saith Saint Bernard is of his belly the Lechers of his lust and the Couetous mans of his gold And Saint Augustine By Liberalitie mens vices are couered but by Couetousnesse they are layd open to the world Ardua res haec est opibus non tradere mores Et cum tot Croesos viceris esse Numam i. A difficult thing it is for any man that is rich not to submit his minde and affections vnto his money and passing many a Croesus in wealth to beare a modest temperature with Numa It is better to be the Sheepe than the Sonne of an auaritious man saith Diegenes the one he loueth and tendreth for the increase the other he neglecteth and hateth for the expence Though according to Apollonius the common excuse of the rich man is That he gathereth and hoordeth for the vse of his children so insatiate is his desire as being neuer satisfied that the obtaining of what he would haue is but the beginning to him of the desire of hauing According to that of Boëthius lib. 2. Metr 2. Si quantas rapidis flatibus incitus Pontus versat Arenas c. If with so many sands as seas vp cast When they are stirr'd with some tempestuous blast Or wert thou furnisht as the skies with starres When neither fog nor cloud their lustre barres Or wert thou by th' abundant horne of Plenty Supply'd with all things leauing no place empty Yet humane nature couetous of gaine Would not forbeare to murmur and complaine Although to it heav'ns liberall hand should lend More gold than it could study how to spend Though Honour grace the name and Pride the backe 'T will say all 's little something yet doth lacke Gaping Desire vncircumscrib'd by Lawes Still yawnes with open and vnsatiate jawes What bridle or what curbe can we then finde To restraine this rapacitie of minde Whenas the more we drink the more we thirst Our aime to get is greater than at first Such pest in mans vnlimited nature breeds That still the more he hath the more he needs Auarice is defined to be a vice in the soule much like vnto a Dropsie in the body by which a man coueteth per fas nefas to extort from others without right or reason And againe violently and injustly it with-holdeth from others what truly belongeth vnto them without equitie or conscience It is also a penurious and niggardly sparing to giue but a readinesse nay greedinesse to receiue whatsoeuer is brought neuer examining whether it be well or ill attained Vsurie and Extortion bred from Auarice saith one makes the Nobleman morgage his lands the Lawyer pawne his Littleton the Physition sel his Galen the Souldier his sword the Merchant his Ship and the World it 's peace This hellish Vice in mine opinion is as bitterly reproued as ingeniously obserued by Petronius Arbiter in one of his Satyrs Part of his words be these Orbemjam totum victor Romanus habebat Qua mare quaterrae qua sidus currit vtrumque The Roman Victor had the whole world won As far as seas flow or the earth doth run Or either Pole could from aboue suruey Yet with all this not sated was but they The Ocean must with burden'd Ships oppresse Wandring in toilesome search where they could guesse Any remote place was If they were told It yeelded Mines and they might fetch thence gold And now although they were in league before Hostilitie's proclaim'd and for that Oare Arm'd Vessels rigg'd all dangers are held good To purchase wealth howeuer bought with bloud Pleasures in vse are sleighted because knowne We doat on forrein things despise our owne And in another place to the like purpose Nor is lesse rapine in the campe for there Generals when they of gaine and profit heare Fly to the noise and madly snatch at gold Nay ev'n the Roman people's to be sold The very seats on which the Patriots sit In open Court are bought nor can we quit Old men from Auarice since each one striues Vertue once free to binde in golden gyues Pow'rs turne to prey and Place to purchase pelfe There 's nothing free scarce Maiestie it selfe Couetousnesse robbeth a man of the title of Gentry because it together delighteth it selfe in sordid Ignobilitie Vsurie the eldest and most fruitfull-breeding daughter of old Auarice was so much at one time despised and hated in Rome that Appian in his first booke of Ciuill warres commemorateth vnto vs That there was a great penaltie imposed vpon any noble Citisen who would shew himselfe so degenerate as to contract her for it is said of her That she bringeth