derided by the common sort of people CHAP XIII Of the Beard and how worn by some Persons and Nations WHen Alexander the Great was about to fight with the Persians his Captains brought him word that all things were prepared and in readiness for the Battle and demanded if he would have any thing further Nothing said he but that the Macedonians cut off their beards Parmenio wondred at this saying of his What said Alexander know you not that there is no better handle to take a Man by then the beard he meant they were to fight close and their beards would be some advantage to the enemy when they should grapple with them It seems there is little use of a beard in War less in a Woman though she had none of the least who is next mentioned 1. In a Town called Penheranda which is 30. Miles distant from Mâ—drid the King of Spain's Court there was a Countrey Woman called Brizida de Penheranda she was Aged 60. years she had a beard from her youth which she suffered to grow so that in her Age it reached down to the Pit of her Stomach My Ancestors who were Persons worthy of credit have seen this Woman and I my self have beheld her Picture 2. Franciscus Alvarâ—z Semedo a Portuguese a Father of the Society of Jesus Procurator of Iapan and China upon his return thence to Rome had a beard of that length that it reached down to his Feet so that for convenience sake he used to have it girt about him with a girdle whoever desires to see his Effigies may behold it prefix'd to his Learned Book of the History of Coina 3. When Vrban the Eighth was Pope a Swisse by Nation coming in pilgrimage to Rome obtain'd of the Captain of the Swissers who are the Pope's guard to be admitted to receive the Pope's Benediction and to kiss his Foot this Man had a red beard of that length and bredth that it cover'd his whole brest unto his knees so that the Pope while he spake to him as he presented himself before him upon his knees and enquir'd of his Countrey and the state of it gave him the Title of Father-hood which the Italians give to Monks for at the first sight he thought it not a beard but such a garment as Monks wear about their shoulders which so fell from his Neck to his knees as he afterwards confessed acknowledging his errour P. Athanasius Kircherus an eye-witness told me this I have now written 4. A Person famous throughout the whole World by his Writings being at Rome and returning in the Winter at Evening to his house shut his Windows and doors and by a Candle-light compos'd himself to study when he saw a huge Weasel at the door seeking a way to get out he snatch'd up a Staff and laid it so lustily upon the Weasel creeping up the Wall that the blood spirted upon his Staff and hand he opened the Window and threw out the dead Weasel and betakes himself to his study sustaining his chin and jaw with his right hand as 't is usual with Students The day following as soon as he came into the sight of his Colleagues he was receiv'd with great laughter for he had lost all the Hair on the right side of his face which himself had not observ'd he therefore soon left the company and got the other side shav'd and a Medicine to procure Hair apply'd but when the Hair was grown he was receiv'd with no less laughter then at first for those Hairs which were newly come were like the softest Wool or Down and the other stiff as bristles and it would require to small space of time to have them match'd with any suitableness who would have thought the blood of a Weasel to have been but for this accident so potent a depilatory 5. The Turks in the Reign of Orchanes and long time after used not to cut or shave their beards but did wear them long so that if the King would disgrace any Man he would in his displeasure command his beard to be cut or shavâ—n The manner of cutting or shaving their beards which they now use they learned of the Italians of whom they have also borrowed many other fashions not only diâ—fering but quite contrary to their ancient manners and customs 6 The Lombards or Longobards as most think had their name from the great length of their beards because they only almost of all the râ—st of the Germans did nourish their beards 7. The Emperour Otho the Great after the manner of the ancient Germans used to wear his beard down to the brest and his custom was to swear by it as oft as he spake of any serious matter 8. Adrianus the Emperour saith Dion was the first of all the Caesars who nourished his beard and this he did on purpose to cover some natural marks and scarrs that were upon his face 9. The Romans anciently wore their beards long and a bearded Man in a Proverbial sence amongst them was as much as to say a Man of ancient simplicity and vertue for it was late e're shaving came in use amongst them Pliny saith that P. Ticinius Mena was the first who out of Sicily had brought a Barber to Rome which was in the four hundred fifty and fourth year from the building of the City 10. The first amongst the Romans who usually shaved his beard off was Scipio Affricanus the Son of Paulus Aemylius afterwards Augustus the slaves and Servants might not do it but were commanded not to poll their hair or shave off their beards 11. Seach Sesi King of Persia had commanded the execution of Vgurlu chan his high Steward when his head was brought him he touch'd it with a little Wand and looking upon it said it must be confess'd thou wast a stout Man it troubles me to see thee in this condition but it was thine own fault 't is pitty were it only for that goodly â—eard of thine This he said by reason his Mustachoes were so long that coming about his neck they met again at his mouth which is accounted a great ornament in Persia. 12. The Caribbians wonder much to see our Europeans suffer their beards to grow so long and think it a great deformity to wear any as they account it a perfection in themselves to have none The Brasilians and Cumaneses and certain Nations subject to the Empire of the Tartars have always an Iron Instrument in their hands wherewith they pluck out the hair of their beards as soon as they come out but the Caribbians are seldom seen to put themselves to that trouble insomuch that it is conceiv'd they have a secret to prevent the growth of Hair when it is once gotten off 13. Anno 1652. the French Consul at Alexandria being charg'd with having done some unhandsome things in his employment had his beard shaven off as a mark of ignominy his beard had such a
the building of the City His first eleven Books are all that are extant in which he reaches to the two hundred and twelfth year of the City He â—lourished in the time of Augustus Caesar and is said to have lived in the Family of M. Varro 10. Polybius of Megalopolis was the Master Councellour and daily Companion of Scipio the younger who in the year of the World 3800. razed Carthage he begins his Roman History from the first Punick War and of the Greek Nation the Achaeans from the fortieth year after the death of Alexander the Great of forty Books he wrote but five are left and the Epitomes of twelve other in which he reaches to the Battel at Cynoscephale betwixt King Philip of Macedon and the Romans 11. Salustius wrote many Parts of the Roman History in a pure and quaint brevity of all which little is left besides the Conspiracy of Catiline oppressed by the Consul Cicero sixty years before the birth of Christ and the War of Iugurth managed by C. Marius the Consul in the forty fourth year before the Conspiracy aforesaid 12. Iulius Caesar hath wrote the History of his own Acts in the Gallick and Civil Wars from the 696 year ab V. C. to the 706. and comprized them in Commentaries upon every year in such a purity and beautiful propriety of expression and such a native candour that nothing is more terse polite more useful and accommodate to the framing of a right and perspicuous expression of our selves in the Latin Tongue 13. Velleius Paterculus in a pure and sweet kind of speech hath composed an Epitome of the Roman History and brought it down as far as the thirty second year after the birth of Christ that is the sixteenth year of Tiberius under whom he flourished and was Questor 14. Cornelius Tacitus under Adrian the Emperour was Praefect of the Belgick Gaul he wrote a History from the death of Augustus to the Reign of Trajan in thirty Books of which the five first contain the History of Tiberius the last eleven Books from the eleventh to the twenty first which are all that are extant reach from the eighth year of Claudius to the beginning of Vespasian and the besieging of Ierusalem by Titus which was Anno Dom. 72. He hath comprised much in a little is proper neat quick and apposite in his stile and adorns his discourse with variety of Sentences 15. Suetonius was Secretary to Adrian the Emperour and in a proper and concise stile hath wrote the Lives of the twelve first Emperours to the death of Domitian and the ninety eighth year of Christ he hath therein exactly kept to that first and chief Law of History which is That the Historian should not dare to set down any thing that is false and on the other side That he have courage enough to set down what is true It is said of this Historian That he wrote the Lives of those Emperours with the same liberty as they lived 16. Dion Cassius was born at Nice in Bythinia he wroâ—e the History of nine hundred eighty one years from the building of Rome to Ann. Dom. 231. in which year he was Consul with Alexander Severus the Emperour and finished his History in eighty Books of all which scarce twenty â—ive Books from the thirty sixth to the sixty first and the beginning of Nero are at this time extant 17. Herodianus wrote the History of his own time from the death of M. Antoninus the Philosopher or the year of Christ 181. to the murder of the Gordiani in Africa Ann. Dom. 241. which is rendred purely into Latin by Angelus Politianus 18. Iohannes Zonaras of Byzantium wrote a History from Augustus to his own times and the year of our Lord 1117. the chief of the Oriental Affairs and Emperours he hath digested in the second and third Tomes of his Annals from whence Cuspinianus and others borrow almost all that they have Zonaras is continued by Nicaetas Gregoras and he by Chalcâ—ndylas 19. Eutropius wrote the Epitome of the Roman History in ten Books to the death of Iovinian Anno Dom. 368. He was present in the Expedition of Iulian into Persia and flourished in the Reign of Valens the Emperour 20. Ammianus Marcellinus a Grecian by birth War'd many years under Iulian in Gallia and Germany and wrote the History of the Romans in thirty one Books the fourteenth to the thirty first are all that are extant wherein at large and handsomely he describes the acts of Constantius Iulian Iovinian Valentinian and Valens the Emperours unto the year of Christ 382. 21. Iornandes a Goth hath wrote the History of the Original Eruptions Families of their Kings and principal Wars of the Goths which he hath continued to his own time that is the year of our Lord 550. 22. Procopius born at Caesarea in Palestine and Chancellour to Belisarius the General to Iustinian the Emperour being also his Councellour and constant companion in seven Books wrote the Wars of Belisarius with the Persians Vandals and Goths wherein he also was present 23. Agathias of Smyrna continues Procopius from the twenty seventh of Iustinian Anno Dom. 554. to the end of his Reign Anno Dom. 566. the Wars of Narses with the Goths and Franks with the Persians at Cholchiâ— wherein he recites the Succession of the Persian Kings from Artaxerxes who Anno Dom. 230. seised on the Parthian Empire to the Reign of Iustinian Anno Dom. 530. and in the end treats of the irruption of the Hunnes into Thrace and Greece and their repression by Belisarius now grown old 24. Paulus Diaconus of Aquileia Chancellour to Desiderius King of the Lombards Writes the entire History of the Lombards to Ann. Dom. 773. in which Charles the Great took Desiderius the last King and brought Lombardy under his own power 25. Haithonus an Armenian many years a Souldier in his own Country afterwards a Monk at Cyprus coming into France about the year of Christ 1307. was commanded by Pope Clement the fifth to write the Empire of the Tartars in Asia and the Description of other oriental Kingdoms 26. Laonicus Chalchondylas an Athenian wrote the History of the Turks in ten Books from Ottoman Anno 1300. to Mahomet the second who took Constantinople Anno Dom. 1453. and afterwards continued his History to Ann. 1464. 27. Luiâ—prandus of Ticinum wrote the History of the principal Affairs in all the Kingdoms of Europe in his time at most of which he himself was present his History is comprised in six Books and commencing from Anno Dom. 891. extends to Ann. Dom. 963. 28. Sigebert a Monk in a Abby in Brabant wrote his Chronicon from the death of Valens the Emperour or Anno Dom. 381. to the Empire of Henry the fifth Anno Dom. 1112. wherein he hath digested much of the French and British Affairs and acts of the German Emperours 29. Saxo Grammaticus Bishop of the Church of Rotschilden wrote the Danish History from utmost Antiquity to his
