although they woulde in no wise there vnto accorde yet Tyberius of hymself streatly inhibited that no man shoulde be so hardie to touche or greue a Christian As concernyng the yearthquake and darknyng of the Sunne continuyng the full tyme that Christ was on the Crosse we haue also good testimonies and assured of Ethnikes Flegon a gréeke historiogripher borne in Asia of whom Swydas especially remembreth reporteth for a thing almost incredible that in the forth yere of the two hundred and tenth Olympiade whiche by iust accompte was in the eightinth yere of the raigne of Tyberius at whiche tyme our sauiour suffered there was a greate Eclipse of the Sunne suche as earste had neuer been séen or written of continuyng from the sixt hower euen vnto the ninth and farther during the time of this defect of the Sunne such and so inspekable were the yearthequakes in Asia and Bithinia that infinite houses fell doune to the grounde It appeareth farther that besides this Flégon that in the same time liued Plinie also felte it and discoursed on the saide matter for saieth he in the tyme of Themprour Tyberius greater yearth quakes were then seen then euer had been before by meanes of whiche were subuerted twelue famous cities in Asia with infinite and innumerable other houses and buildynges in suche sort that the historiogriphers Gentiles though lesse wéetyng the cause lefte not yet to write the miracles of Christ The other miracle of the veale of the Temple that sundred Iosephus in like sorte recordeth it faithefully The cruell murther dooen by Herode vppon the harmelesse innocentes is writen of on other Iewe whiche hight Phylon an historian of greate aucthoritie in his abridgemeÌ„t of tyme where he thus muche reporteth that Herode did to bee murthered certaine yong infantes and with them also his owne naturall soonne for that he heard say that Christ the king promised to the Iewes was borne and this man liued in the tyme of Herode the Tetrarche as him selfe writeth This history of the innocentes is of Macrobius also more fully remembred a man excellentlie learned and of greate antiquitie who in rehersall of certaine pleasant and merie conceites of the Emperour Octauian aboute the tyme of the birth or natiuitie of our sauiour whiche saied beyng aduertised of the crueltie of Herode as well towardes hys owne soonne as also the others that he rather would be a Hogge in the house of Herode then his soonne whiche he saied for that the Iewes did neuer eate any swines fleshe whiche pretie ieste is repeted by Dion in the life of the saide Emperour so that in fine there were many miracles written as wel by Iewes as by Gentiles lesse supposing to haue witnessed them to haue been doen by Christe besides infinite the others reported by Christians What farther shall I write of the auncient Emperours and what thei thought of our faith as what discourtisies they also practised against the true professors of Christ and his truth The first good Bishoppe or seruaunt of Christ S. Peter S. Paule also a faithfull minister were doen to death at the commaundement of the Emperoar Nero thirtiesix yeres after the death of our redemour at whiche tyme was the greate persecution of the Churche of whiche the Gentiles left not to make mentioÌ„ as among others many these twoo especially Cornelius Tacitus and Suetonius Tranquillus whiche liued at that tyme bothe famous and honourable Suetonius in the life of Nero spekyng of certaine his owne ordinaunces faieth that hee tormented and afflicted with sundry and greuous puishmentes a certaine kinde of people whiche called theimselues Christians folloyng a newe faith or religon And Cornelius T. writyng of the saied Nero affirmeth that he chastised and pursued with terrible tormentes a sort of people named commonly Christians the author of whiche name saieth he was Christ of Hierusalem the verie same whiche Pilate gouernour of ludea did openly to be crucified by whose death his doctrine grewe more and more and increased But consider wee also what some other Gentiles haue written of honour and authoritie like vnto the others Plinie the yonger in one of his Epistles demauÌ„deth of the Emperour Traian whose LiuetenaÌ„t he was in Asia how he would that he should punishe the Christians that were aceused and brought before hym and the better to informe his Lorde of what soeuer he founde against them he among other thinges many reporteth that these Christians rise ordinarilie at certaine houres of the night assembling and meetyng together singyng Hymmes and Songes of praise vnto Iesus Christe whom they honoured for their God and Messias and besides this meetyng in congregations together they made also vowes not to doe annoie or domage to anie not robbyng or takyng from any manne what so euer that they would not committe adulterie that thei neuer woulde false their faith or promis not to denie what soeuer had been lent theim or committed to their kepyng And farther the saide Plinie writeth that they alwaies did feede or eate together not holding or possessyng any thyng as proper or priuate By these are well knowen what were euen then the exercises of the christians as also for what cause the worlde pursued theim Those thinges were recorded thus by an idolatrous infidell sixtie yeres fullie after the Passion of our Lorde and sauiour Vnto whiche letters the Emperour aunswered for as muche as thei were accused of no kind of riote or wrong he should in no wise afflict or chastice theim â—e yet make any inquisition what so euer against theim not withstandyng when they shoulde yet be accused before hym that he then did his pain to withdrawe theim from that Religion but if they in no wise would forgo or leaue it that he should not for all that do theim any kinde of violence How be it true it is that this saied Emperour Traian before this as an infidell and deceaued by the guile and fraude of the accusers punished both and persecuted the poore harmlis christians After succided in th' empire his Nephew Adrian of whoÌ„ Aelius Lampridius an historiogripher voide of faithe and idolatrus writeth that he began first to honour the christians permitting theim to liue after their loore and order and that hym selfe also with the people reuerensed Christ building and grauntyng theim Temples for their behoofe but afterwardes alteryng his good minde and zeale towardes theim began cruelly again and odiously to persecute theim abused by the maisters of his false cerimonies as by the Bishops also of his false gods perswadyng with hym that if he any waie fauoured the Christians that all the worlde woulde shortly be conuerted to that lawe whence a generall rume would followe to their gods and religion all whiche is reported by Petrus Crinitus It is written in the life of Saturninus that from Seuerinus the Consull a letter was writen to the said Adrian the'mperor wherin he certified him that in Egipt were sundrie christiaÌ„s among which some called theimselues Bishops of which all no
The fowerth is the difficultie and hardnes of the sciences for though man see that in harte and minde he desire to searche the truthe and causes of haute and profounde matters yet findyng theim so labourous and harde to vnderstande he vtterly giueth ouer his firste attempte and enterprise and becometh like vnto an iye whiche to looke on the Sunne fasteneth it self closely whence issueth suche a pearsyng and extreame brightenes that it so eclipseth and troubleth the sight that it in no wise is able to looke thereon or abide it The laste and worste of all the others is a certaine affectiō whiche manne hath conceiued in his youthe especially in these thynges in whiche he hath been fostered and bredde vp with long continuaunce afterwarde in thesame for custome easily conuerteth it self into Nature by occasion whereof there groweth in manne a moste assured desire and singuler loue in these thynges where vnto he hath been vsually accustomed hatyng and disdainyng continually the contrary and in this errour the whole worlde is this daie almoste drouned For see we not the same in the yong children of the Turkes which before thei come to be of iudgemente or reason abhorre and deteste all christianitie as doeth also the iewe Againe we see that the peasaunte or countrie manne for hauyng been nourished and accustomed to the countrie dieted and appareiled grossely as is their maner flieth and refuseth the acquaintance or companie of the courtier as also of these others that liue in well ordered and ciuill citees whēce riseth this prouerbe vnhappie is that birde that was bredde in an euill vale for hauyng been fostered and still kepte in thesame she can not at any tyme depart thence and leaue it though assured to bee els where better and at more ease Neither in this case onely haue we experience here of but farther our selues hate straungers and these of an other countrie yea though we neuer liued in their companie or sawe them onely perchaunce for that we haue heard euill of theim In women also is this errour notorious to whom so muche please these thynges that thei haue accustomed which though thei be in déede lesse profitable or honest yet maie thei in no wise learne or receiue the contrary Finally this loue of vse or custome with the dislikyng of that wee knowe not is almoste generally seen in all thynges of election Wherefore we muste banishe from vs euery these impedimentes to the ende we maie knowe if it bée possible perfectly to iudge in cases of difference for in these thynges cōsisteth the absolute perfection in this worlde the pathe also is it to felicitie in the other followyng the good husbande manne that well laboureth his soile takyng from it first all thistles and euill weedes and after bestoweth in it as order asketh good seede So also the Phisition that would restore to healthe his sicke and weake patiente pourgeth hym firste of all his corrupte and superfluous humours for that in a matter euill and ill disposed a newe forme easily and at the firste is not induced We then muste indeuour by all meanes possible for mā that is reasonable and yeldeth not vnto reason but dwelleth still as wedded to his owne fonde apetite is as he that would saile on the toppe of high mountaines or builde hym houses on the restles and surgyng waues of the sea whiche bothe are lesse aduised and fruitlesse immaginations How vnlawfull a thing the cumbate is and that princes ought not in any wise to permitte it Chapt. 10. AS by the colde charetie and malice of men abuse is creapte into all thinges in the worlde so falleth it out in the cumbate or fight of twoo whiche in the beginnyng in ceirteine cases and doubtes of greate controuersie whiche otherwise could not bee determined or decided was then by greate princes when hostilitie and war first beganne to growe vpon iust consideration honorably receaued But in this our age it now is so common and so abused that euery priuate and meane Souldiour for little cause or small matter is redie to attempte the cumbate against his aduersarie And that whiche geueth me greatest cause of meruaile is to sée that Christian princes and none others admitte it to whom aboue all others it expresly is prohibited and denied and yet groweth it still to be suche and so common that if God for his greate mearcies sake extinguishe not the memorie thereof I feare me that prelates and churche men will not shame at the laste as valiaunt champions to enter the listes among others This kinde of fight is denied man firste and especially by gods worde it also is denied hym by the Ciuile and Canon lawe it is denied I saie to the partie that demaundeth it also to hym that permitteth or aucthoriseth it and in fine to all suche as would looke on or beholde it By Gods worde we proue it in this sorte to be denied Euery acte by whiche GOD may bee tempted is to a Christian expresly prohibited for it is writen thou shalte not tempte thy Lorde thy god That God is tempted by this meanes this make I it euident To make proofe of these thinges whiche by none other meanes might be brought to good ende but by the onely prouidence and iustice of God is no thinge els but to proue and tempte God as is sinne in cases of purgation wherit euermore is most plain and euident that accordyng vnto the order of nature the strongest and most valiant ouertroweth the weaker but the contrarie whiche is that the lesse able shoulde conquire the other neuer chaunseth but by miracle onely To suche then in force and courage so different enteryng the listes to fight the cumbate the victory is lookte for at hys handes that maintaineth the iuste quarell to the intent the truthe might bee thence aperte and manifest this tempte we then God willyng that he worke herein miraculously that whiche in dede he should doe if the more valiaunt were subdued by the timorus and impotente whiche were cleane contrarie to the order and lawe of nature Againe we maie in like sorte proue it by this argument when the lawe inhibiteth any thing it also inhiteth in any wise to doe that by meanes of whiche a māmaie committe the thinge inhibited sith then to vs by God him selselfe murther is nenied the cumbate is also by the same reason denied for that therby is committed homicide Or other wise againe it might bee saide in this sorte in holy wrete is forbidden euerie acte that accordeth not with charitie whiche is the sole grounde and foundation of vertue but the cumbate is an acte that accordeth not with charitie charitie beyng none other but the loue of God and our neighbour therfore the cumbate in holy write is forbidden for who so entereth the listes thirsteth as is euident the bloodde of his neighbour traiterously rebellyng and disobaiyng the diuine maiestie Finally it also is forbiden by the Canon lawe for that it followeth the rule of
in Armes againste the Romaynes bothe he and his whole troupe in the Citie of Taranta he hearde after supper certaine of his yonge Souldiers sittinge at their table to outrage againste him whome when he had caused to be brought before him demaunded whether thei had paste against him in such woordes or not to whom one of them with countenance lesse altered saide Kinge what so euer thou haste charged vs with that all haue wée spoken and farther be thou assured that if the wine had not failed vs wée had yet againe spoken many worse then are these lettinge him thereby for their excuse to vnderstand that the wine in this sorte had forste them to exile from duety and reason At which his woordes Phyrrus waxte not onely angry but rather on the contrary side brake out into a greate laughter sendinge them backe to their lodgynge without any annoye or hurte what so euer The Emperour Tyberius though otherwise a tyranne moste cruell and execrable hath lefte vs also to this pourpose somethinges woorthy memorie for perceiuinge on a time that one had composed an infamous Libel against him and farther that the people with woordes disloyall complained eche where of his excessiue crueltie wherefore perswaded by somme to doe sharpe animaduersion and streight Iustice on them sayde that all Tongues ought to be frée in a Citie then streight againe moued by some of his Councell to make diligent searche and busie inquirie to finde out the Authour of the fore saide Libell whiche he also refused as afore sayinge that he was not yet so voyde of affayres that he would trouble him selfe with so simple a matter Greate also was the Clemencie of Denis tyranne of Sicilia vsed towardes an olde wooman of poore and meane condition for beinge aduertised that shée dayly prayed for the continuance of his Health and Honour sente for her to know the cause why shée so mutche affected his assured state and maintenance consideringe all other his Subiectes desired his deathe generally whereunto shée answeared knowe right mightie Prince that when I was a yonge Mayde there raygned in this Countrie a moste fell and wicked tyranne wherefore I prayed continually to the Gods for his suddaine death destruction by meane whereof in shorte time my requeste was fully accomplished But after him succéeded then an other farre yet more cruell and more blouddy then the firste for whose deathe I neuer lefte on the Gods incessantly to call till it had chaunst to him as to the other aboue saide After bothe these nowe comest thou the woorste of the thrée a Monster in faithe most malicious and lothsome and yet because an other might followe moste detestable of all I neuer leaue to praye for thy health and preseruation wishinge thée many yéeres in healthe to thy contentmente This bolde and hardye answeare naughte gréeued at all this Tyrante nor therefore disdeigned he her that of custome disdeigned al others but pardoned her to goe without annoye or offence When Plato the Father and Prince of all Philosophers had made his longe aboade with this foresaide Denis in the ende required his fauour to passe home againe into his Countrie which obtained the tyranne him selfe in conductinge him of parte out of Sicilia demaunded what he woulde reporte of him at Athens emonge the Philosophers To whom Plato without staie freely and boldely answeared these that liue in Athens are not so idle nor haue they know thou to loose so mutche good time or leasure that they once will inquire either of thée or of thy behauiour Whence although in deede he well perceiued that for his naughtie life he that had onely spoken yet patiently he tooke it not malicinge the partie I remember againe other twoo olde wéemen whiche with like fréedome bespake their Kinges or Princes the one a Macedonian to the King Demetrius Sonne of the aboue remembered Antigonus the other a Romaine to the Emperour Adrian to whom bothe they framed bothe one the same answeare for eche of them crauinge iustice at the Kinges handes receiued for answeare that thei presently coulde not attende on them then sayde they if you maie not vnderstande of our complainte geue ouer then your Crownes to them that will do Iustice which woordes the twoo Princes tooke bothe in better parte acquaintinge themselues with theire cases and did them forth with right Phillippe Kinge of Macedonie taking his leaue of the Embassadours of Athens and offeringe them sutche courtesie as is vsuall in like cases demaunded in the ende whether they would that he should doo any thinge yet for them to whom one of them that had to name Democrates knowinge that he in harte hated the Athenians lesse able to hide that whiche in harte he thought saide wée woulde that thou shouldest goe and hange thy selfe and besides that nothinge At whiche answeare as well al his companions as the others then there presente fearinge the Kinges indignation were not a litle troubled but the Kinge as was his woonted Clemencie or it maie be dissemblinge not alteringe to wrothe in any other manner turned him to the other Embassadours and saide you shall saie to the Athenians from me that he that can supporte these sutche opprobrious woordes hathe mutche more modestie then the sagest of Athens whiche are so litle wise that they know not when nor where to holde their peace Domaratus cōming to sée King Phillip on a time when he was freashly fallen out as well with his wife as with the yonge Prince Alexander of whom amonge other thinges the Kinge at the first demaunded if all the Cities in Greece were in peace and well acquieted But Domaratus that well knewe nothinge was to him more likinge then to heare of perpetuall discorde amonge his Subiectes answeared him right boldely but reuerently withall as well became a subiecte Assuredly Kinge for that you liue disquieted still at home you aske me what dissentions may be in these your Cities abroade but if you were in peace with these your people here it shoulde stande more with your Honour then thus to inquire of the aduersities of others Whereat the Kinge founde not him selfe at all aggreued consideringe that for iuste cause he honestly had reproued him immediately grewe to a perfecte attonement with the Quéene as well as with his Sonne and others In what bolde fréedome and libertie of woordes Diogenes bespake that famous Prince Alexander as also with what modestie and howe he accepted it is euident in the firste parte where something is saide of the life of Diogenes Farther if wée affecte examples of Christians Pope Sixtus the fourth of the order of the orde of sainct Frances maie serue in this place as fittyng to our purpose To whom on a tyme elected and chosen Pope came one of his brethren an olde religious Frier whiche after salutations past to and fro on bothe sides withdrewe hym self with the Bishoppe into his secrete rreasurie where as he shewed his poore brother greate heapes of costlie stones and iuels
