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
make plaine mention yet by all coniectures possible the breadth thereof was more But God who iustly chastised this prowde presumptuous enterprise though not with payne deserued gaue in that presente instante so many diuerse tongues so straunge and so unknowen that these who all before spake one and the same Language spake then thréescoare and twelue so farre and differente from the firste that fewe amonge them had féelinge or meanings of the others minde By meanes whereof sutch enmitie and presente discorde grewe that not onely this worke then rested there vnperfecte but euery man with those that vnderstoode his speache retyred to possesse somme place aparte or Countrie to them selues For whiche cause it euer afterward was called the Tower of Babell whiche is to say of confusion Isidorus affirmeth that it was highe fiue thousand one hundred thrée scoare and foure pases all of Bricke layde with claye or â—lime in stéede of Morter of whiche in that Countrie great plentie was eche where founde In the said selfe place wheras this Tower was builte as hath Iosephus Isidorus S. Augustine and Orosus was builte also that moste auncient and most famous Cittie of whiche so woorthy so great maters are yet reported called Babylon situate or seated on the Riuer of Euphrates of which the CouÌ„tries or Territories adiacent tooke their firste or principal denominatioÌ„ as Chaldea Mesopotamia The Scriptures also recorde that the beginninge of the raigne of Nemrod was also in Babylon wherfore it is reason that wée be of the said minde with the aboue remembred Authours that Nemrod also built this famous Cittie of Babylon which afterwarde was walled became Riche and Honorable by the carefull payne and industrie of Semiramis Nynus But to retourne to our pourpose of Tongues or Languages it might here be a question disputable what Tongue it was that was that firste so common and generall whiche onely and alone was knowen before the diuision and confusion of the others S. Augustine discoursinge in many vpon this matter concludeth that it was the Hebrew the very same that the Iewes speake yet at this daie whiche as farre as it maye be gathered by any meane possible out of the Scriptures and as S. Augustine also déemeth was conserued in Heber of whom descended Abraham and the Hebrewes for that neither he nor any of his kinred would healpe at all any thinge in erectinge this Tower. By meanes wherof him selfe and his family whiche woulde not condescende to this sinfull and prowde attempte felte not thereof the due deserued paine Wherefore wée maye presume that in Heber and his family the auncient and firste Tongue remained perfect and entire without any corruption or confusion of the same in that Linage onely pure and nowhere els in the Worlde whence it came to passe that of Heber it had his denomination Hebrewe Sundry Hebrewes his Successours affirme that this Language was that same that was firste spoken by Adam as also of all the others of that Auncient and firste Age conserued in Heber and those that followed him Abraham Iacob In this same also wrote Moyses his Lawes This then is the opinion of S. Augustine Isidorus to whome wée should geue more assured credite then to those that affirme the Chaldean Tongue the first which notwithstaÌ„ding may be of parte excused for that these twoo Languages haue a marueilous vicinitie their Characters almoste vniforme and lyke as also well agreynge in other thinges many Notwithstandinge in this matter some curious haue doubted if twoo children or a greater number fostred in place secrete voyde of all company where they neuer mighte heare the voyce of any other what woordes they woulde frame or Language in the ende Somme haue thought that they firste would speake Hebrewe others somme the Chaldean Tongue But Herodotus saithe that on a time experience in this case was made by meane of a contention or emulation then growen betwixte the Aegyptians and Frigians eche nation pretendinge by antiquitie of their Language preeminency aboue the other For determination of which differente in fine they concluded that twoo Children should be nourished in manner aboue rehearsed in sutch sorte that they shoulde neuer heare any woorde spoken at all and that Language that these children firste began to profite in should be reputed the firste and most Auncient and they that spake that by consequent of moste antiquitie He addeth againe afterward that a certaine Kinge of Aegypte caused to be fostered twoo children in a deserte to which no man euer spake in any sorte in the worlde whiche when they were full foure yéeres olde he caused them without more to be brought into his presence where they eftsoones vttered this onely woorde Ber whiche dothe in the Frigian tongue signifie Breade for whiche cause the Frigians were of all men reputed as moste Ancient This writeth Herodotus whom many herein approue alleage for authoritie Notwithstandinge were it as he reporteth it a truth yet might it be that these Children by happe some where shoulde learne it as by somme Beaste Birde or Shéepe in the Fielde whiche might frame the same or some sutche like voyce they doinge their paine to frame the same after them But as for my parte I reste of this minde that twoo Children in this sorte fostered would speake none other but the firste Language Hebrewe although I also durst in manner semblable to affirme that to them selues they would shape somme newe and straunge Tongue geuinge to all thinges their names vnknowen vnheard as wée sée that Children of them selues naturally geue names lesse knowen to thinges of them desired so that of parte assuredly it appeareth that nature would learne them a Language all newe before they should be perfect in any their Fathers In this case experience may sufficiently schoole vs if any very curious desire to knowe the effect hereof In the meane time eche man may here reste of what opinion it beste liketh him nothing aboue saide withstandinge the contrary ¶ Of the Diuision of the Ages of the Worlde with a briefe discourse of diuerse Notable matters chaunced also in them as also in fine of the beginninge of Realmes and Kingdomes Chap. 11. ALthough moste menne haue somme pleasure and likinge to talke and discourse of the Ages of the Worlde to remember perchaunce thinges donne in this also not to passe what hathe chaunced in that yet are there a greate many that lesse knowe the true diuision of these times ne what yéeres eche Age demaundeth to his accomplishmente The Age therefore or Life of the worlde euen from the firste vntill this daye presente is diuided by the moste parte of approued Authours into sixe onely partes or Ages although diuers recken and accoumpte on seuen accordinge to the onely computation of the Hebrewes But I herein haue determined to folowe Eusebius and the common opinion of al Historiographers arestinge them on the aboue remembred number of sire In diuision of whiche there is
