dronkennes the cause of the wrong doen. Aristotle in his problemes geueth a reason why such as are geuen to wine are lesse able in the acte of generation as also an other why among suche as are dronke some be pleasant some sory some ioyous some terrible Some Phisicians also are there among whom I onely remember Auicenna and Rasis whiche affirme it to be a thyng very medicinable and holsome at times to be dronke though not ordinarily and commonly but their reasons wherfore nothing at all content me by meanes whereof I vtterly refuce to be of their opinion And where as diuers honourable personages haue been subiect to wine had they assuredly forsaken that there wonted vse in bousing their glory and renoume had so muche been the greater Alexander the greate was taxed of this vice so that as some good writers haue least vs plainly of hym he did in these his cuppes sundry his frendes to death and afterwarde repenting him of that his rage and malice would for reuenge haue slaine also hym selfe and surely it maie be thought that by meanes of these hys tyrannies he in the ende also was traitrously impoisoned Marcus Antonius one of the three pillers of the Romaine empire hauyng espoused the sister of Octauian pleasing to muche as the other also in wine coÌ„sequently acquainted himself with Cleopatra Quéene of Egypte by meanes where of in fine hee both lost his life and also the empire first vanquished by wine and after by Octauian The Emperour Tiberius as in hym were many and sundry greate defaultes yet none so much annoied hym as that he to much loued excesse of wine drinking wheÌ„ce in place of his name Tiberius was eftsones in derision of many called Biberius endyng at the laste an infortunate and wretched miser Denis the yonger tyranne of Sicilia so much was geuen to excessiue drinking that he became blinde in both eies vnprofitable Cleomedes King of the Spartiens practising to immitate the Scithians in bousing and did so valiantly by his lusty quaffing that he proued in the ende a senlis and lothsum monster It is reported that the Philosopher Archesilas died of dronkennes and no other maladie The Poete Anacreon was also a greate drinker and in drinkyng was chockte with the Pepin of a grape whiche entered by the wrong waie or passage through hys throate The Bishoppe Flauius renoumed for his learning reporteth that Bonosus so pleased in wine that Aurelius would saie of him that he was not borne to liue but to drinke and herein he farre exceaded all others for when so euer he dranke or els in what quantie he neuer thence was séen or drounke or lesse aduised But it maie be supposed that he paste it againe in vrine as fast as he receiued it how be it in the ende he escaped not the pain of his excesse and malice for that beeyng vanquished of Probus was in moste shamefull and lothsome maner haÌ„ged Some also write that the king Antiochus which was maugre his bearde subdued by the Romaines so muche giuen to strong wines and feasting that he spent the greater parte of his tyme in sleapyng by meanes whereof he committed almoste the whole gouernment of the Empire to twoo his chosen and very trustie dearâ—ynÌ„ges hymself banquettyng and disportyng still with a certaine yonge damosell so that when after he should mete in field with the Romaines his armie was straight disordered he an effeminate captiue Eschilus the poete also did please in drincke by meanes whereof Sophocles left not to saie vnto hym Eschilus these thynges that thou hast saied and doen haue onely paste thée by happe and by fortune and by no knowledge that thou haste or ought that thou vnderstandest ¶ Of certaine greate personages whiche died called heÌ„ce by those whiche before them selues vniustly had caused to be executed euen in the instante and tyme to them assigned as also some what of the Archebishoppe of Magonce or Ments Chap. 12. WHen the aide of man faileth those to whom by man some wrong and grief is doen God assuredly notwithstandyng neuer leaueth to assiste theim and although it chaunce not at suche tymes so sone and so apertly as percase some would or could in harte desire yet God that knoweth when and howe he shoulde auenge hym on those that haue vniustly opprest or wronged the innocente so woorketh that at tymes suche trecheries come to lighte and eke mannes falce iudgementes to his heauie condemnation Whereof wée could remember many true straunge examples emong which we reade of a certaine knight of the house of the Templiers executed as is supposed very vniustly this knight an Italian borne in Naples beholding as he paste to the place of execution Pope Clement the fifte of that name aduaunced in a windowe as pleasyng in this spectacle whiche onely did this sentence to passe againste hym wrongfully and nigh to hym Philippe surnamed Bellus kyng then of Fraunce saied to hym with a high and loude voice incontinently O thou cruell and merciles Clement for as muche as in the worlde none other iudge is to whom from thy vniust sentence I might appeale I appeale yet from thée and from thy greate iniustice vnto him that all séeth that true and vpright iudge Iesus Christe the rightuous before whom I thee assomen as also the kyng there at whose sute thou hast sentensed me to death to appere in persone bothe before his tribunall seate there to receiue as ye by me haue deserued without fauour or perciallitie without respecte of persones and that also within the space of one yere followyng And so it came to passe that as he there had cited them the Pope died iuste at the tyme appoincted as also the kyng to holde theother companie Whiche thing assuredly onely proceded from the inscrutable iudgemeÌ„tes and iustice of god The semblable also happened to Ferdinande the fowerth kyng of Castile whiche also did to death twoo other worthie knightes of pretensed malice not hauyng any shadowe or pretexte at all of iustice whom no sorowfull teares or often supplications could or might deliuer from the blouddie miser In fine therefore arrestyng without more on this extremitie cited the king in like maner as before within thirtie daies folowng to appere before that iudge the laste of whiche in déede he made chaunge of life for death and so departed hence Suche was the happe also of a capitain of certain gallies of the toune of Genua of whiche Baptista Fulgosius in this sorte reporteth that he tooke a little Boate or Barke of Catelongna in whiche also was an other or capitaine or gentleman which neuer had dooen to the inhabitaÌ„tes of Genua any wroÌ„g or iniurie neuerthelesse for that priuate malice that this Capitaine of Genua bare to the Catelanes coÌ„maunded that he should incoÌ„tinently be hanged who mournfully besought hym not to do him that or any so greate vilanie for that he neuer had offended nor hym ne yet his countrie but findyng in the ende no kinde of
saied my housebande and my lorde I am none suche as you suppose me to be but am your wife your obediente and your lawfull bedfellowe dooe me what paine or sorrowe shall beste like you for assuredly I will not departe out from your companie before you doe to bee called some one of sufficient credite that maie if neede bee witnes that I alone this night was with you and with none other to the intent that if it please God to graunt me to be with childe by you whiche is my sole and onely desire that the worlde then maie knowe that it also is yours The kyng consideryng of her honest guile was though in deede he thought that he had been serued otherwise contented to fatisfie that her expectation and did to bée there of witnesses twoo honest and sober gentlemē Now so it came to passe that this vertuous dame within shorte tyme after knewe well she had conceiued and at the terme by accompte well aunsweryng to this purpose was deliuered of a soonne the firste daie of Februarie in the yere of our Lorde a thousande a hundred ninetie and sixe whiche as sone as he was borne the Quéene commaunded immediatly that he should be carried to the Churche and incontinently as thei whiche is to be considered to whom this charge was carefully cōmitted were on the point of entrie into the Churche or Temple the priestes assuredly lesse wetyng of any suche matter began to syng Te deum laudamus in moste solemne maner And thence departing afterward with the saied childe vnto an other Churche thei also not knoweyng of any such gehaste commyng euen as he entred beganne that Psalme of Benedictus dominus deus Israel whiche was a meruailous signe and assured presage of the great vertue and bountie that should be in the yong prince And the Kyng and Quéene not knowyng now what name thei beste might giue hym did to bee lighted twelue Torches of equall length and bignes lottyng to euery of theim the name of an Apostle with this determination that the name of that Torche that first should be consumed should be giuen to this Prince for name at his Baptisme and the first that failed was that of sainct Iames. So afterward then baptised thei gaue hym Iames to name he was an excellente Prince in peace no lesse wise then valiaunte and fortunate in all affaires of warre His inuasions and incursions were terrible against the Mores he was large and liberall at all tymes to his souldiars and emong others his notable attemptes he leuiyng on a tyme a greate and grosse armie past into the Isle of Maiorque whiche then was onely inhabited of the Mores where he foughte many bothe bloudie and daungerous battailes but after he there long had besieged their principall citie in th' ende wonne it as all the other Isles adioignyng nigh vnto it and in fine subdued all the other Mores as also the citie of Carthage it self He had many children as well soonnes as doughters whiche all while he liued he aduaunsed to greate and mearueilous honours The Prince Peter was after hym kyng also of Aragon Iames kyng of the Isles Maiorque and Minorque his thirde soonne was Archebishop of Toledo the ladie Yollant was espoused to the kyng of Castile the ladie Isabeau to the kyng of Fraūce the ladie Vrroque to the lorde Emanuel prince also of Castile and the prince Peter in his fathers daies espoused the doughter of the kyng of Nauar. This kyng liued seuentie and twoo yeres and died then vertuously and in his death bedde chose to him the habite of a religious man renounsyng his kyngdome and his roiall scepter with assured determination if he euer had recouered of that maladie to haue imploied the residue of his daies in the sole seruice and veneration of God but his paines growyng and doublyng continually he gaue ouer vnto nature in the towne of Valence in the yere of our lorde God a thousande twoo hundred sixtie and sixe in the beginnyng of the moneth of August ¶ Of an aunciente and straunge custome obserued by the inhabitauntes of the Prouince of Carinthia at the coronation of their prince as also how thei sharply punished thieues Chapt. 14. POpe Pius the seconde of that name a manne no lesse learned then painfull and still busied in aunciente histories when he liued reporteth in his Cosmographie or description of the worlde that the prouince of Carinthia is inclosed within the territorie and seignorie of Austria saieth that the inhabitauntes there at the coronation of their prince vsed a very straunge and pretie custome whiche also is remembred by A. Sabellicus in his tenth Decade as also by Sebastianus Munsterus in his newe Cosmographie In this Prouince of Carinthia there is a greate plaine of very olde and ruinous bulidynges as if the were the steppes or monumētes of some auncient citie in whiche also standeth a certaine greate stone wherevpon at the coronation of their newe duke the daie and tyme appointed a housebande man or labourer incontinently ascendeth vnto whom that office by inheritance belongeth On his right hande standeth nigh to hym a blacke Cowe and on his left a lame a weake and an ill fauored Mare Rounde about the stone standeth a great heape of clounes or countrie carels Then commeth the Duke on with a greate noumber on horsebacke all in very good and in decent order hauyng twelue ensignes borne there before them of which one is more large and more apparent then the others whiche is borne by a certaine Earle there by especiall priueledge so now approcheth this Archduke cladde like a shepherd vnto the stone where as is plaste this carell who incontinentlie crieth out with a loude and haute voice demaunding what hée might be that cometh in such pompous in such proude arraie to whom the others aunswere that stande there about hym he is the Prince and gouernour of this countrie Then thundereth out this vilaine as harde as he maie possiblie is he a iudge rightuous will he doe iustice to all men will he seke the aduauncement and commoditie of the countrie will he defende it and saue it from the enemie Is he a free man and of a free house borne Is he valiante and worthie of honour Is he a true christian man and will he defende the faithe Thei all aunswere yea he is and euer shall be Then beginneth he againe a freashe to demaunde by what right maie he dispossesse me of this place Then aunswereth the Earle that bare that beste enseigne thou shalt receiue for this thy place sixtie Duckettes of golde this Cowe also and Mare in like sort shall be thine also the Princes roabe whiche he laste of al did of finally thy familie and kinne shall all bee free from all kinde of taxes or paimentes what soeuer This carell then giueth the Prince a small buffette on the cheke admonishing him to be an vpright and a vertuous Iudge and so leauyng the stone giueth place vnto the duke carriyng