to these of that other For these thinges and suche others as here might bée alleaged are the causes why one beholdyng an other conceiueth straight against hym some inwarde disdaine or pleasure as is euident when we sée twoo men plaiyng togither fight or dispute for what matter so euer for that neither standyng bound to the one or the other neither euer hauing knowen theim who or whence thei are wisheth notwithstandyng the desired victorie soner to the one then to the other Concernyng that whereof we haue spoken that one manne without any occasion should so muche dread or feare an other that he submitteth hymself and boweth faine and gladde to bee ruled by hym though indeede he bee his better more worthie or more honourable the case is euidente and by experience common Of whiche al Ptolomie giueth this reason saiyng that who so in his natiuitie shall haue his lorde or ruler or for better demonstration to exēplifie of twoo of which the one hauyng the lorde of his natiuitie in some signe ascendēt in the firste or Easte angle the other in the Southe or tenth angle the house of honour he naturally ruleth ordereth and gouerneth the other The semblable againe also chaunceth to those in whose natiuities the one hath that Planette for his lorde whiche to the other is moste vnfortunate voide of euery kinde of dignitie If twoo also haue one and the same signe for their ascendēt or otherwise for their lorde and ruler one Planet he to whom this Planet shall bée of moste force and aucthoritie as was aboue said in beastes voide of reason shal naturally rule and haue dominion ouer the other When then this aduauntage happeneth to suche a one as is of the other bothe loued and fauoured he by meane thereof immediatly bothe ordereth and gouerneth hym but if it chaunce or betide percase to a poore seruaunt or vassaule he then assuredly is faithfull obedient and loiall if to twoo friendes of equall birthe and habilitie as is and hath many tymes béen seen eche then liueth with other in moste perfecte integritie the one for the moste parte orderyng euery the affaires or busines of the other ¶ That the memorie maie be hurte and that it also by arte and by pollicie maie be fortified Chapt. 6. EVen as the memorie in manne is a thing moste excellent so also is it very daintie an delicate obnoxious and subiecte to sundrie misfortunes as to sicknesse hurtes and woundes on the heade age sodaine feare faules from high places with many suche others All whiche offende and hurte the memorie indomaging her vsuall place or seate as also the organes or instrumentes thereof Whence it commeth in this place to bée considered that some by the weakenesse and debilitie of memorie haue vtterly forgotten all thynges what soeuer thei ones knew or otherwise had learned Some again in one thyng haue béen onely maihemed as Plinie well noteth of Messala Coruinus who after a disease of whiche he well recouered liued euer afterward in suche case that he neuer could remember his owne proper name Valerius also discoursyng of miracles reporteth that a learned man by the knocke of a stone whiche he receiued on the head forgatte what soeuer he before had profited in any the Sciences or other good studies and yet not withstandyng in al other affaires was of memorie as freshe and as perfecte as at any other tyme An other by a faule from a place on high forgat also to know his owne naturall parentes I haue bothe red and heard it reported that Franciscus Barbarus a man of our tyme not meanely learned but especially in the Greke wherin he moste pleasured by the meane of a maladie wherwith he was troubled forgate all what soeuer he before had gained in the ripe and exacte knowledge of the saied tongue remainyng in all other thinges no lesse learned then at the firste a thyng in trouthe very straunge and merueilous It is also recorded that Georgius Trapes a man famous for his learnyng forgatte in his age what so in good letters he tofore had profited And as we finde here that memorie in manne by sundrie occasions maie well be weakened so also finde we some that naturally haue had fainte and slippyng memories The Emperor Claudius here in so holted as Suetonius writyng his life reporteth that some tymes hauyng in bedde by hym his wife incontinently after he had talkte any thyng with her he so became vnmindefull of hym self and all other thynges that he would aske where she was why she came not to bedde and why she so longe taried And hauyng doen to death on a tyme a noble man the daie following made inquirie for hym again to determine with the others of his counsaill on controuersies Herodotus Sophista had a soonne of so simple a memorie that by no labour possible he could learne or attaine to the knoweledge of the letters by order by meanes whereof the father who so muche desired his enteraunce in learning the better to bryng hym to some kind of féelyng did to be fostered in his house twentie fower younge boies all of his owne age to euery of whiche for name he gaue the name of a letter to the intente that he acquainted with theim and callyng theim by the ir names might also remember the noumber and order of the letters And as it is said aboue that sodaine feare eftfones troubleth the memorie so assuredly true is it that although in deede it vtterly destroie not the memorie yet at times it forceth manne to forgette these thinges that he before carefully with paiue had committed vnto her as it ones happened to Demosthenes a moste excellent Oratour whiche passyng imbassadour to Philippe king of Macedonie felt in hym self so straunge an alteration beyng presente to vtter his charge before so puissante a prince that hauing past in some little parte of his premeditated oration arrested of the sodaine forgettyng that whiche remained as if he neuer had before thought thereon or in any sorte digested it The very semblable reade wée of Theophratus whiche being mounted in his chaire would haue vttered some woordes before the Areopagites of Athens of Herodes the Atheniā who receiued in charge to haue spoken before the Emperour Marcus Antonius of Eraclides in the presence of the Emperour Seuerus at least as is lefte vs by recorde of Philostratus And almoste in this our age Bartholomeus Socinus borne at Sienna a man absolutely grounded and learned in the lawes assigned imbassadour for his countrie vnto Pope Alexandre in whose presence as the maner is when he a little while had spoken abashed some thyng by the sighte and present beyng there of these princes whiche were there assembled beyonde the wonted number forgat hymself sodainly so amased that he farther in order could not pronounce one woorde To me also suche an alteration ones happened as was that other aboue remembred of Demosthenes not that I would here enter into comparisō in the presence of a worshipfull and
learned audience and that by the greate affection whiche I had to the consideration of my cause whiche in suche sorte altered me before all the senators that I lesse able was to ende my matter there beganne though before I had wel thought there on and well disposed it in order Now that the memorie maie bee aided and preserued by arte can of no man what soeuer for any cause bee doubted of whiche and whose remedie many a learned hande hath curiously written As Solinus and Quintilian bothe at large and in many Seneca also in the place aboue alleaged where he reporteth this arte memoratiue to be so facill and easie that in fewe daies all men maie bee well skilled therein It is also written that Cineas the ambassadour of the renoumed Pirrhus practised this arte to help and aide his memorie Plinie and Quintilian write that Simonides firste founde this meane to preserue the memorie although the saied Plinie affirme that Metrodorus reduced it afterwarde to perfection who also by that arte meruailously fortified and confirmed his owne memorie Cicero in his boke de oratore Quintilian also and Valerius in his miracles reporteth that Simonides on a tyme inuited with sundrie others to a greate bankette the house where thei feasted sodainly fel doune by meanes wherof no one escaped that death Simonides excepted who euen in that instante rose and went forthe called by some one he neuer yet knewe who by whiche happe at that tyme he there saued his life And the histories recorde that when the deade bodies were drawen out whiche were many all inuited geastes to that so infortunate a dinner Simonides declared where and in what order euery of theim were plaste and satte at the table euen then and in that instante when the house so fell on theim The examples that might bee alleaged in this place to this purpose are many but it sufficeth vs to arreste on that whiche is saied One other thyng also riseth here to be noted whiche is that the Philosophers and principally Aristotle finde a scruple or difference betwixte the memorie and recordation for that memorie saie thei maie be as well in beastes as in man although not in so perfecte and in so absolute a sorte and maner but recordation to man onely and to hym alone is proper whiche is to recorde with discourse studiyng on thinges as in cases of contemplation descendyng from the generall to the partes and perticulers not omittyng the circumstances bothe of tyme and persones and that all with due consideration and aduise for beastes voide of reason remember also the place where thei at any tyme haue hardly been intreated the Horse shunneth to dwell where he hath been harmed and in like sorte all others more or lesse in their degrées But as wee haue saied recordation then in man is muche more absolute and perfect assisted with sounde aduise and intelligence orderly passyng from matter to matter So that accordyng to the opinion of Aristotle that manne that hath a moste sharpe and fined witte is also of better recordatiō then an other though some other perhaps exceade hym in the perfection of memorie for that to recorde well is a certain maner of inuestigation whiche forceth the memorie as it were slepyng to awake to call to minde and to remember any thyng what soeuer wherefore the moste quicke and beste fined wittes soneste conceiue thynges and committe them to memorie and memorie by recordation maketh of them again at all times faithfull restitution The Grekes emong others many the vanities of their Goddes adored or reuerenced a Goddesse of memorie in suche sorte that this force or power of the minde hath euermore béen hadde in greate reuerence and estimation Wherefore to conclude man stādeth highly bounde vnto God for this so heauenly and excellent a benefite and ought studiously to indeuour to maintaine and preserue it Marcilius Ficinus in his boke de triplici vita giueth sundrie instructions and preceptes to this purpose In what honour and reputation Philosophers Poetes and all others in what arte or science soeuer they were learned liued with Emperours Kynges and Princes in tymes past Chap. 7. TRulie and for iuste cause maie we not complaine of the want of learned men in euerie arte and science but on th' other side I see good letters to mourne that they nowe bee not so well estimed and thought of ne yet so well recompensed of princes in this age as the well lettered in tymes paste were by Emproures Kinges and other noble personages in those daies And to speake the truth whither in déede thei haue so good reason to plaine them I will passe it nowe in fewe and in place of disputation wil only remīber here some fewe histories or examples of auncient princes and sundrie Monarkes which so fostored and fauoured the studious learned that entring into comparison of their vertuous demerites with these others that liue now in these our vnhappie daies it may be euidēt to all men what cause thei haue in truth to sorrowe and to complaine Firste to beginne with that most excellent and most victorious Pompe of whom we reade that when he subdued and vanquished Mithridates with others many victories and aduentures of armes beyng entered Athens with all his spoyles triumphantly the Ensignes and Standers of his ennimies borne before him as was thā the maner of the Consulles and Romaine Capitaines was aduertised that the Philosopher Possidonius laie presently then sicke and diseased in his bedde who desirous to visite hym woulde not onely honour hym with hys personall presence but approchyng nigh vnto his house commaunded that hys foresaide imperiall Ensignes should also be carried into the philosophers Chamber with him for that in his aduice all Kinges and Emperours ought true duetie and reuerence to learning and vertue This then and in this manner bowed he to this poore manne that woulde haue refused to haue stoopt to any Prince then liuynge Denis the tyrante Kyng of Siracusa hauyng wounde by intreatie the diuine Plato to come and visite hym and vnderstandyng that he was on the waie comyng issued in meruailous pompe of purpose to méete hym whom he receaued into his owne coache drawen with white horses with most greate and solemne triumphe that was to be deuised possible for the marueilous reputation in those daies due to the learned Alexander determinyng to sacke and destroie the toune of Thebes commaunded first that no man should touche in any wise the house of the Poete Pindarus In what honour Virgil liued and reputation with Octauian is euident to all men through out the whole worlde whom the people of Rome healde in suche admiration that as Plinie in his seuenth booke amplie recordeth when hee entered into the Theatre to pronoūce some his verses al the multitude roase to him doyng hym no lesse reuerence then they did to the Emperour and that which more is Silius Italicus a famous Poete a Spaniarde borne hadde his daie of natiuitie of
thei dedicated to him a Temple vnder the Capitoll in Rome where were celebrated these feastes which thei commonly called Dionisians or Bacchanalia verie lassiuious and full of impudicitie And that this inuention was truelie attributed to this Denis Virgil wel assureth it vs in his firste entree into his seconde boke of Georgikes although Marcianus Capellus affirme that he only skilled the Gréekes to make wine Others write that it was Icarus father of Erigonus whiche first found the meane to make wine in Athens where after warde beyng drounke â–ª was slaine of the people In Italie they saie that Saturne there first had wine whiche he brought from out the Isle of Candia Plutarche writeth that Arâ—us an Etruscian enrichte Fraunce with the firste Vine that euer was there But the trueth is that the first inuentor of wine was Noe as also the first that euer was droncke whiche witnes besides that whiche is redde in the ninth of Genesis Lactantius Firmianus and Iosephus whiche Noe immediatly after he issued out of the Arke planted the Vine with his owne proper handes and drinking after of the fructe therof was also first drunke in whiche that his disease sleapyng he so discouered hym self that that there betided hym which is writteÌ„ of him in Genesis After this men léeking of this kinde of licour drancke it at first pure and with out water for as recordeth Plinie one named Stasius was the first that did water into wine to qualifie it By meane whereof greate good hath followed with the preseruation of health through out the whole worlde for that wine so tempered hath his most excellent effectes Plato by Macrobius in his seconde booke recordeth that wine taken moderatly fortifieth the vnderstandyng it augmenteth the puissance force and strength it yeldeth the harte ioious it taketh from man all sorroufull and pensiue imaginations Plinie saieth that the honest and resonable vse of wine delaied increaseth the force bloâ—dde and couler in mans face the vaines saieth he are streÌ„ghtned by wine the sight sharpened the stomake comforted the appetite thence groweth Vrine also prouoked it hastneth sléepe and disturneth Vomites it purgeth melancolie and reioiseth the harte in fine profiteth in many other vses Asclepiades the Phisician hath written a whole booke of the only vertue of wine Sainct Paule writyng to Timothie counseleth hym to drinke a little wine the better to strengthen and comforte his stomake The Phisicions vse wine in many their medicines for that wine wil restoreth health increaseth bloodde it offendeth not anie melancoly humours it dissipateth and drieth â—eame it moisteneth and fitteth choller to be purged Plato introducing Socrates commendeth wine saiyng euen as rain moderate geueth increase of all hearbaege tempe steous inundations vtterly destroiyng it so wine with 〈…〉 ration reioiseth man and coumforteth his spirites but coutrariwise in abundaunce scorcheth and consumeth hym Among all other sweete and pleasing odours the smel also of wine is of the Philosophers commended for that it addeth force as is saide to the vitall spirites it is very subtill and soone penetrateth but what so euer is spoken or saide any where of wine that still is mente of wine moderatly taken and delaied The auncient Romaines forbad the vse of wine to women as well as also to children as hath Valerius writyng the customes lawes of the Romaines So that as Plime saieth that in those daies when Romulus raigned in Rome a certen Citisen slewe his wife for that she had dronke wine and although the murtherer were immediatly apprehended and taken yet the Prince with out sute would pardon that offence Thei estemed it a fault so greate and ignominious to sée a woman bouse or drinke wine that as Fabian reporteth a certaine maide hauyng stolen the kaies of a wine Seller preuely to haue dronke or tasted there of wine was by famine done to die euen by her owne parentes for that faulte For this cause men vsed to kisse women on the mouth to féele or perceiue if they had drinke of wine It is recorded that N. Domician beyng ordained some tymes a iudge in Rome depriued a woman there of her Dourie for that she hadde dronke more wine then was for her health either necessarie or conuenable Salomon in his Prouerbes prohibeteth wine to kinges as well as also to there counsell for that in dronkennesse saieth he nothyng is kepte socrette or concealed the pore mans cause also is then not considered of or harde iudgmente at the leaste proceadeth then against hym We reade not with standyng that it was permitted to the kynges of Egypte to drinke wine but that moderatly and by appointed measures Aâ—… Râ—mulus inuited to a feast would hardly see or taste anâ— wine for 〈…〉 eth he mustâ—… I determen of a greate and weightie matter Auicenna saieth that who so geueth wine to a child to drinke heapeth one flamyng fier on an other Aristotle inhibiteth wine to be geuen Infantes as also to all Nurses that geue sucke of their bodies Plato by his lawes in hys bokes de republica though he séeme in the firste to aucthorise the drinkyng of wine yet in the seconde saieth manne must drinke little wine wel drouned in water and that also in no wise before he bee eightine yeres olde in the presence continually of olde menne vntill he be fortie to the intente that if he exceede he receaue punishment for his excesse of theim But after that age he permitteth that the quantitie be of some parte augmented to mittigate or asswage the coldnes and melancoly of those yeres How be it his minde is that a certaine measure bee prescribed theim farther he excludeth all seruauntes of what age so euer iudges also and magistrates and such as haue offices or charge in the weale publike To studentes also he geueth in counsell that they sauer not of wine and as concernyng bondmen the same order was also obserued of theim in Rome Auicenna accoumpteth Plato his lawes as good rules in Phisicke with whom also accordeth Galene in this matter Alexander Aphrodiseus in his problemes affirmeth that those that neuer drincke other licour then water haue as wel their sight as all other their senses more sharpe and fine then thei that drinke continually wine But howe to water and ordre our wine there are sundry rules and opinions Hesiodus commaundeth that to one cuppe of wine ye adde thrée of water Atheneus saieth that the auncient Greekes did fiue partes of water to be mixt commonly with twoo of wine and some tymes whiche more was thrée partes of water with one of wine which accordeth with the rule of Hesiodus And this maie here be noted that the Grekes neuer did to be poured water into their wine but wine continually in small quantitie in to their water by meane where of Theophrastus assureth vs that these twoo licours are more perfectly medled And this did our elders not onely well droune and water their wine but dranke there of
