte daie followyng whiche was the daie of vnleauened bread Christ the Lambe vnspotted was vnkindly crucified the Moon then of necessitie in her full and opposite to the Sunne whiche then could no more eclipse the Sunne then any other Planete It then was to conclude miraculous and contrary to the order of nature doen onely by the onmipotente and sole power of GOD whiche depriued the Sunne of light for that thrée howers space By occasion whereof that worthie personage Denis Areopagita beyng at the time presente at Athens and beholding in this sorte the Sunne to be obscured and knowyng on the other side as a learned Astrologian that this eclipse was contrary to the order of natue saied openly with a loude voice to bée heard of all menne either the frame of the worlde shall bée dissolued either the God of nature presently suffereth For whiche cause as one reporteth the sages of Athens straungely disturbed did to bee builte incontinently an aulter to the God vnknowen whether afterward saincte Paule arriuyng learned theim who was that God vnknowne and that he was Jesus Christ God and man our redemer whiche then and at that tyme suffered for our saluation by meanes whereof he conuerted greate numbers to the faithe Some neuer the lesse haue doubted
force or puissuance of infinite their capitaines affectioned also to studie and to learnyng aswell remembreth Robartus Valturinus in his hooke of the stratagemmes of warre ¶ Of a straunge medicine where with Faustine the wife of M. Aurelius was cured languishing and consumyng with infinite and extreame passions of vnchaste and disloiall loue as also of some thynges remediyng the saied passions Chapt. 9. THat that affection or prison of the minde whiche ordinarily wée terme by the name of loue is a passion so vehement and of so greate force wee nede onely to consulte but with those that haue felt it with those I meane whose examples are notorious honorable greate and stately personages whiche so farre herein suffered theimselues to bee caried awaie that some of theim haue languished and died of that follie Iulius Capitolinus amōg many other examples remembreth that which chaunced to Faustine doughter to Antonius wife to the Emperour M. Aurelius whiche became inamored of a certaine sworde plaier or fensor in such sorte that for the only desire that she had to vse his companie wasted and consumed death euen at hande with herre Whiche thing vnderstoode as also the cause thereof by Aurelius he assembled greate numbers incōtinently as well of Phisicians as also of Astronomers with theim to consulte if it were possible for some remedy Amonge whom in fine this was the conclusion that the Fensor secretly should bee doen to die of whose bloodde a good draught was presented vnto Faustine so couertly that she nether knewe whence it was or what with this determination that immediatly after she had receaued it the Emperour should acquaint hymselfe in wonted maner with her This remedy as it séemeth very straunge and meruailous so cleane did it alter her fonde and foolishe phantasie in suche manner that she neuer after at any tyme remembred him and as it is in the saide historie recorded at that tyme he begate on her Antonius Comodus whiche after proued so cruel and bluddy that he more resembled the aboue saide sworde plaier whose blooodde the mother drancke at the tyme of her conception then the Emperour whose soonne he was by meanes wherof also the fore saide Comodus would euer more bee conuersante and in companie with Fensors whiche also witneseth Eutropius in the life of this Commodus The Phisicians of Grece as also of Arabia accompte this disease or torment of loue among th 'others the moste daungerous infirmities of mans bodie prouidyng sundry salues remedies therefore for it Cadmus the Milesian as reciteth Suydas hath written one whole boke of the only remedies to chase remoue loue Ouide also hath well saide in his bookes de remedio amoris And among other healpes whiche the Phisicians haue prescribed against this franticke maladie one is that vnto those troubled with these passions greate weaghty matters and affaires of importaunce be offered suche as equally concerne both their profite and their honour to the intent that the minde busied aboute these matters may alienate and straunge it self from the imagination that offendeth they also geue in rule that suche shoulde abstaine from all wanton toies of ether daintie or dalliyng damsels Plinie saith that against this passion it shal be good to take that duste or powdre whereon a Mule hath in any place waltered or soiled her selfe