constitution of bodye as men takinge either theire beginninge or béeinge of a matter most pure and simple vntill sutch time as by the chaunge of Ages whose propertie is to alter and to impayre al thinges the state of Man beganne to weaken yéeldinge his daies in number fewer then before Againe in that Age one thinge to them was very helpinge and profitable the whiche same to vs is very noysome and contrary whiche was the greate temperancy vsed in Drinkinge as well in quantitie as in qualitie also with the small chaunge and varietie of Meates for neither had they so many sortes or sundrie dishes as wée ne knewe they any or newe or dainty inuentions To eate Fleashe what it was before the generall Floudde was vnto Man altogeather vnknowen Further some hold for common most assured opinion that bothe Fruites and Hearbes without all comparison were in those daies of farre greater efficacie and vertue then any founde any where in this our latter Age for that they then sprange out of a new and fyned soyle and not of sutche as nowe it is worne wasted weryed and consumed For the Generall Inundation tooke from it his woorthe or fatnesse leauinge it in respecte infertile and barren restinge salte and vnsauery by the rage of the Sea whiche many wéekes flowed ouer it These reasons then are good and eche of them sufficient to conclude that it neither was so straung or marueilous but rather a thinge most agréeant vnto nature that men then lyued longer then in these daies presently Farther it maie be saide that whiche wée for an assured truthe holde that Adam well knewe the vertues of all Hearbes Plantes and Stoanes whiche also his Successours of him in sutche sorte learned that to the like perfection after them neuer any attained This then was graunted them of somme parte for the preseruation of their healthe for the continuance and protraction of their daies in this worlde who to expel the causes of diseases if any grewe on them only vsed to minister Simples abhorring our venemous compoundes of this Age whiche in place to purge and purifie mans bodye weaken and dispatche for the moste parte the poore patiente Againe in these aboue remembred firste yéeres both the life and healthe of man was propte and sustained by the course of the Heauens with the influence of the Starres and Planettes then farre more beneficiall then they presently nowe are for that then there neither had paste so many Aspectes Coniunctions Eclipses with other infinite Impression Celestiall whence nowe procéede so many chaunges variations alterations on the Earth and emonge the Elementes also in those daies principal occasion of healthe and continuance contrarye nowe in this our Age of all sickenesse and deathe But aboue all that that wée haue here alleaged or by reason haue any waye proued I nowe mainteine the many yéeres of these our Firste Fathers to haue procéeded of the only and inspeakeable prouidence of God whose Maiestye would their continuance shoulde be sutch and so longe and that these aboue remembred causes ayded mutually one the other to the only intente that of twoo persons might then increase many that the Earthe might be inhabited and mankinde increased Also farther consideringe that for as mutche as Man after the fludde liued not so longe as before God licensed that they should enter into the Arke and there saue them selues more Men and Woomen then him selfe in the beginning and at the first had Created to the only ende that the world might the sooner be inhabited S. Augustine of this matter writinge some thinge reporteth that our Forefathers hadde not only in health and many daies aduantage of vs but also in huge and greate statures of body as is euident remembred by many their boanes as well found in their Sepulchres and Graues as also at times vnder great Mountaines and Hilles in sutche sorte that some assuredly hold that thei were the boanes of such as liued before the Inundation The same S. Augustine affirmeth that being at Vtica a towne in Aphrike beholding there the boanes of a dead mans bodie amonge others founde there some of his Iawes so great and weighty that they well would haue poised an hundred of these in our Age. Notwithstanding though yet our life be short yet maie wée not for iuste cause any where complaine for that if wée abuse it in contempt of the Diuine Maiestie a rare benefite receiue we that thei to vs be so shortned for wée will now no longer acknowledge our God and yet if wée would as becometh vs in all feare to serue him a time sufficient hath he to that purpose lente vs for that the bountie of our Sauiour is so great and ready that he receiueth for Attonement sufficiente mans bowinge harte and humble spirite ¶ That the opinion of those that supposed the yeeres of the former Ages paste to haue benne more short then these of our time is false As also whiche was the firste Cittie of the worlde and finally that our Forefathers had more Children then these that are remembered to vs in the Scriptures Chap. 2. FOr that it appeared vnto some that the space of nine hundred yéeres in our firste Fathers séemed a thing altogether impossible lesse able to cōprise or receiue these aboue remembred reasons by vs alleaged the only and sole causes of that so longe a life And where as they durste not to denie the foresaide number of yéeres so plainely and openly specified and geuen vs out of holy Write they affirme that the yéeres of the first age were farre more shorter then these of our time so that the aduantage of longe life whiche is vnto them attributed so farre aboue vs is not so greate as it hathe benne supposed Somme others emonge them would also assure vs that one of our yéeres containeth tenne of that age past Also many others haue saide that eche course of the Moone yéelded vnto them one whole full and compleate yéere whiche it pleased them to tearme Annus Lunaris Others some also dreamed that thrée of our Monethes gaue to them a yéere so that this accoumptinge foure of theire yéeres lendeth vs iuste one and no more For that in this sorte as wel the Chaldeans as also the Arcadians parted theire yéeres as remembreth Lactantius M. Varro a moste learned Romaine in others many besides this matter was of the opinion that these Anni Lunares were to be numbred from the Coniunction of the Moone vntil the newe Moone againe whiche maie be the space of xxix dayes and certaine odde houres Pline in like māner reckeneth it fabulous that any in the first Age shoulde liue so many dayes affirminge that the Inhabitauntes of Arcadia so numbred theire yéeres as wée aboue haue remembred by the space onely of thrée Monethes without more There is also emonge vs Christians a certaine Booke of the Ages of the worlde written by Eliconiensis where he also séemeth to be of the saide minde and aduice
grace or fauour his laste recourse was vnto the diuine Iustice saiyng to this cruell and to this merciles capitain that sith he nedes would take his life for no cause from hym that he then presently appealed for iustice vnto God assummonyng also hym with hym that daie to appere before the Iudiciall seate or throne of the moste highest to yelde to hym accompt of that his greate iniustice in whiche same daie as the others this capitain also died and past to plaide his cause in the true courte in deede of iustice where as well maie bee presumed suche was his rewarde as his tretcherie had deserued I could here longer dwell in others like to these but for a finall example I will one onely more remember you no lesse perchaunce straunge then very true and certaine whiche happened at Magonce in Almaignie troublyng disorderyng the whole state of that citie as briefly remembreth Gontier the Poete in his descriptiō of the life and geastes of Fredericke the Emperour the firste of that name as he recordeth The bishoppe Contadus in his historie also recordeth it as also Henry the sixte soonne to the saied Fredericke In this fore saied toune then of Ments or Magonce in the yere of our Lorde a thousande a hundred fiftie or some thyng more there dwelte an Archebishop who had to name Henrie a man for his vertues of all men eche where renoumed this Archebishoppe then as became a good pastour punished synne and vice seuerely with a speciall regard to his flocke and charge true seruaunte vnto GOD and friende vnto his neighbour by occasion whereof some libertines and enemies of Gods honour beganne to malice to enuie his estate and conditiō so that he was accused of euill demanure before the Pope and saied to bée lesse worthie of suche an office or honour chargyng him with many open and slaunderous infamies whiche vnderstoode by the Pope although in trouthe he thought hym to bee bothe iuste and vertuous yet would he not deny audience to those that craued it and hauyng heard their plaint aduertised thereof incontinently the Archbishop By meanes whereof the better to discharge and pourge hym he chose out emong his friendes suche a one as he loued moste for whom also he had doen more then for any other this was a Prieste or Prelate and had to name Arnoulde highly aduaunced to sundrie dignities by the bishop This Arnoulde now was riche eloquent and learned and beyng entered into Rome suborned by the deuill determined on a sodaine to depriue his lorde and maister inrichyng hym self with that honour if it were possible whiche thyng the better to accomplishe with greate summes of money he corrupted twoo impious and twoo accursed Cardinalles before whom to the hearyng of this cause deputed in place to haue spokē the truthe as bothe faithe and loialtie willed he vttered againste hym what so he fasly could imagine saiyng that he more stode bounde to god to the truthe then in any wise he was or could be vnto man and therefore muste nedes confesse that the bishop in deede was suche as he to be was accused by meanes whereof the Pope as abused by this Arnoulde sente vnto Magonce these twoo honeste Cardinalles there to depriue and remoue the Archebishope whiche beyng arriued caused by prorses this good manne to appere before theim whose matter was there in suche order handeled that sentence was there in fine pronounced againste hym depriued of that honour and of that postorall dignitie in whose rome this Arnoulde was presently then substituted whiche so had solde his maister as Iudas did our sauiour at which sentence vttered the Archebishop saied God knoweth that I am vniustly here condemned how bee it I minde