123. 22. Antisthenes an Athenian was the Scholar of Socrates of whom when he had learned tolerance and was a lover of freedom from perturbations he became the first Author of the sect of the Cynicks He said that labour was good and often used to say Let me rather be mad than affected with pleasure As Iron is consumed with its own rust so saith he is the envious man with his own manners and that it was better to be exposed to Ravens and Crows than to fall into the hands of Flatterers for those only prey upon the dead but these upon the living being praised once by some bad men I doubt said he I have done something that is evil when taxed for keeping ill company So said he do Physicians and yet have not their Fevors He would say Nothing is new to a wise man and that the weapons of virtue are not to be wrested from us He was the Prince of the sect of the Stoicks Laert. lib. 6. p. 138. 23. Diogenes the Son of Icesius was born at Sinope being forced to quit his Country for counterfeiting Coin he went to Athens where he became the Scholar of Antisthenes lived exceeding frugally and exercised himself in all manner of hardship he slept his old Cloak carryed his provisions in a Bag embraced Statues when covered with Snow in Winter tumbled himself upon the hot Sands in Summer and a Tub was the only House he had He said when he saw Magistrates Physicians and Philosophers that he thought man was the wisest of all creatures but when he looked upon Diviners Interpreters of Dreams and such as confided in them or men puffed up with Honour and Riches he took man for the vainest and emptiest of all other Alexander the great used to say that were he not Alexander he could wish to have been born Diogenes being commanded by that Prince to ask him what he would Stand then said he out of my Sun-shine He said his manner was to oppose boldness to Fortune Nature to the Laws and Reason to Passions and Perturbations Being asked what hour was best to Dine in If said he thou art rich when thou wilt if poor when thou canst Lighting up a Candle at Mid-day he said he sought for a Man A rich man unlearned he said was a Sheep with a Golden Fleece Being compelled by poverty he begged of one on this manner If you have given others give me also if you have never given to any begin with me Being asked of what Country he was I am said he a Citizen of the World Hearing a handsome Youth speak undecently What said he are you not ashamed to draw a Leaden Sword out of an Ivory Scabbard He lived till he was near ninety years of age and is supposed to have dyed then by purposely holding in his breath he dyed at Corinth the same day that Alexander dyed at Babylon and was an old man in the one hundred and thirteenth Olympiad Laert. lib. 6. p. 138. 24. Crates the Son of Ascondus was a Theban the Scholar of Diogenes he was nobly descended and whereas his estate amounted to near three hundred Talents he gave it all amongst his Citizens addicting himself to Philosophy with great constancy He said it was impossible to find a man without fault but that as in a Pomgranate there would ever be some rotten Kernels He did studiously reproach whores that he might exercise himself in hearing evil speeches he drank water and wore a rough hairy skin sewed withinside of his sordid Cloak He was a deformed person to look upon and crooked in his old age When Alexander asked him if he desired that Thebes wherein he was born being demolished should again be rebuilded To what purpose said he when perhaps another Alexander shall again subvert it That he had poverty and obscurity for his Country which was out of the power of Fortune and was fellow Citizen with Diogenes who was now safe from the snares of envy he flourished in the one hundred and thirteenth Olympiad Laert. lib. 6. p. 159. 25. Menedemus a Cynick Philosopher was the Scholar of Colotus the Lampsacenian he arrived to that degree of madness that he went up and down in the habit of a Fury saying he was come from Hell to observe the sins of men and that he was again to descend thither to give the Gods there an account of what he had discovered His usual habit was a black Coat reaching to his Ancles a Phoenician Girdle about him an Arcadian Cap upon his Head in which were twelve Letters woven Tragical Buskins a mighty Beard and an Ashen Plant in his hand Laert. lib. 6. p. 162. 26. Zeno Son of Demeus Scholar of Crates was born in Cyprus a small Town in Greece was Father of the Stoicks much honoured by the Athenians who deposed the Keys of their City in his hands and highly favoured by Antigonus He told a loquacious Young man that his ears were fallen into his tongue he said nothing was more undecent than Pride and especially in a Young man Being asked what a friend was he replyed another my self He had beaten a thievish Servant of his and when he excused himself saying it was his sate to steal It is also said he thy fate to be beaten for stealing In continence and gravity he excelled all the rest and in felicity too for he lived ninety eight years and that in health without any disease Going out of his School he fell down and brake his finger when striking the earth with his hand he spake that of Niobe I come wherefore dost thou call me so he hastned his death by suffocating himself The Athenians decreed him a Sepulchre and honours at his Funeral Laert. lib. 6. p. 169. 27. Cleanthes the Son of Phanius the Assian came to Athens with four Drachmes was a Champion at first and then the Scholar of Zeno being very poor he laboured a nights in Gardens to earn something and learned in the day He was naturally heavy and dull called by his Schoolfellows the Ass which he also did patiently bear He was wont to chide himself whereupon Aristo asked him whom he chid An old fellow said he that hath white hairs but no soul. What he learned from Zeno he wrote being not able to buy Paper upon Shells and the Bones of Beasts He succeeded Zeno in his School and dyed by voluntary fasting having lived eighty years Laert. lib. 7. p. 206. 28. Chrysippus the Son of Apollonius of Tarsus was the Scholar of Cleanthes an ingenious and most acute man famous for Logick and studious beyond all that went before him but not a little proud of his knowledge he lived to seventy and three years and dyed as some say with excessive laughter for when an Ass had eaten up all his Figs he bad the old woman his House-keeper to give him some Wine after them a sudden conceit took him hereupon that falling into a vehement laughter he suddenly expired Laert. lib. 7. p. 209.
and was buried in the Abbey Church there 21. Titus Fullonius of Bononia in the Censorship of Claudius the Emperour the years being exactly reckoned on purpose to prevent all fraud was found to have liv'd above one hundred and fifty years And L. Tertulla of Arminium in the Censorship of Vespasian was found to have liv'd one hundred thirty seven years 22 Franciscus Alvarez saith that he saw Albuna Marc. chief Bishop of Aethiopia being then of the age of one hundred and fifty years 23. There came a man of Bengala to the Portugals in the East Indies who was three hundred thirty five years old the aged men of the Country testified that they had heard their Ancestors speak of his great age Though he was not Book learn'd yet was he a speaking Chronicle of the forepassed times his teeth had sometimes fallen out yet others came up in their rooms For this his miraculous age the Sultan of Cambaia had allowed him a pension to live on which whas continued by the Portugal Governour there when they had dispossessed the Sultan aforesaid 24. Iohannes de temporibus or Iohn of times so called because of the sundry ages he lived in he was Armour-bearer to the Emperour Charles the Great by whom he was also made Knight Being a man of great temperance sobriety and contentment of mind in his condition of life residing partly in Germany where he was born and partly in France liv'd unto the ninth year of the Emperour Conrade and died at the age of three hundred and threescore and one year anno 1128 1146 saith Fulgosus and may well be reckoned as a miracle of nature 25. That which is written by Monsieur Besanneera a French Gentleman in the relation of Captain Laudonneireis second voyage to Florida is very strange and not unworthy to be set down at large Our men saith he regarding the age of their Paracoussy or Lord of the Country began to question with him thereabout whereunto he made answer that he was the first living original from whence five Generations were descended shewing them withal another old man which far exceeded him in age and this man was his Father who seemed rather an Anatomy than a living body for his Sinews his Veins and Arteries his Bones and other parts appeared so clearly through his skin that a man might easily tell them and discern them one from another Also his age was so great that the good man had lost his sight and could not speak one only word without exceeding great pain Monsieur d' Ottigny having seen so strange a sight turn'd to the younger of these two old men praying him to vouchsafe to answer to that which he demanded touching his age then called he a company of Indians and striking twice upon his thigh and laying his hands upon two of them he shewed by signs that these two were his Sons again striking upon their thighs he shewed him others not so old which were the children of the two first and thus continued he in the same manner to the fifth Generation But though this old man had his Father alive more old than himself and that both their hairs was as white as was possible yet it was told them that they might yet live thirty or forty years more by the course of nature though the younger of them both was not less than two hundred and fifty years old 26. Guido Bonatus an Astronomer and a man of great Learning saith he saw a man whose name was Richard in the year 1223 who told him that he was a Soldier under Charlemain and had now lived to the four hundreth year of his age 27. That is a rarity which is recited by Thuanus that Emanuel Demetrius a man of obscure birth and breeding liv'd one hundred and three years his wife was aged ninety and nine she had been married to him seventy five years the one superviv'd the other but three hours and were both buried together at Delph 103. 28. In the Kingdom of Casubi the men are of good stature something tawny the people in these parts live long sometimes above an hundred and fifty years and they who retire behind the Mountains live yet longer CHAP. XXXI Of the memorable old age of some and such as have not found such sensible decays therein as others THe Philosopher Cleanthes being one time reproach'd with his old age I would fain be gone said he but when I consider that I am every way in health and well disposed either for reading or writing then again I am contented to stay This man was so free from the common infirmities of Age that he had nothing whereof to accuse his the like vegeteness and sufficiency both in body and mind as to all sorts of Affairs by a rare indulgence of Nature is sometimes granted to extremity of Age. 1. Sir Walter Raleigh in his discovery of Guiana reports that the King of Aromaia being an hundred and ten years old came in a morning on foot to him from his House which was fourteen English miles and returned on foot the same day 2. Buchanan in his Scottish History towards the latter end of his first Book speaking of the Orcades names one Lawrence who dwelling in one of those Islands marry'd a Wife after he was one hundred years of age and more and that when he was sevenscore years old he doubted not to go a fishing alone in his little Boat though in a rough and Tempestuous Sea 3. Sigismundus Polcastrus a Physician and Philosopher at Padua read there fifty years in his old age he bury'd four Sons in a short time at seventy years age he marry'd again and by this second Wife had three Sons the Eldest of which called Antonius he saw dignifi'd with a Degree in both Laws Ierome another of his Sons had his Cap set on his Head by the hand of his aged Father who trembled and wept for joy not long after which the old man dy'd aged ninety four years 4. To speak nothing faith Platerus but what is yet fresh in memory and whereof there are many witnesses My father Thomas Platerus upon the death of my mother his first wife Anno 1572. and the 73d year of his age marrying a second time within the compass of ten years he had six children by her two sons and four daughters the youngest of the daughters was born in the 81st year of his age two years before he died who if he was now alive in this year 1614 would be aged 115 years and would have a Grand-daughter of one year old by Thomas his son And which is memorable betwixt two of his sons I Foelix was born Anno 1536. and Thomas 1574. the distance betwixt us being thirty eight years and yet this brother of mine to whom I might have been Grandfather is all gray and seems elder than my self possibly because he was gotten when my father was stricken in years 5. M. Valerius
