seemeth Byas or as it pleaseth some Stilpo disagréed not from this argumēt who in flying naked the town of his byrth which conteined both his friends substance y ◠were at one instāt in hazard of burning answered them who willed him more carefully to regard his losse Al those things which be mine I take with me inferring therby that vertue is the onlye ornament and possession of a wise man all other things being but snarles to intangle honestie and to cast vs head-long inso much miserie Of that opinion were many other who beholding our states buffeted by prosperous or aduerse Fortune vtterly condemned the life of man as y ◠which by the vse of worldly things was made the storehouse of many euils The consideration hereof ministred Heraclitus large floodes of teares and clowdes of sighes as vnfained witnesses of his continuall mourning for those miseries wyth which he beheld our liues filled and made lamentable The selfe same caused Democritus to laugh at them and their madnes that thought all other times then those in which they pursued the causes of their short life or infinite trouble lost They both agréeing that our liues be so deluded wyth the world as the vnwarye bird by the Fowlers call or the gréedy Trowt by the sundry coulors of the fethered hooke In all these matters may we behold the true portraits of sorrow layde forth wyth the deceiuable coulors of Anagirus were we not such which by custome lyke as well the reflexions of light as the natural brightnes of the Sun or as children ill learned to forgoe with Esau for Porrage a land that floweth with heauenly foode And although we deserue no better if we respect our own worthynes then a surplus of those euils yet for that they may be seperated by an other trade of life I condemn them as meanes to drawe vs from pietie or by which we are inferior to brute beasts who are farre from those affections with which we be burdened and throwne downe I may appeale in these matters from common opinion to the Citezens of the worlde whose experience knoweth we be no otherwise made of then of Sirenes or pittied then of Crocodils but each way assailed with flatteries and supposed compassions as a people il guided to discern of our aduersaries This duely considered that all things be either naturally our enimies or by our error in vsing them made vnprofitable let vs as men made wise by our owne perril make much of their contrarie by whose benifite we fynde some inclination to honesty or by whose meane we lose not our liues credite and peaceable state but may haue in respect of our securitie therby one countenance with Iuuenals passenger when others hauing their harts heauier then their pursses cursse with the wearie Spainard the titles of Crosses they being turning markes of high wayes farre from the dwelling of men honoring on the other side the wheele and gibbet as signes of rest being placed neare to Townes and Citties The affinitie which hath béene euer betweene nothing and the pouerty of men maketh the one hardly to be discerned from the other in the possession of their owners the effectes of both being the cause of good arts and inuention of some newe matter profitable to the world For the mind being at no time idle or as some will haue it neyther alwayes wel occupied not impeached with forrein causes traueileth to bring forth somwhat of excellent quality and therefore haue I marueiled at the idlenes of those times which had leasure to establishe this saying Pouertie is an enimie to good manners a prouerbe amongst vs the same being necessary for the knowledge of our selues that are by the contrary most insolent and intollerable Dionisius whilst he had the pompe of a King was estéemed of all men tirranius being expelled his realme named for his temperance and wisedome a Phylosopher Alexander of Macedonia being for his dominions wounded wyth the holy flatteries of Iupiter Hamons Preists of a sober Prince became violent as he terriblye expressed in the miserable fortune of his faythfull counceller Clitus and the lamentable state of Persepolis by which such like he brought himself in hatred of his people by whose seruice he passed many hazards of battle which then were had in admiration nowe scarce beléeued of those that haue not traueiled in the diuine Oracles of Daniell and other wrighters touching that matter of good report For such were the disagreements of affections in this Prince that whilst he estéemed the contents of the worlde he excéeded all the great men of his time in losenes of lyfe and extreame crueltie and contrarie wise when he feared nothing and reuerenced the louers therof as he confirmed by visiting Diogenes in hys Tun there was none gained so easily the harts of all men as he being by their whole consents iudged worthy for his magnimitie and temperance vnto whom the world ought only to yéeld his obedience Notwithstanding this opinion receiued by all men of him repaired he as I saide to the straight lodging of Diogenes as vnto him with whom he had neare equalitie in nothing The which this good Phylosopher had in such estimation y ◠he offered therfore dayly supplications