forth her children before they be begotten besides she is most hated of those whom shee seemeth most to gratifie And according to that of the Poet Turpia Lucra Faenoris velox Inopes vsura trucidat The filthy and base gaine of Increase and the swift returne of Vsurie murdereth the Poore and Needy But I am confident that whosoeuer he be that shall grinde the faces of the Poore in this world the Diuell shall grate vpon his bones in the world to come O but saith one Gold guideth the globe of the earth and Couetousnesse runnes round about the Centre Auri sacra fanes quid non This putteth me in remembrance of the Poet Balbus which lately came to my hand and I haue read thus Aurum cuncta movet superi flectuntur ab Auro Gaudet Aurato Iupiter ipse Thoro. Which as neere as I can I haue thus faithfully rendred Gold can do all things gods with it are fed And Iove himselfe lies in a golden bed With Gold the Temples shine the Altars too In it men trust for it can all things doo Gold helps in Peace is preualent in Warres It raiseth Armies it compoundeth jarres The Romuleian Patriots redeem'd With Gold their Capitoll 'T is so esteem'd And beares with it such potencie and sway That vnto it Aire Earth and Seas obey What other high Pow'r need we loue or feare Pallas away and Iuno come not neare Mars hence◠Diana with thy modest looke Come not in sight thy presence wee 'l not brooke Gold only dwells in Temples and doth raigne And at it's Altars are fat Offrings slaine He that hath Gold the very Starres may buy And can the gods leade in captiuity Gold raiseth War and Discord can appease It plowes deepe furrowes in the vnknowne seas It breakes downe Citadels such pow'r it claimes And folds vp Cities in deuouring flames Take Gold away the yong Maid would not be So soone depriv'd of her Virginitie Take Gold away yong men would be more stay'd And their indulgent Parents more obey'd Take Gold away sincere Faith would be vow'd Yong wiues more chaste and Matrons be lesse proud Youth would not be to Fashion so deuote Nor Age on Riches more than Vertue dote Yet hath it a pow'r op'ratiue to infuse Raptures and Enthusiasma's to the Muse. To giue vs Gold would any be so kinde A golden veine he in our Verse should
hornes shew lowring or cloudy towards the earth it portendeth tempest Aratus saith also If the Boreall horne of the Moone seeme any thing streightned it promiseth a North winde or if the Australl horne be any thing erected it signifieth a South winde forthwith to ensue But the quartile of the Moone is the most certain Index of wind and weather According to that of Virgil Sin ortu quarto namque is â—ertissimus author An Emblem IT presenteth an Ideot who hauing a straw sticking out of either shooe is persuaded by some waggish boyes That they are no other than gyues and fetters which hee conceiuing to be such casteth himselfe vpon the ground in great griefe and vexation as one by reason of these bonds not able to remoue out of the place The Motto Stultitia ligamur non compedibus which seemeth to be borrowed from Ecclesiastes 10.2 The heart of the Wiseman is in his right hand but the heart of the Foole is in his left hand And also When the Foole goeth by the way his heart faileth and he telleth to all that he is a Foole. Hâ—rac lib. 1. Epistol ad Mecen writeth thus Virtus est vitium fugere sapientia prima Stultitia carnisse It is a vertue to fly vice and we Count him most wise that is from folly free There are diuers sorts of folly Saint Augustine saith There is none greater in the world than to esteem the World which esteemeth no man and to make so little account of God who so greatly regardeth all men And Saint Gregory tells vs That there can be no greater folly than for a man by much trauell to increase riches and by vaine pleasure to lose his soule It is folly to attempt any wicked beginning in hope of a good and prosperous ending Or for a man to shorten his life by ryot and disorder which by temperance and abstinence might be better prolonged Folly is a meere pouerty of the minde The heart of a Foole saith Syrach is in his mouth but the mouth of a Wise man is in his heart Gregorie saith Sicut nec auris escas nec guttur verba cognoscit ita nec stultus sapientiam sapientis intelligit i. As the eare relisheth not meat nor the throat can distinguish the sound of words so neither can the Foole vnderstand the wisedome of