not to appeale from this your sentence for that I surely knowe that you soner shal be credited though liers then I in truthe wherefore I receiue this sentence a punishmente for my synnes appealyng neuer the lesse from you vnto the eternall Iudge before whom I assomon you all three to appere at whiche woordes these Prelates burste out into a laughter saiyng that when so he wente before thei incontinently would followe hym This chaunsed in the yere of mannes redemption a thousande a hundred fiftie and sixe whiche wronge this good priest tooke verie paciently withdrawyng hymself into a certain monasterie where he obserued the straite rules of that order without any coule or habite religious But to conclude God neuer long permitteth suche tretcherie and iniustice any where vnpunished to the intente especially that the innocencie of the iuste might the better alwaies be knowen One yere and a halfe after this this Henry died very vertuously in his Abbey mountyng straight into heauen as maie well bee presumed Newes hereof was broughte and of his death to Rome whereat these twoo Cardinalles foorthwith began to ieaste either chargyng other to séeke and searche out the Archebishop according as thei had promised And beholde immediatly or within very fewe daies afterward the one of them was so brused by mishappe of his owne seruaunte that his bowelles and intrailes burste out at his foundment The other fel madde incontinently in suche extremitie that he brake his bones eatyng and deuouryng his owne wretched carrion and as concernyng Arnoulde in recompence of his disloialtie and sedicious tumultes whiche he moste carefully fostered eche where emong the people he became so odious and lothsome to the multitude that about that tyme thei also inuironed hym shutte vp into a monasterie where in fine thei tooke hym and mangled him most miserablie castyng his carriō into the diche of the citie where it laie full thrée daies followyng all the people as well womē as menne doyng to it though dedde the moste villanie that was possible ¶ Of a pretie guile practised by a vertuous and good Quene towardes her housebande by meanes where of I ames Kyng of Aragon was begotten and of his birthe and death Chapt. 13. IN the old Chronicles or annales of Aragon it is recorded that the Lorde Peter Counte of Barcelon afterward by succession the seuenth kyng of Aragon receiued in marriage the ladie Marie doughter to the Earle of Mont Pesulin nephue to the Emperour of Constantinople a ladie no lesse faire then vertuous and honest The kyng notwithstādyng who pleased muche in varietie of concubines and therefore lesse forste of this faire and vertuous ladie not vsyng her cōpanie as reason woulde he should haue dooen ministred to her occasion of greate annoye and sorrowe and especially for that the kyng had then no issue to inherite and succede in that kyngdome after hym Wherfore by the meanes of one of the kynges owne Chamberlaines whiche also perhaps had serued hym in other suche like affaires she was conueighed vnto him though vnder the pretexte and name of an other where hauyng vsed his companie to her full contentation and the kyng perceiuyng that it drewe towardes daie commaunded her to withdrawe her self for the sauyng of his honour but she
their raigne of whom the firste had to name Acre A litle after this was Ioseph solde to the Egyptians in suche sorte as hath the Historie as also how his Father his brethren their children wente also into Aegypt where such Israelites as descended of them liued as accompteth Beda foure hundred thirty yéeres with whom accordeth S. Augustine in his booke De ciuitate Dei. Duringe this Age Hercules of Libya came into Spayne where he raigned ▪ after him Iuer Brigus Taga Beto Gerian others of whom Berosus with other good authors remembereth vs In this time was also firste founded the Cittie of Siuile which is accompted for one among the others of moste antiquitie in the worlde as well recordeth Berosus with others First this Citie had to name Ispalis of Ispal the sonne or Nephewe of Hercules who long raigned or ruled there who also as some say layde the first foundations thereof or buylte it although Isidorus affirme that it was named Ispalis for that it was seated in a place watry or in a marish where they were compelled for better assuraunce of their foundation to beate into the grounde great stakes beames or trées which how so euer it was this Cittie of Ispalis was after called Spayne as writeth Trogus Pompeius Iustine and others And after this agayne Iulius Caesar called it Siuile inriching and amplyfiing it in such large sort and manner that it after was the seate there or resting place of the Romaynes beyng also before that very noble and honorable But to returne to our purpose after this agayne was Moyses borne vnder whose conducte the Hebrewes came out of Aegypte in whiche time also liued Iob the iuste And after this came that general Inundation on Thessalie when great Kingdomes grew then in diuers Landes Contryes In Aethiopia then first raigned Ethiopus in Sicilia Siculus in Boecia Boecius So that Countryes then receiued their denomination of Princes as of Sardus Sardina also the first King or Prince there In these dayes flourished the famous Troye then also was Iason busied in conqueringe the Fliece of Goulde whence in like manner procéedeth the knowen Historie of Medea Nowe were the Amazones of greater power then in any other time and now began the Kingdome of the Latines in Italie About this time Paris also rauished Helena the onely cause of the longe warre and destruction of Troye of the comming of Aeneas into Italie as also of other things innumerable which in few may not bée spaken Then ended this thirde Age and the fourth began euen in the beginning of the raigne of Dauid seconde Kinge of the Hebrewes whiche continued vntill the transmigration of the Iewes into Babylon foure hundred foure score and fiue yéeres but Beda rekeneth fewer foure hundred seuentie and foure onely This Age might well bée termed the lustie Age of the world during which infinite matters happened whereof all Histories are full Now that good King Dauid obtayned sundry victories as well agaynst the Philistians as also agaynst the Ammonites reuenging him self for the iniurie done to his Ambassadours he did also to die the Capitayne of the Assyrians After him in that place succéeded the wise King Salomon who buylte that ritch famous Temple of Hierusalem after whose death the Kingdome was deuided Ieroboam succéeding in ten families Roboam his sonne in twoo After this the Empyre of the Assyrians whiche then had continued twelue hundred yéeres by the death of Sardonapalus was vtterly subuerted he was one of the richest greatest Monarches in the world who not withstanding by Arbactus slayne the Empyre came into the handes or possession of the Medes About this time the Princes of Macedonie began to frame their Empyre as the Greekes in manner semblable now vsed to accompte their yéeres by Olympiades which were certaine feastes and practises of agilitie whiche they continually vsed euery fiue yéeres with Prises appointed for such as beste deserued them Dido now builte the renoumed Citie of Carthage as Rome also by Romulus Remus then began where the Romaine Kinges continually aboade arested them In this time the greate Citie of Bizance waxed mightie and honorable whiche afterwardes loste her name and was called Constantinople After this wearye warres grew in most places and inpacable dissensions with alteration and chaunge of great Segnories and Empires Whereof the Histories of that Age are each where full and abundant In the ende of this Age Nabuchodonosor King of the Medes and of Babilon besieged Hierusalem which he sackte and subuerted as also the Temple whence he brought the people of Iudea prysoners with him thence is that that we now remember the transmigration of Babylon When or at whiche time began the fifte Age of the Worlde which continued vntill the Byrth Natiuitie of our Sauiour and redéemer Iesus Christe both God and Man fiue hundred foure scoare and nine yéeres by common accompte of all men In these dayes were many valiaunt and puissante Princes riche and politike common Weales and Contryes in such sorte that it greate maruaile is to reade consider the straunge and miserable subuertions immutations and chaunge of estates the rare raysing and gathering of huge Armies and troupes of men such were they so terrible and so common withall that better it is thereof nothing to speake then to speake in few Not long after this began that famous Monarchie of the Persians whiche aswell by meane of other victories that Cyrus echewhere obtained as also that he vanquished and subdued Cresus Kinge of Lidia waxed of all others moste riche and renowmed notwithstandinge Cyrus after he had raigned fully thirty yéeres was him selfe discomfited and beheaded by Tameris Quéene of Scithia Three scoare and tenne yéeres of this Age accomplished the Hebrewes were deliuered out of bondage and captiuitie and the Temple was reedified by Salomon at Hierusalem The Romaines now altered their state of gouernment they deposed their Kinges choase to them Consuls of whiche the firste was L. Brutus and after him L. Colatinus In Greece nowe florished good Letters and Chiualry so that thence issued no lesse famous Philosophers then Capitaynes excellent Thither came Xerxes to haue Conquered it with a multitude incredible but was forced to retire againe with equall shame and detriment After this began Philippe his raigne in Macedonie whiche subdued Greece the Mother of Learning Chiualrie whiche in that time fostered Demosthenes Themistocles Epaminondas Agesilaus Zeno Plato Aristotle with many sutche others Philippe deade his Sonne Alexandre dwelte not still in Greece but wente thence into Asia which in shorte time he conquered subuertinge the Empire of Persia and by meanes of the victorie obtained againste Darius he remained euer afterwarde the onely Emperour and sole Monarke of all the whole worlde But after his death diuision was made to his Capitaynes of all and euery his Segneuries by meane whereof mutch enmitie and discorde grewe and thence also
Macedonye exposest thy selfe to all kinde of daungers only to inlarge thine Empyre Dominion that also in sutche sorte manner that the whole worlde scarce suffiseth to asswage thine Aâ—arice On a time he was also taken of certaine light horsemen Athenians by meanes whereof though imprisoned he neuer yet became either faynte harted or dismayed whence afterwarde remoued in place common to be solde to any sutche without respecte as should offer most for him Where immediatly a certaine Marchant demaundeth of the Trumpeter or publique Officer whither he had authoritie to sell him as also whither he were a bonde man or naie Whereat Diogenes sayde to the Officer answeare him that thou haste here to sell a seruaunt or bondman but sutche an one as well knoweth how to commaunde and gouerne his Maister Aulus Gellius and Macrobius reporte that he in sutche sorte bespake Geniades who was the aboue remembred Marchant that bought him who also after gaue him Maister to his children The same day therefore that he firste had bought him comminge with him towardes his Inne or lodginge Diogenes saide to him as if him self had benne the Marchant take héede now Geniades it standeth thée on to obeye mée in all that I shal anywhere counsell or commaund thée To whom Geniades answeared it were farre besides al order or reason that the Seruant should prescribe lawes to his Lord or Gouernour but Diogenes saide séemeth it not vnto thée good reason that the ill affected patient prouidinge to him for his Monie somme good and learned Phisition should in al thinges what so euer obeye and followe him In manner semblable the more warely and safely to conducte him if the good Mariner for wage chose to him a Pilote muste he not doo in all thinges his commaundementes If then it be true in this case as also in the other