sprinckling or casting the same on the amorous or as Cardanus wil in his booke of subtilties to rubbe hym with the sweate of a Mule heate and well chafete The Phisicians also learne vs how we shall know the partie on whom the amorous is at any tyme inamored and the same rule is it by whiche Erasistratus Phisician to the king Seleucus vnderstoode of the disordinate loue of Antiochus towardes his mother in law the Quéene Stratonica For being extreame sicke and in meruailous daunger hauing chosen rather to die then in any wise to vtter the cause of his tormentes proceadyng of loue onely whiche he bare to his fathers wife who then enteryng in to the chamber when the Phisician felte the pulse of his vnhappie patient whiche so vehemently on the soden moued a◠the comming of the Quéene that Erasistratus forthwith perceiued that he on her was inamored and she the onely and sole cause of his grief By meane where of he did his busie paine in good ordre to aduertise the kyng here of whiche matter how he handled would be long here to write and the historie besides is well knowen and common which thing as soone as it was once knowen to the father seing the daunger be presently was in if no remedie were then prouided contented hym selfe though it farre was beside the intention of the sonne whiche rather did wishe or chuse any shameful death then by the detriment of his father to purchase hym health to forgoe and leaue the Quéene geuyng her for wife to his tormented soonne And here also to speake the trueth both the age and beautie of this dame as also the mariage whiche after followed was muche more comformabie in the sonne thê in the father By meanes wherof Antiochus liued many yeres afterwarde in greate ioye wealth with his dearelibeloued Stratonica The history is very pretie written by Plutarche in the life of Demetrius whence it is that in suche cases Phisicians geue in commaundement to féele the pulce of the passionate partie rehearsing and remembryng the names of many and among theim the partie also beloued whose name when so euer it shall in anie sorte be vttered the pulce of the amorous will then more busily skippe or daunce then at any other tyme and this easely may you finde still the partie so beloued By many other signes it also is euident either when one loueth as also where or whom whiche I leaue to speake of as sufficientlie knowen to all men Who first did sette or plante the Vine who also did first to drike water in wine to whom also and how the Romaines firste af all forbadde the vse of wine with some other thinges concernyng this purpose Chap. 10. OF all kinde of fruictes whiche the yearth produceth these I vnderstande where of wee make lycors none is so profitable in mine aduice as is the Vine so that he be moderatlie and with discretion vsed For whiche cause onely Anacrases saide that the Vine geueth or presenteth vnto vs thrée grapes the first of pleasure the seconde of dronkennesse the thirde of teares mournyng and sorrowe in suche sorte that who so passeth the first grape to wete a litle wine moderatly and seldome in takyng it receaueth greate shame and domage Our prophane authors that neuer were acquainted with or euer hearde of the scriptures deuise and imagen sundry inuentors of wine Diodorus Siculus in his fourthe boke attributeth as well the inuention of wine as also that he first founde to plante or sette the Vine to Denis the soonne of Iupiter called otherwise Bacchus and pater liber so termed for the liberty and force of wine For whiche cause
also in very small quantitie Eubolus the Greke Poete bringeth in Bacchus speaking to the Elders or Sages of that age I will geue you to drinke of wine but thre times at your refection the first for health the seconde for the good smell there of the third to inforce sleape how oftē so euer you more drinke it al sauoureth of disorder and dronkennes Apuleus Paniasis the same that wrote of the diuersitie of meates is with the other of one and the same iudgement saiynge that ye may once drinke incontinently after grace the seconde cuppe moueth or quickeneth in vs Venus the thirde is cause of shame and dishonor Iulius Caesar verie sildome woulde taste or drincke of wine which thinge Suetonius reporteth by the testimony of Cato the same I meane that was ennimie vnto Caesar The excellente Demosthenes also or fewe times or neuer dranke of any wine Apollo Tianeus of whom so many thinges are so famously written as hee neuer did eate any kinde of fleashe so also did hee neuer drinke any droppe of wine And among all Christians in these daies temperancie in drinkyng