there did I dictate Latin Greek and Barbarous names some significant others not so many and so different having not the least dependance one upon the other that I was weary with dictating the Boy with writing what I dictated and all the rest with hearing and expectation of the issue We thus diversly wearied he alone call'd for more But when I my self said it was fit to observe some measure and that I should be abundantly satisfi'd if he could but recite me the one half of those I had caus'd already to be set down He fixing his eyes upon the ground with great expectation on our part after a short pause began to speak In brief to our amazement he repeated all we had wrote in the very same order they were set down without scarce a stop or any hesitation and then beginning at the last recited them all backwards to the first then so as that he would name only the first third fifth and in that order repeat all and indeed in what order we pleas'd without the least errour Afterwards when I was more familiar with him having often try'd him and yet never found him speaking otherwise than the truth he told me once and certainly he was no boaster that he could repeat in that manner 36000 names and which was yet the most strange things stuck in his Memory that he would say with little ado he could repeat any thing he had instrusted with it a year after For my own part I made tryal of him after many days and found he said true He taught Franciscus Mâ—linus a young Patrician of Venice and who had but a weak Memory in the compass of but seven days wherein he had learn'd of him to repeat five hundred names with ease and in what order he pleas'd 26. Francis King of France excell'd well nigh all those of his time in the firmness and readiness of his Memory what every particular Province ought to contribute what Ways and what Rivers were most convenient for their passage out of what Winter Quarters a party of Horse might be most speedily drawn all these and the like matters even concerning the remotest Cities he did comprehend with that singular Wit and Memory that the Nobles who were improved in those affairs by daily and constant imployments thought he held them in his Memory as if they lay there in an Index CHAP. III. Of the Sight and the vigor of that sense in some and how depraved in others IN Cilicia near unto the Town of Cescus there is saith M. Varro a Fountain that hath the name of Nus the Waters whereof have this admirable quality that they render the Senses of all such as taste of them more exquisite and subtile It may be suspected that some of those who are mentioned in the following Examples had cleared their eyes with the Waters of this Fountain or some other of the like quality thereby attaining to a quick-sightedness not inferiour to that of the Lynx it self 1. There was not many years since a Spaniard call'd Lopes at Gades who from an high Mountain call'd Calpe would see all over the opposite strait out of Europe unto the Affrican shore the passage from whence as Cleonardus witnesseth is no less than three or four hours sail in a calm Sea he could â—rom the top of this Mountain discern all that was doing in that far distant Haven or upon the Land near unto it and did discover it so that by the industry of this notable spy they of Gades did oftentimes avoid those designs which the Pyrates had upon them This was told me by a person of great Honour and Dignity who there receiv'd it from himself in the presence of others and amongst other things he said of him that his Eye-brows had hair upon them of an extraordinary length 2. We find incredible examples of the quickness of eye-sight in Histories Cicero hath recorded that the whole Poem of Homer call'd his Iliads was written in a membrane or piece of Parchment in so small a Character that the whole was to be couched and inclosed within the compass of a Nut-shell 3. The same Writer makes mention of one that could see and discern out right 135 miles and saith he Marcus Varro names the man calling him Strabo Of whom he further adds that during the Carthaginian War he was wont to stand and watch upon Lilybaeum a Promontory in Sicily to discover the Enemies Fleet loosing out of the Haven of Carthage and was able at that distance to count and declare the very just number of their Ships 4. Tiberius the Emperour had eyes of an extraordinary bigness and those such which is the wonder that could see even in the night and darkness but it was so only for a small time at the first opening of them after sleep by degrees they aâ—terwards grew dull and he could see no more than others 5. Iosephus Scaliger in the life of his Father writes both of him and himself that both of them having blewish eyes they could sometimes see in the night as well as we can in the twilight and that this continued with him from his childhood to the twenty third year of his age 6. Even in our age saith Pierius I have heard Marcus Antonius Sabellicus while he studied Greek with us affirm of himself that as oft as he was wak'd in the night he was able for some time very clearly to discern the Books and all other furniture of the Chamber where he lay 7. Hieronymus Cardanus in the beginning of his youth had that in common with Tiberius and the rest that he could see in the dark as soon as he wak'd all that was in the room but soon after all that ability did desert him he says the cause was the heat of the brain the subtilty of the spirits and the force of imagination 8. Caelius having related out of Pliny the History of Tiberius his seeing in the dark saith moreover that the same thing had sometimes happened to himself calling God to witness that he spake nothing but the truth 9. Gellius writes that in the remotest parts of the Country of Albania the Inhabitants there do grow bald in their childhood and that they can see much more clearly in the night than in the day for the brightness of the day dissipates or rebates the edge of their sight 10. Fabritius ab Aquapendente relates the History of a man of Pisa who had such a constitution of the eye that he could see very well in the night but either not at all or else very obscurely in the day 11. Sophronius in his Book of Spirits tells of Iulianus a Monk that for the space of seventy years he never lighted nor had a Candle who nevertheless was used to read Books throughout in the darkness of the night 12. Asclâ—piodorus the Philosopher and Scholar of Proclus was able in the thickest of the darkness to discern
do it He asked him again and again but he persisted in his denial he therefore takes him up into a high part of the House and threatens to throw him down thence unless he would promise to assist them but neither so could he prevail with him whereupon turning to his companions We may be glad said he that this Merchant is so young for had he been a Senatour we might have despaired of any success in our suit 3. When Alcibiades was but yet a child he gave insâ—â—nâ—e of that natural subtlety for which he was afterwards so remarkable in Athens â—or coming to his Unâ—le Pâ—ricles and â—inding him sitting somewhat sad in a retiring Room he asked him the cause of his trouble who told him he had been employed by the City in some publick Buildings in which he had expended such sums of money as he knew noâ— well how to give account of You should therefore said he think of a way to prevent your 〈◊〉 câ—llâ—d to accouâ—â— And thus that great and wise 〈◊〉 being dâ—stitute of counsel himself made me of this wâ—ich was given him by a child for he involved Athens in a foreign War by which means they were not at leisure to consider of accounts 4. Themistocles in his childhood and boyage bewrayed a quick spirit and understanding beyond his years and a propensity towards great matters he used not to play amongst his equals but they found him employing that time in framing Accusatory or Defensive Orations for this and that other of his Schoolfellows And therefore his Master was used to say My Son thou wilt be nothing indifferent but either a great Glory or Plague to thy Country For even then he was not much affected with Moral Precepts or matters of accomplishment for urbanity but what concern'd providence and the management of affairs that he chiefly delighted in and addicted himself to the knowledge of beyond what could be expected from his youth 5. Richard Carew Esquire was bred a Gentleman Commoner at Oxford where being but fourteen years old and yet three years standing in the University he was called out to dispute ex tempore before the Earls of Leicester and Warwick with the matchless Sir Philip Sydney Ask you the end of this contest They neither had the better both the best 6. Thucydides being yet a Boy while he heard Herodotus reciting his Histories in the Olympicks is said to have wept exceedingly which when Herodotus had observ'd he congratulated the happiness of Olorus his Father advising him that he would use great diligence in the education of his Son and indeed he afterwards proved one of the best Historians that ever Greece had 7. Astyages King of the Medes frighted by a dream caused Cyrus the Son of his Daughter Mandane as soon as born to be delivered to Harpaâ—us with a charge to make him away He delivers him to the Herdâ—man of Astyages with the same charge but the Herdsman's wife newly delivered of a dead child and taken with the young Cyrus kept him instead of her own and buried the other instead of him When Cyrus was grown up to ten years of age playing amongst the young Lads in the Country he was by them chosâ—n to be their King appointed them to their several Oâ—â—ices some for Builders some for Guards Couâ—tiers Messengers and the like One of those Boys that played with them was the Son of Aâ—â—embaris a Noble Person amongsâ— the Mâ—des who not obeying the commands of this new King Cyrus commanded him to be seised by the rest of the Boys and that done he bestowed many stripes upon him The Lad being let go complain'd to his Father and he to Astyages for shewing him the bruised Shoulders of his Son Is it thus O King said he that we are treated by the Son of thy Herdsman and slave Astyages sent for the Herdsman and his Son and then looking upon Cyrus How darest thou said he being the Son of such a Father as this treat in such sort the Son of a principal person about me Sir said he I have done to him nothing but what was fit for the Country Lads one of which he was chose me their King in play because I seemed the most worthy of the place but when all others obeyed my commands he only regarded not what I said for this he was punished and if thereupon I have merited to suffer any thing I am here ready to do it While the Boy spake this Astyages began to take some knowledge of him the figure of his â—ace his generous deportment the time of Cyrus his exposition agreeing with the age of this Boy he concluded he was the same which he soon after made the Herdsman to confess But being told by the Magi that now the danger was over for having played the King in sport they believed it was all that his dream did intend So he was sent into Persia to his Father not long after he caused the Persians to revolt overcame Astyages his Grandfather and transferred the Empire of the Medes to the Persians 8. Thomas Aquinas when he went to School was by nature addicted to silence and was also somewhat more fat than the rest of his Fellow-Scholars whereupon they usually called him the dumb Ox but his Master having made experiment of his wit in some little Disputations and finding to what his silence tended This dumb Ox said he will shortly set up such a lowing that all the world will admire the sound of it 9. Origines Adamantius being a young boy would often ask his Father Leonidas about the mystical sense of the Scriptures insomuch that his Father was constrain'd to withdraw him from so over early a wisdom Also when his Father was in prison for the sake of Christ and that by reason of his tender age for he was but seventeen and the strict custody of his Mother he could not be companion with him in his Martyrdom he then wrote to him that he should not through the love of his children be turned from the true faith in Christ even in that age discovering how undaunted a Preacher Christianity would afterwards have of him 10. Grimoaldus a young noble Lombard was taken with divers others at Forum Iulii by Cacanus King of the Avares and contrary to sworn conditions was lead to death perceiving the perfididiousness of the Barbarians in the midst of the tumult and slaughter he with his two Brothers brake from amongst them but he being but a very youth was soon overtaken by the pursuer was retaken by a Horseman and again by him led to death But he observing his time drew his little Sword slew his Guardian overtook his Brethren and got safe away By this his incredible boldness he shewed with what spirit and wisdom he would after both gain and govern the Kingdom of Lombardy 11. Q. Hortensius spake his first Oration in the Forum at Rome when he was but nineteen years of