constitution of bodye as men takinge either theire beginninge or béeinge of a matter most pure and simple vntill sutch time as by the chaunge of Ages whose propertie is to alter and to impayre al thinges the state of Man beganne to weaken yéeldinge his daies in number fewer then before Againe in that Age one thinge to them was very helpinge and profitable the whiche same to vs is very noysome and contrary whiche was the greate temperancy vsed in Drinkinge as well in quantitie as in qualitie also with the small chaunge and varietie of Meates for neither had they so many sortes or sundrie dishes as wée ne knewe they any or newe or dainty inuentions To eate Fleashe what it was before the generall Floudde was vnto Man altogeather vnknowen Further some hold for common most assured opinion that bothe Fruites and Hearbes without all comparison were in those daies of farre greater efficacie and vertue then any founde any where in this our latter Age for that they then sprange out of a new and fyned soyle and not of sutche as nowe it is worne wasted weryed and consumed For the Generall Inundation tooke from it his woorthe or fatnesse leauinge it in respecte infertile and barren restinge salte and vnsauery by the rage of the Sea whiche many wéekes flowed ouer it These reasons then are good and eche of them sufficient to conclude that it neither was so straung or marueilous but rather a thinge most agréeant vnto nature that men then lyued longer then in these daies presently Farther it maie be saide that whiche wée for an assured truthe holde that Adam well knewe the vertues of all Hearbes Plantes and Stoanes whiche also his Successours of him in sutche sorte learned that to the like perfection after them neuer any attained This then was graunted them of somme parte for the preseruation of their healthe for the continuance and protraction of their daies in this worlde who to expel the causes of diseases if any grewe on them only vsed to minister Simples abhorring our venemous compoundes of this Age whiche in place to purge and purifie mans bodye weaken and dispatche for the moste parte the poore patiente Againe in these aboue remembred firste yéeres both the life and healthe of man was propte and sustained by the course of the Heauens with the influence of the Starres and Planettes then farre more beneficiall then they presently nowe are for that then there neither had paste so many Aspectes Coniunctions Eclipses with other infinite Impression Celestiall whence nowe procéede so many chaunges variations alterations on the Earth and emonge the Elementes also in those daies principal occasion of healthe and continuance contrarye nowe in this our Age of all sickenesse and deathe But aboue all that that wée haue here alleaged or by reason haue any waye proued I nowe mainteine the many yéeres of these our Firste Fathers to haue procéeded of the only and inspeakeable prouidence of God whose Maiestye would their continuance shoulde be sutch and so longe and that these aboue remembred causes ayded mutually one the other to the only intente that of twoo persons might then increase many that the Earthe might be inhabited and mankinde increased Also farther consideringe that for as mutche as Man after the fludde liued not so longe as before God licensed that they should enter into the Arke and there saue them selues more Men and Woomen then him selfe in the beginning and at the first had Created to the only ende that the world might the sooner be inhabited S. Augustine of this matter writinge some thinge reporteth that our Forefathers hadde not only in health and many daies aduantage of vs but also in huge and greate statures of body as is euident remembred by many their boanes as well found in their Sepulchres and Graues as also at times vnder great Mountaines and Hilles in sutche sorte that some assuredly hold that thei were the boanes of such as liued before the Inundation The same S. Augustine affirmeth that being at Vtica a towne in Aphrike beholding there the boanes of a dead mans bodie amonge others founde there some of his Iawes so great and weighty that they well would haue poised an hundred of these in our Age. Notwithstanding though yet our life be short yet maie wée not for iuste cause any where complaine for that if wée abuse it in contempt of the Diuine Maiestie a rare benefite receiue we that thei to vs be so shortned for wée will now no longer acknowledge our God and yet if wée would as becometh vs in all feare to serue him a time sufficient hath he to that purpose lente vs for that the bountie of our Sauiour is so great and ready that he receiueth for Attonement sufficiente mans bowinge harte and humble spirite ¶ That the opinion of those that supposed the yeeres of the former Ages paste to haue benne more short then these of our time is false As also whiche was the firste Cittie of the worlde and finally that our Forefathers had more Children then these that are remembered to vs in the Scriptures Chap. 2. FOr that it appeared vnto some that the space of nine hundred yéeres in our firste Fathers séemed a thing altogether impossible lesse able to cōprise or receiue these aboue remembred reasons by vs alleaged the only and sole causes of that so longe a life And where as they durste not to denie the foresaide number of yéeres so plainely and openly specified and geuen vs out of holy Write they affirme that the yéeres of the first age were farre more shorter then these of our time so that the aduantage of longe life whiche is vnto them attributed so farre aboue vs is not so greate as it hathe benne supposed Somme others emonge them would also assure vs that one of our yéeres containeth tenne of that age past Also many others haue saide that eche course of the Moone yéelded vnto them one whole full and compleate yéere whiche it pleased them to tearme Annus Lunaris Others some also dreamed that thrée of our Monethes gaue to them a yéere so that this accoumptinge foure of theire yéeres lendeth vs iuste one and no more For that in this sorte as wel the Chaldeans as also the Arcadians parted theire yéeres as remembreth Lactantius M. Varro a moste learned Romaine in others many besides this matter was of the opinion that these Anni Lunares were to be numbred from the Coniunction of the Moone vntil the newe Moone againe whiche maie be the space of xxix dayes and certaine odde houres Pline in like māner reckeneth it fabulous that any in the first Age shoulde liue so many dayes affirminge that the Inhabitauntes of Arcadia so numbred theire yéeres as wée aboue haue remembred by the space onely of thrée Monethes without more There is also emonge vs Christians a certaine Booke of the Ages of the worlde written by Eliconiensis where he also séemeth to be of the saide minde and aduice
Papyrius of one of the most Honorablest families in Rome This Childe at night beinge returned home his Mother first by intreatie in flatteryng sorte desired him to learne her what matters were debated that daie in the Senate consideringe their longe abode besides the woonted manner To whom the boye answeared that he might not well disclose it consideringe it was prohibited thereof to speake any thinge Shée this mutche vnderstandinge as is the common woonte and vsage of Woomen waxte then mutche more earnest thereof to féele some thinge in sutche sorte that neither by faire woordes nor flattery able to gette any thinge woulde with threates and roddes finally force him to answeare her lesse honest hasty importunitie Whose malice to auoide this wise and wilye Boye aduising him wel of this pretie guile saide that this deferrent was amongest them that daie carefully handled whither as well for the state Publike as also for the augmentation and more spéedy increase of Mankinde it mighte be more conducible to the whole Empire of Rome that one Man shoulde haue twoo Wiues or contrary that one Wooman should be geuen to twoo Husbandes which bothe partes failed not of most earnest assured Factours who the nerte day saithe he will conclude on some final resolute determination The which thinge thus ones vnderstoode by the Moother to whiche shée lightly added bothe faithe and credite moued therewith something perplexed aduertiseth other Ladies Dames of these newes to the ende they might lette and distourne that deuise of geuing twoo woomen as wiues to one man furtheringe the other parte to the vttermost of their mighte to enritche eche Dame with twoo Husbandes at the least On the morninge folowing a great number of the Romaine Matrones were in flockes assembled at the Gates of the Senate effectuously and in many woordes requitinge theire Lordes not to passe on any so vniuste a Decrée as to geue to one man in Marriage twoo wiues but rather to goe forewarde without staye to the contrary The Senatours lesse wetinge to what pourpose this tended amazed in entrance one after the other into the Senate demaunded eche of other whence mighte procéede this so rare and shamelesse inciuilitie altogeather vnable thereof to yéelde any cause or reason But in the ende the yonge boye the little Papyrius did them out of payne layinge before them what had chaunced him the night passed with his Moother and howe that for feare of her thunderinge threates and greate woordes was forced for his discharge in this pretie sorte to deceiue and beguile her The matter thus then vnderstoode by the whole House they highly commended the secrete constancie in the childe Concluding notwithstandinge that thencefoorthe no Father shoulde bringe with him his childe into that place besides the younge Papyrius whiche onely after entered to the intente that by these meanes no secretes shoulde out of that House or Place be reuealed By the practise of this childe againe maie the Elders of our Age what to doo in their affayres be very well aduertised consideringe that if a Priuate Secrete be not to be disclosed mutche lesse then a Common and Publique Secrete principally emonge the Aged and men of assured Iudgemente M. Brutus and Cassius with the others all their accomplices whiche had conspired the deathe of Iulius Caesar supposinge it for the state Publique no lesse expediente then it also was necessary for the maintenaunce of their Libertie hauing laide their plotte and deuised the manner howe to putte these thinges in perfecte execution would notwithstandinge thereof imparte nothing with Cicero one of their especial and moste assured friendes who also aboue others moste effectually desired the abolition of that tyrannie not for any diffidence or mistrust they had in him but for that he onely was reputed a simple and badde Secretorie A thinge assuredly woorthy of admyration consideringe howe many they were that conspired his Ruine in howe priuie manner and howe longe they concealed it and that from theire approued and beste beloued friende Fuluius sommetime reuealed a greate Secrete to his wife whiche not longe before he had receiued of the Emperour Octauian which after discouered by his saide wife notis therof came immediatly to the Prince who for his ouer mutch lightnesse in maner most sharpe rebuked him tauntingely By meanes whereof he entred into desperation determining to doo presente force on him selfe but firste charginge his wife with the greate wronge that shée hadde donne him who saide that he no reason nor iuste cause had at all to grieue with her consideringe the many dayes that they had lyued togeather he yet had not felte her fickle complexion or otherwise knowing it that so londely would abuse his owne knowledge therein reposinge his trust and affiance in her Wherefore thoughe her Husbande were the cause of this errour yet determined shée to suffer the firste paine due therefore and with the same laid violente handes on her selfe after whose deathe poore Fuluius did the same It is readde in the Life of the Emperour Nero that his deathe beinge conspired on a time in Rome a thinge moste expediente as well for the Romaines as also for all others his rare cruelties considered hée to whom it belonged by couenaunte to doo the déede mette by happe a certaine Prisoner whiche by ordinaunce of the tyrannie was then on passage to place of Execution and consideringe with him selfe that the wicked peruerse nature of the Emperour was suche that none whome he apprehended at any time escaped deathe and therefore the Prisoner whiche sorrowfully lamented mighte no waye escape his bloudy and mercilesse hande drewe somethinge nighe him not remembringe that his affayres demaunded secrete dealinge Praye to God saithe he that it maie please him to preserue thée vntil to morrowe for if thou doo passe this day vnto an ende I will assure thée that Nero shall not doo thée to die Whiche thinge vnderstoode by that miserable Prisoner who incontinently suspected that whiche in déede was séeking the only meanes to saue his owne life declared the matter foorthewith to the Emperoure aduisinge him to take good héede to him selfe By occasion whereof Nero immediately apprehended him that had comforted him in sutche sorte the aboue remembred Prisoner and by chaunge of tormentes forced him to confesse the Coniuration By reason whereof him selfe was cruelly executed theire Determination made frustrate and voide Pline recoumpteth the plaine contrarye of Anaxarchus who beinge apprehended for the semblable matter curragiously bitte of his tongue with countenaunce vnappalled to the intente that he neuer would disclose therewith any Secrete spittinge it manfully into the face of the Tyrante The Athenians curiously framed a certaine Image of Iette in the honour of a common wooman who hight Lyonna in memory of her excellente constancie for that shée so wel and so secretly had kepte bothe silence and consell in a certaine conspiracie whiche Image was framed without any tongue the better to geue foorthe
as well serued as it was fittinge to that pourpose An other example reade wée of those that robbed and slewe the Poete Liuicus for as they oppreste him in wide and open fieldes farre from companye and out of all sighte he espied a companye of Cranes flyinge ouer his heade to whiche with lowde voice he spake these his last woordes O Cranes yée shal be witnesses of the wronge that is here donne mée After whose deathe this matter laye yet many dayes vnknowen till on a certaine time after it chaunced a solemne Conuente of people was made in the saide place emonge whom were also presente the twoo Murtherers of Liuicus whiche hearinge as before Cranes cryinge ouer them the one aduised his felowe thereof in laughter merily supposinge in the meane time not to haue bene perceiued of any Hearken companion beholde here the true witnesses of the blonde and deathe of Liuicus It chaunced that one nighe them hearing these woordes and not wel perceiuinge what they mighte signifie suspected foorthewith that whiche in déede was aduectisinge the Maiestrates of that whiche he had hearde To conclude theise twoo Roysters were incontinentely apprehended and accordinge to equitie Iustice was donne on them whiche happened by woordes paste them without aduise or regarde For this cause a man oughte principally to be ware of that whiche he will saye before it escape him with consideration also before whome and in what place Hecates a Greeke Oratoure was on a time reproued for that sittinge at a Bankette he woulde saâ—e nothinge Whiche vnderstoode by Archimidas answeared in this sorte for him Arte thou ignorante that one that can so well speake as he knoweth not also the time to kéepe silence Infinite examples out of diuers Histories might be borrowed of Times Daungers Infamations and Deathe in whiche by too mutch talke menne eftsoones haue bene entrapped Wherefore wée shoulde be circumspecte and wise that before wée doo our mouth open to speake wée well consider of it whether it maye be to vs preiudiciall or not The greate Cato surnamed Censorius was euen from his Cradle verye sober in woordes wherof at times reproued of many as one that obserued to austere silence saide I grieue not at all to be argued of Silence for that no man shall haue occasion to reproue me of my lyuinge for then and not before wil I breake into woordes when I haue learned to speake these thinges that maye not be concealed Isocrates in his Booke written to Demonichus saith That there are twoo times conueniente to speake in the one when to speake is in déede very necessary the other when one speaketh of these thinges he well knoweth Plutarche compareth those men that talke not knowinge wherof vnto voide and emptie Vessells whiche geue foorthe a greater noyse then these that are filled Plainely instructeth vs the Philosopher Zeno that for other cause none hath Nature lente vs twoo eares one tongue but only to speake fewe in bearinge and receiuinge mutch Horace aduiseth vs farre to flye their companies which pleasure mutche in many demaundes and questions for that they commonly be captious Ianglers Suetonius recoumpteth in confirmation of that that was also reported by others that the principall cause that moued Octauian so mutche to phantasie and fauour his Minion Mecaenas was that he was very secret and not prodigal of woordes Cicero affirmeth that Cato the Oratoure neuer woulde commit to Paper any his Orations saieinge That if it euer happened him to repent him of that he had saide yet that that he had written should not aggrauate his sorrowes for that he neuer might denie the thinge that his Pen should witnesse againste him But to the ende that arguinge here the lesse aduised and runninge tongues of others I séeme not to incurre the said errour my selfe I ende with the Ppilosopher without any more concludinge that it oftentimes repenteth mée to haue spoken but to haue helde my peace that I remember neuer ¶ Of the straunge opinion of the Aegyptians touchinge the tearme or ende of Mannes Life limitinge the same by the proportion of his harte Chap. 5. THat whiche I shall saie here will séeme vnto many very straunge and newe but vnto moste men fonde and ridiculous for that it is a thinge very difficill to be proued Wherefore neither will I binde my selfe to the probation thereof althoughe the authoritie of those that séeme to approue it shoulde either yéelde it a trothe or vnto a truthe sommethinge semblable and likinge Pline and Marcus Varro writinge of the time of Mannes Life affirme that the learned Aegyptians had founde out by experience that Man according to the order of nature could not lyue aboue an hundred yéeres and that if any reachte to a further or elder age it was by somme particulare influence force of the Starres a thinge in the woorkes of Nature verye straunge and marueilous Hence grounded they their foundation vpon the harte of man in whiche by often and common Anotomyes they founde and perceiued certaine marueilous Secretes For saide they when Man was of the age of one yéere then poised his harte onely twoo of their Drammes when be was twoo yéeres olde then poised it foure and so foorthe howe many yéeres so euer he liued by proportion still grewe his harte to be of like number of Drammes In sutche sorte that beinge ones fiftie yéeres olde Mannes harte shoulde wieghe then an hundred Drammes and from thence by like proportion still he looseth of his weight eche yéere twoo Drammes euen as before he increased So that at the ende of an hundred yéeres the Harte by continuall decrease is becomme nothinge so that consequently of necessitie Man then must die if before he be not preuented by somme accidentall occasion whiche bothe can and dooth commonly in suche manner abridge our dayes that very fewe of vs liue the one halfe to experiment this matter Though to somme this matter séeme straunge yet be wée assured that the Aegyptians helde it for certaine as plainely haue leafte vs the aboue remembred Authoures Of our time also Ludouicus Celius Rodianus alleaginge in like manner to that pourpose Dioscorides who remembreth thereof sommethinge emonge other many matters to whome also commeth Petrus Crinitus in his Booke of Honest Discipline Galiotus de Nargni in his Booke of Man as also in like sorte Cornelius Agrippa I was desirous to remember here all these Authours for that the matter mighte otherwise hardly be digested Nowe remaineth it to be déemed of as to the Reader it shal be liking And nowe that wée haue taken on vs to speake of Mans Harte and of the excellencies of that one little parte to the intente wée treate not of one pointe alone it shal be expediente that wée learne as recoumpteth to vs Aristotle that Mannes Harte lyeth lodged in the leafte side of his bodye but in other Creatures is founde euermore in the middle of theire breste whiche he