is highly commended Saincte Iames the lesse neuer dranke in his life ether wine or Ale nether would he eate of any kinde of fleashe imitating there in Sainct Ihon the Baptiste The semblable finde we of Fulgentius the Bishoppe of Emerys also the soonne of Steuen kinge of Polonia Iosephus in his antiquities highly extolleth that vertuous modesty of the Esseiens whiche were one of the three sectes that were among the Iewes the Pharasies and Saduces the other two whiche as he saieth neuer dranke wine In a certen Epistle Saincte Hierome sharpely reproueth Preestes bousinge or pleasinge any thing at all in wine addyng that Sainct Paule aduiseth theim to the contrarie and farther saieth that in the old lawe these that had charge or office in the Churche neuer dranke either wine or other kinde of licour that coulde or might force theim any waie to lightnes Good potte men in these daies and gallant tasters approue their wines by these fower qualities he must be delectable in mouth to please the taste he must smell well and farre of to content their riche Noses he muste bee well coloured pure and neate to please the eye and in fine it must haue his commendation of the soile to wéete that it came from a hoate and high countrie and of this good wine they quickly can make vinegar but of the commodities or discōmodities herof I presently leaue to speake more in this place Of infinite discommodities whiche take their springe of wine immoderatly vsed as also what Phisicians they were that thought it good and medicinable some tymes to be dronke Chap. 11. THough Wine in some diseases bothe healpe and comforte nature yet thence rise so manie mischiues if it immoderatlie be taken that the discommodities thereof passe and surmoūt the commodeties in suche sort that it might séeme better wée neuer had séen or knowen it contentyng our selues with water whiche in the beginnyng was onely geuen vs of parte for that we can imagen nothing to be better of parte also that all other creatures content theim selues with the same Consider wee also that by wine sundrie haue loste the vse of their senses some their liues some also all hope of saluation and their soules And although men well knowe the greate inconueniences that betide theim by wine yet so farre of be they from any intention to eschwe it that they nothing so much séeke as continuall occasions to bouse and drinke incessantly in suche sorte that fewe houres in the daie may passe theim in whiche they kisse not the cuppe at least fiue or sixe tymes not slightly and for facions sake but with staryng eyes gladly and with right good deuotion Plinie writeth that where as many eftsones drinke nether for any néede or thirst thereto prouoking theim that wine amōg al other licours hath this nature or proprietie that with ease it will be dronke ye though you nothing nede it But afterward it handleth those accordyng to their demerites paiyng theim the paine of that sinne and excesse the vapours thereof mountyng alofte in to the braine depriuyng theim incontinentlie of the vse of eche their senses resemblyng for the tyme some dull and brutishe beaste and after thei at times by vse haue learned well to abuse theim selues this infirmitie then taketh holde and full possession of theim and ordereth theim as doeth the hungrie Catte the Mouse I meane it either killeth theim or at leaste it chargeth them with infinite discommodities and ineuitable infirmities tormentes muche worse then present death in déede as the Goute the Palsie both in handes and féete the dropsie the eies stand staring full of blooddy humors the Liuer inflamed the face full of fier and verie richely coulered the Nose ful of rubies with many other honest and pretie commodities of very good grace and much to be desired Cato saied that dronkennes was a voluntary folly Plinie saieth that it dulleth and weakeneth the memory prouoking dreames very terrible and fearful Seneca writyng to Lucullus affirmeth that it meameth and féebleth both the armes and legges prouokyng men to lasciuious thoughtes and venerie Deonisins Areopagita alleageth out of Plato drounkennes to resemble some lustie yong daunser whose thighes in the beginnyng are sore hardly able to beare hym néedyng some staffe or croache to rest or staie on she also is well skilled to alure and drawe vnto her with frēdly face reioysing her dronken Souldiars daily Sainct Paule writing to the Ephesians aduertiseth theim to flie and to forsake wine the spring and beginnyng of all vnchaste liuynge Salomon also who so drinketh wine in abundance and excesse neuer keepeth counsell or