the Wiâ—e And Seneca the Philosopher telleth vs Inter câ—tera mala hoc quaque habet stultitia quod semper incipit vivere i. Amongst many other euills this also hath Folly That it alwaies beginneth to liue But saith S. Augustine Amongst all Fooles he is the most Foole that knoweth little and would seeme to vnderstand much But I come now to the Emblemaâ—ist who thus declares himselfe Spiritus excelso se tollit in Astra volatu At Caro compedibus deprimor inquit humi Tu quid vincla voces age nunc videamus inepta Morio vel stramen compedis instar habet Vile Lucrum popularis Honos fugitiva voluptas Haeccine sint pedibus pondera iusta tuis Prô viles Animas devotaque Crura Catenis Vincîmur nervus nec tamen villus adest ¶ Thus paraphrased The Soule with swift wings to the Stars would fly The Flesh saith Fetter'd on the ground I lye What call'st thou bands looke on that Foole hee 'l say The straw that 's in my shooe hinders my way Base Gaine Vulgar Applause each fading Sweet Are those the Shackles that should gyue thy feet O wretched Soules ô Legs to Fetters deare We thinke our selues bound when no bonds are neare The morall Allusion gathered from hence beareth this Motto O demens ita servus homo est Grounded from that of Seneca Epistol 51. Non ego ambitiosus sum sed nemo aliter Romae potest vinere non ego sumptuosus sed vrbs ipsa magnas impensas exigit c. I am not ambitious but no man otherwise can liue in Rome I am not prodigall but without great expences in the city there is no liuing It is not my fault that I am angry or luxurious for I haue not yet setled the course of my life These things are to be attributed vnto my Youth not me But why doe wee so deceiue our selues Likewise the same Philosopher Epist. 58. in the conclusion thereof Inter causas malorum nostrorum est quod vivimus ad exempla nec ratione componimur sed consuetudine abducimur c. Amongst the causes of those euills which happen vnto vs one is That wee liue by Example not gouerned by Reason but carried away by Custome That which we see few doe wee will not imitate but that which many practise as if that were most honest which is most frequent According with that of the Poet Iuvenal Satyr 14. Dociles imitandis Turpibus pravis omnes sumus But to leaue further enforcing the Argument and come to the Author whom we reade thus Multa quidem totam putrantur inepta per vrbum Cumque petis causam Mos jubet ista ferunt Anne igitur stolidi nos string at opinio vulgi Regulanum vita factio plebis erit Stamine sic fragili vel stramine Morio vinctus Vah sibi compedibus crura sonare putat Serviles vilesque sumus prô vincômur immo Vincîmur miseri causaque nulla subest ¶ Thus paraphrased Follies through all the City frequent be If aske the cause Custome 't is layd on thee Shall the vaine humors of the vulgar Sect Prescribe vs rules our liues how to direct The Ideot with a straw or weake thread bound Thinkes weighty fetters at his heeles to sound Seruile we are so made by our owne Lawes To thinke our selues gyv'd when indeed 's no cause A Meditation vpon the former Tractate TRue God true Life From By In whom all things That truly liue haue Life from Thee it springs God Good and Fayre From By In whom what breeds Goodnesse or Beautie all from Thee proceeds From whom to Turne is to fall Miserably In whom to Trust is to stand Constantly By whom to Hold is to rise Instantly Whose Faith vnto good Actions vs accites Whose Hope to Prayer and Thanksgiuing inuites Whose Charity Vs vnto Him vnites Who to all wretched sinners hath thus spoken Aske haue Seeke finde but Knocke and I will open Whom none can Lose that to the Right doth leane None Seeke but Cal'd none Find but he that 's Cleane To Know whom is to Liue Serue whom to Raigne Praise whom the Soules eternall Blisse to gaine Thou art the God all potent Keeper alone Of all that hope in Thee without whom none Can safety find or be from danger free O! Thou art God and there is none saue Thee In Heauen aboue or in the Earth below Inscrutable things and wonders great wee know Thou work'st of which no number can be made Praise Honour Glorie More than can be said Belong to thee Thou in thy Counsels darke First mad'st the World and after Moses Arke To patterne it