who thus spake aloud Sir I thank God for the Goods he hath bestowed upon me but more that he hath given me this present opportunity to make it known that I prize the lives of my Countrymen and Fellow-Burgesses above mine own At the hearing of which speech and sight of his forwardness one Iohn Daire and four others after him made the like offers not without a great abundance of prayers and tears from the common people who saw them so freely and readily sacrifice all their particular respects for the Weal of the publick And instantly without more ado they address themselves to the King of England with the Keys of the Town with none other hope but of death to which though they held themselves assured thereof they went as chearfully as if they had been going to a Wedding yet it pleasing God to turn the heart of the English King at the instance of the Queen and some of the Lords they were all sent back again safe and sound 2. When the Grecians of Doris a Region between Phocis and the Mountain Oeta sought counsel from the Oracle for their success in the Wars against the Athenians it was answered that then undoubtedly they should prevail and become Lords of that State when they could obtain any victory against them and yet preserve the Athenian King living Codrus the then King of Athens by some intelligence being inform'd of this answer withdrew himself from his own Forces and putting on the habit of a common Soldier entred the Camp of the Dorians and killing the first he encountred was himself forthwith cut in pieces falling a willing sacrifice to preserve the liberty of his Country 3. Cleomenes King of Sparta being distress'd by his Enemy Antigonus King of Macedon sent unto Ptolomey King of Aegypt for help who promised it upon condition to have his Mother and Child in pledge Cleomenes was a long time ashamed to make his Mother acquainted with these conditions went oftentimes on purpose to let her understand it but when he came he had not the heart to break it to her she suspecting asked his Friends if her Son had not something to say to her whereupon he brake the matter with her when she heard it she laughing said How comes it to pass thou hast concealed it so long Come come put me straight into a Ship and send me whether thou wilt that this body of mine may do some good unto my Country before crooked age consume it without profit Cratesiclea for so was her name being ready to depart took Cleomenes into the Temple of Neptune embracing and kissing him and perceiving that his heart yearn'd for sorrow of her departure O King of Sparta said she let no man see for shame when we come out of the Temple that we have wept and dishonoured Sparta Whilest she was with Ptolomey the Achaians sought to make peace with Cleomenes but he durst not because of his pledges which were with King Ptolomey which she hearing of wrote to him that he should not spare to do any thing that might conduce to the honour or safety of his Country though without the consent of King Ptolomey for fear of an old woman and a young boy 4. Sylla having overcome Marius in Battle commanded all the Citizens of Praeneste to be slain excepting one only that was his intimate Friend but he hearing the bloody sentence pronounced against the rest stepped forth and said That he scorn'd to live by his favour who was the destroyer of his Country and so went amongst the rest who were to be slain 5. Theomistocles the Athenian General after his many famous Exploits was banished the Country and sought after to be slain he chose therefore to put himself rather into the power of the Persian King his Enemy than to expose himself to the malice of his Fellow Citizens He was by him received with great joy insomuch that the King in the midst of his sleep was heard to cry out thrice aloud I have with me Themistocles the Athâ—nian He also did him great honour for he allotted him three Cities â—or his Table provisions and two others for the Furniture of his Wardrobe and Bed While he remain'd in that Court with such Splendour and Dignity the Aegyptians rebelled encouraged and also assisted by the Athenians The Grecian Navy was come as far Cyprus and Cilicia and Cimon the Athenian Admiral rode Master at Sea This caused the Persian King to levy Soldiers and appoint Commanders to repress them He also sent Letters to Themistocles then at Magnesia importing that he had given him the supreme command in that affair that he should now be mindful of his promise to him and undertake this War against Greece But Themistocles was no way mov'd with anger against his ungrateful Country-men nor incited to the War with them by the gift of all this honour and power for having sacrificed he called then about him his Friends and having embraced them he drank Bulls blood or as others say a strong poison and so chose rather to shut up his own life than to be an instrument of evil to that Country of his which yet had deserved so ill at his hands Thus died Themistocles in the sixty fiâ—th year of his age most of which time he had spent in the management of the Republick at home or as the chief Commander abroad 6. The Norvegians going out of their own Country upon any account whatsoever as soon as they return and set their first foot upon that earth they fall prostrate upon the ground and signing themselves with the Cross they kiss the earth And O thou more Christian Land cry they than all the rest of the world so highly do they admire their own Country and its worship with a contempt of all others 7. In the year three hundred ninety three from the Building of Rome whether by Earthquake or other mâ—ans is uncertain but the Forum at Rome open'd and almost half of it was fallen in to a very strange depth great quantities of earth was thrown into it but in vain for it could not be fill'd up The Soothsayers therefore were consulted with who pronounced that the Romans should devote unto that place whatsoever it was wherein they most excelled Then Martius Curtius a person of admirable valour affirming that the Romans had nothing besides Arms and Virtue wherein they excelled he devoted himself for the safety of his Country and so arm'd on Horseback and his Horse well accoutred he rode into the gaping Gulph which soon after closed it self upon him 8. The Tartars in their invasion of China were prosperous on all sides and had set down themselves before the Walls of the renowned and vast City of Hangchen the Metropolis of the Province of Chekiang where the Emperour Lovangus was enclosed Lovangus his Soldiers refused to fight till they had received their arrears which yet at this time he was not able to pay them It
earnesâ—ly besought the Gods that they would speedily enable him to return him equal kindness for that he had received oâ— him Not long after when Ptolemy had sent Câ—llâ—s his General with an Army against him he was overthrown and taken by Demetrius who sent both him and all the rest of the Captives as a Present to Pâ—â—lemy 4. Agrippa accus'd by Euâ—yches his Coachman of some words against Tibâ—â—ius was by his order seiz'd and put to the Chain beforâ— the Palace Gate with other Criminals brought thither It was hot Weather and he extreme thirsty seeing therefore Thaumastus a Servant of Câ—ligula's pass by with a Pitcher of Water he called him and entreated that he might drink which the other presented with much courtesie When he had drank assure thy self said he I will one day pay thee well for this Glass of Water thou hast given me If I get out of this Captivity I will make thee great Tiberius dy'd soon after he was freed by the favour of Caligula and by the same favour made King of Iudea here it was that he remembred Thaumastus rewarding him with the place of Comptroâ—ler of his house such power hath a slight good turn well plac'd upon a generous Soul 5. Darius the Son of Hâ—staspes being one of the Guard to Cambyses in his Expedition against Aeâ—ypt a Man then of no extraordinary condition seeing Syloson the Brother of Polycrates walking in the Market place of Memphis in a glittering Cloak he went to him and as one taken with the garment desired to buy it of him Syloson perceiving he was very desirous of it told him he would not sell it him for any Money but said he I will give it you on this condition that you never part with it to any other Darius receiv'd it In processe of time Cambyses being dead and the Magi overcome by the seven Princes Darius was made King Syloson hearing this comes to Susa sate in the entrance of the Palace saying he was one that had deserved well of the King this was told to Darius who wondring who it was he should be oblig'd to commanded he should be admitted Syloson was ask'd by an interpreter who he was and what he had done for the King He tells the matter about the Cloak and says he was the Person who gave it O thou most Generous amongst Men said Darius art thou he then who when I had no power gavest me that which though small in it self was yet as acceptable to me then as greater things would be to me now know I will reward thee with such a huge quantity of Gold and Silver that it shall never repent thee thou wast liberal to Darius the Son of Hystaspes O King said Syloson give me neither Gold nor Silver but when thou hast freed my Countrey of Samos which is now held by a Servant of my dead Brother Polycrates give me that without slaughter or Plunder Darius hearing this sent an Army under the conduct of Otanes one of the seven Princes of Persia commanding him that he should do for Syloson as he had desired 6. Rodericus Davalus was Lieutenant General of the Horse in Spain Anno Dom. 423. together with some others he was accused of High Treason of writing Letters to Iosephus King of the Moors as one that intended the betraying of his Countrey into his hands Divers Copies of these Letters were produc'd and the whole affair debated at the Council-Table In the crime of his Master was involv'd Alearus Nunnius Ferrerius born at Corduba and Steward of Davalus his house But he stoutly defending himself and his Master ceased not till he had shewed that the Letters were counterfeit and that the Authour of them was Iohannes Garsias of which he was convicted and condemned He got himself clear off bâ—t the other great Persons were condemned to perpetual banishment Here Ferrerius to support his Master in his wants sold all those goods of his which he had got in the service and by the bounty of his Master and having thereby made up the sum of 8000. Crowns he dispos'd it into Wicker Bottles loaded an Ass with it and causing his own Son to be meanly attired to drive the Ass he sent it all privily to his Master Davalus A Person certainly well worthy of being remembred by that Illustrious Nation and in his Posterity too in case any of them be yet extant 7. The only Daughter of Peter Martyr through the Ryot and Prodigality of her debauched Husband being brought to extreme poverty the Senate of Zurich out of a grateful remembrance of her Father's worth supported her with a bountiful maintenance so long as she liv'd 8. M. Minutius Master of the Horse by his insolence and temerity had lead his Army against Annibal into great distress where it was likely to be cut in pieces but by the seasonable assistance of Q. Fabius the then Dictator he was preserv'd Returning into his Camp he confessed his Errour commanded the Ensigns to be taken up and the whole Army to follow them he marches into the Camp of the Dictator and through it the ready way to Fabius his Tent to the wonder and amazement of all Men. Fabius came out to meet him then he causes the Ensigns to be stuck down himself with a loud voice called Fabius his Father his Army called the other Souldiers their Patrons and silence being commanded You have this day Dictator said Minutius obtained a double Victory by your Prowess upon the Enemy by your Prudence and Humanity upon your Colleague by the one you have sav'd us and by the ther instructed us so that we who were ignominiously conquered by Hannibal are Honourably and Profitably overcome by you Since therefore I know no other Name that is more venerable I call you an indulgent Father although this benefit I have from you is greater then that of my Parent for to him I do only owe my life but to you I am indebted both â—or my own and also for that of all these This said he embraced Fabius and kissed him the like might be observed through the whole Army for they received each other with mutual embraces and kisses so that the whole Camp was all joy and such as found no other way to express it self but by tears 9. On the Town-house of Geneva upon a marble Table is written in Letters of Gold thus Post Tenebras Lux. Quum Anno Dom. 1535. profligata Romana Anti-Christi Tyrannide abrogatisque ejus superstitionibus Sacro-Sancta Christi Religio hic in suam puritatem Ecclesia in meliorem ordinem singulari Dei beneficio reposita simul pulsis fugatisque hostibus urbs ipsa in suam libertatem non sine insigni miraculo restituta fuerit Senatus populusque Genevensis Monumentum hoc perpetuae memoriae causa fieri atque hoc loco erigi curavit quo suam erga Deum gratitudinem apud Posteros testatam fâ—cerit In English thus After Darkness Light