Papyrius of one of the most Honorablest families in Rome This Childe at night beinge returned home his Mother first by intreatie in flatteryng sorte desired him to learne her what matters were debated that daie in the Senate consideringe their longe abode besides the woonted manner To whom the boye answeared that he might not well disclose it consideringe it was prohibited thereof to speake any thinge Shée this mutche vnderstandinge as is the common woonte and vsage of Woomen waxte then mutche more earnest thereof to féele some thinge in sutche sorte that neither by faire woordes nor flattery able to gette any thinge woulde with threates and roddes finally force him to answeare her lesse honest hasty importunitie Whose malice to auoide this wise and wilye Boye aduising him wel of this pretie guile saide that this deferrent was amongest them that daie carefully handled whither as well for the state Publike as also for the augmentation and more spéedy increase of Mankinde it mighte be more conducible to the whole Empire of Rome that one Man shoulde haue twoo Wiues or contrary that one Wooman should be geuen to twoo Husbandes which bothe partes failed not of most earnest assured Factours who the nerte day saithe he will conclude on some final resolute determination The which thinge thus ones vnderstoode by the Moother to whiche shée lightly added bothe faithe and credite moued therewith something perplexed aduertiseth other Ladies Dames of these newes to the ende they might lette and distourne that deuise of geuing twoo woomen as wiues to one man furtheringe the other parte to the vttermost of their mighte to enritche eche Dame with twoo Husbandes at the least On the morninge folowing a great number of the Romaine Matrones were in flockes assembled at the Gates of the Senate effectuously and in many woordes requitinge theire Lordes not to passe on any so vniuste a Decrée as to geue to one man in Marriage twoo wiues but rather to goe forewarde without staye to the contrary The Senatours lesse wetinge to what pourpose this tended amazed in entrance one after the other into the Senate demaunded eche of other whence mighte procéede this so rare and shamelesse inciuilitie altogeather vnable thereof to yéelde any cause or reason But in the ende the yonge boye the little Papyrius did them out of payne layinge before them what had chaunced him the night passed with his Moother and howe that for feare of her thunderinge threates and greate woordes was forced for his discharge in this pretie sorte to deceiue and beguile her The matter thus then vnderstoode by the whole House they highly commended the secrete constancie in the childe Concluding notwithstandinge that thencefoorthe no Father shoulde bringe with him his childe into that place besides the younge Papyrius whiche onely after entered to the intente that by these meanes no secretes shoulde out of that House or Place be reuealed By the practise of this childe againe maie the Elders of our Age what to doo in their affayres be very well aduertised consideringe that if a Priuate Secrete be not to be disclosed mutche lesse then a Common and Publique Secrete principally emonge the Aged and men of assured Iudgemente M. Brutus and Cassius with the others all their accomplices whiche had conspired the deathe of Iulius Caesar supposinge it for the state Publique no lesse expediente then it also was necessary for the maintenaunce of their Libertie hauing laide their plotte and deuised the manner howe to putte these thinges in perfecte execution would notwithstandinge thereof imparte nothing with Cicero one of their especial and moste assured friendes who also aboue others moste effectually desired the abolition of that tyrannie not for any diffidence or mistrust they had in him but for that he onely was reputed a simple and badde Secretorie A thinge assuredly woorthy of admyration consideringe howe many they were that conspired his Ruine in howe priuie manner and howe longe they concealed it and that from theire approued and beste beloued friende Fuluius sommetime reuealed a greate Secrete to his wife whiche not longe before he had receiued of the Emperour Octauian which after discouered by his saide wife notis therof came immediatly to the Prince who for his ouer mutch lightnesse in maner most sharpe rebuked him tauntingely By meanes whereof he entred into desperation determining to doo presente force on him selfe but firste charginge his wife with the greate wronge that shée hadde donne him who saide that he no reason nor iuste cause had at all to grieue with her consideringe the many dayes that they had lyued togeather he yet had not felte her fickle complexion or otherwise knowing it that so londely would abuse his owne knowledge therein reposinge his trust and affiance in her Wherefore thoughe her Husbande were the cause of this errour yet determined shée to suffer the firste paine due therefore and with the same laid violente handes on her selfe after whose deathe poore Fuluius did the same It is readde in the Life of the Emperour Nero that his deathe beinge conspired on a time in Rome a thinge moste expediente as well for the Romaines as also for all others his rare cruelties considered hée to whom it belonged by couenaunte to doo the déede mette by happe a certaine Prisoner whiche by ordinaunce of the tyrannie was then on passage to place of Execution and consideringe with him selfe that the wicked peruerse nature of the Emperour was suche that none whome he apprehended at any time escaped deathe and therefore the Prisoner whiche sorrowfully lamented mighte no waye escape his bloudy and mercilesse hande drewe somethinge nighe him not remembringe that his affayres demaunded secrete dealinge Praye to God saithe he that it maie please him to preserue thée vntil to morrowe for if thou doo passe this day vnto an ende I will assure thée that Nero shall not doo thée to die Whiche thinge vnderstoode by that miserable Prisoner who incontinently suspected that whiche in déede was séeking the only meanes to saue his owne life declared the matter foorthewith to the Emperoure aduisinge him to take good héede to him selfe By occasion whereof Nero immediately apprehended him that had comforted him in sutche sorte the aboue remembred Prisoner and by chaunge of tormentes forced him to confesse the Coniuration By reason whereof him selfe was cruelly executed theire Determination made frustrate and voide Pline recoumpteth the plaine contrarye of Anaxarchus who beinge apprehended for the semblable matter curragiously bitte of his tongue with countenaunce vnappalled to the intente that he neuer would disclose therewith any Secrete spittinge it manfully into the face of the Tyrante The Athenians curiously framed a certaine Image of Iette in the honour of a common wooman who hight Lyonna in memory of her excellente constancie for that shée so wel and so secretly had kepte bothe silence and consell in a certaine conspiracie whiche Image was framed without any tongue the better to geue foorthe