comming towards the bed with purpose as I thought to kill this my young Nephew pointing to a childe in the cradle but shee was hindred by finding mee here Who no sooner saw mee but shee began grieuously to threat me and came neere to strike me In which feare I began to call vpon God to helpe me whose name I had no sooner vttered but she vanished instantly and I am left here euen as you found me Whereupon her kinseman the Master of the house writ downe and keeping the Maid still with him sent to the Father Inquisitor of the place where the mother of the Guirle his Kinswoman liued in good reputation and no way suspected before whom shee was called and questioned and as the manner of that Countrey is vpon the like probabilitie and suspition put to the mercy of the Tormentor and at length shee confessed euerie particular before mentioned To which she added That she had no lesse than fifty sundry times been transported by the Diuel only with a malicious intent to kil that yong childe but she found him alwayes at her arriuall so protected by the blessings prayers of his deuout and religious Parents that she had no power at all ouer him c. To this story the Author addeth a second of one Antonius Leo a Collier by profession and dwelling in the city of Ferrara who greatly suspecting his wife to be a Witch by reason that diuers of his Neighbours informed him That she was reputed to be one of those who had nightly conuentions with the Diuel he therefore kept all to himselfe and one night aboue the rest snorting and counterfeiting a deepe and profound sleepe with which his wife being deluded rose softly from the bed and as in the former discourse daubing her selfe with an vnguent leapt out at the easement which was some three stories high and he could set no more sight of her At which he grew first strangely amased as fearing shee had desperately done it to breake her necke but hearing no cry nor apprehending any noise by her fall he then began to confirme his former suspition and in a foolish curiositie tooke the same box and did to himselfe in all respects as hee had seene her to practise before him and was immediately in the same manner hurried out at the window and in an instant found himselfe in a Noble Counts Wine-sellar where hee saw his wife with diuerse others of that Diuellish sister hood merrily gossipping and carousing deepe healths one to another who no sooner beheld so vnexpected a guest but they all suddenly vanished and the poore Collier was left alone with the cellar dore fast locked vpon him and early in the morning being found there by the Butler hee called other his fellow seruants who apprehended him as an House-breaker and Felon and brought him before their Lord. Who at length by great importunitie obtaining libertie to speak for himselfe he opened vnto the Count all the manner of the particular circumstances before related which though at first they appeared incredible yet vpon more mature consideration hee was dismissed but conditionally That he call his wife in publique question with the rest of her Associats Which he accordingly did and brought them before the Inquisitor to whom after examination they confessed not onely that but many other more notorious and diabolical acts the least of them sufficient to bring them to the stake and faggot Barthol Ronfaus telleth a strange story of a Witch in Osburch Antonius Torquinada deliuereth the like who was by Nation a Spaniard and Paulus Grillandus in his Book De Sortilegis remembreth diuers to the same purpose one of which I thought good to transferre from him and expose to your free view and censure In the yeare of Grace saith he 1524 when I was chiefe Inquisitor many of these Inchantresses and Witches were brought before me Amoâ—gst whom a certaine woman Dioecis Sabensis was a practiser of that diabolicall art of which her husband had been long suspitious and watched her so narrowly that he took her in the manner when she was busie about her infernall exercise Notwithstanding which she impudently denied it and out-faced him that she was no such woman But he as obstinat on the contrary and resolued withall not to be so deluded with a good sound cudgell fell vpon her and so be laboured her sides and shoulders till with incessant beating hee forced the truth from her and brought her vpon her knees most submissiuely to intreat his pardon which after some entreaty he seemed willingly to grant but vpon condition That she would bâ—ing him to be present and an eye-witnesse of their abhominable