concerninge the infirmitie and weakenesse of mans bodie howe mutche more then ought he that standeth in néede of counsell and comfort for the soule to obey the learned aduised Philosopher All these thinges obserued well Geniades and in euery of his affayres vsed the aduice of Diogenes his Seruant committinge to his charge for instruction his children whom he in vertues lore in shorte time mutche profited In this sorte and after this manner this Philosopher liued ninetie yéeres in this worlde Somme suppose that he died beynge bitten of a Dogge Others somme that seinge him selfe very olde and féeble without any force nowe or farther desire to liue with the very same courage and constancie that he had liued did him self to die and made chaunge of life the same daie that Nature to greate Alexander had for his laste also assigned A little before his ende his auditours seinge him so olde and so neare his death demaunded him where he meante or desired to be buried to whom he saide his desire was to be layde in the wyde and open fielde whereat they all meruaylinge replied he ill aduised them for that in sutche poore and simple manner bestowed the Birdes beastes would deuoure his Carion then saithe he to auoide that inconuenience cause yée that my staffe be sette there by mée at which incontinently they brake out into a laughter arguinge him forthwith of manifest folly for that the deade neither seeth nor perceiueth any thinge to whome if they lacke saithe he these remembred senses what mattereth it then if rather the Byrdes Beastes in their hungrie necessitie praye on mée then vnder the Earth I should be of the wormes consumed Diogenes had none then so greate a desire to imploye as dothe many this daie lesse aduised their Treasour or Ritches on pompuous Funeralles ¶ Of the Excellencye and commendation of Trauayle as also of the damages that growe of Idlenes Chap. 13. IT lyeth vs on of necessitie bothe by the Lawes and Commaundementes of God to swincke and toyle in this worlde continually For our first Father hauing broken the Commaundemente of God was bannished and chased out of Paradis Terrestriall the Earthe lotted to him for his portion or inheritaunce with charge notwithstandinge to labour here in continuall payne and trauaile Whiche charge he neither receiued for any tearme or time but for euer without ceasse as longe as he liued whiche neither appertained to the Firste man onely but vnto all his Posteritie and Succession to the ende And although this necessitie of Trauaile be laide on man to call him to penance yet is it a fitte Medicine to asswage the wronge passed for that by our labour wée regayne that whiche was loste by disobedience and so mutch the more although it be vnto vs a present scourg for that God hathe condemned nothinge that was of it selfe lesse good graunting to Man Trauaile to turne and laboure the Earthe Also Iob saithe That Man is borne onely to sweate and to payne Consider againe howe our Sauiour and Redéemer Iesus Christe Mannes onely soueraigne Lorde and Maister to the example of vs all lyued in continuall payne and labour euen vntil the time of his Deathe and Passion Besides in his Parables he sharpely rebuketh such as any where consume and waste the time idlely imbrasinge all those that are vertuously busied vsinge in an other place these woordes to this pourpose Comme vnto mee all yee that are heauily loden and I will refreashe you If wée will paine our selues to reade the Scriptures wée shall finde that the auncient Sainctes spente all their dayes and Life in continuall exercise of Vertue and Godlinesse Further trauaile is not onely conducible to the Soule but also preserueth the healthe of the Body For it by daily practise becommeth agile stronge and well disposed in it are augmented and increased the Vitall Spirites the naughty and superflous humours consumed As touching the minde it thence exileth all impiÌ„ous and vnchaste thoughtes preuentinge al occasion of errour and offence Certaine is it that nothinge of weightie importance reacheth without paine to the desired effecte or ende as on the other side that ease that is purchased with paine is euer more then all others more pleasaunte and likinge He that taketh greate payne reposeth him selfe in ease for to the weary man all thinges are fittinge and agréeant His Meate to him is swéete and sauery He soundly sléepeth without dreame or vision and all pleasures whatsoeuer are to him bothe gratefull and acceptable Who so trauaileth not nor neuer becommeth wearye his repose to him lendeth vnperfite contentment But to returne to the commodities of the Bodye woonted exercise frameth a man discrete vigilante well aduised and sage and what els is profitable thence issueth it and springeth contintinually vnto man Trauaile is it that ordinarily prouideth a man of all thinges the same it is that frameth to him fayre houses to dwel in commodious lanes pathes to walke in for the more ease of the poore passenger greate shippes to crosse and ouerrunne the tumblinge Seas and armour to defende vs from the force of the enimie briefely innumerable
laste Seruis or Dishes of pleasance he caused in large Chargers solemnely to be serued in the heade féete and handes of the yonge Martyred childe vnto the good Father to the onely intente he should not be vnwéetinge that he then had banqueted and eaten of his owne Sonne Marius and Silla twoo capitall enimies on bothe sides so raged in execrable Tyrannye that thei contended as appeareth who might surmount and surpasse the other in villanye Silla bouchered in one daye foure Legions of Souldiers The Prenestines also a people of Italye crauinge with teares his fauoure and grace for that they had receiued the Capitaine Marius coulde notwithstandinge by no meanes escape his cruell hande For generally without excertion he murthered them all and gaue their bodyes for a praye to the Crowes and Rauens to féede on The semblable did also Marius his Companion in bouchery The Emperour Tiberius Successour to Octauian surpassed I trowe all others in his time who after his fainte clemencie in the entraunce of his Raygne passed no daye in whiche he spilte not the bloude of somme Innocentes Besides he diuised sutche a mercilesse policie as tofore hadde neuer benne in any place hearde of he inhibited that vnder payne of deathe none shoulde be so hardye to deplore lamente or make any shewe of mournefull semblant at the deathe of those that it shoulde please him any waye for any cause to execute A Crueltie straunge and suche as hathe not benne knowen for I déeme there can be no greater paine then to inhibite the poore harte that it vnloade and discharge not it self of his dolours by alarmes teares Also when he did to die any yonge maydens he firste committed them to his Tormentours to be deflowred of them to the intent that with their death they togeather shoulde lose their honour and Chastitie He so much was pleased in spillinge of bloude that vnderstandinge one had staine him selfe whom he before had Sentenced to death of pourpose to escape his mercilesse and cruell hande sighed with hawtie voice in lamentable manner sayinge Oh howe vnhappely hathe this Crows escaped mée by whiche name it pleased him to note the Condemned For you muste vnderstande that he in sutch sorte tormented the poore patient before he would suffer him by any meanes to die that they supposed presente deathe to be to them bothe a gaine and a grace Straunge were it to write what inuentions he vsed newe tormentes in Execution Sommetime he forced the Condemned excessiuely to drinke and immediately woulde cause the Cundittes of their Vrine so straitly to be bounde that they by no meanes possible mighte ease them selues that waye and so woulde he suffer them in excessiue paine to languishe till deathe shoulde take order for chaunge of theire life And further for his sale and onely pleasure he caused other somme to be throwne into the Sea from an excéedinge highe Cliffe or Rockys banke in the I le of Capraire adioyninge vnto Naples and for because that after that sorte to die in the Sea was as he thoughte a deathe too gentle he caused certaine Marriners and others with Pikes and sharpe weapons in Boates to stande directly vnderneathe the saide Rocke whiche receiued and bloudely martyred the miserable patientes before they might enioye the benefite of the Water Nowe after the shameful deathe of this incarnate Deuill such in déede as him selfe had wel deserued Caius Caligula succéeded in the Empire who either was equall or rather surpassed his Predecessours in all kinde of monsterous accursed tyrannies He on a time with greate affection wished that all the Inhabitauntes of Rome had togeather but one heade to the intent that at one blowe he might strike it of He strangly complained of the infelicitie of his time for that there chaunced not during his Raigne any Famine Plague Generall Inundations Subuersions and Diuastations of Countries with many sutche other dreadfull and miserable calamities Of a certaine man he demaunded bannished by Tiberius howe he liued or what he did duringe his Exile who in perfecte flattery answeared that he incessantly had praied to God to call hence Tiberius to the ende that he mighte succéede him without staye in the Empyre Whiche thinge considered of by this monsterous Traytour and doubtinge leaste so many thousandes whiche he had exiled shoulde in like manner pray to God for his deathe sente foorthewith into all partes to call them home againe whom immediately after their spéedie returne he commaunded to be executed without respect of any He straitly charged all his Tormentours that they by litle and litle shoulde tormente the afflicted Innocentes so that by small paines they might beginne to die protractinge their death as longe as was possible for he would he saide that they felte howe their life failed in them He also saide that others eftsoones of his complexion saide The people wishe me ill for that they feare mée After this Caligula succéeded Nero in execrable malice not at all his inferiour For proufe whereof he practised sutch a mercilesse tyrannie as wel in it comprised all other petie Treacheries For without any regarde to thinges holy or prophane to the Maiestrate what so euer he were or priuate Subiecte he caused the Citie of Rome to be sette on fire inhibitinge all men vnder paine of deathe by any meanes what so euer to quenche or asswage it neuer woulde he that any man shoulde saue any parte of his goodes So continued this fire wastinge and consuminge the Cittie seuen dayes fully seuen nightes to the ende him selfe out of a highe Tower not farre of beholdinge it reioysinge at this dolorous and mournefull spectacle He with villanous hande murthered his owne proper Moother He also did to die the Husbandes of Octauiana and Sabina bothe whiche he marryed but soone after beraughte them in manner semblable of theire liues Assuredly this was he that beyonde all others raged moste in crueltie for he was the firste that persecuted the Christians and in his time was the first greatest Persecution of the Church He made open she we of his surpassinge crueltie of his vnmeasurable and furious brutalitie for hearinge on a time a Greeke verse in effecte thus mutche signifiynge Woulde God the Heauen and Earthe the Sea and what so is After my deathe mighte cease and ende as eke all hope of blisse But I farre otherwise would that it chaunced by my life time saide he I coulde well be contented to take mine examples from barbarous Princes not touchinge any more the Emperours of Rome but the Successours againe of the aboue remembred in life and manners so outragious and execrable force mée to dwell stil emonge them rippinge and vnfoldinge their tragicall insolencie of Domitianus Vitellius Commodus Maximianus and others theire semblables I speake at all nothinge But of Diocletian whose manners so vnsauerye and bestiall furie Eusebius in his Ecclesiasticall Histories reciteth Sommething muste I speake before I passe him vtterly to the intente that all blasphemers