such a diversity of stores and so faithfully as that he could call for them at his pleasure 12. Hugo Grotius was born at Dâ—lph in the Low-Countries Anno 1583. Vossius saith oâ— him that he was the most knowing as well in Divine as Humane things The greatest of men saith Meibomius the Light and Columen of Learning of whom nothing so magnifick can be either said or writ but that his vertue and erudition hath exceeded it 13. Claudius Salmasius a Learned French Critick of whom Rivet thus that Incomparable Person the Great Salmasius hath wrote of the Primacy of the Pope after which Homer if any shall write an Iliad he will spend his pains to no purpose C. Salmasius saith Vossius a man never enough to be praised nor usually to be named without praise The Miracle of our Age and the Promus Condus of Antiquity saith Guil. Riveâ— The Great Ornament not only of his own Country France but also of these Netherlands and indeed the Bulwark of the whole Commonwealth of Learning saith Vossius 14. Hieronymus Alâ—ander did most perfectly speak and write the Latine Greek and Hebrew with many other Exotick and Forreign Languages He first taught Greek at Paris soon after he was called to Rome by Pope Leo the Tenth and sent Ambassador into Germany By Pope Clement the Seventh made Bishop of Brundusium and by Pope Paul the Third he was made Cardinal 15. Andreas Masius was a great Linguist for besides the Italian French Spanish and the rest of the Languages of Europe he was also famous for no mean skill in the Latin Greek Hebrew and Syriack Thuanus gives him this Character a man of a sincere candid and open disposition endowed with rare and abstruse Learning and who to the knowledge of the Hebrew Chaldee and the rest of the Oriental Tongues had added exceeding piety and a diligent study of the Holy Scriptures as appears by his Commentary He wrote learnedly on Ioshua and assisted Aâ—ias Montanus in the Edition of the King of Spain's Bible and first of all illustrated the Syriac Idiom with Grammatical Precepts and a Lexicon 16. Carolus Clusius had an exact skill in Seven Languages Latin Greek Italian French Spanish Portugal and Low Dutch a most acute both Writer and Censor of Histories that are not commonly known As also most Learned in Cosmograpâ—y saith Melchior Adam in his Lives of the German Physicians Lipsius thus sported on him Omnia naturae dum Clusi arcana râ—cludis Clusius haud ultra sis sed aperta mihi 17. Gulielmus Canterus born 1542. besides his own Belgick Tongue was skill'd in Latin Greek Hebrew the German French and Italian so that one saith of him If any would desire the Specimen of a Studious Person and one who had wholly devoted himself to the advancement of Learning he may find it exactly expressed in the Person of this Gulielmus Canterus 18. Lancelot Andrews born at All-Hallows-Barking in London Scholar Fellow and Master of Pembrook-hall in Cambridge then Dean of Westminster Bishop of Chichester Ely and at last of Winchester The World wanted Learning to hear how learned this man was so skill'd in all especially the Oriental Languages that some conceive he might if then living almost have served as an Interpreter General at the confusion of Tongues He dyed in the first year of the Reign of King Charles the First and lies buried in the Chappel of Saint Mary Overies having on his Monument a large elegant and true Epitaph 19. Gerhardus Iohannes Vossius Professor of Eloquence Chronology and the Greek Tongue at Lâ—yden and Prebend of Canterbury in England an Excellent Grammarian and General Scholar one of the greatest Lights in Holland He hath written learnedly of almost all the Arts. Bâ—chartus saith thus of his Book De Historicis Graecis a work of wonderful Learning by the reading of which I ingeniously profess my self to have been not a little profited 20. Isaac Causabone a great Linguist but a singular Grecian and an excellent Philologer Salmasius no mean Scholar himself calls him that Incomparable Person the Immortal Honour of his Age never to be named without praise and never enough to be praysed He had a rare knowledge in the Oriental Tongues in the Greek scarce his Second much less his equal saith Capellus 21. Iames Vsher the Hundredth Archbishop from St. Patrick of Aâ—magh A divine saith Voetius of vast reading and erudition and most skilful in Ecclesiastical Antiquity The great Merits saith Vossius of that great and every way learned Person in the Church and of the whole Republick of Learning will never suffer but that there will be a grateful celebration of his memory for ever by all the Lovers of Learning Fitz Simonds the Jesuitâ— with whom he disputed though then very young in one of his Books gives him this Title Acatholicorum Doctissimus the most Learned of all the Protestants 22. Iohn Selden a Learned Lawyer of the Inner Temple he had great knowledge in Antiquity and the Oriental Languages which he got after he fell to the Study of the Law He is honourably mentioned by many Outlandish men He wrote in all his Books 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 above all Liberty To shew that he would examine things and not take them upon trust Dr. Duck saith thus of him to the exact knowledge of the Laws of his Country he also added that of the Moâ—aical and the Laws of other Nations as also all other Learning not only Latin Greek and Hebrew but also a singular understanding and knowledge of the Oriental Nations 23. Iohn Gregory born at Amersham in the County of Buckingham 1607. He was bred in Christ-church in Oxford where he so applied his Book that he studied sixteen hours in the four and twenty for many years together He attained to singular skill in Civil Historical Ritual and Oriental Learning in the Saxon French Italian Spanish and all Eastern Languages through which he miraculously travelled without any Guide except that of Mr. Dod the Decalogist for the Hebrew Tongue whose Society and direction therein he enjoyed one Vacation near Banbury As he was an excellent Linguist and general Scholar so his modesty set a greater lustre upon his Learning He was first Chaplain of Christ-church and thence preferred Prebendary of Chichester and Sarum and indeed no Church Preserment compatible with his Age was above his Desertâ— After twenty years trouble with an Hereditary Gout improved by immoderate study it at last invaded his Stomach and thereof he died Anno 1646. at the Age of thirty nine years He died at Kidlington and was buried at Christ-church in Oxford This Epitaph was made by a Friend on his Memory Ne premas cineres hosce Viator Nescis quot sub hoc jacent Lapillo Graeculus Hebraeus Syrus Et qui te quovis vincet Idâ—omate At ne molestus sis Ausculâ—a causam auribus tuis imbibe Templo exclusus Et
avitâ Relligione Iaem senescente ne dicam sublatá Mutavit chorum altiorem ut capesceret Vade nunc si libet imitare R. W. 24. Manutius in his Preface to his Paradoxes tells us of one Creighton a Scotch-man who at twenty years of Age when he was killed by the Order of the Duke of Mantua understood twelve Languages had read over all the Fathers and Poets disputed de omni scibili and answered extempore in Verse Ingenium prodigiosum sed de fuit Iudicium He had a prodigious Wit but was defective in Iudgment CHAP. XLIII Of the first Authors of divers Famous Inventions THe Chineses look upon themselves as the wisest People upon the Face of the Earth they use therefore to say that they see with both eyes and all other Nations but with one only They give out that the most famous inventions that are so lately made known to the Europaean world have been no Strangers to them for a number of Ages that are passed I know not what Justice they may have in these pretensions of theirs but shall content my self to give some account of the most useful amongst them by whom and when they were conveyed down to us 1. The Invention of that Excellent Art of Printing Peter Ramus seems to attribute to onâ— Iohn Faust a Moguntine telling us that he had in his keeping a Copy of Tully's Offices Printed upon Parchment with this Inscription added in the end thereof viz. The Excellent Work of Marcus Tullius I John Faust a Citizen of Ments happily I up 〈◊〉 not with writing Ink or Brass Pen but with an Excellent Art by the help of Peter Gerneshem my Servant finished it was in the Year 1466. the Fourth of February Pasquier saith the like had come to his hands and Salmuth says that one of the same Impression was to be seen in the Publick Library of Ausburg another in Emanuel Colledge in Cambridge and a fifth Dr. Hakewell saith he saw in the Publick Library of Oxford though with some little difference in the Inscription Yet Polydor Virgil from the report of the Moguntines themselves affirms that Iohn Gutenberge a Knight and dwelling in Mentz was the first Inventor thereof Anno 1440. and with him agree divers Learned Persons believing he was the first Inventor of this Invaluable Art but Faust the first who taking it from him made proof thereof in Printing a Book Iunius tells it was the Invention of Lawrence Ians a Citizen of Harlem in the Low Countries with whom joyned Thomas Peters a Kinsman of his for the perfecting of it and that the forementioned Iohn Faust stole his Letters and fled with them first to Amsterdam thence to Collen and aferwards to Ments According to their Books they of China have used Printing this 1600 years but 't is not like unto ours in Europe for their Letters are engraven in Tables of Wood. The Author gives his Manuscript to the Graver who makes his Tables of the same bigness with the Sheets that are given him and pasting the Leaves upon the Table with the wrong side outwards he engraves the Letters as he finds them with much facility and exactness their Wooden Tables are made of the best Pear-tree So that any Work which they print as they do in great numbers remains always intire in the Print of the Table to be Reprinted as oft as they please without any new expence in setting for the Press as there is in our Printing It was brought into England by William Caxto of London Mercer Anno 1471. who first practised it As touching that of Guns though Lipsius calls it the Invention of Spirits and not of men and Sir Walter Raleigh will have it found out by the Indians and Petrach and Valâ—urius refer it to Archimedes for the overthrow of Marcellus his Ships at the Seige of Syracuse Yet the common opinion is that it was first found out by a Monk of Germany Forcatulus in his fourth Book of the Empire and Philosophy of France names him Berthold Swartz of Cullen and Salmuth calls him Constantine Aâ—klitzen of Friburg but all agree that he was a German Monk and that by chance a Spark of Fire falling into a pot of Nitre which he had prepared for Physick or Alchymy and causing it to fly up he thereupon made a composition of Powder with an Instrument of Brass or Iron and putting Fire to it found the conclusion to answer his desire The first publick use of Guns that we read of was thought to be about the year 1380. as Magius or 400 as Ramus in a Battel betwixt the Genowayes and the Venetians at Clodia Fossa in which the Venetians having got it seemes the invention from the Monk so galled their enemyes that they saw themselves wounded and slain and yet knew not by what means nor how to prevent it as witnesseth Platina in the life of Pope Vrban the sixth 3. The Mariners compass is an admirable Invention of which â—odinus thus though there be nothing in the whole Course of Nature that is more worthy of wonder then the Loadstone yet were the ancients ignorant of the divine use of it It points out the way to the skillful Mariner when aâ—l other helps fail him and that more certainly though it be without Reason sense or life then without the help thereof all the Wisards and learned Clerks in the world using the united strength of their wits and cunning can possibly do Now touching the time and Author of this invention there is some doubt Dr. Gilbert our country man who hath written in Latine a large and learned discourse of this stone seems to be of opinion that Paulus Venetus brought the Invention of the use thereof from the Chineses Osorius in his discourse of the Acts of King Emanuel refers it to Gama and his Country men the Portugals who as he pretends took it from certain barbaroâ—s Pirates roaving upon the Sea about the Cape of good Hope Goropius Becanus thinks he hath good reason to intitle it upon his countrymen the Germans in as much as the thirty two points of the Wind upon the Compass borrow the name from the Dutch in all Languages But Blondâ—â— who is therein followed by Pancirollus both Italians will not have Italy lose the prayse thereof telling us that about Anno 1300 is was found out â—t Mâ—lâ—hiâ— or Melphis a Citty in the Kingdome of Naples in the province of Câ—â—â—pania now called Terra di Lovorador But for the Author of it one names him not and the other assures us he is not known Yet Salmuth out of Câ—â—zus and Gomara confidently christens him with the name of Flavius and so doth Dubartas whose verses on this subject are thus translated We 'r not to Ceres so much bound â—or bread Neither to Bacchus for his Clusters red As signior Flavio to thy witty tryal For first inventing of the Seamens Dyal Th' use of th' needle turning in the same