secrette what so euer Whence grewe for iuste cause this olde and auncient Prouerbe wine runneth without showes to wéete secretly priuely pleasantly hardly séen or perceiued shamefully discoueryng mans foule and vitious apetites To this purpose the Poete Eschilus also saide that as in a glasse is sien the true fewture of the body so also is sien in wine the affections of the minde Plato saieth that wine maketh plaine and euidente demonstration of the manners and conditions of all menne Hence haue wee good exāples in Noe both and in Loth for the one beyng dronke discouered his secrete partes whence he became infamous to al men and Sodome against Loth had at all no powre whom wine notwithstandyng not hardly after conquired blindyng hym to abuse his owne naturall doughter Beholde here the fructes then and forces of wine Among the lawes of Solon one of the seuen wise men or sages of Grece it was ordained that what prince so euer was founde or knowen dronke should therefore immediatly be executed to death Pitacus also decréed an other of the saied sages that who so beyng dronke committed any offence shoulde assuredly receiue double punishement there fore once for the trespas and fault by hym committed and the seconde tyme for his
reciteth the opinions of sundrie philosophers with many natural reasons concerning the saide matter But although it be good and necessary for the body yet must it not be with excesse and immoderatly taken for that to muche fleepe as well recordeth Aristotle weakneth the spirites of the bodie as well as also of the Soule euen as moderate and competent reaste bettereth theim increasing their vigor and their force For as many thinges are necessary and nedeful in mans life so taken in excesse annoie and greue vs muche as to eate who feleth not how hunger vs compelleth and yet who to muche eateth repenteth it we see in semblable sorte exercise with moderation also pleaseth but in excesse therof no man hath any liking So sleepe then must be taken for necessitie onely to reuiue refreashe and comforte the wery senses the spirites also vitall and other wery members For to much sleape besides that it maketh heauie the aboue saide spirites and senses the partie also becometh slouthfull weake and effeminate with ouer muche idlenes ingendereth muche humiditie and rawe humors in the bodie whiche commonly assault it with sundrie infirmities messenges of death and of finall ruine for when we to muche fleape all the moistures and humors of the bodie with the naturall heate retire to the extreame partes therof no where purgyng or euacuatyng that what so is redundant So then vnmeasured sleepe is not onely forbidden by philosophers and phisiciens but also is a thing odious to the wise vertuous Aristotle saieth that while wee sleape and slumber no difference is knowen betwixte the wise man and the foole and surely were there none other cause to breake and call the wise man from long and weary sleape but onely to eschewe and vterly refuse in any pointe to bee like or resemble hym that is not yet therefore should he flie it though moderate sleape geue life and be therefore right necessarie consideryng that he that sleapeth is not then as one liuyng And as Plutarche addeth in his boke of the contention of water and fire who so sleapeth hath none other force or vnderstandyng sleapyng then if him selfe were deade a colde or senslis carrion Plinie also is of this minde saiyng that sléepe still bereueth vs of the one halfe of our life for that when we sleape we neither knowe nor féele whether we liue or not Ouide with other Poetes and men of like learnyng tearme sleape an Image or purtraite of death and in the Scriptures sleepe is compared vnto death as where Saincte Paule saieth brethren we will not that ye be ignorant of these that are a sleape by whiche woordes he meaneth these that now are dedde and a little after God shall draw out after hym those that haue slepte in Christ Slepe also is the figure of negligencie and of sloth whiche thesame S. Paule againe in plaine woordes vttereth my brethren it now is tyme ye arise wake out of your slepe Slepe also signifieth synne as hath Sainct Gregorie who saith that to slepe is to continue and perseuere in synne And againe if that to slepe muche had not been accoumpted synne Saincte Paule then neuer had remembred these woordes so often awake ye iuste and leaue any more to synne Lette vs beginne to shame then that spende the greater parte of our tyme in slepe and in our bedde for surely who so doeth his offence is nothyng lesse then his that all daie doeth sitte in fatte