ceremonies vsed in their nightly Conuentions which shee faithfully promised and so they were reconciled At the next night of their meeting hee hauing ingaged his word for secrecie she brought him to the place appointed where he freely beheld the manner of their adoration done to the Diuell their sports and their dances full of many beastly postures and figures with many other strange pastimes and merriments there practised All which being ended there was a long Table couered and furnished with sundry dishes and he seated amongst them and as he saw the rest do he began to fall heartily to his victuals which somwhat distasted him as not being wel seasoned therefore looking about him for salt but spying none vpon the table he called to one that attended to fetch him a little salt But he not seeming to regard him he began to grow importunate and somewhat loud at length he brought him a small quantitie vpon the corner of a trencher which hee seeing and seeming glad thereof Mary God be thanked said he for I haue now got some salt Which words were no sooner vttered but the Table Meat Dishes Diuels Witches and Lights all vanished and hee was left there naked and alone in a desolate place But in the morning spying certaine Shepheards and demanding of them what countrey hee was in they told him In the prouince of Beneventanus belonging to the kingdome of Naples which was more than an hundred miles distant from his owne house The man though he was of a faire reuenue yet was forced to beg all the way homeward But after his tedious and difficult journey arriuing at his owne village he summoned his wife before the Magistrate with others whom he had espied and knowne at the Feast Who vpon his testimonie were conuicted and suffered according to the extremitie of the Law prouided for offences of that execrable nature I haue read of another guilty of the like curiositie who was hurried so far in one night that it cost him three yeares tedious trauell before hee could come to see the smoke of his owne Chimney To shew that these Magicall sorceries haue beene from great antiquitie and not lately crept into the world by the proditious insinuation of the Diuel me thinks I heare Medaea thus speaking Ovid Metam lib. 7. Tuque triceps Hecate
them there Where seemes no want of welcome or of cheare The table drawne and their discourse now free Iohn asks of them if they could wish to see Their fathers present they desire him too 't Prouing to finde if he by Art can doo 't He bids them to sit silent all are mute When suddenly one enters in a suâ—e Greasie before him a white apron ty'de His linnen sleeues tuckt vp both elbowes hide He stands and eyes them round and by his looke None there but needs must guesse him for a Cooke Which of you know this fellow now saith Iohn What say you Sir whom he so gaseth on He soone reply'de on whom he fixt his eye Aske you who knowes him Mary that do I Hee 's of my fathers kitchen Nay Siâ— rather Iohn answer'd him this is your owne deare father For when that noble Sir whose name you beare Was trauel'd on some great affaire else-where This well fed Groome to whom you ought to kneele Begot you then all ouer head to heele It seemes your mother knew not drosse from Bullion That in a great Lords stead embrac'd a Scullion He chases the Sp'rit doth vanish in the while The rest seeme pleas'd and in the interim smile When suddenly in middle of the roome Is seene a tall and lusty stable-Groome A frocke vpon him and in his left hand A Curri-combe the other grasps a wand And lookes vpon a second Here I show him Amongst you all saith Iohn doth any know him I must saith one acknowledge him of force His name is Ralfe and keepes my fathers horse And kept your mother warme too doubt it not The very morning that you were begot Her husband bee'ng a hunting The Youth blusht The rest afraid now were with silence husht Then to the third he brought a Butler in And prov'd him guilty of his mothers sin A Tailor to the fourth So of the rest Till all of them were with like shame opprest Teutonicus this seeing Nay quoth hee Since I am likewise stain'd with bastardie You shall behold my father Soone appeares A well-flesht man aged some forty yeares Of graue aspect in a long Church-man's gowne Red cheekt and shauen both his beard and crowne By his formalities it might be guest He must be a Lord Abbot at the least Who disappearing