Senator for many Ages together only C. Fabius Maximus and he also through imprudence meeting with Crassus as he went into the Country told him of the third Punick War secretly decreed in the Senate for he knew he was made Questor three Years â—efore but knew not that he was not yet chose into the Order of the Senators by the Censors which was the only way oâ— admittance But though this was an honest error oâ— Fabius yet was he severely reprehended by the Consuls for it for they would not that Privacy which is the best and safest Bond in the Administration oâ— Affairs should be broke Therefore when Eumenes King of Asia a friend of our City had declared to the Senate that Perses King of Macedon was preparing to War upon the people of Rome it could never be known what he had said in the Senate house or what answer the Fathers had made to him till such time as it was known that King Perses was a Prisoner So that you would have thought that which was spoke in the ears of all had been heard by none 3. It is reported of the Egyptians that they undergo tortures with a wonderful patience and that an Egyptian will sooner die in torments than discover the Secret he hath been entrusted with 4. It was heretofore a custom that the Senators of Rome carried their Sons with them and thither did Papyrius Praetextatus follow his Father some great Affair was consulted of and deferred to the next day charge being given that none should disclose the subject of their debate before it was decreed The Mother of the young Papyrius at his Return enquired of him what the Fathers had done that day in the Senate who told her that it was a Secret and that he might not discover it The woman was the more desirous to know for this answer he had made her and therefore proceeds in her enquiry with more earnestness and violence The boy finding himself urged invented this witty lye It was saith he debated in the Senate which would be most advantageous to the Common-wealth that one man should have two Wives or that one woman should have two Husbands The woman in a terrible fright leaves the house and acquaints divers other Ladies with what she had heard the next day came a troop of women to the door crying and beseeching that rather one woman might marry two men than that one man should marry two women The Senators entring the Court enquire what meant this intemperance of the women and what their request intended Here young Papyrius stepped into the midst of the Court and told them what his Mother had desired to know and what answer he had given They commended his wit and secrecy and then made an Order that no Senators Sons should enter their Court save only that one Papyrius 5. Eumenes was informed that Craterus was coming against him with an Army he kept this private to himself and did not acquaint the most intimate of his friends therewith but gave out that it was Neoptolemus that came to fight him for he well knew that his own Soldiers who reverenced Craterus for his Glory and were lovers of his Vertue had Neoptolemus in contempt When therefore the Battel came to be fought Eumenes was victorious and Craterus unknown was killed amongst the rest so that this Battel was gained by his Taciturnity and his friends rather admired than reprehended him for it 6. The Ambassadors of the King of Persia were at Athens invited to a Feast whereat also were preâ—sent divers Philosophers who to improve the conversation discoursed of many things both for and against Amongst the which was Zeno who being observed to sit silent all the while the Ambassadors pleasantly demanded what they should say of him to the King their Master Nothing said he further than this that you saw at Athens an old man who knâ—w how â—o hold his tongue 7. Mâ—tâ—llus the Roman General was once asked by a young Cenâ—urion what dâ—sign he had now in hand who told him that if he thought his own 〈◊〉 was privy to any part of his Counsel he would immediately pluâ—k it off and burn it 8. Leaena was an Athenian Strumpet that could play well upon the Harp and sing sweetly unto it â—he was familiarly acquainted with Harmodius and Aristogitoâ— and privy to their plot and project touching the murder of Pisistratus the Tyrant yet would she never reveal this purpose and intention of theirs to the Tyrant or his Favourites though she was put to most exquisite and dolorous torments about it The Athenians therefore desirous to honour this woman for her resolute and constant secrecy and yet loath to be thought to make so much of such a Harlot as she was devised to represent the Memorial of her and her act by a Beast of her name and that was a Lyoness the Statue of which they gave order to Iphicrates to make and that he should leave out the tongue in the head of this Lyoness for some say that fearing lest her torment should cause her to betray her friends she bit it off and spit it in the face of the Tyrant and Tormentors 9. When the King of Ala goes to War he assembleth his chief men into a Grove near the Palace where they dig a Ditch in a round Circle and there every man declareth his opinion after this Consultation the Ditch is closed and under pain of Treason and death all which hath been spoken must be concealed as if it was so buried as they had before represented in their Emblem 10. A Country man having killed Lucius Piso Governor of Spain was exposed to tortures thereby to extort from him a Confession of his Confederates he endured the first day's torments with invincible courage but fearing himself for the second as he was going to the Rack he slipped out of the hand of his Leader and dashed his head with that violence against a Stone Wall that he died immediately lest he should through extremity of pain be enforced to disclose that which he had sworn to conceal 11. Zeno Eleates was a person extremely well versed in the nature of things and one that knew how to excite the minds of young men to vigour and constancy he gained reputation to his Precepts by the example of his own Vertue For whereas he might have lived in all security in his own Country he left it and came to Agrigentum that then was in miserable Slavery he hoped by his ingenuity and manner of deportment to have converted a Tyrant and such a one as Phalaris from his Cruelties But finding that wholsome counsel would do nothing with him he inflamed the Noble Youth of that City with a desire of Liberty and freeing their Country When this was made known to the Tyrant he called the people together in the Forum and exposing the Philosopher unto cruel torments before their faces he frequently demanded of him who
Poet. Lat. cap. 2. p. 26. Quenstedt dial p. 382. Quintil. de Instit. orator l. 10. c. 1. p. 472. 10. Publ. Ovidius Naso was born at Sulmo an old Town of the Peligni in Italy thus saith he himself Trist. lib. 4. Eleg. 10. Sulmo mihi patria est gelidis uberrimus undis Millia qui novies distat ab urbe decem He excels all others in Elegy and therefore by Dempster is called The Prince of Elegy in the judgement of Seneca he is a most ingenious Poet had he not reduced that plenty of wit and matter into childish toyes his Medaea saith Quintilian shews how much that man was able to perform had he chose rather to govern than indulge his wit he died in his banishment and is buried near the Town of Tomos he flourished Anno Dom. 4. Quintil. de Instit. orator lib. 10. cap. 1. p. 473. Voss. de Poet. Lat. cap. 2. p. 29. Senec. nat Quaest. cap. 27. p. 11. C. Valerius Catullus was born at Verona of no obscure Parentage for his father was familiar with Iulius Caesar and he himself was so accepted at Rome for the facility of his wit and learning that he merited the Patronage of Cicero as he himself acknowledges with thanks He loved Clodia whom by a feigned name he calls Lesbia Martial prefers him before himself he died at Rome in the thirtieth year of his age and that was commonly said of him Tantum parva suo debet Verona Catullo Quantum magna suo Mantua Virgilio He flourished Olympiad 180. Anno Dom. 40. Voss. de Poet. Lat. cap. 1. p. 14. Gell. noct Attic. lib. 7. cap. 20. p. 220. 12. Albius Tibullus of an Equestrian Family in Rome a Poet famous for his Elegies in which he was the first amongst the Romans that excel'd saith Vossius he was in familiarity with Horace and Ovid. He loved Plancia under the feigned name of Delia whereas he was very rich by the iniquity of the times he complains he was reduced to poverty he composed four Books of Elegies and died young for the elegancy of his Verse it is said of him Donec erunt ignes arcusque Cupidinis arma Discentur numeri culte Tibulle tui He flourished A. ab V. C. 734. Quenste dt dial p. 369. Petr. Crinit de Poet. Lat. lib. 3. p. 71. 13. Sex Aurel. Propertius was born in Mevania a Town in Vmbria as he himself somewhere saith Vt nostris tumefacta superbiat Vmbria libris Vmbria Romani patria Callimachi He complains that he was put out of his fathers Lands in that division that was made amongst the Souldiers of the Triumvirate The true name of his Cynthia was Hostia saith Apuleius We have four Books of his Elegies some write that he died in the forty first year of his age he flourished with Ovid Catullus and Tibullus Petr. Crinit de Poet. Lat. lib. 3. p. 71. Voss. de Poet. Lat. cap. 2. p. 31. 14. Cornelius Gallus born at Forojulium was an Oratour and famous Poet from a mean fortune he was received into the friendship of Augustus and by him made the first President of Aegypt when it was become a Roman Province Through his discourse in his Wine at a Feast he came into suspicion of a Conspiratour and being turn'd over to the Senate to be condemn'd for very shame he slew himself in the sixty third year of his age he wrote four Book of Elegies his Lycoris was one Cytheris a freed Maid of Volumnius most of his Writings are lost he flourished Olympiad 188. Voss. de Poet. Lat. cap. 2. p. 25. 15. Decius Iunius Iâ—venaliâ— was born at Aquinum in Italy he spent his studies in writing Satyres following the examples of Lucilius and Horace in which kind he hath gained no mean reputation amongst the learned The Prince of Satyrists saith I. Scaliger his Verses are far better than those of Horace his Sentences are sharper and his phrase more open having offended Paris the Pantomime at eighty years of age in shew of honour he was made Prefect of a Cohort and sent into Aegypt he flourished Anno Dom. 84. Quenstedt dial p. 372. Voss. de Poet. Lat. cap. 3. p. 41. 16. A. Persius Flaccus was born at Volaterra an ancient and noble City in Italy seated by the River Caecina He wrote Satyres wherein he sharply taxes the corrupted and depraved manners of the Citizens of Rome sustaining the person of a Philosopher while he severely reprehends he is instructive much he borrowed out of Plato saith Chytraeus by some he is under censure for his obscurity he flourished in the Reign of Nero Anno Dom. 64. died in the twenty ninth year of his age about the 210 Olympiad Quenstedt dial p. 322. Voss. de Poâ—t Lat. cap. 3. p. 41. 17. N. Valer. Martialis was born at Bilbilis in Celâ—iberia in the Reign of Claudius the Emperour At twenty years age he came to Rome under Nero and there continued thirty five much favoured by Titus and Domitian He was Tribune and of the Order of Knights in Rome after Domitian's death he was not in the like honour and therefore in Trajans time return'd into his own Country and there having wrote his twelfth Book of Epigrams weary of his Country and Life as being ill treated by his Country-men he deceased Voss. de Poet. Lat. cap. 3. p. 46. 18. Statius Papinius born at Naples lived under Domitian he left five Books Sylvarum twelve Thebaidos five Achilleidos Martial liked not that he was so much favoured and in his Writings never mentions him Voss. de Poet. Lat. cap. 3. p. 45. 19. Ausonius the Poet and also Consul at Rome was born in Gascony at Burdigala now called Burdeaux at he tells us himself thus Diligo Burdigalam Roman colo civis in illa Consul in ambabus cunae hic ibi sella curulis Scaliger saith of him That he had a great and acute wit he Stile is somewhat harsh he flourished Anno Dom. 420. Quenstedt dial p. 36. Voss. de Poet. Lat. cap. 4. p. 55. 20. Marcellus Palingenius wrote the Zodiack of like that is of the right way of institution of the life study and manners of men in twelve Books a Work of great Learning and Philosophical he flourished Anno Dom. 1480. Quenstedt dial p. 392. 21. Baptista Mantuanus Sirnamed Hispaniolus a Monk and excellent Poet to whom Mantua gave both birth and name he was accounted the almost only Poet in his age and another Maro he taxed with great freedom and liberty the corruption of the Roman Church the impiety and villanies of the Popes amongst others he thus writes of the Simony and Covetousness of the Popes Venalia nobis Templa Sacerdotes altaria sacra coronae Ignis Thura preces coelum est venale Deusque He wrote divers Verses in praise of the Saints and other excellent Books and flourished Anno Dom. 1494. Quenstedt dial p. 300. CHAP. X. Of Musick the strange efficacy of it and the most famous Musicians THere are four sorts of