dishes surfettyng like a grosse and swolen Epicure consideryng these creatures should onely be taken to the sole sustentation and maintenaunce of life and not to fill or pamper voluptuouslie the bellie in whiche sorte slepe muste also bee taken onely for necessitie nothing at all for pleasure Sith then slepe none otherwise muste be vsed lette vs now speake in what sorte is beste to slepe whiche waie and how to tourne beyng laied doune in bedde to reste vs to the intent that our slepe maie not annoie but profit vs Suche then as are of bodie not impotente or lesse hardie should passe as some suppose their first slepe on the right side but after that the greater part of the night vpō the left thēce chaungyng towardes the mornyng vnto the right again The reason is for that mannes stomacke is so ordered that the mouthe thereof somewhat more bendeth towardes the right side then it doeth to the left but the bottome contrary wise to the leafte declining from the righte So slepyng one hower or twoo on the right side the stomack stretcheth foorthe it self at large vpon the Liuer whence twoo singuler commodities insue the firste that the stomacke ordereth and inlargeth her self in wisshed maner by meanes whereof it passeth with more ease and contentment the late meates receiued or nutriment what so euer the secōde the moisture or humiditie of the foode in the stomacke cooleth refresheth and comforteth the Liuer by meanes whereof the naturall heate waxeth strong within the stomacke whiche mattereth not a little to hasten the digestion This dooen it shall not be discommodious to turue vnto the other side on whiche beyng sometymes laied the Liuer straight imbraceth and couereth the stomacke whēce in this maner aided it perfecteth and causeth immediately digestion How bée it it also shall be expedient some what before you rise ones againe to tourne and caste you on the right side to the intente the stomacke disburden and discharge it self again of the Liuer expellyng all noisome aire and superfluitie of the digestion passed This rule maie profite suche as haue their Liuer temperate their stomacke also not watrishe still and colde and to whom in fine these twoo are well affected but vnto hym whose Liuer percase maie be inflamed whose stomacke also is subiect vnto cold which bothe are common in many to bee seen to hym I thinke it noisome to slepe on the right side for that the stomack then falleth and resteth on the Liuer strainyng or chargyng it on euery side or parte whēce in excesse it heateth and inflameth immediatly the higher parte of the stomacke remainyng still vncouered coolyng so and weaknyng more then before besides that the Liuer draweth also to it euen that little heate that before was in the stomacke whence consequently insueth late and il digestion the bodie indisposed lesse apte to folowe any thing Wherefore whose stomacke is colde but Liuer contrary wise inflamed and hoate beste slepyng is for hym continually on the left side for that the stomacke couered on euery side with the Liuer it happely hasteneth and perfecteth digestion and concernyng the Liuer liyng so a lought it bothe is discharged and disburdeined of the stomacke hy meanes whereof it cooleth cleane voide of inflamations Some also slepe grouelyng their face and bellie dounewardes whiche semblablie aideth and comforteth digestion for that it both draweth and retaineth the heate naturall in the stomacke whiche thence expelleth and exileth all superfluities The contrary happeneth to them that slepe on their backe the face open
vnto Princes as also to all Capitaines that liue at any tyme in armes Cha. 8. fol. 127. Pag. 1. Of a straunge medicine where with Faustine the wife of M. Aurelius was cured languishyng and consumyng with infinite and extreame passions of vnchaste and disloial loue as olso of some thinges remediyng the saide passions Cha. 9. fol. 130. Pag. 1. Who firste did sette or plante the Vine who also did first to drinke water in wine to whom also and how the Romaines first of all forbad the vse of wine with some other thinges consernyng this purpose Cha. 10. fol. 131. Pag. 2. Of infinite discommodities whiche take their spring of wine immoderatly vsed as also what Phisicians they were that thought it good and medicinable some times to be dronke Cha. 11. fol. 134. Pag. 1. Of certaine greate Personages whiche died called hence by those whiche before them selues vniustly had caused to be executed euen in the instante and tyme to theim assigned as also some what of the Archebishoppe of Magonce or Ments Cha. 12. fol. 136. Pag. 1. Of a certaine