laste Seruis or Dishes of pleasance he caused in large Chargers solemnely to be serued in the heade féete and handes of the yonge Martyred childe vnto the good Father to the onely intente he should not be vnwéetinge that he then had banqueted and eaten of his owne Sonne Marius and Silla twoo capitall enimies on bothe sides so raged in execrable Tyrannye that thei contended as appeareth who might surmount and surpasse the other in villanye Silla bouchered in one daye foure Legions of Souldiers The Prenestines also a people of Italye crauinge with teares his fauoure and grace for that they had receiued the Capitaine Marius coulde notwithstandinge by no meanes escape his cruell hande For generally without excertion he murthered them all and gaue their bodyes for a praye to the Crowes and Rauens to féede on The semblable did also Marius his Companion in bouchery The Emperour Tiberius Successour to Octauian surpassed I trowe all others in his time who after his fainte clemencie in the entraunce of his Raygne passed no daye in whiche he spilte not the bloude of somme Innocentes Besides he diuised sutche a mercilesse policie as tofore hadde neuer benne in any place hearde of he inhibited that vnder payne of deathe none shoulde be so hardye to deplore lamente or make any shewe of mournefull semblant at the deathe of those that it shoulde please him any waye for any cause to execute A Crueltie straunge and suche as hathe not benne knowen for I déeme there can be no greater paine then to inhibite the poore harte that it vnloade and discharge not it self of his dolours by alarmes teares Also when he did to die any yonge maydens he firste committed them to his Tormentours to be deflowred of them to the intent that with their death they togeather shoulde lose their honour and Chastitie He so much was pleased in spillinge of bloude that vnderstandinge one had staine him selfe whom he before had Sentenced to death of pourpose to escape his mercilesse and cruell hande sighed with hawtie voice in lamentable manner sayinge Oh howe vnhappely hathe this Crows escaped mée by whiche name it pleased him to note the Condemned For you muste vnderstande that he in sutch sorte tormented the poore patient before he would suffer him by any meanes to die that they supposed presente deathe to be to them bothe a gaine and a grace Straunge were it to write what inuentions he vsed newe tormentes in Execution Sommetime he forced the Condemned excessiuely to drinke and immediately woulde cause the Cundittes of their Vrine so straitly to be bounde that they by no meanes possible mighte ease them selues that waye and so woulde he suffer them in excessiue paine to languishe till deathe shoulde take order for chaunge of theire life And further for his sale and onely pleasure he caused other somme to be throwne into the Sea from an excéedinge highe Cliffe or Rockys banke in the I le of Capraire adioyninge vnto Naples and for because that after that sorte to die in the Sea was as he thoughte a deathe too gentle he caused certaine Marriners and others with Pikes and sharpe weapons in Boates to stande directly vnderneathe the saide Rocke whiche receiued and bloudely martyred the miserable patientes before they might enioye the benefite of the Water Nowe after the shameful deathe of this incarnate Deuill such in déede as him selfe had wel deserued Caius Caligula succéeded in the Empire who either was equall or rather surpassed his Predecessours in all kinde of monsterous accursed tyrannies He on a time with greate affection wished that all the Inhabitauntes of Rome had togeather but one heade to the intent that at one blowe he might strike it of He strangly complained of the infelicitie of his time for that there chaunced not during his Raigne any Famine Plague Generall Inundations Subuersions and Diuastations of Countries with many sutche other dreadfull and miserable calamities Of a certaine man he demaunded bannished by Tiberius howe he liued or what he did duringe his Exile who in perfecte flattery answeared that he incessantly had praied to God to call hence Tiberius to the ende that he mighte succéede him without staye in the Empyre Whiche thinge considered of by this monsterous Traytour and doubtinge leaste so many thousandes whiche he had exiled shoulde in like manner pray to God for his deathe sente foorthewith into all partes to call them home againe whom immediately after their spéedie returne he commaunded to be executed without respect of any He straitly charged all his Tormentours that they by litle and litle shoulde tormente the afflicted Innocentes so that by small paines they might beginne to die protractinge their death as longe as was possible for he would he saide that they felte howe their life failed in them He also saide that others eftsoones of his complexion saide The people wishe me ill for that they feare mée After this Caligula succéeded Nero in execrable malice not at all his inferiour For proufe whereof he practised sutch a mercilesse tyrannie as wel in it comprised all other petie Treacheries For without any regarde to thinges holy or prophane to the Maiestrate what so euer he were or priuate Subiecte he caused the Citie of Rome to be sette on fire inhibitinge all men vnder paine of deathe by any meanes what so euer to quenche or asswage it neuer woulde he that any man shoulde saue any parte of his goodes So continued this fire wastinge and consuminge the Cittie seuen dayes fully seuen nightes to the ende him selfe out of a highe Tower not farre of beholdinge it reioysinge at this dolorous and mournefull spectacle He with villanous hande murthered his owne proper Moother He also did to die the Husbandes of Octauiana and Sabina bothe whiche he marryed but soone after beraughte them in manner semblable of theire liues Assuredly this was he that beyonde all others raged moste in crueltie for he was the firste that persecuted the Christians and in his time was the first greatest Persecution of the Church He made open she we of his surpassinge crueltie of his vnmeasurable and furious brutalitie for hearinge on a time a Greeke verse in effecte thus mutche signifiynge Woulde God the Heauen and Earthe the Sea and what so is After my deathe mighte cease and ende as eke all hope of blisse But I farre otherwise would that it chaunced by my life time saide he I coulde well be contented to take mine examples from barbarous Princes not touchinge any more the Emperours of Rome but the Successours againe of the aboue remembred in life and manners so outragious and execrable force mée to dwell stil emonge them rippinge and vnfoldinge their tragicall insolencie of Domitianus Vitellius Commodus Maximianus and others theire semblables I speake at all nothinge But of Diocletian whose manners so vnsauerye and bestiall furie Eusebius in his Ecclesiasticall Histories reciteth Sommething muste I speake before I passe him vtterly to the intente that all blasphemers