to those Images which were erected in the publicke places of Athens for y e memorie of their good Citizens although some hold he obserued this custome to that ende he might more paciently beare the deniall of such necessaries as he sought at the handes of ritch men But how vnprobable their opinion is the conference betweene him being in his Tun and Alexander standing betweene the sun and the mouth therof proueth For after Alexander found that confirmed by his owne experience which he heard reported by others touching the excellency of Diogenes wit and the rare quicknes of his spirite and seeing him with a minde greater then belongeth to a man in aduersitie to contemne both life and other matters of the world he studied according to y e worthines of himselfe to nurrishe those vertues by somewhat that might be agreable to the magnificence of a King and therfore encorraged Diogenes whom he found not stored with any thing in his Tun which serued for all weathers to aske possession or other necessaries But Diogenes who resolutely adicted him selfe to that dwelling which he preferred before the Areopage and Courts of Kings and vnto whom the least matter in the fauour of nothing séemed gréeuous required Alexander in lieu of his offer to remoue his shadow that had entred the mouth of his Tub as that wherewith his lodging was ouer charged y e same being only reserued for him and nothing Esope who painted to vs by Byrdes Fishes Serpents foure footed beasts the forme of an honest and safe lyfe being taken with the enimie and made subiect with fooles to misery was w t other bondmē offered to be sold to Xantus the Phylosopher and being demaunded by Xantus what he could do to
The prayse of Nothing By E. D. ⧠Imprinted at London in Fleetestreate beneath the Conduite at the signe of S. Iohn Euangelist by H. Iackson 1585. ⧠The prayse of Nothing DIuers of singuler reputation to recreate themselues from their grauer studies haue after the nature of their conceytes written diuersly that of such matter which in the opinion of the people seemed not worthy the pen of a meane scholler in which notwithstanding they shewed no small argument of their greate iudgment that erred at no time lesse theÌ„ when it apeared most idle and looslye giuen For as in the quiet times of states well gouerned Souldiers trained with shewes of no danger and exercised in pleasant marches feruentlye couet the hazarde of battle so returned those rare men from their lighter labors more resolute to beare the heauy burden of their ancient studies By imitation of whome maye the meaner sorte being also wearied with other accedents of the worlde vndertake the like as the poore help of cuntrey musicke for a plowemans dumpe with no lesse warrantise then the sheapheard may the vse of his Ofen pipe Princes hauing the Cornet other excellent Instruments For to men that differ in no other circumstance theÌ„ the fauorable aspect of Fortune hath Nature being as good mother to the Ideot as the greatest clarke vsed for one sort of sicknes a like methode of cure as a meane to mound hir children with the true knowledge of themselues by which their societie and mutuall good will is maintained Thys equitie in nature hath moued mée as a lenetiue of the mind though beside my infirmities I haue many things in common with others to enterprise the praise of Nothing which I confesse might haue had more ornament if it had fallen in the handes of the learned by whose labors the weaknesse of the subiect might haue béene holpen Yet for y â— betwéene the déepth of their skil and the shallownés of this matter there is small proportion I thought the same more agreable for my selfe whose iudgement hath néerest conformitie therewith Whilest I endeuored to shun Agrippas vanities and Erasmus follyes as one that might haue béene a paterne of either I cloathed with bare garments this treatise for equity would not that Drones féede with the Muses birds neither that Arachne weaue in the frames of Minerua My purpose hath not béene to publishe any thing contrary to pietie which with many obseruances I haue regarded or in beguiling the time in which I salue my owne sores to wounde the wandering appetite of such as hunt nouelties and ingorge themselues with euery poison that hath either his outwarde forces alaide wyth swéete smelles or sauorie tasts But I who had rather bréede no delight then betraie the sences haue in consideration therof put this Caueat that those fictions which be without order scattered in this pamphlet be for no other cause layde downe then to péece with phantasticke artificers the defects of their inuencion none being so hardy to drawe Venus without hir Uaile or Mars vnarmed The weake helpe of these supposes I submit to the learned censure of the godly who knowe them to be no otherwise parte of any worke then steyning coullers of one nature with the table or linnen hanging I meane not to be iealous of the good report of this treatise as Appelles was of his picture but giue leaue for all sorts to reprehende me for nothing for whose sake I haue made apparance of some enmitie to all thinges