guile practised by a vertuous and good Quéene towardes her housebande by meanes whereof James King of Aragon was begotten and of his birthe and death Cha. 13. fol. 138. Pag. 2. Of an auncient and straunge custome obserued by the inhabitantes of the Prouince of Carinthia at the coronation of their Prince as also how they sharply punished thieues Cha. 14. fol. 140. Pag. 1. In what parte of the Zodiacke the Sunne and the Moone as also the other Planettes were in the creation of the worlde and when thei firste were made of the beginnyng also of yeres and tymes Cha. 15. fol. 141. Pag. 2. That man maie take example of Birdes Wormes and other creatures to liue a iust and a vertuous life Cha. 16. fol. 145. Pag. 2. Why triumphes were first vsed in Rome as againe how many they were that there also triumphed what a Triumphe is and that there is twoo sortes of theim Cha. 17. fol. 148. Pag. 2. What names the Romaine Capitaines gained by their victories Cha. 18. fol. 154. Pag. 1. THE TABLE OF THE fowerth and laste parte OF the seuen meruailes or wonders of the world Cha. 1. fol. 156. Pag. 1. What maner of women the Sibylles were how manie in number and of their prophecies but especially of those that concerned Christe and his commyng Cha. 2. fol. 163. Pag. 2. Wherfore sléepe by nature was geuen vnto man and that to sléepe to muche is both noisome and domageable Cha. 3. fol. 167. Pag. 2. Of thrée sundrie doubtes whiche the auncient Philosophers were neuer able to resolue with the causes why Chap. 4. fol. 165. Pag. 1. What Ceremonies the Romaines vsed before they denounced warre to any prince or countrie Cha. 5. fol. 167. Pag. 1. That it profiteth a Prince muche to be faire and well fewtered Chap 6. fol. 174. Pag. 1. Of the horrible tyranny of Aristotimes a matter or subiecte not lesse fittyng for a tragedie Cha. 8. fol. 177. p. 1. Why and for what causes men rarely aspire to the assured perfection of thinges in this life Chap. 9. fol. 181. Pag. 2. How vnlawfull a thing the cumbate is and that princes ought not in any wise to permitte it Cha. 10. fol. 183. Pag. 1. Of the greate constancie of the renoumed Aretafila with her honest policie and deliuerie of her Countrie Cha. 11. fo 184. Pag. 2. FINIS Imprinted at London by Ihon Kingston for VVilliam Iones and are to be soulde at his newe long Shoppe at the Weste ende of Poules
dronkennes the cause of the wrong doen. Aristotle in his problemes geueth a reason why such as are geuen to wine are lesse able in the acte of generation as also an other why among suche as are dronke some be pleasant some sory some ioyous some terrible Some Phisicians also are there among whom I onely remember Auicenna and Rasis whiche affirme it to be a thyng very medicinable and holsome at times to be dronke though not ordinarily and commonly but their reasons wherfore nothing at all content me by meanes whereof I vtterly refuce to be of their opinion And where as diuers honourable personages haue been subiect to wine had they assuredly forsaken that there wonted vse in bousing their glory and renoume had so muche been the greater Alexander the greate was taxed of this vice so that as some good writers haue least vs plainly of hym he did in these his cuppes sundry his frendes to death and afterwarde repenting him of that his rage and malice would for reuenge haue slaine also hym selfe and surely it maie be thought that by meanes of these hys tyrannies he in the ende also was traitrously impoisoned Marcus Antonius one of the three pillers of the Romaine empire hauyng espoused the sister of Octauian pleasing to muche as the other also in wine coÌ„sequently acquainted himself with Cleopatra Quéene of Egypte by meanes where of in fine hee both lost his life and also the empire first vanquished by wine and after by Octauian The Emperour Tiberius as in hym were many and sundry greate defaultes yet none so much annoied hym as that he to much loued excesse of wine drinking wheÌ„ce in place of his name Tiberius was eftsones in derision of many called Biberius endyng at the laste an infortunate and wretched miser Denis the yonger tyranne of Sicilia so much was geuen to excessiue drinking that he became blinde in both eies vnprofitable Cleomedes King of the Spartiens practising to immitate the Scithians in bousing and did so valiantly by his lusty quaffing that he proued in the ende a senlis and lothsum monster It is reported that the Philosopher Archesilas died of dronkennes and no other maladie The Poete Anacreon was also a greate drinker and in drinkyng was chockte with the Pepin of a grape whiche entered