accordyng to their perfection were able in what quantitie so euer iustlie to value theim This Zeuxis with suche perfection depainted Penelope that hymself therein besides others had most perfect likyng by meanes whereof he subscribed these fewe wordes commended of all menne more easie shal it be to all suche as shall beholde this vnkindlie to enuie it then with filed hande learnedlie to follow it He besides these did manie other thinges so perfecte so absolute and in suche sort estimed that Plinie reporteth that euen vntill his tyme there was reserued of his doyng a draught of Helena in Rome as also some other thinges moste curiously depainted and yet was there as hath Eusebius from the tyme of his death till Plinie afterward was and did these thinges to wryting by iuste accompte fiue hundred and eight yeres The Agrigentines became suters vnto hym to frame theÌ„ some skilfull purtratie whiche they might offer vnto their Goddesse Iuno but he to theim accorded nothing before by his commaundemente thei had presented vnto hym a greate number of naked maides of rare and comelie beautie out of whiche he chose fiue whiche among the reste he déemed to be fairest and best feutered who takyng from euerie of these that whiche in theim best liked hym he finished this excellent and this fore desired peece Of Parrasus his competitor straunge matters also finde we Strabo writeth that among sundry other thinges he fashioned in the Iâ—le of Rhodes a Satyre standing fast by a certaine Columne or Piller on the highest part of whiche he had depainted a Partridge but although this Columne and Satyre were absolutely doen yet this Partridge so farre surpaste theim in perfection that in the iudgement of all men she séemed to haue life so that without regarde of thother parte of the table eche man was amased at the excellencie of the birde whose perfection in déede was suche and so absolute that thei placing before the saied table certeine tame Partridges as presentlie we may in cages verie easelie kepe theim began to call and offered to flie to hym being as is aboue saied onely painted By meane whereof Parrasus besought the Magistrates of Rhodes that he might with their licence deface and remoue hym considering it stained the beautie of the other partes of the table whiche were assuredlie most famous and excellent Plinie also writeth of him matters straunge and merueilous affirming that some of his woorkes were also fonnde in Rome And farther addeth that amonge others sundrie his perfections he had a subtill or secrete kinde of practise besides his open and séemely proportions whereby he gaue men plainlie to vnderstande the nature or conditions of what soeuer he depainted as is written he did in the Idoll of the Atheniens which in such order and maner he handled that besides the rare beautie and excellencie of the subiecte eche man might sée the ordenaunces maners and customes of the Atheniens who as he was assuredly a prince in that his arte so was he in all other thinges of a moste sharpe and fined witte neither in drawyng his lines or proportions was he bolder then he was pleasaunt with all men merie and well disposed Whence he ofte tymes would saie that paintyng had well schooled hym in the perfecte loare and vsage of wisedome and knowledge But beyng entered into the consideration of this matter it shall not bee besides the purpose some thyng to speake in fewe of Apelles Prince and maister of all other Painters as also som what of Protogines singuler also and excellent in this arte Of that excellent Painter Apelles as also of Protogenes an other in his tyme Chap. 7. THat of one and of the saied subiecte we haue here presently written twoo chapiters is though for some others yet chiefly for twoo causes the one for that the lengthe and continued prorsis wearieth commonlie whatsoeuer the reader whiche some times before thei come to the ende forgette what thei redde at the first or beginnyng the other for the dignitie of hym of whom our penne shall speake here presently well deserueth or meriteth his chapiter a parte to the intent it maie the better bee considered of the readers This then is Apelles in the skill of Paintyng the onely Phenix and mercour of all others He had to maister one Panphilus verie excellent in his science who neuer tooke scholer by the yere for lesse price then for one whole talente Attique valuyng by our accompte sixe hundred croâ—nes sterlyng In the tyme of this Apelles Protogines also liued in this arte moste famous suche bothe and so perfecte in their profession that hardly men knewe whiche merited higheste commendation By meane whereof Apelles aduertised of his excellencie determined on a time to go to visite him and happely in fewe daies arriuyng at Rhodes where at that tyme Protogines dwelt dissimulyng that he was driueÌ„ thither by aduerse winde and weather and entering at the gates or house of Protogines founde hym not whom he sought then presently at home and hauyng demaunded where he might be of an olde woman that kept the house tooke leaue to depart about other his affaires but this olde woman saied whom shall I saie you are that haue sought here Protogines Apelles straight takyng in hand a pinselle whiche he there founde tournyng to her saied thou shalt saie to Protogines that he that drewe this line here would gladly haue spoken with hym and in vttryng these wordes framed there so curious a line so straighte so well proportioned that it wel argued what he was that with learned hande had drawen it Now after this Protogines immediatly retournyng aduertised of all thinges as is afore saied who after he had aduised hym selfe of this skilfull line said that besides Apelles no man that liued could dooe it and so incontinently taketh in hande an other pinselle and with a contrary coloure vpon Apelles his line draweth then the seconde so fine and so well fashioned that besides hym self none could by common iudgement doe it commaunding forthwith his woman that if he by happe retourned that she should shewe him that line as also farther learne hym that Protogines had doen it whom he so muche desired Apelles then retournyng the other beyng for the the old woman as she receiued in commaundement of her maister presenteth forthwith to him this second line to consider of Where at as all amased at the greate aduantage that Protogines had gained tooke in hande againe the second time the pinselle and sondereth in the middle Protogines his line againe whiche hardly might be seen so small it was subtile but with the third colour Apelles notwithstandyng in suche extreme perfection parteth bothe the others that for the fowerth he leaueth no kinde of place in the worlde Protogines then retournyng and seyng what had chaunced confeste the truthe Apelles to bee in deede his better and runneth all aboute with painfull care to seke hym to the onely intente he might doe hym conuenient
whiche was shortly after the passion of Christe men perceiued that these Oracles began to fainte and faile neither allegaeth he for it in his treatise any other reason but that there should be dead as he supposed some spirites whiche he spake as a man voide or lesse skilled in the faithe for that he vnderstode not that the deuilles or spirites were immortall Notwithstandyng straunge is it and worthie of consideration to sée how euidently the deuill shewed hym self to bée conquered and subdued and that after the death of our sauiour he so remained discomforted that he neuer again was able to frame in any suche sort an aunswer and that the Gentiles also not able in déede to yelde any cause or reason why had some féelyng of this default and surceassyng from his function By meane whereof Plutarche tooke on hym to write this treatise in which emong others in effecte he hath these wordes of which Eusebius maketh mention writyng to Theodorus as of a moste notable and meruailous matter I remember that I haue heard saie saieth he of Emilian the oratour a man prudente and wise and well knowen to many of you that his father on a tyme commyng by the sea towardes Italie and passyng on a night by a certaine Isle called Paraxis euen when all in the Shippe were then still and quiete thei heard a greate and dreadfull voice whiche srom the Isle called to them Ataman Ataman suche was the pilotes name of the shippe an Egiptian borne although this voice were ones and againe vnderstoode by Ataman yet was he not so hardie to frame to it an annswere vntill the third time whē he said who is there what is it that calleth me what wouldest thou haue To whō this voice again more louder thē before saied Ataman my will is that when thou passest by the goulfe which hath to name Laguna that thou there remember to crie out and certifie the said goulfe that the greate God Pan is deade Whiche vnderstoode all those that were in the shippe feared counsailyng the saied pilote to leaue vndooen his charge neither any thyng to arreste or staie at the goulfe especially if the winde would serue them to passe further but approchyng nigh the place of whiche this voice admonished hym the ship arrested and the sea waxte calme not hauyng winde to passe presently any farther by meanes whereof thei generally concluded that Atman should there dooe his legation or imbacie whiche the better to doe he mounteth vp into the poupe or hinder parte of the ship where he crieth as loude as he could possible saiyng I will that ye knowe that the greate God Pan is deade whiche woorde as sone as he ones had vttered thei heard incontinently suche terrible lamentations and cries houling and complainyng aboue that maie be saied in suche sort that the sea it self resounded these complaintes whiche continued moste dolorous and lamētable a great while by meanes whereof the Mariners though meruailously afraied hauyng the winde good againe followed their course arriuyng at Rome made rehearsal of this their aduenture Whereof the Emperour Tiberius aduertised and desirous to be certified of the truthe and none other founde to conclude as is aboue rehearsed Whence it is euident that the deuilles euery where sorowed the natiuitie of our Sauiour and redemer Christe for that he was onely their ruine and destruction For by iuste and true supputation of tyme we finde that this happened at the tyme of his Passion or perhaps some thyng before then I meane whe he banished and exiled them out of the worlde It is to be presupposed that this great God Pan accordyng to the immitation of Pan the God of Shepherdes whiche thei saied was deade was some capitaine and maister deuill whiche at that tyme loste his Empire as did also the others Besides all these Iosephus writeth that at the same tyme was heard in the temple of Hierusalem a voice though in déede ther was no liuyng creature with in whiche lamentably cried and saied thus let vs goe hence and leaue this countrie in haste as who would saie thei truely knewe that the tyme of their paine and persecution was at hande and that it drewe on faste euen by the death of hym that gaue life vnto others In the Gospell of the Nazarites it is reade that in the daie of his Passion that sumptuous gate of their Temple whiche thei neuer lefte for any coste to adorne and beautifie fell doune to the grounde and was vtterly defaced Consider now in that daie what straunge and meruailous thynges happened though the Euangelistes haue paste theim as thynges lesse worthie memorie The eclipce also of the Sunne whiche continued thrée howers the full space in deede that Christ was on the crosse was not naturall as are the others whiche by th' onely coniunction of the Sunne and Moone chaunce vs but was miraculous and contrary to the course and order of nature Suche therefore as lesse knowe how the Sunne is eclipsed must vnderstande that it onely happeneth by coniunction of the aboue saied bodies the Mooue passyng or goyng betwixt the Sunne and the yearth neuer the lesse this eclipse happened in th' opposition of these planettes the Moone then full and hundred and eightie degrées distant frō the Sūne in the vnder hemisphere then at the citée of Hierusalem for proofe whereof besides the testimonies of infinite good writers the scriptures them selues record it manifestly for certain it is that the lambe was neuer Sacrificed but in the .xiiij. of the Moone whiche Lambe was eaten by Christ and his disciples but one daie onely before his death as is commaunded in the .xij. of Exodus in Leuiticus also the xxiij And the nexte daie followyng whiche was the daie of vnleauened bread Christ the Lambe vnspotted was vnkindly crucified the Moon then of necessitie in her full and opposite to the Sunne whiche then could no more eclipse the Sunne then any other Planete It then was to conclude miraculous and contrary to the order of nature doen onely by the onmipotente and sole power of GOD whiche depriued the Sunne of light for that thrée howers space By occasion whereof that worthie personage Denis Areopagita beyng at the time presente at Athens and beholding in this sorte the Sunne to be obscured and knowyng on the other side as a learned Astrologian that this eclipse was contrary to the order of natue saied openly with a loude voice to bée heard of all menne either the frame of the worlde shall bée dissolued either the God of nature presently suffereth For whiche cause as one reporteth the sages of Athens straungely disturbed did to bee builte incontinently an aulter to the God vnknowen whether afterward saincte Paule arriuyng learned theim who was that God vnknowne and that he was Jesus Christ God and man our redemer whiche then and at that tyme suffered for our saluation by meanes whereof he conuerted greate numbers to the faithe Some neuer the lesse haue doubted