This man I confesse Begot me of his smooth fac'd Landeresse Saith Iohn and somewhat to abate your pride Iudge now who 's best man by the fathers side Some vext and other turn'd the jest to laughter But with his birth did neuer taunt him after Of many such like things Authors discusse Not only sportiue but miraculous We reade of one in Creucemacon dwelling In this prestigious kinde of Art excelling Who by such Spirits helpe could in the aire Appeare an Huntsman and there chase the Hare With a full packe of dogs Meaning to dine A teeme of horse and cart laden with wine He eat vp at one meale and hauing fed With a sharpe sword cut off his seruants head Then set it on his shoulders firme and so As he was no whit dammag'd by the blow In Saxonie not from Torgauia far A Nobleman for raising ciuill war Had been confin'd and forfeiting his wealth Was forc'd to liue by rapine and by stealth He riding on the way doth meet by chance One of these Sp'rits submisse in countenance In habit of a Groome who much desires T' attend his Lordship Who againe requires What seruice he can do I can quoth he Keepe an horse well nothing doth want in me Belonging to a stable I for need Can play the Farrier too So both agreed And as they rode together ' boue the rest His Lord giues him great charge of one choice beast To tender him as th'apple of his eye He vowes to doo 't or else bids let him dye Next day his Lord rides forth on some affaire His new-come seruant then to shew his care This much lov'd Iennet from the stable shifts And to a roome foure stories high him lifts There leaues him safe The Lord comes home at night The Horse of his knowne Master hauing sight Neighs from aboue The Owner much amas'd Knowing the sound vp tow'rd the casement gas'd Calls his new seruant and with lookes austere Asks him by what means his good Steed came there Who answers Bee'ng your seruant I at large Desirous was to execute your charge Touching your horse for since you so well like him Loth any of the rest should kicke or strike him I yonder lodg'd him safe But little said The Nobleman and by his neighbours aid For to his house he now must ioyne the towne With cords and pullies he conuey'd him downe This Lord for some direptions being cast Into close prison and with gyues bound fast In vnexpected comes his Groome to see him And on condition promiseth to free him If he forbeare to signe him with the Crosse Which can saith he be to you no great losse Likewise refraine t' inuoke the name of God And you shall here no longer make aboad This bee'ng agreed he takes vpon his backe Gyv'd as he was and chain'd nothing doth lacke His noble master beares him through the aire Who terrify'de and almost in despaire Cries out Good God ô whether am I bound Which spoke he dropt the pris'ner to the ground Ev'n in an instant but by Gods good grace He light vpon a soft and sedgy place And broke no limbe Home straight the seruant hyes And tells them in what place his Master lies They to his Castle beare him thence forth-right Which done this seruant bids them all Good night Arlunus a more serious tale relates Two noble Merchants both of great estates From Italy tow'rd France riding in post Obserue a sterne blacke man them to accost Of more than common stature who thus spake If to Mediolanum you your journey take Vnto my brother Lewis Sforza go And vnto him from me this Letter show They terror'd with these words demand his name Both what to call him and from whence he came I Galeatius Sforza am saith hee And to the Duke deliuer this from mee So vanisht They accordingly present The Letter to the Prince The argument Was this O Lewis of thy selfe haue care The French and the Venetian both prepare T' inuade thy Dukedome and within short space From Millan to extirpe thee and thy Race But to my charge deliuer truly told Three thousand Florens of good currant gold I 'le try if I the Spirits can attone To keepe thee still invested in thy Throne Farewell The Letter was subscribed thus The Ghost of'thy brother Galcatius This though it seem'd a phantasie vnminded With selfe-conceit Prince Lewis Sforza blinded Soone after was by all his friends forsaken His City spoil'd himselfe surpris'd and taken One other to your patience I commend And with the close thereof this Tractat end A Youth of Lotharinge not meanly bred Who was by too much liberty mis-led His boundlesse