Medicina saithe that a very little Heade is a signe certaine of a weake iudgement and that who so hathe a very small Heade wanteth withall iuste quantitie of brayne The same reason alleageth Iohannes Alexandrinus sayinge the little Heade is as noysome and incommodious as is the lesse compassed or ouer straight Breast for as saithe he the breast is the harber of the Harte Lounges whiche without many discommodities maye not tolerate or indure to be too straightly imprisoned especially for that the harte beinge too closely shutte vp cannot commodiously without annoye at any time moue it By meanes wherof naturall heate throughout al the whole body faileth digestion also waxeth fainte and féebleth in semblable sorte muste it by like consequent followe that the head in whiche nature hathe so artificially couched the Orgaines of so many puissances or powers of importance should be of proportion and quantitie conuenient Galene in like sorte vnto these accordeth sayinge that the little Heade is signe of little witte and of a brayne lesse firme or stable but if it be of quantitie conuenable and decent it then argueth a good witte as also a sure faste memory The Philosophers affirme that Man hauing his Head once striken of incontinently becometh vnable to moue or stirre although the force of respiration should not thereby be extinguished but for that the Vaines are sundred the onely meanes sole instruments of Motion in al Creatures liuing How be it Auerrois reporteth that he sometime beheld a poore infortunate patient who beyng beheaded walked hither and thither afterward in sight of al the people It is also written of Dionysius Areopagita that he his heade beinge striken of wente notwithstandinge from the place of execution one full Leage or more But this no doubte was more myraculous then naturall Emong al other Creatures liuinge Man only and Horse as affirmeth Pline waxe white or heare towardes theire later daies or ende And Man for that he hath his heade more rounde higher aduaunced and voidest of putrifaction is therefore knowen more sure and able as on the contrarye who so sauereth moste of this vnperfite moysture is found most commonly of weake and simple iudgemente Somme valiaunt personages haue had their heade and partes thereof so well affected and harde that they continually and in all places indured to be discouered As emong others Iulius Caesar Hanibal of Carthage and Massinissa Kinge of Numidia who neuer woulde no not in his extreame age either to auoide the force of Rayne Winde Snowe or Heate weare Cappe Hatte or any other kinde of couerture or lighte or lesse fittinge The semblable reade wée of the Emperours Adrian Seuerus as also of sundrye others But for as mutch as wée haue of the Heade sommething nowe here intreated it shal not be impertinent in fewe also to speake for what cause or whence it is that wée accoumpte it courtesie when one man dooeth of his Cappe before an other in token as wée sée of duetie or of reuerence Whiche thinge though it be of lesse force or importance yet neither maie wée with â—â—lence in this place well passe it Plutarche in his Probleames supposeth that it hence commeth for that they who in the ancient time did Sacrifice vnto the Goddes helde during the saide time of Sacrifice theire Cappes vpon theire heades and that Princes and greate Personages to doo fitte honour or reuerence to the Sacrificatour in moste humble lowly manner discouered them selues before him to the intente it shoulde appeare that in consideration of his function they reckened them selues continually his inferiours as inferiours also to the Goddes by dooinge this duetie to theire appointed Minister Further he saithe That it was the manner that when any man mette anywhere his enimy or any one other whom he in harte did malice he foorthewith and incontinently woulde couer then his heade so that it séemeth on the other side conuenable that before his Prince or other friendes he should discouer the same againe M. Varro as is readde in Pline saithe That this in the beginning was not donne for any reuerence that in the presence of any Maiestrate or any other men discouered them selues but onely by the lacke and not wearinge thereof to harden them selues for whiche cause onely and to shewe them selues sutch and not for any duetie as somme suppose did they it Galiot of Nargni is of this opinion that who so in dooinge reuerence to an other discouereth his Heade geueth him also with the same to vnderstande that in vncoueringe the heade the chiefe and principall parte in Man he also becommeth his loyall Vasaule at the onely will or commaundemente of the other with the same acknowledginge to the other his inferioritie L. Celius in manner alleaginge the same reason saithe As the Heade in mannes bodye is the moste chiefe and principall member in defence of whiche all the others imploye their busie paine So is it a great signe of courtesie or reuerence when the same is discouered or bowed vnto any man To conclude then whiche so euer of these opinions be truest it is notwithstandinge bothe noysome and discommodious to doo this reuerence continually to moste men or to all and better were it with courteous woordes then otherwise to discharge that duetie ¶ That Mannes deathe is to be accoumpted Fortunate or lesse Fortunate according to the estate that him selfe shall die in with certaine examples seruing to that pourpose Chap. 9. TO die ones is a thinge to all menne common but to knowe howe when or in what sorte that yet hitherto hathe neuer bene reuealed to any fleashe The whole onely consisteth at our departure hence in the state that wée be founde in or perfecte or lesse perfecte In sutche sorte that no deathe maie be iudged infortunate but sutch as findeth man in state lesse perfect For Deathe as it commeth to many men a geaste vnthought on so commonly lyeth he hidde in the corners of our houses where wée leaste suppose to finde a stranger sutche as is he so harde and so inexorable Wherefore Man shoulde be continually vigilante and circumspect well armed in Christe againste his vnknowen comminge To this pourpose of the straunge deathe of many wée finde euery where infinite examples Of whiche wée onely will here remember somme consideringe it to be a thinge not altogeather so rare and marueilous hauinge thereof eche where continual experience A. Gellius reporteth whiche also Valerius Maximus out of him auoucheth That there is in Italie a certaine Towne called Crotonna in whiche there was an inhabitante who highte Milo in all kinde of Playes or practises of manhoode or dexteritie the moste valiantste and moste happiest that in his time lyued This man sutche was his happe in trauelinge on a time as he passed vnder the side of an highe and greate Mountaine whiche drewe him selfe aside out of the common path into the shadow perhaps with minde sommewhat to haue arested him where emonge other
their raigne of whom the firste had to name Acre A litle after this was Ioseph solde to the Egyptians in suche sorte as hath the Historie as also how his Father his brethren their children wente also into Aegypt where such Israelites as descended of them liued as accompteth Beda foure hundred thirty yéeres with whom accordeth S. Augustine in his booke De ciuitate Dei. Duringe this Age Hercules of Libya came into Spayne where he raigned ▪ after him Iuer Brigus Taga Beto Gerian others of whom Berosus with other good authors remembereth vs In this time was also firste founded the Cittie of Siuile which is accompted for one among the others of moste antiquitie in the worlde as well recordeth Berosus with others First this Citie had to name Ispalis of Ispal the sonne or Nephewe of Hercules who long raigned or ruled there who also as some say layde the first foundations thereof or buylte it although Isidorus affirme that it was named Ispalis for that it was seated in a place watry or in a marish where they were compelled for better assuraunce of their foundation to beate into the grounde great stakes beames or trées which how so euer it was this Cittie of Ispalis was after called Spayne as writeth Trogus Pompeius Iustine and others And after this agayne Iulius Caesar called it Siuile inriching and amplyfiing it in such large sort and manner that it after was the seate there or resting place of the Romaynes beyng also before that very noble and honorable But to returne to our purpose after this agayne was Moyses borne vnder whose conducte the Hebrewes came out of Aegypte in whiche time also liued Iob the iuste And after this came that general Inundation on Thessalie when great Kingdomes grew then in diuers Landes Contryes In Aethiopia then first raigned Ethiopus in Sicilia Siculus in Boecia Boecius So that Countryes then receiued their denomination of Princes as of Sardus Sardina also the first King or Prince there In these dayes flourished the famous Troye then also was Iason busied in conqueringe the Fliece of Goulde whence in like manner procéedeth the knowen Historie of Medea Nowe were the Amazones of greater power then in any other time and now began the Kingdome of the Latines in Italie About this time Paris also rauished Helena the onely cause of the longe warre and destruction of Troye of the comming of Aeneas into Italie as also of other things innumerable which in few may not bée spaken Then ended this thirde Age and the fourth began euen in the beginning of the raigne of Dauid seconde Kinge of the Hebrewes whiche continued vntill the transmigration of the Iewes into Babylon foure hundred foure score and fiue yéeres but Beda rekeneth fewer foure hundred seuentie and foure onely This Age might well bée termed the lustie Age of the world during which infinite matters happened whereof all Histories are full Now that good King Dauid obtayned sundry victories as well agaynst the Philistians as also agaynst the Ammonites reuenging him self for the iniurie done to his Ambassadours he did also to die the Capitayne of the Assyrians After him in that place succéeded the wise King Salomon who buylte that ritch famous Temple of Hierusalem after whose death the Kingdome was deuided Ieroboam succéeding in ten families Roboam his sonne in twoo After this the Empyre of the Assyrians whiche then had continued twelue hundred yéeres by the death of Sardonapalus was vtterly subuerted he was one of the richest greatest Monarches in the world who not withstanding by Arbactus slayne the Empyre came into the handes or possession of the Medes About this time the Princes of Macedonie began to frame their Empyre as the Greekes in manner semblable now vsed to accompte their yéeres by Olympiades which were certaine feastes and practises of agilitie whiche they continually vsed euery fiue yéeres with Prises appointed for such as beste deserued them Dido now builte the renoumed Citie of Carthage as Rome also by Romulus Remus then began where the Romaine Kinges continually aboade arested them In this time the greate Citie of Bizance waxed mightie and honorable whiche afterwardes loste her name and was called Constantinople After this wearye warres grew in most places and inpacable dissensions with alteration and chaunge of great Segnories and Empires Whereof the Histories of that Age are each where full and abundant In the ende of this Age Nabuchodonosor King of the Medes and of Babilon besieged Hierusalem which he sackte and subuerted as also the Temple whence he brought the people of Iudea prysoners with him thence is that that we now remember the transmigration of Babylon When or at whiche time began the fifte Age of the Worlde which continued vntill the Byrth Natiuitie of our Sauiour and redéemer Iesus Christe both God and Man fiue hundred foure scoare and nine yéeres by common accompte of all men In these dayes were many valiaunt and puissante Princes riche and politike common Weales and Contryes in such sorte that it greate maruaile is to reade consider the straunge and miserable subuertions immutations and chaunge of estates the rare raysing and gathering of huge Armies and troupes of men such were they so terrible and so common withall that better it is thereof nothing to speake then to speake in few Not long after this began that famous Monarchie of the Persians whiche aswell by meane of other victories that Cyrus echewhere obtained as also that he vanquished and subdued Cresus Kinge of Lidia waxed of all others moste riche and renowmed notwithstandinge Cyrus after he had raigned fully thirty yéeres was him selfe discomfited and beheaded by Tameris Quéene of Scithia Three scoare and tenne yéeres of this Age accomplished the Hebrewes were deliuered out of bondage and captiuitie and the Temple was reedified by Salomon at Hierusalem The Romaines now altered their state of gouernment they deposed their Kinges choase to them Consuls of whiche the firste was L. Brutus and after him L. Colatinus In Greece nowe florished good Letters and Chiualry so that thence issued no lesse famous Philosophers then Capitaynes excellent Thither came Xerxes to haue Conquered it with a multitude incredible but was forced to retire againe with equall shame and detriment After this began Philippe his raigne in Macedonie whiche subdued Greece the Mother of Learning Chiualrie whiche in that time fostered Demosthenes Themistocles Epaminondas Agesilaus Zeno Plato Aristotle with many sutche others Philippe deade his Sonne Alexandre dwelte not still in Greece but wente thence into Asia which in shorte time he conquered subuertinge the Empire of Persia and by meanes of the victorie obtained againste Darius he remained euer afterwarde the onely Emperour and sole Monarke of all the whole worlde But after his death diuision was made to his Capitaynes of all and euery his Segneuries by meane whereof mutch enmitie and discorde grewe and thence also
and saied fratermi now can I not saie as some tyme saied S. Peter gold or siluer haue I none It is true quam the other neither can you saie to the impotent and diseased as saied he rise vp and go lettyng him there by priuely to vnderstand that the Popes in these ages wer now more vowed to riches then vnto vertue or holines who perceiuyng that he nothyng straied from reason yelded there to without contradiction quietly The semblable happened to an Archbishoppe of Colonne who as he paste the countrie with a houge troope of horse men curiouslie all armed according to the custome and maner of Almaignie founde by happe a poore workeman toilyng hardly for his liuyng whiche at the first sight of this prelate brake out into a great laughter the cause of whiche demaūded the poore man for the with saied I laugh at the follie of that good prieste sainct Peter prince and maister of all other prelates whiche liued and died here in extreme pouertie to leaue his successours in suche pompe and iolitie But this Archbishoppe againe the better to acquite hym fellowe I ride thus as thou seest for that I am a Duke as well as also a bishoppe where at he laught againe more hartely then before and beyng demaunded the seconde tyme of that his vehemente passion aunswered righte boldlie with a sure and staied countenance I demaunde of thée right honourable that if the Duke of which thou speakest were hence fallen into helle where supposeste thou this good Archbishop should finde his quiet harbour Where by he well inferred twoo contrary professions agréed not well in one persone and that offendyng in the one he could not acquite himself by any gilful pretext or shadow of thother At whiche this gentleman then presently graueled not hauyng what to saie departed with shame to muche and paste forthe on his waie To speake also of Gentiles Artaxerxes kyng of Persia vnderstandyng that a certaine capitaine of his whiche he at his coste from his cradle and infancie had nourished had muttered against hym in maner no lesse traiterous thā in truthe disloiall whom he would other waie none punishe but sent to hym by an other that he might at his pleasure talke of his prince and maister for that he again of hym might speake and do the semblable Philippe father of Alexander aduertised that Nicanor had abused hym in woordes was aduised by certaine his frendes by proces as the maner is to call hym to his triall to whō he aunswered that Nicanor was not the worst man in Macedonie and therefore firste would knowe whether he had nede of any thing for that he felt hymfelf bounde in conscience to aide hym so findyng hym verie poore in steede of deserued correction in presence of many gaue him a great and riche present incontinently This doen the same that before had accused him saied that Nicanor now spake greate good of his maiestie to whō the kyng saied now sée I well Sinicus for so hight this foresaied accuser that to bee well or euill spoken of it lieth onely in myne owne handes This saied prince by his frendes an other tyme was aduised to exile a certaine subiect of his lesse circumspecte in his talke and intemperate of tongue whiche to doe he vtterly refuced and saied for as muche as he hath spoken of me his pleasure here I will not that he doe the semblable in other straunge lādes and countries lettyng others vnderstande that whiche he had dooen of magnanimitie and