whether this defecte were generall and vniuersall throughout the worlde groundyng here on though the Euangelist saieth that it was synne vpon the whole face of the yearth that that was onely but a phrace or maner of speache as muche to saie as in all the countrie there about of whiche opinion was that learned doctour Origen but what Wee sée that in Grece yea in Athens it self this defecte of the Sunne was perceiued of all men whiche leadeth me to suppose that it was generall to bée seen and considered through out our whole hemisphere in what place or where so euer the Sunne that tyme appered Whiche I therefore saie for that in all the other hemisphere where it then was night no man could sée any thyng no she we then of the Sunne at all there for at one tyme he onely lighteth the halfe worlde the other he obscureth with his owne proper shadowe How bee it the Moone then beyng in her fulle not hauyng any other lighte then that whiche she taketh or borroweth of the Sunne and yet then beyng in the hemisphere whiche is vnder vs became also to bee vehemently eclipsed and darkened by th' onely want of the light and she we of the Sunne By which meanes an vniuersall shadow couered the whole yearth the Moone and starres not able to giue other light then that whiche thē selues receiue of the Sunne Of many places alleaged by sundrie good authors making mention of Christe and of his life Chap. 17. EFtsones haue I harde the question demaunded of manie a curious and learned Clarke whence it was or whence it proceaded that the Gentiles and Paynimes so sildome remembred anie thing of our sauiour Christe in all their writinges of his life and miracles so manie in number published and made common to the worlde by his disciples for as muche as the saide Painimes and Gentiles haue well remembred sundrie other things which were doen and chaunsed euen in the same tyme in many respectes of lesse waight or importance Where vnto I aunswere that it lesse true were to affirme that these auncient historians haue here of written nothing for in infinite places haue thei discoursed of these thinges of whiche some fewe notes I haue briefly here gathered for their onely contentation that neuer were acquainted with these foresaid historiogriphers In the seconde place also we muste consider that the faithe and lawe of grace geuen vs by Christe begun by himself first and by his disciples published and receaued of certaine that determined to liue and die therin other some rebellious and obstinate so deepe drouned in sinne that they made no scruple to refuse it but to the vtterest of their might pursued and persecuted it Besides these the thirde sorte were neuters that healde the meane to whom though this religion seemed iuste and vertuous yet as well for feare of persecution and tyrannie as also for some other worldely considerations this vertuous profession was also of theim neglected The worlde then standyng this in thrée opinions deuided those that professed Christe did thinges straunge and miraculous of whom many beare true and assured witnes of whiche number are Dionysius Areopagita Tertulian Lactantius Firmianus Eusebius Paulus Orosius with many others which long were here to recounte or remember These others accursed that persecuted this Churche as a thing straunge abhorring from their lawe indeuoured what in theim was vtterly to abandō it couering christ his miracles his life his doctrine for whiche cause thei refuced to write of him at all or at least they that in any sorte wrote any thinge of hym did it to the intente to staine and obscure his glory of which predicament were these predestinate to damnation Porphyrius Iulianus Vincentius Celsus Africanus Lucianus with others many the members of Sathan against whom most learnedly hath written S. Ciprian Origen Augustine and others The others that for feare or for consideration of gaine haue lefte to loue Christe to learne and knowe his Gospel for the same causes haue also in their kookes leafte to remember of hym or if at leaste any of theim haue anie thinge spoken of hym the same hath been freaghted with skoffes and lies passing hym ouer in as fewe as was possible Yet neuerthelesse euen as he that woulde couer a veritie vnder the shadowe of disguised treatcheries it eftsones falleth out by the preuie proprietie and secret nature of the veritie that he that fainest woulde couer it so euill fauouredly disguiseth and fardleth the matter that in the ende it ill sauoureth the truth mawgre his bearde breakyng out moste plaine and euident Euen so hath it happened to both these sortes of these afore remembred people whiche although thei toiled to discredite and to staine with ignominie the miracles wrought by our sauiour and his professed doctrine yet came it so to passe that as often tymes as thei therof wrote any thing some thing thei vttered in suche sorte as was euident both their dispitefull malice and puritie of that doctrine Here colde I remember manie thinges writen by the Sybilles but for as much as that that thei wrote procéeded not of theimselues but from that spirite of prophicie whiche God had lente or graunted theim though they were in déede nothyng better then infidels I will leaue of theim to speake any thinge hastyng to thothers Our first then and most euident testimonie though also with the same not leaste common is and shal be of the most and greatest ennimies of christianitie among others of Iosephus a Iewe both by consanguinitie and nation as by his life also and profession his wordes are these In this time liued Iesus a wise and learned man if it be lafull to terme hym a man for that assuredly he did thinges straunge and mearuailous a maister and teacher of those that loued him and sought the truth he ioygned vnto him greate nūbers as wel of Iewes as Gentiles this man was christ And although he afterwardes were accused by men of greate aucthoritie fautors I meane and fauourars of our religion don to death also and by the same crucified he not withstanding was neuer yet forsaken of those that before hadde willingly followed hym wherfore the thirde daie again after his death he appeared to theim aliue according as the Prophetes by diuine inspiration had before spoken and prophicied of hym And euen in this our time the doctrine and name of Christians dwelleth yet and euer shal doe vnto the ende in the worlde These then are the wordes of Iosephus whiche wrote of the ruine and destruction of Hierusalem a witnes presente in person at that subuersion whiche chaunsed full fortie yeres after the passion of our redemour Pilate in like sorte whiche gaue sentence of death against him witnesseth in maner semblable of his meruailous miracles of whiche by hys letters he certified the Emperour Tyberius by meanes wherof he consulted with the Senate to know whether they would admitte Iesus Christe to be reuerenced and adored for God and
although they woulde in no wise there vnto accorde yet Tyberius of hymself streatly inhibited that no man shoulde be so hardie to touche or greue a Christian As concernyng the yearthquake and darknyng of the Sunne continuyng the full tyme that Christ was on the Crosse we haue also good testimonies and assured of Ethnikes Flegon a gréeke historiogripher borne in Asia of whom Swydas especially remembreth reporteth for a thing almost incredible that in the forth yere of the two hundred and tenth Olympiade whiche by iust accompte was in the eightinth yere of the raigne of Tyberius at whiche tyme our sauiour suffered there was a greate Eclipse of the Sunne suche as earste had neuer been séen or written of continuyng from the sixt hower euen vnto the ninth and farther during the time of this defect of the Sunne such and so inspekable were the yearthequakes in Asia and Bithinia that infinite houses fell doune to the grounde It appeareth farther that besides this Flégon that in the same time liued Plinie also felte it and discoursed on the saide matter for saieth he in the tyme of Themprour Tyberius greater yearth quakes were then seen then euer had been before by meanes of whiche were subuerted twelue famous cities in Asia with infinite and innumerable other houses and buildynges in suche sort that the historiogriphers Gentiles though lesse wéetyng the cause lefte not yet to write the miracles of Christ The other miracle of the veale of the Temple that sundred Iosephus in like sorte recordeth it faithefully The cruell murther dooen by Herode vppon the harmelesse innocentes is writen of on other Iewe whiche hight Phylon an historian of greate aucthoritie in his abridgemeÌ„t of tyme where he thus muche reporteth that Herode did to bee murthered certaine yong infantes and with them also his owne naturall soonne for that he heard say that Christ the king promised to the Iewes was borne and this man liued in the tyme of Herode the Tetrarche as him selfe writeth This history of the innocentes is of Macrobius also more fully remembred a man excellentlie learned and of greate antiquitie who in rehersall of certaine pleasant and merie conceites of the Emperour Octauian aboute the tyme of the birth or natiuitie of our sauiour whiche saied beyng aduertised of the crueltie of Herode as well towardes hys owne soonne as also the others that he rather would be a Hogge in the house of Herode then his soonne whiche he saied for that the Iewes did neuer eate any swines fleshe whiche pretie ieste is repeted by Dion in the life of the saide Emperour so that in fine there were many miracles written as wel by Iewes as by Gentiles lesse supposing to haue witnessed them to haue been doen by Christe besides infinite the others reported by Christians What farther shall I write of the auncient Emperours and what thei thought of our faith as what discourtisies they also practised against the true professors of Christ and his truth The first good Bishoppe or seruaunt of Christ S. Peter S. Paule also a faithfull minister were doen to death at the commaundement of the Emperoar Nero thirtiesix yeres after the death of our redemour at whiche tyme was the greate persecution of the Churche of whiche the Gentiles left not to make mentioÌ„ as among others many these twoo especially Cornelius Tacitus and Suetonius