neither to impunge any ground of equitie but to take such measure as I haue powred to others of whome I entreate no other fauour then that they thinke it the labor of him who windeth quils for the web of Penelope The quarrel is not yet ended which hath risen amongst the anciente Phylosophers touching the originall of the worlde which some will haue to concerne only the earth hir contents others the mighty frame of the vniuersall euery one setting downe his seuerall reason as being loath to haue séemed ignorante of those great matters when to things in which they had more interest being of one creation with the heauens and the earth they were mere strangers for that light of which Zacharie and the Euangeliste spake had not then shined to them by which they mighte thorough the thicke clowdes of nature behold themselues a knowledge discended from heauen For whilst they traueyled Curiositie being their guid to find out in the numbers of Pythagorus the moets of epicure and seperated formes of Democrates the naturall cause of the worlde they reuealed by chance the true procreation of nothing as men in séeking Mines doe first finde water without which there is no store of Mettle congealed This labor although it were not in dangers equall to those of Herculâ—s yet is it worthy of great praise in bringing to light a discent further then was eyther knowne to Vlpian or the learned Heraulds of that time since which no man hath medled therin they only endeuoring to fynd out the originall of Nilus the causes of his inundations and ebs the vehement motions of the Aire and earth the mouing of the planets their Eclipses and other accedents The prophane antiquitie therefore vnlesse by casuall meanes entreated little hereof as of that which by their rule y â— Nihilex Nihilo fit conteined not matter of profit or commendation for which those Phylosophers hunted as ambicious men for dominion and empire Leauing therefore as men impatient to abide without the vaine praises of the people that difficult and lawdable enterprise to the posteritie of the children of God they gaue themselues to be authors of many parcialities and sectes But these latter sort vpon whose backs this charge was cast after they had beheld the state of all thinges perceiued the cause of their production to consist of a nature more excellent theÌ„ they were of which being without the compasse of their schole causes must of necessytie be ascribed vnto the wonderfull omnipotencie of God who by his diuine wisdome composed the vniuersall substance of nothing which is by so much of greater dignitie by howe much it hath rather pleased the creator to fram therof the worthyest creatures And though it liked Tully to name the reuealing of these misteries to the multitude great impietie yet thinke I it necessary as a meane to attaine to the true knowledge of God and our selues of God who making all thinges for man of nothing is preched to vs by the architecture of this mightie engin of the world of our selues who being made of reasonable soules bodyes pertake both of the natures of Angells and brute beasts to that ende we embase not with abiecte mindes the excellency of the first or raise the second higher then is agreable to our strength For that substance which we communicate with Angels being created of nothing draweth vs by a secreter property to the contemplation of heauenly things then the Adament doth Ironâ— the other being
world themselues and boast of nothing as without which they pertake many things with vnreasonable creatures whose natures by vse they put on and are made lyke them in all things their shapes excepted For in that sence also spake the Apostle when he layde before the Corinthians some course of lyfe which he would they vsed as though it were not which argument the beloued Disciple followed wyth no lesse emphasis then the chosen vessell of God forbiding the loue of the world the same being pregnant in it selfe to sequester from our vse all societie of the heauenly traine which is to one purpose as if he had extolled nothing whose praises he might haue more expresly set downe but that he endeuored to bring the same in fauor by dispraise of the contrary as Licurgas comended to his Cittizens sobrietie by shewing them the vncleane behauiour of his drunken bondmen This kinde of teaching hath béene vsed of diuers when without â—iolence they entended to remoue an euill deepely rooted in our affections which are not in weeding their vnnaturall superfluities to be pressed wyth the seuere discipline of ruffe censures least they being made weake by that meane let slip the good séedes of vertue wyth the cornels of our corruption as bodyes losing their retentiue facultie by vehemencie of the purge But to returne where I left touching the contempt and abiect vse of worldly things Petrarck in his tryumphe of death newly speaking in our tongue by an vnlearned traÌ„slator mainteyneth the same argument THe Popes saith he the Kings who coÌ„manded haue the worlde Are naked now misers and needy persons all Now treasures where now honors where and precious stones And Scepters where