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
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
came to the inheritaunce at that instante with her husbande This gathereth Boecius at large writyng on the seconde of the Topiques of Cicero The other ceremonie was muche more common and therfore they were not reputed for mothers of the familie thoughe they otherwise weere honoured by the name of matrones Farther the Romaines hadde againe this custome that when they firste brought the yonge wife to her husbandes house she arrested her with out at the doore or gates as one that might not enter before shee weere drawen in there at by force geuyng the world thereby to vnderstande that thei by constraint and not willynglie came thether where they shoulde loose their maidenhoode or virginitie and afterwarde when they woulde geue the maid to her husbande she sate her downe suche was the vsage in her mothers lappe whence the husbande againe drewe her the seconde tyme by force the maide imbrasing her mother as harde as she might possiblie whiche they chifely did in memorie of that that some tymes the Romaines hadde in manner sembleable taken the Sabine maides out of the armes of their mothers by meanes where of Rome came in short tyme to be well peopled Yet againe after these before he might bedde her the maide presented at one tyme bothe fire and water vnto hym whiche they did to signifie as hath Plutarche and Lactantius by these twoo elementes the secrete of generation for that thei be the principall causes generatiue in all kinde of thinges naturall Others affirme for this cause that the maide thereby shoulde promise sinceritie in harte and loyaltie in behauiour for the water naturally purgeth all ordure and immundicitie and fire fineth and trieth all maner of metalles sunderyng and partyng the purer from the grosse Farther they supposed all mariages infortunate contracted in the moneth of Maie and that for certaine fonde vanities and superstitious imaginations without grounde or reason and therfore remenbred of no man Of these thinges we reade more largelie in Ouide and Plutarche An other custome was this that when the wife first entered into her husbandes house the husbande should vtter with a hawte voice these two wordes Caia Cecilia and shée in maner semblable muste aunswere hym Caio Cecilio whiche they vsed for that in the tyme of Tarquinius Priscus Kyng of the Romaines there was a damsell in Rome chaste discréete sober gentle and wise adorned besides with all other vertues rare in the feminine kinde which had to name Caia Cecilia but before she came to Rome called her felfe Tanaquila for which cause the yong man pronounced these wordes to minde his wife to immitate the other There was also carried vsuallie before the maide the firste daie that she came to dwell in her husbandes house a Distaffe charged with Flaxe and a Spindle hangyng at it to the intente she might be mindfull to leue by her labour Hereof writeth Plinie to whom I referre hym that more herein desireth Besides all these an other thynge was yet practised by the Romaines whiche was when anie espoused or tooke to wife a Widowe the mariage was solemnized euermore in a holie day but if a maide then contrariwise continuallie on a woorke daie And this Macrobius and Plutarche recorde at large and againe saithe Plutarche all suche solemnizations finished on festiuall daies were of purpose onlie don in suche tymes to the intent that all the people then occupied in plaies and pleasures might not vnderstande of these seconde mariages of Widowes but maides contrariwise were maried ordinarilie on labourynge daies to suche effecte that the whole worlde might witnes of suche matches Macrobius also saieth that therefore vnto maides on these daies suche solemnities weere prohibited for that as is aboue saide they vsed a certaine ceremonie to take the bride by force out from the mothers lappe which to do on the saboth or holie daie was a thing vnlawfull I leaue heere to speake of other ceremoniall solemnities ordinarily practised among the olde auncient Romaines some thynge to speake nowe in this place of the Babilonians whiche in this sorte folowyng gaue in mariage their doughters In one appointed daie continuallie in the yere they ordered in publike place all the yong maidens marigeable in eache Citie where the fairest and moste beautifull were not married with anie monie that their fathers or other frendes should at that time bestow on theim but vnto suche as woulde most largelie and moste frankelie disburse for them whiche ordre they healde in theim that were nexte faire without respecte of degree or linage orderlie descending from degre vnto degrée vntill they also came to the lesse faire or harde fauoured which they also bestowed on those that were contented to take leaste summes of monie with them whiche euermore was taken of that which was geuen for the fairest so that in fine the latter sorte was as well maried as the first without anie kinde of charge or coste to their pareÌ„tes these onely enricht or domaged that pleased to take them Marcus Antonius Sabellicus writeth that the Venetians in olde tyme vsed also thys order here muste you notwithstandyng in this place consider that all those that were of indifferent beautie neither to be estemed faire or ill feutered were neither bought nor solde but at euen hande deliuered Longe sith in Fraunce to the intent their doughters should neuer iustlie complaine theim that they against their will or likyng were maried they accustomed when the father ment to marie his doughter to make a solemne or daintie bankette vnto whiche the father woulde inuite a greate many of yonge menne of semblable parentage and degree vnto hymself of whiche all placed there at table together the father graunteth frée libertie of choise to his doughter who to make shewe of hym that in that companie beste pleased her presented vnto hym in presence of thothers a basin of water to washe after his diner In a certaine toune of Africa called Leptina the maner was that the first day that the bride should come to her husebandes house before she came she shoulde sende vnto her mother in law desiryng her to lende her as hauyng néede therof an earthen potte whiche should refuce with sharpe words to doo her that little courtisie to the intente onlie that from the firste daie she might beginne to acquainte her selfe with the importunities of her mother and by this hard and vnkind refusall learne to supporte what so after might followe Amonge the Meslâ—gites they ordeined that eache man shoulde haue his wife and yet euerie woman besides was common to theim all and all their wiues againe in maner sembleable were not denied to anie man Eusebius writeth that the auncient Brytons liued in like sorte scarse different in anie thing The Arabians those onlie I meane of Arabia foelix hadde a law or rather an vsage that the woman that maried her self should forthwith be as frée to all her husebandes kinsemen as to her huseband whoÌ„ she onely hadde