Tranquillus whiche liued at that tyme bothe famous and honourable Suetonius in the life of Nero spekyng of certaine his owne ordinaunces faieth that hee tormented and afflicted with sundry and greuous puishmentes a certaine kinde of people whiche called theimselues Christians folloyng a newe faith or religon And Cornelius T. writyng of the saied Nero affirmeth that he chastised and pursued with terrible tormentes a sort of people named commonly Christians the author of whiche name saieth he was Christ of Hierusalem the verie same whiche Pilate gouernour of ludea did openly to be crucified by whose death his doctrine grewe more and more and increased But consider wee also what some other Gentiles haue written of honour and authoritie like vnto the others Plinie the yonger in one of his Epistles demauÌ„deth of the Emperour Traian whose LiuetenaÌ„t he was in Asia how he would that he should punishe the Christians that were aceused and brought before hym and the better to informe his Lorde of what soeuer he founde against them he among other thinges many reporteth that these Christians rise ordinarilie at certaine houres of the night assembling and meetyng together singyng Hymmes and Songes of praise vnto Iesus Christe whom they honoured for their God and Messias and besides this meetyng in congregations together they made also vowes not to doe annoie or domage to anie not robbyng or takyng from any manne what so euer that they would not committe adulterie that thei neuer woulde false their faith or promis not to denie what soeuer had been lent theim or committed to their kepyng And farther the saide Plinie writeth that they alwaies did feede or eate together not holding or possessyng any thyng as proper or priuate By these are well knowen what were euen then the exercises of the christians as also for what cause the worlde pursued theim Those thinges were recorded thus by an idolatrous infidell sixtie yeres fullie after the Passion of our Lorde and sauiour Vnto whiche letters the Emperour aunswered for as muche as thei were accused of no kind of riote or wrong he should in no wise afflict or chastice theim â—e yet make any inquisition what so euer against theim not withstandyng when they shoulde yet be accused before hym that he then did his pain to withdrawe theim from that Religion but if they in no wise would forgo or leaue it that he should not for all that do theim any kinde of violence How be it true it is that this saied Emperour Traian before this as an infidell and deceaued by the guile and fraude of the accusers punished both and persecuted the poore harmlis christians After succided in th' empire his Nephew Adrian of whoÌ„ Aelius Lampridius an historiogripher voide of faithe and idolatrus writeth that he began first to honour the christians permitting theim to liue after their loore and order and that hym selfe also with the people reuerensed Christ building and grauntyng theim Temples for their behoofe but afterwardes alteryng his good minde and zeale towardes theim began cruelly again and odiously to persecute theim abused by the maisters of his false cerimonies as by the Bishops also of his false gods perswadyng with hym that if he any waie fauoured the Christians that all the worlde woulde shortly be conuerted to that lawe whence a generall rume would followe to their gods and religion all whiche is reported by Petrus Crinitus It is written in the life of Saturninus that from Seuerinus the Consull a letter was writen to the said Adrian the'mperor wherin he certified him that in Egipt were sundrie christiaÌ„s among which some called theimselues Bishops of which all no
as is saied the Equinoxe is not euer firme For Christ hymself died the .xxv. daie of Marche and at that time was the daie euen with the night and now this equation is but about the eleuēth of Marche whence it well maie be presumed that in the beginnyng it was in Aprill For whiche cause some accompted Aprill for the first monethe other some March yet thei all wil saie that then this frame was wrought when that the Sunne firste entered into the signe of Aries and that then is this Equinoxe whiche well is proued by the scriptures where it is saied that in the Monethe Nisan whiche with vs is Marche the yere began to haue his first daie of accompte Vincent also in the beginnyng of his mirrour historiall saieth that the aunciēt Hebrues beganne their yere in the Monethe of Marche for that then was the Equinoxe saieth he whence and from whiche tyme the worlde tooke his beginning Certain Gentiles also defende and maintain with like care this opinion as Elpaco in his treatise written of Astrologie where he saieth that the Chaldeans excellente Astronomers supposed that the firste daie in whiche the worlde was created the Sunne entered into the first degree of Aries whiche opinion is maintained of most part of Astronomers as well aunciente as newe and late writers When then the Sunne was founde in that poincte then also was the beginnyng of the yere then also the firste daie for before that was none other neither can it bee denied but that the firste daie that was made was also the firste daie in the accoumpt of yeres for that before it was neither tyme or yeres For whiche cause onely this signe of Aries is of all the others reckened the first and foremoste And who so will iudge and diuine of thynges to come he erecteth his figures calculatyng continually from that fore saied poincte or beginnyng of the worlde And farther it is plain by an euident coniecture that God when he first created the wide wast worlde that he then also plaste the Sunne as is saied in Aries as maie well be gathered of that whiche is fore saied in the chapiter of the daie and tyme in whiche our sauiour suffered to wete that this Planete was in that place in the creatiō that he also was in at the regeneration whē Christ hymself suffered his death and his passion which happened as is there saied in this Equinoxe so often to fore remembred It also semeth credible that it therfore was so for that those that haue any felyng in the sphere or otherwise in Astronomie shall well perceiue that the Sunne beyng entered into this signe of Aries makyng there his reuolution by the space of one whole daie no corner is on the yearth whiche he in that daie ones leaueth or to comforte or solace with his presence whiche at no tyme chaunseth in any other poinctes of the Zodiake for that where soeuer he els bee some place is on the yeareh where the Sunne is not in that daie séen but beyng in this degree as is saied or in his opposite no parte of the worlde is there whiche in that daie ones seeth hym not And it semeth reasonable that the Sūne when he firste of all beganne his circuite that he there and in suche place should beginne where he might visite euery the partes of the whole worlde and that that rather should bee in the firste of Aries then of Libra it of parte is euidente by that whiche wee haue saied that in the daie of the death or Passion of our sauiour this Planet was in that verie same place in whiche he also hath a certain perticuler dignitie Restyng then on this poinct as on a truthe assured thei doubtles are deceiued that imagined the worlde firste beganne in the Equinoxe of September though it pleased theim to saie that then all fruites were ripe and in season whiche if we well consider is nothyng so in deede for when thei are ripe in the Northe parte of the worlde thei nothyng at all then are so in the Southe but in verie truthe and assuredlie the contrary For whiche cause I neither would leane to the opinion of those whiche saied that in this Equinoxe of Marche whiche is in the same beginnyng whiche we in deede approue was or ought to bee the entrie therefore of the worlde for that then at that tyme is the spring for that flowers also and grasse eche where then begin to come that then also all beastes acquainte them with their matche for if it be to vs as it can not be gainsaied the commyng and beginnyng of all graine and grasse it then is Winter or at the leaste Autumne to these that inhabite the Southe partes of the worlde These then maie suffice with the aucthorities aboue remembred to satisfie and contente the reasonable in this matter although the yere Romaine whiche onely now is vsed take his beginnyng of the firste daie of Ianuarie whiche thyng happened by the fonde deuotion and superstition onely whiche the Gentiles vsed towardes their God Ianus doing their yere to beginne by his name as the christians did theirs from the natiuitie of Christe although then in deede the yere had not his beginnyng The Romaines also beganne their yere in Marche as writeth M. Varro and Macrobius in his firste booke Ouide also in Fastis with many others Farther GOD shewed to vs his greate fauour and goodnes in that it pleased hym to place our firste parentes Eue and Adam in these Septentrionall partes of the worlde after their exile and detrution out of Paradise terrestriall whiche bothe entered into this worlde at the firste commyng of the Spryng findyng the yearth then greene and flowred the aire verie swete temperate and pleasaunte the better to solas and comforte them in their miserie and nakednesse whiche at none other tyme of the yere could so well haue chaunsed them But passe we this matter now as sufficiently proued and speake we of the other Planetes especially of the Moone as one emong the others of moste force and vertue whiche as some suppose in the firste daie or instaunte of her creation was placed by diuine prouidence in coniunction with the Sunne others saie that she was then at full and in direct opposition Sainct Augustine cōmenting on the fifte of Genesis remembreth bothe these remembered opinions saiyng that thei that maintaine that she then was in opposition argue that it was not reason in that her firste creation that she either should lacke or bée defectuous in any thyng The others saie that it is more credible that she in coniunction beganne there her firste daie so increasyng accordyng to our accompte in her age but to abridge this controuersie in myne opinion she at her first beyng was in plaine and perfecte oppositiō with the Sunne whiche opinion is moste receiued of the learned Augustine in the place aboue alledged and Rabanus also on the twelueth of Exodus arrest them bothe on