clemencie proceded of sadde aduice and assured counsaile In these and suche like matters this prince excelled all others of his tyme He saied he was muche bounde to the gouernours and princes of Athens for that it pleased them iniuriously to talke still as well of hym as also of the order and maner of his gouernment for by his daiely industrie and chaunge in thynges from better to beter he proued them to be but slaunderous liers He neuer chastised any that outraged against him onely he would cut of th' occasion that moued them Whiche his vsages if thei were of all menne well obserued twoo notable commodities should thēce be gathered the first th'amendment of our owne liues and maners the second the perpetuall exile and banishemente of all detractours and slaunderers A rare vertue is it assuredly for a man not to accompte of that euil that he well knoweth to haue been spoken behinde hym but a greate note of temperancie is it not to waxe or bilius or angrie for the iniurie that is dooen vs in our presence and openly Of what countrie Pilate was and how he died as also of a riuer so called and of the propertie of thesame and finally of a certain caue or denne in Dalmacia Chap. 2. PIlate of all the iudges that euer wer or shall be the moste detestable and accurst was a Frēche manne borne and of the Citie of Lions how bee it diuers of the saied countrie deny it saiyng that this name Poncius descended out of a certain familie in Italie from Poncius Freneus I meane capitain of the Samnites which also did to slight and vanqnished the Romaines Whiche howe so euer it was this Pilate either for the onely respecte of his personage either in consideration of the familie whence he issued aspired to moste honorable estate emong the Romaines and being familiarly acquainted with Tyberius successour vnto Octauian as of hym recorde bothe Iosephus and Eusebius was sente by hym in the twelueth yere of his Empire as lieutenaunt generall to the citie of Hierusalem whiche titled there hymself proctour of the Empire So gouerned Pilate then this holie citie as also all the Prouince of Iudea called Palestina He continued in this office .x. full yeres in the seuenth of whiche whiche was the .xviij. of the Emperours raigne as accompte Beda and Euseblus he gaue sentence of death against the sauiour and redemer of mankinde our Lorde and maker Iesus Christe bothe God and manne when came to passe these thynges whiche the holie Euangelistes remember vs of in his death and passion whose resurrection was suche and so manifest in Hierusalem although thei laboured what in them was to obscure it that it was well perceiued of Pilate were he though a wretche of all others moste impious that this resurrection and other miracles wrought by Christ were not by man doen but by God onely For whiche cause as recordeth Paulus Orosius Eusebius and Tertulian in his Apologies he aduertised the Emperour at length of the matter for it was the maner that the Consuls and Proconsuls should continually write to the Senate at leaste or to the Emperour of all matters whatsoeuer with in the compasse of their Prouince or territorie These nouelties then muche troubled Tiberius whiche without staie communicated them to his Lordes of the Senate aduisyng hym with them whether it were expediente to honour and adore this Prophete for a god Whiche he for this cause onely did for that without
Neither doe I here saie that man should not at all be elder but rather that the space of eight or ten yeres might suffice so that the man at the age of twentie fiue might chuse to hym a wife at sixtene or seuentene yeres hauyng some respecte to the course or order of mannes life Also let man take to wife a woman yonge a maide of perfecte and good complexion not olde no widowe framed to the maners and humour of an other for assuredly in their tender youth thei are flexible and bendyng to what so man would haue them ▪ obedient and subiect still to his will and pleasure To whiche purpose we maie remember here thexample of Timotheus on the Flut of all others moste excellente and cunnyng whiche for honeste stipende imperted of his skill to suche as would learne of hym This Timotheus before he would begin with any whatsoeuer his scholer he vsually demaūded if that he could plaie any thing for of those that had some maner of beginnyng he euermore receiued double wage or salerie his reason was for that his pain was also double first to make them forget and forgoe their first corrupt and disordered vse in plaie and then a freshe to instructe them accordyng to his skilfull loare Whiche obseruation of his well serueth vs for widowes which are all readie trained to the peruerse appetite some tyme and fonde phantasie of others and therefore harde to bée drawen backe from the wonted and straunge deuises of their firste friende or housebande For whiche cause I preferre the mariage of a maide before that of a widow besides the singuler affection and assured remembrance whiche commonly lieth rooted in the hartes of women towardes these with whō thei first of all were acquainted Concernyng the parentaige or riches of the wife a certaine yonge man a Greke borne came on a tyme to Pitacus one of the seuen sages of Grece requestyng his aduise in his affaires of marriage One offered me saith he my choise of twoo yonge maides the one throughout myne equall in substance and in birthe the other farre surpasseth me in worshippe and in gooddes what shall I doe here in whiche shall I chuse to wife To whom Pitacus aunswered seest thou yonder children that practise them selues at wastreles go offer thy self to plaie emōgest them and thei shall giue thee good counsaile whiche he did and as he approched and offered hymself for one thei perceiuyng that bothe in force and in stature of bodie he paste them refused his companie saiyng that euery man should betake hym to his fellowe and equall Whence he well knewe for wife whō he should take in marriage Plutarche in his treatise of thinstructiō or brin gyng vp of children willeth that manne marrie not his sōne to a wife either more riche or of better familie then he saiyng that who so alieth hymself to his superiours and betters in place of friēdes and alies he findeth none but maisters And farther if a riche woman shall chuse a housebande poore pride immediatly possesseth her and mistres muste she be and sowryng a lought continuallie with proude checkes will she serue hym And farther Menander saieth that who so beyng poore and taketh to wife a woman riche maketh a plaine gifte of hymself to the woman whiche he espouseth and not she vnto hym Licurgus emong the Lacedemonians ordained a Lawe that no man with his doughter should giue any kinde of dowrie to th' intent thei trauailed t'indowe themselues with vertue for that cause and none other to be desired in marriage Although this lawe might seme now rigorous to some yet assuredly was it bothe honourable and necessarie for beyng ones well obserued in one it likely also was thai it should bee in an other as for example if the father in marriage of his wife was of no parte inrichte neither in gooddes nor in money he then the lesse to his doughter was bounde to impart with any thyng Whence it lieth euident that who so at any tyme entereth into the sacred lawes of wedlocke should haue if he well dooe no consideration at all of riches But what muche tyme should I lose if I attempted to perswade here for that all men are soiled in this lothsome abuse wiueuyng for none other cause but for pelfe onely Yet saie I notwithstandyng that when a riche man marrieth he should not consider of the wealthe or substance of the wife but of her assured vertue and modestie borowing fit example of Alexander the great who though he were so famous that all the worlde spake of hym tooke yet to wife Bersina the doughter of Arbasus not riche or glitteryng but vertuous onely and descended of noble parentage and yet in these daies who so moste hath moste busily hunteth and hungereth this drosse Hence cometh this often mislikyng in marriage for hauyng withdrawē the money that couereth for the most part all kinde of vices thei incontinently lye open more then manifeste vnto all men whiche first we would not see blinded with detestable auarice or at least seyng thē would dissemble it as guilefull doublers Neither here mislike I that man in race like or in like familie seke to hym the best or moste fittyng to his apetite as on the other side I thinke it bothe ignominious and dishonorable to matche in baser state for the onely loue and desire of money It nedeth not that I herein long dwell for the yearth it self in this case scholeth vs sufficiently bestowe who so please seede fine and delicate in a roughe soile lesse pleasaunte and vnlaboured and he shall reape there of fruite little daintie and vnsauerie yea though it spring of a séede as is afore saied verie delicate and on the other side who so bestoweth his seede lesse sauerie in a soile fatte and fertile that whiche he thence repeth shall be swete and delicate Besides if we doe our carefull paine for the better prouition of a good breede or race of horses how muche the more should we then bee circumspecte concernyng our children our successours and posteritie In my phantasie that man maketh small accompte of hymself and euill satisfieth that obligation where vnto he is borne if he leaue not his child of as honourable a linage as hymselfe receiued by dissente from his father whiche is impossible if he take wife of wourse estate or meaner condition then hymself Farther if he accompte of honour or haue it in reputation he thence heapeth to his children more ample possessiōs and greater dignitie then hymself at the firste receiued from his father How greate is mannes debte then and what should his care be to leaue his children of no imbased race but rather to better it if it be possible to the intent his posteritie finde no cause to complaine them of Paulus Emilius recordeth that Manestias an Athenian soonne of Iphicrates a moste renoumed and famous capitaine whose mother was of base and vile condition whiche notwithstandyng Iphicrates had espoused was demaunded
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
experimente and if after it bee dried you finde at all no kinde of stain or marke then is that water assuredly bothe good and holesome ▪ An other good proofe maie be if you please to boile of this water in the saied vessell and after it hath boiled to let it for a tyme to stande to settle and to coole then after when ye shall empte it if in the bottome you finde no kinde of slime or sande then is that water to be reputed for good and of these waters if ye make proofe of two that whiche hath least is to be accōpted without more the beste Farther if in these vessels or in the semblable you doe to bée boiled any kinde of pulse to make there with some potage or other meate as beanes pease or other of that sorte that water in whiche thei first seeth is beste You must consider also if certainly you will iudge of waters in what place or soile thei spring and rise if out of a sandie grounde cleare andneate or contrary out of a mirie soile foule and vnpure and whither there growe any Rushes or other herbes or weedes noisome and pestilente but for better suretie who so would drinke of a water vnknowen or of suche as he deemeth to bee indeede lesse good lette hym with a small fire firste of all boile hym and then after beyng colde drinke of hym in his neede Plinie writeth that the Emperour Nero so boiled his water and then coolyng it in the Snowe gloried that he was the father of suche an inuention The reason why water boiled should therefore be more conducible is for that it is not pure and simple in his owne nature but is all together mixt bothe with the earth and the aire notwithstandyng the parte windie as it easily resolueth by the fire into vapours so that other substaunce also terrestriall by the saied vertue or force of the fire whose qualitie is to trie and disioigne contrary natures descendeth to the bottome and lower partes of the vessell By whiche meanes this boiled water romaineth lesse vaporous all the windie substaunce thereof perfectly consumed it also again is more subtile and light beyng this purified from the grosse and stimie substaunce and so consequently more easie to be kepte and conserued compitently refreshyng and moistyng the bodie without any alteration or opilation at all Whence it is euidente that these deepe welles or tye pittes giue none so good and holesome waters as are the others principally for that the water more sauoureth of some slimie nature and that it is at no tyme purified by any shewe of the soonne as that also it more easily putrifieth then any other How bee it the more that you drawe out of any suche Welle the better and the more profitable becometh the water for that by continuall motion corruption lesse ingendereth and nothing better frō putrifaction preserueth any water then perpetuall and incessante agitation for ones corrupted it impoisoneth the newe waters in their springes theim selues as letted or lackyng frée course or passage but stil drawen newe commeth on more freshe still and sauerie For whiche cause the water of standing pondes and diches is of all other moste pestilente and venemous whiche for that it hardely springeth and hardely passeth thence againe putrifieth and ingendereth sunderie impoisoned matters and ofte tymes whiche worste is it corrupteth the aire whence the inhabitauntes there about are ordinarily infected Consider we also that these waters whiche flowe towardes the Southe are not so holesome as those that runne to the North for the aire in the Southe is more vaporous and moiste whiche hurteth of parte and impaireth the water but in the Northe more subtile and drie whēce the water is more light and more voide of ill mixtions For whiche cause that water is euer more beste whiche is moste cleare moste light moste subtile and moste purified for it is as we fore saied moste free from the mixtion of the other elementes and beyng set ouer the fire wareth also warme and boileth before any other Farther also a verie certaine and singuler proofe of waters is this if ye circumspectly consider whiche of them first or before the other boileth beyng bothe putre in like vessels ouer one fire with like consideration of tyme in them bothe also whiche of them in like maner firste retourneth to his naturall qualitie to bee that he firste was colde in taste and feelyng for these are assured argumentes of a most subtile and pearsing substaunce and for as much as the mixture of the yearth with any kinde of water forceth or canseth some alteration in waight it shall be good to chuse still that whiche you finde lighteste whiche easily you maie proue in this sorte and maner followyng You shall take twoo peces of linen clothe of one and the same weight puttyng one into one water and the other into the other vntill they be both throwe moistned and weete then hang theim in the ayre wher the Sunne shineth not on theim so long vntill thei both be perfectly drie rewaight theim then againe and the cloth whiche you finde to peise or drawe deepest argueth his water to bee vndoubtedly moste waightiest Other some haue vsed for their more expedition to waigh them in vesseles pure neate cleane in waight not differyng with out any farther curiositie at all Aristotle and Plinie affirme that the greatest cause of diuers qualities in waters is and riseth onelye of sundrie substaunces or maners of their soiles by the meanes of Stones Trées Mines and Mettalles through which these springes or Riuers runne and for this cause they become some hotte some colde some swéete some salte some sauerie some lesse sauerie wherefore it is a sure and an infallible rule that these waters that haue no taste smell or sauour are continually reputed for the moste holsome and beste Al suche notwithstādyng as haue hereof writen togither affirme that these springes that passe thorowe mines of gold excell without comparison by many degrées the others for proofe whereof these riuers are accompted moste worthie of all others whiche ingender and preserue gold in their fine and small sandes but because we perticulerly some thyng haue saied of the proprietie of springes and riuers we leaue here to wearie the reader with examples Now then sith some thynges haue been spoken of fountaines and flouddes it followeth that we consequently treate of rainie waters whiche of some are reputed for verie soueraigne and medicinable but of others some accompted lesse profitable or necessarie Vitruuius and Columella with certaine other Phisitians highly commende all rainie waters but these especially that are receiued cleane pure without any kinde of grosse or terrestriall substaunce for that of them selues saie thei these waters are light and voide of all mixtion caused onely of vapours which by their onely subtilitie are taken vp into the aire leauyng as maie bee supposed all impure or slimie substaunce behinde theim Some neuerthelesse saie that this water descendyng in