whiche was shortly after the passion of Christe men perceiued that these Oracles began to fainte and faile neither allegaeth he for it in his treatise any other reason but that there should be dead as he supposed some spirites whiche he spake as a man voide or lesse skilled in the faithe for that he vnderstode not that the deuilles or spirites were immortall Notwithstandyng straunge is it and worthie of consideration to sée how euidently the deuill shewed hym self to bée conquered and subdued and that after the death of our sauiour he so remained discomforted that he neuer again was able to frame in any suche sort an aunswer and that the Gentiles also not able in déede to yelde any cause or reason why had some féelyng of this default and surceassyng from his function By meane whereof Plutarche tooke on hym to write this treatise in which emong others in effecte he hath these wordes of which Eusebius maketh mention writyng to Theodorus as of a moste notable and meruailous matter I remember that I haue heard saie saieth he of Emilian the oratour a man prudente and wise and well knowen to many of you that his father on a tyme commyng by the sea towardes Italie and passyng on a night by a certaine Isle called Paraxis euen when all in the Shippe were then still and quiete thei heard a greate and dreadfull voice whiche srom the Isle called to them Ataman Ataman suche was the pilotes name of the shippe an Egiptian borne although this voice were ones and againe vnderstoode by Ataman yet was he not so hardie to frame to it an annswere vntill the third time whē he said who is there what is it that calleth me what wouldest thou haue To whō this voice again more louder thē before saied Ataman my will is that when thou passest by the goulfe which hath to name Laguna that thou there remember to crie out and certifie the said goulfe that the greate God Pan is deade Whiche vnderstoode all those that were in the shippe feared counsailyng the saied pilote to leaue vndooen his charge neither any thyng to arreste or staie at the goulfe especially if the winde would serue them to passe further but approchyng nigh the place of whiche this voice admonished hym the ship arrested and the sea waxte calme not hauyng winde to passe presently any farther by meanes whereof thei generally concluded that Atman should there dooe his legation or imbacie whiche the better to doe he mounteth vp into the poupe or hinder parte of the ship where he crieth as loude as he could possible saiyng I will that ye knowe that the greate God Pan is deade whiche woorde as sone as he ones had vttered thei heard incontinently suche terrible lamentations and cries houling and complainyng aboue that maie be saied in suche sort that the sea it self resounded these complaintes whiche continued moste dolorous and lamētable a great while by meanes whereof the Mariners though meruailously afraied hauyng the winde good againe followed their course arriuyng at Rome made rehearsal of this their aduenture Whereof the Emperour Tiberius aduertised and desirous to be certified of the truthe and none other founde to conclude as is aboue rehearsed Whence it is euident that the deuilles euery where sorowed the natiuitie of our Sauiour and redemer Christe for that he was onely their ruine and destruction For by iuste and true supputation of tyme we finde that this happened at the tyme of his Passion or perhaps some thyng before then I meane whe he banished and exiled them out of the worlde It is to be presupposed that this great God Pan accordyng to the immitation of Pan the God of Shepherdes whiche thei saied was deade was some capitaine and maister deuill whiche at that tyme loste his Empire as did also the others Besides all these Iosephus writeth that at the same tyme was heard in the temple of Hierusalem a voice though in déede ther was no liuyng creature with in whiche lamentably cried and saied thus let vs goe hence and leaue this countrie in haste as who would saie thei truely knewe that the tyme of their paine and persecution was at hande and that it drewe on faste euen by the death of hym that gaue life vnto others In the Gospell of the Nazarites it is reade that in the daie of his Passion that sumptuous gate of their Temple whiche thei neuer lefte for any coste to adorne and beautifie fell doune to the grounde and was vtterly defaced Consider now in that daie what straunge and meruailous thynges happened though the Euangelistes haue paste theim as thynges lesse worthie memorie The eclipce also of the Sunne whiche continued thrée howers the full space in deede that Christ was on the crosse was not naturall as are the others whiche by th' onely coniunction of the Sunne and Moone chaunce vs but was miraculous and contrary to the course and order of nature Suche therefore as lesse knowe how the Sunne is eclipsed must vnderstande that it onely happeneth by coniunction of the aboue saied bodies the Mooue passyng or goyng betwixt the Sunne and the yearth neuer the lesse this eclipse happened in th' opposition of these planettes the Moone then full and hundred and eightie degrées distant frō the Sūne in the vnder hemisphere then at the citée of Hierusalem for proofe whereof besides the testimonies of infinite good writers the scriptures them selues record it manifestly for certain it is that the lambe was neuer Sacrificed but in the .xiiij. of the Moone whiche Lambe was eaten by Christ and his disciples but one daie onely before his death as is commaunded in the .xij. of Exodus in Leuiticus also the xxiij And the nexte daie followyng whiche was the daie of vnleauened bread Christ the Lambe vnspotted was vnkindly crucified the Moon then of necessitie in her full and opposite to the Sunne whiche then could no more eclipse the Sunne then any other Planete It then was to conclude miraculous and contrary to the order of nature doen onely by the onmipotente and sole power of GOD whiche depriued the Sunne of light for that thrée howers space By occasion whereof that worthie personage Denis Areopagita beyng at the time presente at Athens and beholding in this sorte the Sunne to be obscured and knowyng on the other side as a learned Astrologian that this eclipse was contrary to the order of natue saied openly with a loude voice to bée heard of all menne either the frame of the worlde shall bée dissolued either the God of nature presently suffereth For whiche cause as one reporteth the sages of Athens straungely disturbed did to bee builte incontinently an aulter to the God vnknowen whether afterward saincte Paule arriuyng learned theim who was that God vnknowne and that he was Jesus Christ God and man our redemer whiche then and at that tyme suffered for our saluation by meanes whereof he conuerted greate numbers to the faithe Some neuer the lesse haue doubted