thei more desired in suche sort to spende thē then to leaue occasion to their posteritie by these meanes to passe and surmount their predicessors in wealth and abundance inioiyng after theim that whiche they before carefully had gathered It also is written that these Pyramides serued as Sepulchers for greate Princes and who so wel cōsidereth the greate multitude of Hebrues whiche serued in Egipte whose aide the Princes vsed there to erecte Cities Castles and Holdes will nothing at all maruaile at that which is aboue saide for it is most certaine that there were deliuered from this bondage six hundred thousande men besides an infinite multitude of women and children whiche all were imploied in these and the like woorkes so that by these meanes it was no straunge thyng to aduaunce these famous edifices and as some also report the Radishe rootes and saletes besides other prouision of like meates in these workes spent mounted to the summe of eightie talentes which might value of our mony one million and foure score thousand Crounes Diodorus writeth that rounde aboute this Pyramis bothe nigh and farre of there was not to bee founde so muche as one small stone nether any shewe or signe that any man had earste been there and in fine no foundation thereof to be séen or perceiued onely ther was fine sande as salte and that in greate abundaunce or quātitie in suche sort that it séemed it onely had been by some secrette miracle or by the mightie hande of God or that it had out of that place growen vp whose height almoste séemed to haue streachte vnto the heauens If we would leaue to remember olde histories yet coulde wee not in this matter lacke good witnesses of our tyme Petre Matyr borne in Milan a man of no lesse experience then learnyng sente as Ambassadour vnto the Soudan of Egypte from the Emperour Ferdinande in the yere of our redemption a thousande fiue hundred and one cōposed a booke of these thinges which he sawe and did in that ambassade where hee vttereth in writynge that whiche by mouth he hath often tymes spoken touching and concernyng these fore remembred Pyramides agreyng in euery pointe with that whiche these auncient authors haue leafte vs and perticularly he discourseth in many of twoo whiche both he sawe of height incredible and farther saieth that hee measured the quarters of one of theim which were all equal eche hauyng .iij. hundred and fiftene pases in leanght and in circuite all to gether almost thirtene hundred and againe he addeth that on euery side there were certeine houge and greate stones imbost and swellyng outwarde for the more better conueance of certaine roumes with in And more he saieth that some of his company in long tyme with merueilous paine ascended to the top of one of them where thei founde one stone suche and so greate that with ease thirtie men might at once haue stode on hym and beyng descended againe woulde not otherwise thincke but that thei had been in some cloude farther so high thei were that their sight beganne to faile theim their braines rollyng and turnyng as people amased So that as he saith it nothing may be doubted neither of the nūber of workmen nether of the greate expenses The fourth was the sepulchre or tombe whiche Artemisia did to be built for her husebande Mausolus kyng of Caria a prouince in Asia the greater nigh vnto the Sea Icarium This woman as writeth A. Gellius and others in suche sorte loued Mausolus her husebande that all men remember her for an example moste notable who after the kyng died did in suche sorte lament and bewaile hym as nether can I write or finde experience thereof in others erectynge to hym a sepulchre aunsweryng of parte the greate loue that she bare hym whiche for the cost bestowed theron the excellent frame and workmanshippe with all was and is reputed for one of the seuen wōders This tombe was built on an excellent kinde of Marble in compasse iuste four hundred and a leuen foote and in height twētie and fiue cubites It also had thirtie and six pillers all of stone of rare prise most skilfully ingraued it laie open to the veu on euery side to be séen with Arches containyng seuentie and three foote in breadthe bulte by the moste excellent workmen that were in the world to bee found The parte openyng to the Easte was ingraued and wrought by Scopas that toward the north by Briax the South parte by Timothee and that of the West by Leocares the perfection of this worke was suche and the frame therof so excellent that it therby gained the name of Mausoleum and that for the deade Kynges sake for whom it was builded whence also all other sepulchres that euen vntill this daie haue any where béen made if there be any beauty or excellencie in theim for that Sepulchre onely holde the name of Mausolea And of those thinges make mention Plinie Pomponius Mela Herodotus Strabo Aulus Gellius and others It also is euident that Artemisia after the death and departure of her husebande liued in continuall teares and wéepyng and that her selfe also paide the tribute of nature before this worke was fully finished and ended hauyng drouncke notwithstandyng her husebandes bones firste in pouder lodging theim in the Sepulchre of her owne proper body The fifte was the Temple of Diana whom fondly the Gentiles adored for a goddesse it stoode in the citie of Ephesus in Asia in the prouince of Ionium Plinie saieth that it was builte by the Amazones whose fame and renoume was suche and so straunge that no parte of the world was there that resounded not of it so that Democritus there of onely hath writen one whole volume Plinie discoursing of this temple saieth that it contained foure hundred twentie and fiue foote in lengthe and in breadthe twoo hundred and twentie This woorke was of such merueilous excellencie that all Asia about it was busied ij C. and twenty yeres it was seated in a Fenne or marishe ground onely to auoide the daūger of yearthquakes the foundation therof was laide with Cole dust hard troden and beaten doune and on that againe great store of Wooll to assure the place other wise moiste and watrie In it were an hundred fowertie and seuen pillours euery of theim of Marble and seuenty foote high all erected by Kynges of Asia Of these thirtie seuen were most exquisitlie ingraued the others also of Marble as is saide polished The maister of this woorke as recordeth Plinie was Cresiphon but Strabo otherwise saieth that it was Archifron Howe bee it this diuersitie of opinions is excusable consideryng howe longe tyme this woorke continued and therefore of necessitie it required more then one or twoo maisters besides many thinges were added at sundrie tymes to perfecte it Solinus and Pomponius Mela write that this Temple was firste erected by the Amazones and Solinus farther addeth that when the mighty and puissant Xerxes was busied aboute the conquest
scatteryngly a loofe and farre of followed hym Whiche thyng Elanicus perceiuyng and thinkyng that occasion was then well offered not giuyng the signe betwixt them appoincted lifted vp his handes to the heauēs and with a loude voice said what longer abide you ye valiaunte and couragious Why shewe you not your prowes in the middle here of your Citée Then Cilon immediately draweth out his sworde and slue one of theim that in haste was come to waite on the tyranne out of the palace And on the other side Aristotimes seyng bothe Trasibolus and Lampidus assailyng hym and supposyng to escape theim fled to the Temple of Iupiter where he was slaine by the multitude pursuyug hym and his bodie drawen out thence in the sight of all men libertie beyng proclaimed throughout the whole Citee The multitude in heapes incontinently then assēbled but fewe yet came to see or behold that lothsome carrion before these women were deliuered whiche hastenyng to that place ioiously honoured them that by the death of the tyrāne had deliuered their countrie In the meane tyme the people running in hast to the palace where the Queene aduertised of the death of her housebande dreadyng muche that whiche in déede insued lockte her self vp in her closet secretly where she strangeled herself without the helpyng hande of any Now had this tyranne twoo very faire doughters bothe of ripe yeres and readie to bee married whiche vnderstādyng of the faule of their father withdrewe theimselues in all haste aparte into their cabinette whence thei incontinentely were drawen out by force of the people and diuers readie violently and without more to haue slaine theim Megestena with the reste of the imprisoned women skilfully appeased that their ragyng furie hesechyng theim to abstaine from the yonge gentle women consideryng the tyranne though other wise fell and cruell had neuer yet thei all beyng his prisoners imbrued hymself in the bloud of any one of thē At the request thē of these dames eche weight was sone appeased whiche after cōsultation resolued on this poinct that with their owne handes thei should doe themselues to dye chusyng what death so euer was to theim beste likyng Then were thei bothe shutte into a chamber togither the elder neither in gesture nor in woorde shewyng any kinde of sorrowe tooke from her waste her girdle fastenyng it to a poaste and beyng readie therein to dye exhorted her sister with manly courage to doe also the semblable but the yongest then taking her sister by the hande besought her moste humblie that she might dye first to whom the other aunswered euen as since our cradles hauyng still liued and continued togither I neuer yet denied you any your demaunde so am I contented to accorde you againe this your laste and fatall sute whiche is that I liue vntill you bee dedde although of all others this assuredly will goe nighest me to see thee myne owne sister to bee strangled here before me Now tooke then the youngest in hande her girdle whiche with trēblyng fingers moste pitifully she knotted the other aduisyng her well to fasten it aboute her necke that she more quickly and more easily might paie the tribute due vnto nature ▪ which she sone after her fare well giuen to her sister dolefullie accomplished When she now was this paste and gone the other stretched foorthe her bodie in moste reuerent maner possible semblablie coueryng it as appertaineth to the dedde After which she tourneth about to Megestena moste humblie intreatyng her that after her death she would not permitte her bodie to lie naked on the yearth whiche her requeste being easily graunted she tourning strangleth herself in the same girdle of her sister ¶ Why and for what causes men rarely aspire to the assured perfection of thynges in this life Chapt. 9. FIue principall thynges are there that distourne manne from the ripe and mature cognition of thynges in this life whiche if he well knewe he then might repute himself for perfecte and wise The firste is the ignorauncie or not knowyng of his ende to wette his not knowyng to what ende he is borne For assuredly if he well knewe it he would no thyng lesse pain hym self to attaine there vnto then he presently doeth to aspire to pompe and honour in whiche appetite rulyng hym his onely felicitie semeth to consiste But in this case I maie compare manne to a kynges soonne in his infancie of whom if you will aske whiche he loueth better the succession of a kyngdome or els an aple or a cherie whiche presently you shall offer hym it maie not bee doubted but he will refuse to bee kyng to plaie with or tast of the aple or cherie and that for that tofore he percase thereof hath tasted So fareth it with manne who if he be demaunded whiche he moste affecteth or riches or learnyng he at firste will desire to be maister of money ignoraunt and lesse wetyng that the learned onely and he alone is riche and father that it also is necessarie that the sage still order and gouerne his countrie and that also without knowledge honour is not honoured but rather becometh a note of ignominie and slaūder and that greate wealthe also without good letters is the true pathe to senslis brutalitie the roote of presumption and accomplishemente of rusticitie but the wise sufficeth to directe hymself and others posseste of these threasures that neuer maie faile hym But this all happeneth vnto manne for not knowyng to what ende he is borne The second is the immoderate vse of pleasures of the minde as well as also of the bodie whiche bothe annoye and droune no lesse the exteriour motions to vertue then the interiour also and these of the spirite So that manne so folded in the filthe of this worlde maie well bee resembled to the doughter of a Prince faire and beautifull to whom also appertained after her father the kyngdome but for hauyng committed fornication with a bond man deformed and odious is depriued thereof to her eternall infamie The thirde issueth of the euill disposition in mānes bodie whence manne of learnyng and good letters for the moste parte is incapable and this some tymes is caused by the place of his birthe whence he taketh to be of an imperfecte and impure complexion as in certaine countries in the East where as in partes of Africa men are borne so senslis and bestiall by meane of the extremitie of heate in these soiles that thei liue as brute beastes incapable of reason and on the other side in the coūtries Septentrionall or Northe in other some places by extreame coldnes are menne borne so wilde and sauage that some of them refuse not to feede on mannes fleshe suche are the Gothes and Ostrogothes with others And these people maie be compared to an Egle in whose foote there is fastened a stone of some waight whiche letteth her there to flie where by nature she desireth to wete aboue the cloudes in the supreme and higheste region of the aire