letters of Moyses and that thei afterwarde imperted of their knowledge to the Phenicians whence after againe Cadmus past with them into Grece Artabanus noteth that this Mercurie whiche all agrée on to haue made the first profession of letters in Egipte was Moyses himself called of the Egiptians Mercurie Philon an Hebrue a man of greate aucthoritie saieth that the inuention of letters was yet againe more auncient who saieth that Adā was the first authour of theim in deede thei either were inuented by Adam or by his children or by them at the leaste of the first age before the generall fludde or inundation preserued by Noe and his successours euen vntill the tyme of Abraham and from hym againe vntil Moyses And thus is the iudgement or opinion of Sainct Augustine Whiche is verified by the aucthoritie of Iosephus saiyng that the nephewes of Adam sones of Seth aduaunced or erected two sumptuous pillers the one of stone the other of claie in whiche they wrote or ingraned all the sciences affirmyng that himselfe sawe one of theim in Syria We finde also that S. Iude the Appostle alleageth in a certaine Epistle of his the booke of Enoch whiche also liued before the fludde So that wee must not doubt but that Adam and his children whiche were so wise whiche also had experience of so many thinges were also they that firste founde out the vse of letters and that Noe which afterward was both lettered and learned carefully preserued theim in his Arke with hym howe be it after that in the confusion of tongues whiche happened at the erection of the Tower of Babilon it may be that the greatest parte of the worlde loste then and there the knowledge of the saied letters again which onely remained in the family of Heber of or from whom afterwarde descended the Hebrues who as wee fore saide neuer loste their firste and aunciente tongue Which as it is true so Sainct Augustine reporteth it in his booke aboue alleaged Eusebius also in his first booke of his preparation Euangelicall as also the greater part of the learned of our tyme Wherefore as well Philon as also these others whiche supposed Moyses to haue been the first father of letters were there in all to geather deceaued for that it is euident that these bookes and histories that were written by Moyses were not as they déeme the firste of all others ne yet before the auncient studie of Philosophie the sadde and sage saiynges also of the Grekes as proueth Sainct Augustine sufficiently in the same place Iosephus against the grammariā Apion Eusebius also and Iustinus martirs I conclude then that letters were first and before Moyses for that we finde it recorded that Moyses hymselfe learned the artes and sciences of the Egiptians which I well knowe not how he colde haue accomplished if they before had hadde no feelyng in letters although in déede it be manifest that they hadde certaine signes called literae hierogliphicae by meanes of whiche as is aboue saide euery of theym sufficientlye and well vnderstoode the other From Adam then drawe wee the originall of letters as also that Abraham was after skilled of theim in Siria whence it cometh that Plinie hath varied in his opinion whiche wée haue in fewe now to fore remembred It nedeth nothing in this place to searche the beginnyng or cause of the vsuall frame or proportion of our characters for that eche man maie facion theim as is to hym best seemyng as we daily see euery man alter at his pleasure adding signes some tymes in steede or place of letters as affirmeth S. Hierome in the prologue of his boke of lawes that when Esdras the greate scribe and doctour of the lawe newe wrote or drewe it out in to some better fourme hee founde there straunge and newe characters of letters whiche the Iewes after vsed euen in the tyme of sainct Hierome as they also doe euen at this presente daie whiche Hebrue letters haue a priuate proprietie incident to no other letters of any countrie or nation for the voice or name of euerie of theim geueth signification of some one thing or other The firste called Aleph signifieth discipline the seconde Beth signifieth a house Gymel an other letter fillyng vp or abundance Daleth tables or bookes the others also signifie and denote other thinges whiche all I leaue as also to be tedious Who so here in is curious and desireth to knowe more may reade Eusebius in his firste booke de preparatione Euangelica Where on our elders wrote before the inuention of Paper and with what kinde of instrument how Paper and Parchement were firste founde out Who first inuented the maner or skille of Printyng as also what inestimable profite thence riseth and in fine by what meane a blinde man maie write Chap. 2. SOme what haue we after a sorte spoken in the former chapiter of the inuention of letters it resteth nowe that we also searche on what matter our elders or first fathers wrote and although directly we shall not be able here of to discourse ne yet where on thei wrote before the general inundation in the first age for the matter is both doubtfull difficill to wéete whether thei had letters then in very déede ye or not though we haue past it as proued by the aucthoritie of Iosephus as also aided to that purpose with some other profe or reasons Notwithstanding according to the opinion of al men the first writers had no kinde or maner of Paper but wrote continually on the leaues of the Date tree whence came that worde of leaues of bookes vsed at this daie After this thei wrote againe on the rindes of trées but especially on those that most easely were drawen or taken from the trée as the Elme the Ashe the palme or Burche trée from which thei tooke the innermost rinde that I meane betwixte the cruste and the trée of whiche subtilly and finely polished thei framed and facioned all their bokes artificially conioigning and fastnyng theim together And for as muche as in that time these rindes were called by the latin men libri hence haue bokes held from the time to name this word libri though thei this day far differ in the matter as is euidēt Now after this againe an other waie was foūd to write in plates of leade very thinne and perfectly fined of whiche some curious and priuate persones made aswell pillers as also bookes in which thei regestred all publike and common actes Besides this they yet founde an other waie to write to wéete on Liuen cloth fined and polished with certaine coloures Here also is and in this place to bée noted that they then wrote not as wee nowe do with pennes but with Reades whiche in latine may bee called Calami which also some vse euen yet in this daie An other kind of Paper was yet founde againe whiche was made as it were of certaine little trées called as wee finde by the name of Papers which in
déede were none other then a sorte or kinde of bull rushes ordinarely growing in marshes adionyng to the riuer of Nile Of which sorte some others are founde in Siria nigh to the floodde Euphrates as recordeth Plinie hauyng the name as the others of papers little thinne leaues or skinnes haue they betwixt the rinde and the inner parts whiche finely taken or drawen out with the poincte of an Néelde trimde afterwarde with a certaine glue or paste made with meale tempered with boyled water and vineagar was in the ende made a good and perfect paper to write drawe or doo anything theron and by how muche the nigher you drewe the skinnes from the inwarde parte of this Rushe or Reede by so muche was it both better and more fine and so accordyng to the goodnesse or difference of theim thei also had diuers and different names Who so desireth here in more let hym reade Plinie And for as muche as this Réede Rushe or little trée was called paper the name is thence deriued of that paper vsed by vs this daie whiche is made of small péeces or shreedes of linnen clothe throwly wasted and worne to nothing Varro affirmeth that the first inuentiō to make paper of these little trées or rushes was in the tyme of Alexander the greate euen then when Alexandria was by hym firste founded How be it Plinie proueth it to bée more auncient by certaine bookes which Terence did to be digde out of the grounde whiche before had been Numa Pompilius his bookes kinge of Rome founde in the same Tombe where he was buried whose leaues were of the saide rushe whiche we aboue remembred And although Liuie haue otherwise written of this Toumbe affirming that there were two founde by L. Patilius yet be we of the minde that Numa was long before Alexander With Liuie here in accorde both Lactātius and Plutarche in the life of Numa Plinies opinion notwithstandyng is of most menne approued Some write that this worde Charta tooke his originall or denomination of a certaine Toune nigh vnto Tyre called Carta whence Dido altering the name called it afterwarde Carthage Our elders also wrote in tables weaxt thinne and well fined framyng there letters with sharpe and small punchions which theim selues then termed by the name of stiles Whence it cometh that wee nowe vsually saie that who so well inditeth writeth a good stile borrowyng the name of the instrumente that they then wrote with Also before the innention of paper where on we presently write the aunciente custome was all other fore vsed meanes seposed to write continuallie on Parchment onely made of shepe skinnes of whiche remembreth vs well Herodotus whose inuention Varro attributeth to the inhabitauntes of Pergama whose king then was Eumenes whence in latin it is called at this daie pergamenum in englishe parchement And wher as in latine it is also called Membrana it taketh as maie he thought the name of the inuentour Neuerthelesse in my iudgement men wrote on these skines longe before that tyme remembred by Varro specified in like sorte afterward by Plinie for that Iosephus writeth that the bookes of the Hebrues and sundrie others which were manie yeres before Eumenes were also writtē on these skinnes as aboue saied As also when he reciteth that Eleasar Prince of the Préestes sente the bookes of holie scripture vnto Ptolomie with the seuētie interpreters to the intent they for hym should translate theim from the hebrue into greke affirmyng that Ptolomie bothe straungely was amased and meruailed at the subtle ioyning of these skinnes or parchmentes together Whēce it is aperte that what so euer was written in any sort in parchmente was of longer and greater continuance then if it had béen doen in these rindes or leaues though in déede thei both were of more antiquitie then the first By meanes whereof this vse of Parchemente neither hath neither will bee at anye tyme againe leafte and since that paper againe whiche we daily now vse is so easie to make and in suche abundaunce that it both helpeth and profiteth all kinde of studentes But aboue all other thinges without cōparison we must confesse that the skill of printyng by the onely meanes of whiche suche heapes of bookes come of all sortes to our handes is amonge all other inuentions that ether be or earste haue been in what sorte so euer to be preferred whiche as is written was first of al inuented by an Almaine inhabitant of Magonce and hight Ihon Faust though Polidore otherwise surname hym Petra by whose accompt the first printyng of bookes was there in the yere of our redemption a thousand fower hundred fiftie and thrée And shortly afterwarde an other Almaine by name Cōradus practised this arte firste of all in Italie Howe be it Volateranus writeth that thei were twoo and both brothers which past thence into Italy beginnyng to printe in Rome in the yere of oure Lorde a thousande fower hundred sixtie and fiue The first bookes that were imprinted were sainct Augustines de ciuitate dei and the diuine institutions of Lactantius Firmianus After thys grewe there manie excellente personages as well in Germanie and Fraunce as also in Italie which besides their arte or skill in printyng were also perfectly and passyng well learned as Baldus Manucius Badus Colineus and Frobenius verie diligent and painefull in correction of the lettre with infinite others whose names to be shorte I leaue of to remember By meanes wherof many bookes in maner lost and hidded were at laste published to the inspekable profite commoditie of man whiche was in déede the chife cause of so many learned men as this daie are euerie where to be founde throughout all Christendome whiche before both seldome and with greate paine attained to this absolute knowledge and perfection in learnyng But admit here that it were not the first and principal cause yet am I of that minde that it assuredly is the greatest cause for that with lesse paine wee peruse nowe suche as are perfectly corrected findyng the others euerie where full of faultes blottes and errours committed for the most parte either by the lesse skil or little care of the writer but if any one were founde perhaps emong the others faultles neither was he to be had or to bée perused of all men so that good letters then florished not as thei now and this daie doe vniuersally euery where How be it since licence first was graunted by Princes to Printe all bookes fabulous wanton and fruitles farre better had it béen in this respect doubtles that the waie to printe had neuer béen to man yet or knowne or vnfolded For it destroieth and withdraweth from vertue the good minde principally of youth whiche noseled in these follies lesse affecteth or desireth the studie of better lessōs Leauing then to speak more of the commodities of printyng descende we to the next the practise of hand writing which also in my iudgement is this daie more perfecte more
of that citie Whiche neuer the lesse was restored againe by the Emperour Domitian who euery where and in all countries made diligent searche for bookes causing with the same that famous library in Grece to be trasported and brought from thēce vnto Rome whence it is euident that al Ptolomies librarie was not there consumed as we before saide it to bee with fier for that some parte of it was now cōueighed to Rome Farther Paulus Orosius geueth vs to thincke that it throwly in deede was not brunt and consumed when he saith that there were burned only four hundred thousand for that the number of bookes there as we reade in others was no lesse then seuen hundred thousande so that wee may conclude thre hundred thousand to be saued how be it diuers histories passe this in such sorte as if none had been reserued from the rage of the fier But to retourne to the library of Rome the saide Paulus Orosius saieth that in the daies of the Emperour Commodus this saide library was once againe burned and that Gordian as the others to repaire it gathered againe fiftie two thousande volumes whiche all as some reporte were geuen hym by the testamēt of Seranus Samoniquus whose thei first were as hath Iulius Capitolinus Besides these were many others both noble and riche libraries gathered by our elders as well priuate and meane menne as greate Lordes and Princes The firste library that euer was knowen among the Christians was that as recordeth Esidorus of Panphilius the Martir whose life is at large writtē by Eusebius in whose studie after his death were founde thirtie thousande diuers volumes One common vsage or custome was ordinary in the olde age to weete that they had in their secret Cabinetes or Studies the perfect Image and purtraite of all suche as had in anie sorte excelled in learnyng Plinie writeth that Marcus Varro beyng yet then liuyng merited for hys rare vertue and knowledge in good letters that hys Image shoulde haue place in the library of Asinius Polion Cicero wrote to Fabian that hee shoulde prouide hym of some purtraites the better to adorne and beautifie hys study Plinie the yonger writing to Iulius Seuerus saieth that Ere Seuerus a man verie well lettered would order in his studie among other his purtraites the Images of Cornelius and Titus Arius Of these thinges finde wee euerie where sufficient and good proofe whose libraries as also those of other learned men and greate Princes whiche after in successe and processe of tyme followed were destroied and defaced by the Gothee and Vandales vntill now that in our tyme by the greate bounty of God infinite are founde both studious and learned that haue gathered together houge heapes of bookes though not in deede the tenth parte of these aboue remembred by our ancestours And assuredly a greate nōber of those whiche from their tyme vntill now haue been carefully preserued founde neuer the lesse ill written lesse perfect and incorrected in suche sorte that had it not been for the grerte paines of certaine worthy personages hardlie had they euer been brought to any kinde of perfection ¶ Of the amitie and enmitie of sundrie thinges issuyng by priuie hidden and secrete proprieties Chap. 4. THe aunciente philosopher Heraclitus as also others some after hym helde and maintained in their disputations this opinion that eche thyng had his firste cause or beginnyng by concorde and discorde by peace and enmitie whiche is in all thynges of what kinde soeuer whence also issued the generation and corruption of them on whiche poinct of Philosophie I lesse mynde here to dwell of parte for that it is bothe intricate and difficill of parte also for that the reader in my phantasie shall thence reape as little fruicte as he shall conceiue pleasure Notwithstādyng we shall some what saie of the secrete loue and hatered whiche naturally is in many thynges whiche whence or how it cometh no manne directly knoweth and is therefore assuredly no lesse straunge then marueilous As first of all the enmitie betwixte the Dogge and the Catte betwixte Oile and Pitche the Harte and the Serpente with many suche others whiche in suche sorte malice and enuie eche the other this secrete rancor of no parte proceading from th'elementes for the difference or contrarietie in thynges mixte or compounde is to all men aperte and euident as wee sée The water first disaccordeth as of nature contrary with the fire for that the fire is hotte and drie but the water contrary these elementeseche to other opposite and repugnaunte The water and the yearth accorde well together but in this respect onely that thei bothe bee colde in the other that one beyng moiste that other drie eche here leaueth the other as his auncient enemie Betwixt the fire and the yearth there is a conformitie to wéete in that thei bothe be drie a contrarietie againe euen betwene theim bothe dwelleth the fire hoate that other colde So that as these elementes of parte agrée together so also disagrée thei of parte as is euidente All thynges then what so euer are caused of these elementes must be subiecte of necessitieto these contrary qualities whiche bee in these elementes whence thei mixte are and compounded Wherfore that thyng in whiche ruleth moste some elementarie qualitie boroweth his name of the saied qualitie and so wée saie it to bée either hoate colde moiste or drie some in more high degrée then others accordyng to the predominant force in any these elementes And this these bodies contrary either to other are the onely and sole causes of contrary effectes so that whence this discrepante or different nature in thynges is is now manifeste and nedeth no farther explication But this other enmitie that proceadeth not from any the elementes but rather from some hidden proprietie or secrete influence to find the true cause and occasion thereof would aske more earneste studie and longer contremplation The Dogge and Catte as is aboue saied eche hateth other neither knowe we the cause why Other creatures also sée wée that mutually are affectioned either to other neither issueth this their loue from any the elementes whereof thei are composed The Asse eateth Fenell gyante or otherwise Sagapene whiche in Latine maie also be called ferula and findeth it bothe good and toothsome whiche to all other beastes of Horse kinde is a very starcke and plain poison The Fox ioieth and liketh of the Serpent whiche neuer the lesse enuieth all other beastes what so euer Neither is this lesse to be meruailed emong men then also emong any other creatures for that man neither knowyng why ne yet for what cause eftsones at the firste sighte when he shall méete an other neuer hauyng before or seen or knowen hym will notwithstandyng disdaine and hate hym and immediatly findyng againe the second no lesse straunge to hym then the first will well conceiue of hym loue and like hym and that whiche more is sometyme will bothe honour and reuerence hym yea though he