prosperously succéede with hym that busily adored or reuerenced this fortune but vnto hym that sacrificed not ne appeased her by offerynges all thynges should goe amisse where he so theim attempted And of all these abuses the deuell hymself was auther to that intent onely thei should repose their whole hope and affiaunce still in him as happened some times for proofe therof to Galba who for that he had taken awaie a coller of Golde from this Image of Fortune to dedicate the same or offer it to Venus as is reported in sundrie good histories fortune the saied night immediatly then folowyng appeared vnto hym with dreedfull wordes minasing wherof he also died or many daies expired The vanitie of this people was suche then and so aucthorised that they yet had also an other Image of fortune semely bearded imaginyng all those that had her in especiall adoration shoulde haue verie faire beardes well coloured and well growen but those that disdained her or none at all or the contrarie All these thinges did they for diuersitie of respectes and considerations in her and withall to signifie her omnipotēcie or power which they déemed all she had purtraiyng her in sundrie and diuers sortes a goddesse The philosopher Cebes depainted her in the shape or figure of a woman but as furious with al blinde and with out féeling mounted on a roūde stone denotyng her instabilitie Vupal was the firste in Gréece that framed any shape or purtraite of fortune in the toune of Smirna which he depainted with a veale vpon her head hauing in her hande a horne of abūdance The Scithians purtraied her a woman without feete hauyng not withstandyng both handes and winges Others some fashioned her with the stearne of a shippe in one hande as also with the foresaied horne of abundance in the other thence inferring that shee had dominiō ouer all disposing all thinges throughout the worlde as was to her roiall maiestie best séemyng Some others againe of fine and brittle glasse because she was so fickle with out all holde or staie Others also depainted her turnyng of a wheele on the highest parte of which some presently were placed some also were climbyng as thoug they would get vp some also fallyng into ruine and dispaire One also resembleth her not vnaptly to a Commedie in whiche some enter at tymes with countenance of kinges and greate Personages and streight againe chaungyng their habite or apparell put on the faces or countenaunces of bondmenne for that in this life wée haue none other suretie to daie to liue in pompe to morowe in rācke beggerie Socrates compared her to a common place or theater without order where commonly it happened the worthiest in déede to be eftsones worst placed Others some againe purtraied her all blinde and to this purpose Apuleus hath these woordes in his golden Asse For iust cause did our elders depainte Fortune blind for continually she giueth to the lesse vertuous and vnhoneste neuer for his demerites preferryng any persone voide of all election or distinction of menne for vertue aduauncyng the ribaulde and the gracelesse tretcherer whom if she had iyes to beholde or to consider she then would flie in haste from these her accursed dearlynges Infinite is the number of aucthorities that might be alleaged concernyng the names or titles that haue béen of many assigned vnto Fortune Valerius and Claudian letted not to call her dispitefull and enuious Ouidius in fastis right mightie and puissaunte but in his Epistles accursed and dispitefull Iuuenall in his Satires froward and peruerse Lucian traiterous and periured Siluius Italicus false and subtile Virgill in one place nameth her omnipotēt and almightie but in others again inconstaunte vnfaithfull and disloiall Cicero of whom we also aboue some thing remembred who also then accoumpted her a Princes moste of might and guide also to them that would or did liue iustly saieth that nothing is so contrary to reason and to constancie as is thesame Fortune And yet for all this the vanitie of the auncient Romaines was suche and so greate that thei stil adored her whom thei knewe to bee blinde falce instable and inconstaunte dedicatyng to thesame bothe sumptuous and costly Temples vowyng theim selues so busily to these superstitions that the Emperours theim selues had euermore the Image of Fortune in their sleapyng chambers But when any of theim died the same was then transported into the chamber of his successor The firste that framed a Temple to Fortune in Rome was Seruius Tullius as recordeth Liue the sixte kyng by order and iuste accoumpte of the Romaines though Plutarche in his booke of the fortune of the Romaines affirme that it was Marcius the fowerth kyng there whiche framed as is euidente a Temple to virill Fortune Seruius notwithstandyng gaue Fortune all these names to witte of valiaunte Fortune little Fortune prosperous Fortune aduerse Fortune triumphaunte Fortune with others more suche to these the like and semblable to euery of whiche he dedicateth a parte a riche a faire and asumptuous temple The first of virile or rather valiaunte Fortune stoode nigh vnto Tyber where all yonge maidens that were of age mariagable came to offer their presentes with all reuerence and deuotion in whiche Temple thei also did of all their apparell all naked saue their smocke before this Idoll of Fortune discoueryng their me heames and eche their deformities if thei had any priuie imperfection immaginyng that this Idoll would assuredly conceale it and so for theim woorke by some secrete vertue that those thaut should marrie theim should neuer at all perceiue it that whiche Ouide reporteth in his Fastis And as this Empire grewe still to be more greate and puissaunte so grewe this fonde deuotion throughout emong the Romaines erectyng to her Temples accordyng to the difference or diuersitie of her names and this not onely in Rome or other tounes aboute it but in euery the partes what so euer of all Italie In fine then must we thinke that all these vanities with many others the semblable whiche maie in this place bée remembred to this purpose was a plain illusion and deception of men walkyng in darkenesse affiyng and trustyng in their owne proper wisedome For what so euer is dwellyng in this worlde in heauen I meane in yearth or els belowe in hell thei still are and procede from the inscrutable prouidence and wisedome of GOD neither is it Fortune chaunce or aduenture for that all in him haue cause of their beyng by hym thei also holde their course and eke their order And againe though many of vs bee founde of so grosse a féelyng or vnderstandyng that wee either hardly or not at all perceiue the increase or successe of thynges not to be of Fortune but that what so euer is or any waie multiplieth the same to issue and procede from the principall firste and chief cause God maker creatour and gouernour of all whiche for an assured veritie we muste acknowledge and imbrace that would or doe desire to be