Coelius where they hid themselves in a Cave and though diligently sought after could not be found at last animating themselves to undergo Martyrdom after they had taken meat by the Providence of God they fell asleep and slept to the thirtieth year of Theodosius the younger which was for the continued space of 196 years from their entrance into the Cave Then which was upon the day of the Resurrection being awaked they went as they were wont to the City as if they had slept only for one day where the whole matter was discovered by the different habit and speech of the men and the monies they had about them of a different stamp c. 8. In the utmost Bounds of Circium the Northern parts of Germany in the very shore of the Ocean under a steep Rock there is a Cave to be seen where as Methodius and Paulus Diaconus in the beginning of his History of Lombardy do testifie there are five men uncertain from what time who rest seised with a long sleep so indemnified as to their bodies or garments that upon this very account they are worshipped by the Barbarians These for as much as appears by their habit are discovered to be Romans and they say that when one out of a covetous desire would needs strip one of them both his arms dryed up the punishment of whom so terrified the rest that no man from thenceforth hath been so bold as to touch them 9. That is beyond all exception which was witnessed to Henry the Third when he was in Poland by several Princes most worthy of credit there were present at the same time divers Nobles of France many Physicians of the Court amongst whom was D. Iohannes Piduxius famous not only for his skill in Physick but his knowledge in all kind of natural History The story is also related by Alexander Guagninus of Verona Colonel of Foot in the Castle of Vitebska in the Frontiers of Moscovy he in his Description of Moscovy writes thus There is a certain people that inhabit Lucomoria a Country of the further Sarmatia who yearly upon the 27. day of the month November after the manner of Swallows and Frogs by reason of the intenseness of the Winters cold seem to dye Afterwards at the return of the Spring upon the 24. day of April they again awake and arise These are said to have commerce with the Grustentzians and the Sperponoâ—ntzians people that border upon them in this manner When they find their approaching death or sleep ready to seise upon them they then stow up their Commodities in certain places which the Grustentzians and Sperponountzians fetch away leaving an equal value of their own behind them in their stead The Lucomorians upon their return to life if they are pleased with the change they keep them if otherwise they redemand their own of their neighbours By this means much strife and war doth arise amongst them Thus Guagninus and the very same History hath Sigismundus Liber a Baron in Heiberstein which is also set down by Citesius 10. Fernelius speaks of one who lived without sleep fourteen months but this man was possest with madness and his brain it should seem being heated with melancholy did beget animal spirits without much wasting of them 11. Arsenius the Tutor to Arcadius and Honorius the Emperours being made a Monk did satisfie Nature with so sâ—ort a sleep that he was used to say that for a Monk it was enough if he slept but one hour in a night 12. Augustus Caesar after supper betook himself to his Closet where he used to remain till the night was far spent and then went to bed when he slept most it was not above seven hours and those also not so continued but in that space he usually waked three or four times and to provoke sleep had water poured long and constantly by his Beds head into a Cistern 13. George Castriot commonly called Scanderbeg the same who forsook Amurath King of the Turks and seised upon the Kingdom of Epirus as his own by right of Inheritance This Prince was a person contented with so little sleep that it is reported of him that from the time that he entred into Epirus to the day of his death he never slept above two hours in one night yet he died in his climacterical year of 63. 14. A Woman at Padua lived fifteen days without sleep nor could by any means be brought to it through the weakness of the Ventricle and penury of vapours for she eat no supper only contented her self with a dinner at last using to eat a Toast steeped in Malmesey towards night she returned to her wonted sleep 15. Seneca reports of Mccaenas that great Favourite of Augustus that he lived three years entire without any sleep and was at last cured of his distemper with sweet and soft Musick 16. It is reported of Nizolius that painful Treasurer of Cicero's Words and Phrases that he lived ten years without sleep 17. We read of a noble Lady that for thirty and five years lived without harm and in good health as both her Husband and whole Family could and did witness without sleep 18. Some young men in Athens having made themselves drunk in the Apatarian Feasts are said to have out-slept four days of that Solemnity as Simplicius recites out of Eudemus 19. Smyndyrides the Sybarite was used to say That for more than twenty years he had never seen the Sun either rising or setting which also Histieus Ponticus was used to report of himself saith Athenaeus 20. Publius Scipio is said to be over-much devoted to sleep so that the people of Rome were used to upbraid him with his somnolency as Plutarch saith in his Politicks 21. C. Caligula was exceedingly troubled with want of sleep for he slept not above three hours in a night and in those he seldom took any quiet repose but was scared with fearful and strange illusions and fantastical imaginations as who once dreamed that he saw the form and resemblance of the Sea talking with him Hereupon for the greatest part of the night what with tedious watching and weariness of lying one while sitting up in his Bed another while roaming and wandring to and fro in his Galleries which were of an exceeding length he was wont to call upon and wish for the morning light 22. Perseus King of Macedon being taken Prisoner by Aemylius and led Captive to Rome was guarded by some Souldiers who kept him from sleep watching him narrowly when he was overtaken therewith not suffering him so much as to shut his eye-lids or to take the least rest till such time as Nature being exhausted by this strange cruelty he gave up the ghost CHAP. XVIII Of such as have fallen into Trances and Ecstasies and their manner of behaviour therein SInce the Soul is the instrument and means by which we come to the knowledge of all those things
certain Painter who was very intent upon drawing of the foam that should come from the mouth of a Horse which he had before him in his Tablet but with all his Art and care he could not compass the expressing of it in such manner as the nature of the thing required whereupon in a great rage he threw his Pencil at the Table which light so fortunately as it happily performed all that which had so long defeated his utmost skill Thus meer casualty and chance brings to light and other ways performes that in matters of greater importance which hath seemed out of the power of prudence it self to effect or prevent 1. There is a people in Spain called Los Pattuecos who some threescore and odd years since were discovered by the flight of a Hawk of the Duke of Alvas This people were then all savage though they dwelt in the centre of Spain not far from Toledo and are yet held part of the Aborigines that Tubalcain brought in being hemmed in and imprisoned as it were by a multitude of huge and craggy mountains they thought that behind those mountains there was no more earth and so lived unknown to all Spain till discovered by this odd accident so lately 2. When Dion went to free Syracuse from the grievous and infamous Tyranny of Dionysius it fell out that Dionysius himself was then in Italy about other business which fell out fortunately for Dion For whereas he was arrived at Sicily with small forces and greater courage than prudence Timocrates the chiefest of the Tyrants friends and whom he had left his Substitute in the Kingdom did forthwith send him a Messenger with Letters to signifie the coming of Dion the instability of the minds of his Subjects that he should return with all speed unless he would be totally deserted The Messenger had happily passed the Seas and was landed on the shore intending to foot it to Caulonia where Dionysius then was Being upon the way he met with one of his acquaintance who had newly offered a Sacrifice and did friendly give him a part of it he put it into the bag by his side where was also Timocrates his Letter he went on his journey and being overtaken with the night and weary cast himself upon the ground to take some short repose He was not far from a Wood from whence came a Wols who smelling the flesh came and took the bag from where it lay by his side Soon after the man waking and finding his bag with his Letter gone in fear of being severely punished he durst not go on to Dionysius but turned off another way By this means Dionysius had later information of his Affairs than the necessity required and so having lost his Kingdom was fain to betake himself to the Ferula and turn School-master in Corinth 3. The Duke of Burbon led a Royal Army against Rome with intention to surprize it upon the sudden but whereas he was utterly unprovided of great Guns to take it by assault a strange and unthought of accident administred to him an opportunity for the taking of the City For an Ensign who had the charge of a ruined part of the Wall perceiving Burbon with some others break into a Vineyard that from thence he might take view of the City in what place it was most expugnable was so possessed with fear that whereas he thought to run into the City he descended the ruined place with his Ensign advanced and marched directly towards the Enemy Burbon that saw the man tend towards him and supposing that others followed to make a Sally upon him stood still with intention to sustain the assault with those about him till the rest of his Army were come up to him The Ensign was got almost three hundred paces without the City when by hearing the Alarm and cry of Burbon's Army he returned to himself and as one newly awaked from sleep having recollected himself he retires and re-enters the ruined place by which he had descended Burbon admiring this action of the man caused scaling Ladders to be advanced to that part of the Wall and having there slain the Ensign his Souldiers broke into the City and took it 4. A small matter gave also the occasion of the taking of Belgrade by the Turks a place equally fortified both by Art and Nature The Governour went to Buda to the Court to procure some Pay for his Souldiers leaving the Town without any Commander in chief when he came he was delayed and frustrated in his expectation by the Treasurer whereupon not daring to return to the Garrison without a supply and the Turks in the mean time facing the place with a moderate Army the hearts of the Souldiery and Inhabitants so failed them that not expecting any relief they yielded up the place Thus Belgrade came into the power of the Turks which all agree might have been preserved by the seasonable sending of a small sum of money 5. Vrspergensis and other Historians write of the Hunnes that they lived on this side the Lake and Fens of Maeotis only addicting themselves to hunting without being solicitous whether there were any other Countries or not for they thought there was no Land nor Inhabitants on the other side of Maeotis But one time by accident certain Hunters beheld a Stag passing over the Fens and standing still sometimes as if making tryal if the place was passable or not till at last he was got safe on the other side They looked upon this as an unwonted and marvellous thing so that following the Stag at a distance they also at last got upon the Continent where finding it inhabited by the Scythians they returned and gave their Country-men an account of their discovery who having collected a great Army passed the Fens and surprizing the Scythians who dreamed of nothing less than so sudden an assault they oppressed them Whence afterwards they marched with such fortune and felicity that they rendred themselves terrible to the whole World 6. The Gauls had besieged the Capitol at Rome and having by accident found out a way where it might be climbed up they in the midst of night sent one unarmed before as their Guide and then with mutual assistances and drawing up one another as the nature of the place did require they had in such silence arrived to the top of it in one place that not only the men within were not aware in the least but the Dogs otherwise watchful Creatures gave no notice of their approaches But within there were certain Geese that were consecrated to Iuno which rendred at that time more vigilant through the want of provision in the place gave the first Alarm by their cackling and clapping of their wings M. Manlius who three years past had been Consul was raised up by this unusual noise a warlike person he was and discerning the danger took Arms raised the rest overthrew the foremost that were now mounted the Wall and by