be in déede for causes iuste his inferiour little accoumptyng of the others were thei though in truthe greate Lordes and Rulers Againe we sometymes sée twoo men so straungely affectioned that the one voweth hym self to the will and aduice of the other whiche oftsones hath happened betwixte the seruaunte and maister so that by nature it séemeth the order of reason inuerted that the vassaule was the better no reason to bée giuen of so greate a disorder In case semblable suche subiection poudered sometymes with malicious enmitie bothe is and chaunceth emong birdes also as betwixte the Eagle and the Swanne the Crowe and the Kite whiche at times hardneth her self to take a preie from the Crowe euen out of her folded foote or pinchyng pawes sliyng Like enmitie is also betwixte the Chough and the Kite the Egle also and the Goose in suche sorte that if you laie but one feather of an Egle emong many or in a heape of these of a Goose that one wasteth and consumeth all the others to nothyng The Harte is mortall enemie vnto the Snake for with his vehemente respiration aboute her hole he draweth the Snake out by force of his breath onely and without more incontinently deuoureth hym for proofe whereof who so pleaseth to burne onely some small parte or portion of his horne shall finde that no Serpent will abide the smell thereof The Crowe the Asse and Bulle in like sorte disagrée whose iyes the Crowe still beaketh and laboureth to plucke out The birde called Flore skilfully counterfaiteth the braiyng of a Horse by meanes whereof he as commonly feareth the horse as the horse by the same meanes feareth also hym Greate enemies to the Woulfe is the Foxe the Asse and the Bulle betwixt the Vultur also and the Ele nature hath proclaimed continuall warre and hostilitie The mightie Lion dreadeth and feareth the Cocke he also flieth the sighte of fire and the noice of a carte the Panther in like sorte the presence of the Hinde the Scorpion pursueth with fatall enmitie the Tarentula whiche in Latin we maie call Falanga whose venime when he hath bitten any mā is no waie as some write cured but by pleasant harmonie and Musicke and the malice of these twoo beastes is suche and so impacable that who also is stonge or bitten of the Scorpion findeth presente remedie in that oile where the Tarentula or Falanga hath tofore béen drouned The monsterous and houge Elephante bothe feareth and flieth the simple Serpent he trembleth at the presence and sight of a shepe he by no meanes indureth the grunnyng of a Hogge The Horse Asse or Moile with greate paine abideth to sée the We sell the Snite or woode Cocke hardly dwelleth in the sight of the house Cocke There is a kinde of Faucons whiche Aristotle calleth Tico that liueth in continuall warre and enmitie with the Fox neuer missing to fight with him where he so at any tyme findeth hym Elian mindeth vs or incessante malice betwixte an other sorte of Faucons called Pelagra and the Crowe betwixte the Crowe againe also and the harmeles Turtle Betwixt the Oule and the Curlue in fine betwixt the partridge and the Tortuis The Pelican aboue all other birdes hateth the Quaile and the Horse without comparison with moste pain indureth the shamois Like enmitie is also naturallye emong fishes the Crabbe maie not abide in cōpanie with the Oister the Dolphin and the Whale slie eche the other the Cunger naturally hateth the Lampraie and Oister The Oister on the Ele hath suche a predomināt and malicious force and the Ele in suche sorte abhorreth and feareth hym that if by happe she ones sée hym she incontinently dieth thereof The Pike fatally prosecuteth the fishe of some called Mongilla or Mugra the Snake beholding a man appareiled wisheth him harme and hardeneth her self as she maie to bite and annoye hym but seyng the same naked feareth againe and flieth hym The Ratte or Mouse rather is to the Snake an auncient enemie as well when she is busied in couching her Egges as also in the Winter when she lieth deepe hidden in the intrailes of the yearth by meanes whereof the Snake to liue in more securitie heapeth togither in her hole good store of prouision meates fitte and wel pleasyng her aduersarie the Mouse to the intente that the Mouse beyng well fedde therewith she at that time might forget her farther rage and malice The Woulfes malice towardes the Shepe is suche and so naturall that if you make a drumme of the skinne of a Woulfe the Shepe with no lesse feare flieth the sounde thereof then if the Woulfe were liuyng and present then before hym Farther also some others affirme that if you make any stringes for the Viall or Lute of the guttes as well of the Shepe as of the Woulfe also you neuer shall accorde them or frame thence any harmonie If ye hange the skinne of a Woulfe either in your stable or Shepehouse or where your flocke is fodthered the sighte and feare thereof forceth theim to forget their feedyng The Mouse by a secret proprietie so muche enuieth the Scorpion that whom so euer he impoisoneth is by clappyng of a Mouse on the parte affected cured The Viper and Snake dread meruailously the Crabbe whiche naturally hath ouer these wormes suche assured maisterie that if a hogge by happe should be bitten of the Viper he immediately expelleth the poison hauyng eaten of the Crabbe Besides whiche moste straunge is as sone as the Sunne entreth into the signe of Cancer all Serpentes then languishe as sicke of some maladie The fishe called Scorpio and the Crocodile wage continuall battaile eche killyng still the other The Panther in suche sorte feareth the Ounce that as some write he suffereth hymself to be slaine of hym without any kinde of resistance and also if you hang the Panthers skinne in that place where you kéepe the Ounce the Panthers skinne will then pill waste and consume Suche is the enmitie also of the Chough and the Dawe that as Aristotle reporteth eche robbeth and destroieth the others Egges The Waspe liueth in continuall warre with the Spider as doeth the Ducke also with the Mouse or Ratte eche séekyng to deuoure and eate the others yonge ones The Kite continually malliceth and hateth the Foxe There is a small kinde of Haukes whiche Plinie calleth Esalon whiche with fatall enmitie pursueth still the Crowe he searcheth out her neste and destroieth her egges The hogge hardly indureth the presence of the wesell The Woulfe and Lion are enemies so contrary that the blood of the one will not bee mixte with the other The Mole or Wante so disliketh of the Ante that he abideth not in the place where the others bee The Spider wageth priuie warre against the Serpent and as Plinie reporteth doeth hym shamefully to dye Besides all these emong thynges also voide and lackyng life like repugnancie or contrarietie of nature is to be found for as wee firste saied oile is enemie to Pitche for
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
grace or fauour his laste recourse was vnto the diuine Iustice saiyng to this cruell and to this merciles capitain that sith he nedes would take his life for no cause from hym that he then presently appealed for iustice vnto God assummonyng also hym with hym that daie to appere before the Iudiciall seate or throne of the moste highest to yelde to hym accompt of that his greate iniustice in whiche same daie as the others this capitain also died and past to plaide his cause in the true courte in deede of iustice where as well maie bee presumed suche was his rewarde as his tretcherie had deserued I could here longer dwell in others like to these but for a finall example I will one onely more remember you no lesse perchaunce straunge then very true and certaine whiche happened at Magonce in Almaignie troublyng disorderyng the whole state of that citie as briefly remembreth Gontier the Poete in his descriptiō of the life and geastes of Fredericke the Emperour the firste of that name as he recordeth The bishoppe Contadus in his historie also recordeth it as also Henry the sixte soonne to the saied Fredericke In this fore saied toune then of Ments or Magonce in the yere of our Lorde a thousande a hundred fiftie or some thyng more there dwelte an Archebishop who had to name Henrie a man for his vertues of all men eche where renoumed this Archebishoppe then as became a good pastour punished synne and vice seuerely with a speciall regard to his flocke and charge true seruaunte vnto GOD and friende vnto his neighbour by occasion whereof some libertines and enemies of Gods honour beganne to malice to enuie his estate and conditiō so that he was accused of euill demanure before the Pope and saied to bée lesse worthie of suche an office or honour chargyng him with many open and slaunderous infamies whiche vnderstoode by the Pope although in trouthe he thought hym to bee bothe iuste and vertuous yet would he not deny audience to those that craued it and hauyng heard their plaint aduertised thereof incontinently the Archbishop By meanes whereof the better to discharge and pourge hym he chose out emong his friendes suche a one as he loued moste for whom also he had doen more then for any other this was a Prieste or Prelate and had to name Arnoulde highly aduaunced to sundrie dignities by the bishop This Arnoulde now was riche eloquent and learned and beyng entered into Rome suborned by the deuill determined on a sodaine to depriue his lorde and maister inrichyng hym self with that honour if it were possible whiche thyng the better to accomplishe with greate summes of money he corrupted twoo impious and twoo accursed Cardinalles before whom to the hearyng of this cause deputed in place to haue spokē the truthe as bothe faithe and loialtie willed he vttered againste hym what so he fasly could imagine saiyng that he more stode bounde to god to the truthe then in any wise he was or could be vnto man and therefore muste nedes confesse that the bishop in deede was suche as he to be was accused by meanes whereof the Pope as abused by this Arnoulde sente vnto Magonce these twoo honeste Cardinalles there to depriue and remoue the Archebishope whiche beyng arriued caused by prorses this good manne to appere before theim whose matter was there in suche order handeled that sentence was there in fine pronounced againste hym depriued of that honour and of that postorall dignitie in whose rome this Arnoulde was presently then substituted whiche so had solde his maister as Iudas did our sauiour at which sentence vttered the Archebishop saied God knoweth that I am vniustly here condemned how bee it I minde not to appeale from this your sentence for that I surely knowe that you soner shal be credited though liers then I in truthe wherefore I receiue this sentence a punishmente for my synnes appealyng neuer the lesse from you vnto the eternall Iudge before whom I assomon you all three to appere at whiche woordes these Prelates burste out into a laughter saiyng that when so he wente before thei incontinently would followe hym This chaunsed in the yere of mannes redemption a thousande a hundred fiftie and sixe whiche wronge this good priest tooke verie paciently withdrawyng hymself into a certain monasterie where he obserued the straite rules of that order without any coule or habite religious But to conclude God neuer long permitteth suche tretcherie and iniustice any where vnpunished to the intente especially that the innocencie of the iuste might the better alwaies be knowen One yere and a halfe after this this Henry died very vertuously in his Abbey mountyng straight into heauen as maie well bee presumed Newes hereof was broughte and of his death to Rome whereat these twoo Cardinalles foorthwith began to ieaste either chargyng other to séeke and searche out the Archebishop according as thei had promised And beholde immediatly or within very fewe daies afterward the one of them was so brused by mishappe of his owne seruaunte that his bowelles and intrailes burste out at his foundment The other fel madde incontinently in suche extremitie that he brake his bones eatyng and deuouryng his owne wretched carrion and as concernyng Arnoulde in recompence of his disloialtie and sedicious tumultes whiche he moste carefully fostered eche where emong the people he became so odious and lothsome to the multitude that about that tyme thei also inuironed hym shutte vp into a monasterie where in fine thei tooke hym and mangled him most miserablie castyng his carriō into the diche of the citie where it laie full thrée daies followyng all the people as well womē as menne doyng to it though dedde the moste villanie that was possible ¶ Of a pretie guile practised by a vertuous and good Quene towardes her housebande by meanes where of I ames Kyng of Aragon was begotten and of his birthe and death Chapt. 13. IN the old Chronicles or annales of Aragon it is recorded that the Lorde Peter Counte of Barcelon afterward by succession the seuenth kyng of Aragon receiued in marriage the ladie Marie doughter to the Earle of Mont Pesulin nephue to the Emperour of Constantinople a ladie no lesse faire then vertuous and honest The kyng notwithstādyng who pleased muche in varietie of concubines and therefore lesse forste of this faire and vertuous ladie not vsyng her cōpanie as reason woulde he should haue dooen ministred to her occasion of greate annoye and sorrowe and especially for that the kyng had then no issue to inherite and succede in that kyngdome after hym Wherfore by the meanes of one of the kynges owne Chamberlaines whiche also perhaps had serued hym in other suche like affaires she was conueighed vnto him though vnder the pretexte and name of an other where hauyng vsed his companie to her full contentation and the kyng perceiuyng that it drewe towardes daie commaunded her to withdrawe her self for the sauyng of his honour but she
this opinion accordyng with that whiche is redde in the scriptures where as it is saied that God made twoo excellent lightes the one to lende comforte and brightnes to the daie the other and the lesse to shine in the night But in that instant it self when the Sunne first appered he gaue light on the sodaine to the one halfe of the worlde so that in that halfe it presently was daie the other beyng darck and couered with the shadowe of the yearth How bee it it semeth reasonable that on that other moitie of the earth cladde as is saied with the night and darknes the Moone there should doe her charge and office in illightnyng it so as thei bothe were created at one and the same instant so thei bothe also might execute their office at one instante the one giuyng light and solace to the daie the other not obscuryng or darkenyng the night euenso and in suche sorte as hath in deede the texte for then was verified that parte of scripture the whole worlde through lightened bothe on the one side and the other And contrarywise if the Moone then had been founde in coniuction then this common light could not haue chaunsed vntil fiftene daies after and farther three or fower daies muste also firste haue paste before her light could haue béen seen or perceiued any where and the same should haue been a verie small light also as that whiche we see when she fower or fiue daies is of age Wherefore these two in conclusion assuredly gaue light to the whole worlde at one instante in the heginnyng And againe I saie the Moone then beyng in opposition with the Sunne of necessitie had her beyng then in the contrary signe in Libra which thing thus staÌ„dyng she executed that daie the effectes of the Sunne visityng euery parte of the worlde in that one daies course whiche to haue doen had been then impossible hadde she been plaste in any other parte of the Zodiake by meanes whereof this opinion hath more plaine and more euident shewe of truthe though Iulius Firmicus gladly would inferre that this Planette in her firste creation founde her firste place in the fiftenth of Cancer where in deede she hath her greatest dignities of whiche opinion is also Macrobius in his firste booke de somnio Scipionis As concernyng the other Planettes it should bee more difficill for me to vtter herein a truthe then in any respecte profitable to hym that would faine knowe it for which cause I leaue to dwell here on in many How bee it Iulius Firmicus in his seconde booke alleaged hardeneth hym self to assigne them their places in whiche at the firste euery of them was as Saturnê° in Capricorno Iupiter in Sagitario Marsin Scorpione Venus in Libra Mercurius in Virgine whiche are the signes in whiche thei haue greateste force and dignitie signes appoincted to these Planettes sor their houses Of whiche mynde herein is also Elpacus as well remembreth Ioannes Agricanus in his summarie intituled Agricane Macrobius also in his booke aboue alleaged De somnio Scipionis accordeth plainly with Iulius Firmicus who lotteth to them the same signes aboue remembred although others some haue supposed the contrary and that thei all in that instante were in coniunction with the Sunne whiche opinion the Mouncke walterus in his treatise of the ages of the worlde affirmeth that the aunciente Indiens helde for most assured But in truthe I suppose that god so plaste and ordered these starres eche one in his place distaunte and seuered from other not méetyng in any coniunction with the Sunne to the intent that euery of them in that firste daie might with his glitteryng beames giue light vnto the yearth whiche had béen impossible for them to haue dooen if thei had béen in coniunctioÌ„ with the SuÌ„ne for that being nigh vnto hym within the space I meane of certaine degrées he so couereth and drouneth their little light that thei or hardly or not at all might haue béen séen from the yearth But how or in what sorte so euer it were beyng created and framed accordyng to the will and pleasure of GOD it sufficeth saieth Saincte Augustine that thei were by hym in any sorte perfected and framed That men maie take example of Birdes Wormes and other creatures to liue a iust and a vertuous life Chap. 16. AS we haue aboue by occasion some thing spokeÌ„ of these creatures though to some other intent and purpose so nowe shall wee breflie and in fewe speake how their example maie bee profitable to mans bodie no lesse then to his vnderstandyng and minde For assuredly who so diligently and attentiuely will consider as well the nature as the properties also of beastes he thence shall not onelie take good instructions of life for the better preseruation and maintenauÌ„ce of the bodie but lessons also to frame and perfect his maners Whence is it that manne liueth not in peace with his neighbour seyng the ametie and concorde of beastes together how they accompanie and ioigne in one in euery kinde defending theim selues to their vtterest from the force of any other How is it that man shameth not to liue a trifelyng and an idle loyterer consideryng howe painfully and busely the poore Ante toileth in the somer gathering her prouision and store for the winter What subiectes are thei that doe not true seruice and honour to their Prince consideryng the true loue and obedience of the litle Bée towardes her soueraigne Why take not these publike weales whiche haue no Prince but liue in coÌ„mon example to liue quietly with out grudge or mutinie of the foresaide litle antes whiche dwell together in greate multitudes with good order doyng iustice eche one to the other And Princes on the other side why also aduise they theim not with what lenitie and curtesie they ought still to vse their subiectes especially when thei behold the Kyng of the Bées for no cause to greue or offende any of the others Greate Personages and noble men maie learne an example of humility by the Camell whiche then stoopeth and kneleth when he shall be charged The good and loyall husbande may learne to schole himself in the rules of chastitie by birdes by the Turtell I meane and by the Doue whiche both the male as well as also the female for none other cause then death what so euer seuer or disioigne hauing once acquainted theim selues together Farther it is also written of the Turtle that hauyng once loast by anie occasion her mate that she neuer after chuseth or lotteth to her any other Saincte Ambrose counseleth all vertuous widowes to imitate this example of continencie in the Turtle And here in most beastes excéede vs in perfection among whom as sone as the femal hath once conceaued she neuer séeketh or desireth againe the male in long tyme after They also serue vs for examples in temperancie for commonly thei wil eate no more then nature asketh ne sléepe they more then necessitie requireth To defende maintaine and well