Crownes Myters purple shewes He wretched is that layes his hope in mortall things But who doth not and if he finde himselfe at length Deceiued tis reason great and answeareth well his act O senceles men so much to traueile what auailes To the auncient Mother great all shall returne at last And hardly shall the mention of your names be found Of a thousand labors not one a profite yeeldes But each of them apparant vanities are knowne Your studies who doth vnderstand can tell me this With mindes inflamde alwayes to domage of your selues What profite ist so many countryes to subdue And nations diuers tributaries make vnknown And after enterprices perillous and vaine With blood to conquer walled Townes and treasure get A way more sweete is found with water and with bread With glasse wood then with ritch orient stone gold By these hurtfull effects dangerous impressions of all things I finde great cause why nothing should be more regarded as wel for that it serueth al humors though by sundry meanes as that also the same is enimie or hauing societie with things hurtfull to man but a good helpe to make him in true godlines like pacient Iob so much commended of God who more then y t rest of men stood beholding therto as vnto his vnseperable friend which only accompanied him into the world remayned with him in his miserable pouerty and sicknes and lastly returned with him to his Sepulcher the gate of his rest and felicitie in which although no man hath in this world a perfection yet draweth he nerest therto either in the prime of life or decreped age therof The first as was said of yong children not caring for the world and therfore happy the other being vnfit for the world and therfore like to be happy For in the latter time of man when all things remaine vnpleasant to him not for that he hateth them but in respect of his want of power which then wareth weake to vse them he maketh of hys necessity a vertue and in lieu of his wonted violences and ouer running the world either restraineth himself to some monastical life or teacheth at home the vse of true fortitude and militarie prudence or if weakened by the dangerous assaults of loue he highly praiseth chastitie reading to hys wife the legend of good women wherby she may more paâ—iently haue fellowship with him in his inuoluntarie abstinence or if in his yong time he alwayes labored in the fields of Neptimus he wareth being olde a maker of Carts for Nauigation meaning to recompence the furious crueltie of his youth with the charitable compassion of his olde age it is for the sequal a matter of no smale consideration to beholde these particions and first the infancy which hauing little or no comunitie with worldly felicities resteth pacified with the abiect things of nature the other being of many parts by some participation it hath w t two faced Ianus a neuter to all things The contempt or societie of the world that hapneth by this necessitie is no way worthy of praise in vs though as Vbi desinit Philosophus incipit medicus it be an externall meane where by we supernaturallye apprehende the heauenly graces that haue no societye with those things for which we enuie mislike or imbrace one another or for which we teare the bowels of the earth or trust our selues to the vnconstant waues or ruffe seas From these dangers of life if any by the deuine prouidence escape they are beyonde all expectation when no other thing is lefte them then a weary confusion mightily succored by that diuine power which til then lyeth aloofe as a strong reliefe for our weake estate To this are the testimonies of the scriptures answerable which witnes the bountious liberality of God to the needy naked miserable and possessors of nothing and his indignation to the mighty and rich whom he pulleth from their seates and sendeth emptie from his presence Furthermore where as the schole men haue this ground that Natura abhorret vacuum which is the natural element or residence of nothing it consequently followeth that she also abhorreth nothing which maketh nothing by so much of greater dignity by how much our nature being peruerse is prone to sinne the only cause of Gods fearefull iudgements and heauie displeasures These are the effects of nature an enimie to the Courte of nothing to kindle on our backs hir bundle of rotten sticks with the consuming fire of Gods wrath I cease not in respect hereof to muse at them before meÌ„tioned that complaine for nothing as Procâ—is being ielous of Aura the same remaining a harmles companion of our life by whose fellowship we may say with Cicero that we be neuer lesse alone then when we be alone and by our experience affirme that we are not any way so safe as when nothing is neere vs which hauing all the parts of trust on which we may confidently repose our selues is to be prefered before any thing in nature whether it be man who for his seuerall perfections is named the little worlde with whome diuers vnresonable creatures to abate his swelling humours are equally matched in many things he claimeth prerogatiue or any other liuing creature which for some perticuler qualitie is noted