as is saied the Equinoxe is not euer firme For Christ hymself died the .xxv. daie of Marche and at that time was the daie euen with the night and now this equation is but about the eleuēth of Marche whence it well maie be presumed that in the beginnyng it was in Aprill For whiche cause some accompted Aprill for the first monethe other some March yet thei all wil saie that then this frame was wrought when that the Sunne firste entered into the signe of Aries and that then is this Equinoxe whiche well is proued by the scriptures where it is saied that in the Monethe Nisan whiche with vs is Marche the yere began to haue his first daie of accompte Vincent also in the beginnyng of his mirrour historiall saieth that the aunciēt Hebrues beganne their yere in the Monethe of Marche for that then was the Equinoxe saieth he whence and from whiche tyme the worlde tooke his beginning Certain Gentiles also defende and maintain with like care this opinion as Elpaco in his treatise written of Astrologie where he saieth that the Chaldeans excellente Astronomers supposed that the firste daie in whiche the worlde was created the Sunne entered into the first degree of Aries whiche opinion is maintained of most part of Astronomers as well aunciente as newe and late writers When then the Sunne was founde in that poincte then also was the beginnyng of the yere then also the firste daie for before that was none other neither can it bee denied but that the firste daie that was made was also the firste daie in the accoumpt of yeres for that before it was neither tyme or yeres For whiche cause onely this signe of Aries is of all the others reckened the first and foremoste And who so will iudge and diuine of thynges to come he erecteth his figures calculatyng continually from that fore saied poincte or beginnyng of the worlde And farther it is plain by an euident coniecture that God when he first created the wide wast worlde that he then also plaste the Sunne as is saied in Aries as maie well be gathered of that whiche is fore saied in the chapiter of the daie and tyme in whiche our sauiour suffered to wete that this Planete was in that place in the creatiō that he also was in at the regeneration whē Christ hymself suffered his death and his passion which happened as is there saied in this Equinoxe so often to fore remembred It also semeth credible that it therfore was so for that those that haue any felyng in the sphere or otherwise in Astronomie shall well perceiue that the Sunne beyng entered into this signe of Aries makyng there his reuolution by the space of one whole daie no corner is on the yearth whiche he in that daie ones leaueth or to comforte or solace with his presence whiche at no tyme chaunseth in any other poinctes of the Zodiake for that where soeuer he els bee some place is on the yeareh where the Sunne is not in that daie séen but beyng in this degree as is saied or in his opposite no parte of the worlde is there whiche in that daie ones seeth hym not And it semeth reasonable that the Sūne when he firste of all beganne his circuite that he there and in suche place should beginne where he might visite euery the partes of the whole worlde and that that rather should bee in the firste of Aries then of Libra it of parte is euidente by that whiche wee haue saied that in the daie of the death or Passion of our sauiour this Planet was in that verie same place in whiche he also hath a certain perticuler dignitie Restyng then on this poinct as on a truthe assured thei doubtles are deceiued that imagined the worlde firste beganne in the Equinoxe of September though it pleased theim to saie that then all fruites were ripe and in season whiche if we well consider is nothyng so in deede for when thei are ripe in the Northe parte of the worlde thei nothyng at all then are so in the Southe but in verie truthe and assuredlie the contrary For whiche cause I neither would leane to the opinion of those whiche saied that in this Equinoxe of Marche whiche is in the same beginnyng whiche we in deede approue was or ought to bee the entrie therefore of the worlde for that then at that tyme is the spring for that flowers also and grasse eche where then begin to come that then also all beastes acquainte them with their matche for if it be to vs as it can not be gainsaied the commyng and beginnyng of all graine and grasse it then is Winter or at the leaste Autumne to these that inhabite the Southe partes of the worlde These then maie suffice with the aucthorities aboue remembred to satisfie and contente the reasonable in this matter although the yere Romaine whiche onely now is vsed take his beginnyng of the firste daie of Ianuarie whiche thyng happened by the fonde deuotion and superstition onely whiche the Gentiles vsed towardes their God Ianus doing their yere to beginne by his name as the christians did theirs from the natiuitie of Christe although then in deede the yere had not his beginnyng The Romaines also beganne their yere in Marche as writeth M. Varro and Macrobius in his firste booke Ouide also in Fastis with many others Farther GOD shewed to vs his greate fauour and goodnes in that it pleased hym to place our firste parentes Eue and Adam in these Septentrionall partes of the worlde after their exile and detrution out of Paradise terrestriall whiche bothe entered into this worlde at the firste commyng of the Spryng findyng the yearth then greene and flowred the aire verie swete temperate and pleasaunte the better to solas and comforte them in their miserie and nakednesse whiche at none other tyme of the yere could so well haue chaunsed them But passe we this matter now as sufficiently proued and speake we of the other Planetes especially of the Moone as one emong the others of moste force and vertue whiche as some suppose in the firste daie or instaunte of her creation was placed by diuine prouidence in coniunction with the Sunne others saie that she was then at full and in direct opposition Sainct Augustine cōmenting on the fifte of Genesis remembreth bothe these remembered opinions saiyng that thei that maintaine that she then was in opposition argue that it was not reason in that her firste creation that she either should lacke or bée defectuous in any thyng The others saie that it is more credible that she in coniunction beganne there her firste daie so increasyng accordyng to our accompte in her age but to abridge this controuersie in myne opinion she at her first beyng was in plaine and perfecte oppositiō with the Sunne whiche opinion is moste receiued of the learned Augustine in the place aboue alledged and Rabanus also on the twelueth of Exodus arrest them bothe on