so many and so diuers that the triumphe commonlie continued full three daies to the intente that all these thinges might orderly be doen. In euery triumphe were many straunge inuentions as showes and pageantes with others the semblable long here to remember Nether was it lawfull vnto all capitaines ne yet for all victories what so euer to triumphe but certaine notable lawes and customes were established for which onely and for none other the triumphe was graunted The capitaine that demaunded that honour entered not at the firste in to Rome but the Senate woulde sende hym an aunswere thereof vnto Vatican to wéete whether they woulde licence hym to triumphe or not Firste no general or other capitaine of what condition so euer he were mighte at any tyme triumphe were he not a Consul Proconsul or Dictator for the triumphe was neuer graunted to man of meaner condition by meanes wherof it was denied to M. Mercellus that most victoriouslie conquired and subdued Siracusa as also to Scipio that ouerranne all Spain Againe to the obtainyng of this fore saide honor it was also requisite that the battaile fought with the ennimy should be greate and daungerous and that there should be slaine therin a boue fiue thousande Of these thinges writeth Valerius Maximus It is also written that Cato and L. Marius tribunes ordained a lawe to dooe sharpe and seueare animaduertion on all Capitaines that should make false report of the number slaine Neither was it sufficient to winde the battaile were it neuer so blooddy and dangerous but he also must make tributory and subiect the whole prouince leauyng it quiet and in peace to his successor bringing also home with hym his army victorious For which cause as Liuie recordeth the triumphe was denied to Titus Manlius though in truthe he hadde obtained greate victories in Spaine for that after him thei were forced to ouerrunne the countrie againe to wage newe battaile to kepe by force and defende that whiche before was gotten For this cause also Quintus Fabius the greate triumphed not though in deede he once had subdued all Cāpagna as also recordeth Valerius Maximus It also was the maner that he that triumphed should inuite to hym that might the Consuls to supper which they vtterly suche was the maner refused for that at that feaste was at no time anie to whom greater honour was doen then to the triumpher These triumphes were euer ended in the temple of Iupiter with in the Capitoll where he offered vp the whole spoile whiche he had taken from the ennimie where also for greater solemnization publicke assemble was then made And to the intente that this Capitaine shoulde not glory to muche of this honour doen to hym it is reported that a bonde man should that day be placed by hym to whom it was permitted to skoffe and deride hym in suche sorte and manner as it beste should like hym where of sundry examples are found in olde histories But to make more plaine this kinde of triumphe if it be possible we wil remember some but first of al that of Paulus Aemilius a capitaine Romaine moste famous and valiaunte to whom for that he had subdued and taken Persius king of Macedonie vtterly spoilyng and wastyng his countrie the triumphe was graunted by common suffrage of all men who as Plutarche reciteth triumphed in this maner First of all the inhabitantes of Rome as well as of other places nigh adiacente were that daie seen in their most sumptuous and riche attire euery of them indeuouring to place himself in some tootyng hole or windowe the better and with more ease to beholde this spectacle All the temples in Rome were on euery side open hangde and apparelied with moste costly furniture with grene boughes perfumes of no smal value the streates also were like gaie and glorious And for that the multitude of people in the citie was then infinite as well of straungers as also of others a number of sticklers was appoincted to make through the streates easie waie and passage and for that the diuersitie of shewes were suche and so many necessitie constrained them to parte them into three daies the first hardly sufficed in good order to bryng in the banners standardes and ensignes of the conquered the Colossi Images and tables of price whiche all were brought in on cartes verie curiously depainted and trimmed On the second daie came in the armour of the kyng conquered as also of all th' other Macedomens whiche as thei were riche bright and glitteryng so were thei with moste cunnyng to the she we ordered and couched on cartes After these cartes entered three thousande men in order bearyng nothyng but money open and to bee seen and that in houge chargers and vesselles of siluer waighyng euery one three talentes at the leaste of whiche were three hundred and fiftie in noumber fower menne lotted to euery vessell The others the residue I meane of this three thousand brought in cundites streming most artificially wrought with other plate all siluer no lesse faire then massie and in passyng of these companies in iuste and semely order thei ended the second daie in most pompous solemnitie The thirde daie euen in the breake or spryng thereof with the firste band entered a ioyous signe of conquest infinite flutes drommes trumpettes with others suche like Martiall and warlike instrumentes soundyng all togither not delicately or swetely but in moste terrible and cruell maner that was possible in suche sort as thei presently should ioigne in battaile and after them came an hundreth and twentie Kine all white hauyng their hornes curiously gilted their bodies couered with certain riche vailes whiche thei accompted as sacred or holie bearyng also garlandes of flowers on their heddes driuen by certaine yonge boies no lesse well fauoured then curiously attired to the place where thei should bee to their goddes Sacrificed after whom also came other children againe charged with greate platers of gold and siluer for the Sacrifice After these came others againe seuentie and seuen whiche in vesselles of golde carried all the gold that thei had gathered in coigne after whom came then thei that carried the greate gobblet poisyng fully tenne talentes of gold whiche Paulus Aemilius had dooen to be made sette also and inrichte with stones of rare price and thei that bare these vessels of golde were suche as were nighest and beste beloued of these kinges to wete of Antigonus Seleucus and other kynges of Macedonie and especially of Persius the honourableste of them After this followed the couche of the kynge conquered with his owne proper armour laied a parte to be seen his diademe or croune with his scepter roiall laied in semely order to the vewe vpon his armour After his coache came prisoners on foote the little infauntes his owne naturall children and followyng theim a greate troope of his seruauntes and officers as maisters of the houshold secretaries vshers comptrollers chamberlaines with others suche of his courte or familie all weepyng
theim the name of Pillours triumphant builte of Marble workyng in theim in moste curious manner possible euery their battailes and victories to their perpetuall renoume and honour a shewe of whiche is yet this daie to be seen in Rome Whiche thinges thei firste did followyng the Trophees of the Grekes whiche also were doen in suche sorte as followeth In the very same place where any Capitaine obtained the victory against his ennimy he did to be set vp there a greate and houge tree cuttyng from the same all his armes or boughes fastnyng to the stocke the armure of the vanquished to his perpetuall honour and renoume and this called thei a Trophe of that Greke word Tropi whiche may signifie conuertion flight or retraite for that in that place the ennimy was put to flight and this with these Trophes the Romaines first acquainted theimselues for as Salust writeth Pompe on a time hauyng vaÌ„quished the Spaniardes plaste his trophes on the toppes of the mouÌ„taines Pirenei whiche vsage by tracte of tyme grewe after into suche estimation that thei made them of stone wronght artificially How bee it this thyng semeth to bee of more antiquitie and that other nations also before the Grekes vsed it for it is redde in the fiftenth Chapiter of the firste booke of the Kynges that Saul hauing vanquished Agag King of the Amalachites came after to mounte Carmell where he erected an arche triumphall in the onely remembrance and memorie of his victories To conclude the honour of a triumphe was suche and so estimed that no one other was so much desired in Rome so that their Capitaines refused no paine no perill or daunger howe greate or what soeuer so that in fine thei might attaine to that inestimable honour Besides these Capitaines that thus triumphed became merueilous riche by the spoiles of the conquered to theim also were geuen great presentes by their freÌ„des which I onely to this purpose in this place would remember that princes might hence learne how to recompense and reward their capitaines and other soldiars what so euer accordyng to their desertes for commonly in these daies the daintie coward and nise Carpette man is more largely considered of then those that imploie both their gooddes and their liues in the seruice of the Prince and defence of their countrie ¶ What names the Romaine capitaines gained by their victories Chapt. 18. THe capitaines of Rome were yet besides their triumphes in an other lort honoured to wete by names and surnames giuen them of the people and prouinces whiche thei had conquered and subdued whiche assuredly was no small recompeÌ„ce for their worthy demerits Somtimes thei also gat additioÌ„s to their names for their onely prowes or courage in armes wheÌ„ce sundrie families in Rome grewe moste famous and honorable First we maie speake of the thre Metelli of which the one as hath Saluste besides him others for hauyng vanquished the kyng Iugurthe and conquered his countrie and all the territories of Numidia was called Numidicus The other Quintus Metellus for his victorie obtained againste the kyng of Macedonie was surnamed Macedonicus and the laste Creticus for that he subdued the Isle of Crete Before these were Marcius Coriolanus and Sergius Fidenatus of which the first gatte that name for that he subdued to the Romaines the citie Corialis the seconde for that he brought Tributorie Fidena in Italie And finally an other Metellus was there named Balearicus for that he subdued to the Romaine Empire the Isles Baleares whiche other wise haue this daie to name Maiorque and Minorque with the others adioynyng to theim Lucius Numius was surnamed Acaicus for that he conquered Acaia and Corinthe Brutus also for that he subdued the Gaules receiued in recompence the name of Gaulois The twoo Scipioes brothers were also honoured with the names of twoo sundrie nations by them vanquished and subdued the one Africanus the other Asiaticus for that he bothe conquered Antioche and Asia and was the firste that euer brought any Romaine ensiegne into Asia After this the other Scipio sonne to Paulus Aemelius of whose triumph aboue some thyng is saied and nephewe by adoption vnto the greate Scipio was also as th' other surnamed Africanus for that he bothe assailed and woÌ„ne the riche and famous citie of Carthage He also receiued for like guerdon the name of Numantinus or NumaÌ„ticus whiche was to hym no lesse honour then the other for hauyng sackte Numantia in Spaine It is also readde that Emperours themselues ioied in the names of tounes and places by them conquered vysyng thesame euer more in their letters Patentes and other instrumentes as did Seuerus and after hym his successours as for the conqueste of Arabia Parthia Armenia Germania and others the one named himself Arabicus an other Parthicus an other againe Armenicus Germanicus and Asiaticus eche honouryng hymself with his victories obtained For other causes also that Romaines at times gained like names of honor as Marcus Manlius who for that he defended the Capitoll from the violente force of the Frenche men gained the name of Capitolinus The familie of the Toroquates receiued firste that name for that oâ—â— of them toke by force from the necke of his enemie a chaine or coller in Latin torques Q. Fabius the greate who for his delaies and daliaunce vsed with Hannibal deliueryng by the same meanes also his countrie was surnamed afterwardes Cunctator For this cause he also was called the Targette of Rome whiche turned hym to great aduantage and honor Marcus Marcellus which liued also at thesame time for his valiaunte prowes and courage and continuance in stelâ—e still againste his enemie was in fine called the knife or sworde of Hanniball That excellente capitaine Silas though he were cruel was not withstaÌ„dyng for his happie victories surnamed Fortunate Pompe for his so many so honourable and so reâ—…ed victories was through the worlde called Pompe the greate then whiche name I knowe not what might bee more roiall or magnificent And thus were those names giuen to those vertuous capitaines in suche sorte that their generalles and conductours of armies were also termed by the names of Emperours whiche this daie of all others is the supreme and higheste dignitie so that thei were either Pretors Consuls or Proconsuls and that also had subdued his enemie in some famous battaille had also destroied and wasted his whole countrie slaine and murthered greate heapes of his subiectes and finally by the losse of twoo thousande of his owne to haue slaine tenne thousande of the contrary at the leaste for other wise he gained not the name of an emperour This happie name gate Iulius Caesar the father of Iulius Caesar for his victorie whiche he obtained againste the Samnites and Lucans in the daies and tyme of Silas Pompe was also called Emperour for his fortunate victorie in Africa against Domician Cicero assigned Proconsul in that warre againste the Parthians was by his soldiours for his happie successe continually called Emperour Iulius Caesar
and directly vpwarde for that the naturall heate is disperste in partes abrode lesse apte or lesse able to perfecte or cause digestion for neither can the superfluities bee purged well by the mouthe ne yet by any other cundites or ordinary passages but arreste theim continually in the stomacke and in the throate whence some tymes spring vehement suffocatiōs the fallyng euill also with others many the semblable and like infirmities The wise also here learne vs that we slepe not to muche stretcht forth throughout our bedde for thence again digestion of part maie also be weakened for as hath the Philosopher whē the vertues and forces are vnited well together the operation of nature is then so muche the stronger and so liyng of parte drawne as it were togither that parte of the bodie whiche couereth nexte the stomacke ioigneth more close vnto it comfortyng and warmyng it more then it did before These rules percase maie profite the daintie the delicate and eke the weaker sorte but concernyng those that are lustie and well disposed the beste aduice I maie or any other giue them is that thei retain thesame custome that thei tofore haue vsed ¶ Of three sundrie doubtes whiche the auncient Philosophers were neuer able to resolue with the causes why Chapt. 4. THE aunciente Philosophers by the meruailous instincte of God curiously searchte out the causes of eche the workes of nature assertainyng their propositions without contradiction or repugnauncie of any others Yet neuer were thei able to resolue these three thinges of parte doubtfull and of some importance with the causes assured of their spryng and beyng The first is that thei well knewe there was giuen vnto man by nature a desire neuer to dye or departe hence neuer to fele smarte or any annoye what soeuer but continually to sugiorne with felicitie perpetuall and pleasure in this worlde neuer sauoryng of any lacke or defaulte of any thyng but yet could not attaine to that desired ende or marke And on the other side well assured that GOD and Nature neuer attempted any thyng in vaine and farther that this mannes appetite proceded onely of nature toilyng supposyng herein to finde the cause especially that this axiome in any other thing neuer failed thei folded and refolded theim selues in infinite perplexities cessyng in dispaire to lose this knotte or scruple The seconde was that thei saied that eche manne felte in hym self a certaine naturall and peruerse inclination of the fleshe and farther a sensuallitie plaine contrarie to the aboue saied desire or appetite whiche was not to dye or sauour of corruption as in this carnall motion whiche casteth man into sundrie daungers and infirmities shortnyng his tyme and his daies so muche desired The semblable also riseth of excesse in surfeting besides that others some againe desirous sodainly to mounte to greate pompe and honour hassarde themselues to winde the sporres in field where cōmōly thei fall or els returne oft times with a fearce troubled minde or in fine some mishap or infortune there betides thē an ende al cōtrary to that thei so muche affected The third is that in the order of nature the bodies inferiour are gouerned by the superiours as for example the elementes by the bodies celestiall the Orbes or Spheares of the Planettes as Philosophers will by the intelligences and they againe by the first maker or mouer of al thinges God the onely and the sole cause and prince eternal But in man alone this order is now peruerted who being of two partes to weete the soule bodie we see that the fleashe in truth both vile and abiecte rageth and rebelleth against the minde and reason and that whiche worst is draweth it to his owne frowarde will and pleasure whence the Apostle saide that he in his members felte a lawe contrarie and repugnant to the lawe of reason mouyng it to sinne and to vniust rebellion The philosophers therfore that liued before the commyng of our sauiour knew nothyng at all the occasion of this disorder but curiously sekyng some cause thereof or reason fell into sundry erronious and fonde opinions Whence Anaxagoras saide that this monstrositie or disordered rebellion began at the first in the beginnyng of the worlde whē all thinges were folded without regarde or respect in that auncient Chaos for separating this force of reason by discorde and reioynyng it againe afterwarde by concorde it ingendereth euerie thing good and perfecte in his kinde man alone excepted whose body it vniteth stoberne and disloiall with the soule onely absolute and reasonable And therfore as these twoo in this Chaos firste disagreed so euer more continue thei in discorde and in enmitie contrarie to the rule and order of all other thinges In this sorte this poore and lesse aduised philosopher attributed the faulte hereof to the diuine prouidence Others also saide that this onely happened by diuersitie of constellations vnder which man was both borne and conceaued Aristotle neuer hardned himself plainly and appertly to vnknot this presente scruple but rather he gainsaieth it himself affirmyng that mans will is naturally inclined to euill so that with greate difficultie it is or maye bee brought subiecte vnto reason And in an other place hee saieth that the felicitie whiche manne by vertue here acquireth is the absolute and perfecte gifte of God alone To conclude then vertue in the action or operation where of the felicitie of man fully consisteth must be the gifte of God and not of nature onely On the other side the Manichies desirous to yelde some reason of this peruerse and iniuste order saide that in manne were twoo soules to geather the one good of the true and perfecte substaunce of the prince of light the other impious and accursed takyng his spring of the Prince of darckenes whence this warre was this in man continued Origen saieth that before the creation or frame of the worlde all soules sinnyng against the diuine maiestie were kept and reserued in heauē for a time but afterward for their punishmente were plaste againe in bodies of harde and noughtie nature whence this rebellion in man in this sorte liueth But all these opinions both erronious and detestable are confuted by Sainct Augustine writyng against the Manichies in his booke De duab anim and in an other of his De nat boni where with longe reasons most learnedly he sheweth the cause why they neuer attained to the knowleage or felyng of this foresaide disorder which was for that they neuer had hearde or knowen any thing of the scriptures by whiche we fully are resolued in euery and all these scruples by whiche also it is euident that both these propositions are aunsweryng and consonant vnto the order of nature To weete that God and nature attempte nothyng in vaine and that it againe is conuenable that man by nature should feare and refuce to taste of death desirous to liue in continued ioie and pleasure though he yet neuer attaine thereto in any sorte ne yet therfore
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