are of that absolute necessity that scarce any thing of moment can be effected without them Various ways have the Ancients and others invented whereby they might convey their intelligences and advice with both these a taste whereof we have in the following Examples 1. Aleppo is so called of Alep which signifies Milk of which there is great abundance thereabouts there are here also Pigeons brought up after an incredible manner who will flye between Babylon and Aleppo being thirty days journey distant in forty eight hours space carrying Letters and News which are fastned about their necks to Merchants of both Towns and from one to another These are only employed in the time of hasty and needful intendments their education to this tractable expedition is admirable the flights and arrivals of which I have often seen in the time of my wintering in Aleppo which was the second winter after my departure from Christendom 2. The City of Ptolemais in Syria was besieged by the French and Venetians and it was ready to fall into their hands when the Souldiers beheld a Pigeon flying over them with Letters to the City who thereupon set up so sudden and great a shout that down fell the poor airy Post with her Letter being read it was found that the Sultan had therein sent them word that he would be with them with an Army sufficient to raise the Siege and that they should expect his arrival in three days The Christians having learnt this sent away the Pigeon with others instead of the former which were to this purpose That they should see to their own safety for that the Sultan had such other affairs as rendred it impossible for him to come in to their succour These Letters being received the City was immediately surrendred the Sultan performed his promise upon the third day but perceiving how matters went returned to his other imployments 3. Histaeus the Milesian being kept by Darius at Susa under an honourable pretence and despairing of his return home unless he could find out some way that he might be sent to Sea he purposed to send to Aristagoras who was his Substitute at Miletum to perswade his Revolt from Darius but knowing that all passages were stopped and studiously watched he took this course He got a trusty Servant of his the hair of whose head he caused to be shaved off and then upon his bald pate he wrote his mind to Aristagoras kept him privately about him till his hair was somewhat grown and then bad him haste to Aristagoras and bid him cause him to be shaved again and then upon his head he should find what his Lord had wrote unto him 4. Harpagus was a great Friend to Cyrus and had in Media prepared all things in as good forwardness as he could being therefore to send his Letters to Cyrus to hasten his Invasion upon that Country he thought it the safest way to thrust it into the belly of a Hare so by this unsuspected means his Letters went safe to Cyrus in Persia who came with an Army and made himself Master of the Empire of the Medes 5. The ancient Lacedemonians when they had a purpose to dissemble and conceal their Letters which they sent to their Generals abroad that the contents of them might not be understood though they should be intercepted by the Enemy they took this course They chose two round sticks of the same thickness and length wrought and plained after the same manner One of these was given to their General when he was about to march the other was kept at home by the Magistrates When occasion of secrecy was they wond about this stick a long scroll and narrow only once about and in such manner as that the sides of each round should lye close together then wrote they their Letters upon the transverse junctures of the scroll from the top to the bottom This scroll they took off from the stick and sent it to the General who knew well how to fit it to that stick he kept by him the unrolling of it did disjoin the Letters confound and intermix them in such manner that although the scroll was taken by the Enemy they knew not what to make of it if it passed safe their own General could read it at pleasure This kind of Letter the Lacedemonians called Scytale 6. I have read in the Punick History that an illustrious person amongst them whether it was Asdrubal or some other I do not now remember who on this manner used to conceal such Letters as he sent about matters of secrecy He took new Tables which were not yet covered with wax and cut out his Letter upon the wood then as the manner was he drew them over with wax these Tables as if nothing was writ upon them he sent to such as before-hand he had acquainted with the use of them who upon the receipt of them took off the wax and read the Letter as it was engraven upon the wood Demaratus used this way of writing 7. The way by Pigeons to give intelligence afar off with wonderful celerity is this They take them when they sit on their nests transporting them in open cages and return them with Letters bound about their legs like Jesses who will never give rest to their wings until they come to their young ones So Taurosthenes by a Pigeon stained with Purple gave notice of his Victory at the Olympick Games the self same day to his Father in Aegina 8. There are Books of Epistles from C. Caesar to C. Oppius and B. Cornelius who had the care of his affairs in his absence In these Epistles of his in certain places there are found single Letters without being made up into syllables which a man would think were placed there to no purpose for no words can be framed out of these Letters But there had been a secret agreement betwixt them of changing the situation of the Letters and that in writing they should appear one thing but in reading they should signifie another Probus the Grammarian hath composed a Book with curiosity enough concerning the occult signification of the Letters in the Epistles of Casar Suetonius saith of Caesar That any thing of privacy he wrote by notes or characters that is by so transposing the order of the Letters that no word could be made out of them But if any man would understand and imitate this practice of his he must know that he changed the fourth Letter of the Alphabet that is he set down D. for A. and so throughout all the rest of the Letters 9. Artabasus an illustrious person amongst the Persians after the departure of Xerxes was left with Mardonius in Europe he had taken Olynthus and was now set down before Potidaeu here there was intelligence betwixt him and Timoxenus an eminent person in the Town and the device they had to convey Letters to each other was this They wrapped their Letters round
that Cardinal Franciotto Vrsin being put by Clement mounted to the See Apostolick After Clement was Pope Pompeius obtained of him many graces and honours but assuring himself that nothing could be denied him he was one time importunate in some such matter which the Pope judged to be unjust and inconsistent with his Holiness honour to grant so that Pompey failing of his expectation herein began to reproach the Pope and to tell him that it was by his means that he was Pope His Holiness answered him that it was true and prayed him to suffer him to be Pope and that he would not be it himself for in proceeding in this manner he took that from him which he had given him 2. Robert Winchelsea Archbishop of Canterbury was banished by King Edward the First but afterwards restored again by him and all the Rents that had been sequestred during his absence repaid him whereby he became the richest Archbishop that had been in that Seat before Wherefore often recording his troubles he would say Adversity never hurteth where no iniquity over-ruleth 3. The Emperour Frederick the Third when he heard of the death of a great Noble man of Austria who lived ninety three years most wickedly in fleshly pleasures and yet never once in all that time afflicted with grief or sickness he said This proveth that which Divines teach That after death there is some place where we receive reward or punishment when we see often in this World neither the just rewarded nor the wicked punished 4. When Theopompus was King of Sparta one was saying in his presence That it now went well with their City because their Kings had learned how to govern The King prudently replied That it rather came to pass because their people had learned to obey shewing thereby that popular Cities are most injurious to themselves by their factious disobedience which while they are addicted to they are not easily well governed by the best of Magistrates 5. Dionysius the Elder reproving his Son for that he had forcibly violated the chastity of the Wife of one of the Citizens of Syracuse asked him amongst other things If he had ever heard that any such thing had been done by him No said the Son but that was because you had not a King to your Father Neither said Dionysius will you ever have a King to your Son unless you give over such pranks as these The event proved that he then said the truth For when this young man succeeded his Father he was expelled the Kingdom of Syracuse for his evil behaviour and manner of life 6. Aristippus having lost all his Goods by shipwrack was cast naked upon the shore of Rhodes where yet by reason of his Learning he found such estimation that neither he nor his Companions were suffered to want any thing that was convenient for them When therefore some of his company were about to return home they asked him if he would command them any thing Yes said he tell my relations from me that I advise them to procure such riches for their children as a tempest at Sea has no power over shewing thereby how precious Learning is which no storms of adverse Fortune can take away from us 7. Cineas was in great honour with Pyrrhus King of Epirus and he made use of him in all his weighty affairs professing to have won more Cities by his Eloquence than by his own Arms. He perceiving Pyrrhus earnestly bent upon his Expedition into Italy one time when he was at leisure and alone Cineas spake thus to him The Romans O Pyrrhus have the reputation of a warlike people and command divers Nations that are so and if God shall grant us to overcome them what fruit shall we have of the Victory That 's a plain thing said Pyrrhus for then saith he no City will presume to oppose us and we shall speedily be Masters of all Italy the greatness vertue and riches of which is well known to you Cineas was silent a while and then having said he made Italy our own what shall we then do Sicily said he is near reaching out its hand to us a rich and populous Island and easie to be taken It is probable said Cineas but having subdued Sicily will that put an end to the War If God said Pyrrhus give us this success these will be but the Praeludia to greater matters for who can refrain from Africa and Carthage which will soon be at our beck And these overcome you will easily grant that none of those that now provoke us will be able to resist us That 's true said Cineas for it is easie to believe that with such Forces we may recover Macedon and give the Law to all Greece But being thus become Lords of all what then Pyrrhus smiling Then said he good man we will live at our ease and enjoy our selves in compotations and mutual discourses When Cineas had brought him thus far And what hinders said he but that we may now do all these seeing they are in our power without the expence of so much sweat and blood and such infinite calamities as we go about to bring upon our selves and others 8. He was a wise man that said Delay hath undone many for the other World Haste hath undone more for this Time well managed saves all in both 9. A Christian Matron being imprisoned by the Persecutors fell in labour there the extremity of her pains enforced her to cry out extremely whereupon the Keeper of the Prison reproached her and said he If you are not able to bear the pains of child-birth to day what will you do to morrow when you come to burn in the flames Today said she I suffer as a miserable Woman under those sorrows that are laid upon my sex for sin but to morrow I shall suffer as a Christian for the Faith of Christ. 10. Sir Francis Walsingham Secretary of State in Queen Elizabeths Reign towards the latter end of his life wrote to the Lord Treasurer Burleigh to this purpose We have lived enough to our Country to our Fortunes and to our Soveraign it is high time we begin to live to our selves and to our God In the multitude of affairs that passed through our hands there must be some miscarriages for which a whole Kingdom cannot make our peace And being observed to be more melancholy than usual some Court-humorists were sent to divert him Ah! said Sir Francis while we laugh all things are serious about us God is serious when he preserveth us and hath patience towards us Christ is serious when he dyeth for us the Holy Ghost is serious when he striveth with us the holy Scripture is serious when it is read before us Sacraments are serious when they are administred to us the whole Creation is serious in serving God and us they are serious in Hell and Heaven and shall a man that hath one foot in the grave jest and