and saiyng continually with Saincte Paule the night is paste and the daie at hande And an other saieth it is tyme that we arise and forgeate againe to sleape looke abrode ye iust and sinne not The true the holy and the immaculate Churche is semblably campared also to a Doue for as hath Salamon in Canticis O how faire and beautifull art thou O thy eyes the eyes of a very Doue Farther we sée that of fower Euangelistes thrée of theim were figured by three beastes If I woulde dwell longer in thys matter I should haue muche to doe and should parcase wearie also the reader But aboue all other examples that of our sauiour and redemour Iesus Christe is notable whiche also woulde be figured by a beaste as is euident by Sainct Ihon in his Apocalypse saiyng the Lion of the race of â—uda is victorious And Dauid in his Psalmes saieth he is raised as a LioÌ„ with many such others long to remember as S. Matthewe where he saieth O Hierusalem HierusaleÌ„ how often times would I haue gathered thy children together euen as the Henne clocketh her Chickens vnder her winges but thou wouleest not Euen so then as Christe compareth his workes to the properties of beastes so shall man doe well to receaue instructions by theim the better thence to frame and more vertuously his life And on the other side what shame and infamie is it to man to see howe beastes perfectly followe euery one their nature man the sole and onely creature that sauereth of reason so much abuseth that superexcellent gifte lente hym for he who onely should honour God most offendenth stil his maiestie far aboue al the others neglectyng and abusing his graces continually in suche sorte that some beastes there are of whom man should rather take example then of some men that liue presently among vs for more feling haue they of iustice and lesse offende they in euerie respecte then man which knoweth or should do what is his duetie And therfore saith god by the mouth of Esaie the Oxe knoweth his lorde and maister the Asse also her Cribbe or Maunger but Israel knoweth him not nether will his people vnderstande hym Why triumphes were first vsed in Rome as againe how many they were that there also triumphed what a Triumphe is and that there is twoo sortes of theim Chap. 17. MOrally to speake and after the maner of man two thinges principally moue vs to attempte greate and dangerous affaires in peace as well as also in warre The firste is renoume and honour the second none other then vtilitie and gaine The noble harte and valiaunt courage chiefly desireth and affecteth the first the minde abiecte base and vngentle gréedily hunteth for gaine and saliry Cicero in an oration of his pro Archia poeta saieth that we all are drawen with desire of commendation and who so in déede is most famous and honorable is most and aboue others stirred there with demaunding none other paiment or guerdon of his vertue then onely glory and praise of the people The same Cicero againe in an other pro Milone saieth that the true wise and valiaunt gentleman so muche toileth not at all for wage and gaine as he doeth for honour which followeth his paines Whiche thing well considered by the auncient Romaines they assuredly more sought then all other nations besides their salary to honour and extolle with all kinde of reuerence suche as had doen any notable and vertuous exploites In suche sorte that in shorte time was found in Rome more store of excellent Capitaines and prudent gouernours then in any other place through the worlde whatsoeuer by meanes wherof thei after got the vniuersall empire For which cause aswell for exaÌ„ple of this tyme present as also to content the curious in antiquities I thought it good in this place to discourse of the true order maner which the Romaines vsed in giuyng fame renoume to their capitaines victorious And for that emong al other honours the triumph was the greatest we will there begin letting the reader to vnderstande that a triuÌ„phe was a forme of entrie or welcome into Rome doen to the capitain generall with moste poÌ„pe soleÌ„nitie that was possible to be doen in any wise to man although these triuÌ„phes wer much vsed in Rome yet wer thei not the first inuentors of theÌ„ For Diodorus Siculus Plinie saie that Denis of the antiquitie called Dionis or other wise pater liber was the first that euer triuÌ„phed in the world It semeth also that the people of Carthage vsed some tymes in like sorte to triumphe for as Iustine recordeth emong other thynges that were writteÌ„ of Hasdrubal he fower tymes in his life triumphed magnifically We in maner semblable reade of the triumphes of the kinges of Egipt but principally of the kynge Sosestris How be it to speake here in truely these triumphes were neuer els where so solemnized as they were at tymes in Rome for on that daie that any Capitaine there triumphed the whole multitude ceste from euery kinde of labour as not lawfull for theim at that tyme to do any thing what so euer The inhabitantes then of euery the townes adiacent came runnyng to Rome to beholde this spectacle then was all the citie ouer the Temples the gates and the streates yea and the windowes hangde eche where with clothe of Golde and of Siluer with silkes with boughes with flowers odoriferus and with all other costly and sumptuous sightes possible which might geue any token or note of ioie The Senate the Préestes and Nobilitie of Rome with al the other citisens that were of any countinance went out into the fieldes honorably appareled to receaue hym that triumphed then entryng into Rome all clad in purple and crouned with Laurel mouÌ„ted in a coache of gold draweÌ„ with iiij white stedes All the captiues marchyng before hym attired as bond men with their heades shauen and the generall or kyng hym self that was at that tyme taken went nighest before the coache of any one other His owne Souldiars entred the Citie in good order euery of theim hauyng in his hand a Laurell Before hym also paste other Chariotes or Waggons all charged with armour taken from the ennimie with theim also past all the treasure and plate that he had gotten as well of Siluer as of Golde all the money and Iuels of what sort so euer and with the same also but a parte al giftes and presentes that he had receaued of any princes or cities frendes or assistaÌ„tes to the people of Rome Before hym also paste greate Castels Fortresses and Engines of warre most skilfully framed or facioned in woodde representyng the tounes and holdes that he had rased and in marching made shewes and countenances of battaile but especially of suche as had chaunsed theim in that voiage doone in suche sorte and so representyng the thing in deede that it made theim to tremble that attentiuely behelde it And these shewes were ordinarily