by the wrong waie or passage through hys throate The Bishoppe Flauius renoumed for his learning reporteth that Bonosus so pleased in wine that Aurelius would saie of him that he was not borne to liue but to drinke and herein he farre exceaded all others for when so euer he dranke or els in what quantie he neuer thence was séen or drounke or lesse aduised But it maie be supposed that he paste it againe in vrine as fast as he receiued it how be it in the ende he escaped not the pain of his excesse and malice for that beeyng vanquished of Probus was in moste shamefull and lothsome maner haÌ„ged Some also write that the king Antiochus which was maugre his bearde subdued by the Romaines so muche giuen to strong wines and feasting that he spent the greater parte of his tyme in sleapyng by meanes whereof he committed almoste the whole gouernment of the Empire to twoo his chosen and very trustie dearâ—ynÌ„ges hymself banquettyng and disportyng still with a certaine yonge damosell so that when after he should mete in field with the Romaines his armie was straight disordered he an effeminate captiue Eschilus the poete also did please in drincke by meanes whereof Sophocles left not to saie vnto hym Eschilus these thynges that thou hast saied and doen haue onely paste thée by happe and by fortune and by no knowledge that thou haste or ought that thou vnderstandest ¶ Of certaine greate personages whiche died called heÌ„ce by those whiche before them selues vniustly had caused to be executed euen in the instante and tyme to them assigned as also some what of the Archebishoppe of Magonce or Ments Chap. 12. WHen the aide of man faileth those to whom by man some wrong and grief is doen God assuredly notwithstandyng neuer leaueth to assiste theim and although it chaunce not at suche tymes so sone and so apertly as percase some would or could in harte desire yet God that knoweth when and howe he shoulde auenge hym on those that haue vniustly opprest or wronged the innocente so woorketh that at tymes suche trecheries come to lighte and eke mannes falce iudgementes to his heauie condemnation Whereof wée could remember many true straunge examples emong which we reade of a certaine knight of the house of the Templiers executed as is supposed very vniustly this knight an Italian borne in Naples beholding as he paste to the place of execution Pope Clement the fifte of that name aduaunced in a windowe as pleasyng in this spectacle whiche onely did this sentence to passe againste hym wrongfully and nigh to hym Philippe surnamed Bellus kyng then of Fraunce saied to hym with a high and loude voice incontinently O thou cruell and merciles Clement for as muche as in the worlde none other iudge is to whom from thy vniust sentence I might appeale I appeale yet from thée and from thy greate iniustice vnto him that all séeth that true and vpright iudge Iesus Christe the rightuous before whom I thee assomen as also the kyng there at whose sute thou hast sentensed me to death to appere in persone bothe before his tribunall seate there to receiue as ye by me haue deserued without fauour or perciallitie without respecte of persones and that also within the space of one yere followyng And so it came to passe that as he there had cited them the Pope died iuste at the tyme appoincted as also the kyng to holde theother companie Whiche thing assuredly onely proceded from the inscrutable iudgemeÌ„tes and iustice of god The semblable also happened to Ferdinande the fowerth kyng of Castile whiche also did to death twoo other worthie knightes of pretensed malice not hauyng any shadowe or pretexte at all of iustice whom no sorowfull teares or often supplications could or might deliuer from the blouddie miser In fine therefore arrestyng without more on this extremitie cited the king in like maner as before within thirtie daies folowng to appere before that iudge the laste of whiche in déede he made chaunge of life for death and so departed hence Suche was the happe also of a capitain of certain gallies of the toune of Genua of whiche Baptista Fulgosius in this sorte reporteth that he tooke a little Boate or Barke of Catelongna in whiche also was an other or capitaine or gentleman which neuer had dooen to the inhabitaÌ„tes of Genua any wroÌ„g or iniurie neuerthelesse for that priuate malice that this Capitaine of Genua bare to the Catelanes coÌ„maunded that he should incoÌ„tinently be hanged who mournfully besought hym not to do him that or any so greate vilanie for that he neuer had offended nor hym ne yet his countrie but findyng in the ende no kinde of